Oldest Channel swimmers stage coup

By Miranda Robertson miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Six septuagenarian Channel swimmers frustrated by a governing body’s refusal to ratify their world record-breaking swim have helped stage a coup – to boot out several members of the body’s committee at its AGM.

The One Foot in the Wave II team, which has four members from Dorset, were all in their 70s when they swam to France in September, hoping to clinch the record for the oldest relay team ever to swim the Channel, with an average age of 75 years and 187 days.

One of the team, Robert Lloyd-Evans, is now 80. Despite their advancing years the team had almost decided to do the swim all over again, after the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation (CF&PF) turned their swim down – saying they had broken the rules during a changeover. The team maintain they did not, and say they adhered to the rules during the feat. They used a pilot and observer accredited by the federation, who both congratulated them when they reached France. However the federation’s committee narrowly voted not to ratify the swim. They refused to clarify what rule had been broken, and did not respond to requests from the regional and national media for comment. The silver lining to all this was people were so outraged on the team's behalf they swelled the fundraising for Alzheimer’s to more than £10,000.

The swimmers, including Bob Holman of Affpuddle, now 78, Linda Ashmore from Weymouth, 75, Bob Roberts from Weymouth, 74, Kevin Murphy from Dover, 73, and Parviz Habibi from Surbiton, 70, appealed, but the committee turned them down. They believe a personality clash within the committee was a major factor in the decision not to ratify the swim.

Two related members of the committee put their own candidate up for the secretary's post against Kevin at the AGM, plus a third family member for another post... and the team felt enough was enough. They travelled to Dover en masse to support their own candidates for three committee posts. The chairman has now been replaced, three more of the team’s candidates were also voted in, and Kevin held his secretary role, leaving the way clear for the team to again push for ratification.

Bob Holman said: “Normally they have about 20-30 people at their AGM, but there were around 60 this year. The atmosphere was electric. They thought we were going to roll over and accept their decision. But they now know they can't have it all their own way.” The issue has revolved around the oldest swimmer Robert Lloyd-Evans, then 79, becoming disorientated and swimming away from the boat just as he was due to come out of the water for the next swimmer to go in. Getting his attention was difficult, but he was back on the boat within four minutes. The CS&PF rules state that the outgoing swimmer must leave the water within five minutes. The rules also state that each swimmer should swim for 60 minutes which Robert did, plus an extra four minutes. The rules don’t say each swimmer must swim for 60 minutes precisely and there is no clarification if a swimmer swims more than 60 minutes. The team hope to have these rules made much clearer, with a clause in there allowing for safety concerns. However they will have to wait until the issue is cascaded to members.

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Take the bait for fascinating talk on fishing community

Oral history writer and poet Sarah Acton will be talking about the traditions of fishing communities along Chesil Beach on Wednesday, March 22 at 2pm at the Salthouse in West Bay. Sarah’s recently published book Seining Along Chesil remembers the communities involved locally for generations in seine fishing for mackerel and sprats. Tickets £2 online or in person from Bridport Tourist Information Centre.

This is the first event of West Bay

Discovery Centre’s 2023 programme entitled Beneath the Waves. From late March the Discovery Centre’s seasonal exhibition will feature the history of commercial fishing in Lyme Bay. It explores how more than 200sqkm of Lyme Bay has become a Marine Protected Area where protection from bottom

La nd a t Athelhamp ton Road

Following the allocaon of land at Athelhampton Road in the Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan, Wya Homes in conjuncon with the landowner are pleased to present their emerging ideas for the site.

Thursday, Mar 9

West Dorset Ramblers will enjoy a 5.5-mile pub walk from The Wise Man, West Stafford at 10am. Contact Cynthia 01300 320346 ramblers.org.uk

Clocktower Music is hosting classical piano and sitar maestros Andrew Goldberg and Ricky Romain. Tickets from Bridport Tourist Information Centre 01308 424901.

Members £2.50, Membership £5 per year. For further details contact Chris on 07914 079067.

The Making of Bridport – An Illustrated Talk by Tim Connor will be held at Literary & Scientific Institute - LSi Bridport at 7pm. Join the Bridport Area Development Trust and architectural historian Tim Connor for an evening of historical insight into the making of Bridport.

Please visit our public exhibition between 3pm 7 7pm on the 2 22nd March 2023 at Puddletown Village Hall, DT2 8RX hps://athelhamptonroad.clplanning.co.uk

We understand the exhibion might not prove convenient for everyone. Please follow the below link for further informaon and an opportunity to give feedback.

Your feedback will influence the form and content of the planning applicaon.

Bridge evenings held at St Andrews Church Hall, Preston every Thursday at 6.45pm for 7pm. £3. Competitive bridge, around 24 boards and finish around 10.15pm. For players with no partner and wish to take up the game, there is a host player. Covid decimated this very active club, which is just beginning to pick itself up, but they need more players.

Chard History Group will hear a talk on the paintings of William Hogarth, by Richard Kay. All dates are on the second Thursday at the Phoenix Chard at 7.30pm. Visitors £3.50,

Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Tickets £5, available from Bridport Tourist Information Centre. Find out more at lsibridport.co.uk

Comediennes Janey Godley and Helen Lederer will make guest appearances at Dorset’s first women’s health symposium at Lighthouse Poole.

Helen Lederer, who has long had a keen interest in promoting and supporting women in the health arena will be launching the day’s event asking: “Why do we need to talk about women’s health?”

Marianne Storey, chair of Women’s Action Network Dorset, said: “With the publication of the Women’s Health Strategy last year, there has never been a more pertinent time to hear women’s voices or to share and learn about where Dorset is at in supporting women with their health.”

The strategy sets out a 10-year plan to improve health outcomes for women, looking specifically at how women’s voices are heard.

Janey Godley herself has been undergoing her own treatment for ovarian cancer and she knows first-hand the importance of speaking up about women’s health.

“Ovarian cancer has been a rollercoaster of emotions; I’m more determined than ever to live life to the full and to stick two fingers up to the stigma of cancer and everything that goes with it…I’m delighted to be sharing my story at this event in the middle of my I’m Not Dead Yet tour. We need to talk about this kind of stuff. Cancer can jog on as far as I’m concerned.” Book at eventbrite.co.uk

Friday, Mar 10

The Friends of Greenhill Gardens (greenhillgardens.co.uk, 01305 768446) are holding a Teddy Bears Picnic Quiz at 7.30pm at Preston Village Hall. Tickets £12 including Picnic Box Supper.

A five foot teddy bear will be auctioned off.

Easy subject and picture rounds and a joker card to double your points. Teams of up to six. Tickets from Jane Chandler janechandler123@hotmail.com 01305 775829.

The Loyal Hand in Hand Lodge of Oddfellows is holding a Friday Coffee Morning at Crossways Village Hall between 10.30am and noon. All welcome.

A book sale is being held at Beaminster Museum between 10am and 1pm.

To donate a book or two visit on Friday morning or phone 01308 863912 for collection. Opening for 2023 season on April 7, for more details visit beaminstermuseum.co.uk

A whist drive is held every Saturday, 7.30pm, at Holy Trinity Church Hall, Lysander Road, Yeovil, BA20 2BU. Just turn up, or call Nigel on 01935 862325 for more details.

Prize bingo at Maiden Newton Village Hall. Doors open at 2pm. Eyes down at 2.30pm.

The Dorset Wrecks are performing Sea songs & Shanties at St Nicholas Church in Broadwey at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm). Tickets £8 (cash only please), proceeds split between The Fisherman’s Mission & St. Nicholas Church Repair Fund. Cash bar.To book in advance contact Susana on 07944 617553 or susanamalik@ yahoo.com

Repair Cafe Weymouth will be held 10.30am-12.30pm at Top Club Littlemoor, Louviers Road, DT3 6AY. Bring your broken items be repaired by volunteers. We don’t charge; we just ask for donations. As the April event would fall on Easter Saturday, it has been cancelled.

Dorchester Science Festival kicks off today. Build a library reading rocket

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Guitar builders’ love of old tools leads to new auctions

Guitar makers in Piddlehinton decided they love old tools so much and feel so heartbroken when they are unused they want to devote entire auctions to them – and the next is on Friday, March 17

VintageToolAuctions.com was born out of a guitar builder’s love of hand tools, and a need to supply his apprentices with them. Shop manager Sam Faloon said: “Tools are often passed down the generations, somehow seeming to take on a hint of the personality and character of the creators who

CHAMBER MUSIC MINI-TOURS IN DORSET AND SOMERSET

BRIDPORT - CREWKERNE - ILMINSTER - PENDOMER (NR YEOVIL)

UPLYME - UPWEY (NR WEYMOUTH)

3 FEBRUARY TO 5 NOVEMBER 2023

• 3, 4, 5 FEBRUARY SPIRITATO

• 3, 4 MARCH

ROSALIND VENTRIS VIOLA

RICHARD UTTLEY PIANO

• 21, 22, 23 APRIL ENSEMBLE MOLIÈRE

• 5, 6 MAY

NORTHERN CHORDS ENSEMBLE

• 2, 3, 4 JUNE CHAMBERMUSICBOX

• 7, 8 JULY

FAIR ORIANA

PENELOPE APPLEYARD SOPRANO

ANGELA HICKS SOPRANO

• 1, 2 SEPTEMBER RICCARDO PES CELLO ALEXANDER BOYD PIANO

• 6, 7 OCTOBER EMMANUEL BACH VIOLIN

JULIAN TREVELYAN PIANO

• 3, 4, 5 NOVEMBER FITZROY QUARTET

Please visit our website for performers, venues, dates and how to book. Online booking - https://tickets.concertsinthewest.org/ concertsinthewest@gmail.com - CATHERINE MADDOCKS DIRECTOR www.concertsinthewest.org use it. If you have a favourite hand plane, chisel, penknife or even dibber you will know the magic. You can feel the marks of how the handle has been held in a certain way, bringing the blade to bear ‘just so’ and thus informing how future generations use the tool.

“All too often what could be a multi-generational inspiration ends up in a skip to be melted into some knick knack or

Mar 11 continued from ‘space junk’. Fun craft and story session for children and families. 11am. There’s a talk from the UK Space Agency at 2pm – Come along and learn all about the UKs first orbital launch attempt, the UK space agency and much more!

Booking for both the above is essential via Eventbrite

From 11am-1pm and from 2pm-4pm there’s cool kitchen science experiments with Professor Big Bonce. Come and meet a real scientist! Admittance to the Family Science Day this year is by ticket only. Tickets are FREE from the Dorset Museum website. Due to high demand for this event we sincerely ask that if you reserve a place but then are unable to go, that you cancel it to make the place available.

Sunday, Mar 12

The Critter Clan presents their all-new talk, Plagues, Pests & Parasites! With sessions from single use travesty. The sheer abundance of good tools needing time and love inspired us to start a specialist vintage tool auction house.”

See page 15 for details.

11am-3pm. Imagine watching Horrible Histories but with some of nature’s weirdest creatures and discover their impact on us as humans, be it useful or indeed a little bit gruesome!

Visitors will be able to get up close and personal with some amazing creatures from all over the world. Including medical marvels, perilous pests and infesting parasites normally reserved for TV programmes. Tickets are free, but booking is essential, available from the Dorset Museum website.

Dorset Ramblers: Stourpaine & Hod Hill. Seven-mile morning walk. Details: Davebass54@hotmail.com or Facebook: Dorset Ramblers.

Star Wars - The Audiovisual Experience will be held at Tom Browns Pub, Dorchester at 4pm. Join them for an experimental 70s cinema experience featuring Vanilla Radio creating a new improvised soundtrack, grindhouse style cinema adverts and trailers. Free entry.

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Monday, Mar 13

Detox your Menopause: a talk at Aquae Sulis Therapy Centre, Dorchester Are you suffering from menopausal symptoms and don't know what to do?

Toxicity might be the true cause of your problems. Join professional Holistic Therapist Martina Weidner as she explores the menopause – toxin link and how to free yourself from it. Booking essential at Eventbrite.

Dorchester Science Festival continues with a talk on Will an AI win the Chemistry Nobel Prize?

In this talk Prof Jeremy Frey will illustrate how computers are an essential part of modern chemistry and highlight the growing role of artificial intelligence. Tickets are free but essential. Collect from the Thomas Hardye School reception, (max 4 per person).

The Glasgow Boys & Girls – a three-week art history course, starts today 2pm-3.30pm, in Bridport, (March 13, 20, 27) Also available on line via Zoom on Fridays 2pm. Fee £33, venue the United Church Hall on East Street Drop in lectures are £13. Fee £30 on Zoom.

The Glasgow Boys were a group of young artists that represented the beginnings of modernism in Scottish painting. In the early 1880s, artists were united by their disillusionment with traditional academic painting, with its focus on historical subjects. Tutor is Pam Simpson MA, Art and Design Historian. Email chris.pam simpson@btinternet.com

Tuesday, Mar 14

Radipole & Southill

Horticultural Society will be holding its next meeting at the Southill Community Centre at 7.30pm when Kevin Pope from the Animal and Plant Health Agency will be talking about his role as a seasonal bee inspector (SBI) for the Dorset area. Amongst other things, the role of an SBI covers assessing the health and well-being of bee colonies, investigating diseases and spreading best practice. Come along and find out how this most important of pollinating insects can be helped to survive and thrive. The event is open to members and non-members. Information on 01305 788939.

Dorchester Science Festival continues with Rhymetime RockSTARS – space themed Rhymetime session for babies and young toddlers at Dorchester Library at 10.30am. Best for ages 0-18 months. Booking essential at Eventbrite.

Mark Chutter will talk on ‘This is the meaning of what Satan showed me in the vision’: Women and Witchcraft in The Withered Arm and Lolly Willowes. He will consider how women and witchcraft are presented differently by Hardy and LGBTQ+ communist Sylvia Townsend Warner.

Tickets £6 from the Shire Hall Museum.

Wednesday, Mar 15

A Poetry Open Mic will be held at The Occasional Bookshop 16 Durngate Street, Dorchester 6pm-8pm (Doors open 5.30pm). Bring your own or other people’s poems to read or just come and listen. Free copies of The Occasional Poetry Magazine will be available. Drinks in interval. All welcome.

Thursday, Mar 16

Sherborne Historical Society will hear from Dr Susan Greaney on Where History

Meets Legend: research and presentation at Tintagel Castle, at 8pm, Preceded by the AGM at 7.45pm, at Digby Hall, Hound Street. Members free, visitors £5 sherbornehistoricalsociety.co.uk

Continued next page

Thatched, Grade II-listed 16th century freehouse at the heart of the historic village of Yetminster. Acclaimed Sunday roasts.

Classics fun run. Classic car and motorcycle-friendly.

Large, floodlit asphalt surfaced rear car park with CCTV. Car wash facilities.

Dorchester TRINITY Club

Bingo Weds, Sat, Sun

Pool, darts & skittles

Weddings & events a year to join! £5 dorchtrinityclub@gmail.com

01305 262671

Moonfleet 2000 Indoor Bowls Club

The Marsh Sports Ground Knightsdale Road Weymouth DT4 0HU

Saturday, April 22, 10am-2pm

Come and try indoor bowls

Fully qualified coaches

FREE PARKING, SHOES AND BOWLS

No need to book

If you need any more information please ring 01305 759106

Mar 16 continued

Vinyl Van in Brewery Square, Dorchester, will celebrate The Joy of Decks from 7.30pm until 10.30pm. Find your inner DJ, bring three tunes and take over the decks at the monthly social – always a friendly crowd and a small bar is available. No charge, just bring a smile

Friday, Mar 17

Maiden Newton Art Group present an illustrated Art Lecture by Pam Simpson, ‘The Dutch Golden Age’ at 7pm in the Maiden Newton Village Hall. Tickets £7 including refreshments.

The Quiz Night being run by Crossways Pantomimers to raise funds for their next production that was scheduled for March 3 has been moved to Friday, March 17. A Quiz Challenge with Rod Brewer at Crossways Village Hall. To start at 7.30pm.

Teams of four. £20 per team including a ploughman’s style supper. Bring your own beverages. Call Andrew or Mary on 01305 8753125 or email crosswaysquiznight@gmail.com

Retro Aerobics will be occurring at 7pm for Red Nose Day at Blast Off PT Fitness and Mindset Coaching in North Square, Dorchester. Dust off your leg warmers, dig out your fancy dress and dial the cheese-level up to 11