We invite you to come and join us in the beautiful 17th Century walled Dutch garden at Hatch House to enjoy a spectacular evening of ballet and dance. The garden is covered for the event to create a magical dinner theatre. The company of internationally acclaimed dancers will perform three 30 minute sections of dance, each section between a dining interval. The walled garden theatre seats 430 guests each night, at tables of 10 (up to 12). Smaller parties, as well as single ticket holders, can be catered for.
Mariinsky/Paris
KSENIA OVSYANICK
International Principal Dancer
and many more!
Stroll, pre-show, through the gardens with your aperitif in hand from the beautiful Café Folle. Then, surrounded by the scents of summer flora, you will be invited to take your seat at your table to enjoy the evening’s performances within the magical walled garden.
Post show you are invited to return to Café Folle to enjoy the evening further with friends, cocktails and dancing until your carriages collect you. This is an unmissable highlight of the summer calendar.
Paul Jones - Editor in Chief
We love hearing your news and views. Get in touch with us by emailing newsdesk@blackmorevale.net or calling 01963 400186
YOUNG Emmet Roberts, who lives near Blandford, has the dancing world at his feet.
Emmet, 10, who attends St Nicholas Primary School in Child Okeford, recently came fifth in his age group in the Irish dancing world championships in Dublin.
He danced three rounds in the Minor Boys competition in the CRDM – Cumann Rince Dea Mheasa –championships, two in heavy shoes and one in light shoes, and was judged by five adjudicators.
He also took part in the Ceili – team events – and came seventh with the Four-Hand Team and sixth with the EightHand team.
growing up.
She said Emmet loved it from the age of four when she took him to his first class, and he showed early ability.
Emmet is part of the O’Leary Academy of Irish Dancing and attends classes in Christchurch and Ferndown.
Emmet, who has Irish roots, got into dancing through his mum, Chrissie, who enjoyed Irish dancing for many years
Kate O’Leary teaches classes from beginners through to adults and Emmet attends two classes a week, as well as extra
workshops, and practises at home.
Chrissie said: “Emmet will be up at 6am to train before school – either fitness training or work on his steps.
“He will also practise after school around piano practice and homework.
“Between January and the world championships Emmet was starting classes early and finishing late.
“As well as four-hour Sunday training sessions, he would spend two or more hours a day at home training on days he didn’t have classes.”
Chrissie said Irish dancing requires strength, stamina, flexibility and a positive attitude.
Emmet enjoys the friendship, fitness and focus involved in Irish dancing, and has made friends with dancers from all over the world.
He also enjoys the travel involved in competing which, since September, has taken him to Edinburgh, Belfast, Surrey, Kent and Dublin.
Emmet would love to be in a show like Riverdance in the future and would one day like to become a dance teacher himself.
Emmet and his teacher, Kate O’Leary
Canadian crash crew to be remembered
by Godfrey Symes
THERE will be a plaque unveiling ceremony at Alner's Gorse, Hazelbury Bryan, on Saturday, May 31.
This ceremony is to mark the 81st anniversary of an RAF Wellington bomber aircraft that crashed at 0230 hours on May 29, 1944, upon returning from a raid in Northern France. The crew were Canadian and unfortunately perished in the crash.
The Captain was extricated from the aircraft alive, but died in my uncle’s arms shortly after.
The ceremony will be attended by the Canadian families involved, along with the RAF Air Officer Commanding Southern Command and Staff Officers, the Canadian Military Air Attache and Staff Officers from Canada House, London, and possibly the High Commissioner, along with a Squadron of Air Cadets carrying RAF and RAFA Standards and, of course, the Royal British Legion and Royal Naval Association Standard.
Organisers are hoping there will be a flypast (with smoke on) by the Red Arrows, followed by other aircraft later, including a De Havilland Tiger Moth, which was the aircraft the crew trained on during WWII.
There is a formal Order of Service which will culminate in the bugler sounding Last Post, followed by a two minutes' silence, then Revallie. A Scottish piper will be also present in the playing of bag-pipes, including the Flower of Scotland, for the roots of the Captain's family originate from the Scottish Highlands.
Willow weaving workshop
BERE Marsh Farm at Shillingstone is the venue for a willow basket weaving workshop later this month.
Yanina Stockings, an experienced willow artist and basketmaker, will lead the course and help participants create their own berry baskets using willow grown at the farm.
Those taking part will learn how the willow is grown, harvested and processed, and about key weaving techniques.
No prior experience is necessary and the workshop is designed to be fun and relaxed.
The Countryside Regeneration Trust, a charity dedicated to nature-friendly farming practices, owns Bere Marsh Farm.
For more information about
the workshop on Saturday, May 31, 9.30am-4.30pm, visit www. thecrt.co.uk
Bag a bargain!
THE plant sale at Charlton Musgrove is back for a 20th year tomorrow (Saturday, May 9).
The bring-and-buy event was started in the early 2000s when the community was raising funds to rebuild Charlton Musgrove Village Hall.
Now, funds are being raised for the village’s two churches, the hall and two more charities, The Growing Space in Wincanton and The Treatment Bag, supporting people going through chemotherapy.
The plants are donated by villagers and visitors – and are all £2 no matter their size.
The sale runs from 9.30am12.30pm and cake, coffee and tea will be on offer. There’s plenty of parking and payment can be made by cash or card.
One of the organisers, flower farmer Georgie Newbery, of Common Farm Flowers, said: “Bring your spare seedlings and cuttings to the 20th anniversary Charlton Musgrove plant sale.
“Donate what you can, then have fun seeing what gorgeous plants others have donated.
“Eat the cake, buy the plants and help make this year’s Charlton Musgrove village plant sale the best year yet.”
THE 81st anniversary of VE-Day will be marked in a ceremony in Shaftesbury today (Friday, May 8).
The town memorial in Park Walk will be the focus of the event with a short service at 11am followed by a simple wreath-laying.
Trust updates Shaftesbury remembers
A chance to discover more of what’s on offer in the community
THE Allendale Community Centre in Wimborne is set to run a free community open day designed to help local people discover everything their local community has to offer.
The event will bring together up to 60 organisations, charities, voluntary groups and community services supporting residents across the wider East Dorset area.
Visitors will be able to find out about: charities and support groups, clubs and community organisations, emergency services and community safety teams, family-friendly activities, volunteer opportunities, information and resources for carers and older residents and health, wellbeing and social groups.
Carole Chedgy from the Allendale Community Centre said: “Wimborne and the surrounding villages are full of
fantastic organisations, but community doesn’t just happen – we build it together.
“Whether you are raising a family, settling into a new home, supporting an older relative or simply curious about what’s happening locally, this day is for you.
“We want to be absolutely clear – this is not a fundraising event. It’s a free opportunity to discover what’s here, meet people and feel part of the community.”
The event is on Sunday, May 17, from 10am-4pm, and admission is free. The Allendale Café is open all day
Not for profit organisations which would like to enquire about a free information stall –and having information leaflets in a community goodie bag –should phone 01202 887247 and ask for Jane or Brian or email info@theallendale.org
Probus proves it’s right on target
THE Probus Club of Blandford, a friendly club for retired and semi-retired men, would welcome new members.
The club meets monthly for social lunches where guest speakers cover topics related to subjects such as history, travel, science, business, transport, military and local heritage.
Visits are also arranged to places of interest and have recently included The Tank Museum, Yeovilton Fleet Air Arm Museum and a cruise from Poole Quay to Wareham and back.
Activities such as archery and claypigeon shooting have also featured in the programme, and an active group of members play golf on a regular basis.
The club offers a ‘try before you buy’ chance to go along to lunch meetings or other activities before formal membership is necessary.
Newcomers to the area might find the club a great way to meet people.
The men-only Blandford Probus Club was formed in 1986.
Its members have been employed in a
An archery taster session last year
wide range of careers, including banking and finance, civil service, construction, education, engineering, law, the armed forces, medicine, the police, sales, software development, health and telecommunications.
The club includes partners and friends in social trips and regular events such as Christmas lunches.
Lunch meetings are held at the Langton Arms, Tarrant Monkton and over the next
Wandering the wonders of Mere
WALKERS can discover the charms of Mere on a ‘Mere-athon Walking Weekend’ over the spring Bank Holiday.
Six walks in and around the historic town are on offer, taking in peaceful countryside, hidden paths and superb views.
Mere Town Council, with support from Mere Footpath Group and Wiltshire Towns Fund, is organising the event.
Anyone who completes all six walks – about 18 miles – between Saturday and Monday, May 23-25, will receive a medal.
To register, visit https://mere-athon.chessck.co.uk
Garden goodies
THE specialist plant fair at Yarlington House makes a welcome return tomorrow (Saturday, May 9).
Not only will the attractive and extensive private garden of Yarlington House (BA9 8DY) be open, but also 30 stands will be selling interesting, unusual and familiar plants and useful garden tools.
The hotly anticipated sale will include organic herbs and vegetable plants, roses and climbers, perennials and
grasses, traditional wildflowers, and exciting new introductions – in fact, something for everyone, whatever their interests and pockets!
Admission is £5, with ticket sales benefiting Yarlington Village Hall and St Luke’s Church, Wincanton.
Tickets include access to the gardens (not normally open to the public) and car-parking.
Refreshments will be for sale, and well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome.
few months are: June 24 – The A6 Murder; July 22 – Medical Detection Dogs; August 26 – Keep Calm I’m an Air Traffic Controller; September 23 – F1 ’The Race That Never Was, Putin and me’; October 28 – The search for the North-West Passage; November 25 – Napoleon Soldier & Lover.
For more information, visit www.probus. org.uk/blandford or contact the recruitment secretary at john.boother@yahoo.co.uk
Marathon effort
ROYAL Navy helicopter pilot Commander Richard Bartram RN shows off his medal after running the London Marathon in aid of forces charity SSAFA.
The former Commanding Officer of 846 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton had never run 26.2 miles before, although he had completed several half-marathons.
Commander Bartram, who joined the Royal Navy in 1998, has served on operational deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan across four tours.
To add to his fundraising, visit www. 2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/richard-bartram
Fashion forward
LEIGH Climate Group will welcome Kate Turnbull to its next Leigh Talks event as part of its focus on sustainable fashion.
Kate is a natural dyeing practitioner and keen exponent of safe, sustainable circular systems in textile colouring.
She will talk about natural dyes obtained from local plants, from kitchen vegetable waste and other natural sources.
The talk is at St Andrew’s Church, Leigh, on Friday, June 12, at 7pm.
Entrance is free but donations would be welcome. Drinks available.
Digging up the past
DORSET'S Lost Orchards will be the subject of a talk to the Blackmore Vale Group of the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society.
Elisabeth Bletsoe is the speaker in the Bow Room at The Exchange on Wednesday, May 20, at 7.30pm.
Entry is £4 and hot and cold drinks will be available at the bar.
Summer in swing
A FREE summer social event at Dinton Village Hall will feature Salisbury Big Band.
Visitors can get up and dance or just tap their toes – and enjoy afternoon tea as well.
The event is on Saturday, May 30, from 3.30pm-5.30pm.
Book with Val O’Keefe on 07719 419232.
Church history
VISITORS are set to find out more about the fascinating history of the 13th century St Gregory’s Church in Marnhull.
They will be able to explore the church, hear a talk, do a nature safari in the churchyard, find out about current activities and enjoy tea and cake at the event on Sunday, May 17, between 2pm-4pm.
Two short talks will be on offer at 2pm and 3pm, and the day will conclude with a service of Evensong led by St Gregory's Singers at 4pm.
The event is free entry for all the family, and everyone is welcome.
For more information, contact Revd Gaenor Hockey on 01258 821605 or visit www.stgregorysmarnhull.org.uk
Photo
Saving Dorset’s churches
TWELVE Dorset churches have been given grants for essential repairs and improvements by Dorset Historic Churches Trust (DHCT).
At the first trustee meeting of the year, a total of £55,250 was awarded primarily towards roof, masonry and bell tower repairs, heating replacement and the installation of accessible loos.
Churches that will benefit from the latest grants announcement in the Blackmore Vale include St Thomas a Beckett, Lydlynch, St Cuthbert, Oborne, St Mary the Virgin, Sherborne, St Giles, Hooke, Holy Rood, Shillingstone, St Mary, Turnworth, St Mary and Cuthburga and All Saints, Witchampton.
John Tory, churchwarden of St Mary’s, Turnworth, said: “We are sincerely grateful to Dorset Historic Churches Trust for this grant aid towards our roofing and electrical work.
“We are a small close-knit community which has worked hard over the recent years to build a fund for the necessary remedial work.
“Our fundraising efforts are supported by both churchgoers and non-churchgoers in the village.”
DHCT chair his honour David Grant said: “We are delighted to be able to support churches across the county.
“These grants enable communities to take action now to protect these precious buildings at a particularly crucial time.
“The recent announcement of the closure of the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme means that listed churches will now face VAT costs on repairs making their preservation increasingly challenging.
“We are deeply grateful that the trust’s resources have grown, thanks to the increasing success
of the annual sponsored Ride +Stride, generous legacies and a rising number of supporters.
“We hope this
momentum continues, allowing us to sustain and expand this vital work in the years ahead.”
For more information on how to help protect more of Dorset’s historic churches, visit www. dhct.org.uk.
Christian Aid Week raises awareness of global poverty
CHRISTIAN Aid supporters will this year be helping raise funds to help mothers caught up in urban poverty in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya.
The annual Christian Aid Week, which runs from May 10, will see a combination of house-to-house and street collections, to provide funds for the charity’s partner, Beacon of Hope.
Beacon of Hope provide mothers with tools, seeds and training to grow fresh vegetables in small city spaces across the capital – food that can be cooked for families or to sell to earn income.
This year’s annual Christian Aid Week ecumenical service will take place at St George’s Church, Fordington, on Sunday May 10, beginning at 4pm.
The guest speaker is Charlotte Scott, Christian Aid’s British Churches Relations Officer, who is a former regional coordinator for the charity in Hampshire.
The street collection will be held in
South Street, Dorchester, from 10am-4pm on Friday, May 15.
Tony Boyden, Christian Aid chair for Dorchester and District, said much of Kenya’s poverty stemmed from the country having to spend more on debts than on healthcare and education combined.
“Debt is now at its highest in the history of Kenya. Many debts squeezing Kenya are owed to private lenders who make vast profits while the people face crisis.
“Approximately 90% of debt owed by low-income countries, such as Kenya, to private lenders is governed by British law. The UK parliament could pass legislation to force private lenders to participate in debt restructuring.”
A survey by Christian Aid in 2024 found nearly half of Britons (48%) thought the UK Government should introduce legislation. Christian Aid has organised a petition – this can be signed at www.christianaid.org.uk/ get-involved/campaigns/stand-with-kenya
Stay safe online
BLACKMORE Vale Lions Club has arranged a short talk on cyber security scams by Dorset Police Cyber Crime Unit. The talk is at The Hub at Stalbridge on Monday, June 1, at 7pm and is open to businesses and private individuals.
Spaces are limited and to book phone Tim Otter on 07748 090802 or email tim.otter@ lutra-associates.com
A
merry tune
by Mair Graham (for Henstridge Village Hall Committee)
A CHOIR of policemen will be putting on a show at Henstridge. Following their very successful visit two years ago, the Henstridge village hall committee is delighted to welcome back the renowned and talented Avon and Somerset Constabulary Male Voice Choir to St Nicholas Church, Henstridge, on Saturday, May 16.
The choir will be performing a wide-ranging mixture of popular classics and musical theatre songs. Come and be entertained while raising money to update and embellish the facilities of our very popular and very busy village hall. There will be a cash bar and raffle. Doors open at 7pm and the show will begin at 7.30pm.
Tickets (£10 per person) are available at the village shop and on 01963 364063.
The evening is sponsored by Henstridge Line Dancers and The Bird in Hand Monthly Quiz.
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters
St Mary’s Church, Turnworth
Celebrating the century
PROFESSIONAL portrait
photographer Kevin Wilson, who is based just outside Dorchester, is on a mission to photograph 100 centenarians.
Kevin, who is semi-retired, has so far taken 52 portraits for his personal project and is looking for more.
The portraits are offered free of charge and the subjects will receive all the digital files, plus four prints of their favourite images.
He says sessions would take place within the private home or care home with full consent from the family and would be kept simple and gentle.
no more than 20 minutes.
He says he works using natural light only, with no flash, no intrusive equipment and no disruption to the resident’s surroundings.
Sittings would usually take
Kevin said: “My aim is simply to celebrate an extraordinary milestone and create a lasting record for families to treasure.”
Kevin Wilson Hon FBIPP FRPS, whose website is at www. kevinwilson.co.uk, can be contacted on 07595 347814.
Foxearth, Winterborne Houghton
National Lottery funding kickstarts a Library of Things in Sherborne
A PROJECT designed to create a community bank of useful items has secured almost £20,000 of funding.
A Library of Things is a shared community resource that allows residents to borrow rather than buy a variety of useful household items like tools, garden equipment, kitchen appliances, electronic gadgets and camping gear.
So, whether it’s a hedge trimmer you need only a few times a year or a numerical cake tin for a milestone birthday, why buy when you can borrow?
Sharing items extends the life of products and reduces your carbon footprint by eliminating the need for us to all have the same, rarely used items gathering dust at home. It makes financial and environmental sense, say organisers.
The Sherborne Repair Café has secured a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund of £19,800 towards setting up a Library of Things located in the Sherborne Area Youth and Community Centre, Tinneys Lane, Sherborne (DT9 3DY).
“At a time of financial pressure, borrowing items is much cheaper than buying something you might only use once,” said Julia Findlater of The Library of Things.
“The Sherborne Library of Things will also strengthen community connections bringing people together around shared resources and skillsharing events.”
Organisers aim to open Sherborne’s Library of Things in early summer. They are looking for volunteers and
Volunteers from Sherborne’s Library of Things
donations of ‘things’ in good working order. For more information contact sherbornelot@gmail.com
Do you still miss the buzz of closing a deal?
• Would you like to return to work, selling advertising space in this publication?
• D oes self-employed, part-time work with hours to suit you in your local area appeal?
• I f your previous sales skills would transfer to our type of selling then a very generous commission package is yours to earn.
We have high earning opportunities in all areas, if you fit the bill I would be delighted to hear from you.
Sing your heart out
THE Songbirds entertained an audience of more than 100 people at Milborne Port Village Hall with Songs from the Musicals.
The event was a Blackmore Vale Lions Club fundraiser in aid of Riding for the Disabled and The Rendezvous, Sherborne.
Songs included everything from Edith Piaf’s haunting La Vie en Rose to the Andrews Sisters’ Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree
Contemporary or traditional kitchens manufactured to order
Gillingham Showroom 01747 833 789 Unit 21, Kingsmead Business Park, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 5JG
Bramley House in Mere, unlike modern purpose-built care homes, has been tastefully converted from a former rectory. Carefully adapted to enable professional care within an environment that really does look and feel like a real home.
Elegant ensuite bedrooms, beautiful gardens, relaxing spaces, engaging activities, delicious food, and most importantly real loving care.
Residential care Day care
Convalescent stays Respite care
Superb kitchens designed and installed for you Visit our showrooms to view our kitchen displays
Shaftesbury: 01747 851 476
Longmead Industrial Estate, Shaftesbury SP7 8PL
Warminster: 01985 219 200 5 George Street, Warminster BA12 8QA
The Sherborne Castle Country Fair returns on Bank Holiday Monday 25th May
Set in the beautiful grounds of Sherborne Castle in Dorset, this local, much-loved event is celebrating 30 years of offering a fun day out for the whole family. With dragon boat racing on the lake, main ring attractions, dog competitions, rare breeds show, rural crafts, music, funfair, vintage vehicles, fishing, food and shopping, there is something for everyone.
The event is organised entirely by volunteers and last year it raised £29,000 for children’s charities in Dorset and Somerset. The Fair itself has raised over £1.4M since it first started in 1996 and over the years has supported over 100 local children’s charities.
On offer across the main rings is the Wild West Extravaganza horse-riding stunt show, a display of majestic heavy horses and waggons,
Stuart Barnes and his Dog and Sheep display and the ever-popular terrier racing. The Solar Circus is making a welcome return with day-long fun that is free to watch – look out for their colourful big-top. The Sheep Show will be providing hilarious edu-tainment! Or for something more competitive, the Retriever Team Challenges take place in the Deer Park in the morning and at the lakeside for their afternoon finale.
Elsewhere on the showground there is plenty to see, do, watch ……or simply sit and have a picnic in the beautiful Castle grounds.
Entry is £15 for an adult and children aged 14 years and under go free with a fee-paying adult. You can buy online: https://www.sherbornecountryfair.com/ tickets. Or in person by visiting The Sherborne Market on Sunday 17th May, 10am – 3pm. Cards or cash accepted.
Don’t forget that money raised from ticket sales goes to the charities that the Fair supports. So you can enjoy a lovely day out whilst also supporting charitable youth work in your local area.
COUNTRY FAIR SHERBORNE CASTLE &
Breeds Show
Girl showing her sheep
Dog scurries over the bales
WI balances work and play
by Sheila Chapman
THE hard-working ladies of Blandford Evening WI stepped into summer with their first open weekend of the season at the Ancient Technology Centre, Cranborne.
They served burgers to the Celtic resistance and the invading Romans, visitors and centre volunteers!
A few days later, a large
group of members had an enjoyable and informative visit to seven of the churches in the Two Rivers Benefice, arranged by a new member.
The ladies toured medieval structures, saw ancient wall paintings and heard the histories of the buildings in out of the way places, which many did not even know existed. It was an excellent day.
The team at Fern Brook Lodge care home hosted a week of celebrations for three residents’ 90th birthdays. Joy, Heather and Maria, who all live in the care home on Fern Brook Lane in Gillingham, marked their milestone birthdays with their own individual birthday parties, complete with birthday cakes baked by the home’s chefs, as well as music and dancing.
Fern Brook Lodge care home hosts triple celebration for residents’ 90th birthdays
The triple celebration brought residents and team members together to honour the three remarkable women, with a lively party atmosphere throughout the week.
Fern Brook Lodge, which is run by not-for-profit charity Care South, provides residential, respite and dementia care. A dedicated activities team organises a daily programme of events, bringing residents together to socialise and build friendships.
Residents have a choice of private and communal lounges and dining rooms to relax in, as well as the home’s own ‘The Brook’ community space, which hosts events throughout the year. Care home residents also have access to a large garden area with wide, flat walkways and raised flower beds, as well as their own ‘pub’.
Fern Brook Lodge hosts its own Memory Cafe sessions every Thursday morning from 10am to 12pm for people living with dementia and their carers, which is supported by Age UK North, South and West Dorset. There is no need to book – just drop in on the day.
Summer Fair at Bryanston
The Wessex Event Company are delighted to be holding our 5th Summer Fair in the beautiful house and grounds at Bryanston School on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th May this year.
Bring the whole family for a fabulous day out, there is something for everyone.
After being inspired by over 100 artisan foods, crafts, plants, garden furniture and accessories, why not chill out in our two Street Food Areas, where you can enjoy mid morning snacks, lunches and afternoon treats, including Pizzas, Bratwurst, Thai, Falafels, Dorset Lamb burgers, Greek BBQ, Mac and Cheese, Hot Potatoes, Ice Cream, Churros and Crepes, all washed down with coffee, tea, soft drinks or something slightly stronger from the Outpost Bar. While you sit and eat and relax you will be entertained by fabulous local musicians.
Our popular workshops will again be taking place over the weekend, with Children’s Chocolate Lolly making and new this year Forest School and Pottery painting workshops for all ages., pluss flower arrsnging demonstrations on both days.
There will also be the ever popular falconry displays, classic cars and live fire shows.
There is so much for children to enjoy. Our children’s entertainments will include a climbing wall, cave, bouncy castle, rides, games and face painting., and new this year axe throwing and archery (both in a secure, supervised area}. We also have a Circus Skills Workshop, on both days for children to participate in and learn some of magic of the circus, Andy the Magic Man, Rugby Tots, Craft Area, Alpaca walking and meet the Disney Princesses and Superheroes.
The cost of entry is just £5 for Adults, with children under 16 just £1, making this one of the most affordable, family friendly, value for money days out you will find in the area this summer.
So come early, stay late and enjoy a wonderful day out in the most beautiful of settings.
We would like to thank our sponsors Meyers Estate Agents, The Blackmore Vale Magazine and Holt Recruitment for their continued support of our events.
Our loose Canon
Celebrating life in life helps remind us of the joys that await by
Canon Eric Woods
SOME years ago, my wife and I were invited to a Prake. A what? A Prake – the name given by the reason for the party – her “Pre-Wake”. A sprightly 92-year-old who had had a quite amazing and multi-faceted life, she concluded that she didn’t want to be the only one absent when everyone else was celebrating her life after her funeral. Her children agreed enthusiastically – and a party was born. A Prake.
The setting was a marquee on a hillside near Sherborne, with one of the best views in Dorset. The champagne flowed, the canapés were excellent. Our host held court with both poise and delight, obviously thrilled that so many people from different decades of her life were there. We heard a lively account of some of her exploits down those decades. Then we were summoned outside as a biplane performed some stunning acrobatics above us before its final fly-past, with a wiggle of its wings.
us, then in a very real sense they are with us too.
That is why, when we mark anyone’s death, we need to do so with laughter as well as tears. All love costs, and sooner or later we have to pay for it in the coinage of tears. But we need to laugh as well. Laughter and tears are two sides of the same coin.
It was a great party, and I love the idea of celebrating a life with the one whose life we are celebrating. Of course, the actual funeral should be a celebration too, and at Christian funerals I know the deceased are celebrating as well, but on another shore and in a greater light. They are with God and, if we believe that God is with
Father Harry Williams, a monk of the Anglican Community of the Resurrection in Yorkshire, once wrote: “In our community church we sit in order of seniority. The places occupied by the oldest men are known as Cemetery Row. ‘I see you’ve been moved up to Cemetery Row,’ we say to an elder brother. That Community joke makes the hottest kind of evangelism look by contrast like the negation of God. For through the joke of Cemetery Row there rings the laughter of the universe.”
So I shall long cherish the memory of that happy party on a Dorset hillside. It was, for those with eyes to see, a little foretaste of the joy of the Kingdom of Heaven – where the fun will continue.
Another remarkable lady, known to history as “The Lady Julian of Norwich” – whose day this is (May 8) – had much tribulation in her life, but went on to write at the end of the 14th century the first book in English by a woman, called The Revelations of Divine Love. She concluded that “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” She also asserted with great confidence that “the company of heaven is right merry”. And so it is. And there the party goes with a bang.
Photo by Wonderlane on Unsplash
Mysteries of great ship revealed in recent talk
THE Raising of the Mary Rose was the subject for Dawn Perrier at a recent meeting of the Probus Club of Blandford at the Langton Arms in Tarrant Monkton.
Members gained a detailed insight into the sinking and then raising of the historic vessel some 500 years later.
The Mary Rose was the flagship of Henry VIII’s naval fleet and on July 19, 1545, while facing the French Armada at the Battle of the Solent, she suddenly sank.
The reasons are still open to speculation. Was it the open gun ports, which were only just above the water line? Was she overloaded – she was carrying a crew of 700?
What is known, is that when she turned to port and listed slightly, sea water rushed in and entered the ship through the open gun ports.
The speaker gave a detailed picture, including the significant run up to the Naval battle.
The meeting on June 24 will feature a talk on ‘The A6 Murder’ and on July 22 the topic is ‘Medical Detection Dogs’.
Anyone who would like more information about the club or who would like to attend either of these meetings, should visit the club’s website, www. probus.org.uk/blandford, or email the recruitment secretary at john.boother@yahoo.co.uk
SHAFTESBURY VALUATION DAY
Garden inspiration
AN open gardens event in Charlton Musgrove will raise money for Charlton Musgrove churches and Tools for Self-Reliance.
Tickets and a map of all participating gardens will be available at Eden House, Lower Shalford, St Stephen's Church and Charlton House, and Barrow Lane Farm.
The event is on Sunday, May 31, 1.30pm-5pm.
It includes a sustainable church flowers demonstration at St Stephen's from 1.30pm-2pm with expert vegetable growing advice at Eden House all afternoon.
Entrance is £10 with under-12s free – home-made teas will be available in several gardens.
Date for your diary: Thursday 14th May
Shirley Allum Fashions on Shaftesbury High Street are hosting a Brax Jean & Trouser Day. Holli from Brax will be in store from 11am to 5pm.
FEATURE
Enjoy a FREE GIFT with any Brax purchase (while stocks last), plus entry into a prize draw to win a FREE pair of Brax jeans worth up to £125 (no cash alternative).
Shirley Allum Fashions & Lingerie stock nearly 2,000 pairs of jeans, crops and trousers in sizes 6–26, so you’re sure to find something that fits beautifully. We also carry other leading brands including Mac, NYDJ, Anna Montana and Oui.
Shirley & the team look forward to seeing you. 30 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8JG, 01747 852444
Help to read easy
THE Blackmore Vale North group of adult reading charity Read Easy is reaching out to those who struggle with the written word.
The group, which covers Gillingham and Shaftesbury, plus Sturminster Newton, Mere, Sherborne and Wincanton, says one in six adults in England find reading hard.
This affects their ability to get a job, read contracts, look on the internet or just enjoy the pleasure of reading.
It also affects their ability to help their children and grandchildren learn and improve their reading.
The local group is backing this year’s National Year of Reading campaign supported by the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust and which has the slogan ‘Go All In’.
The reading and literacy campaign is the largest and most
comprehensive ever undertaken in the UK, focusing on reading and culture, and tries to persuade people to link reading to their hobbies and interests.
Much of the campaign is aimed at children but is just as relevant to adults.
Read Easy has nearly 90 groups across England and hopes to have more than 100 by the time the year is out.
The Blackmore Vale North branch has been offering help free of charge for over 15 years and is always ready to take calls from adults who come forward who want to learn to read – its phone number is 07510 250365.
The group has invited Alice Birdwood from the National Literacy Trust to give a talk at the Grosvenor Hotel in Shaftesbury on the evening of Friday, May 15.
The event is free admission and to book a seat phone 01747 822500.
FASHIONS & LINGERIE
Run in the sun
by John Maiden, Dorset Vintage Tractor Owners Group
IN Dorset, the Three Okefords name is synonymous with well-run events and having a good time. Their charity tractor and 4x4 run out of Shillingstone was no exception.
Bright sunshine from early in the morning ensured this would be a well-attended event, and it was too. Over 100 tractors and 4x4s –including many members of the Dorset Vintage Tractor Owners group – took part in this 40-mile run through some of the best of Dorset.
The run passed through the scenic village of Milton Abbas, the Cerne Abbas Giant, the largest water wheel in Europe, not to mention the bluebell woods in full bloom.
This charity run, although a fine event in its own right, is a pre-amble to the highly successful Three Okefords Steam and vintage show at Shillingstone on May 16-17.
A welcome stop after 20 miles or so was at the Cerne Abbas brewery. All drivers were well catered for and headed into the second half of the run suitably refreshed.
There were only three minor breakdowns and all vehicles made it back to base with cooperation, one way or another.
Over the run, over £1,369 was raised for charities. These being Dorset Mind, supporting people with mental health issues, and the Ducks and Drakes Cancer Charity.
This great event was a fine swansong for Mike Welch, who steps down this May after seven years as chairman of the Three Okefords.
“I would like to say a huge thanks to all the organisers and marshals who contributed their time and efforts to put on the event,” said Mike. “A massive thank you to everyone who came along with their vehicles to support us as without you these events wouldn’t happen.”
Could Care Costs Put Your Home at Risk?
Could care costs put your home at risk?
Many homeowners are unaware that their property could be used to fund care costs later in life.
Many homeowners are unaware that their property could be used to fund care costs later in life. A living trust may help protect your home and preserve your estate for your family.
By placing your property into a trust, it can be ring-fenced, reducing exposure to care fees, creditor claims, or unexpected life events such as divorce. It can also help minimise inheritance tax, allowing more of your estate to pass to your loved ones.
Many homeowners are unaware that their property could be used to fund care costs later in life. A living trust may help protect your home and preserve your estate for your family. By placing your property into a trust, it can be ring-fenced, reducing exposure to care fees, creditor claims, or unexpected life events such as divorce. It can also help minimise inheritance tax, allowing more of your estate to pass to your loved ones.
Importantly, you remain in
A living trust may help protect your home and preserve your estate for your family. By placing your property into a trust, it can be ring-fenced, reducing exposure to care fees, creditor claims, or unexpected life events such as divorce. It can also help minimise inheritance tax, allowing more of your estate to pass to your loved ones.
Importantly, you remain in
Many homeowners are unaware that their property could be used to fund care costs later in life. A living trust may help protect your home and preserve your estate for your family. By placing your property into a trust, it can be ring-fenced, reducing exposure to care fees, creditor claims, or unexpected life events such as divorce. It can also help minimise inheritance tax, allowing more of your estate to pass to your loved ones. Importantly, you remain in
Importantly, you remain in control. As trustee, you continue managing your assets as normal, and if you move home, the trust continues.
control. As trustee, you continue managing your assets as normal, and if you move home, the trust continues.
control. As trustee, you continue managing your assets as normal, and if you move home, the trust continues.
control. As trustee, you continue managing your assets as normal, and if you move home, the trust continues.
Oakwood Wills offers free home no obligation consultation, providing clear, friendly advice tailored to your situation, so you can plan with confidence and peace of mind.
Oakwood Wills offers free home no obligation consultation, providing clear, friendly advice tailored to your situation, so you can plan with confidence and peace of mind.
Oakwood Wills offers free home no obligation consultation, providing clear, friendly advice tailored to your situation, so you can plan with confidence and peace of mind.
To contact Oakwood Wills please contact us on the details below.
Oakwood Wills offers free home no obligation consultation, providing clear, friendly advice tailored to your situation, so you can plan with confidence and peace of mind. To contact Oakwood Wills please contact us on the details below.
To contact Oakwood Wills please contact us on the details below.
To contact Oakwood Wills please contact us on the details below.
�������� �������� �������� Call us today on 07832 331594 ��������
�������� �������� �������� Call us today on 07832 331594
Call us today on 07832 331594
�������� �������� �������� Call us today on 07832 331594 �������� �������� �������� �������� �������� �������� info@oakwoodwills.co.uk
info@oakwoodwills.co.uk
Council funding benefits community
THREE community groups in Sherborne will receive £92,000 of funding over four years from Sherborne Town Council.
The Rendezvous, Sherborne Town Band and Sherborne Area Youth and Community Centre (SAYCC) – also known as Tinney’s Youth Club – will receive the money after the council approved new service level agreements.
The Rendezvous helps young people take practical steps towards education, work and a brighter future by rebuilding confidence, improving mental health and providing accredited learning.
Chief executive Helen Da Silva Wood said: “This is an extremely challenging time for funding charities such as ours, therefore news of continued support from Sherborne Town Council is incredibly welcome.
“We face increasing demand for our services, with a current waiting list, but are proud of the many successes local young people achieve after accessing
our help.”
Sherborne Town Band first started entertaining the people of Sherborne and surrounding towns and villages in 1961.
It is a 1st Section Brass Band and has a youth band, which is an integral part of its community work.
Band secretary Melonie Brunton said that without the money it may not be possible to keep tuition, instruments and music free for young people who want to
be able to play but would struggle to meet the costs involved.
A wide range of community groups use the SAYCC, including Ups and Downs Southwest – a Down’s Syndrome support charity, Open Gate – for adults with learning difficulties, the U3A and Tinney’s Youth Club.
SAYCC trustee Sue Thomas-Peter said the money would enable it to keep costs down, making the youth club more accessible.
Service Level Agreements between the town council and community groups are formal documents that define the expected level of service.
Sherborne Town Council town clerk Steve Shield said: "On behalf of Sherborne Town Council, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to these organisations for the outstanding work they do in our community.
“We are proud to support their vital efforts, which make a real difference to the lives of our residents.”
Mayor of Sherborne Cllr Jill Warburton and deputy mayor Cllr Suresh Jeganathan with representatives from The Rendezvous, Sherborne Town Band and Sherborne Area Youth and Community Centre
The story of one Ukrainian family
As the war in Ukraine grinds into its fourth year, we follow the story of one family forced to resettle in the Vale
by Olena
I CLEARLY remember my pain, my grief. I couldn’t breathe, there was something heavy in my chest, rage, hatred for Russian soldiers, Russia, hatred for these invaders and the war in general, mixed with wild fear. Grief and a feeling of indescribable guilt for not having saved her, not having helped her properly.
My dad was very quiet. With tears on his face, breathing heavily, he went into the village, found a coffin in the ruins of a ritual shop and brought it home. The Russian soldiers saw him dragging the coffin and turned away… I hope at least they had something resembling guilt.
At that time, according to tradition, I had to wash my mother’s body and change her into decent clothes. It was a torture, I touched her lifeless body and could not believe that she was gone. Tears and resentment for the whole world, that was me at that moment.
We put her body in a coffin, loaded it into my brother’s car and took it to the cemetery. We walked in front of the car and I gasped for air, crying without tears. There were no tears… Dad and my brother dug a hole and we lowered the coffin into a cold, dark grave.
We had just started to bury her when the people who lived near the cemetery shouted to us that Russians were giving us a humanitarian corridor. Dad told us to go, save the children, and he would stay to finish the job.
So we rushed home, grabbed the children and set off. It wasn’t straightforward – we were turned back, ordered to go home, told we would be shot.
We tried again and again. Finally we came home: tired, broken, with emptiness and hopelessness in our hearts. It was getting dark, and with the light of the day our hope of leaving disappeared.
But again, people in the streets were
agitated, talking about a humanitarian corridor. We didn’t know what to do, what choice to make. We were afraid to drive at night, we were afraid that we would be shot, or used as a protective shield by Russian troops.
In the end, we took a risk. We got into the car: my brother was driving, his wife next to him, my two children, my nephew and myself on the back seat. Through the window we saw our village, in ruins. On the way out of the village, the queue of cars was stopped, our documents were checked, our belongings were examined, and our mobile phones and money were taken. We gave up my mother’s phone and my sister-in-law’s work phone. I hid my phone and my brother’s phone in my son’s hood. He was running a fever. I begged Russian soldiers not to take him out of the car because he was sick. They miraculously left him there. To be continued next issue…
Olena (left) with her mum and daughter
Standing with our clients for 90 years
For 90 years, Farnfields has worked alongside the people, land and businesses of the Southwest.
From a single solicitor in 1936 to a respected regional firm today, our story is built on trusted relationships, practical advice and a deep connection to the communities we serve.
As we mark our 90th year, we celebrate not only the history of the firm but the communities and clients whose stories are intertwined with our own.
Rooted in place
Our offices in Shaftesbury, Gillingham and Warminster place us at the heart of the towns and countryside we serve.
From farmland and estates to homes and local businesses, the region’s landscape and economy have shaped Farnfields’ work since 1936.
“ Our history is not just the story of a law firm — it is the story of the families, farms and businesses we have supported across generations.”
Today that connection to place remains central to how we practise: local knowledge, long-term relationships and practical advice grounded in the realities of the Southwest.
“ Reaching 90 years is an important milestone but not a destination. Our focus remains forward-looking.”
Across generations
Many Farnfields relationships span multiple generations.
Clients often return to us through life’s milestones:
• Parents and children seeking advice on property, wills and succession
• Farms passing from one generation to the next
• Businesses growing from small workshops into regional employers
Continuity of advice has allowed Farnfields to stand alongside clients through life’s stages, often becoming part of their long-term story.
Looking ahead
Reaching 90 years is an important milestone but not a destination. Our focus remains forward-looking.
Farnfields continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of clients and communities across Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset and beyond. What will never change is how we work: clear advice, enduring relationships and support when it matters most.
New Blackmore Vale, May 8, 2026
Church
• Anglican High Mass at Wimborne St Giles: First Sunday of each month at 11am.
• Blandford Methodist Church: Sundays – services at 10.45am. Thursdays – coffee and chat 10am-noon. Fridays –lunch club for over-55s from noon. Phone Joyce Wild on 07817 505543 to book. The church offers help to those in need – call church steward John Cornish on 07799 516735.
• Bell Street United Church, Shaftesbury: Sundays –services at 10.30am. Second Sunday of the month, All Age Service.
• Blandford Evangelical Church: Sunday – 10am Family Service. Monday Fellowship – weekly, 2.30pm-3.30pm, term times only. Tuesday –Footprints, activities playtime for pre-school children, 10am11.30am and 1.15pm-2.45pm, term times only. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday –small groups meet at homes at 7.30pm. The church is in Albert Street. Phone 450689.
• Castleton, Sherborne, St Mary Magdalene (DT9 3SA): First, third and fourth Sundays, Sung Mattins; second and fifth Sundays, Holy Communion. All services are BCP at 11.15am.
• Chalbury Church: Fourth Sunday of the month, 10am Holy Communion.
• Cheap Street Church, Sherborne: Prayer time –9.45am Thursday; Thought for the Day – 10.30am Thursday. Sunday service at 10.30am. Monday Music second Monday of the month at 6.15pm with a bring and share supper.
Rendezvous Community Cuppa – third Monday each month, 10.30am-12.30pm.
• Friends of Sherborne Abbey: Sunday, May 17, Friends’ Choral Evensong at 6pm followed by the annual meeting at 7pm in the abbey.• Hinton Martell: Second Sunday of the month, 10am Holy Communion.
• Horton Church: First Sunday of the month, 10am Holy Communion.
• Horton & Chalbury Village Hall: Third Sunday of the month, 9am Breakfast Church.
• Kingston Lacy: Second Sunday of the month, 9.15am Holy Communion. Fourth Sunday of the month, 9.15am Family Service.
• Lufton Church: Prayer Book services every Sunday at 6pm. Sung Mass on the third Sunday. See www.lufton.co.uk for details.
• Open gardens and church: Sunday, May 24, 2pm-5pm, Manor Farm and Droop Farm, Hazelbury Bryan DT10 2ED. Parking at Manor Farm. Entry £5 per person (children free). Tea and cake, and cake sale. All proceeds to St Mary & St James’ Church. The church will be decorated with a children’s book theme. Regrettably no dogs.
• Our Lady of Lourdes & Saint Cecilia, Blandford: Sunday, 9am Holy Mass; Monday/ Wednesday/Thursday/Friday, 9.10am Morning Prayers, 9.30am Holy Mass; Tuesday, 6.10pm Evening Prayers, 6.30pm Holy Mass; Saturday, 9.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament/Confessions; 5.30pm Vigil Mass of Sunday.
• Our Lady’s, Marnhull: Sunday Mass, 9am and 6pm.
• Sacred Heart, Tisbury, and All Saints’ Wardour Catholic Parish: Sunday Mass – Sacred Heart, Tisbury, 9am, coffee after Mass; All Saints’ Wardour 10.30am.
• Shapwick: Third Sunday of the month, 9.15am Holy Communion.
• Shaftesbury Quakers (Society of Friends): Meets for one hour each Sunday from 10.30am at the Quaker Meeting House, Abbey Walk, Shaftesbury SP7 8BB.
• Sherborne Abbey: Monday to Saturday, 8.30am Morning Prayer; The Sepulchre Chapel. Mondays, 9am CW Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Tuesday, noon CW Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Wednesday, 10.30am Holy Communion with Homily; The Lady Chapel (alternates CW and BCP). Thursday, noon BCP Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Friday, 9am Ecumenical Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. First Friday of the
month, 9am Requiem Holy Communion; The Sepulchre Chapel. Third Friday of the month, 11am Remembering the Fallen. Saturday, 9am CW Holy Communion; The Sepulchre Chapel.
• Sherborne Quakers: One hour of silent prayer or meditation every Sunday at 10.30am at Raleigh Hall, Digby Road DT9 3NL. Contact Nick Jackman at sherbornequakers@ gmail.com
• Stour Vale Benefice: Sunday, May 10 – 9.30am Holy Communion, St John the Baptist, Buckhorn Weston; 11am Benefice Rogation Service, Middle Farm, Fifehead Magdalen SP8 5RR. Sunday, May 17 – 8.45am Breakfast Church, Buckhorn Weston Village Hall; 10am Morning Prayer, St Andrew’s, Todber; 10.30am Bell Sunday Communion, St Mary’s, West Stour; 6pm Evensong, Christ Church, East Stour.
• St Benedict’s, Gillingham: Sunday Mass, 11am.
• St Gregory’s, Marnhull: Sunday services 8am and 10am. Other services, visit www. stgregorysmarnhull.org.uk.
• St John’s Church, Enmore Green: Service every Sunday at 11.15am; parish communion the first Sunday of the month; prayer services every other Sunday.
• St Margaret’s, Margaret Marsh (Shaftesbury Benefice) SP7 0AZ: Alternating first Sundays Mattins and Holy Communion, 11.15am.
• St Martin’s Church, Salisbury: Gill Bolton and Zara Kuckelhaus play various styles of Two Piano music from Bach to Gershwin on Saturday, May 16, 7.30pm. Tickets £14, under-18s and students free, from www.ticketsource.co.uk/ twopianos, Gill on 01722 333288 or on the door (cash only). Further information at www.musicinsalisbury.co.uk
• St Mary’s, Motcombe: Evening worship (BCP) – every first Sunday 6pm; parish communion – every second and fourth Sunday 9.30am; evening worship – every third Sunday 6pm.
• St Mary’s, Sturminster Newton: First, third and fourth Sundays – 11am Holy Communion; second Sunday – 9.30am Morning Prayer; fifth Sunday – 11am Benefice Holy Communion; second and fourth Sundays – 6pm Evensong; Wednesdays – 10am Holy Communion.
• St Mary & St Bartholomew’s Church, Cranborne: Book of Common Prayer Evensong with the Benefice Choir, first Sunday of the month at 6pm.
• St Mary’s Church, Stalbridge: All Sunday Services start at 9.30am. Rector, Canon Richard – phone 01963 363367; email canonrick@icloud.com
• St Nicholas, Durweston: Family Communion Service every first Sunday of the month 11am; Evening Service every third Sunday of the month 6pm.
• St Peter’s, Hinton St Mary: First, second and third Sundays, 9.30am Morning Prayer. Fourth Sunday, 9.30am Holy Communion.
• St Thomas’, Lydlinch: Second Sunday, Holy Communion 11am; third Sunday, Evensong 6pm; fourth Sunday, Matins 11am.
• Sturminster Christian Fellowship: Service every Sunday at 10.45am.
• Two Rivers Benefice: Sunday May 10 – 9.30am Communion at St Mary’s Church, Blandford St Mary; 11am Family Service at All Saints Church, Tarrant Keynston; 11am Communion at All Saints Church, Langton Long. Sunday May 17 – 9.30am Communion at St John the Baptist Church, Spetisbury; 9.30am All Age worship at St Mary the Virgin Church, Charlton Marshall; 11am Communion at St Mary’s Church Tarrant Rushton; 11am Morning Worship at All Saints Church, Langton Long.
• West Camel Independent Methodists: All Saints Church (BA22 7QB) Sundays May 10, 17, 24 and 31, 6pm. This friendly, growing church extends a warm welcome to everyone. Contact Geoff. mead@yahoo.com or phone 01935 850838.
Sudoku 3D puzzle
Across
1 Good change almost in loan company, say, offering approved money (5,6)
Place 1 to 9 once into every black-bordered 3x3 area as well as each of the 54 rows indicated by the coloured lines. Rows don’t cross the thick black lines.
Killer Sudoku Pro
9 All-round competition about hospital is even for review (13)
10 Value highly a ruse arranged by three in Rome (8)
12 Head for pod content (4)
14 Business in concession producing a journalistic exclusive? (5)
15 Meat-filled dish beyond end of tray (5)
Killer Sudoku Pro
19 Economic downturn that’s restricted poor part of city (4)
Down
2 Tree found in Skelmersdale (3)
3 Arab so in trouble gets graze (8)
4 Unusual thirst for summer clothing (1-5)
5 Square gets name in Spain (4)
6 Bring up seedy bar and see about new entrance to there clearly (9)
7 Serious division within confines of assemblage (5)
8 Very small unwelcome plant gets cut by US city (5)
11 Spur on officer in Europe not half over long period (9)
20 Malfunctioning battery beginning to expose amount of computing capacity (8)
22 Refrain from mentioning overawed rival in a struggle (4,1,4,4)
24 Came across British cyclist hosting party with record set of rules (11)
Place numbers 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and bold-lined 3x3 box. No digit may be repeated in any dash-lined cage, and all the digits in any cage must add up to the value shown in that cage.
13 All paler when moving around a line of latitude (8)
16 Plans for cycling privately (5)
17 Study again about area engaged by wine
18 Cheerful writer with posh car by yard (5)
21 Extra cut (4)
23 Victor, say, gets some greens (3)
Renewables: My real experience
THE recent journey of Artemis 2 around the moon was remarkable, yet the flat-earthers still claim it was faked despite all the evidence.
It seems some people are simply incapable of shifting a long-held opinion.
So it is with the energy transition and Simon Latham’s claims in the letters page – New Blackmore Vale, April 10.
Starting with coal – it takes money and energy to build. You get no energy back until you haul heavy coal, sometimes halfway around the world, by sea, rail and truck. Not easy, cheap or without energy cost.
Similarly, with oil and gas, except the oil has to be refined before use.
Contrast this with solar panels. They are made mainly of aluminium, glass and silicon.
Once you have paid for them and had an electrician install them, they simply sit there not moving, generating electricity and wealth for 40 years with no further effort, using a free resource. They even pay for themselves in six years or so.
Gas and oil boilers, coal, oil and gas power stations never pay for themselves because you have to keep paying for the fuel to keep them going.
Simon’s letter appears to reference his research, but his data is inaccurate.
The difference between solar electricity generation between London and Mumbai is average 2.66 kWh/m2 a day compared to 5.07 kWh/m2 a day. Not the 90% difference Simon states.
Lower temperatures at higher latitudes increase solar panel efficiency.
Performance data from Dorset rooftops and batteries –including my own – is indisputable. Installations are very worthwhile.
As for intermittency, batteries respond more quickly than gas turbines and are cheaper. Which
is why gas turbines are becoming increasingly unnecessary.
My own experience from having solar panels, a Tesla battery and now a heat pump is that my energy costs are far lower than I could ever have hoped for – my capital investment was paid within five years.
Change is so difficult for us to grapple with as a society, but I would be happy to share my real experiences with anyone interested and ensure that as many people as possible benefit from renewable technology.
Vince Adams Via email
Dementia group’s anniversary concert
THE first words have to be ‘thank you’, to everyone in Gillingham and in the very wide surrounding area.
In May 2016 it was decided to take on the challenge for Gillingham to become recognised as a Dementia Friendly Community.
A challenge, because at that time a lot of stigma existed about dementia, and that had to change.
After 10 years, and lots of
very hard work, all by volunteers, Gillingham and many of the surrounding villages have become much more dementia aware, and friendly.
But for that, thanks must go to all the wonderful support that’s been given to us by local people, businesses, supermarkets, retailers, clubs and groups, schools, nursing and care homes, medical practices and dentists, social and leisure facilities, churches and the town council.
Needless to say, the media have helped enormously.
Everyone has embraced and supported what Dementia Friendly Gillingham has done over the past 10 years.
We couldn’t have done it without you, and you have helped us fundraise by sponsoring our concerts, produced raffle prizes and encouraged your staff to become dementia aware.
So, for that, we want to say ‘thank you’ by having an anniversary concert on Saturday, May 16, at 6.30 pm, at St Mary’s Church, Gillingham.
Admission is free and a fabulous programme is planned for the evening.
And remember, Dementia
Friendly Gillingham is here if you need us.
We always say that dementia has no boundaries, and neither do we, so if we can help, we will.
Anne Kings Via email
St John Ambulance Badgers and Cadets
IN 2026 St John Ambulance celebrates the 40th anniversary of its National Cadet of the Year competition, recognising four decades of young people who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to learning lifesaving skills and serving their communities.
The milestone was marked at a special event on Friday, April 10, attended by HRH The Princess Royal, St John Ambulance’s Commandant-inChief – Youth.
We also had the privilege of welcoming the very first National Cadet of the Year from 1987, Simon Stockill, alongside several holders of the title from across the four decades of the competition, up to the present day.
Since the award was established, many former national and regional Cadets of the Year, including Simon, have gone on to careers in healthcare, medicine and the emergency services.
Others have taken the confidence, discipline and sense of social responsibility developed through their time as Cadets into a wide range of professions.
That journey often begins through St John Ambulance’s Badgers and Cadets programmes, where young people from the age of five learn first aid, build resilience and develop a practical understanding of helping others.
Readers interested in youth opportunities with St John
In the picture (from left) 2026 National Cadet of the Year, Emily England; HRH The Princess Royal; 2025 National Cadet of the Year, Dylan Hurst; St John Ambulance chair and Prior, Rear Admiral Simon Williams, CB CVO KStJ PHOTO: Brian Aldrich Photography
Ambulance – whether that is for their children or as a potential Youth Leader or Helper – can find out more at www.sja.org.uk/ get-involved/young-people
Kevin Munday Chief Commissioner, St John Ambulance
Young men carried my bags home
I WAS on my way back home to St James after a shop in town.
I had bought far too many books from the Oxfam book shop and fruit and vegetables from the top of town.
Five heavy bags to carry.
Never mind, I had so many lovely books to read when I got home.
So I walked slowly and put the bags down every five minutes to rest.
It seemed out of nowhere five young men asked me if I would like them to carry my bags. They told me they were from Turkey and visiting Shaftesbury for the day.
I couldn’t have been more grateful.
They carried them all the way back to my cottage.
Sadly, I do not think young English men would do the same.
Parents should teach their children to respect their elders and to look after their mothers and grandmothers.
Lucy Peill Shaftesbury
Go purple for stroke month
EVERY day throughout May, another 240 people will wake up to the life-changing impact of a stroke.
Mums, dads, grandparents, young people, even children –anyone can have a stroke. It’s a traumatic, life-changing event that robs survivors and their families of the life they knew.
I know this trauma only too well. This May marks the one-year anniversary of my own stroke.
My life was turned upside down when I had my stroke on
May 2 last year.
I was just 59 when I was rushed to hospital after my son recognised my symptoms.
The last year has been very hard, but with the support of my son and the Stroke Association I have been able to start getting back to a new normal.
This is why I am delighted to be supporting the Stroke Association’s Make May Purple campaign.
The Stroke Association is the leading charity in the UK providing lifelong support for all stroke survivors and their families.
This Stroke Awareness Month, the charity’s Make May Purple campaign challenges supporters to do something bold, bright and meaningful to support the 1.4 million people affected by stroke in the UK. It couldn’t be easier. Whether you bake, walk, host an event or raise awareness – make it purple.
Every minute you give and every pound you raise will make a difference.
You can go as purple as you like, so why not host a:
n Purple-themed bake sale –channel your inner star baker and create some purple masterpieces to sell.
n Purple party – turn the room purple with your decorations, dress code and refreshments.
n Purple quiz night – host a trivia quiz with purple-themed rounds.
n ‘Wear purple day’ – this is perfect for your workplace or schools.
Get more inspiration to help Make May Purple at www. stroke.org.uk/mmp
However you get involved, your support will help stroke survivors and their loved ones find strength through support.
Cheryl Fergison Actress
Teen’s thoughts on new technology
I HAVE had my fair share of personal experiences with social media.
Of course, the advance in
technology has allowed us to become more efficient and practical in our daily life but it does have major downsides.
I have seen countless rises in negative activity and behaviour since the normalisation of social media.
Sometimes I wish for people to look back at the old way of life where books, instruments, travelling and sport were the main sources of entertainment.
I was raised with digital technology but I feel this is a topic that should be talked about within my generation.
A large portion of the younger population have access to apps such as TikTok and Instagram, and spend countless hours on them daily.
I admit I spend some time on these apps but I choose to also create time for the activities I am passionate about.
I take a deep liking to older forms of media and fulfilment – and seeing that not many young people feel the same is shocking to me.
The fact that creativity has slowly been lost to high self-expectations and the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence shows how new advancements have caused us to lose the spark that makes us who we are.
My view is not to disregard and disrespect my generation or the new technology being founded.
I am simply just a teenage girl who would like to express her thoughts in a newspaper.
N Mace-Howse Bourton
Coal’s major part in China’s fuel mix
IN reply to Prof Sella of UCL – New Blackmore Vale, April 24 – may I make a couple of points.
He calls China an ‘electrostate’ – aren’t most developed countries – but he omits to mention that last year 55% of China’s energy came from coal, rather like us in the 1970s. Only 11% came from solar and 10% from wind.
He vastly overestimates the life of solar panels, most will be lucky to operate for 25 years not 50, and by invoking the ‘primary energy fallacy’ attempts to portray the combustion of fuel as hopelessly inefficient.
Combined cycle gas turbines used in our power stations are 60% efficient. By comparison, solar panels are 20% efficient.
Offshore wind turbines are up to 50% efficient but cannot deliver anything on calm days and automatically turn off when it is too windy.
Importantly, the professor concedes that we’ll need gas for the ‘foreseeable future’. We are in agreement.
And as we require full time gas turbines to back up intermittent energy sources, some may reasonably ask whether it is wise to continue to install yet more large-scale wind and solar but neglect our gas reserves, our ageing gas infrastructure and thus energy security because of an ideological commitment to Net Zero.
Remember that as recently as 2004 we were self-sufficient in natural gas.
Simon Latham East Knoyle
Buggy drivers should take care
I WAS shocked to be knocked down by an electric buggy on a Wimborne pavement this morning.
The buggy ran over the side of my foot. The disabled driver said ‘get out of my way’ and drove off. I did not see the buggy until it was upon me.
I would ask all buggy drivers on pavements to travel at normal walking speed and to use a warning bell or horn when necessary.
I am sure most buggy drivers do so and that my experience was a dangerous exception.
My thanks go to the two people who came up afterwards to ask whether I was alright.
Anne Whittle
Lagonda lover’s cars for sale
A BRACE of pre-war vintage Lagondas is entered in the Charterhouse auction of classic and vintage cars at the Haynes Motor Museum next month.
“The vendor has been an avid Lagonda enthusiast since the 1960s when he was often seen at racetracks such as Silverstone campaigning his cars,” said Richard Bromell, from the auction house.
“Sadly, now of a good age, he has given up driving.”
a scrapyard by the owner in 1976.
This has been dry-stored since then as a long-term project, although it has never been finished or driven on the road.
It is offered for sale without reserve and it is hoped the next custodian will finish this project.
First up is a 1930 Lagonda High Chassis 2-litre tourer he bought over 60 years ago.
This car, estimated at £20,000-£30,000, is running well and will be driven to the auction.
The second Lagonda, a 1932 2-litre saloon, was bought from
Charterhouse is now accepting further entries for this specialist classic car auction at Haynes Motor Museum on Thursday, June 4.
Richard Bromell and the team at Charterhouse, The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne, are available for vehicle valuations on 01935 812277 or via cars@charterhouse-auction. com
Pendant/brooch makes £712,500
DUKE’S Auctioneers welcomes clients to its upcoming valuation day on Tuesday, May 19, where free expert, complimentary advice is available on fine jewellery, watches, accessories, silver, wines and spirits.
These events allow prospective sellers to find out more about the possible value of their items as auction.
Market confidence remains strong. Duke’s Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Currency sale on March 18-19 achieved an 83% sold rate and realised more than £1.4 million, driven by competitive international bidding.
A standout Victorian diamond and pearl double pendant/brooch – pictured –soared to £712,500, highlighting enduring demand for rare, historic jewels.
Further successes included a 19th century rivière necklace (£57,500), cushion-cut diamond earrings (£137,500) and a Victorian cat’s eye chrysoberyl, diamond and ruby brooch/ pendant (£32,500).
Silver performed equally well, with a George II silver-gilt wine cup (£22,500) and a set of three George II salvers (£28,750).
Global demand for quality remains high and Duke’s valuation days present an opportunity for potential vendors to discover the value of their items.
May 10am
27th May 10am-4pm
Art Deco brooch valuable lot
ACREMAN St Auctioneers & Valuers, Sherborne, is holding a two-day auction at the end of the month.
The General Antiques & Collectors auction takes place on Thursday, April 28, at 10am, with Jewellery, Silver & Watches on Friday, May 29, at 10am.
Among the lots on offer are an Art Deco Van Cleef & Arpels platinum and diamond set brooch estimated at £3,000£5,000; a pair of ancient Greek 22ct gold hoop earrings with bull’s head detail at £300-£500; an 18ct gold antique enamel panelled bracelet estimated at £1,500-£1,800; and an 18ct gold heavy gent’s rings set with a cabochon ruby at £800£1,000.
Viewing is on Wednesday, May 27, 10am-4pm.
The catalogue and bidding are available online through easyliveauction.com and
thesaleroom.com
Acreman holds regular valuation days where prospective sellers can take in items for its specialists to evaluate.
Anyone unable to go in on the allocated days can phone or email to make an appointment and experts are also happy to make home visits if required free of charge.
Acreman is accepting consignments for its upcoming sales and is happy to advise on anything prospective sellers may be considering for auction.
Acreman Auctioneers & Valuers at 121 Acreman Street, Sherborne DT9 3PH is open Monday to Saturday 9am-4pm. It can take in everything from single items to complete collections and can help with advice and valuations to anyone
downsizing or who needs to deal with a whole house. It can also arrange full house clearances at competitive rates. Anyone who has anything they would like to consign can contact Gill Norman on 01935 508764 or 07908 333577 or by email at auction@acreman streetantiques.co.uk
VALUATION DAY
TUESDAY 19TH MAY
With Nicky Houston - Head of Jewellery Julian Smith - Head of Watches and Michael Roberts - Head of Silver
The Dorchester Fine Art Salerooms, Copper
(0)1305 265080 dukes-auctions.com
& Saturday 9th May
Old Glove Factory, Buckingham Road Gillingham, SP8 4QF Colour catalogue available at the-saleroom.com, easyliveauction.com and clarkesauctions.co.uk
Photographs can be emailed to the address below.
This Art Deco Van Cleef & Arpels
platinum and diamond brooch could sell for £3,000£5,000
George VI coin set
open for live bidding on Friday and Saturday, May 8-9.
One of the lots attracting interest is a fine pair of George III inlaid mahogany serpentinefronted knife boxes with original fitted interior and silver-handled cutlery. They are estimated at £300-£500.
Georgian knife boxes were status symbols in 18th century dining rooms and it is unusual to find a pair – and still containing Georgian silver cutlery.
A charming miniature William & Mary style oyster veneer chest could fetch £40-£60 and for collectors of more modern miniature pieces,
a Vitra Design Museum
miniature replica of the iconic Le Corbusier LC4 chaise longue is on offer.
A private collection of 19th century sword sticks will be sold on Friday and on Saturday the furniture section includes an English oak refectory table and set of six matching chairs by Colin ‘Beaverman’ Almack – apprentice and craftsman
with Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson – three modern design sofas by Helen Green and traditional and modern design furniture.
The gold, silver and jewellery section includes a 1937 George VI gold proof coin set struck by the Royal Mint to mark the 1937 coronation featuring a gold Five Pounds, Two Pounds, a
Sovereign and a half Sovereign. Just over 5,000 of these sets were minted, so are highly collectable, and this one is estimated at £6,000-£10,000.
The auction house welcomes enquiries from anyone thinking of selling a single piece or an entire collection.
If you are considering selling fine jewellery, portrait miniatures, coins, medals, bronzes, jade or other unique and interesting items, now is an excellent opportunity to achieve strong, competitive prices.
Home visits can be arranged for prospective sellers or visit the salerooms in Gillingham to discuss potential consignments in person.
For enquiries about consignment into any of Clarke’s upcoming sales, or for probate or insurance valuations, full or part house clearances, phone Richard Clarke or Karen Marshall on 01747 685592 at the salerooms at The Old Glove Factory, Buckingham Road, Gillingham SP8 4QF.
WANTED BY ESTABLISHED LOCAL DEALER - TEL 07771 518629
private collection Call 07885 373113 or 01278 431244 Graham
Lot 287 – A cased model of a pike in a naturalistic setting is estimated at £60-£100
Eclectic line-up for literary festival
war artist George Butler will discuss his illustrative work in Ukraine and other conflict zones at the 2026 Sturminster Newton Literary Festival.
Butler is known for his thought provoking work that goes beyond the headlines and highlights stories that never reach the news.
Military historian and author Damien Lewis will be highlighting daring tales of the SAS.
Kate Werran’s talk promotes her research into Black American troops stationed in the westcountry in the Second World War and who were often treated inequitably by the US Army.
Dorset writer and journalist Faith Eckersall will discuss cosy crime and her latest book set in Wimborne while Mark
Bridgeman returns with his popular interactive true crime event where the audience become the jury.
Travel writer Nick Jubber will be taking the audience on a global journey of monsters.
Giles and Annie Henschel of Olives et Al will be speaking about their 10,000-mile journey revisiting olive groves and the impact climate change is having on the harvest.
This year there are literary walks, a showcase of local
writers and a special writing workshop in partnership with the University of Exeter for people from Ukraine and their host families.
Festival chair Pauline Batstone said: “This is our seventh literary festival and again we offer a varied and interesting mix of authors and events – we hope as many
people as are able come to enjoy.
“Thank you to the team, especially Rachael Rowe, who have brought this about.”
The festival runs from Friday to Sunday, June 12-21. Tickets and the programme are available at www.sturlitfest.com and from 1855 Sturminster Newton.
Kate Werran being interviewed by Jo Durrant
Damien Lewis PHOTO: Nick Gregan and George Butler
Singers spring into spring
THE Gillingham Singers are giving the UK première of Hallelujah, by the Ukrainian composer and teacher Evgenia Marchuk, at their spring concert at St Michael’s Church, Mere. Evgenia describes the music as embodying ‘faith, hope and aspiration’.
Following the choir’s première of Stars last November, it will once again feature a new work written especially for them by Blandford-based composer Stephen Deutsch. Whoever Seeks is a catchy, secular work for soprano, alto,
tenor, bass and piano – and the choir is excited to be giving the piece its first ever performance.
The Gillingham Singers have included a number of 19th century works in the programme – Departure by Mendelssohn, and Amy Beach’s Peace I Leave With You, are delightful to sing. Nobody Knows, a modern setting by the choir’s own Steve Hale – bass – will also feature.
John Rutter is possibly best known for his carols that have
become, for some, part of their Christmas celebrations. His Requiem, written in the mid1980s, takes the choir down a very different musical path and will be its focus for the second half, with soloists coming from the choir itself.
The Gillingham Singers are very grateful to the vicar and the Friends of St Michael’s who accommodated them at quite short notice.
The spring concert is on Saturday, May 16, at 7.30pm.
Tickets purchased in advance are £10, including a glass of wine or soft drink. Contact Carole on 07572 786416 or via email at carole.brooks049@ gmail.com to reserve tickets.
Tickets are also available from Novia Stationery, High Street, Gillingham SP8 4QT and The Sprout and Flower, The Square, Mere BA12 6DJ.
Nearly 300 venues for Art Weeks
ART lovers will be able to view a huge variety of work over 16 days this month when 294 venues open to visitors during Dorset Art Weeks (DAW).
Art fans will be able to visit artists’ open studios, workshops, group shows and curated exhibitions – and meet emerging and established artists, makers and designers.
DAW, now an annual event, will this year run from Saturday, May 23, to Sunday, June 7, with a free guide widely available across Dorset from April.
FLOW, the headline commission for DAW, features new work by Debbie Lee in the Threshing Barn at Bere Marsh Farm, Shillingstone, in partnership with the
Countryside Regeneration Trust and supported by headline sponsor Hall & Woodhouse.
Anthony Woodhouse, of Hall & Woodhouse, said: “Dorset Art Weeks continues to flourish, offering great opportunities for artists, providing valued experiences for locals and visitors alike, and boosting the tourism economy.
“Moving to an annual event from every other year is to be welcomed given the popular demand. What could be better than making a day of it in Dorset!”
DAW is run by Dorset Visual Arts (DVA), a charity that supports visual artists and makers at all stages of their career.
Diyet all the way from the Yukon
DIYET and The Love Soldiers, from Yukon, Canada, are coming to Dorset this month.
Diyet embodies her southern Tutchone, Japanese, Tlingit and Scottish roots in her music, playing bass and singing in English and southern Tutchone.
The Love Soldiers are Robert van Lieshout – acoustic guitar, drums and percussion – and Bob Hamilton – electric guitar, pedal steel and mandolin. Together they serve up alternative country, folk and roots music, blending catchy melodies with stories rooted in Diyet’s Indigenous world view.
Over the past decade Diyet has performed at major theatres and folk, jazz and festivals across Canada, as well as touring the UK, Europe, the US and Circumpolar North. Most recently, they recently performed at Expo 2025 in Japan.
Diyet and the Love Soldiers are at Cranborne Village Hall on Friday, May 15, at 7.30pm and Broadwindsor Comrades Hall on Saturday, May 16, at 8pm.
Tickets and full details are available online at www. artsreach.co.uk
The Gillingham Singers are performing at St Michael’s Church in Mere
TABLE TOP SALE, 17th May 11-2.30 at the Grove Buildings, Mere. In aid of Cancer Research. Refreshments & Raffle
SHAFTESBURY EMPORIUM, Friday 8th & Saturday 9th May, 9 - 4.30pm, Town Hall Shaftesbury, Lots of locally crafted & consumable items for sale. Free Entry, Supporting DSAA & Weldmar Hospice, Next events: 12th & 13th June
STOUR PROVOST GARDENS OPEN SP8 5SA
Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 May 2pm - 5pm
Raffle and Cream Teas
Entrance £7.50
Under 14 Free Around 10 gardens
TOP BRASS & WIND CONCERT BAND supporting Dementia Friends, Gillingham at St. Mary’s Church Saturday 16th May 6.30pm featuring Bell Street Singers and Arabella Heaton. Music for everyone.
FREE ENTRY DORCHESTER VEGAN MEGAMARKET
10am-4pm Saturday and Sunday 16th and 17th May 2026
Maumbury Rings, Dorchester, DT1 1TY Not just for vegans! email : wdveganevents@gmail.com
SATURDAY 16th MAY 2026. LONGBURTON GARDEN CLUB. PLANT SALE 10:30am to noon. Cam Vale Community Hall, Wildewood Rise, Longburton DT9 5FZ. Plant Stalls, Cake Stall, Refreshments, In aid of club funds. Payment by cash or cheque –FREE ADMISSION
Deadline to place your advert is the Friday before publication.
TURNWORTH DAY
Sunday 24 May 11:00-4:30. Teas/ Plants/ Family fun/ Music/ Produce etc. Free entry/parking
BLACKMORE VALE JOBS GROUP
CAR BOOT SALE
-10th May. The Terrace Playing Fields, Sherborne, DT9 5NL. Sellers: 8am Buyers: 9am. Full details:www.friendsoftheyeatmanhospital.org.uk
Wincanton Choral Society
Neil Moore music director, with orchestra and soloists Peace in our Time
KARL JENKINS
The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace
Currently No.1 in The Classic FM Hall of Fame chart!
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Dona Nobis Pacem
17th May 2026, 7.30pm
Tickets £18 (under 18 free)
Wincanton Sports Centre, West Hill, BA9 9SP www.ticketsource.co.uk/wincantonchoralsociety www.wincanton-choral-society.uk
The church will be decorated with a children’s book theme. Enjoy the great Dorset outdoors with stunning views, and a chance to relax in beautiful surroundings adjacent to the church. Regrettably no dogs.
NAVIMOW ROBOTIC MOWERS LAUNCH EVENT
Discover the World’s No. 1 Brand in Wire Free Robotic Lawnmower Sales now available at EG Coles
PARLIAMENT is being prorogued this week, drawing the current session to a close. That means the two Bills I introduced – one to tax incinerated waste and stop any more waste burners being built, particularly in Westbury, and another to establish a new kind of retirement village lease along the lines of the highly successful New Zealand model –technically fall. I intend to reintroduce both in the new session.
I had wondered if this tax-loving chancellor might take a shine to my incineration tax proposal, but apparently not. There’s still a chance my Retirement Occupancy Lease concept could be incorporated into the Government’s Commonhold and Leasehold Reform legislation. I’ll keep pushing.
After prorogation comes the King’s Speech on May 13, setting out the Government’s
Conservative MP for South West Wiltshire
Dr Andrew Murrison
new legislative programme. Rumour has it that Sir Keir will reshuffle his Cabinet around the same time. Both should reboot his 2024 message on going for growth. That’s what was promised at the last election – a ‘fully costed, fully funded plan’ to grow the economy. His Government’s top priority, he said, would be growth.
Two Autumn Budgets and one Spring Statement have come and gone, leaving behind little more than rising unemployment, sticky inflation, the highest tax burden since the war and not one green shoot of growth to be seen. I suspect we’ll come to see these years as a missed opportunity between two great inflationary spikes to go for growth.
The first bout of inflation was triggered by Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The second one is being triggered by Trump’s war against Iran. We are not as directly affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as we were by Russian energy being suddenly cut off. But the longer the Strait remains closed, the higher prices will go. It is already too late to prevent a significant uptick.
Yet it started off quite well. When Sir Keir told us two years ago that he was going for growth we already had the
fastest growing economy in the G7. Inflation was falling. Unemployment was low. Then we got stuck in a doom loop of rising taxes, suppressing growth without cutting spending, thereby necessitating even higher taxes.
So, Rachel Reeves, or her successor, will likely be back for more at this year’s Budget. And so we carry on until the IMF bails us out. A bit like 1976.
A government that is serious about growth must make it happen – through fiscal incentives, actual investment rather than just spending and by getting a grip on public expenditure. Sir Keir can’t do that because his backbenchers won’t let him, as we’ve seen already over his mild attempts to curb spiralling welfare. The upcoming King’s Speech and any reshuffle is an opportunity to break the doom loop. Let’s hope it’s seized.
MP calls for action on peatlands
THE Liberal Democrat MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, Sarah Dyke, used a speech in Parliament to press the Government to take urgent action to protect and restore peatlands, warning that poor policy risks undermining both climate goals and flood resilience.
Ms Dyke, the Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs Spokesperson and a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, spoke during a debate on peatlands and renewable energy infrastructure.
She told Parliament that peatlands are among the world’s rarest ecosystems, covering less than 3% of the Earth’s surface while storing about 30% of global soil carbon. She also described how they play a vital role in tackling climate change, supporting biodiversity and regulating water flow.
Ms Dyke warned that more than 80% of UK peatlands are damaged, meaning many are now releasing carbon rather than storing it. She also raised concerns about the siting of wind farms on peatlands, saying renewable energy investment is essential but must not come at the cost of destroying priority habitats.
Ms Dyke said: “Peatlands are one of our most valuable natural assets. They lock away carbon,
help protect wildlife and act as natural flood defences. Yet for too long governments have failed to give them the protection they deserve.
“I strongly support investment in renewable energy, including wind power, but it must be done in the right places. If damaging peatlands releases more carbon than is saved, then we are defeating the object.”
During her speech, Ms Dyke challenged Ministers on why England still lacks the clearer planning guidance and carbon assessment tools already used in Scotland for developments on peatland sites.
She also called for greater urgency on peatland restoration targets and renewed her demand for a full ban on the sale of horticultural peat, an issue she has previously campaigned on through her own Private Member’s Bill.
Highlighting the local impact
in Somerset, Ms Dyke noted that the county remains one of only two in England where peat extraction still takes place. She warned that degraded peatlands and peat extraction account for about 10% of Somerset’s carbon emissions. And she linked peatland damage to flooding pressures in communities such as Mudford, Langport, Thorney and Drayton, which were hit again this winter.
Ms Dyke added: “Healthy peatlands slow the flow of water, reduce flood risk and help communities downstream. That matters hugely for Somerset, where too many residents know the misery flooding brings.
“We need a joined-up approach that restores peatlands, supports nature recovery and delivers clean energy in the right locations. Ministers must stop delaying and bring forward a clear long-term plan.”
Sarah Dyke speaks in the House of Commons
Time for action on waste crime
INDUSTRIAL waste crime and fly-tipping are blighting rural communities across the country, including here in Somerset. Often carried out by criminal gangs, and described as ‘the new narcotics’ by the former chief executive of the Environment Agency, illegal waste disposal costs the UK economy more than £1 billion each year.
It is far from just an eyesore. Illegal waste dumping causes extensive environmental pollution and toxic run-off, in addition to posing a significant public health risk. Despite this, waste crime continues to be massively under reported – and the Government does not collect proper data on illegal waste dumping, meaning we still do not know the true extent of the problem, nor the dangers it presents.
This is why, as Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Rural Affairs, I am calling on the Government to take waste crime seriously, declare fly-tipping as a national emergency and develop a proper strategy to tackle this damaging epidemic.
To successfully crack down on fly-tipping, the Government must take a dual-pronged approach – disincentivising illegal waste dumping and encouraging responsible waste disposal. The Liberal Democrats’ proposals include introducing £5,000 rewards for tip-offs about perpetrators and the setting of penalty notices for fly-tipping at a minimum of £2,500. We are also calling for bulky waste collection costs to be lowered to £5 per booking, making responsible waste disposal affordable.
But while it’s up to the Government to get the waste crime epidemic under control, we also have the power to make
Lib Dem MP for Glastonbury & Somerton Sarah Dyke
a difference as individuals. Waste was dumped illegally at a disused car park near the Red Brick Building in Glastonbury for over three years, with rubbish piles reaching over 5 feet tall before local resident Andy Denham stepped in. He recently raised more than £1,500 to organise a community clean-up, bringing about 40 local volunteers together to clean up the site and bring the car park back to a usable state.
It’s crucial that we celebrate the determination and initiative taken by local champions like Andy – dedicated volunteers who protect their communities and inspire others to follow in their footsteps. My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I will keep pushing the Government to crack down on fly-tipping –but in the meantime, we must all do the right thing, dispose of our waste responsibly and keep our communities clean.
As always, I want to hear from you. If you would like to share your concerns over fly-tipping, have an issue I can help with or wish to register your interest to attend one of my regular advice surgeries, please don’t hesitate to contact me at sarah.dyke.mp@ parliament.uk
Illegal waste disposal costs the UK economy more than £1 billion each year, says Sarah Dyke
Exams: Keep on keeping on
AN open letter to North Dorset GCSE and A-level students (please share with anyone you know sitting exams this year). Dear Student, You will be sitting shortly some really important exams. These are key staging posts in your learning development. You, your teachers and your families, will, I know, be doing all possible to achieve the very best results. It is quite some time ago when I sat exams! However, with our eldest daughter sitting A-levels and our middle daughter sitting GCSEs, I know, from first hand experience, what you will be going through. You are doing all you can to cram in revision and learning. Going over notes. Reviewing past papers. You will have mixed emotions –excitement through to feeling pretty nervous. Keen to get started. Wishing they would all be over. That is understandable. You can only do your best. So, my first message is: ‘keep going’. The adults in your life will doubtless be making your
Conservative MP for North Dorset
Simon Hoare
lives tough – ‘no, you can’t go to that party’; ‘put the game away and get your books out’ etc. It’s boring, I know. There will have been rows and shouting, perhaps some sullen silences? We don’t like doing it, but we do because we love you and we care and we want the very best for you.
Why do we care? You don’t need me to tell you that the world into which you are
growing is getting more complex and more challenging. There’s uncertainty in the job market. University is expensive. Buying a home of your own more costly. AI is changing and will continue to change so much. Let me share one concrete example – a friend of mine usually helps recruit 75 Law grads a year. This year? 35. Why? AI can do so much of the basic work. Getting a good job with good pay and prospects will be a fiercer competition. Employers’ costs are going up so they are only going to be taking on the best qualified, most productive people. I don’t write this to scare the s**t out of you but to make a point as to how and why the exams you will be sitting are so important. The results you achieve will help shape the rest of your lives and what you can achieve. You can take comfort, however, that you are presented with the widest range of choices –continue to A-levels, attending an excellent college such as Yeovil, going to university,
trying an apprenticeship, pursuing technical and vocational studies. You have a wealth of opportunities to choose from – all designed to help you be the best you can be.
I would urge you not to see your education and these exams as just abstract things. Try to see life as an exploring journey. During that journey you will be faced with challenging obstacles. How do you remove them? You use the keys that your education gives you. I went to an ‘ordinary’ primary school and ‘ordinary’ High School. I write this as your Member of Parliament. The first of my family to go to university. Someone who set up a business. I could do all of these things and more only because I had the keys to unlock my potential that education gave me. You can do the same!
So, take a deep breath. Keep calm. Keep going with that revision. Work harder than you ever have. Channel your nerves into positive energy. You can do it! Good luck!
Fire services must be well funded
FIREFIGHTERS are there for us at the very worst moments of our lives. They run towards danger without hesitation, stepping into situations most of us could never imagine. Their bravery is extraordinary, and it is seen every single day in the work of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. Yet right now, they are being asked to do more with less.
Last week in Parliament, an important debate on fire and rescue funding brought agreement across the political divide that greater support for frontline crews is urgently needed. During that debate, I raised concerns shared directly by local staff. Shift patterns have worsened, leaving firefighters fatigued and under significant strain, while specialist capabilities, including
rope rescue, water response and animal rescue, have been reduced.
This should concern us all. When frontline services are
stretched too thin, every community that depends on a prompt and effective emergency response is put at risk.
The Government must do more to support emergency services in Yeovil and South Somerset. I’m proud that the Liberal Democrats are standing up for rural communities by calling for a proper review of the fire and rescue funding settlement, so rural areas receive the fair and adequate support they need to keep people safe and services sustainable.
Public safety depends on having well trained and properly equipped personnel ready to respond when needed. Rural services in particular face unique challenges, where distance and geography make operations more complex, yet
funding has not kept pace with these realities.
We are already seeing how the demands on emergency services are changing. Flooding is becoming more frequent and severe, wildfires are an increasing risk, and storms are causing greater disruption and damage than in the past. This is not a passing challenge, and the pressures it creates for our emergency services are only likely to grow in the years ahead.
I’m proud to stand up for our firefighters. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service must have the resources, training and equipment needed to meet these growing demands. Anything less places lives at risk, and that is a risk we cannot afford to take.
Lib Dem MP for Yeovil
Adam Dance
Battle on to save fire stations
IT’S been an eventful week in Parliament as the Government rushed to push through legislation before we break for the local elections. The Foreign Affairs Committee has also been leading on the enquiry into the appointment of Peter Mandelson as British Ambassador to Washington. We heard evidence from the former Permeant Secretary of the FCDO who was fired by the Prime Minister, his predecessor, and the PM’s former Chief of Staff. We also had a vote on whether to refer the PM to the Privileges Committee to investigate if he misled Parliament. The whole thing is extremely messy and it is clear no one has covered themselves in glory.
Many people will feel this is a ‘Westminster bubble’ story, and I have some sympathy for that view. While it has
Lib Dem MP for West Dorset
Edward Morello
occupied a lot of my time, I’ve also been able to work on an important issue closer to home.
I met the Chief of Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service in
Parliament and again lobbied the Fire Minister to look once more at the funding formula that is resulting in a £1.2 million shortfall in the services budget. There are signs that the pressure is starting to bear fruit but we are still a way off having an answer from the Government.
Last weekend we had a serious fire at Newell House in Sherborne. Firefighters were on the scene within eight minutes and crews were sent from across the area, including from Maiden Newton, one of the stations earmarked for closure. It demonstrated the incredible importance of maintaining the footprint of the fire service so that in times of crisis there are the resources to respond.
I visited the scene and met local councillors and the fire service to see the damage and
Power moves closer to home
YOU could be reading this on the very day the votes in the UK local authority and county council elections are being counted, or the results may already be known!
Our democratic process has done its job, presenting all that were eligible to cast their vote for the local councillors that will be responsible for making the decisions on the services that directly affect our everyday lives – the schools, care homes, community safety, housing, children, family and adult services, planning, the registry of births, deaths and marriages, leisure centres, street cleaning, refuse and recycling, roads, potholes and pavements, parks and open spaces.
Did I miss anything? I could have gone on and on – on and on!
Did you register and use your vote? I hope you did, because as my list of council responsibilities demonstrates, local and county councils really
do matter.
Voting in both our local elections and our big General Elections are two ways we can honour and pay our respects to those that fought and campaigned hard for our freedoms, our right to vote and cement our place as British and global citizens, through
thank the firefighters for their efforts. I also wanted to pay tribute the many local residents and businesses in Sherborne that opened their doors and provided food and drink to the emergency services during the long night and day.
As we head into summer and the threat of wildfires once again rears its head, along with the increased risk of traffic accidents from the seasonal surge in tourists, I have no doubt that we will once again be grateful that the dedicated and brave retained and volunteer firefighters are standing by to come to our rescue.
It is also why MPs, of all political parties, from across Dorset and Wiltshire, are working together to get the money needed from the Government to keep our stations open.
participating in our democratic systems with commitment and gusto – and I sense things are about to get even more interesting locally in England.
Labour minister Miatta Fahnbulleh MP has announced in the Commons that the English Devolution and Empowerment Bill (White Paper 2024) received Royal Assent on April 29 – a rubber stamp from the monarch or representative that makes a Bill law, after it has passed through all parliamentary procedures.
The bill brings in a significant shift of powers from Westminster to local people, leaders, mayors, councillors and officers, so basically, it is the biggest change in our local governance and councils since the Local Government Act (1972)!
The bill brings in Community Right to Buy, giving communities first right of refusal for valuable and respected community assets,
such as town halls, community centres and shops, when they are put up for sale – an issue that has affected many communities across our counties.
Last month, I had the pleasure of attending a Cooperative Party event with the Music Venue Trust’s (MVT) Chris Sherrington and Bristol Labour councillor Tom Renhard, as well as many other equally passionate, UK wide live music venue and community supporters.
The Music Venue Trust’s mission is to protect, preserve and grow grassroots community music venues. It has raised £6 million and purchased seven venues threatened with closure already – so if you know any venues in danger of closure, or need support, contact the MVT.
I, for one, am excited to see what Labour’s Community Right to Buy will do for organisations like the MVT and our communities.
Candice JohnsonCole, on behalf of Dorset Labour
Home
& Garden
Simple trick for designing with plants
by Sally Gregson
HOW often do we visit gardens and are struck by a particularly appealing combination of plants, or colours, or structural forms? And by the time we have taken a blurry photo of them and gone home, we have forgotten just what it was that was so appealing. However, there is a simple trick to getting the combinations ‘right’.
At Great Dixter in East Sussex the apprentice gardeners are given a free hand to mix and match plants in pots.
Fergus Garrett, the head gardener, trains his students by letting them choose from a range of potted plants and seeing which combinations ‘work’ to their satisfaction.
The starting point is often a few perennials such as small conifers or generous pots of grasses. They form the bones, the structure of the
arrangement. Then in go a few brightly coloured annuals that pop with colour. The remainder of the display tends to comprise ‘filler’ plants that unite the arrangement into a ‘colour scheme’.
It works very well. Perhaps because the students are already so well acquainted with certain plants, or they just respond creatively to the freedom of moving pots about the arrangement to try different combinations. No doubt they all ‘brainstorm’ the finished
arrangement too.
The most successful of these are sometimes planted more permanently in the garden the following year, or more often, are probably just noted down by those students for future reference. But it’s a trick that’s worthy of imitation. And late spring is an excellent time to start potting up some of those special plants that demand attention.
For instance, Dahlia Magenta Star is a stunning, shocking raspberry-pink dahlia with large, single flowers that
Pricking out seedlings: Handle with care
by Sally Gregson
THIS spring has seemed to have arrived faster than ever before. The wet and cold winter has suddenly turned baking hot, and the seedlings are growing away too fast, getting leggy and thin. Pricking them out is suddenly an urgent task.
Using an old kitchen fork, gently remove each seedling from the seed tray holding it by a seed leaf, or cotyledon. (Never hold a seedling by its stem – the merest touch will bruise the cells in the stem and it will keel over and die in days).
Dibble the small seedlings into a tray of potting compost using the end of a pencil or a
thin stick. Make a grid pattern in the tray – four by five rows of, for example, lettuce or cabbage seedlings, should allow enough room for a few weeks’ growth. Always choose to prick out the strongest little plants with the largest root systems, and short gaps between the sets of leaves or internodes. And ‘plant’ them with the compost right up to the first pair of leaves to keep them short. If there is plenty of air around them, they should not ‘damp off’ at soil level.
It may seem tempting to save time and trouble by pricking out and potting up seedlings into larger pots straight away, but there are some drawbacks
to this sort of ‘commonsense’. Mostly, it is that the nutrients in the potting compost will have drained away by the time the seedlings’ roots reach out to take advantage. And a few days or weeks later the seedling will be sitting on a pile of wet mud, rotting off, not growing. So be prepared to ‘pot on’ the seedlings as soon as the roots have filled the containers, every time.
reach up to about 1.5m in height at their peak in late summer. It’s a favourite at Gravetye Manor, the Sussex home of the ‘father’ of modern gardening, William Robinson. It is doubtful that Robinson ever met this particular stunner – it was probably bred after his time – but the current head gardener, Tom Coward, is an ex-student of Dixter’s Fergus Garrett, and certainly they would have been introduced to each other. It obviously made quite an impression on him, as it does to all who meet it.
Use an old kitchen fork to gently remove each seedling from the seed tray
Once the seedlings have been pricked out or potted up, water the tray thoroughly to
settle the compost around the roots and place them somewhere fairly sunny and out of reach of any late frosts, where the little lettuces or cabbages can start to capitalise on their new environment. Harden them off gradually and plant them out as soon as they are big enough to cope with the outside world. And protect them from marauding slugs and snails.
Apprentice gardeners are given a free hand to mix and match plants in pots at Great Dixter
Hazardous Waste Carrier Call 07973 444620
We
North Dorset Tree Surgeons
We
Dorset Tree Surgeons
Home & Garden
Fruit Trees and Ornamental Trees, Perennials & Shrubs, Terracotta pots, Wild Bird food 20kg £14.50, Stockists of Kings, Franchi and Fothergill Budget Seeds, Potting Compost. Open daily 10am– 3pm. Langton Long Blandford Forum Dorset DT11 9HR. Telephone 01258-452513
Home & Garden
WANTEDDave buys all types of tools
Call 01935 428975
For all your fencing and decking needs
Closeboard, panels & sheds supplied and fitted. Gates made to measure.
Sherborne Fencing Ltd
Tel: 01935 814272
Mobile: 07814 246332
A FRIENDLY FAMILY RUN BUSINESS FOR ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS
Stockists of new Alko, Mountfield, Stiga, Weibang and Echo.
Come and see our range of garden machinery including lawn mowers, chainsaws, hedge cutters, battery products and more. Servicing, repairs, and parts for all major brands.
www.gillinghamgardenmachinery.co.uk 01747 859564
Unit 1, Brickyard Lane, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4JL
SELF DRIVE DIGGER AND DUMPER HIRE 01258 861647
WALLING AND LANDSCAPING www.yenstonewalling.co.uk 01963 371123 / 07751 278363
GARDENING SERVICES AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE Lawn mowing, strimming, hedge cutting etc. Contact Billy 07849 571742
HEDGE CUTTING AND LAWN MOWING SERVICES, ShaftesburyBlandford & local villages. Please call Trevor 07970-012130
MULCHING, short to very tall grass, call David on: 07768-658708
PETER PORT UPHOLSTERY
A Local Family Run Business based in Shaftesbury, Offering awide range of services including foam cut to size and Re-stuffing of feather cushions. 01747-228384 Peterportupholstery@googlemail.com.
ARCHITECTURAL, BUILDING & ELECTRICAL
HANDYMAN, reliable and experienced Call
Chris 07413 678076
G ROSE PLASTERING.
For all your Plastering needs Experienced and reliable Phone Gavin 07766-243762
L R MASONRY
GENERAL BUILDER, Stone work, Brick work 07971-982565 llewie30roberts@gmail.com
ALL DIGGER WORK. Natural Stone Walls. Footings-Drains-Drives. Tel: 07398 901302
Limited
ALL IRONWORK. Handrails.Gates. Railings. Repairs. Restoration. 01258 880301
SIMON’s REPOINTING!
T F PLANT
BAILEY & SUN LTD.
Groundwork, man and machine hire. Footings, ditchings, driveways, new build, drainage, extensions plus lots more. Call for a quote. 07546-762236. sun@baileyandsun.co.uk.
B.LUCAS
Repointing houses and exterior walls in lime mortar, rebuilding natural stones. NO VAT! Contact 07745-625617 Fully Insured, Free Survey Failed Double Glazed Units UPVC Windows and Doors Shower Screens, Balustrades
T: 01747 631899 / 07708 180306
e: shaftesburyglass@gmail.com
w: www.shaftesburyglass.co.uk
COVERING ALL ASPECTS OF BUILDING: New Builds | Extensions | Renovations Brickwork | Stonework | Carpentry Barn & Loft Conversions | Landscaping 07588804253 | 07791432215 Elevatebuild@outlook.com 30+ YEARS EXPERIENCE
07979
Sand, gravel, cement and topsoil supplied Trade & DIY. Supplied loose or collected. Small or large loads also bulk bag materials & small handy bags. Muck-away service of inert materials
Plumbing
Painting & decorating
Shed erecting & repairs
Flat pack furniture
Shelves & curtain rails
Door hanging & skirting boards
No job too small. Please call with your requirements. 01963 364457 07368 516658 dorsethandyman26@gmail.com www.jchandymanservices.com
25+ Years Experience, City & Guilds Qualified Extensions, Renovations, Alterations, New Build, Plastering, Floor and Wall Tiling, Brickwork, Blockwork, Stonework and Patios, Fencing and Decorating.
General builder FREE estimates 07809 362919
Guttering and facia clearing and replacement Fencing Pointing etc... ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
Providing reputable electrical services for over 30 years. Prompt service at reasonable rates. Shaftesbury Based.
registered woodburner and flue installer. Birdguards and cowls 07932 655267
Martin Simmonds Chimney Sweep
Manual and Power Sweeping, Stove Servicing and Maintenance, Camera Inspections, Property Maintenance 07368 250305/01747 590799
NVQ Qualified. APICS Registered Friendly, Reliable Service longthorpeindustries@gmail.com Manual and Power Sweeping, Stove Servicing and Maintenance, Camera Inspections, Property Maintenance. 07368 250305 / 01747 590799
NVQ Qualified, APICS Registered Friendly, Reliable Service longthorpeindustries@gmail.com
SOLID FUEL INSTALLATIONS LTD
Accredited installers of Wood burning & Multi fuel stoves, Chimney liners, twin wall flues, fireplace conversions, replacement hearths, chimney restoration & rebuilding, dealing with water ingress, cowlings, bird guards. Fully Insured, long term established. 01749 677440 – 07921074602- solidfuel3@aol.com www.solidfuelinstallationsltd.co.uk
Joseph Crocker Computers
Custom built gaming & office PCs
Desktop & laptop repair
Help with mobile devices
General computer and IT advice NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL 01963 23669 07484 690824
josephcrockercomputers.co.uk
& REPAIRS Purchase advice, Virus Removal, New PC Setup/Installation, Internet Connection, Upgrades, Computer/Software Tuition Call Gregg on 01963 370713
to place your advert is the Friday before publication.
M & M Painting & Decorating. 30 years experience. Fully insured, clean & tidy. References available. FREE no obligation quote. Tel: 07921-783296 / 01305-849380
Painting & Decorating
• Friendly, patient, and knowledgeable help
• Keep in touch with family, friends and colleagues for free over the Internet
• Sell online easily, quickly and reliably
• Buying advice, setup and installation
I’m Phil Hudson, your local tech expert and trouble-shooter. I’ll come to you and sort things out, at a time that suits you. Or you can drop off your machine at my workshop for quick, efficient care and maintenance.
PAUL WEST DECORATING SERVICES and wall-paper specialist. Also handyman. 35years experience. Free quotes. 07773-459168. paul.west945@gmail.com
GARETH TANNER G.O.T. DECORATING City and Guilds qualified Interior/exterior Decorating Free Quotes no VAT Tel 07736644452 go. tanner93@gmail.com
COUNTRY CARPENTRY
Doors, repairs, general maintenance etc Call Nick on 07887 358570
PUBLIC NOTICES
RACHEL BERYL HOSFORD Deceased
Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone with a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of Knighton Dairy House, Durweston, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 0QA, who died on 05/04/2025, must send written details to the address below by 09/07/2026, after which the Estate will be distributed with regard only to claims and interests notified
Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone with a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of Field End, Hugglers Hole, Semley, Shaftesbury, Wiltshire, SP7 9HG, who died on 05/11/2025, must send written details to the address below by 09/07/2026, after which the Estate will be distributed with regard only to claims and interests notified
M J Equine Ltd, is applying for a licence to use, Lower Farm Newton, Kington Magna, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 5EU as an operating centre for 2 goods vehicles, and 0 trailers. Owners or occupiers of land (including buildings) near the operating centres who believe that their use or enjoyment of that land would be affected, should make written representations to the Traffic Commissioner at Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UE stating their reasons, within 21 days of this notice. Representors must at the same time send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice. A Guide to Making Representations is available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-guide-to-making representations-objections-and-complaints-goods-vehicle operator-licensing
DEATHS
ROSEMARY ANNE LOCK
Rosemary of Charlton Marshall, formerly of Sturminster Newton, sadly passed away on 17th April 2026 at Dorset County Hospital, aged 66 years. Much loved Wife to Stephen, Mum to Ashley and Stacey, Granny, Sister to Ian and great friend to so many. Funeral Service at St Mary’s Church, Sturminster Newton on Tuesday 19th May at 2.00pm. Family flowers only please, but donations if desired for Headway, the Brain Injury Association may be sent to Grassby & Close Funeral Service, 4 Innes Court, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1BB, Tel: 01258 471024 or made online by visiting www.grassbyclose-funeral.co.uk
DEATHS
BETTY THELMA SKEATS
Passed away peacefully on 9th April 2026, aged 96. Will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Funeral service to take place at Yeovil Crematorium, Bunford Lane, Yeovil BA20 2EJ. on Monday 11th May at 3.20pm. Donations if desired British Heart Foundation, cheques to be made payable to the charity, may be sent care of The Co-operative Funeralcare, 2 High Street, Gillingham Dorset SP8 4QT.
EDMUNDS Eddie
Passed away suddenly on Monday 6th April 2026, aged 85 years. He will be sadly missed by all his family and friends. Funeral service will be held at Yeovil Crematorium on Monday 11th May 2026 at 2.00p.m. Please wear something colourful. Donations, if desired, to the British Heart Foundation. Donations and enquiries to A. J. Wakely & Sons Funeral Directors, The Old Police Station, Carrington Way, Wincanton, BA9 9JS. Tel: 01963 31310
Please make cheques payable to the charity.
HARDING
Rosemary Jean - ‘Jean’
Passed away peacefully on 17th April 2026 in Salisbury District Hospital, aged 100 years, of Gillingham. Beloved Wife of the late Ralph.
Dearly loved Mother of the late Ian. Much loved Nana, Great Nana and friend. Private cremation, followed by a Service of Thanksgiving at St. Mary’s Church, Gillingham on Tuesday, 19th May at 1.30pm. Donations if desired, in memory of Jean for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Trust can be made online at peterjacksonfuneralservices.co.uk
Eileen Sylvia Coleman
Died peacefully in Dorset County Hospital on 13 April 2026, after a short illness, aged 96 years. Beloved wife of the late John. Dear mother, grandmother and great grandmother. So much loved and will be greatly missed by family and friends. Private family cremation. Eileen’s memorial service will be held at St Mary’s Church, Winterborne Zelston on Monday 18 May at 12 noon. All family and friends welcome. Refreshments afterwards at the Village Hall to share memories and celebrate her life. Family flowers only. Donations to the Weldmar Hospice can be made online or by post to Lesley Shand Funeral Services, 28 East Street Blandford DT11 7DR
BAKER
BARNES Joan
Passed away peacefully on 20th April at the Blandford Grange Care Home. Aged 93 years.
Beloved wife of the late John Barnes.
Dearly loved mother to David. Private family funeral. Enquiries c/o Colin J. Close Funeral Service, Peel Close, Salisbury Road, Blandford DT11 7JU. Tel: 01258 453133
JOAN ELIZABETH DUCKWORTH
On 22nd April 2026, peacefully at home, aged 87 years. Of Shaftesbury. A loving Mum, Grandma and Great Grandma. Private family service. Donations in her memory for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance may be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or sent to Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532
Monica Mary Lewis
Peacefully at home in Marnhull on 5th April 2026. Dearly loved Mum, Sister, Gran and Great Gran. Funeral service at Mendip Crematorium on Monday 11th May at 1.30pm. Family Flowers only please, donations are invited in aid of Weldmar Hospicecare. C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, The Old Reading Room, Shaftesbury Road, Henstridge, BA8 0PP
EDWARDS Caroline
Passed away peacefully at her home in Stourton on Thursday 23rd April aged 64 years. A beloved wife to Garry and Mum to Wayne, Neil and Paul. An adored Nan to Caitlynn, William, Libby, Chloe and Liam. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends. Funeral service takes place at Yeovil Crematorium on Thursday 14th May at 2pm. At Caroline’s request please wear something colourful. Donations are invited in aid of The NSPCC. These may be left after the service or sent c/o Harold F Miles Funeral Directors, Meadows Edges, Folly Lane South Cadbury BA22 7ES, or online at www.haroldfmiles.co.uk
Alexander Clive John - ‘Clive’
FUNERAL DIRECTORS DEATHS DEATHS
Peacefully on 23rd April 2026 at home in Gillingham, aged 85 years. Beloved Husband of Lynda. Dearly loved Dad of Sarah, Colette, Genevieve and the late Helen. Much loved Brother, Brother-in-law, Uncle, Grandpa, Great Grandpa and friend to many. Funeral service at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Gillingham on Monday, 18th May at 1.00pm. Family flowers only please. Donations if desired, in memory of Clive for either Parkinson’s UK or Countryside Regeneration Trust can be made online at peterjacksonfuneralservices.co.uk
David Kendall
It is with great sadness we announce the death of David on 1st May aged 94. Dearly beloved husband of Marian, loving dad to Richard, Michael, Jeremy and Vanessa, granddad to Oli, Ben and Devon, father in law to Patrick, Hannah and Sarah, he will be missed greatly by all who knew him
Brister & Son
Independent Family Funeral Directors
When your family suffers the loss of a loved one, we are here to support, guide and reassure youevery step of the way
• Local knowledge and expertise with a reputation for quality that is second to none
• Reassurance that your loved one will be looked after with utmost care and professionalism
Newbury, Gillingham SP8 4QL Tel: 01747 822494
Available 24 hours a day. Find us at: dignityfunerals.co.uk/local
Recruitment
Recruitment
GROUNDWORKERS WANTED!
Farwell Contracting are looking to recruit a new team member to help with our upcoming volume of work. We are looking for someone who has good knowledge of groundworks and landscaping and also the ability to drive plant and machinery.
The successful applicant will need to meet the following criteria:
- Work well with others. No attitudes or big Ego’s! we work in small teams and so it is important that our staff are friendly and supportive to each other.
- Live locally to Blandford Forum
- Provide references of previous employment/experience
- Have plant experience. We are looking for someone that can operate excavators to a good standard as well as dumpers, rollers etc. We can help with plant certification if needed.
- Be prepared to get stuck in with manual work such as concrete laying, drainage, tarmac etc.
- Be honest and reliable.
- Have a clean driving license
What we offer:
- Employed or self employed position
- Good rate of pay (paid weekly)
- Company vehicle (depending on circumstance)
- Training and plant qualifications
- Local, bespoke work, avoiding the large housebuilding sites!
- A small friendly firm where you are a vital part of the team and not just a number
- The chance to learn new skills and progress within the industry
If you think that this is the right opportunity for you or you would like more information then please get in touch via email at admin@farwellcontracting.co.uk or Speak to Jan on (01258) 450800.
Please NO agencies! We manage our own recruitment and do not use agency assistance.
QUALIFIED VEHICLE TECHNICIAN REQUIRED
Due to expansion and busy workload for Sunrise Service & MOT Centre
Hours: 8am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday No weekends or bank holidays required.
MOT Tester an advantage but not a requirement. Must be confident working on all types of vehicles up to 3500kgs.
Attractive salary waiting for the right person. Uniform provided. Must have own tools/toolbox.
Training and courses available to further your experience and knowledge.
Come and be part of a great team!
All enquiries, call Traci on 01258 459798.
As an
heart of creating a lively and engaging environment for our residents. You will need to be flexible in your working hours and will work on a rota basis covering some weekends and evenings when the activity requires this.
Please call us on 01747 855844 or email dawnb@bramleycare.com to request an application form.
PART TIME GARDENER required to work for local small gardening business. Would suit active retired person. 2-3 days per week. 01258 459582 evenings
PART TIME RECEPTIONIST/ SECRETARY, with experience of office work required for busy accountancy practice in Sherborne. Please send CV to: iandodds@ lanhamandfrancis.co.uk
CARER REQUIRED IN TISBURY. Please Telephone 07468 538602
EXPERIENCED PAINTER & DECORATOR position available, Must have own transport and tools. Phone Mark on 07930-492646
WE REQUIRE A KIND LADY TO JOIN OUR SMALL TEAM OF CARERS, enabling my daughter to continue living in her own flat in Castle Cary. Hours are alternate Saturdays and Sundays from 10a.m until 10a.m next morning. You would sleep on site in your own bedroom. Salary £307.20 per 24 hour shift. Extra shifts negotionable. Contact: Elizabeth Cross 07939-946398
An excellent opportunity has arisen to join our long established and growing firm. The role has scope for a wide variety of professional practice work including preparation and finalisation of accounts and tax calculations for a diverse range of limited companies, sole traders and partnerships. IT literacy and the ability to work accurately and to deadlines essential. Recent or current practice experience essential. Very competitive salary dependent on experience. Part-qualified candidates who are looking to progress considered.
Please send your CV to: Mr C Jarratt, Andrews and Palmer, The Square, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4AR. E: chris@andpal.co.uk
TELESALES EXECUTIVE | Wincanton
Support Worker - Full, part time and bank available East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Make a difference in people’s lives.
We’re looking for caring, reliable individuals to support clients recovering from addiction at our residential treatment centre.
You’ll help promote wellbeing within a safe, structured environment. Full training provided - experience helpful but not essential.
Flexible shifts (days/nights/weekends)
Competitive pay + enhancements
Training, pension & wellbeing benefits
Apply via forwardtrust.org/recruitment or ring Louise Hodgson on 01747 830733 to discuss. We welcome applications from all backgrounds
• Do you still miss the buzz of closing a deal?
• Would you like to return to work, selling advertising space in this publication?
• D oes self-employed, part-time work with hours to suit you in your local area appeal?
• I f your previous sales skills would transfer to our type of selling then a very generous commission package is yours to earn.
*An example of what our commission could do for you.
We have high earning opportunities in all areas, if you fit the bill I would be delighted to hear from you. 2026 holiday paid for * C ar service/ repair sorted * K itchen update no problem * Contact Chris Lewis (Group Sales Manager): 01963 400186
Lunch good enough for ‘Mamma’
TODAY my recipe is inspired by my friend in Rome who sent me a photo of the lunch she was cooking for her Mamma! Thank you Malvina!
Roasted fennel, asparagus and courgettes (serves 4)
Ingredients
2 medium fennel bulbs, trimmed and sliced into 1/2-inch thick slices
200g asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 medium courgettes, sliced into rounds or half-moons
3-4 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons of olive oil
1 teaspoon Maldon sea salt (or to taste)
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Method
n Pre-heat the oven to 200°C
(about 400°F).
n In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced fennel, asparagus and courgettes.
n Add the sliced garlic, olive oil, Maldon sea salt and a good grind of black pepper. Toss everything together until evenly coated.
n Spread the vegetables in a single layer on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
n Roast in the pre-heated oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and slightly caramelised, tossing halfway through the cooking time.
n Once done, remove from the oven and serve immediately, either as a light lunch or as a side dish with your favourite piece of fish or seasoned shredded chicken.
We are delighted that our renovation and expansion project has been well received by customers as have our food and beverage offerings. After a very long search, we now have a fully staffed kitchen and offer our full lunch and dinner menu every day from Tuesday lunch until Sunday lunch. We are closed after lunch on Sunday and all day Monday. We offer a wide range of beers, cider, wines and spirits as well as a range of non-alcoholic options.
Get picking and feel the benefits
by Fiona Chapman
IT is time to start harvesting herbs again. The tea I made last year has just finished – I was careful with it – so I am going to start again. Mint is coming up fast. Hawthorn is out, and if I am not quick, it will be over. Elder is just appearing.
Meditations in nature: Under the boughs of the ancient oak
by Susanna Curtin
MAY is one of my favourite months. After the unpredictable chills of spring, it feels as though we have passed a threshold – the temperatures are increasing, the days extending and how wonderful it is to see the wave of green as the hedgerows and trees unfurl their new leaves. It has been especially joyous to walk through the bluebell woods –two weeks early this year due to a relatively mild, wet winter and a warm start to spring. How clever they are to bloom before the woodland canopy steals their sunlight.
Bluebell woods are quintessentially English and are associated with ancient woodland – so too are our ancient oak trees. We have more ancient oaks than the rest of Europe combined, mostly due to the Norman conquest and the creation of royal forests, chases and deer parks, where the trees
were protected for the sake of privileged hunting. As a result of these protected forests, England has in excess of 3,300 veteran oaks with a girth of more than six metres. Most of these are estimated to be between 400 and 600 years old, with some, such as the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, being even older, between 800 and 1,000-plus years.
While I have been in the presence of some famous ancient oaks, sitting under any venerable oak tree has a particular kind of magic. Staying close to home today, I have made my way to my local woods to enjoy the carpet of bluebells and to rest under the boughs of one of my favourite oak trees. This one is between 300 and 400 years old. Its large, gnarled root system bulges like a mound around its enormous base, providing a perfect place to stop for a while and listen to the woodland. Perhaps it is my
Treatment in your own home!
The wild garlic is flowering, and I really must make lots more pesto before it too goes over. Marshmallow seems to love it here and it is coming up, as is the
age, or perhaps it is my current circumstances, but I am finding that I need time out in nature more than ever. This digital world that is consuming us is so at odds with our evolutionary biology – the constant taskswitching, emails, texts, social media, and the increasing uncertainties that come with the AI revolution and all the ‘bots’ and unhuman processes that cloud our communications and information overload. I find I can no longer tell what is real and what is socially constructed for politics or profit. But, sat here under the boughs of this unfurling oak, life is real. The bluebells, wood anemones, bees, celandine, stitchwort, squirrels and birds are all true and behaving in a way I understand and recognise. I have always been drawn to trees, and particularly oaks. The family name from my maternal lineage is ‘Oakey’. It is of Old English origin and means ‘a dweller by the oak tree’ or someone from ‘a place with a notable oak’, so it is no wonder they mean so much to me. Oak trees symbolise strength and longevity, and were commonly used as landmarks, boundaries or meeting places. They are also ecologically rich and support hundreds of species, reinforcing the notion that they are special or life-giving, making them culturally symbolic in Celtic and Druid mythologies due to their size and stability through time. In the Beltane festival that marks the transition into May, the Oak King represents strength and light.
Perched here beneath the boughs of this ancient oak, I ponder the biological connection between us and other living things. And I wonder. Do trees have souls?
Hypericum perforatum – St John’s Wort – which is not yet ready to harvest but is looking healthy and well.
The huge-leafed Inula
They certainly have presence and an essence which I can feel – a certain vibe as I sit on these lumpy roots. Aristotle proposed that all plant life has a ‘vegetal soul’, fundamental for its nutrition, growth and reproduction, but lacking consciousness, whereas animals have senses and perception. I am not entirely persuaded by such divisions. For I am convinced that trees such as this one are more than just a biological organism, they have a living spirit with agency and worth. Trees also mirror the veins, networks and branching patterns on which our own human bodies, and many other things in nature, have evolved. The biological parallel between trees and the human placenta is not just poetic. A placenta is a rootlike structure that anchors itself to the mother and is a highly branched network of vessels that spread from the umbilical cord into finer and finer structures, just like a tree branches divide into smaller and smaller twigs and leaves.
Trees also respond to their environment and communicate with their neighbours through the wood-wide-web, the mycorrhizal networks we are only just beginning to fully understand. While we recognise the wonder of nature, I suspect it will be some time before we can fully unravel the profound entanglement of human and ecological systems, or where the boundary between science and philosophy truly lies when deciding whether or not a tree has a soul. But for now, I am happy to be in the company of this ancient oak, in whose presence I have found some essential peace.
n Dr Susie Curtin (email curtin. susanna@gmail.com)
helenium, or elecampane leaf, is appearing, and a friend gave me some Angelica arcangelica, which I am watching grow.
We just need a tiny bit of rain to give it all a boost!
Nettles abound and anyone who is worried about getting hay fever this year should be making a strong nettle tea – and elderflower – putting it in boiling water and leaving to steep for 10
minutes or so before drinking. Both herbs have a natural antihistamine reaction and if taken with a little local honey should help sufferers.
Nettle is also excellent for detoxification after the winter and is a great thing to drink in spring as it is packed full of nutrients and minerals, including iron. It is also good for skin conditions like eczema and
What we don’t say and why it matters
by Kay Parkinson
MOST of the things that slowly damage relationships are never said aloud. They accumulate quietly – small resentments, unspoken needs, words swallowed in the interest of keeping the peace, until, over time, the silence itself becomes the problem.
We tend to imagine communication breakdown as something dramatic – raised voices, sharp words, a door closing a little too hard. Those moments matter. The quieter breakdown, the one that unfolds in what is never said, can be just as damaging, often more so, because it is much harder to name.
There are good reasons we hold things back. We don’t want to seem needy or difficult. We wonder if our feelings are ‘important enough’ to bring up. Sometimes we have tried before, and it hasn’t gone well. Often, we care deeply about the other person and don’t want to hurt them or unsettle something that looks, on the surface, perfectly fine. Beneath this sits something more tender – a quiet sense of shame. A worry that if we say what we really feel, we might be seen differently or not fully accepted. As a result, silence can feel like the safer option, even when it comes at a cost.
The things we don’t say rarely
psoriasis as it helps to clear the body of toxins. And it can be drunk for arthritis as it stimulates the body to get rid of uric acid.
Peppermint is a wonderful digestif, increasing digestion, which is good for absorption. It too may have antihistamine properties, so can be added to the nettle and elderflower tea, which will also enhance the flavour.
disappear. Instead, they tend to surface sideways. As irritability. As distance. As a subtle cooling in a relationship that once felt easier. In some cases, they arrive all at once, spilling out in a moment that feels disproportionate to what has just happened. The truth finally speaks, though often in the wrong moment and in the wrong tone.
Learning to say the quieter, harder things is one of the most important relationship skills we can develop. Not forcefully, not perfectly, but honestly. This requires a different kind of courage, one that allows us to be seen more fully.
One helpful shift is to move away from accusation and towards sharing. Saying, “I’ve been feeling a bit disconnected from you lately, and I’m not quite sure why,” invites curiosity. Saying, “You never pay attention to me,” tends to invite defensiveness. The difference is subtle, but powerful.
Timing matters too. Difficult conversations rarely go well when they happen in the middle of stress, distraction or exhaustion. Choosing a calmer moment can make all the difference. The aim of these conversations is not to win or to prove a point. It is something quieter than that. It is about
I am a great believer in eating/ using the whole plant, particularly when fresh or drying it myself in a brown paper bag in a north-facing room. There is nothing better than making your own teas and then being able to drink them all over winter.
Rosemary can also be picked and dried and added to a tea for the brain and concentration. So much that grows in the
allowing ourselves to be known and being willing to know the other person a little more deeply in return. That is where real connection, and a sense of relational honour, tends to grow.
If certain conversations feel
impossible, or repeatedly escalate, it may be worth seeking some support. With the right space, people can and do find new ways of speaking and listening to each other. Often, what we are not saying is exactly what most needs to be heard. n Kay Parkinson is an MBACP (Accred) therapist and EMDR practitioner specialising in trauma, loss and shame, as well as pregnancy and birth experiences. She leads a Dorset-based practice offering one-to-one and couples support locally and online. www. placetotalktherapies.co.uk
The Malthouse Care Home Bay Road, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4EW
Our friendly team truly care for your family like they would their ownproviding compassion, respect, and dignity. With a deep commitment to meeting residents’ individual needs, whether it’s residential or respite care, The Malthouse is your perfect choice. healthcarehomes.co.uk
The things we don’t say rarely disappear. Instead, they tend to surface sideways.
Bowling club’s open day invite
GILLINGHAM Bowling Club are reaching out to new members – experienced players or total beginners – at the start of another season.
The club’s second open day is being held tomorrow (Saturday, May 9) between 10am-4pm.
Friendly, qualified coaches will be on hand to guide those new to the game and to answer any questions – bowls will be provided and the only requirement is that flat shoes are worn.
In just about an hour individuals should gain a basic technique and grasp of the game.
Even if budding players cannot make the open day, the club will always welcome them – simply get in touch.
Coaching coordinator
Graham Gibson said: “Bowls is a wonderful sport for all ages, sexes and generations which can be played as competitively or as socially as people wish.
“It is ideal for singles, couples and even whole families.
“It’s a great way to stay fit, flexible and active, and we have
competitive players who are now in their 80s and 90s.”
Gillingham Bowling Club are proud of their excellent green and modern clubhouse.
The club is home to indoor short mat bowls during the colder months and regularly holds social events such as coffee mornings, quiz nights and
themed events.
Some join the club as social members.
The club is at the end of School Lane, between Lidl and Gillingham School (SP8 4QW).
To find out more, visit www. gillinghambowlsdorset.com or phone 01747 824140/07749 712738.
League welcomes three new teams
THE Nadder and Stour Petanque League, sponsored by Stone Daisy Brewery, gets under way this month with the addition of three new teams.
This has led to a third –Ebble – division being formed. The newcomers are the Greater Good of Fovant, The Talbot Inn
at Berwick St John and the Coppleridge Inn, Motcombe.
Phoenix Falcons from Gillingham have withdrawn from the league after just one season.
Cup competitions are also
played during the summer under the administrative eye of long-serving league secretary Nick Browne, of the Royal Oak, Swallowcliffe.
League teams: Broad Chalke Chargers, Challengers & Chancers; Royal Oak Corkers, Acorns & Seedlings; Tisbury
Tigers, Tossers & Totties; Shaftesbury A & B; Stalbridge Shunters & Shufflers; White Lion, Bourton; Coppelridge Inn, Motcombe; Stapleton Arms, Buckhorn Weston; Talbot Dogs, Berwick St John; The Fiddleford Inn, Fiddleford; and Mere Mortals.
Coach: Top players need some ‘love’
by Paul Pearson
DORSET Cricket Society enjoyed a brilliant talk from the heart by Paul Farbrace, coach of Sussex CCC.
Paul recalled his modest cricketing days with Kent before moving into coaching. At Kent, his coaching mentor, Colin Page, told him the best cricketers need some love.
Paul never forgot that and was an integral part of the England coaching team when
CRICKET
England won the Ashes in 2015 and was with Sri Lanka when they won the World Cup.
It is the little things that matter with coaching elite players, he said.
Paul became a mentor to Joss Buttler, who on one occasion phoned him from India to seek his advice, as his batting at the IPL had gone off the boil.
Paul told him he had watched his IPL game on television and
detected from his batting mannerisms he was not looking happy.
Paul told Joss to play with a smile, to just focus on what he was good at and forget negative thoughts.
It is the little things that matter with elite players, he said. Paul said he did not discuss observations about Muttiah Muralitharan’s bowling in open player forums – Muttiah told him to choose a quieter moment on a one-to-one basis.
If Kumar Sangakkara wanted observations on his batting in the nets, Paul learnt to follow everything Kumar wanted to the letter.
He was also England’s ‘mind’ coach in Australia in 2015 and dealt with the issues that affected Marcus Trescothick.
When Paul joined Sussex as team coach, he focused in his first year on team performance and success came with the team winning Division Two.
PETANQUE
Gillingham Bowling Club would welcome everyone from experienced players to absolute beginners
Rockies beat fancied opponents in play-off
by Avril Lancaster
Pitching-In Southern League
Division One South play-offs Winchester City 0
Shaftesbury 2
SHAFTESBURY made history by reaching the final of the Pitching-In Southern League Division One South play-offs, with a brilliant performance against much fancied Winchester City at the Charter Community Stadium.
Favourites City started well and a speculative effort from former Shaftesbury midfielder Domenico Pansear Dower from 40 yards just eluded Ben Taylor’s crossbar.
The opening 20 minutes was mainly a game of cat and mouse with the Rockies’ Brandon Mundy having the best opportunity, but he headed straight at home keeper Tommy Scott.
However, in the 25th minute Jack Hoey put the ball into the path of top scorer Toby Holmes who turned and unleashed a shot past the motionless Scott into the top corner to give the Rockies the
It was Holmes’ 31st goal of the season.
Shaftesbury soaked up play in the second half and Oliver Balmer should have levelled but blasted just wide of Taylor’s post.
City started to lay more of a glove on the visitors with Bradley Waters able to create more and Taylor pulled off some vital stops.
The Rockies remained composed with Luke Burbidge and Lewis Brown switching play and James Ollis and
Ladies embrace cocktail theme
by Jenny Marshfield
THE Ladies Section at Wheathill Golf Club enjoyed a lively and good-humoured Margarita Competition, tackling a fun but challenging cocktail-themed format.
Teams played holes 1–6 as four ball better ball Stableford, holes 7–12 as Greensomes and holes 13–16 as foursomes, creating plenty of laughter – and the occasional moment of scoring confusion – along the way.
Despite the mix of formats, the field rose to the challenge, with Jinny Brockway and Val Hyldon – pictured with Ladies Captain, Sylvia Bates – the eventual winners.
The event once again showcased the camaraderie, spirit and enthusiasm of the club’s female players.
Holmes both went close to adding to the lead.
Burbidge picked up an injury and was replaced by Tom Hewlett after 66 minutes, and Hewlett continued to turn on the burners.
In the 10th minute of stoppage time, with Scott now playing centre forward, the ball was hooked away into the path of Holmes, and with the goal empty and Scott and Baughan chasing, the striker ran the ball into an empty net to book the Rockies a place in the final at Malvern Town.
WINCANTON Golf Club results:
Seniors roll up singles front 9 – April 21: 1 Derek King 18, 2 David Hallett 17, 3 Chris Mieville 16 ocb, 4 Harry Eden 16, 5 Geoff Lye 16.
Seniors roll up singles front 9 – April 24: 1 Harry Eden 20 ocb, 2 Kevin Bieda 20, 3 Pete Starkey 20.
Monthly medal – April 25: 1 Jo Brickwood – nett 68, 2 James Thow – nett 69, 3 Richard Czemerda – nett 71 ocb, 4 Mike Case – nett 71.
Seniors roll up singles stableford front 9 – May 1: 1 Alan Armstrong 20, 2 Dave Shean 18, 3 Martyn Andrews 17 ocb, 4 John Wolstenholme.
HOCKEY
Club meeting
GILLINGHAM Hockey Club are holding their annual meeting at Gillingham Social Club on Thursday, May 21, at 7pm.
The club say all members are encouraged to attend the meeting which will review the past season and look ahead to the club’s future. Everyone is welcome.
Toby Holmes scored twice in Shaftesbury’s win over Winchester City
The ins and outs of AHDS
ACUTE Haemorrhagic
Diarrhoea Syndrome (AHDS), previously known as Haemorrhagic Gastroenteritis (HGE), is a syndrome of symptoms including bloody diarrhoea. It can have multiple underlying causes, variable symptoms and the prognosis for recovery can vary from good to grave.
It is common for dogs with any form of diarrhoea to have some blood in their faeces. If these are streaks or small volumes of blood it is often due to inflammation and will resolve as the diarrhoea resolves. This is not typically classed as AHDS. When there is significant blood within the faeces or production of apparent pure blood on its own, AHDS is suspected. There is no treatment that will affect the progress of the condition and treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Studies have shown that antibiotics are of no benefit and may actually be detrimental, leading to death of beneficial gut flora. However, if signs of sepsis or severe symptoms develop, then antibiotics may be required for any secondary
C.B. Brett & Son
Pet & Wildlife
Dog - Wet, Dry & Frozen Food
Cat - Wet & Dry Food
Bird/Hedgehog/WildlifeFood, Feeders & Accessories
Old Market Car Park, Hound St, Sherborne, DT9 3AB 01935 812107
infection.
AHDS can be self-limiting with small changes to diet such as feeding a bland easily digestible food little and often until symptoms resolve. If additional symptoms such as vomiting develop, or the patient is not eating or drinking enough to maintain hydration levels, or If fluid and/or blood loss is substantial, the patient should be assessed for dehydration,
WANTED! GINGER CAT, aged 3-5years, 01935-812617
SPRINGHILL POULTRY
BH21 4JE, Point of lay chickens, Ducks, Turkeys, Feed and bedding, 07970-672003
Deadline to place your advert is the Friday before publication.
blood loss and changes in blood measurements suggesting ongoing damage. Intravenous (IV) fluids and additional support may then be required. Even patients which are initially assessed as not needing IV fluids should be reviewed if no improvement is seen or if they are deteriorating.
AHDS can be due to a dietary indiscretion, bacterial infection or viral infection, such as Parvovirus, and the underlying cause can affect the chances of recovery. Some dogs will recover without requiring treatment, some will recover following supportive care and some will sadly succumb if the damage is too severe or secondary complications develop such as sepsis or Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) where the body develops a
LABRADOR PUPPIES looking for homes, suit family & working. 07795-183054
Acute Haemorrhagic Diarrhoea Syndrome (AHDS) can have multiple underlying causes, variable symptoms and the prognosis for recovery can vary from good to grave
severe generalised inflammation. Both sepsis and SIRS are life threatening and, even with treatment, the patient may not survive.
There is no one test for sepsis or SIRS and suspicion is based on a combination of clinical findings such as a high or low body temperature, very high or very low neutrophils – a type of white blood cell seen in acute inflammation – and a high heart rate, along with other possible findings.
If you suspect your dog has AHDS and is unwell, seek veterinary assessment to see if additional supportive care is required. Even if initial assessment is okay, seek a repeat examination if progress is not as expected. If treatment is recommended but the dog is already very unwell its chances of recovery may be reduced.
CUDDLES FOR CATS reliable cat sitting in your home.Jacqui 07791-198679
Signs your dog might have separation anxiety and how to help
by Raychel Curson
SEPARATION anxiety is a common issue among dogs and can be stressful for both pets and owners. Recognising the signs early is key to helping your furry friend feel more comfortable when left alone. Here are some common symptoms and strategies to manage separation anxiety.
n Excessive barking or howling: Dogs may vocalise loudly when you leave, often continuing until you return.
n Destructive behaviour: Chewing furniture, scratching doors or digging near exits can indicate stress.
n Pacing or restlessness: Repetitive pacing, circling or inability to settle down is a warning sign.
n Accidents in the house: Even well-trained dogs may urinate or defecate when left alone.
n Over-excitement upon return: Excessive jumping, drooling or frantic behaviour when you come home can signal anxiety. How to help your dog
n Gradual desensitisation: Start by leaving your dog alone for short periods – that they can cope with – gradually increasing the duration to help them adjust.
n Create a safe space: Provide a comfortable area with their bed, toys and access to water. This helps them feel secure.
n Use interactive toys and puzzles: Keep your dog mentally stimulated while you’re away to distract from anxiety.
n Stay calm during departures and returns: Avoid dramatic goodbyes or over-the-top greetings – keeping interactions low-key reduces stress.
n Consider professional help: If anxiety persists, consult your vet and get in touch with a behaviourist like myself –ensure they are appropriately qualified and accredited –CCAB, APBC, FABC, ABTC.
Separation anxiety can impact your dog’s quality of life, but with patience and consistent strategies, it can be managed. Understanding your dog’s needs, providing comfort and gradually building confidence can help them feel safe and secure, making alone time less stressful for everyone.
n Raychel Curson BSc (Hons) MA CCAB APBC-CAB FABC ABTC-CAB is owner of Pet Peeves Animal Behaviour & Teaching. Email raychel@ petpeevessomerset.co.uk
MID DORSET CATS PROTECTION C ats looking for new homes
The Mid Dorset branch of Cats Protection has a number of cats still needing veterinary care before being homed.
The group is also looking for people to foster cats and has other roles available in the branch. To enquire about any of these roles or cats for rehoming, phone 07831 586114.
LOST CATS
IF your cat has gone missing, Cats Protection offers practical steps to help bring it home safely.
Start by searching your local area thoroughly, checking sheds, garages and outbuildings where it might be hiding.
Create posters and share them in your neighbourhood and online communities.
Inform local vets and animal rescues in case someone has found your cat. Ensure your cat’s microchip details are up to date, as this can be a vital tool for identification, and update the microchip database to advise your cat is lost. For a detailed guide and additional advice visit the Cats Protection website or call us on 07831 586114..
Independent family run business offering a very personal, caring pet cremation service to bereaved pet owners.
Collection Service Farewell Room Out of Hours Service provided Located in a rural countryside setting on the Somerset Dorset border
n Onna, 14. Beautiful friendly lady, is on medication
n Delilah, two. Delightful young cat. No young children.
Signs send out message on bikers
MOTORCYCLISTS are preparing to make the most of better weather and longer daylight hours with summer just around the corner.
Now drivers and riders across Dorset are being reminded to look out for one another as the annual ‘biker season’ begins.
More motorcyclists are
expected to be travelling across the county, particularly on popular rural and coastal routes such as the coast road around Chickerell and West Bay.
In an effort to prevent injuries and fatal accidents, additional warning signs have been placed at high-risk routes, particularly around the Coast Road where motorcyclists have
been injured in Dorset in the past.
Drivers and riders are encouraged to slow down, stay alert and adapt their driving/ riding to the road environment, especially as traffic volumes increase with improving weather and longer daylight hours.
Studies show that springtime is the most dangerous time for motorcycle collisions, with a peak in serious injuries and fatalities being seen as motorcyclists make their way back onto the roads after the winter break.
Police and local road safety partners, aimed at reducing serious and life changing injuries on the road network.
Cllr Jon Andrews, cabinet member for Place Services at Dorset Council, said: “As we move into the warmer months, we know that more people will be enjoying Dorset’s roads on motorcycles.
This may be because motorcyclists are a bit rusty after not riding much over the winter period, because other road users are not used to seeing bikes out on the roads or probably a combination of both.
The initiative forms part of a broader, coordinated approach between Dorset Council, Dorset
“These warning signs are a simple but effective reminder for everyone to stay alert, slow down and look out for one another.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility, and increased awareness at the right time of year can help prevent collisions and save lives.”
More information about how to avoid being involved in a motorcycle collision can be found on DocBike’s website, www.docbike.org/rider-skillshub
2007 (07) Alfa Romeo 159 Lusso 3.2V6 JTS Q4 4x4 4dr. 260bhp, 4-wheel drive, superb condition, heated leather, not perfect as its old, folders of records for ££££’s spent, collector or enthusiast item, 98,500 miles
£6500
2017 (17) Ford KA+ 1.2 Zetec 5dr. 85bhp, petrol, 5 speed manual gearbox, parking sensors, cruise control, hill hold, air con, Bluetooth, upto 56mpg economy, small exterior with a spacious interior, 76,900 miles ....................................£6450
2019 (19) Mitsubishi ASX 1.6 Juro 5dr. Medium sized SUV, high seating & ground clearance, big boot, reverse camera, heated seats, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, Bluetooth, hill holder, 82,500 miles £8450
2019 (19) Citroen C3 Aircross 1.2 Flair Automatic 5dr. High seating, sat nav, park sensors, reverse camera, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, hill holder, Bluetooth, cambelt replaced, only 18,100 miles
£10950
2012 (62) Ford Ka 1.2 Studio 3dr. 69bhp, petrol, 5 speed manual gearbox, £35 yearly tax, 50+mpg, simple car with basic spec, cambelt replaced, MOT Nov 2025, private sale on behalf of a customer, 73,500 miles .......................................£2950
2006 (06) Mercedes-Benz CLK200 1.8 Kompressor Sport Automatic Convertible 2dr. 163bhp, petrol, 5 speed auto gearbox, recent new roof & shocks absorbers, full history, 15 stamps, heated leather, electric roof, auto lights & wipers, cruise, park sensors, MOT June 25, private sale on behalf of a customer, 77,500 miles ...........................................................................................................£4250
2003 (03) Peugeot 106 1.1 Zen 5dr. Nice example, not perfect as its old, MOT September, 66,700 miles £1750
2014 (64) Ford B-Max 1.4 Zetec MPV 5dr. High seating, decent boot, sliding rear doors, parking sensors, cambelt kit replaced, only 39,800 miles
2014 (14) Ford Kuga 2.0TDCi Titanium X AWD 4x4 SUV 5dr. 163bhp, diesel, 6 speed manual gearbox, 4x4, high seats, leather, heated seats, heated screen, sat nav, park sensors, auto park, reverse camera, sunroof, auto lights & wipers, cruise, lane aid, sign recognition, hill hold, electric tailgate, cambelt replaced, 92,500 miles .........£7450
£5250
2012 (62) Ford S-Max 1.6TDCi Titanium 7 Seat MPV 5dr. High seating, big boot, flat fold rear seats, park sensors, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, Bluetooth, cambelt replaced, only 74,800 miles, selling for a client
£4950
2020 (69) Ford Tourneo Custom 2.0TDCi Titanium 320 L1 H1 Automatic 9 Seat Minibus 5dr. 130bhp, diesel, 6 speed automatic gearbox, 8 seat plus driver, reversable seats for conference or forward facing, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, heated front seats, park sensors, cambelt replaced, 97,000 miles ............£21500 + VAT = £25800
2018 (18) Ford Transit Connect T200 1.5TDCi Van 5dr. 100bhp, 2 seats, material lined with open cab & no bulkhead, double rear doors, 1 rear side door, roof rails, parking sensors, no vat to pay, 58,300 miles
£8750
2018 (18) Ford Transit Connect T200 1.5TDCi Van 5dr. Ply lined, 2 seats, cambelt replaced, clean & tidy small van, double rear doors, 1 rear side door, high mileage but well-kept van, no vat to pay, 139,500 miles
£5850
2020 (69) Ford Transit 2.0TDCi Trend 350 MWB MR L2 H2 11 Seat Minibus 5dr. 130bhp, diesel, 6 speed manual gearbox, 10 seat plus driver, 2 front seats, 9 rear seats, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, parking sensors, heated front seats, hill hold, cambelt replaced, 90,200 miles.........................£19500 + VAT = £23400
2017 (67) Kia Picanto 1.25 GT Line S 5dr. Sat nav, parking sensors, reverse camera, heated seats, heated steering wheel, Bluetooth, sunroof, auto lights, hill holder, cruise control, 68,300 miles
2014 (64) Kia Venga 3, 1.6 Automatic (Sat Nav) 5dr. 123bhp, petrol, 4 speed automatic gearbox, high seating, decent boot, sat nav, parking sensors & reverse camera, electric sunroof, partial leather, heated seats, cruise control, sign recognition, hill hold, only 38,800 miles........................................................£7850
£7450
2023 (72) Mercedes-Benz V-Class V220 2.0CDi Sport Automatic 6 Seat MPV 5dr. Luxury travel, 6 seats, heated memory leather, positional rear seats, sat nav, cruise control, electric doors, electric tailgate, sunroof, auto lights & wipers, parking sensors & 360 view cameras, hill holder, rear heating, 44,900 miles £39500
2016 (66) Mazda 3, 2.0 SE-L Nav Automatic 5dr. 120bhp, petrol, 6 speed automatic gearbox, sat nav, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, parking sensors, sign recognition, heated seats, hill hold, 75,900 miles...................................£8450
2015 (65) Peugeot 308 1.2THP Allure Automatic 5dr. 130bhp, petrol, 6 speed automatic gearbox, sat nav, park sensors, reverse camera, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, hill hold, only £35 a year road tax, 50+mpg economy, cambelt has been replaced, 69,500 miles..............................................................DUE IN SOON
2019 (19) Suzuki Ignis 1.2 SZ3 5dr. Small & compact, park sensors, auto lights, Bluetooth, 50,500 miles ................................................................................. £7450
2023 (23) Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0TSi Black Edition 5dr. High seats, park sensors, auto lights & wipers, collision safety systems, Bluetooth, hill holder, sliding rear seats, adjustable boot floor, 21,800 miles £15950
2019 (19) Renault Captur 1.5DCi Iconic Automatic SUV 5dr. 90bhp, diesel, 6 speed automatic gearbox, sat nav, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, parking sensors, hill hold, high seating, sliding rear seats, upto 67mpg economy, 20,300 miles .........................................................................................................£12250
2019 (69) Volkswagen Golf 1.6TDi Match Estate 5dr. Sat nav, park sensors, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, big boot, hill holder, collision safety system, road sign assist, cambelt kit replaced, 76,800 miles £9950
2017 (17) Vauxhall Astra 1.4 SRi 5dr. 100bhp, petrol, 5 speed manual gearbox, auto lights & wipers, parking sensors, cruise control, pre-collision assist, sign recognition, hill hold, Bluetooth, 63,600 miles ..............................................£6950
2016 (66) Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0TDi R-Line 5dr. Stunning mid-size SUV Station Wagon, high seating, big boot, partial leather, heated seats, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, sat nav, sunroof, collision safety system, hill holder, sign assist, parking sensors, cambelt kit has been replaced, only 54,600 miles £15850
2016 (66) Vauxhall Mokka 1.6CDTi SE 4x4 SUV 5dr. 136bhp, diesel, 6 speed manual gearbox, 4 wheel drive, high seating, big boot, heated leather seats, heated steering wheel, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, parking sensors, hill hold, performance & economy, upto 60mpg, 65,500 miles ....................................£7250 WE BUY CARS & VANS SO IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL GIVE US A CALL,
• Runners / Non-Runners
• Unfinished Projects
• Minimum of £200
CLASSIFIED ADS
LAURA ASHLEY SOFA CRANBERRY, large, immaculate £600 07747-368586
OLD CAST IRON
WHEELS for Shepherds Hut, with hubcap. Offers. Tel: 01747-838217
PINE CUPBOARD
32” long 19” wide 31” high. All pine, 2 drawers, 2 doors. £55 ONO. 01963-351931
LARGE OVAL WOODEN garden table, with 6 chairs. £100. Tel: 01935-413517
UPVC SLIDING PATIO
DOORS 246cmW x 213cmH, double glazed, £195. Gillingham 07810 156612
LOAR JAZZ GUITAR, as new. £470. Tel: 07938-750619
FAMILY TENT 4
PERSON, 2 bedrooms, living area, used once £190 ono. 07402 648516
BELFAST SINK WITH OVERFLOW.
470mm X 395mm X 210mm. £75 ono. Tel: 01747-838217
MTD LAWNFLITE
ride on mower, purchased 2019, excellent condition, moderate use. Buyer to collect. £1200. Tel: 01747-828820
PHANTOM TRANSIT WHEELCHAIR, Break, Foot-rest, Bag, v.g.c. Hardly used. Fold tidy to store, cost was £395. Black. £180. Tel: 01963-351931
FREE CLASSIFIED ADS
GOLD CLUBS, LYNX, and geomax graphite shafts £30. Tel: 01749-707075
TWO STORAGE TRUNKS
£20 each Tel : 01747- 838574
PORTMERION -
2 jumbo sized 1990s vintage cups and saucers, botanical garden design, still in boxes unused. £12 the pair. Tel: 07485-107859.
TV CORNER UNIT with shelf and drawer, good condition, £25 01935 872664
GENTS MOUNTAIN BIKE, 26” wheels, 10 speed. £30. Tel: 01963-31072
GREEN CHAIN LINK
FENCING 1800 x 7 metres, £20. 01935 814746
LAURA ASHLEY NATURAL
‘LEWES’ RUG 140 x 200 & Runner 70 x 200.Good Condition. £25. Tel: 01747 861566
HEAVY DUTY WALL
MOUNTED TV bracket includes all fittings and instructions. £30. Tel: 07773-619179
4 INCH SOLID BRASS
PARLIAMENT hinges. £50 for pack of 10. Tel. 01258 817021
LARGE ALIBABA WICKER
laundry basket £10. Large blue ceramic light house £15. Tel:01747 838 574.
LIGHTWEIGHT SUITCASE with wheels used once. 30” high 19” deep excellent condition £20 Gillingham 07769 708992
BUCKET CHAIR WOODEN
LEGS good condition Beige/ White £25 tel 07763-439869
BATHROOM VANITY UNIT, sink, mixer tap. White hardly used VGC £30. Tel 01963-440891
FREE TO TAKE AWAY
solid wood kitchen chairs and stools and computer desk Tel 07751-016907
SIX EDINBURGH CRYSTAL Wine Glasses, New, Boxed, Ideal gift. £40. ROYAL DOULTON BERKSHIRE 9 inch Plates, gravy boat, serving platter and various other pieces. 07966 053 208 (Shaftesbury).
12” STAINLESS STEEL Preserving pan £10, Tan brogues size 8 worn once £15 07814-630408
OLD BOOKS BOUGHT. Will call by appointment entirely without obligation. Bristow & Garland 07392 602014 GENTLEMAN LOOKING FOR YOUNGER LADY. Friendship & company. Please call: 07980-036250
Trials and tribulations of TB testing
by Tria Stebbing
TB testing came around again far too quickly.
Belle and Sebastian were bought down to the lower field where we had strategically placed the cattle crush and working area. Never underestimate the intelligence of animals when it comes to something new being in the field. The equipment needed to be sniffed, butted, watched from a distance and ultimately ignored.
The EU says we have to test for TB currently every six months, which if I am being honest is tough, as we only have two cows now that live on an isolated hill in the middle of nowhere and don’t leave the site. If we do not test within seven days of the test being due, restrictions will be applied preventing us from moving them. Ironically, animals can still join the herd. If we go to being four months or more late, enforcement action is taken which leads to prosecution.
To test the beasts a small area of fur is shaved away in two places on the shoulder area to administer SICCT skin test. The test measures the response to the skin test on day one and day four. In the best case scenario, the cows do not react at all to the injection. At this point I
should say that we have never seen badgers on the fields surrounding them.
From our point of view the risk of death by being gored by a stressed animal far outweighs the risk of TB. The cows do not like going into the crush, no matter how many times we coax them in to feed or be brushed there. The sound of the clippers then stresses them more, as does the injection itself. The best bit – we do it all again four days
later. The time in between tests becomes like no-man’s-land for emotion, not knowing if your beloved animal will have to be euthanised because of a failed test.
But – Sebastian behaved like a pro and on the first day walked into the area and into the cattle crush which holds them still while keeping us safe. Belle, however, had other ideas and eyed us from a distance, overcoming the lure of the
bucket of goodies being shaken profusely. On the plus side, the weather was kind, so we were not up against the mud. With Seb tested we got Belle cornered in the fenced area and went for it – success!
Hilariously, Belle then stubbornly stood in that corner until lunchtime refusing to move as if protesting at the indignity of the morning.
Our test came back clear, with the animals deemed safe again, and, yes, we get to do it all again in six months’ time. We have decided to introduce a new mate for Sebastian and move Belle on to another fold. We can do this without having to test again. The dynamic in the fold has been a bit ‘off’ for a while, so we have decided that new stock is needed. Belle is staying local and moving to another well stocked fold, and we are on the look-out for Seb’s new girl. What would dating for cows be called?
The lambs are thriving and lambing has finished for 2026. My experiment with the cross Dutch Spotted and Zwartbles did not work out as planned. I had my sights on little dalmatian-looking lambs, instead I got black lambs with a small dash of white. I may be looking for a Dutch Spotted ram for next year!
Spring clean for Dorset’s beaches
HUNDREDS of volunteers collected hundreds of kilograms of rubbish – including everything from a fire extinguisher to children’s bikes and clothing – in this year’s Great Dorset Beach Clean.
Some 21 beach cleans took place across the county, with 346 volunteers taking part so far removing 628kg of rubbish, exceeding last year’s total of 330kg.
A number of beach cleans are yet to be recorded, so the final figures are expected to rise further.
Emma Jackson, Litter Free Dorset project support officer, said: “Surpassing last year’s figures is a real achievement and reflects the growing momentum behind the Great Dorset Beach Clean.
“We’re grateful to everyone who gave their time to make such a positive difference on our coastline.”
Local community groups and organisations led the beach cleans.
Volunteer coordinators included Bowleaze Beach Care Group, Clean Jurassic Coast,
Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, Dorset Diving Services, Lewco Holdings, Kingston Country Courtyard, Nimsdai Foundation, Turn Lyme Green, West Bay Discovery Centre, and Yoga with Leah Miles.
More businesses and public sector organisations took part this year, using the event for staff team days.
Private cleans were organised by Cefas, DDC Dolphin Ltd, Dorset Council teams, the Environment Agency, and NatWest Bank.
Volunteers removed a wide
variety of marine and beach litter with the most found items including food packaging, bottles, cans and fishing line.
Several cleans also focused on microplastics, with volunteers painstakingly sorting and counting items, including a 596 nurdles – plastic pellets – collected during the Dorset Diving Services beach clean at Holes Bay.
Teams supported recycling efforts wherever possible, sorting collected materials to ensure they were processed responsibly.
Highland cow Sebastian in the cattle crush
Dung beetles: Learn more at workshops
by Lucy Hepworth BVSc
MRCVS Friars Moor
Livestock Health
FARMERS and their vets are increasingly working together to take in account of the whole farm ecosystem.
In the grazing season, we
manage worm exposure in grazing cattle and sheep, with a consideration for other species on farm – such as dung
beetles.
When animals need worming at grass, the worming treatment will negatively impact dung beetles.
Hence, why many farmers are updating their worm control strategies.
Dung beetles feed on dung pats, they help break down waste quickly.
They tunnel into the soil and bury the dung, returning valuable nutrients like nitrogen back into the soil, as well as improving the soil structure, which helps pasture productivity.
Another key benefit is parasite and pest control.
Many harmful flies and parasites breed in animal dung, but dung beetles disrupt their lifecycles by removing and burying the manure.
We are running two dung beetle workshops on Wednesday, June 3 – cattle focus – and Thursday, June 4 – sheep focus – to encourage farmers to learn how to monitor the dung beetle population on their own farms. This is suitable for any commercial dairy, beef or sheep farmer.
For further details, contact Friars Moor Livestock Health.
provide a friendly, local service at competitive prices. Based at Redlynch near Bruton, we supply Car, Commercial, Agricultural, Plant & 4x4 tyres and offer a 24hr breakdown service. We won’t be beaten on price.
Friars Moor Livestock Health is running two workshops, one focusing on cattle and the other on sheep
Farms count cost of slurry breaches
THREE Dorset farm companies have paid £33,500 to environmental charities after a probe into their failure to store slurry correctly – causing pollution in county waterways.
The Environment Agency (EA) launched an investigation into the failures at three county farms, which have now agreed to pay the sums as part of legally-binding enforcement undertakings, avoiding prosecution in return for funding environmental efforts.
Crockway Farms Ltd, Drummers Farming Limited and Crutchley Farms Partnership were found to have failed to follow regulations designed to protect waterways.
In two cases, poorly managed slurry stores led to pollution entering watercourses, while in the third, a farm installed new slurry stores without securing the required permit.
All three businesses have since introduced stronger measures to ensure full compliance with environmental rules.
Drummers Farming Limited, a farm near Sherborne, caused two slurry pollution incidents in the spring of 2024.
In April that year, slurry from its lagoon entered the Leigh Tributary of the Beer Hackett Stream, also known as the River Wriggle.
Alarms activated, but because the event happened in the middle of the night, immediate action was not taken.
In the second incident, laboratory analysis of water samples collected during the Environment Agency investigation showed levels of ammonia which could be lethal to aquatic life.
In both cases, the impact of the slurry could be identified more than 1.2 miles
JDG Structural Steel Ltd
Steel frame buildings for agricultural, industrial and equestrian enterprises
Pre-cast concrete wallings panels supplied and erected
Roller shutter doors supplied and fitted
All steel frames are designed, fabricated & erected to conform to current CE markings Tel: 01747 811711
downstream.
Changes have now been put in place to reduce future risk, including a significant investment in slurry storage, removing an overflow pipe and better monitoring the use of slurry.
The farm gave £10,000 to the Dorset Wildlife Trust, which will be used for the Winfrith and Tadnoll Wetland Restoration Project.
The Crutchley Farms Partnership was approached by the EA after officers traced pollution to Marsh Farm, near Bridport, in October 2023 after being found in Mangerton Brook.
Slurry was found entering the stream from a concrete tank’s overflow pipe because a pump had failed.
Organic waste was identifiable more than 300m downstream from the farm, with significant deterioration in the
ecology over 800m.
The farm put measures in place to prevent further pollution incidents, including a text warning system, and daily inspections.
As a result, the company gave £7,500 to Dorset Wildlife Trust for a trees and wetland project.
Crockway Farms Ltd, an intensive pig farm, failed to obtain an environmental permit before making major changes to the site – installing two new slurry stores.
Strict permits are required for pig farms, as the EA must consider ammonia emissions and the risk of effluent discharges.
Crockway Farms gave £16,000 to the Farm and Wildlife Advisory Group South West, a conservation charity in Dorset which works to reduce farm run off and flood risk in catchments.
Quick release couplings
Pressure wash hoses + lances
Up to 1 ½ “Hose stocked
Variation of oils
Mobile service available
SHIPPING CONTAINERS
FOR SALE / HIRE
Tel: 01258 472288
Mob: 07977 936109
New and second hand containers - blue/green - all with box locks
GUINEA FOWL EGGS and keets available. Mixture of colours. 07545-468700
CONCRETE GROOVING,
Mobile Grain Crimping and dry rolling Service. Cowco Southern. Call Ted: 07970-965040
Andrew Lee Vegetation Management
Grass flail and scrub flail available for the management of scrub, brambles, grass etc.
Working on slopes of up to 50 degrees with operator.
Farmers short of winter fodder? Sell your surplus cows NOW to achieve higher prices.
• All Grades
• Also, Bulls plus Organic Cattle
• Farm Assured or Non-Assured
• No V.A.N. Number, No Problem!
• Payment on the day - Farm purchases
• Haulage Arranged Tel: 07811 381159
Brookfield Livestock Marketing Ltd 7 days a week.
Police can act faster on farm theft
THE NFU has welcomed new police powers that enable officers to enter premises without a warrant to recover electronically tracked stolen agricultural equipment.
The new powers come into force with the Crime and Policing Bill, which received Royal Assent at the end of last month. Agricultural vehicle thefts reported to NFU Mutual in 2024 cost £7 million.
currently left to bear the cost and responsibility of clearing illegally dumped waste, leaving victims to deal with the financial, emotional and logistical consequences.
NFU vice-president Robyn Munt said: “These new police powers are a welcome step in the right direction, providing some much-needed peace of mind for farming families impacted or worried about equipment theft.”
He added: “Rural crime leaves farmers and growers scared to go to work, worried in their own homes and feeling powerless in the face of dangerous criminal activity.
Police will be able to act immediately when the location of stolen equipment is known, which should improve recovery rates and disrupt organised rural crime.
But the NFU said that while the legislation also gives ministers greater powers to issue statutory guidance to councils in England on the enforcement of fly-tipping, it does not go far enough to address the burden waste crime places on farmers and growers.
Private landowners are
R&W FENCING Agricultural paddock and stock. 01258-88089207980-036250
WANTED land to buy in Dorset 07810 472347
FOR SALE: Grass reared pheasant poults available, June, July & August. Tel: 07824-807093
Deadline to place your advert is the Friday before publication.
“From equipment theft to hare coursing, waste crime to livestock worrying, rural crime has unfortunately become an everyday reality for farmers.”
He went on: “The Government must do more to address the unfair burden of clearing illegally dumped waste as well as ensure rural police forces and councils are properly resourced to implement new powers effectively, as enforcement without adequate funding risks limiting their impact on the ground.”
SPRINGHILL POULTRY BH21 4JE, Point of lay chickens, Ducks, Turkeys, Feed and bedding, 07970-672003
CARAVAN REMOVAL SERVICE, old, unwanted caravans & boat removal, cars, trailers, vans, etc. Garden machinery, tractors, scrap metal. Yard, garden, garage removal clearances undertaken, dismantling and gas cutting service. Please call 01935873169 or 07368-380477
Kington Magna
Guide £1,425,000
Broad Oak
Guide £795,000
Shroton
A traditional Dorset smallholding in an enviable rural yet accessible location. Period 5 bedroom farmhouse with spacious accommodation, 3 holiday cottages and land totalling 13.13 acres. Freehold. CTB G; EPC D.
Guide £435,000
Shroton Guide £435,000
This delightful 2-bedroom end-of-terrace cottage has been fully updated
This delightful 2-bedroom end-of-terrace cottage has been fully updated but retains great charm. It is situated in the heart of this most desirable village. CTB D. Freehold.
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766 DORSET |
Sturminster Newton | 01258 472244
A spacious and modern ranch style detached bungalow boasting a stunning outlook with 12.42 acres of pasture and woodland. Further 6.72 acres available. Agricultural Occupancy Condition. Freehold. CTB E; EPC D.
Cheriton
£400,000 An attractive, double-fronted 3-bedroom period property tucked away on
North Cheriton OIEO £400,000
An attractive, double-fronted 3-bedroom period property tucked away on an idyllic country lane with character features throughout and views over the neighbouring countryside. CTB C. Freehold.
Sherborne | 01935 814488
Sturminster Newton | 01258 472244
Sherborne | 01935 814488
Tuesday 19th May at 11.00am - Padnoller Farm, Keenthorne, Nether Stowey, Bridgwater TA5 1HZ
Dispersal Sale of Combine, Telehandler, 7 Tractors, 3 Classic Cars, Farm Machinery, Livestock Equipment & Workshop Items
Including: John Deere 6125R c/w Quicke Q56 Loader, John Deere 6400 c/w Quicke 675 Loader, Case 5140, New Holland Combine, Matbro TS270, Case 5120, Case 1494, David Brown 995, Massey Ferguson 135, Mountfield 2105M Ride on Mower, Audi 80, BMW 520i, Volkswagen Scirocco, 2 x Richard Western SF11 Grain Trailers, Pottinger Forager, McConnel PA5455 Hedge Trimmer, Teagle Silage Trailer, Opico 3m Cultivator, Lely Mounted Mower Conditioner, Massey Ferguson 30 Drill, Dowdeswell DP8B Plough, Keenan Diet Feeder, Sulky Fertiliser Spreader, Spearhead 3004 Rotary Topper, Livestock Equipment and more.
Nr Sturminster Newton Guide Price £1,100,000
Tucked away down a no through lane is this extended and very well
presented 4 bedroom country home with stable yard & paddocks, in total 4.11 acres. CTB E.Freehold,
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
On behalf of F White & Sons (Retiring)
accommodation, set in attractive gardens and backing onto farmland. No onward chain. CTB F. Freehold.
A tastefully improved 4-bedroom village house with light and spacious accommodation, set in attractive gardens and backing onto farmland. No onward chain. CTB F. Freehold.
A superb sustainable contemporary house finished to a high specification with luxury family accommodation and wonderful farreaching views on the edge of the village. Freehold. CTB G; EPC C.
A fine Grade II listed former village Post House with attractive gardens, a substantial barn/workshop and lovely views to the village church and surrounding countryside. CTB E. Freehold.
A fine Grade II listed former village Post House with attractive gardens,
A character south-facing stone house in an excellent central village
A brand new detached bungalow with large south facing garden of over half an acre in a lovely countryside location off a no-through lane. Freehold. CTB tbc; EPC B.
A character south-facing stone house in an excellent central village location with a large oak-framed double garage, workshop and southfacing gardens. CTB E. Freehold.
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Guide £750,000
Shroton Guide £435,000
A 3-4 bedroom detached house on a small development of just 5 with wonderful views to the south and west and adjoining paddock to the rear. In all 0.65 acres. Freehold. CTB G; EPC C.
This delightful 2-bedroom end-of-terrace cottage has been fully updated
This delightful 2-bedroom end-of-terrace cottage has been fully updated but retains great charm. It is situated in the heart of this most desirable village. CTB D. Freehold.
The Bakehouse is an intriguing single storey house of great charm and history, very much in the centre of this wonderful Dorset village. Freehold. CTB F; EPC E.
presented 4 bedroom country home with stable yard & paddocks, in 4.11 acres. CTB E.Freehold,
Tucked away down a no through lane is this extended and very well presented 4 bedroom country home with stable yard & paddocks, in total 4.11 acres. CTB E.Freehold,
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Fontmell Magna
Guide £625,000
A 1980s double fronted village house with well balanced accommodation and a fine private south facing garden along with parking and garage. Freehold. CTB E; EPC D.
An attractive, double-fronted 3-bedroom period property tucked away on an idyllic country lane with character features throughout and views over the neighbouring countryside. CTB C. Freehold.
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
| 01935 814488
Sherborne | 01935 814488
West Knoyle
Guide £435,000
Leigh OIEO £500,000
A very well presented extended semi-detached house on the edge of this sought after village, with a lovely garden and super studio. Freehold. CTB C; EPC E.
A tastefully improved 4-bedroom village house with light and spacious accommodation, set in attractive gardens and backing onto farmland. No onward chain. CTB F. Freehold.
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sherborne | 01935 814488
North Cheriton
OIEO £400,000
An attractive, double-fronted 3-bedroom period property tucked away on
Sherborne
No onward chain. CTB F. Freehold.
Manston
HAMPSHIRE PROPERTY AUCTION – THURSDAY 21 MAY 2026 AT 2PM AT THE DIGBY HALL, HOUND STREET, SHERBORNE, DORSET, DT9 3AA
Land for sale:
Longburton, Sherborne
Lot A 2.72 acres
Guide £25,000
Lot B 1.29 acres
Guide £12,000.
Bourton, Gillingham
1.54 acres
Guide £25,000
Litton Cheney, Dorchester 2.43 acres Dorchester
Guide £30,000
Marnhull 2.70 acres
Guide £50,000
Middlemarsh, Sherborne 4.37 acres
Guide £65,000
Midney, Somerton 15.19 acres
Guide £135,000
Highbrooks, Somerton 30.31 acres
Guide £225,000
Weymouth
Garage Sites for sale:
4 garages, parking area and further area of land to the rear (62.2 sq m)
Guide £15,000
Weymouth
8 garages and parking area extending to 0.06 acres
Guide £45,000
East Morden, Wareham
Site measuring 0.13 acres with 8 garages and an area of hardstanding
Guide £50,000
Corfe Castle, Wareham
Site measuring 0.11 acres with 8 garages and an area of hardstanding
Guide £50,000
A fine Grade II listed former village Post House with attractive gardens, a substantial barn/workshop and lovely views to the village church and surrounding countryside. CTB E. Freehold. Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sherborne
Guide £125,000
A 3 bed house, in need of full renovation, situated in the heart of Sherborne. Subject to a Sec 157 restriction to have lived or worked within the local area. Freehold. EPC E. CTB B.
Sherborne | 01935 814488
Bridport Bridport | 01308 422092
Guide £195,000
A former woodcraft shop close to the centre and beach at Lyme Regis, offering an exciting opportunity to create a two bedroom dwelling with garage, parking and balcony. Freehold. EPC E. CTB B.
Caundle
Guide £250,000+VAT
A Grade II listed Public House offering a fantastic business opportunity as well as living accommodation. Sold with a fitted commercial kitchen. RV £11,750. Freehold.
Sturminster Newton 01258 473766
Holnest Sherborne | 01935 814488 Guide £450,000 An exciting Class Q development site for 5 x 3 bed and 1 x 1 bed dwellings in a peaceful rural location. Freehold.
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Guide
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766.
Newton | 01258 473766
Marnhull
Bishops
Lopcombe, Salisbury
Freehold. EPC E. CTB F.
Shillingstone,
Freehold.
Greenham, Crewkerne Dorchester |
Haydon, Sherborne
ROOM TO LET IN STURMINSTER. Please phone for more details. Tel: 01258-473598
YARD TO LET 29mx13m (377 square metres) enclosed on 3 sides. All concrete floor 24/7 access. Enquiries 07811-551161 DT11 8RA.
HOLIDAY LET
CRANTOCK, CORNWALL, THE TOWER HOLIDAY APARTMENT. Sleeps 4. Families and couples only. Atlantic beach and Coastal footpath, 4 minutes walk. Parking, Dog-friendly, no passing traffic. Tel: 01637-830394
NEW CAR PARK NOTICE
TAKING THE TRAIN?
THE NEW CAR PARK AT GILLINGHAM STATION has 83 extra wide spaces, and “Pay on Exit” and with cheaper rates than the old car park. Only £4.90 weekday all day. £3.90 Sat/Sun all day. 30 minutes free.
Puzzle solutions
147 TO LET
Symonds & Sampson take to the London Stage
Symonds & Sampson looks forward to exhibiting at the popular London & Country Property Show on 13 May.
The annual show, hosted by The London Office and held at Chelsea Old Town Hall, has become the ‘go-to’ event for those looking to buy or sell. Agents nationwide offer advice on properties and localities to guide would-be movers to their perfect destination.
The event has become a popular fixture on the calendar as Bob Bickerstaff, Director of The London Office, explains, ‘The show is for those who are inquisitive about moving away from London in search of a different lifestyle. We expect good attendance as the trend of relocating out of London continues. This year, a showcase of development opportunities and new homes for potential investors is an exciting additional feature within the show’.
Representatives from Symonds & Sampson will present a selection of residential, agricultural, commercial, auction, and investment properties we have available for sale and to let.
To include your property and showcase it to the widest audience, please call 01258 473766 or contact your local Symonds & Sampson office to arrange your free market appraisal.
LOW COST SECURE SELF STORAGE
Photography by Alice Pennefather
Celebrating 20 Years
THE COVENT GARDEN DANCE COMPANY returns to HATCH HOUSE
BALLET UNDER THE STARS 2026
Covent Garden Dance celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026, marking two decades of presenting world-class ballet and dance in some of the most distinctive settings in the UK and internationally.
Since its founding in 2006, the company has established a clear and enduring identity: bringing world-class dancers, choreographers and musicians from the leading international companies into intimate, carefully curated environments, and pairing performance with exceptional hospitality. From its first performance to 120 guests in 2006 the production has evolved into a recognised international platform, with sold-out weeks creating a loyal, global audience.
TICKETS START AT £185 and include a three course gourmet dinner with paired wines and all performances.
Gardens open at 5.30pm, performance finishes at 11:30pm. Gardens close at 1am.
