The West Dorset Magazine, Edition 8, May 20, 2022

Edition 8

Friday, May 20, 2022

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The West Dorset Magazine Stop the diggers!

Urgent calls to halt work on 4,000 homes Full story, P11

Plus FIVE PAGES of Whasson? And where’s it to?

Plus FOUR PAGES of Culture and NINE PAGES of Sport What’s not to like?

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

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RS! E N N U T PAGE 3 S

Simon Craft captured this photo of the scarce hoopoe in Haydon Hill Close in Charminster at 5.30am last Friday. He said: “It's an Eurasian Hoopoe. About 100 or so visit the UK every year, so it's classed as a scarce bird rather than a rare bird. That's the second one I've seen this year – the first was on Portland a few weeks ago.”

County urged to ‘join dots’ on climate

By Dan Goater newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Campaigners staged a protest at County Hall, claiming Dorset Council is not ‘joining the dots’ in its climate emergency plan.

Extinction Rebellion supporter Caz Dennett said protestors oppose plans for further fossil fuel production in Dorset including a waste incinerator on Portland.

Caz said: “Dorset Council is three years old. Which also means it is three years since it declared a climate and ecological emergency and our protest is a reminder about the need for consistent and urgent action. Dorset Council is not joining the dots between its climate emergency action plan and other council strategies such as finance, planning and transport. There are also

PROTEST: Action outside County Hall

contradictory decisions that undermine its promises and undo good progress, an example is the council’s recent motion to support new fossil fuel energy production in Dorset, such as oil drilling near Puddletown and a proposed waste incinerator on Portland.

“Extinction Rebellion say no to new oil and gas extraction, no more fossil fuel

investments in our pension scheme or incineration plants to burn waste materials such as plastics. Extinction Rebellion supporters believe that Dorset Council is saying one thing and doing another.”

Caz added: “Last month the United Nations clearly stated that investing in new fossil fuels infrastructure is moral and economic madness, and the International Energy Agency also says there should be no new fossil fuel extraction. And yet, just ten days later, Dorset Council voted to support an energy strategy that includes new oil and gas extraction nationally and here in Dorset.

“We’re asking them: ‘Is the UN wrong to say we must prevent new fossil fuel extraction?’

“You have to wonder if the

council actually understands the realities of the climate crisis.

“Similarly, the UN said if you invest in the stock market, if you care about justice and our children’s future, then demand an end to all fossil fuel subsidies, and so we ask Dorset Council, why does it continue to invest £41million of pension fund money in fossil fuel companies?

“Even mega investment house BlackRock says excluding fossil fuels is morally right and financially safe.

“Therefore, we ask Dorset Council aren’t their decisions simply moral and economic madness?” n For further information on climate campaigning in Dorset visit facebook.com/ events/747476876420184

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Charles opens new playground at Poundbury Dorchester photographer Steve Pallant captured these images when Prince Charles came to open the new playground at Poundbury.

The prince was flanked by Conservative MPs Michael Gove, Jacob Rees Mogg and West Dorset’s Chris Loder.

Super models on roof funds march French and Turkish infantrymen, Ukrainian Cossacks and Indian Army elephants will march through Caundle Marsh on Father’s Day – sort of.

St Peter and St Paul Church warden and model enthusiast Edward Cowan is setting up a display of military models as part of a fundraiser for the church roof repair fund.

The model display will be held from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, June 19 in the Walled Garden next to Glebe House off the A3030.

The models on display will depict George III’s 1937 Gold State coach with King George

GOLDEN WONDER: George III’s state coach

VI and Queen Elizabeth sitting inside, the Irish State coach with Princess Diana, a large escort of cavalry and carriages with Queen Victoria and attendants on board.

The model display will also include a Royal Marine band, a Highland band, French and Turkish troops, the Bikanir camel corps, Indian elephants and Ukrainian Cossacks.

Edward said: “There will be a

second attraction: a stand to encourage potential model makers of any age to forsake their mobile telephones and try their hand at something creative in the tactile sense.

“On hand will be a number of ship models, made by members of the Society of Model Shipwrights, and a nearly completed miniature version of Mont Saint Jean which on June 18, 1815 was

the main Allied hospital for casualties suffered at the battle of Waterloo.

“Visitors will be encouraged to try their hand at figure painting and model making with a prize book on model railway scenery creation for the child that is judged to have produced the best results.”

Also on display will be a large model of the Chateau of Hougoumont, the scene of a tremendous conflict during the battle of Waterloo over several hours between two divisions of the French army and British Guards regiments, the latter being victorious.

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

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Direct trains to London are welcomed South Western Railway has introduced two direct trains per hour between Weymouth and London Waterloo to its new timetable after the service was reduced to one train per hour during the pandemic.

It comes on top of major improvements to Weymouth station and forecourt as part of Dorset Coastal Forum’s forecourt upgrade scheme.

SWR’s performance and planning director Steve Tyler said: “Despite the challenges faced by the railway in the aftermath of the pandemic, we remain wholeheartedly committed to maximising the connectivity of our region and ensuring that all

GREAT NEWS: Cllr Ray Bryan

corners of the SWR network are provided with a reliable train service.

“The reintroduction of two direct trains per hour between Weymouth and Waterloo, combined with a whole host of improvements at Weymouth station, represents a real boost to frequency, journey times, connectivity and customer experience.”

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for highways, travel and environment said:“This is

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welcome news as we head into the busy tourist season, and thousands of visitors will have an easier journey to Weymouth.

Stronger public transport routes are absolutely vital to support the local economy and help promote sustainable travel, both of which are key priorities for Dorset Council.”

West Dorset MP Chris Loder has campaigned extensively for greater rail service provision not just in West Dorset but across the region.

Mr Loder said: “After years of campaigning, I am delighted to see major improvements to Weymouth station and we have finally got our two trains per hour back

between Weymouth, Dorchester and London as well.

“It is an important boost to our summer economy for West Dorset and I’m grateful to the railway for finally getting the station fit to welcome thousands of visitors to one of the nicest beaches in the country” Last year, Mr Loder held a summit in Weymouth alongside South Dorset MP Richard Drax to highlight the issues facing Weymouth and Dorchester South Stations, including the condition of the Station buildings and canopies. Mr Loder is ‘delighted’ to see progress, but the campaign for Dorchester South station continues.

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Thurs, May 19 Arts Society West Dorset will welcome Chloe Sayer to talk on British Travellers in Mexico: Lost Cities and surreal worlds at 2.30pm at Bridport Town Hall.

Visitors welcome, £7.50.

West Bay Discovery Centre is inviting people to take a step back into the Jurassic with them at 2pm.

Dr Robert Chandler, an expert on the middle Jurassic period, will be leading a guided walk that will explore the shoreline near Burton Bradstock. The walk will discover the creatures of the area’s Jurassic age and outline of what the rock strata and fossils of around 170 million years ago can tell us about a world now longgone.

The walk, which is part of the Discovery Centre’s exhibition programme, Buried in Time, will last around two hours. It’s suitable for anyone who is comfortable with walking over uneven terrain, but not for younger children (and no dogs). Booking in advance is required via the Discovery Centre’s website or Facebook page and a minimum donation of £5 per person is sought.

Dr Chandler is one of the fossil experts currently featured in the Centre’s Buried in Time exhibition.

An internationally recognised expert he advises the Natural History Museum and has a lifelong interest in the fossils of the West Dorset area. The Buried in Time exhibition runs until the end of

Fine fare for the Piddle Inn A new event that celebrates local food and drink, makers and suppliers is being held in Piddletrenthide on Sunday, May 22, on the Piddle Valley School playing field from 10am2pm. Entry free. It will feature produce from: Bee Wrap UK Bridge Farm Cider Buckshaw milk Sheep Dorset Farm Foods Dorset Lamb Duir Soap Fordington Gin Nell’s award winning chutneys and preserves Olives and things Lynn Mailer, chairman of the Friends of the Piddle Inn, said: “This is our first Piddle Fare, October at the centre, which is open 11am-4pm Tuesday to Sunday. It does not charge admission but welcomes donations from visitors to help meet its running costs. Find out more on the Discovery Centre, What’s On page westbaydiscoverycentre. org.uk.

Friday, May 20 Mike Denham presents Journey Through The Jazz Age Music and Stories at Loders Village Hall at 6.30pm for 7pm in aid of Arthritis Research.

Tickets in advance to include supper £20 from 01308 868690 and 01308 425965.

St Mary’s School in Charminster is holding a bingo night from 7pm10pm at the Charminster

hopefully this will become an annual event and will grow and grow.

“As a group, the Friends, are committed to providing social and community events as part of the campaign to keep our local pub, The Piddle Inn.” Friends of the Piddle Inn are organising this event for their local community as part of their campaign to reopen their local pub. friendsofthepiddlein.co.uk Community Hall.

The PTA is raising funds for new outdoor equipment for reception class. £5 a book. Open to all. Cash bar and there are some great prizes.

A Classic Vehicle Show is being held at Brewery Square in Dorchester from 11am-2pm.

Dorchester Classic Vehicle Club will bring a range of classic vehicles.

Saturday, May 21 A Duck Race & Fun Day will be held at Tom Brown’s Pub, in High East Street, Dorchester, from midday.

The annual duck race is in aid of Young Lives Vs Cancer.

There’s also Hook a Duck, Splat the Duck, Tombola, Raffle/ auction, music,

comedy and face painting.

From 10am-4pm there’s a Jurassic Coast Trust Workshop at Cineworld Weymouth, hosted by We Are Weymouth to tie in with their Dino-trail.

There will be special workshops hosted by the Jurassic Coast Trust including real fossil handling, colouring activities, ammonite making and a chance to speak to the experts about all things Jurassic Coast.

This is a FREE activity, no need to book, just come along anytime.

An Annual Plants Sale and Car Boot will be held at St Swithun's Church, Bridport, from 10am.

Clothes, bric a brac, tombola, jazz, produce and crafts.

Sellers book in advance on 07887 483228.

From 7.30pm-1am there’s a Wild Garden Free Party with The Avalon Sound in Bridport.

This is a free party with live music from 'The Avalon Sound ' & DJs. Dress code Goddesses & Legends. Hot food & a fully stocked bar. Tickets growslow.co.uk/eventdetails/wild-garden-free-pa rty-with-the-avalon-sound There’s a Vegan Eco Living & Craft Market in Barrack Street, Bridport, from 10am.

The friendly little market has a lovely range of eco and vegan products including delicious food and drink. Local arts and crafts stalls and plants too!

Continued on page 8

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Summer fair fun for all the family A new summer fair for The Wessex Event Company will be held in the stunning surroundings of Bryanston School on May 28 and 29.

Event organisers are promising a lovely weekend of funfilled and relaxing activities ‘for all the family’ and a host of delicious food, including Thai, bratwurst, falafels, Dorset lamb burgers, pizza and Jens ice-creamwill be served in the Hot Street Food Area and a variety of drinks from Copperstill Bar with music to complete the senses from Rob Jeffries from Stealing Whiskey, Emma Hardy, Max Elmore, Matt Griffiths, and Phil Smith.

The health and well-being area will be showcasing therapies to help ease those physical and mental aches and pains or visitors can take part in yoga and tai-chi sessions, which will be running over the weekend.

The event has organised blacksmithing demonstrations, where Live music | crafts | food & drink | garden | plants | home visitors can see experts at work and kid’s entertainment moulding and shaping wonderful garden designs.

A children’s entertainment area includes a bouncy castle, rides, games and face painting plus there will be circus workshops on both days where children can learn the arts of circus Admission magic. Andy the Magic Man will perform live shows and tour the fair, Adult £3.50 | Concessions £3.00 | Children go free making balloon animals for little ones. www.thewessexeventcompany.co.uk A spokesperson said: “The cost of entry is being held at the same price as the last five years at our other fairs, making this one of the most affordable, family friendly, value for money days out you will find in the area this summer.

“So come early, stay late and enjoy a wonderful day out in the most beautiful of settings. We would like to thank our sponsors The Hendy Group, WITH THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS Meyers Estate Agents Blandford, The THE HIGHBROW GROUP Highbrow Group of Dorchester, The Dorset Windows and Shutter Company and Holt Recruitment for their support of our events.”

Bryanston

Summer Fair at Bryanston School, Blandford

28th & 29th May 10am - 5pm

thewessexeventcompany.co.uk

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Tuesday, May 24 Bridport & District U3A will present a talk by Deb Fullbrook, her husband Keith and hearing dog Elmo about the role of hearing dogs and how they can help a deaf person in the Bridport United Reform Church Hall at 2pm.

The talk is free to members and there is a £2 charge for non-members. Please see the Bridport U3A website for details.

Poundbury Events Management is holding a launch party from 7pm9pm at Bonjour Cafe Poundbury.

Join Verity & Donna for complementary drinks, canapés, music and more!

Raffle in aid of Weldmar Hospice, all prizes are donated from small local businesses.

Please RSVP to poundburyeventsmanage ment@gmail.com

Weds, May 25 The Dorset Garden Festival will be held at Sculpture by the Lakes in Tincleton from 10am-5pm from Wednesday, May 25 to Sunday, May 29.

This year the Dorset Garden Festival, for the first time, is in conjunction with the Fire and Food Festival. An exciting array of stalls selling not just plants but all things for outdoor living.

A Police Community DropIn will be held at Bishops Caundle Community Shop from 10.30am-11am.

The local NPT will be outside the shop.

Virtuoso guitarist Sean Shibe will perform at Dorchester’s Corn Exchange on Sunday, May 22.

Sean will perform traditional songs and pieces by Bach, complemented by performances from Steve Reich and Julia Wolfe.

Sean was the first guitarist to be selected as a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist and has earned awards from the Royal Philharmonic Society and Gramophone magazine.

He has performed at London’s Wigmore Hall, at Concertgebouw Amsterdam and at Aldeburgh Festival.

The Guardian describes him as ‘a nonchalant virtuoso and boundary breaker’.

Come along, and raise any concerns, ask a question or get some crime prevention advice.

Thursday, May 26 Shire Hall Museum in Dorchester is expanding its work with people living with dementia by hosting a dementia-friendly BSO Cake Concert.

In August 2021, Shire Hall Museum launched its Memory Café with support from David Upshall Insurance. Held at the museum monthly, Shire Hall’s Memory Café offers relaxed reminiscence sessions providing socialisation and activities for people living with dementia and their family and carers.

The Cake Concert will feature musicians from Bournemouth Symphony

refreshments. All are welcome, whether living in the community or care homes, and the venue is fully accessible.

Tickets available at Shire Hall Museum’s shop or shirehalldorset.org/ whats-on

Friday, May 27

The peformance will begin at 7pm.

Tickets are £20 full price or £18 for members of Dorchester Arts, under-18s or those on low incomes.

Tickets are available by calling 01305 266926 on weekdays between 10am and 4pm or by visiting dorchesterarts.org.uk/ whats-on Orchestra (BSO) and has been designed especially for people living with dementia. Guests can enjoy tea, coffee and cake whilst sat at tables in a friendly, relaxed setting as they are serenaded by the BSO’s Teatime Trio, consisting of flute, harp and cello.

Working closely with Alzheimer’s Society, the BSO designed their Cake Concerts specifically to cater to the needs of those living with dementia, as well as their families, friends and carers.

These events have a profound effect on movement and communication amongst audience members, creating a positive shared experience for all who attend.

Tickets for the Cake Concert at Shire Hall Museum are £5, including

Dorchester Timber is holding a Trade & DIY Expo from 8am-1pm.

A morning of mega discounts is promised on tools, timber and more, with free breakfast barbecue, free hot drinks, a raffle and more.

Trade stands from Stanley, Faithfull Tools, Bora, Ronseal and Dewalt.

Saturday, May 28 Bridport Museum Trust is celebrating its 90th birthday with free entry, fun family activities and a fundraising raffle from 10am-4pm.

Admission will be free on the day, but anyone who buys their annual pass (£5 for over 21s) will get a free raffle ticket.

The raffle includes some wonderful prizes such as a hamper from Balson’s Butchers, and even a night glamping in a bell tent.

There is also the chance to drop in and find out more about volunteering opportunities, and how to play your role in securing the next 90 years of the museum’s history.

A Choral Evensong for Ascension will be held at St Peter’s Church, High East Street, Dorchester, DT1 1EZ from 4.30pm-

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

5.30pm. This is a cathedral-style service of Choral Evensong, which includes the following music: Durufle Ubi caritas, Reading Responses, Stanford Magnificat & Nunc dimittis in C, Finzi God is gone up.

Director: Ian Davis, Organist: Sam Hanson.

Please join us for a glass of wine after the service.

All are very welcome.

From May 28 at 10am until May 29 at 9pm Fayre In The Square will be held in Hope Square, Weymouth.

A weekend of live music and great food around Hope Square in Weymouth, working with Weymouth Rotary to raise money for local charities.

There’s a Butterfly Trail at The Walled Garden Moreton during half term.

Experienced and firsttime explorers are all welcome as you explore the gardens using your trail map. Answer all 10 quiz questions and win a prize. Plus, there will be 20 butterflies hidden around the gardens – can you find them all?

No booking required.

Maps are £2 and will be available from the garden shop (not the café!).

Follow the signs on arrival.

Bring your own pen.

Swanage Fairy Festival will be held from 10.30am-6pm over two days, where mermaids and fairies come to life Continued on page 10

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Whasson? (and where’s it to?) for an enchanting weekend, on Sandpit field over looking Swanage bay.

There will be storytelling, a live underwater mermaid, performances, pirate shows, bubble disco, cabaret balloon modelling, singing mermaids, a fashion show, circus skill workshops, dancing, a bubble fairy, and superhero walkabouts.

Local food traders will serve waffles, ice cream, shakes, chocolate churros, pizza and pasta and much more. Licensed bar. Face painting and craft and artisan stalls.

Tickets from SwanageFairyFestival.com This is a non-profit event raising money for local schools.

St Margaret's Hospice Yeovil is holding its summer fete from 11am3pm.

Fun filled activities for all the family to enjoy, including a barbecue and a variety of stalls including a tombola, raffle and entertainment throughout the day.

Sunday, May 29 Bridport Vintage Market will be held at St Michael's Trading Estate from 10am4pm.

Wide range of antiques, collectables, clothing and retro pieces. Most of the tenants open on the day too.

Margaret Green Animal Rescue is holding GroundDog Day (Dorset) from 11am at its Lincoln Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre.

The dog show starts at

Vintage tractor rally The West Dorset Vintage Tractor and Stationary Engine Club is holding its popular West Bay Vintage Rally on Saturday and Sunday, June 11 and 12 at the Melplash Showground.

In addition to seeing all the old engines, there will be crafts, food and drink, model displays, licensed bar and ring 11.30am. Classes include Child Handler (6-11 years and 12-16 years), Handsome Male, Prettiest Girl, Best Rescue, Most Appealing Eyes, Golden Oldie and The Dog The Judge Would Most Like to Take Home.

Rosettes will be awarded for 1st-5th place and the winner will receive a goodie bag. Activities include have-a-go-agility, flyball, doggy lucky dip, doggy ball bob, tombola.

There will also be delicious refreshments and a BBQ, as well as lots of lovely stalls from local businesses.

Sherborne Castle Country Fair will be held at Sherborne Castle from 10am-6pm.

The lakeside event highlights traditional rural skills, as well as those more modern.

The fair typically attracts some 14,000-15,000 visitors. Parking is free.

Dance in the Park will be held in Radipole Gardens in Weymouth hosted by

events.

There’s also a vintage auction on the Saturday.

Go to wdvtsec.com for more details.

Park Dance from 11am.

Bring your friends, family and fans and dance along.

Thursday, June 2 A Family fun Day will be hosted by the Royal British Legion in Bovington from 3pm.

There will be a bouncy castle, barbecue, Ample Decay rock band and much more.

There’s a Jubilee Celebration in the Borough Gardens in Dorchester from 11am-4pm.

Free entertainment will include Punch & Judy, face painting, bungee run, inflatable challenge game, royal-themed arts and crafts and a royal treasure hunt with prizes.

The Kiosk in the Gardens will be open, selling icecreams, hot and cold drinks and snacks.

There will be also be a cream tea stand with all profits going to charity.

Friday, June 3 Axminster YFC is hosting

a Let's get Royally Smashed Barn Bash from 9pm-1am at Dalwood Lane to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee.

There will be a glass of bubbly on entry and Happy Hour from 9pm-10pm.

Red, white & blue-themed drink deals, over 18 members £7, under 18 members £6 (no under 16 members). Non-members £9 (no under 18 nonmembers).

The Bincombe Bolt will be held from 11.30am at Bincombe Bumps.

The race is on to become the King and Queen of the Bincombe Bolt in our Charity Race supporting Dorset County Hospital Charity and Cancer Research UK. Enjoy the Dorset countryside views whilst running along the Bincombe track, before tackling the 28% incline to end this 0.8 mile run.

Placing top in your heat will move you forward into the final where there are prizes up for grabs for the top three in each category.

Enter as an individual, or as part of a relay team.

Not sure about running?

There will also be prizes for the best 'British Themed' Fancy dress!

Post-race events include a Jubilee Fete, a cafe and bar serving delicious food and drinks throughout the day, live music throughout the afternoon and evening from local artists.

Entries are open now at bincombebumpsevents.co.uk All race entry ticket fees and proceeds from the day will be going to support Dorset County Hospital Charity and Cancer Research UK.

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

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Planners’ pledge on pollution impact

By Karen Bate and Dan Goater

URGING REVIEW: West Dorset MP Chris Loder meets Housing Secretary Michael Gove

newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Dorset Council planners have vowed to ‘fully consider’ the report from Wessex Water regarding the impact on drinking water if plans for 4,000 houses north of Dorchester are approved.

Concerns were raised after an email from Wessex Water to a firm of consultants working for Dorset Council to create a vision for a new ‘garden community’ dubbed Norchester by locals.

In their email, Wessex Water said the development could result in pollution of the Eagle Lodge borehole, which provides most of the Dorchester area’s drinking water and that ‘significant investment will be required to maintain the quality of the water supply including the provision of new reservoirs’.

A Dorset Council spokesperson said: “We welcome the report from Wessex Water regarding these early-stage proposals for North Dorchester. Their latest comments will be fully considered, and further evidence of hydrology will be needed should the proposals at this location be kept in the draft Dorset Local Plan.

“Any major proposed development will have substantial issues that need to be resolved before it can be approved. This is an important part of devising the Plan as we work with key stakeholders to identify challenges, and look to address concerns.

“It should also be noted

that Dorset Council’s elected members have yet to endorse any specific aspects of the Local Plan, and would not do so until asked to support the final draft for submission to the Secretary of State (SoS).

“Once submitted, the SoS will appoint an independent Planning Inspector who will test the Local Plan by carrying out an examination in public.”

Conservatives on Dorset Council have backed the proposals despite widespread local opposition including from West Dorset MP Chris Loder, Dorchester councillors and Dorchester Town Council.

Chris Loder is urging Housing Secretary Michael Gove to launch a review into proposed Norchester development.

A spokesperson for Mr Loder said he has ‘expressed the concerns of Dorchester residents over the proposals for Persimmon Homes to be building thousands of houses on the outskirts of the town’.

The spokesperson added: “Mr Loder also spoke of the need to ensure the Local Plan focuses more

on delivering for the needs of West Dorset communities rather than just a few enormous developments, hoovering economic life out of small villages.

“Mr Loder also took the opportunity to press the need for more community housing and or community

land trust initiatives to ensure local housing for local people.

“We need the right housing in the right areas enabling housing for families and working people to live here and to deliver services for the community, as well as supporting the rural economy.”

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

By Karen Bate

newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Living in a rural idyll is for many people a dream come true, but many residents in rural villages and hamlets are living in houses which are not connected to the mains drainage system.

Not being connected means many people are relying on septic tanks for their drainage and new regulations, brought in by The Environment Agency in 2020, mean it’s more important than ever to get our houses in order.

Regulations are designed to reduce polluting watercourses, so if your tank discharges wastewater into a ditch, stream, river or drain, it must be replaced, or you could land yourself a hefty fine of up to £100,000.

Enter Tom Beels, director of Burrow Environmental, who brings clarity to a subject matter which many of us don’t give the love and attention we might to say, a new patio or al fresco dining area.

“For many people it is a bit of an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ situation,” said Tom, who is the go-to expert in his field, holding seminars for estate agents and Dorset Council officers and is often asked to share his knowledge on General Binding Rules with solicitors involved in house sales.

Tom said: “The General Binding Rules were introduced by the government in 2015 because poorly treated septic tank effluent is polluting rivers, streams, land and groundwater.

“From January 2020 the law requires some

WORK AND PLAY: Tom Beels at work and, left, enjoying his fly-fishing

Plenty of work in the pipeline for drain brain Tom homeowners who operate a septic tank to upgrade their systems to a treatment plant which cleans the wastewater properly before it enters the ground or watercourse.”

Tom added: “We not only install wastewater treatment plants, but we maintain them too, so they are compliant for years to come.”

Tom has worked in the

construction industry all his life, but it wasn’t until he bought his rural house in 2018, that he realised the minefield presented by water treatment services.

“When I bought my property, I discovered this terrible smell coming from the bottom of my paddock,” he said. “It was like the smell of decaying weeds. I poked around to try and find the problem and soon disturbed a

concrete disk, and the sludge poured out of it. It was sewage from the septic tank and had been backed up for however long. I researched the problem and called three companies, but I just didn’t have confidence, so I undertook a training course to fill the gaps in my knowledge and fitted my own waste water treatment plant. The inspector was happy with it.

“I launched my own company, BurrowEnvironmental and solely focus on waste water treatment plants, which far exceed the minimum regulatory standards, which gives the consumer much-needed confidence.”

Tom enjoys his work, for two main reasons.

“I’m a fly fisherman and an environmentalist,” he said.

“The company is making a difference to the environment by reducing pollution and supporting wildlife, which is a passion of mine.

“Getting rid of waste water is a complicated area that many people know little about. It can be an out of sight and out of mind situation, so we offer the solution and bring clarity to an area which can be confusing and stressful.”

If you would like a site visit and a free, no obligation quote, Tom is your man. n For more information go to burrowenvironmental.com n Tom can be reached at hello@burrowenvironmental.com or 01935 507508

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

13

New school for SEN children opens A new school for children with special educational needs has opened in Shaftesbury.

Coombe House School was formally registered by the Department for Education after passing an Ofsted inspection in March.

Dorset Council bought the school site last year to meet the county’s growing need for more special education provision.

Dorset Council leader Spencer Flower said: “It is wonderful to see the first children joining the school.

“This project underlines how bold and ambitious Dorset Council is prepared to be in delivering the best for Dorset.

“This project is part of a £37.5million investment in our young people, building capacity and strength in our school system.”

Around 50 children have visited the school with their families recently before becoming pupils. The children have also received their school uniforms and their classrooms have now been equipped and furnished.

Dorset Travel will be providing transport for the children to get to school.

Headteacher Katie Charles said: “I could not be happier to see our children and young people joining us, taking their Le sure Leisure Breaks reaks Normandy ormandy

first steps into a fabulous education provision that we believe will help them flourish and find their future paths.”

A building and renovation programme has already begun at the site and further works are planned for the next 18 months. A spokesperson for Dorset Council said these works will ‘enable the school to expand to its full capacity of 280 children’.

Cllr Andrew Parry, portfolio holder for children, education, skills and early help, said: “I am delighted to see all the hard work that has gone into this project over the last year pay off. ” n To read Ofsted’s report on Coombe House, visit reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider /27/149019

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

A flower festival which has graced St Nicholas Church in Moreton for more than 40 years is upping its game in honour of the Platinum Jubilee.

Huge displays of colourful blooms are being created by flower arrangers from all over the area, set among Whistler’s stained glass masterpieces, for the hotly anticipated annual feast for the eyes.

The church stands on medieval foundations but was rebuilt in the 18th century by the Frampton family.

The little church, in the Benefice of Moreton, Woodsford and Crossways with Tincleton has several claims to fame.

Lawrence of Arabia, a friend of the Framptons, died in a motorbike crash only a few miles away and was buried in the village cemetery after a funeral in the church attended by dignitaries including Sir

FLOWER POWER: The flower festival at St Nicholas Church in Moreton will be even more spectcular as it celebrates the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Flower festival gearing up to honour Queen’s jubilee Winston Churchill.

It had conventional stained glass windows until a direct hit from a German bomber in 1940 – believed to have been intended for a nearby military base.

It took 10 years to rebuild the church, and the windows were replaced with small panes of green glass – people hated them.

Poet and artist Sir Laurence Whistler was commissioned to design

new ones, and over the next 30 years he filled every window – the result is spectacular, and form the world’s largest collection of his window art.

This year the festival will be over the Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend of June 2-5 and has a ‘70 Memorable Years’ theme.

It will be open daily 10am to 4pm on the Thursday till Sunday.

Admission is free and there will be refreshments

every day with stalls outside the church Thursday-Saturday. There will also be a free concert (Songs for a Summer Evening) at 7pm on the Thursday evening.

Visitors can also see the grave of Lawrence of Arabia and explore the village of Moreton with its walled garden and tearoom, the River Frome and countryside walks. n Further information at stnicholasmoreton.org.uk

A feast of flower festivals Village banners on show Three churches are holding flower festivals for the Jubilee.

St Martin’s, Shipton Gorge, will be holding a Jam Jar festival with a red, white and blue theme on June 2, with brunch and children’s crafts, plus a competition for fancy dress Kings and Queens.

Thorncombe’s St Mary’s

church will host its festival Thurs-Sun, with displays by several village organisations, 10am to 5pm. And Holy Rood Church, Buckland Newton will celebrate the Queen with flowers, organ recitals, bell ringing, a raffle and a Corgi Challenge plus cakes Thurs to Sun 10.30 to 4.30.

More details in Whasson.

Villagers in Abbotsbury are planning to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by designing and painting 55 banners to be mounted in the main streets of the village, as an outdoor community art installation, from May 28 to June 25.

The banners, individually designed and painted by

Abbotsbury residents from pre-school age to over 90, are being painted on ‘ripstop’ fabric, similar to the spinnaker sails that marked the route of the Olympic torch in 2012.

Banners will be mounted on bamboo canes gifted

by Abbotsbury’s Sub Tropical Gardens.

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

15

New high sheriff’s theme of healing A Pittsburgh native who has worked with Dorset’s NHS has been made the county’s new high sheriff.

Sibyl Fine King said the theme for her year in office will be ‘the healing power of nature’.

During the naming ceremony for the new sheriff at Arts University Bournemouth, Sibyl said: “The covid-19 pandemic has had a significant effect on all our lives and, although we have all been through this together, it seems that each one of us has had very different experiences.

“Whether you have changed your life completely, or rediscovered a simpler life, it has been a time to reflect and review our choices. Many of us

APPOINTMENT: Sibyl Fine King

have also found solace and salvation in the natural world.

“The outdoors has provided opportunities for social activities, contemplation, natural beauty and physical exercise.

“In this High Sheriff year, I particularly want to celebrate and explore innovative ways to use the

healing power of nature and encourage and support people from all walks of life, and especially individuals within the justice system, to experience the benefits that the natural environment can bring.”

She added: “I am honoured to have been appointed High Sheriff of Dorset for 2022 and it will be my absolute pleasure to serve the residents of Dorset through meeting, listening, and trying to make a positive impact.”

Sibyl is the founder and director of the Fine Family Foundation and has worked to support visitor centres at Kimmeridge, Durlston, Chesil Beach and Charmouth. Sibyl has also been running her business

Park Yoga since 2017.

Originally from Pittsburgh in the United States, Sibyl has a Masters degree, which included a work placement with the NHS in Dorset. She later worked for the NHS as a health promotion manager, creating packages of health screening and advice used in GPs’ surgeries nationally.

A funding programme has been launched under the Nature Heals banner to provide small grants to community groups using the benefits of the natural world to improve the lives of local people. Further details are on the Dorset Community Foundation website dorsetcommunity foundation.org/funds nature-heals-seed-fund

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

It’s going to be pretty wild out there Take a walk on the wild side next month to support Dorset Wildlife Trust.

The trust says its 30 Days Wild campaign is the UK’s biggest nature challenge.

The campaign begins with the Big Wild Breakfast on Wednesday, June 1, A trust spokesman said: “This is the first of the ‘random acts of wildness’ designed to bring people across Dorset closer to nature every day in June.

“Across Dorset, there are so many opportunities to connect with nature from the beautiful Jurassic coast to chalk streams, forests, heaths and meadows.”

On Saturday, June 18, there will be a series of events at Dorset Wildlife Trust visitor centres including the opportunity to learn about moths at the Kingcombe Visitor Centre or take part in the Brownsea Island ‘early bird’ walk and breakfast.

Dorset Wildlife Trust’s chief executive Brian Bleese said: “30 Days Wild is a great

HAVE A LOOK: Get closer to nature in June with 30 Days Wild

opportunity to take a little time to do one ‘wild’ thing every day throughout June – whether it’s listening to birdsong, seeing a butterfly, walking on the beach, going to one of our 40 nature reserves and four visitor centres across the county or watching our barn owl webcam at Lorton Meadows from the comfort of your own home. The annual nature challenge not only connects you with nature but the research tells us that

Action on drinks spiking is welcomed by charity A Dorchester-based charity has welcomed government recommendations to make drink spiking a ‘standalone’ criminal offence.

The proposal was one of a series of measures recommended to the Home Affairs Committee by the Alcohol Education Trust, headquartered in Poundbury. A trust spokesperson said: “Helena Conibear, CEO of the Alcohol Education Trust, submitted 16 pages of evidence to the committee as well as appearing to give

evidence in person and is thrilled that nearly all of the proposals that the trust put forward have been recommended. The lack of reporting by those who have been victims of drink spiking, the lack of collecting forensic evidence from those who are brave enough to share their ordeal and the lack of prosecutions have allowed the perpetrators of spiking to get away for far too long. n See alcoholeducation trust.org/hoc_spiking_ report

keeping it wild will actually make you happier and healthier too.”

According to the trust, last year a record 760,000 people took part in 30 Days Wild, which is for people of

all ages and from all backgrounds. n Find out more about 30 Days Wild and sign up for the campaign at wildlifetrusts.org/ 30dayswild

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

17

Dancers aid defib fund, with bells on

Morris dancers donated £500 to help fund the maintenance of life-saving equipment.

Lyme Morris gave the cash to volunteer group Lyme Heartbeat for the maintenance of ten defibrillators throughout Lyme Regis.

The donation was presented to Lyme Heartbeat coordinators Rob and Karen James by Lyme Morris’s squire Peter Morton during the dancers’ first performance of the season outside The Harbour Inn. A further £48 was collected for Lyme Heartbeat on the night.

Rob James said: “I’d like to say a big thank you to Lyme Morris for this very generous donation which will help fund the purchase of battery packs, which need replacing every few years, plus the renewal of defibrillator pads, which need replacing after every use or if they reach their

THANKS VERY MUCH: Rob and Karen James with Peter Morton of Lyme Morris

expiry date.”

After Lyme Morris performed routines for the crowd, Rob James gave a brief presentation on how defibrillators can help save lives in the event of a cardiac arrest.

Each of the 10 units managed by Lyme Heartbeat is registered with South Western Ambulance Service and The Circuit – the national defibrillator network – which means a caller to 999 will be

directed to their nearest device if one is required.

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Classic vehicles on show Classic car enthusiasts are gearing up for a vintage vehicle display in Dorchester’s Brewery Square.

Classic Vehicle Club members will bring their Wolseleys, Rovers, Austins and Morrises to the square from 11am to 2pm on Saturday, May 21.

Brewery Square centre manager Charlotte Spracklen said: “It’s always so energising to see the community come together and our classic car show has proven itself to be a hit time and time again.”

Classic Vehicle Club chairman Kevin Thorne said: “We’re pleased to

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Keep on rocking: Festival in Keith’s

By Miranda Robertson newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Parents left shattered by the death of their son are raising money for two vital charities which have helped them battle through their grief.

Yvette Bowler, 63, and husband Paul, 61, lost their son Keith Parvin to suicide in 2018. He was 35. The music festival fan had struggled with his mental health for many years, though he seemed on the surface to be a happy-golucky chap and had a great sense of humour.

Desperate with grief, Yvette decided the best way to pay tribute to her son would be to organise a mini-festival in his honour.

“It was only meant to be a couple of bands and maybe a hundred or 200 people,” she said.

Lockdowns stopped the event and the festival, named Keith Fest, was postponed an agonising four times.

But through adversity comes bigger and better things sometimes, and as word got around about Keith Fest the event grew and grew.

The festival will finally be held on June 25 – but now it will have a staggering eight bands, two bars, camping and a host of other attractions, all for £10 for adults, with kids going free.

Yvette said: “Keith loved music festivals.

“Everybody thought he

LET’S ROCK: Festival fan Keith Parvin and, left, Keith Fest headliners Ironed Maiden

was just so happy on the surface. They knew he struggled but he hid it a lot of the time and in the end he just couldn’t cope.

“Keith had been ill for a

long time and we knew it might happen one day.

“In 2019, about six months after Keith died, I kept seeing his friends going to festivals on Facebook and because Keith loved music festivals

I felt I wanted to organise one in his memory – I feel so strongly we need to help the charities that help.

“Around 125 lives are lost every week to suicide – 75% of them are male – and these two charities are doing their best to help people.”

Yvette is being helped by one of the charities herself.

Suicide & Co are a

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

19

memory to raise funds for charities

HAPPIER TIMES: Keith with Yvette and Paul and his brother Daniel and, below, with daughter Honey-Rose as a baby, a toddler and as she is today aged five

relatively new charity which offers counselling to those bereaved by suicide.

Calm – Campaign Against Living Miserably – have phone lines open 365 days a year from 5pm-12am (0800 585858) and online chat for people who are struggling.

Each will receive half of the proceeds from Keith Fest, being held at

Henstridge Airfield and being headlined by top tribute band Ironed Maiden UK tribute band.

Keith’s little girl HoneyRose is now five and is proudly telling everyone: “My daddy’s having a festival.” She’ll be in good company on June 25 as Yvette and her husband Paul, and Keith’s brother Daniel host the festival,

with a bouncy castle, inflatable skittle alley and face painting for the children to enjoy.

Yvette said: “It’s just grown so much. I’ve got an amazing amount of really brilliant draw prizes and raffle prizes, including a pressure washer, vouchers and a £175 barbecue.

“Castle Garden Centre in

Sherborne are lending us trees to be used as memory trees for people taken by suicide.”

Keith Fest will start at noon (campers from 11am) and go on till late, featuring Ironed Maiden, Bad Uncle, The Unusual Suspects, Cock Eyed Squid, No Thursday War, Unknown Identity, Red and Sugar Rush.

The airfield is offering flights for up to three people (depending on weight) in a light aircraft – half an hour for £100, weather permitting.

Parkway Brewery is supplying a bar, with a specially made ale in Keith’s honour and Twisted Cider will also run a bar. Virginia Hayward hampers are supplying the lorry for the bands to perform from. n Tickets are £10 in advance for adults (£15 on the day), with camping £5 per adult only in advance.

Children 16 and under free.

To buy tickets go to keithfest.sumupstore.com or Corner House newsagents Sherborne, Ring filling station Stalbridge, Henstridge Village Shop, 477 Barber Club in Sherborne or Bryan Goss in Yeovil.

20

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

SHIFTING SANDS: Dredging work at Lyme Regis is scheduled to continue until May 27

Dredging under way to keep harbours safe Annual dredging works are taking place in West Bay and Lyme Regis during May and June.

Dredging is essential maintenance and ensures safe, navigable channels are maintained in the harbours.

Dredging started at West Bay this week and in Lyme Regis, works are

scheduled to start on Monday, June 6. Members of the public are advised to keep a safe distance away from operations as heavy plant will be operating on the beach.

Banksmen will be present to advise members of the public. No dredging works will take place from Monday,

May 30 to Sunday, June 5 during the busy half term and bank holiday.

Dredging will finish in West Bay by Wednesday, June 1 and in Lyme by Friday, June 24. Only a small section of West Cliff beach will be closed during operations. There may be some delays if there’s bad weather.

County pioneers SEN support scheme Dorset is part of a programme aimed at improving the services and support available for young people with special educational needs.

The county has agreed to take part in the joint inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission to ‘support the development of a new local area framework’.

A spokesperson for the joint inspection program said: “The new framework will focus on the impact of local area arrangements on children and young people and their families.

“It will consider how inspectors gather evidence, and whether this evidence enables them to fully

measure the effectiveness of local services to improve the experiences, progress and outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs.

“Participating in the pilot will help services in the Dorset Council area develop and ensure the needs of these children and young people are met.”

The spokesperson added: “Hearing from parents, carers and young people will be an important part of the inspection visit and their views will be captured through a survey.

“Dorset Council, NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group and Dorset Parent Carer

Council work together to ensure children, young people and their families have equal opportunity to meaningfully participate in the decisions that affect them at all levels.”

Councillor Andrew Parry, portfolio holder for children, education, skills and early help, said: “We are delighted that Dorset has been chosen by Ofsted and the CQC to help them test their inspection framework.

“As a partnership we are keen to learn so we can continually improve our services. Although there will be no judgements or individual reports published after the pilot inspection, the council

values the opportunity to take part.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to test our systems and gather feedback which will help us continue to strengthen our services. We are proud to have been invited to take part and help make a difference.

“We encourage parents, carers, young people and families to get involved so we can work with our health colleagues at NHS Dorset CCG, our early years settings, schools, further education colleges and DPCC to learn and make our service the best possible experience for children, young people and their families.”

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

21

Dawn of a new era for county’s health Dawn Dawson has become the first woman to lead Dorset Healthcare as acting chief executive.

Dawn, the trust’s director of nursing, therapies and quality, has taken over the reins from Eugine Yafele, who has left to take up a new role in Bristol after more than three years at the helm.

The trust – which provides Dorset’s community and mental health NHS services – will be seeking a permanent replacement.

In the meantime Dawn will lead the organisation.

Dawn said: “I’m absolutely delighted and honoured to take on the role of acting

NEW ROLE: Dawn Dawson

chief executive. As we head towards summer and the pressures of the pandemic finally start to ease, there is so much for us to look forward to.

“I will keep our focus on improving the quality of

care we provide. Our trust is filled with talented, dedicated people, and the fantastic way we have responded to the challenges of the past couple of years gives me enormous confidence our services will continue to evolve and flourish.

“There is plenty to do, as always, and I’m so excited to get started.”

A nurse by background, Dawn has worked in healthcare for more than 30 years. She joined Dorset HealthCare in 2018 and has played a key role in its recent development.

Notably, she was heavily involved in setting up

Dorset’s covid-19 mass vaccination centre which the trust ran at the Bournemouth International Centre last year and which delivered more than 124,000 jabs.

Trust chairman Andy Willis said: “Dawn has played a key part in our journey over the past four years.

“She has an excellent reputation, both within the Trust and among our partner organisations, and is extremely well placed to keep us focused on transforming our services and delivering the best possible outcomes for our patients.”

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Lockdown pair’s wedding joy shared

By Miranda Robertson newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

A couple in their 60s who met online during lockdown have married – with their new Ukrainian guests celebrating their big day alongside them.

Fiona and John Price had a Pagan/Druid wedding at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens last week – 16 months after finding each other on a dating website during the third lockdown in January last year.

At the time, John was living in Broadwindsor and Fiona in Frampton, but the pair have since moved in together in Milborne Port, and welcomed two refugees.

Not only did Lusi and her mother Kateryna attend their wedding, but they will also accompany the HAPPY COUPLE: John and Fiona Price on their big day couple on their honeymoon to Yorkshire later in the year.

Fiona and John first started messaging each other through a dating app last January. Fiona, 64, hadn’t had a relationship for decades, preferring to concentrate on her career as a midwife, her daughter and her elderly parents.

Retired BAE engineering manager John, 63, had been married three times, but had not given up on finding the perfect partner. WILL YOU: John proposes to Fiona at the Potters Cafe in As it was lockdown, they Dorchester met in a car park before going on a picnic for their finding they had much in Champagne and a shocked first date, talking for hours common. Dates for lunch Fiona said yes three times. before Fiona had to rush at Dorchester’s Potters Fiona’s father’s health had home to look after her Café became a regular taken a turn for the worse dad. treat and it was here John in July, and John says he A second picnic sealed the proposed, dropping down wanted to ‘reassure him deal and the pair took on one knee as customers his daughter would be their relationship further, clapped, staff brought looked after’.

He proposed in time to let his father-in-law know his intentions.

The pair settled in their new home not long afterwards and they hadn’t even unpacked properly when war broke out in Ukraine. But they instantly knew they wanted to help and Fiona started communicating with Lusi via Facebook in early March.

Lusi and her mother had fled Kyiv and ended up in Krakow in Poland They were desperate to find a safe place to be.

It took until April 24 to get Lusi, 45, and mum Kateryna on the flight to Gatwick because the sheer amount of things the Prices needed to do to tick the Government’s boxes.

Once they arrived in Dorset, Kateryna dashed from the car to smell the flowers.

She gave a speech at the wedding thanking everyone for their friendship and support, which Lusi did her best to translate. They are safe and well, but it is tough to acclimatise.

And the Prices have encountered further problems getting their guests settled – with obstacle after obstacle put in their path.

The airline promised to fund refugees’ flights, but when the Prices enquired the offer had only been for a month, leaving them to find £400 for flights. Then when Lusi and Kateryna arrived they were kept waiting for hours at Gatwick as their guests

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

with their Ukrainian guests

HAPPY COUPLE: John and Fiona Price with Lusi and Kateryna

were processed while parking charges racked up.

Applying for a bank account with Lloyds was fraught with difficulty and only possible as the pair had thought to grab their passports before fleeing the war.

And money promised them by the Government won’t arrive until over a month after they arrived.

Fiona and John have had to undertake costly and time consuming assessments of their property as if they were conventional landlords.

Many other properties have been turned down by the Homes for Ukraine scheme for things that wouldn’t make a jot of difference to someone fleeing war.

In the meantime, the couple are required to have enhanced DBS checks to ensure the safety of their guests and they haven’t yet come through, despite Lusi and her

mother having been in their home for two weeks now. To be able to work and earn money, Lusi also needs a National Insurance number, which will take eight weeks.

John said: “It has made me ashamed to be British. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary promised so much but they didn’t deliver. In Austria, refugees are handed everything they need, immediately.

“But here, whenever you try to sort something out for them you have to speak to four different people and get four different answers – none of them know what we should do.”

Fiona said: “Each time we have tried to organise something for them we have met with problems and I really felt for them having to hear people were making life even more difficult for them. Even with the limited English

Lusi has she still understands much of what people are saying.”

The only agency who helped immediately, without problems, was the GP surgery in Milborne Port.

Fiona said: “We couldn’t fault them. We went there to register Lusi and Kate and they helped straight away. They were brilliant.”

Lusi’s husband Sergi is still fighting, while Kateryna lost her husband last year. Her son is also fighting, while his wife and child remain in Ukraine.

In the meantime, Milborne Port and the couple’s friends and family are trying to make sure Luisa and Kate have everything they need – even a bicycle.

The West Dorset Magazine would like to say a very big ласкаво просимо to both of them, and вітаю вас обох to the happy couple.

23

Events for the Jubilee Cerne Abbas has planned a series of events for the Jubilee weekend.

Thursday, June 2 – Beacon and fireworks above Giant Hill. Access from Old Sherborne Road near Giantshead campsite.

Gates open 8pm. Beacon lighting 9.45pm Friday, June 3 – Ceilidh with Tatterdemalion in St Mary’s Church from 7pm.

Tickets: Cerne Abbas Stores.

Saturday, June 4 – Jubilee Knees-up at Cerne Abbas Brewery from midday.

Children’s activities, music, food and drink available.

Sunday, June 5 – Street party in Long Street for village residents. Floral decorations in St Mary’s church. Three pubs and Abbots café will all be open and souvenirs available from The Old Saddler.

Big Band date The Bridport Big Band, under musical director Matt Barge and with vocalists Julie Harris and Cameron Shaw, will be performing at the United Church Bridport on Saturday, May 28 at 7pm for 7.30pm. The concert, arranged by Rotary, will celebrate the Jubilee with music and songs. Profits to the air ambulance and other Rotary Charities.

Tickets at £12 from Bridport TIC and Rotarians, or Colin Bowditch: 01297 489567 colinbowditch@ hotmail.com

Mini book sale Beaminster Museum is holding a mini book-sale in Beaminster Square from 9.30am-12.30pm on Saturday, May 28. Mostly paperback fiction. Proceeds to Beaminster Museum.

24

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

By Miranda Robertson newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

A ‘record-breaking’ Dorchester born and bred cabbie who left school at 15 and went to work in a taxi firm has now launched his own company – and he’s determined to make a difference.

Damon Clarke, 46, left Hardye’s School and went to work for A-line Taxis just over 30 years ago, where he soon found himself at home. He quickly rose to office manager, and enjoyed a great rapport with customers.

He said: “I love people, love the job and I love driving.”

After nine years at the helm of the busy desk he got his own licence and 22 years ago he started driving people to where they wanted to go. Then six weeks ago he launched Damo’s Taxis, which has just started to operate seven days a week.

It’s clear he loves people and loves a chat – a natural-born cabbie if ever there was one. And he knows the industry and the local area inside and out.

His new firm, Damo’s Taxis, based at the bottom of the Hardye Arcade, was a long time coming, as he was happy working for others for a long time.

But in starting his own business he wants to bring down the cost and enable local people – particularly those cut off by the reduction in public transport – to get out and about. He’s also taking things back to basics, believing a taxi firm that looks after its passengers with the personal touch is

FARE ENOUGH: Damon, inset, and one of his cars – main picture

Damon is going it alone with his own taxi firm a commodity the Dorchester area needs.

He said: “I decided to start my own firm because I could see that computerised booking systems just can’t do what a person can. They make people late. I also don’t think it’s right that the recommended fares have shot up so much it makes it unaffordable for many people.

“We opened six weeks ago once we had planning permission to change from retail, and I brought drivers with me who have all been taxi drivers for years and years.”

In all his years in the industry Damon reckons he hasn’t heard of anyone

matching his record trip, taking someone to Holland and back in a day. “I’m 99% sure I hold the record for the longest taxi journey,” he said.

“Mind you, these days I prefer short journeys – you meet more people.

“They’re not customers, they’re friends now.

“They’ve seen my kids grow up and I knew I’d get by, being a local boy, if I ran my own company.

“It’s growing quicker than I’d ever thought possible, because demand is so high for reliable taxis.

“We get people to where they need to be, and always try to knock a bit off the fare, because people are stranded in

villages these days, with no buses and fares going through the roof.

“I’m trying to give back and give people their freedom.”

Damon remembers hanging around Jingles and Sinbad’s, playing football in car parks and making jumps for their bikes in the car park.

He said: “Dorchester is close-knit – you’re never far from somebody you know. I am lucky enough to have the support of a lot of local people and I really appreciate it, and try to look after them.”

Damo’s is now open 7ammidnight, seven days a week.

Call 01305 250222 to book.

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

25

By Karen Bate newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Quilters from Eype have spent two years working on a stunning quilt memory of their muchloved founder member Diana Davis, who died of Motor Neurone Disease.

The Schoolroom Quilters are raising money for the West Dorset branch of the MND Association with a raffle of the king-size quilt at their Quilt Show in St Peter’s Church in the village.

The church, which is known as Eype Centre for the Arts, will host their first exhibition for three years on June 25 and 26.

This year, the weekend event will showcase the craftsmanship of the group’s 13 members who together have spent the last two years working on this beautiful, hand stitched quilt, which is a copy of the quilt Diana was making for her daughter-in-law before the disease took hold and she could no longer sew.

Co-chair of The Schoolroom Quilters Diana Harvey said: “Diana was a very popular founder member who became ill with Motor Neurone Disease after she had started making a quilt for her daughter-in-law, because sometimes the diagnosis can be quite long. Diana was a very talented lady.

“The quilt was finished by the group, along with two other quilts Diana had started.”

During the coronavirus lockdown, each of the 13 group members, worked on the quilt separately at home, and once

WE’VE GOT IT COVERED: Schoolroom Quilters at Eype with the amazing quilt they spent two years finishing

King-size quilt is going on show to raise money in memory of popular Diana restrictions were lifted, members would sew the quilt together, with the masterpiece stretched out on a huge table in the old schoolroom.

Diana said: “Like most organisations in the past two years we had to put on hold our plans for The Quilt Show.

“Diana was the inspiration for our kingsize quilt, which has been two years in the making, again with lockdown holding things up as we could not meet or sit closely to sew.

“However, when we were allowed to meet up again there was a concerted push to get the quilt finished.

“We are thrilled to be able

to unveil the charity quilt to be raffled for this fantastic charity which does great work in supporting patients in West Dorset.”

“The show is a wonderful event, and the church is beautiful, with a path leading to the sea.

“There is also plenty of free parking.”

The late Diana helped start the Schoolroom Quilters some 15 years ago, and since then the group has grown to become a thriving creative hub for members who meet twice a month.

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive disease that leads to weakness and wasting of muscles, causing

increasing loss of mobility in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing.

There is no cure.

Jane Hollands of the West Dorset MND branch said: “We support sufferers and their families in this area, by providing specialist equipment and/or adaptations to the home.

The association also offers confidential emotional support and information to people affected by MND while helping them to remain as independent as possible.

“The help we give can make a real difference to the quality of our patients’ lives.”

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Letters

newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Did a foreign car kill TE Lawrence?

I was very interested to read your article re Lawrence of Arabia by Mark Griffin.

Some years ago, I had a friend (now deceased) who told me that when she was about 10 or 11 years old, she remembers seeing a black car, they were mostly all black cars in those days, in Dorchester for a couple of days running.

What was unusual about this car was that it had Arabic number plates - following the death of Lawrence it was never seen again.

She always thought that he was murdered.

Wendy, by email What a pity that neither Dan

Goater's article, nor Mark Griffin in his interview, made any reference to Rodney Legg's excellent book on the subject of Lawrence's death, 'Lawrence of Arabia in Dorset'. Published in 1988, it put forward the theory that the death was planned by the secret service and covered up by them. Legg's research is thorough, and the book is well worth seeking out.

Hilary Daniels The cost of living is skyrocketing, and more people than ever now seek emergency food parcels.

Pressure is mounting on the 2000 UK foodbanks, with unprecedented demand.

Plant of the week...

By botanist Dr Dave Aplin If you wander the steep hillsides or woodland glades this month you may encounter the early purple orchid with its bright purple-pink flowers and purple-blotched leaves. They

But imagine a foodbank with 1,000 tins of baked beans but no toilet rolls! Often food banks are inundated with one item but have very little of another and asking donors for specific items is challenging – the situation has usually changed by the time the message has spread.

To help change this, BanktheFood is a new charity set up to help foodbanks get what they need, exactly when they need it. Readers can help make a difference by downloading the BanktheFood charity app and following their nearest food bank. The app will then ping their phone a real-time list of urgently needed items when

they are at the supermarket, making it easy to add an item or two to their shopping and leave it at the drop-off point when they have finished.

The app is free to download and use, and all foodbanks can register. It’s a simple way to make a huge difference.

Emma Spring, cofounder & volunteer at BanktheFood May I congratulate you all on a first class fortnightly magazine.

I find the content varied, interesting and informative and wish you great success in the years to come.

Jeremy Powne Dorchester

Early purple orchid (Orchis mascula) have over 90 documented common names highlighting their once frequent occurrence but have suffered greatly from the loss of appropriate habitat.

There remain good populations in West Dorset on slopes

where thin chalky soils and unfertilized pasture persist.

On blooming, these beautiful flowers initially smell sweetly but once fertilised they take on a subtle and unpleasant whiff of cat urine.

Items for sale Garden Shredder c/w long lead and instruction manual. £15 01305 262240.

Successful Gardening, Readers Digest (No 18) as new. Subjects range trees, house plants, alpines, bedding and pot plants, fruit and veg. 01308 456479 buyer to collect. £30.

Curtains x2 for children’s bedroom, width 250cm length 130cm lined,

VINYL RECORDS BOUGHT Clocktower Music Bridport Please phone 01308 458077

bespoke cat pattern £100 each. Curtains x 2 for children’s bedroom, width 180cm length 130cm lined, bespoke animal pattern, crocodile bees insects £75

each Bridport 07743 237387.

Brooks B17 brown leather bicycle saddle with tin of proofing, boxed. £50.

07935 977985.

A bag of a variety of clothes including two Ralph Lauren shirts, Topshop jeans, several unworn T-shirts, Next dress and other labels, and a variety of tops. 07876 485498 £30.

Small bale meadow hay.

Dry. Barn stored. Surplus 2021 crop. Home grown for own horses with no fertilisers. Ideal for laminitics or good doers.

Small or large quantities. £3 bale. Cash. Buyer collects.

Near Sherborne. 07778 599260 or 01963 23308.

Gentle giant: Buff Orpington Cockerel, hatched 2021, free to good home. 01935 421621.

Advertise your items for sale priced up to £100 FREE: Email newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

27

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.

Tips to meet challenge of family feeding This summer, feeding our families is going to be a challenge with prices increasing daily; it’s not easy but here are a few tips to help. n Plan your meals, go shopping with a list and stick to it. n Don’t buy what you don’t need. n The one meal convenience foods are not good value. So, be brave, make a large cottage pie from scratch

and use up the leftovers. Mix the cottage pie together, form into individual patties, then fry. You have two meals for the price of one. n Dig into the depths of your freezer and cupboards and use things up. n Invest in a slow cooker and produce your own readymade meals. n Become a master of invention,

be experimental. You cannot fail. You need food cupboard essentials, herbs, stocks, spices, baking ingredients. n Bulk up a meal with some cheesy scones, serve soup in a hollowed out crusty roll or small loaf. n It’s easy to reach out for those expensive ready-made meals when you are short of time. STOP! Here are three quick-to-make-meals

Haddock One Pot 1 tin cannellini beans Tomato puree Onion Smoked haddock Cooked Potatoes Spring greens Stock Sauté onion with some diced potatoes,

Savoury Rice Rice (Arborio or Risotto rice) Ham or bacon lardons Peas.

Spring onions Saffron or turmeric Good stock Sauté onions.

Add rice and bacon

tomato puree and a few mixed herbs, add the beans and some stock.

Add diced smoked haddock and some chopped spring greens. Ten minutes later a cheap, nutritious, quick meal.

lardons and spice and allow for the rice to become translucent (don’t burn) then add stock and allow to cook until rice is soft and has absorbed all the liquid, then add peas.

So, what about a treat?

Quick, delicious and impressive...

Portuguese Custard Tarts Readymade puff pastry 500g readymade custard 3 egg yolks 100 grams sugar Grease a Yorkshire pudding baking tin, heat oven 180֯c Cut circles of the pasty and place in the tin.

We need to bake these, so place some circles of baking

parchment on top of the pastry with some baking beans (if you haven’t got these you can use dried beans or rice or even crumpled up tin foil) Bake until pastry is light brown, remove parchment.

Mix egg yolks, sugar, and custard together and pour over the cooked pastry bases.

Bake for further 15 minutes until light brown.

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Vittles (food & drink)

Guess what’s cooking at sculpture Open air cooking and art displays will go hand in hand at a garden festival in Dorchester later this month.

The Dorset Garden Festival will be held at Sculpture by the Lakes at Pallington from Wednesday, May 25 to Sunday 29. The event will include the launch of the new Fire and Food festival, where visitors can watch live open air cooking demonstrations and try free samples from expert chefs.

Sculptor Simon Gudgeon, who founded Sculpture by the Lakes, said: “We know nature and garden lovers enjoy a visit to Sculpture by the Lakes every bit as much as art lovers, so this is an event created with them in mind.

“We have brought in some fantastic independent nurseries and artisan producers offering a range of unique and special garden items, and of course visitors can enjoy everything Sculpture by the Lakes has to offer

HOT STUFF: The Fire and Food kitchen at Pallington and, right, baskets on display at a previous garden festival

alongside, including our current exhibition of more than 200 sculptures.”

Vendors at the festival will be selling plants including aquatics, perennials, ornamental ferns, bedding

plants, shrubs, fruit bushes and trees, and will offer advice on their care.

Alongside the vendors, artists and crafters will showcase unique garden ornaments and sculptures

plus handmade planters, furniture and gardening tools. Chefs taking part in the Fire and Food Festival will include Marcus Bawdon, editor of the UK BBQ Magazine and author

Seeds from 15 cardamom pods, crushed coarsely

burn very quickly, so do set the timer. Check after 5 minutes as ovens vary) Remove and leave to cool.

When cool, put half of the walnuts and half of the hazelnuts into a food processor and blitz to a fine powder.

Put into a bowl and blitz the rest of the nuts to a

Mum’s Kitchen...

White chocolate and Cardamom Tart with a Walnut and Hazelnut Base This is a rich and delicious dessert for a special occasion. Raspberries or blueberries make a lovely accompaniment to serve with it.

Ingredients: 200g walnuts 200g hazelnuts 175g butter, melted 250g mascarpone 100ml double cream 300g good quality white chocolate, broken into pieces 1tsp vanilla extract

Method: Preheat the oven to 180C, 160C fan oven. Spread walnuts and hazelnuts out on a baking tray and roast for around 8 minutes or until golden brown. (Nuts

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

29

Vittles (food & drink)

park Fire and Food garden festival

ACE OF SPADES; Simon Gudgeon at the new outdoor kitchen at Pallington with, above, garden displays and, below, tasty treats

former Masterchef winner and wild food expert.

Meat will be supplied by the award-winning Brace of Butchers, Poundbury, who will be on hand with expert advice on Saturday and Sunday.

The event, taking place in the new open air riverside kitchen, will also premier the Bent Copper Bar, a former horsebox transformed by Simon Gudegon into a cocktail bar with a domed copper roof.

Simon added: “I have developed a love for fire cooking over the past couple of years, and that has given rise to a new element of the garden festival – Fire and Food – offering both the spectacle of flame cooking, and of course the delicious results.”

of Food and Fire, Luke Vandore-Mackay, the director of High Grange Devon, an outdoor covered woodland dining and cookery school, plus Dorset’s own Mat Follas,

n Entry is £14.50 and tickets must be booked in advance at sculpturebythelakes. co.uk Children under 14 and dogs are not permitted due to fast-flowing deep water.

with Diana Holman rough crumb. Mix with the powdered nuts and stir in the melted butter.

Line a buttered 23cm quiche dish with non-stick baking paper. Tip in the nut mixture and press out firmly to line the base and up the sides.

You want the base to be crunchy and quite thin rather than a thick crust. Chill it in the fridge

whilst you get on the filling.

Put the mascarpone, double cream, white chocolate, vanilla and cardamom into a pan and warm over a low heat, stirring all the time until the chocolate as melted.

Remove from the heat.

Pour the cholate mixture into the base. Return to the fridge to set for a few hours.

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Vittles (food & drink)

Balance and harmony key to good wine Meet Jack Priestley, the manager of wine merchants Morrish and Banham’s Dorchester shop.

Jack will be writing a regular column, passing on his secrets and sharing his knowledge about all things grape.

I’d like to tell you a little bit about my life in wine.

Share a few stories, tell you what’s new and exciting in the industry and hopefully I’ll pass on a bit of knowledge too and offer some tips and advice for anyone with an interest in wine.

I grew up in Weymouth into quite a foodie family and my dad was, and remains, a passionate wine enthusiast. Wine was always a part of mealtimes and social occasions. Since a young age I began tasting, always intrigued by

worked in vineyards, wineries, tasting rooms and now I run a shop in Dorchester for Morrish & Banham.

I have learnt how to taste wine. All the greatest wine critics, you and I will all use the same process. Look, MAN OF TASTE: Jack Priestley sniff then taste. It all sounds rather the flavours, the stories and simple.

But the key is the joy of wine. being present.

Tasting wine On a trip to Australia, I requires your attention and bought a beat-up old car, a good memory, so maybe and toured the Adelaide keep a notepad to hand.

Hills asking for a job at The colour, is it clear, various vineyards. bright, straw in colour, or Someone took me on and perhaps deep ruby?

I’ve never looked back.

The smell, give the glass a Immersed in wine, I’ve

swish. Are the aromas of citrus and freshly cut grass? Or are they black cherry and plum or black pepper? You don’t have to have the greatest nose in the world, but take a few moments to appreciate the aromas. What does it say to you? The more you ‘taste’ the better you’ll become at recognising different flavours.

Take a moderate sip, think about the flavours, the acidity. If it’s red - you’ll likely notice some tannin too. You’ll hear wine folk bang on about balance, balance is key, ask yourself are all of these elements of the wine singing in harmony? Finally, do you like it?

There are so many wines out there to discover, use this simple guide explore and enjoy your wines.

Cheers!

Community spirit well in stock at village shop A band of friendly volunteers and a small team of paid staff keep the community at the heart of the award-winning Halstock Village Shop and Post Office.

This not-for-profit shop means prices are kept as low as possible and surplus profits are ploughed back into the community.

In 2019 the shop won the Centenary Award from the Plunkett Foundation, which stated: “Halstock Village Shop is not just an original, it is the original –

HEART OF THE COMMUNITY: Halstock village shop

the original community owned and run shop that helped create a template for others to follow.”

With locally made bread, cakes, sandwiches and

pasties plus a huge choice of cheese, chilled and frozen foods along with fresh fruit and vegetables, all as locally sourced where possible, and wine,

cider and beer, the shop is a go-to destination for villagers.

The shop also makes sure it has those ‘odds and ends’ that we all run out of so annoyingly, like batteries, clothes pegs, balls of string, bin bags and reading glasses.

There’s a friendly community room behind the shop where you can buy fresh coffee. And every Thursday, a coffee morning is held here in Halstock Village Shop with steaming coffee and home-made cake!

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

31

Vittles (food & drink) Lizzie Crow – AKA Lizzie Baking Bird – is a self taught baker, who has a stall outside her home in Upwey each Saturday. See her scrumptious eats at lizziebakingbird.co.uk or find lizzibakingbird on Instagram.

A really tasty treat for our furry friends Our dogs have a big impact on our life, as friends and companions and working for the military and police and as therapy dogs and so on. With this in mind I figured they deserve a home-made treat.

Dog biscuits are ridiculously easy to make with just four ingredients.

I have a natty bone shape cutter (you can pick one up very cheaply) and you can either buy one or use whatever you have knocking about.

Makes 12 bone-shaped biscuits Ingredients 125g apple 125g carrot 1 egg 200g wholemeal flour (plus more for rolling out) Oven at Gas 6/ 200C. Grate the apple and carrot together (alternatively if you have a food processor pop the ingredients in the bowl and blitz). Take the pulp and put in a mixing bowl with the egg and flour. Stir until the ingredients come together to form a soft dough (I usually dispose of the spoon half way through and get my hands in there).

If too stiff then add a tablespoon or so of water.

Too sticky then add more flour. Each brand and type of flour will take varying degrees of fluid so you may need to add the water.

Once you have a smooth dough put in the fridge to

rest for 30 minutes.

Take the dough from the fridge and lightly flour a pastry board. Roll the pastry out to circa 5mm thick. Cut out your biscuits and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment .

Leave a little space in between but not too wide as these biscuits don’t spread much during cooking.

Turn the oven on and allow the biscuits to begin to cook as the oven is heating up. This will be counter intuitive, but you want these biscuits to dry out and bake. Leave for about 45 to 50 minutes (until the biscuits are crisp rather than bendy).

Switch the oven off and leave to cool. When cold feed to Fido. As you can probably tell my dogs love ’em. n Lizzie bakes at home and has a stall each Saturday in the The Old Ship Inn, Upwey.

Checkout her website lizziebakingbird.co.uk Have a look at her Instagram feed to see her make the biscuits

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Motoring

Keeping you out on the road for more Landmark businesses in Dorchester and Bridport, which were once one business but retained the same name, are going two very different ways.

Autobitz was started in 1968 by Ian Cornwell and John Sherry, in a little shop in Dorchester’s Hardye Arcade.

John was 22 at the time, and n Liz Cornwell, 47, scrapped the car parts side of the business some time ago, yet people still wander in all the time in search of brake pads and oil, looking faintly bewildered when they come instead upon rows and rows of gleaming bikes.

Liz, the daughter of Autobitz co-founder Ian Cornwell, now 75 and long retired, is a keen cyclist herself and has the whole range at home – road, mountain and gravel bikes.

Her new venture was sparked by the rise of electric cars, and modern cars which were too technologically advanced for the average Joe to get their spanners out and fix themselves.

Haynes stopped producing printed copies of their manuals last year after decades of showing motorists how to fix their cars themselves – the writing was already on the wall for stores like Autobitz.

Though sad she has had to change the business her father started in the 60s, Liz adores bikes and is excited for the future.

Lockdown, empty roads and the stunning weather of

recalls having to store stock all over the place, in garages and lock-ups, as the shop was so small.

Now 75, John is still working in the shop he and Ian bought in 1986 – one of several familiar faces to those of us acquainted with the underside of a bonnet.

But he’s now hoping to retire, bringing an end to an incredible 54

years behind the counter.

Over in Bridport, that Autobitz is now Ride – a cycle shop run by Ian’s daughter Liz Cornwell.

A third business, Autobitz Autos, a car repairs garage, is run by her brother Richard on the nearby Dottery estate.

Miranda Robertson visits both stores to find out more.

ON THE ROAD: John Sherry, Steve Hutchings, Martyn Whelan and Ben Stevens at Autobitz in Dorchester

ON YOUR BIKE: Liz Cornwell and the team at Ride in Bridport

2020 increased interest in cycling enormously and she runs a busy trade both selling bikes and accessories and repairing them too. They also do adaptations for disabilities.

Ride is a dealer for Giant and Canondale, and sells the full gamut from kids’

bikes, to electric and vintage/retro steeds.

She said: “A lot more people are dependent on a bike for commuting now.

“I don’t know if cycling would have taken off so much if we hadn’t had the combination of empty roads and hot weather. We

started with a few bikes 15 years or so ago and it just grew and grew.”

She added: “I remember the leather key fobs being really popular when I was a child. And people would be in all the time for batteries, brake pads and bulbs. But these days many cars don’t need bulbs very often as they have LEDs and with electric cars there’s very little you can do yourself – it’s not possible to sustain the car parts side these days.”

Future plans for Ride include a coffee machine and bar stools for customers to have a brew while they wait for repairs, and a new shop front. n John Sherry and his team are instantly recognisable to anyone in Dorchester who has attempted to fix their own vehicles over the last few decades..

John, 75, has run Autobitz for 54 years, and for the last 36 years the affable Steve Hutchings, 63, has been at his side.

Two other members of staff, Carol Vallard and Chris Countanch have recently retired, leaving Martyn Whelan, 35, and Ben Stevens, 52.

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

33

Motoring

than half a century

BACK IN TIME: The old Woods store in High East Street in Dorchester, which became Autobitz

Drivers urgently needed PAST TIMES: Ian Cornwell with a tools rep and, below, John and Ian receiving a prize from a rep

The store, laid out over two floors in High East Street, still looks like a Proper Shop, with thousands of items lined up to help you get back on the road, clean your car, fix your caravan and more.

There are still a few leather fobs on sale, too.

John initially went to work at Winfrith after school, but aged only 22, he and Ian Cornwell decided to launch Autobitz.

Ian had been working for Singer, servicing and repairing sewing machines.

“We were pretty green,” John said. “But we learned as we went along. People were all buying bits for Minis in 1968.”

Hand-written ledgers have

been taken over by computerised systems along the way. John said: “It’s so much easier. We used to have to do a stocktake at the end of every day, but these days we only have to check it every now and again.”

Despite his 54 years in the trade, you won’t find John jacking up his own car.

And plans for his retirement involve lots of travel – no spark plugs involved.

He intends to retire some time soon, with plans for the building yet to be finalised. Until then, the shop will continue to open six days a week.

He said: “The best thing about the business has been the staff.”

Dorchester Neighbourcar desperately need volunteer drivers to take elderly, disabled and vulnerable people to medical appointments.

With the huge spikes in the cost of living, many people can no longer afford to drive and with less money in their pockets, they are finding taxis or public transport too expensive – especially for those living in rural areas.

Drivers can claim 60p per mile or a minimum charge of £3.

Dorchester Neighbourcar has been taking people to dentist, doctor, optician, or hospital appointments since it launched in 2010 and now it has 100 clients, which is growing fast.

Administrator Jo Lilley said: “We serve clients who live in a five-mile radius of Dorchester who cannot access family or NHS transport support. We have more than 100 clients

and are growing due to the pandemic and the present state of the economy. We have 11 drivers, but we need more.”

Jo explained volunteering at Neighbourcar is rewarding, helping those people within the community.

She said: “You are often a link and lifeline to the outside world. And we are a really friendly group. Petrol costs are covered, and most drivers will only be asked a maximum of once a week. You can list your availability to drive – you are under NO pressure to accept a job – we just ask that you do what you feel able – all help is greatly received.”

Dorchester Neighbourcar is registered with all relevant Local Authority organisations If you are able to help a few hours a week, please contact Jo on 01305 251535 or email jo.lilley123@gmail.com

2012 Vauxhall Antara 4x4 Lovely to drive, MoT till December. Just serviced.

No cambelt to worry about as it’s the chaindriven 2.2l model.

Lovely big boot, startstop. Alloy wheels.

154k on the clock but has been well looked after.

Genuine reason for sale.

07460 205033

£3,000

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Homes & Gardens

Ask a Trader...

It’s back! We ask a local tradesperson for the lowdown on their day to day.

Troy Fowler of TTF Installations specialises in bathrooms for mobility issues.

Where do you live?

A village near Sherborne What area do you cover?

We cover quite a vast area, everywhere between Bournemouth to Bristol.

What do you do?

We specialise in mobility bathroom adaptions offering a variety of bathing solutions to keep you safe and independent in your home.

This includes complete wet rooms, walk in baths and showers, non-slip flooring, smart toilets, hand rails etc.

Why did you decide to become a plumber?

I am a very hands-on person

with Troy Fowler of TFF Installations

and always had an interest in learning new skills that I would be able to implement throughout my life. I am also very sociable and enjoy meeting and interacting with different people.

What is a typical day like?

We start early at 7.30am! We firstly have the team morning meeting, this is so everyone is clear on where they are going, what the day entails and also gives us a chance to have a catch up on current jobs and timescales.

We usually then will need to go to the suppliers to pick up what we will need for the day then head off to the job for around 9am. Everyday and every job is different which keeps it interesting.

What do you love about it?

It is very rewarding to know you can offer a service that helps people stay independent. I also enjoy seeing the finished result and helping with design ideas when asked.

What do you like least?

It can involve lots of heavy lifting. On the plus side, there is no need for gym visits!

Do you have any advice to youngsters who want to enter your trade?

Plumbing offers good job stability, variety and

opportunities.

Apprenticeships give you first-hand experience while you work hard to get your qualifications, all whilst getting paid!

If you had your time again, would you do anything differently?

I am quite happy with the choices I have made which have led me to where I am now.

What do you offer?

Everything from small adaptations to start to finish complete bathrooms, including design and technical survey, product purchase, quality installations, with warranties on all work carried out.

01935 726216 / 0800 448 086 ttfinstallations@hotmail.com

A little bit of luxury to come home to As we spent months and months at home in lockdown it gave us time to assess our living spaces, both inside and out. And even once coronavirus restrictions had lifted and travel became an option once again, many people still chose to holiday at home.

The way we treat our outdoor spaces has changed, and they have become so much more than green areas with plants, sheds and a greenhouse.

Gardens have become sacred spaces in which to unwind and relax.

And over the last few years, one of the most popular additions gardens have been the installation of a hot tub or a swim spa, to add a little luxury in the gardens of people

wanting to relax as they gaze discovering ways to bring a into the night sky and ease little bit of luxury to their those tight muscles after a day homes, spending holiday of toiling in the garden or a funds on luxury items such as busy day at work. hot tubs instead. Being able to Clifford T Shean Ltd is a relax and unwind after a hard family run day’s work electrical or on a social contracting occasion. company, The fact we based in can help Gillingham people bring and founded this little bit in 1972. So n Tom Shean at Inspire Eden of luxury to when Tom their own Shean decided to launch home is very rewarding.” outdoor living company In just under four years Inspire Inspire Eden in 2019, he could Eden has become one of the never have predicted the years South West’s leading providers to follow. of hot tubs and swim spas, Tom said: “With the offering not just the star piece uncertainty of overseas travels, but taking care of all the more and more people were groundwork and many other improving their gardens and garden requirements.

Tom said: “We bring the whole project together and take the hassle out of using several different trades or companies.”

And if people wanting a new addition to their garden space but might be worried about rising energy costs, Tom is a voice of reassurance.

“We only supply and install hot tubs that carry fantastic insulation and warranties. Our tubs are very well insulated which contributes to keeping costs down as the temperature is well maintained. Plus, we include excellent energy saving covers for the hot tubs as standard.”

For a free, no obligation quote or want to find out more, visit inspire-eden.co.uk or ring 01747 359015.

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

35

Homes & Gardens

Chance to show off your green home Could you open your home to visitors to show off your ideas for greener living? Dorset Climate Action Network is organising a Greener Homes Event during the first two weekends in October to showcase examples of sustainable living.

Last year, 50 homes across Dorset opened, welcoming some 500 visitors.

This year organisers want to double the numbers.

The focus is on low-cost solutions to cut energy use, reduce waste and save money, as well as looking after nature in your garden.

Alongside that will be an opportunity to view low carbon technologies like solar panels, heat pumps and electric cars.

“We really want people in different

kinds of homes to join in – including rented and those run by housing associations as well as privately owned.

You may have some great ideas for insulating your home, or saving energy in other ways which add up to a decent cost saving at this time of high fuel bills” said Sam Wilberforce, one of the organisers.

“Maybe you’ve got a wildlife garden full of insects, a sustainable vegetable garden or creative ways of saving water – we’re looking for ideas that other people can use in their own homes to benefit our environment as well as saving money, which many of these ideas will do”.

The event has been running in West Dorset for nine years and this is the second year the event is reaching out

OPEN: Clouds at Bothenhampton is one of the green homes taking part

to people across Dorset.

The organisers provide insurance cover, a website and a booking system. You can open for just one

day, on October 1, 2, 8 or 9 or more.

If you’re interested in getting involved email dorsetgreenerhomes @gmail.com for more information.

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Homes & Gardens

PARTNERS IN PILE: John Cropp and Steve Wheller of Carpets Select back in 1997 and, right, as they are today

Still measuring up after decades of

By Miranda Robertson newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Partners in pile Steve Wheller and John Cropp of Dorchester’s Carpets Select are celebrating a quarter of a century in the carpets business together, and a whopping 78 years in the industry all in.

It’s not only their products that are hard wearing –

they’ve scarcely aged in our two before and after shots!

The pair first met 35 years ago while working for Crosby Carpets in Dorchester.

A decade later they decided to launch their own business from home in Weymouth, moving to Broadmayne shortly

afterwards, then moving into their current home on the Grove Trading Estate in Dorchester, where they have a showroom, in 2010.

They have diversified a little over the years, and now offer Silentnight and Rest Assured beds and mattresses.

But their core business involves the old-fashioned

touch – visiting customers in their homes with a range of samples to see what they would like, then giving them a quote.

During lockdown business soared for the duo, as people forewent their holidays and looked to improve their homes with the cash instead.

Life is slightly calmer now

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

37

Homes & Gardens

STOCK PILE: Carpets Select’s extensive showroom on the Grove Trading Estate in Dorchester

experience in the carpets business for Steve and John and their team of fitters.

Steve, 61, said: “Home selection is still really popular.

“We go out to people’s homes with samples we’ve selected after a conversation with people on the phone and we measure up and give them a quote free of charge.”

The showroom hosts thousands of samples of carpet, including roomsized remnants for £180-£280 and a few budget carpets, plus many in the mid to upper price ranges.

Hard flooring is very popular, and their Amtico range is much called for.

Steve said: “What we

specialise in is terrific service from start to finish, from the measuring to the fitting to the aftercare.”

John, 50, has always enjoyed selling and meeting people.

He said: “It’s a small business with a family feel.

One of our fitters has been with us for 25 years, and

we have a lot of returning customers.” n Carpets Select is open from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, 9am-1pm Saturday, at Grove Trading Estate Unit 1, Dorchester DT1 1ST. Call 01305 753998 or email info@carpetselect .co.uk

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Homes & Gardens

Horticulture...

...with botanist Dr Dave Aplin

Born and bred in West Dorset, Dave has worked in horticulture and botany locally and internationally, notably in Belgium, Jordan and the UAE. He brings a wealth of practical knowledge with its underlying principles to his writing

Growing orchids is blooming tricky The month of May is when nature organisations tempt gardeners and local authorities to put away the lawnmower and allow nature to bloom.

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Termed ‘no mow May’, this period can occasionally startle gardeners when spectacular orchids start to bloom in these verdant spaces.

You may instantly think of orchids as those showy flowers available as houseplants from garden centres, and yet West Dorset can boast over 50 native species, with a few capable of inhabiting an unmown lawn, such as bee, common spotted, heath spotted and pyramidal orchids.

Despite native orchids being smaller than many of their exotic relatives, they are no less showy if you are willing to kneel before them and appreciate their complex, delicate flowers.

Artificially establishing orchids in a lawn is not easy – there are two methods.

The first is to purchase orchid seeds from a reputable supplier, which you can distribute onto bare patches in the lawn. While the process might sound straightforward, it is a game of chance with the odds stacked against you.

Orchid seeds are literally dust-size, consequently half a million seeds per gram is typical.

Seeds normally contain a small food reserve to aid germination, not so orchids.

Their seeds simply comprise an embryo and seed coat.

Sowing dust-like seeds is only possible by mixing them with a small amount of dry soil, then carefully sprinkling that onto your lawn. To

A THING OF BEAUTY: A bee orchid

germinate, they need to land in a favourable place near a microscopic fungal partner, known as mycorrhizae.

Mycorrhizae (literally meaning fungus-root) are miniscule and invisible to the naked eye, yet without them orchids fail to germinate.

The mycorrhizal fungus enters the seed where it meets the embryo where it forms a union. The orchid begins to siphon food from the fungus allowing it to germinate. The seedling continues to be totally dependent on the fungus until the plant produces green leaves, at this stage the fungus starts to benefit by receiving sugars from the plant.

I sowed around quarter of a million orchid seeds on a green roof I installed on our garden shed. I was very fortunate that four years later, two common spotted orchids bloomed. The success rate for

sowing seeds is almost so low that you must assume it won’t work and be surprised if it does.

The second method of introducing orchids to your garden is to buy plants, but finding a supplier is difficult due to the length of time and work needed to produce a salable specimen but expect to pay £12-£30 per plant.

I have seen them for sale at plant fairs with hybrid hardy orchids occasionally available in garden centres.

Mail order via the internet is another source, but don’t be surprised if you frequently encounter a sold-out sign or have to purchase them from Belgium.

Giving your mower a rest really benefits wildlife, and even if you don’t end up with orchids there are many other spectacular flowers for you and the bees to enjoy.

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

39

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Down to earth

BEACHCOMBING with JO BELASCO BA Hons History of Architecture and Design

The Smeagol in me can’t bring myself to say my exact favourite sea-glass hunting ground in Weymouth.

Also, other local ‘Gollums’ would not want me to disclose exact sweet spots.

What I can say, (spoken like a true politician) is that sweet spots can be a few hundred feet wide and sometimes just a few feet wide.

There is one spot in Weymouth where I find a lot of blue sea-foam glass and the occasional marble which leads me to believe back in Victorian times Codd bottles were sold nearby. Codd bottles were what al fresco beverages were sold in at the time and the sea-foam colour is very collectable.

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty of the sea-glass world.

In general the softer and more frosted the glass the more sought-after it is.

Shape is important too. I find quite a lot of triangles – I think they are formed by being wedged into a corner and then the waves pummelling them which, when you think about it, creates a triangle.

Probably the most desired shape is the tear drop as it echoes the jewellery designs we are familiar with. However, over the years I have bought and

HOLY GRAIL: Coloured sea glass in orange and, right, ruby red and sea-foam blue

Happy hunting for those sea glass sweet spots around here world. I have found a few reds but they are lacking in shape and softness. The closest to a red is a lovely orange piece I found in a Weymouth cove.

Sometimes, the colour of the glass is given a particular specialised name.

For instance Kerry Green or sea-foam blue. It can get confusing as the hue sea foam seems to HORSES FOR COURSES: Making a horse out of triangular shapes differ in different countries. sold sea glass you learn to do with collective However, it’s all part of the there are many exceptions. strength for instance then fun of learning about the In some areas safety sea wired safety glass is the world of sea glass and glass has a really bad perfect expression. It’s all online there are many reputation as it mostly about matching what you charts showing newcomers came from glass used in find with what others are the basics. public toilet windows etc. looking for.

The book I started with is In other places around the Colours are another world it is a rarity and if an important factor. Red is the called A Passion for Sea Glass by C S Lambert. artist is creating a concept holy grail of sea glass

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

41

Down to earth

Who is poisoning these birds of prey?

Nick Cole is a wildlife, nature, ecology and environmental advocate, and a raptor survey volunteer for the Hawk Conservancy.

In February I wrote about the suspicious death of a white-tailed eagle from the Isle of Wight release project, a male bird known as G461.

It had been found in January on an estate in North Dorset.

In March it was confirmed

by Dorset Police that G461 died of brodifacoum poisoning. Brodifacoum is a highly toxic rodenticide that causes internal haemorrhaging and carries a significant risk of secondary poisoning to non-target species. There are strict protocols for its commercial use yet G461’s liver contained seven times the amount of brodifacoum required to kill it.

Astonishingly, shortly after confirming the cause of death, Dorset Police announced it would be taking no further investigative action. The announcement caused widespread concern among those following the case.

The RSPB, which had assisted in recovering G461’s remains, issued a statement saying it was “completely baffled” by the decision not to investigate further. The charity’s global conservation director said it was clear that brodifacoum was being used ‘either incompetently or with intent to kill raptors’ – either way an illegal act. A thorough land search had been planned on the estate in

question to look for evidence such as poison baits or misuse but that was suddenly and unexpectedly called off.

West Dorset MP Chris Loder had been urging the Rural Crime Team to drop the investigation before poisoning had even been confirmed. Ilchester Estates made a donation of £14,000 towards Chris Loder’s election campaign. There is no suggestion the eagle died on their land, or because of anyone associated with the estate. The police have not yet revealed where the eagle was found.

However, it’s natural to wonder if the donation could have influenced Mr Loder’s opinion on matters concerning wildlife crime on country estates.

Dr Ruth Tingay, a raptor conservationist seeking to understand what was happening in the county, submitted a Freedom of Information request to Dorset Police. Initially her request was rejected on the grounds it would take too long for the required information to be collated.

After a successful appeal information was forthcoming in late April including an email exchange between Chris Loder and David Sidwick, the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner. Mr Loder had asked very specific questions about the G461 case, most of which could

not be answered because they were operationally sensitive.

The week of the FOI release saw both David Sidwick and Chief Constable Scott Chilton release statements reassuring Dorset residents that they were taking wildlife crime seriously.

It transpires that, in March, satellite tag data from a second white-tailed eagle showed it to be behaving unusually. It was located, alive but displaying characteristic poisoning traits, on another Dorset estate.

The bird recovered and it has been reported the episode led to a multiagency raid on the estate in question with numerous items discovered and sent for toxicology reports. The March incident suggests a Rural Crime Team pursuing an investigation with vigour.

So how is it that a team undertaking a raid on one Dorset estate, where a live eagle was found, elected not to proceed with a planned search of another estate on which a dead eagle had been found poisoned? There has been no explanation and it seems a strikingly inconsistent approach.

One suggestion is that the raid took place under the direction of PC Claire Dinsdale, an award-winning member of the Dorset Rural Crime Team and someone who played a key role. PC Dinsdale was no longer in situ later that month when the decision was made to close the investigation into G461’s death. As I write, PC Dinsdale remains on leave

of absence from the force.

News also broke in April that, in February, a member of the public found the bodies of a buzzard and a red kite in nearby Dorset.

The police and other parties were alerted, recovered the remains and sent them away for toxicology reports. The officer dealing with that case was PC Dinsdale. In her absence, there has been no news of the toxicology results or any investigation into how either bird met its end.

The person who found and reported the dead raptors went public with the news in early April.

Then on April 28, PC Rob Hammond of the North Dorset NPT found a dead buzzard in the Ashmore area. Toxicology results are awaited although PC Hammond said at the time: “Bearing in mind recent events I would urge dogwalkers to keep them on a lead.”

Sound advice if highly toxic substances are freely available for consumption.

Dorset seems a hotspot for wildlife crime right now. I wonder what those in positions of authority are really doing about it.

Editor’s note A spokesman from the RSPB told The West Dorset Magazine: “Currently we are actively involved with Dorset Police, investigating the matters. We are shocked and surprised that the investigation has now been closed.”

Chris Loder has been offered the opportunity to reply.

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Down to earth

Dancing to the music of the stones PAGAN VIEWS

By Jo Belasco

Sometimes when there is nowhere practical to flee, and fights just end up with stalemate you need a third option. My third option are sacred sites, ahh, that has a certain ring to it – fight, flight, or sacred site?

The Bronze age nine stones at Winterbourne Abbas are one of five stone circles I can walk to from my house.

While not being absolutely sure why I am drawn to sacred sites, I think part of it is the feeling of arrival you get when you see and feel the place. Walking the ancient paths to them seems to stir feelings of continuity and peace in me, especially barefoot. Walking often turns to dancing as it did at the nine stones a few years UP TO THE NINES: The nine stones at Winterbourne Abbas ago, trying to dance the and, top right, Chris with his dowsing pendulum, Jo frustration of dealing with dancing and, right Zelda keeping guard bureaucracy out of my bones.

Very often when we go to ancient sites we meet likeminded people, like Chris who happened to be doing some dowsing that day.

Chris was a member of The Somerset Dowsers and he let me have a try with the copper wires and pendulum. The very fact that they moved when I touched them sent me into unfortunately, from its close few hundred feet away joyous raptures – I was not proximity to the A35’. from the circle. From here a calm candidate for The massive beech tree was after whetting your whistle instruction. hacked down as can be seen you can take the marked Author Peter Knight in in these photos from 2018, footpath to your destination Ancient Stones of Dorset of course the A35 is still a across a field quite safely. describes the ‘fine circle distraction but it’s not all Folklore has it that the nestling atmospherically bad. There is a lovely pub stones were once children under the shade of a huge beech tree but suffers, The Coach House Inn just a who played a ball game on

a Sunday and were turned to stone for punishment or dancing ladies cavorting on a Sunday who met the same fate. These stories were probably spread to ensure people kept the Sabbath holy during the Puritan turn of power in the Seventeenth century. Many sacred sites were given a bad name by the Puritans partly to discourage people having spiritual experiences at sacred sites other than the Puritans’ own brand.

NB: Access to the stones is currently unsuitable for all but the most adventurous, as the stile has been changed and there is barbed wire around the site.

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

43

Down to earth

The birdsong soundtrack to my May days Sally Cooke lives in Tolpuddle with her husband, two grown up sons and her spotty rescue dog.

You can see Sally’swork, Sparrows in a Puddle at Instagram.com/ sparrows.puddle.photos If I can get away with it, I’m outdoors nearly all day at this time of year. The warming and lengthening May days, combined with the countryside erupting with vibrant new growth and so much to do in the garden, mean there’s not much to drag me inside. From the early morning ‘dawn chorus’ to the last determined robin still singing as the sun goes down, birdsong is the soundtrack to my day.

My morning dog walks take me past hedgerows, through copses and across fields with the birdsong changing along the way. Some of the songs have long been associated in my memory with words. The yellowhammers ask for “alittle-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheeeeeese!”

from the tops of the hedgerows while the great tit shouts ‘teacher teacher teacher!’

In the woods, the rhythmic ‘chiff chaff chiff chaff’ song is what gives the chiffchaff its name. When I get to open fields, the fluid, warbling song of the skylark fills the air, a wonderful sound that has inspired poets, artists and composers for centuries.

As I work in the garden, along with the dominant ‘cheeping’ of my resident sparrows, I can hear the fluty sound of the blackbird singing from our roof, the cooing of the woodpigeons and the twittery sound of the dunnock from the hedge. The tiny wren moves from perch to perch around the garden while it sings its improbably loud song that ends with its distinctive trill, or machine gun rattle as I’ve heard it described. The robin often sings near where I’m working, keeping an eye out for any worms I might dig up.

Perhaps my favourite song though is that of the song thrush. Late in the evening he

will choose the very top branch of the very tallest tree to perform his song. He includes repeated phrases including one that sounds like ‘Did he do it? He did, he did, he did! Poet Robert Browning also loved the song, observing: “That’s the wise thrush; he sings each song twice over, Lest you should think he never could recapture the first fine careless rapture!”

It doesn’t matter if you’re not able to distinguish between the different songs, just get out and enjoy the sound!

Hidden dangers of sparkling elderflower wine 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 Calendar and in 2021 his Spotter’s Guide to Countryside Mysteries was published.

There is no flower that quite matches the Elderflower: its heady, earthy, slightly naughty and summery perfume unrivalled. The first of June is always Elderflower Day for me, coinciding nicely with the meteorological first day of summer. Yes, it can be found earlier, late April even, but I am prepared to wait. There is a six-week window until mid-July, but I suggest picking your year’s supply in

one big pick. Elder is unmistakeable, not least because its flowers smell of elderflowers. But do pick carefully as I have known a score of people who have mistakenly picked blossoms from Wayfaring Trees, Rowans, Whitebeams, Hogweed and once, I suspect, Hemlock.

Collect only those that are in full flower and still creamy in colour. Snap-off the sprays where they join the top two leaflets and use them as soon as you are home. You will need to ‘fork-off’ the florets by holding the stem between thumb and forefinger, with the floral spray laying in your palm. Then draw the tines of a fork through the florets at a shallow angle to

dislodge them. Remove any larger bits of the slightly bitter green stem that end up with the florets, though don’t worry too much.

What to do with them?

A cordial with lemon juice is favourite, just make it very concentrated and sweet to prevent it from fermenting. I mix granulated sugar with the florets, leave overnight, then pour boiling water and lemon juice over the mix. Stir until the sugar has dissolved and sieve.

Then, of course, there is Sparkling Elderflower Wine.

This can be great fun if you get it wrong due to bits of glass being embedded in the ceiling from exploding bottles. If such fun is not required, then makes sure

you ferment your brew down to a specific gravity of about 1005. This will ensure that there is enough sugar to give it a fizz, but not so much you will need to redecorate.

Apologies to readers who are mystified – this is homebrew talk.

Finally, there is Elderflower and Lemon Turkish Delight.

A muslin bag of the florets and lemon juice as the flavour components in any Turkish delight recipe will do the trick. This too can be lethal to make due to the hot, bubbling, sticky mix in the pan that can explode with super-heated steam if you stop stirring it, then start stirring again. But I promise, truly promise, that it is worth the risk.

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Culture

A box office bonanza as From Page There were sell out screenings, packed audiences and special events at last month’s Bridport Film Festival, From Page To Screen.

From Page to Screen is the only film festival to celebrate the art of adaptation and hasn’t been live since 2019, due to covid.

Over five days and 21 screenings it brought cinematic classics - from the 1920s to the 2020s - to more than 1500 film fans.

Guest Curator Edith Bowman had waited more than two years to join the festival in person to share her selection of soundtrack-driven films.

Chosen to represent each decade of the past century of cinema, they started with Hitchcock’s early silent gem The Lodger (with a live piano accompaniment, arranged and played by Bridport Arts Centre’s director Mick Smith) and culminated in Spencer, acclaimed for its dramatic compositions by Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood.

Edith hosted film introductions as well as post screening interviews with Tom Littledyke, after Flee, and Mark Hix after Boiling Point.

In response to Flee’s powerful depiction of an Afghani refugee’s experience of escape, Tom Littledyke shared with her the inside story on his two trips carrying humanitarian aid from his Marshwood Vale pub The Shave Cross Inn to displaced Ukrainians. Local restaurateur Mark Hix spoke candidly with Edith after Boiling Point’s single-take portrait of a night in a professional kitchen, about his concerns for the hospitality industry.

She said: “Thanks to the Bridport Film Festival committee for having me help

STAR TURN: Guest curator Edith Bowman with Mark Hix and, below, with Tom Littledyke

curate, what I felt, was a fabulous programme that allowed me to share my passion for soundtracks, to enthuse about great storytelling and important storytelling that can encourage us all to think about our actions and how we live our life, and to remind us how cinema encourages us to escape.

“Thank you also to the wonderful people of Bridport and those who travelled to watch the films and listen to the chats, you made me feel so very welcome.

“I hope I can come back again soon but know that you live in a very special place and the film festival is something you should be extremely proud of.”

There was a special event for families at The Lyric Theatre screening of Disney’s original 1940 version of Pinocchio.

The Lyric is now the home of the Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company - who are on a national tour with their own interpretation of the iconic Italian story – but for one afternoon it was transformed back into the town cinema it

GOOD WORK: Above, raffle tickets on sale at Fruits of the Earth and The Book Shop, below

was from 1912 to 1962.

After the film children could make their own puppets with Stuff and Nonsense’s Holly Miller.

Holly said: “It was wonderful to have a lively young audience back in The Lyric after the constraints of the past two years and to see all their brilliant puppet creations set off out the door was a joy.”

The festival’s raffle raised over £450 for The Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine and Afghanistan Appeals.

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

45

Culture

To Screen festival is a massive smash

SHOWTIME: Children show off their puppets and, right, the sold out sign outside the Electric Palace

SHOW AND TELL: Left, the WI ladies and right, Monica Perry opens the exhibition

Ukrainians special guests at Poundbury art exhibition Nonagenerian artist and Poundbury resident Monica Perry cut the ribbon and officially opened the It’s Up To Us exhibition in the newly refurbished Jubilee Hall on Saturday.

Hundreds of visitors attended the event, with Pounbury WI ladies handing out glasses of fizz!

Special guests were a Ukranian family, who only

arrived from Poland last week, having left Kyiv.

Eleven-year-old Volodymyr, who loves art, and painted pictures in Poland, was invited to exhibit at the exhibition.

The Casterbridge Art Society, which has created the group Art in Poundbury, organised the event invited fellow creatives from Artwey,

Dorchester Camera Club and 3Cs Calligraphy to take part, along with new and established artists, sculptors, photographers, textile artists, calligraphers, stone masons and jewellers to showcase their work.

Pupils from Damers First School also took part, who have been working with ceramic storyteller, Katie Netley. Inspiration for their

work, and the exhibition’s title, has come from the book of the same name by Christopher Lloyd and 33 award-winning artists from around the world.

The event raised £250 on Saturday for the Red Cross Appeal to support Ukraine and it hoped more will be raised for the duration of the exhibition which runs until June 1.

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Culture

Art classes not only for the lonely Creative classes are being launched in West Dorset to help people overcome isolation and physical challenges.

Dorchester Arts’ new program of three classes are designed to helped parents in Sherborne as well as people who suffer from Parkinson’s disease and people who suffer from memory loss.

A spokesperson for Dorchester Arts said: “Building on the legacy of Sherborne’s Arts Link, we are offering three creative courses for the Sherborne community to address isolation and physical challenges in a creative and fun way. Designed to be fun and affordable, the classes also offer an important social element too. The Art for Memory class is designed for people experiencing the early stages of memory loss.

“Run by an experienced tutor and support worker,

new creative skills are explored each week, including different methods of printmaking, watercolour painting, clay work and collage.

“Art for Parents is a free class that provides art and craft sessions for any parent or carer of primary age children who are experiencing difficulties and challenges in their lives.

“We are also running Parkinson’s Dance, a fun class with therapeutic benefits and movement specifically designed for those living with Parkinson’s. It helps to support balance, movement, voice, and independence, taught by two trained specialists with seated or standing movement options on offer.

“Thanks to support from the National Lottery Community Fund the classes are free, although a £4 donation is welcome.

They are a great way to meet new people and have fun – with tea and biscuits too.”

Art for Memory classes take place on Tuesdays, from 10am to noon and from 1pm to 3pm, until July 19 at Small Hall, Digby Hall. £4 suggested donation, carers go free of charge.

Art for Parents takes place on Tuesdays from 09.30am to 11.30am until July 12 at The Studio, Digby Hall. Entry is free.

Parkinson’s Dance takes place on Thursdays from 2pm to 4.30pm until July 21 at Tinneys Lane Youth Club. £4 suggested donation. n For more information email Jess Beale at engage@dorchesterarts. org.uk or visit dorchesterarts.org.uk

Exploring life on the fringes with festival book club Do you know what lies behind the doors of that little semi-derelict cottage along that quiet lane?

In an innovative move, one of the literary events at the Beaminster Festival will be the culmination of the Great Big Beaminster Book Club, in which readers are invited to read Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller, winner of the Costa Novel Award 2021 and shortlisted for the 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction.

Twins Jeanie and Julius

have always been different from other people. At 51 years old, they still live with their mother Dot in rural isolation and poverty.

Inside the walls of their old cottage they make music, and in the garden they grow (and sometimes kill) everything they need for sustenance.

But when Dot dies suddenly, threats to their livelihood start raining down. Jeanie and Julius would do anything to preserve their small sanctuary against the perils of the outside world, even as their mother’s secrets begin to unravel, putting everything they thought

they knew about their lives at stake.

Unsettled Ground is a powerful novel of betrayal and resilience, love and survival. It is a portrait of life on the fringes of society that explores with dazzling emotional power how we can build our lives on broken foundations, and spin light from darkness. clairefuller.co.uk/ n Thursday June 30, 2.30pm St Mary’s Church Beaminster, £12, beaminsterfestival.com

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

47

Culture The work of Bridportbased impressionist Hugo Grenville has been exhibited alongside pieces

by Cezanne, Degas and Renoir in New York.

The Impressionism: A World View exhibition taking place at Nassau County Museum of Art this month has brought together major works by the French impressionist masters with pieces by contemporary artists.

Hugo Grenville, regarded by many as the leader of modern romanticism in art, said: “I’m delighted to have my work exhibited alongside the impressionist masters that have been such an inspiration to me.

“In these difficult times we can draw solace from art as it reminds us to be joyful in life – especially surrounded by this wonderful Dorset landscape.”

Hugo has been represented by Findlay Galleries of New York since 2006. Over the past 30 years he has held more than 20 one-man exhibitions in London, New York, Palm Beach and Hong Kong.

Hugo relocated from London to West Milton several years ago to set up his studio, where he works and teaches other artists during a summer school.

Hugo will be opening his studio to the public during Dorset Arts Week.

Visitors can view a selection of works from Hugo’s archives, as well as some of his latest studio work. Some of his

ARTIST AT WORK: Hugo Grenville in his studio at West Milton

Hugo’s great impression at New York exhibition

COLOURFUL: Some of Hugo’s paintings, including, above, Late Summer at Loscombe and, right, A Summer Breakfast. Below: Last of the Roses and, right, inside his studio

art pieces will also be on sale. Hugo’s studio will be open every day, 10am to 4pm, from Saturday, May

21 to Sunday 29.

People can also enjoy drinks with the artist on Saturday, May 21 from

noon until 3pm. For more information on Hugo and his work visit hugogrenville.com

48

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Constituency issues

with West Dorset MP Chris Loder

Housing and transport on the agenda

It was an honour to welcome His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to West Dorset during his visit to open the new playground at Poundbury. We are very lucky in West Dorset to hold such a place in the affections of the Prince, and he has taken a great interest in the sustainability of development and energy provision which will be so important as we navigate the current issues in our energy provision.

Last Friday, I also welcomed Secretary of State Michael Gove to Dorchester as well following my last meeting with him where I urged his support for proposals to

amend the current incarnation of Dorset’s Local plan to ensure the housing needs of our communities is better met. I made clear that the current proposals under the North Dorchester Development are simply not acceptable to most residents in and around Dorchester, many of whom have expressed great concerns over the plan.

I also doubled down on my request for greater assistance to local Community Land Trusts and housing schemes that provide major assistance in ensuring local people can access low-

cost, affordable housing in their own areas. I have been supportive of CLT projects across West Dorset, including in Dorchester, Sherborne and Bridport, and will be keeping the pressure on to ensure these schemes are given the support they need to continue in their valuable services to the community.

I held an urgent summit with Dorset Council and the Buses Minister Baroness Vere to understand why an improvement bid was not successful to improve our bus services. Towns and villages across West Dorset are faced with a shortage of bus services, and I made clear to the Minister

that rural Dorset has just as much need of levelling up ambition as anywhere else in the UK. Following several meetings with South Western Railway and my ongoing campaign to improve the state of our railway service, I am pleased that two trains per hour between Weymouth, Dorchester and London Waterloo are being reintroduced imminently. In just a few months our rail services are in a far better state than they were this winter and I will keep the pressure on, both in West Dorset and in Parliament, to maintain the progress made in recent months with a focus on our bus network.

Politics

Push our motion for sewage tax on water firms Last year there were nearly 4,000 spills of raw sewage into Dorset’s rivers as a result of more than 200 storm overflows.

In just one incident in October 2021 the water off 17 of Dorset’s beaches had raw sewage emptied into it.

In some respects we were just lucky that this didn’t happen at a time when there would have been a lot of holidaymakers on our beaches and in the sea.

The spilling of sewage is legal under exceptional circumstances, such as during heavy rainfall.

Illegal acts include what is known as dry spilling when a water company discharges sewage when conditions are dry. The law

By ANDY CANNING West Dorset LibDems

is also broken if companies do not treat enough of the sewage before discharging it, which is called an early spill. Last October, local groups including Surfers Against Sewage advised people to stay out of the water. The charity, which raises awareness and campaign against water pollution, advised against entering the waters to prevent swimmers from being exposed to and ingesting sewage.

Campaigners raising awareness of water pollution claim that we

need more data from water companies in order to fully identify sewage releases.

The team at the Sorted Surf Shop in Bournemouth have argued that there are gaps in the data which makes it difficult for people to monitor when the waters are safe to use or not.

Water companies are likely to put a time on how long the spill lasts for, but they’re only ever an approximation. Despite companies claiming that the spillage only lasted ten minutes, there has been data to show that on one occasion a spill lasted for six hours.

The size of the pipes and the pressure going through the pipes is sometimes

immense. Even 10 minutes can make an impact on the quality of the water.

This is an issue that has steadily got worse over recent years but at the same time the water companies have made billions in profits and senior executives have received record bonuses.

In 2021 the water companies made a combined profit of £2.2 billion. The Liberal Democrats are proposing a Sewage Tax set at 16% of profits to be levied until the spilling of raw sewage has come to an end.

We are also calling on the Government to stop any bonuses being paid until spilling has been stopped.

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

49

Politics

Key points missing from Queen’s speech Flexible working, fair tips and protection from pregnancy discrimination would make a huge difference to workers in Dorset, where manufacturing, health, retail and hospitality are all big employers and earnings are below the national average.

Insecure and part-time work is common. It is also true that in Dorset 11.9% of us provide unpaid care and the burden of this falls mainly to women. It’s a huge disappointment for working carers that there is no progress on legislating to give them new rights to take time off to manage their caring responsibilities.

Maternity rights charity Maternity Action has figures that show pregnant women and new mothers have suffered unfair

By CLAUDIA SORIN West Dorset Labour Party

redundancies, which have dramatically increased since the coronavirus pandemic.

An Employment Bill would have proposed legislation to prevent firms from sacking women during pregnancy or six months afterwards.

The Queen’s Speech was remarkable not for what was in it but for what was not included. We need urgent government intervention on the cost-of-living crisis but that was nowhere to be seen and while Boris Johnson has pledged many times to introduce an Employment Bill, this too was omitted.

When the Bill was first announced in 2019 it promised:

n The creation of a single enforcement body, offering greater protections for workers making sure that tips left for workers go to them in full n All workers would have the right to ask for a more predictable contract n Redundancy protections would be extended to prevent pregnancy and maternity discrimination n Parents allowed to take extended leave for neonatal care n Entitlement to one week’s leave for unpaid carers n Subject to consultation, the bill also proposed making flexible working the default unless employers have good reason not to.

Both unions and industry groups have stressed the need for a bill which

addresses the changing world of work. However, Johnson and his government have decided that women and lower-paid workers and those juggling insecure jobs with caring responsibilities don’t deserve these rights and protections. The government has turned its back on those who are currently bearing the brunt of the poverty crisis. Instead of showing itself to be serious on tackling insecurity at work by banning bad bosses from firing and rehiring them on worse terms and conditions, it has outlined plans to rip up workers’ rights under the guise of ‘Brexit freedoms’.

As the economic historian and socialist RH Tawney wrote: “Freedom for the pike is death for the minnows.”

meeting, which non-cabinet councillors are entitled to do, what you observe is simply the approval of what’s placed before them.

Yes, you are entitled to ask a question (which receives a formal reply) and listen to the officer’s report about the issue to be decided. But this report comes with a recommendation, and when asked if they approve cabinet members simply say yes or no. Usually yes.

There is rarely any discussion or debate. Which leads me to assume that any questions or concerns are raised behind closed doors, that any debate takes place in private.

A committee system would still be in the control of the

dominant party of course, but it would allow all views and opinions on an issue to be openly and publicly expressed. We live in world of increasing complexity – a world that is devoid of simple solutions to the problems we face. These problems require that all aspects of an issue are considered before deciding on a course of action, not just those from a single political party. We need to be breathing life into the democratic process, not suffocating it. We need to be on our guard against the slow erosion of democracy.

The rejection of the cabinet system of governance on Dorset Council would be a major step in this direction.

Cabinet system is slowly eroding democracy A few years before the demise of West Dorset District Council, before it was absorbed into the new unitary authority of Dorset Council in 2019, there was a successful public campaign to change the governance arrangements of the council.

A campaign group, Public First, forced a referendum on the issue after collecting more than 6,000 signatures calling for a vote to introduce a committee system to replace its existing cabinet system.

Pressure could soon be building for a similar public vote on the governance of Dorset Council. When the new Dorset Council was formed, councillors were told that it would be a

By KELVIN CLAYTON West Dorset Green Party

‘member-led’ council. It is not. It is a cabinet-led council. The cabinet, made up of ten councillors drawn from the majority party, is effectively the main decision-making body. The only exceptions being those decisions that the constitution requires to come to full council. On these occasions we are simply asked to rubber stamp a report already approved by cabinet.

From an observer’s position, however, there is little or no debate at cabinet either. If you attend a cabinet

50

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Business

By Andrew Diprose editor@dorsetbiznews.co.uk

They’ve done it.

The Peaky Climbers, including Bridport postie John Foote and colleague Lloyd Cleal, have… climbed three peaks!

The nine-strong team notched up around 23 miles (37km) of walking and 3,064 metres (10,052ft) of climbing after tackling the three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales.

And although a flat tyre dashed their hopes of WE DID IT: Posties Lloyd Cleal, left, and John Foote, right, with from left: Lindsey pulling off the feat in 24 Cumpstone of The Trading Post; Dorset MIND supporter Janet Fletcher, 80; Linda hours, their achievement O’Sullivan, CEO, Dorset Mind, and Richard Cumpstone. Below: the team in action left the team from Pictures: Dorset Biz News Bridport, Lyme Regis and the surrounding area far from deflated.

John, who turned 46 during the challenge which was aimed at raising awareness and money for Dorset Mind, the county’s own mental health charity, said the tyre episode had cost them around four hours.

He said: “We didn’t have a spare on the minibus, there was no mobile signal to The first mountain tackled an issue – but they still Lloyd’s brother, Lee, and contact the AA and all the managed to scale the peak by the team was Ben Richard Cumpstone of garages were closed at that and return in around four Nevis in Scotland at 4pm Bridport’s family-run time. But we still did the hours.

The last mountain – on Monday, May 9. outdoor clothing and Three Peaks in about 26 Snowdon in Wales – was They were faced with footwear shop, The hours so we’re pretty reached at 2pm on atrocious weather Trading Post. pleased. I’ve taken part in Tuesday afternoon, just 22 conditions, including 80 Other members were marathons and other hours after starting the mph winds, rain, mist and Tommy Craven, Charlie challenges but this was challenge. sleet.

But the team still Fowler, Richard Lawless, one of the hardest things “We knew we couldn’t do managed to get up – and Graham Padget and Joel I’ve ever done. it within the 24 hours so down – the mountain in Wilkins while Shaun “I feel totally knackered we just enjoyed it more, just over four hours.

Annetts was the driver. and we all have a lot of Next stop was Scafell Pike taking in the views and Ages ranged from 21 to sore knees, joints and also the experience,” said in England.

51. muscles.

John.

“But it was a good Once again the weather John, who has been a experience and we all feel wasn’t kind – and it’s Apart from John and postie for 20 years, a sense of achievement.” where the flat tyre became Lloyd, the team included thanked everyone for their

Peaky Climbers feeling all pumped up after challenge

51

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

with dorsetbiznews.co.uk

Advertising in The West Dorset Magazine is great for business! n 20,000 copies distributed to 235 stockists (No door to door, all actively picked up by readers) n Every town and village in West Dorset covered n Well over 40% penetration (based on 46,000 households in West Dorset) ROCKY WAY: John Foote scaling on of the peaks and, below, the flat tyre

n Widest read publication in West Dorset n A fortnight’s advertising – cost effective n Trusted, well-written hyperlocal content TESTIMONIALS I have just picked up a copy and seen our little advert this week. Brill. Thank you. The adverts are working. We are so pleased.

This magazine is much looked forward to and read by our entire household in some detail! Many thanks go to you all - finally a local magazine for the locals.

support and donations.

He said: “We had a lot of good luck messages and some donations came in as well.

“It was a tough challenge but also very rewarding.”

Among those watching the team’s progress with admiration was Linda O’Sullivan, CEO of Dorset Mind.

She said: “The Peaky Climbers have illustrated the importance of connecting and also the power of a community

that wants to make a difference.

“This challenge was beyond amazing.

“In the words of Tommy Shelby [a fictional character in the TV series Peaky Blinders played by Irish actor Cillian Murphy] ‘Peaky Climbers, Dorset Mind Salutes You!'” n To donate to Dorset Mind please go to dorsetmind.uk/campaigns /donate-to-dorsetmind/donate

What a brilliant job all of you have made of the new magazine. We absolutely love it – such a good idea.

So many interesting articles to read and keep.

Absolutely well done and congratulations.

advertising@westdorsetmag.co.uk ( 01305 566336 Edition 5

Friday, April 8, 2022

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52

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Business

with dorsetbiznews.co.uk

By Andrew Diprose editor@dorsetbiznews.co.uk

Jo Spolton and Sam Turner are on a mission.

To make buying secondhand a badge of honour.

The Dorset duo are cofounders of Rumage, a website which makes it easier to buy second-hand.

That’s because it gathers information from 15 sites to find the bargain for you.

Originally launched as 2Hand in 2018 to help people make their money go further, the venture rebranded to Rumage earlier this year.

While second-hand marketplaces have boomed in recent years, it seems the online experience is turning people off.

According to research by Rumage, only one in five people look at more than three websites when buying secondhand.

Two in five say they would buy more second-hand if if was easier online.

Just under half said they liked the sustainability of secondhand shopping.

But many gave up and bought new if a secondhand item was not found within a couple of weeks.

Now, though, with the cost of living crisis testing many household budgets to the limit, buying secondhand is expected to become even more popular.

Jo, a mum of two and the CEO of Rumage, said: “I want to help people find what they need and remove the stigma of secondhand.

“I want to make it a badge of honour to grab a bargain.

SITE FOUNDERS: Jo Spolton and Sam Turner of Rumage

Making the right decisions in the pre-loved market

“Something to be proud of and something to shout about.

“I’m on a mission to make secondhand not just first choice but a viable first choice for everyone.”

Jo, 50, and Sam, 53, who is Chief Marketing Officer, said that with so many platforms offering second-hand items, Rumage gave people more of a chance to make money-saving choices by bringing them altogether.

But it also has a positive impact on the environment as extending the life-cycle of a

product puts less strain on the planet and slows down the rate of excessive consumption. he result is less waste and emissions.

Jo said: “As a mum I’m really worried about the planet my kids are going to inherit.

“I want to show them that everyone has the ability to create change and that every single action really does make a difference.

“As a mum I want my kids to be proud of their choices, not just for themselves but for the world and other people around them.

“I try to make every penny work hard and, like many other families, we are trying

to do an awful lot on a budget.

“Making secondhand as easy as possible is our goal.

“We want to help people make good second-hand choices rather than having to rely on new for things that are just as good pre-loved.”

Using Rumage, a simultaneous search can be made for secondhand products – from bikes and appliances to clothes and home furnishings – across a diverse range of marketplaces.

So far Rumage is connected to 15 sites but working behind the scenes on many more.

The service is free.

No payment is taken for items shown on rumage.com.

Instead Rumage displays what’s on offer and enables users to find what they need without the hassle of searching all the sites individually.

All transactions happen outside of Rumage which gets its income from affiliate agreements with many of the linked sites.

Commission is earned when an item is purchased.

Jo said: “The tide is turning now on re-using things.

“Consumers are more powerful than they realise.

“If we all change our habits then the economic models will change from the ground up.

“Our goal with rumage.com is to make it possible for everyone to join the circular economy as well as save money.” n Rumage has several free guides to secondhand purchases including mobile phones, electronics, laptops, bikes, furniture and garden furniture. rumage.com

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

53

Just the job (recruitment)

54

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Just the job (recruitment)

Frontline’s ten years of staff solutions A recruitment firm is celebrating 10 years of providing expert staffing solutions in Dorset.

Frontline Recruitment is this month marking a decade since it opened its office in Weymouth and is putting its success down to the ability to build long-term relationships with the local community.

Frontline’s Weymouth office is headed up by business manager Karen Wisbey, who says the recruitment industry has come full circle since she joined the company seven years ago.

She said: “Recruitment is a candidate-driven market – as it was a decade ago.

“We have had to re-educate some of our clients to move quickly on good hires or potentially lose them to another employer. Covid has

EXPERIENCED: Karen Wisbey and her team

also changed the mindset of both clients and candidates and we have been successful in embracing change and offering that flexibility.”

Karen said that she is most proud of the respect that Frontline has gained over the last 10 years.

She added: “We’ve worked really hard to gain the trust of the local marketplace – both candidates and clients.

We take pride in offering an unrivalled service where we promote honesty and integrity.

“We’ve built this trust and gained some wonderful clients who have become Frontline friends over the years.

“Having worked in recruitment for over 18 years you learn that establishing good

relationships and offering a quality service to both client and candidate gains you the respect.

“We have been through a lot over these past few years and Frontline’s head office have always supported us wholeheartedly.”

Karen added: “I enjoy working for a forward thinking recruitment agency where you can make a difference and have the ability not too be governed

by KPIs (key performance indicators), but focusing on the important things such as support, ongoing training, embracing technology and competitive salaries, bonuses and benefits.”

Frontline Recruitment also has offices in Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Chesterfield, Mansfield and Hull.

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

55

Just the job (recruitment)

Could you bring your skill to work for housing trust?

A Dorset-based housing association is seeking three independent non-executive board members.

Wimborne-based housing association East Boro, part of the Aster Group, is seeking two independent non-executives and a new chairman to join its board.

East Boro chief executive Kevin Hodder said: “This is an exciting time to join East Boro. We are seeking experienced individuals who can bring finance, business, housing or law expertise to our board to oversee our strategic direction. This is a rewarding opportunity as we continue our mission to make a real difference to the lives of our customers

and the communities we operate in.”

A spokesperson for the housing association said: “The new board members will bring expertise to the organisation, which provides supported and family housing throughout Dorset, helping ensure it remains innovative, financially strong and well governed as it continues to grow having joined the Aster Group in 2020.

“East Boro specialises in housing and support services for the sheltered elderly, adults with learning disabilities and other vulnerable client groups.” n Go to ebht.org.uk/ pages/latest-vacancies

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56

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

YOUR AD COULD BE HERE

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Arrow words Desktop arrow

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Map

Cede

1

Diminuendo

2

3

5

4

6

7

8 Earliest Mesozoic era

Tainting

9

Sees

GP (abbr)

Opposite of Junior (abbr)

Move a group

Repeatedly

Knock quickly

10

11

12 13

14

Rage

Tribe

Shower

Hit gently

17 18

Military service medal (inits)

Narrow roads

22

Young girl

Volumelevel unit

1 5 9 10 11 12 14 16 18 19 22 23 24 25

Takes too much (abbr)

Experts

Wordsearch Tool Time

G N L P R I L W A U I O V N G

L S G I O K R R V G R A O S R

P A L E S I H C E I L R S S R

B E V E L N R N G E I A P E G

AWL AXE BEVEL CAULKING IRON CHISEL DRILL FILE PENKNIFE

W Y N Y E I E N K G E R D S R

H D I K N N I V N A A N G H R

A G A R N K I I B Y A N O E I

I X E F L I R S G S L D E A V

S R E U F E F U R I S F S R B

N E A R D E N E I P N R I S B

N C I L E P E N I L B M U L P

20

23

24

Famous painting, ___ Lisa

X R E V I R D W E R C S N U R

19

21 Badmannered person

Large liquid ‘The Matrix’ containers hero

16

15

Former pope

D S O D L L I R D E I R U F E

PLUMB LINE RASP SANDER SCREWDRIVER SHEARS SICKLE SOLDERING IRON SPRAY GUN

S S S I C K L E R R P S A R C

W E I G I N A C N S I A P A E

25

Across Concise (7) Land surrounded by sea (4) End-of-line stations (7) Snares or bongos (5) Cattle-catching noose (5) Simple facts (6) Maker of suits (6) Develops (6) Inhaler target (6) Short-legged breed of dog (5) Alcoholic fermented-juice drink (5) Snob (7) Challenge to do something (4) Earliest (7)

2 3 4 6 7 8 10 13 15 17 20 21

Down Shrek and friends? (5) Thinker (11) Goes up a ladder (6) Origins (7) Piece of cake (4) Tool app (7) Demolition (11) Helps (7) Person privy to private information (7) Fall into the habit of (4,2) Surprise attacks (5) Carried out a hit on (slang) (4)

Sudoku

4 7 6 9 2 7 3

8 8 2 3 1 3 6 7

6 1 2 5 8

For the solutions turn to page 70

4 7 9

5 6 3 Brain chain 34

÷2

-11

+18

×1/3

+28

RESULT

57

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

AND HERE FOR JUST £75!

Super tricky puzzles

advertising@westdorsetmag.co.uk Jumbo 3D Sudoku

8

8

7

9

9

3

5 7

2 1 4

8 9

4 1 7 4

9

7

4 1

5

2 6

5 9 6

8

8

5

3

5

5

5 8

1

4 5

7 2

Cryptic Crossword

9

8 2

4 5 8 1

2 3

2

7

9

7

3 5

9

48×

11+

15×

12×

18+

15+

1

25+

17

18

19 20

21

23

22

30×

15+

56×

1

18+

72×

Killer Sudoku Pro:

12+

48×

18×

30×

2÷

480×

21×

3

2×

16+

14+

Brain chain (Hard version) 75

-17

+50%

+125

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13

5

6

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10

16

3

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7

14

24

23+

6

12

25

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.

7+

5

15

8 4

6 3 9 1 8 8

4

3

11

7

1 4 2

5

5

8

6 5

3

2

×1/2

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.

1 4 8 9 11 12 15 18 19 21 23 24 25

Across Organized campaign by liberal is nonsense (6) Eats if diverted in carnival (6) Take in section of treatise (3) Expenses concerning sources (9) Street is wide first off (4) Divides equally military lodgings (8) Newspaper employee with opinion showing weight (9) Conventional characteristic of the Eastern church? (8) Silver shown by artist in Indian city (4) Groups of friends beginning half-heartedly but infused by a spirit? (9) Decline in energy shown by pair of bachelors (3) Device for projecting on screen a type of book (6) Priest favoured by Anglicans for a royal (6)

Down 1 Cheerless doctor with year in turmoil (6) 2 International put on varied trains is being transported (2,7) 3 Statue in London is tender when erected (4) 5 Favoured man with payment? That’s natural (8) 6 Reportedly, catch sight of body of water (3) 7 Help guitar player lacking breadth (6) 10 Likenesses in Spain unusually so quaint (9) 13 Person that retains popularity always with environmentalist (9) 14 Old-fashioned Bootle’s requiring development close to Merseyside (8) 16 Small amount of change in a policeman (6) 17 Take a risk in leap, we hear (6) 20 Love shown by German article for European river (4) 22 Second old man in health establishment (3)

58

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Health & Wellbeing

Walking West Dorset FROME VALLEY TRAIL: 5th WALK This is a gentle walk of four miles mainly through pleasant parkland. Start at Frampton, parking opposite their Millennium Green on the road down to Southover.

Walk down the road crossing the Frome (which is a lot bigger than you saw on the earlier walks) using the smart bridge, pictured.

You’ll soon come to a junction. Turn left and walk eastwards past Frampton Court and the (much larger) Frampton House.

After about half a mile, at a meeting of ways, turn right

for a short distance, then left, heading south east for half a mile then crossing the parish boundary into Muckleford, part of Bradford Peverell. After a furlong, passing several houses, you’ll see a letter box. Turn right by it and head south up a lane. After passing a couple of fields

with retired Dorset rights of way officer Chris Slade

the route splits.

Turn left and head south eastwards diagonally across a field, following a well trodden path to meet a road on a bend.

The Frome Valley Trail continues over the road, but we’ll leave that until next time.

Head northward down the road for half a mile, crossing the Frome again over a narrow bridge which is the boundary of Stratton parish, continuing to meet the A37 main road. Turn left and follow the pavement through the hamlet of Grimstone.

After leaving the village you’ll see on your right a splendid railway bridge built by Brunel. Continue alongside the A37 until you meet the junction with the A356 where you turn left and walk next to a wood until you come to the Lodge. Turn left and enter the parkland, heading south west along the bridleway and crossing the famous stone bridge.

Soon you’ll meet the path you were on before so you can retrace your steps back to your car.

Garden plants can have their own healing reiki energy Andy Cole is a reiki healer based near Melbury Osmund.

He specialises in planting for healing.

Energy healing has been about for centuries. Most cultures have had their own form of it from Reiki to Shamanic, spiritual and chakra.

One form of energy healing which is only just beginning to be understood is that of the healing energies of plants and gardens. While people generally know gardens are a space to relax and unwind and sensory gardens are used for the aid and treatment of those with more acute illnesses, the new trend is now on gardens for wellbeing for the whole mind, body and spirit.

Sensory gardens always seem to focus on the old favorites of lavender to relax, roses for colour and scent, grasses for sound and touch along with Stachys byzantina – Lamb’s

Ear for a soft velvet like touch and rosemary for taste. The sensory garden works on the five senses. The garden for wellbeing also works on the spirit, the soul, the mind and the body. To understand this, we need to understand how we interact with others. We must look at ourselves and how we interact with others and the tools we use to do this.

We use our senses of touch, taste, smell, sight and sound.

We also use emotions like love, joy, anger, hate etc.

If you take your emotions and link them to your senses you will see that it is impossible to

place any emotion in any of your senses. You can see and hear laughter or crying but these are the results of the emotion not the emotion itself.

You feel emotions in your soul, heart or spirit.We all live our lives by our emotions. We have to understand our own personal space – if someone steps into your space too closely you automatically step back away from them. This is your own personal energy field (aura) or space.

The next step is understanding this energy. Have you ever been to a meeting which is vibrant and lifts you up and at the end of the meeting you are geared up and ready to go?

The meeting is full of energy.

You cannot see it but you know it is there.

So why have your spirits been lifted by this meeting?

It is because your body and your energy field sensed this energy and you have absorbed

it, lifting your spirits.

So you have absorbed something you cannot see into your own energy field that you also cannot see, however you have physically felt the difference in your emotional response to this energy.

Everything that has happened at this point is nothing that your five physical senses have had anything to do with.

We instinctively absorb energy that we need.

All of the above needs to be understood as this is the basis of the energy healing we obtain from plants and gardens it is not just the quiet outside space that provides the healing it is the plants and their energies and healing properties that these plant contain, the combination of planting and the overall structure of the area that provides the correct ambience to rejuvenate the soul/spirit which in turn works on the mind and body.

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Church

It’s what’s inside you that really counts

By The Rev Deb Smith, Team Rector of Bridport There is a children’s story entitled the Paper Bag Princess.

In this story, Prince Ronald was about to marry Princess Elisabeth when a dragon comes, smashes the castle, burns all the royal possessions and carries off…Prince Ronald.

So to the rescue comes Princess Elisabeth. (Of course!)

There is only one problem, the castle is smashed, she is all covered in soot and can’t find anything to wear except a dirty old paper bag.

Undaunted, she puts on the paper bag and proceeds to prove her royal worth by out-manoeuvring, outsmarting, and defeating the dragon, while rescuing Prince Ronald.

When Ronald sees his rescuer, He looks at her and says, “Elizabeth, you are a mess! You smell like

ashes, your hair is all tangled and you are wearing a dirty old paper bag. Come back when you are dressed like a real princess.”

Services Sunday, May 22 Sixth Sunday of Easter Allington: 9.30am Sunday Eucharist Beaminster: 6pm Mass Bothenhampton: 11am Holy Matins Bradpole: 9.30am Service of the Word Bridport: 10am Vigil Burton Bradstock: 11am Holy Communion Castleton: 11am Matins Cattistock: 9.30am Holy Communion Chideock: 8.30am Vigil Corscombe: 6pm Informal Worship Dewlish: 11am Parish Communion Dorchester Baptist Church: 10.30am Sunday Service Dorchester Community Church: 10.30am Celebration Service Frome Vauchurch: 11am Holy Communion Halstock: 9.30am Breakfast Church Holy Trinity Church, Dorchester: 8.30am Holy Mass, 10.30am Holy Mass Lillington: 10am Morning Service Litton Cheney: 9.30am Holy Communion Littlebredy: 11am Holy Communion Longburton: 10am Said Holy Communion Melbury Osmund: 9.30am Morning Prayer Puddletown: 11am Morning Prayer Puncknowle: 9.30am Family Service St John’s Church, West Bay: 11am

“Ronald,” says Elisabeth, “your hair is nice and your clothes are elegant, you look like a real prince but you are …not!!.”

They don’t get married and live happily ever after.

You see, Prince Ronald was shiny on the outside not so much on the inside, he lost sight of what was most important.

Elisabeth, however dirty she was on the outside, showed patience,

Morning Praise St Mary’s Church, Bridport: 8am Holy Communion, 11am Holy Communion St Paul’s at The Gryphon: 10.30am All Age Worship St Peter’s Church, Dorchester: 9am Said Communion, 10.30am Sung Eucharist Sherborne Abbey: 8am BCP Holy Communion, 9.30am Parish Eucharist, 6pm Choral Evensong Shipton Gorge: 11am Holy Communion Swyre: 9.30am Holy Communion Tolpuddle: 9.30am Go Forth Thurs, May 26 Litton Cheney: 9.30am Ascension Day Service Sunday, May 29: Seventh Sunday of Easter Allington: 9.30am Eucharist Service Beaminster: 6pm Vigil Bridport: 10am Vigil Burton Bradstock: 11am Holy Communion Castleton: 11am BCP Holy Communion Cattistock: 8am Holy Communion, 10.30am Team Service Chideock: 8.30am Vigil Dorchester Baptist Church 10.30am Sunday Service Dorchester Community Church: 10.30am Celebration Service

perseverance, and other fruits of the spirit; and on the inside she was beautiful.

So may we too be concerned with following in the way of love, and remember a very simple truth: it is not what the world pours into us that purifies or defiles us, it is the effect we have on the world as what is inside of us is poured out.

Holy Trinity Church, Dorchester: 8.30am Holy Mass, 10.30am Holy Mass Lillington: 10am Morning Service Longburton: 6pm Songs of Praise Maiden Newton: 8am Holy Communion, 10.30am Team Service St Paul’s at The Gryphon: 10.30am Morning Worship St Peter’s Church, Dorchester: 9am Said Communion 10.30am Sung Eucharist St Mary’s Church, Bridport: 8am Holy Communion Sherborne Abbey: 8am BCP Holy Communion, 9.30am Parish Eucharist, 6pm Choral Evensong Shipton Gorge: 11am United Service Swyre: 9.30am Holy Communion Sunday, June 1 Burton Bradstock: 11:30am Holy Communion followed by Light Lunch Thursday June 2 Swyre: 10am Thanksgiving and Celebration for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee n A weekly telephone service recorded by a member of the ministry team is available on 01308 293062.

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Sport

By Stuart Wickham stuart@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Sherborne Town Ladies U13s Merley Sports Cobham

3 2

Sherborne Town Ladies U13s completed a brilliant treble, winning the league cup against a good Merley side, having already been crowned league champions and securing victory in the County Cup. Justin Walbrin’s team, on an incredible 25-game unbeaten streak, won the Dorset Youth League Division 1 by an astonishing 10 pts, and beat league runners-up, Poole Town, 4-0 in their recent County Cup final at the Sunseeker International County Ground at Hamworthy.

The U13 team has been together for three years and has developed into a tight unit, who will now look to add more success at U14 level.

While paying tribute to the team’s achievement, Senior Ladies’ team manager Jemma Tewkesbury, was also keen to recognise the progress of the club’s teams in other age groups.

Jemma said: “Sherborne Town Ladies U13s were formed in 2019. Their first two seasons were played as 9 v 9 and were sadly badly disrupted by the pandemic, but it has been the transition to 11 v 11 that has seen the best from this group of girls.

“Sherborne Town Ladies U11s have become a great team who work together in every game whilst ensuring all are having fun.

“An amazing 80%-90% attend training on a Friday

WE DID IT: Sherborne Town Ladies U13s with winners' medals after their cup triumph

Unbeaten U13s complete a league and cups treble

WHAT A TEAM: The U13s after their league cup win against Merley and, below, the mini Zebras celebrate another goal in their treblewinning season Pictures: BRENT SMITH

evening and 90%-100% attending match days on a Saturday morning.

“This shows the commitment from all the girls within the team and not forgetting their parents and carers who are the best support a team could ask for. The girls had their

success in the League Cup this year, getting to the semi-final, only to miss out on the final by a single goal. Every player played their part and commitment could not be faulted.

“We are proud of all the U11s this year and wish to improve and bring more

success in the new season.

“We also have our U9s who have completed their first season as a team together. We’re looking forward to many more with our young Zebras.”

The club is keen to hear from players of all ages and is holding open days in the close season.

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61

Sport

By Stuart Wickham stuart@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Sherborne Town Ladies Weymouth Women

4 0

Sherborne Town Ladies rounded off a successful season with victory in their County Cup Final at the Sunseeker International County Ground in Hamworthy, comfortably seeing off a spirited Weymouth team.

Three goals in five minutes either side of half time effectively won the match for Jemma Tewkesbury’s side, who produced a dominant display and would not have been flattered had they won by a greater margin.

The Terras, fresh from being crowned Dorset Women’s League champions, struggled to compete with Sherborne’s superior passing and movement, and goals from Liv Watts, Gemma Mountain and two from Kelly Snook, saw them home with room to spare.

Despite bossing possession in the first half, the Zebras had to wait until the 43rd minute before taking the lead, courtesy of Liv Watts’ fine strike. Until then, the Weymouth goal had led a charmed life with Weymouth keeper Kate Osment producing a good save from Watts’ spot kick, and Jamie Bland and Watts both being denied by the woodwork.

With the deadlock broken, Sherborne found time to double their advantage before half time, with Snook firing home

UP FOR THE CUP: Sherborne Town Ladies lift the Dorset County Cup after beating Weymouth Ladies 4-0 in the final at Hamworthy Picture: BRENT SMITH

Four-midable! Zebras in romp to lift county cup superbly after Osment had saved her initial shot, despite the attention of several Weymouth defenders.

Shortly after the restart, Mountain made it 3-0 with a cool finish having outpaced the Terras’ defence, effectively ending any prospect of a comeback, before Snook bagged her second on 62 minutes with a sweet strike into the corner.

The game finished 4-0 with the Zebras missing opportunities to add to their tally, while Emily Hall produced a couple of smart saves to preserve a clean sheet at the other end.

Jemma said: “It’s great to win a trophy and testament to the hard work that the girls have put in

this season. Our focus next season will be to challenge for promotion and we will be working hard over the summer to get our squad ready for next season. We have two open days and are hoping to add some talented players who can develop and help us to achieve this goal.” n Sherborne Town Ladies finished in third place in the South West Womens Football League Premier Division, with their 3-2 victory over champions AFC St Austell in their penultimate match clearly underlining their title credentials for next season.

To support Jemma Tewkesbury’s ambitious plans, the club is looking to recruit players for the

development squad who will compete in Tier 7.

The aim is to develop players who can progress and help to support the first team’s drive to achieve promotion to national level, tiers 3 and 4. The club is hosting two open events – on Sunday, June 5 and Tuesday, July 5 – with all players aged 16 and over welcome to attend on August 31..

The club is looking for commercial support, with opportunities for businesses to promote themselves through kit and matchday sponsorship.

For more details on the open days or sponsorship opportunities, please contact the club at sherbornetownladies@gm ail.com

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Sport

Doing things the right way, that’s

By Stuart Wickham stuart@westdorsetmag.co.uk

The Club Captain of Martinstown Cricket Club has been talking to the West Dorset Magazine about the team’s title aspirations, and how the club’s investment in youth has been instrumental in their rise up the Dorset Cricket League.

Ed Nichols has been a part of Martinstown’s set-up since 2000, during which time they have climbed from the bottom division to the top, where they now hope to prise the title from perennial winners, Dorchester.

The first team have competed in Dorset’s top tier since 2015, and last season’s third place represents their highest finish to date. Although not underestimating the challenge, Ed is upbeat about the team’s chances for the season ahead.

Ed said: “We had a very good season last year and it will be hard to maintain that standard, but we still look at some games which didn’t go our way and think about how we can improve.”

Martinstown – or the real MCC as they frequently refer to themselves – have consistently invested in the development of youth players, and the time spent in coaching has certainly paid dividends, and the current crop may just be the best yet.

Ed said: “The club has

CULTURE CLUB: Martinstown Firsts and, below, a Dynamos session in front of the club pavilion, an All Stars session and the amazing ground staff Pictures: BRIAN ROSSITTER

always developed younger players and I was originally a cohort of the youth system. It’s the bedrock of the club and we’re really proud of our record in producing great young cricketers. We accept that we have a fairly small catchment and there are lots of other teams, and you can’t rely on senior players moving to the area and wanting to find a new club, so investing in our young players is by far the best way of ensuring that we are competitive in future.”

The first team features many players who starred as the club won the U19s T20 County Cup in 2018 despite being U16s and competing against much older players.

“We have some really good players now who are 18, 19, 20, and this is when our investment can really pay dividends.

“We understand that they might move away with work, or go to Uni, so these are the sorts of ages when we hope they will make an impact for us. We won’t take anything for

granted this season and will have to work hard to maintain the same level as last year, but we are certainly hopeful we can have a good campaign.”

“We accept that some will inevitably move on but our focus on youth has given us an amazing production line. A couple of them have really broken through. Will Maltby has been a part of the Dorset T20 set up and Jamie Steward has featured for Dorset U18s. It’s really nice that the pathways are there for our players to move on.”

Martinstown is an ECB Club Mark club, in recognition of their excellent standards and dedication to youth cricket.

They run regular summer training across all age groups, from Dynamos and All Stars up to U15 level, with some at U15 level often playing in the adult teams. There are between 70-100 youngsters regularly attending training sessions, with many

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Sport

the real MCC... dedicated officials and coaches putting in the hard work to make the club what it is today.

Ed said: “We have been particularly good at getting the really young ones and looking to develop their skills. Lee House has done a brilliant job of getting a structure in place and getting some great coaches to work with our young players.”

One of the lessons that all players are taught is to play cricket in the right way. Ed said: “We want all players to compete but play cricket as cricket is meant to be played. It’s sometimes difficult when

you see that it’s not always the case, but we’re passionate about fair play and doing the right thing.”

The club won the league Spirit of Cricket Award in 2018, and this ethos is backed up on the club website, with the rhyme: Hard but fair, and win or lose A winsome smile displayed Martinstown play cricket, As cricket should be played.

For details on joining Martinstown Cricket Club, please see the club website martinstown.playcricket.com n Club history: Page 64

MARTINSTOWN CRICKET CLUB FACT FILE Founded: 1928 (Reformed 1988) Ground Lower Ashton Farm, Winterbourne Monkton, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 9HA Club Officials Jim Godding: Club President & Project Co-ordinator Jon Murden: Chairperson Ed Nichols: Club Captain Lee House: Youth Manager & Coaching Ambassador Martin Fitzgerald: Club Safeguarding Officer Alec Bailey: Honorary Treasurer Rachel Bailey: Membership Secretary Ryan Blair: Honorary Fixture Secretary Patricia Bailey: Honrorary Secretary Paul House: Head Groundsperson Teams First XI: Dorset Cricket League Premier Division Second: XI Dorset Cricket League Division 3 T20: Dorset & District Evening League Division 1 Friendly XI U15 (mixed) West Under 15s U13 (mixed) West U13s U11s West U11s U9s West Under 9s All Stars Dynamos n martinstown.play-cricket.com

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Sport

By Stuart Wickham stuart@westdorsetmag.co.uk

The history of the Martinstown Cricket Club can be traced back to 1928, when games took place in a field to the West of the village in 1928, under the captaincy of a Mr Westmancott.

Matches then moved to a pitch behind the Reading Room, now the Parish Office, where balls would regularly end up in the pond at the edge of the pitch with local children earning a halfpenny to retrieve them.

The war interrupted all cricket in 1939, and it would take until 1953 before Don Gould was instrumental in reforming the team, and a return to its former pitch, owned by the newly-installed President, Dennis Dunford.

Pavilions were old shepherd’s huts and the boundaries were short and somewhat unusual. They included a tree marked with a four below the line, and a six above, and a cattle trough on the hill which was inside the boundary, with four being scored if the trough was hit or the ball landed in it.

Legend has it that, despite the short boundaries, one away team was bowled out for just 17, only for Martinstown to still fall short by four runs.

The team flourished during the 1950s and 1960s, winning the Dorchester and District Evening League Second Division, with Tony Groves as captain, and notable players including

When a cattle trough marked the boundary

GROUNDS FOR OPTIMISM: Martinstown’s ground as seen from Maiden Castle and, below, winning the Dorchester Evening League Cup in 2009 and, right, league champions in 2019 Pictures: BRIAN ROSSITTER

the Bull brothers from Steepleton, fast left-arm bowler Les Walbrin, the Parker brothers, Rodney and Nelson, Ron Allen, Bob Gibbons, Stan Pearcy, and Steve Slade.

Interest declined in the late sixties, and the pavilions fell into disrepair, and the club tried to enlist players from other villages, however the club was wound up in 1975.

A new dawn for Martinstown came in 1988, when village newcomer John O’Brien, along with current club president Jim Godding, were instrumental in reforming the club.

Initially they led a nomadic existence, playing just away games as their former pitch had been chopped in half to allow access to Eweleaze Dairy. The club then used

Dorchester Rec for practices and matches, after this, the Rugby Club, and finally the pitch at Herrison Hospital.

This was to remain the home ground until the end of 1999 season, when they finally got a place they could really call home.

Martinstown’s long-held ambition was to have a ground of their own and they finally achieved this goal in 2000, with the purchase of a field at Ashton. Funding for the purchase came from a variety of sources, including the National Lottery, English Sports Council, West Dorset District Council and the Dorset Cricket Association, and club member and supporters volunteered huge amounts of time to make it what it is today.

Captain Ed Nichols said:

“It was like a ploughed field to begin with and it’s taken so much time and commitment from so many people. We have amazing ground staff and an amazing committee, and it’s fantastic that we own our own ground.”

The club joined the Saturday leagues shortly after acquiring the field at Lower Ashton Farm.

Starting in the bottom division, Division 8, the club took just 12 years to achieve Premier League status in 2015, under the captaincies of David Ennals, the late Nick Quintrell, Lee House, Danny Dancer and Ed Nichols.

A second XI was introduced in 2010, currently playing in Division 3, thanks to numerous dedicated captains, including Matthew Rimmer.

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65

Sport DORSET CRICKET LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Broadstone CC 134 all out (37.3 overs) Dorchester 1st XI 138/2 (21.4 overs) Dorchester 1st XI win by 8 wickets Dorchester CC 20 points; Broadstone 3 points Dorchester 1sts chalked up maximum points as they began the defence of their title, producing a consummate allround performance to ease past Broadstone inside 22 overs. Opener Simon Mitchem led the way, scoring an unbeaten 47, with support from Michael Peak (22 not out), Gautham Rajendar (21) and Jim Ryall (20).

Earlier, Dorchester’s bowlers had restricted the home side to 134, with Billy Baker registering 3-13, and James Dunham and Jack Owens bagging two wickets each.

Saathvik Kondreddy and Caleb Rowe each scored 30, but with only two other batters reaching double figures, the total looked well below par, and Dorchester made short work of the chase.

Sherborne 1st XI 233 all out (49 overs) Cattistock & Symene 162 all out (37.2 overs) Sherborne 1st XI win by 71 runs Sherborne 20 points; Cattistock & Symene 8 points Sherborne 1st X1 won their opening game in the Dorset Cricket League Premier Division, earning a maximum 20 points in a 71-run victory against Cattistock and Symene.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Sherborne lost two early wickets but recovered from 14-2 to post a competitive total. Mark Roca top-scored with a stylish 51, with good support form Mike Kennedy (37) and Emlyn

Kuhn (39). Debutant Jake Elsworth added a useful 22 as Sherborne were bowled out for 233 after 49 overs.

Cattistock and Symene struggled in the face of some disciplined Sherborne bowling, losing wickets at regular intervals in their innings. Opening bowler, Tim Durston, returning to the side, produced figures of 3-18, and was backed up by Paul Hancock with 3-27, and Jake Elsworth, who weighed in with 2-16 to cap a good allround performance. Oliver Nicholas top-scored for the hosts with 31, and George Wyrill added 30 in an attractive cameo down the order, but Sherborne’s total never looked under serious threat.

Puddletown CC 170 all out (49.3 overs) Martinstown CC Ist X1 174/3 (25.4 overs) Martinstown CC win by 7 wickets Martinstown 20 points; Puddletown 4 points Martinstown made short work of chasing down 171 to beat newly-promoted Puddletown in their opening Premier Division fixture, winning by 7 wickets in under 26 overs.

Club captain, Ed Nichols, starred for the visitors with a breezy 62 off just 49 balls.

Aided by the short boundaries, Nichols struck five sixes and seven fours, and shared an opening stand of 78 with Sean Williams (20).

Despite losing both openers, and William Maltby cheaply, Gordon Wint (49 not out) and Teddy Andrews (28 not out) saw Martinstown home with room to spare.

An under-strength Puddletown, missing some key first-choice players, had earlier won the toss and elected to bat. Opener, Robert Snow, top-scored with 40 off 118 balls, while the rest of Puddletown’s top order

struggled to score freely in the face of some disciplined bowling. Steven Chaldecott (30) and Ryan Norman (19) added some much-needed momentum with a quick 51run partnership for the seventh wicket, but their final total of 170 looked somewhat below par. Sam Kershaw was the pick of the Martinstown bowlers with 4-45.

Wimborne & Colehill CC 1st XI 232/8 (50 overs) Bere Regis CC 1st XI 134/9 (50 overs) Wimborne & Colehill CC win by 98 runs Wimborne & Colehill CC 19 points; Bere Regis CC 6 points Bere Regis 1sts earned 6 points in their opening game, despite falling to a heavy defeat at home to a strong Wimborne & Colehill side.

The visitors made steady progress to build a challenging total, with opener Colin Randall (59) helping to lay down a platform, followed by some hitting from James Miller (61) and Joe Welch (32 not out). Richard Payne finished with 4-50 for the home side.

Wimborne bowled accurately throughout and took regular wickets to make the run chase look increasingly unlikely.

Sam Goodhew scored an excellent 51, but lacked any real support, although the final pairing of Jacob Kennard and Brian Keegan dug deep to bat out the overs, and secure two valuable bonus points.

DORSET CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION TWO Beaminster CC 1st XI 184/9 (45 overs) Parley 2nds 155 all out (39.3 overs) Beaminster CC win by 29 runs.

Beaminster CC 19 points; Parley 2nds 6 points Beaminster Cricket Club opened their account in Division 2 with a hard-earned

win against a stubborn Parley side. After losing the toss and being invited to bat on a hard, grassy wicket, Beaminster slipped to 14 for 2 after openers Will Moss (0) and Chris Park (5) were dismissed inside the first 5 overs. Tom Fowler and Ross Baker quickly followed them back to the pavilion, leaving the home side precariously placed at 474.

Debutant Ben Golledge batted stoically for 20 overs making a priceless 21, which saw off the Parley front line bowlers, before swatting a full toss straight to mid-wicket, which brought together Beaminster stalwart, Simon Jones, and young talent, Adam Moss, who built a crucial partnership of 74 in 14 overs.

Jones was removed for a stylish 32, with Moss falling soon after for a fine 47. The tail wagged somewhat to leave Parley with a target of 184 to chase, with Harry Avorth the pick of the Parley bowlers returning 5-35.

The visitors started well to reach 32 without loss, before Lahiru Abeywickrama, struck in his first over in Beaminster colours, trapping Avorth LBW for 10.

Lahiru snaffled another victim soon afterwards, aided by a fine catch from a diving Ross Baker at extra cover.

Opener David Doust and Matt King steered Parley to 94-2, before young leg spinner Henry Everitt produced a beauty to remove Doust for 44, then dismissed King in his next over for 17.

Beaminster then took a grip on the game, courtesy of some tight bowling from Edmunds, Jones, Baker and Nick Hollely.

Regular wickets fell, including two in one over from Hollely, to leave the away side in trouble at 134-7.

The home side duly polished off the tail to secure a Beaminster win by 29 runs, with Hollely (3-28) and Lahiru (3-19) the pick of the bowlers.

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Sport

By ANDREW LIVINGSTONE

Recently-retired Bridport Rugby stalwart Brett Chant has been reflecting on his 32 years with the club, which has seen him pull on a Blues jersey over 600 times.

Prop forward Brett – affectionately known as Chanty - started with the colts in the 1980s before hanging up his boots just shy of his 50th birthday.

Achieving his first senior appearance in the 1989/90 season, Brett explains how he made his debut for both the first and second teams on the same day, and was on the winning side in both games. Brett said: “We had an Easter touring side down and I played the first game for the seconds; finished, changed and got a couple of pints in me to watch the first team play next.

“Tank Harvey got injured 15 minutes into the game and with no replacement loose-head prop, I had to get changed and played for the first team.”

Originally a scrum-half at school, Brett played across the front row of the scrum whilst making some second team appearances at inside centre.

“For the seconds, I played inside centre and after a few injuries I ended up alongside Rhys Thomas for the firsts.

We were a couple of units. I’ve played in many

HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW: Brett Chant is carried aloft by his Bridport teammates after his final game for the Blues Pictures: STUART BRIGGS

Brett bowing out after 32 years and 600-plus games good teams over my years.

No particular team stands out, but all the Southern Counties teams were excellent, and Brett Frampton was the best player that I ever played with. One team I was in got to the fifth or sixth round of the National Cup after beating Bracknell. I made the Saturday Mail the following round only to say that I

wasn’t playing after a clavicle injury the week before.” Jokingly, Brett adds that the team probably would have won if he was playing, as they lost by just five points.

Despite drawing the attention of rival clubs, Brett remained loyal to Bridport.

Brett said: “I was asked to play for the Dorchester First team back in the day; they said it would be my ticket to Dorset caps. But, I declined, as I wanted to stay playing with all my mates. I’ve probably played against several hundred props over the years.

“Hopefully they’d say: ‘He’s a tricky customer with a good technique who could play a bit and don’t forget the great dummy and fantastic hands’.”

Brett has always worked hard at his fitness to cope with the rigours of playing in the front row, and to enjoy such a long career in the heart of the action is truly remarkable, but he knows the time is right to call it a day.

“I decided to retire before the 50 mark as I am old and broken from playing so many years.”

Brett suggests that his now-free Saturday afternoons will be will be spent doing jobs around the house, although he is looking forward to joining other retired players at the club, while cheering on the Blues.

“A big thanks must go to my Vanessa, and to my kids Euan and Emily, for supporting me and letting the old boy play for so long.”

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Sport Bridport RFC hosted rugby players from the French town of Lège CapFerret as part of an exchange partnership between the two clubs.

Players at U13, U14, U15 and U16 took part in joint training sessions at the Brewery Ground on Saturday, before competing in pulsating combined matches on the Sunday.

Both games produced some high-quality rugby and cemented relations between the two clubs.

The French backs impressed with their speed, technical ability and excellent handling skills, while the host’s players seemed stronger defensively and put in some meaty tackles somewhat mirroring the recent Six Nations.

Medals were awarded to all participants and Man of the Match awards went to Bridport’s Billy Hannam (U13/U14) and Will Dacey (U15/U16).

The weekend was not all

VERY WELCOME: Players from Bridport RFC and Lège Cap-Ferret at the clubhouse and, right, action from the U15/U16 match Pictures: STUART BRIGGS

Club’s French connection in exchange partnership about the rugby and there was time for the visiting players and coaches to enjoy some local food and entertainment, with RIB blasts courtesy of Lyme

Bay Rib Charter and a hike over the cliffs to Freshwater Holiday Park, among the highlights.

The players were also treated to a traditional

Sunday lunch at Highlands End Holiday Park, with sticky toffee pudding proving good at breaking down the language barrier.

Mixed fortunes for bowling club as season opens

By Laura Taylor Bridport Bowling Club’s ladies started their County League programme on Tuesday, May 3, with a trip away to Dorchester. Games consist of two rinks this season, and a close game on both rinks, saw Ali Tibble’s team draw, while Marion Carter’s team narrowly lost by just three shots.

For Bridport’s men, two teams were in action for Bridport on Friday, May 6.

Bridport A entertained Portland Victoria in the South Dorset League, and produced a strong performance with all three rinks winning. The honours went to Chris Thorne, together with Brian Medland, Keith Brooks and Barry Shortland, winning by an incredible 17 shots.

Meanwhile Bridport B travelled to Portland Borstal, where the rink of Pratt, Bourne, Carter and Smith jumped into an

unassailable lead, finishing 10 shots clear. The other two rinks trailed for most of the match and had the job of trying to reduce the deficit, with Tom Tocher’s crew eventually losing by a single shot. Steve Bartlett’s team picked up a four on the penultimate end, to help Bridport to an overall win of 53 shots to 49, taking six of the possible 10 points.

Bridport played a mixed friendly against Yeovil, with honours even at two

winning rinks a-piece. Top rink honours went to Bob Seadon, David Alcock and Steve Crimp, who won by an amazing 19 shots.

The last friendly of the week was at home against South Petherton. Again two winning rinks and two losing with Bridport winning overall by three shots. Top rink on this occasion was Brian Rumble, Jean Seadon and Joan Griffiths. n bridportbowling club.org.uk

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Sport Car trial fans travelled from across the country to Crewkerne for the British Championship qualifier organised by the Woolbridge Motor Club.

Charlie Dovey produced two scintillating performances at the wheel of his Renault Clio winning the Windwhistle event, held the previous day and going the WWW Cup for wins across both events.

Whilst young Dovey, driving solo in the Clio, was amassing trophies, his father Winterbourne Steepleton farmer Tim debuted a new rearengined Toyota MR2 sports car within Class 1 which catered for twowheel drive machines not carrying ballast. The 1800cc machine, also driven by Tim’s 15-yearold daughter Evie on her first trial, proved to be more than competitive in the wet and slippery conditions which prevailed. Tim was the only driver not to gain penalty points on the first test of the day and then proceeded to build an advantage of six points over reigning British champion Trevor Moffatt driving a Vauxhall Corsa.

The second round of eight tests enabled the Dorset driver to increase his lead to ten points prior to the lunch break.

The Front Wheel Drive division, the best supported class with 18 drivers, saw a similarly positive start in testing conditions from Charlie Dovey who finished the first eight tests level with

WIN DOUBLE: Charlie Dovey in the Clio and, below, dad Tim in the Toyota MR2

A Doveys double

Gary Preston, two times British Champion and the early leader in the 2022 British Trials and Rally Drivers Car Trials championship, in his 903cc Fiat 127.

As with most competitors, the duo reduced their penalty count by approximately 50% as they completed the second round but now Preston had eked out a lead of one point with Simon Harrison in third place on fifty-four penalties in his Volkswagen Golf GTi trailing his adversaries by six points.

Regular competitor Mark Hoppé took on the Clerk of the Course duties and offered a drive in his Dutton Melos to the car’s

previous owner Duncan Stephens who displayed his familiarity with the machine in an emphatic manner right from the start despite the testing ground conditions and light rain.

At the completion of the first round the Gunnislake driver had only dropped 14 points and then improved on that performance with only four penalties on his second tour of tests.

Seven-time British champion Barrie Parker ran second at lunch but a massive 37 points in arrears with Poole driver Jim Forsyth in third place in his VW Beetle, in turn a single point ahead of another Melos, this time

with Philip Thomas at the wheel. At the resumption Stephens equalled his second-round tally of four points to finish on a total of 22 and win the Golden Springs Trophy for first place overall and the Best Performance by a Motorsport UK Trials Championship Contender.

Parker finished 57 points adrift to take the class win eight points ahead of Forsyth.

The final eight tests were make or break for Charlie Dovey who has recently passed his driving test and was aware that he had ‘a few cricket scores’ from the morning’s tests.

Quietly confident, he executed the final eight sections with three cleans and the loss of 11 points which was only bettered by the Melos mounted Stephens.

Double champion Preston had no answer to the youngster with the loss of a further six marks meaning Dovey claimed third in the Woolbridge trials championship with 33.7 points compared to his father, who was crowned champion, on a total of 41.4 points.

Series runner-up, Bridport’s Gary Morris drove his Vauxhall Corsa into second slot with 37.8.

Charlie Gamblen won the Novice Award driving a Citroen AX. In the 2WD category Dovey senior completed the final stanza of tests for the loss of fourteen points, eight up on Moffatt to take the class win and complete a winning weekend for the Doveys.

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

69

Agriculture

By BELLA LOWIS Veterinary Surgeon Synergy

Next year’s success starts with appropriate breeding decisions this year.

As I write, we are in the midst of a busy few weeks of spring lambing and calving. It’s been great to get on farm and see some immaculate calving pens, highly organised lambing sheds and keenly motivated teams. There have been some challenges.

As lambs are turned out to grass and calf growth rates start to fly, it is important to also reflect on the neonatal period. What did you do really well this year? What would you change? How many lambs or calves were expected, and how many were actually born alive?

How many losses were there in the first 24 hours, or the first three weeks?

In the UK an average of 10% of lambs and 7% of calves don’t survive beyond three weeks. With narrow profit

NEW LIFE: Making notes and keeping records will make things a lot easier for the next lambing season Picture: EMILY GASCOIGNE

Plan now for next year’s lambing margins in beef and sheep, small changes to improve neonatal survival can have huge economic benefits, improve animal welfare, not to mention job satisfaction.

Any data you can record will help your vet to advise you.

Data collection forms we ask to be completed prior to a health plan visit include questions such as: How many calves were turned out to

grass? How many lambs were there at the time of the first drench, or the eight weekweighing session? What youngstock treatments were given and why?

At Synergy we look at trends on your farm and compare with similar herds and flocks (anonymously of course) and your own specific targets.

Keeping good records also helps when it comes to

selecting females for breeding – did ewes or cows suffer prolapses, require help at birth or failed to rear their young?

Ease of calving /lambing and litter size, are highly heritable traits that have a huge impact on survival. Likewise, rams and bulls should be selected to minimise dystocia and improve neonatal survival – estimated breeding values (EBVs) are invaluable. Next year’s success starts with breeding decisions this year.

Other important measures vets can take throughout the production cycle to increase neonatal survival include vaccinations; liver fluke control; and ensuring optimum nutrition and body condition of breeding females throughout the year.

Synergy was involved in a project with AHDB and University of Edinburgh to develop a Target Survival Plan for beef and sheep, aiming to structure conversations around neonatal survival and identify key critical control points. For more details call 01935 83682.

A long two weeks in a smallholder’s life

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.

After a nightmare with the Poll Dorsets we both sat down to re-evaluate what we were doing with all these sheep. We both work full-time and spend weekends doing the sheep.

The injury with the foot trimmers made us realise we have bitten off more than we

can chew and there is no down time. The decision was made to stick with the pedigree flock and find the feral Poll Dorsets a new home. An advert went on social media and within a day I had sold the lot, the adults, the shearlings and the lambs to a family starting their own flock in Somerset. Only we had to deliver them. Our trailer was far too small, so we spent an anxious couple of days asking about for a big one to put the lot in. The fun began... we borrowed a trailer and went to round them up, forgetting the reason we were getting rid was because they are feral. They have a knack of knowing exactly where you

want them to go and the ability to run in the other direction.

We even commandeered the family mountain dog to stare them out, several times we got the flock to run into the trailer and a last one kept persisting in breaking away at the last moment and making a bid for freedom. By the time they were loaded and paperwork complete we were confident in our decision to drive them to their lovely new home and then run away, very fast.

We arrived at the new home a few hours later and were greeted by the new owners excitedly waiting for their beautiful compliant flock of Poll Dorsets. A beautiful spot

on a buttercup-laden hillside of lush grass. Dutifully they trotted out of the trailer, had their heads tickled, made the right noises before ambling off to nibble the grass. Movement paperwork complete we jumped in the truck and waved goodbye….before cheering loudly and clapping our hands at the sheer joy of not having to spend hours of our time chasing them anymore.

The next day we went to the field to check on the pedigree flock, who trotted over for fuss. I spent a luxurious minute or so enjoying a calm moment with the lambs, confident I had made the right decision.

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The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

Agriculture You herd it here first...

Some days I wake up wondering what having a ‘normal’ life feels like.

When I say normal life, I mean the sort of life where you can get out of bed, stick the kettle on and grab a shower and get ready for the day ahead without too much interruption.

Today my day started by being woken up by the sound of lambs running up and down my hallway. We currently have couple of lambs living in the house as they were rejected by their mother and we didn’t have a spare ewe to put them on. Normally you would make up a pen in a building on the farm and

with Rachel Hayball

Rachel Hayball is a mum of six from Beaminster. She is a herdsperson, has a small flock of sheep and sells lamb. keep them in there, but as we don’t live on the farm where our sheep are it’s easiest to have the lambs at home whilst they are still on four feeds a day.

When I say easiest, I mean easiest if they actually stay in their purpose-built pen and don’t escape. Today

they escaped. Total chaos.

They were having a great time. Me? Well I am now counting the days until we can drop a feed and get them out to the farm in a pen, where they can’t destroy my house.

I have to stress that our house counts as part of our registered holding so we can legally have lambs here. That doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea to actually have lambs here though. Not if I want to stay sane.

Calving has now finished.

Our last cow calved yesterday. She kept us waiting for over a week longer than any of the

others, and then popped the calf out yesterday afternoon and really didn’t understand why we were all so pleased. I love calving time, but it does feel like a very long time when you are waiting for the last cow to have her calf.

It’s a wonderful time of year, sun shining, green grass, bluebells in the woodland, wild garlic, new life everywhere and it is really important to make sure you take a bit of time to lean over a gate for a few minutes and enjoy it before you are swept into the next important job in busy farming year.

From pages 56-57

Puzzle solutions Sudoku

4 5 2 7 3 1 8 6 9

Crossword

5 9 7 2 8 6 4 3 1

1 3 8 4 7 5 6 9 2

2 6 4 1 9 3 5 7 8

6 1 9 8 5 4 3 2 7

7 8 3 9 6 2 1 5 4

9 7 6 3 1 8 2 4 5

3 4 1 5 2 9 7 8 6

8 2 5 6 4 7 9 1 3

Brain chain 34

17

6

24

36

8

Killer Sudoku Pro 7+

6

11+

4

1

15×

5

7

3

3

4

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12×

18+

9

8

5

6

8

9

1

2

18+

72×

2×

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8

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48×

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3 7 4

25+

6 1

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2

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3

5

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480×

2 1 1

9

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5 6

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8

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2

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7

1

8

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16+

7

6

8

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6

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U T I L I T Y I C E D

C O M P A C T G H L E R M I N I E L M A S S O B A S S A I L O R A N P T A S T H M A I E K I D E R E L E T A R E S O O

Arrow words I S O R U R I C E I S

D E S T R U C O R T A I T I O D N E S

L E A M S Y S A E S S G I S S T S T

Jumbo 3D Sudoku 9 4 2 3 6 8 5 7 5 9 7 1 1 9 1 5 2 4 2 3 7 6 3 5 7 3 4 8 4 8 2 5 4 6 6 6 9 6 2 6 4 8 1 8 9 8 8 1 1 7 1 5 7 3 9 3 7 6 2 3 2 1 7 3 4 8 3 9 2 9 1 5 5 9 7 9 14 2 6 8 1 24 8 5 3 7 8 7 3 2 6 4 8 7 5 6 5 4 4 5 9 5 8 2 1 4 2 3 6 9 3 8 6 9 7 4 5 3 1 5 2 9 9 6 8 4 7 5 3 7 2 6 8 1 7 1 8 1 7 6 3 3 5 4 9 2 8 1 6 4 5 4 2 7 1 3 9 4 9 6 8 5 3 2 9 2 7 6 9 5 8 1 6 4 2 3 4 7 2 6 7 1 6 3 9 1 4 2 7 5 2 3 8 1 9 2 8 3 8 5 9 1 6 7 7 8 4 98 1 5 5 6 53 9 6 1 4 3 6 2 7 7 1 4 9 4 4 5 2 3 6 8 8 1 3 9 2 7 5

C C U H T R I A S S N R O F T I R E R C L A T A P R A I N N E O J U G S

M D E Y E S S I C H E R D L E O D S C N C B E L M O N A O D S P R O S

Brain chain (Hard) 75

58

87

212

138

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Cryptic Crossword D R I V E R N R E A T O A R S R O A D Y N O S U B C I S O R T H O P L P O S S E E P T R E A D E

L V E Q Q U A S T I D O N S S R

F I N R H E A R E A N T X O E D E P R

E S T A E S E A D S I T E R S V T C E R G A G R A R M E B B E L I N C E

The West Dorset Magazine, May 20, 2022

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Agriculture A West Dorset farmer has criticised a food trade deal between the UK and Australia, arguing that people should buy locally grown food instead.

Barbara Cossins of Rawston Farm in the Tarrant Valley says the trade deal signed last December ‘goes against’ the principles of eating food with a low carbon footprint.

Barbara said: “What are we doing in this country?

“We British farmers knew very little about this trade deal that the government was signing us into and it goes against everything that we are trying to do.

“We should all be asking our own citizens to eat and support local, so that communities and families join together to ensure British food stays on our plates and in production.

“Every week my husband James is constantly asked to attend meetings at which the local farmers are hammered on their carbon footprint; asked continually about how they are going to reduce it to net zero by 2040.

“With what purpose and precedence when we are importing food from the furthest corners of the globe with maximum environmental impact and a

KEEP IT LOCAL: Barbara and James Cossins of Rawston Farm

It’s bonkers! Farm fury at trade deal with Australia huge unnecessary carbon imprint?”

Barbara added: “Of course the Australian farmers produce excellent Wagyu beef and their lamb is also very good, but certainly no better than the home reared meat of the farmers right here on our doorstep with no miles to travel.

“Here at Rawston Farm in the Tarrant Valley, we carried out our very own survey last Easter, only to

discover that imported lamb was more expensive than our local English option.

Why would we choose to buy and eat that instead? It makes no sense at all.

“Yes, our fruits are not as exotic as our Australian cousins, but when British apples, pears, raspberries and strawberries are in season, they taste heavenly and some of the best on offer in the world.

“What other things do we

produce in the UK that are forgotten in these strategic trade deals? We produce sugar from sugar beet grown here in England and these days, many of our impressive English wines are winning awards against those from other countries. Do we really need to import whiskey from Australia when Scotland and Ireland are right here at home? It’s utterly bonkers.”

Farmers’ mental health the focus of meeting An innovative event taking place on May 20 at St Martin’s Community Hall in Broadmayne, will be putting the spotlight on the mental health of farmers in Dorset.

According to a recent study by the Farm Safety Foundation, 88% of farmers under 40 have identified poor mental health as the biggest hidden problem currently facing the

community. Farmers and their families face unique challenges with their mental health and with longterm physical health conditions because of strenuous, and often dangerous, work. The public event run by Dorset HealthCare will feature representatives from Steps2Wellbeing, Trading Standards’ Animal Welfare Team and the Dorset

Farming Community Network.

Event speaker Ellie Sturrock, from Steps2Wellbeing, said: “As a shepherd and psychological therapist, I’m pleased to be a part of this excellent initiative and make more people aware of the support Steps2Wellbeing can provide.”

To book a place, please email nickviney@hotmail.com

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