Purbeck Gazette - Issue 306

Issue 306

FREE EVERY FORTNIGHT

22 January, 2024

WEDDINGS Five-page feature inside today

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

The Purbeck Gazette www.purbeckgazette.co.uk

IT’S GAME ON AT NURSERIES!

OYEZ! OYEZ!

Dorchester seeks new town crier Page 6

WAREHAM WEDNESDAYS

Popular event’s funding challenges

Page 25

Youngsters to enjoy pheasant and venison on new menu Page 14

FLYING HIGH

Airport set to handle one million passengers

Page 36

Prepare for the future

with a Lasting Power of Attorney

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Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

What’s inside this issue...

Antiques and Collectibles Arts & Entertainment

41-43

Business

36-37

Free Adverts

n Swanage

39

and Herston have a 5-2 win at Bournemouth Sports, despite having a player sent off Page 40

44

Health & Wellbeing

32-35

History 20 Home & Garden

26

Letters 24-25 Local Services

45-47

Motoring 38 National Coastwatch

8

Politics 22-23

n Canoe club photographers produce beautiful pictures in annual competition Page 17

Puzzles 18-19 Puzzle Solutions

43

Sport 40 Spotlight Diary

44

Telling It Like It Is

21

Wanted 44 Wedding feature

27-31

NEWS

ADVERTISING Debi Thorne

Sales Director

Debi.thorne@blackmorevale.net 07714 289409 Donna Garner

Camp Bestival ‘passport’

4

Homes plans for former Rumshack venue

7

Sisters cycle for hospice charity

10

Dinosaur skull on show at museum

12

Game meats going on nurseries’ menu

14

EDITORIAL Paul Jones Editor-in-chief We love hearing your news and views.

Get in touch with us by emailing ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk Lloyd Armishaw Publisher ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk 01963 400186

About the Purbeck Gazette The Purbeck Gazette prints every fortnight and delivers throughout the region from Swanage to Dorchester, Lulworth to Bere Regis. The Purbeck Gazette is published by The Blackmore Vale Ltd. All editing, graphic design and lay-up is completed in-house by The Blackmore Vale Ltd. The Purbeck Gazette is printed by Blackmore Ltd of Shaftesbury.

The Purbeck Gazette website is managed and edited by The Blackmore Vale Ltd. Blackmore Vale Ltd also publishes The Purbeck Guidette, the Purbeck Visitor Guide. All rights reserved. All layouts copyright Blackmore Vale Ltd. No reproduction without permission.

OUR TEAM: The Gazette team consists of: Lloyd Armishaw, Debi Thorne, Donna Garner, Jane Toomer and Paul Jones.

Account Manager

Donna.garner@blackmorevale.net 07714 289408 Jane Toomer

Senior Account Manager

Jane.toomer@blackmorevale.net 07714 289411 Rachelle Cooper Classified Adverts

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Opening Hours: Mon-Fri, 9am-5.30pm Book Online: purbeckgazette.co.uk The legal stuff...

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this magazine, but the editor is unable to accept responsibility for any omissions or errors that may occur. The inclusion of any article or advertisement does not constitute any form of accreditation or approval by the editor.

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

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

News

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End of the line for seafood festival Seafest in Weymouth in 2023 – the event has been hit by rising costs and declining sponsorship

SEAFEST – the Dorset Seafood Festival – has been cancelled for 2024.

Organisers of the event, which took place in Weymouth each year, said they had gone “with our heads and not our hearts” amid spiralling costs and a drop in sponsorship.

The festival was founded in 2008 and grew to become Weymouth’s biggest event, originally based around Weymouth Harbour and more recently relocated to the Peninsula.

Attracting seafood-lovers from across the country and even foreign shores, as well as thousands of Dorset locals, a study of the economic impact of the 2022 festival showed the event brought in more than £3 million to the county.

In 2021, the festival relocated from the open harbour setting to the Peninsula, due to concerns over possible Covid restrictions.

Then came layout changes to the Harbourside, and a sharp downturn in the economy – resulting in increased costs and significantly reduced sponsorship.

Organisers said they had no way forward other than to continue at the Peninsula in 2022 and 2023, where ticketing could help secure the funding necessary to cover costs.

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Record crowds of around 10,000 festival-goers gathered in 2023 at the Peninsula.

However, Laura Avant, festival director, said the small team behind the event, had found things getting more difficult as costs increased each year. For example, she said, recent increases to car parking prices from Dorset Council have seen the site fee alone surpass £15,000.

“We are very proud that we found a way to keep the festival going through difficult times over the past few years – first the Covid pandemic where we lost a whole year, then the funding problems caused by the worsening economic climate,” she said. “We know ticketing wasn’t an approach approved of by everyone, but it just about enabled us to cover costs and keep the event going.

“The new format came with some great benefits too, with a less crowded space and the ability for us to provide much more seating, children’s cookery workshops, art activities etc, we’ve had some amazing feedback.”

But she said the time required from the team behind the event, combined with increasing costs, had prompted the decision to cancel.

“The festival has always

been a labour of love, everyone who gets involved ends up putting in more time than they really should,” Laura added.

“The reward for our small team has always more about a sense of achievement than

anything else.

“However, the recent cost increases are such that we must now go with our heads and not our hearts.

“The festival has raised more than £90,000 for the Fishermen’s Mission charity over the years and has been the biggest annual event contributor to their funding.

“The charity is close to the heart of everyone involved with the festival, and we’re truly sorry that fundraising efforts won’t continue next year.

“Thank you to everyone who has attended the festival over the years, please continue to enjoy sustainable local seafood.

“A huge thank you to our sponsors, stall holders, partners, chefs, musicians and local contractors, too – “it’s been a real team effort hosting the event and we couldn’t have done it without you.”

Donations to The Fishermen’s Mission can be made via its website at www. fishermensmission.org.uk.

Compiled by Compiled by National Coastwatch Institution, Swanage National Coastwatch Institution, Swanage

Solar & Tidal Tidal Predictions Jan '23 Solar && tidal predictions – Jan/Feb 2024 Solar Predictions -- Nov '23 Peveril Ledge, Swanage Peveril Ledge, Swanage

Date Date 01-Jan 01-Nov 02-Jan 02-Nov 03-Jan 03-Nov 04-Jan 04-Nov 05-Jan 05-Nov 06-Jan 06-Nov 07-Jan 07-Nov 08-Jan 08-Nov 09-Jan 09-Nov 10-Jan 10-Nov 11-Jan 11-Nov 12-Jan 12-Nov 13-Jan 13-Nov 14-Jan 14-Nov 15-Jan 15-Nov 16-Jan 16-Nov 17-Jan 17-Nov 18-Jan 18-Nov 19-Jan 19-Nov 20-Jan 20-Nov 21-Jan 21-Nov 22-Jan 22-Nov 23-Jan 23-Nov 24-Jan 24-Nov 25-Jan 25-Nov 26-Jan 26-Nov 27-Jan 27-Nov 28-Jan 28-Nov 29-Jan 30-Jan 29-Nov 31-Jan 30-Nov

HW HW 04:00 05:09

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LW LW 11:16 05:16 12:15 05:55 00:33 06:37 01:25 07:31 02:13 09:10 02:59 10:21 03:42 11:24 04:22 12:19 04:58 00:32 05:29 01:13 05:59 01:50 06:31 02:27 07:08 03:02 07:52 03:38 08:45 04:15 09:51 04:52 11:07 05:32 12:17 06:17 00:44 07:11 01:44 08:31 02:40 10:19 03:32 11:25 04:20 12:19 05:06 00:37 05:51 01:24 06:37 02:08 07:25 02:52 08:18 03:34 09:21 10:33 04:17 11:43 04:58

HW HW 16:53 10:43 17:54 11:24 06:12 12:09 07:06 13:05 07:54 14:10 08:36 15:23 09:13 16:47 09:47 17:54 10:19 06:06 10:49 06:45 11:16 07:18 11:45 07:49 12:20 08:20 13:04 08:53 13:59 09:27 15:11 10:03 16:39 10:44 17:49 11:34 06:12 12:39 07:12 14:13 08:08 15:43 09:00 16:55 09:49 17:55 10:35 06:09 11:22 06:58 12:08 07:43 12:56 08:26 13:46 09:07 14:44 15:51 09:47 17:08 10:26

LW LW 23:37 17:38 18:17 13:07 19:01 13:56 20:05 14:41 21:41 15:25 22:47 16:05 23:44 16:42 17:14 13:02 17:44 13:39 18:15 14:14 18:48 14:48 19:27 15:23 20:14 15:58 21:10 16:35 22:21 17:13 23:37 17:55 18:43 13:19 19:14 14:16 21:21 15:08 22:45 15:57 23:44 16:44 17:29 13:07 18:14 13:52 18:59 14:35 19:48 15:17 20:43 15:59 21:50 23:00 16:41 00:07 17:21

HW HW

Moon / Moon Tides / Tides

23:04 23:47 18:48 19:35 20:17 20:55 21:32 22:05 22:37 18:35 23:05 19:07 23:32 19:38 20:08 20:39 21:10 21:45 22:24 23:09 18:49 19:45 20:36 21:24 22:10 22:55 18:45 23:41 19:30 20:11 20:50 21:29 22:07 22:48

NP FM SP

NM SP NP

NM NP SP

FM SP NP

Sunrise Sunrise 08:09 06:58 08:09 07:00 08:08 07:02 08:08 07:03 08:08 07:05 08:08 07:07 08:07 07:08 08:07 07:10 08:06 07:12 08:06 07:13 08:05 07:15 08:05 07:17 08:04 07:19 08:03 07:20 08:02 07:22 08:02 07:24 08:01 07:25 08:00 07:27 07:59 07:28 07:58 07:30 07:57 07:32 07:56 07:33 07:55 07:35 07:54 07:36 07:52 07:38 07:51 07:39 07:50 07:41 07:49 07:42 07:47 07:46 07:44 07:44 07:45

Sunset Sunset 16:13 16:43 16:14 16:42 16:15 16:40 16:16 16:38 16:17 16:37 16:18 16:35 16:20 16:33 16:21 16:32 16:22 16:30 16:24 16:29 16:25 16:27 16:26 16:26 16:28 16:24 16:29 16:23 16:31 16:22 16:32 16:20 16:34 16:19 16:35 16:18 16:37 16:17 16:38 16:16 16:40 16:15 16:42 16:13 16:43 16:12 16:45 16:11 16:47 16:11 16:48 16:10 16:50 16:09 16:52 16:08 16:54 16:55 16:07 16:57 16:07

= New MoonFM + FM = Full Moon + NP = Neap tides + SP = Spring NM – New NM moon – Full moon NP – Neap tides SPTides – Spring tides All times are local e&oe All times are local All

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Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

News

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Passport to explore at Camp Bestival

YOUNG people attending this year’s Camp Bestival in Dorset can enjoy a raft of activities designed and illustrated by co-curator, Josie da Bank.

The event, which runs at Lulworth Castle from July 25-28, has unveiled The Explorer’s Passport – a free booklet for each child at the festival.

Illustrated by Josie, the Explorer’s Passport features maps and information, with space for children to add their memories, stamps and stickers at the festival.

Camp Bestival boasts more than 100 free activities to enjoy across the festival weekend, with the Explorer’s Passport designed to encourage families to try as many as possible, collecting stamps and stickers as they go.

Josie said: “It feels particularly special to be introducing The Explorer’s Passport for Camp Bestival 2024.

“We wanted to introduce something creative and fun that will enable families and children to explore the

landscapes of Lulworth Castle in true Camp Bestival fashion and record their own adventures, as well as participating in as many free activities as possible – it is very much a veritable dream ticket for all things curiosity.”

Activities on offer include a host of workshops, including bushcraft survival skills and Textile and Fashion World, guided nature runs, silly science challenges and creative colouring.

“Robby and I are also extremely excited to be introducing a new area which will lend itself directly back to the Explorer’s Passport – Navigation Town and our team of Navigators,” Josie added.

“We couldn’t be happier that each family will now have a keepsake of their ultimate festival adventures that will be able to tell stories for years to come – this year is going to be amazing.”

The Explorer’s Passport will be managed on-site by a new team of Navigators, located at the new Navigation Town, who will present each child with

Josie da Bank has designed and illustrated the Explorer’s Passport

The Explorer’s Passport is “a veritable dream ticket for all things curiosity”, says festival co-curator, Josie da Bank

their passport upon arrival and inspire families to explore activities, shows, talks and workshops, so that every child makes the most of their time at Camp Bestival.

News on The Explorer’s Passport follows the recently announced festival first add-on ticket option for 2024 - the Camp Kids Extra Pass.

The pass is designed to make kids’ mealtimes as easy as possible, while helping families budget and spread the cost of their festival weekend.

The Camp Kids Extra Pass is valid Friday to Sunday and comes with its own welcome pack with drawstring backpack, water bottle and meal tokens giving youngsters six kids meals, three sweet treats, and unlimited fruit and filtered water for £39.99.

There is no age limit for the Camp Kids Extra Pass, however it is primarily designed for younger children aged up to

Young people can collect stickers and stamps as they make their way around the festival

around 10.

It saves festival-goers more than 35% of the cost of buying meals and snacks separately, organisers said, offering a sandwich, wrap or pasta dish with two snacks and a drink on Friday, Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes, plus a sweet treat, and a dinnertime child’s meal from select traders throughout the Camp Bestival site.

Between 9am and 6pm, Friday to Sunday, kids can also keep their energy levels topped up with unlimited fruit and filtered water.

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Then email ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

News

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Police would like to trace two men, said to have Eastern European accents, in connection with fake Royal Bank of Scotland notes

CCTV appeal on fake £50 banknotes

FAKE £50 notes were used to buy top-up cards and other goods at a Poole supermarket and petrol station, according to police.

Officers are investigating a report of fraud and the use of counterfeit banknotes in the town at around 7pm on Monday, November 27.

Dorset Police said two men purchased multiple top-up cards and products from the Tesco superstore and Tesco petrol station in Poole Road using fake £50 Royal Bank of Scotland banknotes – and have released CCTV images of people they would like to trace in connection with the incident.

“It is reported that the two men spoke with Eastern European accents,” a spokesperson added.

“The total value of the counterfeit banknotes exchanged was £600 and these

have now been seized by officers.”

Police Community Support Investigator Lindy Wilson, of Dorset Police, said: “Our investigation into this matter remains ongoing as we explore all lines of enquiry to identify the two men involved.

“We have now obtained CCTV images of the two men we would like to speak to as part of our enquiries, and I would urge anyone who recognises them to come forward.”

Anyone with information – or who recognises the people in the images – should contact Dorset Police via www.dorset. police.uk, or by phone on 101, quoting incident number 55230188908. They can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously at Crimestoppersuk.org, or by calling 0800 555 111.

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6

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

News

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Oyez, oyez, oyez!

Shout’s out for new town crier!

WANNABE town criers in Dorchester will get the chance to shout about their suitability for the position during interviews.

The previous incumbent of the position in the town, Alistair Chisholm, is standing down – but will be involved in finding his successor.

Dorchester Town Council is appealing for people to apply for the role, with shortlisted applicants then being asked to take part in an unusual selection process.

After applications close on February 12, people shortlisted for the job will be “invited to perform in a

nearby public location before the successor is chosen”, the town council said.

To start the recruitment process, Alistair himself took to town streets to cry an advertisement for the job.

Mr Chisholm has hung up his bell after 27 years as Dorchester’s town crier, which saw him scoop 11 national titles.

His final cry, which took place at midnight on December 31, went: Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!

For 27 years, I’ve been crying on the streets, But now I am retiring because I am wobbly on my feet,

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Alistair Chisholm is standing down as Dorchester’s town crier after 27 years in the role. He scooped 11 national titles

It’s time to pass on this traditional role, To someone new, who our town can extol, Someone who is proud of the town, and its folk, Someone who can be serious, but also likes a joke, Man or woman, that matters not a jot, Just write to the council and tell them what you have got!

God Save the King!

For more details on the role, and to apply for the position, log on to www. dorchester-tc.gov.uk.

People are invited to apply, with a letter explaining why they are suitable for the prestigious position, by February 12 to Dorchester Town Council, 19 North Square, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1JF.

Repair Café in the spotlight

THE Repair Café in Weymouth is the subject of a talk to Dorchester Townswomen’s Guild next month.

Fifty volunteers run the Repair Café with 30 attending each event, including 15 repairers who fix items visitors take along.

The talk will be given by Ros Dean and Judy Luffman – Ros, who founded the Repair Café in 2019,was an engineer/

programmer and has worked on satellites for the European Space Agency.

The talk will follow a short business meeting at Dorchester Community Church, Liscombe Street, Poundbury DT1 3DF on Monday, February 12, at 2pm.

Tea and coffee will be available, and visitors are welcome, entry £3. For more information phone 01305 832857.

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

7

News

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Swanage Oxfam bookshop closed for a month for a makeover THE Oxfam Bookshop in Swanage will be closed for a month for renovation work.

Trading ended on January 14, with the store set to re-open again on February 15.

Typically, the charity refreshes its stores every 15 years, but the premises on Institute Road hasn’t been touched since it opened in 1995.

Ian Vatch, shop manager, said: “All the walls and ceilings are being repainted, and new streamlined shelves will be put up in the middle of the shop to hold more books.

“We’re redesigning the layout, revamping our music section and expanding our online offering.”

The website helps the charity raise money from particularly valuable books – such as £200

The Oxfam Bookshop in Swanage is closed for a month while the store is refurbished Picture: Google

Harry Potter first editions – as well as titles that haven’t sold in the shop.

When an order comes in, the staff package it up and send it across the country.

Ian joined Oxfam after a career working in commercial retail.

“I got fed up making profit,” the 54-year-old said.

“Working with volunteers is great, we have former managing directors, doctors, and people like myself.

“The strange thing is, people think they have to know about books to work here, you just

need to be friendly.”

To join the 20-strong team of volunteers, visit oxfam.org.uk/ shops/oxfam-bookshopswanage.

Ian also kindly requested customers hold onto their donations until the shop reopens.

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Then email ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk

Sunday Roast

Join us to enjoy a traditional Sunday Roast.

Includes a choice of Chicken, Pork & Beef

(vegan alternatives on request)

seasonal vegetables, Yorkshires and crispy roasties

Family Sharing The Village Inn Open Daily Roast Open all day for drinks Food served 12.00pm-2.00pm 5.30pm-8.30pm Drinks Served 9.30am-10pm *

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Gather the Family around the table and let us do the rest.

Our family sharing roast includes a choice of meats (vegan alternatives on request)

lots of seasonal vegetables, Yorkshires and crispy roasties. £50 per Platter Made for a family of 4, larger parties or appetites can order extra portions at supplementary cost.

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8

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

National Coastwatch

A century of the Shipping Forecast W

ITH the succession of storms that swept through the country over Christmas, it was a pleasant surprise to greet new year’s day with a bit of dry weather. It lasted just long enough for us to be able to wish visitors to the Swanage and St Alban’s Head lookouts a happy new year. No doubt the thought of our popular refreshments encouraged them to brave the bracing weather!

I’ve just been reading the latest Friends of Durlston newsletter and, in the last three months of 2023, they recorded 556ml of rain, a near 60% increase on the longterm average of 348ml.

A

S well as celebrating the new year, January 1 also marked the 100th anniversary of the first broadcast of that quintessentially British tradition, the Shipping Forecast.

The history of the forecast goes back to 1861, when ViceAdmiral Robert FitzRoy developed a telegraphic messaging system to issue weather warnings to ships, following the loss of the steam clipper Royal Charter. The vessel sank in a violent storm off the coast of Anglesey, with the loss of more than 450 lives, prompting FitzRoy’s desire to prevent it happening again.

He was the main influence in the early development of the Met Office, which was then primarily intended to improve safety at sea. Fitzroy has been immortalised in the forecast as there is now a forecast sea area named after him.

The almost hymn-like cadences of ‘Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire’ through to ‘Shannon, Rockall, Malin and south-east Iceland’ has become such a national institution that

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The St Alban’s Head and Swanage lookouts have joined the Southwest Coast Path Passport Stamp Scheme

PHOTO: Nick Reed

stamp maps, postcards and scrap books as well as the SWCP passports!

I

The flight of steps at Houns Tout has become ‘totally unsafe’

PHOTO: Phil Benham

by Nick Reed an excerpt was played during the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. It has featured in a poem by Seamus Heaney and in songs by Radiohead and Blur. It was even sampled by The Prodigy.

Catherine Ross, a Met Office archivist, who has spent the past 11 years trawling the rich archives of the Met Office, said: “It’s a history of the last 100 years of what’s happened around our shores, from a weather perspective, of course, but also maritime safety – the two are heavily linked and it is a big part of why the Met Office even exists. Technology will continue to move on, but that distinctive sound it has will remain for as long as people want it.”

J

ANUARY also sees the St Alban’s Head and Swanage Lookouts joining the Southwest Coast Path (SWCP) Passport Stamp Scheme. The SWCP Passport

was introduced for walkers of the coast path to record their journey, as well as to encourage people to explore all that the path has to offer.

It was inspired by the world iconic ‘Camino de Santiago’ Pilgrim Trail in Northern Spain, where pilgrims collect stamps along their walk to Santiago de Compostela.

At 630 miles long, the coast path is the longest of the 16 national trails that include the Pennine Way, the Cotswold Way, Hadrian’s Wall and the Thames Path. Starting at Minehead and finishing at the entrance to Poole Harbour, there is a huge diversity of landscape, heritage and nature along the Path, and this is reflected in the design of the seven, handcrafted stamps covering the path.

Along with the other stations in Dorset, our stamp features an ammonite, often thought of as the archetypal representation of the Jurassic Coast. The stamps will be available to all our visitors and can be used to

T’S the dynamic nature of our coastline that creates the scenery we all love. The dramatic cliffs and long sandy beaches are all features of coastal erosion and without this process our coast would be a lot less interesting.

Cliff erosion was responsible for exposing the pliosaur skull that was discovered recently at Kimmeridge. The David Attenborough programme documenting its discovery and recovery made fascinating viewing over Christmas and I’m sure I’m not the only one who has made a visit to the Etches Collection Museum a must in 2024.

However, erosion can have a negative effect. The persistent rain has activated many of the landslips along the coast resulting in parts of the coast path becoming impassible.

One of the most dramatic slips has been at Houns Tout where the famous – or infamous – flight of steps has become totally unsafe. In fact, several parts have already collapsed.

The coast path has been diverted but despite clear signage, social media posts have shown people still risking climbing down. Large cracks are appearing on the remaining sections and with the current rain we can expect further landslides. We would urge everyone to exercise caution when walking the coast path over the next few months.

This is Swanage NCI and St Alban’s Head NCI wishing everyone a happy and safe new year, NCI listening on channel 65, out.

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

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Like history, love people – then Trust has just the ‘job’

IF you love meeting people and are passionate about local history, gardens and landscapes, being a volunteer with the National Trust could be for you.

Why not become part of a team telling the stories of some of Dorset’s most famous people and properties?

The Trust is looking for house experience volunteers to welcome visitors at Clouds Hill, the rural retreat of TE Lawrence – Lawrence of Arabia – and the homes of Dorset’s most famous author and poet, Thomas Hardy – Hardy’s Cottage and Max Gate.

If you prefer being outdoors, a role as a welcome volunteer at Hardy Monument and Hive Beach might be right up your street.

The Monument to ViceAdmiral Hardy will be opening regularly in 2024, giving visitors access to the viewing point at the top of the tower.

Hive Beach in Burton Bradstock is on the Jurassic Coast and welcomes thousands of visitors each year. Volunteers at the beach help to welcome

visitors, manage the car park and support on-site presentation.

Finally, opportunities are available to volunteer at the National Trust gift shop in Lyme Regis.

Scott Welland, operations manager for North & West Dorset, said “We care for some very important places for everyone to visit and enjoy.

“It is always an exciting time for us when we recruit for new volunteers and meet the people that will help us to share these stories and look after our visitors.

“If you love meeting people, are passionate about local history or want to make some new friends, please get in touch to find out more.”

An open morning will be held at Kingston Maurward College in the Stinsford Building on Wednesday (January 24), between 10am and 1pm. An open morning will be held at the Lyme Regis shop on Wednesday, February 7, 11am–1pm.

For details, email scott. welland@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Swanage bakery signs plan PLANS for new signage on a landmark Swanage bakery have been submitted.

The Hayman store, in Institute Road, has become The Italian Bakery after the landmark business was sold in 2022 to the firm behind The Italian Kitchen, in Wareham.

Work to the shopfront has seen the name disappear from Swanage, with plans now submitted to get official approval for the work.

“The proposals are for replacement of the shopfront and doors with new doubleglazed, thermally broken powder coated aluminium frame unit,” the retrospective

application said.

“While carrying out the works, all structurally deficient elements were repaired and replaced.

“The floor has been made good, to match existing and the new shopfront glazed screen installed on the historic floor edge, at the building façade frontage to the pavement.

“The replacement shopfront retains the central location for double doors, with central post at the meeting stiles, as existing.”

To comment on the plans, log on to dorsetcouncil.gov.uk and search for application reference P/FUL/2023/06979.

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Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

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Meet the man who found the ‘giant sea monster’ THE man whose find featured in Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster talks about his journey with fossils, fabrics - and a life searching for beauty.

Despite discovering the pliosaur in April 2022, Philip Jacobs was only given a fleeting mention in the credits of the BBC’s landmark programme.

After a petition of more than 5,000 called for greater recognition, the broadcaster added his name to the top of the “with thanks to”.

However, the 69-year-old says he has never done it for recognition, and gifts any discoveries to the Etches Collection in Kimmeridge, run by his friend, Steve Etches.

“You can’t take any of it with you,” he said. “It’s great to have Steve there with his museum, I can go and see them whenever I like.”

Philip is an amateur only in name, dedicating more than 40 years of his life to the search for fossils, alongside his career as a fabric designer.

First producing art as a teenager in the 1960s, he was inspired by the era’s psychedelic style, infusing it with Tibetan

and Japanese work.

He completed a BA in Textiles at Kingston University, where his spark for palaeontology was ignited.

“We used to go on painting trips to the hills to do landscapes,” he said. “I was washing my brushes in a stream and spotted a fossilised sponge; as an artist, an amazing thing is just something that’s visually stunning.

“Then in the late 1970s, my mum started attending a geology evening class.

“She found a beautiful ammonite and I thought how much I’d love to find something like that.”

From that point Philip was hooked, frequently venturing from his home in Hampshire to hunt for fossils at Chapman’s Pool and Kimmeridge Bay. At the same time, his career started to accelerate, becoming design director of Ramm, Son & Crocker, which produced pieces for high-end clients, including the

Sisters cycle the extra mile for good cause TWO sisters – aged seven and nine – put their pedals to the metal for a good cause – raising more than £1,000 in memory of a beloved auntie.

Macy and Pippa Hannington rode their bikes 40 miles in one day to raise £1,026 for the Forest Holme Hospice Charity in Poole.

The pair set themselves the fundraising challenge in memory of their auntie Becky Frizzell, who passed away in January 2023. Becky was cared for at Forest Holme Hospice, as was her husband before her, who also died from cancer.

The hospice provides specialist end-of-life care to patients across Poole, Wimborne and the Purbecks.

Before the sisters had even put a foot on a pedal, they managed to smash their target of £500 by more than £100 by holding a bake and sunflower sale outside their house.

The girls’ father, Mark, said: “Although the girls had trained for this challenge, none of their previous rides had come close to 40 miles.

“They knew they had a serious undertaking ahead of them.”

The sisters set off on the morning of their ride, chaperoned by their mum Yasmin and step-dad Tony.

By the time the girls reached Ringwood they were getting sore, but fuelled by snacks and sisterly encouragement,

Clintons.

But tastes quickly change and the 1990s saw Philip’s signature style fall out of favour.

“It was in this gap that I got really into my fossils.”

This led to his his first major discovery - a nearly complete ichthyosaur.

As he was struggling to excavate the skeleton, Steve Etches arrived and explained that for a discovery of this size it’s paramount you dig a large trench into the rock and remove it one piece at a time.

The discovery took a long time to prepare, but it’s now on display at the Etches Collection and was named ‘Britney’.

And just as his fashion career was once halted abruptly, it’s seen a resurgence in recent years.

Philip has collaborated with designer Kaffe Fassett to produce garments worn by Jennifer Lopez and Conor McGregor. n See page 12 for details of how you can see the pliosaur.

Macy and Pippa get on their bikes for Forest Holme Hospice charity

powered on. Mark said: “Pippa was full of energy and encouragement for her big sister, and really lifted the mood of her teammate.

“Macy dug deep to find the courage to continue and by the time the team were reunited in Wimborne, everyone was in good spirits.”

The sisterly team made it home via the scenic route of Poole Harbour, worn out but thrilled to learn they had raised more than £1,000.

“The girls have done a

tremendous task of keeping their Brownie’s promise to ‘serve the King and my community’ and ‘to help other people’,” Mark added.

Claire Cooper, fundraiser at Forest Holme Hospice Charity, said: “What an incredible achievement. The sisters may be small, but they are mighty indeed, and it shows what can be done with grit and determination.

“We can’t thank them enough for their efforts to help our hospice team.”

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

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Police appeal after attack on dog walker

A DISPUTE among dog walkers ended with one man being punched in the face.

Dorset Police are appealing for information after the incident, some time between 11.20am and 11.30am on Boxing Day (December 26) at Whitecliff Park, in Poole.

The confrontation unfolded as the victim was walking his dog when it started interacting with a black and tan terrier-type dog that was also off the lead, police said.

The victim tried to recall his dog, and the terrier’s male owner then picked up the victim’s dog and dragged it toward him while shouting and swearing.

As the victim was leaning over to check his dog, the man punched him to the face, making contact with his left eye.

Then a woman who was with him began shouting and screaming at the victim as he got back up before she also left the scene.

The man involved is described as white, in his 30s

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Police are keen to trace these people after an incident in Whitecliff Park, Poole PHOTO: Dorset Police

and of medium build, with brown hair. He was wearing a black jacket, jeans and trainers.

The woman with him is described as white, in her 30s and of medium build, with black hair in a ponytail.

She was wearing a creamcoloured jumper, black leggings and black trainers.

Police Community Support Investigator Brett Hirst, of Poole police, said: “This was a distressing incident for the victim and we are carrying out enquiries to identify the man and woman involved.

“I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any information that might assist our enquiries, to please contact us.”

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police via www.dorset.police.uk, or by calling 101, quoting incident number 55230201476.

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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.

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12

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

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Volunteer health walk leaders urged to step up

By Lorraine Gibson WAS your new year resolution to get fit? To walk more in ’24? To become a volunteer?

Why not roll all those into one and become a volunteer health walk leader?

Dorset Health Walks is welcoming health-promoting helpers to a series of flexible training sessions where you can find out whether it’s for you.

As a walk leader you’ll personally help people in your community to get active and healthy by providing support that they’d otherwise be unable to access and – here’s the bonus – you’ll be keeping yourself active to boot.

So what does the role entail and where can you do it?

As a leader, after checking

and familiarising yourself with a route beforehand, your job will be to stay at the front, middle or back of a group to ensure everyone’s safe and happy.

You will welcome walkers, particularly new ones, and give a brief talk prior to setting off to make sure everyone is prepared, so you need to be confident about speaking to small groups.

There’s some paperwork, such as registration forms, but you will usually be leading and managing walks with fellow leaders.

You’ll make walks welcoming, friendly, enjoyable and safe, following set guidelines, and will attend occasional leaders’ meetings and refresher training.

The main skill you need is an enthusiasm for walking and its benefits. You don't need experience, but obviously you’ll have to be friendly – with good communication skills – reliable, punctual and organised.

Ideally, you should also be able to take control and be assertive, observant and sensitive to the needs of others when required.

Sound good? To become a walk leader you must attend a Dorset Health Walks training course, but they also recommend you attend a walk prior to that, just to familiarise yourself with the roles and responsibilities and to

A GIANT dinosaur skull found on the Jurassic Coast has gone on display – after appearing in a David Attenborough documentary.

BBC show, Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster, aired on New Year’s Day and the pliosaur skull the legendary naturalist explored is now on show at the Museum of Jurassic Life in Kimmeridge.

People can find out more about how the creature lived, hunted and died in the Jurassic seas off Kimmeridge 150 million years ago.

“This really is the most

complete pliosaur skull that has been discovered to date and it is one of, if not the most, important specimens ever to come out from the Kimmeridge clay, and globally, this is one of the best specimens you’ll see,” said Dr Steve Etches MBE. Scientifically, it is thought the specimen will unlock a treasure trove of secrets for many years to come.

Throughout the filming process for the Attenborough show, the museum worked with some of the most prestigious university palaeontology departments,

utilising state-of-the-art technologies to reveal fascinating details about this ferocious predator.

Training days are being held this month and next

experience a health walk first-hand.

Still interested? Training dates in 2024: Tuesday, January 30, on Microsoft Teams 10am to 1pm; Thursday, February 22, at Blandford Forum 10:30am to 1:30pm; Thursday, March 7, at Thorncombe Woods 10am to 1pm; Tuesday, March 12, on Microsoft Teams 10am to 1pm.

If these dates are not convenient, alternative times can be considered to suit you and your location.

For more information, contact www.dorsetcouncil. gov.uk/dorset-health-walksgeneral-enquiries.

Dinosaur skull on show at museum

Pliosaur skull found in Kimmeridge Bay Dorset PHOTO: BBC

But there is still more work to be done to further study this once-in-a-lifetime find, a spokesperson said.

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Then email ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

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The party at the Hamworthy Club in Canford Magna raised £3,500 for Forest Holme Hospice Charity

It’s party time for hospice charity!

A CHRISTMAS party raised £3,500 for a Dorset hospice charity.

The Forest Holme Hospice Charity raised the cash, which will fund the hospice’s work, at the Winter Wonderland Christmas party at the Hamworthy Club in Canford Magna.

Forest Holme Hospice, in Poole, cares for people with life-limiting illness across Poole, Wimborne and the Isle of Purbeck.

The charity is tasked with raising £1 million each year to support the work carried out by the Forest Holme Hospice team, either at home or in the dedicated hospice facility.

Fundraiser, Claire Cooper, said: “This year has not been an

easy one with the cost of living remaining at a high. We are thrilled to have the backing for our events of so many kind people who hold the hospice’s work in high regard and want to help us to continue our care.

“Thank you for your support to help us raise this wonderful amount for the hospice.”

Guests gathered to enjoy a Christmas meal before dancing

the night away against a backdrop of snowflakes and Christmas lights.

Raffle prizes included a wheelbarrow of wine, prizes and vouchers donated by local businesses.

Demonstrating his nifty moves in the kitchen, Forest Holme Strictly Come Dancing champion Jason Edwards baked a Christmas fruit cake for a

Guess the Weight competition.

Claire said: “Our thanks to Scott and the team at Hamworthy Club, Ashley and Sue for providing the tunes, Mike Barton for his photography, and Megan Turner at Heart & Soul Studio for the most sparkly banging crackers.

“Further thanks to our volunteers Tiff Watson for spending hours folding the napkins into Christmas trees, and Jason Edwards for providing the cake and the beautiful white trees for our decor – it really made the room.”

Megan Turner, at Heart & Soul Studio, said: “We are so pleased we can help local charities like Forest Holme Hospice Charity by donating Christmas crackers for parties.

Such a fantastic cause.”

History centre closing for ‘essential’ work

THE Dorset history centre is closed for two weeks while “essential” work is carried out.

Dorset Council said the venue, in Bridport Road, Dorchester, is currently closed to the public until January 29.

“Staff will be busy behind the scenes carrying out essential work to make access to the collections easier,” a spokesperson

said. The history centre is the archive service for the county, collecting, preserving and providing access to physical and digital archives.

“They carry out conservation work on documents and support projects relating to history and heritage of the county,” the spokesperson added. “The documents stored include paper, parchment and

printed documents as well as audio-visual material and digital records. All enquiries will be processed in the order they have been received as soon as possible after this closure period.”

For more about The Dorset History Centre, its work, and collections, visit www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/Dorset-historycentre

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Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

News

Something wild on the nursery menu...

YOUNGSTERS at nurseries across Dorset will soon be enjoying meats such as venison and pheasant in their weekly meals.

Tops Nurseries – which has venues in Wareham, Wimborne, Corfe Mullen, Poole, Christchurch and more – has signed a new deal with food firm Eat Wild to provide game for children's meals.

The childcare firm has announced a new Game Menu, which it says will offer meals “designed to captivate young taste buds while providing unmatched nutrition”.

“We are proud to be among the first in our sector to make the move and put wild meat on our menus,” a spokesperson said.

Tops has developed five different wild meat meals which will be incorporated into the nursery’s menu.

Across the company's 32 sites, children will be provided with wild meat meals twice within a three-week cycle – 3,000 meals a month.

Pete Ttofis, catering manager at Tops Day Nurseries, said: “Having worked in the hospitality industry for so long, I had always been aware of how delicious wild foods were,

Leon Challis-Davies from Eat Wild and Pete Ttofis of Tops Nurseries

especially game.

“The variety and how natural it is always appealed to me as I knew it hadn’t been subjected to courses of intense growth hormones or antibiotic treatment and is left to roam freely eating natural foods within its natural environment, because after all, we are what we eat, right?”

The firm said research showed nutritional benefits of game, including less fat, as

much protein and nutrients like vitamin B-12, iron and zinc, as typical household meats like beef, chicken, lamb and pork.

“By switching to game meat this contributes to the protection of diverse species in their natural environment, aligning with our sustainability mission and ethos,” the spokesperson went on.

Children have been getting to grips with the new menu, with game being incorporated

purbeckgazette.co.uk

Venison bolognaise is among the dishes youngsters are trying

into familiar dishes, such as venison bolognaise and garlic bread appearing on the winter menu.

“We believe that giving wild foods a try and experimenting with our food diversity is something we should be exploring,” Pete added.

“Food should be fun, exciting, new and delicious.”

Leon Challis-Davies, culinary director at Eat Wild, said: “There are lots of reasons why getting wild and sustainable meat onto school menus is so important, I could talk about them for hours.

“First and foremost, though, it’s so important that we get the younger generation to eat more nutritional and vitaminrich food to help them develop.

“Wild meat is not only healthier, but it’s also more sustainable than what we consume from our current meat-producing sector.

“It’s much more flavoursome too. For the countryside community in particular, this is a huge win, and we hope to take it to the next level and introduce wild meat into higher education and beyond.”

Marie Curie charity seeks volunteers

END of life charity Marie Curie is seeking more volunteers across Dorset.

They are needed to help deliver services including bereavement support over the phone and an advanced care planning service across East Dorset.

Volunteers are also needed to help Marie Curie’s fundraising and community engagement teams raise

awareness of the charity and encourage donations.

Sam Pearce, Marie Curie volunteer coordinator for Dorset, said: “Our volunteers tell us how much satisfaction they get from giving even a small amount of time but helping make a huge difference in their local community.

“For every volunteering role we offer full training and

support, and I’d urge anyone interested in hearing more to get in touch.

“With the continued support from the people of Dorset we can help more people have the best possible end of life, wherever they are and whatever their illness.”

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer for Marie Curie Dorset can contact the team at

southwestvolunteer inghub@mariecurie.org.uk or phone 0800 304 7400.

Marie Curie offers practical and emotional support on everything from symptom management and day to day care to financial information and bereavement.

For help, contact the Information and Support line on 0800 090 2309 or visit mariecurie.org.uk/support.

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

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Young driver dies in early morning crash

A MAN in his 20s sadly died after a crash near Dorchester.

The incident, on the A37 Long Ash Lane, happened at around 5.42am on Monday, January 15, and involved a black Honda Civic, a grey Volvo XC90 and a MAN heavy goods vehicle.

Emergency services attended and very sadly, the driver of the Honda – a local man aged in his 20s – was pronounced dead at the scene. His family has been informed.

The driver of the Volvo – a man aged in his 50s from Somerset – was taken to

A37 Long Ash Lane near Dorchester PHOTO: Google

hospital with minor injuries.

Road closures were put in place to allow the emergency services to respond to the incident and for an examination of the scene to be carried out.

Sergeant Richard Stroud, of the Dorset Police Roads

Policing Team, said: “Our thoughts are very much with the family of the man who sadly died in this collision at what must be an extremely difficult time for them.

“It is important that we establish the full circumstances of what happened and I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision, or the manner of driving of the vehicles involved prior to it, to please contact us.

“I would also like to hear from any motorists who were in the area and captured any relevant dashcam footage.

In the picture (from left) are tournament founder Tony Brown, Tara Wisley, Christchurch Golf Club front of house assistant, tournament organiser Anthony Rogers, Neal Williams, trust secretary of Macmillan Caring Locally and Byron Hutcheson, director of golf at Christchurch Golf Club

Golf tournament raises £152,000 in 20 years

TWO decades after she passed away, Sarah Green remains at the forefront of many people’s minds.

Sarah, from Ferndown, was just 31 when she died in 2003 after having leukaemia.

To celebrate her life, family and friends later set up the Sarah Green Golf Tournament, which last year marked its 20th year.

The event, held at Christchurch Golf Club each September, raises money for Macmillan Caring Locally, the charity behind the Macmillan

Unit at Christchurch Hospital, to surpass the £152,000 mark.” where Sarah spent her final He added: “I don’t think any days. of the organisers would have Since it was founded, the imagined the event would still tournament has raised more be going after 20 years, or how than £150,000. well supported it is and how Sarah’s brother, Anthony much money we would raise in Rogers, is the driving force that time. behind the event. He said: “Massive thanks must “The tournament brings go to the organising together family members, committee, our amazing friends, golfers, and many volunteers, sponsors and local businesses, to compete the fabulous teams at the Sarah Green Macmillan Unit and for the Sarah Green Trophy and to enjoy Christchurch Golf Club, dinner and entertainment. for all their generosity and “This year we were thrilled support.

“Finally, I appreciate this collision led to the closure of a major road for some time, but this was absolutely necessary to enable the emergency services to safely respond to the incident and for a thorough examination of the scene to be conducted.”

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police via www.dorset.police.uk, by email to scit@dorset.pnn.police.uk, or by calling 101, quoting incident number 15:64. They can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111.

“I am sure Sarah would be thrilled knowing she has a legacy which is helping others.

But I think she’d also joke that she can’t believe we are still doing it.”

Neal Williams, Trust secretary at Macmillan Caring Locally, said: “It’s wonderful to see how Sarah’s life continues to inspire people to support our charity and the care provided in the Macmillan Unit and in our community.

“Over the years this hugely enjoyable event has enabled us to complete a number of major projects and refurbishments in our hospice.

“We are so grateful for the hard work that the organisers put in, and the generosity of everyone who takes part.”

Byron Hutcheson, director of golf at Christchurch Golf Club, said: “We have had the privilege of hosting the Sarah Green Golf Tournament for several years and we are pleased to say it keeps going from strength to strength.

“I personally can’t wait to start organising the 2024 event and to improving even further on its success.”

The Sarah Green Golf Tournament caters for up to 26 teams of four. Registration for the 2024 tournament opens early this year. For more details, email Anthony Rogers at anthony-rogers@hotmail.co.uk.

16

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

News

Woman, 93, dies after being hit by vehicle

A WOMAN seriously injured after being hit by a car in Poole has sadly passed away.

The incident, which occurred in Blandford Road North, near Douglas Close, was reported to police at 9.13am on Saturday, January 6.

It involved a blue Ford Focus – driven by a local woman in her 40s – and a female pedestrian.

The pedestrian – 93-year-old Eileen Symes, from Poole – was taken to hospital for treatment to serious injuries, but died in hospital on Monday, January 8.

Her family are being supported by specially trained officers.

“Eileen was a much loved and caring person,” they said.

“She was a strong-willed and independent lady with a love for life. She lived a full and happy

Eileen Symes, of Poole, had a love for life, travel and fashion said her family

life and loved to travel.

“In her retirement years, she had a love for clothes and fashion, and she enjoyed going

PHOTO: Dorset Police

out for a coffee and a cake while out shopping.

“Eileen will be greatly missed by all who knew her,

purbeckgazette.co.uk especially her niece.”

Officers are continuing to investigate the full circumstances of the incident.

Sergeant Mark Scammell, of the Roads Policing Team, said: “Our thoughts go out to the family of Eileen who sadly died at what must be an extremely difficult time for them.

“We owe it to them to carry out a detailed investigation and establish the full circumstances of this collision, and I would like to renew our appeal for any witnesses who have not already spoken to police to please come forward.

“I am also still keen to hear from anyone who may have captured anything of relevance on dashcam footage.”

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police via www.dorset.police.uk, by email to scit@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 55240002769.

Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously via Crimestoppers-uk.org, or by calling 0800 555 111.

Parent and Child Foster Placements We have covered fostering children in the last 9 months and how to overcome the challenges and gain from the positives. Now to take a different angle; have you ever considered becoming a foster carer for a parent and their child?

Could you give a child a foster home?

Parent and Child Foster Placements involve fostering of a parent and their own child. This is normally a mother and their baby.

They will come and stay at your home while you provide them with your knowledge and support to enable them to look after the child themselves and integrate in the community. This typically lasts up to 12 weeks.

Personalised social worker support, 24/7, 365 Regular training Informal get togethers Excellent financial rewards

A pre-requisite to becoming a parent and child carer is to have a spare room and space to accommodate the placement in the home, once you go through the initial get to know and chose to join footprints we can complete your assessment and approval in 4-6 months. And guess what! The rewards are just as great as being a foster carer for children and young people with financial reward, full specialist training and 24/7 social worker support.

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How to start the process? It is easy! Give us a call today for more information, you will always have a friendly voice to talk to at Footprints.

www.footprintsfostercare.co.uk

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

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Santa Express by Rose Purkiss was the winner in Poole Harbour Canoe Club’s photographic competition

Oh, what a picture, what a photograph!

PHOTOGRAPHS by Dorset canoeists have been judged as part of an annual competition.

The Poole Harbour Canoe Club has announced the results of its 2023 Photographic Competition, which features members and friends voting for

their favourites from the snaps submitted to the club’s monthly photographic contests on Facebook.

The club – which has bases in Lake Pier, Hamworthy, and at Wimborne Riverside – is involved in sea kayaking, K1

racing, slalom, kayak polo, white water trips, white water racing, surf kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding – as well as canoeing.

“Obviously, with such a large range of activities the photographic entries are very

varied,” a spokesperson said.

The results for 2023 Poole Harbour Canoe Club Photographic Competition are: 1 Santa Express, by Rose Purkiss; 2 Rock Hopping, by Max Wray; 3 K1 Training, by Bill Richmond.

Commended: 1 Leigh van der Byl; 2 Keith Hawkins; 3 Bill Richmond; 4 Michael Howlett.

For more information on the club – and the competition – log on to https://www.phcc.org. uk.

Second place went to Rock Hopping by Max Wray

Bill Richmond was third in the competition with K1 Training

Commended – 1 Leigh van der Byl

Commended 3 – Bill Richmond

Commended – 2 Keith Hawkins

Commended 4 – Michael Howlett

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Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

THE

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Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

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20

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

History

purbeckgazette.co.uk

Encounters with ‘Yetis’

AFTER lectures I am often asked what I know about one of natural history’s great mysteries, the Abominable Snowman or Yeti, or in Mongolia, the Almas.

This creature, humanoid or animal, is alleged to exist in the most remote and wildest regions. Although several well-known mountaineers claim to have encountered them, there is no scientific proof of their existence.

However, like many true explorers, I’m driven on by curiosity and by chance have had several experiences regarding the phenomenon.

Caught out by a sudden heavy storm at 16,000 feet above sea level, at the base of Tibet’s Mount Xixabangma, we were digging out our snowburied tents when I paused to admire the dramatic scenery.

And there, 800 metres across a valley stood the figure of a man on a snowy slope. “Who on earth is that?” I called to my daughter, who was also digging out our tent. Seizing my binoculars, I got a better view.

Yes, it was a large broadshouldered man in dark clothing standing upright facing me.

With nothing to compare it, I could only guess its height, maybe 2-3 metres tall.

For a minute we watched it and took a quick snap, but then, seeking my longer camera lense to get a better image, I tried again but now the snow slope was empty. The figure had disappeared. “Well, I guess you’ve seen a yeti,” laughed my colleagues, but I had no doubt I had seen something. Alas, closer inspection of the site was impossible in the conditions.

Only a week before, we had another experience on the north side of the mountain, where our eminent geographer, Dr Henry Osmaston, from Bristol, was seeking snow pinnacles.

Marching over a featureless

By John BlashfordSnell CBE, a former British Army officer, explorer and author, who founded Operation Raleigh and the Scientific Exploration Society

A holy man in Nepal, his feet deformed by a lifetime walking barefoot in rocky terrain

Colonel John Blashford-Snell on the slopes of Mt Xixabangma, Tibet

Size 16 footprints were spotted on a river bank in Mongolia

slope of fresh snow at around 19,000 feet, he came across a line of huge fresh footprints that had been made since we had traversed the area earlier. We had not seen any creature or man, and yet the prints seemed to show that whatever made them walked upright. Could it have been a bear or something else?

Years later in Mongolia, my driver, Gansukh, an experienced hunter, showed me some large – size 16 – footprints in sand on a river’s bank. “I watched an

almas run up from the river to those boulders,” he said. “It was 3 metres tall, covered in dark hair and walking upright like a man. It never moved on four legs.” I examined the prints and measured them at 36cm long and 14cm wide, looking just like a large human foot. “It’s only an almas,” said Gansukh showing very little concern.

“They are often seen here. They are wild men.”

In Nepal, I did solve the mystery of one set of strange footprints. While tracking a tiger along a riverbank, I was confronted by a line of unusual footprints showing a huge toe and four smaller toes. Excited that I might be tracking a yeti, I followed them into a village.

Here, to my surprise was a smiling holy man with a

pompom hairdo and feet deformed by a lifetime’s walking barefoot in rocky terrain. He held up his foot for me to photograph it. Apparently, such mutations are fairly common in Nepal and plenty of gurus regularly walk around barefoot in the snow.

Later, Sir Edmund Hilary, who was extremely interested in the yeti legend, showed me a photograph of similar deformed feet he had seen in the Himalayas.

So, if you are out walking in the snow in the Blackmore Vale, pause and photograph any strange footprints you discover – you never know whose they may be! n To book lectures by John Blashford-Snell, email jenny@ ses-explore.org.

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Then email newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

21

Telling It Like It Is

purbeckgazette.co.uk

Vexed over hotel planning decision

W

ELL, here we are.

New year, lots ahead of us and – for me anyway – a lot more time to do it in! I’ve done over 10 years working for Harmans Cross village hall and have now handed the baton over to Kelly King, our new booking secretary. She’s on 07384 848419 if you need to book the hall or have any queries – she’s charming, efficient and a great deal younger and fitter than me!

Good luck, Kelly, we have no doubt you’ll do a great job for us.

I’ve also cut back on my accountancy practice very significantly, which again will free up more time for writing for the Purbeck Gazette and, I hope, remaining involved with Purbeck with my head still well above the parapet. There’s still so much needing doing – so many answers still needed from councils, the Police and other ‘authorities’ which only seem to react if poked with a stick. So – sharpening my stick and hoping that you, dear reader, will have time to drop me an email or pick up the phone and let me know how we at the Gazette can help to find the answers to the problems that beset us all.

F

OLLOWING the shelving of HS2, a bunch of money has apparently been allocated to repairing our Third World roads and filling in potholes. How much will drift down this far is anyone’s guess.

The council says: “You can report a problem to us online.

You'll be given a unique reference number so you can track the progress. By avoiding phone calls and emails, you help us reduce administration costs which we can use to provide essential highways services”. If you read last month’s column, you will know how I feel about ‘do it online’. Do let us know how you get on!

What a storm! January 4 destroyed a few roads, the river at Corfe burst its banks and left

by David Hollister people stranded. Just goes to show how quickly Mother Nature can rise up and that no amount of planning and documentation can stand in her way! Clearly whoever designed the culvert at the Ocean Bay end of Shore Road hadn’t bargained on the volume of water a really good storm could bring!

And I have to pay tribute to the amazing Frank Roberts and his small team for clearing a good few deep puddles on the A351, especially St Michaels dip! Where does he get all that energy!

I

T’S been some time now since Kingfisher Hotels put in the most recent plans for a £65 million rebuild of the charming Knoll House Hotel.

And yet again Dorset Council planners have turned it down flat, despite support from local councillors. This may well take the delay into next year.

The plans included 30 hotel rooms, and 26 villas and 18 apartments, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa centre with jacuzzi, fitness studio, steam room, sauna and a restaurant.

Objections came from Natural England, Dorset AONB partnership and Dorset Natural Environment Team. I wonder how many of them actually visited the site? Dorset Council planners recommended refusal on grounds of detriment to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Heritage Coast and protected heathlands. Well, I have to say that a semi-derelict hotel would be just as detrimental to an AONB and that the 86 new jobs lost to the area aren’t just statistics, they are 86 people or all ages, for whom opportunities to work locally have been torn away.

Planners were also concerned about surface water drainage, the lack of a “biodiversity plan” and protected trees which could have been damaged by the development. Councillors were

told that the undoubted economic benefits to Purbeck were not enough to permit such a large development in such a sensitive area, despite it replacing an existing building.

And they listened.

If I’d been a local councillor whose voice had been overruled by the officers and cabinet in this matter, I’d be asking for my P45 right now.

W

ASN’T it disappointing that the people involved in making the new series of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five stories, to be broadcast on the BBC, chose to film it hundreds of miles away from the lovely Purbeck countryside which inspired the chums’ adventures. Enid Blyton would be spinning in her grave.

Well, here’s one viewer who will be reaching for the ‘off’ switch!

Great news from Worth Matravers that the appeal for the restoration of the dangerous roof at the Church of St Nicholas of Myra is well under way and should be finished by early April 2024. Hats off to the fundraising committee!

B

ETWEEN December 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024, party-goers were encouraged to plan their journeys home, reminded of the potential consequences if they were caught driving while under the influence and encouraged to report suspected drink or drug drivers to the police. During the campaign, 71 people were arrested on suspicion of drinkdriving, 53 people on suspicion

of drug- driving and three further arrests were made for failing to provide a sample for analysis.

I am heartily sick of the word ‘crackdown’ when used by the Police. The law is clear and operates 365 days a year, so ‘crackdown’ would seem to suggest that for the rest of the year, people may well be breaking the law but the Police won’t be paying the same level of attention they would be over the Christmas period. Would it be too much to suggest that they ‘crack down’ on burglaries, shoplifting, knife crime and all the other things that go on here in the Wild West of Purbeck? Or would that mean admitting that most of the time, Purbeck is virtually un-policed because our government chooses to spend its money – that’s our money – elsewhere. We need proper representation at Westminster, someone who will wave a flag on our behalf and not just turn up as ‘lobby fodder’.

L

ANGTON Matravers is fun, isn't it! Wessex Water has closed the main road for several weeks and given us poorly signed diversions. Glad I’m not a postman, a milkman or an Amazon courier with deadlines to meet! I do hope they have maximum number of staff working 24 hours a day to get the job finished! But somehow, I doubt it.

I’m hoping that in our next edition we can give you dates and times for the next open public meeting with the Police Commissioner, but don’t hold your breath!

22

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Politics

purbeckgazette.co.uk

Dorset needs to elect a champion!

THE American writer and civil rights activist, James Baldwin, said memorably: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” These words ring true as the new year begins. For too many families, just getting by is a daily struggle.

The sunlit uplands promised by Boris Johnson have proved to be a figment of his imagination – the competence and fair play promised by Rishi Sunak equally a fiction.

The Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts that living standards will fall by 7.1% over the next two years, with average real wages not returning to their 2008 level until 2027 – two lost decades for hard-pressed households.

NHS waiting lists are at a record high, with one in 10 nursing posts unfilled. The King’s Fund reported in 2023 that the UK has ‘substantially’ fewer key physical resources in

its hospitals than many other too many lives. Buying a house comparable countries, low levels – with a multiple of 14 in of clinical staff and fewer beds.

Purbeck – is a dream for the The UK has the third highest young. Rents rose in Purbeck childcare costs in the developed the highest and fastest in world, a desperate lack of England last year. affordable housing, trains that Too many jobs in Dorset are don’t run and a crisis in social low paid, low skilled and care. insecure – young people of YouGov in October ambition and ability leave 2023 found that an the county. Dorset overwhelming Council’s Local majority of those Economic surveyed described Assessment indicates 12 key public services that in Dorset, for – ranging from the every hour worked, NHS to the justice we produce almost 19% system – as being in a less than the UK average Chris Bradey – weekly earnings for ‘bad’ state. Its ongoing ‘tracking’ identified the people living in Dorset two most important issues are £546 compared to the GB facing the country on new year’s average of £613. 14 Dorset day as the state of the economy neighbourhoods are in the most and the NHS. deprived 20% nationally for In Dorset, as across the employment – 10 of these in nation, schools are underWeymouth and Portland. funded. Child poverty, health Dorset Citizens Advice inequalities and low paid reports high numbers of precarious employment blight households unable to pay energy

bills. Defend Dorset NHS warns of local clinics being removed without consultation.

This will be a year of elections – town council and Dorset Council elections, a general election nationally.

Labour’s polling lead over the Conservatives is in double figures and long sustained.

Electoral Calculus gives a Labour candidate a 53% chance of unseating Richard Drax, South Dorset’s Conservative MP since 2010. Election Maps also predicts a Labour win.

South Dorset needs a champion. Portland Labour mayor, Carralyn Parkes, has thrown her hat into the ring.

Selecting her will mean that Labour has in place a proven campaigner, one more than capable of holding her own against an MP whose great wealth is derived from privilege.

CHRIS BRADEY Chair, Swanage & Rural Purbeck Labour Party

IF you are a regular reader of my column, you will know that I very much enjoy visiting schools, and speaking to pupils when they visit Parliament – perhaps it’s in my genes as my family are all teachers!

Grants are available for transport for schools to visit Parliament – please get in touch with my office if you want more information on this.

I think it is important that our children understand the political process, and I’m always keen to encourage them to get involved. As part of that, I host work experience students every year – to give young people a taste of what it is like to work in politics – either as an MP, councillor or in an MP’s office. Sometimes this is in the summer, but this year I will also be running a work experience programme for anyone in year 12 or above during the Easter holidays. I

ask the students to write a diary – having significant flooding of their time in my office – you on such a vital route is can read these on my website. dangerous. Despite the Details of how to apply for the significant increase in traffic Easter week are available at during the summer months, www.michaeltomlinson.org.uk/ more than half of the accidents work-experience – please at the roundabout over the last encourage any young people 10 years have been during who might be the autumn or winter. interested to apply.

I am working with Some of you may local councillors to have seen the new find a solution, and campaign on my will be talking to social media or Dorset Council, the website – to stop the Highways Agency Baker’s Arms and the Roads roundabout from Minister. Money is flooding. We all know Michael Tomlinson available for road that after heavy rain resurfacing projects the roundabout floods, often and potholes – and I am keen blocking one lane or more. It is to find out if there might also worse when the tide is high, or be funding for the Baker’s after persistent rainfall. The Arms roundabout to be A35 is a main arterial route improved. through Dorset, and when the There will be no quick fix roundabout floods, the traffic – and it would be a significant backs up in all directions. It’s project which would in turn not just an inconvenience cause delays while work is

done. Let me know if you support this campaign through my survey at www. michaeltomlinson.org.uk/ stop-roundabout-flooding.

Flooding issues are not easy to solve – but it can be done, so please join our campaign to stop the flooding.

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 at michael. tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk or contact my office on 01202 624216. You can also follow what I’ve been doing on Twitter, @Michael4mdnp; on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ michael4MDNP; and on my website, www. michaeltomlinson.org.uk.

MICHAEL TOMLINSON Conservative MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole

Campaign on roundabout flooding

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

23

Politics

purbeckgazette.co.uk

Climate: Govt should walk the talk RECENT floods have affected many communities in the Purbeck area – the flooding of the River Frome affecting the whole area from Wareham to Wool, the dramatic flooding of the Corfe River leading to significant disruption to traffic, and the damage to Shore Road in Swanage, to highlight just a few of the flooding events we witnessed.

These are not just natural disasters. Climate change has been predicted, and evidenced, for decades and will cause more extreme weather events in the future. Met Office senior scientist Mike Kendon stated that “our climate is continuing to change dramatically – 2023 has been yet another very warm year, as well as wetter than average – and we expect this to continue in future decades.”

Climate change is having impacts now and will continue to get worse without urgent

action.

Despite evidence and warnings from scientists, in 2021 Rishi Sunak dramatically cut the money given to the Environment Agency for maintenance of existing flood protection schemes. The sum was reduced by £34m to £201m and then a further cut reduced the figure to £194m the following year. To provide context, the Rwanda Plan is projected to cost £290m, despite not a single flight taking place as a result of the scheme.

It is ironic that in the month that we have experienced widespread flooding, the Government produced a bill allowing more oil and gas fields in the North Sea, against the advice of its own Committee on Climate Change – which has led to the resignation of Conservative MP Chris Skidmore. It has now been confirmed that, despite initial

statements to the contrary, this proposed gas and oil extraction will not improve national energy security to counteract Putin. The gas and oil will be sold on the international markets and jobs will not necessarily go to UK workers.

While the Government talks the talk about tackling climate change it needs to walk the walk. Many of the successful policies to tackle climate change which are now bearing fruit, such as the massive boost in renewable electricity generation, were policies initiated by Ed Davey – now Liberal Democrat Leader – when he was Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

Concern for the environment is fundamental to being a Liberal Democrat.

In South Dorset, I have been campaigning for improved flood mitigation, and my petition has helped to prompt meetings

between key stakeholders.

However, the organisations involved are being put under strain by underfunding from central government. Our own MP, Richard Drax, has consistently voted to reduce funding for local government.

This leads to negative impacts across Dorset and a reduction in the amount of money available for projects. Unfortunately, as a resident of South Dorset, I can see the many impacts of the cutbacks as I drive down pot-hole strewn roads or learn of reduced maintenance of water courses and lakes. Dorset Council and the Environment Agency need to be properly funded to allow South Dorset to thrive and prepare for the ongoing effects of climate change.

Cllr Matt Bell Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for South Dorset

Reader’s Picture

Stephanie Howe recently took this photo of the pond at Worth Matravers at sunset

24

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Letters

purbeckgazette.co.uk

Stop the spills: Ban bonuses for water firm bosses

Malcolm Harris watched a sailing regatta from the pier in Swanage

Wedding anniversary and childhood memories of visiting the seaside

MY wife Denise and I live in Sheffield. We married 30 years ago in Cornwall and wanted to find somewhere we had not been together to celebrate the anniversary in October.

We decided it would be nice to visit Dorset as we both enjoy being by the sea and having plenty to do.

We booked a week in Swanage. The weather was reasonably kind and we had a fabulous time.

We visited all the tourist attractions. We thoroughly enjoyed a day with the monkeys at Monkey World. We took a picnic to Studland and the chain ferry across to Poole harbour.

From there we took the Bird Cruise to spot sea eagles, among other rare birds, but failed to catch the last osprey of the season.

We took cameras with us everywhere we went and snapped Durdle Dor, Corfe Castle and took very shaky blurred pictures of those sea eagles!

We celebrated our 30th in a Swanage restaurant and spent the day on the pier watching a sailing regatta. All in all it was a tremendous week.

It reminded me of holidays I spent with my parents 60 years ago in and around Swanage and Poole from our home in Gloucestershire.

In fact, I was able to dig out black and white photos of me and dad on the beach. I was convinced they were taken on a Dorset beach and on our return

In this photo taken in about 1960 Malcolm Harris is pictured as a child with his father in Swanage

to Sheffield I posted pictures on Facebook pages dedicated to Swanage life asking if anyone recognised the location.

I doubted whether anyone would be able to help given the time that had elapsed and the changes that had undoubtedly occurred. But I was wrong!

Several people suggested that one of them had been taken on the main Swanage beach in front of the beach huts, to confirm my suspicions.

It is wonderful to think that I was able to return to the location of my childhood vacations and enjoy our celebratory holiday.

Some of the photos I took in Dorset now feature on a calendar I produce every Christmas for family, and I hope they love it as much as I do.

I found the Purbeck Gazette fascinating and only wish we had similar in South Yorkshire.

Malcolm Harris Sheffield

SWANAGE Beach, Poole Harbour, Chesil Cove, Sandsfoot Beach and Castle Cove.

What do they all have in common? Each has been trashed by disgusting sewage spills in 2024.

We’re only a few weeks into the year and our amazing Jurassic Coast has already fallen victim to a rising tide of toxic sewage.

The big water companies – namely Wessex Water and South West Water – are at the centre of this scandal. It is their crumbling and outdated infrastructure that causes these routine sewage spills in the first place.

And yet, the big water company bosses usually collect vast bonuses each year. Some chief executives receive multi-million pound bonuses annually, rewarding bad behaviour.

We have to change course.

One effective way to stop the spills is to ban water company

bosses from collecting their annual bonus if they are found to be responsible for spills.

Banning these unmerited bonuses would act as an effective deterrent and would allow the public to finally hold the failing water firms to account. By holding the bosses directly accountable, we can begin to clean up our beaches and riverways across Dorset.

To be able to introduce a ban on bonuses, we need our local Member of Parliament, Richard Drax, to take the sewage spills scandal seriously. So far, he has done nothing to tackle this scandal.

Richard Drax MP must finally listen to campaigners and call for a ban on bonuses to be introduced.

Rather than being invisible, our elected representative must campaign non-stop for this tough measure to combat sewage spills.

If he is unwilling to do anything useful, then he will be failing the communities and businesses that depend upon Swanage Beach, Poole Harbour, Chesil Cove, Sandsfoot Beach and Castle Cove.

Inaction is inexcusable! It’s time to stop the spills.

Lloyd Hatton Weymouth

Old car caused a stir

WHILE I was in Wimborne Minster on Saturday, December 23, I came across this very unusual car parked on the side of the road.

Many people were interested and, like myself, stopped to take a closer look. It would be interesting if anyone could shed any light on what’s going on here?

Tom Scrase Wimborne

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

purbeckgazette.co.uk

Wareham Wednesdays event faces challenges A GROUP of local people, over 12 years, have invested hours of their time bringing together their local connections to deliver a series of entertaining evenings on Wareham Quay, all free of charge.

The objective of the first Wareham Wednesday season was to deliver fabulous entertainment for visitors and locals in Wareham.

Since the first season in 2011, people have planned their holidays to correspond with these events, while the number of locals who come out to enjoy the fun on the Quay has gone from strength to strength.

Typically, each evening’s schedule includes Krazy Kev, a local children’s entertainer, a professional local band and added fun and laughter provided by those brave enough to enter the Soapbox Challenge or Raft Race. Not to be missed, of course, the Poole Pirates invasion.

Visitors and locals turn out in force for Wareham Wednesdays

Since its inception, the Wareham Wednesday Committee has donated profits from these events to local charities and community projects.

The committee is proud to have placed a defibrillator on Wareham Quay, with the help of the British Heart Foundation, as well as donating to Diverse City, MS Society, the Air Cadets, League of Friends, Christmas dinner for the elderly,

to name just a few.

The unfortunate intrusion of Covid, which has resulted in most of us not carrying cash, is now putting the 2024 Wareham Wednesday season in jeopardy.

Donations via bucket collections have dwindled and Bonfire Night 2023 was a wash-out, so the committee is having to make difficult decisions about the content of the 2024 series of events.

Behind the scenes costs, such

25

Letters as road closures, security and insurance, have grown exponentially and now amount to thousands of pounds. And that is before organising the stage and entertainments.

Have you thought how much those wonderful fireworks may be costing, for instance?

The team who organised last year’s events are keen to replicate as much as they can in 2024 and are taking this opportunity to ask you, the local public, to put forward your suggestions for donations from any profits made from the 2024 season.

We are looking for four local good causes that deserve our help. Please send your suggestions – and tell us why your suggested cause justifies a donation and what it would do with the money.

Please look out for the Wareham Wednesdays Just Giving Page – coming soon!

The deadline for your suggestions is March 31. Please address your requests for the attention of Jude, at Wareham Conservative Club, South Street, Wareham BH20 4LT. Helen Casey Via email

Email your letters to ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk

Roll up, roll up with quiz nights, fancy dress and friendly games, this has to try out bowls resulted in many friendships,

OUR bowls club is on a roll.

East Dorset Indoor Bowls Club is holding open days on February 17-18 to give people a chance to experience what the game of bowls has to offer.

Free entry, use of equipment, coaching and tea and biscuits are on offer – it’s a good way to spend a few hours.

The open days, at Two Rivers Meet, next to the sports centre in Christchurch, open at 10am – just turn up and enjoy some time there.

The club has six rinks and recently made a big investment by having LED lighting installed – and has electronic scoreboards and a licensed bar.

The committee has worked hard to set up a social side and,

giving the bowls a ‘plus’ factor.

Whether you are new to the sport or experienced in it, we hope you can take up this invitation and look forward to meeting you.

For more information, email frontoffice@eastdorsetibc.org. uk or visit eastdorsetibc.org.uk.

Alan Mason East Dorset Indoor Bowls Club

As a dog owner, I feel that we are an easy target for more restrictions, yet the real problem of litter, glass, used nappies and other general rubbish left on Dorset beaches, which is a greater danger to everyone, is left alone.

As a Dorset resident and dog owner, I feel annoyed that I was not consulted on these changes and that the PSPO is being put in force after consulting just 4,221 people, that is 1.1% of Dorset residents.

Chris Crompton Verwood

Dog owners an easy target Homes wanted, I SEE that Dorset Council is not new Lidl about to impose yet more restrictions on dogs via a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for 2024.

I WOULD like to reply to David Hollister’s argument in the Purbeck Gazette about a

new Lidl store in Sandford.

Having lived in this most beautiful part of the country for the last 25 years, the one thing we are most desperate for is affordable housing for our young people.

If this field is of no use to the landowner, could they not sell it to a housebuilder with the intention of building affordable homes.

We are short of at least one million units of accommodation in this country.

Building yet another supermarket, with the low wages they offer, will not help solve this problem.

Schools are close by and I also hope it would stop families having to move from an area that they must love.

Roger Sandford Via email

26

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Home & Garden

purbeckgazette.co.uk

Topiary can bring humour to a winter garden

By Sally Gregson IN a cultivated plot winter can seem a little anarchic with its wind-beaten plants waiting for the gardener to tidy them and set the garden to rights. An upright, well-manicured shrub that clearly bears evidence of clippers and secateurs becomes the centre of attention, a contrast to winter’s wild heart.

Only one or two evergreen plants can take tight pruning.

Yew – Taxus baccata – is perhaps the most suitable and the best. It can take hard pruning in the autumn that will create a tight shape throughout the winter. It re-grows from the bare wood, unlike most conifers, and its root system is not too competitive for the surrounding plants. It prefers reasonably well-drained soils and puts up with shade or full

sun.

The fairly slow growth of yews can be seen as a good quality when it comes to maintenance. It only needs cutting once a year, unlike most other alternatives, with the possible exception of box – Buxus sempervirens. But, alas, box now has to withstand the depredations of Box Blight and Box Tree Caterpillar, both of which are devastating.

A good alternative to box is a form of evergreen euonymus, E. ‘Jean Hughes’. This variety is short, upright and thrives in shade or sun. It’s not quite as vigorous as box but if fed and watered during any summer dry spells for its first few years it will put on a sensible amount of growth. The plants may not be as cheap as box, but are easy to propagate from cuttings.

Topiary can be fun but it isn’t a low maintenance option

To see the ‘grain in the sand’, the shape in the bush, is a useful skill. But there are wire-mesh forms to help with the initial cuts for those with less vision – and it does take vision.

And there are quicker alternatives, such as evergreen Lonicera nitida, but faster growers will need cutting and trimming several times a year if they are to be successful. The Japanese holly, Ilex crenata, is often recommended. But that is more expensive, and can be trickier to grow. It particularly dislikes heavy, wet soils.

Topiary may not be a low-maintenance option for a garden, but it does bring structure and often a sense of humour to a winter garden.

Oriental hellebores choose winter to shine

By Sally Gregson IT’S at this time of year when the garden is seemingly at rest that some winter flowers are really getting going. Oriental hellebores, in particular, choose the winter to shine. Over the years plant breeders have been selecting increasingly distinct, and very beautiful, coloured flowers.

Twenty years ago gardeners and growers were excited by different shades of palest yellow and black. Now we can select from strong golden-yellow forms with bright red-orange central stars or those whose nectaries – the true petals in the centre of a flower – are the colour of egg yolks. There are those be-spattered with deep red spots that stain the centre of primrose-yellow flowers. And black-flowered forms that are made even more desirable by a

subtle blue cast to the petals.

Double flowers abound.

Many have deeply muddled ‘petals’ in delicious shades of apricot and pink. Others with blackberry-red pom-poms or sprinkled with raspberry spots.

And those with double white petals splashed with cherry-red.

They are all great attention seekers.

The truly double flowers have convoluted nectaries amid single outer ‘petals’. The complicated structure of the flower is all the better to be admired and enjoyed when a finger is placed beneath its ‘chin’ and its ‘face’ is lifted up.

What a delight greets the gardener. And at this time of year, every flower is worth a second look.

Oriental hellebores need very little maintenance once they have been planted in deep, rich

Plant breeders have selected increasingly distinct coloured flowers

soil in the shade. At the turn of the year, it is worth cutting off the old, over-wintered leaves to prevent the transference of black-spot and other fungal diseases from the old leaves to the new. This treatment makes the flower stems slightly shorter and thus prevents any wind damage in exposed positions.

But in my experience, it also

thwarts those naughty little mice who hide beneath the old leaves, and the moment you have turned your back they nip off the flower-heads and leave them lying about. The mental vision of mice tossing the flowers to their loved ones brings a smile to the face. It’s almost worth the damage to the decapitated flowers.

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

27

Advertising Feature

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c.f.m.�inch@btinternet.com

28

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

WEDDINGS

Blooms of Love

We are so lucky to have so many lovely venues to get married locally, from our beautiful churches to an informal service at the Town Hall or even on the Pier. I have decorated beautiful houses, village halls and hotels for the wedding receptions all around the stunning Isle of Purbeck. Every wedding is unique, my team and I take care to give the happy couple the look and vibe they are looking to create for their perfect day. From a Boho, or beach style wedding, or maybe a natural country look to even a steam punk wedding!

We will sit down and listen to all the ideas, and together we choose the flowers and designs for the perfect wedding day.

For more details, contact Caroline on 07966462974�

Timeless Wedding Rings Continue the love story with an antique or vintage wedding ring. You will be choosing a very special piece of forever jewellery that will be unique in design and style, using workmanship that is not found in contemporary bands.

A pre-loved ring can be considerably cheaper than a new ring and, if care of the environment is important to you, it is a green choice as it is already made and uses no new materials. Antique is considered to be anything over 100 years old so your ring will already have been on a wonderful journey. Most of all, it is incredibly romantic to add your own story to the life of a precious piece of jewellery that has already experienced so much love. Come and visit us at our shop in Wareham where we can help you choose the perfect ring to suit your style and taste.

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

29

WEDDINGS

Crafting the Perfect Wedding As couples embark on the journey of a lifetime, each element of the wedding becomes a brushstroke, painting the canvas of their special day. From the choice of venue to the intricate details of attire, every decision contributes to the creation of unforgettable memories.

The Venue Selecting the perfect venue sets the stage for the entire celebration. Whether it's a romantic beachside affair, a rustic countryside charm, or a luxurious ballroom extravaganza, the venue becomes the backdrop that frames the couple's love story.

Attire The attire transforms the bride and groom into the protagonists of their fairy tale. From the stunning wedding gown that leaves guests breathless to the dapper suits that redefine sophistication, every stitch and detail speaks volumes about the couple's style and commitment.

Hair Hairstyles are not just a detail; they are an expression of personality. Intricate updos, flowing curls, or sleek, modern styles – each coiffure reflects the bride's unique charm and complements the overall theme of the celebration.

A Fairytale Castle, Your Dream Wedding Venue Built to entertain royalty, this stunning 17th century castle is set at the heart of the family-owned Lulworth Estate in extensive rolling parkland, with sea views, a beautiful church and a private chapel in the grounds.

It offers a breathtakingly beautiful backdrop for your wedding in a truly iconic setting on the Jurassic Coast. Available for exclusive hire, the magical Lulworth Castle is a blank and flexible canvas waiting for you to create your perfect day. Choose a civil ceremony in the castle, or take your vows in its ancient church or historic private chapel. Then eat, drink and celebrate the happiest day of your life in this magical and timeless place. We want you to make the most of the estate and its stunning location and we have a collection of beautiful cottages available to hire for the weekend of your wedding.

For more details please visit our website www.lulworth.com or drop us a call on 01929 400352.

30

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

WEDDINGS Rings Exchanging rings is a timeless tradition, and the chosen bands become enduring symbols of the couple's commitment.

Whether it's classic simplicity or intricate designs, the rings encapsulate the essence of their everlasting love.

Photography Photography is the art of freezing time. A skilled photographer captures candid moments, creating a visual narrative that will be cherished for generations.

Flowers The choice of flowers can transform a venue into a fragrant garden of love. From bouquets to centrepieces, each floral arrangement is a brushstroke of colour, adding romance and grace to the atmosphere.

Honeymoon As the celebration concludes, the honeymoon marks the beginning of a new chapter. Whether it's a tropical paradise, a cultural exploration, or an adrenaline-filled adventure, the honeymoon is the couple's private retreat, a chance to savour the bliss of newlywed life.

In the grand tapestry of a wedding, each element weaves together to create a celebration that is uniquely the couple's own. It's not just an event; it's a testament to the enduring power of love, a promise to cherish and celebrate the symphony that is their life together.

Menu/Cake The menu is a culinary journey, and the wedding cake is the sweet centrepiece. From exquisite canapés to a cake that reflects the couple's tastes, the dining experience is an essential part of the celebration.

Theme Choosing a theme adds a personal touch to the celebration.

Whether it's a vintage affair, a rustic retreat, or a modern extravaganza, the theme weaves through every element, creating a cohesive and memorable experience.

Longthorns Farm

Wedding Showcase

LONGTHORNS FARM

Free entry to the Longthorns Farm wedding showcase on the 17th March.

Visit between

10am – 2pm.

Longthorns offers the perfect wedding venue, 3 ceremony locations, a fully dressed marquee with chivari chairs, tables and linen for 120 guests.

Camping & Glamping including our new TipeeCo's with Kingsize beds, all in one location.

We seek to provide you with a calming atmosphere and tranquil event.

Our doors are wide open to everybody; please contact us and perhaps say hello to our Alpacas.

01929 401539 enquiries@longthornsfarm.co.uk www.longthornsfarm.co.uk/weddingpackages

Countryside vows at Longthorn Farm Longthorns Farm is an award winning fully licensed wedding venue in the heart of the Isle of Purbeck. The Farm is available for exclusive weekend hire of the 50-acer site with EHU-camping for up to 200 guests and glamping for up to 40 guests. Onsite there is a fully staffed barn bar, stunning marquee including all furniture that seats up to 120-day guests and up to 400 guests for the evening. Amble parking, shower and toilet facilities and friendly alpacas! We can provide a wedding co-ordinator to help run your special day from start to finish. There are giant garden games, a bridal party area with ‘chill out tent’ and ‘get ready tent’.

Wedding in the woods (Licensed). You can get married in our beautiful woodland walk over our picturesque stream to our woodland ceremony space. We can even provide hog roasts, morning breakfast packages, drinks packages, PA system, table linen, water station, tea and coffee station, sweet shop station, smoors and more.

Prices from £6900 for weekend hire. (No weddings Easter holiday and Summer holidays).

For more details please call 01929 401539

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

31

WEDDINGS

Decadent Delights

Introducing AT Cake Artistry, Purbecks only cake designer who predominately focuses on wedding cake artistry.

Angela takes pride in crafting exquisite wedding cakes that cater to diverse tastes and dietary needs, traditional cake recipes with allergen friendly options in both gluten-free, dairy free and vegan options. AT Cake Artistry believes that every couple deserves a personalised masterpiece that not only symbolises their love but also aligns with their lifestyle choices and the needs of their guests. Established in 2017 Angela is well known to the variety of venues in the beautiful Purbeck and surrounding areas and loves to create cakes using buttercream or fondant, decorated with sugar, wafer paper or fresh flowers to create an elegant masterpiece that will wow your guests!

Elevate your wedding experience with a slice of perfection from AT Cake Artistry, where taste knows no bounds, and every bite is a celebration of love and inclusivity.

AT Cake Artistry Exquisite, luxury bespoke wedding cakes for those Ή¿á͏Č ā͠ÁČ ͏ª`Ø͒`Ē͒Á}͏¯`·á͠ČĒ͏`Ø ͏ ĒÁµØú Each wedding is unique to the couples taste `Ø ͏Ē͒΋Ì ͏͒¿ÁĒ͏Ē¿á͠Ì ͏`ÌĒá͏s ͏Č ¯ }͒ ͏ in your wedding cake.

Angela offers a free 20 minute zoom for initial consultation and/or a full consultation face to face in her studio, with Ē`ÔôÌ Ē͏͒`Ē͒Áص͏ªáČ͏͐¬¬͏ö͋ΓĚÛΓÔÁØĒ÷ú Yá͠͏}`Ø͏s ͏}áØ« Ø͒͏ÁØ͏͒¿ ͏ËØáΉÌ µ ͏͒¿`͒͏ ص Ì`͏ΉÁÌÌ͏}Č `͒ ͏ your dream wedding cake, which will suit the needs of all your µ͠ Ē͒Ē͏`Ø ͏ΉáΉ͏͒¿ Ô͏áØ͏΋á͠Č͏Ēô }Á`Ì͏ `΋ú

Elegant and creative wedding cake artistry.

07890584142

atcakeartistry@icloud.com

Everlasting Elegance @dorsetdriedflowers

ᝲហន ឧឝឣ រឝឝយភវផ បឝហ ឡឝលនអពភវផ ត រភអអរន ធភᤋនហនវអ បឝហ ឧឝឣហ ឥនធធភវផ ᤎឝឥនហឡᣳᣳᝰ ᠃ᠮᠥᠡᠠ ᦕᠫᠳᠡᠮᠯ ᠬᠮᠫᠲᠥᠠᠡ ᠝ ᠞ᠡ᠝ᠱᠰᠥᠢᠱᠨ ᠝ᠪᠠ ᠱᠪᠥᠭᠱᠡ ᠞᠝᠟ᠧᠠᠮᠫᠬ ᠢᠫᠮ ᠵᠫᠱᠮ ᠳᠡᠠᠠᠥᠪᠣ ᠳᠤᠥ᠟ᠤ ᠳᠥᠨᠨ ᠟ᠮᠡ᠝ᠰᠡ ᠨ᠝ᠯᠰᠥᠪᠣ ᠩᠡᠩᠫᠮᠥᠡᠯ ᠢᠫᠮ ᠵᠫᠱᠮᠯᠡᠨᠲᠡᠯ ᠝ᠪᠠ ᠵᠫᠱᠮ ᠨᠫᠲᠡᠠ ᠫᠪᠡᠯᦵ

᠀ᠯ ᠳᠡᠨᠨ ᠝ᠯ ᠣᠥᠲᠥᠪᠣ ᠵᠫᠱᠮ ᠞ᠥᠣ ᠠ᠝ᠵ ᠯᠫᠩᠡ ៪ᠯᠰ᠝ᠪᠠ៮ᠫᠱᠰ ᠯᠰᠵᠨᠡ៪៭ ᠠᠮᠥᠡᠠ ᦕᠫᠳᠡᠮᠯ ᠝ᠮᠡ ᠝ᠨᠯᠫ ᠝ ᠩᠫᠮᠡ ᠬᠨ᠝ᠪᠡᠰ ᠢᠮᠥᠡᠪᠠᠨᠵ ᠫᠬᠰᠥᠫᠪ ᠝ᠪᠠ ᠳᠥᠨᠨ ᠨᠡ᠝ᠲᠡ ᠵᠫᠱ ᠳᠥᠰᠤ ᠥᠰᠡᠩᠯ ᠰᠫ ᠟ᠤᠡᠮᠥᠯᠤ ᠢᠫᠮ ᠵᠡ᠝ᠮᠯ ᠰᠫ ᠟ᠫᠩᠡᦵ ᠀ᠰ ᠃ᠫᠮᠯᠡᠰ ᠃ᠮᠥᠡᠠ ᠅ᠨᠫᠳᠡᠮᠯ ᠳᠡ ᠟ᠮᠡ᠝ᠰᠡ ᠞ᠡᠯᠬᠫᠧᠡ ᠠᠮᠥᠡᠠ ᦕᠫᠳᠡᠮ ᠳᠡᠠᠠᠥᠪᠣ ᠞ᠫᠱᠭᠱᠡᠰᠯ៭ ᠟ᠤ᠝ᠪᠠᠡᠨᠥᠡᠮᠯ៭ ᠬᠡᠳ ᠡᠪᠠ ᠝ᠮᠮ᠝ᠪᠣᠡᠩᠡᠪᠰᠯ៭ ᠝ᠮ᠟ᠤᠳ᠝ᠵᠯ៭ ᠰ᠝᠞ᠨᠡ ᠟ᠡᠪᠰᠮᠡᠬᠥᠡ᠟ᠡᠯ៭ ᠰ᠝᠞ᠨᠡ ᠮᠱᠪᠪᠡᠮᠯ៭ ᠞ᠱᠰᠰᠫᠪᠤᠫᠨᠡᠯ៭ ᠤ᠝ᠥᠮ ᠟ᠮᠫᠳᠪᠯ ᠝ᠪᠠ ᠯᠨᠥᠠᠡᠯᦵ ᠖ᠡ ᠝ᠨᠯᠫ ᠫᦒᠡᠮ ᠝ ᠪᠫᠪ ᠞ᠡᠯᠬᠫᠧᠡ ᠮᠡᠪᠰ᠝ᠨ ᠫᠬᠰᠥᠫᠪ ᠫᠪ ᠰᠤᠡ ᠟ᠤ᠝ᠪᠠᠡᠨᠥᠡᠮᠯ ᠝ᠪᠠ ᠝ᠮ᠟ᠤᠳ᠝ᠵᠯ ᠳᠥᠰᠤ ៳ ᠟ᠫᠨᠫᠱᠮᠳ᠝ᠵᠯ ᠰᠫ ᠟ᠤᠫᠫᠯᠡ ᠢᠮᠫᠩᦵ

ធឝហឡនអធហភនធᤎឝឥនហឡᣳទឝᣳឣយ 07590 375 202

Studio 24, Sandy Hill Studios, Sandy Hill Lane, Corfe Castle, Dorset, BH20 5JF ᝾ឝវ ᣔ ᝷ហភᝫ ᝩតល ᣔ ᝦឞល ᣹ ងតអ ᣔ ងឣវᝫ ᝴រឝឡនធ

Dorset Dried Flowers is based in Corfe Castle and owned by Catherine Ramm. Catherine is a dried flower stylist and creates everything floral for your wedding - all from dried flowers. Dried flowers are a great choice for wedding flowers. The choice of colours is huge and many couples are loving the fact that dried flowers are a sustainable option needing no water source to keep them in condition. Catherine also uses no floral foam in her work.

Her work has been used in many fantastic locations around Dorset and beyond. In a latest review a new married couple say 'We used Catherine for our wedding flowers in October 2023 and she was a pleasure to work with, she listened to what we wanted and she absolutely smashed it. We honestly can't recommend Catherine enough, she's amazing at what she does.'

Catherine loves creating everything for the wedding but her passion is the large scale archways and chandeliers.

If you would like to chat to her about how she can help you create a visionary feast for your wedding then head over to www.dorsetdried flowers.co.uk or contact her on 07590375202.

32

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Health & Wellbeing

purbeckgazette.co.uk

By Susanna Curtin THE first snowdrops are in bloom, and the days are beginning to lengthen as the sun’s arc gently rises in the sky. I should be feeling happy striding along this tree-lined path but, sadly, my joy of being out in this clear January air is blighted by the amount of rubbish in the verges made visible by winter’s lack of vegetation.

It seems that wherever us humans venture, we leave a disgusting trail of debris. There is discarded waste along our highways, in our waterways, on the beaches, in the oceans, on mountain tops, on farmland and in woodlands – practically everywhere I walk I encounter it.

Our society produces so much waste we can no longer manage its disposal. There is neither the human will nor the infrastructure, and plastics particularly are ubiquitous.

From their production to their disposal, plastics damage human, animal and plant health, and cause immense amounts of waste in our ecosystems.

Every time someone drops a piece of plastic they are introducing highly toxic chemicals into the soils, then into our waterways and then into the ocean. Radiation from sunlight breaks this plastic down into microplastics, which then enter into plants, water, birds, fish and animals, some of which we ourselves consume.

In 2022, in the Netherlands, scientists detected microplastic pollution in 80% of human blood samples for the first time

organisations and then compared to previous data collected over the last 50 years.

Analysts can then map the changes in abundance and distribution of species.

Sadly, it is a story of decline which concludes that the UK is now one of the most naturedepleted countries on Earth.

Does this matter? I think so.

Wild bird populations are a particularly useful barometer.

Data presented by the RSPB for 2023 is equally discouraging – starlings down 82% since 1979, chaffinches reduced by 69%, the song thrush, one of our greatest songbirds, down 80%, and robins, traditionally a stronghold, reduced by 24%.

All told, they claim that we have lost 38 million birds from our skies in the last 60 years.

As a lifelong nature lover, I do not need data to tell me this.

Growing up I would see large flocks of lapwing, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, bullfinch, linnets, starlings and corn buntings on our farmlands. They were in abundance, but now when I venture out, I don’t expect to see anything. I do see birds, because I know where to look, but I still have to look closely to find them. Flocks are few and far between and the numbers in them only a fraction of what they once were. And I feel this loss, not just for me but for my first tiny granddaughter. What planet will she and her children inherit?

Turning for home, I try and raise some optimism. I truly believe that nature can recover but it needs our help to do so.

Governments, politicians, industry, non-governmental organisations and each and every one of us may have to rethink the way we live and behave. A healthy environment is so important to our wellbeing, we simply cannot thrive without it. n Dr Susie Curtin (email curtin.susanna@gmail.com).

Meditations in nature: Counting the cost of what we have lost

The first snowdrops are in bloom and the days are getting longer

– their toxicity capable of damaging human cells. When will we as a species recognise that we are part of this ecosystem and whatever we do to the environment, we are ultimately doing to ourselves.

As I walk along this well-used and loved track, I find it hard to understand how anyone can just casually discard their rubbish, leaving it all to rot in an environment that we know is already at tipping point. Is it that they do not care, have they lost all

hope, or are they just not interested or invested in nature and the wildlife that lives here, too? What is happening? I would dearly love to know.

Most people I encounter here in this Dorset town seem to like the beauty of our countryside, yet few understand just how depleted it is.

Yesterday, I read the UK State of Nature report for 2023, and it is sobering reading. This annual report is based on biodiversity data collected each year by leading conservation

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Then email ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Health & Wellbeing

purbeckgazette.co.uk

This Year, LiveWell Start your journey to a healthier you Make this your year, the year of a healthier you. Better health is in your hands – only you can make the changes that will change your life: losing weight, quitting smoking, becoming more active or drinking less alcohol. But did you know LiveWell Dorset can help? Make the most of this amazing

33

free service available to every Dorset adult.

Registering takes a couple of minutes and is the first step to becoming the healthiest version of you.

Having support to stay on track with your resolutions can make all the difference.

As weight loss client Fern found: “I began my

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coaching sessions in the New Year. Coming off the first call with my coach, Susan, I felt impassioned and motivated. I did not want to be a January statistic, one of those people who lost lots of weight in the New Year but then piled it back on, but the way Susan approached it, it seemed sustainable.”

Coaching is one of the most popular choices and involves six sessions with a behaviour change specialist to help you ditch old habits and form healthy new ones.

Alongside coaching there are kick-start weight loss programmes: free vouchers for local slimming groups or an app, stop smoking quit kits: nicotine replacement, and vape kits.

Once you sign up with LiveWell, an advisor will be in touch to talk to you about what you want to achieve and create an action plan to get you started.

34

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Health & Wellbeing

purbeckgazette.co.uk

Echinacea is easy to buy in most health food shops and can help with a cold

Bitter-tasting mix can stop a cold in its tracks

By Fiona Chapman LOTS of nasty colds were knocking around at Christmas and over new year. Everyone I have spoken to seems to have suffered. It is so horrible having a bad cold as you are expected to go on but can feel dreadful, as well as sad and depressed, wondering if you will ever feel

New clinic in Swanage

happy and well again.

Of course, low mood is not helped by the incessant rain we have been having.

My mother is suffering. I had to remind her to take my cold mix, which, she says, is brilliant for stopping a cold in its tracks or, if it has got hold of you, mitigating it and recovering

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much quicker. All my family are made to drink it as soon as they start to sniffle. n Echinacea purpura is the main ingredient, which is excellent at stimulating phagocytosis – the ingestion of foreign particles like bacteria, fungus or viruses. It increases white blood production, which will help to fight the infection. n Astragalus membranaceous is brilliant for immunity as it increases production of killer cells and antibodies, all

extremely important for fighting off colds. n Thymus vulgaris – thyme – is antimicrobial and extremely good for the respiratory system, with the volatile oils being strongly antiseptic, which helps to stop infections getting past the mouth. n Inula helenium – the Elecampane – another herb that is antimicrobial and particularly good for the lungs. n Glycyrrhiza glabra – liquorice – is soothing to the respiratory tract. It also takes the herbs where they need to go and harmonises their effect.

Last, but not least, is an extremely bitter herb, Andrographis paniculate, which is a very powerful immune herb and good in acute infections.

It is not a particularly pleasant-tasting mix – there is lots of complaining – with the Echinacea making the tongue fizz and the bitter Andrographis, but take 5ml every two hours in water and it can really help.

It is always better to stop, if you can, and have a hot bath, drink mint, elderflower and yarrow tea, go to bed and sweat the whole thing out. Drink lots of filtered water at room temperature and try not to eat too much, so the body can concentrate on fighting the cold and infection rather than digesting food.

If all these herbs are not easy to come by, just take Echinacea, 5ml every two hours – it is easy to buy in most health food shops. n Fiona Chapman is a naturopathic herbalist, email Pellyfiona@gmail.com.

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Health & Wellbeing

purbeckgazette.co.uk

example, let’s imagine someone wants us to take on an additional role, something voluntary for a local charity. In theory it’s a good idea and in theory you could fit it in but, but – it doesn’t sit right with you somehow, at this moment.

As I write I am reminded of how I help people struggling with imposter syndrome. One of the key things we look at is the whole picture versus the iceberg. No-one sees the whole picture of us except perhaps ourselves.

So when we think other people are better prepared, more deserving, more capable, we must remind ourselves we do not know their whole story

and we don’t really know how they feel when they look at us.

It’s the same with resisting the influence or encouragement of others to ‘get involved’ or ‘take on a new challenge’ when it doesn’t feel right. Only we know truly why it doesn’t feel right or why we want to say no.

I think this is particularly the case for women. Women find it difficult to turn things down, to say ‘no thanks, not for me at the moment’. Women also find it really hard to prioritise their needs or wants above their family’s.

Years of running family life around the children or, in many cases, fitting in around the needs of the main bread winner, makes putting themselves first feel awkward, selfish and wrong. If this sounds like something you go through, try asking yourself what example you set by not occasionally prioritising yourself.

So, as we step into 2024, maybe the thought I’m offering is if we are honest with ourselves and true to what we feel is right for ourselves now, if we are acting with kindness and genuine ambition, we should stick to our guns and resist the distraction and encouragement of others when it does not feel right. n Alice Johnsen is a life coach (07961 080513; alicejohnsen. co.uk).

are working closely with them to support all the residents and their families to find new places to live and to ensure that people are able to move quickly and safely.”

A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: “Dorset Council is aware of the situation and will work closely with Hantona Ltd to support the company, residents and families through this process.”

The Old Rectory, in Langton Matravers High Street, is listed online as a “well-established and family-run home”.

“The Old Rectory caters for those over 60 years of age and for those with health conditions including dementia and palliative care,” it added.

“People choose The Old Rectory as they can stay at our care home until the end of their days, without the need to move to an alternative home, as we meet all the care needs of our residents.”

Delph House is registered for 39 residents, offering care for those with a range of conditions, including dementia and Parkinson’s Disease.

Women find it difficult to turn things down, to say ‘no thanks, not for me at the moment’, says Alice Johnsen

PHOTO: Adobe Stock

Why it’s right to sometimes say ‘no’

By Alice Johnsen A CONVERSATION with a friend over the Christmas holidays got me thinking about the gap between what others want us to do and what we want to do with our lives and how that difference can create a difficulty in a professional or personal relationship.

35

That difficulty can cause other difficult feelings to ripple out. To feed guilt or knock down our confidence. To make us question how we are living our lives. Should we be doing the ‘thing’ our loved one, friend or colleague wants us to do?

Why do we not want to do it?

For the sake of clarity and

Care homes to close as company stops trading

TWO Dorset care homes are closing – as the company that runs them announced it is to cease trading.

Hantona Ltd – which runs The Old Rectory Care Home in Langton Matravers and Delph House in Broadstone – cited “financial difficulties and circumstantial factors” for the decision.

The homes are registered to care for more than 70 residents in total, who will now need to find alternative accommodation.

Company director, Jacqueline L Haigh, said: “We have taken

Delph House in Broadstone

PHOTO: Google Maps

the difficult decision, at this time, in order to protect all the residents of the homes, their families and all that work at the homes.

“The local authorities are aware of the situation, and we

36

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Business

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Airport eyes one million passengers By dorsetbiznews.co.uk BOURNEMOUTH Airport is expected to handle more than one million passengers this year for the first time since 2008.

Owner Regional and City Airports is also investing upwards of £5 million in new facilities, equipment, staff and training.

The forecast comes as Ryanair confirms plans to start twice-weekly flights to the beach destination of Agadir in Morocco from April 2025, after adding a second aircraft at Bournemouth last summer.

Tour operator TUI will soon follow suit with a second craft of its own. With that it will offer an extra 60,000 seats – up 33% on 2023 – with increased frequency also planned on many of its routes.

Steve Gill, managing director of Bournemouth Airport, said: “We’ve embarked on a major investment programme to cater for the anticipated growth in passenger numbers.

Bournemouth Airport managing director, Steve Gill, says the airport is investing £5 million in new facilities, equipment, staff and training

“Before the pandemic we saw 800,000 passengers.

Having exceeded that this year, we are confident of seeing more than one million in 2024.

“That’s a tremendous achievement and reflects the great range of destinations available from Bournemouth Airport and our commitment to providing the best possible experience for passengers.

“While our investment programme continues, we thank passengers for their patience and aim to complete the majority of work during the quieter winter months.”

That includes an upgraded security search area with new scanning equipment to relax the restriction on liquids and the need for passengers to take electronics out of bags.

New owners for seaside hotel

BY editor@dorsetbiznews.co.uk THE Royal Hotel in Weymouth has been sold to Leisureplex Hotel Group on behalf of Coast & Country Collection.

Christie & Co oversaw the transfer of the 19th century Victorian building, which has 71 bedrooms and lies on the town’s Georgian curved bay.

It becomes the 24th property in the Leisureplex Collection.

Emma Russell, managing director of Alfa Leisureplex Group, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be welcoming the Royal Hotel to the Leisureplex Hotel Group and we’re looking forward to welcoming general manager Denise and her team to our employee-owned family.

“Our customers have been requesting that we offer a Leisureplex hotel in Weymouth for a number of years, so it’s great that we can finally fulfil this wish with the purchase of one of the finest hotels in Weymouth.

“This purchase follows the acquisition of the Norfolk Royale Hotel in Bournemouth and the Waverley Castle Hotel in Melrose, as we continue to expand our range of destinations across the UK.”

The Royal Hotel, Weymouth has become the 24th property in the Leisureplex Collection

GOT A STORY? Then email ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Business

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New president at chamber’s helm in landmark year By dorsetbiznews.co.uk A NEW president has taken the helm as Dorset Chamber looks ahead to its 75th anniversary year.

Tony Brown, managing director of Ferndown-based Y-not Finance, received the chain of office at the chamber’s annual meeting.

He succeeded outgoing president Caron Khan and will be supported in his role by new vice-president Gareth Sherwood, chief executive of Bournemouth YMCA. About 100 members attended the annual meeting and heard of a successful year despite the challenging business environment.

Chief executive Ian Girling said the chamber’s achievements over the previous 12 months included the first Business Festival of its kind.

Dorset Chamber was also named as one of the top five chambers of commerce in the UK during 2023.

It is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

Ian, who has just marked his first decade as the chamber’s chief executive, said: “It has been another successful year.

“Our highlight of 2023 was the Dorset Business Festival, a

four-day celebration that included a networking launch, a major conference and expo, and the return of the Dorset Business Awards.

“With a footfall of over 800 businesses, this was the largest and most ambitious project ever undertaken by Dorset Chamber.

“A huge thank you goes to our amazing team and to all of our festival partners.

“You can expect to see the festival return in October 2024 over a two-week period.

“It’s been extremely challenging for businesses over the last four years with unforeseen global challenges.

“We will continue to do our absolute best for our business community.”

Dorset Chamber is to refresh its face-to face events in 2024 and introduce new services to bring in more commercial income streams.

The chamber, which has more than 650 members, runs as a business on a not-for-profit basis and is not heavily subsidised through publicly funded support.

It has an 85% membership

New Dorset Chamber of Commerce president Tony Brown

retention rate.

New president, Tony Brown, said: “Dorset Chamber has long been a beacon of collaboration, innovation and growth.

“As we navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, I am eager to build upon the strong

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foundation laid by my predecessors and work collectively with each and every one of you, to help move our chamber to even greater heights.”

The annual meeting also included board and ambassadorial appointments: n Matthew Fretten, of Frettens LLP, as honorary solicitor. n Lesley Fox, of Mazars, as honorary treasurer. n Helen Stacey, managing director of Aspire Jobs, as chair of the Dorset Chamber Ambassadors. She also joins the board of directors.

The annual meeting was hela at the Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel and £1,744 was raised from a raffle for Diverse Abilities.

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New Dorset Chamber president Tony Brown (fourth from right) and Chamber chief executive, Ian Girling (fifth left), with members of the Dorset Chamber Board at the organisation’s 2023 annual meeting

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38

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Motoring

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Electric cars £700 a year cheaper to run than petrol versions

DRIVING an electric car could save you around £700 a year, according to a new report.

The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) says drivers of the top 10-selling petrol cars of 2023 are paying hundreds more a year more to run their vehicles, compared to electric vehicle (EV) equivalents.

Further analysis of the top 10 selling EVs of 2023 showed drivers paid almost £1,300 a year less to run their vehicles than drivers of the equivalent petrol cars, the report added.

In total, more than 300,000 EVs were bought in the UK last year – with the number set to rise again in 2024.

And the ECIU’s data highlighted “over the course of their lifetimes, these EVs will

generate a total of £5.6bn in savings for their owners, compared to their petrol equivalents”.

In comparison, petrol cars sold in 2023 will cost their owners an extra £7.6bn.

Colin Walker, transport analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said: “With drivers being hit by a £700 petrol premium, a switch to an EV will see a quick return on the investment made.

“Electric car sticker prices are falling, with analysts at Goldman Sachs expecting price parity to be reached by the middle of the decade.

“However, since less than 20% of car sales in the UK are for new vehicles, it’s the growth of the second-hand EV market that is critical if more families

Electric vehicles can be less expensive to keep on the road, as well as being better for the environment

are to be able to access the cheaper driving than comes from EV ownership.

“With the ZEV mandate coming in to force next year, more new EVs will be sold which, in turn, will result in more EVs making their way on to the second-hand market in the years to come.”

Rod Dennis, from the RAC, said: “For many drivers, the idea of considering the total cost of running a car throughout its

life, rather than just thinking about the up front cost, might seem like a strange concept, especially for the majority of people who acquire used rather than new cars.

“But as this study shows, when you do the sums, electric vehicles can be so much cheaper to keep on the road, and, of course, there’s also the huge environmental benefits of driving a car that has no tailpipe emissions.”

Hendy makes key appointment By editor@dorsetbiznews. co.uk SOUTH coast automotive group Hendy has appointed Kevin Souster as head of service.

He joins the senior leadership team after working at the Renault Group for the last 16 years where he held roles in sales and aftersales, most recently as its head of network, aftersales.

His entire career has been in motoring having started as an apprentice technician, spending time working as a technical training consultant for both the Volkswagen Group and Volvo before joining Renault.

Kevin Souster has been appointed head of service

In his new role, Kevin will be working closely with Pete Walker, director service and

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body shop, on implementing the group’s service strategy.

Pete said: “Kevin has an incredible breadth of experience working in aftersales, and, having known Kevin for a number of years in his time at Renault, we knew that he was the right

person to join us in this role.

“Kevin will be working across the group, with the divisional performance manager and the senior leadership team, as Hendy continues to expand.”

As head of service, Kevin will be focusing on the commercial results of the division together with the customer experience.

He said: “These are totally interlinked, and I’ll be working with the teams for the long-term benefit of both our customers and the business.

“I’ve known the team at Hendy for some time and this was such a good opportunity for me to take on a new challenge and work with some incredible people.”

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Antiques & Collectibles

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Gorgeous garnet

By Amy Brenan, director of Heirlooms Jewellers, 21 South Street, Wareham GARNET is the birthstone for January but less is known about this vibrant gemstone than the more famous diamond, sapphire and emerald.

It is frequently confused with the more rare and expensive ruby, mainly because of the rich red hue, but the garnet has less inclusions – the little flaws created when the stone is forming – and has a more intense colour.

Red garnets are more common yet clear, peach, purple, green and even black examples can be found.

It is considered to represent love, passion and loyalty, balances energy and strengthens courage.

Traces of garnet have been found in Bronze Age jewellery and the Egyptians also favoured this vibrant gemstone in jewellery as a symbol of life.

The word garnet comes from the Latin ‘granatium’ which

means pomegranate – you can see why!

It is a relatively hard gemstone which lends itself well to jewellery design and everyday wear.

The Romans wore the garnet in jewellery as a display of status and wealth.

In the 19th century the use of garnet in jewellery became more popular and relatively affordable influenced by the Renaissance and being fashioned into pendants and earrings.

While the garnet features in new jewellery and is experiencing a bit of a comeback, it fell out of popularity after the 1920s and I always get really excited when I see some absolutely exquisite examples of rings, earrings and pendants dating from the turn of the 20th century when I am valuing jewellery collections.

If you’re looking for a good antique investment at a more affordable price than ruby, then give the garnet your consideration.

Garnet is considered to represent love, passion and loyalty

39

A collection of more than 100 pristine salmon flies

by William Humble Ward will be coming to auction on Thursday, February 15, in Dorchester

William Humble Ward.

Salmon flies by The 100-plus flies are estimated to sell for £5,000could sell £10,000 and are contained in original tin, which displays for £10,000 their the crest of the Earl of Dudley.

DUKE’S in Dorchester is making another expedition into the natural world with its Sporting and Natural History sale on Thursday, February 15.

Once again, the auction house will be transformed into an emporium of curiosities showcasing a collection of vintage firearms, rare fishing paraphernalia, taxidermy, sporting attire and a variety of wonders from the animal kingdom.

A vintage fishing tackle collection includes a rare and important salmon fly collection

Purbeck

2023’s Sporting and Natural History auctions were a resounding success, with over 80% of lots sold.

A large collection of carved wooden salmon fetched a high price at auction, a Fochaber Studio hand-carved wooden salmon making £6,875, inclusive of buyer’s premium.

Duke’s is inviting final entries for the upcoming auction. For confidential advice and a free appraisal, contact them on 01305 265080 or at enquiries@dukes-auctions.com to arrange an appointment.

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Call us 07714 289408

40

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Sport

10-man Swanage battle to away win

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FOOTBALL

Bournemouth Sports 2 Swans 5 SWANAGE Town & Herston produced a battling performance to defeat Bournemouth Sports at Chapel Gate in the Dorset Premier League.

Manager Jamie Smith made two changes from the previous week with Jake Streams and Sam Peacock replacing Dan Reeks – suspended – and Dec Keates – unavailable – with Ocean Smith returning to the bench.

Swans made a bright start and Brassington went close with a long-range shot before Swans deservedly went ahead on eight minutes when Sam Peacock cleverly held off his opponent and fed Jack Hughes to score from close range.

The hosts equalised through Jamie Trimble with a great header which left keeper Hibbs helpless.

Charlie Brassington put Swans ahead on 35 minutes,

Swans came away with a battling win despite Cohen Lee being sent off after 53 minutes

rifling home a free-kick from the edge of the box.

Peacock had a great opportunity after half-time but missed the target from close range following a free-kick, and Sports had a chance for the equaliser but were denied by the post.

Swans were dealt a blow when Cohen Lee was shown a contentious red card on 53 minutes.

Peacock increased his side’s lead with a close-range header

following a corner but two minutes later Sports reduced the arrears with a cross-come-shot from Jamie Trimble that deceived Swans keeper Hibbs.

Hibbs had to be at his best to deny the now determined hosts with two fine saves.

Swans were under pressure but increased their lead when substitute Ocean Smith capitalised on a mistake by Sports keeper Davies to roll the ball into an empty net.

Following a good pass from

Peacock, substitute Ocean Smith grabbed his second when he chipped the advancing keeper to complete an excellent away win for the gallant 10-man Swans.

The match made it only one defeat in 11 games for Jamie Smith’s men.

RUGBY

Swans 0.

After the restart, Swans had a couple of penalties, which took them into the host’s 22, but when North Dorset tried to kick clear, the ball came to fly-half Jamie Foskett who landed a drop goal from outside the 22 to put Swans on the scoreboard.

Swans had more of the play in the second half and on the hour mark a hack forward saw winger Olly Dillon chase the ball and touch down in the corner.

Soon after, a Swans player was yellow carded and from the

penalty North Dorset added more points.

The home team took advantage of the extra player and after 72 minutes powered over the line, before, with two minutes to go, the hosts had a three-quarters move to score a converted try.

Team: T Hibbs, C Lee, B Smith, Olly Smith, J Streams, E Steele (S Pryor 82), C Dyke (Ocean Smith 52), C Brassington, J Hughes, S Peacock (J Towers 79), C Moore. Subs: Ocean Smith, S Pryor, J Towers, G Taylor (not used). Star man: Charlie Brassington. Special mention: Olly Smith and Elliott Steele.

Swans find trip to local rivals a tough ask North Dorset 30 Swanage & Wareham 8

By Ron Butler IN their first game after the Christmas and new year break, Swanage and Wareham travelled to local rivals North Dorset and soon found out it was going to be difficult task.

The ball was kicked deep into Swans territory from the first minute and from the resulting line-out the hosts performed a catch/drive move to score a try in the corner, which was converted.

Swans gave away several

penalties as North Dorset dominated possession and after 15 minutes one was converted.

However, Swans tackled well and North Dorset could not penetrate further, but another penalty took the home team deep into Swans 22 and with another catch/drive after 30 minutes Swans conceded another try in the corner.

In the last ten minutes of the half Swans had more of the play but at the break the score stood at North Dorset 15

Swans: G Crouch, S Bowen, E Demescio, T Munns, O Dillon, J Foskett, O Peters, N Audley, C Foskett, Z Wyburgh, K Salina, M Seaton, J Blackmore, T Holland ,M Roberts, A Crouch, G Slack, G Climie.

n Other result: Swanage & Wareham 3rd XV 19 Dorchester 3rd XV 24.

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Arts & Entertainment

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Folk from the British Isles and beyond

The Full Monty is having a five-night run at Lighthouse Poole PHOTO: Ellie Kurttz

Magic of ‘Monty’ endures years on TWENTY-FIVE years after the landmark film, the stage version of The Full Monty is coming to Lighthouse in Poole this spring.

The story, set in Sheffield in the 1990s, is about six unemployed men who form a male striptease act to make some money and enable the main character to see his son.

The hit 1997 comedy film delivered a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs, laughs and heartbreak.

Now the play is having a five-night run at Lighthouse Poole as part of a national tour from Monday, March 11.

The production stars Danny Hatchard (Eastenders, Ridley Road, Our Girl,

Call goes out to budding children’s authors...

ENTRIES to a children’s literature competition are invited from Dorset residents.

Flash fiction, poetry and short stories relevant to the five to 12 year old age group can be submitted to The Paul Cave Prize for Children’s Literature,

41

Scrooge as Gaz, Jake Quickenden (Footloose, Hair, X Factor, Dancing on Ice) as Guy and Bill Ward (Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Gerald, with Neil Hurst (Fat Friends the Musical, All Creatures Great and Small, Coronation Street) as Dave, Ben Onwukwe (The Shawshank Redemption, Professor T, Marcella) as Horse and Nicholas Prasad (Around the World in 80 Days, The Comedy of Errors, Doctors) as Lomper.

Tickets and information are available at www. lighthousepoole.co.uk and on 01202 280000.

which is open until February 28.

Top prize is £75 and all winners will receive a copy of The Paul Cave Prize for Children’s Literature 2024.

“The children’s book market is incredibly difficult to get into and unless you’re a celebrity or established in this field, it’s nigh on impossible to get your work published,” said Tim Saunders, who will be judging the prize with his wife, Caroline and children Henry, seven; Heidi, 10; and Harriett, 12.

“So this is a great opportunity for budding children’s authors.”

COUNTER’S Creek, an acoustic folk band from London who play original music inspired by the folk music of the British Isles and beyond, play in Winfrith next month.

Expect foot-tapping jigs and reels, heart-wrenching songs and four-part harmonies, dance grooves from Eastern Europe and West Africa and a whole lot more.

The band features Ben Cox (voice/flute/whistles/

harmonium), Jonathan Taylor (flute/whistles), Tom Newell (violin/banjo) and Moss Freed (guitar).

Between them they have performed at most of the UK’s leading Folk and Jazz festivals, played with pop acts including Muse and One Direction, appeared on television shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and in stage shows on the West End and around the UK. Counter’s Creek, presented

by Dorset touring arts charity Artsreach, are at Winfrith village hall on Saturday, February 10. They are also at Wootton Fitzpaine village hall on Sunday, February 11.

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

Counter’s Creek are playing at Winfrith village hall

Rare chance Players to see singer present and pianist Robin Hood

ACCLAIMED countertenor Andreas Scholl and his wife pianist Tamar Halperin are set to perform together at St Mary’s Church, Dorchester, in one of only two UK tour dates announced for 2024.

Scholl will sing Purcell, Dowland, Handel and JS Bach, while his wife Halperin will both accompany him and play Bach’s solo piano works alongside her own music.

Their previous visit to Dorchester in 2020 was a sell-out and hearing Scholl’s voice in the extraordinary acoustic of St Mary’s Church made for an unforgettable evening of music.

The concert is on Monday, February 5 – for tickets visit www.dorchesterarts.org.uk.

PANTOMIME is coming to The Regent in Christchurch next weekend when the Highcliffe Charity Players present Robin Hood.

Our fearless hero will be taking on the notorious Sheriff of Nottingham but will he and his mischievous companions triumph over the Sheriff’s wicked schemes?

This one-act pantomime by Tom Whalley Pantomimes promises entertainment for the whole family with dazzling costumes, toe-tapping music and rib-tickling humour.

The show runs from Friday to Sunday, January 26-28, at 7.30pm and standard tickets are £16.50, concessions £15.50 – available from www.theregent. co.uk and on 02102 499199.

42

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Arts & Entertainment

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20 years of Hot Fingers

HOT Fingers, led by the inimitable ‘Spats’ Langham, are heading back to Dorset for a three-night tour, including a stop-off at Langton Matravers, as they celebrate their 20th anniversary.

Audiences can expect an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music, from the red hot jazz of 1920s New York and sophisticated 1930s Swing, to the king of gypsy swing Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Argentinean Oscar Aleman.

Hot Fingers frontman Tom

Hot Fingers fill jazz clubs, halls and theatres all over the country

‘Spats’ Langham has been entertaining since his teens on tenor banjo, guitar, ukulele and vocals, and has performed with

such notables as The Pasadena Roof Orchestra, The Temperance Seven and Acker Bilk.

Malcolm Sked, on tuba, sousaphone and double-bass, has toured the world with Bob Kerr’s Whoopee Band and The Charleston Chasers.

Together with vocalist Emily Campbell and multiinstrumentalist Danny Blyth on clarinets, guitar, mandolin and harmonica, Hot Fingers fill jazz clubs, halls and theatres up and down the country.

Hot Fingers, presented by Dorset touring arts charity Artsreach, are at the village halls in Langton Matravers on Thursday, January 25, Broadwindsor on Friday, January 26, and Briantspuddle on Saturday, January 27.

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

Auntie Beeb: The early years

COMEDIAN Paul Kerensa will be journeying back to the 1920s and the beginnings of the BBC for a show coming to Studland village hall and other halls around Dorset later this month.

Audiences can expect tales, clips and re-enactments of landmark moments, including the first BBC broadcast, the first children’s drama, sports commentary and more.

Audiences will meet the forgotten pioneers – the teacher who became the BBC’s first children’s presenter, the author who was the first sports reporter, the flying ace who became a much-loved radio ‘uncle’ – until he talked over the opera to narrate it, and received death threats!

Karensa has researched, written and

performed the show, which is based on the podcast the British Broadcasting Century.

Karensa is a British Comedy Awardwinning writer – Miranda, Not Going Out

Rock ’n’ roll with the guitar heroes HITS from musical legends feature in The Story of Guitar Heroes coming to the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne.

The show stars world class musicians and includes state-of-the art video projection as it journeys through five decades from rock ’n’ roll in the 1950s through to modern musicians.

It features hits from legends such as Hank Marvin, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Brian May, Jimmmy Page, Mark Knopfler, Van Halen, Slash and more.

The Story of Guitar Heroes is on Saturday, February 3, and tickets are available at www.tivoliwimborne.co.uk.

– has written for television shows including Top Gear, the Royal Variety Show and TFI Friday, and is a regular on BBC Radio 2’s Pause For Thought.

He has also performed more than 3,000 stand-up gigs, including at The Royal Albert Hall, The Comedy Store and Montreal Comedy Festivals.

An Evening of (Very) Old Radio is presented with Dorset touring arts charity Artsreach.

It is at the village halls at Nether Compton on Thursday, January 25, at 7.30pm; West Stafford on Friday, January 26, at 7.30pm; Marnhull on Saturday, January 27, at 7.30pm; and Studland on Sunday, January 28, at 2.30pm. For tickets visit www.artsreach.co.uk.

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Arts & Entertainment

purbeckgazette.co.uk

Wright stuff hit at Edinburgh Fringe

By Lorraine Gibson CRACK out the bunting! It’s Luke Wright’s Silver Jubilee – and he’s coming to Dorset next month.

Over 25 years, Luke Wright has built up a reputation for being one of Britain’s most popular live poets.

He has won an unprecedented four Saboteur Awards, a Stage Award and a Fringe First, and regularly tours with John Cooper Clarke and The Libertines.

This year, thwarted in his attempts to hold a street party and unable to shift the overordered commemorative plates, Wright does what a poet does

best, and takes a deep dive into himself.

What follows is his most confessional show to date.

Wright was adopted as a baby and grew up believing that his adoption ‘wasn’t a big thing’.

But one night he idly stumbled across his birth mother on Facebook. This window to a world that might have been his has thrown up deep questions about privilege, familial love and destiny. This show is an excavation of lives lived and not lived.

Wright navigates his audience through a warm and honest hour of poems and stand-up with the directness

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POETRY AND STAND-UP Luke Wright is playing three village halls in Dorset

and pathos that has made him one of the most popular live poets in England.

With some wild experiments in form, a nervous kitten called Sir John Betjeman and a healthy smattering of drum ‘n’ bass, Wright manages to navigate some heart-wrenching material and keep the laughs coming.

This show debuted to a packed arena at Latitude Festival before a sell-out run at

the Edinburgh Fringe where it was the toast of the critics.

Luke Wright’s Silver Jubilee is at Shipton Gorge village hall on Thursday, February 1, Piddletrenthide memorial hall on Friday, February 2, and Blandford RBL on Saturday, February 3.

The show is suitable for ages 14-plus and tickets priced £12, £5 under-18s, are available from www.artsreach. co.uk.

(from pages 18-19)

Edition 306

Jumbo sudoku

Cryptic crossword

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R G M A O C H E E R I N F O R M R G I S F C I E V I D E N T A G A I N A O F Y B H T E N D L A L U M N A I A N A N C Y N B V A L L E Y T Y E T I I A A S M T T I G E R D I P L O M A Y R E O O N N M O U S E R I D I O T W T N L C

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M A X I M U M S T E M I N N P M R A D E N O T E S I C I N G E U E E T G E A B L E R T H O U G H L R S C E R L A Y O U T C H A R G E Y U P R O R RESULT C L O T H E N E R V E A E I M D E A N Y L O N A G R O U N D T O G I I S S RESULT S I G N I N V A D E D

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44

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Spotlight Diary

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Diary entries are £6 plus VAT per entry, per month. The deadline for the February 5 issue is NOON on February 2.

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.

FEBRUARY 2024

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

MONDAY

19:30 WAREHAM CAMERA CLUB: Parish Hall, Wareham Visitors welcome £3 For zoom link contact club website

www.warehamcameraclub.co.uk

23-Jan Speaker - Graham Tarrant - ‘A

Voyage through the Great Bear Rain

Forest’

30-Jan Zoom - Southern Counties

Photographic Federation League one

Competition

06-Feb Speaker - Local Award Winning

Landscape Photographer Mark Bauer ‘Dawn to Dusk’

13-Feb League 4 ‘Open’ Print &

Projected Digital Image Competition

20-Feb Zoom Talk- Andy Page –

‘Creative Abstracts & Impressions’

27-Feb Members Projected Digital Image

Panels on a Theme or Story

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SATURDAY 18:30 WHIST DRIVE AT ST MARY’S CHURCH, Rectory Classroom, Swanage.

Every Saturday. Tea and coffee provided.

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Wanted BOOKS HARDBACK, FOUNTAIN PENS, coins and stamps, costume jewellery. Cash paid. Tel Mr Jones 01202 733550.

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10:30 - 11:30 NEW ADULT MODERN LINE DANCE 10.30a.m-11.30a.m (Starting 6th February) At The D’Urberville Centre, Wool To Reserve a place in the class Contact:

Purbeck dance studio 07518 056149

13:30 - 14:30 NEW ADULT BEGINNERS LINE DANCE LEARN MODERN LINE DANCES AND

LATIN LINE DANCES - great fun class!

1.30pm - 2.30pm At The Scout Hut, North Bestwall Road,

Wareham. To reserve a place in the class Contact; Purbeck dance studio 07518 056149

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TUESDAY

11:00 - 12:00 NEW ADULT LATIN AMERICAN &

BALLROOM DANCE

11a.m-12noon (Starting 9th February) At Corfe Castle Village Hall To reserve a place in the class Contact;

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19:30 WAREHAM CHORAL SOCIETY. Lady St.Mary Church, Wm. Till 9.30.

New singers always welcome.

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FRIDAY

Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

45

Local Services Find Us Online

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www.purbeckgazette.co.uk Call for a realistic quote 01929 421663 07768 660833

Re-pointing Roofing Wall tie replacement Cavity cleaning Tray & lintel replacements Facias & Guttering

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Professional & skilled arborists

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Purbeck Gazette July 24, 2023

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Garden Agricultural Security Panels Closeboard Picket Gates Post and Rail Stock Fence Chain Link Steel Palisade Railings

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All Areas Covered All Areas Covered www.corbin-fencing.co.uk www.corbin-fencing.co.uk

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Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Local Services

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LOCKSMITH UPVC Multipoint & Wooden Door Lock Specialist. Locks & Safes, Repaired, Replaced, Opened or Serviced. Additional Security for Garages & Gates, Key Safes, Antique Locks & keys. Vehicle Opening, Remote Spare Keys, Restricted Key Systems.

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SOOTY THE SWEEP Local Full Time Chimney Sweep for 40 years Nacs, Hetas, City & Guilds Qualified Be safe! Reliable Advice Given

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Purbeck Gazette January 22, 2024

Local Services

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