Valley News February 2020

E E FR Issue 154

February 2020

for Whitechurch, Whatcombe, Clenston, Stickland, Houghton, Turnworth & Milton Abbas

Midwinter sunset from Okeford Hill Picture by Frances Ellis

Helping to inform and unite the Community

amount as the budget.

The meeting closed at 8:03pm with the next set at Wednesday 12th February in the Old School Room at 7:00pm. All welcome.

For further information please see the village notice boards or alternatively contact the clerk on 01258 880600 or email to winterbornewhitechurch@dorset-aptc.gov.uk

Editorial Welcome to the first edition of 2020! We hope that you will find the magazine helpful and useful this year. It is just worth remembering that our magazine is available free of charge because of our advertisers.

We know that often it is the Valley News that readers turn to first of all when looking for services, and that the adverts 'work'. Unfortunately we are not attracting as many adverts as we once were and if you know of companies or individuals who provide services but don't advertise with us, perhaps you could mention the magazine to them and see if they might be interested in supporting us whilst benefitting themselves?

In the light of this, we regret that we are not able to offer any Grants to the community this year. We are sorry that this is the case and we very much hope we will be able to do this next year, as we know that such Grants have made a difference in our community when we have been able to provide them.

In the first editorial of 2019 we wrote about the extreme temperatures in Australia. Little did we realise that the pattern would be repeated so soon, and with such devastating fires too. Dreadful stories and scenes of destruction have become almost commonplace as we receive all the news from around the world, but the impact of the fires has been particularly awe-inspiring and for so many to lose lives, homes, livelihoods and their futures in such terrible circumstances is especially hard to comprehend. Put this into the current concerns about climate change and it is easy to see why so many people are urging world leaders to do more to tackle the issues. Locally we have seen the result of so much rain, with springs rising in many roads and causing deep potholes to appear. Please remember to drive carefully through any floods that appear, especially near houses, so that we don't create bow-waves that can damage property.

For all sorts of reasons, the 2020s looks likely to be an 'interesting' decade - remember the supposedly Chinese curse, 'May you live in interesting times'? In fact, it seems this was a phrase first used in the 20th Century and is not an ancient saying at all! It was popularised after it was used in a speech by Robert F Kennedy in June 1966, when he said: "There is a Chinese curse which says, 'May he live in interesting times.' Like it or not we live in interesting times. They are times of danger and uncertainty; but they are also more open to the creative energy of men than any other time in history." This remains true to this day. Let's encourage creativity and energy in all of us, locally, nationally and internationally, and turn all our problems into opportunities!

Have a great 2020.

The Valley News Team

Winterborne Houghton Parish Council The first meeting of the Parish Council in 2020 was held on Tuesday 7th January.

In addition to discussions on the local crime report, website and the red telephone box (still awaiting decision from BT), matters arising included: - Millennium Pond Bench - having received quotes from a number of sources, an order has been placed with Classic Memorial Benches in Lancashire for a bespoke, solid oak bench, with a scheduled delivery for some time in April. The bench will be similar in size and design to the original and will incorporate the Millennium Pond inscription and a carving of the Houghton Owls.

- Parish Council Budget - the clerk presented a draft 2020/21 budget to council. It was agreed that as the WHPC bank account remains healthy with sufficient reserves to pay for projects and maintenance programmes planned for 2020, there is no requirement to increase the precept for 2020/21 and it should remain the same as requested in 2019.

- The WHPC Chair, Chris Parsons, has tendered her resignation from the council as she is in the process of relocating out of the parish. Her departure leaves the number of serving councillors at the absolute minimum to continue operating. To avoid the possibility of parish matters being decided by District, the council is actively seeking to recruit at least 2 new candidates to become councillors as soon as possible. If you are a resident of Houghton and believe you could help, please contact the Parish Clerk, Sam Smith on email: winterbornehoughton@dorset-aptc.gov.uk or talk to any of the serving councillors.

Detailed minutes of the meeting can be viewed on the WHPC noticeboard or on the WHPC website. The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Tuesday 3rd March at 7.30pm.

Dunbury Academy News We have been selected as one of three local good causes to participate in the 'Tesco Bags of Help Scheme' during January, February and March 2020. Tesco fund this initiative through the plastic bag charge.

When shopping in Tesco please can you support us by placing your shopping token into the Dunbury slot and encourage family and friends to do the same! If we receive the most tokens we will receive £2,000 from Tesco with second place cause receiving £1,000 and third place cause £500.

We put in a bid to Tesco for a chance to take part in the scheme and thanks to Ms Sherwin we will be putting any money received towards upgrading the school WIFI connectivity and to purchase an additional set of iPads for the younger children in Kingston base to use.

Winterborne Whitechurch Parish Council The first meeting of 2020 was held in the Old School Room on Wednesday January 8th with no member of the public in attendance.

The SID (Speed Indicator Device) is due to be moved from Blandford Hill to Whatcombe Lane but due to the recent flooding along there and the pot holes it was decided to store it for a short time until Highways repair the pot holes.

The damaged dog bin has again been reported to Dorset Council as yet nothing has been done by DWP. The safety mirror to replace the broken one in the churchyard: the Parish Council had written to both the Dunbury Academy and the Village Hall asking that as the mirror was for users of both would they make a donation towards replacement as well as the PC who had already agreed to donate £100. As yet no reply has been received from either.

Due to the lack of response, the Parish Council has therefore decided to replace the mirror on a like for like basis and donate it to St Mary's PCC for them to install in the churchyard.

The decision to install threshold gates at entrances to the village has been put on hold to enable advice on the usefulness of them to be sought from other villages who have already installed them.

A planning application from Dunbury Academy 2/2019/1560/FUL to erect a single storey extension to existing entrance to create secure lobby for safeguarding: the Parish Council has no objections to the application The budget for 2020/21 was discussed and it was agreed that the expected liability which now included the possible responsibility from work covered by Highways being passed to local councils. The budget was agreed. The Precept was agreed therefore to be set at the same

Valley Players Open Meeting TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: The Valley Players amateur dramatics group are holding an open meeting to determine whether the group continues or is disbanded.

Unless a new committee can be formed at this meeting, the group will be officially disbanded, and all remaining funds donated to charity and the banking account closed.

Meeting to be held at The Pamela Hambro Hall, Winterborne Stickland at 7:30pm, Monday 2nd March

Winterborne Whitechurch 100 Club December 1st 25 Mrs C Ward 2nd 91 Mrs. Hopkins 3rd 60 Mrs Ilke Johnson 4th 16 A. Thomas 2

January 1st 45 Shirley Taylor 2nd 58 Steve Hamilton 3rd 61 Ruth Gardiner

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Milton Abbas & Milborne St Andrew Surgery

Help - Singers needed

People's Choice Award: Surgery of the Year On Friday 29th November, at The General Practice Awards held in London, Milton Abbas Surgery was declared the winner of The People's Choice: Surgery of the Year.

For over 10 years the GP Awards have celebrated the very best examples of success from across primary and community care, recognising projects, individuals and teams who have gone above and beyond to improve healthcare provision in their area. The Awards are open to the whole of the UK, with entries received from England, Scotland and Wales.

This year the prestigious People's Choice award received almost 20,000 votes from patients, colleagues and members of the public. The volume of personal testimonials received for the award painted a touching picture about the impact that healthcare professionals can have on the lives of patients and their families.

There were 86 surgeries nominated for The People's Choice Award, with Milton Abbas being the smallest of the three finalists, with almost 4000 patients.

Dr Martin Longley, Senior Partner at Milton Abbas who collected the award with four members of the team, said: "Being presented with the award for People's Choice GP Surgery of the Year is undoubtedly the highlight of my career in primary care. It is testament to the unique environment at our surgery where everyone strives to provide outstanding patient care. Our goal is to know and understand our patient's needs and provide continuity of care throughout their time with us."

Food swaps in lunchboxes Now that the excesses of the festive season are behind us, lots of us will be thinking about cutting back a bit and eating a little more healthily. But, when you're under pressure to do the packed lunches for you and your family, have you ever wondered how much sugar there is in some of the most popular lunchtime or after school snacks?

Too much sugar can lead to serious health problems like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and painful tooth decay, so now is the time to think about making healthier choices. When you're next out shopping why not try the Change4Life Food Scanner app to 'make a swap when you next shop'. Take a look at this YouTube clip to show you how it works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7KGN_EUlZ4 Staying Healthy in Winter Colds, flu and pneumonia are all more common in winter and it doesn't have to be especially cold for seasonal viruses to spread. So what can you do to help yourself get through the winter without falling ill?

Get your free flu jab: everyone aged 65 and over is entitled to a free flu jab. Even if you're fit and healthy, it's a good idea to have the jab to help protect yourself and others; Ask if you are eligible for a pneumonia vaccination and have this if you are; Wash your hands regularly to help stop germs spreading; Stock up with over-the-counter medicines such as paracetamol and ibuprofen; Wrap up well when you go out in the cold, layers work best, and remember hat, gloves, thick socks and scarf; Keep your home warm, around 21 degrees in your living room and 18 degrees in your bedroom; Keep moving: try not to sit still for more than an hour at a time. Get up and move around or move your arms and legs to help you keep warm; finally Make sure you eat well, with at least one hot meal a day and several warm drinks, making sure you have a nutritious and varied diet.

Finally, stay aware of those who live around you who are elderly, frail or living alone: a little bit of help can go a long way.

Do you enjoy singing? Well, here is a chance to exercise your voice and to further your enjoyment of singing.

St James' Milton Abbas Church Choir would love to welcome you either as an occasional or regular singer. The choir is currently directed

by Richard Marchant, former music teacher and choral conductor, one of the Milton Abbas and Winterborne Valley organists. We are looking for singers of any age and any range. You don't have be able to read music, as help and training is given free of charge. If you are an experienced singer and would like to exercise those vocal chords - come along and meet us. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings in Milton Abbas twice a month. Further information from Richard - 01258 881716.

Calling all villagers Is there history in your attic, garden or fields, sheds or barns?

Hello to all our readers. On 23-25 May 2020, Milton Abbas Local History Group will be holding a free entry exhibition in St James Church and the Reading Rooms, Milton Abbas, featuring village life before the 20th century. We are looking for any objects or documents that may be of interest and that you are willing to lend or share with us.

This is not just for Milton Abbas residents. Did you know that the Milton estate once included Hilton, Winterborne Stickland, and part of Winterborne Whitechurch, and that the lives of the folk of Winterborne Houghton and Milborne St Andrew were also closely related to those of Milton Abbas?

We are looking for anything that might be of historical interest, that we could show to visitors. These could feature any crafts or trades of the time, e.g. old woodworking, smithing, plumbing, shoemaking tools, Dorset buttons, gloves, lace, etc. Or village school related items. It might be something that has been dug up from your garden or found in your attic, ploughed up in a field, metal detected, or old letters and documents. You may have even researched a local family. Even fragments of old pottery can be interesting. We already have a spinning wheel, a floorboard with writing on the back, wig curlers, quill and inkpot, kindling, and brewery items.

If you have anything that you think might fit the bill and you are willing to lend, or allow us to photograph, please get in touch with Bryan Phillips, Local History Group Secretary, tel: 880385 or email bryan.phillips2010@gmail.com And please put the 23-25 May 2020 in your diary. We look forward to meeting you at the Milton Abbas Local History Group Exhibition.

Artsreach Stickland Artsreach kick off their 30th Anniversary year with a musical delight.

Join us in the Pamela Hambro Hall at 7:30pm on Friday 7th February when Artsreach will be presenting: WOR - Back to the 1780's Following a sell-out debut tour in Dorset last spring, this outstanding Belgian band are heading back to Dorset for an extended South West tour!

If it sounded good then, why not today?! Almost 300 years ago, some musicians from around Antwerp, Brussels, Gent and Leuven decided to write down their favourite music. As time passed, however, the paper turned yellow, the ink began to fade, and the music itself was left to gather dust along with the faded manuscripts. That is, until now!

With their finely textured arrangements, WOR injects new energy into 18th century tunes from the Flanders region of Belgium. Performing on an array of instruments including saxophone, violin, bagpipes, accordion and guitar, this energetic young band shines an inventive spotlight with a modern twist on tunes from these manuscripts. Simply unmissable!

Tickets are £10 adults, £7 U18's and £28 for a family (2 x adults, 2 x U18) and can be bought from The Gale Family (01258 880920), at The Crown in Winterborne Stickland or on-line at artsreach.co.uk There is also the chance to attend a musical masterclass with some of the band members on the following Saturday morning at 11am. £8 per ticket (limited places available). Participants must bring their own instrument, which should be well tuned, a notepad and pen, and be capable of playing fluently. Suitable for ages 16+ Contact us for more details

Pamela Hambro Hall 100 Club January 1st 148 Mr G Gale 2nd 188 Mrs Cahan 3rd 189 Mrs V Pritchard

February 1st 186 Mr & Mrs Godden 2nd 102 Mrs J Fisher 3rd 191 Mr K Morgan 4

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been in regular contact. The river management group continues to monitor the situation closely.

If you wish to find out more about the River Management Plan for Winterborne Stickland, including the Flood Wardens, this information can be found on the Parish Council website. https://www.winterbornestickland.org.uk/flood-river-management In terms of wildlife, Water Lane and the culvert near Pamela Hambro Hall have been havens for rainbow trout. These are not indigenous species, more likely escapees, but they are making the most of deeper, fast flowing water. This being the spawning season, some are a bit lively but none have been seen jumping through hoops. The mild and wet weather has encouraged the growth of ranunculus, at present about a month earlir than in previous years - ranunculus holds much beneficial nutrition for healthy rivers.

The Christmas Day walk was blissful; the weather perfect and bird life abundant: grey wagtails, wrens, robins, great tits, chiffchaffs (now overwintering in the valley for a third year), little egrets and heron. At the end of last year readers were reminded to look out for fieldfares and, hopefully, were not disappointed when at the end of November a flock of about 200+ fed on the fallen apples in Houghton and Stickland!

Thank you to those who have reported sightings of Redwing - these have been seen in the Turnworth area particularly, but it is very likely that several accompanied the flock of fieldfares on their arrival to the valley and on their apple raids.

Stickland River Management Group

Milton Abbas Local History Group This year we had a meeting on 8 January when June McAvoy told us the exploits of her father, Robert Owen Harper, born 1883, during WWI and WWII. He was an engineer, and had several patents to his name, including one for the first practical car self-starter. June remembered that during WWII she joined in with the war effort on the dining room table by counting the number of pieces made by the women workers, followed by doing her homework. June dressed up for the part of a working woman at the start of the war, which reminded some of our members of life at the time.

Our meeting continued with a presentation by Clive Barnes on the road moves which Joseph Damer, Lord Milton made in order to fulfil Capability Brown's design for the landscape. This included cutting off the roads which gave access to the old town of Milton Abbas, and privatising the roads and drives to his manor house. The records are in the Dorset History Centre and Clive has mapped these. The description of the roads in the records makes this quite a difficult task.

Our world wide effort to get our documents transcribed is going well. We are in touch with people in Australia and Canada, and as well as emailing the documents, we are hearing of the local weather conditions. In Ottawa the temperature got down to minus 21C, and with wind chill minus 29C. In Australia we all know about the fires and loss of life. Thank goodness our two transcribers there are safe.

It is exciting to receive the transcriptions because they reveal much about life in our rural villages in times gone by. For example the Overseers of the Poor usually paid 12s for a pauper's funeral, but on one occasion it cost ÂŁ6 2s for a funeral in Portsea - probably for the cost of taking the body there. It is hard to imagine what it must have been like for families to be moved from where they were living to their place of legal settlement, which was usually many miles away. And the stigma of bastardy is revealed by the examinations in front of a Justice of the Peace where the unfortunate woman had to reveal the name of the father. The reputed father was then issued with a warrant to pay up or go to prison.

Our next meeting will be on Wed 5th February, 7pm in the Reading Rooms. One of our members will be giving a presentation on the 'History of Clothing - What your Ancestors Wore' which will focus on what villagers (and not the well off) wore to work and play. All welcome. Look forward to seeing you there.

ADVERTS Monday 10th February ARTICLES Saturday 15th February Trekking the Himalayas for Wave 105 Cash for Kids I'm probably a familiar face but for those who don't know me my name is Sue Clutterbuck and I have lived in Winterborne Houghton next to the church for 20 years.

Thank you Thank you to everyone for their cards, best wishes, help and visits during my recent spell in hospital.

Valerie Ashford

Streamwatch Much attention has been focused upon flow rates and groundwater levels over the past two months. Rainfall since November 2019 has been excessive and of great concern as regards flooding, with few completely dry days experienced over the period, Christmas Day being one of them. Flood alerts exist on all river systems in Dorset and storm Brendan (14/1/20) added to an already soggy picture. Over the Christmas period, groundwater levels at Delcombe Wood Borehole reached 138m, at the time of writing the reading was 135m but after storm Brendan likely to rise again. The River Winterborne is flowing to capacity throughout its course with ground water springs adding to flooding risks along its length, particularly at Whatcombe and Winterborne Whitechurch. Concern in Winterborne Stickland has caused sleepless nights for residents where the sheer volume and force of water has washed weed downstream to cause blockage on grids and overflow onto roads.

Emergency measures have been taken from Clenston to Whitechurch with additional gullies cut to alleviate flooding on roads and potential damage to property. Roads awash with surface water conceal potholes, another hazard that can cause unexpected damage to vehicles. Due to inconsiderate driving, pedestrians have been soaked and houses, especially those with cobb walls, drenched by splashing, with verges eroded further. Some banks are at the point of collapse as a result of waterlogged conditions and careless driving.

Consultation and advice has been received from the Environment Agency officers with whom Winterborne Stickland Parish Council has

In October my daughter Hattie and I are undertaking a challenge of trekking in the Himalayas to raise money to support Wave 105 Cash for Kids. In this region there are around 93,000 children classed as living in poverty, i.e these children are classed as having no heating, hot meals or school uniform. Having worked in childcare all my life this cause is very passionate to my heart and my daughter and I want to make a positive difference to these children's lives.

Everything raised focuses on alleviating poverty, supporting disability and improving quality of life.

Any amount you care to give is very much appreciated however large or small and will make an impact on these children's lives. Our target amount is ÂŁ5800 but hope to raise over and above this.

Please find the link below for donations and please look out for upcoming charity raising events in the village. I will be organising a curry evening at home, a quiz evening and a charity auction.

On behalf of Hattie and myself, thank you in advance. www.cashforkidsgive.co.uk/campaign/wave-105-generalfundraising/fundraisers/sueclutterbuck&hattieclutterbuck/ 6

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of the pond. Toads produce long strings rather than mounds. We also have a lot of newts in the garden, who also lay their eggs in the water on submerged leaves, so one doesn't see them. Spawning season means that the temperature is warm and the days are longer so Spring is around the corner.

The wet weather has so far prevented me from doing my winter apple tree pruning, I find all pruning very satisfying. Getting trees and shrubs back into a better shape and reducing their size to a more manageable one is very pleasing. I have some shrubs that have become rather bossy and need a really good haircut to get them back in shape.

It is surprising if you miss a couple of years just how much growth a shrub or tree can put on. It is a good idea to take cuttings from some of your prunings so that you have some free plants either for your garden or to give to a plant sale for someone else to enjoy. Plant sales are a great place to find plants especially if they are not from your village where everyone has already exchanged plants, it's also a good excuse for a trip out. Last year I went to the Mapperton House plant sale, it was wonderful.

February is the month to start planting seeds, if you do. The slow growing aubergines and beefsteak tomatoes need the extra time if they are to perform well. I sometimes start my first lot of broad beans off this month, I don't plant the winter ones. I keep all the loo roll cores and six fit perfectly into those plastic fruit containers and they have holes in the bottom. When the roots come out the bottom, they are ready to plant and the cardboard disappears into the soil. The fruit containers last about three years before the sun makes them break. I start each spring with a large bag of cardboard tubes but always run out. They are perfect for beans, sweet peas, sweetcorn, sunflowers, peas, in fact any large seed. It also means that they have a good depth of root before being planted out and there is little root disturbance.

If you haven't cut the flower stalks from your lavender, a sunny day this month is a perfect time to do it. If you grow grasses they will also need cutting down before they start to shoot which makes it much more difficult. Thyme is a very useful herb and trimming the flowers off to ensure nice soft shoots is important, they can easily become woody in which case take lots of cuttings and replace with new ones. Herbs are on the whole uncomplaining and easy to grow, in pots, on the window sill or in the garden, they are so useful it is worth trying.

Claire Scott

Down the Garden Path Happy New Year, if a bit late. Having been horrified at the devastation in Australia we jokingly suggested at breakfast, when it was raining, yet again, that we needed to lay a pipe to Australia to give them some of our spare water. The soil has reached saturation point and everywhere is soggy with so much lying water. Many plants cope with their feet in water and bulbs such as fritillaria prefer wet feet, but there are many plants who actively hate it. Foxtail lilies for example, will just rot. It will be interesting to see when the spring arrives and the water level goes down how many plants have succumbed to drowning.

Along with the rain we have had very mild temperatures, I have already had coffee outside on the terrace this year, sitting in glorious sunshine, the temperature in double figures. Looking round the garden the bulbs are responding to the temperatures, with snowdrops out along with primroses and primulas and daffodil buds a good 8" up, all we know is that nothing is as it was and we have no idea what to expect from the garden this coming year. That can make life both more interesting and also problematic, will we get another beast from the East in March, should I bring in the rest of the geraniums that are happily flowering outside, what do I do with the campanula in full flower if the weather turns very cold? I am sure nature will cope whatever I do, and I am sure we can muddle our way through as we always have - it's just more unpredictable.

From January the potato fairs begin appearing, where there is a wonderful range of potatoes, something for everyone. I only grow first and second earlies and only ones that are not readily available to buy.

On the whole the main crop potatoes are cheap and I can't afford to give them the space. I always grow pink fir apple; they are early and delicious in salads. Potatoes are easy to grow and are happy in containers as well as the ground, and it is always fun early in the year to put your hand in under the greenery and pull up a few spuds for lunch leaving the plant to grow on. They also have a huge range of seeds, flowers, vegetables and even fruit trees at Pimperne, many which are not in the catalogues, so well worth a visit.

Planning for the next year is one of the enjoyable jobs that need doing at this time of the year, a perfect one for rainy days. I am contemplating making a sweet pea tunnel over a path using hazel, willow and bamboo from the garden. Last year I had a wigwam in the border with sweet peas and morning glory. The sweet peas are still alive and look very healthy, in some ways more so than last summer. Putting structures in a border for climbers to grow up adds another dimension to the border, changing the perspective for the summer and it is always fun to experiment especially with fast growing annual climbers, if it works try it again and if it doesn't then at least one has tried.

I grow quite a lot of beans, French, runner, borlotti and yellow ones.

They have very pretty flowers, not just red, and are prolific producers.

With the risk of repeating myself, I don't like big runner beans, I like them small, thin, supple and sweet, they take a few minutes to cook retaining a slight crunch without strings and freeze beautifully. Borlotti are often grown for the pod to dry for the winter, I prefer them fresh before they get too big, again they freeze beautifully. I grow one lot of broad beans to eat fresh and a second lot for the freezer, companion planted with French marigolds or nasturtiums to prevent the problem with black fly. Aphids hate the smell of these plants so avoid going near them and black fly adore them and avoid your beans, so everyone is happy.

Ash die back has arrived in the area and a lot of trees along the road passing by Delcombe wood are infected. The signs in the winter are discolouration of the branches which go from olive green to an orangey brown and if the tree is shaken the ends of the branches fall off. Sadly, it won't be long until all the ash in the area are infected - I have a couple of large ash and it will be a shame to lose them but there is no way of preventing it. More information can be found on the Forest Research website, forestresearch.gov.uk/chalara.

This is also the time of year when frogs and toads spawn. I remember last year, walking up the drive in the evening, in front of the car, and picking up the frogs and toads on their way to water. They are the complete garden asset, occasionally I move a pot and a pile of empty snail shells fall down. In my garden the toads spawn slightly later than the frogs who produce a mass of jelly like mounds around the margins

What's Cooking I was given a lovely cook book at Christmas, called 'Hope and Spice', and is a collection of recipes from residents of the slums in Delhi. Each recipe includes a story about the person who provided the recipe. It makes very enjoyable reading. It was something many villages in this country used to do to fundraise for the Church. Family recipes are guaranteed to be tried and tested and to work and it is always fun to get recipes from friends and family.

It is always interesting to hunt for recipes on the internet, also frustrating. I was looking for wild boar recipes and only found one.

Sometimes it is very rewarding and there are lots of suggestions. The pictures in the Hope & Spice book took me back to trips to India and when one could buy capons. Capons are no longer available, they were an older bird so benefited from long slow cooking and had a real depth of flavour. Chicken is the most eaten meat in this country but they are reared to be slaughtered young, long before they have time to develop a depth of flavour.

It makes the meat very tender and quick to cook which is what seems to be required these days.

It is for the same reason that I prefer hogget to lamb, being a year old it has had time to mature and develop a depth of flavour that will stand up against herbs and spices. Many vegetables are the same, parsnips benefit from the first frost to develop their sugars and intensify their flavour which means that roasting them with cumin, honey, salt and pepper produces a wonderful flavoursome dish but one can still taste parsnip.

Cabbage can be the most boring vegetable, over boiled and soggy they become a pile of flabby green tastelessness whereas they have heaps of flavour if treated gently. Salads are a perfect showcase for many cabbages, young kale, cauliflower and young broccoli work well in a salad. Caraway seed is delicious with any of the brassicas and many vegetables are enhanced by orange juice, apples, cinnamon, thyme, 12 8

Polly 'Bs' Local lady doing: Holistic Treatments, Massage, Reflexology, Indian Head Massage and Ear Candling.

Also Beauty Treatments Facials, Waxing, Eyebrow/Lash tinting.

Manicure and Pedicure Nail cutting and Hard Skin Removal.

Appointments available during the day and evenings.

Some treatments can be done in your home.

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Contact Anne Donnelly Phone: 01258 881261 Email: ads@valley-news.co.uk AD DEADLINE: 10th of the month prior to publication ALL ADVERTISING TO BE PRE-PAID

Ring Pauline on 01258 880084 / 07760 303332 Gift Vouchers available.

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COFFEE MORNING & CHARITY SHOP Mondays, 10.30am-12.00, St. Mary’s Church, Stickland WHITECHURCH YOUTH CLUB (7-14 year olds welcome) Mondays, 6.30pm, Whitechurch Village Hall COFFEE STOP Tuesdays, 10.30am-12.0, St James, Milton Abbas CUP & CAKE Wednesdays 10.30-12.0, Old School Room, Whitechurch ROUND ROBIN RAMBLERS Sun 2nd Feb, 1.30pm, Bonsley Common, Turnworth Meet at Okeford Hill car park (approx. 4½ miles) Wed 19th Feb, 11am, Maiden Newton & Cattistock Meet at St Mary's Church, Maiden Newton (approx. 6½ miles) Bring a packed lunch.

Sun 1st Mar, 2pm, Fifehead Neville Meet near the church (approx. 4½ miles) BINGO Fri 14th Feb, 7.30pm, Whitechurch Village Hall In aid of the Air Ambulance Windborne performing Song on the Times Fri 14th Feb, 7.30pm, Milborne St Andrew Village Hall Bar open 7pm.

They are also offering a workshop at 5pm.

Mazymeg and the Honeybees, Angel Heart Theatre Wed 19th Feb, 4pm, Milborne St Andrew Village Hall Standard Ticket £7, Under 18s £5. Family ticket £20 Telephone booking: Angela Johnson 01258 839060 Milborne Movies: 'Yesterday' Fri 21st Feb, 7.30pm, Milborne St. Andrew Village Hall Bar open from 7pm.

Tickets £3.50 on the door Dorset Wildlife Trust Talk: Marine Conservation, MCZs and Plastics Wed 19th Feb, 7.30pm, Fontmell Magna Village Hall An illustrated talk by Imogen Davenport, DWT Director of Conservation. Admission £2.50, children free

news@valley-news.co.uk

LAST CROSSWORD ANSWERS CRYPTIC Across Down CONCISE Across Down

1. Dear 3. Isometrics 10. Figment 11. Centaur 12. Ember 13. Rarefied 16. Champs 17. Antonyms 19. Achilles 21. Primer 24. Omission 25. Organ 27. Thought 29. Sarcasm 30. Rekindling 31. Star 1. Duffel coat 2. Algebra 4. Saturn 5. Macarena 6. Ton 7. Inanely 8. Serb 9. Necropolis 14. Floorboard 15. Astronomer 18. Remittal 20.

Hammock 22. Migrant 23. Unison 26. Stir 28. Gin 1. Lure 3. Baby Sitter 10. Goddess 11. Rookery 12. Ovoid 13. Isolated 16. Oil Rig 17. Atomiser 19. Deckhand 21. Probed 24. Tipsiest 25. Throw 27. Ink Blot 29. Looks on 30. Concerning 31. Cats 1. La Gioconda 2. Redpoll 4. Abseil 5. Yarmouth 6. I do 7. Theseus 8. Rays 9. Headlights 14. Admiration 15. Trade Winds 18. Unbeaten 20. Chicken 22. Barista 23. Stolen 26. Zinc 28. Lee

Valley News Information VN Team: Advertising: Distribution: Printing: Payments: Small Ads: Charity Events: Articles:

Graham Case, Claire & John Scott and …..

Anne Donnelly ads@valley-news.co.uk 01258 881261 Treasurer: Janet Snook news@valley-news.co.uk Sue Eggar and Angela D'Silva news@valley-news.co.uk Layout: Mark Steele news@valley-news.co.uk Purely Print www.purelyprint.co.uk 01258 459977 All advertising to be pre-paid. Cheques payable to ‘Valley News'. Internet Bank Transfers now accepted.

Private sellers only. Small ads will be included for a donation and confirmed for publication when the donation is received.

Events in the Valley News area will be listed free on the Events page. Normal advertising rates will apply for boxed ads.

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Deadlines: For Advertising : 10th of the prior month. For all other submissions (articles, pictures etc.): 15th of the prior month.

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10

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11

8

cumin, and many other herbs and spices. Roasting vegetables is an efficient and delicious method, boiling often removes a lot of the flavour.

Roasted beetroot retain their crunch and it enhances their sweetness which counters the earthiness which many people dislike. Beetroot go well with smoked mackerel or Arbroath smokies if you can find them, the oiliness from the fish works really well with the flavour of beetroot.

I do like the candy stripe and yellow beets; their flavour is more subtle than the red and they are very pretty in salads or a beetroot tart.

It seems to be difficult these days not to have veganism at the forefront of discussions about food and what people should eat. I love my veg but I am getting tired of being lectured about what I should eat.

I think a petition about supermarket plastic would be a good idea.

Whenever we shop in a supermarket, we could unwrap all the plastic from the goods and leave it for the supermarket to deal with, that would reduce the amount that we would have to deal with and might make the supermarkets rethink their packaging. Putting fruit and vegetables in paper bags never poisoned any one and there used to be wonderful things called delicatessens, where there were bowls of pate, pots of cream cheese and curd cheese. They were sliced or scooped onto paper which was sealed with a heat sealer. No one got food poisoning because it wasn't wrapped in single use plastic. I think that's enough of a rant for today, don't you!

Most people think of Seville oranges and marmalade but they can be used to make sorbets, sauces and tarts. A Seville orange tart is delicious, and Ottolenghi has a wonderful recipe for Sevilles and duck breast. I try and buy more than I need and keep some in the freezer to use through the year because their season is so short and it is possible to miss it altogether. I make a marmalade using muscovado sugar, the contrast of the richness of the sugar with the sharpness of the orange works really well, same proportions as white sugar and same method.

I know I have given the recipe for pickled clementines previously. I found a jar from last year in the back of my cupboard, so they were a year old, we had them with cold meat and salad and hot duck over Christmas.

Everyone commented on how delicious they were and unusual. I must make some more this year while the fruit are still available. Oranges combine well with many fish, meats and vegetables but it is easy to overlook them when thinking savoury, we tend to think of lemons and limes in preference but it is worth experimenting with oranges. The zest can be added to casseroles and goes particularly well with game, the juice and zest work with red cabbage to which I add plums, the acidity helps to preserve the colour and also enhances the flavour of the cabbage. A friend slices oranges and lemons, cuts the slice in half and then freezes them in single layers before packing them in a bag in the freezer. When she makes a gin and tonic she just gets a frozen slice out and pops it in her gin, cheers.

Claire Scott

remote interior is brought into sharp focus by the death of Duszejko's unpleasant neighbour, whom she calls Big Feet, on account of the size of his pedal extremities. Three more deaths follow. These are identified as murders, and it seems that two of the male victims were implicated in corruption.

The old lady tells her friends and the police that the killings have been carried out by animals in revenge for the murder of non-humans by hunters. Her friend Dizzy warns her to keep this piece of weirdery to herself. Together, they continue to work at translating the difficult poetry of William Blake - but they are diverted by their efforts to piece together how and why these local men were killed.

Mark Hudson

Poetry Corner The Farmer Who would be a farmer now?

Custodian of sheep and cow.

Icy wind carries forth a curse, across frozen yard of mud and worse.

Bovine breath a smoky stream, caught in a yellow lantern beam.

Frost-numbed fingers work the latch.

More hay, more straw.

Then home to snatch, a few hours' sleep before the dawn.

Who would be a farmer now?

When frozen soil won't hold a plough.

Icy wind chills to the bone, as the farmer starts his rounds alone.

Bovine breath a warming steam.

Caught in a yellow lantern beam.

Breath-warmed fingers lift the gate.

More hay, more straw.

Then smile and wait, and watch the new life born.

Jackie Grearson

Local Village History Part 5 Death The age at death has varied over the centuries due to epidemics, harsh winters, droughts, famines and social conditions such as overcrowding, poverty, malnutrition and sanitation. In local rural villages it is quite surprising how long lived some people were. Infant mortality was high, but once past that hurdle people could live to a good age. A view of the ages at death in the burials of 1813 and 1814, when this was first recorded, shows consecutive burials of ten women and three men being: 80, 85, 62, 79, 82, 66, 88, 87, 49, 97, 75, 81, 70 - with four of these being 'of the Poor House'. This was despite overcrowding in workers' cottages, and most of them being agricultural labourers, thus poor, malnourished and having a lifetime of hard work. Some were so poor that their families could not afford the cost of a funeral, which was at least 8 shillings, including the coffin, the shroud and the vicar's fees, that the Overseers of the Poor paid, as we can observe from the records of their Accounts. With 8s being the cost of a funeral in the 18th century, this was about one week's labourer's wages, actually less than a funeral costs today.

There are no surviving records for local villages for burials during the Black Death of 1349. However there are records beginning 1651 which show the impact of the plague of 1665. There was no increase around here during this year, although there was a fatal epidemic in 1657, which has been identified as influenza, resulting in three times the average annual number of deaths. Generally we do not know the cause of death. Medical knowledge was so rudimentary that diseases and lack of vitamins were not diagnosed until at least the end of the 19th century. Doctor's achievements - or lack of them - will be the subject of a later article.

We have been looking at the wills of a local village in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Many people did not leave wills, nor did most of the poor, not because they had nothing to leave, but their property automatically passed to their next of kin, which saved the cost of writing a will. In the early wills their property was listed with its value, that is an inventory. This shows how few their personal possessions were. It is hard for us, in our throw-away society, to think what little our 14

Book Review Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, by Olga Tokarczuk This is a highly enjoyable and quirky tale about a cranky old woman clinging to life on the edge of Poland's eastern forests.

Tokarczuk was awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize for Literature, and, on this showing (the only one of her novels that I've read), she is a worthy recipient. Each sentence is alive with creative fizz. The story is propelled forward by the vivid and original voice of the narrator - aided by a subtle humour.

Mrs Duszjeko lives alone - with her fierce vegetarianism, her astrology and the ghosts of her mother and grandmother. She is tormented by the disappearance of her adored dogs, the Little Girls.

She knows that most people think that she is a crazy old biddy, especially the local police, whom she pesters about her missing dogs.

Told from the first-person point-of-view, I was charmed by the fluid energy of the cantankerous narrator. She observes everything around her with obsessive and unexpected acuteness. For instance, 'the world is a great big net ... where no single thing exists separately; every scrap ... is bound up with the rest by a complex Cosmos of correspondences, hard for the ordinary mind to penetrate. That's how it works. Like a Japanese car.'

Her innate kindness attracts various lonely characters who are, like herself, struggling on the margins of a chaotic world which is passing them by. Nothing makes sense to Duszjeko, except from the highly ordered perspective of astrology. This somewhat haphazard life in the 12

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The Winterborne Stickland Solar Fund Committee would like to remind residents of Winterborne Stickland that funding is available for community projects.

Applications for funding should be emailed to sticklandsolarfund@yahoo.com Decisions are made every 2 months.

The basic criteria are that ideas should have benefit to the community. A committee of volunteers select successful projects.

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ancestors had. Perhaps a skillet, a kettle, one chair, one table, a coffer, a trendle, a bedstead, bed linen and 'wearing apparel'. A pewter dish or jug was rare, even amongst the better off. Of course, all the people rented their cottages, so they had no fixed property to leave, although, depending on the terms of the lease, the lease itself could be willed to one of the surviving people named on the lease.

Life here in past centuries was no rural idyll, it was hard work, only one day off per week, that is Sunday, when everyone was expected to go to church twice. Possessions were few, it was a subsistence economy with no luxuries, and weather and crop yields had a dramatic impact on living conditions.

Bryan Phillips

everyday by following set rules and best practice. As an analogy, we drive vehicles and take a lot of risk going from A to B but we follow the rules of the road to stay safe. We can't take the risks away, but we know where they are and take steps to avoid injury. The same applies to information security. Paying by debit card on a reputable website, carries a risk, but it is very small so we take it. The risks increase significantly though when connecting to an insecure Wi-Fi where the credentials are unclear.”

Take steps to protect yourself against cyber and information crime Consider using Paypal, it is very secure https://www.paypal.com/uk/home Never put any financial information including banking or credit card details in an email, it is not secure.

Be quick to install the latest versions (patches) in software. Criminals look for the weaknesses in the old versions to exploit.

Always use websites with https:\\ the ‘s’ actually stands for security and will generate a padlock, make sure it is not crossed out. If the website does not have the ‘s’, do not shop there.

Protect your documents. Always shred all discarded documents that contain personal information (including name and addresses) and recycle using a trustworthy document destruction company. An advantage that identity and cyber criminals have on their side is the time to sift through and pull together information from everywhere.

To get help from a Digital Champion simply call 01305 221048 and we will match you with a friendly volunteer in your own area who will help you feel right at home in the digital world.

To buy the book called Information Security Management Principles 3rd Edition go online to the BCS bookshop (https://shop.bcs.org) or visit any good bookseller including Winstone Books in Sherborne.

New book to help protect you from cyber crime An essential guide to help people take steps to protect themselves from cyber and identity crime is released this month from the British Computer Society.

The guide has been co-written and edited by Andy Taylor, a volunteer Digital Champion with Dorset Council who also works full time as an independent information security adviser following a career in the Royal Navy.

Andy is based at Sherborne Library on a voluntary basis, providing free support and advice to anyone needing help with basic digital skills.

He is one of 75 Digital Champions volunteering in Dorset libraries to help people with computers, tablets, phones and more. Most have gained experience from their professional careers.

As Andy explains in his new book, information security fraud has evolved more rapidly than any other crime with the onset of computers and the digital world. Says Andy, “We mitigate against crime and injury

Thank you!

A big thank you to everyone in the village for all their support. Frank collected loads of stuff for the food bank in Blandford Methodist Church.

Frank was concerned about people who have no money for Christmas, and he wanted to get them some food so we told him about the Food Bank and he had the idea to go around the village to ask people for donations. He is only 7 years old and we are absolutely proud of him.

A big thank you to Simon Jardine MD of Ashley Blinds for letting us use the van to get it all there.

Jess, Gary and Frank Critchell

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The Winterborne Valley & Milton Abbas Benefice WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BELIEVE TO BE A CHRISTIAN? If you come to church in the C of E at most services you will be invited to say the creed - in some form or another. Like the Archbishop of Canterbury, I really can say it without crossing my fingers at any particular part of it.

You will therefore not be surprised if I say that to be a Christian you need to believe that there is a God. (But that God may turn out to be very different from the God of popular opinion!) The God in whom I trust in has made himself clear through the death and life of Jesus.

Jesus did not go around telling people they must believe certain doctrines or behave in a certain way; he was more inclined to talk about FAITH. What is the difference? BELIEF can turn out to be just a tick box exercise, and if you can tick all, or most, of the doctrines in the creed 2nd February 5 before Lent Green Clenston Houghton Milton Abbas Stickland Turnworth Whitechurch

1000 HC JS 1800 HC Celtic TS 1000 MW JHB 0830 (BCP) sHC JS

you are OK. But, if like many Christians you have doubts, or have difficulty understanding bits of the creed, then you may worry that you are in trouble. The church is quite good at rejecting people who cannot tow their party line.

It is not a question of beliefs, but of faith. Faith in the New Testament means to trust. So being a Christian is more about putting your life into the hands of Jesus, who goes out of his way to welcome all sorts of people. So the question should not be what beliefs do you hold, but who do you belong to? Our faith starts not with a creed but with a person.

If you take Jesus seriously you will start on a new way of life.

It will help you on this way if you can meet with others who are also trying to follow Jesus. That is what church is supposed to be about helping each other along this new way of living.

Jimmy Hamilton-Brown

9th February 4 before Lent (Proper 1) Green

16th February 3 before Lent (Proper 2) Green

23rd February 2 before Lent Green

1800 EP SL 1000 HC TS

1000 HC TS 1000 MW SL 1800 HC JS 0830 (BCP) sHC TS

1800 Celtic EP SL 0830 HC BCP TS 1000 MW JT/JHB 1000 HC TS

1000 MW DA/PC

Please check the benefice website - bwvmabenefice.uk - for more information and service updates SERVICES KEY: BCP 1662 Book of Common Prayer Traditional EP Evening Prayer HC Holy Communion (Eucharist) x Communion by extension SHC Service without hymns or music MW Morning Worship, informal service for all, with old & new hymns & songs, without HC Rev'd Sue Litchfield - SL Rev'd Jimmy Hamilton-Brown - JHB Rev'd Canon Tina Stirling - TS Rev'd Helier Exon - HE Piers Chichester - PC Ian Bromilow - IB Wilma Bromilow - WB Rev'd Canon Janet Smith - JS Jenny Tory - JT Debbie Albery - DA,

WINTERBORNE HOUGHTON PARISH COUNCIL

Advertising Rates 12 issues

Parish Grass Cutting

Full Page

1st April 2020 — 31st March 2023 Tenders are invited for the grass cutting contract in this Parish. Areas to be maintained are as follows: The grass around the Millennium Pond, the Jubilee Orchard, Telephone Box and Bench, either side of the entrance drive to St Andrew’s Church and the verge below the Millennium Pond towards the Fish Farm.

£600

1 issue Size (300dpi) £56

W: 19cm H: 27cm

Half Page

£320

£30

W: 19cm H: 13cm

Quarter Page

£175

£17

W: 9¼cm H: 13cm

Eighth Page

£115

£11

W: 9¼cm H: 6.25cm

Contact Anne Donnelly Phone: 01258 881261 Email: ads@valley-news.co.uk AD DEADLINE: 10th of the month prior to publication ALL ADVERTISING TO BE PRE-PAID

COPIES AVAILABLE FROM

Information packs indicating Parish Council specific requirements are available from the Clerk to the Council, Sam Smith.

Contact by email at: winterbornehoughton@dorset—aptc.gov.uk or by telephone on 01258 880310.

• • • • • • • •

Deadline for completed tender documents is 5.30pm on the 29th February 2020.

Completed tender documents received after the deadline will not be considered.

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Winterborne Whitechurch Church East Farm Shop, Winterborne Whitechurch Milton Abbas Post Office Pamela Hambro Hall, Winterborne Stickland Winterborne Stickland Church The Crown, Winterborne Stickland Blandford Tourist Information Centre Hall & Woodhouse Visitors Centre, Blandford St Mary

Christmas community family fun day We would like to thank everyone who came along to support the event at Winterborne Whitechurch. There was lots of fun with crafts, yummy treats, a raffle and even a visit from father Christmas!

news@valley-news.co.uk

Plough Sunday was celebrated by Rev Jimmy at Turnworth on Sunday 12th when he blessed the plough and the seed corn. The vintage Ransome Prairie Buster plough serves as a visual reminder of his wise words.

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WINTERBORNE WHITECHURCH VILLAGE HALL is available to hire

Domestic and Industrial J.I.B. Registered

Parties, wedding receptions, meetings and any function that needs a bit of space.

Kids birthday parties welcome.

Kitchen facilities, toilets and bar area.

Disabled friendly.

Booking charges are £7 per hour.

Also available to hire are marques and gazebos.

Bookings: Tracey S Cox 01258 881416

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Carer Available

Rob’s Clearance

Experienced, and qualified carer available, for all personal care duties, respite care, cooking, shopping, domestic cleaning, days out, up to date training, DBS checked, and insured.

HOUSE, Shed and site clearance Rubbish removed Recycling carried out Good/interesting items purchased for cash Friendly and reliable

Please call sue: 01258 880149 Mobile: 07879 338334 Email: susancarolinerampling@gmail.com

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Chimneys Professionally Swept

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Free collection and delivery

Call 01258 880149 Mobile 07879 338334 Winterborne Whitechurch Old School Room is available to hire.

This beautiful large room, ideal for parties, meetings and family or community gathering.

Come and visit to appreciate the charm of this lovely venue.

Full kitchen and cloakroom facilities.

Disabled friendly.

Booking charges £7 per hour.

Bookings : Ellen 880226 ellenandkeith@outlook.com

Catering Quality home cooked food for all your requirements also Cutlery & crockery hire Tessa 07759 219190 tessa.food@outlook.com

ALL FRAMING OPTIONS UNDERTAKEN PHIL HARLOCK 4 West St, Stickland Blandford, Dorset DT11 0NT Telephone: 01258 881290 philharlock@hotmail.com

CLEANER FOR DOMESTIC & Helping Hands in Rural Dorset OFFICE PREMISES Tailored Practical Support for YOU ~ REGULAR OR ONE OFF CLEANS Companionship ~ Transport & Visits Out ~ Shopping ~ Sitting Service for Carers UNDERTAKEN ~ Decluttering ~ Domestic Admin + PCs EFFICIENT, RELIABLE SERVICE ~ Cooking, Gardening/Craft Activities at Home ALL EQUIPMENT & CLEANING Police Checked (DBS) Fully Insured & Experienced MATERIALS PROVIDED. Heather on 01258 880608 or CALL KAREN ON 07874 266213 Contact email: helpinghands.ruraldorset@gmail.com

news@valley-news.co.uk

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Valley Organisations & Contacts Abbey Swimming Club Milton Abbey Swimming Pool. Tue 1830-2030, Fri 1930-2030, Sat 1000-1200, Sun 8am-9am, Lynn 881443, Pat 880601, Stephen 881524, abbeyswimmingclub@gmail.com Aquacise and lane swimming for fitness Exercise in the water - safe and fun for all ages. Ladies and gentlemen welcome Fridays 6.30pm Maria 880895 secretary@masportsclub.org.uk Bere Regis Floral Group 2nd Tue each month, 2pm, Kingston Village Hall, Diane Edmunds 01929 472 331 British Horse Society (Dorset) County Bridleway Officer • 01258 880318 carolshoopman@btinternet.com Bus2Go Margo www.bus2godorset.org 01258 837749 / 07917 298321 Dunbury Church of England Academy www.dunbury.dsat.org.uk • 880501 Extend Exercise (to music for 60s+) Fri 10am-11am, PHH, Jilly Spencer 07971 755715 Golf Club Milton Abbey School, Laura Haim 881872 Jan’s Fun Art & Craft Classes 07836 639514 janodesigns@yahoo.co.uk Ladies Keep Fit Wed 7.30pm WVH. Mary Fripp 880416 Milborne St. Andrew Village Hall Events Alice Harrall 01258 837371 msavillagehall@gmail.com Milton Abbas Art Group Mon 7pm-9pm, RRMA, Elizabeth Walker elizziewalker@yahoo.co.uk Milton Abbas Local History Group 1st Wed each month, 7pm RRMA Bryan or Pamela Phillips 880385 Miltonabbashistorygroup.com

OSR PHH RRMA WVH

VENUE KEY Old School Room, Whitechurch Pamela Hambro Hall, Stickland Reading Rooms, Milton Abbas Whitechurch Village Hall

Milton Abbas Neighbourcar For your medical transport needs, 01258 470333 Milton Abbas Riding For The Disabled Friday 10am-12noon Term time, Luccombe Riding Centre, Sue Hodder 880229 Milton Abbas Sports Club Andy Smith 880310 Pamela Hambro Hall 880969 • pamelahambrohall.wix.com/home Patient Voice (the Patient Reference Group for Milton Abbas & Milborne St Andrew Surgery), Sec. Nigel Hodder 880229 Pilates 1 hr classes: Mon 10am; Tue 6.45pm; Wed 10am; Thu 12.00; PHH, Jilly Spencer 07971 755715 Round Robin Ramblers Normally 1st Sun & 3rd Wed each month Ian Bromilow 880044 River Stickland Management Group Richard Marchant 881716 (Secretary) r.marchant@btinternet.com Short Mat Bowls Mon 1.00pm PHH Francis Dennett 880129 Sticklebacks Parent & Toddler Group Tue (Term Time) 10am-12pm, PHH Cheryl 07795 687151 cheryl_s84@hotmail.com Tai Chi & Chi Kung Thursdays 7.00 till 8.00pm Blackmorevale.taichi@gmail.com

To add or update a listing on this page please email news@valley-news.co.uk 19

Swimming Lessons Juniors and adults. Beginners and improvers.

Maria 880895 or Richard 837402 Table Tennis for Adults Tue 2pm-4pm & Fri 7pm-9pm, PHH Graham Case 880740 Tennis Club Winterborne Sports Club, Stickland Jerry Kelsey 07765 777451 Valley Ringers John Close (Tower Capt, WW) 880457 Ann Fox (Tower Capt, WS) 881156 Valley Computer Club Richard D’Silva 880118 Valley Gardening Club sites.google.com/site/vgcdorset Valley Players 881415, www.valleyplayers.co.uk Whist Drive 3rd Wed of month, 7pm, RRMA. Entry £1 Winterborne Arts and Crafts First Wednesday every month, PHH W. Stickland Sports & Community Club Vaughan Manners 880969 • wssc.club Whitechurch Beavers, Cubs and Scouts Tue, Beavers, Dunbury School Gym Girls & Boys 6-8 years Fri, Cubs 6.30-8.15pm, Dunbury School Gym Girls & Boys 7½-11 years Fri, Scouts, 6.30-8.30pm, WVH Girls & Boys 10½-14 years. Leader: Skip, winterbornewhitechurchscouts@gmail.com Secretary: Anna 880363 anna@annaway.plus.com Winterborne Whitechurch Village Hall See Text Ads Yoga Thu 9.30-10.30am, PHH, Louise Hull 860381 Zumba WVH, Various classes, AM & PM, Tue & Thu Tracy 07971 636437 Parish Council Websites winterbornestickland.org.uk winterbornehoughton.org.uk miltonabbaspc.org.uk. winterbornewhitechurchparishcouncil.org.uk

Compiled by Nick Donnelly There are two sets of clues, Cryptic and Concise, but remember, you cannot mix the clues as the cryptic answers are different to the Concise ones.

Answers will be given in the next edition.

CRYPTIC Across 7. Wrap dope in centre of curtilage (7) 9. Chopper (US variety) sorted tool and left amphibian (7) 10. Chorley and Eccles, for example, drag queens last two (5) 11. Every plug in stout crooner (9) 12. Hector's House location loses right to trifle (3) 13. They are people or I am at sixes and sevens (5) 15. Crush fake charged particle (9) 17. Home to primates, Bow, for example, blooms. (10,5) 21. Stale jokes about parts of the body?

(9) 24. Appearance losing line, replaced by nitrogen openings (5) 25. Hoax ending without article (3) 26. Iberian community of Francisco Goya and a Lucian Freud devotee (9) 28. A charming grave (5) 30. Trickery in car made cocktail (7) 31. Gorged? The opposite, with added energy! (7) Down 1. Champ neither on the radio (4) 2. Winter, for example, so lost without love and diamonds (8) 3. Becomes enamoured with slips support (5, 3)

4. Tessellation from OT lawgiver (6) 5. Nothing dear! (4) 6. Monkhouse and Dylan in old money (6) 7. Baby rodents moving tail to head, symbolic of values (7) 8. Held by runaway billiard player from south country (5) 14. Long ago holding posh cat (5) 16. Swine, not quietly, before bog house (5) 18. Reliable saucy french fry (4, 4) 19. Crackers holding 500 headscarfs (8) 20. American in kill put on hold (7) 21. Sweating like shellfish (6) 22. Lofty is a composer (6) 23. Stole vehicle in shockproof casing (5) 27. Doggone Russian agreement service (4) 29. Till Internation organisation fronts beancurd losing second half (4) CONCISE Across 7. Shaped like a hand (7) 9. Four stringed instrument (7) 10. Oddity (5) 11. Not very well (3,6) 12. Males (3) 13. Mushrooms, for example (5) 15. Animals less than two years old (9) 17. Game birds (6,9)

21. Permanent (9) 24. Approaches (5) 25. Assistance (3) 26. Working out (9) 28. Cartoon character, originally in 1942 (5) 30. Make-up(7) 31. Medium sized North American mammal (7) Down 1. Be indistinct; cast aspersions (4) 2. Type of horse (8) 3. The right to vote (8) 4. Shrink in horror (6) 5. Man of distinguished bravery (4) 6. Hairy growths (6) 7. An ocean (7) 8. Type of wood (5) 14. Called (5) 16. Japanese assassin (5) 18. Inn keeper (8) 19. Town in Cheshire (8) 20. Term; Get together(7) 21. Notoriety (6) 22. Gourd used for washing (6) 23. Enthusiastic (5) 27. Cricket match (4) 29. Temporary psychological state (4)

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