The Purbeck Gazette - Issue 269

The

Issue 269

FREE MONTHLY

Purbeck

June 2022

Gazette The Purbeck Gazette April 2022 Issue no: 267

20,000 copies: 20,000 copies: Swanage to Dorchester, Swanage to Dorchester, Lulworth to Bere Regis Lulworth to Bere Regis

You can also read the entire magazine in book format online at: www.purbeckgazette.co.uk

Elaine’s cycle marathon coins in the cash for good causes Page 4

The real Golden Girls Still friends after 86 years!

Page 17

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What’s inside this issue...

Arts & Entertainments

38-41 Business 32-33 Durlston Country Park events 25 Events Diary 42-43 Food & Drink 28 Gardening 26 Health & Wellbeing 36-37 Letters 20 Local Services 44-47 Margaret Green Animal Rescue 25 Money 34 Motoring 31 National Coastwatch 30 Natural Matters 18 Politics 23-24 Recuitment 11 Telling It Like It Is 12 Wareham Town Council report 35 NEWS Young Swanage swimmer wins seven golds Radio station’s poetry competition winners On your marks for Purbeck Plod Singers help dementia charity Children walk for road safety Wild swimming walks

10 11 15 16 19 22

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n Left – Prince Charles has visited Royal Bournemouth Hospital (page 5) and singer-songwriter Polly Harvey (right) has been at Dorset Museum (page 6).

Advertising Sales Team Email: adverts@purbeckgazette.co.uk Editorial Enquiries: 01929 424239 ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 9.00am - 4.30pm

www.purbeckgazette.co.uk

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 who live up long driveways or in lesser populated areas will probably 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 JULY 2022 edition has a deadline of 9 June

www.purbeckgazette.co.uk

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Richard Murgatroyd emailed this photo he took early one morning at Lulworth Cove.

Public Notices & Information Swanage Town Council Meetings – JUNE 2022

PLEASE CONTACT THE COUNCIL DIRECTLY FOR INFORMATION Phone: 01929 423636 https://swanage.gov.uk/

Wareham Town Council Meetings – JULY 2022

PLEASE CONTACT THE COUNCIL DIRECTLY FOR INFORMATION Phone: 01929 553006 http://wareham-tc.gov.uk 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 The Blackmore Vale 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 The Blackmore Vale Ltd. All editing, graphic design and lay-up is completed in-house by The Blackmore Vale Ltd. The Purbeck Gazette is printed by Blackmore Ltd of Shaftesbury and delivered by Logiforce GPS-tracked distribution. The Purbeck Gazette website is managed and edited by The Blackmore Vale Ltd. Blackmore Vale Ltd also publishes The Purbeck Guidette, the Purbeck Visitor Guide. All rights reserved.

OUR TEAM: The Gazette team consists of: Lloyd Armishaw, Debi Thorne, Rusty Harness and Mark Pritchett.

The legal stuff...

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this magazine, but the Editor is unable to accept responsibility for any omissions or errors that may occur.

The inclusion of any article or advertisement does not constitute any form of accreditation or approval by the Editor.

No part, written or visual, of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the Editor.

THE DEADLINE FOR THE JULY EDITION IS NOON, 9 JUNE

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News

Elaine saddles up for good causes SPORTY Elaine Smith has raised thousands of pounds for good causes in a marathon static cycle ride at the Cellar Bar in Swanage.

Elaine, 64, coined in more than £4,500 to be split equally between Cancer Research, mental illness charity MIND and Ukrainian refugees in the 12-hour event.

Elaine said: “My family has been touched by cancer and mental illness, as have our friends. In addition, the awful humanitarian crisis in Ukraine has moved us all.”

She cycled on her Peleton static bike, only stopping for comfort breaks, and took along two other bikes for friends and family to join her in fundraising.

The money was raised through donations to a GoFundMe page, raffle and auction on the day.

Elaine, who is married to Stan, enjoys cycling, golf, walking and cold-water swimming all year round with her friends.

She added: “The Aires family, who run the Cellar Bar were nothing less than magnificent in their support, so a very special thanks to them, making all this possible and

SWANAGE Bowls Club is holding the second of its free ‘have-a-go’ sessions on Sunday (May 29).

Booking is not necessary – budding bowlers can just turn up between 10am-noon or 2-4pm.

Members will be on hand to offer advice and bowls will be provided. Visitors should wear trainers or flat shoes/ no heels.

For more information phone club secretary Barrie Tatman on 01929 421162 or visit the club’s website at www. swanagebowlingclub.org.uk The club has entrances at Beach Gardens, Northbrook Road and Cauldon Avenue (BH19 1PG).

n

PURBEST, billed as a fun day celebrating the best of Purbeck, is running at the Jurassic Coast campsite Woodlands over the summer. Local arts and crafts, children’s activities and refreshments will be on offer, and independent small businesses will attend, on Sundays June 19, July 24 and September 11, from 11am3pm. Entry and parking is free at the site at Bindon Lane, East Stoke BH20 6AS. Elaine Smith in action at the Cellar Bar in Swanage.

such a great success.

“Thanks also to many of the town’s business who donated raffle and auction items at what

must be a difficult time for them. Many, many thanks for the support of our wonderful local businesses.”

Fancy being a piece of living art?

By Faith Eckersall THE Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has been chosen as one of 20 UK landscapes involved in Green Space, Dark Skies, part of the Unboxed pan-UK festival of creativity.

The project invites 20,000 people from all walks of life to make a journey into the landscape together.

Participants will become ‘lumenators’, holders of specially designed, low-

Have-a-go at bowls

impact lights to create enormous patterns and images on the landscape at dusk.

In Dorset, outdoor event organiser Activate Performing Arts is inviting people to come together on Saturday, June 11, to create a unique film in the heart of the Dorset AONB, which stretches from Beaminster and Blandford, down to Lyme Regis to Poole.

GSDS says lumenators

will: “Experience wild and beautiful places as dusk falls with each mass gathering celebrating nature, our responsibility to protect it and everyone’s right to explore the countryside.”

Because the exact locations will be kept secret until nearer the event, lumenators must register beforehand.

For more information visit https://greenspacedarkskies. uk/events/england-dorsetaonb

Lions plan charity swim

WAREHAM Lions Club is holding a swim for charity this autumn at Purbeck Sports Centre.

The swim is open to all clubs, businesses, schools, associations, youth organisations and family groups.

Each team, which may consist of up to ten swimmers, will receive 75 per cent of their sponsorship with 25 per cent going to the Lions.

For more information about the event on Saturday and Sunday, October 15-16, phone John Goodwin on 01929 556170 or email john. goodwin@btinternet.com

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News

Call Just Shutters today on

01202 240 769

Hospital welcomes a Royal visitor THE Prince of Wales (above) visited the Royal Bournemouth Hospital to recognise all that NHS staff and patients have been through during the past two years of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He met staff from across University Hospitals Dorset and visited a new operating

theatre which will help with the backlog of patients requiring elective operations since the pandemic.

He also officially opened the hospital’s new Lavender Garden, dedicated to the memory of colleagues who have died and a special area for staff to rest, reflect and recharge.

BUDDING writers are being invited to submit their poetry and short stories for a new book celebrating Dorset.

“I am particularly keen to promote fresh, new talent so extend this invitation to anyone aged 16 and over,” said Tim Saunders, who has just published ‘The Hampshire Collection’. Tim grew up in Dorset, living in Friar Waddon, near Upwey, for over 20 years.

He was educated at Dorchester Prep and Clayesmore in Iwerne Minster.

“The challenge is that poetry needs to be 30 lines or under and stories must not exceed 1,000 words,” he added.

The deadline is July 28, 2022, with publication scheduled for late 2022/early 2023. Entries should be

emailed to tsaunderspubs@ gmail.com Tim is also working on a fundraising project for Ukraine. “Within the next few months I will be publishing a book celebrating freedom and hope with 100 per cent of the royalties going to the Sunflower of Peace Foundation – sunflowerofpeace.com – a non-profit organisation committed to helping Ukrainians affected by the Russian military invasion.

For this I am looking for unpublished poetry – no more than 30 lines – and short stories – no more than 1,000 words – on the subjects of freedom and hope. The deadline is June 1.”

Entries should be emailed to tsaunderspubs@gmail.com

Celebrate Dorset in 1,000 words

r e tt Shu aven He justshutters.co.uk

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News

Good golly! Polly pays museum visit DORSET-BORN singersongwriter, musician and poet P J Harvey visited Dorset Museum ahead of the publication of her Dorset dialect narrative poem Orlam.

Harvey, accompanied by her mother Eva, spent an afternoon at the museum in Dorchester, starting in the library, where she presented interim director Elizabeth Selby with a hand-corrected proof of Orlam, and an exclusive signed photograph of herself wearing traditional Dorset buttons. She also gifted a published copy of Orlam, which she signed and wrote into the frontispiece ‘I’m so proud to be a local!’

Polly Harvey drew upon the work of 19th Century Dorset dialect poet and co-founder of Dorset Museum William Barnes to write Orlam. A number of items from the museum’s William Barnes collection were shown to Harvey to her great delight and interest. These included manuscript poems, early editions of published works including Barnes’ Dorset dialect glossary, and a replica of a humstrum, a traditional instrument described by Barnes in his poem The

Humstrum.

The singer was introduced to Grace Peters-Clarke, writer-in residence at the museum, as part of a black writer scheme developed and funded by international literary competition the Bridport Prize, in collaboration with bestselling author Kit de Waal.

Harvey discussed her writing process and shared with Grace her experiences of drawing upon Dorset dialect and folklore in the writing of Orlam.

Harvey and her mother Eva were given a tour of the museum, where they were drawn to a pair of buckled shoes worn by William Barnes, a replica of the Dorset Ooser - a wooden head or mask used in the 19th Century folklore of Melbury Osmund, and referenced by Harvey in Orlam - and Thomas Hardy’s writing pens.

Born in 1969 in Bridport, Polly Jean Harvey grew up in Corscombe and released her first album Dry with her band PJ Harvey in 1992. She is the only musician to have been awarded the Mercury Music Prize twice, in 2001 and 2011.

In 2013, she was awarded an

THREE town gardens in Fordington, Dorchester, are open under the National Garden Scheme (NGS) for the second year in 2022.

All are connected by a lane from South Walks Road to leafy Salisbury Fields.

Number 18 has a tiny Victorian front garden with ancient olive trees and at the rear a long narrow garden which has become a corridor of stunning Japanese Acers and other exotic shrubs and trees.

The garden exits onto Salisbury Fields and the lane where the main entrance to both 6 and 8 South Walks Road can be found. The large walled garden at number 6 was originally planted in the 1950s and is now an ongoing restoration project. Visitors will find peonies, camellias, magnolias, climbing roses – some from the original garden – Wisteria sinenesis and spring bulbs. The adjacent orchard flourishes as a wildflower

Singer-songwriter PJ Harvey on her visit to Dorset Museum.

MBE for services to music.

Her debut poetry collection, The Hollow of the Hand, was published in 2015 and created in collaboration with photographer Seamus Murphy. Orlam, which has been described as ‘a beautiful and profound narrative poem set in a magic realist version of the West Country’ was published last month.

Dorset Museum hopes to display the items gifted by Harvey in the near future.

Interim director Elizabeth Selby said: “We are thrilled and honoured that PJ Harvey has chosen to gift the museum

these wonderful items ahead of the publication of Orlam.

Harvey’s award-winning career, which spans over 30 years, has been extraordinary and wide-ranging - her achievements and creative output are something of which Dorset can be proud. She follows in a long tradition of writers including William Barnes, Thomas Hardy and Sylvia Townsend Warner whose work is shaped by Dorset, and who are represented in the museum’s collections. It is only fitting that these items should be deposited here.”

meadow.

The tiny sheltered garden at 8 South Walks Road is accessed from number 6. This courtyard garden is on two levels. On the upper level is Heptacodium miconioides, an unusual Chinese tree, a fruiting Medlar, camellias and ferns.

On the lower level are more camellias and climbing hydrangeas, including the robust Hydrangea seemannii.

Apart from the three gardens and Salisbury Fields, two

further attractions in the area are a cafe, The Bean on the Green, where cream teas will be served when the gardens are open, and St George’s Church.

Visitors to the gardens can park at the back of the church.

The gardens are open on Sundays, 12 June and 10 July, from 2-5pm. Entry is £5 in aid of NGS, for the combined three gardens. Children free.

For more details email msomerville162@gmail.com or phone 01305 260712.

Take three: A treat for gardeners

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The Purbeck Gazette

News

Church invests in new tech thanks to grant TALBOT Village Trust has provided a grant of £10,000 to St Mary’s Church in Lytchett Matravers to install a new hearing loop and update its essential tech.

This new equipment allows the church to livestream its weekly and monthly services to reach parishioners who cannot make it to the venue.

Funerals, weddings and occasional services such as the Light Party at Hallowe’en, all benefit from the new system and are livestreamed to the local community.

St Mary’s church vicar Stephen Partridge said: “My greatest desire for our church is to be accessible to the whole community. This grant from Talbot Village Trust has made this possible by enabling many more people to access the gatherings and services that are hosted within our wonderfully historic building.”

The church has been without a specialist sound system for people with hearing aids for more than ten years, after its previous hearing loop, dating back to the 1980s, had broken.

The remaining funds have been put towards updating the church’s wiring, lighting, sound and vision systems.

Where before the wiring was visible and unsightly, the new

rewiring scheme has improved the aesthetics of the church interior, while also bringing it in line with current safety guidelines.

A cumbersome, old spotlight system has made way for a more modern and environmentally friendly LED lighting track, which allows the lighting to be easily tailored to each service or event.

Talbot Village Trust chairman Nicholas AshleyCooper said: “Enriching our communities is our main goal at Talbot Village Trust and accessibility is a crucial part of that. We are proud to be able to provide this grant to St Mary’s Church, enabling its longevity and allowing the community to gather and worship here for many years to come, both in person and virtually.”

The church is home to a bellringers group and welcomes local community groups, including a Beaver group, a history group and an art group. For further information on the church’s services, community events and courses, visit www.smlm. co.uk To apply for funding from the Talbot Village Trust, visit www.talbotvillagetrust.org to submit an online application.

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Feature

Ancient temples

I

arrived in Sheo town in the Rajasthan desert in my last piece (Purbeck Gazette, April). Next day, cycling into a low, rising sun and still feeling rough, soon exhausted, I sat on roadside sand overlooking a refugee camp. A refugee joined me: “We Hindus saw few prospects in Islamic Pakistan so, when the Indian army occupied our village in the recent war, we took our camels and crossed into India. We are waiting for citizenship before re-creating our village here.”

The vernacular housing was simple. Each house comprised a mat of brushwood reinforced by a couple of woven bands of pliant branches. Set up on edge, the mat became a wall enclosing a circular space.

That was men’s work. The women, taking a mixture of mud and cattle dung, set to plastering over that wall inside and out before making a floor of the smoothed plaster. It dried coffeecoloured. They then decorated the outer wall with white lime designs. Finally, the men crowned the structure with a flattened cone of thatch from wild broom or straw.

Each spotless hut formed a house to be stocked with

The latest in a short series of essays by renowned author and historian ILAY COOPER

cooking utensils and a pile of hand-made cotton-filled quilts. Life requires little.

Most housework took place in the compound fenced with dried thornbush. Here, goats and a couple of cows passed the night. As the family grew the compound expanded to enclose another hut.

The rains had been more generous here and the desert showed more signs of greenery. Frontier land, there were occasional army encampments. Soldiers waved. At dusk, entering the district town of Barmer, I found a room and collapsed.

Was it salt deficiency?

The collector, district administrator, was friendly, sent me in a jeep carrying wages to road workers at Kiradu, a nearby village with ancient temples. The driver bumped cheerfully between rocky hills, past redflowering roira trees and prickly pear cactus. While he distributed cash, I explored.

Grain is sold from a heavily-carved building in Jodhpur’s old market.

Kiradu was once large, prosperous – a temple inscription, dated 1162, mentioned a king, Someshwar. Little remains but for the vandalised temples, their stone-work richly carved with animals, galloping horsemen, dancers and musicians.

The driver returned with a workman. Each man had to apply his indelible ink thumbprint to a receipt. This man had returned to the queue to be paid twice. He had good reason – his brother hadn’t turned up, but it was still forgery. The driver would take the terrified fellow back to Barmer police station. It was a hollow threat. After a couple of miles, he set him free to walk home.

N

ext day, the road was hard work, winding, undulating, often deeply sand-covered. Great, steep-sided dunes advancing on seasonal winds had engulfed an old version of the road. At intervals, there were wells, each with a crowd of up to 40-50 camels being watered. A camel team dragged leather bags of water up from the depths. After three-and-a-half hours and several small villages, I covered 65km. A river marked on the map crossed the road as a wide sandy bed.

It must be quite a torrent during a good Monsoon.

At a thorn-bush tea house, after sweet, hot milk, I rested before launching into a headwind. Before Balotra, the next town, exhaustion struck again. Sitting in the sand, cursing at the wind, I heard running feet. A man gesticulated towards a lorry which had stopped – the driver offered a lift. That same Sikh had carried me into Bikaner. Together, we entered Balotra through dazzling green fields after so much desert. Here, we unloaded rock salt.

The town was unremarkable save for its dyeing industry – everywhere colourful cloth was drying or being loaded onto bullock carts. Some men fetched the lorry to load another cargo.

We sat in a tea hut, the sun setting through ‘windows’ moulded in the mud walls.

Darkness brought cold.

Outside, a group of men gathered about a fire – one burned his hand while shaping a copper bracelet.

The lorry returned and we advanced through stars into Jodhpur city. There, the driver bought a bottle of country liquor, pouring some into my water bottle.

Together, we toasted the mother goddess. He dropped me by a cheap doss house, cots set out beside the street.

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and a scam The magnificent fort of Mehrangarh overlooks Jodhpur city, defending the Maharaja’s old palace.

Ramesh, a friendly youth staying there, led me to an eating place – owned by a magician, he said – for free dal and rice. Despite lively bed bugs and a far-too-small

bed, I slept well.

N

ext morning, Ramesh wanted to show off the town. Improbably, his family dealt in gold and

silver in Bombay. He was staying with his sister outside Jodhpur. I collected some cash from the post office and took a room at a better hotel which, by the end of our tour, it was clear Ramesh expected to share since I ‘was like his elder brother’. The more we talked the less I trusted him, each tale becoming more far-fetched but, not wanting to be mean, I succumbed. We went to a film, through which he slept.

Next morning, he took me to a hospital, where his uncle was a doctor, and I sat in the waiting room while he looked for him. Ten minutes later he was back, wanting to borrow money to convince his uncle he had enough cash to stay in Jodhpur. I refused. He pleaded. Still I refused. We

Feature left the hospital but he seemed genuinely upset that I didn’t trust him, so, back at the waiting room, in a grand gesture, I handed him all the 80rs I possessed and he disappeared down a corridor.

Even as he went, I noticed sunlight at its end but waited half an hour before confronting the truth – that corridor led straight to another exit.

I wasted time looking for him. He could pass unnoticed in the city. All I had was £2 in sterling and my Timex watch, which everyone wanted to buy. At least I’d paid the hotel in advance.

Now, no one wanted to pay for sterling at black-market rates or to buy the watch.

So, on New Year’s Day, I quit Jodhpur with 36 rs – that £2 – with 610km to cycle back to Delhi. Let’s be honest – later, I never regretted that theft. It became an anecdote, enriching the rest of the journey.

The Village Inn Ulwell is a pleasant stroll away from Swanage or a place to rest when walking the Purbeck Hills.

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The Purbeck Gazette

News

Seven golds for Daisy!

YOUNG Wareham & District Swimming Club member Daisy Kirkpatrick set the pace in a competition in Dorchester entering seven races and winning seven gold medals.

Daisy, ten, from Swanage, was up against members of other Dorset swimming clubs in the Level 3 competition.

Club head coach Jeff

Sandley said: “Daisy has incredible potential and as a coach who has seen Olympians rise through the ranks and British finalists etc, I can safely say she has all the ingredients to get to that level.”

Daisy trains four times a week at Wareham Sports Centre.

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News

Poetry winners at radio station THE winners of a poetry competition took a turn in the limelight when they read out their entries on ‘Lunchtime with Elaine’ on Purbeck Coast Radio.

More than 100 poems were entered into the Big Write Poetry competition in which adults and youngsters had to write 200 words about Spring.

In the adults section the winners were: 1 Her name is April Mae by Grace Kent; 2 Hope Life and Light by Annie Bridger; 3 Spring Bus Ride in the Countryside by Annie Bridger; 4 From My Wheelchair by Wendy Wharam, aged 88.

In the children’s section, for youngsters aged up to 16, the winners were: 1 Springtime in Purbeck by Louis James, aged 15; 2 Spring, What a Wondertime Matilda Turner; 3 Spring by Ella Bolton; 4 Spring by Freya Mathews.

The judges were radio show presenter Elaine Glover, Swanage lead librarian Peter McCarthy, Carlotta Barrow,

Young Freya Mathews was 4th.

who runs a private poetry group, and Martin Hobdell, who runs the Globe Poetry group Bells Street. All four are poets.

Teacher Chantelle Leg of St George Primary School, Langton Matravas, encouraged her class to write poems and all the poems sent in were of a high standard.

The winners also collected their prizes at Purbeck Radio – £20 vouchers from Waterstones and items from the Pier Trust’s gift shop.

Runners boost Ukraine appeal

By Nicci Brown A MASSIVE turnout and support for a fundraising event for the Spetisbury Ukraine Appeal saw more than £3,300 raised on its JustGiving page by the following day.

Organiser Lesley Davies thanked everyone who walked or ran a 3km or 7km

route, as well as the cake bakers, donors of raffle prizes, marshalls, those providing IT assistance and helpers at the start and finish in the big barn at The Shack, Clapcotts Farm.

Money raised will go to the Disaster Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Village goes to town for the Jubilee

individually designed and painted the banners on strong but lightweight ‘ripstop’ fabric, similar to the spinnaker sails which marked the route of the Olympic torch through the village in 2012.

Each banner is 4ft high by 15in across and mounted on sturdy bamboo canes gifted by Abbotsbury’s Sub-Tropical Gardens.

The banners are placed in brackets used by Abbotsbury residents to mount the Christmas trees which brighten the village’s streets every year.

VILLAGERS in Abbotsbury are celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a community art installation.

They have designed and painted 55 banners which will be on display in the village’s main streets from Saturday, 28 May, to Saturday, 25 June.

Residents from pre-school age to aged over 90 have each

Wendy Wharam reads out her poem on air.

Recruitment

The Purbeck Gazette The Blackmore Vale Ltd are looking to expand their advertising sales team to cover the Isle of Purbeck You will be working with a team of friendly people for our Purbeck Gazette.

The ideal candidate will have a good local knowledge, excellent communication skills both face-to-face and on the telephone, selling display advertising to existing and potential new clients, and the ideal candidate will have experience in sales and the publishing industry.

Good written English, spelling & grammar with the ability to work well under pressure on their own and part of a friendly bubbly team.

Their role is home-based with monthly meetings with the sales team. You must own your own vehicle - a mileage allowance is paid.

Hours are Monday - Friday 9am - 5:30pm.

If you are friendly, work well under pressure and able to meet deadlines and have a great sense of humour please send your application to debi.thorne@icloud.com Closing date for applications is Friday 24th June.

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The Purbeck Gazette

Telling It Like It Is

Festival didn’t keep it local

By David Hollister was surprised to learn that a new event was taking place over the same long weekend as the Railway’s Diesel Gala and Beer Festival.

Organised by Zoom Events – not a local business – the festival featured a bar, street foods, al fresco dining – that’s wandering round in the street, eating, which my parents assured me was not a decent thing to do – live music, children’s entertainment and ‘a host of artisan groceries, arts and crafts’.

Intrigued, I visited – but not for long. Surprised, perhaps, that the council had decided to permit this festival to ‘bring visitors to Swanage’ when the Railway was already doing just that.

The only stall I could find from any local business was Purbeck Ice Cream.

About ten food outlets offered a selection of freshly prepared street foods, such as crepes, Japanese and Mexican food, and a bar had beers, gins and prosecco, along with a ‘pina colada’ which appeared to be half a pineapple, scooped out, filled with rum.

In many cases, the goods on offer could be found cheaper in town centre shops not 100 yards away – for example, cheeses, olives, fudges and breads.

Where were the locals?

Had they been invited? Or had the pitch fees, rumoured to be in the region of £500 a day, put them off?

I

Last year, this festival took place on Sandpit Field where at least it wasn’t ‘in your face’ to the local shops and restaurants.

I spoke to several local traders, all of whom were astonished at the slap in the face the council was delivering, not only to commercial ratepayers but in some cases to the council’s concession tenants themselves.

I also spoke to a few visitors, all of whom expressed surprise this had been allowed to go on.

So, I ask the council, and hope it may reply in a future edition – was this really such a good idea?

It cannot even begin to understand the ‘bad will’ created by deliberately imposing out-of-town competition on an already fragile just-recovering retail economy.

I ask the shopkeepers, restaurateurs, ice-cream and sweet shop proprietors, don’t just sit there – reply through these pages and take it up with the council, because if you don’t, this sort of thing will be imposed on you more and more often.

The town already has to cope with the Carnival market on Sandpit Field in the middle of summer – yes, the Carnival brings visitors to the town, and is one of our main summer attractions, but at least it raises funds for local charities.

Yet again, how many of the stalls on Carnival Field are local?

Quite a few shopkeepers have expressed negative opinions about the commercial side of Swanage Carnival but are reluctant to do so out loud because of the huge pro-carnival strength of feeling in the town. And have learned to live with it and, in a few cases, profit from it.

The council not only derives huge rents from the seaside businesses but also substantial pitch fees from the Friday Market in King George’s car park.

Were they consulted or even considered?

Sorry, Culvin, but I don’t think your position as visitor services manager should involve deliberately working against the local market, shops, food and drink establishments.

You should be working with them, not against them.

So let’s get this sorted out for the future.

This year, you’ve overstepped the mark and perhaps need to realise money isn’t everything – local loyalties and goodwill are worth a great deal more.

I

’d like to take this opportunity to thank Dorset Council for increasing the cost of street parking in Station Road to the point where I now actually use the ‘residents’ car park’ which is much cheaper and obliges me to walk into town to do my shopping. I need the exercise.

But, of course, there is a third option involving a mouse…I’d really much rather support my local shops because once they’re gone, they’re gone. Along with the busy street scene and the associated jobs.

And how often do I see the sign on the Station Road and Sea Front meters ‘out of order – please pay by phone’.

Which I prefer not to do.

It’s my choice. And I’m sure a lot of our older

residents feel the same.

It isn’t incompetence, or indeed frequent mechanical breakdown of these machines – I genuinely believe it’s Dorset Council’s way of pushing us to become a ‘cashless economy’.

Why doesn’t it just admit it, tape over the cash slots and put ‘pay by phone only’ stickers on them.

F

or the first time since 1963, HRH Queen Elizabeth didn’t deliver the Queen’s Speech at the opening of Parliament.

I’m so sad that this astonishing and gallant lady is having to curtail her public and state appearances.

Tears were in my eyes at Prince Philip’s thanksgiving service when she sat, dignified, sad and alone, possibly one of the last occasions at which she will appear.

And at which genuine dignity will have an outing.

Some of us feel she has for too long been used as a tool by successive governments to announce unfounded political promises which’ ‘my Government’ has little or no intention of keeping.

Maybe ‘mobility problems’ actually means a genuine reluctance to sit there spouting from the gospel according to St Boris, just in case she chokes on the words…

H

ave you noticed that every time something goes wrong in this country, up pops a ‘Government spokesperson’, usually through the BBC, to assure us that this, that or the other is being done.

It may well be that some of these assurances are genuinely made.

Or it may well be that I am right in thinking they are just another pack of lies.

We, the voters, are not stupid. Even though you think we are…

13

The Purbeck Gazette

News

Cows are doing valuable work at Studland Bay RED Devon cattle will return to graze the dune heath at Studland Bay towards the end of May after grazing and trampling over the vegetation last year and creating spaces of bare ground for rare species.

A few more cattle have been introduced to the group and the range has been slightly expanded but it is unlikely visitors to the heath will see a cow, as they graze a large area and tend to spend their time in the wilder spaces.

Visitors who see a cow are asked to remember to act in accordance with their own and the cattle’s safety. They should

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maintain a safe distance, keep dogs on short leads, not approach the cattle and make sure to clear up any rubbish. If a cow is approaching a person and their dog, it is best to let the dog off the lead and move away from the cow.

The cattle will again play their role as wild herbivores on the dunes, cropping and trampling the vegetation, opening up new areas and creating a mix of different habitats.

For more about cattle reintroduction and the Dynamic Dunescapes project, visit the webpage https://www.

Cattle trample vegetation and create bare ground for rare species.

nationaltrust.org.uk/studlandbay/features/cattle-grazingreturns-to-studland-heath The reintroduction of cattle grazing at Studland Bay ties in with the wider Wild Purbeck grazing project within the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve.

It is hoped to allow habitats

and ecosystems to function more naturally by knitting spaces together, working collaboratively with different landowners and thinking across a landscape.

Purbeck Heaths NNR now has a new website, the digital hub for visitors and residents https://purbeckheaths.org.uk/

14

The Purbeck Gazette

News

Step to it for tea dances ‘SHALL we dance’ is resuming its party tea dance afternoons for people with memory loss, their carers and anyone else who would like to go along.

The fun starts at the War Memorial Hall in Broadstone - Tudor Road, BH18 8AW - on Friday, 27 May, from 2-4pm and will include ballroom dancing, singing, line dancing and disco - and a ‘name that tune’-style quiz. A ‘vintage’ afternoon tea will be served with a selection of homemade cakes, tea and coffee, plus a raffle in the interval.

The events aim to give older people, including those with memory loss, a fun afternoon to socialise and relieve the stress of daily life.

It is widely accepted that singing and dancing improves communication with

Dancers at the last dance over two years ago.

others, uplifts spirits, and the interaction joining in with songs and dance helps with self-esteem. Carers are encouraged to join in or have a quiet time to themselves if

they wish.

Organisers encourage participants to join in the sing-a-long - they provide song sheets - and to dance, whether for a slow waltz or an easy line dance – help will be available - or just get onto the floor for a bit of rock and roll. Visitors who do not wish to dance are still welcome to go along for singing, laughing, tea and cake.

The dances are on the last Friday of the month and entrance is £5, including refreshments.

The ‘Shall We Dance’ team is sponsored by Leslie Shand of Corfe Mullen and the Leonardo Trust of Broadstone. They will sponsor the entrance fee of any cares who attend.

Phone 01202 658833 for information and to reserve a place. Spaces are limited.

Out Of The Blue

Well, summer is in full swing and we will soon be approaching the longest day.

The Anglo-Saxons called June sera ‘monath’, translated as ‘dry month’ but please don’t let your opinions dry up, keep those priority surveys coming – https://www. surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ PurbeckEmail So, what have we been up to? Well, in the period 6 April-6 May we dealt with 522 occurrences in Purbeck, of which 157 were recorded crimes and resulted in 44 arrests. There were also 97 road traffic collisions.

We are now well into the summer, good weather and barbecue season, and unfortunately there have already been some major heath fires.

The weekend of 23 April saw several fires, Canford Heath being the largest. I am sure most of you remember the devastating fire at Wareham Forest in 2020, destroying an area the size of 230 football pitches, at a cost of £1 million and devastating wildlife.

Several areas in Purbeck now have Public Spaces

Protection Orders which can be enforced by means of a fixed penalty notice (FPN) of £100 issued by a police officer or authorised person.

The FPN can be issued to anyone believed to have committed an offence.

Never light a fire or use a barbecue in areas which are high fire risk or where there are signs saying no barbecues or fires.

If you see others who shouldn’t be having a barbecue or lighting a fire, just let them know about the ban and the wildfire risk. n BBQs and campfire ban

in high fire risk areas in Dorset - Dorset Council n Operation Heathland Campaign - Urban Heaths Partnership (dorsetheaths. org.uk) n https://www.dwfire.org. uk/safety/heath-fires-andcountryside-safety/ And finally, if you need to contact Dorset Police, please phone our Police Enquiry Centre on 101 or email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk 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 several issues, from full crime reports to lost property – just use this link https://www. dorset.police.uk/do-itonline/

Don’t forget to visit us on our Facebook page, Facebook.com/Purbeckpolice, and Twitter – @ PurbeckPolice – we really value your support and comments. You can also see our latest priorities and up and coming events at https://www.dorset.police. uk/neighbourhoodpolicing/purbeck/ Why not register on Dorset Alert? By registering for the free Dorset Police community messaging alerts you will receive information on local crime and incidents where we believe that sharing information with you will help to prevent further offences occurring, crimes and incidents where you may be able to help by providing vital information, current crime trends, crime prevention advice and Safer Neighbourhood activity and opportunities to meet the team. You can also receive news from our partner agencies such as Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and Trading Standards, and community safety messages.

Purbeck Neighbourhood Policing Team

15

The Purbeck Gazette

Great Plague in spotlight

By Lorraine Gibson WE are all well aware of the effects of the global pandemic which has ravaged our lives since 2020.

Imagine, then, the plague which raged around major European ports in the mid-17th Century before eventually arriving at the Port of London in the fetid summer of 1665. It was the city’s most infamous historical epidemic, killing a quarter of its residents in less than a year.

Fast forward to the 21st Century and discoveries, made through examining the remains of plague

victims, have now revealed that the Great Plague was caused by the same bacteria which caused the Black Death in the 14th century, and many plagues before that.

This disease is no thing of the past, the bacterium lives on in many rodents today, resulting in cases of plague in the unlikeliest of places.

To find out more, go along to the fascinating ‘The Great Plague of London Talk’ by Dr Carol Reeves at the Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne, on Wednesday, 1 June, 2pm. Tickets: £6

Ready, steady, go for the Purbeck Plod!

THE Ramblers East Dorset Group is once more holding its popular challenge event – The Purbeck Plod after being cancelled for the past two years because of Covid-19.

The event will take place on Sunday, 26 June, and consist of a 25-mile route open to walkers and runners, and two shorter routes of 16 miles and 12 miles for walkers only.

The routes start from Swanage Pier and continue westward along the South West Coast Path. The 25-mile walk/ run goes as far as Kimmeridge where it turns inland and returns to Swanage over the Purbeck Hills, passing through Corfe Castle. The 16-mile walk turns inland near Chapman’s Pool then continues to Corfe Castle to join the other walk. The 12-mile walk turns in to Worth Matravers and continues back to Swanage along the Priests Way. Registration is from 7.30am

on the day. Walkers for the 25- and 16-mile options start at 8.30am, runners start at 9.30am and 12-mile walkers start at 9.35am. Participants should arrive no later than 20 minutes before their start time if entering on the day. The latest finish time is 8pm.

Most checkpoints will offer cold drinks and some will offer light snacks. Food will be provided at the finish along with a timed certificate for all participants. The walks are not suitable for dogs.

Advanced entry fee is £7 (£10 on the day). The closing date for advanced entries is Sunday, 12 June.

Entry forms and further information is available from the event secretary, 43 Parkwood Road, Wimborne Minster, Dorset BH21 1LF – email purbeckplod@uwclub. net - and from the Purbeck Plod page at the group’s website, http://www. eastdorsetramblers.org.uk

News Club’s young players shine SWANAGE Cricket Club has had a fantastic start to the new season with all three of the Saturday league teams performing well in their respective divisions.

The Ladies/Girls team and the six youth sides have also enjoyed productive starts to their seasons.

A number of the Juniors – Dylan Church, James Harding, Freddie Long, Sam Marks, Sid Nash, Ethan Stacey and Sam and Thomas Wells – have all made appearances in one of the adult teams.

For all the latest news and results visit the club’s website, www.swanagecricketclub.co.uk MIKE NASH

16

The Purbeck Gazette

News

Lottery cash funds art workshops CARER Support Dorset, which supports unpaid carers across the Dorset Council area, is celebrating after being awarded £9,600 in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK. The group will use the funding to run free-of-charge arts workshops across the

county for unpaid carers with The Arts Development Company during Carers Week (6-12 June). The workshops will run at: n Monday, 6 June – Winterborne Whitechurch village hall: 10am-noon, Play with Clay Workshop; 2-4pm: Cloudscape Workshop.

Dorset Carers Hub, 28 South Street, Dorchester: 10am-noon:

Puppet Workshop; 2-4pm: Music Making Workshop. n Wednesday, 8 June – Gillingham Library: 10amnoon and 1-3pm: Introduction to Lino Printmaking Workshops. n Friday, 10 June: The Beacon Room, St Mary’s Church, Ferndown: 11am1pm: Movement and Dance Workshop; 2-4pm: Singing

Workshop.

Carers will also be able to help decorate venues for Carers Week with free bunting packs made by The Wayward Adventurers Guild.

Spaces for each workshop are limited to unpaid carers – to book a free place, phone 0800 368 8349 or email admin@carersupportdorset. co.uk

Singers coin in the cash for dementia charity MUSIC lovers turned out in force for The Occasional Singers Baroque Masterworks concert, held at St Mary’s Church in Dorchester.

The choir chose to support Alzheimer’s Research UK and raised £1,800 thanks to the generosity of audience members.

The Occasional Singers presented a concert of short Baroque masterworks for voices, oboe and strings, and

were joined by soprano Alison Rose and tenor Lawrence Thackeray. The performance saw them run the gamut of emotions from the gentle romantic passion of Handel’s duet As Steals the Morn to the high drama of Vivaldi’s Magnificat.

The event was partly inspired by the death of the husband of one of The Occasional Singers’ members. Susan Adams’ husband Graham died of

early-onset dementia and was himself a great supporter of the choir.

Susan said: “Graham would have loved the music at the concert and would have been delighted that we performed for such an important cause.”

James Warren, regional fundraising officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We’re so grateful to Susan and all of The Occasional Singers for supporting Alzheimer’s

Research UK. Dementia affects a significant proportion of the population – more than half of UK adults know someone who has been diagnosed with dementia. Fantastic fundraising efforts like this will help us to make life-changing research breakthroughs for people with dementia.”

For more information about Alzheimer’s Research UK and fundraising for the charity, visit www.alzheimersresearchuk.org

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17

The Purbeck Gazette

News

Get face-to-face financial advice THE increase in the cost of living, combined with spiralling energy prices, has resulted in many people struggling with everyday expenditure.

As a result of the current demand, Citizens Advice across rural Dorset has re-opened all its face-to-face library sessions, with funding from Dorset Council.

Helen Goldsack, chief officer Citizens Advice in East Dorset & Purbeck, said: “Our income maximisation sessions are led by specialist advisers who are able to advise on a range of money-related topics with the aim of helping people to budget and manage their finances more confidently.

“Our advisers will help people to have a better understanding of their welfare benefit entitlements, as well as

how to apply for charitable grants and any other discretionary help which may be available. We can also provide debt advice.”

Income maximisation sessions must be pre-booked by calling the Dorset Adviceline on 0800 144 8848 or residents may be referred by a Citizens Advice adviser.

Library staff are also able to refer people to the service.

Citizens Advice sessions are at the libraries in Swanage, Monday, 10am-noon; Dorchester, Monday, 10amnoon; Upton Town, Tuesday, 10am-noon; Ferndown, Thursday, 10am-4pm; Bridport, Tuesday, 10am-noon; Weymouth, Tuesday and Friday, 10am-1pm.

For free confidential advice and support, call the Dorset Adviceline on 0800 144 8848.

Outing for Tiger tank MORE than 4,500 people visited the Tank Museum to see the world’s only running Tiger I tank in action, at a sold-out Tiger Day event.

The Tiger 131 runs only twice a year, on Tiger Day in April and September, and always attracts huge crowds when it does.

Museum curator David Willey said: “A significant amount of work goes into keeping the Tiger running and it is extremely fragile and liable to faults.

“During the war it took ten hours of maintenance for every hour the Tiger ran –

now it takes museum staff and engineers an astonishing 200 hours.”

The Tiger tank was a formidable weapon introduced by the Nazis and the capture of 131 allowed the Allies to understand exactly what had been unleashed.

The highlight of the day was an hour-long display which saw Tiger 131 take to the arena alongside its Axis and Allied contemporaries, including the Sherman tank which played ‘Fury’ in the Brad Pitt, Hollywood blockbuster.

18

The Purbeck Gazette

Natural Matters

Two wheels are the future

By John Garner ow it costs the price of a small terraced house to fill your petrol tank I’m doing even more cycling than normal.

The Purbecks are not the easiest place to ‘pootle’ around on a bike, what with most rides having the profile of corrugated aluminium roofing sheets.

I have no doubt an electric bike will make its way into my possession in the next few years and it will almost definitely replace the car for all but the most urgent or long-distance journeys.

There is a bike for every occasion these days. You’re spoilt for choice.

The Dutch tradition of cargo bikes seems like a great idea but the Netherlands has a better landscape for it than we do here, so again a battery-powered one could be an option.

My favourite all-time type of cycling is single-speed cycling.

It’s still do-able but what with the hills around here and the ageing joints, it’s not as easy as it was when I lived in flatter places.

Single-speed bikes are simple. Quiet and smooth, you go at the pace your gearing allows and that’s that.

People who don’t or haven’t ridden single-speed bikes should try it. Nonsingle-speed riders usually assume the hills are the problem, but again, with

and to St Malo. Second best ride ever.

N

T Downsides to taking the bike instead of the car are rare.

PHOTO: Pixabay/renategrande0

correct gearing, this is not an issue.

You see a single-speed bike is light – no heavy gears, very efficient – all your efforts go directly to drive your back wheel rather than being filtered through the complicated gearing system, and, oh so quiet – no clackety, rackety gear changes making unnecessary noise.

And if you’re riding on your own, the pace you’re spinning along at on the flat doesn’t matter.

If you’re riding with others, just make sure they either have a similar gearing or don’t mind riding off on the flatter roads. You’ll probably catch them up on the hills, so don’t worry.

Give it a go. You’ll be surprised, and as most expensive maintenance involves gear tweaks and

wear and tear replacements of gearing parts, you’ll also be a lot better off.

I’ve had single-speed bikes that have never had any replacement chains or cogs.

And they’re cheaper to buy.

I once rode one onto the ferry at Poole and rode off the other side to the tops of the Swiss Alps. Best ride ever.

G

ravel bikes are also an option. Very popular these days and definitely the bike de jour.

I was unsure of their validity at first, thinking they were just another way of selling a slightly different type of bike, but am now a total convert.

If you can only afford to buy one bike, make it a gravel bike.

As the roads round here are in a pretty poor state, a bike with wider tyres and a bit of grip will see you right on- or off-road.

There are very few trails round here that you can ride on a mountain bike that you can’t ride on a gravel bike.

Sometimes slower and with a bit more care, but you can ride them if you have the will.

They will also take panniers or packing, so you can ride them as a touring bike.

I once rode onto the ferry at Poole and off the other side

here are hybrid bikes, cross bikes, road bikes – race, endurance, time trial, to name but a few iterations, mountain bikes – hardtail, full suspension, fat, tandems, tourers, shopping bikes and the cargo bikes.

In short, you can get a bike for any occasion, activity or enterprise and just about all of them come in electrified form. If they don’t, know they will very shortly.

I

n these days of door-todoor deliveries there’s very little reason to go shopping for the things you used to go out for.

And with a bike you’re more likely to shop from small, local independent shops and support the businesses it is hoped will save us from the homogenisation of the universe by the conglomerates, also responsible for selling us car after car after car.

I haven’t really categorised all the rest of my rides. There have been a lot but I’ve had many brilliant rides over the years. Sometimes local and sometimes not anywhere near local.

Whooshing down the side or a Pyrenean mountain as the sun starts to set in front of you on a set of skinny tyres is a wondrous thing. Third best ride ever. That’s it for the rating process.

Unless you’re unlucky and have some sort of accident, there are very rarely any downsides to taking the bike instead of the car. Sometimes you get wet but that’s surprisingly rare.

Cycling at this time of year is great anyway. You’re in among the scenery and the colours and smells, and the feel of the rapidly changing weather is always a pleasure.

And there’s a bike for every type of cyclist.

19

The Purbeck Gazette

News

Children highlight road dangers

THE Piddle Path Action Team joined hands with Piddle Valley CofE First School to plant 50 trees along the Piddle Path bridleway and raise funds for Ukraine.

The tree planting was split over two days. On the first day the entire school walked along the Piddle Path bridleway and each class adopted and planted ‘their’ tree.

Headteacher Jayne Browne said: “The children are excited about returning for regular visits to their tree. Just think of the four-year-olds in Reception enjoying their tree in 20 years’ time when both are fully grown! What a wonderful way to forge a strong bond between plant and child.”

On the second day the tree planting was opened up to the wider community and people young and old went along wielding spade and watering can to adopt a tree and enjoy a stroll and a chat in the warm

Piddle Path pupils walk on the busy B3143.

sunshine.

A total of £345 was raised, which will be split between relief efforts in Ukraine and building a bike shelter at the school.

The school had earlier that week hosted a community tea, inviting all Valley residents to watch a presentation about the Piddle Path given by pupils.

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year-olds explain that they want the bridleway restored so they can scoot or cycle along it to see their friends.”

The school had also created a storyboard about the Piddle Path, including painted maps, which generated discussion during the Creating Harmony in Community Conference in Bournemouth. The Piddle Path team was invited to present its campaign at the event, organised by the outgoing Dorset High Sheriff Michael Dooley.

On the last day of the Spring term, the school led its pupils on a Walk to School event along the busy B3143 to highlight the need for a safer route to school. Children and staff were kitted out in hi-vis jackets and walked from Piddlehinton to the school, urging drivers to slow down and flattening themselves against the hedge when a large lorry or tractor thundered past.

PHOTO: Des Mason

A spokesperson for the Piddle Path Action Team said: “As the natural hub of our Piddle Valley community, the school can play a huge role in bringing together the residents of the three villages whatever their age and interests, and it was brilliant to see members of the Parish Council, for instance, listening to eight-

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20

The Purbeck Gazette

Letters Ambulance Car staffing concerns

IT seems there continues to be just two staff trying to cover shifts on the 24/7 Swanagebased Isle of Purbeck Ambulance Car when there should be five. In March, the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group and the Ambulance Trust made public promises to address the Car’s very low staffing but to date the town council has not been advised any plan has been put in place.

We were delighted when Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, and the Ambulance Trust, announced in March that the Swanagebased 24/7 Purbeck Paramedic Car would not be withdrawn. It has also been confirmed that the Car will continue to be staffed by a paramedic or an advanced ambulance technician, the staff grades qualified to treat at the scene.

And, when not attending an emergency, the Car will continue to support the local GPs – this helps ‘tether’ the Car to Swanage and Purbeck, so it is more likely to be here when we need it.

While it’s great to know we’re not going to lose the Ambulance Car altogether, serious concerns remain about staffing levels. Can we really say that an Ambulance Car that is not staffed for most of the time is ‘saved’?

Statistics from the Ambulance Trust this January showed that our Car was only staffed two-fifths of the time for the whole of last year. This had a serious impact on emergency response times. For category 1 imminent danger of death cases there is only an eight-minute window to resuscitate, but the average response time was 15 minutes for Swanage, and 11 minutes for Wareham.

A recent Freedom of Information Act response shows the Swanage-based Ambulance Car is the Cinderella of the Dorset fleet by some way. While doublecrewed ambulances were staffed over 90 per cent of the time in 2021, and the other

Dorset solo Cars close to 75 per cent of the time, our Car was only staffed just over 40 per cent of the time. It is particularly concerning that our Car was such an outlier, given the distance Isle of Purbeck residents have to travel to access emergency hospital care, which will only be made worse if the planned closure of Poole A&E, Maternity and Children’s departments goes ahead.

Swanage Town Council is following up on its requests for a clear timeframe within which staffing of the Swanage-based Car will be brought in line with the rest of the Dorset fleet, and for a six-monthly report on detailing Car staffing levels and the emergency response times for Swanage and Wareham.

We have won a big battle but the Car really needs to be properly staffed before we can honestly say it has been saved.

CLLR DEBBY MONKHOUSE Co-ordinator Save Our Ambulance Car Campaign

IT was good of our MP Michael Tomlinson to lecture his constituents on antique and quaint customs of the Houses of Parliament, still observed by members of the Houses (Purbeck Gazette, May).

It might have been more relevant to have heard what if anything he had done or asked questions which would have benefited his Mid Dorset & North Poole constituents.

TONY & MARY WAINWRIGHT Wareham

catching a respiratory disease.

Most will also realise it is an indication of inefficiency and announces that the patient’s time can be wasted as it is less important than that of the medical staff.

The extra effort of scheduling appointments accurately is immensely preferable to the old-fashioned system of inviting several people at the same time in the hope of avoiding a single minute of the doctor’s time being unoccupied.

In my experience the ‘new’ arrangements, with appointments being split between phone consultations – if necessary, backed by some close-up ‘selfies’ – or face-to-face meetings with a doctor, augmented by the judicious delegation to a practice nurse, has resulted in a friendly, efficient and effective service.

Anyone phoning the surgery in the normal way will be guided through the ‘new’ arrangements effortlessly. The waiting room is not empty but usually has a few occupants who transit quickly, minimising cross-infection risk.

I trust the old-fashioned system will not be re-imposed by those demanding unnecessary ‘face-to-face’ appointments.

The trope that a patient will have to wait days or weeks for an appointment is untrue with regard to Swanage and adds to pressure on hospital Accident and Emergency services as panicked patients demand that service instead.

RICHARD COTTRELL Langton Matravers

Medical centre and new arrangements

Two police on the beat a rare sight

So what’s MP been doing in parliament?

I AM not sure what Phil Madsen implies with his photograph of an apparently empty waiting room at the Swanage Medical Practice (Purbeck Gazette, May).

For most patients, a traditional, 1950s-style, crowded waiting room not only signals a long wait but also an excellent chance of

TODAY (Friday, 13 May), while going up Swanage High Street, I saw the very welcome sight of the ‘lesser spotted Police Officer’ , two of them, walking, yes, walking, down the High Street.

Could this become a regular sight in the town?

It was suggested they might just be visiting, or lost, but I

wonder if someone had pinched their car.

Whatever the reason, I am sure we would all welcome the regular sight of police officers walking around in Swanage.

TIM DEACON Swanage

Enthralled by heroic acts of the brave

AS a boy I was enthralled by the antics of the Cockleshell heroes. For the benefit of those who know little about history, they were a group of Royal Marines who canoed 70 miles up the river Gironde during the hours of darkness to attack enemy ships moored at the port of Bordeaux, in occupied France, with limpet mines.

Today I’m a little longer in the tooth but continue to be enthralled by the heroic acts of the brave. In all conflicts the myth and facts often get mixed up.

One such myth was the ghost of Kyiv. It embodies the gallant spirit of the highlyqualified pilots of the tactical aviation brigade who successfully defended the region of Kyiv. It certainly gave the Russian pilots the heebie-jeebies.

Between February 14 and March 13 the Ukrainian Air Force downed 40 planes with Major Stephen Tarabalka flying a Mig-29 shooting down six Russian aircraft. In due course, I am certain that books and probably a film will be made about him.

And with so much heroism being shown by the Ukrainians there will be many more based on the true-life stories such as the Ukrainian marines holed-up in the steel plant in Mariupol. These guys have held out for months against the entire Russian might.

The marines remaining have no choice but to fight on – by doing so they tie up many thousands of Russians who would otherwise fight against their comrades in the Donbas region.

MIKE FRY Upton, Poole

2121

The Purbeck The PurbeckGazette Gazette

Joseph Calleja Calleja comes to Wareham Wareham Joseph comes to like the Metropolitan Opera in New York where he is a great is a great favourite, in favourite, but in the muchbut more the much more limited space limited space afforded by Lady Opera Critic of the afforded by Lady St Mary’s.

Joseph Calleja comes to Wareham St Mary’s.

Mail on Sunday and Joseph has tried tried out the Joseph has Opera Critic of the acousticsat at Lady St Mary, Lady St Mary, and Classic FM presenter acoustics Mail on Sunday and and they thinks thinks are they very are fine. very He Classic FM presenter fine.wait Hetocan’t wait torecital do a do a proper I’M THRILLED that Joseph, can’t proper rather than thanrecital just a few acoustic the world’s finest lyric tenor, is rather just a few acoustic tests. singing in Lady St that Mary Joseph, Church tests.

I’M THRILLED I firstheard heardJoseph Josephat at Covent on world’s June 29th. a fulltenor, recital, the finestIt’slyric is I first Covent Garden almost 20 years ago.I with popular arias, including singing in Lady St Mary Church Garden almost 20 years ago. of course Nessun Dorma, and on June 29th. It’s a full recital, also some of Joseph’s favourite with popular arias, including such as his trademark ofsongs course Nessun Dorma, and La Vie EnofRose and favourite some of also some Joseph’s my Mantovani from songs such as favourites his trademark his Vie recent album of La En Decca Rose and some biggest hits. ofMantovani’s my Mantovani favourites Thehis idea is to give everyone from recent Decca album summer evening, ofa wonderful Mantovani’s biggest hits. with plenty of memorable The idea istotohum give on everyone a melodies the way wonderful summer evening, with home. plenty of memorable melodies Joseph has visited the toPurbecks hum onwith the us waya home. good deal, and he wanted to do Joseph has visited the Purbecks something to celebrate Penny with us a good deal, and he wanted to do our something to and I acquiring new home celebrate Penny and I acquiring near Corfe.

If only every our new homepresent near was Corfe. housewarming so Ifgenerous. only every housewarming He is donating his present was generous.

He is services to so benefit restoration donating his services work at Lady St Mary.to benefit restoration work LadyaStsuperb Mary.

Great also toathave pianist in Stephen Barlow, who Great also to have a superb is conducting La Gioconda pianist in Stephen Barlow, who Joseph La this summer, so iswith conducting Gioconda with they’ll have plenty of time to Joseph this summer, so they’ll rehearse. have plenty of time to rehearse.

As well as being a first class As well as being a firstStevie class opera opera conductor, is a conductor, is a renowned renownedStevie accompanist, for accompanist, for instance in instance in times past toured times past toured extensively extensively with the great Kiri with the great Kiri Te Kanawa.

Te Kanawa.

Stevie wife Joanna Stevie andandhishis wife Joanna Lumleyare arealso also great friends Lumley great friends of of ours, anda joy it’s that a joyhethat he ours, and it’s is also is also donating histoservices to donating his services the cause. the cause.

Tenors come in all and Tenors come in shapes all shapes sizes vocally, as well as physically. and sizes vocally, as well as physically.

Some tenors are built-up Some They tenorshave arethebuilt-up baritones. notes baritones. the but their voicesThey do nothave have the notes but their voices do not wonderful honeyed finish of have wonderful the realthe thing.

Singers honeyed like the late lamented Luciano finish of the real thing.Pavarotti Singers had and solamented does Joseph.

The like it, the late Luciano sheer beauty Pavarotti hadofit,Joseph’s and so voice does will be a knockout whenbeauty he is Joseph.

The sheer singing, not invoice a huge of Joseph’s will opera be a house, likewhen the he Metropolitan knockout is singing, Opera where he not inina New hugeYork opera house, Advertisement Feature

By David By DavidMellor Mellor

I wrote then in the Mail on Sunday that there was more wroteathen in the Sunday than taste of Mail JussionBjörling that there was more than a taste about his voice. Björling was of Jussi Björling about his voice. such a fine natural tenor, Björling was such a fine natural though he died tragically tenor, though he died tragically young, that Caruso’s widow young, that Caruso’s widow said he could be mentioned said he could be mentioned in in the same breath as her the same breath as her husband. husband.

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Advertisement Feature warm-hearted and generous man. hearted and generous man . So the fun of this evening will not be his but also So only the fun of singing, this evening will the of his personality. not warmth only be his singing, but also Iftheyou possibly please warmth of hiscan, personality.

If you possibly beg beg borrow or can, stealplease a ticket borrow a ticket what, for what,orI steal promise you,for will be I promisethe you, willconcert be arguably arguably finest ever the on finest concert everCertainly put on in put in Wareham.

Wareham. one by the one by the Certainly most internationally most internationally renowned renowned artist to have visited artist to have visited us so far. us so far.

22

The Purbeck Gazette

Feature

Come in for a dip!

By Faith Eckersall YOU’D have to be living on Mars (or the outback) not to notice the leap in popularity in forest bathing, wild or openwater swimming in the past few years.

News reports, magazines, and social media have been immersed with images of people striding into lakes, rivers and the sea for a bracing dip, even in the middle of winter.

The Outdoor Swimming Society saw a 36 per cent membership leap in 2020. While part of the interest can be put down to the covid pandemic, when indoor pools were closed, the practise of open water swimming has been increasing for years.

In Dorset, which is blessed with what is probably the UK’s most beloved coastal feature – Durdle Door - there are plenty of amazing spots and now these, and the walks you can take to visit them, are the subject of a new book in the Wild Swimming Walks series.

Written by Sophie Pierce and Matt Newbury, the book reveals 28 coastal, lake and river wild swims in Dorset and East Devon. Written a conversational style, it helps readers to find the kind of walk and swim which best suits them and their abilities, as well as adding plenty of useful local tips and fascinating facts.

There are walks in the Frome Valley, walks in which incorporate ancient sites, such as Hod Hill and walks which take you to Corfe Castle and the Green Pool.

If you prefer a seaside amble, then check out the Arne Peninsula Circular which, say the authors ‘will make you feel like a castaway’ and the far more taxing trip to Chapman’s Pool and Dancing Ledge, the man-made sea pool which is

thought to be the inspiration for the one in Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers.

Here are three of the book’s walks: n Walk 21 - Wareham Rivers Double THE two-mile walk starts at Howards Lane car-park in Wareham and along the way you can swim in the River Frome at Abbot’s Quay and the River Piddle at Wareham common.

Accompanied by a fine potted history of Wareham’s Roman and Anglo-Saxon heritage, the walk takes you past St Martin on the Walls church, with its stone effigy of TE Lawrence, and along the River Piddle to the Weir at West Mills, the first swimming spot in the book.

The walk continues to Abbot’s Quay where the authors describe a ‘quiet set of steps’ to allow for entry to the water. Because of the boats and other watercraft, using a float or a brightly coloured swimming cap to ensure you are visible is advisable, says the book.

The walk continues past the Priory church of Lady St Mary and back to the beginning. n Walk 22 - Shapwick and White Mill circular THIS walk starts at the car-park by St Bartholomew’s church and takes you 4.5 miles through Shapwick, incorporating a potential dip in the River Stour.

Travel through Hardy-esque fields and past the Book and Bucket cheese company’s farm. Passing White Mill, continue to the swim spot where, the writers say: ‘You have to scramble down the bank to enter the water’. While you’re there you can contemplate the legend of the ‘lost bells’ of Knowlton church, said to have been discarded in the river by thieving Sturminster Marshall

Durdle Door: Britain’s most famous geographical feature?

villagers, who allegedly stole them for their own church!

The walk takes in the Charles Bennett Village Green, named after the village’s illustrious Olympian, and the Anchor Inn. n Walk 18 - Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door Circular THIS ‘energetic but endlessly rewarding walk’ takes in what is arguably Britain’s most famous geographical feature and the unofficial symbol of Dorset.

The 6.5 mile hike can start with a swim at Lulworth cove whose white stones ‘give a Mediterranean feel’ and continues with a hike over Hanbury Tout. Go through a field, past Scratchy Bottom to join the South West coast Path at West Bottom. The walk takes you up and down steep hills, past Bat’s Head and Swyre Head and eventually to Durdle Door where, says the book, ‘a swim through the arch is a magical thing to do’. The

walk ends at the Lulworth car-park.

Open water swimming is a potentially dangerous activity undertaken entirely at your own risk as are the walks mentioned here. Cold water can be dangerous to health and you should never jump or dive in before checking the depth of the water and also your exit point. The book warns that few of the locations have lifeguards and all are prone to currents, tidal-immersion and sea-state changes. Some landowners do not welcome swimmers. The legality of access and use of open water is discussed here: https://www. outdoorswimmingsociety.com/ is-it-legal/ More information on open water swimming safety can be found here: https://www.rlss.org.uk/pages/ category/open-water-safetytips n Wild Swimming Walks is published by Wild Things Publishing £14.99

Beware of the dangers Open water swimming is a potentially dangerous activity undertaken entirely at your own risk as are the walks mentioned here.

Cold water can be dangerous to health and you should never jump or dive in before checking the depth of the water and also your exit point.

The book warns that few of the locations have lifeguards and all

are prone to currents, tidalimmersion and sea-state changes. Some landowners do not welcome swimmers.

The legality of access and use of open water is discussed at www. outdoorswimmingsociety.com/ is-it-legal. n More information on open water swimming safety can be found at www.rlss.org.uk/pages/category/ open-water-safety-tips

23

The Purbeck Gazette

Politics

Firefighters saved locals’ homes LAST month saw the devastating fire on Canford Heath.

Over 42 acres of heathland was destroyed by the fire, and it was only the immense hard work of our firefighters which prevented it from spreading to local homes. The Chief Fire Officer for Dorset, Ben Ansell, briefed me as progress was being made and kindly arranged for a meeting on the site the following week, with some of the firefighters who had been on the scene and in charge of the response.

We discussed the cause of the fire and what actions the fire service was taking to keep residents informed. The fire service does a brilliant job going into schools to speak to children and young people about the risks and dangers of fires in open areas. Another great risk is the use of disposable barbecues and I was

pleased that the Minister for includes a Renters Reform Farming, Fisheries and Food Bill, providing more security recently acknowledged the and higher quality homes for work done locally here in more than four million Dorset and Poole in restricting households. their use.

I’m also pleased to see the In Parliament we recently plans for the new Higher had the Queen’s Speech. For Education Reform Bill. This the first time in 60 years the will introduce something Queen was not able to called the lifelong learning attend due to her health, entitlement, which will so Prince Charles read mean that everyone is the speech on her able to access further behalf, supported by training through The Duchess of academic or vocational Cornwall and the Duke courses. of Cambridge. As After the Queen’s always, it was an event of Michael Speech has been read, pomp and ceremony but Tomlinson MPs return to the House preceded the important debates of Commons for the Humble on the Government’s plans for Address to Her Majesty. This the coming session. is the start of the debate, and Thirty-eight important Bills was, as is usual, a goodare planned, building on the humoured beginning. work done so far. This includes My colleague thanked Her £22 billion of support to help Majesty for her decades of families tackle the global cost services in this Jubilee year, of living increase. It also which met with unanimous

approval across the House. I hope that during this month, you are all able to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee in some way with friends and family. God Save the Queen!

It will be another busy session of Parliament in Westminster but as always I am continuing my surgeries, so please get in touch if you need support. You can contact me via email at michael.tomlinson. mp@parliament.uk or phone my office on 01202 624216. I send out a regular email update – you can sign up on my website, www. michaeltomlinson.org.uk, where you can also find links to information such as Covid-19 vaccinations updates, energy price advice and how local people can help Ukrainian refugees.

MICHAEL TOMLINSON MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole

AT the recent meeting of Dorset Council in April, a motion supported by the Liberal Democrats was put forward.

This exhorted the council to make good on its declaration of a climate emergency in 2019 and its 2050 target for carbon neutrality.

This was defeated by the Conservative majority in the chamber and was followed by a motion of their own which supported the extraction of fossil fuels from the Dorset landscape.

While being seconded, two protesters entered the chamber and superglued themselves to furniture. After a modicum of chaos, the meeting was adjourned and councillors

vacated to adjacent rooms. before voting, something Sometime later the council which is essential in a meeting was reconvened in democratic society. another committee room and It has been suggested that the – Conservative – chairman the actions of the protesters immediately announced she prevented the debate. As wouldn’t permit any confirmed by the debate on or council’s monitoring amendment to their officer, that certainly motion and it would wasn’t the case and he be put immediately to explained that: “There the vote. were a range of options This resulted in open to the chairman. protest and several Nick Ireland She could have chosen to councillors leaving the hear from those room. The Conservative councillors who had majority again ensured the previously indicated they vote was won. wished to speak or she could While not illegal, the have adjourned to another chairman’s decision denied the occasion.” elected members of the council The fact that she didn’t was the opportunity to discuss the an affront to the democratic motion and form an opinion process and in passing the

motion, demonstrates the Dorset Conservatives don’t understand the concept of carbon neutrality.

You can count on the Liberal Democrats, locally and nationally, to make real change happen. See ‘Seven Ways the Liberal Democrats will fight the Climate Crisis’ (libdems. org.uk/libdems fight_the_ climate_crisis) NICK IRELAND On behalf of South Dorset Lib Dems

‘An affront to democratic process’

Nick Ireland is parliamentary spokesperson for South Dorset Lib Dems and leader of the 28-strong Lib Dem group on Dorset Council

Take a walk on the wild side – nature challenge is back!

DORSET Wildlife Trust is inviting people to take part in the UK’s biggest nature challenge, 30 Days Wild, which kicks off with the Big Wild Breakfast on Wednesday,

June 1.

The challenge is designed to bring people across Dorset closer to nature every day in June.

To mark the 30 Days Wild

Weekend on Saturday, 18 June, events will be held at Dorset Wildlife Trust visitor centres including the opportunity to explore moths at Kingcombe Visitor Centre

and take part in the Brownsea Island early bird walk and breakfast.

To sign up for 30 Days Wild visit wildlifetrusts. org/30dayswild

24

The Purbeck Gazette

Politics

SOS Purbeck NHS: Save Our Services!

THE NHS faces unprecedented challenges. 6.2 million people are waiting for routine hospital treatments, with A&E and ambulance waits soaring. NHS staff were justly praised for their selfsacrifice during the Pandemic – which is still with us. Yet the NHS needs more doctors, nurses and paramedics, not praise and good intentions. We also need to get back the 20,000 hospital beds lost over the last few years.

In Purbeck the promised enhanced local services have not materialised – it’s more difficult to get GP and NHS dentist appointments, the Wareham hub may be lost, the Friends of Swanage Cottage Hospital are battling to keep walk-in access to their Minor Injuries Clinic and to a range of out-patients’ clinics. With Poole and Bournemouth

the two hospitals, but suggested that an ‘A&E Local’ – a daytime A&E at Poole – was a ‘possible viable option’, and that Dorset Clinical Commissioning hospitals merging, and the loss Group should work with local of highly valued A&E, authorities, Healthwatch and Maternity and Children’s Defend Dorset NHS. This has Departments from Poole, not yet happened. The hospital care moves further enhanced A&E, Maternity and away, and emergency vehicles Children’s services at face a journey through Bournemouth are not set Purbeck country roads to open until late 2024, – often choked with yet Poole A&E holiday traffic – and appears to have gridlock in already been Bournemouth, substantially closed. described this year as Against this backdrop one of the world’s most Purbeck residents faced Chris Bradey congested places. the loss of the SwanageLocal campaigners, cobased Ambulance Car. This ordinated by Swanage Labour was despite a minuted promise councillor Debby Monkhouse, in 2018 by Dorset Clinical fought long and hard against Commissioning Group that the closure of the Poole Swanage-based ambulance Departments, with the case services would be ‘fully going to the Appeal Court at maintained’ with the ending of the Royal Courts of Justice, emergency admissions at and then directly to the Poole. Freedom of Information Secretary of State. In 2020, an Act data showed that as the Independent Review Panel Car staffing went down, upheld the decision to merge emergency response times for

Swanage and Wareham went up – it is a matter of life and death that the Car is kept.

Debby Monkhouse headed up the Purbeck wide campaign to save the Car, which is ‘tethered’ to Purbeck so more likely to arrive promptly than an ambulance – which may take hours to do so. Residents whose lives, or those of loved ones, were saved by the Car Paramedic, told their poignant stories in the Campaigners’ booklet: ‘We Need Our Paramedic Car’. The Car has been saved – but serious concerns about its staffing remain. The Ambulance Trust acknowledged in February only two staff were allocated when there should be five – so the battle continues.

The need to fully fund and resource our NHS could never be more urgent. Promises need to be kept – the NHS needs to be in safe hands – locally and nationally.

CHRIS BRADEY Chairman, Swanage and Rural Purbeck Labour Party

ISLE OF PURBECK GOLF CLUB W e’r e Ope n Da il y !

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25

The Purbeck Gazette

DURLSTON in June is a great time of year to come and visit! The park is full of colour and life, from wildflowers in the meadows to butterflies like Adonis, Small and Common Blue, or local speciality, the Lulworth Skipper. Keep a watchful eye on the sea as Bottlenose Dolphins may also make an appearance, while down in Durlston Bay fishing Sandwich Turns can be seen and heard.

Discover Durlston WE have so many events and activities throughout the year that are worth booking on to.

But if you’re interested in discovering more about Durlston’s history and our all-important wildlife then we have some fantastic guided walks hosted by rangers and volunteers who know and love it here. With Meet a Moths, Wildflower Walks and Castle Tours throughout the summer, there is plenty to keep you occupied. Our Park

Durlston Castle

PHOTO: stevebelasco.net

to Pier walks take a longer stroll from the beautiful country park to the historic pier in Swanage and are worth the walk for the views!

Seabird Boat Trips OUR seabirds are still out and about on the ledges at Durlston, including Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars and Shags. Why not join the rangers on a Seabird Boat Trip to spot some of our favourites. Boat trips are every Friday through June and 1 July. They depart from

Swanage Pier for a beautiful cruise along the picturesque Jurassic Coast. Book your places through www. citycruises.com/poole/ summer-birdwatching-cruises or call 02077 400400.

Anglo-Saxon Sunday ON Sunday, 19 June, we have the Anglo-Saxons returning for their second ‘AngloSaxon Sunday’ running from 10am-5pm. Drop in and see Seaxia, our local re-enactment group for combat demonstrations, have-a-go archery, timber working and more as they keep an eye on the sea for Viking longships.

Fine Foundation Gallery FROM Monday, 13 June, to Saturday, 28 June, the South West Society of Botanical Artists will be exhibiting their work in the Fine Foundation Gallery, 10.30am-5pm. The exhibition will include work from some of the finest botanical artists in the South-West, with original artworks, prints and cards for

sale. The exhibition is free entry and open daily.

Volunteer in the Sunshine WE are always looking for friendly individuals to join the volunteer team – with so many different things to do there is something for everyone. Whether you’re interested in helping with events like outdoor cinema, doing gentle gardening at the Shed or interacting with people at the castle, we would love to hear from you. Give us a call today on 01929 42443 to have a chat about volunteering.

Enjoy June at Durlston WHETHER you come up for a coffee or an hour-long walk, Durlston is a beautiful location for everyone to enjoy. The Rangers here love when the sun comes back out again as the wildlife often follows, so we hope you enjoy June as much as we will.

THE DURLSTON RANGERS

MARGARET GREEN ANIMAL RESCUE WE are currently looking for volunteers to join our fundraising and marketing team and to support us with raising money for the rescue animals in our care.

There are many exciting roles to get involved with, including attending events, helping with collections tins, assisting with donations, baking cakes and sweet treats and much more!

Becoming a volunteer at Margaret Green Animal Rescue is a great opportunity to meet new people, be a part of the local community and to support a good cause.

Whether you can volunteer for a couple of hours a week or even a few times a year, it will make a huge difference and help us to raise the vital

Come on board!

funds needed for our rescue animals. We couldn’t do our work without our incredible team of volunteers and we would love for you to come on board and take part!

If you are interested in volunteering, please email our fundraising and marketing team at comms@mgar.org.uk and a member of staff will be in touch with further details.

Facebook Fundraisers DID you know that Facebook Birthday Fundraisers are another great way of helping our rescue animals? It’s easy to set up and 100 per cent of the funds raised will go towards looking after the animals in our care.

Not only is it a wonderful opportunity to raise money

for rescue animals in need, but it also helps to increase awareness of our charity and spread the word about the work we do.

Make sure you click on the ‘Fundraisers’ tab on Facebook to set up your Birthday

Fundraiser, to give you that extra ‘feelgood factor’ on your special day!

Please visit our website to find out more about Margaret Green Animal Rescue – www. margaretgreenanimalrescue. org.uk

26

The Purbeck Gazette

Gardening

By Simon Goldsack

Simon from Holme says ‘smell the roses!’

Roses are a beautiful group of flowers, most with the added bonus of a gorgeous perfume.

They are robust and easy to grow with just a little attention.

Rosa Dublin Bay.

Rosa Penny Lane.

Rosa Precious Amber.

Rosa Starlight Express.

n Roses can be prone to black spot, rust and powdery mildew. These are easily avoided by: 1 Pruning annually to remove weak, old, dead or diseased wood.

2 In winter rake off fallen leaves and add them to the bonfire.

3 From March apply a fungicide such as

Fungus Fighter and/or Multirose every ten to 14 days. Multirose will also see off any aphid attack.

4 Apply water to the soil around the rose so that the foliage remains dry. Avoid using an overhead sprinkler as this will increase humidity in the leaves and encourage disease.

Rose Rhapsody in Blue.

Roses are heavy feeders and more than any other plant they love magnesium, so use a fertiliser which has higher concentrations of this such as Top Rose.

Roses prefer a heavier soil which remains moist throughout the year, so the clay soils of Swanage and much of the Corfe Valley are ideal.

However, if like me you garden on a light sandy soil, the trick to growing roses is to dig in lots of bulky organic matter such as horse manure before you plant, and then follow this up with a generous yearly mulch of the same.

I also use ‘Rootgrow’ when planting, a beneficial fungi which links on to the root system of the rose to protect it from attack and bring nutrients and water to the roots.

Remove dying blooms to encourage repeat flowering.

Last Chance to win a FREE GARDEN ROSE – email your name and address to office@holmefg.co.uk by the end of June

27

The Purbeck Gazette

Live Holme Amphitheatre Events 2022 There’s no place like Holme

E Tickets now available for all Events @ Holme just scan the QR code below on your mobile.

Set in the heart of the Purbeck Hills, this wonderful Open Air theatre is an extraordinary unique venue for a memorable evening of entertainment! Doors open 1 hour early for you to explore the Gardens. Don’t forget to bring a rug, chair or even a picnic to enjoy, toilets available.

Much Ado about Murder

Little Women

Thursday 9th June 2022 at 7:00pm

Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd July 2022 at 7:00pm

Adult £16.50, Concession £13.00 Child £11.00, Family (2+2) £50.00

Adult £15.00, Child £12.00 Concession £12.00

A unique outdoor theatre experience... www.heartbreakproductions.co.uk HeartbreakProductions

@OutdoorPlaysUK

HeartbreakProductions

Adult £18.00, Family (2+2) £50.00 Child 5-16/NUS Student £11.00,

Chapterhouse presents:

Romeo & Juliet Thursday 7th July 2022 at 7:00pm

Adult £18.00, Family (2+2) £50.00 Child 5-16/NUS Student £11.00,

Chapterhouse presents:

Pride & Prejudice Friday 8th July 2022 at 7:00pm

Adapted by David Kerby-Kendall Directed by Darryl Hughes & Oliver Hume Designed by Kate Wragg Music by Derry Pope

Awful Auntie

by David Walliams

Thursday 28th July 2022 at 5:00pm Adult £16.50, Concession £13.00 Child £11.00, Family (2+2) £50.00 Illustration © Tony Ross 2014. Lettering of author’s name © Quentin Blake 2010. Licensed by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

A unique outdoor theatre experience... www.heartbreakproductions.co.uk HeartbreakProductions

@OutdoorPlaysUK

HeartbreakProductions

Saturday 6th August 2022 at 3:00pm Adult £15.00, Child £12.00 Family (2+2) £50.00

Friday 12th August 2022 at 7:00pm Adult £15.00, Child £12.00 Family (2+2) £50.00

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO FIND OUT MORE: www.holmeforgardens.co.uk/upcoming-events Holme Nurseries Ltd, West Holme Farm, Wareham, Dorset. BH20 6AQ - 2 miles from Wareham

office@holmefg.co.uk | www.holmeforgardens.co.uk | 01929 554716

28

The Purbeck Gazette

Food & Drink

Make a cake fit for a Queen!

By Lorraine Gibson YOU can’t beat a classic when it comes to a Royal celebration and these recipe ideas will certainly add a touch of pageantry to any Jubilee feast.

ETON MESS CAKE CROWN your party with this cake fit for a Queen.

Inspired by Eton mess, this layered sponge cake is crammed with strawberries and raspberries and decorated with whipped cream and crunchy meringue. A zesty lime syrup and fragrant mint cut through the richness, ensuring a regal summer showstopper.

Ingredients For the sponge 280g unsalted soft butter 280g (9 3/4oz) golden caster sugar 5 medium eggs 1 orange, zested and juiced 280g (9 3/4oz) self-raising flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tbsp milk For the syrup 3 limes, 1 zested and 3 juiced 1 orange, juiced 85g (3oz) caster sugar For the filling 500g (17 1/2oz) strawberries, hulled and quartered 2 tsp chopped fresh mint, plus some torn leaves for decoration ½ lime, juiced 5 tbsp icing sugar 500ml (17 1/2fl oz) whipping cream 300g (10 1/2oz) raspberries 1 x tub 16 plain mini meringues, 6 kept whole and the rest broken into pieces Method 1 For the sponge, preheat the oven to gas 4,180°C, fan 160°C. Grease and line the bases of 3 x 20cm sandwich tins with baking paper. In a large bowl, whisk the butter and sugar together for 5 minutes until pale and fluffy.

Gradually add the eggs, whisking well between each addition, then add the orange zest. In a separate bowl, mix the flour and baking powder together, then sift over the wet

This sponge cake is crammed with strawberries, raspberries, whipped cream and crunchy meringue.

Recipes and images from Tesco Real Food

RAISE A GLASS Bucks Fizz is a great treat for any occasion.

mixture and fold through.

Finally, fold through 2 tbsp orange juice and the milk.

2 Divide the mixture evenly between the 3 tins, levelling the tops. Place in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until golden and springy, and a skewer inserted into the centres comes away clean.

3 Meanwhile make the syrup. In a small pan, gently heat 3 tbsp lime juice, the zest of 1 lime, 3 tbsp orange juice and the sugar, until the sugar has dissolved. Bubble for 5 minutes. Prick the tops of the cakes all over with a skewer and brush over the warm syrup, then leave to cool.

4 Macerate the strawberries

by placing them in a bowl with the chopped mint, lime juice and 2 tbsp icing sugar. Stir, then set aside for 15-30 minutes. Drain the juice and reserve for drizzling.

5 For the filling, whip the cream with the remaining 3 tbsp icing sugar to soft peaks.

Spoon about a third of the mixture into another bowl and set aside (for the topping).

Fold three-quarters of the macerated strawberries, most of the raspberries and the broken meringues through the whipped cream.

6 Place one sponge on your serving plate and spoon half the filling over the top.

Sandwich with a second

sponge, then repeat with the remaining filling and sponge.

Decorate the top with the reserved whipped cream, the remaining strawberries and raspberries, the whole meringues and the torn mint leaves. Drizzle with the reserved strawberry juice and serve.

BUCK’S FIZZ THERE’S no better way to toast a celebration than with a glass of bubbly Buck’s Fizz.

This classic cocktail uses freshly-squeezed orange juice for deeply fruity flavour, topped up with decadent champagne. If short on time or cash - use normal orange juice and cava as an alternative to the champagne 1 With a vegetable peeler, peel thin strips of zest from an orange. Set aside until ready to serve.

2 Squeeze the juice from all 4 oranges and use 400ml.

Alternatively, use the same amount of ready-made orange juice.

3 Divide the juice between 8 champagne flutes, then slowly top up with the chilled bubbly.

4 Twist the reserved strips of peel into curls and use to garnish.

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The Purbeck Gazette

News

Veritable feast of all things vintage THE Shake & Stir Festival is returning to Fisherman’s Walk in Southbourne this month.

The popular annual festival features vintage

Mind the birds on county’s heaths THE importance of protecting nesting birds on Dorset heathland has been stressed by Dr Lesley Haskins, trustee of the Erica Trust and supporter of Dorset Wildlife Trust.

The issue is particularly relevant at the moment.

Dr Haskins said: “Dorset heathland birds have adopted rather different life patterns.

Nightjars leave our shores in the autumn for warmer climes and only come back in the spring.

“Dartford warblers - unlike many other warblers - opt to brazen it out and stay with us over the winter – from time to time suffering heavy population declines when we have very snowy winters.

“Woodlarks appear to ‘mix and match’ depending on where they are – in Dorset, populations generally stay with us although tend to move off the heath to farmland in the winter, while further east they may migrate abroad.”

But in summer these rare birds all nest and lay their eggs on the ground, often close to paths, in a generally treeless landscape.

Dr Haskins added: “Any dog having a natural rootle around in the heather may well scare them off their nests, which makes the eggs or chicks very vulnerable to failure or predation. So to protect our very special birds, it is critical to keep to main paths and have our dogs on a lead in the summer.

“Heathland managers usually put notices up in the spring, but this year large eye-catching banners have been produced to remind us how very important it is to protect our heathland birds.

“Nothing is more distressing than seeing a nightjar fly up as a result of our, or our dogs’, disturbance and know that the huge effort the bird has made to fly back all the way from Africa has been in vain.”

School Transport to Poole & Parkstone Grammar Schools From Swanage through Wareham and Lytche Matravers

Link Rider Coaches Please call 01929 477344 or email linkridercoaches@gmail to book your child on our September List

fashion, local traders and live music from the 1920s to the 1970s. This year, the celebration will also be raising money for the Friends of Fisherman’s

Walk.

The festival, which attracted 22,000 people last year, is on Saturday and Sunday, 25 and 26 June.

PHOTO: Oak Photgraphy

This year commemorates the 40th Anniversary of the Falklands conflict.

The Swanage Royal British Legion will commemorate this event with a short Service and wreath laying at the War Memorial on Saturday 11th June at 2:30pm.

All those with any connection to the conflict are invited to attend in recognition of their service to Queen and Country.

In addition to this Swanage Royal British Legion Branch and Club will hold a Social Evening at the Club from 8pm.

This will take place after the formal event of the day and all those that took part are invited to attend.

We would consider it an honour to welcome as many Veteran's living in the area to attend and possibly share their experience from Down South.

We look forward to sharing your company.

30

The Purbeck Gazette

National Coastwatch

‘Opening the hatch’ for Jubilee

W

ith Her Majesty, the Queen, celebrating her Platinum Jubilee, it’s only fitting that we begin this month’s article with a celebration of our own.

The watchkeepers at St Alban’s Head have recently passed their Declared Facility Status (DFS) inspection.

This is an annual assessment, carried out to ensure all our stations meet the required standards to be counted among the assets available to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

By achieving DFS, this puts us on a par with the local coastguard rescue teams, the RNLI lifeboats and the search and rescue helicopters.

The inspections are carried out by a team of independent senior watchkeepers, using a set of criteria agreed with the MCA. The assessment looks at all aspects of how the station is managed and run, and St Alban’s Head passed with flying colours.

Well done to you all.

Those of us at the Swanage Lookout are now anxiously awaiting our assessment, later in the year!

As well as highlighting the training programme and the way the station was managed, the report stressed the excellent relationships with all nearby organisations.

This is something we pride ourselves on and is one of the reasons both stations are holders of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS).

The QAVS is awarded to voluntary groups for their contribution to the communities in which they are based, and it’s often thought of as the MBE for groups!

I think it’s a measure of our standing in the community that both stations are one of the nominated charities for Swanage Carnival this year.

We’re very grateful for this and would like to thank the Carnival Committee for their invaluable support.

The watchkeepers at St Alban’s Head are celebrating passing an important inspection.

St Alban’s Head will be providing refreshments and greeting visitors during the Bank Holiday weekend for the Queen’s Jubilee.

We receive no formal outside funding and are reliant on donations such as this to keep the stations running.

This is why our extremely popular ‘tea and cakes at the Point’ and ‘refreshments from the hatch’ events are so important to us.

W

hey also give us a chance to talk to the public about our work and to pass on local information.

Providing this local knowledge was another point highlighted in the DFS report as the team at St Alban’s assists with providing public warnings for the military firing ranges.

Both stations can be contacted on our dedicated NCI radio channel, Channel 65, and asked for local weather

observations or a radio check.

By using the NCI stations to carry out a radio check, you can cut down on the routine traffic regional coastguard centres have to deal with.

I’m pleased to say that after the MCA campaign, last year, to encourage water users to use Channel 65, we’re getting more and more calls.

One recent radio check was particularly memorable as it ended with the message: “Thanks for keeping an eye out for us, we feel safer having you folks on watch.

“That is just why NCI was set up – to be the ‘Eyes along the Coast’.

With the Jubilee Bank Holiday at the beginning of the month, both stations expect to be very busy as people make the most of the good weather – fingers crossed – and the

extended break.

It’s certainly something to celebrate and is something many of us will never see again.

Seventy years of public service is an amazing feat, congratulations Your Majesty!

The National Coastwatch Institution has been in operation for a little over 25 years, so we have a way to go before we celebrate our platinum anniversary, but we’re confident we’ll still be providing a useful service when we reach that milestone.

To celebrate the Jubilee St Alban’s Head will be ‘opening the hatch’ for refreshments during the Bank Holiday weekend.

Why not pop along and say hello to the watchkeepers and congratulate them on their recent success.

Down at Peveril Point we’re going to be dressing the station ‘fore and aft’ and we have plans to light the Lookout up, certainly for the Jubilee Day. With our location, at the entrance to Swanage Bay, we’re hoping this will be an impressive sight.

All we have to hope for is we’re not mistaken for a lighthouse!

This is St Alban’s Head NCI (QAVS) and Swanage NCI (QAVS) listening on channel 65, NCI out.

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The Purbeck Gazette

Breeze links with Ducati DUCATI UK has teamed up with Breeze Motor Group to open a store in Dorset, dedicated to the iconic Italian motorcycle brand.

Opening Autumn 2022, Ducati Bournemouth will be at Bedrock Park, Ferndown Industrial Estate.

The 7,000 sq ft store will provide the full range of new Ducati motorcycles and Scrambler Ducati as well as pre-owned sales, official apparel, parts and accessories, and a state-ofthe-art workshop.

Fabrizio Cazzoli, managing director of Ducati UK, said: “Ducati Strategy in the UK is very clear – we aim to fulfil our mission: ‘enrich people’s lives through amazing

Motoring two-wheeler products’.

“To achieve this, we partner with organisations which share our same principle, values and performance. Breeze Motor Group has proved to be the perfect partner in the area.

Together, with the opening of Ducati Bournemouth, we will reach amazing results for the benefit of all Ducati enthusiasts.”

Once opened, the Ducati Bournemouth team will host showroom events and a calendar of ride-outs with routes designed to make the most of the stunning Dorset scenery, with coffee and cake

Ducati Bournemouth is planning to open in the Autumn.

experiences delivered by the highest quality, most beautiful and hi-tech power

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available back at the showroom for refuelling.

Breeze Motor Group managing director Mark Langford said: “We’re incredibly proud and excited to be bringing Ducati into Dorset. Our well-positioned, easily accessible dealership will offer an exceptional level of service to all customers and a great opportunity to enjoy the fantastic rides we have on our doorstep.”

Ducati Bournemouth will create ten jobs, including specialist motorcycle technicians, sales executives and service advisers.

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The Purbeck Gazette

Business

Life’s a whirl for legal executive

By Andrew Diprose DURING the working week Danielle Mowlam specialises in estate administration in the private client department of an expanding law firm.

But at weekends the Dorsetbased legal executive at Blanchards Bailey LLP has a very different life.

She dons a sequin-encrusted skater dress and takes to the floor as captain of the England baton twirling team.

The 26-year-old has recently returned from leading the team at the four-day European Championship in Selestat, near Strasbourg, in eastern France.

She competed in individual and team events after spending hundreds of gruelling hours practising routines.

And what a success it proved to be. The team took home the silver medal and, in her individual event, Danielle made it to the final and finished a commendable eighth.

She is now looking forward to the World Championship being staged in the Netherlands in July where her England team will come up against much better funded countries such as the USA, where competitors are almost professional.

Danielle, who joined Blanchards Bailey LLP in 2016, has been baton twirling since she was five, apart from a short break in her late teens.

She is a member of Oasis Twirlstars, one of the UK’s leading teams, and undertakes a 110-mile round trip to their Basingstoke base every Saturday and Sunday for 14 hours of intensive training.

She likens her sport to rhythmic gymnastics and competes in about 14 competitions every year.

And it is a real labour of love as she has to cover all travel, accommodation and equipment expenses herself – as well as putting up with bruises and back pain.

Danielle has vowed not to retire until she has achieved

Investing in private equity

Danielle Mowlam in action.

everything she can.

She said: “I’d quite like to coach in the future, but until then I want to go on competing at the highest level for as long as I can. But it’s hard on the body – sometimes I can’t move for a couple of days after a training session!

“I absolutely love the sport and the massive commitment it requires is well worth it. To be named captain of England was a real honour. Some of my work colleagues think I’m a bit potty as when they go home for the night or weekend I’ve always got my bag packed to go to the gym or to more training.

“In fact, at the moment I’ve pretty much only got time for my baton twirling, work and studying for my exams.”

Danielle, a private client executive specialising in estate administration at Blanchards Bailey, is spending five to ten hours a week working towards her CILEx, Chartered Legal Executive, qualifications.

Based in Blanchards Bailey’s head office in Blandford, she is in her third year of study, having recently done her paralegal qualification and has three exams this year before moving on to her final CILEx level.

Ninety-strong Blanchards Bailey is based in Blandford with offices in Poundbury, Shaftesbury and Weymouth.

IN simple terms, private equity means investing in companies that are not publicly traded.

Investments can be made directly, via a fund of funds, via a hybrid investment or via a publicly quoted company which has an element of private equity exposure.

This asset class has increasingly become more prevalent as more companies are choosing to stay private for longer.

This has recently been heightened due to poor market performance for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs).

There has also been an ever-increasing availability of capital in private markets. In addition, fewer disclosure requirements than for publicly listed investments mean that it is easier to offer these sorts of investments.

There is a large hunting ground for assets with a private equity mandate and there has been an increased appetite for these sorts of investments as investors look to diversify and improve performance.

Investing in private equity can potentially be less volatile than publicly quoted investments as investments are less susceptible to the vagaries of the stock market, however,

there can also be downsides.

These include the assets being valued less frequently, lack of control/input from shareholders – and also potentially fewer shareholders – and the company being out of public view/scrutiny. There can also potentially be higher fees.

However, private equity can still have its place as part of a diversified portfolio with the asset allocation tailored to the investor’s risk profile and aims and specific investments chosen to suit individual clients’ needs.

It can, therefore, be included as an element of most managed portfolios whatever the investors’ risk appetite.

There are various exit routes for private equity companies, including IPOs – when the investment becomes listed on a recognised stock exchange – upon the acquisition of the company, sales to other buyers, sales to other sponsors or becoming a SPAC – special purpose vehicles.

The individual investor also needs to ensure that they are aware of the liquidity of their private equity investment and how they can exit the investment if they need or want to do so.

Kate Spurling, investment manager, Redmayne Bentley. Phone: 01202 714450; email: kate.spurling@ redmayne.co.uk Kate lives in Swanage and is based at Redmayne Bentley’s Bournemouth and Poole office.

Redmayne Bentley is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Members of the London Stock Exchange.The Redmayne Bentley Bournemouth and Poole office is at 139 Commercial Road, Ashley Cross, Poole, Dorset BH14 0JD. Follow us on Twitter @redmaynebentley and visit us on the web at www.redmayne.co.uk/bournemouth

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The Purbeck Gazette

Business

Mixed picture on SME confidence

THE latest quarterly small business confidence report for the South-West shows that confidence has risen among SMEs since the end of last year – but there are still many concerns around the economy, recruitment and rising costs.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) report shows that compared to the previous quarterly report, which came out in January when Omicron fears were still prevalent, confidence among the region’s SMEs has improved.

However, the overall figures are still in negative territory – that is, those who feel confident are in the minority – and the report also reveals that the South-West is now the least positive region for SMEs in the whole of the UK. The upturn in confidence among some SMEs is reflected in the fact that of the businesses

which took part in the survey four times as many expect to take on staff compared to those planning to cut back. And almost one in two of the local FSB members surveyed predicted their business will grow either moderately or rapidly in the coming year.

Among the main concerns expressed by South-West respondents was the problem of finding appropriately skilled staff to fill vacancies – nearly four in ten said this was a major barrier to growth.

The FSB’s regional policy representative, Craig CareyClinch, said the results of the 2022 quarter one survey offered some hope but said that things on the ground were still very difficult for many of the region’s small business owners and self-employed.

“The overall picture seems to be that confidence among members – though still

disappointingly low compared to most of last year – is creeping up again and this is something we must feel encouraged by.

“However, the sooner we can see the South-West off the bottom of the league table for business confidence the better.

We must all hope that happens as soon as possible.”

The regional report is part of the wider national FSB quarterly survey which also revealed that 87 per cent of small business owners state that operating costs are up compared to this time last year citing fuel, utilities and taxation as major contributors to that increase.

It also shows that recovery and confidence varies across sectors. Firms in the accommodation and food sector which have benefited from relaxed travel rules were among the most optimistic, but

manufacturing, wholesale and retail firms were more negative as surging operating costs, supply chain disruption, labour shortages and consumer belt-tightening weigh on expansion plans.

FSB national chairman Martin McTague said the mixed picture shows there is still a lot of work to do to get small businesses back at the heart of the economic recovery.

He said: “The small business community shrank in size to the tune of hundreds of thousands over the pandemic.

“With Covid numbers now falling, this needs to be the summer where we start to reverse that trend. The message from us to consumers, policymakers and corporates alike is clear – let’s make this a small business summer – backing the 99 per cent of businesses who are SMEs on which our recovery will depend.”

Furnished Holiday Let Rules

The furnished holiday let (FHL) rules allow holiday lettings of properties that meet certain conditions to be treated as a trade for tax purposes.

In order to qualify as a furnished holiday letting, the following criteria need to be met: • • •

The property must be let on a commercial basis with a view to the realisation of profits. Second homes or properties that are only let occasionally or to family and friends do not qualify.

The property must be located in the UK, or in a country within the EEA. The property must be furnished. This means that there must be sufficient furniture provided for normal occupation and your visitors must be entitled to use the furniture.

In addition, the property must pass the following three occupancy conditions.

1.

2.

3.

Pattern of occupation condition. The property must not be used for more than 155 days for longer term occupation (i.e., a continuous period of more than 31 days).

The availability condition. The property must be available for commercial letting at commercial rates for at least 210 days per year.

The letting condition. The property must be let for at least 105 days per year and homeowners should be able to demonstrate the income from these lettings.

Where there are a number of furnished holiday lettings properties in a business, it is possible to average the days of lettings for the purposes of qualifying for the 105 days threshold. This is called an averaging election.

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There is also a special period of grace election which allows homeowners to treat a year as a qualifying year for the purposes of the furnished holiday let rules where they genuinely intended to meet the occupancy threshold but were unable to do so subject to a number of qualifying conditions.

34

The Purbeck Gazette

Money

Cost of living crisis: Support is available CUSTOMERS in the SouthWest are being encouraged to check online for the range of financial support available from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to help with living costs.

HMRC has listed the support available in one place to ensure people are not missing out and can easily find out online if they are eligible and how to claim.

The new GOV.UK page pinpoints users to a one-stop shop of all the benefits, credits and allowances available to individuals and families, making it easier than ever for people to claim what they are entitled to. This includes: Child Benefit: Child Benefit can be claimed if someone is responsible for bringing up a child under 16 – or under 20 if

they stay in approved education or training.

Only one person can receive Child Benefit for a child. It is paid every four weeks and there is no limit to how many children people can claim for.

Tax-Free Childcare: Working parents can receive assistance of up to £500 every three months – up to £2,000 a year – for each of their children to help with the costs of childcare until the September after their 11th birthday.

If a child is disabled, this goes up to £1,000 every three months until the September after their 16th birthday – up to £4,000 a year.

Marriage Allowance: Marriage Allowance allows individuals to transfer ten per cent (£1,260) of their personal

tax allowance to a husband, wife or civil partner if they earn less than the personal tax allowance, usually £12,570.

Work-related expenses and uniform allowances: Tax relief can be claimed on money spent on things like work uniform and clothing, tools, subscriptions or business travel.

The GOV.UK page also includes guidance for those on a low income wanting to make the most of their savings and help for those struggling to pay their tax bill.

Myrtle Lloyd, director general Customer Services Group, HMRC: said: “We understand these are very difficult times for many, so it’s vitally important we continue to highlight the range of support available.

PHOTO: Firmbee/Pixabay

“We’d encourage those who think they may be eligible for support to take a look and claim what they’re entitled to – it could make an important difference to household budgets at a time when it’s needed the most.”

Additional online tools and guidance are available to help customers check if they are eligible for each service – as well as extra support to guide them through the application process.

35

The Purbeck Gazette

News

News from Wareham Town Council – April JULIE BRADSHAW has used the agenda and minutes to compile this report because she was isolating on the day of the April meeting.

MEMBERS of the Friends of Wareham Hospital (FOWH) spoke of their devastation that the integrated health hub was not going ahead and their disappointment that Wareham Town Council was not conveying that opinion to Dorset Healthcare. FOWH commended the sterling efforts of those working at the Wareham Vaccination Centre.

Adam Fitzgerald, programme manager for the Purbeck Gateway Project on the former Middle School site,

told the council the GP Partnership proposed to have a new GP surgery there. A meeting on 3 May of possible developers of the housing would, it was hoped, lead to a contract being awarded at the end of August and a planning application in Spring 2023.

The plan is for 65 extra care houses plus 23-24 affordable houses, including supported living and possibly key worker housing.

The Sustainable Wareham group introduced itself to the

town council. Its newsletter can be read on the sustainablewareham.org website. In the second phase of Dorset Council’s electric vehicle charging points installation, Bonnetts Lane will get two. The town council plans to install a charging point in Howards Lane car park.

It was unfortunate timing that after complaints were received about behaviour around the skate park in Hauses Field, the equipment was deemed dangerous and dismantled. The results of a survey were that a large majority was in favour of a ‘wheeled park’ in Wareham and a majority felt that it should be in Hauses Field. A plan was then mooted to build in Hauses Field a track suitable for younger children without

giving an alternative in Wareham for the older ones.

The Purbeck Local Alliance Group has been set up to ensure that the children’s plan is carried out across Purbeck.

The group requested a statement so that it and the community knew what was planned and hoped that young people be involved in the decision making.

The deputy town clerk, K. Noble, was acting as town clerk and responsible finance officer until a new town clerk has started work. The construction of an office for town council and visitor information in the Corn Exchange has been delayed partly because of building regulations.

The town council’s next meeting was on 24 May and the following one is on 28 June. The public is welcome to attend at 7pm in the town hall and further information is on the council’s website, www. wareham-tc.gov.uk, or from the office on 01929 553006.

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36

The Purbeck Gazette

Health & Wellbeing

Your Health Matters

Dorset HealthCare’s monthly round-up

Breaking the cycle of loneliness THIS year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, which took place from 9-15 May, highlighted the everincreasing problem of loneliness and how it can damage our overall mental health.

More people than ever in the UK are experiencing loneliness and isolation.

Feeling we don’t have the connections we need or anyone to talk to when we are struggling is detrimental to our mental – and sometimes physical – well-being.

However, help is on hand.

Dorset HealthCare provides free, confidential mental

Louise Deeprose.

health support through services like Steps2Wellbeing which offers talking therapy, courses and webinars to adults in Dorset and the Southampton City area – and they’re all easy to access online.

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peer support worker and previously had felt I had no one to turn to when I was struggling with my mental health.

Growing up, I had times where I felt so down and had thoughts I didn’t want to be alive anymore. I tried to tell adults I was struggling and wanted help. Some didn’t know how to get me help or told me they didn’t want to hear any more of it. I felt alone, like I was being dramatic, and that my feelings weren’t real.

I began to experience shortness of breath, racing heart and severe sweating. I withdrew from friends and family. Negative thoughts about myself and what others thought of me were becoming more intense.

Sometime later, a family member suggested I make a referral to Steps2Wellbeing. I never thought I was ‘bad enough’ or that my problems were worthy of a professional’s time. But finally, someone listened. My feelings were validated and I was relieved to know they were real.

After completing a quick and easy Steps2Wellbeing referral form online, I was able to explore my feelings with a professional therapist and learn strategies to manage my feelings.

The service has helped me change my life. I spoke about my experiences and everything just began to make more sense – I felt like I could begin to understand myself better.

To find out more about Steps2Wellbeing and access the support it offers, go to www.steps2wellbeing.co.uk LOUISE DEEPROSE Steps2Wellbeing peer support worker

37

The Purbeck Gazette

Health & Wellbeing

Covid jab call to £13k for most vulnerable health projects in community HEALTH leaders in the South-West are asking families to encourage relatives to get their Spring booster against Covid-19.

In March 2022 the NHS continued to roll out the vaccination programme by offering Spring boosters to the over-75s, residents in care homes for older adults and those aged 12 and over who are severely immunosuppressed, such as those receiving cancer treatment.

In order to protect those most vulnerable, health leaders are asking families to remind their loved ones who are over 75 to get their Spring booster vaccination.

Dr Julie Yates, lead consultant for Screening and Immunisation for NHS England and NHS Improvement South-West, said: “Reminding our loved ones, family and friends who are over 75 to stay protected from the serious effects of Covid-19 could help save lives and prevent people from being hospitalised.

“Even if you have tested positive for the virus, it is important you use this opportunity to top up your immunity.

“Having the full number

of recommended doses of the vaccine still provides your best protection.”

Covid-19 is more serious in older people and those with a weakened immune system, and protection from the vaccine may also decline more quickly in these groups.

The JCVI recommended that those eligible receive their Spring booster six months (182 days) after their first booster dose.

Anyone unsure of when they had their first booster should download the NHS app or call 119.

There several ways someone can receive their COVID-19 spring booster: n Book an appointment at a vaccination centre or community pharmacy using the National Booking System website or by calling 119. n Find a spring booster walk-in clinic using the Grab a Jab website. n Your local GP practice may call and invite you to book an appointment at their clinic.

South-West vaccination teams have administered more than 13.1 million Covid-19 vaccinations since the programme began in December 2020.

Cervical screen reminder

By Faith Eckersall WOMEN aged between 25 and 64 in Purbeck are being encouraged to respond to cervical screening invitation letters and to book an appointment at their GP practice if they missed their last one.

Public Health Dorset

says two women die every day in England from cervical cancer despite it being one of the most preventable forms of the disease which screening can stop before it starts.

For more information and to book an appointment, visit nhs.uk/ cervicalscreening

By Faith Eckersall AN NHS Dragon’s Den-style competition to find innovative ways to help Dorset people with mental health and other issues has handed out £13,000 to the winning projects.

An initiative to tackle social isolation among older residents and support for people with memory problems won the two biggest slices of competition money.

Funding will also go to projects addressing young people’s sleep issues, an online singing group for patients with communication difficulties and to trial a new treatment for knee arthritis.

More than 1,300 people voted for their favourite suggestions, whittling down a shortlist of ten proposals to five, before staff pitched to a

panel of ‘dragons’ – as on the BBC television show – to secure an investment to bring their ideas to fruition.

Combat Social Isolation of the Elderly received £4,710 to help the Community Mental Health (Older People) Team trial a weekly session designed to improve old people’s sense of well-being, forge new friendships and learn new skills.

Healthy Body and Brain was awarded £3,548 to establish a local support group for people with mild cognitive impairment. The group will help people manage their condition and reduce the risk of dementia through advice on nutrition and diet, exercise and good quality sleep, relaxation and the importance of social engagement.

The other projects receiving cash were Platelet Rich Plasma Injections to treat 50 patients suffering significant knee pain, Sleep Champions to promote sleep hygiene’ plans to help youngsters recharge their energy, make better decisions and build stronger relationships and on-going support for the new online Aphasia Choir.

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Lytchett & Upton Council, Lytchett Minster The Courtyard Craft Centre, Lytchett Minster The Baker’s Arm Pub, Dorchester Road The Clay Pipe Inn, Organford Rd Crossways Post Office, Crossways The Spar Shop, Puddletown The Post Office, Winfrith Mace Stores, Bere Regis Bartletts Store, Bere Regis Holme Nurseries, East Holme Co-op Food & Petrol Station, Sandford Horsey’s Newsagents, Wareham Premier Stores, Carey, Wareham Purbeck Mobility, Wareham The Hidden Deli, Wool Gillett’s Spar Shop, Wool The Lookout Stores, Stoborough Stoborough Garage, Stoborough Foleys Garage, Harmans Cross St Michael’s Garage, Harmans Cross Swanage Tourist Information Centre Swanage News Newsagents, Swanage MColls Newsagents, Swanage Jenkins Newsagents, Swanage Arkwrights Stores, Swange Ballard Stores, North Swanage Costcutters, Herston, Swanage Richardson’s Budgens, Swanage Triangle Garage, Swanage Durlston Castle/Seventhwave Restaurant, Durlston, Swanage The Scott Arms pub, Kingston Corfe Castle Village Stores, Corfe Castle Langton Village Stores & Post Office, Langton Studland Stores, Studland THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING STOCKISTS - SUPPORT LOCAL!

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The Purbeck Gazette

Arts & Entertainment

Summer of fun at museum ‘CELEBRATE’ is the buzz word at the Museum of East Dorset at Wimborne Minster this Summer with a host of activities in store for families in its new exhibition – ‘East Dorset Celebrates: 70 Years of Fun and Festivities’.

The fun starts in May half-term when children can join in a Platinum Jubilee themed crafts, stories and garden trail at Little Explorer’s Corgis and Crowns, and the return of popular Family Art Picnic with this year’s artist in residence, Yvonne Perks.

Yvonne is also at the museum every Friday from 10am-12.30pm throughout June and July to help ‘Celebrate Nature’. She will be using the garden and its furry and feathered visitors to inspire her artwork. It’s an opportunity for budding artists to ask her for top tips!

Visitors can pick up the new Summer Trail with their museum entrance ticket then make a pit stop at the Craft Zone to create their own piece of bunting to adorn the entrance gallery over the Jubilee week.

The Craft Zone will return for the Summer Holidays with

n

PURBECK artist and sculptor Andrew Thomas is exhibiting more than 30 years of work at Stoborough village hall next week.

Alongside his older pieces will be his latest thought provoking, challenging and inspirational new work, The ‘Transformation’ series, and ‘Essence of Purbeck’ series.

The exhibition, which runs from Saturday, May 28, to Sunday, June 5, from 10am-7pm, will feature original hand-carved wood sculptures, limited edition bronze castings, ‘laser art’ canvas prints and ‘affordable art’.

Andrew will be at the venue most days to welcome visitors and answer questions about his work.

creative crafts activities on offer daily as part of museum entry.

At the Festival of Archaeology on Saturday, 16 July, visitors can experience what everyday life was like in Roman times. They can sample authentic recipes in the museum kitchen, make a gladiator helmet and paper mosaics in the Garden Room, and handle real and replica artefacts.

The fun continues on Tuesday, 26 July – treasure hunters can take their finds along to a drop-in surgery with Dorset County Council’s historic environment team. In the afternoon, children can make their own badges and get hands-on with fascinating pre-historic and Roman finds.

The museum’s 60th Birthday Summer Fete is on Saturday, 30 July, with the whole community invited to celebrate the occasion.

Traditional stalls and games, children’s crafts, a Pimm’s tent, music from the ‘Band on the Strum’ ukulele band and Vivamente Voices Choir, and local artisans will be selling their crafts in the maker’s market from 11am-3pm in the garden. Entry to the fete is

A youngster enjoys the shapes projected on to the Stationer’s shop Wall in the museum A youngster enjoys the shapes projected on to the Stationer’s Shop Wall in the museum.

free.

Edwardian games will be in the garden for everyone to enjoy throughout the summer

and the ‘Let’s Celebrate Nature’ art boxes are proving to be a favourite with young and older people alike.

Art – and a life-sized chimp!

TIME is running out to visit the Dorset Art Weeks exhibition ‘It’s Up to Us’ at the Jubilee Hall in Poundbury.

The exhibition is being led

by Casterbridge Art Society which has created the umbrella group Art In Poundbury, inviting fellow creatives from Artwey, Dorchester Camera Club and 3Cs Calligraphy to take part, along with new and established artists, sculptors, photographers, textile artists, calligraphers, stone masons and jewellers – all of whom based in that part of Dorset.

Pupils from Damers First School are also taking part, with Year 3 pupils having been busy working with ceramic storyteller Katie Netley.

Pastel artist and ‘It’s Up to Us’ exhibition lead Judy Tate.

Inspiration for their work, and the exhibition’s title, has come from the book of the same name by Christopher Lloyd and 33 award-winning artists from around the world.

Alongside traditional oils on canvas, photography and ceramics, visitors will find everything from beach-combed art to innovative glasswork, a life-sized chimpanzee – yes, really – to intricate chicken wire creations.

Exhibition lead Judy Tate said: “Putting on a professionally hung exhibition of this size is a big challenge and would not be possible without a fantastic band of local volunteers and businesses. Thank you for all your energy and enthusiasm.”

‘It’s Up To Us’ runs until Wednesday, 1 June, and is open daily 10am-4pm. Entry is free and artworks will be for sale.

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The Purbeck Gazette

Arts & Entertainment

flies Stunning backdrops for Concert the flag festival film screenings THE 2022 Purbeck Film Festival is being launched with several outdoor screenings of films including a Disney animation, an American musical classic, the latest James Bond thriller and a story from the 1984/85 miners’ strike.

National Trust’s Corfe Castle and Durlston Country Park are among the venues, offering stunning backdrops for cinema-goers to enjoy a feast of entertainment.

The season opens at Durlston on Tuesday, May 31, with Disney’s 2021 film ‘Encanto’, which tells the story of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a charmed place called an Encanto.

Every child in the family is magically blessed with a special gift, except one, Mirabel, but when she discovers the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, she decides she might just be her exceptional family’s last hope.

The 2014 film ‘Pride’ will get pride of place on Wednesday, June 1, again at Durlston. It tells the real-life inspiring tale of how a group of gay activists in London decided to fundraise for a mining community in South Wales during the year-long miners’ strike.

Former Labour MP Siân James is depicted by actress Jessica Gunning as being one of the most passionate supporters of the group’s efforts.

Siân, a housewife married to a miner in the Swansea Valley when the strike began, started by volunteering to help other mining families, eventually helping feed 1,000 families a week across the Welsh Valleys.

In a message to the film festival, she said: “The ‘Pride’ movie told the story of a very special relationship. One between two unlikely groups, the first a group of young gay and lesbian activists from London and the other, ordinary working class people from the mining communities of the Neath, Dulais and Upper Swansea Valleys.

“It celebrates the unique connection that has been forged between those two communities, both facing the power of an oppressive Conservative government, determined to destroy us because we are different. We were fighting to maintain our mines, our jobs and our future, they were fighting for fairness and equality.”

Other outdoor screenings include: n Thursday, 28 July – 2018 American post-apocalyptic horror film A Quiet Place

(Durlston). n Friday, 29 July – The fantastic 2016 American drama Captain Fantastic (Durlston). n Bank Holiday Friday, 26 August – 2021 American computer-animated jukebox musical comedy Sing 2 (Corfe Castle). n Saturday, 27 August – The latest daring mission for James Bond in the 2021 spy thriller No Time To Die (Corfe Castle). n Sunday, 28 August – 2021 version of the classic American musical romantic drama West Side Story, directed by Steven Spielberg (Corfe Castle).

Wareham’s Old Granary hosts three films in September – ‘West Side Story’ (8), the 2021 American musical drama ‘In the Heights’ (15) and Kenneth Branagh’s depiction of Hercule Poirot in the 2022 version of Agatha Christie’s ‘Death on the Nile’ (22).

Festival chairman Andrea Etherington said: “We are delighted with the range of films being shown this year, offering a real treat to anyone wanting to watch great cinema in wonderful outdoor settings.”

The full festival runs from October 14-29, with more than 70 films at more than 30 venues across Purbeck.

Information and tickets are available on the festival website, www.purbeckfilm.com

‘CROCKS ALIVE (JUST)’ are performing at Corfe Castle Club as the nation celebrates HM the Queen’s platinum anniversary.

The trio will sing to the Jubilee Mini Beer Festival audience as part of the event’s line up of attractions.

Ian, David and Bob (pictured) will perform classics like ‘You Raise Me Up’ and ‘Will You Still Love Me

Tomorrow?’ and encourage the crowd to join in with ‘Keep the Home Fires Burning’, ‘There’ll Always Be an England’ and ‘Land of Hope and Glory’.

The Corfe Castle Club is at 70 East Street BH20 5EQ and the mini-festival promises a hog-roast, ales and local cider, and a barbecue on Saturday, June 4, when Crocks Alive perform at 2pm, and the

following day a doubles boules knockout competition. The event is part of the club’s open

WAREHAM Choral Society is staging a jubilee concert on Saturday, 18 June, at Lady St Mary Church.

The society will be joined

by Wareham Town Band, mezzo soprano Grace Lovelass, Top Notes, Lady St Mary Bellringers and friends for the concert with a patriotic theme.

The event starts at 7pm and tickets priced £12.50 (children’s concessions) are available from Joys Outfitters, Wareham, and on the door.

For more information visit www.WarehamChoral.co.uk or email warehamchoral@gmail. com

Improv fun

PAUL Merton’s Impro Chums are coming to the Lighthouse, Poole, on Tuesday, 14 June.

The ad-libbing troupe – Mike McShane, Suki Webster, Richard Vranch, Kirsty Newton and Paul Merton were last on stage together in 2019.

Now they are back with another selection of games spurred on by those allimportant audience suggestions.

Poetry night

PURBECK Poets are holding an open-mic poetry night at The Globe Inn, Bell Street on Monday, May 30, at 7.30pm as part of the PAW Festival.

Email Martin Hobdell at coysmjh2019@outlook.com

‘Old Crocks’ playing jubilee event

weekend. Crocks Alive (just) can be contacted at www. crocksalive.com

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The Purbeck Gazette

Arts & Entertainment

All things Agatha at museum

By Hilary Porter THE Shire Hall Museum in Dorchester is hosting an exhibition celebrating the life of crime writer Agatha Christie.

Her characters and stories, from Hercule Poirot to Miss Marple, have long captivated readers and audiences, and the exhibition gives visitors an insight into Christie’s writing and personal life, from the inspiration behind her work to

the infamous story of her disappearance.

Museum director Abbie King said: “Everyone here is excited for the launch of our Agatha Christie Exhibition.

Along with creating some of the country’s most memorable works of literature, Agatha Christie lived an interesting life. This exhibition will take a closer look at both the mysteries she wrote and those relating to her own life. This is

a must-see for any Agatha Christie fan.”

The exhibition, drawn from a private collection, features books, objects, artwork and other items relating to the life and works of the crime writer.

Entry to the Agatha Christie event is included with a Shire Hall Museum ticket.

Inspired by the exhibition, which runs until Friday, September 2, Shire Hall is hosting a series of Agatha

Christie-themed events. In May and July, the museum hosts Drinks in the Clink: Cocktails and Crime; a unique evening of Agatha Christie-inspired cocktails from Dark Bear.

Shire Hall is also hosting a murder-mystery evening, including a complementary cocktail and two-course meal.

For more information about the Agatha Christie exhibition and events, visit www. shirehalldorset.org

WHY not visit St Nicholas’ Church in Moreton, world famous for the beautiful engraved glass windows by poet and artist Sir Laurence Whistler?

The church is not only unique in having all its windows engraved but they make the world’s largest collection of Sir

Laurence Whistler’s window art.

For over 40 years the church has hosted a flower festival, which further enhances Whistler’s masterpieces, with displays of flowers by members and friends of the Benefice of Moreton, Woodsford and Crossways with Tincleton.

This year the festival is held

over the Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend, 2-5 June, and has a ‘70 Memorable Years’ theme.

It is open daily 10am-4pm on the Thursday until Sunday.

Admission is free and refreshments will be on offer every day with stalls outside the church Thursday to Saturday.

A free concert, Songs for a

Summer Evening, will be staged at 7pm on the Thursday.

Visitors can also see the grave of Lawrence of Arabia and explore the village of Moreton with its walled garden and tearoom, the River Frome and countryside walks.

Celebrate Queen’s Jubilee with flowers

Fish & Chip Cruise to Poole Saturday 25 June 2022 Leave 6.30pm from Swanage Pier Return to Swanage 9pm Price £22 per person

Includes fish & chips at Poole Spaces are limited so book early!

for tickets please visit www.swanagepiertrust.com/events

PURBECK ARTS CHOIR

FREE EVENT Come and Sing

‘A sure refuge’

Thursday 9 June, 6.30-8.30pm, Swanage Methodist Church Join local composer and Musical Director of the Purbeck Arts Choir, David Fawcett, for an evening of musical voyage and discovery, exploring his new Arts Council funded cantata, ‘A sure refuge’, which tells the story of the Pilgrims who set sail for the New World aboard Mayflower in 1620.

There is no charge for this informal event which is open to all. No need to pre-book but please email purbeckchoir@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Full details on the website: www.purbeckartschoir.org.uk ** 26th November 2022 Purbeck Arts Choir concert celebrating 150 years of Ralph Vaughan Williams including ‘A sure refuge’ **

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The Purbeck Gazette

Arts & Entertainment

‘Strictly’ stars stepping to it DOUBLE the fun is in store as BBC ‘Strictly Come Dancing’s’ newest judge and reigning champion visit Lighthouse, Poole’s centre for the arts, this month.

Professional dancers Anton du Beke and Giovanni Pernice’s Him & Me tour, stopping off in Poole on Friday, 17 June, brings audiences a collaboration of dance, song and light-hearted fun.

Giovanni said: “Anton is the best by far…FACT. He is the ultimate legend and I’m really happy to be able to tour with him again.”

Anton added: “I love Giovanni’s enthusiasm. He is a wonderful dancer and an absolute stage presence.”

Anton has been part of the ‘Strictly’ family since the first series in 2004, partnering an array of celebrities, his most memorable partnership being

with former MP Ann Widdecombe – a match made in comedic heaven.

He took a step to the other side of the judging table in 2021, taking up the role temporarily, but has now been made a permanent judge on the show.

Giovanni became champion in 2021 with his celebrity partner Rose Ayling-Ellis. She was the first deaf contestant on the show and their iconic show dance in which they danced in silence saw them nominated

for a BAFTA. Giovanni also received the earliest perfect score in the show’s history, as well as overtaking former professional dancer Pasha Kovalev to receive the most ever tens.

Him & Me! is directed by West End star Alan Burkitt, who has performed in shows including ‘Curtains’ with Jason Manford and Ore Oduba, ‘Top Hat’ and ‘We Will Rock You’.

Alan has also choreographed for shows ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and ‘So You Think You Can Dance?’, as well as the UK theatre tour for ‘Fascinating Aida’ and Giovanni’s hit 2022 tour ‘This Is Me’.

The Ballroom King and the Jive Master, Anton and Giovanni, will be joined by a world class cast of dancers and singers. For tickets and more information phone 01202 280000.

‘Carmen’ at the Mowlem REGENTS Opera will perform ‘Carmen’ for one night only on Sunday, 26 June, at the Mowlem Theatre in Swanage.

The leading fringe opera company specialises in the larger works of the 19th and 20th centuries and offers emerging and established singers a platform to perform major repertoire not often staged outside the larger houses.

This touring show is directed by Paul Higgins of Glyndebourne Festival Opera and the Royal Opera House, and stars renowned Greek mezzo soprano Kassandra Dimopoulou as Carmen and Howard Hutt

Coaching for ‘Rusties’ LAPSED musicians and up-and-coming talent are invited to take part in a unique coaching and performing experience this summer.

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s ‘Rusties’ will rehearse during three sessions in July with amateur players given the chance to perform alongside the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s professional musicians.

The series culminates with a public concert on Sunday, July 24, at Lighthouse, Poole.

Jubilee concert

A QUEEN’S Jubilee Concert with the Bridport Chamber Orchestra is being held at St Swithun’s Church, Bridport, on Sunday, 19 June, at 3pm.

Music will include Horn Concerto No. 1 by Richard Strauss – soloist Laura Morris, Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and Haydn’s Drumroll Symphony No. 103.

The concert will be followed by teas. Tickets priced £10 are available from Bridport Music Centre and The Book Shop, South Street, Bridport, and on the door. Free entry for students. For more information, phone 01935 824786.

Literary festival

as her Don Jose in a cast of four, accompanied by talented pianist and musical

director Ben Woodward.

For more information visit www.artsreach.co.uk

PURBECK and Dorset literature lovers take note – Sturminster Newton Literary Festival, featuring a mix of live talks, online speakers and writing workshops, is running from June 6-18.

The first week will feature contemporary writers with the second week focussing on the three writers associated with Sturminster Newton.

The event on Wednesday, June 18, is Victorian-themed.

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The Purbeck Gazette

Spotlight Event Diary

Diary Entries are FREE if your event is FREE. If you charge, then it’s £5 plus VAT per entry, per month. DEADLINE for JULY is NOON 9th June 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.

JUNE 2022

WEEKLY EVENTS

Please call prior to attending events listed to ensure they are still on!

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 Methodist Ch. hall, High Street, Sw. All ages/abilities welcome. Steve: 424591, Malcolm: 427695 13.00 Play and Learn at Wareham’s Children’s Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Till 2.45pm 13.00 Under 1s and Tums at Chapel Lane, Swanage. Till 3pm 14.00 Pins and Needles at Harmans Cross VH. 14.00 Swanage Digital Champions. Support people in the community to use the internet and gain basic online skills. Booking essential on 01929 423485.

14.00 Swanage Disabled Club meet until 4pm. Meeting place All Saints Church Hall, Ulwell, Sw. Transport available. Call Mrs Daphne Saville on 01929 425241 ffi.

16.00 Colour Me Happy. Adult colouring session at Swanage Library. Drop in.

16.45 Soccer Skills Sw FC First Sch chldn £1 Till 5.45. 425175 18.00 Swanage Tennis Club at Beach Gardens, Sw. Free Cardio Tennis taster. Till 7pm 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 Wareham Choral Society meet Lady St.Mary Church, Wm. Till 9.30. New singers always welcome. Ffi: 01202 632678.

19.30 Purbeck Village Quire rehearse at Wm URC Church. New/visiting singers (no audition necessary). String & wind players also welcome. Ffi: 288045 or 480737.

19.30 Wm Folk Dance Club Stoboro’ VH. All welcome. 07749 853815. Email: warehamfolkdance@gmail.com 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. EVERY TUESDAY 09.30 Isle of Purbeck Arts Club. Painting and sketching. At the Catholic Church Hall, Rempstone Rd, Sw. Till 1pm. Outdoors in summer. Ffi: Gina on 421689.

09.30 Well Baby Clinic at Chapel Lane, Swanage. Till 11.30am.

09.30 Kiddies Corner Mother & Toddler Group (term time only) No fee - donations welcome. Purbeck Gateway Church. 551415 09.30 Wareham Art Club Workshop at Wareham Parish Hall. Ffi: 553718.

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

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 A Place Of Welcome at 103 High St. 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. Until 12 noon.

10.30 Employment Hub at Swanage Library. Until 12.30pm. Book via Skilla dn Learning on 01202 262300.

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 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 Swanage Town Walk. Local historian takes walks lasting 90 minutes. Meet outside the Museum in the ‘Square’. No charge but voluntary contributions welcome.

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 Belvedere Singers rehearsal at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Victoria Avenue, Sw. BH19 1AZ. Parking on-site. Till 9.30pm. All singers welcome! 425074.

EVERY WEDNESDAY 09.00 St Mark’s Toddlers Group, St Mark’s Church, Swanage. Herston, Sw Till 11am 09.45 Corfe Wool Workshop Corfe VH, East St. Members £1.50; non-members £2.50. Till12.00. 427067 10.00 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.

10.30 Books and More - at Swanage Library. Reading & discussion group.

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.

16.15 Swanage Football Club U-7s Training til 5.15pm. £1. Ffi: 426346 17.15 Swanage Football Club U-9s Training til 6.15pm. £1. Ffi: 426346 18.00 Swanage Youth Club. School years 7&8. Till 8.30pm 18.30 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 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 Purbeck Runners meet at Beach Gardens Pavillion, Sw 19.30 Swanage Musical Theatre meet Swanage Bay View Complex Rehearsal Room.

All welcome. Ffi: 426161.

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 09.00 w 09.00 Swanage Painting Club. Catholic Church Hall, Rempstone Rd, Sw. Friendly group. New members including beginners welcome. Till 1pm. Ffi: Jane on 01929 427078 09.30 Play and Learn at Chapel Lane, Swanage, till 11am.

09.30 Well Baby Clinic at Streche Road, Wareham, until 12 noon.

09.30 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 A Place Of Welcome at 103 High St. 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. Until 12 noon.

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 10.30 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. D’Urberville Centre, Collier’s Lane,Wool. www.purbeckworkshop.org 07757 776907. www. purbeckworkshop.org Phone: 07794 479208 11.00 Sensory Play for 1-4yrs old at Bovington Centre, until 12 noon.

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The Purbeck Gazette

WEEKLY EVENTS

11.30 Home Producers Market. Wareham to be added to the diary. Every Thursday from 7am to 11:30 in the United Reformed Church, Church Street, Wareham2 13.30 Under 1 year olds at Wareham’s Children’s Centre, Streche Rd, Wm. Antinatal mums welcome. Till 3pm. Ffi: 552864.

13.30 Toddler Group. All Saints’ Church, Sw. 423937. Till 3pm (Term times) 14.00 Swanage Town Walk. Local historian takes walks lasting 90 minutes. Meet outside the Museum in the ‘Square’. No charge but voluntary contributions welcome.

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 18.15 Sw Cricket Club Practice till 9pm 19.00 Health Qigong: Fitness and relaxation. Till 8pm. With Penny at Furzebrook VH, Wm. Ffi 07969925502 19.15 Wm Town Band Brass & Woodwind players welcome. Ffi, call: 551478 or 01202 242147.

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 EVERY FRIDAY 08.45 Coffee @ 112 - Drop In For Coffee! Catch up with friends at 112 High Street (United Reformed Church) in Sw. Cake and bacon butties. Fair trade stall. Donations for ‘Besom in Purbeck’ and church funds.

09.30 Health Qigong: Fitness and relaxation. Till 10.30am. With Penny at Furzebrook VH, Wm. Ffi 07969925502 09.30 Little Fishes Baby and Toddler Group. Catholic Church Hall, Rempstone Road, Swanage. Term time only. Until 11.30am. Ffi: Alex on 07904 412067.

10.00 Table Tennis Club Methodist Ch. hall, High Street, Sw. All ages/abilities welcome. Steve: 424591, Malcolm: 427695 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 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 18.30 Sw Bridge Club Mowlem Community Room. 421840 19.00 Sw Youth Centre Seniors Club Night (Yr 9+) Till 9.30pm.

19.30 Informal Lesbian Social Group meets each Friday for fun, laughter and to make new friends. Ffi, contact Karen by email at: outinpurbeck@gmail.com 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 09.00 Swanage Self Defence FUNdamaentals for ages 4-12 years at Swanage Methodist Church, Sw. For a FREE taster session, contact Ian on: 07888660225 or email: swanageSMA@gmail.com and quote ‘Purbeck Gazette’ 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.

Saturday, 18 June, 7pm Wareham Choral Society Jubilee concert. Join Wareham Choral Society, Wareham Town Band, mezzo soprano Grace Lovelass, Top Notes, Lady St Mary Bellringers and friends to celebrate the Jubilee in a joyful concert with a patriotic theme. Lady St Mary Church, Wareham BH20 4ND. Tickets £12.50 (children’s concessions) available from Joy’s Outfitters, Wareham, or on the door. Visit www.

WarehamChoral.co.uk or email warehamchoral@gmail.com 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.

10.30 10.30 Stoborough Baptist Church - would love to welcome you - for meeting details please call 01929 550309 or website www.stoboroughbaptistchurch. co.uk

THE DORSET OPERA

MMXXII

The home of Country House opera in South West England featuring renowned soloists and full orchestra

Marquee Bar | Picnics | Formal Dining

Giacomo Puccini

MANON LESCAUT

25, 28, 30 July at 19:00 | Matinée 27 July at 14:00 Sung in Italian with English surtitles

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

THE MAGIC FLUTE

26, 27, 29 July at 19:00 | Matinée 30 July at 14:00 Sung in English with surtitles

Coade Theatre, Bryanston, Blandford Forum

Box Office: dorsetopera.com 07570 366 186

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The Purbeck Gazette

Local Services DAVE RODBOURNE WINDOW CLEANING

FULLY INSURED FREE QUOTES Email: davidrodbourne2016@gmal.com

Tel: 07825 229 127

JULY 2022 EDITION DEADLINE NOON, 9th JUNE Book online or email: ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

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

OUR PRICE WON’T BE BEATEN

01929 424553 01258 858214 07813 346993

NO JOB TOO SMALL 01929 421156 07974 077885

sparrowroof@gmail.com

SWANAGE & DORSET

Temporary Roof Coverings - Fully Insured

Over 30 years Membership Federation of Master Builders

The Premier Trade Organisation High Performance Flat Roofing Specialists Re-Roofing - Slating & Tiling Roof Repairs - UPVC Facias & Gutters Chimneys Removed or Repointed

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

Emergency Call Outs - Free Quotations & Estimates

ROOFING SPECIALIST SPARROW’S

Plumbing and Heating Engineers Boiler Installations, services and repairs General plumbing, Bathrooms and Landlord gas safety certificates Covering Swanage and the surrounding areas

07584 260838

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The Purbeck Gazette

Local Services

Alan Yates Electrical LTD. All electrical work undertaken, Part P Registered, Fully Insured, Purbeck Based

07779 802329

alanyates.electrical@outlook.com

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

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

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

Mobile: 07973 388190

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

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

LOW COST SECURE SELF STORAGE

• Rent from £27.50 per week • CCTV, Palisade Fencing & 24/7 access • Conveniently located on the Puddletown Road just outside of Wareham

Call us on 01929 401585 to discuss your requirements

46

The Purbeck Gazette

Local Services

BRIAN MOORE INDEPENDENT TELECOM ENGINEER (Ex-BT)

Repair of phone lines & broadband HALF BT PRICES!!

07858 458997 - 01929 554886

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The Purbeck Gazette

HATCH HOUSE presents

Fumi Kaneko & Vadim Muntagirov THE ROYAL BALLET

Internationally Acclaimed

Xander Parish & Anastasia Demidova

Luna Peigné & Guillaume Diop PARIS OPERA BALLET

22nd, 23rd & 24th July 2022

SPECIAL GUEST STARS

By Special Invitation

Ksenia Ovsyanick & Alejandro Virelles STAATSBALLETT BERLIN

Fernanda Oliveira & Fabian Reimair ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET

Julia Moskalenko & Stanislav Olshanskyi NATIONAL BALLET OF UKRAINE

Stunning 440 DINNER THEATRE created in the 17th Century walled garden (covered for the event).

All-inclusive

DINNER TICKETS

Include: WELCOME DRINK THREE COURSE DINNER with WINES 12 WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCES PRE AND POST SHOW COCKTAIL BAR

BOOK NOW!

LIMITED PLACES LEFT! www.coventgardendance.co.uk events@coventgardendance.com 01749 813313

ON-SITE PARKING Starting at

£165 HATCH HOUSE HOUSE, West Hatch, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6PA Hatch House Ballet wrap 270522.indd 4

19/05/2022 16:20

Michael B. Alberry

DECORATOR Property Decoration & Renovation

07796 640538 01929 424882 Manufacturers of Purpose-made Hard & Softwood Joinery

01202 622441 info@elegantjoinery.co.uk www.elegantjoinery.co.uk

OLD BYGONES & COLLECTIBLES

Rural, garden & agricultural items bought & sold

Tim, 01725 517268 or 07311 478301

Man & Van available to hire

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

07767 479438 Fully licensed & insured