Issue 379
FREE EVERY FORTNIGHT
November 9, 2026
The Purbeck Gazette CHANCE TO DANCE www.purbeckgazette.co.uk
Girls set to FULL perform STORY: with English PAGE 3 Youth Ballet
STATION’S £60,000 APPEAL Plans to restore entrance at Corfe Castle Page 4 MUSIC AND THE MOVIES Silent films events at the Rex Page 8
SEAFRONT SCHEME Work in Swanage could start next autumn Page 7
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What’s inside this issue...
n Behind Enemy
Lines, a new Antiques & Collectibles 31 production at Arts & Entertainment 35-36 Lighthouse Poole, looks at the lives Business 32-33 of women who Christmas feature 21-23 worked for the Dorset Healthcare monthly round-up 12 Special Operations Executive in NaziField & Stream 30 occupied Europe in the Second World Health & Wellbeing 26-27 War Page 35 Home & Garden 28-29 Letters 19 n A new £20 Local Services 37-39 million plant Margaret Green Animal Rescue 10 at Parley will turn more Motoring 34 than 50,000 National Coastwatch 18 tonnes of food waste Politics 24-25 every year Puzzles 16-17 into enough gas to heat Puzzle solutions 25 7,000 homes Reader’s Picture 20 Page 33 Recruitment 37 Sport 15 ADVERTISING Spotlight Diary 36 Telling It Like It Is 20 Jane Toomer Tides 12 Senior Account Manager Wanted 11 Jane.toomer@blackmorevale.net 07714 289411 NEWS New Swanage care home manager 4 Bakers Arms roundabout roadworks 9 Rachelle Cooper Wareham Town Council monthly report 10 Classified Adverts Manager Charity’s country fair and dog show 13 adverts@blackmorevale.net
EDITORIAL Paul Jones Editor-in-chief We love hearing your news and views. Get in touch with us by emailing ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk Lloyd Armishaw Publisher ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk 01963 400186
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Girls set to dance in Nutcracker
FOUR youngsters from Swanage and Wareham will be getting the chance to dance in English Youth Ballet’s (EYB’s) production of Nutcracker at Lighthouse Poole this weekend. Isabella Kershaw, eight, and Daisy Mills, 13, from Wareham, and Elsie Mcneilly, 12, and Jessica Seaton-Sykes, 12, from Swanage, were among more than 150 young dancers to audition for the production in June. Since then, they have been busy rehearsing, training for 60 hours across 10 rehearsal days. The dancers train locally – Elsie, Jessica and Isabella at Splitz Studio and Daisy at Miranda Lee Ballet. EYB principals Olivia Richards and Joshua Webb have been coaching the young dancers and will be starring in the ballet. Isabella, who attends Stoborough CE Primary School, said: “I started dancing when I was two years old at baby ballet. I love to perform and enjoy dancing with friends. “I love having fun, making new friends and I enjoy all types of dance – as I also do tap and musical theatre.
“I want to aim for the London ballet in future. I love these experiences and want to dance in more shows.” EYB director Janet Lewis OBE said: “English Youth Ballet’s aim is to provide performance experience to aspiring young dancers in beautiful venues close to where they live. “The young dancers get to experience what life is like in a professional ballet company. “They learn about developing their artistic and performance skills as well as improving their technique. “I am always amazed at how quickly the young dancers progress and how positive they are when presented with new challenges.” EYB principal Olivia Richards, who stars as the Sugarplum Fairy in the production, said: “I was lucky to be able to dance with EYB in Cardiff when I was a young dancer. “The dancers learn so much about performance skills and the artistry of ballet. “I love now working as a
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Young dancers (from left) Isabella Kershaw, Jessica Seaton-Sykes, Elsie Mcneilly and Daisy Mills PHOTO: Ben Garner Inset, English Youth Ballet principals Olivia Richards and Joshua Webb PHOTO: Peter Mares
principal dancer with EYB because I get to dance challenging and iconic roles and I also teach the young dancers and see them progress. “The sets and costumes in the production are superb and the whole experience is one the young dancers – and the
audiences – will never forget.” Three performances of Nutcracker will be given on Friday and Saturday, November 13-14, featuring 98 dancers from across Dorset and six international principal artists. Tickets are available from the box office on 01202 280000 or online at www.lighthousepoole. co.uk
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Heritage line launches £60,000 station appeal
VOLUNTEERS at Swanage Railway have launched a £60,000 appeal to rebuild a Victorian entrance canopy and complete the restoration of the Grade II listed Corfe Castle station. The wooden Victorian canopy above the entrance to the booking hall was designed to protect train passengers from the rain on the forecourt side of the station. It was part of the Purbeck stone station building constructed in 1884 ahead of the opening of the 10-mile Wareham to Corfe Castle and Swanage branch line in May 1885. British Railways demolished the canopy in the 1950s. David Scott, deputy station master at Corfe Castle and a Swanage Railway volunteer for over 11 years, is leading the Corfe Castle Station Canopy Appeal. He said: “We are hoping the public will be able to help us complete the missing piece in the restoration of the much loved Corfe Castle station that was started by Swanage Railway volunteers in the early 1990s when their re-laid tracks reached the village.
Corfe Castle station’s entrance porch in the 1930s PHOTO: Andrew PM Wright Collection David Scott, deputy station master at Corfe Castle, at the station entrance PHOTO: Andrew PM Wright
“The canopy was an important practical and architectural feature and its removal in the mid-1950s – probably due to the wood it was made of becoming rotten and British Railways being unwilling to repair and restore it – left the entrance to the forecourt car park side of the station bare and exposed to the weather. “This is an exciting project and a chance to make Corfe Castle station complete again by fully returning the building back to the way it looked when the first train ran on the new Swanage branch line in May 1885, when Queen Victoria was on the throne and William Gladstone was the prime minister.” Architect Peter Smith has
produced drawings for the new Victorian-style canopy to a design that closely follows the original while specialist contractors Target Structural have been engaged to guide Swanage Railway with professional advice on the project. David added: “Beautifully built of Purbeck stone and located in the Corfe Castle village conservation area, the historic Grade II listed station is of special architectural interest and the jewel in the crown of Swanage Railway. “Our canopy appeal is a chance for the public to help make the station complete again in the building’s 141st year and the 50th anniversary of restoration work starting on the disused railway at a boarded up Swanage station in 1976.” British Rail closed Corfe Castle station on Monday, January 3, 1972, when trains ceased on the 10-mile branch
line from Wareham to Swanage – with the windows boarded up and the Victorian building left to face an uncertain future. The railway tracks through Corfe Castle wer e lifted by British Rail contractors during the summer of 1972 with the disused trackbed being used by residents for walking their dogs. Swanage Railway volunteers re-laid the tracks through Corfe Castle in the summer of 1990 from Harmans Cross, with the first passenger-carrying steam trains running from Harmans Cross to Corfe Castle and Norden in August 1995. Donations to the Corfe Castle Canopy Appeal can be made by bank transfer to Barclays, Poole, quoting account 60539112, sort code 20-68-79 and including the reference Corfe Canopy. For other ways to donate, and enquire about Gift Aid, email finance@swanagerailway. co.uk
GAINSBOROUGH care home in Swanage has a new manager, Roxii Owen. Roxii has over a decade of senior social care experience and has worked for the home’s owner, Agincare, for five years in senior roles. She was previously manager at Agincourt care home in Weymouth. Roxii said: “I already
know the home and area well and am excited to build on its strengths.” Roxii and her team are inviting local clubs, performers, schools and community organisations to get involved with the home through visits, shared activities or opportunities for residents to pursue their interests. To get in touch, email roxii.owen@agincare.com
New manager at care home
Gainsborough care home in Swanage and new manager Roxii Owen
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purbeckgazette.co.uk The work will address subsidence along the seafront. PHOTO: Heidelberg
Seafront plans get green light
WORK on a major project to stabilise part of Swanage’s seafront is expected to begin next autumn after receiving planning permission. Dorset Council’s planning committee approved a preferred enhanced scheme – the ‘New Option’ – which will cost about £6.9 million, and a back-up
scheme – the ‘Essential Option’ – costing about £4.75m. Swanage Town Council put forward the applications to address subsidence along the seafront affecting Sandpit Field, the Weather Station Field and The Spa beach huts. The council plans to go ahead with the preferred
Right, signs of ground movement on walls around the Green Seafront PHOTO: Dorset Coast Forum
scheme, which it says will deliver a wide range of economic, environmental and community benefits, including a larger events space, improved accessibility and biodiversity. The work will include infilling Walrond Road to create a continuous green space, the creation of a plaza area next to Shore Road, accessible step-free pathways from Sandpit Field down to Shore Road and 46 new beach huts, some of which will be wheelchair friendly. Members of the public gave their views on both schemes
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during consultation exercises last summer. The work will be funded from Swanage Town Council reserves and a £2.5m grant from Dorset Council. Swanage Mayor, Councillor Chris Tomes, said: “Obtaining planning permission is an important step forward for the project and I would like to thank all residents who have attended meetings and provided comments on the proposals over the last three years as these have helped to shape the approved plans.”
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Silent movies at the Rex
THE magic of the silent movie is coming to the Rex Cinema in Wareham with two special evenings of comedy, thrills and live musical accompaniment. Neil Brand, a composer, author and broadcaster, will be providing witty introductions and piano accompaniment to the screenings. The first show, on Friday, November 27, is Funny Ladies of the Silent Screen, which celebrates the women who brought slapstick, mischief and comic mayhem to the movies. Riding the Rails, on Saturday, November 28, follows the development of railway films from the first train movies of 1895 through the silent film
era, when locomotives, railway journeys and daring escapes became irresistible subjects for the camera. The evening culminates in Buster Keaton’s classic comedy The General. Both shows feature Neil Brand’s introductions and live piano accompaniment, offering a rare chance to experience silent films as a live performance. Ticket proceeds will support the Rex Improvement Fund – tickets, £30 for either show or £50 for both – can be booked at www.therex.co.uk or paid for at the box office (card payments only). Both performances start at 7.30pm.
Funny girl Colleen Moore – and Buster Keaton in The General (1926)
Neil Brand will be introducing and playing piano accompaniment at two film nights celebrating the magic of cinema’s earliest years
Volunteer appeal for ‘treecycling’ scheme VOLUNTEERS and vans are required to join Diverse Abilities’ Christmas Treecycling fundraising initiative. The charity supports children and adults with disabilities across Dorset and is seeking volunteers to help with its Treecycling collection from Wednesday to Saturday, January 6-9. The charity will be collecting Christmas trees from Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, East Dorset and Ringwood for recycling following the festive period. Volunteers are required for driving vans and wayfinding, as well as dropping off the trees at nominated recycling points across the conurbation and
beyond. Treecycling is one of the charity’s largest fundraisers of the year and last year raised more than £35,000 from donations from supporters who had their Christmas tree collected after the festive period. Francesca Potton, community fundraiser at Diverse Abilities, said: “Treecycling is a great way to get out in the fresh air after the Christmas period and meet with other like-minded volunteers. “It’s one of our most important fundraisers of the year and allows us to raise vital money for the children and adults we support.” Vans of Transit size or larger, are required to help the
collection. Businesses, families or community groups with access to these are encouraged to get in touch and provide support over the weekend. Francesca added: “There’s no need to give up your whole weekend, just providing a day or even a few hours will help to make a huge difference to the number of Christmas trees we are able to collect in the local area. “There’s always great community spirit and a fun weekend to get involved and support a local charity.” Anyone interested in being part of the collections can email treecycling@diverseabilities. org.uk or phone 01202 711507 to find out more.
Even a few hours’ volunteering could help Diverse Abilities
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The Bakers Arms roundabout, near Lytchett Minster, has been badly affected by flooding in the past. PHOTO: Matt Eakins/Dorset Council
Work at busy roundabout means delays
DRIVERS are being warned to expect delays at the busy Bakers Arms roundabout, near Lytchett Minster, as ‘essential’ drainage work is carried out. Dorset Council is doing the maintenance work to help reduce the risk of flooding and disruption over the winter months, with the project planned to start on November 1 and be completed by November 30. The roundabout, which connects the A35 and A350, is one of the area’s busiest routes and has seen flooding during periods of prolonged heavy rainfall in recent years. In 2025, Dorset Council completed a programme of drainage improvements at the site, including increasing the capacity of surrounding drainage ditches to improve the junction’s resilience to severe weather. The latest works are being undertaken ahead of winter to ensure the drainage network is operating effectively and at its optimum capacity. As a result, drivers can expect delays as lane closures will be in place on the approaches to the roundabout. The Bakers Arms Roundabout works include:
inspection and assessment of the drainage network; removal of debris and blockages; cleansing and jetting of drains and pipework; minor repairs identified during inspections; clearance and maintenance of drainage ditches surrounding the roundabout. Councillor Jack Jeanes, Dorset Council cabinet member for place services, said: “We know Bakers Arms Roundabout is a key route for local people, businesses and visitors, and that flooding at this location has caused concern in the past. “The drainage improvements completed last year have significantly strengthened the site’s resilience. “However, regular inspection and maintenance remain essential to ensure the network continues to operate effectively and that we maximise the benefit of those improvements. “We recognise these works coincide with the temporary closure of the Sandbanks Chain Ferry and have carefully considered the timing. “However, completing this maintenance ahead of winter is important in helping to reduce the risk of flooding-related disruption later in the year.”
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News from Wareham Town Council – October report by Julie Bradshaw BY joining the Friends of Wareham Parish Churches you will help secure the future of Lady St Mary Church, St Martin on the Walls, St Nicholas at Arne and St Johns, East Holme. A small annual subscription will demonstrate your interest in maintaining and improving these community buildings. Contact the parish office on 01929 550905 or friends@warehamchurches. org.uk Wareham Town Council’s office was closed on November 6 so staff could attend the funeral and honour the memory of much-loved colleague Keith Burt. Wareham won Silver Gilt in the Britain in Bloom national competition and Ross Hooper won Community Champion
PHOTO: Simon Barnes
Award. As Wareham’s winners received their awards at the national event, the audience was treated to pictures of Wareham Community Growers’ achievements. Road closures were in place on Sunday, November 8, for Wareham’s Remembrance Day parade. Louise White has joined the town council as deputy town clerk and Lola Collyer is the new administration officer. A shoppers’ annual parking permit would be difficult for the town council to implement
when Dorset Council owns some of the town’s car parks. Another factor is that free on-street parking is available. The councillors authorised the proposed modifications to Wareham’s Neighbourhood Plan to proceed to public consultation. They are included in the agenda for the full council meeting of October 27. The minimum six-week first consultation will probably be extended as it will include the Christmas season. Then the modifications will go to Dorset Council before a second six weeks of consultation. The modifications take account of duplication which could occur with the Purbeck Local Plan, of the 2021 Census data and updates to the National Planning Policy Framework. There are updates on house
purbeckgazette.co.uk building numbers and the housing mix – that is accessible/affordable. Repainting the pedestrian crossing lines in Wareham could be further delayed as Dorset Council’s team deals with storm damage. The town council had one side of the town hall roof repaired rather than just patching the leaking spot. A tender has been issued for the demolition and rebuilding of the Howards Lane toilets and an asbestos survey commissioned. The lease drawn up by a solicitor for the town council to transfer the Middle School site to Wareham is waiting for Dorset Council’s approval. The next town council meetings are in the council chamber on Tuesdays November 24 and December 15 at 7pm or 7.30pm. Further information is available on the website, www.wareham-tc.gov. uk, or by phoning the town council office on 01929 553006.
Margaret Green Animal Rescue
Could you help us spread a little extra festive joy this Christmas? AT Margaret Green Animal Rescue, we provide a safe and loving haven for animals in need, helping them recover, rebuild trust and prepare for a brighter future. There’s nothing greater than
seeing our rescue animals find their forever homes. But sadly, not all will be celebrating Christmas with a new family this year. Some are still waiting for their special someone, while
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others need a little more time, care and support before they’re ready. You can help make their Christmas special by donating to keep them safe, warm and loved. And this year, your kindness could go twice as far! Through the Big Give Christmas Challenge, every donation made via our online page between December 1-8 will be doubled, at no extra cost to you, up to our target. You can also spread some festive cheer by filling a shoebox with goodies and delivering it to your nearest MGAR centre or charity shop, or by choosing a gift from our Amazon wishlists and sending it directly to us. To find out more about the
Big Give and how you can get involved, please follow us on social media or visit www. mgar.org.uk Together, we can make sure every animal in our care feels wrapped up with love this Christmas.
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A little romance...at community choir MUSIC was the food of love for Jacky and Adrian Bennett, who married this summer after finding romance at a Poolebased community choir seven years ago. They celebrated their wedding with friends from the Lewis-Manning Rising Voices Choir, which supports people living with cancer and lifelimiting illnesses, and the bereaved. Jacky, mother of six children and grandmother to six more, joined Rising Voices in 2012 to support a close friend who had cancer. Her friend died in 2015, but Jacky kept going along to the choir and found its members a great support when she had cancer herself. Jacky and Adrian first met at a children’s Christmas party in December 2017, as both were helping a friend with her singing business. Jacky, dressed as an elf for the party, accidentally walked in on Adrian as he changed into a Father Christmas costume and made a swift, red-faced exit. About 18 months later, in July 2019, Adrian offered Jacky a lift to Swanage Carnival in his friend’s car. He asked her out the
Jacky and Adrian Bennett were married this summer and – inset – members of the LewisManning Rising Voices Choir who sang at the celebrations
following day, and Rising Voices became part of their story later that year. Jacky said: “We had been out to lunch together when Adrian asked if I wanted to meet up again later. I told him I had choir, so he came along and soon became part of the group. “Rising Voices has been with us throughout our relationship, and hearing our friends sing at the wedding meant the world to us. “Everyone understands the difficult experiences that bring people to the choir, but illness is not the only thing in the room. We sing, laugh, support each
other and get on with living.” Adrian, a father of two and grandfather of two from Poole, lost his first wife to lung cancer in 2011. He describes himself as a ‘nerd’ who loves ships, trains, planes and spreadsheets, and says Rising Voices gave him connection and purpose during a
period of rebuilding. Adrian said: “Joining Jacky at rehearsal was not how I expected an evening date to unfold, but Rising Voices made me feel welcome from the start. “People understand loss and illness without needing everything explained, and there is always friendship and laughter. “Having Wendy [Morrow] play the harp and our friends sing at the wedding brought so much of our story together. Sharing the celebration with everyone felt exactly right.” Jacky and Adrian married at a countryside ceremony in June this year. Musical director Wendy played the harp as the couple exchanged vows, before choir members performed during the celebrations. Earlier in 2026, Rising Voices Wessex joined Lewis-Manning Hospice Care and became the Lewis-Manning Rising Voices Choir.
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Banner taken CAMPAIGNERS against plans for 25 new homes at Harmans Cross decided to crowdfund for a new banner after a previous one – pictured – was cut from
BOOKS HARDBACK, FOUNTAIN PENS, coins and stamps, costume jewellery. Cash paid. Tel Mr Jones 01202-733550. its frame and removed. The banner was at the junction of Tabbits Hill Lane and Valley Road and was taken overnight on Saturday, October 27. The incident was reported to the police – anyone with information can contact them or the Harmans Cross Residents group at info@hxr.org.uk
Deadline to place your advert for 23rd November edition is Friday 13th November - 10am WESTCOUNTRY CHAP, LOOKING TO FIND A LADY PARTNER, to settle down and help in a farm house project. Tel/Text: 07894-243563
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Your Health Matters
Dorset HealthCare’s monthly round-up
Neighbourhood team supports The Tank Museum’s fun run to boost child health
HELPING people stay well local community and kindly for longer is a key aim for supported by The Tank Dorset’s Neighbourhood Museum through access to its Health and Wellbeing land and facilities, it helps programme. boost the physical and mental Purbeck’s Integrated health of children, encouraging Neighbourhood Team (INT) is regular movement and access contributing to this by to nature. This links in with the supporting The Tank Museum INT’s work on reducing Swanage Tidal & Solar Predictions Junior Parkrun – a free 2km childhood obesity in the area. '26 fun run for children agedNovember four The INTs in Dorset’s to 14, with volunteering and Neighbourhood Health and health advice. Wellbeing programme aim to Run by volunteers from the develop care delivered closer Complied by the National Coastwatch Institution, Swanage Swanage Tidal & Solar Predictions from tidal data provided by the Channel Coast Observatory Swanage Tidal Tidal & Solar Solar Predictions April '26 Predictions Swanage & June '26HW Tide/Moon Sunrise Sunset June '26 Date HW LW HW LW Tidal20:17 & Solar Predictions 06:59 16:45 01-Nov 04:36 Swanage 07:40 16:37 07:01 16:43 02-Nov 05:40 08:59 17:42 21:36 '26 Neaps November/December 2026 April 07:03 16:42 03-Nov 06:50 10:21 19:00 22:50 Complied by the National Coastwatch Institution, Swanage 07:04 16:40 04-Nov 07:55 11:29 17:07 23:51 Complied by theprovided National Coastwatch Institution, Swanage from tidal by data the Channel Coast Observatory 07:06 16:38 05-Nov 08:55 12:23 17:49 by Complied the National Coastwatch Institution, Swanage 07:08 16:37 06-Novfrom tidal data 00:42 provided 09:53 13:09 18:32 by the Channel Channel Coast Observatory Observatory from tidal data provided by the Coast 07:10 16:35 07-Nov 01:27 07:00 13:51 19:13 by the National Coastwatch Date Complied HW LW HW LW HW Institution, Tide/Moon Swanage Sunrise Sunset 07:11 16:34 08-Nov 02:09 07:35 14:32 19:52 01-Apr 03:40 09:02 15:58 21:23 06:45 19:40 DatefromHW HW LW provided HW LW HW Tide/Moon Sunrise Sunset tidal data by the Channel Coast Observatory 07:13 Sunset 16:32 09-Nov 02:49 08:10 15:11 20:30 NM / Springs Date LW HW LW HW Tide/Moon Sunrise 02-Apr 04:18 09:38 16:36 21:58 Full Moon 06:43 19:41 05:02 21:11 01-Jun 04:43 10:03 16:57 22:02 Springs 07:15 16:30 10-Nov 03:27 08:44 15:49 21:06 05:02 21:11 01-Jun 04:43 10:03 16:57 22:02 Springs 03-Apr 04:55 10:13 17:11 22:29 Springs 06:41 05:01 21:12 02-Jun 05:18 10:37 17:32 22:33 07:16 19:43 16:29 11-Nov 04:04 09:15 16:25 21:40 05:01 21:12 02-Jun 05:18 10:37 17:32 22:33 Date HW LW HW LW HW Tide/Moon Sunrise Sunset 04-Apr 05:30 10:44 17:45 22:58 06:39 05:00 21:13 03-Jun 05:52 11:12 18:09 23:06 07:18 19:44 16:28 12-Nov 04:40 09:44 17:00 22:11 05:00 21:13 03-Jun 05:52 11:12 18:09 23:06 01-Apr 03:40 09:02 15:58 21:23 06:45 19:40 05-Apr 06:04 11:11 18:17 23:23 06:36 05:00 21:14 04-Jun 06:29 11:50 18:50 23:39 07:20 19:46 16:26 13-Nov 05:15 10:11 17:34 22:42 05:00 21:14 04-Jun 06:29 11:50 18:50 23:39 02-Apr 04:18 09:38 16:36 21:58 Full Moon 06:43 19:41 06-Apr 06:35 11:35 18:47 23:46 06:34 04:59 21:15 05-Jun 07:10 16:48 19:35 07:21 19:48 16:25 14-Nov 05:50 10:40 18:10 04:59 21:15 05-Jun 07:10 16:48 19:35 03-Apr 04:55 10:13 17:11 22:29 Springs 06:41 19:43 07-Apr 07:06 12:00 19:17 06:32 04:59 21:16 06-Jun 00:13 07:55 17:36 20:26 07:23 19:49 16:23 15-Nov 03:46 06:30 11:13 18:50 04:59 21:16 06-Jun 00:13 07:55 17:36 20:26 04-Apr 05:30 10:44 17:45 22:58 06:39 19:44 08-Apr 00:10 07:38 17:20 19:50 06:30 19:51 04:58 21:17 07-Jun 05:28 08:45 18:27 21:23 07:25 16:22 16-Nov 04:33 07:19 11:52 19:39 04:58 21:17 07-Jun 05:28 08:45 18:27 21:23 05-Apr 06:04 11:11 18:17 23:23 06:36 19:46 09-Apr 00:33 08:14 18:05 20:31 06:28 19:52 04:58 21:18 08-Jun 06:25 09:41 19:20 22:27 07:26 16:21 17-Nov 05:25 08:27 13:03 20:42 04:58 21:18 08-Jun 06:25 09:41 19:20 22:27 06-Apr 06:35 11:35 18:47 23:46 06:34 19:48 10-Apr 05:58 09:00 19:00 06:26 19:54 04:57 21:19 09-Jun 02:51 10:43 20:14 23:36 Neaps 07:28 16:20 18-Nov 06:20 11:25 18:04 22:06 Neaps 04:57 21:19 09-Jun 02:51 10:43 20:14 23:36 Neaps 07-Apr 07:06 12:00 19:17 06:32 19:49 11-Apr 01:42 06:41 13:20 20:03 Neaps 06:23 19:56 04:57 21:19 10-Jun 04:21 11:51 21:09 00:40 07:30 16:19 19-Nov 07:14 11:47 16:44 23:27 04:57 21:19 10-Jun 04:21 11:51 21:09 00:40 08-Apr 00:10 07:38 17:20 19:50 06:30 19:51 12-Apr 01:53 07:18 13:38 20:56 06:21 19:57 04:57 21:20 11-Jun 05:39 12:54 18:39 01:00 07:31 16:17 20-Nov 08:04 12:17 17:21 04:57 21:20 11-Jun 05:39 12:54 18:39 01:00 09-Apr 00:33 08:14 18:05 20:31 06:28 19:52 13-Apr 02:05 07:05 13:59 20:19 06:19 19:59 04:56 21:21 12-Jun 01:34 06:42 13:50 19:18 07:33 16:16 21-Nov 00:18 06:17 12:53 18:01 04:56 21:21 12-Jun 01:34 06:42 13:50 19:18 10-Apr 05:58 09:00 19:00 06:26 19:54 14-Apr 02:24 07:26 14:29 20:06 06:17 04:56 21:21 13-Jun 02:24 07:36 14:41 20:01 07:35 20:00 16:15 22-Nov 01:03 06:36 13:32 18:43 04:56 21:21 13-Jun 02:24 07:36 14:41 20:01 11-Apr 01:42 06:41 13:20 20:03 Neaps 06:23 19:56 15-Apr 02:52 08:01 15:03 20:31 06:15 04:56 21:22 14-Jun 03:12 08:29 15:31 20:47 07:36 20:02 16:14 23-Nov 01:46 07:08 14:13 19:26 04:56 21:22 14-Jun 03:12 08:29 15:31 20:47 12-Apr 01:53 07:18 13:38 20:56 06:21 19:57 16-Apr 03:25 08:39 15:40 21:03 06:13 04:56 21:22 15-Jun 04:00 09:20 16:20 21:35 New Moon 07:38 20:04 16:13 24-Nov 02:29 07:46 14:55 20:10 Full Moon 04:56 21:22 15-Jun 04:00 09:20 16:20 21:35 New Moon 13-Apr 02:05 07:05 13:59 20:19 06:19 19:59 17-Apr 04:02 09:17 16:18 21:39 New Moon 06:11 04:56 21:23 16-Jun 04:47 10:12 17:09 22:24 Springs 07:39 20:05 16:12 25-Nov 03:13 08:26 15:39 20:56 04:56 21:23 16-Jun 04:47 10:12 17:09 22:24 Springs 14-Apr 02:24 07:26 14:29 20:06 06:17 20:00 18-Apr 04:40 09:56 16:58 22:15 06:09 04:56 21:23 17-JunComplied by 05:36 11:03 17:58 23:12 Institution, 07:41 20:07 16:11 26-Nov 03:58 09:09 16:24 21:43 Springs the National Coastwatch Swanage 04:56 21:23 17-Jun 05:36 11:03 17:58 23:12 15-Apr 02:52 08:01 15:03 20:31 06:15 20:02 19-Apr 05:21 10:34 17:39 22:50 Springs 06:07 04:56 21:24 18-Jun 06:24 11:54 18:48 23:59 07:42 20:09 16:11 27-Nov 04:45 09:51 17:12 22:32 04:56 21:24 18-Jun 06:24 11:54 18:48 23:59 from tidal data provided by the Channel Coast Observatory 16-Apr 03:25 08:39 15:40 21:03 06:13 20:04 20-Apr 06:03 11:13 18:22 23:22 06:05 20:10 04:56 21:24 19-Jun 07:14 12:46 19:40 07:44 16:10 28-Nov 05:35 10:34 18:03 23:26 04:56 21:24 19-Jun 07:14 12:46 19:40 17-Apr 04:02 09:17 16:18 21:39 New Moon 06:11 20:05 21-Apr 06:48 11:50 19:08 23:46 06:03 20:12 04:56 21:24 20-Jun 00:42 08:05 17:28 20:34 07:45 16:09 29-Nov 06:29 11:15 18:58 04:56 21:24 20-Jun 00:42 08:05 17:28 20:34 18-Apr 04:40 09:56 16:58 22:15 06:09 20:07 22-Apr 07:37 12:26 20:02 06:01 20:13 04:56 21:25 21-Jun 01:10 09:00 18:21 21:33 07:46 Sunset 16:08 30-Nov 04:22 07:28 11:42 19:58 Date HW LW HW LW HW Tide/Moon Sunrise 04:56 21:25 21-Jun 01:10 09:00 18:21 21:33 19-Apr 05:21 10:34 17:39 22:50 Springs 06:07 20:09 23-Apr 00:07 08:36 18:00 21:12 05:59 20:15 04:56 21:25 22-Jun 06:28 09:59 19:18 22:41 07:48 16:08 01-Dec 05:21 08:34 17:27 21:04 04:56 21:25 22-Jun 06:28 09:59 19:18 22:41 20-Apr 06:03 11:13 18:22 23:22 06:05 20:10 24-Apr 05:56 09:53 19:14 22:43 05:57 20:17 04:57 21:25 23-Jun 07:33 11:05 20:19 23:53 07:49 16:07 02-Dec 06:23 09:44 18:36 22:12 04:57 21:25 23-Jun 07:33 11:05 20:19 23:53 CCO data for Swanage Pier - E&O - not for navigation 21-Apr 06:48 11:50 19:08 23:46exceptedNeaps 06:03 25-Apr 07:16 11:17 20:29 05:55 20:18 04:57 20:12 21:25 24-Jun Compiled 08:50 from 12:12 21:22 00:57 07:50 16:07 03-Dec 07:25 10:53 19:46 23:17 Neaps 04:57 21:25 24-Jun 08:50 12:12 21:22 00:57 NM = New Moon + FM = Full Moon + NP = Neap tides + SP = Spring Tides 22-Apr 07:37 12:26 20:02 06:01 20:13 26-Apr 00:04 05:49 12:27 21:33 05:53 04:57 20:20 21:25 25-Jun 10:04 13:11 22:17 07:52 16:06 04-Dec 08:26 11:53 20:53 04:57 21:25 25-Jun 10:04 13:11 22:17 All times are local time 23-Apr 00:07 08:36 18:00 21:12 05:59 27-Apr 01:04 06:30 13:23 22:32 05:51 20:21 04:58 20:15 21:25 26-Jun 01:50 11:03 14:03 19:38 07:53 16:06 05-Dec 00:13 09:24 12:45 18:15 04:58 21:25 26-Jun 01:50 11:03 14:03 19:38 24-Apr 05:56 09:53 19:14 22:43 05:57 28-Apr 01:52 07:12 14:10 19:45 05:49 20:23 04:58 20:17 21:25 27-Jun 02:36 08:09 14:50 20:11 07:54 16:05 06-Dec 01:02 06:41 13:31 18:58 04:58 21:25 27-Jun 02:36 08:09 14:50 20:11 25-Apr 07:16 11:17 20:29 Neaps 05:55 29-Apr 02:34 07:54 14:52 20:19 05:47 20:25 04:59 20:18 21:25 28-Jun 03:18 08:49 15:32 20:44 07:55 16:05 07-Dec 01:47 07:15 14:14 19:40 04:59 21:25 28-Jun 03:18 08:49 15:32 20:44 26-Apr 00:04 05:49 12:27 21:33 05:53 30-Apr 03:14 08:33 15:31 20:53 05:45 20:26 04:59 20:20 21:25 29-Jun 03:56 09:26 16:10 21:18 Full Moon 07:57 16:05 08-Dec 02:30 07:51 14:55 20:20 04:59 21:25 29-Jun 03:56 09:26 16:10 21:18 Full Moon 27-Apr 01:04 06:30 13:23 22:32 05:51 05:00 20:21 21:25 30-Jun 04:31 10:01 16:47 21:53 07:58 16:04 09-Dec 03:10 08:27 15:34 20:58 New Moon 05:00 21:25 30-Jun 04:31 10:01 16:47 21:53 28-Apr 01:52 07:12 14:10 19:45 05:49 20:23 07:59 16:04 10-Dec 03:49 09:01 16:11 21:35 Springs 29-Apr 02:34 07:54 14:52 20:19 05:47 20:25 Compiled from CCO data for Swanage 08:00 16:04 11-Dec 04:27 09:34 16:46Pier - E&O 22:11excepted - not for navigation 30-Apr 03:14 08:33 15:31 20:53excepted 05:45 20:26 NM = New Moon FM =for Full Moon +Pier NP =- Neap tides + SP- not = Spring Tides Compiled from CCO+data Swanage E&O for navigation 08:01 16:04 12-Dec 05:04 10:06 17:22 22:47excepted Compiled from CCO data for Swanage Pier - E&O - not for navigation All times are local time NM = New Moon + FM = Full Moon + NP = Neap tides + SP = Spring Tides 16:04 13-Dec 05:41 10:40 17:59 NM = New Moon + FM = Full Moon + NP = Neap tides + SP = Spring Tides08:02 All times are local Time 08:02 16:04 14-Dec 03:33 06:22 11:14All 18:39 times are local Time Compiled from CCO data for Swanage Pier - E&O excepted - not for navigation 08:03 16:04 15-Dec 04:19 07:07 11:48 19:24 NM = New Moon + FM = Full Moon + NP = Neap tides + SP = Spring Tides
Swanage Tidal & Solar Predictions December '26
The Tank Museum’s Junior Parkrun is a free 2km fun run for children aged four to 14
to home and focused more strongly on prevention, reducing pressure on hospitals and care homes. “The children really enjoy the events, it was great that the first event attracted 17 new children to their first ever park run,” said Anna Darling, the PCN’s clinical director. “It’s wonderful to be able to offer a fun free physical
activity in a rural location, where there are lots of young families and military families.” The run takes place every Sunday at 9am at The Tank Museum, Bovington. You can find out more about the fun run and how to register on Facebook at www.facebook. com/thetankmuseumjunior parkrun or by searching ‘The Tank Museum Junior parkrun’.
Parkinson’s poems will benefit charity
POOLE man Tommy Chuter, who is living with Parkinson’s, has released a new poetry collection, My Life of Rhyme. Some 80% of net proceeds will go to Parkinson’s UK. Tommy has been writing poetry and songs since childhood, first discovering a love of poetry at the age of nine while attending East End Primary School in Aldershot. Over six decades later, writing remains an important part of his life. Many of the poems in My Life of Rhyme were written following Tommy’s Parkinson’s diagnosis and draw on his own experiences of living with the condition. His work explores the humour, frustrations and emotions that can come with Parkinson’s, while offering readers an insight into Tommy’s life through his distinctive use
Tommy Chuter, from Poole
of rhyme. Parkinson’s has affected Tommy’s physical strength and his ability to write by hand, but he says the condition has not taken away his creativity. Writing poetry, songs and articles has become a way for him to exercise his mind, maintain his confidence and connect with others. The Poole and District Parkinson’s UK branch meets in Oakdale, Poole.
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026 13
News
purbeckgazette.co.uk
Wills and LPAs: Are You Comparing the True Cost?
The have-a-go agility course proved popular PHOTO: Jason Butcher
Country fair and dog show raises £19,000-plus
HUNDREDS of visitors helped raise thousands of pounds for Margaret Green Animal Rescue when it held its Country Fair & Dog Show at the charity’s Church Knowle centre. More than 1,000 visitors and their four-legged friends turned out for a day of fun, entertainment and fundraising. The event had been planned for August but had to be cancelled due to hot weather. The country fair and dog show raised more than £19,000 – which will help support the charity’s work rescuing, caring for and rehoming animals in need. The event featured a packed programme of dog show classes, a popular Have-a-go Agility course and a selection of stalls showcasing local traders. Visitors also enjoyed live circus skills, choir performances
and a variety of food and drink. Margaret Green Animal Rescue chief executive Joanna Tiffin said: “We are absolutely delighted that this year’s Country Fayre & Dog Show was such a success. “As a charity, events like this are invaluable in raising funds and helping us to support animals and people across the south west. “It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces, new visitors and wagging tails enjoying the day together. “We are very grateful to everyone who joined us, volunteered their time, donated, sponsored the show and helped make the event a truly memorable day. “Every penny raised will help vulnerable animals receive the care and second chances they deserve.”
By Chris Tennant - Legacy Planning Consultant, Oakwood Wills When planning for the future, it is tempting to compare estate-planning services by their headline prices. But the important question is simple: what is actually included? A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows people you choose to help make decisions about your finances or health and welfare if needed. For a couple arranging both types each, that means four LPAs. The government registration fee is currently £92 per document, making £368 in total. However, fees can change, so it is important to check the current fee and whether it is included in the quoted price. At Oakwood Wills, our price for all four LPAs is £1,100, including VAT and the current £368 of registration fees. You know the full cost from the outset, subject to any change in the government registration fee. Wills are equally important. They allow you to decide who should inherit your estate and who should administer it. Depending on your circumstances, a Will incorporating a life-interest property trust can also help protect your share of the family home for your chosen beneficiaries after death.
Oakwood Wills offers two Wills incorporating life-interest trusts for £474, including VAT. Together with four LPAs, the combined price is £1,574, including VAT and the current LPA registration fees. It is also worth understanding that a Will Trust is different from a Living Trust established during your lifetime. Each serves different purposes, and neither is right for everyone. We offer a free, no-obligation home visit across Dorset, taking time to explain your options in plain English and answer all your questions. Good estate planning should be about clear advice, suitable protection and transparent pricing—not confusing headline offers. Your Local Willwriter...
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Wills • Living Trusts • Lasting Powers of Attorney ADVERTISING FEATURE
14
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026
News
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Health battle mum launches support group
A SINGLE mum from Dorchester with an aggressive form of breast cancer is using one of the most challenging periods of her life to create a community to support other women. Dawn Eccles, 49, was diagnosed with grade 3 triplenegative breast cancer on March 27, following investigations into a large tumour in her left breast. On May 15 she began 12 weekly sessions of Paclitaxel, Carboplatin and immunotherapy, followed by four further cycles of chemotherapy at Dorset County Hospital’s Fortuneswell Ward. Dawn has battled fatigue, nausea, hair loss and the negative effects of steroids, but
rather than waiting until treatment ended to think about the future, she began developing Her Turn, a community initiative inspired by her experiences and her desire to bring women with breast cancer together. She said: “I began putting the idea for Her Turn together while going through chemotherapy because I wanted something positive to focus on. “The community aims to remind women that they deserve and need some time for themselves. “I hope to organise social meet-ups and activities where they can connect, build confidence, learn about support available to them and enjoy new
Dawn Eccles marks her final ‘chemo’ session supported by sons Lewis (left), Ethan and a member of the nursing team at Dorset County Hospital’s Fortuneswell Ward PHOTO: Dawn Eccles
experiences.” On Friday, October 9, Dawn completed her final chemotherapy session, with both her sons there to share the emotional occasion. Dawn said: “I’m not out of the woods yet – I have a partial mastectomy on November 11 at Dorset County Hospital, and I know there may be more challenges to face.” She added: “If Her Turn helps even one woman feel less alone, make a new friend or find the confidence to start doing something for herself, then that
would mean the world to me.” To find out more, search for Her Turn Community on Facebook or email herturncommunity@gmail.com n DAWN was forced to stop working after her diagnosis, creating additional worries, but received financial assistance from Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF), a charity which supports people affected by cancer. Dorset families seeking financial help because of a cancer diagnosis can apply for a DCCF grant at www.dccf.co.uk
Welcome to a life made easier in Poundbury. Discover a festive afternoon at Bowes Lyon Court. Celebrate the magic of Christmas at Bowes Lyon Court. Join us for a festive get-together with Christmas cheer, festive treats and a chance to connect with our wonderful community. Enter our charity hamper raffle in support of the McCarthy & Stone Foundation, with the winner announced during the event. Booking is by appointment only and we look forward to welcoming you.
Join us at our Christmas Market event Enjoy festive stalls, seasonal treats and our charity hamper raffle, supporting the McCarthy & Stone Foundation. Winner announced during the event.
Wednesday 18th November, from 1.30pm - 3.30pm
Bowes Lyon Court Peverell Avenue, Dorchester, Poundbury, Dorset, DT1 3DA
Scan or call to book your place
0345 556 4105
mccarthyandstoneresales.co.uk
Local amenities nearby On-site chef-run restaurant Shared communal spaces to enjoy Friendly Estate Manager Guest suite for family and friends^ Personal care and support available^ ^Subject to availability. Additional charges apply.
RS0826
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026 15
Sport
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Swans stand firm against late rally by Ron Butler Swanage & Wareham 19 Dorchester 15 SWANAGE & Wareham were dominant in the early stages of their Southern League match against Dorchester, but their near neighbours nearly snatched victory towards the end. Both sides gave away a couple of penalties early on, but one to Swans took them into the visitor’s 22 and from a scrum Swans’ new number 8 George David powered over the line for a try after eight minutes. Will Slack added the extras, giving Swans a seven-point lead.
RUGBY
Dorchester had a penalty which took them into Swans’ 22, but a visitor’s mistake enabled Swans to clear and then work their way up the field, and from a scrum George David scored his second try. Will Slack converted, giving Swans a 14-point lead after 18 minutes. Dorchester’s backs produced a good move which had Swans’ defence under pressure, and a penalty on the home side’s 22 was converted making the score 14-3 after 28 minutes. Swans moved into the
Dorchester 22 from the restart and after a kick through the visitors conceded a goal line drop out. That allowed Swans to hit back, Tom Jacka scoring his debut try out wide – 19-3 after 34 minutes. Just before the break, a three-quarter scored a try in the corner for the visitors, making the half time score Swans 19 Dorchester 8. The start of the second half was hard fought with penalties and scrums dominating the play for the first 20 minutes, but neither side scoring. But a Dorchester move on 67
minutes saw their full back come into the line and break through to score under the posts. The try was converted, leaving the score Swans 19 Dorchester 15. In the last 10 minutes Dorchester did all the attacking, but Swans’ defence was immaculate, holding firm, giving away a few penalties and countering drives made by the Dorchester forwards. Swans: Rory Ferguson, Harrison Sadd, Lee Hardy, Ed Dimascio, Olly Dillon, Will Slack, Tom Jacka, Joel Andrews, Jack Young, Nick Audley, Sam Chapman, Josh Allum, Ryan Lander, Kian Salina, George David. Steve Waterman, Craig Foskett, Aaron Foskett.
n OTHER RESULT: Lytchett Minster 2nd 54, Swanage & Wareham 2nd 12. n FUTURE FIXTURES: Saturday, November 14 – Swans 1st XV, no fixture; Swans 2nd XV v Colerne (cup), home, 2.30pm.
GOT A SPORTS REPORT? Then email ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk
Super start to a new season SWIMMING by Paula Davies IT has been a very busy but successful start to the new season for Wareham Swimming Club. With just three weeks back in the pool, the Dorset Development Meet took place in Bournemouth. During the course of the weekend, the club’s 24 swimmers took part in 110 swims, so it was a very busy time for both the coaches and team managers. The great news post event was that 71 races resulted in personal best times, and two new club records were also set. The team won 44 medals, including 14 gold. The following weekend the team headed to Bridport for a Challenge Cup gala. Team galas are always popular as the swimmers can travel to the event together on a coach. Throughout the afternoon’s
Wareham Swimming Club celebrate overall second place, and – below – swimmers in the Lions charity relay
59 swims, Wareham swimmers took 12 1st places, 12 second places and 12 third places. When the scores were
totalled, Wareham had, much to the swimmers’ and coaches’ delight, achieved second place overall. No time to rest though as the next day the club took part in the Wareham Lions Charity Swim at Purbeck Sports Centre. The club had so many swimmers wanting to take part this year that we had spread over two sessions. The swimmers take part in a 55-minute session, swimming
as part of a relay. 50 children took part in the event with ages ranging from seven to 18. Club chair Nick Salt said: “This is a busy time for one and all, but it is made even more enjoyable because of the success we are creating. Congratulations swimmers.” Next month the children are taking part in the swimming club championships, a Bournemouth Level 2 event and the Yuletide event at Dorchester.
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The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026
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The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026 17
ISSUE379 309 ISSUE
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PURBECK MAGAZINE
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18
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026
National Coastwatch
purbeckgazette.co.uk
Fond farewell to MS Barfleur O CTOBER brought a mixture of fond farewells and new beginnings at our Coastwatch stations. Several long-serving watchkeepers have decided it is time to ‘hang up their binoculars’. We thank them for their years of service and wish them a happy retirement. Their departure leaves gaps in the roster, so new volunteers are always welcome. Swanage’s latest recruits have begun their winter training, while our colleagues at St Alban’s Head are looking for more watchkeepers. If you would like to join a friendly, dedicated team, email volunteering@ stalbansheadnci.co.uk or phone 01929 439220. There was another farewell, too, as MS Barfleur left Poole for the last time. For many Dorset residents she has been a familiar sight on the horizon and part of family life, from school trips and summer holidays to journeys taking Second World War veterans back to Normandy. On a misty, damp Monday morning in mid-October, the 166-metre ferry slipped her moorings, accompanied by a farewell flotilla and a cruise carrying wellwishers. She passed Brownsea Island and
by Nick Reed
Sandbanks before heading out into Poole Bay and the English Channel. There was a fitting link with her first visit – Poole Harbour Commissioners pilot Paul Matson, who oversaw her departure, had operated the port tug when she first arrived on April 4, 1992. By the time Barfleur passed the Peveril Point lookout, she was little more than a shape in the mist. A hardy group of wellwishers waved goodbye and wished her ‘bon voyage’. Her final appearance in our station log had to be recorded from the chart plotter!
T
HE new yellow buoy off Peveril Point has prompted plenty of questions over the past month. It is one of three being deployed by Wessex Water. The buoys come alongside the company’s multi-million-pound plans to reduce storm sewage discharges into Swanage Bay by 2030. Peveril Point lies between Swanage Bay and the English Channel, making it a useful place to monitor tides, swell and water circulation. Wessex Water is using sensors at southern coastal sites to record changes in water temperature, clarity and The captain’s farewell on MS Barfleur PHOTO: Nigel Burton.
MS Barfleur’s final appearance on Peveril Point’s station log had to be recorded from the chart plotter PHOTO: Swanage NCI
quality. Continuous readings can help build a picture of how coastal waters respond to weather, tides and storm overflows, alongside traditional laboratory sampling.
N
OVEMBER is a time for remembrance, so it seems fitting to welcome back our Shannonclass lifeboat, 13-13, with her new livery carrying the names of loved ones. The RNLI’s Launch a Memory project gives people a way to remember family members, friends and others important to them by having their names printed on a working lifeboat. Swanage’s all-weather lifeboat, the George Thomas Lacy, is the first Dorset-based lifeboat to take part in the national campaign. Since arriving at Peveril Point, she has launched hundreds of times, helped more than 400 people and saved dozens of lives. Volunteer coxswain Dave Turnbull has spoken of the added significance of each launch with the names of thousands of loved ones aboard. If someone dear to you is commemorated on the boat, you can also find their name on banners inside and outside the Swanage boathouse, even when the lifeboat is out on a call. We are always pleased to take part in the Remembrance
Sunday parade, which this year falls on Sunday, November 8. As well as remembering those lost on the battlefields of France, we think of the sailors whose graves lie in the wrecks around the Dorset coast. In previous articles, I have mentioned HMT Arfon, the armed trawler that struck a mine off St Alban’s Head in April 1917 and sank within minutes, with the loss of 10 crew members. A display panel commissioned by Historic England overlooks her wreck site at St Alban’s Head. At Peveril Point, we will display a silhouette of one of her crew, James Doy. During our November watches, many of us will pause to remember the men and women who lost their lives in the waters we now watch over. In our minds will be the simple phrase ‘lest we forget’. Our Peveril Point station has been open for over 30 years, and the present lookout building dates from 2001. As part of our improvements, the lookout will close for rewiring from 1pm on Sunday, November 8, until 9am on Monday, November 16. There will be no Coastwatch service at the station during this period. If you see an emergency while visiting the Point, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. This is St Alban’s Head NCI and Swanage NCI, listening on Channel 65. NCI out.
GOT A STORY? Then email ed@purbeckgazette.co.uk
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026 19
Letters
purbeckgazette.co.uk
Killed in action, aged just 36 SOME 120 years ago, on October 31, 1916, my greatuncle Herbert Aquila Durant died in action on Flanders field. Herbert was born at Bloxworth, Dorset, on April 8, 1880, the sixth child of Henry and Elizabeth Durant. Henry worked on the local estate as a gamekeeper and Herbert followed him into the job after he left school. Then in 1911 he decided to join the Army and enlisted at Borden in Hampshire and went into the Bedfordshire Regiment as a Rifleman. When war was declared in 1914 the regiment was sent to the front and was fighting at Mons. Early in 1915 Herbert suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. By 1916, fully recovered, he was back at the front again, this time at Flanders. On a moonless night on October 31 he was part of a patrol that was sent out to monitor enemy positions. They crossed no-man’s land and encountered German barbed wire defences, then, having cut their way through, they came under machine gun fire, forcing the patrol to go to ground. They returned fire but were then ordered to withdraw and three of the patrol were wounded, including Herbert. All three wounded helped each other to try and get to the safety of their own line, only then to be struck by a minenwerfer – a type of mortar – and they all lost their lives. All three are remembered on Loos memorial to the missing. Great-uncle Herbert is also remembered on the war memorial at St Andrew’s church in Bloxworth and every year on Remembrance Day we place a cross in his memory. David Whitmarsh Via email
Herbert Aquila Durant was born in Bloxworth and died in the Great War He is remebered on the war memorial at St Andrew’s Church in the village
Message of white poppies
AS Remembrance Sunday approaches, the Peace Pledge Union is encouraging people to re-member all victims of war, civilians and military, by wearing a white poppy at their local cer-emony. Civilians bear the heaviest cost of war. The UN recorded a 40% surge in civilian deaths in conflict in 2024 alone, and since the Second World War, civilians have made up an estimated 85% to 90% of those killed in armed conflicts. With recent Ipsos polling showing that one in two Britons (48%) say there are no circumstances in which they would be willing to take up arms for Britain, and with conflicts continu-ing to rage around the world, it is time to look to peaceful alternatives. This is the message white poppies have carried since 1933, when members of the Co-operative Women’s Guild, many of whom had lost loved ones in the First World War, first made them to say ‘never again’. You can buy your white poppy at ppu.org.uk Colin Kerr, Davide Dionisi, Liz Cooke, Rev Matt Harbage, Chris Green Council Members of the Peace Pledge Union
Friendship and fun activities
41 CLUB is a network of almost 650 men’s clubs across Great Britain and Ireland with a focus on fun, friendship and community projects. Established over 80 years ago, 41 Club is open to men aged 41-plus who have been members of the Round Table movement and are looking to join in fun activities, make friends and contribute to the
local community. Wareham is a lively, friendly place where people who are moving or retiring to are welcomed by everyone across the community. Those who have enjoyed the fellowship of Round Table or have been members of 41 Club are welcome to come and meet us at one of our monthly meetings. Wareham 41 Club was formed in June 1982 from Wareham 1224 Round Table and currently has 20 members aged from their 50s, so we can offer people a great way to meet others and contribute to the community. Our activities are centred around a monthly meal, with wider events with wives and partners, and other clubs. We meet on the second Wednesday in the month at the Anglebury Hotel in North Street. To find out more, email Wareham41Club@gmail.com Joe Cilia Wareham 41 Club secretary
If animals could talk...
THERE has been growing excitement about the possibility that AI could one day help us understand the languages and communication systems of other animals. It’s easy to see the appeal. But I find myself wondering: what if we could understand animals – and did
not like what they had to say? Animals have complex ways of communicating, yet we still understand remarkably little about them. We struggle even to interpret the behaviour of the animals who share our homes, while researchers have spent decades studying the sophisticated communication of species such as dolphins, but our knowledge of them is still very basic. And what of the cows, pigs, sheep and chickens whose lives are so often reduced to commodities? If we could understand their experiences and needs, I suspect much of what they told us would be deeply uncomfortable. Perhaps that is the point. The value of understanding other animals should not simply be satisfying our curiosity. It should help us recognise their individuality, their interests and their right to live free from unnecessary harm. Technology may help us listen, but it cannot make the changes that listening demands. We need to rethink the systems and behaviours that treat other animals as resources rather than individuals with lives of their own. If we are given the extraordinary opportunity to hear other animals more clearly, we should be ready not only to listen, but to act. Fleur Disney Senior communications manager, Animal Aid (AnimalAid.org.uk)
20
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026
Telling It Like It Is
The Average Joe can’t afford an EV
O
NCE again, someone at the county council has got it seriously wrong. It is the council that exists to serve the people. Not the other way round. But at a recent meeting held to discuss the installation of EV points in some areas of Swanage, it was made clear by an unelected officer of the council that the proposed sites would go ahead and that there was no room for negotiation. Let me repeat that in bold type. The sites would go ahead and that there was no room for negotiation. Thank goodness that our outnumbered councillors – Gary Suttle and Chris Tomes – had the guts to stand up to this unelected individual and get at least some of the sites re-positioned or cancelled. If you listen to my radio show – Monday to Thursday 5pm-6pm – you will have realised that I am no fan of EVs, regardless of the alleged savings being trumpeted by the EV lobby. The whole thing seems to me to be a scam perpetrated by Milliband and the ‘climate change’ believers who – like our unelected officers on the county council – are totally removed from reality. For every EV produced, huge amounts of raw materials have to be mined, often by children. But this happens somewhere else. Not Purbeck. Our virtue-signalling has to be paid for with the blood and sweat of someone else’s kids. And then Milliband – salary £166,104; Sadiq Khan – £170,282; and their mates have
by David Hollister
lost touch of the fact that most of the ordinary voting public can’t afford the stupid prices to replace their ageing petrol or diesel cars and vans, which will have to go on working until they fall apart. Leaving their owners with no option but to call it quits, stop working and join the ever-lengthening benefits queue. Our pensioners are dying from hypothermia, our ex-military personnel are on the streets, our schools and hospitals can’t cope and our economy is in ruins despite the claims made in the recent Budget. Most of us are struggling to make ends meet. And £100 off your annual fuel bill, or cheaper gherkins, won’t cut it.
I
N the Purbeck Area, about 2,000 people are supported annually by local emergency food banks, with hundreds more accessing weekly mobile larders and community pantries. This is the UK. The fourth wealthiest country in the world. So why do we need foodbanks? Well, the problem is not a lack of money, food, water or land. “The problem is that we have given control of these things to a group of greedy psychopaths who care more about maintaining their own power than helping mankind” (Bill Hicks, 1961-94).
S
O the developer of the old Purbeck View school site says there’s ‘not enough profit’ in the scheme to
Tune in and enjoy your local community radio station. Broadcast for the community, by the community. Listen to David Hollister ‘Telling It Like It Is’ Monday-Thursday 5-6pm.
purbeckgazette.co.uk include any housing classed as ‘affordable’. They have said “it is clear that the site cannot support any additional S106 contributions, including any affordable housing provision”. What a great excuse! Okay. It’s time to rein these plans in before Swanage runs out of suitable sites. Here’s what to do. The Purbeck Local Plan Policy H11 originally specified that in all new developments, 30% of homes should be affordable. These plots were sold with the developer being fully aware of his local responsibilities but he went ahead and paid ‘silly money’ for them. That’s got to be his problem, not ours. Answer? Council should immediately revoke any planning permissions on the site. And put the site up for independent auction. So that anyone bidding for them should be totally aware that in doing so, he has a responsibility to the town. Not just to his shareholders. This answer may not prove popular with the developers but it sure will go down well with the homeless. Who are only one in 355 residents, ranking among the higher rates of statutory homeless relative to population size it Dorset. Well, it’s only one in 355. You don’t care? Try being the one and see how it feels.
C
HRISTMAS is coming – 57 days at the time of writing. Please bear in mind that the standard second class stamp is now 91p. A cheap pack of Christmas cards starts as low as 79p a card. The Swanage & Purbeck Rotary Charity Christmas Mail delivers a card locally for 50p. A 420g can of baked beans in tomato sauce from Tesco is only 39p. Christmas is indeed coming. So I take this opportunity to repeat an item I did last Christmas, hoping that it may touch a few hearts…. 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 6 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. You see? Even copying it out has made me cry…
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026 21
Countdown to Christmas
Christmas
Countdown to
C
hristmas is just around the corner and now’s the perfect time to start planning! From organising festive get togethers to booking your Christmas party or starting your gift shopping, a little preparation now will make the run-up to December stress-free and full of excitement. Local shops, restaurants, and venues are already busy preparing for the festive season with special offers, menus, and events. Supporting local businesses not only helps your community thrive but also means you’ll find unique gifts and experiences that make Christmas truly memorable. Don’t forget to book your Christmas pantomime and festive entertainment early, tickets for popular shows and family events always sell fast. Whether it’s a magical night at the theatre, a festive concert, or a Christmas fair, securing your spot now ensures you won’t miss out on the fun. So, as the countdown begins, start planning, shop local, and get those bookings in early! Christmas will be here before you know it!
ISLE OF PURBECK GOLF CLUB LUNCHES DAILY: Dec 1st - 23rd DINNER & DISCO: Dec 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, Dec 18th & 19th BRUNCH: DEC 24th CLOSED: DEC 25th & 26th
Lunch
2-Course £32.50 3-Course £36.50
Dinner & Disco 2-Course £37.50 3-Course £42.50
November 1-27 Monday - Thursday
Starting at just £12 See our website for more details
Vegan Menu available upon request
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n p l e a s e v i s i t w w w. p u r b e c k g o l f . c o . u k email: iop@purbeckgolf.co.uk or call 01929 450361 option 3
22
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026
Countdown to Christmas
Make this festive season one to remember FESTIVE DINING Make this festive season toto remember Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year at The Grand Hotel. one Book now join us for a delicious meal from our festive lunch or dinner menus.The perfectFESTIVE opportunity to celebrate with family, friends or colleagues. DINING NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year at The Grand Hotel. Book now to join us for a delicious meal from our Welcome the New Year in style at The Grand festive lunch or dinner menus.The perfect opportunity to celebrate withHotel. family, friends or colleagues. Join us for a special evening of celebration with a 5 course dinner and dancing until midnight. NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY Say farewellthe to the oldYear yearinand to the yearHotel. ahead. Welcome New styletoast at The Grand GIFT EXPERIENCES Join us for a special evening of celebration with a 5 course dinner and dancing until midnight. Not sure what to get as a Say present for that special someone, thentowhy farewell to the old year and toast the not yearpurchase ahead. one of our gift vouchers, which can be used throughout the year. GIFT EXPERIENCES
estive season one to remember
Not sure what Booking to get as is a present forsothat special then whyteam not purchase of our gift vouchers, essential please callsomeone, our reservations on 01929one 423353. which can be used throughout the year. grandhotelswanage.co.uk | reservations@grandhotelswanage.co.uk
FESTIVE DINING year at The Grand Hotel. Book nowcalltoourjoin us forteam a delicious meal from our Booking is essential so please reservations on 01929 423353. grandhotelswanage.co.uk | reservations@grandhotelswanage.co.uk e perfect opportunity to celebrate with family, friends or colleagues. www.knollhouse.co.uk NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY the New Year in style at The Grand Hotel. f celebration with a 5 course dinner and dancing until midnight. l to the old year and toast to the year ahead. GIFT EXPERIENCES hat special someone, then why not purchase one of our gift vouchers, ch can be used throughout the year. Enjoy the most wonderful time of the year with the most spectacular views across Studland Bay.
o please call our reservations team on 01929 423353. e.co.uk | reservations@grandhotelswanage.co.uk Christmas Day Lunch - £95 Boxing Day Lunch - £40 New Year’s Eve - £95
Contact the team to discuss our festive party celebrations and private hire. *Children (12 and under) are half price. Booking essential.
01929 450450 | knollhouse.co.uk
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026 23
Countdown to Christmas
Get ready for Christmas in Swanage Swanage Railway
Swanage Christmas Lights Switch On
Enjoy the magical family experiences of the Father Christmas Yuletide Express and Christmas Carol Trains, plus the luxurious festive experience of the Christmas Belle. For more information visit www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events
Come and join in the fun as we switch on our festive lights.
From 28 November & throughout December th
Christmas on Swanage Pier From 5th to 23rd December
The amazing ‘Lighting Up Lives’ is back! Visit Father Christmas with his real-life reindeer and donkeys. Plus live music and much much more! For more information visit www.swanagepiertrust.com
Artisans on the Beach
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 21st November to 20th December
A unique location for a Christmas Fair. Local handcrafted items presented for sale by the Artisans themselves from the Swanage Beach Huts.
Durlston at Christmas Throughout December
Lots of festive activities throughout December including the Crazy Christmas Activity Trial, Christmas Parkrun, Glass Engraving and a Christmas Craft drop-in. For more information and to book, visit www.durlston.co.uk
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Saturday 28 November 2pm-4.30pm th
Christmas Street Market
Saturday 5th December 10am-4pm
A traditional Christmas Street Market run by the Rotary Charity, with over 80 festive stalls.
And Don’t Forget...
Swanage is famous for its wide range of independent shops selling items you won’t find anywhere else. Why not make a day of it and sample one of our cafes, restaurants, or pubs, or maybe just have fish and chips on our award winning beach. For more information, please see visit-dorset.com/Swanage or for a full list of daily events over the Christmas period please contact: Swanage Information Centre 01929 766018 or welcome@swanage.gov.uk Check out our Facebook page: Christmas in Swanage
.
Christmas
Local, unique hand-crafted gifts presented for sale by the crafters themselves from the
Swanage Beach Huts
SWANAGE With our wide range of independent shops and attractions, Swanage has so much to offer at Christmas
•.
-
0
.
IN
Discover unique and individual gifts as well as enjoying a fantastic festive day out
Friday, Saturday and Sunday leading up to Christmas Saturday 21st November to Sunday 20th December 2026
Parking £4 per day in December Main Beach and Broad Road Car Parks
Welcome to
SWANAGE
christmas leaflet 2026.indd 2
16/09/2026 13:03
24
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026
Politics
purbeckgazette.co.uk
Budget boost for high streets THIS week, the Chancellor set out the Budget, and I’m pleased to see much-needed measures to support high streets across South Dorset, not least in Purbeck, where small independent businesses are the backbone of our towns and villages. From the cafes and gift shops of Swanage to the pubs and traders of Wareham, Corfe Castle and Wool, Purbeck’s economy depends on visitors and on local people choosing to shop locally. Too often, our businesses have been squeezed by busy summers followed by long, quiet winters, while costs keep rising all year round. This Budget starts to change that. First, this Labour Government is backing the exciting MEMO Portland proposals with £20 million of fresh investment. With this investment now in place, we can
crack on and build MEMO Portland, strengthening the arts, heritage and culture offer along our stretch of the Jurassic Coast. This matters for Purbeck, too. MEMO will bring new visitors to Dorset, and many will want to see more of our coastline, from Lulworth Cove and Kimmeridge to Studland and Old Harry Rocks. That means more people riding the Swanage Railway, more walkers stopping for lunch, and more bookings for our B&Bs and holiday lets. Above all, it helps build the all-year-round tourism economy our communities need, so footfall doesn’t disappear when the summer crowds head home. Second, the Chancellor confirmed that pubs, clubs and live music venues are set to benefit from a 20% cut to their business rates starting in April next year. Purbeck’s pubs are far more than places to grab a pint.
In many of our villages, the local pub is the heart of the community, hosting quiz nights, live music and local gatherings. This is exactly what our fantastic pubs deserve. Third, the Chancellor is expanding Small Business Rate Relief so about 56% of retail, hospitality and leisure businesses will pay no business rates at all. Removing most high street businesses from business rates altogether is great news for Purbeck, where so many shops, cafes and tearooms are small, family-run operations. All other businesses will see their business rates frozen in real terms for the next two years. That prevents above-inflation increases and gives local firms the certainty they need to plan, invest and take on staff. Fourth, vape shops and gambling premises will no longer be eligible for business
rates relief, while lower-stake machines in pubs and seaside arcades are unaffected. With this approach, we can curb the number of vape shops and gambling sites popping up across the county, while protecting the traditional seaside amusements families enjoy. We all want high streets with a healthy mix of businesses that genuinely serve local people, and this helps deliver that. I firmly believe this Budget is a step in the right direction for our high streets. But this is not job done. I will continue to do everything I can to champion Purbeck’s hospitality businesses, back our independent traders, and breathe new life into our town centres, from Swanage and Wareham to Weymouth and Portland. LLOYD HATTON Labour MP for South Dorset
FOR more than two years, I and other council leaders across Wessex have been making a simple argument to government – Dorset should not be left behind. Last week that persistence paid off. The Government has confirmed that Wessex, comprising Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Somerset, and Wiltshire councils, will be offered a Mayoral Strategic Authority. That may sound like local government jargon, but the opportunity behind it is anything but. At heart, devolution should be about transferring power away from Whitehall and closer to the communities affected by the decisions. That is something Liberal Democrats have championed for decades, and something I believe strongly in. For Dorset, it potentially means significantly greater control over investment in
transport, skills, housing, infrastructure and economic growth. The initial package includes an investment fund expected to be about £40 million a year, alongside further growth funding and greater financial freedoms. Importantly, ministers have told us this is new investment, not simply rebadging money we already receive. For Purbeck, there are real opportunities. Our economy depends heavily on tourism and small businesses, but we also know the challenges of rural transport, the shortage of genuinely affordable homes, skills shortages and the difficulty younger people face in building their lives here. Imagine being able to take a longer-term approach to transport investment rather than repeatedly competing for short-term Whitehall funding. Or aligning skills investment more closely with the needs of
Dorset employers. Or having a stronger regional voice when securing the infrastructure our communities need. Those are the prizes that interest me, not the title of the person sitting at the top. There is also an issue of fairness. Our analysis has suggested that if Wessex were already funded on the same basis as established mayoral strategic authorities, the difference could amount to about £460m a year across the region. That doesn’t mean £460m arrives tomorrow. It demonstrates the scale of the opportunity we have been missing. Dorset residents pay their taxes just like everyone else. It cannot be right that where you live determines whether your area can access substantial government investment. We’ve been here before. Wessex missed out on the Government’s original
Devolution Priority Programme. We were disappointed, but we didn’t walk away. We kept making the argument that Wessex was ready and that full mayoral devolution offered the greatest opportunity for our residents. There is still work to do, and importantly there will be public consultation. Nor does a Wessex authority mean the abolition or merger of Dorset Council. Dorset remains Dorset. My test throughout will be straightforward – does this bring powers down from Whitehall, attract investment into Dorset and deliver better opportunities for our communities? After two years of knocking on the door, Government has finally opened it. Now we need to make sure Dorset, including communities right across Purbeck, gets the full benefit. NICK IRELAND Liberal Democrat Leader of Dorset Council
Bringing power closer to Dorset
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026 25
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Issues with regional mayors... I SHARE the disappointment of our MP at the approval of the Portland waste incinerator, but I must remind him, and the people of South Dorset, that approval was granted by a Labour minister, overriding the views of the local strategic planning committee. Sadly, this is part of a worrying trend in which more powers are being taken away from local councillors and residents. Recent changes to the planning system have seen further powers transferred to unelected officers, weakening the role of locally elected representatives. Even more worrying is the prospect of a regional mayor for the so-called ‘Wessex’ region. I fear that this is not genuine devolution, but rather another layer of government which will take powers away from local councils closer to home. It threatens to bring more red
tape, additional costs and yet more politicians and staff. The proposed Wessex region would comprise Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset councils, together with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. Does South Dorset really need a regional mayor, potentially based in Trowbridge or Wincanton, to stimulate economic growth or manage our affairs? Such a mayor would possess significant powers, including the ability to intervene in certain planning matters, potentially overriding the decisions of local planning committees. More worrying still is the prospect of additional tax-raising powers, including a possible tourist tax, which could do considerable damage to seaside towns such as Swanage and Weymouth. We were told that the solution to our problems lay in
Puzzle solutions
the last local government reorganisation, which abolished our borough and district councils and merged them into much larger authorities. While this may have temporarily staved off financial ruin, many residents feel it has left their communities overlooked, neglected and forgotten. Now, apparently, we are to believe that all our problems will be solved by the creation of yet another political office. The principal argument I have heard in favour of a regional mayor is that it would somehow unlock millions of pounds in additional investment and funding. Yet we heard much the same argument in 2019, when the last reorganisation was being proposed. As the old saying goes, ‘fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.’ The economic arguments
Politics
advanced in favour of a regional mayor overlook two fundamental considerations. Firstly, since the local government reorganisation of 1974, we have witnessed an increasing centralisation of local government, accompanied by the steady erosion of genuinely local decision making. Secondly, and more importantly, these arguments neglect the deeper questions of local democracy, accountability and belonging. There is a growing feeling, particularly among residents of our smaller towns and villages, that decisions are increasingly taken by distant authorities with little understanding of the communities they govern. These concerns cannot simply be dismissed by promises of additional funding. LOUIE O’LEARY Dorset councillor
(from pages 16-17)
Edition 379
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Crossword A G E D S E I H E N C O R E T R L U L N A F E M E M B A R R A E RESULT I N S T A L W E L A D I D A I N R RESULT P R I S O N
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Health & Wellbeing
Meditations in nature: The hidden colours of the night by Susanna Curtin MY adventure with light begins this evening in my garden, as I watch the rich red leaves of the Virginia creeper that has taken over my house glowing in the late-afternoon sunlight. Backlit against the autumn sky, they are breathtakingly beautiful. Light has fascinated me ever since those long-ago days in the blacked-out science lab at school, when we experimented with beams of light, exploring refraction, reflection and prisms. Recently, I have become particularly fascinated by ultraviolet light. Emitted by the Sun, UV radiation has shorter wavelengths than visible light and is invisible to the human eye. We know about its damaging effects on our skin, but what other wonders might this invisible, high-energy electromagnetic radiation reveal? When certain plants and animals absorb UV light, they can re-emit some of that energy as visible light at longer wavelengths, making them glow in vibrant neon colours when illuminated by a UV torch. This phenomenon is known as biofluorescence. It is quite different from bioluminescence, the chemical process by which living organisms such as glow-worms, fireflies and some plankton produce their own light. Biofluorescence is a fascinating optical phenomenon because it reveals a hidden layer of colour in creatures and plants that otherwise might seem quite ordinary. Scientists have
A garden snail and – inset –holly leaves under UV light
discovered it across a remarkable range of lifeforms from marine creatures and birds to frogs, mammals and plants. Although we know much more about where it occurs, the purpose of these glowing colours remains a mystery. To find out more, I have booked a guided biofluorescence night walk with the RSPB. Having finished my gardening, I wrap up warm and drive towards the Arne peninsula. My journey is a sheer delight, taking me through fields and villages bathed in the rich reds, oranges and yellows of the setting sun. I love how the late-October countryside takes on a completely different persona as the sun slowly sinks beneath the horizon, the changing light lending a magical quality to the familiar landscape. On arrival, I am equipped with a small UV torch and set free to explore. The intention is
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not to walk far but to take our time, investigating cracks and crevices, plants, lichens, snails and fungi. In the deepening gloom, small groups gather around their discoveries, their excitement growing with each new find. The first exclamations come from a group beside a stone wall where woodlice abound. Under an ordinary torch, they look perfectly normal, but under the UV light, one of them glows bright green in places. Wow! Although I think I know this place and its inhabitants well, suddenly I feel like Alice in Wonderland, discovering this hidden world. I turn my attention to the holly leaves, some of which appear strikingly red under the UV torch. Chlorophyll, the green pigment essential to photosynthesis, can fluoresce red when excited by light. The colour I am seeing is not simply the leaf’s ordinary colour revealed in a different light, but a response to the UV illumination. Nearby, the nettle and bramble leaves I find are edged with a delightful kingfisher blue, possibly indicating the presence of a fungal infection. Then I am guided towards some lichen on the bark of a birch tree, glowing a hot magenta. Other lichens on fallen twigs shine in fiery
purbeckgazette.co.uk yellows and oranges. But the most astonishing discoveries, and perhaps the most beautiful, are the snails. These little creatures, so often banished from our gardens, are transformed under UV light. As the evening progresses, more snails emerge from their hiding places. Two species are found here tonight – the common garden snail and the whitelipped snail. Both are extraordinary. The soft flesh of the white-lipped snail glows in vibrant reds and yellows, while the garden snail shines bright green, its mucus trail glows yellow. I find myself looking at these familiar creatures with entirely new eyes. Who would have thought they could be so spectacular? I stop for a while to look up at the sky. Away from the bright artificial lights, the stars appear incredibly vivid and sharp. Cassiopeia, the lazy W, hangs overhead, while a waxing crescent Moon glimmers between the trees as it slowly descends towards the horizon. Tawny owls call from the darkness, reminding us of the other nocturnal creatures that share this woodland. This familiar path has become an entirely different place. Returning to the group, I learn that scientists are investigating whether fluorescence might play a role in camouflage, communication, mate recognition, pollination or foraging in some species. There is still much to discover. Even hedgehogs, amphibians and moths have been found to exhibit forms of fluorescence. As everyone gathers to say goodbye, I make my way back to my car. What an extraordinary evening this has been! I have glimpsed a whole new dimension of nature that has previously passed me by. On my journey home, I vow to invest in a UV torch of my own. Those mild, damp winter evenings in the garden will never seem quite the same again. n Dr Susie Curtin (email curtin. susanna@gmail.com)
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Health & Wellbeing
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From nettle soup to brisk walks: Staying well as the days draw in by Fiona Chapman IT seems our glorious summer has finally come to an end. It was cold this morning and I thought, too late, that I should be wearing gloves on my morning walk. It is all a bit of a shock, but we have been so incredibly lucky with a long sunny September and October, so we cannot complain. A wonderful second flush of nettles is around now and I met someone in my village who was harvesting them who told me she has always makes nettle soup and loves it. This is just the sort of thing we should be eating. Warming soups and broths for the cold weather, easy to digest and full of goodness to prepare
It is better being out in the weather than sitting looking at it, says Fiona Chapman
our bodies for the long winter months. Nettle soup made with onions, garlic, a good stock and celeriac, makes a great, filling lunch or supper. We should also be thinking of keeping the Vitamin D levels up and a good supplement is
recommended throughout the winter. I am, as most will know, also a great believer in getting outside every day for a brisk walk – fresh air and exercise is a must in winter. So often it is better being out in the weather than sitting looking at it, and the sense of satisfaction when you get home, full of fresh air, a bit damp and windblown, is just lovely – also knowing, that if it is awful, you don’t necessarily have to do it again! As the dark nights start closing in, it is very tempting to turn to sweet treats, but this is not what we should be doing. Processed sugar wrecks our
blood sugar and gives us highs, followed by huge dips. If we need something sweet, some goji berries or cinnamon is a great alternative. Cinnamon will help balance the blood sugar, which then controls some of the cravings we have. It can be added to oat milk or tea or coffee, porridge or fruit. It is also very important to keep hydrated at this time of the year. It is so easy to forget to drink water as it gets colder, but it is essential we do, particularly when the heating goes on. I also want to hibernate as it gets darker and there is nothing wrong with slowing down a bit and cuddling up with a good book – and, in my case, a small, hairy dog! n Fiona Chapman is a naturopathic herbalist (email Pellyfiona@gmail.com)
an internal belief that our needs aren’t important. For some, it also links to the belief that prioritising yourself is selfindulgent, perhaps even selfish. It took me several years – and several periods of burnout – to realise my needs mattered. Joy, rest, creativity, the freedom that comes from movement and deep connection with others are what I’ve identified as what I want to feel in my life. Before that, I thought work and caring for others were enough fulfilment, mostly because I felt so much of those things in my work. What I was missing was the too much bit – I couldn’t see that doing too much was overshadowing the benefits of my passion. The joy and
creativity of being a therapist starting their own business turned into something that caused too much demand on my nervous system. Too many demands – selfinflicted in my case – and not enough enjoyment and rest. I’d worked it out, now to fix it – simple! Not quite. Sometimes it feels like a work in progress – other times I think I’ve got it sorted. How about you? How easy was it for you to figure out what you have too much of and what you don’t have enough of? n Nicole Asghar is a Dorsetbased therapist and yoga teacher specialising in neurodivergence and burnout recovery. She offers courses and one-to-one therapy online and around Bournemouth. Get in touch via connect@ nicoleasghar.com and www. nicoleasghar.com
Too much or not enough? by Nicole Asghar WHAT happens when we have too much of one thing and not enough of another? And what happens when we can’t tell the difference? Or we haven’t had a chance to stop and think about it – well, perhaps this is the moment. Begin by taking a slow, long breath in through your nose… Pause at the top. Then sigh it out through your mouth… Now see what comes to mind when you ask yourself “what do I have too much of or what feels too much?” Make a mental or physical note. This time, take a breath in and scrunch up all the muscles in your face, tense your shoulders and squeeze your toes – exhale and soften… Now ask yourself “what do I need more of?” Or better yet, “what do I want to feel more of?” As sentient beings, our day-to-day experiences are shaped by our emotions and nervous system states – therefore, having more choice and influence over how we want
Take a breath and work out your needs, says Nicole Asghar
to feel can be the difference between living a life we love and living a life that feels arduous, sometimes mundane and often not very fulfilling. I often talk to clients about making space in their lives for the things that help them feel how they actually want to feel, identifying what those things are and diarising them. Without that last step, they become another item on the mental to-do list and are easily forgotten. Crucially, though, when we repeatedly put off doing things for ourselves, or forget what makes us feel good, we develop
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Home & Garden
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Prepare the ground for new hedges by Sally Gregson HEDGES mark boundaries in very friendly ways. They provide food and shelter for all forms of small wildlife, and do not blow over in high winds. Whether planting a new hedge as an addition to the existing garden layout, or as a first step in the structure of a new garden, preparing the ground is important. As with any other plant, hedging will grow away faster in wellprepared soil. And autumn is the ideal time to dig out the weeds from the site and incorporate plenty of organic matter into the soil.
An old gardener would inform the new that smaller hedge plants will catch up within a year or two, especially if the ground is well prepared. Add an organic fertiliser to break down slowly during the winter months and become available to the young plants in spring when they need a boost. Yew is notoriously slowgrowing and it may take a few years longer to reach the desired height, but it will only need cutting once a year thereafter. Hedge-trimming does not get any easier as backs get older. Beech – Fagus sylvatica – and Hornbeam –
Like the Italian Cypress? Then try this... by Sally Gregson THIS year in particular, memories of sweltering hot holidays and our English rolling countryside scorching in the sun, are resonating long after we return home. If we in the UK are going to experience the climate and temperatures of the Mediterranean as we have this summer, on a regular basis, perhaps we could and should plant accordingly. However, those who are a bit more cynical, believe that essentially our climate is always changing and that sooner or later we might well experience a colder year than previously. The Italian Cypress, Cupressus sempervirens ‘Pyramidalis’, is a native
Mediterranean tree that merits the word ‘iconic’. It will grow here in our damp, cold climate only reluctantly, and often a few days of freezing winter winds will scorch and brown the foliage. And, like many conifers, it will not recover, even if the dead parts are cut out. But memories, dreams, of the glorious Mediterranean countryside, populated with Italian Cypresses marching down vine-covered slopes, do tempt the gardener to try and emulate them. Perhaps it’s possible to use them, not directly, but as inspiration. The pyramidal Juniperus chinensis ‘Fastigiata’ would make a similar, hardy substitute
Beech holds its leaves throughout the winter if cut as a hedge
Carpinus betulus – also hold their leaves throughout the winter if cut as a hedge, where other hedge plants do not. Beech prefers a draining, alkaline soil, whereas Hornbeam is more tolerant. Since box has become so difficult to grow, it can be a problem to find a replacement. But Euonymus ‘Jean Hughes’ is a dwarf plant that is slow growing. And to the uninitiated, looks just the same as box. The
plants are more expensive in the first place but if a long, low hedge is needed, Euonymus is as easy as, if a little slower, than box. Alternatively, if the soil is light and well-drained and the area is sunny, a lowgrowing hedge of Hebe topiaria is an easy dwarf evergreen that would need to be trimmed only once or twice a year. It roots easily and quickly and would soon make a small hedge within a formal garden. The Italian Cypress is unlikely to cope with the British winter weather
that would cope with most weathers in the UK. It has blue-green foliage that produces pale blue cones in spring; it slowly achieves up to 5 metres in height, maintaining a narrow column 2 to 3 metres across at the base; and it does not have ‘bare legs’. It would lend a stylish vertical accent all year round. When it comes to choosing a new tree in our current climate, it is wisest to choose a smaller plant, unless you relish the
prospect of weeks of handwatering all summer. Newlyplanted trees require gallons of water, and a younger, smaller tree should push its tap roots down to find moisture lower in the soil. Provided the tree is in the right place and well-watered in, it should catch up with a larger tree planted at the same time. And like Giuseppe Garibaldi, in just a few years’ time it will be marching through your garden like an Italian on a mission.
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026 29
Home & Garden
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PERFECT weather for the garden in winter is for it to get gently get colder over the next few weeks, and for a few decent hard frosts after Christmas. What plants don’t like is dramatic weather changes, particularly in temperature, as this can cause damage. There’s plenty of time to enjoy the garden without starting too much tidying up or packing away. This will also provide a food source and habitat, particularly for insects, but also lots of spectacular displays when the frost sets on seed heads and old flowers. Autumn pruning is carried out by many gardeners and is sometimes necessary, but it can expose plants to the ravages of winter. I often think the best protection a plant can get is from its own branches. Some plants need a tidy up prune in the autumn to reduce wind rock over winter. This group would include shrubs, such as lavatera – shrubby mallows, buddleia and some apirea. But it’s just a tidy up that is needed. Leave the rest of the framework in place to provide protection and complete the pruning in early spring. With other plants, the prunings can be used as protection. One example of this is with tree ferns, where the fronds as they die back can be folded over to protect the crown. This won’t be sufficient protection in a really tough frost, but a further wrapping of horticultural fleece tied around the trunk to bind on the fronds will complete the task. Fleece can also be used as a form of protection for several plants. It is a lightweight material, usually white in colour,
that is designed to provide protection in a gentle way. The material allows plants to breathe but will keep the worst of the cold and wet from the plant that is being protected. This is also useful in some situations to reduce fungal problems such as peach leaf curl on peaches. One layer of the fleece material will give a couple of degrees cold protection, and the soft nature is kind to plants. Fleece has also been adapted so that ready-made shrub protectors are available and mini-tunnels using wire frames that are also helpful in early spring when bringing on young crops. Tubs and pots on the patio can give each other some mutual protection by grouping them together. This is best done by pushing them to the wall of the house and then covering the pots with hessian, fleece or bubble plastic if the weather gets very cold. Pots that drain well will fare much better than those full of water, so be sure to check drainage holes are clear where you can. In borders, the laying of a natural mulch will help to keep plant roots snug. A 2-3-inch depth of bark either chipped or composted, or Strulch, will reduce the amount of frost that gets into the soil. The benefits don’t stop there with the mulch reducing weed growth the following spring, conserving moisture in summer and as it breaks down it also will assist in promoting good quality soil structure. But don’t be too worried about winter in the garden. Plants may get knocked back, but some need a period of cold to perform correctly the following year, and it’s also good news to have a ‘normal’ winter to help control garden pests. It’s all part of the natural cycle. MIKE BURKS managing director of The Gardens Group
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Don’t rush into tidying up in the garden
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Field & Stream
purbeckgazette.co.uk Birds in a flock of geese change places so that the lead bird takes a turn flying into the headwind and the others in the skein can use some of the slipstream for an easier flight
A bird’s eye view of the wonder of nature by AJ Selby “No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings,” – William Blake FOLLOWING on from last month’s comments about the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, we were lucky enough to spend a few days in Rye in East Sussex, not too far from Hastings itself. It’s a fascinating part of the country and Rye has a huge nature reserve on the marshes, which run down to the sea. Nearby is Dungeness, that bleak, almost alien landscape of shingle and emptiness with the power station standing sentinel and looking across the channel to France, almost all-seeing and all-knowing. Standing on the beach at Dungeness I was transfixed by a couple of dozen terns skimming over the water, sometimes plunging into the sea and out again. They are wonderful birds to watch and on that particular day the sea dazzled and shimmered in front of me. Nearby too is Winchelsea, the resting place of Spike Milligan, whose gravestone contains those classic words ‘I told you I was ill’. Back at Rye on the nature reserve is an excellent visitor centre which contains old maps
and photographs of the area from the last 100 years or more with memories of workmen building fortifications, and others harvesting from the sea along the shoreline. One of the maps explains how the port of old Winchelsea was ravaged by a huge storm in 1287 – the mouth of the river Rother in the town had been accumulating shingle but the storm finished it off. At the time it contained dozens of pubs, merchant houses and churches, and was one of the most important ports along the south coast. The storm wiped out the entire settlement and hundreds lost their lives. On the map I looked at a small circle now out in the English Channel with the words ‘Old Winchelsea (drowned)’. Some of the newer photographs in the visitor centre cover the whole area taken from drones and aircraft. I love these pictures, both stills and videos that are the bird’s eye views of what we only see from ground level. Whether it be a tractor and plough with an entourage of gulls, a shepherd and three dogs taking their sheep across the Cumbrian fells or a line of pleasure boats moored along a river at the bottom of a beautiful valley, these aerial snapshots
give you a wonderful perspective of what is going on around you. I have a picture of one at home which is of a dairy herd coming in for milking, and they are exiting a field through a gateway and along a track. There is an inverted ‘V’ shape of cows still in the field moving towards the gate, where they are bunched up awaiting their turn to leave the paddock and there is a thicker but narrower line of cows that have passed through the gate and are on the track towards the farm. It’s almost like an inverted bath plug where the cows in the field are the bath, the gateway is the plug hole and the track is the waste pipe. Looking at drone footage of something like haymaking or combining is quite mesmerising too. Watch an overhead view of a field of cut grass and then observe as a big tedder comes in, fluffs the hay around and then, switching the tedding reels, rows it up. Suddenly this fluffy grass is turned into thick pillow-like rows ready for the baler. Because of the size of the kit these days a 20-acre field can be quickly rowed up in an hour or so. The same goes for the combine harvester, and one with
a 14 or 16 foot head munches through the corn, spewing out the straw at the back and cleans the field very quickly, leaving just bare stubble around the straw. I also enjoy the overhead photography above any birds that are flying in the sky so you can look down on their backs. This is especially entertaining if the film can follow, say, a flock of geese and you can watch how they change places so that the lead bird takes a turn flying into the headwind and the others in the skein can use some of the slipstream for an easier flight. In time they will change places so they each do the legwork at the head of the flock. At the end of October, a trip to Dartmoor to meet some old friends resulted in a short hike to Wistman’s Wood near the hotel at Two Bridges close to the centre of the moor. This wonderful, enchanting and ancient temperate rainforest covers barely an acre but is a fascinating place to see mosses and lichens clinging to the stunted oak trees. The wood is in its own microclimate and is now being managed to prevent damage from people and livestock. It’s ecologically very important but also quite primaeval with heavy Dartmoor boulders covered in thick green carpets of different mosses. The oak trees too have cover on their trunks and branches of many species of lichen, and sometimes you will notice that a thick clump of moss on a branch has created a stable growing environment for other plants to actually root and survive. It’s certainly a place I would recommend visiting, as we need preserve these very rare habitats. I’ve recently finished Guy Shrubsole’s book The Lost Rainforests of Britain, which maps the locations in the western half of England, Wales and Scotland where these special places exist. A fascinating read.
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The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026 31
Antiques & Collectibles
purbeckgazette.co.uk A recently valued George III blue enamel and diamond lozenge ring, which is being passed down through the family
What makes an heirloom? by Amy Brenan, director of Heirlooms Jewellers, 21 South Street, Wareham WHAT makes an heirloom? For some, it is a grandmother’s engagement ring, for others, a father’s watch remembered from childhood. These objects hold something no valuation can measure – a connection to the people who wore and loved them. The Cambridge Dictionary defines an heirloom as “a valuable object that has been given by older members of a family to younger members of the same family over many years”. Yet that value need not be financial. A modest silver locket containing a treasured photograph can mean more to its owner than the most magnificent diamond. Historically, heirlooms were possessions inherited alongside a family estate. This gives us a history of the term, rather than an exact starting date for the human instinct to preserve belongings that were meaningful to them.
Antique jewellery lends itself beautifully to this tradition. A Victorian gold bracelet, an Edwardian pendant or a Georgian ring offers craftsmanship, character and a tangible link with another era. When passed between generations, it also becomes part of a family’s own story and is something I particularly love discovering when I am doing valuations of an antique collection. Of course, you do not have to inherit a piece to begin that story. Choosing antique jewellery to mark a wedding, anniversary or special birthday can create an heirloom for the future. At our shop, aptly named Heirlooms, we are seeing many couples choosing antique wedding rings specifically because they already have a story and the couple want to continue it. Whether you are cherishing an inherited treasure that has been in the family for generations or choosing something to pass on, the next chapter begins with you.
‘Soldier’ vases make £234,000
A MAGNIFICENT pair of Chinese blue and white porcelain ‘Soldier’ vases and covers from Breamore House led Duke’s Autumn auction in Dorchester, selling for £234,000, including buyer’s premium. Dating from the Kangxi period and standing 106cm high, the vases had long occupied a guard-like position at Breamore House, the historic family home near Fordingbridge. Following significant pre-sale interest, strong competition saw them achieve the auction’s top price. The 80-lot collection also included a rare copy of The Byble, Antwerp, 1537, which sold for £31,200, and a statuary marble figure of a young boy, attributable to Joseph Wilton (1722–1803), which realised £27,300. Provenance remains increasingly important to collectors, adding history and
The vases came from Breamore House, near Fordingbridge
context to individual objects. Meanwhile, the internet has transformed the auction market, enabling regional auction houses to present important collections to buyers worldwide. The Breamore House collection contributed to an excellent result for the Autumn Auction, which realised £513,420, with 89% of lots sold. Duke’s is now inviting consignments for its Winter Auction, taking place in January 2027. Contact Duke’s to arrange a complimentary valuation.
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The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026
Business
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Grant helps young artist Pia BUSINESS is going well for young artist Pia Elliot, from Wareham – with a little help from an SWEF Enterprise grant from Dorset Community Foundation. Pia, 26, has a lifelong love of the natural world and produces intricate pen and ink drawings of wildlife, but it was only after being made redundant in 2024 that she launched her business, Pia Elliot Art, alongside a part-time job. “I’ve always loved drawing animals and had an eye for pattern,” she said. “I used to doodle mandalas at school and decided to experiment with combining the two ideas together. I had quite bad anxiety at the time and it helped me switch off. “I’ve always loved wildlife and feel a real connection to the natural world, so I enjoy depicting the characters I’ve been lucky enough to observe,
Pia Elliot, 26, from Wareham, received a £1,199 SWEF Enterprise grant which she used to buy a new gazebo for shows with lighting and banners, and marketing materials to send out with orders
translating a sense of their personality through ink.” She has had success in selling her work through the website she built, as well as at craft fairs and exhibitions, but felt she needed financial help to promote her business further. “I was getting frustrated because there were things I
Public Notice DORSET COUNCIL CONFIRMATION OF BYELAWS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
that Dorset Council intends, after the expiry of the period mentioned below, to apply to the Secretary of State for Transport for confirmation of the The Dorset Council (Purbeck) Motorised Watercraft Byelaws made by the Council in relation to the prevention of danger, obstruction or annoyance to persons bathing in the sea or using the seashore under section 76 of the Public Health Act 1961. Copies of the byelaws will be kept in two locations: at the offices of the Council at the Reception Desk, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, DT1 1XJ and at the reception desk of Swanage Town Council, High Street, Swanage, BH19 2NZ. They will be open to inspection without payment on any weekday during the usual office hours for one calendar month from the date of publication of this Notice. Any objection to the application for the confirmation of the byelaws may be made by letter (no later than one week after the closing date for inspection) and addressed to: Legal and Democratic Services, County Hall, Colliton Park Dorchester, DT1 1XJ, Bridget Betts, Dated: 09 November 2026
wanted to improve, like equipment for shows and marketing materials, but I didn’t have the funds,” she said. Her friend Becky Walker told her how a SWEF Enterprise grant had helped transform her jewellery business. “I decided to give it a go,” said Pia. “The application process was quite easy, although the interview with the grant panel was nerve-wracking to begin with. By the end, I was happy with how it went.” The anxious wait ended with an email to say she had been successful. “I was elated,” she said. “It was amazing to get the grant and felt like validation that I’m taking the right steps. The grant has helped me massively.” She received £1,199 from the fund and has been able to buy a new gazebo for shows with lighting and banners, as well as marketing materials to send out with orders. “It is a professional set up now and I often receive comments of how great it looks,” she said. “When I send orders out, the upgraded marketing material that goes out with them has encouraged people to read my story and then return their custom, so it has definitely helped.” She takes orders through her website as well as working with customers to create bespoke
commission work. A number of galleries across the UK now stock her work. “At the start I was petrified approaching the galleries, but the more you do it, the easier it gets,” she said. Her newfound confidence and success this year has also prompted her to look beyond the home studio. “I’m currently in talks to take over a studio space at Walford Mill in Wimborne and am really excited about the possibilities that this could bring to my creative practice. I’m looking forward to sharing my pen and ink process with visitors and giving them an insight into the hours of practice and dedication that go into my work.” If Pia is not in her studio, she’ll be found out in nature recharging her creative batteries. “Most of my free time is spent outdoors,” she said. “I love to explore Dorset’s woodlands and the coast. It’s a very inspirational area.” SWEF Enterprise Fund grants are aimed at young people aged 18 to 30 and are up to £500 for start-up businesses and £2,000 for businesses that have been running for less than two years. For more information, visit dorsetcommunityfoundation.org See Pia’s work at piaelliotart. com or on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026 33
purbeckgazette.co.uk
New £20m plant turns food waste into gas
ONE of the largest facilities in the south for dealing with food waste has been officially opened in Dorset. The biogas plant at Eco Sustainable Solution’s Parley site can handle more than 50,000 tonnes of food waste every year from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and surrounding areas. Costing just under £20 million, the facility creates biomethane which is fed directly into the local gas network at the rate of 900 cubic metres an hour, the equivalent of nine double-decker buses. The gas is enough to heat about 7,000 homes. Planning permission was granted over a decade ago and construction started in 2024. The plant, which sits in the heart of the company’s 40-acre Eco Park, created 50 construction jobs and has six full-time operators. It was commissioned earlier this year. Simon Boyd, vice-president of Dorset Chamber and managing director of Christchurch-based REIDsteel, officially opened the new anaerobic digestion facility. He said: “I was absolutely stunned by what this plant can do. Being someone who gets rid of their food waste each week then seeing that it can go back into a system that generates gas that can go into the grid and supply up to 7,000 homes with heating is a phenomenal achievement. “I really do think that Justin
Law firm scores top rating in Legal 500
Business
[Dampney, managing director] and the team here have done a fantastic job and it’s a credit to not just this business but the whole county. When I give feedback to Dorset Chamber, I will say that it’s one of the most outstanding businesses in Dorset. “It’s critical that we invest in businesses. I’m a great believer in business being a force for good. Not only does it generate employment, but it does wonders for the environment. “This couldn’t come at a better time because we need a mix of energy. This energy resource works 24 hours a day whether the wind blows or not or the sun shines or not. It’s a really good addition to that mix that we need to get as a country so that we can bring down the energy costs that are affecting all businesses.” Justin Dampney, Eco’s managing director, said: “The
official opening of our new biogas facility marks a significant milestone in Eco’s 30-year history and is a proud achievement for everyone involved. “This facility, which has been developed as a response to the Government’s Simpler Recycling reforms, operates around the clock and has the capacity to recycle more than 1,000 tonnes of food waste every week. This material is transformed into renewable biomethane injected into the gas network, along with a nutrientrich biofertiliser, for agriculture – both are particularly useful given the current climate. “I would like to thank everyone involved in its design, construction and now operation of the facility. No one ever compromised on safety or design, and the result is a world class facility that we can all be extremely proud of – and one
that will serve our region for decades to come.” Eco Sustainable Solutions began life 31 years ago as a small green waste composting operation with two people and a pitchfork and has grown to a business employing 53 and an annual turnover in excess of £20 million. In 2025 the organic recycling and renewable energy company prevented more than 120,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere by diverting waste from landfill. Since Eco began trading it has recycled more than 4.3 million tonnes of organic material, preventing over 2m tonnes of CO2e – carbon dioxide equivalent – from being emitted to the atmosphere. The company, which has sites at Parley, Piddlehinton and Weymouth, recycles green, wood, road sweepings and food waste for BCP Council and Dorset Council, among many other contracts. Mr Boyd said: “The Parley site has changed out of all recognition since I was last here many years ago. I’m blown away by the size of the site for a start. “But what I was really impressed by was the health and safety. I’ve walked around an immaculate site that’s dealing with some of the worst gooey waste you can possibly ask to deal with. The way they are handling it is second to none. “The latest technology, how the controls work, how they get all the stuff out that you don’t want to go back into the food chain is amazing, really.” Clients, contractors and councillors were given guided tours of the new biogas facility following the official opening.
REGIONAL law firm Ellis Jones Solicitors has won top praise in the independent global guide to the quality of service clients can expect from lawyers in the year ahead. The latest annual Legal 500, often described as the legal
profession’s ‘bible’, places Ellis Jones as a Tier 1 firm – the highest category of excellence – for Commercial Litigation in 2027. The firm, which has offices in Dorset, Hampshire and London, also has prestigious
tier rankings for the coming year in the practice areas of Employment; Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate; Contentious Trusts and Probate; Family; Corporate and Commercial; and Property Litigation.
Simon Boyd, vice-president, Dorset Chamber (third from left), and Justin Dampney, Eco’s managing director, turn a valve to symbolically mark gas from Eco’s new biogas facility entering the grid.
34
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026
Motoring
purbeckgazette.co.uk
Chinese cars: Electric isn’t the only choice by David Young IN A break from the usual fare, I’m going to attempt to clarify a frequently aired misconception rather than clarifying the specification of yet another new car. You don’t need to be particularly observant to have noticed Chinese car brands are becoming a much more familiar sight on UK roads, with manufacturers including BYD, Omoda, Jaecoo and Chery joining the already established Chinese-owned MG. That rapid growth is largely responsible for the aforementioned misconception – that choosing a Chinese car
automatically means choosing an electric one. I’m confident enough to go out on a limb in declaring that to be utter nonsense. While China’s automotive industry has become strongly associated with electric vehicles, individual Chinese manufacturers actually offer UK drivers a much broader choice. Depending on the brand and model, that can include traditional petrol engines, self-charging hybrids and plug-in hybrids, all taking their place in the range alongside the fully electric cars. That means if you like the
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The Omoda 5 is available with a conventional petrol engine
price, specification or styling of one of the latest Chinese models but aren’t ready to make the switch to an EV, it’s likely there’s already a choice of powertrains available. It doesn’t mean there isn’t good reason for the confusion though. Many of the Chinese models that initially attracted attention in Britain were electric, even if that’s no longer the case. BYD, for example, established itself with EVs including the Atto 3, Dolphin and Seal, while Chinese-owned MG enjoyed considerable success with electric models such as the MG4. Several newer manufacturers have followed a similar path, so it is understandable that Chinese cars and electric cars have become closely associated in the minds of some drivers. The market has developed quickly, though, and today’s choice is considerably broader than many people might realise. Perhaps the simplest way to dispel the myth is to look at Omoda. The Omoda 5 is available with a conventional petrol engine, meaning there’s no need to plug it in and no need to change the way you refuel your car. The Omoda range also extends to hybrid models as well as the fully electric alternatives, giving drivers a choice of powertrains rather than forcing them down a particular route.For anyone who just wants a competitively priced, well-equipped new car, there is no obligation to choose an EV just because the badge on the bonnet comes from a
Chinese manufacturer. Plug-in hybrids have been around long enough now that we can all grasp the basic principle of an electric motor and rechargeable battery combined with a traditional petrol engine. Charge them regularly and shorter journeys can potentially be completed using just the electric power, while the petrol engine sits quietly in the background ready for longer journeys as required. BYD is a good example as its UK range now stretches well beyond pure EVs. All-electric models such as the Dolphin, Seal and Sealion 7 exist happily alongside plug-in hybrid alternatives include the Seal U and Seal 6 Touring. That choice provides an important middle ground for drivers. Plug-in hybrids currently offer the best features of both internal combustion and electricity to the broadest possible range of UK drivers. Unlike a plug-in hybrid, a conventional or self-charging hybrid doesn’t need to be connected to a charger. Instead, its battery is replenished while the car is being driven, allowing the electric motor to assist the petrol engine and freeing you from the need to rely on the charging network. It’s another indication that talking about a single type of ‘Chinese car’ is becoming increasingly meaningless. The choice of powertrains offered by Chinese manufacturers is beginning to look exactly like the choice available from long-established European, Japanese and Korean brands.
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026 35
Arts & Entertainment
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Show shines a light on women wartime agents SONGWRITER and performer Louise Jordan is bringing her latest solo production Behind Enemy Lines to Lighthouse Poole as part of a UK tour. Through original song, live music, storytelling, soundscape, acting and choreography Louise brings to life the women special agents who were dropped behind enemy lines into Nazioccupied France during the Second World War. Who were they? How were they selected and trained to commit acts of sabotage, subversion and silent killing? Did they ultimately evade capture, torture and execution? Louise said: “The women
Royal College scholar plays Bach
ST Peter’s Church in Dorchester is the venue for a concert featuring a young scholar from the Royal College of Music (RCM). Markus Sadler – pictured – will perform Bach’s Goldberg Variations BWV 988 on a Robin Jennings Flemish reproduction harpsichord in the evocative, candlelit setting of the church. The British-German pianist and harpsichordist is an
Louise Jordan stars in Behind Eneny Lines at Lighthouse Poole PHOTO: Richard Budd Photography
who were sent into Nazioccupied France came from a diverse range of backgrounds undergraduate student at the RCM, where he is a Steel Charitable Trust scholar. He studies piano with Gordon Fergus-Thompson, his mentor since his time at the RCM Junior Department (2021-23), and harpsichord with Jane Chapman. Markus has participated in masterclasses with Melvyn Tan, Peter Donohoe, Noriko Ogawa and Stephen Hough. Recent engagements include solo performances in the Bechstein Hall and Bartok’s 3rd Piano Concerto with the RCM Philharmonic Orchestra. The performance on Friday, November 13, at 7pm, will be presented without an interval and last about 70 minutes. Tickets are priced £15 and are available online at www. ticketsource.com/st-peterschurch-dorchester
yet they were united by a remarkable courage which led them to fight for freedom in
Tourism inspires comedy
FAST-PACED new comedy The No. 1 Holiday Destination comes to The Studio at The Mowlem in Swanage today (Monday, November 9). It centres around a freshly independent country with big ideas and no plan for what comes next.
String quartet at church
THE Neruda String Quartet are set to give a concert, From Darkness to Light, at St John’s Church, Broadstone. The musicians, from the
Europe, to work undercover transmitting intelligence back to London, to recruit and train members of the French resistance, and to put their lives on the line. “While researching Behind Enemy Lines, I was struck by the determination and commitment of these women, by their daring and ingenuity to succeed in their missions and to play an active role in defeating Nazi terror. “My aim through this production is to make sure these women’s stories are better known so that they can continue to inspire us that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things.” The women agents were part of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) established in 1940 to commit acts of sabotage and subversion across Europe and Asia. Behind Enemy Lines is at Lighthouse Poole on Wednesday, November 11. The nation decides to solve the problem of mass tourism once and for all by nationalising it, but what starts as an idealistic attempt to protect culture, community and coastline quickly snowballs into a spectacular experiment, complete with absurd rules, escalating chaos and consequences no-one saw coming. The show gets under way at 7.30pm and tickets are available online at www. artsreach.co.uk Royal Academy of Music, will play Beethoven’s String Quartet in A Minor, Op 132, and Brahms’ String Quartet No 1 in C Minor, Op 51. Tickets for the concert on Sunday, November 15, at 4pm are £13, £3 for under-18s – interval refreshments included – and are available from www. broadstonemusicseries.co.uk
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36
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026
Arts & Entertainment
Haunted house is setting for drama THE Double Act drama group is set to stage haunted house melodrama The Cat and the Canary at Corfe Castle village hall. On a dark and stormy night, an ancient law insists that the will and testament of eccentric old Cyrus Carduelin must be read at midnight on the 21st anniversary of his death. And where else but in the gloomy library of his deserted mansion that may or may not be haunted – in the presence of the squabbling, jealous survivors of his dysfunctional family, who cannot leave until morning. A murderous monster may even be lurking in the shadows! John Willard’s The Cat and
the Canary was originally a Broadway hit in 1922 and was adapted several times into feature films. Local writer has Dougal Dixon has brought the action up to date and transferred the setting for Double Act from upstate New York to stormblasted heathland above Wareham. The Cat and the Canary runs from Wednesday to Saturday, November 18-21, at 7.30pm with an earlier performance on Saturday at 5.30pm. Tickets priced £10 adult and £5 children – unsuitable for under-fives – are available from Corfe Castle Village Stores and www.ticketsource. co.uk/double-act-drama-group
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Unlikely friendships on writing holiday
BROADSTONE Players’ next production is the comedy-drama Hoovering At The Edge, by Hilary Spiers. The story is set on a creative writing holiday in the sun with seven very different ladies on the course and a male tutor who has come in as a last-minute replacement for the planned tutor. The audience sees unlikely
friendships form and gets to know all the characters and their stories. The play runs at Broadstone War Memorial Hall theatre from Wednesday to Saturday, November 18-21, at 7.30pm, with a Saturday matinee at 2.15pm. Tickets are £10 and can be reserved for payment on the door via honsec@ broadstoneplayers.co.uk or on 01202 678449.
Spotlight Diary Diary entries are £6 plus VAT per entry. 20 WORDS OR LESS The deadline for the November 23 issue is NOON on Thursday, November 12. Call us on 01963 400186 or email adverts@blackmorevale.net.
Please call prior to attending events listed to ensure they are still on.
NOVEMBER 2026 TUESDAY 9.30
BCP BUSINESS NETWORK - 24th Nov 9:30am - 11:30am at Rivo’s Hub. Contact Lynne 07704 799866 for more details and to join us
THURSDAY 14.00
An Exhibition of Modern British & Contemporary Paintings & Prints, Pottery & Jewellery Trevor Bell, Sven Berlin, John Bratby, Prunella Clough, Maurice Cockrill, Cecil Collins, Alan Davie, William Gear, Adrian Heath, Roger Hilton, Albert Irvin, Ben Nicholson, Victor Pasmore, William Tillyer
Peter Joyce, Brian Graham, Richard Devereux Studio Pottery including Batterham, Leach, Maltby, Marianne de Trey, Welch with Charles Bound, Nic Collins, Mike Dodd, Dawn Harvey and many others
LIFE DRAWING - Harmans Cross Village Hall every Thursday 2-4pm. November 26th. Easy parking. All abilities welcome. Bring your own materials. No need to book. £12 cash. Tea/coffee break.
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
27 November - 6 December 2026 opening Friday 27 Nov at 1pm Mon- Fri 1-5pm Sat & Sun 10-5pm
www.timelinearts.co.uk Furzebrook Studios, 52 Furzebrook Rd, Wareham BH20 5AX
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01963 400186 | adverts@purbeckgazette.co.uk
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026 37
Recruitment
Local Services 24/7 Locksmiths & Garage Door Repairs
CLEANING HELP required. in Mere. fortnightly or monthly 07862-222330
Dorset com Doors .com
Deadline to place your advert for 23rd November edition is Friday 13th November - 10am
- Residential Lockouts - Garage door repair specialists - New garage doors & automation - Lock repair and replacements
07979 978 751 drew@dorsetdoors.com
Local Services
DORSET BUILDING & LANDSCAPING LTD
Andy Lowe Tech Support No job too small Give me a call
Over 30 yrs experience 01929 422597 07593044274 AndyLoweTechSupp0rt@gmail.com
Deadline to place your advert for 23rd Nov edition is Friday 13th Nov - 10am
Dorset Building & Landscaping offers expert brickwork, patios, fencing, extensions, renovations & landscaping with 30 year’s experiece. Reliable, friendly service guaranteed.
HIGH STANDARD OF WORK & SERVICE
Call Aron:
07411 815270 Or scan the QR code
Call for a realistic quote 01929 421663 07768 660833
07831 351877 MALLWOOD ROOFING LTD Family business - all aspects of roofing, including:
Built-up Felt, Cold Applied Liquid System, Slating & Tiling All new roof coverings fully guaranteed
TEL: 01202 020063 or 07950 972289
NJA Specialist Tree Care
All aspects of Tree Surgery & Hedgework undertaken
Fully insured and NPTC Qualified Free Quotations and advice 07703 210647 or 01929 481600
BINDON ABBEY SCAFFOLDING WOOL - WAREHAM
Reliable service and competitive pricing
T: 07501 465192
Email: bindonabbeyscaffolding@outlook.com Trusted Local Builders. Start to Finish. Based in the heart of Dorset, we take pride in delivering high-quality construction work from start to finish.
info@jbaggleybuildingltd.co.uk
07887 494 316
See our work jbaggleybuildingltd.co.uk
Extensions Carpentry New Builds Brickwork Renovations Maintenance
Re-pointing Roofing Wall tie replacement Cavity cleaning Tray & lintel replacements Facias & Guttering
Painting and Decorating Interior and Exterior Repairs to Walls / Plaster / Render/ Doors / Windows / Skirting Woodwork / Furniture Painting / Re Finishing - Fully Insured
Richard Andrews Decor 07736 283397 Milborne St Andrew richardandrewsdecor@gmail.com
The Chimney Keepers • Manual and Power Sweeping • Bird Nests Removed • CCTV Camera Inspections • Stove Repairs • Certified Chimney Sweep • Safety certificates issued
Tel: 01305 330006 07399 519717 www.thechimneykeepers.co.uk
J .A. J .A. J Const .A. r uct ion
J.A. CONSTRUCTION
(DORSET) LTD Const r uct ion (Dor r set ) Lt d. ion Const uct
set ) LtWalling, d. set ) Lt Stone d.(DorStone Specialist in Purbeck Specialist in(Dor Purbeck Walling Specialist in Purbeck Stone Specialist in Purbeck Stone Walling General Building, Extensions, Renovations,Walling Roofing, General Building, Extensions, General Building, Extensions, General Building, Extensions, New Builds and all types of Builds Ground Work. Renovations, Roofing, New Renovations, Roofing, Builds Renovations, Roofing, New Builds New Also available for Plumbing, Electrics & Carpentry. and all types of Ground Work. all types of Ground Work. and allavailable typesand of Ground Work. Also for Plumbing, Tel:Also 01929 554249 / Fax:for 01929 552294 Also available available for Plumbing, Electrics & Carpentry. Plumbing, Electrics & Electrics & Carpentry . Carpentry. Mobile: 07973 388190 Tel: 01929 554249 www.jaconstructiondorset.co.uk Tel: 01929 554249 Tel: 01929 554249 F ax:sales@jaconstruction.co.uk 01929F552294 Email: ax: 01929 552294
Fax: 01929 552294
Mobile: 07973 388190 : 07973 388190 Mobile: 07973Mobile 388190
ww ww w.jaconstructiondorse .jaconstructiondors e t.co.uk t.co.uk www.jaconstructiondorse w t.co.uk
Deadline to place your advert for 23rd November edition Email: ail: sales@jaconstruction.co.uk s@jaconstruction.co.uk Email: sales@jaconstruction.co.uk Em sale is Friday 13th November - 10am
38
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026
Local Services
purbeckgazette.co.uk
Bug Busters Pest Control Professional Reliable Service
Wasps, Mice, Rats, Ants, Flies, Fleas All dealt with promptly and efficiently
All Dorset areas covered | www.bugbustersdorset.co.uk bugbustersdorset@gmail.com | Mob: 07973 407027
Manufacturers of Purpose-made Hard & Softwood Joinery
01202 622441
info@elegantjoinery.co.uk www.elegantjoinery.co.uk
TILES & BATHROOMS SUPPLY & INSTALLATION OF YOUR NEW DREAM BATHROOM Large modern showroom with inspirational displays
Bathroom Design & Planning
Tile supply & Installaaon
Mobility Bathrooms Bath Out - Shower in
Bespoke Shower Screens & Trays Professional In-House Fiing Team Karndean Supply & Installaaon Full Project Management
Unit 9, Justin Business Park, Sandford Lane, Wareham BH20 4DY
01929 551963
www.roomh2o.co.uk
CMS ELECTRICAL REPAIRS Oven & washing machine repairs
• Washing Machines • Electric Cookers • Dishwashers • Fridges • Tumble Dryers • Freezers - SPECIALISTS IN SOURCING NEW APPLIANCES -
Contact Colin Shailer: 01929 554809 • 07711 165062 colinshailer@gmail.com
A.D.S. PROPERTY SERVICES General Builder
EXTENSIONS, KITCHENS, BRICKWORK, PATIOS, FENCING, PLASTERING, DECORATING, ROOF REPAIRS & CHIMNEYS adspropertysvcs@gmail.com Andy Smith 07743 440 906
LOCKSMITH
UPVC Multipoint & Wooden Door Lock Specialist. Locks & Safes, Repaired, Replaced, Opened or Serviced. Additional Security for Garages & Gates, Key Safes, Antique Locks & keys. Vehicle Opening, Remote Spare Keys, Restricted Key Systems.
07709 545701 (24/7) www.parrottlocks.co.uk
paul@parrottlocks.co.uk
DRAIN UNBLOCKING All drains unblocked
Camera Surveys
Drain Repairs & Installations Local family business 24/7
01929 666 226 OR 01305 70 55 60 www.dorsetdrainunblocking.co.uk
Advertising made
simple
01963 400186 adverts@purbeckgazette.co.uk
SWANAGE & DORSET
SCAFFOLDING & ROOFING
All aspects of Residential & Commercial Scaffolding Flat Roofing – All Roofing Repair Work - Re-Roofs Slate & Tile Foam Removal – Works Carried Out With Care Free Quotations & Emergency Call Outs Fully Insured
OUR PRICE WON’T BE BEATEN
07813 346993 01929 424553 01258 858214
SOOTY THE SWEEP Local Full Time Chimney Sweep for 40 years Nacs, Hetas, City & Guilds Qualified Be safe! Reliable Advice Given
Covering All of Dorset
All chimneys and flues swept Woodburner Servicing Cowls, bird nets, pots, etc. Grates, fire tools, Kiln dried LOGS, CCTV Surveys, Insured and certificates given.
01929 554700/427427 www.sootythesweep.com
Plumbing and Heating Engineers
Boiler Installations, services and repairs General plumbing, Bathrooms and Landlord gas safety certificates Covering Swanage and the surrounding areas
07584 260838
The Purbeck Gazette, November 9, 2026 39
Local Services
purbeckgazette.co.uk
Advertising made
simple
ROB PARRY BUILDING & CARPENTRY
Renovations, Loft Conversions and Extensions Kitchens and Wardrobes Windows and Doors All aspects of building and carpentry
Rob 07973400297
DIGITAL AERIAL UPGRADES
01963 400186 • SKY & FREESAT adverts@purbeckgazette.co.uk INSTALLATIONS
• LCD/PLASMA SALES & REPAIRS • WALL MOUNTING & INSTALLATION SERVICE • HEATPUMPS/AIR CONDITIONING
WAREHAM
Robparrybuildingandcarpentry @gmail.com
01929 554692
COUNTRYSIDE TREE SURGEONS
Professionals specialising in all aspects of Tree & Hedge Care by Fully Insured NPTC Certified Tree Surgeons. TREE SURGERY • HEDGE TRIMMING STUMP GRINDING • SITE CLEARANCE FELLING & FENCING
ESTABLISHED 25 YEARS
• PC & Laptop hardware upgrade & repair • Windows & Apple Mac software issues fixed • Virus and Malware removal and prevention • Wi-Fi, Internet, Email, printer issues resolved Call Pete on: • Computer Cleanup & Health Check 01929 421989 • Data recovery & Backup or 07900 992110 Email: info@whizzbits.co.uk • Local with over 20 years experience www.whizzbits.co.uk
Mobile: 07979 447777 Email: waynepippo@gmail.com
Fully Insured - Registered Waste Carrier
House Clearances (part or full) Domestic Clearances Commercial Clearances Garden Clearance White Goods Old Furniture & Beds Light Demolition Evening and weekend collections available by appointment
Telephone: 01929 550 615 Mobile: 07816 456 814 pdtwdorset@gmail.com Registered Waste Carrier
Wood Burning Stoves Installed
False Fireplaces & Media Walls
Chimney leaks, Repairs, Rebuilds and Removals
Twin-Wall Chimney Systems
LOW COST SECURE SELF STORAGE
Rent from £27.50 per week CCTV, Palisade Fencing & 24/7 access Locations in both Wareham & Swanage
Call us on 01929 401585 to discuss your requirements
YOUR LOCAL
SKIP HIRE PROFESSIONALS Helping to keep
DORSET
green & pleasant Call today and speak to one of our professional team. Or visit our squeaky new website for quotes and to find out lots more.
Call: 01202 247716 www.thewastegroup.co.uk