The Purbeck Gazette - Issue 310

What’s

Good causes share £5,000 carnival funds

MORE than £5,000 was handed to good causes from funds raised at Wareham Carnival.

Organisers held the 2024 launch and presentation night at The Club and presented cheques to worthy Purbeck causes.

Donations included: Dorset Search and Rescue (£500), Prime Time (£500), Sandford School (£500), Wareham Rugby Club (£400), Wareham Scout and Guide hut (£500), Julia’s House (£250), Purbeck Youth & Community Foundation (£500), Wareham Middle School (£400), Carey Hall (£500), Wareham Community Growers (£500) with £100 going especially to Ross, who maintains the plants all year round.

A cheque for £400 was presented to mayor, Carol Turner, to help towards senior lunches she organises.

Chair of the organising committee, Ian Davey, said: “I just feel so overwhelmed with pride for the support from both local business in sponsoring such an event and for all those who help along the way, be it

“Many of you reading may remember him with his strange pram-contraption, which he used to raise money for local charities on the streets of Wareham.

local cafes/pubs offering us coffee and bacon sandwiches when we’re out and about putting up bunting, to businesses and the general public donating.

“This year’s theme is ‘Sports, Music & Memories’. Memories being an important twist, as a mark of respect to recently departed Sue and Hugh Elms, both of whom were integral to our Wareham and wider Purbeckian community.

“Hugh was most famous for his involvement in the carnival with the Muddlecombe Men, as well as being a founding member of Wareham’s Purbeck Independent Simpletons’ Society and the Court Leet.

Wine and Wisdom quiz

THE 30th annual Wimborne in Bloom Wine and Wisdom quiz evening took place at the Allendale Centre, Wimborne Minster.

Some 28 teams pitted their wits against each other to win the coveted Eco Composting Shield.

Eight rounds of questions on a variety of subjects included Raining Cats And Dogs, Phobias, Dorset Knowledge and General

Knowledge.

After a hard-fought battle last year’s winners, Phoenix Dorset, and Wimborne Civic Society tied for first place.

Phoenix Dorset answered the tie-break question first and so retained the trophy. Each member of the team also received a bottle of wine.

The event is expected to have raised well over £1,000.

“Hugh was also renowned as a local historian and author of many varying informational pamphlets and books, always helped greatly by his wife, Sue, as she assisted with writing, publishing and illustrating various works.

“Rest in peace Sue and Hugh, we are left with many

fond memories of you both and are very thankful for all you gave to Wareham over the decades.

“I am sure there will be many people in Wareham who would like to share some of their own memories in this year’s carnival parade, hopefully with some wild, wonderful and possibly very strange costumes – it wouldn’t be Wareham otherwise, would it?”

The 2024 Wareham Carnival weekend will run from July 19 to 21 at the Rec.

Wareham mayor, Carol Turner, receives a cheque to support lunches she organises

PHOTO: Sarah Cutler

The Wareham Carnival team at the event’s launch at The Club

Project bids to restore Purbeck’s peatlands

WORK to rewet and restore vital peatland habitats is under way on England’s first ‘super’ National Nature Reserve in Purbeck.

The area was chosen as one of 16 sites for a £1 million Dorset Peat Partnership project seeking to reinstate 425 acres of peatland, equivalent to the area of more than 240 football pitches, across the county.

The Partnership is one of 23 restoration projects across England to benefit from an investment of more than £50 million by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to restore peatland across about 86,000 acres in England by the end of this Parliament to help tackle climate change and boost biodiversity.

The first phase of the peatland restoration in Purbeck is taking place on Agglestone Mire and Greenlands Mire, near Studland, both cared for by the National Trust.

Heather bales, timber and bunds made of peaty soil will be used to create ‘leaky dams’ to block old ditches, originally dug to drain marshes for conifer plantations or to graze farm animals, to force the water to flow across the mire rather than down artificial channels.

David Brown, the National Trust’s lead ecologist in Purbeck, said: “Spreading the flow of water across the mires will create a wetter habitat where mosses and other rare plants like marsh saxifrage and tiny bog orchids can thrive.

“Under the acidic, waterlogged conditions, mosses and other plants never fully

decompose, and over time they turn into new peat which keeps their carbon locked up instead of releasing it into the atmosphere.

“Purbeck's peat-forming mires have enormous significance for rare insects, plants and other wildlife, including bog hoverflies and birds such as skylarks, as well as one of our few long-term carbon storage habitats.”

Re-wetting the mires will also improve drought and fire resilience by holding more water in the landscape during the summer, as well as helping to prevent flooding by soaking up heavy rainfall.

David added: “A new wetland ecosystem should establish itself quite quickly,

providing a lifeline for many rare species that have been under threat due to the disappearance of these boggy habitats across the country.

“This includes many species of invertebrates, like the nationally rare raft spider, which floats on the bog pools and is a very aggressive hunter.

“The insects in turn attract birds and mammals, including rare nightjars that nest on the heathland and feed over the mires, and even benefit some rare plant species that grow on the peat bogs, including carnivorous plants which rely on capturing and digesting insects to supplement their diet on the nutrient-poor bog.

“Many people don’t realise they grow in Dorset, but one is actually called the Godlingston Sundew, because it was originally found on Godlingston Heath in Purbeck.”

Another part of the project includes cutting back invasive purple moor grass, which has thrived in the face of recent drought conditions and is threatening to smother other more delicate wetland species.

Led by Dorset Wildlife Trust, the key partners of the Dorset Peat Partnership are Natural England, Forestry England, the Environment Agency, BCP Council, the National Trust, the RSPB and one private landowner.

The project has been funded by £787,320 from DEFRA’s Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme and £262,500 from other partners.

‘Marching moth’ and plans for 300 homes

PLANS for more than 300 new homes, parking, bike routes and more have had to be modified – because of moths.

Bloor Homes has submitted a bid to amend planning permission for the development on land west of Cranborne Road, Wimborne.

A tree planned to feature at a ‘focal square’ of the

development can no longer be delivered – due to the Oak Processionary Moth.

The moth’s caterpillars cause heavy damage to oak trees, as they eat the leaves.

Their name comes from the fact they march between trees in search of food.

To control spread of the moth, management zones are installed in parts of the country

in which the insect is found – and trees prevented from being transported to clear areas.

This is the case with the tree planned for the development in Wimborne, according to the application.

A Quercus palustris ‘Green Pillar’ tree planned for the spot will be replaced with a Facus Sylvatica – common beech – if

approved.

“The tree cannot be delivered due to Oak Processionary Moth, and the site is within the buffer zone,” the ammedment states.

The 319-homes plan was approved in April 2021.

For more information log on to dorsetcouncil.gov.uk and search for application reference P/NMA/2024/00342.

The Purbeck Super National Nature Reserve at Studland Heath

PHOTO: National Trust Images and John Miller

The raft spider could be one of the species to benefit fromt the project PHOTO: National Trust Images, Phil Bruss

Town chooses new crier

OYEZ! Oyez! Dorchester has a new town crier – Anthony Harrison.

Anthony came out on top after a rigorous selection process, which included a trial cry in the town centre that won over a panel of councillors.

He faced stiff competition from five other applicants, but has been selected to start in the role once his appointment receives the final stamp of approval from Dorchester Town Council on March 23.

Anthony said: “I am delighted to take on the responsibility as Dorchester’s town crier after Alistair’s (Chisholm) magnificent tenure and record-equalling championship titles.

“I am excited to explore new ways to enhance Dorchester’s reputation both for residents and visitors by promoting the town’s rich heritage and highlighting the many great reasons why Dorchester is a fantastic place to work, live and visit.

“I have lots of new ideas and will be working with the many other individuals and bodies who are keen to help Dorchester thrive and blossom. In particular, I think there is a great deal we can do to inspire the

younger generation of residents to learn, share and shape the future of the town to make sure it is as relevant this century as it has been for the previous 30 or 40.”

Cllr Chisholm, the former town crier, welcomed Anthony’s appointment.

He said: “I am pleased there was healthy competition for the post of Dorchester town crier following my retirement from the role at the start of the year.

“However, I must admit to being somewhat disappointed there were no women expressing an interest in this unique opportunity.

“All six candidates had a variety of points in their favour and choosing who was the most suitable was not easy.

“In much the same way as I learned more about the ‘extreme sport’ of town crying as time went on, and developed the role of crier to reflect the town’s situation at any given moment, so too may my successor, Anthony Harrison.

“I wish him the very best of luck and I look forward to this most ancient and traditional of positions continuing to play an important part in the promotion of the county town’s future.”

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Anthony Harrison (right) is set to be confirmed as new Dorchester town crier. He is taking over the role from Alistair Chisholm (left)

Rotary says thanks after handing out £36,000

MORE than 50 Rotarians and guests representing local businesses, clubs and other organisations gathered when Swanage and Purbeck Rotary held its annual celebration event at The Swanage School.

They heard about the group’s past year and plans for the future.

President Chris Le Fevre said the event was mainly to thank everyone present for the help given to Rotary and the community in Swanage and the

surrounding area.

Chris added: “During the last Rotary financial year we were able to donate over £36,000 to 25 organisations and projects locally and internationally.

“None of what we do could be achieved without the help of many of you in the local community, either in person or through your businesses.”

Short presentations followed on Rotary’s international, community and youth projects.

The group has supported

£7,500 grant to send a woodwind orchestra into eight primary schools.

The audience enjoyed a short video demonstrating the charity’s excellent work.

Prestigious Paul Harris Fellowships awards were presented to individuals who go above and beyond in the community.

The awards were given to the

founders of Swanage cancer charity Cancare, Vicki Fooks and Gill Norman.

They were also recently presented to Bob Paine and Daphne Saville at the group’s celebration tea-party, Silver Saturday.

Bob and Daphne have provided significant service to Swanage Disabled Club and been long-time supporters of Swanage Rotary.

Purbeck Youth Music with a

Paul Harris Fellowship award winners, Cancare founders Vicki Fooks and Gill Norman, with Chris Le Fevre

Sunflower trail delivers £15,400

MORE than £15,000 raised by a sunflower trail at Maiden Castle Farm, Dorchester, has been handed to the Special Care Baby Unit at Dorset County Hospital in the town.

The event last summer takes the total raised by the three sunflower events held since 2021 to nearly £47,000.

Hazel Hoskin from the farm visited the hospital to hand over a giant cheque for £15,400 to staff from the baby unit.

Hazel knows many of them personally, as her eldest son, Thomas, was treated there when he was a baby.

SCBU matron Debora Pascoal Horta said: “We are so grateful to Hazel and her family for this amazing donation – one

of the ideas is to use the money to help refurbish the family rooms on the unit.

“We want to create an en suite bathroom so that families staying overnight with their

children have access to private facilities – this would make a real difference to them at a very difficult time.”

Simon Pearson, head of charity at Dorset County

Hospital, said: “This significant donation is the result of months of hard work by Hazel and everyone at Maiden Castle Farm for which we are extremely grateful.

“We would also like to extend our thanks to everyone who visited the Dorset Sunflower Trail, and to Dorchester Town Council and all the local businesses who also contributed to the success of this event.”

Thousands of people enjoyed the walks through the sunflower fields last summer.

Hazel is already planning this year’s sunflower event with the money raised this time going to Dorset County Hospital’s Charity Emergency and Critical Care Appeal.

That is raising £2.5 million to enhance the new Emergency and Critical Care Unit with building work set to begin on the unit on the hospital site shortly.

Hazel Hoskin (third from left) with members of the Dorset County Hospital charity and Special Care Baby Unit teams

News from Wareham Town Council – March report

By Julie Bradshaw

TWO main issues concerned

Wareham Town Council at its March meeting – whether to support the 2RN bus to the tune of £600 and how to confront Dorset Council on the issue of street lighting.

The RSPB instituted the 2RN bus service to Arne two years ago on a trial basis.

The aim was to reduce car traffic and to provide access to Arne for those without their own transport, at the same time providing transport into Wareham from Stoborough and Ridge.

The bus did run at times to Norden Farm but this was not so popular and reduced the frequency of the main service.

The Dorset Community Transport bus fitted in the service around school runs.

needs to combine it with three others in Dorset. Discussions are underway.

A preferred developer of the new GP surgery on the Middle School site has been selected.

Dorset without any consultation with Dorset or local councillors.

PHOTO: Simon Barnes

In its second year, the service showed a marked increase in use, and having proved its worth, the RSPB wishes to hand it over to the community.

Purbeck Community Rail Partnership will lead on it.

The timetable will still be available from the RSPB Arne web page.

Bus passes are accepted –otherwise, the fare is £2.

The council agreed to take £600 from reserves towards the funding.

As an energy-saving measure, Dorset Council decided to replace street lights in towns in

In Wareham in the 1990s some ugly concrete lamp posts were replaced by bulkhead lights fitted just under the eaves.

Residents of houses with these lights received a note through the door saying the lights would be replaced with something similar.

As the contractors started installing the lights, complaints were made and work was stopped.

The new lights are of a modern design, protrude a metre from the buildings with a light that shines more brightly into bedroom windows.

A meeting with DC officers will be requested.

In order to attract a developer of the Middle School site, Dorset Council has found that it

The GP surgery with support from NHS Dorset is putting together a detailed business plan.

Wareham Town Council has applied for the transfer of the Middle School playing fields.

The transfer of Connegar

Lane car park to Wareham Town Council has faltered as Wareham Council requires Dorset Council to make good the condition of the car park and preferably not remove the parking machine.

The public is welcome to attend the next council meeting on Tuesday, April 23, at 7pm in the council chamber, and the annual town council meeting on Tuesday, May 14.

For more information, contact the town council office on 01929 553006 or consult the council’s website, www. wareham-tc.gov.uk.

Parent and Child Fostering –The Facts

When deciding on a new chapter of life and a new direction, it is nice to know the ‘ins and outs’ to help us make informed decisions, in this month’s article we will be giving you all the information you need. However, should you have more questions we are just a phone call away! To be a parent and child foster carer, you will need to be confident in looking after newborn babies and have some experience, tips, and tricks that you can pass on to the new parent. It is also vital that there is always a carer available for support and guidance. In your home, you will be inviting in a parent and their newborn baby, therefore need a big enough spare room to accommodate their needs, such as a bed, changing area, and cot for the baby. The placement is normally short-term and lasts up to 12 weeks, this can vary depending on the requirements of the placement. You may be thinking, how about the rewards that come with being a carer? Well, many rewards can be acquired, the satisfaction of passing on your knowledge to new parents, enabling them to integrate into a community, and promoting the nurture of a newborn. On top of that pay can start in the region of £850 per week. To become a carer, the approval process takes 4-6 months, and a social worker will guide you through your journey. Once completed Footprints offer you the continued guidance, support, and training to ensure you have full confidence in your role. Not every child comes into this world with well-equipped and prepared parents, therefore need some help to get them on their way. In your role as a Parent and Child Foster Carer, not only will you help with the care, but you also will help develop the parent in the areas of money management, and household skills helping them build the confidence they need to live independently.

The need and demand for carers in the field of Parent and Child is rapidly growing and to ensure that we as a nation provide the best support possible, we need more carers. If you think that you can provide a safe and supportive home for such placement, Footprints would like to hear from you.

Sauna in the pipeline for seafront

TWO new concessions are set to operate on Swanage seafront this summer.

Sauna facilities and a coffee kiosk will be sited at ‘Shore Place’, the new name for the area that used to be known as the ‘Hardstanding’ or the ‘Shelter Site’, next to Swanage Information Centre in Shore Road.

Swanage-based Carve Coffee Roasters will install a new kiosk, tables and chairs, and serve coffee and hot drinks and food items.

Swanage Bay Sauna will provide two saunas catering for

different group sizes.

They will be operated by Tracey Waters, a partner in Studland Water Sports, which operates Studland Sauna Hut.

The sauna will be powered by mains electric and will not create any fumes from woodburning heaters in this sensitive area.

It is anticipated that both facilities will be up and running in May, and that they will operate throughout the year, although the plans are subject to contract and planning permission.

Shore Place offers an

New sauna and coffee kiosk concessions will operate all year round on Swanage seafront after opening in May

uninterrupted view of Swanage Bay for the first time in decades following the removal over the winter of the former ice cream kiosk from the beach near The Mowlem.

Swanage Town Council will continue to support local charities and community groups which operate stalls from the site, at no charge, although the number of stalls will be reduced

to a maximum of two each day.

The former ‘Northern Beach Kiosk’, which was on the beach near to the Spa Beach Huts, will not be replaced and the infrastructure at this location will be removed.

This will enable the RNLI Lifeguards to be based in the centre of the designated bathing area to enhance the safety of beach users.

Law firm moves premises

LAW firm, Battens Solicitors, has moved its Wareham office to new premises after outgrowing its previous location.

The move sees Battens relocate to spacious offices at 2-4 West Street, a more prominent location in the heart of the high street.

The Wareham team has experience spanning a variety of legal services, including residential conveyancing and private client – wills, trusts, probate and LPAs.

Sarah Ford, head of residential conveyancing and manager of the Wareham office, said “I love working in Wareham, it’s a town which has managed to keep a traditional high street.

“Everyone is so friendly, often popping in just to say

‘hello’.”

Sarah, who is celebrating her 15th year at Battens this year, added: “At Battens we offer a personal service, which is something that has disappeared since Covid.

“Our doors are open, and we encourage our clients and other professionals to come into the office with any questions or queries they have.

“It’s great we now have the space to do this more easily and comfortably.”

Battens Solicitors has been in Wareham for six years and the move to new premises was marked with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Wareham town mayor Cllr Carol Turner, with the town crier, Jacquie Hall, spreading the news up and down the high street.

Naomi Dyer, director of

Battens Solicitors, said: “The move is great for the Wareham team, the hard work they have put in and the growth in the area has been amazing.

“The new space allows the working environment to be

accessible for all and more spacious.

“I want to thank everyone who has helped us achieve this, the town have been so supportive during the whole process.”

Wareham town mayor, Cllr Carol Turner, turned out for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Battens’ new high street offices

Tie that binds schools a world apart

CHILDREN at a small Dorset school have raised more than £2,000 for students in Uganda.

Pamphill CofE First School has had a relationship for several years with the Emily Collins School on the outskirts of Kisoro in the south west of the African country.

The British children wanted to help enable those students to enjoy the same things they had – including school trips and playground equipment.

During the autumn term they began fundraising, which included sponsored runs, sponsored climbs, sponsored swims and cake sales.

The initial target of £250 was quickly exceeded and by the end of the term £2,100.35 had been raised.

Headteacher Mike Wheeler said: “This was very much a pupil-led effort and it’s incredible how much they raised considering we are a school of just 74 pupils.

“The school we raised the money for is named in memory of Emily Collins who went there following extensive treatment for cancer to work

“Her friend, Martin, in Uganda, started a charity called Our Father’s House Ministries to continue her good work and asked her father, Stephen, if they could name a school they were hoping to build after Emily.

“Stephen has continued to raise money to build and run the school – and he has been liaising between us both.

“The money has been used to take the Ugandan students on a trip – many had never left their village before.

“It also paid for some playground equipment and it is enough to sponsor the education of three girls for a year. And we aim to continue fundraising to see them through their education.

“Our relationship with Emily Collins School goes back several years, so our pupils know all about it.

“They really wanted the students there to enjoy what they had, which is what prompted them to start fundraising and shows what caring children we have. And their parents were all keen to help, too.

relationship with people so far away.”

Stephen said: “Pamphill is a very special school and Mike and his team have a wonderful approach to teaching the children important lessons from outside of the curriculum.“

Martin Duhimbeze, who runs the charity in Uganda, said: “The entire Emily Collins School appreciates all the love and support.

“Having children and staff go to Lake Mburo National Park – about a six-hour drive – was so good and educative. Many had never moved beyond their village and had never

seen the lake or wild animals.

“The money also paid for three sets of playground equipment.

“And we have decided to use the funds to help three needy children get to Emily Collins School and they will get a full year support.”

Pamphill is part of Initio Learning Trust whose chief executive Liz West said: “This is a wonderful and uplifting story.

“Our children did a wonderful job raising all that money and I hope the relationship between the schools lasts for a long time.”

Quiz with ‘Green’ theme

PLANET Wimborne invites quiz groups and individuals to a quiz night on Thursday, April 25, to support the 2023 Planet Wimborne Green Festival. A fun evening of questions on green issues, including water, trees, politics, history and geography – ranging from easy to challenging – is promised.

The venue is Colehill Sports & Social Club, Colehill (BH21 2QR) – doors open 7pm for 7.30pm and entry is £5 on the door (cash or card). For more details and to book, contact Jeff Hart at jeffhart414@gmail.com or on 01202 884201.

The ‘big reveal’ when pupils at Pamphill CofE First School learned how much they’d raised, and children at the Emily Collins School in Uganda enjoy the play equipment the Dorset school raised money for

New town ‘history boards’

A SERIES of new information boards give visitors and residents an insight into the history of Dorchester locations.

Mayor of the county town, Cllr Alistair Chisholm (pictured), unveiled panels on the Millstream Path in Dorchester.

The panels are part of Dorchester Joint Heritage Committee’s ongoing work to

present the rich and varied history of the town to visitors and residents.

The three Millstream panels focus on the heritage of Fordington from the Roman period through to the Victorian industries.

In the summer, a further information board will be installed near the old Mill in Fordington.

Stolen goods: Do these bikes belong to you?

DOZENS of items police believe to have been stolen in the Dorset and New Forest areas are waiting to be claimed by their owners.

Dorset Police has issued images of the recovered items in a bid to see them reunited with their rightful owners.

They were recovered after several incidents in the county.

At around 2pm on Tuesday, February 20, a patrol officer stopped a vehicle in the area of the Blackwater Junction near Christchurch.

On inspecting the vehicle, officers located a Cannondale road bike they suspected to have been stolen.

Officers arrested both occupants of the vehicle – a 58-year-old man and a 23-yearold man, both from London –

on suspicion of theft.

Later that day, police stopped another vehicle in Ringwood Road, Longham.

They searched the vehicle and located several power tools and gardening tools suspected as stolen.

Both occupants – a 17-yearold boy from Bournemouth and a 16-year-old boy from the New Forest area in Hampshire – were arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen goods.

Following further enquiries,

a section 18 search warrant was executed at an address in Arne Crescent, Poole, at around 7.55pm on February 20.

Officers located a number of motorbikes suspected to have been stolen and a 21-year-old man from Poole was arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen goods.

All five suspects have been released on police bail as the investigation continues.

The suspected stolen items were seized and officers are now in the process of returning the items to their owners.

PC Mark Carlton, of Bournemouth police, said: “An investigation is underway into this incident and we are carrying out enquiries into the theft of the items.

“I am issuing images of the stolen items and would ask anyone who has information about who they may belong to please contact us.”

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police via the www.dorset.police.uk website, or by calling 101, quoting incident number 55240026381.

Stamps honour female Dorset icon

DORSET’S iconic palaeontologist – Mary Anning – is being honoured in a new collection of stamps.

The Royal Mail has revealed a new collection themed around the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, featuring designs by Joshua Dunlop and in collaboration with the Natural History Museum.

They include a set of stamps in homage to Mary, who became known around the world in the 19th century for her discoveries of fossils on the Jurassic Coast.

She is featured in the collection alongside dinosaur giants such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex, the Triceratops and the

PHOTO: Royal Mail

Stegosaurus.

David Gold, director of external affairs and policy at Royal Mail, said: “It is fitting in the week of International Women's Day that we pay tribute to Mary Anning with four images of some of the fossils she discovered.”

Stamps commemorating her findings depict a near-complete Dapedium Politum fossil, a complete Ichthyosaurus Communis skeleton fossil, and a near-complete Plesiosaurus Macrocephalus fossil. Anning found the fossils in the 1830s.

The accuracy of the designs has been assured through the Royal Mail's work with the Natural History Museum.

For more information on the sets – and to order – log on to https://shop.royalmail.com/ special-stamp-issues/the-ageof-the-dinosaurs.

Motorbikes are among the items police want to return

PHOTOS: Dorset Police

Power tools are among the recovered items

Brownsea Island springing to life

DAY visitors are heading back to Brownsea Island this month to enjoy the flora and fauna and other attractions.

Among the wildlife, red squirrels can often be seen foraging for food to feed their young at this time of year. They usually have a first litter of three or four babies, called kittens, in March.

Spring also sees bird song fill the air, with males singing to defend their territories and attract a mate for the breeding season.

Many migratory species also return to the island, such as common and Sandwich terns and many different warblers.

Daffodils start to appear out on the Daffodil Field, where a seasonal display will be in full bloom, if the island’s Sika deer don’t nibble too many of them overnight.

Families can explore the island’s natural play area, and free trails and activities are on offer, including an Easter egg hunt from March 23 to April 14.

Visitors have plenty of picnic spots and benches to choose from to stop for a snack, and the Villano Café is open with its harbour views.

The National Trust team

who care for the island were scheduled to re-open to visitors on Saturday (March 16).

Visitor operations and experience manager, Olivia Gruitt, said: “We are excited about welcoming visitors back to the island to share its beauty.

“Whether you’re coming here for the wildlife watching, quiet island wanders or for a family adventure, your visit helps us look after this haven for wildlife in the middle of Poole Harbour.”

Visitors can cross from Poole and Sandbanks and an accessible landing craft named Seahorse is suitable for wheelchair and mobility scooter users.

Information about ferry times, prices and much more can be found on the Brownsea Island website, https://www. nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/ dorset/brownsea-island.

Romans in Wimborne

WHY did Roman soldiers come to Wimborne, and what was their life like?

Find out more, and see replicas of their equipment, at a talk by John Smith at Wimborne Library on Saturday, March 23, at 2pm. Refreshments will be available from 1.30pm and the talk, organised by the Friends of Wimborne Library, is free and suitable for adults and school-age children.

Shield your home from Care Costs & Inheritance Tax with a Living Trust.

How a Living Trust protects your estate:

1. Care Costs: Placing your main home into a living trust can ring fence the property from any potential future care costs. Thus, protecting your inheritance.

2. Asset Protection:

By transferring ownership of your home and other assets to a living trust, can help protect them from creditors, divorce & remarriage, and other potential claims, including care costs.

3. Inheritance Tax Planning:

A living trust can be part of an estate planning strategy to minimize inheritance tax liability. By placing assets into a trust, they can be excluded from your taxable estate upon your passing, potentially reducing the amount of inheritance tax your beneficiaries would owe.

4. Revocable Nature:

One of the advantages of a living trust is that it is revocable, meaning you can make changes to the trust or even revoke it entirely during your lifetime. This flexibility allows you to adapt to changing circumstances or wishes.

5. Trust Administration:

When you establish a living trust, you typically designate yourself as the trustee, thus maintaining control over the assets and allowing you to continue using and managing them as you did before. Should you move home the trust stays in place and protects your new residence. The effectiveness of a living trust in achieving your specific goals will depend on your individual circumstances. Oakwood Wills offer a free consultation in the privacy of our own home.

Tel 07832 331594, email: info@oakwoodwills.co.uk.

Space is limited, so book a place through the library.

The Friends of the Library raise funds to support the library’s activities, liaise with Dorset Council on behalf of users and organise social events for members and others.

For more information, contact the library on 01202 882770 or Rosalind Jensen, chair of the Friends, at rjensen@btinternet.com.

Red squirrels have their first litter at this time of year

Home plans for former seafront convenience shop

A

SEAFRONT

Weymouth building – formerly home to a convenience store – could be converted back into a home, if plans are approved.

A planning application has been submitted to Dorset Council by Boldhabit Ltd to renovate 80 The Esplanade.

The scheme would see the building, home to the Seafront Convenience Store until two years ago, restored to its “original Georgian appearance” and layout, according to the application.

“The building is now protected by listing while in previous years spoilt by alterations at ground floor to accommodate commercial premises,” it said.

“The proposal will restore the property to its original Georgian appearance to the

street and re-open the basement pedestrian access imitative of the original neighbouring historic properties unspoilt by alterations undertaken prior to the creation of the Town Centre Conservation Area.

“Number 80 was radically altered in the last century to accommodate a shop at pavement level and several historic features were lost.

“Fortunately, some of the adjacent properties are unaltered, and their design and layout can be copied to restore number 80 to its original appearance.

“Restoring this listed building to its original aesthetic integrity will undoubtedly enhance the Conservation Area and set a positive precedent for other restorations using private funds.”

Work would reinstate a traditional front door entrance to the building, along with access to the basement.

“The historic railings would also be replaced providing a balustrade to the new steps and a guard to the reopened basement stairwell currently concealed under the pavement,” it went on.

“This would also enable restoration of steps to the basement from pavement level as found in the original Georgian properties.

“Where the existing shop front is removed, new sash-style timber windows would be added proportional to the existing original windows on the property at first and second floor levels.”

It said the scheme has been brought forward as efforts to find new tenants for the shop have proved unsuccessful.

For more details on the scheme, and to comment, log on to dorsetcouncil.gov.uk and search for application reference P/FUL/2024/00506.

Kate Adie talk for children’s charity

THE Dorchester committee of the Children’s Society is looking forward to welcoming journalist Kate Adie OBE to St George’s Hall, Fordington, to give a talk on A Correspondent’s View of TV.

Kate was chief news correspondent for BBC News between 1989 and 2003, reporting from war zones around the world.

Nowadays she is familiar as presenter of Radio 4’s From Our Own

Correspondent and as a guest on many other radio and television programmes.

Her talk, after which there will be an opportunity to ask questions, is on Wednesday, April 27, at 7.30pm.

Tickets are available from

Nicoll World Travel 23 High East Street, Dorchester, Jane Culliford on 01305 264360 and Rita Kennett on 01305 265432 prices £10.

Wine, drinks and light refreshments can be purchased at the event.

Phantasia play for baby loss charity

PERIOD instrument

Phantasia

are performing a series of concerts at St Hubert's Church in Corfe Mullen, with the next one next weekend.

The performances of HIF von Biber's iconic Mystery Sonatas are in aid of Bournemouth and Poole NHS baby loss charity SPRING.

The concerts began last month with The Joyful

Mysteries and continue with The Sorrowful Mysteries on Saturday, March 23, at 7pm.

The latest concert features music based on the Easter story and is a perfect musical prelude to Holy Week.

The sonatas, written in the late 17th century, explore the range of human emotion, from joy to sor-row to ecstasy.

Violinist Emma-Marie Kabanova and lutenist Chris

Hirst perform on period instruments, Emma-Marie playing six violins, including a fine Italian instrument from 1700 and a violin made in 1770 by the Thompson Brothers of London.

The final concert is The Glorious Mysteries on Saturday, April 13, at 7pm.

Entrance to the concerts via donation to charity in lieu of tickets.

The former convenience store could be converted to a home after efforts to find new tenants were unsuccessful

PHOTOS: Google and Boldhabit Ltd/Dorset Council

ensemble

(left)

GO EAST: Monkey World's Easter Fundraiser

GO EAST at Monkey World this Easter holiday! The park will be fundraising to put rescued and rehabilitated gibbons, loris and douc back into the wild from their sister sanctuary, Dao Tien, in Vietnam, ran by charity EAST (Endangered Asian

Species Trust). Visitors can learn about our agile acrobats, the gibbons, their plight in the wild, and how Monkey World's charity, EAST, is boosting the wild population of golden-cheeked gibbons in Vietnam.

This year is a bumper year of release for EAST, who are returning rescued & endangered loris, gibbons & doucs from the black market trade back to protected forest to help grow the wild population.

At Monkey World this Easter holiday,

we'll be supporting the charity through talks, activities, games & stalls all about our work in Vietnam!

Visit www.go-east.org to find out more about EAST's work.

PLUS over the bank holiday weekend, Monkey World will be giving away chocolate treats to children who complete the fun Easter Trail!

How The Tank Museum is helping Ukraine’s war effort...

THE Tank Museum in Bovington has been playing a role in Ukraine’s war with Russia – by digging out old manuals and parts for Cold War-era vehicles.

Both Ukraine and Russia are using ageing tanks that are suffering damage in the current fighting, often driving over mines and losing their tracks.

As part of the Government’s support to Ukraine, companies have been asked to assist with replacement parts and upgrades to vehicles – and this included replacement tracks.

However, the technical specifications have been hard to source and the Ukrainians are understandably busy.

So, when asked to support the project, David Willey, curator of the award-winning museum, looked in the extensive archive and found manuals and drawings for the tanks being used by President Zelenskyy’s forces.

These have helped Cook Defence Systems re-engineer new tacks, some of which have just arrived in Ukraine and will help the country’s army keep

fighting.

With the war more than two years old there is a requirement to keep as much hardware as they can on the battlefield.

The MTLB, BMP1 and T72 armoured vehicles were originally in service when Ukraine was part of the USSR, and it is these that are back in action.

Mr Willey said: “When we were asked to help, we immediately went and looked for anything that might be of assistance.

“UK defence companies are very keen to assist but in some cases the people from the Cold War era are no longer around and the knowledge has gone in some areas.

“Details such as the angles, pitch and tension required for the new tracks were sought and our archive was able to provide them.

“We also found examples of the actual items required such as T72 tracks and pins from one of the vehicles in the collection. The new parts could then be made accurately, some for the very first time in the UK.

“Part of the museum’s role is to help retain corporate memory and it’s surprising how many issues for defence contractors, designers and, of course, the actual soldiers, come back again and again.

“We also have Ukrainian soldiers training here at Bovington and they visit the museum and just as with the current British Army, the collection is used for training.

“This goes back to the beginnings of the museum which was created as a teaching collection for the first Tank Corps soldiers at the end of the

First World War.

“It has been an honour to play a small part in helping our allies in their war against an aggressor.

“And there are many other ongoing projects with UK companies and organisations that are all doing their bit too.”

Cook Defence Systems, headquartered in Sheffield, can trace its history as the manufacturer of tracks for British armoured fighting vehicles back to 1941. It develops and makes a range of tracks, including those for the Challenger 2 tank.

Major challenges to the project remained even after the museum’s plans were provided – these included the development of new steel alloys to match the original Russian specifications, and re-designing forged and welded components as castings to suit the new manufacturing process.

D-Day poetry competition for schools

WIMBORNE Minster Town Council is inviting local schools to take part in an 80th anniversary D-Day poetry competition.

The initiative aims to encourage young people to reflect on the significance of D-Day through the power of poetry.

The competition is open to students from all schools in Wimborne, with each student

allowed to submit one poem each of any length.

Participants are encouraged to explore themes related to D-Day, such as courage, sacrifice, unity and the importance of remembrance.

Entries should be addressed to Cllr Jeff Hart and must be received at Wimborne Minster Town Hall by 1pm on Friday, May 24.

Each submission will be

carefully reviewed by a panel of judges.

Cllr Hart said: “As we mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, it is vital to honour the bravery and sacrifices of those who served.

“This poetry competition provides a platform for young talents to express their thoughts and feelings about this pivotal moment in history.”

The winning entries will be announced at Wimborne’s D-Day celebrations on Thursday, June 6.

Prizes will be awarded to the top performers, including certificates of achievement and book tokens.

Schools interested in taking part are encouraged to contact the town hall for further details about how to get involved.

T72 British-made track (above) and drawings (below)

Beach Gardens Sports Park – Your Summer Retreat in Swanage

Beach Gardens Sports Park, located just a short distance from Swanage Beach, is the perfect place to relax this summer.

Beach Gardens offers an 18-hole putting green, tennis courts available to hire by the hour, free table tennis and a wide range of teas and coffee and light refreshments from the ‘Tea on the Green’ kiosk. All set within a tranquil oasis of stunning trees, plants and wildlife. There really is something for everyone in this designated ‘Green Flag’ park.

Last year we installed a new decking area at our dementia friendly and accessible ‘Tea on the Green’ kiosk which provides spectacular views across the park including out across Swanage Bay.

All necessary sports

equipment can be hired from the kiosk. There is ample free parking around the area, and we are just two minutes’ walk from Swanage Beach, just follow the signs. We are open from Good Friday 29th March to 3rd November, weather dependent. Opening times are Monday-Thursday 10am-5.30pm and Friday-Sunday 9am-5.30pm. Last putting is 45 minutes before close. A family putting ticket is only £12.

The ‘Tea on the Green’ serves a variety of Fairtrade teas and coffees and soft drinks. We are single use plastic free and source all our food items as locally as we can. It is also a free water refill point. Our most popular items include locally produced ice cream, fruit ice lollies and cakes. A warm welcome is guaranteed for everyone.

Friday 29th March 2024

FREE OF CHARGE

Come along to ‘Tea on the Green’ bring this advert with you to get your

FREE HOT DRINK

FREE tennis all day for everyone especially children, featuring - cardio tennis, fun ac�vi�es/ games - junior/adult coaching and more! Come and join us!

Sport

Swans grab win after slow start

by Ron Butler

Avonvale 17

Swanage & Wareham 26

SWANAGE & Wareham had to travel to Bathford for the game at Avonvale, following the fixture’s postponement the previous week, and after a scare in the second half came away with a bonus point victory.

Swans spent the first 20 minutes in the Avonvale 22, but could not score, making for a curious start to the game.

Their lack of success was a combination of mishandling, wrong options and good defence by the Avonvale team, but after

RUGBY

a line-out to Swans, flank forward Tom Holland powered over the line to give Swans a five point advantage. Fly-half Will Slack added the extras.

A couple of penalties took the hosts into the Swans 22, and after a few phases and a line-out, Avonvale secured a try in the corner on 30 minutes.

From the re-start, Swans were back into the Avonvale 22, but could not increase their lead, so at half-time the score stood at Avonvale 5 Swans 7.

At the start of the second half

Swans worked their way into the Avonvale 22, and from a scrum, the ball was passed all along Swans three-quarters to winger Ollie Dillon to score a try in the corner. Will Slack converted (5pts-14pts).

The Avonvale fly-half had a good boot on him, and from a penalty he put Swans in their own five-metre line, where with a drive they scored a try in the corner (10pts-14pts).

Swans started to give away a few penalties and after 62 minutes the opposition put one into the corner to score close to the posts after a catch/drive

move. This was converted (17pts-14pts).

Swans continued to attack and on 70 minutes from a maul the ball came back to full back Lewis Reeves who forced his way over the try line. Will Slack added the extras (17pts–21pts).

Swans were still looking for the bonus point try, putting Avonvale under severe pressure, and eventually they got it when the ball came back to Lewis Reeves to score a try out wide.

Swans: L Reeves, J Taylor, M Spencer, K Taylor, O Dillon, W Slack, O Peters, Z Wyburgh, C Foskett, S Waterman, G Slack, G Climie, C Orchard, T Holland M Roberts, G Smith, J Phillips.

First blood for Oliver in junior competition

YOUNG Oliver Smith opened his account by winning the first round of the Dorchester Junior Championship at a sunny, if at times chilly, Luckfield Lake, near Broadmayne.

The endless rain made conditions in and out of the water extremely challenging for all seven competitors.

A very cold night and the muddy-coloured water meant

ANGLING

carp would be difficult to catch, so roach were the target species.

Oliver fished the pole with maggots to catch 9lb 2oz of fish, which included a guest tench of 2lb.

Jack Cryer put 5lb 12oz on the scales to claim second place, and reigning junior

champion, Jack Copp, was third with 4lb 14oz.

Oliver won the Alan Hilton Memorial Cup, a £15 voucher for Alan’s Angling and 25 points to start his championship campaign.

For more information about Dorchester & District Angling Society Juniors, visit their website at ddasjuniors.co.uk or email juniors.sec@d-das.com. Match winner Oliver Smith

Star man Brassington at the double

Swanage Town & Herston 3 Bridport Reserves 0 SWANS secured a comprehensive win at Day’s Park against Bridport Reserves in the Dorset Premier League.

Swans made the perfect start after three minutes when Charlie Brassington finished calmly following a great pass from Cody Moore.

The hosts suffered a blow after 16 minutes when Cody Moore was replaced by Sam Willcocks due to injury but the change didn’t upset the flow of the game with Willcocks playing a prominent part.

Swans doubled their lead when Dan Reeks fired past the keeper following a pass from Sam Peacock to take the score

FOOTBALL

to 2-0 at half-time.

Swans raced out of the blocks for the second half and Bees keeper Mark Cuff produced a great save to deny Sam Peacock.

Swans were in the ascendancy and the impressive Charlie Brassington scored number three and his second with an exquisite lob from 40 yards that totally deceived keeper Cuff.

The Swans trio of Brassington, Keates and Lee bossed the midfield, and Streams was always dangerous marauding down the left wing from his full back starting point.

Brassington’s long range shot just cleared the cross bar with the keeper beaten.

Swans keeper Taylor Hibbs enjoyed a quiet afternoon and Cohen Lee missed the target when well placed in the final minutes.

A good performance and

three deserved points for the impressive Swans.

Team: T Hibbs, J Hughes, Olly Smith B Smith (C Dyke 65), J Streams, C Brassington, D Keates (J Crosland 83), L Cohen, C Moore (S Willcocks 16), S Peacock (B Hughes 80), D Reeks. Star man: Charlie Brassington. Special mention: Jake Streams. Subs: S Willcocks, J Crosland, C Dyke, B Hughes, KJacques (not used).

Swans impressed in their victory over against Bridport reserves

200 years of the RNLI

by Nick Reed

ITHINK it’s appropriate to start this month’s article by wishing our colleagues in the RNLI a happy 200th birthday!

On March 4, 1824, a group of prominent philanthropists met in the City of London Tavern, in Bishopsgate, to discuss the forming of a national rescue service. The meeting unanimously passed 12 resolutions including;

“That an Institution can now be formed...to be supported by donations and annual subscriptions.”

“That such immediate assistance be afforded to persons rescued as their necessities may require.”

“That the subjects of all nations be equally objects of the Institution, as well in war as in peace [and] that medallions or pecuniary rewards be given to those who rescue lives...”

The inspiration behind the meeting was Sir William Hillary. Hillary, an ex-soldier, witnessed a number of shipwrecks around the Isle of Man, where he lived. Two in particular affected him, HMS Vigilance and HMS Racehorse. In 1822, he helped organise the successful rescue of the crew of the revenue cutter, HMS Vigilance. The brig HMS Racehorse was sent to Douglas to take the rescued crew back to England but, due to a navigational error, she hit a reef near the entrance to Douglas Harbour. In the ensuing rescue six men from the crew of Racehorse and three Manx rescuers were drowned.

Despite the Admiralty not taking up the idea, he managed to gain patronage from the King and the Prime Minister, along with a number of important people in London society. As a result, the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck was formed. Shortly after its formation, King George IV granted the Royal prefix to the Institution’s name and, in 1854, the charity was renamed the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Today the RNLI operates across Great Britain and Ireland and has 238 stations with 448 lifeboats and hovercraft. Our station at Swanage is a little bit younger than its parent organisation, being formed in 1875 following the wreck of the Wild Wave at Peveril Point. On January 23, 1875, a serious gale and a heavy sea was running down-channel. The brigantine, Wild Wave, was heading for Poole harbour with a cargo of coal.

As conditions worsened, the chief officer of the Swanage Coastguard, John Lose, ordered the launch of the station’s two boats, “with difficulty, and by incurring much risk”. The rescue was seen from the shore by the distinguished Swanage resident John Charles Robinson. Writing in The Times, Robinson described, “five dark, sodden bundles, rather than living creatures, were seen, all clustered together clinging to a mass of tangled rigging at the highest part of the ship’s hull... Soon we see a coil of rope thrown from the largest boat and caught by one of the living ‘bundles’...and in a few minutes (thanks be to Heaven!) all five – one a very small one were safely stowed in the boat”. For his part in the rescue, Lose was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal and his men were rewarded.

TFollowing this Hillary published a pamphlet setting out his idea, ‘An Appeal to The British Navy on The Humanity and Policy of Forming a National Institution for The Preservation of Lives and Property from Shipwreck’.

Struggling to round Peveril Point and make headway through the treacherous race, she hit the ledges in the early hours of the morning. The Coastguard Lookout at the Point saw she was in difficulties and telegraphed to the nearest lifeboat station, in Poole, to request assistance.

HROUGHOUT 1875, support for a lifeboat station grew, helped by prominent locals such as George Burt and Lord Eldon, and on September 16, 1875, the station was opened. The current lifeboat station is on the original 1875 site and was rebuilt in 2015/16 to accommodate the station’s new Shannon class lifeboat. Swanage RNLI now has two boats, an all-weather boat, the George Thomas Lacy, and a D-class inshore lifeboat

March, as the RNLI celebrates its 200th anniversary.

The lifeboat station is a short walk from the NCI Lookout at Peveril Point and would make an ideal place to visit after sampling the delicious tea and cakes that will be available at the Lookout on Easter Sunday and Monday. If the weather takes the hint that it’s officially spring, the more adventurous could take advantage of the refreshments available at the St Alban’s Head Lookout from Good Friday to Easter Monday. For those walking the South West Coast Path, you could also stamp the Path passport with our SWCP stamps!

This is St Alban’s Head NCI and Swanage NCI listening on channel 65 and proud to be working along our colleagues in the RNLI. NCI out.

(ILB). The ILB, Roy Norgrove, is new to the station and it’s fitting that she will be officially named in late

Swanage RNLI’s D-class Inshore Lifeboat, Roy Norgrove PHOTOS: RNLI

Sir William Hillary was the inspiration the RNLI’s forerunner

Village hall is hive of activity

EAST Burton village hall is a thriving one, with a wide range of events planned for the forthcoming year.

Our next event is one of our regular ‘Hot Potato’ evenings on Friday, March 22, with a talk and presentation by Wilfred Shon, of Shroton Fair Gin, complete with a special Shroton gin for the occasion!

At ‘Hot Potato’ evenings we provide a baked potato with a choice of meat and/or vegetable topping. Visitors can bring along their own drinks, alcoholic or otherwise, and the charge is just £5 a head. The events start at 7.30pm and booking is not necessary.

Other events coming up are a coffee and cake morning on Friday, April 12, with tea/coffee and homemade cakes. The events are held on the second Friday of every month from 10am-noon. There is no cost, we just ask for donations, so please drop in.

We also have a regular weekly yoga class held on Mondays from 6.30-7.30pm and a kick-boxing session on Tuesday from 7-8pm.

A monthly gardening club is held on the third or fourth Thursday of each month. The next one is on Thursday, March 28, starting at 7.30pm.

Family fun days are planned throughout the year with competitions, quizzes and games.

Posters will be displayed in shops and venues throughout the local area and on Facebook, Wool Community and Nextdoor, and updates will be published in the Purbeck Gazette.

The hall can be hired for private/personal events or, if you wish to start a class, maybe art, drama or book club etc, get in touch on 01929 288020 or visit the hall website at ebvh. org.uk.

For information about these events, hire rates, availability, bookings and so on, do not hesitate to make contact.

to Rights of Way.

Click on that and then on the various types of Access Land: Dedicated, Open, Common and Village Greens.

finances, we received another visit from the same officer and his colleague, with regard to our hacked email address list.

Patricia Hook East Burton

village hall

Explore our Access Land

IT’S currently in the news how much Access Land is inaccessible.

Dorset has hundreds – I haven’t counted them– of Access Land sites but nearly 30 of them are inaccessible unless by permission or trespass as they can’t be reached by a public right of way.

Access Land was created by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and includes Common Land, mountain, moor, heath and down land.

Everybody has a right to roam and explore it, but it gets very little publicity, so I doubt if most people know it exists.

If you want to discover and explore Access Land near you, visit the Dorset Explorer website and, by juggling your way through it, click on ‘Countryside’ and scroll down

Then get out and explore it!

Chris Slade Maiden Newton

Police were on the ball

IN response to David Hollister’s article – Purbeck Gazette, March 4 – we were recently victims of a major financial fraud. Needless to say it was an upsetting time.

Only by visiting our bank in person did we discover the fraud. The bank’s member of staff told us that her first three customers that morning had visited about fraud. She immediately initiated an investigation and advised us to report it to Dorset Police.

The Police then connected us to ‘Action Fraud’ where we made our report in detail. That was followed by a personal visit from a Police Crime Support Officer to discuss our case.

During the period that our bank was recovering our

FACTOID OF THE FORTNIGHT

IF someone asked you what the national animal of England is, would you know?

Chances are, you might well remember it is the lion, thanks largely to the football mantra, ‘three lions on the shirt’.

However, if someone asked what the national animal of Scotland was, would you be so confident?

A bull, perhaps? Or a grouse? Well, in fact, it’s a unicorn.

Yes, the mythical, horned, horse-type animal is the emblematic creature of our cousins north of the border.

The National Trust of Scotland says unicorns are a symbol of ‘purity, innocence

and power’ in Celtic mythology, as well as being ‘fiercely independent and famously difficult to capture’.

However, the Scots are not alone in boasting a nonexistent beast as their national animal.

Wales, of course, is represented by the dragon, which also never existed.

Some other interesting national animals include Canada, which has the beaver, while Norway is the moose, Italy is the Italian wolf and Ireland is the Irish hare.

Germany lauds the golden eagle, which it shares with the likes of Albania, Mexico and Kazakhstan.

We were pleased to think that God was watching over us in the form of two visits from local police!

Swanage

Name and address supplied

Plant folklore call for help

SINCE the early 1980s the Plant-lore Archive project has been collecting information on the folklore and traditional uses of plants in Britain and beyond. The archive holds information from about 3,600 contributors but further contributions are needed to improve our knowledge of such matters.

Therefore, if any Purbeck Gazette readers have memories of flowers they consider to be unlucky, wild plants collected for food, herbal remedies, plants used in children’s games and local plant names etc, I would grateful if they could send them to me at roy@plant-lore.com

Roy Vickery Via email

Telling It Like It Is

Any Questions?

Top venue, shame about the cast...

POOLE bridge, in operation since the 1920s, is closed after developing a fault in its operating system. This bridge serves as the road link across a busy boating channel and is reported to be halfway up and halfway down. Maybe it should be re-christened ‘The Grand Old Duke of York’ bridge! Emergency works are taking place to fix the issue but, in the meantime, Twin Sails bridge remains open. A BCP spokesperson said: “An unexpected fault in the operating system of Poole Bridge has led to the bridge needing to be kept in the raised position and the road temporarily closed.” Just cross all your fingers…

IKNOW that council funds are scarce and that Swanage, like most councils in the UK, is strapped for cash. It has just announced that the hardstanding between the tourist information centre and Fortes Ice Cream kiosk is being let. Looking at the comments on Facebook on this matter, it seems I’m the only person to cry ‘foul’. Yes, a beach-side sauna seems like a good idea, although up until now, sunworshippers seem to have managed quite well with God’s equivalent.

But another coffee outlet? Really? Do we not have a plethora of coffee and snack outlets already? Should I mention the Sea Breeze restaurant right next door, which is already a council concession and pays substantial rent to the council for it? And the Santa Fe fun park overlooking the hardstanding? It is a concession, too.

And what about the charitable organisations which

by David Hollister

are permitted to set up gazebos occasionally and raise funds?

The Carnival Caravan? The little dance and activity groups which use the hardstanding for children’s entertainment and exercise?

Facebook tells me I am clearly outnumbered, but for a landlord to set up another concession right next door while already extracting substantial rentals from the Sea Breeze and Santa Fe is – in my book –probably legally permissible but morally wrong.

Let’s assume that no-one is visiting Swanage with the sole intention of having a cup of coffee. We have so much more to offer than catering. So, the available visitor-spend will be once again diluted and the likelihood is that one or more of the current outlets will throw up its hands in horror and call it quits.

We live in a lovely and relatively unspoiled little town. And surely the council’s job is to keep it so, to protect the interests of residents and visitors alike?

There is more to life than money. Or at least, there used to be.

AND on the subject of Swanage Town Council, so glad it has reversed the decision to ban learner drivers from practising their hill-starts and reverseparking manoeuvres in the outer car parks. It was poorly thought out and was probably unenforceable anyway. Unless, of course, a few spare traffic wardens were found hiding in the bushes ready to jump out and protect Swanage from the scourge of learner drivers? Maybe they could liaise with the Police and use the surplus bodies to control the cyclists

speeding down the one-way High Street against the traffic flow?

And now Shore Road is partially closed for parking, how long before Dorset Council uses lack of use as a reason to close it completely? How long before someone’s killed or injured while negotiating the potholes on the alternative routes on which there’s no consideration for those living and parking; Northbrook Road, funnelling all incoming and outgoing traffic past a busy housing estate and past a school where ‘pedestrian safety’ clearly doesn’t matter, or down the third-world De Moulham road, already comparable to a cart track.

IF a property has been empty and unoccupied for a long period of time, as a last resort the empty homes officer may decide that the only option is to apply for a compulsory purchase order, a complicated and lengthy legal process which enables the council to buy the house from the owner with or without the owner’s consent. Dorset Council is currently taking this type of action over four houses in the county. It always takes time to encourage an owner of an empty home to bring it back into use. Owners have the option to sell the property themselves, renovate it to live in or rent it out.

Where this approach is unsuccessful, Dorset Council sometimes decides to have the house valued and may then make the owner an offer to buy it. This can sometimes be the quickest way for it to get a property back into use. If it can buy the property voluntarily, it may decide to keep it, do it up and then use it for housing a local family. If the property isn’t suitable to be used in this way, it may decide to sell the house back on the open market.

For more information about its work in this area and to report an empty home, search for ‘Dorset Council Empty Homes’ on Google. And don’t forget my well-used mantra –

for everyone who has two homes, someone else has none.

Whatever happened to the days when your county council and even your parish council acted in your best interests, rather than its own? They currently have little choice because central government has loaded them with all the stuff that really should be done out of our taxes – education, social welfare, Police, subsidised school transport and so on. No wonder they’re broke.

WE’RE so lucky in Swanage to have The Mowlem, a super venue for so many different aspects of the arts. Last Friday evening, we went to the BBC recording of Any Questions? and the normal Mowlem hospitality was temporarily replaced by BBC-sponsored hostility. I suppose I should have realised when reaching the back of a queue stretching right round into Institute Road that by the time I reached “security” in the foyer, I would be cold despite layers of North Face padding.

So, they patted my clothing and let me through to the bar where surprisingly I was refused a large G&T because “they” had decided that in all probability my outrageous behaviour after a large one would prove detrimental to the recording. Several local residents were chosen to ask questions which they had previously written down, and the panel tried to reply without hesitation, repetition or deviation. And failed. Wrong show. Seldom have I sat through such a barrage of cliches and political waffle and by 8.50pm I was glad to get out and struggle to the car park in the biting wind.

On the way home, I realised I could have listened to the show on my radio at home without the ignominious search, had my normal large G&T, not queued and not got cold. It was nice to see so many friends out and about, but lesson learned. Which is sad. Great venue. Shame about the cast.

10

11 Organizer (11)

14

18 Wholly (8)

19 Grizzly or polar, eg (4)

20 Very serious (6)

21

(6)

Best Picture Oscar Winners

AMERICAN BEAUTY BRAVEHEART

CHARIOTS OF FIRE CHICAGO

CRASH GANDHI GLADIATOR

OUT OF AFRICA

PLATOON SCHINDLER’S LIST

THE ARTIST

THE DEPARTED

THE HURT LOCKER

THE KING’S SPEECH

TITANIC

UNFORGIVEN

Brain chain

Down

1 Edition (7)

2 Give off gas (4)

3

2 Give off gas (4)

12

6 Horned African animal (5)

13 Comments (7)

12 Finally understands (8)

15 Finis (3,3)

13 Comments (7)

16 Plan; map (6)

15 Finis (3,3)

16 Plan; map (6)

17 Pungent vegetable (5)

19 Bundle of hay (4)

Jumbo sudoku

Cryptic crossword

Place 1 to 9 once into every black-bordered 3x3 area as well as each of the 54 rows indicated by the coloured lines. Rows don’t cross the thick black lines.

Across

8 Source of oil in Sevastopol I venture (5)

Killer sudoku

Across

Down

8 Source of oil in Sevastopol I venture (5)

9 Raise a reform to suppress start of unrest in large part of world? (7)

9 Raise a reform to suppress start of unrest in large part of world? (7)

10 A decoration on wall curtailed in southern island for warriors (7)

11 See about say mournful work (5)

1 Chat is in this way retrograde in hands of doctor (6)

10 A decoration on wall curtailed in southern island for warriors (7)

2 Measure across item read wrongly (8)

3 One succeeding in broadcast on radio (4)

11 See about say mournful work (5)

4 Flawless figure in India for twins (6)

12 Offer custom in a port possibly with enthusiasm (not half) (9)

5 Stoppage increased in onset of winter?

12 Offer custom in a port possibly with enthusiasm (not half) (9)

14 A lot of speed and weight (3)

15 It’s put on road and pitch (3)

14 A lot of speed and weight (3)

15 It’s put on road and pitch (3)

6 Part of supermarket, we hear, in Skye, maybe (4)

7 Prohibit around a US city loose jacket (6)

16 Brave indication to show decisive sporting moment? (4,5)

16 Brave indication to show decisive sporting moment? (4,5)

19 Not needing introduction, outstanding antique (5)

19 Not needing introduction, outstanding antique (5)

13 Manage newspaper that is covering end razzmatazz (8)

21 One from Lhasa, maybe, I guess in sun (7)

14 Exciting experience with companion taking frame of tasty panelled work (8)

23 Experience a distant line (7)

21 One from Lhasa, maybe, I guess in sun (7)

23 Experience a distant line (7)

24 Some gun cleaned for pawnbroker (5)

Across

8 Source of oil in Sevastopol I venture (5)

Killer Sudoku Place numbers 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and bold-lined 3x3 box. No didgit may be repeated in any dash-lined cage, and all the digits in any cage must add up to the value shown in that cage.

9 Raise a reform to suppress start of unrest in large part of world? (7)

10 A decoration on wall curtailed in southern island for warriors (7)

11 See about say mournful work (5)

12 Offer custom in a port possibly with enthusiasm (not half) (9)

14 A lot of speed and weight (3)

15 It’s put on road and pitch (3)

16 Brave indication to show decisive sporting moment? (4,5)

19 Not needing introduction, outstanding antique (5)

21 One from Lhasa, maybe, I guess in sun (7)

23 Experience a distant line (7)

24 Some gun cleaned for pawnbroker (5)

15 Decline initially discounted in cup (6)

24 Some gun cleaned for pawnbroker (5)

17 Greek character supported by small rebellion (6)

18 Sensitive proposal (6)

20 US lawyer about to get challenge (4)

22 Miserable waste (4)

Down

1 Chat is in this way retrograde in hands of doctor (6)

2 Measure across item read wrongly (8)

3 One succeeding in broadcast on radio (4)

4 Flawless figure in India for twins (6)

5 Stoppage increased in onset of winter? (6-2)

6 Part of supermarket, we hear, in Skye, maybe (4)

7 Prohibit around a US city loose jacket (6)

13 Manage newspaper that is covering end of razzmatazz (8)

14 Exciting experience with companion taking in frame of tasty panelled work (8)

15 Decline initially discounted in cup (6)

17 Greek character supported by small rebellion (6)

18 Sensitive proposal (6)

20 US lawyer about to get challenge (4)

22 Miserable waste (4)

For

Too many living on the breadline

RECENTLY, I read Walter Greenwood’s classic novel, “Love on the Dole”. Set in the north of England in the 1930s, it tells the stories of working men and their families whose lives are blighted by chronic poverty and unemployment. It’s a cry from the heart – as powerful and relevant today as when it was written.

In November 2023, the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Olivier De Schutter, urged Conservative Ministers to increase welfare spending – UK poverty levels, he said, were “simply not acceptable”. More than one fifth of the UK population were at risk of living in poverty.

Joseph Rowntree Foundation figures show that in 2022, 3.8 million people, including 1 million children, experienced destitution in the UK, two and half times the number in 2017.

In 2019, Philip Alston, the

previous Rapporteur, angered the Government by his damning report to the UN, comparing Conservative policies to those which had created Victorian Workhouses. For so many children to live in poverty he wrote “is not just a disgrace, but a social calamity and an economic disaster rolled into one”.

Nothing much had changed said Professor De Schutter – if anything, “things have got worse”. The findings made by Philp Alston had not been acted upon.

particular, will be especially hard hit.

In Dorset, as across the nation, there is poverty and inequality. In 2019, the South Dorset constituency had the lowest social mobility of all English constituencies. Dorset unitary authority’s own findings indicate there are 11 areas in Dorset within the top 20% most deprived nationally for multiple deprivation, up from 10 in 2015.

Indeed, Jeremy Hunt is considering tax cuts in his next budget, no doubt seeking votes for his Party. Yet economists warn such cuts will mean further austerity – on the same level as that imposed from 2010 to 2019. One can only imagine what the effects of further spending cuts will be. Local Government, in

Studies by Professor Dorling (Oxford University) and Professor Millar (Bristol University) show areas of affluence cheek by jowl with poverty. Health inequalities reflect this picture – men living in the most affluent neighbourhoods live 6.3 years longer than those living nearby in the most deprived. For women, the life expectancy gap is 5.3 years.

Even in bustling seaside towns there are significant pockets of relative and absolute child poverty. In Swanage, one such pocket has an absolute child poverty rate of 22.6%.

Regardless of the cost-ofliving crisis, average wages in Dorset are low. Nine neighbourhoods in Dorset fall into the top 20% nationally for income deprivation. The average Dorset weekly wage is £546 compared to the UK figure of £613. In 2017, average weekly wages in Weymouth and Portland were the lowest in the UK.

Door knocking in Swanage, our members hear people say they want a level playing field –good public services, rents they can afford. We need a government that plays fair, one that faces facts – things cannot go on as they are. We need a change.

CHRIS BRADEY Chair, Swanage & Rural Purbeck Labour Party

Three key issues at general election

THESE are tough times on a local, national and global scale. However, the people of Dorset continue to display remarkable strength, decency and resilience. When I visit the hamlets, villages and towns of South Dorset I hear people’s hopes for the future and their craving for decorum and understanding to be displayed by politicians in Westminster.

People across Dorset, from all walks of life, continue to work hard to make ends meet and provide for their loved ones. This challenge seems to be getting harder and harder every day. Now more than ever, people deserve a fair deal.

Constituents I speak to regularly state they want to see an end to this appalling government. Individuals of all political persuasions continue to express dismay about the mishandling of crucial decisions by Number 10 and other

government departments.

People across Dorset are turning to the Liberal Democrats to achieve their aim of removing the current government from power. They have seen that Labour has publicly stated that it considers South Dorset to be a non-battleground constituency, as evidenced by the document Labour has shared online. The Labour website even instructs its South Dorset activists to campaign elsewhere in locations such as Bournemouth West or Stroud, where they feel they have a significantly better chance of winning. Simply put, Labour will not be throwing its weight behind its South Dorset candidate and does not appear to believe it can win here. South Dorset electors know that the Liberal Democrats prioritise providing strong local champions who care for their constituents and place the community’s needs at the

forefront of decision making.

The Liberal Democrats remain resolute in their desire to improve the lives of individuals within a fair, prosperous and innovative economy. We seek to create fair access to good public services. We always look to protect the environment and provide access to nature for all, while balancing the need to meet people’s current energy demands in an economically viable way. The Liberal Democrats will always fight to promote a strong image of the United Kingdom on the world stage and play our part to meet our international obligations. Crucially, we believe that everyone’s rights should be respected, and individuals and communities should be empowered.

The three key issues during the upcoming general election are likely to be the NHS, cost of living and the environment.

The Liberal Democrats believe that high-quality healthcare, free at the point of use, is essential for both individual freedom and national prosperity.

We believe in allowing businesses to thrive by encouraging investment, boosting productivity and taxing fairly.

We believe in the value of nature, and we will do all we can to safeguard and enhance the environment.

We understand that the changes necessary will require public support and need to be economically viable to succeed. We understand that even though we may think of our politicians as leaders, they should function as elected followers, ever ready to respond to the needs and views of their constituents.

CLLR MATT BELL, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for South Dorset

Chris Bradey

Highlights from the Spring Budget

THE Chancellor has recently presented his Spring Budget. Further information is available on my website about the detail of what has been announced, but I wanted to highlight a few things.

State Pensions are rising by 8.5% in April, as previously announced, and these recent pledges demonstrate the Chancellor’s intention to support everyone in our communities.

Promoting jobs and investment is one of my priorities, and there’s help for small businesses in the Budget.

n At the moment, businesses have to pay VAT once their turnover is more than £85,000. The VAT threshold is now being increased to £90,000, meaning that fewer businesses will have to register for VAT.

n Fuel duty has been frozen again, helping individuals and businesses with their costs.

n National Insurance is being

reduced by 2p, which for someone on the average wage in our area is worth £450 a year. We have a very low unemployment rate here in Dorset, at around half the national average, and I am pleased the Government is supporting people in work with this change.

Supporting families and communities is also one of my key priorities:

n One in five residents of Mid Dorset and North Poole is under 18, and I know from conversations with and correspondence from constituents, how significant Child Benefit is to those with the important responsibility of bringing up our children and young people. Child Benefit used to be a universal benefit, but since 2013 families with a parent earning more than £50,000 had to pay some of it back, and families with anyone earning over £60,000 were not

eligible for it at all. This has meant that some families earning almost £100,000 could get child benefit if both parents earned equally, while families with one higher earner, and perhaps one stay-at-home parent on the same overall family income, received nothing. I’m pleased the Chancellor is addressing this issue, and is making changes which will particularly benefit single earner families. In the next two years there are planned overall changes, so that Child Benefit will be awarded based on household, rather than individual income. This is fairer for everyone.

n The Household Support Fund is also continuing for another six months, which helps low-income households in our area with the cost of living. This support is available for all low-income households –including households without children and pensioners.

The Government always has to take tough decisions on taxes and spending, and it is a careful balancing act between reducing taxes and supporting the work of our vital public services. The Chancellor is focused on reducing inflation, growing the economy and reducing debt, to benefit us all.

I continue to hold regular surgeries in the constituency so please do get in touch if there is something you need help with, or if you’d like me to visit your organisation or business. Email me on michael. tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk or contact my office on 01202 624216. You can also follow what I’ve been doing on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ michael4MDNP, or on my website, www. michaeltomlinson.org.uk.

Reader’s Picture

Robin Boultwood took this photo of the mill pond at Swanage on an early spring day recently

Trimmer and feeling 10 years younger after Ayurvedic break

By Fiona Chapman

VERY sadly we are coming to the end of our Ayurvedic sojourn. It has been a great success. The few grumbles, refusals and false starts we had at the beginning were sorted out, the ghee was drunk, the purgation done, and everyone got into the swing and loved it. We have all lost weight and look and feel about 10 years younger, particularly my husband!

The two-hour “treatments” have continued everyday throughout the whole time we have been here. These are tailored to any ailments that needed sorting out.

Part of my treatment was to try and sort out my ears, as they are incredibly itchy. (I think

they would sort themselves out if I cut out ALL sugar, but I have been eating lots of fresh fruit here, pineapple, pawpaw and watermelon – all super foods and incredibly healthy, but they do contain sugar).

Most of the treatments involve concoctions of coconut oil infused with herbs. This goes on your head and all over your body for the main massage. Hot oil bandages are put on bits that hurt. You have oil baths, like heavy warm silk, poured over your body – the downside is slipping around on a wooden table rather like a beached whale.

Oil goes up your bottom as part of an enema course for those who want – so naturally I had oil poured into my ears.

This managed to block them both for a day, which I told Timi, my therapist, so the next thing I knew hot coals were brought into the treatment room with a trumpet-like apparatus consisting of a cone at the bottom, a tube and a coconut shell at the top for my ear.

Frankincense was thrown onto the burning coals – all very close to my naked, very oily body – which caused a huge amount of smoke. The apparatus is put to the coal and ear and then the therapist blows on the coals to make the hot smoke go into the ear!

What a brilliant treatment – Frankincense is antimicrobial, astringent and very healing. It certainly unblocked my ears – time will tell if it has made a difference to the itching as I am still having the treatment.

This rather hilarious treatment was then followed by a slightly batty, old French lady who was convinced she had left her earing in the treatment room, barging in with me starkers on the table slipping around in an oil bath demanding to search the room! A sense of humour is essential!

n Fiona Chapman is a naturopathic herbalist email Pellyfiona@gmail.com.

The trumpet-like apparatus consisting of a cone at the bottom, a tube and a coconut shell used to help unblock Fiona Chapman’s ears

Meditations in nature: Where eagles dare

By Dr Susanna Curtin

I AM at RSPB Arne on this cold, blustery day. Despite the elements, I am thrilled to be here. For today is the day I have finally been in the right place at the right time to see white-tailed eagles courting over the Purbecks. Admittedly, they are a long way away, but they are unmistakable.

I had been walking for a couple of hours and seen relatively few birds given the weather. But my last stop was here in this viewpoint overlooking the Middlebere channel. I was just about to call it a day, when I happened to notice two large shapes drifting over the hills in the far distance. Through my binoculars, I could see the long black wings of two enormous birds gliding side by side, their long feathery fingertips reaching out and almost touching. Now with them still in view, I can’t believe how lucky I am to be here in my home county watching these majestic, iconic birds. They are often referred to as sea eagles given their Latin name, Haliaeetus albicilla, Halia meaning sea and ‘eetus’ meaning eagle.

They are Britain’s largest bird of prey with an incredible 8ft wingspan, a foot longer than a golden eagle. They have distinctive long, broad, rectangular wings with feathered tips and a short wedged white tail. To complement this ensemble, they have yellow legs and feet, and yellow hooked beaks. Their eyes, too, are an extraordinary golden colour befitting their Gaelic name of Lolair Suil na Greine, meaning ‘eagle with the sunlit eye’. Eagles also have the

best eyesight in the animal kingdom, allowing them to see great distances and detail. These awe-inspiring birds extend throughout Europe, Asia and Japan. They were once prevalent in England but were hunted to extinction 240 years ago having been persecuted by gamekeepers, fisheries, farmers, taxidermists and egg collectors. The last breeding pair were recorded in 1780. Fortunately, today they are considered a Schedule 1 species in the Wildlife and Countryside Act and are therefore protected by law. Now, here they are once again after having been reintroduced to the south coast by the Roy Dennis Foundation in 2019 when six young birds were transported from Scotland, resettled into familiarisation pens and finally set free in

August, a few months later.

These ginormous raptors prefer to eat fish whenever they can and therefore favour rocky coastlines, estuaries and lochs near the sea, although juveniles will often venture further inland. However, they are also opportunistic hunters and carrion becomes an essential part of their diet during the winter months as well as wildfowl, shorebirds and small mammals. They can live up to 30 years and form monogamous and life-long bonds with their partner, only finding a new mate if one of the pair dies. They begin breeding when they are five to six years old, laying two or three eggs in March or April in nests, known as eyries, which are built on cliff edges or at the top of mature trees. They will return to the same nests each

year if successful, adding more and more nest material until they become huge structures.

Eagles appear as strong powerful symbols in many cultures in the world and it is easy to see why as I watch this pair glide effortlessly together, playing in the wind. They are breathtaking. And yet, even now, they are still persecuted. One of the young satellitetagged birds from the reintroduction was found poisoned on a Dorset game shooting estate a year or so ago. I find it hard to understand how anyone could harm these magnificent birds that have come back from the dead, bringing drama and intrigue to the skies above our southern shores.

n Dr Susie Curtin (email curtin. susanna@gmail.com).

The white-tailed eagle is Britain’s largest bird of prey with an incredible 8ft wingspan PHOTO: Mark Wright

Home & Garden

Poppies to brighten up the borders

By Sally Gregson

SUDDENLY spring is starting to burst forth in all its green glory. The hedges are beginning to shimmer with young leaves, the grass is beginning to grow and the weeds are beginning to emerge. Life is getting ready for another summer.

Leaping on the back of this readiness is the wise gardener who sows seed of hardy annuals in the open ground, and tender perennials in the greenhouse or on a cool windowsill. Providing the ground is not too wet, or even flooded, the soil temperature

has risen enough to prompt germination outdoors.

So, if you like to garland the border with annual poppies such as Papaver somniferum, prepare space around the burgeoning perennials. Weed and scratch the soil surface with a hand-held rake, and scatter the seed very thinly where you want the poppies to emerge. They should germinate in the next few weeks ready for thinning, leaving plenty of room for individual plants to flourish.

Poppies hate disturbance, so sowing them in trays and

pricking them out is not advised. But they could be sown in plug-trays to minimise root disturbance. Thin each plug once the seedlings have made true leaves to give each plant plenty of room. Once the seedling’s roots have filled up the plug, pop each one into a pot to keep it growing.

The same procedure works with half-hardy, tender perennials, but they need to be sown about a month later. Too early and your windowsills will be filled with straggly seedlings itching to be outside when it’s still too cold and the danger of

overnight frosts is still present.

Once the seedlings have started to grow away, nip out the growing tip to encourage the seedling to branch. Wellshaped little plants are the easiest to deal with. However, it is wise to be aware, always, that each perfect little plant is a mere mouthful for a passing slug or snail. Protect them with whatever preventative you currently favour.

Then plant them out in the border once they are big enough to stand up to the bullies on their own. And prepare for a great show.

Dogwoods provide splash of colour

By Sally Gregson

AFTER all the heavy, winter rain our gardens can seem too muddy. It’s easy to believe that nothing will grow in such conditions. But, the bright

coloured stems of the dogwoods are completely at home and relish the damp, heavy soil.

Dogwoods are brilliant winter plants. They produce rich splashes of colour in a grey

Beautiful Gardens To Enjoy

Café - Gardens - Garden Centre - Shop

garden and outshine most other plants being grown for winter. The red forms, Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ and its kin, are especially good if grown alongside white-stemmed Silver Birches. The contrast could be further heightened by planting crowds of snowdrops and perhaps the red-leaved Epimedium ‘Black Sea’. This is grown for its foliage alone – the flowers are what horticulturists call ‘Insignificant’. Which is to do them an injustice, but perhaps they are not the most spectacular. There are many and various coloured stems among the dogwoods. Try mixing C. alba ‘Aurea’ with its golden stems and a red cast to the leaves, with summer-flowering Day Lilies. Or, plant C. alba ‘Sibirica’ next to the blackcurrant stems of C. alba ‘Kesselringii’. Enrich this combination perhaps with a few clumps of ‘black grass’ with the impossible name, Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’. Add

some of the red-leaved Japanese Blood Grass, Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron’, and the combination will be sensational later in the summer. The ‘grasses’ would not enjoy a damp situation, but any soil that drains reasonably well would suit them all.

However, there is a pitfall for the unwary gardener. Cornus alba needs to be cut back hard now, at the end of March, or it will grow into a large, muddled shrub. After a few years of neglect, you will wonder why you chose to plant it in your garden in the first place. But dogwoods are very tough plants and cutting an overgrown plant right down with a saw, if necessary, in late March will restore a beautiful shrub that would grace any winter garden. Alternatively, why not dig out the offending plant and replace it with a new coloured form. The whole garden will enjoy a facelift.

The red forms of dogwood, Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ (above) and its kin, are good grown alongside whitestemmed silver birches

Quick Wins

Curb appeal - does it really matter?

If you’re looking to sell or add value to your home, how much do rst impressions count? Based on the Home owners alliance survey, 68% of home buyers say that curb appeal was important to their choice of home. Ensuring you have structural items taken care of like windows, doors and brickwork are a must for any potential buyers. However items to consider that could clinch the deal could be, tidy front gardens with no weeds and trimmed hedges, well maintained fences and walls and well maintained and attractive paths or driveways. For a small price win, consider wheelie bin storage especially in Purbeck where multiple bins maybe on show. If you struggle for inspiration look for a local landscaper who can advise you on the most cost e ective way of adding that wow factor. Purbeck Landscapes, www.purbeckld.co.uk, 01929 253112.

Quick Wins for Adding Value Before Selling

1 ENHANCE CURB APPEAL

Consider repainting the exterior of your home to freshen up its appearance and make it more appealing to potential buyers. Upgrade your front door with a new coat of paint or onsider replacing it with a modern, energy-e cient model. Landscaping plays a crucial role in curb appeal. Invest in trimming bushes, mowing the lawn, and adding colourful owers or plants to create an inviting entrance. Don't forget about the driveway and pathways. Repair any cracks and consider pressure washing to remove dirt and grime.

2

FURNISH

Furnish key rooms such as the living room, dining room, and master bedroom to help potential buyers visualize the layout and functionality of the space. Use neutral colours

and minimalist décor to create a clean and inviting atmosphere.

Arrange furniture to maximize space and highlight the ow of each room.

3

UPDATE KITCHEN & BATHROOMS

In the kitchen, focus on simple upgrades like replacing cabinet hardware, updating light xtures, and adding a fresh coat of paint to cabinets. Consider replacing outdated countertops with more modern options like quartz or granite.

In bathrooms, swap out old faucets, showerheads, and light xtures for more contemporary styles.

If your budget allows, consider investing in new appliances or re nishing cabinets for a more signi cant impact.

4 DECLUTTER

Clutter can detract from the overall appeal of your home and make it appear smaller and less organized. Take the time to de-clutter each room by removing excess furniture, knick-knacks, and personal items. Consider implementing storage solutions such as shelves, baskets, and storage ottomans to keep clutter at bay. A clutter-free home not only looks more spacious but also allows potential buyers to focus on its key features.

Wooden Gate Makers

Traditionally Crafted Wooden Gates & Garage Doors

Wooden Gate Makers have been making and tting quality made to measure Gates and Garage doors for 24 years. Phil started the business and was joined by his sister Claire 7 years ago.

ey and their team pride themselves on giving a friendly personal service. ey can provide a no obligation quote by taking details over the phone or email and come out to take exact measurements just before starting your order to ensure a perfect t!

ey aim to deliver a stress-free experience and provide you with Gates and Doors that are built to last.

All products are made using traditional methods of joinery, in their work shop in Poole. You are welcome to visit and see their products being made, ask any questions and take a sample of wood.

Wooden Gate Makers have an excellent reputation, with over 571 glowing reviews on Checkatrade.

Bespoke Curtain & Blind Experts

Silver Birch Curtains are a bespoke curtain and blind makers based in Poole and covering the Dorset area. Everything is hand made in our workroom, we also t tracks, poles and hang curtains. We have recently moved to the Axium Centre in Lytchett Minster where we now have a consultation area with a range of fabric books and accessories. If you are looking for new curtains, blinds or so furnishings please contact us for an appointment to discuss your ideas. Call us on 01202 622722 to book your appointment. Or email at silverbirchcurtains@gmail.com. Visit our website to see examples of our work www.silverbirchcurtains.com

Unit

The clock

is

GREEN WORKS

ticking

...it’s time to act

As temperatures soar and natural disasters ravage various parts of the globe, it's evident that human activity is drastically altering our climate.

Urgent action is imperative. While many are already taking steps like using electric cars and recycling, more is needed to avert the worst outcomes. We must prioritize energy efficiency, considering both the financial and environmental costs. Embracing technologies like heat pumps, solar panels, and wind power, along with insulation, can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy bills. Additionally, being mindful of our lifestyle choices, such as reducing food miles by shopping locally and supporting refill shops, can make a difference. Creating habitats like small wildflower meadows in our gardens also contributes to biodiversity.

Ultimately, it's about adopting new habits and being mindful of our impact on the planet and its inhabitants. There's no Plan B, so let's rally together to support our local planet.

In our hands now lies not only our own future, but that of all other living creatures with whom we share the Earth. Sir David Attenborough

https://southernsolarandelectricals.co.uk

Superb silverware

By Amy Brenan,

director of Heirlooms Jewellers, 21 South Street, Wareham

SILVERWARE is a general term for cutlery – also known as flatware – or dining items such as platters, tureens and gravy boats made from sterling silver.

It can also be used to describe trophies, candelabras and dressing table items.

We don’t tend to see traditional silver cutlery in everyday use nowadays but there is no doubt that if it is brought out on special occasions, it can make the table look magnificent!

I love discovering antique silver pieces when doing valuations and regularly come across the most beautiful pieces that have graced Georgian and Victorian homes, and have been passed down and treasured as heirlooms.

One unusual find was a gorgeous intricate Edwardian Silver Tazza with lovely engraving, detail and fretwork in superb condition.

This would have been used to display fruits or desserts, but

Diamond ring shines bright

DUKE’S Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Currency auction is taking place on Wednesday and Thursday, March 27-28.

The auction offers a curated collection of exceptional variety, including treasures for long-time jewellery collectors and first-time buyers alike.

The four pillars of the auction – silver, watches, jewellery and currency, are each marked by pieces of high quality and glistening beauty.

A highlight among the watches is a Rolex Submariner Gentleman’s stainless steel bracelet watch, estimated at £8,000-£12,000 – a fine addition to someone's collection.

A stand-out in the coins section is a special private Dorset collection, including rare US and Australian silver coins.

Alongside the golds and

jewels is an abundance of silver, one of the highlights being a Victorian silver coffee pot by Elkington & Co, London 1879.

Finally, to shine in prominence in a sea of diamonds is no easy feat, but a rare 6.00 carat diamond solitaire ring (pictured) gleams in distinction,

For more information on the auction visit www.dukesauctions.com.

was actually being used on a dressing table for bottles of perfume.

I also acquired a lovely late Georgian silver bowl with engraving and intricate detail called Repousse.

This ancient method of decorating has been used in metalworking since the 16th century and it is where the decoration is raised from the back or inside of the piece by using a hammer or punch.

If you have any inherited silverware at home in a cupboard and are not sure what the story behind it is, feel free to bring it in to Heirlooms and I can give you a bit more background information. You may be surprised!

A late Georgian silver bowl with engraving and intricate detail called Repousse

This intricate Edwardian Silver Tazza, with lovely engraving, detail and fretwork, and in superb condition, was an unusual find

Bravery is the name of the game for veteran Toby

A SPECIAL Forces soldier who was left paralysed after being shot through the neck has astonished the medical profession by building himself a fast-growing brand – called Bravery.

Toby Guttridge, 38, who lives near Poole, was never supposed to live, let alone turn himself into an entrepreneur, after he was hit in Afghanistan in 2009, aged just 24.

He is permanently ventilated and ought to be existing in a hospice-style environment – but he refuses to let his condition stop him.

His brand pushes a ‘kick-ass’ philosophy and is unique because of the story behind it.

Toby wants to spread the message that anything is possible and people shouldn’t hold back, but go after what they want.

Bravery sells clothing and outdoor products and has been endorsed by former football managers Harry Redknapp and Graeme Souness, as well as a number of other celebrities, including SAS TV star, Jason Fox.

After he was hit in Afghanistan, Toby’s SBS colleagues assumed he was dead.

Red Bull.

“It is a kick-ass, on-trend brand that encourages people to get out and achieve what they want.”

He said his experiences meant he takes nothing for granted and is determined to “live his best life”.

“I have slipped through death’s fingers so many times, I take nothing for granted and I am just grateful,” he added.

“Bravery is about strength of mind and just wanting to contribute to society. I was shot in 2009 and didn’t get out of hospital until the end of 2011.

“It took me four years to get over the devastation and the dark side of the injury. It got to the point where I wanted to end it all and I was admitted to The Priory.

“It was hugely frustrating learning patience and re-training my brain. I am permanently ventilated and need 24-hour care.

“But in 2015 I decided to make something of my life, so I took my exams and started the company while doing a business degree.

“I managed to secure funding through loans and grants, found premises in Poole and had a website built.

“All the products are unique to Bravery and include surf boards and wetsuits, all made Wby leading manufacturers to our design.

Miraculously, he wasn’t, but medics gave him little chance of long-term survival and at one point it was advised that his life support should be turned off.

Struggling to come to terms with his situation, the former thrill-seeking adrenaline junky seriously considered taking his

own life.

But summoning his boyhood motto – ‘never will I die’ – he made a decision to make the most of his life.

He took some GCSEs and A-levels and completed a degree in operations management, and in 2016 registered the company name Bravery.

The firm is now based in a converted warehouse in Poole, where there is a cafe and hub,

and the products are also sold through a website.

Toby said: “I was into all the thrill-seeking stuff – extreme sports, surfing, dirt bikes – then the injury took it all away.

“I thought how can I pick myself back up and stay involved in those things? And that was how Bravery was born.

“It has given me a new lease of life and a purpose. It is a cool, California-style brand and I want to build it into the next

“There are male and female clothing ranges and we sell sunglasses, bracelets, backpacks, surf wax, skateboard decks, and we are adding British-made products all the time.

“We have a cafe in the building as a way of getting people in and upstairs are offices where I work from.

“I also sell my book called ‘Never Will I Die’, and writing that helped me come to terms with my situation.”

Toby lives with his fiancée Savannah, who he met when she applied for a job helping look after him.

Toby Guttridge has used his experiences to drive him on his journey as an entrepreneur. He is pictured with former elite level football managers Graeme Souness (above) and Harry Redknapp

Port looking forward to a busy year

By editor@dorsetbiznews. co.uk

PORTLAND Port is predicting “another superb year” after welcoming its first cruise ship of 2024.

AIDAsol arrived with more than 2,000 passengers, marking the start of an 11-month long season.

A total of 47 vessels and 110,000 passengers are set to arrive at the port between now and December.

Guests from AIDAsol, which is operated by AIDA Cruises for mostly German speaking tourists, travelled into Weymouth and the local area

during the eight-hour stopover.

Cruise calls are estimated to contribute £10m to the local economy annually with most calls booked two years in advance.

Ian McQuade, Portland Port’s commercial general manager and chair of Cruise Britain, said: “It was wonderful to see our first cruise ship of 2024 arrive.

“The cruise market continues to grow in the UK and globally.

“A great deal of hard work constantly goes into winning valuable cruise business for Portland in the face of tough competition across the UK and

Village hostelry gets £300,000 makeover

By editor@dorsetbiznews. co.uk

DORSET brewers Hall & Woodhouse have completed renovation works at St Peter’s Finger in Lytchett Minster.

The pub is open once again having undergone a full internal and external refresh at a cost of £300,000, with new furniture and colour scheme.

It’s also gained a cosy nook, the ‘garden room’, backed by double French doors which open out onto the newly expanded terrace –now twice the size and protected from the elements by four large umbrellas.

Matt Woodhouse, regional manager, said: “We’re committed to providing a warm experience at all of our pubs where regulars and visiting guests feel welcome and at home.

features, making this gorgeous spot for Sunday lunch and a meal with family even more beautiful.”

The entrance is now framed by a new oak pergola and lighting, while the lawn garden has also seen a significant upgrade.

Europe. The vast majority of cruise calls this year were booked two years ago in 2022 and we are already well advanced in planning our itinerary for 2025 and 2026.

“As well as raising the profile of the area and contributing to the local economy, cruise ship visits extend the tourist season beyond the summer peak.

“We’re looking forward to another superb year sharing the delights of our area with tourists from all over the world while supporting the growth of the local economy.”

A total of 2,194 passengers plus more than 600 crew arrived

on the AIDAsol when she pulled alongside the port’s new £26m deepwater berth.

She visited Portland as the penultimate stop of a 117-day world tour, which ended in Hamburg. It was her inaugural visit to Portland, the first of five calls at the port this year.

Other vessels due at Portland include the Disney Dream in September, the Caribbean Princess in May, TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 3 in June, Oceania Nautica in August and, Holland America’s Rotterdam in October before the final call of the season on December 10 by the AIDAmar.

ARMISHAWS

“Our recent renovation at St Peter’s Finger has delivered an impressive new look to the local favourite, while paying homage to its much-loved traditional

Rumen Yordanov, general manager of St Peter’s Finger, added: “We’re really proud of our new look at the St Peter’s Finger.

“The recent renovations elevate the experience our locals and regulars know and love.”

Hall & Woodhouse regional manager Matt Woodhouse

New cameras can spot drivers on the phone

NEW cameras that can detect whether drivers are wearing a seatbelt or using a mobile phone are being trialled on the country’s roads.

National Highways has revealed 10 Police forces are set to trial the technology.

The new kit is mounted to a vehicle or trailer and has multiple cameras giving different views of the driver and their passengers.

The National Highways trial first launched in 2021, when motorists spotted driving without seatbelts or on the phone by police using the technology were sent warning letters informing them of the dangers of their behaviour.

Research shows that motorists are four times more likely to be in a crash if they use a phone while driving and are twice as likely to die in a crash if they don’t wear a seatbelt.

In partnership with AECOM, the research is now being extended to work with more police forces to help learn more about how the technology could work on National Highways

roads and inform a possible future roll-out nationwide.

The latest trial will run until March 2025.

It is planned plans for the technology to be fixed to gantries for the first time giving an unobscured view of all lanes.

The new technology captures footage of passing motorists. The images are processed using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse whether the motorists could be using a handheld mobile phone or drivers may be without a seatbelt.

The images are then passed to police for consideration on any action to be taken.

Drivers can be fined up to £500 for not wearing a seatbelt in addition to penalty points. Using a mobile phone while driving can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and six penalty points.

Police forces taking part in the trial are: Durham, Greater Manchester Police, Humberside, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Northamptonshire, Wiltshire, Norfolk, Thames Valley Police and Sussex.

National Highways head of

national road user safety delivery, Matt Staton, said: “We know that distracted driving and not wearing seatbelts were key factors in a high number of incidents that resulted in people being killed or seriously injured.

“Working with our police partners we want to reduce such dangerous driving and reduce the risks posed to both the drivers and other people. We believe that using technology like this will make people seriously consider their driving behaviour.

“We will continue to invest in technology that could help make sure everyone using our roads gets home safe and well.”

Dr Jamie Uff, technical

director at AECOM, has been managing the deployment of the technology.

He said: “AECOM is really pleased to be continuing our work with National Highways, the Police and camera suppliers. Our work to date has highlighted the scale of the issue, has shown that technology can play a valuable role, and that there is much still to be understood about driver behaviour given the new insights gained.

“Expanding the deployments and integrating data processing with police systems is an important step towards this technology making a significant contribution to road safety.”

Although the research is funded by National Highways, enforcement of motoring offences will remain with police forces.

Delays cost 55 million days a year

DRIVERS waste an average of 38 hours being delayed on the road each year in England, according to new figures.

The study, by Go.Compare, used Department for Transport (DfT) figures to calculate delays faced by drivers totalled more than 2,200 minutes stuck behind the wheel.

Overall, each driver loses an average of 31 hours to delays on local authority motorways and A-roads each year, the survey showed.

Meanwhile, an average of more than six hours are wasted by each motorist on the strategic road network of motorways and A-roads managed by National Highways, equivalent to just under 400 minutes.

In total, this means each driver lost a day and a half due to delays in 2022.

Alice Simpson, breakdown spokesperson at the RAC, said breakdowns were behind most

delays.

“While we’re pleased National Highways has removed the majority of roadworks from high-speed roads, which are often the busiest routes, the sheer number of drivers means there’s an increased risk of breakdowns which can, in turn, lead to delays,” she said.

Overall, the total amount of time lost to delays by all drivers during a year was calculated to be 55 million days, equal to 1.3 billion hours.

The cameras are now being trialled by 10 Police forces

PHOTO: Pixabay

Breakdowns are behind most delays on the road, says the RAC

Spotlight Diary

Diary entries are £6 plus VAT per entry, per month. The deadline for the April 1 issue is NOON on March 22. Call on 01963 400186 or email adverts@blackmorevale.net

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

MARCH 2024

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

19:30 WAREHAM CHORAL SOCIETY. Lady

St.Mary Church, Wm. Till 9.30. New singers always welcome. 01202 632678. warehamchoral@gmail.com

19:30 - WAREHAM CAMERA CLUB: Parish Hall, Wareham Visitors welcome £3

For zoom link contact club website www.warehamcameraclub.co.uk

26-Mar Speaker - Tony Worobiec

‘Minimalism’

02-Apr Best of Year Print & Projected

Digital Image Competition

08-Apr Speakers - Helen & Steve Jones

‘An Eventful Life’

16-Apr Zoom Talk- Mick Durham

‘Scottish Wildlife’

23-Apr ‘I

Digital Image Competition

30-Apr

FRIDAY

18:30

FRIDAY 22nd MARCH PARISH HALL, THE QUAY, WAREHAM.

FILM SHOW: GOD’S OUTLAW

Starring Roger Rees as William Tyndale, Keith Barron as Henry VIII and Oona Kirsch as Anne Boleyn.

Doors open for refreshments at 6.30 – film starts at 7pm (ends at 8.30). Admission: £5 including tea or coffee. All proceeds to parish funds.

Tickets may be booked in advance from A F Joy Menswear, 35 North Street, Wareham (01929 552 903) or Wareham Parish Office (01929 550 905) – or may be purchased, if available, on the door.

SATURDAY

14:30 SATURDAY 23rd MARCH PARISH HALL, THE QUAY, WAREHAM.

FILM SHOW: GOD’S OUTLAW

Starring Roger Rees as William Tyndale, Keith Barron as Henry VIII and Oona Kirsch as Anne Boleyn.

Doors open for refreshments at 2.30 – film starts at 3pm (ends at 4.30). Admission: £5 including tea or coffee. All proceeds to parish funds.

Tickets may be booked in advance from A F Joy Menswear, 35 North Street, Wareham (01929 552 903) or Wareham Parish Office (01929 550 905) – or may be purchased, if available, on the door.

18:30 WHIST DRIVE AT ST MARY’S CHURCH, Rectory Classroom, Swanage. Every Saturday. Tea and coffee provided. Very friendly group. Contact Richard: 01929 553516

Arts & Entertainment

Journey from a murky past

JULIAN Gaskell’s Ragged Trousered Philanthropists (pictued) are Cornwall’s premium post-ragtime, rembetika punk, swing polka klezmer blues trio – and this month they’re touring Dorset.

They will present an anthology of some of the most melodramatic, gruesome and supernatural broadside ballads from the 17th to 19th centuries, covering everything from funeral arrangements to cat food

and rural insurrection!

Many of the tunes, printed and sung in the Georgian and Victorian eras, have lain unrecorded and largely unperformed for the last 100

years.

Indeed, many of their tunes have been lost to time, and so the words have been rearranged and re-fitted with newly composed music on piano, accordion, violin, drums, bouzouki, bass, banjo and guitar.

Audiences can expect a wild, haunting journey through a murky past to a dark future, guaranteed to enthral, educate and entertain,

Artsreach, Dorset’s touring arts charity, is presenting Julian Gaskell’s Ragged Trousered Philanthropists at Chetnole village hall on Friday, March 22, Cranborne Middle School on Saturday, March 23, and Broadmayne village hall on Sunday, March 24, all at 7.30pm.

The show is suitable for ages 12-plus – tickets and further information are available online at www.artsreach.co.uk.

Spring concert with French visitors

THE Wimborne-based Vivamente Voices choir will be presenting its spring concert, C’est la Vie Musicale, with guest choir Les Ségui’Singers, visiting from Cholet in France.

The choirs will perform a selection of contemporary and

traditional, well-known and less well-known compositions, in Wimborne Minster.

The concert finale will be a joint performance of a popular classic which the choirs will have rehearsed together earlier in the day.

Wareham Choral Society

Wareham Town Band

Bovington Military Wives Choir

D-Day Commemoration Concert

Sat 15 June 7pm Lady St Mary Church

Wareham BH20 4ND

WCS are joined by Grace Lovelass and the choir, bellringers and handbells of Lady St Mary Church with organist Paul Ellis

We

The visit of Les Ségui’Singers has been a much-anticipated event in both choirs’ calendars for several years.

A retiring collection will be made for Vivamente Voices’ local charity for 2024, the

Friends of Beaucroft, supporting Beaucroft Foundation School and College.

The concert is on Saturday, May 11, at 7.30pm – for further information and tickets visit www.vivamentevoices.co. uk

Fiddlers back on the road

BBC Radio 2 presenter Mark Radcliffe dubbed them “Britain’s fiddling supergroup” – and now Feast of Fiddles are heading to the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne on a tour of England.

The band were born in a village hall on Valentine’s Day 1994 and are now celebrating their 30th anniversary.

Over the years they have done 28 spring tours, played 26 festivals and made seven albums.

Feast of Fiddles typically features fiddlers Garry Blakeley (Band of Two), Ian Cutler (Bully Wee), Marion Fleetwood (Trad Arr, Sandy Denny Project), Peter Knight (Gigspanner, Steeleye Span), Tom Leary (Joe Brown) and Brian McNeill (Battlefield Band).

They bring a large range of fiddle playing styles to the rock back-line – all held together by drummer Dave Mattacks.

Feast of Fiddles are in Wimborne on Wednesday, April 17, at 7.30pm.

Tickets priced £26 are available on 01202 885566 or by visiting www. tivoliwimborne.co.uk.

Feast of Fiddles are performing at the Tivoli Theatre PHOTO Neil King

Arts & Entertainment

Rob’s comedy rollercoaster

TOP comedian Rob Beckett is back on tour and bringing his new show, Giraffe, to Lighthouse Poole this summer.

Beckett is star of the chart-topping podcast Parenting Hell, Sky’s Rob and Romesh Vs and Celebs Go Dating, among other shows.

He said: “This is going to be a big old tour. It’ll be tough being away from the family for a while. Don’t get me wrong, I love my children/podcast content providers, but I do also enjoy a lie in and a hotel buffet breakfast.

“So, I’m sure I’ll cope. I expect to put on about three stone from takeaways and drinking after the shows!”

Rob Beckett burst onto the comedy circuit 15 years ago

Rob Beckett has been a busy man since bursting onto the comedy scene 15 years ago with television, radio and live shows, podcasts and books

and has not looked back since.

He is a Sunday Times bestselling author and hosts his own BBC Radio 2 show.

He presents Sky’s Rob and Romesh Vs with fellow comedian and best friend Romesh Ranganathan, and the pair have also co-hosted The Royal Variety Performance and

The BAFTA TV Awards 2023.

Rob can also be heard alongside his other comedy pal, Josh Widdicombe, hosting their podcast Parenting Hell, interviewing fellow parents about parenting.

The show has more than 250 million downloads and guests have included George Foreman, Katherine Ryan, Jonathan Ross and Jack Dee.

In 2023, the podcast hit the road on the Parenting Hell Live arena tour, playing to sold out venues around the country.

Rob and Josh also co-wrote the Sunday Times bestselling book Parenting Hell, a firsthand account of the challenges and chaos of their parenting journeys.

Rob also had another

Sunday Times bestseller in 2021 with A Class Act, his autobiographical account of being working class in the middle class world of television and comedy.

This year also sees Rob host his new Sky panel show Rob Beckett’s Smart TV, a celebration of popular television shows.

Each week big-name actors, comics, presenters and personalities join Rob, Alison Hammond and Josh Widdicombe to battle it out in a series of chaotic, trivia-infused rounds to discover who knows the most about TV.

Rob Beckett is at Lighthouse Poole on Friday, June 20, and tickets are available at www. lighthousepoole.co.uk.

Puzzle solutions (from pages 24-25) Edition 310

Sudoko Jumbo sudoku Cryptic crossword

Brain

Arts & Entertainment

Story of the scholar who incurred the wrath of Henry VIII

INTERNATIONAL awardwinning film God’s Outlaw, directed by Wareham resident Tony Tew and produced with Channel 4, is set to be shown at Wareham Parish Hall.

The film tells the story of William Tyndale who, in Henry VIII’s England, set about translating the Bible into English from the original Greek.

But at that time even reading the scriptures in English was against the law, and translating it was seen as heresy.

So Tyndale fled to the Continent in fear of his life, translating, printing and smuggling copies of his

English New Testament back into England.

Confronting the combined opposition of Henry VIII, Cardinal Wolsey and Sir Thomas More, he became the most wanted man in the land.

The film stars Roger Rees as William Tyndale, Keith Barron as Henry VIII and Oona Kirsch as Anne Boleyn.

Tickets, in advance, are priced £5 from AF Joy Menswear, 35 North Street, Wareham – phone 01929 552903 – and the Parish Office, Wareham Quay – phone 01929 550 905.

Tickets may also be purchased, if available, on the door. All proceeds are in aid of

Parish funds.

God’s Outlaw – running time 90 minutes – is being screened on Friday, March 22, at 7pm with doors open at

6.30pm for refreshments.

It is also being shown on Saturday, March 23, at 3pm with doors open at 2.30pm for refreshments.

Expert insights into Post Office scandal

THE Post Office Scandal, the shocking true story of how hundreds of innocent people fought – and are still fighting –to clear their names against the organisation’s refusal to accept responsibility for its failings, has unified the nation in a way not seen in years.

If you were one of the many viewers glued to the acclaimed ITV drama based on the real-life events and starring Toby Jones, then a compelling new show about the moving, at times harrowing tale, could be a must-see.

An expert presenter looks

in-depth at how these proud pillars of their communities were stripped of their jobs and livelihoods, forcing many into bankruptcy or having to borrow from friends and family to pay the Post Office thousands of pounds they didn’t owe, and some even ending up in prison.

Journalist/broadcaster Nick Wallis – Radio 4’s The Great Post Office Trial; Private Eye’s Justice Lost in the Post; BBC1’s Panorama Scandal at the Post Office; The One Show and Channel 5’s Criminals Caught On Camera – has drawn on a decade of covering the story to

write a best-selling book - The Great Post Office Scandal –which is used as this show’s foundation.

Wallis himself, who advised on the TV drama, chronicles the twists and turns of the entire affair, taking in the shambolic commissioning of the Horizon IT system and examining the punitive methods employed by the Post Office to create what has been dubbed the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK legal history.

He then narrows in on the subsequent cover up, and the legal battles fought and won by

campaigning sub-postmasters, against all the odds.

As the public inquiry into the scandal reveals yet more horrors, he’ll explain the latest developments and their significance. He will also be reading excerpts from his book, followed by a question and answer session offering an opportunity to explore areas in more detail.

Nick Wallis is at the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne on Tuesday, May, 14, at 7.30pm. For tickets, visit www.tiovoli. co.uk or phone the box office on 01202 885566.

In the picture (clockwise, from top left): Roger Rees as William Tyndale; Keith Barron as Henry VIII; Oona Kirsch as Anne Boleyn; and Willhoughby Goddard as Cardinal Wolsey

Love and Tudor tragedy

AUDIENCES can expect a musical tale of love and Tudor tragedy when Bob Whitley and Lee MacKenzie (pictured) play three local village halls.

In Anne Boleyn: Wolf at the Door, Bob – guitar, tenor guitar and mandola – and Lee – baroque cello – go back to the 16th century and the story of the triumph and tragedy of Anne Boleyn.

She holds King Henry VIII in thrall for six years and supplants Katherine of Aragon as Queen of England on the promise she will bear King Henry a son and royal heir.

In a Tudor court of scheming courtiers, religious fervour and feuding families,

everyone is fighting for the King’s favour in a deadly battle of destinies and dynasties.

Bob and Lee are back in Dorset with touring arts charity Artsreach following the success of their previous tour with the folk-musical Magellan Circumnavigation.

The pair are at Milborne St Andrew village hall on Wednesday, March 20, at 7.30pm, Nether Compton village hall on Friday, March 22, at 2.30pm and Wootton Fitzpaine village hall on Sunday, March 24, at 7.30pm.

Tickets and further information are available online at www.artsreach.co. uk.

Small is beautiful for music festival

MUCH-LOVED local music event Cursus Cider & Music Festival returns to Dorset on the Bank Holiday May 24-26, promising another weekend of fantastic live music and good vibes.

Now in its ninth year, Cursus is an intimate festival with just 500 tickets available.

The result is a friendly, inclusive event without the queues, high prices and hassles of a big festival.

The music offering punches well above its size with the likes of Mista Trick, Black Water County, Millie Manders & The Shut Up, Nick Parker, The Freeborn Brothers, Gecko, Slackrr and Skimmity Hitchers already announced and more yet to come.

Cursus, located on Myncen Farm – the home of Cranborne Chase Cider – in the beautiful surroundings of

Cranborne Chase, is familyfriendly with a dedicated DIY Den activity area for children to make friends and explore different skills.

The DJ tent, rural craft demonstrations, camp fire and tuk-tuk rides make this a diverse and fun experience for everyone.

Live-in vehicles are welcome as well as tent campers.

Festival organiser Kev Davis said: “We’re proud of our reputation as a down-toearth, fun and inclusive event.

“Whether you’re a seasoned festival-goer or complete beginner, you are welcome to Cursus for a Bank Holiday to remember.”

Adult weekend tickets start at £99 with big discounts for children.

Full information about the festival can be found at www. cursusfestival.com.