Items For Sale

40 Stobart Model Vehicles £300 01258 860270 Julie Anne Christmas Trees, non drop, freshly made holly wreaths made on site. Logs and kindling wood available, tall trees located on the Shaftesbury to Gillingham road, B3081, opposite the Port Regis Lodge, Opening times, 8am8pm. 07388 028418

Rascal Mobility scooter Perfect condition 44 miles on clock max weight 32 stone. Max speed 12mph. Silver. Lockable back box. £3,500 Ono. Contact 07971 716101

Tacklife Garden Shredder, almost new, £75, 01747 840433 Cat basket-£5, Ercol recliner-£40, Copper planter- £20, Weber BBQ with tools-£20, Tel: 01935 8730943 John Lewis Christmas Tree, stand lights & decs, £35 - 01935813582 Eastbrook Imperial Bath, 1600mm x 700mm with chrome grips and anti-slip in carronites, front panel and shower attachment, all as new, £180, 01935 475762 Roland FP10 digital piano, 8 1/4 octaves, 18 months old, £300, 01935 475762 Greenhouse complete with base, good condition, 6ft 4 x 6ft 4, £100. 01935 475762 Mobile Home, 35ft x 12ft, 2 bedrooms, excellent condition, buyer removes, Hazelbury Bryan, £3,000 - 07599 916950 Brand new garage heater, 01258 830474 Good quality/condition traditional 8ftX6ft pig ark. Galvanised metal roof, wooden floor, recycled polymer ends. Long skids, loading eyelets. £300 ono, must carry and

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Annual General Meeting of Citizens Advice Central Dorset will be held on Monday, 14 December 2020 at 6pm. The meeting will be held electronically via Zoom.

If you wish to join the meeting, please email by Monday 7 December 2020 using CACD AGM as the subject. collect! 01749 812304 Wonder Wood Logs, All Seasoned Hard Woods, Oak, Ash, Beech, £75 for 1 cubic sq metre or £140 for 2 cubic sq metres, 07990511340 or 07847659881

Wolsley Major Merrytiller Rotavator, VGC, Recent Service, £200ono. 01300 341183

Mira sport max air boost shower £50, Thule roof bars evo118 £50, Modern (light oak) tall slim chest of drawers £40, Also power tools for sale. 01258 471043. Globe, Illuminated 12 inch/20cm globe, wooden base, major mountain ranges in raise relief, up to date cartography £50, 01935 389348 White Hand Basin & Pedestal, 55cm, £30 Delonghi Oil Filled Free Standing Radiator, £30 Contact 07974907094 2 teak carvers, Dunvegan model, 1960s by Macintosh, good condition, £50 PAIR. 01258 861032 6x 500 Jigsaws as new, bought at Bargain House of Puzzles 07773657363 £15

3 Bedroom cottage to let on farm, Twyford/Shaftesbury, max 2 year let. Call 01747 811460

Rabbit hutch L210cm D40cm H50cm £12 - 01935 813967 Fishing seat box, Preston Innovations 'on box' Footplate and Wheels, Good condition, £50 –01749 813529 Electronic 37 keys keyboard, age 3+, brand new £10. Pink hooded padded jacket 3-4 years girls £4. Wheelchair quickie, 2 years old, £100 ono – 01747 853675 Ice Skates Size 33, £4, 2ft Panda Bear VGC, £3 - 01258 818078 Record player with built in speakers, twospeed, 33/45 RPM as new, £6 - 01258 818078 Child’s car seat £5 01258 818078 Lego city 3 in 1 bundle 66643 brand new & sealed box’s including 60207 60213& 60219 £25. Hauck travel cot 2 mattresses, Disney mobile & carry bag £20. Buffet 3 section electric food warmer £15 tel. Back to wall white toilet brand new in box £25 Ladies’ 1980 cameo bike recently serviced new tyres, brake pads & brake cable £99. Tel. 01935 812462. Genuine American Cowboy Boots, size 9, nearly new. £20. Finnish long snowboats, size 9, brand new. £25 Suede casual shoe, khaki & red piping, size 5.5, £25, 01300 341640. Vigo grape crusher/destemmer, excellent condition £150 Ono 01935 872803 21 Speed, timber line GT all terrain bike, good condition £85. 07866 441098.

WANTED

Good Condition Vinyl Records wanted Larger collections preferred No classical please, cash paid. 07831 266478

Car Trailers, Anything considered: Call 07736 871092

Dave buys all types of tools. Call 01935 428975

OLD BOOKS BOUGHT also autographs, diaries, photographs & postcards. £10 per volume paid for decorative leather bindings. We call by appointment entirely without obligation. We have been buying in Dorset for over 50 years. Bristow & Garland 01747 855666

Vintage Bicycles Pre 1980's Racing bicycles, Shoppers & Choppers & old parts any condition considered, Good Prices paid Tel 07739 808013

Old tools wanted for cash. Best price in UK. VIntage,collectable & good used tools boyshilltool sandtreen.co.uk Tel 07977298834 danletts51@gmail.com

By Steve Keenan newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

The 161-year history of the railway in Gillingham is planned to be told in a huge installation in or close to the station. The idea is for a 5m long interpretation board that will tell the story of the South Western Railway from 1859. If funding is successful, an artist will be appointed in January with a brief to create a design. And that will be the catalyst to apply for further funding to tell the history of Gillingham in a series of interpretation boards throughout the town. It’s the brainchild of town councillor Keith Wareham. “It’s very much in its infancy but we will know more by the end of December,” he said. The plan is largely conditional on a £13,000 funding request to South Western Railways to pay towards the cost of the installation, either in the station or on a red brick wall in Station Road. The town council is also with South West Hotel

ALL ABOARD: Railway staff at Gillingham station

chipping in £3,000. The artwork would be phase one of the much bigger project to reflect the town’s history through smaller interpretation boards placed strategically around town, said Cllr Wareham. The subjects may include the Gillingham’s glove-making history, for example, or its market. Photos from the Gillingham Local History Society would be studied, together with other resources, to establish accuracy then turn the resources over to the artist to create interpretation boards. The number of boards is dependent on planning but could feasibly be close to a dozen. It is hoped the railway project will be ready

BACK IN TIME: The Station Yard on market day in early 1900s by late spring.

Remembering Tree at church A village church is installing name of a loved one, perhaps a Remembering Tree for somebody you won’t be able people to pay tribute to loved to see this Christmas. There ones this Christmas. will be colouring pens in the St John’s in Enmore Green church or you can decorate will be putting up the tree the angels at home. Angels and from December 14 there will cost £1 and will be hung will be small wooden angels on the Remembering Tree on in the church with coloured Saturday, December 19. ribbons to hang on the tree. The church is open daily These angels can have the from 10am to 3pm. Attractive daily rates

Contact Laura to find out more on

Conservatories, Solid Roofs, Bi-Folds, Sealed Units, Windows, Doors, Fascia, Soffit & Guttering

Showroom in Orchard Park Garden Centre, Gillingham SP8 5JG (showroom by appointment only) Open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am -12pm Tel: 01747 826888 www.valecraft.co.uk

Go-ahead is given for cabins for Men’s Shed

Men in the Gillingham area will soon have somewhere to retreat and chat to others after permission was granted for a trio of sheds. The new Men’s Shed group has agreed a loan and planning which will see three log cabins installed at Orchard Park Garden Centre. Other Men’s Sheds around the country inspired the group. They provide community spaces for men to connect, converse and create. The activities are often similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups of men to enjoy together. Phil Wheatley, chairman of Gillshed Community Interest Company, said: “They help reduce loneliness and isolation, but most importantly, they’re fun.” He added: “In July 2019 we held a public meeting which established the need for a Men’s Shed in our town and our committee of eight have been negotiating for a suitable building/site ever since. “The intention is to have a machine shop, soft workshop and a reception room. Although the main emphasis of Men’s Shed is woodwork there will be sufficient working area for most types of hobbies together with a reception area for general socialising.” Email Phil at pajcw@btinternet.com or call 07784 777282. To donate go to justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/Gillshed

DESIGNER

Now booking appointments for 2021 weddings

By Miranda Robertson newsdesk@blackmorevale.net A Bruton man says the Environment Agency is worrying elderly residents unnecessarily after two false alarms. Dr Colin Clark says the agency issued two flood warnings recently, sparking panic among residents –including an automatic telephone message to an elderly lady in her nineties. The warnings for the river Brue at Bruton were issued on October 3 and November 14, he says, adding: “In view of the fact that I designed part of the flood warning system, which would give two hours’ warning before the flood detention dam would be overtopped using a non-linear flow model for the upper Brue in 2005, and which was then adopted by the EA, I am not only disappointed but concerned that unnecessary stress is put on people who can well do without it.” The New Blackmore Vale asked the Environment Agency for their response to Dr Clark’s accusations, but we did not receive a reply. Dr Clark added: “The EA say that the Bruton flood detention reservoir with an estimated storage volume of 700,000 cubic metres will fill up and overflow with a volume of rain of 270,000

The River Brue at Bruton. Pic: Martin Siouthwood

cubic metres. “Clearly, someone in the EA needs to have a lesson in basic arithmetic and more important, hydrometeorology and a responsible and caring attitude to the people they are supposed to look after. “Some 24 years ago I wrote a report on the dam being under-designed and unsafe and that the flood warning system at the time was inadequate, having led to false warnings. Although the dam was increased in height and given an erosion proof spillway it took me nine years to get them to accept the situation.” He added: “A considerable slice of taxpayer’s money is spent on the EA and it is about time they did their job with competence. “There is still a potential design fault with the dam which I have been monitoring for over three decades. “If anyone gets a flood warning in the future they are free to telephone me on 01749 813513 to ask if it is a valid one. We have a tipping bucket rain gauge and an emergency bucket gauge which has been calibrated and can be interrogated any time of the day or night. “It is more accurate than radar as explained to an audience at Oxford a few years ago and published as part of a scientific research paper.”

CRANBORNE DORSET BH21 5PP

INDEPENDENT GARDEN CENTRE Set in the walled, former kitchen Garden of Cranborne Manor CHRISTMAS EMPORIUM IN THE GIFT SHOP Beautiful decorations, unusual gifts and foodie treats. Locally grown Christmas trees on sale from 27th November CAFÉ Serves breakfast, lunch, homemade cakes and festive treats (booking recommended 01725 517248)

A Blandford firm has been busy packing gifts into shoeboxes to spread a little joy this Christmas. Total Energy Services staff have spent weeks planning and gathering items such as pens, note pads, toys and cuddly bunnies as well as sanitary items including flannels, toothbrushes and soap. The boxes were then packed and will be dropped off to the local church, where they will be checked by volunteers and prepared for their international voyage to a child in need. On arriving at their destination, the shoebox gifts will then be handed out to the local children. Managing director Robert Lamb said: “It brings us immense pleasure to be able to spread a little joy this Christmas, in a year that has been difficult for us all us – especially those in less fortunate circumstances than us in the world. Having recently become a father myself, I am so glad we can help those who need it the most.”

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If you would like to get involved or find out more information you can either contact Total Energy By Nicci Brown Retired local journalist Brian Moore, who gained national fame as the author of Mike Oliver, King of Steam, telling the life story of the founder of the Great Dorset Steam Fair, has spent the last nine months working on a new book, Three Old Men Go Fishing. The story of a four-day fishing trip undertaken by three 80-yearolds (and a dog!) is due to be published soon by Lydden Vale. He said: “Firstly, the idea of three 80-year-olds taking a trip of over 200 miles to the wilds of the Welsh outback did not particularly appeal to my sense of adventure. I was content to spend the whole of the week relaxing in the orchard with a good book. The second reason was, I am not a fisherman.” It’s a story of a last ‘adventure’ of three old school friends and delightful, sometimes hilarious, reminiscences of their lives. Services – it is not too late for a Christmas delivery! Call 01258 472132 or email

Journalist pens a fishy tale of three octogenarians

holly@totalenergy.co.uk. Brian, who lives in Hazelbury Bryan, also in 2011 published Ernie Amey, the Million Pound Man, the biography of a farm worker brought up in Farnham who became the champion of agricultural workers and towards the end of his life lived in Blandford, then finally at Castleman House, where he died in 2014. Brian said he was delighted to have recently been called out of retirement to write features for the re-launched Dorset Life magazine, which suspended publication earlier in the year due to the covid-19 pandemic. Brian said: “It was quite a surprise when John Newth, the proprietor and publisher who is acting as interim editor, telephoned, but I was absolutely delighted to contribute. “It just goes to prove that there is life after 80 and as long as you can hold a pen there are opportunities out there.”

By Miranda Robertson coordinating the placement newsdesk@blackmorevale.net of 250 trees of mixed A campaigner from Marnhull Rankin to offer to has saved 150 oak saplings landowners in the village from being mulched – and area. found them all homes around Anyone in the Bourton area her village. can apply to home some of Ros Eveleigh bought up the the trees by emailing saplings at a reduced rate bernardsullivan2001@ from BCP council after a gmail.com or michaelbrian project that was set to use chapman@gmail.com. them didn’t go ahead. Mike said: “We’re trying to The trees are now being do the same in Bourton now. planted all over the area, “These successful pilots with 60 being planted near demonstrate the ‘action on Duncliffe Woods, 20 near the ground’ approach being Thyme after Time and others fostered by the NDLD team. in people’s hedges. It is hoped this will now lead Dorset Dairy have also taken to further tree-planting some. initiatives, pump-primed by Ros said: “The trees were NDLD and using the from Wrexham and BCP extensive network of council acquired 5,200 of community-minded members them. and supporters across North “I just happened to see it on Dorset.” a Verwood Facebook page. The Lib Dem group are also “I put a post on Facebook looking forward to finally and had 65 people wanting opening their Community them, so I asked for extras Fridge project in The and people have been in and Emporium in Sturminster out of my garden picking Newton as soon as lockdown them up. conditions allow. “I bought the first 100 for The initiative aims to tackle £25, got another 50 when food waste and there will be someone pulled out and we no charge for any of the sold them for a pound each, food. raising money for Marnhull Lib Dems across the Green Teams, a community Blackmore Vale raised the group looking at necessary funds and backing environmental issues.” for this in just a few weeks. She added: “If we get BRANCHING OUT: Ros Eveleigh with her trees enough support I’m happy to put in another order. Ros is a member of the chairman of North Dorset n For more information visit “They won’t be as cheap, but North Dorset Lib Dems, and Lib Dems, and campaigner the NDLD website and we could consider another other members are Bernie Sullivan are also Facebook page where you bulk buy of trees if enough expanding on her initiative. members of Bourton Wildlife can also find how you can people want them.” Mike Chapman, deputy and Habitat and they are join in projects like these. Festive donations wanted for senior folk

Age UK North, South & West Dorset is calling for donations so it can support older people who are anxious about not seeing family this Christmas. The charity says more than half of older people – more than 200,000 older people in the southwest –are expecting to feel lonely this Christmas. A spokesman said: “Winter is always a tough time for older people – dark nights, short days and cold, often wet weather make it harder to get outside. These challenges combined with pandemic restrictions mean that chance encounters – like catching up with neighbours on the street or friendly chats at the supermarket – are less likely right now, yet they can make a big difference to those who are almost always on their own, or feeling lonely.” Recent ONS figures show that, across Great Britain, 2.2 species, bought by Sue million over 60s say that haven’t had anyone to talk to about their worries. Another 2.2 million said they felt they are a burden. Donations will help fund services including befriending. Go to ageuk.org.uk/ northsouthwestdorset or call 01305 269444. 25

Not everything is to be believed

In 1938 the young Orson Welles, who was to become internationally famous as an actor and film director, achieved notoriety in America as the narrator of a radio adaptation of H. G. Wells’ novel The War of the Worlds. Taking the form of a news broadcast, the drama caused widespread panic: many listeners thought an invasion by extra-terrestrial beings was actually occurring. When, sixty years ago next month, Granada’s soap opera Coronation Street was first broadcast across all ITV regions, many viewers believed the characters were real. If one was ill, the studios were bombarded with flowers and ‘Get Well’ messages. If a character died, fans were inconsolable. The power of the media to blur the edge between fiction and fact never seems to wane. That is currently being demonstrated by the Netflix series The Crown. It takes real people, many of them very much alive, and projects an image of them which is often greatly distorted, and an interpretation of events which is often far from the truth. The lead writer of the Netflix saga has admitted that he ‘makes up in his head’ what he has no way of knowing – for example, the details of private conversations between members of the Royal Family. True, The Crown employs researchers and historical advisers, but producers have always made it clear that some scenes are ‘imagined’ for dramatic purposes. The problem is that too many people believe what they see and swallow wholesale the stereotypes they are fed in the name of entertainment. This is dangerously close to something that has been known to tyrants and dictators down the ages. Tell the people the same thing often enough and they will start to believe you. The outpouring of written propaganda in pamphlets, books and newspapers is as old as the printing press. But with the arrival of the modern media, those with something to sell – be it a product, a cause or a manifesto – jockey to shout the loudest. And too many people are taken in. That is why, incidentally, I have always been opposed to the ‘hard sell’ in the communication of any religious or political ideas and beliefs. We live in a divided nation in a divided world. We need to listen more and shout less. Take time to discover the real facts and think things through quietly and rationally. It will not be time wasted. 26

By Miranda Robertson newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A railway station that once played host to royalty and political figureheads and is now a hive of restoration activity has reopened after lockdown. Shillingstone Station has welcomed a cornucopia of famous names in its past, including Lord and Lady Wolverton (many times), Prime Minister William Gladstone (1882), Edward, Prince of Wales, future King Edward VII (1899), the Grand Duke Michael of Russia (1899), the Prime Minister of Portugal (1899), George, Prince of Wales, future King George V (1904) and the future Queen Alexandra (1904). The North Dorset Railway Trust took over the station about 20 years ago. It was overgrown, derelict, and needed the loving care of the small band of railway enthusiasts who came to rescue it. They refurbished the buildings and cattle dock, restored the Porters’ hut, and rebuilt the signal box. In 2008 the first track was laid through the station. The greenhouse, bike shed and platform shelter soon followed. Gardens were laid out and the picnic area created. The barrow crossing was

JUST THE TICKET: Some of the restoration work on rolling stock and, right, the station in its glory days, when it was derelict and, main picture, how it is today

reconstructed and a carriage siding added before a point was laid to connect the up line with the down line. Many facilities were swiftly established and now it has become a haven for railway buffs and casual visitors alike, with a lovely café and museum. Now restrictions are lifted, you can visit the café and shop on Wednesdays (11am- 3pm), Saturdays and Sundays, (10am4pm). People can visit the signal box by

Public Notices Personal

Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licence CLIVE SMITH SKIP HIRE LTD, of Little Meadows, Gold Hill, Child Okeford, Blandford Forum, DT11 8HF is applying to change an existing licence as follows:- To keep an extra 2 goods vehicles at the operating centre at Salvage Yard, Okeford Fitzpaine Common, Blandford Forum, DT11 0RT. 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, LS0 6NF, stating their reasons, within 21 days of this notice. Representators 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. Would like to meet

Hi, I'm Richard, 70s own house and car, would like to meet females for company. 07811 589712

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request, stroll through the gardens, watch volunteers restoring vintage rolling stock and see artefacts in the museum. The trust is hoping to extend the track and facilities even further. Volunteers will be pleased to show off their work restoring old rolling stock. They acquired their first coach back in 2013 – a 1957 sad looking green Southern Region coach. The volunteers nicknamed it The Football Special. It was sprayed with graffiti, had ripped seats and broken windows. The original wagon volunteers set about stripping it down, welding, repairing the bodywork and repainting it. Today, it sits proudly on the platform, where it is used as a room for functions, cream teas and special events. Tony Jordan (trustee and head of restoration) bought a small shunting locomotive, which had been languishing in a yard for decades. The bodywork was terrible but the engine and chassis were sound. The body was repaired and welded up. The engine was given fresh oil and adjusted. A van battery was connected and it burst into life. Tony named it Little Eva, after his mother and the singer of the 60’s song Locomotion. It is now used for shunting and will be upgraded with vacuum brakes, to allow it to haul passenger traffic. The station was also given an ex RN dockyard wagon. Built in 1909 for the Glasgow and South West Railway, it had a low roof and was probably used on a line with low tunnels (possibly into the Nobel explosives factory in Ayrshire). It was sold to the Navy around 1926, and used in dockyards. Unfortunate ly, it had been standing around in yards for very many years and the bodywork was rotten. The whole body collapsed when an attempt was made to dismantle it. Other delights include a 1909 LNWR wagon and a 1901 metal framed GW fruit wagon – both as good as new after strenuous efforts by volunteers. The LNWR wagon is now a mobile workshop and the GW fruit wagon will be used as a mini cinema to show old railway videos. Volunteers are currently working on a 1959 brake/guard’s wagon, in which it is hoped to offer passenger rides in this wagon from 2022, and a 1936 Scammell 3-wheel delivery lorry. For further information to join as a volunteer or support the volunteers in anyway look them up on our website northdorset railway.co.uk or find S&DJR Shillingstone on Facebook.

Open Sunday 13th & 20th December, 10am to 2pm Open Monday until 8pm 7th, 14th & 21st December

Opportunity to be Organised for Christmas Beautiful Lingerie and Nightwear Gift Vouchers Available Oscar De La Renta Parfumé Opening times: 10am to 5pm 3a Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury 01747 858 758

boschenlingerie.co.uk The Lise Charmel collection Rêve Orchidée is available at Böschen Lingerie Shaftesbury 27