The Purbeck Gazette - Issue 193 by The Blackmore Vale Limited

February 2016 Issue no. 193

Magazine archive at:

The Line To Wareham. Pg 12-13

Swanage Boxing Day Swim. Pg 22 - 23

Purbeck Weddings. Pg 33 - 45

Grow Your Own! Pg 54

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Editor’s note...

elcome to the February edition of your Gazette! Spring is on its way, bulbs are pushing up through the soil and the evenings are getting lighter. We’ve finally had a cold snap, reminding us what winter can be like after a damp and unusually warm late autumn. Hopefully you’ve all recovered from any overindulgence over the festive period and are now feeling the health benefits of your New Year’s Resolutions....! No? Me neither...!! This month we bring you our ever-popular Purbeck Wedding feature, illustrated with some truly stunning shots of recent local weddings, by Purbeck photographer, Trev Rich. We also report on the upcoming shock closure of the Royal Mail Sorting and Delivery office in Swanage, which has left locals reeling - particularly business customers, who may find their businesses severely affected by the proposed closure. As usual, the magazine is ram-packed with the local community’s news, views, events and opinions - you’ve made your feelings known in our letters pages (as usual) and we have updates from the Coastguard, Police, Hospitals and more..... Have a great February - it’s nearly time for the tourist season to kick off again as March brings us the first Blues Festival of the year in Swanage and things hot up from there!

The Purbeck Gazette is delivered by: We distribute 20,000 copies of the Purbeck Gazette every month to households in Purbeck utilising Logiforce GPS-tracked delivery teams. (Residents in blocks of flats, or who live up long driveways or in lesser populated areas will not get a door-to-door delivery. You will not receive a copy if you display a ‘no junk mail’ sticker on your letterbox) Purbeck has a population of aprox. 45,300, we print & distribute 20,000 copies for Purbeck and further afield (Crossways, Broadmayne, Bloxworth etc). We have the largest distribution of any free paper in the area. You will not therefore ALL get a paper copy! We ensure a good spread of distribution throughout the whole area to get the best response for our advertisers, who are our only business customers.

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The March 2016 edition has a deadline of 8th February and will be distributed from 22nd - 26th February 2016. The April 2016 edition has a deadline of 10th March and will be distributed from 28th - 31st March.

Public Notices & Information

Swanage Town Council Meetings - February 2016

Planning & Consultation Committee Transport Committee Policy, Finance & Performance Personnel Committee Council

Mon 1st Thur 11th Wed 17th Wed 24th Mon 29th

4.30pm 2.15pm 4.30pm 9.30am 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 - February 2016 Planning & Transport Policy, Resources & Finance Museum Wareham In Bloom Planning & Transport

Mon 1st Mon 8th Tues 9th Weds 10th Mon 22nd

7pm 7pm 7.15pm 7pm 7pm

Purbeck DC Meetings - Open to public - February 2016 Standards Committee Council Planning Committee

Weds 3rd Tue 23rd Weds 24th

2pm 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 delivered by Logiforce GPS-tracked distribution. 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. Paul Notley, Graphics, Kim Steeden, Spotlight Diary Editor. 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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Peregrine Falcon at Durlston Country Park, photo by Hayden Meates.

CONTACT US ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS/IT COMMUNITY MATTERS COUNCIL MEETINGS DIARY SPOTLIGHT FEATURES Blast From The Past Boxing Day Swim Gazette Gardening, with Simon Goldsack Helping Rare Turtles in Purbeck John Garner writes - Puffins, Last year’s News..... Line Upgrade Almost Complete Purbeck Weddings Swanage Outraged At Loss Of Sorting Office Telling It Like It Is - David Hollister writes The Price Of Trusting Too Much FOOD The Gourmet Peddler HEALTH & BEAUTY LETTERS MOTORING - David Hollister writes NATURAL MATTERS SPORT TRADE ADVERTS sponsored by Sydenhams YOUR PICTURES

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DEADLINE FOR MARCH IS NOON, MON 8th FEB

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FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN from 10 to 16 years old wanted to

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.

MARCH edition deadline: noon, Mon 8th Feb

‘We Only Have One World’ Dear Readers, At last, at last, a glimmer of hope came to us in the form of the agreement at COP 21 in Paris of all Governments to combat climate change, and only twenty eight years behind me coming to the same conclusion in 1987, with the overarching ambition to cut greenhouse gasses thereby hopefully saving us and many other species we share this planet with from extinction. Some people (myself included) believe half of the human race could die out (that’s over three billion of us) in the next twenty years if climate change is left unabated. So naturally our Government would not want to waste a minute in getting our CO2 emissions down. So what did they propose? Instructing the shipyards that are standing empty to start fabricating deep sea underwater turbines? Provide 80% grants on all household renewable energy sources so we can get off the grid? Ground source heat pumps? Solar cells and heat exchangers heating hot water? Trickle charging wind turbines combined with compact batteries from Tesla powering homes all evening? 50% discounts on public transport? Limiting non-essential fuel purchases to 500 litres per annum? Planting a tree for every person in the UK every year? Turning off 90% of all street lights? Providing LED bulbs at 90% discount? Don’t be daft! Where is the profit for the greedy corporations in that?! No instead they put the problem into the hands of the people by threatening that everyone will have to destroy their gas boiler and cooker at their own expense. And passed new laws allowing gas and oil exploration and the foul practice of fracking in our National Parks and AoNBs. That is bound to get the carbon footprint down, right?! Wrong. What is the word I am looking for? Despicable? Diabolical? Immoral? Self-serving? Useless? Actually all of them apply, it is just a pity that illegal isn’t one of them. Should you care? You love your family right? You didn’t notice your beach disappearing? The last ‘fix’ lasted just ten years- as I predicted. Floods all over Britain causing chaos and drowning hibernating creatures in their sleep? Daffodils and rhubarb coming out in December, uselessly using up their stored reserves? Birds mating at the wrong time so when a frost bites their chicks and eggs shall die? This is all very sad and why I believe it is wrong to carry on drilling for gas and oil. We can lobby China, Saudi or the U.S, but surely we should be able to put a definite stop to it in our own back yard? Drilling at Suttles quarry is outdated and transparently the wrong thing to be doing. We only have the one world after all. Andy Kirkwood.

We Will Do It! Dear Editor, On behalf of Swanage Dementia Friendly Community I would like to thank the local community for supporting us over the past nine months since our start-up in May 2015. During Christmas we received donations from Regency Dentists, choirs Harmony Rocks and the Mayday Singers - this means we can go ahead with training ‘buddies’ in extra skills for supporting carers who need help and understanding. It also gives us a start on our big aim - to support the work of an Admiral Nurse in Purbeck/Dorset which will cost approximately £100,000. So please keep supporting us - WE WILL DO IT! Jean Gibbs, chair

HOST SPANISH STUDENTS during the month of July. Must have children of the same age. Excellent allowance provided. Call 07521 956 882. Email: info@lymingtonidiomas.uk Web: www.lymingtonidiomas.uk

Out Of The Box Dear Gazette, A successor to the Purbeck Open Lecture (pol) is ‘Out of the Box’. This has been set up by a small group of pol supporters in collaboration with David Warden, Ch. Of Dorset Humanists. Provisionally, this launch is for a trial period of four months from Wednesday 3rd February. As with its predecessor, it will meet in the Black Bear in Wareham at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday of the month. Subsequent dates are March 2nd, April 6th and May 4th. The meetings are open to the general public, and with free entry (although a token donation at the door will go towards expenses) Out of the Box will be a forum for the discussion of topics which explore the spiritual journeys that different people make to arrive at a set of beliefs, or ‘world view’. It will provide opportunities for people to share their journeys with others, rather than try to convince them that their destination is the only right place to be. The aim of the group was set out by John Ponter as “a place where you can tell your story, what moves, motivates and matters. It is also a meeting place where you are prepared to listen, respect and learn from others. Individual meetings can be to inform or to apply rational and logical disciplines to opinion, but these are in order to heighten the value of personal sharing.” The first meeting on February 3rd, will be led by David Warden or a colleague on ‘Christianity to Humanism’. The March meeting is likely to be a discussion on ‘Atheism to Christianity’, led by a pastor in Poole. April may be on ‘Morals without God’. The May topic will come from the group. Do come! We look forward to seeing you. Ray Thorogood.

Walking The Wall Of China Dear Editor, My father is taking part in this year’s challenge in aid of Weldmar Hospice. He will be walking a remote part of the Wall of China and has to raise £3250.00, so we are holding a Tide and Time production of Two Nations, The journey of everyman, the salt of the earth, in words and songs of the time. It is being held at Harmans Cross Village hall on Saturday 27th February at 7.00pm and tickets cost £10.00 including cheese and wine. Tickets available from John Moulton on 01929 552951 and Joy Allan 01305 853421. Joy Allan

Rotary Santa Success Dear Editor, Santa was busy in and around Swanage in the weeks leading up to Christmas. He received a warm welcome from the people of Swanage and Langton Matravers as he toured on his sleigh, helped by his elves, some of whom had even travelled from Australia to help him! The atrocious weather didn’t stop them and one night the money collected needed to be dried off on radiators and in the oven before it could be counted! Swanage and Purbeck Rotary raised more than £2600 for local charities over these two weeks. Santa also helped raise a whopping £683 at a special collection outside the Co-Op in aid of flood victims in Cumbria and Lancashire. Swanage and Purbeck Rotary topped up the collection to £1000 and

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sent the money to the local Rotary club in the area, who were helping to coordinate relief aid. Swanage and Purbeck Rotary would like to thank local people for their most generous support – we love seeing you when we come out with Santa and couldn’t do it without you! Linda Winter. President Swanage & Purbeck Rotary.

Dipper’s Delight!

Hi Nico, What fun it was! In the picture are ‘first time dippers’, the Price and Holmes families and ‘frequent dippers’ Jane and Jeff Atkinson. Best wishes for 2016. Lynda, by email

Good Samaritan Chris Dear Gazette, ‘Christmas Spirit’ Please can we thank a Good Samaritan who stopped to help us when our car hit a pothole on the Corfe – Studland Road in the dark, late afternoon on 29th December? A man called Chris, who said he lived in Victoria Avenue in Swanage, helped to change the wheel, shining his headlights on our car and alerting other road users to our presence. We would be grateful if you could pass on a small gift (in the Gazette office) to Chris to thank him on our behalf. His actions brought home the true meaning of Christmas! Best wishes from the Clark and Pellman families, Swanage, by hand. Ed’s note: Chris, are you reading?! Well done for being so helpful – please do pop into the Gazette office in Commercial Road on a Tuesday or Thursday as we have a thank you gift to pass on from the families you helped! If you’re not able to pop down, do give us a ring on 424239 and we’ll arrange to drop it off for you on our way home.

TV - Tidal Fading Explained Dear Editor, I have put up with television pictures being lost every now again for more than a decade of living in Swanage. From conversations with friends and neighbours I established that I was not alone. I put it down to some

atmospheric disturbance that affected the signals. We moved recently and are now positioned nearly 200ft higher than before. The picture failing was more frequent than before. We decided to invite a TV aerial installer from Ridge to come and improve the signal. Despite his thirty year’s experience he failed to eliminate the problem and left us with cables that had been run in an untidy way and a large bill. I then decided to search the internet for solutions and entered the symptoms into a search engine. The result was that I found several articles published by the BBC about “Tidal Fading”. Summarising – the signal between the television mast and your aerial can be affected by the tide. A signal is received via the straight line of sight and a second one bounced off the surface of the sea. When the tide is at a certain level the signals arrive at the aerial in such a way as to blank each other out. I found this generally coincided with a low tide but not always. The articles date from the early 1970s and why the problem still exists in this day and age seems crazy. I was lucky that the aerial installer had moved the aerial to the western side of the property and pointing across the roof. I thought what if I lowered the aerial so that only the TV mast on the IoW could be seen and not the sea. It worked – no more loss of pictures! I now feel the need to share this with the residents of Swanage (and elsewhere) that have the same problems. Move your aerial to the side of the roof furthest away from the IoW and use the roof line to mast the reflection from the sea. If there are any young budding business entrepreneurs, here is an opportunity to design an aerial that eliminates the reflect signal. The market is limited to those areas of the world where reception is received across an expanse of water. Apart from all those living along the coast through to Portsmouth, this situation exists in several other coastal areas including Swansea Bay. It also exists in many places overseas as well. Good Luck. John Rowley, Hoburne Park, Swanage

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Otter Or Optical Illusion? Dear Gazette, I hope you and your staff and all your readers have had an enjoyable festive season. The unseasonably warm weather, coupled with storm force winds has meant the beach has been almost empty, which suits me and the dog just fine. I have become used to strangers stopping me to stroke Mischief and remark what a lovely dog she is. I just nod, and don’t tell them about the times she has bitten people, chased pigeons, cats and seagulls. On a wildlife note I thought I had to write to you about an unreal experience we had on the seafront where the builders have dumped their portakabins. It was 7am and I was walking back from the town looking forward to a liquid breakfast. Mischief was not on a lead and there was no traffic. Suddenly she bolted and ran towards a black shape in the gutter. It was an animal which I assumed may be a cat. A cat would have run away but this one didn’t. I called Mischief back and the animal got up and slowly crossed the road back to the sea. It had a large tail, a long thick body, and hopped back through the builder’s fence and dived into the pile of stone they have there. I know my weasels from my stoats and this thing was without doubt an otter. I may have written some tongue in cheek letters in the past but this one is the gods’ honest truth. I wasn’t drunk and had not taken any mind altering substances. I wonder if anyone else has seen it? In future I am going to get my newspaper armed with a machete and a cross bow. Otters are vicious and will bite you and eat your dog. I hope fellow dog walkers will appreciate my concern All the best, Simon Cattell, Swanage, by hand.

Our Act Is Together Dear Editor, As reported in your letter section in the January issue, there was a temporary projection failure during the first showing of “Spectre” but we are proud of the way this was handled by our staff. Unfortunately every cinema whether large, small, independent or chain, single or multiscreen occasionally suffers a film breakdown. This happened with the old 35mm systems, but most repairs were simple, often a razor blade and tape to splice a break in the film. Modern digital projection systems have no visible moving parts with the digital film image loaded onto a disc server accessed by a powerful computer that feeds the images into the actual projection component. On the evening in question we had an experienced operator on duty and immediately on the failure he took actions that enabled the settings to be saved so that a restart was possible. The Mowlem has a gold standard maintenance service with the equipment supplier and they accessed our system on-line via broadband and finding no evidence of equipment failure gave instructions to restart the program. While this was going on our Production Manager left guests he was entertaining at home and went to the Mowlem to assist if required. As soon as the break occurred many of the audience took advantage of a comfort break and others went in search of ice creams and staff hastily re-opened the sweet kiosk. The film was up and running within ten minutes plus a few more minutes to get the large audience back from the toilets and the sweet kiosk and they then enjoyed the rest of the film and the problem did not re-occur during any of the thirty six shows from that time until the pantomime. To suggest we have expensive equipment without adequate maintenance is gratuitously offensive showing total ignorance of how a cinema

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01929 422453 07884 452284 operates. Your correspondent also failed to notice that having had a short maintenance break, the auditorium had been re-decorated, it is cleaned professionally daily and talking of “mouldy carpets” is just trying to make a case for getting his money back for a film he did not enjoy. We have a policy on refunds and this was correctly implemented by our staff, who do not deserve to be the subject of this rather nasty attack. What a pity he did not have the courtesy to ask for our observations before publishing his misinformed views. We take pride in providing films six days a week on release as an independent cinema, with live theatre on average more than once a week all without subsidy from Town, District or County Council or Arts Council handouts. The Trustees now consider correspondence to be closed on this matter David Bale. Mowlem Trustee.

Get Over Yourselves! Dear Gazette, I usually manage to get through the Gazette letters page with just a shake of the head and the odd sigh of despair, but ye gods, is there nothing too trivial for the people of Swanage to moan about? Mr Rowland’s lengthy account of his appalling treatment at the Mowlem gets my vote for Letter of the Year. I would suggest that Mr Rowland needs to get out more; although having read his letter, maybe he needs to stay at home. In a strange twist of fate, I also suffered the identical experience of the projector failing to work before a showing of Spectre, but at the Rex in Wareham. After a couple of trial starts, it rapidly became apparent that the digital projector was having an off day. The lights came up and a gentleman came down to the front and announced that they were having problems and it would take ten minutes or so to fix. Not one word of complaint other than some good humoured boos and few humorous comments. The lights go up and for fifteen minutes, we all had a good chat, mostly with total strangers; without a single word of complaint. The nice man then returned to announce that he hoped they had sorted the problem, but couldn’t be sure. This was greeted with cheers, cat calls and more laughter. Then the film restarted and was shown in its entirety; but it was the subtitled copy. Was there one mutter of discontent? No. This only leaves me with the dawning realisation of why I go to the Rex rather than the Mowlem to watch films. It’s not the management or the surroundings; it’s the patrons. This isn’t just about a film; it’s about some the residents of Swanage and their attitude to life in general. Get over yourselves; stuff happens, much of it trivial. Well that’s me done. Apart from my review of Spectre of course. (Well if David Hollister can do cars, I can do films.). Spectre was dire, even by the rather low standards of recent Bond films, it made Skyfall look like Citizen Kane. Two and a half hours of my life that I won’t get back. That’s my fault for going, not the Rex’s for showing it. Rant over. Bic Biro, by email.

Join Us For Lunch Dear Editor, The Swanage Friendship Lunch Club caters for single people living on their own by providing a hot lunch twice a month when they can eat together and enjoy the company of others and make new friends. We have a few vacancies at the moment for lunch if anyone would like to join us.

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We work in teams to prepare the lunches and we would be glad of the offer of more helpers to assist us. There are four teams which means that a helper would take part in preparation every other month. Please contact Maureen Marriott on 01929 426325 for details if you are interested in assisting us or would like to join us for lunch. Maureen Marriott. Swanage.

Part Of Global Community Dear Editor, I refer to the letters you published in December about asylum seekers etc. I do not think the issue is as easy as some of your readers would like it to be; even Swanage is now part of the global community! I believe Darwin’s theory of natural selection applies to a country as well as nature. For the country to survive in the long term we need to be lean and fit and that means attracting the abler and fitter of the world to work for/with us. There is, however, a problem because strictly applying ‘Darwin’ to a country robs it of humanity and it becomes just a place for animals rather than humans; not very attractive. It is therefore less likely to attract the very people we need. For a country to rely solely on ‘Darwinian’ policy means it will not survive in the long term: a few very strong individuals/ institutions/companies will prosper, the rest will leave (or never come) or be living in unacceptable conditions. Fortunately wealthier developed countries have another option, no matter how their wealth was acquired. Such countries can choose to ‘nurture humanity’ so that people want to live and work in it. A country that nurtures its people by caring for those who are genuinely less able and also for those in true poverty will be more attractive. To rely on ‘nurture’ only, however, could encourage too much dependency and therefore is also a risk to the survival of the country. A country would become uncompetitive and need constant propping up. The country would slowly fill with people addicted to comfort without hard work, whilst the hard working will go elsewhere to a country where they get a bigger reward for helping to create wealth. So nurturing humanity is a problem too! A country is best served by a combination ‘Darwinian natural selection’ and a policy of ‘nurture of humanity’. If this mix is right the country will prosper, grow and survive in the long term. The humans who have walked from Africa and Asia to our borders have shown a very strong survival instinct. We read that there are some in the UK who would choose to remain on benefits rather than make a fair and proper contribution to our society. Which group of people will help keep the UK (and other countries like Germany) lean and fit and thus long term survivors? Yours sincerely, George Sterling, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

For Mindless Motorist... Dear Nico, May I through the letter pages of the Gazette send a polite message to the gentleman in the Silver Peugeot estate, who, at around 16.30 hours on December 21st, kindly parked his car at the top of the Gully while he walked his dog? His thoughtful action successfully blocked access for machinery to Verney Farm and to fields off of Priests Way, owned by our neighbours at Greyseads farm. I did try to speak to you at the time, however, after verbally abusing me you immediately wound up your car window and drove off, so it is clear that you had no interest in my response. I can only hope that you might read this letter and gain some understanding of the needs and concerns of the local farming community. Following the recent barn fires, we do appreciate people keeping an eye out while walking their dogs up along the Priests Way bridle-way. We

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01929 427296 07971 690817 Happy to help and advise don’t however appreciate them driving and parking on a corner, restricting access to machinery (if I had tried to get past with our tractor and bale trailer (as I had the absolute right to) I’d have ripped the front end of your vehicle off). Added to this, how are we to know that it isn’t you setting off these fires? In case you were not aware, Priests Way is a bridle-way, with rights of way for agricultural access, Verney Farm and South Barn only. Not trying to teach anyone to suck eggs but a bridle-way is legally only for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. There is a clearly legible blue sign with reflective writing on it, at the bottom of the Gully that states that it is a bridle-way with access for vehicles with business at Verney farm or South barn only. We have contacted the police on several occasions and we have always been advised to “Try and cause as little damage as possible when removing the obstructing vehicle out of the way.” I would like to remind people that vehicles are not insured when driving up the Gully, as being a bridle way, there is no vehicular access for the general public, meaning that your insurance will be invalidated by simply being on the bridle way. Please bear in mind that there is a very high probability that your insurance would not entertain a claim if something were to happen. Only those with business at the above locations would be covered. Although there is a bridle-way going along it, the land on which it runs and the gateways are privately owned and not by The National Trust, English Heritage, Dorset County Council, or any public or government body. So, in conclusion Mr Silver Peugeot estate …I don’t expect to be spoken to like that on my own land. I wouldn’t come round to your house and speak to you like that, so why should I have to put up with it from you on my property, which is both my home and place of work? This is unfortunately not an isolated incident, it happens multiple times a year, surprisingly we get abuse from locals as well as tourists who see us as the “Grumpy farmers who have nothing better to do than moan and upset people”, as one lady tourist who had parked in a gateway during last foraging season put it. I can assure you we have a lot better things to do and merely want to get on with our day to day business and get home to our families. N. Bower, R & K.G. Bower, Verney Farm

Swanage Pavilion? Dear Readers, I was wondering if you at the Gazette can solve a problem for me. I have recently read David Jason’s biography charting his career. In one chapter he talks of doing a summer season with Dick Emery on Bournemouth Pier. He said on Sundays, Dick came down to Swanage and did his one man show, a slightly risque show, at the Swanage Pavilion. This would be in the late 60s, early 70s. I know of the Mowlem Theatre but not the Pavillion. Can you tell me where it was please? We come to Swanage every year for our holiday, as we have done for 25 years or so. We love the town, its an ideal, quiet town, which we love. We come down in Carnival week, and also love going over the ferry to the New Forest. We have got to know a few people in the town, in particular, Gill and Mick at Gee Whites. We love going there at night for a cup of tea and some chips. It’s so nice when our daughter prints off the Gazette for us from the website so we can keep up with what’s going on. Being steam fans, we of course love Swanage Railway. Yes, your town has a special place in our hearts and we look forward to our week. It gives us focus through the year. With a family problem we are coping with, namely my beloved brother is suffering with dementia, thoughts of Swanage help us through. Kind regards, Mr D. Robinson, North Hants.

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Thanks From Disabled Club Dear Gazette, Swanage Disabled Club would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy 2016 and we would especially like to thank all the local organisations and private supporters who have amazed us over the past year by such great generosity with their donations. These new funds will all certainly help towards our new garage which is in the process of being built and more importantly cover the many ongoing running costs for our two buses which have proved to be a vital asset to the town. We thank you all so much and look forward to continuing with our clubs and services for local residents. If we can help anyone in any way or someone feels they would like to join our friendly clubs, volunteer drivers/escorts and helpers - please do give me a ring on 01929 425241. THANK YOU! Daphne Saville, Hon. Sec.

Understanding Appreciated Dear Editor, I would like to thank all my fellow taxi drivers, customers and friends for the help and understanding they have given me over the last month. It is greatly appreciated. Although I will not be on the Taxi rank for a while, I will be available on 07960471956 should you require a taxi. Mark Sargent, Newton Court, Swanage.

‘Bobbing Corks’

Dear Nico, The ‘Bobbing Corks’ young and old are happy to swim in the briny all year round – subject to weather, time and tide from Swanage beach. This year’s swim, endorsed and verified on 27th December 2015 at 8.45am raised £150 (including a donation of £100 from Georgian Gems Swanage) for Children in Need. The cheque has been presented in conjunction with Lloyds Bank, Swanage. The ‘Corks’ wish to thank all who donated. The group is very dedicated to keeping healthy, and was formed six years ago and includes members up to eighty years plus! No formalities, no entry fee, just happy to swim! Happy swimming to all in 2016. Brian Barker, Swanage. The picture shows Brian swimming in the bay under a ray of sunlight.

A Poetic Vision Chapman’s Pool - The View Passing Through Though now she’s dead my mother’s eyes Once saw, as mine see now, these skies, This luscious land, these cliffs, this sea, She saw it all along with me. She saw it also all alone Before my own small eyes had grown, These clouds, these white-winged birds, these waves, Which span the space from cots to graves. A scene that’s seen by only those Whose precious vision briefly glows, Whose eyes, like mine, can see it all Until the lids in time will fall, Leaving other eyes to view The view that I viewed passing through. Martin Hobdell, Swanage

Bovington Jumble Trail Event Dear Editor, We are arranging a community jumble trail event in Bovington where we are hoping to attract households around Bovington to hold simultaneous house/garage/yard sales at the front of their houses. It’s taking place on Sunday 13th March between 11am and 3pm. We’ve had some really good interest so far and only started spreading the word this week so it looks like it should hopefully take off. We are looking for stallholders in Bovington and obviously for visitors to come and visit the stalls For further information I can be contacted on alisoncosher@yahoo.co.uk Alison Cosher.

The Purbeck Gazette

Mr Peabody’s Coal train Has Hauled It Away David Hollister writes...

ne morning in early January, I visited ‘The Hyde’ in Langton Matravers where residents equipped with shovels and brooms were frantically working to keep the flood waters at bay. The torrential rain earlier that morning had caused the ditches to overflow; water at one point along ‘The Hyde’ was almost a foot deep. A resident showed me round and pointed out some of the inadequate culverts and the flooded gardens; it was made clear to me that this wasn’t the first time such flooding had occurred; the ‘one in a hundred years’ floods seem now to be almost annual. It was also made clear to me that some of the culverts actually flooded over the level of their own walls and that some of the foundations of the walls were being regularly washed away by the current. A senior Councillor of long standing later told me “this has been happening for many, many years” and commented that “those houses (those at the lowest point in the dip) should never have been built in the first place”. And presumably should never have been given Planning Permission, but I guess that money speaks louder than common sense. So now I understand the concerns of the residents at the proposals to put ‘starter homes’ on Spyway Orchard. They’re clearly alarmed that building over this field is going to divert even more water into the unsatisfactory culverts. To the point where over 130 residents have taken the time and trouble to make representations to the Purbeck District Council planners. But at the same time, there’s a planning application for an adjacent field owned by the National Trust to be gravelled over as an additional car park. The potential flood problem seems to be the same, if not greater. To the point where about eleven residents have made representations to the PDC Planners. Both projects seem to rely on the use of ‘attenuation storage tanks’ which in layman’s terms are huge underground storage areas into which flood waters will run and then be released into the culverts at a rate at which said culverts can cope with the volume of water. OK, I suppose, unless we get storms of biblical proportions. Their efficacy has been questioned, as has the reliability of the pumping equipment. Only time will tell. I spoke with the developer seeking to build on Spyway Orchard, who suggested that the size and location of the attenuation tanks associated with his project would not only be adequate, but would also assist alleviating the current problem. I do hope so. But let’s not forget – in both cases – that neither development nor car park have been started; not a sod has been turned. And the residents are still having to ‘bail out’ on horribly regular occasions. So I ask myself – if it’s been like this for over fifteen years, then why haven’t the local authority, or Wessex Water, or even the residents themselves, got together to solve the problem? This is 2016. It shouldn’t be happening. But then neither should most of Cumbria be under a great deal more water than Purbeck is. I ask myself – if I’d bought one of the affected houses in the past fifteen years, wouldn’t I have expected the pre-purchase search to disclose the vulnerability to flooding? How liable is the Estate Agent or Valuer who conducted the search? How did I get into this situation without my realising it? Langton isn’t the only place in Purbeck vulnerable to flooding; look

at Ulwell Road, at Corfe Castle, at parts of Wareham, at Stoborough. There’s just too much water with nowhere to go. Yet it’s ‘build, build, build’ and that’s not just because developers need profits, it’s also because people need homes. Global warming cannot be denied any longer. What I take issue with is whether it’s man-made or part of the globe’s natural cycle. Research suggests to me that it’s the latter and that all mankind has done is to exacerbate the problem. But many of you will take the opposing view as is your right! It seems to me that if people are really that worried about CO2 they should stop chopping down over 100 million trees each year simply to celebrate a one-day commercial festival; stop using millions of megawatts to put coloured lighting all over their houses for no reason whatsoever other than ‘everybody does it’; stop having amazing firework displays chucking vast quantities of smoke and CO2 into the atmosphere; stop lighting up shop windows long after the customers have gone home; stop running three-quarters empty diesel powered buses belching their crap into the atmosphere; stop buying goods from China and India whose power stations and factories contribute so much filth that their own citizens are dying of respiratory diseases; stop eating meat farmed in South America where rainforests are felled to provide fields for cattle which themselves fart between 250 and 500 litres of methane into the atmosphere every day. And planners should make it a condition of granting planning permission that each and every building should be equipped with solar panels adequate to provide at least one half of its annual power requirement. Then when we’ve done that, then I might think about cutting down on driving my car. It seems clear to me that we in Purbeck are losing service after service, facility after facility, in the name of ‘austerity’ and ‘mending the economy’ and indeed, ‘profits’. Roads and public areas go un-maintained whilst County Council Fat Cats still get their pay rises and linked pensions. Banks are closing, so are police stations and youth centres. And perhaps one of the cruellest ‘economies’ – unemployed people are forced to travel to Poole to ‘sign on’ to qualify for their benefits, and get ‘sanctioned’ if the bus is five minutes late, by civil servants to whom the unemployed are just numbers, not people. But who when challenged were ‘only obeying orders and following instructions’ – but then so did the guards in concentration camps. I’m not actually against ‘austerity’; someone’s got to pay off the huge debts incurred by a selection of governments of various political leanings. It’s just that it seems to be the less fortunate that are paying, whilst those in charge reap ever higher rewards and pat themselves on the back for ‘HS2’ and other grandiose projects. You can stuff your HS2. I’d rather have safe and well-maintained roads, and properly funded Youth Services. Anyway, back to reality. I don’t know what New Year’s Eve was to you; I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did, watching the brilliant Bryan Adams concert and the amazing London Eye fireworks in front of the log fire, with a good bottle of wine and the stereo turned up LOUD. I hope you were warm, happy, and with people you love.

The Purbeck Gazette

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Wareham Town Council Update

Julie, our Gazette correspondent, details the goings on in recent council meetings..... News from Wareham Town Council December 2015 areham and Sandford Youth Centres may have to close unless they can provide business cases which justify a share of reduced County Council funding. Road repairs to the A351 between the roundabouts for Blue Pool and Norden will entail a rolling convoy from 9am to 4pm on weekdays in January. Resurfacing of St Martins Hill is planned for February. A meeting between representatives of Dorset Council (DCC), Purbeck District Council (PDC), Wareham Medical Centre and Purbeck Clinical Commissioning Group favoured the use of the Wareham Middle School site as a community hub for medical services. PDC has agreed to the proposal for strategic economic development and transport infrastructure planning to be done county-wide by a combined authority. But other possible reorganisation of district and borough councils is up in the air. PDC agreed to fund the Rex cinema with £650 for the next three years, to continue to support Fairtrade and to grant £5,000 towards the preparation of the Wareham Neighbourhood Plan. PCSO Morton from the Wareham Safer Neighbourhood Team spoke to

the November Amenities Committee meeting about antisocial behaviour at the BMX area of Hauses Field. He emphasized that incidents had to be reported immediately by phoning 101 and said that password protection on the neighbours’ Wi-Fi might deter groups of youths from congregating there. The Committee decided to look into tree planting at other sites in Wareham rather than North and South Street and to apply for planning approval for a Town Hall sign. The Policy, Resources and Finance Committee approved grants for Dorset Blind Association, Royal British Legion, Wareham Rangers U10’s, the Christmas Lights and Father Christmas Committees. The Council thanked Mr Kevin Brooks for his contribution to the grant application which earned praise and £45,000 for the work on 2 Mill Lane Wareham Carnival has been given free use of the Recreation Ground on Sunday 24th July for a fete after the Carnival Parade, so start practising your sack racing now. There will be a trial of a Blupoint Virtual Museum and History Walk on the Quay during the 2016 Easter weekend. The full Council objected to the plan to convert the rear of the Quay public conveniences to a pub kitchen extension. The Mayor reported on a successful public consultation for the Wareham Neighbourhood Plan and that an experienced project manager had been appointed. The draft budget will be put before the full Council meeting on Tuesday 26th January, 7pm in the Town Hall, Wareham. The public is welcome to attend Council meetings. Call 01929 553006 for further information or visit the website at www.wareham-tc.gov.uk.

Have YOUR Say On Rural Bus Links

orset County Council is looking to save £500,000 from a review of rural bus services and is asking local people how they would be affected. The savings would be made by stopping subsidies for services that run once or twice a week. Instead, the county council would support the development of more community-based transport schemes. A four-week public consultation started on Monday 11 January asking local people how the changes would affect them. Cllr Peter Finney, the council’s Cabinet member for environment, said: “With significant reductions in our funding from government, we need to focus on bus services that support Dorset’s economy by helping people get to school or work. “Community schemes, such as dial-a-ride, can be more responsive to people’s needs for social and leisure journeys. There is already a good network of community transport in Dorset and we want to help it grow. “We are asking people whether they are aware of schemes in their area and encouraging more volunteers to join them. We also need to find out where there are gaps and work with communities to fill them.” You can see a list of affected services and have your say by completing the survey at www.dorsetforyou.com/2016-bus-review (available from Monday 11 January) or picking up a paper copy from libraries, and from town and parish council offices. The consultation runs until 8 February and the results will be taken to the council’s Cabinet on 24 February for a decision. To meet the council’s

target of saving £500,000 in 2016/17, the changes would need to be in place from April.

The Purbeck Gazette

Save A Life Today

n Swanage there are currently three public access defibrillators accredited to the Ambulance service that are available twenty four hours a day. One is located on the Masonic Lodge in Marshall Row. The second is located on the outside of Swanage Coastguard Station, North Beach Car Park. The third is at Ulwell Village Inn near reception. Ring 999 and ask for the Ambulance who will pass the code to open the storage boxes. The Swanage Community Defibrillator Partnership (SCDP) has been set up by a group of representatives from various local organisations. The aim is to raise funds to initially purchase three further public access defibrillators for the town and further funds to purchase devices for the wider community. Consultation is already underway with relevant land owners regarding the siting of these devices, with one going in the town centre and the other in Herston, giving an even spread. The third device will be portable and available for local groups and events to hire out for a donation towards ongoing running costs ensuring the long term sustainability of the partnership. There will also be a community familiarisation programme in their use, though all devices are designed to require NO formal training. The SCDP are seeking your support and assistance in funding for this community initiative and if you would like to sponsor a device or donate towards the scheme, please pop in to Corbens’ estate agents in Station Road or the Gazette office in Commercial Lane where both venues will kindly take your donation. Each device with its weatherproof storage box is approximately £2000. No matter how big or small a donation, your money will go a long way towards purchasing these community devices for Swanage - it could be your life it saves, or the life of a friend or family member. Even if you can only afford to give £1, it will all help, and what better use of your money can you think of than possibly saving your life, or that of a friend?

The Purbeck Gazette

Line Upgrade Almost Complete

RESTORING HERITAGE DIESEL TRAINS FOR MAIN LINE RUNNING n ambitious and historic project to restore and upgrade three miles of former Network Rail line, as well as install a hi-tech level crossing with associated signalling and build a road-rail interchange facility, is almost complete – so passenger trains can again run to Wareham. The start of the trial service from Swanage and Corfe Castle is due to start during the first quarter of 2017 – instead of June, 2016 – because of the need to replace, rather than restore, non-standard specialist equipment on two ex-British Railways 1960s heritage diesel trains being upgraded to exacting main line standards. It was in September, 2014, that the Swanage Railway took on the lease of three miles of former Network Rail line – from a mile west of Norden station to a quarter of a mile south of Worgret Junction near Wareham – to give tracks, bridges and embankments a major upgrade ahead of the trial train service. The restoration work has seen 1,200 wooden track sleepers replaced, half a mile of track laid, a quarter-mile-long embankment given a major upgrade, undergrowth and drainage cleared along six miles of embankments as well as the installation of a new set of track points at Furzebrook. A new state of the art level crossing has been installed on the access road to the Wytch Farm oil field and Norden station while 2,235 cubic metres of earth has been excavated – and a new siding laid – so a new road-rail interchange could be built to enable the creation of the Norden Gates level crossing. Swanage Railway Company Project Wareham director Mark Woolley said: “The historic transformation has been remarkable and I’d like to pay tribute to everyone – on the ground and behind the scenes in planning and logistics – for all their hard work which will see the ambitious upgrade of our three-mile extension completed by the end of March, 2016.

“It has been a major undertaking – the laying of half a mile of track, the replacement of 1,200 wooden sleepers, the major upgrade of a quarter-mile long embankment, the installation of a state of the art level crossing and associated signalling at Norden as well as the creation of the new roadrail interchange at Norden for the transfer of locomotives and carriages. “The start of the trial passenger service to Wareham during the first quarter of 2017 – instead of June this year – is because of the need to replace, rather than restore, non-standard equipment on our two exBritish Railways 1960s heritage diesel trains being upgraded to exacting main line standards. “Detailed technical examination has concluded that new non-standard axles and wheel bearings – known as wheel-sets – need to be manufactured by specialist contractors in the United States, South Africa and England. We estimate the completed trains will be tested and delivered to the Swanage Railway during the Autumn of 2016. “We’re very grateful for the assistance of our specialist contractors who have been very helpful in progressing the detailed examination and manufacturing work needed on our two diesel trains so they can carry passengers to Wareham,” added Mr Woolley, a Swanage Railway volunteer for 33 years. The Swanage Railway has been given a grant of £1.86 million from the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund to introduce a trial passenger train service from Swanage to the main line at Wareham. It is planned to run the service on 50 selected days during 2017 and 90 selected days during 2018. The grant covers the restoration of the former Network Rail line as well as the restoration and upgrade, to main line standards, of the two exBritish Railways diesel trains – a one-coach Class 121 ‘Bubble Car’ and a three-coach Class 117 unit – which are known as diesel multiple units or DMUs for short.

The Purbeck Gazette The Purbeck Community Rail Partnership, of which the Swanage Railway is a member, has been working since 1997 to re-establish a passenger train service between Swanage, Corfe Castle and the main line at Wareham. Swanage Railway train times – and special event details – are available online at www.swanagerailway.co.uk or by telephone on 01929 425800.

uring February 2016 a Weekend Winter Shuttle service will be operating between Swanage and Norden via Herston Halt, Harmans Cross and Corfe Castle. The service will also run during the school half term week - Monday 15th – Friday 19th February. Fun Days for Children at Corfe Castle Station are taking place during the school half term week – Monday 15th – Friday 19th February 10:30 – 15:30. With traditional games, face painting and other activities for children it is sure to be a great way to keep the kids entertained. Our Dining Train season commences on Saturday 13th February with a special Valentines Belle, followed by “The Dorsetman” Luncheon Train on Sunday 21st February. The 2016 January – May Timetable has now been published together with the 2016 programme of events including our steam and diesel galas, dining trains and other special events. Full details of our timetables, fares and events can be found at www. swanagerailway.co.uk Purbeck Railway Circle On Friday 12th February, Colin Stone, local author and historian will deliver his presentation entitled “Steam on Three Continents, Europe, India and Africa”. In his presentation Colin will show steam in action, much of it British built, in Asia, Africa before returning via Mainland Europe visiting Switzerland, Austria and Germany to end his tour back in the UK at home on the Swanage Railway. The Circle meets in Harmans Cross Village Hall, Haycrafts Lane, Harmans Cross at 7.00 for 7.30 pm. Tea/coffee/biscuits and railway orientated raffle as usual. EVERYONE IS WELCOME. For other information please contact the PRC General Secretary, e-mail:gensec@purbeckrailwaycircle.org.uk

Pictures by kind permission of Andrew P.M. Wright (thanks Andrew!). Opposite page: top: Project Wareham Director, Mark Wolley. Below left: DMU on new track at Furzebrook, below right: Furzebrook 2014. Below: some of those involved with getting the line to Wareham.

The Purbeck Gazette

Swanage Outraged By Impending Loss Of Royal Mail Sorting And Delivery Office

wanage townsfolk have been left reeling after learning that the Royal Mail Sorting and Delivery Office in Swanage Town Centre will be closing - the likelihood is that the closure will take place at end of March this year - in a matter of weeks. The land where the sorting office is situated is currently leased by Royal Mail. It is thought that the company is looking to cut costs by amalgamating the sorting office with Wareham. The sorting facililty will be moved to share the current site in Sandford Lane Industrial Estate with the Wareham team. Staff who are based in the Swanage office will then have to commute from Swanage to Wareham each day to sort and collect mail, prior to driving back to Swanage to commence deliveries. Business owners who usually have post delivered by Swanage-based Royal Mail staff have voiced significant concerns regarding the time that post will be delivered to Swanagebased businesses after the move. Local businesses who utilise services such as the mail collection service, will have to drive to Wareham to collect their mail, or forgo using the service altogether as it will no longer be available without an office in Swanage. There will be no facility (without a Swanage office) to deal with missed delivery parcels once the move takes place. Parcels can currently be collected from the sorting office (behind the Post Office in Kings Road East) if you miss your delivery. It is hoped that Mick Searle, Manager of Swanage Post Office (a completely separate entity to Royal Mail), will be able (and willing) to help organise an alternative system for parcel collection in Swanage or townsfolk will have no option but to drive to Wareham to collect - those of us with a job, who may be able to pop out for five minutes to collect from the Swanage office, would not have the option to collect from Wareham, as the facility closes at 15.45 on weekdays, according to their website. Any involvement from the Post Office in attempting to facilitate a collection service from Swanage Post office would entail Mick making significant changes to his own business in order to make room for the substancial shelving required to handle the missed Royal Mail parcel deliveries each day. Mick would then also have to pay the wages required for a member of his team to spend considerable time each day dealing with the public on behalf of Royal Mail. Not an acceptable situation, particularly in light of the fact that anyone sending a parcel by Royal Mail surely has the right to expect Royal Mail to deliver it, rather than relying on the good will of a completely separate local business owner to ensure it reaches its addressee. As the government allowed the Royal Mail to be sold off, there is no requirement for any form of consultation with the public - a private business may do just as they please, and Royal Mail is now just that - private. This therefore makes the situation very difficult for those who rely on the excellent service which the local Swanage team have provided over the decades - we have had numerous stories sent in over the years of Swanage delivery staff ensuring locals get their mail - even when incorrectly addressed, or with addresses missing altogether. There has been a sorting office in Swanage for well over seventy years, with the local site having been occupied by Royal Mail for over forty years. Locals have questioned the logic applied to the planned move - Swanage is a ‘satellite’ office - cut off from the rest of the ‘mainland’, whereas Wareham is in much closer proximity to the larger offices at Poole and Bournemouth and would surely be easier (and more logical) to merge. With heavy traffic in summer months (meaning the journey from Swanage to Wareham can take over an hour each way) and with only two routes in and out, a simple road accident, flood (as we saw in Corfe Castle) or similar incident could see the whole area around Swanage cut off from a reliable postal service at any time through accident or bad weather. Many local businesses totally rely on having the local sorting and delivery office open and operational. Kevin, Manager of the popular Burt’s Bits store in Station Road, utilises the sorting office daily as he also runs a mail-order side to the business, and therefore needs to send numerous parcels every day to customers via his Royal Mail business contract.

He will no longer be able to pop round to the office in Swanage when he needs to as this service will no longer be available to him - despite his contract with Royal Mail. Kevin’s not entirely sure what his options will be in the future - other than driving to Wareham sorting office every day - if he had a car. He cannot utilise his Royal Mail contract by sending parcels via the Post Office Counter in Swanage as Royal Mail is a different company. “I have absolutely no idea what I’m going to do” said Kevin, “the mail order side of my business is totally reliant on the sorting office being in Swanage. With the Post Office now also dealing with Nat West Business customers as well as their usual customers, queues are only going to get longer and that is simply not a viable option for me, and my contract is with Royal Mail, not the Post office. Sending numerous parcels myself on a daily basis, can you imagine the hold up behind me, if I sent them all individually over the Post Office counter? It’s totally unworkable and will have a significant impact on not only my business, but on many others too. It is an absolute disgrace, and can only have been suggested by someone with no knowledge whatsoever of the area or of the businesses who rely on Royal Mail services here.” Other local businesses utilise the mail collection services (collecting their own mail from the sorting office early in the morning). This is also likely to be unavailable once the Swanage sorting office closes - unless business customers fancy making the 20-mile round trip to collect from the sorting office in Wareham - that’s if they can find a parking space when they get there...... Of course, for those who don’t drive - bad luck. There is no public transport service to the sorting office, based on the Industrial Estate. Local MP, Richard Drax, recently paid a visit to the sorting office early one morning (pictured above by Swanage Pier with one of the delivery vans and Swanage Postie, Alan Dashfield), to find out about the proposed closure. We understand Richard has written to Royal Mail in strong support of retaining the office in Swanage for many of the reasons we quote above, and has requested a meeting with Royal Mail in London to discuss the situation.

The Purbeck Gazette

A Stroke of Bad Luck t was the 18th October 2015 when Steve Jones, Richie Ballantyne and John Brooks decided to canoe around to Dancing Ledge from Swanage. At 0917 the two watch-keepers at the Lookout noted them pass to the south of the Lookout. On rounding Durlston Head, their details were passed to St Albans NCI as is the normal practice in order that their progress along the coast could be safely monitored. We received a call back later stating that they were returning towards Swanage and they rounded Durlston heading north. After reaching the lee of Durlston Head they were noted to be rafted up. From the Lookout, there seemed nothing untoward about this until very shortly afterwards they disappeared from our view. With a little apprehension, I then left the Lookout in order to ascertain their whereabouts. A scan of the Bay found them beached around the base of Zig-Zag steps. Assuming a “coffee break”, I returned to the Lookout – panic over – or so it was thought! At 1212 the NCI’s dedicated VHF frequency (Channel 65), burst into life. Following a few seconds of interchange, we established clear communications between the Lookout and the caller (Dinger Kayaks). It soon became very clear that the kayaks on the beach at Zig-Zag were not on a coffee break as one of them was complaining of severe visual impairment and a numbness down one side of his face. The UK Coast Guard was immediately informed and the Swanage inshore Lifeboat and CG helicopter 106 were rapidly tasked to attend. Solent Coast Guard was unable to establish direct links by VHF or Mobile because of the location of the casualty. The incident was therefore coordinated via VHF-65 from the Lookout and landline calls to the Coast Guard Marine Operations Centre. By now it was about 1240 and when the Inshore Lifeboat crew landed at the casualty’s position, it was agreed that he would be brought to the lifeboat station and then over-landed to the waiting Helicopter which had landed outside the lookout. This duly took place and he was successfully transferred to Poole General Hospital leaving Swanage at 1314. Steve, a fit and healthy fifty three year old, was later diagnosed to have been suffering from a stroke, definitely very life threatening! He stayed in hospital for some time. The prompt retrieval of the casualty and his successful transfer to PGH would not have happened without the following factors: 1) The safety consciousness of the Kayakers. Not only were they wearing personal protection (life preservers, safety helmets etc) but as well as investing in their kayaks, PPE etc, they had a handheld VHF radio with them! A relatively small cost with a relatively huge potential – Ask Steve! 2) The guys had a great awareness of where they were, the limitations of the radio signal and they knew that we were just up the coast and watching and listening for them. I am sure that you will be pleased to know that Steve, made his first venture back into a kayak at Lake Pier, Hamworthy on the 17th December where I had the pleasure of meeting with him and Richie (see above photo). Some would say he is a very lucky man and I would partially agree. He may also be called very unlucky to be where he was when the bleed occurred and I would entirely agree. What he definitely is, is a man who has made his own luck. Steve and his friends are very well qualified kayakers whose adherence to a good safety ethos saved his life. On many occasions casualties are only rescued because of luck – the coincidence of someone looking in the right direction at the right time. Please don’t be one of those, it may not finally effect you, but your families will have to live with it, and without you. A kayak is often more that £1000, a radio is less than £100, a life is £??? A no brainer!!! May I take this opportunity to thank Steve and his fellow kayakers for the permission to publish this account and pass their thanks to the RNLI and UKCG for their assistance in this operation. May I wish them, and all of you a safe 2016, on whichever side of the tide line your life takes you. Bob Clark, Swanage NCI. Email to swanagenci@btinternet.com

Coastguard Update

The Purbeck Gazette

hilst colleagues in the Coastguard helped the victims of the floods in the North we down South escaped the worst until the New Year. The Swanage team were called on the 8th January to assist Dorset Police to search Swanage Pier in the night after they were concerned a missing person may have been sitting there. Thankfully enquiries later the next day found the person staying in a local guest house. The St Albans team were called over Christmas to a female who had slipped along the cliff path. Due to the location the rescue helicopter from Portland was called and airlifted the lady to hospital. Christmas passed without any Incident however a very heavy downpour of rain on the 2nd January saw flooding in parts of Swanage. The team headed out on patrol and checked the key areas of the town to ensure no one was stuck. At Ulwell water was pouring off both hills and was in danger of flooding a small cottage. This problem wasn’t helped by passing cars making waves through flood water, so a carefully positioned Coastguard vehicle slowed traffic until the water level dropped. The year ahead will again see a lot of training for the team. Every three years the team has to requalify in their key skills, this year that includes rope and first aid so no doubt you will see us about practising before our assessments. In a recent survey across the country over 50% of people surveyed didn’t know that the Coastguard were responsible for the maritime search and rescue around the UK Coast. In an emergency call 999 ask for Coastguard or non-emergency calls can be directed to the National Maritime Operations Centre on 01305 760439.

Coastal Revival Fund For Wareham

Major Grant Award for Wareham Town Council am pleased to announce that Wareham Town Council has now been awarded £45,000 following its bid to the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Coastal Revival Fund in September 2015 for grant assistance towards the Council’s ‘Mill Lane Revival Project’. This will greatly assist the funding for this project, allowing the Council to refurbish its 2 Mill Lane premises (a Grade 2, 19th century listed building) for its tenants Purbeck Citizens Advice (PCA), to establish extra and badly needed office accommodation for the PCA staff and its clients, and create a new ground floor extension for the Wareham Town Band, its other

tenant of this property. Work commenced on 4th January 2016. To quote from the CRF award letter: “ There was a very high interest in the £3million Revival Fund, which received two hundred and twenty two bids, totalling £9million. With the funding three times oversubscribed, your project demonstrated it was one of the very best”. Thank you to all who assisted with our application, in particular Mr Kevin Brooks, Mayor’s Escort for all his hard work on the application, and also to Bridget Betts, Coordinator at Dorset Coast Forum, Environmental Services, Dorset County Council, for her support and encouragement. Rod Curtis

Dorset Flood App Helps North

n online tool designed by Dorset County Council has been used to help people affected by the recent flooding in the north of England. The county council’s geographical information systems (GIS) and flood risk management teams worked with the Environment Agency to develop the web-based app called SWIM to help recovery efforts in the aftermath of serious flooding. The tool lets public bodies, volunteer flood wardens and residents keep track of the numbers of flooded properties and people evacuated from their homes. The council had not had a major flood event in Dorset to put SWIM to the test. But when a call came in December to help out 350 miles away in Cumbria, the app was swiftly readied for action. Andy Elliott, the council’s GIS manager, explains: “After the floods hit Cumbria, Guy Parker, one of our local colleagues from the Environment Agency, was sent up there to help. He is very aware of SWIM and has been instrumental in developing it. “Guy contacted me to see if we could help Cumbria out. It was clear that they had nothing else there with the same range of capabilities as SWIM to manage such a big flood event. My team worked round the clock to make SWIM suitable for Cumbria. Twenty-four hours after Guy’s call we had a system ready for him to test. Within forty eight hours, the system

was being used and has been ever since.” The county council has been the lead local flood authority since 2010. After the floods of July 2012, the council started developing SWIM to be used in Dorset and potentially by other local authorities in the south west.The web-based app can be used by different agencies to help communities recover from flooding and collect vital data to help manage the long-term flood risk. Residents can also use the mobile-friendly website to report if their home has been flooded. The information can also be used by home owners to qualify for special grants to help reduce the impacts of future flooding to their properties. Andy added: “Our work has already generated a lot of interest around the south west and we are currently rolling out SWIM to neighbouring counties. Guy asked for our help and we responded. It was a case of cooperation between agencies about as far apart as we could geographically be in England and it’s great to feel we could do something to help Cumbria out.” Following further requests for help from the Environment Agency, the council’s GIS team has developed a UK-wide version of SWIM specifically for agency use. They are also creating SWIM versions for Lancashire and other flood-hit areas of the north.

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Local Specialist Personal Injury and Workplace Disease Team

By Hannah Brown, Michelle Green and Lorraine Brown

Suffering an injury that is not your fault can have a significant effect on your life both emotionally and financially. Pursuing a personal injury claim is not just about obtaining compensation for the immediate effects of the accident.

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It is also about assessing the injuries and ensuring that any longer term rehabilitation and treatment needs are met. You will also want to be able to return to the quality of life that you had before the accident as far and as soon as possible. We are specialist personal injury and workplace disease lawyers located in Dorset and Somerset. We have specialists experienced in dealing with injuries lasting a few months to accidents which lead to catastrophic injury from which a full recovery is not expected. We aim to resolve claims as swiftly as possible, whilst ensuring that the proper compensation is paid. We would be pleased to meet with you at any of our offices and outreach locations

in Dorset or Somerset or to deal with your claim by telephone. If you have a significant injury or find it difficult to leave home, we will arrange to see you at home or in hospital. We will be as accessible as possible in order to support you through your claim. In most cases we are able to offer clients a 'no-win, no-fee' agreement. When we win we will claim legal fees from the insurer of the company or individual responsible for the injuries. If the claim is not successful, we do not charge for our legal fees. Unlike most lawyers we do not make a deduction from our client's compensation for our own fees. Please do not hesitate to contact us on 0800 652 8411 or call into any one of our offices to make an appointment.

Local Personal Injury Specialist Free claim assessment No cost to you, win or lose

Yeovil, Sherborne, Dorchester & Weymouth. Appointments available in Wareham

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Swanage’s Future Lifeboat Accepted Into RNLI Fleet

n December 2015 the future Swanage lifeboat left the boat builders at Berthon, Lymington, and was officially accepted into the RNLI fleet where she has commenced sea trials. The Shannon class lifeboat, the George Thomas Lacy, is currently residing at the RNLI Headquarters in Poole where she will be based over the next few months during sea trials before coming on service at Swanage in the spring. As we enter 2016 crew training preparations commence pending the imminent arrival of the new Swanage lifeboat, the jet-propelled Shannon class lifeboat. Various training courses will be running through the coming months to help prepare the crew for the new lifeboat and state-ofthe-art equipment it has on board. The first course of the year was radar training in early January. The new Shannon class lifeboat will have interactive screens at each seat so any crew member aboard the lifeboat can be involved in navigation. Therefore these additional skills will enable more crew to be available to assist with searching and navigation during a rescue. During the winter months the Swanage lifeboat crew typically attend fewer rescues with less people at sea and often unfavourable sea conditions. However, in 2015 the volunteer crew have received at least one tasking every month providing a busier than usual winter season. The turn of the year brought with it a flurry of storms and rough seas providing some ideal training conditions for the volunteer crew. The Swanage crew train weekly, usually every Wednesday. While most people were with their families enjoying the festive break, the Swanage RNLI volunteers took the opportunity to take part in some rough weather training, launching both lifeboats in gale force conditions, to run through

a variety of drills at sea. Working in such challenging conditions gives the crew the opportunity to hone their skills and experience the extreme conditions they may face during a rescue. The lifeboat station and slipway are also taking shape with key parts of the boat hall framework and slipway buttresses being put in place during early 2016. Pictured -Rough weather training aboard the Mersey class Swanage lifeboat (credit Julian Sawyer)

The Price Of Trusting Too Much...

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Jacqueline Wray, picture by kind permission of the Bournemouth Daily Echo

artin and Betty Slater, owners of Jenkins Newsagents in the Lower High Street, Swanage, are struggling to adjust to life after a trusted member of staff who had worked for them from 2008 to 2014 was found guilty of stealing cigarettes, scratch cards, groceries and cash amounting to more than £12,000 from the business. 49-year-old Jacqueline Wray, pictured above, of Cranborne Road, Swanage, was employed as a Manageress by Martin and Betty to work in the popular local shop behind the counter. The couple then discovered through the use of CCTV that Jacqueline was stealing from them on a regular basis. Martin and Betty were forced to mortage their property and move home as a result of the financial losses they suffered. They are still struggling to cope with debts and describe the whole episode as utterly devastating. Originally, the amount thought to have been taken was estimated at around £200,000, but this was difficult to prove as the thefts took place over a period of six and a half years. The court found Jacqueline guilty of stealing £12,000 worth of goods and cash. Jacqueline attended Winchester Crown Court on Monday 4th January 2016 for sentencing. Martin and Betty had hoped a prison term would be given. However, Judge Douglas Field gave a 15 month prison term, suspended for 12 months and ordered Jacqueline to carry out 130 hours of unpaid work. She has also been placed under a curfew for three months with electronic monitoring and has been ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £100. There was no suggestion of any of the money being returned to Martin and Betty - they are left to pick up the pieces of their business and home life alone, whilst the person responsible for their loss does a mere 130 hours of unpaid work (or work that’s paid at the staggering rate of £92.31 per hour - dividing the £12,000 stolen by the 130 hours given as ‘punishment’.....). With around 10,000 people living in Swanage, the Gazette has put a collection car on the counter of Jenkins - if everyone living in town popped £1 in the jar, it would go a long way towards making things somewhat better for Martin and Betty, and would show that despite the occasional bad egg, our community is actually rather fantastic... Please do pop into Jenkins in Swanage High Street this month and add your £1 to the jar - let’s show that as a community, we stick together, no matter what!

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Out Of The Blue

lthough we are now into February it is an opportune moment to reflect on what we did for the Purbeck community in 2015. Incidents attended 4219 Reports Anti-social behaviour 623 Crime 935

Public Safety / Welfare 2808 Road related 1390 Events Over twenty major events required Police input in the planning stages to ensure that all were safe, lawful, without incident and with minimal disruption to local residents and businesses. First Aid Officers and PCSOs attended many incidents and administered first aid; ranging from TLC to administering CPR and Defibrillator use and dealing with major trauma injuries. Neighbourhood Policing Teams Your three Neighbourhood Policing Teams have also been working extremely hard. Under the umbrella of Threat, Risk and Harm - they visit victims of crime; offering support and Crime Prevention advice not only to victims but also to the wider community in order reduce the risk of becoming a victim. Through proactive initiatives they encourage community engagement and education on many matters including Road Safety, Neighbourhood Watch, Cyber-crime, On-line and telephone fraud to name a few.

A sample of some of the work and figures for an idea of how busy they are: 350+ Meet the Team events 40+ Telephone fraud prevention briefings 100+ Parish Council meetings 40+ Horse Tack and Bike marking events 350+ youth club meetings 50+ specific crime prevention events The Purbeck Police Facebook page continues to be popular and a great tool for us to share information with the community. There will be a new interactive feature happening soon – so watch this space. To contact Dorset Police 101 - Police Enquiry Centre 999 - EMERGENCY where there is a risk of harm or a crime is in progress. 0800 555 111 – Crimestoppers (anonymous) Remember if you See Anything Suspicious (SAS) call 999. For the latest information on what Purbeck police are doing follow our social media, Twitter - @PurbeckPolice and Facebook – facebook.com/ Purbeck-Police, we value your support and comments. Purbeck Safer Neighbourhood Team

Blast From The Past! This month, A Decade Ago...

ebruary 2006 saw some of our regular letter writers plagued by an unknown trouble maker, who seemed to delight in snipping out letters published in the Gazette before paper-clipping them to a page detailing his/her comments on the original letter, before sending it off back to the original writer....minus a postage stamp. The activities of this unknown ‘warrior’ continued unabated for some time, until David Hollister threatened to find out who was behind it and name and shame them in the paper! The Old Malthouse School in Langton Matravers celebrated its centenary with an Open Day on February 24, having recently changed to a Monday Friday school with flexible boarding. The school was reported to be going ‘from strength to strength, with record enquiries for places’. In the Motoring column, David was having a moan that despite upgrading to having sixty-four TV channels as opposed to just four, there was still nothing whatsoever on the box over Christmas. He was also wondering how bare tree trunks and corregated iron fencing fitted in with an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in response to the siginificant tree ‘management’ work carried out at the property next to St Michaels Garage in Harmans Cross by Mr Affleck. Food columnist, Martin Pook (now living in Wales) asked readers to make a New Year’s resolution to try and understand other people better, including those from other nationalities and religions. Something still hugely relevant today. Our restaurant reviewer (Anon.Eater) popped into Norden House, then run by Mike and Melanie Cottam, where he enjoyed a good meal and gave the restaurant a score of 7/10 - would have been an 8 if Real Ale had been available, apparently! Chicory was the new, healthy ‘in thing’ for 2006, and we featured several recipies from Jackbuck.co.uk for you to get the best out of this little plant. Professional Hedgelayer, Roy Ford of Corfe Castle, held a training weekend at Harmans Cross to pass on his skills to interested parties, and also held a hedgelaying competition at Warmwell. Andy Kirkwood was then a regular columnist, penning ‘Outside the Box’ for us each month. In February 2006, Andy wrote about the fact that around one third of food produced for the festive period was wasted - one in every three animals slaughtered lost their lives for nothing. This, as we know, is a problem still with us today, with tonnes of food wasted every month. The Rangers at Durlston Country Park in Swanage reported that the Friends of Durlston had finally become a Constituted Body, and invited more people to join-up. After several dolphin strandings during the previous November, the team had expected more throughout December, but reported that thankfully no more strandings occurred. A Grey Seal was seen around Durlston and Swanage Bay. Ranger Jo

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reported her favourite moment from 2005 was a close encounter with ‘Sheila’ the Grey Seal on Monkey Beach in Swanage. Swanage Railway volunteer, Peter Burtwell, reported that the Railway fed mince pies and a sherry to over 4,500 adults, whilst 3,000 children met Father Christmas on the train during Christmas 2005.

Dorset Lobbying Government Over £7.4m Funding Cut

orset County Council is continuing to press the Government about changes to its funding, which have left it needing to cut an extra £7.4m from its budget. The unexpected changes to the way government grant money is shared between counties and cities mean the county council would have to urgently find additional savings on top of the £13m it already plans to save in 2016/17. In his autumn statement in November, Chancellor George Osborne announced that revenue support grant – the money councils receive from Government to fund day-to-day services – would be phased out over the next four years. However, the local government finance settlement announced on 17 December, Dorset is one of only two county councils to lose all of its grant within two years. Dorset had expected to lose 30 per cent of its government grant next year but is now set to see it cut by 47 per cent. The impact will also be worse in coming years. The new formula means the council will be £7.4m worse off in 2016/17, rising to £12.4m in 2017/18 and £18.2m by 2019/20. The Government is allowing councils to raise council tax by an extra two per cent to help fund social care. If agreed, this rise would give the council £3.9m to help meet the costs of an aging population and the National Living Wage. However, the additional £7.4m of cuts would still be needed after this money has been taken into account, meaning pressures on the social care budget will be greater, not less than before. Meanwhile, the money from business rates that the council will be allowed to keep will also be wiped out as a result of the grant reductions in future years. The council now

urgently needs to revise its planned budget for 2016/17, which is likely to mean further reductions in services and impact on staff unless an agreement with Government can be reached. A Government consultation on the changes to the funding formula ends this week and the council is lobbying ministers for a rethink. Following talks in Westminster before Christmas, council Leader Robert Gould is speaking with the Communities secretary Greg Clark this week, while Chief Executive Debbie Ward is in on-going discussions with civil servants. Dorset’s MPs are also extremely concerned and making the county’s case to ministers and in Parliament. Cllr Gould said: “The main issue is that the new methodology announced by the Government was not consulted on. And, unlike previous years, they have not included any transitional arrangements to lessen the impacts on us. County councils, especially those in rural areas, are more harshly affected by the changes that those in more urban areas. “It means that, despite our prudent financial planning based on previous Government announcements, we would be looking at making more severe cuts to services without having time to consult with communities. I am urgently speaking with the Secretary of State to stress the gravity of the situation and ask for more support through these changes.” The council expects to know the results of the Government consultation on 2 February. The council’s Cabinet is due to recommend the budget for 2016/17 on 11 February for approval by the full county council on 15 February.

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Ready, Steady, GO!

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Swanage Boxing Day Swim 2015

wanage Boxing Day Swim 2015 was another roaring success, with over one hundred swimmers taking part and just over one thousand spectators turning up to watch. Since organiser, Julian Wood of Country Foods Catering, first thought up the event, it has grown year on year, bringing more people to town each Boxing Day. This year three coaches turned up from out of the area, bringing additional spectators to watch the fun. The word is spreading! In total, around 1,500 people were on the seafront (including the swimmers) for the duration of the event, bringing much needed additional business to near-by retail stores and cafes by increasing footfall enormously throughout the morning. It was therefore a great shame that nearby retailers were unable to provide the organiser and volunteers access to an electrical supply this year for the first time - meaning that the cups of tea and coffee usually served up to those attending (and adding a little to the charity coffers) had to be cancelled. As the Mowlem Trustees also felt it necessary to charge the organiser £20 for utilising the pavement outside the Mowlem, the 2016 registration point and refreshment stall will be moved slightly further up the seafront, away from the Mowlem and the neighbouring businesses. The swim will take place as usual. Howard from Sydenhams Tool Hire in Swanage has already offered to sort out an electrical supply free of charge (it’s for charity!) for the event

next year, so a massive thanks to Sydenhams for their generous support! At the time of writing, aproximately £2,500 of sponsorship money has come in, which will be shared among the three chosen charities for 2015. Sadly, for the first time since the event was conceived, there were a number of people who turned up and wanted to take part in this organised, advertised event, but who flatly refused to pay the registration fee, or hand over any sponsorship money. Whilst of course the beach is open to everyone, it absolutely beggers belief that people refused to pay. Please remember folks - the very small team who organise this event every year put a lot of work in and are trying to raise as much as they can for local charities. We therefore ask EVERYONE who wishes to take part in the event next year to either pay their registration fee or raise sponsorship, and ensure this money goes to the organiser to be passed on to the local charity benefiting from the next event. If you don’t want to pay to attend the event, then don’t gatecrash it! A massive well done to all the swimmers, and to Julian, who puts the time and effort into organising the event each year. A very special well done to Mary of Swanage, who managed to raise over £800 in sponsorship on her own, a staggering amount whih puts those who refused to pay anything to absolute shame, so well done Mary!!

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Crossways Donate To Air Ambulance

nce again Crossways Travel, local tour operator, based in Dorset has made a substantial donation of £1447 this time to Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance. This included money collected from a recent Whist Tour where a raffle was held in the hotel, along with money raised over the year for their charity of the year. Next year Crossways Travel plan to nominate Weldmar Hospice as their charity of the year. A spokesman for Crossways Travel said it was a very proud moment in the company’s history and they hope to have many more donations in the future. Photo - from left to right - Gill Davies (Office administrator), Kadi Crocker (Joint Company Owner), Air Ambulance representative, Matthew Crocker (Joint Company Owner), Ron Lewis (Coach Driver)

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Come And Meet The HK Team!

n Wednesday 2 March 2016, Ann Corke, partner in charge of the private client team at the Swanage office of Humphries Kirk Solicitors, and colleagues are running an informal ‘meet and greet’ morning at Swanage Catholic Church Hall, Rempstone Road. The event will start at 9:45am and run until 2pm. There will be various short, informative talks to attend throughout the morning, as well as the chance to speak to one of our friendly team on

a ‘drop-in’ basis. The talks are aimed at tackling topical issues including Administration of Estates, Inheritance Tax, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Wills. All are invited to come and go at any time throughout the morning refreshments will be served. For more information please contact Humphries Kirk Swanage on 01929 423301 or visit http://www.hklaw.eu

Drainage Company And Subcontractor Prosecuted

lumbers 24/7 Ltd was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on 7th January 2016 following a prosecution by Dorset County Council’s trading standards service. They were ordered to pay £15,000 for misleading an older customer about the price of drainage work and the fact that they claimed work was required when it was not. The company and one of its subcontractors, Russell Stephen Lane, mislead Mrs Binks, seventy two years old, about drainage work needed at her home in Kington Magna, North Dorset. Mrs Binks contacted the company, finding them in the ‘Yellow Pages’ after she discovered a blocked drain. Two men arrived in a van and had a quick look but it was too dark to carry on, so they arranged to return the following day. One of these men was Mr Lane. The court heard how the following morning they produced some paperwork which they initially asked Mrs Binks to sign. It had no prices on and they told her that if she didn’t sign they wouldn’t be able to start. The men then carried out some work including unblocking the drain and lining some of the pipes in the drainage system. The final bill was £7,800. They had been there for approximately five hours. Mrs Binks felt obliged to pay there and then as she felt intimidated and threatened. She also stated that just after she had paid, she witnessed the two men “laughing and doing a little dance” in the garden. Trading standards had the works examined by an expert, who estimated that £2,083 would have been a reasonable charge and noted that parts of the work were unnecessary. The jury agreed

with trading standards that the price charged by Mr Lane was so significantly above what a reasonable charge would have been that the demand to pay that amount could only have been made dishonestly. Mr Lane’s sentencing was adjourned. In mitigation counsel for Plumbers 24/7 Ltd, Mr Raudnitz, acknowledged that while the company could not know exactly what had happened at the property their due diligence had fallen short of what was necessary and that the company itself had not acted dishonestly. The trial judge, Judge Johnson, agreed that these circumstances were at the lower end of culpability for the company and so sentenced it to a fine of £1000 per offence but also ordered it to pay £5000 to the victim and £8000 in costs to the county council. Richard Herringshaw, principal trading standards officer, said: “I am pleased with this result especially for the victim Mrs Binks. “It takes courage to make a statement and give evidence at court.” “Without her evidence we would not have been able to take this prosecution and the company and Mr Lane would have simply got away with it. This will have been a costly episode for the company and will hopefully ensure that it takes more care, especially with the pricing of the work it carries out.” More information can be found at www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk. For consumers without internet access, Citizens Advice can also help find a trader who is a member of the trading standards-approved ‘Buy with Confidence’ scheme.

On Top Of The World! YOUR Pictures.....

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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!

Kimmeridge Bay, by Gareth James

Lizard & Caterpillers at Winspit. By Paul Jackman, Shropshire

Kayaking at Durdle Door. By Paul Jackman, Shropshire

Illuminated Corfe Castle. By Linda Monks

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Wareham Area Senior Forum Update

‘‘

Wareham Area Seniors’ Forum

TAX, CARE AND TOY BOYS Whilst the message is serious, our delivery is informal and delivered in plain English. Half an hour on thoughtprovoking content covering: tax, care, wills, etc.

‘‘

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

For information, or for transport to attend, call Sue on 07825 264353. Age 50+ All welcome. £2 donation required.

n 8th February we are very fortunate to have the speakers: “Tax, Care and Toy Boys’ Whilst their message is serious, their delivery is informal and delivered in plain English – new and old members can be assured of half an hour of thought-provoking content, including a Q&A at the end. Tax – Inheritance Tax is described as a ‘voluntary tax’ because there are allowances, exemptions and planning measures you can take to lower or eliminate your exposure to this tax. Care – as many as 70,000 homes are sold each year to fund long term care. Toy Boys (sideways disinheritance) – re-marriage of a surviving spouse after the first death of a couple can result in the new husband/wife inheriting everything, whilst the children get nothing. A Will is not enough – 70% of the UK adult population does not have a Will. A Will only takes effect on death so a Will can’t help protect your assets during your lifetime. These topics and more will be covered by our Speakers so if you are 50+ why not join us at 10am on 8th February at Parish Hall Wareham. Secretary, Wareham Seniors’ Forum For more information or for transport to the event Tel: 07825 264353.

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Swanage Town Council PURBECK ELECTRICAL I’m warm and cosy by this Reaches Settlement fire from Purbeck Electrical..... Over Holiday Park

wanage Town Council is pleased to announce that agreement has been reached with Darwin Property Investment Management Ltd in respect of matters arising from the disposal of Swanage Bay View Holiday Park. The agreement relates to indemnity clauses entered into when Darwin purchased the Holiday Park from the Town Council under a 105-year lease in October 2009. The indemnity clauses provided for up to £1.85 million of the £7.25 million sale proceeds to be returned by the Council to the purchasers. The final sum payable was to be calculated in relation to aspects of the park’s financial performance over the five years following the sale. Following lengthy negotiations, the settlement agreement will see a reduction in the annual rent from £30,000 to £1,000 for the remaining term of the lease, together with a repayment by the Town Council of £50,000. The Mayor, Steve Poultney, said: ‘I believe this Agreement is a good outcome for the residents of Swanage and I thank the owners of the Holiday Park for the professional manner in which they have finalised this matter. The revised lease terms ensure that the agreement reached in October 2009 remains the most financially advantageous of the options available to the Council at that time’. He continued: ‘This settlement removes the uncertainty that previously existed and enables the Town Council to plan its future finances more confidently’.

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ecember 2015 - Julia (Swanage Bay Fish) and Ray (Skinmates) have a final hug before packing-up and leaving their shops to the demolition crews as the site owner starts development work. Skinmates had been there for well over thirty years, so this will be a sad loss to the town. Swanage Bay Fish has already moved to a lovely new shop next to Bay Beauty, in Tilly Mead Arcade, Commercial Road. Julia has already brought new life to the arcade and has increased footfall significantly. Julia continues to provide excellent fish and seafood to the town - do pop in and see her soon! Ray will hopefully be offering his wares elsewhere soon - watch this space and we’ll let you know where!

Helpline No – 01929 424363 News Update At the end of 2015 we had our 3rd Birthday celebration at the All Stars Cafe in the Purbeck Sports Centre. It was good to meet some of our volunteers, both those who have been with us from the beginning and those who have just begun to help out with their local community. While we were together we were able to answer any queries volunteers had and also discuss how easy or difficult some of the tasks were. It was a valuable occasion as well as enjoyable. Before our buffet lunch we had an information session on Dementia Awareness. We would like more of our volunteers to join these sessions as we are finding that dementia and short term memory loss to be quite common with those we help within the Purbeck area. Dementia Awareness Sessions - Whether you are a volunteer or not we would like to invite you to one of our free sessions run by our Dementia Friends Champions. We are currently running one hour Dementia Awareness Sessions to the local community. They give an insight into the problems that people with short term memory loss encounter within the community and how everyone can help. If you would like to do something positive for your community by either volunteering or joining a Dementia Awareness session do give Sue a ring on 07825 264353 or Mo on 07971 338486 a call and we can give you more information! We can visit clubs and groups as well as local businesses for the free sessions.

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Personal Tax Accounts

Economic Review Of Q4 2015

uring the three months to end of December 2015 the FTSE 100 index rose by 3% but was down by 4.9% over 12 months and closed the year at 6242. Our analysts generally commented on the global situation as follows: ‘In 2016, we expect the world economy to grow moderately or broadly the same as it did in 2015. Fragile growth in the US and Europe may be offset by weakness in Asia, Latin America and China. After a long period of accommodative global monetary policy, 2016 could be the first year of monetary policy divergence. The US and possibly the UK could have rising interest rates while the European Central Bank, Bank of Japan and People’s Bank of China remain accommodative. Global equities remain our preferred asset class but only modest gains are expected. After a long bull market there are signs of exuberance with global Mergers & Acquisitions of over $5 trillion in 2015 exceeding the 2007 record level of $4.6 trillion. In addition, 2015 finished with some $90bn of debt defaults which is the highest since 2009.’ With specific reference to the UK, selections from our analysts’ comments are as follows: ‘Last year, the UK equity market lagged other global indices due to its heavy exposure to the mining, metal and oil sectors. The domestic economy appears to be performing relatively well though the outlook is for continuing low interest rates for most of 2016. The main UK equity indices struggled in 2015 as earnings per share disappointed for the 4th consecutive year. Apart from the hugely negative impact from resource stocks, there have been some poor results in other sectors e.g., Rolls Royce, Standard Chartered, Tesco and Royal Bank of Scotland. In the third quarter, actual dividends fell by 1.5% as payments by Tesco, Centrica, Standard Chartered and Glencore were scrapped or slashed and there could still be more dividend pain ahead. In summary, the UK equity outlook is cautious because commodities still provide downside risks and the UK economy still faces challenges. Possibly in 2016 a ‘Brexit’ vote could be a political and economic risk. Although sterling has weakened against the dollar over the last year, it has strengthened against the euro which is more important for UK trade. Overall Earnings Per Share expectations continue to look optimistic and dividend yield assumptions could be unsustainable not only if the oil price stays low but dividend cover has been eroded after a number of high profile profit warnings. Defensive shares look expensive but lower valued cyclicals carry risks. Overall, the FT-SE 100 Index is on a Price Earnings ratio of 14.6x for 2016 which is a premium to the 10 year median of 11.7x.’ Kate Spurling lives in Swanage and is an investment manager with Charles Stanley, Dorchester office – (01305) 217404 – kate.spurling@charlesstanley.co.uk Charles Stanley & Co Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA and is a member of the London Stock Exchange.

As part of a £1.3bn investment to transform HMRC into one of the most digitally advanced tax administrations in the world, HMRC have published a report and discussion paper setting out how new procedures for interacting with HMRC and paying tax will be implemented under the Making Tax Digital banner. It is intended that by April 2016, every individual and small business will have access to their own secure digital tax account that enables them to interact with HMRC digitally. By 2020, businesses and individual taxpayers will be able to register, file, pay and update their information at any time of the day or night, and at any point in the year, to suit them. HMRC have now officially launched Personal Tax Accounts (PTAs), which enable UK taxpayers to manage their tax affairs online. More than a million customers completing their self-assessment electronically will be directed to their online PTA which will: - provide a clear and joined-up view of the tax they pay and benefits they are entitled to; - enable customers to update their tax details as they occur in real time, removing the need to resubmit information; and - make it easier and more efficient to contact HMRC officials through services like web chat and virtual assistant. Between now and May 2016 HMRC will continue to add new services to the PTA, including: - improvements to the 'Check your tax estimate service' so customers can look a year ahead and back on their current, future and previous tax position; - a new online payment and repayment service; - expanding the opportunity for non-self-assessment customers to choose to stop receiving paper from HMRC; - integration of the tax credits online service in time for 2016 renewals; - introducing change of circumstances for the marriage allowance service; and - introduction of the new national insurance/state pension service.

MARCH DEADLINE NOON 8TH FEBRUARY

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Resolve your legal matters with Battens Solicitors

Counting the cost of divorce A Somerset law firm has warned that divorced couples may have to return to court to renegotiate their financial settlements because of a glitch on a Government website. Battens Solicitors, which is headquartered in Yeovil, says the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) software error shows why having a specialist family solicitor is so important. It means that couples who used forms on the MoJ’s website may well have reached financial settlements based on flawed calculations. Associate Lesley Powell, a newly appointed family law expert at Battens, said: “The Court requires each of the parties to fill in a comprehensive means form, a Form E, to settle financial matters in divorce proceedings. “It appears that in some cases where Form E on the website has been relied upon to undertake automatic calculations, these calculations have been flawed. This may well have led to some incorrect settlements.” The software blunder meant that some debts and other liabilities were not taken into account in calculations of property values in divorce cases. This could mean a return to court for couples to renegotiate the financial terms of their settlement. Lesley, who has worked extensively in family law for the past 15 years, added: “This problem highlights the danger of ‘DIY’ divorces and the reliance on online forms and calculators. “It emphasises the need for divorcing couples to obtain specialist legal advice and assistance, something our Family Team can help with. “At Battens we offer a specialist personal service and the forms we use are not affected by this glitch. “Our specialist Family lawyers go the extra mile and check the forms before sending them to our clients for approval and so any existing client should not be worried.” Battens faces a customary rise in instructions from separating couples after the festive period. The law firm ensures that a qualified mediator is on hand and ready to help at each of its offices in Yeovil, Sherborne, Dorchester and Weymouth. Lesley, who is based in Battens’ office in Yeovil, is a member of the Law Society's Family Law Panel and a member of Resolution. Anyone who has used the online form or concerned that their financial settlement may have been based on flawed calculations can contact Battens’ Family Team on 01935 846000.

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Trading Standards Know your consumer rights!

BWC Editorial – Pension Scams ast April, the Government introduced new pension rules enabling greater access to, and freedom around, how people spend their pensions. However, there is growing concern that the new rules will increase the risk of investment and other types of fraud. Indeed, it has already been reported that one in seven over 55’s have been targeted by pension fraudsters, and it’s been estimated that the amount of money lost to pension scammers between April and August 2015 was just over £9 million, which is around twice as much as the same period in 2014. The most common way used by potential scammers to contact over-55s is by email, followed by phone and then by post. Be very wary if you get: A cold call offer of a one off investment opportunity (for example, in land development, fine wines, precious stones, etc); A cold call offer of a free pension review; An offer of an investment described as ‘unique’, ‘overseas’, ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘ethical’ or in a ‘new’ industry ; A proposal to put all your funds into one investment; An offer of exploiting a legal loophole; A convincing marketing offer that promises returns of over 8%; An offer involving transferring your money quickly, and sending documents to you by courier. Do not rush into apparently attractive financial offers and make sure you seek advice and guidance before agreeing to anything. Dorset Trading Standards Buy With Confidence scheme has a list of approved financial

advisors. Impartial guidance is available through the Government’s Pension Wise guidance service. Visit www.pensionwise.gov.uk or phone The Pensions Advisory Service on 0300 123 1047. Finally, beware of copycat websites – some websites can look like they’re official government services like Pension Wise when they’re not. If you think you’ve been the victim of a pension scam or would like details of a Buy With Confidence approved financial advisor, call Citizens Advice Consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06 and report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

PURBECK

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WEDDINGS

Main picture: Liane Reddy married Mark Flattery. Bournemouth Beach. Photographer: Trev Rich

etting ready for the most important day of your life? Well, spring is coming and there is no better time to start planning your wedding day! Over the following pages we have drawn together some of the very best in wedding service providers from across Purbeck - from dressmakers, hairdressers and florists, to wedding planners, cake makers and of course, the all important venue. The feature is illustrated with some of the best wedding shots out there, this year provided by popular local photographer, Trev Rich. Thanks so much to the beautiful couples who agreed to share their wedding pictures with us! We wish you all a long, happy and healthy life together and offer our congratulations on your union.

Flowers by Bloom of Swanage

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Pictures: Left: Ruth Prosser married John Felstead, Swanage. Right: Harriet Churchill married Daniel Bridges, Studland. Photographer: Trev Rich

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Picture: Kelly Fudge married Kevin Wilcox Poole/Holton Lee. Photographer: Trev Rich

Picture: Ruth Prosser married John Felstead, Swanage. Photographer: Trev Rich

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Picture: Tina McCormack married Andy Samways, Poole. Photographer: Trev Rich

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Flowers by Bloom of Swanage

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Picture: Liane Reddy married Mark Flattery. Bournemouth Beach. Photographer: Trev Rich

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Picture: Kelly Fudge married Kevin Wilcox, Poole/Holton Lee. Photographer: Trev Rich

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Picture: Dawne and James Lovelock married in Poole. Photographer: Trev Rich

Picture: From the wedding of Kelly Fudge and Kevin Wilcox, Poole/Holton Lee. Photographer: Trev Rich

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Picture: Kelly Fudge married Kevin Wilcox, Poole/Holton Lee. Photographer: Trev Rich

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Flowers by Bloom of Swanage

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I’ll Never Grow-Up - Not Me!!* by David Hollister

here are two sorts of people in the world. Those who love the limelight and those who shun it. And for those of us in the former group, there are many ways to achieve our aim. In my case, it was playing in bands, DJ and radio, work with Carnival, and latterly writing for the Gazette. But one of the earliest ways was ‘hotting up’ my car. Making it look good, sound good, and feel good. Even if it was only in my own eyes. I started with a Mini 850 and not much idea of how to ‘mod’ it. Wider wheels, dropped suspension, a fancy central exhaust, ‘sports’ air filter and ‘racing’ seats that reclined so far back that I could only just see out. Painted a different colour every few months to confuse the police; it was so battered that it really didn’t matter if I rolled it in the back lanes as long as no-one was hurt. A regular occurrence. Then a mechanically-minded mate helped me to ‘tweak’ my Mk2 Cortina GT, make it look and sound like a Lotus; we bored it out, fitted twin 45 Webers, worked on the cylinder head, fitted sports shocks, and so on. It looked as good as a Mk2 Cortina can look. In my eyes. In everyone else’s it probably looked like what it was – a ‘boy racer’ who really wanted the real thing but couldn’t afford it. But it was ‘trick’ and I felt like a million dollars. We stayed just about legal, just about on the right side of the constabulary, burned a lot of fuel and a lot of rubber, and probably unknowingly annoyed the hell out of our neighbours. So when I decided to do a piece on D-I-Y car mods, I did try to enlist the help of some of the local young people who are still doing it, to ask them about their motives and their methods but unfortunately none of the ‘street racers’ came forward. So I’ve shared my own methods and motives with you, for what they are worth. From the ‘boy racer’ stage, people do move on. Promise, they really do. Some take older cars and make ‘street rods’ out of them. This type of car has its roots in a particular American style of modifying and customising; few mods, roof chop, widened wings, different axle, engine and gearbox, all legal and done with skill and pride. A style that goes back to the original hot rods, built and raced on the street, the drag strip, and the salt flats, since before World War II. There are some superb examples around Purbeck. Some take existing sports cars and have them modified professionally, usually at considerable personal expense. 100% legal, usually with understated style, and fully declared to their insurers. Then, of course, some don’t. Like us, it was ‘trial and error’, learning by our many mistakes, modifications that were usually started the day after the MOT test and ‘put back’ the day before the next one. I honestly don’t know if we declared it to our insurers; I do hope so. But somehow I doubt it. It’s taken me a long time to realise that the designers at Mazda, Toyota, BMW and so on have spent thousands of hours and millions of pounds in making their cars perform safely and legally to their best effect; who the hell do I think I am to believe that ‘tweaking’ it with a few spanners would make it any better? So I leave it to the experts. We didn’t have seatbelts, air bags, crumple zones, brakes were appalling but wasn’t a problem; the standard Mini managed 72mph! But things have moved on since the 1970s; ten times as many cars on the road; ten times more ‘construction and use’ regulations. Cars which are technologically superb when compared to their predecessors. And legislation which demands that MOT tests are carried out by licensed testers online – where even stopping the test to take a toilet break can incur the wrath of VOSA. But even though a car passes an MOT test, it’s only testing the condition of the vehicle at the time of the actual test. I can find no legislation requiring that the vehicle remains in MOT-pass condition throughout the year. Yes, there are tyre regulations, but do you know of anyone who’s actually been prosecuted for having wheel-spacers or lowered suspension, or for that matter a modified exhaust? About the best thing they can manage these

days is ‘illegal spacing of number plate lettering’ which is easily visible by the Police but which – in my humble opinion – is a total waste of Police time. The Police have ANPR cameras which will ascertain whether a car has a current MOT certificate but which won’t confirm that the car is still roadworthy. Same as speed cameras which can raise revenue for the Government but which can’t actually tell if a driver is drunk. But Police cameras can also perform a hugely useful task in ascertaining whether a car is insured or not. Yet seems that even the insurers can’t be bothered to do much other than to take the money and issue a certificate. Many insurers impose huge loadings if they’re told that cars have been even slightly modified – which is why many younger drivers don’t let on. As with everything else these days, people only look at the price. If the insurance company hasn’t been told, then the policy is probably void and the driver potentially uninsured. It’s easy to search for the cheapest premium online and tick the relevant boxes; all very well until there’s an accident. It’s better to declare your modifications than not, and to go through the proper channels because if you don’t, then the premium you have paid is potentially wasted. My advice here has to be – seek out an independent insurance broker, sit down with him and go through the form honestly and truthfully. Don’t hide behind your keyboard and your credit card. In the event of an accident, your car won’t be covered, and third party injury or damage may only be covered by the Motor Insurers Bureau Uninsured Drivers fund. Or, at worst, may not. How do you explain to a grieving parent that you’ve just killed their child and can offer nothing by way of compensation other than ‘sorry’ and a bunch of flowers? Paul down at Swanage Insurance opposite the railway station is just the chap if you want to go and talk through your options when it comes to individual insurance policies. If the Police do happen to stop a car which they consider to be unsafe or illegal, they have the powers to impound it and issue a prohibition notice. Read Regulation 54 of the Road Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and see if you’ve made any alterations which could be an offence under these regulations and which could most probably nullify your insurance. OK, it looks like I’m ‘getting at’ some of our younger generation for doing just what I did myself. But actually there are probably just as many ordinary family cars driving round with uninsured ‘grown-ups’ at the wheel; at the last count there were 1.5 million which is 4%. And there were 100,000 positive breath tests last year. Scary, isn’t it? Happy motoring – and in the words of Bob Dylan (Bob who?) “don’t criticise what you can’t understand”. Ease off on the ‘boy racers’; sadly, they’ll be ‘grown ups’ soon enough. * Peter Pan

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

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Learn With Ease!

hether taking to the road behind the wheel for the first time or for the more seasoned driver it can be a very stressful experience on our demanding roads of today. Driving a car is one of the most dangerous things that we do whether socially or for commercial purposes. My aim is to offer a high standard and professional approach to driver training and driver education. When learning to drive with me I can be trusted to help all those who train with me to achieve the confidence that will contribute towards a safe and enjoyable life-long driving career. I tailor lessons to suit each individual’s most effective way of learning, which creates a comfortable and enjoyable learning environment. My learner training is not solely based on passing the Driving Test – I am extremely focussed on what happens to drivers afterwards, which is equally important. My aim is to teach drivers, whether learners or experienced, to a high safe driving standard. No matter what vehicle you drive, your existing driving experience, or at what stage you are at within your driving career, you will benefit from one of my programmes in driver training. Andy Temple School of Motoring offers high–quality driver training, I am a highly experienced Approved Driving Instructor, qualified to RoSPA Gold Advanced level, with an Institute of Advanced Motorists Andy Temple School of Motoring advanced driving certificate and holder of Expert Driving Tui on the coveted RoSPA National Diploma in Advanced Driving Instruction. 01929 792513 Contact me for the full programme of 07813 957636 driver training courses available.

LEARN WITH EASE

PASS WITH

CONFIDENCE

SOLD

15(15)FORD New Focus 1.0”Titanium” 5dr Our Own Vehicle. 4500 Miles Only Low Road Tax Sat Nav SYNC Park Assist …........................................................….£16995 16(65)FORD Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost Zetec 5dr Our own Vehicle Zero Road Tax Fantastic Economy Ford Warranty until Jul 18…...........................................................…£12495 13(13)FORD Fiesta 1.6TDCi”Titanuim X”5dr Supplied & Maintained from New by Us. Excellent Condition. Many Extra. . . . . . . .................................................... .£9995 13(13)PEUGEOT Rcz GT 1.6 Coupe Sought after Sports Coupe Host of Features Excellent Condition Low Mileage. . . . . . . . . . ...................................................£13995 12(62)FORD Fiesta 1.0”Zetec”5dr Locally Owned & Maintained from New by Us. Zero Road Tax. AirCon. Rear Park Assist. . . . ................................................... .£8295 12(62)FORD Fiesta 1.2”Zetec”5dr Sold & Maintained from New by Us. Very Low Mileage only 13000. Full History New MOT. . . .................................................... £7595 12(62)FORD Fiesta 1.2”Edge”5dr Only 24000 Miles Sold New & Maintained from New by Us. Air Conbitioning. Blue Tooth. . . ..................................................... . .£6595 12(12)FORD Ka 1.2”Zetec” 3dr One Owner Sold & Maintained from New by Us. 5700 Miles Perfect Condition Great Economy ......................................................... .. £6995 12(12)FORD Kuga 2.0TDCi”Titanuim”AWD Locally Owned Maintained by Us. 36000 Miles. Climate Control. Very High Spec. . .........................................................£14995 08(58)FORD Focus 1.6TDCi”Zetec” 5dr Excellent Condition Service History New MOT70000 Miles Diesel Economy AirCon. ............................................................ . £5995 08(58)FORD Focus 1.8TDCi”Style”5dr Locally Owned.78000 Miles Service History Terrific Economy. Long MOT. . ............................................................................ £3995 08(08)FORD Focus 1.6”Zetec”5dr Locally Owned. Maintained by Us 61000 Guaranteed Miles. Air Conditioning Twin Airbags............................................. £4995

The Purbeck Gazette

Food

The Gourmet Peddler

The

Pigs In Coke

oco Cola is lodged in the history of professional cycling. There is this old Tour de France recipe to get you home when you have nothing left in the tank. It’s simply Coca Cola mixed 50:50 with water, the sugar and the caffeine kicks in very quickly and you get about thirty minutes of cycling before you keel over in a ditch with ferocious, crippling cramps. Another variation was red wine and Coke, apparently this was reserved for when the cyclist had crashed and was bleeding and just needed to finish the stage. I have tried both, they work, but I don’t buy it. In a sport where you could find amphetamines, EPO, cocaine and loads of stuff you have never even heard of... why dabble with red wine and Coke? I suspect if was used as a cover, just a vehicle for the good stuff. So let’s take some Coca Cola, smuggle it into a recipe, and try and stay healthy....... What we have here is Ham cooked in Coca Cola. The Coke gets all the way in and gives you an incredibly vibrant, sweet and savoury meat. You will need: Coca Cola, about 2L. A couple of peeled onions, cut into quarters. Around 700g to 1.2kg of gammon joint from the butchers. Pink pepper corns - these are great, they are sweet and crunchy, a bit like a rice crispy in texture. Full grain mustard Good honey What to do: Simmer the ham in the Coke, with the onions for around 2 hours. Make sure the ham is submerged. Mix the mustard and honey in a bowl, a slosh of olive oil works well.

Bikemonger Cooks.... Lift out the ham and massage it with the mix. Sprinkle with the pink pepper corns. And give it 30 minutes in the oven at around 180c. But do cook with your eyes and not your watch, you are aiming for a nice golden colour. Allow to stand for ten minutes before carving. Now you could be really classy with what you serve with this. You really could. Or you could do as I did and serve it with potato waffles and fried eggs. Perfect. Thanks to Doris from Swanage for popping into Gazette Towers to give feedback on last month’s recipie - glad you liked it Doris!

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PURBECK PRODUCE FARMERS’ MARKET Our next market is on: SATURDAY 13th FEBRUARY FROM 9am - 1pm COMMERCIAL ROAD, SWANAGE LOCAL PRODUCE FROM LOCAL PRODUCERS www.purbeckproducts.co.uk

Purbeck Producers

t must be more than twenty years since a few Purbeck farmers agreed that they should combine to try and make contact with their local customers. The Christmas market at the beginning of December made me realise that we had achieved something as I wandered round our four gazebos full of delicious food and drink and smiling creative local producers. Thanks to the Rotary, Chococo and the Gazette for spearheading this great event in our calendar. As we look forward, we all know we need one thing more than anything else: MORE STALLHOLDERS!! If you are young and have an idea you want to try out, our monthly market on the second Saturday for four hours is a great way to meet your potential customers at minimum cost. Likewise, if you have decided to stop full-time work but want to continue with a hobby on a more serious footing, whether it involves food and drink, or whether it is artistic or craft based, as long as you are living and working in the Purbeck area, and are using Purbeck ingredients as much as possible, you will be more than welcome. What is more, you will have a wealth of experience all around you at each market. We are a friendly lot and there is a real spirit of cooperation in the group. Please contact Karen (423102) or myself (439121) and we’ll tell you how it works. Finally, as a non-producer but enthusiastic supporter of the whole concept of local producers for local consumers, I want to thank our loyal customers and our loyal producers. There is much more than a financial transaction going on here. This is part of a way of life which we in Purbeck Products think is precious. Many of us want more contact with the producers we are buying from, and the customers we are selling to. We also want a thriving local economy full of creative people, young and old, who we can encourage to develop their talents and their confidence. If you agree, join us today!!! Nick Viney.

Kaffe und Kuchen Goes Mobile!

affee und Kuchen has gone mobile! Bill and Claudia have joined Purbeck Producers and we are in Commercial Road every second Saturday of the month, right outside the Gazette office! From our stall we now sell Claudia’s freshly homemade cakes, with a choice of Gluten Free cakes. There is a selection of other goodies as well including Belaroma ground coffee and coffee beans; Van Houten hot chocolate drink sachets and a pack of five Monin flavoured syrups. These are the same products we used to sell in the cafe. Telephone or email to order cakes for collection or delivery. At present you can choose between ten different Gluten Free cakes. German potato salad can also be ordered. Because every order is freshly made please allow time to prepare and deliver. Contact us on 01929 425605 (there is an answer phone service) or email kaffeeundkuchenswanage@yahoo.co.uk

The Purbeck Gazette

Chocolate Love

f you are looking to delight someone special this Valentine’s Day and entertain the little people over half term, head for Chococo, the place to eat, drink and delight on the Commercial Road lanes in Swanage. For Valentine’s Day this year, the Chococo team will be bringing back the Pink Fizz truffle, with fresh strawberry puree and marc de champagne, their award-winning Romantic Rose and Sakura Tea chocolates. This year the team has also created a new range of chocolate hearts and lollies, the perfect gift for someone you love. Over half term, they will be running their ever-popular chocolate making workshops for children at their chocolate kitchen opposite the shop. These workshops last one hour and are suitable for children age 7-12ish. There are only limited spaces per session so don’t leave it too late to book. Enjoy cakes and bakes, freshly baked on-site, plus soups and savoury scones for a light lunch, whilst you wait. Their drinks include a unique range of origin hot chocolates, freshly ground locally roasted Bird and Wild coffee, Comins teas, milkshakes and DIY hot chocolates – choose origin milk, dark or even white chocolate to melt and whisk in the milk! If you cannot make it to Chococo’s shop in Swanage, you can also buy their chocolates at their second shop on Winchester High Street, online at www.chococo.co.uk or by phone 01929 421777 for nationwide delivery. Visit their Facebook page for updates on half term events.

The Purbeck Gazette

Puffins. Last Year’s News

by John Garner

atchy title, eh? Well some time ago I mentioned I went on a marvellous boat trip to see the puffins and other birds that use the cliffs around Swanage as their home at least for part of the year. I was new to the getting on boats and seeing the local wildlife thing, but I resolved to do it more often. I have now done it more often. Recently I boarded a boat in Poole and had a gander (poor bird pun) at the variety of bird life that the marvellous natural harbour at Poole attracts. It has had some extra human help in attracting these birds as a lagoon has been created there and is managed for the benefit of the birds. A wind powered sluice gate keeps the water level constant and allows for an abundance of acceptable habitats that the wildlife have been eager to make the most of. Well, we’ve spent a great deal of time changing our natural environments in a negative sense by ‘developing’ them for human habitation or plundering them for their natural resources, so a wind powered sluice pump to regulate water supply and create a pleasing naturalistic habitat for wild birds would seem to be the least we can do to compensate. The boat trip also took in Brownsea and another four islands along with the eastern reaches of the RSPB sanctuary at Arne. One of the islands, although you can’t detect any of this from the boat, is a previously mentioned plundered island. Not in the pirate sense, but in the multi-national oil recovery sense. The most productive in Europe. Still its impact (visually at least) seems negligible and sympathetic to the environment and the wildlife seems to be thriving regardless of the hidden engineering that is rumoured to be in full force beneath the surface of the harbour. We saw different birds from the previous trip, I am reliably informed, although I’ll admit I’m still very much at the ‘Oh there’s a bird’ level of knowledge rather than having mastered the ability to recognise individual species with any degree of confidence. Whilst the Swanage puffins are out at sea somewhere, the birds in Poole harbour have often come here to escape the worst harshness of more severe winters further north. Poole has a very temperate climate and the birds love it. On this particular day it didn’t feel that temperate as the 30 mph winds and squally rain lashed the boat for about twenty minutes, but held up next to the Arctic Circle it was positively balmy. And the birds seemed to be very content. Even the large group of Spoonbills settled on the spit of land at the far side of the lagoon were content to sit with their spoonshaped bills barely apparent, making identification difficult for the novice bird watcher. But the bloke next to me with a very expensive looking set of binoculars said that they were indeed Spoonbills and I have no reason to believe he was lying. It’s just not the sort of thing you make up is it? In addition to the Spoonbills I (probably) saw Godwits, lots of different wading birds, a variety of ducks, a glimpse of a Merlin (our smallest bird of prey, I was reliably informed by expensive binocular man’s equally expensively adorned female companion), a couple of Egrets, the back end of a red squirrel hurtling away from the boat as we approached Brownsea island and possibly the snout of a grey seal or maybe it was a common seal, although misleadingly the latter are much less common than the grey seals. Seals as watery companions I have previous experience with. I have been in the sea with a seal in Cornwall and more recently near to Bournemouth pier. They are brilliant animals, naturally inquisitive, pretty hopeless on land but supremely adapted for the sea what with their high levels of fat content and glideability. On both occasions the seals stared at me and were quite happy until I slid off my surfboard to get closer, at which point both bobbed under the water and disappeared for a pretty long period of time before re-emerging fifty feet or so away just to check on me again. The Bournemouth Pier seal I never saw again, but the Cornwall seal was more interested and stuck around at a safe distance for another twenty minutes or so.

Presumably it eventually realised that the seal-like thing it was watching (I was in a wetsuit) was neither friend nor foe, nor very interesting come to that. As a reasonably competent swimmer it was like being given a lesson by the pros. Effortless and graceful come to mind. Not the seal’s mind, mine. One thing was noticeable on the trip. You pass the multi million pound properties of Sandbanks. You see the development of various marinas and docks and you depart and arrive back at the bustling-ish Quay at Poole. And you also see just across the bay some of the most protected and undisturbed shoreline in the country, right next to all this development. And it provides an interesting contrast and a reminder of how the whole harbour must have looked at one point. It must have been a truly remarkable place pre-building, but even as it is now it’s an incredibly vibrant place and we should do everything we can to make sure it is protected for the future. It surely is a sign of a developed and civilised society that they recognise the necessity of protecting our wild spaces and Poole harbour is an amazing natural phenomenon that we should treasure and support in any way we can. We are very lucky to have it on our doorstep and I for one, sometimes forget that. Not bad for a two hour trip. Wildlife and philosophical debate in one article. Two boat trips probably means that this is becoming a habit. I’ve already started to stare enviously at other people’s binoculars. Never thought the day would come. But now it has I’m enjoying the peace and quiet and time to contemplate that being on a boat looking for things that fly gives you. Do it. It might come as a pleasant surprise. More (accurate) information can be gleaned from the RSPB and the Dorset Wildlife Trust.

The Purbeck Gazette

Public Asked To Help As Storms Wash Up Rare Turtles

orset Wildlife Trust (DWT) is asking members of the public to report sightings of any turtles washed up on Dorset beaches as a matter of urgency following the discovery of four turtles in just nine days, including the rare Kemp’s Ridley Turtle. On 23rd December a live Loggerhead Turtle was found near Worth Matravers in Dorset, which had to be put to sleep due to its injuries. Since then, 3 critically endangered Kemp’s Ridley Turtles, the rarest of all Turtles, have been found dead by beach walkers at West Bay, West Bexington and Kimmeridge. DWT Marine Awareness Officer, Julie Hatcher said, “The winter storms have been tough on wildlife living in the sea. Hard-shelled Turtles live in tropical seas, but if they get picked up in a strong ocean current such as the gulf stream, and end up in cold northern waters they can’t survive for long because their metabolism slows down and they stop feeding. The public can help by reporting any sightings, alive or dead, so we can arrange a rescue, or recovery and post mortem to help us learn more about the threats to these animals in our oceans.” The storms have also led to a colony of tropical sea snails living on a fishing buoy being discovered for the first time in Dorset, exotic plant seeds (sea beans) such as the Sea Heart, Columbus Crabs and ‘by-the-wind sailors’ being washed up. Julie added, “Whilst some marine animals aren’t faring well from the recent weather, we are also seeing some really interesting wildlife being washed up on Dorset beaches. The sea snails were a fascinating find and shows how species can travel from one continent to another via floating debris. The Sea Heart is a large seed from a tropical vine that can survive floating in the ocean for 17 years or more and is still able to germinate if it lands on a suitable beach!” To report sightings of Turtles dead or alive, please phone Rod Penrose on 01239 683033 (24 hours) as soon as possible. For other sightings phone 01929 481044 or email kimmeridge@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk. You can also share your photos with DWT on social media via facebook/ dorsetwildlife or Twitter, @DorsetWildlife. Live Columbus crabs carried from the Sargasso Sea near Bermuda, can be seen at DWT’s Fine Foundation Marine Centre, open Sundays from 10am-4pm. (SY909789*). Photos: 1. Washed-up Kemp’s Ridley Turtle © Julie Hatcher (top) 2. Sea heart at West Bexington © Julie Hatcher (above right) 3. By-the-wind sailor © Julie Hatcher (right)

The Purbeck Gazette

‘Orienteering for Beginners’ Amongst our new events for 2016 will be “Orienteering for Beginners”. The ﬁrst session is on Sunday 7th February between 11:00 and 13:00. Ranger Paul (who has joined us from Avon Heath) is keen to share this fascinating outdoor activity with you. A key part of orienteering is reading maps and navigating with them. The challenge is to follow routes to given destinations as quickly as possible, so it is an activity for the brain and body and suitable for ages six years upwards. Be prepared for outdoors and indoors sessions. Half Term Events During half term we have the return of our popular free ‘Wild Wednesday’ on 17th when children can get creative in the learning centre. Another for young nature detectives during half term will be the “Hawk and Owl Pellets” session on Thursday 18th February. Come along and learn about our birds of prey and what they eat. This will involve discovering and identifying small mammal bones from pellets! Booking is essential for this event and it costs just £3 per child. ‘An Evening with Sunny Ormonde’ As part of this year’s Purbeck Literary Festival, we are delighted to present “An Evening with Sunny Ormode” on

Friday 26th February. Sunny has played the outrageous “Lillian Bellamy” in Radio 4’s The Archers for fifteen years and has become a favourite character! Sunny will fill you in on behind the scenes stories about the world’s longest running soap - an evening of anecdotes, banter, and favourite pieces. Booking is essential and tickets are £12.50. Wildlife Roundup Guillemots are starting to revisit the cliff ledges, look out for Gannets in their scores brought close to shore by winter storms, a pair of Bottlenose Dolphins were observed heading west some 200 metres off Durlston Head on Saturday 6th January, with occasional sightings of Fulmars. Our disrupted weather gave rise to an Adder being seen near Tilly Whim on 6th &7th of January! An unusual natural phenomenon during January was the return of our temporary seasonal stream in the gully. Often by mid-day the flow has dwindled such that stream becomes a series of puddles which gradually drain away. However, morning walkers on the coast path can experience a waterfall flowing over the path into the sea below Tilly Whim. It was a delight to hear and observe the gurgling and trickling of a stream from Lighthouse Road Bridge.

Dog Owners Have Until April 6th To Comply

here are now only a couple of months to go before every single dog in the UK will be legally required to have an up-to-date microchip fitted, coded with the owner’s details. The cost of having a chip programmed and implanted in your pet is generally between £20 - £30, although some charities offer this service for free, such as the Dog’s Trust. The fines for not microchipping your pet are up to £500. The new legislation is intended to cut down the number of stray dogs. Government figures show that well over 100,000 dogs are dumped or lost every single year in the UK, at a cost of around £57 million to tax payers and relevant charities. Obviously, it is hoped that making it compulsory to microchip your dog will make it easier to reunite lost or stolen pets with their owners. A legal ‘loophole’ has also been closed, meaning that owners can now face legal charges if their dog attacks someone on private land. The relevant law will be extended to cover private property, so owners whose dogs have attacked someone on their own property will no longer be immune from prosecution. For example, if your dog bites the postman in your garden, where previously this was a rather ‘grey’ area (the dog being in its own garden and the postman being ‘an intruder’), from now on this will be categorised as a dog attack and you will be liable - as will the dog. In the past twelve months, over 3,000 UK postal workers have been attacked by dogs, with 70% of these attacks occurring on private property. The dog-owning householder will only be immune to prosecution if the dog attacks a burglar or trespasser on their property. If your dog bites a visitor, the postman, the refuse collector or a delivery driver, you’re now liable, legally – and your dog will be at risk too, should an attack occur. Six adults and eight children have been killed in dog attacks since 2005, with many of the recorded incidents taking place at home. The change in the law will be effective from 6 April 2016. Any owner whose dog is found without a chip will have a short period of time to have the dog microchipped. Fence your garden appropriately if there is

ANY risk of your dog biting postal workers/delivery workers and so on. Dog breeders will be responsible for microchipping their puppies before they sell or give them to new keepers. Breeders will be required to register their own details and these will be recorded against the microchip for the life of the dog. The downside is that there is no legislation making it compulsory for dogs to have their microchips scanned and read by anyone – vets, charities, rehoming centres, councils, police – none have a legal requirement to scan, making the whole scheme one-sided and unlikely to make much difference to the numbers of lost and stolen pets being reunited with their owners. Only when it is compulsory to scan will this scheme have the merit it should, but be warned if you own a dog – you are legally required to have it chipped before 6th April 2016!

The Purbeck Gazette

Gazette Gardening with Simon Goldsack

Growing your own potatoes is easy

planting. To chit simply stand the tubers with the blunt end uppermost in trays or old egg boxes, with plenty of natural light. The potatoes are ready to be planted out when the shoots are about ½ to 1 inch.

Planting Prepare a line of your plot by digging in plenty of organic matter such as well rotted manure or compost and add some fertiliser. I normally use Chicken Manure pellets or Growmore. Plant your chitted potatoes when the soil has started to warm up (normally mid-March onwards). Ensure the sprouts are facing up and plant them about 3 to 5 inches deep. Allow about 16 inches between each potato in the row and about 3 feet between each row.

Growing Potatoes are categorised into three groups -Early, Second Early and Maincrop. These names indicate when they crop. I prefer to grow only earlies and Second earlies because the range available to the gardener is vastly superior to that available from shops and furthermore they encounter a lot less disease problems and therefore are easier to grow. Conversely the range of maincrop varieties is good and cheaply available from shops so there are not huge cost savings to reward the gardener. Earlies are ready from 12 to 16 weeks after planting and Second earlies take 16 to 17 weeks. By planting in early to mid-March you should be harvesting from June. To accelerate the process potatoes can be chitted from late January through February.

As the shoots appear, earth up each plant by covering it with a ridge of soil so that the shoots are just buried. You need to do this at regular intervals and by the end of the season each plant will have a small mound around it about 6 inches high. In dry periods apply plenty of water.

Harvesting Earlies and 2nd Earlies can be lifted and eaten as soon as they’re ready. This is normally when the flowers start to open. At Holme we have a great range available now. So come in and get Chitting!

Chitting simply means encouraging the seed potatoes to sprout before

The Purbeck Gazette

Margaret Green Animal Rescue

hank you to all the readers who generously support Margaret Green Animal Rescue throughout the year. We’ve been very busy planning a year of fun events and shows to help fund the vital work we do for local animals in need. We hope that you will be able to join us at our annual dog show, or our brand new event – a Country Fayre on Sunday 3rd July. If like us, you’re not quite ready to look that far ahead, why not join us in March for a charity pub quiz in aid of our rescue animals at The Drax Arms in Bere Regis. Starting at 7pm, on Saturday 12th March teams will be treated to several rounds of interesting questions, and there will be prizes for the winners! Booking a table is essential so please give The Drax Arms a call on 01929 471386. Then why not blow away the cobwebs the very next day at our Studland Stomp? Join us for our popular sponsored walk on Studland Beach. Everyone is welcome and it’s a great chance to meet the team and get involved. We will need marshals on the day so if you’d like to help us, please get in touch. Call Jazmin on 01929 477074 or email jazmin.house@mgar.org.uk. Don’t forget to catch up on our news in the next edition!

The Purbeck Gazette

Swanage Literary Festival 2016

he third Purbeck Literary Festival runs from 14th to 27th February with a pre-Festival Children’s Launch with well-known Dorset Story Teller Martin Maudsley for a day of magical words and music at Corfe Castle, National Trust Visitor Centre. On Sunday 14th February, come along to Harmans’ Cross Village Hall where we have a fantastic afternoon planned. At ‘A Foot in the Door’, you can meet local authors and publishers, learn what makes them successful, buy their books. A programme of talks and discussions runs alongside the sale. Refreshments, from fizz to tea and cakes, available. The event runs from 1– 5.30pm. Free entry and the chance to buy tickets for all Festival events. Get all the Ambridge gossip when Sunny Ormonde (Lilian Bellamy) comes to Durlston. You don’t have to be an Archers’ fan to enjoy her fabulous cabaret. Or enjoy a Bubbly Brunch (yes we do like our fizz!) with Sunday Times top-selling author Jill Mansell at the Grand Hotel, Swanage. Learn the craft of writing with a workshop on Writing Your Life Story or an intensive day on How to Write and Sell your novel with two successful writers sharing their secrets. Locally-based journalist Emma Lee-Potter talks about her varied international career and her mother, the famous Lynda Lee-Potter, at The Crow’s Nest, Swanage. With poetry, film, screenwriting, an adventurer, comedy and a musical evening and several wonderful teas, there’s something for everyone.

All information and online booking at www.purbeckliteraryfestival.info or contact Discover Purbeck at Wareham (01929 552740) or Swanage Tourist Information Centre (01929 422885).

Swanage Blues Festivals 2016!

ou can’t make it up. Who’d have thought that a one-off birthday party could turn into a twice-yearly festival bringing fans from around the world and £millions to local businesses? It will soon be the 25th Swanage Blues Festival I have organised. From small beginnings… Here’s to George Crane (pictured above, picture by Jon Wasey), who told me fifteen years ago that his birthday came round only once every four years because he was born on 29th February: “So let’s make a party of it with a few bands.” And that is exactly what Swanage Blues still is – a big blues party. From 3 to 6 March there will be 70 performances by 40 bands in 18 venues. Admission is still free although I do need people to wear a £10 wristband to help the festivals to survive. It’s to their credit that most do buy at least one wristband for £10, even if they’re here for only one day. The Festival Programme, priced at £2, has all the info you need to get you through the weekend. Apart from the open mic and jam sessions, acts include award-winning Red Butler (who are off to Italy to represent the UK this year), The Baroness and The Bear (first seen busking on Swanage Railway Station), the anarchic Fabulous Fezheads, and Richie Milton & Bill Farrow with their skiffle and blues outfit. Even Mungo Jerry is hoping to pop in and do a bit to help out. Meanwhile my monthly promotions with the Swanage Legion continue to gather strength. Check out the Live Music and More guide to the local scene, available from venues, the Tourist Information Centre, some retailers and online at www.swanage-blues.org

Steve Darrington, sole organiser www.swanage-blues.org 01929 422338

The Purbeck Gazette

Stanford Quartet Coffee Concert

he Purbeck Strings Quartet Course, Saturday 13th of February at the United Reformed Church, will see string players of all ages and abilities getting to grips with playing together in string quartets with inspiring coaching from the Stanford Quartet. The Stanford Quartet begins the course with a coffee concert open to the public at 10 am. In the United Reformed Church, 112 High Street Swanage. They will be performing a beautiful quartet by Mozart K 464, as well as a spoof of his Eine Kleine Serenade called WAM, composed and introduced by our own composer in residence, Ian Pillow. Yukio Mishima was a Japanese poet and a film of his life had music composed by American minimalist composer Philip Glass. The quartet will be performing Philip Glass’s Quartet number 3, Mishima. To finish, the quartet will swing into an arrangement of Putting on the Ritz. Following the concert, complementary coffee and biscuits will be served in the hall. Coffee Concert tickets are £10 adults - accompanied children free and are available on the door: or phone Purbeck Strings 07964 410 443. purbeckstrings@hotmail.co.uk. www.purbeckstrings.com

The Purbeck Gazette

Wareham Carnival Queen & Princesses 2016

his year Wareham Carnival will take place on 24th July. It will see the return of the Carnival Queen and Princesses, a much requested addition to the event and an extra chance for local people to get involved in being a part of Carnival. The choosing of the Queen and Princesses will take place on Saturday 27 February at Wareham Town Hall. The event from 6:00pm – 8.00pm will include a Disco with DJ Blake. Judging will take place at approximately 7pm. On the night judges will choose the Queen (aged 12 – 16) and 2 Princesses (aged 7 – 11). Please remember that all entrants and spectators 16 years and under must be accompanied by an adult. Organisers Val, Sheriden and Abbie from Kaffs Café in Wareham are sure that there will be a lot of support and are looking forward to seeing you on 27th February.

Carnival Chairman Chris Fuller said, “Being the Queen or a Princess will involve the winners in attending both the Carnival and other local events throughout the spring and summer. As well as being an ambassador for Carnival you will be representing Wareham, it’s a great opportunity!” All contestants must be registered – Fee £2.50. Registration forms for the special night can be downloaded from the Wareham Carnival Website, www.wareham-carnival.org.uk, or can be picked up from Kaffs Café (in the Arcade adjacent Sainsbury’s Wareham). Why not visit the Carnival website to get updated on the 2016 arrangements for dates and procession route and to see what fun activities will be taking place.

Stone - Our History And Heritage

Swanage and Purbeck Sculpture Trails Project By Carlotta Barrow ince Roman times, Swanage has been the centre of the local stone industry. It became a quarry town from which stone was shipped for varied uses, with Purbeck Marble being used in many cathedrals. Local quarryman, John Mowlem and his nephew George Burt had interesting stone pieces brought back as ballast in the boats that shipped stone used for paving London in the 1800s. These included the front of the Swanage town hall, a Wren façade and the Wellington clock tower near Peveril Point. Purbeck still has many working quarries and the local sculptors, stonemasons and historians are working together to create a project that will honour and promote our historical, social and artistic heritage. The local stone and marble is visible throughout, in buildings, sculpture and even the hand-crafted paving stones. The purpose of the Swanage and Purbeck Sculpture Trail is to enlighten and bring this rich history to the attention of visitors and locals. To show existing sculpture and stone works and to promote artistic talent by commissioning exciting new works to be placed in strategic points around the area. Last year saw the unveiling of the successful ‘Out of the Depths’ stone carving project for young people at the Burngate Stone Carving Centre and it is from here we plan to launch the Swanage and Purbeck Sculpture Trails. Developed from an idea by Carlotta Barrow (Artistic Director) and Paul Baird (Project Development Manager), we are very grateful for the support we have already received from local councils, the National Trust and many other organisations.

We do hope that you will want to contribute to the development of the project and keep in touch to watch progress. You can register your interest by contacting Paul Baird PDM at Pauldbaird@aol.com or through the website we are developing: www. purbecksculpture.com Carlotta Barrow (Purbeck Sculpture Trails, Artistic Director)

Book advertising at: www.purbeckgazette.com or call 01929 424293

The Purbeck Gazette

Classes Available At Swanage Therapy Centre

t Swanage Therapy Centre we offer classes in Pilates, Yoga and mindfulness. Pilates benefits anyone interested in keeping fit and healthy, improving both body and mind. Pilates uses breathing and mental awareness to control the movements of the body and to build core muscle strength. It is suitable for everyone – from athletic types to individuals with no exercise experience but who want to improve their fitness and selfawareness. The ideas can be applied to everyday activities – gardening, driving, sitting at the computer and walking as well as sport. We have two Pilate’s Foundation teachers and have classes that run from Monday – Friday. The classes are very small with only a maximum of six in the class. The classes are structured to best suit the individuals in any particular group. They assess you and teach you the basic principles of the Pilates technique ensuring that your personal needs are understood. Classes are run on a 6-8 week courses throughout the year. Yoga is for anyone who is interested in learning more about achieving a healthier more balanced life. Yoga is not about being super-flexible. It is about accepting your body and your mind as it is and working with what you have and learning to find a balance. Yoga classes are suitable for beginners as well as those with more experience and offer plenty of variation to the traditional postures to practice in class and at home. Mindfulness is a way of learning to tame our minds. Many of us spend time worrying about the future (what if thinking), which leads to stress, fear and anxiety or in the past (if only thinking), which leads to regret, guilt and even depression. Spending too much time in either the past or the future means we are not experiencing our life as it is in the moment. We are missing out on life! Mindfulness is a very effective way of managing stress, anxiety, depression, addiction and recovery, anger management and many other psychological disorders and difficulties. This is an eight week course and classes are for ninety minutes weekly. If you would like more information on any of the courses we offer or to book yourselves in, please contact Swanage Therapy Centre on 01929 426506.

Craniosacral Therapy

Alexandra Troy CTET Developed by an osteopath for gentle, deep effective release and realignment in the body for all kinds of pain and discomfort

Swanage Therapy Centre

Pilates, Yoga and Mindfulness Classes We look forward to seeing you! T: 01929 426506 www.swanagetherapycentre.co.uk

Kate Smith, ITEC

www.swanagebeautyandmassage.com

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Call Kate for details on 07505 313179 Now selling ‘Duncan’s Unctions’!

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Home Visits & Clinic Appointments Comprehensive foot care - Diabetic Patient’s Care Biomechanics & Orthotics

For further information please call: 01929 424911 or 07970 595103

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A Quarter Centuary Of Shiatsu

Over 25 years providing Wholeness and Wellbeing! orn in London, Nichola Morgan has been based in Swanage since 1966. On graduating from Exeter University, she eventually moved to Japan as a teacher and interpreter. There due to health troubles, she discovered the benefits of Shiatsu therapy and became interested in the Oriental attitude and approach to health in general. This interest led to her being accepted as an apprentice at the Otsuka Seitai Shiatsu Clinic in Tokyo, where she trained for four years. In 1988 she returned to England and has been practising Seitai Shiatsu in London and the Isle of Purbeck ever since. She has just celebrated her twenty fifth year in practice. In her own words, ‘Shiatsu has taught me to understand my health and body better, enabling me to deal more effectively with mental, emotional or physical pain as and when it occurs. What is Shiatsu? Shiatsu (pronounced shee-at-soo) is a form of healing body work which originated in Japan. Its therapeutic value was recognised more than 4,000 ago. Translated Shiatsu literally means finger or digit pressure, although the practitioner also uses his/her hands, elbows, knees and feet to work on more than seven hundred points all over the body.

The Purbeck Gazette

Your Weight In SUGAR

5 year olds eat and drink their body weight in sugar every year Public Health England - first published: 4 January 2016 new campaign, launched this year, encourages parents to get “Sugar Smart” and take control of their children’s sugar intake. The Change4Life campaign follows revelations that 4-to-10 year olds consume over 5,500 sugar cubes a year, or around 22kg - the average weight of a 5-year-old. A new Sugar Smart app has been launched to help parents see how much sugar there is in everyday food and drink. The free app works by scanning the barcode of products and revealing the amount of total sugar it contains in cubes and grams. Change4Life has created an eye-opening short film to warn parents about the health harms of eating and drinking too much sugar, including becoming overweight and tooth decay. In 2013, almost a third (31%) of 5-year-olds and almost half (46%) of 8-year-olds had tooth decay, the most common reason for 5-to 9-year-olds being admitted to hospital. The film brings to life the excessive amount of sugar consumed by the average child per year, currently 3 times the new maximum recommended daily amount. The recommended daily maximum added sugar intake is: 19g, that’s 5 sugar cubes for children aged 4 to 6 24g, that’s 6 sugar cubes for children aged 7 to 10 30g, that’s 7 sugar cubes children aged 11 or older A fifth of 4-to-5-year-olds and a third of 10-to-11-year-olds are overweight or obese. Overweight children are more likely to become overweight adults making them more prone to a range of serious health problems, such as heart disease, some cancers and Type 2 diabetes. There are now 2.5 million people suffering from Type 2 diabetes, 90% of whom are overweight or obese. Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist for Public Health England, said: “Children are having too much sugar, 3 times the maximum recommended amount. This can lead to painful tooth decay, weight gain and obesity, which can also affect children’s wellbeing as they are more likely to be bullied, have low self-esteem and miss school. Children aged 5 shouldn’t have more than 19 grams of sugar per day. That’s 5 cubes, but it’s very easy to have more. That’s why we want parents to be “Sugar Smart”. Our easy-to-use app will help parents to see exactly where the sugar in their children’s diet is coming from, so they can make informed choices about what to cut down on.” Obesity costs the NHS £5.1 billion per year and is projected to rise to £9.7 billion by 2050, with wider costs to society estimated to reach £49.9 billion per year. The campaign reveals the sugar content of everyday food and drink; a chocolate bar contains 6 cubes of sugar, a small carton or pouch of juice drink contains over 5 cubes and there are 9 sugar cubes in a can of cola, instantly taking children up to or over their recommended maximum for the day. Search ‘Change4Life’ online to download the new free app and get hints and tips to cut down on sugar.

It is not painful, it does not involve needles or oils, nor does it interfere with medical or other treatment. Comfortable clothing is worn throughout each session, which lasts approximately one and a half hours. What can it do for you? By applying gentle pressure to all points, the practitioner is able to pinpoint and monitor any emotional, physical or mental factors affecting your health. This also has the effect of stimulating the blood, respiratory, digestive and lymphatic systems, thus enabling the self-healing process to get underway. Shiatsu is particularly beneficial for those suffering from migraine; anxiety attacks; breathing trouble; digestive problems; insomnia; and general aches and pains. Whatever your state of health, a session of Shiatsu is always a wonderfully relaxing and beneficial experience.

The Purbeck Gazette

What Is Facial Aesthetics?

acial aesthetics is the use of non-surgical techniques to rejuvenate the face and reduce wrinkles. The most popular treatments are antiwrinkle injections (Botox) and dermal fillers. Botox is administered using a tiny micro needle. It works by temporarily relaxing the muscles, helping reduce the movement in these areas. The skin therefore stops being creased and is allowed to recover, causing the lines to soften and often fade away.

It is particularly good for frown and forehead lines. Dermal fillers are tiny injections of a naturally occurring product in our skin, Hyaluronic Acid which, as we get older starts to diminish causing our skin to become dryer and thinner. Dermal fillers are used in many areas of the face, particularly around the mouth, nose and chin area to reduce lines and shadows. They can also be used to contour the face, replace lost volume and lift jowls, as well as for lips and troughs under the eyes. Both procedures are simple and safe and there is little pain and no anaesthetic is required. The effects of botox last up to six months and fillers up to twelve months. There is no negative effect if you decide not to have any further treatments. Dr Claudia Morley has been a doctor for sixteen years, and practising facial aesthetics for over seven years. Her main philosophy is to keep the face looking natural. She continues her work as a general practitioner alongside her facial aesthetics work in her main clinic near Blandford as well as coming to ‘The Bay’ in Swanage once or twice a month. For further information or an informal chat please contact Claudia by email on claudia@morleyaesthetics.co.uk, by telephone on 01258690789 or visit her website www.morleyaesthetics.co.uk

Matron’s Round - Our Local Hospitals’ Monthly Column

would like to pass on some advice from our Minor Injuries Unit nurses about preventing and dealing with accidents this winter. To help avoid falls, take extra care when the ground is made slippery by mud, wet leaves or ice. When it’s icy, ask yourself whether you actually need to go out that day. If you do, then consider going later in the day when the ice has melted. During windy weather it’s common to get small things blown into your eyes. If this happens then wash the eye out (tap water is as good as anything for this), ideally using a shower hose. If this doesn’t improve things then it’s best to attend Minor Injuries as soon as practicable. If you have an open fire or wood burner then make sure you have a functioning carbon monoxide alarm as fumes can build up in your home, particularly with no ventilation. Be careful when chopping wood or kindling and make sure there are no distractions while you are doing this. Do not hold wood with your hand when using an axe, but support it between other pieces of wood. Ensure that you do not rush or get distracted when lighting the fire, or replenishing the logs. Another common injury is burns from ovens. Make sure you use oven gloves which are thick enough to prevent burns and again, take your time

and don’t get distracted when taking things out of the oven. If you sustain a burn or scald, don’t ignore it. Run the affected area under cold water for about 15 minutes; do not use ice as it can cause frostbite. Do not apply creams to the burn - wrap it with cling film and attend Minor Injuries for an assessment. Shin wounds are frequently caused by open dishwasher doors. Make sure the door is closed as soon as the dishwasher is stacked or emptied. Shin wounds are best seen as soon as possible at the Minor Injuries Unit, as without prompt treatment they can develop complications. Again, do not use creams or any dry dressings which may stick - the best first aid is wrapping the area with a clean wet cloth. In order to relieve winter pressures on the acute sectors, in addition to the Minor Injury facility, there has been a GP service at Swanage Hospital on Saturday and Sundays during January. If in doubt, contact our Minor Injuries Team on 01929 475009 between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week. Until next time, take care. Matron Donna

Swanage & Wareham Hospital Recruitment Day

22nd February from 2pm - 6pm Join us for Swanage and Wareham Hospital Recruitment Open Day, at Wareham Hospital, Streche Road, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 4QQ. Drop in to our Nurses’ Recruitment Open Day - a special one-stop Recruitment Day for Nurses. We currently have vacancies for Staff and Bank Staff Nurses, Hospital Porters and Housekeeping Part and Full Time Posts. You will be welcomed by Dorset Health Care’s Senior Nurses and there will be a variety of information available about the hospitals, the Trust, plus a tour of both sites (transport provided). Applications will be accepted on the day. The successful candidates will be working on the wards and surgery unit. For more information please contact Donna Kiss, Hospital Matron Swanage and Wareham on 0776 669 8155.

Swanage Hospital Minor Injuries Unit - Open 7 days a week from 8am - 8pm 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!

The Purbeck Gazette

Sport Why Not Take The Splash In 2016?

owing is for everyone, whether you want the adrenalin rush of racing, or the relaxation of gently gliding across the water. And club members span all ages and levels of experience. So what’s stopping you from having a go? An example of the pump and grind of rowing came at the last race of 2015. The Men’s B team competed in the Tamar River Challenge, on the border of Devon and Cornwall. The nine mile race ran from the Tamar Bridge to Cothele Quay, with eighteen teams taking part. Rowing in the gig, Winspit, the Swanage men clocked a time of an hour and seven minutes, placing them sixth overall. At the other end of the spectrum are the juniors, aged 10 to 16 years old, who row both socially and competitively. In order to develop their talent, we are running a four-week junior rowing course, starting on Monday 7

Above: Taymar Challenge - all pump and grind!! Below: Junior Girls in training

March, 6-7pm. The course covers technique training, basic seamanship, first aid and how to rig the boat. It also involves fitness training on the rowing machines! For details please call Brian Norman on 07780 84136 or email briannorman@f2s.com So if you’re keen to dip your toes in the water and give rowing a try – whether for fun, fitness or a new challenge - why not come along to one of our open sessions? Weather permitting, they take place on Saturday mornings (10.30am to 12.30pm), starting from the stone quay. It costs £2 for a short row (about 20 minutes), and there’s no need to book. Find out more about membership, news and events on our new website www.ssrc.org.uk

Swanage Tennis Update

The Purbeck Gazette

The selfie style photo from left to right features Jamie MacDonald, Graham Ward, Sue Tindale and Sam Christmas -all looking delighted with their win!

wanage’s Mixed 2 set out as they mean to go on when they hosted far flung Sway on a showery January morning. The match was close to being postponed but due to the Sway team

insisting they would risk the weather, the match took place despite a couple of sharp showers. Graham Ward made a welcome come back after months out through injury and he proceeded to dominate the play in both of his matches. A wily and competent player, Graham’s movement at the net dazed the opposition and left them watching the ball being placed exactly where they were not. His partner, Sam Christmas served well and the pair were able to storm through their matches 6:0, 6:1 and 6:1, 6:3. On the neighbouring court Sue Tindale and Jamie McDonald were also making a good start to the year. Jamie’s hard hitting and Sue’s careful placement of the ball proved too much for Sway and they also claimed a clear victory in both of their matches- 6:2, 6:0 and 6:4, 6:2. Whether or not this win will be enough to gain Swanage promotion they will just have to wait and see. They currently stand second in Division 5 having played all of their matches but other teams have fixtures left to play. Swanage have done all they can, it is now dependent on the fortunes (and misfortunes) of other teams to decide the fate of this promising Mixed 2 team.

Get Ready For Race For Life 2016!

ORCHESTER women are being urged to get the New Year off to a great start by signing up now to Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life 2016. The charity is calling on women of all shapes and sizes to show cancer who’s boss by entering Race for Life 5k event at Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester. Although many see January as the perfect opportunity to start a new chapter in terms of health and fitness, motivation can slip as the cold weather drags on. That’s where Race for Life comes in. As the event takes place on Sunday, May 22, women who enter now will be creating their own compelling goal to aim for later in the year, when the warmer weather makes staying on the sofa less tempting. Maxine Bateman, Cancer Research UK’s Dorchester Event Manager, said: “Signing up to take part in Race for Life is a great way for women to commit to get a little more active. “Race for Life events are non-competitive. Taking part is not about being fit or fast and participants can choose to walk, jog, or run around the course. The atmosphere is incredibly supportive. Pledging to take part, alongside thousands of like minded women, is a great motivation to get fitter. Planning to raise money for life-saving research could prove more of an incentive to get up and get moving than the usual New Year’s resolution to shift the post-Christmas pounds.” One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives, but the good news is more people are surviving the disease now than ever before. Survival rates have doubled since the early 1970s. Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring women-only series of 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and marathon events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer sooner by funding life-saving research. Last year, 1558 women took part in Race for Life in Dorchester and raised a fantastic £77,885. This year, organisers need even more women and girls to stride out to help raise vital funds for research. Money raised through Race for Life allows Cancer Research UK’s doctors, nurses and scientists to advance research which is helping to save the lives of men, women and children across Dorset. Maxine continued: “Race for Life is an amazing way to celebrate everyone we love who has survived cancer. It’s also an emotional and moving way to pay tribute to those dear to us whose lives have been cut short by the disease.”

“Our participants make Race for Life a truly uplifting, inspiring experience. That’s why we’re calling on women of all ages to sign up now to their event in Dorchester and pledge to stand together, shoulder to shoulder, on the front line against cancer. Together, we can unleash a powerful fighting spirit to stop cancer in its tracks.” Women who sign up for 5k and 10k events in January can benefit from a specially reduced fee of £10.00. To enter Race for Life today visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.

Swanage Football Club

e have a world record holder within the Club, although it stands as a joint record at the time of writing this article. Graeme Rose (see photo) is the current centre forward and has scored four hat tricks in the last four games. This feat was last achieved in Japan in 1998 by a Japanese international player Masashi Nakayama. The national press have latched onto this story seeing it on our website and twitter feed. Last Saturday BBC 5 live contacted us saying they would like Graeme to appear on their Non- League Show. Graeme took to this interview like a real pro and came across as if he does this kind of thing every week. The interview was on the BBC i player radio for some time, but I think I’m right in thinking it’s no longer available to listen to. We are due to be playing bottom of the table Cranbourne this Saturday and if you would want to play anyone to try and achieve a scoring record it would be the bottom side. Don’t worry I’m not putting Graeme under any added pressure because by the time this article hits the streets we will know if he broke it or not! We have also been contacted by a professional filming company who plan to film the whole event. There is some worry though with all this recent wet weather the game this Saturday might not even take place. Just look at what you are missing by not coming down to Day’s Park; it would be great to have a few more supporters to cheer on the Swans. Non- League football is where you see the real football fan. Once you’ve been a few times it’s easy to get bitten by the bug and it’s a real friendly place to watch football in a ground full of character. What else can you get for £3 these days. Just think, it wasn’t so long ago we were playing Eastleigh FC. who are the only non- league representative left in the 3rd round of the FA cup and take on Bolton Wanderers from the Championship, who actually won the tournament back in 1958 and as recently as 2011 were beaten semi- finalists. Eastleigh are also in the playoff position in the National league, which is only one step away from the professional Football League. To be precise, the last time we played Eastleigh was Saturday 09 Feb 2002 at Days Park; we lost the game 0:1 this was in our Wessex Premier league days. Having information on our past is something we’ve been working on for some time. It is a slow process but I feel we are getting there, with the help from the Internet and the local community and if anyone has any old information, press cuttings, programmes, etc we would be only

The Purbeck Gazette

too pleased to take the information of them. To find out where and when the games are on at Day’s Park our website and Twitter account are a reliable source, but many people in Swanage have no interest in the digital age and technology, so we have our monthly fixture posters which are dotted strategically around the town; the library, Knapp stores and a new addition is on the side of JJ Moores the butcher, Martin has kindly allowed us to put up a lockable poster frame where our fixtures will be for all to see. The recent Boxing Day Swim was another huge success with players and club committee members taking part in this very popular annual event. There were around one hundred entering the sea and many hundreds watching. We are very grateful to Julian from Country Foods Catering for choosing the Club as one of the benefitting charities As you may remember about a year ago we tried to start the ‘ 500 Club ‘ this has been simmering on the back burner with only a few people taking part, but we plan to push this over the coming weeks and months, having a regular stall in the town on a Saturday. For £5 paid by monthly direct debit you are entered into a monthly draw where half the fund goes to a prize fund and the other half goes to the Club’s funds. COME ON YOU SWANS! John Peacock

The Purbeck Gazette - Proudly Supporting The Swans

Swanage Bowling Club Update

embers of Swanage Bowls Club are helping the dark wet winter months whizz by with some well-supported and hugely enjoyable social events. The annual pantomime was staged in the pavilion in December with the dubious title “Aladdin and his Magic Bowls”. It was created with an original script by Terry Buck, embellished with additional material by members of the cast and directed by Ken Morgan whose theatrical skills are considered better than his bowling skills. The performance was hilarious and had the audience in stitches and made a great start to the festive season. Another successful event took place on New Year’s Eve, again in the pavilion, with an excellent dinner of salmon, roast beef and lemon roulade, followed by a disco, so Swanage bowlers could boogie the night away and see in the New Year. The caterers put to good use the new large oven, hot cupboard and fridge/freezer, all recently installed in the pavilion kitchen. The winter socials continued in January with a fun panel game called ‘Definition’ - a bit like ‘Call My Bluff’ - when unusual words were given meanings by the

panellists with the audience having to identify which definition was correct. The Isle of Purbeck Bowls Club, whose members have been undeterred by all the winter rains snug inside their three-rink indoor facility at the Bay View Holiday Park, are having a good winter season of bowls. The various internal leagues are more than halfway through the season and competitions have just started. The Ladies are propping up Division 2 of their inter-club league but the Men have fared better in their friendly matches against East Cliff Casuals and Knyveton Gardens. Some Swanage bowlers are selected from time to time to play for the Dorset County Indoor Bowling Association and in a recent match against North Wiltshire at Chippenham, Robin Hilton, Terry Buck, Dave Thomas and Barrie Tatman contributed towards a 119-108 victory with Terry Buck in particularly devastating form skipping his rink to a fine 28-12 win. So many of the bowlers of Swanage do not spend their winter days in their slippers by the fireside awaiting the new outdoor season to begin in April but are very active either on the indoor green or on the pantomime stage and a good time is being had by all!

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 MAR is noon, 8th Feb 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.

FEBRUARY

Mon 1st 09:30 Taster Morning At Poole Grammar School. Please contact Viv Wilson to book. 10:00 Durlston & The Sea Exhibition At Durlston Country Park. 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. Tue 2nd 10:00 Durlston & The Sea Exhibition At Durlston Country Park. 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 19:30 Wareham Camera Club Meets at Parish Hall, Wareham. “Workshop Evening” Visitors welcome. Contact Roger Starling on 01929 553822 Wed 3rd 09:45 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Corfe Castle NT car park for a walk along the chalk ridge to Stonehill Down, returning via East Creech and Norden Farm. Ffi 29 422795. 10:00 Durlston & The Sea Exhibition At Durlston Country Park. 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 19:30 From Christianity to Humanism At the Black Bear, Wareham. Thu 4th 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 19:15 Swanage Trefoil Guild Meets at The Guide HQ Bell Street. Celebrating Thinking Day in Japan. New Members and Visitors Welcome. Ffi: 01929 556374. Fri 5th 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 19:30 Swanage Photographic Society Meets in the Rectory Classroom, Church Hill at 7.30pm. For: ‘Photographing from Sunset to Sunrise’ with Howard Oliver. 19:30 Aladdin Crossways Pantomimers present at Crossways Village Hall. See https://www.facebook.com/ CrosswaysPantomimers for more details. Tickets available on the door. Email: tricia.dare@tiscali.co.uk Sat 6th 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Tyneham for circular walk via Gad Cliff, Tyneham Cap, Steeple Leaze Farm and Lutton. Ffi 01929 426926. 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 14:30 Aladdin Crossways Pantomimers present at Crossways Village Hall. See https://www.facebook.com/ CrosswaysPantomimers for more details. Tickets available on the door. Email: tricia.dare@tiscali.co.uk 19:30 Aladdin Crossways Pantomimers present at Crossways Village Hall. See https://www.facebook.com/ CrosswaysPantomimers for more details. Tickets available on the door. Email: tricia.dare@tiscali.co.uk 20:00 Curst Sons Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Sun 7th 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. Mon 8th 10:00 Wareham Area Senior Forum At Wareham Parish Hall. ‘Tax, Care and Toy Boys’. 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 13:00 Swanage Jazz Machine At the Conservative Club, Swanage. 14:30 Isle of Purbeck Group At Langton Matravers Village Hall. Members’ Pictures. Visitors welcome. Tue 9th 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 14:00 Parkinson’s Self Help Group At The All Saints Church Hall, Swanage. 19:30 Wareham Camera Club Meets at Parish Hall, Wareham. “SAPA Competition v Boscombe” Visitors welcome. Contact Roger Starling on 01929 553822. Wed 10th 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Ballard Stores (North Swanage) for a circular walk around Ulwell via Whitecliff Farm,

Ballard Down, Godlingston Hill and Knitson Farm. 01929 422795. 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. Thu 11th 10:00 Swanage Painting Club At the Catholic Church Hall, Swanage. A show of paintings and ‘have a go’ sessions. Free entry. New members welcome. 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 10:30 Mobile Library Visit At Harman’s Cross Village Hall. Fri 12th * Valentine’s Fondu At The Scott Arms, Kingston. £19.99pp, booking essential! 01929 480270 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 19:30 Purbeck Railway Circle Meets at Harman’s Cross Village Hall for a presentation entitled “Steam on Three Continents, Europe, India and Africa” by Colin Stone, local author and historian. Refreshments and railway raffle. Doors open 7pm. Ffi 554765. EVERYONE IS WELCOME 20:00 Sean Taylor Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Sat 13th 09:00 Purbeck Produce Farmers Market At Commercial road, Swanage. Local produce from local producers. www. purbeckproducts.co.uk 10:00 Stanford Quartet Coffee Concert At The URC Swanage. Tickets £10 adults, accompanied children free. 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Worth Matravers CP and walk to Winspit, Seacombe and Dancing Ledge, returning via Spyway Barn and Priest’s Way. Ffi 01929 421039. 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 20:00 Woman Wants Tall Man Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Sun 14th * 3rd Purbeck Literary Festival www.PurbeckLiteraryFestival.info 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 13:30 Purbeck Literary Festival At Harman’s Cross Village Hall. 15:00 Imperial College String Ensemble in concert At St James Church, Kingston. Admission free. Refreshments. Retiring collection to help preserve this Grade 1-listed church. Mon 15th * 3rd Purbeck Literary Festival www.PurbeckLiteraryFestival.info * Half Term Fun Days At Corfe Castle Train Station, traditional games, face painting, story telling and much more. * Harman’s Cross Residents Club Night Join us a the Village Inn Ulwell for skittles ! 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. Tue 16th * 3rd Purbeck Literary Festival www.PurbeckLiteraryFestival.info * Half Term Fun Days At Corfe Castle Train Station, traditional games, face painting, story telling and much more. 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 14:00 The New Christian Spiritualist Church Swanage In Queensmead Community Room, Queens Rd, Our guest medium will be Betty Legg all welcome, refreshments served. 14:30 Purbeck Assoc. of the National Trust Illustrated talk ‘John Wesley in Purbeck’ at All Saints Church, Ulwell Rd, Sw. Howard Oliver talks about John Wesley’s travels, and in particular his three visits to Purbeck; Till 4.00pm. All welcome. £3.00 incl refreshments Ffi 01929 427300. 19:30 Wareham Camera Club Meets at Parish Hall, Wareham Tony Worobiec – “Ghosts in the Wilderness Revisited” Visitors welcome. Contact Roger Starling on 01929 553822. Wed 17th * 3rd Purbeck Literary Festival www.PurbeckLiteraryFestival.info * Half Term Fun Days At Corfe Castle Train Station, traditional games, face painting, story telling and much more. 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Arne Visitor Centre for a figure of eight walk centred on the car park - firstly the Shipstal

Point Trail, then the Coombe Heath Trail. Ffi 01929 480224. 14:30 Studland History Group Meets in the Village Hall for an illustrated talk by Robert Field, “Purbeck Artists”. All welcome. Ffi the Secretary 01929 439245. Thu 18th * 3rd Purbeck Literary Festival www.PurbeckLiteraryFestival.info * Half Term Fun Days At Corfe Castle Train Station, traditional games, face painting, story telling and much more. 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 19:30 Langton Matravers History & Preservation Society Meets in the Village Hall where Reg Saville will, on request, repeat the first of a series of 6 talks entitled “Langton from the Earliest Days”. All welcome Members £2.50 non members £3.50. ( NOTE this talk was to be given in January but had to be re-scheduled ) Fri 19th * 3rd Purbeck Literary Festival www.PurbeckLiteraryFestival.info * Half Term Fun Days At Corfe Castle Train Station, traditional games, face painting, story telling and much more. 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 19:30 Swanage Photographic Society Meets in the Rectory Classroom, Church Hill at 7.30pm. For: Anders 3 – ‘Open’ and Browne 3 – ‘Up High’ Competitions Judge: Graham Ireland Visitors welcome. Sat 20th * 3rd Purbeck Literary Festival www.PurbeckLiteraryFestival.info 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Bloxworth Village Hall CP for walk via Woodlake, East Bloxworth, to Whitefield. Return via West Morden and Morden Lane. Ffi 01929 450443. 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 20:00 Velvet Doonicans Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Sun 21st * 3rd Purbeck Literary Festival www.PurbeckLiteraryFestival.info 10:00 Purbeck Antiques & Collectors’ Fairs At Furzebrook Hall, Furzebrook, Wareham. £1 entry. www.purbeckantiquesfairs. co.uk 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 15:30 The Sidekicks At The Legion, Swanage. Free admission. Mon 22nd * 3rd Purbeck Literary Festival www.PurbeckLiteraryFestival.info 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 14:00 Swanage and Wareham Hospital Recruitment Open Day At Wareham Hospital, Streche Road, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 4QQ Drop in to our Nurses’ Recruitment Open Day - a special onestop Recruitment Day for Nurses. Applications will be accepted on the day. The successful candidates will be working on the wards and surgery unit. For more information please contact Donna Kiss, Hospital Matron Swanage and Wareham on 0776 669 8155. Email: keri.gray@dhuft.nhs.uk Tue 23rd * 3rd Purbeck Literary Festival www.PurbeckLiteraryFestival.info 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 19:30 Wareham Camera Club Meets at Parish Hall, Wareham. “League Competition No 4” Visitors welcome. Contact Roger Starling on 01929 553822. 19:30 Dorset Industrial Archaeology Society “Looking at Lime Kilns”, speaker: Dr. Peter Stanier. All meetings are held in The Dorset Room, Colliton House, Colliton Park, Dorchester (opposite County Hall) and start at 7.30 pm. Non-members are welcome at all meetings (small donation suggested). Further details from 01305 785968 or 871863. Wed 24th * 3rd Purbeck Literary Festival www.PurbeckLiteraryFestival.info 09:45 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Studland Village Store for walk to the Fishing Barrow, the Agglestone, the Puckstone, Knoll Beach and Fort Henry. Ffi 01929 450164. 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. Thu 25th * 3rd Purbeck Literary Festival www.PurbeckLiteraryFestival.info 09:00 Purbeck U3A Meeting Points At Harman’s Cross Village Hall. 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham. 10:30 Mobile Library Visit At Harman’s Cross Village Hall. 19:30 Isle of Purbeck Group At The Methodist Church, North street, Wareham. ‘A Year of Images’ - an illustrated talk by Steve Davis. Visitors Welcome. Fri 26th * 3rd Purbeck Literary Festival www.PurbeckLiteraryFestival.info 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West

The Purbeck Gazette street, Wareham. 20:00 Hightown Crows Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Sat 27th * 3rd Purbeck Literary Festival www.PurbeckLiteraryFestival.info 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at entrance to Greenlands Farm track for circular walk via Ower Quay. Ffi 01929 425165. 18:00 Wareham Carnival Queen & Princess Competition At Wareham Town Hall. Entry forms from www.wareham-carnival. org.uk Registration fee £2.50. 20:00 Carravick Sisters Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Sun 28th 10:30 Lulworth Wedding Fair At Lulworth Castle. Entry £4, under 16’s free. www.lulworth.com/weddingfair2016

WEEKLY EVENTS EVERY MONDAY 09.00 U3A Table Tennis Group meet at Harmans Cross VH. 09.30 Under 2.5 years old group. Till 11am. 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 13.00 Play and Learn at Wareham’s Children’s Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Till 2.45pm 13.00 Under 1s and Tums at Chapel Lane, Swanage. Till 3pm 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 19.30 Swanage Badminton Club at the Swanage School, till 9.30pm. Ffi: 07966 136641. 19.30 Swanage Air Cadets meet at Air Training Corps HQ, Court Road, Sw. Cadets age 12+. Ffi: email: oc.2185@aircadets.mod. 20.00 DARTS at the RBL Club, Sw. 20.00 Herston Hall Management C’ttee Bingo EVERY TUESDAY 09.00 First Steps Toddler’s Group. Swanage Methodist Church till 10.15am. Ffi: Sylvia Garrett 425420, office hours, or sylviag@ swanagemethodist.org.uk 09.30 Isle of Purbeck Arts Club. Painting and sketching. At the Catholic Church Hall, Rempstone Rd, Sw. Till 1pm. Outdoors in summer. Ffi: Gina on 421689. 09.30 Well Baby Clinic at Chapel Lane, Swanage. Till 11.30am. 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 Wareham Croquet Club meet at the Recreation Ground until 5pm. New members and visitors welcome. Call Bridgit on 01929 552816 or Lesley on 01929 553927 or email warehamgolfcroquetclub@ hotmail.com 10.00 Sw Tennis Club Club Session. Till 11. 426312 10.00 Sandford Toddlers at Sandford Community Hall, till 11.30am. 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: 481000 10.30 First Steps Toddler’s Group. Swanage Methodist Church till 11.45am. Ffi: Sylvia Garrett 425420, office hours, or sylviag@ swanagemethodist.org.uk 12.00 Nature Tots (0-4yrs) at Bovington Memorial Hall Garden. Until 2pm 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: 481000.

The Purbeck Gazette 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 18.15 Sw Cricket Club Practice till 8.30pm 18.30 Sw Bridge Club Mowlem Community Room. 421840 19.00 Wareham Air Cadets meet at Air Training Corps HQ, St Martin’s Lane, Wm. Cadets age 12+. Ffi: email: oc.2185@aircadets.mod. 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: 421913 19.30 Belvedere Singers rehearsal at their NEW venue, St Mark’s CE VA Primary School, High St, Sw. Parking on-site. All singers welcome! 423729 20.00 Sw Regatta & Carnival Assoc Bingo Herston Leisure, Herston Yards Farm, Sw. 20.00 Carey Hall, Wm Bingo 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; nonmembers £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 10.30 Play and Learn at Kids of Wool (BH20 6DY) until 12 noon. 11.00 Volunteer Centre Drop-In at Swanage Library till 1pm. Find our about volunteering to support community groups & charities 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 15.00 Extend Exercise Class, now at Morton Village Hall. To improve strength, balance and flexibility. All welcome. Donations welcome. Ffi: 471490. 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 Wm Bridge Club at the Library, South St. 552257 19.00 Wareham Short Mat Bowls Club Roll-up evening Furzebrook VH. 401799 19.15 Purbeck Runners meet at the Crows Nest, Sw. 4/5 mile run. 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 20.15 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: Jane on 01929 427078 09.30 Play and Learn at Chapel Lane, Swanage, till 11am. 09.30 Well Baby Clinic at Streche Road, Wareham, until 12 noon. 09.30 Sensory Play for under ones, at Bovington Centre until 10.30am 10.00 Wm Parent & Toddler Group During term Parish Hall, Quay Till 11.45. 556806 10.00 First Dorset Credit Union is in Wareham at ‘Not Just Sundaes’ community cafe, South Street, Wm. Until 12 noon. 10.00 Wool Country Market D’Urbeville Hall. Cakes, preserves, plants, crafts, vegetables. Coffee & biscuits available. 10.00 Sw Tennis 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. 10.00 Wareham Croquet Club meet at the Recreation Ground until 5pm. New members and visitors welcome. Call Bridgit on 01929 552816 or Lesley on 01929 553927 or email warehamgolfcroquetclub@ hotmail.com 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

11.00 Sensory Play for 1-4yrs old at Bovington Centre, until 12 noon. 13.00 Studland Toddler Group at Studland Village Hall until 2.30pm. 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 Rectory Classroom, Swanage, Sw. All Welcome. 17.45 Swanage Youth Club. Learning Difficulties and disability (age 1125) 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 Purbeck Arts Choir meet for rehersals, with conductor Jay Buckle, at Swanage First School from September - May. All welcome. For more information please phone Liz Roberts 01929 481419 19.30 Swanage Youth Club Youth Action (year 7 - sixth form). Till 9.30pm 20.00 Herston Hall OAP Committee Bingo Sw EVERY FRIDAY 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 Swanage Library Rhyme Time, until 11.30am. 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. Royal British Legion, Sw. 426096. 18.00 Sw Youth Centre Club 12-13 (Yr 7-9) Till 8 18.00 Sw Tennis Club Senior Club Session. 426312 18.30 Sw Bridge Club Mowlem Community Room. 421840 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 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 08.00 Purbeck Runners meet at the Mowlem, Sw. 4/5 mile run. 09.00 Sw CC U11 - U15 Practice till 10.30 09.30 Sw CC U9 & U10 Practice & Kwik Cricket till 10.30 10.00 Tea, coffee and home-made cakes in the Parish Hall on Wareham Quay during the Community Market. Til 2pm. Bric-aBrac 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 09.00 Purbeck Runners meet at the Mowlem, Sw. 8+ mile run. 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.

The Purbeck Gazette

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