The West Dorset Magazine Edition 39, April 2024

The West Dorset Magazine

Incorporating Weymouth, Portland.. and now a bit of North Dorset too!

Your multi-award-winning, deeply Dorsety slice of goodness: 25,000 copies distributed

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We are to be commended!

The West Dorset Magazine has been commended in the Hyperlocal Newspaper of the Year award.

We are thrilled with this, it being just two years since we published our first edition. We were up against far more established titles, and one judge described us as ‘fabulous’. There were 40 entries in our category, with hundreds more competing for national and regional gongs.

The winner of our category was The Peckham Peculiar, with The Edinburgh Reporter second.

Submit your Page 3 stunnas to newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

IN BRIEF STEPS boost

STEPS youth club in Weymouth has won nearly £40,000 from BBC Children in Need. The club on Chickerell Road, which caters for around 250 youngsters, will receive £37,320 over three years. The club has also received nearly £30,000 for its Youth Music programme, which is hoped to benefit more than 400 young people.

Plan is pulled

A plan to build housing at the fire-hit Marine Cinema in Lyme Regis has been withdrawn after the town council and civic society objected. The art-deco cinema on Broad Street first opened in 1937 and is a listed building.

COO! These two doves reserved a table for two in Patrick Hunt’s garden in Lyme Regis. What a pair of lovebirds they are.

Bags helping planet

A ‘Boomerang bag’ scheme in Lyme Regis, where shops lend people bags in the expectation they will be returned, has a new member – Paper Bird in Coombe Street. Turn Lyme Green’s Recyle Sewing Group, pictured, takes old material and makes them into shopping bags, to help the planet.

Shops are now reporting that some bags are being returned. Recently a visitor returned a bag they had borrowed from ‘Lyme Time Travellers’ when they were in Lyme a year ago.

Coordinator Liz Davis said: “The Boomerang Bag scheme involves great teamwork. Thanks to the brilliant sewing team who work away so happily and productively once a week, Flora who prints the labels, Ginger Beer

which sells Big Bags to raise funds for Turn Lyme Green, everyone who donates fabric, all the shops and organisations that distribute the bags and the customers who return them.”

The Boomerang Bag scheme is in its fourth year in Lyme Regis as part of the Plastic Free Lyme Regis campaign. Some 1,500 bags have been made and distributed to local shops and B&Bs. Inspired by the Australian project, the Lyme scheme is one of hundreds of groups around the world. n turnlymegreen.co.uk

Discussing death and bereavement at café

A series of three café-style discussions on death and bereavement will be held on Monday, May 20 at 4pm and Sunday, June 16 at 3.30pm St Mary’s Church, Dorchester DT1 2LZ, and on Monday, July 8 at 4pm in The Quiet Space, Poundbury DT1 3RT.

Grave Talk, a resource produced by the Church of England, provides an opportunity to reflect and begin a conversation in a relaxed way within a small. Each group has a card set of thought-provoking questions which may refer to individual memories or experiences of death, dealing with grief and loss, what is involved in a funeral, and more widely how our culture deals, or

doesn’t deal, with death. A facilitator will ensure that everyone has an equal chance to be heard and local funeral directors have been invited to share their experience. Each session will begin with a brief period of silence. It is anticipated that talking about death may be difficult, particularly if you are recently bereaved, but it is an opportunity for feelings to be shared and we can help each other understand more about life - what is important and what makes life special. There is no need to pre-book a place, just turn up, but if you want more information please contact Rev Jimmy Holden at revjimmyholden@gmail.com

Stay in the loop with our latest offers, promotions, and updates on new products, including the latest trends in home, fashion, and gardening. Scan the QR code to subscribe for these updates and make your Goulds shopping experience even more rewarding.

Hope on incinerator plan

Permits for new incinerator plants in England have been ‘temporarily’ paused until May 24, leading to hopes plans for a massive plant on Portland could be finally scrapped.

The pause will allow government officials to ‘lead a piece of work’ to consider how many new waste incinerators are needed in England and look at concerns of ‘overprovision’.

The findings could lead to a formal review.

Plants disposing of hazardous waste are exempt from the pause but applications for 10 incinerators across England are thought to be affected, including the proposal by Powerfuel Portland for a waste incinerator at Portland Port.

The plan would mean waste from abroad and parts of the

UK would be shipped into Portland to ‘feed the burner all year round’ in an incinerator higher than Portland lighthouse.

Giovanna Lewis from the campaign group Stop Portland Waste Incinerator said: “It is good that there is pause which will allow for a review. I hope a serious and proper review is carried out. “There is a moratorium for five years in Scotland and it is about time England follows suit.”

In Scotland no further planning permission for incineration facilities will be granted.

In the Powerfuel application, the main ERF building would be 201m long, 51m wide in the north, narrowing to 24m wide in the south, and 47m high in the north, reducing to 19m high in the south, and would have an 80m high stack.

Kent ‘Poundbury’ criticised

Plans proposed by King Charles for an ‘ideal town’ in Faversham, Kent has sparked outrage in a public consultation.

The Duchy of Cornwall plan for 2,500 homes on 320 acres of agricultural land in the medieval market town was submitted in 2018.

The plot was purchased by the Duchy in 1999. However fresh fury has followed since the application was submitted in

December for consent to start work on the first 261 homes followed by 120 homes to be built every year for two decades.

The Faversham plan echoes the Duchy’s first ‘urban extension’ in Poundbury, which is currently home to some 3,800 people in a mix of private and affordable housing.

The community also provides employment for over 2,300 people and is home to 207 businesses.

EXPLORING AVENUES: A mockup picture from the website of architect Ben Pentreath

FRIDAY, APRIL 12

A Friends of Beaminster Festival concert will be held at 3pm in Beaminster Church by the Amalthea Ensemble –musicians from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. The programme will include trios by Weber, Martinu and Alwyn and flute / cello duos by Beethoven and Bruch. Tickets £15 from Yarn Barton Centre, Fleet Street, Beaminster or The Bookshop, 14 South Street, Bridport. Tickets available on the door (cash or card).

SATURDAY, APRIL 13

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 8.5 mile walk from Lamberts Castle. 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. New members/visitors welcome.

There’s prize bingo at Maiden Newton village hall, 2pm for a 2.30pm eyes down.

Three weeks of walks, talks, and workshops are being held in Cerne Abbas from April 13 to May 6. The Cerne Giant Festival was

born out of the village’s vibrant May Day tradition, when Morris Dancers and villagers gather at dawn on the Trendle, the original site of the village Maypole at the top of the Cerne Giant at sunrise. The first event is Gathering the Herbs for the Beltane Brew on Saturday, April 13 at 10am at Lower Barton Farm. Then there’s Starting off the Beltane Brew the same day at 1.30pm at Cerne Abbas Brewery.

On Wednesday, April 17 there’s What if the Swallows Didn’t Come Back? At 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church. On Thursday, April 18 there’s Tales of the History of Godmanstone and The Giant in a Sacred Landscape? will be held on Saturday, April 20 at 7.30pm at the church.

Secrets of the Parish Church

Email your events to

will be held on Monday, April 22 at 7.30pm in the church. Then there’s Nature on Your Doorstep– How to Welcome Wildlife on Thursday, April 25.

A ceilidh in the church with Tatterdemalion will be held on Friday, April 16.

Then you can learn how to cast a fly and enjoy a Riverflies Safari at Vicarage Meadow on Sunday, April 28 at 2pm.

A talk on Farming in the Cerne Valley will be held at the church on Monday, April 29.

Then Dating the Giant - It’s All in the Stars? Is on Thursday, May 2.

A Hands-on Workshop for Wildlife Gardening will be on Saturday, May 4 at 9.30am. For more info and to book go to cernegiantfestival.org

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Vet David Harding will lead a first aid for dogs course from 10am-12.30pm at Tolpuddle Village Hall, (DT2 7ES), price £10.

Would you know what to do if your dog had an accident or sudden illness? What are the signs that your dog is in danger?

All Aspects covered. CPR, drowning, burns, bites, traffic accident bleeding, heatstroke, fractures, vomiting & diarrhea, choking, bloat. Cash on door.

Bockhampton Horticultural Society will hold its spring show 9.30am-3.30pm in West Stafford Village Hall, open to all paid up members. Membership secretary Linda Kemp on 01305 753639 or lindakemp6251@hotmail.com

An evening of Big Band Music...sounds from the Glen Miller era at Weymouth Bay Methodist Church (DT4 7TH) at 7.30pm with the Moonlight Swing Band. Tickets £10 from Pete 01305 812637 or £12 on door.

St Mary’s Church, Charminster, (DT2 9RD) is holding an afternoon tea with Jon Cuthill, BBC South’s newscaster and reporter – a talk on his work followed by a cream tea at 4pm. Tickets £10, call 07795 347408, 07818 508011 or 01305 213403.

SUNDAY, APRIL 14 10.30am, St Peter's Church,

Dorchester Eucharist with music by Harris, Gabrielli and Samuel Wesley. Free.

Dorset Cottage Garden Society will enjoy a presentation 2pm for 2.30pm by The Plant Doctor Roger Hirons on Plants for Awkward Places at Puddletown Village Hall.

MONDAY, APRIL 15

A course on Scottish Artists continues today at 2pm at United Church Hall, East Street, Bridport. Tutor is Pam Simpson MA, Art Historian. £13 per lecture. This course runs on Fridays 2pm online, fee £60. chris.pamsimpson@ btinternet.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 16

Southill Gardening Club will hear a talk on My Seasonal Shopping Basket at the Southill Community at 7.30pm when the speaker will be from the Gardens Group (of which Poundbury Garden Centre is a part). Nonmembers welcome.

Refreshments will be available. Further info Nigel Smith on 01305 788939.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18

Bridport and District Gardening Club will hear from Mike Burke from the Gardens Group at 7.30pm at the WI Building on North St in Bridport.

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Tom Brown’s Ukulele Gang are playing at Evershot Village Hall at 8pm (doors open at 7.30), as part of celebrations to mark 150 years of Stickland’s Primary School being on its current site. Tickets available via Eventbrite & on the door. Sam Brown, who had a hit with Stop and appeared with Jools Holland and Pink Floyd, had to find a new way to earn a crust after losing her singing voice in 2007. Some friends

and so in 2010 she began teaching in her front room. Interest ballooned and now, 14 years later, there are Fabulous Ukulele Clubs in Oxfordshire, Dorset, London, Australia and online.

Following a move to Dorset in 2015, Sam took over the magnificent Tom Brown’s Ukulele Gang. Search for Tom Brown’s Gang on eventbrite.com or buy on the door.

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

SATURDAY, APRIL 20

12.30pm-1pm, St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. Lunchtime concert of operatic arias performed by Stefan Oaks (baritone) and Peter Oakes (piano). Free.

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 7 mile walk from Evershot. 01308 898484 or 01308 863340.

New members/visitors welcome.

Bridport Rotary Club invites you to an evening of music from the Bridport Big Band at the United Church, Bridport at 7pm for 7.30pm. Tickets £12 from the Bridport Tourist Information Centre at the rear of Bridport Town Hall or from members.

A cafe in the daytime... a bistro in the evening!

Lovely outside seating area l Dine-in l Takeaway

Open Tues-Sun at 4-6 Hogshill St, Beaminster DT8 3AE dexters-beaminster.co.uk

( 01308 863285

AFTERNOON TEA

St Mary’s Church, Bridport is opening its bell tower from 10am, with refreshments and exhibition stands in the church and the tower, and a chance to see the ringing chamber and the clock. You can also ring the bells! At 2.30pm there will be ringing by local ringers.

The Dorset Wrecks sea shanty group will be performing at St Nicholas Church, Broadwey (DT3 5DN) at 7.30pm. £10, cash preferable. Cash bar. To buy in advance contact Susana on 07944 617553 or susanamalik@yahoo.com

A rummage and nearly new clothes sale will be held at Sydling St Nicholas Village Hall, DT2 9NX 10am to 2pm.

All sorts of lovely quality items, including shoes and bags. Tea and coffee available.

Sunset Cafe Stompers will perform a jazz concert entitled ’Something Borrowed, Something Blue’ at 7.30pm in St Mary’s Church, Beaminster. Tickets £12.50 from Yarn Barton or on door. Cash or card.

Coffee morning at All Saints church, Wyke Regis, 10am to midday. All are welcome to join us for coffee, tea, cakes, Fairtrade, books, music and, of course, chat.

SUNDAY, APRIL 21

Garden open for the NGS, at Broomhill, Rampisham, DT2

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swanagerailway.co.uk

Enjoying a refreshing afternoon tea in the rare ‘Devon Belle’ Pullman observation car as you steam through the spectacular Purbeck countryside.

Your refreshing and tasty afternoon tea is served by our attentive and helpful attendants dressed in pristine Pullman uniforms.

Breakfasts l Fish and chips l Sandwiches l Cakes

Steak l Salads l Desserts l Jacket potatoes l Pies

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

0PT. 2pm-5pm.

Come and enjoy an afternoon in a spring garden, where blossom and bulbs should be at their best.

Entry £5, children free. Homemade teas, plants for sale. Ample parking.

Tel 07775 806 875

An open day will be held at the Sherborne Steam & Waterwheel Centre. See the vintage waterwheel

and steam engines in operation, plus many other exhibits.

Refreshments, picnic area and toilet. Free parking on adjacent Oborne Road DT9 3RX.

Site mostly accessible. Entry by donation. 11.30am to 3.30pm. sswc.co.uk

TUESDAY, APRIL 23

Dorchester Civic Society will hear from Jeremy Pope, exfinance director of Eldridge

Pope Brewery, on the transformation of Dorchester at the close of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries.

The Dorford Centre, Top o’ Town, Dorchester at 7.30pm Free for DCS members. Nonmembers are encouraged to make a donation of £3.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24

The Uplyme and Lyme Regis Horticultural Society hosts a talk on hostas by Peter Savage of Bowden’s Nursery. Plants for sale. Competition for best spring flowering bulbs, corms or tubers (pot or vase). Uplyme Village Hall DT7 3UY. Members free, nonmembers £3. Doors open at 7pm for refreshments, talk starts 7.30pm. ulrhs.wordpress.com

The Dorchester Committee of

the Children’s Society will welcome journalist Kate Adie to St George’s Hall, Fordington, to give a talk on ‘A correspondent’s view of TV’ at 7.30pm.

Tickets from Nicoll World Travel 23 High East Street, Dorchester, Jane Culliford 01305 264360 or Rita Kennett 01305 265432. Price £10. Wine, drinks and light refreshments will be available to purchase.

Nature on your doorstep – how to create wildlife friendly spaces is the subject of a talk at St Mary’s Church, Abbey Street, Cerne Abbas DT2 7JQ, 7pm for 7.30pm. Mitch Perkins, an assistant wilder communities officer from the DWT, will describe and explain which of our wildlife neighbours we can help and how. Mitch will

introduce you to some you may not have met! Find out about the creatures that can keep your garden healthy –from pollinators to predators, and how small actions can make a big difference. £7 including refreshments.

The Gaggle of Geese in Buckland Newton, Dorchester DT2 7BS, is holding a monthly quiz Teams of up to six. £2 per person or free if you dine first. Quiz starts 8.30pm.

Sherborne Science Café presents Wolfgang Grulke speaking on Beyond Extinction at 7.30pm at Digby Memorial Hall (DT9 3NL). £3 entry on the door, no membership required. Sherbornesciencecafe.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 26

Piddle Valley Twinning is presenting a talk by Richard Kay 7pm for 7.30 pm. An Auctioneer’s Ten Commandments .... lighthearted and informal saleroom reminiscences.

Piddletrenthide Memorial Hall DT2 7QF. Tickets £10 on 01300 348670. A warm welcome to all – and bar.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

Plant and gardening sale on Bridport Millennium Green (near Mountfield) from 9.30am. Tools, tubs, gardening books etc, in support of the green. If you have anything to donate please bring on the morning or to arrange collection please phone Sandra Brown on 01308 423078.

St George’s Day Fair, Fordington Green, Dorchester DT1 1LB, 1pm-4pm on the green and in the church and hall. Hot food, cake stall, beer tent, afternoon tea, Durnovaria

Silver Band, One Voice Choir etc.

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 7 mile walk from Cerne Abbas. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. New members/visitors welcome.

Love to sing? Then join a oneday Come and Sing musical workshop at Thornford Village Hall near Sherborne, DT9 6QB followed by a concert, organised by the Friends of St Michael's Church, Beer Hackett. Featuring songs from the shows and music from the musicals under the direction of Alice Dicker, BMus(Hons) Dip ABRSM. £20, no audition required, just enthusiasm! Free parking.

Enrol with Sylvia on 01935 872564. Full details and registration form at friendsofst michaelschurchbeerhackett.org Evening concert at 7pm, tickets £10 including prize draw entry.

4.30pm, St Peter's Church, Dorchester. Choral Evensong commemorating 100 years since the death of Sir Charles Villiers Stanford. Free.

West Dorset Singers present Mozart’s Requiem, his choral masterpiece, in St Mary’s Church, Bridport at 7pm. They will also sing Miserere by Czech composer Jan Zelenka who preceded Mozart by half a century.

The third work is much more recent. Dona nobis pacem (Give us peace), written in 1996 by Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks, explores the music of these three simple

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Mapperton House, Gardens & Wildlands

Beaminster

DT8 3NR

Tickets on door or at mapperton.com

Spring Plant Fair Spring Plant Fair

Sunday, April 14, 10am-4pm

Open Mon 9.30am-1pm, Weds-Fri 9.30am-3pm, SatSun 10am-1.30pm. Book at bookwhen.com/100giggles

Comedy night Saturday, April 6

words in a gloriously Baltic manner.

The choir is accompanied by professional orchestra and a quartet of soloists, all recent choral scholars from The Choir of Royal Holloway, London. The concert starts at 7pm. Tickets (£15, u18s free) are available from Goadsby Estate Agents in Bridport and at westdorsetsingers.org

Quiz Night at Wyke Regis Memorial Hall, 7pm (doors open 6.30pm). Another evening of fun and general knowledge brain teasers! Entry £6 (includes £2 of raffle tickets) payable on the door. Bring your own refreshments. Team (max 6) and individual entrants welcome. Cash prize for the winning team. Reserve your place at parishofwyke regis.org.uk/events or contact Jeff Thomas on 07710 096174.

SUNDAY, APRIL 28

Weymouth Big Beach Walkies will be held in aid of Margaret Green on Weymouth from 10.30am till 12pm, organized by Dog Friendly Weymouth and Portland Group.

They welcome people who may just enjoy a walk with dogs, a suggested donation of £2 collected at their gazebo near the dog area at the Pavilion end of the beach. The walk will take you to the Stone Groyne at Greenhill then either travelling on to the

£5 entry, U5s free Inc entrance to the gardens

In aid of Allegra’s Ambition

beach to Bowleaze Cove, or returning to the gazebo. Free poo bags and dog treats. This will be the last Sunday families with dogs will be able to walk the full length of the beach before summer restrictions.

Lyme Bay Chorale celebrate a giant of choral music at their spring concert at 4pm in Lyme Regis Parish Church. The concert marks 100 years since the death of Charles Villiers Stanford, the AngloIrish composer who is responsible for some of the best-loved works in the choral canon. Tickets are £13 in advance from Fortnam, Smith & Banwell in Lyme Regis, or choir members, and £15 on the door. Free entry for young people aged 18 and under.

A new monthly artisan market will be held in Brewery Square, Dorchester 10am until 3pm.

Already running markets in Sherborne and Shaftesbury, Dorset Artisan Markets will bring more than 200 artisan traders to from April to November.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1

The East Devon Ramblers are embarking on an 11-mile walk around Uffculme. Start at 10.30am. Ring 07922 651426 for details.

A charity art exhibition in aid of Weldmar Hospicecare is

being held at 2, Rylands Way in Charminster between 2pm and 5pm today until May 8.

The Old Rectory, Litton Cheney DT2 9AH will open its gardens 11am-5pm for the NGS.

Steep paths lead to beguiling 4 acres of natural woodland with many springs, streams, 2 pools one a natural swimming pool planted with native plants. Formal front garden, designed by Arne Maynard, with a pleached crabtree border, topiary and soft planting including tulips, peonies, roses and verbascums. Walled garden with informal planting, kitchen garden, orchard and 350 rose bushes for a cut flower business. £7, children free. Home-made teas.

Wessex Morris Men will again be waving their hankies at the sunrise above the Cerne Giant for their epic May Day festivities. They will dance on the ‘trendle’ from 5.15am, accompanied by a barrel of ale from the village brewery, then it's down into the village to parade around to the village square for more dancing from 6.30am, with breakfast served in the pubs.

THURSDAY, MAY 2

West Dorset Ramblers walk at Cadbury Hill Fort. Starts at 9.45am. 9 miles.Contact Chris 07715 760884.

FRIDAY, MAY 3

The East Devon Ramblers are taking a leisurely walk of 5 miles at Upton Pine at 10am. Ring 01392 759332 for details.

SATURDAY, MAY 4

The Gaggle of Geese in Buckland Newton, DT2 7BS is holding a Birthday Celebration celebrating

another year at the Gaggle (six years since they re-opened). Join them in the gardens with music from Aphrodite Duo.

The AGM of Friends of Weymouth Library (Fowl) will be held at the Bethany Hall at 2.30pm. Miranda Pender will entertain with her own songs. Refreshments available.

Blow Your Own Trumpet is holding its second open mic comedy show at The Convivial Rabbit micropub, Trinity Street, Dorchester. A hilarious evening of comedy, combined with a great selection of drinks in this cosy bar. Tickets just £5 in advance from jokepit.com or £7 at the venue on the night. Ticket only event. Doors open 7pm, show starts 7.45pm.

There’s a hands on workshop for wildlife gardening in the Vicarage Garden and Field, 4 Back Lane, Cerne Abbas, Dorchester DT2 7JW. Chance to get up close and meet our wild neighbours! Come and experience some simple low budget ways of making wildlife more welcome. Get there early to see the surprising beauties in the live catch moth trap. Staff from the Dorset Wildlife Trust will be on hand to answer your questions and share top tips for creating a wildlife friendly space. £7 including refreshments

MONDAY, MAY 6

Alweston car boot sale, sellers 7am, buyers before 7.30am £5, then buyers entry by donation. 01963 23436.

TUESDAY, MAY 7

Dorchester’s Bayeux Society

Continued page 15

Recent work by LUCY ERSKINE

GALLERY ON THE SQUARE

1 Queen Mother Sqare, Poundbury, DT1 3BL.

APRIL 27-MAY 26

Paintings from her recent travels in oil, print making and fused glass. Meet the artist and enjoy a glass of wine on Saturday mornings. 10.30-noon.

GARDEN EDGING

Give your lawn edge definition and improve ease of maintenance

5-6MM THICK STEEL, RADIUSED EDGE, 80MM DEPTH

6 METRE LENGTHS, WITH FIXINGS

Other metalwork by design

will enjoy a French film night with The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, in French with English subtitles at Dorchester Corn Exchange. Doors/var open 6.45pm for 7.30pm screening. £6 cash on the door. Open to non-members.

Acclaimed wildlife photographer David Boag, author of 18 books, will talk to members of Blackmore Vale U3a Henstridge Village Hall BA8 0QB. Doors open at 2.15pm for refreshments.

West Dorset Ramblers walk at 10am, 8 miles. Symondsbury,

Colmer’s Hill & Thorncombe

Contact Carol 07902 988549

TUESDAY, MAY 7

Dorchester Civic Society talk: The Dorford Centre, Top o’ Town, 7.30pm. Peter Bowyer, chair of Dorset CPRE will speak on The Dorset Local Plan: How to Make it Sustainable? Free for DCS members. Nonmembers are encouraged to make a donation of £3. info@ dorchestercivicsociety.org.uk

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9

Sherborne & District

Gardeners’ Association meets at the Main Digby Hall, Hound Street at 7.30pm for a talk by Barbara Elsmore –SDGA member, on all aspects of topiary. Admission Charge to non-members £3. For more information contact Richard Newcombe 01935 389375.

FRIDAY, MAY 10

quoting FEAST24WDM. See pages 47-50 for details, plus an extra voucher for readers.

American soldiers at Spittles Camp

Weymouth’s thrice-yearly fortnight of fantastic food starts today. FEAST24 offers a whole range of great deals on restaurants until May 24. Tables must be pre-booked,

24 Carlton Road North, Weymouth DT4 7PY is opening its garden for the NGS from today till Monday, May 13 2pm-5pm. Long garden on several levels. Steps and narrow sloping paths lead to beds and borders filled with trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, many unusual varieties. Wildlife encouraged. £4, kids free. Home-made teas.

New hope for The Rectory

The derelict The Rectory pub is to come back to life after more than a decade lying empty.

DJ Property has bought the historic building in St Thomas Street, along with the neighbouring property previously occupied by the Body Shop.

The Rectory – formerly known as The Old Rectory, Barracuda and most recently, The Clipper – closed down in October 2013 when its owners The Bramwell Pub group went into administration. The Grade II Listed property has since fallen into poor repair. The property originated as a pair of exceptionally grand houses in the late 18th century, and once served as The Rectory for St. Mary’s Church on St Mary Street.

Chief executive Mickey Jones said: “This Georgian gem

holds immense potential, and we look forward to revitalising it to its former grandeur while preserving its unique architectural heritage. There are exciting plans to make this building the centre of the community, providing employment opportunities, whilst respectfully restoring its former glory.”

The firm was responsible for a £2.5 million project to create apartments and the EBIKE Café at the Deheers building on the harbour.

Supported living scheme open

A new supported living scheme to enable adults with a learning disability and or autism live with greater independence, has opened in Dorchester. Elizabeth Court in Brewery Square, includes 16 units –12 flats over three storeys and four bungalows, and

developed by Specialist Supported Housing Ltd. Agincare Enable, who bring specialist knowledge of people with a learning disability, autistic spectrum condition and physical disability, will manage the site and Inclusion Housing CIC is the landlord.

IT’S OPEN: Matt Tucker, Inclusion Housing regional operations manager, Cllr Jane Somper, Portfolio lead for Adult Social Care and Housing, Elizabeth Court tenant John Hutchison and Derek Luckhurst, chair and founder of Agincare

Hub to open after bank closes

A banking hub in Sherborne is set to open in 2025 following news that Lloyds, the last remaining bank in the town, plans to close on January 16, 2025.

West Dorset MP Chris Loder said: “After months of highlevel discussions with LINK and Cash Access UK, I’m glad to announce that a Banking Hub will open in Sherborne next year. The Banking Hub in Sherborne will be available to all residents, with different banks – including Lloydsworking on a rotating basis on different days with community bankers available to speak with.”

He added: “Lloyds has informed me that it will cease operating on the January 16, 2025, but are willing to extend this, should it be needed. I am working closely with Cash Access UK, which will develop the Banking Hub in

Sherborne, to ensure that it is operational, or a temporary alternative is accessible before the closing date.”

Liberal Democrat Town and Dorset Councillor Robin Legg said. “The closure will come as a devastating blow to the many small businesses who need cash banking facilities. It will also hit hard the elderly not comfortable with internet banking.

“Liberal Democrats may not be able to stop the closure, but we will campaign for a dedicated hub presence in Cheap Street with access to a cash point and not a desk poked into the corner of the already busy Post Office. The buildings once occupied by HSBC, NatWest and Barclays all remain unoccupied and would provide ideal accommodation for a smaller but dedicated banking hub in the town.”

Solar farm turned down

A solar farm planned for just outside Maiden Newton has been turned down by the Housing Minister. The government rejected Enviromena’s plans for a 43acre solar farm in a conservation area at Cruxton Farm, in spite of a planning inspector's recommendation. Minister Felicity Buchan said the plan would damage a National Landscape – formerly Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The plan was escalated after Dorset Council refused planning permission. But the minister said banks of solar panels would have spoiled a "fine panoramic view" from the nationally important Macmillan Way footpath. Natural England, the Dorset Wildlife Trust and the Dorset Campaign to Protect Rural England had also opposed the plan.

Portland gathers

Portlanders talked about what matters to them at a new ‘People’s Popular assembly’ (POP).

Islanders picked three areas for change – health facilities and provision, more control over decisions which affect Portlanders and youth provision and independent shops and spaces. The Portland Pop was organised by the Portland Humanity Project. More will be held this year, and the stories and experiences discussed will be shared with delegates at a national assembly taking place in summer.

The Portland Pop is part of a wave of volunteer-led, grassroots and self-organised assemblies across Britain. See humanityproject.uk

TV pottery star at new spring show

There’s a chance to learn how to throw a pot with a Great Pottery Throw Down finalist at Dorset Spring Show. The new Dorset Spring Show at Kingston Maurward, Dorchester swings open its farm gates on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28 for a weekend of entertainment, demonstrations, and educational activities.

The Channel 4 Great Pottery Throw Down finalist Dan

Sandham from Weymouth will join fellow contestant Ed King at the show.

Also at the show: BMX Bikes, Dorset foods, rural demonstrations and dancing sheep! Children go free and Adults are just £12 until April 20. Gate price £15. Book at dorsetcountyshow.co.uk/dorset springshow

n More pothole repairs, resurfacing and more are on their way after Dorset Council allocated more than £10m for highway maintenance over two years. The budget includes £2.068 million each for the years 2023/24 and 2024/25 from the Department for Transport (DfT) Network North fund, from reallocated HS2 government funding, and £6.03million from council coffers.

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OFF TO AFRICA: Isla Sibley

Art lovers help to fund trip to Ghana

Art lovers contributed £1,200 towards a Maiden Newton teenager’s trip to Ghana, snapping up beautiful pieces in a range of media at a ‘Great Art Giveaway’ event.

Village artist Kim Sibley and her mum gave away more than 100 pieces of art in return for donations to

Isla Sibley’s trip next year, which will enable her to participate in educational programs and community initiatives.

Kim said: “Fundraising is crucial to cover the trip’s expenses.”

Isla will be travelling to Ghana for 10 days next year.

Concerned about affordable housing, flooding, traffic, the environment?

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Dorset Council has included a proposal for 4,000 houses north of Dorchester in its draft Local Plan. Vote for candidates for Dorset Council, Dorchester Town Council, Stinsford and Charminster Parish Councils who say NO to this massive urban development

n This advert is paid for by supporters of Save the Area North of Dorchester –STAND – a non­political organisation.

Shield your home from care costs & inheritance tax with a living trust

How a Living Trust protects your estate:

1. Care Costs: Placing your main home into a living trust can ring fence the property from any potential future care costs. Thus, protecting your inheritance.

2. Asset Protection: By transferring ownership of your home and other assets to a living trust, can help protect them from creditors, divorce & remarriage, and other potential claims, including care costs.

3. Inheritance Tax Planning:

A living trust can be part of an estate planning strategy to minimise inheritance tax liability. By placing assets into a trust, they can be excluded from your taxable estate upon your passing, potentially reducing the amount of inheritance tax your beneficiaries would owe.

4. Revocable Nature:

One of the advantages of a living trust is that it is

revocable, meaning you can make changes to the trust or even revoke it entirely during your lifetime. This flexibility allows you to adapt to changing circumstances or wishes.

5. Trust Administration: When you establish a living trust, you typically designate yourself as the trustee, thus maintaining control over the assets and allowing you to continue using and managing them as you did before. Should you move home the trust stays in place and protects your new residence. The effectiveness of a living trust in achieving your specific goals will depend on your individual circumstances.

Oakwood Wills offer a free consultation in the privacy of our own home. Call Chris on 07832 331594 or email: info@oakwoodwills.co.uk

Couple near end of epic trek

WALKING

By Viviane Horne

A couple who started walking around Britain last May are due to arrive in Dorset soon on the last leg of their epic challenge. Antony and Sally Brown expect to be on Portland on April 16. They’ve not been home to Cornwall since May 15, 2023, having walked just under 6,000 miles, hitching lifts back to their campervan along the way – once having to get three

lifts to cover the 80 miles from Shiel Bridge to Lochailort after six days’ walking. The pair know Dorset well. Sally said: “Antony’s sister used to own a cottage in Maiden Newton and it was there that we first started visiting Dorset. ”

n You can follow them on Facebook at ‘Browns Ups ‘n’ Downs’ and donate to RNLI, MIND, Air Ambulance and Parkrun) at justgiving.com/ page/ukcoastwalk

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Colleges seek opinions

Two local colleges have launched a public consultation on a proposed merger that could offer “the biggest change in further education in Dorset since the 1940s”.

Weymouth College and Kingston Maurward College are welcoming public feedback ahead of a suggested merger this summer.

The consultation follows months of fact-finding about the opportunities offered by combining the two colleges’ resources and expertise. Based just 10 miles apart, the colleges have historically operated collaboratively and offer a complementary range of courses.

Kingston Maurward specialises in land-based courses at its 750-acre countryside estate, while Weymouth College provides

a wide range of general and technical further education courses, including A Levels. Leaders say a merger would enhance the curriculum.

Chairman of governors at Kingston Maurward Rob Lasseter said: “This partnership marks a pivotal moment for education in Dorset. By pooling our resources and expertise, we can create a stronger, more dynamic learning environment that benefits our students and community. “We are committed to keeping our stakeholders informed every step of the way and welcome input and feedback. Together, we can build a brighter future for education in Dorset.”

The consultation will run until April 30 at weymouth.ac.uk/ publicconsultation/ and kmc.ac.uk/college/merger

WONDERS: Antony and Sally Brown

Gardeners’ spring show a smash hit

The Bridport & District Gardening Club Spring Show was well attended, with over 50 entrants showing spring flowers, pot plants, cakes, jams through to photography, paintings and artworks. Meanwhile outside on East Street the plant stall run by Margaret Genender took over £800 for local charity Stepping Out. Despite wind and rain showers the team surpassed previous record of sales with a generous contribution of plants from Alyson Halliday.

Chelsea Flower Show gold medalist, garden writer and television presenter Joe Swift awarded the prizes.

Joe has recently moved to West Dorset and is enjoying work on his large new garden, despite the very wet spring.

Winners, ranged from Ken Hunt aged 90 to Nathaniel Croton, aged nine. Way out in front was his dad Neil Croton who brought a range of magnificent blooms to collect three trophies and become overall winner, followed by regular Alan Finch whose amazing cookery was again recognised, as runner up.

n See bridportgardeningclub.co.uk

Trade without £s

People interested in trading without sterling are being invited to the AGM of Dorchester and South Dorset LETS on Sunday, April 14 at St George's Hall Fordington.

The group, which has been going for nearly 30 years, has members from a wide area, including Bridport, who carry out tasks for each other and trade items with their own currency, the Mart. They meet regularly for delicious shared suppers and trading.

Membership is £5 a year per family, £ for the unwaged. If you would like to know more, or want to attend the AGM to see what it’s all about, contact Miranda Robertson: miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk or 07460 205033.

n Fears people could choke on Dorset’s famous knob biscuits have led to the scrapping of eating challenges at this year’s Knob Throwing Festival. The festival was last held in 2019, after it grew too big for its site. This year the event will be held on July 14 at Chilfrome, near Maiden Newton.

GARDEN GLORY: Trophy winners with Joe Swift, from left: Nathaniel Croton, Neil Croton, Ethan Croton, Ken Hunt, Caspar Roth, Joe Swift, David Fitzjohn, Ann Brown and Alan Finch

Nine of the UK’s leading tribute acts will be playing live in Dorchester this summer at Weldmar Hospicecare’s annual showpiece fundraising event, Music by the Lake. The family friendly festival allows children under 14 to enter for free, and revellers can either take a picnic or choose from one of the food vendors on site.

Not only is Weldmar Hospicecare celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, but the Spice Girls are too, and Wannabe will be headlining on the evening of Friday, July 5. They’ll be lining up alongside top rated tributes to Robbie Williams and Pink. It is also a notable anniversary for Abba, as 2024 marks 50 years since they took the Eurovision Song Contest by storm with Waterloo, and Abba Revival top the bill on

SUPERSTARS: Some of the tribute acts appearing at Music By The Lake in July

Top tributes for a top cause

Saturday, July 6. The retro party-themed evening also features Duran Duran and Tash Leaper as Madonna. It’s not just Glastonbury that boasts a ‘legends’ spot on a Sunday afternoon –tributes to three Motown legends will be taking to the stage on July 7 – Lionel

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Richie, Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross.

Every penny raised by Music by the Lake goes towards the specialist endof-life care and support that Weldmar Hospicecare provides to adults in Dorset who have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness.

The charity, which must raise £26,000 every day to keep its services going, also provides support to the loved ones of patients, including bereavement counselling.

n Tickets at musicbythelake.net

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Whole new world for Tom and Kellie

A busy, working couple have lost almost six stones between them after joining Slimming World in Poundbury to tackle the pounds they piled on during lockdown in 2020.

Kellie and Tom Brennan decided join Teresa, who runs Slimming World sessions at Brownsword Hall on Tuesday, after suffering with low energy, breathing difficulties, snoring and knee problems. And with five children and a holiday abroad booked for May, the pair reached a point where something had to be done to lose weight.

Kellie, who joined the group in December, said: “Unfortunately I had gained three stone through lockdown, and had to do something about it due to ongoing issues with my knees. So far, I’ve lost two stone, so one more stone to lose to get back to my target.

“Tom joined the group in January. He struggled with his breathing as the weight was a big problem for him, but he never knew how serious it was until the snoring took over!

“Tom has lost an incredible three-and-a-half stone in 13 weeks!

“We go abroad in May and our health was putting that at risk so we are both better off now than we were three months ago, and we can’t wait to enjoy our holiday with our five children.”

Kellie said: “The diet isn’t really a diet. You can still eat what you like within reason.

n Teresa runs Slimming World on Tuesday evenings at Brownsword Hall at 5.30pm and 7.30pm. Call her on 07854 402259.

For more details about Slimming World and how to find your local group, visit slimmingworld.co.uk

“Nothing is forbidden. Slimming World changed the way Tom and I think about food and how we eat healthier meals.

“It’s a whole new level of living and it’s changed our lives for the better and our kids too as they also enjoy what we cook. It works for us all.”

THEN AND NOW: Tom and Kellie Brennan

Hello campers

Two pop-up campsites have been approved for Portland, which will be allowed to operate for up to 60 days.

The sites, off Watery Lane and near Longstone Ope quarry near the Bill, will offer 100 pitches. The owners will have to pay a fee under Habitat Regulations to offset any impact on the special nature areas close by, including the Chesil and Fleet Area of Special Scientific Interest and the Isle of Portland to Studland Cliff protected area.

A similar plan for Fancy’s Farm, submitted to try to cover the rising costs of keeping the animals at the family attraction, was recently refused.

£1,400 boost

Three fundraisers made £1,400 for Fortuneswell Cancer Care.

A barn dance at Upwey and Broadwey Memorial Hall with the Tree Fellahs was followed by a gig in the Convivial Rabbit, Dorchester, with three bands. Then the Drax Arms, Bere Regis, hosted a gig to complete the hat-trick.

D-Day funds

Weymouth Town Council is offering local community groups and organisations up to £350 to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of DDay. The money can be used to fund costs such as food, refreshments and decorations. Call 01305 239839.

Mum speaks out over gender

By Miranda Robertson miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk

“You can’t get a tattoo, you can’t drink – you can’t even buy Tippex under 18,” says a Women of Dorset spokesman. “Yet you can be referred to a gender identity clinic and given irreversible drugs to stop puberty, compromise your ability to have children and affect the rest of your life.”

A Dorchester mum has told the West Dorset Magazine her daughter was referred to the controversial Tavistock Clinic after just one meeting with a mental health practitioner, having told someone at school she wanted to change her gender.

But rather than undertake a full mental health assessment, which would have revealed the girl’s underlying issues, the mum says she was referred to Tavistock and she was expected to facilitate the appointment without question. Now aged 19, the girl says she is acutely embarrassed by this, and that she has no

“Space Youth Project, which goes into schools to deliver gender and LGBT training, visited her in school and I was told my daughter was being called another name and if I didn’t then I was discriminating against her and affecting her mental health.

The mum of three, who we are not naming, says her daughter was just 12 when she hit puberty and started feeling uncomfortable in her own body.

Unknown to her at the time, the intense feelings of discomfort were rooted in trauma her daughter had experienced aged two.

Subsequent therapy has uncovered alleged abuse, said to have taken place at the home of someone caring for her daughter while the mum was in hospital with her 11month-old son, who was receiving treatment for meningitis.

desire to change gender now that she is past puberty and is dealing with the early trauma. Her mum said: “Her wish to change gender came from nowhere. She hit puberty, which made her so uncomfortable she told someone at school she wanted to be a boy.

“We attended one session with CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) and she was referred to Tavistock.

“When I complained I was accused of being a narcissist and had to undergo therapy three times – all three therapists said I wasn’t a narcissist.

“Now she has been through therapy it’s been revealed she has trauma from her childhood. But because they were concentrating on gender that was missed.

“She never wanted to go down that road and finds it really embarrassing now.

“What would have happened if I’d taken her there and she had started on the puberty blockers?”

The mum appealed to MP Chris Loder for help, and says he has been a tower of strength, lobbying for a ban on prescribing puberty blockers and helping her fight to be heard.

He said: “There’s been a sharp rise in the number of referrals of children and teenagers to gender identity services in Dorset, something which I have been deeply concerned about. There is a lack of longterm robust evidence of the effects of puberty blockers on young people, with potential long-term, irreversible implications.”

He added: “We need to see an investigation into how this form of highly damaging,

Project ‘committed to wellbeing and

A spokesman for Space Youth Project said: “Space Youth Projects’ core objective is to improve the mental and physical health and overall well-being of LGBT+ young people in Dorset.

“Regarding our work with local schools, we are regularly invited to run LGBT+ Inclusive Staff Training in many schools across Dorset. These

sessions are in line with UK Government guidance which supports LGBT+ education in schools. This includes, The Equality Act 2010, the Government’s guidance Keeping Children Safe in School 2023 and guidance from Ofsted and the Church of England, including ‘Valuing All God’s Children’.

“Our training session covers issues requested by

and puberty blocking drugs

pseudo-scientific treatment was prescribed in the first place for children and young adults under the age of 18.”

The mum said: “The moment a child says they might have gender identity issues they are pushed into the system. There is no attempt to find out if there’s anything else going on. “It’s a no-win situation for parents, and I’ve heard of many in my situation.

“They said I was neglecting her for not taking her to Tavistock.

“You’re set up to fail either way, whether you support their decision to change gender or not.

there’s a much higher proportion of children in the care system and kids on the autistic spectrum among those asking to change gender, leading to a suspicion the gender identity crisis could be body dysmorphia caused by low self esteem and/or previous trauma.

that’s to affirm a child. “We shouldn’t be lying to children.

“These are vulnerable children with additional issues going on in the background. “We need a waiting, watchful process with psychotherapy –puberty is not a disease to be treated with medication.”

Work starts on A352 junction

Construction work has started to improve visibility at the A352 / New Road junction near Sherborne.

They added: “There is a silencing of this subject matter and many people are too

“I have no issue with her being transgender, if she actually was. If she wanted to express herself and dress like a boy aged 12 I would have been fine with that – and when she turned 18, if she had still wanted to change gender I would have supported her. But I don’t think at 12 there should be talk of puberty blockers and breast binding and the like.”

Women of Dorset is a collective of mothers concerned about the prescription of puberty blockers to young children. In their extensive research they have uncovered that

A Women of Dorset spokesman said: “Some of the figures are so skewed. There’s much higher number of looked after children and those with ASD. Many are struggling with puberty, the majority – 60-80% – are actually just gay and struggling with that.

scared to speak out about the harms that gender identity ideology is causing to children and women’s rights and protections.

This junction has been the location of several road traffic collisions where people have been injured. The works will take up to four weeks to complete.

Dorset Council will relocate road signs and move fences to improve visibility. Road markings will also be adjusted to improve the angle at which drivers approach the junction from New Road.

“Some of these children if left alone will revert to just being gay. But instead these kids are referred to gender clinics – it’s just a live experiment on children.

“Dorset is 17th out of 195 CCGs for child referrals to gender identity clinics, and offers more referrals each year – 400 in the past ten years, with 60 last year alone.

“Space Youth Project visits 75 schools in Dorset and they only have one approach and

“In addition, schools may be removing girls access to single sex toilets and changing rooms – by letting boys who declare they have a ‘gender identity’ use girls’ spaces or through the introduction of mixed sex spaces. This is against the law – we don’t know if this is happening in Dorset, or to what extent.

n Any parents who have concerns about their child and gender issues can email womenofdorset @gmail.com

health of LGBT+ young people’

schools, including information on eradicating homophobic language; understanding trans/non-binary identities; the mental health of LGBT+ young people; supporting parents of LGBT+ young people and LGBT+ inclusion and visibility in lessons and around school. “It is important to be clear that our LGBT+ inclusive staff training does not include any

information on medical referrals. “Regarding comments on Tavistock Clinic referrals, Space Youth Project does not provide any referrals directly to gender clinics, including Tavistock. We encourage anyone considering transition to speak to a medical professional who can provide accurate and up to date information.”

As part of the improvement works, the speed limit of the A352 will be reduced to 30mph on Horsecastles Lane, Ottery Lane and Dancing Hill. This will also include a section of 40mph limit on Sherborne Hill.

Traffic will be managed with temporary traffic lights. Allow extra time for your journey.

Landscaping funds available

The Dorset National Landscape Fund is open for application until April 21 to scoop a share of £30,000 for projects to care for, enhance and celebrate nationally important protected landscapes and the communities that live and work in them.

Community groups and individuals can apply to the fund at

dorset-nl.org.uk

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Foodbank fights to keep up with the cost of living

By Miranda Robertson miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk

We all know how food prices have shot up in the last year – causing difficulties for many people and forcing us all to cut back. But for a startlingly large number of people it’s a case of choosing whether to heat or eat. As a charity trying to feed hundreds of people, Dorchester Foodbank feels this more than most – with their food bills quadrupling from £150 a week to £600 –more than £31,000 a year. The service provided by this fabulous team of volunteers is now more important than ever, as they increasingly see the ‘working poor’ coming to them for help – nurses and teachers among others, who simply cannot make their pay cheques stretch in line with high rents, energy bills and food prices.

Last year Dorchester Foodbank distributed 1,251 food parcels – an increase of 41%. They gave out supermarket gift tokens and Advent calendars at Christmas, Easter eggs, Boots vouchers for nappies and infant formula – all bought with money donated to them.

The foodbank was launched 12 years ago in response to a

growing need in the town –widely perceived to be a wealthy area. In fact, there are many foodbank users in ‘new’ Poundbury, and people in poverty spread throughout the town.

The foodbank doesn’t just distribute food. Lately they have been giving out cleaning products, and personal hygiene products too. There’s even dog and cat food available for clients’ furry pals. Any foods outside the essential staples are laid out for clients to choose from, giving them a wider range. Any fresh food is given to Foodshare, which operates in Poundbury, to distribute, as there are no storage facilities for fresh food at the foodbank’s premises in Dorford Baptist Church at the Top o’ Town. Stuart Dawson is one of the charity’s trustees. He said: “We have noticed an increase in the number of people who are having to visit a Foodbank for the first time. A number of these are in full time work but are now struggling to make ends meet due to increases in their other bills.

“An example recently was a single mum of three children who was in tears. She explained that she had

New website and how

The charity is launching a new website this month –dorchesterfoodbank.co.uk – to keep people up to date and accept donations. If it’s not up and running yet, you can still donate by bank transfer – Dorchester Foodbank, sort code: 20-26-62, account number: 63655253 or send a cheque made payable to Dorchester Foodbank, to the Dorford Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester, DT1 1RR.

donated to Foodbanks in the past but was currently struggling due to increased energy costs, vehicle costs, etc.”

In 2023 the Foodbank spent £49,792 helping 2,501 people. They currently have 14 volunteers – enough to man the Foodbank three mornings a week.

Stuart said: “Many of our clients struggle with budgeting, have ongoing debt problems or have benefit issues. With this in mind, we try to get clients to engage with organisations such as Citizens Advice, Christians Against Poverty, etc, so that they can access specialist advice and support. “The increase in energy costs, food prices, etc has resulted in pushing more people into food poverty and needing our help.”

People need to be referred to the Foodbank by Citizens

Advice, who also provide the client with independent advice and support, to help them with any underlying issues.

Volunteer Jess has been helping out since 2018, when she retired. She said: “I’ve needed help in the past myself, and I wanted something to do so the days didn’t blend into each other.

“Most of our donations come in monetary form, but we do get donations of food. And I do an online shop a few times a week to buy the things we are short of.

“Before lockdown, we would see about 15 people a week.

“Now we see between 15 and 18 people a day.”

Stuart said: “One client had been sleeping rough for some time while we were helping him, and managed to get himself a flat. He gave us a £5 donation once he’d got himself sorted.”

to make your donation

If you are a taxpayer, please Gift Aid your donation –that adds 25% to your gift, paid by the government. Donations of tinned/packet food items or personal care/household products are always very welcome and can be left in the foyer at The Dorford Centre on any weekday during office hours.

Please ensure items are unopened and well within their best before dates.

HERE TO HELP: Foodbank and Foodshare volunteers at the well organised storage shed at the Dorford Centre

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April 13/14 & June 22/23 in Beaminster

Counselling courses

Nine counselling courses are on offer in Dorset, delivered by Iron Mill College. The college is urging people to ‘Make a change and be the change’, joining a profession that’s increasingly in demand. They say although starting a new career can be daunting they will help people to work out if it’s the right choice and whether it will be rewarding for them. A spokesman said: “At Iron Mill College we help hundreds of people change their lives every year, supporting them both in their personal development and on their journey to becoming a counsellor or psychotherapist. We see and hear the benefits from our alumni, of how it’s been the best choice they’ve made.”

like-minded people. Expect to make meaningful connections during your training with us. Our classes run in small cohorts, giving you the time and space to get to know everyone, as well as connect with your tutor. These friendships can last a lifetime, a moment in your timeline that you won’t forget.

Lifetime learning with CPDs (Continued Professional Development).

If you have a curious mind for knowledge you can continue your growth journey with our diverse CPD programme.

Dorset Art Weeks: May 25 to June 9, Venue 109

The top five reasons to become a counsellor, they say, are:

n Work for yourself. In private practice, you can set the hours you want to work, and have flexibility around taking holidays but most importantly, you can work from home.

n Get to know yourself. Part of the counselling training journey is about personal reflection and taking the time to observe yourself whilst learning different modalities.

n You’ll be surrounded by

Expect to make a difference in people’s lives daily. The work that happens inside the therapy room can help people move forwards to create a more fulfilled life. Iron Mill works from Poole and Exeter, offering courses for qualifying and postqualifying counsellors and psychotherapists. They also have a rich CPD programme for social professionals, a low-cost counselling service to local communities, and a bespoke training service for organisational development. The college is holding an open day in Poole on Wednesday , June 5 from 6pm-8pm.

n Register at ironmill.co.uk or call 01392 219200 or email enquiries@ironmill.co.uk

Thinking of Starting a Career in Counselling?

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Upcoming Poole intakes:

Friday 26th April 2024

Friday 6th September 2024

Visit our website for more info www.ironmill.co.uk

Serving up delicious meals around Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester and surrounding areas

At St Jude's we believe the most important thing is to remain in your own home and maintain your independence and way of life. St Jude's was founded on the principle that great care starts at home. We are committed to providing the highest quality of care – no exceptions. Whether you need 30 minutes once-a-week to help you to the

bank or full time live-in care we

St Jude's provide freshly cooked, locally sourced meals alongside our home care service. These meals are vastly superior to the regular offerings on the market, fresh ingredients, professionally cooked and delivered to your living room ready to eat. Unlike most meals on wheels offerings on the market, all our meals are served by DBS checked drivers on china plates. We believe food should be a treat not a chore so we take the hassle out of it. Think room service with a smile. 2

can provide experienced professional carers. C

Pharmacies sign up to prescribe

Twenty-five pharmacies in our area have signed up to the Government’s Pharmacy First scheme, which enables your local pharmacy to treat some common conditions with prescription-only medicines, without you visiting your GP.

The pharmacies can now supply prescription-only treatment for sinusitis (patients aged 12 and over), sore throat (age 5+), earache (age one-17), infected insect bite (age one+), impetigo (age 18+), shingles (age 18+) and uncomplicated urinary tract infections (women aged 16 to 64).

The pharmacies are:

n Beaminster: Flagship in Hogshill Street

n Bridport: Boots, West St, Bestway, East St, SD Fifty,

n Bridport Medical Centre

Charmouth: FG Lock, The Street

n Chickerell: Day Lewis in East Street

n Dorchester: Boots

Cornhill, Tesco Weymouth

Ave, Tout Ltd Brewery Sq, Superdrug South St, Aunpharma Maud Rd

n Littlemoor: Rowlands, Littlemoor Shopping Centre

n Lyme Regis: Lloyds, Uplyme Rd

n Piddlehinton: AutoMeds, Enterprise Park

n Poundbury: Aunpharma, St John Way

n Preston: Rowlands in Littlemoor Rd

n Sherborne: Boots, Flagship and Bestway in Cheap St

n Weymouth: Asda, Newstead Rd, Well in Buxton Rd Rodwell, Well in Crescent St, Well in Abbotsbury Rd, Wessex Pharmacy in Avenue Rd, Morrisons in Dorchester Rd.

Eds together on water issue

The leader of the Liberal Democrats stopped in West Bay on a whistlestop tour of Dorset, meeting up with West Dorset Lib Dem candidate Edward Morello to discuss sewage in our waters. The two Eds are making the issue a priority after latest data out from the Environment Agency on permitted sewage overflows in 2023 showed that untreated sewage spilled into the River Lim, in Lyme Regis, for 1300 hours. Edward said: “While the

Conservatives have introduced fines for the water companies they have given them a get out of jail free card by only fining them if the problem is not caused by excess rainfall.”

He added: “In 2023 there were 3,800 sewage releases in West Dorset. The Lib Dems pushed for unlimited fines but the Conservatives voted it down. “We would like to make the water companies into public benefit companies rather than massive profits going to foreign owners.”

Voters are urged to take a STAND

Electors are being urged to vote in next month’s local elections only for candidates who oppose the controversial ‘Norchester’ development. A consortium of landowners and developers led by housebuilder Persimmon wants to build up to 4,000 houses on farmland north of Dorchester. Objectors say Norchester, which will dwarf Poundbury, will fail to deliver the truly affordable homes urgently needed for local residents, destroy important wildlife habitats, increase the risk of flooding in the Frome Valley and threaten Dorchester’s water supply. Campaign group STAND, which is fighting the development, says voters should question candidates about the proposal before exercising their vote.

Dorset Council, which has included Norchester in its draft

Local Plan, faces the possibility of political upheaval after the local elections. The controlling Conservative group is battling to retain its small majority. The chair of STAND (Save the Area North of Dorchester) Jane Ashdown says voters should challenge candidates of all parties about their views on the massive development. “Work on a new local plan will start in November,” explained Ms Ashdown. “It’s vital the new council takes into account the deep concerns which emerged when they last consulted the public.”

Ms Ashdown says concerns about flooding have grown in recent years. “People tell us they are also worried about the impact on drainage of a new link road across Dorchester’s historic water meadows.” Elections also take place on

May 2 for Dorchester Town Council, and the parish councils of Stinsford and Charminster – the two villages which will be most affected by the proposed development.

All three councils have said they oppose the plan. STAND director Nigel Kay said voters should use the election to hammer home the message to all candidates that this is “the wrong development, in the wrong place”.

n Two campaign groups have requested an urgent meeting with Dorset Council after the council delayed publication of its Local Plan by another year. It is now three years since a public consultation in which the plan was heavily criticised. In an open letter to leader of Dorset Council Cllr Spencer Flower, Dorset CPRE and the Dorset Deserves Better (DDB) campaign say Dorset Council

must now listen to communities’ views.

Neil Matthews, chairman of Dorset CPRE said: “The Local Plan is an essential blueprint for the development of Dorset and yet Dorset Council seem to be continually dragging their feet.

“The initial draft Local Plan was very disappointing with excessive market housing mostly on greenfield sites, far too little to address the needs of local people for social and lowcost housing and nothing to address the climate and ecological challenges we face.”

Giles Watts of the Dorset Deserves Better Campaign said: “Following the consultation, the council accepted that the Local Plan did not reflect the views or priorities of local communities.

“Our letter reminds Dorset Council of the concerns and priorities expressed by Dorset residents in the consultation.”

Neurodiversity hub welcomed

A new Dorset Neurodiversity Hub is now helping neurodiverse people source information on a range of conditions – particularly autism and ADHD. The hub, at nhsdorset.nhs. uk/neurodiversity will provide information for people of all ages. It has been developed as part of NHS Dorset’s All Age Neurodevelopmental Review, which identified a need for better information about support for people on the spectrum.

The new website includes signposting to a wide range of support, including peer support groups, local and national charities, online advice and guidance, and professional support. It also features articles and blogs written by members of Dorset’s neurodivergent community, and video interviews with

neurodivergent people and their families.

NHS Dorset has worked in partnership with people on the spectrum to develop the new website. The term neurodiversity is used to describe and celebrate the concept that our brains all work differently. One in seven people may have one or more neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia or Tourette’s.

Mark Harris, Deputy Director of Place at NHS Dorset, said: “A range of support is available to those who need it, and you don’t always need a clinical diagnosis to access it.”

Trish Jubb, chair of Dorset Adult Asperger’s Support (DAAS), said: “I am delighted at the detail and care involved, with considerable input from autistic people and others who will actually use it.”

By Miranda Robertson miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk

In a world where high street shops are withering on the vine, cut to the quick by high rates and bills and low footfall, it is heartening to know that independent bookshops are experiencing a bit of a renaissance.

In 2022, the number of indie book shops hit a ten-year high, as people fell back in love with the printed page.

Julian Nangle, 76, has been a book seller for well over 50 years. He knows a thing or two about books, having seen the industry go into freefall thanks to Amazon, then perk up after the pandemic as people sought out book shops and the comforting embrace of a 3D book. It’s been boom and bust, then boom again over and over in that time, and he’s been constantly on the move, owning shops in London, then in Bridport, Blandford and Weymouth. He has now settled into a little shop in Dorchester’s Durngate Street, where he and his wife Anna, 68, a chiropractor and qi gong specialist, also live. It’s a cosy space, attracting bibliophiles of all kinds, who can ring the bell during usual business hours and, if the Nangles are in, which is most of the time, be admitted to browse the shelves.

The Nangles have lived here for two years, but have been in books in the county town for much longer. Before the pandemic they had a shop on High East Street for three years and before that they had a bookshop where Reloved is now, at the top of South Street, called Words Etcetera. Julian said: “We opened that in 1994 and sold it in 2006. I’d used that name since 1975.

“These days I sell books as a sort of hobby, but it’s

A turn-up for the books: One man’s tale of renaissance

necessary income as we’re on state pensions.”

He added: “Our hey-day was in the 80s, when modern first editions were popular. I remember selling some Beatles lyrics in 1988, for £32,000 – they’d be worth £320,000 now. Paul McCartney eventually bought them back.”

After he had been working in the trade for some years, Julian and his first wife Edith opened a book shop in a former grocer’s in Islington in 1975.

The shop proved hugely popular, with luminaries such as Ted Hughes frequent visitors, talking about their work and answering questions before signing their

all my life, but particularly when times are hard.

“The death of your child… you cannot possibly know how it feels until it happens to you.”

Channelling his grief into poetry enabled Julian to raise funds for the hospice that cared for Poppy. He continues to champion poets, amateur and professional, running open mic poetry afternoons on a Sunday two or three times a year. Despite having a shop bulging with terrific books, he doesn’t have a personal collection. And he doesn’t turn his nose up at any genre of book.

He said: “I’m not highbrow at all. I didn’t go to university.

“I’ve read every single Sherlock Holmes, so perhaps I would like to own those.

books. It was so hip, it was featured in Time Out In 1978, Edith left and moved to France with their two daughters. It was the written word that saved him falling into the abyss.

“My favourite writers include Seamus Heaney, Rory Stewart, Alan Watts and Jung. Alan Watts saved me after Edith left.”

Devouring one of Watts’ books in five days, Julian started to put himself back together. He wrote a lot of poetry – something he always does when he is troubled.

“I wrote a book of poems after my youngest daughter Poppy died of cancer. She was 38. She had just had her birthday. I’ve written poetry

“However I don’t hold on to books – I don’t call myself a collector. The books I have with the greatest value are those ones my eldest daughter made by hand. I have had books inscribed to me by poets, and I regret selling a book inscribed to me by Ted Hughes during one of my poverty moments! “I would like to own anything at all by Bob Dylan – I think he’s extraordinary. “There’s one book in particular, that he inscribed to John Lennon and Yoko Ono, in which he called her Yoyo. “I’d love to own that.”

n The Occasional Bookshop, AKA Nangle Rare Books, is at 16 Durngate Street, Dorchester DT1 1JP. Call 01305 261186 or pop by and ring the bell – you will be made very welcome. There’s a 50% off art books sale currently on. The next open mic poetry session at the shop is on Sunday, June 2, 3pm-5pm (doors open 2.30pm).

PAGE TURNER: Julian Nangle amonst the packed shelves at his bookshop in Dorchester’s Durngate Street

Friendship group’s Freedom donation

Weymouth and Portland Friendship Group gave £350 to MV Freedom, their chosen charity for the last two years.

MV Freedom was launched 40 years ago and just last year has taken 1,700 people with physical challenges and disabilities out to sea along the Jurassic coast. MV Freedom needs to raise £20,000 each year to make these trips possible and keep the charity going.

THANKS:

Gaggle’s glorious gardens win gong

With four acres of stunning gardens, a soft play area in a double decker bus, an ice cream parlour and pygmy goats, it is little surprise The Gaggle of Geese in Buckland Newton has been voted Best Pub Garden in the national Great British Pub Awards. Sarah and Simon Colquhoun bought the Gaggle of Geese seven years ago, spending ten months creating a chic, country interior before turning their attention to the wild and neglected four-acre plot.

Sarah and Simon, along with enthusiastic villagers, began transforming the space into a magnificent garden where children can safely free-range, playing pingpong in the shack and crazy golf, while friends and families indulge in delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere.

Simon said: “Best Pub Garden is the most notable industry award in the pub trade, and it is fantastic to win it and nice to celebrate it. When Sarah and I took on the Gaggle we knew the garden could be a unique and special space and we are so pleased to

receive that recognition. “There were several rounds of the shortlisting process with the written application, unannounced visits from the judges along with a Zoom interview with the judging panel.”

This freehouse also has two teepees perfect to host celebrations and its many outdoor events and a woodfired oven. There are three shepherd huts and numerous camping pitches, so as many as 90 people can spend the night.

Simon said: “When we took on the pub there was nothing in the garden. It was

wild. We would hold gardening days with cohorts of villagers.

Sarah and I have a little boy and we wanted the gardens to be inclusive, a space for children to explore and be happy. We are the only pub in the village and are hidden, so people often find us only if they are lost!”

The Gaggle has strong links with the school and hosts the annual village fete and firework display.

n 01300 345249

gaggleofgeese.co.uk

Make do and mend: Repair café’s neighbourly award

Weymouth’s repair café has been named the UK’s Local Community Group of the Year at Nextdoor’s Good Neighbour Awards 2024.

Ros Dean started the volunteer-run

Repair Café in 2019.

The café is held at Top Club, Louviers Road, Littlemoor (DT3 6AY) on the second Saturday of the month, 10.30am-12.30pm.

There is no charge for repairs, but donations are encouraged – the cash goes to a local charity chosen by the café’s volunteers at their annual meeting.

Friendship Club treasurer Godfrey Williams with Mel and Margaret handing a cheque to Freedom Trustee Peter York, supported by Freedom Fundraising Chair Chris Marlow

Hut makers turning up the heat at flower show

Dorset-based master hut makers Plankbridge will be taking a 14ft handcrafted Sauna Snug to RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May, when it returns to its favourite spot in Ranelagh Gardens. The sauna is handcrafted from the finest sustainable Scandinavian aspen and comes in wood-fired or electric power options.

MD Richard Lee said: “We’re very excited to be returning to Chelsea for our 12th year running with a design that really showcases the very best of craftsmanship. Every inch of the Sauna Snug is built by hand, from the wooden coat pegs down to the door latches, which are made in our own forge over Dorset charcoal.”

Trustee wanted to build wellbeing

A charity dedicated to improving the wellbeing and resources of the community in Bridport is looking for a trustee with knowledge of building maintenance.

Bridport Area Development Trust (BADT) has been responsible for innovative initiatives in the town, not least the Literary and Scientific Institute (LSI) in East Street and the multiaward-winning West Bay Discovery Centre. The charity works in partnership to identify, plan, and deliver projects that meet local need and provide long-term benefit to Bridport and beyond. They employ managing

agents to deal with day-today maintenance and to liaise with tenants, and the new trustee will be responsible for approving higher-value works, liaising as necessary with the tenants and advising fellow trustees of planned maintenance and substantial repairs. Experience of building services, maintenance, construction, or engineering is essential.

BADT chair Phyllida Culpin said: “We are a tight-knit, focused, handson, and supportive team and would be delighted to welcome a new member.”

For deatils email mail@ bridportadt.org.uk or call 07810 708591.

HANDCRAFTED: The Plankbridge Sauna Snug

Library service

Lyme Regis Home Library Service is making a difference, delivering books and talking books to those unable to get to their local library.

Books are chosen by Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) volunteers based on individual preferences and can be provided in different formats. To find out more about receiving the service please phone the RVS office on 01305 236666 or email dorset homelibraryservice@ royalvoluntaryservice. org.uk

Festival fun

Booking is now open for Beaminster Festival –and there’s some great workshops for young people in May half term, ahead of the main event in June.

Kev F Sutherland will give a Comic Art Masterclass on May 29,and Jo Burlington of Oops Wow! will lead freely expressive Drawing to Music, on May 30 and 31 and June 1. There will be workshops in creative writing from Lulu Allison and in storytelling for adults from Emily Hennessey. . n beaminster festival.com

Leader search

The 1st Beaminster Scout Group is looking for a new leader.

Email Joy Edwards at Edwards-joye321 @btinternet.com

Wiser, tougher and ready

Beware the quiet man. For while others speak, he watches. And while others act, he plans. And when they finally rest… he strikes. Anon

By Miranda Robertson miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk

West Dorset’s MP Chris Loder is about as far from the constituency’s usual politician as it’s possible to be.

He grew up in an ordinary farming family in Folke, near Sherborne, and attended the Gryphon School, then spent 20 years working on the trains.

He said: “In the 90s and early 2000s I felt like a second-class citizen, not having been to university. “But BSE and foot and mouth had brought our farm to its knees and we just couldn’t afford university. “But I did love my time on the trains, and went all over the country and all over the world.”

He was just 38 when he was selected as the Tory candidate for a snap election in 2019, when the average age of those elected was 51. He had never nurtured dreams of being an MP and only wanted to represent one of the three constituencies within a few miles of where he lived.

Despite having experienced tough situations – as part of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) and on 7/7, when he was manager of Paddington Station, aged 23, and had to evacuate passengers when a bomb went off 100 yards up the track – becoming MP was a shock to the system, and he’s had to toughen up enormously since.

“My predecessor went to

Eton and was a career politician,” he says. “He could have been an MP anywhere. I would only have represented West Dorset, North Dorset or South Somerset. It’s never been my life’s ambition to do this job.

“I think I’m more down to earth, more hands-on.

“When you represent your home it’s different to when you’re flown in.

“I think because I am from this area I am intuitive about what’s right for this community.”

His victory saw him scoop a record number of votes –33,359. However the higher than usual turnout meant his majority was lower than Letwin’s. “Brexit was still a thing,” he says. “The Lib Dems promised to reverse Brexit and people voted for that.”

The first two years were a rough ride – especially for a new politician. The pandemic meant that MPs were having to deal with unprecedented issues and challenges.

whose businesses were going to go bust, people isolating and not knowing where to turn – very serious situations, urgent situations. “I remember I discovered vitamin D tablets then – I was so pale with the lack of sunlight.

“The second two years have enabled me to be the type of constituency MP I wanted to be.”

Now 42, Chris is looking ahead to his second election as a wiser, tougher person. He said: “Being in the RMT toughened me up a bit, but nothing prepared me for how threatened you can feel when you’re an MP. I’ve been mobbed in the street, I’ve had someone stalking around my garden at night. Looking back, I would like to have been more prepared for that.”

He started dating George, a doctor, just after being elected and the pair are still going strong.

George has accompanied him on the odd work outing, but Chris is loath to wheel

to fight a General Election

A new extension has been opened at Sherborne’s Apples Medical Centre. MP Chris Loder opened a new annexe with treatment rooms, which will benefit more than 5,500 patients from Sherborne and the surrounding villages and expanding capacity for nurses, pharmacists, and nurse

practitioners.

Mr Loder was joined at the opening by Bruce Duncan, Chair of the Apples Patients Group (APG); Simon Galvin, Vice Chair the APG; Sarah Webster, Operational Manager of Sherborne Primary Care; and Cheryl Monnox of Dorset NHS Estates.

n Remember, if you are voting in the local elections in May, or the national elections when they are called, you will need valid ID. An expired passport can still be used if the photo is still a good likeness.

realise in his own quiet way. “People can misinterpret the fact I am softly spoken, and believe I don’t have grit, determination and tenacity,” he said.

“But there weren’t many new MPs who called for the Prime Minister to go (Boris Johnson), publicly in the Sunday Telegraph

“There will always be people with deeply held political views that prevent them seeing that.

“I was so moved when a staunch Labour supporter gave me a present to thank me for helping him and his wife in a difficult situation.

“They would never vote for me, but being a politician isn’t always about politics. “And being an MP isn’t easy, especially when you are presented with issues for which there’s no satisfactory answer. You have to make a decision, despite not liking any of the options.”

Chris is proud of what he has achieved – most notably helping to win funding for Dorset County Hospital to extend its emergency department: “That came from some pretty intense lobbying.”

There’s also his work on the Animal Welfare Bill: “That turned up the dial on prosecutions.”

Above all, he aims to grab a fairer share of funding for what has been seen as a prosperous area and is thus underfunded, compared to others with more visible deprivation.

Whether he will win a second term is now up to the electorate, and with the Lib Dems looking rosy in the polls for West Dorset, it’s crunch time for the Tories here, after 139 years.

Next month: Lib Dem candidate Edward Morello

Your memoirs

Writer Sheena Dearness invites you to join her at the Write your Memoirs sessions at the Mission Hall, Sutton Poyntz. Photos on mobiles or texts cannot be passed on to your future generations but a written book of your life can be. Part I and II cost £35 each. Email sheena dearness51@gmail.com or ring 07875 842399.

Robot pharmacy

A Dorchester pharmacy has been granted planning consent to install a 24-hour prescription ‘robot’. The Victoria Park pharmacy in Maud Road will replace one of its front windows with the device.

Museum’s role in Ukraine conflict

Bovington Tank Museum has been playing a role in Ukraine’s war with Russia –digging out manuals and parts for Cold War-era vehicles.

Both Ukraine and Russia are using ageing tanks that are suffering damage, often driving over mines and losing their tracks.

As part of the Government’s support to Ukraine, companies have been asked to assist with replacement parts and upgrades to vehicles – and this included replacement tracks. However, the technical specifications have been hard to source. Museum curator David Willey looked in the extensive archive and found manuals and drawings for the tanks being used by President Zelensky’s forces. These have helped Cook Defence Systems re-engineer new tracks, some of which have just arrived in Ukraine

and will help the country’s army keep fighting. With the war more than two years old there is a requirement to keep as much hardware as they can on the battlefield.

The MTLB, BMP1 and T72 armoured vehicles were originally in service when Ukraine was part of the USSR, and it is these that are back in action. Mr Willey said: “UK’s defence companies are very keen to assist but in some cases the people from the Cold

War era are no longer around and the knowledge has gone in some areas. Details such as the angles, pitch and tension required for the new tracks were sought and our archive was able to provide them. “We also found examples of the actual items required such as T72 tracks and pins from one of the vehicles in the collection. The new parts could then be made accurately, some for the very first time in the UK.

“Part of the museum’s role is to help retain corporate memory and it’s surprising how many issues for defence contractors, designers and of course the actual soldiers, come back again and again.

“We also have Ukrainian soldiers training here at Bovington and they visit the museum and just as with the current British Army, the collection is used for training.

“This goes back to the beginnings of the museum which was created as a teaching collection for the first Tank Corps soldiers at the end of the First World War.”

Cook Defence Systems, headquartered in Sheffield, can trace its history as the manufacturer of tracks for British armoured fighting vehicles back to 1941. It develops and makes a range of tracks, including those for the Challenger 2 tank.

P 50 years of experience

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MAKING TRACKS: One of the British-made T2 tracks and, left, one of the manuals

Admission is always free, so come along and bring your friends!

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Charity’s £6k bid for bigger space

A charity in Bridport which has given vital mental health support to thousands of people over the last decade is asking residents to dig deep to help them raise £6,000 for bigger premises in their crowdfunding initiative. Harmony mental health charity has outgrown its Gundry Lane premises and is moving to larger premises on St Michael’s Trading Estate –but they need our help to make the move.

Renovation and refurbishment is underway to adapt the venue into a mental health and wellbeing hub where anyone in West Dorset experiencing challenges can access activities and support or visit the Community Front Room if they are feeling in

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crisis. The charity has already raised a substantial amount through the National Lottery Reaching Communities grant and donations but need £6,000 to complete the move. Harmony trustee Ali Cliffe said: “So much thought and effort has gone into find the right venue, and to ensure it will provide the right facilities to offer an accessible, friendly, safe and confidential space for everyone who uses our services. Launching this crowdfunder is our appeal to the local community to support Harmony to provide this hub.”

n See crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ the-harmony-centre-newvenue-refurbishment

Home’s Oscar winners

A care home hosted a memorable Oscarsthemed event at their very own pub, awarding residents and staff in 12 fun award categories. Selwood House in Charlton Down decorated its Boathouse pub in

black and gold and presented Oscar Statue Trophies.

Awards such as the Grandma’s Hug Award and Most Likely to Surprise You were among the many accolades on the night.

A village pub which closed in 2020 to the dismay of the community is set to open up again – but initially only two days a week.

The Piddle Inn in Piddletrenthide shut up shop during the pandemic. Alan Craske bought the premises during the second lockdown and turned it into an AirBnB.

Last year, Mr Craske submitted a plan to turn it into residential accommodation, but planners refused, saying there must be an attempt to run it as a pub before an important village amenity is lost forever.

The Friends of the Piddle Inn has been trying to raise the cash to buy the pub, which they have succeeded in getting designated an ‘asset of community value’.

Now Mr Craske is due to

focusing on local Weymouth and Portland seafood in the not too distant future.”

WELCOME BACK: The Piddle Inn at Piddletrenthide

Pub to reopen for two days a week

open the pub on Wednesdays and Fridays from 4pm, starting on April 10. But Mr Craske says those hours could change. He said: “After being closed for some years due to a poor business from lack of use, covid and then substantial renovation works which are still

ongoing, the Piddle Inn pub in the country village of Piddletrenthide is set to open whenever possible on a Wednesday and Friday from April 10, 4pm onwards.

“Being able to provide any choice of food is still some way off but it is hoped to provide a tapas-type menu

A Friends of the Piddle Inn spokesman said: “Our goal, as a group, is for the Piddle Inn to open as a public house, for use and enjoyment by the local and wider community. Nearly three-and-a-half years after closure we welcome the idea of a partial opening, but do feel that for longterm viability extended opening hours and an inclusive food provision will be needed.

“Friends of the Piddle Inn very much hope the reopening is a great success and encourage the community to support it.”

Learning curves and slippery slopes

By Karen Bate karen@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Jump out of bed, throw on your uniform, grab a quick breakfast and run to catch the school bus. That may sound a familiar morning routine to many of us but what would it be like to start your school day on the side of a snow-capped mountain?

That’s the reality for GB Alpine Ski Racer Ryan

‘The Rocket’ Faber, from Dorchester, who for part of the year, swaps the school bus for the ski lift, starting each day on the slopes.

Better yet, thanks to online schooling, 16-year-old Ryan’s timetable lets him fit his studies around his training and sees him spend just a few hours in live lessons per day, meaning that when he’s not hitting the books, he’s hitting the slopes.

So, what does an average school day look like for one of the rising stars of British skiing?

“I spend the winter months in Austria training and competing with Ambition Racing – the ski academy I’ve been with since I was seven years old,” said Ryan.

“My training schedule is intense, which means that going to a normal school is really difficult. Joining my online school has been a game changer and it means I can fit all my lessons around my race training.

“My day usually starts at around 6.15am, when it’s time to get up, have some breakfast and grab my kit ready to head out onto the slopes. I leave the house at 7am and I’m usually

FAST LEARNER: Ryan Faber has been part of the Ambition Racing ski academy since he was seven years old

skiing by 8am.

“I train for around four hours with my coach, before heading back to the team house around noon to grab some lunch.

“After lunch it’s time for school. I’m studying for my GCSEs so my afternoons are spent doing school work, attending lessons and doing any reading that I need to do for my classes later in the week.”

Ryan said: “My timetable is different from a normal school as you do a lot of the work in your own time, usually before doing the live lesson with your teacher so we do a lot of the reading beforehand and spend the lessons discussing the topics and going over anything we aren’t sure of.

“As long as I’ve got my laptop with me, I can study from anywhere so that can mean catching up with my reading on my way up the mountain in a ski gondola or watching some of the

lesson videos slope-side if I’ve got some spare time while I’m training. “As well as training, I compete in events across Europe so being able to do my school work when I have time means that I’ve got more flexibility if I need to fit some extra training or gym sessions in.”

And fitness is a huge part of Ryan’s daily routine, he said: “When I’m done with school at around 5.30pm it’s into the gym for a workout skiing takes more than just good balance and speed, you need to have a really high level of fitness too so I tend to spend around an hour each

night working out. “Before heading down for dinner, I also do some stretching and exercises recommended by my physio to make sure I’m in the best possible shape. “After dinner, I spend some time prepping my ski kit for the next day and analysing my performance using video footage from my morning’s training –this is really important as I can see exactly what’s working and where I

ALL PULL TOGETHER:

The ringers of St Mary’s

£25k appeal for bells

By Karen Bate

Time has taken its toll on the bells of St Mary’s Church in Bridport and a project to raise £25,000 for an appealing upgrade has been launched.

The eight bells of St Mary’s have rung well during their 100 years, and while all sound as good as they did individually since they were recast in 1924, rung together is proving ‘difficult’, a symptom of their wear.

Tower captain Bob Hardwick said: “Some are a bit stiff, and ring a bit slower, some are a bit worn, and ring a bit quicker, and who can blame them, after 100 years! “All the main bearings and clapper bearings will be checked and replaced where needed. The completed work will improve the peal of the bells, and hopefully their appeal!”

The bells were re-cast in 1924, not long after the great war, however, the tower has housed bells since 1552, when it was noted Bridport had three bells. By 1774 this had increased to five with a clock and a further bell was added in 1843. The final two bells were added in 1887. n A project is paying tribute to the Bridport families who have helped keep the peals alive over the last century, with an inscription on each of the eight bells. They are appealing for any member of

the families to get in touch: churchwardens@bridport-team-ministry.org

Bell 1: Rector EJLB Henslowe, Churchwardens S. Whetham, JW Hartgill. In memory of Edward Humphrieys, killed in action in 1915. Bell 2, Jubilate Deo, from the Women in Bridport 1887. Bell 3 1843 Rector R Broadley. 1924 The Sunday School teachers and scholars of the parish. Bell 4 1924 St Mary’s Ringers WH Bsihop, J Tompkins, TCS Podger, E Manuel, WSB Northover, F Beer, JGale, VSC Keech, WJ Zealley, CW Crabb, ET Spencer.

Bell No 5 1924 Churchwardens John Colfox, Elias Punfield. Cast by Thomas Bayly. Re-cast 1887 William Colfox. Re-cast in 1924 in memory of Thomas David Colfox killed in action 1918. Bell 6 1924 in memory of William KerridgeBrown. Bell 7 Re-cast in 1924 in memory of JA Collins L.R. 1873-1908. 1887 S Whetham, 1898 W James, 1902

WB Northover Priest AM Furlonge, Carling Suttill, Fanny George, SJ Allden

Bell 8 re-cast in 1924 in memory of FJ Balson by Sarah his wife. Churchwardens

WSB Northover, E Clarke, JW Coulter 1843 churchwardens R Tucker, ES Knight

Make a trunk call and book your sponsorship now

A herd of more than 50 brightly-decorated elephants will be arriving in Bridport, West Bay, and Lyme Regis in spring 2025, to raise funds and awareness for Weldmar Hospicecare.

Stampede by the Sea will transform the area into a vibrant, fun, and free art trail, engaging with local families, schools, the business community, and artists. The event was officially launched at the Electric Palace in Bridport, where the first designs were also unveiled. The elephants will be located around the area, and visitors

to the trail will be able to follow the app to visit each of the sculptures. The trail is

expected to bring a number of extra visitors to the area ahead of the summer season,

NOT ON YOUR NELLIE:

Weldmar team members

Maxine and Bonnie with Waves of Emotion

bringing a welcome boost to the local economy. Funds will be raised for Weldmar Hospicecare through sponsorship of each sculpture and other elements of the art trail, allowing local businesses to play their part in the project and involve employees and customers. A further boost to the charity’s coffers will come at the end of the trail when each of the sculptures will be sold at auction.

n stampedebythesea.org

River campaigners target priorities

Environmental campaigners have set out a list of priorities to bring a river back to life.

River Lim Action’s newly published Ecological Survey sets out recommendations for improvements to the River Lim to boost wildlife and water quality.

The report, by independent freshwater ecologist Dr Dominic Stubbing of Westgate Fisheries, covers the challenges the river faces from sewage, land management, ageing infrastructure and historic

engineering.

The group are now aiming at a number of improvements, which should bring wildlife back to the river, which was declared ‘ecologically dead’ after being heavily polluted for a number of years.

The group want an overhaul of the sewage system to cut pollution, while continuing to gather water quality data to identify where problems are.

The group wants to see improvements in water

separation systems and waste containment on nearby farms, and cattle fencing to protect riverbanks. They want the river made passable for fish and eels and they wants to see the removal of invasive species such as Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed. Finally, they would like to see the river’s flow improved with natural solutions, and to continue monitoring invertebrates. Graham Roberts, one of the River Lim Action coordinators, said: “The

Inspections to increase for water firms

West Dorset’s water companies face a four-fold increase in inspections as part of the Government’s plan to tackle illegal discharges and poor performance. The Environment Agency has started announced and unannounced inspections to tackle noncompliance, illegal discharges, and to address sites at risk.

West Dorset MP Chris Loder said: “Stricter regulation of the water

industry is needed to ensure our waterways remain healthy. It will mean by March 2025, 4,000 water company inspections across England.” He added: “The full funding for these increased inspections – £55 million – is derived from grant-in-aid from Defra to the Environment Agency, and from additional funding through water quality permit charges levied on water companies.”

result of all this is that we’ve got a lot of work ahead to improve the health of the river. We’ve made a start over the last year and the ecological health has improved from a low base. The river is not out of the woods yet”. River Lim Action has presented the report’s findings to Lyme Regis Town Council’s environment committee, which funded the survey. Graham added: “We’re grateful to the town council for making this possible. We’ve come up with a set of priorities for our work based on the report and will be talking to South West Water, the Environment Agency and Dorset Council about how we can secure much needed improvements which only they can deliver. As volunteers we will do what we can –we’ve got a big job on our hands!”

Get ready for a FEAST in Weymou

Feeling peckish? We have glad tidings! Weymouth restaurants are offering a simply scrumptious set of dining out offers for two weeks in May – see details opposite.

This FEAST fortnight is running from May 10-24 at 12 venues around Weymouth, with a wide range of cuisines to try, from French to Turkish to Indian and more.

All you need to do is pre-book your table with the restaurant and quote FEAST24WDM to grab the special offer.

In addition to all of this, many of the restaurants are doing a special deal for WDM readers between May 25 and July 25 –a free tea or coffee with any full-priced meal, if you take along the voucher below. The full details of the restaurants’ offers are at weareweymouth.co.uk, where you can also find out about the huge range of special events We Are Weymouth hosts throughout the year.

The FEAST festival of food runs three times a year, in February, May and November

and features restaurants which are members of Weymouth’s business improvement district (BID). The venues and offers change each time, so it’s worth putting November 1-15 in your diary to check which restaurants are taking part.

Dawn Rondeau, Chief Operations Officer at We Are Weymouth, said:

“Our members have come up with some brilliant offers for FEAST24.

“These offers are unique to FEAST, so make sure you book your table for May 10-24 and quote FEAST24WDM.”

WDM SPECIAL OFFER

FREE tea or coffee with any full-priced meal purchased between May 25 and July 25 inclusive

* Includes: Les Enfants Terribles, Greedy Seagull, Red Lion, Rona, Sea Beats, Nothe Tavern, The Crown Onyx, Wafflicious, Belvedere, Harbour Hut, Aon Thai

uth! Check out our special offers

THE NOTHE TAVERN

Barrack Rd, DT4 8TZ. 01305 787300 facebook.com/thenothetavern

OFFER: 20% OFF main menu. Mondays to Thursdays.

LES ENFANTS TERRIBLE

(Fine French cuisine). 19 Custom House Quay, DT4 8BG. 01305 772270 les-enfants-terribles.co.uk

OFFER: 3 COURSE LUNCH £25.95,

3 COURSE DINNER £32.95

Wednesday to Friday

THE RED LION

1 Hope Sq, Hope St, DT4 8TR 01305 786940

theredlionweymouth.co.uk

OFFER: Unlimted Tea & Coffee with ANY full price meal.

WAFFLICIOUS

46 Esplanade, DT4 8DH

07901 232661 | wafflicious.co.uk

OFFER: Half savoury and half sweet waffle, 20% OFF. FREE

Americano, tea or can of drink with any full waffle bought SEA BEATS

(Seafood) 86 Esplanade, DT4 7AT 01305 767444 | seabeats.co.uk

OFFER: Two courses for £19.95

Wednesday to Saturday.

ONYX at the Crown Hotel

51 St Thomas St, DT4 8EQ 01305 760800

kingshotels.co.uk/restaurants/vaultsrestaurant

OFFER: Daily specials: 2 for £15. Pie of the Day 2 for £16.50. Burgers: 2 for £18

CHILLI’S

(Indian cuisine) 10 Queen St, DT4 7HZ. 01305 766601

chilliesweymouth.com

OFFER: MEAL DEAL: £14.99 per head 1 appetiser, 1 main from set choices 1 sundry, pilau or boiled rice or plain naan and 1 regular tea, coffee or vanilla ice cream.

THE GREEDY SEAGULL

(Mediterranean cuisine) 43 Maiden St, DT4 8AZ. 07375 927829, thegreedyseagull.co.uk

OFFER: 10% OFF entire food menu, Monday-Thursday

HARBOUR HUT (smoke house) 2, Hope Square, DT4 8TR. 01305 81967, harbourhut.com OFFER: 15% off main meals Tues-Thurs

THE BELVEDERE

36 High W St, DT4 8JH 01305 459099 facebook.com/

TheBelvedereWeymouth

OFFER: 2 course Sunday dinner £16 (usually £18.50). Breakfast, Saturday 10.30am-8pm: Unlimited tea & coffee

RONA BAR AND GRILL

(Turkish cuisine)

9-10 St Thomas St, DT4 8EW 01305 457190

ronabarandgrill.co.uk

OFFER: 2 courses £24.50

Feast 24 special menu

AON THAI KITCHEN

27 Maiden St, DT4 8BB 07362 439185

OFFER: 10% Off lunchtime menu, Tuesday to Saturday

l Weddings

l Conferences

l daytime hire

l evening hire

l meeting rooms

l Full fibre broadband and wi-fi

cerneabbasvillagehall.org.uk | 07508 039 280

It’s all happening in our village halls

Village halls are often the heart of the community, and offer not only a place for local people to hold meetings and events, but they also double as wedding and party venues, and somewhere to hold wakes.

Dorset is home to scores of halls, which all offer something different, at a fraction of the price of some other venues. Take a look at all the advertisements in this feature – all the halls are in the west of Dorset.

Apart from these one-off events, the halls are used by many clubs each week. Here is a list of some of the clubs and activities at the halls advertising with us: Bere Regis Village Hall

Monday Mornings at 11am

Pop In Place Move Well: a gentle exercise class for older people. £5 Lyn 01929 471528

1st Tuesday Bere Regis Gardening Club. Email Sue susan97stone@gmail.com

4th Wednesday Bere Regis History Society. Email John john@rocketservices.co.uk

Thursdays The Pop In Performers Group. Adults and children working together on a community production. Alison 01929 472023. Fridays 10am- noon Pop In Place Community Cafe and Shed project. Alison 01929 472023.

Loders Village Hall Mondays, 7pm to 8.30pm, Loders Youth Club, Rachel Tozer 01297 647074

Broadmayne Village Hall

Our hall seats 150 people in rows, 100 at tables.

Ideal for parties, meetings, celebrations, dances and shows. Large equipped modern kitchen. Stage.

Free WiFi and ample parking. Small separate meeting room seats 20 also available. Contact : ( 07835 851269

* bookingsbvhall@gmail.com Web: broadmaynevillagehall.chessck.co.uk

lodersyouthclub@gmail. com

Third Monday, 9.30am to 4pm, A Loada Patchers, Linda Baldrey lindaquilter09@ btinternet.com

Tuesdays (term time), 6.30pm-7.30pm, German lessons, Lucy Chant, 07771 588998

lucychant@icloud.com

Tuesdays, 1.30pm-7pm, All Round Dog and Puppy Training, Judith Bryden ardpt@outlook.com

Second Tuesdays, 7pm-9pm, Loders WI, 01308 485365, loderswi@gmail.com

Continued next page

The main hall is a converted 17th century farm barn, with modern service facilities attached, including a small conference room, fully equipped kitchen, and disabled access to all areas.

For more info see briantspuddle.info or for hiring contact joanto17@sky.com

Upper

Lower

Loders Village Hall

Set in an idyllic rural location this large hall is suitable for many functions including dancing, weddings and parties. There’s a stage, wifi, sound. A south-facing terrace offers views of open countryside. Committee room, meeting room and kitchen, plus parking for 40 vehicles.

Bookings: Chuck Willmott: bogle.2@outlook.com

Loders continued: Wednesdays, 10am to noon, Loders Art Group, Wendy Benge , 07966 434845 wbenge@btinternet.com

The Brownsword Hall

An attractive venue for entertaining and entertainment, with excellent facilities for business meetings: large screen, sound system and WiFi. Caretaker assistance with set-up, entry and exit. Fully-equipped kitchen. Less than a mile from A35 and A37. Ample free parking. brownswordhall@gmail.com | 07468 109515

brownswordhall.org.uk

1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 7.30pm to 10pm, short mat bowls, Carol Hall 01308 423163

Carol.A.Gribb@gmail.com

Morcombelake Village Hall

The James Hargreaves Hall is available to hire at just £15 a session, either morning, afternoon or evening. The hall has excellent facilities for any club or party to utilise. There is a fully fitted kitchen and toilet (modified for disabled use) as well as the large hall itself.

Contact Debbie Hewson on 07956 285221 hargreaveshall.org.uk

Bishops Caundle & Caundle Marsh Village Hall

The village hall is owned and run by the community, providing an inexpensive and convenient venue for events, and to hire privately. A clean, spacious building with a light and friendly atmosphere.

Facilities:

•Main hall - capacity 80

•Meeting room – capacity 20

Kitchen, toilets, tables & chairs, car park

The hall has regular clubs, including badminton, spinning, short mat bowls, pilates, and craft groups. It is also used for private parties, company and club meetings, exhibitions, training courses, and village activities.

01963 23834 | bishopscaundlevillagehall.co.uk info@bishopscaundlevillagehall.co.uk

Thursdays, 2pm to 3pm and Fridays, 9.30am to 10.30am

Tripudio Movement class

Karen Forrester-Jones 07572 543 781, forresterjones.k@gmail.com

Thursdays, 6pm to 7pm, Yoga, Karen Lings 07947 552232, karenlings1@hotmail.com

Fridays, 6pm to 7pm, Taekwando, Steve Mines 07787 447838, stevemines@gmail.com

Bradford Peverell

Mondays: Portrait Group – 10am-12pm. No formal tuition but more experienced members are always happy to help. We are always on the lookout for models paid per session.

Ernest Gamble –egj2009@live.co.uk

Sewing Group – 2pm-4pm jill.nicholas.greencraft@ hotmail.co.uk

Pete’s Pilates – 5pm-6.30pm petewhittet@hotmail.com

Table Tennis – 7pm-8.30pm equipment provided brian1gdrm@icloud.com

Tuesday: Bridge – 10am12.30pm Contact Pauline Goodrum paulinegdrm@icloud.com

Peverell Pilates – 4pm-5pm

Kathy Ashdown 07967 655159 or kathyashdown@peverell pilates.com

Thursday: Coffee morning –Every 2nd Thursday 10.30amnoon. All welcome. Small entrance fee, any surplus to charity.

Sally’s Keep Fit – 6pm-7pm £6 Sally Cunningham

Poundbury’s iconic village hall

tc.cunningham@btinternet.com

The hall also hosts regular pub games nights’ quiz nights, and special events.

Bishops Caundle & Caundle

Marsh Village Hall

Mondays: 10am-3pm, 1st Monday of month

Embellishers – all levels, 3rd Monday College Group – all levels, 4th Monday

Connections – all levels 6 pm-9pm Pilates – all welcome

Tuesdays: 10am -1pm

Bishops Caundle Quilters – all levels. 2pm-5pm Short Mat Bowls – all welcome. 7.30pm8.30pm Spinning (bikes) – all welcome

Wednesdays: 10am-4pm 3rd Wednesday Craft Club – all levels. 8pm-11pm (fortnightly)

Badminton – all welcome

Thursdays: 9am-11am Pilates – all welcome. 7pm-10pm Short Mat Bowls – all welcome

Contact details on the hall website.

Longburton and Cam Vale Mondays 7pm-9pm:

Badminton: contact Steve Harrington steveha27 @aol.com 07979 914457

Friendly mixed ability group and welcome new members. 3pm-5.15pm Short Mat Bowls contact Graeme Anderson anderson.graeme@ btinternet.com

Wednesdays: 10am-noon

Pilates: Contact Emma Marfe info@emmamarfe.com marfepilates.com

PickleBall 7pm-9pm. Contact Terrie Crooks

terriegc@icloud.com

Thursdays: Garden Club

Contact Gwenda Brocklehurst

Alan.Brocklehurst1@ btinternet.com

New members are very welcome.

May 9 6pm Discount Evening at Castle Gardens. May 18 10.30am plant sale at 6, Dene Close. June 6 summer outing to Hestercombe. June 22 flower festival and cream tea in St James’ Church.

September 5 7.30pm Home

Grape Grower and Wine

Maker by Andy Waring in the hall. October 3 7.30pm AGM. November 7 7.30pm pruning – in the hall.

Art Club: 1st and 3rd Thursday each month from 10am to noon

Contact Diane Hart mercury.21@hotmail.co.uk

Really friendly, self-help group who enjoy relaxing mornings following a varied programme of artistic activities.

Beginners welcome, Just turn up for a taster session.

Second Saturday: Plodders

Walking Group : contact Graeme Anderson 07960 495318. Gather at 10.30am. Walks 3-4 miles long, start at the bus stop in the centre of Longburton, opposite the church, and take about two hours. Afterwards walkers often go to the Longburton Rose & Crown pub.

James Hargreaves Village Hall, Morcombelake Garden club meets once a month.

Soup and cheese also meet once a month for lunch.

Cam Vale Community Hall, Longburton village

n Weddings & Parties

n Conferences & Events

n Private meetings

n Hire by hour or day

n Parking

n Large & Small Rooms

Morcombelake crafters

Monday 2pm to 4pm

U3A orchestra alternate Wednesdays 10am to noon

Table tennis Wednesday 4pm to 6pm

Art and Watercolour alternate Thursdays 10am to noon. The National Trust, Parish Council and Hardown Society regularly book their meetings. The hall is also booked for parties, weddings and elections.

Once a month we have an event, sometimes a quiz, sometimes bingo, sometimes we have a speaker.

Whatever the event there is always food. From May, we hope to host a pop up pub once a month, subject to licencing approval.

Once a year, there is a plant sale, a coffee morning for Macmillan, and one for the Weldmar Hospice.

We also run a village lunch once a year, sitting down over fifty people to a two course meal for the last two years, and will again this year. We are also planning a summer village picnic to leave from the hall.

Frampton Village Hall

Mondays: Evolution Zumba with Abby Farmer, all abilities welcome, 7-8pm. Minimum age of 13, all under 16s to be accompanied by an adult. Booking in advance via text 07957 745414.

Tuesdays: Pilates with Shirley Smith. Mixed ability 9.15am10.15am. Gentle/beginners 10.30am-11.30am. Gender neutral. Enquiries 07789

n Heating & Air Conditioning

n Full Fibre Broadband

n Hearing Loop

n Lighting options

camvalecommunityhall.org.uk

info@camvalecommunityhall.org.uk

991424, ShirleySmithPilates @aol.com

Aerobics, including strength, core and balance work with Sally Cunningham, all abilities welcome 6pm-7pm, £6 per session. Contact 01300 341092 or tc.cunningham @btinternet.com

Wednesdays: Coffee morning, last Wednesday of every month, 10am-12pm. All welcome.

Still Water Reflecting Sangha, Mindful Buddhist Meditation for all with Val Ghose, 2nd and 4th Wednesday 7.30pm-9.30pm. Contact: val.ghose@btinternet.com

plumvillage.uk

Trainmaster: Train themed children’s events, with Kayleigh Mcfeeters for active babies and pre-schoolers, £8 per child (accompanying adult goes free) Once a month 10am-11am

trainmaster.co.uk/dorset

Thursdays: Crafters community with Sarah Bramwell. Just bring any art or craft to do.

Everyone welcome, 10am1pm. £3 inc tea/coffee and biscuits. Contact 07758 822533 or sarahbramwell beads@gmail.com

Continued next page

Bradford Peverell Village Hall

The main hall is approximately 14m x 7m and has a sprung floor. There’s central heating, and main and wall lighting. A clean, modern kitchen is equipped with a full selection of crockery, cutlery, saucers, teapots, a large tea urn etc.

Standard charge: £8 per hour

Wedding charges are £75 for villagers, the Hirer must be resident, and £100 for non-villagers.

Any additional time is charged at the hourly rate. 07905 463880 | bradfordpeverellvillagehall19@gmail.com

Melbury Osmond Village Hall, DT2 0LU

A friendly village hall with modern facilities in the heart of west Dorset. Capacity: 100 seated. Car parking for 20 vehicles. Catering facilities, wifi available. Outdoor facilities, space for marquee.

Hire Charges: £45 for a half day, £150-£450 for catered events, requirements to be discussed with booking team

Contact Marg: 07976 931697 margbone@hotmail.com or Annette: 07789 553269 annette.caesley@gmail.com or go to melburyosmond.co.uk

FREE WIFI!

Brownsword Hall, Poundbury

Mondays: Keep fit 9.45am-1pm, Maggie Moone 01305 259377.

Dorchester Camera Club 6.50pm-10.20pm Penny Piddock 01305 771235.

Tuesdays: Slimming World 4.30pm-10pm Teresa Paul

Frampton Village Hall

A modern hall with excellent facilities. The main hall seats 130 and there’s a meeting room and a fully equipped kitchen. Large car park and outside paved seating area. A great place for meetings, parties, events and weddings.

Hall letting secretary: Sam Daunton 07816 760054 | framptonvillagehall.org

07854 402259. Cheeky Monkeys parents & toddlers group 12.30pm-3pm Georgia

Tidman 01305 457920.

Wednesdays: the hall is available for business bookings. Contact Wendy Gordon 07468 109515

Thursdays: Line dancing, 9.30am-noon and 6pm-10pm

Pulham Village Hall, DT2 7DZ

Available to hire for parties, wedding receptions, training sessions, bingo, coffee mornings etc. Reasonable rates – currently £10 per hour. Plenty of free parking. Facilities include stage, kitchen, large hall with small or long tables. Toilets have recently been refurbished along with extensive maintenance work.

pulhamvillagehall@hotmail.com | 07974 314578

Leigh Village Hall

Set in the centre of the village, with ample parking and over two acres of landscaped grounds, Leigh’s hall is an ideal venue for every type of function.

l Large main hall with semi-sprung floor, seats 150 or 100 with tables. l Fully equipped kitchen.

l Committee room. l Full wifi, integrated sound system and projector. l 72 parking spaces.

Leighvillagehallbookings@outlook.com

Bob Francis 01305 852026. Steps in Motion (2nd & 4th Thursday 12.15pm to 1.30pm)

Maggie Moone 01305 259377. Art in Poundbury painting class (1st & 3rd Thursday 1.30pm-4pm) Pam Philip 01305 265832.

Fridays: Pilates 9.25am12.50pm Claire Myers 07969 133468. Ballet be Fit 1pm3pm Kellie Fox 07568 669377.

Leigh Village Hall

Mondays: Men’s table tennis, short mat bowls, Pilates

Tuesday: Women’s table tennis, Discussion club (1st Tuesday) , Moviola films ( 3rd Tuesday)

Wednesdays: National Theatre Live screening – see ntlive.com for details

Thursdays: Tai chi, Pilates, Sing4fun, Dance fit

Fridays: Men’s table tennis, Power of performance youth theatre and dance group, The famous Leigh Pop Inn (last Friday of the month)

We are really proud of two unique things in our village hall as well as the busy schedule of classes. We have monthly screenings from the National Theatre Live which bring amazing theatre experiences to the village hall.

n Easy access from A35

n Rural setting with adjoining lawned area

n Outdoor seating with marquee and gazebo available

n Hall with tables and seating for 60

n Well equipped kitchen

n Cooker and microwave

The pop up pub The Pop Inn brings a full bar and tasty local food to our venue. Staffed and enjoyed by the villagers of Leigh it has become the heart of the village.

Broadmayne Village Hall

Regular activities in the hall. Badminton, Table Tennis, Martial Arts (Adults & Kids), Aerobics, Short Mat Bowls Line Dancing, Sequence Dancing, Bridge, WI, Beavers & Scouts

Pulham Village Hall

Currently has regular bookings for an exercise class, Bingo and Practice sessions for local Morris Men. Also regularly used for local companies to hold training sessions.

Cerne Abbas Village Hall

Cerne Historical Society

Cerne Abbas Society for Horticulture, Yoga, Network of Women, Cerne Abbas Short Mat Bowls, Cerne Abbas Discussion Club, Youth Club, Scouts, Beavers and Cubs, Badminton

For further details go to cerneabbasvillagehall.org.uk/ clubs-and-societies

n A second feature on village halls in planned this summer. To advertise email advertising@west dorsetmag.co.uk

n Commercial dishwasher

n Disabled parking, access and facilities

n Hearing loop

n Ample car parking on site For more information please access the village website askerswellparish.org

* Enquiries to askerswellvhbookings@gmail.com

More pupils are getting on their bikes

More children are now cycling to school in Dorset, reducing fuel costs and greenhouse gasses, thanks to the Bike It Plus project. The project has supported 36 schools to deliver fun and engaging activities which boost the skill levels of young people in walking, wheeling or cycling – giving children and their parents the confidence and ability to travel to and from school actively.

Activities include learning to ride, cycle confidence and scooter skills sessions, along with bike maintenance and repair workshops Last year the sessions were attended by some 15,000 children, staff and parents and as a result, over 470 children in the county have been supported to learn how to

ride a bike or improve their cycling skills.

Councillor Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “Swapping short journeys in the car for more active

travel like walking, cycling or wheeling has proven benefits for our health and wellbeing, our pockets and our climate. More active travel can also mean quieter and safer roads in our county, especially at school

PEDAL POWER: A new bike shelter at St Mary’s First School in Dorchester fully funded by Dorset Council as part of its Bike It Plus project

drop off and pick up.” Bike It Plus has also helped schools to promote active travel and access funding to improve walking and cycling facilities at their sites.

Southill Primary School in Weymouth is one of the schools that has received support and have launched the FRideDay Bike Bus. The Bike It Plus project is currently set to run until August 2024.

For more information visit dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Hair we go! Instructor’s first haircut for six years

Chop chop! Alan Lawrence, the chief instructor at Weymouth College’s activity centre, Weymouth & Portland Adventure, based at the National Sailing Academy – is raising funds for two charities, having had his first haircut in more than six years. One of the college’s Level 3 Hairdressing students carried out the charity chop, with Alan’s incredible 26 inches of hair to be donated to The Little Princess Trust, which supports children undergoing cancer treatment.

He has also launched a fundraising appeal for

both The Little Princess Trust and The Veterans Hub, a local community project that provides a safe place and support for armed forces veterans and their families.

Alan said: “I’ve chosen the Little Princess Trust because I know how much hair can make a difference to a person and I love idea

LOOKING TRIM: Alan Lawrence has his long hair trimmed at Weymouth College, raising money for two charities

that I can donate something of myself to make life a little easier for someone out there facing a truly awful situation.

“The Veterans Hub is an incredible local charity that provides a variety of much needed support and services. Working alongside an ex-Royal Marine and through

airsoft, I’ve met so many amazing and inspiring current and ex-serving men and women, I want to give something back to the veteran community and show my gratitude and appreciation.”

n You can sponsor Alan at justgiving.com/crowdfundi ng/alanchopshishairoff

Your chance to affect climate change

A new group in Dorchester is calling for more volunteers to help make climate count at the next general election. The group does not support any one political party. Group member Ruth Hayes said: “We are frustrated that the present government is not taking climate change seriously enough. We want to make sure that the next government – of whatever political stripe –understands that over 80% of the electorate want climate change to receive the attention it deserves.”

The Dorchester-based group is part of a national campaign called Project

Climate Vote, which has been initiated by Greenpeace in advance of this year’s general and local elections. Similar groups are active in Bridport and across the south-west. The group visits voters to ask if they will put climate change and the environment as one of their top priorities when they are deciding who to vote for. To help people make an informed decision, Greenpeace has promised to send ‘climate voters’ a summary of the climate commitments of all the main parties in their election manifestos. Local group organiser,

Philip Browne, said: “The next general election will be the most important in my 50 years of voting. We are sleepwalking towards disastrous climate change so it’s essential we elect politicians who are awake to the danger and prepared to take tough decisions. If we squander another five years, our children and grandchildren will hold us all accountable. This year it is up to us to make our votes count.”

Dorchester’s Climate Vote canvassers share a genuine concern about climate change but are not all environmental activists or even members of

Greenpeace. “We welcome anyone who would like to volunteer with us,” said Philip.

“Speaking to members of the public on their doorstep is not as daunting as you might think. Most people are very supportive. Our canvassers receive training from Greenpeace and always work in pairs.”

n Further information about the campaign can be found by searching for Project Climate Vote on Greenpeace’s website. Anyone interested in volunteering is invited to text Philip on 07732 116605.

£1.3m funding to tackle homelessness

Dorset Council has won £1.3m in government funding to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.

The money, from the Single Homelessness

Accommodation Programme (SHAP), will go towards buying and/or renovating accommodation for 10 people aged 18-25 with high support needs. Around £625,000 will be spent on acquiring one six-

bed property and four selfcontained flats. The remaining £725,000 will fund support services for occupants over three years.

All 10 tenants will have access to specialist support, which will give them the tools they need to successfully move on to independent living.

Dorset Council will contribute a further £300,000 towards building the temporary

accommodation units.

The SHAP has already allocated £1.2 million of funding to the local authority to finance expansion of the Bus Shelter Project in Weymouth and a new unit to support homeless women.

Cllr Jane Somper, portfolio holder for adult social care, health and housing, said: “This new scheme will provide an excellent opportunity for young adults

to experience independent living in a calm, safe, space. We want to be able to give our residents the best possible chance in life and help them thrive in their local community.”

The number of homeless people recorded in the Dorset Council area has risen from 12 in 2022 to 15 in 2023. The figure had been reducing since 2019, when 18 people were recorded as sleeping rough.

All aboard: Youngsters’ bus is the right ticket

Youngsters in Weymouth have a new ‘safe space’ in the form of a double decker bus kitted out specially to enable them to relax, play music, engage in games, and connect with trained youth workers.

The #WillDoesBus is now open on Wednesday evenings from 5.30pm8pm at the Marsh Skatepark in Marsh Road (DT4 8JD).

A team from Dorset Council is staffing the bus, which was fundraised for by the #WillDoes charity, an organisation dedicated to improving the mental health and wellbeing of

young people in Dorset. The charity was launched in memory of 14-year-old Will Paddy, who died in

May 2019. His mum Lesley has channelled her grief at losing her only son into providing support for

SAFE SPACE: The #WillDoesBus on Weymouth Esplanade

other youngsters in Dorset, raising tens of thousands of pounds. The Will Does Bus offers refreshments, a dedicated quiet room for confidential one-on-one conversations and a warm space. The project has been supported by Weymouth Town Council, which has allowed the bus to park on Weymouth Esplanade for a time before moving to the Marsh. Other locations are being sought in the Weymouth area to extend its reach.

New rules to improve farmers’ deals with supermarkets

UK farmers are receiving negligible profits, in some cases less than a penny for a block of cheese or loaf of bread as supermarkets are coining in record profits, claims West Dorset MP Chris Loder.

He said the situation is ‘immoral’ and welcomed new regulations to ensure farmers’ contracts pay a fair price.

Mr Loder wrote to each of the ‘Big Six’ supermarkets earlier this year, calling for

this ‘immoral’ practice to be rectified. He said: “I’m pleased to see that the Government will introduce new regulations to ensure that farmers’ contracts with supermarkets are fair and transparent, with clear pricing terms for farmers.

“The regulations will apply to new and existing contracts.

“It’s immoral that many farmers and food producers who supply the

supermarkets are still turning a negligible profit – sometimes of less than 1p profit for the food they produce when supermarkets declare record profits.” He added: “It’s also good to see the introduction of a £15 million fund for farmers to redistribute surplus food at the farm gate which cannot currently be used commercially.

“This will reduce waste, ensuring that produce is instead put to good use.”

Foodbank welcomes warehouse gift

By Karen Bate karen@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Commercial property developer DJ Property has given Weymouth Foodbank a large new warehouse to help meet the skyrocketing demand for food. The move will offer the charity relief from rental expenses and bolster its capacity to meet the 7,148 referrals it received just last year.

Weymouth Foodbank faced a daunting challenge of accommodating a staggering 57% increase in demand in 2023, following a 68% rise in 2021.

In 2023 Weymouth Foodbank provided 81,594 meals to 10,973 adults and 3183 children locally. The new, rent-free warehouse at Cambridge Road on the Granby Industrial Estate equips Weymouth Foodbank to efficiently manage larger food deliveries from suppliers, crucially enhancing its operational capabilities.

The savings in accommodation charges from DJ Property will enable Weymouth

Foodbank to redirect those funds towards purchasing essential food supplies.

Chair of Weymouth Foodbank Jean-Paul Dervley said: “We are so grateful to DJ Property for providing us with an even better warehouse for us to operate from. We need a base to collect the food, sort it, store it and deliver to our three Foodbank locations. As a result of the cost-of-living crisis, demand for our services increased by 57% last year.

“We are therefore having to

buy a lot of food to supplement the food donations we receive. We needed a warehouse like this to be able to take delivery of bulk deliveries. “The warehouse provided by DJ Property is perfect for our current needs. We would like to say a big thank you to DJ Property and all our generous donors.”

Mickey Jones of DJ Property said: “The local community are facing such uncertain times and over the past few years we have seen a growing demand for

Weymouth Foodbank. “It is important to support these charities so they can continue their good work in the local community. It gives DJ Property pleasure to support this charity by providing a substantial unit in support of the local community. Weymouth Foodbank is very well managed and converts a very high proportion of its donations directly into food for its beneficiaries. This efficiency is a key reason why DJ Property have chosen to support this charity.”

Get in the running for Rotary Steps Challenge

People are being invited to take part on a steps challenge alongside Poundbury Rotary Club. Club president Mark Parker is running the London Marathon this year, raising money to help bereaved children.

The club would like people to join them in fundraising on May 18 – whether that’s running or walking or anything in between.

The club, which has members aged from their 20s to their 80s, is ten years old this year, and this will be its biggest challenge so far.

The Steps Challenge is open to anyone, and you can set your own goal, with

money raised going to Mosaic.

Enter by Googling ‘Poundbury Rotary Club’. Every entrant is automatically put into the free raffle for a hamper donated by the Duchy of Cornwall. You will also receive a T-shirt celebrating your achievement.

Google Poundbury Rotary Club to find out more and sign up.

AMAZING DONATION: Claire Hoff of DJ Property with Andy White, Jean-Paul Dervley and Amanda Dervley, all from Weymouth Foodbank

WE CAN DO IT: Rotary president Mark Parker running with his brother

In the plants and gardens business

By Miranda Robertson miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk

A garden centre and nurseries so popular they have 20,000 local members in their loyalty card scheme has scooped the hat-trick at the Bridport Business Awards. Groves Nurseries and Garden Centre won Café/Pub/Dining business of the year and the Customer Service Award, before being named Overall Business of the Year in the fourth annual celebration for local traders.

The Groves family has been in the plants industry for nearly 160 years – and they are still growing (pun absolutely intended). These days, it’s the sixth generation at the tiller. Charles Winston Groves, 46, known as Charlie, has worked at the family firm since 2002.

He grew up on site at Groves Nurseries and went to Colfox before taking a Plant Science degree in Leeds and staying on in the city to work for another garden centre for a while before returning home.

The nursery was started in the spring of 1866 by his great-great-greatgrandfather Charles William Groves, the first of four generations to have the same name and six to have the initials CW. Then came Clive Watt Groves, then Charles Winston –Charlie’s brother is Christopher William (he works as head gardener for the National Trust at Salcombe). Their sister Becky runs the

sister nursery Little Groves, in Beaminster. The original CW Groves was a Bible seller, who used his network of buyers to also sell seeds from his garden at Ivy House in Piddletrenthide – opposite the shop. In a nod to the birthplace of the business, Charlie called Groves’ new restaurant, opened in 2018 to replace a little café that

was there before, Ivy House.

Ivy House was, naturally, covered in ivy and had a steep, south-facing sloping garden – perfect for early crops and maturing seeds. These were distributed by post throughout the country and by hawkers travelling by ponies and carts. Mr Groves’ wife ran the post office opposite.

As the seed business grew CW Groves & Son was born, and they opened shops in Dorchester to sell seeds, plants and flowers grown at the home nursery. The first was in High East Street, then they opened another shop in South Street as well as two more in Fordington and Trinity Street.

The business was passed down the generations and in 1936 the family moved back to the Bridport area, where the first Charles William grew up. The Bridport nursery and shop was in West Street, where Beauty & Beyond

BACK IN TIME: A leaflet from 1942 and, right, marking the firm’s 100th anniversary in 1966. Right: Charles William

HAVE WELLIES, WILL WORK: The Groves team and transport back in the 1970s and, below, the old shopfront and company van

for 160 years and still growing strong

are now.

Then in 1962, the fourth Charles William bought the site on West Bay Road from Bridport Football Club, which was looking to move and build a grandstand.

The new bypass, built in the 80s, nearly finished them off, after a compulsory purchase order meant the new road would go straight through the site.

But instead they used the money from the land sale to build the current garden centre.

The fourth Charles William was quite the

covering all aspects of the business. We all visit and critique each other’s garden centres.”

Last year Groves went 100% peat-free – the nursery had gone peat-free three years ago. And they are part of the River Brit reclamation and rewilding project, in which they hope to create ponds and habitats to slow the water down.

There’s always lots for Charlie to do – he can’t rest on his laurels with 60 staff and a busy garden centre whatever the weather.

innovator, developing a technique to grow onions from sets rather than seed. He also established a large collection of violets, which in 2003, under Charlie’s dad Clive, was recognised as a national collection.

“We still have the national collection of violets –more than 100 varieties, many of them named after family members. Every new family member has a violet named for them,” said Charlie.

Clive ran the nursery until 2010, when he retired, handing the reins to Charlie. His wife

Diana still does the books

and cashes up. They still live on site.

“We used to play here as kids,” said Charlie. “It was more of a nursery in those days.

“I had a Saturday job here as a teenager.”

Now Charlie is Groves’ managing director and dad to three girls aged 13, 11 and eight.

“I try to keep it moving forwards,” he said. “I had the restaurant built, and we have planning permission for a bigger shop.

“We are members of the Garden Centre Association, which means a yearly inspection

“I am fairly hands on,” he said. “We are very lucky in that our customers are hardened gardeners and will come even when the weather is rubbish. We’ve still noticed the difference after opening the Ivy House though. It means there’s a lot more footfall during bad weather. “We try to keep it quite garden orientated rather than offering loads of other things. We try to keep it all about the plants, to keep it special and keep it consistent.”

n Groves also has a busy e-commerce side at grovesnurseries.co.uk, where you can order items such as compost, gravel and paving slabs and trees to be delivered free locally, on orders over £40. There’s also pet supplies, garden buildings and garden furniture.

Groves is open 8.30am5pm (Ivy House 8.30am-4.30pm) Mon-Sat and 10am-4pm on Sundays.

BLOOMING GOOD: Charlie Groves with the violet named after him and, below, picking up their honours at the Bridport Business Awards ceremony

Grants available for climate and ecology projects

Grants of £500-£2,500 are available to groups in Weymouth, for projects which specifically tackle the climate and ecological emergency.

Weymouth Town Council’s environment and services committee have allocated £10,000. The grants can cover reducing carbon emissions, supporting behaviour change and sustainable living, projects which

will result in greater access to nature areas or supporting improvements in biodiversity and education and awareness through direct engagement with hard-to-reach groups and individuals.

Committe chairman Ryan Hope said: “The new grants can be used to encourage better biodiversity, such as tree planting or sowing wildflowers, and supports Weymouth Town Council’s commitment to tackling the climate and ecological emergency.” More details, including how groups can access the application form is available at weymouthtowncouncil. gov.uk

Applications can be made now, and groups will find out if they have been successful in May.

Authority takes legal action over empty homes

Dorset Council has started legal action to take over the ownership of four long term empty homes. The Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) is the last resort for the authority. The CPOs follow a long period of negotiation with the property owner, to try to get the house back into use by any means possible. The council have asked central government for permission to issue the CPOs. Once approved, the council may decide to immediately sell the property or renovate and use it – possibly for temporary

accommodation, or providing a home for care leavers.

Current council tax data shows just over 330 homes

PRETTY, VACANT: One of the empty homes in Dorset subject to a CPO by the county council

in the council area have been empty for two years or more. The Housing Standards Team currently has a target list of over 60

empty houses. If you know of a house you believe is empty, report it at dorset council.gov.uk/ empty-homes

Eclectic music mix for concert fundraiser

A family raising funds for Julia’s House in memory of their child is holding a concert at the Community Church in Poundbury on Saturday, April 27.

Franz Atkinson, from Dorchester, is helping his daughter Katie Smith raise funds after they lost Daisy aged just ten months. Their first event, a bingo, raised just over £1,000 towards their 9K goal.

The concert will feature songs from musical theatre (Mary Poppins Returns, Shrek and Wonka), Rock

and Roll from the 50s and 60s and close harmony from the Decadettes. An eclectic mix – something for everyone, and all the performers are giving their time for free.

There will be a raffle with some great prizes, including Walking with Llamas.

And there will be homemade cakes.

Tickets at musicfordaisy. eventbrite.com or from Franz on 07929 453960 or at franz_linda@ hotmail.co.uk

Money to mark D-Day

The 80th anniversary of DDay on Thursday, June 6 is set to be celebrated in style in Weymouth after the town council allocated £5,000. The authority will work with Portland Town Council and Dorset Council on several events, including working with the Nothe Fort. There will be a D-Day exhibition, entertainment and potential

talks or workshops. A ticketed beacon lighting event for dignitaries will also take place.

A 1940s-themed van will serve up portions of the seaside classic fish and chips at the Nothe, tying in with National Fish and Chip Day, and a bid for an RAF flypast has been submitted.

Grants of up to £350 per group are available for community-based events or activities, with £3,500 up for grabs. Apply at weymouth towncouncil.gov.uk

Neil marching on for RNLI’s 200th

Bridport’s Neil Carter will be marking the 200th anniversary of the RNLI by walking 30 miles from Lyme Regis to Weymouth RNLI lifeboat stations.

Neil, who is a security officer at Weymouth College, has a family history of relatives working at sea and hopes to raise £1,000 in their honour and for the brave volunteers of the RNLI who save lives at sea. He will be taking on the

challenging walk on May 4, starting at Lyme Regis lifeboat station, walking the gruelling coastal path to West Bay, then on to Chesil Beach for 18 miles of pebbles to Ferry Bridge, before joining the Rodwell Trail, Belle Vue and The Nothe to finish at Weymouth lifeboat station. You can make a donation at justgiving.com/ page/jurassicwalk2024

Don’t forget ID for voting

Voters in Dorset must show an approved form of photo ID when they go to the polling stations on May 2 to elect Dorset Council and town and parish councillors. The Police and Crime Commissioner elections also take place on the same day.

Following the Elections Act 2022, photographic identification is a mandatory requirement for everyone voting at polling stations.

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Come and see for yourself what Primrose Lodge has to offer

Call Lisa Summers on 01305 786568 or email lisa@primroselodge-weymouth. co.uk

Various forms of photo ID are accepted, including a driving licence, passport, Older Person’s Bus Pass, a blue badge or Disabled Person’s Bus Pass.

For those without accepted photo ID, a free Voter Authority Certificate can be obtained before Wednesday, April 24.

For more guidance contact the Electoral services team at elections@ dorset council.gov.uk or ring

01305 838299

STEPPING OUT: Fundraiser Neil Carter

Culture

US songsmith Wesley at the RMT

Wesley Stace (aka John Wesley Harding) is appearing at Royal Manor Theatre on Portland on Monday, May 20. This will be his first UK tour in 15 years.

Resident in the USA since the early nineties, he’s been joined on stage by Bruce

Springsteen, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and John Prine to name just a few, and his songs have been sung by, among others, Rosanne Cash, Tanya Donelly, Graham Parker, Josh Ritter and Wreckless Eric. His monthly show Cabinet of Wonders has been running

in New York for more than ten years. His live shows are always a treat: expect an evening not only of great songs, but also razorsharp wit and wisdom.

n Tickets and further details from royalmanor theatre.co.uk

ISLAND DATE: Wesley Stace

Visionary artist’s lifetime of emotion

The work of visionary artist David Inshaw, acclaimed for his resonant paintings of the English countryside and the human form, will be on display in his exhibition Remember at Sladers Yard in West Bay until May 12. With light effects, trees, birds in flight, bonfires and figures not posing but caught up in their own inner lives, David has charted his life through poetic pictures that speak urgently to all of us who experience emotions and dramas.

Now in his 80s, he depicts the West Country landscape, Silbury Hill, Stonehenge and the Devil’s Den along with churchyards and fireworks which haunt his memory and his dreams. As the loss of memory beckons, he is painting as strongly and poignantly as ever in works that are both intensely personal and universal in their potency. ‘His landscapes are haunted. You tap into their strangeness on a sensual level: you can feel it in the mood, in the poise, in the light. It pervades the

atmosphere as surely as the smell of dew pervades the dawn. Inshaw belongs to a great tradition of English Romantics: he awakens our perceptions to the possibilities of a miracle.’ (Rachel Campbell-Johnston, Art Critic The Times).

David Inshaw grew up in Biggin Hill, close to Samuel Palmer’s Shoreham. He studied at Beckenham School of Art and the Royal Academy

Schools, with a six-month scholarship to study in Paris before beginning to teach painting and printmaking at the West of England College of Art in Bristol. There he was introduced to the work of Thomas Hardy whose ability to convey mood through describing the landscape struck a light which has burned in Inshaw’s paintings ever since.

In 1975, with Peter Blake

and five others, he formed the Brotherhood of Ruralists, who devoted themselves to painting subjects drawn from nature and English mythology and literature. Together they exhibited widely in this country and internationally. The following year Inshaw’s most famous painting, The Badminton Game, was exhibited in Bath and Edinburgh and was bought by the Tate Gallery.

Sladers Yard has represented David Inshaw since 2007 when he filled the gallery with an extraordinary collection of major West Bay paintings. In 2024 his solo show, Remember, will fill one floor of the gallery with 20 recent paintings and a selection of previously unseen artist’s proofs of etchings dating back to the 1980s. The exhibition can be viewed online at sladersyard.co.uk where a wider range of David Inshaw’s available paintings, drawings, etchings, catalogues and giclée prints can also be seen.

DAY OUT: Mum on the Cliff at West Bay by David Inshaw

Packed summer season for arts lovers

Dorchester Arts has announced a packed summer season, with indoor and outdoor shows for the whole family. Lovers of magic, Shakespeare, big bands, fun operetta, classical music and the weirdest chorale ever are all in for a treat.

There’s a special fundraising event for The Script’s The Thing!, Dorset’s Festival of Scriptwriting. This will showcase live performances of memorable scripts from last October’s festival, along with a film showcasing what makes a good script.

Prepare to be mesmerised by Magic and Marvels, presented by the extraordinary Michael Jordan. From breathtaking magic to daring circus acts, this one-man show is pure entertainment for the whole family.

In May, step back in time with The Glenn Miller Orchestra as they commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Enjoy classic wartime hits and swing along to the music of the legendary big band leader.

AS YOU BIKE IT: The Handlebards, the Kanneh-Masons and Friends and Opera Anywhere’s Pirates

Opera Anywhere present a rambunctious production of The Pirates of Penzance. And local thespians the New Hardy Players will perform Six Men of Dorset, the story of the Tolpuddle martyrs performed in the Corn Exchange, and Shire Hall Museum.

Music lovers can immerse themselves in an evening of exquisite music with

The Kanneh-Masons and Friends, with three members of this talented family performing beloved classics in the beautiful setting of The Gransden Hall in Sherborne. Plus, a wealth of other music of all kinds, from jazz to folk to tribute acts.

Outdoor theatre includes the environmentally sustainable Shakespeare

experience with The HandleBards’ bicyclepowered production of The Comedy of Errors at Maumbury Rings, plus performances of Peter Pan, Dr Dolittle and the Merry Wives of Windsor. Hamlet will be presented by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men at Athelhampton House. n See dorchesterarts. org.uk for all details.

There’s much ado about Shakespearean concert

A free Shakespearean concert will be held in Broadmayne village hall at 2.30pm on April 21.

Courtlye Musick, pictured, provide a magical atmosphere with their period instruments and, together with Scott Free, bring the ambience of The Globe Theatre to the audience. Scott joins Courtlye Musick to perform ‘Sounds and sweet airs that give

delight and hurt not’, as well as delighting the listener with poetry from the time of Shakespeare and

readings from the plays of the bard himself.

Free entry, but donations welcome. Profits from the concert will be donated to the Dorset Rural School of Music.

n For more information call 01305

854915 or email

courtlyemusick@gmail.com

courtlyemusick.co.uk

of Penzance are all coming to Dorchester Arts this summer

Culture

B-Side, organisers of Portland’s annual art festival, have announced their new community project for the next two years following the end of Heritage lottery funding. The new theme is ‘Who do we think we are?’ based on people and migration, exploring ancestry, identity and personal histories, all about the people who share the island as home. So here in the WDM VIVIANE HORNE meets some of those Portland people. Portlanders refer to incomers as Kimberlins – we’ll meet both!

You tell us: Who do we think we are?

Catherine Bennett is the Community Projects Coordinator at B-Side. She and her partner moved to Portland in 2007 but her grandparents lived there and their seafaring family history goes back to the 1600s.

Catherine hoped that things might have improved on the island after the Navy left but felt they hadn’t. She says the Navy leaving equated to three mines closing!

The once bustling street of shops along the seafront at Castletown is evidence of this with all the once thriving businesses and pubs closed down or re-purposed. Having worked for B-Side for two years, Catherine was really inspired by the This Land project which involved community-led research with workshops, talks and events including how best to look after the island.

She says she has been ‘long keen for Portland to find a way to gain agency so that things they don’t want don’t just happen to them’.

She campaigned against the palm oil power station at the port and will stand as

Portland ward candidate for the Greens at Dorset Council elections in May. As well the B-Side community projects, she and son Tom, born a Portlander, take part in beach cleans.

Catherine is glad that Tom will grow up on Portland as there is a sense of longevity for them, they are connected by history.

Jess Sedwell was two years old when she moved to Portland.

Her dad was from Weymouth and met her mum in Kent, the love of the sea drew them back to Dorset and Jess’s children will grow up on Portland. Jess runs the Sugar Loaf

Cafe in Easton Square, which is a mix of village cafe and traditional tea room with homemade cooking.

Jess took over from the owner Dawn three years ago but has worked there for seven years. The café is something of a hub in the centre of the village, you will probably always see someone you know and if not, soon strike up a conversation! It’s the community feeling that Jess loves about Portland, she says it’s friendly and a safe place.

You certainly get that feeling in the café and frequently hear them singing along to the radio in the kitchen!

Bernard Ilett is a local character whose family moved to Weymouth in 1988 from Hampshire. Having just seen the film Marvellous, Bernard put me in mind of the wonderful Neil Baldwin. Bernard didn’t like school and his first proper job was at the Rembrandt Hotel as a kitchen porter and then at the Prince Regent. In the 1990s he was looking after the shire horses at Brewers Quay for seven years. He remembers riding on the back of the dray collecting the £1 fares as it took visitors from the square to the seafront and back. After his mum died he lived with his sister in Southwell, Portland, eventually getting his own place.

He loves the beauty of the island and the community. Now retired, he says helping at Easton Methodist Church has changed his life, he loves meeting people and helps at all the coffee mornings as well as Open Arms the youth centre where he is much appreciated by Sandy, who runs it.

PORTLAND PEOPLE: Catherine Bennett, Jess Sedwell and Bernard Ilett

It’s definitely worth getting on board for Dorchester Drama’s next performance – two one-act plays sharing the theme of the great British railway system.

The first is Still Love, Noel Coward’s emotional wrecking ball that was immortalised in the film Brief Encounter.

Alec and Laura meet by chance in a station cafe and gradually fall in love. Married to other people, will their growing relationship flourish, or will it threaten to derail both their lives?

The roles of Alec and Laura, immortalised by Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson in Brief Encounter, are played by Martin Stephen and Mel Austin, with Lynn Cockerill as the redoubtable Myrtle Bagot who runs the station buffet and Mike Bradburn as her suitor Albert Godby. Other performers are Ivana Jelinic, Jordan Wiseman, Sinead Gannon, Sam Kelly, Peter Allison, John Butler and Eve Staddon.

The second play, Train, is by Dorset playwright Sean Colledge, who is also directing both performances.

A modern thriller with a psychological twist, it focuses on six people travelling on by train to different destinations. When tragedy strikes, dark secrets come to light with unnerving results. Its cast members include Sam Kelly, John Butler, Monica Hunt, Frances Sansom, Eve and Zepg

the play were coming together in his mind for a year but when it came to getting it down on paper, he says the words flowed out and it was written within a week.

THERE’S SOMETHING IN MY EYE: Martin Stephen and Mel Austin as Alec and Laura at their fateful first meeting in Still Life and, right, Lyn Cockerill and Mike Bradburn as station crew Myrtle and Mr Godby

Drama club’s so chuffed with new train productions

Staddon and Peter Allison. Train includes strong language and adult themes so is not suitable for young audiences. Sean said directing two very different performances has been an enjoyable challenge.

“It’s been strange switching between the 1930s and the present day, but it’s been very interesting,” he said.

“It’s fascinating to analysing Still Life with

the mindset we have today, how Alec is almost forcing his relationship with Laura forward, in a way that could be considered predatory today.

“At the time it was written it was seen as romantic love in the way it proceeds, but now we might think of it as bullying.”

Sean describes Train as being a thriller that asks moral questions. Ideas for

He added: “I have got the perfect cast for both plays, though the challenge was Still Life was casting the main characters as slightly older than they described in the play, but at the end of the day it’s about love and that can happen at any age, whatever your orientation or experience.” n Performances are at Broadmayne village hall, Cowleaze Road, Broadmayne DT2 8EW on Saturday, April 20 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm and at St Mary’s Community Hall, Alexandra Road, Dorchester DT1 2LZ on is April 27, 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

Tickets are £10 plus booking fee from wegottickets.com/ dorchesterdrama and details are available on 07749 569730.

Culture

Brass orchestra makes thyme for herb project

An intriguing new project will see Weymouth Concert Brass exploring the medicinal plants and herbs of Portland.

The New Elevate project, which brings together brass bands and artists for ninemonth-long collaborative projects, will team composer Rebecca Denniff with the band to produce a musical performance based on the island’s plant life.

Cornet players Andrew Cowling is a qualified, practising herbalist and will take the lead, alongside Denniff, who is a composer, songwriter, choral activist, singer and synth player.

The band’s musical director, Keith Espin, says

while they love maintaining the timehonoured traditions of brass banding, they also have “an eagerness to develop, change, advance, and to embrace new types of music”.

Weymouth Concert Brass was formed in 1985 and plays at a wide variety of local events, concerts, cruise calls and charity fundraising.

The band is always keen to hear from prospective new players. They meet at St Edmund’s Church Hall, Lanehouse on Thursday evenings. To get in touch, or for further information, email weymouthconcertbrass@ gmail.com, or find them on Facebook or X.

Ensemble getting it together

The Amalthea Ensemble will be performing in a concert on Friday, April 12 at 3pm in Beaminster Church.

The musicians Meg Diamond (flute), Alice Cheer (cello) and Beth Haughan (piano) will be performing by kind permission of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Their programme will include trios by Weber, Martinu and Alwyn and flute/cello duos by Beethoven and Bruch.

Tickets are £15 from the Yarn Barton Centre, Fleet Street, Beaminster or The Bookshop, 14 South Street, Bridport. Also available on the door (cash or card).

Bridport’s film festival

From Page to Screen will be running from Wednesday, April 24 to Sunday, April 28, with themes of Life Stories and Future Worlds. Speakers include acclaimed actors Francesca Annis and Christopher Ecclestone, writers and directors include Christopher Hampton and Simon Chambers.

In its 15th anniversary year, the festival boasts an exceptional guest curator, legendary British screen talent, outstanding filmmakers – plus exclusive previews, exhibitions and live performance. The only UK film festival to focus on adaptations, it was established as a cinematic companion to Bridport Arts Centre’s international writing

competition the Bridport Prize, which is drawing its own fiftieth year to a close.

One of last year’s key speakers, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, will be this year’s curator.

Rebecca came as Sir Christopher Hampton’s guest in 2023 with She Said – the true story of how two New York Times journalists uncovered the Harvey Weinstein Me Too scandal. Rebecca wrote the screenplay as a film adaptation of the book by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey detailing their investigation. Her work on She Said was nominated for the BAFTAs best adapted screenplay and Golden Globe Critics’ Choice Award.

She is currently completing her directorial debut, a film of her

FESTIVAL SLOT: Actor Christopher Ecclestone

WHERE THERE’S BRASS: Weymouth Concert Brass

the future on agenda at 15th festival

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW: A scene from Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry

adaptation of Deborah Levy’s novel Hot Milk. She started her storytelling career as an actor with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre. In 2000 her first play Soho: A Tale of Table Dancers won a Fringe First award at the Edinburgh Festival. In 2008 she became the first living female playwright to have their

original play – Her Naked Skin – performed on the National Theatre’s Olivier stage.

Her first film screenplay was Ida in 2013 which she co-wrote with the Polish film director Pawel Pawelowski. Ida won the 2015 Oscar for Best Foreign Film.

Francesca Annis and Christopher Eccleston are coming on the Thursday as

Rebecca’s guest speakers. Then award-winning filmmakers Christopher Hampton, Simon Chambers and Paul Sng, as well as the outstanding cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt, will discuss their feature films during the rest of the festival as well as a unique selection of short films on the closing Sunday. These screenings will be at

BAC, while upstairs all week in The Allsop Gallery a stunning installation will explore the festival’s ‘future worlds’ strand through film design

Downstairs, on the Saturday night, Clocktower Records will transform the Arts Centre lobby into a pop-up vinyl stall alongside the screening of Poly Styrene: I am a Cliché

On the opening

Wednesday there are two exclusive previews –Elene Naveriani’s Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry, and a gala screening of The Beast starring Léa Seydoux & George Mackay.

Films include the new print of Herzog’s heartbreaking classic The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser and Carl Theodor Dreyer’s The Passion of Joan of Arc with a live accompaniment.

There are some terrific documentary feature films including Paul Sng’s Tish showing alongside his portrait of Poly Styrene: I am a Cliché.

There will also be the latest award-winning films at Bridport Arts Centre and the Electric Cinema, as well as installations and exhibitions at BAC’s Allsop Gallery and at Clocktower Records. n Grab a brochure from Bridport Arts Centre and the Tourist Information Centre (TIC). Tickets at bridport-arts.com/ fpts and at the TIC.

ON SCREEN Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliche and The passion of Joan of Arc

Applications are invited for Bridport Literary Festival’s second bursary award, which is worth £3,000 a year for three years to two local students.

Last year’s winners were Medwin Stephen from Bridport and Jessica St Barbe Baker, from Mosterton.

Jessica, who was a student at the Beaminster and Sir John Colfox Joint Sixth Form, is at Yeovil University Centre doing a foundation course in Childhood Studies followed by a Bachelor of Arts degree and Postgraduate Certificate in Education.

Medwin, who was at Colyton Grammar School, is at Selwyn College, Cambridge, reading Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology.

Jessica said: “I can’t believe I’m already halfway through my first year. It’s gone so quickly. I am very much enjoying my course, and this last week, I have been helping my primary school placement with the year 6 Mock SAT assessments. “So far, I have used the bursary to upgrade my laptop, as my old one wouldn’t have coped, and

LOCAL STUDENTS: Last year’s bursary winners Medwin Stephen, left, and Jessica St Barbe Baker, right, with BridLit director Tanya Bruce-Lockhart

Students invited to apply for BridLit’s £3k bursary

I have purchased a few second-hand textbooks. I use the money weekly to cover my transport costs to the university, my placement, and parking. “Also, I needed a new pair of glasses – the bursary was very helpful for this unplanned expense, which reduced my stress at a time when I had deadlines approaching.”

Medwin is also enjoying

his studies and will soon have the opportunity to play organ for a communion service in the college chapel.

He said was using his bursary money to help pay rent and for other maintenance expenses such as books and general living necessities. “It is a useful assistance while I’m here as it lightens the amount my

family need to pay directly per term, since it’s not feasible for me to have a job whilst living in Cambridge.

“The remainder of it has been put into a separate savings account so, when the time comes, I can put it forward to help pay off my tuition loan too.

“I am very grateful for the bursary and the extra help it provides.”

Festival’s helping hand now in its 20th year

Bridport Literary Festival, affectionately known as BridLit, is now in its 20th year and will take place in in various venues around the town from November 3-9.

Trustees established the bursary award scheme in 2023. Initially it was for £1,000 a year but a local couple added to this amount from

a private trust fund to make it up to £3,000 a year.

The bursaries are for a three-year undergraduate degree course in any subject. The application deadline is August 22.

Applicants for this year’s bursary should be intending to start university in autumn 2024 and be

from the Beaminster-Colfox joint sixth-form, or go to other schools but live within Dorset Council’s Bridport ward. To be considered for one of the two bursaries, students should complete the application form on the Bridport Literary Festival website at bridlit.com/bursaries

Picture: Graham Shackleton

Author explores Napoleonic War in latest book

Dorset author Paul Weston’s new historical thriller Cape Corse is out now.

Set in the Napoleonic Wars, Cape Corse follows protagonist Lieutenant Snowden to Bermuda as he commissions a fast cedarbuilt schooner, Oleander. In the Mediterranean, the French have defeated a short-lived Corsican

Republic, and Pasquale Paoli, the Republic’s leader, now an old man, is in exile in London. Snowden and Oleander are sent to Corsica to support a delicate and dangerous operation which could be of considerable assistance in defeating Bonaparte.

Paul said: “Readers said they found Weymouth Bound and Not by Sea historically fascinating and exciting and I hope the same will be said of Cape Corse which I believe evokes the era of the Napoleonic Wars, set as

they were against the background of scientific progress and the nascent Industrial Revolution.”

Paul’s first book Weymouth Bound features Portland, Weymouth and the adjacent coast of France.

n All of his books are available on Amazon and from other booksellers in both paperback and electronic format.

Creative feast as Art Weeks returns

Offering a full programme of events for the first time since 2018, Dorset Art Weeks makes a welcome return from May 25 to June 9.

More than 260 venues will open their doors to host a range of activities including workshops, talks, demonstrations, have-a-go and other events to excite and engage audiences.

Organisers Dorset Visual Arts (DVA) say it’s a chance to “visit the source of the inspiration” behind the work of hundreds of artists and makers to “explore the creativity” the county has to offer. As well as individual studios, there will be pop ups, group shows, curated exhibitions and projects. Visitors can enjoy printmaking, painting, sculpture, drawing, ceramics, jewellery, wood, metalwork, glass and textiles as well as many other artforms and processes.

Some 30,000 copies of the Dorset Art Weeks Guide will appear throughout

Wessex from April. The guide will be in A5 landscape format with full venue details so audiences can plan their visits. There is also a Dorset Art Weeks phone app which can be used to navigate to venues, create a ‘favourites’ list, and find nearby venues.

There’s also an interactive map and an art weeks ‘flipbook’ on the Dorset Art Weeks website.

A DVA spokesperson said:

“As DVA declares a climate emergency, a new exhibition curated by DVA and featuring Dorset artists celebrates the county’s unique biodiversity in a partnership with Durlston Country Park National Nature Reserve.

“

The Instinct of Hope examines Dorset’s rich and precious ecology, focussing on the locations and terrain that artists explore which make the county so distinctive.”

Another feature of this year’s event will be the launch exhibition at The Sherborne, Dorset’s new venue for the visual arts which opens in spring, after undergoing a restoration.

Housework, curated by Amanda Wallwork, explores the previous incarnation of Sherborne House as an arts venue through a variety of artwork which relate to the building and its history.

WELCOME BACK: Dorset Art Weeks returns in May with more than 260 venues taking part

Culture

A riotous evening of joy, despair and trousers

REVIEW

The Full Monty

The Lighthouse, Poole

By Diana Holman

The Full Monty opened to riotous applause from an audience –predominantly ladies of all ages –who had come for a great evening’s entertainment, with perhaps a few cheeky giggles thrown in. Numerous large notices warned of the severest of consequences for anyone caught taking any photos, so a few revelations perhaps could be looked forward to!

The play was based on the film of the same name set in the 1990s, the story of a group of six Sheffield

steelworkers, out of work after the closing of the steelworks, and desperate to find a means of supporting their families.

Inspired by a trip to see The Chippendales, Gaz (Danny Hatchard) comes up with the idea of developing a dance and strip routine with a group of his mates.

Best mate Dave (Neil Hurst) reluctantly gives the idea support, and they recruit Lomper (Nicholas Prasad), Horse (Ben Onwukwe), Guy (Jake Quickenden) and Gerald (Bill Ward) to join them to work towards putting on the show of a lifetime. Four talented young actors shared the part of Nathan, Gaz’s 12-year-old son – Cass Dempsy, Theo Hills, Rowan

Poulton and Jack Wisniewski –adding a light hearted touch to the proceedings in many of the scenes. The atmospheric stage set with its skeletal towering grey metal structures of the closed down desolate steelworks (designed by Jasmine Swan) set the scene perfectly.

Directed by Michael Gyngell, the play tackles the difficult themes of depression, desperation and hopelessness along the way, emerging triumphantly in the final scene of the much-rehearsed dance routine when the mates’ garments are theatrically discarded, layer by layer until…. Well, I couldn’t possibly spoil the surprise now, could I?!

Howzat? Drama club takes to the crease

Thespians from Weymouth Drama Club will be treading the boards of the Warehouse Theatre from April 18 – 20 as they perform Godfrey’s Last Stand

This simple story of a Yorkshire amateur cricket umpire who dreams of umpiring an international match will unfold as the cast bring Alan Stockdill’s play to life.

The play is a feelgood, gentle comedy about the umpire who wins the

lottery, and brings home the importance of family, friendships, hopes and dreams. And later in June, the club will be at the Bay Theatre at Weymouth College performing Sweet Delilah Swim Club by the writing trio of Jamie Wooten, Jessie Jones, and Nicholas Hope. The club has a junior section and new members of any age are always welcome to climb aboard. For more details visit weymouthdramaclub.com

Are you In the Mood for some Glenn Miller magic?

Step Back in Time to the 1940s with a spectacular musical celebration of Glenn Miller for the D-Day celebrations in Dorchester.

The Glenn Miller Orchestra plays at the Hardye Theatre on Saturday, May 11 in the run-up to the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6. Enjoy the golden era of swing music

with the ultimate tribute to legendary big band leader Glenn Miller, with all his most popular tunes, including timeless hits such as In the Mood, Moonlight Serenade, Little Brown Jug, and Tuxedo Junction.

This is the UK’s only official Glenn Miller tour, and boasts the exact lineup devised by Glenn himself. As well

as the authentic big band sound, audiences will be treated to the fabulous harmonies of the Moonlight Serenaders, the sublime vocals of the orchestra’s featured vocalists, and swinging jazz band, The Uptown Hall Gang. The concert starts at 7pm, doors and bar 6pm.

Book at dorchesterarts.org.uk

Writer chips in with impulsive novel

A Dorchester carpenter who penned his first adventure story in 2021 has launched his new novel Acting on Impulse.

Andrew Trim takes readers on a rollercoaster ride as Woodford Abbey becomes the focus of his paranormal adventure.

Outlandish situations with familiar characters from his first novel Acting Strangely find themselves mixed up in a plot which could see ruin for the Duke of Exford.

Andrew said: “I have taken familiar landmarks and mashed them into this crazy alternative world of life on a country estate where nothing is quite what it seems.”

Published by Honeybee Books this is a gripping, light-hearted tale of ghosts as they experience their

Inspirational landscape to feature in exhibition

The popular Earth, Sea and Sky exhibition will be held at the Eype Centre of Arts near Bridport from April 27 –May 8.

Artists

Stephanie

Mogg, Jenny Penney, Caroline Lewis and Wendy Hermelin will be showcasing their collections in silver, card, glass and textiles.

Stephanie, a jewellery designer, uses a variety of precious metals and colourful gemstones, incorporating different textures with a variety of finishes.

Jenny creates iconic Sculpted Landscapes in Relief by cutting and layering card. She also draws highly detailed landscapes in ink. Everything she produces is inspired by Dorset’s coast, countryside and its wildlife. Caroline creates vessels and framed glass art inspired by the sea, coastal margins and wild nature and Wendy dyes, paints, and stitches new and recycled fabrics, to create land and seascapes inspired by Dorset and beyond.

first science fiction convention while trying to unravel an audacious crime. Suitable for all ages, with wonderful illustrations by Dorchester

artist Sam Zambelli, the obscure references to local locations will delight and amuse both adults and children.

Andrew treated the audience at the official book launch at Came Down Golf Club. The event was in aid of the captain’s charity Mosaic, which supports bereaved children and their families in Dorset.

n Acting on Impulse is available from shops in Dorchester, Poundbury Post Office and nationally online from Waterstones, amazon books and The Great British Bookstore.

BOOK LAUNCH: Andrew Trim with Came Down Golf Club captain James Burleigh

There’s no doubting the power of faith

By CANON DEB SMITH Team Rector, Bridport

I remember a friend of mine, who is a priest, telling me a story about something that happened to him.

He was travelling by plane, and as people often do, he got talking to the person next to him. The woman sitting next to my friend told him that she’d just been to visit her mother who had undergone several operations. My friend asked if her mother was feeling better after all the surgery. The woman said: ‘Oh, yes, she’s fine. Everything went well. She’s completely recovered.’ Then the woman asked my friend what he was travelling for. He told her he was a priest

Services

Sherborne Abbey Weekday Services

heading to a new church. On hearing he was a priest, her face completely changed. She leaned towards him and whispered in a sorrowful voice: ‘My mother has cancer. We have been told there is no hope of a recovery.’

For some reason the woman felt the need to pretend that all was well. She felt she had to hide her suffering, that she must hide the physical wounds of her mother and her own emotional wounds. It was only when she discovered my friend was a priest, somebody from whom she might expect understanding and perhaps comfort, that she was able to utter the truth, the truth that perhaps she was keeping even from herself on some level or

Monday to Saturday at 8.30am, Morning Prayer - The Sepulchre Chapel

Every Monday at 9am, Holy CommunionThe Lady Chapel

Every Tuesday at 12noon, Holy Communion - The Lady Chapel

Every Wednesday at 10.30am, Holy Communion with Homily – The Lady Chapel

Every Thursday at 12noon, BCP Holy Communion - The Lady Chapel

Every Friday at 9am, Ecumenical Holy Communion - The Lady Chapel

The first Friday of the month at 9am, Requiem Holy Communion - The Sepulchre Chapel -

Every Saturday at 9am, Holy CommunionThe Sepulchre Chapel

Sunday, April 14

Sherborne Abbey 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Eucharist 6pm Choral

Evensong

St Martin of Tours, Lillington 9.30am Holy Communion

St James the Great, Longburton 10am Family Communion

St Paul’s at The Gryphon 10.30am Holy Communion

other. It was only then she could be open, allowing herself to touch that deep sadness, and allow it to be seen and touched by somebody else.

Thomas the Apostle, often known as Doubting Thomas, had an experience that was very similar.

After the death of Jesus he fled, he ran away even from his friends. He had to be alone. And so he wasn’t there to witness the first appearance of the risen Lord with the other Apostles. But he was there with them when the risen Jesus appeared a second time, and the first thing Jesus did when he saw Thomas was to show him his wounds.

Jesus felt there was no need to

St Mary Magdalene, Castleton 11.15am Holy Communion

Cheap Street Church 6.30pm Taize Service

St John the Baptist, Symondsbury 9.30am Celtic Worship

St Mary Magdalene, North Poorton 9.30am Eucharist

St Saviour’s, Dottery 10.30am Morning Worship

St Michael & All Angels, Askerswell 11am Benefice Eucharist

Friday, April 19

Sherborne Abbey 11am Remembering the Fallen

Sunday, April 21

Sherborne Abbey 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Eucharist 6pm Choral

Evensong

St Martin of Tours, Lillington 9.30am

Morning Service

St James the Great, Longburton 10am Family Communion

St Paul’s at the Gryphon 10.30am All Age Worship

St Mary Magdalene, Castleton 11.15am Mattins

St Mary Magdalene, Loders 9.30am Celtic Worship

St Mary the Virgin, Powerstock 11am

Benefice Eucharist

St Paul’s Broadoak 6.30pm Evening Prayer

hide them – for they were proof of his resurrection and also proof of his love.

Doubt is part of life – and it is not the opposite of faith.

Certainty is the opposite of faith.

Our doubts are a form of humility and honesty, and the world could use some more humility and honesty. Our doubts give birth to imagination, curiosity, and better questions.

Certainty will keep you skimming the surface of life, doubt will take you deep to the ultimate concerns: love, peace, justice, compassion, human dignity.

Be more Thomas!

Be yourself!

Sunday, April 28

Sherborne Abbey 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Eucharist 6pm Choral

Evensong

St Martin of Tours, Lillington 9.30am

Morning Service

St James the Great, Longburton 10am Holy Communion

St Paul’s at the Gryphon 10.30am Morning

Worship

St Mary Magdalene, Castleton 11.15am

Mattins

St Mary Magdalene, Loders 9.30am Holy Communion

St Saviour’s, Dottery 9.30am Holy Communion

St John the Baptist, Symondsbury 11am

Benefice Eucharist

St Michael & All Angels, Askerswell 6.30pm Evensong

St Mary Magdalene, North Poorton 6.30pm Evensong

Sunday, May 5

Sherborne Abbey 9.30am Festal Eucharist 6pm Choral Evensong

St Paul’s at the Gryphon 10.30am Morning Worship

St Mary Magdalene, Castleton 11.15am

Choral Mattins

St Mary the Virgin, Powerstock 9.30am

Morning Prayer

St Mary Magdalene, Loders 11am Benefice Eucharist

Mike Burks is the MD of The Gardens Group, with garden centres in Sherborne, Yeovil and Poundbury. Mike is a former chairman of the Garden Centre Association and is a passionate advocate of eco-friendly gardening practices. thegardensgroup.co.uk

Keep an eye out for frost

“Ne’er cast a clout until May is out” is a phrase describing how there is still a chance of a frost until the end of May and so gardeners beware of putting tender plants out too early without some form of protection.

The end of May rule is interesting in that when I lived in midDevon the rule we followed was the tender bedding plants would be fine outside after the second week in May. Whereas in Sherborne we usually say the end of May. But in Epsom the rule for pruning box plants was Derby Day – the first week of June! (Box plants when pruned put on lush young growth that is very tender and frost susceptible). Apparently, the frost-free line through the UK takes 84 days to go from the most South Westerly point on the islands to the most north-easterly point, which seems me to make it that summer hasn’t yet started in the North of Scotland before the autumn has set in, which maybe what it feels like. Some Scottish colleagues of mine in the garden centre industry told me that the only frost-free month last year was August. But what does this mean for us in Dorset? Young growth on plants can be at its most vigorous in May and yet because of that is most susceptible to frost. The temperature changes also can go from being very warm to darn chilly in the same 24-

hour period. Often the frost happens very early in the morning and by the time many are up and about there is no sign. So, it’s best to be prepared and keep an eye on the weather forecast. If the facilities are available, put tender plants out in the day and then back inside at night. But if that sounds too tedious or hard work, then the use of horticultural fleece will help you out. This lightweight white material, if draped over your plants, will keep them a few degrees warmer than the temperature above and plants will be well protected. We grow in low-tech conditions in polytunnels in our nursery and so on cold nights in April and May we cover plants with fleece. In addition to that though, we grow on the ground rather than on benches. The floor of the polytunnel is warmer during the day and acts like a storage heater overnight. In fact, we don’t use any artificial heat at all and this creates the right conditions for plants to grow. But with protection, when necessary, it’s a great month in the garden with a vast array of plants that can be planted out to give a rainbow of colour, a nose full of scent and a source of food for pollinating insects to enjoy themselves.

All will need to be watered regularly and not allowed to dry out. Regular feeding too, with a flower promoting fertiliser, will keep them flowering and as the flowers begin to go over, they should be picked off (dead heading) and so more will be provided by the plants.

Soon frost will become a memory, long lazy days of sunshine can be looked forward to and all will be right with the world.

Mind you, come to think of it, I remember a frost on June 5 one year!

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paul@parrottlocks.co.uk | parrottlocks.co.uk

HOUSE SITTING, PET CARE AND GARDEN WATERING OFFERED

by retired classical musician couple, from August to mid-September. Call 07986 622627.

FOR SALE

50 YEARS WORTH OF MONTHLY CRICKETER

MAGAZINE FOR SALE. The collection started in 1973, up to the present issue, they are all boxed and in excellent condition. Phone number 01305835366 Sensible offers.

LARGE PORTMERION

BOTANIC GARDEN BOWL

No chips or cracks £40. Portmerion Botanic Garden teapot, jug, sugar bowl £50. Call 07855 175357.

Spring into action for an external makeover

DRAIN BRAINS

By Jak Norwood of Valley Drains

Spring has arrived and it’s that time of the year to spruce up the outside areas that have been ravaged by

a very wet winter. The exterior of your business or home requires regular care and maintenance, and deserves the same level of dedication as the property’s interior.

Over time the outside surfaces can become grimy

and stained, and suffer from the effects of environmental factors, such as moss, lichen and animal excrement.

Air and traffic pollution, especially in densely populated or industrial areas can to an extent have a negative effect on buildings and external structures that can only be removed with pressure washing.

We use unique pressure washing machines, which can both be used to ensure that your patio, decking, cladding, driveway, pavement, or any other surface comes up like new. We can provide highpressure cleans or a gentler jet wash for more delicate cleaning.

We also carry out gutter cleaning.

Excess rain and debris can rapidly block your gutters, causing them to overflow, and in time this can cause increasingly serious damage to your property. We offer gutter clearing and cleaning off of gutters, soffits and fascias.

Don’t delay, call us today to book in an external makeover for your home or business.

n Call 07958335963 valleydrains.co.uk

STAMPS & COINS WANTED by collector/investor. We are keen to purchase small or large collections at this time. Tel Rod 07802 261339 or 01308 863790

We have had a few setbacks due to the wet conditions and progress has been slow on various parts of the site, the community garden flower beds are still too wet to finish digging, weeding and planting, the fitting of the sewage treatment plant has hit a couple of snags and the extension to the main building is progressing gradually. However, we are optimistic that these will soon be sorted out once the summer is here.

It was lovely to see the sun over the Easter break as we re-opened The Potting Shed, Wellbeing Nursery, Therapy Garden welcoming old and new customers to the peaceful gardens and nursery, what a joyous time we had discussing the work in progress and what we still have left to do, as well as seeing what has been achieved over the winter months.

The shrubs and herbaceous plants are bursting into life and the early flowers are out in force. The forget-me-nots are doing well, the energies of this wonderful plant help to provide clarity of the mind (which is much needed after a dismal winter). As you work around these prolific plants your mind

charged and all proceeds from this charge will go to the charity to support the wonderful work they do to help a variety of causes like Horatio’s Garden, Marie Curie, Army Benevolent fund, McMillan and a lot of others as well.

Cathryn from Snapdragon Holistic therapies is taking bookings for her range of treatments to find out more please email Snapdragon holistictherapies@ outlook.com

will become calmer and with the calmness comes clarity, the assistance with memory also makes it a good addition for a garden designed for people with dementia.

The beautiful yellow of the Lamium galeobdolon (Yellow Archangel) is out and the bees are busy already. This is a superb ground cover plant and will suppress most other weeds once established. The energies from the plant aid in linking with your high spiritual self and your connection with the angels, as the name suggests a very angelic plant providing you with a better understanding

Andrew is providing spiritual pathway guidance, reiki, and readings to find out more or book please call 07767 200267.

Mary is providing energy healing and guidance on a Thursday morning so why not drop in and grab a tea and see Mary?

Andy Cole is a reiki healer at The Potting Shed in Middlemarsh. He specialises in planting for healing.

Place 1 to 9 once each into every black-bordered 3×3 area as well as each of the 54 rows indicated by the coloured lines. Rows don’t cross the thick black lines.

Killer Sudoku Pro:

Place 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and bold-lined 3×3 box. No digit may be repeated in any dashed-line cage, and each dashed-line cage must result in the given value when the stated operation is applied between all of the digits in that cage. For subtraction and division operations, start with the highest number in the cage and then subtract or divide by the other numbers in that cage.

Down

2 Emptynutswithsungone (5)

3 Leavefeelingoutofsortsandfallasleep (4,3)

4 UncommunicativecomedianwithUSactress infusedwithdrive (9)

5 Prohibitsignofmilitaryhonour (3)

6 FemalebeginningtoworryMEcountry (5)

7 Greekcharactermanagednoslipafter university (7)

11 Pieceofdata?Itiscastwronglyovertime (9)

13 Changeboundtoentercomputingetc?It’s undecided (2,5)

15 Businessstudentprobingtherefore commercialstoppage (7)

17 Reveredfigure,Oscar,inchargeis uncomplaining (5)

19 Simplenationalairlineinthisway (5)

Can you solve these brain chains entirely in your head? Start with the bold value on the left of a chain, then follow the arrows and apply each operation in turn. Write the result in the box.

Josh lands quality roach and first win of season

Dorchester and District Angling Society junior Josh Roe claimed his first win of the season, taking the top spot at Broadmaynes’s Luckfield Lake.

Josh landed 14lbs 6ozs of quality roach, a catch which included a nice tench as a bonus.

Despite the muddy conditions, nine juniors turned out to compete. One or two nice carp were caught

which did not count in the silverfish-only match and were returned unrecorded.

Alec Campbell took his maiden podium with a very respectable 13lbs 8ozs for second place.

Harry Cryer took third place just 2ozs behind Alec with 13lbs 6ozs.

If you would like to know more about DDAS Juniors, visit ddasjuniors.co.uk

Doubles all round at club tournament

Dorchester Tennis and Squash Club held its third consecutive doubles Spring Tennis Tournament with the finalists battling it out after eight weeks of competition.

Thirty competitors took part including invited junior members, and finals day was held in dry, sunny conditions, a welcome change from the wet weather seen earlier in the competition.

In the Men’s Doubles, despite losing the opening set quickly, Matt Chandler and Mike Williams regrouped, cut down on their errors and turned the match round in the second set.

The deciding championship tie break was tight, however Matt and Mike always looked in control and they defeated Dugald Lockhart and Louis Young 2-6, 6-1, 10-8.

In the Women’s Doubles, Ros Clark and Lynn Ramsell, last year’s defeated finalists, were

CHAMPS: Men’s Champions Mike Williams and Matt Chandler, Mixed Champions Ros Clark and Ellery Ford and Women’s Champions Julie Nash and Lorraine Slowther

drawn together again. This time they were up against Julie Nash and Lorraine Slowther. The combination of Lorraine’s powerful groundstrokes and Julie’s drop shots and slices meant that once again Ros and Lynn were the runners up. They struggled to find their rhythm and Julie and Lorraine ran out convincing winners 6-0, 6-0.

In the Mixed Doubles, Ros Clark and Lorraine Slowther were again on opposite sides of the net. Ros came out the winner this time, partnered with Ellery Ford as they defeated Lorraine and

Stephen Hockaday 6-1 6-1.

Ros and Ellery combined well, with Ellery’s powerful serve and speed around the court, and Ros’s net play.

At the presentation ceremony, club chairman Al Clark thanked all the competitors and spectators. Al said: “We’ve seen some fantastic matches today and over the course of the tournament and it’s great to see some new names on the trophies. Congratulations to all of our champions.

“Our main tournament sponsor for the first time was the Dorset LTA and we are very grateful for their generous support.”

Consolation events were held in all events and full results are listed below.

Full Results

Men’s Doubles - Matt Chandler & Mike Williams beat Dugald Lockhart & Lois Young 2-6, 6-1, 10-8

Women’s Doubles - Julie Nash & Lorraine Slowther beat Ros Clark & Lynn Ramsell 6-0 6-0

Mixed Doubles - Ros Clark & Ellery Ford beat Lorraine Slowther & Stephen Hockaday 6-1 6-1

Plate Competitions:

Men’s Doubles Plate - Phil Horne & Chris Porter walkover

Women’s Doubles Plate - Claire Thomasson & Sue Warren beat Jane Jones & Ann Williams 6-0 6-0

Mixed Doubles Plate - Ann Williams & Joe Slowther beat Sue Ramsbottom & Tim Guppy 3-6 6-3 10-3

n For details on what the club has to offer, go to dtsc.org.uk

FIRST WIN: Josh Roe

Club’s £1,200 donation to cancer charity

THANKS: Rosemary Shepherd presents a cheque for £1,200 to Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support

Lyme Regis Golf Club’s outgoing Lady Captain Rosemary Shepherd presented a cheque for £1,200 to Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support at the club’s recent AGM.

The donation symbolises the shared commitment of Lyme Regis Golf Club and its members to support important causes that positively impact the

community and resulted from the club’s fundraising efforts under Rosemary's leadership.

Accepting the cheque on behalf of Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support, founder Mary Kahn said: “ALCS extends its heartfelt gratitude to Rosemary Shepherd and the members of Lyme Regis Golf Club for their generous donation

and unwavering support. Their contribution will enable the charity to continue providing vital assistance and support to those affected by cancer in the Axminster and Lyme area.”

For information about the work of Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support, visit axminsterandlyme cancersupport.co.uk

Running wild through the countryside

The third running of Run Wild Dorset takes place on Sunday, April 14, and the organisers are hoping that people signing up on the day will see them smash last year’s entry, as the event continues to grow. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are welcome and have the chance to take in some breathtaking scenery on tracks and trails at Mappercombe Manor in Nettlecombe, which are not usually open for the public. Whether choosing to tackle the 5K, 10K or half marathon course, all competitors are guaranteed stunning, rarely-seen views of the West Dorset countryside.

The race is growing in popularity with just 94 runners braving the hilly course in its augural year in 2022, and 166 taking part a

year later. The event was the brainchild of organisers

Olivia White-Hamilton and Lily Gibson Fleming, who dreamed up the idea when they were looking for a suitable event in the running calendar, and failed to find one which ticked their boxes.

Rather than sign up to a road race or park run, their vision was different: to take participants off the beaten track and across

rarely-seen countryside, to help them connect with nature, while ensuring that the event did not leave an ugly carbon footprint.

Olivia said: “We are really pleased that we are already have more entrants than last year but would love to get over 200 this time, and hope people will sign up on the day. It’s a really familyfriendly event and not ultra-competitive like some runs can be. Dogs are very

welcome and under 11s can take part free.

“We are really grateful for the support of our two major sponsors, Hollis Mead Farm and Boden Clothing. All finishers will get a lovely organic milkshake courtesy of Hollis Mead, together with our wonderful wildflower seed medals, which we think is a really cool idea.” n Online entries are now closed, however you can sign up to take part on the day between 8am and 9.15am on the day. Please see the website or contact the organisers for more details eventrac.co.uk/ e/run-wild-dorset-westdorset-trail-half-marathon10k-and-5k-10621

IN THE LEAD: Runners and dogs enjoying the beautiful backdrop to Run Wild Dorset in 2023

LOCALS’ LUNCH & DINNER

2 COURSE LUNCH £19.95

3 COURSE LUNCH £24.95

3 COURSE DINNER £34.95

Sample menu subject to availability

19 Custom House Quay, Weymouth, DT4 8BG. (1-min walk from The Pavilion) 01305 772270

les-enfants-terribles.co.uk

Vittles (food & drink)

It’s green for go at

FOOD REVIEW

Brassica, Beaminster

By John Clements, chef at The Olive Tree, Bridport

SAMPLE MENU STARTERS

STARTERS

l Tom yum soup (spicy) with tiger prawns or vegetables

l Crab bisque with croutons and rouille

l Grilled squid with chickpea and charred sweetcorn salsa, crispy parma-ham served with a ginger & soy dressing

l Six escargots/ snails with garlic butter & panko breadcrumbs

l Six poole oysters with shallot dressing (£3 supplement)

l Sweet prawns (shell on) and our marie-rose sauce

l Slow-cooked spiced aubergine served on our home-made ratatouille drizzled with pesto

My Dad is 90 and still refuses to eat his greens. All green bits in his food are surgically removed and fed to the now vegan fox who lurks about his garden. It’s a privilege to cook his meals and I’m constantly conjuring up new tricks to “hide the greens”. The latest is vegetable juice in his Uber-English-SpagBol (the ingredients of which would justifiably cause any Italian Nonna to faint, face-first, into her fettuccine. What can I say? It’s the way mum cooked it since 1975. It’s his all-time favourite meal. Dad gets his vitamins. Foxy gets a fast day. Win-win. Grazie Mille!

DESSERTS

DESSERTS

l Lemon posset with fresh raspberries and toasted flaked almonds. Add a glass of Sauternes for £3

l Honey cake from the Sunflower Café served with crème fraiche and crushed pistachio. Add a glass of Sauternes for £3

l Limoncello panacotta & berry coulis. Add a glass of limoncello for £3

l Vanilla ice-cream ( 3 scoops )

Chef req uired

MAINS

MAINS

l Baked filet of sea-bass in foil papilotte with leeks, carrots, fennel, thyme and pouilly fume served with garlic baby potatoes

l Chef Eric’s Signature Dish (whole filleted seabass for dinner)

l Braised chicken thighs with black olives and thyme, served with gratin dauphinois

l ‘Fish du jour’ – ask for today's fish

l Hand-picked Portland dressed crab served with hand-cut fries and our tomato salad (£3 supplement)

l Three salmon & caper fishcakes with wilted spinach

l Linguini with beef bolognaise sauce

l Or why not try our liquid pudding: calvados coffee liquor with fresh whipped cream & crushed amaretti biscuit dusted with sumac

l Dorset cheeses from the awardwinning Book & Bucket Cheese Company in Cranborne (ask for today's selection) dinner only or £3 supplement

Ts & Cs

-Lunch Wednesday to Saturday

-Dinner Wednesday to Friday

-Pre order required for 5 guests or more

-Offers start April 11 and end May 8

-Reduced A La Carte Menu is still available should you wish to come and enjoy our seafood platters as well some other delicious dishes!

On tables of six people and more a discretionary 12.5% service charge will be added to your bill.

Telephone bookings only, quote code ‘LL WDM’ Proof of address required (Council tax or utilities bill only)

Would you like to join a fantastic team and be involved in a growing business? If you have a passion for food we want you!!!

We are looking for a passionate and creative person to join our kitchen as a Chef de Partie or Sous Chef.

Our menus regularly change to include the best seasonal ingredients which is always locally sourced. And our food is cooked to order using the best produce.

Due to location, own transport is essential.

Package includes: l Share of monthly tips

l Discount on food l Free parking l Pension

l Apprenticeship (if eligible)

Apply at The Greyhound, 26 High St, Sydling St

Nicholas, Dorchester DT2 9PD or email your CV to dorsetgreyhound@gmail.com

LOVELY: Ruby steak-frites

this elegant taste of the Med in Dorset

BEAUTIFUL: Focaccia with aioli and, right, the interior

Brassica has also been around for a few years and has bagged a couple of high-profile reviews along the way. A wistful Jay Rayner here;

Puzzle solutions

A lovestruck Giles Coren there.

The holy trinity could well be completed with a visitation from Her Most Excellent Eminence

Cardinal Lady Grace Dent.

Oh well, until that holy day cometh, I’ll just have to fillin.

(Needless to say, expectations have smashed through the greenhouse roof on this one). It’s lunch and the restaurant is warm and homely. Fresh flowers. Nina Simone playing. A chic Country Living vibe with a cool funky twist. The welcome and service polite and professional. The small set lunch menu changes daily. £25 for 3 courses, £20 for 2. Nice little deal. There’s a larger

menu. Starters, focaccia with aioli and a sultry, smoky, unctuous cod-roe with cornichons.

Memorable. Mains, a ruby steak-frites and pork cotechino on a pillow of polenta, red cabbage and yes, buttered greens. The pork, a fabulous, fatty, fried, Italian sausage. The steak, succulent, tender and tasty. No room for pud.

Brassica reminds me of an elegant Italian/ Mediterranean home in Dorset.

It’s a green-light from all the critics alright. So just go. Pronto.

From pages 78-79

Cryptic Crossword Jumbo 3D Sudoku Brain chain (Hard)

Vittles (food & drink)

Karen

Food habits can be SO confusing! Go vegan, they say, save the planet, they say! There is no doubt that plantbased foods will help our planet, but does it come at a cost? Many people’s decision to change to a plant-based diet is to reduce the impact on our environment, which is great, or are we being exploited by the companies that see the pound signs associated with the massive veganism market?

I have always advocated eating foods at their purest. Meat and fish will never be a processed food because they are a single ingredient; however, when we try to imitate them using plantbased products, we begin the journey of over-processed foods.

When you eat a plant-based or vegan diet you benefit from eating less saturated fats, which is undoubtably better for you, but ultra vegan processed foods are higher in salt, sugar and fats, both saturated and unsaturated, and low in fibre. The more it looks like a meat or fish

In the process of going plant-based

product, the greater the process and the higher the price and we risk this ‘trend’ of ultra processed foods becoming yet another threat to global emissions. However, if you are an avid red meat eater, especially one with a penchant for burgers, eating plant-based processed foods will certainly be better for you.

So, beware the ultraprocessed foods which are

great occasionally when you don’t have the time to cook from scratch; they are convenient and will not compromise your ethical reasoning, but it’s very easy to fall into the trap of becoming an ‘unhealthy’ vegan. There needs to be a sensible balance. We have choices and one of the most positive ways to help the planet is to reduce our carbon footprint by buying local.

This month’s tasty dessert is Tarte Tatin Ingredients

Readymade puff pastry.

4 British apples

100g caster sugar

1x30g butter (or vegan alternative)

½ lemon Method

Peel and core the apples and slice, arrange in the bottom of an oven dish or cast-iron skillet if you have one and drizzle with lemon juice. Cut a round of pastry to fit your dish. Add sugar to a nonstick frying pan. Turn up the heat and the sugar will soon turn brown. Do not be tempted to stir just swirl the pan.

When a darkish caramel add 30g of butter and stir in. Pour over the apples. Place the pastry over the top of the apples tucking the pastry carefully around the apples and place in a hot oven and cook until pastry looks brown.

When still warm but not hot, CAREFULLY turn upside down onto a plate. Serve with cream, or your favourite vegan alternative.

Mum’s Kitchen... with Diana Holman

Poulet du Samedi

My friend Joan Herridge was not only a talented flower arranger, but also a really good cook. One of her well-known signature dishes was Saturday Chicken, which she cooked for many of her dinner parties.

It comprised chicken breasts cooked with cream, mushrooms, a tin of mushroom soup, and chopped parsley.

This is a sort of updated version. In honour of its dauphinoise potato topping, I have given it a French title.

Ingredients:

500g potatoes

2 large cloves of garlic, crushed

300ml double cream

1 tablespoon rapeseed oil

600g skinless, boneless chicken thighs, chopped into pieces

1 or 2 leeks, depending on size,

trimmed and finely sliced

200g chestnut mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

2 teaspoon cornflour

400g tin of cream of mushroom soup

Small bunch of parsley, finely chopped

20g Parmesan, finely grated

Method:

For the topping, peel the potatoes, and slice thinly in a food processor or

Broad lives in Burton Bradstock, with her husband and two mad dogs. She ran The Mousetrap in Dorchester, has lived in France and loves discovering new food producers.

TASTY TREAT: Tarte Tatin

Lizzie Crow – AKA Lizzie Baking Bird – is a self taught baker and has recently moved into her own bakery. She also has a stall outside The Old Ship Inn in Upwey each Saturday. See her scrumptious eats at lizziebakingbird.co.uk or find lizzibakingbird on Instagram.

Here’s why you don’t bring me flours

Chocolate cake - gluten free and dairy free

Working in a traditional bakery there is always flour in the air. So I never make gluten-free cakes there – it’s difficult to be 100% confident that there is no gluten about. However my friend turned 50 this year and she is intolerant rather than being allergic to gluten (she also has to have dairy-free) and she wanted me to make a cake. It was a combination of many recipes and it was simple, although it looked rather fancy when finished). When melting chocolate in the microwave do it in short bursts so that you don’t burn it. If you want to make this look fancy then cut the cakes in half. If you would prefer something simpler then paste the two sponges together.

Serve 8 or 10 180C/ gas 4

mandoline. Put the slices into a saucepan and add the cream and garlic. Bring to the boil over a medium heat, then remove from the heat and set aside until needed.

Cake

300g dairy free spread

320g light brown sugar

250g gluten free self raising flour

100g cocoa powder

1 teasp xantham gum

6 eggs

180g dark chocolate, melted

Buttercream

250g dairy free spread

500g icing sugar

200g dark chocolate, melted

Optional ganache

60g oat cream

75g dark chocolate

2 x 20cm (8 inch cake tins) lined with parchment.

In a large bowl beat the spread and sugar together

until light and fluffy. Add flour, cocoa, xantham gum, eggs and beat until combined. Fold in the cooled melted chocolate. Divide the mixture evenly between the tins. Cook for 35-40 minutes. The cakes will be risen and spongy on touching and a skewer comes out clean. Remove from the tins and leave to cool.

Heat a little oil in a large, deep frying pan over a medium heat and brown the chicken all over. Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon and put onto a plate.

Preheat the oven to 200C, 180C fan. Add a little oil to the pan over a low

to medium heat and cook the leeks and mushrooms for 10 minutes

until they are beginning to soften. Measure the cornflour into a jug and whisk in the soup until smooth. Return the chicken to the pan with the leeks and mushrooms and pour in the soup mixture. Increase the heat and bring up to a simmer, stirring

In a bowl add the spread and icing sugar beating well until the buttercream is light and fluffy. Fold the chocolate in until it is fully incorporated.

Take each cake and split in half.

Paste the cake together with the buttercream until you have four layers stacked. Finish by covering the top and sides with buttercream.

If you are using a ganache then heat the oat cream until hot, add in the chocolate and stir until melted. Allow to cool a little and pour over. Decorate if you fancy.

n Lizzie is at the Bakery DT2 9EZ on Fridays 1012

At the Old Ship Inn in Upwey DT3 5QQ

Saturdays 9.30 - 12

Check out where she is lizziebakingbird.co.uk insta Lizzibakingbird

Don’t forget to tag her if you make the cake!

frequently. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the parsley and some seasoning. Empty into an ovenproof dish and smooth to level.

Top with the potato mixture and level as much as possible. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and some freshly ground black pepper.

Cover the dish with foil and cook for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for a further 30 minutes or until the topping is golden and the potatoes are tender when tested with a knife. Serve with green vegetables.

YUMMY: Gluten dairy-free chocolate cake

Down to earth

Sitting ducks and murder, she writes

BEACHCOMBING with JO BELASCO BA Hons History of Architecture and Design

Murder most foul!

The soundtrack to beach combing? The crashing waves, the rumbling of the tide dragging on pebbles as they are raked back into the sea. The THWAKK THWAKK! of a huge swan’s wings as it skims over your head. The strange rattling “subsong” of a crow as it tries to communicate with you. At Pirates’ Cove there is often a murder of crows and also at Weymouth beach front. Whether they are the same murder I can never be sure but it is true that they do seem to remember your face if you have fed them.

EGRETS, I HAVE A FEW: A handy guide to some of the birds to be seen along the Fleet at Rodden Hive

I am not a ‘twitcher’. I come to the world of birds from a feather-collecting angle. Wandering the shores of West Dorset I have collected some beautiful swan feathers and used them in home education. We replicated how the monks used the feathers to write with in the Middle Ages, having fun making ink out of walnut shells!

Of course, since bird flu became a thing the feather collecting side of

JOHN WRIGHT is a naturalist and forager who lives in rural West Dorset. He has written eight books, four of which were for River Cottage. He wrote the awardwinning Forager’s Calendar and in 2021 his Spotter’s Guide to Countryside Mysteries was published.

My mind has been on the subject of flies. The reason for this unlikely interest is that I am writing a book about grasslands, the point of which is to show people what is lost when a species-rich grasslands is destroyed.

Spoiler Alert: between one and four thousand populations of plants, fungi, invertebrates, etc. Some of these

beachcombing has petered out and I slowly became more interested in the living creatures themselves. When I first heard that there were ravens at Portland Bill I did not quite believe it – it seemed too Game of Thrones to be real! But they are often around the southern end of Portland –exotic and local all at once. CROOAK, they call – magic incarnate I think. One sound I certainly never thought I would

hear in a nature reserve is BANG!!!! – but I do. All birds are protected under the RSPB laws so I read. Yet, between November and February along certain parts of the Fleet the Weymouth Wildfowlers are allowed to shoot ducks. Not ducks flying through the sky in case they hit a protected bird, but that easiest of targets –literally, sitting ducks. How or why this could be thought of as a sport or allowed in a nature reserve is beyond me. The RSPB was formed against the backdrop of the British Ornithologists Union failing in their duty to protect birds and it seems to me that someone, somewhere is failing again. After weeks of flying many hundreds of miles the ducks arrive exhausted and needing shelter to recover like their cousin migrants the little terns or the geese, but it seems all birds are not equal in the eyes of nature reserves.

When flies lay eggs in spiders

populations will be of flies.

Few people care much for these creatures, content to swat the more troublesome species that refuse to vacate the house. But as with all of the natural world, flies can appear fascinating and often beautiful when one studies their lives and observes their intricate forms. Some people devote their own lives to studying flies and are known as ‘dipterists’

from the scientific name for the Order in which flies reside, the ‘Diptera’ (=two wings). Only two of the large number of insect orders possess two wings instead of the customary four. However, in the Diptera, the rear wings have developed into a pair of ‘halteres’. These are small ‘clubs’ that act vaguely like gyroscopes or accelerometers to measure in-flight rotations and aid precise flight. There are many, many species of fly within many families: Blowflies,

Sally Cooke lives in Tolpuddle with her husband, two grown-up sons and spotty rescue dog. She loves to photograph and write about the everyday wildlife she sees in her garden and on her daily dog walks. You can follow Sally on Instagram at Sparrows in a Puddle.

Breathe in and connect with nature and eat

There’s been a lot going on in my life recently, including having both my husband’s mother and my mum in hospital at the same time, though with 100 miles and a stretch of water between them. The anxiety and uncertainty I have felt have reminded me that properly connecting with nature isn’t just good for me, it’s absolutely essential. April is a truly wonderful month and the speed in which spring unfolds takes my breath away every year. The countryside turns greener by the day, buds on the trees unfurl at pace, hawthorn flowers follow the blackthorn in the hedges and no sooner is the cherry blossom open than it is blowing all over the roads. Swallows return from Africa to our garages and porches and our resident garden birds are already working hard

making their nests and feeding their young. April is a busy time for gardeners, as soon as we get some dry weather, I am desperate to be out there weeding and planting seeds and making plans for both a productive and beautiful summer. However, at times recently I’ve not picked up any tools and just walked slowly round and taken in all that’s happening. The honesty shooting up its first flower stems, the first blossom on our new plum tree, the bees and butterflies visiting the grape hyacinths. I’ve been reminded of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden, which in the spring ‘bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles.’

Burnett’s lonely orphan Mary first starts to connect with nature when she

encounters a friendly robin. I’ve been thrilled that this spring a pair of robins have raised a family in my garden hedge and watching them through my bedroom window busily delivering beakfulls of worms and spiders back to their nest while I eat my porridge has been a calming start to my day.

low down in the hedge and I know I’m being watched.

I find myself losing track of what I had planned to do and instead just deliberately dig up worms to throw to him. I have not yet persuaded him to feed from my hand but he comes very close, and the feeling of being part of his world for a short while is very special.

The robin that Mary makes friends with in the book has learned to hang around while the gardener is at work and mine has too!

As soon as I start forking over the veggie beds I hear a short burst of song from

Thankfully both mums are home from hospital now and able to enjoy the spring, described in The Secret Garden, as ‘the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine’, slow down a little and breathe it in.

their organs, and other horror stories...

Dance Flies, Thick-headed Flies, Assassin Flies, Dagger Flies, Fungus Gnats, Crane Flies, Hoverflies and so on for another 220 families, amounting to over 120,000 species. Britain alone boasts 7,000 species, many more than our native flowering plants. Each family of fly will take on one or another lifestyle and form, though there is much overlap between and within families. All are

beautiful when viewed through a lens, and they can range in size from one that is only half a millimetre long to one that fills the palm.

As with most insects, the larvae and adults consume different foods. While the adults of some species may suck blood or attack and consume bees, it is mostly the larval appetite that disturbs. We are all familiar with spiders catching flies, but Spider

Flies do the reverse. The adult female lays her eggs inside ground-nesting Wolf Spiders. The eggs duly hatch, and the larvae eat the spider’s abdominal organs, keeping it alive longer by consuming those that are less vital first. Be warned, we have Spider Flies in West Dorset. One more horror story: The abovementioned half-millimetre fly lays its eggs inside the head of an ant. I could go on...

KIM BERLIN – A newcomer to the Rock

Duchess of Portland

Margaret Cavendish Bentinck (1715-1785) had a passion for collecting, but not artefacts, or books, or indeed music: No, Margaret was fascinated by the natural world, so she collected specimens from nature; animals, plants and flowers. Margaret was the wealthiest woman in Britain during her lifetime, and her passion for collecting and cataloguing knew no financial bounds. Margaret employed scientists, botanists and zoologists to assist her in her work amassing a collection that, after her death, would form the basis of many museum collections around the country.

It is perhaps no surprise then, that someone would see fit to honour her by naming a rose after her, using her public title of the Duchess of Portland. The Duchess of Portland rose, or as it is often more simply known, the Portland Rose, is a bit of a mystery. There are several stories behind its attribution.

Margaret the collector and the rose by any other name

One is that it was given to her by French gardener André Dupont in 1800, but that was 15 years after her death, so it can’t be correct. Another is that it arrived from Italy around 1770 as an interesting cross between a gallica and a

damask rose. Although that was also disputed, recent DNA analysis by the University of Lyon has proved this to be the case. How and when it arrived is unclear, but Margaret lent her title to it, and it is a fitting tribute to her. A

single rose of dark fuschia fading to lilac highlights, with a centre of golden stamens easily accessible to bees and other pollinators, it feeds generously the animals Margaret cared so much to observe and document.

Fancy a lifetime of back-breaking drudgery?

People will be encouraged to imagine the past as experienced by the Dorset rural working-class, those who laboured in the cottages and on the land as part of Tolpuddle Old Chapel Trust’s Tolpuddle Family Lives project.

Funded by Historic England’s Everyday Heritage, Tolpuddle Family Lives will feature a series of events and activities for local people, where they get to experience what life was

like for the very poorest working people in the country. The project will uncover largely overlooked parts of the Tolpuddle story, with a particular focus on women and children. It will collect evidence from a wide variety of sources, and explore creative ways of

bringing the past to life. Activities will also include celebrating the skills and cultures of rural labourers through craft workshops, concerts and related events.

To find out more go to tolpuddleoldchapeltrust.org

Tolpuddle Old Chapel Trust was founded in 2014 to save the Martyrs’ legacy by renovating the Chapel built in 1818 by the men who later became known as the Tolpuddle Martyrs.

NATURAL BEAUTY: Margaret, Duchess of Portland and a Portland Rose

WALKING IN DORSET with retired Dorset rights of way officer Chris Slade

This is a longish walk of a little over eight miles, weaving through beautiful country park land. Start by visiting the church, which is usually open, then walk west along the A356 to a junction where you turn left just before the village hall and cross the Frome by a large bridge with white wooden railings. At the next junction wiggle then carry straight on uphill, south westward, with woodland to your left.

Soon you’ll pass the car park and picnic site at Tibbs Hollow. Carry on to the top of the hill at Longlands Farm. Here the Tarmac runs out and the lane continues as a bridleway, taking you down into the combe that extends to Compton Valance. It’s very peaceful down there with no traffic noise.

The bridleway then turns south, crossing a stream, then goes uphill for a mile, passing access land and woodland. At a

junction with another bridleway turn left and head north north east for a mile, passing Town Hill Farm.

At the bottom of the slope, turn right and head south east for a mile, past New Littlewood Farm and continuing to Hampton where, just before meeting a road, double back and walk the bridleway along the ridge, heading north north west then, having passed through some woodland, turn left along a footpath that takes you down to Littlewood.

Cross the bridleway and join the footpath across a field to Metlands Wood. Here the path takes you through pleasant woodland to join the road that takes you north eastwards back the way you came.

If you have time, go towards the village hall and join the path behind it that enables you to explore some interesting woodland.

Students soak their teachers for charity

Giving teachers at the Woodroffe school a soaking at the Spring Fete was one of the ways in which students from the school council and prefect team raised £570 for Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support (ALCS).

The support group was thrilled with the fundraising collaboration, which kicked off with a Dragons Den style challenge where students were given £150 by ALCS to sharpen their entrepreneurial skills and raise funds for the organsation. A spokesperson from ALCS said: “We extend our sincere gratitude to The Woodroffe School for their remarkable effort in raising funds to support those affected by cancer in the local area. The charity looks forward to future collaborations.”

For more information about Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support and how you can support the organisation’s mission, please visit axminsterandlyme cancersupport.co.uk.

Business

Freelance copywriter ANDREW KNOWLES is based in Wyke Regis and has a keen interest in history. He is currently charting the histories of long-lived Dorset businesses.

Dorset’s coastline is awash with hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs. Some of the oldest line up behind Weymouth beach.

That’s no surprise, given that King George III stamped royal approval on the town’s resort status. His visits prompted a flurry of building, as developers rushed to construct more places to stay.

The result was Weymouth’s elegant seafront. A blend of late Georgian and early Victorian properties, most are now packed with bedrooms for tourists. One of these beachside dormitories is the Gresham Hotel. Founded in the 1920s, it’s been home to holidaymakers for more than 100 years.

The Gresham is one of 16 five-storey properties in a terrace named Belvidere. The house itself, number 5, was built in the 1820s, making it late Georgian, although too late to have witnessed George III himself. His last visit was in 1805.

For the first half-century of its life the building was a family home.

Servants scurried along corridors and up the stairs to meet the needs of the large families in residence. This changed with the coming of the railway.

From the 1860s it became increasingly easy for ‘ordinary’ folk to get away for a seaside holiday. Many came from the Midlands and when they arrived, they needed somewhere to stay.

The building wasn’t the

Historic hotel forms part of town’s elegant seafront

Gresham back then, but it had become a hotel. Or rather, a ‘lodging house’ run by Frederick Parsons. He was in charge for around three decades, and by 1901 he’d upgraded his job description to Private Hotel Keeper.

He’d also amalgamated numbers 5, 6, and 7 into one establishment.

Ten years later the building had reverted to being a private home.

It’s around this time that indoor plumbing found its way to Weymouth’s seafront properties.

By 1921 number 5 Belvidere was back to providing short-term

seaside accommodation.

Around that time it became the Gresham – and it had a brush with scandal. In 1922 Harriet Forward, wife of an Axminster solicitor, went to court, seeking judicial separation from her husband.

It was the proprietress of the Gresham who confirmed that Mr Wright, a regular visitor to her Weymouth hotel in the company of a Mrs Wright, looked just like Mrs Forward’s husband.

Another crime was committed at the Gresham in 1959.

A newspaper reports the theft not only of the TV

set, but also a VHF radio and a pair of binoculars. That was before every room had its own television.

The Gresham has changed hands several times over the last century. Each new owner brought changes. In the 1980s indoor plumbing made its way to every room, with the addition of ensuite bathrooms.

The most recent owners, Louise and Steve, took over in 2021.

Their three-year refurbishment blends the Georgian elegance of the building with the modern conveniences expected by today’s tourists.

Those who constructed Belvidere, around 200 years ago, would surely be thrilled to know it still provides an elegant backdrop to Weymouth beach.

n Next month I’ll profile another historic Dorset business. If you know one, I’d be thrilled to hear about it. Email andrew@ andrewknowles.co.uk

TALK OF THE TERRACES: Belvidere Terrace on Weymouth seafront and, below, The Gresham in the 1950s and, right, as it is today

First prize? That’s just my cup of tea!

By Karen Bate karen@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Eagle-eyed tea lover

Lucy Heaton of Milborne Port spotted the teapots hidden in our pages of the March WDM and has won our competition in association with Clipper Tea. Lucy has bagged a tea tasting experience for two with master blender Dan and a hamper of many varieties of tea from the Beaminster brand.

Lucy said: “I can’t believe I have won; this is so unexpected and amazing, I am very excited. I absolutely love tea. I love to have a loose-leaf brew in the afternoon with a slice of homemade cake. I shall be taking my mother who loves tea nearly as much I do.” And Vicky Kemp from

Poundbury is our runner up, winning a hamper of delicious teas. Vicky said: “The

competition really appealed to me as my husband Peter and I both drink tea and like to try different fruit teas as well. He is keen on the lemon and ginger varieties along with black tea.”

Clipper was started in 1984 and will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. It began with a tea obsessed husband and wife team who wanted to share their love of tea with a promise of ethical sourcing and natural production. Clipper Tea is still blended in Beaminster. n Would your business like to offer a prize in the WDM? Email advertising@ westdorsetmag.co.uk for details

Lisa Pharaoh is a solicitor and registered mediator with the Civil Mediation Council. Contact her on 01305 819696 or at info@pharaohlaw.co.uk

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TEA FOR TWO: Lucy Heaton and Vicky Kemp

Here’s why we’ve been shortlisted for award

Local elections across Dorset will be taking place on Thursday, May 2. It’s the first set of elections to Dorset Council since 2019, when it became a unitary authority.

Over the last five years, the Conservative-run administration has delivered for Dorset’s residents –and the numbers demonstrate this, including: £120 million reinvested to safeguard frontline services; more than £4.4 million in grants to local causes through the Community Grants Scheme; nearly 60% recycling rate of waste collected, compared to 43.4% nationally; investing £40 million in schools for children with special educational needs; £19 million invested in projects across Dorset to make council-owned property carbon neutral; road repairs of 95% class 1 defects and 95% of class 2 defects within challenging

Politics

timescales; introduction of a Second Homes Tax from April 2025; and the delivery of over 660 affordable homes for rental or shared ownership last year alone!

These are impressive statistics and demonstrate why the Conservativerun Dorset Council has been shortlisted for the national Council of the Year Award. It also illustrates the benefit of voting for the Conservatives, who will continue to deliver for you and your local communities. Some of the key policies for a second Conservative administration on Dorset Council include:

n Savings of a further £50 million to help safeguard frontline services

n Lobbying Government in partnership with West Dorset’s MP to ensure greater funding allocations from the Revenue Support Grant

n Work towards securing a MultiAuthority Devolution Deal for Dorset, bringing regional investment and economic growth

n Work towards Dorset Council delivering net zero by 2040, protecting our environment

n Dorset Local Plan delivered by May 2027, protecting the county from inappropriate housing development

n Continue the rollout of the Special Needs and Disabilities programme, with more investment in young people

n Continue to deliver affordable housing for purchase or rent, helping to keep young, locally-born residents in Dorset

The Conservatives have a strong track record on Dorset Council, and it’s important that we enable this to continue. The alternative would be disastrous for Dorset.

We have a plan to reform our water industry

At the end of March I was delighted to welcome the leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey to West Dorset. He came to help me highlight two issues that are incredibly important to both me and the Liberal Democrats; the appalling situation of untreated sewage being dumps into our rivers and beaches, and the need for far greater support for our agricultural sector.

We went to Washingpool Farm to visit the Discover Farming class room. This is a charity run by The Melplash Agricultural Society, which helps educate children about the importance of food,

By EDWARD MORELLO West Dorset LibDems

farming, and the environment. Importantly it also provides encouragement and support for those considering a career in agriculture and the rural economy through outreach in local secondary schools and at career fairs. This extends to financial support for students studying land-based courses like agriculture, forestry, and horticulture.

A strong and thriving agricultural sector is vital for West Dorset, and the country as a whole. That’s

why the Liberal Democrats are committed to increasing the farming budget by £1bn. We then went to West Bay to meet with Surfers Against Sewage to discuss the 2023 sewage data that had been published the day before. The figures for West Dorset are frankly awful. Of the 595 constituencies in England and Wales, we ranked 15th worst. Between them South West Water and Wessex Water released 45,678 hours of raw sewage into our rivers and beaches, across 3,864 events in 2023. That is the equivalent of 10.6 times a day every day. And while many people tend to think that this happens at the seaside in

reality some of the highest frequency of sewage release is way inland; at Sherborne, Dorchester, and Maiden Newton. Sydling St Nicholas, one of the worst affected places, saw 171 releases in 2023. That’s sewage three times a week! The Liberal Democrats have repeatedly tried to introduce legislation in Parliament that would stop water companies from releasing sewage, only for the Conservatives to vote against it. But we won’t stop trying. Ultimately, we want the water companies to be turned into ‘public benefit companies’ which will force them to invest in improving their infrastructure.

Housing, transport and climate our key issues

This will probably be the last time that you will read these columns before our local elections on May 2. Irrespective of your political leanings can I urge you to do one thing – vote! Our political system may not be ideal, but it is vastly better than most of the alternatives. Please support it and then use it to fight for the changes you want. One of the changes your existing Green Party councillors want is for Dorset Council to directly provide genuinely affordable housing, especially for rent, and suitable for young people. We would like to see council-owned land used for building new council houses, and for the council to buy up and convert

By KELVIN CLAYTON West Dorset Green Party

suitable existing housing. We would pay for this using the £15m the council expects to receive from capital receipts each year, from borrowing, and then funding interest and repayments on the capital borrowed from rents. We will seek to use the planning system to deliver the right houses in the right places and at the right prices. Another change we want to see is substantial improvements to our public transport. This is currently inadequate throughout our county and has all but disappeared from much of rural Dorset. We would work with commercial

operators to directly provide bus services and connect public transport services together. We would pay for this by borrowing to invest in new green buses, using our existing school transport service and securing higher revenues from increased use of the services. We also want more action on climate change. We would press government to allow our planners to be more positive about renewable energy proposals requiring solar panels on all suitable roofs and allowing wind farms in the AONB unless there are exceptional reasons against. We would make it easier to make listed buildings sustainable. And we will support offshore wind farms. We would bring Dorset Council’s net zero

target forward to 2030, do more to prepare for the climate change that is already unfolding and would take greater steps to protect and improve our natural environment and wildlife.

If you support these and other Green Party objectives, please vote for us. And if your heart tells you to vote Green, but your head urges you to vote tactically, please remember that this is not a general election. Please don’t be fooled by the Lib Dem leaflets coming through letterboxes implying that Greens can’t win. In local elections we can, and have won in West Dorset, most notably in Bridport & Lyme Regis. And we can win in many other places.

Never underestimate the power of the arts

Congratulations to Miranda and Karen for their West Dorset Magazine being shortlisted for the national Newspaper Awards, the only all-female publishers there. They reached the final six out of hundreds of entries. I would say they are part of our country’s globally successful creative arts industry of which we should be very proud. The arts are important to the UK not just for economic growth – 2.4 million people work in creative industries worth £125 billion to the economy. We are among the biggest exporters of books, music, and advertising; creative industries can provide us with the power to truly ‘level up’.

By CLAUDIA SORIN West Dorset Labour Party

In Dorset we have some great talent in the arts with theatre and music groups, dance clubs, arts centres, galleries, museums, cinemas, and libraries where we can take part in creating, performing or appreciate and enjoy. I was fortunate to be involved in a dance production by a local ballet and dance club at Weymouth Pavilion last month and I was so impressed by the talent of the young dancers, the passion and care that went into designing and making the costumes, the planning of lighting and sound, set design and backstage organising.

This combination of teamwork, dedication, hard work, and creativity culminates in something beautiful and inspiring. We should not underestimate what a powerful, lifelong positive effect this can have on a young person. The Tory governments of the past 14 years have decimated and devalued the arts in schools, saying they are not a strategic priority but simply a middle-class add-on. There has been a 47% drop in the take-up of arts GCSEs in the last ten years. It is working class children who bear the brunt of this. Labour on the other hand consider the arts to be not a luxury but an essential part of our national identity.

Labour is committed to placing the arts at the heart of the school curriculum, updating the way progress is measured to allow under 16s to study art, music, design, or drama. Together with a focus on oracy – confidence in speaking, young people will have access to subjects that provide them with invaluable life skills that employers value. The benefits of the arts and creative media in supporting mental health is well understood and will help to deal with the struggles many children and young people face these days.

Labour councillors in Dorset will fulfil the pledge to support the arts to bring benefits to everyone.

Agriculture

Farming stalwarts join board of insurance firm

South West farming stalwarts are joining the board of farming insurance experts Cornish Mutual as non-executive directors.

David Fursdon is actively involved in his diversified family farming business in Devon.

He chairs the Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH) and Dyson Farming.

He is also a Food, Farming and

Countryside Commissioner, a Trustee of the Royal Countryside Fund and a rural non-executive for the Duchy of Cornwall.

David chaired the Government’s Future of Farming review in 2013, the South West Rural Productivity Commission in 2017 and the Independent Review of the Management of Protected Sites on Dartmoor in 2023.

Jane Quicke is also involved with her family farming business, holding a leadership role in the Devon-based dairy farm specialising in clothbound cheddar.

She has extensive experience in sales, finance, risk mitigation and business strategy, having spent several years in financial and professional service companies in both the UK and Canada.

Award-winning firm offer total land service

An ecologist and a conservationist are offering a very different service to farmers, estates, forestry and conservation projects.

George Larcombe, 23, from Puncknowle was named Rising Star in the Bridport Business Awards last month.

George is a qualified ecologist who studied a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.

Ian Ball, 43, from Hampshire, studied an extended diploma in land and wildlife management, including game management.

Wildforce is different in that the pair don’t just focus on one aspect. They can look at the land holistically and come up with a plan to make flora and fauna work as a whole to increase not only biodiversity but profits too – and at the same time, provide grant advice to make projects affordable.

It’s an exciting prospect for landowners, who may have tried smaller scale projects on their land – Wildforce can look at the whole spectrum nature provides and come up with ways to support a healthier, happier ecosystem.

George said: “Our degree and previous courses covered

ecology, conservation, game management. We wanted to use all of that knowledge and all of those skills to provide a complete service to landowners.”

Ian said: “We are passionate about nature, ecology, conservation, agriculture and farming – if you look after nature, nature will look after you.

“We wanted to do more than what’s usually on offer by ecology companies.

Wildforce are specialists in deer, wildlife and invasive species surveying, management and consulting. We don’t offer any sporting activities – all of our work is conducted for conservation,

forestry, agriculture and ecology.”

The business is committed to providing top-quality services that benefit both the environment and the community, with a focus on sustainability and preservation.

George said: “Deer management is important as if the abundance gets too high it can cause crop damage on arable land and environmental pressures.

The pair also provide services including predator management for ground nesting and wading bird species, controlling American mink to conserve water voles, managing grey squirrels to

conserve red squirrels, song birds and tree protection.

Ian said: “Ecosystems are complex things and if you remove or introduce species, that can have a massive effect – take the effect of grey squirrels on red squirrels, for example.

“One thing we want to do is educate people. We are here to help.”

There are many grants to help landowners with the fees for this kind of work, such as the Government Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

n The pair can also advise on cover crops, beetle banks and margins. To find out more, go to wildforce.uk or email George@wildforce.uk

WILDFORCE LTD: Ian Ball and George Larcombe

TAXI! Working together to give the customer the very best service TAXI! Working together to give the customer the very best service

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