The New Blackmorevale Magazine

Edition 33

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Merry Christmas to all our readers and advertisers The New Blackmore Vale Friday, December 24 2021

Children from North Cadbury Primary School perform their Nativity. More pictures, page 11

The most wonderful time of the year

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New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021

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What’s inside this week Announcements Arts & Entertainments Antiques & Collectibles Business Church Education Events Equestrian Farming Food & Drink Health & Wellbeing History Home & Gardens Items For Sale Letters Local Services Motoring MPs Pets Property Public Notices Puzzles Recruitment Sport

30-32 62-65 58-59 74-76 37 36 35 80 77-80 33-36 51-53 13-14 38-43 35 22 44-50 60-61 28-29 56-57 81-87 30 54-55. 70 70-73 66-69

n We’re Christmas cracker for alpacas! P2-23 n Opposition to solar farm grows P4

Lloyd Armishaw

Publisher

Miranda Robertson

newsdesk@ blackmorevale.net Tel: 01963 400186

Editor newsdesk@ blackmorevale.net Tel: 01963 400186 Debi Thorne

Advertising sales manager

Account manager sue.kennington@ blackmorevale.net Tel: 07714 289403

Karen Bate

Lorraine Drake

News editor

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Contact Us

Sue Kennington

Kye Harman

Sports Editor Advertising: sport@blackmorevale.net adverts@blackmorevale.net Tel:01963 400186 Editorial: newsdesk@blackmorevale.net Sport: sport@blackmorevale.net DEADLINES Postal enquiries to: 3 Alfred’s Way, Wincanton, BA9 9RU Display ads must be booked by Wednesday the week before publication, with final copy submitted by the Friday.

Classified ads: Classified ads may be accepted after this, however these will be subject to classified@blackmorevale.net, 01963 400186 space. or online at blackmorevale.net

Reach more than 85,000 people with an ad in the New Blackmore Vale, and make 2022 the year your marketing really works hard for you. Advertise in this space for 26 editions and take advantage of special rates for block bookings.

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Keeping the peace

n Blackmore Vale Lions have made substantial donations to three food banks serving the area over the last two years.

They recently gave £250 each to Sherborne Community Kitchen, Gillingham Food Bank and Sherborne Food Bank.

The New Blackmore Vale was among a number of media outlets sent a statement by the Mayor of Shaftesbury Andy Hollingshead and his deputy Alex Chase last week, making a number of serious allegations about a fellow councillor. On careful reflection, this magazine has chosen not to print any of these allegations.

Council tax set to rise to meet budget gap It is anticipated council tax will rise next year as Dorset Council is facing a budget gap of £36.1m in 2022-2023.

Rises of just under 2 per cent and an adult social care precept of 1 per cent – in line with the Government’s Spending Review – are expected, although council tax rises will not be approved until proposals go to the Full Council in February.

If approved, the rises could mean a hike of £53.04 each year for a Band D property.

Social care requires more than half of the council’s annual budget, with 29% of

the county aged over 65 compared to the national average of 19%. Earlier this year, Dorset Council approved an additional £6.3m to repair and maintain roads in the county.

North Dorset has plans for more than 4,000 new homes and south east Dorset over 7,500. Dorset Council will facilitate the delivery of at least 1,800 new homes per annum across the county.

Any additional infrastructure needed can be funded by a section 106 or a community infrastructure levy that councils can charge

developers on any new development.

Cllr Gary Suttle, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial and Capital Strategy, said: “It has been particularly challenging developing the budget for next financial year, 2022-23.

In Dorset we have a demand for council services that is growing more quickly than funding we receive from Government, the income we raise or council tax, which means constantly looking at doing things differently or more efficiently.

“We believe we have

developed proposals to deliver a balanced budget, but the financial challenges are enormous. We are sorry that we have had to propose a council tax increase – we know this will impact residents and local businesses. There will be support available for the hardest hit. As elected members we have to make tough choices and find new ways to fund the vital support for Dorset’s communities.

“We will continue to lobby the Government for further funding.”

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By Karen Bate

VALE OF TEARS: David Horrell of the Save Hardy’s Vale group overlooking the site of the planned solar power farm Picture: LEN COPLAND

newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

The plan to build one of Britain’s biggest solar power stations on 190 acres, the size of 105 Wembley Stadiums, between Mappowder and Pulham sparked outrage this year resulting in a massive campaign opposing the ‘destruction and visual blight’ of Hardy’s Vale.

The scheme from North Dairy Farm Solar Limited (c/o British Solar Renewables) ignited a community response, coordinated by Mappowder Parish Council chair David Horrell, who formed the campaign group Save Hardy’s Vale.

In letter of representation to Dorset Council, Save Hardy’s Vale claimed developers had ‘consistently, and significantly, underestimated the detrimental visual impact the solar generating plant would have on the surrounding valued landscape’.

Dorset planners have asked that ‘modifications and additional information’ are required from the developer and it is understood a planning hearing will be held in the first quarter of next year.

Rupert Hardy, chairman of North Dorset CPRE, said: “We accept the need for solar energy given climate change, and have not objected to a number of new solar farm proposals.

However we felt that an industrial power station of this size and in this setting

Opposition to scheme for solar power farm continues was totally inappropriate.

“We favour roof-mounted solar panels and small community-led solar farms that can be well-screened from surrounding viewpoints. This is neither.

“Our key concerns are still that the site is within the setting of the beautiful northerly part of the Dorset AONB, and will be visible from several cherished viewpoints and much of the Wessex Ridgeway path.

“Other issues include amenity, heritage, ecological and flooding, which has become more apparent this autumn.

“The approval by Dorset Council of a similar-sized solar farm last month at Higher Stockbridge, a few miles to the west is very regrettable, especially as there were, or are, equally strong reasons to refuse both. However there are some different issues too here. Hopefully the planning committee will pay

heed to the substantial harm the proposal here would have on a nationally protected landscape while the flooding issue is very serious. The Higher Stockbridge decision was highly contentious, as the planning officerrecommended refusal, a number of key members of the committee were unable to be present and the reasons for approval very questionable. We remain optimistic, but not complacent, about the outcome here.” n See the plans at: Dorset Council P/FUL/2021/01018 Richard Brown, CMLI Dorset AONB Landscape Planning Officer said: “I have conducted a review of the information that has been submitted and consider that modifications and additional information are required in order to ensure that the decision-making process considers all potentially significant

effects on Dorset AONB. “AONB impact is not referred to in the pre-app advice, but is noted as a key consideration in the EIA screening opinion, with the site being recognised as highly visible in panoramic views from elevated land to the south (including within the designated landscape).

“Views across the Vale from within the AONB are highly sensitive, due to their expansive, panoramic nature and there are numerous rights of way within the AONB from which such views can be appreciated. I would like to make the following initial suggestions for modifications and amendments to the information contained within the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment.· A wider study area should be utilised, in recognition of the expansive nature of the proposal and its potential intervisibility with the AONB.”

Councillors overrule planners and support solar farm As reported on December 10 plans for a giant solar farm at Stockbridge, near Longburton were approved by Dorset councillors despite a recommendation for refusal by planning officers.

The application by Voltalia for land at Higher Stockbridge Farm, three miles to the south of Sherborne and about five miles south east of Yeovil, has

been under discussion for over two years. The site will cover 80 hectares (197 acres) – around 1.4 kilometres long – and had been slimmed down by 20 per cent from the original proposal on which the renewable energy company first consulted in 2019 and which attracted nearly 370 opposing representations.

Several councillors said they were torn by the application – balancing the need to protect what is said to be one of Dorset’s most beautiful areas with the need to generate more ‘green’ energy to help with climate change.

Almost 400 public comments had been submitted on the proposals – only 23 in support.

blackmorevale.net

PM faces covid rebellion

By Karen Bate

Boris Johnson suffered the largest rebellion since becoming Prime Minister as 96 Conservative MPs defied whips and voted against measures to bring in the mandatory use of Covid passes.

MPs voted 369 to 126, with Labour backing, to approve covid passes for entry to nightclubs and large venues in England.

MPs voted 441 votes to 41 on making face masks compulsory in most indoor settings, except pubs and restaurants. And in a separate vote MPs approved mandatory vaccinations for NHS and social care staff

by April. Some 61 Conservative MPs voted against the measure.

Among the 96 Conservative MPs who voted against the covid pass regulations were Marcus Fysh (Yeovil), Chris Loder (West Dorset) and David Warburton (Somerton and Frome). They were also among the 61 Conservative MPs who voted against mandatory vaccination for NHS and social care staff.

Mr Warburton was among 38 Tories who opposed an extension to masks.

He said: “The introduction of Plan B is, in my view, wholly disproportionate. There is every indication – and confirmation from the chair of the South African Medical Association, who first identified the variant, where the strain first took hold

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 5

and with four weeks of data – that Omicron is considerably less deadly than previous variants, with symptoms similar to a cold or mild flu. Mandatory certification is, I believe, an unacceptable infringement on our rights and freedoms.

“It is easy to see how such certification could quickly progress from crowded events to housing, transport, or even work.

“Certification also lulls people into a false sense of security. We know that vaccinated people can, and do, spread the virus. In other countries certification has not seen noticeable reductions in transmission.

“Finally, I have grave concerns about the possible two-tier society this would create.

“We have seen disparities in the levels of vaccination take-up across different groups in our society.”

Chris Loder said: “Fundamentally, these two regulations are about a two-tier society emerging – now based on medical status. Some fellow citizens do not feel that they can have the vaccine. Maybe you were so poorly from your first jab, you don’t want to risk the second.

“Am I really going to vote for up to 32,000 frontline NHS worker to be sacked on April 1 – the very people that have saved lives and given their all for almost two years – with them knowing that they are at higher risk? The answer is no.”

Santa pays a visit With much excitement Santa appeared at the Portman Hall in Shillingstone with some jolly jingling and a loud ‘Ho Ho Ho’ spreading festive cheer at the Christmas Fayre. And the fayre raised more than £600 to be split between Stour Valley Dog Rescue and Friends of North Dorset Women’s Refuge.

Organiser Kay Ridout said: “It truly was a fun filled afternoon. We would like to thank everyone who supported the fayre, and it will be back again next year!”

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Truth will out: Former sub-postmaster welcomes new book on Horizon scandal

By Miranda Robertson newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A former sub-postmaster we featured last year, who was caught up in the Horizon scandal, has welcomed a new book about Post Office staff’s fight for justice.

Tracey Merritt, from Wincanton, ran Yetminster Post Office for three years – until she was accused of fraud.

For the last decade she has been fighting to clear her name and she is still fighting to regain some of the money she lost – she is currently one of the 150 people taking part in the public inquiry.

Journalist Nick Wallis has been following the scandal from the beginning, and has now published an extraordinarily detailed account of how the Post Office’s software wrecked lives up and down the country.

It makes for a very compelling read.

Tracey, whose two children also suffered as a result of their mum being accused, said: “The book gives everyone a chance to understand what we went through and to what lengths the people in the know were prepared to go to, to cover it up – believing they were untouchable.

“It also stands up and says we are believed.”

In The Great Post Office Scandal, Nick speaks to

SCANDAL: Former sub-postmaster Tracey Merritt and, inset, the book by journalist Nick Wallis which features former Post Office staff and their fight for justice

many of the hundreds of Post Office staff left irrevocably scarred by charges of fraud. Numerous health problems have been linked to the scandal – in Tracey’s case she was left suffering with repeated bouts of painful psoriasis and shingles.

Many, including Tracey, had not been able to understand

how money was mysteriously disappearing, and raided their own savings to try to balance the books.

Nick’s concern for all those who have suffered is palpable in this book – he is donating ten per cent of the proceeds to a fund dedicated to helping those affected.

Nick, a freelance journalist, had been contacted in 2010 by the husband of a woman who had been sent to prison for a crime she did not commit. The story just kept growing. About 700 people were handed criminal convictions in just 15 years for post office fraud: One a week.

The case against Tracey was shelved, but she has lived

with the fear ever since that she could be arrested and charged. That fear, along with the grief of losing her career and her pension, caused her to be suicidal.

Last year Post Office Ltd admitted ‘historical failings’ and the Court of Appeal backed the victims.

However this wasn’t the end of the matter. Victims are still waiting to be compensated. Many, including Tracey, are taking part in a public inquiry hoping to claw some £47m in lost court fees back. The inquiry is likely to take 12 to 18 months. n The Great Post Office Scandal is available for around £25 from most booksellers.

‘Ghost’ hedgehogs mark spot to remember road tragedies Dozens of ‘ghost’ hedgehogs have been appearing across Dorset after the Dorset Mammal Group asked all Hedgehog Friendly Towns and Villages to mark where a hog death has occurred this year.

The Blandford group alone had 46 reported deaths from May to November in Blandford and Blandford St Mary, and there were more along the A350 in Spetisbury and Charlton Marshall and many more on the A354 in

Pimperne.

A map of the Blandford deaths shows where the little creatures met their end on local roads, including many on the Blandford bypass, on Salisbury Road and other main routes, together with

more residential streets.

Denise Montague of the Blandford group said: “We planned to leave them up for about two weeks to raise awareness, and politely asked for them not to be interfered with or removed.”

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Garden group’s leader in high praise for community “We are truly blessed to live in such a wonderful village” is the message from Sian Highnam who has spearheaded the Friendship Garden in Fontmell Magna.

A celebratory tea party with food, fun and smiles was attended by villagers, helpers and friends including pupils from Clayesmore School who performed music at the happy gathering and

provided cake!

Members of the Friendship Garden have ended the year sponsoring an Amazing Allotment initiative.

Sian said: “Thanks to the donations made yesterday for the wreaths and table decorations I made, we are able to send a gift from the Send a Cow Charity. The Amazing Allotment initiative will sponsor families in Africa to gain

DONATION: Sian Highnam

the training to set up an allotment to feed their communities, sell their vegetables to enable families to support themselves and pay for education and healthcare.

“We raised £90.00 from the donations yesterday. Thank you to everyone.”

And over the last few weeks, tiny tots from Fontmell Magna Under Fives and children at St Andrew’s School have been planting spring bulbs.

Sian added: “Wishing you all a very happy and healthy Christmas and looking forward to seed growing starting in the new year.”

Carol singing in the village is taking place on December 23 at 5.30pm starting at the village hall.

Decision on developer for Green to be made in New Year Shaftesbury Town Council wants to inform the community that land at Mampitts Green will be transferred by Persimmon Homes at some point to be confirmed in the future.

The decision about the land transfer and which organisation is selected to manage the development of the community facilities rests

with Dorset Council and as yet the outcome is unknown.

The recent story published by the New Blackmore Vale infers that the land has already been transferred to Shaftesbury Town Council when in fact, no decision has yet been taken.

The Shaftesbury Town Council, Mampitts Green consultation ended on

November 28 and the responses are in the process of being analysed. Upon completion a report summarising the phase 1 consultation will be sent to Dorset Council.

In January 2022, Dorset Council’s General Management Committee, will discuss the consultation responses in further detail

and look at those that are ‘realistic, sustainable and achievable’ to take forward to the next stage.

If Shaftesbury Town Council is nominated by Dorset Council to develop the community facilities on Mampitts the second round of public consultation on a detailed proposal will take place in 2022.

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Mum’s silent protest over sepsis tragedies

By Karen Bate

newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A Fontmell Magna mum spearheaded a silent protest outside the Department of Health in London on December 15 calling for a national communications strategy to help prevent brain tumour and sepsis deaths in children.

Bereaved families carried 25 child coffins as they moved from the Department of Health to Parliament Square, where representatives from five bereaved families handed a letter on a coffin to Sajid Javid calling for a strategy to alert the public the symptoms of brain tumours and sepsis. More than 25 children are killed by these diseases every month.

Sacha Langton-Gilks has been the lead champion at The Brain Tumour’s charity HeadSmart Campaign for a decade, a role she took while her beloved son David, known lovingly as DD, was being treated for a Medulloblastoma tumour,

RAISING AWARENESS: Sacha Langton-Gilks

which he was diagnosed with aged 11.

He was affected by all three conditions because of his brain tumour. DD sadly died in 2012.

On the day, Sacha and her

husband Toby carried the coffins of the children who have died on behalf of their families who are too traumatised to attend.

Sammy Tucker carried a coffin for her daughter,

Molly and Terry Logun for his daughter, Daniella.Sacha said: “The public simply does not know the symptoms of potential brain tumours and sepsis and this leads to the most appalling, preventable deaths and life changing disabilities.

“That is why we are conducting this peaceful protest to drive home our message – #RuleitOut. “If families had known that their children’s symptoms could have been a brain tumour or sepsis then they would have never let them be discharged from hospital.”

Sacha is focussed on lobbying health experts to give out information from The Brain Tumour Charity’s HeadSmart Campaign and the UK Sepsis Trust.

Sacha added: “This is something that cannot be nor should be handled solely by the bereaved.” n For more information go to sepsistrust.org/ about and headsmart.org.uk/

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School confident of its reopening date

By Kate Knowles

newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

Coombe House School, the former St Mary’s School in Shaftesbury was originally scheduled to open in January 2022.

However, building has been hindered by both Brexit and the covid pandemic, with a shortage of construction materials and indeed construction workers, along with a subsequent rise in the cost of materials, but Dorset Council remains confident that the school will open in spring and within budget.

The first of the initial 60 pupils are now expected to attend in spring 2022, subject to building work being completed and after an Ofsted inspection early in the new year.

Headteacher Katie Charles was appointed in October and the first teachers have been recruited and will start on January 4. Recruitment

MOVING AT PACE: Head Katie Charles

has also started for student support staff.

Ms Charles said: “We’ve moving at a pace with recruitment and I’m delighted that we are already building a team of highly experienced and enthusiastic teachers. We are working hard to prepare Coombe House School for our first intake of students and we cannot wait to welcome them to this fantastic facility.”

Bought in January by Dorset Council for £10m, an additional £5m has been

budgeted for refurbishment.

Dorset has more than 3,000 children with SEND and more than 250 of these children are educated in independent provision, often outside the county, which costs Dorset Council £14m per year and Coombe House will provide places for up to 280 SEND pupils Coombe House is the name of the house that originally stood on the site. During the 1930s it was turned into an hotel and during the Second World War it was home to American airmen before it became St Mary’s School in 1945. The school went bankrupt in July 2020.

Former alumni of the school include the actor Anna Chancellor, Laura Lopes, the Duchess of Cornwall’s daughter and authors Sophie Kinsella and Flora McDonnell.

A Dorset Council spokesman said: “We expect our Ofsted

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PATIENCE DURING WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY OF TIMES.

inspection to take place early in the new year in order that we can open in the spring for our first cohort of children.

“We have recruited a first cohort of school teachers who will join us on January 4 and we are beginning to recruit our student support staff.

“Building work is proceeding well and costs are being effectively managed to ensure we open the school within the budget.

“We will continue to develop the site over the coming months and are discussing access to facilities with a number of local clubs and societies, which will be able to happen as facilities become available across the next 12 months. We really want the centre to be a part of the community and for our children and young people to have the opportunity to support all the work we do locally.”

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Children tell the story of Christmas North Cadbury Primary School children delighted and moved their audience with their Nativity. The performance for parents went ahead in the North Cadbury village church under the strict rules and guidance of Public Health England. The children threw their heart and souls into the retelling of the Christmas story and brought the message of Christmas to life with their acting and singing.

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History

When one man went to mow, went to An author from one of the oldest farming families in Dorset has given the New Blackmore Vale magazine an extract from his book A Dorset Farmer’s Boy, which was published in 2014. And between January 6-8, Phil Knott will be staging an exhibition, In and Around the Blackmore Vale Now and Then at The Exchange

My father Ken Knott made a start in farming by renting 20 acres of land from the PittRivers Estate at Ralph Downs, where he travelled to his land on a pony and trap from his home on Sturminster Common. A tenancy on an estate owned house at Rolls Mills, a peaceful hamlet of just 10 houses, was offered to my father when I was just eight months old, and I spent my boyhood days in this beautiful part of the Blackmore Vale.

Neighbouring farmer Bill Fish helped my father build his first cow stall, large enough for 12 heads of cattle and a hay store. The building

HAY YOU: Making hay at Ralph Down Farm

stood in the corner of Seven Acres field and was constructed of timber and clad with corrugated iron. A milking compound allowed Ken to milk outside in hot weather, in preference to milking in the overbearing heat in the cow stall. During the winter, milking took place in the cow stall with

lighting from hurricane lanterns hung from the wooden beams.

The nearest water supply for the cattle was from a large pond in the field next to Seven Acres, which was known as Ralph-Down Ground. The water for cooling the milk in summer was fetched using buckets

and emptied into a large tank outside the stall.

After milking the churns of milk were lifted into the tank and the milk was stirred with a plunger. The milk was agitated again before bedtime. After breakfast, Ken took the churns to Sturminster Newton Milk Factory using his ex-army horse and cart for the twomile round trip.

The price of the milk paid to farmers was 4d a gallon in summer and 6d in winter.

Rolls Mill was an unspoiled paradise at this time, with a narrow winding road isolating the hamlet from Newton.

Ralph Down had an avenue

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New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 13

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History

mow a meadow at Ralph Downs Farm of elm trees from Road Lane Farm to Puxey Lane. Sadly, these magnificent elms were classified as unsafe in 1940 and were subsequently felled.

Following the death of the other joint tenant, the tenancy for this part of the farmhouse, together with the adjoining land, was also transferred to my father. The land included a small orchard of apple and plum trees. A pathway through this orchard led to the river Divilish.

The River Divilish was our only source of domestic drinking water. This meant the water was carried by the bucketful, from the river to our washhouse, where a large churn was used as a storage container.

My mother must have carried the thousands of gallons of water over the years using

yokes, which hung from her coop of their own, made shoulders, with a bucket on from tea chests. The paddock either side. around our house contained My father built pigsties and chickens of all sizes. When poultry houses on his land old enough the hens were and later, builder Wilf Cluett, separated from the cocks and the landlord when the hens at The Three reached the point Roars Heads of lay they joined at Lydlinch, the laying flock, constructed allowing them to a stable roam free range. block.

The cocks would Each spring ONE MAN: Mowing a meadow then be sold, my father except for a small would hatch around two number, which were fattened hundred chickens. He had for the Christmas market. rows of orange boxes lined One year we had two geese, with straw, with a sitting of which my father had reared fifteen eggs to each broody for Christmas Day, one for hen. After 21 days, the chicks the family and one to sell. would hatch and the hens Unfortunately a fox came in would be given 10 minutes broad daylight and killed to exercise and allow them both of them. As a result time to eat and drink. rabbit was on the menu for Following hatching the hens Christmas Day that year. To and their broods were given a augment his income in these

early years, my father mowed during the haymaking season. He bought a second horse, who also cut, turned and hauled his own hay.

My mother also put in many laborious hours in the hay field and would take me in the pram to rake the fields.

Eventually, she took all four children into the fields, where we would eat a sandwich lunch, or bread, butter and a huge piece of cheese to share. We would drink cocoa, tea, or lemonade made from Eiffel Tower crystals.

The horses were tied up under a shady tree to have a feed and drink, while father joined us for our lunch.

The afternoon session lasted until milking time and the evening session took us up to around 10pm.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021

blackmorevale.net

After six-year campaign, the historic

By Miranda Robertson newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A former Methodist chapel of international importance is to finally be restored after a six-year campaign raising more than £650,000.

The crumbling Grade II* listed building in Tolpuddle – a rare surviving example of a 19th century vernacular non-conformist chapel built by the Tolpuddle Martyrs – is on the Historic England’s At Risk list.

The chapel was built in 1818 by the Dorsetshire Labourers who in 1838 became known as Tolpuddle Martyrs, after they established a trade union and were transported to GOING TO THE CHAPEL: The Tolpuddle Methodist Chapel before being patched up Australia after a trial for swearing secret oaths.

The little chapel, which was recently covered in ivy and was in a very poor state before being patched up as a temporary measure in 2015, was one of the places where the six discussed ideas to challenge their employers over their poor pay and conditions.

Initially, the chapel was used simply for nonconformist worship, led by lay preacher and eventual Martyr George Loveless.

But as they were building it, conditions for agricultural workers – and indeed, many other professions in Dorset – were deteriorating.

MAKING PLANS: An impression of the completed chapel by Architecton and, below, TOCT Poor pay led to more than volunteer Ian Cray’s image of how Tolpuddle Old Chapel may have looked back in 1818, when ten per cent of the county the building had a thatched half-hip roof and, right, before and after emergency repairs in 2015 being given poor relief.

Society of Agricultural They were tried in the Shire Festival.

A recession in agriculture Labourers as a friendly Hall Courthouse in Unions owe such a debt of exacerbated this situation society formed to protest Dorchester, transported to gratitude to the Martyrs – and in 1830 riots broke out about their poor pay.

Wages Australia and Tasmania, the Union of Shop, in southern England. were about to hit six pardoned and eventually Distributive and Allied While some landowners shillings a week – they five of the six moved to Workers has donated nearly were persuaded to raise refused to work for less than London Ontario in Canada £4,000 for the chapel’s new wages, a series of arrests of ten. to start a new life. front door. rioting labourers gave them But this infuriated These events played a huge The Martyrs’ Museum the confidence to bring them magistrate and landowner role in the subsequent stands as a well-tended down again.

James Frampton – he wrote evolution of the Trade testament to the courage of Enough was enough. to the Home Secretary to Union movement which is six labourers from the small The six men from Tolpuddle complain and the six found still celebrated today by the village in Dorset. founded the Friendly themselves in court. annual Tolpuddle Martyrs’ But the little chapel they

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 15

blackmorevale.net

Martyrs’ chapel now set for restoration

TOCT TRUSTEES: Adrian Whittlesea, David Willey, Andrew McCarthy, chairman, the Revd Stephanie Jenner and Rob Brunt, secretary, pictured at their December 2017 meeting

REPAIR JOB: The upper floor looking north after repairs and, right, the bricked-up east window

built has been allowed to become terribly run down.

Now, after more than six years of dedicated hard work by trustees, volunteers, project managers, consultants, architects, Friends and financial sponsors, Tolpuddle Old Chapel Trust (TOCT) is finally in a position to realise its vision of renovating and extending Tolpuddle Old Chapel.

With funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (£329,300), Historic England and various other sources, work to save this historically significant Grade II* listed building started at the beginning of November.

The major restoration project will remove the building from the Historic England At Risk register and save it as a community asset

for future generations.

As well as the conservation work to the original chapel, the project will create a new extension to support events and include a year-round programme of activities and interpretation, a pilot schools programme and various volunteering opportunities.

TOCT chair Andrew McCarthy said: “We are delighted that we can now

begin work to secure the future of the chapel and the stories it tells.

“We are hugely grateful to all our funders and supporters and the many volunteers who have helped us to get to this point.

“Now the work really begins and there will be a whole range of new opportunities for people to get involved.

“We’d love to hear from anyone interested in helping us to ensure that this important historic building achieves its full potential.”

Stuart McLeod, director for London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are delighted to support Tolpuddle Old Chapel Trust in fulfilling its ambition to restore Tolpuddle Old Chapel and open it up to a wider range of people.

Thanks to National Lottery players, this historically significant Grade II* listed building is going to be preserved for many more generations to enjoy while an exciting programme of activities as well as volunteering opportunities are going to drive engagement for the local community.”

Ross Simmonds, acting regional director at Historic England, said: “We are delighted that work is now under way to save this very important but modest earth building.

“We have been working closely with the TOCT in recent years to better understand the conservation needs of the building, and have recently confirmed a grant of up to £160,000 to support necessary repairs to the fabric of the Old Chapel.” n For more information on the project please visit tolpuddleoldchapeltrust.org or email info@ tolpuddleoldchapeltrust.org.

16

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021

Family Advice Family Law Law Advice

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blackmorevale.net

Sax star Tom blowing his own trumpet now!

Booster programme A Blandford GP practice which suspended Saturday covid vaccination booster clinics three weeks ago has now announced it will instead be postponing routine appointments to offer the jabs.

The Blandford Group Practice, which serves Blandford, Child Okeford and Blandford Camp, will be postponing routine appointments until the end of the month to make time for the government’s drive to get everyone triple-jabbed.

The Saturday clinics, operated by staff with the help of community volunteers, had been running since the beginning of October, and the practice said: “It has become apparent that it is unsustainable for us to continue providing this weekend service, as we need to give our staff a break and have the opportunity to carry out desperately needed maintenance work on the premises.”

But the step-up of the booster programme prompted a practice partners’ meeting last Monday. following which the booster vaccinations were offered, and the practice said those with a routine appointment would be added to a waiting list for rescheduling in the New Year following assessment by GPs and practice nurses of which appointments could be delayed.

People are asked to contact the surgery only if their concern is urgent.

Old photo exhibition An exhibition entitled In and Around The Blackmore Vale Now and Then is being staged at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton for three days from January 6, between 9am and 5pm.

Philip Knott will showcase some 1,800 historical photographs he has collected over 22 years, which he put together during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

The exhibition will be split into five categories, Evolution of the Vale, Along the Dorset Stour, Tributaries of the Stour in the Blackmore Vale, Peripheral Towns and Villages and Everyday Life in the Vale.

THANKS VERY MUCH: Tom is pictured with Rob from Play It Again UK

By Miranda Robertson A budding saxophonist is over the moon after a New Blackmore Vale reader came forward with £500 to enable him to achieve his dreams.

Tom Sheppard, 17, from Sturminster Marshall, has been playing on a very basic sax and borrowed instruments for a long time – managing to get through exams despite the instrument not really being up to the job.

As reported in the NBVM, he won the 2021 Dee Butterfield Scholarship for Young People with his lecture on The Battle of Hastings and scooped £250.

A new sax was still a way off, as the instruments aren’t cheap.

However an anonymous donor has come forward with another £500, putting his dream sax within reach.

Tom has been playing for seven years and is involved in a number of school bands and has participated in many performances, including playing at the Swanage Jazz Festival.

His mum Stacey said: “I can’t believe it – it’s so amazing. I’ve never had anything like that happen before, it was so out of the blue.

“I was in complete shock when this lady said she wanted to give us £500 towards the saxophone. She’s such a lovely lady. Like a fairy godmother for Christmas!”

Tom said: “After much deliberation, I have decided to get a Yamaha 280.

This is better than I could have ever imagined and is such a significant upgrade from my current saxophone. This wouldn’t have been possible without the incredibly generous donation and the original bursary, for which I cannot thank them enough.”

Tom’s award from the Mackrell Charity was an annual scholarship set up in memory of Dee Butterfield, the charity’s former president and inspiration, to provide an opportunity for a young person to pursue a personal ambition.

Young people aged between 11 and 19 who live near the town, are encouraged to apply for the award next year.

Applications must be received by midnight on June 30, 2022, and should be sent to: The Mackrell Charity, c/o The Old School, Church Street, Sturminster Marshall, BH21 4BU.

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 17

blackmorevale.net

Advertisement

COHABITATION AND PROPERTY Margaret Baker, Partner / Head of Litigation and Family Law Unmarried couples have no automatic right to make a financial claim against each other.

When a cohabiting couple split up, disputes can arise such as whether a property should be sold, who should pay the mortgage and what share each party is entitled to.

Must we sell?

You could agree that the person remaining will buy out the other party, otherwise the property will need to be sold.

If one party refuses, then the other party can ask the court to make an order for sale.

What am I entitled to?

There is no right to ask for a larger share of the sale proceeds because one party is in a financially weaker position.

The split of the sale proceeds depends on the way in which the property is held. If it is owned as tenants in common, then each party will own a specified share. If the property is held as joint tenants, you can assume that the proceeds of the sale will be split equally.

I paid more when we bought.

If you paid more initially , you are likely to want to claim a larger share of the sale proceeds. The court cannot vary the way in which a property is held.

Under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, also referred to as ToLATA, the court can make decisions as to who has the right to occupy the property and the extent of each party’s ownership. It can also order that the property be sold.

A ToLATA claim is complicated and it is recommended to try to resolve matters by negotiation or possibly by alternative dispute resolution or mediation.

The Court may be unwilling to order a sale of the property where there are children remaining in the home with one parent.

That parent may be able to stay in the home with the children until the youngest child is 18. This can apply even if the property is owned by the parent who has left. In that case advice from a solicitor would be essential.

Contact our family law solicitors Our family law team can advise on property rights and options of unmarried couples. Where necessary, we will represent you to obtain an order for sale.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021

blackmorevale.net

Dancers’ festive bash raises £250 for air ambulance fund The Wincanton Dancers held their Christmas event with a feast followed by dancing at the memorial hall in the town. Members and guests took part in a raffle boasting a hoard of prizes and raised £250 for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

Sylvia Tabor received the cheque on behalf on air ambulance and thanked everyone for their generous donation.

DANCERS: Bruce George, Jennifer Matthews, Nicola Denham, Sylvia Tabor, Terry Matthews and Ann Hudd

Boost for environment as more recycling is collected Expanded recycling collections in Mendip and South Somerset have delivered thousands of extra tonnes of recycling, councillors heard.

Best estimates are that in the 52 weeks since it launched last October, Recycle More

has collected more than 5,600 tonnes of extra recycling, including more than 1,000 extra tonnes of plastic. In South Somerset, over its first 18 weeks the extra recycling is an estimated 1,800 tonnes, including nearly 500 extra

tonnes of extra plastic.

Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) shared the figures at a meeting of the Waste Scrutiny Panel.

SWP managing director Mickey Green said the picture has been complicated by covid, but Recycle More

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is clearly making a big difference.

He said: “Residents are really making use of it and recycling has increased dramatically. That’s great news for the environment and promises significant long-term benefits.”

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 19

blackmorevale.net

Exhibition celebrates the life of Brian

By Miranda Robertson

The former Edinburgh Woollen Shop in Yeovil now boasts artwork in its window instead of an empty façade.

Now organisers of the Yeovil Town Centre Window Artwork Project want to hear from other property owners with empty shops as they try to brighten up the town centre.

Love Yeovil have recently been awarded funding from South Somerset District Council to bring art and graphics into the empty shops.

They are working with The Museum of Somerset and the latest installation features a unique piece of artwork by Somerset-born Brian Rice, who has an exhibition at the museum entitled The Art of Brian Rice: Sixty Years of Painting and Prints.

Brian is a painter-printmaker who made an international name for himself in 1960s London.

Head of Museums for the

South West Heritage Trust Sam Astill said: “We’re delighted to be working with Love Yeovil to further celebrate the work of one of Britain’s most distinguished abstract artists. Brian was born in Yeovil and grew up in the nearby villages of Tintinhull and Montacute.

He went on to study at Yeovil School of Art before making a name for himself as part of the 1960s London

work of sheep farming and restoring an ancient farmhouse. He returned to painting in the 1980s and ’90s, taking inspiration from the archaeological past and from the hill forts, enclosures and burial mounds in the landscapes around him.

IN THE The exhibition will display WINDOW: This artwork works from throughout his

by Brian career, from his early days at Rice Yeovil School of Art and features in the window Goldsmiths College, to his of the former time as part of the booming Edinburgh London art scene.

Woollen The exhibition is free to visit Shop in Yeovil and open until February 26.

Short gallery tours are being art scene.” held monthly where visitors Rice was at the heart of the can discover more about London art scene during the Brian’s life and work. Visit 1960s. He moved in the museumofsomerset.org.uk to same circles as David book.

Hockney, Jo Tilson and Peter Love Yeovil would like to Blake, and worked at the decorate more empty shops, forefront of British but say getting landlords to Modernism. Eventually, reply is proving tough. disillusioned with London If you are able to help with life, he returned to his native contact details for property West Country. There he owners email Alice Edmonds bought a farm in Dorset, at alice.edmonds@outlook. immersing himself in the com or call 07946 378203.

20

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021

HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY: The ladies of Milton and Stour WI

blackmorevale.net

WI ladies mark their centenary The ladies of Milton and Stour WI joined forces to celebrate their centenary with plenty of cake, of course!

As well known for campaigning as much as cakemaking, members of Milton and Stour combined a festive afternoon with a buffet along with a huge, celebration chocolate cake.

Milton WI hold their meetings on the second Wednesday each month from 2.30pm in the Scout Hall in Milton and are extending a warm welcome to new faces. For more information please contact Secretary, Christine Alexander, 01747 824655 or email christine-alexander@live.co.uk.

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blackmorevale.net

Katrina’s fitness drive to say thank you

By Kate Knowles

GLAD TO BE ALIVE: Katrina Geraghty is raising funds for RiversMeet in Gillingham after staff there saved her husband Mike’s life.

Inset: Katrina and Mike

newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A grandmother is raising money for RiversMeet in Gillingham after three staff members saved her husband’s life when he suffered a massive heart attack.

Katrina Geraghty and her husband Mike are enthusiastic users of RiversMeet, Mike especially, as ex-army, he is very fit.

But one day in October 2019, their day turned from spinning on bikes to spinning out of control.

Katrina explained: “We were coming down the stairs after a spinning class, and Mike just sat down, breathed out and died.

“I’d just got to the bottom of the stairs and turned around and he was foaming at the mouth, I thought he was having a seizure. It was grim.

“If it had happened in the car park, it would have been too late.”

Staff members Luke Piper, Robynne Back and Wayne James were quick to react to the unfolding tragedy and began CPR using the nearby defibrillator. They saved his life.

“Robynne, Luke and Wayne are all delightful. They’re incredible. It’s only because of their training that Mike survived. I can’t thank them enough.”

Mike had suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed to The Royal Bournemouth Hospital for a triple heart bypass.

“It’s a time we wouldn’t want to go through again,” said Katrina. “He’s fine now, although we’re all still traumatised. It happened in October and by February he was back in the gym, he’s better now than he was before.

“It’s a silent killer, we had no idea at all.”

Mike, Katrina, their two daughters, Charlotte and Emma and their three grandchildren Sophie, Evie and four-year-old Wren are just so grateful to the staff who saved Mike.

In November Katrina challenged herself to do 50 squats and 50 press ups each day to raise £1,000 for new gym equipment at RiversMeet: ‘Giving back for Mike’. And already she has raised £800 and is on her final push to

reach her target.

She said: “I get very emotional every time I think about all the people who have given so generously and I’m glad it will benefit the community. My initial target was £500, I’ve now raised over £800 and am hoping to get to £1,000! People have been so generous.”

Luke from RiversMeet said: “It was after a class, and we rushed down as quickly as we could with the defibrillator. It’s difficult to put into words really, it was shocking and scary, you just go onto autopilot. I was part of a team, and we all have monthly training. We were all lucky that day.

“The ambulance crew were fantastic; we were very lucky they were nearby and able to come so quickly. Katrina and Mike are fantastic, they are very valued members of our community. What Katrina is doing is absolutely wonderful. I’d just like to say a massive thank you to her. The best gift is that Mike’s alive, that’s the best thing we could ask for.”

If you would like to support Katrina, go to gofund.me/721c98a7 or hand in your donation at RiversMeet.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021

blackmorevale.net

Letters

Seeing truth in print made me so happy I write in order to offer my wholehearted support for Dr Colin Clark, and wish to thank you for printing the letter. What a refreshing change to hear such intelligence, humanity and common sense when this has been so disturbingly missing from both the government and mainstream media for so long.

The facts, as portrayed by Downing Street and the BBC especially, haven’t been making any scientific or medical sense and it made me quite emotional to see straight facts actually being allowed in print.

With regards to his comment about NHS staff being threatened into staying silent, there is an organisation set up to (among other things) legally support NHS whistleblowers; Covid 19 Assembly (covid19assembly.org). They have recently successfully supported Dr Sam White, after he was suspended by the General Medical Council, for speaking out about informed consent and safe, effective alternative treatments.

The covid virus is now simply being used as an excuse to dismantle all that’s good about our society, and with it our mental health, education, economy and basic human rights are all being systematically damaged.

Thank you again.

R Thurgood n Nearly all those dying from covid at this time are people who for some unfounded and irrational reason choose not to be vaccinated.

Brainwashing children to believe in irrational and supernatural things from a very young age can lead to unfortunate consequences later in life.

This is one of the many reasons I am against the religious indoctrination of young and defenceless children.

Sadly in this country there are

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall justsocaricatures .co.uk

many who still believe promoting this ignorant drivel acceptable.

David Woolacott n Letter to Chris Loder (Yes, he did vote against ‘covid passports’ – see P5) Dear Chris, I am one of your constituents.

Whenever I have cast a vote in an election in West Dorset, I have voted for the candidate of the Conservative Party (apart from your immediate predecessor). My reason being that, to date, the Tory candidate (along with the Party at large) has seemingly espoused moral virtue; free markets; sound money; human liberty and personal dignity. These are all of great importance to me, as I believe they are to Almighty God. My confidence that this Government continues to be unequivocally committed to these values has been eroding steadily over recent months and is now on the point of breaking.

I thought I should let you know that unless you vote against the

Government’s latest proposed covid measure (‘Plan-B; proof of vaccination etc.), I will not be supporting you at the next election and will sever my allegiance to the Conservative Party and actively campaign against you on behalf of the Reform Party.

Sadly, given the Labour Party will be supporting the Government’s statist and liberty-eroding plans, there is little chance of them being defeated. But it is how YOU personally vote that I will be keenly watching.

Thank you for all your efforts and positive work to date on behalf of your constituents – they are impressive and I am grateful to you for representing my interests in Parliament. But this matter is of such fundamental moral importance that no amount of ‘good works’ can justify voting for such a blatant erosion of liberty and human dignity.

Malcolm Matson n I know that the Prime Minister sets the bar high when

he quotes the Simpsons and refers to Peppa Pig in his keynote speeches, but we now have Mr Warburton following in his footsteps with the use of nursery rhymes.

Mr Warburton tip-toed around his party’s ineptitude by giving us a history lesson about the Grand Old Duke of York to explain the self-inflicted debacle over the disgraceful behaviour of his ex-colleague Mr Paterson. If anything, he really ought to know that it is bad form to mention anything about a Duke of York at this time.

At least Mr Fisher in his saccharine piece about gongs, royalty and empire had the good sense to steer clear and conveniently avoids mentioning the royal embarrassment altogether. Mr Warburton would do well to remember that Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Also, we had a treat from Mr Loder, surely Dorset’s weakest link, where he talks about keeping Dorset on the agenda for ‘levelling up’.

Well done for getting the slogan in Chris and I’m sure that it will win you some praise from conservative central office, but the electorate would like to see a concrete example of what ‘levelling up’ means other than it being an empty slogan solely to serve short term electoral purposes.

Perhaps next time he could write back better?

Anyway, with the byelection in North Shropshire there’s an opportunity for the electorate to give some feedback to Westminster about the calamitous blundering of this government led by a narcissistic buffoon who seems to cut his own hair with a knife and fork.

This country needs better leadership at this time.

Charles Ellis, Blandford Forum

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 23

blackmorevale.net

Join us for our Everhot Open Event !

Boniti are thrilled to be hosting an Everhot Open Event with live cookery from chef David Pengelly.

This is perfect for anyone considering purchasing an Everhot, you’ll see the cooker put through its paces and get to sample the results. It’s well worth the trip to see just how flexible a modern range cooker can be.

We will be running the session at our Shaftesbury Showroom on Thursday 20th of January from 10:30am until 2:30pm.

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New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021

Our Loose Canon...

blackmorevale.net

with Canon Eric Woods DL

Let the spirit of Christmas be born Down through the centuries, professional God-botherers like me have made a terrible mistake.

We have put God in a box and said to everyone else: “He’s ours. You can only come to Him on our terms, and He can only come to you on our terms. Christmas is about being holy, obeying the rules and not enjoying yourselves too much. So there.”

And the rest of the world has replied, “Suit yourself. Who cares? We’re going to party anyway – if the government allows!

“Our big days are Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when we shop until we drop.

So there.”

And somewhere in between there is a great big void, a massive emptiness – a huge hole in the soul – because

deep-down we all need the real message of Christmas, which is about the love of God which breaks out of every box in which religious people try to capture it, and insists on invading even the noisiest and most commercial secular ‘Xmas’ with a simple message of love, forgiveness and reconciliation – a message which in our hearts we long to hear.

A black American Baptist minister, Howard Thurman, wrote beautifully about the need for Christ to be born in us.

Born in 1899 and growingup in the strictly segregated South, he had to overcome every last obstacle of poverty and prejudice even to get a high school education, let alone the academic qualifications which

propelled him into the top rank of American academics.

He wrote beautifully, and no more so than when contemplating Christ’s coming into our world.

As he looked out at a world of suffering and conflict, he could see that the world’s need is for Christmas to be ‘born’ in each one of us.

He put it like this: ‘Where refugees seek deliverance that never comes; where little children age before their time, and life wears down the edges of the mind; where the old man sits with mind grown cold, while bones and sinew, blood and cell, go slowly down to death; where fear companions each day’s life, and Perfect Love seems long delayed – Christmas is waiting to be born: in you, in me, in all mankind.’

Christmas is upon us, but it is soon over, and will leave us untouched unless it is born in us.

That can only happen when you welcome Christ into your heart and your life; when you let him engage with you and then let him change you.

And then you will discover this Howard Thurman truth: ‘When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among the people, to make music in the heart.’

Have a very happy, and holy, Christmas.

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We’re winning in a winter wonderland Castle Gardens in Sherborne is shining bright after receiving first place in the national Christmas competition for its magical wonderland displays.

And Brimsmore Gardens in

Yeovil has come third in the Garden Centre category.

Themes such as rainbows for the NHS, Mary Poppins and the natural world struck a chord with The Gardens Group, which also has taken

people and planet into consideration scenery and props were constructed using repurposed and recycled materials, such as timber, fabric and cardboard.

Many of the decorations

have also been sourced from small scale makers and fair-trade businesses, with the hope that they last a lifetime and are passed down through the generations.

Appeal for witnessess after theft of tractor and rotavator Rural crime officers investigating the theft of a tractor from a business near Sturminster Marshall are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

The blue New Holland Compact tractor, with the registration HF12 HPN, was stolen between 5pm on Thursday, December 2 and 8am on Friday, December 3. It was stolen with an orange Howard rotavator on it.

PC Sebastian Haggett, of Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team, said: “We are carrying out a full investigation and

THEFT: The tractor and rotavator

I would appeal to anyone with information that might assist our enquiries, including anyone who has captured anything of relevance on CCTV or dashcam footage, to please come forward.”

Farmers and rural business owners can arrange a crime prevention visit with the Rural Crime Team by emailing 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101 quoting occurrence number 55210194323. Alternatively, to stay 100 per cent anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or call Freephone 0800 555 111.

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Kim’s creating warm & fluffy moments

By Miranda Robertson

newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A retired Royal Navy Wren is enjoying a new role helping people through interaction with her herd of alpacas.

Four years ago Kim Williams, 63, realised the power of the super-fluffy creatures to heal people.

She saw the pleasure on people’s faces as they visited her little herd, and decided she would open that experience up to anyone who needed it. Cary Alpacas was born, offering two-hour experiences including the chance to walk them.

Today the non-profitmaking venture, based in Cary Fitzpaine, is host to adults with learning difficulties from Lufton College twice a week.

Children taking some cleansing time out from radiation poisoning in Chernobyl enjoy taking care of the animals once a year, and there have been several ‘bucket list’ visits from people in their 30s and 40s.

Kim said: “The adults with learning difficulties from Lufton do tasks around the farm. They are here about an hour and a half each day.

They’re good to me and they get the pleasure of being here with the alpacas as well.

“I’ve been involved for two years with Children of Chernobyl – their Sherborne branch raise money for 12 children to come to Somerset for three weeks to stay with local families and do various things around Somerset.

THAT’S FUR ENOUGH: Kim Williams with some of her alpacas at Cary Alpacas

They come here, and they go to my neighbour who has rescued donkeys and they visit pigs and chickens kept by other neighbours. They are such lovely children, so gentle with animals. It’s lovely to see.”

One of the most emotional

visits Kim hosts are those of terminally ill young people.

She said: “I get choked because I think how lucky am I. These 30 and 40-yearolds – they’re so lively and smiling and laughing.

“I’m here at 63, having had a wonderful life.”

Kim also caters for autistic visitors and can arrange private visits. And she does special hour-long visits for physically disabled visitors – they don’t do the trek, but spend time with the

animals.

Kim spent her last two years in the Navy at Yeovilton as chief wren, radio supervisor. She was always a big animal lover, but couldn’t have animals due to her job.

When she retired she was a consultant for seven years travelling round the UK to large businesses making redundancies, before becoming a PCSO in Yeovil, which she ‘absolutely loved’.

After that she spent time as

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 27

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for people with warm & fluffy alpacas

a prison officer in Shepton Mallet. Do you just really like uniform? I asked.

“Oh, I love uniform,” she chuckled. “I even have uniform now – boots, leggings, sweatshirt and Tshirt…”

When that prison closed and

Kim transferred to Guys Marsh she learned of an alpaca farm near Shaftesbury, where prisoners were carrying out work experience and became intrigued.

She did her research, visited the farm and soon after she

acquitted her first five animals – three of whom were pregnant.

She now has 21.

“I got them as pets and for their fibre – it’s all about that luscious fibre,” she said. The fibre is used in duvets, which people can buy from the farm.

Many baby alpacas, or ‘crias’ have been born since.

The farm is open April to November, with two treks a day seven days a week. They usually take a break in winter, but Kim is opening till Christmas this year.

She said: “It’s lovely to sit here and watch them. They have all got shelters but mainly sleep outside.

“Only if it’s howling with wind and torrential rain do

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After all South America has extreme hot and cold temperatures.”

Apparently, alpaca tastes like chicken. Not that Kim would know, as she hasn’t eaten lamb for 12 years since starting to keep a few sheep and the thought of eating alpaca fills her with horror.

But she said: “Apparently it’s very good for cholesterol.”

I guess you can’t eat animals you know have characters, right?

Kim said: “Every one is different. They all have distinct personalities.”

She added: “I love people’s reactions when they meet them. People say it totally chills them out. That’s why I wanted to do this in the first place.”

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New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021

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MPs’ round-up

We must work together to make booster jabs available Almost exactly a year ago, we all watched the exhilarating moment that 90 year-old Margaret Keenan received the very first covid19 jab as part of the mass-vaccination programme across the UK. As the first country in the world to begin its vaccination programme, few will forget the universal sense of relief and hope for the future the vaccine promised for us all.

Twelve months later, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that our booster programme is not moving quite at the same pace as our vaccination programme up until now. Vaccinations remain our primary defence against covid and, in light of the new omicron variant, all the more important – as studies begin to suggest that three doses provide a similar level of antibodies against omicron to that of two doses against other variants.

Certainly, a monumental amount of work has been

Somerton & Frome MP David Warburton done by local NHS services and providers to get jabs in as many arms as possible and I very sincerely thank staff, the NHS itself and our volunteers for their Herculean efforts. But there remain issues in our own part of Somerset – and indeed across the country – in getting those booster jabs to those who need them most.

Many in rural areas, and particularly those who are housebound, have struggled to access the booster jabs they need so badly. Their frustration (and the anxiety of their loved ones who want

them properly protected) has been all too clear to me as they reach out for help. Put simply, our vaccination centres, when compared to the initial rollout of the vaccine, are too few and far between.

There are over 2,500 vaccination locations across England including pharmacies, GPs, vaccine centres and hospital hubs.

But only a small proportion of these centres are in rural areas. There are 431 locations to get the top-up jab in London and only 242 in the entire South West – an area with a population the size of Scotland.

This, and the low number of home vaccination visits, has meant that two-thirds of housebound people remain un-boosted and underprotected. These people are perhaps the most vulnerable, most susceptible and therefore most in need of the additional defence offered by the booster.

More GPs and local pharmacies are needed in the effort to deliver as many boosters as possible to those who are housebound, so at Prime Minister’s Questions, on Wednesday, December 8, I asked the Prime Minister exactly what the Government is doing to improve rural access to the booster for those in need, and I’m continuing the discussion with Ministers from the Department for Health and Social Care next week to ensure my constituents are not disadvantaged.

Somerset has enjoyed a tremendous vaccine programme until now, so I’ll certainly continue to press this vital issue and get us back on track. We must now work together towards a rapid solution and rekindle that glow of optimism we felt a year ago as we watched Margaret Keenan and the country lead the world and make history.

Doing the right thing is still the right thing to do A short article for this edition. I think we’ve all got enough on our plates without great diatribes or political lectures. So, just two points from me: Just to confirm I did not attend, or indeed was invited to, any parties (or nonparties) that took place in and around Westminster last Christmas. I was here in Dorset helping with the running of school testing sites and helping constituents where and when I could. I know, not just from my own inbox but from my own ethics compass that the one thing the British Public hates is political hypocrisy. Blood pressures rises when the fear of ‘do as I say not as I do’ looks to be real. People also

MP for North Dorset Simon Hoare hate being laughed at. The ‘Stratton Video’ was such a thing, and, you know what?

It wasn’t funny. Folk across North Dorset and the country strove to do the right thing because they believed (and they were right to do so) that in so doing they were

protecting themselves, their communities and their loved ones. Many now feel played.

Many have shared tear inducing stories of personal sacrifice for the greater good.

Many just feel let down and mocked.

What can I do?

I think I can do two things: first, I have made my views known with a startling clarity to the powers that be at Westminster that my constituents of North Dorset do not deserve to be laughed and that the operation of Government needs to pull its socks up and pronto and; second I feel I should apologise. Not for anything I have done but for what those I call colleagues have done.

There is no excuse. No ‘get

out of jail free card’ but I am sorry for the hurt, anger and frustration recent events have caused.

Doing the right thing is still the right thing to do. Please continue to follow the rules. It’s hard to do so I know, but they are intended to protect you and those you love.

May I wish each and every one of you a very happy, safe and healthy Christmas. Let the joy of the Christmas Story stir within us all and let the light of Christmas fill the dark days of winter. Might I also wish you all a great 2022 and that all that you hope for your loved ones and yourselves is within your grasp throughout the year. God bless and Happy Christmas!

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MPs’ round-up

Keep in the loop for improvements to rail service Since the facts are changing so very fast, I want the Commons to sit over recess so we can endorse or otherwise the government’s approach in near real time.

It’s vaccination that will get us through this. The PM’s target set on December 12 of around a million jabs a day for the rest of the year is way beyond our best so far. It will require a massive national effort.

I have been following up on my Tisbury station site visit a while ago with ministers.

The primary purpose of the visit with Network Rail and councillors was to work out an approach to the planning application to build the other side of the track. I originally got fired up on this in the summer when I got my ear bent at my roving surgery at the Nadder Centre. I have

MP for South West Wiltshire Dr Andrew Murrison written to the council to say I am unhappy with the application principally because of access which, for the foreseeable future, will be dire.

But the other reason for pacing the ground was to gather intel on the connected

matter of the so-called Tisbury loop. I know all about this as I take the train from Gillingham to London and back every week. I subsequently raised the issue in the Commons suggesting that some of the money being spent on HS2 might be better spent revamping other bits of the rail infrastructure the London to Exeter and London to Bristol via Trowbridge and Salisbury lines for example. A meeting with my good friend the trains minister is now in the diary.

Network Rail perfectly reasonably doesn’t want to commit to facilitating access across its track to the east of the station before a decision has been made on Tisbury’s second platform, an integral part of finally fixing the loop. Without that access I

don’t see how the site to the south of the track can be developed without severely impacting on the three arches access to and from Tisbury.

Great news that will please the many serving and retired soldiers in the area including my eldest daughter. The Army Officer Selection Board at Leighton House Westbury is staying put. The Defence Secretary, a graduate of the then Regular Commissions Board, announced that he had canned plans to move it to Sandhurst. I have been campaigning for it to stay local since I was first elected 20 years ago. Hopefully now its future in Wiltshire is secure.

Here’s to a very merry Christmas and a much, much happier New Year!

I couldn’t vote for 32,000 NHS layoffs We have had to make some difficult decisions as a Parliament this week. I voted against two Covid measures and, as always, I am pleased to share with you my direct insights as to why and the situation.

The two regulations that have now come into law are: 1. You have to present your vaccine certification (or a test) to attend indoor events where over 500 people are attending.

2. If you work in the NHS frontline and are not vaccinated and do not agree to your employment contract conditions changing, you will be dismissed on the 1st April, 2022.

You’re probably wondering: And what is so wrong with these? Fundamentally, these two regulations are about a

MP for West Dorset Chris Loder two-tier society emerging – now based on medical status.

Some fellow citizens do not feel that they can have the vaccine.

There are many reasons why that could be the case. Fear, concern about medical

reaction.

Maybe you were so poorly from your first jab, you don’t want to risk the second. It means that, if this is you, you won’t be able to go to certain places or events.

But when you get to the facts… when you see that up to 32,000 people on the NHS frontline will be dismissed on April 1, 2022, when you see that some people in our community are waiting for five hours for an ambulance.

When you know there are many people still in need of their vaccine booster over the age of 60 as is the case further south in this constituency and when we have only just got the Yeatman Hospital’s MIU reopen in Sherborne and we have some NHS facilities closed in Dorchester –

because of staff shortage.

Am I really going to vote for up to 32,000 frontline NHS worker to be sacked on the 1st of April – the very people that have saved lives and given their all for almost two years – with them knowing that they are at higher risk..?

The answer is no.

It was two years ago that I was elected to represent you and – goodness, what a few years it has been!

It is an enormous honour for me to represent our home on your behalf.

Please get in touch if you are in need of a bellringer or an organist over Christmas – I’m very happy to help you, diary permitting.

Can I finally wish you and your family a very Happy Christmas.

Coming in the New Year: columns by Lib Dem, Labour and Greens

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Announcements IN MEMORIAM

PUBLIC NOTICES MARGARET MARY DAVIES (Deceased) Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 any persons having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the above named, late of Barrow Street Farm, Barrow Street, Mere, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 6AB, who died on 25/10/2021, are required to send written particulars thereof to the undersigned on or before 18/02/2022, after which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to the claims and interests of which they have had notice.

LLOYDS BANK PLC, Lloyds Bank Estate Administration Service PO BOX 5005 Lancing BN99 8AZ

GREETINGS PATRICIA & IVAN HAYTER would like to wish all their family & friends a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year xxx

LANGDON VERONICA HELEN

JULIEN ROLLS

GORDON & JANET LUFFMAN

Died 23-12-2014 Yet another year has passed by without you. I don't know where the time goes, but the sadness doesn't go away.

I think of you all of the time, until we meet again.

Thinking of you on 23rd December, it would have been your 60th birthday. miss you my darling son xx

Losing Gordon on Christmas Day 2020 was tragic and has been hard to bear, we take some comfort in knowing he is reunited with his beloved wife Janet.

We miss them both very much. May they rest in peace and love, together forever

DEATHS LUCY ELIZABETH MARIA JORDAN NEE BULLOCK Lucy died peacefully with Mark beside her after a long illness borne with courage and humour on Friday 28th of November.

She is so sadly missed by her husband Mark, her son Guy, Ann, David, Bruce and Nicola and all the Bullock family.

A “pure” funeral has taken place. Lucy insisted that there should be in her words no fuss, just a Goodbye from family and close friends.

KELLY HUBERT (KNOWN AS JOHN) Passed peacefully away at home on 3rd December 2021, aged 89 years. Much-loved Fiancé of Anne.

He will be greatly missed by family and friends. Funeral Service to be held at St Nicholas’ Church, Corfe Mullen on Wednesday, 22nd December 2021 at 1.30 pm followed by interment in Corfe Mullen Cemetery. All family and friends welcome.

Family flowers only please but donations, if desired, for The Salvation Army.

Personal messages, memories and donations may be made online at www.oharafunerals.co.uk Nicholas O’Hara Funeral Directors Tel: 01202 882134

BARBARA ANN WORMALD formerly Warrington; née Rambridge.

Born in the spring of 1942.

Died peacefully in the winter of 2021.

A Thanksgiving service will be held at St. Andrew’s Church, Castle Cary on Wednesday 22nd December 2021 at 1pm.

Attendees are welcome to wear Christmas jumpers.

The family requests those who wish to express sympathy, consider making a donation to either Parkinson’s UK or Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance in Barbara’s name.

All enquiries c/o A. J. Wakely & Sons, The Old Police Station, Carrington Way, Wincanton, BA9 9JS. Tel: 01963 31310.

A J Wakely& Sons Independent Family Funeral Directors Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

– 24 Hour Service –

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817 Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310 Pre-payment plans available

Please contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

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Announcements DEATHS DELIA MAIDMENT (DEE) 29/11/30 – 10/12/21 (Aged 91) Passed away very peacefully at her home, Coronation Close, Donhead St. Mary.

Now reunited with her husband Peter. She will be greatly missed by the whole family, Three Children and their partners, six grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and one great great grandson, Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

BAUMBER TERENCE Terry peacefully passed away aged 85 at Dorset County Hospital.

Funeral Service will be held at Yeovil Crematorium, 2pm on Thursday 30th December.

Family flowers only please.

Donations in memory of Terry are invited for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and may be sent C/O Bracher Brothers, Newbury, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4QL. Tel: 01747 822494

MARJORIE OLIVE HAYWARD

PHILIP LESLIE HUNT

Roy and Family wish to thank all who attended the funeral service for Marjorie at St. Leonard's Church, Semley.

Also to thank everyone who sent flowers, cards and messages of sympathy.

We would also like to thank all the carers from Agincare who cared so wonderfully for Marjorie, Reverend Kate McFarlane, Bracher Brothers and The Benett Arms for all their help and kindness at this time.

A donation of £327.70 was collected and given to the Somerset and Dorset Air Ambulance.

On 5th December 2021 peacefully in Salisbury District Hospital aged 73 years of Gillingham. A much loved husband to Irene and a loving Dad, who will be sadly missed by all family and friends.

Funeral service takes place at Salisbury Crematorium on Wednesday 5th January at 11am. No flowers please but donations if desired to Countrymen UK may be sent to Merefield & Henstridge, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset. SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532

PERCY GEORGE BUSH CHANDLER GEORGE (JEFF) Passed away peacefully at Dorchester Hospital on 6th December, aged 87 years. Much loved father to Nick, he will be dearly missed by all his family and many friends. Funeral service to be held on Friday, 7th January at 10.30am at Lesley Shand Blandford Service Chapel, all welcome. Family flowers only please, donations if desired to ‘Down’s Syndrome Association’ c/o Lesley Shand Funeral Service, 28 East Street, Blandford Forum DT11 7DR Tel: 01258 453425 or online www.funeraldirector.co.uk/george-chandler

GARY PAYNE On 7th December 2021 peacefully at Joseph Weld Hospice, Dorchester aged 52 years of Fontmell Magna. Much loved son to Margaret and the late Arthur, who will be sorely missed by all family and friends. Private cremation. A memorial service will take place at St Andrew's Church, Fontmell Magna in the New Year, date to be announced. Donations if desired to the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust may be sent to Merefield & Henstridge Funeral Directors, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset. SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532

Suzanne Norton Aged 61 Died 27th December 2019 Chiropractor & Equestrian Taken suddenly ill tending to her horses on Christmas Day Greatly missed by her loving husband I say good morning and good night to you each day, until we are together again All my love, Mack

Passed away peacefully at home on 2th November 2021, aged 90 years.

Much loved husband of the late Pearl Bush and loving father to Josie & Fiona.

The funeral service has taken place.

If you wish to make a donation to Cancer Research UK in memory of Percy you may send a cheque payable to Cancer Research UK to Bracher Brothers Funeral Directors, Newbury, Gillingham, Dorset. SP8 4QL.

PARSONS ELDRYD TURNBULL Aged 82 years of Wincanton. On12th December 2021, peacefully at La Fontana Nursing Home, Martock. A beloved husband, Father, Grumpa, Papa, brother and friend. Funeral Service at St Andrew’s Church, Stoke Trister on Friday 24th December at 10 a.m. followed by interment in the Churchyard. Family flowers only please, donations in memory of Eldryd are being invited for the R.N.L.I. C/O Harold F. Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Telephone (01963) 440367

JOYCE MARION Formerly of Christchurch.

Passed away at Yeovil Hospital on Monday 6th December 2021, aged 67 years. Beloved partner to Richard, a much loved mother to Charlotte, Wayne and Stuart and adored grandmother to Sasha and Keira. Marion will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all her family and friends.

The funeral service will take place at Christchurch Cemetery on Thursday 30th December at 11am.

Family flowers only please. Donations are invited for ‘Friends of Yewstock School’ and may be sent to Miller Bros. & F.P. Butler Ltd., Funeral Directors, 119 Bargates, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 1QH. Telephone 01202 485439.

32

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021

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New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 33

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Food & Drink

Cooking...

with Mrs Simkins

Jansson’s Temptation

Utterly, utterly lovely, Jansson’s Temptation is a traditional part of Christmas in Sweden: the true Scandinavian version is made with pickled sprats, but the warm savoury flavour of melted anchovies works brilliantly.

Make sure everything is cooked thoroughly before it goes into the oven to finish off. The crumb topping is gorgeous but optional: just dot the top with butter instead if you prefer.

Serves 4-6 as a side Approximately 1 kilo potatoes, peeled and cut into ¼ cm slices 1 large onion, diced 2 x 50g tin anchovies in oil Freshly ground black pepper (you won’t need salt) 250-300ml double cream Plus: 50-60g dry breadcrumbs Preheat oven to 160C (fan oven) or equivalent

You will need a greased ovenproof dish Cook the potato slices in boiling water until just tender, drain and pat dry with kitchen paper.

Fry the onion slowly until soft and golden in the oil from one and a half cans of anchovies: reserve the rest for the crumbs.

Snip the anchovies into pieces with kitchen scissors.

Add to the onions for the last few minutes of cooking time.

Allow to disintegrate and disappear into the onions.

Stir the remaining oil through the breadcrumbs.

Cover the bottom of the prepared dish with a thick layer of potatoes, grind on plenty of black pepper and spread the onions and anchovies over the top.

Repeat, making sure you

finish with a potato layer.

Pour over the cream, scatter thickly with the crumbs, and bake for 20 minutes or until golden: absolute heaven!

Wishing you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas. n MrsSimkins.co.uk n twitter.com/ MrsSimkinsCooks email: info@ MrsSimkins.co.uk

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Food & Drink

Here’s what you can do with your leftover sprouts Rebecca Vincent is a nutritionist working in Wincanton and Yeovil

Christmas is fast approaching, and if you are anything like my family, you will always have more than you need for the day.

Next comes the puzzle of how to prepare the leftovers so you don’t feel like you’re eating the same thing every day while you work through the excess. With this recipe we will take two beautiful, if sometimes maligned, vegetables and make a light side to simply complement any leftovers.

Sprouts, the Marmite of the

Enford

Farm Shop Durweston DT11 0QW

meat Now taking turkey andas! orders for Christm Home reared and locally produced meats, game, deli, fruit, veg, free range eggs and lots more.

Follow us on Facebook for all our latest meat pack deals and what’s in fresh that week.

Fresh 昀sh van in the car park Wednesdays 9.30am-2pm Half a pig approx £120 Chicken feeds etc available Open Wednesdays to Saturday 8.30am-4pm.

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traditional festive vegetables, are commonly disliked by children and adults alike, despite their impressive nutritional content. Sprouts are a great source of folate, vitamins C, K and B6, betacarotene, thiamine, potassium, and fibre.

Phytochemicals called glucosinolates, sulphur- and nitrogen- containing compounds, contribute to the pungent taste some find offputting, and add to the anti-oxidant content of Brussels sprouts. Hopefully this recipe will help convert a few to the delights of this beneficial cruciferous vegetable.

Turnips, also members of the cabbage family, are a commonly overlooked root vegetable that have only a 1/3 of the calories of potatoes. Turnips are also a great source of fibre, vitamin C, E and many B vitamins, manganese, copper, potassium, and magnesium.

While most commonly eaten cooked, turnips can be eaten raw and are lovely in this tasty slaw.

Sprout and turnip slaw (serves 2-4) 160g sprouts 1 small turnip 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp mustard (wholegrain or Dijon) Pinch of salt and pepper Optional extras: chives, toasted walnuts or chestnuts, blue cheese Take the outer leaves, and any remaining stalk off the sprouts and finely slice.

Peel the turnip and cut into thin slices. Then stack a few of the slices on top of each other and cut into fine matchsticks.

Mix together the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, and salt and pepper.

Coat the vegetables, mixing well, serve with mixed leaves and your leftovers from the big day, be that turkey, ham, or nut roast.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! n Rebecca Vincent BSc (Hons) BANT registered nutritionist 07515 019430

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 35

blackmorevale.net

Items for sale Flugelhorn with case, vgc, hardly ever used. £175 ono 07964 307869.

Ladies’ and gents’ cycles x 2 as new £45 each ONO 07716 207150.

Hohner 12 openings Chromatic Harmonica Boxed No 270. £25. 01258 861032.

Hohner acoustic guitar Vienna 820 model. £45.

01258 861032.

Wooden cot with drop-down side (inc. waterproof mattress). Full size. Easily dismantled. Photo available. £35. 01963 362 803.

A 1970s Hammond Organ to be given to a music enthusiast, in working order. ( 2 or 3 keys need attention) Dimensions; H35" D26" L43". A photo is available.

Ring Carolyn on 01963 440344.

Upright piano. Nice condition and sound. Free due to house move. New owner collects. 01963 34532.

Lloyd Loom laundry basket

size 24" h x 14" x 15" hexagon shape, yellow, £15 01985 844606.

Portable amplifier, 240V50/ 60HZ30W. Equalization, reverb/H'phone, 2 mics silver gold. £50 ono 01747 824455.

White baby bath (little used) £4. plz call 07843 725938.

Futon sofa bed frame. converts to double bed.

Excellent condition (no mattress) Ideal for spare £25ono 07843 725938.

Cot/bed, white in very good condition. £45 harrietatwood 09@gmail.com.

2 pairs Dr Marten boots/ shoes size 46/11 new unworn £50. petecrutchfeather @gmail.com.

Deer hunter trousers beating/ shooting size waist 44 new unworn. £45 petecrutchfeather@gmail.co m.

Men’s Timberland leather walking boots in brown, size 9 worn once. £50 07523 564678.

Chainsaw forestry safety clothing size large.

Unwanted present still in original packaging unused bargain at £49. 100% perfect 07999 450348.

Small dk oak kneehole desk 9 drawers 122cmw 74cmh £40. Cream chest 3 drawers 78cmw 74cm t £35 tel 07971 902353.

Folding table tennis table, 9ft x 5ft. £50 Buyer collects from Sherborne. 07890 451996.

Fireplace hamper £20 (it’s full of goodies): fire-rope, stove-thermometer, Glasscleaner, fire-cement and lots more 07393 573241 (Wincanton-area).

Skamolex (stove-bricks) Fire-boards for sale £15 High density or medium £10, 07393 573241 (Wincanton area) great for fire-bricks or heat-shielding. (Edges not perfect).

Royal Doulton Greenbriar dinner and tea service. 68 pieces including coffee pot.

£35 01258 821301.

Dusty pink two seater sofa bed 50ono 07710 226286.

Drapers sheepskin gent’s slippers dark brown size 10 Never worn boxed £28 01258 861032.

Medium sized, pair of beige upholstered arm chairs, good condition, free to collect 07555 524290.

Flymo Lawnrake Compact. £30. 07580 510021.

Oak writing bureau. £50.

07580 510021.

Smart kitchen chairs x 4 £50 – 01258 458484.

Men’s evening suit, waist 36”, very good condition £20 01202 677607.

Kids Pedal Pals Galaxia Bike 14 inch wheel Size, excellent condition, with new stabilisers. £50 Bruton 07707 845732.

Stereo set with jpw speakers in working order rather dusty been well loved in good condition. £45ono. Cameron 07549 112851.

NEW HANDMADE PINE BED FRAMES, thirty years’ experience, delivered free Yeovil area, from £290.

Graham 07969 869774

ITALIAN NATUZZI LEATHER SOFA, Soft red, immaculate condition, £500 Call 07588 053555

CUT GLASS, good selection including large trifle bowls & vases, large stone jug 14" high, large purple crackle glass vase 10" tall , Ramekin small dishes and various pieces of dark Denby items. Decorated cream Wrought Iron screen for indoor or outdoor use approx 6' tall.

Tel 01963 32627

DARK WOOD GATE LEG DINING TABLE, 4 x 3, 4 chairs and matching carver £150, dark wood 2 draw Welsh dresser £110 Tel 01935 83599

MEDOAK DRESSER vgc £75 round table 4chairs £40

BABY TREND JOGGER. Expedition. £175.

BUGGY. Mamas and Papas Kato. £45.

Call 07798 557730

3 DOG CAGES, BIKE ROLLERCONE QUANTUM, CAR FRIDGE, LARGE NEW LAMP. 01747 838142

Freeads up to £50: classified@blackmorevale.net

EVENTS GUIDE n A free event for adults is being held at Sherborne Library in January.

‘Walter Raleigh: A Life in 10 Objects’ with Cindy Chant will be held on Friday, January 21 from 3pm-4pm.

Booking is essential – visit Eventbrite or call 01935 812683.

Government covid guidelines will apply.

WANTED OLD BOOKS BOUGHT. Will call by appointment entirely without obligation.

Bristow & Garland 01747 855666

To advertise call 01963 400186 n The Sherborne District Gardeners’ Association will be meeting on Thursday, January 13 at 2.30pm in the Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne.

A member of the Castle Gardens team will showcase an illustrated talk on Success With Houseplants. Visitors welcome at £2. More information from Richard Newcombe 01935 389375.

Tuesday 4 January 2022 7.30 pm SEASIDE RAILWAYS- AN ILLUSTRATIVE TALKSpeaker Mike Webber.

Cranborne Village Hall Water Street Cranborne BH21 5PZ Refreshments Guests £2.50

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New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021

blackmorevale.net

Education Yeovil College University Centre welcomed students to Westlands Entertainment Venue to celebrate the longawaited graduation ceremony.

The rare award of an Honorary Fellowship was given to Joanna Roundell Greene for her exceptional contributions to our local community and joins an exclusive membership of Yeovil College fellows.

Friends, family and key partners, including guest speaker Nick Whitney, Mayor of Yeovil Cllr Evie Potts-Jones and councillors watched as students graduated from a wide range of qualifications including Honours Degrees, Foundation Degrees, Diplomas, Professional Certificates and Postgraduate qualifications.

A select number of students were recognised alongside the graduation, for achievements in engineering, childcare and sporting excellence.

Student speaker Tim Osborn said: “We have been students and staff together through one of the largest changes in teaching ever. Learning from desks, sofas, kitchens and gardens around the country, receiving teaching delivered from spare rooms, dining

WELL DONE: Students at the Yeovil College Graduation Ceremony

Graduates congratulated at college’s awards ceremony tables and anywhere else in the house.

“Whether in the business of a family home or the silence of living alone, each one of us has stood and faced a unique situation with unique challenges. Staff and students alike have had to be glued to screens for hours on end. Some have thrived... some have struggled through. Whichever was the case, together we have proved that we are adaptable, persistent, strong and capable of big things. For

that we should all be proud.”

Mark Bolton, Principal and CEO of Yeovil College, said: “This is a graduation like no other in our history. After a significant gap of being able to be together in the same room, cancelled events and postposed celebrations, today we are celebrating the successes of two groups, our 2020 and our 2021 cohort.

“I have no doubt that all speakers today will reflect on the challenge of the last two years. You have been through a time like no other,

but your tenacity, resilience and sheer determination has got you to this point.

“You have persevered, you have adapted, you have stepped up.

“You have done it; you have achieved all that you truly deserve and today we celebrate each and every one of you.

“Your graduation ceremony may feel like the final step of your Yeovil College University Centre journey, but this is a connection that will last a lifetime.”

Headteacher welcomes positive inspection by Ofsted Ofsted has praised staff at Sherborne Primary saying: “Leaders are determined that all pupils reach their full potential” and that POTENTIAL: Pupils at “parents are Sherborne Primary overwhelmingly positive commended by inspectors about the academic and who said they were pastoral provision confident, mature, polite provided”.

The school was inspected in and caring. The report highlights that “they October, and received a develop a positive ‘good’ rating, maintaining understanding of respect the high standards seen and tolerance recognising when they were last that there are a variety of inspected in 2012.

Pupils themselves were also cultures and beliefs. They

understand that people are different, but that it is good to be different”.

Headteacher Ian Bartle said: “I am always so proud of the wonderful children at our caring school and wish to thank my staff and governors, who do their utmost to support our Sherborne Primary community.”

Sherborne Primary is a founding member of SAST, a multi-academy trust with 17 schools across Dorset and South Somerset.

Colin Sinclair, CEO of SAST, said: “Everyone within the SAST family of schools is absolutely thrilled that Ofsted have recognised that the children at Sherborne Primary School receive a good quality of education. The tremendously positive words of praise and acknowledgement for the way the staff at Sherborne Primary care for the children, during the Ofsted verbal feedback session, make me very proud.”

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 37

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Church Shaftesbury Team Ministry n Tuesday December 21, 7pm Carol Service at St James’ Christmas Eve December 24: Crib Service 4.00pm St Peter’s First Communion of Christmas 6.00pm St Peter’s Midnight Mass 11.30pm Motcombe n Christmas Day December 25: Christmas Communion 9.30am St Peter’s Christmas Communion 9.30am Motcombe Christmas Communion 10.00am St James’ Christmas Communion 11.15am Compton Abbas Christmas Communion 11.15am Melbury Abbas n Sunday December 26: 10.00 eam Communion at St John’s, Enmore Green n Sunday January 2: 9.30am St Peter’s Breakfast Church 9.30am St James’ Parish Communion 11.15am Enmore Green Parish Communion 11.15am Margaret Marsh Matins 6.00pm Motcombe Evening Worship for Epiphany Team Office: office@ShaftesburyCofE.org.uk / 01747 853060 Visit our website at www.facebook.com/ ShaftesburyCofE Benefice of Hazelbury Bryan and the Hillside Parishes n Friday December 24 Christmas Eve 6.30 pm Mappowder Carol Service 10.00 pm Hazelbury Bryan Holy Communion 10.00 pm Woolland Holy Communion n Christmas Day December 25 9.00am Ibberton All Age Eucharist 10.00am Hazelbury Bryan Christmas Praise 10.30am Mappowder Christmas Praise 10.30am Fifehead Neville Holy Communion n Sunday December 26 10am Hazelbury Bryan

n Christmas Eve December 24 Crib/Christingle at 4pm Holy Communion 11.30 pm Christmas Day December 25 There is a Holy Communion service at St. Peter’s, Stourton Caundle at 11am n Sunday January 2 Holy Communion at 10 am www.facebook.com/StalbridgeC hurch St. Mary’s, Stalbridge Please join us for any of the following services: n Sherborne Primary's Carol Service at Sherborne Abbey. After being unable to hold the annual event last year the children were very excited to perform for their parents in the stunning surroundings of the Abbey. Pictured is Rev Leslie McCreadie who led the service and who has also given tours of the Abbey to Year 4 children this term

Benefice Service n Sunday January 2 Epiphany 9.00am Mappowder Holy Communion 10.30am Hazelbury Bryan Morning Prayer 11.00 am Ibberton Holy Communion 6.30pm Belchalwell Evening Prayer n Sunday January 9 Baptism of Christ 10.30 am Mappowder Morning Praise 10.30 am Fifehead Neville Holy Communion 6.30pm Hazelbury Bryan Evening Prayer Sherborne Abbey n Christmas Eve December 24 3pm and 5pm, Crib Services and Lighting of the Tree, 11.30pm, Midnight Mass – The First Eucharist of Christmas.

Longburton n Christmas Eve, December 24 4pm, Crib Service, 11.30pm, Midnight Mass Shaftesbury Quakers (Society of Friends) We meet for one hour each Sunday from 10.30am at the Quaker Meeting House, Abbey Walk, Shaftesbury SP7 8BB. All are welcome Blandford Methodist Church You are warmly invited to our Sunday Services starting at 10.45am.

The over 60s are also invited to our Lunch Club on Tuesdays and Fridays at £4 per person. Please request your reservation by phone.

Everyone is welcome to our coffee morning for refreshments on Thursdays from 10am till noon.

We are anxious to offer help to those in need.

Please leave your message on the phone and we will return your call within 24 hours.

May God bless you all.

John Cornish Steward at Blandford Methodist Church.

07799 516 735 Catholic services Marnhull and Gillingham Services at the Catholic churches of Our Lady’s Mill Lane Marnhull and St Benedict’s Gillingham n Christmas Eve December 24 Midnight Mass n Christmas Day December 25 9.30 Mass n Boxing Day Sunday 26 December 26 9.30 Mass (no evening Mass) Gillingham Sundays of December Mass at 11am n Christmas Eve December 24 8.30pm Christmas Mass St. Mary’s, Stalbridge Please join us for any of the following services:

The Lower Stour Benefice and Langton Long (Find us on www. achurchnearyou.com) Everyone welcome.

December Christmas Services Lower Stour Benefice Blandford St Mary Parish Church n Sunday December 26 9:30am – Said Communion Charlton Marshall Parish Church n December 24 Christmas Eve 11:30pm – Midnight Communion by Candlelight n Christmas Day December 25 9:30am – Family Service Spetisbury Parish Church n December 24 Christmas Eve 4pm – Christingle (Ideal for children and families) n Christmas Day December 25 9:30am – Christmas Communion Service n Thursday December 23, 4pm - Storytelling with Tea at St Nicholas, Durweston n Friday December 24, 10am Holy Communion at Holy Trinity, Stourpaine n Friday December 24, 4pm Crib Service (booking essential) at St Peter's, Pimperne n Friday December 24 11.30pm - Midnight Mass at St Peter's, Pimperne n Friday December 24 11.30pm - Midnight Mass at St Nicholas, Durweston n Saturday December 25 10am - Christmas Communion at Holy Trinity, Stourpaine n Sunday December 26 9.15am - Holy Communion at St Peter’s,

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New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021

blackmorevale.net

Home & Garden SEASONED HARDWOOD LOGS: £150 double load, £85 half load.

01258 880892 / 07980 036250 GOOD QUALITY SEASONED OAK & ASH LOGS Barn stored, £170 for 8ft by 6ft trailer load, Delivery free within 10 mile radius of Templecombe.

07773 254174, ANDY

Soil Testing Service Professional laboratory soil tests

• gardeners • landscapers • small holders Wild昀ower meadows, veg, fruit, 昀ower, new & established gardens.

Fast, accurate & easy to interpret soil report within 7 days

www.soilvalues.com 07598 714 082

MAN WITH MICRODIGGER & 1.5ton digger. Garden clearance, patios, fencing, decking, landscaping, driveways.

30+ years’ experience.

Call Ken on 07882 441873 or 01963 32034 GARDEN RESCUE TEL 01747 821 726

TREEWISE

GUTTERS CLEARED Windows, fascias, soffits, gutters cleaned, Repairs, free estimates 07788 376752 ASBESTOS REMOVAL Garages, sheds, leantos, roofing and cladding. Collection and dismantling by registered hazardous waste carrier.

Call 07973 444620 or 01722 414478

Experts in all aspects of TREE SURGERY, HEDGECUTTING & STUMP REMOVAL

CLASSIFIED ADS: 01963 400186

NPTC qualified & fully insured No job too small, Friendly, personal advice and free quotations.

Make a wise choice and call David Merefield today on 01747 850906 / 07966 522361

DISPLAY ADS: 07714 289409

DISPLAY ADVERTISING: 07714 289409 CLASSIFIED ADS: 01963 400 186 classified@blackmorevale.net

TRADITIONAL & MODERN

UPHOLSTERY TEL: 07968 983176

EMAIL: JAK.KIFF@HOTMAIL.COM

LOGS HARDWOOD LOGS, kiln dried, locally sourced, free delivery, order online logfuel.co.uk Tel 07983415438

DESIGN SERVICE FOR DISPLAY ADS: 07714 289409

Season Barn Dry Logs

L DAVIS AND SONS Garden clearance and garden design.

Concrete bases, patios, gravel, fencing and much more. We also deliver compost, pots, bark, logs and other gardening products.

01458 241230 or 07950 261510

Landscaping, Groundworks and Garden Maintenance, Specialists in Patios, Fencing, Driveways, Walling, Ponds, Turfing Free Quotations

amralphlandscaping@gmail.com Tel: 01747 850544 www.ralphlandscaping.co.uk Mobile: 07921 637227

20 miles radius of Sherborne

Tel: 01935 815534

Serving all your interior & exterior maintenance needs

01747 826656 franksgroup.co.uk

BUILDING MAINTENANCE

LTD

FRANKS MAINTENANCE GROUP

•Alterations •Renovations •Carpentry •Kitchen Fitting •Bathroom Fitting •Wall/Floor Tiling •Plastering •Hard Landscaping •Painting & Decorating •Plumbing •Electrical

LES BENHAM: GARDEN PROPERTY MAINTENANCE. All hedge/tree work/ rubbish clearance, gravel driveways/ pressure washing, patio and fencing work. Fully insuranced/ free quotes. 01258 458849/07788 907343 lesbenham@yahoo.co. uk / check a trade

• Plant Hire • Groundwork’s • Treatment plants • Concreting • Landscaping • Driveways Mobile 07773 178 083 wrightgroundworks@gmail.com TOPSOIL always available. Barn stored, screened or as-dug. Small or large amounts. 01963 363208/ 07836 747895

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 39

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Home & Garden

Gardening...

...with botanist Dr Dave Aplin

Christmas kiss under the plant parasite Parasites don’t normally spring to mind at Christmas time, unless you have extremely annoying relatives. One parasite is intimately associated with the festive season and warmly welcomed into our homes, the welcome pilferer is mistletoe. Mistletoe is no ordinary plant; it lacks roots and only survives by tapping into a host tree to steal water and nutrients. Suitable tree victims include apple, lime and poplar, more rarely hawthorn, field maple and willow. Mistletoe is rather scarce in Dorset, probably due to less host trees in the county and a practice of grubbing out old apple orchards. It may also be due to a lower number of mistletoe-feeding birds, such as mistle thrush and blackcap that facilitate this plant’s spread. The good news, if you have potential host trees in your garden, you have an opportunity to grow your very own mistletoe.

Mistletoe, it must be warned, is not the easiest plant to establish, but your chances will improve significantly by understanding what makes this plant so special.

There is only one way to propagate this white berried evergreen and that’s by seed, but forget the seed compost, sowing mistletoe requires a very different technique, possibly unlike anything you have previously grown.

More of that a little later, but first let’s look at how mistletoe seeds are distributed in nature.

During winter months, the white berries of this parasitic plant attracts birds to feast.

The single seeded fruit comprise two distinct layers, the outer that some birds find irresistible, and an inner

better weather for although it can make its own seeds to germinate. energy through its green Carefully remove leaves and stems which seeds from the berries photosynthesise. It is worth and gently position highlighting that mistletoe is them on the underside poisonous, so once in the of a branch the home, keep it out of reach diameter of your index from young children and any finger. Positioning pets that enjoy munching STAG PARTY: Misteltoe at Kings seeds on the foliage.

Stag Picture: DAVE APLIN undersides of stems The next step is to be very gluey pulp called viscin that helps shield them from seed patient, mistletoe grows very surrounds the seed. Viscin is predators. It is a good idea to slowly for the first three or incredibly sticky and has sow several seeds, not only four years of life, but been used in the manufacture due to a rather hit or miss thereafter once well of birdlime, the despicable success rate but also because established in the host tree its substance applied to plants are either male or growth rate speeds up branches to ensnare small female and you need to have dramatically. With good birds. Fortunately, in natural at least one of each to get fortune, within four years concentrations, viscin is no berries. you should be rewarded with more than an annoyance for Within a few weeks seeds your own crop of winter birds, but a vital component should start germinating. At berries and perhaps entice a for successful mistletoe first, they develop a hungry mistle thrush to your reproduction. specialised green root-like garden.

Mistle thrushes are specialist structure called a haustoria.

Wishing all readers a safe feeders on the white berries Its role to attach itself to the and happy festive season. and swallow fruits whole, tree’s bark defecating the waste while thus perched on branches. Other infecting opportunistic birds, such as it. From Fully Insured blackcap consume the outer that point, FREE No-obligation flesh then wipe their beaks the quotes onto nearby branches to rid parasite them of the gooey viscin starts to One off cuts to total garden re-design with seed attached. In both pilfer the Grass/Hedge Cutting t Jet Washing t Patios t Paths cases, and with good fortune, essential Driveways t Fencing t Concreting t Drainage Estate Management t Garden Clearance the seed adheres to a branch. ingredients Landscape Excellence As the viscin hardens it and water literally becomes stuck to the for Call 01258 880930 / 07860 612445 Reliable Service with Quality Results branch. This represents the survival, seed being sown and where it will begin to grow, hence the need for no compost!

Mimicking this is key to success in your own garden, but don’t be too hasty. My first attempts failed, because I was too eager to sow seeds.

To be successful, keep berries in a light, cool location because if kept in A dedicated space to work or relax in, amongst the greenery and the dark the seeds will die. birdsong of your garden, whatever the weather.

Placing them into a container Fairfield garden rooms are clad externally to your specification and of water inside a cold highly insulated to give you a comfortable, energy-efficient space – greenhouse is perfect until room, studio or office – to enjoy at any time of the year. the longer days of February Call Sally on 07799 086 400 or 07398 224 844 and March bring (hopefully) info@fairfieldoutdoorliving.co.uk www.fairfieldoutdoorliving.co.uk

SELA

LANDSCAPE SOLUTIONS

Garden rooms for all seasons...

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New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021

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Home & Garden

Treecare Co. Tree Specialists TREE STUMP REMOVAL

Tree Tree Surgery.

Surgery. Reductions.

Reductions. Felling.

Felling.

Hedge Trimming.

Stump Grinding.

Hedge Trimming. Stump Grinding.

Woodchip Woodchip supplies. supplies.

Family run business Family run business since since 1946 1946 Tel: 01963 250005 Tel: 01963 250005 Mobile: Mobile: 07976 07976 934 934 252 252 www.bandgdown.co.uk

Pruning, bracing, shaping.

Preservation of mature trees.

Hedge cutting. Trees supplied & planted.

Landscaping & maintenance.

Heavy duty winch hire available.

Tree Surgery BS.3998 Contractors to local authorities.

North Dorset Tree Surgeons

WOOD CHIPPINGS FOR SALE

We carry out all aspects of tree surgery, hedge cutting and stump grinding.

Ash dieback specialist.

Fully insured and NPTC quali昀ed.

Free Quotes & Advice Tel/Fax: Shafts 853512 Mobile: 07831 262083

Call Will today on 01747 854517 or 07872 970741

Established in 1976

At TreeCare we care...

We Clear, Clean and Move.

Free quote on viewing We offer a range of property clearance services with a reliable and efficient clearance service that takes the stress out of house clearance, downsizing, decluttering, or clearing unwanted items or rubbish.

We will clear everything from single items to whole house contents.

We clear houses, garages, and gardens as well as general rubbish clearance. We have a hoarding expert who can assist in decluttering and clearance of hoarded properties. On occasion we do buy items or can advise if these should go to auction.

Where our waste goes

We try and recycle as much as we can however some of the items cleared are not reusable. In these circumstances our clearance waste is split into categories of household waste, wood, rubble, metals, and hazardous waste such as old refrigeration units, paint and mattresses.

We use 35yard containers for household waste, wood and metals, with most of our waste going to Canford Recycling centre, near Wimborne or Dorset Waste Partnership.

Professional

Experienced

Reliable

MJ HPPS LTD Plumbing and Heating Contractors General Plumbing Oil/Natural Gas/LPG Installations Bathroom and Kitchen Installations New Boilers and Cylinders Underfloor Heating & Renewables Landlord Safety Certificates Office: 01747 829222 Mobile: 07900916810 Email: mike@mjheat.co.uk

Contact Chris: 07580 193 352 or Kim: 07467 070 960 Email: mnclearance@live.co.uk www.maidennewtonclearance.co.uk Fully Licensed & Insured Waste Carriers License no: CDBU204730

All workmanship guaranteed, along with manufacturers’ warranties.

blackmorevale.net

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 41

Home & Garden

Merry Christmas from all of us at Homemaker!

Create your perfect kitchen with our designers in store Personal service – we know not everybody wants the same, we’re here to help you choose.

Shaftesbury: 01747 851 476 Longmead Industrial Estate, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8PL

Specialists who will work with you to design a kitchen that covers practicality, functionality and more.

Warminster: 01985 219 200 5-6 George Street, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 8QA

A kitchen that is beautiful not just to look at, but to be in.

www.myhomemaker.co.uk

Your local kitchen and appliance specialists...

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New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021

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Home & Garden

TRADITIONAL BUILDING SPECIALISING IN STRUCTURAL WORKS AND FINE FINISHING CONSERVATION AND REPAIR OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS

• Lime Works • Masonry and Cob • Plastering and Brickworks • Façade Cleaning and Paint Removal - Thermatech • Oak Framing • Roofing including Thatching and Stone Roof Tiling • Sash Refurbishment and Joinery Workshop • Stone and Wood Flooring • Decorating and Interior Finishing

Tel: 01747 832386

• Kitchen, Bathroom and Bespoke Fittings

enquiry@stswithun.com www.stswithun.com

Wilton Flooring

RUG SALE NOW ON 10% OFF ALL RUGS CLEARANCE RUGSUP TO 30% OFF IN STOCK NOW

Tel: 01722 742 733

FREE Estimates & Free Local Delivery on all carpets & hard floors

The Guild, Wilton Shopping Village, King Street, Wilton, Salisbury, SP2 ORS Monday-Saturday: 9.30-5.30, Sunday: 10.30-4.30 www.wiltoncarpets.co.uk

Don’t forget to bring in your sizes for an instant quote

blackmorevale.net

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 43

Home & Garden

COUNTRY IMAGE IS BACK Our newly refurbished showroom across 2 floors of Kitchens, Bathrooms and Bedrooms offers the very best in innovative design.

The friendly in-house design team are proud to be widely renowned for their high quality, personable service and extensive product and design knowledge, ensuring our customers are always

getting the very best from their spaces. Country Image is back, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Call the team on 01258 454 821 or email enquiries@ countryimage.co.uk to speak to one of our expert designers.

Showroom open by appointment only basis.

7 Sunrise Business Park, Higher Shaftesbury Road, Blandford Forum, DT11 8ST www.countryimage.co.uk Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm by pre-arranged appointment only.

Weekends available upon request

K I T C H E N S , B AT H R O O M S , B E D R O O M S

PA R T O F T H E M AY F L O W E R G R O U P

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New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021

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Local Services ROOFING

Based in Wincanton

Tel: 07931 583614 valesideroofing@hotmail.com Find us on

AERIALS & Satellite Direct

• Felt Roofing Specialist • Tiling, Slating and UPVC • Velux Windows • No Job Too Small • Insurance Work • Leadwork Friendly Service Free Estimates Mobile 07973 248319 scott@scottmilesroofing.co.uk

CHRIS LANGLEY FLAT ROOFING BLANDFORD Specialist in Hi-performance felt & GRP. All of our work is GUARANTEED. All types of roofing professionally carried out.

PERSONAL SUPERVISION OF ALL ORDERS.

FREE D AN QUOTESATES IM T S E

01258-450879 | 07855-402799 Clangley12@aol.com

All Size Skips Available Full muckaway service available, small or large loads inc grab lorries Tipping facilities at our premises Sand, gravel & top soil supplied Loose or in Bulk Bags

SK I

PH

IR E

Tom the Roofer

Repairs & Installations - 7 days per week No VAT - Prompt & Friendly Service

I cover all aspects of roofing work, gutter replacement, cleaning and repair work

TOM MOSS Mob: 07931 727 961 Email: tommoss50@aol.com

t:01747 854887 m:07525 755 696 DESIGN SERVICE AVAILABLE FOR DISPLAY ADS: CALL 07714 289409

MUSIC PIANO TUNING, repairs, sales of reconditioned pianos. Julian Phillips BA CGLI. 01258 471194

SHERBORNE GUITAR TUITION: 01935 389655 ahiahel@live.com

WASTE DISPOSAL/ CLEARANCE HOUSE CLEAR HOU CL ARAN ANCE CE Plus; Sheds, Attics, Garages & Gardens Quality Items Offset Registered Waste Carrier

T F PLANT

Trade and DIY welcome Ring for enquiries

Gillingham 01747 826107 Trusted family run business

Tel: 01258 440838 Or: 07853 275379 enquiries@back2market.com

Rob’s Clearance House, shed, and site clearance Rubbish removed Recycling carried out Good/interesting items bought for cash Friendly and reliable

01747 839751 07956 414896

or

Serving the West Country for 40 years SEPTIC TANK EMPTYING SERVICE The same team are still providing Pete White’s friendly service

Clive Smith Ltd.

Clive Smith Ltd. SKIP HIRE SKIP HIRE

SKIP HIRE SKIP HIRE AREAS COVERED ALLALL AREAS COVERED ALL SIZE OF SKIP ALL SIZE OF SKIPAVAILABLE AVAILABLE PLEASE RING PLEASE RING

CLIVE SMITH CLIVE SMITH ANYTIME ANYTIME

01963 370924 email: orders@wessexwaste.co.uk

01258 166 01258860 860 166 or or 07974 07974 822 822 243243

Local Services COMPUTERS AND TECH OAK DIGITAL SOLUTIONS: Help and training for all your home technology. Marnhull & all surrounding areas. Call Chris on 07758 032062, oakdigitalsolutions@gmail.com oakdigitalsolutions.co.uk COMPUTER MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS: Purchase advice, virus removal, new PC setup/ installation, internet connection, upgrades, computer/software tuition. Call Gregg on 01963 370713

DECORATION, FLOORING & CARPENTRY

PAINTING & DECORATING Local, Quality Painter & Decorator 35 Years Experience Free Quotes • No VAT Call Richard on

Home: 01258 880670 Mob: 07825 512 627

DEREK ETHERINGTON BSc(Hons).

PC/Mac, Repairs, Networks, Websites, Tuition. Free local callout. 01963362403 07855287150 dcenet.co.uk

Vale Computers Your local computer specialist Any computer related problem fixed: Blank screen, slow computer, upgrades, virus removal, broadband setup and data recovery.

Fixed charge repairs – no call out charge.

New and second-hand computers for sale.

MS CompTIA+ certified engineers.

Ring 01258 880442 Email: Valecomputers.2006@btinternet.com Open Hours: Mon to Fri: 8.30am to 4.30pm Sat: 9.00am to 1.00pm

‘Your home in safe and capable hands’

Painting services, property maintenance, domestic/ commercial, inside or out.

Fully insured/free quotes.

01258 458849/ 07788 907343. lesbenham@ yahoo.co.uk / check a trade

LOCKSMITHS & DOORS

Quantum Locksmiths •24 Hour Call Out •UPVC Repairs •Key Cutting •Lock Changes •DBS Checked •No VAT Call: 07900-196427 01258 721236 Email: info@quantumlocksmiths.co.uk

Get connected. Stay connected.

WiFi • Email • FaceTime • WhatsApp Skype • Google • eBay • Amazon Facebook • Twitter • Instagram Laptop Tablet Smartphone desktop PC

• Friendly, patient, and knowledgeable help • Keep in touch with family, friends and colleagues for free over the Internet • Sell online easily, quickly and reliably

• Buying advice, setup and installation I’m Phil Hudson, your local tech expert and trouble-shooter. I’ll come to you and sort things out, at a time that suits you. Or you can drop off your machine at my workshop for quick, efficient care and maintenance.

Call me now on 07805 783147

LES BENHAM:

Follow us on

Follow us on

Sectional Doors / Roller Doors / Up and Over Side Hinged / Personnel Doors Spares & Accessories Installation / Servicing Automation / 2 into 1 Conversions Insulated Garage Doors Call 01963 363782 or 01258 472830 www.dorsetgaragedoors.co.uk

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Local Services GARDENING & LANDSCAPING (see also Home & Garden) For all your fencing and decking needs

Machine or Hand-Lay Local Authority Approved ESTABLISHED 1988

All aspects of Surfacing Roads Drives Footpaths Drop Kerbs Resin Bond Drives

Concrete & Floor Screed Mixed On site Any Quantity Delivered Sand Gravel Stone Cement Blocks etc Supplied Loose or in Big Bags Good Quality Top Soil in Stock

Now available... Rockery Stone

Competitive Rates 01747 853687 or 01747 855630 www.hardimanconcrete.co.uk

Call for a free quote 01747 820234 The Depot, Longcross, Warminster BA12 6LJ

info@cgtarmac.co.uk

www.cgtarmac.co.uk

(Established 1997)

Professional and experienced tree surgery and landscaping services to residential and commercial customers. We also offer a range of equipment for hire.

Available 24/7 Free quotations Fully qualified team Full public liability insurance Safe Contractor Approved

Tel: 01747 228484 Mob: 07770 833734 www.valetreesurgeons.com Vale Tree Surgeons Limited, Gillingham SP8 4LX

GROUNDWORKS For all aspects of domestic outdoor improvements, site clearance, concrete breaking, extension footings, drive construction and resurfacing, concrete bases, drainage, landscaping and disposal of spoil. 1 metre wide mini digger and 6 tonne excavator with experienced operator. Established over 35 years.

For complete professional service and advice with a free no obligation quote, call Graeme Sheaf: 07968 968 869 Wincanton graemesheaf@hotmail.co.uk

SPECTRUM PEST CONTROL Rodents, insects and all other pests humanely dealt with.

Bees re-homed if possible.

Quali昀ed and Experienced Technician. Member of the British Pest Control Association T: 01258 721462 M: 07379 405080 enquiries@spectrumpestcontrol.co.uk

TREE & GARDEN SERVICES 07435 220238/ 01258 858888 Fully insured quality service provided

Forest View Tree & Garden Services t 25 years’ experience

07831 091239

forestview01@aol.com

R&W FENCING SERVICES: All types of fencing, agriculture and domestic. 01258 880892 / 07980 036250

TREEWISE DRYSTONE WALLING AND LANDSCAPING yenstonewalling.co.uk 01963 371123

Crown Garden Care EX- DISPLAY SHEDS, stables, field, shelters, summerhouses, offices, workshops, agricultural Tel 01935 891195

CLEANING SERVICES

Sherborne Fencing Ltd Tel: 01935 814272 Mobile: 07814246332

t Registered waste carrier t Free estimates t All areas covered t No job too small

ALL IRONWORK Handrails, gates, railings, repairs., restoration.

01258 880301

Tree Surgeons

PEST CONTROL

FENCING AND REPAIRS, No VAT, Call Dave Whitehand on 07549 151799

Closeboard, panels & sheds supplied and fitted.

Gates made to measure.

Lawn Service, Fencing, Hedges, Tree Work etc.

All Garden Maintenance Services Domestic & Commercial.

Fully Insured & Reliable.

Tel: 01747 821726 07904 355 921

Experts in all aspects of TREE SURGERY, HEDGECUTTING & STUMP REMOVAL NPTC qualified & fully insured No job too small, Friendly, personal advice and free quotations.

Make a wise choice and call David Merefield today on 01747 850906 / 07966 522361

TAXIS

SHINY STOVES OVEN CLEANING

JASMINE CARS TAXI SERVICE 07495 922821

Ovens,Ranges, Aga’s, etc.

Independent Family Run Business Covering The Blackmore Vale Area

Comfortable, spacious and clean estate cars.

For hospitals, airports, seaports and local work.

Distance no object, day trips and special occasions.

Lady driver available. For safe Covid-aware transport.

Tel 01935 592461 Mob 07875 272401 www.shinystoves.com

5 star Google rating. JUST ASK! www.jasminecarsdorset.co.uk jasmine.cars@btinternet.com

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 47

blackmorevale.net

Local Services ARCHITECTURAL, BUILDING & ELECTRICAL

John Banham’s

Property Service REFRESHING Bathrooms & Kitchens

Specialists in all external and internal lime work.

Lime crete flooring.

All aspects of traditional building.

Call Dave or Dan 07492 181788

Oak Timber Framing Bespoke Timber Building Traditional Building Specialist inc All Building WorkGAll aspects of Lime External and Internal Rendering/Plastering/Repointing Lime Crete Flooring Chimney Rebuilds and Repointing

djwelsh@btinternet.com

!"# #$ % $%! & ' $#( Development appraisals Planning applications Appeals Planning drawings Advice

01747 822162

Our advice is always free

enquiries@bell-architectural.co.uk

Quantity Surveying Estimating Surveying Building Dispute Resolution

B.LUCAS

Robert Chalke Associates www.rca-qs.com

FRANKS MAINTENANCE GROUP Installations, servicing and maintenance

01747 826656 franksgroup.co.uk

•Boiler Replacement •Boiler Servicing •Gas, Oil & LPG •General Plumbing •Bathrooms •Landlord Certification •Solid Fuel Stove Installation and Servicing

HEATING AND PLUMBING

DORSET WOOD TRADITIONAL BUILDINGS

www.dorsetwood.co.uk

www.ACBElectricals.org.uk

Planning & Building Applications for New Build, Extensions and Conversions

01749 813625

Contact Dave Welsh 07838 654468

Free estimates for all electrical work, no VAT North Dorset location, will travel.

Call Alan Brown, C&G 2330, 2391,2382 on 01258 446258 or 07976 630 904 Email: alan@acbelectricals.org.uk

Architectural Services

LTD

Upgrades and Carpentry Decorating services Refreshing sale and rental upgrades Handyman projects Plumbing repairs Tiling services Contact: John Banham Of昀ce: 01747 838 087 Mobile: 07768 190 131 e: refreshingrenovations@gmail.com

DORSET LIME

Building Construction Specialists

General builder

25+ Years Experience, City & Guilds Qualified Extensions, Renovations, Alterations, New Build, Plastering, Floor and Wall Tiling, Brickwork, Blockwork, Stonework and Patios, Fencing and Decorating.

FREE estimates, No VAT 01747 228827 07809 362919

Damp Control Timber Treatments Dry Rot Condensation Control 30-Year Bonded Guarantee

Tel: Wincanton 01963 202382 Mobile: 07881 504426

Home extensions | Barn Conversions Cottage Renovations | New Build Homes Project Management Established over 40 years Phone: 07979 210 074 / 01747 855 280 E: andy@sandsltd.biz w: www.sturgessandsturgess.com

ELECTRICIAN: Small jobs to full rewires.

Fusebox Upgrades. Testing & Certification.

Prompt, quality service at reasonable rates (no VAT). Call Alan 8am-8pm 07388696147. Email alanaac@me.com

Email: maplepres@aol.com www.maplepreservation.co.uk

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Providing reputable electrical services for over 30 years.

From an extra socket to a complete rewire, Budget to high end jobs. Testing & certification. Fusebox upgrades. Electric heating solutions. Smart home controls. Garden lighting & much more.

Prompt service at reasonable rates - No VAT

Call Alan 8am - 8pm on 07388 696 147 Email : alanaac@me.com Website : alancollinsltd.co.uk

SW BUILDING & RENOVATIONS All aspects of building and plumbing catered for. 07970 437786 swbuildandrenovation@gmail.com

General building Extensions/Renovations Loft conversions Oak frame buildings Groundwork/Landscaping All your property needs

Call 01747 229757 email: alanlewisaml@aol.com

J & C Handyman Services Plumbing Painting & decorating Shed erecting & repairs Flat pack furniture Shelves & curtain rails

Door hanging & skirting boards Guttering and facia clearing and replacement Fencing Pointing etc...

No job too small Please call with your requirements 01963 364457 07368 516658 dorsethandyman26@gmail.com www.jchandymanservices.com

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New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021

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Local Services PLUMBING, HEATING & DRAINAGE

CHIMNEYS & LOGS

D&T Plumbing and Heating

Smokin Nicely Chimney Sweeps Chimneys and Flues professionally swept. Extremely clean service. Keeping Dorset’s chimneys smokin’ nicely.

Tel: 01258 455251 Email: smokin.nicely@hotmail.co.uk smokinnicely.co.uk

STEVE ADAMS CHIMNEY SWEEPING HETAS registered woodburner and flue installer. Birdguards and cowls . 07932 655267

LOGS R US 1 ton pickup load of logs £90, double load £150, dumpy bag £60. All hardwood 07790 404593 01258 818081

t:01747 854887 m:07525 755 696

01258 446186 07973 183658

www.quinnsheating.com

ABBEY DRAINAGE UNBLOCKING DRAINS Toilets Rodding High pressure jetting CCTV Surveys No dig relining Septic tank and water treatment plant installation All repairs and renewals No call out charge Sinks

!

"# $

K.SANSOM CHIMNEY SWEEP: Brush & vacuum.

APICS registered,.

01963 370038

Oil servicing and repairs, plus all other aspects of plumbing and heating carried out

COLIN THE CHIMNEY SWEEP: Call anytime for a quote. Certificates available upon request.

Fully insured. 01963 458199/07889 597741.

01747 640188 07587 238563 CLASSIFIEDS: 01963 400186

Barn Stored Seasoned Firewood

We cover all of the Blackmore Vale area

SOLID FUEL INSTALLATIONS accredited installers from the competent persons scheme for wood burners, multi fuel stoves, chimney liners and twin walled flues. Sweeping chimneys, birdguards & cowls. Fireplace alterations to your needs, chimney works including pointing. 01749 677440, 07921 074602 solidfuel3@aol.com

£70 per bag Free delivery, any area Contact Phil 07903 535 745

solidfuelinstallations ltd.co.uk

DESIGN SERVICE AVAILABLE FOR DISPLAY ADS: 07714 289409/ debi.thorne@blackmorevale.net

HARDWOOD LOGS FOR SALE, £50 per 1 ton bag. Free delivery. 07378 488876

APPLIANCES

Jeans Electrical

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE REPAIRS: Washing machines, dishwashers, ovens etc, Call Darren or Jason 07979 976514

www.jeanselectrical.co.uk

Jeans of Mere, offer appliance repairs on most brands with fixed labour repair charges (parts on top)

Call 01747 860215

• Natural Gas, LPG and Oil • Central Heating and Power Flushing • Condensing and Combination Boilers • Landlord’s Certificates • Bathrooms, Kitchens and Tiling • All of the Blackmore Vale area covered

PROPER DOMESTICS

PERIOD PROPERTY Period and listed Property Specialists See our main advertisement in the Home & Garden section

APPLIANCE REPAIRS & INSTALLATION

01747 416059

www.properdomestics.com

www.stswithun.com enquiry@stswithun.com

Tel: 01747 832386

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 49

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Local Services

DECORATION & HOME IMPROVEMENTS

SOUTHERN TILING Kitchens and Bathrooms Private and Commercial Tiling undertaken Email: Charles.white40@aol.co.uk Mobile: 07788 724616

TECH DEREK ETHERINGTON BSc(Hons).

PC/Mac, Repairs, Networks, Websites, Tuition. Free local callout.

01963362403 07855287150 dcenet.co.uk

If we can’t beat your quote, we’ll match it on...

Replacement double glazing Shower screens Bespoke mirrors As cut bits of glass Polishing for mirrors and glass Toughened glass Balustrades Secondary units Horticultural glass Splashbacks for kitchens Covid screens UPVC windows and doors E E FQUROTATION ...and much, much more Covering Dorset and surrounding areas

Elite Glass & Home Improvements Sales@eliteglasscompany.co.uk

07933 521 675

50

New Blackmore Vale, September 3, 2021

Local Services

ASA architects Architecture . Masterplanning . Conservation

CO NS FR UL EE TA TI O N

New Build • Extensions • Conversions • Listed Buildings • Refurbishment All Drawing Work For: Planning Applications • Building Control • Construction

Tel: 07770 421624 Email: andystrange@btinternet.com • www.asa-architect.co.uk

ARCHITECTURAL METALWORK Custom made or restored in numerous finishes and metals

- Balustrades - Canopies & Pergola's - Estate Ironworks - Furniture & Ornaments - Handrails - Orangeries & Glass houses - Railing & Fencing - Staircases - Steelworks & Fabrications - Windows & Doors

REQUEST A QUOTE: WWW.NEWTONFORGE.CO.UK/REQUEST-QUOTE 01258 472407 | MAIL@NEWTONFORGE.CO.UK UNIT 20C, BUTTS POND INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, STURMINSTER NEWTON, DT10 1AZ

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 51

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Health & Wellbeing

Be kind to yourself over the Christmas period

Christmas and New Year is a time when our mental health can be severely challenged; so we need to take extra care of ourselves.

Friends and families get together, often not having seen one another for months. With this though comes expectations, which for many are hugely stressful and may not work out in the ways we imagine.

In our desires we imagine harmony and joy, though often the situations and dynamics can turn out to be fraught and disappointing. We’re often not truthful about how we are emotionally, physically or financially; as we may feel ashamed or perceive ourselves not good enough compared to others. Some will go to great lengths to try and appear they’re okay, when in fact they may be suffering greatly behind the façade. It can be

incredibly difficult to be authentic and vulnerable when there’s so much expectation on us to be joyous and fun.

Many find the celebrations painful and arduous, because they may be anxious about feeling compelled to join those they’d not normally choose to associate with. Depression and loneliness are accentuated when we see and hear others gathering and supposedly having a jolly time.

For some who have lost people close to them through bereavements, relationship break-ups or just loss and absenteeism; the festive season can be a trigger of painful memories and regrets. Drug and alcohol misuse rises massively at this time of year often with terrible consequences, as people try to escape uncomfortable thoughts and feelings.

Domestic violence and most

types of abuse also tend to rise.

This year there’s the added concern about the pandemic which is already causing arguments and division. For many this festive season will not be easy but there are some basic common-sense things one can do to keep oneself safe, help others and feel more positive.

Don’t put yourself in situations that may be overwhelming or cause you undue anxiety. Stay with people you feel safe and comfortable with. Keep an eye on your surroundings if at a social gathering, staying alert and trusting your gut feelings.

Lay down your own boundaries, such as being with people for a certain amount of time and don’t allow yourself to be manipulated into doing anything you don’t want to do.

Don’t people-please and be assertive about your needs.

Nurture yourself by doing

things you enjoy and feel comfortable with. Most of all try to be kind and nonjudgemental. Giving back is a wonderful way to feel good and it can really help others. A kind word, a Christmas card, a brief visit, a phone call or text, doing some voluntary work, a warm greeting and smile, etc – all help us to feel we belong and matter, whether we are givers or receivers. More than ever now we need each other, a sense of community, gentleness, kindness, tolerance and unconditional love.

Having consideration, empathy and time are three of the best gifts we can give – all of which are free and can bring comfort and joy to so many. n David Stanton is a Senior Counsellor/ Psychotherapist living and working in the Vale. Appointments: 07584 711488

Shop local and support small businesses this Christmas 100% natural skincare, lovingly handmade in Motcombe, Dorset with profits funding tree planting in the Blackmore Vale dmade in Do n a

ts

H

www.kunewyk.co.uk

t - 100% N e s a r al Ingredien tur

Visit our website for a range of eco-friendly moisturisers, bath melts, soaps and beautiful gift sets with free delivery on all orders over £20

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New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021

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Health & Wellbeing

SILVERSTARS CARE Specialist Live in Care Provider.

We offer 24-hour care or respite breaks in your own home with qualified staff.

For more information email admin@silverstarscare.com or call 01935 507792!

01258 450019 14 East Street, Blandford Forum DT11 7DR

Quality Care Guaranteed Now Accepting New Patients Google

Reviews

0% 昀nance & monthly payment options available

www.national.dental

SOMERSET EAR WAX CLINIC • • • •

Ear wax removal by irrigation Ear check prior to Audiology Fully trained and experienced nurse Home visits can be arranged for the housebound Sister Teresa Munro RGN 07962 106 045 / teresamunro@hotmail.co.uk Horizon Suite Frome Medical Practice, Enos Way, Frome BA11 2FH

Age Concern North Dorset (Sturminster Newton) Your local charity for all age-related information and advice t Befriending t Welfare Advice t Telephone Support t Foot Clinic

01258 475582

Office open 10am - 2pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday info@acnorthdorset.org.uk | www.acnorthdorset.org.uk

Alice Johnsen is a life coach based near Sherborne.

07961 080513 alicejohnsen.co.uk

The traditions of Christmas On a shelf in the corner of my office there is a well loved green book with an engraving of holly and mistletoe on the front written in the 1940s by Enid Blyton. It’s called ‘The Christmas Book’ and it tells the origins of many traditional Christmas rituals through the eyes of four siblings, albeit in a charmingly dated way that might make the modern reader cringe slightly. Of all times of year, Christmas probably has the most traditions, rituals and ‘rules’. Very few of them are linked directly to Christmas as they have more pagan origins but they are still deemed an important part of the festival. Of course, families build up their own traditions that carry a whole new level of importance which must be merged with the more wide-spread habits and those of other families as and when required.

What is the purpose of rituals?

Their historical beginnings are a link to our past and they provide a framework for our own celebrations today. But as with so many things in life, they are there to serve a purpose for us – not for us to feel ruled by them. I remember talking to a client years ago about the pressures of providing her family with the

Christmas they expected but in a year where she was facing divorce and her business was struggling. We stripped it all back to the bare essentials of what the valuable parts of Christmas were for her and her family. We took it from there and built it up until she had reached full capacity financially, emotionally and practically. And there was a new ritual, a new tradition – a new way of ‘their Christmas’ that will work for them for years to come.

And before the last mince pie has been eaten, you can be sure there will be a plethora of messages along the whole scale of subtlety about how, come this new year, you need to create your new you.

Can I offer a suggestion please?

The current you is just fine. You don’t need to seek out the new figure, the new diet, the new way of organising your desk/life/family.

Even if you are wanting to make changes in your life I would suggest the new year is not the optimal time to embrace that.

Change is not made and sustained at speed. It is made NATURAL PAIN RELIEF in small, absorbable therapist in Gillingham Bio resonance scan & treatments, steps that can become your new Clinical reflexology & baby/toddler reflexology way of life - your T: 01747 826931 new ritual over time yvonne@intelligenthealthclinic.co.uk -but not over night.

Making Life More Comfortable!

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Health & Wellbeing

A walk around...

with retired Dorset rights of way officer Chris Slade

BUCKLAND NEWTON Begin at the church and, after visiting it (if open), join the footpath that runs south eastwards through the churchyard. After crossing a field it meets the road not far from the Gaggle of Geese.

Follow the road north east, then east, along the village street until you meet the main road, the B3143, having passed a cemetery and the village school.

Turn left and follow the road northwards for about a furlong then join a footpath on the right heading east at first then wending its way north east until

it meets another path which takes you to the right, south eastwards for about a quarter of a mile, crossing a road at Rew and then soon meeting another road, Castle Lane. Turn left and head eastwards for a quarter of a mile past Sharnhill Green, then turn the corner and head south for five furlongs along Bookham Lane with a steep hill, the Knoll,

on your right.

At the hamlet of Bookham, the road swings to the right and takes you westwards for half a mile until you reach the main road at Henley where there’s an adventurous activities centre.

Turn right and head north for a quarter of a mile, then fork off to the left, north westwards, along Hilling Lane, part of the Hardy

By the time I near the end of my blustery walk on the Dorset coast, it is an hour or two into the winter darkness.

The skies are semi-veiled with cloud and the air is heavy with damp and cold.

Despite a sudden desire to be home in the warm, I find a suitable place to sit and watch the setting crescent moon Luck is on my side as the clouds begin to depart. It is worth suffering the biting cold to behold this bright yellow arc of a waxing moon hovering over the Western ocean. This elegant crescent is the first of the moon’s eight phases. With binoculars I can easily make out the scrapes and hollows of the craters along its inner curve, and then the fine rim of its circumference. Because it is so low tonight, it looks larger than usual but this, I know, is just an optical illusion.

For this brief moment in time, I am transfixed by the sound of the waves crashing against the cliffs below me and the bracing night air on my face, as I watch the Earth’s natural satellite dip out of view below the horizon. It is a reminder that we earthlings are so small and immaterial in the

enormity of the universe.

Of all the celestial wonders, I find the moon the most captivating, perhaps because of its ever-present, everchanging shapes and colours.

Its prevalence in folklore and mythology, art and literature is a testament to its influence over us. Indeed there is much written about how the gravitational pull of our moon not only affects the water on our planet but also our own

moods, behaviours and ability to sleep. There is, however, only limited scientific evidence to suggest this is true. But the moon’s utter wonder and magnificence is enough for me to spend hours watching its brilliant beacon of reflected sunlight.

As I watch the tip of the crescent disappear from view, I gather my rucksack and head towards my car. As I do so, I contemplate the theories

Way, for five furlongs until it reaches a T-junction.

Turn left and, if they’re open, call in at the Gaggle of Geese and enquire when their famous goose auction is next taking place. Then continue to the next junction and turn right, north west, crossing over the River Lydden then uphill for a short distance, curving round to the right, north east and soon you’ll be back at your car.

You’ll have strolled about five miles.

Meditations in nature: Moon moments

of the moon’s origin. My favourite is that the infant Earth and a planet called Theia collided, melted and reformed, with a small part of the newly formed mass spinning off to become our sister satellite, bound together forever by gravity. But one thing is for sure, without its steadying presence, life on earth would be less agreeable.

Dr Susie Curtin curtin.susanna@gmail.com

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Puzzles Arrow words

Crossword

Bravery

Misgivings

Hindu dress

Swami

Continually selfreferencing

Truant from the military (inits)

1

Undercover name (3,2,6)

Desired

2

4

3

8

5

6

9

10

Outer edge

Shortly

7

11

12

13

Makes again

14 Drum and bass genre

Not hesitate

17

23

Dull brown

Flexible pouch-like structures

Bustle

Cut

Princely title (inits)

1 4 10 11 12 13 14 18 20 23 24 25 26

Risky undertaking

Wordsearch Seats

B E E R Y T T N N A P R H U B

B E O K P U L N U O A P M M P

BANQUETTE BENCH DICKY DIVAN EJECTOR KNIFEBOARD LOVE PERCH

T V C E G O C A O O E U I B P

N I H L U R E E B P I N I L I

D U E N E N K E L L A D D E L

R U G Q N H F D L K L R U E L

E E V O A I I E B M O L T C I

R P T N N V S L T R V C S S O

N E I K A B N E B Q E B C C N

O R E N U H W O O L S A C K Q

PEW PILLION RUMBLE STRAPONTIN SUBSELLIUM SUNLOUNGER TONNEAU WOOLSACK

N C I S O E E O Y G T N B E L

T H E Y R E E T T E U Q N A B

O N O C E L B E E J E C T O R

24

25

Caterwaul

H C N E B I O C U C S B D R P

21

22

Affluent

V L A U N O N P N S P E W R E

20

19

Self-image

Scored 100% on

Doctrine

16

18

Strong rush of wind

Each

15

Lion star sign

26

Across Fasten (5) Relaxed (2,4) Exactly (9) Be better than (3) Not yet hardened (5) Bury (6) Kill by electricity (11) Rappel (6) Finish a meal (3,2) Golfing average (3) Structural designers (9) Show a connection between (6) Quality rating (5)

2 3 5 6 7 8 9 15 16 17 19 21 22

Down Has emotions (5) Ludicrous (7) Lovers’ meet-up (5) Try (7) Trade show (4) Poppy-derived narcotic (5) The study of weather (11) Left-leaning (7) Less dirty (7) Sudden convulsion (5) Build, as in a structure (5) Current craze (5) Short branch road (4)

Sudoku

7

9 4

1 9

5

5 3 3

5

2 8

8 6

For the solutions turn to page 70

7 1 9

5

4 6

2 1

2 5 8

4 9 3

Brain chain 40

-12

×1/2

÷7

+6

×2

RESULT

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 55

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Puzzles (for cleverclogs)

Jumbo 3D Sudoku

Cryptic Crossword 3

8

5 1

1

1 9

7

1

2

9 6

5

5 6 6

8 4

3

5

7

1

1

4 8

8

4

9

7

5

2 4 3 5 6 2

1 6

8

9

2

7 4 6

1

3 5

6 7

8

2

9 3

864×

96×

60×

5

17 19 20

21

1

140×

20×

162×

22+

36×

16+

10+

384×

216×

8+

14+

0

42×

7

29+

12×

Brain chain (Hard version) 29

+93

×1/2

+82

-1

25

1 4 8 9

Killer Sudoku Pro:

18+

504×

23

22

24

11+

Place 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and bold-lined 3×3 box. No digit may be repeated in any dashed-line cage, and each dashed-line cage must result in the given value when the stated operation is applied between all of the digits in that cage.

For subtraction and division operations, start with the highest number in the cage and then subtract or divide by the other numbers in that cage.

11 12 15 18 19 21 23 24 25

1 2 3 5 6 7 10 13 14 16

÷2

13

18

8 4

18+

10

16

4

504×

7

15

2

18×

6

12

Place 1 to 9 once each into every black-bordered 3×3 area as well as each of the 54 rows indicated by the coloured lines.

Rows don’t cross the thick black lines.

4

5

14

5 1 9 8

7

8

9

11

8 5

4

3

1

6

7

2 4

7

2

RESULT

Can you solve these brain chains entirely in your head? Start with the bold value on the left of a chain, then follow the arrows and apply each operation in turn. Write the result in the box.

17 20 22

Across Cut in two almost large dangerous group? (6) Stop attraction on high (4,2) Hot drink put into pot early (3) Newspaper employee with opinion showing weight (9) Comply with old boy and detective shortly (4) Virginia possibly liberal almost and changing (8) Fellow provided odd notes dismissing new political programme (9) Keep going with right-wing followers about to leave (8) Some strode round Central European river (4) Distinctive personality’s letter (9) Vice admiral with energy upset woman (3) Protective cover given designation among the Spanish (6) Old woman favoured confines of library principally (6)

Down Part of a jacket for ex-F1 driver (6) Foreign Minister, say, affirms staff (9) Offensive weapon in Greek island hotel (4) Most irritable artist with connections among leaders in the theatre (8) Pale stick daughter dropped (3) Like better free PR that’s arranged (6) Put up with bananas, say, to prove productive (4,5) A board Ben moved for vegetable (5,4) Show Persian, maybe, in non-mainstream group (8) Part of frozen landscape here in France captured principally by the French (6) Dull US rapper put on a network (6) A study curtailed in region (4) Turkish commander in Austria and Georgia (3)

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blackmorevale.net

Pets LOST AND FOUND AND REHOMING Blandford & Sturminster Newton Branch Cats Protection Cats looking for new homes: n Milly (11) tabby/white timid fluffy girl looking for quiet home with no children n Pepper (1) totie sweet but very lively girl looking for home in safe location with no small children n Stig (5) b/w boy - big boy looking for safe loving home. No small children n Chunks/Midelun/Tiny Tim (14wks) Timid but sweet kittens looking for quiet homes with confident cat person n Noell - (2) b/w girl, mother of Chunks & Co. Independent girl needs quiet home with no other animals.

Our lost & found cats These are the most recent cats that have been lost or found please check out our Facebook page or give us a call Lost Cats: Shaftesbury - Ginger tabby boy since 21/11

n Chunks

n Midelun

n Pepper

n Tiny Tim

Found cats: If you are regularly seeing a cat in your garden or down your street that you don’t think has an owner please give us a call it might be a lost cat that could be reunited with its owner.

BLANDFORD & STURMINSTER CATS PROTECTION Loving homes needed for cats and kittens in our care.

For more details, please call our helpline 01258 858644 or visit our website: www.blandford.cats.org.uk Sponsored by Longmead Veterinary Practice Ltd

JACK RUSSELL PUPPIES, 10 weeks old 4th January, brown & tan girl £900, black & tan boy and tan boy £750 each, chip and first jab for more information call 07779 124711 PUPPY CLASSES, beginners, home visits, behavioural consultations. Qualified, vetrecommended behaviourist, Helen Taylor, CCAB, Member APBC/APDT (881). helentaylordorset.co.uk 07951 985193.

LABRADOR PUPS for sale, wormed up to date, both parents hip, eye and elbow tested and can be seen,parents both kc registered and have lovely temperaments 07800 755862 £800 GORGEOUS COCKAPOO PUPPIES FOR SALE Ready 12/12/21 Please call for more details 07949 212210 GORGEOUS FEMALE COCKER SPANIEL PUPS ready 8th January £1800 Mrs.Hyde 01747 830718

n Milly

Salisbury Rd / Damory Garage area of Blandford black unneutered boy We are still offering neutering and micro-chipping for £5 in postcode areas DT10, DT11, SP5, SP7, BH21 and now also in SP8 call 01258 268695.

BEHAVIOUR TIPS Tip#5 What’s in a name? Dogs have no concept of names. Just like any other word or cue we use with our dogs, to him a ‘name’ is just a sound that he has learned to recognise as having a specific meaning.

What that meaning is, and whether it is positive or negative is entirely up to the owner. Your dog’s name is basically a means of getting his attention onto you briefly so you can then ask him to do something else (for which he may earn a possible reward). This is actually one of the easiest, but most important ‘cues’ we can teach our dogs. After all, if you can’t get his attention reliably when you call his name, you have little chance of him responding to more complex requests – not least because he may not even know you are talking to him!

Practice calling your dog’s name in many different situations and - when he makes eye contact – throw him a low-value reward. Never, ever allow anyone to use his name as a reprimand or a nag, or to repeat it endlessly for no positive purpose – or your dog may quickly learn that his “name” is best ignored!.

Helen Taylor BSc(Hons) ADipCBM Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) Full Member APBC & APDT (881) 07951 985193 help@helentaylordorset.co.uk (incoming) or help@dorsetdogbehaviour.co.uk (outgoing) helentaylordorset.co.uk Helping your best friend to be even better...

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 57

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Pets

Ask the vet...

with Lynn Broom

Winter Dangers The winter brings its share of risks to our pets. Some are Christmas related and some are related to the bad weather.

Cold weather brings the need for topping up the antifreeze in the car.

Spilt or discarded antifreeze is a big risk to animals, particularly cats because it is sweet and cats frequently explore garages and outhouses.

Antifreeze causes acute irreversible kidney failure in all species. Discarded oil is also a risk to cats which will groom off any oil they accidentally walk or fall into causing toxic effects from ingestion.

Many animals drink from standing water outside.

During freezing conditions and snow, water becomes unavailable and it is essential to provide an alternative source.

Many cats (and some dogs) are reluctant to go out to urinate in cold weather and this, particularly in combination with reduced water intake, can lead to cystitis.

Many food and drink items which are delicious for us are potentially toxic to our pets.

FESTIVE PETS: Keep an eye on your loved ones over the festive period

Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure. Christmas cake, Christmas pudding and mince pies are a common source of accidental ingestion as well as the small boxes of raisins given in Christmas stockings.

Accidental ingestion of chocolate is very common and can often be avoided by not leaving wrapped chocolates under the tree and avoiding gifts containing chocolate being posted through the letter box.

The effects of alcohol can also be dangerous to our pets.

One glass of wine to an 80kg human is the equivalent of 8 glasses to a 10kg dog and can cause serious illness.

Much as it is lovely to give our pets special food and leftovers because ‘It’s Christmas’ we see a large increase in gastroenteritis and pancreatitis due to sudden changes in diet and

high fat foods during the seasonal period.

Foreign body ingestion is also a higher risk at Christmas due to a combination of more toys lying around, pets visiting other peoples houses and people visiting pets’ houses

where medications and other items are left within reach, Christmas decorations being chewed and wrapping paper/ribbon being eaten to access the delicious food contained inside. Foreign bodies can cause recurrent vomiting and life threatening obstructions.

We all want to enjoy Christmas but it is important to remember that, to our pets, it is just another day so try to avoid excessive treats and keep ‘at risk’ items out of the way – no one wants a visit to the vets on Christmas Day (including your vet!) to make your pet vomit up the lovely chocolate he just ate.

GORGEOUS KC REGISTERED GOLDEN retriever puppies.

Litter born 19 Nov. Ready to leave mid- January with 5 generation pedigree, health certificates and microchipped. They come with a lifetime of support. contact Ann-Marie on 07714423247. Texts will not be replied too.

Companions at Peace Pet Cremation At this time of year especially We remember the pets that have crossed to Rainbow Bridge, and those many owners with poorly or elderly pets who are hoping to be able to spend one more Christmas with them… Our thoughts are with you all.

Should you need us over the Christmas period, we will be available to collect or receive pets which have passed, and as always, we are here to help you through this sad and difficult time.

Christmas Opening Hours Christmas Eve ............. 09.00-16.00 Christmas Day ............. 10.00-12.00 Boxing Day ................... 10.00-12.00 New Year’s Eve ............ 09.00-16.00 New Year’s Day ............ 10.00-12.00

Emergency Out of Hours Service: 07900 654440 Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas and thank you for supporting the work we do Independent family run business offering a very personal, caring pet cremation service to bereaved pet owners.

Collection Service Farewell Room Located in a rural countryside setting on the Somerset Dorset border

Contact us on: 07900 654 440 www.companionsatpeace.co.uk

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Antiques & Collectibles

Dickens’ letter is auction highlight

CLARKE’S AUCTIONS Auctioneers & Valuers Antiques & Collectibles Next sale Wednesday 29th, Thursday 30th and Friday 31st December 2021 Colour catalogue available at the-saleroom.com and easyliveauction.com

A 19th century French ormolu and pietra dura mantle clock. Estimate £300 - £500 An Art Nouveau Arts & Crafts enamel plaque depicting a lady. Sold for £1,350

Units 1 & 2 Kingsettle Business Park Station Road, Semley, Shaftesbury, SP7 9BU 01747 855109 enquiries@clarkesauctions.co.uk clarkesauctions.co.uk

Clarke’s Auctions at Semley are busy preparing for their bonanza Christmas sale being held during the week between Christmas and the New Year with over 1,900 lots of small and interesting items being offered for sale. One of the highlights being sold is a letter written by Charles Dickens to one of his colleagues at the Haymarket Theatre in London together with its purchase receipt from Sotheby’s in 1913 and this carries an estimate of £300-£500. Another lot generating interest is a beautiful 19th century French ormolu & pietra dura mantle clock, probably made by Ferdinand Barbedienne, with an estimate of £300 - £500 and within the silver section is a Victorian silver and enamel vesta case decorated with a salmon fishing scene, carrying an estimate of £100-£200.

FOR SALE: An 18th-19th century Anglo-Indian ivory inlaid vizagapatam desk

Viewing for this sale will be on Wednesday and Thursday, December 22 and 23, and a colour catalogue is available at the-saleroom.com and easyliveauction.com.

They also offer free home to value items for consignment into all future sales and are open for free verbal valuations Monday to Friday at their salerooms behind the Kingsettle Antique Centre on Station Road, Semley. All enquiries should be directed to either Richard Clarke or Karen Marshall on 01747 855109.

ANTIQUE AND MODERN CLOCK REPAIRS. Free pickup and delivery, 45 years’ experience. 01935 477582

Free Valuations, Shaftesbury Office

A fine Chinese carved celadon jade ducks group.

SOLD for £35,000 t Entries invited for our forthcoming Specialist sales t Catalogues available online t Full calendar of Specialist sales

March 3rd

January 7th

March 9th

The Directors and Charterhouse Crew would like to take this opportunity to thank all their clients and wish you a very Free Valuations, Shaftesbury Office merry Christmas and a Happy New Year We look forward to seeing you in our first 2022 auctions:

A rare small album of albumen photographs commemorating 60 years of Hong Kong (1837-1897), by R.C. Hurley (one missing).

A fine Chinese carved celadon jade ducks group.

SOLD for £7,500

SOLD for £35,000

Pictures & Mid-Century Modern Furnishings 6th January Antiques & Interiors 7th January Classic Cars 3rd March Classic Motorcycles 9th March

t Entries invited for our Station Road, Semley, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 9AN Specialist The Long Street Salerooms Sherborne DT9 3BS forthcoming 01747 855 122 www.semleyauctioneers.com sales 01935 812277 • www.charterhouse-auction.com Offices in Dorset, Wiltshire and London t Catalogues available online

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Antiques & Collectibles

Antique & Classic Clock Repairs & Restoration

BACK TO BLUE: The beautifully restored blue 1974 Porsche 914

Longcase Clocks a speciality Antique Clock sales

Blue is the colour for restored Porsche Blue has been a hugely popular colour for painting vehicles in for decades and in the Charterhouse specialist auctions of classic and vintage car and motorcycle auctions in March there are two beautifully restored blue vehicles. First up, going under the Charterhouse auctioneers gavel on March 3, is a blue 1974 Porsche 914.

Bought as a retirement project nearly 10 years ago by the Somerset owner the car was painted red when collected. During the restoration, as well as having a full engine and gearbox rebuild along with other mechanicals, the owner stripped the paint back and discovered the car was originally painted in a rather fetching metallic blue called Alaska

Clocks Unlimited

blue and the car was duly repainted in Tel: (01935) 423233 Mobile: 07974 520545 its factory colour. bclocksunlimited@aol.com www.clocksunlimited.co.uk This beautifully restored Porsche 914 is estimated at £17,000-19,000.

This car auction is then followed by WE BUY RECORDS, the Charterhouse specialist auction of COLLECTIONS LARGE classic and vintage motorcycles on AND SMALL March 9, also at Haynes, where a Call BILL 07967 816506 fully restored 1936 Douglas or 01747 811100 Endeavour, painted blue and black, is Email: bill@tunes.co.uk also going under the gavel.

GOOD CONDITION VINYL RECORDS WANTED. Larger Contact the team at collections preferred. No classical please, cash paid 07831 266478.

Charterhouse can be contacted for advice and valuations at The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne 01935 812277 info@charter house-auction.com.

Asian art tops £1m Duke’s saw some spectacular results last week. With auctions specialisng Asian Art, Jewellery and watches and finally Interiors. Asian Art was small in terms of the number of lots, but a global marketing campaign led to a spectacular total well in excess of £1 million. The top lot being an exceptionally large and beautiful gilt bronze of Tara from the Qing dynasty, which reaching a final price of £494,000*. A Fine Chinese pale celadon teapot also achieved £84,500* and a Chinese cloisonné Tibetan style ewer £247,000* respectively.

Jewellery and watches auction results proved the

market for period jewellery is more buoyant than ever.

The auction on December 9 was marketed to a worldwide audience with bidders participating online from as far afield as New Zealand.

High prices throughout reflected buyer’s enthusiasm for traditional and antique Jewellery. A pair of Victorian diamond pendant earrings sold for £7,800* and a late Victorian diamond and enamel insect brooch for £5,400*.

For a free and confidential valuation please contact Duke’s on 01305 265080 or email enquiries@dukesauctions.com (*inclusive of fees.)

A SINO TIBETAN TARA Sold £494,000 in Asian Art

Highlight Upcoming Auctions All auctions commence at 10.30am

January

27th

Winter Fine Art

February

24th

Interiors

March

17th

Sporting: A single owner collection

April

29th

(Inviting entries until 10th December) (Inviting entries until 4th February)

Art & Design post 1880 (Inviting entries until 18th March)

Find all upcoming auctions on our website Duke’s Brewery Square Dorchester Dorset DT1 1GA

Tel: 01305 265080 enquiries@dukes-auctions.com www.dukes-auctions.com

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Motors

Classic car run set for New Year’s Day Sturminster Newton New Year’s Day Vintage and Classic Vehicle Run is finally going ahead despite continuing covid concerns.

The current organiser wishes to thank Ray and Chris Long, Marie Wyatt and the Weymouth Vehicle Preservation Society for their involvement over many successful years of

previous runs.

Unfortunately, due to that success and increasing numbers of vehicles wishing to participate, creating serious congestion in the staging car park, eligibility for the 2022 run will be to the first 200 pre1991 mail or email registered entries. ‘On the Day’ entries at the

UNWANTED VEHICLES BOUGHT FOR CASH ● Mot failures ● Nonrunners ●Unfinished projects ● End of life scrap vehicles ● Minimum of £150 paid for complete vehicles.

Call Ryan on 07474 737577

organiser’s discretion are not encouraged or guaranteed. Motorbikes will use pre-1995 age restriction.

Vehicles will gather in the Sturminster Newton, Station Rd car park from 9.30am and leave on the run at 30 second intervals from Poets Corner in Station Road at 11am.

The event is still sponsored

by Harts of Stur in aid of The Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance whose volunteers will be on site with their charity buckets for kind donations from the

LANDROVER FREELANDER diesel 02 only 126.,000 miles.

Auto, MOT, noisy wheel bearing £575 ONO Call 07740 378644

OLD, INTERESTING & CLASSIC CARS WANTED pre 1990s. Any condition including unfinished projects Cash/transfer. Please phone Paul 07890 096907

MOTORBIKES WANTED Non runners and unwanted Phone Keith on 07966 213344

WANTED - ALL TYPES OF CAR TRAILERS, livestock, box, flat, tipper etc.

07736 871092

general public.

For further information contact: Howard Copland on 01258 817628 or 07765 867282 or email: aitch2@hotmail.com

John’s Caravans Mobile Caravan Servicing & Repairs Please call

01747 853114 or 07546 548017 Keeping you on the move...

SUNRISE SERVICE & MOT CENTRE

BROADPEAK

MOTS, SERVICING AND REPAIRS ON ALL VEHICLES UP TO 3.5 TONNES INCLUDING HORSEBOXES AND MOTORHOMES

Passionate Meticulous Straightforward

Car Storage South-West England

Bodyshop open for all repairs and restorations, from small scratches to complete resprays, insurance work welcome.

MOTS – class 4,5 and 7 MOTs – class 4, 5 and 7 Diagnostics Diagnostics Air Conditioning Valets Air conditioning Courtesy Cars Valets Collections within a 5-mile radius Courtesy Cars Concessions for Pensioners, Collections within a 5 mile radius Armed Forces and Emergency Services Concessions for Pensioners, Armed Forces and Emergency Services We require the following staff:

VEHICLE TECHNICIAN/ MOT TESTER 15B Sunrise Business Park, Higher Shaftesbury Road Blandford DT11 8ST Tel: 01258 459798 Email sunriseservicecentre@hotmail.com www.sunriseserviceandmotcentre.com

Secure, dehumidi昀ed and dust controlled 25 minutes west of stonehenge along the A303

Broadpeak.co.uk

01747 840 666

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RIVERSIDE

Garage & MOT Centre MOT testing Service Tyres Batteries Welding Diagnostics Air Con General motor repairs Loan cars or collection & delivery Approved fitting partners of blackcircle.com & mytyres.com

Open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm

01722 790287

email riversidegarage@outlook.com www.riversidegarage.org

Photo by Devon Janse van Rensburg on Unsplash

Motoring

RIVERSIDE

Service Station Photo by Maria Lin Kim rensburg on Unsplash

Esso fuel, lottery, milk, bread, chilled & frozen food, sandwiches, hot food, Calor Gas, coal, logs, newspapers and magazines, mobile phone top up, fruit & veg, jet wash & vaccuum, plus many in-store promotions...

Open Monday to Friday, 6am to 9pm Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays 7am to 9pm

01722 790858 Warminster Rd, Stapleford, Salisbury SP3 4LT

CAR SERVICE COMING UP? All Makes Servicing Free vehicle health checks MOT Tests £39 Air-Con Servicing Tyres and Exhausts Brakes and Clutches Batteries Suspension Cambelts and Water Pumps ODIS VW Audi Diagnostics Generic Diagnostics (most makes)

Cann Common, Shaftesbury SP7 0EB

To book your service please call

01747 855247

or email sales@melburymotorcompany.co.uk

You need your trucks and vans on the road We’re here to keep them there

DORSET’S PREMIER COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SERVICE Commercial vehicle repair and maintenance MOT preparation and presentation On-site tachograph centre to install and calibrate Servicing for all makes and models of commercial vehicles

ETS TRUCK&VAN Shaftesbury Lane, Blandford, Dorset DT11 7FB

Tel: 01258 480404 Email: blandford@etstrucks.co.uk 6 Witney Rd, Nuffield Industrial Estate, Poole BH17 0GH Email: service@etstrucks.co.uk

Tel: 01202 669339

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Arts & Entertainment

Amelia’s Di and Viv and Rose at the Swan The Swan Theatre Yeovil will present Di and Viv and Rose by Amelia Bullmore from Monday, January 17 to Saturday, January 22 at 7.45pm.

Di, Viv and Rose meet at university. Rose likes boys,

Di likes girls, and Viv wears clothes from the 1950s. They are young, hopeful and the best of friends. Together they can face the world through laughter and tears. Di and Viv and Rose is a funny and thoughtful exploration of

female friendship. It is neither sentimental nor nostalgic. It just feels real.

“Funny, universal and wise…. it is a play that will last” – The Times Tickets are £12 from swan-theatre.co.uk

Handmade for Christmas

Open daily 9.30am – 4.30pm until New Year’s Eve (closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day)

A glorious collection of unique and beautiful handmade gifts from local makers, designers and artists Visit us or shop online...

The Workhouse Chapel Bath Road Sturminster Newton Dorset DT10 1DS www.workhousechapel.co.uk

ON SHOW: Silver Birches by Fran Lancaster

STURMINSTER NEWTON NEW YEAR’S DAY VINTAGE AND CLASSIC VEHICLE RUN Visit Sturminster Newton’s Station Road car park between 10 and 11:30am to see around 200 vehicles gather and set off on the run Event sponsored by

Harts of Stur www.hartsofstur.com Held in aid of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance For information contact Howard Copland on 01258 817628 aitch2@hotmail.com See also Facebook Group Blackmore Vale Car Club

Art group hosting New Year show at theatre restaurant Some 40 original works of art by local artists will festoon the walls of the Gallery Restaurant and Bar at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil between Thursday, January 6 and Tuesday, February 14.

Yeovil Art Group’s New Year Exhibition will be launched

by Mayor of Yeovil Evie Potts-Jones at the reception on January 6.

The paintings show the extraordinary range of talent that exists in and around the town and will be available for to buy at reasonable prices.

Yeovil Art Group has been in existence for over 70 years and has more than 80

members.

Informal painting sessions are held every Monday afternoon at Birchfield Community Hall and members can attend regular workshops, demonstrations and critiques with professional artists as well as annual field trips.

A minimum of two exhibitions in places of local interest are held each year to encourage artists to sell their work.

To find out more about the group go to yeovilartgroup. com or email hello@ yeovilartgroup.com.

For the exhibition contact lizwebster08@gmail.com or ring 01935 474095.

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Arts & Entertainment The David Hall, in Roundwell Street, South Petherton, is offering a variety of events to chase away the winter blues in January. n Cara Dillon Saturday, January 15, 8pm Cara Dillon occupies an enviable position at the very top of her genre. This extraordinary Irish singer has been captivating audiences and achieving exceptional acclaim for over 20 years. She has (according to Mojo magazine) “Quite possibly the world’s most beautiful female voice”.

Alongside a selection of favourites from her previous releases, Cara will be performing material from her new album Wanderer, which is a collection of beautiful and moving songs recorded in an intimate setting with her husband and musical partner Sam Lakeman.

Every note and word sung with a passion and confidence earned through a life of experience singing traditional songs. Legions of fans will attest to their impassioned performances with Cara’s warm and natural stage presence something to savour.

Tickets: £22. No concessions n Wille and The Bandits Saturday, January 22, 8pm Essentially, Wille and the Bandits is a classic Blues Rock three-piece, much in the vein of Cream or The Jimi Hendrix experience.

But in a similar way to how these bands pushed the genre in their time, Wille and the Bandits try to take their sound beyond what is expected of such a traditional line up.

The use of bizarre instrumentation and eclectic influences in the

BEAUTY: Cara Dillon is at The David Hall on January 15.

Below: Willie and the Bandits and, right, The Churchfitters

Winter blues are banished with Hall’s January events

songwriting often pushes them more into a World music or progressive category.

Wille and The Bandits have toured with artists such as Deep Purple through to the John Butler trio and played major festivals across Europe.

Tickets: £17/ £16 Concessions n Coffee Morning Wednesday, January 26, 10am Pop in for a cup of real coffee and a chat. Look around the book and bric-abrac stalls and more often than not, listen to some live

music. Entry is free. n The Churchfitters Saturday, January 29, 8pm Why “Churchfitters”?

Nobody knows! They’re not fitters and have absolutely nothing to do with churches.

The name’s origin is lost in the mists of time but there is one aspect that suits them perfectly – its quirkiness.

When your array of instruments includes a motorcycle petrol tank, a musical saw and a Mercedes Benzouki made from hubcaps, there’s little point worrying if the name makes sense… Saucepan dulcimer, glass harp, Bing-

Bong machine and magic boots all join some more conventional instruments (fiddle, banjo, sax and whistle, to name a few) to back Rosie Short’s sublime voice.

The three flamboyant characters that make up Churchfitters present their uplifting and entertaining show with a unique dynamism and describe their music as ‘Folk Unlimited’.

Tickets: £15. No concessions.

Tickets can be booked at thedavidhall.org.uk or on 01460 240 340.

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Arts & Entertainment

THE TH

Book illustrations go on show at gallery illustrating stories is EXCHANGE Imagine: the title of a new exhibition to STURMINSTERNEWTON

Fri 21st Jan, 7:30pm

My Mountain Life by Simon Yates Tal by accomplished exploratory mountaineer. £16/ £15 conc

–––––––– Sat 22nd Jan, 7:30pm

Greatest Songs of the Movies From Pinewood to Hollywood! £17/ £16 conc

–––––––– Thurs 27th Jan, 7pm

Touching the Void (15) inematic telling of Simon Yates' perilous journey. £5

–––––––– Sat 29th Jan, 7pm

Radio GaGa The ultimate Queen tribute. £21.50

–––––––– Fri 4th Feb, 7:30pm

A

A Fever

Live vocals and authentic outfits! £21.50

01258 475137 www.stur-exchange.co.uk

be held at Salisbury’s Vanner Gallery from January 14 to 9 April 9.

The gallery, in the High Street, (vannergallery.com) will feature original artwork from more than 20 new and established names in contemporary book illustration, with over 50 framed works available.

Leading artists include Raymond Briggs, Eric Carle, Lauren Child, Shirley Hughes, Oliver Jeffers, Anita Jeram, David McKee, Jill Murphy, Helen Oxenbury, Axel Scheffler, Shaun Tan and many others.

All original artwork is available for purchase in the gallery and online, and prices start at under £500. An online preview opens on Friday, January 7.

Published artwork alongside

ON SHOW: Carle Papa’s Get Me The Moon

working sketches will be on display, featuring many muchloved characters from favourite books such as Fungus the Bogeyman, Alice in Wonderland, Charlie and Lola, and The Nutbrown Hare.

Gallery director David Christie said: “We’re thrilled to be showing this exhibition of contemporary book illustration.

Illustration is such a diverse and vibrant area in contemporary art. We’re especially pleased to bring together some of the most famous and much-loved names in book illustration with artists who have built their reputations more recently.

“Illustration has a unique power to ignite our imaginations. The pieces in Imagine: illustrating stories show just how wide and varied illustration can be. We can’t wait for our visitors to discover new favourites alongside iconic illustrations familiar to generations of readers.”

The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm and Mondays by appointment. n vannergallery.com

It is now a legal requirement to wear a face covering when visiting and attending the theatre, to reduce the risk both to yourself and to others and we respectfully request that customers continue to use the hand sanitisers provided, and to check in using the NHS COVID-19 app.

SLEEPING BEAUTY 17th December to 2nd January

A COUNTRY NIGHT IN NASHVILLE

(various times)

Tickets Adults £17.50 U16s £14 1 in 10 free available via Box Office

Plus Adults only (age 16+) performances on 30th Dec, 1st & 3rd Jan 7.30pm (Box Office bookings incur £1 booking fee per transaction)

Thursday 6th January 7.30pm Tickets £28

PLEA S KE E CHEC EP KI OU NG WEBSR ITE

MOTHERING SUNDAY (15) 7th, 10th, 11th & 12th January 7.30pm Matinee 13th January 1pm Tickets Adult: £8 eves Matinee: £7 U16s: £6

MONEY FOR NOTHING

BLAKE IN CONCERT

“Undoubtedly the best Dire Straits tribute in Europe”

Saturday 8th January 7.30pm Tickets £20

Thursday 13th January 7.30pm Tickets £22.50

(Box Office bookings incur £1 booking fee per transaction)

(Box Office bookings incur £1 booking fee per transaction)

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee)

(Box Office bookings incur £1 booking fee per transaction)

KEEPING BAD COMPANY

FROM GOLD TO RIO Celebrating the music of Spandau Ballet & Duran Duran

THE FRENCH DISPATCH (15)

ADULT PANTO: LITTLE RED RIDING…!

THE ELO EXPERIENCE

The best of Free & Bad Company

Wednesday 19th Jan 7.30pm Tickets £18.50

Friday 21st January 7.30pm Tickets £26

(Box Office bookings incur £1 booking fee per transaction)

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee)

Friday 14th January, 7.30pm Tickets £19.50 (Box Office bookings incur £1 booking fee per transaction)

Saturday 15th January 7.30pm Tickets £21 (Box Office bookings incur £1 booking fee per transaction)

17th & 18th January 7.30pm Matinee 18th January 2pm Tickets Adult: £8 eve Matinee: £7 U16s: £6 (Box Office bookings incur £1 booking fee per transaction)

Suitable for ages 16+

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Arts & Entertainment Dorset’s touring arts charity Artsreach is excited to release details of its special Christmas gift to audiences across the county this winter; a series of performances available to enjoy online in the comfort of your own home; from Christmas classics and a seasonal celebration with a Dorset twist, to an interactive online murder mystery.

Celebrate the festive season with a mesmerising performance of Charles Dickens’ timeless, transformative story A Christmas Carol, devised, adapted and performed especially for film by veteran Cornish actor and founder member of Kneehigh, David Mynne.

Expect Dickens’ original words with added silliness.

Silliness? Bah humbug!

A Christmas Carol is available to enjoy online anytime until midnight on Sunday, January 2. E-tickets are free but donations to Artsreach are welcomed.

Enjoy A Dorset Christmas with The Ridgeway Singers and Band and hear the story of how our ancestors celebrated Christmas in this film which features music, song, story and dance. In December 2020 Artsreach was delighted to support The Ridgeway Singers and Band, led by Tim Laycock and Phil Humphries, to capture an alternative festive offering that’s truly inspired by Dorset. With

OH CAROL: David Mynne presents A Christmas Carol

Online treats for you this Christmas? Bah humbug! tunes and songs from the Puddletown and Hinton St Mary manuscripts and new carols in the West Gallery tradition, interspersed with readings, archive photographs and other images from across Dorset, plus a special performance of While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night, expect a heartwarming seasonal celebration of all things Dorset. Captured and edited

by Pageant Productions, A Dorset Christmas’is available to watch anytime until midnight on Sunday, January 2. Again, e-tickets are free but donations to Artsreach are welcomed.

Finally, Sharp Teeth Theatre return after their runaway global hits, Sherlock In Homes I: Murder at The Circus and Sherlock In Homes II: Murder On Ice, with a brand new and better-than-ever online interactive murder mystery – Murder at the Games! On your marks, get set, go… to 1960 to solve a crime that will make your heart race.

Could it be the chill of the cold war or the heat of the Italian sun? Zoom into Rome’s Olympic village to find out. You’ll interrogate the suspects and attempt to unmask a murder with your fellow audience members as you pit your wits against

some of the UK’s most talented performers and improvisers. Take part in this online murder mystery on Thursday, January 6 at 2.30pm or 8pm. Advanced booking is required and etickets are £10 per device (not per person).

Artsreach Co-Director Kerry Bartlett said: “Whilst we await the start of our brand new spring programme of live performances in rural communities, we are delighted to be able to spread some Christmas cheer to our audiences at home through this digital programme.” n artsreach.co.uk.

Have a cultural start to the New Year with art history talks Art history courses and talks are being offered from January 13 by Pam Simpson MA, Associate Lecturer, London College of Fashion.

For six weeks, starting on Thursday, January 13 you can learn about Renaissance Art at 6.30pm, on Zoom –

fee £55. On Friday, January 14 at 2pm there’s a talk on Zoom called Exploring Winter, A New Exploration on Painting, Photography, Poetry & Prose. From Scott of the Antarctic and Shackleton’s photographers, and artist responses to the

season and poetry & prose.

Fee £11.

On Friday, January 21 at 2pm there’s a talk on Bridgerton & the Regency Period in Art, Dress, Taste, Architecture & Interiors at Bridport, United Church Hall. Masks and ventilation.

Fee £11.

On Friday, January 28 at 2pm there’s an online talk entitled Grayson Perry, Potter & Artist and so much more.’. Fee £11, To book a course or a talk email chris.pamsimpson @btinternet.com.

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Sport

Six of the best: Debutants star in North’s convincing win North Dorset Women 27 Poole Women 10 In the second game of the season, North Dorset Women had six debutants, Anna Marsh, Leona Hughes,

Bryonie Johnson, Darryl Norris, Letby Burden, Miranda Paxton, and Claire Murray. The game started with Poole charging all over ND who held out with some solid defending for 15

minutes. North responded with the forwards carrying hard. Some lovely interchanging play between Katie Porter and Mel Mitchell led a counter-attack 50 metres up the park for

Louisa Neale, aka BullDozer, to run straight through the Poole defence and over the line for a try, which was not converted.

After the first quarter, the Continued on P73

Under 14s show promise with impressive defeat of Sharks North Dorset under 14s played an outstanding match away against the Purbeck Sharks.

With two early tries from Josh Parkman, North Dorset got off to a great start. A fantastic third try was scored

by Sam Barnes and morale was high.

Debutant Arley started off his first match for North Dorset with an incredible run, which set up Sam McConnell to score the team’s fourth try.

Josh Parkman scored his third try, after a brilliant tackle from Freddie Heasman, won the ball back for North Dorset. Another try from Sam McConnell allowed North Dorset to go into the second half six tries ahead of the Sharks.

North Dorset were on fire in the second half, with Ben

SCRUM DOWN: Action from Purbeck Sharks v North Dorset

Mitchell scoring the seventh try of the match. After the boys continued to push through the Sharks' strong defence, Rares made a brilliant break and scored yet another try for North Dorset.

Arley continued to play

brilliantly as he scored his first try for North Dorset.

Just as the Sharks were looking set to score, Cass Tatman and Joe Frederick ensured they got nowhere near the try line, with powerful tackles and strong

defence.

The team continued to work together and another two tries were scored by Sam McConnell. After several speedy runs from Alfie Hill and Alex Hodges, Rares scored put the ball over the line again.

Having played fantastically, Freddie Heasman managed to break through the Sharks' defence and continue the devastating scoring.

Just as the second half was drawing to a close, Arley wowed the crowd to top what was a resounding display. However, the Sharks who had battled well, managed to breakthrough seconds before the whistle in game that ended 14 - 1.

Onward and upward for the Under 14s who are looking a well-drilled and determined team.

North edge league leaders in thriller Blandford 17 North Dorset 18 North Dorset travelled to Blandford, who are currently top of the league, expecting a challenging game and they were not disappointed.

From the kick-off, Blandford attacked and were camped in North’s 22 for some considerable time but were held out by a steely defence, which was rewarded with a penalty.

A great touch kick took North Dorset to the halfway line, and from the line-out,

North Dorset pressed hard, and it was Blandford's turn to defend.

Following a good movement combining forwards and backs, flanker Charlie Jobling forced his way over the line for a try which was not converted 0 -5.

The game then ebbed and flowed, with Blandford missing a penalty kick in front of the posts and Dorset’s Lewis Munster slotting a massive penalty from the halfway line 0-8.

Blandford attacked hard but were held out, leading to a

good counterattack and an excellent follow up by Dorset's wing Jake Canning resulting in a try converted

by Sam Jones 0 - 15.

Once again, Blandford put the Dorset line under threat, successful this time with an unconverted try, bringing us to halftime and a score of 5-15. The second half started with a bang, Blandford putting together an excellent back's move and scoring in the corner 10 - 15.

This gave the home side a huge lift, and the game was primarily played in Dorset's

sport@blackmorevale.net

half until, in a counter-attack, Blandford were penalised.

With a problematic kick, Sam Jones brought the score to 10-18.

With 15 minutes to go, Blandford threw everything into attack in an attempt to salvage the game.

Still, Dorset’s defence was equal to the job until the very last minute when Blandford forced their way over under the posts to score a converted try, which brought the score to 17-18 as the whistle blew, much to the delight of Dorset players and their support.

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Sport Continued from P72 ND women were in the mood for a tough match.

After facing a few very solid Poole scrums and some big hits from the centre partnership of Emily Kendall and Kayleigh Budge, North Dorset got the turnover, and quick thinking led to the ball ending up in the hands of Amber Corbett.

She ran straight down the blindside, length of the pitch, score.

The game was restarted with Poole kicking the ball straight to the ND backs, who ran riot, and Emily Kendall broke through to score under the posts, successfully converted by fly-half Amber Corbett.

Half time saw a few changes, Letby Burden came on for her first game in eight years and Claire Murray making her debut.

By now the crowd were really behind North Dorset, however, Poole came out the blocks hard again for the second half.

After 25 minutes Poole scored two tries from a couple of missed tackles and fantastic work from Poole's fly-half and wingers.

Then, in the last 10 minutes, there were a few tired bodies, and with the night drawing in, North new they had a chance to settle the match.

Some huge hits from Darryl Norris, Kate Collins and Leona Hughes lead to two late tries for ND. The first was a great move from the lineout that saw Kaitlyn Phillips throw the ball to Neale at the front of the lineout, and she marched in from 15 metres out.

For the second a hobbling Kendall went down the blindside again after some good interplay from Collins, Corbett and Budge. n Back of the match - Darryl Norris n Forward of the match Mel Mitchell

Six-shooters Wincanton on fire Toolstation Western League - First Division Devizes Town 1 Wincanton Town 6 Wincanton Town had yet another big win on Saturday, making it six wins on the trot and nine unbeaten.

The wasps went a goal ahead from Jamie Irwin in the first half before being pegged back to 1-1.

Straight from the kick-off, Dan Quirke scored to make it 2-1 to Wincanton at half time, skipper Dan Wise also missed a penalty in this period.

The second half was a

GOALBOUND: Action from the Devizes v Wincanton match

completely one-sided affair, with Connor Williams replacing Cam Allen at half time and scoring almost immediately with a fantastic effort from 20 yards out.

Jamie Irwin and Dan Wise made it five to give a comfortable victory and then

with seconds to spare, Jamie Irwin completed his hat-trick to put everyone in the holiday mood and complete a resounding 6-1 away win to go fifth in the league.

Wincanton Town’s next home game is 2nd January 2 at 1pm.

BUCKET OF FISH: Jason Mills and, right, Jason Randall

Mills sets new record for Stour match Gillingham AA 4th winter championship. River Stour Deepwater to Highbridge. (16 pegs) The river had fined down to almost a perfect level and most of the anglers caught over 6lb of fish with roach to 1-9, bream to 4lb and perch to 2-8 caught on the match.

Winner on the day, and taking the new river match record, was Jason Mills.

Jason drew Billings Hole at Deepwater and caught fed worms and casters on the pole at 11m and caught 4 Perch to 2-8 on worms, 6 bream to 4lb, a Hybrid and lots of Roach on maggots and casters to weigh an incredible 38-00.

Runner Up was in form chairman, Pete Edwards who drew peg 18 at Highbridge and caught 1407 of mostly Roach to 1-9 on the stick, and maggots

sport@blackmorevale.net

and casters.

3rd: Jason Randall 12-06 4th: Neil Kerley- 12-05 5th: Richard Fripp- 9-08 6th: Adie West- 9-07. n Next week is the Christmas match with an 8.30 draw at the Riverside Cafe, fish 10.00-3.00. Book in with Dave on (01747)823159. Entries before Wednesday please and this match will be fished at Lodden Lakes if the river is flooded.

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Sport

It’s trophy time for club’s winners Autumn sees the conclusion of the annual round of trophies at Yeovil Golf Club as the finals of many knockout competitions complete the list of trophy winners ready for the various presentation ceremonies held by different sections.

The winner of this year’s lady’s knockout competition for the Doris Lewis Trophy was Isabelle Mace who beat fellow lady member Mavis Gibson.

Graham Smibert not only won the senior equivalent to claim The McMaster Cup, but he went on to win the Oaksford Cup partnering his wife Sarah to victory when they beat another husband wife duo John and Cathy Sheldon in the final of the mixed knockout competition.

Baz Saunders was not only victorious in the Pittard Cup but also partnered his daughter Chloe as they won the Generation Cup when they beat the father and son partnership of James and Charlie Malcolm.

Another member claiming two knockout trophies was Philip Park who beat Glen Raeburn in the final of the Aplin Cup and then Robin Kennedy to win the Captain’s Prize. The latter win being particularly notable in that 2021 marked the one hundredth

PRIZE GUYS: Secretary Salver winners Zaidoon Zakaria and Daniel Hemsworth

TROPHIES: George Mead Trophy 2021 winners Jim Vincent and Graham Warren and, right, Phil Park 2021 Aplin Cup & Captain's Prize Winnera

anniversary of that competition.

The Secretary’s Salver was won by Zaidoon Zakaria and Daniel Hemsworth who triumphed over Paul Kitto and Gary Wilshaw. They will have the pleasure of collecting the salver from Paul Kitto when, as the new

club captain, he hands out the trophies at the men’s presentation event which is to be held early next year.

In the Senior Section Jim Vincent & Graham Warren won the George Mead trophy by defeating Barry Forrester & Martin Middleditch; whilst twenty-two

handicapper Graeme Card snapped up one of the last trophies of the year by carding a nett 69 in the contest for the Lock Cup. It is one of several unisex competitions at the club, open to both men and women and played off white and red tees respectively.

Company’s golf day nets £995 for hospital friends charity Leading Sherborne company Hunt’s Food Group raised £995 through personal donations at their corporate golf day for customers and suppliers in September this year. Eighty guests played at Woodbury Park Golf Club.

Richard Hunt, chairman of Hunt’s Foods Services Limited said: “I am immensely grateful to our

guests who responded so positively to our invitation to support the Friends of the Yeatman Hospital. My family connections with the Friends date back to the early days of the Friends in 1951 and, I am pleased to say, continue today.”

David Hayes, chairman of the Friends of the Yeatman Hospital responded: “For our

70th anniversary year Mr Richard Hunt is our patron.

On behalf of the trustees of The Friends of Yeatman Hospital I thank Richard for donating the proceeds of Hunt’s Annual Golf Tournament, a sum of £995, to our charity.

“It will contribute to enabling us to continue to deliver our support to The

sport@blackmorevale.net

Yeatman Hospital and the community it serves, including assisting in the funding of capital projects and the routine services we provide from which the patients benefit directly.”

“Our gratitude goes to all the players who participated in and contributed to the most welcome and generous donation.”

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 69

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Sport

By Kye Harman

they sobered up enough to win the return Boxing Day fixture 1 - 0.

sports@blackmorevale.net

A big thanks to all our local teams and clubs for keeping everyone entertained in 2021, we wish them all a restful Christmas and successful 2022.

In the meantime, here’s some end of year, weird and wacky, Christmas Day sports facts.

In 1647 Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England banned all Christmas sports. Being the cheery chap he was, he also banned Christmas completely. Bah humbug!

9

Until 1925, Arsenal weren’t allowed to play Christmas Day matches. Highbury was built on land owned by St John’s College of Divinity who refused to allow games to be played on religious holidays.

10

Football used to be played on Christmas Day. With no Morecombe and Wise reruns to watch, fans turned up in their thousands. Over 9,000 ditched the turkey and tinsel to watch the first Xmas Day league fixture in 1889, when Preston beat Aston Villa 3 – 2.

1

England cricketers Marcus Trescothick, Simon Jones and Alistair Cook were all born on Christmas Day.

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2

Think your team has a busy Xmas fixture list? In 1888 Everton played two games on Christmas Day (beating Blackburn 3 – 2, before thrashing Ulster FC 3 – 0). Then managed a goalless draw against Bootle on Boxing Day. All 3 games were held at Everton’s pre-Goodison home, Anfield.

3

In the US, both American Football and Basketball matches are played on Christmas Day. The National Hockey League played Christmas Day games up until 1971.

4

5

On Christmas Day 1940, Brighton & Hove Albion FC

Perhaps the most famous Christmas Day sporting event of them all, in 1914 during WWI, German and English troops met up in no man’s land in Flanders on December 25, where they exchanged gifts and played football. The Germans probably won on penalties.

PEACE BREAKS OUT: Christmas Day football between the British and the Germans during the First World War

Wishing you all a sporty Christmas arrived at Norwich with just five players. They asked for volunteers from the crowd to make up their 11 and promptly lost 18-0. Ouch!

6

Christmas Day cricket? Yes! Australia vs West Indies, (1951) Australia vs India (1967), India vs Australia (1969), India vs England (1972) and India vs Pakistan (1979) were all played on Christmas Day.

7

In 1541 Henry VIII banned all sport on

Christmas Day. Although he’d loved sport in his youth, in later years not only did he ban Christmas Day sports, he banned football altogether!

Conversely, he was the first man to own a pair of shoes just for football, the first ever football boots.

Thrust SSC, driven

by Andy Green might have raced to a staggering 763.035mph in 1997 for his land-speed record but that’s nothing! In 2018 US scientists calculated that to visit every home in the world in 24 hours, Father C drops by 822 homes a second, meaning a top speed of 650 miles a second! Ho-howoah!

Clapton Orient FC were given a barrel of beer by their manager before their Christmas Day game in 1931. Which they drank before staggering out to be beaten 2 – 1 by Bournemouth. However,

n Get featured.

Are you a local sports club/team? Want to see your match reports/scores in print and on our website?

We’d love to hear from you: sports@ blackmorevale.net

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sport@blackmorevale.net

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From pages 54-55

Puzzle solutions Crossword

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A F F I X A E D M R E C I S E L L O T N S E T E N I O E L E C T R O I O A B S E I L E R O A R E N G I A C Y E L A T E G

T E A S E R T X Y T O P S E O T O M B P C U T E L S E A T U P A R A N E E R S E N M R A D E

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S W K E Y J I B E B D C P E R H C O O D I N I E C N E S I T S

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Brain chain (Hard) 29

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Cryptic Crossword B I S E C U T O T E A S T T H O B E Y N S I M A N I A D C O N T I I C C H A R A L G T E N A M E

T U B E V A R I F R N U I C T L

D R A S T T R I E E S T E A E R E M A

A W U P A R A N C E F A B L E R R T O A D O D E R B E E V A A R I N L Y

Recruitment

Eight apprentices pass with flying colours Wessex Group Ltd in Shaftesbury is taking its training into the next generation after its eight apprentices passed their first term with flying colours.

Since it launched its apprenticeship programme in 1965, it has supported almost 200 apprentices.

The new cohort joined the two main businesses of Wessex Group, five with Wessex Electricals and three with Wessex Fire & Security, combining job training with seasoned industry professionals with learning.

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, each candidate receives the widely recognised Level 3 qualification and given the opportunity to apply for a full-time position within the firm. The majority of whom join one of the businesses and go on to work with a variety of high calibre clients across

residential, commercial, educational and healthcare.

Director Simon Morgan said: “We established the apprenticeship programme in 1965 as we wanted to support the ambitions of the next generations in our industry. We have long since recognised the importance of addressing the skills gap and nurturing bright new talent in the electrical and fire & security sectors.”

People development manager Ange Roberts said: “The apprenticeship programme not only supports new talent coming into our industry sectors with technical on the job training but also provides a solid learning foundation for an industry recognised Level 3 Qualification and comprehensive in-house learning support structure.

“Wessex have a strategic alliance with Yeovil College, we work closely with them in house

mentoring the apprentices throughout the duration of the programmes.

“We have found that by immersing the apprentices in the business, not just on the technical side but also in the team culture, that the majority choose to remain with us as fulltime employees upon graduation.”

The apprenticeship programme for 2022 opens in January. Early applicants can register their interest at wessexgroup.co.uk/ become-an-apprentice n Dorset LEP is part of a new £2 million programme to help connect disadvantaged young people with the education and skills they need to prepare them for their future careers.

The project, with support from JPMorgan Chase, rolled out by The Careers & Enterprise Company, will work with

secondary school pupils facing significant barriers, including those living in high areas of deprivation or have been excluded from school, to help prepare for the world of work.

Ten projects are being developed with teachers, school leaders and businesses, with a focus on the changing nature of jobs resulting from trends like artificial intelligence and automation.

The project in Dorset will test rewarding students for taking part in work experience alongside intensive one on one support to open their eyes to all the options and pathways open to them and will be coordinated

by Dorset Careers Hub, which supports 76 schools and colleges and their 51,000 students.

JPMorgan Chase is investing in career readiness as part of the firm’s $75m commitment to prepare young people for jobs of today and tomorrow.

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 71

blackmorevale.net

Recruitment We are looking for an experienced

Wincanton Primary School Station Road, Wincanton, Somerset, BA9 9EL Headteacher Mr. G. Wilson (NOR 387) Telephone: 01963 32132. Email: wincantonprimary@educ.somerset.gov.uk Website: www.wincantonprimaryschool.co.uk

CLEANER 2 hours per day plus some cleaning in the school holidays (3.15-5.15pm) Grade 17: £9.24 per hour We are looking for a hardworking cleaner to join our premises team at our friendly and popular school. The successful candidate will be required to clean classrooms, toilets and general areas around the school. Ideally, the hours are 2 per day, Monday to Friday, from 3.15pm to 5.15pm, however these are negotiable should an applicant want less days (3 days minimum). There will be sixty hours (6 weeks) cleaning spread across the school holidays which can be bulked together and worked as whole days with the cleaning team at designated periods during the year.

Application packs and further information are available on our school website www.wincantonprimaryschool.co.uk Closing date: 9am on Wednesday 5th January 2021 The school adheres to equal opportunities and safer recruitment practice. Pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any post is confirmed and this post is subject to enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

GENERAL FARM WORKER REQUIRED for 160 cow autumn block calving herd near Gillingham. Duties to include sharing milking with existing members of staff and a wide variety of tractor work. Flexible time off during the week, but will be required to work every other weekend. Please contact Greg on 07817 517467.

PART TIME COUPLE required for rural family home near Shaftesbury, Dorset. Housekeeping to a high standard approx. 12 hours per week, gardening/maintenance 1 or 2 days per week, occasional babysitting, house and dog sitting and ideally to also look after ponies, when we are away. Must be reliable, trustworthy, flexible and cheerful! References will be required. Charming 3 bedroom bungalow with private garden on site.

Please ring 01747 828987

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR/OFFICE MANAGER The role includes: PA to the Director Raising and sending invoices to customers Liaise with customers and suppliers Organisa琀on and the running of the o ce General O ce Admin Adhoc projects O ce calendar Skills & Experience Required: Flexible can do a tude Good communicator Organisa琀onal and priori琀sa琀on skills Competent user of Microso昀 o ce and con昀dent to use new IT Experience with Sage 200 and overseas transac琀ons an advantage. Hours can be 昀exible to suit. The role is in a modern o ce located in Henstridge and is an exci琀ng opportunity for the right candidate. We o昀er a compe琀琀ve salary based on skills, quali昀ca琀ons and experience.

Please contact 01963 363653 or send your CV to mail@kedgeworth.com

LOOKING FOR LABOURERS ASAP with some experience on building sites, for long term contracts.

CSCS card is required, Work involves working away.

For more information contact Wayne Gillam 07836 383066 FULL-TIME EMPLOYED POSITION - General property maintenance person required by independent Letting Agent in Sherborne. Ideally with own van and tools. Experience required. please call Joe Meier on 01935 816209 to discuss

Join our family We are looking for committed, enthusiastic and motivated individuals to join our progressive family business in a variety of roles. We offer excellent rates of pay, plentiful overtime available, an extensive benefits package including: 28 days annual leave pro rata, annual bonus, incremental annual leave allowance, pension scheme with 5% employer contribution and a gift of cheese for Christmas. There are opportunities for career progression and development.

We are seeking applications for the following full time, permanent positions: Production Operatives at our Cheese Dairy producing bulk Cheddar cheese and food ingredients in Wyke Champflower, Bruton.

BA10 0PU. 39 hours a week working a shift pattern of 06:00 – 16:00 and 16:00 – 02:00 4 days per week on a 6-day rota (includes Saturday working). Good opportunities to progress for the right candidates.

Multi Skilled Operatives at our Cheddar Cheese Packing plant in Wincanton BA9 9DT. This role manages the cutting and packing of cheese using modern, intelligent and technological production lines in a food environment. Working hours are a rotating shift pattern night/late/early, Monday to Friday.

For further information or to apply, please email us – jobs@wykefarms.com Wyke Farms is a family-run cheese business based in the heart of the Somerset cheddar-making region.

The Clothier’s have been making Cheddar to the same prize-winning recipe since 1861. Today, Wyke Farms is one of the largest independent cheese makers in the UK producing over 16,000 tonnes of cheddar per year all powered by 100% renewable energy. The products are sold throughout the UK and to 160 countries around the world. wykefarms.com

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Recruitment

£500 Welcome bonus!*

HAZLEGROVE Deo Juvante

ICT Manager Full Time

Hazlegrove, a thriving co-educational Prep School in Sparkford, Somerset are looking to recruit an ICT Manager to coordinate and oversee the delivery of a proactive and highly efficient technical support to all areas of the school, ensuring that it meets and exceeds expectations.

We’re hiring!

Join the Care South at Home team We’re looking for caring and compassionate people – whether you’re experienced or just starting your career

Over the past few years Hazlegrove has invested heavily in cutting edge Microsoft cloud technologies, and this is an excellent opportunity to work with the latest technology alongside supporting traditional desktops, tablets, virtualisation, networking Infrastructure, printers and IP telephony. Working alongside the ICT department at our Senior School, King’s Bruton, you will ensure our systems are operating effectively and that they are secure.

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent communications skills, have an eye for detail, be passionate about what they do and be able to lead and inspire a small, hardworking team.

Training, and the opportunity to gain professional certifications, will be provided for the right candidate.

This is a full time post, working 8.30am–5pm Monday – Friday.

• Full and part-time contracted positions available that 昀t around your life

Salary is £35,000-£40,000 depending upon experience.

• Immediate start available including Home Care Assistants and Specialist Care Assistant positions

For further information and an application form, please visit www.hazlegrove.co.uk/about/staff-vacancies.

• Fully paid face-to-face training and guaranteed ongoing support

Closing date: 12 noon on Friday 7th January 2022.

• Must hold a full driving licence and have access to a vehicle (we provide RAC breakdown cover)

Hazlegrove is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.

Call us now on

01202 712448

at home

PEOPLE | PASSION | PURPOSE

A trusted not-for-pro昀t charity in the heart of your community Registered Charity No. 1014697 *Valid until end December 2021 T&Cs apply Please enquire for more details

Rubicon is recruiting for Trainee Engineering & Warehousing roles across North Dorset NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED!

Assemblers Machinists

Welders Pickers/Packers

Start the New Year with a new job - full training given!

Call Harriet today on

01202 688555

New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021 73

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Recruitment TEAM LEADER (CATERING & HOSPITALITY) R E M O VA L S

&

S T O R A G E

THE ARMISHAWS REMOVAL GROUP HAVE AN IMMEDIATE VACANCY FOR AN

Assistant Transport Manager To join our busy head office.

Duties would include customs, bookings and general operational paperwork, dealing with customers and staff.

Needs good general knowledge of the transport industry, a transport CPC would be an advantage.

Must have a positive and good humoured personality.

Role is located at our Wincanton head office.

Please send CV and covering letter to Lloyd@armishaws.com

£20,814 per annum Full-time, year-round

A superb opportunity has arisen for a new Team Leader to join our amazing Catering Department! As a member of the front of house team, you will supervise the restaurant and plate wash areas, assisting with fine dining functions and meal services to ensure that first rate standards of service are delivered.

If you are passionate about customer service, organised, good at multi-tasking and a hard working team player with good communication skills, then we would love to hear from you. The ideal candidate will have some experience in the catering sector and be keen to develop their supervisory skills in an environment that has the potential for significant career progression and professional development.

Bryanston offers good rates of pay and excellent terms and conditions, including: • • • • • • •

Free uniform, parking on-site and meals whilst on duty Free gym membership and access to our state-of-the-art sports facilities Life assurance at 3 times salary 25 days’ holiday + 8 bank holidays per annum Employee assistance and wellbeing support programme Enhanced maternity/paternity leave A newly launched staff benefits platform including perks and discounts

For further information and to apply, please visit www.bryanston.co.uk/employment Closing date: Sunday, 16 January 2022 Bryanston is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the College is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are “spent” unless they are “protected” under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

St Denis Lodge in Shaftesbury is a privately run care home for 21 residents.

They are looking for kind and compassionate Care Assistants to help bring joy and laughter to their lives, whilst providing a high standard of care, which can be hard work but also very rewarding. Various hours available.

Please ring for more information 01747 854596 or email: Info@stdenislodge.co.uk

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New Blackmore Vale, December 24, 2021

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Business Advertising Feature

GIVE A PRESENT YOUR FAMILY WILL REMEMBER FOREVER As Peter Harding, Dorset expert 昀nancial adviser explains, at this time of year our thoughts turn to our families at Christmas...

With families in mind there is a major arrangement in our lives, which is often put off until it’s too late or completely forgotten. This important arrangement involves reducing your Inheritance Tax (IHT) liability.

In this article Peter highlights 昀ve options you can consider and discuss with your family at a time when you are all together.

1. Give now (to your family) Giving away money and assets while you’re alive is perhaps the most rewarding way to reduce a future IHT bill. You can give away up to £3,000 a year, as well as make any number of small gifts up to £250. The value of those gifts will fall outside your estate immediately.

It is also possible to utilise any unused gifting allowance from the previous tax year. By combining individual contributions, couples can potentially gift up to £12,000 by 5 April.

2. Give away income you don’t need There’s no limit on the number of regular gifts you can make out of your income, provided these don’t affect your standard of living. Keeping a record will speed up checks made later by HMRC – something you should remember for any gifts you make.

3. Save more into a pension Money saved into a pension is not normally subject to IHT. Should you die before you’re 75, the proceeds from your pension can be paid as a lump sum or income to any beneficiary free from tax. After 75, beneficiaries will only need to pay tax at their marginal rate on withdrawals.

4. Review your Will* The surest way to make sure that your intentions are carried out after your death is to draw up a Will. Most couples who are either married or in a civil partnership leave everything to each other, since this doesn’t usually attract IHT. But if you have a partner who falls outside this category, they could lose out to parents or children.

5. Buy life assurance in a Trust* Sometimes, it isn’t viable to fully mitigate a future IHT bill. Taking out a life assurance policy where the sum assured covers the likely IHT bill, and placing it in a trust, could save your family from having to sell any of your assets to meet the liability. The trust ensures that the value of the policy falls outside your estate. It also means your executors will have the funds available when they need them, to settle your estate.

If the coronavirus pandemic has taught us anything, it’s the importance of being prepared. None of us knows where the next global or personal crisis will come from, only that we can help mitigate any impacts through effective planning.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief depends on individual circumstances. *Will writing involves the referral to a service that is separate and distinct to those offered by St. James’s Place. Wills and Trusts are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

To receive a complimentary guide covering Wealth Management, Retirement Planning or Inheritance Tax Planning, contact Peter Harding Wealth Management on 01202 830730 or email peterhardingwm@sjpp.co.uk

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with dorsetbiznews.co.uk

Protect your family from Inheritance Tax... ...We’re Here to Help The amount families paying Inheritance Tax is predicted to rise, largely as a result of soaring house prices.

The treasury is set to collect £7.6 billion a year from Inheritance Tax revenue by 2026/27 compared to £5.1 billion in 2019/20. (Source: Office for Budget Responsibility, Oct 2021.)

Peter Harding Wealth Management with over 25 year’s experience has a team of advisers, across Dorset and surrounding counties, to help you protect your legacy.

Contact us today for an initial, no obligation consultation: Tel: 01757 855554 Email: peterhardingwm@sjpp.co.uk Call in: Have a coffee and a chat at one of our offices in Shaftesbury, Sherborne or Canford Cliffs... we would be delighted to see you.

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief depends on individual circumstances.

Principal Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management The Partner Practice is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and Partner Practice are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives. Peter Harding Wealth Management is a trading name of Peter Harding Practice Ltd

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New Blackmore Vale, October 15, 2021

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Business

with dorsetbiznews.co.uk

New postcode system will ease deliveries

By Adrian Fisher MBE 83% of human activity consists of moving things, people, information or ideas across the surface of the earth. The other 17% consists of doing something with it.

This latter part is called Added Value content.

Actually, all of it is Added Value content, in the sense that both parts are needed to “get a jab into every arm”.

As a litmus test, if it attracts Value Added Tax, it’s added value. Actually, I’ve always been confused about this; if a barrister fights your legal case and fails to win, they have provided you with no advantage, so you should only pay VAT on the value they have provided – which is nil.

At the festive season

ON THE HEDGE: The Snowflake Hedge Maze at Stockeld Park in Yorkshire, designed by Adrian Fisher

approaches, the roads are filled with white delivery vans. There was a time when nearly all such vehicles were in the red livery of the Royal Mail. Times have changed. Online shopping has taken a massive market share away from high street retailers, and delivery

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companies have proliferated.

And what is the most glaring barnacle on the bottom of progress? The British postcode system. It was designed when each postcode was for one postal worker’s round, and the final part of the address was known to them in their head.

Nowadays with so many different delivery drivers, business and social visitors and emergency services, this is pathetically imprecise for Dorset villages. For example, 57 addresses in Durweston share one postcode scattered around hundreds of yards of roads and lanes. I had a recent deliveryman who first unsuccessfully tried his SatNav, then Google Maps (which he said is usually good because it shows tracks and driveways), then geowessex.com (which shows each property but not each access route) and

finally had to call me to ask for directions. Typically visitors waste ten to 15 minutes trying to find us when using SatNav, before phoning us for directions.

All that is needed is another couple of characters to each postcode, and we could reach every address precisely. Odd numbers for the front doors; even numbers for the car parking spaces (for when cars drive themselves, as one day they will).

Thus it is all the more astonishing to hear that the Post Office already had such a system from the beginning, using one extra letter and numeral. But the Post Office does not use this system, nor let anyone else know about it.

Now THAT would be a welcome seasonal present. Happy Christmas!

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First time buyer or just want the best rate?

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Farming

Dorset farmers reminded of the importance of talking to combat loneliness Results from two surveys remind Dorset farmers the importance of talking to support mental wellbeing and battle loneliness.

Working with the University of Exeter, the Farming Community Network (FCN) research looked into loneliness, social isolation and mental health within the rural community. They found the causes of isolation and loneliness on farms include long working hours, a lack of social opportunities, poor internet access and being disconnected from the wider public.

They also found loneliness was linked to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, both of which are a serious issue in farming.

These results reflect those of the recent Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute’s Big Farming Survey, also undertaken by the University of Exeter. Their results showed 36% of farmers who responded described themselves as ‘possibly’ or ‘probably’ depressed, and 58% of female participants were experiencing mild,

moderate or severe anxiety.

As a result of its survey findings, the FCN has launched the ‘Who’s your Julie?’ campaign, encouraging those in the farming community to identify someone they can turn to for muchneeded support. Simply asking how someone is feeling or confiding in close friends and family members can be the first step forward.

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Cornish Mutual supports mental wellbeing initiatives across the South West as part of its continuing work to protect the farming community. The Health & Wellbeing section of the farming insurer’s website includes links to organisations offering support to farmers across the South West: https:// www.cornishmutual.co.uk/rural-life/ health-wellbeing/

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Farming

Deadly poison plants lurking in our hedgerows

By Alice Miller BVSC DBR MRCVS Friars Moor Livestock Health I found myself pondering over what to share in my next column whilst foraging in the hedgerow for foliage to decorate my Christmas wreath!

It reminded me of the hundreds of different species of plants we can find in our gardens and fields, but whilst looking lovely in festive decorations it occurred to me that they can have a dark side.

Certain plants are deadly if eaten by livestock. Some farm animals, such as goats have natural browsing habits anyway, so given any chance will preferentially eat from field margins or garden borders. Whereas the majority will only be at risk when grass growth reduces because grazing animals may be forced to explore hedgerows and verges for alternative food sources.

It is therefore important that we are aware of which plants are poisonous so we can avoid unwanted ingestion and potential deadly consequences.

This list of poisonous plants is not exhaustive, but common ones include ragwort, yew, bracken, acorns, rhododendron, pieris,

St. John’s wort, species of nightshade (including woody, black and deadly), laburnum, leylandii, potato leaves, laurel, elder, wilted leaves of stoned fruit trees (plum, damson etc), rhubarb leaves and water dropwort (also known as hemlock).

Some, for example, water dropwort and yew are highly deadly.

Whereas others may be diagnosed based on suspicious clinical signs, such as photosensitisation in cattle after ingestion of St John’s wort.

You may not have these plant species on your land or in your garden, however it is important to remain vigilant since it is possible for animals to ingest them where purchased feed may be contaminated, for example ragwort will remain toxic when preserved in forages such as hay and silage.

We also increasingly see exposure after fly tippers have dumped garden clippings into fields.

Unfortunately, with most plant poisoning cases there is no effective antidote.

Control is therefore reliant on good pasture management and avoidance in the first place.

It can sometimes be confusing, since certain plants such as water drop wort look very similar to

perfectly harmless cow parsley. The best way to tell the difference in this case is to examine the stems.

Water drop wort has a green stem with purple blotches, it is smooth, and circular, whereas cow parsley stems are pink, hairy, and grooved, so when cut you see a triangular shaped lumen.

Other species such as bracken and fern look the same. However, fern fronds (the leaflike part) grow from the base of the plant whereas bracken has fronds that branch off a stiff stalk.

If you look on the underside of the leaf you will see that fern spores are individually placed, compared to bracken spores that line the leaf edge, in a continuous band.

One plant that often causes debate is ivy and whether it is poisonous to livestock or not?

I certainly am aware that

ruminants love the taste of it.

I wonder if anyone can successfully move cattle or sheep down a lane lined with ivy, without seeing them steal a snack as they go?

I have also found that offering ivy to sick and inappetent animals can sometimes be the only thing that tempts them to eat again.

Our native ivy is not to be confused with poison ivy in America.

But despite the documented uses of English ivy, others report poisonous effects ranging from stomach upsets to death.

So, whilst it is important that extremely large quantities are not consumed, it would appear that small amounts can be beneficial.

Everyone at Friars Moor Livestock Health would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!

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

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Farming

Mob: 07966 244536 Hydraulic Hose Specialists and Stockists to the Agriculture, Forestry, Automotive and Transport Industry Pneumatic fittings Quick release couplings Air brake fittings Pressure wash hoses + lances Hose clamps Up to 1 ½ “Hose stocked Hydraulic Hoses Variation of oils Mobile service available

MUCK AWAY SERVICES, Site clearances, digger & driver hire, tractor & dump trailer 07711 980871 WANTED FORD TRACTORS, 3, 4 & 6 cylinder models, any condition Tel 07375 795006 LARGE WHITE CROSS PIGS for sale. Stores and weaners Tel: 01747 840821 HAY- SMALL BALES £3.50 per bale 01258 880892 07980 036250

JDG Structural Steel Ltd Steel frame buildings for agricultural, industrial and equestrian enterprises Pre-cast concrete wallings panels supplied and erected Roller shutter doors supplied and fitted All steel frames are designed, fabricated & erected to conform to current CE markings

Tel: 01747 811711 Mob: 07860 570258 Email: johnguttridge@aol.com Email: Info@jdgstructuralsteel.co.uk. www.jdgstructuralsteel.co.uk

HELP REQUIRED with stables and sheep. 07810 350908 or 01258 820690

COWS COWS COWS To receive top price for all barren cows.

Brookfield Livestock Marketing Limited.

Payment on the day of purchase.

07811 381 159 Email: hoses@ardiesels.co.uk

FLAIL HEDGING HEDGE LAYING HAULAGE Please phone Andrew 01747 855198

Urgently wanted

Haulage arranged Cote Farm Works, Kilmington, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 6RF

DISCOUNT AIR GUNS, new & used, spares, repairs, tuning, sights and night vision. 01747 823981, Gillingham

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Farming

Work carries on at the farm over Christmas Farmer’s Diary

by Ruth Kimber Firstly, a big Happy Christmas to you all.

The Nativity is now complete at the farm shop, Paul managed to mend the stable and fix it to the trailer, with a belt and braces addition of two lorry straps.

Please spare a thought for all those who will have to work through the Christmas period, in our own industry, animals still need tending, feeding, milking etc.

The milk will still need collecting and dealt with once back at the dairies.

Vets will be on standby, the AI man/lady will still have to come if a cow comes in season and needs to be inseminated.

This is just a window on our industry, but we are not alone, the medical service, residential homes, emergency services and countless more to keep the wheels turning of our communities.

By the time you receive this, all the Christmas poultry will be dressed and ready for collection/distribution.

We have had some really good poultry workers this year headed up by Tom and Jen with the plucking, weighing, recording and dispatch etc.

Bex our second daughter takes holiday from her work as Rural Surveyor/land/estate manager to organise the dressing/evisceration and quality control.

Making sure all our customers receive a bird as close as possible to match their orders.

My dear friend Jean Sellick helps me with the allocation of birds to customers, a tricky job, usually take us a full day!

The fields are now pretty soggy and the animals are now in, except just when we were going off to see a granddaughter in what turned out to an excellent production of Annie at Sunnyhill, I heard lots of mooing and a herd of cows in the field just outside our window!

I called to Paul to go quickly Christmas, we are 27 in all, we and close our garden gate and will be eating a big turkey! We phoned Tom, however he had have a family WhatsApp and gone out with the family and the jobs are divided out Alan, nephew Mat and son in between us, so its not so much law Danj came to the rescue work for just one. and gathered them back in, they seem to Air Ri昀es know when & Air Pistols to cause a Country Outfitters wanted little (Justin J Frampton) R.F.D.13D meyhem, and New or Secondhand Any make or model Shot & Air Guns, Rifles of course Any condition and Repairs. when there is Game, Coarse & Call 07970 742471 Sea Angling Equipment much to do, the yard gates chain wasn’t fastened, as it We provide a friendly, local service usually is, Est at competitive prices. Based at 1886 Redlynch near Bruton, we supply Car, animals don’t Commercial, Agricultural, Plant & 4x4 tyres and offer a 24hr breakdown service. let much past We won’t be beaten on price.

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Dorset DT11 7AW Call us on Paul and I jay@conyers.biz 813957 or 01749 are hosting www.conyers.biz 07971 012628 our whole or find us at Tel: 01258 452307 www.southwestyreservices.co.uk Mob: 07973 642278 immediate family, that’s FARMING CLASSIFIEDS: 01963 our six children and 400186, adverts@blackmorevale.net all their families this

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CLOVER & HERB RICH SMALL BALE MEADOW HAY £5 – Shaftesbury Sedgehill 07973 318593 HAY – SMALL BALE. Quality good to excellent from £3. Also, round bale hay and haylage and straw.

Tel: 07950 569543 PADDOCKS: For all your paddock & field maintenance, call Mark on 07810 540725.

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Property

C

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Property

S O U T H E R N FA R M L A N D REVIEW 2 0 2 1 / 2 0 2 2 A SNAP SHOT OF 2021 National Overview Rural property historically has been seen as the country cousin to the residential and commercial sectors, but the climate change agenda and the growing concerns over food security mean it is now the focus of attention for more buyers than ever.

The numbers of people and businesses now registered with us, with a view to purchasing farmland and forestry, are at unprecedented levels and the simple economics of demand versus supply has led to an increase in values.

Over the next five years we see no reason for this to change and, if the economic headwinds of rising inflation and interest rates play out as expected, farmland’s tendency to act as an Inflationary hedge will only add to the interest in this finite asset.

Local Overview During 2021 the supply of farmland marketed dipped considerably below the normal national average, but there has been a huge number of new buyers in the market. Launches in

the late spring and early summer have taken some time to sell, but in fact the final sales prices have been well in excess of expectations.

at an early stage, which can be months before the launch date, saves so much time at the other end.

Interest for the land and farms available has come from a range of potential buyers with wide ranging motives, including lifestyle, rollover and also the environment. By the end of the year our stock levels will be much depleted, but we are busy seeing new properties for launching next year knowing there are still many potential buyers out there.

We anticipate 2022 to be a strong year with a greater choice of property available to buy. A likely rise in inflation is going to be a challenge to the property markets in general, but historically the farmland market has often been contra-cyclical to general financial markets.

Overall in the South our buyers have tended to be lifestyle motivated, although depending upon the property there is also interest from the commercial farmer and investor.

“The numbers of people and businesses now registered with us, with a view to purchasing farmland and forestry, are at unprecedented levels”

As ever, land and farm sales are still taking an enormous amount of time to go through the series of hoops that are necessary

Fred Cook Director 01722 426815 fred.cook@savills.com

when selling a farm and the legal aspect to a sale is now more important than ever. We find that engagement between the selling agent, accountant and solicitor

18% supply

£/acre

In Great Britain 111,000 acres of farmland were marketed* during 2021 (to end Sept) compared with 93,900 acres in 2020 (end Sept), an increase of 18%.

The Savills Farmland Value Survey shows that during the first nine months of 2021 the average value of prime arable land in Great Britain rose by 2.7% to £9,050 per acre.

68% of farmland England accounted for 68% of farmland marketed* in Great Britain during 2021 (to end Sept), Scotland 23% and Wales 9%.

16% In 2021 (to end Sept) Savills had a 16% market share* in Great Britain having advertised* 17,700 acres of farmland.

For farms over 500 acres Savills had a 21% market share

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Property Savills Salisbury 01722 426820 salisbury@savills.com

SAVILLS ADDING VALUE

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

Pertwood Manor Farm, Hindon, Wiltshire 772 acres | Guide £12 million

Rockstead Farm, Rockbourne, Hampshire 260 acres | Guide £4 million

UNDER OFFER

SOLD

Wimborne, Dorset 130 acres | Guide £2.9 million

Manor Farm Dairy, Shepton Mallet, Somerset 158 acres | Guide £2.4 million

UNDER OFFER

Dairy House Farm, Bridgewater, Somerset 59.84 acres | Guide £1.15 million

Shepton Montague, Somerset 355 acres | Guide £8 million

For a free market appraisal, with no obligation, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of our team.

Fred Cook Director 01722 426815 fred.cook@savills.com

David Cross Head of Rural Agency South 01722 426813 dcross@savills.com

Penny Dart

Matilda Stent Farm Agent 01722 426800 matilda.stent@savills.com

Stacey Wait Rural Agency Assistant 01722 426 839 stacey.wait@savills.com

Alex Lawson Head of UK Rural Agency 020 7409 8882 alawson@savills.com

Director 01392 455747 pdart@savills.com

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Property

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and bright New Year from us all at Jackson-Stops.

If you are thinking of selling your home, and would like some friendly advice, please contact us for a con昀dential market appraisal.

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Property

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

CHILD OKEFORD

S H A F T E S B U RY

P E N S E LW O O D

GUIDE PRICE £750,000

GUIDE PRICE £595,000

GUIDE PRICE £1,300,000

SOLD

SOLD

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WINTERBORNE ZELSTON

L O W E R B RYA N S T O N

HIGHER ANSTY

GUIDE PRICE £1,300,000

GUIDE PRICE £985,000

GUIDE PRICE £525,000

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

RIMPTON

SHERBORNE

LEIGH

GUIDE PRICE £1,950,000

GUIDE PRICE £975,000

GUIDE PRICE £695,000

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Property

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