The Swanage The independent directory of local businesses serving the residents of Swanage, Studland Worth Matravers, Langton Matravers & Ulwell
Delivered FREE to all homes & businesses in the BH19 area
Oracle August 2016
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T: 01305 853970
www.uptongrangedorset.co.uk
A holiday venue for the discerning
Upton Farm Holiday Cottages, Upton Farm, Ringstead, Dorset, DT2 8NE
Luxury Self Catering Accommodation on your doorstep... If you lack the room to accommodate visiting family and friends, why not suggest they stay with us and make a ‘mini holiday’ of it too! You can be confident they will be impressed by your exquisite taste, enchanted by our luxurious historic cottages set in manicured gardens frequented by wildlife, and will enjoy the freedom of their ‘own space’ between times spent with you - what’s more - you won’t have the work of waiting on them!! Cottages sleep 2-4 or 6 persons in sumptuous comfort and are probably only a few minutes drive from your home... Just a thought... why not stay here with them and treat yourself to a break too?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO USE ALL THE AVAILABLE SPACE IN YOUR HOME?
BESPOKE FITTED FURNITURE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES Custom Creations is a family run business with over 40 years experience
CALL US NOW ON
01202 823231
TO ARRANGE YOUR FREE, NO OBLIGATION DESIGN CONSULTATION
www.customcreations.furniture
Unit 1, Enterprise Park, Blackmoor Road, Ebblake Industrial Estate, Verwood, BH31 6YS
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J Taylor Electrical • • • •
NICEIC approved contractor Established 2002 Friendly Swanage based service From small jobs in the home to rewires and commercial work • Inspection and testing • Replacement fuseboxes • Electrical control systems for central and under oor heating
Call John on
Swanage 422989 or 07966 167978
E: johntaylor294@gmail.com
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Introduction
The Swanage Edition 93
Oracle
Published by:
Stephen & Debbie Corney at Purbeck Publications
Telephone: 01929 408080 Email: info@swanageoracle.co.uk
Copy deadline for the September 2016 edition: 15th August 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! Summer is here and we have actually had some good weather! Hopefully you have been able to get out and about, make the most of our wonderful beaches, had a coffee or two watching the world go by and even gone to a local show. I do love this time of year. You should now be receiving The Swanage Oracle every other month. We cover the whole of Swanage over two months. One area one month and the other, the next. If that is not happening I need to know! Royal Mail deliver to every house and business in BH19, so let’s make sure you get your individual copy. As a local resident if you have anything new or exciting happening, and would like to promote the good news, please let me know! We are here for you. The advertisers inside are also here for you, so please give them a call when you need their products and services, and do mention The Swanage Oracle! I am delighted to introduce “Local Celebrity of the Month – Tell me All About It” Liam Openshaw, who I am sure we will be seeing in the Olympics. As a young 13 year old he is quite incredible. Nellie took us on a family camp with the Scouts last month. How exciting was that. She loved it and so did we as you can read on pages 22 and 23. Next month Nellie is taking us to Exmouth in Devon, where Hayden will take part in the National Surf Life Saving Championships. We will be camping in a nearby campsite and I am looking forward to sitting on the beach with my coffee, ‘watching’ Hayden competing. The lucky winner of the prize wordsearch last month was Mr A.M. Heath. Well done to you. Here’s to a wonderful summer! Very 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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Company No: 9833647
Tribute Acts - Bands - Disco Karaoke - Comedians - Solo Singers Childrens Entertainers - Speciality Acts And much more
Purbeck
Railway Circle
Friday 9th September “A Tale of two Cities, the Railways of Leeds / Bradford” An informative presentation by David Peel commencing in steam days and continuing through to the present time.
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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Community News
Purbeck win Dorset League Div 2 Trophy Purbeck Chess Club played 8 matches winning six, with one draw and 1 defeat. This is Purbeck’s first trophy win since the Club was formed 13 years ago by Secretary Brian Beard, having moved from Kent and finding Swanage Chess Club had folded. The club meet on a Monday evening between 7pm and 10pm at Mortons House Hotel, between September and April. Members of all abilities are welcomed.
Purbeck A Team captain Steve Peirson (right) receiving the 2015/6 season Division 2 Trophy from Ian Clark, President of the Dorset Chess Association
Contact Brian Beard on 01929 425988 for more information.
Dorset Theatre Goers Club – Purbeck Branch Do you enjoy live theatre, musicals, ballet, comedy? Do you know about the Dorset Theatre Goers Club? Would you enjoy being able to see matinee performances in various provincial theatres, with coach transport provided?
We aim to run twelve outings a year, once each month, cost varies according to the theatre and distance involved. Over the last 12 months, trips have been to Southampton, Guildford, Bath, Salisbury, Sonning, Bagnor. Travel is in modern comfortable coaches, with pick up and drop off points in Swanage, Coombe, Harmans Cross, Corfe Castle, Stoborough, Wareham, Sandford.
Newsletters are issued with booking forms for forthcoming excursions every two months.
Run by local people, this group invites anyone interested to contact our membership secretary, Carol Payne, on 01929 425458 (or email pearcepayne@ talktalk.net) for a membership form.
Membership is £6 single, £10 couple.
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Take a relaxing stroll around this enchanting pool, unwind by its tranquil waters and let your cares drift away. Our Teahouse will welcome you with a delicious luncheon or a homemade cream tea. Then visit the Museum and Gift Shop before entering the fascinating world of the Wareham Bears. OPEN: Grounds from 1st March to 31st November. Teahouse, Shops & Bears from Easter to end of October. Dogs on leads are welcome. Children under 16 admitted free
Tel: 01929 551408
www.bluepooluk.com
The Blue Pool & Wareham Bears, Furzebrook, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5AR
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Boilers installed Full Central Heating Systems Boiler breakdowns and repairs Boiler servicing and maintenance Full breakdown & maintenance work
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Community News
Swanage J�z Festival 2016 A brilliant Swanage Jazz Festival took place July 8th to 10th 2016... starting with a Jazz Steam train to Harman’s Cross and Dance to Dave Brennan’s Jubilee Jazz Band. Music at the Old Stone Quay, Queen Elizabeth School Jazz Orchestra on Friday night... superb with the sea as a backdrop. Marquee 1 with traditional Jazz and Marquee 2 with modern all weekend. MSG Collective at Prince Albert Gardens and the Dorset Jazz Orchestra. It was great to see so many young people playing Jazz so well... the Queen Elizabeth School, Mountbatten School Big Band from Romsey, The Alton Jazz and Big Band from Hampshire. Music at several of the pubs... A great weekend with music playing everywhere and people swinging and dancing to the music! A first class Festival in Swanage in July. By Carol Wadsworth
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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
SELF STORAGE UNITS TO LET (for private use)
Insulated, Individually Alarmed for Furniture, Classic Cars or Documents
East Stoke, Wareham
Tel: 01929 481496 Mobile: 07484 186617
Tel: 07836 369969
Email: dwlocks@outlook.com FENSA - MTC - CRB checked
E: mb@malcolmbarnes.co.uk www.purbeckselfstorage.co.uk
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Local Celebrity of the Month
Local celebrity of the month... Tell me all about it! Liam Openshaw and his brother Ryan who live in Poole are fantastic athletes, swimmers, life savers, and all round sportsmen. Liam recently won the British Schools Modern Biathlon Championships at Crystal Palace in March! He was then chosen for Team GB to represent Britain and went on to win the European round of the Biathle (run-swim-run) World Tour! I am absolutely sure we will be seeing lots of Liam and his brother in the next few years, and I am delighted that he has written a piece about himself for you to read and enjoy. Here is Liam... “How would I describe myself at the moment? I am a busy, happy, sporty 13 year old, squeezing in as many training sessions and competitions as I can into the week, and leaving just enough room to do my homework! I am a member of Poole Swimming Club, Branksome Chine Surf Life Saving Club, Poole Athletics Club and Dorset Pentathletes. I train about ten times a week – more running up to key competitions – mostly in the swimming pool but also strength work in the gym, running on the track, and then my favourite – on the beach and in the sea. In my spare time, I play the drums (I recently passed my Grade 3 with Merit) and I go to Poole Grammar School. I started Life Saving with Branksome Chine Surf Life Saving Club when I was eight and loved it from the start. I enjoy being out in the fresh air, powering into the sea for a swim and paddling a Race Board through the waves. Six months after joining the Club I was asked if I was going to go to the National Championships in Portreath, Cornwall. It sounded daunting and way above my ability, but I was assured that I would be fine, so signed up and went along. I was faced with waves over ten feet high - so big that I couldn’t paddle out through them on the Race Board, and ended up conceding the race from the wash at the foreshore. But I was hooked. And I have been to every National Championships since, eventually achieving
Liam Openshaw with his brother Ryan my goal and medalling last year – three times. My Club has also started competing at the National Indoor Championships, this year held in April, where I was so pleased to gain a further six medals – two of each colour. But my biggest achievement to date in the sea was winning the South West Open Water Championships, entitling me to swim at the British Open Water Championships in Sheffield, where I came seventh. I’m aiming to qualify this year and finish in the top five! I had just turned nine when I entered the Poole and East Dorset Schools Swimming Gala, and to my surprise won the backstroke race. Although I had been learning to swim with Swalings School of Swimming since a toddler, I had not joined a competitive Swimming Club. After a trial, I started swimming with Poole SC a few times a week, where I developed my stroke technique. Four years later, I now swim up to eight sessions and cover 40 kilometres a week in the pool, plus a further session of Open Water training in the sea. I train with some of my best friends, and we always manage to find time to have a laugh after the hard work is done in the pool. We support each other, and any competitiveness in the pool during races, is gone when we are back on poolside. I love competing, because when I swim, I am not only trying to race well
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13 for myself but also for my team mates and Club. But it’s not all easy! There are days that I race and I am slower than I could be – my brother, Ryan, is two years younger than me, but he is pretty good in the pool – he manages to squeeze out times just seconds behind mine. It’s then that I get determined to work harder and train better, to make sure I can stay ahead of him for as long as possible! I’m determined he won’t beat me in a head to head race – but then I think he is just as determined to try beat me (and it might not be too long before that happens)! I’ve definitely learned that you have to make the most of every opportunity that is offered to you as you never know what it might lead to. Privileged to be nominated for a Poole Sports Council Award for swimming at the British Open Water Championships, at the ceremony last autumn, my dad noticed that one of the other recipients was a Modern Pentathlete. We did a quick bit of research, thought it looked interesting, and decided to have a go - I entered my first Biathlon at the South West Schools Championships last September – and won it. It has been a rollercoaster since, where I have been offered lots of exciting opportunities to progress in the sports that I love. This took me to Crystal Palace and Birmingham to compete in two British Championship events (so I started running with Poole Athletics Club to improve my technique), where
Liam with his trophy at the British Schools’ Modern Biathlon Championships
I finished first and second. I had become a British Champion!!! But I am very aware, that although I was the one that ran around that track, and swam down the pool, I couldn’t have done it without my family who pay for everything and drive me everywhere, and my coaches who train me to be the best I can be. Following the Champs, I was invited to join the English Talent Programme for GB Modern Pentathlon, which involves monthly training days where I have started to learn to shoot a laser pistol and to fence. This means that I can now compete in Modern Triathlons and Tetrathlons respectively. I still have a bit of work to do before I can do a full Modern Pentathlon as I will need to learn to ride a horse!!! BREAKING NEWS!!! At the European Championships in Portugal last month, Liam came fifth in the Triathle and won the bronze medal in the Biathle. His GB Biathle team also won the gold team event. Ryan came 11th in the Triathle and then won the bronze medal in the mixed Triathle relay. So Liam and Ryan have both qualified for the Triathle World Championships in Sarasota, Florida, in October 2016. They are due to attend the National Biathle at the end of this month which is the qualifier for the World Biathle Championships, also in Florida at the same time.
I’m just a normal 13 year old boy. I like my PS4, Instagram and iPad! But I am so lucky to have the opportunities to compete in sports that I love, with really good friends. Who knows how far I can go... But one thing is for sure – I’m going to keep working hard, trying new things, and most importantly, taking every opportunity that comes my way. I am so happy to be fit and healthy. I would like to shout out to everyone that supports me, including my mum, dad and brother Ryan, Jan and Barry at Poole SC, Ian, Dave, Hamish and Gus at Branksome Chine SLSC, Paul and Mark at Poole AC, Mick at Dorset Pentathletes, and all my friends that make training and competing fun.” Liam is looking for support for his sports, as all competitions are self funded. If you know of a business that might be able to help, please contact Sara Openshaw on 01202 389112 or 07815 289625. You can also follow Liam’s progress via Twitter with @swimmer_liam. We wish him best of luck for the National Biathle! Debbie Corney
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Wildlife News
Talking about Wildlife...
Turning the Tide: Marine Conservation Fund Dorset’s seas are amazing. They are home to a magnificent myriad of marine creatures – sturgeons, angel sharks and crawfish to name a few! However, some of these species are now rarely seen or are gone altogether. Dorset’s fragile, underwater habitats are declining, with pollution, unsustainable fishing and climate change threatening these delicate ecosystems.
As part of our campaign, we are launching a seahorse adoption scheme, for a one-off payment of £20. Seahorses are an intriguing species who are masters of camouflage, and we want to find out more about them. As part of the Marine Conservation Fund, we’re hoping to be able to invest in equipment to help us monitor seahorses and other marine wildlife.
Dorset Wildlife Trust wants to save these beautiful, misunderstood marine environments before it’s too late… but we can’t do this alone. The Marine Conservation Fund is an exciting and important new initiative which aims to provide the vital funding required to secure a brighter future for our seas, which can then be enjoyed for many future generations.
As a gift to yourself, or someone special, you’ll get a seahorse cuddly toy, regular updates and a fact sheet. The first 10 people to adopt will get a free Seashore Wildlife Guide. Phone Jodi Hibbard on 01305 264620.
Two areas we aim to secure as Marine Protected Areas are Studland Bay and Lyme Bay. Studland bay is home to enigmatic seahorses, colourchanging cuttlefish and rare rays. It is also one of only two nursery grounds in England for the endangered undulate ray. Lyme Bay meanwhile hosts a multitude of majestic marine giants including white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoise and basking shark. By protecting these fauna hotspots we will give this marine wildlife the chance to survive and thrive into the future.
Find out more about the Marine Conservation Fund and donate here: www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/dmcf By Jemma Cable
Spiny Seahorse
Photo: Emma Rance
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Upton Farm, Upton, Ringstead, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 8NE Heatcare UK LTD are OFTEC and Gas safe qualified and registered. We are able to cater for all of your oil heating needs including commercial, on top of providing our expert knowledge and services in both mains gas and LPG.
• Service checks available • No call out charge • Fast response • All work guaranteed • Increased warranties on Worcester products • Heating • Plumbing • Leadwork To book your service or work contact us on
01305 853970 or 07557 990715 or email us at heatcareukltd@aol.com Visit our website:
www.heatcareukltd.com And don’t forget to like us on Facebook!
e yo u r i p � n i � u t e L 01202 240769 justshutters.co.uk
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Motoring
Auto Biographies
Suzuki SX4 S-Cross By Tim Barnes-Clay, www.carwriteups.co.uk
Crossovers are popular in today’s motoring marketplace. But what is a crossover? Well, it’s a sport utility vehicle (SUV) with a chassis more similar to a car than a traditional truck-based SUV. Most come with either two or four-wheel-drive, and having the fundamental elements of a car means a more contented ride. They also tend to return better fuel economy because of lighter construction and smaller engines. Suzuki’s SX4 S-Cross is one of the better value choices of this type of motor, although you may not have heard much about it. That’s because the Japanese automaker is a fairly small player within the UK car scene. Suzuki punches pretty hard above its weight though and, if the S-Cross is anything to go by, the manufacturer is only going to grow in strength in Britain. It’s a well made machine, packed with equipment and, even at flagship level, it only costs £25,149. The SX4 S-Cross’s bold and sporty design offers ample room for passengers and luggage. The front seats offer excellent support and hold you firmly in place, even on tight curves. Behind the wheel, the instrument cluster, although surrounded by a little too much cheap looking plastic, helps you focus on driving. For instance, an outsized speedometer and tachometer border a multi information display that shows anything from fuel consumption to time and outside temperature. High-rigidity in a car’s body is essential to handling, comfort, safety and performance. That’s why the SX4 S-Cross incorporates a large proportion of high-tensile steel for strength and lightness, helping to provide greater handling stability. The engine options are 1.6-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel. I drove the latter, in top of the range SZ5 DDiS 120 guise and equipped with Suzuki’s four-wheel-drive ALLGRIP system.
The four-wheel-drive technology leaves no room for doubt that the SX4 S-Cross is the perfect fusion of family-friendliness, safety and performance. Don’t get me wrong, it’s no hardcore mudplugger, but it’ll handle dirt, grass, snow, sand and a bit more – so it’s perfect for mini-adventures. The four-wheel-drive system is so adept because it has a variety of settings – AUTO, SPORT, SNOW and LOCK. You can select your desired mode for the terrain you find yourself on via a push and turn dial on the centre console. It works like this: AUTO prioritises fuel economy in typical driving conditions. The system uses two-wheel-drive by default and will switch to four-wheel-drive if wheel spin is detected. The SPORT setting is best for twisty roads. It makes maximum use of fourwheel-drive in response to how hard you press the accelerator. The SNOW option is optimal for snowy, unpaved and other slippery surfaces and uses four-wheel-drive all the time. LOCK is designed for extricating the car from snow, mud or sand. It does this by distributing high turning power to the rear wheels continually. Safety equipment hasn’t been overlooked either. Features include seven airbags for occupants and the bonnet provides impact absorption which lessens injury if the car hits a pedestrian. In fact, the SX4 S-Cross has been rated one of Europe‘s safest cars, according to independent crash testing results from Euro NCAP, receiving the maximum five-star rating.
Pros ‘n’ Cons • Good value √ • Practical √ • Confortable √ • Safe √ • Dashboard Plastics X
Fast Facts • Max speed: 105mph • 0-62 mph: 13.0 secs • Combined mpg: 62.8 • Engine: 1598cc 16v turbo diesel • CO2: 118 g/km • Price: £25,149
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Is your Classic in need of some expert TLC?
• Restorations • Servicing / Mechanical Repairs • Accident & MOT Repairs • Waxoyl Treatment • Stage Payments For Restoration • Collection & Delivery By Arrangement
Tel: 01202
625050
Welding (Poole) Ltd
CAMERAS & BINOCULARS WANTED
By Private Collector ANY Age, Format, Quantity or Quality - Collections Of ANY Size - Lenses Of All Types - Clockwork Cine ALSO Wanted 8mm, 16mm, 35mm - BEST PRICES PAID - WILL COLLECT - ANY DISTANCE CONSIDERED Please Call Keith On
01202 862886
All successful relationships start with a conversation. Let’s talk... You deserve to work with a firm that values your long-term success as much as its own. Many individuals and businesses across Dorset put their trust in us to be their Chartered Accountant or Financial Adviser, so contact us and let’s get the conversation started.
For more information or to discuss your own circumstances
call us on 01929 551 551 or visit www.wardgoodman.co.uk
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18
Money Saving Tips
Martin
LEWIS 3HUVRQDO 6DYLQJV $OORZDQFH
If you’ve got savings, next time you receive a statement expect to see something rather strange. There’s been a hidden revolution of the savings rules, and it means when you’re paid interest, from now on no tax will automatically be taken off. It’s all due to the new Personal Savings Allowance (PSA), which launched at the start of the new tax year on 6 April. Previously, unless you were saving in an ISA, when you earned interest, the taxman took a bite. So for every £100 interest earned as a basic-rate taxpayer, you only actually got £80 (higher rate got £60). Yet now, if you earn interest within your PSA, you get £100 and you keep £100. For a detailed Q&A on it, read www.mse. me/PSA, but here are my quick need-toknows. - All savings interest is now paid gross, i.e., no tax will be taken off. - This works for ALL interest - not just savings accounts, but bank accounts, credit unions and peer-to-peer savings. However, share dividends aren’t included. - Basic 20% rate taxpayers can earn £1,000/yr interest taxfree. - Higher 40% rate taxpayers can earn £500/yr interest tax-free. - Top 45% rate taxpayers don’t get a PSA, so all interest is taxable. - Cash ISAs, premium bonds and other tax-free savings interest DON’T count towards the £1,000 (or £500) limit so you can get this interest too. - If you earn interest over the limit, you pay tax at your income tax rate, but only on the amount over the limit. It’s worth thinking
about this for a moment. For a basic rate taxpayer, with cash in the top easy-access standard savings account, you’d need over £75,000 saved before you had to start paying tax on it. That’s why 95% of people won’t pay tax on their savings interest this year. As for most people tax is no longer an issue with savings, where you should have your cash has changed. It’s now usually simply a question of where you can earn the most interest. So first, check your savings today and find what they earn. You’ll be shocked - rates have plummeted. The first thing you should look at, even before saving, is clearing any expensive debt or overpaying an expensive mortgage (one where the interest rate is higher than the top rate you can earn by saving). After that it’s a question of putting each penny where it earns the most. So here’s my savings fountain to do that. Fill up each level if you can and then move to the next (all the accounts I’ve listed have the full UK £75,000 savings safety protection). 1. Help to Buy ISA. For anyone 16+ who’s never owned a home and may want to, these are usually a no-brainer. This is because as well as interest you can use it towards a mortgage deposit and 25% is added on top, up to a maximum of a @MoneySavingExpert free £3,000. The top payers are www.
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halifax.co.uk and www.santander.co.uk
Martin at 4%. For full help on if this is right for
you, see www.mse.me/helptobuyisa LEWIS 2. High-interest current account. Some 3HUVRQDO 6DYLQJV $OORZDQFH accounts offer high in-credit
savings rates to entice switchers - it’s the only way to earn decent interest on decent amounts. The top ones are the www.Santander.co.uk 123 account paying 3% in between £3,000 and £20,000 (with a £5/mth fee, but that is often covered, as the account also pays cashback on bills) and the www. LloydsBank.com Club Lloyds account, paying 4% between £4,000 and £5,000. Others pay up to 5% interest, though on smaller amounts. For the full range and eligibility criteria see www.mse. me/topbanks
3. Regular savings . These pay high interest but only on small amounts, generally for a short time. They’re great for, er, saving regularly, but you can also trickle lump sums in there too. The top ones are linked to current accounts – 6% is possible for a year on up to £300 a month in www.Firstdirect. com’s regular saver and 4% on up to £250/month with the www.HSBC. co.uk Premier/Advance accounts. If you’ve got an M&S, Lloyds, Nationwide or Santander current account, see if one’s available to you too. 4. New £15,240 cash ISA allowance 1.85% tax-free. A cash ISA is just a tax-free savings account and as it’s the new tax year, you’ve a new £15,240 allowance. Crucially, interest from this doesn’t count towards the £1,000 (or
£500) PSA limit - so it’s good for those who’ll earn over that threshold. Yet for many there’s little point, see my www. mse.me/ISAsdead guide for when they’re still right for you. The top straightforward easy access deals are coventrybuildingsociety.com, paying 1.4% AER variable (minimum £1). If you’ve got poorly-paying old ISAs you want to transfer, the www. YBS.co.uk Triple Access Saver ISA is 1.35% but only allows you to make withdrawals on three days each year (minimum £100). You can earn more in fixed rate ISAs though, see www.mse. me/cashisas. 5. Fixed-rate savings. If you’ve got money left over, next consider whether you’re prepared to lock it away without access. If so, you can fix with a lockedin rate that’s usually higher than easyaccess savings. The top straightforward 1 year deal is CharterSavingsBank.co.uk 1.91% AER (minimum £1,000) and www.sbiuk. com is 2.2% for 2 years and 2.35% for 3 (min £10k). 6. Easy-access savings. Anything now left over that you need access to can be put in here. Rates are low compared with everywhere else, but you can deposit and withdraw when you want. The top deal is www.ybs.co.uk at 1.3%, though it only allows one withdrawal per year. For unlimited withdrawals, the Income Bond from www.nsandi.com pays 1.26%, though the rate’s dropping in June, but www.sbiuk.com is 1.25%.. @MoneySavingExpert
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Puzzle Corner
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Pop the kettle on...
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Crossword
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1 In a way, a book lover (9) 6 Ragout (5) 9 Dairy farmers are doing this (7) 10 A series of chirps (7) 11 One who does not believe in God (7) 12 Killing oneself (7) 13 An abnormal condition of the lungs (9) 15 Dried leaves of the hemp plant (5) 16 Heart rate (5) 19 Beau (9) 22 Without ceasing (7) 23 Photographic equipment (7) 25 Hunting guide (7) 26 A parasitic disease spread by mosquitos (7) 27 Finger or number (5) 28 Study of the Earth's surface (9)
Down
1 Vampire (5) 2 Hotel employee (7) 3 Aptitude (7) 4 Metal bar (5) 5 Required (9) 6 Slipping (7)
7 Lying in wait (7) 8 Inuenced (9) 13 Said (9) 14 Stamping (9) 17 Housing (7) 18 Graceful (7)
20 One who roams on foot (7) 21 A pendant earring (7) 23 Carving in relief (5) 24 Frightening (5)
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Carpet & Flooring Specialists • Hardwood & Laminate Flooring • Carpet & Carpet Tiles • Wood Sanding & Restoration • Home selection service • Free quotes and advice Come and visit our showroom to see the ranges for yourself 1 Manor Park, 35 Willis Way, Poole, Dorset, BH15 3SZ Open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri
Tel: 01202 672222 Web: www.pnfl.co.uk Email: info@pnfl.co.uk
Email: info@philiptrimcontractors.com
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Adventures of Nellie
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The Adventures of Nellie The Purbeck Publications Camper Van Family Camp with the Scouts, Cubs and Beavers! Well this was one Nellie didn’t want to miss. After all, despite her advanced years, Nellie loves running around, making a lot of noise at times (remember that exhaust…) and she loves the outdoors, so what better way to spend a weekend than with friends, learning lots of new skills and having fun. Nellie couldn’t wait. Stephen got everything ready. He is good at that you know… it is a man’s job isn’t it? Nellie was packed with chairs, sleeping bags, blankets, Kombi, the awning, cutlery, plates (we didn’t take the kitchen sink, as Nellie already has one) and of course that all important whistling kettle and coffee. Off we set into the rolling English countryside to Sixpenny Handley which is home of 1st Woodcutts Scouts. First things first, we had to set the awning up… so I made the coffee and supervised… You can see I have a very hands-on approach to all of this. In fact, one of the ladies commented
The leaders do an amazing job
All set! Kombi and Nellie ready for camp
on how important my role was. I think that is what she said… The boys, alias Stephen and Hayden, did a fantastic job. We were all set up! The leaders. Well I take my hat off to them. They do such a great job and it is all voluntary, done in their own time, to help others. There are many, many good people on this planet. There was in fact coffee and tea permanently ready and all the food was supplied so we had nothing to worry about but relax and enjoy ourselves. The first evening was very straight forward… no challenges yet. The next day was a different story. I have to say I have never been a scout or a girl guide, so this was all new to me. Hayden has been a member for a few years now and loves it. The skills they learn, you don’t get from anywhere else these days, so I am always impressed with what he does. However, what I didn’t realise is that on family camp… you all take part! This was new to me and Nellie really didn’t know if she
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would manage. Being blindfolded, led by a young leader in the forest and detecting what was hanging from a rope, was definitely a new concept. I thought the foil was a pine cone, but that’s a mistake anyone could make, isn’t it? Then there were the knot challenges, making a tent from string, building a large catapult, drawing on a neckerchief and putting Lego together to show something from the camp. The best part was making “smores”. Have you ever done that? Yummmm… delicious. You melt a marshmallow on a stick over the open camp fire and then place it between two chocolate biscuits, so the chocolate melts and smothers it. How good is that! The name comes from the fact… you want s’ more! That was a challenge I could do again and again. It didn’t help the diet, but I had to do it as I didn’t want to be seen to be not taking part. You can understand that can’t you? Nellie would have eaten them all, but she wants to keep her slightly figure. I refrained from commenting. The men did get very competitive on the catapult challenge. All that man power, wanting to catapult the furthest. It was great fun and although
Singing around the campfire
We want s’more!
we were the best (after the first go…) we were sadly beaten. In the evening there was the traditional camp fire led by a young leader in full song. Love it! Then we all took part in horse racing. This was inside the camp hall on a projector screen attached to a computer. How exciting! We all chose tickets hoping it was the winning horse and shouted like we could have won millions. Getting together, having time for our own children, as well as meeting other families is just so good. With our busy lives these days we don’t do enough of it. The whole weekend was fantastic. Nellie left in great spirits and would highly recommend scouting. Beavers start as young as six, then its Cubs form age 8 and Scouts from 10½. If you are an adult and want to help, meet others and learn new skills, why not go and be a leader, or helper. I am sure you would be welcomed with open arms. Nellie is loving the summer and we hope you are too! Where will she take us next…? By Debbie Corney
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What’s On at the Mowlem
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The Mowlem Theatre Summer Film Programme 2016
Ghostbusters (12A)
7:30 p.m. Friday 5th to Thursday 11th August (not Saturday 6th) 2:30 p.m. Matinées Monday 8th and Wednesday 10th
The BFG (15)
7:30 p.m. Friday 12th to Thursday 18th August (not Saturday 13th) 2:30 p.m. Matinées Friday 12th, Monday 15th and Wednesday 17th
Finding Dory (U)
7:30 p.m. Friday 19th to Thursday 25th August (not Saturday 20th) 22:30 p.m. Matinées Friday 19th, Monday 22nd and Wednesday 24th
Swallows and Amazons
certificate to be decided 7:30 p.m. Friday 26th August to Thursday 1st September (not Saturday 27th) 2:30 p.m. Matinées Tuesday 30th, Wednesday 31st August Thursday 1st September
£7 full, £6 concessions £5 children all adults £6 Monday evening To advertise in The Swanage Oracle, please call: 01929 408080
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The Swanage Oracle
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This month, the prize is a meal for two at the Bull & Boat in Swanage, so please complete this page by 25th August 2016 and send to: August 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 Hoarding
It’s hard to remain excited when you’ve had courgett.e.at.every.meal.for.a.week,.and. marvellous.though.raspberries.are.there.is.a. limit.to.just.how.many.you.can.eat.at.once...Take. a.bit.of.ti.me.to.store.your.harvest.and.you.can.be. enjoying.home.grown.right.through.the.winter.
Jobs for August :-
• Water regularly - try to water either in the evening or early mornings. • If you are growing main crop potatoes, watch out for signs of blight. Brown patches on the tops and edges of leaves are usually a first sign. • Pinch out the tops of runner bean stems that are outgrowing their supports. • Keep harvesting those courgettes! • Sow turnips and oriental salad plants such as Pak Choi and Chinese Cabbage • Strawberry runners that were potted up in June to produce new plants can be planted out now. If all has gone to plan (that’s a big if!) then August should be a very satisfying month on your plot, with your hard work being repaid by ample harvests of a good range of fruit and veg. The reality tends to be that the excitement of seeing your crops grow and ripen is initially followed by much enjoyment of the first fruits of your labour which can soon be replaced by a panic stricken ‘What the heck do I do with all these’! Certain crops (courgettes and tomatoes spring to mind) can almost guarantee this sequence of events! Sharing with friends and neighbours is great but very often they will have a glut of exactly the same thing at just the same time. What is called for are some simple ideas for storing and preserving your produce. It may be a long time before you are harvesting fresh peas or raspberries again but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be enjoying your home grown produce throughout the winter - it just takes a little planning and now is the time to do it. Onions (and garlic) that have been lifted and
left to dry can be plaited and hung in a cool, dry place. Net bags, or tights, also work if you don’t fancy plaiting. Potatoes can be stored in boxes or paper sacks in a dark, dry building but you should check them regularly, removing any that show signs of rotting. A good size freezer is a real boon for making the most of your produce. Blanching and then freezing works for loads of vegetables. Key to success is to cool quickly after blanching so have a bowl of cold water at the ready and don’t forget to label what you are freezing! Another option, and one that can work well for all those tomatoes, is to find a good recipe that you can cook, freeze and use later (how about a wonderful pasta sauce with your own tomatoes and home grown basil?). Even ‘difficult to freeze’ veg such as courgettes can either be incorporated into a sauce, or blanched, frozen and then added to a stew at a later date. Cooking and freezing can work well for fruit too - apple or rhubarb are good stewed and frozen all ready for use in a crumble or pie. If you have a truly wonderful fruit crop then why not arm yourself with a good recipe book and get started on some jam making? It’ll be delicious on your toast in the morning, and what better gift than a pot of homemade raspberry jam? It’s amazing how many books there are that tell you how to grow your fruit and veg, but how little information there is on just how to store it all! One wonderful little book, that deals with just this question is ‘How to store your garden produce’ by Piers Warren. It’s packed with information about how to store just about anything and a great addition to any gardeners library. Happy harvesting!
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ARTIFICIAL GRASS = PERFECT LAWN!
BEFORE
AFTER
CALL 01929 552505 FOR A FREE QUOTE info@greenschemeltd.co.uk www.greenschemegrass.com
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To advertise in The Swanage Oracle, please call: 01929 408080
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Index of advertisers
Your quick guide to everyone and everything in your Oracle... Accountants Ward Goodman.................................................... 17
Financial Services Ward Goodman.................................................... 31
Attractions Blue Pool & Tea Rooms......................................... 7
Funeral Directors James Smith.......................................................... 27
Bars, Pubs & Restaurants Bull & Boat........................................................... 28
Garage Services Trickett Welding.................................................... 17
Bathrooms C+C Plumbing & Bathrooms................................. 7
Garden Services Green Scheme....................................................... 27
Bedrooms Custom Creations................................................. 2
Holiday Accommodation Upton Grange Cottages........................................ 2
Blinds, Curtains & Shutters Ashley Blinds......................................................... 3 Just Shutters......................................................... 15
Kitchens Custom Creations................................................. 2 Dream Doors........................................................ 30
Builders Purbeck Home Improvements.............................. 1 Cameras Rocky Rock Cameras............................................. 17 Carpenters Total Woodwork - Peter Albin............................... 5 Carpets & Flooring Peter Newman Flooring........................................ 21 Community News Adventures of Nellie............................................. 22 Dorset Theatre Goers Club - Purbeck Branch....... 6 Dorset Wildlife Trust: Marine Conservation Fund.... 14 Local celebrity of the month Tell Me All About It: Liam Openshaw................. 12 Martin Lewis: Personal Savings Allowance........... 18 Motoring: Suzuki SX4 S-Cross............................... 16 On your plot: Hoarding......................................... 26 Purbeck Chess Club wins League.......................... 6 Purbeck District Council News................................ 8 Swanage Jazz Festival 2016.................................. 10 Tastes so good: Barbecued Lamb......................... 24 Electricians J Taylor Electrical.................................................. 3 Entertainment Services Whaley Entertainments........................................ 5 Events Purbeck Railway Circle......................................... 5 Swanage Lifeboat Week....................................... 29 What’s On at the Mowlem................................... 24
Letting Agents Homes4Let............................................................ 3 Pest Control Terminator Pest.................................................... 5 Plumbers C+C Plumbing....................................................... 7 Gasways Heating.................................................. 9 Heatcare............................................................... 15 Property Maintenance Total Woodwork - Peter Albin............................... 5 Puzzles & Competitions Crossword............................................................. 20 Prize Wordsearch.................................................. 25 Sudoku.................................................................. 20 Self Storage Purbeck Self Storage............................................. 11 Solicitors Humphries Kirk..................................................... 28 Taxis DMB Cars.............................................................. 9 Tool & Plant Hire Sydenhams........................................................... 11 Waste Services Philip Trim............................................................. 21 Windows, Doors & Conservatories Doors-Windows-Locks.......................................... 11 Worktops Portman Stone...................................................... 32
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A Makeover can start with just the Worktops.
Corian
Laminate
Overlay
Dream Doors can replace your kitchen worktops, upstands and splashbacks‌ if this is all you require. As well as looking great, our worktops come in a variety of colours and finishes to perfectly suit your kitchen. EST.
1999
Call for a FREE estimate: 01202 695856 (Poole) or 01202 483129 (Christchurch) Visit our Showrooms: 185 Lower Blandford Rd, Broadstone,Poole, BH18 8DH 17 Bargate, Christchurch, BH23 1QD
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GRANITE & QUARTZ WORKTOPS Your
BEST VALUE local supplier!
“Speak to our friendly staff for advice”
YOU ARE WELCOME TO VIEW OUR EXTENSIVE GRANITE GALLERY
£50 Donation to MacMillan when you place an order with this advert. sales@portmanstone.com www.portmanstone.com
SHOWROOM & GRANITE GALLERY 1 Airfield Way, Christchurch BH23 3PE
A337
Contact 01202 484 340 A35
Portman Stone Factory/Showroom
CHRISTCHURCH Sainsbury’s
SOMERFORD
The Swanage Oracle
1 Moorlands Rise, West Moors, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 0JR