Dorset View | March 2026

Dear Readers!

I’m subscribed to a lot of email newsletters. Over the years, they’ve accumulated and multiplied — rather like novelty mugs in the cupboard.

Some I signed up for deliberately and genuinely enjoy reading every time they land in my inbox. Others? I’ve no idea how they got there, and they sit unopened, gathering digital dust. To my wife’s constant dismay, the unread count in my inbox is creeping towards 20,000.

But here’s the thing — for a journalist, that flood of emails is almost unavoidable. I rely on newsletters for breaking news, daily briefings, expert insight and fresh perspectives. They’re a fast, simple way to stay informed.

And it’s not just about information. I follow writers whose work I admire, whose voices inspire me, and whose ideas challenge me. Reading great writing is one of the best ways to become a better writer yourself — second only to writing every day.

That’s why the rise of email newsletters is such a positive development. They’re direct, convenient and refreshingly unobtrusive. No algorithms deciding what you see. No endless scrolling. Just useful, relevant content delivered straight to you — and if it’s not for you, unsubscribing takes seconds.

Which is why I’m so pleased we’ve launched our own Dorset View newsletter — and it’s a great way to stay connected with everything happening across the county. While the magazine you’re holding remains at the heart of what we do, there’s far more going on than we can fit into a single monthly issue.

Every day, we publish original stories on our website. Our social media and YouTube channels are growing fast, packed with fresh content, local news and video features. Our newsletter brings it all together — delivering the highlights straight to you.

If you want to stay informed, discover more local stories, and never miss what’s happening across Dorset, sign up today. Simply visit the Dorset View website and subscribe.

Luke Graham

Editor

The Editor reserves the right to amend or shorten contributions in order to fit in with the editorial policy and style of the magazine

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Valentine’s Day protest at Poole RNLI

By Luke Graham | Photos © Dorset View

Dozens of members of the online groups Bournemouth Patriots and Poole Patriots spent Saturday 14 February protesting outside the offices of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

The protest called on the RNLI to “stop the taxi service”, based on a claim that people illegally crossing the Channel in small boats use the charity as a ‘taxi’.

The RNLI has repeatedly defended itself against the accusation, maintaining that its volunteers have a legal and moral duty to save lives at sea, regardless of

where those individuals come from.

A large counter-protest was organised by campaign group Stand Up To Racism and attended by supporters of the RNLI, as well as local politicians including the MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Vikki Slade.

Slade said: “I recognise the concerns people have about irregular migration to the UK, especially by small boat, but I have been appalled to see the RNLI targeted in this way. They were set up to save lives at sea, not to be selective on who that might be.”

One of the counter-protestors was

Jim, a volunteer with the RNLI. He said: “To blame the RNLI, it’s just crazy. It doesn’t make any sense at all.

“Those people don’t understand what the RNLI is all about, and that’s why I think it’s sad. I actually feel sorry for them. I can’t understand the hatred that comes out of them to the RNLI.

“It’s a sad reflection. But they have a right to protest.”

A total of 17 police officers and police liaison officers were required to police the protest.

Wimborne Minster’s Rev Canon Andrew Rowland practises his pancake flipping ahead of the annual Wimborne Minster Pancake Race on Shrove Tuesday 17 February. Competitors of all ages ran around the Minster, tossing their pancakes at the four corners of the church.

Rare Lucian Freud art on display

Rare etchings are on display at Poole Museum until 21 June.

‘Lucian Freud’s Etchings: A Creative Collaboration’ shines a light on the artist’s lesserknown passion for printmaking, displaying intricate etchings that reveal Freud’s creative work beyond his celebrated paintings.

Part of a touring programme from the V&A, this exhibition gives visitors the chance to explore rarely seen work by one of Britain’s most influential artists.

At the heart of the exhibition is a unique collection of trial proofs collected by master printer Marc Balakjian, who worked alongside Freud for more than two decades. These prints tell the story of an extraordinary artistic partnership and offer a fascinating glimpse into Freud’s creative process.

The exhibition also reflects Freud’s personal

connection to Dorset, where he attended Bryanston School and later owned a home near Shaftesbury.

Jaine Fitzpatrick, interim director of Poole Museum, said: “Even if this isn’t your kind of art, come and explore — you will leave feeling inspired, refreshed, and connected in ways you didn’t expect.”

To find out more about the events and book your free entry ticket, visit the website: poolemuseum.org.uk.

Growth of visitors to town

Poole is seeing a surge in visitors.

Five million trips were made to the town centre during the winter period, with the number of returning visitors more than doubling.

Meanwhile, businesses are backing the town with increased investment. Vacancy rates in the town centre are less than half the national average at just eight per cent, with big name brands and independent traders creating a thriving offering for residents and visitors.

Cllr Millie Earl, leader of BCP Council, said: “It’s brilliant to see so many visitors enjoyed

the best of what we have to offer over the winter period: whether that’s for a splash of culture at Poole Museum, a show at the Lighthouse, a dip along the coast, or just a spot of shopping.”

The newly re-opened Poole Museum and Scaplen’s Court & Garden are proving to be popular attractions. Plus, recent initiatives from Poole BID have helped to deliver enhancements to the local area, including with the introduction of Dusty — the BID’s electric grounds maintenance machine — helping to clear graffiti and keep the streets tidy.

Find out more about maritime life

Poole Maritime Trust is inviting readers to visit its headquarters above the Canford Cliffs Library.

The building houses several large collections, including over 6,000 photographs and other images, and access to thousands more, plus more than 3,000 books on boats and information on the local area.

The rooms are stacked with information on historic and modern-day maritime life. There are many models of sailing ships, paddle steamers, tugs, working boats, and yachts of all sorts. Plus,

there are over 300 box files containing material on 19thand 20th-century marine work, local boatyards, and yacht clubs that are now long gone. People can visit on Thursdays from 10am–12noon or on the first Saturday of the month from 10am–12noon. The entrance to the trust’s headquarters is on the free car park side of the library. Look over the fence at the back of the new conservatory and you will see a sign to the front door and then up the stairs. For more information, visit poolemaritimetrust.org.

CORRESPONDENCE

Re: Lidl’s legal challenge fails to stop Aldi, Dorset View February

Whilst a legal challenge by Lidl to stop a competitor building a supermarket seems rather hypocritical, I was rather concerned that local opinion did not seem to be taken into consideration.

The members of the planning committee mentioned in the article were a husband and wife, both representing Verwood, plus representatives from West Moors and Three Legged Cross, Wareham and Lytchett.  Were Wimborne and Colehill represented at all?  I was under the impression that it was a government and local priority to protect high streets and town centres? Wimborne centre has a number of empty building as well as a large building plot where Pippins used to stand, all close to car parks and, although Aldi could be considered low cost compared with Waitrose, is this true in relation to the Co-op?

Other smaller shops and cafes would also suffer if trade was taken out of Wimborne. The fact that Aldi would be on a bus route was also mentioned as a plus. In fact, the bus route through Colehill to Canford Bottom has been reduced to one bus an hour, and I would imagine most people would use cars, increasing the problem on Colehill’s already overcrowded roads.

J Perry, Colehill resident, via email

I am frustrated, once again, that at no point was it acknowledged or even mentioned that the proposed development is in Colehill and has nothing to do with Wimborne Minster. Ferndown starts on the other side of the A31 from this proposed development (just a few metres away and much closer than the boundary with Wimborne Minster). Ferndown has not only a rival low-cost supermarket (Lidl), but also Sainsbury’s and Tesco. Many residents of Colehill and, indeed, Wimborne Minster, shop in Ferndown, which is more accessible and has free parking.

KD Johnson, via Facebook

Dorset biker’s epic Antarctic adventure

Endurance cyclist James Benson-King is preparing to ride solo to the South Pole

A two-month journey across Antarctica with no human contact and temperatures below -40°C will not sound appealing to most people. But for Dorset-based James Benson-King, that’s the plan for his next epic adventure.

“I am honestly incredibly excited about the journey,” he told Dorset View via email.

“I love the challenge and relish the opportunity to push myself. This is the biggest challenge yet, though, and so I am getting ready for it the only way I know: discipline and meticulous preparation.”

The 33-year-old from Corfe Mullen is an endurance cyclist and motivational speaker who holds a Guinness World Record for the fastest climb from Khambhat to Umling La Pass on a bicycle. James completed the 2,100km ascent in India in just over 14 days. He has also cycled the 20,000-mile journey from Alaska to Argentina — a ride

that took a year and a half to complete.

James said: “Towards the end of my trip, I started to look ahead and wonder what else I could do. I’d read stories on my trip about an Italian endurance cyclist attempting to cycle across Antarctica.

“When I reached the end of my own journey, I spent the last of my money on a budget trip to go and see it for myself. I immediately fell in love with the continent — huge, silent and powerful. I secretly decided then my next goal was to follow in the footsteps of Omar De Felice and try and cycle across the continent unsupported.”

If successful, James will become the first person to cycle to the South Pole without support. This expedition will involve riding for 12 hours a day while pulling a 150kg sled, dealing with freezing temperatures, whiteouts and wind speeds of 200km/h, and navigating across dangerous crevasse fields. How is he preparing for these harsh conditions?

“My weekly training involves multiple early-morning fasted cycle rides, as well as three gym sessions and three longer rides. This is to train my body to use fat for energy and build up my strength on and off the bike,” reveals James, who is currently training in Norway and Sweden.

“In terms of cold-weather skills, that’s where my time in Sweden comes in. I will spend two months at Pole to Pole’s training school in the Arctic. This includes a three-week trial expedition up in the Swedish mountains to test out my gear and myself. With my coldweather training complete, I will then return in April and focus on my physical training to get into fighting shape for the expedition itself.”

But as well as the physical training, what about the mental aspect of total isolation and zero human contact for two months?

“This is something it’s almost impossible to prepare for, but I know that my mind and body can adapt to whatever is put in front of me.”

And what does his family think of this expedition?

“In terms of my family’s reaction, I think they’re used to my crazy ideas now!”

James will embark on the adventure in November, and you can follow his progress online via his website, jamesbensonking.com, and social media @bikingvikingrides. He will be fundraising for Cardiac Risk in the Young.

Police

and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick

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Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick is on Your Voice | Dorset Podcast

Born and raised in Bournemouth, David Sidwick was elected as the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Dorset in 2021 and re-elected in 2024.

The role was set up in 2012 but is not well understood by voters. As Sidwick jokes: “It’s probably one of the least explained jobs on the planet.”

According to Sidwick, the role has three main responsibilities. First, ensuring the Force has the funding it needs to be effective and spends that money efficiently.

Second, the PCC gets a budget to spend on initiatives they think will make a difference; Sidwick allocates his budget on victim support, crime prevention initiatives such as the Operation Relentless Community Fund, and reducing re-offending.

“But the main part of the job, and the reason why it’s an elected position, is it is

about holding Dorset Police to account for the people of Dorset. So, you and everybody else in Dorset are my boss,” explains Sidwick.

As PCC, Sidwick created a six-point Police and Crime Plan, based on research and surveys of what residents wanted from their police.

According to Sidwick, progress on delivering and achieving this plan is going well.

“We are now the fifth safest area in the UK. We have dropped anti-social behaviour to the lowest it’s been in 16 years. We have an effective rural crime team. And if I pick on one of the more violent measures, knife offences, we are the second lowest in the country with a 19 per cent drop compared to last year.”

Despite these positive statistics, there seems to be a public perception that Dorset, especially areas like

Bournemouth and Poole, is not safe. Why is that?

“There’s a number of reasons. One is, and I push Dorset Police on this all the time, policing does not generally communicate well enough and put out the good news about what they’re doing.

“Even when good things are communicated, sometimes the press picks on a headline which says a bad thing.

“It is a frustration to me that no matter how good we seem to get, we can’t move the dial on that perception.”

Another cause of frustration is that the Labour government has announced plans to abolish PCCs when their term ends in 2028 and replace them with mayors or Policing and Crime Boards. How does Sidwick feel about this?

“I’m extremely grumpy [because] there is no evidence base for this decision. If they

could show us the evidence that mayoral areas are better at reducing crime than PCC areas, I would hold my hand up and say, ‘That’s the way to go’. But this is nothing but political ideology.

“What they’ve said is we’ll go back to ‘something’ which we’re not quite certain what it is yet. We are still waiting for the detail. But it will be something like a local committee. Now, there is a local committee which scrutinizes me once a quarter. I sit down with the Chief Constable once a week.

“There is a huge amount of detail that hasn’t been landed, and I will be fighting to make certain that Dorset gets good police governance.”

To watch the full interview, head to dorsetview.co.uk/ podcast or youtube.com/@ dorset_view. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more interviews and videos.

Q&A by Harold G Walker Solicitors Conveyancing

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By Laura Molloy, partner and head of conveyancing department

Question: We have just agreed to buy our first house and we’re very excited and keen to move in! How long does the conveyancing process take?

This is one of the most common questions I encounter in my working day, and the real answer is: it depends!

If you are first-time buyers, there will be no chain of transactions below you but there may be a chain above you. Your progress may be dependent on the chain.

If you are buying with a mortgage, your offer will need to be issued and any conditions complied with. Once the papers are received from the seller’s lawyer, conveyancing searches will be applied for. Your solicitor will raise any necessary enquiries and report to you. You may also wish to have a survey carried out, and there will be documentation for you to sign along the way.

Some of the process is reliant

on the timescales of third parties, but there are a couple of things you can do to speed it up!

First, be prepared. Your solicitor will request information from you in relation to ID, funding etc. Making sure you have that to hand to supply promptly will assist. If you have family members contributing financially, it’s also good to make them aware of what will be required.

Second, choose wisely. There is a broad choice in the legal market for conveyancing services. Ensure you choose your representation carefully.

At Harold G Walker, we aim to offer a friendly approachable service provided by fully qualified staff. We offer clear, professional advice in a way that is straightforward and easy to understand.

Every transaction is different. At Harold G Walker, we will do all we can to progress your transaction and make the process as smooth and stress free as possible.

Lawspot is for information only and does not constitute legal advice

Town tackles prolific shoplifting

Businesses are coming together to address the problem of shoplifting in Bournemouth.

The town centre is introducing a new exclusion notice scheme, which will ban repeat shoplifters from entering participating businesses in a bid to reduce retail crime and protect staff and shoppers.

The initiative, developed by the Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP), follows ongoing collaboration between Bournemouth Town Centre BID and a range of local partners.

Organisations involved include Dorset Police, BCP Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour and Community Safety Accreditation Scheme teams, as well as major retailers and businesses such as Primark, TK Maxx, Bobby’s, Tesco, Sports Direct, Superdry, Barclays Bank, Flirt Café, PRC Streamline, Lester Aldridge and UKPAC.

Key outcomes of the partnership’s work include identifying prolific offenders, establishing clear action plans, sharing updates on prosecutions, increasing reports of retail crime and anti-social behaviour, and formally approving the introduction of exclusion notices.

Once issued, an exclusion notice will bar an individual from entering any business displaying the Against Business Crime sticker for a period of 12 months. Breaching the ban may result in further enforcement action.

It’s time to act on flood prevention in Dorset

By Simon Hoare, Conservative MP for North Dorset

After the driest spring on record and among the hottest, driest summers experienced last year, the water table in Dorset was incredibly low. On the clay of the Blackmore Vale, it was several metres down before any dampness could be detected.

We have now endured the wettest January and early February. A bad situation could have been a lot worse had we had a ‘normal’ British spring and summer with average rainfall. The fact that we did not, and still the water table is at a historic high, tells me that we did not experience anything like as bad as it could have been.

Let no one now try to question the fact that our climate is changing and we cannot ignore it. Schools closed. Roads closed. Communities cut off. Sewage in Pimperne. Sturminster Bridge closed. Whatcombe Lane closed. Blandford town centre almost marooned. Field runoff. Crops ruined. Hammoon isolated. Businesses disrupted. Winterborne Whitechurch and Milborne St Andrew awash. And that is just to highlight some of the incidents that have happened in North Dorset, not to mention a good number of roads rendered impassable and vehicles stranded in flood water.

There has been a huge demand for help from Wessex Water, the Environment Agency and Dorset Council, not to mention the involvement of our town and parish councils as communities have struggled. Additional call-out pressures have been placed on the blue light services. To all who have sought to help my North

Dorset constituents, I want to say a heartfelt thank you.

I was an early advocate for the creation of a unitary council for Dorset. The old two-tier system of county and district, coupled with town and parish, often led to confusion among local people as to responsibility and provided the opportunity for those authorities to scapegoat. “Don’t blame me, it’s the other council’s responsibility” was a common refrain.

A unitary council created a one-stop shop. Statutory responsibility began and ended in one body. We need a similar step change when it comes to water management, flood prevention and flood alleviation.

Dorset Council has some responsibilities. Wessex Water has others. The Environment Agency has a function. Landowners have riparian rights. The problem is they all operate in isolation. It is like a Venn diagram, and it is often only a very small element of investment and planning that has any overlap.

We all know that dredging and drain clearing by themselves are not a total solution, but we do know that they play a part. It cannot be right that about 25 per cent of the capacity of the Stour, as it passes the King’s Bridge near Marnhull, has been lost due to silting up and reeds growing because of ill-defined habitat concerns.

So, when the rain stops and the waters recede, I will be convening a meeting with local agencies and discussing the need for a joined-up approach with ministers in the Commons. The time for action is now.

Dorset must not lose out under police reform plans

By Vikki Slade, Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole

In January, the government brought forward major reform of the police service.

They had already announced plans to abolish Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), with their responsibilities transferred to mayors or strategic authorities — a move I welcome, as it should strengthen accountability. Residents frequently raise concerns about crime and policing with me and with local councillors, yet we currently have very limited opportunities to challenge PCC priorities or speak directly with senior police officers.

The government has now indicated that the number of police forces may be reduced from 43 to as few as 12. While details are still unclear, any change that genuinely reduces bureaucracy and increases the number of police officers and PCSOs on our streets would be welcome. However, without further information, I am concerned that the needs of local communities could be overlooked if decisions are made from even further away than they are now.

The Home Secretary also announced plans for a National Police Service to handle serious crime, fraud and counter-terrorism. What has not been explained is how this will be funded. As Dorset is one of the worst-funded police forces in England, I have challenged her to confirm that Dorset’s already very limited budget will not be raided to pay for this new service.

Both I and fellow Liberal Democrat MP for West Dorset, Edward Morello, have repeatedly raised in Parliament that Dorset’s funding is inadequate — particularly because the huge increase in population during the tourist season is not reflected in our policing budget. This draws officers away from neighbourhoods to

support high-demand areas like Bournemouth and Weymouth. The latest funding settlement once again ignores this issue and risks a reduction in officer numbers, not the increased visibility we have been promised.

Dorset remains a safe place to live, with serious crimes relatively rare. Yet issues such as shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and bike theft affect far more residents. These crimes often occur in areas with little CCTV, and because they are not considered life-threatening, they tend to receive slower responses and limited investigation. As a result, some incidents are not reported at all — meaning they are neither recorded nor solved.

This is one reason I have launched my campaign for South Western Railway to install secure bike storage at all stations. I have also tabled an amendment to the Railways Bill that would require every station to provide bike facilities. Currently, British Transport Police, who investigate crime on railway property, will only pursue cases where CCTV evidence or a witness is available. Last year, over 99 per cent of bike thefts went unsolved. If we want more people to cycle to stations and take the train to work or college, they need confidence that their bike will still be there when they return.

SWR has told me that there is no case for installing bike lockers because no local campaign exists — so please sign my petition at middorsetlibdems.org.uk/ petitions/keep-bikes-safe-atstations and show them that this matters to people in Dorset. The fear of crime — even in areas where actual crime is low — affects wellbeing, mental health, exercise and social activity. By addressing the issues that impact people close to home, we can improve quality of life for everyone in our community.

Broadstone’s golfing prodigy

Broadstone Middle School has a world championship golfer amongst its pupils.

Luc Taylor recently travelled to New Zealand and won the US Kids New Zealand Under-12 Golf Championship.

The victory means Luc, who has a handicap of five, has secured an automatic invitation to the US Kids World Championships at Pinehurst, North Carolina, this July.

Dad Andy said: “Luc was born in Poole, then we returned to New Zealand, where I’m from, and he started playing golf when he was about seven.

“He just loves hitting balls,

and when he was 11, we came back to the UK and moved to Broadstone so we could be near the golf club. He goes there every day after school.

“He qualified for the Daily Mail Worlds through competing on the British Junior Golf Tour.

“And by winning the event in New Zealand, he qualified for the US Kids Golf World Championships.

“He will also play in the Uswing Mojing Worlds in the US, a tournament that Tiger Woods won a number of times.”

Broadstone Middle and First Schools are part of Southern Education Trust (SET).

Dorset deserves its fair share

By David Sidwick | Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner

Over recent weeks, I have been asking Dorset residents for their views on police funding. I do this because setting the police budget is one of my most important statutory responsibilities, and one I take extremely seriously as the public’s voice in policing. My Police and Crime Plan is clear — we must Make Every Penny Count. But even the most efficient force cannot operate to its full potential if it is persistently underfunded.

The reality is that Dorset Police does not receive the funding it needs or deserves. Year after year, Dorset sits near the bottom of the national funding table. As a result, local people are forced to pay far more for their police service than residents in most other parts of the country. Dorset residents fund 52 per cent of the Force through Council Tax. The national average is around 35 per cent, and in some areas as low as 20 per cent. That disparity is simply unfair.

This situation exists because the national police funding formula is not fit for purpose. It fails to reflect the real demands placed on policing in Dorset. It ignores our rurality and takes no account of seasonality, despite the fact that millions of visitors come to Dorset each year, placing an enormous additional burden on operational policing. I have been clear about the need to change the funding formula since I came into office, and I have consistently lobbied government for reform on this issue.

However, despite my efforts, as well as calls for change from across the country, no action has been taken. The funding formula still disadvantages Dorset, and government has made it clear that it expects Police and Crime Commissioners to bridge the gap by increasing the police precept. That is why I had no option but to ask the Police and Crime Panel to approve an increase in this year’s precept to the limit of £15 for a Band D property. Asking residents to

pay more is not something I do easily; it is deeply frustrating, particularly given the already disproportionate burden on local taxpayers. But the uncomfortable truth is this: standing still or paying less is no longer an option if we want to maintain effective policing.

What matters is that Dorset Police has shown, time and again, that it uses public money responsibly. The most recent HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services inspection recognised the Force’s strong financial management. Despite years of savings and relentless pressure on budgets, Dorset remains one of the safest places in the country. Crime is falling, positive outcomes are increasing, knife crime has reduced, and anti-social behaviour is at its lowest level in 16 years. Yes, there is still work to do in other areas, and that is ongoing, but these successes are not accidents. They are the result of hard work, professionalism, and careful management of limited resources.

This will continue, unabated, but the difficult financial situation we find ourselves in cannot continue indefinitely. Forcing Dorset Police to make savings year after year is not sustainable. While the Force will continue to keep people safe, I will continue to press, challenge, and campaign until Dorset receives a fairer share of national funding. It is time the system delivered what Dorset deserves.

Don’t forget Mother’s Day on 15 March

By Janine Pulford

Woven in between Valentine’s Day (14 February), Father’s Day (21 June), and hot on the heels of International Women’s Day (8 March) is Mother’s Day. This year, the day to celebrate your mother will be on Sunday 15 March.

Why does the date of Mother’s Day change every year? Here’s the answer.

The origins of Mothering Sunday in Britain go as far back as the 16th century and had strong ties to Christian traditions, which involved celebrating the Mother Church.

It became better established in the 17th century when apprentices and servants were allowed to return home on the fourth Sunday of Lent to visit their own mothers. They took a gift — often a fruitcake made with marzipan called a Simnel. The family would then dine together.

The holiday had almost completely died out by the 19th century, but was revived in America by Anna Jarvis from West Virginia, who promoted it as a day to honour mothers and motherhood. The first unofficial Mother’s Day created by her (not called Mothering Sunday) was on 10 May 1908. Six years later, President Woodrow Wilson made it an official holiday celebrated in the USA on the second Sunday in May. Many countries throughout the world adopted it, which is why it is often celebrated in May elsewhere.

Mothering Sunday in the UK may have lost most of its religious connections over the years, but the new secular version, Mother’s Day, is still celebrated on the fourth Sunday in Lent.

These days, with more families than ever being spread

out around the world, sending a card and flowers to Mum is a way of remembering her on Mother’s Day. If your family lives closer together, then a get-together for a meal cooked by someone other than Mum could be a lovely way to show your appreciation. Gifts of flowers, chocolates, or a family day out are sure to be appreciated.

A meal at a pub or restaurant is a sure winner. Why not ask if a single rose could be brought to the table for Mum, or supply it yourself if the eatery can’t do it?

Three cheers for local school

Allenbourn Middle School has been awarded the British Council’s International School Award, recognising its exceptional commitment to bringing a global perspective into the classroom.

The award celebrates schools that go above and beyond in equipping pupils with the cultural understanding

and language skills necessary for a globalised world.

The ceremony took place at the Houses of Parliament on Monday 2 February, attended by MPs and educational leaders from across the UK.

The award was collected by the school’s French teacher, Carmen Diment.

Allenbourn has long-

standing partnerships with the Felix Buhot School in Valognes and Collège George Desdevises du Dézert, Lessay, in Normandy. In 2025, the school hosted a visit from its French counterparts, allowing Year 8 pupils to meet their long-term pen pals in person for the first time.

The school’s global outreach goes beyond linguistics. Key initiatives include a popular

Fair Trade fashion show and specialised English modules exploring identity and bilingualism through poetry.

Mark Legge, headteacher, said: “At Allenbourn, we believe that understanding our place in the wider world is vital. This award validates our aim to foster curious, empathetic and globally minded citizens who are ready for the challenges of the future.”

MP praises local pubs

Wimborne Minster’s MP, Vikki Slade, launched a Pub of the Year competition last year, inviting residents to nominate their favourite pub.

The Liberal Democrat MP received a huge number of nominations. The eventual winner was revealed as The Old Inn in Holt, north of Wimborne.

Other pubs nominated included The Rising Sun in East Street, The Tap House in West Borough, and The Willett Arms in Oakley.

In a letter to the nominated pubs, Slade said: “Thank you for all you do to continue to create a welcoming, vibrant and friendly space in the heart of your community.”

Music trail hits the right note

Did you know four huge multi-million-selling musical artists were all school friends in Wimborne Minster? To discover who they were, go on the Wimborne Music Trail.

The new trail takes people on a journey to discover Wimborne’s musical heritage, including that a former mayor was once in a punk band, that Wimborne was home to a classical composer who studied with the famous Vaughan Williams, and that more than one folk singer has celebrated Wimborne in song.

Created by Adrian Newton, it is the first in a series of 12 trails (one a month) being produced as part of Wimborne’s year as Dorset’s Town of Culture. The trail also includes links to further information about the featured artists and music, plus tips for enjoying music sustainably.

To download a PDF of the Wimborne Music Trail, go to evergreenmusic.uk/wimborne-music-trail.

The trail was launched at Square Records in Wimborne Minster on Saturday 31 January by the Mayor of Wimborne Minster, Cllr Jeff Hart, and town crier Chris Brown, with a performance by musician Dorset Phil. There’s more to Dorset Phil than just songs. Interview page 46.

Once upon a time in Wimborne…

By Jane Benson

Something very exciting has happened at the garden, something very exciting is happening at the garden, and something very exciting will happen at Wimborne Community Garden very soon!

In January, we submitted a ‘Beautiful Borders’ show garden design for a place in the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair at Beaulieu in May this year — and we were chosen! The theme for 2026 is “Once upon a time...”.

This is how we introduced our design: “Once upon a time, there was a blank patch of grass and a group of ordinary people with an extraordinary dream. Using the potion of teamwork and the spirit of community, they made their

dream come true. They created an abundant community garden where the gates were open to all, and the burden of work was shared. A magical land where loneliness dissolved, friendship blossomed, where ‘old dogs’ realised that they could be taught new tricks and ‘young shoots’ learnt from their elders. It was a discovery they wanted to share, so they decided to show the world that magic could happen in the smallest of spaces. They suggest to you that the ‘happy ever after’ for their fairytale would be a garden in every community, small or large, where people come together despite their differences and find ‘common ground’. Would that be so very hard to believe?”

PULFORD PUBLICITY sponsors WIMBORNE COMMUNITY GARDEN

Having been accepted, we’re now busy working to create the show garden. After the event, the garden is going to be finally settled at Beaucroft Foundation School, so that the students and staff there will have all the wellbeing benefits of their own miniature community garden.

To create this garden is going to take some serious funding; the show garden is all about the power of

community. We would be very grateful if you could give a donation, large or small, so that we can make this exciting fairytale a reality. There is a JustGiving page at justgiving. com/page/wimbornecommunity-garden-1, or you can leave a donation at Beaucroft College’s office on any school day. It would be so very much appreciated. Let’s see what we can achieve together!

74-year-old attraction reopens

If there is one thing that heralds the start of spring, it is the reopening of Wimborne Model Town and Gardens, which this year takes place on Monday 23 March. It will be open until 1 November from 10am to 5pm.

Founded in 1952, this attraction is a 1/10th scale model of the centre of the town as it was in the 1950s.

Set on a one-acre site in King Street, it presents a wonderful opportunity to step back in time and see what the town looked like in the 1950s. It also has additional attractions including a model railway, the Beryl Dade dolls’ house collection, The Wareham Bears, the Life Before Lego exhibition, the 1950s school and shop, and crazy golf. There is even a model of the Model Town. Representing over 300

addresses, with more than 160 structures and just over 100 shop fronts, the Model Town is a snapshot in time.

The attraction gives youngsters a wonderful opportunity to be a giant for a day and to get up close to the town and its contents.

Visitors can also wander through the beautiful gardens, including a sensory garden containing wind and water features and a vegetable garden.

Visitors can enjoy sitting either inside or outside the tearoom, which offers a wide variety of food and drink, including breakfasts, lunches and teas.

Events on the Model Town calendar include an Easter Quiz, a Bear Weekend, a Model Building Day and a ‘Memories of Yesteryear’ day.

Easter in Wimborne

Events to get egg-cited about

By Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

Easter is a time when attractions re-open and we all get that exhilarating anticipation of things to come in the warmer months.

Wimborne Minster Church of St Cuthburga, as with all churches, has special services to celebrate Easter. In addition, there is the traditional bun walk on Good Friday (3 April) starting from the Minster at 3.15pm and walking to St Stephen’s Church in Pamphill.

For children, there is an Easter Egg Hunt at Minster Praise at 11.15am on Easter Sunday. Preceding this, there is an Easterthemed Messy Church in the Minster on Thursday 2 April.

The Minster Market will be open at the Allendale Centre on Good Friday from 9am to 2pm, where people will be able to buy Easter foods such as hot cross buns and eggs. In the evening, the centre will host Dirty DC, an AC/DC tribute act. A free family film morning takes place at the centre on Easter Sunday.

In the lead-up to Easter, the Tivoli has an encore screening of ‘Hamlet’ from the National Theatre on 31 March, and on Tuesday 7 April, people of all ages can enjoy a fun-filled pantomime, ‘Alice in Wonderland’.

And if you fancy some football on Good Friday, you can pop along to the Wyatt Homes Stadium at Ainsley Road to watch Wimborne Town FC play Farnham Town, with kick-off at 3pm.

Just outside Wimbone, visitors to Kingston Lacy can take part in some Easter fun. Put on your bunny ears and complete 10 amazing activities around the Easter adventure field to claim a tasty prize.

The trail takes place from 21 March–12 April, 10am–3pm, and costs £3.50, including a trail sheet, bunny ears and a chocolate egg. Normal admission applies.

To celebrate the new ‘Super Mario Galaxy’ movie, Wimborne’s Museum of East Dorset is launching a Super Museum Adventure trail this Easter.

From 21 March to 18 April, visitors can hunt for hidden coins, collect stars, and test their video game skills.

On select dates, visitors can join the museum’s Mario gaming sessions on a Nintendo Wii in the Garden Room. Gaming slots can be booked upon arrival.

Admission tickets offer year-round access to the museum. For details, visit museumofeastdorset.co.uk.

Discover Wimborne this April

Wimborne Minster’s 2026 festival season kicks off this April with the return of Discover Wimborne, celebrating 10 years of bringing the town’s history, creativity, businesses and community together.

Discover Wimborne offers residents and visitors a month-long programme of exciting events — many free of charge — including talks and guided walks, live music, exhibitions, theatre, craft workshops and hands-on taster sessions for local sports.

One of the highlights will be a guided tour of Wimborne’s stately home Deans Court, which is rarely open to the public.

Sir William Hanham, owner of Deans Court, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Discover Wimborne. They’re highlighting the ancient and often undiscovered history of this town by making it accessible to visitors. Deans Court plays a key part in Wimborne’s history, and we believe the best way to interpret it is through physical tours with Discover Wimborne.”

Created, organised and funded by Wimborne BID, a free, comprehensive festival guide will be available from midMarch from the Museum of East Dorset and from participating businesses around the town. The full programme will also be available online at the website: wimborne.info.

Local charity helps rescue mobile home owners

Storm Chandra brought extensive flooding in Iford and Christchurch, requiring the evacuation of homeowners

The Wessex Rescue Unit, a charity based in the Dorset area, was involved with emergency evacuations and flood assistance on 28 January following the impact of Storm Chandra.

The main focus of its operations was in Christchurch (where it has a base) and Bournemouth, specifically at mobile home parks where rising river levels from the Lower Stour posed a ‘danger to life’.

Working as part of a co-ordinated multi-agency response, the team worked with Dorset Police, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, BCP Council, the British Red Cross and the Environment Agency to ensure no residents — including many beloved pets — were left stranded.

Iford Bridge Home Park was a critical site. Here, Wessex Rescue assisted in transporting residents away from their flooded homes after the Environment Agency issued a severe flood warning.

Redhill and Wheatplot Home Sites also required multi-agency support to help transport residents away from flooding and manage resident safety.

At Beaulieu Gardens Home Park in Christchurch, given the significant surface-level flooding, emergency services alongside representatives from BCP Council assisted residents. Teams from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and Wessex Rescue Unit then evacuated people and ensured safety protocols were in place. At all sites, welfare checks were conducted, with the team helping maintain a registry of residents to ensure everyone was accounted for and had contact numbers for emergency updates.

Additional funding for Dorset’s flooded roads

With floods having affected so many roads in the county, local people will welcome the news that Dorset Council is making an additional £5.25 million available for highways.

The package includes a £5 million flood-resilience fund to target known hotspots and repair storm-damaged sections, plus £250,000 for a new, dedicated gully cleaning crew to clear roadside gullies that have been inundated by the storms and to keep water moving during heavy rain.

This investment will not stop river or groundwater flooding — those are driven by wider catchment and tide conditions — but it will improve highway drainage performance in typical rainfall and help roads recover faster after storms.

The council will continue to work with the Environment Agency on main rivers while it focuses council resources on surface water, groundwater and smaller rivers and streams, reflecting the organisations’ different responsibilities. Subject to Cabinet consideration in March, the council will also seek to join the regional flood and coastal partnership to strengthen cross-boundary work and access to funding.

The highways resilience programme started in early February, with the new gully crew put in place and priority sites scheduled as conditions allowed.

Wessex Rescue used its training in flood response techniques and equipment to manage the situation alongside colleagues from the local emergency services.

Where evacuation was needed, under the direction of BCP Council, people were moved to a nearby rest and reception centre (with, in many cases, the Iford Bridge pub serving as a staging area).

Operations continued through the night of 28 January and into the following days. Residents were eventually cleared to return on 31 January after power was reinstated and floodwaters receded.

If you would like to assist Wessex Rescue, see wessexrescue. org.uk/support_us.

BCP Council set to hike taxes

The government has given permission to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council to raise the Council Tax rate for 2026–27 by 6.74 per cent.

UK councils are only allowed to increase the rate by a maximum of 4.99 per cent unless they seek permission.

The new rate will mean Council Tax for the average Band D property will cost an extra £10.42 per month.

The Liberal Democrat-led council had been seeking to raise Council Tax by an unprecedented 7.4 per cent, a plan that was labelled as “madness” by Reform UK councillors, Cllr Duane Farr and Cllr Cameron Adams.

Cllr Mike Cox, BCP Council portfolio holder for Finance, said: “We welcome the news on Council Tax flexibility as it means we can continue to protect our most vulnerable adults, children and families while keeping our streets safe and clean, and our Council Tax bill still remains below the national average.”

The government also announced it could contribute 90 per cent (£165.2m) towards the council’s historic deficit for funding Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services.

Cllr Cox added: “To receive this support we must provide a local SEND reform plan, and we haven’t yet been given the detail behind this.

“Even if we were successful in getting the full 90 per cent of the debt written off, our initial calculations show that would leave us with at least £38m debt remaining on 31 March 2028 for [a] service that is the government’s responsibility.”

Local choirs raise over £12,500 for hospice

Tim’s Singers, who chose Forest Holme as its Charity of the Year in 2025, raised £12,554.91 for the Poole-based hospice.

Led by choir leader Tim Dowland, known for his work on BBC’s ‘The Voice’, Tim’s Singers brings together the vocal talents of several local choirs, including Citrus Singers, Sing & Grin Choir, Balance Choir, and Academy Junior Singers.

Funds were raised through activities including a church tour, the release of a cover version of Coldplay’s ‘All My

Love’, renamed ‘All Our Love’, selling handcrafted items, organising raffles, and performances at events.

Kirsty Perks, community and corporate fundraiser at Forest Holme Hospice Charity, said: “We would like to thank the singers, choir leaders and supporters for their generosity, time and continued encouragement of community connection through music.”

Tim’s Singers will continue supporting Forest Holme Hospice in 2026.

Freemasons have donated £12,692 to the new Children’s Unit at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, which is set to open this summer. Stewards and brethren from local Masonic Lodges presented the donation to representatives from University Hospitals Dorset’s charity and foundation trust at an event on Saturday 17 January. The funds will be used to enhance care and experiences for children and young people in the hospital.

Protect hospice care in your community

By Macmillan Caring Locally

Leave a gift in your will and help protect hospice care in our community for all, for now, forever.

This is hospice care.

It is finality and uncertainty, brave faces and shedding tears. It’s short days and long nights. Living for now with the weight of tomorrow.

It’s everything you’d expect and everything you wouldn’t.

It’s also love and life and celebration. It’s care at home, and in our hospice, care for those dying and for those around them.

It’s going the extra mile, doing away with convention and remembering what really matters.

It’s easing pain and bringing comfort, cherishing memories and creating new ones.

Part of the community, part of our story, part of us. It’s allowing our patients to embrace the life they have left.

To help us continue our care in the future, consider leaving a gift in your will to Macmillan Caring Locally. To learn more, visit macmillanlocal.org/hospice-at-home.

Charity of the Year

From toddlers to teenagers – how our care adapts to changing needs

By Natalie Sheehy, Julia’s House lead nurse for the Dorset Hospice

I first started working at Julia’s House 16 years ago and have watched many of the children I first cared for — toddlers and preschoolers — grow up with us. It’s been wonderful to be there with them through the years. As well as supporting them, I’ve learnt so much from them in terms of the type of care they want and how we can best adapt to meet their needs.

We’ve also had to adapt to the changing clinical needs of the children as they have grown. Types and routes of medication, different equipment, guidance on how their condition should be managed — all these aspects change with age. We’re also now looking after children and young people with increasingly complex conditions, as there have been huge advances in medical care and equipment over the years, which means children and young people with complex conditions can be managed at home and are living longer. We have more electronic communication equipment now too, from

modified gaming consoles to eye-gaze systems that can help a child achieve all the things other children can achieve and give them a voice. We want the children and young people to have access to as much as they can. We don’t want them to miss out.

Some of the ways in which we’re able to support families are so special too. It is a real privilege to go to parents’ weddings to help care for their child so they can be part of their big day too, or help them when they’re having a new baby. Recently, we arranged a two-day overnight stay at the hospice so one family could visit their daughter at university. We always try and help wherever we can.

We’re building a new extension at the Dorset Hospice to help us continue to adapt to the changing needs of the children and families and best support our local community. It’s due to open in March, and I’m so looking forward to having everyone back — the nurses,

carers, all the children and young people and families. I’ll be really proud and will want lots of people to come and see it!

Join a ‘cracking’ fundraiser this March

An Easter Egg Bingo Night will take place on Wednesday 18 March at Kinson Conservative Club in Bournemouth to raise funds for a charity that supports adults with life-impacting mental health conditions.

Plants and Minds, which runs Cherry Tree Nursery in Bournemouth and Chestnut Nursery in Poole,

is organising the event.

The charity’s Community Liaison Officer Maria Tidy said: “We wanted to put on an event that’s fun, accessible and brings people together.”

Plants and Minds help people experiencing mental health challenges by providing safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces at its two nurseries.

People referred for horticultural therapy connect with nature, learn new skills, make friends and build confidence at the nurseries. Money raised from the new Easter Egg Bingo Night will help the charity continue to provide its vital work.

Doors open at 6.30pm, then it’s eyes down for a bingo bonanza at 7.15pm. Tickets include a half-time fish and chips supper, which will be served at 8.30pm. For more details and to reserve your tickets, visit the website: buytickets.at/plantsandminds.

How to be more inclusive

By Nicole Bateman

Whether you work with young people, run a community group, or simply have friends or relatives who are neurodivergent, we can all take small steps to be more inclusive. Inclusion does not start with policies or tick box training; it starts with everyday interactions and a willingness to notice what people might need.

Across Dorset, many neurodivergent children and adults want to take part in local life, from clubs and classes to community events and family days out. But sometimes crowded places, strong smells or background noise can quickly become overwhelming.

One of the most important things we can do is listen and believe people when they tell us what feels hard. I love the quote, “When a flower doesn’t bloom, you don’t blame the flower, you adapt the environment,” and this analogy can be applied to humans. If we get curious and think about how we can adapt environments to help an individual feel safe, and ask a question like, “What helps you feel comfortable?”, we can ease pressure and build trust. Small, practical adjustments can make local spaces and homes feel safer. In community groups, sports clubs or activity sessions, visual schedules help people know what is coming next, which reduces anxiety. Offering a quiet space can give someone somewhere to reset, while allowing movement and choice can help people meet a sensory need and regulate. These changes cost very little,

but they can transform how included someone feels.

Language matters so much too. Clear, direct, single-step instructions are easier to process and ensure everyone can access a task. This supports understanding, particularly for children and young people who are already working hard to manage sensory and emotional demands.

When a venue, club or community group clearly states they welcome different needs and are happy to adapt, it removes a significant barrier and can reduce anxiety. This might be a short note on a website, a sign at reception, or a friendly conversation at the door asking, “Is there anything we can do to support you today?” These small signals tell families they are welcome.

Inclusion is about kindness, flexibility and curiosity, because when we listen, make small practical changes, and stay open to learning, we create communities where neurodivergent people feel safer and able to take part. That strengthens Dorset for everyone and builds a real sense of belonging.

Nicole Bateman is the founder of The Friendly SEND Advisor and a Dorset-based inclusion specialist, former teacher, podcast host of ‘Conversations with a SEND Mum’ and mum of two. She supports community groups, activity providers and organisations to create welcoming, neuro-affirming spaces where all children and families can thrive.

Cadets on parade

By Luke Graham | Photos © Dorset View

Despite the pouring rain, local air cadets still took part in a parade in Ferndown to celebrate 85 years of the Air Training Corps.

Members of six local Air Cadet Squadrons, including Royal Air Force Air Cadets 2358 Ferndown Squadron, marched from King George V playing fields to St Mary’s Church on Sunday 8 February for a service. Members of Ferndown Town Council, including the Mayor of Ferndown, Cllr Lawrence Wilson, and local MP Christopher Chope also joined the parade.

This local community event was planned in conjunction with the town council, St Mary’s Church and the Royal British Legion.

Ferndown Town Council said: “Mayor Cllr Lawrence Wilson and fellow town councillors were honoured to attend and participate in the Air Training Corps 85th Anniversary Parade.

“Ferndown Town Council would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all residents who attended, despite the rain, and supported our local young people as they marked this important milestone.”

Twisting my melon, man

Happy Mondays to bring ‘Madchester’ to Bournemouth this April

Dance band Happy Mondays are setting off on a UK tour to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their album ‘Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches’, and will be performing at the O2 Academy Bournemouth on 5 April.

The band, featuring frontman Shaun Ryder and dancer Bez, will perform the album’s highlights, including the hit singles ‘Step On’, ‘Kinky Afro’ and ‘Loose Fit’, as well as fan favourites such as ‘24 Hour Party People’, ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Judge Fudge’ and ‘W.F.L.’.

Happy Mondays pioneered the ‘Madchester’ sound in the late 1980s, blending funk, rock, psychedelia and house with the UK’s emerging rave scene. Released in November 1990, ‘Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches’ marked the moment the band became mainstream, with the record reaching number 4 in the UK album charts.

Looking back, Shaun says that he’s been playing the songs for so long that it has now become second nature.

“We go out on tour, and we do tracks off the first album, ‘Squirrel and G-Man’, we do a couple off ‘Bummed’, and then we do the ‘Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches’ stuff. So it all sort of flows together now.

“I don’t sit there thinking, ‘Oh, this is that iconic album,’ even though everyone else does. To me, they’re just our tunes.

But it still sounds good — proper good — like it could’ve been made today.”

Shaun adds that, 35 years on, he enjoys playing the tracks now more than ever.

“It’s mad. I get a buzz now more than I did when we were kids. Maybe it’s because the sex and drugs have gone — all that madness — and now it’s just the rock ‘n’ roll road. And I’m enjoying the road. You get older, and you appreciate the crowds more, the band more, the songs more. I get a buzz off the whole thing every night, and I never expected that.”

The band has been active since 1980. What’s it like to still be performing after all this time?

Bez says: “That’s the bit that blows my mind. If you’d thought back all those years ago, when we set out as young fellas chasing a dream, causing chaos everywhere we went, you’d never have imagined we’d be here now as 60-odd-year-old fellas, planning gigs and getting the band back together again. That is unreal. That’s the moment. Just being here, still doing it, still being the Happy Mondays. The fact that we survived it all, physically and mentally, is unbelievable.”

As well as music, Bez and Shaun are popular for their television appearances on shows including ‘Celebrity Gogglebox’ on Channel 4, with clips

going viral on social media.

Shaun says: “When Bez did ‘Big Brother’ back in 2005, he brought a whole new young fanbase to the band. When I did the jungle in 2010, the same thing — loads of new people suddenly knew who we were. And every time we do things like ‘Storage Hunters’, we pick up more.

“That’s one of the main reasons we do TV — it brings in new fans. Our fanbase now goes from 10-yearolds to people in their 90s.”

Bez adds: “Yeah, it’s mad. At the gigs now, there’s a proper cross-section of people — mums, dads, kids, grandparents, all sorts. It’s turned into a family occasion. People introduce their kids to the music, and it’s great seeing that generational thing. Most of them come to it because of their parents, and that’s brilliant to see.”

Having worked together for so long, what keeps the bond strong between Bez and Shaun?

“Our friendship is like a sexless marriage,” jokes Shaun. “We don’t have sex — that’s why it works. I know he wants to, but he’s not managing it. We are married… and sexless.”

Tickets to see Happy Mondays at the O2 Academy on Sunday 5 April are available via ticketmaster.co.uk.

Art club to present 105th annual exhibition

Artists from across Bournemouth, Dorset and Hampshire will display their work at an exhibition in Upton this spring.

Bournemouth Arts Club’s 105th Annual Exhibition runs from 2–14 April and will feature new paintings, prints, drawings and 3D works. The exhibition will be hosted at the Gallery Upstairs in Upton Country Park.

The club’s Chair Adam Liddell said: “At the Bournemouth Arts Club, we try not to think of our exhibitions as just an opportunity to sell pictures.

chance to make a statement, to show our audience how we have responded to events of the past year, not just local or world events, but events in our lives and those of our families and friends. Some may be dramatic, others less so, but they will influence our work, whether we intend it or not.”

“Our Annual Exhibition is our

The works on display have been selected by Bonnie Brown, the Evolver Prize winner at the 2025 Dorset Open in Dorchester.

Tech Moon

What is your name and what do you do?

My name is Tech Moon, and I paint a lot of murals — sometimes smaller, slower canvasses and sometimes digitally, but most of the time I’m creating work that goes on the sides of buildings.

When given free rein, I like to play with architectural elements that let the work interact with its canvas, as well as merging the natural world with classical aesthetics.

How do you define yourself as an artist?

‘Artist’ is usually the box I tick when asked, but if it needs to be more specific, I guess I would be a street artist.

What do you want the local community, councils and government to do more of for the art community?

I can only speak from the perspective of mural work, but I’m actually fairly optimistic about this nowadays, as I keep seeing more council-led public art opportunities. It feels appreciated.

Sometimes it would be nice if the briefs were more open, as they’re almost always about local heritage and community engagement. Which, don’t get me wrong, are important, but there may be more creative diversity if artists were sometimes just given a blank canvas and trust on those projects.

The Arts Council has a great scheme called ‘Develop Your Creative Practice’ (DYCP), which I encourage artists to look into. More funding and more legal walls would always help too. Why should people buy your art?

Buying anyone’s art is a great thing to do to support creativity and keep artists going — but buy mine if you like what I do. I have a new print releasing soon that will look great on your wall!

W: technicolourmoon.com

E: krishna@technicolourmoon.com

I: tech.moon

keep an eye out for more local artists

OMAs celebrate local talent

The best of Dorset’s music industry was celebrated at an awards ceremony on 17 January

The fourth annual Original Music Awards (OMAs) were held at the Marsham Court Hotel Bournemouth. Organised by the recording studio Hangover Hill and Matt ‘Piano Man’  Black, the winning bands, venues and promoters were chosen by an independent judging panel of music reviewers, musicians, backstage crew, radio presenters, festival organisers, and more.

Among this year’s winners were Chasing Leaves (Best Under 18 Act), Dead Horse Bay (Best Live Act), and Jack Grace (Best Solo Act).

Bear Cave on Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth was chosen as the Best Original Music Venue, while The Tap & Grape in Broadstone

was given a special award for supporting original music.

A spokesperson for the OMAs said: “Congratulations to not only the winners but to all of those who were nominated this year, you should all feel incredibly proud of yourselves.

“The panel have the huge and sometimes impossible task in trying to cover the whole of Dorset in all the different categories and genres. I’m sure you can understand how difficult this is and how hard they work. They are all people who support our local musicians and industry all year round and not just for the awards.”

The full list of winners and photos can be found on the website: hangoverhill.co.uk.

Tickets selling fast for music festival

-Advertisement feature-

The much-loved Cursus Festival returns to Cranborne Chase on the Bank Holiday weekend of 22–24 May. Tickets are selling fast for this 500-capacity festival, with children going free.

Now in its 11th year, Cursus is an inclusive and friendly festival suitable for everyone — even dogs. The line-up features original UK acts including Peat & Diesel, Land of the Giants, Samantics and The Hempolics, plus local talent such as Black Water County, Skimmity Hitchers and Pronghorn.

With a kids’ area, DJ tent, rural crafts, farm tours, camping and more, you’re sure to have a great weekend. Book now to avoid disappointment. Visit fuelledbycider.com/cursus.

Events

Details were correct at the time of going to print. Send information about your events to newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk.

4, 11, 18 March 11am–1.30pm Colehill Community Café at St Michael & All Angels Church Centre, Colehill. For details, visit stmichaels.lemonbooking.com.

4 March 2pm–4pm

Lytchett & Upton Floral Club hosts Lucille Street demonstrating ‘Floralicious’ at Lytchett Matravers Village Hall, BH16 6DF.

4 March 7.30pm–9.30pm Wimborne Wine Society meets at Wimborne Community Centre. Details via wimbornewinesociety.org.

5 March 7pm

Armonico Consort to perform at Wimborne Minster with lay clerks and choristers of the Minster choir and choirs from Allenbourn Middle School and St Michael’s Middle School at Wimborne Minster. Tickets cost £10–25 from Eventbrite and on the door.

5 March 7pm

The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation’s Charity Quiz Night at The Barrington Centre, Ferndown. To reserve your team’s place, phone 0779 2121645.

5, 12, 19, 26 March 1.45pm

Dorset Cricket Society meets at Hurn Bridge Sports Club, Christchurch, BH23 6DY. Details via dorsetcricketsociety.co.uk.

7 March 2pm–4pm

Ferndown Arthritis and Friendship Club meets at Ferndown Plus Day Centre. Call 03303 112793 for details.

7 March 2.30pm and 7.30pm Ferndown Phoenix Musical Theatre 40th anniversary concert at The Barrington Centre. Tickets from ticketsource.co.uk/phoenix.

9 March 2.30pm

West Moors Horticultural Society illustrated talk on ‘Careys, finding of the “Real” Secret Garden’ at the Memorial Hall. Contact Jo Breen on 07960650611 or email wmhorticultural.society@gmail.com.

9 March 7pm for 7.30pm

Ferndown & West Moors Philatelic and Postcard Club meets at The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, BH21 3AP. Call Paul Barry on 07932 581791 or email paulrichardbarry@ hotmail.co.uk for details.

11 March 6.30pm–9pm

Bournemouth Big Band, Swing and Jazz Club meet downstairs in Kinson Community Centre. Full details on bournemouthjazzclub.org.

11 March 7pm for 7.30pm Canford and Merley WI meets at Merley Community Centre, Harrier Drive. For further information, contact Hazel on 07780 705702.

11 March 7.30pm

East Dorset Antiquarian Society meets at St Catherine’s Church Hall, Rodways Corner, Wimborne Minster.

16 March 10am

Wimborne Minster WI meets at St Catherine’s Church Hall, Lewens Lane, for a talk on defibrillators by The Air Ambulance. Further information via Jill Haywood on 01202 888194.

16 March 2.15pm

The Arts Society Wimborne and Blandford meets at the Allendale Centre for a talk on the story of Russian Art.

18 March 7.15pm

Easter Egg Bingo in aid of Cherry Tree Nursery and Chestnut Nursery at Kinson Conservative Club in Bournemouth. Tickets from buytickets.at/plantsandminds.

20 March 10am for 10.30am

Wimborne u3a talk on Studland Bay at Wimborne Methodist Church Hall. No booking required. £2 for u3a members; £4 for non-members.

22 March 3pm

Bournemouth Chamber Music Society concert at Kimmeridge Hall, Bournemouth University. Free for ages eight to 25. Tickets via bournemouthchambermusic. co.uk or at the door.

23 March 7.30pm

St Aldhelm's Orchestra presents Shostakovich Piano concerto 2, Tchaikovsky symphony, 6, at St Aldhelm’s Church, Poole. Free Entry. Details via staldhelmsorchestra.co.uk.

25–28 March 7.30pm

Saturday matinee at 2.30pm Poole & Parkstone Productions presents ‘The Rise and Fall of Little Voice’ at The Barrington Centre, Ferndown. Tickets via ticketsource.co.uk/PandP.

28 March 10am–3pm

Artisan Makers Market at Wimborne Community Centre. Art and craftwork for sale, handmade by local artists and makers. Free entry, dogs welcome.

28 March 6.30pm

Fordingbridge Choral Society concert at St Mary’s Church. Tickets from Caxtons Decor in Fordingbridge or ticketsource. co.uk/fordingbridgechoral.

31 March 7.30pm

West Parley Gardening Club presents ‘Behind the Scenes at Chelsea’ by Pip Bensley at MS Centre, West Parley, BH22 8TS. Contact Mike on 07803276251 or Jo on 01202855232. Email powerpublications@hotmail.com.

REVIEW I’ll Be Back Before Midnight Bournemouth Little Theatre, Winton

By Marilyn Barber

A thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat — and, in my case, on a couple of occasions, nearly jumping out of it — clearly achieved what it set out to do: to engage the audience in a couple of hours of escapism.

Directed by Don Cherrett,

the play follows the story of Jan, recovering from a nervous breakdown, who moves with her archaeologist husband, Greg, to a remote farmhouse. Is Jan relapsing, or should we look more carefully towards her unsympathetic husband?

Marianne Chabin, who is just 21 years of age, stepped into the shoes of Jan with aplomb, evoking sympathy and understanding in equal measure.

It soon became clear that her husband was not quite as

he first appeared, with Barry Gray bringing a steely edge as Greg, a husband with more than one secret up his sleeve.

Laura, Greg’s sister, is coming to stay, which brings an uncomfortable element into the mix, as Jan dislikes and mistrusts her.

Denise King put in a rather good performance as the manipulative and unlikeable Laura, who has an unnaturally close relationship with her brother. One moment coy and the next unpleasant, her

motives are very suspect.

Enter eccentric farmer and landlord George Willoughby, played with comedic skill and energy by Bob Rankin, who put in a standout performance.

Atmosphere is added to this story, which has shocking twists, by sound effects like booming heartbeats. The stage set was ingenious too.

This production, which is part of the ‘Dying with Laughter’ series, was another triumph for this company — and I didn’t guess the ending.

REVIEW Twisted Cinderella

Colehill Music and Drama Society, Colehill Village Hall

By Luke Graham

Since 1999, Colehill Music and Drama Society (Co.Mad for short) has been staging a yearly

pantomime and raising money for good causes in the local area.

This year’s production aimed to raise funds for Colehill Village Hall. Hopefully, the society raised a good amount.

Written by cast member Alice Weller, ‘Twisted Cinderella’ retold the classic Cinderella story with a — well — twist in the tale. Here, the evil stepmother manages to steal the Fairy Godmother’s wand and uses it to make Prince Charming fall in love with the ugly stepsisters, but true love’s kiss saves the day.

With such a large cast, it’s impossible to mention everyone, but there were several notable performances.

In the main roles of Cinders and the Prince, Lisa Low and Alice Weller brought plenty of confidence and stage presence to their performances. Both are skilled singers.

Pam Mizon was particularly good as the evil stepmother, playing the role with icy cruelty and disdain. I liked the choice to underplay the part, making it more grounded and realistic rather than an overthe-top, cartoonish villain.

Bill Mason and Keith Jobes were very funny as the ugly stepsisters, Britney and Donatella, while Ann Mason did well in the ‘children’s friend’

role of Buttons, bringing pathos and jovial energy to her scenes. Congratulations to Charlotte Prosser for pulling double duty as both director and Fairy Godmother.

I was particularly impressed by the painted backdrops and scenery, especially the set for the royal ball, complete with a moving clock.

There were a few technical issues, such as microphone feedback and occasional line prompts which were slightly distracting. However, this did not detract from the overall experience.

To offer some constructive criticism, I did feel that the first act needed a bit more energy and momentum. However, the second act picked up well. Another fun pantomime from Co.Mad.

Wimborne Community Theatre is hosting a fund-raising quiz night with Ploughman’s supper on Wednesday 4 March at Colehill Sports and Social Club, to support the development of its next project. Cost is £8 per person for teams up to six and includes a buffet. There will also be prizes and raffles.

Get ready to scramble!

-Advertisement feature-

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is pleased to announce a new fundraising event, taking place at Baiter Park, Poole on Saturday 9 May 2026.

Seaside Scramble is an action-packed 5K obstacle course, designed for all ages and abilities, with an assortment of air ambulancethemed obstacles guaranteed to get you giggling as you run, climb, crawl and scramble your way to the finish line.

Whether you’re teaming up with family, having a laugh with friends, or

bonding with colleagues, Seaside Scramble offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy a fun-filled day by the coast, all while supporting a vital life-saving charity.

Sign up today!

Grab your friends, family, or colleagues and be part of this fantastic new event, which is set to be one of the highlights of the year. Demand is expected to be high, so early booking is recommended.

Tickets are available now by visiting: dsairambulance. org.uk/seasidescramble.

PREVIEW Outside Edge

Ferndown Drama, The Barrington Centre

This is Ferndown Drama’s second attempt to perform this play. The first was in 2017, and sadly the run was interrupted after two performances, when the theatre unexpectedly closed its doors.

The play follows Roger, who dreams of his cricket club getting into the Premier League, but he is having trouble getting a team together for the afternoon’s fixture against keen rivals, BR Maintenance Division Yeading East.

As usual, his wife Miriam, whose teas are legendary throughout the South Western League, is her usual efficient, reliable self, but the rest of the tasks on Roger’s list are just not getting done. Where is everyone? It is clear that his team members’ personal lives are going to get in the way.

Eventually the pitch gets rolled, the beer gets collected and the match gets underway. Will they manage to reach the total set by the visitors? It’s going to be a close-run thing…

‘Outside Edge’ will be performed from 11–15 March at 7.30pm, with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Go to ticketsource.co.uk/ ferndown-drama to book, or scan the QR code.

Bridgerton revisited

If you’re a fan of the Netflix period drama ‘Bridgerton’, which released its fourth season in January, why not take some inspiration from the show for your next home makeover?

From soft pastels and patterns from the Romantic Period to layered textures and quiet elegance, ‘Bridgerton’ has inspired a modern take on regal interiors. Less about recreating the past and more about reimagining it, this look blends timeless detail with contemporary comfort for modern homes.

Floral patterns and natural themes were popular in the 19th century. Pair these with neutral rugs or carpets to capture that Regencyera style. Check out more Bridgerton-inspired ideas on this page.

Flower power

People visiting Chestnut Nursery in Poole have been bowled over by the sight of an enormous five-foot flower spike.

The supercharged succulent has gone into overdrive, bearing an enormous inflorescence that’s dwarfing all but the tallest green-fingered customers.

Mangave ‘Moonglow’ is a relatively new plant introduction that’s rising in popularity as UK gardeners seek droughttolerant plants that will flourish in a warming world.

Nursery Supervisor Richard Holman said: “The mangave is a cross between an agave

and manfreda — a striking introduction with rosettes of sword-shaped, blue-green leaves that are mottled with contrasting deep-purple spots.

“While mangave takes less time to burst into flower than its agave parent, it’s unusual to see several of our collection putting on a spectacular show in late winter.”

According to the Royal Horticultural Society, Mangave ‘Moonglow’ should be grown in full sun.

Chestnut Nursery supports adults with life-impacting mental health conditions via its highly successful horticultural therapy programme.

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Speed up safety plans, says road safety charity

Road safety charity GEM Motoring Assist is calling for the rapid implementation of the government’s Road Safety Strategy, which includes measures such as strengthened eyesight checks.

Good eyesight is a cornerstone of safe driving, but because it can deteriorate at any time, GEM believes that regular, professional eye tests for drivers of all ages will help protect both their independence and the safety of everyone sharing the road.

The charity has also underlined the need for better support and clearer guidance around medical self-reporting, so that older drivers can make informed, confident decisions about their driving. GEM stresses that any changes must avoid increasing social isolation or reducing mobility in later life.

GEM’s head of road safety, James Luckhurst, said: “For too long, progress has stalled while preventable death and serious injury have continued to devastate families and communities. Now we have this strategy, we must quickly turn our attention to delivery.”

GEM is calling for: the introduction of a graduated driver licensing scheme to give young and novice drivers a safer, more structured start; strengthening enforcement around seat belt use and drink and drug driving, including tougher penalties and modern roadside evidential testing technology; and ensuring immediate licence suspension for serious drink and drug-drive offences, to take offenders off the road immediately.

Luckhurst added: “In the months ahead, GEM will champion regular eyesight testing and appropriate medical self-reporting, through resources for older drivers, families and health professionals.

“We will continue advocating for the six evidence-based reforms we set out ahead of publication, from graduated driver

licensing to tougher action on seat belt, drink and drug-driving offences.

“There is now clear strategic direction, so the task is to turn that document into practical, achievable measures that reduce road danger, protect our most vulnerable and allow people of all ages to move around safely.”

There’s more to Dorset Phil than just songs

By Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

Contrary to what many people might think, Dorset Phil was not born and bred in the county.

However, the musician, who was born in Surrey and then lived in Farnborough, has been in Dorset for around 30 years and has fully embraced every aspect of the community — so much so that he is researching all the pubs in Wimborne Minster.

This is fitting for a musician who performs songs such

as ‘Old Harry Rocks’, ‘Trip to Wimborne’, ‘Bournemouth by the Sea’ and ‘Cider Beside Her’ in various pubs in the town, as well as frequently playing at the Allendale Centre café on Friday evenings.

Phil, who always loved music and played the guitar and recorder at primary school, didn’t start performing until he moved to Dorset. He has since written around 50 original

songs and made two CDs. His music is available on Spotify.

“When I first started, I played covers, but a fellow musician asked me why I was doing that and inspired me to have a go and write my own songs,” he said.

Phil wrote his song ‘Dorset Knob’ — about the famous biscuit made in Bridport — in 10 minutes.

“The ones that take longer to write are never as good,” he added.

Phil finds his research into pubs very absorbing, and in addition to the internet, the Museum of East Dorset and the Dorset History Centre, he gets information from British newspaper archives and from genealogy websites.

And in researching the pubs, he has also discovered information about what was on the site before the building became a pub.

“For instance, the Butcher’s Dog, which is a newer pub, was once a butcher’s.”

He said that one of the oldest pubs was The George, which once stood in the Cornmarket.

“The White Hart, also in the Cornmarket, dates back to the 1600s. Parts of the Kings Head hotel may go back to the 1750s. And I discovered that in 1882 there was an explosion at the hotel when gas leaked from a chandelier into a room.”

Pubs that have disappeared in Wimborne include the Smith’s Arms in East Borough, the Greyhound in Poole Road, the Sir Winston Churchill in Leigh Road, and Dorset House in Church Street.

Meanwhile, Bear café in the High Street was once The Bell and dated back to the 1800s. The Albion in the High Street, which was badly damaged by a fire in July 2009, is now a hotel.

“At one time it was a huge coaching inn,” said Phil.

He reckons there are over 1,000 pubs in Dorset. At one time, there were also two breweries in Wimborne: one in Victoria Road opposite The Green Man and one in Mill Street.

Poole boasts that some of its pubs are haunted; does Wimborne have any spectres lurking behind the bar?

“People say that the Oddfellows in Church Street, which was built in the early 1800s, has the ghost of a little boy and there are reports that sometimes the lights flicker. I had a friend who was at the bar when her necklace fell to the floor and the clasp wasn’t undone,” Phil said.

Many people might imagine that the Olive Branch in East Borough was an old pub; in fact, it was originally a private house, which became The Dormers in the 1960s.

“It replaced the Crown Hotel, which was in the Square,” said Phil.

Cloisters is a popular café in East Street, but apparently that was a pub called The King’s Arms, which closed in the 1830s. Phil, who works in the town, has been doing his research for the past five years.

“In the past, pubs were often used for court cases, and they are still a very important part of the community.”