The West Dorset Magazine Edition 31, August 2023

Edition 31

of

August 2023

Monthly, PRICELESS

The West Dorset Magazine

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

QUAY INDICATOR:

PORT IN A STORM:

Former council offices on medieval site to become car park before redevelopment P27

Refugees move on to barge despite grave safety concerns: P5

Plus 15 pages of Whasson, EIGHT pages of culture, 50+ pages of news, plus features, puzzles, recipes & more

We’re the most popular publication in the area with a readership of 60-70,000!

Your local organic cider Farm Discover the wor ld of cider B r i d p o rt , D T 6 5 F T | 0 1 3 0 8 4 8 8 3 8 2 Cider Tours and Tasting Thurs-Sat 11am Please book in advance. dorsetnectar.co.uk

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Miranda Robertson Editor

Karen Bate News Editor

miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk

karen@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Stuart Wickham Sports editor

Laura McManus Advertising sales director

stuart@westdorsetmag.co.uk

laura@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Contact us: ( 01305 566336 News, letters to the editor and general feedback: newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk Display advertising: advertising@westdorsetmag.co.uk Classified advertising (text ads): classifieds@westdorsetmag.co.uk Sport: sport@westdorsetmag.co.uk Post: 15 Stanstead Rd, Maiden Newton, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 0BL

Nick Horton Chief Sub

Dan Goater Reporter

nickH@westdorsetmag.co.uk

dan@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Bob Holman Advertising sales

Lyndon Wall Cartoonist

bobdiholman@btinternet.com

justsocaricatures.co.uk

Contents: News & features Whasson? (events) Down to Earth Vittles Puzzles Church Home & Garden Culture Letters Politics Business & Recruitment Sport Health & Wellbeing Agriculture

5-59 6-20 60-63 64-67 68-69, 82 70 71-75 75-82 83 84-85 86-88 88-91 92-93 94

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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Huge concern for barge refugees’ safety

By Miranda Robertson miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Campaigners fear the Bibby Stockholm asylum seekers’ barge could become a ‘floating Grenfell’ as it starts to fill up over the coming weeks.

The barge, which was built to house 222 people, is expected to accommodate 500 migrants, plus 40 staff.

Concerned groups, including Stand Up to Racism Dorset and West Dorset MP Chris Loder, fear the vessel has not been properly assessed for safety – particularly in case of fire.

The evacuation point on the barge has been described as ‘completely inadequate’, with people warning there could be a ‘Hillsborough-type crush’.

The barge had not been cleared by the fire service before the first residents arrived. on Monday.

The barge has 222 cabins over three decks, with just two primary emergency exits.

One person told The Times a fire safety check sparked urgent concerns. Another said Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service was ‘very critical on a number of safety issues’.

Nicola David of One Life to Live has outlined her concerns.

She said: “It seems to me that evacuating the barge in the event of a fire or any other emergency, such as a sudden ingress of water, could prove an impossible challenge.

“All of my research, and everyone I’ve spoken to, indicates that the rot found in the hull during its time in dry dock, and the overcrowding on the barge, render the barge entirely unsafe from the point of view of additional weight and inherent fire risks.

“Add to this the extremely narrow corridors, windows that can’t be used for escape, no lifejackets, no fire drills, and a tiny and inescapable evacuation compound surrounded by insurmountable fencing and locked gates. In an emergency, the sense of panic could only be

Picture by Geoff Moore thetraveltrunk.net

heightened by smoke, potentially dim emergency lighting, disorientation, and – for those without sufficient English – an inability to respond to verbal instructions.

“I just don’t see how everyone could get off the barge... in the event of a serious incident.

“Bibby Stockholm feels like a disaster waiting to happen.”

Lynne Hubbard, joint chair of Stand Up to Racism Dorset, said: “We welcome refugees.

“We’re opposed to this prison barge and no one should be moved onto a vessel that’s unsafe. We want refugees on the Bibby Stockholm to know we stand with them against the government’s hostile policies, which encourage racism and hostility.”

Stand Up to Racism Dorset, trade unions and faith groups have joined forces to welcome the refugees, with a welcome message in specially made giant letters and 50 welcome packs to help the refugees acclimatise.

Lynne said: “Many people have come forward with everything from clothing and toiletries to assistance with legal issues, English language, sporting activities and social events.”

She added: “Refugees are here because of crises in which they have been compelled to flee war and persecution. It’s cruel to cram them onto the barge, converted to house double the number of people for which it was designed. We deplore the decision of Langham Industries, owners of Portland Port, to

berth the barge. They are profiting from human tragedy.

“The Government is wasting millions paying Langham Industries and the owners of the barge. It should be investing in an effective system for asylum applications and tackling the vast backlog of cases.”

MP Chris Loder has told the Home Secretary and Baroness Vere (the Minister responsible for the Marine and Coastguard Agency the barge ‘cannot be deemed safe as no risk assessment can be provided’.

He asked that either the Bibby Stockholm is stopped, or that the necessary risk assessments are provided.

He wrote: “For months, I have been asking for sight of the safety risk assessments that should have been done.”

Government funding has been agreed to pay for infrastructure enhancements. Dorset Council, which has also outlined its opposition to the barge, will receive £3,500 per occupied bed space and a one-off payment of £377,000 to help provide

asylum seekers with activities, volunteering opportunities and English-speaking lessons, to be delivered through voluntary and community organisations.

However it is clear the council is simply trying to do the best thing in a very trying situation – the barge appears to have been foisted on the area without consultation.

A council spokesman said: “The decision to site a floating barge in Portland Port for 500 asylum seekers was made by the Home Office and facilitated through a commercial arrangement with Portland Port. Dorset Council was not consulted and had no decision-making powers over this arrangement.

“From the outset, Dorset councillors have been clear about their concerns and opposition to the location of this scheme. The council explored options to pursue legal action to challenge the Home Office’s decision. Following specialist legal advice and the experience of other councils across the country, Dorset Council made the decision not to take legal action as it was unlikely to be successful and would incur high costs to local taxpayers.” n A public meeting at the Centenary Club in Jubilee Close, Weymouth DT4 7BG, on Thursday, August 10 at 7.30pm will hear from Moyra Samuels of Justice for Grenfell, Jenny Lennon-Wood, secretary of Dorset TUC, and Heather, a campaigner from Portland. All welcome.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Email your events to

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Thursday, August 10 Sherborne & District Gardener’s Association will be holding its 78th Summer Show at the Digby Hall, Hound Street. Staging will start at 7pm, judging at 7.45pm. All are welcome.

Charge for visitors £3. Details from Richard Newcombe 01935 389375.

A garden will open for the NGS at Broomhill, Rampisham DT2 0PT 2pm5pm. £5 entry, children under 16 free. Call 07775 806 875.

Glorious two-acre garden, with extensive herbaceous borders and island beds, planted with a succession of bee-friendly perennials, annuals and shrubs.

Lawns and paths lead to a less formal area with a large wildlife pond and a small meadow, the garden also has a productive vegetable garden, cutting garden and orchard. Well behaved dogs on leads welcome, wheelchair access. Ample parking.

Delicious homemade teas and quality plants for sale.

newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Chesil Bank Writing Shed meets on the second Thursday of each month 7pm-9pm at Portesham Village Hall. Whatever your writing style and genre come and share it with us for feedback. Challenge yourself with fun writing prompts, and learn more about the business of being a writer. New writers always welcome. Find out more: lindaph.co.uk

Saturday, Aug 12 Burton Bradstock Festival of Music and Art runs from

Friday, September 1

August 12-20.

Six days of brilliant classical, jazz, world music, bluegrass and more with internationally acclaimed performers and a nine-day exhibition featuring some of the finest art and ceramics in the South West.

An art exhibition is in the Village Hall. Admission free.

Lunchtime and evening concerts and late-night recitals in St Mary's Church Burton Bradstock from Monday, August 14 to Friday, August 18. Tickets via Bridport Tourist

Continued page 8

Tickets from £10 children free

Evening horse racing and Coldplay tribute Six scheduled races, the first at 5.10pm and the last at 7.43pm. Music to start just after 8pm. Gates open at 3pm.

Car parking: All car parking at Salisbury Racecourse is FREE and each car park is located just a short distance from the enclosures.

Book at salisburyracecourse.co.uk/events

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Join the journey to

brilliant broadband Amazing critters on show in museum’s exhibitions Dorset Museum is hosting two stunning wildlife photography exhibitions until October.

Trevor Parsons’ Nature Heals exhibition showcases work he says he used as a ‘self-help therapy tool’ to recover from trauma.

The museum is also displaying more than 100 images from the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition until October 29 – entry is free.

Verwood based Trevor said: “I’ve had two mental breakdowns and nature and photography was a fundamental part of my recovery. I was off work for ten months and was admitted into St Ann’s Hospital in Poole twice in 2013 and 2014. When I was within nature all the dark thoughts that were rushing around in my head faded slightly, especially when I was taking a photo as I was focusing on that one moment in time and it gave me some much-needed

Register your interest at

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“This is when I realised how powerful nature and photography is as a selfhelp therapy tool. Since then, I’ve been promoting its benefits to try and help others going through mental illness now I’ve found a passion and motivation I never knew I had before.”

Photos from the exhibition will be also exhibited on a cinema screen with an accompanying soundtrack at Dorchester’s Corn Exchange 1pm-7pm on Wednesday, September 6.

Trevor will be on hand to talk about his experiences and information and advice about mental health issues will also be available.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Sat, Aug 12 ct’d Information Centre. Details at burtonbradstockfestival.com Tower Tours will be held at All Saints church, Wyke Regis at 10am and 11am.

Explore the bell tower and climb the 100 steps to experience the wonderful panoramic view at the top.

Tickets £5 at parishofwyke regis.org.uk/events The Originals band, playing hits from the 60s 70s 80s, are playing at Wyke Working Men’s Club.

The Loving Earth Textile Exhibition will be held at Sherborne Abbey until August 20, 10am-5pm, admission free.

The Loving Earth project was started in 2019 by just a few Quakers but quickly generated interest from a wide range of people and has spread around

the world. It celebrates some of the wonderful things threatened by growing environmental breakdown, helping people to engage creatively and constructively with these issues, without being overwhelmed. More than 500 textile panels have been created using a variety of techniques such as embroidery, felting, appliqué and knitting, often using recycled or pre-used materials.

Absolutely Elton will be playing at Dorchester’s Brewery Square 1pm-3pm.

The Dorset Vegan MegaMarket will be at Maumbury Rings, Dorchester DT1 1TY from 10am to 4pm today and Sunday, August 13. Entry free. There will be 50+ stalls with hot and cold food and drink, cakes, pastries, health and beauty and so much more! And, weather permitting, bouncy castles and

Email your events to newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

slides. For more info email wdveganevents@gmail.com

Sunday, August 13 A steam and waterwheel open day will be held at Sherborne Steam and Waterwheel Centre (DT9 3RX) 11.30am to 3.30pm.

The volunteer-run site will have the waterwheel and Hindley steam engine in operation, with audio-visual presentations, displays of machinery and many items of local and historic interest.

There is a tea-room, picnic tables, toilet and free parking on Oborne Road. There is wheelchair access to displays, except toilet and Visitor centre, and entry is by donation.

The Friends of Greenhill Gardens (greenhillgardens.co.uk, 01305 768446) are holding live music every Sunday in August, 2pm-4pm featuring: SUN 13 11th Hour,

Airports

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SUN 20 The Originals and Sat 27 and SUN 28 Coool Swing weekend.

Monday, August 14 Weymouth Bay Methodist Church are holding their annual Arts & Crafts Fair from August 14-19. Lots of stalls to visit over two floors with refreshments available all day. Includes jewellery, cards, fabric crafts and bric-a-brac.

Open 10am-4pm Monday to Friday and 10am-2pm Saturday. Free entry.

A spectacular firework display will be held over Weymouth seafront at 9.30pm.

Where possible, people are encouraged to leave their cars at home and walk or use public transport when getting to and from the displays.

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Ports

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Email your events to

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Mon, Aug 14 ct’d There’s a demonstration and talk by Dave Willis on Ropemaking, at Bridport Museum, South Street, at 5pm for 5.30pm. Tickets £5 from museum shop.

Wessex Morris will be dancing on the seafront, Lyme Regis, DT7 3JF at 7.30pm and the Talbot Arms Hotel, Uplyme, DT7 3TF at 9pm.

Song of the Sea, a recital with Katharine Fuge (soprano) and Laetitia Fédérici (piano) will be held at 7pm at the Eype Centre for the Arts, Mount Lane, Bridport DT6 6AR Free entry, retiring collection for RNLI Lifeguards.

Weds, August 16 Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show will be held today and

tomorrow, featuring scores of stands, agricultural and horticultural classes, classic cars, entertainment, food and drink and more.

Tickets and info at gillinghamandshaftesburysho w.co.uk or call 01747 823955.

A Wild in the Park family fun day will be held in Lodmoor Country Park. Nature-themed craft activities and follow clues on park trails from 11am-2pm.

Activities range from making bird feeders to natural weaving and pebble painting.

There’ll be ‘Fabulous Fish and Curious Creatures’ outside West Bay Discovery Centre 11am-3pm. Using clay and driftwood, watercolours, salt and magic, create some of the fabulous creatures who live under the waves. Oops Wow Messy Art will be at this

newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

So much to enjoy

A jam-packed day out is promised at the 176th Melplash Agricultural Show 8am-6pm on Thursday, August 24 off West Bay Road.

From the finest cattle, sheep, goats and pigs to the newest tractors and farm machinery, to traditional agricultural crafts and the best homegrown produce – it will all be on offer.

Michael Fooks, 2023 Melplash Agricultural Society President and local farmer, said: “The Melplash Show is the ‘shop window’ for local farmers and event which is linked in with the Beneath the Waves Exhibition. Admission free, donations welcomed. Event subject to weather. Details at

producers. A chance for us all to explain farming to the wider community and to encourage support of sustainable local farming and food.”

As well as the opportunity to see the best livestock and horses in the area competing, there will be an amazing showcase of talent in the westbaydiscoverycentre.org.uk

Thurs, August 17 Purbeck Valley Folk Festival

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Buy Show tickets early and save!

Classes for Everyone!

As always there are some excellent competition classes with lots of prizes and cups to be won.

Adult Advance Ticket £18 (on the day £20) FREE admission for Children aged 16 years and under

Schedules are available from the Show of昀ce or can be viewed online.

Advance tickets available now online or from local outlets from mid-June. For more information visit

www.melplashshow.co.uk

Why not become a Member? Includes admission, forward parking, use of Members Bar and dining areas on show day plus other benefits. For more information visit www.melplashshow.co.uk

A perfect day out, offering something for everyone!

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

at Melplash Show

horticulture, floral arts, homecraft, wood craft and bees’ competition marquees.

Alongside there is a fantastic range of entertainment around the show field, such as the sensational motorcycle stunt team Moto Stunts International and Bob Hogg with his hilarious sheep and geese herding. A full programme of activities will

be running throughout the day including terrier and ferret racing and falconry on horseback and lots of food and farming fun for children.

Across the three fields over 400 trade stands will be selling everything from plants, jewellery, clothes and crafts, as well as businesses providing valuable home, work and life services.

There’s a food hall and cookery theatre to tickle your tastebuds, too.

Admission is free for under 16s. Adult tickets £18 in at melplashshow.co.uk or £20 on the gate (card only).

kicks off today, on a working farm just outside Swanage.

Expect four days of magic, with many stages hosting

scores of acts including the legendary Newton Faulkner.

There’s stand-up comedy, loads of free activities for kids,

8-9 SEPTEMBER

PAVILION THEATRE

BOURNEMOUTH

West Dorset Magazine - InDesign file.indd 1

circus skills, workshops, trade stalls and much more. Book at purbeckvalleyfolkfestival.co.uk

Friday, August 18 Crossways Youth & Community Centre will be hosting bingo – 50p for a book of ten games. Doors open at 6.30, eyes down 7pm.

Sat, August 19 Bride Valley Gardening Club Flower & Produce Show will take place in LATCH in School Lane, Litton Cheney, DT2 9AU, 2pm-4.30pm.

Entry is free and visitors are the judges. There will be a display of work by local artists on a fruit, flower and vegetable theme. Raffle, plant stall and splendid teas and cakes. All are most welcome.

Contact: 01308 897421.

Radipole & Southill Horticultural Society will be holding its summer show at the Southill Community Centre 2pm-4pm.

Everyone is welcome to come and see what the society’s members have entered, with categories covering flowers, vegetables and fruit, floral art, cookery, handicrafts and photography.

Refreshments will be available and the event is open to all.

A coffee morning will be held at All Saints’ church, Wyke Regis 10am to noon. All are welcome for coffee, tea, cakes, Fairtrade, books and chat.

Enjoy a Quiet Day at Marian Dunlop House, 8 Prince of Wales Road, Dorchester from 10am to 3.30pm.

Ct’d next page

22 SEPTEMBER

PAVILION THEATRE

WEYMOUTH

07/08/2023 14:33:35

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Email your events to

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Sat, Aug 19 ct’d A day of restorative relaxation in contemplative meditation reflecting on stillness for strength. The house belongs to The Fellowship of Meditation and has an extensive library you can browse in, time can be spent in the beautiful garden with its summerhouse and seats all around. Tea and coffee provided, bring lunch.

Everybody is welcome. No booking is required, no set charge, donations welcome.

Any queries about the day, please contact Sue Turner on 07775 710429.

Take on Take That tribute band will be playing at Dorchester’s Brewery Square 1pm-3pm.

Sunday, August 20 The Originals band, playing

hits from the 60s 70s 80s, are playing at Greenhill Gardens 2pm-4pm.

The RSPCA’s Taylor’s Rehoming Centre at Kingston Maurward is holding its annual open day – its largest fundraising event of the year – 11am-3pm.

It is free entry with lots of goodies to buy as well as tombolas, a barbecue, refreshments, plant stall, cake stall, book stall, bric-a-brac as well as a grand raffle.

Monday, August 21 Wessex Morris will be dancing at The Red Lion, Weymouth, DT4 8TR at 7.30pm and on the harbour, Weymouth, DT4 8DR at 8.15pm, and at The Kings Arms, Weymouth, DT4 8TJ at 9pm.

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newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

So much to enjoy in week There’s something for everyone in Bridport Carnival Week, from August 12-20.

Saturday, August 12 Darts Competition at The Beehive, Bridport Football Club at 7pm Sunday, August 13 A Teddy Bears Picnic will be held on Millennium Green 11am-3pm, so bring your favourite Teddy.

Tuesday, August 15 Carnival quiz at The Ropemakers, hosted by John

and Geraldine, West Street.

Teams of four.

Wednesday, August 16 Family bingo at The Beehive, Bridport Football Club.

Saturday, August 19 at 7pm The carnival procession The colourful cavalcade starts at West Street and is followed by dancing in South Street, to band Mid Life Crisis.

Many classes can be entered for some light-hearted rivalry: Best pub or hotel Best sport or dance

A spectacular firework display will be held over Weymouth seafront at 9.30pm.

Where possible, people are encouraged to leave their cars at home and walk or use public transport when getting to and from the displays.

There’s a talk by Professor

Karen Hunt on Stories from the Outworker’s Ledger at Bridport Museum, South Street, at 5pm for 5.30. Tickets £5 from museum shop.

Portland Week runs from Monday, August 21 until Sunday, August 28 – details at portland-week.co.uk

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

of Bridport Carnival fun Best youth organisation Best Costumes, Best Entry and Most original entry Sunday, August 20 The Torchlight Procession Torches from 6pm, procession from 9pm from Bucky Doo Square.

The procession will make its way to West Bay, where the torches are thrown onto the bonfire, and people celebrate with a drink and food, fireworks and a performance from The Skalatans.

There’s also a crabbing competition at the Angling Centre afrom 10.45am: Entry fee £2 each Prizes for heaviest of five crabs (under 16 and over 16’s), plus a trophy for overall winner.

The Misplaced Article competition will be taking place throughout August.

Spot the wrong item the window display!

Go to bridportcarnival.co.uk for more details.

Seven days of fun, frolics and festivities for the whole family on and off the water, including the Folk Boat floating festival!

Activities include daily beach cleans, mermaid activities, kids sailing and paddle tasters, recycling workshops and eco

market. The floating festival line-up includes Subversion, Finn McGurk, Dave Burn (feat. Luke Price), Graffiti, Jaunty and The Great Malarkey. Raising funds and awareness for Clean Jurassic Coast CIC. Info and booking

Tuesday, August 22 links on the website.

Peter Lansdown will speak on The Mary Rose – A Sailor’s Perspective at Bridport United Church Hall, East Street, DT6 3LJ at 2pm.

Thursday, Aug 24 An epic day of agricultural goodness is promised at the annual Melplash Show, held off West Bay Road today.

The showground is packed full of exhibits including livestock, horses, homecrafts and horticulture. There are over 400 trade stands selling everything from locally produced food to tractors… and plenty in between! melplashshow.co.uk

Continued next page

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Fresh, stone-baked pizzas in our garden August 16: Pizza Night Eat in or take away August 27: Family Day BBQ from 1pm, kids face painting & live music from 3pm by Skalatans

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Saturday, Aug 26 There’s a books, games and jigsaws stall at Bridport Millennium Green, Rax Lane, DT6 3JP (near Mountfield).

Come and bag a bargain from 9.30am, all proceeds go to the upkeep of the green, gardens and woodland. More details from Sue, 01308 425037.

CALENDARS £10 AVAILABLE NOW!

The 33rd annual exhibition of Mosterton Art Group celebrating the work of local artists, will be held in The Skyrm Room, Beaminster from today until September 2, 10am-5pm, (4pm on the Sunday). Entry is free.

Flash, the Queen tribute band, will be playing at Dorchester’s Brewery Square 1pm-3pm. At the same time, round the corner there’s a beer festival at Copper St Brewery from noon until 8pm, featuring music and street food. The beer festival continues on Sunday, August 27 from noon to 8pm, with live music

by What the Phunk.

Dorchester and District Gardening Club will be holding their 77th annual show at St George’s Church Hall, High Street, Fordington, DT1 1LB. Classes for

p

A COMMUNITY-BASED VISUAL-ARTS PROJECT

WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL? What do YOU think is beautiful?

Bridport Arts Centre wants YOUR response to beauty, be it a photo, poem, painting, object or just your thoughts.

Your response will be displayed in the Allsop Gallery as part of the What Is Beautiful? project. Email exhibitions@bridport-arts.com or upload to social media and include #whatisbeautiful and #bridportarts.

For more information visit www.bridport-arts.com/whatisbeautiful

MONDAY 28 JULY - SAT 30 SEPTEMBER 2023 ALLSOP GALLERY | OPEN 10AM - 4PM TUE - SAT | FREE ENTRY

Email your events to newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

vegetables, fruit, flowers, handicrafts, cookery and photography. Raffle and refreshments available. Doors open to the public at 2.30pm, entry 50p (free entry for exhibitors). Awards to be presented by Mayor Alistair Chisholm at 4pm. Entries welcome (no entry fees, no prize money) by closing date Wednesday, August 23. For schedule call Jane on 01305 268523.

A summer concert with Simon Clarkson will be held at All Saints’ Church, Wyke Regis at 7.30pm (doors 7pm).

Monday, Aug 28 Abbotsbury Gardens is holding a classic and vintage vehicle display today.

A car boot sale will be held at Alweston Village Hall and

Playing Field, Sherborne DT9 5HT. Sellers 7am, buyers 8am.

Info: 01963 23436.

Wessex Morris will be dancing at the White Horse Inn, Litton Cheney, DT2 9AT at noon, the Crown Inn, Puncknowle, DT2 9BN at 1pm, Freshwater Beach Holiday Camp, Bridport, DT6 4PT at 3pm and The George, West Bay, DT6 4EY at 4pm.

Dorchester’s brilliant and free Anonymous Festival will be held in the Borough Gardens 11am to 5pm. Back and better than ever, they’ll be celebrating young local talent with a day of fun!

There’s a fantastic line-up of musicians on two stages, workshops and crafts, games, activities, inflatables, music with Vinyl Van and food and drink. anonymousfestival.co.uk

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Whasson? (and where’s it to?) @anonymous_festival A spectacular firework display will be held over Weymouth seafront at 9.30pm.

Whitchurch, Morcombelake & Ryall Flower and Dog Show will be held 2pm-5pm at DT6 6RF. For over 100 years this quintessentially English country show has been at the heart of the Marshwood Vale annual events.

Set in the idyllic location of Whitchurch Canonicorum, it incorporates everything you could want from a village show.

Dogs compete for best rescue, cutest puppy, most handsome rosettes amongst others.

Even if your dog wins nothing, there is still a final prize for ‘any dog that has-not -won -arosette- today’!

Competitions for best flowers,

vegetables, produce, baking, photography, honey, cider are keenly fought in classes for the local area, and beyond.

Lots of stalls and games both for adults and children.

Burgers and beers, teas and cakes, music and Morris dancing complete an eclectic mix of entertainment at this small, friendly show.

Entry £2, U16s free.

Enquiries to Mark and Karen Southcott on 07500 225182 or 07799 500720.

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Whasson? And where’s it to?

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Tuesday, Aug 29 The Beacon Trio: Joyce Clark (Piano), Ruth Lass (Cello), Anna Cockroft (Violin) will play a lunchtime concert at St Andrew’s Church, Charmouth at 12.30pm, with light refreshments from noon. Free

Continued next page

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Leave the car at home

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The Swanage Railway reserves the right to alter train times and fares at short notice.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Tues, Aug 29 ct’d entry, donations welcome.

Contact 01297 560681.

A Wild in the Park family fun day will be held in Radipole Park and Gardens. Naturethemed craft activities and follow clues on park trails from 11am-2pm.

Activities range from making bird feeders to natural weaving and pebble painting.

Please use the car park by the tennis club while the main car park is closed for revamping works.

Saturday, Sept 2 Sherborne Digby Hall Monthly Market (DT9 3AA): antiques, arts, crafts, food and more. Cafe, free entry, parking and toilets. First Saturday of every month, 10am-3pm, March-December.

Crossways Youth & Community Centre is holding a Coffee Café and Car Boot 9am to noon. Tables or pitches £5. Café open for bacon butties and a selection of homemade cakes.

After 25 years of being based in Somerset the Stanchester Quire, the quire with a difference, are moving over the border into Dorset and reformulating their practice sessions. The first of these will be at Leigh Village Hall, near Sherborne, DT9 6HL. Doors open10am for registration and tea/coffee, then at 10.30am learn one of three old Christmas Carols collected from the South West of England, some very local.

The ability to read music is not essential as they learn everything by ear under the direction of Eddie Upton, the

Treacle will clog you up with bells on!

Treacle Eater boat trip, Clog’s dancers entertaining and musicians canal boaters celebrated their and passers40th year with an by. After a epic tour, walk along performing at the the canal Bishop’s Palace they enjoyed and the Cathedral ALL RIGHT, TREACLE? Treacle Eater meet Bells Angels a meal and a in Wells, participating in the Joint Morris birthday cake made and iced by the Squire.

Organisation’s Day of Dance in Exeter and the Treacle Eater Clog run free have a go taster Wessex Folk Festival in Weymouth. sessions. Go along at 7.30pm on September As an extra birthday treat, they headed off by 18 at the Scout Hut, Blackberry Lane, train to Bradford on Avon to dance with their Sherborne DT9 4DE. Then Rimpton Village new Morris friends Bells Angels.

Hall, BA22 8AH, at 7.30pm on Monday, After performing in the town they took a canal September 25 and Monday, October 2. holder of the English Folk Dance & Song Society Gold badge for services to folk music.

Finish time about 4pm. Bring lunch, hot drinks provided.

There be three more Saturday sessions and two Monday evening revision meetings, with a view to performing a Christmas carol concert in December, (not compulsory).

Saturday sessions are £10 and the revision meetings £3. All new members extremely welcome and the first session will be free! Go to stanchesterquire.org, or email stanchesterquire1@gmail.co.uk or phone Eddie on 07813 089002.

Dorset County Show kicks off two days of rural fabulousness today at Cokers Frome, at the eastern edge of Dorchester. Hundreds of traders, animals, food and drink aplenty and entertainment in this fiesta of the countryside. Go to dorsetcountyshow.co.uk

Sunday, Sept 3 The Friends of Greenhill Gardens (greenhill-

gardens.co.uk, 01305 768446) are hosting live music with Scandals.

The Oily Rag Breakfast Club meet at Bob Lucas Stadium, Weymouth on the first Sunday of the month 9am2pm.

Classic cars, custom cars, super and modified cars plus trucks, bikes, scooters and the unusual. £2 for exhibitors with free entry for visitors.

Café, hot drink and snack bar, dog friendly.

Next vehicle meets are Sunday September 3, Sunday October 1, Sunday November 5 and Sunday December 3.

For more information email robbynicks@msn.com

Monday, Sept 4 Wessex Morris David C's Tour hits Tolpuddle at 7.30pm, around the Martyrs Tree / village centre, then moving on to dance outside the renovated Old Tolpuddle Chapel around 8.15pm.

The first rehearsal of Bridport Choral Society for the new season is at 7.30pm at the

United Church Hall in East Street.

Eclectic mix of musical styles, from old to modern: anthems, traditional choral music, folk music, songs from musicals, contemporary tunes.

To find out more phone 01308 425987 or visit Bridportchoral.wordpress.com facebook.com/Bridport Choral Society Sophie Irwin presents her latest novel, A Lady’s Guide to Scandal at Castle Gardens in Sherborne at 7pm.

The Sunday Times bestselling author will launch the book at 7pm, in association with Winstone’s Books.

The Gardens Group will host the event in The Butterfly House, where Sophie will be interviewed by fellow romance author, Lulu Taylor, followed by a book signing.

Daughter of The Gardens Group’s owners, Mike and Louise Burks, Sophie will take the audience on a journey into the depths of historical romance, as she spills the scandal of fictional character, Eliza the Countess of Somerset, who finds herself drawn into misbehaviour

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Email your events to newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

when torn between two different men. Sophie’s passion for period research is eloquently showcased on every page of her irresistible sequel to the A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting, as she delivers another delightful, escapist Regency romance.

Tickets £2 at Winstone’s Books on Cheap Street and at Castle Gardens on New Road.

Doors open at 6.30pm and free refreshments will be provided.

Weds, Sept 6 Dorchester and District Gardening Club are welcoming Susan Vincent, National Trust volunteer and member of the T E Lawrence Society and Richard Wagner Society, for a return visit to talk about George Bernard Shaw – the man behind the plays and a close friend of Lawrence of

Whasson? (and where’s it to?) drinks and canapes.

The event will be held from 6.30pm, with an AGM from 7pm, at Uplyme Village Hall.

If you are thinking of going, please email info@axminster andlymecancersupport.co.uk

Blooming Bridport A passion for sustainable planting prompted Monique Pasche to spearhead a planting programme to add long term vibrancy to Bridport. Monique, the president of Bridport & District Gardening Club rallied the troops to work alongside the town council and Groves Nurseries.

Arabia. The club meets at St George’s Church Hall, High Street, Fordington, DT1 1LB, doors open at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start. Free entry for members, visitors £4 on the door. There is also a bring and buy stall and a draw, with tea/coffee and biscuits

17

available afterwards. All welcome.

Contact: Jane, Secretary 01305 268523.

Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support is inviting people to see some of the work they do, meet volunteers and trustees and celebrate five years with

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will play at Weymouth Pavilion at 7pm.

The world-famous orchestra will provide an evening of delight entitled Passionate Rachmaninov.

Tickets from weymouthpavilion.com or 01305 783225.

Friday, Sept 8 There’s a family music event at Litton Cheney Village

Ct’d next page

Join the BSO on a symphonic journey of some of the most memorable pieces of orchestral music, including Rachmaninov’s passionate audience favourite.

Passionate Rachmaninov Weymouth Pavilion Wednesday 6 September, 7.30pm Borodin Prince Igor Overture Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2 Schubert Rosamunde Entr’acte No.3 Beethoven Symphony No.8 Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Tom Fetherstonhaugh conductor Alim Beisembayev piano

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Friday, Sept 8 ct’d Hall, School Lane, DT2 9AU: New Orleans jazz led by Ewan Bleach with awardwinning group Frog and Henry. Doors open at 7.00 p.m. with Cajun snacks and bar. Visit them on jazzascona.ch/en/frog-henrys and frogandhenry.com .

Tickets £10 or (under-16s) £5, text David Charlton on 0748 764 0339 or email D.Charlton@rhul.ac.uk.

Saturday, Sept 9 A Mind Body Spirit Fayre will be held at Digby Hall, Hound Street Sherborne DT9 3AA 11am to 5pm.

All welcome.

There’s Music in the Meadow at Orchard Meadow in

Tolpuddle DT2 7EU. Enjoy the end of summer with live music, party line dancing, bar and good food. 6pm til 11pm.

Free entry – donations for village causes. Everyone welcome. See tolpuddlevillage.co.uk/eventsand-activities for latest updates. Enquiries: tolpuddleevents@gmail.com

Sunday, Sept 10 Winterbourne Abbas Village Fete will be held noon to 3.30pm at St Mary’s Church.

A traditional fete offering a great selection of stalls, including bricabrac, books, plants, tombola, raffle, games for children and adults.

Amazing home baked cakes and a barbecue with a great range of food and drink. All

welcome! Entry £1, U16 free.

Wessex Morris will start their autumn/winter practice season

Monday, Sept 11 today. Anyone interested in having a go can go to Pulham village hall (opposite the Halsey Arms), DT2 7DZ, 8pm -10pm and have a drink afterwards.

Just turn up any Monday or email Ray Dyson, bagman@wessexmorrismen.c o.uk with any enquiries.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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Dorset foods declared gurt lush at taste awards

Portland a ‘hidden’ gem The Isle of Portland came fourth place in the Hidden Islands Index by HomeToGo global search data.

Identified using HomeToGo global search trend insight, the islands are ranked according to four indicators of hidden gem status: comparatively low traveller demand,

standing as a local secret, lack of social media hype, and limited overall awareness.

The Isle of Portland came fourth, appearing alongside places across the Netherlands, Canada, Italy, the USA, France, Australia, Portugal, the Bahamas, the Philippines, French Polynesia and Scotland.

Fine food businesses in Dorset have picked up more than 70 gongs at this year’s Great Taste Awards.

More than 14,000 products from 109 countries were assessed in the awards, organised by the Guild of Fine Food.

Among the winners who picked up three-star awards were Rampisham-based charcuterie Capreolus Fine Foods for its ‘Dorset Coppa’ meat, and Hollis Mead Organic Dairy in Corscombe for its organic truffled Benville.

Dorset Pastry in Dorchester also picked up a three-star award as did Angel Cottage Organics, based in Fifehead Neville near Sturminster Newton, for its organic whole

chicken.

A three-star award went to Dorchester’s Wasabi Company for its Sansho Spiced Rum. Woodlands Dairy Ltd, based in Blandford Forum, was awarded top marks for its Organic Sheep Milk Yoghurt as was The Dorset Dairy Co, based in Stalbridge in the Blackmore Vale, for its Dorset Strained Yoghurt in strawberry and whole milk flavours.

The Cherry Tree, from Bridport, represents the west Dorset market town on the list for two of its preserves products: Cherry with Amaretto Extra Jam and Passion Fruit Curd.

Numerous other South and West Dorset businesses won two- and one-star awards.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Bus firm apologises to disabled man

By Miranda Robertson miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk

First Bus has apologised to a holidaymaker from Oxfordshire after he was turned away for having a mobility scooter.

Christopher Smith from Didcot was holidaying in Charmouth and was allowed to board buses to Lyme Regis and back with his class 2 scooter, which he relies on after suffering a stroke.

But the next day a driver on a bus to Bridport told him he couldn’t travel without an assessment and a permit.

He said: “I must say that the drivers both ways (to Lyme) could not have been more helpful and understanding to my condition.

“The next day we decided to travel to Bridport on the bus only to be refused access on

the bus by an extremely unhelpful driver, who said I was not allowed on. He asked had I been assessed and had I got a permit. Blatantly this is discriminating against the disabled and this is the first time this has happened to me as no local bus company has been so unhelpful.

“I could have understood if the bus place was already occupied by a buggy or wheelchair, but it was not ,and obviously by the faces of people on the upper deck they could not believe what they had just seen.

“We spoke to various people and nobody knew of this ruling. My wife also spoke to a lady at First Buses in Weymouth to find out what was going on. She was told that all the information was on the website. A permit could be

obtained, which would involve an assessment and would take about 20 days, not really much use to me whilst on a week’s holiday, in fact not being able to use the local buses ruined our week away.”

A First Bus South spokesperson said: “We’re sorry to hear of Mr Smith’s recent experience. Like all other bus operators in the UK, for health and safety reasons, it’s our policy that Type 2 mobility scooters require a valid travel permit, issued after assessment to ensure that they can travel safely, without injury or danger to themselves, other passengers, or damage to

the vehicle. This scheme is in use across the UK and is supported by the Department for Transport.

“We appreciate Mr Smith was not aware of this, and we apologise for any distress caused. All our drivers receive training in disability awareness and customer service and this includes details of the scooter code.

“We’re happy to provide an assessment for a permit, or support him in obtaining one from his local operator, and as a goodwill gesture we’d like to offer him a week’s free travel on his next visit to Dorset.”

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

IN BRIEF

Learn how to write memoir Workshops on how to write your memoirs are soon to be held in Sutton Poyntz.

Author Sheena Dearness is also holding a session at Wareham Library on September 1.

The Sutton Ponytz workshops are TBA. A workshop costs £7 and you can book online at hoxaharrierbooks.com If you’d like workshops to run in your area, contact 07875 842399.

West Dorset MP Chris Loder, Bridport Mayor Dave Bolwell and representatives from Dorset Council and Bridport Cohousing CLT, and Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (BCHA)

visited Hazelmead, the UK’s largest cohousing development in Hospital Lane. Hazelmead offers 53 affordable eco-homes for sale and rent to individuals and families in the Bridport area – 26 are for social rent and 13 for shared ownership. The project was first mooted in 2008 and is finally finished.

Residents are being asked for feedback on the CB3 Beaminster Community Bus service, serving Beaminster, Bridport, Melplash and Bradpole Since 2018, local volunteers have operated the bus service on a Saturday, supported by Beaminster Town Council.

Paper surveys are available from The Public Hall, Beaminster, or Yarn Barton information centre or go to discoverbeaminster.co.uk

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Protecting the value of your home Nobody likes to think about getting old, but it is certainly worth thinking about if you value your home. That is because your house could very well have a charge placed upon it or sold by the local council to pay for your care fees. If a person’s capital and savings, including equity in their home, is worth more than £23,250, they will have to fund their own care.

A living trust can shield your home and estate from care costs in the following ways.

Placing your main home into a living trust ring fences the property from any potential future care costs. With a living trust, you can be both a trustee and beneficiary. You can

maintain control over your assets even after you pass away. You can specify how and when your assets should be distributed to your beneficiaries.

Other benefits of the trust include the avoidance of probate upon the property and the protection from both divorce & creditors for your beneficiaries.

The situation won’t get better over time. The UK’s fastest-growing age group comprises those aged over 85. Councils will face even more pressure on budgets, leaving them with little choice but to continue to sell people’s homes. n To protect your home, contact Oakwood Wills on 07832 331594.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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Book a break in August and you can get £300 off at: Bowleaze Cove Holiday Park & Spa: A first-class beachside holiday park, with fantastic entertainment, activities and spa, that will keep you and your family entertained day and night.

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Book at watersideholidaygroup.co.uk (the discount is automatically applied online) or call 01305 833103. n £300 off based on a seven-night holiday staying in a Classic Holiday home at Bowleaze Cove Holiday Park & Spa over August.

Concern over decay in NHS dentists NHS dentistry in West Dorset is in a ‘serious and deteriorating’ situation, according to a new report.

An investigation by the Bridport Local Area Partnership found no dental practices in the area are accepting new patients under NHS dental contracts, despite receiving ‘frequent’ enquiries from people searching for subsidised care.

A partnership spokesperson said: “These findings have potentially serious and long-term implications for health inequalities amongst the local population.

“They support the conclusion in a Healthwatch Dorset report, that many on lower incomes are struggling to afford required dental treatment or even checkups unless they are already registered with a dentist who maintains a NHS contract.”

The report found some

practices in the area still treat some of their existing patients under NHS contracts, although this is reducing over time.

The report added: “The picture is similar for patient groups entitled to free NHS dental care, such as children, women pregnant or with a baby, and those on low-income benefits. Local dental practices provide this to existing patients, but are not taking on new patient.

“The NHS dental contract is unpopular with practices, not least its payment structure in three simple

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tiers and its associated bureaucracy.

“There is a growing shortage of dentists and associated professionals who practice in the area, which is affecting all dental provision, though most of all NHS dentistry.”

Bridport Local Area Partnership said it has shared its findings with the Dorset Integrated Care Board, NHS Dorset, South West Local Dental Network, Dorset Council and MP Chris Loder.

The full report can be viewed online at bridporttc.gov.uk/dentistry

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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27

End of the line for ex-council offices

By Miranda Robertson miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk

It’s finally happening – the huge former Weymouth and Portland Borough Council building is to be razed to the ground, opening up a prime piece of land on the harbourside.

Councillors on Dorset Council’s area planning committee have agreed to demolish the concrete building occupied by the local authority on North Quay for nearly half a century. Initially, the land will be used for car parking before being turned over to houses, changing the landscape forever.

The offices were occupied by hundreds of borough council staff from 1974 until 2019, when the new unitary Dorset Council superseded it.

Dorset Council was awarded £19.5m from the Government’s Levelling Up Funding (LUF) in January and

built between the 12th and 15th centuries. The site is thought to have seen action during the Battle of Weymouth in the Civil War in 1645.

The council will now look for a development partner, while the North Quay site is demolished over 15 weeks.

The cost of demolition and creation of a temporary car park on the site is expected to be around £600,000.

Any future sale of the site will have terms attached so that the council retains some control over what may be built. This also means the council can ensure any redevelopment will follow Local and Neighbourhood Plan requirements.

In addition to Dorset Council’s regeneration plans, the town council also hopes to revamp the seafront. A consultation survey is now open until Tuesday, August 15 at surveymonkey.co.uk/r/5TLJ6K

S E L A S E L E A L E S L A E S A L S E A L E S L A E E S A L L E S E L A A L E S S A L A S E E S A L L E S E L A A L E S E S A L L A S E E S L A A L L E S S A E L A A S L E S E S A L L A E S E S L A A L E S S A E L L A L LE LE S SA ALELE S A ASA S E E S A L L A S E S A A L E S S E L A L E E S A A L L S S E SASA A L E SALE NOW ON E S L L A E S A A L S S E A L E E S L L A S E A E S E S S A E S AL L E A L S A L E S L A E S A L E S L A LE E S A L S E A L E £5.00 OFFLE S L A S A E S E L A L E S A L A S E A L E S L A E S A L S E L A L S A LE A S DEMOLITION: North Quay offices in Weymouth

aims to spend it on a dramatic transformation in three key areas of Weymouth.

The two other sites are the peninsula, (the piece of land currently used as car parking beyond the Pavilion) and the town centre.

Despite some grand plans for the area, and the fact the building is costing about £110,000 a year just sitting there, councillors had mixed reactions to the proposed demolition, with the vote split down the middle before the

chairman used his casting vote.

A previous application to demolish and redevelop the site was withdrawn after the area planning committee voted against the proposed demolition and redevelopment scheme in September 2019.

Some work has already been done at the site and it is hoped to excavate it to build on the findings of an archaeological dig in 2021, which uncovered the remains of a medieval house, thought to have been

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Sheriff’s taste of Freedom

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High Sheriff Colin Weston visited a boat in Weymouth Harbour to see for himself how people with disabilities are able to enjoy seafaring on board.

He was welcomed aboard

by Mayor Kate Wheller, who is also president of MV Freedom.

Mr Weston and his wife Ruth were shown the easy roll-on access for wheelchairs and heard

about passengers being able to steer the boat from an iPad. MV Freedom has operated for 39 years and holds the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

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The company behind plans for a waste incinerator at Portland Port is expected to launch an appeal in the next few days.

Powerfuel is appealing against the refusal of planning permission for Portland Energy Recovery Facility in March.

Dorset Council has received notice from Powerfuel that they intend to appeal the council’s decision to refuse planning permission for an Energy Recovery Facility at Portland Port.

The appeal is expected to be launched in mid-

August.

Dorset Council’s Strategic and Technical Planning Committee refused to grant permission for the proposed facility. Now it looks likely the Planning Inspectorate – perhaps even the Secretary of State – will make the final decision.

The council will notify all interested parties – including anyone who submitted representations to the original application when an appeal has been lodged, allowing them to make a further submission to the inspectorate.

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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Business urged to take space at M&S New local, independent businesses are being invited to take up space in Dorchester’s old M&S building before its transformation into a Premier Inn. Martin Green, of Independent Dorchester, who owns the Curiosity Centre and Martin Green Interiors, has managed to secure the short term use of the building for between 12 and 18 months, in partnership with the charity U think, and with the support of Dorchester Town Council.

He hopes to make it into ten ‘starter’ shops, giving would be new businesses the chance to try trading to see if it will work, without the commitments they may face in another building. And he has written to local builders to ask for their help.

Martin said: “For a while now I’ve been dismayed about the number of empty shops in

BEFORE

VACANT: The old M&S in South Street, Dorchester

Dorchester town centre and felt something needed to be done to encourage prospective retailers to take the plunge and open a new shop – not something that’s easy to do in the current climate with long leases and significant rents and rates. Now for the exciting bit…

“I’m writing to as many local suppliers as I can to ask if you might be able to donate some supplies/ materials/equipment to help us create these temporary shops.”

AFTER

He has already got a number of businesses on board, and would like to hear from anyone able to help.

There will be a process to go through for applying to have one of the ten shops, which will be self contained and available with heavily subsidised rents.. The first shops should be opening by mid to late October.

To offer help or fiind out more, call 07587 046055 or email independent dorchester@gmail.com, or find @independent_ dorchester on Instagram. n Pub chain Whitbread has purchased the former Marks & Spencer store in South Street, Dorchester and plans for a 100-bedroom Premier Inn. The former Marks & Spencer shut in February 2020, much to the dismay of many locals, and has fallen into an increasing state of disrepair,

remaining largely unused.

Whitbread purchased the site in June 2023 and has begun working up plans for the new hotel.

Louise Woodruff, Property Acquisitions Manager at Whitbread, said: “We are delighted to have purchased the former Marks & Spencer site on South Street and want to deliver a new hotel of around 100 beds, revitalising this key town centre site.”

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

New regulations introduced for pop-up campsites The regulations for temporary recreational campsites or ‘pop up’ camping sites have changed with the introduction of new permitted development rights.

Land can still be used for up to 28 days a year as a campsite, with an unlimited number of tents only, without formal planning permission until July 25, 2024.

The new rights also allow land to be used for up to 60 days in any calendar year as a campsite. This latest change permits up to 50 pitches of either tents or campervans. With this usage Dorset Council needs to be notified in writing first. There may also be the need for a site licence.

Permitted development rights come from a general planning permission

granted by Government rather than local councils. These rights mean that certain types of work can be carried out without needing to apply for formal planning permission.

For more information about the regulations for pop-up campsites visit dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/temporaryrecreational-campsites-or-pop-upcamping-sites

£63k more than fair for kids’ charities

Thousands of people dug deep in their pockets at The Sherborne Castle Country Fair and raised a whopping £63,000 for children’s charities in Dorset and Somerset.

Some 11,000 people attended the quintessentially rural event at Sherborne Castle, raising vital funds for A-Stars, Diverse Abilities, Dorchester Opportunity Pre-school Group, Future Roots, Hamdon Youth Grou plus, Home-Start West Dorset, Life Education Wessex, Marine Society & Sea Cadets Somerset & Dorset Branch, Mosaic Family Support (Supporting Bereaved Children) and

PROMISEworks, Riding for the Disabled Blackmore Vale Group, Sherborne Area Youth and Community Centre, Somerset Sight, StreetLight Project, The Gryphon School Lego Club.

The Rendezvous Sherborne, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity (Children’s Music Therapy), Yeovil Opportunity Group also will benefit.

A team of volunteers organised the first fair in 1996 and to date has raised £1.3m, supporting 100 children’s charities. n If you would like to get involved in 2024, contact info@sherbornecountryfair .com.

HORSES FOR COURSES: One of the many attractions at the Sherborne Castle Country Fair

Plans afoot for two West Dorset village communities Lower Winterborne residents can have a say on how their community will be developed in its Neighbourhood Plan.

Dorset Council approved a request from the parish council to designate a

Neighbourhood Area, the first formal stage of preparing the larger plan.

The application includes the parishes of Winterborne Kingston and Anderson but omits Winterborne Zelston.

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Those interested in helping with the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan can contact parish clerk Alison Clothier at clerk@lowerwinter borne-pc.gov.uk Queen Thorne Parish Council

near Sherborne has also said it wants to change its area to the Trent Neighbourhood Area, retaining the parish of Trent but excluding the parishes of Over Compton, Nether Compton and Sandford Orcas.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

31

Elegant & relaxed spaces to buy and enjoy wine. Or come for an evening tasting hosted by our experts.

MP’s petition on rail staff cuts Network deal West Dorset MP and former railway worker Chris Loder has launched a petition, fearing plans to reduce staff at Dorchester South station will ‘leave disabled passengers stranded’.

Mr Loder slammed South Western Railway for its proposals to halve ticket office opening hours at the station, saying: “This is the sort of morally bankrupt company business that this railway company has become.”

He added: “South Western

Railway (SWR) have had to propose to government how it wishes to reform station operations in light of the news that just 12% of train tickets are sold at station ticket offices.

“In principle, I agree that staff at stations should not be stuck behind a ticket office window when no one is wanting to buy a ticket, but this should not be used as an excuse to reduce the staffing hours.

“I no longer think that SWR is a reputable operator with any concern

for rural Dorset. Among other concerns, the train company leave disabled passengers stranded and, despite a quick fix being available, they will not change the planned platform of trains at Dorchester South so disabled and elderly people can more easily board the train.”

To sign Chris’s petition head to chrisloder.co.uk/ ticketoffices You can also email Transport Focus at ticketoffice.swr@transport focus.org.uk

Dorset-based internet service provider Wessex Internet has announced its new partnership with Nokia for network technology.

The company is rolling out cutting-edge Nokia technology to increase the resilience and capacity of its core network and ensure it can offer the fastest possible broadband speeds.

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32

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Work on 760-home project is due to start Building work is set to start at Bridport’s 760-home Foundry Lea development this autumn.

Barratt David Wilson and Countryside Partnerships say they will use local suppliers, craftspeople and tradespeople and will introduce a Skills Academy – an on-site learning environment for local people to develop practical skills in construction.

Just over a third of the homes

will be ‘affordable’.

A spokesman said: “We are conscious that residents are concerned at the potential for disruption when work starts at Foundry Lea. We are in discussion with Dorset Council over how the construction process will be managed and will shortly be submitting a construction and environment management plan, setting out key details including working

hours, routes to site for work vehicles, and how we will minimise the impact of construction where possible.”

The builders have pledged £6 million to support and upgrade community infrastructure and services through Section 106 funding. This will include a new primary school, sports pitches, a care home, and additional facilities at Bridport Medical Centre.

Area flies

By Karen Bate karen@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Dorset is keeping its green flag flying after securing a batch of prestigious awards.

Avon Heath, Stour Meadows, Milldown, Durlston, and Thorncombe Woods, Black Heath and Hardy’s Birthplace sites have all been awarded Green Flag Status.

And in Weymouth, Greenhill and Sandsfoot Gardens have been officially recognised as two of the best parks in the country while Weymouth Beach has been named ‘second best beach’ after Brighton.

The town council says it is ‘testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for these green spaces’ that the gardens

Wow, what a day Friary Care has had at the Sea Life Centre!

Our residents started the day by enjoying beautiful fresh air as we walked to the Sea Life Centre – it was so nice to enjoy the sun shining down on us as we left the home. And then we (staff, residents, and family members) lined up to go inside, ready and eager to have a day to remember.

We had such an amazing day! We saw so many captivating different species of fish, sharks, otters, penguins, and we were even able to pet some starfish – and we even had time for a little splash. We all then enjoyed a lovely picnic with staff and family members, which was really nice to see.

Once we got back to the home, we finished off the day with a KFC takeaway tea and a glass of wine. All in all, we had such an amazing time and can't wait for the next lovely day out here at Friary Care!

Come and join us and make your home in one of our care homes in Weymouth. n Call the owner of Friary Care, Peter Fry, on 01305 787811 or visit friarycare.co.uk Our two care homes in Weymouth are Kingsley Court and Friary House.

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

33

flag for environment Christian welcome expected HONOUR: Thorncombe Woods

keep their Green Flag status for another year.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme manager Paul Todd MBE said: “Greenhill and Sandsfoot are both a vital green space for the community bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles.

“The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”

Mayor of Weymouth, Cllr

Kate Wheller, added: “They are beautiful places to visit with amazing viewpoints across Weymouth Bay and The Nothe Fort.

“Congratulations to the team at Weymouth Town Council, especially the green spaces team for all the hard work they put in every day to make both gardens such lovely places to be.”

One of the highlights of Greenhill Gardens is the clockhouse. It is currently having a refurbishment to offer people the chance to see the fascinating workings of the clock.

The Rector of Portland rector says people are angry at the lack of answers to their questions – but he expects islanders to welcome refugees as they arrive to live on the barge.

Tim Gomm said: “There are real mixed questions and emotions about the gentlemen who are going to be arriving.

“People expect answers to these questions, and have shown anger when they are not answered adequately.

“I cannot imagine what some of these gentlemen have gone through to get here – thinking this is a country where the streets are literally paved with gold.

Some are escaping persecution, some have experienced wars, some have lost family to violence, and starvation.

“My wife and I have been

on Portland for the last 12 years, and we have been welcomed and loved by the majority of the population.

So, I expect the majority of Portland to be just as welcoming to these new visitors to Portland. We hope and pray that both we and they will behave ourselves.

“We also are reminded that Jesus – the focus of our Christian faith was once a refugee when his family faced persecution from King Herod, and they escaped to Egypt when he was a small child.

“These men may be scared, unsured of the reception they will get, overwhelmed by the change they face and the difference in culture they will experience. May we welcome them and treat them as we would want to be treated if we were in their shoes.”

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34

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Wildflower road scheme is blooming A wildflower planting scheme has introduced a splash of colour to Dorchester’s roadsides.

National Highways sowed seeds at the Monkey’s Jump roundabout and Max Gate junction on the A35 after completing two drainage improvement schemes.

A highways spokesperson said that instead of importing topsoil and grass seeding, they funded a scheme to introduce native wildflowers to the roadsides, which are ‘not only visually appealing but will enhance and promote habitats for bees, butterflies and other insects’.

The work was conducted with input from the bordering Duchy of Cornwall estate.

FLOWERING UP: Max Gate junction in Dorchester

National Highways’ environmental advisor Ben Hewlett said: “This is a great example of how we are moving away from simply minimising the impact of our work on the environmental impacts towards actually improving the environment through our work.

“We now have a policy to introduce low nutrient soils and wildflower verges as part of our major projects programme and working with groups such as Natural England and Butterfly Conservation, it’s good to see this spreading into our regional maintenance and

improvement work.

“The seeds have now germinated alongside the A35, a wildflower grassland is beginning to form and this will continue to evolve over the coming years – basically it means less money spent, less in maintenance costs and more biodiversity.

“The increase in wildflowers will not only have wider biodiversity benefits and provide some impressive visual displays, but it will also help to connect people with nature and improve the wellbeing of millions of people using our roads every day.”

The wildflower seeding alongside the A35 includes Horseshoe and Kidney Vetch species, Bee Orchids, Cowslip and Oxeye Daisy.

Chris Loder MP Your Member of Parliament for West Dorset hello@chrisloder.co.uk

New unlimited penalties for environmental polluters Announced last month, the current limit of £250,000 on variable monetary penalties that the Environment Agency and Natural England can enforce directly on operators will be lifted. This will offer regulators a quicker method of enforcement than lengthy criminal investigations, with implications for polluters in England - and here in West Dorset.

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The cap on civil penalties This will broaden the scope of civil penalties for polluters to target a much wider range of offences – from breaches of storm overflow permits to the disposal of hazardous waste.

Enforcing polluters New legal powers will enable higher penalties to be levied as a civil sanction for offences under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. This will ensure regulators have the right tools to drive compliance across a range of sectors, strengthening enforcement and holding all who hold environmental permits – from energy and water companies to waste operators and incinerators – to greater account.

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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Improvement pledge on sewage system

By Miranda Robertson miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Campaigners have secured a water boss’s pledge to improve Lyme Regis’s sewage system ‘without delay’ after concerns were raised about poor water quality and an ‘ecologically dead’ river.

The River Lim Action group met South West Water’s Chief Operating Officer John Halsall to discuss the thousands of hours sewage has been pouring into rivers in the area as a result of an outdated system.

Mr Halsall told the group: “We won’t wait for Ofwat to give us approval before we start the improvement programme. That could take 12 months or more.

South West Water are doing a good job on this – I promise you that if you give us a bit of time, we’ll crack on as fast as we can.”

South West Water has commissioned a survey of the whole of Lyme Regis for the first time – showing where each area drains,

CRACK ON: South West Water’s John Halsall

such as roads, surface water, soakaways, or combined sewer – to see where they need to carry out surface water separation.

Now the funding is in place to start improvements straight away.

A spokesman for the group said: “Work carried out at the Uplyme Sewage Treatment Works in May has already led to improved water quality.

Continuous monitoring in the river is providing data which supports observations about cleaner water and fewer pongs.

South West Water says the improvements mean no more spills when the weather is dry (although they have yet to fix one pipe without a permit discharging into the river).

“The Woodmead Road and Windsor Terrace surface water pipes, which had been leaking contaminated water into the river, are now fixed and other problems – including sewage issues along Marine Parade – have been identified and are being dealt with.”

RLA member Vicki Elcoate said the group was established at the end of 2021 to monitor the River Lim after becoming aware of the sewage problem.

Since then, the river has been declared ‘ecologically dead’ after the amount of human waste overflowing into it tripled in under a year.

She said: “The problem is, the water companies are permitted to discharge sewage into the rivers – that’s what’s wrong about the system.

“In a report in 2022 sewage discharge into the River Lim had gone up three times, while discharges into other rivers had gone down as it was a dry year.

“When we found out over

2,000 hours of sewage had gone into a relatively small river we thought we had got the numbers wrong.”

The group managed to get a pipe leaking into the river cleaned up after reporting the issue ‘twice a week for months and months’.

They are now trying to get Church Beach clean enough to be a designated bathing beach again, after it was un-designated because of pollution in 2016.

The group say an upgrade of the sewage treatment works would resolve a lot of the issues.

Liz Davis of the RLA told South West Water: “The system was designed for up to 16,000 people in 1991, now there are up to 40,000 in the summer. We also have more houses now, putting pressure on the system. Whilst our group appreciates that much is being done, we will continue to work with and put pressure on South West Water to address the significant problems that persist.”

36

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Sunflowers campaign will help hospital’s baby unit Dorchester has been draped in sunflowers once again to raise money for Dorset County Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU).

Sunflower sculptures are suspended above South Street while the ground has been decorated using eco-friendly paints by a local artist.

Shop windows around the town are also decorated while Dorchester’s eateries are selling sunflower bakes.

A percentage of the profit

from the limited-edition food will be collected and visitors will be able to donate to the hospital through a QR code.

More than 30 businesses have

signed up to be a part of Dorchester’s ‘Summer of Sunflowers’ to support the fundraising campaign, with Joey’s Family Food on

Antelope Walk selling sunflower seeds all summer and donating the profits to SCBU. Dorchester Town Council are funding the town centre sunflower sculptures and organising the sunflower shop window display and bakery competitions.

The council is also working with Hazel Hoskin of Maiden Castle Farm, who is once again hosting her magnificent Dorset Sunflower Trail.

GPs highly rated in patient survey

By Karen Bate karen@westdorsetmag.co.uk

An independent survey has revealed patients in Dorset highly rate their overall experiences at GP practices.

The GP Patient Survey, conducted annually by Ipsos Mori and published by NHS England, gathered feedback from 8,985 people in Dorset on access to GPs, appointment-making, quality of care, covid response, and satisfaction with opening hours and out-of-hours services.

Dorset practices’ scores were higher than the national

average in most areas.

80% described their experience of their GP practice as good. 88% said receptionists were helpful.

73% said finding information and accessing services on their practice website was easy.

90% felt their healthcare professional was good at listening to them, 87% felt healthcare professionals recognised and understood their mental health needs and 94% said they were actively involved in decisions regarding their care or treatment. 93% said their needs were met during their

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last appointment and 96% were confident in the healthcare professionals they interacted with.

Dr Forbes Watson, Lyme Regis GP and chair of the Dorset General Practice Alliance, said: “Thank you to all the incredible general practice staff across the county, for your dedication, compassion and expertise.

“These results show your efforts and commitment to providing exceptional care makes a world of difference to the lives of so many people in Dorset.

“From the doctors and nurses,

to the physiotherapists, paramedics, healthcare assistants, receptionists and social prescribers. To everyone working in the general practice teams now. Your collective work is vital in providing comprehensive, holistic care.

“We are grateful of the impact you make in improving the health and wellbeing of the people in Dorset.

“Thank you to the public for your continuous support and valuable feedback that aids in refining the general practice services that we provide.”

For more information, go to gp-patient.co.uk

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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So good to see you after all these years Six friends who went to South Dorset Technical College in Weymouth 50 years ago met up half a century to the day after they all left.

The six enjoyed lunch and walked around some familiar places five decades after they completed their secretarial course at Connaught House in Cross Road, which has since been demolished.

One of the six, Angela Stevenson said: “The department was headed by Mr Heath and the tutors included Mrs Jean Memory and Mrs Dorothy WildeEdwards. Several in the group were taking a twoyear bilingual secretarial course which was intended to prepare girls for the commercial opportunities that were expected to arise following the UK’s recent entry into the European Common Market.

“As well as traditional secretarial and business studies, the students were

taught French shorthand, visited French companies and gained qualifications as secretarial linguists.

“Most of the group left Weymouth after finishing their course and have followed a variety of careers since then. For some, the French language and shorthand qualifications proved invaluable. My first job was personal secretary to the French owner of a Southampton shipping and FRIENDS REUNITED: The six former SDTC students haulage company, whilst altogether and emigrated to qualifications, working for Sue Brown spent time in a French oil company in France working for French Canada where Julie Miles also used her French Calgary.” friends before taking up a post at Bridport Gundry where she was also involved with translating technical documents.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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Village people enjoy their fete

Hundreds of visitors and locals spent a sunny Saturday celebrating Bradpole village fete and raising a stunning £4,000 in the process.

Success paid off thanks to the hard work of the committee members Dawn Adwick, Claire Botten, Jody Leaf and Paul Butt and all those who helped on the day.

Dawn said: “We would like to thank everyone who helped without

whom the fete wouldn’t happen.

“A special thank you goes out to Holly Good who organised all the stalls this year among lots of other things.”

The Bridport Young Performers, who spent the fete entertaining the crowds and manning the stalls, was the chosen charity of the committee, and Dawn presented them with £1,300 from the fete coffers.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Thanks very much: RAFA’s £2,000 donation The South West Area Councillor of the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) John Tomlin presented a fundraising certificate to the chairman of Bridport & Lyme Regis RAFA, Bill Davies.

The RAFA Group raised more than £2,000 in 2022.

The association is open to anyone who shares the values of service, loyalty and comradeship. Whether you are currently serving in the RAF, a veteran, a family member, or someone who wants to do your bit to help, you are welcome to join.

RAFA monthly meetings are held at the George Hotel South Street, Bridport at 6pm every second Thursday. For further information contact Bill Davies on 01308 281200.

ADVERTISE IN THE WEST OF DORSET’S WIDEST-READ PUBLICATION! Call us on 01305 566336 or email advertising@westdorsetmag.co.uk

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Arrangers put on a fab show A steady stream of visitors visited Thomas Hardye School for a show staged by the Dorset and Guernsey Area of the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies.

National judges Wendy Howden and Sue Clissold said they ‘had a very difficult time judging a show with such an extremely high standard’.

Some 68 floral designs from 2m to 17cm were created by 44 exhibitors. Best in Show went to Steve Diamond of Owermoigne

Flower Club with his immaculate and inspirational interpretation of Cityscape, and runner-up went to Diana Holman in the class Dance Through Time, also scoring the highest number of votes for the public’s favourite.

Dorchester Mayor Alistair Chisholm and his wife Kate visited. Mr Chisholm was impressed that the national flower arranging movement began here, started by Mary Pope from the Eldridge Pope brewery family.

Steve Diamond with his Best in show Cityscape. Right, class winner Bob Holman and best in show runner up Diana Holman

Community shop land deal Long and short term care for the elderly Primrose Lodge Weymouth is a cheerful residential home popular for its proximity to the seaside.

We have a team of highly-trained, friendly and dedicated carers, delivering the highest standard of care and professional support, 24 hours a day.

Come and see for yourself what Primrose Lodge has to offer Call Lisa Summers on 01305 786568 or email lisa@primroselodge-weymouth. co.uk

The community shop in Broadwindsor, which has been running successfully for ten years, now owns its own premises.

Broadwindsor & District Community Enterprise Ltd (BADCE) has bought the freehold of The Old Telephone Exchange premises, made possible by using its own funds held on deposit and by a

£50,000 loan secured by Broadwindsor Group Parish Council.

BADCE secretary Stewart Urry thanked the parish council and the vendors, adding: “The committee wishes to thank the freeholders, Mr and Mrs Oldfield, for selling the freehold at an advantageous price, and for being community-minded landlords for the last ten years.”

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

41

Legal firm puts Sherborne back on map

By Karen Bate karen@westdorsetmag.co.uk

A huge and beautifully illustrated map of Sherborne dating from 1834 has been presented by legal firm Porter Dodson to Dorset History Centre, where it will be available to view.

The parchment map, which measures 2m by 1.3m, had for several decades been the focal point of interest in the firm’s board room, but due to an office relocation it proved impossible to accommodate the huge map in the new premises.

Commissioned by the Wingfield-Digby family of Sherborne Castle, cartographer Thomas Percy created the map, and two copies were produced.

The map is unusually

OUT ON THE TOWN: The historic map of Sherborne presented to Dorset History Centre by Porter Dodson

detailed and shows the town of Sherborne and the surrounding countryside, with special colour codes for houses, churches, arable and pasture – the quality of the workmanship is still very evident nearly 200 years later. Each plot

on the map is numbered with information about owners and land usage found in the map’s accompanying book of reference or ‘terrier’.

The map is a vital resource for anyone interested in the history of Sherborne and

stands as a very fine example of early 19thcentury cartography.

The map will be carefully conserved and digitised.

Porter Dodson solicitors can trace their roots in Melmoth House back to 1899.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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All aboard! Coast bus service run is extended

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Potential poets: Do your verse

Would-be poets are being invited to send in their work for potential publication in a free magazine. Julian Nangle of The Occasional Bookshop in South Street, Dorchester, is always happy to receive submissions for The Occasional Poetry Magazine at julian@nanglerarebooks.co.uk.

Volumes 1-3 are already published and the first two issues are now out of print. No 3 is available free on the doorstep of the bookshop and No 4 will be published in late autumn.

Council’s household funding Low-income households can now apply for £150 in supermarket vouchers from Dorset Council.

The authority recently launched round four of its Household Support Fund (HSF).

Households will be eligible to apply if they have an annual household net income of less than £30,000 and savings of less than £16,000 and have not applied for a previous HSF

payment within the last six months.

Citizens Advice are managing some of the fund. Those who meet the criteria will receive their vouchers within six to eight weeks of their application. Applications are limited to one per household.

Apply at hsf.edpcitizensadvice.org.uk or call customer services on 01305 221000.

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Bells and whistles at Morris festival Lyme Morris welcomed 17 Morris sides – more than 200 performers – to its Lyme Day of Morris.

The seafront came alive, on a lovely sunny day, with the sound of lively music, jingling bells, colourful costumes and lively traditional dancing.

Sides from all counties across the West Country, Southern England and London came and

enjoyed a fantastic day with a seafront parade led by Mayor David Sanders and Town Crier Alan Vian.

Next year the event will be held on Saturday, July 13. Lyme Morris are also still looking for local musicians to play with them. Contact Lyme Morris: petemorton56 @googlemail.com or Lyme Morris on Facebook.

TRADITION: Some of the dances on show at the Lyme Day of Morris

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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Taking care at the hedgehog hospital

By Karen Bate karen@westdorsetmag.co.uk

An animal lover in Dorchester who built her own hedgehog hospital in a shed at the bottom of her garden has saved the lives of ten hoglets so far this summer.

Chris Legg has been running her own hedgehog rescue since 2019, with rows of zoo zones, similar to a tiny lidded cot, nebulisers, feeding syringes and scores of blankets, feed bowls and food.

Chris, who is a carer for her husband, pays for all the vet treatment and food with the help from kindhearted people who donate to Prickly Prickles.

Chris said: “In the space of a week in June, 12 sick hoglets from separate litters have been brought in, filling most of my zoo zones and needing roundthe-clock care.

“A mum had given birth to three hoglets in a grow bag in the blazing heat. The babies were in a terrible state because mum had no strength to feed them.

“They were dehydrated and starving. They were brought here, along with mum, who was nursed back to health. Shortly after, a litter of five was found in a neighbouring

GETTING BETTER: One of Chris’s patients on the road to recovery at Prickly Prickles

road and were so tiny they needed syringe feeding every two hours. The next day four more babies were found in a different location.

“From the 12 hoglets, ten survived thanks to the care and veterinary treatment they received.”

When a hedgehog is brought into Chris, she will assess it for external parasites, injuries and wounds, as well as checking their stools for internal parasites.

Chris said: “I think people need to be a little more hedgehog aware. If you find a hedgehog out in the day, that’s not right – they’re nocturnal and are supposed to be asleep during day.

“If you find a hedgehog out in the day, or one that is sick or injured, take it to a rescue organisation if you can, and if you can’t, then take it to your local vet, keeping it wrapped in a blanket and in a box.

“Hedgehogs take up all my

down time, especially if they’re sick and I’m nursing them. I have a passion for them, they’re so endearing and they go through such a lot to survive.”

Chris says hedgehogs are struggling more than ever before because milder weather means they are mating more than twice a year, and sometimes during the colder months when they should be hibernating.

Chris said: “When people bring sick hedgehogs to me, I never ask for money, once I take that little hedgehog in then he’s my responsibility.”

Chris added: “I really dislike asking for donations, particularly at the moment when people are really struggling, but if anyone can donate then the hedgehogs will benefit. n Anyone finding a sick hedgehog can contact Chris on 07747 344042, on Facebook or at Prickly prickles@hotmail.com

Here’s what to do if you find a poorly prickly pal...

Chris’ advice on what to do if you find a hedgehog out in the day and it looks unwell: n When you see the hedgehog, pick it up with gloves or a cloth – don’t leave it out n Put it in a high-sided box n Keep it warm with a towel —

they like to feel hidden and secure n Put in some form of heat, like a hot water bottle, a heat pad or even a bottle filled with warm water, near to the hog but not directly in contact n Do not give food, only a little water. If the hog is sick it won’t

take either, so don’t force it n Keep it in a quiet place as it will be scared and stressed n Once the hedgehog is safe in the box, call your local rescue n Time is important to save the life of a sick hedgehog so do not delay getting it help

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Everything in the garden is lovely for The green-fingered winners of Melplash Agricultural Society’s Gardens and Allotment competition 2023, have been announced.

Regarded as the most prestigious garden competition in the area, the competition is open to all residents within a 12-mile radius of Melplash village church and celebrates the hard work, creativity and care that people put into their gardens.

Last year’s winners Kevin Trott, Jason Smith and Nicola Darby together with society president Michael Fooks and his wife Pam and society chairman Philip Hardwill, judged the event.

Philip said: “Having the chance to accompany the judges to such an incredible variety of gardens was a huge privilege. The approaches that had been taken to overcome the soil, the varying terrain and difficulties of the individual plots was astounding. Every entrant is deserving of huge congratulations as they all produced lots which any professional would be proud to exhibit.”

The stewards for the two days were Peter Yeates and Cliff Pitcher.

Allotments 1: Winner of The Groves Nurseries Trophy – Scott

Beaminster Joint 3: Val Bartlett, Bridport and Alexander Jones, Bridport Medium Gardens 1: Winner of The Pitcher Trophy - Alison Waterman and Richard Middleton, Bridport “Very good use of space, colour, and levels. Good planting and knowledge. To fit this in with a day job and three boys is an absolute credit to you both.”

2: Jon and Cathy Harvey, Bridport 3: Peter Lacey, Lyme Regis

GARDEN GLORY: Alison Waterman and Richard Middleton and, below, Andrew and Tracey Violet

McGregor and Ruth Hennigan, West Allington “A fine allotment containing various fruit and vegetables aimed at the kitchen garden. This plot was a good compromise of garden space, chill-out space, and functional allotment. A lovely place to be” 2: Ian and Anne Bark, Walditch 3: Ronald Gow and Julie

Lambden, West Allington Allotments Small Gardens 1: Winner of The Valerie Bishop Memorial Trophy Andrew and Tracey Violet, Bridport “Perfection! Attention to detail is extreme, every plant is perfect, and the lawn is amazing!”

2: Lois Pearson,

Large Gardens 1: Winner of The Fowler Rose Bowl - Guy and Gillian Livingston, Bridport “Heaven on the hill, with classic cottage planting on many levels.

“Knowledgeable gardeners and well-presented all round. Very difficult to criticise anything!!”

2: Shirley Samways, Beaminster 3: Doug and Amanda Miners, Ryall Special Award for Best Environmental and Wildlife Practice and winner of The George Payne Memorial Trophy – Shirley Samways, Beaminster

Literary festival’s bursary scheme receives a Bridport Literary Festival’s first student bursary scheme for a threeyear undergraduate degree course in any subject has been boosted by a private trust fund.

Two bursaries of £3,000 a year are now available for two local students who are in Year 13 or just finishing a

gap year and planning to go to university in the autumn.

Festival chairman Deirdre Coates said: “Initially we had planned to award £1,000 a year to two students and had ring-fenced £18,000, thus allowing six students to benefit.

“We were amazed and delighted

when a very generous local couple, who manage a private trust, decided to make this £1,000 into £3,000 for each of the successful candidates for each year of their degree.

“This is enough to make a significant difference to university expenses, a factor which has been deterring many

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

49

in bid to increase society’s winners Project understanding of autism

PRIZE WINNERS: Guy and Gillian Livingston and, right, Scott McGregor and Ruth Hennigan

The overall winner The garden that wowed the judges and was chosen as the overall winner of the competition was the winning medium garden created and cared for by Alison Waterman and Richard Middleton.

When Alison and Richard moved into the house ten years ago the garden was a complete bare canvas.

Alison, who has always had a love for gardening, set about creating something special for their family. She decided on a colourful cottage-style garden, getting a huge amount of satisfaction from growing a vast variety of different flowers including her favourites geums and

salvias. The front of the house is devoted to fruit and vegetables and is known as ‘the allotment’. It was initially the project of her young sons, who were keen to get involved with gardening.

Alison works in mental health and finds her garden the place where she can totally switch off and relax.

Every year she has introduced new elements and is already thinking ahead to next year when she wants to take over some of the lawn to wildflowers in order to attract more wildlife to the garden.

Alison said: “We just love our garden and for it to be recognised by others is just unbelievable!”

very welcome boost

young people from applying.”

The Bridlit Bursary is open to Year 13 students applying for an undergraduate course beginning in 2023 who are in the Beaminster-Colfox

joint sixth-form or who live within Dorset Council’s Bridport ward.

To be considered for one of the two bursaries, complete the application form at bridlit.com/bursaries before August 31.

The Autism in Schools Project has been launched in Dorset to help all students and staff understand the condition and help schools offer environments in which autistic students can thrive.

An inclusive environment aims to improve the experience autistic young people have at school and boost confidence in the school for their parents and carers.

Tamsin from the Parent Carer Forum said: “Involving parents and carers of autistic children and young people who go to the schools taking part in the project will be key to

its success. Co-production is a feature of the project and our ambition is for all the schools and families (via the Parent Carer Forum) to collaborate with each other and with outside agencies to develop strategies for more personalised, child centred support.”

Each school will receive Autism Education Trust (AET) training. The AET is the only training provider approved by the Department for Education.

The project, funded by NHS England, is being jointly led by Dorset Parent Carer Council, Dorset Council and NHS Dorset.

Learn how to make beautiful hand crafted cold process soap to your own design in the wonderful peaceful setting of Abbotsbury at Abbey Farm Workshops.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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By Miranda Robertson miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Everyone local over a certain age will remember the old Eldridge Pope brewery in Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester, with its smoking chimney and hive of activity.

I once worked there myself, sticking labels on bottles as a little summer job – thousands of people were employed there at one time or another.

Back in the day, the commercial heart of n Receptionist Lily O’Connor at Fitt Chiropractic and Dorchester was a stone’s below, Paul Collins at Hendover Cafe throw away, where Woolworth’s, Radio Rentals and Tesco occupied space in South Street.

Now the town has two very different trading areas, with the creation of Brewery Square as a hub for shopping and eating, with scores of businesses large and small and well-kept apartments.

Conveniently situated opposite one of the town’s largest car parks, traders there say they benefit from brisk years. Tony, whose son of them dog-friendly to boot. footfall. There are some George, 22, has now joined General manager Laura surprising independents in him in the business, said: “It’s Hansford said: “We are a baby here, making it well worth a a good place to be, in the compared to the bigger visit if you haven’t already. middle of both commercial holiday home companies, and Tony Foot, 65, of Maxgate and residential properties.” that means we have visited Properties on Weymouth Accommodation of a different each of the sites ourselves and Avenue, has a scale model of sort is offered by Dorset can find people the perfect the development in his estate Hideaways, next to Maxgate. place to stay.” agency offices.

They offer fully managed On the edge of the He has been involved in the project from the outset, having holiday homes across the area development, Paul Collins, – an amazing 180 holiday 60, has been running the been an estate agent in Dorchester for a staggering 47 homes, to be precise, with 120 popular Hendover Café on

Weymouth Avenue for over six years. He said: “I managed a restaurant for someone else before deciding I worked as hard for other people as I would work for myself so it was time to give that a go. It’s a stunning place to live and work.”

Also among the vast array of eateries in the square is the relatively new HubBox, which has been offering up gourmet burgers in the square since last year. They are currently offering free kids’ meals Thurs-Sun (with paying adult).

Nicole Murray from HubBox said: “Brewery Square is a thriving destination which lends itself perfectly as a location for our restaurant, and we love being part of such a great community. As a proud South West business, we believe in choosing areas that celebrate local culture and drive awareness of independent businesses – Brewery Square does just that! “ The eclectic mix of businesses include a number of independents.

Helen Moody, who runs the Vinyl Van with Marcia Smith, said: “We feel really lucky to have our independent record shop, Vinyl Van, here. There’s a great sense of community here with lots going on and we meet the loveliest people.”

Another indie business,

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

www.dorsethideaways.co.uk

51

Based on Brewery Square, Dorset Hideaways offer an impressive portfolio of self-catering holiday retreats.

View our full range online or pop into the office today.

be is a hub for shopping and eating Memory Lane offers an array of vintage, retro and modern items, and buy and sell items from militaria to vintage toys, jewellery to clocks and so much more in between.

Then there’s Halo, a fine art gallery with a dazzling range of works by many different artists. They offer chances to meet the artists at special events throughout the year, too.

And Belle Modelle offer a range of women’s and men’s fashion, jewellery, homeware and gifts.

Wine merchants Morrish & Banham have been in the square for several years.

Director Caroline MorrishBanham said: “It’s a great place for shoppers to experience fantastic independent businesses in a beautifully designed space.

“We enjoy working alongside other passionate retailers who offer a broad range of interesting, eclectic shops.”

If you want to work off all those burgers, baguettes and wine there’s even a gym here, open 24/7. Anytime Fitness offers a range of strength, cardio and functional equipment, unlimited access to all classes, one-to-one support and guidance with a personal trainer and free member parking.

Facilities include two private studios, a spin studio, a secluded functional training

WIDE RANGE OF BUSINESSES: Clockwise from top left, Thomas J Williams hair salon, George and Tony Foot at Maxgate Properties, the HubBox and the Dorset Hideaways team

area, a cardio fitness area, a strength area and private bathrooms.

Once your body’s buffed, head to Thomas J William – where a team of extremely talented stylists and beauty therapists, described by owners Josh Lawes and James O’Brien as “true artists in their profession” can transform your locks.

Then it’s off to chiropractor’s Fitt, which also offers ear

microsuction, massage therapy and even hypnotherapy.

Receptionist Lily O’Connor said: “It’s busy here – there are lots of people in Brewery Square for different things.”

After all your efforts in the gym, it must be time for pud, right?

Creams has an absolute cornucopia of them, all freshly prepared with the finest ingredients from all over the

world. A spokesman said: “Our infamous waffles and 39 flavours of Italian gelatos are complemented by freshlymade American style waffles, crepes and our in-house speciality – freshly cooked American cookie dough.

“Brewery Square is an ideal location for our business and the location offers great variety of restaurants and is a vibrant place to bring your family.”

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

It’s all aboard for Rotary handover Lyme Regis Rotary President Alan Vian handed over to Richard Main at the Seaton Tramway.

Rotarians from Lyme Regis and Brit Valley clubs, together with partners and guests enjoyed a return journey from Colyton Station, stopping at Riverside Halt overlooking the wetlands and finishing with a barbecue back at Colyton Station.

Alan was able to guide the club through one of its most active and successful years, despite his other work and civic commitments, raising just

under £40,000 for good causes and the local community.

The club members with the help of local organisations were able to raise this money through many activities throughout the year including Candles on the Cobb and the annual Lunge on New Year’s Day. Donations for the year went to over 40 national and international causes, including Cancer Research, British Red Cross, British Heart Foundation, Mencap, Ukraine, Water Survival Boxes and Shelter Box. Locally 19 local youth organisations were helped, including dictionaries for

NEW PRESIDENT: On the Lyme Tramway and, inset, Alan Vian and Richard Main

local primary schools, Lyme Heart Beat, Dorset Family Counselling Trust and many others.

Visit lymeregisrotary.org, or email secretary@ lymeregisrotary.org for details about membership.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

PLEASED TO RENDEZVOUS: Bridport and St Vaast twinners get together in the Bride Valley

Twinners enjoy celebration weekend

The Bridport Twinning Association hosted 45 visitors from its pretty twin town of Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue in Normandy for the first exchange since 2019.

“It was a joyous occasion,” said Jonathan Dines, chair of the Bridport Association, “and an opportunity for some of our newer members to experience the wonderful spirit of friendship that

exists between the two associations and our towns.”

French visitors visited the Saturday morning market before Town Crier John Collingwood proclaimed their visit with a cry in French and English in Bucky Doo Square.

Bridport Mayor Dave Bolwell welcomed the group at a civic reception in the Town Hall.

The weekend weather was kind and

the Bride Valley and Abbotsbury subtropical gardens, both visited on Sunday, were at their very best.

The trip was rounded off with dinner in the Ballroom at The Bull Hotel. n For more information about the Bridport St Vaast Twinning Association, please email the secretary, Linda Bullock at lindabdt6@aol.com

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Reablement centre given the go ahead

An 80-bed reablement centre in Dorchester aimed at getting people home from hospital or care quicker has been approved by Dorset Council’s Cabinet.

The centre will be on the Dorset County Hospital site near Bridport/ Damers Road.

The proposal is the first in a programme to ensure Dorset Council has the required care capacity, with up to £80 million earmarked from its capital account.

People discharged from hospital or recovering after a fall or illness in their own

home are set to benefit.

The council was concerned the lack of suitable bedded rehabilitation services meant too many people were stuck in long-term care.

Councillor Jane Somper, portfolio holder for adult social care and health, said: “Our reablement plan has the opportunity to make a huge difference to people’s livelihoods, enabling them to MAKING A DIFFERENCE: go back to living an Councillor Jane Somper independent life.”

Deputy chief executive of challenges for DCH is that we Dorset County Hospital Nick often have patients who no Johnson said: “One of the key longer need to be in hospital

but are waiting for an ongoing care and support package to be in place before they leave. This puts pressure on the hospital, as it means we have fewer beds for people that need to be admitted, and it can also have a negative impact on the patient, as staying in hospital for longer than necessary affects how people recover.

“A reablement centre on our site would allow us to move those patients who are ready to leave hospital, allowing them to continue with their recovery and free up beds on our wards for people who need them.”

Museums partnership seeking passionate local trustees Wessex Museums, which covers seven museums including Dorchester’s Dorset Museum, is seeking new trustees with strong connections to the region and a

commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

The ideal candidates will also have a passion for art, culture and heritage and be skilled in generating income

and managing communication campaigns.

For more information visit the museums’ website, wessexmuseums.org.uk

£35k grant to make Hardy’s archive accessible The finest Thomas Hardy archive in the world could soon be more accessible than ever before after a £35,000 grant.

An archivist will now be employed by the Dorset History Centre (DHC) to catalogue the worldrenowned archives of author Thomas Hardy as a high priority, after the cash injection by the Archives Revealed programme at The National Archives.

In a highly competitive

process, the centre’s support charity Dorset Archives Trust bid for funds to in an effort to raise a total of £68,000.

They are hoping to raise the remaining £26,000 to start the project this autumn.

The new archivist would create a freely-accessible catalogue, with descriptions of all Hardy’s archives.

A spokesman said; “At present this UNESCO-

inscribed treasure is something of a hidden gem, with very little public information available about what it contains and how it can be accessed.

“The project will change all that with detailed descriptions of Hardy’s archives – the letters, photographs, poetry, manuscript novels (including the Mayor of Casterbridge and Under the Greenwood Tree), musical scores and printed material

so making them accessible to the wider world.

“Understanding the archive is key to understanding Hardy and his world – his intimate thoughts, political opinions and the world of which he formed part.

“This is the finest Hardy archive in the world and this investment will bring it to life.”

Anyone who wishes to contribute to the project can donate at dorsetarchivestrust.org

COME AND MEET THE TEAM BEHIND THE WDM! We will be at the Melplash Show on August 24 and at Dorset County Show on September 2 and 3. See you there!

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

55

DWT fears over construction pollution Dorset Wildlife Trust is calling on the government not to relax rules that protect waterways from construction pollution runoff.

Reports have emerged that the Government is considering scrapping a policy designed to mitigate the environmental impact of new developments, amid claims it was blocking new houses being built.

But the trust says nutrient neutrality schemes play a ‘crucial role’ in protecting the county’s rivers, fish species, plant life and people.

Trust chief executive Brian Bleese said: “Nutrient pollution, such as nitrates, is causing massive harm to Dorset rivers and to Poole

CURRENT AFFAIRS: Wetland created by river restoration at Wild Woodbury Picture: SEB HAGGETT

Harbour. It is vital that we continue to implement nutrient neutrality schemes which provide costeffective ways to unlock housebuilding while also mitigating the environmental impact of new developments – and those methods have the

added benefit of helping people, communities, and nature too.”

He added: “Our precious rivers and coastal areas are facing untenable levels of pollution from agriculture, industry, and domestic waste, with only 15% in good ecological status. We

must have robust measures in place.

“Reports that the Government is considering removing or changing the nutrient neutrality requirement for new developments are very concerning and could seriously set back the delivery of schemes similar to DWT’s Wild Woodbury initiative.”

The purchase of DWT’s 420-acre Wild Woodbury site near Bere Regis was supported by a grant from both Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole Council and Dorset Council, to mitigate the impacts of increases in nitrates due to new housing development in the Poole Harbour catchment.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Advocacy is supporting health and social care A new and free advocacy service for people needing help to understand, access and having their interests represented in health and social care services, has been launched.

South West Advocacy Network (Swan), is now the single provider for Dorset Council and NHS Dorset.

Individuals, family, friends and professionals can make referrals to

Swan at swanadvocacy.org.uk/ dorset by email at dorset@ swanadvocacy.org.uk or by phone on 03333 447928.

Gary explores new Avenues with bigger shop An independent Dorchester shop celebrated a major expansion and a move, offering its first customers at its new venue a glass of bubbles as they browsed.

Avenue Interiors, which has been on Weymouth Avenue for eight years, is now offering a much larger range of stock at its new premises on Bridport Road, next to Sainsbury’s.

Sole trader Gary Lancaster has been itching to move to larger premises for a long time, to display his range of classic Sherborne Upholstery alongside contemporary furniture.

New staff have joined him at the large new store, and a newly sign-written van is ready to deliver to

RAISING A GLASS: Gary Lancaster and his team and, below centre, with Guy from Sherborne furniture

customers (free local delivery over £40).

Furniture for every room

of the house is on show at the new shop, which is open 9am-5.30pm Mon-

Sat and 10am-4pm Sundays. n avenueinteriors.co.uk

Streets Alive! with sound of no cars Dorchester is to host a Streets Alive! event celebrating International Car-Free Day in Acland Road car park on September 22.

There will be a festival with stalls, music, activities, and demonstrations in the car park in the afternoon from 12pm to 5pm. Local school children will be taking part.

Throughout the afternoon there will be music, demonstrations, talks, food, stalls and a range of fun activities including street art, bike disco and bike

polo, cycle training and repairs, street football, and more. Streets Alive will be based around the theme of active transport, encouraging the public to find fun and engaging alternatives to driving.

Many of Dorchester’s primary and middle schools will be taking part, with children walking, cycling, or scooting to the event from school and activities and demonstrations for them to enjoy including some interschool games.

Julie-Ann Booker from

Dorchester Transport Action Group said: “The event will take a space in the centre of town usually occupied by cars and reclaim it for the townsfolk for one day, turning it temporarily into a joyous space for a series of fun and educational activities.

The central idea is to gently encourage a behavioural change from using cars to active transport which will bring a range of benefits including, reduced levels of air and noise pollution and a reduction in our

carbon footprint.”

Local cycling groups are also being encouraged to participate in a mass cycle on the day of the event.

The route will finish at the Acland Street Car Park where there will be a circuit of the car park.

To get involved, book a stall or organise an activity, email dorchesterstreets alive@gmail.com or call Giles Watts at 07840 061712. Follow the event at facebook.com/ DorchesterStreetsAlive or @dorchesterstreetsalive on Instagram.

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Parking charges upped to fund revamp Charges have been increased at Bridport FC’s car park and the Plottingham car park.

The town council said it has hiked prices for the first time since 2015 “to help pay for improvements”.

An authority spokesperson said: “The town council currently operates just two of Bridport’s car parks, with the remainder under Dorset Council or privately owned.

“The daily charge has stayed at £2 for eight years, the lowest available in the town, during which time the temporary surface at the football clubhas become a thorn in the side of motorists due to its deteriorating condition.

“Town councillors have now decided to press ahead with a refurbishment at the

PARK AND SLIDE: The car park at Bridport FC

(football club) car park that provides a permanent surface, new payment machines, and a more attractive space for those arriving to visit Bridport.”

Council leader Dave Rickard said: “No time is an ideal one to increase parking charges, but we really do need to lift the condition and appearance of the football club car park, as for many it’s the first

place people see when visiting.

“The improvements are also needed for the football club, which receives a proportion of the income and relies on the facility on match days. We’re also encouraging people to ‘Park and Stride’ by taking advantage of the easy walking route from the club to the town centre, the market, St Michael’s

Trading Estate, the leisure centre and other town facilities.

“It’s an important investment in the town and we think it’s the right thing to do to ask motorists to pay a little more – and despite the percentage increase it remains a modest amount in cash terms – rather than asking all taxpayers in Bridport to pick up the entire bill.”

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Opinions on Are you mad about dogs? energy sought A Dorset dog lover has weekends after their West Dorset residents are being asked for their views on government plans to phase out high carbon fossil fuel heating systems – as many households aren’t on the gas grid.

MP Chris Loder has launched a consultation on West Dorset households’ experiences with energy support schemes, and views on the Government’s current proposals.

He said: “Given the extent of the constituency that is without access to the gas grid, I am keen to understand the latest opinions.”

Mr Loder has challenged the Government’s proposal to phase out the installation of high carbon fossil fuel heating systems from 2026, fearing rural people may be disproportionately affected.

Head to chrisloder.co.uk/ ruralenergy

launched a new boarding working week. Ten service aimed at giving years later I have been people who can’t have a dog drawn back to Barking full-time some canine Mad again and set up in company.

Dorset.”

Ann Beveridge was a Ann added: “Whether medical detection dog we want volunteer carer, and this gave encouragement to her the idea of launching exercise more, or just Barking Mad Dorset. want to have cuddles The organisation provides a on the sofa, no one can dog home boarding service, deny the value of where customers’ dogs are having a dog in our placed with a host family lives. We all know that while their two-legged dogs have a wonderful companions are away. effect on our physical She said: “Ten years ago, I FURRY FRIENDS: Ann Beveridge with well-being, but they Lucy and Freddie started volunteering for can positively impact Barking Mad as a host dog our mental health too. different breeds with various sitter. I couldn’t commit to They can reduce stress, personalities. owning a dog at the time so anxiety, and depression and “I went on to support respite having ‘friends’ to stay gave provide unfailing care for Hearing Dogs for the me a companion to care for, a companionship for those who Deaf and Medical Detection purpose for a long country are alone.”

Dogs, amazing dogs in walk and lots of laughs and Contact Ann on 01297 811995 training who just needed a bit fun as I took care of many or barkingmad.uk.com/dorset of downtime and fun on the

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

59

Palliative care suite opened at hospital A new palliative care suite for people nearing the end of their lives has opened in Weymouth, thanks to generous donations and fundraising efforts.

The Evergreen Suite is part of the Radipole Ward at Westhaven Hospital and was officially unveiled by the deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Cleeves Palmer.

Dorset HealthCare opened the facility to provide a “welcoming space where relatives can spend quality time with loved ones who are receiving specialist end-of-life care”.

The suite offers round-theclock medical support and aims to make family members’ last moments together as comfortable as

OFFICIAL: Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Cleeves Palmer opens the Evergreen Suite

possible.

Hospital matron Helen De Jonge said: “This facility has been made possible thanks to a very generous donation of £54,000 from our League of Friends.

“Relatives of former patients, and staff, also contributed to the costs, taking part in various fundraising activities to

help us reach our total of £68,200. It’s been a fantastic effort by so many people.

“The suite is decorated sympathetically with relaxing colours not normally associated with a clinical environment. There is a sofa bed so loved ones can stay overnight, and the room opens out onto our

beautiful garden – allowing patients to have their beloved pets to spend time with them too.”

As part of the opening ceremony, the suite received a blessing by The Rev Canon Andrew Gough, retired, formerly of Holy Trinity Church, Weymouth, and there was a speech by Peter Rendall, Chairman of the League of Friends.

The event was attended by staff, volunteers, relatives and local dignitaries including Mayor of Weymouth Cllr Kate Wheller, Mayor of Chickerell Cllr Mike Jolliffe and Mayor of Portland Cllr Carralyn Parkes.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Down to earth PAGAN VIEWS with JO BELASCO BA Hons History of Architecture and Design

It’s rather wonderful that the jewel in the crown of West Dorset’s Stone Age splendour was found accidentally.

The three archaeologists who found it (Past Participate – a community interest company) were working on another project when they stumbled on only the second polishing stone in situ to be found in England!

What exactly is a polishing stone? It is what neolithic people used to make axe heads. There would have been a lot more trees then (5,000 years ago) and that was probably what Neolithic people were doing with the axes – chopping them down to make space for growing crops and keeping farm animals.

Found in situ or earth-fast and what a situation it is!

It’s easy to imagine the young King Arthur of legend pulling the sword from the stone here but nope, that’s another story – or is it?

So where does history end and myth begin?

Serendipitously, an event called Home of Hillforts and Henges was about to start, which would give me some clues. In his talk, Dorchester’s Extraordinary Prehistoric Landscape, Steve Wallis explained that the emphasis in archaeology is less on a precise site these days and more on the landscape as a whole. That

STONE ME: Landscape archaeologist Catherine Speakman at the polishing stone

Polished performers and a goddess worship arena

HISTORY MAN: Gary Biltcliffe gives a guided tour of Maiden Castle, right

certainly makes sense here, where all you have to do is follow the South Dorset Ridgeway to immerse yourself in a ritual landscape.

Again, serendipitously I met an entrepreneur and landscape archaeologist Catherine Speakman from Tess of the Vale when I first found the polishing stone, in The Valley of Stones.

For a solitary creature who had lost her voice for over

a year I really am being most sociable and talkative at the moment.

Another guided walk I went on was Gary Biltcliffe’s Maiden Castle – History and Mystery.

Gary suggests that Maiden Castle was not built as a fort. His theory is that the earthwork was used for many different purposes such as a sports arena, trade and goddess worship.

On the Maiden Castle

walk I learned a lot but felt I was missing something. Letting the tour advance I stood on my own, drinking in the view and the atmosphere.

Weary, I plonked myself down a little away from the beaten track and startled a hare.

It darted off and I felt connected to the place again. As nice as it is to socialise, this old hermit can only really feel the magic when alone.

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Down to earth KIM BERLIN – A newcomer to the Rock

Gardens creating a good impression A year ago I was shuffling around Monet’s famous waterlily gardens at Giverney with several thousand other people.

The crowds were not unexpected. The gardens created by one of the world’s best loved artists are naturally a draw for people the world over, but the continuous train of people trying to get around almost equated to a semi-aquatic horticultural conga dance.

Competition to achieve a solitary photo on that famous bridge results in some frosty international stand-offs that almost require a United Nations resolution to maintain equilibrium.

Fast forward a year and, in need of a freshwater fix, I began to consider the options. A river walk perhaps along the Brit or maybe the lake at Little Bredy... and then I remembered that there was somewhere closer to home that, despite living in the area for 23 years, I still hadn’t been to, Bennett’s Water Gardens at Chickerell.

Hands up, I was not expecting this experience to equate with the famous gardens at Giverney, but what a surprise I was in for – they’re better!

Bennett’s is set out in an eight-acre site that was formerly a series of clay pits for the local brickmaking trade, that left an

MONET, MONET, MONET: Bennett’s Water Gardens

area of land scarred with water-filled pools when it closed in the 1950s.

It was in 1959 that local school teacher turned water lily breeder, Norman Bennett, took over the site to develop a business that had literally begun in the family bathroom. At first the brick pools were simply the places used to grow

water lilies for sale but as time went on the Bennett family began to landscape the site to develop the extraordinarily beautiful gardens that can be enjoyed today.

What the Bennett family have achieved, and continue to maintain, is breathtaking. An oasis on the hustle and bustle of Weymouth’s edge, as soon

as you enter you are immediately struck with the peace and beauty of this series of lakes filled with the most exquisite water lilies and other aquatic plants. Brightlycoloured dragon and damsel flies chase everywhere, as if to top up the sensory experience.

I almost felt sorry for Giverney, the senior partner, but at Bennett’s you have space and time to stop, slow down and soak up the beauty at your own pace, without the mechanical human train demanding that you move on, pronto. There are acknowledged nods to the older garden, a bridge that is a replica of the famous Japanese bridge and the rather excellent Café Monet, and fair enough, Giverney provided the inspiration, but the uncrowded space coupled with the well laid out, accessible walks around Bennett’s makes the difference and ensures that this visitor will be buying a season ticket next year.

Bennett’s holds the National Collection of Waterlilies and is also recognised as an important national site for dragon and damsel flies.

They are open from April to September.

Please check the website for opening days and times at bennettswater gardens.co.uk

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Down to earth

BEACHCOMBING with JO BELASCO BA Hons History of Architecture and Design

To spray or not to spray? That is the question!

After being bitten by a horse fly a few weeks ago I dug out the old insect spray but I am so glad I forgot to put it on. I was at Chesil Beach walking the dog when I spotted two magnificent butterflies on some eel grass – or so I thought.

Their patterns were so different I wondered if they were fighting or mating.

Galvanised by this incident I researched, mostly in the form of putting my photos on UK Butterfly groups on Facebook. The expert opinion was that this was a marbled white butterfly caught just emerging from its pupa. I still don’t thoroughly comprehend this as the female is sepia

CREATURE FEATURE: The soft shell brown crab and, right, the marbled white butterfly

Rare? You can spray that again on cream in colour and the male is black and white... but I am merely a beachcomber not a biologist.

Still, this encounter made me want to find more live critters. Watching BBC’s Spy in the Ocean, narrated

by David Tennant, also inspired me to learn more about the back story of shells before they are just pretty objects in the sand. I searched – I peered in rock pools and snuck up with my bucket – all to no avail.

But then I heard excited cries from a little family group near me at Pirates Cove. They were very

happy to show me the soft shell brown crab they had just found.

Gemma told me they had found many that morning and her brother had even seen a few brittle stars scuttling about!

Further along the West Dorset coast I spotted a few fossils in the shingle. You really don’t need a hammer, for a lot of fossils are just lying on the ground.

Once you get your eye in it’s just a matter of sitting and sifting.

I came home with a tiny ammonite gilded with iron pyrite, otherwise known as fool’s gold. Less glitzy but

still fascinating was a belemnite, which looks like a bullet and used to be a squid like creature probably about 54 million years ago.

Still mesmerised by the decoration on the butterflies’ wings I decided to use the tiny fossils and other sundry items I found on the beach to recreate its strange design. I couldn’t help wondering if native American Indians had based a lot of their designs on marbled white butterfly wings? n Jo is available for talks on beachcombing or sacred sites. Email josiebelasco@ gmail.com

The Giant Puffball doesn’t

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 award-winning Forager’s form in the Calendar and in 2021 his Spotter’s Guide to Countryside summer Mysteries was published. and early autumn.

There are few fungi as startling as the Fungi are usually Giant Puffball. perennial organisms, the They are bright white, vaguely web of mycelium from spherical, upwards of football-sized which their fruiting-bodies and can appear in a field in large (such as puffballs and numbers. mushrooms) grow being permanently I have seen 22 in a single bit of Dorset in the soil. So it is that Giant Puffballs pasture, but a hundred is not unknown. require permanent pasture, though they are occasionally found off-piste As with most of the larger fungi, they

on ancient compost heaps or in nettle-beds.

Famously, Giant Puffballs are edible, but they need to be collected at the right time.

‘Young and firm’ is the only rule, that is, pure white, the texture of a young Horse Mushroom, and no bigger than a football.

At this stage of growth, the flesh within will be completely white.

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Down to earth 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.

Enjoying the fruits of our labour It’s amazing how the same plant can conjure up different emotions in me depending on what it’s being called.

Say the word ‘bramble’ to me and I think of a troublesome invasive plant, intent on taking over the world (or at least my garden), sending its ridiculously fast-growing arching stems out into new territory, needing to be fought back with loppers and gauntlets, causing scratching and swearing.

Mention ‘blackberry’ on the other hand and I am full of pleasant thoughts of late summer days at a stubble field’s edge, filling containers full of sweet fruit with plans to make pies and crumbles and jars of jam. Although brambles are much hated weeds, quickly taking over any abandoned site, coming through hedges and quickly rooting if one of

those long stems (‘stolons’) hits soil, their delicious fruits have been picked and eaten for thousands of years.

Archaeologists have even found blackberry remains in the stomach of a Neolithic man!

When I go foraging for blackberries I soon realise it’s not just me making the most of nature’s bounty as bramble has immense wildlife value. Red admiral and comma butterflies, pictured, have often got there before me and are sucking up juice from overripe fruits. I sometimes see blackbirds and starlings taking berries but it’s the local sparrows that I see most often.

Having finished breeding for the summer, the adults

and juveniles form big flocks (‘quarrels’) and turn their beaks purple with feasting together. I’ve not been lucky enough to see them, but after dark dormice and badgers will eat the blackberries too.

Blackberries are very nutritious, being high in vitamins C and K, manganese and fibre and have long been seen as a valuable source of free food.

During the First World War Dorset schoolchildren were sent out during the school day to pick blackberries for the war effort. A record from the Headmaster’s Logbook at Shaftesbury School (in the Gold Hill Museum) records 43lb of blackberries being gathered by the children

on one day. The berries were mostly made into jam and sent to the armed forces, though they might also have been made into juice or blackberry vinegar (a traditional cure for a head cold).

For me and many of my friends, blackberry picking now is just a lovely way to spend late summer family days and comes with its own memories and traditions to be passed on.

I can remember picking blackberries as a child with my mother and my grandmother. Margaret Atwood’s nostalgic poem Blackberries perfectly describes my thoughts as, ‘the hands reaching in among the leaves and spines were once my mother’s, I’ve passed them on. Decades ahead, you’ll study your own temporary hands, and you’ll remember.’

leave mushroom in your garden or your fridge...

Back in your kitchen, keep it in the fridge for no more than two days or, preferably, cook it (well, half of it, they are enormous) that day. Peel away the thin skin, slice it one centimetre thick and break into biscuit-sized pieces. Fry in a little butter, turn over and fry the other side in more butter, adding a little salt.

Serve as is, or pour in whisked egg to make an omelette. Resist any temptation to bake or stew one – they go soggy and disgusting.

Giant Puffballs are fairly rare, with any perception that they are common due to their habit of growing in open fields and being so very conspicuous.

If they were they were small, brown and lived in woodland, few people would see or notice them. It is, therefore, essential to fight our human instinct to gather as much of something as we can carry, but rather collecting just one specimen, even if there are twenty in the field. I run an informal Giant Puffball refuge in my

back garden. Here, specimens threatened by passers-by, children wearing football boots, or the cows being let out, are allowed to mature in peace (they go brown, wet and smelly, then dry and dusty) and produce their trillion spores. Every now and then, on a windy day, I will give them a hefty kick while holding my breath so as not to breath-in a billion spores. I silently wish the released spores well.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Vittles (food & drink) RESTAURANT REVIEW The Acorn Inn Evershot

By John Clements, chef at The Olive Tree, Bridport It’s impossible to visit this hotel, restaurant and pub without using the ‘H’ Word, you know, “Hardy”…

There, I couldn’t even get past the first sentence.

Ensconced in the rather lovely village of Evershot, The Acorn Inn features in Tess of the D’Ubervilles and apparently Hardy himself knocked back a few pints here.

A strong woman and a towering Victorian novelist swirl around the 17th century oak beams and flagstones. This is a place

HARDY LINKS: Natalie and Richard at The Acorn in Evershot

Well-beloved restaurant a treat for first-class foodies of substance that has seen its fair share of light and shade.

Right, but what about the food? I’ve decided to solicit the help of some

Dorset Shellfish are a Weymouth fishing family who catch all their own crab, lobster and line-caught fish in the waters around Portland. They cook, prepare and sell their produce, which is made into dressed crab and lobster, pâtés, crab cakes and more.

Find them at Shaftesbury, Poundbury and Sherborne farmers’ markets and in their premises on Portland on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10am-1pm.

07881 632311 @dorsetshellfish dorset-shellfish.co.uk

first-class foodie-friends to find out. A strong Irish HR woman and a towering London banker man. Well, it’s close enough.

The compact menu and extensive wine list here are very upscale. I chose whitebait (best I’ve ever had) and my friends a soufflé (light and nongreasy) and cod with bacon and cabbage also had the thumbs up. For mains it was monkfish linguine (the rich tomato sauce shone out), our veggie rep had the roasted spiced cauliflower in a pungent intense tikka sauce thickened with ground cashew and the pork belly was dispatched in good measure. His mash was so good we ordered more for the table. Next was affogato, cheesecake and (upon asking) half a cheeseboard. Thank you.

We were also impressed by the amount of wines that were available by the glass and consistently through the evening the service was impeccable.

Be warned…if you’re not “lucky” enough to live in Evershot the drive into the village can be harrowing,

full of drama and suspense.

Blind twists and turns down impossibly narrow Dorset country lanes with the threat of tragedy around every next corner.

Just like a Thomas Hardy novel really. There, I did it again...

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65

Vittles (food & drink)

Grub’s up for county show spectacular A mouthwatering feast for the senses will be filling a 1,440sqft marquee at this year’s Dorset County Show.

A huge new food hall will showcase the best of British food and drink producers, with a particular focus on those in Dorset.

From brownies to beer, pickles to pork, cider to sourdough, English wines, local gins, cheeses, olives and more, this massive marquee will offer a delicious experience for visitors with tasty samples available so you can try before you buy.

Show organiser James Cox said: “Our county is bursting with wonderful food and drink producers and now in one area, we’re delighted to bring over 100 together at the Dorset County Show ranging from small producers just starting out to more established names. Our aim is to put the consumer in contact with the producer and get to know more about local and artisan foods.”

The food hall will sit alongside a new food and drink area.

James added: “This area has

businesses are sponsoring the Food & Drink Area and the Food Hall – B Curtis Family Butchers in Wareham (bcurtis.co.uk) and Dorchester Timber. (dorchestertimber.co.uk).

Dorset County Show will be held Saturday and Sunday, September 2 and 3. Tickets are £19 in advance until August 26. Children free. dorsetcounty show.co.uk LOCAL PRODUCE: Book and Bucket Cheese Company and, left, Shroton Gin

more of a festival vibe with colourful flags and live music to entertain visitors while they enjoy a pitstop for a cool local cider or a Dorset ploughman’s picnic.

It also offers outside pitches for market traders wishing to sell foods to take home and use in the kitchen.

“This year’s Dorset County Show features many new attractions, from the world’s biggest Monster Trucks to Dorset Axemen in action – watching it all can be hungry work! Come along and try,

buy and enjoy delicious treats.”

Two local independent

James Cox

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Vittles (food & drink) Karen 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.

Worth a visit – whatever the weather They say life is better in flip flops: I think wellington boots would be more appropriate! Looking out of my window, anyone would think that we have missed July and August and accelerated to early autumn. The holidaymakers here are busy dodging showers and making the best of the glimpses of sunshine when they do appear. Fluffy white clouds and blistering sunshine has made way for unbroken leaden grey and winds more at home in October.

Redlands Yard in Broadwindsor is certainly worth a visit. Formerly known as Broadwindsor Craft Centre, this quaint place has evolved over the years. A large courtyard peppered with interesting independent shops encircles a cheerful conservatory restaurant. Its shabby bohemian country style décor is comfortable and welcoming, its menu offers uncomplicated, straightforward

FOR GOODNESS SAKES: Take a look at the cakes at Redlands Yard

traditional fare, generous portions at very reasonable prices. A huge choice of impressive cakes sits invitingly under sparklingly clean glass domes and depending on your appetite there is plenty to choose from.

So many places use cheap ingredients, which as someone with a sensitive palate I can taste. But the shortbread I had was made with butter; it was a lovely, chunky round of buttery deliciousness. This place is worthy of a visit on a grey or sunny day.

Recently my grandson contemplated becoming a vegan, not on moral

grounds – mainly as an experiment. Living at home, my daughter decided to do the same, making it less complicated for shopping. It was, I guess, a social experiment and they gave themselves a reasonable target to see how it worked for them. I enjoy vegetarian food, but veganism is for me a huge step.

When I had my restaurant, we had a booking which included a vegan, in those day it was unusual. Vegan creations were made which she greatly enjoyed. But when it came to dessert, she chose the sherry trifle, full of creamy custard

Mum’s Kitchen...

Raspberry Crumble Squares This is a very simple and quick recipe, using raspberries in season at the moment. My squares turned out quite rustic in appearance, which somehow added to their appeal!

Ingredients: 180g butter

125 golden granulated sugar or soft brown sugar 125 jumbo oats 175 plain flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 250g raspberries, lightly crushed 15g cornflour 40g caster sugar Method:

made with eggs, jelly and topped with lashings of cream. To be honest I found it difficult to take veganism seriously after that.

However, it’s good to reevaluate what you eat occasionally, it’s important to listen to what your body is telling you. If your body craves something, indulge it, there is something in that craving the body needs.

My grandson buckled after a week; he decided it wasn’t for him. My daughter tiptoed across the finish line but enjoyed making that journey, learning a lot about her own body’s needs.

with Diana Holman Preheat the oven to 180C/160 fan.

Grease and line a 20cm square cake tin.

In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter and brown sugar, then stir in the flour, oats and baking powder to form a crumbly mixture. Press half the mixture into the prepared tin to create a smooth base. Prick all over with a fork and bake for 15 minutes

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Vittles (food & drink) 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.

Formidable... La tart avec poireau Leek tart tatin This is a simple take on a French tarte tatin that is often made using onions.

This recipe uses leeks and peppers which are found in most kitchens. Generally I like simple recipes that can be cooked when getting back from a long day at work.

Take the puff pastry out of the fridge 10 minutes before you use it. Once you have cut what you need you will have a wee bit left – this is enough to make a couple of cheese straws.

Serves 4 3 leeks 2 peppers 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp soft light brown sugar 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar Salt & pepper 320g puff pastry, ready rolled 1 tbsp capers 25g parmesan shavings Handful fresh herbs (basil, oregano) Oven gas 6/ 200 C Prepare the leeks by

Unroll the puff pastry and cut it into a square. Lay the pastry over the top encasing all the veggies, tucking it around the edges and making sure that the contents are enclosed.

Put it straight in the oven for around 25- 30 minutes.

Until the pastry is golden brown. When it comes out of the oven, pop a plate on top and invert the pan so that you have all the veg on display. Sprinkle with the parmesan shavings, a handful capers and some fresh herbs (basil or oregano). Cut it into 4 pieces and serve with salad.

cleaning and cutting horizontally in 2 cm chunks. Deseed the peppers and cut in thick slices (1cm). Add oil to an oven proof frying pan and pop it on a medium heat. Place the leeks in the middle of the pan with the peppers

until it is lightly golden.

Mix the crushed raspberries with the caster sugar and cornflour and spread over the cooked base.

Sprinkle with the remaining crumble topping.

Bake for around 30 minutes until lightly golden. Cool for 10 minutes and then cut into squares, but leave in the tin until completely cold before carefully removing them to serve.

around the outside. Cook until the vegetables are softened and the edges are browned. Take from the heat and sprinkle with sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper.

n Lizzie can be found at her bakery on Friday mornings 10 - 12 and every Saturday morning at The Old Ship Inn selling her wares. Check the website for news about the bakery www.lizziebakingbird. co.uk In August you’ll see her at Melplash Show.

Have a look at instagram lizzibakingbird and see how this is made.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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Arrow words Refute

Crossword Swing music

Compassion

Sanctions

TV show

1

Public eating places

Squads

2

3

6

4

5

7 8

News article

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10

Bawl

Ogre

Feeds

Dark, salty sauce

French lady (abbr)

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15 16

20 Flat-topped hill, in the US

Frolic

17 18

Backup player

Gawks at

Laze about (slang)

Chinese Chairman

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Playthings

23 Web code (inits)

Era

Nevada gambling resort

Employs

Bumped into

Across 6 More glacial (5) 7 Backlash (6) 9 Corridor (7) 10 Disagree (5) 11 Opposite of ons? (4) 13 Admission (6) 15 Steal (5) 16 Decorative clothing (6) 17 Lightweight boxing move (4) 20 Truck (5) 22 Space-station entry area (7) 23 Extremities (6) 24 Nobles (5)

Eye sore

Communion service

Wordsearch International Food

O O O N R A L A I H S O P N P J J R T H A D S R M I O R T A U T O B T O H E U S R S A I H S O I H T H U O R O O N M M A

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Floor protector

S S U D R T K A O U O T D I F R R G I A A N M O O R N A J A A S A S H S R C U O E K C E D

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I A A F P A U J B O T O A L N

A B G A S H A S O P I L A U E

LATKE MACEDOINE MOUSSAKA PAKORA PILAU RISOTTO SAMOSA SUSHI

D A I A O F H S U O C S U O C

G E N R A C N O C I L L I H C

S O O O T T O S I R A A I S O

G A D O G A D O A S L C I F L

Down 1 Angry outburst (5,3) 2 Anomalous (5) 3 Attempted (5) 4 Etch (7) 5 Finger jewellery (4) 6 Far-fetched (10) 8 Typing movements (10) 12 Something to wear with a suit? (3) 13 Tread the boards (3) 14 Worker (8) 15 Talking to a god (7) 18 Pay increase (5) 19 Conceals in paper (5) 21 Capacity (4)

Sudoku

5 2 8 3

3 9 2

8

9 4

8 4 2 7

5 1 5

For the solutions turn to page 82

6 2

5

7 3

8 9

8 6 2 3

Brain chain (Easy version) 7 46

×9 +28

÷3 -50%

+2 +18

-13 -7

+41 ÷4

RESULT

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Working together to give the customer the very best service

Cryptic Crossword

Jumbo 3D Sudoku 4 9

1

2

5 7 1 3 9 6 6

2

6 1 2 1

1 3 5 7

4

1 4

6

7

5

8 7

4 6

2 4 8 6

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1890×

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21

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5

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16

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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.

13+

3

12

6 8

3

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1

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9 4

4

6

7

3

3 6

9 2

5

8 2

6

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2 5

8

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HARDER PUZZLES

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.

RESULT

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.

24

26

Across 1 Looked for a comedian to entertain American journalist (7) 5 Pull to restrain hard and violent ruffian (4) 10 US actor by right gets large yacht (7) 11 Approaches Arab among three bridge players (5) 12 Popular assistance backed for Asian country (5) 13 Heart of matter in military authority, it’s said (6) 15 Old man and jazz singer getting Spanish dish (6) 17 Have enough to pay for a car reportedly (6) 19 Curved instrument namely close to flimsy article (6) 20 Unspoken diplomacy touring Italy (5) 23 Greek character with a number quietly in bars? (5) 24 Ban English doctor on classic ship (7) 25 Mad heads (4) 26 Good opinion about fine ground (7) Down 2 Turned getting injury (5) 3 Large-scale art work shown by popular place for trains covering a pair of lines (12) 4 Regret over English knight with a brilliant discovery (6) 6 Paradisal place largely hot without time gets dismissal (5-2) 7 Game with desire for quiet producing surprised expression (4) 8 Is sparing holding money in share certificates (7) 9 A blueprint of work is disadvantageous (12) 14 Incitement to disorder first off in form of a book (7) 16 Tendency when parking’s missing for transport (7) 18 Harsh always within confines of submarine (6) 21 Some demonic or giant dog (5) 22 Put favourable slant on short ride (4)

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Church

So who did invent God? Did anyone?

Years ago, I read in a newspaper about a sixyear-old girl called Lulu who wrote a letter to God, asking who invented him.

Her father, decided to forward it on to the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. This was his response: Dear Lulu, Your dad has sent on your letter and asked if I have any answers. It’s a difficult one! But I think God might reply a bit like this..

‘Dear Lulu – Nobody invented me – but lots of people discovered me and were quite surprised.

They discovered me when they looked round at the world and thought it was beautiful or mysterious and wondered where it came from. They discovered me when they were very, very quiet on their own and felt a sort of peace and love they hadn’t expected.

Then they invented ideas about me – some of them sensible and some of them not very sensible.

From time to time, I sent them some hints – specially in the life of Jesus – to help them get closer to what I’m really like.

But there was nothing

Services Sherborne Abbey Weekday Services Monday to Saturday at 8.30am, Morning Prayer The Sepulchre Chapel Every Monday at 9am, Holy Communion - The 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 Communion - The Sepulchre Chapel Sunday, August 13 Sherborne Abbey: 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Eucharist 6pm Said Evensong with Hymns St James the Great, Longburton: 10am Family Communion St Martin of Tours, Lillington: 10am Holy Communion St Paul’s at the Gryphon: 10.30am Family Worship St Mary Magdalene, Castleton: 11.15am Holy Communion St John the Baptist, Symondsbury: 9.30am Celtic Worship St Mary Magdalene, North Poorton: 9.30am Holy Communion St Saviour’s, Dottery: 10.30am Morning Worship

and nobody around before me to invent me.

Rather like somebody who writes a story in a book, I started making up the story of the world and eventually invented human beings like you who could ask me awkward questions!’

And then he’d send you lots of love and sign off.

I know he doesn’t usually write letters, so I have to do the best I can on his behalf. Lots of love from me too.

Archbishop Rowan Sometimes our understanding of the nature of God, belief and ‘true

St Michael and All Angels, Askerswell: 11am Benefice Eucharist Burton Bradstock: 11am Holy Communion 6.30pm Festival Evensong Shipton Gorge: 9.30am Morning Worship Swyre: 6pm Songs of Praise in memory of Sue Linford Litton Cheney: 9.30am Holy Communion Littlebredy: 11am Holy Communion Corscombe: 5pm Hymns and Pimms Halstock: 11am Holy Communion Melbury Osmond: 9.30am Holy Communion Maiden Newton: 9.30am Morning Worship Cattistock: 6pm Evening Prayer Chilfrome: 11am Holy Communication Friday, August 18 Lady Chapel, Sherborne Abbey: 11am Remembering the Fallen Sunday, August 20 Sherborne Abbey: 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Eucharist 6pm Songs of Praise St James the Great, Longburton: 10am Family Communion St Martin of Tours, Lillington: 10am Morning Service St Paul’s at the Gryphon: 10.30am Family 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 Holy Communion Burton Bradstock: 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Café Church Swyre: 6pm Songs of Praise Birthday of the Church Puncknowle: 11am All Age Holy Communion Litton Cheney: 6pm Evensong Long Bredy: 9.30am Morning Worship

faith’ can become a bit of a battle ground. These letters instead offer a glimpse of childlike openness, in seeking to know something about God. These letters speak powerfully of relationship, as the way we can come closer to the one who made us, and calls us. The God we cannot always understand or fully know, but in whom we can trust.

The God we know through and with those around us.

Corscombe: 9.30am Morning Worship Evershot: 11am Holy Communion Frome St Quentin: 11am Baptism Maiden Newton: 9.30am Holy Communion Sunday, August 27 Sherborne Abbey: 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Eucharist 6pm Choral Evensong St Martin of Tours, Lillington: 10am Morning Service St James the Great, Longburton: 10am Said Holy Communion St Paul’s at the Gryphon: 10.30am Family Worship St Mary Magdalene, Castleton: 11.15am Mattins Burton Bradstock: 11am Holy Communion Chilcombe: 6pm Evening Prayer Swyre: 6pm Songs of Praise Pimms and Hymns with nibbles Puncknowle: 11am Café Church Litton Cheney: 9.30am Holy Communion Littlebredy: 11am Morning Worship Halstock: 9.30am Breakfast Church West Chelborough: 9.30am Morning Prayer Melbury Osmond: 9.30am Morning Prayer Melbury Bubb: 11am Holy Communion Cattistock: 6pm Praise in the Park Sunday, September 3 St Mary the Virgin, Powerstock: 9.30am Morning Prayer St Mary Magdalene, Loders: 11am Benefice Eucharist St Saviour’s, Dottery: 9.30am Holy Communion St John the Baptist, Symondsbury: 11am Benefice Eucharist St Mary Magdalene, North Poorton: 6.30pm Evensong St Michael & All Angels, Askerswell: 6.30pm Evensong

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

71

Homes & Gardens

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Pies taste even better after scrumping 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 ecofriendly gardening practices.

On holiday in North Yorkshire in July we headed up onto the edge of the moors to pick bilberries. Better known as whortleberries from where I come from in Devon, these tiny blue berries are a close relative of the blueberry but are in fact healthier for you. The downside is they are fiddly to pick and have a very powerful dye which stains everything it comes in contact with.

They were made into a pie with a side dish of gluten free crumble for our daughter-inlaw. The pie was delicious and was followed the next morning by bilberry pancakes – also very good – before my wife and I went back to pick more for her cousin who we were visiting the next day. This was a tradition that went back a generation, when my wife’s uncle’s birthday treat was a bilberry pie cooked by my mother-in-law. More tedious picking but a great result and a delighted cousin.

There are also quite a few patches of wild raspberry here too – probably cultivated varieties that have escaped and

although the fruit isn’t large, it’s very tasty.

Picking in the wild, especially blackberry picking, was commonplace when I was growing up but has faded in popularity. I love blackberry picking but it was just about to start when we left Dorset but too early in Yorkshire. We had a great time blackberrying last summer and especially in Devon with my mum when we discovered our rescue dog Joey also very daintily picking ripe blackberries from the lowest brambles, causing my mum to chuckle loudly.

Back in Sherborne the plums and damsons will be ripe when we get back and so there will be plenty of fruit to pick. These are old varieties planted on the walls of the Walled Kitchen Garden long before we arrived in 1987 and some are growing from the original rootstocks.

This feels like scrumping, to use another Devonshire term, and takes me back to scrumping crab apples whilst waiting for the primary school bus. They were large crab apples and probably the variety John Downie (I wasn’t to know that then). For hungry primary school kids, they tasted good, and I don’t remember any side effects.

I love collecting fruit especially in the wild but even better are the pies and crumbles as a result of the scrumping.

Mike Burks thegardensgroup.co.uk

n The Gardens Group slashed its carbon by nearly a third across its three garden centres in Sherborne, Yeovil and Poundbury.

The group underwent an annual audit by sustainability certification scheme Planet Mark.

During the group’s third year as voluntary members of Planet Mark, which is backed by the Eden Project, it achieved a 29.3% absolute

carbon reduction.

The group got all of its 160strong team involved at all stages of the process, starting with establishing key areas for improvement that would need to be measured, including buildings, travel, waste, water, procurement and homeworking.

Hundreds of new initiatives led by smaller groups of staff have led to some impressive carbon reductions.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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The rain is here again, just around. The in time to refill the water young woodpeckers have butts ready for the next dry been feeding on the peanut spell. There is no better feeders and the nuthatches water to use in the garden have been taking turns with than captured rainwater, them. A young fox walked and it’s environmentally across the meadow friendly as well. recently. What a lovely During the sunny intervals colour it was, we are truly the flowers in the blessed to have such an community garden have array of wildlife on the site been buzzing with bumble and each week we seem to and honeybees, the see something different. butterflies have been in The energies from the abundance on the buddleias help us to link buddleias, and we have a with our spirit guides. flock of goldfinches on the Buddleia represents rebirth, seed heads in the resurrection, and new wildflower meadow. beginnings. The vegetables The other evening a we have are doing hedgehog was in the tea amazingly well, garden having a good look particularly the butternut

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

73

Homes & Gardensx

and bees buzzing all over the phlox

NIGHT NIGHT: Phlox brings pleasant dreams and sleep

squash, courgette, cucumber and pumpkins, these were all planted in the dung heap, you can’t beat nature’s natural manure.

Goldenrod or Solidago is doing well in the garden, the energies from this plant provide us with confidence in our expression and communication with

others, a strong and secure sense of our individuality within a group or communities. It helps differentiate our thoughts and expressions from that of a group.

In summer they root deep and in winter, they spread out horizontally creating shallow spreading roots.

This speaks to knowing when to shift and transform our energies and where we should be reaching.

Goldenrod teaches us to stand and shine in our individuality within the collective.

As mentioned earlier the bees are in abundance, they are all over the phlox.

The flower of sweet dreams, phlox is associated with bringing pleasant

dreams and soothing sleep.

It is often seen as a symbol of harmony, symbolizing renewal, growth, and new beginnings. Phlox is believed to attract positive energies and ward off negativity.

We have a lot going on at The Potting Shed in August, Qi Gong, and Pilates are starting on the 17th, please contact us for times etc.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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Homes & Gardensx

75

Culture

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SHE’S BACK: Totally Tina returns to the Weymouth Pavilion

Rollin’, rollin’...

Totally Tina back for her 14th year Totally Tina will rock up in Weymouth for a 14th year on Thursday, August 17.

The UK’s original, awardwinning Tina Turner tribute, aka Justine Riddoch and her talented cast, will perform early hits River Deep – Mountain High, Proud Mary and Nutbush City Limits along with newer tracks We Don’t Need Another Hero, Simply the Best, What’s Love Got to Do With It, I Don’t Wanna Lose You and When the Heartache is Over at the Pavilion.

Supported by her supertalented band and dazzling dancing girls in sequins, feathers and diamonds, Justine – a National Tribute Awards winner since 2013 – will be adding some new tracks to her set: Jumping Jack Flash, Honky Tonky Woman, Get Back, It’s Only Rock and Roll and The Bitch is Back.

Justine previously won Stars In Their Eyes performing as Anastacia, and has been singing professionally for 30 years. n Go to weymouth pavilion.com to book.

Get down at Donkey Down There’s a huge range of quality live music during August at the Donkey Down campsite (tents only) at Whitcombe, near Dorchester.

What The Phunk are playing at the campsite on August 12.

Then there’s punk rock

classics from the Shakespearos on August 19 and Tree Swamp Frogs will be getting their groove on, on August 26. It’s £5 overnight for car parking and £8 for camping.

Details from donkeydown camping.com or 07970 498772.

76

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Culture

Mum’s the word for best-selling author Patrick

FESTIVAL EVENT: Patrick Gale and Mother’s Boy

Bridport Literary Festival will feature bestselling author Patrick Gale, whose book, Mother’s Boy, came out in paperback this year.

Patrick will be at The Bull Hotel ballroom on Monday, November 6 at 4pm.

Loosely based on the life of Charles Causley, this is a coming-of-age novel of class, desire and two world wars.

Festival director Tanya Bruce-Lockhart said: “Cornish laundress Laura meets her husband in 1914, only to be later widowed

with a young child, Charles.

“As a new war looms, Charles signs up for the navy as a coder, relishing his escape from the tight gossipy confines of Lauceston. Here he experiences the excitement and terror of a love as clandestine as his work.

“Gale crafts a complex and tender rendering of the relationship between a dauntless mother and her son, who for much of his remarkable life, must hide in plain sight.”

This is a book club event – and all copies of Mother’s Boy purchased from The Bookshop in South Street before the event will be eligible for a 15% discount for book club members.

Mrs Bruce-Lockhart said: “Block bookings may be seated together if you give the name of your book club when booking, and we encourage lively post event discussion.”

This year’s festival will be held November 5-11. n Visit bridlit.com/ support-us

Greece is the word at open-air theatre Take a gallop through Greek mythology at an open-air theatre show for the whole family hosted by Artsreach.

Written by Sunday Times award-winning playwright Tiff Woodsmith and performed by The Last Baguette company, Pandora’s Box features goofy Olympian gods, hilarious heroines and daft deities.

Last Baguette producer Sydney Robb said: “We make visual theatre, and believe in the power of fast paced physical comedy and silliness to talk about important issues of our times. We are really excited to be touring a fun family

OPEN THE BOX: Pandora’s Box by The Last Baguette

retelling of this Greek myth and bringing it to life for new audiences.”

Expect a plethora of

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costume changes, a pantheon of Gods and a prohibited peek into a pithos as The Last Baguette lift the lid on a classic myth and retell the preposterous and problematic story of Pandora, with physical comedy, visual storytelling, live music, un-Apollogetically bad puns and lo-fi special effects.

The Last Baguette pride themselves on making “entertaining, accessible, and eccentric work for family audiences” and are resident artists at Pound Arts in Wiltshire.

Formed from a shared love of theatre, bakery, and humour in Paris by graduates of the Philippe Gaulier and Jacques Lecoq schools in 2010, The Last Baguette tour to festivals, arts centres and theatres across the UK, and have also performed in France, Switzerland and Canada to date.

Pandora’s Box is being performed at 6pm on Wednesday, August 16, at Winterborne Stickland Sports Club. There will be a “relaxed” children’s theatre workshop from 4pm to 6pm. n Tickets and further information are available from 01258 880920 or online at artsreach.co.uk

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

77

Culture The man behind some of the most familiar and evocative television theme music and soundtracks is coming to the Burton Bradstock Festival of Music and Art this month.

Emmy award-winning composer John Lunn will be leading the orchestra playing his scores for TV’s Downton Abbey, Shetland and Grantchester, as well other screen classics including Schindler’s List, The Deer Hunter, and The English Patient, in an evening performance dedicated to film and television classics.

The Burton Bradstock Festival returns for its 41st event with a packed programme of music to suit all tastes as well as affordable high-quality art and crafts on show to view and buy.

Internationally acclaimed performers, many of whom are festival regulars, are hosted by local families and are regarded as friends.

The Art Festival opens on Saturday, August 12 when the village hall is transformed into an art gallery for nine days.

Original paintings, ceramics, wood crafts and greeting cards by West Country artists will be on show and for sale.

The programme of concerts from Monday, August 14 to Friday, August 18 also includes jazz, a bluegrass band, chamber music, and more.

It culminates in a gala concert of music and song featuring the full festival orchestra on the Friday.

Sountrack supremo leads orchestra at arts festival VILLAGE FESTIVAL: St Mary’s Church and, left, festival chairman Jenny Malyon and composer John Lunn

There are lunchtime concerts and late-night recitals that include a soup and roll supper.

In a special Castaway event broadcaster and musician Sandy Burnett talks to local woman Monique Pasche about her favourite music, her life in Burton Bradstock and her involvement in the early days of the festival.

To launch the concert programme, a Festival Evensong will be held at

St Mary’s Church on Sunday, August 13 following a tea pparty that afternoon in the Rectory Gardens, accompanied by live music.

Festival chairman Jenny Malyon said: “Last year’s return of Burton Bradstock Festival was a triumph after the covidenforced break of the previous couple of years.

“Not only do we look forward to welcoming back our much-loved

regular musicians in 2023, but also the Friends and supporters who returned to be with us last year – and, I hope, many newcomers too.

“Many people have said to me that that they are amazed and delighted at the number of internationally acclaimed musicians who come to play in our village. We are also extremely lucky to have so many highly talented artists and makers in our region.”

Tickets can be bought through the Bridport Tourist Information Centre. n More information can be found at burton bradstockfestival.com

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Culture

Think Frink at museum workshops People who were born deaf have been exploring the work of Elisabeth Frink at Dorset Museum ahead of an exhibition in December.

The Meeting Frink project draws on some of the themes Frink explored in her work including spirituality and faith, human rights, and Frink’s garden as her gallery.

Dorset Deaf Activities Group (DDAG) members built their confidence and skills through a series of workshops, and artwork created by the group included a large mural inspired by Frink’s garden, artist sketchbooks and 3D sculptures.

The work will be on show as part of the Elisabeth Frink: A View from Within

MATERIAL GIRLS: The sutainable workshop at Dorset Museum and, inset, sculptor Elisabeth Frink

exhibition, opening in December.

Another community project at the museum, entitled Fashioning our World (fashioningour world.org.uk), involved young people looking at

old fabrics, learning about sustainable fashion and how to make their wardrobes sustainable too.

Their work will be displayed as part of a larger exhibition at Salisbury Museum in 2024.

STAINED GLASS WORKSHOPS Three Pairs of Hands show

off their skills at exhibition

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An incredible combination of art and crafts has been put together by three very different artists for an exhibition at Eype Centre for the Arts from August 28-September 3.

Jenny Penney, who creates relief sculpted landscapes and drawings, textile artist Sarah Bramwell and ceramicist Diana Parker have got together to put on Three Pairs of Hands, open 10am to 4pm each day.

Jenny uses just a scalpel and card to create very distinctive pictures of Dorset’s fabulous landscape and birds. Sarah has a real passion for the

heritage crafts, many of her works are based on museum pieces. She enjoys creating works through the intricacy of Shetland lace, the colours of Fair Isle work and the tactile nature of leather work. Diana throws porcelain and stoneware on her wheel and creates a fabulous selection of perfect gifts, pictured here, from ceramic bowls and jugs to beautiful little animals. During the exhibition there will be daily demonstrations from some aspect of the artists’ work.

Head to DT6 6AR or check out eypechurcharts.co.uk

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

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Culture

Smugglers’ secrets revealed in Shire Hall exhibition Explore the lives of Dorset’s 18th and 19th century smugglers at Dorchester’s Shire Hall Museum this summer.

The exhibition Smugglers: Beneath the Surface will be on display until September 16.

Museum director Nina Corey said: “Everyone at Shire Hall Museum is so

BOOTY CALL: Shire Hall

excited to share our new summer exhibition with our visitors.

“Smugglers: Beneath the Surface takes a closer look at Dorset’s tales of

smuggling. Each story gives a glimpse of the people behind the word ‘smuggler’ and explores how they ended up becoming involved in one of the most lucrative professions of their time.

This multi-layered exhibition has something for everyone, from fascinating case studies to

an interactive trail for families.”

The exhibition will be running throughout the summer holidays, coinciding with the museum’s entry offer. This summer holiday, Shire Hall Museum is offering free entry for up to three children (under 18s) per paying adult.

Fools rush in with Robin Hood’s tale

Acclaimed theatre company The Three Inch Fools are dusting down their musical instruments and heading to Dorset this summer with their calamitous take on the legendary folktale, Robin Hood.

Presented by touring arts charity Artsreach, this hapless troupe of actors hit the road with a production which can only be described as disastrous.

Beneath the Major Oak, this inept troupe of three actors gather to tell the story of Britain’s bestknown folktale. The only problem is, no one can agree how the story ought

MUSICAL LAUGHS: The Three Inch Fools’ Robin Hood

to go! As each actor battles to tell their own version of the legendary tale, our hero Robin must use every string to his bow to bring his band of merry misfits together...

The Three Inch Fools are an innovative touring theatre company acclaimed for staging bold and vibrant productions in a fast-paced, musicallydriven style which features

all sorts of instruments and plenty of quick costume changes along the way prepare for a riotous summer adventure fit for all the family.

Pack a picnic, dress for all weather, bring your cushions and camping chairs and join The Three Inch Fools for an outdoor adventure at Higher Orchard in Sandford Orcas near Sherborne on Tuesday, August 15 at 7pm. Gates open for picnics at 6pm and a licensed bar will be available. n Tickets and further information are available from 01963 220208 or online at artsreach.co.uk

Self-publishing tips explained by author at festival Author Angus Waycott will deliver a talk on how to self-publish a book at this year’s Dorchester Literary Festival.

Angus’s latest book The Winterborne Journey went on sale in February.

He said: “I actually started self-publishing in 1981 and produced four books over the following few years. I also wrote two others that

were brought out by mainstream publishers in 1993 and 1996.

“So having seen both sides, as it were, I am well placed to explain how selfpublishing works for me and how it can work for others.

“I have long felt sure that there are many people who would love to publish their own books, whether

thrillers, romances, memoirs, how-to guides, recipe collections, gardening ideas, travel journals, drawings, photos or anything else. But in most cases they don’t, fearing that the process will be too complex and too expensive.

“Well, it’s not completely straightforward but it’s getting there. Technical

advances in formatting software, small print runs, new concepts like “zines” and new options like printon-demand have brought the costs down dramatically and put the whole process in a place where anyone can find it and use it.”

Angus will explain things further on October 16 at the literary festival.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Culture

Violin maestro Bach plays series of concerts British-born violinist Emmanuel Bach, who has performed all over the world and on BBC Radio, is set to play in Bridport, Crewkerne and Ilminster later this year.

He will be joined by British pianist Julian Trevelyan to perform pieces by Mozart, Britten, Shostakovich and Brahms.

He has performed numerous concertos, with Maxim Vengerov describing his playing of the Brahms Concerto as ‘a superb rendition…a deep and emotional performance’.

The Bridport coffee concert will start at 11.30am and finish at 12.30pm on Friday, October 6 at Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, DT6

STRING TO HIS BOW: Violinist Emmanuel Bach

3NR. Tickets £14.

Box Office: 01308 424901 or bridport-arts.com or on the door.

In the evening of Friday, October 6 they will play at Ilminster Arts Centre, East Street, Ilminster, Somerset, TA19 0AN. Tickets from tickets. concertsinthewest.org or on 01460 54973 or

performances@ilminster arts.org.uk or you can buy on the door (card only).

The bar will be open before the concert and during the interval for drinks.

On Saturday, October 7 at 7.30pm they will play The Dance House, Gouldsbrook View, North Street, Crewkerne,

Somerset, TA18 7AL. Doors open 6.45pm.

Tickets at tickets. concertsinthewest.org or 01460 75928.

Drinks are available before the concert and during the interval.

Students with a card: £5 free entry for children aged 12 and under when accompanied by an adult.

All things slightly beautiful at exhibition Members of the public are being asked to say what is beautiful to them as part of an exhibition at Bridport Arts Centre.

The centre’s Allsop Gallery is set to host an interactive visual arts project called What Is Beautiful? aiming to engage people who might not normally have any interest in visual art and galleries, or feel excluded from this environment.

The project will include workshops, an exhibition, and a chance for the public to submit their own responses and ideas about beauty.

It could be anything at all you find beautiful. It may

be the way the light shines on a wet road, or the shape of the hills, or just the way someone you love smiles.

Or for some people it may raise the question of physical beauty, ageing, interior and exterior beauty.

What does beauty mean to the individual?

Responses can be in any form, such as painting, drawing, poem, photograph or just an object which the person finds beautiful and perhaps has special memories. Or it can just be the person’s thoughts about beauty.

The exhibition will feature modern and historical reproductions, including well-known and

“accessible” art and more contentious and “challenging” art, such as Rothko’s colour block paintings and Martin Creed’s Work No.227: The Lights Going On And Off, which won the Turner Prize in 2000. Each piece will include a questionnaire so visitors to the gallery can add their thoughts.

The workshops include Jo Burlington from Oops Wow Messy Art and Eddie and Milla from Falling Upwards Creations, who will be leading a comicmaking workshop.

Artist Peter Margerum will be helping people build sculptures from beach and household waste, as well as

plastic, wood and everyday items. The artwork produced from the workshops will also be exhibited in the Allsop Gallery as part of the project.

What Is Beautiful will open from August 28 to September 30. To contribute, email exhibitions@bridportarts.com and include your name and a brief description OR upload to social media, using the hashtags #whatisbeautiful and #bridportarts.

For more information email exhibitions@ bridport-arts.com or visit bridport-arts.com/event/ what-is-beautiful

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Culture

Popular festival to remain Anonymous Dorchester’s Anonymous Festival will be held in the Borough Gardens from 11am-5pm on Monday, August 28.

The free open-air event organised by Dorchester Town Council is returning for its 13th year – and all the activities are free.

There’s an inflatable rodeo, bungee trampolines, henna tattoos, screen printing, craft, glitter tattoos and the chance to have your photo taken in a vintage horsebox, plus a masterclass in how to create a special effect wound.

There will be two stages showcasing some of the

BIG DAY OUT: The Anonymous Festival in Dorchester

best young musicians in the South West, with genres from rock to pop and including some rap, boogie-woogie and folk music.

Emma Scott of Dorchester Town Council said: “We are really proud of Anonymous, which

involves so many young people. It’s been amazing to see how many of the young musicians who have played over the years have gone on to become professional performers, touring the UK and further afield.

“This year we are thrilled

Discover Dorset’s best kept secret Immerse yourself in a haven of peace and tranquillity, where art meets nature at The Sculpture Park.

DAY TICKET

PER PER

Enjoy homemade food in The Kitchen, local produce in The Pantry, unique goodies in The Store and curated exhibitions in The Gallery.

S

SO N

to welcome back Isaiah Dreads as our headline act.

Isaiah first performed at the event in 2010 and has since gone on to become an acclaimed MC and rapper, performing at various festivals across the UK including Glastonbury, Wireless, Bestival, Lovebox & Isle of Wight Festival.

“We’re also pleased to be introducing Autumn, one of the winners at the Street in the Park DJ competition.

Autumn will be spinning records with the super cool Vinyl Van.” For more information go to the festival’s Facebook page.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Culture

Wartime memories of evacuee letters Bridport author Sarah Shaw’s new book From Doodlebugs to Devon explores life on the Home Front during the Second World War through a series of letters written by her mother to her father in 1944-45. They vividly describe what it was like to be under fire from the V1/flying bombs and the difficulties she faced as an evacuee in Budleigh Salterton.

Although she speaks for so many, she is no ordinary housewife. A perceptive observer of contemporary

events and the ups and downs of family life, she might have married a Nazi back in the 1930s. Instead, by 1945 she simply longs for the war to end so she, her husband and young son can live together at last.

Other half-forgotten stories emerge too. The casualties and devastation of London

and its suburbs caused by doodlebugs, the first ‘pilotless’ missiles and forerunners of the drone bombs currently in use in Ukraine, are today barely remembered. Or that the War Cabinet vacillated over a deception plan hatched by the secret services which deliberately put south London in their firing line – but did it work? That a libertarian MP in collusion with the Daily Mail deliberately broke the law and was fined by the courts. Or that a Home Guard operation

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n From Doodlebugs to Devon is available from The Bridport Bookshop or online, (ebook available).

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

83

Letters

Little has changed for our planet since the 60s I read Councillor Clayton’s reservations on the new development of 760 dwellings (Vearse Farm), not forgetting the St Michael’s development, where over 80 more dwellings have also been approved.

The ponds causing Mr Clayton concern are meant to be used for excess water storage.

From visual inspection alone and realising the development is on a floodplain I am definitely NOT convinced that should a serious storm happen, which is expected, as global warming is still NOT being taken as seriously as it should be, then flooding will occur. If, as Mr Clayton says, the ponds are to be enlarged, there might be hope, although I seriously doubt it, as to do it properly would be very expensive.

It makes me smile when houses are said to be using sustainable timber; yet the felling, transporting, and milling of the timber is as it has always been, (non-planet friendly), unless, of course, there has been a marked change. Solar panels help individual householders, yet the panels are NOT planet friendly to manufacture, transport, install and the materials to save electricity for household use, and to transfer excess electricity to the National Grid have NEVER been planet friendly. Now we have solar farms to contend with. I have never understood how councillors and politicians come up with their destructive ideas. Sewage and farming practices have been at the top of many agendas since I started in the sewer design business in the 1960s, yet continually ignored.

Alan Lindley – retired Chartered Civil Engineer Bridport There’s a worrying trend developing in the way we purchase some of the simplest things – a cup of tea or coffee, giving our kids pocket money, buying something at a car boot sale, or at Bridport Market.

It’s the dawning of a cashless society where our cash transactions will be replaced with

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall

justsocaricatures.co.uk

a digital ID card track everying single item of income or expenditure instantly. There will be no grace period of a few days to allow us to adjust, say an overdraft.

No, our overdraft will be immediately monitored, and we will be punished accordingly by having our bank balance frozen.

Pocket money for your kids? Not allowed. Spare change for a busker? Oh no!

I walked through the market the other day with my sandwich boards proclaiming that Cash is Freedom. Few people took any notice.

Two of Bridport high street pubs don’t take cash. At West Bay’s Cornish Pastie Company I chose a mouthwatering looking sausage roll and was counting out the cash when I was told, no they don’t take cash either. They lost a purchase.

Cards ican be more convenient than carrying around a bagful of coins. But the implications of losing cash carry dire consequences for our freedom of thinking and of movement.

We could also lose our hard-won freedoms which have made our country one of the most tolerant in the world.

Lawrence Moore The sandwich board man

n It was with sadness that I heard a few weeks ago that Michael Cannon had passed away.

My sympathy is extended to Sally and other members of his family. I first made the acquaintance of Michael in early 2018 when I approached him about purchasing Sherborne House.

At that time, he decided not to do so and gave me his reasons.

However, towards the end of that year he did indeed purchase the house through a trust. I was then fortunate, soon afterwards, to meet him and Sally at the House, to be shown around the really run down building and to hear his plans for its future.

We then remained in intermittent contact. I witnessed the change in ideas for the building and was able to support, as a minor player, his ideas with the relevant authorities. It was a real joy a few weeks ago to have another visit and to see the progress that has been made to date. It is impressive. Clearly no expense has been spared and the work ensures the conservation of what is probably the most important secular building in Sherborne after the two castles.

It is a real tragedy that Michael has not seen the completion of the project, but one hopes he felt secure in the knowledge of what it will be like finally. He is leaving a wonderful legacy for the town and indeed the county. The opening of The Sherborne should be a fitting memorial to him and to his mother who was, I understood, the inspiration behind what he wished to achieve.

Peter Neal, President, The Sherborne and District Society CPRE

n Bridport is beautiful, isn’t it?

The countryside, the sea, the arts and entertainment scene, the food, the shops.. one could go on.

We’re fortunate for sure. A splendid place to live.

However, were the town as a whole represented as a human body, we’d have to say Bridport is beautiful but limping. Two of its toes are broken – namely Court Orchard and Skilling. For quite some time these two areas have been listed on the national indices of deprivation as being the highest ranking in the whole of Dorset.

Not many people know this.

Accompanying low income (and when I say ‘low’ I mean lower than you likely imagine) is a huge lack of dignity. Poverty strips you to the bone and limits a person in so many ways that you might find surprising. Many negative assumptions are made of the spending habits of those living in poverty, and of poor people’s willingness to change. I can confidently vouch that the willingness is definitely there but the opportunities to engage in a long term and sustainable means of change are distinctly lacking.

There’s guilt and shame on both sides of the perceived wealth divide. This is the first obstacle to conquer. Poverty and abundance of wealth are both ‘othering’ to some extent, both extremes. It’s a town of strong contrast – many never experience the fine things on offer while others enjoy it as their daily fare. It’s not at all an unusual situation but, if we want Bridport to truly prosper, is it a situation that we want to maintain? Do we want yet another high ranking year on the deprivation indices? I suspect not.

The perceived divide is, actually, an illusion – one that we can choose to perpetuate indifferently or work on changing with genuine sincerity. Whether we like it or not, we are all connected to this situation – even if not directly responsible, even if comfortably housed, well fed and safe at home. We are all connected. Guilt will get us nowhere. Action will get us somewhere… where’s it to be?

Jonathan Scott

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Constituency issues

with West Dorset MP Chris Loder

Action at last on predatory fuel costs

After months of campaigning and challenging in Parliament, I was pleased to see that last month the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published the final report in its Road Fuels Market Study.

The report concluded that competition is not working well, with a weakening of competition in retail since 2019. These conclusions echo the concerns I raised in the House of Commons in November last year, when I directly urged the PM to undertake an urgent review into commercial predators charging motorists extortionate prices for fuel. As a result of my intervention, the PM commissioned the Road Fuels Market Study.

Because West Dorset was so bad in terms of price discrepancy, it was selected as one of 21 local case studies across the country for the final report, following multiple complaints from

motorists and my representations in Parliament. In particular, constituents rightly raised the matter of high fuel pricing with the Morrisons-operated fuel stations in Bridport and Yeovil and the same for Tesco in Dorchester and Blandford compared to Poole. The report confirmed an average local pricing disparity over 52 weeks of petrol being around 2p per litre more expensive than the national average.

However, this is only an average figure – I am well aware that local pricing activities have seen as much as 20p per litre extra being charged, especially in peak season meant to target tourists, but which end up penalising local people. Charging up to 20p per litre more for petrol is typically the sort of predatory pricing we see at motorway fuel stations.

Nationally, the report found that, from 2019-2022,

average fuel margins have increased by 6p per litre. To address this, the CMA have proposed a new fuel finder scheme to enable drivers to access live, station-by-station fuel prices on their phones or satnavs; and a new monitoring body to hold the industry to account.

Since my last column, there’s also been some positive news concerning broadband connectivity in West Dorset. When I was elected back in 2019, I committed to making broadband connectivity better for West Dorset, especially for those homes and businesses that are not included in broadband suppliers’ plans. To this end, Building Digital UK has recently informed me that the constituency is set to benefit from up to one-third of an estimated £43.2 million contract as part of the latest Project Gigabit procurement phase. Invitation for tender is expected to begin later this year.

Politics

So frustrated by government climate change policy Despite what feels like near constant rain in West Dorset, the UN says globally this July has been the hottest month since records begun. Sicily recorded temperatures of 48 degrees celsius, smashing the European record. Much of the Mediterranean has literally been on fire, with the mass evacuation of British tourists from Rhodes dominating our TV screens. Climate experts are all warning that this will increasingly be the new norm.

Faced with the increasing frequency of extreme weather conditions resulting from man-made climate change the Conservative party has decided now is the perfect time to roll back on our environmental commitments.

By EDWARD MORELLO West Dorset LibDems

Instead of investing in clean renewable energy generation that can be online in 12 months, the Conservatives have awarded 100 new licences to drill for oil and gas. Drilling that will cause untold environmental damage, take 20 years to start producing, and will be sold on the international market to the highest bidder doing nothing to improve UK energy security.

Depressingly we will likely see more such policies emerging from Number 10 during the coming months, presumably because someone

is advising the Conservatives that ignoring the immediate threat of a climate catastrophe is somehow a route to election victory.

Over the last eight weeks I’ve been holding near-daily meetings with voters in village halls across the constituency. One common theme is frustration with the lack of long-term thinking by Government. Angry though I am, there is cause for hope: at some point in the next 18 months we will have a General Election.

Last month the Liberal Democrats scored a stunning by-election victory in neighbouring Somerton and Frome, following hot on the heels of our recent win in

Tiverton and Honiton. Like West Dorset they are predominately rural seats.

Demographically and economically they are very similar to us. The issues raised on the doorsteps of West Dorset are the same ones raised by residents during those by-elections; access to NHS dentists, lack of buses, support for farmers, sewage in our rivers and on our beaches, difficulty getting GP appointments, action on climate change. The list of Conservative Party failures goes on.

The message is clear: the West Country is fed up with being taken for granted by the Conservatives. It’s time for change.

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

85

Politics

PM merely fiddles while planet is burning Long-term action to tackle our climate crisis should not be traded in return for shortterm political popularity.

This appears to be the tactics of our Prime Minister though as he gives into pressure to back away from strong action in light of a perceived loss of support in the run up to the next general election. Following the recent by-election in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, in which the Labour candidate failed to overturn the Conservative majority because of the unpopularity of plans to extend London’s Ultra-low Emission Zone, he said that such measures should not “unnecessarily give people more hassle and more costs in their lives”.

He has also started to backtrack on the development of

By KELVIN CLAYTON West Dorset Green Party

low traffic neighbourhoods.

As it looks as though there will be a debate with the Conservative party on such trade-offs I would welcome to hear the views of West Dorset’s MP, who has been relatively quiet on climate issues.

Worse than this, according to analysis carried out by the ‘TheyWork ForYou’ website, Chris Loder has generally voted against measures to prevent climate change. In fact the last really positive comment from him I can find is “We have already begun in West Dorset, and nationally, to put changes in place to protect the environment and

deal with the climate crisis.

However much more needs to be done, everybody acknowledges this.”

He said this in November 2019, just before he was elected at the General Election.

Scientists have been unequivocal in saying that the July heatwave experienced across Europe was ‘near impossible’ without climate change.

And it’s not just Europe.

China has just recorded its highest ever temperature of 52.2oC, and in the US, Phoenix, Arizona had 19 consecutive days above 43.3C. As a recent article on the BBC news website says, the “Earth is in uncharted waters as climate records tumble”.

In the light of all this

evidence we need strong political leadership. Yes, some of the measures necessary may be unpopular in the short term, but that shouldn’t stop politicians from acting in the long term interests of global humanity.

Our climate crisis is too important to be used as a means of securing votes at the next election.

Politicians, including Chris Loder, need to stand up and take a lead regarding climate issues.

They need to selling both the benefits and the absolute necessity of taking strong action now. If they don’t, in the words of the American novelist Kurt Vonnegut, “We’ll go down in history as the first society that wouldn’t save itself because it wasn’t cost effective”.

Action on economy and environment is essential What has increased in Britain since 2020? Inequality of wealth and income, mainly: in 2022 alone the incomes of the poorest 14 million fell by over 7% while the incomes of the richest fifth increased by over 7%.

As the poor have got poorer and the rich have got richer, the public services on which we all depend – but the older and the poorer especially – have been trashed. Health, welfare, social services, education, public transport, policing, the courts, have all been gutted. Cutting public sector pay over a long period makes recruitment and retention increasingly difficult, understaffed services struggle to function and eventually collapse entirely in some

By CLAUDIA SORIN West Dorset Labour Party

locations, and as a result poverty and lack of opportunity become increasingly deeply entrenched.

The wealthiest countries – like ours – need to make real sacrifices to help bring human activity back within sustainable planetary boundaries, and an increasingly large majority recognise the realities of the climate emergency.

But given a choice between the urgent and the important, most people necessarily focus first on the urgent especially when that includes keeping the family fed and housed, getting a GP appointment, or educational support for a child

with additional needs.

We will not get out of this mess without decisive collective action by all of us, led and supported by national and local government, and in global partnerships. Action both to fix and reshape our failing economy, and to fix our broken world.

Public action is needed on both fronts, and Labour’s vision puts sustainable economic growth alongside its environmental aims.

Our economy is faltering, our public services are in disarray; to be able to do what the nation and the planet need we must have better economic opportunities for all, which in turn will generate the revenues on which decent services and innovative public investment

depend. And part of this economic growth will come from the mission to become a world leader in clean energy; Labour’s green prosperity plan is intended to drive job creation, lower energy costs, and help to mitigate climate change.

Green Growth may prove to be an illusion. If by growth we continue to mean the continued accumulation of vast quantities of consumer goods and waste, then it is clearly a contradiction in terms. But if we can define growth not as increasing consumption of resources but as increasing value, expressed in terms which accurately capture social impacts and shared prosperity in a stable world, then I believe it is possible.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Business & recruitment Freelance copywriter ANDREW KNOWLES is based in Wyke Regis. He helps to support and train hundreds of small business owners.

Your time is precious: Don’t waste it!

What’s the one resource that you have in equal quantity to business leaders Elon Musk, Karren Brady and James Dyson? Time.

Each one of us has the same number of hours in the day.

Yes, those three leaders can ‘buy’ time by hiring others, at levels impossible for small business owners. But, like you and me, they can only apply themselves to their work for a limited number of hours a day.

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They don’t want to waste their time, and neither should we.

Here are some of the biggest time wasters that I see small business owners getting into.

Enquiry Time Waster Do you return every missed call, because it might be from someone important? By important do you mean a potential new customer?

All small business owners are familiar with people who call or email to ask questions.

They want to help themselves to our knowledge and insights.

They sound like they might become a customer, but don’t.

I’ve wasted a lot of time talking with people who ask lots of questions but don’t

spend a penny. I’ve since learned tactics to help me quickly assess the likelihood of someone paying for my services.

Don’t get me wrong – it’s not all about money. It’s great to be helpful without expecting payment. I love talking to other business owners, hearing their stories and giving advice.

But we need to protect our precious working hours by restricting how much we do for free.

Business Name Time Waster You decide to launch a small business – it’s just you, working from home. To help you get established you spend

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Business & recruitment time deciding on a name, on a logo and getting your desk in order.

Most of that is a waste of time.

It might feel like useful work, but when your freelance business is new, spending time thinking of a name is not work.

Take note that I’m talking to freelancers here – oneperson businesses. For you, time is particularly precious.

Spend it on finding customers, sharpening your skills and doing a good job.

I’ve seen too many freelancers (me included) waste time on choosing names and the like.

When the business is just you, most people will use your name, not the clever wordplay you spent ages concocting.

Training Time Waster I’ve done it. I know others do

it. They put time into attending course after course.

It feels like the right thing to do because you’re learning. You may have been hooked by course marketing, with promises of breakthrough secrets.

I’m a trainer and I’m an advocate of training. But it can be a distraction from the real work of running your business.

There will always be more to learn, but when you’re tempted to sign up for yet more training, ask yourself if it really is the best use of your precious time.

These are just three areas where I’ve wasted precious time, and I see others doing the same.

You’ve invested a little of your time in reading this article - are you going to get payback on that investment by making changes to how you protect your own time?

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88

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Business & recruitment

Sport

BUSINESS BRIEFS The Thomas Hardy Society is recruiting a secretary and a membership secretary.

The international society has more than 1,000 members and has an outstanding reputation within the local community and academic world.

They hold six meetings a year and run walks, study weekends and conferences regularly. For info email Mark Chutter, chairman and academic director at chuttermark@gmail.com or call 07399 833930. n Dorset Business is hosting a growth breakfast at Weymouth College on September 26 from 8.30am to 10.30am, hosted by operations director Nick Gregory, sharing the latest information on Dorset Council business grants as well as marketing advice.

The breakfast is aimed at business owners or senior company decision-makers looking to grow their network and supply chain. Book a free ticket at eventbrite.co.uk n MP Chris Loder is encouraging smaller

businesses in West Dorset to utilise a range of commercial finance options available under the newly-launched South West Investment Fund.

The fund will deliver £200m, managed by the British Business Bank.

He said: “This new fund will offer a range of loans, particularly for smaller businesses. Loans are available from £25,000 to £2m, and equity investment of up to £5m. The fund is intended to increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance, providing debt and equity funding to firms that might not otherwise receive investment and to help break down barriers in access to finance.”

He added: “Here in West Dorset, 97% of our businesses are small and medium sized, and during the pandemic, a staggering 18% of our businesses closed. I encourage any interested businesses to make full use of this fund; I would be more than happy to help, so please do contact me if you need assistance.”

Gong for Gardens Group The Gardens Group, which hosts dazzling Christmas displays each year in its centres in Dorchester, Sherborne and Yeovil, has scooped a top industry award.

Director Louise Burks has been named in the Glee Buyers Power List 2023, taking second place for Christmas Buyer of the Year.

Staged during the garden trade show Glee at the NEC in Birmingham, the awards recognise buyers and buying teams. Louise’s award follows consistent success in the Christmas Competition– the top prize has been awarded to The Gardens Group’s garden

centres 11 times in the past 12 years.

The hugely popular Christmas displays at Castle Gardens in Sherborne, Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil and Poundbury Gardens in Dorchester are now kinder on the planet – using repurposed and recycled materials, all now adorned with hundreds of glass baubles, twinkly LED lights, recycled candles and soft toys made from recycled plastic. Louise said: “I’m supported by a wonderful team across our three garden centres and our successes simply wouldn’t be possible without them.”

GOOD CATCH: Austin Scott-Kennedy with 52lbs 6ozs and, right, Oliver Smith with 54lbs 12ozs

Juniors on form in seventh match Dorchester and District Angling Society juniors fished their seventh points match of the season at the prolific Todber Manor on Saturday, July 29.

Seven Juniors battled wet and breezy conditions on Ash Lake, in what proved to be the most successful junior event to date, with an impressive number of fish caught from the off.

The wind hampered the competitors, proving particularly troublesome for some of the less experienced anglers, but they excelled themselves admirably. Carp ranging from 2lbs to over 9lbs were netted, with even the lowest combined weight an excellent 106lbs.

Using a mix of pole and feeder, Jack Copp would emerge as the runaway winner with an unassailable 198lbs 15ozs, scoring 25 championship points and setting a new junior match record. A fighting second place was claimed by Josiah WellsParkes with a PB match

weight of 140lbs 2ozs, with Oliver Smith in third with 138lbs 2ozs.

A fortnight previously, DDAS juniors took part in their annual pairs match at Harbourbridge Lakes in Chickerell. The conditions were challenging, with a fierce South Westerly wind forcing all competitors to use a method feeder, and even this was made tricky by the strong gusts.

The runaway winners on the day, with an unassailable 107lbs 2ozs, were Austin Scott-Kennedy and Oliver Smith, who will have their names etched onto the big pairs' trophy shield next April.

Second place went to the Cryer brothers, Harry and Jack, with 38lbs 14ozs, with Josiah Wells-Parkes and Jack Copp in third with 34lbs 13ozs. The club would like to thank Jim Roper for hosting them at Harbourbridge. n For DDAS junior information or membership details, please visit ddasjuniors.co.uk

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

89

Sport

Belle stars with lobster at Daw memorial The weather was kind for West Bay Angling Club’s Frank and Peggy Daw Memorial match, held on the East Pier, a week later than originally scheduled Despite the swell from the preceding wind and rain, there was plenty of good fish caught, with 26 juniors collectively finding 12 species, including pout, pollack, plaice, flounder, small-eyed ray, sand smelt, tompot blenny, scorpion fish, ballan and corkwing wrasse, freshwater eel and conger. The youngsters also hooked some spider crabs and, eventual winner, Belle Chidzoy added a rare lobster.

Overall winners were: 1: Belle Chidzoy 522g 2: Frankie Gibbs 254g 3: Ollie Francis 181g First Fish: Harris Ridsdale – 12g pout Most Fish: Belle Chidzoy – 15 fish Smallest fish: Bobby May – 4g pout Biggest Fish: Frankie Gibbs – 212g small-eyed ray.

Frank and Peggy Daw’s son, Richard ‘Tiny’ Daw supplied and presented the

GOOD SHOW: Belle Chidzoy receiving the shield from Richard Daw and, right, Mason Price with his thick-lipped mullet

prizes. Richard said: “The Daw family would like to thank Ben Carter for running the match, all those that helped on the day and all the juniors who entered the competition.

“The club are grateful for the support of Tom at Angling Centre West Bay and Devon Baits, with thanks also going to Norman Stokes for baiting up countless rigs.

“Our next match is the Stokes’ Family Trophy on Saturday, August 19, with the crabbing competition as part of West Bay Carnival on the following day. We hope to see as many people as possible coming along and getting involved.”

Open day at bowls club Moonfleet 2000 Indoor Bowls Club are hosting an Open Day on Saturday, September 30, and are appealing for bowlers of any age or ability to come along and give indoor bowls a try.

The club, based on Knightsdale Road in Weymouth, have six indoor rinks and will be opening

its doors from 10am to 2pm. Qualified coaches and members will be on hand to give expert guidance and support.

There is free parking on site, and shoes and bowls can be provided.

There is no need to book, simply turn up and roll up.

Please contact the club on 01305 759106.

n The club’s Fish of the Quarter competition was won by Mason Price, scooping a £30 Angling Centre voucher for his shore-caught Thick Lipped Mullet, weighing in at 1kg 899 gms.

The competition is won by the member with the best percentage of specimen weight at the end of each quarter, under national body the Angling Trust’s specimen lists for senior and juniors.

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90

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Sport

By Stuart Wickham stuart@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Piddlehinton Gym, a rural community hub that provides affordable facilities for indoor sports and recreational activities on Piddlehinton Enterprise Park, will host a grand reopening on Monday, August 28.

The free event, running from 10am until 3pm, will mark the official re-opening of the historic building following a sixweek closure for major refurbishments, which included a complete replacement of the original 80-year-old roof, new lighting, and many other improvements.

As well as enabling visitors to see the improved facilities on offer, the event will also showcase the sports and activities available at the gym, with attendees encouraged to get involved. The activities on show will include remote control car racing, badminton, five-a-side football, junior tennis and table tennis. Visitors will also be able to use the centre’s fitness equipment.

The vital refurbishments were made possible due to a successful fund-raising campaign, which saw donations from individuals, local businesses and groups, including Downing Renewables and Infrastructure Trust, Prototype Electronics, Jade Aden, Conduit Mead, Piddle Valley Parish Council, and Wessex Internet. Several of the clubs who regularly use

HARD AT WORK: A team of volunteers has worked hard to restore Piddlehinton Gym

Gym’s back in shape and ready for grand opening

the gym also contributed, with Piddle Valley Badminton, Weymouth Remote Control Car Racing, Hardy Country Bowmen, Purbeck Archers, and Dorchester Drama, donating a combined sum of £3,000 to the campaign.

Teams of volunteers gave a significant amount of their time to assist with the renovations, and all those who supported the regeneration will be invited to the re-opening to see the improvements first hand.

Paul Hayes, the chairman

of the Piddlehinton Gym Ltd charity, said: “I’d like to thank everyone for their support, it really shows the power of the community in protecting important rural assets. In particular, I’d like to recognise the core team; Adam White, Mike Healey, Chris Ebdon and Kenn Duffield as well as Jill Haynes and Dorset Council’s Assets team without whom this challenging milestone would not have been achieved. I am excited to show the results of our efforts in the improved

facilities on offer.

“We are busy, however we would love to hear from more clubs and people who may want to use our fantastic gym. Our operating ethos means the more clubs that use Piddlehinton Gym, the cheaper the rates can be.” n For more information regarding the opening, visit Piddlehinton Gym’s Facebook page.

To find out more about the facilities or to book the gym, please email piddlehintongym@gmail. com

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

91

Sport

We’re getting into a bit of Pickleball

By Stuart Wickham stuart@westdorsetmag.co.uk

The manager at St Osmund’s Sports Centre in Dorchester has been talking to The West Dorset Magazine, about the growth in popularity of pickleball at the centre, since the introduction of the sport in October last year.

Nicole Smith says that from humble beginnings, numbers of participants have swelled to the point that new outdoor facilities are now being constructed.

Nicole said: “We are thrilled to promote this new sport and excited to announce that work has started on our outdoor, purpose-built, floodlit pickleball courts. It was quite a slow start at Ossies and we only had five players turn up for the free taster that we offered, but it’s really grown from that point. Now we have around 50 regular players and it’s getting busier all the time.

“We have been playing indoors on four courts and offer sessions for beginners, juniors and club players, and we also host competitive matches. The school is one of the first to introduce pickleball into the sports curriculum and we would like to thank them for purchasing all the equipment needed to promote this sport and for allowing us to develop the outside area.”

Dorset Pickleball representative, David Bates, was instrumental in helping to set up the sport at St Osmund’s. David said: “I was delighted to help with getting Ossies set up and gain their affiliation to Pickleball England.

Pickleball is rapidly expanding in West Dorset. As well as the growth in Dorchester, Bridport now has established more sessions and gained support from their local sports centre.

GAME ON: St Osmund’s Pickleball players

Sherborne and Weymouth both had entrants in last weekend's English Open at Telford where more than 1,000 competitors took part.

“It is often said pickleball is easy to learn yet hard to master. The game is attractive to all age groups, from juniors through to those who are 70-plus.”

According to Pickleball England’s website, Pickleball is a fun sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. Played both indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court and a slightly modified tennis net. Two or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, over a net.

Pickleball evolved from being a backyard game in the United States in the 1960s and its growth in popularity in Dorset in being mirrored across the UK, with a 40-court facility at Telford hosting this week’s England Open.

St Osmund’s offer a range of sessions and would love to hear from anybody looking to give the sport a try. Nicole said: “We think we have something for everyone at Ossie’s. We offer pay and play sessions and people can book a court any time we are open.

“In addition, we run two

membership clubs. Dorchester Dinkers play on Wednesday evenings from 6pm to 8pm and on Saturdays from 9.30am to 11.30am. Our other club, U3A Pickleball, meet on Mondays from 5pm to 6pm.

“We ran a successful free taster event in Borough Gardens on

27th July, which was enjoyed by over 100 members of the public of all ages and fitness levels.

Once our four new outdoor courts are painted, we will plan another open day at the school.”

For bookings and further information on pickleball at St Osmunds, please get in touch with the team at sportscentre@ stosmunds.dorset.sch.uk For enquiries regarding other clubs in West Dorset, please contact David Bates on david.bates@btinternet.com n Weymouth's Jurassic Coasters scooped two medals at the Pickleball England Open at the weekend, with James Mathie bagging a silver in the 18-30 category, at the 4.0 level. Colin Kilpatrick also won silver in the 50+ age group, at the 3.0 level.

92

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Health & Wellbeing

Enjoy this historic village with incredible views ABBOTSBURY WALKING IN DORSET

with retired Dorset rights of way officer Chris Slade

Start at the church, which is open now covid is reduced.

Look for the musket ball holes in the pulpit, dating from the Civil War. Exit the churchyard by a path to the east leading through an expensive car park to the B3157.

Turn right and head east.

You’ll soon see opposite a bridleway that takes you along the old railway line to Portesham, a pleasant walk but not on today’s route.

Application on your portable telephone to show where you are in relation to the path.

After a furlong go through an unsigned gate on your left and continue through several fields until, approaching West Elworth Farm you join a footpath on VIEWS: Looking towards Weymouth and Portland your right.

Continue eastwards, taking There are hops growing in the hedge so I must make care when the pavement another visit in the autumn. runs out.

After about 500 yards join a The path leads southwards uphill between hedges. bridleway on your right As you approach the top leading south east at first, there are good views over then east. It’s little used Weymouth Bay and and poorly signed so you Portland. might appreciate the Just over the brow you join Ordnance Survey the South West Coast Path that takes you westwards

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along the ridge, at first through a wood then alongside hedges.

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The road takes you round a bend and heads north towards the village.

You’ll want to pause to see the ancient Tithe Barn and smaller duck pond.

Join a path that leads you up past an ancient wall and back to the church.

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The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

93

Health & Wellbeing

over Fleet Wynford Eagle walk: New gate I am writing to inform you of an alteration to a walking route in Chris Slade’s Walking in Dorset article at Wynford Eagle (dated June 2023).

In the paragraph that starts, “Cross the road and join the bridleway that takes you down hill south eastwards along field edges...”, there is now an access gate in the hedgerow that takes you into an adjacent field allowing access to the footbridge that crosses the River Wyn. It is necessary to take this access gate as there is no access to the field further down. A local farmer informed us of this during our walk. Using the field through the gate also avoids a lot of nettles further down.

It seems, according to the farmer, that a lot of walkers make this error. I thought that maybe you would want to make this alteration in your magazine.

We thoroughly enjoy Chris Slade’s walks. There are some wonderful locations included in them. They are also the perfect length for a casual weekend ramble.

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By Karen Bate karen@westdorsetmag.co.uk

An award-winning nurse has opened her own leg ulcer clinic in Poundbury tackling the very things that make us go... ugh!

Demelza Veale began her nursing career in trauma and orthopaedics where she ‘developed a passion for wound care’. She qualified as an RGN in 2001 before gaining an Honours Degree in wound management and winning the EWMA European Wound Management awards in 2020.

Currently there are thousands of people with leg ulcers who are unable to access effective treatment quickly, leaving them to struggle on, sometimes with painful and embarrassing leg problems.

This situation spurred Demelza on to open her own clinic, the Demelza Veale Leg Ulcer Clinic.

Demelza said: “Many people are unable to access good leg ulcer management due to unavailability of appointments, lack of doppler assessments crucial to planning management of a leg ulcer, short rushed appointments, lack of holistic care, inappropriate treatment plans and lack of continuity, and no maintenance management following healing of the wound to help prevent reoccurrence of existing or new ulcers.

“If leg ulcers are not treated quickly and effectively with the

AWARD WINNER: Demelza Veale at her leg ulcer clinic

Taking the UGH out of your ulcer management... correct management they can deteriorate, resulting in increased risk of infection, breakdown of surrounding skin, pain and malodour, resulting in a decline in general physical and mental health and general wellbeing.

“As a result, many individuals become isolated due to embarrassment of the odour, difficulty with leaking wound, lack of mobility or general selfconfidence.

“Leg ulcer management is a very niche area.

“My mission is to deliver a unique approach to wound management with a personal touch, focusing on the individual person and looking beyond the

wound whilst delivering a high standard of care.”

Demelza is also an asthma and COPD specialist, with a full certificate in spirometry performing and interpreting and is on the ARTP register.

The clinic now offers Asthma and COPD respiratory management review appointments. n The clinic is at Poundbury Business Centre DT1 3WA, it has plenty of free parking with easy access and disabled parking. Home visits can be arranged.

For details visit thedemelzavealelegulcer clinic.com, call 07833 771274 or email demelzaveale@hotmail.co .uk

94

The West Dorset Magazine, August 2023

Agriculture

Thatcher who grows own reed recognised Master Thatcher of Chideock David Symonds will be presented with the coveted Melplash Agricultural Society, The Guy Gale Award for Craft at the show on August 24.

This accolade was created a decade ago, in tribute of the late Guy Gale, Melplash Society committee member and sheep section chairman, and is now given to an outstanding craftsperson nominated and supported by members of the society – including crafts from which the entrant earns their living or a greater part of it.

Dave Symonds was 15 when he started thatching in 1967, training under renowned Master Thatcher Ronnie Thomas of Loders.

MASTER OF HIS CRAFT: David Symonds

In 1974 he set up in business on his own, and has now been joined by his son Scott and 18-year-old grandson Rhys.

Elizabeth Gale said: “My husband Guy Gale, a talented thatcher, was

executive member of the Master Thatchers’ Association and chairman of the Dorset Branch. He admired Dave’s total commitment to the craft of thatching, and I know would be very pleased to

see him receive his award at the Melplash Show this year.”

From 1974, Dave Symonds has been growing his own crop wheat reed, harvesting around 45 acres on his 95 acres, and producing the materials his firm requires.

It was this project of which Guy so admired.

Fame came to Dave when he appeared in the harvest scenes in the film Far from the Madding Crowd in 2015, playing three different characters and becoming the farming advisor to the film company.

Since 1995, Dave has been Captain of the Bell Ringers at Chideock, even introducing Penelope Keith to bell ringing in Hidden Villages.

Young Farmers’ stock rises after Melplash test Young farmers demonstrated their ability to tell a prizewinning animal from its lesser brethren at a competition hosted by The Melplash Agricultural Society.

The society’s annual Young Farmers Dairy Stock Judging competition was held at Manor Farm, North Poorton by kind permission of Messrs. Fooks and Simon and Lauren Goringe. Ten teams entered from the following Young Farmers Clubs: Wedmore, Beaminster, Sherborne and Marshwood Vale.

The judges for the evening were father and daughter, Terry and Becky Cox from Sturminster Newton.

The youngsters were able to visually evaluate dairy

House and Lauren Hutchings, Marshwood Vale YFC 2nd: Elizabeth Bell and Emily Bell, Wedmore YFC 3rd:Sophie Raymond and Owen Swatridge, Beaminster YFC Seniors 1st and Winners of the Francis W Hunt Trophy: SPOT THE BREED: Young Farmers at the Stock Compeition Jasper Love and Henrietta Picture: TIM RUSS Love, Sherborne YFC Best Newcomer – George cattle based on the physical Millie Carson and Grace Goringe, Beaminster YFC traits that are desired in the Wilcox - Wedmore YFC Highest Placed Individual animal for their health, 2nd: Enya Hayball and – Elizabeth Bell, Wedmore longevity and high milk Harry Curtis, Beaminster YFC production levels – an YFC The Francis Hunt Cup was especially important skill 3rd: William Fooks and first presented to the and one that takes practice. George Goringe society 50 years ago by F J The winners were: Beaminster YFC Hunt (the grandfather of Juniors Intermediates society chairman Philip 1st and Winners of the 1st and Winners of the Hardwill’s wife Sarah) in Melplash Agricultural Melplash Agricultural memory of his son Francis.

Society Junior Shield: Society Shield – Joanna

The West Dorset Magazine, February 2023

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