The Purbeck Gazette - Issue 355

TV times for village antiques shop

THE Old Curiosity Shop, in the heart of Corfe Castle’s historic square, has appeared on BBC One’s popular television series Antiques Road Trip.

The episode, filmed in March this year, aired last Monday (December 1).

TV antiques experts Raj Bisram and Briony ‘Bee’ Harford visited the shop as part of the show’s nationwide journey in a classic car, seeking out hidden treasures in Britain’s most distinctive antique hotspots.

The Old Curiosity Shop, officially opened in June 2024 by actress Joanna David,

known for her roles in Pride and Prejudice and Downton Abbey, has quickly established itself as a destination for antiques and collectables.

The shop offers an eclectic mix of ceramics, jewellery, paintings and curiosities, attracting local collectors and international visitors.

A spokesperson for the shop said: “We were delighted to welcome the experts and film crew – everyone had a wonderful time.

“The shop has been warmly received by the community and by visitors from much further afield.

“The building itself dates

back to the early 18th century and was originally a reading room, which explains its distinctive large front windows.

“Many overseas tourists describe the shop as magical.

“We pride ourselves on keeping our prices competitive and our stock ever-changing, so

and Raj Bisram

with Steve Amey, one of The Old Curiosity Shop’s owners, and shop manager, Larissa

there’s always something new and exciting to discover, and once it’s gone, it really has gone!”

The broadcast also shined a spotlight on the rich heritage of Corfe Castle, offering viewers a glimpse into one of Dorset’s most charming destinations. Antiques experts Bee Harford

(left)

(right)

30 years of helping families

STAFF, volunteers and supporters at families charity Home-Start Wessex came together to celebrate volunteers’ achievements and to thank fundraisers and supporters.

The organisation has supported families in crisis, facing mental health struggles, financial hardship, isolation, bereavement, domestic abuse, multiple births, parenting challenges and life in homeless shelters for 30 years, providing vital help when it is needed most.

Its tailored support services include specially trained volunteers visiting mums at home, early intervention for high-needs families and community-based groups.

The charity runs 13 drop-in and referral-only groups across Dorset, including two for homeless mums in hostels.

Over the last year, HomeStart Wessex has transformed 1,716 lives, helping a record 526 families.

Its area covers the Purbecks, Swanage, Dorchester, Weymouth, Bridport, the whole of the BCP Council area, including Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, across the borders of Hampshire and

Wiltshire, going as far north as Cranborne and Fordingbridge and as far east as New Milton – a huge area with a population of more than 650,000, including many pockets of high-level deprivation.

Chief executive, Kathy Fryatt-Banks, said: “In the first 20 years, we supported 2,418 families and 5,838 children, which was amazing.

“Yet over the last 10 years, we've actually doubled that, supporting another 3,008 families. Since 1995, we have supported almost 14,000 children in our local area.

“The vast majority of the families we support emerge in a significantly better place, which helps their children get the best possible start in life.

“98% of parents we supported reported improved mental health and wellbeing, and 95% reported improved children’s wellbeing. 98% reported feeling more confident and less isolated.

“One mum said, ‘Home-Start Wessex fills a gap in support for families. It’s been amazing. It’s given me such relief to chat things over. Without this support, things would be really difficult, and my mental health would be bad’.

“It rewards all of us individually to know we have made a difference. As our volunteer Dee says, ‘it’s great to know you are helping and sharing to give your best support to parents so that they can be more confident in their skills of parenting.

“After all, our children are our future and deserve the best start we can give them.”

Kathy added: “This year, Home-Start Wessex has generated more income through grants and fundraising than ever before.

“We have trained more volunteers than ever before, in new and innovative ways. We’ve introduced new team members with exceptional skills and experience, and we have continued to train our existing staff so that they are wellequipped to support families.

“We were fortunate enough to win several awards in Bournemouth and Poole during the year, as well as a Gold Community Support Award in Weymouth, where we have been operational for only a year.

“I would like to thank everyone for their support. Whether it’s funding,

HOME-START WESSEX’S support is in more demand than ever. Anyone who feels able to spare a few hours a week to help local families through challenging times and make a difference in their community, can contact office@homestartwessex.org.uk. No experience is needed – just a big heart and a listening ear, as full training and ongoing support are provided.

volunteering or being a member of staff, everyone plays their part. More and more families are feeling the strain and need our support.”

At the celebration event, several volunteers were recognised for their service of two, five and 10 years.

Over the past 10 years, Flora Hood has supported 16 families in the Bridport area. Nicki Gibbons, who was hailed a ‘COVID heroine’, has supported 13 families around Wimborne. Samantha Ethrington was recognised for two years of volunteer service, working with families in the Bridport area on a one-to-one basis and supporting the Bridport community group. Julie Sephton was described as ‘an inspiration to all’ during her two years of volunteering, supporting four families in the Christchurch area. Volunteers typically provide one-to-one weekly support to a family for a period of six months.

Beryl Grey was recognised for her continued support behind the scenes for Home-Start Wessex. Beryl knits items for Home-Start and helps it provide craft activities in its community groups.

Corporate partnerships & marketing manager, Caroline Pope, thanked the corporate partners which have provided funding over the year, including AFC Bournemouth, Dorset Tea, Holt Recruitment, Saffery Bournemouth, Town & Country Communications and Tesco.

“Without your support, we simply couldn’t do the amazing work we do,” Caroline said. “Lastly, thanks again to Sarah Lean, author and our patron, for your continued support of our charity.”

Staff, volunteers and supporters at families charity Home-Start Wessex’s annual celebration

Big ambitions for ‘green’ energy plans

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Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Launch 2ndHeli Appeal

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) has launched its 2ndHeli Appeal, to raise the final £1 million needed to buy and equip a second helicopter for the people of Dorset and Somerset.

AMBITIOUS plans to turn to Dorset into a hub for clean energy and green investment have been officially launched in Parliament.

The Dorset Clean Energy Super Cluster aims to deliver:

n An offshore wind farm in the English Channel.

n Expansion of Portland Port into a dedicated wind energy hub.

n Carbon and hydrogen storage.

n The potential for new nuclear, hydrogen, defence and data facilities at Dorset Innovation Park at Winfrith.

DSAA’s current helicopter, ‘Peggy’, is flown more intensively than almost any other air ambulance of its kind in the UK. However, the charity recognises that approximately 10% more patients require their specialist skills during their 19-hour day but cannot be reached due to aircraft unavailability. Furthermore, there is currently no pre-hospital critical care across the two counties between the hours of 02:00 and 07:00.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Hatton said: “The Dorset Clean Energy Super Cluster represents a major opportunity – not only for Dorset and the south west, but for the United Kingdom as a whole.

“At a time when our country needs both economic growth and energy security, this initiative has the potential to attract up to £28 billion in investment, delivering longterm benefits for communities and businesses across the south west and strengthening our British supply chains.”

With careful stewardship of funds and some generous legacies, DSAA is now putting those gifts to work by allocating £30 million from its reserves towards the second helicopter, redevelopment of an operational base and key modernisation projects. These commitments will also ensure the charity is able to retain financial security while preparing for potential 24-hour operations in future.

The Clean Energy Super Cluster launch was hosted by South Dorset Labour MP Lloyd Hatton and was attended by the Minister for Energy and south west MPs including Edward Morello, Jessica Toale, Tom Hayes, Neil Duncan-Jordan and Vikki Slade.

The amounts designated from reserves are not expected to cover the full costs of these developments and the charity will continue to rely on the incredible support of the local community, who fund the life-saving service.

Mr Hatton added: “The Cluster will create thousands of high-quality jobs for local people and revitalise Weymouth and Portland, which are still struggling with the defence cuts made 30 years ago.

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Launch 2ndHeli Appeal

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) has launched its 2ndHeli Appeal, to raise the final £1 million needed to buy and equip a second helicopter for the people of Dorset and Somerset.

DSAA’s current helicopter, ‘Peggy’, is flown more intensively than almost any other air ambulance of its kind in the UK. However, the charity recognises that approximately 10% more patients require their specialist skills during their 19-hour day but cannot be reached due to aircraft unavailability. Furthermore, there is currently no pre-hospital critical care across the two counties between the hours of 02:00 and 07:00.

With careful stewardship of funds and some generous legacies, DSAA is now putting those gifts to work by allocating £30 million from its reserves towards the second helicopter, redevelopment of an operational base and key modernisation projects. These commitments will also ensure the charity is able to retain financial security while preparing for potential 24-hour operations in future.

The amounts designated from reserves are not expected to cover the full costs of these developments and the charity will continue to rely on the incredible support of the local community, who fund the life-saving service.

Support the 2ndHeli Appeal at www.dsairambulance.org.uk/2ndHeli or call 01823 669604.

“I will keep banging the drum for well-paid green jobs on our doorstep.”

even more people in urgent need.

Support the 2ndHeli Appeal at www.dsairambulance.org.uk/2ndHeli or call 01823 669604.

Literary festival returns bigger and better

by Salliann Coleman

SWANAGE Literary Festival

returned to the town’s Mowlem Theatre for a second year with more contributors and larger audiences.

A busy weekend with a wide range of activities started on Friday with a children’s event at Swanage Library, courtesy of children’s author Linda Webber.

Children continued to be involved with students from The Swanage School opening a Poetry and Performance evening by performing their own poetry.

This was followed by an interactive workshop organised and run by Purbeck Sounds, in which the participants wrote their own haikus.

The audience were then immersed into vivid tales of monsters around the world presented by Nick Jubber.

William Boyde enthralled the audience with his delivery of Poems in the Head, which were both humorous and thought provoking, and the evening ended with original contributions from The Swanage Poetry group, led by Martin Hobdell.

On Saturday, Swanage Library continued with its children’s events with an interactive Build Your Own Monster workshop run by Nick Jubber.

The Mowlem’s focus was on authors, with interviews, readings and audience participation – and there were many links to the local area.

Alice May and Alex Stone were excited to introduce their new publications to whet our appetites – Alice’s sequel, A New Recruit for the Resistance Girls, continues the theme of The Women’s Secret Army in the Second World War, and

Alex’s The Missing Boyfriend is the latest in her series of psychological thrillers.

Steve Couch presented a musically enhanced reading of his engaging Dead Man Singing with guitarist Olly Hopper Pay,

Second World War, and introduced the thoughtprovoking concept of a theatre designed by a woman.

Links to the war continued with Felice Hardy’s personal reflection on her family’s escape from the Nazis in her compelling book The Tennis Champion Who Escaped the Nazis.

Dr Andrew Norman led us on a journey in Hardy’s footsteps in A Purbeck Romance, in which he explored the Dorset countryside, and the Dorset theme continued with Emma Simpson sharing her vast experiences of wild water swimming, which began in Swanage – from her seat on the stage she could see the steps where she took her first plunge!

The Swanage Literary Festival would like to thank Purbeck and Swanage Rotary Club and Swanage WI for their sponsorship, without which the festival would not have been as successful.

We are also grateful to Swanage Town Council for its grant and Swanage Bookshop, which sold books and supported the bookmark competition held in local primary schools.

which demonstrated the power of music and literature combined.

Joanna Quinn gave a mesmerising reading from The Whalebone Theatre which drew on both the local area and the

Purbeck Sounds Radio played an active role before and during the festival and was integral to the event’s success.

And finally, a huge thank you to The Mowlem and its team without whom the festival would not have been possible.

Nick Jubber presented vivid tales of monsters around the world

Interviewer Fiona Sturrock with author Steve Couch

Fiona Sturrock (left) with author Alice May

Statue to trailblazer for LGBTQ+ community

AUTHOR Tracy Chevalier is set to unveil a statue of musicologist, novelist and poet Sylvia Townsend Warner in Dorchester.

Townsend Warner (18931978), whose best known novel was Lolly Willowes (1926), lived in the area for decades.

Mark Damon Chutter, chair and academic director of the Thomas Hardy Society, came up with the idea of a statue and enlisted the expertise of Anya Pearson, who help crowdfund with her daughter, Evie Swire, more than £150,000 for a statue of palaeontologist Mary Anning in Lyme Regis.

Mark said: “Townsend Warner was a talented musicologist, writer, poet, Communist and a trailblazer for the LGBTQ + community.

“This will be the first non-royal female statue in Dorchester.

“Sylvia will be placed in her rightful literary context and heritage alongside the male statues of [William] Barnes and Hardy in the town.

“Townsend Warner will be placed on a bench and will be interactive.”

Townsend Warner (18931978) lived openly with her partner, Valentine Ackland, in Chaldon Herring in the 1920s and Frome Vauchurch from 1930 onwards.

They were part of an eclectic and bohemian group of writers and artists including the Powys family and Elizabeth Muntz.

Townsend Warner was often in Dorchester and visited Hardy’s second wife, Florence,

Art Weeks Festival 2026where creativity comes alive

Purbeck

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at Max Gate in 1935.

She also corresponded with Hardy about setting his poetry to music.

Ackland died in 1969 and Warner in 1978. Their love for each other was enduring.

The statue was crowdfunded by the public and designed and sculpted by Denise Dutton.

It was commissioned by Visible Women UK in partnership with the Dorchester Joint Heritage Committee and Dorchester Town Council.

The statue will be unveiled outside Goulds Fashion Store in South Street, Dorchester, on Sunday, December 14, at 1pm.

Art Weeks (PAW) Festival returns from 23 May – 7 June 2026, transforming Purbeck into a vibrant hub of art, music, culture, and more. Over two inspiring weeks, the Festival brings together exhibitions, open studios, live performances, and creative events that connect communities and celebrate the talent of our region. We’re thrilled to announce that internationally acclaimed vocal ensemble I Fagiolini will be opening the Festival with an anniversary programme for their 40th year with exquisite vocal artistry.

Calling all local artists! Applications to showcase your work at PAW 2026 open on 1 January. This is your chance to share your creativity, connect with fellow artists, and be part of one of Dorset’s most cherished arts festivals. Artist bursaries are also available to support those looking to develop their visual or performing arts and take their craft to the next level.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of something special. Visit www.purbeckartweeksfestival.co.uk for the latest news on our 2026 programme and to apply to exhibit.

Purbeck Visual Artists: Want to be part of Purbeck Art Weeks Festival 2026? Find details on our website or get in touch at membership@purbeckartweeks.co.uk

Closing date for applications is 31 January 2026

We are delighted to share upcoming opportunities: Rollington Barn Installation

Propose an eye-catching external installation for display at this iconic PAW venue.

National Trust with PAW Exhibition

Purbeck artists can apply for a chance to be one of up to seven exhibitors at Corfe Castle Visitor Centre.

Author Tracy Chevalier will unveil the statue (above and left) to Sylvia Townsend Warner

Christmas in a box for kids from military families

SOLDIERS, students from Bovington Academy and volunteers in Dorset have joined forces to pack 2,000 special Christmas Smiles boxes for military children who have a parent deployed overseas with the UK Armed Forces this December.

Organised by the military children’s charity Little Troopers, as part of its Christmas Smiles campaign, each box is filled with resources and activities to help children cope with parental separation, alongside festive stocking fillers to raise a smile.

Last year, 7,000 service personnel were deployed on military operations over Christmas, and a similar number are expected to be serving overseas this year. With 72% of service personnel

having at least one child under 18, thousands of military children will be missing a parent on Christmas morning. From school plays and concerts to visits to Santa and family get-togethers, Christmas can be an especially difficult time to

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Solar & Tidal Predictions - July '25

Solar and tidal predictions – December

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have a parent away from home.

Little Troopers is a national charity dedicated to supporting service children and ensuring they have somewhere to turn.

The charity’s founder, Army veteran Louise Fetigan, brought together soldiers from the Royal Armoured Corps Training Regiment, students from Bovington Academy and members of the local community to pack the boxes, a task that took six hours in total.

based in Bovington, was deployed last Christmas and his child received a box. He said: “I didn’t get much communication while away but having my daughter on FaceTime and seeing her open her box made it feel really special. This year I’m here volunteering to pack the boxes to return the favour.”

23:48 05:22 12:12 17:39 NP 05:03 21:21

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Military personnel from across the country, including Hereford, Wiltshire, Market Drayton, Oxfordshire and Somerset, travelled to Dorset on the same day to collect the boxes so they can be distributed to families before Christmas leave.

WO2 Stuart More, who serves in the Royal Navy and is also a trustee of the charity, reiterated the need for initiatives such as Christmas Smiles. He said: “I was a military child myself. My wife is also serving, so we have both been separated at various times during our careers, especially around Christmas. It’s really challenging for our three children. Previously in the Navy, communications were difficult, FaceTime hasn’t always been possible, but children today expect to see and speak to their parent. So it’s hard.”

04:41 10:08 17:02 22:24 05:08 21:17 12-Jul 05:21 10:44 17:42 23:00 SP 05:09 21:17

14-Dec 04:11 11:24 17:01 23:43 08:02 16:03

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13-Jul 06:00 11:20 18:20 23:38 05:10 21:16

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17-Dec 01:21 07:01 13:51 19:27 08:05 16:03

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15-Jul 00:16 07:17 12:38 19:40 05:13 21:14 16-Jul 00:57 07:59 13:22 20:25 05:14 21:13 17-Jul 01:44 08:46 14:10 21:16 05:15 21:12 18-Jul 02:36 09:40 15:06 22:18 05:16 21:11 19-Jul 03:40 10:47 16:11 23:31 05:17 21:10

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20-Jul 04:59 23:31 17:29 12:04 NP 05:19 21:09

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05:15 10:31 17:33 22:49 08:08 16:06

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06:30 11:44 18:50 08:08 16:08 26-Dec 00:08 07:13 12:29 19:35 08:08 16:09

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Louise Fetigan said: “Today has been a real team effort. Our community, both here in Dorset and across the UK Armed Forces, has pulled together to make something incredible happen that will make a real difference to military children across the country.

“These boxes are all about helping military children feel recognised and supported. Christmas is a tough time to have a parent away from home and we want to bring Christmas Smiles to as many children as we can.”

SSgt Jake Dalby, a soldier

The Little Troopers Christmas Smiles boxes have been made possible thanks to funding from Babcock, VIVO Defence Services, Mott MacDonald, MCFT and the Santa Barbara Trust.

Little Troopers has also organised a range of other activities as part of its Christmas Smiles campaign, including free cinema screenings at ODEON cinemas, a storytelling event with the Chelsea Pensioners, an elf workshop and an online dance session. For more information, visit www.littletroopers.net

Little Troopers founder Louise Fetigan (right) and with Bovington Academy students (above)

Singers hit highs for hospice

A SPECIAL community project has brought together a local choir, aged between 10 and 91, to raise vital funds for Forest Holme Hospice Charity in Poole.

Led by choir founder and vocal coach Tim Dowland –whose experience includes coaching on BBC’s The Voice – the group recorded a rendition of Coldplay’s All My Love retitled as All Our Love, accompanied by a video filmed at Forest Holme Hospice.

Known collectively as Tim’s Singers, the project features 102 members from the Citrus Singers, The Sing and Grin Choir, and Balance Choir, which also includes Forest Holme volunteers and staff.

This follows Tim’s Big Sing church tour earlier this year, which involved more than 200 singers, and forms part of his ambitious five-year fundraising plan for Forest Holme.

Tim said: “A few years ago,

several choir members had loved ones cared for at Forest Holme and their stories touched us deeply. We knew we had to help.

“Since then, we have been continually inspired by the extraordinary work the hospice does for our community.

“After speaking with the fundraising team, nurses, doctors and volunteers, we felt compelled to do more – and so we recorded this beautiful and emotional song, rewriting the lyrics to reflect the love and care given every day at Forest Holme.”

Tim secured a licence to use the song and reimagined the lyrics to reflect the compassion and care Forest Holme provides for patients and their families.

Tim added: “We are so proud of this performance. It tells the story of everyday people doing extraordinary things, offering care and compassion that goes far beyond the ordinary.

“But Forest Holme cannot do this work without charitable support. We hope this song will inspire the community to donate – whether it’s £1 or £100, every contribution counts.”

Tim has set a fundraising target of £10,000, with every penny going towards ensuring Forest Holme can continue providing specialist care for patients and families.

Kirsty Perks, from Forest Holme Hospice Charity, said:

“We are incredibly grateful to Tim and all his singers for dedicating their time and talent to support Forest Holme.

“This project is a beautiful tribute to the work we do and the people we care for. We hope the community will rally behind Tim to help him reach the £10,000 goal.”

To watch Tim’s Singers perform All My Love and find out how to donate, visit https:// forestholmehospice.enthuse. com/pf/allourlove

A rendition of Coldplay’s All My Love has been retitled as All Our Love

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Care home raises money for Children in Need

PUDSEY Bear helped Upton Bay care home at Hamworthy raise £200 for Children in Need.

Karen Grant A’Court, activities lead at the home, donned the bear costume and joined Crafty Corner for knitting and card-making – and arranged a disco for residents.

“Taking part in Children in Need has been a huge amount of fun and everyone at the home has been behind us all the way.

Upon establishing a living trust, you typically appoint yourself as the trustee. This means you continue to maintain control over your assets, managing and using them as you see fit. Should you decide to move house, the trust remains in place and extends its protection to your new home.

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Karen – pictured – said:

“It’s for such an important cause. I’m very glad to be able to do my bit to raise both awareness and money for Children in Need and all the initiatives it supports.”

Christmas card’s a winner

DORCHESTER Art Club’s Christmas card competition winner was Christine Messenger.

Her design will be used for the club's Christmas card mail out this year and Christine will receive some copies for her personal use.

Tel: 07832 331594 or Email: info@oakwoodwills.co.uk

The effectiveness and suitability of a living trust will depend on your personal circumstances. Oakwood Wills offers a complimentary consultation in the comfort of your own home. For further information, you can call 07832 331594 or email info@oakwoodwills.co.uk.

The club meets weekly at St George's Church Hall, Fordington, between 2-4pm.

Its new term starts again on Thursday, January 8, 2026 – for further information, phone 01305 264568.

Natural flood management work on NT farms

THE National Trust has completed the first phase of a major project designed to help reduce the risk of flooding along the Swan Brook, which runs through farmland before reaching Swanage.

The project involves introducing natural flood management (NFM) techniques such as building low earth bunds – embankments, creating scrapes – shallow seasonal ponds, and placing leaky dams in ditches. The interventions will not change the direction of flow or prevent flooding altogether but will spread water across the natural floodplain.

Ben Cooke, National Trust project officer for Rivers and Coast, said: “We are using various methods to hold water, and then gradually release it as it runs off the hillsides. The aim is to prevent storm water from careering down towards Swanage. It’s a more natural way of flood management, replicating obstructions in rivers caused by falling trees or, of course, the eco-engineering done by beavers.”

The six NFM sites are located on National Trust tenanted farmland at the headwaters of tributaries that feed into the Swan Brook –which is classified as being in ‘poor’ condition. The farms involved are Westwood Farm, Spyway Farm, Godlingston Manor Farm and land in Langton Matravers.

One of the methods used is creating leaky dams in ditches, a technique already used on Purbeck’s peatlands. They are

made from logs stacked up in ditches and held in place by posts.

In other areas, scrapes and bunds will encourage the water to form temporary ponds, spreading the water across the floodplain. In open fields, a method called ‘surface roughening’ has been used –tree trunks have been pinned to the ground where floodwater is known to run, again slowing the flow.

Monitoring devices have been installed to record the water levels and flow rates so the effectiveness of the different interventions can be measured.

Paul Loudoun, a farm tenant in Langton Matravers, said: “I’m very pleased to help by having flood relief measures in the way of attenuation ponds on my land. It’s vital that we direct this life-giving resource to a place of benefit and so help nature create new habitats. After just a few heavy showers, the system is working and I’m sure will help reduce flooding downstream when it really gets wet in January and February.”

As well as reducing the flood risk, these techniques retain water in areas longer, helping counteract the impact of dry summers. They act as traps,

filtering out organic matter, nutrients from dung and sediment that washes off tracks. They also create habitats for a range of wildlife, from dragonflies and aquatic insects to birds.

Ben Bowerman, of Godlingston Manor Farm, said: “We are long-term tenants of the National Trust and work in partnership with them towards an overall goal of nature conservation. The scrapes created for this project are already attracting birds, so we look forward to seeing how they develop as wildlife habitats. Farming has changed since my father started here in 1949, and my son’s future will be finding ways to work the land not just for food, but also for nature restoration.”

Footpath routes have been carefully considered in the project. On one of the flood plains, a culverted wooden crossing has been built, so walkers can still use the footpath when the groundwater is high.

Mr Cooke added:

“Individually, each of these nature-based flood mitigation measures may not seem like much. However, they all form part of the jigsaw puzzle that when put together can benefit people, properties and wildlife. We hope this is just the beginning of widespread adoption of these types of nature-based solutions, throughout our rural and urban landscapes.”

The National Trust is asking local people to help with the project by photographing or videoing the flood measures after storms when the water is visibly flowing on the surface. This will help monitor which interventions are most effective and if any need to be modified. Anyone interested in helping should email purbeck@ nationaltrust.org.uk

The community can also support the Swanage Streams Partnership which was formed to improve the condition of the Swan Brook and local streams. Find out more on the Planet Purbeck website https:// planetpurbeck.org/projects/ streams/

The NFM project was funded through a £325,000 grant from the Environment Agency on behalf of the government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The initial phase of work was carried out by specialist contractors, Ecosulis.

Ben Cooke, National Trust project officer for Rivers and Coast, with an example of ‘surface roughening’ – tree trunks pinned to the ground to slow the flow of floodwater PHOTO: Cathy Lewis

A scrape holding water

PHOTO: Gen Crisford

Swimmers chalk up personal bests galore

WAREHAM Swimming Club’s autumn season has been action-packed with the children having the opportunity to take part in a Challenge Cup Gala, two open meets in Dorchester, a Level 2 meet in Bournemouth, six club championship evenings and their own novice gala for the teaching group.

At the first event of the season, the Challenge Cup, the swimmers achieved 31 top three places and a total of 19 personal best times. The PB’s have continued all season, along with the medal haul.

At the recent club championships swimmers took part in 519 swims with 444 personal best times achieved and four club records set.

Club chair, Nick Salt, said: “The club continues to go from strength to strength, and we are fortunate to have such great swimmers and coaches.”

Hardy’s poems –and women

THE launch of a book by Giles Keating about the author Thomas Hardy was extremely well attended at Waterstones in Dorchester.

The book, 10 Lovers 50 Poems, explores the polyamorous relationships Hardy had with an eclectic range of women including his second wife Florence Hardy and the first actress to play ‘Tess’ in 1924, Gertrude Bugler.

The book includes his turbulent marriage to first wife Emma Gifford, Tryphena Sparks and Eliza Nicholls.

Mark Damon Chutter, chair and academic director of the Thomas Hardy Society, interviewed Keating at the event.

Junior swimmer Daisy Slater has also been involved in the county development pathway, a training programme for 12-13-year-old swimmers across Dorset. The programme aims to support training and development for about 30 swimmers across the county and consists of three training days.

Mark said: “The book is a great addition to Hardy studies and there are videoed performances of the poetry on YouTube which accompany the text – this an example of making Hardy’s poetry accessible to everyone alongside conveying the performativity of his work to a wider audience.”

event held at Millfield.

Harley came 2nd in the 50m backstroke and 4th in the 50m fly, setting a new personal best and breaking the club record.

The club were also represented at this event by masters swimmer George Fridd who was selected after winning both the 50m backstroke and 50m front crawl at the Dorset Masters Championships in Dorchester in July.

George came 4th in both the 50m backstroke and 50m front crawl, and the Dorset team came 4th overall.

Harley is now getting ready to compete in the Winter Nationals being held in Sheffield at Pond’s Forge.

The first day covered all strokes, turns and relay starts. Daisy said: “I loved this opportunity, as I have made so many friends who I see at different swim meets. I have already seen a huge improvement in my racing.”

Senior swimmer Harley Taylor has also been on duty for the county, representing Dorset at the Inter-Counties Masters

Community website launched

A DORSET village is celebrating the launch of its first community website.

www.puddletownvillage. co.uk has been created by a small team of women looking to bring the community together,

Site creator Sarah Wheldon taught herself web design from scratch for the project, looking for a ‘creative outlet’ to support her recovery from cancer.

Diana Hooper, who has researched the Puddletown archive and her family history, came up with the idea for the site.

2025 marks 300 years since Puddletown vicar Rev Dawnay conducted a survey of the village, and Diana felt a new snapshot of modern-day village

This is the biggest English swimming meet of the winter months and will see some of Britain’s top senior swimmers involved.

Harley qualified after a brilliant 50m backstroke at the regional competition in Winchester where he achieved another personal best time of 26.57 to take 3rd place.

The next club event will be out of the pool when swimmers attend the club Christmas party.

life was needed.

For Sarah, the community hub section, filled with news, events and recent photos, fulfils this aim, as does the site’s local business directory.

“It took a long time to gather information from everyone, but it was definitely worth it,” she said.

“I was amazed by the different skills and professions there are in the village.”

Diana is excited about the potential of the website’s history section, which features photographs from the turn of the 19th century.

She is looking forward to discovering more photos from members of the community.

It is hoped that www. puddletownvillage.co.uk will become the go to place for local events, news and groups.

The website is funded by donations and supported by The Puddletown Society

Harley, Daisy and head coach Danny with the new club banner

Giles Keating of Athelhampton with Sarah Gregson of Poxwell Manor

We offer the highest quality residential, nursing and dementia care and would be delighted to welcome you for a tour of our award winning home.

At Pine Martin Grange, everything is included. From professional hairdressing and delicious, chef-cooked meals to coffee, cake and even trips out, our ladies and gentlemen enjoy a truly worry-free lifestyle. Entertainment, activities and refreshments are all part of our all-inclusive offering, setting us apart from other homes. As a luxury, award-winning care home in Wareham, we’re proud to offer exceptional care, comfort, companionship and peace of mind, where every detail is taken care of.

Please feel free to contact us on 01929 768204 or visit www.dormycare.co.uk

Struggling financially? Citizens Advice can help

“I'M stressed about being able to afford food for my family as the colder months set in. We will be spending more on heating, and we’re barely making it through as it is. Can I use a food bank if I need to?”

It’s understandable to be worried about affording food when you’re in a tough spot financially – especially with the cost of your bills rising. You’re not alone, as Citizens Advice helps lots of people in this position.

Food banks are community organisations that can help if you can’t afford food, or if you need emergency food, but you’ll usually need a referral before you can use one. You can get a referral for yourself and any family members you live with, including your partner.

Citizens Advice in East Dorset & Purbeck can advise about your closest foodbank. It will usually make an appointment for you to discuss your situation with an adviser, who will ask you some questions to check you’re eligible. If you are, it will give you a voucher for your nearest

food bank. Citizens Advice can also check if you should be getting any benefits you're not currently claiming, assist with budgeting and tell you about other local help you could get.

You can visit Citizens Advice in East Dorset & Purbeck at its office in Wareham – it is open for drop-in on a Tuesday and Thursday, 10am-noon. No appointment is needed. Alternatively, visit its website,

www.edpcitizensadvice.org.uk, for details of all drop-in locations including the Advice Bus and Energy Bus timetables.

You can also ask for a referral from another organisation, for example your GP, local council, housing association or social worker. When an organisation refers you to a food bank, it will give you a voucher and tell you where the food bank is – be sure to check if the voucher is only valid on a specific day.

When you visit the food bank, let them know if you have

any allergies or dietary requirements – it should be able to help you. You’ll get a food parcel and it will usually contain enough food for three days, and you might also be able to get essential toiletries, like toothpaste or deodorant.

If you live in a rural area and can’t afford to travel, or you’re sick or disabled and can’t travel, the food bank might be able to deliver your food parcel – you can contact it to ask.

If the food bank is run by a church or other religious group, it will still help you if you're not religious or from a different religion.

You’ll need another referral if you need to use the food bank again. Some have a limit on the number of times you can visit, but it's still worth asking. If you're in this situation, talk to an adviser at Citizens Advice.

The adviser will ask you some questions about your ongoing needs. They'll refer you to the food bank if they agree it's the best way to help you –and even if they can't refer you again, they'll give you advice on debt and benefits, if you need it.

You might be able to use some food banks without a referral, for example, if it’s run by a church or community group. The easiest way to find out if you need a referral is to contact your local food bank.

Landmark year for hospital friends

CHARITY group the Friends of Victoria Hospital Wimborne is celebrating 90 years of supporting hospital patients and staff.

Victoria Hospital, run by Dorset HealthCare, was founded in 1887 as a cottage hospital, when it was funded by the generosity of local residents and philanthropists.

The Friends group was established in 1935 to generate extra funds and enhance what could be offered at the Victoria Road site.

Over the past 25 years alone, the group has funded around 80% of the hospital’s capital build projects, investing more than £8.7 million to enhance and expand its facilities.

This support has helped develop a wide range of services, including operating theatres, day surgery, endoscopy, physiotherapy and state-of-the-art x-ray facilities.

Most recently, the Friends bought the one-acre site of the former Wimborne Town FC ground next to the hospital.

The acquisition will allow for a bigger car park – due to open next year – and future expansion, as the need for local healthcare provision continues to grow.

Anne Salter, chair of the Friends of Victoria Hospital Wimborne, said: “We work in support of and in collaboration with the hospital, and we can reach those parts NHS budgets cannot meet.

“The Friends have always been about people – volunteers, donors, staff and patients –

working together to make a real difference.”

Alex Lister, service director for integrated community services at Dorset HealthCare, said: “Victoria Hospital is a vital part of our communitybased services and provides the highest standards of healthcare to our patients.

“The hospital remains very much at the heart of the community, and the support provided by local people and the Friends of Victoria Hospital Wimborne is invaluable.”

A referral is normally needed to use a food bank

Grant award for St Edward’s

DORSET Historic Churches

Trust (DHCT) has announced a record amount of grants awarded to churches across Dorset, including St Edward’s, Corfe Castle, following its October trustees meeting.

A total of £89,000 was awarded to all 15 applications received at this third trustee meeting of the year, bringing the total amount DHCT has awarded in 2025 to £183,800.

The grant to St Edward’s Church will contribute to phase 1 of a replacement heating system.

This will significantly enhance its use by improving comfort for its congregation as well as improved efficiency and lower energy costs.

In addition, modern heating systems can also help protect historic structures by minimising damage from temperature fluctuations.

His Honour David Grant, chair of Dorset Historic Churches Trust, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer an increased level of support this year.

“We are thankful that the resources of the trust have increased from Ride & Stride, generous legacies and an increase in the number of ‘Friends’.

“These grants are an investment in our shared

heritage and in the communities that gather around these remarkable buildings.

“We hope the latest round of funding will encourage more churches to come forward and apply for additional grants, helping to make their restoration projects viable.”

Many church communities face escalating repair costs for building repairs and maintenance. A recent National Churches Trust survey highlights the increasing challenges churches nationwide are facing and the urgent need for building repairs, particularly among rural churches.

It is hoped that the award of a grant will be a welcome boost to the confidence of a congregation taking on urgent projects from leaking roofs and crumbling plaster to vital structural works needed to safeguard their historic buildings for future generations.

Supporting essential projects for the repair of ancient churches is only possible thanks to generous donations. Churches receive only limited financial assistance towards repairs from the central church or the government. To find out how to help protect more of Dorset’s historic churches visit www.dhct.org.uk

Choir’s Christmas concert

DORSET Chamber Choir will perform its 2025 Christmas concert, Glory to God in the Highest, at Wimborne Methodist Church.

Musical director, John Watkins, will conduct, and the accompanist is Jean Holt.

The choir will be singing a selection of well-known and not so well-known Christmas carols and On Christmas

Night, by contemporary composer Bob Chilcott.

There will also be some carols for audience.

The concert is on Monday, December 15, at 7pm and tickets are £10, free for under-18s, available at www. dorsetchamberchoir.com, and from choir members and at the door.

Refreshments will be available during the interval.

Booking Deadline - Thur 11th Dec - 10am Copy Deadline - Mon 15th Dec - 4pm

Booking Deadline - Fri 19th Dec - 4pm Copy Deadline - Mon 22nd Dec - Noon

Classified

St Edward’s Church, Corfe Castle, one of the churches awarded a grant by Dorset Historic Churches Trust

Your Health Matters Dorset HealthCare’s monthly round-up

Help shape future of young people’s mental health

WEEKLY online information sessions are taking place for people to find out about career opportunities at Dorset HealthCare’s new state-of-theart child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) unit in Bournemouth.

The psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) is set to open early next year and the trust is seeking dedicated team members to provide exceptional care to young people aged between 13 and 18 experiencing serious mental health problems.

A range of roles are available, including consultants, clinical

psychologists, specialty doctors, clinical team leads and mental health nurses.

Anyone looking to work within a CAMHS inpatient service is invited to join the free virtual sessions, taking place every Friday at 1pm via MS Teams.

The eight-bed PICU, on Alumhurst Road, Bournemouth, is part of a £70.6 million government investment in improving local inpatient mental health care. It will allow young people to receive 24-hour specialist treatment close to family and friends – greatly aiding their likelihood of making a full

recovery.

At the online sessions, Claire Ozmond, the trust’s CAMHS inpatient clinical service manager, will explain all about the new unit, working for Dorset HealthCare and CAMHS, as well as outlining the varied career roles available.

Claire is looking forward to meeting people interested in making a difference.

She said: “If you are passionate about providing outstanding care, promoting recovery and wellbeing in a

East Burton Village Hall and Wool events – December 2025

by Patricia Hook

WELL I, for one, can’t believe another year has gone by and I would like to thank everyone who has helped to make East Burton and Wool such friendly and happy places to live. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful community spirit – long may it continue.

With that in mind, I have been asked to broaden my scribbles to include events taking place in Wool as well as East Burton, and I am very happy to do so. If anyone has anything they would like me to mention, please let me know.

As well as yoga, kickboxing, Mad Melodies, Fitness with Sarah and board games,

our monthly coffee and cake morning at East Burton Village Hall is on Friday, December 12, and we would love to see you there.

Remember, the hall can be hired for private/personal events or, if you wish to start a class, maybe tai chi, karate, art, drama, dancing or book club, please get in contact on 01929 288020 or go to our website, ebvh.org.uk. The accommodation is very flexible as the whole hall can be hired, or we can divide it in half –with a kitchen for each half – and a smaller meeting room is available. For information about these events, hire rates, availability, booking and so on,

do not hesitate to get in contact.

I am thrilled to let you know that the newly launched Wool Community Cinema is up and running and its debut film on Halloween night was A Night Before Christmas. It had a very attentive audience who came to watch after going trick or treating around the village. It then showed The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society film in November and the December offering on Friday, December 12, is ELF. Doors open at 6.30pm and the film starts at 7pm. Admission is £5 adults and £3 under 16s, but payment is cash only for the moment. Visitors are

CAMHS colleagues enjoy a game of table tennis

modern, purpose-built setting, and would like to help have a positive change on the lives of young people, come along to one of our information sessions to find out more.”

More information, a video clip about the new facility and roles available can be found on the trust’s website, as well as a link to the online sessions at https://careers. dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/ CAMHSPICU but, if you like, the MS Teams link can be emailed to you – please contact dhc.careers@nhs.net

welcome to bring their own drinks and food. On Christmas Eve it will be presenting The Snowman after the usual carol concert. Mulled wine and hot and cold drinks will be available. Watch this space for more information on the 2026 film programme.

Still looking for anyone interested in amateur dramatics to join our friendly team of D’Urberville Players. We meet every Tuesday at 7.30pm in the D’Urberville Hall and our next production, a murder mystery, is on Thursday, December 4, running for two nights. We would love you to join us and swell our numbers. We are not only looking for actors but anyone who feels they could help behind the scenes, maybe make-up and costumes, as well as scenery, PR, front of house and so on.

Swans overcome atrocious condtions

by Ron Butler Swanage & Wareham 24

Swindon 0

SWANAGE & Wareham’s home game was played in atrocious conditions in pouring rain and a south-westerly gale which made handling difficult and for ‘a game of two halves’.

Swans started against the wind and quickly had a penalty which took them into the visitor’s 22. Swindon repelled a catch and drive, but Swans had another penalty. Swans tried along the three- quarters but a handling error meant Swindon cleared up field.

RUGBY

The home team spent the next 20 minutes in the Swindon 22, but Swans tried tap penalties, line-outs, scrums and passing the ball out wide but could not get over the Swindon try line.

Swindon cleared their lines with some huge kicks with the wind, but Swans worked their way up field again. However, the visitor’s defence contained Swans’ attacks until the interval, so the game was scoreless at the end of the first half.

With the wind, Swans were soon back in the Swindon 22 and from a ruck 10 metres out Swans hooker Jack Young emerged with no defenders between him and the try line and sauntered over the line for the first score of the match. George Crouch added the extras.

Swans continued on the offensive and were awarded a penalty close to the Swindon 22 which Crouch put over, making the score 10-nil after 55 minutes.

From the restart, Swans kicked long into the Swindon 22

and from a scrum the ball came out to fly-half Crouch who dummied his way over the try line close to the posts. He converted himself to take Swans into a 17-point lead after 61 minutes.

Swans continued to press and a good move between the backs and the forwards saw wing forward Tom Holland move on to the ball to score Swans’ third try. Crouch converted.

Championship goes right to the wire

by Graham Howard

LUCKFIELD Lake was the venue for the final round of Dorchester & District Angling Society’s 2025 Junior Championship – and it could not have tighter!

Four points separated the two main contenders for the title, one of whom was also fighting a third junior for the title of Silverfish Champion, by only 3lb.

ANGLING

With all 10 pegs filled for the match, the day started slowly with only a few small fish caught in the first hour.

After a quiet period midmatch, a few larger species like bream and tench started showing, along with a few carp.

Sadly, for those that caught them, the carp were returned unrecorded, as it was a

Club reaches out to the community

MARTINSTOWN Cricket

Club were bowled over when they were announced as winners of the Jack Douch Trophy for cricket in the community at the Dorset Cricket Board presentation evening.

Henry Lewis accepted the award and the cheque for £500 at the event at Hamworthy Club, near Wimborne.

The annual award in Jack Douch’s memory was presented by grandson Nick, who now runs the family business, Douch Family Funeral Directors.

Jack loved the sport and was well-known across the county for his enthusiasm and

CRICKET

encouragement he gave to all the clubs.

Martinstown’s community efforts saw the judging panel select them ahead of Wimborne CC and Broadstone CC.

Henry Lewis, from Martinstown CC, said: “We have a number of dedicated volunteers who give their time and expertise.

“For several years we have been progressing both on and off the pitch and we now offer a wide range of youth activities.

“We share our ground with two local schools, one of which

silverfish-only match.

Kenzie Toulson was the well-deserved match winner with a big bream and some tench for 14lb 10oz.

Second went to junior newcomer Dougie Francis with some fine roach for 9lb 8oz, and Jayce Hardware missed out on second by just two ounces with two bream for 9lb 6oz.

Alfie Ellis fished his heart out to try and wrestle the Silverfish

Championship from Josh Roe, but Roe came out on top to claim the trophy.

In the main Championship, both contenders ended up level on points after 12 matches throughout the year, but Roe was again victorious thanks to his four wins over Austin Scott-Kennedy's two. For more information about DDAS Juniors go to ddasjuniors.co.uk

we also share fundraising activities with.

“We have started girls’ teams, hosted a girls’ festival and we’ve become a Disability Champion Club.

“Our ground plays host to the Hardy half-marathon as well as hosting a range of school and community activities.

“And we will be reducing our carbon footprint by installing solar panels.

“We are extremely grateful to Douch Family Funeral Directors, and the money will be spent on helping provide the

Henry Lewis from Martinstown CC receives the Jack Douch Trophy for cricket in the community from Nick Douch

best facilities we can.”

Nick Douch said: “My grandfather would have been delighted with all the great things going on at Martinstown.

“They have worked extremely hard to provide opportunities for everyone to get involved – and to do so in a rural location makes it more impressive.

“Wimborne and Broadstone were also highly commended by the expert panel, and we are lucky to have so many clubs doing great things for their communities.”

Swans: Will Slack, Rory Ferguson, Luke Tokatokavanua, Ed Dimascio, Olly Dillon, George Crouch, Olly Peters, Joel Andrews, Jack Young, Nick Audley, Kian Salina, Joe Towers, Tom Holland, Lee Hardy, Ed Elliot – Zach Wyburgh, Alex Weatherall, Paul Gregory.

Sudoku 3D puzzle

8 See around Rhode Island bird’s nest (5)

9 Fool almost certain to get stoppage (7)

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

10 Republican gets to develop gradually or turn round (7)

11 Retired serviceman in vehicle has thing to smoke? (5)

12 Spilt cider seen in house (9)

14 Top cyclist in part of Orkney (3)

15 By the sound of it, assess route (3)

16 One led gag comically in successful period in past? (6,3)

Down

1 Slip when crossing hill creating huge fear

2 Hear about a garment in burlesque (8)

3 Betray tight-knit element in group, we hear

4 Conceal part of a car (6)

5 Study carefully Greek island for building material (8)

6 Celebrated Chinese dynasty (4)

7 Aristocrat in place to see Broadway almost

13 Dodge poor eccentric with power gone, selfrighteous sort (2-6)

19 Perhaps, special order provides authority (3-2)

Killer Sudoku Pro

14 Hear mood has altered to create additional space? (8)

15 Old slapstick actor showing astuteness (6)

21 Figure Greek character has right to be in dinner, maybe (7)

23 Apply grease effectively in place for extracting commodity (3,4)

24 Uncomplaining Oscar amid a lot of criticism (5)

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.

17 Large yard containing single learner missing company? (6)

18 Entangle two bridge players left with expert (6)

20 Unknown drink in US university (4)

22 Minute on Welsh river produces strongsmelling substance (4)

National Coastwatch

St Nicholas a trusted guardian for seafarers

AS Christmas approaches, the days continue to shorten, resulting in shorter watch periods at the two Lookouts. By mid-December, those assigned to the afternoon shift frequently finish their duties just as dusk falls. Securing the Lookout at this time of year is particularly memorable – the flashing lights from the buoys marking the channels are clearly visible, along with the steady beams from the Needles and Anvil Point lighthouses. These buoys and lights serve as navigational aids for mariners, each displaying a distinct pattern to assist sailors in identifying their location and ensuring their safe passage. Despite these aids, seafarers have traditionally maintained various superstitions, often seeking additional protection from above to help them return home safely.

One saint to whom sailors frequently appeal is St Nicholas – the figure who inspired Santa Claus. For generations, mariners embarking on unpredictable voyages have looked to this fourth-century bishop for assistance and safe travels. St Nicholas was born in what is now Turkey, served as the Bishop of Myra and was renowned for his kindness and generosity, particularly towards children and the poor. He also became a notable protector of sailors undertaking challenging journeys.

There are numerous stories about St Nicholas along the coast. One tale recounts how he prayed and calmed a violent storm, thereby saving a ship’s crew. Anecdotes such as these, passed down through the years, have established him as a trusted guardian for all who travel by sea.

St Nicholas’s feast day

– December 6 – remains significant to seafaring communities, especially within European port towns. Churches dedicated to him have historically been places where sailors receive blessings prior to a voyage, and ships often carried icons or relics of the saint for good fortune. In Bari, Italy, where his remains are believed to reside, rituals for St Nicholas still draw sailors and their families, underscoring the enduring association between the saint and the maritime world.

It is noteworthy that the church in Worth Matravers is dedicated to St Nicholas and serves as an excellent starting point for those walking out to our station at St Alban’s Head – especially between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, when the Hatch may be open for refreshments, weather and station duties permitting. The church dates to around 1100AD and is among Dorset’s oldest, with indications that a late Saxon church previously occupied the site. Constructed primarily from Purbeck stone, it features remarkable stonework and gargoyles beneath the roof,

making it a worthwhile visit. The churchyard is also of interest, containing several notable graves – including that of Benjamin Jesty, the first person to use cowpox as a means to combat smallpox.

CONTINUING with the ecclesiastical theme, one should not overlook the square stone chapel near the Lookout at St Alban’s Head. This chapel, built in the 12th century and dedicated to St Aldhelm – an early eighthcentury Bishop of Sherborne –gives its name to the headland on land maps, whereas nautical charts refer to it as St Alban’s.

Initially, the chapel appears to stand alone within a wide expanse of grass. However, upon closer inspection, it is evident it is situated within earthworks – likely the remnants of a circular, preConquest Christian enclosure, possibly even a monastic settlement. Such early Christian enclosures are now rare in

England but were once commonplace in Wales.

The chapel is distinguished by its unusual square design, with each corner aligned to a cardinal compass point. This distinctive architectural feature has led some historians to speculate that it was not constructed solely for religious purposes but may also have served as a lookout for the nearby Corfe Castle.

The exact origin of the chapel remains. A local legend tells of a bride and groom who drowned when their boat capsized off the headland. The bride’s father erected the chapel in their memory and provided funds for a light to be kept burning, to prevent similar tragedies. There may be an element of truth to this account, and it is possible the chapel was subsequently incorporated into the church. Today, the building features a modern cross atop its roof, though evidence suggests it once displayed a beacon, aligning with the theory it was originally intended as a navigational aid.

Inside, a big central column holds up the vaulted roof. There’s a small opening in the column, and you’ll find some graffiti from the 17th century nearby. By then, when the chapel wasn’t used for worship anymore, local girls would visit what had turned into a wishing chapel. The tradition was to drop a pin into the hole in the pillar while making a wish – usually hoping to marry the man they wanted. The custom might be a leftover folk memory from when people made offerings for the safe return of sailors.

Although still steeped in history, the Lookout at Peveril Point can’t compete with St Alban’s Head, but we too will be welcoming visitors on New Year’s Day when we will be hosting our now famous tea and cakes!

This is NCI St Alban’s Head and Swanage NCI wishing everyone a happy, healthy and safe Christmas. NCI, listening on Channel 65, out.

by Nick Reed

Winter Sunset at the Lookout

St Alban’s Head and Chapel PHOTO: Alison Pettit

From rollators and walking sticks to Cosyfeet slippers and back support cushions: there’s something for

Christmas at the Purbeck Mobility Centre

Now that the weather is colder, it’s feeling more like Christmas. We have a wide range of mobility aids in stock, so if you’re looking for a present for a loved one, do pop in. Many of our products can be VAT free if they help overcome a permanent disability or life limiting condition.

Best-seller: Cosyfeet Boots & Slippers for Men and Women

The Medina Independent Dual-motor Riser Recliner

NEW Autumn/ Winter Catalogue available

Designed to fit swollen feet, bandaging, bunions or just wide feet, we have a full range in store including beautiful soft nubuck leather boots with laces and zips for easy access and the best-selling, fur-lined snuggly slippers.

New in: Ultra Lightweight Dual Folding Zoom Rollator

This innovative, aluminium rollator folds quickly and smoothly in 2 directions into an ultra-compact size – perfect for lifting into a car boot. Fully adjustable for all users and with a large supportive backrest, shopping bag and cushioned seat, this new design is already a best-seller.

We would like to thank our customers for their custom throughout the year and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Blue, the dog, would also like to thank customers for their continuing supply of tasty treats which make her long day at the shop extra special!

Lorraine, Andy and Blue at the Purbeck Mobility Centre

A Very Merry Christmas at The Old Stables

Delicatessen and Eaterie

Step into the festive season with the heartwarming charm of The Old Stables, your local destination for Christmas delights and seasonal cheer!

Delicious Deli Delights

From artisan cheeses to cured meats, chutneys, and olives – discover the perfect additions to your festive table.

Christmas Hampers & Gifts

Beautifully curated hampers packed with local goodies, sweet treats, and gourmet essentials – ideal for gifting or indulging yourself!

Sweets & Chocolates

A handpicked selection of festive chocolates, biscuits, and traditional treats to make spirits bright.

Cosy Café Vibes

Take a break from the Christmas rush – warm up with baristamade coffees, hot chocolates, and seasonal specials in our welcoming café.

Festive Café Menu

Enjoy hearty winter soups, Christmas sandwiches, homemade bakes, and comforting seasonal dishes made with love.

A Festive Atmosphere

Twinkling lights, the scent of cinnamon, and a friendly smile await. Come in, feel the magic, and make your Christmas shopping a joyful experience!

ou will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win a fantastic

early to choose from the very best Christmas trees!

Winner to be announced Friday 19th December on social media.

Wide selection of potted and sawn trees on display from 28th November.

Free delivery to the local area on all Christmas trees.

All Things Christmas

Don’t forget to

TREECYCLE TREECYCLE

Recycle your Christmas tree for a £10 suggested donation

Christmas and New Year rubbish

Collecting across East Dorset from Owermoigne to Walkford, from Durlston to Sturminster Newton

Kindly supported and sponsored by Waste Management Facilities

made of carton or foil in your recycling bin.

Recycle more

This Christmas, don’t let all your waste go to landfill. If you live in Dorset*, you can recycle:

• All cooked and uncooked food waste

• Wrapping paper**, cardboard and Christmas cards (no glitter)

• Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays

• Glass bottles and jars (Please keep glass separate)

Wednesday 31 Dec Friday 2 Jan

Thursday

Friday 2 Jan Monday 5 Jan

Monday 5 Jan Tuesday 6 Jan

Tuesday 6 Jan Wednesday 7 Jan

Wednesday 7 Jan Thursday 8 Jan

Thursday 8 Jan Friday 9 Jan

Friday 9 Jan Saturday 10 Jan

Monday 12 Jan No change

Refer to your calendar or visit dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/bin-day to check your collection days.

• Carton and foil***

We’ll collect extra recycling in your own boxes. Thank you for recycling!

If you live in Dorset*, check for changes to your collection

* Doesn’t include Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole. Check your council website for details.

** Scrunch your wrapping paper! If it stays scrunched, it can be recycled. If it doesn’t, or it’s foil-based or glittery, it should go in the rubbish bin.

*** Rinse foil trays and wipe sheet foil clean. Scrunch sheet foil or wrappers together into a tennis-sized ball.

All Things Christmas

The Castle Inn: Christmas Party Menu

STARTERS:

Seasonally Spiced Butternut Squash

& Roasted Red Pepper Soup (V)

Served with crusty ciabatta bread

Chef’s Ham Hock Wild Mushroom Terrine

Served on a celeriac remoulade with a green leaf garnish

A Smoked Salmon Roulade

Served with toast, butter & a spiced tomato chutney

MAINS:

Traditional Roast Turkey Crown

Served with all the trimmings & a rich gravy from the stock pot

*Venison Steak

Topped with wild mushrooms, dauphinoise potatoes, fine green beans & finished with a signature red wine jus

*Hake Chowder

Served with new potatoes, fine green beans, leeks, prawns, mussels, clams & squid in a rich creamy garlic & parsley sauce

Wild Mushroom, Seasonally Spiced Butternut Squash Risotto (V)

Topped with a medley of green leaves

*Supplement of £2.50

ADVERTISING FEATURE

DESSERTS:

Traditional Spiced Christmas Pudding

Served with a warm creamy brandy sauce

Refreshing Set Lemon Tart

With chantilly cream & homemade shortbread

Chef’s Famous Mince Pie Cheese Cake

With a scoop of vanilla ice cream

Seasonal Local Cheeses & Accompaniments (£3.00 Supplement)

2 Course Menu £22.95 per person

3 Course menu £27.95 per person

FESTIVE DIARY:

Wednesday 24th December: Christmas Eve Suppers

Thursday 25th December: Closed for family celebrations

Wednesday 31st December: New Year’s Eve Spectacular! Around the world in 7 courses

Thursday 1st January

Roast dinners to help recover from all the revelry!

Christmas

Join the Family at Monkey World this Christmas!

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Support the UK’s largest ape and monkey sanctuary by joining the adoption scheme this Christmas!

Adopting a primate at Monkey World makes a wonderful gift; as well as gaining a year’s FREE entry to the park, you’ll be helping Monkey World’s mission to save primates in need around the world.

Orphan orangutans like Sibu and Kiwi are given a second chance at a family at Monkey World’s specialist creche. Adopting a primate helps us to rescue and rehabilitate more primates who need our help.

When you join our family, you’ll receive a photo of your adopted primate, a certificate, three newsletters a year and an entry pass to the park for a year.

Visit www.monkeyworld.org or call 01929 401012 to adopt today!

Enjoy the festive season at Knoll House, with the most spectacular views across Studland Bay.

Christmas Day Lunch - £90

Boxing Day Lunch - £40

New Year’s Eve - £90

*Children are half price. Booking essential.

Contact the team to discuss our festive party celebrations and private hire.

Author revisits the war years

A SWANAGE author is publishing two books before Christmas, both with military connections.

Broken Wings (Part 2) is Bob Bunyar’s second book of accounts of aircraft crashes and mishaps during the Second World War.

Most were non-combat accidents, but several combat encounters are also recorded, including one from the Battle of Britain in which a young pilot lost his life.

The author is a former firefighter with Avon Fire & Rescue Service and started writing and had a bestselling railway book published in 2016 called Somerset & Dorset

Dorset Diggers at medieval village

DORSET Diggers is a community archaeology group dedicated to connecting communities with their past by exploring, researching and excavating ancient sites in the landscape.

We have developed partnerships with other heritage organisations in Nether Compton, Stalbridge, Maiden Newton, Bournemouth University Archaeology Department and now the Isle of Purbeck, where we are excavating a Deserted Medieval Village (DMV) over several seasons.

We work between March and October, two days a week, Wednesday and Sunday.

Anyone who would like to touch the past and become a member – no experience needed – can email treasurer.ddcag@ gmail.com

For more details, visit www. dorsetdiggersarchaeology. wordpress.com; Facebook –

Swansong.

This was well reviewed by the National Railway Museum in York and in the railway press.

He also wrote another popular book with a local connection, Wartime Purbeck, now out of print.

Broken Wings (Part 2), which has 81 A4 size pages and costs £11.99, is the ninth book the author has published.

A 10th book is set to be available now, called Military Branch Line and Sidings (Part 2), again A4 size with 88 pages, and costs £12.99. Bob is now working on Part 3, which will be published in 2026.

Bob enjoys researching the books and collecting the

images, although this can be difficult due to wartime censorship and the fact people at the time were not officially allowed to take photographs.

Bob has a proofreader, Cathy

Dorset Diggers Community Archaeology Group; Instagram – Dorset Diggers.

Chris Tripp Via email

Call for help with exhibition

WORKING with the town clerk, Kate Osborne, we researched and curated exhibitions in 2024 and earlier this year based on the 80th anniversaries of D-Day year and Victory in Europe and Victory Over Japan days.

These included recollections of residents who were children at the time.

Now we would like your help to produce, perhaps, a more permanent exhibition entitled The History of Lytchett Minster and Upton.

Do you have any of the following we could use?: photographs, diaries, letters, memorabilia, artefacts, documents, memories.

If so, we would love to hear from you. Phone 01202 632070,

Cox, who lives in New Zealand. Both books are available locally from the Swanage Bookshop in Station Road, Swanage, and the Railway Shop on Swanage Station.

Letters

Real ale Club of the Year

CONGRATULATIONS to Corfe Castle Club and steward Brian Varney – Chubby – for winning CAMRA South Central’s Regional Club of the Year award.

The real ale group’s regional officer, John Vanderwolfe, presented Brian with the award.

email office@lytchettminster andupton-tc.gov.uk or visit the town council office in person at 1 Moorland Way, Upton BH16

Robin Boultwood Swanage

5JS.Thank you.

Cllr Ray Griffin

Lytchett Minster & Upton Town Council

Author Bob Bunyar in a replica Spitfire at Popham Airfield, Hampshire PHOTO . Suzanne Bunyar

Telling It Like It Is

Cost of Christmas can mean anxiety for some

CHRISTMAS is coming, although far too few of us don’t actually believe in the true meaning of it – a huge and expensive commercial-fest that will leave far too many of us in financial difficulty for months to come. A lot of media-motivated pressure to be perfect, happy gorgeous families in matching pj’s, staring at other people’s wonderful warm Christmas displayed on megahuge TV sets. And conveniently forgetting the millions of children with no presents and possibly no parents either, and families worried about paying for everything. Stress, anxiety, fears, all media-induced.

The Samaritans has a free UK number – 116-123. In total confidence. Ask for advice or just share your problem. No-one will know.

So mums and dads, stop telling your kids that their iPhones, iPads and £200 toys are from Santa. Because some families just can’t afford that. Their little kids will wonder why they got socks or a coat. Or hand-me-down toys from Santa while their friends got an iPad. I’ve seen parents cry when their kids asked if they weren’t good enough, or Santa didn’t like them as much. Heartbreaking for the parents and the kids. So parents – take the credit for the gift. Santa didn’t buy that, mummy and daddy did. Leave the less expensive gifts from Santa and be blessed that

by David Hollister

you can afford what others cannot.

And on the subject of Christmas presents – please, please, please don’t give animals. I found this little poem in my Purbeck Sounds library and it made me cry all over again. You see, I do actually have a heart! And no, I don’t know the original author, but I’m sure if they are animal lovers they would have no issues with my repeating it this Christmas.

Batteries not included ... It is Christmas Day today, And all are full of cheer, But I lay freezing on the step, I always sleep right here. I never get to go inside, And join in all the fun, I'm what they call a yard dog, When all is said and done.

They have given me some scraps, I think it was last week, Now laying in the snow today, I am feeling tired and weak. I can hear the children playing, As my head lay on my paws, This time just last year, I was a gift from Santa Claus.

I don't know what I did wrong, To be shut out in the yard, I only lived inside six months; Since then my life's been hard. The snow is falling heavy now, I'm just a block of ice, And when I breathe the cold cold air, My lungs feel like a

vice.

A miracle then came to pass, An Angel did appear, She glowed, and I could feel the heat, As she floated near. She reached her hand and beckoned, It was such a sight to see,

She smiled and said "Good Dog, It is time to come with me.

I will take you to the bridge, Where all the Good Dogs go You can play there in the sunshine, There will be no freezing snow."

My bag of bones stood up then, I shook the snow from off my fur, And, as I slowly followed, This is what I said to her.

"I am not a Good Dog though, In that I think you're wrong, No one would shut a Good Dog, In the garden for so long."

The Angel turned and smiled, As I walked with head hung low, Then she said "I'm sorry, I thought that you would know

You really are a Good Dog, The reason why your time is up, It is just unfortunate, You were born a Christmas pup."

I now live at the Rainbow Bridge, And I am filled with joy, But remember this at Christmas time,

A dog is NOT a toy. To clarify this message, To which I have eluded, Animals are living things, Batteries are not included You see? Even copying it out has made me cry…

AWEEK ago, I was congratulating myself on keeping several amazing displays of busy-lizzies outside our front door. The best display we have ever had, cheap as chips, from a poky little garden centre in Gerrards Cross, where it was clear that the

people selling me their baskets were also the people who had put them together with love and with infinite care. So, looking out of my front door last Thursday week was a real heart-breaker – the frost had killed my baskets and patio tubs, and the final heartbreaker was taking them to the tip and saying goodbye.

So, winter’s here and parents all over the UK need to stay extra vigilant in the home just in case one of their family members decides to put the heating on instead of just putting on an extra jumper if they’re cold.

And extra vigilant in case their kids are plugging heaters into power strips rather than the proper wall socket. These strips are not designed to handle the high flow needs for a space heater and can overheat or even catch fire due to the added energy flow. So – stay safe! And it’s Christmas time all over the world but we – and the red-top media – tend to forget that right now a line of people are up to their knees in freezing cold water, climbing onto yet another ‘small boat’ hoping that wherever they are headed for won’t be as bad as the hell they have just escaped from. It is NOT illegal to cross the Channel – refugees are neither migrants nor invaders. Under international law, anyone has the right to apply for asylum in any country that signed the 1951 convention and to remain until the authorities have properly assessed their claim. In 2023, the UK took 20,339 refugees, that’s 0.026% of the world’s refugees.

I really hope each and every one of my readers has a wonderful Christmas. And a special greeting to those of you on duty over the festive season, who sacrifice spending time with their own families so they can take care of yours. Fire, Police, Ambulance, Coastguards, lifeboat crew… Thank you. You are amazing and you put me – in my centrally heated office – to shame. Merry Christmas to you all.

Labour’s Budget and Fairer Funding

THE Labour Government’s Autumn Budget and the Fairer Funding Review were billed as steps toward fairness and stability. Yet for Dorset Council and its residents, the reality looks far less optimistic. While headline measures offer some relief, the deeper picture is one of continued disadvantage for rural communities.

Despite promises of reform, Dorset remains trapped in a broken funding system. The Fairer Funding Review, set to take effect in April 2026, redistributes central government grants based on ‘relative need’ and councils’ ability to raise revenue locally. In practice, this penalises rural authorities like Dorset, which already relies on council tax for 82% of its revenue budget.

The review was meant to address the removal of the Rural Services Delivery Grant. Without it, Dorset faces a widening gap between rising demand – particularly in adult social care and SEND provision

– and available resources, yet government support barely moves the needle.

The Fairer Funding Review’s formulas favour areas of high deprivation but fail to account adequately for rurality and remoteness. Dorset’s ageing population and dispersed communities mean higher costs for transport, housing and care, yet these factors receive limited weighting. In short, Dorset will likely see its Core Spending Power stagnate while inflation erodes its value.

economy.

Mayors and Cornwall will also pilot business rate retention, creating yet another income source Dorset is denied, despite our readiness and strong plans for Wessex devolution.

Only Mayors of devolved areas will have powers to raise a tourism levy – a huge blow for Dorset, one of the UK’s top visitor destinations. Because government rejected the Wessex devolution proposal earlier this year, we miss out on this vital income stream – a lost opportunity to invest in infrastructure and our visitor

For households, the picture is equally bleak. Dorset already has some of the highest council tax bills in the country –more than £2,500 for a Band D property, higher than many inner London boroughs. Under Labour’s budget, councils are expected to raise tax by the maximum 4.99% just to stand still. Meanwhile, the new council tax surcharge on properties more than £2 million will generate £400 million nationally, but none of it will stay in Dorset. The Treasury takes the lot, leaving local taxpayers to shoulder the burden without benefit.

Income tax thresholds

News from Wareham Town Council – November report

by Julie Bradshaw

THE Speedwatch team needs more members – training and all equipment is provided. Dorset councillor Ezzard explained that it is the police which chooses the sites. Surveys have been carried out in Worgret Road, Carey Road and Bere Road. Weather, fewer daylight hours and lack of volunteers limit winter activity, but councillors can still suggest roads to be surveyed.

Mrs Turner, a Northmoor resident, made a heartfelt plea for facilities for older children on Hauses Field. Councillors were disappointed that Mr Randall had not received the information about the removal of the skate park which he had requested at previous meetings.

An impasse remains on the transfer of the Middle School playing field site due to the length of the lease and Councillor Critchley said Dorset Council needs to know that the transfer was in addition to the possible siting of a skate park on the Sward.

Use of car parks in Wareham was to be free of charge on Small Business Saturday, December 6.

Conservation concerns have delayed the demolition of the

remain frozen until 2031, dragging more residents into higher bands as wages rise – a stealth tax that will hit middleincome families hardest.

Combined with rising property taxes and the loss of rural grants, this creates a perfect storm for household finances.

Labour’s rhetoric of fairness rings hollow in Dorset. The Fairer Funding Review entrenches a postcode lottery where rural councils lose out, and the Autumn Budget offers little more than token gestures.

As my Liberal Democrat colleague Cllr Simon Clifford warned: “Our residents already pay more and get less. Dorset and the south west deserve better.”

Without urgent action to recognise rural costs, Dorset faces deeper cuts, higher taxes and declining services – a bitter disappointment for a county already on the brink.

NICK IRELAND

Liberal Democrat Leader of Dorset Council

Museum’s object handling session on October 31. It is hoped the Christmas Elf Trail preceding the Father Christmas parade was as successful as the pumpkins.

Howards Lane toilets.

If the council decides to charge 50p a visit to the new toilets, more than 100 users a day, not counting those let in by a previous occupant, would be needed to cover the estimated annual running cost of £20,000.

The change to the Neighbourhood Plan steering group’s terms of reference, which will allow the group to submit its own response to consultations, was not debated. Whether this will dilute the overall response of Wareham Town or even be contradictory remains to be seen.

Richard and Pam’s Saxon characters enhanced the

The TE Lawrence Society has loaned its full collection to the Museum. From next Easter a new display will be staged in a redesigned Lawrence room. The Museum is open on Thursdays and Fridays, 10am-2pm.

The first 2026 Wareham Town Council meetings will be in the council chamber on Tuesdays January 27 and February 24, starting at either 7 or 7.30pm depending on whether a planning and transport meeting is held first. Further information is available on the council’s website, www. wareham-tc.gov.uk, or by phoning the town council office on 01929 553006.

PHOTO: Simon Barnes

Nick Ireland

6

Meditations in nature: Traveller’s Joy

by Susanna Curtin

AS the year marches towards its finale, the countryside is steadily retreating deeper into its winter slumber. The hedgerows have shrunk back to their bones. But there, scrambling over them, is one plant that never ceases to catch my attention in the dark, grey weeks that lead up to Christmas, and that is our very own native clematis, Clematis vitalba, otherwise known as Old Man’s Beard, or the more poetic Traveller’s Joy, so called by a herbalist, John Gerard, in the 16th century for “decking and adorning ‘waies’ and hedges where people travel”.

Clematis vitalba is a tall, climbing and rather persistent wild plant. From July to September, it has very pretty clusters of cream-coloured and fragrant flowers which have four petal-like sepals and very prominent stamens. Their intricate beauty is easily overlooked, but once noticed, they are indeed a joy to behold for any traveller. But it is now, in this steely, wintry sunlight that the plant is at its most conspicuous as shafts of low light shine through the masses of feathery, smoke-like seedheads that cluster and straggle the hedgerows. Walking down a familiar ride in the bright winter sunshine today, I stop to marvel at its abundance. Just like the clematis varieties that we plant in our gardens, this vigorous plant uses its leaf stems to support its journey by entwining them around shrubs and trees. It is a rambling vine which apparently can grow faster than ivy and can

reach up to nearly 100ft towards the light in a dense woodland. In such a forest, you may have seen the rope-like stems that hang from the canopies of the host tree, sometimes almost reaching the ground. As children, we would imagine that we were in a jungle, and if the vine was strong and old enough to take our weight, we would try our Tarzan-like swings. These tough stems, that can grow as thick as our wrists, have been used since the Stone Age to make baskets and ropes.

The plant is more commonly found in the south of England and parts of Wales but gets less common the further north you travel. It prefers chalky or limestone soils and loves to seed in hedgerows, woodland edges and scrubby grasslands. Although considered invasive by many, it is vitally important for wildlife. For it is the sole foodplant for several of our moth species such as one of my favourites, the small emerald, as well as the small-waved umber and Haworth’s pug. The flowers provide nectar for bees and hoverflies, and the seeds are sought after by the gold and green finches that flock together in winter in fast, chattering squadrons flitting from hedgerow to hedgerow. Above all, given its rampant nature, clematis vitalba offers a unique habitat. The fuzzy seedheads deliver cover and nesting material for birds while also providing shelter for overwintering insects.

Given its prevalence and its nature, it is not surprising that this interesting species appears in our rich and varied folklore. It was considered a guardian of the road and a source of good luck by bringing joy to a weary traveller, especially in late summer when it is in bloom, and then again in these winter months with its intriguing smoke-like appearance. On the other hand, its aggressive habit and ability to smother other plants has provoked its name of Devil’s Guts or Devil’s Twister – a place overrun with it was seen as being neglected or bewitched. Personally, I prefer the former. For me, it is a plant that gladdens my heart. In some counties, notably Wiltshire and Hampshire, rural lore held that hedges abundant in Traveller’s Joy kept fields safe and marked a ‘content and well-kept’ boundary linking to the wider concept of the plant as a shelter, a threshold and a safe passage for the traveller. It is even said in witchcraft folklore, that dried seedheads should be worn as a

protection against being led astray. This led to it being carefully woven into charm bundles carried by long-distance walkers, symbolising lightness of journey and protection from misfortune.

I don’t intend to be led astray today or suffer any misfortune, but I cannot help myself collecting a small bundle to adorn a winter display for my mantlepiece. I love the plant’s tenacity, resilience and adaptability – qualities we all need to harness in today’s world. Maybe it is for that reason that I like to incorporate the seedheads in my display of Christmas foliage, for it to sit alongside the mistletoe and soften the edges of the holly and ivy. This time of year can feel devoid of colour and texture, so to stop and marvel at this adaptable, changeable vine gives any traveller pleasure, especially as the setting sun shimmers through its fine seedy tendrils.

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

Travellers Joy in winter and (inset) in autumn

Health & Wellbeing

Schizandra’s great but takes getting used to!

by Fiona Chapman

I SUPPOSE it is about time we had some cold weather to kill off all the nasty bugs that seem to be hanging around. But it is quite a shock to the system and there have been mad panics in my house trying to find gloves and scarfs.

I come and go a bit with herbs for myself – it is easy to recommend them for other people, but not so easy to find the time to make up prescriptions for myself. All the herbs I harvested and dried in summer have been made into a delicious, if strong, tea and this has inspired me to be

a bit more active and to look after myself so that I don’t succumb to a dreadful lurgy.

Schizandra is an adaptogen and the berries have five flavours – sweet, sour, bitter, pungent and salty

As I have mentioned before, if it is possible to eat herbs and incorporate them into everyday life and food, it makes it very easy. With that in mind, I bought some dried Schizandra chinensis berries which I use either whole as a tea or ground up in a coffee grinder to make a powder to add to my newly discovered overnight oats.

Schizandra is what we call an adaptogen. The berries have five flavours which, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are very important –

they are sweet, sour, bitter, pungent and salty, which benefit all the Yin organs, the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs and spleen.

Because it has been considered such a useful and powerful herb, it has had a lot of research done on it.

An adaptogen helps the body adapt to stressors. In the case of schizandra, it has an amphoteric effect on blood pressure which means it either raises it if too low or lowers it if too high, so normalises it. It also protects the liver by increasing glutathione, a major liver antioxidant, and helps regenerate the liver cells. It is also extremely good for the nervous system, calming it down while improving mental clarity. It is great for the immune system, especially when it is depleted, and is used for cancer and HIV. It is astringent, so dries up excess fluid in the body, and can be added to formulas for wet coughs and COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

It is an amazingly effective herb, but you do have to be prepared for the five tastes – it takes some getting used to! n Fiona Chapman is a naturopathic herbalist (email Pellyfiona@gmail.com).

Holding uncertainty: Meeting ourselves with compassion

by Nicole Asghar

AS the end of the year is upon us, we are often faced with a sense of uncertainty, something I’ve come to realise asks more of us than we realise. It stretches our sense of safety, stirs old fears and can leave us feeling unsteady. Yet the capacity to stay with the unknown, without rushing to fix it or retreat from it, is one of the most transformative skills we can embody.

It begins with the simple act of meeting ourselves exactly where we are. Not where we think we should be, and not where others expect us to be. Just here, in this moment, with whatever mix of emotions is present. When we meet ourselves with compassion, something softens and the tension of self-judgment loosens.

Compassion gives us permission to be human.

Of course, uncertainty rarely feels comfortable. It often brings discomfort in waves – doubt, longing, frustration, hope, fear. We often want to avoid or erase it, but what if we found ways to withstand it? By staying with the discomfort instead of abandoning ourselves, we slowly expand our ability to hold the challenging emotions uncertainty brings. We build a kind of inner endurance, a quiet trust that we can navigate far more than we once believed.

Each moment of compassion, each intentional exhale that helps us release the desire for control or self-criticism, becomes a small act of courage and care. Over time, these small acts accumulate. They remind us that while we can’t always choose certainty, we can choose how we meet ourselves within the uncertainty.

There have been times when

I worried that uncertainty was going to destroy everything in my life – it felt that strong. It didn’t, because I learned to see uncertainty differently. It stopped feeling like a threat and became more like an invitation into growth. The potential for growth is something we can believe in, and something we can influence. Moving into the unknown with a sense of courage, that maybe, ‘it will all be okay’, felt like the only way forward.

Sometimes it’s in therapy, sometimes it’s with our friends or family, but we can begin to see, and perhaps even believe, that we have everything we

Top tips for keeping warm and well this winter

AS temperatures drop and winter weather sets in, it's easier to pick up bugs and viruses that could leave you feeling miserable over the festive period.

Cold and damp conditions, ice, snow and high winds can all make existing health problems worse, leave you more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses, and increase your risk of slips and falls.

The south west’s top clinicians are sharing some simple steps you can take now to protect yourself and make sure you're fit and well to enjoy everything the season has to offer.

Dr Rupa Joshi, A GP and

medical director for NHS England – South West said: “We want people to ensure they are taking the best steps to keep themselves well this winter, especially in any cold weather snaps.

“Keeping warm over the winter months can help to prevent colds, flu and more serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and depression.

“If you can, you should be aiming for the main room you use during the day, and at night, to be at least 18C – this is particularly important if you have a long-term health condition like heart failure or chronic airways disease.

“Wearing several thinner layers will keep you warmer than one thicker layer and it is also very important to ensure you are eating enough and having hot drinks when you can.”

Staying active is also an essential part of keeping warm this winter, and to help reduce the risk of falling ill in the colder months.

Dr Justin Varney-Bennett, Director of Public Health for NHS England South West, said: “Being active every day can help improve your mental health, reduce the risk of falling and can be beneficial for recovery if you do get ill.

“You should be aiming to do

need within us to find the way forward.

Ultimately, we can hold uncertainty, when we can start to hold ourselves. It becomes less about enduring it and more about trusting that we will find our way – one slow exhale and compassionate step at a time. If you have any thoughts on this topic, I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to get in touch. n Nicole Asghar is a Dorsetbased therapist working online and around Bournemouth. Specialising in neurodivergence, trauma and yoga. Get in touch via nicole@ourluminousminds. com or www.ourluminousminds. com

enough activity that will make you feel a little bit warmer but can still have a conversation. Don’t do anything that doesn’t feel comfortable and trust your instincts about your own limits.

“Try to reduce the amount of time you spend sitting down during the day and try not to sit still for more than an hour or so if you can.”

“There are many activities you could do at home, such as walking up and down stairs, dancing, gardening, housework or taking part in online fitness classes.

“It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as it’s something you enjoy and keeps you moving.”

Individuals can also do various exercises while seated.

Advice on keeping warm and well, as well as getting winter vaccinations, is available on the NHS website.

Uncertainty

The holly and the ivy

by Sally Gregson HOLLY

and ivy are among only six evergreens native to the UK. There’s box (Buxus sempervirens); and there are conifers – yew (Taxus baccata), Irish Juniper (Juniperus communis) and Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris). All other evergreens have been introduced over the centuries.

Our climate may be mild and, some would say, getting milder, and still fairly equable. That is, we rarely experience extremes of hot and cold. And these conditions are not favourable for evergreen plants that dislike ‘false springs’ and intemperate ‘cold snaps’. Evergreens are pushed into growth in the middle of the calendar winter, only to be frosted within days.

For centuries the holly and the ivy have endured in myth and legend. Over the years their

use has crossed from pagan to Christian tradition. To pagans, holly was a symbol of everlasting life, keeping witches and evil spirits at bay, while ivy has been held in high esteem throughout history. In ancient Greece, newlyweds were given wreaths as an emblem of fidelity while

Forcing chicory: A winter salad treat

by Sally Gregson

AT this end of the year our tastebuds are becoming rather jaded. We long for the crispness of fresh young leaves, and that hint of bitterness that seems to signify new growth. Flaccid lettuces on the supermarket shelves do not come up to our expectations. So, although forcing chicory seems quite an effort, it is one that pays off.

Sow the seed of forcing chicory in May or June to produce plants big enough to lift in November as the leaves start to die back. The Whitloof varieties are successful – Dura Whitloof or Brussels Whitloof. And there’s an F1 variety –Whitloof Zoom, which might

produce too many chicons at the same time. It depends on how much you like chicory.

The seed will need to be sown in a heated greenhouse, or on a warm windowsill, to germinate. If your greenhouse has electric power, you could use a heated propagator set at the minimum temperature. And monitored well. Tall, thin seedlings appear within days if the propagator is not carefully watched.

Thin the seedlings to 10-15cm apart and grow on for the summer. In November lift the big roots, discarding the smaller ones which will not make good chicons, and cut back the top growth to about

The large green, grey and white leaves of H. colchica Dentata Variegata brighten the darkness

There are many different forms of variegated ivies (Hedera). In the garden, on a shaded wall, the large green, grey and white leaves of H. colchica Dentata Variegata really brighten the darkness. As a native of Iran and Turkey, it prefers a spot out of our winter winds.

Romans dedicated ivy to the god of wine, Bacchus. Apparently, binding the brow with ivy could cure intoxication – one to try on new year’s day! And then in the early Christian church holly’s red berries became symbols of the blood of Christ and its prickles, the Crown of Thorns.

Holly usually berries in the autumn, and in harsh weather is often bare by Christmas-time. If it is cut and brought into a cool, dark space out of the reach of birds and mice, the red berries will hang on long enough to use over the festive season. And ivies usually flower well in December, providing a rich source of nectar and pollen for insects, and berries for the birds. Both holly and ivy are good, evergreen cover for birds and small mammals who love to nestle and roost among their roots and branches.

2.5cm. Lay these roots horizontally in trays of sand or clean compost and keep them in a frost-free shed. Then, trim the bases of a few chicons and plant vertically with their tops just showing, and keep them at 10 degrees to 15 degrees C. They will produce crisp young bulbils after about four weeks.

The leaves are delicious and crisp on their own as a salad, or

a whole chicon could be sliced up in rounds with thin slices of orange. The juices of the orange mixed with a little olive oil, wine vinegar and rock salt make a good dressing to accompany cold roast meats such as turkey or ham. Or the individual chicons could be braised in butter and stock with a few herbs to make a very different winter vegetable dish.

Commercially produced chicory ready for harvesting

How to help your garden through the cold of winter

AS the days grow shorter and the temperature dips, gardeners across the south west are turning their attention to protecting their plants and preparing their gardens for the cold months ahead.

Winter might seem like a time for gardens to rest, but the work you do now can make all the difference to how well your plants bounce back in spring.

The team at British Garden Centres have put together some simple but effective steps to shield plants, nurture soil and support vital garden wildlife during the winter season.

Mulching

ONE of the best defences against winter weather is mulching. Adding a thick layer of organic mulch, such as compost, bark chips, leaf mould, or well-rotted manure, around the base of plants helps lock in valuable moisture, improve soil structure and protect delicate roots from freezing. Mulching also helps to stabilise soil temperature and prevent repeated freezing and thawing, which can cause roots to heave or loosen in the soil.

Mulching is such a simple job, but it has long-lasting benefits and can make all the difference in protecting young shrubs, perennials and roses through the cold months. It also makes gardens look neat while feeding the soil at the same time. When applying mulch, gardeners should aim for a layer of around five to eight centimetres thick, leaving a small gap around stems to avoid rot. Winter is also a good time to top up existing mulch that may have thinned out over the summer.

Protecting plants from frost

THE unpredictable British winter means frost can strike

early and suddenly. Use horticultural fleece or cloches on tender plants and exotics and move to a sheltered spot. Even hardy plants can suffer in extreme or prolonged cold, especially young specimens that haven’t yet established strong root systems, so mulch or cover where possible.

Container plants are particularly vulnerable because their roots are more exposed to cold air. Raising pots off the ground with pot feet helps drainage and prevents waterlogging. Wrapping pots in bubble wrap or hessian keeps the roots warmer and grouping containers against a southfacing wall creates a little pocket of extra shelter and a mini ecoclimate for the plants.

Most gardeners lose plants in winter not because of the cold itself, but because of frost on soggy soil, so make sure your plants have good drainage, protection, and an occasional check on pots and beds makes a world of difference.

Lawns, borders and shrubs care

WHILE growth slows in winter, lawns and borders still benefit from a bit of attention during the colder months. Avoid walking on frosted or waterlogged grass to prevent soil compaction and damage. Fallen leaves should be cleared from lawns and borders to reduce the risk of fungal disease and allow air and light to circulate. Leaves that are collected can be turned into leaf mold or composted for use next year.

This quiet season is also the ideal time to prune dormant trees and shrubs. Removing dead, diseased or crossing branches improves shape and encourages strong new growth when spring returns. For fruit

trees and bushes, pruning promotes better fruiting and overall health.

Supporting wildlife WILDLIFE plays a vital role in the health of any garden, and winter is a time when animals need a helping hand. Leaving

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some seed heads on perennials such as echinacea and teasel provides valuable food sources for birds and insects. Piles of logs, leaves or twigs in a quiet corner can become winter homes for hedgehogs, toads and beneficial insects.

A time to reflect, a time to observe

by AJ Selby

“As a little girl living in the English countryside, I used to go running around in the forests creating my own fairytales.”

Lily Collins – actress. DECEMBER: the end of another year, a time to look back and reflect on the past 12 months and to look forward to the next. A still, cloudy and silent December day suits my mood at this time of year. All is dead and decaying and quiet, and everything has been put to bed – the garden is full of dormant plants that just a few short months ago were bursting with colour, the fields are a duller green, the surrounding hedgerows leafless and the woods are skeletal and bleak. All is sleeping.

And yet is there a better place to sit and reflect than in a winter wood on a still day, where the Beaufort Scale of 0, ‘smoke rises vertically’, is so poetic that it can conjure up

many images? In my own mind it’s a remote cottage on the edge of a wood, where there are billets stacked up in a lean-to and the fire is lit with the wisps of woodsmoke fingering into the sky. A hen or two is scratching around outside and in the kitchen garden some winter cabbages and leeks remain for eating on the coldest days. Or it could be within the wood itself where a bodger or woodsman maintains a small fire to keep himself warm and boil his billycan for some hot drink or other. His fire is lit with the shavings of his labours, and offcuts from his coppicing keep the blaze going. How in-tune with nature is this nomad of the forest who sees much and hears even more. He knows where the badger has his set, and the tawny owl her nest in a dying oak, where to look for the ceps and chanterelles in autumn and the glades where the butterflies dance in high summer. He hears

before moving on. They are gregarious birds often seen in small flocks of a dozen or two, and it’s such fun to watch them. It’s also a great time to watch the winter visitors from the far north – is there a better sign that winter is here than the fieldfare rooting around in old tufts of grass or perched on a may tree full of berries? His chack-chack echoes across the landscape and is quite distinctive, and very different to the other thrush that accompanies him, the redwing. His call is a dropping, scratchy song and he is less wary than his cousin – while atop a berried shrub you can get quite close to him and see the red flash on the flank below his wing, which extends to the underside of said wing, and his creamy eye-stripe.

that lone tune of the robin in mid-winter that gladdens the heart and the cacophony of the dawn chorus in late spring when everything is so alive.

He takes each season as it comes and enjoys each in turn, and soon he will wait, as will I, for those very first signs that the year has turned and spring is imperceptibly starting to emerge from the leaf mould beneath our feet. The tiny shoots of celandine and perhaps snowdrops on forest floor, the catkins of alder, birch and hazel with their tiny flowers, and the slow increase in daylight. All that is to come in just a very few short weeks’ time.

But what of now? Midwinter is the time to observe the wildlife that is abroad at this time of year, made easier with leafless hedges and trees. I love to watch the long-tailed tits make their way down a hedge line, pausing to search for food in the bare branches and twigs,

The best place to see lots of birds in winter is marshland, preferably coastal, where migratory birds congregate in large numbers, having arrived from the frozen north, and mingle with our permanent residents. These include not only the popular waders such as knot, dunlin, sanderling and turnstone, but also duck and geese, which alternate between tidal mudflats and pasture or, to the farmer’s chagrin, autumnsown cereals. Look out for the black and white oystercatcher with his bright red bill, and the redshank who wheels away alerting other birds with his sharp stabbing call that drifts over the marshes. Avocets are now more common than they were and other waders to observe, using a good field guide, include the sadly diminishing curlew, sandpiper, lapwing, godwit – two types –and ringed plover.

Wherever your winter walks take you there will still be something to see, something new to observe and hopefully something to surprise and delight you. Wrap up, dig out the binoculars, take your time to observe and enjoy! See you next year.

Curlew – whose numbers are sadly diminishing – in flight over marshes

Christmas –a time to give jewellery!

by Amy Brenan, director of Heirlooms Jewellers, 21 South Street, Wareham

DID you know, it was during the Victorian era that Christmas as we recognise it today truly began to flourish?

However, the tradition of gifting jewellery at Christmas has deep historical roots, blending symbolism, craftsmanship and celebration.

Long before the festive season became what we know today, jewellery was exchanged during winter festivals as a symbol of protection,

prosperity and affection.

In ancient Rome, people celebrated Saturnalia – a December festival in which small tokens, including simple metal ornaments and charms, were given to bring luck for the year ahead.

With Queen Victoria’s love of sentimental jewellery influencing fashion, pieces featuring lockets, birthstones and romantic motifs became popular gifts.

Jewellery was no longer reserved for the elite –advancements in manufacturing

Valuation days coming up

SHOTGUNS and antique firearms continue to achieve high values at HOLTS.

Among many guns consigned from this area to HOLTS recently were two very good examples of the positive international market at present.

An antique .52 percussion breech-loading 1863 New Model Sharps infantry rifle achieved £1,600.

And from the small-bore licensable section, a Belgian-made .410 double-barrelled boxlock ejector shotgun, engraved ‘shot & regulated by E.J. Churchill ltd’ – pictured – sold for a very impressive £2,100.

A rare pink diamond set in platinum surrounded by bright white baguette cut diamonds

made it more accessible, transforming it into a meaningful gesture for families across all social classes.

In the 20th century, advertising helped cement jewellery as a quintessential Christmas gift. Iconic campaigns encouraged consumers to express love and commitment through beautifully wrapped boxes containing sparkling surprises.

collectors viewing and bidding. This helps to achieve consistently high numbers of lots sold, averaging 90%.

HOLTS markets its auctions all over the world and has many international buyers and

In 1947, the De Beers ‘A Diamond is Forever’ campaign arguably became the most famous jewellery campaign in history.

This slogan helped establish diamonds as the ultimate symbol of love and commitment. It revolutionised engagement ring culture and made diamond jewellery a must-have gift for special occasions.

Today, the tradition of giving jewellery continues stronger than ever.

Whether it’s an exquisite antique piece with lots of history and meaning, a contemporary pendant, a personalised bracelet or a dazzling pair of earrings, gifting jewellery at Christmas remains a heartfelt way to show someone special just how treasured they are.

January 7, and the NFU Mutual Sturminster Newton on Tuesday, January 13.

HOLTS is now accepting consignments for its next auctions with valuation days throughout the region.

The next local ones are at the GWCT Fordingbridge on Wednesday,

For a full list of venues, see the HOLTS website, www. holtsauctioneers.com

To book an appointment or discuss a valuation or home visit, contact David Thurgood on 01297 306123 or by email at westcountry@holtsauctioneers. com

Wednesday 7th January

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Burgate Manor Fordingbridge Hampshire, SP6 1EF

Tuesday 13th January NFU Mutual The Creamery Station Road Sturminster Newton Dorset, DT10 1BD

To book an appointment, arrange a free valuation or home visit please contact: David Thurgood 01297 306123 westcountry@holtsauctioneers.com

AUCTIONEERS OF FINE MODERN & ANTIQUE GUNS

Depot will turn food waste into ‘green’ fuel

PLANNERS have given the green light for a biomethane refuelling depot which will use locally sourced food waste to help cut carbon emissions from HGV (heavy goods vehicle) transport.

Dorset-based renewable energy firm Eco Sustainable Solutions submitted a planning application for the depot at its Eco Park in Parley.

The facility will supply renewable gas produced from the company’s new anaerobic digestion (AD) plant.

The depot will enable compressed biomethane to be used as an alternative to diesel for HGVs, one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonise.

The biomethane will be refined from food waste

collected across BCP, the New Forest, Dorset and surrounding areas.

The depot will be able to refuel up to three vehicles at once and forms a critical part of Eco’s wider decarbonisation strategy, including the conversion of its own HGV fleet.

Initial estimates suggest the facility will save at least 1,634 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) a year.

Justin Dampney, managing director of Eco Sustainable Solutions, said: “We’re very pleased to receive approval for our biomethane refuelling depot.

“By using fuel derived from

the food waste we process, the depot will help reduce emissions where it’s traditionally been hardest – heavy goods transport.

“This isn’t just a solution for our fleet. In time, the depot could provide clean fuel for other operators too – all powered by local food waste.”

Biomethane offers emissions reductions of up to 85% compared to diesel and is rapidly gaining recognition as a

viable low-carbon fuel for logistics and waste sectors.

Founded in 1995, Eco has an annual turnover of £21 million and employs 53 people.

In 2024, the company recycled 236,446 tonnes of material including 61,191 tonnes of food waste, 51,462 tonnes of wood waste and 36,960 tonnes of food waste.

As well Parley and Piddlehinton, the company also has a site at Weymouth.

New base for young carers’ charity

A CHARITY fighting to level the playing field for young carers has signed a three-year lease on workspace at a multilet block of office suites in Broadstone.

MYTIME Young Carers is moving into a 2,120 sq ft suite at Manor House in the retail and commercial hub.

Property consultancy Vail Williams acted on behalf of the private property company which owns Manor House in Macaulay Road, which has eight modern office suites.

The firm has also been appointed as managing agents for the block of offices.

Bryony Thompson, a partner at the Bournemouth office of Vail Williams, said: “MYTIME Young Carers has outgrown space at Avonbourne School in Bournemouth – the office at Manor House is an ideal

environment to work from as the charity grows, having already helped nearly 2,300 young carers across Dorset and on the Isle of Wight.”

Krista Cartlidge, chief executive of MYTIME Young Carers, said: “MYTIME is committed to supporting young carers across the UK, and our wonderful new base at Manor House in Broadstone will help with our goal of ensuring no child’s destiny is defined by their beginning.

“Although our headquarters are based in Dorset, it is our mission to level the playing field for these incredible young people from ages five-25 all across the country by providing them with holistic support from our range of programmes, interventions and advocacy work.

“We exist to champion and empower them to reach their full personal, academic and professional potential.”

Krista is also a part-time PhD

researcher at Bournemouth University, focused on practical ways to improve communication between young carers and their schools so policy, practice and lived experience line up.

Ed Martin, an associate at Vail Williams, working on the south coast, specialises in property asset management on behalf of private clients and pension funds.

He said: “We are delighted to have been appointed as managing agents for Manor House. In addition to preparing and issuing service charge budgets and year-end reconciliations, we will be appointing approved contractors to maintain the communal areas and maintain the good working relationship with the tenants.

“We’ll also be identifying any working asset management opportunities for the client.”

The refuelling depot will help cut carbon emissions from HGV transport and (left) Justin Dampney, managing director of Eco Sustainable Solutions

MYTIME Young Carers at the charity’s new premises in Poole, Dorset

Inaugural calls boost port’s cruise business

LUXURY and specialist cruise ships have been among a record number of liners calling at Portland Port for the first time in 2025.

12 vessels have made their inaugural visits with one more due by the end of the year, carrying more than 14,000 passengers. Including ships’ crew, this has contributed more than £1.25 million to the local economy.

Two cruise lines – Silversea and Albatros Expeditions – have sent ships to Portland for the first time.

The milestones come as Portland Port continues to work hard to attract new and diverse lines and ships to Dorset. Its cruise business contributes about £10m to the local economy annually, according to industry figures.

Ian McQuade, Portland Port’s commercial general manager and chair of Cruise Britain, said: “We have been fortunate to welcome more ships making their inaugural calls at Portland.

“Some have been from cruise lines with whom we have established strong and supportive relationships over a number of years while others have been from lines choosing Portland for the first time.

“It is also encouraging to see the growth of calls by specialist luxury and expedition ships, which demonstrates the increasingly popularity of the area as a destination for a wide range of passengers.

“It is also a resounding vote of confidence in the hard work, investment and time that goes into the growth and diversification of the port’s cruise business.

“It has been a successful cruise season so far and we look forward to a strong finish to the year.”

Luxury cruise line Silversea sent three ships to Portland on a

The Silver Spirit, from luxury cruise line Silverseas, called at Portland for the first time in June

total of six calls this year – the Silver Spirit, the Silver Dawn and the Silver Shadow.

Other ships to visit for the first time were Albatros Expeditions’ Ocean Albatros, AIDAluna, Le Boreal, Carnival Miracle, MS Europa 2, Ambition, Seven Seas Grandeur, Norwegian Jewel and Viking Vela.

As well as Ocean Albatros, other luxury expedition ships to call have include Ponant’s Le Boreal and the Hebridean Princess, which carries just 50 guests.

The Viking Vela, from luxury line Viking Ocean Cruises, has been among five unscheduled calls so far this year which have materialised from a recordequalling 18 enquiries.

With deepwater berths, flexibility and a positive attitude, the port has gained a reputation for being able to welcome ships diverted at short notice from their original destination due to such factors as weather or industrial action.

A total of 64 ships carrying more than 100,000 passengers are set to have called at Portland by the end of this year with 11 on the cruise calendar in October and November.

The port has also hosted familiarisation trips for representatives from Fred Olsen, Silversea, Princess and Windstar cruise lines to promote the area and its attractions to attract more ships to the area.

annually is based on statistics from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) trade body for spend per head of passenger.

The figure includes expenditure in shops, bars, cafes and tourism attractions, along with transport and tours.

In addition, further expenditure comes from the crew that are given time off when in port, along with berthing revenues through the port itself and businesses in the local supply chain.

Typically, about 50% of

visiting cruise guests go on organised excursions, the majority of whom stay in Dorset.

Most of the remaining passengers explore the local area using the port’s complimentary shuttle bus service, either choosing to stay on Portland or travel into Weymouth.

Activities for passengers on Ocean Albatross included a Jurassic Coast Walk and a visit to Stonehenge. Guests on such expedition ships are also more likely to visit RSPB nature reserves and take part in beach cleans.

The port opened a £26m deepwater berth in 2023, allowing it to welcome larger vessels, including ships up to 350m in length on opposite berths on the same day.

The £10m that cruise calls bring into the local economy

Motoring Motor show fundraiser for charity

ONE of the south’s most popular motoring events, the Dorset Blind Association (DBA) Motor Show, returns for its 10th anniversary at Lulworth Castle next May.

The 2026 show promises to be the biggest and best yet, featuring hundreds of vehicles – from classic cars and sports cars to show-stopping supercars.

Visitors can also enjoy live entertainment, family-friendly activities, artisan stalls and local food vendors.

Castle next May

“We’re thrilled to be hosting the DBA Motor Show for its 10th anniversary,” said Samantha Baker, community

Gritting crews at ready 24/7

HIGHWAYS crews in Dorset are on standby ready to keep roads safe as temperatures drop this winter.

Almost 100 crew members

are on standby 24/7 to grit roads across the county.

Dorset Council’s gritting network covers 684 miles of road across 23 main gritting

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relations officer.

“This milestone is a fantastic opportunity to bring together car enthusiasts, families and the local community for a day of spectacular vehicles, entertainment and fun – while raising vital funds for people living with sight loss across Dorset.”

Car owners are encouraged to book early, as exhibitor spaces sell out quickly each year. Entry for exhibitors is £17 per person, which includes vehicle display

routes.

These are treated when road surface temperatures are forecast to fall below 0.5°C.

During prolonged cold spells, additional community routes serving smaller villages and hamlets are also treated to help keep rural Dorset moving.

Councillor Jon Andrews, cabinet member for place services, said the team is always ready to respond.

space, a breakfast roll, hot drink and access to Lulworth Castle.

Last year’s event was a huge success, attracting more than 6,000 visitors, 250-plus vehicles and raising in excess of £37,000 in support of DBA services.The show is on Sunday, May 17, with the showground open to the public at 10.30am and free entry for spectators.

Car owners wishing to exhibit their vehicles should visit DBAMotorShow2026. eventbrite.co.uk

middle of the night or during the day, they ensure that the roads are as safe as possible.”

He is asking travellers to be patient and courteous if they find themselves behind a gritter.

“Our crews are out in all weathers to keep you safe. Please take care, reduce speed and keep a safe distance from the next vehicle,” he said.

“Remember, even if gritters have been out, roads can still be slippery.”

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“They step away from their regular highways duties to help keep Dorset moving, ensuring residents, businesses and emergency services can travel safely, whatever the weather,” he said.

“As the gritting crews are also responsible for other highways maintenance, there may be times when gritting takes priority, which could delay other routine work.

“I thank them all for their commitment. Whether it’s the

Rock salt – grit – needs traffic to help it work, creating an effective solution as vehicles drive over it.

The council is encouraging drivers to pay extra care if they are one of the first motorists on a freshly gritted road.

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The 10th Dorset Blind Association Motor Show is at Lulworth

A gritting crew on standby PHOTO: Dorset Council

Haircut crew return 43 years on...

MORE than four decades after they first played Lighthouse Poole, Haircut 100 are returning to the venue for a concert next spring as part of a UK tour.

The band had hits with Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl), Love Plus One, Fantastic Day and Nobody’s Fool, from their Pelican West album, which reached number 2 in the UK charts in 1982.

The line-up of Nick Heyward – vocals/guitar, Graham Jones – guitar, Les Nemes – bass, and Blair Cunningham – drums, is back together for this tour.

They have a new single called Dynamite out now, with next May’s concerts coinciding with a new album, Boxing The Compass, set to be released in March.

Heyward, said: “Boxing the Compass is the traditional

way of finding out where you are on land or sea using the compass rose.

“We’re arriving back at the port we left 43 years ago with a lot of songs from our personal travels.

“Wherever I’ve been in the

world, I’ve always been Nick Heyward of Haircut 100 and we’re all ready to set sail again for more adventures on the high seas.”

Haircut One Hundred are at Lighthouse Poole on Sunday, May 3, at 7.30pm.

Railway line remembered

THE Bridport Branch Railway, which closed 50 years ago this year, is celebrated in a new book published by Bridport Museum.

Railway Memories: All Aboard The Bridport Line is the result of interviews with about 40 people about how they used the line and its quirks.

Tegwyn Jones, a volunteer at the museum, edited the memories and collected recollections from local history books and museum archives.

He said: “It’s been a fascinating exercise, which

would not have happened without the willing participation of a lot of people.

“The conversations threw up a lot of great stories which will go into museum archives for future researchers – a lot more material than I could get into this book.

“This time last year, the museum published a book on Quirky Bridport that proved so popular we had to print two more editions.

Bridport branch railway might be really interesting for locals and visitors alike.

“The sales of the book will provide some useful income for the museum.”

Michelle Caesar, museum manager, said “This anniversary year, the museum has run several initiatives to engage with local people and visitors about the Bridport branch railway.

popular, and this book, Railway Memories, is part of that effort.

“Its publication is at an ideal time as it will make a welcome Christmas gift. It’s a great way to support the museum and find out more about the town’s fascinating history.”

“Encouraged by this, I felt a book on the human aspect of the

“The exhibition we are running at the moment has been

Railway Memories: All Aboard The Bridport Line, is available from Bridport Museum, Toller Post Office and the Marquis of Lorne pub at Nettlecombe from the end of November. It is hoped it will be stocked by other shops in the town in the new year.

Musical youth and a special guest

SOUNDCELLAR & Swanage Jazz Festival are set to present Dorset Youth Jazz Orchestra (DYJO) and special guest Rebecca Nash.

DYJO, led by renowned local musician Terry Quinney and joined by acclaimed pianist Rebecca, promise festive favourites alongside classic and contemporary jazz.

DYJO is an intermediate to advanced orchestra featuring trumpet, trombone, saxophone, electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, drum kit, double bass and voice.

Rebecca Nash is a leading UK pianist and composer, now gaining international recognition for her distinctive and heartfelt sound.

Her latest projects, Aurum and Redefining Element 78, commissioned by Bristol Jazz Festival, build on her acclaimed album Peaceful King.

Rebecca collaborates widely, including with singersongwriter Sara Colman and trumpeter Nick Walters in Sarsen Drift.

Performance highlights

include the EFG London, Cheltenham and Love Supreme Jazz Festivals, Ronnie Scott’s and BBC Radio 3’s J to Z.

She also teaches at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and works with the National Youth Jazz Collective and Cheltenham Festivals.

The concert is on Sunday, December 14, at 7.30pm.

Haircut 100 had hits in the early 80s, including Fantastic Day

Meet fairy godmother of panto

ACTRESS Bernadette

Bangura, who is playing Fairy Bowbelles in Dick Whittington at Lighthouse Poole this Christmas, is back on home turf after – like the panto’s hero –seeking her fame and fortune in London.

Bernadette, born in Poole and brought up in Bournemouth, went to school at Glenmoor and St Peter’s, and from an early age loved performing, but soon realised she would have to move to the capital.

She returns to Poole following a decade of hard work on the professional stage after two years in the West End starring in the smash hit Moulin Rouge.

“Moulin Rouge has been so much fun,” she said. “It’s been a challenge, definitely – and it’s been so lovely to sit in a show for more than a couple of

months. I probably could have stayed in it forever, but it’s time to spread my wings.”

Bernadette starred as Motormouth Maybelle at Lighthouse in the touring production of Hairspray that sold out every performance in 2022.

“That was such a heartwarming experience,” she said. “I’d been on the Lighthouse stage many times as a kid with local theatre companies and dance companies, but it was very special coming back here professionally.

“It’s such a fun show and there’s such a lovely message – I would love to do it again.”

First, though, there’s Dick Whittington and Christmas in Poole, playing Fairy Bowbelles, so what can we expect to see?

“She is a bundle of laughs! She’s very fun,” she said. “She

Duo serve up eclectic fare

TWO of Britain’s most virtuosic and versatile performers, Christian Garrick on violin and John Etheridge on guitar, are set to play community venues in Dorset. The pair have performed together for many years and are comfortable with pretty much any style of jazz and contemporary music from gypsy/Hot Club stylings to jazz

has a gifted little voice on her as well. She likes to sing her way through life and she’s trying to help Dick Whittington get on his way to find fame and fortune.

“She also has a little friend with her, Tommy the Cat, her accomplice. I am a really big, big fan of cats – Tommy the Cat and I are going to get on very, very well.”

Dick Whittington is Bernadette’s third pantomime, following turns in Aladdin and Robin Hood, and she’s already excited about the audience reaction to her.

“Well, it’s my first time playing the fairy godmother, so I appear in a pretty dress waving my wand and the audience will love me,” she said. “I played a Spanish housekeeper in Robin Hood – and attempted a Spanish accent – and would get boos when I walked on stage, so I’m looking forward to the cheers for Fairy Bowbelles.

“I did see pantos as a kid, but not as many as some people. I remember seeing Peter Pan at Bournemouth Pavilion and I was like: ‘Wow! This is so magical – I definitely want to be on stage.’

“I put it down to my mum. She was a big fan of live music

and I loved imitating Shirley Bassey. There was something about her – she is such a dramatic singer. I’ve always loved singing – I was always listening to something – Spice Girls when I was a kid – and I just took it from there. It’s always been in me.”

That drive to perform took Bernadette to local dance clubs and theatre schools where, as well as stage skills, she learned about how to follow her dream.

She said: “I heard you could train to be an actor at drama schools, but I thought I’d never be able to afford that. Still, I got on the pathway and started auditioning and I thought if it doesn’t work out, then fine.

“I got into two or three schools, which made me think I might have something I could turn into a profession and maybe earn money from.

“I didn’t get the scholarships though, so I took a couple of years out working in Bournemouth and then finally got an offer to go to Guildford School of Acting, which was linked to Surrey University, so the fees were covered by a student loan.

“That was amazing – in the third year agents come to see you and I got an agent then got my first paid job for a couple of

rock fusion.

Their eclectic concert repertoire includes everything from Peter Gabriel to Richard Rogers via Dollar Brand and Alison Goldfrapp.

Christian Garrick and John Etheridge are touring Dorset with the county’s rural arts charity, Artsreach.

They are playing the village halls at Hinton Martell on

Wednesday, December 10; Halstock on Thursday, December 11; Portesham on Friday, December 12, and Shillingstone Portman Hall, on

Saturday, December 13; all at 7.30pm.

Further information and tickets are available online at www.artsreach.co.uk

John Etheridge on guitar and Christian Garrick on violin

Arts

& Entertainment

months at Charing Cross Theatre. I was in!”

It has been 10 years of relentless hard work, but she’s so obviously right at home in her world that she’s already being sought out as something of a role model by young performers aspiring to follow her into the business.

She said: “I get a lot of messages on Instagram from young adults who’ve been to

Bernadette Bangura, who is playing Fairy Bowbelles in Dick Whittington, was born in Poole and brought up in Bournemouth

help out the next generation. This industry is all about comparing yourself, and there can be a lot of self-doubt in there, but the industry has changed so much as well.

“It is so diverse now. If you look back at the industry 30 years ago, you’d see everyone looked the same, but there’s so much diversity now, which I’m glad to have come out into otherwise it could have been very different.”

Although Bernadette says her plans could extend to casting, her passion is for performing and that means for now she is entirely focussed on playing Fairy Bowbelles in Dick Whittington at Lighthouse in what is essentially a hometown show.

money in the Dolphin Centre on a Saturday.

“The great thing about being at Lighthouse is that I had so many friends and family that wanted to come up to Moulin Rouge, but London can be so expensive to get to – train tickets, theatre tickets – that’s why it’s an extra plus bonus to be here, just down the road.

“I have lots of friends who have families and kids now, so it will be a really special time – although with so many of them coming to the show I can see me hopping back and forth in between shows to finish off some shopping in the Dolphin Centre...they’d better stock up!”

watch the show telling me I’ve been an inspiration. Even at Stage Door you get little fans of the show that say they want to do this and asking me for tips – it’s so surreal because I was one of those people when I was a teenager.

“People do respond to it, especially when they see a reflection of themselves on the stage, so I’m in a position now to say something positive and

Brass ensemble get festive

FESTIVE tunes and midwinter warmers from the ancient to the contemporary will be on offer from Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s Brass Ensemble. The programme will feature sublime 16th century melodies from Monteverdi and the much-loved Coventry Carol, through to contemporary favourites from

films including The Snowman and Frozen.

Performances with Dorset rural arts charity Artsreach are at Blandford Parish Church on Tuesday, December 16, and St Christopher’s Church, Winfrith, on Wednesday, December 17.

Tickets and full details are available online at www. artsreach.co.uk

“I was born in Poole and spent a lot of my teenage life in Poole,” she said. “I have fond memories of the Quay and getting fish and chips down there and spending my pocket

Dick Whittington is written and directed by CBeebies’ Chris Jarvis and is at Lighthouse Poole from Thursday, December 11, to Sunday, January 4. Tickets are at www.lighthousepoole.co.uk or from 01202 280000.

Arts & Entertainment

Panto for everyone

A TRIP to the panto is one of the festive season’s most magical traditions – but for some people, especially first-time theatre-goers, it can feel as overwhelming as it is exciting.

In response, Bournemouth Pavilion is staging captioned and relaxed performances of this year’s panto, Cinderella.

The captioned show – on Sunday, December 14, at 1pm – sees the dialogue displayed on two screens and may benefit panto fans who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing.

It may also appeal to those who are neurodivergent, have auditory processing conditions or whose first language is not English.

The relaxed performance –on Tuesday, December 16, at 10.30am – sees sound levels lowered, house lights kept on and stage smoke reduced, and theatre-goers welcome to move around or take a break away from the auditorium whenever they feel they need to.

The performances may suit individuals who are neurodivergent, have learning

difficulties or sensory communication disorders, or who find loud noises and bright lights difficult.

On behalf of the charity and social enterprise BH Live, which runs Bournemouth Pavilion with BCP Council, Steve Turner, director of Venues, said: “Panto is such a special part of the festive season, and we want everyone to feel welcome, comfortable and participate in that magic.

“A relaxed performance means more people, especially those who might find a new or traditional theatre environment

Swing thing for a Sunday afternoon

POPULAR local band Swing Easy Too – pictured – are set to play The Village Inn at Ulwell Caravan Park in Swanage.

The band will be playing Easy Listening and songs from the age of Swing, a few bossa novas, Jazz covers and Christmas favourites.

Andrew Cannon is the band leader and he and the band have

raised lots of money in the past for local charities such as Purbeck Dementia, Purbeck Youth Music and Can Care.

The band is made up of Andrew on piano and vocals; Amanda Jenson – also a member of The Salamanda Big Band – on sax, flute and clarinet; Dave Marchant – a seasoned jazz guitarist whose

challenging, can experience the joy, laughter and spectacle of the festive panto.”

Martin Dodd, managing director of panto producer UK Productions Ltd, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be offering relaxed and captioned performances of Cinderella this Christmas.

“Panto is all about bringing people together for laughter, magic and festive fun – and these performances open up that wonderful world to even more audiences.

“We can’t wait to welcome everyone to join the sparkle

and share in the joy of this spectacular show.”

Cllr Richard Herrett, portfolio holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations at BCP Council, said: “The festive season is a time for joy, togetherness and shared experiences – and there’s nothing quite like the magic of a Christmas panto to bring people together.

“It’s fantastic to see Bournemouth Pavilion offering accessible performances of Cinderella, ensuring that as many people as possible, regardless of their needs or circumstances, can enjoy live theatre and the spirit of the holidays.

“This is a brilliant example of inclusion in action, and we’re proud to support it.”

Cinderella stars Melanie Walters (Gavin & Stacey, BBC), Olivia Birchenough (Channel 5’s Milkshake! and Bournemouth’s favourite funny man, Noel Brodie, and is written by pantomime master Jon Monie.

It runs from Saturday, December 6, to Sunday, January 4.

Bournemouth Pavilion is staging captioned and relaxed performances of this year’s panto, Cinderella

new album has recently been released; and Bruce Evans on double bass and vocals.

Swing Easy Too are at The Village Inn on the afternoon of Sunday, December 14.

Spotlight Diary

Diary entries are £6 plus VAT per entry. The deadline for the December 22 issue is NOON on Thursday, December 11. Call us on 01963 400186 or email adverts@blackmorevale.net. Please call prior to attending events listed to ensure they are still on.

DECEMBER 2025

SATURDAY

18.30 WHIST DRIVE at St Mary’s Church, Rectory Classroom, Swanage. Every Saturday. Tea and coffee provided. Very friendly group. Contact Richard: 01929 553516

Purbeck Village Quire

O Come All Ye Faithful Folk songs and West Gallery Carols from the 18th and 19th centuries 4pm Saturday 13th December

St John’s Church, East Holme, BH20 6AG 4pm Sunday 4th January

Wareham Parish Hall, The Quay, BH20 4LP (with a welcome by handbell ringers)

Admission and refreshments are free There will be a retiring collection in aid of the church

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