The New Blackmore Vale

Edition 2

T

w e n he

Fortnightly

Friday, October 9, 2020

Blackmore Vale

Motcombe Community Shop was pleased to see us return! People across the Blackmore Vale and beyond united in their joy to see the return of their much-missed BVM. See what they said on our letters pages, P36-40.

FREE

BVM founder so glad it’s back

By Miranda Robertson Editor One of the founders of the Blackmore Vale Magazine has said ‘the heart is back’ in the publication after we relaunched the title.

Ingrid Chalcraft still lives in Stalbridge, where she and her late husband Alan launched the magazine in 1976.

Ingrid joined scores of readers in welcoming the New Blackmore Vale.

Among the loveliest comments were people saying it felt like lockdown and covid-19 were over when they spotted the magazine in the shops. Many people commented how much they liked the larger print.

Read all your letters on pages 36-40. And read Ingrid’s story on page 18.

Contact Us Miranda Robertson

Editor

newsdesk@blackmorevale.net Tel: 01963 400186

Sponsor this page! adverts@blackmorevale.net

Advertising: adverts@blackmorevale.net Editorial: newsdesk@blackmorevale.net Postal enquiries to: The New Blackmore Vale, 3 Alfred’s Way, Wincanton, BA9 9RU Classified and private advertising: classified@blackmorevale.net, 01963 400186 or online at blackmorevale.net Letters: newsdesk@blackmorevale.net News stories: newsdesk@blackmorevale.net Sport stories: sport@blackmorevale.net

Inside your new Blackmore Vale this week ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES ARTS AUCTIONS BEAUTY, HEALTH & FITNESS BUSINESS CHURCH SERVICES CROSSWORD & SUDOKU FARMING FIELD AND STREAM FOOD & DRINK FUNERAL SERVICES HEALTH & WELLBEING HOME & GARDENS KIDS’ PAGES LETTERS LOCAL SERVICES MOTORING MPs’ ROUND-UP PETS NEEDING HOMES PUBLIC NOTICES PROPERTY RECRUITMENT SPORT

46 12-13 37 26 42-43 51 30, 64 57-63 28 48-50 52-53 16-17 22-25 44-45 38-41 27 32-35 29 36 12 64-69 42 66-69

Lloyd Armishaw

Publisher

newsdesk@blackmorevale.net Tel: 01963 34065

Debi Thorne

Advertising sales manager

adverts@blackmorevale.net Tel: 07876 563683

Alastair Wallace

Ad designer

design@blackmorevale.net

Ruth Armishaw

Commercial manager

newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

Lorraine Drake

Distributor

lorraine_drake@icloud.com Tel: 07850 529937 2

Bellway revise 350-home plan Developers Bellway Homes have revised their detailed plans for development of 350 homes south of the bypass in Blandford St Mary in response to concerns from planning and conservation officers to the scheme submitted in November.

But they have also appealed against the non-determination of the scheme by Dorset Council within the target time.

A separate detailed application for just 250 of the homes and associated infrastructure is also awaiting determination and revised plans have again attracted objection from the Cranborne Chase AONB. The revised plans which are now being considered by Dorset Council and on which consultees were again asked to comment on August 24 highlights a number of concerns raised by the urban

By Nicci Brown design, AONB and landscape officers and refers to six main points emerging from ongoing discussions resulting in the redesigned scheme.

To break down the long distance views into the site from the east, they have reduced the scale and height of development in the north west corner, redesigned the landscaping and green infrastructure, and provided a series of north to south green fingers to soften the form and create a break in the development parcels.

They have also amended the location of the proposed village hall and public art, widened the landscape buffer between the A354 and A350 and buildings facing them to provide a better transition from the countryside, and proposed improved vehicular tracking for refuse vehicles

and additional traffic calming on the roads.

Rupert Hardy, Chairman of North Dorset CPRE, said “Our biggest regret is the failure of the council at the outline stage of development to approve a road bridge linking the site to Blandford, rather than a pelican crossing which will be both dangerous and impede traffic seriously on the A354.

“We are not surprised though that Bellway are appealing on grounds of nondetermination, as this follows hot on the heels of a similar appeal by developers at neighbouring Charlton Marshall.

“Dorset Council have had great difficulty in processing many large applications in a timely manner, which is partly due to frequent changes in the planning team and the integration of different planning systems.”

New mayor in Shaftesbury Shaftesbury has a new mayor.

At a Shaftesbury Town Council meeting on Tuesday night, Cllr Andy Hollingshead was selected to wear the chain, taking over from Cllr Tim Cook. Cllr Alex Chase will be deputy mayor.

Star next door Neighbourhood Watch is launching its third Neighbour of the Year Award – with the deadline for nominations October 27.

Have you got a a great neighbour? Qualities could include a willingness to look out for others, being sociable and friendly, offering practical help and being kind, This year there’s a new category, Co-op’s Young Neighbour of the Year, for 1824-year-olds.

To nominate someone, go to co-opinsurance.co.uk/ hub/neighbour-of-the-year.

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Bereaved mum launches safety app A Blandford mum whose baby son was killed by his father 18 years ago is launching an online child safety app, Cyber Mum, to help keep children safe online.

Cathy Jacques, a serving Blandford town councillor now married to Mark Jacques, was Cathy Franklyn when her two-year-old son Ryan was killed by his father

Lee Khair in 2002, and fought for many years to change the law to prevent defence teams stopping the bodies of victims being released for burial until the trial date, which in her case was 18 months.

Now the mother to three more children, she is fighting to prevent children being groomed or receiving violent and threatening messages

online, and to help parents keep their child safe.

The app connects parents’ and children’s phones and provides articles on bullying, online grooming, child abuse, legislation on child safety online, and a forum where subscribers can talk to each other and share where to get help if a child is in danger from online activity.

It also has GPS tracking to

show a child’s location, and alerts parents if a suspect message is received, along with other tools managed by the parent for their child’s safety and their own peace of mind.

Cathy appeared in an online blog with Disruptive Entrepreneur Rob Moore telling her story to promote the new app which is due to launch on October 2.

Members of the Grove Patient Participation Group (PPG) and volunteers from Sherborne Area Community Kindness (SACK) helped control the traffic at the Grove Medical Centre, Sherborne on the morning of September 26. as patients arrived between 08.30 and 12.30 for their influenza vaccination.

It was a busy morning with 500 patients receiving their influenza vaccination. This was the first of three clinics to be held.

Younger poppy volunteers needed to protect the vulnerable The Royal British Legion in Sherborne has issued a plea for poppy sellers after fears were raised the pandemic could stop many of its stalwart helpers taking to the streets this year.

This year’s Poppy Appeal – the 99th – could be in danger as 12,000 of its 40,000 sellers may not be able to hit the streets. Many are elderly, which means they could be shielding.

People who can sell poppies 4

for the Royal British Legion will be advised to wear a mask, sanitise their hands regularly, and keep behind a table where possible to help maintain social distancing.

Spokesman Andrew Norton said: “In Sherborne we will be putting out a limited number of our boxes in our static sites.

I will publish the names of the shops and locations once the final arrangements have been made.

“But on Saturday 31st

October and on Saturday 7th November we will have a table in town selling our poppies.

“For this I am looking for younger volunteers to help me on the two Saturdays to allow our older volunteers with health conditions to stay at home this year.

“We will be operating strict covid19 guidance with PPE provided, we will have text donate QR codes and contactless machines.

“If you feel you could spare a little time on either Saturday please contact me at andrewwilliam@talktalk.net or 07423 599293.

“Thank you for your continuing to support us – your help funds our lifechanging work and allows us to help thousands of members of our armed forces community.”

Last year Sherborne and its surrounding villages raised £26,000 for the appeal.

Car link offer is a lifeline after charity service is cancelled Shaftesbury Car Link has invited people to join the scheme after Age Concern announced it was cancelling its transport service.

The car link scheme has operated throughout lockdown, providing hospital and medical trips, taking people shopping,

delivering shopping and taking animals to vets, collecting and delivering prescriptions.

All vehicles are thoroughly cleaned down after every trip. Funds from last year’s Shaftesbury Carnival have been used to pay for PPE. Organisers say they are

starting to see the number of requests rising, with many NHS appointments as far away as Oxford.

A spokesman said: “We are extremely grateful to our drivers who continued to operate throughout the pandemic (of their own choosing in their wish to

help others) and those who are back with us now providing the usual high level of care and empathy which has become symbolic of Shaftesbury Car Link's service.”

To book or to volunteer as a driver call Martin or June on 07763 426664.

Poppy, 6, is a fundraising designer LITTLE Poppy Miller from Charlton Marshall has turned her eye for design into a children’s T-shirt.

The gorgeous blue tee shirt is being sold on Origin, a notfor-profit fashion brand which raises funds for humanitarian development projects in Africa.

Poppy, 6, was contacted by the fashion brand after they heard about Poppy’s sensational fundraising skills.

Mum Siobhan Miller said: “Poppy was inspired to raise money following a talk at her school two years ago.

“Since then she has completed sponsored challenges and recently, she drew and coloured pictures to turn into magnets, which

she sold for £1 and raised £120. In total Poppy has raised over £350.

“During lockdown Poppy was contacted by Origin to see if she would like to design their new children’s T-shirts! Poppy was very excited and after lots of hard work drawing many, many different designs over a couple of months, her final design was chosen.

Siobhan added: “Poppy was over the moon to recently receive her T-shirt which has been named ‘Rainbow Skies’. We are so proud of Poppy.”

Rainbow Skies can be found at originafrica.co.uk/ collections/featured/products /rainbow-skies-kids-tee

Councils object to solar farm plans BOTH Spetisbury and Charlton Marshall Parish Councils have objected to proposals to almost double the extent of the solar farm at North Farm, Spetisbury.

Spetisbury say there has been insufficient time allowed for public consultation before the application was submitted, and complain that no approach has been made to the parish council about how heavy construction traffic is going to be managed on a country lane, the impact on residential properties along West End and the proximity

By Nicci Brown of Spetisbury Primary School.

Charlton Marshall say that when combined with the existing solar farm the proposal will occupy a considerable area of countryside around Charlton Marshall and Spetisbury, with no apparent benefit for local residents.

“Parish Councillors feel that the applicant is taking advantage of the situation with Covid-19 and rushing the application process

without undertaking the requisite amount of consultation.”

They said notices on random telegraph poles in the village had quickly disappeared at a time when most residents were restricted to their homes, and discussions between neighbours could not take place.

Many had no access to digital information, and nobody was available from the agents to discuss the possibility of greater consultation.

Their concerns included glint and glare from panels closer

to existing properties, and the length of time that tree planting to provide screening would take to become established.

Local county councillor Andrew Kerby has said he is unhappy with landscaping issues and the impact on nearby business, and has asked that the application be considered by the planning committee, but the parish council say it should be deferred until further public consultation can take place.

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Cards from the Queen and Fulham FC Months of planning ensured a wonderful occasion after care home staff and relatives united to hold a 100th birthday party in Sturminster Newton.

Frank Reed enjoyed a kneesup at Colten Care’s Newstone House despite the restrictions of covid.

Dozens of cards and video greetings arrived, before he was met with a giant banner featuring his smiling face.

Staff sang Happy Birthday To You to him en masse in the garden, before six members of a luncheon club Frank attends in his village, nearby Marnhull, serenaded him from outside the front door.

While Frank was on a Skype call with his granddaughter Bethany in Australia, four other family members were secretly ushered into the rear of Newstone House and kitted out in full PPE. As Frank entered the home’s cinema room, he was greeted by the sight of his son Clive, daughter Helen, and their partners, sitting two metres apart and preparing to raise a toast to him wearing

facemasks, aprons, gloves and shoe covers.

The family enjoyed a twohour-long party with bubbly, stout and cake as Londoner Frank opened cards from the Queen and Fulham FC, the local club where he saw his first match aged eight in 1928 and has supported ever since.

Frank, who has lived at Newstone House for more than three years, was a Staff Sergeant in the Royal Signals during World War Two. He served in both North Africa and Italy and was twice mentioned in dispatches for his bravery.

In civilian life, he was a manager at the Gas Light and Coke Company which later became North Thames Gas. He played a major part in the migration of large swathes of north and west London to North Sea gas in the late 1960s and 70s.

After his retirement in 1980, he and his late wife Joan moved to Marnhull where they nurtured their love of gardening and Frank spent time watching many cricket matches and continuing to

follow football.

“We are extremely proud of him reaching 100 years old,” said Clive. “He has always been there for us, a constant in our lives.

He’s not one to show a lot of emotion but he had a huge grin from ear to ear during his birthday and he hasn’t stopped talking about it, so we know he enjoyed it.”

Clive added: “We can’t thank the staff enough for all the hard work they put in to make

the day such a celebration, especially when you think of all the restrictions they face.

They were brilliant.”

Friends move AGM online Thanks for your support for The Friends of the Yeatman “Fortunately, we were able to our New Blackmore Vale will be meeting for their avoid a major shortfall to our AGM on November 16 – in cyberspace.

The meeting will hear while covid-19 created challenges for the charity, it has avoided a major income shortfall.

To attend the virtual meeting, Friends will need to register at friendsoftheyeatman.org.uk.

Chairman David Hayes said: “In addition to providing much needed PPE, scrub bags and nursing staff gowns to the Yeatman and local surgeries, the friends continued our ongoing Sherborne community outreach to support the Community Kitchen, Blood Bikers, Emotionally Connected Sherborne, and local nursing homes.

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regular income thanks to the generosity of members of the public. In a normal year, our door to door collections, car boot sales, quizzes, boxes, activity, would raise around £40,000. This year a range of different and new fundraising ventures came into being, including making masks, hospital gowns and scrub bags, ad-hoc garage sales, sale of an art collection, sale of shirts, online virtual quizzes, a social distanced pub quiz, and many other activities created by staff of Sherborne-based companies.

Between April and August, we received in excess of £30,000.”

Almost as soon as the magazine hit the streets last Thursday, so many people have been phoning, sending emails, sending letters and cards, all saying the same thing – thank you.

Thank you for bringing the BVM back into our lives, it brings a touch of normality, in these horrid times.

Well to all of you, thank YOU – for so many kind words, offers of stories and offers to pay for copies.

We are all so pleased you loved the new BVM so much.

I also have to thank everyone involved for their support, in producing our first issue of the new BVM.

By Lloyd Armishaw Publisher Now it’s your turn, to say thank you again. Please thank all the shops and garages, who have put the BVM out free for you to collect.

All the advertisers of these first two issues, who have helped fund its production, enabling me to cover some of the cost. Please now use their services, so they will continue to support us.

My biggest thanks, goes to Miranda and her team,who have worked tirelessly to get this copy to print.

Thank you all and please keep sending in your stories.

RAFA holds battle service On Sunday, September 13 the Royal Air Force Association in Shaftsbury celebrated the 80th anniversary of The Battle of Britain with a short service of recognition.

It was held at the Town Memorial on Park Walk, and the service was conducted by the Chaplain to the RAFA branch, Edred Bowman.

The attendance was small because of the health regulations, but included branch president Roy Sims, chairman John Phelps and

Independent veterinary services for livestock in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire Collection points for livestock medicines and supplies at Sherborne, Sturminster Newton, Blandford and Shaftesbury Please call the office on 01258 472314

www.friarsmoorvets.co.uk committee members.

Christine Di Marino laid the wreath and the CO of Sherborne Air Cadet Force

Flight Lieutenant Andrews attended in full uniform.

During the service two aircraft from Compton Abbas

airfield carried out a low flypast and a member of the Town Silver Band sounded Reveille and the Last Post.

Owner’s plea after horse tragedy

By Steve Keenan The owner of a rescue horse that died in Gillingham after becoming entangled in barbed wire has blamed low flying helicopters for the accident.

Carol Pickering said her horse, Colt, panicked and crashed through a hedge. His back legs were snagged by the wire and he lay there all night before being found by Carol next morning. He died minutes later.

Nearby residents told her that ‘four or five’ low-flying helicopters came over the Wyke area of Gillingham at 8.30pm on September 29, as part of a training exercise out of Bovington Camp.

“Colt had never jumped more than a foot high before but he went through the hedge, took the barbed wire with him and was trapped. He was there all night long and must have been so frightened,” said Carol.

The horse was 28, one of

Colt died after being scared by a helicopter seven horses that Carol bought as foals over the years to stop them going to slaughter. She said one, 31year-old Louie, was “going berserk” when she arrived at the field in the morning.

“I couldn’t see Colt anywhere. My daughter came over and about two hours later we found him, still alive.

It was my 70th birthday and I lost my horse. I am griefstricken.”

She bought the horse on her birthday in 1992 and rode both Colt and Louie before an accident stopped her. “Colt was really ill last year but we got him better and he was looking terrific, absolutely brilliant. I spent a lot of money getting the horse better only to see him die.”

Up to eight helicopters were flying night sorties in a military aviation exercise that lasted from Monday to Friday last week. Chinooks, Merlin and Wildcat helicopters were involved, with flying from midday through to 1am.

Carol lives on the busy Wyke Road near her horses and although she heard a noise, she thought it was lorries. She lives alone since her partner died eight years ago.

“I’ve two sheep as well and have tried to keep them going all together on my pension.

I’ve done it all myself, never asked anyone for nothing.

But I think the Army should pay for what they’ve done – they shouldn’t have come that low, anywhere near where animals are.”

An Army spokesman told The New Blackmore Vale aircrew try to avoid flying over horses “whenever safe and practicable” but added: “Horses are not as obvious from the air as people believe."

The spokesman said they would contact Mrs Pickering and added: "Training conducted by Army/MoD aircraft is kept to the minimum required to achieve and maintain operational effectiveness. The MoD takes the issue of safe flying extremely seriously and endeavours not to cause disturbance. The MoD provides a Low Flying Complaints Enquiry Unit, for the public to report any military low flying incidents which have caused concern.

All complaints about military low flying are taken very seriously."

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Youth theatre A new group for teenagers launches at Shaftesbury Arts Centre on Wednesday (14th) at 7.30pm.

Children aged 16 to 18 can join the centre’s Youth Theatre, Music and Drama Group whatever their ability.

Youth Theatre is run by members of the Music and Drama Group, all of whom have experience in performing, production and teaching.

Groups have limited numbers due to covid and both groups are currently full. But you can be put on the waiting list if you email youththeatre@shaftesburyarts centre.org.uk

Could your firm use a Kickstart?

The Blandford Business Support Group is looking into small businesses in the town putting in a joint bid for the government’s Kickstart Scheme.

The scheme offers 30 sixmonth work placements to 16 to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

Leaflets will be coming out soon and anyone interested who feels they could offer a placement should contact Kay on 01258 840306 or kay@cba-services.co.uk.

Pottery making evening in Blandford A clay soirée session is being held next Friday (16) from 7.30pm-10pm in Blandford.

Up to 6 potters can enjoy a relaxed evening of pot

throwing and sculpting. All materials supplied – you bring the snacks and drinks.

Go to potteryparlour.co.uk to book (£25pp)

Read about reading support Read Easy Blackmore Vale North offers free one-to-one coaching to adults who struggle to read.

The group covers Shaftesbury to Sherborne, with Marnhull, Gillingham, Mere and Wincanton in between.

Every reader is offered two 30-minute sessions a week with a single coach and in a private venue so there are no interruptions It’s a big geographical area

for the work they do so they’d love to find a new member of the team to help look after coaches and readers in Sherborne.

If you know any friends or family members who would like to learn to read, call Jenny on 07748 977330 Or if you think you are the right person to help us recruit email Murray on blackmorevalenorth@ readeasy.org.uk

Twin celebration for sprightly Tony Sprightly Tony Hawkins had a double celebration this week – his 95th birthday and a complete recovery from covid-19.

His family gathered at The Grosvenor Hotel, near his home in Shaftesbury, to toast the health of a man who spent six weeks in hospital fighting the virus. And how does he feel? “I feel ridiculously well,” he beamed.

He was told by doctors at Salisbury Hospital that he was unconscious and delirious for four weeks and nearly died twice. “I got it very badly, I am told, but have no recollection of it. I think I must have been on oxygen at one point.”

His eldest son Richard, who also lives in Shaftesbury, kept the extended family informed with regular bulletins as his father fought the virus. But the tough ex-soldier won through and was later transferred to Westminster Memorial Hospital in Shaftesbury for two weeks convalescence.

Now back at home in Bimport, he says: “I count myself extremely lucky. I had collapsed with pneumonia 8

By Steve Keenan and my carer found me on the floor. She called an ambulance and it was in hospital that they tested me positive for the virus.”

He still has to take four pills daily to help break down a coating the virus left on his lungs. But he is very sprightly and his told his family: “I shall be alive at 105.”

Tony loves drama, singing and dancing and is well known in the Shaftesbury arts scene, organising tea dances and concerts and taking part in The Shaftesbury Fringe and amateur dramatics.

“Dancing is my passion. I learned when I was a baby,” he says.

His talent for dancing was spotted by ENSA performers who were entertaining troops in Egypt, where Tony was an officer in the Royal Tank Regiment.

But a potential career in the arts was replaced by a growing interest in genetics.

He joined a seed company, Webbs, in Worcestershire in 1951 as he wanted to be a plant breeder.

During and after the war, root vegetables like manglewurzels were extensively grown for cattle feed. And Webbs one day posted him to Lincolnshire to specialise in sugar beet, a close relative of the mangle.

“I didn’t know one end of a sugar beet from another,” he said. But he ended up being one of the country’s most experienced sugar beet breeders for 40 years, developing a single seed which had 80% germination rates.

It was in Lincolnshire that he met his wife, Mary. The couple had four boys and when Tony neared retirement, they moved to Shaftesbury to be near family. “It is the friendliest town in the whole of the country,” he declares.

Now widowed, it is the arts that sustains him. He sang at last year’s Fringe with son Richard on guitar and took up the saxophone on his 93rd birthday. He’d love to do more am-dram in Shaftesbury and Motcombe but complains there aren’t many roles for a 95-year-old.

He is also a serial organiser. A clarinet recital by Emma

Johnson that he had planned in St Peter’s church had to be cancelled, but he is determined it will go ahead when possible. He offers me a ticket and his thought processes move him on to speculate whether Vaughan Williams had plagiarised an Irish ballad called The Star of the County Down.

He shouts at his digital assistant, Alexa, to play the song and a version by Van Morrison and The Chieftains plays out loud. At this point, Tony kicks away his walking frame, pushes himself up from his chair and begins shuffling his legs and arms to the music. “I really shouldn’t be doing this,” he says. And winks.

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Fashion museum needs volunteers to extend opening hours A dedicated group of volunteers at the Blandford Fashion Museum swung into action with commitment as soon as the museum was given approval to re-open, and it is now open two days a week (Monday and Saturday).

The costume display team took advantage of the

enforced shut down to create a stunning new display on Land Girls and the Women’s Legion, the tea room and shop volunteers re-organised the tea room in line with new social distancing guidance and the reception volunteers had to quickly come up to speed with new protocols to

now greet visitors with their usual friendly welcome, but from behind a Perspex screen.

All have learned how to use the new contactless payment machine.

The museum would like to extend its opening hours for the rest of 2020, but more volunteers are needed.

Anyone with three or four hours a month to spare who would like to learn more about joining the museum’s friendly team, past and new volunteers are invited to call 01258 453006, or to call in to see the new processes in place that ensure the volunteers and visitors are safe.

Mediator quits amid council acrimony A mediator hired by Shaftesbury Town Council to defuse a long-standing feud has quit because councillors refused to speak to him.

The council has been deeply split all year, with two of 11 councillors regularly muted on online council meetings amid acrimonious scenes.

In turn, councillors Karen Tippins and Peter Yeo cite mismanagement allegations against the council and town clerk, Claire Commons, and dub the other councillors as the ‘North Dorset Conservative Party.’

During council meetings, insults have been hurled in exchanges – police were even called on one occasion to remove the pair.

In an attempt to reconcile the parties, the council hired John Furze, a retired policeman

By Steve Keenan newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

and town clerk. But he has now quit, writing to Mrs Commons: “It is increasingly obvious that neither Councillors Tippins or Yeo wish to accept my invitation to engage with me to address the obvious concerns they have with you and this council.

“Until both members improve their knowledge of council procedures and their individual behaviour, I feel the present situation will continue.”

In response, Cllr Tippins said Mr Furze was originally hired to respond to a legal challenge she had mounted when the council accused her of bullying and passed a vote of no confidence.

She spoke to Mr Furze via

Zoom but claims that the council’s HR committee had exceeded its authority and changed the terms of reference, giving Mr Furze a mediator role.

Cllr Tippins says she declined to talk further, questioning his independence as the council was paying him. She also describing other sections of his letter as defamatory and false.

The two councillor factions have clashed over several issues, including the purchase of PPE equipment and exclusion of Blue Badge motorists from the pedestrianised High Street.

The Group of Two also allege exclusion from committees and access to council information.

When the council passed the motion of no confidence in

Doing the Wright thing with family tree A Blandford woman is hoping readers of the New Blackmore Vale can help her trace her family members.

Mary Wright is researching her family tree on behalf of her step-daughter Di Wright, who lives in New Zealand and is interested in finding out more of her

father’s family back in the UK. Mary’s late husband’s mother Winifred Elizabeth Maud Wright’s maiden name was Pester and she lived in Mere, Wiltshire.

Her father was called Jesse Harold Percy Pester and Mary believes her mother

was called Florence Evelyn Maud Pester, nee Coke.

If anyone has any information regarding Jesse and Florence or any other members of the family they can write to Mary at: Flat 32, Chestnut House, East Street, Blandford, Dorset, DT11 7DU or email markaral@btinternet.com

Wanted

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Jack’s House Clearance, Often without charge.

Books also wanted for cash.

07542 389447 And website jackshouseclearance.co.uk

Cllr Tippins in June, Shaftesbury and District Chamber of Commerce also called on her to resign. But there is no mechanism to force the resignation of an elected councillor.

At the Annual Council Meeting on September 29, when the letter from Mr Furze was released, Cllr Andy Hollingshead was appointed Mayor, a nomination that Cllrs Yeo and Tippins voted against.

The Mayor later told ThisisAlfred.com: “Debate, discussion and disagreements are part of the democratic process.

“I would urge all councillors to reflect on their behaviour and think on how their conduct impacts on their colleagues, council staff and the wider community.”

Cake sale raises an amazing £750 for Macmillan A cake sale for Macmillan was held on September 26 on Park Walk in Shaftesbury.

This was a ‘Cakeaway’, in place of the annual coffee morning.

Organisers Lydia Boarder and Maggie Pierce would like to thank all who supported them, bought cakes and/or donated.

They raised at least £750, with some money still coming in, which they say ‘far surpassed our expectations’.

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Distance selling pharmacy supported AN APPLICATION to open a distance selling pharmacy at 25 Salisbury Street, formerly the Carphone Warehouse premises, has been supported

by Blandford councillors.

It was described as a ‘foot in the door’ towards breaking the Boots monopoly after the closure of the smaller of their three pharmacies in the town, where previous attempts to open alternative provision have been rejected.

Town councillor Hugo

By Nicci Brown Mieville suggested they should object since what was really needed was a proper pharmacy, but Councillor Colin Stevens said the applicant was trying to “get in through the back door”, and it was a good idea to have a collection point to start with.

Councillor Haydn White said: “Half a loaf is better than none”, and Councillor Byron Quayle said they should

accept the ‘foot in the door”.

“If we say we don’t want any extra provision that is how it will be viewed.”

Other pharmacies, doctors’ surgeries, the Health & Wellbeing Board and the local Healthwatch organisation, together with town and county councillors and patient representative groups, had until October 4 to make representations on the application by P&D Cards Limited, who have a distance

RBL offering help for personnel The Shaftesbury & District Branch of the Royal British Legion is urging serving or ex-service personnel or eligible dependant who needs help of any kind to get in touch.

If this is you, or you know of someone else who needs help, call the chairman on 01747 854765.

There will be no AGM this year due to covid-19. The date of the next will be November 11, 2021. Vacancies exist for the following posts: Membership secretary, hall bookings officer, assistant Poppy Appeal organiser and one committee vacancy without portfolio.

selling pharmacy in Ferndown.

The new pharmacy would operate from secure premises, with a controlled entry system to which members of the public will not have access, with services provided without face to face contact by phone, website and email, and delivery by post and courier services.

There will also be free videoconferencing, giving patients an opportunity to get to know the staff.

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PUBLIC NOTICES Charles Bradley-Hudson trading as Bradsons of Fir Tree Business Park, Galhampton, Somerset, BA22 7BH is applying to change and existing licence as follows to add an operating centre to keep 2 goods vehicles and 2 trailers at Fir Tree Business Park, Galhampton, BA22 7BH Owners or occupiers of land (including buildings) near the operating centre(s) who believe that their use or enjoyment of that land would be affected, should make written representations to the Traffic Commissioner at Hillcrest House, 386 Harehills Lane, Leeds, LS9 6NF, stating their reasons, within 21 days of this notice. Representors must at the same time send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice. A Guide to Making Representations is available from the Traffic Commissioner’s office.

Notice is given that Julian Matthew Norman Hill has applied to Dorset Council for a premises license in respect of D’Urberville, 90 Cheap Street, Sherborne, DT9 3BJ for the provision of alcohol generally between the hours of 10 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. Monday to Sunday. Any interested party or responsible authority may make representations in writing to, The Licensing Section, Dorset Council, South Walks House, South Walks Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1UZ within 28 days from the date of this notice. The licensing register and details of this application may be inspected during normal office hours at the above address. It is an offence under Section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003 to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on conviction for the offence is a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (£5000)

2nd Templecombe Scout Group Annual general meeting 20th October 7:30pm Zoom meeting apply to join at templecombescout group@btinternet.com 12

Lockdown is cloud with a silver lining Lockdown has been boom time for Semley Village Stores – now it has been able to give £9,000 of surplus funds back to community projects this month.

In March, no one wanted to go to a supermarket but the sun was shining and ‘socially distanced’ queueing for the shop meant a chance to catch up with friends. The community shop took on an extra paid manager, expanded its range of fruit and vegetables, managed to stock loo rolls, pasta, flour and yeast and served its ‘shielding’ community with on-line ordering and deliveries.

Local people responded generously. The shop’s turnover more than tripled in April and May. In July, as restrictions were eased, turnover was still twice as

much as last year and this is continuing.

Now the shop is ready to pass on some of the profits, and will be giving money to Semley school for its new library, the village hall for its refurbishment and St Leonard’s church for maintenance. The village fete, which usually generates about £5,000 for local causes, had to be cancelled. The donations from the shop will more than compensate for the loss of fete income.

Pene Cairns, Chair, Semley Village Stores committee,

said “This is what we always hoped to be able to do when we set the shop up. It is a wonderful way to say thank you to all our customers, new and old. I hope that everyone, especially the volunteers who keep the shop going, enjoys this reward for our efforts. We also hope that all our customers continue to support our shop and our community.” n Semley Village Stores was established in 2012 funded locally and through grants. All 30-plus shifts per week are staffed by volunteers.

Arts Read all about books & cyber with Rosie MOTCOMBE author Rosie Lear has published her fourth book in the Sherborne Medieval Mysteries series.

Better known locally as Rosie King, the release of the fourth historic novel Spare the Rod coincides with the launch of her new website rosielearbooks.com The mystery series has proved popular with local people.

Indeed, Sherborne Abbey Canon Eric Wood says Spare the Rod, which delves into the history of Sherborne, is a good “fireside read.”

Spare the Rod is available to buy at Sherborne Abbey, Motcombe Community Shop, Shaftesbury Abbey and Shaftesbury Museum.

It is also available on Amazon and in kindle editions.

Host of artisan items in new market An exciting new market is due to start on Gillingham’s High Street this Sunday, October 11.

The market will be one of two dates planned before Christmas, and will be known as Gillingham White Hart Market.

The market is being run as a collaboration between Gillingham’s ‘Town Team’ and Salisbury-based The Anonymous Travelling Market, who will bring a broad array of stalls to the town selling artisan goods and produce, much made or produced by the stallholders themselves. Most overseas products on the markets are ethically produced or Free Trade. All of the stallholders are either local or based in the Wessex region.

Steve Dauwalder, operations manager for The Anonymous Travelling Market, said: “Outdoor markets are showing

By Miranda Robertson a surge of popularity again and the covid-19 pandemic makes people feel much more comfortable when shopping outdoors.”

Organisers have put in place stringent covid-19 controls including hand sanitising points, a Track & Trace system and a one-way route around the High Street site.

The High Street will be closed to traffic between School Lane and Barnaby Mead – traffic will be diverted along Le Neubourg Way. All of the town’s car parks will still be accessible to shoppers and a number of shops will be open.

The second date for this year with be a special White Hart Christmas Market on Saturday, December 12 – stallholder interest for this one is growing fast, say organisers.

Steve added: “I am pleased to

see the encouragement provided by The Town Team, shop owners, local residents and a number of town councillors, whose support lays a good foundation for a new market. We are hoping to make this a regular monthly event from 2021.”

There will also be a few street food traders on site as well as a busking point. There is still some space left for retail traders or for those wishing to use the busking point. Contact Steve at info@theatm.co.uk or 07795 321 535 for more information. This Sunday’s market will open at 9am.

Christmas fair An Early Christmas Market will be held at Fontmell Magna Village Hall and Grounds on Saturday, October 17 from 11am to 3pm in aid of

the Village Hall and Playground Appeal.

The market will feature stalls indoors and out, to enable shoppers to start their festive preparations in good time with a range of wonderful local goodies.

Stalls will include locally sourced and cured charcuterie, metal plant supports for your garden, handmade soaps and exfoliators, children’s clothing and homeware, hand-painted pottery, hand-crafted silver jewellery, beeswax food wraps, new and nearly new children’s books and toys and pick n’ mix style treats for dogs.

There will also be framed vintage diecast models, wildlife paintings and jams, chutneys and marmalades.

Covid measures will be in place. Call Rosie-Anne Yates on 07710 326 339 or email playground.fmvh@mail.com

Arts

Some Christmas and half term treats Salisbury Playhouse sees the return of its production for young children and their families, Little Robin Redbreast, this Christmas (December 1-27).

Last year it was held in The Salberg but this December it will be staged on the main stage in a transformed and covid-secure auditorium The production focuses on little Robin, who’s getting very excited about Christmas.

To help him count down the days, Mummy and Daddy have given him an advent calendar. Behind every window on the calendar is a picture and every picture tells a story. Robin links the pictures together as he makes his magical, musical journey towards Christmas Day, encountering a street-wise squirrel, an attention-seeking

mouse, a family of reindeer and a curious cat along the way.

Written by artistic director Gareth Machin and composer Glyn Kerslake, Little Robin Redbreast is full of songs, magic and surprises for all the family.

Gareth Machin said, “I’m really delighted we’re bringing back this popular, magical show for family audiences at Salisbury Playhouse this Christmas.

“Audiences loved this festive treat when we first staged it in 2017 and I hope that this year, especially, it will bring joy to more people young and old.”

Tickets are currently on sale – visit wiltshirecreative.co.uk for further information and to book tickets.

Also at Salisbury Playhouse

in December will be productions of Christmas Gothic, three seasonal tales of terror to scintillate on dark winter nights, and the return of Guy Masterson’s one-man retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, back by popular demand.

The Playhouse has some fabulous experiences lined up for families over the October half term holiday.

On Monday and Tuesday October 26 and 27 Mischief and Mystery in Moomin Valley brings the magic of the beautifully illustrated Moomin books to life with beautiful puppetry, an ingenious pop-up book set, original music and interactive play to entice young audiences and their families.

Wednesday, October 28 sees the return of the popular

Strongwomen Science, revealing the astounding secrets that lie behind circus tricks. It's a fun, lively and fast-paced circus show from the winners of a Fantastic for Families award, demonstrating how jugglers, acrobats and hula hoop artists use science to create their amazing acts.

On Thursday, October 29 Wiltshire Creative is showing an encore screening of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake in the main house. This fivestar production has won accolades for its witty and emotional portrayal of Tchaikovsky's beloved tale.

There is a matinee and an evening screening of the award-winning production.

Go to wiltshirecreative.co.uk to book. The phone line is currently unavailable.

13

Siobhan’s incredible marathon effort for pancreatic cancer A runner whose fundraiser for pancreatic cancer was cancelled due to covid came up with an alternative challenge..

Siobhan McFeely, who works at HMP Guys Marsh and lives in Iwerne Minster, was all set to run half of the Lands End to John O'Groats route to raise awareness and funds after learning of the husband of a work colleague’s battle against the disease.

With all the required kit purchased and the strict training schedule completed Siobhan was ready for the off. But the event was cancelled after the country was locked down.

Siobhan was devastated – particularly for the charity.

She said: “Pancreatic cancer

is tough. Tough to diagnose, tough to treat and tough to research. In these uncertain times things have become even tougher for people who are living with pancreatic cancer.”

Undaunted, Siobhan came up with a new plan... to run seven marathons in seven days. She ran the first leg of this mammoth challenge, 26.2 miles from her home in Iwerne Minster to Tollard Royal.

Over the following days Siobhan completed her goal with various routes across the Dorset coutryside. Day 7 took Siobhan along the Sturminster Newton to Blandford trailway. Siobhan is a keen member of the Dorset Doddlers running club

and on the final leg of her adventure she was accompanied by a number of her club mates.

Siobhan has said the support from the Dorset Doddlers and fellow work colleagues from HMP Guys Marsh has really helped in her challenge. In the space of seven days Siobhan had run a total of 183.4 miles!

To date, Siobhan has raised over £2,100, with all the money going to the Pancreatic Cancer UK charity. If you would like to see more on Siobhan's challenge, or to make a donation to this worthy charity please see justgiving.com/fundraising/ siobhan-mcfeely3 for more details.

Brothers create film for carnival lovers

By Kate Smith CARNIVALS may be cancelled but Blackmore Vale readers can brighten up their autumn nights with two local productions to keep the carnival spirit alive.

Shaftesbury brothers Matthew and Stephen Appleby have filmed a documentary entitled ‘Shaftesbury – The Year of No Carnival.”

The 30-minute film includes interviews with key carnival people from the committee to cart builders and was uploaded on to Facebook and YouTube on Carnival Day, Saturday, October 3.

Matt said: “The inspiration came from really a lack of things to do this time of year.

With no carnival this year it left a hole that needed filling with something to keep people interested in Shaftesbury Carnival and also inform the public the work that goes into putting the procession on every year.

“In the documentary we 14

Matthew and Stephen Appleby speak to Rich Mullins, the chairman of Shaftesbury Carnival, along with the president of Shaftesbury Carnival Jenny Franks. The documentary takes you through all aspects of the carnival.”

For more details about Shaftesbury Carnival and the go fund page go to: shaftesburycarnival.co.uk. nnn SOMERSET’S illuminated night time procession has been cancelled this year for the first time since the

Second World War. Covid-19 has dampened the spirits of carnival lovers, who embrace the events every autumn.

The Carnival in Somerset Promotion Project (CISPP) is keeping the spirit alive with a DVD of past carnival entries featuring many iconic carts and floats from the Journey of the Polar Bear Queen to a Dickens Christmas.

“These carnivals are part of our heritage dating back over 400 years,” said Sue from CISPP. “This tradition of

procession in Somerset has been uninterrupted apart from the WW1 and WW2 years.

These are night time carnivals, nowadays held from September to November each year, brightening up the dark autumn nights.

“These carnivals raise over £100,000 per year for local charities and bring in millions for the local economy.”

To enjoy a carnival night at home this year, the DVD’s are available at sue@cispp.co.uk and cispp.org.uk

Car link axed due to covid concerns Gillingham Car Link’s committee has decided it is not safe to resume operations at the moment.

They say they did not come to this decision lightly or easily, and will keep this decision under constant

review. They will resume service as soon as it considers it safe for clients and drivers.

A spokesman said: “We massively regret the inconvenience this may cause you, but we hope that you understand our predicament..”

Leisure centre funding in doubt Blandford Forum town councillors are considering scrapping their funding for the leisure centre.

The council has handed over half a million pounds to the centre over the last ten years – £50,000 a year.

It was due to make another payment of £50,000, however a working group of councillors say enough is enough.

The council met on September 28 and were told the working group ‘were not minded’ to renew the

agreement.

Thirteen councillors voted not to authorise an 11th payment of £50,000.

However Dorset and town councillor Noc Lacey Clarke warned members they would need to reconsult with council taxpayers to do so.

Dorset Council is now reviewing the contracts for all the leisure centres it has inherited from constituent authorities with a view to awarding a new contract for all of them in a few years’ time.

Police tackle nuisance quad bikes North Dorset Police targeted nuisance quad bike riders causing damage to private land last week. They say they

enjoyed ‘great engagement with local farmers, encouraged runners in a trail race, and seized an uninsured car.

Resident in plea over ‘Formula 1’ speeders A NEWTON resident has issued a rallying cry for help to slow down speeding motorists on the A357.

Eve Eyres says residents along the main road have been campaigning for measures to combat the “terrific speeders” to be put in place for more than 25 years.

And despite warning signage including a speed camera sign, many drivers treat the road as a “Formula 1 racetrack.”

Ms Eyres told the New Blackmore Vale: “The drivers use the road as a Formula 1 Race track.

“We have tried every way but

By Kate Smith newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

to no avail. Why is it that villages can get help yet this main road gets no consideration?

“With the traffic speeding, we have had our windows cracked.

“Now we have to have our walls repaired – all due to the terrific speed cars travel at.”

Ms Eyres has issued a plea for help and said: “We are hoping and praying that someone out there will read this and maybe, just maybe help us stop these selfish, uncaring drivers to stick to the rules.”

Let them eat cake!

North Cadbury Primary School children tucked into lots of cake on Friday... all for a good cause!

Due to the current restrictions, the school was unable to participate in the annual Macmillan Cancer Support World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, but that did not stop the children

enjoying a cake sale within their own bubbles. The families of the school donated an astonishing amount of individual cakes of every description and the children had a wonderful time choosing from the array of goodies on offer, raising an excellent £123.

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Health & Wellbeing Can you help primary school children with their reading?

A literacy charity is calling for volunteers to help children who are falling behind.

Schoolreaders recruits volunteers to

help primary school children, at no cost to the school. No experience is needed, just a spare hour or two a week in term time.

To apply, go to schoolreaders.org or call 01234 924 222.

Train in ASD, dementia and mental health for just a fiver Subsidised training is available this month to individuals, small businesses and community groups.

Four 45-minute awareness courses are available on October 13 and 15 – Understanding Mental Health, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Dementia and Self Harming. The interactive sessions on Zoom need a device with a screen, camera and microphone; such as a smartphone or computer.

This is the second series of community training courses of this kind, a joint venture funded by three small independent organisations – The Honesty Jar, Simply Training and BearCat Collective. “We had such heartfelt, positive feedback from delegates at the face-to-face community training that we have been working towards another set of

courses for some time,” says Samantha Flounders of The Honesty Jar. “The current situation means providing the courses online is a much safer option for everyone, and also allows many more people to be involved.”

Participants will be able to ask questions that relate to their situation. The trainer has many years of experience hosting, mentoring and developing courses for professional care organisations in the learning disabled, behaviourally challenged and mental health fields.

Registration is a £5 contribution as a commitment to attend, which will be added to the funding pot to provide future community training courses.

A content overview for each subject, along with times and dates is at bearcatcollective.co.uk.

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When the home that you love has become too much for you to cope with, and you worry about the everyday things like cooking meals and caring for yourself, then it may be time to consider an easier way of life. St Denis Lodge is a beautifully appointed house with an attractive garden and conservatory. We would welcome an opportunity to show you why it is one of the most highly regarded homes in the area.

Contact Vicki Elesmore on 01747 854596 St Denis Lodge, Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8BS

DIY Natural Skincare Welcome to the first skincare column from Vicky and Clare, two sisters who run natural skincare brands Kunewyk Woods and Simply Ewe in Motcombe.

We are both passionate about natural skincare and with Christmas rapidly approaching we will share with you over the next couple of issues some DIY skincare recipes you can make at home for yourself, friends and family. All of the recipes are ecofriendly, kind to your skin and are inexpensive to make. In this issue, we are sharing a recipe for a fabulous sugar scrub which we hope you will love as much as we do!

We have been overwhelmed by your response to our feature in the last edition of the Blackmore Vale Magazine – thank you so 16

much for supporting our small businesses during these challenging times.

DIY Coconut Sugar Scrub If you are looking for an allnatural, skin softening exfoliating scrub you can make at home, look no further. The recipe below will leave your skin feeling soft, moisturised and will help to remove any dead skin cells from the surface. This sugar scrub is also a huge time saver as there is no need to moisturise after your bath or shower. *Please note that the oils can make your shower/

bath slippery so please be careful.

You can buy the ingredients cheaply from your local food shop, it’s super quick to make and it makes a fabulous homemade gift.

Ingredients: Coconut oil – 8oz Granulated sugar – 4oz Equipment Mixing bowl Jam jar (or other suitable container) Garden twine or ribbon (optional decoration to tie around the jar if gifting) Directions: Add the coconut oil and

with Vicky & Clare the sugar into a bowl and mix together. Once well mixed, spoon into a jar or container of your choice and store in a cool place.

Finally, enjoy some pamper time and your silky soft skin!

Tip: If you are looking to gift the scrub, mini clip top jars look lovely and perfect for a hamper.

Wrap twine or ribbon around the neck of the jar to decorate.

Health & Wellbeing

Chaps – time to talk about ‘down there’ The readership of The Blackmore Vale will run into many many thousands of men between 50 and 60, and a sizeable percentage of those will be bothered with prostate problems – not all of them cancerous but nevertheless worrying and disturbing and of a nature truly unwise to ignore.

Now this is not intended to be a dismal and depressing article but awareness of prostate conditions is extremely low and if just one reader is persuaded to have a chat with his doctor, a life could be saved, and this piece will have been worth publishing.

The trouble with prostates is that they are out of sight and easy to push out of one’s consciousness – most of the time. But, gentlemen, if pushed aside for too long, prostate worries can become serious and indeed become killers. It is notable that some 1 in 8 men experience prostate cancer

in their lifetimes, making it a very common condition. But it is curable – if caught early. But sadly, 6% of all male deaths in the UK are from prostate cancer, so many of them avoidable.

Yet, that said, following successful treatment, the survival rate after five years is 99%, after 10 years 98%, and after 15 years 96%: which statistics indicate not bad odds. However, even if cancer does not invade, the gland enlarges as a man ages, which can reduce or block the urine flow and this can be a medical emergency. Or you could suffer from a sometimes painful inflammation of the prostate.

The ladies consider this is not a problem area for them. And of course it isn’t. But if their man gets hit it soon becomes a joint problem. One of the disappointing, if not tragic, issues is that men do not like to talk

about, or even think about ‘down there’, whereas women openly discuss breast cancer.

Tackling the matter means undergoing a simple blood test annually (the PSA test), which although not infallible is currently the best indicator we have, taken together with a brief and painless rectal exam. And there are now other investigations, tests, and reviews, all of which look very promising.

There is a wealth of options to help your specialist to decide what treatment to offer. There is robotic surgery, ‘watchful waiting’, hormone treatments, cryotherapy (the controlled freezing of the prostate), high density ultrasound, and several other very effective solutions.

The other prostate conditions, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP) or prostatitis – a non cancerous condition – are all

easily treated and since 90% of men in their 80s have BHP this is just as well.

One of the unfortunate facts is that prostate cancer is too often inherited, and as in my case, with five grandsons, I was saddened to contract the disease as I knew this possibility. And again, as in my case, it can return even after over 20 years free of problems, but there is now a drug available which can zap it and leave you free of a returned disease.

Guys, my advice to you is don’t ignore any signs. Get them checked out, sooner rather than later.

Much of this information comes from some years of active personal, written, and practical association with the Prostate Research Council UK and Cancer Research UK. All its content has been cleared by a distinguished professor of

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Living in covid fear? You’ve got this Over the past six months our lives have changed in ways that would, until 2020, have seemed ridiculous and unworkable.

Our every waking hour is in danger of being filled with thoughts about covid-19 and its far-reaching consequences.

You only have to turn on the radio or read your news feed to be bombarded with depressing, or worse still, frightening information.

This, coupled with the practical challenges and restrictions we are living through, can create a very overwhelming feeling of fear.

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone.

Here are some steps you can take to bring things back

Alice Johnsen is a life coach based just outside Sherborne under control. Firstly, let’s look at stress or fear triggers coming in from outside your immediate world – the media.

While you cannot control what the media is telling you, you CAN control how much you listen to or read. If you are having a tough few days and there is no professional reason that you have to keep up to date with developments, don’t. Ignore the news for a few days.

It’s not a crime and it will allow you to put a bit of space between you and the ongoing turbulance.

Secondly, break things down.

If you are stressed about your business, financial situation or something in your home life that seems an impossible task, break it down into smaller tasks.

Focus on one thing at a time and keep taking things one step at a time.

Resilience – our ability to cope. We all have resilience – loads of it. But many of us feel it has been pushed to the

limit recently. So look after it – and yourself. It doesn’t matter what your stress buster is – it could be running, walking, a weekly zoom with your family. The point is, keep doing it.

Communication – the all important part of everyone’s lives that often goes off the rails early on. Keep talking.

If you are frightened, sleeping badly or suffering from anxiety, talk to someone. A family member, a friend, a colleague, a professional.

Once you have reached out and put your fears into words and shared them, things automatically start feeling more manageable. alicejohnsen.co.uk 07961 080513 17

Health & Wellbeing

Can I boost my immune system naturally?

By Louise Hallett Nourish nourish-nutrition.org I am a local nutritionist/ nutritional therapist. Nutrition can help with a range of health complaints from IBS to stress and hormone issues through to immune support.

Here are my top tips on how you can support your immune system this autumn/winter to help lessen your chances of all those colds and flus: EAT THE RAINBOW: Not the Skittles kind! Fruits and vegetables! These are jampacked full of necessary phytonutrients, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds. The best evidence is for the beneficial role of flavanoids, a large group of polyphenol compounds found in an array of plant foods. Flavonoids have been found to significantly reduce the risk of upper respiratory tract infections. High doses are found in green tea, berries and dark chocolate. Other good choices are apples, citrus fruits, onions, kale,

broccoli, parsley, thyme, celery and legumes.

VITAMIN C: Top sources include red and green peppers, oranges, kiwi fruit and broccoli.

VITAMIN A: Top plant sources are carrots, peppers, broccoli, squash and pumpkin. Top animal sources: liver, eggs and butter SELENIUM: a brazil nut a day should provide you with a good amount.

ZINC: Sources include; good quality meat, pumpkin seeds, lentils.

IODINE: Helps regulate the immune system as well as assisting in the removal of chemical and biological toxins, it can be found in seafoods (especially seaweed).

HEALTHY GUT: Over 70% of our immune system is within the gut; the microbiomme. The best way to increase a healthy diversity and population is through an array of fibre rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains and

A walk around...

Ashmore Ashmore is the highest village in Dorset and is famous for its pond, so find a place to park near it and take a look. Then stroll along to the nearby church, largely built of flints. Continue SW down the road, joining a bridleway that leads you first across fields for a mile and then enters lovely woodland, consisting mainly of broad leaved, deciduous trees. It’s so peaceful there and the autumn colours should be 18

wonderful.

Continue down to Stubhampton Bottom, which weaves itself SE along the parish boundary, then follow the bridleway NE, skirting Ashmore Wood, then veering to the East, crossing the Roman road, until you reach Wiltshire.

Here you turn North and follow the ancient boundary as it takes you NW for a mile.

Look out for earthworks. You

legumes together with fermented foods land drinks like kombucha and kimchi.

VITAMIN D: (the sunshine vitamin) helps modulate the immune system and has been shown to reduce the risk of acute respiratory tract infection. Now we’re into autumn, Vitamin D cannot be gained through the sun. A supplement may be a good idea over the cooler months.

Food choices are oily fish, eggs and mushrooms.

GREEN TEA is high in polyphenolic catechins, which have a number of potential health benefits including anti-viral properties, In general 2–5 cups a day of green tea is needed. Other specific foods include mushrooms, garlic, ginger and turmeric.

ADEQUATE AND GOOD QUALITY SLEEP is essential for a healthy immune system; 7–9 hours sleep per night. To help ensure good quality sleep, the

following can help: maintain a regular sleep schedule; avoid bright lights in the evening, expose yourself to sunlight in the morning. Avoid heavy, carbohydrate-loaded meals 2–3 hours before bedtime; minimise screen-time/use of electronic devices in the evenings and avoid after 9pm; avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol after 3pm.

REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY has so many benefits, including maintaining a healthy immune system and aid good quality sleep. 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week and strength building exercises twice per week. A bonus would be taking this exercise outside in nature. Nature has a positive affect on bringing stress levels down which allows the immune system to work optimally.

MANAGING STRESS reduces your defence against infection. Useful approaches for managing stress include breathing exercises, mindfulness and meditation.

Try headspace or calm for some guided meditation.

with retired Dorset rights of way officer Chris Slade will cross the Roman road again as you pass through Wiltshire Coppice.

After a while you’ll come to a wooden finger post of the Wessex Widgeway pointing towards Lyme Regis, 62 miles away. This longdistance path was opened by Priscilla Houston in 1994.

So start heading for Lyme Regis, but you’ll soon find yourself back in Ashmore.

There are some pleasant old buildings here, so it’s worth wandering around the village, imagining what it was like in days gone by.

There are very few modern buildings, no shop, no pub but you’ll see a house called the Stag’s Head, which must have been a pub and is close to the former village shop and the bakery.

So many village shops and pubs have been closed in recent years that it’s altering the character of country living for the worse, with everybody buying online or driving to the nearest supermarket. Some villages have successfully opened community shops. Maybe Ashmore should do so too.

Exchange needs your help to keep going The Exchange arts centre in Stur is appealing for the community’s support after being ‘very hard hit’ by covid.

Staff have been joining in with the #We Make Events #LightItInRed campaign to raise awareness of the struggle faced by venues.

Volunteer lighting technicians Andrew Marsh and Tim Lacey have lit the building in red three times – most recently on September 30, for a Global Day of Action to highlight the plight

of the arts worldwide.

People are being urged to sign up to Sturminster Newton Community Building Trust – the Exchange’s official charity name – Charity no. 1108652 through smile.amazon.co.uk A spokesman said: “The Exchange is the heart of the Sturminster Newton commu nity.

The premier arts centre, business venue, and community hub in North Dorset. With no live shows and other events due to covid-19 for over six months finances are stretched. Please remember we are a charity with no outside funding. So please help if you can, just a few minutes to change your Amazon Account at NO COST TO YOU!” The next planned event is Ben Waters in December and Living Spit’s hilarious Beauty & the Beast in January. Social distancing will apply.

Outdoor Garden & planting design Expert gardening & plant care.

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19

Founder’s delight at new magazine

By Kate Smith newsdesk@ blackmorevale.net

“THE heart is back in the Blackmore Vale.”

This is praise indeed, especially as the sentiment comes from Ingrid Chalcraft, who together with her late husband Alan, launched the Blackmore Vale in 1976.

I spoke to Ingrid on September 29th. A poignant day as it was the sixth anniversary of her beloved Alan’s passing.

Her voice spirited, we spoke about the Blackmore Vale, which Ingrid and Alan owned and ran for almost 20 years, and her story is a compelling one.

The couple were session singers in London who moved to Stalbridge in 1976, swapping the night life and the hustle and bustle of city living to the quiet, peace of the countryside. Before their move to deepest, darkest Dorset they had enjoyed jobs as backing singers for The Beatles and Sir Tom Jones at the Abbey Road studios.

“We had no jobs,” laughed Ingrid. “We had no work and nothing to do. We were session singers who suddenly found themselves living in the countryside.

“One evening, Alan went to the pub and got chatting to a man who wanted some help with a new parish magazine.

When Alan told me, I thought ‘that would be something’ as I had a bit of a job at the chemist a couple of afternoons a week.

“Well it transpired that the chap in the pub wasn’t going to do it after all and did Alan and I want to buy it? Of course the cost was more than we had, so I told Alan to offer him half and he agreed.

“It was madness really,” confessed Ingrid. “We knew nothing about publishing. We had one electric typewriter 20

Ingrid with BVMs old and new and a big drawing board and that was it.

“And yet there we were, putting adverts together under the staircase in our centuries old cottage. But it worked.

“Our printer, who was in Blackmore, gave us tips and we got organised. In those days it was all about ‘pasted up’. Adverts were typed up and then pasted on to paper which were then sent on the printer.”

The Blackmore Vale began with just four pages of A4 however over almost 20 years, Ingrid and Alan grew the magazine to the magnificent village read it became.

“When we first started we went for a drink in Marnel and we could not believe our eyes as almost everyone inside the pub was reading it.

Soon, four adverts turned into hundreds and we could not keep up. We employed a typist and other people to help and soon the magazine was getting bigger and better.

“It was marvelous.”

an spent many days jellying these eels.

“This was the point and the what Alan and I wanted to create.

A magazine for chat, really.”

Ingrid and Alan sold the magazine in 1993, with many rumours still flying as to how much money it was sold for.

“We did sell it for Ingrid and Alan Chalcraft with their a good bit of magazine money,” said Ingrid. “We shared it with our three Ingrid explained: “Alan was the brains and did most of the children and invested a little, writing while I looked after but here I am still in the financial side of things.

Stalbridge!”

But one particular little bit I Ingrid said: “It was a lovely wrote sticks in my mind. It thing to have happened and was about a lady who we loved our time publishing recently had moved to the magazine. Alan would be Gillingham was unable to get thrilled to see the Blackmore jellied eels. I wrote a piece Vale magazine as it is now, and soon she was inundated with its heart back. It is truly with eels from the local fisherman. She was delighted wonderful.”

Blandford town centre covid survey

Autumn fair called off

NEARLY 1,000 people have completed either online or by Freepost a survey of public opinion in Blandford on how the town centre might change after covid-19.

It has been conducted both online and in printed format by the Blandford Town Team and Blandford Town Council, and the results will be considered by a town centre working group which was initially established to consider possible enhancement of the Market Place with a £70k award from North Dorset District Council, and will now review the results and consider the way forward.

The new Covid-related regulations which became law on September 14 and again on September 24 will

An autumn fair raising funds for the Friends of Blandford Hospital next week has been cancelled.

The event was due

hopefully not prevent the signs of post-Covid recovery which can be seen in various projects and businesses getting back under way in Blandford, where there has been a general increase in footfall in the town.

The town’s street market is picking up strongly, particularly on Saturdays when several new traders have been welcomed including the Omega House art stall, and it has been

good to see the reopening of the volunteer run charity shops, and the return of Age Concern Blandford to the Parish Centre on Thursday mornings.

to be held on October 17.

To support the Friends group in other ways, go to friendsofblandford. org.uk

For all your home stationery requirements, Diaries, Calendars, Mailing Products, Printer Inks, Labels, Files, Paper, Recycled Stationery and much more.

Free Local Doorstep Delivery to Gillingham and surrounding villages for further afield please call Helen and we will be happy to assist you.

Work begins to restore town pump WORK started at the beginning of September on a facelift for Blandford’s historic Town Pump in the Market Place which has been commissioned by Blandford Town Council and was expected to be finished by the end of the month.

The project to restore to its former glory the memorial to the Great Fire of Blandford erected in 1760 by the town’s Georgian architects is costing around £10,000, funded in part from the Lidl funding for town centre enhancements.

Documents submitted with

Don’t be lonely An initiative tackling social isolation has restarted.

Coffee Companions is a national, community initiative that seeks to reach out to the

the application for listed building consent said the deterioration in the condition of the memorial to the Great Fire of Blandford erected by the town’s Georgian architects the Bastard brothers in 1760 had become more noticeable following the cleaning and restoration of the Corn Exchange and the restoration of the cupola and tower of Blandford Parish Church.

Stonemason Stuart Whitehill, who two years ago carried out conservation work on the

Corn Exchange façade and last year worked on the former grammar school gateway in Damory Street for Blandford & District Civic

Society, said: “The town pump will be steam-cleaned as with the Corn Exchange, and we will be carrying out repointing work.”

Advice was sought from several experienced conservation specialists and the planning authority conservation officer before selecting Stuart as contractor, whose minimally invasive approach is not to remove stones as others had suggested but instead remove corroded parts and replace missing pointing with lime mortar.

socially isolated and lonely.

People are urged to just turn up, join others sitting together and have a chat if you’d like to. In this area, there are several sessions: Mondays 2.30-3.30pm at King

Alfred’s Kitchen, 17 High Street Shaftesbury. Contact: Jean Parker 07514 999257.

Mondays 11am-12pm at Café Corsa in Wyke Road, Gillingham. Tuesdays 11am12pm at The Sunflower Cafe

at Gillingham train station.

Thursdays 11 am-12pm at The Café @ The Slade Centre The Square, Gillingham – Contact: Mandy Greenwood 07876 298695 or mandy_ greenwood@hotmail.com

By Nicci Brown

21

Home & Garden

Planning for spring As days shorten and the prospect of a difficult winter ahead in our new pandemic world looms, we should be forgiven for looking ahead to brighter days. In fact, gardeners are great planners, constantly thinking months, seasons, and years ahead.

Spring bulbs are an easy way to create a splash of colour and now is the perfect time to plant them. Bulbs, botanically speaking, are modified buds. They comprise numerous layers called scales that are the bases of leaves. You can view this clearly the next time you slice an onion.

There are many types of bulb available in shops, each with a dormant embryo flower neatly packed between its scales, giving sure-fire blooms in spring.

Paperwhite bulbs Bulb planting depth is often a topic of discussion. In truth, if you end up planting too shallowly the plant will rectify this all by itself. Many bulbous plants have two types of root, the fibrous ones that seek out nutrients and water, that we will all be familiar with, and larger fleshy contractile roots. The latter are the bulbs’ mechanism for ensuring the bulb is not too shallow. These roots extend into the ground

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and then shrink vertically and in so doing pull the bulb deeper in the ground until it reaches its ideal depth. The reason the plant does this is that each year the new bulb develops slightly higher than the old bulb. If this continued unchecked all the bulbs would end up on the surface..

Daffodils (including narcissi) if carefully chosen can create a succession of colour in your garden from October to May. First to bloom in my garden are the delightfully scented paperwhites, Narcissus papyraceus. These multiheaded, white blooms appear a month after planting, from October, to surprise your postman. Paperwhites are often cited as being tender but given a sheltered position near the house they reward.

Further, the flowers seem to

last ages as the weather becomes cooler. In my experience, new bulbs are needed annually to insure the autumnal blooms. At the other end of the season, seven months later, the Pheasant’s Eye daffodil, Narcissus poeticus, blooms. Like the paperwhites, they are scented, but have a shorter flowering season especially if the weather is hot and the soil dry. The moisture-retentive clay soils of the Vale should combat this and given a shady location the flowering period will be significantly extended.

There are countless types that bloom more seasonally, but if you are tired of the yellow and whites try something different such as the pinkand salmon-flowered types, such as ‘Pink Pride’, ‘Replete’ and ‘Sentinel’

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04/09/2020 13:28

Home & Garden Tales from a half-wild garden...

Way back when, my then-future husband used to ask me, “Would you like a pair of wellies?”

“What for?” I would reply, startled at the notion I might one day find myself outdoors in mud and rain, like, by choice.

I’m from California, you see, where rain is pencilled into three or four winter weeks, and rarely

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deviates from that tidy schedule.

Somebody surely must go walking in it just for fun, but that somebody had never been me.

Wellies appeared under the Christmas tree, unbidden. I rarely wore them. But years passed, and Britishness has crept into my world view, regarding mud.

Such were my fond ponderings, while shovelling today’s barrowload of horse poo into Compost Bin #Five, in our rather large and only partiallydomesticated garden. The day was drizzly. The ground, muddy. The wellies were on,

and more than a little sweaty. I enjoyed every minute of it.

Over time, this borrowed parcel of garden land near Child Okeford has worked its magic, wooing me with its half-wild exuberance. We’re growing food here, to Charles Dowding’s nodig organic method. We’re convinced he’s a bit of a magical elf, with his spectacular harvests.

Under his tutelage, our harvests have become semi-wonderful, and improving all the time.

We’re trying to make ours a nokill garden. It’s a work in progress, as we learn what works

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with Carrie Triffet and what doesn’t. One of our best successes so far has been in slug management. My clever husband installed a low-voltage deterrent system in all the beds containing items slugs might find delicious. (basically all the beds.) It works a treat – unless there are already slugs in the area. Then it is a slug prison, with really nice food...

The re-wilded half of the garden brings us great joy too, as all sorts of critters are in this haven.

Hedgehogs arrived recently, to our delight, and they seem to be staying. More slug management – and no electricity needed!

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Local Services

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Field & Stream

Open raises £900 for air ambulance The Sturminster & Hinton Angling Association (S&HAA) is the oldest sporting/ recreational club in the area and has been fishing the Dorset Stour around Sturminster Newton since 1905. It has about 300 members.

The club held an Open (ie anyone could enter) Charity Match in aid of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance service on Saturday, September 26 on the river above and below Sturminster, upstream from Fiddleford and downstream from the Colber Farm riverside. The event was well supported, with 60 anglers from around Dorset and Somerset attending and a grand total of over £900 was raised.

With the previous night being the coldest this autumn so far and the river clear and with only a little flow the fishing was hard but everyone caught

Chairman and match organiser Ian Paulley and the winner Richard Chave in what was, bonus fish excepted, a very closelyfought contest.

Richard Chave was pegged two swims down from the white footbridge at Colber and pole-fished maggot or pinkie hookbait and fed hempseed throughout the match. He caught lots of small roach and, when fishing the worm close in for a short period in an attempt to catch a perch or

two, he managed to bring a very nice tench of 5lb 5ozs to the net. Richard weighed in a total of 12lb 8ozs, a good weight on the day and a nice payout at the end.

Jeff Sibley was pegged three pegs above the footbridge and used very similar tactics to Richard. He had a lot of small roach on pinkie and maggot and also tried for the perch on worm hookbait. This resulted

in an identical tench of 5lb 5ozs to go with the small fish for the runner’s up place with 8lb 10ozs.

Without the bonus fish it would have been a very closely-fought competition as seen with the other weights making the frame: Guy Manton with 6lb 14ozs, Gary Etheridge with 6lb 13ozs and Dean Walters with 6lb 8ozs.

Go to s-haa.co.uk

Big roach win the day on the Thames for Talismen’s Mark Angling Trust Upper Thames Winter League Round 1. Kelmscott to Radcot (48 pegs) October 4.

The first round of the upper Thames winter league was fished on a rising and dropping River Thames between Radcott and Kelsmcott Winner on the day was Mark Taylor (Matrix Talismen, pictured upper right) who drew peg D6 at Radcot Up and caught 2 bream and some big roach on the pole feeder and worms to weigh 9-9.

Runner Up was Matrix

Guns wanted for cash air rifles and air pistols, any make or model and condition, we collect in any area 07970742471

28

Talismen's captain, John Bohane, pictured right, who caught a 5lb bream and 20 roach on the pole feeder to weigh 8-00, and lead his team to victory.

3rd: Adie McTiffin (Sensas Devizes) – 6-5 4th: Jon Tocknell (Sensas Lobbys) – 5-15 5th: Rob Randall (Garbolino BV) & Andy Jane (Sensas Lobbys) both 5-09.

On the team front Matrix Talismen won a very tight team match with 32 points from Sensas Lobbys in second with 30 points and Daiwa Gordon League and Sensas Devizes in 3rd with 29 points.

5th: PI Thatchers – 26 6th: Garbolino Blackmore Vale – 23.

Gillingham AA Carnival Open at Lodden Lakes (19 pegs) The annual carnival match was fished in incessant rain but despite this a string of good weights ensued. Winner on the day was John Candy (Todber Manor) who drew peg 31 and caught skimmers and bream on the pole at 13 metres on worms and maggots over groundbait to weigh 30-04.

Runner-up was Rob Manns (PI Thatchers) who drew peg 38 and caught bream on worms on the pole to weigh 27-06.

3rd: Richard Fripp (Gillingham AA) – 26-00.

4th: Martin Preston (Colmic SW) – 24-10.

5th: Mark Harper (PI Thatchers) – 22-14.

6th: James Kiernan (Gillingham AA) – 16-14.

MPs’ round-up

Covid has changed the way we live The effects of covid continue to be felt in how we are living our lives and trying to run businesses. We are told to expect a ‘new normal’ but no one quite knows what that will be. This week I want to make a few observations regarding covid effects.

My first observation is that the role of IT has changed.

For many fast broadband speeds has been about the faster downloading of games to keep children occupied.

Covid has fundamentally changed that. The need for fast, reliable broadband became all too apparent during lockdown. Children received their studies and submitted their work online.

Businesses ran themselves from thousands of homebased virtual offices. The NHS dispensed advice and diagnoses to anxious patients

MP for North Dorset Simon Hoare without the need for any physical presence. Families and friends kept in touch via Zoom and Teams. Democratic functions were discharged as Parliament and council chambers went virtual. While face to face encounters will return I have no doubt that many services and duties will continue to be provided online. The genie is well and

truly out of the bottle. My focus on securing fast broadband and 5G coverage for North Dorset continues as we will all continue to see our need for them and reliance upon them grow.

My second observation is how will the world of work and the economy look. I have no doubt that home working will continue and there will be a sharp fall in the need for office space. Companies have finally seen the benefits of their expenditures on IT and, in the absence of the daily commute I am certain that productivity in many sectors has increased. The commonly held view is that the retail world will continue to evolve as more and more people use the internet for shopping. I’m sure that is the case but from conversations with many local retailers, and seeing our

market towns emerge from lockdown hibernation, I am told and I observe an increase in trade and footfall as people revel in being able to get out but also as they re-evaluate the importance of local shops and services. Our new found dependence on contactless payment could also speed up the demise of the need for cash in our daily lives.

In conclusion, many of my constituents have shared their thoughts and fears regarding covid and its aftermath.

While there has been, unexpectedly, a wide range of views, one has been a common theme: thank God / aren’t we lucky to live in North Dorset. While Covid has created many uncertainties our collective good fortune to live in this beautiful part of the county is not one of them!

Our farmers in a field of their own October is traditionally the month for harvest suppers in our village halls and harvest festivals in our parish churches.

Whilst there are few harvest suppers this year, I hope you’ll be able to gives thanks for our farmers and all they do.

Wheat yields have been down this year, but there has also been a shift towards barley which has fared much better.

The weather has not really been good to us this summer, but a new agriculture future beckons after the end of December.

It’s also Pack Monday Fair time which is regrettably not happening this year too.

The Agriculture Bill comes back from the House of Lords

MP for West Dorset Chris Loder in the next few weeks to the House of Commons with some amendments which we will debate again.

In case anyone is concerned

about the press commentary of the risk of hormone injected beef and chlorinated chicken as a result of this Bill – it is a nonsense.

The import standards do not permit it.

However, my concern has always been about animal welfare and I shall be looking intently at this Bill again.

Yes, we have very good standards, but we still permit the barbaric act of un-stunned slaughter here in the UK, and we should be taking the opportunity to do something about that.

Later this month, on Friday 23rd October I will present my Bill for Animal Welfare to the House of Commons for its second reading (approval to go through the parliamentary

machine).

I want to increase the maximum sentence from six months to five years for animal cruelty.

My own dog, Poppy, a Springer Spaniel who I found abandoned on the roadside one stormy winter night on Batcombe Down inspired me to progress this Bill.

I brought her home and after emergency veterinary care, she is now our much-loved farm dog. In 2019 there were 1678 convictions for animal cruelty which must be reduced. n Please do write to me if I can help: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA. My latest news and updates are online at: chrisloder.co.uk 29

Puzzle page Arrow words Laboriously

Crossword 1

Snack seed, often roasted or salted

Mexican dish

Small truck

Dial-up successor (inits)

Steps ahead

Satisfaction of a desire

Rely

2

3

6

4

5

7 8

9

10

Cache

Large creative work

Singer, Dury

12

11

13

14

15 Duty

Dine

16 British theatre company (inits)

Loses heat

Hair fastening

18

Muttered criticism

Egg yellow

A billion years

Fib

24

Across 6 Picture (5) 7 Usual (6) 9 Mocking (7) 10 Chaotic mess (US slang) (5) 11 Sharp duelling sword (4) 13 Living organism with sensations and voluntary movement (6) 15 Stylish (5) 16 Consumption (6) 17 Long-tailed reptile (4) 20 Faithful (5) 22 Person being treated by a doctor (7) 23 Contaminated (6) 24 Alter (5)

Half of ‘dos’

Bread Loaves

D T R M L A U F E O S B A A E

BARREL BATCH BLOOMER COB COTTAGE LINSEED MIXED PUMPKIN

30

22

Casual shirt

Wordsearch F E E R B E P U C C C S H E R

19

23

To be shown to (abbr)

R L I W H O L E M E A L M R A

21

20

Morning moisture

Nearby

Small piece of cloud

17

Cook in an A charity, eg oven (inits)

W E N E T A M B W T O E I A I

R E G I T A P I H T E E A L L

M R T B S R K S I A E S O Y A

O R Y P A U I H T G R T T R R

L A E E E T N E E E S E O B A

L I E G H R N F R L W T O W D

E M N K T I T E L M E C D E O

L E I S E A S E D O W R D S S

G M L X E A E U C E W E R L T

RYE SEEDED SOYA SUNFLOWER TIGER WHEATGERM WHITE WHOLEMEAL

A B U N E E D H E A E E R A E

E H E R H D D A W S E D R O B

P H C T A B R E M O O L B R E

Down 1 Palest (8) 2 Time without war (5) 3 Parental sibling (5) 4 Here and now (7) 5 Grandmother (4) 6 Unbelievable (10) 8 Reproduced (10) 12 French lady (abbr) (3) 13 Illustrative craft (3) 14 Offered for sale (8) 15 Proficient (7) 18 Not very happy (5) 19 Pilfer (5) 21 Edible roots (4)

Sudoku

1

9

5

8 6

7

2 8

7 9 6 3 7 1 9 4 4 7 6 8 3 1 8 5 2 9 9 4

For the solutions turn to page 64

Brain chain RESULT

43

-18

+50

-35

+50%

Let there be light!

Gardens set aglow Stourhead’s hugely popular Christmas light trail returns for its second year with a host of new installations from November 27 to January 3.

Trail highlights for 2020 n Tunnel of Light n Field of Crocuses and Giant Lily Flowers n Rudolph Nose the Way n Heart Walk Enter a world festooned with seasonal cheer enhanced by a soundtrack of festive classics, as you wander beneath unique tree canopies drenched in Christmas colour.

Discover giant luminescent sculptures rising high into the night sky and trees wrapped in light on your way to a Field of Crocuses, where a carpet of larger than life flora glows gently in the moonlight.

Framed by glittering trees, stroll along the sparkling Heart Walk and beside reflections dancing playfully on the lake.

There are giant baubles and snowflakes where you least expect them and clusters of trees wrapped in everchanging ribbons of colour.

The tunnel of light returns with twinkling splendour and this year. Why not pause for a moment of quiet reflection at the fire garden, aglow with hundreds of flickering flames?

Have yourself a merry little Christmas and complete your walk under the stars with mulled wine or hot chocolate.

Don’t forget to watch out for Father Christmas along the way.

Christmas at Stourhead is brought to you by leading

Christmas cheer at Stourhead

events promoter Raymond Gubbay Limited, a division of Sony Music, in partnership with the National Trust. The trail is created by Culture Creative.

What: Christmas at Stourhead – the magical, after-dark, illuminated trail When: From November 27 to

January 3 – selected dates.

Open from 4.30pm, last entry 8pm and closes at 10pm.

Why Visit: Discover a Christmas illuminated trail for all the family set within the beautiful landscape of Stourhead.

Admission: In advance from: Adult £19, Child £13, Family

£58.00 (2 adults & 2 children). Free entry for carers and children aged 2 & under. Parking £8 per car.

Free for National Trust members when booked in advance. nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead Address: Stourhead, Mere, Wiltshire, BA12 6SH. 31

Motoring

Rusty old Mini sells for nearly £29k

John’s Caravans Mobile Caravan Servicing & Repairs

01747 853114

07546 548017

4X4 WANTED

Toyota, Honda, Landrover, etc Been Standing, can repair, for farm run'a'round 07740 378644

Audi A6 Avant Estate.

1996 2.5TDI. MOT 2016 dried stored since. offers 01963220088

A 1965 Mini Cooper S, which had lain in a Derbyshire garage for nearly 50 years, sold for £28,600 in the Charterhouse auction of classic cars in Sherborne on September 23.

“Everyone loves a project, especially one which has been squirreled away for decades,” said Richard Bromell.

The Mini Cooper S was last on the road in 1973 when it was driven into its garage. It lay dormant here until being discovered by the executors in 2020 after the owner passed away.

Over the decades, a huge amount of rubbish and other detritus covered the Mini. The car had clearly been enjoyed and used by the late owner as it managed to cover a not inconsiderable 91,000 miles their autumn programme of in the eight years it was auctions including classic and driven on the road. vintage cars on November 11, Charterhouse Auctioneers silver, jewellery and watches were contacted by the with Asian Art on November Derbyshire executors to enter 5 and 6, followed by classic the Mini Cooper S into their and vintage motorcycles on specialist classic car auction.

October 28.

Mr Bromell said: “The Contact Mr Bromell and the Cooper was not in great team at The Long Street condition, having succumbed Salerooms, Sherborne 01935 to tin worm over the decades 812277 or email images to and now requires full rb@charterhouse-auction.com restoration.”

Despite needing full restoration there was huge amount of presale interest. The successful buyer, who lives in We provide a friendly, local service Cheshire, at competitive prices. Based at arranged to meet Redlynch near Bruton, we supply Car, his Welsh restorer Commercial, Agricultural, Plant & 4x4 to view the car tyres and offer a 24hr breakdown service. who also had a We won’t be beaten on price. five-hour journey to see it.

Call us on On the auction day bids flew in via the internet and telephone. or find us at Charterhouse are now accepting www.southwestyreservices.co.uk further entries for

01749 813957 or 07971 012628

32

2014 (14) Audi A1 1.4TFSi Sport 5dr.

2014 (64) Ford Focus 1.0 Ecoboost Zetec 5dr.

120bhp, petrol, sat nav,bluetooth, upto 52mpg, 26,300 miles

125bhp, petrol, multi award winning engine with outstanding performance & economy, £30 a year road tax & upto 60mpg, bluetooth, 29,800 miles £7500

190bhp, diesel, automatic, sat nav, park sensors, leather, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, bluetooth, £30 road tax, upto 61mpg, 79,800 miles £11450

2017 (17) Ford Kuga 2.0TDCi Titanium X AWD 4x4 SUV 5dr. 180bhp, diesel, all wheel drive, leather, heated seats, sat nav, touch screen, auto lights & wipers, cruise £15950 control & speed limter, parking sensors, sunroof, 31,800 miles

£9750 2014 (14) Audi A6 Avant 2.0TDi Ultra SE S-Tronic Automatic Estate.

2013 (63) BMW 1 Series 1.6 116i M Sport Automatic 5dr.

136bhp, 8 speed automatic, lovely M Sport model, parking sensors, bluetooth, climate control, auto lights & wipers, 67,500 miles. £10450

2017 (17) Fiat 500 1.2 Lounge 3dr.

Petrol, cruise control & speed limiter, sun roof, parking sensors, touch screen, bluetooth, great looking car with retro looks, upto 51mpg, 40,800 miles £6975

2018 (68) Ford Ka+ 1.2 Active 5dr.

85bhp, petrol, city & technology packs, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, speed limiter, parking sensors, touch screen, bluetooth, Active has raised £9650 ride height & exterior styling, only 850 miles

2018 (68) Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost Active X 5dr.

140bhp, petrol, 1/2 leather, heated seats, touch screen, sat nav, park sensors, reverse camera, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, auto main beam, traffic sign recognition, lane keeping aid, outstanding EcoBoost engine, upto 55mpg economy, £13975 only 6,900 miles

2017 (17) Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost Titanium Automatic 5dr.

100bhp, petrol, automatic, multi award winning engine, auto lights & wipers, climate, £9500 cruise control, bluetooth, upto 65mpg, 33,700 miles

2016 (66) Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost Zetec Navigation 5dr.

2017 (67) Honda Jazz 1.3 i-VTEC SE Navi Automatic 5dr.

102bhp, petrol, automatic, sat nav, parking sensors, touch screen, auto lights & wipers, auto main beam, front scanner & pre-collision assist, city brake, cruise control & speed limiter, lane keeping aid, speed sign recognition, £11350 bluetooth, 13,500 miles

2007 (07) Honda CR-V 2.0 i-VTEC Executive 4x4 SW 5dr.

150bhp, petrol, 4 wheel drive, heated leather, sat nav, sunroof, climate control, cruise control, high spec & bargain 4x4, 121,500 miles £2750

2011 (61) Nissan Micra 1.2 Acenta Automatic 5dr. 80bhp, petrol, automatic, only 26,500 miles, parking sensors, bluetooth, climate control, cruise control, only 26,500 miles £5450 2016 (66) Peugeot 2008 1.2 Allure SUV 5dr. 82bhp, petrol, large boot, flat folding rear seats, 1/2 leather, auto lights & wipers, cruise control & speed limiter, parking sensors, £30 a year road tax, 57mpg, 23,800 miles £9350

2007 (56) Porsche Cayman S, 3.2 Coupe 2dr.

295bhp, petrol, 0-60 in 5.4 secs, 171mph, leather, 51,000 miles

100bhp, petrol, sat nav, city pack, parking sensors, bluetooth, hill start assist, £8650 Free road tax, upto 65mpg fuel economy, 18,700 miles

touch screen, 1/2 leather seats, cruise control & speed limiter, auto lights & wipers, bluetooth, parking sensors, hill start assist, keyless entry system, 14,400 miles

2019 (19) Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost ST-Line X 5dr.

2018 (18) Vauxhall Viva 1.0 SE 5dr.

125bhp, petrol, ST styling pack, 1/2 leather, heated seats, touch screen, sat nav, parking sensors, auto lights & wipers, auto main beam, cruise control & speed limter, lane £16500 keeping aid, traffic sign recognition, bluetooth, 12,800 miles

2017 (67) Ford Focus 1.0 Ecoboost ST Line Nav 5dr.

140bhp, petrol, ST styling pack, Sat nav, touch screen, 18 inch wheels, cruise control & speed limiter, bluetooth, outstanding performance & economy, 31,800 miles£11450

£15000

2018 (68) Renault Clio 0.9TCe GT-Line 5dr. 89bhp, petrol, sat nav,

Petrol, high seating position, spacious small car, upto 62mpg, 16,500 miles

£9975 £6500

2017 (67) Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 SRi 5dr.

Petrol, air con, alloys, cruise control, touch screen, automatic lights & wipers, hill start assist, 30,800 miles £7950

33

Motoring

Stunning vehicles on offer at auction October gales are already battering our country but there are also some exciting entries blowing in for DVCA’s specialist historic vehicle auction sale on October 22.

The latest arrivals include a 2009 Auto Speciali 427 Cobra Recreation with only 1,600 miles covered since an engine rebuild and located in Yorkshire (so grab your bus pass and go!)

Also consigned to the sale is a 1997 Honda Prelude 2.2 VTi that

autumn sale. All lots are available to view by prior arrangement before the auction sale on the 22nd October.

It will be possible to bid in three ways: by commission (the auctioneer will bid on your behalf up to your maximum amount stated.

You may be confident 1976 Vanden Plas 1500 that if bidding stops at a lower figure, the auctioneer will sell on your bid providing the reserve has been met); by telephone (you will be contacted by DVCA and therefore will be able to hear the auctioneer and instruct bidding accordingly); and finally, online via Easy Live Auctions (you must register before 24 hours prior A 1952 Riley RMA Saloon to the auction sale and this process will effectively 2009 Auto Speciali place you 427 Cobra Recreation in front of the offers amazing value auctioneer. for such a useable It may motor car; a 1985 seem Mercedes-Benz 230E alarming Auto with modest 1959 Morris Minor 1000 but is mileage – and a good actually Convertible example of a reliable rather 1997 Honda Prelude 2.2 VTi family of saloons interested in how an fascinating if not which are proving to online auction of mildly addictive). be both collectable and classic cars is Whichever way enjoyable to drive; a presented by a wellDVCA’s clients wish 1959 Morris Minor established auction to participate, the Next Auction 1000 convertible which house, who specialise auction house will be 19TH MARCH October 22 is a conversion carried in nothing other than delighted to help.

PLEASE CONTACT out by The Morris finding new homes for Please contact them by BRIAN CHANT: Minor Centre and historic vehicles and emailing Brian Chant T: 01963 363353 E: info@dvca.co.uk looks very smart with automobilia, you will at info@dvca.co.uk or W: www.dvca.co.uk its red hood and trim, be most welcome to by telephone on 01963 2000 Bentley Arnage Red Label Station Road, Stalbridge, and is sensibly priced join DVCA for their 363353. £15000 - £17000 Dorset, DT10 2RH 34

too; a 1952 Riley RMA Saloon that has been extensively and expensively restored and is gorgeous in dark British Racing Green; a well-appointed 1976 Vanden Plas 1500 that, with a little imagination whilst wafting along the country lanes this autumn, is just as good as any luxury car , and finally, over two hundred lots of interesting automobilia and memorabilia.

Whether buying, selling or simply

Motoring

35

Pets needing homes Somerset and Dorset Animal Rescue Dogs – please phone Liz on Big Bertha is a middle aged 01963 32279 or go to tabby & white girl needing somersetanddorset an outside home. She used animalrescue.co.uk to be a wanderer and would Cats and kittens Please donate to our food visit a lady in Motcombe on bins in Asda Gillingham, and off, this year she has Morrisons Wincanton and decided to stay but Bruton Vets. unfortunately there has now Cat/kittens enquiries – Sam been a change of owner at the property and they don’t 07971 079249 want to keep an outside cat. Do you have a stable or Blandford Cats Protection small holding or a large garden in the country where this Tel 01258 858644 girl could come to stay.

Tel 01258 858644 blandford.cats.org.uk Lost Cats: Beckett Close Freddie is a 7-year-old Blandford – small ginger tabby boy 20/7: Winterborne black boy. He is very Stickland – black boy 22/8: affectionate (on his own Pimperne – white & tabby terms) and has a purr like a boy 22/8: Sutton Waldron – motorbike. He was found a Lilac Point Siamese white year ago in poor condition body grey ears & paws 27/7: and taken in and cared for Iwerne Minster – b/w girl by some lovely people who 2/9: Sixpenny Handley – now find that they are being tabby & white boy 31/8: posted aboard and are Compton Abbas – ginger unable to take him with tabby boy 12/9: Blandford them. Could you give this tabby boy with collar since boy his forever home?

10/9: Chalwell, Child Tel 01258 858644 Okeford – Blue grey tabby 18/9: Castleman Smith tabby cat since 1/8: Penny St, Close, Blandford – tabby & Found Cats: Sturminster Newton – white boy 27/9: Sturminster Shroton – tabby white cat since May: Spetisbury – b/w Brindle tortie since April: Newton blue grey tabby Hazelbury Bryan – tabby 27/9: Fairfield Bungalows since July: Wyke Rd Gillingham – white & black white cat for about a year: Blandford – 7 month old cat since April: Shaftesbury Any information on the above black fluffy boy 1/10:

Cat of the week: Big Bertha

Cocker Spaniel puppies

RAGDOLL KITTENS

game keeper bred from true

Seal & blue point.

BEARDED DRAGON BABIES

working lines. available now,

Live with both parents.

Citrus Red Leatherback Trans

Warminster area, call 01985

£300 each.

£100-£150 each.

840298

07710 511005

07766 626646

Holly is a delightful old lady, she is around 15 years old.

She is very content to curl up on your lap or on a chair in the sun. She does need to be an only cat as she has had cat flu and still sneezes a bit, she also has an overactive thyroid which is controlled by medication. She is a very sweet and loving cat, we are very keen to find her a new home as she has been in our care since December. Could you give her that loving home? Tel 01258 858644 to 01258 858644.

We still offer neutering and micro-chipping for £5 in postcode areas DT10, DT11, SP5, SP7 and BH21. Call 01258 268695.

WANTED

Small, mature dog to keep an elderly but mobile lady company. Small but secure garden.

Contact; Duncan 07736 444245

Chamber launches cost-effective membership

Two-day workshop

Dorset Chamber has launched a digital membership for businesses and introduced new benefits for all members.

They include £1,000,000 legal expenses insurance for a wide range of areas and access to a 24/7 tax, legal and HR helpline.

Chief executive Ian Girling said: “The new digital, entrylevel membership will prove 36

An inspiring workshop on woman’s shamanism will be held in Holwell next week.

Eliana Harvey will introduce you to the Shamanka Way, a fulfilling journey of knowledge and wisdom, from October 17 at 11am until October 18 at 6pm. Cost: £165, venue: Star House at Shamanka in Holwell.

Contact 07825 051048 or 01963 23468.

highly cost-effective for typically smaller businesses while offering them access to significant benefits, including our very popular Zoom networking sessions.”

It provides promotional opportunities, member-tomember offers, exposure in print and on social media, international trade support and free use of the Chamber

boardroom when covid allows.

Annual membership starts at £120 plus VAT. Dorset Chamber is the only chamber in Dorset accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and has an affiliated network of town chambers.

Visit dorsetchamber.co.uk for more details.

Auctions

Two exciting auctions this weekend A 1959 Triumph Speed Twin 5TA. Estimate £4,000 £,4500

A Chinese Celadon glazed charger.

Estimate £300 £500

Left, a Sevres porcelain jug & bowl set, formerly the property of Louis Napoleon III. Estimate £500-£800 The autumn series of sales at Clarke’s Auctions, Semley are shaping up to continue the busy summer trend. After the successful auction at the beginning of September, the sale for October will be another 1,000-lot affair, over two days, and incorporating the inaugural Classic Vehicle, Motorcycle and Automobilia auction.

Day one is tomorrow – Saturday October 10, and will see the mix of jewellery, silver, ceramics, Asian art, pictures and furniture going under the hammer. Day two, on Sunday, October 11, will cater for the motoring enthusiast, the highlights being mascots by A E Lejeune, enamel

advertising signs including ‘Cadbury Cocoa’, Brooklands items, and a six-person En Route picnic set.

A very low mileage 1989 Ford Orion (22,200 miles from new) and a Ducati 851 Superbike, previously owned by both James May and Richard Hammond from BBC’s Top Gear, form part of the consignment of vehicles being offered.

Viewing for these two sales are at the saleroom on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 October between 9am and 5pm and for the Automobilia sale only on Saturday between 9am and noon with the sales beginning at 10am on the Saturday and noon on the Sunday. Bidding will be online via

thesaleroom.com or easyLive, or by commission or telephone bids. Covid19 guidelines will be adhered to throughout the viewing days.

November’s auction on Saturday, November 14 is also shaping up well, having two private collections of Oriental ceramics, and a single owner collection of stamps, estimated at £10,000.

For further information or to consign items to any of these sales, please contact Richard Clarke or Matthew Whitney at the saleroom on enquiries@clarkesauct ions.co.uk or telephone 01747 855109.Clarke’s Auctions, Station Road, Semley, Shaftesbury SP7 9BU.

Antiques & Collectables and Classic Vehicles, Motorbikes & Automobilia

Antiques & Collectables Sale Saturday 10th October 2020, 10am start and

An early 19th century oil on canvas painting depicting two young girls.

Estimate £200 - £400

Classic Vehicles and Automobilia Sale Sunday 11th October 2020, 12pm start

Viewing Thursday 8th and Friday 9th from 9am to 5pm Viewing for car sale only Saturday 9am-12pm Please contact Richard Clarke or Matt Whitney on 01747 855109 Station Road, Semley, Shaftesbury SP7 9BU enquiries@clarkesauctions.co.uk 37

Letters From Elizabeth Ann Walker: Great to have it back. I live in N.Hampshire now but when my mother was alive she lived in Shaftesbury so kept her BVM for me. At last I can enjoy it now on line!

Sandra Blake: My mum too used to pick it up every week, I managed to pick up the new BMV this week in Salisbury, well done to all!

Debbie Aston: BRILL !

Liz Alford: An excellent read. Well done in capturing the spirit of the original so well!

Shirley Finlayson: Brilliant read, lovely to have it back u done a great job putting it together.

Brona Donnellan: Delighted to see it.

Lynne Frith: A lovely read.

Susan Collings: Brilliant well done and THANK YOU. Nick Dibben: Great to have you back good luck to all concerned Tracey Wareing: Brilliant well done. Good luck for the future.

Christine Hay: I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Well done to all involved.

Bobbie Cox: Great news!!

Laurie Sherwood: That’s best news all year.

Diana Clark: I read it last night, excellent magazine!

Sara Watt: Love my copy well done.

Jean Atkinson: Nice to see it back in hard copy. Well done all.

David Squires: Pleased that it’s back a great read keep up the good work, and pleased it’s in the old format.

Bronwen Thrift: Loving your new BVM. Thank you.

The layout and type size is so much easier to read. Also delighted to have a page of puzzles, something for everyone. Well done! You’re brilliant.

38

So thrilled to have our BVM I went to buy my dog food this morning at Ludwell and my heart skipped a beat when I saw that the Blackmore Vale Magazine was back and with its much loved and missed printing format.

It felt like a sign of better times and, if we did not know the contrary, that lock down was truly ended. Huge admiration for what you are doing and how you are doing it. I don’t have any advertising requirements but will prod my friends that do and will also try and think how I might help in any small way. In the times in which we live, strong local communities have rarely been so important.

Bringing back the BVM is a great tool to help support this.

Good luck!

Bruce Tozer n I can’t tell you how good it is to see the new bv. Thank you for bringing this stalwart of north Dorset back to life.

Rachel Jackson nCongratulations on the new Blackmore Vale magazine!

How lovely to have it back in its new form. It has been greatly missed! We particularly love the farming section and the puzzle page!

And thank you for such good, clear and sensibly sized print!

The adverts are really useful for finding local products and services. Really pleased to have the magazine back!

The Ayletts and the Leamons from Leigh n I just want to say well done to all involved for getting us back our local favourite. It’s well presented and great to have. Keep up the good work Sophia Wilson-Weaver n What an absolute joy it was

to find your magazine on display at the end of a supermarket shop in Gillingham yesterday. Like so many others, I have been at a loss for months with no Blackmore Vale to advise on births, marriages, deaths, no ready classified ads to find workmen to suit a job or snippets of local news. Your rescue of this wonderful facility is very, very much appreciated. I rushed home with two extra copies for friends who have constantly regretted the absence of this publication and was greeted with euphoria!

How pleasing it is to have the original A4 format with a type font large enough for ageing eyes to read. Please continue to include details of local walks (could you ask contributors to include the mileage), gardening and puzzles. We used to have the magazine delivered by our newsagent along with the Friday paper; if it were possible to resurrect this practice it would be much appreciated (failing that, a large number of copies left at the Post Office as in days of yore!) May your advertising revenue increase exponentially and your enthusiasm remain undimmed: online copy is no substitute for this timehonoured paper friend.

I am quite sure that others have expressed more eloquently what I am trying to say but should you be short of admirers to quote, please publish whatever you please from this e mail.

How you managed to produce a first issue in such a short time is truly amazing.

Eileen O’Hare Stalbridge nAn excellent first issue.

Lots of local readable and interesting article.

Knowing how local businesses are beating the virus is very good for us Ann and NIC Griffin East Melbury nCongratulations on getting the first printed edition of the New Blackmore Vale published and distributed! I was sad to see the demise of the previous BVM after 40 years of publication. It had become the ‘go-to’ magazine for all my family so you can imagine what the New BV means to us.

Rosalind nI would like to congratulate you all on your first edition of the magazine. Very well presented & so newsey & not too many advertisements Well done & thank you Ruth Sanford nMany congratulations on reviving a Dorset institution – and in the space of three weeks too! An Amazing Achievement and much appreciated!

Robert and Jess Crichton nMany thanks to you and the team for bringing back the Blackmore Vale.

We have missed it very much and it is a welcome change to have some local news and interesting items to read in these challenging times.

We wish you all every success and thanks once again.

Lilian Modlock and Richard Doherty Gillingham nWhat a great surprise to find the new Blackmore Vale magazine delivered with our daily paper today.....and in the old format! It has been greatly

Letters

mag back

Toby’s happy with his new magazine!

missed, and we wish it much success, as it is a mainstay of all local information.

John and Wendy Payne.

Swainsford nWelcome back dear BV we have really missed you and congratulations to the whole team.

We thoroughly enjoyed the first edition, which is in the tradition of the ‘Fanny Charles days’, with local news and interesting articles.

May the publication go from strength to strength – maybe a Letters page in the future (here it is, Sue and Graham!

Ed), information and reports on what’s going on in our North Dorset area and all the other items that made the BV such a popular read.

Good luck and best wishes Sue and Graham Ballett Shaftesbury nThank you for today’s surprise with my newspaper delivery. You have been missed, and deserve great support for renewing publishing.

Irene Milton Iwerne Minster nWhat a fantastic surprise to find your new Blackmore Vale Magazine delivered at home today.

I have missed the paper – and I mean paper. Lovely to have a handy little mag with local news and adverts.

Your recruitment pages have been been a great help over the years. Three jobs found.

Best wishes for the future.

Debra Edwards Shaftesbury nWhat a joy to see the reborn BV mag! I remember Alan and Ingrid Chalcraft launching this magazine (see

Dear all, Toby is once again a very happy dog! Since he was a pup he has loved collecting the Blackmore Vale Magazine from Shillingstone Service our feature on page 18 – Ed), and the sadness when it deteriorated and became oversized and unfriendly.

All good wishes and success for this to you and the team.

Diana Heath Henstridge nIt has been absolutely wonderful to have The new Blackmore Vale this week.

What an amazing achievement in such a short time – love the greater use of colour too!

Everyone is looking forward to the next edition and to the future weekly magazines.

Huge pats on the back!!

Judy Bristow nIt was indeed a new dawn and a very happy one when the new Blackmore Vale Magazine arrived with my morning newspaper on Friday - I am so pleased that you are publishing this great local magazine again and I look forward to the news and information that I will now be able to access. I would also

Station and proudly carrying it back home. He has really missed this activity and we have all really missed the magazine.

Congratulations on all the work you have done to like to thank Shaftesbury Town Council for keeping our local 'Oasis' open air swimming pool open in recent months and also a huge thank you to the pool staff who kept everything running smoothly during the covid restrictions with excellent standards of cleanliness and social distancing - swimming has been a wonderful release from the troubles surrounding us at the moment.

Margaret Cluett Shaftesbury nJust wanted to say thank you for the new BVM. We have all lost so much in the last few weeks and now you have given us something back. It is comforting to hold a small symbol of normality in these strange times.

Wishing you all the very best.

Anne n Well done, all of a sudden the world looks more normal and a better place. Please keep up the good work.

Sue Eggar

bring it back and we are all rooting for you to continue for a long time into the future with your venture Best wishes Anthony and Vicky Thomas Shillingstone

Corrections and clarifications Well, there were bound to be some in our first issue!

In no particular order... n P32: Nope, that’s not a Porsche 911 Carrera. n The New BVM – a clarification: We think it might be necessary to point out that this is The New Blackmore Vale magazine and not part of another enterprise calling itself the Blackmore Vale Magazine, which is running purely online.While our magazine is online at blackmorevale. net, our focus is the printed product you all know and love. Our circulation is 30,000 copies, distributed every two weeks. Several thousand more readers have accessed our magazine online, too.

To discuss advertising with us, call Debi Thorne on 07876 563683 or email adverts@blackmorevale.net 39

Letters Extra Please help our mum Our family have lived in Dorchester for 37 years, and are hoping our local community and businesses can help us during this difficult time.

2020 has been a tough year for everyone and unfortunately our family was rocked by the devastating news that our Mum (Geraldine Morley) has cancer – Ocular Melanoma – a very rare form that starts in the eye (it only affects about six people in a million).

During the first week of Lockdown, she had emergency surgery to remove her eye but, despite this, we then found out that the cancer had been found in her blood and would eventually spread. We were told that this could take up to five years, however just five months later it has spread to her liver and sadly surgery is not an option.

The most effective life prolonging treatment that our Mum needs is not yet offered by the NHS and trials have recently closed. Given the successful results to date (it is already available in some European countries) it will, quite likely be accredited by NICE next year and be available on the NHS, but this will be too late for mum.

We are therefore trying to raise funds through a Facebook page and GoFundMe to enable this treatment to be conducted privately. Any donations, support or advice would be so greatly appreciated by our family. We so very much want more time for our Mum and are asking that you please take a look at our GoFundMe or Facebook page, and let us know if you are able to help support our efforts. gofundme.com/f/more-timefor-mum facebook.com/More-Time-ForMum-102322238297773/ Many thanks Debra Morley 40

During lockdown, Sherborne Viral Kindness filled a vital role, when volunteers came together from across the community to help people in Sherborne and the surrounding villages. Prior to this, the local surgeries had been developing their own volunteer group called Health Champions who were assisting with activities that helped to address the nonclinical, social support needs of patients.

The focus of these activities – responding to loneliness and isolation, supporting self-care & independence, promoting regular physical activity and good mental health, supporting unpaid carers, connecting people to local services/community groups – is very much the same as that which Sherborne Viral Kindness was providing during lockdown; local people responding to local needs.

It was known that there was unmet need before coronavirus and there will continue to be unmet need which is why the local surgeries (the Apples, the Grove and Yetminster), are all committed to continuing to work with local volunteers.

If you have time and enthusiasm to offer, we are keen to hear from you.

These are examples of the type of volunteering roles we have to offer: • Practical – shopping, urgent prescription deliveries, dog walking, helpful errands.

• Administrative – helping with general organisation and communications e.g. helping to run groups such as Walking Groups.

• Digital – assisting people to become more digitally connected & confident, especially getting more patients registered to book appointments & manage their medication online.

• Social support – befriending by phone or in person.

• Peer support – facilitating support between people with similar health conditions to reduce the risk of isolation and promote good self-

management; both group and 1:1 peer support opportunities A mixture of volunteers are needed – for instance, you may be able to help with a one-off shopping request, but you don’t have the time to commit on a more regular basis. We are keen to speak to people from both groups!

If you would like further information or an informal chat about your involvement as a local volunteer, please contact Vicky Morland / vicky.morland@dorsetgp. nhs.uk We can also put you in touch with one of our current Health Champions or you could sit in on one of our regular Zoom meetings.

Roger Marsh Sherborne Area Community Kindness (SACK) n A year ago, a development of over 100 thermally efficient, low-energy homes in Norwich was awarded an RIBA prize.

Residents were (and still are) highly delightedly with their low energy bills. I wonder if the 1595 planned new homes for Gillingham will be built to the same standard, or if they will all require upgrading a few years down the line. Can our local authorities or MP give any reassurance on this?

Colin Marsh Gillingham nCongratulations to the publishers for launching the new Blackmore Vale Magazine in its old format. I wish it every success.

I was interested that Dorset footpaths officer Chris Slade chose to introduce a walk from the attractive village of Child Okeford to the splendid Hambledon Hill and back.

In Child Okeford we pride ourselves that our many footpaths are kept in good condition and nearly all now have gates instead of stiles.

Walkers may be interested to learn that we have a booklet called “Up Hill and Down River” detailing 10 walks to

Hambledon and Hod Hill, as well as to the River Stour and the North Dorset Trailway.

This can be obtained from the well stocked Village Stores for a small donation (minimum £1) to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

Alan Blundell Child Okeford

Local Government Reorganisation in Somerset

This week (w/e 11 Sept) the four district councils voted on their second attempt at an alternative to the Somerset County Council’s proposed single unitary authority “One Somerset”.

Their basic premise is for two unitary councils, not one, with the county split: Two former districts in East Somerset and two districts in West Somerset.

East Somerset Unitary Council would consist of the former Mendip and South Somerset District Councils.

This is fine, but you have to go back to the government statement when the revised proposals for local government were first issued. Their preference in that document was clearly for either a mayor and assembly, as in the city governance already established, or a major unitary with the size of the unitary defined. Always remember that the final decision will be made by the minister in Whitehall with the advice of the civil service, so what is presented has to satisfy both.

We can ignore all the local political clap trap and pointless snide comments, and draw attention to that well known phrase “People in glass houses should not throw stones”.

The main complaint about the county’s proposal was against its size, and questioned how it would cope with planning at local level. This appears to ignore the complexity of the county councils involvement in the day to day life of the community. No mention of education, children and adult

Letters Extra services, transport and infrastructure, the environment and their involvement in the Somerset Waste Partnership to name a few. I know not many of the present councillors were economically active in the 30 years after the war, but there was a huge building programme managed by the county and the urban and rural districts. I’m not sure the present council’s housing record would stand comparison. This was also a period of huge modifications to the education system, and the birth of the National Health

Service, all requiring local service changes. One comment which has to be viewed with a great deal of scorn was the suggestion that the Somerset county’s scheme was empire building.

What we are actually seeing is the dismantling of the district council’s empire.

The “One Somerset” proposal will be a new authority following an election, and the present county and district councils will disappear. The proposal in the “One Somerset” document for democratic viability, includes

the setting up of 20 Local Community Networks, and this is where more detail is needed.

It looks as if there will be five unitary councillors on each LCN with probably five local town or parish councillors and non elected representation from the police, and NHS. This will need clarification, with the public aware of how the system will work.

I feel the two unitary councils proposed by the existing district councils will open the door for a mayor and assembly sitting over the two councils.

This is a solution I cannot

support as it removes the present local level and introduces an unwanted control system above, with democratic control reduced.

These are my views on the present submissions, but we must be vigilant. The White Paper on local government the Government promised is still awaited. There is also a change of minister which could in turn change some items, but any proposal also needs to look at the economy of this area of East Somerset for the well being of people and businesses.

Colin Winder, Wincanton

Heartbreaking relapse sparks marathon bid

By Kate Smith A MUM is calling for Blackmore Vale readers to dig deep into their pockets for Team Torri.

Kirsty Hutchins launched Team Torri in April 2008 after her little seven-year-oldfriend Torri, from Kington Magna, was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Having just finished the London Marathon vowing never to do it again, the devastating news spurred her to apply again. The marathons continued and in 2019, Kirsty and her husband along with Torri’s mum Natalie, ran for Children with Cancer UK, raising a fabulous amount of money.

Torri was due to complete her last chemotherapy round in August but then Torri was dealt another blow. She had relapsed.

Kirsty said: “After a long two-and-a-half years of treatment Torri and her family could all start to prepare for a normal life. We were all getting ready to have a weekend of celebrations and preparing to ring the endof-treatment bell.

“However, just before Torri's

last chemo was about to be given the house phone rang.

“It was the hospital phoning with news that no parent or child should have to hear, Torri has relapsed.

“Torri is about to undergo a

stem cell transplant treatment plan. Alexsi, Torri’s sister has been confirmed as a match and the treatment will start again very soon in Bristol.

“It’s a very rocky road ahead as covid-19 will make it

difficult for the family to stay together. But with the support from us all I am sure we will get through this and Torri is going to grow up to be an amazing, strong and incredible human being!”

Kirsty added: “Torri lives in Kington Magna with her mum Natalie, her dad Simon and her big sister Alexsi.

They are all very dear friends to me, but we also class ourself as one big family as all the children have literally grown up together from babies and we have spent many Christmas and family holidays together.”

Team Torri 2020 consists of friends Sam Wattridge, Jo Vuckovic, Laura Yeomans, Stacey Knight, Sue and Simon O’Shaugnessy, George Walmesley-White, Geoff Coward, Kirsty and Nat. The group were due to run the virtual London marathon on October 4 – 26.2 miles around Mere, Zeals, Milton and Gillingham and back.

Kirsty added: “Running a marathon is so, so hard, but it’s nothing compared to what Torri and all the other children fighting this dreadful disease have to go through.”

To donate go to: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ kirstyhutchins 41

Recruitment Class 2 HGV Drivers Wanted

St Swithuns Building & Conservation are recruiting a Working Site Foreman Conservation experience an advantage.

Please call 01747 832386 and/or email CV to c.eyres@stswithun.com With pay expectations and potential start date

General Handy Man Required

Looking for a motivated individual who uses their initiative to undertake various different jobs on a working farm which include carpentry, fencing, guttering, grounds jobs, clearing, tidying and other general repairs.

Part time vacancy, call 07540633126

ADVERTISE HERE 01963 400186

Gardener/ Groundsman wanted

for 1 day a week (or 2 half days) for largish garden near North Cadbury. Start before or in the New Year.

Employer can supply tools as necessary.

01963 441031

Telesales executive

Armishaws Removals Ltd are currently looking to recruit experienced class 2 (License ca C) Removals drivers to join our teams in Wincanton BA9 9RU and Salisbury SP2 8RA. Driving our 18 & 21 ton rigid lorries and smaller vehicles as required, as well as being involved with the packing and loading / unloading of your vehicle.

Experience in the removals industry is desirable although consideration will be given to drivers with the right aptitude.

The job also involves some working away from home during the week. * Salary £11.00 - £12.00 p/hour.

OTE £33,000 * Monday to Friday working with very few weekends * Opportunity of Progression * Opportunity of overtime * Guaranteed hours (following probation) Tel Steve 01963 34065

telesales. Calm under

for the New Blackmore Vale pressure, pleasant

We are looking for a highly motivated, driven individual with previous experience in

telephone manner.

Spelling/grammar must be of a high standard. £17,500 per year plus bonuses.

Call Debi on 07876 563683.

JOB VACANCY SALES ACCOUNT MANAGER Mail and Print - is a Direct Mail and Print producer based near Hindon SP3 5GN. Requirements •

Proven work experience as an Account Manager, Key Account Manager, Sales Account Manager

•

Demonstrable ability to communicate, present and in昀uence key stakeholders at all levels of an organization, including executive and C-level

•

Solid experience with CRM software

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Experience delivering solutions to clients

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Proven ability to juggle multiple account management projects at a time, while maintaining sharp attention to detail

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Excellent listening, negotiation and presentation abilities

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Strong verbal and written communication skills

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Proven track record of meeting sales targets, KPI’s

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Ability to convert incoming telephone, email and web enquiries.

Bonus scheme, Commission pay, Company pension scheme

Expected start date: 19/10/2020 Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Competitive salary, plus bene昀ts

Apply to Martyn Harvey – Managing Director mharvey@mailandprint.co.uk

42

Companion / carer wanted

to keep an elderly but mobile lady company overnight plus some daytime hours for journeys out. Car available. East Orchard. Contact; Duncan 07736 44424507540633126

Cleaner Required

for two half days near Gillingham. We would like a cleaner who will move items to clean under them, rather than round them, References required call 0754633126

Handy man/gardener wanted, Child Okeford area We are seeking a reliable handyman and gardener on our small farm near Child Okeford for two to three days a week.

The job includes weeding, mowing, strimming, cutting wood, maintaining garden machinery and generally helping maintain three properties.

If you are interested please ring 01258 863413

Gardener

An enthusiastic and strong person needed one day a week. Some experience required but keenness to learn is also important. Call 01747828449

Domestic Couple required

Nr Sturminster Newton Groundsman - 30 hours per week - maintaining gardens & grounds, mowing, strimming, hedge cutting, machinery maintenance, DIY/Repairs, managing river levels.

Housekeeper 20hrs during week, 4hrs on W/E (24hrs total) Cleaning/ housekeeping. Domestic laundry drop off/collection, Ironing, online groceries. 2 bed accommodation.

Full licences required.

07786264815

Shield Acre Limited Audio typist wanted, Legal background of assistance but not necessary. Flexible hours in safe environment, £12 per hour 07974 743512

Business Sturminster open for business Sturminster Newton recently featured in a BBC Radio 4 programme on how the town is defying the decline in market towns, writes Jacqui Wragg. The programme included an interview with Lord Price, former MD of Waitrose, deputy chairman of the John Lewis Partnership and Sturminster Newton resident. Steve Oxford of Oxford Bakery and Graham Hart of Harts of Stur also featured alongside others, including the town council grounds team. This was great publicity so soon after international coverage during lockdown when the mill produced flour at a time of

scarcity to be sold at Dikes & Son Ltd and used by Mr Oxford in his baking.

The late summer saw over 60 scarecrows in the town in the first annual Sturminster Newton Rotary Scarecrow Festival (facebook.com/ SturminsterNewtonRotary). In a follow-up to this successful community activity the Sturminster Newton Pumpkin Festival (October 17-31) will operate in the same way. To join in the fun create your pumpkin display and post a picture along with your address on either The Sturminster Newton Rotary Club Website or Facebook. sturminster-newton.org.uk

Business

Free virtual tech festival unveiled Robots growing fields of wheat, the tiger who came to tea and making videos from your smartphone: these are just some of the exciting sessions on offer for free at the upcoming Festival of the Future from Tuesday (13th).

This brand-new virtual event combines fun and learning and helps us share the great things that are happening in Dorset. Think Bestival or Glastonbury, but with more tea, future-gazing and LinkedIn profiles.

Cllr Peter Wharf, portfolio holder for corporate development and change, said: “Some people might think digital isn’t for them, but actually it’s for everyone.

“Digital simply means using data and technology to improve people’s lives, listening to what they need and understanding their experience to design solutions. This festival will help everyone see how they can make the most of what is currently available now and in the future. Just think about the changes that have come about as a result of covid, from catch-ups with friends on Zoom and virtual

conferences, to online appointments with your GP or virtual queues to order your shopping online and you will get an idea of how digital really impacts us all.

“Dorset is a hive of digital activity, so we want to really showcase what is going on and attract investment and skills to this part of the country.”

The Festival of the Future, which has over 55 sessions across three days, is part of the much larger National Digital Leaders Week and is where you can sign up for any presentation you want to.

There is something for everyone from ‘Skills for the future world of work’ for those looking to upskill, to ‘Leading in a digital world’ for senior business leaders.

All the sessions are recorded, so even if you can’t attend the live event, be sure to sign up so you can watch later.

Gary Spracklen, head teacher at Prince of Wales School in Dorchester, is one of the speakers. He said: “If you’re a parent or grandparent then there’s definitely something here for you. Our children will spend their lives in a digital revolution and it’s

REMOV ALS & STORAGE

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Armishaws operate a 昀eet of small removal vans throughout Dorset, Somerset and Wilshire catering for those clients who only need a small removal but still want the expertise provided by a larger removal company.

With prices ranging from £300 for a local move our services are tailored to meet your needs.

Blandford (01258) 453898

Dorchester (01305) 783795

important we are part of that too.”

Robin Knowles, CEO at Digital Leaders, said: ‘Those who are driving forward digital transformation in the UK will be sharing the very best practice, showcasing their services and offering solutions that are practical

Shaftesbury (01747) 828680

Wincanton (01963) 34065

and real. Dorset and the South West have more events going on in Digital Leaders Week than any other area so we are really pleased to highlight the festival.”

See dorsetcouncil.gov.uk /your-council/festival-of-thefuture/festival-of-the-future. aspx

Peer programme offers fresh perspective on businesses A new scheme is being launched in Dorset for ambitious business leaders to grow their companies and boost the local economy.

The Peer Networks Programme will bring directors and senior managers from SMEs together in small groups for a series of sessions over the next six months.

Their ‘peer to peer’ meetings will focus on such themes as leadership, growth, financial management, business resilience, technology and

marketing. Dorset Chamber, which is the county’s leading business support organisation, won a competitive tender to deliver the initiative for the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Chamber chief executive Ian Girling said: “This new programme will equip SME directors and senior managers with the skills they need for their businesses to survive and grow. But it will also give them a trusted network of peers with whom they can

share experiences and expert knowledge, learn with and rely upon for support and advice to overcome business challenges.

“The covid pandemic has shown that it has never been more important to adapt and seek solutions together, so this inspirational programme comes just when our business leaders need it the most.”

Places on the programme are free.

It is open to any SME which has operated for at least one year, has five employees or

more, has a turnover of at least £100,000 plus and has an aspiration to improve business output and boost exports.

Dorset Chamber, the county’s voice of business, will operate six groups of 10 people with an experienced facilitator for each cohort.

Contact the Business Gateway on 01202 714800, email peernetwork@ dcci.co.uk or visit dorsetchamber.co.uk /business-support/peernetwork-programme/ for more details and to apply.

43

Just for kids (OK grown-ups, you can read it too!)

Wildlife corner

with World Life

Hello and welcome to Wildlife Corner where you will discover some awesome facts about nature which you can then use to amaze your friends and family!

In this issue we are continuing our “All Things Slimy” adventure and finding out all about snails!

Did you know?

There are over 43,000 different species of snail in the world!

In the United Kingdom there are approximately 120 species of snail.

The largest land snail in the world is called the Giant African Land Snail. It can grow up to 20 centimetres in length!

The smallest species of land snail in the world can fit comfortably into the eye of a needle.

The bottom of a snail is called the ‘foot’. It is covered in a special slime called mucus and this allows them to climb over many different surfaces like broken glass and drawing pins without getting hurt! It also helps them stick to surfaces and allows them to climb.

The largest sea snail in the world is called the Australian Trumpet or False Trumpet, it can grow up to 90 centimetres. The shell of this snail is approximately 70 centimetres and is weighs up to 18 kilograms.

Snails have ‘teeth’ – in fact they can have thousands of them (although they are not like our teeth). They are so tiny that you can only see them under a powerful

magnifying glass, and are arranged in rows on a long ribbon-like tongue. They use these teeth to scrape at their food.

What do snails eat?

Some land snails are detritivores, like worms, and they play an important part in the environment as they are part of the clean-up crew cleaning up dead and

decaying organic waste matter. Believe it or not, snails do not really enjoy eating healthy, living plants

and only generally opt for this option if there is no other food available to them.

Other land snails are carnivores and are predators, they have a diet of other snails, earthworms and slugs. There are some sea snails which prey on small fish, whilst others live on algae.

Where do snails live?

Some snails live on

Advertise here for just £40!

Email adverts@blackmorevale.net 44

land and are known as terrestrial snails, others in the seas and oceans and are known as marine snails and others in lakes, streams, rivers and ponds these are known as fresh water snails.

Experiment!

Undertake a snail survey.

One garden can have over 50 to 60 snails per square metre, and many different species can often be seen.

With adult help, pop into your garden and taking a pencil and paper see how many different types of snail you can find.

Measure the weight!

With an adult, find a set of weighing scales and then using tin cans, find out how many are needed to equal the weight of the Australian Trumpet Snail! Be very careful though, you may need quite a few and you don’t want them to topple over.

Colour the snail!

You have discovered that snails come in all shapes, sizes and colours, using your wonderful imagination colour the picture and if you would like to, why not create a short silly snail story!

Some great coaching sessions in September area in Fordington. Three of our newest members and one of our six-year-old ‘veterans’ from last year, came to learn and practice their casting techniques. We talked about assembling a rod and reel correctly, and how hand positioning on the rod can make the difference between a good cast and tackle in a tree.

New starters always take some time to get used to their new equipment and these guys were With DDAS Juniors Secretary no different. But all of them Graham Howard made huge steps and ended the Coaching session – Setting up session having improved a Waggler float rod (Level1) everything about their casting Sharnhill Green Lake, skills. Many thanks to Steve Buckland Newton.

Newman for the permission to Four juniors came to Sharnhill use the field. On the 19th, we to find it in perfect condition held a session on Setting up a for a day’s coaching.

Float Rod cont’d (Level1) at It was the first chance to try Sharnhill. Our new juniors out our brand new coaching programme and the day started came along to Sharnhill on another glorious day. The lake with a short tutorial, some we looked stunning bathed in had not tried before. The golden autumnal sunshine. juniors present were very patient, but I knew they wanted Those that had sat the tutorial last time were able to go to get on with the fishing. We were lucky enough to have one straight to the lake to show their assigned coach how they coach too many, which gave me a chance to walk round and would set up their float rods, whilst the others took the see how the coaching format was working out. I’m happy to tutorial (impatiently) and then finally got the chance to catch say that things were going some fish of their own. Despite better than I imagined they the sunny day, the fish were could and everyone was less obliging than last time and benefiting from a new way of some struggled, depending on learning. Some very nice fish joined us to enjoy the sunshine which end of the lake they fished. But as usual, most were too and all the juniors had an happy with the days learning exciting time according to the and went home happy. reports from the coaches Junior coaching sessions have afterwards. There were some now been suspended due to the good pointers to come out of raising of the corona virus the day and we can try to threat from level three to level address those for our next 4. I would not have felt session. comfortable bringing everyone On September 12 we held a together even if there was the casting session at Kings Road slightest threat of putting Playing Field in Dorchester.

I’m pleased to say that we have anyone at risk. If the threat level goes back down, then the blessing of the council to use the facilities at the playing maybe we can host some more.

Teen’s new business

Junior Angling

Jude Collins, 17, from Mappowder, is trying to start a freelance career in wildlife/insect photography. We think her photos are excellent!

Email judeblakecollins1@icloud.com

45

Antiques & Collectibles

Experience Taste of Luxury at Duke’s Duke’s Auctioneers annual Taste of Luxury auction on December 10 will feature jewellery, watches, and designer accessories.

What a sale it will be – and all just in time for some seasonal shopping on the runup to Christmas.

At Duke’s last Taste of Luxury auction in December 2019, a Rolex GMT Master 2 Oyster perpetual date 18 carat gold gentleman’s bracelet watch with automatic movement led the pack, selling for £22,500 (including buyer’s premium).

The GMT series bracelet, brooch was designed with and earrings, was world travellers in a highlight of the mind as a jewellery section, navigation device it sold beyond displaying two time estimate for zones, making it £15,625 especially (including collectable. buyer’s A further strong premium). The price was realised attractive form of for a rare Omega graduating coral Speed Master scarab beetles, gentleman’s suspended from a chronograph single flower stainless steel head attached to the old GRAIN bracelet watch, a rope effect STORE empo�iu selling for £8,750 yellow metal (including buyer’s necklace caught Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm A Rolex GMT Master 2 premium). the eye of a 1st Sunday of the month 10am - 4pm which sold for £22,500 This lot was number of accompanied by passionate bidders. contact: 07745 477795 A mini emporium original case, invoice and Deborah Doyle, jewellery of treasures with or theoldgrainstoreemporium@outlook.com a quirky, tea room. registration card – always popular specialist, and Julian Smith, watch follow us on & @TheOldGrainstoreEmporium with Omega watch collectors. specialist, are holding a free A 19th century coral Etruscan style valuation day on Thursday The Old Grainstore Emporium | Shaftesbury Lane | Blandford | DT11 7EG Parure, comprising a necklace, (October 15).

Get in touch with Lynn Strover on 01305 265 080 to book an appointment to find out if items of jewellery and watches in your collection hold potential high value for sale at auction.

Ever wondered what it’s worth?

Duke’s, Brewery Square, Bring your jewellery and watches for a free auction valuation Sporting Sale Dorchester, DT1 1GA Thursday 15th October 10am Meet Julian Smith, Watches Specialist and 01305 265 080.

To include Guns, Clothing & Militaria Deborah Doyle, Jewellery Specialist

we are OPEN

Viewings: Saturday 10th 10am - 12 noon Tuesday 13th 10am - 5pm Wednesday 14th 10am - 5pm View and bid online at busby.co.uk or easyliveaucton.com/busby Appropriate social distancing measures will be in place

Free valuations & home visits House clearances arranged Probate & Insurance valuations www.busby.co.uk Contact info@busby.co.uk 01308 420 100 The Old Hemp Store North Mills, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3BE

46

Thursday 15th October 10am to 4pm at Duke’s Auctioneers Copper Street Brewery Square Dorchester DT1 1GA

Please contact Lynn Strover to book your appointment 01305 265 080 lynn.strover@dukes-auctions.com

A 19th century coral Etruscan style Parure which sold for £16,625

LOOK AT ME! I am a lovely, tasteful ad from the New Blackmore Vale’s design team.

You want me?

I’m yours if you email adverts@blackmorevale.net

For classified adverts visit: blackmorevale.net/ads or email us: classified@blackmorevale.net

Dorset Showground What’s on...

Sun 18th Oct B.S Senior Showjumping

Sun 11th Oct Sat 24th Oct Assisted Gridwork with Unaffiliated Dressage Level 2 UKCC coach Sun 25th Oct Sun 11th Oct Show Jumping Clear Round Jumping Improvement Lessons (60cm – 1.10m) Wed 28th Oct Mon 12th Oct BS Junior, JFS and Floodlight Unaffiliated Unaffiliated Evening Dressage Showjumping

Sun 1st Nov Dressage Improvement Day Mon 2nd Nov Floodlight Unaffiliated Evening Dressage Sun 8th Nov Eventers Challenge Sat 14th Nov Arena Eventing Clinic with Sam Griffiths

Show Jump & Arena Eventing Course Hire www.dorsetshowground.co.uk for info, entries & Covid protocols Tel: 01747 838 888 47

Food & Drink

Wonferful food and warmest welcome YOU might be thinking that going out for dinner won’t be much fun at the moment, what with social distancing, masks, out by 10pm, etc.

But you’d be wrong... very wrong.

We enjoyed a very fine evening indeed at The

By Anne Perks King’s Head Inn at East Stour Common last Friday.

Apart from really firstclass food, the atmosphere was lovely.

There were plenty people of all ages there and everyone seemed to be having a great time – helped, no doubt, by the excellent team of happy, friendly, knowledgeable frontof-house staff.

Ciaran Holmes and his partner Pamela bought the King’s Arms Inn about a year ago and have spent a lot of time and thought extending and redesigning it.

Then Covid arrived.

They were doing very well indeed. Still were, even after Covid, with the Government’s financial help.

Unfortunately since this was withdrawn, bookings have gone down dramatically.

There are also three

letting rooms in the inn.

Ciaran is keen to stress that the pub welcomes Christmas parties. Yes, there will be a limit of tables of six, but these are not so far apart as to stop conversation between tables and as much as possible will be done to cater for every party’s wishes.

These are trying times for all pubs and restaurants, but Ciaran and Pamela are still managing to provide a lovely night out, with no fuss and a genuine wish to make sure their customers, whether they be diners or are just popping in for a drink, leave wanting to come back soon

As for the food, my starter of mussels, which I love, was really superb. They were some of the fattest I have ever tasted, and delicious.

My husband’s fishcake was also lovely.

His fish and chips were “one of the best I’ve ever had” and my Malaysian beef curry was really good. We rounded off the meal with a rhubarb crème caramel. Also mouthwatering. The menu includes something for everyone – from burgers to the best steaks.

Pamela and Ciaran look forward to welcoming you to The King’s Arms Inn.

Please come back – we’re covid safe!

A pub landlord has issued a cry for support after seeing his trade plummet after the Rule of Six was introduced.

Ciaran Holmes, 29, took over at the Kings Arms in East Stour a year ago. It was his first pub, after a stint working for Rick Stein and various pubs in Cornwall.

Just months later, covid-19 struck Britain and dealt a hammer blow to hospitality, but the Chancellor’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme gave a welcome boost during 48

By Miranda Robertson August, as diners poured into Britain’s eateries.

However after that – and particularly after the PM’s announcement of further restrictions – trade has dropped like a stone at the pretty village pub.

Ciaran said: “We used to have a huge local following and we can’t understand where most people have gone. Are people still scared of covid or

shielding or simply going elsewhere?

“We have taken correct precautions to assure our customers that we are a covid-secure premises.

“These are strange, unpredictable and scary times. We have taken a huge hit due to covid and trade is nowhere near it should be for this locally renowned pub.

“We’ve had customers cancelling tables because one or two of them have been scared enough to stop going

out to eat.

“Closing at ten doesn’t affect us because we are an eating destination pub, but people listening to the media hype and scaremongering does.

“We’ve made every effort to provide a safe place to eat out and we’d love to welcome people back.”

The Kings Arms welcomes food orders from 12-2.30pm Mondays to Saturdays and 12-8pm on Sundays. Go to kingsarmseaststour.com or call 01747 838325.

Food & Drink Community fridge to reduce waste North Dorset Liberal Democrats are supporting a new Community Fridges initiative in the main towns of the district.

Community Fridges is one of many schemes that aim to cut food waste by sharing food approaching its use by date.

Food may be given by individuals and households or supermarkets, restaurants and shops. Community fridges are an innovative step away from red tape and means testing involved in food banks.

Community fridges are open to anyone. Anyone can put food in and anyone can take food out.

Studies across the UK show that for every 100 Community Fridges, 975 tonnes of food is redistributed. Besides reducing waste, they also enable people facing hardship to have easy access to fresh, nutritious food.

Volunteers have completed food hygiene certificates and check the fridges daily to see the correct temperatures are being maintained and remove anything that has passed its expiry date.

The schemes also run Facebook pages to share the latest news about what is currently in the fridge to the community.

There is a lot of support on the ‘how to’ of setting up and running these fridges, locally from Sustainable Dorset, sustainabledorset.org/ community-fridge.

Community fridges could be on their way to north Dorset

COMMUNITY APPLE JUICING Using your own apples at Quiet Corner Farm, Henstridge; Mon-Fri from 10:00am Make delicious pasteurised apple juice (will keep for up to two years!)

Please phone to book your self in on: 01963 363045 (please leave a message)

New: Pub history feature Toby Hartwell will be writing about the history of Blackmore Vale pubs for future editions.

If you would like your pub featured, email tobyhartwell@gmail.com

ENFORD FARM SHOP Home reared Lamb, along with locally produced meat, veg, fruit, deli & game

Follow us on Facebook for all of our latest deals & offers including weekly meat pack deals Half lamb £65 Open All day, everyday outside shop Fri, Sat Farm Shop Open 8.30am-5pm also Arts & display Durweston, near Blandford

01258 450050

07944790514 hello@blackcatcatering.co.uk blackcatcatering.co.uk During these challenging times where getting out to do shopping or collecting a takeaway is difficult, we can help!

Let Black Cat Catering remove the stress and look after the food for you. If you need a freshly prepared, delicious homecooked meal, along with a tasty dessert then look no further. We will deliver to your home or you are welcome to collect from Sarah at 15 West Orchard.

Your order will be ready for you to simply heat up and enjoy! Please visit our facebook page or our website to look at our menu of the week or just give us a call and place your order!

Vegetarian and gluten free options are available by request. Saturday orders will be delivered on Friday.

Come and join us and we can grow together Shaftesbury Home Grown aims to grow. The organisation, often referred to as ‘the Community Farm’, was established on a small site off Breach Lane in 2009.

For more than 10 years membership has been open to local people for producing food naturally and sustainably by working together rather than have the hassle of running an allotment all on their own.

Currently, members grow fruit and vegetables and keep chickens and bees, getting a discount on produce taken. A review of past experience, the boost in activity at the farm during the pandemic, and national concerns about food security, led the group to decide to explore using the land more effectively and playing a larger part in Shaftesbury’s community.

The exploration will include ways for more people to become involved in food production and will also open up opportunities for landbased projects to run alongside the farm’s core activities. There is already an arrangement with Shaftesbury’s Tree Group who will develop a tree nursery for the town, and with a local shepherd who grazes sheep on part of the

land. Other potential projects could be courses – for example: hedge-laying or permaculture, growing plants and flowers for sale, a separate dye garden, additional livestock, therapeutic gardening, children’s activities, and more. The group is inviting anyone who might like to be part of the farm’s future to get in touch by email to Rachel.Bodle@gmail.com 49

Food & Drink Hazel’s Dorset Apple Cake

Ingredients 175g (6oz) butter 175g (6oz) caster sugar 250g (10oz) self-raising flour 3 large Bramley apples, peeled, cored and cut into chunks Cinnamon and demerara sugar to sprinkle

Apples have timeless appeal

Naturally crunchy delicious and nutritious, apples are the Method nations best loved fruit. Their Preheat oven to 180 degrees, versatility means you enjoy fan oven 160 degrees. Grease them every day and in many and line a 23cm (9in) cake ways.hundreds of varieties of tin.

Cream butter and sugar. Beat apples, fruiting throughout

By Katharine Wright the year. in eggs and then add flour, thehungrygiraffe2020@gmail.com The prime season is Autumn, adding a little milk if the mixture seems too stiff. Stir when we see many varieties high yield. A new decline in in apples. Sprinkle with sugar including Worcester, English varieties occurred and cinnamon to taste.

Pearman, Egremont. when the UK joined the ECC Bake for around 50 minutes Discovery, Cox, Rubens and resulting in no restrictions on until cooked through when the cooking apple the imports, more choice for us tested with a skewer.

Bramley Apple. consumers but damaging for Vegan flapjacks In Britain the first mention of our home grown crops.

Ingredients apples dates back to 885AD Fortunately, you can still find 4oz/113g marg

by King Alfred in his English those 18th and 19th Century 1 tbsp golden sryup translation of ‘Gregory’s apples here in Dorset, 4oz/113g caster sugar Pastoral care’ written by Pope producing not just the humble 2oz/56g porridge oats Gregory I, around 590 AD eating apple and traditional 2oz/56g crushed cornflakes outlining the responsibilities cider, but wonderful diverse 2oz/56g self-raising flour of the Clergy. products such as apple Method Preheat oven to 200/gas mark 6 Throughout history apples balsamic, syrup and vodka.

Gently heat the sryup and add have seen good times and not With over 40 Dorset varieties the butter until dissolved, with memorable names such so good times. stirring all the time. as Golden Ball, Buttery Door, Following a decline during Mix dry ingredients the period of the Black Death, Marnhull Mill, Kings Pour the melted butter and Favourite, Tom Putt, Subbard, sryup over and stir well until fortunes were revived by the Blackmore Vale area was Henry VIII who instructed a all covered. Spread mixture once an abundance of apple into a well greased 7" square fruitier to plant new varieties orchards producing cider in South East England. tin and gently flatten with a historically to pay the estate metal spoon. Reduce the heat By the 18th & 19th Centuries to 190/gas mark 5. workers rather than pay we saw an agricultural Bake for about 20 minutes money. revolution and investment until golden and cut while Although not to pay wages, into the production of warm. orchards with small crops but today these traditional 50

orchards are making a return to our local landscape thanks to some great local initiatives and local businesses producing heritage apples to eat, drink and enjoy.

One company Liberty Fields have made apples their ‘core business’ farming many traditional Dorset varieties into some wonderful award winning apple products.

An apple syrup - Dorset’s answer to maple syrup an apple balsamic rivaling the Italian traditional balsamic vinegar all using the heritage varieties from their orchards.

If you fancy something to mix into cocktails you could try their Porters Perfection vodka, made using the Porters Perfection variety.

But of course we must not forget our very own Dorset Apple Cake.

Everyone has their very own recipe but mine has been handed down the family for generations and it is quick, simple and very tasty.

Simply add and mix all ingredients together then fold in the apples, spoon into a lined cake tin and bake for 1 hour @ 160 °C. Leave to cool and serve with clotted cream.

Rev Richard’s round-up

with the Rev Richard Priest, of Stour Vale Benefice

Take stock, and be grateful I am writing this from a very privileged position of being surrounded by fields of crops, almost ready to be harvested, yet I am acutely aware that writing about harvest this year is so different from previous Octobers.

It has made me think very carefully about what we have all experienced as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic.

Many of us have had to dramatically alter our lifestyles and expectations as a result of this ongoing global crisis; on a local level our farmers and growers have continued about their business and hopefully they will be rewarded with a plentiful harvest.

Those not involved in agriculture may have reaped a personal harvest in the picking of vegetables from our gardens.

This produce offers very tangible evidence of harvest; from tiny seeds new crops appear; from our hard work we reap

our own rewards. However there are other harvests which are much less tangible but offer an equally important result.

We can think of the considerable work of medical staff in our hospitals and surgeries as a type of harvest, a harvesting of caring and healing.

Other key staff be they postal workers, telecommunications engineers, road hauliers, refuse collectors, emergency workers, retailers (the list is endless), all of them in their own way offer a harvest.

Harvesting is a means of gathering in, of collecting together what can sustain us in the months to come.

Living in a rural community we naturally think of farmers but we all in our own way offer something to a global harvest or gathering in.

Let us celebrate and appreciate this joint contribution by giving thanks.

Harvest services will be

slightly different this year but they all have the common theme of being grateful for what we have received, what has been grown, what has been achieved, what has been done.

Harvest is a very good time to take stock of our lives, to count our blessings and to consider what more we might achieve. But it seems to me that God is right in the midst of all this activity and therefore it seems all the more appropriate to give thanks, despite the anxiety and, at times, heartbreak of the pandemic; simply saying thank you for what we have been given from others and from God. However, if you are suffering, out of work or anxious about the events happening around us, the idea of giving thanks may not seem very relevant.

Yet all of us have something to be thankful for, be it the comfort of friends or family, the help offered by others, or

even just the fact that we live in such a beautiful part of the world.

I am deeply aware of the uncertainty and hardship that this pandemic has given us but I am also impressed in how it has brought out the very best in many people.

Let us look at the example of those who have given so much during these dark times and be thankful to them.

That would seem to me to be the very embodiment of a harvest celebration.

We thank Thee, then, O Father, for all things bright and good, The seed time and the harvest, our life, our health, and food; Accept the gifts we offer, for all Thy love imparts, But what Thou most desirest, our humble, thankful hearts.

Every blessing Rev Richard

Church services Sunday Services for October 11 – 18th Sunday after Trinity - in the Church of England in & around Shaftesbury: 9.30am Parish Communion at St Peter’s 9.30am Parish Communion at Motcombe 11.15am Parish Communion at West Orchard 11.15am Harvest Festival at Melbury Abbas 6pm Pilgrim Service at St James’ 6pm Live-stream Evening Worship on our Facebook page: facebook.com/Shaftesb uryCofE Sunday Services for October 18 – 19th Sunday after Trinity - in the Church of England in & around

Shaftesbury: 9.30am Parish Communion at St Peter’s 9.30am Parish Communion at St James’ 11.15am Parish Communion at Compton Abbas 11.15am Parish Communion at Enmore Green 6pm Evening Worship at Motcombe 6pm Live-stream Evening Worship on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Sh aftesburyCofE All are welcome at any of our services, please visit www.shaftesburycofe.or g.uk for up to date news or get in touch with the Team Office on 01747 853060.

Sunday Services St Mary the Virgin Gillingham 8am Holy Communion 10am Holy Communion (On the third Sunday of the month this service includes the “Your Choice” option) St Simon and St Jude Milton on Stour First Sunday of the month – 4pm. All age worship Second Sunday – 10.30am Holy Communion Third Sunday – 6.30pm Evensong, Book of Common Prayer Fourth Sunday – 10.30am Holy Communion Fifth Sunday – 10.30am–12 midday Free Exchange Cafe

St Mary the Virgin Primary School, Pheasant Way, SP8 4LP First Sunday of the month – 11am. Informal interactive worship Weekday services At St Mary’s on Wednesdays in the Good Shepherd Chapel 10.30am Holy Communion 51

Funeral services Phyllis May James of Wincanton The Family would like to thank all friends and neighbours for their support, the many kind messages and the cards of sympathy that we received.

Our grateful thanks to the Reverend Rosy Ashley and to Andrew and Jane at Harold F Miles Funeral Directors for all of their help and guidance at this difficult time.

Our further thanks also to all who kindly made donations to The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance in memory of Mum – many thanks to you all.

Maurice Wesley Buckland Of East Coker (formerly of Bruton) passed away at home on Tuesday 15th September 2020 aged 90 years.

Much loved husband of the late Margaret, father, brother, grandad, great grandad and friend. The funeral service will take place at Vicarage Street Methodist Church on Monday 12th October.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 guidelines this will be restricted to close family only. Family flowers only, Donations may be sent in memory of Maurice, made payable by cheque, to either Bruton Methodist Church or Vicarage Street Methodist Church, and sent to Harold F Miles Funerial Directors, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES, Telephone (01963) 440367

52

Funeral services PETER DOREY MBE

SUSAN JEAN LUFFMAN (née INGS) died on 1st October 2020 after a short illness. She will be dearly missed but lovingly remembered by all of her family, friends and the Girlguiding community. A private funeral will be held at St Michael's Church, Mere (invitation only). Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, can be made to Mere and Nadder District Guide Association, C/O LC Hills and Son Funeral Directors, Mere, Wiltshire.

JACK YEATMAN Passed away peacefully at home on the 3rd October 2020.

Jack, aged 94 years, of West Stafford, formerly of Belchalwell and Turnworth.

A dearly loved Husband of Helen and the late Pam. Much loved Dad, Grandad and Great Grandad.

Private funeral service. Donations if desired for Belchalwell PCC, C/O Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Mons, High St, Henstridge, BA8 0RB.

With great sadness we announce the passing of Pete of Gillingham, on the 1st September at Salisbury Hospital with his family by his side.

Funeral has taken place, donations to Salisbury Stars Appeal. Jean, Rob, Colin, Nick and Tony wish to thank all relatives and friends for their kind messages and flowers.

Take care.

Peter Jackson Funeral Services Independent Family Owned and Run Funeral Directors

Private Chapels of Rest • 24 Hour Service Golden Charter Pre Paid Funeral Plans

Henstridge (01963) 362570 Mons, High Street, Henstridge, Somerset BA8 0RB

Gilligham (01747) 833757

Sidney George Herbert Aged 89 years of Wincanton. On 28th September 2020, peacefully at Yeovil District Hospital. A much loved farther, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and friend. Private Cremation. Donations in memory of Sidney are being invited for Yeovil Hospital Charity. C/O Harold F. Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Telephone (01963) 440367

Harwood House, Newbury, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4QJ

pjfs@btinternet.com. www.peterjacksonfuneralservices.co.uk

Fully guaranteed, inflation-proof, pre-paid funeral plans Free bereavement care Available 24 hours a day/ 7 days week

GILLINGHAM 2 High Street, SP8 4QT 01747 824738

SHAFTESBURY For all your births, marriages and death notices, please call 01963 400186 or email classified@blackmorevale.net.

For obituaries, email newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

Greenacre House, Salisbury Road, SP7 8BS 01747 824738

STURMINSTER NEWTON 4 Market House, Station Road, DT10 1FG 01258 472073

funeralcare.co.uk

53

Sport

North Dorset Turbos are back in the swim SWIMMING North Dorset Turbos Swimming Club has reverted to a near-normal training schedule at the RiversMeet Leisure Centre in Gillingham while under Swim England covid-19 guidelines.

The club’s youngest swimmers, the Pre-Turbos, swim for an hour on Tuesdays. The Performance (Elite) and Development Squads have for now merged for twice-weekly, two-hour sessions on Tuesdays (7.15pm) and Fridays (7pm).

Turbos was one of the first clubs in the county to resume competitive training, a day after Riversmeet Leisure Centre itself reopened.

Training sessions are presided over by new Gillinghambased Head Coach, Rich Brocklehurst, and his team of assistant coaches: his predecessor, Chris Gassmann, 79, stays on as club president.

“We were extremely grateful to RiversMeet for being so decisive in opening up

training slots for us as soon as they could,” said club chair, Alex Wynter.

“It is no exaggeration to say they’re helping to save the sport of competitive swimming in this part of Dorset. In all likelihood we will not see a resumption in licensed competition before spring, so the challenge is to keep our young athletes motivated to at least maintain, if not improve, their personal bests in the water.

“We’re also entirely selffinancing through membership fees, so to help us get fully back to our prepandemic level of training I’d urge any and all local youngsters with an interest in swimming to get in touch with our secretary, Nikki Hopkins (secretaryndt@gmail.com).

Elite Turbos are also again training one Saturday a month at Millfield School’s Olympic-size 50-metre pool.

The Turbos’ other venue at Port Regis School has not yet re-opened to outside clubs.

The Turbos train at RiversMeet, Gillingham

Take plunge with Terrapins Terrapins Swimming School is starting up again next Tuesday, October 13 at Leweston School in Sherborne.

The school is for children from the age of 4 upwards. It

is a fun, friendly swim school with small groups to help your child learn to swim.

The session runs from 4.30pm to 6.30pm and for more details contact 07763463968.

The Claret Jug returns to Horsington GOLF

The 2020 Horsington Open, now in its ninth year, attracted a record entry at Henstridge Golf Club. There were 70 players and the winner was Scott Houghton from Templecombe, a member of the Horsington Hackers team, who carried off the coveted Claret Jug, which will again go on display at The Half Moon at Horsington.

Scott scored a lucky 26 points and has only been playing golf for a year. Runner-up was Andrew Gordon from Sherborne (25 points). The result was unbelievably close, with only seven points 54

Bright shirts the order of the day at Henstridge separating the first 20 players.

Horsington Hackers took the team prize by three points from The Shankers, a Sherborne Golf Club team.

Peter Gripper and George Wagland (The Half Mooners) won two of the nearest the pin competitons, while Chris Bailwards’s Home Farm

Harriers battled it out with Andre Blond and the Foxcombe Flyers.

In the race to the bottom, Anthony Yateman fought off Richard Gaunt to secure last place with just four points.

The Open is now well established as a fun charity tournament – next year’s event will be held on Saturday September 4.The event raised over £1.2k for St Margaret’s Hospice and the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance.

Thanks to Jerry’s Electrical, Vale Motors and Totally Floored of Wincanton for the prizes.

Sport

Bowmen hit 50th anniversary target ARCHERY A group of archery enthusiasts who formed a club in Penselwood are celebrating their 50th anniversary.

The Ballands Bowmen Archery Club took its name from Ballands House in the village and was formed as an activity for local people, particularly youngsters. The owner of Ballands, Major Archer, had archery experience and also land that could be used for a range. Ballands Bowmen has become an extremely successful club: several members have represented

Great Britain in European and world field tournaments. Members specialise in field archery, with targets set out on differing terrain: woodland, open ground, upland and down slopes or across water. Shooting each target often takes a full day.

The club has access to outdoor practice facilities, including Henstridge airfield, and members have been able to pick up our bows once again, whilst adhering to guidelines.

But the club is missing competitions and a proper celebration - the 50th party

The Ballands Bowmen practise at Henstridge will follow and it will be some party! Find out more

about the club at: ballandsbowmen.co.uk.

Mixed fortunes for ladies as season gets under way HOCKEY The new season started for Blandford & Sturminster hockey club’s ladies first team with a home match against newly promoted Portsmouth.

The match started with both teams testing each other out but with neither making real inroads.

Then Susan Bovinizer picked the ball up on the halfway line and as she went forward Portsmouth failed to close her down and with the Portsmouth goalkeeper out of position, she calmly placed the ball into the open goal.

Both teams then picked up the pace but even with Portsmouth dominating play for long periods Blandford

hung on for a well deserved win.

Alice Brown was man of the match, even playing on having been hit over her eye.

Last Saturday saw Blandford traveling up to Aldershot through torrential rain.

Once there the skies cleared and a frantic end-to-end game started. Blandford scored first with a goal for

Menna Hughes before Aldershot hit a purple patch and at half time led 3-1.

Blandford dominated the second half and soon pulled one back from Linda Smith after a goal mouth scramble.

However continuing to pepper the Aldershot goal they failed to score again and the match finished 3-2 to Aldershot.

Step out with the sports at Motcombe Runners We welcome new adult runners of all ages and abilities, from 2k fun runs to ultra-marathons.

We run to keep fit and for pleasure not to beat world records: come and see for yourself. We meet on Mondays at the Village Hall at 7pm for Club Runs; Tuesdays, 6.30pm for Couch to 5K and Improver Groups: motcomberunners.com 55

Sport

Shaftesbury suffer at hands of Horndean Wessex League Premier Division Horndean 3 Shaftesbury 1 Shaftesbury folded easily against high-flying Horndean, with Charlie Kendall scoring a late consolation goal for the visitors. Horndean were two up within 13 minutes. Connor Duffin got his second and

Two red cards as Gills slip up at Holt Dorset Premier Football League Holt United 3 Gillingham Town 0 The Gills started the stronger of the two sides with a couple of half chances from a corner and free kick.

And on 10 minutes, they went close with a well-worked move which ended with a dragged shot pulled just wide

by Jarvis.

The temperature rose with some feisty challenges, which resulted in three bookings and a sending off for Holt.

It was goalless at half-time but Holt came out with intent and scored twice within minutes.

A second sending-off on 55 minutes didn’t help Gillingham, who conceded a third with 12 minutes to go. A late appeal for a penalty failed. nThe Gillingham Reserves game against Shaftesbury Colts was postponed on Saturday due to the weather.

56

Horndean’s third just before half-time, after turning his man in the box and firing home. Shaftesbury started the second half brighter and eventually pulled one back in the 73rd minute.

But the result was not in doubt, and Horndean were able to fledge two of their under-18 team for valuable

minutes on the pitch.

Horndean boss Michael Birmingham didn’t mince his words. “We never looked in any danger of losing the game. We were 3-0 up at half-time and it should have been four because we missed the easiest of our chances.

“Our football wasn't as fluent as it can be. It was important

that we got the three points and we did that playing at about 50 per cent of our potential.”

The result leaves Horndean second in the table, with Shaftesbury notching up just one win in five. n Shaftesbury Reserves game against Bournemouth Sports was a victim of heavy rain.

Ladies romp to victory with goals feast in rain HOCKEY Gillingham Ladies’ 1sts and 2nds played corresponding teams from West Wiltshire in friendlies on a wet and windy day last Saturday but this didn’t stop the Gillingham Hockey Club (GHC) teams recording 7-0 and a 10-0 wins, looking good for the up and coming league games.

The men’s 1st XI played Bournemouth 2nd XI in Hampshire League 1, always a tough game. GHC went 2-0 up against the young side, looked easy but they soon got back to 2-2 and then scored two more to lead 4-2.

GHC dug deep, got another back but time ran out, an unfortunate loss but still gelling as a team.

The men’s 2nd XI travelled to Lymington to play New Forest, again a tough game considering the GHC side had just won promotion into Hampshire League 4 and the New Forest side were old campaigners.

A 5-2 loss resulted but chances were made and if taken could have been different.

The men’s 3rds went down to

LET’S STICK TOGETHER: The ladies 1st XI are supporting the Stars Appeal this season play newly formed Havant 7th in the Hampshire Div 9 South and came away with well earned 3-0 win, promising for the future with lots of news players this year.

On Sunday the club had U10, U12 and Ladies’ development teams out, all performed well in horrible conditions. The Ladies’ 1st XI are supporting the Stars Appeal this year,.

Farming Farmers diversify into pumpkins for the Halloween season A farming family from Milton Abbas are opening their pumpkin fields from next Friday, October 16 right up to Halloween.

The Millers have farmed at Longclose for almost 80 years, growing wheat, barley, oats, vetches, maize, beans and fodder crops such as kale, rape and turnips, as well as grass for the cattle and sheep.

Following the very wet autumn of 2019, part of the wheat crop failed to germinate and they found themselves with a one and a half acre bare patch in the corner of one of the fields.

Always keen to diversify, the opportunity presented itself to grow pumpkins and so Dorset Country Pumpkins became a reality.

Michael and Vicki Miller run the farm business alongside their sons Quenton and Justin and their daughter Georgina.

The family have all worked together, ably supported by Alice and Kelly, Quenton and Justin’s wives.

The pumpkins have all been individually grown from seed in their greenhouse and handplanted in the pumpkin patch, without the use of herbicides or pesticides.

There’s a mix of varieties which have produced a lovely range of different sized orange and white pumpkins.

Go to dorsetcountrypumpkins .co.uk or visit Longclose Farm, Milton Abbas, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 0BU.

Tractor fires soar due to electricals THERE has been a considerable increase in tractor fires on farms in recent years, according to recent research by NFU Mutual, which examined the causes of almost 1,000 tractor fires after paying out nearly £19m in claims last year.

A common factor in a number of these fires in modern tractors was electrical accessories wired directly to the tractor battery cables.

When combined with the heavy current drawn from modern tractor electrical systems, these extra loads can lead to overheating and, sometimes, fires.

NFU Mutual is now working with manufacturers and dealers to identify potential problems. It is also advising farmers to get the wiring of tractor accessories checked and to ensure any new electrical equipment is wired through an ISOBUS

By Anne Perks connector.

Bob Henderson, technical engineering manager for NFU Mutual, said that over the last few years, the number of tractor fires had shot up.

He said: “This is putting lives of people and livestock at risk as well as leading to expensive damage and disruption of farming activities.”

“It’s often very tricky to find the exact cause of tractor fires because the intense heat makes forensic examination difficult.

“Traditionally accidental tractor fires have been attributed to overheating bearings and other moving parts starting fires – or chafed wiring causing a short circuit.”

NFU Mutual found a number of fires had been caused by the battery terminal being

altered or an additional power feed.

Here’s a safety checklist: n Regularly check battery terminals are tightened to the correct torque settings. n Check the routing of wiring harness, connections, ensuring clips, fixings and grommets are secure and free from damage. n If an electrical system is not working correctly find

out why, don’t ignore it. n Maintain a strict cleaning regime, by removing the build-up of any material from the engine bay, exhaust systems, axles and under cab. n If a top up of fluids is required question why. Is there a leak?

POL HIGH BRED PULLETS FOR SALE 07545 468700 57

Farming

Tackling the tupping with ginger nuts THE FIELD with Tria Stebbing As the summer comes to an end and the wind and rain set in, it is time for us to think about next year’s lambs.

It is “Tupping Season” – time for the ram to meet his chosen ewes.

Next year’s lambs will be special for us as they will be the first of our own pedigree stock to breed, previously having used ewes that we bought from Shaftesbury a few years back. Whilst we continue to “flush” the girls our thoughts now turn to the logistical side. We try to keep our own field clear of sheep for as long as possible, this ensures good grazing through the winter months when the grass can easily not sustain the pregnant ewes. Luckily for us our sheep are

fantastic field mowers and they have secured grazing in a couple of the local villages.

Now the fun begins – we need to move the ewes to the next village, which means rounding them up, checking their feet and giving them an MoT. There is always one, the one that does not want to be caught, and in our case, it is the one that does not even meet the breed standard.

I should add that our sheep are a Dutch Zwartbles and to meet the required standard they must have, amongst other things, a white blaze of a certain length, as well as a limited amount of white on their bodies. My rogue ewe meets none of the criteria, a

strange genetic throwback, but she has a character worthy of a Disney film, therefore she has stayed in the flock, if only as a reminder of what NOT to breed. Getting a flock of fussy ewes into the trailer is not for the faint hearted and requires a degree of patience as well as a packet of ginger nut biscuits. A packet of said biscuits will literally have them eating out of your hand.

Having moved the ewes, we need to fetch the ram, a new boy on the block from Manston, luckily halter trained but as stubborn as a

mule... more ginger nuts.

Fingers crossed he does the deed. We will scan this year so that we can prepare in advance for lambing on a larger scale, knowing how many to expect helps with feeding the ewes properly, lambing, it seems so far away, it will be a long 150 days!

We will of course keep you posted; the association have let us know that next year all names are to begin with “J”.

It was “H” this year and the most popular name was Hope, a reflection of the year that is 2020, there were however plenty of Hagrids, Hermiones, and Hogwarts, our own ram we named Hero.

In April we welcomed Hullabaloo, a beautiful ewe, she was born to the sound of the clapping and saucepan banging in Sturminster Newton for the NHS which we could hear as she arrived in this crazy world. What an entrance and what a story.

So, why DO we stick our hands up cows’ bottoms? Read on Not one day at work is the same, and this means, as farm vets we are lucky to enjoy a diverse range of interesting work. I think one of the best parts of being a vet is the fact you get to not only be the GP, but you also get to be the surgeon, the midwife, the paramedic, the lab technician, the ultra-sonographer, the phlebotomist and the nurse.

When we graduate from vet school having learnt about all species, we are then able to choose which area of veterinary practice we would like to concentrate on, and practices tend to be either focused on pets, farm animals or equine. Friars Moor have both pet and farm animal businesses and all the vets work for one or the other.

This is reflective of the wider 58

By Alice Miller Vet at Friars Moore

industry, with a move away from the traditionally “mixed” practices with most having specialist teams.

Being a farm vet means you still get to work with several different species of animals.

We see cows, sheep, goats, pigs, alpacas and even reindeer! We are lucky to have vets who have experience and specific interests with all these animals, which ensures they all receive the top-quality care they need. There are 15 vets in the clinical farm and TB testing vet team at Friars Moor, and with so many of us we can cover most of these eventualities.

Our daily visits include

emergency call outs, but there is also a lot of work that can be routinely booked in, in advance. One of the most common includes pregnancy scanning and fertility checks on our dairy and beef cattle farms. Now when writing about being a farm vet, I cannot ignore the fact that one of the first questions I always get asked is, “Do you put your arm up cows’ bottoms?!”,… and the answer would have to be, “Yes!”. But I tend to follow this with, “Do you know why?”. A lot of people do not actually know why this is done. It is certainly not without good reason, and it is because it is the best way to internally examine a female cow’s reproductive tract which sits directly below the rectal wall,

resting on the floor of the pelvis.

We insert an ultrasound scanner probe which helps visualise the reproductive organs. You can tell a lot from what we see and feel, and can diagnose uterine infections, cystic ovaries, and pregnancies. We can diagnose pregnancies from 30 days onwards (the fetus is too small at less than 30 days) and we age the pregnancies by measuring the length of the fetus. You can even see the fetal heart beating with the four chambers inside. As you can imagine it is not a glamourous and clean job, however, it certainly is a satisfying and fascinating one, especially when you get to diagnose new life.

Farming MARKET REPORTS Salisbury Livestock Market Monday, October 5

All calves over 41 days of age must be TB tested. Trade flying.

Continental x few and far between, topping at £322 for a Simmental from Manor Farm Partnership. Several Limousin bulls sold from £220-£250.

ForFarmers asks to demolish its landmark tower and buildings FOLLOWING the closure of the ForFarmers premises of Blandford Mill (formerly Blandford & Webb) at Blandford Heights Industrial Estate, the company has applied to demolish the main production tower and associated structures in preparation for sale.

The application states there are no plans to redevelop or rebuild, but shows the main building, one of the largest in Blandford, which dominated the skyline from some viewpoints, will not at this stage be demolished and the demolition relates only to the silos and structures to the south east of the site.

ForFarmers announced last year it would be closing the long established animal feed mill, one of the older of its UK sites, which would need significant modifications to modernise and improve its efficiency. The mill ceased production on May 9 last year and was decommissioned at the end of that month following a visit by an environmental officer and confirmation that the site closure plan addressed environmental pollution risks. Its environmental permit was terminated in March this year following an undertaking given to return the site to a satisfactory state.

Heifers a terrific trade for the quality here to £185 from PT Rawlings. Smaller sorts around £110-£140 by far the dearest.

Native X: mostly good sorts, fierce trade top at £220 for an Aberdeen Angus bull from Paul Gould, better bulls £185-£215, medium £150-£170, smaller £110-£140. Heifers topping at £140 for Aberdeen Angus from Messrs Sainsbury. Others £95-£130. Dairy X topping £105 from Brian Ogborne, rearing types £70 plus. Many more needed!

Bull calves: Friesians (6) £105 to £25 av. £70 B Ogborne, Twyford. Simmental (1) £322 Manor Farm Partnership. Brit Blue (1) £146 J T Gould & Son, West Stour. Fleck (2) £95 to £85 av. £90 R Pike & Son, Madjeston.

Devon (1) £145 JD & MJ Parsons, Compton Abbas. Hereford x (9) £190 to £140 av. £172.44, RK & CL Sainsbury, Pitton.

Aberdeen Angus (9), £220 to £24, av. £166.67 RK & CL Sainsbury, Pitton.

Limousin (3) £250 to £225 av. £241.67 D E Ford, Stour Provost. Heifer calves British blue (5), £185 to £95, av. £149.80 P T Rawlings Farmings, Stoke Trister. Devon (1) £120 JD & MJ Parsons, Compton Abbas. Hereford X (5) £130 to £80 av. £105 A G Lambert & Partners, Stockbridge. Aberdeen Angus (5) £140 to £95 av. £114 RK & CL Sainsbury. n Special sales of weaned calves third Monday of month. Enter by Friday before.

Frome Market W/E October 2 – 1,788 head sold Prime cattle to 208.50p/kg cull cows to 138.50p/kg. Prime lambs to 214p/kg calves to £415. Dairy to £1,610 store lambs to £79.50. Stirks to £510 cull ewes to £86.

Store steers to £1,270 store heifers to £1,068.

Please note change to sale start times as from this week. Calves 9.30am, dairy 11am.

Sedgemoor Market

Our new buyer is committed to returning next week so more best Total stock: 1,023 HEAD. Probably the best prime and fleshed cattle urgently wanted. cattle trade seen at Sedgemoor to 238.5ppk & £1,476.41. Heavyweight (740kg) Blue steer at CLASSIFIEDS 199.5ppk from R & G Speed, Axminster. Native steers Herefords from EV Tranmer & Sons at 198.5, 194.5 and 193.5ppk. South Devon at Pet Ram 190.5ppk from DB Hawkins & Son. Cattle sold to Dorset Cross, ready to work £1,476.41 for 903kg Simmental steer from DJ & 01258 451035 AM Morris, Northleigh. At 11p less, £1,476.30 was a 740kg blue steer from R & G Speed.

Flail Hedging £1,459.15 achieved by Vigar & Son. High Ham’s Hedge Laying blue Limousin steer (636kg) at £1,427.82 and blue Haulage steer (638kg) at £1,311.09 from SER Hunt. Non Please phone Andrew assured steers at £1,425.38 and £1,380.23 01747 855198 (Simmentals) and £1,363.43 and £1,323.54 Stock Rams (Limousins) from RW Brunt. Charolais steer at £1,360.98 from G Vining. Heifers to an incredible 2 Oxford down, 2 tooth £125 £1,400 for 587kg Limousin from TR Michell, 4 Kerne hill, 4 tooth further at £1,293.11 (561kg) and £1,281.12 (only £100 544kg). Limousin heifers at £1,392.41 and 1 Ryeland, full mouth £1,280.05 from RJ & LA Mitchell & Voke, who £100 also sold a Simmental at £1,290.52. Charolais 01258 817423 heifer at £1,306.83 from G Vining. Blue heifers to International Mc£1,293.75 from Vigar & Son. Hereford heifers to Cormick 634 trac£1,356.00 (800kg) from MR & KM Lee & Son, tor West Buckland. Others £1,337.89 (674kg) 1971 V5C. Runs Well, £1,324.47 (714kg) £1,290.58 (692kg) £1,277.98 hydulics need attention.

(628kg) and £1,251.25 (650kg) all from EV £2000 ono. 07851 Tranmer & Sons and £1,250.64 (643kg) and 952438 £1,240.23 (665kg) from AAB Rowe & Son, Chilton Mobile Service Trinity. Angus Agricultural Specialist heifer at Over 35 year’s Experience £1,274.04 from NIGEL MARTIN DB Hawkins & 07921 929891 Son. Monday, October 5

TYRES AROUND LTD

Cattle sale hotly anticipated Symonds & Sampson’s onsite sales team are looking forward to two sales of pedigree cattle.

Tomorrow (October 10th) at Wareham, a pedigree herd of beef shorthorn cattle comprising 18 cows with 17 calves at foot, and a shorthorn bull will be sold as part of a genuine dispersal sale on behalf of Longthorns Farm Ltd, as they change their farming policy. The herd includes cattle purchased from, and with bloodlines through the Sandley pedigree herd, previously sold by Symonds & Sampson. The sale will also include grassland machinery, livestock

and workshop equipment.

On Wednesday (October 14), Symonds and Sampson are proud to be asked to conduct the UK's first production sale of 60 homebred pedigree Fleckvieh heifers on behalf of Tom and Em Voizey. The heifers come from a superb herd of commercially farmed cows with exceptional Elite German Sire pedigree lines, including Magier, Viano & Vernando. The sale is to be held at Frome Market, and will also be live online with potential buyers able to bid through MartEye. Away from livestock, the team have held farm dispersal sales during the last month, most

recently a dispersal sale at Bridge Farm, Middle Chinnock on behalf of Raymond Bailey, Symonds & Sampson having sold the farm.

On October 17, they head to Woolston, North Cadbury, BA22 7BL to hold a dispersal sale of farm machinery, workshop equipment & miscellaneous on behalf of Lee Curtis. A further sale is booked in December.

Catalogues for all sales can be found at symondsandsampson .co.uk/auctions/on-site-salesdiary and for further information please contact Charlie Coleman on 07494 588013 or Greg Ridout 07817 517467.

59

Ask the vet with

What steps can I take to calm a nervous pet?

Having a pet that is scared of noises or new experiences can be distressing.

It can also be damaging in the case of dogs with separation anxiety. And it can be dangerous if a panicking pet runs away across a road.

Just like people, some pets are more anxious than others but there are things we can do to try to prevent problems if we start at an early age, or to reduce the problem if it is already established.

Puppies are very open to positive new experiences so early socialisation makes for a happier older dog. Positive reinforcement, often involving rewards such as food or toys, can make a puppy feel more comfortable in a potentially stressful situation and they will then

Vet Lynn Broom

feel less anxious the next time they meet something similar.

Getting your puppy used to being left alone for short periods will reduce the likelihood of separation anxiety later in life.

Adult dogs that have not been well socialised are often quite nervous in new situations because they do not know how to cope.

Positive reinforcement at this age will still help but it will be less effective than it would be with a puppy.

Nervousness can present in various ways and, unfortunately, there are no quick fixes.

Noise phobias, for instance, can be improved with desensitisation but this is a

gradual process. Using recorded sounds of fireworks and gun shots at a low volume repeatedly and gradually increasing the volume over days/weeks can help desensitise dogs to these sounds.

In addition to retraining and positive reinforcement some products ‘off the shelf’ can be helpful.

A product which comes as a plug in, spray or collar contains a scent which makes dogs feel more relaxed.

Herbal calming sprays and even some foods may also be beneficial. In certain circumstances your vet may prescribe

Wordsquare

Puzzle solutions Crossword

Sudoku

7 5 3 9 6 2 4 8 1

1 4 2 8 5 3 7 6 9

43

60

6 9 8 1 7 4 2 5 3

5 3 7 4 1 8 9 2 6

25

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4 8 6 2 9 5 3 1 7

5

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55

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20

medications which can help but these should only be used alongside behaviour training.

Cats are less easy to socialise because they don’t (generally!) go out for walks so can’t be introduced to new situations.

If they are outgoing they will approach new people readily and, if they are nervous, they will avoid contact if they can.

A product which can be plugged in or sprayed can help cats feel less anxious in new situations.

Prevention is better than cure when it comes to nervous pets – good socialisation as a puppy will pay dividends later.

Consistency and patience are essential in adult pets with established problems to help reduce the effects on their quality of life.

I N C R E D I B L E 30

F P U P M A G E N O R M I A C E Y N I C A L S N T E E E P E E M A N I S S M A R T N T A K E T C I U S O Y A L P A T I A F S E I M P U R E A M S L T L

N A L N D A F U P M A L A I R O C K A E N T T E E N D D

con, connect, connection, connections, eon, icon, inter, interconnect, interconnection, interconnections, ion, ions, nor, ore, sin, snore, tern, tie Arrow words T E A D I O U R S L Y

P T A E A D S V A N C E S A N O P U N U S E A T N G C B D E O C A L M O L K T E L I E U N W I S P A T T

L S T O W E O N

Farming Listen out for hooting owls as autumn splendour rolls in Brown October brings the pheasant, then to gather nuts is pleasant...

It’s wonderful to see the Blackmore Vale magazine back in print and I am delighted to continue writing Country Dairy for the new publication.

October is undoubtedly the month with the most variation from start to finish. As I write this in early October the late September sunshine seems a distant memory as we are pummelled by gales and torrential rain.

By the end of the month the clocks will have changed, it will be dark by 6pm and we may have had a touch of frost or more autumn gales.

Over the course of this month we will see the last of the summer migrants – the chiffchaff was belting out his ditty on my favourite walk this morning – but soon he will join the swallows, martins and other less seen migrants

Country Diary

with AJ Selby on their long journey south to the sun.

We will also see the converse of the explosion of life and colour that is spring, in the slow death that is autumn as the leaves turn into amazing shades of yellow, bronze,

russet and gold.

The hedgerows and meadows will also be looking sorry for themselves as stalks of thistle and teasel are stripped of their leaves and stand sentinel amongst dormant grasses.

October also sees peak hooting season of the tawny owls as they stake their territory.

You can hear them across a still night several hundred yards apart replying to a call

here and there. As a boy I had a recording of tawny owls and I used to play it out of my bedroom window, pointing towards a large area of woodland; it wouldn’t be many minutes before I would hear a reply or two (no pun intended). The other noise less often heard is the shrill, drawn-out kew-wick of the female. Many a countryman on a late night walk home has been startled by this highpitched screech; I know it has made me jump on more than one occasion. This is where the term ‘screech owl’ comes from, and its Latin name Strix Uluco means owl that screeches.

It’s getting darker as every evening passes, and by the end of the month we will lose another hour as the clocks go back. Don’t stay inside though, there is plenty going on out there so wrap up, get some fresh air and enjoy the changing season.

Top tips to guard against ATV thefts DURING October, November and December 2019, there was an increase of ATV and UTV vehicle thefts across Dorset and Wiltshire.

Thirty-eight were stolen across Dorset alone.

Dorset Police have issued a list of security issues to consider. nKeep your vehicle in a lockable garage or building and make sure keys are kept in a secure location and out of view, NOT hidden on the vehicle and out of view of any windows. nUse a grip lock that locks the brakes on the machine. nPhysically secure the machine using suitable locking devices and fixed ground anchors secured to the ground using heavy duty security chains and padlocks.

By Anne Perks farming@blackmorevale.net

nConsider fitting isolating systems to machines that will prevent theft such as fuel and battery isolators. nCover any windows to the building where your vehicle is kept. nConsider installing security lighting and CCTV with sensors and PIR Alarms on the perimeter of the building or premises. nGet machines marked with a security marking scheme such as Datatag or CESAR. Most dealers will offer this when new quads are purchased as an extra if it’s not already fitted at the factory as standard, nConsider fitting

immobilisers. nSome insurance companies offer a discount to premiums with these types of measures.

Machines fitted and registered with CESAR security marking system are four times less likely to be stolen and are six times more likely to be recovered if they are stolen.

Since CESAR was brought in in 2007 it has contributed to a 60% decline in thefts. nRecord machinery serial numbers and take photographs for reference. If the machine is stolen, a photograph will increase the chances of recovery. nReport suspicious vehicles or callers to police by calling 999 if the vehicle or

occupants are seen committing crime or phone 101 if the vehicle or people are seen acting suspiciously.

To find more information on what’s available or to arrange a visit to your farm or rural premises by an member of the Rural Crime Team, or to arrange farm or horse watch signs, call 101 (or 999 if you are witnessing an attempted theft) and ask to speak to the rural team directly.

61

Farming

DORSET DEVON HAMPSHIRE SOMERSET WILTSHIRE LONDON

On Site Sales

Property Auc on 23 October 2020

Saturday 17th October NORTH CADBURY, SOMERSET

Marston Magna

Dispersal Sale of Hatz TL18 Tractor, Massey 130, Interna onal 885 XL, JCB Hydro Digger, Thwaites All­Dig Digger, Thwa es Dumper, Matbro Y80 Fork Li , Pel­Job EB12 Mini Digger, 3 x Golf Carts, Barford Perkins Roller, Sta onary Engines, 2 x Ifor Willams Flat Bed Trailers, Compressors, MOT Scissor Ramps, Lyton Exhibi on Unit, Flat 8 Bale Sledge, Garage & Workshop Equipment, Building Equipment, Collectables & Bygones, etc

Yeovil 01258 472244 Cheselbourne

Guide £15,000

0.58 acres of gently sloping pasture land with road access and a stream.

Sherborne 01935 814488 Near Trowbridge

Guide £60,000

6.22 acres of level pasture land with good road frontage.

Sturminster 01258 472244

Tuesday 3rd November

Castle Cary

1st ON­FARM FODDER SALE Entries invited

An a rac ve parcel of land with small mber building and country views.

Yeovil Office: 01935 382909

Sturminster 01258 472244

Commercial Property

Sturminster Newton

£750 pcm Winterborne Kingston

Sha esbury

LETTINGS

AUCTIONS

Guide £182,150

Brand new 1,074 sq office/commercial premises with parking, finished to a high specifica on.

£1,000 pcm Hazelbury Bryan

Warehouse unit of 2,030 sq with op on to rent addi onal covered storage

SALES

Guide £20,000

Dorchester 01305 261008

413 sq Shop/office in a central loca on with storage and rear yard.

62

Guide £225,000

27.92 acres of produc ve arable land with road access.

£800 pcm

A new office unit with workshop/storage. 637 sq ­ 1274 sq .

Available on flexible terms.

VALUATIONS

Farming

23 AU OC CT TO ION BE R

QUALIFIED EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL

Marston Magna

54.57acres

Alderholt, Fordingbridge

84 acres

A former dairy farm with a 5 bedroom bungalow (AOC, EPC=F), range of farm buildings and 54.57 acres of pasture land. For Sale in 2 Lots.

A produc ve ring fenced arable and grassland farm extending to just over 84 acres with a versa le range of farm buildings, farmhouse and annexe.

Guide £700,000 (whole)

Guide £1,950,000

Salisbury 01722 334323

23 AU OC C T TO ION BE R

23 AU OC C T TO ION BE R

Yeovil 01935 423526

Gillingham

75.42 acres

Child Okeford

10.60 acres

A ring fenced block of arable and pasture land in good heart with stream frontage and a small dilapidated shed. Approx.

7 acres is the historical site of Kings Court Palace, a medieval royal hun ng lodge.

Two fields of level pasture land in a quiet spot on the edge of this popular village. Fer le Grade 2 valley gravel soil with mature hedgerows and a small sec on of a brook. Mains water and pleasant views.

Guide £495,000

Guide £100,000

AMC AGENTS

Sturminster 01258 472244

PLANNING

GRANTS

WAYLEAVES

Sturminster 01258 472244

TENANCIES

63

Property

TO

LE

T

23 AU OC C T TO ION BE R

DORSET DEVON HAMPSHIRE SOMERSET WILTSHIRE LONDON

Milborne Port

Guide £330,000 A 3 bedroom detached townhouse with an integral tandem garage and enclosed garden. EPC=C.

Bere Regis

A charming 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom converted barn with enclosed courtyard.

EPC=D.

Dorchester 01305 571277

Sherborne 01935 814488

Wimborne 01202 843190

£950 pcm

Guide £180,000 A single development plot in an elevated posi on in the heart of the village with PP for a detached 4 bedroom house.

23 AU OC CT TO ION BE R

Buckland Newton

Guide £425,000 A 3 bedroom Grade II Listed co age with front and rear gardens, a garage and driveway parking. EPC=Exempt.

Pimperne A pair of co ages for renova on and a parcel of land of approx. 0.15 acres.

For sale as separate lots EPC’s=F.

Guide £399,950 A beau fully presented 3 bedroom house just a few minutes walk from Sherborne town centre. EPC=C.

Sherborne 01935 814488

Blandford 01258 452670

Sherborne 01935 814488

Sherborne

64

23 AU OC C T TO ION BE R

23 AU OC C T TO ION BE R

Sherborne

Cheselbourne

Guide £200,000 A Grade II Listed 3 bedroom village co age with tremendous poten al to extend and improve STPP. (EPC=Exempt).

Galhampton

Guide £525,000 A 3 bedroom ‘Chocolate Box’ detached co age with stunning gardens, in a picturesque village. EPC=TBC.

Henstridge Guide

Dorchester 01305 261008

Sherborne 01935 814488

Sturminster 01258 473766

PLANNING

Guide £220,000 A bright and spacious 3 storey, 3 bedroom house with courtyard in this popular village. EPC=F.

VALUATIONS

BUILDING SURVEY

Property

QUALIFIED EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL

East Chelborough

Guide £450,000

Marnhull

Guide £499,950

An imagina vely extended end of terrace 3 bedroom rural co age with studio, extensive gardens and stunning country views. EPC=C.

An extended detached 3 bedroom bungalow offering par cularly spacious accommoda on with south facing garden a short walk from the middle of the village. EPC=D.

Dorchester 01305 261008

Sturminster 01258 473766

Okeford Fitzpaine

Guide £475,000

Iwerne Minster

Guide £725,000

A significantly enhanced 4 bedroom house with flexible accommoda on in an excellent central village loca on with a good sized garden and substan al shed/workshop. EPC=D.

A spacious 4 double bedroom village house, well posi oned on the edge of the village, with two garages, workshop, large mature garden and countryside views. EPC=F.

Sturminster 01258 473766

Blandford 01258 452670

SALES

LETTINGS

AUCTIONS

65

Property

66

Property

67

Property Futuristic saleroom sees properties exceed guide prices Since lockdown began in March, Symonds & Sampson have successfully used an online platform to sell properties by auction.

Their sale on September 25 however, broke new ground – with live video bidding.

Auctioneer Mark Lewis said: “I must firstly thank my colleagues, Marlise Jolliffe and Meredith Holmes, who have been extremely nimble and quick-witted to ensure our auctions have continued to run smoothly.

“Since March we have auctioned 65 lots, initially via an ‘eBay’ type of online auction, which worked extremely well.

“Many people, however, were keen to bid by telephone, something that was impossible with a timed auction, so on September 25 we moved to a type of sale called Salesvision.

“We were able to be more flexible by filming the auction with bids arriving online, by telephone and also by proxy. It took an immense amount of work but the results were very strong and, until we can get back into the sales room, this will be the format for all future sales.”

Wanted, Rental Property in Shaftesbury area 1 bed property with garden, female professional, nonsmoker with well-behaved dog call 07770 879632

Twenty lots were offered throughout Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire and Wiltshire and the highlights were: n 24 acres of agricultural land at Sedgehill near Shaftesbury sold to average £15,000 acre. n 0.5 acres, without planning permission, at Ringwood Hampshire sold for £78,000.

n 8 acres at Bruton sold for £14,000 acre. n A leasehold flat in Weymouth sold for £92,000 – 41% above guide. n A bungalow at Woodlands Wimborne sold for £520,000 – 31% above guide. n A building plot near Sherborne sold for £314,000 – 12% above guide.

n A semi-detached house in Kings Stag sold for £280,000.

Two lots sold prior to auction and two lots sold post.

Symonds & Sampson’s next auctions are on October 8 and 23 and entries are welcomed for the November and December sales. Please contact Mark Lewis on 01258 474266.

Country Gentleman requires 1 – 2 Bedroom house to rent in rural location. Semiretired, parking and storage / outdoor space if possible.

ASAP in Blackmore Vale area. 07968 067586

Cottage in hamlet with links to smuggling 'Hug Ho Cottage’ is believed to take its name from Huggler’s Hole, near Semley, where it is situated.

The hamlet’s name is believed to have come from ‘Smugglers Hole’, and to be where smugglers stopped to 68

divvy up their loot enroute from landing on the coast to selling their haul in Bath or Warminster. It was a good place to stop before scaling the hill to Shaftesbury.

This charming cottage is on the market with Symonds & Sampson. It

dates from the early 1800s, and today, it is a wonderful family home.

Tastefully extended and improved with a pretty garden and countryside views. The Guide for this delightful rural cottage is £475,000. Contact Giles on 01258 473766.

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Dorchester (01305) 783795

Gillingham (01747) 828680

Shaftesbury (01747) 828680

Sherborne (01935) 433341

Warminster (01985) 215991

Wincanton (01963) 34065

Yeovil (01935) 433341

Head Office: 01963 34065 email: enquiries@armishaws.com www.armishaws.com 69

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