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Oracle April 2016
Durlston Dolphins
Photo: Julian Sawyer
www.purbeckfootprints.co.uk
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Email: info@philiptrimcontractors.com
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JM
BRICKWORK & FENCING
Services include: • Building & Fencing • Plastering & Rendering • Patios, etc No job too small! Call Jon on
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Introduction
The Swanage Edition 89
Oracle
Published by:
Stephen & Debbie Corney at Purbeck Publications
Telephone: 01929 408080 Email: info@swanageoracle.co.uk
Copy deadline for the May 2016 edition: 18th April 2016
Disclaimer: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that data in this publication is accurate, the publisher cannot accept any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. The Swanage Oracle does not officially endorse any advertising material included within the publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systems or transmitted in any form, without prior permission of the publisher.
Proud members of
Dear Swanage, Studland, Worth Matravers, Langton Matravers and Ulwell! Spring is here! A time for growth... and better weather. In our own country here there are also lots of possible changes with the European Union in question and many not able to decide what is best. In life it is always good to be informed, educated and have the knowledge to make the right decisions based on the data we get. I do hope you get the information you need to make the right choice for you. Certainly it is key that we keep our British trades and services alive. It is even more important that we, as local residents, keep our local trades and services really busy. They are the back bone of our economy. If they do well, we all do well. The money circulates in our own area. Here in The Swanage Oracle we have lots of local people who can help you in the house, the garden, with your finances, family or just you. In fact we are here for you and if you have any helpful comments, extra trades you would like to see or clubs you would like to promote, then please do get in touch. You can post a letter, send an email or phone. We are very happy to hear from you. This magazine is meant for you to be able to use. Stephen, Hayden and myself would like to wish you a Happy April! Best Wishes,
Debbie & Stephen Corney Useful Numbers Local Police Southern Electricity Transco Gas Emergency Swanage Hospital
101 08457 708090 0800 111999 01929 422282
Train Enquires Wilts & Dorset Bus Wessex Water Emerg. Purbeck Distict Council
08457 484950 01983 827005 0845 600 4600 01929 556561
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Need an Entertainer? (Swanage Based)
Children’s Parties : Family Celebrations : Fetes, Fairs, Festivals
Contact Kevin on 01929 792572 or 07971 250222
www.kevinburke.co.uk
Magician : Circus Performer : Street Entertainer
Doors-Windows-Locks Glass repairs & Sealed units replaced uPVC & Timber Windows & Doors supplied & fitted uPVC Fascia - Soffits - Gutters installed Locks Opened - Replaced - Upgraded Window restrictors & Child locks fitted Handles - Hinges - Letter Boxes Seals & Gaskets Replaced Snapped keys extracted
Tel: 01929 481496 Mobile: 07484 186617 Email: dwlocks@outlook.com FENSA - MTC - CRB checked Please mention The Swanage Oracle when responding to adverts
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Swanage Area Dementia Friendly Community Community News
Become a Dementia Friend
Since our launch last May, Swanage Area Dementia Friendly Community have been busy holding Dementia Awareness sessions to local businesses, groups and groups of individual residents in the Swanage area. So far, we have signed up 49 people to become Dementia Friends, joining the 1,480,000 others throughout the UK
Free Awareness Sessions
Becoming a Dementia Friend gives an understanding of dementia and the small things we can all do to make a difference. Swanage Area Dementia Friendly Community offer free one hour Dementia Awareness sessions to all businesses, shops, organizations and residents. Sessions can be held at your own premises. For more information and to find out when the next session is planned, please contact and leave your name at: Swanage Library, High Street, Swanage, BH19 2NU • Tel: 01929 423485
Safe Havens
Alzheimer’s Society, the Dorset Police and Emergency Services are very close to working with numerous Dorset Community Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Rest Homes to recognise Safe Havens across Dorset. If people living with dementia have become lost or confused about where they live, the Emergency Services will be able to take them to a Safe Haven until they can make contact with their carer.
Dorset launches Dementia “home safety bracelet” Scheme
A free identification bracelet is now available to help residents in Dorset who have problems with their memory. A ‘Home Safety’ bracelet, available from Dorset
County Council, will help emergency services identify someone if they become lost or confused and forget where they live. The bracelet contains a metal plaque engraved with a community alarm phone number and a unique PIN number that will enable police or health workers to contact the person’s carer. Carers are encouraged to join the scheme, giving their contact details and the name and home address of the person with dementia. The details are then held on a database shared with only emergency services - no information is shared with other agencies or the public. Anyone with dementia is entitled to a bracelet. It looks like a watch strap and is adjustable, but c annot be removed by the wearer. For more information contact: www.mylifemycare.com/Memory-loss-anddementia or Tel: 01305 755800
Swanage Area Dementia Friendly Community Invite you to Join us to
Celebrate our First Birthday
Dorset Cream Tea Party Music Fun & Entertainment Thursday 19th May 2.00pm to 4.00 pm
Purbeck House Hotel, High Street Entry by ticket only - £6.50 Tickets can be obtained from Pursenalities, Institute Rd or Corbens Estate Agents, Station Rd or ring Jean on 01929 425521
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SELF STORAGE UNITS TO LET
(for private use)
Insulated, Individually Alarmed for Furniture, Classic Cars or Documents
East Stoke, Wareham
Tel: 07836 369969 E: mb@malcolmbarnes.co.uk www.purbeckselfstorage.co.uk
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To advertise in The Swanage Oracle, please call: 01929 408080
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Money Saving Tips
Martin
LEWIS $IWHU WKH 1HZ <HDU At the beginning of the New Year we’re all supposed to create resolutions to become better people, better citizens, better eaters and better with cash. And, let’s be honest, most aren’t likely to last as long as the December Christmas turkey. Yet when it comes to finance there’s an advantage. There are a raft of resolutions that you can do now even if the ‘I WANT TO BE A BETTER ME’ fervour has died down, and the impact lasts all year. Finally ditch your rubbish bank account and earn up to £150 More people complain to me about their bank than anything else, but only 2% of people switched last year. So stop moaning and start switching. So many banks want your business that they’re willing to pay you to switch – either straight cash such as £100 to move to them, or up to 5% interest on your savings. Plus, these tend to be the banks with the top customer service too. There’s a full rundown of best-buys at www.mse.me/topbanks. Earn cashback every time you spend and get £100s a year back Why not get paid every time you spend? You can do this with a cashback credit card. Yet, set up a direct debit to repay the card IN FULL every month, so there’s no interest cost – or it’s pointless. The americanexpress. co.uk Platinum Everyday card is the top fee-free payer, giving 5% back for three months (max £100), then up to 1.25% after. If you don’t fully pay it each month, it’s 22.9% representative APR. Sort out a power of attorney One in three over-65s die with dementia. Younger people can get it too, or lose faculties due to strokes, accidents and more. If you do lose your faculties, don’t assume relatives can walk into the bank and access your money – even to pay for your care. They’d need to apply to take over via the Court of Protection – this can drag on for months with fees of over £1000. The solution is getting a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) while you have mental capacity, where you nominate a trusted friend or relative to take over your affairs. It only comes into effect if and when you’re no longer capable. I’m 43 and have done this myself purely as a precaution. You can choose the DIY route or pay a solicitor for advice – the Alzheimer’s Society’s has a useful fact sheet at http://tinyurl.com/ jyrs8g2.
Check your iPhone to prevent huge data use If you’ve upgraded your iPhone to iOS 9, beware. It automatically turns on ‘Wi-Fi Assist’ which means if your WiFi connection’s weak it supplements it with pricey mobile data. If you think you’ve started using data more quickly, this is likely why. To turn it off, go into Mobile Data in settings, then scroll down to turn ‘Wi-Fi Assist’ off. Urgently check if you’re owed £100s after being mis-sold AI (Sentinel) protection Are you one of 2 million people who got a letter from the “The AI Scheme”? If so, it means you were mis-sold one of its Sentinal card protection plan policies via your bank. All you need to do is fill in the form to get a refund (free template to help at www.mse.me/AI). Yet, unfortunately, many people thought the letters looked like spam and chucked them. Like Patrick who tweeted me nearly did: “Just got £313 from AI reclaim. If it wasn’t for your email I probably would have binned it.” If you think you got one, then call 0800 678 1930 to get another sent. Check if you’re due up to £212/year with the marriage tax allowance If you’re married or in a civil partnership, you may be able to get up to £212 a year more in your pocket with the new marriage allowance. It’s a way for couples to transfer a proportion of their personal allowance (the amount you can earn tax-free each tax year) between them. You’ll be eligible if: • You’re married or in a civil partnership • One of you earns £10,600 or less • The other is a basic 20% rate taxpayer • You were both born after 6 April 1935 If so, you can shift £1,060 of their allowance to the other which means you don’t pay tax on it, a gain of £212. Register at gov.uk/marriage-allowance. Haggle every time you renew a contract Whether it’s broadband, or breakdown cover, you can hack down the price with a bit of haggling. The trick is to threaten to leave so you get put through to disconnections – actually known internally as ‘customer retentions’. Full tips to slash costs in www.mse.me/callcentrehaggle
@MoneySavingExpert
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Purbeck U3A
“Meeting Points” Thursday 28 April 2016 10am for 10:30am start till 12pm at Harman’s Cross Village Hall
“Beautiful Bali the Island of Gods” A look beyond the holiday beaches into the unique culture and mystique of this tropical island paradise. Non-members very welcome, just turn up. The Purbeck University of the Third Age (U3A) is a registered charity. Find more information at: www.purbecku3a.org.uk.
Purbeck Railway Circle Friday 8th April “Baie de Somme Railway”
A presentation by Michael Bunn concerning France’s most successful and interesting steam tourist railway.
Friday 20th May “Update on Project Wareham” A further presentation by Frank Roberts to review the current state of the Project. Frank is the Swanage Railway Project Manager for Project Wareham. Harmans Cross Village Hall, Haycrafts Lane, Harmans Cross. 7.00 for 7.30pm EVERYONE WELCOME For more information please phone
01929 554765
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TEA & CAKES
1) ingic carsug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unscramble the letters on the right to find things to do with Tea and Cakes. Each one has an extra letter: Identify these to find the name of another hot drink you might have instead of Tea.
2) ateplo
3) famcre
4) gefspon
5) eat etpo
6) meja
Extra Letter.
.......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... ..........................
Extra Letter Answer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Five Years of Linking Charities and Business The Dorset Charities Conference, organised by Ward Goodman, which has benefitted hundreds of charities across the county, is now entering its fifth year. Changing the landscape of business and charity cooperation, the Dorset Charities Conference has been helping form important connections across the county for five years. Hosted by leading Dorset Chartered Accountancy and Financial Services business, Ward Goodman, the annual event has given many charities the perfect platform to engage and connect with leading sector suppliers. Since its conception by Ward Goodman in 2011, the Dorset Charities Conference has gone a long way to benefit charities and build important business relationships. Featuring leading sector-experts, the conference has provided charities with indepth industry knowledge and detailed business advice. Previous conferences have seen over 150 representatives from a huge spectrum of charities and businesses attend, providing a unique networking opportunity.
Jen Richardson, Head of Charities at Ward Goodman, has commented on the event’s five year history: “At Ward Goodman we are passionate about helping charities across Dorset. Over the past five years the Dorset Charities Conference has enabled Ward Goodman to provide a great opportunity for charities to work together with businesses and form long-term partnerships to benefit the community as a whole.” The Dorset Charities Conference has tackled important issues concerning small businesses, enabling many to form lasting and mutually beneficial collaborations with charities through consultations with expert authorities. Organised by Ward Goodman, the annual conference has provided seminars from an array of professional speakers over the years. Now entering its fifth year, businesses and charities will be coming together at the next annual Dorset Charities Conference on Monday 13th June at Queen Elizabeth’s School, Blandford Road, Wimborne Minster BH21 4DT. To find out more about previous events and this year’s upcoming conference visit: www.wardgoodman.co.uk/charities-conference
DCC DORSET CHARITIES CONFERENCE
The Annual Dorset Charities Conference 10am - 5pm Monday 13th June 2016 Queen Elizabeth’s School, Wimborne This year’s event includes: • Pop-up Banners and Delegate Packs
• Seminars and presentations
• Networking opportunities • Lunch and refreshments
Hosted by
Sponsored by
To book visit: www.wardgoodman.co.uk/charities-conference
If you have any queries or need more information please contact Jen or Wendy on 01202 875 900
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Adventures of Nellie
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The Adventures of Nellie The Purbeck Publications Camper Van It was Nellie’s Birthday recently. She is now officially 200,000 kilometres old! How old? She is doing really well, for an oldie. Well, can you believe it but I have never driven her… until now! She has been a part of the family for three and a half years, and I have never sat in the driver’s seat. I am not usually a nervous driver and will get in any car to drive off with no worries at all. For some reason I have not reached to take the wheel and Stephen has done all the driving. Nellie is a Japanese, ‘automatic’ girl and everything is backwards to what I know. Watching Stephen pull this lever, push that button and generally not drive anything like I drive my little Citroen (mind you has anyone seen me on the road?) had put me right off. I decided I was not to be beaten, and that I would finally sit in the driver’s seat and Nellie and I would drive off into the sunset together. So off we set for a car park... to practise. I was nervous I can tell you. I felt like I was going to an exam that I was totally unprepared for. Ever had that feeling? Hayden in the back was not much better, asking if I really wanted to do this? Some vote of confidence that was. So we arrived. Stephen got out and ceremoniously handed me the keys. I got down from my safe, highly respectable passenger’s seat and moved over.... to the driver’s seat. The first thing I needed to do was adjust the leg space as I was a foot short of the pedals. Not very helpful.
Nellie is officially 200,000 km old! I pulled the lever and lurched forward at speed, nearly shooting myself through the windscreen. Not the best start. Hayden found it highly amusing and burst out laughing. I think it was nervous hysteria. Stephen just stood there, smiling calmly while I tried to not look too embarrassed. Head held high in the air of course. So, the window wipers are on the left not the right, the lights and indicators on the right not the left, there is no handbrake, no clutch and no gears. Easy, what was I worried about? It isn’t that different... is it? Then there is the question of the brakes which have to be coordinated with the position of the parking, driving and reversing lever. Oh what was I doing? Well I managed to move forward, slowly. I even managed to turn big old Nellie around and drive onto the small road but to my dismay it was cordoned off a little further down. Now I had to reverse into someone’s driveway. Suddenly a car appeared wanting to get into the very same
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driveway! It really is a wonder I am hear to tell the tale at all. Carefully and calmly (well sort of) I did it! I reversed with not a damaged daffodil in sight, and we started moving forward again. I got back to the safe haven of the car park and stopped. I breathed a sigh of relief and asked Hayden if he was ok in the back. There was somewhat of a hesitation before a weak voice replied, “Er, yes...” I wasn’t convinced and I think Nellie was feeling the strain too, but I had done it, I could now drive Nellie! So last Saturday Stephen was busy and I decided to be really brave and take Nellie and Hayden for a trip out… “all by my own” as Hayden used to say as a very young child. We set off, Hayden sitting bolt upright in the front with a very tight seatbelt around him, trying to smile encouragingly. I did well… well I think I did. Left arm did still keep flapping on its own in the middle of an empty space, when I tried to change a non existent gear. Then there were the times that Nellie waved to passers by with her window wipers instead of indicating where she was going. Really Nellie! What were you doing? I did at
Nellie in the car park at Swanage
Debbie in the driving seat! one point say, “Oh I feel quite confident now.” and Hayden replied, “Just don’t get cocky, Mum!” I mean, as if I would... Then when I got above 40 miles an hour Hayden said in a rather distressed kind of way, “Not too fast Mum!” The funniest part was when I stopped in the car park in Swanage and I couldn’t get the key out. Hayden does a very good impersonation of me on this. “I can’t get the key out Hayden!” I blurted. “It is in reverse Mummy.” Was the casual response (takes after his Dad you know). Three times I said this and Hayden got slightly louder and more emphatic each time, “It is in reverse Mummy!” I then actually heard what he said. You know what it is like when you are totally focused on YOUR problem, you don’t really listen to anyone else. “Oh yes…” I said smiling at my stupidity. Hayden was glad he was there and was convinced I would be still in the car park to this day if he was not there. He is probably right. It was a great day and I am very proud of myself. It doesn’t take much as you can see. Where will Nellie go next…? By Debbie Corney
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Wildlife News
Talking about Wildlife...
Wildlife springs into action! When ‘proper’ spring arrives – not just the mild early winter weather that fooled some plants into blooming in December! – our local wildlife springs into action. Verges, hedgerows and woods become adorned with dainty flowers such as primroses, celandines, wood anemones and violets. A little later on the scene are the wonderful blue carpets in our ancient woodlands. Bluebells spend most of the year as bulbs underground and millions of bulbs may exist in one wood. So that they can attract the attention of pollinating insects, all of these plants flower early in the growing season, before the trees start to block out the sunlight with their fresh new leaves and before taller, more vigorous plants start to smother them. Birds are stirring too. Get up around sunrise and just open a window to hear songbirds crooning at the tops of their voices to attract a mate. Even better, make the effort to stroll through a wood at dawn to appreciate the sheer joy of the birds’ choral symphony. Of course, no spring is really complete until you have heard the calls of a chiffchaff and a cuckoo – sadly the latter is becoming much rarer these days. Frogs are also turning their thoughts to love. Enthusiastic splashing in a pool of water may signal the imminent arrival of a squidgy lump
of frogspawn. If you are lucky enough to have a pond in your own garden, or to live near a wild one, keep a watch to see when the wriggly black tadpoles emerge, usually about three weeks after the appearance of the spawn. Other good signs that spring is finally with us are the graceful flight of the yellow brimstone butterfly, the gentle buzzing of bumblebees and the competitive ‘boxing’ matches of brown hares in the fields. It’s a great time of year to be outside in the countryside because there’s so much to see and hear. Dorset Wildlife Trust would love to hear about any of your wildlife sightings – you can contact us on facebook/dorsetwildlife, @DorsetWildlife on Twitter or email us at: mail@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk For details of all DWT Easter events, visit: www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/events By Alison Copland
Bluebell wood
Photo: Mark Heighs
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The Swanage Oracle
O N B W V Z J H E K X B Y W Y
Z B O R Q J A N O E I R A A O
E C N T X Z G V M X D A D E E
N T N P C L J I S Q Y S I P B
U W E B U U T W N Y L T R P U
Y F T Q T R E G C O F V F U N
E K M F E R T H O A K I D Z N
G E Q M E A A F A B C C O W Y
G U M T N U L M A X C B O L I
S U S E N I O Y Z J V Y G T K
S A T V R T C O C Y O H O C C
E S B P B P O D U N C F R M I
Z S A P F Z H L R F N R P W H
E R P Z L X C B U D T C V T C
P U O S R E W O H S L I R P A
EGGS CHICK BONNET APRIL FOOLS DAY SUMMER TIME APRIL SHOWERS GOOD FRIDAY EASTER CHOCOLATE BUNNY
This month, the prize is a meal for two at the Bull & Boat in Swanage, so please complete this page by 22nd April 2016 and send to: April Prize Wordsearch Name: ______________________ The Swanage Oracle, Address: ______________________ 1 Moorlands Rise, ______________________ West Moors, ______________________ Ferndown, BH22 0JR Telephone: ______________________
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Gardening Tips
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On Your Plot
April showers to October fun It’s wonderful to see the first fresh, local, asparagus appear for sale this month and if you’ve a bit of space spare on your plot now’s the time to plant this gourmet crop. Buy one year old crowns and plant them immediately into well drained soil. You should be able to take a small harvest next year and they’ll carry on cropping for up to 20 years!
Jobs for April :-
• Keep an eye out for late frosts and cover any vulnerable plants • Harden off indoor sowings before planting out • Start off French beans and Brussels Sprouts under cover • Fancy something a bit more exotic? Try growing some peppers and aubergines - sow this month in a greenhouse or polytunnel • Plant an asparagus bed • Earth up potatoes once the first shoots appear
Now is the time for April showers and with the weather warming up all the time and some gentle rain you’ll soon be seeing lots of changes on your veggie plot. It’s a time when any indoor space, be it greenhouse, cold frame, or just window sills, is likely to be filling rapidly with young seedlings. If you are thinking of planting some of your seedlings out then don’t forget to harden them off first. You can move the pots outside each morning, bringing them in at night to gradually acclimatise them to the change. Do remember too that late frosts can still happen in April, damaging plants that are unprotected. Watch the weather forecast and if there’s any danger of frost then use fleece or cloches to protect plants where necessary. On the subject of cloches, save any empty plastic bottles that you may have. Cut the bottom off and you are left with a wonderful mini cloche to protect seedlings that are recently planted out. Push the plastic down into the soil firmly and it will keep off not only some of the chill but also any slugs that may have their eye on tasty young leaves.
Are you a fan of Halloween? Pumpkins can be quite expensive come the end of October and then there’s always the hunt for one just the right size. Why not have a go at growing one (or several!) of your own this year? Pumpkins need a long, growing season to ripen well so now is the time to start them off. There’s lots of different varieties, including some giant ones if you want something really impressive to carve. Look out on the packets for ones that are early ripening for the best chances of success. Pumpkin seeds are huge so it’s easy to sow just one to each pot. I’d sow at least 3 plants, if they all germinate and mature it’ll probably be more than you need (they can take a lot of room as they grow) but it’s better to have spare in case you loose some early on - if they all grow well you can always pass one on to a friend or neighbour and have a competition to see who gets the biggest pumpkin! You’ll need to keep your young plant inside until all risk of frost has passed. When it comes time to plant the pumpkin out it will like lots of nutrients in the soil. Dig out a large hole and put in lots of well rotted compost - or you can even plant your pumpkin straight on top of an old compost heap. They’ll bloom with wonderfully exotic looking, huge yellow flowers and it’s wise to consider removing the growing tip once three fruit have set as this will give a better chance for larger, riper, pumpkins. Support the growing fruits on a bed of straw to avoid them dropping off or becoming mushy. Are you enjoying purple spouting broccoli at the moment? You can buy summer varieties to plant now, or try Calbrese (this has the green heads) which is best planted straight into the beds where they will grow.
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Boilers installed Full Central Heating Systems Boiler breakdowns and repairs Boiler servicing and maintenance Full breakdown & maintenance work
Georgian Gems Supporting musicians through The Michael James Music Trust
Established in 1981 in memory of the young organist and conductor Michael James BA, FRCO, to discover, promote, educate and support gifted young musicians. Based in Wimborne Minster, the charity has its local representative as Brian Barker, proprietor of quaint and attractive Georgian Gems in Swanage High Street. Since the Trust was established, over 550 students have been helped to reach their goals in the field of music. Goals which they may not have otherwise achieved. The Trust is funded by annual concerts, by donations and personal covenants or capital gifts. If you would like to support the Trust or find out more, please contact Brian.
Georgian Gems, 28 High Street Swanage, BH19 2NU
Tel: 01929 424697 www.georgiangems.co.uk
Verbal valuations £1 • Any item Proceeds to go to The Michael James Music Trust Reg. Charity no. 283943
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Motoring
Auto Biographies
Mini Cooper S Clubman By Tim Barnes-Clay, www.carwriteups.co.uk
The old Mini Clubman was no oil-painting, but this one could easily earn its place on the podium at Legs 11. It’s a looker alright. The brand new Mini Clubman must have been breast fed at birth, because it’s far bigger than its siblings. That doesn’t mean it’s fat – no way. This car is well formed and its proportions are just right. And because it’s not exactly a shrinking violet, the Clubman is likely to win over quirkier types who might otherwise have gone for mid-size family car choices, such as the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus. The story hasn’t always been good for the Clubman, though. The first generation had a useless, single rear door that meant UK passengers were forced to step into the road. This didn’t help sales and the Clubman therefore wasn’t exactly the rock star that BMW, Mini’s owner, was expecting. But the Germans have seen the light and the previous rear-hinged ‘clubdoor’, has been kicked to the kerb in favour of two ‘normal’ back doors. They make it far easier for passengers to get in and out of the car. Then there’s the barn-door boot. You’ll remember that from the last model. Well, that stays put, but now the doors can be released manually, or if you ticked the hands-free tailgate option, a sassy little kick under the rear bumper will open them up. Inside, the comfortable seats are kind to your backside and feel supportive, especially during long periods on the road. The car’s uncluttered dashboard is dwarfed by a massive screen that sits where the speedometer on older Minis used to be. The controller on the central console manages most of the Clubman’s systems, so there are fewer buttons on the dash to confuse or divert you. As the Clubman is the largest of the current Mini litter, it has, predictably, the most capacious cabin. To be frank, with a big load area too, the word ‘mini’ seems rather outmoded. The whole motor is 270mm longer than the five-door Hatchback, allowing for oodles
of room in the front and respectable space for two adults in the rear. The boot is about the same as a VW Golf’s, so you’ll get the family shopping in – and a toddler’s buggy. The Cooper S Clubman Auto is easily the most gratifying to drive. Out at the Mini’s media launch on the roads surrounding San Sebastian in northern Spain, the most powerful petrol drove gokart-like on the straights - just as a Mini should. It’s a shame the slightly pulpy suspension can drizzle on your chips in the corners, with body roll kicking in if you enter the twisty bits too hard. But that can be forgiven, because the Cooper S generates more than enough pull to keep you cheery. 189bhp can be squeezed from the S’ 2.0 litre turbocharged fourcylinder lump, and with the eight speed auto box, a zero to 62mph sprint in 7.1 seconds is easily achievable, finishing up with a top speed of 142mph. Even though these figures might make the car sound insatiable for fuel – it’s not. With the superb automatic gearbox you can officially get an average of 48.7mpg out of the Clubman - and the CO2 emissions are 134g/km, meaning road tax is a trifling £130 per annum. The state-of-the-art 2015 Mini is a gargantuan step-up from its forerunner, and it puts right pretty much everything that was awry. The Clubman now has more doors, better space, good looks, and it really is exciting to drive. The Cooper S version is especially guaranteed to bring a grin to the face of anyone who slips behind its wheel.
Pros ‘n’ Cons • Pleasurable √ • Eye-catching √ • Roomy √ • Real-world √ • DSome body roll X
Fast Facts • Max speed: 142mph • 0-62 mph: 7.1 secs • Combined mpg: 48.7 • Engine: 1998cc 4 cyl 16v turbo petrol • CO2: 134 g/km • Price: £24,455 otr
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