The Purbeck Gazette - Issue 241

November February 2020 2019 Issue no. 238 241

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Purbeck Challenge!

Pg2612 23- 39 - 37 ‘TisHelp TheChristmas Season Lovers!

Save RexFor The Brave.PgPg

It’sFlag Raining Again.....

PgPg 4016 Our Is Now Official!

Helping Homeless.

Pg 24 9 - 35 Banish ThoseThe Winter Blues! Pg

Otter On The Are WeDeaths Depressed?

If Increase.

So, Why? Pg Pg 37 47

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Editor’s note...

W

elcome to the February edition of your Purbeck Gazette! I’d love to state that the sun is shining and spring has sprung, but no - the rain continues as I type and the ground is literally mush beneath my feet. Thus far, the winter has been extremely mild. There’s still time left for a big freeze to hit us unaware, so keep an eye on the weather reports, just in case. At this point, I’d rather we move forwards into spring as many bulbs and flowers are already up and growing fast in my garden and I’d hate to see them shocked back into the earth by a harsh cold snap now....

The February edition is always one of our firm favourites as the feature this month is all about love being in the air - we take you through from the delights of Valentine’s Day to that perfect, Purbeckian wedding.....

A host of local businesses and service providers have taken part in this month’s feature, detailing the truly fabulous options you have locally when it comes to getting hitched. We have some of the best locations in the country to host a stunning wedding, as well as a wide variety of top-notch people on-hand to assist with everything you need, from making the dress of your dreams and designing that bespoke cake through to hosting your wedding or reception at a selection of stunning locations.

For those who are single this month - hey! Only one person’s washing-up to do! No one moves anything or annoys you when you get home - there’s a silver lining to flying solo! If you’d prefer to be with someone, be brave and send that Valentine’s card this year....

The Purbeck Gazette is delivered by: We distribute 20,000 copies of the Purbeck Gazette every month to properties 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 approx. 45,300, we print & distribute 20,000 copies for Purbeck and further afield (Crossways, Broadmayne, Bloxworth etc).

You will not therefore ALL get a paper copy! 1 in 3 properties get a copy. We ensure a good spread of distribution throughout the whole area to get the best response for our advertisers, who are our 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 March 2020 edition has a deadline of 7th February and will be distributed from 24th February - 28th February 2020.

The April 2020 edition has a deadline of 9th March, and will be distributed from 27th March - 3rd April 2020.

Public Notices & Information

Swanage Town Council Meetings - February 2020

Planning & Consultation Commitee Transport Committee Policy, Finance & Performance Man. Personnel Committee Council (at The Centre, Chapel Lane) Beach Management Advisory

Mon 3rd Wed 5th Wed 12th Wed 19th Mon 24th Wed 26th

6.30pm 2.15pm 9.30am 9.30am 7pm 2.15pm

Wareham Town Council Meetings - February 2020 Amenities Policy, Resources & Finance Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group Planning & Transport Wareham In Bloom

Wed 5th Tue 11th Thur 13th Wed 19th Wed 26th

7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm

Dorset Council For details of council meetings, councillors and decisions please use the web address: www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/committees Alternatively, if you use the old 'Dorsetforyou' address: www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/committees - you will be redirected to the same link called 'committee meetings and papers'.

About 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 GPStracked distribution. The Purbeck Gazette 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, Kay Jenkins, Sales & Accounts Executive, David Hollister, Columnist, John Garner, Columnist, Regula Wright, Columnist. Purbeck Designs (some graphics), Kim Steeden, Spotlight Diary Editor.

VOLUNTEERS: A massive thanks to our volunteers, whose help is invaluable each month. Our proof readers are the very professional: Gerry Norris and David Holman, with volunteer Photographer, Tim Crabb, also on-hand.

Telephone Sales & Client Contact

We reserve the right to maintain contact with our advertising clients, past and present, through the use of telephone calls and emails. We retain customer’s names, addresses, emails and telephone numbers on file. If you do not wish to hear from us to be reminded of upcoming deadlines, please do let us know!

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The Ramsay wedding, with the ceremony held at St Aldhelm’s Chapel and reception at Durlston Castle. By Trev Rich Photography.

CONTACT US ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS MATTERS COMMUNITY MATTERS COUNCIL MEETINGS DIARY SPOTLIGHT FEATURES Are We Depressed In The South West?

A Gig In A Gypsy Van Blast From The Past FEATURE: Valentine’s Day & Purbeck Weddings Gazette Gardening Helping The Homeless This Winter John Garner writes - It’s Raining Again Nonbinary - How Does This Affect Me? Swanage Rotary Club Round-Up Telling It Like It Is - David Hollister writes Visit Wareham’s Happy Cafe!

FOOD - Godlingston Manor Kitchen Gardens HEALTH & BEAUTY LETTERS MOTORING - David Hollister writes NATURAL MATTERS SPORT TRADE ADVERTS sponsored by Travis Perkins

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DEADLINE FOR FOR MARCH IS 12 NOON, FRI 7th FEBRUARY DEADLINE JULY IS NOON, 10th JUNE

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The The clue is in the heading above - these are our readers’ letters. They are NOT articles, they are letters. By you. Our readers. They are not our letters, they are yours - your letters. Simple!

Please send all letters to ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk with ‘letter to the editor’ in the email subject line. Please do not exceed 350 words. If handwritten, please ensure it is short and legible.

PLEASE DO NOT DUPLICATE LETTERS TO OTHER PUBLICATIONS WE DO NOT PRINT MULTI-PUBLICATION LETTERS.

MARCH edition deadline: noon, 7th FEBRUARY

The Unknown Warrior Dear Editor, I am down from Staffordshire visiting a relative and read the interesting article in the January Purbeck Gazette (page 16) on the Unknown Warrior.

Having written an article on the actual Unknown Warrior for the Observer newspaper last year (the body was selected by a North Staffords officer), I thought your readers might like some additional information in appreciation of the efforts of all those involved: Bournemouth Guardian - Saturday 22 February 1919 “The body of an unknown soldier was washed ashore near Ballard Head on Monday afternoon, evidently having been some time in the water.

P.S. Thomas and Constable Heath, on being informed, went out with the stretcher and brought the body into the town.

“After the long, arduous tramp along the beach they were compelled, through the difficulty of finding a suitable shed to place the body in, to spend a considerable time walking about before they could get fixed up.

Eventually they were granted the use of the coal shed belonging to the Steamboat Company.”

I assume P.S.Thomas stands for Police Special? I have been unable to find out the regiment from which the soldier came. Do any of those present at the ceremony have this information?

Richard Pursehouse, by email (if any responses forthcoming, please do email us at the Purbeck Gazette at: ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk and we’ll forward your emails on to Richard).

Christmas Twinning Delights

Dear Readers, When the Swanage Railway connected with the main line, we hoped that it would be possible to travel from Swanage to Paris with one train change.

We are not there yet, but last December I tried travelling by train from Bournemouth to our twin town of Rudesheim.

It can be done in a day, but I decided to stop overnight at St Pancras Youth Hostel. Crossing London on the underground is difficult when carrying luggage, so I went by train from Waterloo to London Bridge and then on to St Pancras. All these stations have lifts.

The following morning, I caught the 07:16 Eurostar train to Brussels where I had a two hour wait for the intercity train to Cologne. There I caught the National Express train to Koblenz and another train to Rudesheim, where I arrived at 17:00.

On Wednesday Andrea, who runs a gift shop in Rudesheim, took me and

Beer, Ale & Cider Specialists Food served 12 noon - 3pm, 6pm - 9pm High Street, Swanage. 01929 423533 Jenny, who lives in Corfe Castle, to Wiesbaden where we bought some food at the Christmas market and then adjourned to the Paulina Cafe for coffee and cakes. As darkness fell, we returned to Rudesheim where Andrea and Jenny served mulled wine at their stand at the Christmas market.

Thursday was a cold, foggy day. In the afternoon I went to a hut by the Germania market in a cable car. Ute, the chairman of the German twinning association, drove up there and we had some mulled wine. I was staying at the Rudesheimer Schloss hotel for their last night before they closed for the Christmas holiday, so as a special treat, they were offering any main course for ten Euros.

Before starting the meal, we were joined by Winfried and seven German ladies for some mulled wine at a nearby hut. Back at the Schloss there was a band playing and one of the waiters gave a demonstration of how to make Rudesheimer coffee. First, they pour in some Asbach liquor which they set fire to, giving a purple flame and then they pour on the coffee.

This was a good send off for my return journey. The picture shows some of our German twinning friends about to have an evening meal at Breuer’s Rudesheimer Schloss Hotel on Thursday 19 December.

Yours sincerely, Robin Brasher, by email.

Stress Self-Inflicted?

Dear Readers, Regarding the letter from Robin Brasher in the January edition and whilst I fully understand the stress he suffered on the journey, I do feel some was self-inflicted.

If I had a specific target time for that journey, I would certainly not regard an hour’s leeway as sufficient based on the state of the UK rail network.

However, it raises some interesting points: 1) Whilst have caught a cross country service at 45 past the hour from the 50 bus I would not guarantee to be able to do it, especially if the ferry is delayed by a ship entering or leaving Poole Harbour.

2) The NRE website gives via Reading as the routing for Hayes & Harlington from Bournemouth, so that is probably why you found no way to ask it to do it separately. But why was an SWR service not taken to Basingstoke to change there to a GWR service to Reading, it was not a strike day so there should have been an SWR train at 0959 and why was this not advised by staff at Bournemouth? If you were purchasing a ticket at the ticket office, it must have been a walk-up fare that can be used on any train service.

Sometimes later in the day there are also cross-country services starting at Southampton as well that also go via Reading.

3) Ticket machines can be confusing, but why not book via the internet where on either the National Rail or any train company website, you can easily get your reference number and collect on the day from the machine by entering that number?

4) Why, when the LH website says that Terminal 2 check-in closes 45 minutes prior to departure, did you need to be there three hours before?

A couple of other points if you or anyone else takes this routing: Sometimes tickets are strangely cheaper from Wareham than Bournemouth (no idea why).

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Square & Compass Worth Matravers 01929 439229

LIVE ACTS FOR FEBRUARY Sun Sat Sun Sat Fri

2nd 8th 9th 22nd 28th

2pm 8pm 2pm 8pm 8pm

Our Man In The Field No Go Stop The Goat Roper Band Yewww.squareandcompasspub.co.uk Vagabonds Rag Mama Rag

Some of the Reading to Hayes services are now run by TFL in what is, in effect, Crossrail. These have no toilets, but there are still GWR services that do.

From early December, the 140 bus terminates at Hayes Station and the airport service is now a limited stop X140.

Gary Packer, Swanage, by email.

Sheer Dereliction Of Duty

Dear Gazette, Having repainted the Steer Road (Swanage) nameplate in the past twelve months and informed Dorset Council at the time that the backing board was rotted, I came across the sign a few weeks ago hanging off its mountings because the backing board had disintegrated! Obviously due to Dorset Council’s dereliction of duty this has happened.

I spent two hours painting that sign and due to their negligence, it would have gone the same way as the Kings Road West nameplate and the Manor Gardens sign (which was hanging off when I reported it)!

I honestly feel these issues, along with street cleaning, are not thought worthwhile enough by the powers-to-be at Dorset Council.

Our council tax goes up every year, but our services diminish correspondingly! Enough of my bleeting. The Steer Road name plate is back in-situ repainted AGAIN with a new backing board (weatherproofed).

Regards, Robert Nunn, by email.

Forget Me Not Purbeck Dear Gazette, Thank you for publishing your article last month regarding the projected increase in dementia cases in the UK. The increasing need for dementia

care reform is crucial in ensuring those living with dementia and their families gain the support they need within their communities.

Here in Purbeck we have a dedicated group of volunteers who work tirelessly to raise dementia awareness and have united to enable a weekly Meeting Centre group to support those living with dementia and their families in Purbeck.

The Purbeck Forget Me Not Meeting Centre meets every Monday at Wareham Hospital from 10.30am to 1.30pm.

At the heart of the Meeting Centre is a social club where people meet to have fun, talk to others and get help that focusses on what they need.

Meeting Centres are based on sound research evidence on what helps people to cope well in adjusting to living with the symptoms and changes that dementia brings.

All activities are designed to help people adapt to the challenges that living with dementia can bring. This involves a chance to get together socially, to be creative, to get active and to share lunch. Everyone brings their skills and talents to the Meeting Centre and the programme is driven by what people want to do. People attend as little or as often as they need.

Dorset Healthcare, Dorset Council, The Alzheimers Society, Age UK, Purbeck Dementia Friendly Community and Swanage and District Dementia Friendly community are jointly working together to deliver the weekly support group.

There is ongoing evaluation of Meeting Centres Nationwide and our Purbeck group is taking part in the research which could potentially influence the future strategies in National Dementia care.

We at the Purbeck Forget me Not Meeting Centre would like to send a huge thank you to all who are supporting this new venture. It is exciting to be part of a positive change in dementia support. For further information please contact 01929 557023.

Thank you all.

The Purbeck Forget Me Not Meeting Centre, by email.

Friendship Lunch Club Dear Editor, Swanage Friendship Lunch Club had a very happy candlelit Christmas Lunch on the 11th December. We not only had a wonderful Christmas dinner, a raffle and Father Christmas distributing presents, but St. Mary’s School children sang carols and songs beautifully to us too.

We particularly enjoyed the twelve days of Christmas song, sung with actions! Later the URC Ukulele Group entertained us with more songs and carols which were received enthusiastically and had encores requested.

Our thanks to both groups for all the pleasure they brought to us.

The Friendship Lunch Club, which has been running for many years, meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, from September through to the following May, at the United Reformed Church Hall, High Street, Swanage.

It is for retired single people who are living by themselves. It provides a two-course hot lunch at a reasonable price and gives an opportunity for people to meet friends for lunch or make new friends.

If you would like to join us, you can find out more by ringing Maureen Marriott (426325) or Chris Pullen (423505).

Regards, Maureen Marriott, by email.

MARCH EDITION DEADLINE

NOON, Fri 7th February

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Brian & Penny MATT HILLAN Building Alterations Armstrong & Maintenance

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250,000 Living With M.E. Dear Readers, Many of you will know at least one of the 250,000 children and adults in the UK with myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.), also diagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS, or M.E./CFS) – though they may not see the devastating toll this serious neurological condition can take.

A lack of research means that we don’t yet know the cause, or have an effective treatment – but a large, planned genetic study could change that.

With scientists and patients working together, the M.E./CFS Biomedical Partnership is applying for funding to test DNA samples from 20,000 people with M.E. Readers can show their support for this potentially game-changing biomedical research, and sign-up for updates, at www. mebiomed.org.uk/get-involved Regards, Sonya Chowdhury, Chief Executive, Action for M.E.; and Andy Devereux-Cooke, patient and CureME Biobank Steering Group member, on behalf of the M.E. Biomedical Partnership www.mebiomed.org.uk @ MEbiomed

Become A Guardian!

Dear Gazette, The parish church of Lady St. Mary in Wareham is appealing for volunteers to join their existing team of enthusiastic Guardian and Guides and Flower Arrangers.

The Guardian and Guides are an important part of the welcome team to help keep our churches of Lady St. Mary and St. Martins on the Walls open during the week and weekends, welcoming visitors to our beautiful, historic buildings.

The duties usually cover an hour once a week or fortnight and the guides are teamed up with another guide or friend. Full training is given.

The church is also looking for flower arrangers, whose tasks would be twice a year and at special church festivals such as Christmas, Harvest and Easter. Again no experience is necessary as training will be given and volunteers do not have to be regular church attenders.

If you are interested in joining our friendly teams, please contact the Parish Office on the Quay in Wareham, which is open Monday, Wednesdays, Fridays from 9am to 1pm, or telephone 01929-550905, or email: parish. office@warehamchurches.org.uk We look forward to hearing from you!

Mrs. Pat Cherrett. Church Warden, Lady St. Mary Church, Church Green, Wareham. BH20 4ND.

Thrown Into Desperation

Dear Readers, So much gratitude from the Swanage Foodbank team!

Over Christmas and in the run-up to the festive season, Swanage Foodbank is always incredibly busy. The expectations on families and parents to provide presents galore and sumptuous meals is huge.

Last year in the BH area of Swanage, we assisted 425 adults and 264 children. Since David and myself started the Foodbank seven years ago, the number of people coming to us for help has increased year on year.

Sadly, it doesn’t appear as though anything much is likely to change in our society anytime soon, so we expect demand to increase in 2020.

Let’s be clear: no one wants to go to a Foodbank. One of our clients lived on just pasta for six weeks rather than come to the Foodbank; most people wrongly feel that in some way, they have failed themselves and their families.

People are so very, very grateful and many are in tears after being thrown into desperate circumstances by the harshness of the benefits’ system.

Happy to help and advise

It can take six weeks to negotiate and access the many complex hurdles of applying for Universal Credit. Illness or a sudden inability to work can mean people being unable to pay the mortgage or the rent, let alone feed themselves.

The good news is that Swanage Foodbank has received an amazing amount of support from the Swanage community, far too numerous to properly do justice to. Here are just brief details of some of the proceeds that led to such a generous Christmas: Christmas Raffle at Wordsworth Care Home.

Proceeds of sale homemade cakes and goodies by local people and groups.

Christmas quiz and musical evening with raffle at the East Bar by Zanny from Swanage Medical Centre and the team from Swanage Foodbank Support Group, T-shirts from Jade at Purbeck Embroidery and hosted by Oscar from Melody – raised the magnificent sum of £1770!

Cake sale by Rosie in Boots.

Great support from the CO-OP, Budgens, McColls, CostCutter.

Many individuals who made donations of money and food to our door.

We are blown away by this compassion and generosity. Thank you so much for all your encouragement and support and for showing that you all care so much about those who are suffering and in need in our community.

Beryl and David Hopkins, on behalf of the Swanage Foodbank Team See Channel 4’s excellent documentary series “Breadline Britain”

Twinners Plan A Visit....

Dear Editor, A dedicated group of ’Twinners’ from Swanage are making plans to visit our twin town of Rudesheim am Rhein in Germany in the summer. This is something we do every couple of years and which has led to the developing of close friendships between citizens of the two towns.

In the years in which we don’t visit Germany, a delegation from Rudesheim visit us and we host and entertain them, with trips to local places of interest, summer suppers and taking part in whatever festivals the visit coincides with.

We are always open to new members joining us, and the demands of insurance mean that members must have been with us for six months before they can travel with us, so for new Twinners wishing to go this year, it is time to get in touch, come and meet us and find out if this is for you.

Give me, the Chairman of the Association, a call and we can take it from there.

Peter Neall, Chairman, Swanage Town Twinning Association, 01929 423 965.

Shoe Box Appeal Thanks Dear Nico, On behalf of The Rotary Club of Swanage & Purbeck I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all the members of the public and all the local business that contributed to the success of our annual Christmas Shoe Box Appeal.

We, as a club, sent a total of 333 shoe boxes to our Rotary District collection centre for distribution to children in Albania, Romania, Moldova, Montenegro and the Philippines.

Our Rotary District were able to send circa 26,000 shoe boxes.

This was a very satisfying result and would not have been possible without the great support we received, and we say a “very big thank you” to everyone who supported us.

David Chalcraft, Chair, the International & Foundation Committee, The Rotary Club of Swanage & Purbeck

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TELLING IT LIKE IT IS...

With The Stroke Of A Pen....

If The Will Was There

by David Hollister

D

orset Council is looking for good ideas as to how the Council could tackle climate concerns. They declared a “climate and ecological emergency” and are now asking for your ideas; how can Dorset Council reduce carbon emissions and protect the county’s plants and wildlife?

This “Call for Ideas” is open to everybody, and each submission will be reviewed by the Council’s Task and Finish groups. The areas that are being looked at are split into five themes: Buildings, Natural Environment, Waste and Energy, Transport, Leadership and Influence. Dorset residents are being asked to submit their ideas under one or more of these categories via an online form.

Some people will be invited to present their ideas to the Climate Change and Ecological Emergency Executive Advisory Panel as part of the Council’s forthcoming Climate and Ecological Inquiry Day, which will take place in February and be open to the public. Well, there’s no way that they’re going to risk inviting me!

Every proposed policy and practical action submitted will be passed to the appropriate “Task and Finish Group” for investigation, each of which is made up of Dorset Council members and officers.

To get involved and have your say, log on to the Dorset Council website and search for ‘climate emergency’; you’ll be redirected to the relevant page. The online form is easy and sets out a list of pre-programmed questions on each of the five themes.

“Regarding your chosen theme, what can Dorset Council do to reduce their carbon footprint and protect the natural environment? What are the barriers to implementing these actions? How could the barriers be overcome? Are there any wider social, economic or environmental benefits or opportunities linked to these actions? If so, what are they? What should be the priority for immediate action?

Who should take a lead and who should be involved in implementing this priority action? In particular at what level should actions be addressed (i.e. regional, sub-regional,county,district/city,town/parish) How should it be funded?”

I genuinely hope that all our readers will take part; after all, we are now fully aware that a climate emergency exists and that by the time you are reading this, an area of Australia as big as the UK will have been ravaged by fire, along with over a billion animals. It wasn’t the animals that brought this on; it was the greedy, selfish and smug human race that has wrecked our planet for humans and animals alike in the name of short-term personal gain.

But it’s OK to fill in forms, pass the buck, send it off, turn up the central heating and sit back comfortably knowing that someone else will do it.

And then just go on driving when you could walk, using electricity and gas like it dosen’t matter, eating meat daily, throwing away perfectly good food that’s past its sell-by date, throwing away perfectly good clothing just because it’s last week’s fashion, and deciding that actually doing something will start tomorrow.

Because all this ‘caring’ and ‘fluffy green stuff’ is a total sham. The county could act tomorrow on some of the main issues – if they really wanted to. For example: Are you going to put an immediate stop to all paper-based publications such as ‘Dorset Council News’, ‘Your Dorset’ and the like? You could do this with the stroke of a pen. If the will was there.

The opposite is actually happening locally – Wareham Town Council have announced that they’re starting their own quarterly A5 publication, in

MARCH 2020 EDITION DEADLINE NOON, FRI 7th February

direct competition with private local publishers (like us), adding yet more pages of council biased propaganda/‘news’ to be spread around the streets and then (hopefully) eventually recycled….Why?? Why not go online?

Are all council tax payers going to be given the option of having their bills, and all the explanatory notes, sent by email? This could be done with the stroke of a pen. If the will was there.

Is a total ban on the chopping down and mutilating of trees going to be imposed, other than those already dying of natural causes? This could be done with the stroke of a pen. If the will was there.

Are Dorset Council going to impose a condition on all new domestic planning applications requiring each roof to have sufficient solar panels to generate at least enough electricity to fulfil the house’s own needs? You could do this with the stroke of a pen. If the will was there.

Are Dorset Council going to insist that all planning applications for new homes and industrial premises should make electric car charger points mandatory by 10th March 2021, as recommended by the Department of Transport? That said, charger points should incorporate ‘smart’ features as required by the government’s Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme – will they? You could do this with the stroke of a pen. If the will was there.

Can you confirm that every time a Council vehicle is phased out, it will be replaced by an electric vehicle?

You see, none of this will happen. People need homes. People need jobs.

Electric vehicles are too expensive and don’t, at present, fall into the ‘best value’ category that every Council is legally bound to adhere to. Your children can’t possibly walk or cycle to or from school. Every parent quite naturally puts the child’s welfare above the planet’s welfare. So would I. Both Swanage and Wareham are currently undergoing works by SGN to replace old gas mains with modern plastic pipes that will last eighty years.

Seems odd in the light of the Government’s braying on about stopping the use of gas central heating by 2025. As if!

The Government have put forward a vacuous new scheme to find the ‘Best Town in England’; towns are being called upon to join the scheme and help communities come together and ‘unleash their potential’ Communities Secretary, Robert Jerrick, says that it will help to make the 2020s “a time of renewal and celebration of a town’s achievements in areas such as entrepreneurship, technology, community, enterprise and integration.”

The press release doesn’t mention such things as lack of proper policing, an ever-increasing crime wave, unmaintained and dangerous third-world roads, crowded classrooms, a lack of proper access to A & E and maternity facilities, increased use of foodbanks and growing numbers of homeless people sleeping in doorways.

So, Mr Jerrick, you have pledged to visit one hundred areas, so get your sad backside down here and let us show you the real side of Purbeck, the one that the authorities don’t want anyone to see.

Run your competition, have a good meal, go to your nice warm bed and don’t give a thought to the hundreds of people in Purbeck who don’t have that luxury.

The Purbeck Gazette

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View from the Lookout - February 2020 ighty million years in eighty seconds!

Eighty seconds is about the time it takes us to scan the coastline from Old Harry Rocks to Durlston Head and during this time we have travelled through eighty million years of geological history.

The chalk to the north of the Lookout is the youngest rock type and was formed approximately 65 million years ago, while the rocks in Durlston Bay, formed just over 145 million years ago, are the oldest.

This geological diversity is one of the reasons the Dorset Coast was designated as part of England’s first natural World Heritage Site.

Technically called the Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site, the 95-mile section of coast from Exmouth in East Devon to Old Harry Rocks in Dorset is more commonly referred to as the Jurassic Coast. It was awarded World Heritage Site status in December 2001

by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) because of its outstanding Earth science. World Heritage Sites are carefully selected by UNESCO as places of ‘outstanding universal value. It is the highest global level of designation for a natural area and the designation puts our section of coast on a par with the Great Barrier Reef, the Grand Canyon and the Galapagos Islands.

It is the only place on Earth where 185 million years of the Earth’s history are represented in their correct order Walking from Orcombe Rocks, near Exmouth, the exposed geology takes the traveller on a journey through time, from 250 million to 65 million years ago. The way the rocks have been tilted and eroded away, over millions of years. has exposed rocks from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods in dramatic cliffs, secluded coves, coastal stacks and barrier beaches. The different rocks tell a fascinating story of ancient deserts, humid swamps and tropical seas.

All the rocks along the coast are sedimentary and a key feature of this type of rock is that, if conditions were right, they contain fossils. Mention fossils to most people and they think of creatures like ammonites, dinosaurs or the ferocious “sea dragon”, the ichthyosaur. However, Durlston Bay is renowned worldwide not for large skeletons, such as you see in the Natural History Museum, but the tiny remains of insects, fish and even mammals.

Discoveries made in Durlston Bay have helped scientists explain evolution. As recently as 2017, the teeth of a tiny shrew like creature were found in one of the layers. The species was entirely new to science and they are the oldest fossil evidence of the type of mammals from which humans are directly descended.

Despite its importance, the bay is not somewhere where we would recommend people to go fossil hunting. Our coastline can often be described as “dynamic” and the very process of erosion that helped form the landscape is still ongoing today. The wet weather we had before Christmas caused some major landslips in the north of Swanage Bay and our colleagues in the Coastguard Rescue Team had to fence off part of the beach for safety.

When we come on watch, one of our first tasks is to walk along the cliff edge at Peveril Point to check for signs of new cliff falls or evidence that one may occur soon. The rocks at the Point are like can be likened to a gateau with the sponge being replaced by the hard limestone and the cream by softer sands and clays.

In stormy and wet weather, the “cream” often gets eroded away leaving large lumps of limestone precariously poised on the cliff face. Often, what looks like a solid clifftop reveals a rather nasty overhang with quite a drop under it. Over the last few weeks we’ve noticed quite a few cracks opening up on the cliff walking up to the Downs.

We always feel somewhat apprehensive when we see people walking to the edge of the cliff to look over and would urge people to be cautious, particularly over the next few months. We live on a beautiful and unique coastline, but care needs to be taken. As the quotation engraved on the cliffs at Tilly Whim Caves says: “Look round and read great nature’s open book” – but do it with respect.

This is Swanage NCI listening on Channel 65, out.

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The Purbeck Gazette

Helping The Homeless This Winter

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taff at Dorset HealthCare donated forty bags of clothing and food to support local homeless people. Items such as socks, gloves, hats, scarves, jumpers, waterproofs, shoes and wrapped biscuits were contributed and are being distributed to the homeless in Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth.

Angie McHale, Team Lead for the Trust’s Homeless Health Service, said: “We continue to have more and more rough sleepers throughout Dorset, but predominantly in Bournemouth town centre. The items that have been so wonderfully gifted will make such a difference to every rough sleeper over the cold winter months.”

Dorset HealthCare’s Homeless Health Service provide intensive, community-based support for people who are homeless and struggling with a physical illness or have a mental health condition.

The team would welcome donations of gift cards for Greggs, Costa Coffee or Caffè Nero so that a rough sleeper can access hot food and drink.

If you are able to support the homeless this winter, get in touch with the team on 01202 584412 (Bournemouth/Poole) and 01305 362060 (Weymouth).

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The Purbeck Gazette

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Out Of The Blue

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ebruary already and how many of you have broken your new year’s resolutions?! Be honest! We know, they seem like a good idea at the time.

So, what have we been up to? Well, we have been very busy. During the period 04 December 2019 - 02 January 2020, we dealt with a total of 490 occurrences in Purbeck, of which 144 were recorded crimes resulting in 62 arrests.

On a less positive note, there were 92 occurrences of road traffic collisions. Please don’t become a statistic. Please take extra care on the roads at this time of the year.

Purbeck units defiantly ended the year on a high with the discovery of a cannabis factory on the Sandford Lane Industrial Estate, Wareham.

A warrant was executed on the premises where a large amount of cannabis was seized and four men were arrested in connection with the investigation.

This was an excellent result in the crackdown on drugs in Purbeck.

As always, we rely on intelligence provided by members of the public.

Remember, if you are suspicious or unsure about anything, please contact us on 101.

If you need to contact Dorset Police, please call our Police Enquiry Centre by calling 101. Always call 999 in an EMERGENCY when there is a risk of HARM or a CRIME in progress. Alternatively, call the free CRIMESTOPPERS line on 0800 555 111.

You can also use our website to report a number of issues, from full crime reports to lost property; just use the following link https:// www.dorset.police.uk/do-it-online/ Purbeck Neighbourhood Policing Team The Gazette’s round-up of recent police news from local police online accounts……

10th January. Witness appeal following exposure incident in Studland.

Officers investigating an incident of indecent exposure in Studland are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

At around 7pm on Friday 10 January 2020, a man knocked on the window of the victim’s home address in the Ferry Road area. When she went to see what it was, she found him standing on her door step indecently exposing himself. Officers, along with a police dog, attended. The dog picked up a scent that led to a nearby layby but searches were unsuccessful.

The offender is described as white and around five feet ten inches tall. It is believed he had his face covered during the incident. Police Constable Clare Gillard, of Purbeck Police, said: “This was an

Dorset Child Arrests

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major campaign to keep children in Dorset out of the criminal justice system is having a lasting impact, research published by the Howard League for Penal Reform reveals. Dorset Police made 495 arrests of boys and girls aged 17 and under in 2018. This is a slight rise on the previous year, but significantly lower than the 2,310 recorded in 2010, when the Howard League launched its campaign to reduce child arrests nationwide.

Academic research has shown that each contact a child has with the criminal justice system drags them deeper into it, leading to more crime. This is why the Howard League is working with police forces across England and Wales to keep as many children as possible out of the system in the first place.

The figures for Dorset are broadly in line with the national trend. Data from more than 40 police forces show that they made 70,078 arrests of children in 2018 – a reduction of more than 70% from almost 250,000 in 2010.

Child arrest figures for Dorset Police: 2010: 2,310 2011: 1,053 2012: 1,252 2013: 815 2014: 770 2015: 916 2016: 447 2017: 459 2018: 495

alarming experience for the victim and we are determined to identify the offender. I am appealing to anyone who witnessed a man acting suspiciously in the village at the relevant time to please contact us.”

Thursday 2nd January. Police received a call just before 6pm regarding two intruders seen in back gardens in West Street, Corfe Castle, wearing masks and carrying torches. Officers from Swanage, Wareham and Poole, assisted by a Dog Unit and the Police helicopter searched the area. Two males were seen and stop checked by officers in Colletts Close. Following searches, numerous items were found, including gloves and a variety of tools and subsequently both were arrested.

30th December at 10.40am. Officers called to loose cow in the road at Lytchett Matravers, after a small chase he was safely herded back into the field and kindly asked to mooove on…..

18th December. Swanage NPT attended St Mark’s School in Swanage following reports of parents parking their vehicles in a dangerous and inconsiderate manner. By parking on the pavement and blocking the entrance, you are creating hazards for other road users and children exiting the school.

18th December. There have been a number of Quad bike thefts from rural farms over the last few weeks.

17th December. There have been reports of youths riding around on scooters/mopeds in the Swanage area; these youths have been seen riding around without helmets. The practice of riding scooters/ mopeds without helmets will not only attract points on your licence but is dangerous if you were to have an accident.

13th December. Officers from Purbeck Police stopped a car being driven with no insurance. If you are caught the minimum you can expect is: 6 points on your licence, £300 fine, vehicle seized, £150 recovery/release fee, plus additional storage fees. Your insurance premium will also be significantly higher for many years.

12th December. Car stopped with no insurance and bald tyre. Driver only passed her test one year ago. 6 points. £300 fine. £150 seizure fee. DVLA revoking her license so extended re-test required. 6 points. £300 fine to the owner of the vehicle. Offences under investigation.

12th December. Following reports of a suspicious vehicle at a Swanage School, the local Neighbourhood team carried out some patrols nearby. The vehicle was identified and the owner spoken to and was all in order. The calls were made with good intent and we encourage you to call us to report any suspicious activity - thank you!

SELF STORAGE UNITS From 15ft x 6ft up to 15ft x 15ft For furniture, classic cars, documents Insured & Alarmed At East Stoke, Wareham

Call 07836 369969

MARCH 2020 EDITION DEADLINE NOON, FRI 7th February

The Purbeck Gazette

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Sandbanks Ferry Supports Hospice

he company behind the Sandbanks Ferry has begun its ‘Charity of the Year’ partnership by raising over £1,200 through Christmas Day donations from passengers.

The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company, also known as the Sandbanks Ferry Company, who run the chain ferry that runs from Sandbanks in Poole to Studland, has chosen to support Forest Holme Hospice in Poole this year. They began their fundraising activities on Christmas Day by encouraging passengers, who benefitted from free travel on this day as a festive goodwill gesture, to make a donation.

Forest Holme Hospice provides end of life care and support to more than 1,000 local people each year with advanced cancer and other life-limiting illnesses across Poole, Wimborne and Isle of Purbeck. Each year the Charity needs to raise at least £850,000 to help enhance the NHS provision at the hospice and ensure that Forest Holme is there for patients and their family and friends during the most difficult time of their lives.

Paul Tucker, Communications Manager at Forest Holme Hospice, said, “We are absolutely delighted that they have chosen the hospice as their charity partner this year and we want to thank all the ferry passengers for their incredible generosity at Christmas.

The ferry serves the Isle of Purbeck, which is a geographical area covered by the hospice and served by our own team of community nurses, so we are really looking forward to working together during 2020.”

Mike Kean, managing director of the Sandbanks Ferry Company, commented: “We are proud to support Forest Holme Hospice as our nominated charity partner this year. The Hospice has cared for and supported previous members of our staff and their families, so we are fully aware of the critical work they carry out and what a difference this makes to the quality of life of those who need it most.

“We are thrilled that our passengers chose to give so generously on Christmas Day and wish to thank them for their kindness. We’re looking forward to participating in further fundraising activities for the Hospice, and collection boxes will also remain in place on the ferry throughout the year.”

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Wareham Town Council Update

The Purbeck Gazette

Julie, our Gazette correspondent, details the goings on in recent council meetings.....

News from Wareham Town Council December he Council held an extra meeting in November about Dorset Council’s (DC’s) proposal, Option Two, to develop part of the recreation ground and create a new recreation ground on the Middle School site.

Following strong public opinion to keep the recreation ground, the council declared at its September meeting that its preferred option was 1b and set up a Task and Finish Group which sought further information, an extended deadline and funds for legal and consultancy fees. With six councillors voting for the motion and five abstentions, it was resolved to write to DC stating that the Council will not agree to a land swap releasing the recreation ground for development.

Our Dorset councillors learnt from Mr Darley, Head Teacher, that lack of funding had an impact on early intervention in the management of disruptive pupils and Purbeck School had to expel four children last year.

SGN’s work replacing old metal gas mains with plastic pipe should be well under way: phase 1, East Street, complete and into phase 2, South Street with temporary lights at the Cross. This will be followed by work on South Street to Abbotts Quay, then West Street, which will be closed between the Cross and Trinity Lane.

The final part of the project in Westport Road should be complete by the end of March. Although the end date for the Wareham bypass cycleway was given as the end of February, it has been possible since Christmas to cycle along the path between Westgate and the Sword roundabout.

At the Policy, Resources and Finance Committee meeting in November, the Town Clerk reiterated that the council’s general reserves were lower than recommended.

The council’s budget includes funds for replacement of the roof at 2 Mill Lane, playground equipment and maintenance, tree surveys which have to be done every five years, maintenance of the Town Hall and its annex and civic events including VE day and Armed Forces Day. Money has been saved by having a Financial Officer employed rather than on contract.

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The next meetings of the town council will be on Tuesdays 3rd March and 14th April at 7pm in the council chamber at the Town Hall.

The public is invited to attend council meetings and further information is available on 01929 553006 or at the website, www.wareham-tc.gov.uk.

Wareham Area Seniors’ Forum

ello to all Wareham Area Seniors’ Forum.

Our next meeting will take place on the 24th February at 10am.

The venue is, as usual, the Carey Hall at Mistover Road in Carey, Wareham.

We will be royally entertained by Dave Arnold. He will be helping us to get rid of the February blues and getting us to join in with his blend of songs – some old, some not so old.

There is also some exciting news coming your way with regards to the Association of Dorset 50+ Forums. Listen out! I hope to see you at the Carey Hall and think it is a bit too late to wish you a Happy New Year, but will do so anyway.

Anne Laugharne

Social Workers Shortlisted For Top National Award

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wo social workers from Dorset were shortlisted for prestigious awards in recognition of their outstanding work in supporting vulnerable adults.

Linzi Gow, Specialist Manager with the Adult Access Team at Dorset Council was selected for Team Leader of the Year - Adult Services and Tilly Bowden, a social worker, was selected for Adult Social Worker of the Year.

They attended the annual Social Worker of the Year Awards at a national awards ceremony in London on Friday 29 November.

The awards were organised by The Social Work Awards charity, which aims to improve public awareness and understanding of social work by showing the positive impact of social workers in the wide range of roles they undertake.

Mathew Kendall, Executive Director for Adults Services at Dorset Council said: “Linzi and Tilly are both exceptional social workers. Their commitment to helping others, both in their teams and the residents they work with, is second to none, as the testimonies in support of their nominations can prove.

“Linzi and Tilly are well respected in everything they do. They both want to enhance and share their social work experiences. We’re really proud of them and wholeheartedly supported their nominations for the Social Worker of the Year awards”.

Both Linzi and Tilly made it to the final six in each of their categories and received certificates of recognition.

For more information about the awards, visit www.socialworkawards. com

The Purbeck Gazette

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Sheep Theft Alert!

ometime between Friday 3rd January 2020 at 4pm and Saturday 4th January 2020, 29 Sheep and a Ram were stolen from a field near Middlemarsh, Sherborne. The stolen sheep are Suffolk crosses and Dorset ewes and the Ram was a Texel Ram. The ewes were wearing ear tags with Flock numbers UK340591, UK349650 and the Ram was from Flock number UK328623.

Dorset Police Rural Crime Team are keen to hear from anyone with information regarding this incident.

• Were you in the area during that time?

• If so did you see anything suspicious?

• Any vehicles with livestock trailers attached seen acting suspiciously?

• Any livestock vehicles seen acting suspiciously?

If anyone has any information about the theft or the whereabouts of these sheep please contact Dorset Police on 101, at www.dorset.police. uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk quoting occurrence number 55200002113.

If you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers Rural Crime Reporting Line by calling 0800 783 0137 or visiting http://www. ruralcrimereportingline.uk/ Farmers and smallholders please remember: • Keep the gates to your livestock locked and make sure that the hinges are capped to prevent the gate being lifted off its hinges.

• Block up unused gateways with tree trunks and old machinery.

• Consider fitting wildlife or trial cameras to fields where livestock are present to detect vehicle or person movement.

• Fit gate alarms.

• Consider fitting early warning intervention alarms that will link to your phone.

• Consider using livestock tracing systems.

If you would like more information on measures available to protect your livestock or a crime prevention visit to your farm or smallholding please contact the Rural Crime Team via email ruralcrimeteam@dorset. pnn.police.uk

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Opening Doors Now To Cover Purbeck & East Dorset

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orking towards making home ownership a reality in Dorset, Opening Doors will now cover Purbeck and East Dorset.

Over the past two years, the Opening Doors project has been tackling the housing crisis by working with and encouraging housebuilders of all sizes, developers, housing associations, community land trusts and others to build more quality homes of all types – including for rent, open market sale and affordable properties.

The scheme initially covered North Dorset, West Dorset, and Weymouth & Portland but will now be covering the East of the county and Purbeck.

Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Housing Said: “I am delighted that we will be extending the reach of Dorset Council’s Opening Doors programme to cover Purbeck and East Dorset.

This strengthens our aim of seeing 20,000 high-quality homes of a mix of tenures, built between 2016 and 2033.

“It is no secret that Dorset faces an increased demand for housing and people from different walks of life are struggling to find suitable properties, meaning they are having to move away from the area. This also has an impact on employers who find it hard to attract new talent to the area.

Through our Opening Doors programme, we aim to meet this evergrowing need and make it easier for those who may be finding it difficult to stay in our beautiful county.”

One of the affordable housing projects supported by Dorset Council is a new scheme in Worth Matravers. If you have a connection with Worth Matravers and are looking to get on the housing ladder East Boro has a number of one and two bed properties soon to be available for purchase at 75% market value to people with a local connection to the area. For instance, already living in the parish or a family or employment link. You can find out more information on this development on the Opening Doors Affordable Housing Masterlist. There will be more developments advertised in the New Year including a soon to be completed development in Swanage.

You can sign up to the Affordable Housing Masterlist for monthly updates on developments and properties in the area as well as in North Dorset, West Dorset, and Weymouth and Portland. Sign up at: http://www.openingdoorsdorset.co.uk/your-new-home/affordablehousing-masterlist-2/ Many people have decided to take home ownership into their own hands. A Self-Build and Custom Build Register has been set up for those people who want to forward their own scheme.

The Purbeck Gazette

Is Fostering For You?

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t the start of the new year, many people take stock and consider making changes in their lives, including looking at a new career.

Will 2020 be the right time for you to make a difference to a child’s life?

Becoming a foster carer can be a rewarding career. There are many types of fostering including short-term, long-term, respite and full-time.

Many of which can work well alongside your job or you can see it as a role in itself.

Cllr Andrew Parry, Dorset Council Portfolio holder for children, education and early help, said: “Our foster carers provide love, care and vital support for children and families who need it. If you think you have the qualities that could help children flourish, then get in touch.”

As a foster carer, you receive a weekly fee for your skills, plus a weekly allowance for each child you look after. There are also other allowances and benefits available. Learning and development are an integral part of fostering. You will have a free programme of learning and development from experts, training courses, learning on-line and other methods. These all help to develop skills and knowledge to equip you to keep children safe.

Find out more about fostering for Dorset at www.fosterindorset. com or phone our Fostering Team on 01305 225568.

‘Building Better Lives’ Begins In Wareham

Preparations to begin on former Middle School site hrough its Building Better Lives programme Dorset Council is delivering new housing for vulnerable people in Wareham. In the next stage of the plans for the former Middle School site in Worgret Road, Wareham, the temporary Relocatable Housing will be built in the new year.

ESS Modular Ltd is the Principal Contractor for the construction of the units. They will be on site to set up from Monday 6th January and should be complete by mid-April. The contractors have written to all residents within the immediate area to advise of their contact details and schedule of works.

There is still a growing need for social care housing in the area. These include people being discharged from long-term hospital stays, moving on from home, or currently living in inappropriate housing.

Relocatable, modular, housing can help with some of this short-term need.

The buildings are made in a factory and lifted into position on site. They can be designed to meet specific needs, such as wheelchair accessibility.

Graham Carr-Jones, Portfolio Holder for Housing at Dorset Council said: “This type of housing allows the council to use sites while medium and long-term plans are developed. There is a local need for housing, and we need it quickly.

Laura Miller, portfolio Holder for adult social care and health at Dorset Council added: “Permanent housing will be developed alongside the relocatable housing, giving people the opportunity to see their permanent

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house being built and then move when complete, freeing up the relocatable housing units for craning off the site and to a new location.”

Currently there are thirty-three local people who need accommodation in the next twelve months. This need is not something that can be met through traditional building programmes. Also, there are forty-one people in Purbeck who have a need for housing in the next five years which will be addressed by longer term plans.

Plans are underway for the rest of the site, which will include a new health hub and GP Practice, dementia care home and affordable housing for key workers in the health and social care profession. More information on this will be available in the new year.

You can find out more about the project at www.dorsetcouncil.gov. uk/buildingbetterlives

The Purbeck Gazette

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Swanage & Purbeck Rotary Club Christmas Events - A Great Success Once Again!

record number of stallholders set up for the 2019 Christmas Market, organised by Swanage & Purbeck Rotary in collaboration with the Commercial Road Traders.

Spread out over Station Road and Commercial Road, this year’s market brought in record crowds. Santa was in residence checking whether children had been naughty or nice! Stalls offered a huge range of craft items and there was plenty of delicious seasonal fare to eat and drink. The local shops also benefited from the numbers in attendance.

Live music was provided to keep everyone’s spirits up and the whole atmosphere was one of cheerful goodwill and seasonal excitement. Steve Parsons, Rotary President, was delighted that so many people supported the event which raised in excess of £2,500.

Santa’s Sleigh toured the streets of Swanage, Langton Matravers and Corfe Castle to the delight of young and old. Santa and his sleigh visited Worth Matravers for the first time, for the village’s ‘Carols on the Green’.

On Christmas Day, Rotary were able to bring together people who would have been alone at Christmas to enjoy a cooked breakfast, good music, companionship and even a visit from Father Christmas who found time to pop in to distribute presents to all guests.

The event was kindly supported by the Coop, Budgens, Costcutters, JJ Moore and Chococo.

Once again, we facilitated the Rotary Charity Mail, assisted by over ninety community volunteers who manned the collection office, sorted the mail into streets and braved the inclement weather to deliver over 4,000 cards in Swanage and surrounding villages, raising £1,428 for local groups/projects.

Our thanks to Karen and Martin for allowing us to use the Swanage Mobility Shop for the collection office and Raffle.

Swanage & Purbeck Rotary Club Pictured, right: top - Swanage’s Christmas Market 2019 - absolutely packed!

Bottom - the Rotary Santa Sleigh which visited most streets in the area.

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The Purbeck Gazette

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PURBECK GOOD NEIGHBOURS Purbeck Good Neighbours is a volunteer group who can help older people over 50 with small or difficult one-off tasks in their home.

We are here to help you! why call us!

For Example Read a letter, Reach a high cupboard, Change a light bulb, Move some furniture, Take some rubbish away, Change some batteries

Helpline - 01929 424 363 All we ask of you is you give the volunteer a minimum donation of £2 to cover expenses

‘Nonbinary’ - What Does It Mean For Me, My Business, My Group Or My Organisation?

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onbinary is a word which is entering everyday language more and more frequently, with many people seemingly unsure of what it actually means and fearing making mistakes or causing offense simply by utilising the ‘wrong’ pronoun when referring to someone.

So, what does it mean and how do you avoid the pitfalls of gender ‘identification’?!

The term ‘nonbinary’ can mean different things to different people.

Basically, its core meaning is to describe someone whose gender identity isn’t exclusively male or female. Roughly one in two thousand people are actually born with an intersex condition. Intersex is used to describe people who have anatomy, chromosomes, or other sex characteristics that can’t be categorized as exclusively male or female. However, one does not ‘require’ an acknowledged or identified intersex condition to relate as nonbinary (relating to neither male or female).

Nonbinary is, in fact, nothing new whatsoever. Ancient Hindu texts from around 400BC refer to the Hijras, a group of people in India who were fully accepted as identifying as ‘beyond male or female’.

Heading to the other side of the globe, Native Americans held a belief that people are born with the spirits of both genders – as if they have two spirits in one body. The tradition was to assign no moral gradient or gender to love or sexuality – a person was judged by the contributions they made to their tribe and for their character alone – not for their perceived binary ‘gender’ (ie: either male or female).

As well as the modern ‘conventional’ male and female, the Native Americans also recognised Two Spirit female and Two Spirit male, as well as various transgendered identities (it is thought the tribes openly accepted around five ‘genders’ as being completely normal within their community). Each tribe held their own word or words for the various gender variants; however, the concept remained the same throughout the Native American community. Identifying as nonbinary was completely normal and accepted. If anything, the idea of ‘forcing’ individuals to conform to the very narrow definitions of either ‘male or female’ identities would have been unacceptable.

It was a Native custom for parents to dress their children in gender-neutral clothing until they reached an age where they were able to decide their path themselves. Those in ‘pre-contact’ tribes held ‘Two Spirit’ individuals in great esteem and saw them as a blessing – able to identify with both genders and therefore seen as lucky or a gift to the tribe/family from the Creator. As Europeans forced their way across the American continent, devastating Native traditions and cultures, the ‘Two Spirit’ people were targeted by the Christian invaders. In one incident, Christopher Columbus and his crew allegedly encountered Two Spirit people, throwing them into pits with their war dogs, to be torn limb-from-limb - for amusement.

So, a very, very brief history, missing out more than half of the world and a wide plethora of cultures, histories and beliefs which openly accepted a variation of genders, and here we are. Thousands of years of civilisation after civilisation, across the globe, openly accepting and understanding those who did not identify with one of two narrow gender definitions; male or female, and here we are, playing catch-up in 2020.

What does all this mean for YOU? It’s all about the pronouns folks – literally. It’s that simple. Accepting people for who they are, rather than who you may perceive them to be, is actually very little effort indeed and harms no one’s ‘rights’ or such like. You can make all the difference to someone who has a different gender identification to that which you may have perceived by simply changing some of the everyday language you use

to refer to people when you’re unsure, or feel it’s appropriate.

Pronouns have the power to either affirm or invalidate a nonbinary person’s existence – so whilst you may be screaming “I have the right to freedom of speech! I have the right to use whatever pronouns I want to!” – you do indeed, but you also have the ability to make someone feel accepted or not, simply by changing your language a little. Is that too much to ask?

We’d hope not.

If you’re running a business which deals with the public in any way (including retail, service provision, courses, training, voluntary services, etc), then you DO need to be aware of your language usage nowadays. Keeping customers happy is a business-must (as well as a daily life ‘must’!), so it shouldn’t be too much of a big deal to ensure all of your clients feel accepted for who they are when they come into contact with you or your staff. If in doubt, it is always ok to ask how people wish to be referred to, so please do!

Gender-neutral terms which are acceptable to use: • Instead of boy(s)/girl(s), man/woman, and men/women, use person, people, or humans.

• Instead of ladies and gentlemen, use folks.

• Instead of daughter or son, use child.

• Instead of sister and brother, use sibling.

• Instead of niece and nephew, use nibling.

• Instead of mother and father, use parent.

• Instead of husband and wife, use partner or spouse.

• Instead of grandmother or grandfather, use grandparent.

Some nonbinary people use binary pronouns, such as: • she/her/hers • he/him/his Using these pronouns when you don’t know what gender, if any, the person you’re addressing relates to can be offensive to that person.

Automatically referring to someone who you may see as ‘male’ as ‘he’ is becoming unacceptable in today’s society – it’s a presumption on your part to describe the person you’re relating to as a ‘male’.

It’s better to use accepted gender-neutral pronouns, such as: • they • them • theirs If we’re unsure for any reason, we’ll be making an effort to utilise ‘they/ them/theirs’ where appropriate and will ask if we feel the need so as not to offend anyone - again, it’s very little effort to undertake, so really, really shouldn’t be an issue for anyone reading this.

At the Gazette, we personally have no interest whatsoever in what gender, sexual persuasion, clothing choices, hair styling, nationality, colour, race or religion you are - nor do we judge you on what TV you decide to watch, how many hours you sleep each night or similar. We’re with the Native Americans in wanting to judge people on their character and actions alone.

Seems eminently sensible to us - and all inclusive to all humans out there.

We are of the humble opinion that ALL labels should be thrown away from now on and for us ALL to unite under one term – HUMAN - no matter who we are, what we identify with, who we enjoy sleeping with and so on - surely that makes sense?! It does to us and we’d hope it does to you too.

The Purbeck Gazette

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Blast From The Past!

This month, A Decade Ago...

n our February 2010 edition, we paid homage to the late, great Jon Sibthorpe (pictured below), who had sadly passed away unexpectedly at home on 13th January 2010. Jon had been the previous editor of the Purbeck Gazette, having originally started the paper with community backing, with a friend, Kevin. At the start, two separate papers were published - the Swanage Gazette and the Wareham Gazette.

Together, Jon and Kevin got the papers up-and-running (originally as A5 publications) in the late 1990s, before Kevin moved on to pastures new. Bella Thompson then joined Jon in the office as a part-time sales manager and the publications went from strength to strength, written by the community and fully supported by local businesses who had had enough of seeing locally-owned papers disappear under pressure from the American-owned Swanage & Wareham Advertiser.

Eventually, the two Gazette publications were merged into one - the A4 ‘Purbeck Gazette’ in 2000, which is still going strong today, is still written by the local community and is still only supported by advertising revenue (no multibillionaires or massive news coorporations under the desk here!!).

Current editor, Nico Johnson, took over from Bella Thompson in early 2001 as sales manager and staff journalist and wrote the following in the Gazette’s tribute to Jon in February 2010: “Although there were days when we ended up growling at each other, closeted in our tiny office for hours on end, it’s the days that we laughed until we cried that I will hold dear. Jon taught me a lot about the media business and also helped me develop confidence as a writer. He was a kind, generous, highly intelligent and wickedly funny man, and I was privileged to work with him.”

Our letters pages back in February 2010, climate change denial was a hot topic, following publication of a letter in the previous month’s edition from reader, Mr Leadbetter. In his January 2010 letter, Mr Leadbetter started off with: “As a denier, heratic and flatearther in climatology’s (and New Labour’s) Book of Demonology, I would challenge anyone to produce scientific evidence (and not computer models based on assumptions) which unequivocally show that anthropogenic gases are causing global warming.”

Thus the February 2010 edition contained several reponses to Mr Leadbetter from other readers, including from Christopher Swain of Essex, Dave Bartlett of Swanage and Tania Kaplan of Transition Purbeck.

All three respondents referenced various scientific information which strongly disagreed with Mr Leadbetter’s point of view. It was suggested

by Dave Bartlett that if Mr Leadbetter did not like the use of computer modelling then he should cease getting into cars, trains or aeroplanes and stop taking modern medical treatments as these are mostly designed, in varying degrees, using similar processes.

Whilst fires currently rage across the globe and glaciers melt, half the world seems to be burning whilst the other half is drowning and here in 2020, the debate surrounding climate change still continues unabaited. At this point, whether it is a cyclical, natural process or whether this process has been sped up by the actions of mankind is almost a mute point - whilst we argue, our planet is becoming less habitable for all life - humans included.

Simon and Liz Goldsack (pictured, left) of Holme for Gardens at East Holme announced that they had taken over the ajoining Holme Farm Shop and were delighted by the ‘instant success and the huge amount of support received from customers’.

Simon said: ‘Holme Farm Shop is determined to put local food first!’, with Liz adding: ‘It’s time to spread the word to everyone to come and visit us to see just how wonderfully special and affordable fresh, local, farm food is. We want to encourage people to buy local and we firmly believe that this is something we can all do whilst doing our bit for

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the environment at the same time.’ Clearly, the husband and wife team were way ahead of their time and the farm shop has gone from strength to strength, thankfully still going strong today, ten years later!

In February 2010, Swanage Lions Club announced that Lion Geoff Saunders had been presented with The Melvin Jones Fellowship Award for his long service and achievements as a member of The Lions Club of Swanage.

Geoff had joined the Lions in January 1970 and over the years had been an active and enthusiastic member of the the club in every aspect. The photograph below shows Geoff receiving his award from then-President, Ken Saunders (no relation to Geoff!).

Sadly, due to falling numbers of members wishing to take on responsible roles within the Club, the Lions Club of Swanage no longer exists.

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Business

The Senior Managers and Certification Regime: An Introduction I decided to write about this as it is topical as it only came into force at the end of last year and is relevant to my role as an Investment Manager.

The Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR) is recent regulation that changes the way people working in financial services are regulated. It has been applied to all Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)-regulated firms since 9th December 2019, and firms dually regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and FCA since 10th December 2018.

The FCA said of the regime: ‘The aim of the Senior Managers and Certification Regime is to reduce harm to consumers and strengthen market integrity by making individuals more accountable for their conduct and competence. As part of this, the SMCR aims to encourage a culture of staff at all levels taking personal responsibility for their actions and make sure that firms and staff clearly understand and can demonstrate where responsibility lies.’

The Senior Managers and Certification Regime has been created under UK legislation and is not impacted by EU directives. There are three elements to the SMCR – Senior Managers’ Regime, Certification Regime and Conduct Rules – which I cover briefly below.

Senior Managers’ Regime: some individuals performing Senior Management functions are now subject to approval by the regulator. All FCA-authorised firms should have at least one Senior Manager.

Certification Regime: this requires firms to assess the fitness and propriety of employees who, by virtue of their role, could pose a risk of significant harm to their customers. Firms must check that staff who carry out certificated functions, such as Investment Managers, are fit and proper.

Conduct Rules: these rules apply to all staff (other than ancillary staff, like cleaners and security guards) and relate to professional conduct.

Any breaches of the rules need to be reported to the regulator. There are five conduct rules for firms regulated by the FCA: • You must act with integrity • You must act with due care, skill and diligence • You must be open and co-operative with the FCA, the PRA and other regulators • You must pay due regard to the interests of customers and treat them fairly • You must observe proper standards of market conduct Further rules apply specifically to those in a Senior Management role.

This change means that I have gone from being shown as an authorised individual on the FCA register to being assessed as being fit and proper by my firm.

Kate Spurling, Investment Manager, Redmayne Bentley, Tel: 01202 714 450 The Redmayne Bentley Bournemouth and Poole office is located at 139 Commercial Road, Ashley Cross, Poole, Dorset, BH14 0JD. You can follow us on Twitter: @redmaynebentley.

For our website, see: www.redmayne.co.uk. For the Bournemouth and Poole office, see: www.redmayne.co.uk/our-offices/bournemouth-poole

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Annual Investment Allowance The Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) allows business owners to claim the total amount of qualifying expenditure on plant and machinery, up to certain limits. This deduction reduces profits subject to tax.

The AIA can be claimed by an individual, partnership or company carrying on a trade, profession or vocation, a UK non-residential property business or a furnished holiday let business. Please note, that partnerships or trusts with a mixture of individuals and companies in the business structure are unable to qualify for AIA. The AIA was permanently set at £200,000 for all qualifying expenditure on or after 1 January 2016. However, this limit was temporarily increased to £1 million for a 2-year period from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020. This increased limit is a generous allowance and should cover the annual spend of most small and medium sized businesses.

The AIA is available for most assets purchased by a business, such as machines and tools, vans, lorries, diggers, office equipment, building fixtures and computers. The AIA does not apply to cars.

There is now just three months left until the end of the tax year. If you are thinking of incurring large items of capital expenditure for your business, now is a good time to consider your investment options.

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South West - Jobs For Life A Thing Of The Past?

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job for life is a thing of the past, a new survey had revealed, with people now moving job roles more frequently than ever before.

In the South West, 63% of those surveyed agreed that a job for life was something they no longer expected, with only 13% in the region having stayed working in a role for more than ten years.

The research revealed that 57% of those questioned in the South West had also completely changed careers at some point in their life, with the top three reasons for changing being to either find a better work life balance, search for a new challenge or get a better salary.

On a national level, the survey revealed a difference between younger and older workers – with the average millennial already having had as many jobs as those aged fifty-five have in their entire career. Those aged twentyfive to thirty-four have already had an average of six different roles so far, as opposed to older adults approaching retirement who have only had a total of seven jobs throughout their entire working life.

But older adults approaching retirement have only had a total of seven jobs throughout their entire working life. In the South West, 64% of people reported to have had six jobs or less in their working lifetimes.

Samantha Rutter, CEO at distance learning provider Open Study College, which commissioned the research, said: “For a long time now we have seen a gradual change within the job market, with people prepared to move around more, rather than settling down into a role that they intend to stay in for their working life.

“There are many contributing factors, but we know thanks to the introduction of options including distance learning, it’s now much easier to take a step back and completely change careers if you feel your current one isn’t right for you.”

The research, conducted among 2,000 working adults, shows that while over-fifty-fives stay in the same role for more than seven years before moving on, young adults switch jobs after less than four years.

It also emerged 47% of millennials have already completely changed careers since getting their first job in order to chase a better salary, an improved work-life balance or for a new challenge.

The study also found the average adult has applied for twenty-three jobs so far in their career, attending nine interviews. And with the typical worker

staying in the same role for around five-and-a-half years, this means they can currently expect to work in eight jobs before the age of sixty-five.

More than half of the employees polled have even moved to a completely different career, ditching their previous profession at the tender age of thirty-one. Those working in retail are most likely to have changed careers, followed by those in the banking and finance sector, public services and hospitality.

A bigger salary is the main draw for retraining, but one in three were on the lookout for a better work-life balance. More than one in ten said there was too much pressure in their first career, while 17% felt there were no more opportunities for them.

In an attempt to get into a new career, 28% of those polled, via OnePoll, have a side hustle on the go, with 86% saying this is completely different to their current career. One in four of those with a job on the side started doing it in order to build up skills and contacts which they can then turn into a job. And another 35% wanted to gain some more experience in the field before taking the plunge.

Samantha added: “Changing professions can be a life-changing decision, impacting your family and much more than just your professional life. So, it’s no surprise to see the side hustle is becoming more popular as people experiment in a new field before taking the plunge. Undertaking a new training course is also a good way to test a new profession and put yourself in a much better position to move to a new career. It’s also a great way to get ahead of the curve when it comes to changing jobs – even within the same career path.”

Top ten reasons for wanting to change jobs: For more money, for career progression, to work in another location, for a bigger challenge, to do something less stressful, for better training opportunities, after being made redundant, not getting on with the boss, after having children, to change careers completely, top ten reasons for wanting to change careers, for a better salary, for a better work-life balance, for a new challenge, becoming bored in current career, to better oneself, there were no more opportunities in current career, to better balance work with caring for children, an opportunity came up couldn’t be turned down, better progression opportunities, too much stress or pressure.

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MARCH 2020 EDITION DEADLINE NOON, FRI 7TH FEBRUARY

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From The Kitchen Garden...

Fresh Purbeck Pasta Buttons

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he days are getting a little longer now. Towards the end of the month, there is a little sparkle in the air. However, daylight hours are still a bit too short for me and after the daily chores there’s little time to get stuck into the ‘big tidy up’ before its dark again.

Regardless, as we haven’t had any frost so far, the geese are busily grazing the lush green grass all hours and have been definitely thinking about starting their families for some weeks now. Since the middle of January, the ganders in particular are bigging themselves up, displaying typical territorial behaviour by hooting loudly, sticking out their chests and flapping their wings. Just letting everyone now these are their ladies and they’re not sharing!

The cockerels are a feisty lot too, standing tall, loudly marking their area, strutting around and making sure everyone in their kingdom behaves.

The ducks are as lovely as ever, quite happy to dabble about, clearing the land of slugs and other invertebrates. New life is just around the corner!

January and February gives me time to reflect on the last growing season and making plans for the coming very busy time, when there isn’t the mind space to make longer term decisions. I also have to be careful not to get too carried away when the seed catalogues arrive on the doormat. I still find it a treat to leaf trough them carefully, picking out tasty, beautiful and exciting finds.

This very much brings me back to the reason, what motivates me and why I’m doing this. The importance of growing and providing tasty, fresh, seasonal food for me and people interested in that kind of thing seems to grow. My customers really appreciate the time and attention their naturally grown salads and vegetables get from me and this inspires me in return.

Food miles are practically nonexistent, packaging is minimal and freshness is just tasty. In this growing system food waste doesn’t exist! Anything grown gets eaten, either by humans or the flock of laying hens, ducks or geese. In return, I get wonderful fertilizer and beautiful eggs - apart from the good company, of course.

With this in mind, this is a fresh pasta recipe using eggs, flour, oil, milk and salt. It’s undeniably rustic but no fancy pasta machine is required, just a pan of boiling, salted water and a bit of patience.

Fresh Pasta Buttons: Ingredients (4-5 portions): 250 g plain flour 250 g strong bread flour 1 ½ tsp. salt

By Regula Wright, Godlingston Manor Kitchen Garden

5 eggs 250 ml semi-milk 2 dessert sp.oil Method: Mix flour and salt together in a bowl, make a ‘crater’ Mix eggs, oil and milk in a separate container Add all the liquid ingredients at once into the middle of the flour mix and stir well, beat the quite sloppy dough until it throws bubbles Cover and leave to rest for about 30 minutes.

Bring your large pan of salted water to a rolling boil Ladle a dough portion onto a damp wooden board and with a knife cut off small ‘buttons’ one by one and drop into your boiling water.

Once cooked they’ll bounce up to the surface where you skim them off with a slotted spoon, let them drain and place them into a warm serving dish.

Now you could mix them with fresh herbs and cover with grated cheese and place them under a grill. Or just use as a side dish to any casserole or stew.

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Visit The ‘Happy Cafe’!

Wareham’s first Happy Cafe offers a sanctuary from today’s stressed out society. weekly ‘Happy Cafe’ will launch in Wareham in March as part of the new community Purbeck Happiness Project. Started by locals Jonathan and Anne Easterbrooke and linked to UK-based charity Action for Happiness, the Project will include the weekly Happy Café, an evening eight-week course: ‘Exploring What Matters’ and day ‘Happiness workshops’ held in village halls around the Purbeck area.

Anne explains: ‘‘We aim to create a safe, friendly and positive atmosphere, bringing together local people with an interest in adopting a happier lifestyle, with the emphasis on positive relationships and helping others.”

The Wareham Happy Cafe joins a growing network of groups around the world who are part of the Action for Happiness movement, established in 2011. Action for Happiness has no religious or political affiliations, and uses scientific evidence to explore what makes us happy, encouraging us all to take action for a happier and more caring world. Their patron is the Dalai Lama, and the charity now has over 123,000 members in 175 countries.

Anne and Jonathan explain “We wanted to find a way to promote happiness and wellbeing in the community and felt that this would be a fun and effective way to do it. Ultimately it’s all about helping like-minded people support each other in taking practical actions which are not only good for their own wellbeing but also contribute to the happiness of others around them”.

The Happy Café will meet every Thursday (starting on March 5th) at ‘Not Just Sundaes’ Community Café on South Street in Wareham, 2pm – 3.30pm. Everyone is welcome, come and join us!

E: purbeckhappinessproject@gmail.com M:07789 254189. Facebook: @purbeckhappinessproject

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MARCH 2020 EDITION DEADLINE NOON, FRI 7TH FEBRUARY

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Motoring

Choices Or No Choices?

by David Hollister

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ell, once again the seasonal rain has taken the authorities totally by surprise! A couple of nights of heavy weather and we have water across the road at the foot of Corfe Castle, huge puddles all over the A351 and flooding across the road and pavement outside St. Marys School. I expect that you too, dear reader, have floods of your own to report!

There are no excuses for puddles other than incompetence and poor road design. The drain which so often blocks at the foot of St. Michaels hill, simply isn’t up to the volume of water which pours down there each winter. Solution? Knock out the stupid kerbstones and allow the water to run off into the field.

The huge puddle at Coombe corner caused by run-off water could be simply eliminated by putting in an adequate drain. And keeping it clear. In Roman times they knew how to build roads, with slight camber taking the water off the road and into the ditches. Which bit of this got forgotten in the last two thousand years? Maybe the Romans didn’t have planning officers, surveyors, engineers, Health & Safety executives, traffic lights, etc; they just got things done. With their bare hands. So, what’s improved?

I was always taught – you cannot control the winds, so adjust the sails.

To the Highways Department I say – you cannot control the rain, so adjust the roads!

Good old SGN is at it again in both Wareham and Swanage, renewing gas mains and closing roads. OK, this must be done if we are to have leakproof gas supplies. But before diverting traffic, please make sure that you or Wessex Water are not already digging holes in the roads on to which the traffic is diverted. Join up your thinking as well as your pipes!

Much grumbling about the road works in Institute Road, Swanage, even before they have started. Perhaps a good time to remind you that we at Purbeck Gazette have been campaigning for this work for several years on the grounds of pedestrian safety, that the plans were fully and openly discussed at a consultation meeting at the Emmanuel Church in the spring of last year, a meeting to which everyone was invited and everyone invited to put their points across.

A meeting after which I arrived at the conclusion that the planners had made decisions some weeks earlier and that the meeting was simply a ‘sop’ to the “democratic process” as are so many Council “consultations” these days.

It remains to be seen whether the proposed installation of loading bays on Natwest Corner will make the road safer for pedestrians; regrettably, as pedestrians seem intent on ignoring proper crossings, they will simply pop out from between legally parked delivery vehicles, and get flattened by legally passing cars, the drivers of which will then face the penalties and opprobrium of running someone over.

The bit I’m really looking forward to is the week that they reverse the traffic flow in Kings Road East. Good business for the paramedics and panel beaters.

Would it, I wonder, be too much to suggest that the officers employed by ‘Dorset Parking Services’ to make our lives miserable could instead be stationed each end of Kings Road East for a couple of weeks to help

Photograph of Station Road looking towards the Mowlem, Swanage, taken on January 9th 2020. Not a single workperson in sight - all tools down! confused motorists and ensure they go the right way? Dashcams at the ready, folks!

It’s so good to have the ferry back and to avoid the queues, cameras and traffic lights going “round the road”. The new Sandbanks Ferry Ticket Card (SFTC) will be launched soon; it will be the new way to buy books of tickets, which will be called passes. You will still be able to pay by cash at the toll box for individual crossings.

Simply pick up an SFTC at the toll box, free of charge, available from the day the scheme is launched (watch the press and listen to the radio).

Create an online pre-payment account; the details will be published as soon as the system is live. Register your credit or debit card; pay for a block of tickets in advance and each time you use the ferry, present your prepaid card and continue your journey. I understand that the discounts for advance booking in blocks of ten or fifty will still apply.

Have you noticed that all the fluffy environmentally friendly laws affecting cars are being made by politicians who by the time said laws take effect, will be too old to reap the whirlwind, or will have moved abroad? I refer of course the ludicrous suggestion to ban the production of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2032 in a bid to tackle air pollution.

Stable door and bolting horse come to mind.

London has already created the ‘Low Emission Zone’ and the ‘Ultra Low Emission Zone’, effectively penalising those who can’t afford either electric cars or newer low-emission vehicles. In other words, slap another tax on the poor people, making it even more difficult for them to afford to upgrade their vehicles. Slap a tax on delivery vehicles who have no choice but to deliver their goods.

This is all total rubbish. No amount of money will never stop pollution.

Yes, it will keep me out of London, but really, it’s just another way of raising taxes. I’m guessing here, but I’m imagining that within ten years, we’ll have all these tax-raising zones in Poole, Bournemouth, and Dorchester, and yet another army of bureaucrats to impose fines and penalties on the hard-working and hard-pressed motorists. Positively Orwellian.

I’m glad I’m not young anymore and that I have managed a full life of enjoyable motoring before actually enjoying driving becomes a crime.

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2019 (19) Ford Fiesta Zetec 1.0 EcoBoost 100Ps, 1.0 litre, manual, petrol, chrome blue, hatchback, our demonstrator, city pack, sync3 navigation, Ford pass connect with embedded modern & WiFi, air conditioning, anti-lock brake system with brake assist, alloy wheels, remote central locking, speed limiter, Bluetooth, hill start assist, automatic headlights, LED daytime running lights, rear parking sensors..... £14,995 2018 (68) Ford new Focus Titanium 1.0 125PS 1.0 litre, petrol, manual, 5dr, moondust silver, climate control, alloy wheels, Sat Nav, heated seats......................…. £15,995 2016 (66) Ford Fiesta Zetec manual, petrol, hatchback, shadow black, air conditioning, PAS, ABS, remote central locking, electric windows, service history, one owner, CD player, Bluetooth, hill start assist, 32k miles........................... £7,495 2013 (13) Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 Tdci 5 Door, Diesel, Manual, Ink Blue, hatchback, air conditioning, Alloy Wheels, Remote Central Locking, Front Electric Windows, Height Adjustable Drivers Seat, Service History, Immobiliser, CD Player, Bluetooth..... £5,795 2013 (13) Ford KA Zetec 28K miles, manual, petrol, air conditioning, alloy wheels, remote central locking, electric windows, electric mirrors, service history, CD player, rear parking sensors........................................................................................... £4,295 2014 (64) Mercedes Benz CLA class 220CDI AMG Sport 7G-DCT Auto 2.1 litre. Coupe, 4 door, automatic, diesel, black, every optional extra added, midnight package, full leather package, heated seats, multi spoke black alloys, climate control, remote central locking, cruise control, speed limiter, front and rear parking sensors with camera and self-parking, satellite navigation, 34,900 miles........................... £16,995 2018 (18) Ford Fiesta ST2 Performance Pack, 1.5 litre, manual, petrol, Ford Performance blue, air cond, anti-lock brake system with brake assist, 18” alloy wheels, red brake callipers, front electric windows, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, service history, one owner, hill start assist, ESP/Traction control, automatic headlights, LED daytime running lights, 19,800k miles..................... £14,750

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2016 (16) Vauxhall Corsa SE 1.4 5Dr in Met Blue, Air Cond, Alloys, Front & Rear Parking Sensors, Heated Screen/Seats, Cruise Control, Bluetooth, Apple car play, Only 20000 miles, FSH....................................................................£7,995 2018 (67) Vauxhall Mokka X Active 5dr, in black, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, Bluetooth, smartphone connectivity with Apple Car play, DAB radio, electric windows, electric heated and folding mirrors, climate control, 28000 miles with FSH and balance of manufacturer’s warranty..............£11,795 2018 (18) VW Golf GT Estate 2.0TDi, in met grey, 7-speed, auto, 8” touch screen, sat nav, DAB radio, Bluetooth, cruise, CD/MP3/USB and SD card reader, electric windows, electric mirrors, start/stop, only 12800 miles, just serviced, balance of manufacturer’s warranty until May 2021…............................................£15,995 2004 (54) Audi TT 3.2 Quattro auto in black, 64500 miles, red leather interior, Bose sound system, radio/CD multi play, alloys, climate control…....….£4,250 2015 (65) Nissan Note 1.2 DiG-S Tekna 5dr in Met Grey, Sat Nav, Around View Monitor, Alloys, Cruise Control, Electric Windows, Electric Mirrors, Reverse Camera, Auto Headlights, Climate Control, Only 15500 miles with FSH, £0 Road Fund License….................................................................................…£8,495 2012 (12) Honda CR-V 2.0i V-TEC EX in Red, Black Leather Trim, Sat Nav, Rear View Camera, Front & Rear Parking Sensors, Alloys, Cruise Control, Electric Powerfold Mirrors, Bluetooth, Climate Control, Electric Windows, FSH, 53500 miles….......................................................................................................…£10,695 2010 (60) Ford Focus Zetec 125 1.6 5dr in Met Blue, Alloys, Bluetooth, Electric Windows, Electric Mirrors, Radio/CD Player, Air Cond, Rear Parking Sensors, FSH and only 33000 miles ….........................................................................£3995

Look out for our new Car Finder page on our website We now have Trade access to 1000s of cars of all makes & models.

‘Click’ on the Car Finder link page at: www.foleysgarage.co.uk

February 2020 uring February a steam service will be operating between Swanage and Norden via Herston Halt, Harmans Cross and Corfe Castle.

The service will run half term week Saturday 15th to Sunday 23rd February. Kids Go Free this half term week*.

Saturday 15th – Sunday 23rd February Services depart Swanage at 10:40, 12:00, 14:00, 15:20.

Services depart Norden at 11:20, 12:40, 14:40, 16:00.

Our “Wessex Belle” Dining Train season commences on Saturday 15th February with a special “Valentine’s Belle ” evening train. Bookings for all our ever-popular dining trains are now on sale.

Daily steam services between Swanage and Norden commence Saturday 28th March and run until Sunday 11th October.

Swanage Station Shop and Buffet are open 0930 to 1530 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and all train operating days.

The Buffet at Swanage Station has temporarily relocated from the Birds Nest carriage to the Booking Hall whilst renovations are carried out.

Full details of our timetables, fares, events and dining trains can be found at: www.swanagerailway.co.uk The 2020 January to April timetable has now been published. Copies are available from our railway station booking offices, Wareham Tourist Information Centre and Swanage Information Centre. *Terms and Conditions Apply. See website for details.

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‘Tis The Season For Lovers...

Let someone know you love them this month!

2020 is a leap year!

Traditionally, ladies were not legally allowed to propose to a man. The first documented change in this practice was in 1288, when ladies were finally permitted to propose to a gentleman - but only on a leap year......

If the gent declined the proposal, he was expected to pay a fine - from a kiss to payment for a new pair of gloves or an item of clothing!

Valentine’s Day, filled with love and promises, may lead on to the perfect, Purbeck wedding for a lucky few this year - here’s hoping it’s you!

Browse the following pages to find the perfect place to enjoy Valentine’s Day and to get in touch with local businesses, ideally placed to help you organise your forthcoming perfect, Purbeck wedding - whatever your preferences are!

Just let us know in advance if we need to get a hat....!!

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The Bailey wedding..... ceremony took place at Ferndown Registry with the reception taking place at the Bridgehouse Hotel.

Photography by Trev Rich Photography

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Dress your best when attending weddings this year! Pay a visit to ‘Fab Frocks’ who’ll be delighted to dress you.... see their advert on page 35

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Flower Archway, designed and installed by local florists, Buds of Mave....

See their advert on page 34

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Bride, Sarah Shore, in a wedding dress created by dressmaker, Alison Strong. Advert above.

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The Lawrence wedding. Both ceremony and reception held at the Springfield Hotel, Nr Wareham.

Photography by Trev Rich Photography.

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The Ramsay wedding, with the ceremony held at St Aldhelm’s Chapel and the reception at Durlston Castle.

Photography by Trev Rich Photography.

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The Lawrence wedding. Both ceremony and reception held at the Springfield Hotel, Nr Wareham.

Photography by Trev Rich Photography.

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It’s Raining Again

by John Garner Stoborough Causeway was closed in December 2019 due to high tides. Picture, above, shows the water just beginning to overreach the road (on the right)

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ver the Christmas period it seemed to be raining every day and most of the nights. Now this could be as a result of me being at home a bit more often and the want and need to get outside was a stronger one than usual. Although, now that I contemplate this, the need and want to get outside when I’m at work is pretty strong as well, but even less likely than battling through the deluges of the past few… well months, it feels like.

But get out I did, both for walks and for some bike rides. The bike rides were especially eventful. At one point, riding between Wareham and Stoborough, I found the causeway so overrun with water that it was closed to cars. Riding through on the bike the water was over a foot deep. In its own way it was fun, but the area to each side of the causeway was a lake.

I even saw someone paddle boarding around the fields later in the week.

I have to say it made me smile though I doubt the owner of the fields felt the same way about such excellent opportunism.

Anyway, out on my bike I did go and thought myself to be incredibly brave and intrepid. In the face of all these extreme weather conditions, I was out there battling with the elements. When I say battling with the elements, I mean freewheeling through ankle deep water with my feet off the pedals and complaining if my feet got wet. Which of course they did.

I also got some books over Christmas. One of these was a book about the rise of a cycling team in Rwanda. Now I knew a little bit about Rwanda’s past from the early nineties when a terrifying amount of people were killed in a very short amount of time and in horrific circumstances. I won’t go into details here as there are far more qualified and accurate accounts of the genocide that affected that country elsewhere. This particular book was about the unlikely rise of the national cycling team in the aftermath of these events. The bicycle in Rwanda was a very useful thing indeed.

It allowed people to make money and provide for their families either by transporting goods or as a taxi service. Rwanda is also an incredibly mountainous country so anyone riding a bike will very quickly become very fit and very strong.

Various people from outside the country, mainly America, saw the potential of the Rwandan people and recognised that cycling could also give them hope, pride and a way out of their poverty. A team was set up and financed and a number of Rwandan cyclists became recognised African riders. This model has been duplicated in other African countries such as Eritrea and some riders have gone on to be international riders and taken part in the Tour de France. Amazing really when you think of how western cycling

teams are resourced with the latest equipment, with some of the bikes costing upwards of £10,000.

The determination and sheer guts of the Rwandan riders was inspirational.

In a roundabout way it’s how I found myself rolling through the flood water between Stoborough and Wareham on a wet midweek morning determined not to let something as trivial as the weather put me off.

Determined as I am not to become a western softie, it is often a battle to don my wet weather cycling gear in the depths of winter and head out into the mist and rain and gloom and pretend to be enjoying myself. Mainly because I don’t have to, I suppose. My livelihood doesn’t depend on it.

My future isn’t bound up in the activity and I’m not riding to escape the memories of the past. But the thing that came through repeatedly in the book I read was the simple pleasure the Rwandans seemed to derive from getting on a bike and riding off into the mountains. It’s a good time of year to remember that if I’m not in good enough shape to really appreciate my bike rides from the spring onwards, I won’t enjoy them as much. So, it’s head down and out I go.

As I write this, I am due to go out and ride with some friends later this evening. It’s beginning to get dark. It hasn’t really got properly light all day to be honest. I can hear the beginnings of a spattering of rain on the windows. The forecast is not great. I am having doubts and looking for an excuse or two not to go. I know I will not regret it if I do decide to go, but… luckily, I am prepared for such negative impulses. I have the book about Rwandan cycling next to me. I’ll quickly re-read the blurb on the back cover and get ready.

It’s amazing where your motivation can come from sometimes.

The Purbeck Gazette

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What Connects Trading Standards & Scuba Diving?!

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cuba Diving is an exhilarating, popular pastime in Dorset and it’s not hard to see why. The cliffs of the Jurassic coastline give way to an underwater world of sea-life and shipwrecks to explore and enjoy.

Support For Dorset Farmers

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ost people don’t normally associate trading standards with animal health and welfare.

We have a small team of officers who are responsible for farm animal welfare and disease control. There is a lot of legislation aimed at licencing the movement of farmed animals with the aim of controlling some of the nasty ‘exotic’ diseases that threaten the farming industry such as foot and mouth, swine fever and avian influenza.

The team is also responsible for ensuring the welfare of the animals whilst on the farm, being transported, or being sold at market. These welfare standards are very simple – the animal should be fed a sufficient diet, have clean water to drink, somewhere dry to lie down and to be treated if they are ill. The vast majority of farmers easily meet or exceed these

With all the beauty, it is easy to forget just how dangerous and vulnerable a diver is. While under water they are completely reliant on the contents of the tank of air strapped to their back for air. If this air is contaminated, or not of the right quality, there are very real dangers. Most divers will understand too much carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide in the tank can have fatal consequence.

So what safeguards are there for divers purchasing air? In all likelihood, the tank would have been filled by a dive centre and supplied as part of a commercial transaction. Just like any other commercial transaction for consumer products, the supplied air must be safe for consumers to use.

To help local dive centres ensure the quality of their air, Dorset Trading Standards service has operated a Divers Clean Air Scheme for over twenty-five years. Although voluntary, I’m happy to say most, if not all, of the divers’ air suppliers in the area are members.

Each member has a sample of their air periodically tested to the recognised standard. The levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, among others, are all checked to ensure they are within safe limits.

This gives the dive centres, and divers themselves, confidence that the air supplied will be of the expected standard, allowing the diver to immerse themselves in the incredible beauty beneath the Dorset coast. standards, but occasionally we come across cases where the farmer is not doing enough.

This can sometimes be down to financial difficulties, but more often than not it is because the farmer has mental health problems. Some farmers can become very socially isolated and with a busy farm to run they find it difficult to find the time to go to their doctors or talk with others.

There are some excellent organisations who can offer help and support to farmers who are struggling. One example is a charity called Farm Community Network (FCN). They have a team of volunteers in Dorset, many of whom are farmers themselves, so they really do understand the problems faced in the farming industry.

If you or someone you know could benefit from talking with a sympathetic person who understands farmers and rural life, then call the Farm Community Network on 03000 111999.

The Purbeck Gazette

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Gazette Gardening with Simon Goldsack

Local Garden gets National Recognition he Gardens at Holme have just become a Royal Horticultural Society Partner Garden. This prestigious status will bring national attention to the 7acre garden. It recognises that Holme is now one of the premier gardens in the South of England and it’s right on our doorstep.

The gardens have many outstanding features. In spring twenty thousand bulbs will flower including Hyacinths, Tulips, Crocus, Narcissus and many more. At the same time there are myriad of spring flowering shrubs and trees with gorgeous collections of Magnolia, Cherries and crab apples.

In Summer the amazing two acre flower field will have millions of flowers and bees whilst elsewhere perennials will be showing off in all the borders including the Kitchen and Cutting Garden, the Wedding Borders and in the Informal Garden. In June, the 120m long Lavender Avenue will be stunning and abuzz with both bees and butterflies.

By late summer the large dahlia collection and the thousands of Holme grown annuals will be dazzling. This includes the well renowned Hot Borders with their spectacular displays of Red Hot Pokers and Crocosmia.

In Autumn the ornamental grasses in the informal garden produce a great show of their own and elsewhere trees and shrubs will be changing to their Autumn hues but this isn’t the end of the show as the Henge Heather Garden keeps a display going throughout winter!

The Gardens at Holme really are a ‘Jewel in Purbeck’s Crown’ and the Partner Garden award by the RHS recognises this.

The gardens are open for free until the end of February when you will be able to enjoy the displays of Hyacinth, Crocus and other spring bulbs.

From March 1st to October 31st the garden will cost £5 for a day pass or £15 for a season ticket and you can visit as often as you like. If you buy a 2020 season ticket in February, you can save £3 and it will only cost £12.

RHS Members free on Mondays throughout the season.

Pictures: Top left - part of the Tulip display in spring The Flower Field in summer - top right The Wedding Borders - top middle image

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The Purbeck Gazette

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ebruary brings early signs of spring. Daffodils flowering outside the Castle may even be visited by an early Hummingbird Hawkmoth. Also tempted out by a little sun can be Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies. Adders may appear above Tilly Whim steps, whilst Great Crested and Smooth Newts may be swimming in the wildlife pond.

Nonetheless on some days we expect ponds, puddles and water troughs to be frozen over!

It is always a delight to see the Cherry Plum blossom out.

Meanwhile Snowdrops and Dog Violet shoots normally appear beside the Aviary Glade.

With the tree work undertaken over the winter, as part of the Pleasure Grounds Project, this should be a great year for woodland flowers! Greater Periwinkle is often seen flowering on the coast path below the Globe. February includes National Nestbox Week which encourages people to build and install boxes to support and monitor hole nesting birds.

On Wednesday 26th February, we can help you to make a birdbox at the Shed for ten pounds only. Juvenile birds may even begin to select potential sites during their first autumn and winter. Perhaps you might spot a pair of Great Tits checking out a hole in one of Durlston’s London bollards or spot a Shag transporting materials to its nest site.

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Our Durlston and the Sea Exhibition celebrates both our sea cliff nesting bird colonies and the marine mammals that use our waters. During the Durlston Rocks guided walk there will be a chance to see the fossils on site.

Will you use the Creative Card Making workshop (at the Shed) to make a Valentine card? If that does not satisfy your creative appetite, then you can enjoy Drawing in Pen and Pencil with the support of enthusiastic artist Madelaine Devenay.

During the February half term holidays, you can try your paper folding skills in our Awesome Origami workshop to be held in the Belvedere Room.

There will be an exploratory February Birds Walk to discover what birds are about. We have both a Mucky Monday and Wild Wednesday. The former will see you searching for animal tracks and creating your own arty footprints, whilst the latter is our popular “drop in” session of art activities for children in the Belvedere.

There two evening stargazing events this month. As always these are subject to weather conditions but there should be the opportunity to view the winter constellations.

For more details, visit the Durlston Events webpage: www.durlston.co.uk/events.aspx

Margaret Green Animal Rescue Get Active for Animals re you looking for a new challenge? Do you enjoy supporting rescue animals?

We are asking people to pledge a fitness event for 2020 and raise money for rescue animals. It could be a walk across beautiful Purbeck, joining your local 10k run or sign yourself up to run a marathon!

Whatever you decide to do, we are here to support your fitness journey.

Invite friends, colleagues and the family to join in and let us know what you have planned by emailing christine.rolfe@mgar.org.uk or call 01929 480474.

We can provide collection tins, buckets, sponsor forms and help share your event far and wide. Ready, set, go! www.margaretgreenanimalrescue.org.uk

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The Purbeck Gazette

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Once Upon A Time At Swanage Carnival!

Swanage 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 no later than 31st March 2020 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: Kevin Langdon, Swanage Carnival, 192 Kings Road West, Swanage. BH19 1HT Email: secretary@swanagecarnival.com

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e are excited to announce our 2020 theme, Once Upon a Time!

We received lots of suggestions for a theme which were voted on by the Carnival Committee.

Carnival Chairperson, Maria Foot, said: “We had lots of suggestions for magical and fantasy themes, including Disney, fairy tales and nursery rhymes.

Our ‘Once Upon a Time’ theme covers all these and allows lots of scope for carnival float ideas, so we are really looking forward to seeing this year’s procession!”.

Whether you want to tell a story on your way around the procession, dress as your favourite magical fairy tale character or cast your magic over all the locals and visitors who support our huge carnival procession, Carnival 2020 promises to be full of fun!

We have again secured some brand-new events, details of which will be released later in the year.

So, put the dates in your diary (25th July to the 1st August) and start getting ready for the biggest carnival on the south coast!

If you would like to sponsor a carnival event and feature in our advertising, please get in touch with our chairperson, Maria, by email, at: chair@swanagecarnival.com

The Purbeck Gazette

A Gig In A Gypsy Van

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t last year’s Purbeck Valley Folk Festival, headliner Cara Dillon and some of her band stumbled upon the wonderful Gypsy caravan which was brought to the festival by the Purbeck-based ‘Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society’, founded and run by Dinah Johnson, with support from her wonderful family.

Cara was fascinated by the caravan and arranged for one of her team to film her singing the song ‘The Raggle Taggle Gypsy-O” in the caravan. Cara said: “This was definitely a moment when the hairs on the back of my neck were dancing.” Cara then published the film on Facebook (image, below), which drew 146,000 views (and counting!).

Catch up with the Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society on Facebook or at many of the local events Dinah attends with her stunning gypsy van, say hi, climb aboard and remember what a delight it is to send and receive handwritten letters!

Picture, above - Cara and the band in the gypsy van, by Dinah Johnson

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The Purbeck Gazette

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Matron’s Round - Our Local Hospitals’ Monthly Column

ackie Lidgard, Physiotherapist and Team Leader of the Purbeck Integrated Community Rehabilitation Team, explained the role of Community Support Workers: “For people at the end of life, choosing the place where they wish to die can be a lengthy, emotive process. Once the choice is made there are a number of factors affecting whether this choice can be facilitated, including the availability of care and support at home.

People in both Purbeck and North Dorset can now be assisted to remain at home by a team of Community Support Workers who provide short term care for patients approaching the end of life.

The team is employed by Dorset HealthCare but works closely with all professionals involved in a person’s care. Referrals to the team are made via health and social care professionals and a personalised care plan is implemented.

In addition to providing palliative care, the Community Support Workers can also provide short term care packages to enable patients in Purbeck

to leave acute and community hospitals earlier rather than waiting for a longer-term care package to start.

This reduces the length of stay across hospitals and ensures people return home in a timely manner when they are ready. When the long-term team take over that person’s care a handover is provided to ensure continuity of care.

The Community Support Workers also support existing community teams in Purbeck including the District and Community Nurses, and the Integrated Rehabilitation Team.

They can be recognised by their lovely yellow uniforms, and smiling faces so look out for our ‘rays of sunshine’ around and about in Purbeck.”

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!

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Book advertising at: www.purbeckgazette.com or call Kay on: 01929 424293, ext.1

The Purbeck Gazette

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

Are We In The South West The Most Depressed?

Is the South West one of the most depressed regions in the UK? edefining mental health: Why the South West needs to take a look at the symptoms of depression they regularly face.

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Smart TMS - experts on depression and anxiety - offers exclusive research and commentary on how those in the South West need to change their understanding of depression Choosing to have time alone, skip the gym or miss a family barbecue in isolation may seem like nothing short of the norm. However, in prolonged bouts, new research from depression specialists Smart TMS indicates what are now lifelong norms, could reveal something far deeper.

With diagnosed depression affecting over a quarter of the nation, an overwhelming body of data has emerged concerning those of us who do not consider ourselves as suffering from the condition. Titled ‘The Happiness Index’, depression treatment specialist - Smart TMS - has launched a nationally representative study that bears significant impact on society’s classification of depression, and its subsequent demographic of relevance.

No longer are the conditions solely defined by archaic measures of depression including suicidal thoughts, uncontrollable mood swings and dependence on medication, but instead encompass a far more “normalised” range of behaviours.

These include a lack of motivation to shower, spend time with children and loved ones, or simply get on with one’s day performing basic functions.

Key stats • 39% of those in the South West spend more time alone and less time with family and friends than they used to • Over a third - 36% - of those in the South West are less confident than they once were • 31% of those in the South West no longer enjoy work as much as they used to • 29% of those in the South West feel more anxious in social situations than they used to • A quarter - 25% - of those in the South West care less about their physical appearance than they used to • 24% of those in the South West find themselves cancelling plans more often so they don’t have to interact with other people • 22% of those in the South West find basic functions (e.g. sleeping, showering) more difficult than they used to • 18% of those in the South West find themselves sleeping more than they need to

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20% of those in the South West think that spending time with their friends does not bring them as much joy as it used to • 27% of those in the South West have a hobby which used to bring them joy, but no longer does • 17% of those in the South West find that casual drinking turns into binge drinking more than it used to • 15% of those in the South West do not enjoy spending time with their family as much as they used to The research, carried out across 2000 Brits, shows that millions in the UK are showing symptoms of depression and anxiety, begging the question - do we need to redefine our understanding of depression?

The OECD has reported that mental illness costs the British economy £94 billion each year, with depression and anxiety long being reported to be endemic in today’s society; depression is the predominant mental health problem worldwide.

This new research from Smart TMS demonstrates that while on the surface we are appearing to get on with our everyday lives like normal, millions of us are suffering from undiagnosed symptoms of depression-like behaviour, and disconcertedly normalising behaviours that are isolating and limiting to one’s productivity and social life.

To support these latest findings, Smart TMS unveiled national data citing that 23% of Brits have experienced symptoms of what they think is undiagnosed depression for many years. Furthermore, 14% have left a long-term mental health issue untreated over many years in order to avoid prescription drugs.

Gerard Barnes, CEO of Smart TMS, offers the following commentary: “The research indicates that many Brits simply are not getting the same joy from previously loved hobbies, friends and even family.

Alongside this lack of enjoyment, many people are reporting an increase in a desire to be away from other people and social situations. These are clear signs of depression and anxiety, which are often characterised by low self-esteem, an increase in substance abuse and a loss of the ability to carry out simple functions without overthinking.

“At Smart TMS, we recognise that many Brits may be unaware that what they are feeling constitutes as depression and anxiety. As a result, they are not aware of the need to look after themselves and may not be seeking effective treatment for their conditions.

More needs to be done to help people recognise symptoms of mental health conditions within their own behaviours and respond accordingly.”

MARCH 2020 EDITION DEADLINE NOON, FRI 7TH FEBRUARY

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Sport

The Purbeck Gazette

Swanage Walking Football Club A Successful Year For Swanage Walking Football Club!

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019 has been a great year of walking football. Over the last year, we have had a good increase in player numbers leading to us being able to field teams for the Dorset FA league for both the over 50s and over 60s leagues.

We started by playing in the Bobby Moore tournament in July, where both teams came 3rd in their respective age groups which meant we had to take training sessions a bit more seriously to get ready for the league that started in October.

We also had to find a manager for the over 60s team as it would be impossible for me to attend all matches as they could be played at different venues at the same time. Thankfully Andrew Vince stepped up and is doing a great job arranging and sorting the over 60s team.

Most teams in Dorset will only play their best players in league games, however, Swanage maintain that it should be for all our players who want to play. All regular players get equal opportunity regardless of their level of skill and ability. They get an equal amount of playing time. As a result, we have fielded different teams for all matches for both age groups.

Despite this policy, both Swanage teams remain unbeaten and sit at the top of both leagues. This is a testament to all players’ ability to play as a team and is a good indication of the depth of quality within the club. The league resumes in January for the over 50s and February for the over 60s. Hopefully, our unbeaten runs can continue in 2020 and finish at the top of both leagues.

The women’s walking football team has also grown over the last year and has good numbers playing every Tuesday evening. It’s a great friendly group and we look forward to it continuing to grow over the coming year.

Although women’s walking football was started as an over 40s game it has recently been changed by the FA to 18+, we, therefore, welcome players of any age to join in. We are actively looking to find a couple of female goalkeepers. So, if you have played netball, hockey, tennis

or any other sport please come along to the woman’s evening. Not playing football before doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy the game.

We held our third annual end of year awards night on the 17th December to award the Tony Harris shield for female and male players of the year chosen by the players. The ladies’ player of the year was Elizabeth Guichard and the male’s player of the year was Ricky Scott.

Congratulations to both deserved winners.

There are three sessions a week being held on a Tuesday morning: 10am-11:30am (mixed), Tuesday evening 7:30-9pm (women only), and Thursday evening 7pm-8:30pm (men only).

Sessions are £3, but the first session is free. There is no need to book, although if you have any questions, you can contact us through Facebook, Twitter or me, Nick Surman, on 07745 907509.

Pictured: Swans Over 70s.

Swanage & Wareham Rugby Football - Swindon Dominate SWINDON 47pts SWANAGE & WAREHAM 5pts. wanage & Wareham travelled away to Swindon, showing seven changes to the line-up that defeated Yeovil the previous week, due to injuries and unavailability. It showed as well, as playing against a gale force wind Swindon dominated the game.

Swindon kicked the ball into Swans 5 metres line, and from a line out the more powerful home side’s scrum forced their way over the try line (7pts – 0pts) after 5 minutes.

Swindon continued to have the advantage and scored a second try after ten minutes. Swans could not get to the halfway line and Swindon scored two more tries before half time leaving the half time score Swindon 26pts Swans 0pts.

The wind had dropped in the second half, but Swans dominated play, but Swindon’s defence prevented Swans crossing the host’s 22. However after 54 minutes an interception by Swindon had a centre breaking clear to score under the posts (33pts – 0pts).

Swans continued attacking, but ten minutes later Swindon did the same thing, broke clear again with the same result. Swans did their utmost to get over the Swindon line, but once again Swindon broke clear after 73 minutes to score a converted try (47pts – 0pts).

In the last couple of minutes, at last Swans broke clear down the wing and winger Harry Spyers went over in the corner for a consolation try for Swans.

Final Score Swindon 47pts Swanage & Wareham 5pts.

Swans team:- W.Holland, H.Spyers, L.Waugh, M.Roberts, R. Ferguson, W.Wade, C.Tomes, Z. Wyburgh, C.Foskett, N.Audley, L.Smith, D.Collins, M.Seaton, J.Large, K.Jones, S.Waterman, J.Cockwell,J.Warren.

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Other results Swanage & Wareham 2nd XV 22pts Salisbury 2nd XV 24pts.

Ellingham & Ringwood 2nd XV 78pts Swanage & Wareham 3rd XV 12pts.

Ron Butler (Publicity Secretary)

MARCH 2020 EDITION DEADLINE NOON, FRI 7TH FEBRUARY

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 MAR is noon, 7th FEB KEY: * = Start time not known or n/a; Ffi = for further information; Sw = Swanage; Wm = Wareham; VH = Village Hall, Telephone code 01929 unless otherwise stated.

FEBRUARY 2020

Sat 1st 09:00 King George’s 5K A free informal 5k walk, jog or run, Victoria Ave, Swanage. All welcome. Ffi: Pete Smith 07876 567584.

Sun 2nd 14:00 Our Man in the Field Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229.

Thu 6th 19:30 ‘Fame’ The swanage School At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage.

Fri 7th 19:30 ‘Fame’ The swanage School At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage.

19:30 Swanage Photographic Society Meets in the Rectory classroom, Church Hill for: ‘Nightscape Photography’ With Ollie Taylor Visitors welcome, ffi: www. swanagephotographicsociety.com or 01929 426268 Sat 8th 10:00 Adult Stone Engraving At Burngate Stone Carving Centre. £50 per adult, booking essential on 01929 439405 or info@burngatestonecentre.co.uk 14:30 ‘Fame’ The Swanage School At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage.

19:30 ‘Fame’ The swanage School At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage.

19:00 ‘Josephine Sings Soho’ At Langton Matravers Village Hall. Show begins at 8pm. Tickets £5 available on the door. Bring your own drinks and snacks.

20:00 No Go Stop Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229.

Sun 9th 14:00 The Goat Roper Band Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers.

Ffi: 01929 439229.

Wed 12th 14:00 Stoborough WI Meeting At Stoborough VH, West Lane BH205AJ. Speaker: Ian Duckworth on Dorset National Park. Visitors welcome. Contact stoboroughwi@ hotmail.com Fri 14th 19:30 Purbeck Railway Circle Meets at Harmans Cross Village Hall. “Paddling across the Bay: Paddle Steamers sailing from Bournemouth and Swanage”.

Presentation by Brian Jackson. Refreshments and railway raffle. Doors open 7pm. Ffi 421 913.

Sat 15th * Kids go Free! Half Term at Swanage Railway. Children 5-15 when accompanied by a fee paying adult. * Bluebird Coach Tour London Show Break, Cirque de Soliel - “Luzia” Ffi: 01305 782353 09:00 Swanage Town Council Job Fair At Swanage Information Centre, Shore rd.

Sun 16th * Kids go Free! Half Term at Swanage Railway. Children 5-15 when accompanied by a fee paying adult. * Bluebird Coach Tour London Show Break, Cirque de Soliel - “Luzia” Ffi: 01305 782353 Mon 17th * Kids go Free! Half Term at Swanage Railway. Children 5-15 when accompanied by a fee paying adult. * Half Term at Purbeck Sports Centre Trampolining, Football, NERF, AFC Bournemouth in the Hall, Acrobats and more! Ffi: 01929 500 000 19:30 Quiz Night At The Isle of Purbeck Golf Club. £1 entry.

Tue 18th * Kids go Free! Half Term at Swanage Railway. Children 5-15 when accompanied by a fee paying adult. * Half Term at Purbeck Sports Centre Trampolining, Football, NERF, AFC Bournemouth in the Hall, Acrobats and more! Ffi: 01929 500 000 10:00 Family Have a go at Stone Carving At Burngate Stone Carving Centre. £30 per adult, £17.50 per child, booking essential on 01929 439405 or info@ burngatestonecentre.co.uk 14:30 Purbeck Ass’n of the National Trust At All Saints Church, Ulwell Rd, Sw. Illustrated talk ‘Body Overboard!’ – Author and retired senior detective Paul Stickler talks about the case of the death at sea of actress Gay Gibson in 1947.

All welcome. £3.00 incl refreshments. Ffi 01929 427300.

Wed 19th * Kids go Free! Half Term at Swanage Railway. Children 5-15 when accompanied by a fee paying adult. * Half Term at Purbeck Sports Centre Trampolining, Football, NERF, AFC Bournemouth in the Hall, Acrobats and more! Ffi: 01929 500 000 10:00 Family Have a go at Stone Carving At Burngate Stone Carving Centre. £30 per adult, £17.50 per child, booking essential on 01929 439405 or info@ burngatestonecentre.co.uk

14:30 Studland History Group Meets in the Village Hall for a talk by Nick Reed, “The Tank That Swam”. All welcome. Ffi the Secretary 01929 439245 Thu 20th * Kids go Free! Half Term at Swanage Railway. Children 5-15 when accompanied by a fee paying adult. * Half Term at Purbeck Sports Centre Trampolining, Football, NERF, AFC Bournemouth in the Hall, Acrobats and more! Ffi: 01929 500 000 10:00 Family Have a go at Stone Carving At Burngate Stone Carving Centre. £30 per adult, £17.50 per child, booking essential on 01929 439405 or info@ burngatestonecentre.co.uk 19:30 Movie Night - Judy At The Isle of Purbeck Golf Club.

Fri 21st Kids go Free! Half Term at Swanage Railway. Children 5-15 when * accompanied by a fee paying adult. * Half Term at Purbeck Sports Centre Trampolining, Football, NERF, AFC Bournemouth in the Hall, Acrobats and more! Ffi: 01929 500 000 19:30 Quiz Night At The Isle of Purbeck Golf Club. £1 entry.

19:30 Swanage Photographic Society Meets in the Rectory classroom, Church Hill for: Two competitions:-Anders 3 – ‘Open’ and Browne 3 – ‘Autumn’ Judge: Colin Gogerty Visitors welcome, ffi: www.swanagephotographicsociety.com or 01929 426268 Sat 22nd * Kids go Free! Half Term at Swanage Railway. Children 5-15 when accompanied by a fee paying adult.

10:00 Adult Stone Carving At Burngate Stone Carving Centre. £80 per adult, booking essential on 01929 439405 or info@burngatestonecentre.co.uk 20:00 Ye Vagabonds Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229.

Sun 23rd * Kids go Free! Half Term at Swanage Railway. Children 5-15 when accompanied by a fee paying adult.

Mon 24th 10:00 Wareham Area Seniors’ Forum At Carey Hall, Mistover rd, Wareham. Sing along with Dave Arnold, coffee and cake on arrival.

Thu 27th 19:30 Langton Matravers Village Hall A talk for the LM Histsoc by Trev Haysom on Billy Winspit’s Map. Billy Winspit was a ‘character’ who lived where his name suggests and Trev’s talk will give a fascinating insight into aspects of the Purbeck Coast revealed by a map that has been seen by only a fortunate few.

Fri 28th 19:00 Swanage Pier Quiz Night At The Purbeck House Hotel. £5 per person, book early! Call 01929 425806 to book a table.

19:30 Karen G - A tribute to The Carpenters At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage.

20:00 Rag Mama Rag Live acts at the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Ffi: 01929 439229.

Sat 29th * Bluebird Coach Tour Bavaria’s Winter Forest - unspoilt beauty on Czech border. Ffi: 01305 782353 MARCH Sun 1st * Bluebird Coach Tour Bavaria’s Winter Forest - unspoilt beauty on Czech border. Ffi: 01305 782353 Mon 2nd * Bluebird Coach Tour Bavaria’s Winter Forest - unspoilt beauty on Czech border. Ffi: 01305 782353 Tue 3rd * Bluebird Coach Tour Bavaria’s Winter Forest - unspoilt beauty on Czech border. Ffi: 01305 782353 19:00 Wareham Town Council Meeting In the Council Chamber at the Town Hall. FFi: 01929 553006 or www.wareham-tc.gov.uk Wed 4th * Bluebird Coach Tour Bavaria’s Winter Forest - unspoilt beauty on Czech border. Ffi: 01305 782353 Thu 5th * Bluebird Coach Tour Bavaria’s Winter Forest - unspoilt beauty on Czech border. Ffi: 01305 782353 * Swanage Blues Festival 60 gigs, 40 bands, 15 indoor venues Ffi: swanageblues.org Fri 6th * Bluebird Coach Tour Bavaria’s Winter Forest - unspoilt beauty on Czech border. Ffi: 01305 782353

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*

Swanage Blues Festival 60 gigs, 40 bands, 15 indoor venues Ffi: swanageblues.org

Sat 7th * Bluebird Coach Tour Bavaria’s Winter Forest - unspoilt beauty on Czech border. Ffi: 01305 782353 * Swanage Blues Festival 60 gigs, 40 bands, 15 indoor venues Ffi: swanageblues.org 09:00 King George’s 5K A free informal 5k walk, jog or run, Victoria Ave, Swanage. All welcome. Ffi: Pete Smith 07876 567584.

Sun 8th * Swanage Blues Festival 60 gigs, 40 bands, 15 indoor venues Ffi: swanageblues.org Tue 10th 14:00 Purbeck Parkinson’s Meetings All Saints Church Hall Swanage 2pm till 4pm FFI – T. Lander 01929 425970 or D. Peters 01929 551962 Wed 11th 19:30 Movie Night - Hotel Mumbai At The Isle of Purbeck Golf Club.

Sat 14th * Bluebird Coach Tour The Freedom of London, no ties, go as you please. Ffi: 01305 782353 Sun 15th * Bluebird Coach Tour The Freedom of London, no ties, go as you please. Ffi: 01305 782353 10:00 Kingston Maurwood College Open Morning Dorchester DT2 8PY. Ffi: 01305 215215 Fri 20th 19:30 Quiz Night At The Isle of Purbeck Golf Club. £1 entry.

Sun 22nd * Bluebird Coach Tour The Pudding Club - Pure indulgence in the Cotswalds. Ffi: 01305 782353 Mon 23rd Bluebird Coach Tour The Pudding Club - Pure indulgence in the Cotswalds. * Ffi: 01305 782353 Thu 26th 19:30 Movie Night - Alita At The Isle of Purbeck Golf Club.

Fri 27th Bluebird Coach Tour The National Memorial Arboretum & Coventry Ffi: 01305 * 782353 Sat 28th Bluebird Coach Tour The National Memorial Arboretum & Coventry Ffi: 01305 * 782353 Sun 29th Bluebird Coach Tour The National Memorial Arboretum & Coventry Ffi: 01305 * 782353 19:30 Richard Digance At The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage.

Mon 30th Swanage Regatta & Carnival Charity Nominations Please apply in writing if * you’d like to nominate a Charity and good cause by 31st March 2020. Apply to; Kevin Langdon, Swanage Regatta and Carnival, 192 Kings rd West, Swanage.

BH19 1HT or email sectretary@swanagecarnival.com

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 10.30 Flowers with Liz at the Purbeck Workshop in Wool. The Workshop provides craft activities free of charge to those touched by cancer friends and family are welcome too. Unit 6, Woolbridge Business Centre, East Burton Rd, Wool. BH20 6HG. www.purbeckworkshop.org 07757 776907. Email: richris95@gmail.com 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 Wareham Short Mat Bowls. Meet at Furzebrook Village Hall. New members welcome to come along and meet us!

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 Lesbian and Gay Friendship Group meets every Monday evening for social events and shared interests, such as meals, walking and outings.

Ffi: contact Karen via email: outinpurbeck@gmail.com

The Purbeck Gazette 18.00 Swanage Tennis Club at Beach Gardens, Sw. Free Cardio Tennis taster.

Till 7pm 18.00 Swanage Tennis Club at Beach Gardens, Sw. Free Matchplay taster session for prospective new members. First 3 sessions are free. Until 8.30pm.

19.00 Wareham Choral Society meet URC Meeting House, Church St, Wm. Till 9. New singers always welcome.

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 Steve Peirson on 01929 552504.

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 Wm Folk Dance Club Stoboro’ VH. All welcome. 552763/551029 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 Swanage Tennis Club at Beach Gardens, Sw. Free Cardio Tennis taster.

Till 10am 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.

09.30 First Steps Parent & Toddlers’ Group. Swanage Methodist Church till 11.30am during term time. Ffi: Sylvia Garrett 425420, office hours.

10.00 Men & Women’s Mixed Walking Football Club at Swanage Football Club. Come and try! All levels welcome, even if you’ve never played before. Come and join in or just come along to watch a very friendly group of people playing football. Until 11.30am. Call Nick on: 07745 907509 10.00 Swanage Tennis Club at Beach Gardens, Sw. Free Matchplay taster session for prospective new members. First 3 sessions are free. Until 11.30am.

10.00 Wareham Croquet Club meet at the Recreation Ground until 5pm. New members and visitors welcome. Call Tony on 01929 550190 or Lesley on 01929 553927 or email warehamgolfcroquetclub@hotmail.com 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 10.00 A Place Of Welcome at 21 Commercial Road, Sw. Friendly drop-in for everyone, providing a free cup of tea or coffee, a listening ear, conversation and basic information. Everyone welcome, whatever the circumstances.

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 Wareham Walkers. Convivial health walks for mainly older people, of up to two hours in and around Wareham, ending with coffee at a local tea room or pub. Ffi: www.wareham-walkers.org.uk or call 552933.

12.00 Nature Tots (0-4yrs) at Bovington Memorial Hall Garden. Until 2pm.

14.00 Wareham Short Mat Bowls. Meet at Furzebrook Village Hall. New members welcome to come along and meet us!

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 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 Women’s Walking Football Club at Swanage Football Club. Come and try! All levels welcome, even if you’ve never played before. Come and

The Purbeck Gazette join in or just come along to watch a very friendly group of people playing football. Until 9pm. Call Nick on: 07745 907509 19.30 Sw & Langton Folk Dance Club Langton VH. Ffi: 421913 19.00 Belvedere Singers rehearsal at St Mark’s CE VA Primary School, High St, Sw. Parking on-site. Till 9pm. All singers welcome! 423350.

19.00 Give Rugby A Try! FREE! at Swanage & Wareham Rugby Club, Bestwall Rd, Wm. We’re looking for new players, so come and have a go!

Until 9pm. Over 18s only. Call John C. on: 07970 500357 Ffi. 20.00 Carey Hall, Wm Bingo EVERY WEDNESDAY 09.00 St Mark’s Toddlers Group, St Mark’s Church, Swanage. Herston, Sw Till 11am 09.45 Corfe Wool Workshop Corfe VH, East St. Members £1.50; nonmembers £2.50. Till12.00. 427067 10.00 Short tennis for adults at Swanage Football Club. All welcome.

Equipment supplied. Till noon.

10.00 Breast Feeding Group at Wareham’s Children Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Offering peer support and breastfeeding counsellor advice. Till 12 noon.

Ffi: 552864 10.30 Play and Learn at Kids of Wool (BH20 6DY) until 12 noon.

13.00 Studland Toddler Group at Studland Village Hall until 2.30pm.

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 14.30 Local Historian takes you on a town walk around Swanage, lasting 1 1/2 hours. No need to book, just turn up in the Swanage Museum in the Square, voluntary contributions welcome.

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 Tennis Club at Beach Gardens, Sw. Free Cardio Tennis taster.

Till 7pm 18.00 Swanage Youth Club. School years 7&8. Till 8.30pm 18.00 Table Tennis at Harmans Cross Village Hall. All ages & abilities welcome.

Coaching given. Till 8pm or later. Ffi: 424591 18.30 Sw & Wm Hockey Club Junior (6-14yrs) Training, Wm Sports Centre.

Until 7.30pm. Email: swanagewarehamhockey@outlook.com 19.00 Wm Bridge Club at the Library, South St. 552046 19.00 Swanage Depression Support group. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday each month at the Lower Hall, Salvation Army, Kings Rd East, Sw. BH19 1ES, until 9pm. Ffi: Nick on: 07766352062 or email: nickviney@hotmail.com or call Mary on: 01929426896.

19.00 Wareham Depression Support group. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month at Not Just Sundaes, South Street, Wareham.

BH20, until 9pm. Ffi: John: 01929556315 or 07871 727278 or email: johnoneil905@yahoo.co.uk 19.00 Swanage Town Band meet for our weekly practice in the Council Chamber, Swanage Town Hall. New musicians warmly welcomed. Please call David Cook (musical Director) for further informaiton on: 01929 422909.

19.00 Give Rugby A Try! FREE! at Swanage & Wareham Rugby Club, Bestwall Rd, Wm. We’re looking for new players, so come and have a go!

Until 9pm. Under 16s-18s only. Call John P. on: 07725 567541 Ffi. 19.00 Purbeck Runners meet at Beach Gardens Pavillion, Sw. 19.30 Swanage Musical Theatre meet Swanage Bay View Complex Rehearsal Room. All welcome. Ffi: 426161 19.30 Sw & Wm Hockey Club (13+ years) Training, Wm Sports Centre. Till 9pm. Email: swanagewarehamhockey@outlook.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 Swanage Tennis Club at Beach Gardens, Sw. Free Cardio Tennis taster.

Till 9.30am.

09.00 Carey Crafters meet every Thursday at Carey Hall, Mistover Road, until 12.30pm (come anytime between). No age or gender restriction. All crafts welcome we have a wide variety!. Come along and share your craft or learn a new one! Conntact Donna on 07870 993311 or Helen on 07368 352737 ffi.

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

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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 Swanage Tennis Club at Beach Gardens, Sw. Free Matchplay taster session for prospective new members. First 3 sessions are free. Until 11am.

09.30 Sensory Play for under ones, at Bovington Centre until 10.30am 10.00 Wyvern Savings & Loan Credit Union opens until 12 noon at Not Just Sundaes, South Street, Wareham, opposite the Library. A secure place to save and loans available at fair rates. Call in for a cuppa and a chat, or call 01305 268444.

10.00 Wm Parent & Toddler Group During term Parish Hall, Quay Till 11.45.

556806 10.00 Wool Country Market D’Urbeville Hall. Cakes, preserves, plants, crafts, vegetables. Coffee & biscuits available.

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 Tony on 01929 550190 or Lesley on 01929 553927 or email warehamgolfcroquetclub@hotmail.com 10.15 Chess at the Cafe Tratt, Lower High Street, Swanage (from 8th February 2018). Call in for a friendly game of chess and a chat. All welcome.

10.30 Mid-Week Market Morning Service URC, Church St, Wm. Prayer requests to Revd. Simon Franklin 556976 10.30 Woodworking with Bernard and Terry at the Purbeck Workshop in Wool.

The Workshop provides craft activities free of charge to those touched by cancer - friends and family are welcome too. Unit 6, Woolbridge Business Centre, East Burton Rd, Wool. BH20 6HG. www.purbeckworkshop.org 07757 776907. Email: richris95@gmail.com 11.00 Sensory Play for 1-4yrs old at Bovington Centre, until 12 noon.

13.30 Under 1 year olds at Wareham’s Children’s Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Anti-natal mums welcome. Till 3pm. Ffi: 552864.

13.00 Wareham Area Men’s Shed meets at Purbeck Connect, Sandford Lane, Wm. Ffi: call Chris on 554758, Harold on 792591 or Mike on 288045 13.30 Toddler Group. All Saints’ Church, Sw. 423937. Till 3pm (Term times) 14.00 Wareham Happy Cafe. Friendly conversation, talks, activities and some fun to put a spring in your step! Everyone welcome. Held at the Not Just Sundaes Cafe in South Street, Wareham. BH20 4LU. From 5th March 2020 onwards. FREE. Until 3.30pm.

14.00 Studland Chair-based Exercise in the Village Hall, Studland. Ffi: Julie on 558139 or email: jbrad@uwclub.net 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 Isle of Purbeck Arts Club. Weekly evening Art Group. Aimed at beginners, at Purbeck New Wave Gallery, 25 Commercial Rd, Sw. BH19 1DF. till 9pm.

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 Over 40s Men’s Walking Football Club at Swanage Football Club.

Come and try! All levels welcome, even if you’ve never played before.

Come and join in or just come along to watch a very friendly group of people playing football. Until 8.30pm. Call Nick on: 07745 907509 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 David Fawcett, at St Mary’s School, Northbrook Road, Swanage. Sept-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 08.45 Coffee @ 112 - Drop In For Coffee! Catch up with friends at 112 High

52

Street (United Reformed Church) in Sw. Cake and bacon butties. Fair trade stall. Donations for ‘Besom in Purbeck’ and church funds.

09.00 Swanage Tennis Club at Beach Gardens, Sw. Free Cardio Tennis taster.

Till 10am 09.30 Health Qigong: Fitness and relaxation. Till 10.30am. With Penny at Furzebrook VH, Wm. Ffi 07969925502 09.30 Wareham Area Men’s Shed meets at Purbeck Connect, Sandford Lane, Wm. Ffi: call Chris on 554758, Harold on 792591 or Mike on 288045 09.30 Little Fishes Baby and Toddler Group. Catholic Church Hall, Rempstone Road, Swanage. Term time only. Until 11.30am. Ffi: Alex on 07904 412067.

10.00 Table Tennis Club Sw FC All ages/abilities £2.50 Till noon. 480093 10.00 A Place Of Welcome at 21 Commercial Road, Sw. Friendly drop-in for everyone, providing a free cup of tea or coffee, a listening ear, conversation and basic information. Everyone welcome, whatever the circumstances.

10.30 Do you want to volunteer in Swanage? Meet the team at the Volunteer Bureau in Swanage Library! Until 12.30pm.

11.00 Swanage Library Rhyme Time, ages 0-4, until 11.30am.

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 Wareham Short Mat Bowls. Meet at Furzebrook Village Hall. New members welcome to come along and meet us!

14.30 Short Mat Bowls at Durbeville Hall, Wool. Till 4.30pm. All standards welcome. Ffi: 552682.

18.00 Swanage Tennis Club at Beach Gardens, Sw. Free Matchplay taster session for prospective new members. First 3 sessions are free. Until 8.30pm.

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 Purbeck Youth Choir at the United Reformed Church Hall, Sw. 8-18 years old. Till 7pm. Ffi: Jay Buckle on: 07947 866945

The Purbeck Gazette 18.30 Sw Bridge Club Mowlem Community Room. 421840 19.00 Sw Youth Centre Seniors Club Night (Yr 9+) Till 9.30pm.

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.

11.00 Lego and Megablok Mayhem at Swanage Library, until 12 noon.

20.00 Herston OAP Committee Bingo at Herston Hall, Sw EVERY SUNDAY 09.00 Purbeck Runners meet at the Mowlem, Sw. 8+ mile run.

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.

10.00 Give Rugby A Try! FREE! at Swanage & Wareham Rugby Club, Bestwall Rd, Wm. We’re looking for new players, so come and have a go!

Until noon. Under 6s-16s only. Call Claire on: 07799 842225 Ffi. 10.30 Stoborough Emmanuel Baptist Church meet at Stoborough First School, Stoborough. All very welcome.

13.30 Swanage Tennis Club at Beach Gardens, Sw. Free Cardio Tennis taster.

Till 2.30pm 14.30 Swanage Tennis Club at Beach Gardens, Sw. Free Matchplay taster session for prospective new members. First 3 sessions are free. Until 4.30pm.

19.00 Quiz Night with cash prizes at the Red Lion, High Street, Swanage. All welcome - come along and see if you can win the prize pot!

J.A. Construction (Dorset) Ltd.

Specialist in Purbeck Stone Walling General Building, Extensions, Renovations, Roofing, New Builds and all types of Ground Work.

Also available for Plumbing, Electrics & Carpentry.

Tel: 01929 554249 Fax: 01929 552294 Mobile: 07973 388190

www.jaconstructiondorset.co.uk Email: sales@jaconstruction.co.uk

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

JIM BAGGLEY BUILDING SERVICES Ltd Renovations, Alterations, Extensions, Kitchen Fitting, New Cut Roofs, Loft Conversions, Upvc Windows & Doors, Carpentry & Joinery

Tel: 01305 852311 or 07469 793452 Email: jessjimbaggleyltd@gmail.com

The Purbeck Gazette

LOCAL TRADE ADVERTISING

53

WAREHAM GAS SERVICES For all your plumbing & heating requirements Servicing of appliances available Contact Steve: 07714 386457 or 01929 288521

Lic: 3452941 Reg: 542421

IDEAL SKIP HIRE Skips from 2 - 40yds SAND GRAVEL HARDCORE SHINGLE & TOP SOIL Available loose or in 25kg & 1 ton bags Delivery or Collection

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

TEL: 01929 422980 BRIAN MOORE

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INDEPENDENT TELECOM ENGINEER

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(Ex-BT)

Repair of phone lines & broadband HALF BT PRICES!!

07858 458997 - 01929 554886

Property Decoration & Renovation

07796 640538 01929 424882

54

The Purbeck Gazette

LOCAL TRADE ADVERTISING

SANDIE’S BARBERSHOP 191 HIGH STREET, SWANAGE Open Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm, Sat 8.30am - 3pm We are closed on Sunday.

Late night Thursday till 7pm

01929 426364

Brickcraft Construction

Extensions Artificial Lawns

Building Contractors Patio/Paving Garden Walls

Insurance & General Building Work Undertaken

Call Charlie on 07973 834175 or 01929 405075 www.brickcraftconstruction.com

Roy Osmond Ltd Traditional Forge Works Light Fabrication, Security Grills, Hand & Balcony Rails, Fire Escapes & Bespoke Work Stainless Steel and Glass Balconys

Telephone on: 01929 400520 or mobile: 0779 6044859

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

ROOFING SPECIALIST SPARROW’S Over 30 years Membership Federation of Master Builders

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

LOCAL TRADERS USE THEM OR LOSE THEM FOLKS!

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SWANAGE & DORSET SCAFFOLDING & ROOFING All aspects of Residential & Commercial Scaffolding Flat Roofing - Re-roofs, Slate or Tile, All repair works

Emergency Call Outs - Free Quotations & Estimates Temporary Roof Coverings - Fully Insured

OUR PRICE WON’T BE BEATEN

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The Purbeck Gazette

LOCAL TRADE ADVERTISING

Join our trusted Trade advertising section and let locals know what services YOU offer!

Six month block (single trade advert) £158.76 (inc. VAT)

USE OUR LOCAL TRADES PEOPLE OR LOSE THEM!

55

Man & Van available to hire

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

07767 479438 Fully licensed & insured