The West Dorset Magazine Edition 36, January 2024

Edition 36

of

January 2024

Monthly, PRICELESS

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

IN PURSUIT OF JUSTICE: Former Yetminster postmistress still fighting for compensation P40-41

MEGA BITE: Sea monster’s skull shows its huge killing powers P31

WIN A ROMANTIC MEAL FOR TWO: Two-course Valentine’s feast at The Greyhound Sydling up for grabs P23

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

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

ADVERTISE IN WEST DORSET’S WIDEST READ NEWS MAGAZINE: 01305 566336 | advertising@westdorsetmag.co.uk

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

Contents:

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

justsocaricatures.co.uk

3-58 6-15 59-61 62 63 64-66 67-69 70-74 74-77 78-79, 81 80-81 82-83 84-85 86

When you respond to advertisers, please tell them you saw their advert in this magazine: It helps them monitor the effectiveness of their advert and helps us cover our costs

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

ERS! N N U T S 3 PAGE

COLLIEWOBBLE: Here’s Flora, AKA Noisy Nora, because she never stops talking!, says Annabelle Delisle of Sydling

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Free course on how to manage money A church is offering a free money coaching session to help people learn how to manage their finances.

Dick Howard and fellow Christians Against Poverty coaches are running the threehour course from 9.30am on Saturday, January 13 at the Dorford Centre in Bridport Road, Dorchester.

Course participants will learn how to put a budget together, with tips on how to make your

money go further and how to be disciplined about spending.

Dick said: “Most of us spend more at Christmas than intended and that can put an even tighter squeeze on our finances in the New Year. So having a plan to manage your money and budget becomes even more important.

“The course is tried and tested and nationally well-regarded financial advisers have contributed to the material. And they are independent – no one is

trying to sell you any financial products.”

Dorchester Poverty Action and Foodbank are backing this course by offering a £20 Co-op voucher to participants who live in DT1/DT2 postcodes or who are NHS workers – conditions apply.

The courses is being run by Dorchester Baptist Church using material created by Christians Against Poverty. Book a place at dorchesterbc.org.uk/cap

A S E L A Homes approved on historic school site S E E L L S A A E S S L E E A L L S A A E S E S L E L A E L S A L A E S E S L A L E S E A A L L E S S E L A A L E S E S SA SALSEALE LE SALE SAALLE SA LE E S A E L L A L S E E S A A L A L S E S E S A L A L E L LE S LE SA SALEALE S E SA A L S L A E S L A L A S E S E S A A L L E S E S E L A L A L E E S S A A L A L S E S A L A E S E A S L A S L E S SALE NOW ON A E L E S A E L L A S L E S A A L E S S E SA A L L E S A L A A S E S S A L E S E E L A L E S L A L S E A SA A L S E S L A LE ES SA ES Happy

New Year! to all our staff and students from all at

KINGSTON MAURWARD

Proposals to build two new homes and an art gallery at a listed former school site in Bridport have been approved.

Dorset Council gave the go ahead for plans to develop the western half of the former St Mary’s School site, dating back to 1876, in Gundry Lane.

Centaur Gallery (Fine Art) Ltd said the development will include a garden courtyard, parking spaces and a bin and bike storage area.

The business assured the council repairs and

renovations would remain in keeping with the fabric of the Grade II listed building.

The development will include a one-bedroom flat and a three-bedroom home in the central wing with a mezzanine floor over the bedrooms.

Bridport Town Council welcomed the proposed works bringing a historic building back into use. An existing nursery in the eastern wing of the building is not included in the application and will remain.

FA S H I O N - B E A U T Y - H O M E - G A R D E N

L A L E S A L A S E S A L E S L A E S A L E S E L A L E S A L S E SA A L E S L A E S A L E S E L A L E S A L S E SA A L E S E SA AL Huge savings throughout Goulds Fashion and Home Stores in Dorchester and Goulds Garden Centre in Weymouth.

Goulds of Dorchester, South Street, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1DA Goulds Garden Centre, Littlemoor Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 6DA Telephone enquiries: 01305 217800 I www.gouldsstores.co.uk

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

National Trust seeks volunteers The National Trust are looking for new volunteers to join their team and support them to look after the nature, beauty and history of West Dorset.

They have a variety of roles available, and you could be part of a team telling the stories of some of Dorset’s most iconic people and properties.

The team are looking for House Experience volunteers at Clouds Hill, Hardy’s Cottage and Hardy’s House, Max Gate. Clouds Hill was the rural retreat of T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and Hardy’s Cottage and Max Gate were the homes of Dorset’s most famous author and poet Thomas Hardy. They are looking for friendly volunteers to make every visitor to these houses feel welcome.

If you would rather a role based outside, then they are also looking for welcome volunteers at Hardy’s Monument and Hive Beach. The monument to Vice-Admiral Hardy will be reopened regularly in 2024, giving visitors access to the viewing point at the top of the tower. Hive Beach in Burton Bradstock is on the Jurassic Coast and welcomes thousands of visitors each year. Volunteers at the beach help to welcome visitors, manage the carpark and support in site presentation.

Finally, there are opportunities to volunteer at the National Trust gift shop in Lyme Regis. This is in a beautiful location with a large footfall passing through the shop each day.

A National Trust spokesman said: “Volunteering is a rewarding experience and great way to support the National Trust, while also spending time in amazing places and making new friends. There is no minimum time expected, however roles benefit from regular involvement (eg, one shift a week) and shifts are normally three hours in length.

“All volunteers receive an induction to their role, so they feel confident in what they’re being asked to do.”

If you are interested and would like to meet the team in person to discuss further, then they will be hosting an open morning at their regional office at Kingston Maurward College in the Stinsford Building on January 24 from 10am-1pm. Park in the gardens and animal park car park.

Members of the team will be on hand to discuss all the roles and what it is like to

volunteer for the National Trust. Or you can attend the open morning at Lyme Regis shop on Wednesday, February 7 from 11am-1pm.

Scott Welland, operations manager for North and West Dorset said: “We care for some very important places for everyone to visit and enjoy.

“It is always a very exciting time for us when we recruit for new volunteers and meet the people that will help us to share these stories and look after our visitors.

“If you love meeting people, are passionate about local history or want to make some new friends, please get in touch to find out more.”

Email Scott at scott.welland@national trust.org.uk

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Email your events to

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Cerne AbbAs VillAge HAll: Flexible, modern, green FACilities in A beAutiFul rurAl setting l Weddings l evening hire l Full fibre l Conferences l meeting broadband l daytime hire rooms and wi-fi cerneabbasvillagehall.org.uk | 07508 039 280 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10 A talk by John Stockley, folllowing the Channel 4 program, Britain’s Secret War GI Babies, is being held at at Strangways Hall, Abbotsbury at 7pm. Limited numbers available so please book your seat. Tickets available at £7.

Contact heather.stevens52 @btinternet.com or 01305 871629.

Dorchester Film Society’s new season opens today, with

the screening of elegant drama Bergman Island starring Tim Roth in the Corn Exchange at 7.30pm.

A limited number of halfseason memberships are now available for the remaining eight films of the programme, many of which won awards on the international film festival circuit. These include Broker from the acclaimed Japanese director Kore-eda Hirokazo, winner at Cannes last year, and the Oscar nominated Close.

All the films are to be shown

on the Exchange’s wide screen with Dolby sound.

The society is celebrating its 65th year this year and to mark the occasion award-winning director Margy Kinmonth will be at a screening on February 7 of the documentary Eric Ravilious – Drawn to War with an introduction and Q&A. The film is the true story of the under-valued British artist who acted as an official war artist in the Second World War. Full details of the programme

and how to join the society are at dorchesterfilmsociety.org.uk Please note that the conditions of the film hire mean that admissions are for members and their guests only – tickets cannot be purchased at the door.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11 Weymouth Scottish Country Dancers will meet at Southill Community Centre, Radipole Lane from 7pm to 9.30pm.

There will be challenging

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

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Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Join the journey to

brilliant broadband moves, interspersed with easier ones suitable for everyone. Cost is £3 to include a tea and coffee break. Ring Judie on 01305 833660 or email grajudseymour@hotmail.com n weymouthscottish countrydancers.co.uk Solo charleston and vintage jazz dance classes between 1pm and 2pm at St Marys’ Church Hall, Bridport on Thursdays, January 11, 18 and 25.

Classes for all levels and abilities £5. All welcome. Visit dynamic-dance.uk

FRIDAY, JANUARY 12 Wacapella – a women's choir meeting at The Drama Club, Hope Street, Weymouth – welcomes new singers from 11am-12.30pm. wacapella.co.uk julietharwood@hotmail.com 01305 814940.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13 There’s a West Dorset Group meeting of the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society at Loders village hall at 2pm.

The topic is The 16th Infantry Regiment in West Dorset, 80 years ago with Robin Stapleton, Nick Pitt, Cheryl Ludgate, John and Sarah West from West Bay Discovery Centre and Jane FerentziSheppard, of Beaminster Museum and Lyme Regis Museum.

They will be looking at what the troops were doing during their stay and the places they used as billets, mess halls and recreation. An insight into their lives in the months before D-Day. All welcome, members £1, visitors £3.

The Quangle Wangle Choir welcomes new singers, whether experienced or new to harmony singing. They meet 10am-12pm, usually at Radipole School, Weymouth. quanglewanglechoir.co.uk julietharwood@hotmail.com 01305 814940.

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club will embark on a six-mile walk from Uplyme.

For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. New members and visitors are welcome.

Have you unearthed something interesting while metal detecting, out walking, or digging in the garden? Keen to find out more about your discovery? Bring it along to Beaminster Museum when Dorset finds liaison officer Ciorstaidh Heyward Trevarthen returns for another popular drop-in identification session. Ciorstaidh is happy to take a look at any archaeological (not geological) items found inside Dorset's county boundaries. She may ask to borrow items of particular interest to research

Register your interest at

wessexinternet.com and photograph them for the Portable Antiquities Scheme national database. You’ll be given a receipt for borrowed items and a copy of the records and photographs when they are returned. By sharing your finds you’ll be helping to build a picture of West Dorset’s heritage and history; previous discoveries have included a Roman brooch, a medieval buckle and examples of post-medieval pottery. The museum is closed for the

winter, but there will be a small display for you to enjoy while waiting to see Ciorstaidh. Drop in between 11am and 3pm, entry is free.

A model railway exhibition will be held at Beaminster Public Hall Fleet Street, Beaminster, Dorset DT8 3EF 10am-4pm.

The Bridport and District

Continued page 8

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

SAT, JAN 13 CT’D Model Railway Club welcome visitors, who will be able to view a wide variety of layouts in various gauges and themes, from both local exhibitors and those coming from farther afield. There will also be layouts representing steam and modern railway scenes which have a very local and an international flavour together with other railway displays.

The exhibition will also have a trade stand for visitors wishing to buy new or second-hand

model railway products.

Admission is Adults £3 and children under 16 free. Car parking is available in the Yarn Barton car park.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14 There will be a choral eucharist with music for the season of Epiphany by Victoria, Cornelius and Berlioz at 10.30am in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester.

Free.

Poetry and music to celebrate the natural world – a Quaker

Email your events to newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

response will be held 3pm4pm at Cheap Street Church, Sherborne, DT9 3BJ. Free admission, refreshments afterwards with donations to Sherborne Foodbank sherbornequakers@gmail.co m

MONDAY, JANUARY 15 There’s modern jive (Leroc) social dance classes at 7:30pm in Chideock Village Hall on Mondays, January 15, 22 and 29.

Cost is £6, come with or without a partner. Beginners and returners are very welcome. Classes are weekly, visit dynamic-dance.uk

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 Penny Callaghan of Colmers Hill Fashion and From My

GIGS IN JANUARY: Sun 7th 4pm, JACK DANIELS & GLEN SMITH. Thurs 11th 7pm OPEN MIC WITH SI GENARO. Sun 14th 4pm STEVE WILSON & THE INNOCENT BYSTANDERS. Wed 17th 8pm JAZZ JAM. Sat 20th 7pm STICKLEBACK JACK. Sun 21st 4pm STOMPIN’ DAVE. Sat 27th 7pm IRONHIDE. Sun 28th 4pm ZOE SCHWARTZ BLUES PARTY. FEBRUARY: Sat 3rd 7pm ARCHIE RAY. Sun 4th 4pm UNDER THE HILL. Thurs 8th 7pm OPEN MIC SI GENARO.

Mother’s Garden will be hosting several end-of-line designer fashion sales this month.

Today and tomorrow, Thursday, January 18, from 11am-4pm she has a sale at Cherries at Abbey Farm Abbotsbury. Further sales will be held on Saturday, January 27 at Blackdown Village Hall, B3165, Bridport DT6 5QQ (11am-4pm) and on Saturday, February 3 at Uplyme Village Hall, Lyme Rd, Uplyme, Lyme Regis DT7 3UY (11-4pm).

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18 Bridport and District Gardening Club will hear from Simon Goldsack, owner of Holme Garden Centre near Wareham, at 7.30pm at the WI Building on North St in

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

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Bridport. He has converted a 24-acre former fruit farm into a new public garden. He also holds the national collection of hypericum. He will talk about where the idea of the garden came from, where it is up to now and where it hopes to be in the future.

Sherborne Historical Society welcome Prof Angelique Richardson and Dr Paul White, who will be showcasing Hardy and his World: in Letters at 8pm in Digby Hall in Hound Street.

The two leading scholars in the field of correspondence explore the Dorset novelist and poet’s epistolary work.

Members free, visitors £5.

Visit sherbornehistorical society.co.uk

SATURDAY, JANUARY 20 A coffee morning in aid of hedgehog rehabilitation is being held at Whitchurch Canonicorum Village Hall DT6 6RF at 10.30am.

Raffle, cake, tea and coffee.

Come and help us support sick and injured hedgehogs. All welcome. Ring 01297 489 275.

There’s a Burns Night do at St Nicholas Church, Broadwey, Weymouth, DT3 5DN from 6.30pm. Two courses of Scottish food, bagpipes, ceilidh and a dram.

Tickets £20 in advance from Susana on 07944 617553 or susanamalik@yahoo.com

Flexible, affordable self-storage call 07442 845650 or visit

littlepuddlefarm.co.uk Piddlehinton DT2 7TG.

A lunchtime concert will be held at St Peter’s Church, Dorchester from 12.30 to 1pm given by Natalie Burton (clarinet) and Rob Taylor (piano) with music by Weber, Stanford and Saint-Saens. Free.

A coffee morning will be held

New play is teens’ first pro show JANUARY 11 AND 12 Former Thomas Hardye pupils Herbie Hudston and Ella Ritsema, both 18, are presenting their first independent and professional show outside of school and Dorchester Youth Theatre.

From the Top! is a new play by the Irresponsible Theatre Company, being performed at Dorchester’s Corn Exchange.

Inspired by Mischief Theatre’s Play That Goes Wrong, From the Top! explores a murder mystery being performed by an amateur company, where things continually become more chaotic and go wrong.

The play also explores the audience’s role, as at All Saints church, Wyke Regis 10am to midday. All are welcome to join us for coffee, tea, cakes, Fairtrade, books and, of course, chat.

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club hold a 7.5mile walk from Kingston Maurward.

Call 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. New members and visitors are welcome.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 Bridport U3A have their

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Email your events to

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

and who couldn’t even communicate with their household staff.

The talk will last about an hour, followed by a Q&A then refreshments.

Talks are free to members and £3 for visitors.

Irresponsible Theatre Company aims to change their perspective on live theatre through fun, lighthearted, and exciting plays, ensuring the audience enjoys it collaboratively with the cast.

The play is created and directed by Herbie, owner of Irresponsible Theatre Company. Herbie has just finished his A levels and is planning to go into theatre making. Ella, who wrote the play, is currently on her gap year, looking to study creative writing at university.

You can find out more about the show via @the_irresponsible_theatre_ co on Instagram or Facebook or check out the Dorchester Arts website to buy tickets, which are £10 per person. If you want to support local young people, as well as have a great evening out, it would be great to see you in the audience!

January talk at BUC, East St at 2pm.

The speaker is Brian Freeland on Women of the Raj. Brian is a retired author and playwright. He has visited many countries and did eight tours of India plus two circumnavigations of the globe.

When the colonial administrators arrived to take over from the East India Company they were often accompanied by their wives who spoke only English, who mixed only with other wives,

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24 The Uplyme and Lyme Regis Horticultural Society hosts a talk Choosing the Right Veg for You by Joy Michaud of Dorset vegetable seed specialist Sea Spring Seeds.

Uplyme Village Hall DT7 3UY. Members free, nonmembers £3. Doors open at 7pm for refreshments, talk starts 7.30pm. ulrhs.wordpress.com There’s an open mic poetry afternoon at The Occasional Bookshop, 16 Durngate Street, Dorchester DT1 1JP from 3pm-5pm. Free entry.

Donations welcome. More details: julian@nangle rarebooks.co.uk

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 A choral evensong for Epiphany will be held at St Peter’s Church, Dorchester at 4.30pm with music by Poulenc, Christopher Moore, Stanford and William Crotch.

Free, with wine to follow.

Dorchester Bowls is holding an indoor bowls open day at the club in Armada Way, Dorchester DT1 2TN from 10am-2pm.

Go along to try indoor bowling and see the club’s excellent facilities. The club’s experienced coaches will be on hand to give you a taster session. Absolutely no previous experience is

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Email your events to

Whasson? (and where’s it to?) required, however proficient bowlers are more than welcome.

All the equipment will be provided, but you will require a thick pair of socks to wear on the bowling carpet. For people with disabilities there are playing aids and special wheelchairs for use on the rinks. There is free car parking at the club.

Bowls is a sport suitable for all ages from nine to 90 plus! It is a great way to keep fit and meet people. It can be played at any level, from social informal games to county and national games.

The bar will be open from 11am and, in addition, a variety of soft drinks, tea and coffee, sandwiches and some hot dishes will be on sale. All participants will be offered a free hot drink and slice of cake.

After the open day they will be

offering a course of five sessions of coaching starting Saturday, February 3. Two Saturday sessions are available: 9.30am to 11.30am and 11.30am to 1.30pm. At the end of the course, you will be offered a special concessionary joining rate.

Contact them on 01305 260817 or email bowlsdt1@btinternet.com Penny Callaghan of Colmers Hill Fashion and From My Mother’s Garden will be hosting an end-of-line designer fashion sale at Blackdown Village Hall, B3165, Bridport DT6 5QQ (11am-4pm). Enjoy soup and cake to raise money for the churches of Blackdown, Burstock and Broadwindsor.

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club will be holding an eight-mile walk

newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

from Portland. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340.

New members and visitors are welcome.

Memphis Jazzmen will be in concert at Weymouth Bay Methodist Church DT4 7TH at 7.30pm. Tickets £12 on door or in advance £10 from Pete 01305 812637.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Sherborne Historical Society introduce Dr Marie Rodet who will showcase Resistance to Slavery in Western Mali at 8pm at Digby Hall in Hound Street.

How have formerly enslaved populations escaped slavery, rebuilt autonomous communities and resisted legacies of slavery in the 20th century?

Members free, visitors £5.

Hammer time THURSDAY, JANUARY 18 Antiques Roadshow specialist Marc Allum will be giving a talk entitled Auctioneers Tales at the inaugural meeting of The new Arts Group in Bridport at 2pm in the Town Hall.

Auctioneers’ Tales brings together a wealth of firsthand experience in a fascinating gallimaufry of anecdotes, amazing finds and interesting recollections on the everchanging world of antiques.

Marc Allum is a freelance art and antiques journalist, writer and broadcaster. He has been a miscellaneous specialist on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow since 1998, appearing on numerous TV and radio programmes.

Marc is an author, antiques

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

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Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Visit sherbornehistorical \society.co.uk

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Author Justin Newland will talk on The limits of Empire at Sherborne Library from 2pm-3.30pm. Free.

consultant and lecturer.

He has his own unique style with interests ranging from pre-history to modern design and is a self-confessed collectaholic.

He has a passion and reputation for divining the unusual; ‘a desire to connect with history through the interpretation and pursuit of objects and their origins’.

Doors open 1.30pm for coffee and teas. £10 (cash).

Everyone welcome.

West Dorset CAMRA and Dorchester Casterbridge Rotary Club hold the 35th Dorchester Beerex today and tomorrow.

Over the years, Dorchester Beerex has raised £248,000 for local good causes. Sample 80 real ales and a large selection of ciders and perry, with seating for 100 upstairs.

There will be hot/cold food available at all sessions and live music during the Friday and Saturday evening sessions.

Cerne Abbas Brewery is the main sponsor.

Tickets £11 which includes

your first pint, a pint glass and programme. Extra free pint for card-carrying CAMRA – The Campaign for Real Ale members.

Buy from beerex.co.uk or from Brace of Butchers, Convivial Rabbit, Copper Street Brewery, Tom Brown’s, The Globe (Weymouth).

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Continuing from Friday, February 2: Dorchester Beerex Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club hold a sevenmile walk from Odcombe.

Call 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. New members and visitors are welcome.

Film Night: The Cruel Sea. Wyke Regis Memorial Hall.

Continued next page

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Whasson? (and where’s it to?

Email your events to newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Hear about Dr Dave’s horticultural exploits WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Dorchester and District Gardening Club are welcoming Dr Dave Aplin to their monthly meeting to give a talk on My journey from the (former) Dorchester Horticultural Society to Middle East Botanist.

Dave first exhibited at the Dorchester Horticultural Society at the age of ten.

He was a member of the committee at 14, leaving school before his 16th birthday.

Initially an apprentice gardener at Herrison Hospital and Dorchester Town

7pm (doors open 6.30 pm).

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Council, he went on the gain several horticultural qualifications and was selected as Harry Dodson's assistant in the Victorian Flower Garden TV series.

He later achieved a first class degree in botany at the University of London, followed by a PhD. As a botanist Dave has worked in Belgium, Jordan, UAE,

Starring Jack Hawkins, Donald Sinden and Virginia McKenna. Cert U. Entry £6, includes glass of wine or soft drink. Book at parishofwykeregis.org.uk/ events or on 07710 096174.

Penny Callaghan of Colmers Hill Fashion and From My Mother’s Garden will be hosting an end-of-line designer fashion sale at Uplyme Village Hall, Lyme Rd, DT7 3UY (11-4pm).

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This talk is a motivational journey full of anecdotes from Guatemalan bandits to falling off a tropical island all for the love of plants!

The club meets at St George’s Church Hall, High Street, Fordington, Dorchester 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 available afterwards. Everyone welcome. Contact: Jane, secretary, on 01305 268523. dorchestergardening@gmail.com

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Dorchester Civic Society will host a talk in The Dorford Centre, Top o’ Town at 7.30pm by architectural

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

15

Whasson? (and where’s it to?

AN AD LIKE THIS FOR JUST £125? WHAT A BARGAIN! Call 01305 566336 or email advertising@westdorsetmag.co.uk historian and past secretary of the Georgian Society, Roger White.

The talk is entitled The Architecture of Modern Town & Village Developments.

Free for DCS members. Nonmembers are encouraged to donate £3. info@dorchestercivic society.org.uk

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Wyke Regis Horticultural Society will be hosting an evening talk by Andrew Cowling, herbalist, at 7pm in the Club House, Rylands Lane, DT4 9PY.

Ticket £7.50 includes soup and dessert. Non-members welcome.

Dorchester Film Society is celebrating its 65th year this year and to mark the occasion award-winning director Margy Kinmonth will be at a screening of her documentary Eric Ravilious – Drawn to War with an introduction and Q&A in the Corn Exchange at 7.30pm. The film is the true story of the under-valued British artist who acted as an official war artist in the Second World War. The programme and how to join the society are at

dorchesterfilmsociety.org.uk Please note that the conditions of the film hire mean that admissions are for members and their guests only – tickets cannot be purchased at the door.

Cllr Dr Kelvin Clayton of the West Dorset Green Party will speak at the first of a series of Leigh Talks! events.

Do you have concerns about climate change, water pollution, plastic waste, biodiversity? What actions are proposed by the different political parties and what are the implications?

Who would you vote for, to

make sure the of best progress on these issues?

Leigh Climate Group have invited the Green, Lib Dem, Labour and Conservative parties to a new series of talks at 7.45pm at Leigh Village Hall DT9 6HL (doors open 7.30pm). The second event is on Wednesday, February 21 at 7.45pm when Edward Morello of the West Dorset Liberal Democrat Party will speak.

Entrance £2. Bar. Dr Dave Aplin talks to Dorchester Horticultural Society at 7.30pm (see opposite page).

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Inquiry hears warning on other incinerator plans A witness at the Portland waste-toenergy inquiry claimed the success of the island’s incinerator may not be replicated elsewhere in the county.

Nick Roberts said proposals for two similar but smaller incinerators at Canford Magna and Parley were likely to be unsuccessful in tackling Dorset Council and BCP Council’s waste.

Mr Roberts said he doubts the proposed

incinerators would be built and that the waste policies of both councils were unworkable, leading to the area’s waste still going to other counties or countries for disposal or to landfill.

Mr Roberts said the the Powerfuel plant at Portland is a logical solution for dealing with the area’s waste by saving ‘waste miles’ helping to protect the South East Dorset Green Belt.

The consultant said the proposed incinerators for Canford Magna and Parley would not be sufficient to deal with the areas’ waste output.

In comparison, he said Portland has the advantage of offering land that can fit carbon capture technology – which is likely to be a legal requirement in the future – while Parley and Canford could not accommodate the equipment.

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Many couples are going for less traditional weddings these days – choosing a venue and ceremony tailored to them.

And West Dorset celebrant Tracie Williams loves helping them plan their special day.

One of her most recent ceremonies joined together two families as carers Mel and Carl from Weymouth married at The Springhead in Sutton Poyntz, in front of their five children.

Tracie said: “The couple decided they would like to write their own vows and I was asked to deliver their story of how they met, what they loved about each other and what they found irritating too, along with a couple of funny family stories which made the message very personal to them.

“There were various miniceremonies that the couple could choose from and they decided to go with the sand ceremony, which included each of the seven family members choosing their favourite colour sand and I

HAPPY DAYS: Mel and Carl at their wedding with their daughter and, below, Tracie Williams Pictures: Rob Webb Photography

bought a heart-shaped glass jar engraved with their names and wedding date and which each of them in turn poured their sand into, representing love, unity and blending together as a family. It was lovely that the children could all be involved in the ceremony and the jar and sand was for them to keep as a memory of their special day.”

Mel said: “Our special day could not have gone any better. Tracie was with us every step of the way leading up to the wedding and we had every confidence in her that it would be a brilliant day and it was. We had so much fun!”

Carl said: “If it wasn’t for Tracie I know I would have struggled to put my vows into words, even though I knew what I felt in my heart for Mel. Tracie calmly drew out of me what was needed so it still felt very much like it had come from me, and the whole occasion felt very personal to us.”

Contact Tracie on 07379 892487.

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

17

Giant’s large part in ancient history The Cerne Abbas giant may be a depiction of the Greek hero Hercules and could have served as a muster point for Saxon troops, according to new research.

Oxford University academics have discovered strong evidence to suggest the 60ft chalk drawing was carved into the hillside in AngloSaxon times.

Researchers also believe that other explanations of the giant’s origin were deliberate rewritings of history

by Cerne Abbas monks.

Following a National Trust investigation of the site in 2021, it was concluded the giant was built before 1066 but was not prehistoric.

Dr Helen Gittos and Dr Thomas Morcom of Oxford University have now concluded the giant was the perfect muster point for armies to gather and get supplies.

The academics say the land was owned by the King of Wessex when Vikings were attacking the area, during a time when there was strong interest in Hercules.

Dr Gittos, an associate professor in early medieval history, said that an army road known as a “herepath” led to Giant Hill, adding: “This hillside looks like a special kind of meeting place that we now recognise in the Anglo Saxon landscape.”

Cerne Abbey was founded towards the end of the 10th Century and the giant is also alluded to in an 11th Century manuscript held at the British Library. The document discusses local hermit, Saint Eadwold, planting his staff at the top of the hill. It is now believed the local monks tried to rebrand the naked giant as the saint to shore up their claims to the saint’s relics.

Dr Morcom, postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oslo, said: “Having a large, very obviously naked, pagan figure on your doorstep was an

GREECE IS THE WORD: The Cerne Giant at Cerne Abbas

inconvenient fact for the monks and they engaged in a piece of intellectual interpretation, associating him with their patron saint, Eadwold.”

Dr Gittos added: “What’s wonderful is that the story we have found is so much more interesting than it being a mystery.

“It tells us so much more about this place and these people and that, for me, is really exciting.”

The academics also point out that the first recorded encounter between an Anglo-Saxon and a Viking raiding party was at Portland, just

16 miles south of the giant.

They add: “Cutting a chalk figure of Hercules as fighting warrior, with club poised to strike, would have served as a fine rallying point, a backdrop for a call to arms, a sermon in chalk – and, perhaps, as something with which to keep a gathering army busy.”

Dr Morcom said: “I think we’ve found a compelling narrative that fits the giant into the local landscape and history better than ever before, changing him from an isolated mystery to an active participant in the local community and culture.”

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18

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

‘We’re in demand and doing our best,”

By Dan Goater dan@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Healthcare partnership managers have issued a response to critics who raised concerns about the service they provide at the Tollerford Practice in Maiden Newton.

The response comes after members of the public organised a public meeting, taking place in the village hall this month, to discuss the quality of the surgery’s service.

Speaking for Ammonite Healthcare Partnership, managing GP partner Dr Andy Finucane told The West Dorset Magazine: “We appreciate the opportunity to address the recent article highlighting concerns about services at

CONCERNS: Members of the public who are holding a meeting to address some of the issues at the Tollerford Practice in Maiden Newton

Ammonite Health Partnership. While we can’t delve into specific claims, we’ve actively engaged with (named individuals) to address their grievances, an ongoing issue that we take seriously.”

He continued: “Health

services often receive unfair negative criticism in the media and whilst we acknowledge dissatisfaction amongst a small number of registered patients, we ask your readers to understand our unwavering commitment to providing essential care

services to the local community.

“Regarding the Maiden Newton branch, we’ve provided assurances to the patient participation group that there are no intentions to close it.

“We are immensely proud of our dedicated,

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

say health chiefs professional, and hardworking team, and had Ammonite Health Partnership not stepped in to provide cover to the patients of Tollerford Practice in 2021, the situation would have been far worse.

“In October alone we responded to 5,488 patients seeking medical advice, the majority of whom were offered face to face appointments (58%) with a clinician.

“This is on top of 1,205 patients whose long-term health conditions (diabetes, heart disease, hypertension etc) were reviewed that month.”

Dr Finucane added: “As you can see from the above, the practice team are in huge demand.

“Coping with everincreasing demand for healthcare with a reduced number of GPs, both nationally and locally, is a challenge that we have risen to. Our team now includes advanced nurse practitioners who can diagnose and prescribe, visiting paramedics, a frailty team, pharmacists and more recently a physiotherapist.

“To manage these unprecedented levels of demand in an efficient and safe manner, we have set up an advanced triage hub, staffed by senior clinicians and a dedicated admin team who direct patients to the most appropriate service.

“This may include redirecting a small number of patients to minor injury or A&E if

appropriate. It also allows us to determine the level of urgency based on clinical need rather than patient demand.

“This ensures a fair and equitable service for all.

Many patients may notice that the old model of seeing a GP for all health-related matters has changed. We have had to innovate to the changing landscape, and we ask patients to ‘help us help you’ by providing us with clinical information to allow our triage hub to direct you to the most appropriate person on our team. Whilst we recognise that completing an eConsult may feel a bit ‘alien’ to some, it allows us to cope with high volumes in a safe and effective manner. It takes on average around three to four minutes to complete and frees up the phone lines for those patients who do not have online access.

“Health resources are finite, and our staff are working at maximum capacity.

“We would ask the community to support us in the difficult work we do and if they have genuine complaints to go through the proper channels which can be found on our website or by speaking to a member of the team.” n The public meeting organised by concerned patients to discuss the surgery will be held at Maiden Newton Village Hall at 1pm on Saturday, January 20. All welcome.

19

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20

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

A load of hard work but owners are

By Miranda Robertson miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk

A much-loved, historic village pub could reopen in April, more than a year after it was purchased by a couple of pub enthusiasts.

Tessa and Julian Blundy are in their late 60s and have a passion for pubs.

They took on the Bottle Inn in Marshwood last February, after it had been closed for four years and faced an uphill battle to refurbish and restore it after the previous owner had gutted it.

Plans to get the work done in a few months were hit by bad weather, but now they are expecting new windows to arrive this week, a new slate roof during January, thatch in

WORK IN PROGRESS: The derelict Bottle Inn at Marshwood

February and a flat roof in March.

Tessa said: “We can then complete the repairs inside and should be ready to open in April if all goes smoothly.”

Plans for the Grade 2 listed inn were recently approved

by Dorset Council,

including thatching, windows and doors, solar panels and the removal of chimney stack.

Tessa is a conservation architect and Julian a retired carpenter. Between them they have saved two other pubs from being turned into homes.

Their plan is once the pub is restored to make the function room available for village events and reestablish the shop.

Tessa previously told The West Dorset Magazine: “We would not open the Bottle as a gastropub – we are trying to retain an old

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

21

setting their sights on Bottle opener

A LOT TO DO: The function room and the gardens at the Bottle Inn

fashioned pub as a community hub.”

The Bottle Inn had looked so run down people feared it was lost forever.

When the Blundys bought it, everything was damaged – roofs, windows, walls, electrics, plumbing and drainage.

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And there was a huge amount of rubbish to remove.

The inn’s most recent claim to fame was holding the nettle eating contests each year. The contest is now held by Dorset Nectar Cider.

It has been an ale house

since 1585. By the late 19th century it had become the Bottle Inn, named because it was one of the first in the area to sell bottled beer.

The Bottle Inn was purchased as a free house from Ushers Brewery in 1982 by Michael and

Pauline Brookes. In 2014, they won CAMRA’s West Dorset pub of the year. It closed in 2020 and over the next three years fell into disrepair, with ‘urban explorers’ breaking in to film there for their YouTube channel on abandoned buildings.

Mrs Brookes had moved abroad and proved hard to contact, making it difficult for the Blundys to agree the sale, but they finally reached an agreement last February.

With all these obstacles now behind them, work to reopen the inn is now reinvigorated.

Tessa said once the renovations are complete they will be looking for someone to run it.

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

We’re so honoured: Dorset women Three Dorset women are among those being recognised for their charitable work in King Charles III’s first new year’s honours list.

NHS administrator Julie Fry from Dorchester, who founded a charity project to help Kenyan students, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM).

Bovington horse riding coach Stephanie A HUGE HONOUR: A BEM for Stephanie Buchanan Buchanan has also nominated for the home on their periods. received a BEM for her BEM for service to Mrs Fry began her charity work with young people, education and health in work in early 2017, while Traveller advocate Kenya.” joining 20 fellow Betty Smith-Billington Mrs Fry takes old fabric volunteers on a trip to has also received a BEM. Kenya arranged by the and converts it into Upon receiving her award, Weymouth-based Dorset sanitary products for Mrs Fry said: “It’s still Murungi Society. young Kenyan girls who unreal. I was surprised would otherwise miss time During her trip, Mrs Fry when I received the email became aware that young stating I had been at school while staying at

girls were not going to school during the weeks they had their periods because they lacked sanitary products.

Mrs Fry said: “This is an awful situation (with) girls missing a quarter of their education.

“However, in Kenya this is worse as all the children are fed a midday meal of maze, rice or beans. As this is a poor area, the girls do not attend school often and had no food at home, so missed a week of nutrition as well as education.”

When Mrs Fry returned to Kenya the following year, she had made bags of sanitary products to give to 64 girls.

She said: “The work I do

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

23

recognised for their charitable work takes old fabric and turns it into a life-changing item, enabling girls to reach their full potential, improving their lives and the futures.

“Their smiles brighten my life and encourage me to keep sewing.”

Mrs Fry’s husband, Cllr Les Fry, was awarded a BEM in June 2022 for 30 years of voluntary community work.

Horse riding coach Stephanie Buchanan, who works as yard manager and head riding coach at the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) Saddle Club Bovington, has been awarded a BEM recognising her work with young people.

She said: “It’s a huge

AWARD: Julie Fry and Betty Smith-Billington

honour and I was quite taken back when I heard the news – I’m just doing my job. I am fortunate that I am in a position to help so many young people by introducing them to the incredible horses and ponies we have here at the Saddle Club. I wouldn’t

have been able to do this without a great team of staff and liveries behind me many of whom volunteer hours of their time. But I must admit it hasn’t been easy.”

Stephanie began teaching at the RAC Saddle Club in 1990 and has helped train

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scores of young riders.

She has also raised more than £150,000 in funding to invest in new facilities at the club.”

Betty Smith-Billington, chair of Dorset traveller advocacy group Kushti Bok, said it is a “great honour” to be awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the Gypsy and Traveller community.

Working with the police and councils, Betty has worked to bring about a “better understanding” of the traveller way of life.

She said: “It’s really a great honour and feels so good to get recognised, but it’s also good for the Gypsy and Traveller community to be recognised. “

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

25

Council to raise tax ‘to protect services’ Ratepayers are bracing themselves for a five per cent hike in their council tax from April.

Dorset Council says it needs the cash to protect essential frontline services for residents.

It has published its initial proposals to deliver what it describes as a “balanced budget” for 2024-25.

The proposed budget for next year would allow the council to spend £376million on residents’ needs, representing an eight per cent increase in funding for essential services.

A council spokesperson said: “Around 60 per cent of the budget will support

vulnerable children, families, older people and those with disabilities. In total, Dorset Council provides around 450 different services to just under 380,000 residents, including adults and children’s social care, road maintenance, waste collection, housing support and libraries.”

The spokesperson continued: “This year’s budget setting exercise once more takes place against a national background of extreme pressures for councils. These pressures include the high level of inflation which affects the cost of delivering council services, and the continued growth in need for

social care services as a result of the ageing population.”

The council proposes increasing council tax next year by just under 3 per cent and to levy the adult social care precept of 2 per cent. The increase would be the equivalent to £1.82 extra per week for a Band D property, although other authorities like the police, fire service and parish councils are likely to hike their precept charges as well.

Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for finance, commercial and capital strategy Cllr Gary Suttle, pictured, said: “We have carefully developed

proposals to deliver a balanced budget, in a national context of significant financial challenge for councils. Our overriding aim is to protect the essential frontline council services on which local residents and businesses rely.

“Throughout the life of this administration, and in contrast with a number of councils across the country, we have set a balanced budget every year with no cuts to frontline services.”

Fayre raises £300 A care home’s Christmas fayre raised £300 for the Dorset County Hospital Charity.

Selwood House in Charlton Down opened in September – with luxury residential, dementia, and respite care services. Their fayre, featuring St Mary’s Charminster church choir, was enjoyed by scores of residents. Customer relations manager Ben Marsden said: “Witnessing our community come together at Selwood House for such an important cause has been heartwarming.” The grand raffle, featured a range of prizes generously provided by local businesses.

On a low income? £150 supermarket vouchers on offer Low income households can again access £150 supermarket vouchers in a scheme administered by Dorset Council.

Round 4 of the Household Support Fund (HSF) reopened for applications on January 3.

The government scheme funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, provides vouchers allocated by Citizens Advice. Vouchers will be issued to residents who meet the eligibility criteria within 6-8 weeks.

You can apply if you have: n An annual household net income of less than £30,000 and n Savings of less than £16,000 and n Not applied for a previous HSF payment within the last six months Calculations for the annual net income should not include Personal Independence Payments, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carers Allowance or Child Benefit. Applications are limited to one per household.

Residents should apply online at dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/ householdsupport-fund If you need help completing the form, you can call customer services on 01305 221000 or visit a customer access point.

For further information on all the support available, such as access to food, money and debt advice or support with your household bills, go to dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/cost-of-livinghelp

26

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

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Letters from the heart

Fund helps many

Dorchester Arts’ Group Theatre company performs A R Gurney’s Love Letters on Thursday, January 25.

It’s story of a 50-year correspondence between Melissa Gardner and her childhood-friend-turnedlove-interest, Andrew Makepeace Ladd III. In this Pulitzer Prize for Drama-nominated play by A R Gurney, Andrew and Melissa are childhood friends whose lifelong correspondence begins with birthday party thankyou notes and summer camp postcards. So begins a unique romantic friendship destined to last for almost half a century. Funny and tragic, this is a story about two people who, whilst

The Weymouth Mayor’s £1,563 Christmas fund for 2023 was split between four community groups and a young mum who is battling cancer.

The Lantern Trust, The Nest shop, Weymouth Food Bank and The Bus Shelter project each received £312.

Also receiving £312 was 22-year-old Ollie Isbel, who was diagnosed with cancer less than a year after giving birth to her daughter Harper.

Weymouth Mayor Cllr Kate Wheller said: “My sincere thanks go to all those who have donated and those who helped shake the donation buckets at various events to help me raise vital funds for this appeal.

“A range of community

physically separated, are brought together over shared confidences, nostalgic memories, missed opportunities, the hopes, dreams, defeats and disappointments that have passed between them, all of which leads to a deep closeness, as only true lovers can have.

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groups and organisations have been selected to benefit from the money raised including The Nest, The Lantern Trust, Weymouth Foodbank, and The Bus Shelter. I have also chosen a woman called Ollie to benefit as well, as her story in the local media touched my heart, and I wanted to do something to help her and her family at a difficult time.”

28

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Developers bid to ease fears

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The would-be developers of new homes north of Dorchester have promised that flooding will not affect the properties.

The comments from the consortium behind the proposed “Norchester” development come after the recent publication of aerial photographs showing flooded land north of Dorchester after the River Frome burst its banks.

The North Dorchester Consortium wants to build up to 3,500 homes in a proposed North Dorchester ‘garden community’.

Aerial photographs taken in early December showed meadows north of Dorchester submerged after a heavy downpour, including areas proposed for pedestrian access such

as the proposed Hardy Trail.

A North Dorchester Consortium spokesperson said: “We are not building homes on land that is at risk of flooding.”

The spokesperson said the development would

“preserve” areas defined as floodplains like the water meadows, adding that they support ‘substantial biodiversity and landscape benefits’.

Addressing the flooding of proposed pedestrian areas,

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

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of flood risk at homes site HOW IT COULD LOOK: An artist’s impression of the planned development

the spokesperson added: “The desire for access will need to give way to the historical function of the area, which is to hold flood water. However, alternative pedestrian routes through the development and into

Dorchester will be provided, which will be both safe and useable.

“We are yet to design the Hardy Trail in detail, but it is likely to include at least one section which allows for the passage of flood water underneath.”

The consortium claimed new roads in the development will allow for flood waters to pass beneath them but did not elaborate on how this would be accomplished.

According to the consortium, development areas will be ‘safe’ from flooding for the lifetime of the development while they continue to ‘seek opportunities’ to reduce the flood risk to the community.

The spokesperson added: “The flooding around Dorchester is part of a natural cycle and is well understood through both historical records and detailed flood risk modelling.

“The recent flooding is part of this natural process; the floodplain is performing its function to prevent flooding in other parts of the river catchment.

“We are not building in the floodplain, so will not interfere in its operation, other than to improve the capacity of the floodplain by creating more channels or storage as part of a sensitive restoration of the water meadows within the North Dorchester garden community.”

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Giant sea monster now on show after A giant sea monster – possibly the most powerful ever discovered – is now on display after being painstakingly dug out of the Jurassic coast over three weeks.

The pliosaur, which had 130 teeth and whose jaws were twice as powerful as a crocodile, was discovered by fossil enthusiast Phil Jacobs, 69, of West Bexington at Kimmeridge, after he found the front of its jaw on the beach.

He called in Dr Steve Etches, who runs a nearby exhibition of more than 2,000 specimens, amassed over three decades.

A massive operation saw Steve and his team slowly chip away around the skull, lodged halfway up the crumbling cliff, using air

AMAZING DISCOVERY: Dr Steve Etches with the skull of the pliosaur

tools and chisels while suspended on ropes.

Then local farmer, Rob Vearncombe, who does a spot of engineering in his spare time, arrived with a contraption he had devised to get the skull up and out

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with as little damage as possible.

Looking on for some of the operation was beloved veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenburgh, whose show on the pliosaur was aired on New Year’s Day

on BBC1.

The skull alone is almost 7ft long – and the rest of the pliosaur’s body is believed to be lodged in the cliff behind it.

The beast would have lived nearly 150 million years

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

31

150 million years New ruling will keep

dogs on leads in some areas to reduce issues

SEA MONSTER: A CGI of the 150 million year old pliosaur and, below, digging it out from the cliff

ago and its ridged teeth and powerful jaws enabled it to feed on large prey, disabling and killing in a flash.

Sensors peppered all over its face and a third eye, believed to have had a cornea, combined to make this pliosaur the ultimate killing machine.

Pliosaurs were up to 40 feet long, with four flippers enabling them to power through the water at 10km per hour.

Judyth Sassoon, a pliosaur expert at Bristol University, said it was very likely to be a new species.

The bones suggest the animal was still not fully

grown, giving rise to the idea that pliosaurs were much larger than previously thought.

Pliosaur bones found earlier suggest that there were larger pliosaurs.

However no skulls for these larger specimens have ever been found, which meant this discovery would enable scientists to find out much more about how the creature hunted. To find a skull with a complete set of teeth is also rare – and from one forming tooth they could see the beast could replace teeth. n Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster is on BBC iPlayer.

A dog-related Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) across the Dorset Council area came into force this month and will remain in place for three years.

The order replaces the previous dog-related PSPO. The reason for implementing a dog related PSPO on specific beaches and open spaces is to keep them free from dog fouling and safe to use by all.

The council says insisting that dogs are on leads in particular areas means that the owner has adequate control over the dog which

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The order follows an extensive consultation that gathered views from residents, visitors, businesses, and other organisations.

The survey ran for 10 weeks, and 4,221 responses were received. 80% of responses were from local residents, with 16.5% from visitors and 2.8% from other. 62% of responses came from dog owners.

9.5% of the respondents considered themselves having a disability.

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Something high-tech afoot

The Horse with the Red Umbrella cafe in High West St, Dorchester wishes all our customers a very happy new year

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Dorset may not have a reputation as a thriving hotbed of technological innovation but Artificial Intelligence (AI) is still set to touch every facet of life in the county – affecting everything from industry to the socks we wear.

While AI may still feel like the stuff of science fiction, it is already beginning to play a role in everyday life in West Dorset. Carers for people with dementia and autism could get support from socks which use advanced AI this year.

The so-called SmartSocks, created by firm Milbotix, alert carers when the wearer is in distress. The socks track heart rate, sweat, temperature and motion, to enable those caring for people to intervene before issues escalate.

The Dorset Integrated Care System is due to begin trialling the use of these socks at Dorset’s care homes this year.

County councillor Jane Somper said: “These Smart Socks can help enable people living with dementia or other conditions to retain their independence and have

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by CV with the details of two referees, one of which should be an employment referee. The closing date is Friday, January 19, 2024.

Milbotix founder Zeke Steer said he was inspired to make the product after his grandmother began showing signs of early onset dementia.

He said partnering with Dorset Council meant the company could “hear the expert voices of people providing and receiving care”.

He added: “We are committed to building a product that genuinely helps carers and improves wearers’ overall COSY AND WARM: Smart Socks can help people living wellbeing.”

Dorset Council has also with dementia retain their independence begun piloting AI technology created by firm better day-to-day quality of Lilli to monitor patients recently discharged from life.”

Bristol-based Milbotix, the hospital, to spot early signs of deterioration. start-up company behind A pilot scheme for the the product, said it wanted monitoring technology has to create wearable already been trialled by technology that was not complex, uncomfortable or five Dorset social care “stigmatising” for its users. teams, who collectively care for 100 people in their The machine washable homes. socks are paired with a It is hoped the technology smartphone app, which receives data from a sensor will enable people to live independently at home for embedded in one of the longer and delay entry to socks. residential care.

If the data showed the The system works though a wearer was in distress, an system of “machine alert would be issued to learning” analysing a range their care team.

PUBLIC NOTICE LICENSING ACT 2003 Notice is given that Sara Fernandes has applied to Dorset Council for a variation of a premises licence in respect of Corto Maltese, 2 Princes Street, Dorchester, DT1 1TP for regulated entertainment, provision of late night refreshment and the provision of alcohol (on/off) generally between the hours of Sunday to Wednesday – 10:00-01:00 and Thursday to Saturday – 10:00-03:00.

Any interested party or responsible authority may make representations by emailing: Licensing@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or writing to, Licensing, Dorset Council, County Hall, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ within 28 days from the date of this notice.

The licensing register and details of this application may be inspected by contacting the licensing Section during normal office hours. It is an offence under Section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003 to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application, the maximum fine on summary conviction for the offence is unlimited.

DATE: 05/01/2024

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

33

when socks can detect your wellbeing Purbeck Stone ‘could benefit from AI’ An investigation by the website dailyai.com into which jobs could be at the highest risk of automation and which demographic groups of people are at the highest risk of being replaced

by AI put the quarrying of Purbeck stone high on their list.

Website founder Luke Eales said: “In the case of Purbeck Stone, we’ve seen that automation is not just a potential means of cutting costs and reducing the workforce, but also a force for good in removing from harm’s way workers who would otherwise be running very of data from the wearer such as temperature and motion to determine an expected pattern of behaviour.

If the system later sees a change in the pattern, it could indicate a deterioration in health or wellbeing, prompting an

significant risks of fatal accidents.”

Researchers found waiters and waitresses have the highest risk of losing their role to automation, followed by shelf stackers and sales staff. The roles least at risk of automation were found to be medical practitioners.

The research showed workers in the 20 to 24 age bracket have the highest risk of seeing their role automated, followed by workers in the 35 to 39 bracket. Seven out of ten of the most at risk roles are currently held by women.

alert to be sent to care teams. The initial pilot found the technology could save up to 780 hours of occupational therapy time and £250,000 a year.

The trial was facilitated through the Independent Future Group (IFG), a coalition of local

authorities and professional care associations tasked with addressing the changing needs of care.

Formed by Lilli, the IFG is improving the quality of tech-enabled care to support the social care system.

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Nick Weston, chief commercial officer for Lilli, said: “We are thrilled with the initial success of this pilot with Dorset – an authority that understands how data-driven, smart technology can help providers make betterinformed, more effective decisions about patient needs and resource allocation, improving outcomes and saving lives.

“Using this technology, over-stretched health and social care providers can intervene earlier while monitoring at a distance, reducing the need for hospital admissions or residential care and lowering costs. Tech will not replace care by humans, but it will improve it.”

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Letting your holiday home has never been easier

CAN YOU DIG IT? The tomb of the Anglo-Saxon Prittlewell Prince

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Famous Sites in World Archaeology is the theme of a six-week course starting in Bridport in February.

Archaeologist Chris Tripp will take you on a journey around the world investigating some of the most astounding archaeological sites ever discovered, covering all the periods of human prehistory and into the early modern era.

What was The Man in the Ice doing walking in the Alps over 5,000 years

ago? What was the Amesbury Archer from Switzerland doing in Britain at the time of Stonehenge? What are the stories of the ordinary sailors who died on the Mary Rose?

The course will be held on Wednesdays from February 21, 2pm3.45pm at The United Church, Bridport DT6 3LT. £48 for all six lectures. n Contact: tripp.chris60 @gmail.com or call 07513 006432.

Ban on live animal exports moves closer with reading A ban on the export of live animals championed by West Dorset MP Chris Loder is a step closer.

The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill received its Second Reading. If passed, the Bill will put an end to the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening from Great Britain, ending

unnecessary stress, exhaustion, and injury on long journeys.

Mr Loder has persistently campaigned for a permanent ban on live exports for the past four years.

He said: “I will support this Bill’s passage through Parliament to make sure this practice is outlawed.”

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

35

Funding boost for homeless project An innovative and successful community which houses the homeless is set to grow after winning funding for five more units.

The Bus Shelter Dorset comprises 12 selfcontained pods – or ‘micro-flats’ – at the old Park & Ride site on the edge of Weymouth.

It has been markedly successful in helping people off the streets and getting them ready to live independently, providing help and support for a whole range of issues.

The micro-flats are small bedrooms with their own shower and loo in what look like shipping containers, set around a communal lounge and kitchen where the residents share food.

Last year they won planning permission for five more units and Dorset Council applied to the Single Homeless Accommodation Programme (SHAP) for the money to buy them.

The council also bid for cash to help homeless women with complex

EXPANDING: The Bus Shelter Dorset project at the Park & Ride site in Weymouth

issues, with a new unit dedicated to helping victims of abuse and women living in dangerous circumstances.

Both applications were successful, and now the authority says it can create one of very few womenonly emergency accommodation units in the UK, with the £1,062,223 awarded, plus £539,000 of its own funds.

Women make up around a third of the single homeless population, with

many in ‘hidden homeless’ situations, such as sofa surfing, staying in abusive relationships, or living in squats or crack houses.

There can be different reasons why women become homeless, and they may therefore require different support to help them rebuild their lives. A higher proportion of women than men will have had specific traumatic experiences that led to their homelessness such as domestic abuse

and perhaps having their children taken into care.

Consequently women who are homeless often have higher and more complex needs than men, including mental and physical health issues, substance use issues, offending histories and involvement in prostitution. n If anyone is concerned about a loved one who is homeless or is facing homelessness, please email housinghelp@ dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or call 01305 221000.

CLOTHING LETS have a party FINE IN BRIDPORT People came from as far apart as Bridport, Maiden Newton, Weymouth, Milborne St Andrew and Dorchester for a New Year’s party for the Dorchester and South Dorset LETS (Local Exchange Trading System).

The club, in which members trade goods and services without money, meet regularly through the year, bringing food to share and items to trade, using the local currency, the Mart. There was lots of clothing, jewellery and trinkets, books and utensils.

After the massive feast they divided into teams for a quiz. To find out more about LETS and join up, go to dorchester-lets.co.uk

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36

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Slimline Neil an inspiration

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By Miranda Robertson can’t outrun a bad diet. miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk “I joined Slimming World because I wanted “As a baby boomer my something structured and parents and grandparents easy to follow – I would used to shovel food recommend it. I down me at every followed their diet plan opportunity,” says Neil but also their body Tomlin, 62, from magic plan to increase Dorchester. activity and I intend to Neil, who is semikeep it up. retired, says memories of “I’ve done it for myself the food shortages of the – but my wife Jackie is Second World War also really pleased I’ve caused many families to done it.” over-feed their Neil started children. going to Consequently Slimming Neil was a World in June chubby child and reached and remained his initial overweight all target weight his adult life – by the end of until deciding LOOKING GOOD: October. He Neil Tomlin today, enough was said: “You and above, with wife enough and choose your Jackie before and, joining own ideal below, after, his Slimming weight-loss weight and World. what you In less than want to five months he achieve.” dropped threeNeil’s and-a-half consultant stone and now Sam said: he visits the “I’m super gym five proud of Neil. times a week “It’s wonderful having and even manages the him in group each week weekly three-mile – he is such an Parkrun. inspiration and so “I used to get breathless supportive of others.” climbing the stairs”, he said. “I had pain in my n Sam’s groups run hip and I snored. every Friday at 9.30am “Now the hip pain is and 11.30am, and every much better and I sleep Saturday at 8am and better too.”

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

You’re welcome to see how we care A new care home is throwing open its doors to the community on a regular basis after realising a need.

Selwood House was created in one of the historic buildings that formed the old Dorset County Asylum, which became Herrison Hospital, and is now the village of Charlton Down.

The old building has been converted to the highest standards, with a large extension to provide space for 78 residents, with a floor for dementia care.

Its many communal rooms include restaurants and sitting rooms, and even a small movie room, giving Selwood House the feel of a luxury hotel.

Customer relations manager Ben Marsden has been finding ways to

HIGHEST STANDARDS: Selwood House at Charlton Down

engage with the community, with monthly coffee mornings among the first offerings. Every first Wednesday people are

invited in for tea and cake from 10am-noon, and there are plans for special events year-round. Selwood House is also sponsoring

the local cricket club, among other things.

He said: “We realised there weren’t many regular community events in the area and we have tried to address that, as we have such lovely facilities here.

“People come in to visit and always say it’s like a hotel.”

On Saturday, January 20 from 10am-noon everyone is welcome for an open day, when you can look around the various rooms, such as the hair and beauty salon – hair and nail trimming is included in residents’ fees – and the sumptuous private dining room.

There will be further open days on February 17 and March 16.

To book a tour, call Ben on 07399 062712.

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

39

Care company reports a year of steady growth A company helping to care for people in their own homes and enable patients to leave hospital earlier is marking a year of growth.

Dorset Council’s local authority trading care company Care Dorset launched in 2022, first providing an extra 20 beds

to support Dorset NHS and help ensure people are free to leave hospitals as early as possible through a bedded reablement service.

Over the last year Care Dorset has grown its help and support to people in their own homes by 30%, meaning 3,425 hours of

care in 2023 compared with 2,400 in 2022.

Care Dorset also provides residential care, and we have seen improved occupancy levels from 76% at the point of transfer in October 2022, to more than 90% one year later.

Managing director Chris

Best said: “Our focus is on helping people to become, or remain, as independent as possible.

“That means delivering care in a range of settings, and working with the people we support to get them the best possible outcomes.”

In-demand foodbank grateful for support Dorchester Foodbank has thanked donors and helpers after being able to help more than 2,500 people in the last year.

The charity has running costs of just under £50,000 a year and has seen the need for its help rise as people struggle with the cost-of-living increases.

Of particular concern is an increasing number of people in full-time work coming to them for help.

Trustee Stuart Dawson said: “We have noticed an increase in the number of people who are having to visit a foodbank for the THANKS SO MUCH: Representatives of Highwood and the first time. A number of these are in full time work Watercress Company hand a cheque to some of the Dorchester Foodbank volunteers but are now struggling to make ends meet due to struggling due to agencies. increases in their other increased energy costs, Stuart said: “We try to get bills. vehicle costs, etc.” clients to engage with “An example recently was The foodbank currently organisations such as a single mum of three has 14 volunteers – Citizens Advice, children who was in tears. enough to cope with Christians Against She explained that she had demand. The volunteers Poverty, etc, so that they donated to foodbanks in are trained to be able to can access specialist the past but was currently signpost clients to other advice and support.

“The increase in energy costs, food prices, etc has resulted in pushing more people into food poverty and needing our help.”

People need to be referred to the foodbank, preferably by Citizens Advice.

The foodbank operates out of the Dorford Centre at the Top o’ Town from 10.30am-12.30pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Stuart added: “ Special thanks need to go to British Aerospace, Cerne Abbas Open Gardens, the Coca Cola Trust, Dorchester Round Table, Dorset Council, Highwood, Roberts Charitable Trust, Rock Choir and the Watercress Company.”

Anyone who is struggling with food poverty and lives in the DT1 or DT2 postcode areas can apply to Citizens Advice or Dorset Council for a referral to the foodbank.

Volunteers wanted to take healthier living in their stride Volunteers are needed to help lead health walks in the county.

Dorset Council’s health and activity team are looking for people with some time available on weekdays throughout the county.

Health walks last between 30 and 90

minutes, although most are an hour.

A council spokesperson said: “They are not just a great way to take regular exercise, but also to meet new people and enjoy social interaction with people in your community.

“We need leaders in all locations, so

wherever you live, there is an established walk near you. No experience is necessary, other than a willingness to get involved.”

Email dorsethealthwalks @dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or call 01425 480811.

40

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

TV drama reveals real-life trauma

By Miranda Robertson miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk

A new drama which aired on national television last week exposing the Post Office scandal that ruined hundreds of lives has a particular significance for Tracey Merritt – once postmistress at Yetminster and Chetnole.

Tracey, 56, had worked for the Post Office for six years when she was investigated for fraud – being locked in her office for nine hours while investigators tried to force her to admit stealing thousands of pounds.

That nightmare day followed weeks of grappling with inexplicable losses, some of which she tried desperately to cover with her own money.

Unknown to Tracey, hundreds of other Post Office staff were being accused up and down the country, after the faulty computer system, Horizon, caused thousands of accounting errors.

But instead of accepting their new software was faulty the Post Office prosecuted hundreds of postmasters and accused thousands more – 2,500 have since tried to claim compensation.

Four committed suicide over the way they were treated, and 61 have since died without receiving compensation.

POST HER OFF: Our cartoonist Lyndon Wall’s take on the story and, left, Toby Jones in the ITV drama

ITV last week screened a four-part series on the scandal, Mr Bates vs The

Post Office, focusing on campaigner Alan Bates, who has pushed for the inquiry currently being held.

Mr Bates was nominated for an OBE for his painstaking work for victims over two decades.

But he turned it down – on the basis that former Post Office chief Paula Vennells, who was in post while the Horizon scandal was happening, has refused to hand back her CBE. Tracey’s nightmare began

15 years ago, but she has yet to receive full compensation for the incident, which left her with numerous health conditions such as psoriasis, shingles, eczema and PTSD. A 46-page psychiatric report has been submitted, countless forms filled in, and her claim has been given a time limit of August this year, however Tracey has only received enough to cover a small portion of her legal fees as yet.

She said: “All of us were hard-working people trying to do the best for our community.

“But we were treated in the worst way.

“Now they are dragging their feet over this inquiry – Vennells hasn’t even returned to face the inquiry yet and it was meant to have all been over by October last year.”

Between 2000 and 2014, the Post Office prosecuted 736 employees – even though, Tracey claims, there is “evidence people at the top knew Horizon was going to cause major problems before it even started”.

Tracey has lost her career, her pension, her savings and her health. When it happened, she says her kids were targeted and they were abused in the street.

The accusation of fraud – despite the case never reaching court – stuck.

“I’ve just been ‘that woman who stole that money from Yetmister’,” she said.

The Post Office continued to say money was going missing from Tracey’s till

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

41

suffered in PO computer scandal

LEGAL BATTLE: Nigel Knight, the husband of Sue Knight, Jo Hamilton a claimant with a criminal conviction, Sue Knight, a claimant prosecuted for false accounting, Tracey Merritt, a claimant accused of theft, Jasvinder Barang, a claimant and former subpostmaster, Scott Darlington, a claimant with a criminal conviction and Karen Wilson, the widow of Julian Wilson, a former subpostmaster. Below: Tracey Merritt

even after the till had been closed down.

She added: “Afterwards, they tried to make out I was an isolated case, that I was the only one.”

Tracey now works for Sainsbury’s as well as running an ice cream van.

Sainsbury’s gave her the week off when the ITV drama was aired, recognising how harrowing it would be.

She said: “I could not get a job with those charges hanging over me for all those years.

“Even though they decided not to press charges they are washing around in the system and get flagged up if I apply for a job.

“I couldn’t get a mortgage, or a credit card.

“No one has any idea how bad it’s been.”

The Post Office are said to have spent £32million trying to prove the system

had not been faulty. They have further paid over £100million to lawyers.

Since a ruling proving the

system had indeed been faulty, the Post Office has paid out £17.5million to postmasters whose

convictions have been overturned. But many more are still fighting for compensation enough to pay for the financial and personal impact of the scandal.

Gareth Jenkins, who worked in IT for the Post Office and gave evidence in many of the trials over a ten-year period, is now facing criminal charges for perjury.

Tracey said: “Now people are watching the ITV series they are riled up and want Vennells’ CBE taken away.”

Tracey has been waiting nearly a year for the Post Office to release her files and tax records.

“They are playing the game to avoid paying,” she said.

Meanwhile the Post Office has offered derisory sums to many of the thousands of claimants.

Tracey said: “Anyone who received a prison sentence is meant to get a minimum of £600,000, but they have in many cases been offered 15% of that. No one has been offered 600k.

“A lot of people have chosen to stay out of this, but I think it’s important to keep people aware of it despite how it affects my own health, and so I’ve been up to the inquiry and spoken to people, including the Post Office CEO Nick Read.

“To be fair he did listen, and there was lots of sorry, sorry, sorry going on and I said sorry means nothing.

“All the Post Office staff at court say they can’t remember anything, but how likely is that? Just admit it.”

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

County’s housing strategy approved at meeting Dorset Council has approved its housing strategy for the next five years at a full council meeting.

An authority spokesperson said the strategy brings together ‘extensive’ research and analysis of the county’s housing issues.

Some 2,137 county residents gave their feedback to the strategy, which

will be supported by a delivery plan, after a ten-week public consultation.

Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for adult social care, health and housing Cllr Jane Somper said: “This is a positive and outward looking strategy which will be supported by strong delivery plan.

“Due to the complexities of housing,

we are encouraging open and frank debate and are listening to different approaches and views.

“The strategy has ignited cross-party debate as there is a desire from all members to support our vision of affordable, suitable, secure homes where our residents can live and thrive.”

RSPCA’s plea to nation of dog lovers

By Karen Bate

n Bouncy Bruno is just one of the many animals rescued and is currently living at the Ashley Heath Animal Centre in Dorset, and searching for a forever home.

Bruno is an old man but still has a spring in his step.

The 10-year-old boxer was neglected by his previous owner and was found with another dog, both were emaciated and needing veterinary treatment.

Bruno has since recovered and is seeking a retirement home in an adult-only household. Bruno can be reserved when meeting new people and likes people to be patient in waiting for him to initiate contact.

If you would like more information about Bruno or any of the hundreds of animals needing loving homes, visit: rspca.org.uk/findapet

karen@westdorsetmag.co.uk

The RSPCA is appealing to dog lovers across Dorset to support its winter campaign in the wake of the worst year for neglect and abandonment cases since 2019.

In Dorset, the charity received 537 reports about neglected animals in the first 10 months of this year. Nationally, the emergency line received 43,360 reports of neglect.

Dermot Murphy, RSPCA inspectorate commissioner, said: “Thousands of animals’ lives are hanging in the balance this winter with animal neglect reports a real cause for concern – including in Dorset.

“Across England and Wales, our emergency line is getting a call about a neglected animal every 288 seconds. Combine those levels of neglect

with rising abandonments, the cost of living crisis, and the cold weather this winter, and we fear this could be a very bleak time for animals.

“But there is hope. Our frontline officers work tirelessly to bring neglected animals to

safety – and it’s the kindhearted public who power these rescue efforts.

“This winter, our rescue teams are set to be very busy trying to help and reach so many neglected animals – which is why we need animal lovers to support our winter

campaign now more than ever, and donate to help us be there for neglected animals in their time of need.”

If you would like to keep the emergency line fully operational, donate at rspca.org.uk or call 0300 123 0346.

Safety work set to start on road between car parks Work was due to begin at Fairfield Road in Dorchester this month, to improve safety and accessibility.

The road is part of Fairfield car park, running from Weymouth Avenue to Maumbury Road, and is regularly used by pedestrians despite having no footpaths.

Dorset Council said parked cars often

block visibility on the route, which carries two-way traffic.

The route serves the car park and many people use it to access Brewery Square. The road also forms part of the signed pedestrian route between Dorchester West and Dorchester South railway stations.

The improvement works involve

creating a wide footway along the length of the road, providing safe crossing points and creating new access into the car park from Copper Street.

Signs will be erected in advance of the works to notify drivers. The work is due to be finished by Friday, February 16.

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

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We do things differently at St Jude’s Live-in care is less well known than the traditional residential home route, when people need extra help day to day in later life.

But live-in care could not only help you stay in your own home for years longer, but it could also save you money.

Ben Andrews, has been running Dorchester and Weymouth-based St Jude’s Care with his mother Sally, since 2009, offering highlyrated care at home across the south of England.

Ben, a former lawyer, and Sally, a nurse, wanted to provide a nurse-led service to people who wanted to stay in their own homes where there was continuity of care, with high standards and low staff turnover.

Fifteen years later, the firm has expanded significantly, and offers domiciliary services throughout Dorset and live-in care across the south of England.

Ben said: “People still don’t seem to know about live-in care, but it’s what I would choose for myself, or for my parents. The majority of people would prefer to stay in their own homes.

“Studies have shown that many people forced to move out of their homes in later life and have died sooner than expected. Most people want to remain where they are, with all their home comforts around them.

“What we offer is a high standard of care, with continuity – you won’t have a different carer each week, and if you do ever have a new carer they are properly introduced – they don’t just turn up with a lanyard.”

The average weekly cost of

someone to be waiting around for a carer, then someone turns up who they’ve never met – particularly when intimate care is required.”

Ben’s high standards extend to other arms of the business, and to other businesses he’s involved in.

St Jude’s also has a catering arm – none of your usual ‘meals on wheels’ fare, but delicious, locally-sourced ingredients, served up hot, on a plate.

Good food is one of the things Ben is passionate about – the catering arm of St Jude’s offers freshly cooked meals delivered to your door on china plates.

He said: “It’s all about quality and customer satisfaction for us. No more waiting for the microwave ping, no more dangerously hot bowls of bland soup, at St Jude's we do things differently.”

THE HIGHEST STANDARDS: St Jude’s offers live-in care and hot meals across the south. Below right, Ben Andrews

live-in care with St Jude’s, is comparable to a care home for an individual and significantly cheaper than a care home for a couple, which can be a substantial saving on care home costs.

While you are still living there, your home cannot be counted towards your savings in calculations for state contributions towards your care.

Ben said: “St Jude’s is a nurse-led service, not a nursing agency, and that makes a difference to the care we provide. We have refused

to lower our standards to save money and consequently we have a great reputation – it’s the sort of care we would choose for ourselves.

“For example, for clients having home care, we always provide actual times when we are going to arrive – we don’t just say we will be there sometime in the morning, or sometime in the afternoon. I think it can be degrading for

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

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MP slates rural broadband firm Plans to mothball conventional copper telephone lines in favour of VOIP digital phone lines have been paused after concerns were raised over broadband ‘notspots’ in rural areas.

West Dorset MP Chris Loder says he feared people would be cut off in parts of his constituency.

He outlined to Government how many rural residents still live in broadband ‘notspots’, despite local broadband providers promising to deliver to those areas.

Mr Loder said: “Rural residents deserve fairness when it comes to accessing reliable, high-speed broadband. But the reality is that, in the great connectivity race, some of our local broadband providers – such as All Points Fibre (formerly Jurassic Fibre) – are willing to neglect the interests of their customers and not complete a

contract.”

He added: “Residents living in broadband ‘notspots’, such as Stoke Abbott or the Bride Valley, have the worst 10% connectivity in the country.

“What’s more, these residents faced being migrated to Voice over Internet Protocol – or ‘digital voice’ services - as copper cabling is retired.”

Mr Loder added: “I’m pleased that, following my intervention, the Minister has announced an immediate pause in the process of migrating customers to ‘digital voice’ services to ensure that the most vulnerable customers, including those in rural areas, are protected.

“But I’ll continue to push for broadband providers to deliver on their promises, and if they do not, to be properly investigated and disciplined.”

All Points Fibre were asked for a comment but failed to respond.

History Centre shut for work

Dorset History Centre (DHC) will be closed from January 15 to 29 while staff carry out essential work to make accessing collections easier. The

DHC archive service collects, preserves, and provide access to physical and digital archives for the county. Visit dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/ dorset-history-centre

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Our Renaissance Man: How Lyndon

By Karen Bate karen@westdorsetmag.co.uk

A few days before Christmas, my esteemed editor Miranda and I had the pleasure of a very leisurely lunch at the home of our illustrious cartoonist Lyndon Wall, who has been toting the WDM pencil since we launched two years ago.

We felt it was about time we celebrated the work of this prolific and multiaward-winning cartoonist, whose illustrations and satirical world view on our front cover have captured the hearts of those in West Dorset and throughout the country.

Just a handful of months after we launched in 2022, Lyndon produced ‘The Borrowers’, a spirited slant on the political landscape at the time, featuring Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng, with Sir Keir Starmer depicted as a ‘Borrower’ under the floorboards.

This piece of genius appeared on our letters page and caused quite a stir in Parliament, propelling the WDM to be shortlisted for the national Political Cartoon of the Year award.

Lyndon won The Tenniel Cup, beating the likes of The

POLITICAL COMMENT: Lyndon Wall’s The Borrowers

Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian and Private Eye. He received his award from Jacob Rees Mogg at a ceremony in London.

It isn’t just the WDM for whom Lyndon cartoons.

His work has appeared in The Dorset Year Book and Dorset Life, and he is besieged with commissions. As an avid pipe smoker, he has cartooned for the Pipe Club of London and, as a classic car owner – he brims with hilarious stories of his Riley adventures – for the Riley RM Magazine.

His long-awaited book, Upsydown: Cartoons of Dorset Life, is set to be published in May. Born into a creative family in Taplow, near Windsor,

Lyndon has had art as his life-force since he first held a pencil. His father, an exceptional studio potter, inspired and encouraged him, and instilled technical skill in this huge talent with a sensitive soul.

Lyndon said: “My father instructed me in the art of painting and drawing from an early age. He had a very critical eye yet was encouraging. He taught me observation of form, composition, light and shadow together with the judicious use of colour. All these facets were taught along with the discipline of endless practice.

“I had always geared up for an art career. Art was my passion. When my sister and I were teenagers we both drew greetings cards, and we even had an

agent. However, it soon became clear he was bringing in an awful lot of money from our work – far more than we were being given. Our father soon put a stop to it.”

Lyndon laughed: “He was quite dodgy really.”

A highlight for Lyndon was the thrill of coming runner-up in a Blue Peter art competition, with more than 26,000 entrants, especially when the muchcoveted Blue Peter Badge arrived through the post.

Lyndon laughed: “The question was ‘What is the sea you would like to see?’ but I somehow misinterpreted it and drew lots of things, such as junk and cans at the bottom of the ocean. I won for drawing the exact opposite of what the judges wanted!”

At school, Lyndon at first excelled. “I had a fantastic art teacher who would allow me to sit at the back of the classroom to work on my own pieces and develop my own style, with a gentle nod to the curriculum. I really believed a career in art would follow.”

But hopes of an art career were dashed when a new teacher was employed and ripped Lyndon’s art to shreds, smothering his work with spiky redpenned criticism.

“My father liked to keep my work and was so incensed that this teacher ruined my art with her red pen that he even came to the school to have a meeting.”

Unfortunately, her scathing remarks and harsh words

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

49

was drawn to a life of art and music over Lyndon’s work were crushing and slowly destroyed what confidence he had left to the point Lyndon no longer wanted to study art at all.

“This teacher put the mockers on my art career and underpinned two years of hell. Fortunately, I had a wonderful music teacher who encouraged me greatly and my confidence grew. I eventually went to music college in London and pursued a career in music, teaching at independent schools across the country. But I never stopped drawing; art of course never stops.”

Lyndon took up the bagpipes some three decades ago, playing in a pipe band and as a solo piper. His home with its great, thick walls withstands the noise and means he disturbs no one in the wee small hours when he practices.

Lyndon is father to four children, and brims with pride over their achievements. Tragically, when the children were little, his first wife Stella was diagnosed with an exceptionally rare disease, and died soon after her diagnosis.

Lyndon was left to bring up his children, all under the age of seven, alone.

Little Sam, the youngest, was just 18 months old.

Shortly after Stella died, he applied for a job at a convent school in Surrey.

“It was crisis time,” said Lyndon. “When the nuns received my letter, they assumed I was female and invited me in for an interview. I didn’t

PEN TO PAPER: Lyndon’s cartoons of the Coronation, Miranda and Karen of the WDM and, below, expanding into Weymouth and Portland

enlighten them, as I really needed the position. I also desperately needed someone to look after my second youngest son, Arthur, so I could work.

“They were shocked when I arrived for the meeting, but interviewed me nonetheless, and I even got the position of Head of Music.

“I was the first man who had ever taught in the convent.

“What was even more

remarkable was that they suggested my little waif Arthur (aged five) attended the school free of charge while I was teaching. They were terribly kind.”

A decade after losing Stella, Lyndon found love once more and will be celebrating 13 years of marriage to Cathy in April.

He said: “I really didn’t think I would ever meet anyone again as a single father with four young children.

“I mean, who would want me?”

Cathy said: “Lyndon is a keeper. He is a wonderful person, exceptionally kind with the biggest of hearts.

“And he is a man of many talents. When he was 14 years old the manager of QPR came to his home with contract in hand, wanting to sign him up to the team.

“Our friend calls him Renaissance Man, because he excels in everything he does.”

For many decades, Lyndon has thought of himself as a musician who cartoons.

Following redundancy, he feels privileged to be able to embrace his greatest passion – art – while keeping up with his musical commitments.

“I split my time between teaching privately and cartooning,” he said. “I take my notebook everywhere I go and there are certain places I go which are full of fascinating characters. I often sit chuckling away behind my sketchbook.”

We cannot thank Lyndon enough for our eyecatching, amusing and quirky front covers he produces month after month. n Lyndon’s book Upsydown, Cartoons of Dorset Life will be published by Amberley Publishing in May and available from all good local bookshops and online at the publisher’s website, at Amazon and other retailers.

More of Lyndon’s work can be found at justsocaricatures.co.uk

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Safer bus stop for children at new development

West Dorset MP Chris Loder has helped to secure a new safer bus stop for schoolchildren at a recentlycompleted housing development in Drimpton.

Previously, students had to walk

along a non-pavemented path to the nearest bus stop from the new homes at Northcombe Lea. Mr Loder said: “Following my intervention with Dorset Council, I’m glad that a new bus stop has been

implemented for schoolchildren at the Northcombe Lea development.

This is a success for those parents of schoolchildren who beforehand were expected to walk a fair distance to get to their bus stop.”

Pride of Lions as new members are welcomed Bridport Lions Club has welcomed four new members – Jaycob James, Mandy Pearson, Emma Cormack and Jo Dorman.

All four were sponsored by Lion Lucy Paull and were inducted by President Clive Greenaway.

Anyone interested in finding out

more about the Lions and the work they do can contact Clive on 07745 023841 or email clivegreenaway02@gmail.com

Chance to land a grant for your business The Dorset Council UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund grants for both community groups and organisations, together with local business grants, are now open for applications.

Community groups and organisations can apply for grants between £1,000 and £15,000, while local business grant awards are from £2,000 to £20,000 per business.

Dorset Council has been allocated just over £6 million via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) for use within the county, with funds available until

completion in March 2025.

The scheme is a central pillar of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK by investing in communities and places, supporting local businesses, people and skills.

The council is keen to provide support for grassroots community-led development, supporting local groups to lead on what their community needs and wants.

Groups or organisations are required to provide at least 10% match funding (cash or in-kind match funding is acceptable).

Businesses can apply for grants towards digital technology and innovation, research and development, business growth and exports, such as new equipment, software development and implementation, adaptations, automation and robotics.

Grants will be made to facilitate growth, promote innovation and increase productivity, and to facilitate and support businesses that either wish

to start exporting or are already doing so.

Businesses must provide 100% match funding in cash. Round 1 of both the UKSPF and REPF will close on Wednesday, January 31.

The grants will be assessed by a panel made up of councillors, Dorset Council officers and independent reviewers.

The grants panel will meet every three weeks, with the first panel meeting planned for early January 2024.

For further details on the scheme, please visit the Shared Prosperity Fund pages on the Dorset Council website.

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Game on for big farmland bird count Farmers, rangers and game and forest keepers are urged to join in the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust’s (GWCT) 2024 Big Farmland Bird Count.

The annual count, sponsored by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), aims to create a snapshot of bird populations nationwide while raising awareness of the important roles farmers and land managers play in their conservation.

GWCT chief Dr Roger Draycott warned there has been a 63% decline in farmland birds since 1970 and that they “desperately need our help”.

“With 72% of the UK’s land area used for agriculture, the key to increasing biodiversity and reversing the decline in

FEATHERED FRIENDS: Keeping a count of birds

wildlife is held by those looking after this land,” he said.

“To figure out how to do this, it is important to have information from long term initiatives such as the Big Farmland Bird Count.

The count is the first UKwide citizen science project to involve land managers in monitoring the state of farmland birds.

NFU president Minette Batters said: “Alongside producing quality, climatefriendly food, our farmers and growers are the custodians of the great British countryside and work hard to boost biodiversity, create habitats for wildlife and provide additional feeding for farmland birds.

“During last year’s count, 149 species were recorded, including 33 species from the Red List for Birds of Conservation Concern.

“I would encourage as many farmers and growers as possible to participate in the 2024 count, record how many farmland bird species you spot on farm and, importantly, submit your results to GWCT. This is always absolutely crucial in pulling together a vital

national snapshot of the state of nation when it comes to our farmland birds.”

GWCT chief executive Teresa Dent added: “You can really make a difference by taking part and helping us to understand how our farmland birds are faring.”

“By spending just half an hour in one spot on your shoot or farm, counting the birds you see and submitting your results to the GWCT, the results help us build a national picture of which species are benefiting from conservation efforts, and which are most in need of help.”

To join the bird count from February 2 to 18 visit bfbc.org.uk and download a bird guide.

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Riders net £87,000 for historic churches fund Horse riders, cyclists and walkers raised £87,000 the rural way for churches across 130 parishes in Dorset.

Dorset Historic Churches Trust will be making grants thanks to money raised from the annual Ride and Stride for restoration work on the county’s beautiful and historic church buildings, without which they could be at risk of disrepair.

Hon Sec of the Trust Jeremy Selfe said: “This year the Trust has made 11 grant awards, totalling £101,000.

“Churches aided covered a wide area of the county from St Nicholas, Silton in the north to St Michael and St George Roman Catholic church Lyme Regis in the southwest and St Nicholas, Chaldon Herring in the south.

“We are very grateful to the hundreds of people who gave their time and energy to make this

SADDLE DO NICELY: Some of the horse and bike riders who took part in Ride and Stride

possible.”

Hundreds of walkers, cyclist and horse riders travelled from church to church collecting sponsorship for their efforts. The winner of the Morshead Trophy, in memory of the trust’s distinguished founder, will be announced in the next few weeks.

The trust is one of the most important conservation charities in

the county. Its aim is to help support those responsible for looking after Dorset’s churches – often found in small, rural communities. In many cases local people bear the full responsibility for repair, maintenance and security of their church, without support from the government or the central church.

Of the 400 churches in Dorset, 45 are listed Grade

I, the highest quality ancient buildings, and over 100 are listed Grade II*, meaning they are of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them. Dorset Historic Churches Trust is a non-denominational organisation dedicated to helping with this work to repair and maintain the county’s heritage. n Ride+Stride is planned for September 14, 2024.

Have a say on walk and bike routes Dorset residents are being asked for their thoughts on which walking and cycling routes are important to them and what needs changing to help them get more active.

Dorset Council wants to make it easier for more people to gain the benefit of active travel, whether walking, cycling, or wheeling (using a wheelchair, mobility scooter or similar aid).

The council is running a short survey to find out what routes are important to people and what

prevents residents from walking, cycling or wheeling in their area.

Opinions will help to form an Active Travel Infrastructure Plan.

The council is initially seeking views on a network of routes in eastern and southern Dorset, which are the most densely populated parts of the council area.

Future plans will look at links in more parts of Dorset too, so the council is keen to hear about other locations they would like to see improved.

Many residents don’t have the choice of a car: across Dorset, over 23,000 households – one in seven – don’t have access to a car according to the 2021 Census.

Cllr Ray Bryan said: “Residents without a vehicle are often users of wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Uneven, narrow pavements and missing crossings can prevent them from moving safely around their area, limiting their independence, with resulting impacts on their health and happiness.

“Being able to walk, wheel and cycle more easily can reduce air pollution and improve our own mental and physical health and wellbeing, even in small doses.” n Access the survey at consultation.dorsetcouncil. gov.uk To request a survey in an alternative format or a paper copy, email activetravel@dorsetcouncil .gov.uk or call 01305 221883.

The survey will be open until January 18.

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

53

Long and short term care for the elderly HIRING LOVELY CARERS FOR OUR RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME: Come and join our friendly team l Full / part-time hours, nights and days l Free uniform, PPE and DBS check Contact Lisa to have a chat on 01305 786568 or email lisa@primroselodge-weymouth.co.uk Primrose Lodge – Dorchester Road, Weymouth primroselodge-weymouth.co.uk

THANK YOU: Chairman of the lodge David Craddock with Judith Hanson and Helen Smith

Masons’ £450 handover A coffee morning held by the Beaminster Masonic Lodge raised £300 for Beaminster Food Bank and £150 for the Baby and Toddler Group.

Lodge chairman David Craddock presented Helen Smith from Beaminster Food Bank the cheque which helped buy much-needed Christmas hampers.

Mr Craddock also gave a cheque to Judith Hanson

from the baby and toddler group for story books, games, and a new soft play mat.

The event formed part of the Mason’s reaching out and engaging with the local community programme.

People attending were given a guided tour of the premises and an insight to the charitable work carried out by Lodge members.

Get in shape & meet friends with a good healthy stroll Health Walks, the sociable keep-fit initiative launched from doctors’ surgeries across the county, have been a runaway success.

The scheme helps people foster a weekly exercise routine while getting plenty of fresh air and meeting new people.

Walkers can just turn up at any walk. Health Walks run every other Tuesday from these venues: n Pound Piece Surgery in Maiden Newton at 11am. nCattistock by The Village Stores at 11am.

nTunnel Road Surgery, Beaminster at 11.30am And every third Wednesday of the month from: nBeaminster Museum, at 11.30am.

Health walks are volunteer led and rely on a team of dedicated leaders.

If you have an interest in walking, are keen to help others and would like to become a trained walk leader then contact Barbara Evans on 07810 153012 or barbara_evans@hotmail. co.uk

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

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

VIRTUAL LESSON: Pupils at St George’s and Atlantic Academy enjoy the 5G class

5G classroom a smash hit with pupils Children on Portland were transported back to the Jurassic age, dived to the depths of the oceans, cast spells with a friendly dragon and even experienced four seasons in one day, thanks to the UK’s first ever 5G immersive classroom.

Dorset Council joined forces with BT to help bring this next generation in learning experience to St George’s Primary School and Atlantic Academy. The BT immersive classroom is a

360-degree portable space that creates a digital projection on the walls and floor. Students can experience what it’s like to be in outer space, on a First World War battlefield or even on top

of Everest.

St George’s deputy head Michael Coombs said: “The children had an amazing day. They loved the whole experience, including interactive quizzes, stunning visuals,

fun games and tours of the past, our world and beyond. The children loved the added creativity, freedom and independence in their learning. Everyone left the space buzzing and wanting to experience more.”

Cerys Nelson from BT said: ““It was fantastic to see the enthusiasm to learn as we took them to the Great Fire of London, a WW1 trench and through the planets in our Solar System.”

Village to have post box returned after complaints A new post box is to be installed in Bradford Abbas after residents complained of being cut off by the Royal Mail.

The old post office in the village, which had been in use for nearly 130 years, is now a private home and its owners wanted the historic George V post box decommissioned.

Royal Mail put the box – once one of two in the village – out of action, but failed to replace it after being refused planning permission, meaning a long trek for the village’s 1,000 residents to post a letter.

West Dorset MP Chris Loder wrote to Royal Mail demanding the decision be reversed. Now a replacement post

box is to be installed close to the war memorial in the next three to four months.

Mr Loder said: “I have been advised that postmen delivering to addresses in the Bradford Abbas area are more than happy to collect mail bearing the appropriate postage directly from residents.”

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Charity welcomes £45,000 CIN grant A Bridport-based charity which directly helps more than 100 autistic children and young people in the west of Dorset has won a three-year grant of £45,000 from BBC Children in Need, enabling it to extend its reach to families in Weymouth and Portland.

ASCape was established in 2018 by a group of parents frustrated by a lack of provision and support for their children.

The need for its support was quickly established and it currently involves around 600 people.

As well as monthly youth clubs for pre-teens and teens, an over-18s social group and a parents and carers group, ASCape runs family activity afternoons for children aged four-14.

HELPING HANDS: ASCape supports autistic children and their families in the west of Dorset

The activities are calming and tailored to the children’s sensory needs and include pond dipping, animal feeding and handling, swimming, tenpin bowling, bouldering, fossiling, rafting, canoeing and treasure hunting. The charity also regularly offers gardening, art and musicbased clubs after school and in the holidays.

Wellbeing afternoons

support parents and carers, helping them relax and regroup in a supportive environment.

ASCape co-director Bekkie Webb said: “Winning the Children in Need award is a lifeline for ASCape and a great vote of confidence in what we are doing.

“ASCape is run almost entirely by the parents of autistic children and young people. We are a small but

mighty charity providing life-changing support to more and more families on a tiny budget and we rely heavily on our amazing volunteers.

“Anyone who’s interested in volunteering with ASCape can find out more about us and get in touch via our website. We are in great need of volunteers, whether you can offer just a little time or a more regular commitment.

“We are also looking for venues and activity providers who would be keen to work with us to help us expand our activities in Weymouth and Portland. If you think you can help, please get in touch.”

Go to ascape.club or find them on Facebook

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Youth club’s successful fundraiser

By Miranda Robertson miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Activities for young people have dwindled everywhere since councils cut their funding.

But in Beaminster, a group of staff and volunteers have maintained and grown their facilities, recognising it’s not just about a game of pool once a week but involves so much more.

Feeding kids who haven’t eaten that day, for whom there’s no food at home.

Supporting their mental health and the mental health of adults too.

Looking out for young people in the area is a multi-faceted job – but one that Prout Bridge Project director Paula Tuff embraces wholeheartedly.

Paula has been a youth worker for well over 30 years and was appalled when the Government decided to decommission all youth services in 2016.

Thousands of qualified youth workers were cast aside, youth clubs closed and a whole generation of children were left without somewhere local to go for social interaction.

Luckily, a saviour appeared in councillor Gil Streets.

Paula said: “Gill came to me and said, we have got to keep youth work alive in Beaminster.

“We set up a charity and Dorset Council gave us money to keep a youth club going here two days a week – we called it the Phoenix Youth Club.”

GETTING IN TUNE: The Phoenix Youth Club band and, below, working in the food bank and, right, the Create Cafe. Inset: Cllr Gill Street.

In 2018 the Phoenix became the Prout Bridge Project, so Paula’s team could support other projects. They were given a tenancy for the building – a former police

station, which once had its own court rooms – at a peppercorn rent and set about encouraging other groups to use the space.

Currently a range of different organisations are housed there, such as the food bank and a clothes bank, and a mums and toddlers group. Health visitors and midwives also use space there, and there are classes for kickboxing and dance fit.

Paula said: “We have three very active youth clubs,

the Phoenix band and we run an outreach service and a busy mental health support service.

“The youth clubs and services for young people are all grant funded – there’s no council funding apart from grants we apply for.

“There’s a real funding gap at the moment.”

Paula and her team launched a crowd funder to bridge the gap, which ended just before Christmas. It was tough

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

57

shows the community’s appreciation

ON THE ROAD: Making good use of Gilbert the van and, above, youngsters enjoy table football at the junor club and, right, the club back in 2000

going – they had to raise £20,000 in order to secure other funding of £5,000 from Sport England. But they did it, thanks to the community pulling together.

She said: “We need between £110,000 and £120,000 a year to keep going, which is a lot of money. I’m incredibly humbled by the amount of money coming in – the amount of support from the community has been fantastic.

“We could really do with a few regular donors.”

Many of the staff are exmembers who volunteer, having benefitted from the club themselves.

Paula said: “It’s so hard with public transport – you can’t get anywhere from Beaminster any more and the only other activity for young people is the scouts and cubs.

“We’ve seen mental health referrals grow exponentially – we’re tackling real isolation.

People drive through and see this lovely town but hidden in that town is real isolation and quite a few big pockets of poverty which people don’t see.

It’s dire – people are really lonely.”

The charity has an outreach bus called Gilbert after the late Gil Streets, which toured the villages during the pandemic.

Since covid, they have seen youth club number grow as youngsters were fed up of being stuck at

home.

One of the Prout Bridge Project’s most popular events is Café Create, which started in September. Adults go in and have a chat and take part in art and crafts.

They make items for the PottersHeart charity to take over to Africa – bags for storage and washable sanitary towels.

There have been many changes in the three decades Paula has been a youth worker.

She said: “When I started youth work in the 80s there was a huge alcohol and drugs issue, but we don’t have that any more.

“Kids have different issues now. We have a clothes bank and we offer hot food free of charge on a Friday night to the kids, paid for by the church – that costs about £30 a week.” n The charity has broken its costs down in the hope they can find donors to support chunks of their work: n To provide hot food at senior club for one year: £1,500 n To provide weekly junior club sessions for a term: £1,700 n To provide weekly senior club sessions for a term: £1,700 n To provide a term of Phoenix band sessions: £600 n To provide six one-toone mental health sessions: £300 n To make a donation contact Paula on 07503 091932. n proutbridgeproject.com

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024 THIS month ALVIN HOPPER takes us through the vital contributions made to the war effort by HMS Anson. Based out of Portland port, the ship regularly made ‘the worst journey in the world’ through Nazi infested waters from Iceland to Russia on the infamous Kola armament runs

HMS Anson, flagship of the Portland based Battleship Training Squadron, had an active Second World War career.

Commissioned in June 1942, she was, along with her sister ships (HMS King George V, Duke of York and Howe) allotted convoy duties, as distant cover for merchant ships using the Kola Run through the Arctic.

Departing from Havelfjord in Iceland and running to Murmansk in Russia, this was a necessary operation along with other warships, as protection in case the KM Tirpitz attempted to attack this vital arms supply route.

Tirpitz was berthed in Alton Fjord in Northern Norway. She was in fact the powerful sister ship of the battleship Bismarck.

As long as Tirpitz was a threat, convoys had to be well protected. Britain’s Royal Navy was also joined by some heavy units of the US Navy, as by 1942, America was at war not only with Japan, but also with Germany.

Anson made many Kola runs during that year.

The winter ones were the worst, with high seas, ice packs and temperatures well below zero. The ship’s company were kept busy clearing ice from the ship.

First degree of action readiness had to be maintained. The main armament guns were continually getting caked with ice and it had to be

KEY IMSSION: HMS Anson in 1942 in admiralty intermediate pattern camouflage and, below, at Weh-hi-Wei in Hong Kong in 1945

Risking the Kola Run, the worst journey in the world

chipped away daily. Ice formations on smaller vessels could cause the little ships to become topheavy.

Thus, they rolled dangerously close to capsizing. Winston Churchill quite rightly named the convoys to Russia routes “the worst journey in the world”.

Anson was finally taken off the Kola runs after the Tirpitz had been illuminated by RAF Lancaster bombing raids on her at anchorage. 619

Squadron (the Dambusters) attacked her in the November of 1944, after which the Tirpitz rolled over and sank.

This was a relief. No large German warships were left, as Scharnhorst had been sunk on Boxing Day 1943, by another distant cover Battleship, HMS Duke of York.

HMS Anson was now taken out of service for an extensive refit. This was to make the ship ready for operations in the far east.

Her aircraft hangars were used for a cinema and a classroom. Her aircraft launch gears were removed and in their place an extra accommodation area was erected.

Boat stowage for cutters and whalers was sited on the roof of this new construction. The original boat stowage area aft of the second funnel, became

a wasp’s nest of antiaircraft guns.

Anson sailed east at the end of August 1945, missing the end of the war in the Far East. She did however arrive at Hong Kong in time for Admiral Cecil Harcourt to receive the surrender of the Japanese garrison.

HMS Anson remained on station until 1946, as a guard ship at Wei-hi-Wei, Hong Kong.

In March she sailed for home waters, arriving at Portsmouth later that month. She was allocated to The Home Fleet Battleship Training Squadron in July 1946, assuming the rank of Flagship, taking over this position from the ageing HMS Nelson, of which left the Squadron in November 1947, being replaced by HMS King George V.

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Culture February promises to be a month filled with music, theatre and comedy, as Dorchester Arts partners with Shire Hall to mark LGBTQ+ History Month.

Countertenor Andreas Scholl and his pianist wife Tamar Halperin will perform works by Bach as well as their own compositions on Monday, February 5 at St Mary’s Church.

Jazz musician Mike Denham will put on a free morning concert to raise funds for Dorchester Arts at the Corn Exchange on Monday, February 7. The show will explore the extraordinary story of ragtime through great melodies and stories about the musicians behind them.

Mad Dog Mcrea brings a blend of folk rock, pop, gypsy jazz, bluegrass and ‘shake your ass’ music to the Corn Exchange on Friday, February 9.

Lyngo Theatre will present a new adaptation of The Little Prince on Monday, February 12 at the Corn Exchange.

The film Pride, set during the summer of 1984, follows a group of gay and lesbian activists who raised funds to support striking miners and their families. The film will

FAB FEB: Mad Dog Mcrea and, below, Pride, Mark Watson and Mike Denham are upcoming Dorchester Arts events

Diversity the key for month ahead

play at the Corn Exchange on Tuesday, February 13.

Comedian Mark Watson will bring his material about being a dad and an adult son to Hardye

Theatre on Saturday, February 17.

Directed by Derek Jarman, the film Caravaggio, featuring Sean Bean and Tilda

Swinton, will be screened at the exchange on Sunday, February 18.

A reading of Cecil Beaton’s Diaries will take place at Hardye Theatre on Thursday, February 22.

Blisteringly funny, with appearances ranging from the Queen Mother and Elizabeth Taylor to Churchill and Truman Capote, the diaries, brought to the stage by the hugely talented Richard Stirling, paint a selfportrait of the 20th century’s most compelling dandy.

An evening showcasing the work of Dorset composers Rick Birley, Geoff Edge and Tamara Konstantin will take place at St Mary’s Church on Saturday, February 24.

Painting The Modern Garden – Monet to Matisse will be screened at the exchange on Tuesday, February 27.

As part of Shire Hall’s LGBTQ+ History Month, Mark Farrelly presents the story of Derek Jarman – a filmmaker, painter, gardener, gay rights activist and writer as influential today as he was until his death from AIDS in 1994.

It will take place on Wednesday, February 28 at the Corn Exchange.

Arts charity is really reaching out for new year Everything from trampolining and circus to award-winning musicians, acclaimed theatre and more are promised across rural Dorset this year, thanks to touring arts charity Artsreach.

Professional performances will be laid on at village halls, small scale

theatres and other spaces.

The Dorset charity has just launched its new spring programme, featuring 28 artists and companies set to perform 63 live dates in 44 rural communities.

This is just a taster of everything happening around Dorset with

Artsreach this spring. Full details and tickets are available from artsreach.co.uk or you can pick up a copy of the programme at libraries and TICs. You can also find Artsreach on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with the latest rural touring news.

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Culture

If you’re looking for the Wright words Luke Wright, one of Britain’s most popular poets, will be performing what has been described as his ‘most confessional show to date’ at Shipton Gorge Village Hall on February 1 at 7.30pm.

Luke will be drawing on the discovery of his birth mother on Facebook as he

navigates his audience through a warm and honest hour of poems and standup. With some wild experiments in form, a nervous kitten called Sir John Betjeman and a healthy smattering of drum ‘n’ bass, Wright manages to navigate some heartwrenching material and

keep the laughs coming.

This show debuted to a packed arena at Latitude Festival before a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe where it was the toast of the critics. Expect humour, rage and passion.

Tickets available at artsreach.co.uk or ring 01308 897407.

CONFESSIONS: Luke Wright

Tune in for some old-style radio humour

London is calling West Dorset for an evening of very old radio with awardwinning comedian Paul Kerensa.

Journey back to the 1920s in this ‘stand-up history’ show on how the BBC began, which will visit four rural communities thanks to touring arts charity Artsreach.

Expect tales, clips and reenactments of Auntie Beeb’s earliest landmark moments, including the first BBC broadcast, the first children’s drama, sports commentary and more.

Described by The Stage as an “effortless” writer, Paul Karensa has made a name for himself working on hit

DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL: Paul Karensa presents his stand-up history show

comedies including Miranda and Not Going Out. Audiences will meet forgotten broadcasting pioneers, including the teacher who became the BBC’s first children’s show presenter, the author who

became the first sports reporter, and the flying ace who became a much-loved radio ‘uncle’ until he talked over the opera and received death threats.

A regular on BBC Radio 2’s Pause For Thought, Paul Kerensa has

performed over 3,000 stand-up gigs, including at The Royal Albert Hall, The Comedy Store and Montreal Comedy Festivals. He has also written for TV shows including Top Gear, Royal Variety Show and TFI Friday.

Artsreach is delighted to welcome Paul Kerensa to village halls in Nether Compton (07866 140288) on Thursday, January 25, West Stafford (07968 633834) on January 26, Marnhull (01258 820458) on January 27, and Studland (01929 450587) on January 28. Tickets and further information are available online at artsreach.co.uk

Rising talents promising a year to remember Concerts in the West’s 2024 series features a stellar roster of young artists bringing a wide-range of musical programmes to Dorset until November.

The world class Perks Ensemble will play at Bridport Arts Centre at 11.30am on February 16 and Ilminster Arts Centre at 7.30pm, followed by a performance on February 17 at The Dance House in Crewkerne at 7.30pm.

Violinist Sara Trickey and pianist Ivana Gavrić will perform at the venues on March 15 and 16.

The Gildas Quartet will play in Bridport, Ilminster, Crewkerne and Shaftesbury from April 19 to 21.

Pocket Sinfonia will perform at Bridport, Ilminster and Crewkerne on May 17 and 18 followed by Lara Melda in the towns on June 20 and 21.

Lumas Winds will play at Bridport,

Ilminster, Crewkerne and Shaftesbury from July 19 to 21.

Mēla Guitar Quartet will play at Bridport, Ilminster, Crewkerne and Pendomer from September 6 to 8.

Soprano Hilary Cronin will perform with pianist Asako Ogawa at Bridport, Ilminster and Crewkerne on October 4 and 5 followed by The Berkeley Ensemble in the towns on November 15 and 16. n concertsinthewest.org

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Culture

Drama club all ready to present panto Weymouth Drama Club is back, with its pantomime for 2024 at Weymouth Bay Methodist Church.

The club, which has been putting on productions since 1960, is offering up Dick Whittington, with experienced panto hands Antoinette Richards and Jacqui Trent as directors.

The youngsters’ arm of the club, the Curtain Raisers, are also getting involved, playing baby rats and some lead roles – Lily HalsallCrennell as Fairy Bow Bells, Phoebe Gould as Alice Fitzwarren, Lottie Richards as Tommy the Cat and Lola Simmonds as Zubediah.

PANTO TIME: Julie Knight plays Idle Jack and Simon Raynes plays Sarah the Cook and, right, Paul Gorsuch and Andy Neve as Port and Starboard

Performances are on Friday, January 19 at 7pm and Saturday, January 20 at 10am, 2pm and 7pm.

Tickets are priced £5-£12 at weymouthdrama club.com or on 0333 666

You SHALL go to the ball with Cinderella... and the Preston Panto Polish your glass slippers and line up your pumpkins - Preston Panto is putting on a fundraising performance of Cinderella at the village hall.

The February half-term show is raising money for Gully’s Place, Weldmar Hospice and Tumbledown Farm.

Dreaming of a better life for herself, will Cinderella’s wicked stepsisters succeed in ruining her dreams of happiness - or will the Fairy Godmother and everloyal Buttons be able to thwart their devilish plans?

A spokesperson for the panto group said: “We have some familiar faces treading the boards once again, as well as new members of all ages within the cast and crew.

“Everyone from cast, backstage crew, set designers and a host of others are working hard to put on a fabulous show with colourful costumes, stunning scenery and toe tapping tunes. So, come along to boo, hiss, cheer and laugh at this magical family panto.”

Tickets are £6 from ticketsource.co.uk/prestonpantomime

3366.

If you fancy acting or helping back stage for the various plays the club has planned for 2024, have a look at their website, weymouthdramaclub.com

The Curtain Raisers section, ages seven to 18, also has room for more – no auditions and low subscriptions.

Email curtainraisers7@ gmail.com

CHAMBER MUSIC MINI-TOURS IN DORSET AND SOMERSET

19TH SEASON — 2024 Bridport — Crewkerne — Ilminster — Pendomer — Shaftesbury

• 16-17 FEBRUARY

THE PERKS ENSEMBLE ALEXANDER ULLMAN PIANO

• 15-16 MARCH

SARA TRICKEY VIOLIN IVANA GAVRIĆ PIANO

• 19-21 APRIL

GILDAS QUARTET

• 17-18 MAY

POCKET SINFONIA

• 21-22 JUNE

LARA MELDA PIANO

• 19-21 JULY

LUMAS WINDS

• 6-8 SEPTEMBER

MĒLA GUITAR QUARTET

• 4-5 OCTOBER

HILARY CRONIN SOPRANO ASAKO OGAWA PIANO

• 15-16 NOVEMBER

BERKELEY ENSEMBLE

Please visit our website for information on all the performers, venues, dates and how to book for Season 2024.

Online booking — www.concertsinthewest.org CATHERINE MADDOCKS DIRECTOR — concertsinthewest@gmail.com

www.concertsinthewest.org

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Church

Discovering God in unexpected places

By Canon DEB SMITH Team Rector, Bridport

How often do we miss what’s right in front of our noses because we don’t really look? Instead we see only what we expect to see.

There’s a funny little conversation I discovered in a book by the priest and writer Anthony de Mello, which reveals just that. It’s a comic exchange between two men, which goes like this: “Henry, how you’ve changed! You were so tall, and you’ve grown so short.

You were so well built, and you’ve grown so thin.

You were so fair, and you’ve become so dark.

What happened to you, Henry?”

Henry says, “I’m not Henry. I’m John.”

“Oh, you changed your name too!”

We are now in the season of Epiphany when we are called to open ourselves to the impulse to be surprised by what God might reveal of his wonder and light, which is so often to be found in the everyday, in the ordinary.

Epiphany is an experience of disclosure, a revealing of something that lies hidden, which could be easily overlooked. In this season at the beginning of a new year, we might take time to be delighted by the

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, January 14 Sherborne Abbey 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Eucharist 6pm Evensong St Martin of Tours, Lillington 9.30am Holy Communion St James the Great, Longburton 10am Family Communion St Paul’s at the Gryphon 10.30am Holy

kindness, care or generosity shown to us in these dark days of winter. And we could surprise others by showing such qualities first!

Epiphany is a time to open our eyes and our hearts to see where and how God is revealed, how the world is allowed a glimpse of God, how God is seen and known, and also how God is the one who allows us to see. In this season we hold together the paradoxical truths that God is unfathomable and other, yet imprinted upon us, recognisable when our eyes and hearts are opened.

Somebody once said the basic command of religion is not ‘do this!’ or ‘do not

Communion 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 St Michael & All Angels, Askerswell 11am Benefice Eucharist Friday, January 19 Sherborne Abbey 11am Remembering the Fallen Sunday, January 21 Sherborne Abbey 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Eucharist 6pm Choral Evensong St Martin of Tours, Lillington 9.30am Morning Service St James the Great, Longburton 10am Family Communion St Paul’s at the Gryphon 10.30am All Age Worship St Mary Magdalene, Castleton 11.15am Mattins St Mary Magdalene, Loders 9.30am Celtic Worship

do that!’, but simply, ‘look!’

Jesus invites his friends to ‘come and see’, to have their eyes, minds and hearts opened so that that might see the Christ, Jesus – the great light come to those living in darkness. And most often we see that light of Christ in the lives of those around us, in good neighbours, in the kindness of strangers, in bright moments even on a dark and difficult day. This Epiphany may we have our eyes, minds and hearts opened to see such glimpses of God in our midst, in one another and in the unexpected places.

St Mary the Virgin, Powerstock 11am Benefice Eucharist St Paul’s, Broadoak 6.30pm Holy Communion Sunday, January 28 Sherborne Abbey 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Eucharist 6pm Choral Evensong St Martin of Tours, Lillington 9.30am Morning Service St James the Great, Longburton 10am SAID Holy Communion St Paul’s at the Gryphon 10.30am Morning Worship St Mary Magdalene, Castleton 11.15am Mattins 9.30am Holy Communion, St Saviour’s Dottery 9.30am Holy Communion 11.00am Benefice Eucharist St John the Baptist, Symondsbury 11am Benefice Eucharist St Mary Magdalene, North Poorton 6.30pm Evensong St Michael & All Angels, Askerswell 6.30pm Evensong Sunday, February 4 St Mary the Virgin, Powerstock 9.30am Celtic Worship St Mary Magdalene, Loders 11am Benefice Eucharist

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

63

Letters

You’re helping people in dire need Dorchester Poverty Action would like to thank the very many individuals and organisations that have donated to the charity over Christmas.

The response has been amazing and we should be able to cover all the potential grants for the rest of this financial year. However the cost of living is not going away and the need is growing year on year as more people cannot afford to replace their broken cooker, fridge or washing machine and risk getting into debt because of this.

As the thank you letters below show, just £250 can make all the difference.

A thank you from Dorchester Food Share (foodbank) says: “We’re very privileged to have Dorchester Poverty Action in our community and just a week or two ago you helped out one of our Food Share families with a grant for a cooker – they had been moved for safeguarding reasons and their new home had none. Because of our food bank we have been able to see first hand just what a difference your amazing grants make to a family.

“Thank you for all DPA is able to help with local need.”

Margaret Barker, vice chairman of DPA, got a phone call on Christmas afternoon from a lady the charity helped during the course of their application process to obtain asylum in this country. They eventually got full residence rights and

Win is a Boon for couple The Bridport Christmas Cheer committee have named Kevin and Leean Boon as winners of the 2023 Festive Front Door competition.

The pair will receive a £30 voucher from Mercato Italiano.

A spokesman for the committee said: “We would like to thank everyone that took part in helping to spread Christmas Cheer around the town and give special thanks to the judges, Godfrey and are all now working and looking prosperous.

Margaret said: “She wanted to deliver a Christmas present to me – it consisted of biscuits, cakes, sweets and a card plus an envelope containing £50 in cash to repay some of the help that had been given.”

For over 30 years the charity has been helping local people living in DT1 and DT2 when there is a financial crisis that could lead to debt problems. With the amazing support locally the charity can continue to help. For further information about the charity or to donate go to dorchesterpovertyaction.org Wendy Hilton I refer to the good advice you gave to the lady from

Great that Mayfair are supporting it.

Mrs. S. Fox Yeovil corridor campaigner Thank you for your magazine which I enjoy very much. I also enjoyed Kim Berlin’s article about the espionage by Harry Houghton but I’d be pleased if you’d point out to Mr Berlin that Ruislip has never been in Surrey. It was in Middx. until it became part of Greater London.

Christine Jeffery

Karen Gamble from Bridport Banners, who had to make the difficult decision.”

Weymouth regarding this subject in ‘Letters’ in the December magazine.

I would mention that a band of local volunteers help to recycle blister packs, aluminium foil and Tetra Paks in two bins situated in Comrades Hall Car Park, Broadwindsor. I believe Beaminster Church are still receiving blister packs too.

Rodney Butler Broadwindsor I have just picked up your December mag.

The CB3 does not, and has never gone, to Yeovil.

The bus was created for the people of Beaminster to go out on a Saturday after Dorset Council took the Saturday buses off in 2017. I campaigned for this bus.

It’s only runs up to Crewkerne, and down to Bridport bus station, to link us up with other services.

My wife and I attended the Christmas crib service at St Mary’s Church, Beaminster on Christmas Eve at 4pm. It was a most memorable service conducted by Rev Jo Neary and it was so pleasing to see the church full with everyone, children and adults, enjoying each other’s company to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The service followed the Christmas story which was read and coordinated by Rev Joe Neary.

It was such a traditional setting and the children did very well playing the various characters of the nativity. It was particularly nice to everyone actively participating in waving their small crowns and at the end of the service and to sing ‘happy birthday’ to baby Jesus. This, I think, brings to us all the real meaning of Christmas when we can all come together as one big family to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Thank you to Jo and everyone involved with organising this delightful service and we look forward to next year’s service.

Douglas Beazer

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Sport

We’re building on so many fronts,

By Stuart Wickham stuart@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Paul Maitland, the chairman of Weymouth FC has been talking to the West Dorset Magazine about the Terras’ progress on and off the pitch at the halfway stage of the season.

While pleased that the club is on a sounder financial footing, Paul recognises that there is still much to be done to ensure that the club remains sustainable, can meet its footballing aspirations and be fully in tune with the Weymouth community.

Paul was elected as chairman in July 2023, having previously served the club for 10 years in a number of roles, including goalkeeper coach, Director of Football and CEO. He combines his work at the Bob Lucas Stadium with running a number of other businesses in the county.

Paul said: “The most important thing for me was that we got the club on an even keel financially and that we were on the right track.

When I came in as CEO (in August 2022), we were really just firefighting. We just managed to stay

VERY CAUTIOUS: Terras chairman Paul Maitland

GET IN: Skipper Tom Bearwish rounds off a fine move to equalise against Tonbridge

up, which was always our goal, and managed to stabilise the business.

We’re now debt free and it’s vital that we don’t lose sight of the fact that we are a business and we have to run it in a sustainable and sensible way.

“We took some decisions last summer about how we would approach this season and wanted to have a conservative approach in the budget for players, which Bobby (Wilkinson, manager) understood. It was difficult to tell how things might go for us.

The country is not in a good state and there were question marks over what money

we could get in sponsorship and how many people we would get through the gate. We erred on the side of caution – our mantra is very cautious. Now we’re at the halfway point, we have the chance to re-evaluate. We have slightly exceeded our expectations on gates and we’ve been able to increase our revenue on non-matchdays, which is really important too.

“We have told Bobby that we cannot give him a fixed budget for players in January, but we will look at options on a case by case basis. The board have a good relationship with the manager and he fully understands that we can’t go back to where we were financially.”

After Saturday’s 2-1 defeat away at Tonbridge Angels, the Terras sit in 20th place in the National League South, with 29 points from 26 games.

They are five points ahead of

Eastbourne Borough who currently occupy the final relegation space, and the Terras have a game in hand. In a tight division, however, a good run could propel Weymouth towards play-off contention, with only 12 points separating them from Aveley in sixth place.

Paul is keen for the team to remain positive and is hopeful of a push towards the play-off positions. Paul said: “We all want to get to the playoffs but it can’t be at all costs. We still have aspirations for this season and I want to see the drive and motivation. People need to see progression and ambition at the club and this will bring more fans through the turnstiles.

We need to feel we’re on the right track but there’s always things we can do better.

“From a business perspective, we have to be ready for all eventualities and have a plan if we go up, stay in this division, or

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

65

Sport

says Terras chief as club progresses

IN THE THICK OF IT: Action from the Terras match at Tonbridge and, right, Tom Bearwish delights the travelling support Pictures: MARK PROBIN

get relegated. It’s a tight league but I’m sure things we’ll become clearer, but we have to be aspirational and sensible. We are looking to rebuild the club from a tarnished reputation. We are being more honest and upfront and are as open as we can be about what’s going on.”

One of Paul’s primary aims is to re-engage with the local community.

Weymouth ITC (In the Community) is a newlyformed CIC, headed up by Ralph Ricardo. Paul said: “It’s vital for us to cement our relationship with the town and Ralph is doing a great job. Engaging with

the Weymouth community is so important. We want to help promote youth and women’s football. We need to get back into schools and build better relationships with other local clubs.

“Next season, we want to get community coaches to do after-school sessions.

We’ve got two schools already competing under our badge in the national schools’ competition this year. We’ve supplied the kit and are proud to have them representing the club.

We are trying to build up on all these fronts in the right way.

“Sometimes it’s best to

focus on one thing at a time, rather than have too many plates spinning, and we want to get it right.”

Like many West Dorset clubs further down the football pyramid, Weymouth rely heavily on volunteers to support their work. While acknowledging that many clubs have to run a tight ship, Paul is keen to outline the vast financial difference across the tiers.

Paul said: “Without being disrespectful to other clubs, it’s really hard to compete at this level.

“The National League is more professional, with far more emphasis on the

financial side. There is a lot of really big money floating around. We have to focus on our own sustainability. If we can compete, then great – if not, so be it.

“We want to get back into the National League and will be armed with lots of knowledge when we do, but there’s a lot to consider. Players are mostly full-time, you need a bigger infrastructure, and the running costs are significantly more. Hotels and travel is much more expensive for instance, because of the longer trips, probably about £55,000 combined for these alone.

Most clubs will have an annual budget of £2m at that level. We will have to understand how we can bridge the gap financially.

It nearly wiped us out last time and we simply have to remain sustainable.

“First and foremost, this is a business and we are answerable to our 1000 or so shareholders, not a single owner. We are still putting foundations in place really. We have probably laid the first course of bricks but we certainly have something solid to build on.” n The Terras have backto-back home games as they entertain Slough Town on Saturday, January 13, and St Albans City on Saturday, January 20. Both matches kick off at 3pm.

Please see the club website for full details on forthcoming fixtures.

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Sport

Tough juniors brave elements in East Pier contest West Bay Angling held their final junior match of 2023, and concluding fixture in the Jurassic League, in freezing conditions in early December, with nine tough juniors braving the elements to fish from the East Pier. There was a great atmosphere on the day with plenty of freshbaked sausage rolls and chocolates being passed around to help keep spirits high.

Fishing proved to be hard after a promising start with two fish to the scales almost immediately, but the catch rate dropped off towards low tide. There were a couple of notable exceptions, with Lidy Carter and Belle Chidzoy emerging as the most consistent anglers on the day. Species caught

Devon Baits for the free frozen bait they provide, Pure Fishing for the loan of rods and reels. Special thanks also go to Norman Stokes and Richard “Tiny” Daw for all their help during the season.

Results First place with 214g sizeable fish GOOD CATCH: Lidy Carter with her (263g total) was handsome ballan wrasse Lidy Carter included Second place with 60g bass, corkwing wrasse, sizeable fish (500g in ballan wrasse, tompot, total) was Belle Chidzoy shanny, pout, pollock and Third place with 29g was shore rockling.

Alfie Hoysted The organisers would like First fish: Lidy Carter to thank Angling Centre with a Corkwing Wrasse West Bay for their support Smallest fish: Belle throughout the year, Chidzoy with a 9g Shanny

Biggest fish: Lidy Carter with a 170g Ballan Wrasse Most fish: Belle Chidzoy with an amazing 13 fish n The club will be fishing on the East Pier on the following Saturdays in 2024: April 20 (Fred Tolley Memorial); May 11 June 22; July 20 (Frank and Peggy Daw Memorial); August 17 (Stokes Family); September 14 (Juniors vs Parents) Jurassic League fixtures: October 12; November 16; December 7 n The club will be holding its annual presentation evening in February and is always keen to hear from new anglers who would like to try their hand. Please get in touch via the club’s website.

Up for the cups: Club’s trophy night Beaminster Cricket Club held their annual presentation evening at the club pavilion to recognise the performance of the team’s star players from the 2023 season.

Friends and families joined in with the celebrations with awards being handed out by the club captains.

Players of the Season awards went to Simon Jones and Tim Hey, with Nick Hollely being recognised for the prestigious Clubman award.

Main batting awards were scooped by first team skipper Chris “Jim” Park

PRIZE GUYS: Trophy winners at Beaminster CC’s big night

and Tim Hey. Bowling trophies were won

by Ross Baker, Ian Hansford and Dan Spiller.

The Young Player of the Year award went to Ollie Bareham, with Will Miss scooping the title of Best Fielder.

Beaminster have entered four teams into the Mid Wessex League league including a new U14s team. Running alongside these teams will be the All Stars and Dynamos programmes in May and June. The club have also

entered a team into the Indoor West Dorset League, with games scheduled to be played at Redlands in Weymouth on Sunday evenings.

Opponents will include Portland, Weymouth and Dorchester.

Youth training has begun on Saturdays in Beaminster School Sports Hall.

Senior indoor nets will start on Thursday evenings from February 1, at Colfox School in Bridport.

All new and existing players are welcome to attend at youth or senior level. Please see the club’s website for full details.

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

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Vittles (food & drink)

Boxing clever with local farm produce

By John Clements, chef at The Olive Tree, Bridport There’s unboxing, Boxing Day and then BLAM! you’re letter-boxed right on the nose with last month’s credit card bill and now you’re on the ropes.

Ever considered food boxes from local farmers?

This is home cooking led by what West Dorset farmers have on offer as opposed to what we decide to cook: Huge difference and a cheaper alternative to eating out if you need to save some post-festive coin.

These are the ranking contenders on the bill when I cook at home. Springtail Farm veg-box, Eggardon Fold beef-box, The Old Ways pork selection, Washingpool and Felicity’s Farm Shops. There are more to discover, so let’s go for a 2024 rumble in the West Dorset jungle to find them.

The Old Ways bacon and sausages, pound for pound, weighed in the same size from when I put them in the pan as to when I took them out. No contest, a knock-out. They do eggs,

THINKING INSIDE THE BOX: The Springtail veg box and, left, Eggadon rib of beef & springtail veg and, right, The Old Ways sausages

too. Eggardon Fold Highland fillet steak – undisputedly the best I’ve ever had and their rib of beef a World Champion Christmas Day hit.

Springtail Farm regularly punch above their weight with their veggie

JOINT EFFORT: Eggadon rib of beef

dedication and commitment and they home-deliver. They can be found in Bridport Market, along with The Old Ways, whenever their produce is available. Felicity’s and Washingpool are open all year round.

A New Year’s resolution could be to jump into the ring with these heavyweight local farm suppliers and take your home cooking to a new level.

Farm to Fork. Ding, ding! ….now that’s a banging name for a restaurant.

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

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.

All the mince pies have been consumed.

The last few squares of Christmas fudge are looking abandoned at the bottom of the tin and seem to be crying out: ‘eat me’ – and they will no doubt have their wish granted in the next few days.

The remains of our turkey have been frozen for another day and another occasion.

This year I was more frugal and careful with our Christmas food shopping, planning carefully to prevent wastage.

Our home can be ready to cater for ten-plus at a moment’s notice, as is the way with my expanding family. My natural OCD manages this with relative ease all year round. My cupboards groan with the basic ingredients…just in case. I can create a banquet with a few hours’ notice and love every minute of the challenge.

With Christmas now behind us, the rich food still lingers in our senses and possibly in our cupboards. Food gifts have been

COMFORTING, CREAMY AND VERY TASTY: Karen’s pie inspired by a few leftover items in the fridge

Waste not, want not... popular this year; some we will enjoy, and some will be put to the backs of the cupboards for another day.

Food gifts are both a useful and thoughtful gift; the quirkier foodie gifts the better.

After all the overindulgences of the festive period, we crave for more plain foods. It can even be tempting to throw leftover foods away…. but when money is tight this is unnecessary.

I created a pie that is comforting, creamy and very tasty and was inspired by a few leftover items in the fridge and cupboard.

Ingredients Two sheets of puff pastry – these I always have as a standby in the freezer but getting the pastry out of the fridge 30 mins before makes it easier to use.

1 packet of prepared butternut squash ½ 250g packet of Waitrose LOVE Life Quick Cook Minestrone mix 1 tub ready-made Mushroom pate Brie (any soft cheese will do) Method Cook the butternut squash and the minestrone mix as directed and leave to cool.

Mash the squash with a

Mum’s Kitchen...

Pork Chilli Serves 6 This is a lovely warming dish for the cold days of January, and pork mince is lower in cost than some other minced meats.

The dark chocolate, stirred in to finish, gives it a wonderful depth of flavour.

Ingredients: Rapeseed oil 3 500g packs lean pork mince 2 onions, peeled and chopped 4 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped 1 teaspoon dried thyme 2 teaspoons ground cumin 2 teaspoons ground coriander ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

little butter, salt, and pepper.

Spread the pate in the centre of one sheet of pastry.

Place the cooked squash and pulse mix on top of this, leaving an edge around the pastry.

Chop the brie and place this on the top.

Place the other pastry sheet on the top and press neatly around the edges - trim as required. Place in the oven for 45 minutes.

Serve with a pointed cabbage salad with grated carrot and a few chopped gherkins.

It’s delicious cold and hot.

with Diana Holman ½ teaspoon ground cloves 2 teaspoons chilli powder 2 teaspoons smoked paprika 2 tablespoons tomato puree 1 individual size bottle of pale ale 1 400g tin chopped tomatoes 1 bay leaf 300ml beef stock 100g 70 per cent dark chocolate, broken into small pieces

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69

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.

You can’t beat a cheeky sausage pie Sausage, leek and cheese pie A simple pie made with filo pastry. The sausages are easily substituted with vegetarian sausages. I used one pan for this to save on the washing up!

Serves 4 Gas 6/ 200C Ingredients 450g potatoes 350g sausages 75g butter 2 leeks sliced 300ml milk 1 bay leaf 4 peppercorns 30g flour 270g filo pastry 90g Cheddar cheese Salt & pepper Method Boil the potatoes in a pan of salted water for around 20 minutes, until tender.

Drain and leave to cool.

Put the sausages under the grill and cook according to the instructions.

Add 15g butter to the pan and when melted throw in the leeks. Cook on a

SO SIMPLE: Lizzie’s sausage, leek and cheese pie

medium heat, around 15 mins, until softened and cool.

Put the milk with the bayleaf and peppercorns in the pan and bring to a gentle boil. Turn the heat off, pour in a jug and leave to steep.

Melt 30g butter in the pan and tip in the flour. Stir for a minute until the mixture comes away from the side of the pan and cook for a further minute.

Soured cream to serve Method: Heat a little rapeseed oil in a heavy based pan and brown the mince. Add the onions and garlic and fry until softened, about five minutes. Add the thyme and all the spices and stir for another minute. Add the tomato puree and allow this to brown. Add the pale ale, tinned tomatoes, bay leaf and stock. Season with salt, pepper and a pinch of sugar. Cover and simmer over a low heat for two hours. Stir in the dark chocolate to finish. Serve with rice and soured cream.

In three or four batches add the strained milk.

Whisk well in between each addition until the milk is absorbed. Keep on the heat for a minute or so until the sauce has thickened.

Stir in 70g cheddar and remove from the heat.

Season.

Unfold the pastry and brush each sheet with the remaining melted butter and lay in a greased pie tin.

Turn the tin a little each

time to make sure the tin is fully lined. Leave the edges of the pastry hanging over the side of the tin as this extra pastry is used to top the pie.

Cut the sausages and potatoes into bite sized pieces. Add the potatoes and sausages with the leeks on top.

Tip the cheese sauce over the filling. Sprinkle over the last of the cheese.

Pull the edges of the pastry over the top encasing the filling. Brush with any remaining butter. Put the pie in the ovenfor 25 - 30 minutes unit golden brown.

Serve with cooked veg or a salad. Do post a picture and tag me in if you make it!

Instagram @lizzibakingbird n Lizzie is selling her wares at the Old Ship Inn, upwey on a Saturday morning til 12 and at Wimborne and Poundbiry Faremers Market - check her out on Facebook or her website www. lizziebakingbird. co.uk

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Homes & Gardens x

Stormy weather causing a pain in the drain DRAIN BRAINS

By Jak Norwood of Valley Drains

It’s been a bit wet out there! Even in a regular winter of rain, storm water drains cause issues, and guttering, downpipes, gullies and Aco/slot drains get blocked with leaves, silt

and debris which in turn can cause damp issues inside your property.

With the enormous amount of rain we’ve had this has been even more problematic.

Underground rainwater soakaways can lose efficiency and you will find that storm drains start to back up and no longer soak away as they should.

A new underground soakaway crate system will be required when they

fail. Off mains drainage systems like septic tanks and sewage treatment plants can get overwhelmed due to cross connections from rainwater pipes which shouldn’t go into any kind of treatment system that takes away your foul drainage.

When this happens, your treated final effluent has the potential to be noncompliant, which is classed as a pollution by the Environment Agency. Homeowners are responsible for making sure their off mains drainage asset is compliant with current regulations.

For a fast fix, with no call-out fee, call Valley Drains on 07958 335973.

Tree-mendous news all round

Lucky old us in the west of Dorset – we are likely to be healthier and happier thanks to being surrounded by trees.

A new study has shown that people in less affluent areas have lower levels of tree cover and higher risk of health problems from poor air quality.

A new online ‘tree equity’ map is now online at uk.treeequityscore.org Neighbourhoods with the highest income levels have more than double the tree cover per person than less affluent neighbourhoods and have nearly 20% less of the toxic pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

The news comes with the launch of a new free interactive tool which uses new tree canopy data from Google and six climate, health and socioeconomic indicators to generate a score from 0 to 100 for most urban neighbourhoods in the UK, known as the Tree Equity Score (TES). It shows in areas of lower tree cover there is direct link to more pollution and poorer air quality.

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

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Homes & Gardensx

Cheer up! Better things are on the way Andy Cole is a reiki healer at The Potting Shed in Middlemarsh. He specialises in planting for healing.

This continuing rain is The spiritual meaning of definitely putting a strain bird cherries symbolises on people’s mental health love, fertility, and renewal. and wellbeing. The gardens Sea buckthorn energies add are too wet to do much to to its protective and them and the dull, dreary prosperity-enhancing days just compound the properties. The plant is situation. associated with vitality and Now is a good time to get rejuvenation and the those gardening books out energies from its berries and plan any changes you are believed to have the want to make. Choose the power to heal both your type of plants you would soul and spirit. like to use and research Hawthorn is associated where the best place to get with love and romance. It them is. It’s not quite the is said to enhance passion same as being in the and strengthen garden, but it’s as relationships. The sweet enjoyable. scent of hawthorn When searching for your blossoms is believed to plants, don’t forget to invoke feelings of love and investigate the healing and attract soulmates. spiritual properties of them Furthermore, hawthorn is – it might surprise you as renowned for its calming to why you picked the effect on the emotions, plants you have. providing comfort and Here at The Potting Shed support during times of we are starting to plant our grief or heartache. new hedges. These consist The wild privet attracts of blackthorn, hawthorn, positive energy to your dog rose, sea buckthorn, surroundings while hazel, wild privet, bird strengthening relationships cherry, elder and field and social connections. maple – a Blackthorn is a wonderful mix winter tree, the for wildlife. energies are The dog rose used for is considered protection, a symbol of creating spiritual love, boundaries, protection and purifying and balance. The rose dispels negativity represents love, and impurities. beauty, devotion and the The elder energies work on union of polarities. It the psychic level, enhances intuition and empowering your ability to connects with higher trust what you are given by consciousness. Its thorns spirit but also to trust on a symbolise protection physical level. Protection against negativity. from negativity is also

LOVE AND ROMANCE: The hawthorn

provided by these energies.

These are just some of the aspects of the hedging being planted, we will also be planting some trees which will include oak, holly, sorbus and silver birch, to name just a few.

With spring approaching we can look forward to the early bulbs coming up with the promise of things to come. It is a timely

reminder that despite the depressing weather better times are just around the corner and that at this time of year we should look at the positive things we have in our lives, be grateful for what we have, and look forward to the coming year with a positive attitude, hope and inspiration that 2024 will be everybody’s best year yet.

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

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Filling the void left by Mike Burks, pictured inset, is the MD of The Gardens Group, with garden centres in Sherborne, Yeovil and Poundbury. Mike is a former chairman of the Garden Centre Association and is a passionate advocate of eco-friendly gardening practices.

Once your Christmas tree has been removed there is often a space left that can easily be filled by a houseplant.

There is a wonderful selection of foliage plants that would be suitable including the Dracaena or Dragon tree. These upright growers take up little space but can give plenty of impact. There are green-leaved forms as well as variegated types.

With their coloured bracts that often look artificial the Anthurium are also an easy to grow houseplant.

There used to be just red types available but now the array of colours is terrific with creams, pinks and unusual purples, too.

Cyclamen also are a

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seasonal flowering favourite and it used to be straightforward with there being distinct hardy and indoor types. Now many varieties can be used as autumn and early winter bedding plants too.

The indoor types like cool conditions and must be watered from the base to keep them in good form. What the plant doesn’t drink after quarter of an hour can be tipped away, leaving the plant in a dry saucer.

The flower colours are stunning from purest white to darkest reds and purples and the range of sizes spans from minis through to the very large.

Orchids are increasingly a favourite and despite being

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

73

Homes & Gardensx

your Christmas tree with some plants more and more popular still have the mystique and exotic feel.

They are easier to look after than many think, with the Cymbidium needing fairly cool conditions whilst Phalaenopsis and Cambrian like it slightly warmer. The Cymbidium are larger growers and have large flower spikes which can last for a very long time.

Phalaenopsis have a more sophisticated look to the flower, which again lasts a long time, and they will reflower too.

This year they make an even better present as we have a series of events in the early part of the year which includes an Orchid Day which will increase your enjoyment and aftercare skills.

There are lots of bulbs around at this time of the year, including Hyacinths with their glorious colours and powerful

scent. We have them as planted bowls but also in individuals if you are doing your own arrangement.

Other bulbs include the powerfully scented Bridal Crowns, a form of narcissi, which are so easy to grow

Top national honours for garden centres’ displays Two of The Gardens Group’s centres have scooped national awards for their Christmas displays.

Castle Gardens in Sherborne and Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil won first and second in the Garden Centre Association (GCA) competition.

Brimsmore won the contest in 2022, following ten wins for Castle Gardens in the preceding years.

The displays had been in the planning since January and constructed behind closed doors over a three week period.

All three of The Gardens Group’s Christmas displays were highly praised by

GCA judges this year.

Demonstrating consistency and a commitment to continual improvements in all areas, Brimsmore Gardens won the Wales & West section, while Poundbury Gardens came second in the South Thames standings, only topped in the region by Castle Gardens.

Devised and managed by The Gardens Group director, Louise Burks, these magical winter wonderlands featured more ecofriendly initiatives and products than ever before, including walkways constructed using repurposed and recycled materials and baubles.

and are great value too.

And with free giftwrapping and delivery should you wish, houseplants make great presents even if you are treating yourself – there is just no excuse! thegardensgroup.co.uk

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Homes & Gardens x

Supergrass reveals his top tips for turf

By Sherborne Turf As surprising as it may seem, did you know that winter is an excellent time of year to lay turf?

Our turf is free from plastic netting and grown for at least 18 months, so it has a much thicker root bed and can be laid all year round. When it comes to cold weather, there is no reason you cannot lay turf as long as you can prepare the ground.

Follow these simple steps to lay turf at any time of year: n Prepare the ground: n Remove existing turf, weeds, and larger stones

(smaller stones will help with drainage). n Lower or raise levels as required by removing or adding soil. You will not need special or expensive soil underneath turf as long as the soil is relatively free draining. n Firm the ground by treading, then rake and level the soil, leaving a fine tilth on the surface. n The ground can be considered well prepared when a trodden shoe makes a mark but does not sink into the soil. n Ensure soil is damp before laying turf.

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n Apply a dressing of a balanced fertiliser to aid root establishment.

Lay the turf: n Lay the borders first, like a big frame. n Rolls should be laid tightly together and kept moist to aid establishment and fusion. n Use planks to work from and walk on. n Lay turf in alternate directions in a staggered bond, ensuring the joints are pulled into each other, but avoid stretching the turf. n It is better to have too much turf than too little to ensure a good-looking finish.

Immediately after: n Ensure turf is watered in well and kept damp for 2-4 weeks or until the lawn is fully established. n Avoid walking on the turf until it is established (especially during rain or after watering to prevent divots whilst establishing. n Do not mow until the lawn is established. You can check if it is ready by pulling at an edge of one of the rolls.

If it does not come up, it is good to mow. n Laying turf in frost and freezing conditions: Prepare the ground as normal,

laying the turf as per our instructions above. n Cold weather will cause the turf to go into a dormant state. It will stay alive throughout the winter, but it will not grow. This means the roots will not establish until warmer weather and the turf will remain easy to lift back off the ground until this happens. n Do not mow. The turf roots will not have established so it will not be safe to mow.

(This applies to all lawns, including recently laid turf where the roots have established. Refrain from mowing in freezing conditions as this may lead to disease later in the year). n Don’t over water it – otherwise it will freeze. The moisture in the frost should be enough to keep it watered.

Remember, the turf is alive in its root mat.

Because our turf is grown without plastic netting, it has a thicker root mat. This means it will happily sit throughout the winter and will start growing again when the weather warms up. If in doubt, give us a call on 01935 850388 and we will be happy to help.

Alternatively, read our advice at sherborneturf.co.uk

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

75

Down to earth KIM BERLIN – A newcomer to the Rock

Why this tree is the apple of my eye A long time ago, maybe a hundred years, quite probably more, the unseen hand of a passerby, perhaps walking or on horseback, threw an apple core into a hedge high on a remote part of Black Down on the South Dorset Ridgeway, before making their way down through the mists into a valley leading to one of the villages below.

The apple may have been picked from a tree in the last village the traveller passed through. It was probably during the autumn that this sequence of events began, because having been discarded, something special began to happen.

Apple pips do not come true to their parents. Just like our children, they carry characteristics of both, but they’re never the same. The first Bramley apple tree was from a pip (seed) planted by a young woman, Mary Ann Brailsford, in 1809. She nurtured the young tree that grew from her pip and planted it in the garden of her cottage in Nottinghamshire. In 1856 local horticulturist Henry Merryweather was intrigued by the huge sour apples the tree produced and he asked permission from the now owner of the cottage, Matthew Bramley, if he could take cuttings for grafting to reproduce the tree. Bramley agreed, and the Bramley’s Seedling, beloved in this country (and recently a revered gourmet introduction to Japan) was born. Apple trees usually

live 50 to 80 years, sometimes over 100 years.

Mary’s tree, at 215 years old, is still alive… just.

This is the story of many of our varieties of apple tree.

Deliberate or accidental cross-pollination of different varieties of tree produce a seedling with desirable characteristics and that new variety is taken forward in the form of grafted cuttings, the only way to keep the variety true.

Our apple core on Black Down lodged in the hedge and gradually composted down, releasing the pips. It is likely that this was in the autumn because apple pips will not survive if they dry out, as they might in the summer, so they have a special survival mechanism. Apples naturally drop in the autumn and the seed, having been released, needs six weeks’ stratification, a cold period, in order to germinate. This ensures that they survive the winter and germinate in cool, damp, spring weather, giving them their best chance to establish themselves.

A tree began to grow from one of the pips.

It was on the north side of the hill, protected to some degree from the prevailing

weather, in a wild, uncultivated spot, mostly hidden from sight, leaning away from the lane on the edge of a bank, passed by and largely unnoticed.

On a misty autumn day, similar to the day that began this story, your intrepid writer was engaging in one of his favourite pastimes, rootling around in hedges, observing ancient monuments and generally just exploring for exploring’s sake, when I noticed a huge number of apples lying in a ditch.

I was intrigued about the presence of an apple tree in a place that would appear unlikely to have ever been cultivated as an orchard.

There are no other fruit trees in the area and features in the landscape suggest that this spot has never been cultivated, at most used for rough grazing.

The source of the apples was a short tree with a fantastically thick, gnarled trunk that suggests great age, but it was when I picked up some of the apples that my interest was really piqued. The skin looked similar to a Cox’s Pippin, but the shape was unlike any I’d ever seen, a very elongated, unusual, elegant fruit.

Thinking that I may have found a rarity, four apples were dispatched to the

Royal Horticultural Society’s apple experts together with photographs of the tree. A couple of weeks later I received a reply...

“This is probably a seedling of an old cultivar… Some old cultivars are of a similar shape, including ‘Oaken Pin’. The flavour is quite good with very mild tannins. It is a dessert apple but would probably be ok for cider.” I can confirm, it is good! Their next suggestion really got me thinking. They suggested considering propagating it and DNA testing to work out its parentage. Like the famous Bramley, this is almost certainly a unique apple for West Dorset and as it’s a good one, it may be worth reproducing it to preserve it and make it more widely available. I wonder, could we?

Like the original Bramley, this old tree is dying, but it is, for now, still alive. An email to the Dorset National Landscape Partnership has resulted in a strong expression of interest and I am meeting with them and some apple tree experts this month to see whether it will be possible to advance this and propagate the tree to preserve it for future generations.

There is so much we can learn from this tree, its true age and its provenance, and maybe help it to continue its journey from a discarded seed long ago to a bountiful future in this beautiful county.

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The West Dorset Magazine, March 2023

Down to earth

It’s elementary: We’re in this together

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

As a Pagan I have great reverence for this planet.

I delight in the four elements – fire, earth, water and air. Scientists and Pagans can agree on the beauty of waterfalls, fiery sunsets and majestic mountain ranges. Not a lot of mountain ranges around here but I rejoice in mud, sea, bonfires and bubbles as the photos show.

Boiled down to chemicals these building blocks of our world are what NASA scientists are looking for on other planets as signs of life. And all because a then unknown Englishman, the late James Lovelock, steered them in that direction.

THE ELEMENT IN THE ROOM: Fire and air in the form of the bubbles hold a primal fascination and, right, water and earth in the forms of mud and the sea at Osmington Mills

Maybe the Gaia principle is a bit vast for the West Dorset Magazine and a bit complex for a ‘bear of very little brain’? Maybe I should stick to writing about the Melbury Osmond Ooser and our patron saint St Wites at Whitchurch Canonicorum? But just looking at local sacred

places is a tad parochial when our planet needs us.

Plus of course James Lovelock did live the latter part of his life near Abbotsbury.

So, let’s dive in: James Lovelock’s unlocking of the Gaia Principle was an offshoot of his work for NASA, looking for extraterrestrial life. Using earth as a model for a planet with life, he looked for similar atmospheres on other planets but found that compared to earth they were as dead as a dodo. It’s not just that life needs certain chemicals it’s how the chemicals react with each other that

matters. More than this he was suggesting that our planet’s ecological systems work together with what seemed to be, as far as I can understand it, a survival instinct. One could almost say: “It’s life Jim – but not as we know it!”

Naming his theory Gaia after the ancient Greek personification of Mother Earth did not endear him to the scientific establishment. However, it did endear him to some of The New Age Pagans, who saw him as a champion of Earth and since the 1960s arguments have rumbled on as to whether his theory is correct or not. Finally, in 2001, more than 1,000 scientists met in Amsterdam to declare that the planet: “behaves as a single, self-regulating system comprised of physical, chemical, biological and human components”.

Cough, cough… we Pagans knew that already!

Survival of the shortest:

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 appearance. The Calendar and in 2021 his Spotter’s Guide to Countryside leaves are tiny, oval Mysteries was published. and dark green. In grazed land it is also The Rock Rose, Helianthemum very short, due no doubt to tall nummularium, is a relatively common varieties being eaten while short plant in West Dorset due to its varieties survive. preference for calcareous soils of On south-facing grassland Rock Rose which we have plenty in the form of can be the dominant plant, chalk downland. outcompeting even grass, and is often It is a pretty little plant with five, pale found clothing anthills. In such abundance, it forms a ‘Helianthemum yellow, tissue-like petals to each grassland’. flower, and a wiry, shrubby

Like nearly all plants, Rock Rose suffers the tiresome attentions of small organisms: five of them.

Two of these are visible as galls – one for a midge (which nicely advertises its host of choice in Dasineura helianthemi), the other for a mite.

Although the Rock Rose is most definitely a plant (though absolutely not a ‘rose’, as it is closer to mallows) I have not entirely abandoned my habit of wittering on about fungi all the time.

So, the other three ‘pests’ of Rockrose

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

77

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.

Glorious sight & sound of honking geese This winter ‘it rained and it rained and it rained’ for ‘days and days and days’.

There have been times when I have felt a little bit like Piglet in the Winnie the Pooh stories, looking anxiously out at all the rain and watching the water levels rise.

But then, like Christopher Robin, I have been safe in the knowledge that the water won’t come up as far as my house and it is ‘rather jolly to look down into the valleys and see the water all round’, particularly as the floods have brought in some interesting birds.

The winter rain has saturated the meadows where I walk my dog in the mornings and given them the look of wetlands.

In the summer, the cattle will be back to graze the lush grass but for now they are on higher ground and in their place ducks

and swans, herons and egrets, black-headed gulls and most noticeably, Canada geese, have moved in.

These fields in the valley of the River Piddle were deliberately created in the early 17th century to be ‘water meadows’, and most winters they become just that. However, Canada geese enjoying these meadows in large numbers would have come much later.

As their name implies, Canada geese were originally from North America, but were introduced into St James’ Park in London some 300 years ago.

They found British conditions favourable and have become widespread, particularly in recent years. According to the British Trust for Ornithology numbers of Canada geese in the UK

have more than doubled since 1984.

The geese often head off as night falls, presumably to roost elsewhere, and if you watched The Sound of Music (again!) over Christmas you’ll know that ‘wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings’ is one of Maria’s favourite things and mine too!

I love the sight and sound of them honking noisily, quite low in the sky, in their V formation. It’s more usual for birds that flock together to fly in a tight oval shape so much research has been done to understand the benefits geese get from flying like this.

In the V, each goose follows on from the tip of

the wing of the bird in front. The leader of the V changes throughout the flight, but it isn’t known as yet, how or when each leader is chosen.

The geese behind position themselves to gain from the upwardmoving air (upwash) generated by the goose in front. Their wonderful constant honking is thought to encourage each other to stay in position.

They’ll manoeuvre themselves to gain the most uplift and time their wingbeats to keep within the upwash. As well as saving them energy, it’s also been found that the heart rate of birds in formation is lower than in those flying alone, indicating that the V shape is also less stressful!

The Rock Rose manages to avoid a mouldy death are two fungal moulds and a fungal leaf-spot. But there is one fungal aspect of the Rock Rose that is much more interesting. When I first moved to this blessed part of the world (I am a Hampshire Hog – don’t judge me), I found myself living atop a hill, surrounded by chalk downland. Having an interest in fungi even then, I was puzzled to find there what should have been woodland fungi growing in open grassland, the

nearest suitable host tree a hundred metres away.

Eighty to ninety per cent of plants have a mycorrhizal association with fungi, supplying sugars to the fungus and receiving water and nutrients from the fungal mycelium in exchange. Most plants are associated with any of a couple of hundred species of fungi (the Glomeromycota) all of which are microscopic. Many trees, however, are

associated with fungi from two other (much larger) groups of fungi that produce large fruiting bodies (mushrooms etc.)

The Rock Rose is not a tree, but it is a woody shrub and can perform this same trick as well as any oak or beech tree, despite being so very much smaller. My speciescount at this site after 40-plus years is now nine fungi from six genera, and I am on the lookout for more.

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

EASIER PUZZLES

PUZZLING OVER YOUR ADVERTISING? Email advertising@westdorsetmag.co.uk | Call 01305 566336

Arrow words

Crossword

One who studies living things

Errors

Trendy

Adjusting a camera lens

Army bed

Clue

Back to back (2,1,3)

Recipe components

2

3

8

Not odd

Laughing, via SMS (inits)

1

5

4

6

7

9

10

11

Concern

12

‘The Simpsons’ bus driver

14

13

15

Priest (abbr)

Some Greek letters

Credit-card provider

Ends

Mimics

16

They might be 4K, now (abbr)

Type of rock music

Splotch

Summits

Tolkien tree creature

Palaver

World’s first pop video channel (inits)

Potatoes

ACCORD ANYA CHARLOTTE DUKE OF YORK ESTIMA HARMONY KERR’S PINK KING EDWARD

MARFONA MARIS BARD NADINE NICOLA ROMANO ROOSTER SANTE SAXON

F S K L E A N N E N U E N I F

O H N R R T A O O O N D G K P

23

Across 1 Layers of rock (6) 5 Warily (6) 8 Duelling weapon (4) 9 Banned (8) 10 Ideology (8) 11 Relax in the sun (4) 12 Risky (6) 14 Velocities (6) 16 Deeds (4) 18 Software training lesson (8) 20 Artistic setting (8) 21 Hot drink dispensers (4) 22 Happened to (6) 23 Ready, ___, go (6)

Wordsearch H R E X A S R R E A A S O D N E M A O A A O R L E E D N A K R A D A C I E C E E G N R K H

21

22

Green, carpeting plant

M I C O T M Y A E E N D A H A T S O N O A R A A A K N I P S D A P N L R R A R R I B A R O O L O C O N S W O A F C O Y C E I S N D D R I T F O R Y I N N N A N T M A R T N B A D M R U M O E I N E H H N N R E T S O O R C O T Y N O M R A H A B E R M K E A M I T S N S T O Y D R A W D E T N A S N D S A R

19

20

Success

Legume seed

18

17

Old poem

Down 2 Tropical cyclone (7) 3 Alarm call (5) 4 Relating to the design of buildings (13) 5 Dialogues (13) 6 Farewell (7) 7 Dirty looks (5) 13 Failure to attend (7) 15 Emptied (7) 17 Ride a bike (5) 19 Utilize again (5)

Sudoku

8

7 7 2 6 8 3

9 2 8 4 8 3 1

1 3 9 7 2 4 6

For the solutions turn to page 81

5 7 1 2 9 6 7

Brain chain (Easy version) 30

÷5

×1/3

×9

+50%

÷9

RESULT

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Working together to give the customer the very best service

Cryptic Crossword

Jumbo 3D Sudoku 8 4

6 6

1

7 2

4

8

8 4

9

6 3

1

6

2

2

3

2 9 3 1 5

2

8

1

2

8

8 9 4 3

5

4

7

6

5

3 9

4

7 4

6

8

11

40×

20+

7 3

90×

7

448×

1

9

7 7

1

17 19 20

21

14×

945×

2

10+

3

90×

20+

9×

0

Brain chain (Hard version) 20

+20%

×3/4

+51

×2

+4

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.

23

22

Killer Sudoku Pro:

5

1÷

13

18

12×

224×

10

16

1 8 4

23+

24+

64×

7

15

6

30×

9+

6

14

24

17+

15+

5

12

5

5

3

9

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.

12+

4

3

8

9

8 2 5 8

7 9 6 7

2

1 6 4

2

6

1

5

7

3 1 5

HARDER PUZZLES

25

Across 1 Cut in two almost large dangerous group? (6) 4 Stop attraction on high (4,2) 8 Hot drink put into pot early (3) 9 Newspaper employee with opinion showing weight (9) 11 Comply with old boy and detective shortly (4) 12 Virginia possibly liberal almost and changing (8) 15 Fellow provided odd notes dismissing new political programme (9) 18 Keep going with right-wing followers about to leave (8) 19 Some strode round Central European river (4) 21 Distinctive personality’s letter (9) 23 Vice admiral with energy upset woman (3) 24 Protective cover given designation among the Spanish (6) 25 Old woman favoured confines of library principally (6)

Down 1 Part of a jacket for ex-F1 driver (6) 2 Foreign Minister, say, affirms staff (9) 3 Offensive weapon in Greek island hotel (4) 5 Most irritable artist with connections among leaders in the theatre (8) 6 Pale stick daughter dropped (3) 7 Like better free PR that’s arranged (6) 10 Put up with bananas, say, to prove productive (4,5) 13 A board Ben moved for vegetable (5,4) 14 Show Persian, maybe, in non-mainstream group (8) 16 Part of frozen landscape here in France captured principally by the French (6) 17 Dull US rapper put on a network (6) 20 A study curtailed in region (4) 22 Turkish commander in Austria and Georgia (3)

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Health & Wellbeing

Village ‘stolen’ by Devon well worth the drive CHARDSTOCK WALKING IN DORSET

with retired Dorset rights of way officer Chris Slade

Chardstock is yet another Dorset parish that was stolen

by Devon in 1896. I hope we get it back one day! Start at the church, opposite which there’s room to park. The church was built in 1865, so is DORSET FOOT HEALTH CARE Mobile foot care in the comfort of your own home. Enquiries call 07917 683569 More info @ dorsetfootcare.com

not ancient. Join the footpath that leads south through the churchyard and then crosses a field, where you can join another path on your right that takes you north-west down to a stream, the Kit. The path then bends left and heads south west up a steep hill next to a wood. This

eventually gets you to a road where you turn right and head north. You’re on higher ground now and can get good views of the countryside; looking east you can see Pilsdon Pen (once thought to be Dorset’s highest point) topped by Lewesdon Hill beyond it.

Carry on north and you may be surprised that you’ve reached the Holy City! Walk through it with due reverence and follow the road round to the left, west, for another mile until you get to a T junction where you turn right, north along the ridge to the next junction where you turn right, east. This road takes you downhill for a mile to the Somerset boundary.

Here the road turns right, crossing the Kit again and heading south east along the side of a steep hill and through woodland down to Brockfield (no badgers in sight) where you turn left, north east, along to Hook where, surprisingly, there’s a sharp bend, crossing another tributary of the Kit, and heading south east and then south.

This takes you back to the village of Chardstock, which you might like to explore (and possibly seek geocaches) before returning to your car.

You’ll have walked about eight miles.

Chris Slade

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Health & Wellbeing

How to change your life Free help is on offer to make 2024 the year you change your life: losing weight, quitting smoking, becoming more active or drinking less alcohol.

LiveWell Dorset offers an amazing free service available to every Dorset adult.

Registering takes a couple of minutes and is the first step to becoming the healthiest version of you.

Having support to stay on track with your resolutions can make all the ifference.

Weight loss client Fern said:

“I began my coaching sessions in the New Year.

“Coming off the first call with my coach, Susan, I felt

seemed sustainable.”

Coaching is one of the most popular choices and involves six sessions with a behaviour change specialist to help you ditch old habits and form healthy new ones.

Alongside coaching there are kick-start weight loss programmes: free vouchers impassioned and for local slimming groups or motivated. I did not want to an app, stop smoking quit be a January statistic, one of kits: nicotine replacement, those people who lost lots of and vape kits. weight in the New Year but Once you sign up with then piled it back on, but the LiveWell, an advisor will be way Susan approached it, it in touch to talk to you about what you want to achieve QUALIFIED HYPNOTHERAPIST and create an action plan Free 15mins consultation and half price session to get you started. for January only £40. Contact Millie: 7766812805 See livewelldorset.co.uk Mille.hypnotherapy@icloud.com

Oggy’s Footcare

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From pages 78-79

Puzzle solutions Sudoku

8 9 4 3 7 2 6 5 1

5 7 2 6 1 8 9 3 4

Crossword

6 3 7 2 8 1 4 9 5

2 4 9 7 6 5 1 8 3

9 5 1 8 4 3 7 2 6

4 6 3 9 2 7 5 1 8

7 2 8 1 5 6 3 4 9

3 1 6 5 9 4 8 7 2

1 8 5 4 3 9 2 6 7

Brain chain 30

6

2

18

3

27

Killer Sudoku Pro 12+

6

40×

5

4

20+

9

8

7

1

3

15+

9

6

7

2

9+

64×

2 4 3

8

90×

1 5

2 1

90×

3

448×

5

7

6

3

4

2

5

9

8

17+

224×

4

2

8

6

7 6

9×

9

3

5 8 1

7

7

1

1

8 9

24+

4 5

8 3

30×

5 6 1

1÷

2

3

9

3

6

9

2

1

20+

4

7

23+

7 4

9

12×

2

1

6

2

7

14×

5

8

3

945×

10+

4

9

1

7

3

5

6

8

0

2

5

4

S T R A T A C A G I L Y Y L R O O E E P E E C E N S O R E D H R H V D R D O C T R I N E B A S K O T R Y U N S A F E S P E E D S B C A R A C T S T U T O R I A L Y E U I E I S C E N A R I O U R N S L C A N S E B E F E L L S T E A D Y

Jumbo 3D Sudoku 7 8 5 6 2 1 9 2 34 3 9 4 7 8 1 6 5 4 9 6 4 1 5 6 4 1 6 1 3 5 8 8 6 9 2 9 3 2 8 3 1 9 7 5 7 9 7 7 3 2 9 5 8 8 2 5 2 3 3 4 8 7 2 5 3 1 2 8 4 9 1 4 6 8 1 67 6 4 4 3 27 1 6 9 7 5 5 9 2 6 7 4 8 8 1 3 3 5 1 7 6 7 4 6 4 1 3 5 5 2 5 9 2 9 7 9 5 8 2 4 1 2 9 6 8 8 4 2 4 3 3 1 8 6 9 7 3 2 5 6 6 9 7 6 5 4 2 8 7 1 3 1 8 5 5 4 1 7 3 1 5 9 4 3 3 2 7 4 1 9 6 7 2 8 8 6 3 9 2 7 9 2 6 5 3 7 9 8 4 3 9 1 4 5 7 1 8 6 1 8 7 8 6 3 4 2 13 1 8 5 9 27 4 8 6 5 4 7 2 6 6 1 5 5 9 2 2 9 4 8 9 3 3 5 4 6 7 1

Arrow words B I F O L O G X I S T

F C I A H I N C U S I N G O L C A R T T O R E S O D S V W I T A I N E O P S E N P E A M T F U S S M O S

T E V E N T V S

Brain chain (Hard) 20

24

18

69

138

142

Cryptic Crossword B I S E C T D R A W U P U T O A A R T E A S U B S T A N C E T T H E T F O B E Y V A R I A B L E N S I R E R R M A N I F E S T O I A D R T A D C O N T I N U E O D E R I C I A B E C H A R A C T E R E V A L G T E A R E N A M E L M A I N L Y

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Business

Making a date to change your life It’s not too late to make New Year resolutions – is it?

Have you made yours?

If you’re reading this during the first couple of days after publication (from about January 10 ‘24), you’re still in 2023.

Phew, there’s still time.

And yes, you read that correctly. You’re in 2024 and it’s still 2023. You’re in two years at the same time.

How is that possible?

Perhaps you’ve already guessed. But if not, I’ll explain below.

First, I’ll get back to those resolutions, the making (and soon after, the breaking) of which is a popular activity postChristmas.

Is this the time to be making major commitments about the year ahead?

Personally, I find it hard to be inspired during the largely sunless days of mid-winter.

Surely new beginnings are better suited to the longer, brighter days of spring?

The warm sunshine, fresh greens and bright early blooms of, say, March, are more conducive to positive

Freelance copywriter ANDREW KNOWLES is based in Wyke Regis.

He helps to support and train hundreds of small business owners.

GREG OR IAN: Make a date on your calendar

thinking. Perhaps that’s the time to make resolutions.

As it happens, our year used to start in March. For much of British history as we know it, the year began on March 25 – also known as Lady Day. We switched to January 1 in 1752.

Many characters we know from history – Henry VIII, Shakespeare, Oliver Cromwell and the like, began their years in March.

If we hadn’t changed our calendar by Act of Parliament, we’d still have a few weeks to enjoy 2023.

Still time to plan those resolutions.

The change from March to January was Britain’s adoption of the Gregorian Calendar. Most of Europe had switched from the oldstyle Julian over a century earlier, putting us out of step.

It wasn’t just about when the year began. The calendars differed in their adjustment for the astronomical year being a few hours longer than 365 days. The Julian calendar didn’t correct well for this – by 1752 it was 11 days adrift.

This meant you could receive a letter from France

purportedly written a week or so after you read it.

While some may prefer using weights and measures that differ from our Continental neighbours, operating an alternative calendar is hugely inconvenient. The difference is now 13 days.

Changing calendar in 1752 meant losing 11 days.

Thus, September was cut from 30 days to 19. The calendar jumped from September 2 to September overnight.

Contrary to popular belief, there’s no evidence of riots.

Rather than carrying reports of confused peasants demanding their 11 days back, newspaper columns announced new dates for autumn fairs.

What does all this mean?

That New Year, and the resolutions we associate with it, are moveable. You can celebrate New Year on January 1, 2024, January 14 or March 25 – or a host of other days.

What’s more important about resolving to make change in your life is not the date from which it starts, but that you’re committed to seeing those resolutions through.

Vodafone criticised for poor coverage of area Chris Loder MP has blasted Vodafone over its ‘unreflective mobile coverage’ of West Dorset. The local MP criticised the telecommunication company’s coverage map, which displays an unreflective view of areas of West Dorset as receiving 3G and 4G mobile data. Mr Loder also questioned the proposed merger between Vodafone and Three in his speech in Parliament.

He said: “Vodafone’s data on West Dorset does not reflect the reality of mobile data coverage. The company’s commercial pursuit of 5G is shortsighted, especially when many of my constituents are lucky to have a 3G or 4G connection.”

He said he remains to be convinced that the proposed merger between Vodafone and Three is a good thing for consumers,

which will see one-third of the UK’s telecommunications market under the control of one company. He said: “It’s important that we give proper consideration to the security, commercial, and tangible implications of this merger to bill payers. I’ll continue to scrutinise the plans, and I’ve called on Ofcom – as the market’s regulator – to do the same.”

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

THE LAW COLUMN

83

01305 819696 | pharaohlaw.co.uk

Where there’s a will, there’s peace of mind Lisa Pharaoh is a qualified and registered mediator with the Civil Mediation Council.

Contact her on 01305 819696 or at info@pharaohlaw.co.uk End-of-life planning is a topic which is hard to address and easy to put off.

Many people find it challenging to make a will or think about making a will as it can raise some difficult issues and questions.

The covid-19 pandemic has caused many of us to think about our lives, and life in the future.

Many will have thought about the need to make a will or review an existing one.

Here is a reminder of what may happen if you don’t have a will and why it’s good to have one in place.

If you don’t have a will, all sorts of complications can occur following your passing, not least that those you love may not be provided for at all, or maybe those you would prefer not to inherit what you have worked for will be in line to inherit everything.

Even something as simple as making

arrangements for your pets can be dealt with in your will – something most of us would not want to leave to chance.

It might surprise you to know that you do not need a face-to-face meeting to discuss arrangements for your will. This can be done on the telephone, by email or by video call.

Following your instructions to make your will, we can email (or post) a draft to you for your consideration.

We can make any amendments at that point and then discuss how to finalise your will.

Once finalised, two witnesses are required to your signature, this can be carried out in our offices in Dorchester.

You may be asking yourself if your Will needs to be professionally prepared or whether you can use a more ‘DIY’ option.

Almost without exception, a professionally drafted will is the better option. When using solicitors, not only can you be confident that your estate will pass according to your wishes and instructions, but you will be guided in thinking about your assets and family circumstances to ensure that all matters are appropriately dealt with.

We are happy to discuss your requirements with regard to your will, or estate planning.

If you have a will already, but you would like to update it, or have never made a will before and would like to, then please contact us for further advice on 01305 819696 or via email at info@ pharaohlaw. co.uk

TRANSFORM YOUR HOTEL Don’t just survive – let’s THRIVE! Over 25 years’ experience: email james@sandrock.uk

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Constituency issues

with West Dorset MP Chris Loder

Drama puts PO scandal into sharp focus

I would like to firstly wish you, your families and friends a very happy and prosperous 2024. I hope you also enjoyed Christmas – I was organist at no fewer than three carol services this year, but I’m now back at Westminster.

I am always delighted to spend time with our local post offices in West Dorset and their staff and sub postmasters.

Especially in Beaminster and Dorchester.

Their work is incredible. These people have, for a long time been community driven and I would like to say how grateful I am for everything they do.

But my respect for the senior management of the post office is quite different. I find them disingenuous, greedy and predatory – so much so that I called out their lies in the House of Commons earlier last year – not just about the Horizon system but their other behaviours as well. The Post Office board attempted to award itself enormous executive bonuses, which after parliamentary intervention we halted. Their arrogance is unbelievable – when many people deserving damages from

the Horizon nightmare had not (and still have not) been paid and when they have screwed down the transaction fees for our post offices to such a minimal amount some can barely get by.

The Post Office Horizon scandal is something that has sickened me since being in Parliament.

Here in West Dorset, at least one sub postmaster suffered from this scandal.

But that was one too many. Across the country many were falsely accused, some have died since – without getting their name cleared and it is one of the worst institutional scandals in my living memory. I have spoken in the House on numerous occasions about this and while progress has been made, it needs to be quicker. The Metropolitan Police has now announced it is investigating potential fraud offences: about time.

The Mr Bates vs The Post Office drama on ITV is shocking. So much is put into clear focus when often we have heard or looked at this issue, not fully understanding it.

But I want to let you know that I will stop at nothing until we:

1) Get Paula Vennells stripped of her CBE honour; 2) Remove the appeals and recompense process from the Post Office itself; 3) Get real and proper justice for everyone who has been affected by this, and 4) Get an answer out of the leader of the Liberal Democrats as to why he took £275,000 from the Post Office’s legal firm who were fighting the subpostmasters.

Ed Davey, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, was Post Office minister during this time. He not only should answer to Parliament why, when he was the minister, did he ignore the calls for help, but the national press reported a few months ago that Ed Davey was recruited as a consultant by the Post Office’s own lawyers – the very same time that sub-postmasters looked to take action against the Post Office to clear their name – in 2017. Maybe the Lib Dems will be able to shed some light on that in next month’s edition.

As always, if I can help, you can contact me by email: hello@chrisloder.co.uk or write to me at House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.

Politics

Trust us to bring back integrity and decency This year is going to be a big one for residents of West Dorset because it is an election year. We are going to have elections for Dorset Council, as well as the town councils, in May. And at some point (your guess is as good as mine) a General Election.

Liberal Democrats work hard all year round, not just in election years. That’s why last year we held over 30 residents’ surgeries, knocked on over 10,000 doors, spoke to over 5,000 residents about their concerns. And delivered over 300,000 leaflets highlighting the issues affecting West Dorset and what we will do to address them.

By EDWARD MORELLO West Dorset LibDems

In 2024 we’ll be asking you to trust us to run the town councils, run Dorset Council, and represent you in Westminster.

In the coming weeks we will be launching our manifesto for the local elections, outlining our priorities for what a Liberal Democrat-run Dorset Council will do if you support us in May. Residents rightly want to see improved local services and better value for money for our council tax.

Holding the General Election on the same day as the local

elections is significantly cheaper for the taxpayer than doing them on separate days.

Sadly this Government has never been particularly bothered about such trivial things. So we may have to wait until October for a chance to show them how fed up we are with the corruption, cronyism, and waste.

There are strong and important voices for Labour and the Green Party in West Dorset. But they can’t win here come the General Election. The parties know that. That’s why I’m asking their supporters to lend their support to the Liberal Democrats on election day.

I know also that there are

many, many voters who may have traditionally voted Conservative in West Dorset but who are sickened by the way the party has behaved, and feel the Conservative Party politicians in Westminster no longer reflect their values. To those people I ask that you also lend your support to the Liberal Democrats. Let’s return decency, integrity, and accountability to British politics. New years are often an opportunity for to start afresh and 2024 will certainly provide us with the chance for change. Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats will keep on working hard all year round.

The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

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Politics

Increased parking fees damaging to seaside resorts One of the more controversial decisions made by Dorset Council in 2023 was the increase in car parking fees.

According to local business owners this has had a significant effect on trade, particularly in areas like West Bay that rely on visits from tourists.

Dorset Council has admitted that visitor numbers have been much worse than expected, but have blamed this on the poor summer weather.

Local traders, however, strongly disagree, and cite the numerous complaints they have received about the cost of parking as evidence that the fees are discouraging visitors.

This is not a simple matter to resolve.

By KELVIN CLAYTON West Dorset Green Party

For example, from the perspective of the need to radically reduce carbon emissions there is a strong case for discouraging the use of cars.

However, for this to be effective we need cheap, regular and reliable public transport. In places like West Dorset, how else are local residents living in small villages going to access the shops and local services they need? How else are visitors going to travel to their holiday destination, let alone visit other local tourist sites once they are here?

We need to make public transport an easier and

cheaper option than the use of private cars – a situation that that is very far from being the case at the moment.

An important factor in issues like this raising of car parking fees is not only allowing the opportunity for all perspectives to be aired before the decision is made, but allowing these perspectives to be discussed and challenged in an open and honest way.

One way of achieving this would be to start experimenting with what is sometimes called ‘deliberative democracy’ – a practice in which the possible solutions to public problems are discussed by representatives of the varying viewpoints in the presence of experts who

can answer technical questions. Such a practice, if developed by Dorset Council, would be far more inclusive and creative than their usual, very structured, ‘public consultations’.

However, as much as car parking tariffs would make an excellent topic for such an experiment in local deliberative democracy, I don’t think that the local businesses in places such as West Bay can afford to wait. They need a review of these tariffs before the holiday season starts.

Dorset councillors need to accept that we have got this one wrong. Reputations are hard to win but easy to lose, and once our seaside resorts get the reputation of being too expensive to visit they may never recover.

Tories have abandoned our farmers On behalf of West Dorset Labour, I’d like to wish all readers a very Happy New Year full of hope and good cheer, a peaceful and healthy 2024. I hope this year brings an end to the conflict and suffering in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and other areas around the world.

Closer to home, my hope for this year is to have a general election and a Labour government. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak seems to be trying to push back the date for a general election, saying it will most likely be in the second half of the year. What’s he worried about? Why doesn’t he just bring it on?

The sensible time to have it would be in May, when we

By CLAUDIA SORIN West Dorset Labour Party

will also be having local elections but he’s choosing to cling to power and do more damage in the process.

Sooner rather than later would be a blessing for us all.

Whether it’s in five months or ten months, as ours is a rural constituency Labour’s plans relating to farming and agriculture may be of interest to you.

Labour has vowed to enhance food security and empower the UK agriculture sector with a significant ‘new deal for farmers’. This includes a target that at least half of the food used in public institutions, such as hospitals,

schools and prisons, is to be produced locally.

Dorset farmers have been abandoned by the Conservative government and have faced 14 years of broken promises.

Across this constituency and this country, farmers need a decade of national renewal with the countryside at its heart.

Labour will work with the sector to deliver better scrutiny of trade deals, better public procurement practices to support UK farmers and support for farmers who want to adopt regenerative agricultural methods such as increasing wetlands and forests.

A Labour government will deliver lower energy bills for

farmers by switching on GB Energy, lower red tape at our borders including veterinary and plant agreements to get our great food exports moving again and use the government’s own purchasing power to back British producers.

The party has set 2030 as the deadline for when it wants UK electricity production to be fully renewable, we will help rural landowners by speeding up the planning process from years to months for connecting clean energy projects to the grid.

Labour will deliver the biggest-ever transfer of power from Westminster to people in all parts of the country, enabling rural communities to control their own futures.

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The West Dorset Magazine, January 2024

Agriculture

Introducing wee coos to our soggy menagerie!

Mud-phobic Tria Stebbing lives on the outskirts of Sherborne. She keeps sheep, is working on her first book, and works in a village school.

It is fair to say December has been a bit of a bugger in the smallholder’s world.

When winter is near we stack bales of straw, hay and winter feed to see us through. What we didn’t anticipate with this atrocious weather is not being able to tow anything across the waterlogged fields to get to it.

Our field has finally succumbed to the downpours, resembling a bald paddy field – we have no chance of getting even a wheelbarrow across to the hay.

long outer coat which has oils to repel wind and snow. Sebastian, Belle and the calf….Babybel live in luxury on the hillside eating the roughest grazing and loving it.

Our winter grazing landowner was happy to accommodate the fold, as long as we kept an eye on the fences, as the coos love a good scratch on anything static.

Unfortunately, Sebastian took a dislike to the water trough on his first day, put his long horns underneath and upended it, breaking the water pipe. The plumber did not seem too keen to enter the now very soggy area, being met by a giant ginger beast throwing his head back and giving out an impressive call of the wild.

I took some apples as Seb has a very sweet tooth and distracted the fold whilst the water was turned off and the pipe fixed. To ensure the water trough stays put, we have banged fence posts

around it... hopefully it will survive. They are magnificent beasts and we are lucky Seb loves to be groomed, he stands still and places his head on the ground whilst combed and brushed.

We are hoping that Belle will follow suit soon, for now she is very protective of her calf, understandably as he is still suckling.

The longer farming forecasts are suggesting a cold snap with the possibility of some snow midJanuary. I should start training for hauling bales up the hillside, whist being shouted at by the sheep.

We have decided not to lamb this year, and have our fingers crossed for a Highland calf to expand numbers. The older ewes have been retired and we have rented out the rams to other flocks to keep them doing what they need to do, all in all a very busy if not very soggy time.

encourage biodiversity and create new habitats for wildlife while producing food.

Business Information Point, alongside other local agencies, are providing free one-toone advice, workshops, and specialist webinars Agricultural advisor Dave Crabb to guide farmers through runs an on-farm soils workshop this challenging time. your farm business and The free support includes: develop an agreed and Transition workshops: Local documented action plan. workshops to discuss the Small group webinars: changes coming through the Covering topics such as digital transition and look at new skills, succession planning, funding options, as well as woodlands, environmental planning strategies for the schemes, soil management, future. diversification, marketing, One-to-one support: One-tobusiness planning and grant one support with an schemes. experienced agricultural Digital training: Build digital advisor to talk specifically s confidence and gain IT skills

to better manage your farm business. This could include, basic IT skills, submitting tax online, and promoting a diversified farm using social media, Google or paid online advertising.

Wellbeing support: Raising awareness for wellbeing support services available to the farming community through workshops and at rural events, such as livestock markets and agricultural shows. The support is free and available to any farmer or land manager currently in receipt of BPS payments.

For full details of the support and to register on any of the workshops go to the Business Information Point website – businessinfopoint.co.uk/ffr/ or call 0800 592 872.

The Zwartbles’ numbers have reduced down to a more manageable flock and we have diversified into the world of the Highland cow. Luckily, we had the opportunity to move both flock and fold to grazing on the big hill in the village. Highlands are hardy beasts, and a hillside in Dorset is nothing compared to the barren mountainsides they are bred for. Their Dossan, (a Highland cow’s fringe), protects a cow’s eyes from the wind and rain, as well as keeping flies away. They are blessed with a double coat – an undercoat and a

Free support for Dorset farmers to help navigate new payment schemes

By Marianne McHugh Farmers across Dorset can access Defra-funded support through the Future Farming Resilience Programme.

This support aims to help farmers, land managers and their families understand the changes happening in agriculture right now.

As well as the gradual phasing out of Basic Payments, which end altogether in 2027, new funding schemes and grants are available to farmers. These include ELMS (the Environmental Land Management scheme) which encourage farmers to focus on sustainable farming practices,

The West Dorset Magazine, February 2023

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