The Purbeck Gazette - 195

March 2016 Issue no. 194

Magazine archive at:

The Gatsby Ball. Pg 54 - 55

March Delights. Pg 28-37

Gazette Gardening. Pg 44-49

FINN. A Short Story. Pg 9

SWANAGE & PURBECK

TAXI

Local & Long Distance. 4-8 seater.

07969 927424

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The Purbeck Gazette

Editor’s note...

W

elcome to the March edition of your Gazette!

Spring has SPRUNG! Flowers, bulbs and blossom are out everywhere and those of us who dislike the darkness of winter are beginning to look ahead to an exciting season of fun in Purbeck!

This month we feature a variety of activities for both Mothering Sunday and Easter, so grab family and friends and head out to pay a visit to some of our wonderful local businesses and attractions. Many have special offers on at the moment, and locally-produced foodie delights can be found right across our isle - don’t miss out!

We also feature young Lilly Harman’s winning entry to the Primary School Purbeck Literary Festival Competition - ‘Finn’. Well done to Lilly for an outstanding piece of work for one so young - a strong future beckons this young lady, we think!

March also brings us the Swanage Blues Festival - the first major event in our seasonal schedule, along with the Purbeck Strings Festival - something for music lovers of all descriptions!

This month’s magazine was brought to you due to the extraordinary efforts of Paul Notley, who stepped in when I was taken seriously ill and undertook a major part of building the adverts for the March edition. Thank you Paul - from all of us in the community. Without your amazing effort and support, this edition would not be in print!!

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.

We publish in-full online for those households who do not receive a paper copy through the door.

See: www.purbeckgazette.com

The April 2016 edition has a deadline of 10th March and will be distributed from 28th Mar - 1st April 2016.

The May 2016 edition has a deadline of 11th April and will be distributed from 25th - 29th April 2016.

Public Notices & Information

Swanage Town Council Meetings - March 2016

Compiled for the Purbeck Gazette by National Coastwatch Institution, Swanage

Planning & Consultation Committee Tourism Committee Policy, Finance & Performance Council

Mon 7th Weds 9th Wed 9th Mon 21st

6.30pm 10am 4.30pm 7pm

TIDE TIMES - MAR 16

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

Peveril Ledge, Swanage

Wareham Town Council Meetings - March 2016

Date

HW

LW

HW

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01-Mar 02-Mar 03-Mar 04-Mar 05-Mar 06-Mar 07-Mar 08-Mar 09-Mar 10-Mar 11-Mar 12-Mar 13-Mar 14-Mar 15-Mar 16-Mar 17-Mar 18-Mar 19-Mar 20-Mar 21-Mar 22-Mar 23-Mar 24-Mar 25-Mar 26-Mar 27-Mar 28-Mar 29-Mar 30-Mar 31-Mar

00:33 01:21 02:47 04:35

07:44 08:37 09:50 11:36 00:13 01:11 02:01 02:46 03:30 04:12 04:53 05:35 06:18 07:04 08:00 09:19 10:43 11:52 00:24 01:19 02:06 02:48 03:28 04:04 04:37 05:05 06:31 06:59 07:31 08:11 09:01

12:53 13:51 16:02 17:14 05:41 06:35 07:22 08:06 08:48 09:29 10:12 10:54 11:40 12:30 13:28 14:36 15:59 17:34 06:23 07:19 08:00 08:34 09:05 09:35 10:05 10:31 11:49 12:10 12:41 13:22 14:15

20:06 21:06 22:42

00:05 00:57 01:58 03:13 04:54

00:25 01:00 01:46

HW

Moon / Tides

18:11 19:00 19:45 20:27 21:09 21:51 22:34 23:18

12:51 13:42 14:26 15:07 15:45 16:20 16:51 17:19 18:46 19:15 19:50 20:34 21:30

18:44 19:32 20:10 20:45 21:19 21:51 22:20 22:40 23:58

Overview & Scrutiny Group Licensing Committee Council Audit & Governance Committee Poliy Group Planning Committee

FM

7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm

Tue 1st Thur 3rd Tue 15th Tue 22nd Wed 23rd Wed 30th

9.15am 9.15am 7pm 5.30pm 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’

SP

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!

NP

NM SP

Telephone Sales

NM = New Moon + FM = Full Moon + NP = Neap tides + SP = Spring Tides All times are local

Tue 8th Wed 9th Mon 14th Mon 21st

Purbeck DC Meetings - Open to public - March 2016

NP

12:43 13:36 14:23 15:08 15:51 16:33 17:14 17:55 18:39 19:29 20:33 22:03 23:19

Council Amenities Planning & Transport Policy, Resources & Finance

e&oe

We reserve the right to maintain contact with our advertising clients, past and present, through the use of telephone calls.

If you do not wish to hear from us to be reminded of upcoming deadlines, please do let us know!

The Purbeck Gazette

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Leaping Squirrel, by Andy Yarrow. Brilliant shot Andy!!

CONTACT US ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS/IT COMMUNITY MATTERS COUNCIL MEETINGS DIARY SPOTLIGHT FEATURES Blast From The Past Dorset Food & Venison Festival Finn - A short story by Lilly Harman Gazette Gardening, with Simon Goldsack John Garner writes - Dirt.....

Marvellous March! The feature...

N.O.D.A. Award For Sleeping Beauty Swanage Blues Festival Swanage Refugee Action The Gatsby Ball At Durlston Telling It Like It Is - David Hollister writes FOOD The Gourmet Peddler HEALTH & BEAUTY LETTERS MOTORING - David Hollister writes NATURAL MATTERS SPORT TRADE ADVERTS sponsored by Sydenhams

50 25 8 2 65 18 41 9 47 44 28-37 50 56-57 13 54-55 8 40 58 4 38 44 62 68

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

THE OFFICE IS NOT OPEN TO GENERAL PUBLIC.

ADVERTISERS ONLY PLEASE!

Editorial Enquiries: Editor, Nico Johnson 01929 424239

ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk

Advertising Sales:

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

TO ADVERTISE

See our website shop at: www.purbeckgazette.co.uk for rate card, booking & payment Prices from £25.80 (inc VAT) Discounts available

The legal stuff...

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

DEADLINE FOR APRIL IS NOON, MON 10th MAR

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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.

APRIL edition deadline: noon, Thur 10th Mar

The Courage To Complain Dear Editor, Even though he missed the point of Mr. Rowland’s original complaint (Letters, January edition) and chose to make it personal, Bic Biro’s rant in ‘Get Over Yourselves’ (Letters, February edition) highlighted some facts: Transport issues aside, along with scores of other Swanage residents who still enjoy the big screen experience, we too will continue to support the Rex in Wareham and other community venues to watch films rather than bother with the Mowlem right here on our doorstep.

We know that every public venue faces problems with film, sound, heating and other system breakdowns, but at least the managers, paid or voluntary, at these other places seem to handle such eventualities with some courtesy and good humour.

If only more of us had the courage to complain about poor service and rude manners, we might improve things for everyone.

Unlike Bic Biro, I for one was thoroughly enjoying the James Bond film up to the point it broke. As it turned out, no one who went to the Mowlem that Friday evening in December got to see the whole of ‘Spectre’. The film restarted well beyond the place it had stopped. Good or bad film? Those who stayed on don’t know, but lots of extra sweets were sold to them!

N. Morgan, Swanage, by post P.S. Sadly, even the Boxing Day charity swim organisers were let down by the Mowlem Trustees in December (February edition: ‘Ready, Steady, Go!’).

Curse Of Mediocrity Dear Editor, Mr Bale’s reply to my letter of complaint to the Mowlem (January) is symptomatic of a wide general malaise in Swanage. This town has for too long relied on its natural attributes to form its main attraction and appeal.

Mr Bale and his management of the Mowlem are suffering from the curse of mediocrity in their idea of ‘good service’.

There are many fine groups and societies in Swanage who are to be greatly applauded: Ranger Productions, Swanage Railway, the Carnival Committee, Lifeboat, Cottage Hospital and of course, the wonderful Purbeck Gazette to name but a few. However, all too often we are let down, which means that Swanage is in danger of being a Curate’s Egg when it could be a Fabergé.

On a point of order, the breakdown took nearly half an hour to sort, not a mere ten minutes as Mr Bale suggested. If the Mowlem has a policy of refund, then why were my partner and I told by the Manageress that it was impossible, and twice refused until the long serving usherette spoke on our behalf?

I am informed that the film ‘Bridge of Spies’ shown this month also broke down, but that the incident was handled much better. This goes to prove the power of Constructive Criticism. Your system is clearly unreliable and your Gold Standard somewhat tarnished.

It is a pity Mr Bale is not man enough to admit when he is in the wrong and apologise instead of taking this as an opportunity to make a personal insult against a long-standing patron.

The Mowlem Committee were presented with my letter well before the Gazette print deadline and we have still not had the courtesy of a reply.

Alan Rowland, Swanage, by post

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

A Big Ask For WW1 Kit Dear Nico, 1st. World War Uniform?

In June this year I am planning to take part in the Via Sacra Walk. This walk will follow the 250 miles of the Western Front as it was in 1916 and will go from the Swiss border to the English Channel. The Walk has been arranged to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the battles of the Somme and Verdun.

The walk was inspired by a letter from a soldier in WW1 and will be undertaken in homage to this soldier and to the millions who lost their lives in WW1 from 1914 to 1918. The website for the walk is:- info@ viasacrawalk2016.org.uk I’m a long distance walker but also have a fascination about just how so many First World War soldiers were able to show such courage in such terrible conditions. The point of this letter is that I was wondering if any of your readers might be able to help me with a slightly odd request as it would mean so much more if I could complete the walk in a uniform from the time.

I wondered if any of your readers might have any uniform or kit from the First World War in the back of a wardrobe that I might be able to borrow to complete the walk. It might even be a chance to complete the walk in memory of the former owner of the uniform and would certainly be a good way to commemorate such a sad time in our history.

I understand that this is ‘a big ask’ as there will inevitably be some wear and tear on the uniform subjected to a twenty day walk in all weathers. However, if you are able to help then I would be delighted to hear from you. I should mention that I am six foot two inches tall and fifteen stone so a uniform from a little fellah would not be much use!

If you wish to get in contact then please email me on ajhpound@yahoo. co.uk or give us a call on 550648.

Many thanks for considering this slightly presumptuous request, Andy Hill, Stoborough, Wareham

Oxfam Needs YOU! Dear Editor, “The conflict in Syria has resulted in a severe and worsening emergency.

Four million refugees have fled into neighbouring countries, and are in desperate need of shelter, food and water. Oxfam is there.”

Help us raise vital funds by joining our team at our busy book and music shop in Swanage We are looking for volunteers to work Saturday mornings or afternoons and we will be trading on Sundays in March so are looking for Sunday volunteers also Please call in for an application form or call us on 01929 425739 Oxfam works with others to overcome poverty and suffering Kind regards, Ian, Oxfam Bookshop, Swanage.

Fixing Dementia Care Dear Editor, Despite a quarter of hospital beds being occupied by people with dementia, an Alzheimer’s Society investigation has found that too many people are falling while in hospital, being discharged at night or being stranded in hospital. Good dementia care should never be a throw of the dice – yet people are forced to gamble with their health every time they are admitted to hospital.

This issue is very close to my heart. My mother, Mary, who had Alzheimer’s

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Square & Compass Worth Matravers. 01929 439229

LIVE ACTS FOR MARCH Fri 4 Dat 5 Fri 11 Sat 12 Sun 13 Sat 19 Sat 26 Sun 27 Thur 31

8pm 8pm 8pm 8pm 2pm 8pm 8pm 2pm 8pm

Philip Clouts Jazz Trio Hannah & The Broken Hearts Stomping Dave Rag Mama Rag Rag Mama Rag Beth Porter & The Availables Woody Pines Woody Pines Josh Harty

www.squareandcompasspub.co.uk

disease, was hospitalised for an emergency operation and contracted MRSA. She was seriously ill for weeks and, despite fighting off the virus, because she’d been in a hospital bed for so long she’d forgotten how to walk and in fact never walked again.

As an Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador, I’m supporting their Fix Dementia Care campaign which aims to improve hospital care and reduce variation.

Hospital managers need to know about the care people with dementia receive and be accountable when things go wrong.

To take action and join the campaign please visit: alzheimers.org.uk/ fixhospitalcare Yours faithfully, Kevin Whately, Actor and Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador

Memory Cafes Locally Dear Readers, We run two Memory Cafes in Swanage and Wareham - would you be able to promote them? Swanage Memory Café is held on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month between 2pm-3.30pm at Swanage Baptist Church, 160 Victoria Avenue, BH19 1AZ. Wareham Memory Café is held on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month from 10.30am-12.00pm at the United Reformed Church, Church Road, Wareham, BH20 4HH. Many thanks Alice Davies, Group Activity Manager.

Migrant Conscription?

Dear Editor, It has been reported that 1,000 U.K. troops are to be sent to fight Isil - yet there are masses of young men entering Europe.

So, re - instate Conscription for any person wanting to enter Europe - let them fight for their country.

We did. I did two years National Service for that purpose.

Mike Hobson, by email

Boxing Day Auction Raises £600 Dear Readers, We would like to thank everybody who supported the Boxing Day Auction at the Royal Oak, Swanage, either by donating goods or by coming along on the day and bidding.

We raised £400 from the auction for our two charities Alzheimer’s Cafe Swanage and Jamie-lee Bonfield.

Special thanks must go to Rachel at The Royal Oak for hosting the event, running a raffle (which raised another £150) and for her donation of £50, making a grand total of £600. We hope to arrange the presentation of the money raised in the near future.

After much thought and consideration, we have decided that we will no longer be running this event. Although we have enjoyed running this very successful event which has raised many thousands of pounds for local schools, charities and clubs, we feel that the time has come to call it a day.

There is no doubt that this would not have been such a success without the help of so many people, including the local pubs who hosted events, everybody who donated goods and, most importantly, everyone who attended the events over the years and spent so much of their hard earned money enabling us to help so many different people.

Our thanks go to each and every one of you!

If there is anybody who would like to carry on with this event, we would only be too pleased to offer help and assistance. You can contact us on 01929 426061. We will miss you!

Pete and Carol Burgess, by email

Further Open Days For Dodos ‘When a House Becomes Art’ Open Days for charity Dear Readers, Saatchi-shortlisted artist Geoff Francis and his wife Jaclyn raised nearly £200 for their environmental charity No More Dodos at a recent Open House weekend. The steady stream of visitors were fascinated by Geoff’s treatment of the house’s interior and his extensive range of art and repurposed furniture.

During that weekend, the house was also featured in the Sunday Times, which raised great interest amongst on Twitter, including a number of international interior designers and property specialists.

By popular demand, the couple will be holding further Open Days - the next ones are on Sunday 28th February and Sunday 27th March from 11am-3pm.

There is a suggested minimum donation of £3 to view the house and art, which includes a glass of wine. Much of the art and furniture are for sale, with proceeds to No More Dodos.

OPEN DAY 243 High Street, Swanage BH19 2NG 28th February and 27th March 2016 11am-3pm.

More details www.artistgeofffrancis.com or 01929 421632 www.nomoredodos.org

HEIRLOOMS OF WAREHAM

Jewellers & Silversmiths For all of your Jewellery & Silverware needs

Vintage Amethyst & Diamond Cluster Ring 21 South Street, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 4LR, 01929 554207 www.heirloomsofwareham.co.uk

The Purbeck Gazette

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Clock, Watch Repairs Free collection and delivery Georgian Gems

High St, Swanage 01929 424697

Coalition Doubles Debt!

Dear Editor, Reading the paper, it’s become blatantly obvious that our public finances are in a precarious state. But on closer observation an even darker picture emerges.

But let’s start at the beginning. Five years ago, when the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition was formed, we were already in a huge amount of debt. In fact, the previous Labour government had left the country sinking under £830 billion worth of national debt or 56% of our entire national output. Yet despite the coalition government talking tough, they managed to almost double Labour’s debt which took eleven years to accrue. In just five years the coalition increased it to £1.5 trillion.

Britain is essentially mortgaged to the hilt. We’re sinking under a mountain of government debt. The government’s own figures show that by 2017 the interest on all this debt will tip £70 billion. That’s £70 billion the government will have to find every year for the interest, money that could have been spent on our overstretched NHS and Education budgets.

Put in simple layman’s language, it’s the equivalent of our entire Defence and Education budgets rolled into one. You don’t have to be an economics graduate to see that the coalition government broke the country’s back!

The explosion of government debt in recent decades has come easy and cheap for governments with loans of 2% instead of the normal 5% international market interest rate. The interest rate on our national debt is about to rise according to independent financial analysts and the government is in turmoil as to how to take more tax while trying to portray an image of fiscal stability.

Some of the early signs are a cut in government grants to local authorities with the subsequent increase in council tax. But make no mistake; the government has to raise more tax while reducing public services to pay for a situation of their own making!

I remain Editor, yours faithfully. Mike Fry, by email.

Andy Lowe Computing ...friendly support for you and your computer

01929 422453 07884 452284 We’d like to invite your readers to join us in celebrating the work we have created in our little Workshop. Everyone is welcome, but if you, or someone you know or care for, has been affected by cancer then our exhibition would be the perfect opportunity to drop in to find out what we’re about.

Our small gift shop will be brimming with beautiful handmade items, some made in our sessions by our own crafters, so our artwork won’t be the only inspiration on offer. Should anyone decide to join us for a session one day there is no need to book and no previous experience is necessary – in fact if you’re a beginner it’s even more fun to try something new.

Friends and family members are always welcome to come along too. What better way to shoo away those long winter nights than with some light relief at the Purbeck Workshop in Wool?

For more information about our sessions please visit www. purbeckworkshop.org or look for our posters on display around Wool village.

Warm wishes, Sinead, Purbeck Workshop Trustee Photo: Owl made from fabric scraps kindly donated by shoppers at the Wareham branch of Sainsbury’s. Learn to make one at the Purbeck Workshop!

Literary Winner Lilly

Support For ‘Swanage Seen’ Dear Nico, I would like to thank the Isle of Purbeck Arts Club for their generous support in funding the entry for the Swanage Seen Art Trail in the 2016 Guidette. To find out more about the trail you can visit the website www.swanageseen.co.uk or pick up a leaflet from the Swanage Tourist Information Centre, Shore Road.

Due to work on the new lifeboat house and slipway, this Charles Conder painting of Peveril Point will be re positioned.

Many thanks, Carlotta Barrow

Workshop’s Light Exhibition Dear Nico, As I am writing this letter, daylight is slowly seeping back into life – the sun sets after work ends and is beginning to rise not too many hours after my household awakens.

The arrival of light in a sunrise, shafts of light giving life to a forest floor, are such positive and hopeful images. That’s why at the Purbeck Workshop we’ve chosen ‘Light’ as our theme for our workshops this spring.

Thanks to the tremendous generosity of our local community, family and friends, we’re excited to be offering creative escapes for a second year running to those touched by cancer. From flower-arranging, woodworking, jewellery-making, and needle felting to tai chi and astronomy, we’re lucky to have a team of passionate volunteers offering to share their craft. And we’re very happy to announce that some of our work will be on display as part of our ‘Light’ exhibition on Sunday 3 April from 11am to 1pm.

Dear Nico, For a second year running Swanage Lions Club has given support to the Purbeck Literary Festival by organising a five hundred word story writing competition open to children attending the Primary Schools in Swanage.

The theme of the stories was Heroes and this seemed to fire up the imaginations of many children.

Entries to the competition were received from pupils at Swanage Primary School and St Mark’s, Herston. The Lions Club would like to say thank you and well done to all those who had a go and also a special thank you to the members of staff at both schools who helped by encouraging and organising the students in their care.

Without the energetic support of the teachers, events like this cannot take place, so thank you all.

The results were as follows: Swanage Primary School: 1st Lilly Harman, 2nd Zac Coetzer, 3rd Oliia Marcus. Highly commended: Olivia King and

The Purbeck Gazette

LEARN WITH EASE

PASS WITH

CONFIDENCE Andy Temple School of Motoring

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THE SEWING BOX Garment Alterations and Repairs

MATT HILLAN Building Alterations & Maintenance

All Trade Aspects Undertaken Free Estimates Fully Insured

Daisy May’s Arcade 2 Kings Road East Swanage

01929 427296 07971 690817

Tel: Sarah 07922 738335

Happy to help and advise

Rhydian Styants.

St Mark’s, Herston: 1st Harley Hoy, 2nd Billy Hamilton, 3rd Freddie Lovell.

All these pupils received book tokens for their efforts while the overall winner, Lilly Harman from Swanage Primary, also won a workshop session for her school with children’s author, David Solomons.

David Dean, on behalf of the Swanage Lions Club.

A HUGE well done to our budding authors!! Readers will find Lilly Harman’s winning entry on page 9 of this edition.Ed.

not possible to communicate with the person or persons responsible for the impending closure of Swanage Delivery Office, surely as customers we are entitled to express our opinion and concerns to those who are making decisions that undoubtedly effect ourselves I have never heard of a company yet that does not listen to what their customers have to say.

I am presuming that what you have told me is a general press release and therefore is a standard ‘one size fits all’ announcement. I can only deduce from its contents that the only people you have consulted with are the trade union which keeps it very much ‘in house’ so to speak and in union terms very much a closed shop.

While I accept that improvements in new technology and equipment and upgrade operational facilities may be required I really cannot see how giving the residents of Swanage a lesser service will help to achieve that situation.

Further, perhaps one of your decision makers might like to explain to me how closing Swanage delivery Office will help make the Royal Mail and I quote ‘a world class organisation’ (your words not mine) it is no good being ‘World class’ if you cannot be bothered to give your UK customers (in this case Swanage) a service that is ‘World class’.

The person or persons who are orchestrating this closure seem to be taking a dogmatic and almost cavalier attitude and do not appear to have even considered that they should consult with the residents of Swanage.

Well, they really should do so as it is us the residents of Swanage who as your ‘Customers’ who will feel the effects of your cuts and I would urge you to arrange a meeting or meetings within the Town to discuss this matter, you will find that Swanage residents are very good at having their say! And you would leave somewhat more enlightened about the area than you are at the moment.

I look forward to your reply.

Kindest Regards, David Gough, Swanage, Dorset.

From: customerservice@your.royalmail.com Sent: 05 February 2016 10:47 Dear Mr Gough, Thank you for your further contact with Royal Mail. I am sorry to hear of your concerns regarding the closure of Swanage Delivery Office.

The full details of your complaint have been recorded under reference number 1-3496386983 and will be passed to the relevant department.

I have now had the opportunity to review the details of your case and I am happy that our responses to you were appropriate. This is because, as my colleague has advised, we are unable to provide a named person or email address for the staff members which are dealing with the closure of Swanage Delivery Office.

Whilst I understand your concerns I would like to reassure you that Royal Mail has amalgamated offices before and we will be working to ensure that there is a smooth transition.

We appreciate any changes may impact on our customers and our planning activities always give due consideration as to how we can best protect and serve their interest. This will continue to be a top priority during any operational changes. Such considerations include the way we collect mail for delivery and how customers can collect undelivered mail. I am also confident that we have met our commitment to provide a consistent level of customer service.

I appreciate that this will come as a disappointment to you as this is not the outcome that you were looking for. However if you are still not satisfied with our response you can escalate your complaint to our Escalated Complaints Resolution Team as detailed in our complaints handling process details on our website.

The Escalated Complaints Resolution Team can be contacted by email to customerresolution@your.royalmail.com.

Alternatively you can write to: Escalated Customer Resolution Team, Royal Mail, PO Box 466, Plymouth, PL9 7HJ. If you do contact the team please can I ask you to quote your reference number 1-3496386983.

Regards, James Cotterill, Customer Service Advisor

Expert Driving Tui on

01929 792513 07813 957636

Complaint: 1-3496386983!

Gazette reader, David Gough, was outraged by the news that Swanage Delivery and Sorting office is due to close, so he wrote to Royal Mail. David’s correspondence to and from Royal Mail is below.....

TO: customerservice@your.royalmail.com SENT: 29 January 2016 18:57:04 Would you please be kind enough to furnish me with a named email address for the person responsible for the pending closure of the Royal Mail delivery office currently in Kings Road East, Swanage, Dorset? This appears to be happening without any due consultation with or consideration for the residents of Swanage. I would like to complain but am unable to find where this should be directed. Thank you. David Gough From: customerservice@your.royalmail.com Sent: Tuesday, February 2, 2016 11:54 AM Dear Mr Gough, Thank you for your e-mail in relation to the closure of Swanage Delivery Office. I am sorry if this has caused you any concern or inconvenience.

I am very sorry that I am unable to provide a named person or email address for the staff members which are dealing with the closure of Swanage Delivery Office. However, we do not take operational changes such as this lightly and give them a great deal of thought including a 6 month consultation period with our trade union colleagues.

All parties are in agreement that it is vital that we change to enable investment in new technology and equipment and upgrade operational facilities. This helps to ensure we have a world class organisation which will provide the most efficient and effective network for delivering the post and a safe working environment for our people.

Whilst I understand your concerns I would like to reassure you that Royal Mail has amalgamated offices before and we will be working to ensure that there is a smooth transition. We appreciate any changes may impact on our customers and our planning activities always give due consideration as to how we can best protect and serve their interest. This will continue to be a top priority during any operational changes. Such considerations include the way we collect mail for delivery and how customers can collect undelivered mail.

If you are unable to visit your nearest Delivery Office to collect undeliverable items, we can arrange a redelivery back to your address or an alternative address within the same postcode area free of charge or to a local Post Office for a small fee (please note Special Delivery Guaranteed items cannot be delivered to an alternative address).

This can be arranged by calling the number on the ‘Something for you...’ card we leave or by visiting: www.royalmail.com/redelivery Thank you for contacting us about this matter and we hope you will find our reply both helpful and informative. Please accept our apologies once again, and if we can be of any more help, please get back in touch.

Regards, Rachel Wild, Customer Service Advisor TO: customerservice@your.royalmail.com SENT: 03 February 2016 19:04:49 Dear Rachel Wild, Very many thanks for your reply. I am at a loss to understand why it is

The Purbeck Gazette

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Divided We Fall

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David Hollister writes...

he Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, Martyn Underhill, held a community engagement day in Swanage in the Co-Op supermarket from 10am to 1pm.Tuesday 9th of February. What an odd place to hold such an event! I certainly wouldn’t want to talk personal business in a supermarket….but I guess it’s nice to see him occasionally; certainly nothing to do with the upcoming PCC Elections!

Didn’t notice a huge number of people queuing out of the door. Guess we’re lucky to live in such a crime-free environment! Or maybe all the people who complain about the lack of a visible police presence are afraid to come out from behind their keyboards.

In a FOI request to the DCC regarding the recent ‘improvements’ made to the perfectly good road between Corfe and Stoborough, I wrote: “Please confirm the total cost of this operation. Please advise why this resurfacing work was deemed necessary. Please advise the name of the Officer who made the decision to proceed with this work. In many places, the resurfacing is bumpier and less even than the road it replaced. Please advise the name of the Officer who signed this work off as adequate.

“It’s a well-known fact that road surfaces in Swanage, Wareham, Stoborough, and other sections of the A351, are becoming badly worn and dangerous. More so, indeed, than the sections of the A351 which have been replaced. Please advise as to whether these other roads were considered for resurfacing and if not, why not? And please confirm the name and of the Officer in direct charge of road resurfacing planning”. I will be fascinated to share their reply with you.

Great news to hear that Charlie Newman has been granted ‘planning permission’ for his amazing ‘Woodhenge’ sculpture, built using his own logs, at his own expense, on his own property and doing no-one any harm. With the caveat that it has to come down in two years (last flexing of pathetic little official muscles). Next time I want to organise my own woodpile perhaps I will emulate Charlie and stack it vertically…….

Good also to learn that Swanage is making some progress with providing facilities for young people – although too late to save DCC Youth Services itself from the ‘cuts’. I went to an informative meeting held at the Youth Centre on 4th February, organised by the Swanage & Purbeck Development Trust, led by Kim Gallagher and Bob Foster. In conjunction with the Town Council, they are working hard to obtain a long lease – or preferably the freehold – from the Dorset County Council. In an interesting ‘brainstorming session’ many good ideas were thrown around; find out more, and how you can get involved, at http://www.sandpdt.org.uk/, and watch this space for future developments (see also page 16).

Purbeck has a higher than average supply of larger properties than most areas in the country, increasing the accessibility problems faced by firsttime buyers. Statistics suggest that second homes constitute a much higher percentage of the housing stock than in many other areas. In 2006 they accounted for 6.85% of the District’s housing stock the 5th highest percentage in the South West. Many of these homes are at the lower to middle end of the market, creating competition between potential second homeowners and local households. The stock of private rented accommodation is about 9% compared with 11.9% nationally.

Which is why when I learn from a PDC document that there are currently

2202 households on the Purbeck waiting list, I tend to do whatever I can to promote the idea of really affordable houses (not the laughable 20% discount that the Government describes as ‘affordable’, but make the lie big, keep it simple, keep saying it and eventually people will believe it). These include 21 households who are ‘statutory homeless’ under the Housing Act. We can’t blame ‘immigrants’ ; the percentage of the population from abroad in the Isle of Purbeck was 0.9 per cent lower in 2011 than in 2001, despite rising everywhere else. In some parts of the country the proportion of migrants in the general population doubled and in two areas it more than tripled.

There are 22,085 dwellings in Purbeck. Of which 1607 (7%) are second homes. The statistics don’t suggest how many of these second homes are occupied and how many remain empty for much of the year, but if you go to Worth Matravers you may just see tumbleweed in the streets…

It’s not for me to ‘get at’ the second-homers, many of whom bring much-needed business to our shopkeepers and small tradesmen. Seems to me that the local tradesmen and small builders all need the work that the ‘incomers’ bring; they wouldn’t get far if they relied purely on locals.

The ONS tell me that our average family income is only £382 per week and also that about 40% of our population are pensioners, so after our ridiculous levels of Council Tax and other household running expenses their ain’t much left over to get our houses tarted up.

So we need the ‘second homers’ and their money. Some even get involved in local affairs and they’re to be welcomed and applauded. But for everyone who has two homes that means someone else has no home. Do the maths.

Not for me to tell people how to spend their surplus money but I ask them, is it really fair? You’re pushing prices out of ordinary peoples’ reach.

I know numerous people in Purbeck in their 30s and 40s who can’t ever see themselves getting on to the housing ladder; they’re paying exorbitant rents just for the roofs over their heads, meaning that they can never save up the deposit to buy.

Year by year, the UK is turning into a divided nation; them what has and them what hasn’t. And we call ourselves a Christian and Caring Society!

Ruled overwhelmingly by ‘haves’ of all political persuasions. With an electoral system that’s rotten to the core, a dangerously elitist and outof-touch judiciary, and a police force and army which would be mobilised at any sign of civil unrest. Who rely on mass public apathy and continue to provide bread and circuses (OK, beer and football) to keep the plebs down.

Next time there’s a general election can you see the disenfranchised, the homeless, and all those discontent with this ‘elitist’ government turning out on the steps of the houses of parliament with their pitchforks and demanding equality? No, nor can I. The best way to take control over a people and control them utterly is to take a little of their freedom at a time, to erode rights by a tiny and almost imperceptible reduction. In this way the people will not see these rights and freedoms being removed until past the point at which these changes cannot be removed.

Every school child should be made to read George Orwell; 1984 and Animal Farm to start with. “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.”

The Purbeck Gazette

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A short story by Lilly Harman, winner of the Swanage Lions/Purbeck Literary Festival Primary School writing competition

Lilly Harman (pictured, below right) recently won the Swanage Lions primary school writing competition, in conjunction with Purbeck Literary Festival.

Lilly attends Swanage Primary School, and her winning story based on the theme of ‘heroes’ is below...... n a dark, ominous churchyard one stormy night, a witch crept up the soggy, muddy path, spell-book in one hand, a long, thin wand, intricately carved with strange patterns, held in the other. She began to mutter under her breath. The words hung in the darkness, like a cold, dense fog: “Tuyuga galooba mandesam”. As she spoke, she began to hover above the ground. Around her the trees shivered in a swelling breeze, which seemed to be growing as the words were uttered twice more.

Hidden behind a gravestone close by, Finn crouched, frozen in fear.

He had noticed her earlier in the village, behaving strangely. She had seemed distracted and in a hurry as she walked into a market stall.

Feeling inquisitive, he decided to follow her, and had found himself in the graveyard. Realising he would be caught if he tried to run away, Finn had hidden himself from her, but he knew it may only be a matter of time before the witch discovered him.

Suddenly, a blinding flash of red light momentarily illuminated the graveyard, forcing Finn to cover his eyes. He cautiously opened them, only to find the graveyard empty! He knew something was inexplicably wrong, and he felt a sudden chill tingling through his spine. He ran home, terrified of what was going to happen...

The amber sun rose like a fireball in the milky sky, casting shadows on the villagers as they drifted sleepily out of their houses. Murmurs of confusion and surprise grew into shouts and screams as the villagers discovered the wreckage that lay before them: many carts, left tidily in the street the evening before, were now upside down all over the straw-strewn ground; various items for sale were lying half covered in mud, broken,

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damaged or bruised.

Finn looked around: gargoyles, normally found on top of the church, were now alive and scampering around the streets, creating a trail of havoc. As the first villagers emerged, confusion turned into terror. In amongst the confusion there was an unexpected POP! The foul Witch was back. She was cackling uncontrollably, her shoulders shaking, her stout stomach shuddering, as she stood on top of an upturned cart.

As Finn watched, an idea crept into his mind. He tip-toed silently behind the witch and up onto the cart. With a sudden lurch he pushed the witch onto the ground. With a piercing scream, she tumbled off the cart, dropping her wand and spell book. Finn grabbed them.

He started to flick through the pages of the spell book and found a disappearing spell. He pointed the wand at the witch, and cried, “shimano shimano do”.

A flash of white light engulfed the village, causing the witch to vanish, and the gargoyles to return to their places on the church building.

Finn stood, breathless and disbelieving. After a moment of silence, villagers ran towards him, lifting him onto the shoulders of men and women, feeling as though he’d finished something remarkable.

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 January 2016 efore the January meeting, Councillors observed a minute’s silence in memory of Reverend Colin Hodge, past Councillor, and Mayor in 1967.

The meeting began with a presentation by Sue McWilliams and the Lions on making Wareham dementia-friendly.

A planning application for a sixty four bed care home on the Sandford First School site had been submitted, reported County Councillor Ezzard.

The Wareham Youth Club steering group will make a business case for the club, which counted five hundred different users in two months. An automatic barrier at the level crossing had been ruled out on health and safety grounds and continuing with the current security would need extra funding to comply with new regulations. Concern was expressed about the state of the wall below St Martin’s Church especially as road works are imminent but the County Council claimed the responsibility to be the Church’s.

The budget prepared by the Policy, Resources and Finance Committee which included an application for £20,000 from the Public Works Loan

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Board for 2 Mill Lane and a one-off grant for the Youth Centre was unanimously accepted by the Council. The increase in the precept presented by the budget would be partially offset by the increase in the number of homes in Wareham.

The Council was also unanimous in its opposition to house building on the Wareham Rugby Club grounds on account of the loss of a facility and difficulty of access.

The Planning and Transport Committee was unhappy about “The Happy Hour” shop sign in South Street. The Council discussed the planning application for part of the Quay toilets to become an extension to the pub kitchen. On the one hand, this could provide revenue towards the maintenance of the toilets. On the other hand, some of the nearly new facility would be lost and Viridor which gave money towards the refurbishment could object to the change of use.

Councillor Critchley reported that the Neighbourhood Plan survey showed affordable housing to be the highest priority.

There will be a St George’s Day Parade on Sunday 24th April. The Town Hall will be available for weddings in the future (presumably not while the Chamber is half full of band paraphernalia).

The next Council meeting is on Tuesday 8th March, 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.

Swanage Fire Station Update

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i and welcome to my monthly report on the happenings at Swanage Fire station.

Operationally we’ve had a very busy start to 2016, having already responded to over one hundred incidents.

These have included: Seventy One medical calls in our Co-response vehicle Twelve false alarms Two heath fires Six special service calls that included: one large animal rescue, the rescue of passengers from a car stuck in mud, assistance at a flat flooded by a burst water main, a chemical cylinder on the shore line, and a young man who had trapped his arm in machinery.

Seven property fires. These included a kitchen fire caused by a pan of fat being left in an oven whilst switched on, the over-heating of an electrical intake, candles being left unattended and causing furniture to ignite.

One appliance attended a major fire at a large property on Old Christchurch Road in Bournemouth along with several other appliances from around the county.

Two vehicle fires Four road traffic collisions This month we welcomed two new Firefighters to the Station, Ashley Curtis and Kristian Berry. They have recently completed their basic training and are now back on station attending incidents as part of the crews.

As you may have read in the Gazette last year, our Station now carries out Co-responding with Ambulance colleagues at the South Western Ambulance Service. Since October we have responded to over 135 calls in and around the town. On each occasion we are backed up by either a paramedic car or an ambulance. On this note I would like to say a great big thank you to Donna Kiss (Matron) and all the staff of Swanage Hospital for donating the proceeds of their Christmas staff raffle to help buy essential medical equipment for the Co- responders at our station.

This year is going to be one to remember as on 1st April we will combine with Wiltshire to become ‘Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’ with Chief Fire Officer Darran Gunter at the helm. Over the coming months I will keep you informed of any changes. The first changes so far have been to signage on our appliances. If you would like to see more information about the combination of the two Fire Services please go to www.dorsetfire.gov.uk and follow the links to the combination and read the latest blogs from Chief Fire Officer Darran Gunter Stay safe and don’t forget to test your smoke alarms.

Phil Burridge, Station Commander

The Purbeck Gazette

Swanage Regatta & Carnival

CHARITY NOMINATIONS If you would like to nominate a Charity or Good Cause to be a beneficiary from the proceeds of this year’s Carnival Week, please apply in writing to the Carnival Secretary before 1st April 2016 with a brief description of your charity/good cause and a summary of how any donation would be used.

In return we ask that representatives and/or supporters from the selected organisations help during Carnival Week with voluntary roles such as bucket collections at events.

Applications to: Andy Wright - Swanage Regatta & Carnival, 25 Durberville Drive, Swanage. BH19 1QN Carnival Easter Bingo 22 & 29 March at Herston Caravan and Campsite from 8pm. All welcome!

Charity Fashion Show

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he Royal Voluntary Service together with students from Thomas Hardye School will be putting on a Fashion Show on Friday 15th April 2016.

Clothes are provided by “Travelling Trends”, modelled by local ladies aged 18 – 74, and can be purchased on the night with no need to order.

As well as having the opportunity to re-vamp your wardrobe we have a range of beautiful both donated & handmade jewellery to cover all tastes prices from 50p - £5.

Refreshments, cake stall and an amazing raffle prizes are also available. To purchase raffle and entry tickets please call Dorchester 01305 236666.

Tickets £7, all proceeds to Royal Voluntary Service Dorset Befriending.

Tina Damon-Sparks Befriending Service Manager would like to say a big thank you to Kevin Swindell from Wyke Print Solutions for the fabulous artwork on the raffle tickets, posters and entry tickets, a thank you also to Clive Garman at Sherrens Printers for printing the raffle tickets and to Adrian Wood from Advantage Digital Print for printing the posters and entry tickets.

You have all been wonderfully supportive!

Final Chance To Have Say On Lytchett Matravers Plan

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ytchett Matravers residents have a final opportunity to make comments on a plan reflecting the community’s vision for the parish.

Purbeck District Council has published a draft final version of the Lytchett Matravers Neighbourhood Plan for public consultation before it is sent to an independent examiner later this year.

If the plan passes the examiner’s scrutiny, it will then go through a local referendum before being adopted for the parish.

Councillor Peter Wharf, Spokesperson for Purbeck District Council said: “The Lytchett Matravers Neighbourhood Plan is the culmination of several years’ hard work by the local community. It reflects their vision for the future of Lytchett Matravers and specifies where investment would be best made for the benefit of the parish. The Plan also provides village residents with a greater say in future planning decisions for the parish.”

Councillor Wharf continued: “It is clear that residents care about the future of Lytchett Matravers so I hope they will comment on the plan before the consultation closes.”

To find out more, go to www.dorsetforyou.com/neighbourhoodplanning/ purbeck/lm Alternatively, paper copies of all the material are available to view at Lytchett Matravers library and the Purbeck District Council offices in Wareham. The deadline for comments is 4pm on Friday 18 March.

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The Purbeck Gazette

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Grapevine Group Receive New Year Boost

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he Grapevine group, a social club for older people in Wareham and Sandford, kick started the New Year with a welcome funding boost courtesy of the Bluebird Care Dorset Community Grant.

The group, which meets on the first and third Friday of the month at the Sandford Community Hall, provides a welcome and highly beneficial social opportunity for local residents. Group leader Anne Laugharne applied for a Community Grant from local care at home provider, Bluebird Care Dorset, shortly after the grant scheme was launched in the spring of 2015 in order to help cover the cost of some professional speakers to provide additional entertainment value for the group as an embellishment to the program of events.

After being inundated with grant applications throughout the Summer and Autumn, Bluebird Care were pleased to be able to bring Grapevine’s application to the fore in the hope that the New Year funding boost will facilitate some first-rate speakers for the coming year. To this end, Bluebird Care Dorset Director, Chris Scriven attended the group on Friday 15th to present the award.

Anne Laugharne said: ‘We are very grateful to Bluebird Care for the grant.

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After fourteen years, it gets a little difficult to think of new things when you are working on a shoe string. This will enable us to get some very good speakers and maybe even a couple of chair exercise classes! The group will decide when we next meet. We would like to give our sincere thanks to Bluebird Care for making this possible.’

Bluebird Care Dorset Director, Chris Scriven, added: ‘It was pleasure to attend the group to present the cheque and see the benefit the members derived from the social inclusion. Loneliness and isolation can represent such a significant risk to well-being to older people and groups such as this provide a much needed solution. It was certainly a warm group to attend on a cold day.’

The Grapevine group has room for new members and would be keen to hear from those interested in coming along.

This was the tenth Community Grant to be awarded since the launch of the scheme last spring and applications are welcome at all times for consideration for the monthly award. Those operating a not-for-profit service within the Dorset County Council area and wishing to apply can find further information at www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/Our-Dorset-Offices.

Library Closures Against Law?

losing libraries ‘could be breaking the law’, says Unite.

A ‘line in the sand’ needs to be drawn to stop the mass closure of libraries in England, Scotland and Wales – which has seen more than four hundred libraries shut in the last five years – said Unite, the country’s largest union. On 4th February Unite called for an immediate reversal of the continuing cuts by government to council budgets, which fund library services.

The union said that local councils have a statutory duty, enshrined in legislation stretching back to 1850, to provide ‘comprehensive and efficient’ library services – and could be breaking the law by closing them.

Unite said that the savage cuts to local government budgets since 2010 have put libraries in the frontline for the axe as they are seen as ‘a soft target’. The latest figures published by CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) show that in March 2011 there were 4,340 libraries in England, Scotland and Wales. In March 2015 that figure had dipped to 3,917 – a loss of 423 libraries.

Unite national officer for local government Fiona Farmer said: “We are asking government to keep our libraries open, reverse the council cuts, and have a fair funding formula for local authorities. “It needs to be highlighted that local authorities have a statutory obligation to provide comprehensive

library services as a quality service for communities. Libraries are a beacon of hope and practical assistance for people wishing to improve their literacy – we have one of the lowest levels in the developed countries; for those seeking employment; and as centres for strengthening community ties.

“The 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act outlines the statutory duty incumbent on councils to provide a quality library service and the legal obligation of the culture secretary John Whittingdale to improve public libraries in England. “National and local politicians see libraries as ‘a soft target’ in this time of austerity, but they could be pushing up against the boundaries of legality, if they persist on this course. Councils could be breaking the law, so now is the time to draw a line in the sand and stop these closures.”

An umbrella group Speak Up For Libraries staged a lobby of parliament on Tuesday 9 February. Library workers and users were urged to attend the meeting at Central Hall, Westminster after which they met their MPs to make the case for libraries.

The link to the Cilip website: http://www.cilip.org.uk/advocacycampaigns-awards/advocacy-campaigns/my-library-right The link to The Library Campaign: http://speakupforlibraries.org/

The Purbeck Gazette

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We are people in Swanage who want to help and support refugees

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group of local residents have united to form ‘Swanage Action for Refugees’ (SAR) and we will be holding an open meeting at the Emmanuel Baptist Church Centre, Victoria Avenue, Swanage, on Thursday 17th March.

Everyone is welcome to attend from 7pm for refreshments, and the meeting starts at 7.30pm.

The main speaker will be Mya PopeWeidemann, a young journalist from Swanage who visited and reported from the Greek island of Lesbos last year. Once there, she found herself morphing from a reporter into a relief worker, helping to save the lives of refugees arriving daily in unsafe boats from the terrible wars in Syria and the Middle East. We hope that two refugees will also be with us to tell their stories.

I shall explain what SAR hopes to do in encouraging our community to help to alleviate th suffering of these people.

The UK has a proud, centuries-old history of helping people fleeing persecution: Frenc Huguenots, Jews fleeing the horror of Nazism, Republicans from fascist Spain, Vietnamese boat people and many more.

We in SAR hope that many in our community will feel compassion and will be able to offer support to embrace people who all belong to one race: the human race.

Coastguard Update In a recent Gazette, a local farmer had written about the blocking of gates leading to the farm and fields by dog walkers or people out exploring in their vehicles.

The Coastguard and other emergency services also use these tracks to get to some of the cliffs from Durlston to Lulworth. It’s vital these tracks and gateways are not blocked to delay a rescue (it’s also an offence to obstruct the emergency services) so please give it some thought.

Another key area which see gates blocked is along the ferry road at Studland. These gates are known as Fire Points for the Fire Service however they are key to areas along the beach for maritime and coastal emergencies, please observe the signage.

It still surprises us that people don’t realize the Coastguard is an emergency service and contactable via the 999 system. The UK Coastguard has a statutory obligation to coordinate rescues on the coast and maritime incidents.

Children are held aloft from the crush at Camp Moira registration, Lesbos.

Photographer: M.Pope-Weidemann, winter 2015.

There will be tine for debate and discussion, so please come with your questions and concerns.

Nick Viney, Swanage Action for Refugees (SAR).

It conducts those rescue via its own Coastguard Rescue Teams (Swanage, St Albans, Kimmeridge and Lulworth in the Purbeck area) along with partner agencies like the RNLI, NCI, Dorset Police, South Western Ambulance or Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue.

The Coastguard has some impressive rescue equipment, some of the best its had in many years for rope, water and mud rescues. along with search equipment. but at the heart of the service it is volunteers, and for the Purbeck area that 48 Coastguard rescue officers.

This month was dominated by one critical incident which saw a multiagency rescue on the 6th February. Emergency services responded to a concern for welfare following reports a woman had gone over the cliffs at Peveril Point.

Coastguard Rescue Officers from Swanage and St Albans were tasked along with Dorset Police Officers and the Ambulance Service. A local woman aged in her 50s was airlifted from the cliffs by the Coastguard helicopter from Portland and taken to King George’s field where she was treated by Paramedics.

She sustained very serious head and chest injuries and was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital by the air ambulance. Sadly in the early hours of Sunday morning the lady sadly passed away in hospital, our thoughts are with her family and friends.

The Purbeck Gazette

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Waiting for No Man eople are always asking about the tides. Anybody living on an island, especially the on the edges, will, at some time, come into contact with the sea. It comes, goes and spins around in apparently mysterious ways and will touch most the lives of most people whether by directly affecting their livelihood or merely determining how far along the beach you can walk the dog.

All of course caused by the ebb and flow of the tide. So how, in easy terms, can we describe the complexity of tides?

Tides are primarily caused by the gravitational pull on the earth’s waters by the sun, earth and moon and also varied by the rotation of the earth. If the Sun -> Moon -> Earth are in that direct line, then their combined gravities will pull together and result in the highest or “Spring” tides. If the moon is on the far side of the earth from the sun so aligned Sun -> Earth -> Moon, then the effect is slightly less (it is further away) but also high and also makes a Spring Tide.

Springs therefore occur around the time when the moon is new and full. At the time when the moon is halfway between these points, at right angles to the direct line from sun to earth, the pull is minimised, therefore smaller “Neap” tides occur. Since the moon is rotating around the earth in the same direction as the earth’s rotation, an average “tidal lunar day” is about 24 hours and 50 minutes and not 24 hours.

You can liken this to the fact that both hands on your watch are over each other at twelve o’clock but not again until just after five minutes past one. Over this period the average daily tidal area will be subject to two tide cycles every “tidal lunar day” and two periods of spring tides and two periods of neap tides every 29 days or so.

Weather can also affect tides. If the wind blows from the same direction for a long period of time or very strongly over a shorter period then the tides will be affected. For example, a west or south-west wind prevents the water from flowing as freely out of the English Channel and so higher tides result and vice versa. High barometric pressure means that the air is effectively pressing down on the sea so lower tides result.

The shape and depth of the sea bed and the shape and contour of the foreshore and its offshore islands will also divert the flow and affect the times it takes for the tide to come in and out. They also affect the direction of the flow. For instance there is almost no tide in the Mediterranean but tides of over 10m affect the Bristol Channel and the Bay of Fundy and the Seymour Narrows between Vancouver Island and the mainland has tidal flows of up to 16 knots. The flow around Swanage Bay will vary with the state of the tide.

There are about 7 hours between High and Low waters and about 5½ hours between Low and High. It remains steady for about 1½ hours at low water before the flood starts and 1 hour before the ebb. There is also a so-called second high water, which is caused by the effect of the Isle of Wight on the ebb flowing down the Channel. In Swanage, this is little more than a slowing down of the ebb tide about and hour or so into the ebb, there is very little inflow into the bay. You can obtain daily predictions from the Lookout.

The accurate calculation of tides is very complex and the figures that we publish in the Gazette are usually pretty accurate with the data available. However, like the rest of our lives, they are pretty good until the good old British Weather gets into the act. Just as you take your umbrella in case the weather forecast is wrong, be prepared with your wellies when walking the tide-line as the tide may be a little earlier or later than is predicted.

As always, use the email below for any questions that we may be able to answer for you and stay safe on whichever side of the tide line your life or leisure takes you.

The Swanage NCI can be contacted at the Lookout, on 01929 422596, at nci.org.uk or on VHF 65.

Bob Clark swanagenci@btinternet.com NCI Swanage.

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Convicted Swanage Man Ordered To Pay For Crimes

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man convicted of money laundering offences has been ordered to pay more than £30,000 he made through illegal earnings.

Daniel Lockwood, 35, was handed the confiscation order at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday 18 January 2016 following a contested hearing.

He was told he would have to pay £31,672.86 or face going to prison for eight months after which time he would still be liable to pay the cash.

Lockwood’s confiscation followed his conviction on 28 May 2014 after he pleaded guilty to money laundering offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act. He was sentenced to a community order and ordered to carry out 50-hours of unpaid work.

The confiscation proceedings were brought by Zephyr’s Criminal Finance Team as part of Operation Delphi, supported by Dorset Police.

Detective Inspector Tony Hubbard, of Zephyr, said: “This case highlights that the police will relentlessly pursue and remove any benefit of offending using the powers available to us under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

“This confiscation result should send out a very clear message to anyone involved or contemplating criminality to stop – if you don’t you risk losing everything.”

Police Sergeant Jane Mooney, of Purbeck police, said: “This conviction and subsequent confiscation order demonstrates Dorset Police’s commitment to tackling organised crime.

“Money laundering is an insidious crime that has at its roots, all manner of criminality and local officers have worked hard with the national Zephyr unit to ensure our communities are kept safe by disrupting organised criminal activity.”

The Purbeck Gazette

Purbeck Projects Hit Jackpot!

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ewly revealed figures show that more than £900,000 of National Lottery funding was awarded across Purbeck last year alone.

Lottery grants given out across Purbeck during 2015 provided a vital boost to arts, sports and heritage projects alongside community groups helping those most in need.

Local projects that received National Lottery grants last year included: £893,000 to Swanage Pier Trust for the Swanage Pier Regeneration Project £10,000 to East Holton Driving Centre to purchase a specialist wagon for therapeutic horse carriage riding sessions for people with disabilities £8,000 to Three Bears Educare to refurbish its rural community building From today, these examples, or any organisation that has ever received National Lottery funding, have the possibility of gaining nationwide acclaim by entering The National Lottery Awards 2016. National Lottery Awards winners will receive a £3,000 cash prize and national recognition at a glittering ceremony broadcast on BBC One in October.

John Barrowman, presenter of last year’s National Lottery Awards show, said: “The National Lottery Awards offer an unmissable opportunity to give outstanding projects their time to shine. If you can think of a great Lottery-funded project, please nominate them for an Award.”

“All these fantastic projects are funded by National Lottery players - every one of you should feel proud to raise an astounding £34million a week, which provides much needed support to such life-changing work.”

National Lottery Awards are given across seven categories; Sport, Heritage, Arts, Environment, Health, Education and Voluntary/Charity, to reflect the range of funding that the Lottery gives out.

If you wish to nominate your favourite project in this year’s National Lottery Awards, tweet @LottoGoodCauses with your suggestions or call 0207 293 3599 to find out more and to enter. Entries must be received by midnight on 9 March 2016.

Carpets Select is a local company which employs skilled, local labour, and is a member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen.

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Save Swanage Youth Centre!

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s a result of Dorset County Council cut-backs, funding has been withdrawn for “open access” Youth services and Youth centres across the County. A decision was made by the DCC Cabinet on 13 January.

Unless something is done by the local community, the service and the Youth and Community building will no longer be available for the young people of Swanage.

Invitations have been sent out by the DCC to local councils and voluntary groups to provide a business case for taking over the service and the buildings. Business Plans have to be submitted by 31 March. Successful parties will be able to commence the new services and lease buildings on 1 September.

Swanage Town Council and, local charity, Swanage and Purbeck Development Trust, on hearing that the decision to withdraw was likely, immediately commenced discussions on ways to retain the service for the community. Replacing the service is seen as the priority but the building is very important as a future community resource.

A business plan is being prepared with a proposal for the Development Trust, on behalf of the community, to run both the service and the building.

To make the building viable to cover costs and support the Youth Service, greater use will have to be achieved to increase income. The Development Trust is approaching local organisations to gather ideas for future use and is putting together a financial viability plan based upon costs and income.

The building is clearly in need of repair and refurbishment; it has been neglected by the DCC over the last few years. Fund raising support will be needed to bring the building up to standard and encourage income

The Purbeck Gazette

WPM Residential Lettings If you need to Let or want to Rent, contact WPM. We offer a personal service to Landlords & Tenants 23b Commercial Road, Swanage, Dorset BH19 1DF. Tel: 01929 426200 Web: www.wpmlettings.co.uk Email: wpm.tiller@virgin.net producing use. Crowd funding is the preference by DCC but the Town Council and the Development Trust will also be looking at other ways to raise the funding.

The decision by DCC is a serious threat to our local, well used, youth service. It would also represent the loss of yet another building, in Swanage, which is suitable for community use. Local support to save it will be vital.

The Swanage & Purbeck Development Trust will be looking for: local volunteers to support the service for the future; local organisations to come up with ideas for using the Centre; applications for renting space and other community uses; and charitable donations to carry out repair work and improve the building.

For more information on how you can help, look up the Swanage & Purbeck Development Trust website at: http://www.sandpdt.org.uk/ Profile of Swanage and Purbeck Development Trust Swanage and Purbeck Development Trust is a charity, formed in 2013, to support the community of Swanage and surrounding areas in a range of issues and challenges. These include: creating opportunities for young people, meeting the needs of an ageing population, affordable housing, attracting new employment opportunities, conservation and access to the town’s rich heritage, flood risk and protecting the natural environment.

The charity also acts as an umbrella trust to encourage, nurture and grow small charitable organisations which share the same objectives. By working under the “umbrella” the organisations gain charity status whilst retaining their operating independence. There are also benefits of scale by sharing high level costs to assist viability.

The Development Trust is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. For more information visit our website: http://www.sandpdt.org. uk/ Bob Foster, Chair – Swanage and Purbeck Development Trust, 07827 012759

Out Of The Blue

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t’s the start of the shift and I’m already sifting through the emails and incidents that have come in since I was last on duty.

I’ve a burglary victim to visit and conduct follow up enquiries with, a statement to take and a report of poaching to follow up, but before I have time to contact them, I receive a phone call from detectives in Bournemouth.

I’m told that there are two people in custody who have been arrested after a pursuit. In the vehicle in which they were caught, were stolen number plates. The number plates are registered to an address in Purbeck.

I make my way up to the property and find the car on the driveway, complete with missing number plates. The victim is reporting this as I knock on their door. It’s not often we get to tell a victim we’ve made arrests before they even noticed they’ve been a victim of crime.

An hour or so later and my statement and house to house enquiries are complete. I return to the station, only to be sent straight back out to reports of arson. Someone has very kindly taken it upon themselves to install heating in public toilets by setting fire to the toilet rolls.

It’s beyond me what people get out of doing this sort of thing. It costs a small fortune in damage, clean-up costs, two fire engines and a subsequent police investigation. Not to mention the inconvenience of closing a

convenience. Our enquiries continue…

No sooner had I returned from this, I am being sent to a major incident in Swanage. I’m the first Emergency Service on scene and the last to leave.

A huge effort of teamwork and professionalism between ourselves, HM Coastguard and the Ambulance service.

The sort of teamwork you don’t get from just another colleague, but an extended family of local Purbeck Emergency Services which is built up over many years of working together.

Before the day is over, a lot of paperwork requires completion. A press release is drafted and published on our Facebook page. The kind words expressed by many of you make a long day a little less difficult.

The sense of community in Purbeck is unrivalled elsewhere in the county and we are proud to be part of it.

Purbeck PACT. In an emergency, call 999. For all other enquiries, call 101.

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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.

Follow us on twitter @BattensSol

www.battens.co.uk

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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

DCC Boundaries Made Law

ew electoral boundaries for Dorset County Council have been approved by Parliament after an independent review. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England published its final recommendations for changes to the county’s electoral divisions last September following an eight-week public consultation. The new boundaries have now been made law by an order of Parliament and will come into effect at the next county council elections in May 2017. The changes mean Dorset voters will elect 46 county councillors – one more than at present.

Dorset will be divided into 40 county council areas called divisions, a reduction from the current 42. Six of these divisions – Bridport, Dorchester, Ferndown, Gillingham, Verwood and West Moors – will each be represented by two councillors.

Two-councillor divisions have around twice the average number of voters and mean people can be represented fairly, without splitting communities in two. The other 34 divisions will each be represented by an individual county councillor.

Cllr Robert Gould, the Leader of the county council, said: “We are grateful to everyone who took the time to give their views during the boundary review. By taking part they have helped to make sure that local people are represented fairly and in a way that reflects the changing make-up of our communities.”

As well as representing local people from their own divisions, county councillors have a shared responsibility for council services provided to the 418,000 Dorset residents and a total budget of £613m.

More information about the role of county councillors and how to become one can be found at www.dorsetforyou.com/beingacouncillor Reviews of electoral boundaries are done periodically to make sure that the number of voters represented by each councillor is roughly the same.

The last review of Dorset County Council’s boundaries was in 2004.

Full details of the Dorset boundary changes, including maps, can be found at www.lgbce.org.uk

0800 6528411

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Blast From The Past!

This month, A Decade Ago...

The Purbeck Gazette

he March 2006 edition promoted the first annual Isle of Purbeck String Festival, held on 18th and 19th March. The Artistic Director was Susan Stanford and the Conductor was Ian Pillow.

The festival centred on specially commissioned work written by Ian Pillow, including ‘Songs and Dances of Spring’. Tickets were £6.

Dedicated workers at the Armour Center in Bovington, led by Mrs Pauline Paulley, cooked-up a feast of fondant fancies and Victoria sponges to feed the hungry troops (pictured above). Along with a raffle, the workers raised £1022.40 in aid of the NSPCC. Swanage’s Y-Axis Skate Park reported that there were still one and a half phases left to install at the skate park which would cost aproximately £40,000. Businesses and individuals were encouraged to come forward with donations. Lorna Haines was running her fourth London Marathon in April 2006 in aid of the park.

200 girls from Dorset Guides and Brownies, including the girls of 2nd Wareham Brownies, were lucky enough to spend a night at Bovington Tank Museum as part of a giant sleepover. They were joined by BBC South Today presenters, Sally Taylor and Joe McGann, as part of the Children in Need night. The girls raised over £300.

The Priory Hotel in Wareham gave support for the building of a town bandstand on its land. Andrews Plant Hire and Lovells Quarry got involved and with their support, the bandstand was built.

Swanage Museum advertised its reopening in its new location at the Heritage Centre, having previously been housed at the Tithe Barn.

Children from the Old Malthouse school in Langton Matravers spent a day sprucing up St James Church in Kingston before the school’s centenary celebrations. A concert was held in St James Church which included fomer Old Malthouse School pupils.

Bob McGhee and his wife, Jill, had recently taken over Swanage Post Office and wrote in to thank everyone for the warm welcome they had received whilst they settled into the business.

Swanage Football Club hosted the first ABA (Amateur Boxing Association) Open Show in more than twenty years, and over 400 boxing fans turned up to watch.

Swanage and Purbeck Amateur Boxing Club Coach, Paul Dwyer, said “Young boxers like George Sparrow (pictured, left) and Jeff Lewis epitomise the heart of Swanage and Purbeck Club.”

In his column ‘Putting it to Writes’, Andy Kirkwood asked how Cherie Booth could maintain a shred of public respect after taking most of the proceeds from a fundraising dinner aimed at helping kids with cancer, before he went on to take apart the legal aid system.

Andy declared that if he had his way, he’d wave a magic wand and replace the current Legal Aid system with a network of government-paid lawyers on sensible salaries, spread throughout the country, available to advise the

population free of charge, for those who qualify for legal aid.....

Dorset County Council declared the need to try and find a further £521,000 in savings in 2006. Closing one of the county’s recycling centres was mooted as a proposal, as well as cutting back on spending aimed towards promoting Dorset as a tourist destination.

Durlston Country Park were offering Dry Stone Walling courses in March for £10pp, and were still looking for sponsors for yard-long sections of a dry stone wall due to be built at the park (stating they were sure George Burt would have approved more of yards than metres!).

The 6th Swanage Blues Festival kicked off in March 2006, with eight venues hosting a wide range of music acts.

Luke Yeates of Swanage and friend, Mark Angell (pictured, right) wrote in to promote their triple-record attempt, to be the first, fastest and youngest circumnavigation of Britain on a 20ft beach catamaran.

The 17,000 mile journey took them from Poole anticlockwise around the coast of Britain in less than a month. Both hoped to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Sailing Team. The lads left Poole Harbour on 3 June and returned in early July in a time of 28 days - and holding the world record.

Goldy’s Farmshop at Holme reported on their ‘Loaf Project’, and had recently hosted Swedish trainers who shared their knowledge about breadmaking as well as salami making.

At the end of Goldy’s report, then-Editor Jon Sibthorpe made one of our most famous print gaffes and included the gramatical error which meant Goldy’s advert for an upcoming Purbeck event was actually printed as: ‘Don’t forget Pubic Aware Week 20th May - 18th June, where there will be tastings of local food at Goldys....’

The Purbeck Gazette

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The Purbeck Gazette

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Swanage & Purbeck Rotary DEVELOPMENTS IN 2015

wanage & Purbeck Rotary continued to flourish under Bob Foster’s presidency in 2014/15. His main objectives were to build on the Club’s Vision Statement to be a dynamic Club and recognised as a leader in local community projects, as well as the trusted focus for local support of international aid and disaster relief.

Highlights of the year included the popular Summer Fete and Santa’s Sleigh, the ever-growing Christmas Market, the Fashion Show organised in conjunction with Golden Girl and Purl-n-Lace, the Young Musician Competition, the emergency response to the Nepal and Vanuatu disasters, and involvement with the Swanage Area Dementia Friendly Community.

Linda Winter is this year’s President. Her chosen charity is Mosaic, a Dorset-wide charity that offers a pathway of support to bereaved children, young people and their families.

Linda’s vision is to ensure that current members really enjoy being involved with Swanage & Purbeck Rotary, and that prospective members should be enthused with the ethos of friendship and fellowship that exists when they visit the Club or participate in events.

Her priorities are to increase and maintain membership and develop close working relationships with Business Partners and Friends, all of whom play a valuable role in the Club’s work.

Swanage & Purbeck Rotary has welcomed a variety of speakers throughout the year from charities such as Forest Holme Hospice, The Besom Project and The Wave Youth & Children’s Ministry.

Members and Friends joined The Rotary Club of Wareham to hear a talk about the Magna Carta by a representative from Salisbury Cathedral.

Fellowship events have included various outings including a guided tour round Wareham, meals in local pubs, and sports matches such as boules on the beach against other Rotary Clubs in the area.

Public donations received are spent, without deductions, on Club projects.

The cost of fundraising and administration is met by the members who give their time, with support from the Club’s 20 Business Partners and numerous Friends. The financial support of the Business Partners enables the Club to promote events more effectively and therefore raise more funds for its charitable work.

To find out more about becoming a Member, Business Partner or Friend, please visit: www.swanagerotary.org or see Swanage & Purbeck Rotary’s Facebook page.

Alternatively, email us via the contact link at www.swanagerotary.org

The Purbeck Gazette

Community Network Event

(formally known as a Community Lunch) he lunch is hosted by DCA to enable VCSE organisations the opportunity to network, share information and share good practice of the great work that you do, with other news on what’s happening in your community.

Date: Thursday 10th March 2016, 9.30am registration for a 10am start.

Finishes at 1pm Venue: Harman’s Cross Village Hall, Haycrafts Lane, Harman’s Cross, Swanage BH19 3EB Booking: Booking is essential as numbers are limited. Please register at: http://www.dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk/#!16th-March-2016-PurbeckCommunity-Network-Event/c1bvh/56aa09330cf2a4f71535d203 Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please note there will be a £4 charge towards lunch, payable on the day unless you inform us prior to the event that you do not require lunch.

The morning session will include a range of interesting guest speakers including: Natasha from DCA will do bite sized training on registering as a charitable incorporated organisation. Anita from DCA will talk about the Big Energy Saving Network - how to save money from your energy bills. During lunch Natasha from DCA will speak about Dorset Vision (CCG video that explains the clinical services review and to encourage engagement) You will also have the opportunity to promote your organisation and raise any support that you may need from the community under our section ‘News from the floor’ before we network over lunch. Please feel free to bring along stands and displays of work you are doing.

After lunch you will have the opportunity to meet with a community advisor for the Purbeck area of Dorset to discuss any support needs for your project or organisation. Please let me know when you register on the day if you would like to sign up for this.

For further information contact Dorset Community Action on 01202 847605 or email: annie.hobell@dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk

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The Purbeck Gazette

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PCC Approves Council Tax Increase PCC approves Council Tax Rise following positive feedback from residents and unanimous agreement from Police & Crime Panel he PCC has consulted with the Police and Crime Panel who have unanimously supported his decision to raise the policing element of the Council Tax by 1.97%.

The PCC has a statutory duty to consult with both residents in Dorset and the Police and Crime Panel, a group of 15 Councillors and two Independent members who scrutinise the Commissioner’s decisions on behalf of the people of Dorset.

The meeting held at County Hall this morning followed a three-week consultation, the responses to which showed the public overwhelming support raising the precept to provide extra funding to police the County.

Over 4,000 residents shared their views, a response rate which is thought to be the highest in the Country, with four out of five people voting in favour of a rise of 1.99%, which will bring in an extra £1,031,374 a year to Dorset Police.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, Martyn Underhill said; “This year is quite unusual for two reasons. Firstly, the Chancellor announced that to retain police funding on a level footing, he expected PCCs to raise the precept, and the Chief Constable formally requested an increase in funding to meet emerging threats. Neither of these things have happened before.

When I went out to consultation, I had an open mind on the issue, but the public spoke overwhelmingly to support the Chief Constables request, so I am pleased the Panel supported this position.

“Dorset is a high performing force with positive independent reviews by HMIC. This additional revenue will support the Force in continuing this strong position whilst dealing with the emerging issues such as cybercrime and crimes against vulnerable people.

“Criminals are always adopting new techniques and it is vital that policing is properly resourced to meet these demands. However, it is also important that we balance the needs of the police service with the financial demands faced by families in Dorset. A rise of £3.74 per year for a Band D household achieves that. I would like to thank the 4,135 people who took part in my consultation.”

Dorset Police Chief Constable, Debbie Simpson, said; “Police forces have faced significant budget cuts over the last five years, with some of the changes required to meet this challenge still being put into place. The Chancellor made it clear that he expected Police & Crime Commissioners to request a small rise in their element of the council tax precept to avoid any further savings needing to be made. Operationally, I had explained to the PCC that we needed this funding to respond to new threats, so I am pleased that the Police & Crime Panel have supported his proposal.

“This small rise will help ensure that Dorset Police can effectively deal with complex and important areas of policing over the next five years, such as cyber-crime and child sexual exploitation. It will also ensure we can retain our accessibility to the public, and improve how people can contact us, as these are always priority areas when we ask the public for their views.

“I was heartened that despite the everyday financial pressures on households, the overwhelming majority of local people supported paying a few pounds a year more for their local policing. This gives a real boost to officers and staff that their hard work is valued. I can assure you that we will use the rise wisely to help keep you safe.”

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Helpline No – 01929 424363 March News Roundup Easter is at the end of the month – the years roll by don’t they?

As I write this at the end of February the weather seems to be trying to break all records by being the wettest and windiest in history. Maybe when you read this article all is improved and you are enjoying a lovely sunny March Spring day.

Springtime is when we have good intentions of having a big clear out of our cupboards so if you would like to get down to a job like this, but find it all too difficult, why don’t you call us so we can help you.

Purbeck Good Neighbours have friendly volunteers who offer help to anyone over the age of fifty to make life a bit easier.

Our volunteers do small one-off tasks in the Purbeck area and all we ask is a donation of £2 to cover costs. Look at the advert on this page to see the sort of tasks we are prepared to do. If you have a larger task we may be able to give you a contact of someone to help with that as well.

We work with Wayfinders who are part of the Dorset Partnership of Older Peoples Programme. They are employed to help those over fifty find both the support and information they need to lead independent and healthy lives living in their own homes for as long as possible. Something, I think, we would all want.

Swanage Area Senior Forum Cyber Crime Can Affect Us All. One Click Can Change Everything

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wanage Senior Forum invites you to our March event, when Dorset Police Cybercrime Unit will hold their only presentation in Swanage on 23 March at Emmanuel Baptist Church Centre.

Refreshments from 6.30pm, 7pm start. This might be your only chance to hear this vital information, so don’t miss it.

Cybercrime is a fast-growing crime nationally and a priority in Dorset.

Criminals are exploiting the speed, convenience and anonymity of the internet to commit a diverse range of crimes. Online shopping and banking make us vulnerable.

Dorset Police have launched a new cybercrime prevention campaign.

Named “CyberSafe”, it focuses on financial-based crime, child online safety, social networking safety, online fraud and property crime.

The Cybercrime Unit will ensure they provide a quality response to all forms of online crime in our communities. They will be working in conjunction with regional and national units.

The Cybercrime Unit states: “The internet is a now a fact of modern life for most of us and online activity has caught the attention of determined criminals. We all have to ensure we keep ourselves and personal information safe when using the internet.

“We have also seen an increase in risks to the older population as they embrace new technology to enable them to carry out financial transactions online and keep in touch with loved ones. We must prioritise tackling

Don’t miss the ONLY Swanage event of:

DORSET POLICE CYBERCRIME UNIT PRESENTATION & DISCUSSION WED 23 MARCH 7pm Emmanuel Baptist Church Centre Victoria Avenue, Swanage.

Refreshments: 6.30pm. Ample Parking. this new, growing threat in cyberspace and we need your co-operation to do so”.

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OUR FEATURE NEXT MONTH IS:

‘Purbeck Home Improvement’

Special deals for advertisers appearing in the feature - we’ll DOUBLE your booked advertising space at no extra charge (minimum advert size applies).

Call JOY to book your space on 01929 424293 First come - first served. Limited space.

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Personal Tax Accounts

Personal Savings Allowance

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urther to my article in the September 2015 edition of the Purbeck Gazette about the changes to dividends which come into effect from 6th April 2016 (please let me know using one of the contact methods below if you would like me to send you a copy), there will also be a change to the way that interest on savings is treated. In this article, I am covering a brief outline of those changes. However, to see how the changes will impact you and what if any action you should take, I would suggest contacting your accountant or financial advisor and asking for their advice.

From 6th April 2016, basic rate (20%) tax-payers will be able to earn £1,000 interest a year on their savings without paying any tax (which is a maximum tax saving of £200 compared to now) and higher rate (40%) taxpayers will be able to earn £500 (which is again a maximum tax saving of £200 compared to now). Additional rate taxpayers (45%) will not receive an allowance. It is estimated that at current interest levels, around 95% of savers will no longer need to pay tax on their savings from 6th April 2016.

Savings comprise not only the interest from cash savings, but also income which is paid as interest from authorised unit trusts, OEICS (open ended investment companies) and investment trusts, income from government and company bonds and most types of purchased life annuity payments.

Please note that the income from ISAs does not count towards the Personal Savings Allowance as this is already tax-free. In addition, ISAs will still remain relevant as you can add monies to them each year, there are Stocks & Shares ISAs plus Cash ISAs and you can move between the two.

Also, you know that ISAs are always tax-free and if interest rates rise, the income on your savings could rise, which could take you into a taxable position outside of an ISA. In addition, your tax position could change plus it is of course now possible to transfer ISAs between spouses on death. For these reasons, ISAs are still likely to remain popular.

If you already receive interest gross from your bank or building society, you will no longer need to tell them that you qualify for this as all interest income will automatically be paid gross.

If your interest income is above your personal savings allowance (or if you are an additional rate taxpayer) you will need to pay tax on your savings income. If you fill in a self- assessment tax return, you simply continue to do this. For those who do not fill in a self-assessment tax return, the HMRC will normally collect the tax by changing your tax code. Banks and building societies will give HMRC the information they need to do this.

As with most things, the basic concept is simple, but the underlying rules are quite complicated!

The information contained within this article is based on our understanding of current UK tax provisions, which is subject to change and the benefits of which would depend on your personal circumstances.

This information does not constitute advice or a personal recommendation or take into account the particular investment objectives, financial situations or needs of individuals. The value of investments may fall as well as rise and you may not receive back the amount you originally invested.

Kate Spurling lives in Swanage and is an investment manager with Charles Stanley, Dorchester office – (01305) 217404 – kate.spurling@charles-stanley. 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.

APRIL DEADLINE NOON 10TH MARCH

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Trading Standards Know your consumer rights!

Tell us about Illegal Tobacco.

Did you know anyone selling illegal tobacco commits a criminal offence?

The seller can face up to ten years in prison and an unlimited fine. Why does it carry such a heavy penalty?

Sold at pocket money prices, cheap tobacco makes it all too easy for our children to start smoking.

The sale helps fund organised crime and those selling illegal tobacco may also be selling other illegal goods and introducing more crime into your

local community.

So what is the law on this? It is not illegal for you to go abroad and buy cheap cigarettes for your own use but bringing them back and selling them is.

If tobacco doesn’t come through legal supply chains it could very well be a counterfeit product. The manufacture of counterfeit tobacco isn’t regulated so you can’t tell where it comes from or what it is made out of.

Where counterfeit tobacco has been tested and has failed those safety tests it has been found to contain asbestos, animal faeces and glass.

Since 2011 cigarettes must also be able to self extinguish themselves too, but illegal tobacco is more likely to cause fatal blazes as they may not self extinguish.

How to spot illegal tobacco: Often tastes different; Can be sold in boxes with poor print quality and have spelling

mistakes; Might be sold in packets without required safety warnings; Sold in packaging with a handmade look and feel.

Trading standards are committed to disrupting the sale of illegal tobacco and you can help us. If you think you have information about someone selling illegal tobacco, or know a place where it is sold, then please help us.

Any information no matter how small may be the piece we need. You can tell us anonymously on-line at www.stop-illegal-tobacco.co.uk or by phoning the illegal tobacco hotline number on 0300 999 0000.

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Resolve your legal matters with Battens Solicitors

The Importance of Lasting Powers of Attorney

By Natalie Mason, Associate Solicitor in the Private Client Department of Battens Solicitors More and more often these days I see the results of clients who have not put a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place. If a client loses ‘mental capacity’ and are unable to deal with their own finances, then their family are faced with a very difficult situation if there is not a LPA in place.

Should you lose mental capacity, no one, not even your spouse or civil partner, has the authority to operate your bank account or deal with anything financial or legal on your behalf.

Joint bank accounts are a good idea, but once a bank is aware that one party has lost mental capacity, the remaining party may not be able to use the account.

Without a LPA in place, the family are forced to make an application to the Court of Protection to be appointed the person’s ‘Deputy’, who would then be authorised to deal with their property and finances.

However, this is a lengthy and costly process and once appointed, the Court keeps a very close eye on the Deputy. Annual accounts would need to be submitted and permission obtained for significant decisions, such as selling property. In addition to the Court application fees for applying to be a Deputy, there is also an annual ongoing Court fee to be paid.

So the answer is really to make sure that you have a LPA in place. LPAs can cover property and financial decisions and also medical and welfare decisions. It is your opportunity to legally appoint one or more people to make these decisions on your behalf if you are unable to.

They are invaluable and mean that the people that you choose are in control.

I would advise that a LPA is drawn up by a professional.

This would obviously involved professional fees, along with the LPA Court fee of £110. However, this is a fraction of the costs that a client would incur if their family is forced to apply to be their Deputy if a LPA is not in place.

I urge clients to consider making a LPA. Consider it as an insurance. Hopefully it will never need to be used, but if it is, you and your family will be far better off.

For more information on making an LPA, please contact me at Battens Solicitors on 01305 752365 or email: natalie.mason@ battens.co.uk

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Mothering Sunday March 6th

The Purbeck Gazette

MARVELLOUS MARCH! It’s March, the weather is improving and summer is on its way!

This month we have both Mothering Sunday and Easter to celebrate, so our local eateries, traders and service providers are advertising their offers and special events this month, hoping you’ll pop in and see them.

Make sure Mum feels loved, appreciated and cared for this Mothering Sunday by taking her out for a lovely meal, and don’t forget the Easter Eggs for the kids!

Easter Sunday March 27th

The Purbeck Gazette

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Happy Easter From Purbeck Sports Centre!

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he Sports Centre, based in Wareham, has a smashing range of activities this Easter from Monday 21 March to Friday 1 April.

As well as activities to keep the kids occupied every day, the grown-ups will be well catered for with tennis, swimming, gym, exercise classes, squash and all-weather pitches.

Don’t forget to visit the onsite sports bar and café too, for delicious coffee, lunches, refreshments and all Sky sports.

All are welcome, with competitive prices for all sessions and activities. A wide range of classes is available, to suit all requirements. We still offer a professional swimming pool, with a variety of sessions times and water activities to suit all ages and needs.

See what’s on at the Sports Centre at www.dorsetforyou.com/ purbecksportscentre

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rom Saturday 5th March to Sunday 20th March, a Steam Shuttle service will be operating at Weekends between Swanage and Norden via Herston Halt, Harmans Cross and Corfe Castle Daily operation for the summer season will commence on Friday 25th March and run until Sunday 30th October.

Our Dining Train season has now commenced with Saturday Night Wessex Belle, Friday Night Bistros and Sunday Dorsetman Luncheons on selected weekends throughout the year. This year our afternoon cream tea specials will run on selected Mondays. The Spring Steam Gala will take place Friday 8th – Sunday 10th April when we will welcome GWR 2-8-0 no.4247 to the branch for the first time.

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 11th March, Mike Beale presents “The End of the Line”. After many years of decline and neglect, the iconic Somerset & Dorset Railway, which ran from Bath to Bournemouth finally closed to passengers in 1966.

This illustrated talk commemorates the 50th anniversary of closure and chronicles events from the posting of the Notice of Closure to the final weekend of operation.

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

The Purbeck Gazette

The Purbeck Gazette

Easter At The Beach

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his spring there are plenty of events and activities happening at the National Trust’s Studland Bay. On Sunday 6 March you can celebrate Mother’s Day with a special afternoon tea at the Knoll Beach Café with finger sandwiches, cakes and scones all served on a vintage tea stand. The Knoll Beach Shop also has a great variety of Mother’s Day gifts and treats.

From the 25th March to 10th April the Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt will be running at Knoll Beach every day from 10am to 3pm. Help Bunny find his hidden eggs with our trail and if you find Bunny’s eggs you can collect a chocolate prize at the end. £2.50 per trail per person, subject to egg availability.

For more information on our events throughout the year please visit our website, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/studland-bay or call us on 01929 450500.

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The Purbeck Gazette

The Purbeck Gazette

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The Purbeck Gazette

The Purbeck Gazette

Treat Your Crafty Mum For Mother’s Day!

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hy not treat your Mum to some lovely fabric or wool and a pattern for Mother’s Day! Or how about enrolling you and your Mum onto one of our exciting sewing courses.

We’ve got an amazing new course starting in April to make a Silhouette Floral quilt. Come and see us for more details.

Our staff are knowledgeable and friendly and always happy to help.

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The Purbeck Gazette

The name "Easter" originated with the names of an ancient Goddess and God. The Venerable Bede, (672-735 CE), a Christian scholar, first asserted in his book De Ratione Temporum that Easter was named after Eostre (a.k.a. Eastre). She was the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe.

Similarly, the "Teutonic dawn goddess of fertility [was] known variously as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostre, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Ausos." Her name was derived from the ancient word for spring: "eastre."

Similar Goddesses were known by other names in ancient cultures around the Mediterranean, and were celebrated in the springtime.

Consorts were rabbits, hares and symbols of fertility - eggs.

The Purbeck Gazette

Indulge This Spring

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f you want to indulge yourselves this spring, look no further than Chococo, the place to eat, drink and delight on the Commercial Road lanes in Swanage.

Here you will find their chocolate shop where you can stock up on not just their award-winning fresh chocolates, handmade with many local ingredients, but also unique Mother’s Day and Easter gifts.

Enjoy cakes and bakes, freshly baked on-site, plus soups and savoury scones for a light lunch. Their drinks range includes 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.

Canzonetta Sings Music for Holy Week 20th March 2016 - 3pm – 4pm

Join Canzonetta for an hour of reflective music in this beautiful ancient church. Followed by tea and cake.

Retiring collection in aid of the ‘Church Fabric’

The Purbeck Gazette

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Do You Know How Much You Don’t Know?!

by David Hollister

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f course, neither you nor I need any help or advice with our driving, do we? After all, we’ve both been driving since the days of leaded petrol, before ABS, airbags, and all the modern safety aids, our cars’ brakes were awful, they were held together with underseal and string………. Tell the youngsters that, they’d never believe it. …… hang on, sounds a bit like a Monty Python sketch, doesn’t it!

Wednesday 13, 20 and 27 April sees the Institute of Advanced Motorists free lectures commence at 6.45 pm with an 8.45 pm finish. The lectures are being held at Committee Room 1, County Hall, Dorchester DT1 1XJ. Entry to Committee Room 1 is through the glass doors at Colliton Corner and parking is free.

The lectures, given by a class one civilian ex-police instructor with many years’ experience and a sense of humour, contain information and advice that could save your life. As we strive to better ourselves at most things in life, why not driving? No need to book, just come along and bring your friends. For further information contact Jane Percy on 01305 820963 or secretary@dorsetiam.org.uk.

And actually, what harm can it do? At best, you will learn something.

At worst it will cost you two hours of your life and the petrol to get to Dorchester.

I have a “special” birthday coming up. Many of my readers will know that I’m approaching fifty. Many more of them will know the ghastly reality (most accountants are trained to stretch the truth – it’s in the genes).

So actually I thought I’d have a go at the Driving Theory test at http:// toptests.co.uk/ Guess what? I passed with 88% - enough to get through to my ‘practical – but six wrong answers even despite the guesswork. Six out of fifty things I didn’t know. Go on – try it for yourself. Scary to find out what you don’t know……

So what’s the next step? For me, a few more goes at the theory test; there are a dozen on this site which seems to be totally free. And then – my autumn challenge. I want to take three proper driving lessons with an approved instructor. The first one for the instructor just to sit and watch (and marvel) at my driving and then take it to pieces with me. The second to show me how to correct my mistakes and bad habits. The third, a fortnight later, to see how much went in! And you’d be invited to include a “no-holds-barred” report on my driving, in my very own column.

So if any Driving Instructor out there feels brave enough to let me into your car and to spend three hours with me, drop me an email c/o ed@ purbeckgazette.co.uk. What’s in it for you? An article featuring your Driving School and what you have achieved.

Hopefully it will attract more customers in their senior years; unless of course, everyone who reads it actually thinks they’re perfect. And hopefully, too, the life it saves may be mine. Or James’s. Or Tina’s. Or Nico’s. Or Joy’s.... Get the idea?

And now for something completely different…….The following advice is for anyone who feels vulnerable were she (or he) to stop when ordered to do so by an ‘unmarked’ police car. In many cases there may be several of you in the vehicle or you are confident you can deal with the situation, in which case this advice may not be for you.

An unmarked police car can stop vehicles, but it must contain a constable who MUST be in uniform in order to carry out the stop.

If a car flashing for you to pull over or stop is unmarked, unless you are 100% certain it is the police, do not stop. Drive steadily to the nearest public place (for example a petrol station where they are open till late or somewhere there are a lot of people) and then stop. If you are in a relatively deserted area, as a last resort, consider looking for a house that is obviously occupied and pull into the driveway. You can always apologise to the householder afterwards.

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR NEEDED! Try and signal that you have acknowledged the request to stop and indicate the action you are taking (put your flashers on or signal by pointing from the driver’s window etc.). Don’t drive off at great speed making the police think you are trying to get away.

Keep the doors locked until you are happy it is the police. Have your mobile at hand just in case. You can ask to see a warrant card, which should carry the police officer’s name and photograph, through the closed window. Incidentally, if you are suspected of drink/drugs driving none of these actions would invalidate an officer giving you a preliminary test as you have only temporarily interrupted your journey and are still driving for the purposes of that law.

And how do you spot an unmarked police car before it spots you? If you’re looking out for an unmarked police car you’ll be driving more cautiously and paying more attention so it’s done its job by default…

Police cars – even unmarked ones – have to carry a lot of kit including cones, signs and more. So they sit noticeably lower at the back than their ‘civilian’ equivalents.

As you pass, look inside and you’ll see the large ANPR screen and buttons for the sirens and lights on the dashboard.

You’d need to have good eyes to spot it, but the infrared camera is located behind the rear number plate. One of the letters on the plate is mirrored so the camera can see through. Look at the front number plate from the side and you will see it sits further forward and often has a strip of LED lights either side.

It’s rude to generalise, but BMW drivers have a certain style about their driving. Police trained drivers don’t; they behave like a “proper” driver should; they use the slow lane of the motorway rather than hog the middle lane. They drive at the speed limit.

Most unmarked cars seem to be staffed by pairs of police officers.

Whilst most cars on the road have just one person in them - this can be quite noticeable. They also have to be in uniform, and sometimes wear fluorescent clothing. They often have a second inside rear-view mirror for the second officer.

Unmarked Police Cars are usually very clean and well kept, No dealer stickers, in fact a total lack of stickers in most cases. And often a single whip aerial on the roof or rear wing.

On the other hand, seems to me that most drivers can’t even see a fully liveried-up Police Car if it jumps out in front of them - time to take that ‘senior’ driving test. Or at least check in with your optician………

Wanted Cash Buyer Seeks Motor Vehicles. £100 - £10,000 prompt collection & settlement. Mature polite buyer.

No pressure or obligation. Often better than part exchange offer.

DVLA paperwork completed.

Classic & left hand drive motors especially wanted. Best prices paid.

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

The Purbeck Gazette

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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

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Food

The Gourmet Peddler

The

Putting On The Ritz Stew

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limey, my chef buddies will lynch me for this... “What the hell are you doing, you bloody idiot” has already been said to me in a French accent. I expect letters of complaint sent to the paper for this one.

However in my defence this is a real recipe from the north western American colonies. Yeah sure the yanks don’t like it being called the colonies but I’m not sure we OK’d the results of the War of Independence.

I should also point out their taxes are over 200 years overdue, and they owe us some tea... And their spelling sucks.

So, this recipe intrigued me, its sounds fairly awesome, so I gave it a go.

It’s hearty, filling, crunchy and very homely: the sort of food you can scoff down after a cold hard day. It does have one very remarkable ingredient...

The crunchy prince of savoury biscuits... The Ritz Cracker. The wild rice is also wonderful, it’s an aquatic grass seed native to America and pre dates the European invasion. It’s also rather nice.

Ingredients:- Please feel free to chop and swap stuff around. I’m not giving you volumes, you don’t need them. Learn to cook with your eyes and tongue.

Chicken breasts from the butcher Olive oil Onions Mushrooms Carrots Rosemary Thyme Chicken stock Ground pepper Single cream Wild rice - handful or two.

Some grated cheddar, not much.

Smoked chilli if you fancy it.

A box of Ritz crackers And here is what you do: Chop the chicken and fry off with the onions, once browned throw everything except the crackers in a casserole pot.

Bikemonger Cooks....

Put in the oven and give it about 90 minutes at 160c with the lid on, but check on it and add more stock if it starts to dry out. The rice will soak up a lot of stock.

Then a slosh more stock, and crush up the crackers and sprinkle over the top of the stew.

Pop back in the oven for around 25 minutes It’s ready when the crackers have become soggy but have then dried out again.

How is it? It’s alright. I threw a smoked chilli in mine to add a bit of depth.

It’s simple and hearty, but not out of this world busting with flavour. But hey sometimes simple healthy hearty food is very welcome. Perhaps it’s the “girl/boy next door” of the food world: not amazing, certainly not bad, but can sew a button on your jeans and chop some firewood. Cook the recipe and I’m sure you will see what I mean.

The Purbeck Gazette

Dorset Food & Venison Festival 2016

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aster Saturday (26th March 2016) will see the second Dorset Food & Venison Festival taking place at Post Green in the village of Lytchett Minster, Poole.

Last year’s event saw over 2500 visitors during the day and many stalls sold out of their delicious produce very quickly. This year’s event is set to be bigger and better with many more stallholders already booked to provide all ranges of locally produced food and drink with the emphasis on Venison.

So why Venison? Well, deer in the landscape are beautiful creatures and a valuable part of our ecosystem, but it turns out that it is possible to have too much of a good thing and deer numbers in Purbeck have got so big that they are damaging farming woodlands as well as the wild areas and cause traffic accidents.

This means that the deer numbers have to be managed and therefore Venison is produced. Venison is local healthy and very low in fat. With this in mind The Dorset Food & Venison Festival was created to celebrate yet another wonderful product of Dorset.

Local Chefs will be on hand providing cooking demonstrations in the mobile kitchen throughout the day including Mark Hartstone of La Fosse Restaurant, as well as The Salt Pig and Dorset Charcuterie.

On stage this year we have Pete Robbins of Longdog compering the event with sets from the DaisyUKladies, Blame it on Bill and various other local bands. In the arena we will be amazed by Meredown Falconry, Annoymous Morris and childrens’ activities including a Teddypult / Tug o War etc.

Many many local traders will be selling their hot and cold food produce and of course cider.

The event starts at 10am, FREE parking, Tickets can be bought on the gate - Adult Entry £3 - Under 12’s are FREE. www.Dorsetvenisonfestival. org Like us on facebook: dorsetvenisonfestival

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Wareham And Swanage Fairtrade Status

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areham, for the next two years, has successfully renewed its status as a Fairtrade Town. This is in recognition of the town’s ongoing commitment to promoting Fairtrade principles of working to improve the lives of disadvantaged producers in the developing world.

Fairtrade status was first awarded in 2005 when the Parish Council, along with a number of retail outlets, community groups and individuals agreed to support and promote Fairtrade goods.

Support has continued to increase as has the variety of goods being made available. These now include cards, clothes, washing materials, toys and gifts as well as a wide variety of teas, coffee and dried goods. Easter Eggs are a particular favourite.

Fairtrade- Fortnight, which this year is from February 29th to March 13th, has become a regular feature, with local supermarkets putting on displays of Fairtrade goods they regularly stock and sell and with special events being organised by the Wareham Fairtrade Town Group.

This year we are especially fortunate in that the Mayor of Wareham has made the Fairtrade Group one of her charities. It will benefit from the craft sales which have already taken place and the ‘Tea Dance’ which is planned at the ‘Town Hall’ on Saturday 5th March.

Stalls selling Fairtrade goods are available weekly at the United Reformed Church on Thursday mornings, LSM Parish Hall on Saturday mornings and the Farmers Market on alternate Thursdays mornings.

The Fairtrade Town Group would like to thank everyone who supports Fairtrade and would like to encourage everyone to consider purchasing Fairtrade goods as part of their regular weekly shop.

For more information please contact: Brian Wilkins (01929 459440) Swanage: Fairtrade Fortnight 29th February to 13th March 2016 is coming! This year`s theme is “Sit down for breakfast. Stand up for farmers.”

Lack of food security is one of the world`s most critical issues. Despite millions of farmers and workers in developing countries working hard to grow the food we eat and drink, like tea, coffee and bananas, many don`t earn enough to feed their own families.

You can change this by buying Fairtrade, and having a Fairtrade breakfast.

Fairtrade means the growers get a fair, sustainable price, plus a premium for their community. “Before you finish eating breakfast in the morning you`ve depended on more than half the world” - Martin Luther King, 1967 There will be lots of events in Purbeck, including a free talk and discussion on Tuesday March 8th at 5pm at The Purbeck School, Wareham. Come and meet Michael Gidney, Chief Executive of the Fairtrade Foundation ` Why do the people who grow our food go hungry?` Free entry. All welcome. Refreshments available. For more info: Frances.ward@fsmail.net For more information about Fairtrade, visit www.fairtrade.org.uk/breakfast Pick up a free copy of the 2016 Purbeck Fairtrade Directory from libraries .

PURBECK PRODUCE FARMERS’ MARKET MARKETS IN COMMERCIAL ROAD, SWANAGE, AND AT PUTLAKE FARM, LANGTON MATRAVERS. SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS LOCAL PRODUCE FROM LOCAL PRODUCERS www.purbeckproducts.co.uk

The Purbeck Gazette

The Purbeck Gazette

Use Your LOCAL Fishmonger!

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he old High Street shop may be no more – but Swanage Bay Fish goes from strength to strength in their excellent new premises at Tilly Mead Arcade in Commercial Road Swanage.

Since the grand opening of the modern new shop in early February business has been brisk, and customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

Swanage is very lucky to have retained its only traditional fishmongers, which provides locals and visitors alike with seasonal fresh fish and shellfish throughout the year caught by their own boat and other local fishermen.

As a family run business, whose families have been in the fishing industry for generations, fishing from small boats potting and netting, they know the importance of using sustainable fishing methods.

They pride themselves on using and selling all their catch, and do not endorse discards believing that there is a use for even the poorest of fish as long as it is fresh and healthy.

And best of all - if you’re looking for hints and tips about preparing, storing or cooking your fishy purchase, or suggestions as to an exciting new recipe to try- then head on down to Swanage Bay Fish where Julia is always happy to help.

FOR THE BEST OF THE PURBECK CATCH

VISIT SWANAGE BAY FISH

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The Purbeck Gazette

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Dirt

by John Garner

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round this time of year it’s almost impossible to go outside and not come into contact with dirt. As a kid there was nothing more appealing than getting covered in it. In fact, if I’d come home after a long day’s adventuring and wasn’t plastered in gunk from head to toe there would have been questions asked by those responsible for my upbringing.

Suspicion would have rent the air.

‘What could I have possibly have been doing that rendered me so clean? Up to little good, no doubt. What did I mean by returning home in that state with nothing to put straight into the washing machine? How had I not managed to scuff my new trainers? I’m not working all the hours God sends to pay for clothes that you can’t even be bothered to wear out in the first half hour of use?’ Parental logic was a scene of great bafflement to myself and my friends back then. We accepted it all with a shrug knowing that a rapid accumulation of dirt would come in time. We played the long game.

As an adult, you get a little more conservative in terms of dirt application.

Mostly. An exception for me is when I go cycling. Road cycling throws up the usual splatterings of muddy rain and grit at this time of year. But if you want to get really mucky you need to get off the roads and hit the trails of which there are an abundant number in our neighbourhood. You can do this best of all using a mountain bike. But you can get the best of both worlds, road and trails, by riding a cross bike. You almost get the speed of a road bike with the added bonus of being able to ride through the mud. At speed. In all seriousness, what could be better?

To this end I have been riding my cross bike a great deal more recently. I am embracing the grime. A cross bike is a wonderful thing in my opinion.

You can ride it off road and scramble around in the gunk to your heart’s content. You can tweak it a bit and ride it as a touring bike and load it up with a minimum of stuff that will prove to you how little stuff you actually need in your daily lives, but this revelation will nonetheless not stop you from acquiring more needless stuff on your return to normal life and the world wide shopping opportunities that internet browsing affords. You can also tweak it again and ride it as a road bike. It will do lots of things quite well.

But mostly you can ride it off road and scramble about in the gunk to your heart’s content. No mudguards. Mudguards are banned. You don’t go off into the mud with a view to being protected from it. As mentioned in a previous article, a robust pair of shorts beats mudguards every day. You shouldn’t guard against mud. Embrace the mud. Or at least let it embrace you. This does create something of a problem when returning home. I have taken to hosing myself down outside rather than wandering into the house looking like a Dickensian chimney sweep and being swiftly ushered out again to stand in the rain.

My dog explores the same trails as I do. He has a refreshing attitude towards dirt. He will seek it out and spend a large part of his walks basting

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himself in the luxurious grot. Some of it is more organic than one would wish, but never let it be said that he is anything less than whole-hearted in his approach to collecting muck. If you’re not on your guard he’ll even spread a bit about the kitchen on his return. To him it is the Chanel No 5 of the canine world. It has to be said though, that there are times when he overdoes the Chanel and at such points can become somewhat tiresome.

In an olfactory sense and in a cleaning up after him sense. Yet it is his devil may care approach to dirt that has rekindled my own disregard for getting messy approach of late.

We differ is in our respective scrubbing ourselves clean afterwards regimes. That is; long steaming hot showers for me, shaking himself all over the furniture for him. A rewarding cup of char for me, a few gulps of water and a steaming, pongy snooze on the rug for him. His personal hygiene is frankly non-existent. He might spend a few minutes licking the area where his manhood used to be, but that’s about the full range of his cleansing regime. When he’s out and about I will often find him rolling around in something unspeakable, happy as it’s possible for a canine to be. I will shout. He will pretend not to hear. I will shout a bit louder and he will reluctantly look up and begrudgingly stop rolling around, have a satisfying sniff and then trot off to the next offending pile, smelling, or so he thinks, like a chic floral window box.

What he actually smells like to us is an open sewer. If it has been a really successful rolling day he will need to be showered himself. Something he hates. He will not hesitate after this event to charge around rubbing himself in the mud and soil to get rid of the frightful smell of dog shampoo, presumably baffled that the manufacturers chose that particular scent rather than something that emanates out of the back end of cows, deer and horses as the fragrance of choice.

Anyway, inspired by the dog, I shall continue to cycle through the inclement weather. Get yourself a mountain bike or even better a cross bike. Those marvellous folk at Cycle Experience at Wareham station will give you all the help you need. It’s great to cover yourself in dirt as a by-product of a pastime you enjoy, be it cycling, climbing or anything else that reminds you of not caring about the grime and enjoying the activity.

Just clean up after yourself when you’re done.

Dorset Countryside Volunteers

his spring, local charity The Dorset Countryside Volunteers are organising a number of free events which are sure to be of interest to all who want to help care for our countryside. The first of these will be on Saturday and Sunday 5th and 6th March where the Volunteers will be helping clear pine and scrub in order to maintain heathland bordering Wareham Forest.

On Sunday 20th March they will visit this heathland once again and for both events they welcome new people.

The third event is on Sunday 10 April when Dorset Countryside Volunteers will be helping care for Tyneham in Purbeck. Once again they welcome new people interested in helping care for this historic abandoned village. For details of all events see www.dcv.org.uk, email DCVpublicity@gmail. com, or text or message 07923-498760 and they will contact you.

Gareth Morgan, DCV Publicity

The Purbeck Gazette

Easter Holiday Events During the Easter Break we will have an Easter Egg Trail. After following the clues around the park your answers will earn you a delicious prize (entry £3). Our free (donations welcome) ‘Wild Wednesday’ returns on 30th when children (and perhaps supporting adults!) can get creative in the learning centre.

To end the month, on the 31st our ‘Aren’t Bees Brilliant!’ event encourages families to: “Discover just how brilliant Bees are, with games and activities to discover more about our furry friends!”. Again £3 / head with essential booking, to be held at the Learning Centre between 2 and 3pm.

As Easter bridges two months there will also be April events to occupy the holiday!

Two March Exhibitions for the Fine Foundation Gallery Our first exhibition running from 8th to 22nd March will be that of former Dorset-based artist and printmaker, Rena Gardiner (1929 – 1999). Rena’s principal achievement was 45 books, which she wrote, illustrated and printed, but her legacy also includes paintings, pastels and prints.

Shortly after (March 25th until April 12th) we host ‘Trapped Light’: Exhibition of Contemporary Engraved Glass. Enjoy an amazing variety of work by the South-west branch of the Guild of Glass Engravers, showcasing the possibilities of this beautiful art form. Whilst entry to the exhibition is free works will be available for purchase.

March Highlights Opening the month’s guided walks will be Trev Haysom’s

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Quarry History Walk. Benefit from his wealth of local knowledge on his walk Sunday 6th at 2pm. Local photographer and a welcome contributor to Durlston, Julian Sawyer, will lead Purbeck Footprints Wildlife Photography Walk.

Julian will provide tips and advice to help you develop your wildlife photographic skill (27th at 10:30am). As well as our regular walks and tours we have a Stargazing evening from 19:30 on Saturday 12th with Wessex Astronomy.

Mindfulness Nurse Nikki offers to take you on a relaxing and meditative walk so to introduce you to some mindfulness techniques on the 13th. See website for more details!

Wildlife Roundup At the time of writing Durlston’s February flowers so far include garden varieties: Great Greater Periwinkle, Daffodil, and Viburnum. Our wild varieties to date are represented by Daisy, Dandelion, Primrose and even Herb Robert peeking out through the carpet of Ivy on the woodland floor.

A pleasant surprise was that of a Painted Lady Butterfly spotted by Julian Sawyer. Ordinarily this migratory species is not seen here until the summer; however, there are increasing reports of adults over wintering in the UK. An injured or perhaps weak Bumble Bee made an appearance on the 4th.

A trio of Canada Geese, observed over Durlston Bay, were a refreshing sight for Durlston. Both Fulmars and Guillemots have retained a welcome presence on the cliffs. Again the cliff tops have enjoyed the presence and activity of a Peregrine Falcon much to the distress of Rock Doves and Jackdaws!

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Bestwall Wareham Allotment Holders Association

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he Bestwall Wareham Allotment Holders Association is situated in North Bestwall Road, Wareham, and has over 100 plot-holders who work hard to maintain the allotments to a high standard.

The light soil is excellent for growing a wide range of fruit and vegetables, and there is always much activity on the plots preparing the soil, sowing seeds and finally gathering the harvest.

Association secretary Graham Feldwick said ‘ My wife Lesley and I were fortunate to be offered a plot just over 3 years ago, and we now grow everything we need – it’s always easy to eat 5 a day or more when you have an allotment!’

The allotments are available to residents of Wareham who live within the Wareham Town Council boundary - not surprisingly there is a waiting list, but Graham is always happy to receive enquiries and can be contacted on 01929 552973.

The Association’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 24th March at 7.30pm in the adjacent Scout & Guide Hall and it is hoped that as many plot-holders as possible will attend.

Wareham In Bloom

Dear Editor, News from Wareham in Bloom.

The Committee has decided that we will be entering the South and South East Britain in Bloom Competition again this year. This means that a number of preparations have to be made so that we can aim for a Gold Medal and entry in Britain in Bloom.

After complaints from the public about the disgraceful state of the South Bridge, it was decided to make that our priority as Dorset County Council informed they had no money for work of this kind. We turned to one of our foremost sponsors, Peter Andrews to help.

Conditions laid down by DCC were followed and in November 2015, Peter and a team of three men arrived one morning at 6.30am with scrubbing brushes, soap and a power washing vehicle to clean off the road dirt, algae and lichen. After two attempts to carry out the clean-up, the bridge is looking far more respectable.

A second project was to clear the Manorial waste land behind St Martin’s Church. Anvil Grounds Maintenance sponsored and carried out this work, clearing the area of buddleia, brambles and weeds.

It is hoped that the area will be put down to grass and wild flowers sowed there in the spring. David Watkins-Jones of Anvil and his team also maintain the Saxon Roundabout. A team of Wareham in Bloom volunteers will be painting the railings surrounding the church.

The Committee is hoping that a sponsor will assist in clearing the raised flowerbeds in Sainsbury’s Precinct. The murals have also been washed down.

Our Chairman was pleased to be invited to give a talk to interested parties in Swanage who want to set up a Swanage in Bloom Committee.

Our next fundraiser, the Annual Plant Sale will be on Saturday30th April, from 10am to 12 noon. There will be the usual Raffle and Tombola and other stalls. Coffee and tea will be served.

Eric Osmond, Chair and Sue Elmes, committee member.

The Purbeck Gazette

Gazette Gardening

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with Simon Goldsack

The Seeds of Success

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arch is a great month to get growing. Last year we sowed about £20 worth of annual seed varieties for planting out in the gardens and the results were fantastic with people commenting throughout the summer about the unusual plants and beautiful flowers.

The best part is that seed sowing and growing your own plants is so easy. Some seeds that can withstand frost can be sown direct into their flowering position.

These seeds are known as hardy annuals. One of the great successes we had was the ‘Wildlife Friendly Wildflower Mix’ which started flowering in June and was still going into December.

Simply cultivate the ground in March as if you are preparing to sow grass seed and sprinkle the seed mix on instead. We weeded once in late May but apart from that we did nothing, no watering, no dead heading, no staking!

Wildlife seed mix There are of course risks from direct sowing such as competition from other

Malope trifida ‘Vulcan’

plants, mice, slugs, frost and disease so sometimes it is better to start the seeds off indoors and grow them on until they are strong enough to ‘bed’ them out in late May after the fear of frost has passed.

Starting in March sow the seeds into seed trays using John Innes seed compost and place them in a frost free area such as a sun room, conservatory, greenhouse or cold frame.

When the seedlings are large enough to handle without damaging them, pot them into individual 9cm pots. Before planting harden the plants off by gradually exposing them to life outdoors.

Initially shelter them from strong sun, wind and cold temperatures.

Once ‘hardened off’ transplant them to their flowering position. Water in well and enjoy the results.

Come in and see the great range of seeds on offer at Holme along with the amazing range of ready grown plants and whilst here why not enjoy a relaxing cup of tea by the famous pond?

Left: Eschscholzia ‘Orange King’

Cosmos ‘Picotee’

Calendula ‘Prince of Orange’

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The Purbeck Gazette

The Purbeck Gazette

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Have A ‘Hoppy’ Easter with Margaret Green Animal Rescue!

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ur Easter trail is back and better than ever. Join us at our Church Knowle centre for four days of fun over the Easter weekend.

Between Good Friday (25th March) and Easter Monday (28th March), visitors to our rescue and rehoming centre can take part in a fun trail and quiz.

At the end, completed trail sheets can be shown at reception in return for a scrumptious chocolate egg. Entry to the centre is free and to take part in the trail is £1 per person.

Take in the chance to meet our rescue animals along the way, like Daisy our giant bunny who is looking for a home with a neutered male rabbit.

Opening hours are 10am until 4pm and onsite facilities include toilets and a tea room with Easter goodies!

Fo r mor e in f orm at ion , c a l l 0 1 9 2 9 4 8 0 4 7 4 o r v i s i t www. margaretgreenanimalrescue.org.uk. *Please note our Country Fair is now on Saturday 2nd July, not 3rd!

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N.O.D.A. Award For ‘Sleeping Beauty’

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he whole team at Ranger Productions of Swanage has been celebrating after their phenomenal production of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ won the N.O.D.A. (National Operatic and Dramatic Association) South West region eleven achievement award.

Having previously produced a full length ballet in 2003, Director, Caroline McCrory, decided to do something ‘a little different’ this time around.

Inspired by the work of choreographer/director, Matthew Bourne, Caroline truly challenged her dancers and an amazing production was born, certainly worthy of the award.

Lead roles were taken by Amy Wells (Aurora) and James Lovell (Edward), with a strong supporting cast, including previous students who have

Barrington Of Bon Accord

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ritten by primary teacher Catherine Starmer and illustrated by landscape architect and regular Purbeck Art Weeks exhibitor, Heather Dring, this charming softback volume is the first in a proposed series of childrens’ books, each carrying a message and in this initial book, the message is ‘Change’.

The story involves the experiences of Barrington the bat, and his adventures with Alice, the youngest of a family of seven living in Bon Accord Road, Swanage together with a cat called Toby and the axolotls (Weird lizard-like creatures who lived under water) The family’s activities were all very strange to a young bat as these included surfing,skiing, long boarding,cycling, horse-riding, swimming, sailing and snorkelling. When Alice is poorly Barrington is so worried that he hides amongst her mountain of cuddly toys although he is rather wary of her toy dragons in case they start breathing fire.

Alice’s sister Maggie doesn’t immediately take to Barrington describing him as stinky, flutttery, bitey, and scratchy so Alice hatches a plan to help Maggie change her mind. The solution comes when Barrington and Maggie begin to investigate each others eating habits and start a competition to find out who had eaten the most disgusting things!

As an adult I can wholeheartedly agree with the national newspaper reviewer who stated ‘Reminiscent of Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin, this book with its beautiful hand drawn illustrations will spark the imagination of any child with a love of animals’.

But perhaps the best review comes from Anna aged ten - ‘His mad, batty adventures at Bon Accord made me giggle so much I wished he lived at my house! I loved this story so much I read it cover to cover without stopping!’

You don’t get much better recommendations than that! Joy Lamb

since gone on to success. A huge congratulations to everyone at Ranger Productions, and of course, to all those in the cast – you really, really did us proud!

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Face, Shape & Angle

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orn into an army family in India in 1907, Helen Muspratt was a lifelong communist, a member of the Cambridge intellectual milieu of the 1930s, and a working mother at a time when such a role was unusual for women of her class.

She was also a pioneering photographer, creating an extraordinary body of work in many different styles and genres.

Critical to her work was a preoccupation with the face – her attention to the ‘shape and angle’ of the head lies at the root of all her work.

This superb new book by her daughter Jessica Sutcliffe reproduces some of Helen’s most important photographic images, and in many cases these appear as full page black and white illustrations throughout the volume.

As some readers will be aware, Helen and her sister Joan had a longstanding association with Swanage, first coming here in the early 1920s to attend Oldfeld School in Walrond Road. (Now the site of Harrow House). In old age Helen spoke again and again about her happy times at the school.

After studying photography at Regent Street Polytechnic Helen worked at the Mayfair studio of Donald J Donovan, a portrait photographer who spent his summer months at Frinton-on-Sea photographing families who were there on holiday.

It was he who suggested that Helen open a studio in her home town of Swanage where summer visitors would swell the number of potential customers. In 1928 at the age of twenty Helen set up her business at 5 High Street Swanage.

In 1933 the family bought Cliff Cottage on Swanage seafront from the De Moulham estate, and this house was to become central to Helen’s story.

She developed an enduring love for the place which lasted all her life.

This large and lavishly illustrated volume with its wonderfully written accompanying text documents Helen’s life from its beginnings in India through to her death in 2001 at the age of ninety four.

The book has been a delight to review and I hope it will bring pleasure to other locals who, like me, remember tales of Helen and her sister Joan (another accomplished and well- known local photographer).

Joy Lamb

Corfe’s Got Talent!

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ouble Act, the Corfe Castle local amateur dramatics company, has been asked to provide an evening’s entertainment, to fundraise for the forthcoming improvements to the Corfe Castle Village Hall. For this, we have decided to hold a ‘Talent contest’, which will take place on Saturday April 30th and is to be called “Corfe’s Got Talent’. We are looking for talent from a wide area. Cash prizes of £100.00, £50.00 and £25.00 (entry fee £10 per act) are up for grabs. The audience will be the only judges.

We anticipate using fourteen acts, each to last about three minutes.

Competing acts will be expected to provide their own musical accompaniment; there will be an electronic keyboard available for use at the venue. There will also be a fill-in act while the votes are counted.

So if you are a stand-up comic, a budding singing star or anything between, indulge yourself and come along!

To enter email to: doubleacttalentshow@mail.com for an application form. Closing date for application is April 1st 2016.

Annie Get Your Gun! Swanage Musical Theatre Company present ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ nnie Oakley is the best shot around and supports her brother and sisters by selling what she shoots. Col. Buffalo Bill who runs a Wild West show discovers Annie and persuades her to be a sharp shooter and compete against the star of the show, Frank Butler. Annie falls for Frank but is also a better shot which causes Frank to leave and join Pawnee Bill’s rival show.

Come and see how this unlikely love story plays out and enjoy the wellknown songs such as, ‘Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better’, ‘You Can’t Get A Man with a Gun’, ‘I’ve Got The Sun In The Morning’ and of course the well- known ‘There’s No Business like Show Business’.

Showing at the Mowlem Theatre in Swanage 17 - 19 March. Book on 01929 422239 whilst seats still remain!

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Purbeck Strings Festival ‘Back To Bach’ A

t this year’s Festival the emphasis in the Festival Strings concert, on Sunday 14th of March 3.30pm in St. Mary’s Church Swanage, will be on two great works by Johann Sebastian Bach.

The first great work by Bach is his Concerto for two violins, with ‘sister act’ Laura and Ellie Stanford as the two soloists. This music has beautiful melodies introduced by one soloist and then copied by the other and woven into a sublime pattern of sounds.

Adding their emerging talents to the Festival Strings will be a group of young players, some playing in an orchestra for the first time and together with their teacher Jay Buckle, will be playing a special part written for them by the orchestra’s conductor Ian Pillow.

The second of Bach’s masterpieces is his Brandenburg Concerto number 3. In this Concerto Bach divides each section of the orchestra into groups of three to provide a rich tapestry of intermingling themes.

Away from Bach, one of Purbeck Strings young Fine Instrument Award players, Lauren Hardyman, who has achieved a grade 8 Associated Board

with distinction will be the cello soloist for a performance of the dramatic ‘Elegy’ by Anton Arensky, a Russian composer and friend of Tchaikovsky.

The Stanford Quartet’s concert performance by candle light at St. Mary’s Church at 7.30pm on Saturday 13th of March will be strongly focussed on the music of three major English composers. They will be playing Edward Elgar’s Quartet in E minor composed in 1918 and Ralph Vaughan Williams Quartet in G minor composed in 1909. William Walton wrote the music for the film made in 1944 of Shakespeare’s Henry V, and the quartet will complete their English selection by playing ‘Touch her soft lips and part’, from that film.

Always ready to perform contemporary music the quartet will complete their programme with a hauntingly evocative composition by Japanese composer Somei Satoh called, ‘White Heron’.

Tickets for these concerts are available from St. Mary’s Church office.

Stanford Quartet: £12. Festival Strings: £10. Accompanied children – free.

The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company – Macbyrd, Outdoor theatre this summer Thursday 16th June at The Square and Compass, and Saturday 2nd July at Durlston Country Park. ural touring theatre company, The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company, will be returning to Purbeck this summer to perform outdoors with their brand new play called ‘Macbyrd’.

It’s a comedy thriller - and sixteen of the characters are birds!

Don’t miss Inspector Seed, a pigeon, as the detective! There are two stories which link together. It is set in 1940 and is about the changes to a small village in rural Southern England brought about by the threat of invasion, it’s impact on the local WI, the cricket club, the village play, and on relationships, and on how with the war people must take on new roles.

Meanwhile up above there is a power struggle among the birds and the swan, symbol of a certain kind of traditional Englishness and social structure, is murdered by the upstart raven, Macbyrd, who resents the swan’s snobbish disregard for the poor, the sparrows.

Pete Talbot, the writer and director, says, “There are, it has to be admitted, a few echoes of a certain Shakespeare play. Macbyrd is told by the ‘gypsy magpies’ that his time has come, that ‘sleek birds, black against the sky’ will rule. In fact change to the village is because a momentous event is going to happen – and I’m not going to tell you what!” Prejudice amongst the ‘oomans puts the death of the swan down to gypsies and among the birds to a foreigner, a rare Indian bushlark which has been swept in by storms.

Here’s the serious bit. In the same way that Hitler represented a threat to our values, so too in people’s perceptions do other things today. How do we deal with those ‘threats’ and what indeed do our values really consist of and how should we adapt in the face of change? Inevitably base instincts like prejudice surface.

In this cauldron of change the play explores the values of ordinariness

(the heroism of living an ‘ordinary’ life as part of a community), leadership, love and adaptivity that remain constants in difficult times. The comedy is partly in the absurdity of the birds’ world, but also – and it is a comedy of manners – in the ways of ‘country folk’. So there’s a bit of Foyle’s War about it and a bit of ‘The Archers’ – plus quite a bit of The Rudes, too.

The show is on Thursday 16th June at The Square and Compass, and Saturday 2nd July at Durlston Country Park. Both performances start at 7.30pm. Bring picnics and your own low backed chairs from 6.00pm.

Don’t forget to dress up warm; even on warm summer days it can drop down cold.

Tickets are available online at www.therudemechanicaltheatre.co.uk and from the two venues. Further information from the company on 01323-501260.

Return Of The Rude Mechanicals

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The Purbeck Gazette

Proclaimers To Headline PVFF!

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conic Scottish twins The Proclaimers (pictured, above) are on their way to the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival this summer! Hugely popular throughout the world, Craig and Charlie Reid will be headlining the Saturday night of the family friendly festival that runs from 25-28 August.

With a loyal fan base, The Proclaimers have carved themselves a niche where pop, folk, new wave and punk collide and their songs, delivered with passionate honesty, political fire and wit, incite euphoric sing-a-longs at their sensational live shows.

Their best known songs include Letter From America, Let’s Get Married, I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) and I’m On My Way. Festival organiser Catherine Burke says: “We are absolutely delighted to announce that The Proclaimers have agreed to come and play at our little festival. And it turns out that if they decide to walk, they’ll only have to walk 481 miles, not the full 500 (according to Google Maps).”

Last month saw Ents 24, the UK’s biggest live guide announce The Proclaimers as the sixth biggest live music act in the UK in 2015. The last year has also seen the release of their acclaimed tenth studio album, Let’s Hear It For The Dogs.

The album added to their distinctive back catalogue and continued their trend for fusing pop, folk, new wave and punk. Catherine added: “I saw them play a couple of years ago and with lots of bands with a few big hits, I thought they’d be the only songs that I wanted to hear, but they were absolutely brilliant from start to finish. Their new songs are just as good and catchy.”

Tickets are selling fast for this summer’s festival, with tier 1 tickets already soldout and major acts now being announced regularly over the coming months.

Other acts revealed so far include Eliza Carthy, Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman. Also recently added to the festival line-up are folk talents The Hot Seats and Cardboard Fox. “The Hot Seats are another band that I’m really excited about. I saw them play at Celtic Connections in Glasgow a few years ago and they were sooo good. They’re brilliant musicians, but they’re also really good fun with humour in their playing and songs. They play a mix of bluegrass, old time, ragtime, honky-tonk - it’s just general good fun music. Just wait - you’re going to love them!”

The Purbeck Valley Folk Festival 2016 takes place on 25-28 August.

Weekend tickets (Fri-Sun) include free camping and are on sale now at just £100 (youth £50, children over three £20).

Residents in the BH19/20 postcodes will receive a 20 per cent discount on tickets.

For further information visit purbeckvalleyfolkfestival.co.uk and for tickets call 023 80711818 or visit ticketsouth.co.uk

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The Gatsby Ball

wanVegas Events (run by Callum Lovett, part of the team behind Swanage Fight Night and The Snack Bar, run by Angelo Wiggins and wife Mimi) had a brainwave before Christmas. There was something missing from the local social calendar – a bit of class, the chance to really dress up and have some fun. So, they put their heads together and decided to organise ‘The Great Gatsby Ball’ at Durlston Castle on January 29th.

Angelo said: “We wanted to create something out of nothing during a time of year when there isn’t much to get excited about.”

With little time to put the event together, the team worked their socks off and managed to book some fabulous acts. The tickets went on sale for £40pp, to include a Champagne reception, buffet-style dinner, a full line-up of entertainment and a Black Jack Table (complimentary chips were handed out on arrival, and additional chips could be purchased with all proceeds going into the charity pot).

Acts performing included the fabulous ‘Out of the Blue’, Oxford’s all-male a-cappella group, The ‘Flapper Dancers’, local girl-done-good, Nicole Faraday (actor and singer, Bad Girls and new Vinny Jones film, ‘Kill Kane’) and our very own DJ Angelo. Angelo brought Swanage-born (now Londonbased) Saxophone legend, Chris Rand, to the mix, along with Miles Havana on percussion, creating some phenomenal live eclectic swing music for the guests to dance the night away to.

Callum said: “It was a real community effort, we had a huge team of people

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helping us put it together and we are just thankful that so many people were willing to put their faith in us by buying tickets. We were happy and relieved to be able to deliver what we set out to. We have already spoken with the Castle management and the Rangers about future events and whilst nothing has been agreed at this stage, we are certainly very interested in building on the success of this inaugural offering.” £700 was also raised by Mimi Wiggins on the night through a charity raffle, the money donated to Support4Henry and William Atkinson, both of whom are currently fighting against life threatening illnesses.

The night was covered by Fabian Photography (www.facebook.com/ fabyanphotography) and guests were photographed as they arrived and throughout the evening. A selection of images and a short video clip are available on the SwanVegas Events page on Facebook.

Having been invited to attend the event myself, I can only offer Angelo and Callum my most sincere congratulations – to turn an idea into an amazing roaring success within a few weeks is almost unheard of. It was a brilliantly organised, hosted and well-thought out night, enjoyed enormously by everyone who attended. Everyone I spoke to said they’d be back for the next event, so here’s hoping…….!

Nico Johnson Photographs: Fabian Photography, www.facebook.com/fabyanphotography

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The Purbeck Gazette

SWANAGE BLUES FESTIVAL!

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Swanage Blues will be celebrating its 25th festival from 3-6 March round 2,000 fans are expected to enjoy 70 shows by 40 bands in 18 venues.

Sole organiser Steve Darrington said: “Swanage Blues attracts fans from all over the world for a weekend of dancing, drinking, eating, laughing and listening, plus the renewal of old friendships and creation of new ones. We bring the Rhythms of Life alive in this quirky little seaside town we love so much!”

The weekend starts with a rare appearance by organiser Steve on piano with friends Hugh Budden and Robert Hokum on harmonica and guitar at The Legion. Other venues over the weekend include Swanage Bay View Holiday Park, the Grand Hotel, Herston Caravan Site, Sea Breeze Restaurant, Tawny’s Wine Bar, the railway station and most pubs.

“Blues music has long outgrown the image of a sad solitary figure bemoaning his lot outside an old shack,” said Steve. “This is all about Fun! Look at the videos on the website at www.swanage-blues.org if you can’t come along yourself.”

The festival aims to provide the whole range of Blues in all its glorious forms: acoustic, electric, urban and rural.

There’s sophisticated jazz blues from: Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion, Celtic blues mixed with Irish tunes and Bob Dylan by Will Killeen, Jump Jive and Film Noir from The Jawbreakers, Soulful blues and shaking funk from Northsyde, who played Russia, China and India last year, Youthful sounds of The Blues Machine and Red Butler, West Coast dreamy songs from The Baroness and The Bear, Skiffling underground heroes MiltonFarrow and friends, The madcap escapades of the Fabulous Fezheads. Plus many more including Ray Dorset of Mungo Jerry, who hopes to come along and do some old Leadbelly songs and a few of his hits.

There will also be opportunities for aspiring performers to join in the fun at international star Robin Bibi’s electric jam sessions, the Open Mic sessions every day, and Stan’s Saturday Blues Jamboree, which also showcases bands hoping to be selected for future festivals. If you attend the festival, you are respectfully requested to purchase at least one wristband for £10 to help cover the costs of this amazing weekend. “It’s an honesty thing,” explained organiser Steve. “We hope people will voluntarily cough up a tenner to keep things going. If they don’t, we’ll have to bring in authorised door staff and tickets and that will push the price up to over £30, so it’s in everybody’s interests to chip in a tenner. Go on, you know it’s worth it!”

Further details at www.swanage-blues.org, where you can also purchase wristbands and programmes in advance. You can also buy them at retailers, most venues and the tourist information centre during the festival.

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

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SWANAGE BLUES FESTIVAL Will Killeen plays live!

Fri 4th Mar 8.45pm Sat 5th Mar 8.45pm Sun 6th Mar 1.30pm

01929 423846

Good Food served 6-8.45pm (Sun 12-2pm)

Swanage Blues Festival 3 - 6 March 2016

HIGH STREET CAFÉ 3 High Street, Swanage. BH19 2LN

Tel: 01929 427542

Join us for a superb full breakfast, or lunch during Swanage Blues Festival!

Opening hours: from 7.00am

Great Local Food, Just How You Like It!

The Live music throughout the Blues Festival!

Here to welcome you seven days a week High Street, Swanage. 01929 423533

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GAZETTE PICK-OF-THE-PROGRAMME

VENUE, DAY, TIME, ACT Black Swan Friday 8.45pm Will Killeen Black Swan Saturday 8.45pm Will Killeen Black Swan Sunday 1.30pm Will Killeen Corfe Legion Saturday 1.00pm The Blues Duo Corfe Legion Sunday 1.00pm Milton-Farrow Skiffle & Blues Band Crow’s Nest Friday 9.00pm The Blues Machine Crow’s Nest Saturday 9.00pm Dan Sowerby Band Crow’s Nest Sunday 4.00pm Riverside Blues Band East Bar Friday 8.00pm Dan Sowerby Band East Bar Saturday 12.30pm Pete Harris R&B All Stars East Bar Saturday 8.00pmThe Blues Machine East Bar Sunday 12.00pm Catfish East Bar Sunday 6.00pm Blue Touch Grand Hotel Friday 8.30pm Zoe Schwarz Blues Commotion Grand Hotel Saturday 3.00pm Milton-Farrow Skiffle & Blues Band Grand Hotel Saturday 8.30pm 3 Buck Shirt Grand Hotel Sunday 3.00pm An Afternoon with Darrington, Budden and Hokum plus Pete Harris Grand Hotel Sunday 8.30pm Festival Finale – Hugh Budden & the Blue Chords Herston Camping Friday 9.00pm The Riotous Brothers Herston Camping Saturday 2.00pm Fabulous Fezheads Herston Camping Saturday 9.00pm The Red Crow Railway Station Saturday 11.00am Assorted Buskers Railway Station Sunday 11.00am Assorted Buskers Red Lion Friday 2.00pm Open Mic with Anita Jardine Red Lion Friday 9.00pm The Blues Duo Red Lion Saturday 2.00pm Open Mic with Anita Jardine Red Lion Saturday 9.00pm Fabulous Fezheads

Red Lion Sunday 1.00pm Open Mic with Anita Jardine Sea Breeze Friday 6.00pm and 8.15 pm Lewis Cohen Sea Breeze Saturday 6.00pm and 8.15pm The Blues Duo Ship Friday 10.00pm Blues Issue Ship Saturday 3.45pm The Riotous Brothers Ship Saturday 10.30pm Backwater Roll Blues Band Ship Sunday 4.00pm The Jawbreakers Ship Sunday 10.00pm LedFree Swanage Bay View Friday 8.00pm Pete Harris R&B All Stars Swanage Bay View Saturday 12.45pm Voodoo Sheiks Swanage Bay View Saturday 3.00pm Kareña K Band Swanage Bay View Saturday 8.00pm Red Butler Tawny’s Friday 6.00pm & 8.15pm Pete Christie Tawny’s Saturday 6.00pm & 8.15pm Lewis Cohen The Legion Thursday 8.30pm An Evening With Darrington, Budden and Hokum The Legion Friday 9.00pm Red Butler The Legion Saturday 1.00pm Stan’s Blues Jamboree The Legion Saturday 8.30pm Mungo Jerry (Ray Dorset solo) The Legion Saturday 9.00pm Robin Bibi Band The Legion Sunday 3.00pm Jam Session with Robin Bibi Band The Legion Sunday 9.00pm Trafficker White Horse Friday 9.45pm The Milk Men White Horse Saturday 9.45pm The Mustangs White Horse Sunday 6.00pm Northsyde White Swan Friday 9.00pm C Sharp Blues White Swan Saturday 3.00pm Blues Issue White Swan Saturday 9.00pm Sam Paine Trio White Swan Sunday 4.00pm Dan Sowerby Band PLEASE PURCHASE AN OFFICIAL PROGRAMME FOR THE FULL LISTINGS!

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PHYSIOTHERAPY WHY WAIT? We can advise and help!

Swanage Therapy Centre

Physiotherapy With Pam Jolliffe & Ceri Vosper We look forward to seeing you!

T: 01929 426506 www.swanagetherapycentre.co.uk

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hysiotherapists help people affected by a disability, illness or injury to improve and restore movement and function. We are trained to assess and treat ALL joints and soft tissues; from head to toe, helping headache to planta- fasciitis in the foot!

Pain may appear anywhere but for no apparent reason. Our priority is to assess and treat the cause. We discuss everyday activity at work, home, sport or hobby. We look at posture, movement patterns and alignment during those activities. Old injuries may recover but (put a stress elsewhere) as the body is one structure a stress elsewhere may impact on the original pain. As such, an ankle sprain can be followed with stress in the opposite shoulder!

Following a thorough assessment and setting goals with each patient, our job is to guide your route to a full recovery. No-one can speed healing ligaments and tendons; it can take 6 weeks to get moderate healing but longer to take the stresses of running and twisting. However, therapeutic Ultra Sound helps to prevent delay in healing and strapping can support and protect, to allow more activity without delaying healing.

Back problems can keep recurring and settling. Each time may be worse and for no reason. All joints need free movement and good deep muscle support. After injury some back muscles can become more vigilant and tighten unnecessarily stopping movement and actually creating pain. This is where a mix of hands on and carefully taught, specific non stressful exercise can free you from this cycle of pain. We find that many people try too strenuous exercise and then abandon or actually cause harm.

Our treatment includes advice, discussion on everyday activities and strategies to avoid injury. We may use massage, mobilisation, electrotherapy, acupuncture and teach a progressive exercise regime designed for you. We aim to help in 3 to 6 sessions but sometimes all that is needed is advice.

It makes sense to invest in yourself!

For more information or to book an appointment please call Swanage Therapy Centre on 01929 426506.

Stuck for gift ideas for Mother’s Day or Easter??!! Why not treat someone to one of our gift vouchers. The vouchers can be redeemed against any of the treatments we offer at the centre.

Kate Smith, ITEC

www.swanagebeautyandmassage.com

HOLISTIC MASSAGE & BEAUTY TREATMENTS EYELASH PERMING & TINTING, FACIALS, MANICURE, PEDICURE, SHELLAC, WAXING, EYEBROW TREATMENTS, HOLISTIC MASSAGE THERAPY

Swanage Beauty & Massage at RubyTuesdays Kate is available at: Ruby Tuesdays, Tilly Mews, Swanage

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

CHIROPODY Rachel Ciantar

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

Contact 07979 840542 NEW PATIENTS £5 OFF FIRST TREATMENT

The Purbeck Gazette

Occupational Therapy And How It Can Help You

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Occupational therapists always work with a person and their families to understand their priorities and what is important to them’ College of Occupational Therapists Often it is difficult to know where to go for help when daily life becomes harder – many people struggle on unaware of the resources available to them.

This can increase anxiety and pressure on the individual and also on families and carers.

Arranging to see an Occupational Therapist (OT) OTs work in a variety of settings; more information about how to access advice and assessment is available from your local authority or GP. Independent OTs offer private assessments and services and charge a fee.

Your new local Independent OT – Jane Hawksworth After many years of varied experience in three large district hospitals, since 2009 Jane has specialised in working with adults who want to remain living at home for as long and as happily as possible, whatever their health or social needs.

How do you cope with all aspects of daily living, and what might you wish to improve? Changes to the home environment, use of equipment, falls management and risk reduction, confidence building, memory aids, carer support, local activities and services are just some of the areas covered.

Jane can offer a short visit to look at one particular aspect or a comprehensive assessment followed by a detailed report, short rehab packages, and/or regular wellbeing check visits.

Ring Jane Hawksworth on 01929 426512 for more details.

Hello From Swanage Medical Practice

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urning over a new leaf is a universal theme at this time of year that inspires us too! With this in mind we are pleased to inform you of new initiatives to improve patient access to appointments and information that we hope indicates the importance of taking an active role in your health & relationship with the practice.

21st Century technology has arrived at Swanage Surgery!

You will by now have noticed the two new screens in our waiting areas.

Partly funded by SCHeME and The Doctors (own funds) we are very pleased, at last, to have been able to update our ’Call System’ and the way we can impart invaluable advice to patients.

We hope that you find the information broadcast helpful. SCHeME are a local registered charity who fundraise to provide equipment used by the Swanage Primary Healthcare Team to care for people in their homes. If you are interested in supporting them, contact the surgery, asking for Barbara Cousins.

Early morning appointments for working patients As part of our ongoing review of appointment availability some GPs have introduced early morning appointments on Fridays from 7.10 to 7.40am.

This is in addition to the long standing Saturday surgeries that we have been running every other week. We have been very encouraged by the uptake and positive feedback so far.

Women’s Health You will have seen in the media lately that nationally there has been a significant drop in the number of women attending cervical screening (formerly known as smear tests).

Unfortunately this has affected us locally too. If you are aged between 25 and 64 the GPs here strongly recommend that you respond to contact from the screening programme.

Being screened regularly means any abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix can be identified at an early stage and, if necessary, treated to stop cancer developing. It can mean the difference of life or death.

Child Health— Registering Newborns We’ve a problem at this practice with newborns not being registered as quickly as we’d like. It is really important to register your baby with a GP as early as possible post birth, in case you need their help.

If you aren’t able to come in with the registration form, perhaps another family member or friend can do so for you.

It is very rare, but newborn children can develop complications unexpectedly, which require urgent action from a GP. Please consider this a priority; when the Health Visitor visits you and baby at home they will have given you a registration form.

Thank you.

Remember your opinions are important and can lead to change at the practice. Please use our ‘Friends and Family’ touch screen in reception to tell us what you think.

For more information about our services view www.swanagemedical. org.uk

Bowen Therapy

The Purbeck Gazette

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Short history: om Bowen (1916-1982) grew up in the small town of Geelong in Australia and he had a natural gift of healing. He worked with some of the well-known chiropractors of his time, giving him deeper inside knowledge on how the body worked and how it responded to different forms of treatment.

Over time he began to develop a method of treatment and discovered that he got very quick results and consequently his clientele grew daily.

He passed his technique on to a young man called Ossie Rentsch, who in turn refined the procedures as we know them today. Ossie wrote, with the help of his wife Elaine, all the procedures into manuals, naming it “The Bowen Technique”, and to this day continues to teach many people throughout the world this fascinating method of treatment.

What is the Bowen Technique and how does it work?

It is often said that the Bowen Technique “Resets the body to heal” – but how?

By applying very gentle rolling movements the practitioner delivers “signals” to the nervous system and the body does the rest. These movements are not random but are carefully and specifically chosen by the practitioner in places of tension within the muscles tissue, tendons and nerves.

There are frequent, two minute pauses between the moves, where the practitioner leaves the room. Some people find this strange, but it is done to give the body time to benefit and react to each set of moves. A treatment session usually lasts from thirty minutes to one hour depending on the patient’s condition.

The Bowen Technique balances and stimulates energy flows resulting in a deep sense of overall relaxation this allows the restorative process to

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

Qualified Bowen Practitioner Indian Head & Neck Massage Gift vouchers available Telephone: 01929 424956 or 07967 978 695 for details begin and to continue as the body allows.

What can you use Bowen for?

It cannot not be understated how light the treatment is, the practitioner applies very gentle pressure which makes it suitable for virtually everyone.

This also means that it can be beneficial to a wide range of conditions from chronic illnesses to traumatic injuries, all depending on the individual’s ability to heal.

It can be used to treat back pain, sciatica, digestive problems, migraines, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, hip, knee, ankle and foot problems, neck, and shoulder problems, groin pain, pelvic tilt and uneven leg length, respiratory problems, RSI, carpel tunnel syndrome, tennis and golfers elbow – to mention just a few!

I qualified as a Bowen therapist in December 2006 and many of my aromatherapy clients have converted to Bowen. Old and new clients alike have benefited from Bowen in the short time I have been practising.

You can find more information at www.bowen-technique.co.uk and www.bowtech.com

Matron’s Round - Our Local Hospitals’ Monthly Column

ello again from Swanage and Wareham Hospitals!

This year the Friends of Wareham Hospital are celebrating their 50th anniversary in April so I thought this would be a good opportunity for them to share with you a little bit about themselves and what they do.

Originally founded when the hospital was housed in the Christmas Close building next door to the present hospital site, the Friends have been giving their support to the hospital and its staff by organising fundraising and encouraging donations throughout their history.

We have been able to aid the hospital through various methods, from buying pieces of vital equipment to funding valuable training courses for our dedicated team of staff.

Recently we have been actively supporting the new chemotherapy clinic at Wareham which we believe is an extremely important and valuable service for the population of Purbeck. To this end we have provided reclining chairs, drip stands, stools and a drug fridge.

The Friends are very grateful that a number of local businesses have agreed to display collection boxes on their premises. We will be

distributing these very soon so please keep a look out and support us. In addition we are planning several fundraising events throughout the year. At present we are raising money for a scalp cooler for the chemotherapy service. This is a key piece of equipment which helps to prevent hair loss following treatment. We would appreciate any donations for this extremely worthwhile cause.

As an organisation, the Friends are always looking for new members and would welcome applications from the whole of Purbeck, particularly underrepresented areas served by Wareham Hospital such as Bere Regis, Bovington, Lulworth, Upton, Lytchett Matravers, and Winfrith Newburgh.

We have a new committee with a fresh drive and impetus, so please come and join us - you can get a membership form by contacting the hospital” Until next time, take care, Matron Donna

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!

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

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

For further information please call: 01929 424911 or 07970 595103

www.cranial-swanage.co.uk

The Purbeck Gazette

Wareham Physiotherapy - Successful First Year In New Premises!

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areham Physiotherapy, run by experienced chartered physiotherapist Helen Gordon, moved in to the spacious, well equipped new clinic in November 2014. It is located “off the beaten track” next to Corfe Beauty, at Hartland Stud in Norden (turning opposite “The Halfway Inn” on the A351).

“Despite the rural setting, the number of patients has steadily risen over the first year as word has spread that we are here. We are experienced in treating whiplash, neck, back and limb pain, sciatica, arthritic problems, sports injuries, postural problems and management of chronic pain symptoms.”

“Your first appointment is spent discussing your particular problem in depth, followed by a thorough physical examination to try to identify the cause of your symptoms and tailor a package of treatment to meet your specific needs.”

“The type of treatment offered will depend on your symptoms but may include: gentle manual therapy to mobilise stiff joints and release tight muscles, postural correction to reduce load and stress on joints and muscles, a tailored home exercise regime with guidance to enable a return to sport or normal activity, plus ultrasound, taping and acupuncture where it is judged that these may benefit your overall recovery.”

“Relaxation and breathing techniques may also be included to help reduce pain associated with stress or anxiety.”

To see if our approach can help you or to book an appointment, contact Helen Gordon on 07765 129786 or visit our website at www. warehamphysio.co.uk

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The Purbeck Gazette

Sport

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In For The Long Haul!

espite the winds and wild weather, crews from Swanage Sea Rowing Club are in training for the 2016 season. As well as racing events, plans are underway for some exciting long distance rows this year.

Building on last year’s success, the club plans to return to France for the Traversée de Paris. This spectacular row takes in some of the iconic sights along the Seine, including the Eiffel Tower.

We are also considering going to Scotland to row the Great Glen, a 70 mile stretch of water from Fort William to Inverness.

The more experienced, hardy rowers are hoping to take part in the Eddystone Challenge, a tough 28 mile race into the English Channel, from Plymouth Hoe to the Eddystone Lighthouse and back. This race has

been cancelled the last three times the club has entered due to bad sea conditions. Hopefully, we’ll be in luck this year.

If you fancy trying rowing, you can come along to one of our open sessions.

Rowing is great for building up your fitness, strength and stamina – and a training goal could be to take part in one of the longer endurance rows.

Weather permitting, open sessions 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 Pics: Above: Around Brownsea. Below: Training with Poole Gig Club

Purbeck Marathon 2016 Is Now Open For Entries!

The Purbeck Gazette

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S

ince its inception in 2012, The Purbeck Marathon has gone from strength to strength. It has been rated in the top three UK Marathons for each of the first three years. The Purbeck 16 has been added as a shorter but still very challenging event and 2016 sees the inaugural Purbeck Running Festival.

The organisers are now pleased to announce that entries for The Purbeck Marathon 2016 and The Purbeck 16 2016 are now open. Places in both events are limited and the Marathon was full early in both 2014 and 2015.

The race date is Sunday 18 September 2016 with both races starting on the Downs overlooking Swanage Pier and finishing on Sandpit Field in Swanage.

The Purbeck Marathon bills itself as “More than Just a Marathon.” Runners completing the classic Marathon distance of 26 miles and 385 yards will find they still have a short distance to run including a final hill up to Sandpit Field in Swanage. It is closer to 27 miles but well worth the extra effort to finish on the grass overlooking beautiful Swanage beach.

It is “More than Just a Marathon” because of the stunning scenery that takes in the beautiful seaside resort of Swanage, The Jurassic Coast, Durlston Country Park and the Purbeck hills. How many Marathons offer you stunning views of the Isle of Wight and the Isle of Portland (weather permitting)? Finishers can also relax their tired legs in the sea afterwards.

It is “More than Just a Marathon” because of the unique places it passes on the route. Runners cross the MOD tank firing range and run through the deserted village of Tyneham. They cross the historic Swanage Railway on a foot crossing, skirt the iconic ruins of Corfe Castle and finish alongside the beach.

It is “More than Just a Marathon” because finishers receive a goody bag that includes a technical T-shirt as well as locally-made Purbeck Ice Cream and a bottle of Purbeck Cider.

One of the objectives of The Purbeck Marathon is to involve the community, working with local groups and giving increasing sums to charitable causes. In 2015, The Purbeck Marathon donated £6,000 to local community good causes.

Race Director, Martin Payne, noted the importance of community involvement: “The Purbeck Marathon and The Purbeck 16 are not just about tremendous runs in stunning scenery but it is also about supporting the community. In 2015, we invested heavily in the race infrastructure but we were also able to maintain the same level of donations to local good causes.”

The Purbeck Marathon and The Purbeck 16 are part of The Purbeck Running Festival and The Purbeck Outdoor Weekend. The events taking place over the weekend highlight the beauty of Purbeck, boost the local economy and help local community good causes.

The races cannot take place without the support of our partners and volunteers on the day.

Swanage & Wareham Rugby Football Club

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n January Swans continued to lose all of their games, beginning with a heavy away reverse at Newbury.

On a horrible day, the Newbury 1st XV pitch was unplayable but the match took place on a secondary pitch, which Swans could not adapt to and soon the hosts had taken a 31pts – nil lead However Swans never gave up, and a try from debutant prop forward Gary Smith managed to reduce the arrears. Phil Graves added the conversion but eventually Newbury went on to complete a 67pts – 7pts victory.

On 16th January Swans had a home game against middle of the table Swindon, but once again the visitors built up a 19pts – nil lead just before the break. Swans replied with a try from full back James Evans to bring the score to 5pts – 19pts. After the interval Swans replied with a try scored by centre Matt Roberts giving Swans their 10pts. From then on it was all downhill for the hosts as Swindon scored a couple more tries to wind up 10pts – 38pts winners.

The following week Swans travelled to Trowbridge, fellow strugglers in the league. Phil Graves with two converted penalties put Swans 6pts ahead at the interval. However, Trowbridge rallied in the second half scoring three unconverted tries to bring the score to 15pts – 6pts. With 15 minutes left, Swans scored a try by centre Matt Spencer to bring Swans up to 11pts,

so Swans picked up a losing bonus point for being less than 8 pts behind the winners at 15pts – 11pts being the final score. On 30th January Swans entertained High Wycombe at Bestwall but after two penalties to each side an interception try by the visitors put them 10pts – 3pts ahead. Phil Graves replied with another penalty, but just prior to interval another interception by Wycombe resulted in another converted try (6pts – 17pts).

After the break another penalty and a push over try to Wycombe took their score to 25pts. Swans centre Matt Roberts forced his way over the line to bring the score to 13pts – 25pts, but once again poor tackling enabled Wycombe to add a further try. In the last 5 minutes Swans were on the attack, and after a series of phases once again Matt Roberts was on hand to score his second try in the game, leaving the final score Swans 20pts High Wycombe 32pts.

Main games in March (all 3.00p.m.start) 5th March Swans 1st XV v. Salisbury league SW1 Home Swans 3rd XV v Wimborne 3rd XV D/W3 Home 12th March No games – it is a reserve week for all teams 19th March Swans 1st XV v Leighton Buzzard league SW1 Away Swans 2nd XV v Wimborne 2nd XV D/W1(S) Home 26th March EASTER Ron Butler (Publicity Secretary)

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Swanage Football Club

We are delighted to announce we have scooped the top award at this year’s Dorset County Football Awards.

We have been awarded this by the committee members of Dorset County Football Association.

Club Chairman Mark Watson would like to thank everyone associated with the Football Club for all their hard work on and off the pitch.

When asked about the award Mark said “I am absolutely delighted, we are always looking to improve the Club and serve the community. This is an award the whole Town can be proud of. It’s a real team effort running a grass roots club and to be recognised by Dorset FA is a real feather in our cap”.

The first team have been performing out of their skins of late and the Reserves are starting to pick up, but this award is not about any one team or individual. It’s down to all the different aspects associated with our Club from our Youth section where we have over two hundred children, both boys and girls, signed to our ten Youth teams playing football.

Each week these players, parents and supporters travel the County representing our Football Club. We also cater for 5-8 year olds at mini kickers on a Saturday morning. At the other end of the age scale, our walking football team caters for the over 40s.

In recent months you’ll have been aware of our disability team, all these factions make up our Club and each and everyone associated with the Club are winners of this award.

Four members from the Club are attending the awards evening which took place on 22nd February at Bulbary Woods Golf Club. As only four members were allowed to attend this award evening we plan to have an evening at the Club in the very near future. At this we will be inviting everyone who has an association to the Club, so keep an eye out on social media and the local press for the details.

Our U14 team run by Jamie Smith is our only Youth side to play their football in division one. This is no mean achievement; to be competing in the top division against the best teams in the County. This is not their only achievement this season as they find themselves in the semi-final of the County Cup. They have been drawn against Weymouth. The young Swans have already played Weymouth twice this season in the league,

The Purbeck Gazette

with the away team winning on both occasions, Weymouth winning, which was the first game of the season, 4:3 , then Swans went away in mid-November and won 3:2. So 6:6 on aggregate.

It had all the makings of a really great game. The fixture was on Sunday February 14th, Valentine’s Day. The 500 Club is starting to take shape and we are edging nearer to the magic fifty participants, this is when the monthly draw will take place.

Don’t be alarmed if you feel you might miss out we don’t plan to stop at fifty. For those unaware of the 500 club, it’s a lottery we have set up to benefit both the participant and the club at the same time. Half of the £5 entry goes to the Club to help in the general running and different projects we need to address, the floodlights at the moment.

The other half goes back into a prize fund and three winners will benefit every month. Don’t forget to check out our fixtures at Day’s Park, either on the monthly posters, JJ Moore, Library, Knapp Stores, East Bar. Or on social media and of course our award winning website swanagefc.com Come On You Swans! John Peacock

The Purbeck Gazette - Proudly Supporting The Swans

Swanage & Wareham Hockey Club

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ust after the mid-way stage of the season the hockey club’s teams are holding their own in their leagues. Sponsored by CE Barnes, Self Storage, this club is growing year by year.

The ladies 1st team currently lies fourth in the East Division of the West Clubs League after coming down from the very demanding Premier 2 Division last season. With many new players and changes in the team the aim this year is to consolidate their position in this league and build on these changes for next season.

The ladies 2nds are proving stars of the club this season as they sit five points clear at the top of Channel 2 division. Their success is definitely due to the Junior coaching programme that has taken place over the last few years and credit must be given to all Junior coaches. These juniors are now joining the senior teams and are proving their worth.

The ladies 3rd team continues to nurture new players, giving everyone a chance to come back to hockey or start playing hockey, including those juniors just emerging from junior club. Due to the “Back to Hockey”

England Hockey incentive the club has gained more adult players which is providing a healthy number of ladies turning out on a winter Saturday.

There will be another “Back to Hockey” event planned early this summer.

The men’s team are currently in Hampshire Division 4, lying mid table in a large league of twelve. The men sometimes struggle for numbers as the club has recently started a 2nd team, so if there’s anyone out there who is keen on coming back to hockey we would welcome you with open arms!

The Junior section of the club continues to thrive, attracting new members every week. There are now over thirty youngsters aged from six to twelve training every Wednesday from 6 – 7pm. They all seem to enjoy themselves and revel in playing this great game.

For those of you who are a little older, please feel free to pick up that stick again after a few (or many) years away from this fantastic sport. We have many fit and active over 40s and 50s playing every week. This club is very supportive and friendly and gets you out on cold winter evenings and bleak Saturdays when most people are sitting inside waiting for the summer to arrive!

Hockey is fun, sociable and most importantly keeps you fit and healthy within a great team environment.

If you’d like any information on any of the above please email Jackie@jackiebarker. f2s.com or call 07725 562607.

Training is on a Wednesday evening from 7 – 9.00pm at the Purbeck Sports Centre, Wareham.

The Purbeck Gazette

Spotlight Event Diary

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Diary Entries are FREE if your event is FREE. If you charge, then it’s £5 plus VAT per entry, per month. DEADLINE for APRIL is noon, 10th March 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.

MARCH

Tue 1st 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham.

19:30 Wareham Camera Club Meets at Parish Hall, Wareham. “Southern Counties Photographic Federation – PDI League Competition” 19:30 Wareham Camera Club Meets at Parish Hall, Wareham. “Southern Counties Photographic Federation – PDI League Competition” Visitors welcome. Contact Roger Starling on 01929 553822 19:30 Back to the Future The Rex Players 20th production “”. A fun evening of music, drama and comedy at the Rex Cinema, Wareham. Tickets from Discover Purbeck Information Centre, Wareham at £9.50. 01929 552740.

All proceeds to local charities.

Wed 2nd * Swanage Probus Meets at Purbeck House Hotel for a talk on the RNLI

by Neil Hardy. Visitors welcome. Ffi: Roger Livingstone 01929 425002 or Andrew Yeandle 01225461087.

09:45 ‘Meet and Greet’ the Humphries Kirk Team At The Catholic Church Hall, Swanage.

10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Ballard Stores for circular walk via Day’s Park, the allotments, Godlingston Manor, Round Down and Ballard Down.

Ffi 01929 424462.

10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham.

19:30 Back to the Future The Rex Players 20th production “”. A fun evening of music, drama and comedy at the Rex Cinema, Wareham. Tickets from Discover Purbeck Information Centre, Wareham at £9.50. 01929 552740.

All proceeds to local charities.

Thu 3rd * Swanage Blues Festival Ffi: www.swanage-blues.org 14:00 Dementia UK -Time for a Cuppa At Gainsborough Care Home, Swanage.

19:15 Swanage Trefoil Guild Meets at The Guide HQ Bell Street. AGM. New Members and Visitors Welcome. Ffi: 01929 556374.

19:30 Back to the Future The Rex Players 20th production “”. A fun evening of music, drama and comedy at the Rex Cinema, Wareham. Tickets from Discover Purbeck Information Centre, Wareham at £9.50. 01929 552740.

All proceeds to local charities.

Fri 4th * Swanage Blues Festival Ffi: www.swanage-blues.org 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: ‘Looking at Nature’ with Maurice Pugh. Visitors welcome. ffi Colin Brixton – 423841 20:00 Phillip Clouts Jazz Trio Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Sat 5th * Swanage Blues Festival Ffi: www.swanage-blues.org * Dorset Countryside Volunteers will be helping clear pine and scrub in order to maintain heathland bordering Wareham Forest. We welcome new people interested in helping care for our countryside. For details see www. dcv.org.uk, emailDCVpublicity@gmail.com, or text or message 07923498760 for us to contact you.

09:30 Freebay At The URC Swanage. Free table, Free entry. Refreshments. To book a table call Elizabeth on 01929 422406.

10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at the Worlds End pub for a gentle undulating walk around the mid Dorset countryside and through Winterborne Zelston. Ffi 01202 623230.

10:00 Durlston Castle Spring Wedding Fair At Durlston Castle. Free entry and Goodie bag for the first 50 couples through the door. www.bluebayevents. co.uk 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham.

13:30 Wareham Choral Society Come and sing Stainer’s Crucifixion at Bere Regis parish church BH20 7HQ. Participants £10 at the door. Registration from 1.30pm, ready to sing 2.00pm. Free performance at 5.00pm. Refreshments and music provided. www.freewebs.com/ warehamcs 19:30 Back to the Future The Rex Players 20th production “”. A fun evening of music, drama and comedy at the Rex Cinema, Wareham. Tickets from Discover Purbeck Information Centre, Wareham at £9.50. 01929 552740.

All proceeds to local charities.

20:00 Hannah & The Broken Hearts Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Sun 6th * Swanage Blues Festival Ffi: www.swanage-blues.org

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Dorset Countryside Volunteers will be helping clear pine and scrub in order to maintain heathland bordering Wareham Forest. We welcome new people interested in helping care for our countryside. For details see www. dcv.org.uk, emailDCVpublicity@gmail.com, or text or message 07923498760 for us to contact you.

Mon 7th 13:00 Swanage Jazz Machine At the Conservative Club, Swanage.

Tue 8th 14:00 Parkinson’s Self Help Group At The All Saints Church Hall, Swanage.

19:15 Rotary Club of Wareham Looking for new members and meet at Springfield Country Hotel. Speaker - Michele Newton Rotary District Community Chair. For more information please contact Tony on 553936 or see our website www.warehamrotary.co.uk”.

19:30 Wareham Camera Club Meets at Parish Hall, Wareham. Shiela Haycox – “An Evening with Shiela Haycox”. Visitors welcome. Contact Roger Starling on 01929 553822.

Wed 9th 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Old Farm Lane, West Lulworth for circular walk to Burngate Resevoir,, Daggers Gate and coast path to Lulworth Cove. Ffi 01929 424462.

12:30 Christian Aid Lunch At Methodist Church North St Wareham. Fairtrade stall. All welcome. Email: asalter83@live.co.uk 19:30 Studland WI At Studland Village Hall. Open Meeting. Kirsten Juniper “Recycle for Dorset Services”. Competition: Recycled Item.

Thu 10th 09:30 Community Network Event At Harman’s Cross Village Hall. Booking is essential, lunch and refreshments provided, £4 contribtution required. Ffi: www.dosetcommunityaction.org.uk 10:30 David Brooke Exhibition At the Acanthus Gallery, 12a West street, Wareham.

Fri 11th 19:30 Purbeck Railway Circle Meets at Harman’s Cross Village Hall for a presentation entitled “The End of the Line”. A presentation commemorating the 50th anniversary of the closure of the Somerset & Dorset Railway by Mike Beale, Director of the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust. Doors open 7pm. Ffi 554765. EVERYONE IS WELCOME 20:00 Stomping Dave Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Sat 12th 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Upton House top car park for circular walk taking in Upton Park, Lytchett Bay, Hamworthy Pier and Lakes. Ffi 01202 684135.

19:00 Margaret Green Pub Quiz At The Drax Arms in Bere Regis.

19:30 Purbeck Strings Festival - Candlelight Concert At St. Mary’s Church, Swanage.

20:00 Rag Mama Rag Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Sun 13th 14:00 Rag Mama Rag Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 15:30 Purbeck Strings Festival - Festival Strings At St. Mary’s Church, Swanage.

Mon 14th 14:00 Dementia UK -Afternoon Tea At Gainsborough Care Home, Swanage.

14:30 Isle of Purbeck Group At Langton Matravers Village Hall. ‘The Magic of the Tiny World’ - an illustrated talk by Joy Fildes and Ken Dolbear. Visitors welcome.

Tue 15th 10:15 Isle of Purbeck Arts Club Coffee Morning with members painting and small exhibition at the Catholic Church Hall, Rempstone Rd, Sw. Everyone welcome. Ffi: Gina on 421689 14:00 The New Christian Spiritualist Church Swanage Meet today in the Queensmead Community Hall. Our guest Medium is Paul Broadway from East Sussex, everyone welcome and refreshments will be served.

19:30 Wareham Camera Club Meets at Parish Hall, Wareham. “League Competition No 5”. Visitors welcome. Contact Roger Starling on 01929 553822.

Wed 16th 10:00 Swanage Walking Group Meet in Bere Regis CP (off Manor Fm Rd) for circular walk via Black Hill, Turners Puddle, Hollow Oak, Watercress Beds & Court Fm. Ffi 01929 426926.

14:30 Studland History Group Meets in the Village Hall for the AGM to be followed by a presentation of photographs from the Groups Facebook page. All welcome. Ffi the Secretary 01929 439245.

19:30 Swanage Garden Society At Herston Hall, Swanage. General Knowledge Quiz. Wine and cheese to follow.

The Purbeck Gazette

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Thu 17th 14:30 Purbeck Assoc. of the National Trust At Carey Hall, Wm. Illustrated talk ‘The Shock of the New’ - James Grasby of the National Trust talks about the controversy caused by the building of Kingston Lacy House in a style completely new to the country; Till 4.00pm. All welcome. £3.00 incl refreshments Ffi 01929 427300.

19:30 Swanage Action for Refugees Open meeting at The Emmanual Baptist Church Centre.

19:30 ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage. Tickets £14, Concessions £12, Children £8. Box Office 01929 422239 19:30 Langton Matravers History & Preservation Society Meets in the Village Hall where Reg Saville will speak on ‘The History of Langton Matravers from Norman to Angevin times. All welcome Members £2.50 non members £3.50.

Fri 18th 19:30 ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage. Tickets £14, Concessions £12, Children £8. Box Office 01929 422239 19:30 Swanage Photographic Society Meets in the Rectory Classroom, Church Hill at 7.30pm. For: Queen’s Jubilee Cup (prints – ‘Open’) and Ward & Purbeck Trophies – ‘Open’ Judge: Sid Jones LRPS Visitors welcome. ffi Colin Brixton – 423841 Sat 19th 09:45 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Steeple CP and walk via Ridgeway Hill and Whiteways Farm to Kimmeridge Quarry. Return via Steeple Leaze Farm. Ffi 01929 421039.

12:30 Christian Aid Lunch At Parish Hall The quay Wareham. Fairtrade stall present . Please support . All welcome Email: asalter83@live.co.uk 14:00 ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage. Tickets £14, Concessions £12, Children £8. Box Office 01929 422239 19:30 ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage. Tickets £14, Concessions £12, Children £8. Box Office 01929 422239 20:00 Beth Porter & The Availables Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Sun 20th * Dorset Countryside Volunteers will be helping clear pine and scrub in order to maintain heathland bordering Wareham Forest. We welcome new people interested in helping care for our countryside. For details see www. dcv.org.uk, emailDCVpublicity@gmail.com, or text or message 07923498760 for us to contact you.

10:00 Craft Fair At The Courtyard Craft Centre, Lychett Minster. Free parking, free entry.

15:00 Canzonetta Sings Music for Holy Week Join Canzonetta for an hour of reflective music in this beautiful ancient church. Followed by tea and cake.

Retiring collection in aid of the ‘Church Fabric’. Email: miriamfagan@ talktalk.net Tue 22nd 19:30 Wareham Camera Club Meets at Parish Hall, Wareham. Greg & Val Duncan – “Double Vision”. Visitors welcome. Contact Roger Starling on 01929 553822.

19:30 Dorset Industrial Archaeology Society “Ford Transit Southampton”, speaker to be confirmed. 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 23rd 09:45 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Worth Matravers Car Park. Walk out via Weston Farm, St Aldhelm’s Chapel, and then coastal path through Winspit to Seacombe. Ffi 01929 422795.

19:00 Swanage Area Senior Forum At The Emmanual Baptist Church Centre, Swanage. Dorset Police Cybercrime Unit Presentation & Discussion.

Thu 24th 10:00 Purbeck U3A Meeting Points At Harman’s Cross Village Hall. Our March speaker is Howard Nichols who’s presentation is entitled “The Longest Journey” and highlights his various experiences travelling to over 100 countries throughout the world. Non members very welcome - just turn up.

Purbeck U3A is a Registered Charity Fri 25th * Swanage Market Opens At Victoria Avenue Car Park. Every Friday this season. * Purbeck Makers Market At Burngate Stone Carving Centre. Children & Family Holiday Activities. Ffi: www.burngatestonecentre.co.uk * Wareham Easter Beerex In the Masonic Hall, Wareham. Tickets online at www.beerex.org.uk 10:00 Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt At Knoll Beach, Studland Bay. £2.50 per person, per trail.

14:00 Wareham Museum Grand Opening Open for the season by the mayor of Wareham, Councillor Dina Adkins. New Saxon sword display and dinosaur display. Fun activities for kids, refreshments. Entrance free.

Sat 26th * Purbeck Makers Market At Burngate Stone Carving Centre. Children & Family Holiday Activities. Ffi: www.burngatestonecentre.co.uk * Wareham Easter Beerex In the Masonic Hall, Wareham. Tickets online at www.beerex.org.uk 09:45 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Corfe Castle NT Castle View car park for a circular walk via Scotland Farm and Norden Heath. Ffi 01929 425165.

10:00 Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt At Knoll Beach, Studland Bay. £2.50 per

10:00 20:00

person, per trail.

Dorset Food & Venison Festival At Post Green, Lychett Minster. Adults £3. Under 12’s free.

Woody Pines Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229

Sun 27th * Purbeck Makers Market At Burngate Stone Carving Centre. Children & Family Holiday Activities. Ffi: www.burngatestonecentre.co.uk 10:00 Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt At Knoll Beach, Studland Bay. £2.50 per person, per trail.

10:00 Purbeck Antiques & Collectors’ Fairs At Furzebrook Hall, Furzebrook, Wareham. £1 entry. www.purbeckantiquesfairs.co.uk 14:00 Woody Pines Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229 Mon 28th * Purbeck Makers Market At Burngate Stone Carving Centre. Children & Family Holiday Activities. Ffi: www.burngatestonecentre.co.uk 10:00 Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt At Knoll Beach, Studland Bay. £2.50 per person, per trail.

Tue 29th 10:00 Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt At Knoll Beach, Studland Bay. £2.50 per person, per trail.

19:30 Wareham Camera Club Meets at Parish Hall, Wareham. “Four Members Presentation Evening”. Visitors welcome. Contact Roger Starling on 01929 553822.

Wed 30th 09:45 Swanage Walking Group Meet at Bindon Lane Wool for circular walk via Bindon Abbey, through Cole Wood, East Stoke Fen, and Quarr Hill. Ffi 01929 427174.

10:00 Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt At Knoll Beach, Studland Bay. £2.50 per person, per trail.

Thu 31st 10:00 Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt At Knoll Beach, Studland Bay. £2.50 per person, per trail.

19:30 Isle of Purbeck Group At The Methodist Church, North street, Wareham.

‘New Finds in the Kimmeridge Clay - The Etches Collection’, an illustrated talk by Steve Etches. And AGM. Visitors welcome.

19:30 The Hermitage Ensemble At St James Church, KIngston. From St Petersburg, they will sing traditional Russian sacred and folk music unaccompanied. Admission free. Interval refreshments. Retiring collection in aid of this Grade 1-listed church.

20:00 Josh Harty Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229

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

The Purbeck Gazette

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.

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; non-members £2.50. Till12.00. 427067 10.00 Short tennis for adults at Swanage Football Club. All welcome. Equipment supplied. Till noon.

10.00 Breast Feeding Group at Wareham’s Children Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Offering peer support and breastfeeding counsellor advice. Till 12 noon. Ffi: 552864 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

67

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. Antinatal 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 11-25) night. Till 7.30pm 18.00 Five High Singers, United Reformed Church Hall, Swanage. 11 - 18 years.

Till 7pm 18.15 Sw Cricket Club Practice till 9pm 18.30 Swanage Sea Rowing Club Circuit Training at Swanage Middle School. Ffi: 07776 201455 19.00 Health Qigong: Fitness and relaxation. Till 8pm. With Penny at Furzebrook VH, Wm. Ffi 07969925502 19.00 Purbeck Gateway Club meets at Wareham Youth Centre until 9pm.

Purbeck Gateway is a club for adults with learning difficulties. We meet during term time and have fun! All welcome. Ffi: Lew on 552173. Email: Lewisbell1@aol.com 19.15 Wm Town Band Brass & Woodwind players welcome. 551478/01202 242147 19.30 Short Mat Bowls in the Durbeville Hall, Wool. All standards welcome, till 9.30pm. Ffi: 552682 19.30 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-a-Brac stall weekly. Christian bookstall most weeks. All welcome for a warm-up and a friendly chat.

20.00 Herston OAP Committee Bingo at Herston Hall, Sw EVERY SUNDAY 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

68

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The Purbeck Gazette

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The Purbeck Gazette

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