
19 minute read
OTHER NEWS
75th Anniversary of VJ Day – a very personal memory
The 75th anniversary of VJ Day was on 15 August. In grateful remembrance of the multi-national, multi-racial forces who formed the Allied troops, I write this short and very personal piece to highlight one episode that followed on the Japanese Campaign to occupy Burma, as well as a post-script from many years later.
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The Japanese Campaign lasted from December 1941 to June 1942 and its object was two-fold: to cut off the ‘Burma Road’ which allowed access northward to Allied China; and to occupy Burma with the hope, perhaps, of facilitating the occupation of India, or parts of it, to the west.
Burma fell to the Japanese in 1942 and this Occupation meant that all Allied military personnel stationed in Burma, as well as civilians, were trapped behind enemy lines. Thousands escaped to India; by train while they were still running and by air, before the airports were bombed. Many, however, undertook this exodus on foot. My father, Robbo (Arthur Leslie Roberts), then 28 years old, was one such individual.
Robbo was a regular solider in the Royal Corps of Signals, normally stationed on the North West Frontier. In 1941 however, he was in Burma together with a group of Indian Signallers, some of them Panjabis; by June 1942, they were all trapped behind enemy lines. The Japanese had been wooing Indians and Burmese with the promise of freedom from British Rule. The Signallers told Robbo that they were planning to desert and go over to the Japanese but, because they liked him they were not going to kill him. With that, they disappeared into the night leaving Robbo alone. He resolved to make his escape to India on foot.
The geographical characteristics of the region meant that weather, disease and terrain had a major effect on all operations. His walk to India was across the notorious Hukawng Valley, in the middle of the seasonal monsoon rains. I don’t know Robbo’s actual starting point but:
“The trek across this Valley was itself in the order of 300 miles, over the Chaukan Pass at the North West end of the mountains dividing Burma and India, with treacherous crossings on the Dapha River. It rose to over 9,000 feet at the highest point and was a swamp at the its lowest. Before 1942, only five European explorers ever crossed using this route and not in the monsoon
season. The Hukawng Valley ... was a monstrous, monstrous trek through the jungle which killed many and left many others debilitated.” Dr Kevin Greenback,
Centre for South East Asian Studies, University of Cambridge – CSAS.
It is known that working elephants were used to help the refugees across the swollen Dapha River onto the Indian side. Is this how Robbo got across? I don’t know as he never spoke about his trek.
Robbo arrived in India suffering from multiple diseases and the medical personnel did not expect him to survive. But survive he did and eventually resumed military duties, even being posted back to Burma after Indian Independence. Burma continued as a theatre of war after the Japanese Occupation and hostilities did not cease until 15 August 1945.
These war-time treks, which left many dead or traumatised, have been the subject of various BBC programmes and many personal stories are stored at the AngloBurmese Library in London. However, this story I have told concerning the desertion of this group of Indian Signallers and this particular Hukawng Valley trek by my father, has not been told before. I do so now in remembrance of my father and all he endured, in remembrance of all those who suffered on these treks and afterwards; in remembrance of all who died; and also, on this VJ Day 2020, to give thanks for those who left hearth and home to support the Allied Cause.
Post-script:
Robbo resigned his commission some time after Burmese Independence. By this time he was married to Noreen, an Army Nursing Sister, and I had been born. In mid-1949, Robbo took a job with a British mining company in Orissa. In 1953, a Panjabi man, who spoke good English and was skilled in all matters to do with the terrain, mining, explosives and electrics, turned up in our district in Orissa. There was a strong rumour that this gentleman had been a deserter from the British Royal Corps of Signals during the War. This certainly gained him no hint of general condemnation. I remember him very well. Did my father and he recognise each other? Possibly. Nothing was confirmed – or denied. In matters of peace and reconciliation, the War was over.
Dr Shelagh-Margaret Mitchell, Yetminster

CITIZENS ADVICE NOTES
Sherborne Citizens Advice has recently reopened for face-to-face advice at the Manor House, Newland, Sherborne with social distancing arrangements in place. The office will only be open initially on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10.00am – 2.00pm. Clients who attend will be offered a phone or e-mail follow-up or immediate advice if the issue is straight forward. If you are a new client, please call: 0344 411 1444
Beware scams
Beware scams especially for vulnerable people. If you are supporting a vulnerable person and want to reduce their exposure, talk to them about setting up the Telephone Preference Service or the Mailing Preference Service which can reduce the amount of calls or mail received. In some circumstances, you may want to consider arranging a Power of Attorney. If the vulnerable person is receiving care from the Local Authority and you have a concern, and their permission, then talk to the Adult Services Safeguarding team. Telephone Preference Service: 0345 070 0707 Mailing Preference Service: 020 7291 3310 Fundraising Preference Service (to restrict incoming charity mail): 0300 3033 517
All of these services are free so ignore anyone asking for a payment.
Self employment, benefits and Coronavirus
For information go to our online advice website www.citizensadvice.org.uk and follow this path: Adviceguide > England > Benefits > Universal Credit > Reporting self-employed earnings
Email: judygallimore61@gmail.com

Cerne Abbas Surgery and Flu Vaccines – help needed!
Cerne Abbas Surgery’s Patient Participation Group (PPG) is currently recruiting volunteers to help (safely) at ‘flu vaccination clinics in September/ October this year. Due to COVID-19 these clinics will require careful marshalling and we estimate that 10 volunteers will be needed per session – preferably working in pairs, to provide cover.
On 13 October there will be morning and afternoon sessions at Cerne Abbas Village Hall and a full day’s clinic there is likely. Clinics are planned at Piddle Valley First School (19 October), Hazelbury Bryan Village Hall and Buckland Newton Village Hall (dates tbc).
If no volunteer did more than one session, we could therefore need 70, but currently only have about 10. For further information, or to register an interest in volunteering, please contact Eugene Balbinski, (balbinski@waitrose. com) or ‘phone (01300 341714) or Denise Whiteoak (cdwhiteoak@hotmail. com) as soon as possible. Please don’t volunteer if you have been ‘shielding’ or are similarly vulnerable.
New email – Cerne Abbas taxi
cerneabbastaxi@gmail.com
Would You Like to Help Other Families in West Dorset?
Do you have parenting experience and 2–3 hours a week available to visit a local family in need? Home-Start West Dorset is looking for volunteers to offer practical and emotional support to families with children under five.
Families require help for many different reasons, including loneliness and isolation, multiple births, poor mental health, illness or disability, housing or financial stresses; or maybe they are just finding parenting a struggle. Covid 19 has also meant many families in Dorset have been finding life particularly hard for the last few months.
Home-Start West Dorset is a wellknown local independent charity that has operated across West Dorset, Weymouth, Portland and Sherborne since 2009. All volunteers undertake a 26-hour training course, spread over multiple weeks, which gives them all skills and tools they’ll need. Once matched with a suitable family, our volunteers continue to be fully supported, including a personal supervision every six weeks.
During this time of social distancing the charity has successfully moved its support to on line; still giving weekly support through phone and video call, texts and post. Kelly Rolfe, one of the charity’s organisers says, “As lockdown guidelines have eased, many more families have been pushed towards a vulnerable status and we’re getting increasing amounts of referrals. We are aiming to organise a new volunteer training course as soon as it is safe to do so, and are looking for women and men with parenting experience, aged 18 and over, to apply now so that we can get going again as soon as possible.”
For more information or an application form contact us on 01305 265072 or email office@homestartwestdorset.co.uk 53

IN GOOD COMPANY – Hollis Mead Organic Dairy
High up on the West Dorset Downs above Hooke, a herd of cows munch organic pasture and gaze out on what must be one of the most beautiful views in the area. They are Hollis Mead cows, mainly British Friesians with an increasing number of Ayrshires; they represent a new venture in organic dairy farming for Oliver Hemsley.
“I’m passionate about nature and conservation and believe there must be a way for profitable dairy farming and wildlife to flourish alongside each other. But,” he says, “I couldn’t find anyone who wanted to farm in the way that I required so decided to do it myself.” The ethos of the farm is to produce high quality, organic milk while allowing nature to thrive. “Our cows are milked only once a day, which means the quality of the milk is second to none.” Oliver pauses to rescue a small field mouse trapped in a corner of the shed. He continues: “The milk is gently pasteurised but not homogenised. It’s nothing like the white water produced by the processing companies. Everybody old enough to remember tells me it’s just how milk used to taste.”
There are no intensive agricultural practices – the land is free from pesticides, insecticides and herbicides– and all farming activities are risk assessed against the ethos of protecting the environment and wildlife. Miles of hedges have been planted and field stubble is left over the winter to provide food and shelter for skylarks, yellow hammers and finches amongst other birds, mammals and insects. Hay is cut only when the birds have finished nesting.
Milk yields are very low relative to those of an intensive dairy farm. But Oliver says they reflect the approach to milk production at Hollis Mead. “The cows graze naturally on a grass and wild flower only diet, without the use of antibiotics and wormers. Nature is allowed to take its course, with clear benefits for animal welfare and wildlife protection.” He beams. “Look at the cowpats, they’re riddled with holes made by busy dung beetles – that’s natural carbon storage and soil fertility for you!”
Oliver has big ambitions for the business. “We are only selling direct to our customers through a number of vending machines in the area and these are proving increasingly popular. We are growing the size of our milking herd and planning to produce cream, yoghurt and cheese, from the same delicious milk.” He smiles. The cat that got the Hollis Mead cream?
Kathryn Edwards

Dorset Historic Churches Trust Annual Ride + Stride Saturday 12th September 2020 Cycle or walk to Dorset’s beautiful churches and raise money for their upkeep.


Calling walkers, cyclists, horse-riders! People in villages across the Wriggle Valley are participating in the national Ride+Stride fun event to raise funds for their churches. All the money raised from each church goes to the Dorset Historic Churches Trust, with half then being returned to that church towards its upkeep. See below to sign up and/or support the fund-raising in your village.
Chetnole
Please support St Peter’s Church, Chetnole. To take part or donate, sign with their giving and last year we were
the form in the church porch.
Donations can also be made via https://www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/chetnole. Further details from Anne Andrewartha 873196 anne.andrewartha@gmail.com
Hermitage
Geoff and Elizabeth are planning to Stride (or amble) between some of our churches; if you would like to sponsor them, half the money raised will go to our church here in Hermitage. Or find sponsors and plan your own route between churches, going just as far as you want to. If you would for more information and forms. elizabeth.kenton99@gmail.com
Leigh
Alaistair Cumming, with any other volunteer, will be riding round the Benefice on Saturday 12 September for Ride+Stride. In the past the folk of Leigh have been extremely generous like to take part, ask Elizabeth Kenton
8th out of 178 parishes in the Salisbury Diocese to gather donations. Please give generously again.
Yetminster
Please see the link and contact Alex Mitchell on altrmitch@hotmail.com. https://dorsethistoricchurchestrust. co.uk/index.php/ride-stride














t is 200 years since the publication of Keats’s famous poem ‘To Autumn’ (though it was written in I 1819). It signalled the end of his career as a poet as, due to debt, he turned his attention to more lucrative writing. He died in Rome just a year later.

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run; To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more, And still more, later flowers for the bees, Until they think warm days will never cease,
For summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.
Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind; Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,
Drowsed with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twinedflowers: And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cider-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings, hours by hours.
Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,-While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue; Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies; And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The redbreast whistles from a garden-croft,
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies
Apage from the 1819 manuscript
The Book Page
In association with Winstone’s Bookshop
THE BOOK OF TRESPASS Nick Hayes Bloomsbury £18 England’s green and pleasant land: we had it, now they’ve got it. rapacious of all, enclosing seven million acres, about a sixth of England, between 1760 and 1870 are ‘Rotten Borough’MPs, most of whom are ....landowners. Sometimes, the dispossessed This well researched and engagingly were burned out of their homes. Forced written book chronicles how most of our migration to cities, poverty and hunger land came to be in the hands of a tiny followed. Even Arthur Young, Pitt’s First elite with little interest in sharing its Secretary of the Board of Agriculture delights with the rest of us. Over eleven conceded it was unjust. Today, about anthropomorphically-titled chapters, 1% of the population still owns half the from Badger to Stag, Hayes argues not country, companies and corporations a for grabbing the land back, but for all of good deal of the rest, often anonymously us to have fair access to it. and held in tax havens. His target is not the owner of Towards the end of the a good-sized garden, or our book Hayes, a talented artist farmers (though he will dis- (the boldly beautiful woodtinguish between family cuts throughout the book are owners and multi-nationals his) tells of engineering a who nab tax-payer pounds meeting with a more recent galore in subsidy) but the former MP, one Richard Landocracy. My word not his. ...boldlybeautifulwoodcuts... Benyon, owner of a sizable First on the landwagon were grouse moor in Scotland and 12000 the 11th century Barons. As the Duke acres across West Berkshire. of Westminster said, asked for his As he entertainingly describes advice to young entrepreneurs, ‘make the meeting, the suavely confident sure you have ancestors who were close Benyon, on record in 2014 bemoaning friends of William the Conqueror’. The ‘the something for nothing culture of the regimen of deceit, secrecy, exploitation welfare state’, after receiving, in the and downright theft was underway. previous year, £119,000 in housing Sycophants to various Kings benefit, disengages as Hayes’s questions carried it along and were rewarded with turn less to his liking. He leaves the room. vast estates. The powers that be in the Interspersed with lyrical accounts Church were no angels, charitable land- of Hayes’s own trespassing walks (kept owners form a minority. Perhaps the most within the guidelines of the Scottish
Get 10% off these two books at Winstone’s
when you show this copy of Wriggle Valley Magazine. 8 Cheap St., Sherborne, DT9 3PX. tel: 01935 816128 e: winstonebooks1@gmail.com www.winstonebooks.co.uk
Land Reform Act, 2003, which he posits might be a model for reform in England) fascinating digressions and a vault of absorbing facts, this is compelling reading, though if you are a descendant of one of the starring Dukes or Earls, maybe not so much. When you next visit that nice stately home, set in thousands of acres and owned by ‘generations of the same illustrious family’ consider how they came to own it all in the first place, why you can’t walk in their wood and just how ‘noble’ their forebears really were.
BRITISH SUMMERTIME BEGINS
Ysenda Maxtone Graham Little, Brown £18.99 As I write, this is being read on Radio 4. A whiff of the ‘Famous Five’ permeates the pages, as Maxtone-Graham essentially edits the memories of interviewees, whose schooldays range from the 1930s to the 1970s, as they recall their summer holidays.A numbing six weeks of going nowhere and playing yourself at football (if they were poor) or an anyone-fortennis excitement (if well off) borne of Mummy and Daddy picking them up from Boarding School to go off to their ..with lashings of ginger beer... house in the country. It’s not a serious social history (for that see David Kynaston’s and Peter Hennessy’s books on the 50s) but it’s likable and features copious Brownie snapshots. My own prize 3x2 inch (inch? what’s that?) of the time shows Ramsgate beach on a blistering day. I am dressed in full school uniform, with tie. Must have been Sunday.
The Rural Reader A Gentle Reminder ...
to everyone to wear a face mask when entering the Leigh village stores and post office.
There have been a few occasions with people wandering around in the shop – not a mask in sight. Please think of the safety of others!
Call for photos please!

We are lucky enough to live in a very beautiful part of the country, surrounded by rolling hills, ancient woodland, historic buildings and diverse, colourful wildlife. All of which are shown in some of the striking photos in this issue.
But we will always need more. In particular, we want to continue featuring an outstanding photo from a local contributor with a keen eye, on the front cover of each issue.
Any topic of local interest would be welcome – whether flora, fauna, architecture or people. Please email wvm.editor@gmail.com with your pics!
Thank you very much.
Kathryn Edwards
Many moths have descriptive common names giving a clue to their identity.
The following photographs represent a small selection of the larger UK moth species that have been on the wing throughout these past summer months, some flying well into autumn. It just shows what an amazing diversity of form and colour can be seen in these beautiful, mainly nocturnal, visitors to our gardens and hedgerows . . . .
Gill Nash
Gold spot Hummingbird Hawk-moth Magpie Puss moth Barred Yellow Canary-shouldered Thorn Dotted Bee Fly Streamer Green Silver-lines Peppered moth Dot moth Poplar Hawk-moth Merveille du Jour Large Yellow Underwing Frosted Orange Lime Hawk-moth V-pug Heart & Dart Purple Thorn Green Carpet Spectacle Answers on p.66
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