The Purbeck Gazette - Issue 354

What’s inside this issue...

Cinema turns back time for silent movies event

CINEMA lovers in Wareham will be going back to the silent movie era of the 1920s this weekend.

They can enjoy classic films in the third annual Wareham Silent Film Weekender at The Rex, Wareham, Dorset’s oldest cinema.

Movie fans are being invited to dress up and enjoy a glass of fizz on the opening Gala night when Chicago (1927) is screened.

“Frank Urson’s masterpiece is a real thrill ride film not to be missed,” said David Evans, chair of the Rex Cinema.

The programme also includes Show Life (1928), a melodrama full of twists and turns with beautifully shot dance sequences and live accompaniment by Dominic

Irving on piano.

The closing film is Pandora’s box – GW Pabst’s 1929 silent masterpiece staring Louise Brooks in the role that secured her place as one of the immortal goddesses of the silver screen.

Phyllis Haver plays Roxie Hart in Chicago

David added: “We look forward to being ‘spellbound in darkness’ as we experience silent films with musical accompaniment in the very same venue that hosted them 100 years ago.”

The Wareham Silent Film Weekender, from Friday to Sunday, November 28-30, is supported by the BFI Film Audience Network and South West Silents.

Underground, being screened as part of the silent movie weekend, tells the story of the lives and loves of four young working people in 1920s London

105 YEARS OF CINEMA

THE Empire Cinema opened in the Oddfellows Hall in 1920 and showed silent films throughout the decade.

The cinema was taken over in 1924 by brother and sister George and Dorothea Tearreau.

George ran the projection while Dorothea ran the box

office and often played the piano.

‘Talkies’ arrived in the early 1930s and the cinema was renamed The Rex in 1963.

It was taken over by the Rex Cinema charity in 2009 and is now run by 35 enthusiastic trained volunteers and a small staff.

One stop shop to a ‘greener’ Christmas

by Vicky Charles

CHRISTMAS is the season of joy – but it’s also one of the most wasteful times of year.

In the UK, we throw away an estimated three million extra tonnes of rubbish every festive season, including 108 million rolls of wrapping paper and over a billion Christmas cards.

About 4.5 million Christmas dinners end up in the bin too!

Sustainable Wareham’s Sustainable Christmas Fair is all about showing there’s a better way – a Christmas that’s kinder to the planet and full of festive cheer.

Join us at Wareham Town Hall on Saturday, November 29, 10am-noon, to discover how small changes can make a big difference.

Browse stalls packed with locally made, eco-friendly gifts and decorations and advice for reducing waste from Horty’s Honey and Candles, John James Crafts, The Little Ocean Studio, the Men’s Shed, Stoborough WI, Wareham Community

Sustainable Wareham held a Christmas Fair last year and another is planned at the town hall on Saturday (November 29)

Growers, Wareham Community Fridge, the Purbeck Youth & Community Foundation and more.

You’ll find inspiration for how to make YOUR Christmas fun and sustainable – plus find some interesting gifts – or see how you can make your own.

Children can get creative in our Crafty Corner, making their own decorations and gifts from natural materials – a fun way to

A Repair Café and Clothes Swap held earlier this month went well and a similar event is in store for the new year

learn that homemade really can mean heart-made.

Enjoy delicious homemade cakes and refreshments and try your luck in the raffle with prizes donated by local businesses.

Proceeds from the free-toenter event help fund Sustainable Wareham’s local environmental projects.

By shopping locally, cutting waste and choosing reusable or recyclable materials, you’ll be helping make Christmas greener for everyone.

n WE were delighted with the response to our ‘pilot’ Repair Café and Clothes Swap held on November 8 with the support of Swanage Repair Café, Wareham Lions, Planet Purbeck Youth Group and the Purbeck Youth and

Community Foundation.

About 25 ‘fixes’ were made – from invisibly mending tears in a dress, fixing lamps, radios and wobbly saucepans to helping laptop owners move from Windows 10 to Windows 11.

There was a great enthusiasm around the clothes swap and creative corner for how to make a new look from old favourites that have got a bit tired.

A spokesperson for Sustainable Wareham said: “All the visitors urged us to do more – some were just passing and dropped in for a look around without bringing anything to fix, so were keen to have the opportunity to do so in the future.

“So watch this space for the next one early next year.”

Exploring Purbeck – East Holme parish

by Chris Slade, retired

Dorset rights of

way

officer

ABOUT half of the parish is in the military ranges and inaccessible. Much of the rest is being mined for gravel and for health and safety reasons is inaccessible. There are very few public rights of way, so most of this walk is on tarmac, and the road is busy, so take care. However, it’s still worth a visit because of the interesting features and attractive parkland.

Start at the village pump on the green and walk eastwards along the path that takes you

over the ford. Then turn left along the permissive route, the drive to the Priory and church. Holme Priory is much bigger than the church, which was rebuilt in the 19th century but has in its porch a display of 12th century stonework from its predecessor.

Take a shortcut across the parkland to return to the road. It has a scattering of ancient trees and some younger ones. Upon reaching the road, turn left and head south for a short distance to a junction, cross over and continue south along a bridleway leading to a

sawmill and the ranges where you have to turn back. Return to the junction and turn right, east, enjoying the view over the park.

After almost a mile, join a bridleway on your right which takes you south across heathland for a short distance when it becomes a tarmac road taking you south east past gravel pits to a rifle range. I shot there over 60 years ago while in the Hardye’s School Cadets. It doesn’t seem to have changed at all.

Keep going until you reach the parish boundary at New

Hall Farm, then retrace your steps back to Holme Lane. You’ll pass a couple of areas of Access Land, but they aren’t really accessible because of fencing, brambles and so on. When you’re back on the road, turn right and head east, looking at the large lake on the right. Continue to the railway bridge where, if you’re very lucky indeed, you’ll be able to exchange waves with the river of a steam train to Swanage! Now you’ve done it all, so make your way back to the pump.

Town band’s Christmas concerts

SWANAGE Town Band will be busy in the run up to the festive season.

It is staging a concert at Swanage Methodist Church offering a mix of Christmas fun, carols with audience participation, music it does not often get a chance to play on the bandstand and one or two surprises.

The concert is on Wednesday, December 3, at 7.30pm – entry is free with a retiring collection for band funds and Admiral Nurse.

The band is holding its traditional Carols on the Bandstand evening with song sheets provided on Wednesday, December 10, at 6.30pm.

If wet, the event will be held on Wednesday, December 17, at 6.30pm.

It will again raise funds for the band and Admiral Nurse.

Boxing Day dates for Mummers

PURBECK Mummers will be out on Boxing Day as usual around Corfe Castle and Worth Matravers.

They are at Corfe Castle Square at noon, The Fox at 12.30pm, The Bankes Hotel at 1pm, Castle Inn at 1.30pm and The Square and Compass at 2.15pm.

The Mummers usually perform during December before Boxing Day but due to low numbers has shortened its 2025 tour.

Anyone who would like to join the group should email purbeckmummerscast@ gmail.com

“We cannot let this English traditional die out locally,” a spokesperson said. They will also be at the Wassail at Dorset Cider Farm on Saturday, January 17.

Wildlife is thriving on Purbeck Heaths

VOLUNTEERS have revealed a remarkable resurgence in wildlife on the Purbeck Heaths just five years after the UK’s first-ever ‘super’ national nature reserve (NNR) was created.

Speakers at the annual meeting of the Purbeck Natural History Forum (PNHF) presented the highlights of a year of wildlife monitoring across the 3,331-hectare reserve, which spans land owned by seven partner organisations

This includes the recovery of a species that was almost extinct in the UK in the 1960s – the Dartford warbler – after they reached a record 97 breeding pairs at Arne.

Silver-studded blue butterflies saw their highest ever counts in 2024 and 2025, with more than 2,000 recorded, in a time of national butterfly decline.

A nationally rare ground beetle, famed for its iridescent green and gold colouring, is thriving on Hartland Moor, and water voles, an endangered species, have been recorded on several sites on the heaths.

Pine martens, critically endangered in England, have also been recorded for the first time at Little Sea, while rare plants are thriving in greater numbers, including marsh gentians, great sundews, pale dog violets and yellow centaury.

On behalf of the organisations which manage the Purbeck Heaths, Peter Robertson, of the RSPB, said: “We are hugely grateful to the Purbeck Natural History Forum for all its work.

“In five years, they have helped the Purbeck Heaths become a national beacon for monitoring, experimentation and research in nature restoration.

“The heathland birds survey

was particularly impressive, monitoring over 15 species, including the iconic Dartford warblers which are clearly benefiting from all the work over many years to restore Purbeck’s heaths.”

PNHF was established in 2022 to monitor species across the whole landscape, rather than on individual reserves.

Volunteers survey everything from birds and small mammals, to butterflies, dragonflies, glowworms and wildflowers. They work at consistent times along set transects to ensure

successes of the NNR.

“It is a privilege to work with these dedicated volunteers who care deeply about wildlife in Purbeck. Thanks to their rigorous monitoring, we are building scientific evidence showing how the ecosystem is responding to reintroducing natural processes like grazing by cattle, ponies and pigs.”

Despite members working as volunteers, the NNR partners are keen to secure long-term funding to provide it with a project officer to co-ordinate its work.

This year the forum has been part-funded by Forestry England, the organisation responsible for caring for the nation’s public forests. Purbeck is a key location where restoring nature using natural processes is a priority.

Mark Warn, landscape recovery manager for Forestry England, said: “The Purbecks Heaths are truly special and a haven for so many rare species of plants and animals.

“The forum and their volunteers are playing a key role in ensuring that those of us with the privilege of looking after this landscape are focussing our work in the right areas. Their data makes it clear that with the right support nature can recover and thrive again.”

reliable year-on-year data.

Jasper Iepema, freelance ecologist supporting the natural history forum, said: “We have over 300 members, including expert naturalists and enthusiastic amateurs.

“They are united by a passion for wildlife and a commitment to do whatever they can to help nature recover. Together they put in an incredible 6,000 hours of surveying this year.”

National Trust ecologist, Michelle Brown, said: “The creation of the natural history forum has been one of the

The forum is also monitoring the impact of beavers at Little Sea, Studland. Since their release in March 2025 – the first licensed wild release of beavers in England – they have been felling trees in the dense woodland, creating more space and light for a wide range of species to thrive.

The Purbeck Heaths NNR is one of the most biodiverse places in the UK, home to thousands of species, including all six native reptiles. It was established in 2020 through a partnership between the National Trust, Natural England, RSPB, Forestry England, Rempstone Estate, Dorset Wildlife Trust and Amphibian & Reptile Conservation.

Ride + Stride helps historic churches

THIS year’s sponsored Ride + Stride event has raised more than £100,000 to help carry out repairs at churches across Dorset.

Hundreds of cyclists and walkers took to the county’s roads and footpaths to visit churches and chapels in the Dorset Historic Churches Trust (DHCT) fundraiser.

Many opened their doors to offer a warm welcome, refreshments and encouragement along the way in the event in September.

The Tarrant Valley was one of the most popular routes for Ride + Stride participants due to its many fascinating historic churches – and acclaimed Dorset apple cake at Tarrant Rawston!

“We are thrilled by this

year’s outstanding result,” said DHCT chair, his honour David Grant.

“Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who took part – from the cyclists and walkers to those volunteers who opened churches, baked cakes and offered hospitality.

“Your enthusiasm and

Ride + Stride participants ready for the off at St Christopher’s Church, Winfrith Newburgh

generosity make a real difference.”

The annual Ride + Stride for churches is DHCT’s principal source of funds and all proceeds directly benefit Dorset’s historic churches.

Grants will help preserve and repair places of worship throughout the county, many of

which face urgent structural challenges and limited resources.

David added: “Without the support of Ride + Stride, many of our historic churches simply couldn’t carry out the desperately needed repairs that keep them safe, open and welcoming to their communities.”

n DORSET Historic Churches Trust (DHCT) has for 65 years grant-aided maintenance work for churches and chapels of all Christian denominations in Dorset.

Total grants awarded over the last five years have averaged more than £111,000 a year.

The priority has always been to assist with weatherproofing – roofs and stonework.

In recent years significant funds have been granted to assist communities to adapt church buildings for wider use.

Huge solar farm could power 27,000 homes

PLANS are being put together to create a huge solar farm on Dorset Council-owned land which could create enough energy to power 27,000 homes.

The solar farm would be one of the largest renewable energy projects on council-managed land in the south west with a capacity of 50MW.

Plans are being brought forward for land at Higher South Buckland Farm in Chickerell, near Weymouth, part of the council’s longestablished farms estate.

The site had already been earmarked as suitable for solar plans in the Local Plan. According to the council, the area falls into the category of a site that is “no longer best suited to traditional farming and require diversification to remain

productive and deliver public value”.

A spokesperson for the council said it has consistently produced low agricultural yields due to its soil quality and topography, making it

Solar & Tidal Predictions - July '25

increasingly uneconomic for conventional farming.

“Repurposing the land for renewable energy ensures it remains a productive asset for Dorset rather than lying under-utilised,” they added.

Councillor Nick Ireland, leader of the council and cabinet member for climate, performance and safeguarding, said: “This is about making

smart use of our land to support Dorset’s future.

“By generating clean energy locally, we can improve resilience, reduce carbon emissions and create economic opportunities for our communities.”

To deliver the scheme, Dorset Council is collaborating with Source Galileo, an onshore and offshore renewable energy developer with expertise in solar, wind and battery storage technologies.

Gina Cassidy, chief operating officer for Source Galileo, said: “The opportunity to support Dorset Council in achieving its regional targets for reducing emissions while managing its assets responsibly and driving economic growth is an initiative we welcome.

“We aim to bring our development expertise to realise appropriately designed renewable energy projects on council land over the coming years.”

The next steps will include detailed design, public engagement and submission for planning permission, where the project will be assessed against local and national policy.

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Dates for Purbeck Young Musicians

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01-Dec 05:03 12:14 17:39 07:48 16:05 02-Dec 00:33 05:56 13:04 18:28 07:50 16:05 03-Dec 01:23 06:46 13:53 19:16 07:51 16:04 04-Dec 02:12 07:35 14:40 20:04 FM 07:52 16:04

04:00 09:31 16:21 21:46 FM 05:07 21:18

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11-Jul 04:41 10:08 17:02 22:24 05:08 21:17

03:48 09:13 16:15 21:40 SP 07:55 16:03

12-Jul 05:21 10:44 17:42 23:00 SP 05:09 21:17

04:37 10:03 17:04 22:28 07:56 16:03

13-Jul 06:00 11:20 18:20 23:38 05:10 21:16

08-Dec 05:26 10:53 17:52 23:18 07:57 16:03

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by Dilys Thomas, PYM trustee

THE music groups now established in Purbeck Youth Music (PYM) have some exciting opportunities coming up.

Tradfolk ensemble, plus Gary Austin, Rebecca FieldBunney and the PYM Wind Band, Amy Jerman and her Mini Big Band, as well as PYM Young Ambassadors, will be performing at St George’s Church, Langton Matravers, for the St Aldhelm Christmas Tree Festival on Sunday, December 7.

Proceeds from this event will be split between the RNLI and our own PYM, for which we are most grateful.

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14-Dec 04:11 11:24 17:01 23:43 08:02 16:03 15-Dec 05:17 12:19 17:57 08:03 16:03

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Our Young Ambassadors have been invited to perform at the Belvedere Singers’ Christmas concert in St Mary’s Parish Church, Swanage, on Saturday, December 6.

PYM will be represented by Martha Harwood (voice), Amy Jerman (piano) and Nick Aiko Dando (trumpet). Matt Tarling and his

Jemma Clunies-Ross will be bringing her woodwind group to Emmanuel Baptist Church for its Christmas Tree Festival on Thursday, December 11.

And we also hope to support Swanage URC Christingle service on Sunday, December 14, with some young musicians.

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Ben cooks up a storm!

CHEF Ben Kittow, from Catch at the Old Fishmarket, Weymouth, took home a top prize in the South West Chef of the Year competition.

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He won the Best Dish category for his starter of scallop and clam chowder.

The competition, now in its 21st year, was founded by acclaimed chef Michael Caines with this year’s finals held at Exeter College followed by an awards dinner at Exeter Golf and Country Club.

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Competitors were judged by a panel of top chefs from across the region, including Nathan Outlaw, Scott Paton, Peter Gorton, Matt Mason and Chris Cleghorn.

Michael Caines said: “Huge congratulations to all our

winners and finalists. The standard this year has been phenomenal, with chefs showcasing their skill, passion and flair using the incredible ingredients our region has to offer.

“The competition shines a light on the creativity and resilience of our industry and the remarkable talent we have here in the south west.”

by Ross Packman, engagement ranger

MIGRATION season is well underway at Durlston Country Park, as our rangers and visitors alike continue to record seasonal rarities including golden plover, hawfinch and even a Pallas’s warbler, a tiny Asiatic bird which spends its summers in mountain forests as far afield as Siberia and north east China!

Far more common, but no less a spectacle, recent weeks have also seen huge flocks of wood pigeon massing above Durlston Head, with an educated estimate of nearly 5,000 birds on the wing, joined across the National Nature Reserve by large numbers of stock doves, starling and crossbill.

Looking for the perfect Christmas gift or to learn more about the intricate art of glass engraving?

From Wednesday, November 26, to Sunday,

December 7, Durlston Castle’s Fine Foundation Gallery plays host to a free exhibition of work by the south west branch of the Guild of Glass Engravers (GGE).

Examples of the GGE’s breath-taking glassware will be on display, as well as pieces available to buy on the day. The exhibition opens daily 10.30am-4pm.

If you’d like to try your hand at this delicate craft, join Rob Page from the GGE at Durlston’s Learning Centre on Saturday, December 13, for a brilliant workshop demonstrating and teaching the art of Glass Engraving, no experience necessary!

For booking and information, visit our Events page at Durlston.co.uk

On Thursday, December 4, join our Pleasure Grounds guided walk, an hour-and-ahalf stroll from 11am exploring the history of Durlston’s Victorian-era gardens and their restoration.

There’s another opportunity to gain a deeper insight into your local National Nature Reserve on Sunday, December 7, with our regular Layers in the Landscape walk.

Join former Durlston ranger and expert naturalist Ali Tuckey to discover how geology, history, people and nature combined to create this unique landscape.

No need to book, just turn up at the Castle reception for 2pm.

Both guided walks are £3.50 per person – make sure to dress for the weather!

Our popular Stargazing event takes place on Saturday, December 13, where – if the weather permits – experts from the Wessex Astronomy Society will guide you in observations of Jupiter, Saturn and the Geminid meteor shower.

Get in the festive mood on Sunday, December 21, with our Have a Very Merry Durlston guided walk, featuring a

ranger-led, hour-long walk around the country park, followed by a warming mulled wine or hot chocolate! £6 per person, booking required.

Over the Christmas period – Wednesday, December 10, to Sunday, January 4 – a new free exhibition arrives in the Fine Foundation Gallery.

Open daily 10.30am-4pm, Incredible Insects and Brilliant Bugs will showcase the National Nature Reserve’s wealth of invertebrates, including a historical specimen collection.

For younger entomological enthusiasts, a linked Incredible Insects… event on Monday, December 29, will offer up minibeast-based fun and games – £3.50, booking required via our Events page at Durlston. co.uk

For more information, visit www.durlston.co.uk Visit the Seventh Wave café website at https://seventhwaverestaurant. co.uk/

Hospice charity is lighting up lives

WELDMAR Hospicecare is once again inviting individuals to remember a loved one who will be missed this Christmas through its Light up a Life services.

The services, which each last about 30 minutes, are open to everyone, whether or not Weldmar cared for a loved one.

They take place at Holme for Gardens, Wareham on Sunday, November 30, at 4pm; Weldmar Hospicecare Inpatient Unit, Dorchester, on Tuesday, December 2, at 6.30pm; and Weymouth Pavilion on Monday, December 8, at 6.30pm.

Other services are in Lyme Regis, Bridport, Blandford Forum, Sherborne and Gillingham.

Those who would like to pay

tribute can dedicate a light on the Christmas trees that are at the centre of each service.

The servcies also include readings, hymns and time for reflection.

All donations made through Light up a Life help Weldmar provide specialist care for people living with life-limiting illnesses in Dorset, and support for their families and loved ones.

Light up a Life services take place across Dorset, including Wareham, Dorchester and Weymouth

Weldmar will be broadcasting a service on Wednesday, December 10, at 7.30pm on Facebook and YouTube for those unable to attend a service in person.

The broadcast will show the switch on of the lights at all of the services and remain available to watch throughout the Christmas period.

Gloria McCartney,

fundraising lead, said: “Being able to provide our communities with the opportunity to remember loved ones at such a special time of year is a privilege for all of us. For many people across Dorset, being able to dedicate a light to a loved one at the beginning of the festive season has become an important Christmas tradition.

“We see both new and familiar faces attending their local service each year. It’s a lovely act of remembrance at a time that can be both sad and challenging for those experiencing grief.”

Anyone who would like to dedicate a light, can find out more about their local service at weldmarhospicecare.org/ lightupalife

Tank gunner’s story discovered in moving letter

A LETTER donated to The Tank Museum at Bovington, which poignantly arrived the week before Remembrance Sunday, offers a glimpse into the bravery and resilience of tank men facing the horrors of the First World War.

When the grieving brother of Lance Corporal GS Hopkins wrote a letter asking for information about how his brother died, Commanding Officer Lieutenant DA Palmer was quick to respond with a detailed account of the final days of ‘the best machine gunner I’ve so far met’.

In his letter, dated August 17, 1917, Lt Palmer provides a detailed account of the tank actions in which L/Cpl Hopkins was injured and later died.

After their tank was put out of action by a gas-shell, both L/ Col Hopkins and Lt Palmer resumed their duty in a second tank, which was hit by a shell

the following day, causing Hopkins’ injuries.

Palmer and another member of the crew bandaged Hopkins and made him comfortable:

“Your brother made no complaint, although his pain must have been pretty bad.”

Lt Palmer last saw L/Col

Hopkins when he was taken to the nearest dressing station and only heard later of his death: “I was sent later, on sick leave, and on returning yesterday, I heard for the first time that L/ Cpl Hopkins had died.

“As an NCO, and as a gunner, I shall miss him very much – he will be very hard to replace too, because he held the crew together beautifully.”

Lt Palmer ends his letter inviting Mr Hopkins to write again “if there are any points you’d care to enquire about” and signs off “Assuring you of my deepest sympathy”.

Followed by a postscript emphasising L/Cpl Hopkin’s bravery: “PS I notice that I fail

to tell you that your brother was as badly gassed as anyone, but he remained at duty. He was in both tanks which we had knocked out.”

Historian, James Donaldson, said: “First-hand accounts of action from WWI are rare, and the fact that this letter dates from the early use of tanks, makes it an invaluable addition to the museum’s collection.

“It is fascinating, humbling and incredibly moving to read such a personal piece of correspondence. It really brings home the impact of a war often told in terms of large-scale losses on the individual soldier and their families, as well as their brothers in arms.”

Recycle a tree and help a good cause

DIVERSE Abilities, Dorset’s disability charity, has launched its annual Christmas tree recycling service sponsored by Waste Management Facilities.

The charity has been collecting Christmas trees from the local community to be sustainably recycled to raise money for over 10 years.

Bookings are now being taken to have trees collected between Thursday and Sunday, January 8-11, 2026, from Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, East Dorset and Ringwood.

Francesca Potton, community fundraiser at Diverse Abilities, said: “We’re thrilled to see the return of our Treecycling service for another year. It’s one

of our biggest fundraisers of the year, and a real community effort. By booking to have your Christmas tree collected by Diverse Abilities you can help us raise vital funds to run our services that support children and adults with disabilities across Dorset.”

Collections can be booked online for a suggested £10 donation, and the charity’s team of volunteers will take to the roads of Dorset over the collection weekend in January to ensure the trees are disposed of sustainably and recycled into wood chippings.

Lisa Delahunty, managing director at Waste Management Facilities Ltd, said: “We’re

thrilled to continue working with Diverse Abilities on its Treecycling project again. We will be helping over the collection weekend with the logistics and providing a volunteer team to collect Christmas trees and raise money to support programmes for children and adults with disabilities across Dorset.”

Diverse Abilities is also recruiting volunteers to help the Treecycling team to collect and recycle Christmas trees.

Christmas tree recycling is raising funds for Diverse Abilities

Families and businesses with access to vans, pick-up trucks or buses should contact Francesca on 01202 718266 to discuss how to get involved and help make a difference for the charity.

Visit diverseabilities.org.uk/ trees for a full list of areas that Christmas trees can be collected from and to book a collection for January.

Gold award for school’s playtime

PLAYTIME provision at Wareham St Mary Primary School has won an Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) Gold Award, making it the first and only primary school in the Purbeck area to achieve this accreditation.

Headteacher Niciole Davids said: “We are thrilled to be awarded this incredible accolade, recognising 18 months of hard work to transform our playtimes for all children.

“It’s an absolute joy to see the creativity, imagination, problem-solving and resilience the children have developed through our new OPAL offering.

“It was all made possible thanks to the generous donations from parents and the local community and, of course, the hard work of our amazing lunchtime play team who are outside come rain or shine to make playtimes magical for our pupils.”

OPAL is based on the

Oakfest coins in the cash for baby unit

COMMUNITY fundraisers

James and Zara Dunham have raised £10,700 for the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Dorset County Hospital (DCH).

They organised the Oakfest community event at Dorchester Cricket Club this summer in aid of a cause very close to their hearts.

James and Zara experienced first-hand the work of the SCBU at DCH when their son, Oakley, spent time there after he was born in March 2024.

They have requested that the money raised is spent converting non en-suite bedrooms to en-suite facilities to provide families with a better level of comfort at a very stressful time.

Oakfest included a cricket match, live music, children’s entertainment and food, and was supported by friends, family and local businesses including Maxgate Properties,

concept that, as well as excellent classroom-based teaching, children also learn through play. “With 20% of our school day as playtime, it’s

essential that we make this time the best we can,” added Mrs Davids.

Children are free to choose from a range of play opportunities. The creative and inclusive play offerings at Wareham St Mary include outdoor kitchens, den building, dressing up and role play areas, scooters and a popular dig pit.

Wareham St Mary says schools that adopt the OPAL Primary Programme see benefits including improved wellbeing, a greater love of school with a positive impact on attendance, less teaching time lost to resolving disputes between children, fewer accidents and greatly improved behaviour.

OPAL has been developed in more than 800 schools throughout the UK and around the world and results from over 20 years of testing and development.

Bumblebees Childcare, Sam Scaffolding, Blackmore Events and Chris Rawlings Building & Maintenance.

James Dunham said: “It was a fantastic day, bringing people together for a great cause, and we were overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone involved.

“Raising funds for SCBU at Dorset County Hospital has been an incredibly meaningful journey for Zara and me.

“The idea of providing en-suite facilities for relatives really resonated with us. When you’re spending long hours at the hospital, having a private space to rest and take needed

James and Zara Dunham hand over a cheque for £10,700 to the Special Care Baby Unit at Dorset County Hospital

time makes a huge difference to your wellbeing and ability to support your baby.

“We also hope that by sharing our story we can inspire others to get involved and support SCBU in whatever way they can, to try and make those difficult days for local families just a little bit easier.”

Head of fundraising for Dorset County Hospital Charity, Jodi Hibbard, said: “We are so grateful to James and Zara for their amazing fundraising efforts – bringing the local

community together for a day of fun and fundraising for our local hospital is such a fantastic idea, and a wonderful way to raise money for a cause that it is close to so many people.”

Money was also raised through online fundraising with bingo nights and ticket auctions.

Anyone interested in organising a community event to raise funds for any ward or department at Dorset County Hospital, including the Emergency and Critical Care Appeal, can email charity@ dchft.nhs.uk or phone 01305 253215.

PiP at the heart of the community

THE Pavilion in the Park (PiP) cafe and community hub in Poundbury has been recognised for its outstanding contribution to the local community.

PiP, on Poundbury’s great field, has been awarded The King’s Foundation ‘Building a Legacy’.

The award recognises one organisation a year that has been created in a new development and has brought cohesion, bonding and created a place where people feel welcomed and want to be.

PiP opened in lockdown in 2021 on what had been a desolate playing field, before

investment by the Duchy of Cornwall transformed it into a playpark, including a mile of paths, the planting of more than 500 trees and the creation of an open space for the community to enjoy.

“PiP is the embodiment of what can happen when you bring people together to brainstorm what a new community needs,” said Helena Conibear, founder of The Talk About Trust charity, based at PiP.

“At Poundbury, it was a space that was inclusive, offering free events and clubs for everyone of all ages,

incomes and abilities who live here or in the local villages.

“Consultation with residents and local school children also showed they wanted PiP to be eco-friendly, to offer good value refreshments, shelter and supervision of the planned park to ensure it would be a safe and welcoming community space.

“We’re proud to say that

Early Christmas present for rogue traders’ victim

A VICTIM of rogue traders who was left with no savings after being quoted a rip-off price for sub-standard gardening work has received an early Christmas present.

The victim, an elderly vulnerable man from Dorchester, was targeted by a rogue trading gang in 2022, who offered to cut the hedge in his front garden.

When he agreed, they quickly gained his trust and found other work they claimed was urgent as his trees were diseased.

He ended up paying £36,600 for work that Dorset Council’s trading standards service later valued at just £3,500.

In September this year the last two members of the rogue trading gang were sent to prison by Bournemouth Crown Court for three years and seven months and six years and seven months.

When a local arborist company, Knighton Countryside Management, saw the story and contacted trading standards it offered to clear the victim’s garden and tidy up other trees free of charge.

Managing director, Mark Gibbens, said: “When I read

about what had happened, it really hit home.

“Sadly, this isn’t the first time we’ve come across the aftermath of rogue traders taking advantage of vulnerable people.

“My team of qualified arborists were more than happy

with more than 20 clubs and groups running from PiP, from the weekly park run to the digital drop-in, the senior social, teen hang-out, youth club and holiday clubs, we are delivering on that vision thanks to the wonderful volunteers, partners and organisations, as well as the staff at PiP that make it not only possible, but a joy to provide.”

to step in and put things right.

“We wanted to help restore the gentleman’s garden and his peace of mind before Christmas.

“I’d urge anyone looking for tree work to always use Arboricultural Associationapproved contractors.

“It’s the best way to make sure you’re dealing with genuine, trained professionals who take pride in their work and care about their clients.”

Rachael Holden, trading standards service manager, said: “We are very grateful for Knighton Countryside’s incredibly generous offer to help the victim of this callous crime.

“We were successful in bringing four people behind the rogue venture to justice, but the victim’s garden was left in a terrible state, which was a constant reminder to him of what had happened.

“I would like to praise his bravery for giving evidence in court against the traders and also thank his neighbours who alerted us to this fraud which enabled us to take robust action.”

Max casts an expert eye over antiques

AN antiques valuation morning held at the Corn Exchange in Wareham has helped raise £130 for the town mayor’s chosen charities.

Max Beaumont, of Max Beaumont Fine Art and Consultancy of Poole, welcomed visitors from across the local area, with some travelling from as far afield as Highcliffe.

Guests brought along a selection of items, with many taking the opportunity to learn more about the history and value of their antiques.

One local resident was

Reader’s Picture

delighted after bringing in a painting found in the loft of his new home.

Max identified the artwork

Max Beaumont (centre) with Mayor of Wareham, Zoe Gover, and one of the visitors to the antiques valuation morning

as being by 20th century Dutch artist Jan Kelderman and was even able to pinpoint the exact location depicted.

The oil on canvas features a charming Dutch landscape complete with a windmill in the foreground.

Although the piece has some condition issues and holds modest commercial value, its owner, who has grown very fond of it, plans to have it restored and reframed before displaying it in his home.

He also intends to visit the area that inspired the painting.

Mayor of Wareham, Zoe Gover, described the morning as ‘fascinating’, and added: “We are extremely grateful to Max Beaumont for sharing his expertise and helping us raise funds for our charities. We look forward to welcoming him back in the new year.”

For further enquiries, or to arrange a valuation, visit www.maxbeaumont.co.uk or phone 01202 283220.

Enjoy the festive season at Knoll House, with the most spectacular views across Studland Bay.

Christmas Day Lunch - £90

Boxing Day Lunch - £40

New Year’s Eve - £90

*Children are half price. Booking essential.

Contact the team to discuss our festive party celebrations and private hire.

01929 450450 | knollhouse.co.uk

Sat 6 & Sun 7 December

10am - 4pm Free Admission

Handcrafted Gifts by Local Makers

Complimentary Festive Drink

Wander through a winter gathering of Purbecks finest artisans.

Sip something warm, browse something beautiful, and find unique gifts for your family and friends.

Robin Claridge

Silver Jewellery

Mike Topham

Humorous wire pictures

David Hyde

Metal Garden Sculptures

Tim Rose Ceramic & Pastels

Julie Burns Appliqué Cushions & Xmas Decorations

Emily Clarke

Vintage Textiles

Phil Hill, Luca Ciaramella & Stan Davis

Abstract Art

Look for our flags on A351 at Norden

Weekdays by Appointment

Tele: 07889 247981

///painting.blossom.perfumes.

your family and friends. You don’t need to leave Purbeck, and no parking fees! You even get to enjoy a complimentary warming festive drink in our country setting as you leisurely browse a fabulous range of gifts made locally by our artisans.

Silver Jewellery / Ceramics / Humorous Wire Pictures / Applique Cushions / Lampshades and Bunting made from Vintage Textiles / Pastel Paintings of local scenes / Abstract Art / amazing fabric Christmas wreaths / Metal Garden Sculptures and so much more.

Also introducing 14 year old home schooled Luca Ciaramella, a young artist in full flight, always experimenting and always evolving, producing inspirational work using a spectrum of art methods to create spray painted pictures and upcycled retro pieces.

Where

Meets Service

Tel: 01305 579067

B. Curtis Butchers – A Local Tradition of Quality

Proudly serving Dorset since 1951, B. Curtis Butchers stands for true traditional craftsmanship, local sourcing and exceptional quality. We take pride in offering the best of the local area including Pork and grass-fed Angus Beef, reared in the Purbecks, just a few miles from our shop – tender, full of flavour, and true to our Dorset roots.

2

3

As the festive season approaches, we’re now taking Christmas Turkey orders. Our free-range turkeys are carefully sourced from trusted local farms, ensuring your Christmas table features the best Dorset has to offer.

Whether you’re planning a show-stopping roast, a festive feast, or simply want to enjoy premium, locally sourced meat, visit us in-store or online at www.bcurtis. co.uk to discover the difference tradition makes.

B. Curtis – your local butcher, serving quality and heritage for over 70 years.

Range now available

Cheeses |

Breads | Meats |

made Jams, Chutneys and Honey | And much more

Follow us on Facebook to see our latest offers!

37 Commerical Road, Swanage, BH19 1DF theoldstablesdeli@gmail.com

A Very Merry Christmas at The Old Stables Delicatessen and Eaterie

Step into the festive season with the heartwarming charm of The Old Stables, your local destination for Christmas delights and seasonal cheer!

Delicious Deli Delights

From artisan cheeses to cured meats, chutneys, and olives – discover the perfect additions to your festive table.

Christmas Hampers & Gifts

Beautifully curated hampers packed with local goodies, sweet treats, and gourmet essentials – ideal for gifting or indulging yourself!

Sweets & Chocolates

A handpicked selection of festive chocolates, biscuits, and traditional treats to make spirits bright.

Cosy Café Vibes

Take a break from the Christmas rush – warm up with barista-made coffees, hot chocolates, and seasonal specials in our welcoming café.

Festive Café Menu

Enjoy hearty winter soups, Christmas sandwiches, homemade bakes, and comforting seasonal dishes made with love.

A Festive Atmosphere

Twinkling lights, the scent of cinnamon, and a friendly smile await. Come in, feel the magic, and make your Christmas shopping a joyful experience!

ou will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win a fantastic hamper, full of delights, with every tree purchase.

Swanage Artisans on the Beach Bring Festive Cheer to the Seafront

Local unique hand-crafted gifts presented for sale by the crafters themselves from the Swanage Beach Huts. Friday’s, Saturday’s and Sunday’s leading up to Christmas.

The Swanage Artisans on the Beach, now in its 11th year is a fantastic Christmas shopping experience for all the family. For five weekends, the Swanage Beach Huts on Shore Road, adjacent to the town, are used by local crafters to sell their handmade gifts. With 25 huts being used, and 29 different crafters, this event promises to provide a very diverse and interesting mix of gifts. We have various artists using different mediums, people specialising in fabric and textiles, paper and card crafts specialists, knitting and crochet experts, handmade fresh wreaths, woodwork crafts and silversmiths galore as well as many more crafts.

Open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the five weekends, weather permitting, from 10.00am to about 4pm.

Why not come to Swanage for the day? Parking in the long stay car parks is only £2 a day and we have lots of activities across the town including, lots of independent shops, the Swanage Railway with its Father Christmas Yuletide Express and Christmas Carol trains, Durlston Country Park with all their festive activities and of course the Swanage Pier, with reindeer and donkeys this year! Look out for the very popular Traditional Christmas Street Market organised by the Rotary Charity. Before you go, don’t miss some fish and chips and a walk along the stunning Swanage Beach

And don’t forget the Swanage ‘Switch on the Christmas Lights’ on Saturday 29th November from 2.00pm, with the actual switch on at 4.30pm. Golden tickets will be available for all children attending. The child with the winning ticket will be the one to switch the lights on!

Join the Family at Monkey World this Christmas!

Support the UK’s largest ape and monkey sanctuary by joining the adoption scheme this Christmas!

Adopting a primate at Monkey World makes a wonderful gift; as well as gaining a year’s FREE entry to the park, you’ll be helping Monkey World’s mission to save primates in need around the world.

Orphan orangutans like Sibu and Kiwi are given a second chance at a family at Monkey World’s specialist creche. Adopting a primate helps us to rescue and rehabilitate more primates who need our help.

When you join our family, you’ll receive a photo of your adopted primate, a certificate, three newsletters a year and an entry pass to the park for a year.

Visit www.monkeyworld.org or call 01929 401012 to adopt today!

M argaret Green Animal Rescue Double the love

MANY of the animals we see are in urgent need of veterinary care or require specialist behavioural support.

Covering these costs, in addition to our rising energy bills, means the pressure on our charity this winter is huge.

Please can you help us to support our animals with a special gift?

For one week only, you can make your donation worth twice as much, at no extra cost to you!

December 9, 2025, will be matched pound for pound – up to our match-funding target of £25,000.

See your donation doubled and help twice as many vulnerable animals this Christmas.

Every donation you make online to Margaret Green Animal Rescue’s Big Give Christmas Challenge between noon on Tuesday, December 2, and noon on Tuesday,

Your gift will help to provide care for our animals and enable us to plan energy efficiency strategies for the future.

To make twice the difference with a donation, please scan the QR code or visit donate.biggive.org/ campaign/ a05WS000005qG4EYAU

Your support will ensure

In the picture (from left) Rotarian Dave Sumner, Ingrid Sumner, Pat Dryden and Wimborne Rotary president, Brian Dryden

Rotary’s gifts in a shoebox for Eastern Europe

MEMBERS of Wimborne Rotary Club, together with family and friends, have been busy packing gifts into shoeboxes in support of the Wessex Rotary Shoebox Scheme.

Their efforts have resulted in 75 boxes being delivered to the project.

The Wessex-wide collection will see gifts reach large numbers of disadvantaged and displaced children in Romania, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine – via Poland.

Each box is carefully packed with gifts suitable for boys or girls and selected by age group.

Rotarian Dave Sumner coordinated the filling and delivery of the shoeboxes.

He said: “As always, people have been very generous in donating gifts and their time to prepare the full shoeboxes.

“From video feedback we have seen it is clear the gifts are enthusiastically and gratefully received by the children, and we are always keen to support this project because of that.”

that, together, we can be here for animals and people in Dorset, Devon and beyond for many years to come.

If you have any questions, please email comms@mgar. org.uk or phone 0330 400 6670.

Sheila’s theatre date

A RESIDENT of Upton Bay care home in Hamworthy had a splendid time when she saw the musical Annie at Bournemouth Pavilion.

Sheila was accompanied by activity staff Karen and Chloe to Bournemouth and Boscombe Light Opera Company’s performance.

Sheila said: “It was the best production I have seen

in years – I had the most wonderful time out!”

Upton Bay general manager, Mevin Sohorye, said: “Sheila and the activity team had a marvellous time at the show – truly brilliant!”

The home will be holding a Christmas fair for the community on Saturday, December 6.

THE PURBECK MAGAZINE

Arrow words Crossword

Brain chain Medical Specialists

Sudoku 3D puzzle

6 Device on instrument in rival venue (5)

Place 1 to 9 once into every black-bordered 3x3 area as well as each of the 54 rows indicated by the coloured lines. Rows don’t cross the thick black lines.

Killer Sudoku Pro

7 Criminal is near and come into view (6)

9 Explain condition in English comedian (7)

10 Preserve song in college (3,2)

11 Kick compartment in car (4)

13 Busy performer I have contracted (6)

15 Language in university with appeal (5)

16 Indication of smoothness in bars? (6)

17 Love Virginia, first of ladies in shape (4)

20 Drive back here Peloponnesians? Not altogether (5)

Killer Sudoku Pro

Down

1 A pair of lines with a diary encapsulating nationalist over time? (3,5)

2 Type raising passions (5)

3 Lecherous figure brooded over year (5)

4 A French article in dictionary shows way speaking (7)

5 Reject study ending in controversy (4)

6 Set of words round a club require analysis amid change (10)

8 Dispel item for tinkering with road regulation (5,5)

22 With no end of waste, money’s spent round US city – or something similar? (7)

23 Discuss letter about club (6)

Place numbers 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and bold-lined 3x3 box. No digit may be repeated in any dash-lined cage, and all the digits in any cage must add up to the value shown in that cage.

12 English musician renovated houses (3)

13 Ring up mostly to get support (3)

14 Bell, say, in opening over river (8)

24 Police informer is second name disclosed (5)

15 A Latin I fancy? (7)

18 Escort American crowd with day gone

19 Bite shown in good US comic writer (5)

21 Former PM gets place around middle of week (4)

(5)

(5)

Andrew: Tell It Like It is

MAY I be one of – I hope, many – to respond to David Hollister about his last column, which seemed to castigate Virginia Giuffre for ‘Telling It Like It Is’ – quotes and capital letters per Hollister?

The sum of money her recent memoir may generate will be immaterial to her.

She died by suicide a few months before it was published.

Contrary to Mr Hollister’s column, it’s not the former Prince but Giuffre with ‘nothing left to lose’ – he still has plenty – including a life of luxury.

In my view, this world would be an immensely better place if more people told it like it is and could be heard without obstruction or shaming from those who wish to protect ‘lovely’ people like Andrew’s late mother.

The royal family had powers to curb Andrew’s widely known behaviours years ago.

It feels not ‘lovely’ but shameful that Queen Elizabeth II did not hold her second son to account.

Abuse takes many forms in many corners of the world and Purbeck is no exception.

Any survivors reading this in our local area should know there are plenty of people out there who support their right to ‘Tell It Like It Is’ whenever they feel able to take that step.

Name and address supplied

Ferry Company

tolls: Another

view

I TAKE issue with the accuracy of the article written by Lloyd Hatton MP in the November 10 edition of the Purbeck Gazette on two counts.

First, in his article he declares ‘victory on ferry company toll hikes’ – the outcome of the inquiry was quite the opposite.

The Ferry Company has largely been awarded the fare increases as requested, save for two matters – the reduced

Young people deserve praise

IF the young people I have come across in the past few weeks are in any way typical, the future of this town is in safe hands.

In October, I was delighted to welcome the Mayor’s Guide, Nellie Powell, to a council meeting so that she could advise councillors she had been selected after three interviews to represent the area in an international Guides’ camp in Croatia in 2026 – a great achievement and honour.

However, she has to raise £600 herself, towards the cost. Nellie was presented with a £50 cheque from Lytchett Minster & Upton Town Council to help her on her way, while the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Stewart McKell, did likewise on Remembrance Sunday with a similar donation from Upton Together.

Nellie was present, along with the Mayor’s Scout, Elliot Betteridge, to lay a wreath on behalf of our town’s young people.

As part of her fundraising campaign Nellie has made special Christmas and birthday cards which are on sale in the town council help centre.

Another teenager who

increase in cycle and pedestrian tolls which will be clawed back through reducing discounts; and the non-implementation of a toll on Ferry Road, which the inspector agrees that the Ferry Company has the right to do, despite Mr Hatton claiming that the ‘Labour Government have scrapped the proposal’.

It might suit Mr Hatton to claim a personal victory in a sea of Government failings, but I would rather that residents of Purbeck were informed of the facts.

Second, Mr Hatton’s own

created a favourable impression was Jack Bowyer, representing the school council at Lytchett Minster school at our quarterly meeting with Dorset Council Highways and Ranger Team officers.

He spoke eloquently and knowledgeably about the need for safer routes to school, and ways in which that might be achieved.

Subsequently, Jack conducted an important survey for the town council on the number of fellow students crossing the busy Dorchester Road at the top of Policeman’s Lane on their way to and from school.

At the other end of the age spectrum, it gave me great pleasure to present Len Roff with a certificate and voucher on behalf of the Keep Upton Tidy group, in the presence of his wife, Ruth, members and councillors.

Len was a founder member

involvement in the opposition to the Ferry Company was limited to attendance at a single public meeting.

The real opposition to the Ferry proposal came from a consortium of seven county, town and parish councils – all fighting on behalf of Purbeck residents to ensure a sustainable and affordable ferry service.

A number of local individuals made representations at the six-day inquiry and played an active role in preparing in the months beforehand.

Their continued efforts and

of the group in 2008/09 and served as its chair until this year.

Len was also instrumental at that time in putting together the Town Plan which made several recommendations based on extensive surveys, out of which came the Beacon Community Art Group, which is still going strong today. Both the young, and not so young, deserve the community’s thanks for their service.

Finally, on behalf of my fellow councillors and staff I would like to wish all our residents a very happy Christmas and look forward to seeing you at the Celebration of Christmas event at Upton Community Centre on Thursday, December 18, at 5pm.

Cllr Ray Griffin Mayor and chair Lytchett Minster & Upton Town Council

hard work on this matter deserve thanks, even if the outcome was not what was wanted.

Mr Hatton appears to be playing an increasingly large focus on self-promotion and less on supporting the community he represents.

Sadly, on another critical local issue – housing – he recently failed to attend two pre-arranged meetings with local bodies, convened to ask for his support with lobbying housing association providers. These are the matters that

count and require his support. Maybe it’s time for a bit more self-reflection and far less self-promotion.

Cllr Ben Wilson Ward member for South East Purbeck

Walking the dog –a good walk soiled

A COMEDY sonnet inspired by the huge number of dogs that seem to be in Swanage these days.

I’m sorry but I don’t see the attraction

Of perambulating with a canine chum.

A pleasant walk would hold no satisfaction

If I spent it staring at a doggy bum!

To stop at every lamppost, every tree,

And wait around while Fido has a smell,

Detecting other dogs who’ve had a pee

Until he finally has a pee as well!

The smelly, muddy coat, the deafening barking,

The fights with other dogs, the chasing rabbits,

The dreaded squat! The hope his needs departing!

Then the dirtiest of all his dirty habits!

I sometimes wonder who’s the master of who?

The answer surely lied in asking...

Who picks up the poo?

Martin Hobdell Swanage

Social groups reaching out

ROUND Table is a social group for young men with a history of fun and fundraising in the community.

41 Club is an older group which seeks to support Round Table while arranging a range of activities for the age group.

Recently, a team of eager members from local clubs have banded together to bring both clubs back into activity.

Some of these people live in Wimborne and will form the nucleus as the clubs grow together.

Both groups will offer regular meetings with varied programmes of activities around Wimborne and the local area.

So, if you are keen to get out and meet people of a similar age for fun and activities we can offer the right group for you.

We will shortly be promoting our meeting dates on social media so please look out for Wimborne Round Table and Wimborne 41 Club on Facebook.

You can email us via wimborne@roundtable. org.uk

and wimborne41 club@gmail. com.

We look forward to seeing you and telling you more about us.

Further information can also be found at roundtable.co.uk/ about and 41club.org/ about-41club.

Paul Clarke Wimborne

Flags question

IN the Purbeck Gazette’s October 27 issue, James Mercer said our national flags should not be used for division and intimidation.

Hasn’t he heard of the Empire?

Name and address supplied

SOMETHING TO SAY?

Then email ed@ purbeckgazette.co.uk

Crossword

Telling It Like It Is

PCCs a failed and expensive experiment?

THOSE of us old enough to remember the days before the Government foisted Police and Crime Commissioners on us will be harking back to those days and trying to remember how we managed without them. We now read that the role of PCC is to be abolished in 2028, saving an alleged £100 million, which sum is going to help fund neighbourhood policing. Whether it does or not remains to be seen. Us sceptics just see it as a way of tipping even more of our tax money into the ‘black hole’, to be wasted along with most of ‘government funds’ which in reality is our money, isn’t it?

So, when we get our council tax bills in 2028 someone other than David Sidwick will have to decide how much is to be allocated to providing the fairer funding deal to ensure our county has the police force it needs and deserves. Last year he told us that “significant progress has been made in Dorset, which remains one of the safest counties in the country. Crime is falling, positive outcomes are on the rise and anti-social behaviour is at its lowest level since 2007/08, thanks to hard work from Dorset police officers, staff and volunteers.”

As our readers will know, I have never been David

by David Hollister

Sidwick’s greatest fan. But if he tells us that crime in Dorset is falling, we have to believe him.

For the 2024/25 financial year, the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner budget was £171.9m, funded by £83.2m government grant and £88.7m local council tax precept. Over 98% of this budget is delegated to the Chief Constable for police operations, with the Police and Crime Commissioner taking about 2% for staff and its own commissioning budget. So that’s £168.5m paying for the Police and £3.5m for the PCC to tell them what to do and how to do it.

The Police Federation of England and Wales said: “We welcome this announcement and look forward to helping shape whatever accountability structures replace directly elected police and crime commissioners. PCCs were an expensive experiment which has failed.” But did it fail? Figures seem to suggest otherwise.

We must remember this in years to come. Will our council tax actually reduce? Is that a pig flying by my window? Or will we live to regret the passing of the PCC’s office and realise that we’re actually celebrating handing yet another chunk of money to central government?

Do you trust central government to use your money properly or do you now agree that at least a small part of it would be better under our control?

Do you remember a few years ago when Purbeck District Council was swallowed up by Dorset Council on the grounds of ‘cost saving’, and have you actually seen this saving through your council tax bill? Will the abolition of David Sidwick’s department save you money or will it just result in crime levels increasing because there’s no local control? We criticised PDC as ‘idiots’, but at least they were ‘our idiots’ not political appointees.

When I started this piece, I was quietly celebrating the demise of the PCC’s office. Now I’m not so sure. At least they are ‘our idiots’ and maybe if Mr Sidwick had spent more time outside Winfrith Towers, he might have engendered more support. Not only from the Police Federation but also from those of you who voted for him. Is there still time to ask the Government to have a re-think?

ARE you one of those unfortunates ‘queueing’ for a driving test? What’s happened to the DVLA? Since 2016, 1,367,950 foreign drivers have been issued a driving licence without taking a UK test – stats allegedly supplied by the Department for Transport. Many foreign drivers simply do not understand our road system. Or maybe the application forms proved too much for them?

Our MP should push for a significant tightening of these regulations. But would that mean even longer delays? Seems like – alongside everything else that government pokes its grubby little fingers into – it no longer works. We need more test centres, more examiners and a reduction in test fees – a practical driving test in the UK costs £62 on a weekday and £75 for an evening, weekend or bank holiday test. The theory test costs £23. No wonder so many unlicensed and

untested drivers are at loose on our roads! Only registered driving instructors should be allocated test spaces, and those within a reasonable time period. And the resale of test spaces should be banned, immediately. Let’s put the ‘cowboys’ out of business. Along with the online sale of concert and theatre tickets at more than face value. As soon as a performance is announced, all the tickets seem to have been snapped up by ‘bots,’ and then put on sale for many times face value. Is this what’s happening to driving tests? A teenage girl in the UK has lost hundreds of pounds to scammers who claimed to book her driving test but never did. Scammers are exploiting test backlogs using ‘bots’ to bulkbook slots and then reselling them for inflated prices on social media. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) warns learners to only use the official booking system to avoid being scammed. But it can warn all it likes, it’ll never stop this disgraceful practice until it takes control and offers bookings only to genuine learners or registered instructors.

SO good to see that progress is being made with Swanage Seafront plans. But local opinions are almost equally divided – 45.1% to 42.8 % – so where do we go from here? Whatever they decide to do will be blasted on social media as being wrong and a waste of public money. I think I prefer the more expensive plan as being the most viable. But 12% of those who took part in the survey didn’t express an opinion, so where does that leave us? It was suggested there were a number of anomalies in the voting but surely not. Please someone tell me this isn't happening in our sleepy little town?

Maybe the additional costs of the enhanced scheme will be offset by the savings achieved by the abolition of the PCC department? Or is that yet another pig flying by my window?

Buses vital in rural communities

ONE of the loudest messages I hear from residents –especially those living in villages and rural areas – is about buses. “What’s the point of having a bus pass if there’s no bus?” Or, “How does a £3 fare cap help if I have to take a taxi to get to a bus stop?”

Buses are more than just a way to get around. They cut traffic, clean our air and stop people being isolated. That smile from the driver or a quick chat with another passenger might be their only human contact that day.

But in truth, private bus companies are responsible to their shareholders. We refer to them as ‘public transport’ but they are not a public service. Bus companies can’t run a service that makes a loss.

That’s why subsidies matter. Some routes will never pay for themselves, but they’re vital for rural and urban communities. Councils try to

fund them, but with squeezed budgets, they rely on government grants. Dorset Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) –funded by a grant – is set for renewal shortly.

These plans aim to improve reliability, improve passenger experience and test new routes and fares. Dorset’s ‘CR’ socially necessary routes and the ‘Young Adults Leaving Care’ scheme are great examples of BSIP programmes.

Government to extend the disabled bus passes so they can be used before 9.30am. Why should people with disabilities be restricted when blue badge holders can use their parking permits anytime? We also need cheaper travel for young people.

If we want bus services to survive, the next generation must choose them now – and keep choosing them.

Vikki Slade

I am fighting for new links between Bere Regis and Wareham or Poole, and for changes to Route 10, to better serve children at Lytchett Minster School. I am pushing for new community transport schemes backed by parish councils.

I have also called on the

Train fares need reform, too, as child fares end at 15. I am calling on South Western Railways, now back in public ownership, to extend them to age 18.

Public transport isn’t just about convenience. It’s about fairness, opportunity and sustainability. If we make buses and trains affordable and reliable, we build habits that last – and we tackle climate

change at the same time.

After years of waiting, Parliament finally has two transport bills to consider –the Bus Bill and the Railways Bill. They are a step forward, but like too many Dorset buses, they don’t go far enough. We need legislation that guarantees rural routes, protects concessionary travel and puts passengers – not profits – first.

Do we want isolated villages, more cars on the road and young people priced out of opportunity? Or do we want a transport system that works for everyone?

If you have a bus, please use it, so it can be secured for the future. I will keep fighting for the funding to connect more communities and a fairer public transport system for Dorset.

VIKKI SLADE Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset & North Poole

Remembrance a unifying force

IN my previous column in the Purbeck Gazette, I noted the good news about the StudlandSandbanks ferry service and scrapping a new toll for accessing Ferry Road – which would have unfairly hit folk across Purbeck. Since then, I have met many people in our area who have shared with me how pleased they are with the news. Seeing our community rally round a cause – and how successful we can be when we do – was fantastic to see.

Our community has also rallied around a cause this November, when with the rest of the country we came together to mark Remembrance Sunday. I joined the service in Swanage to pay my respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice as part of our Armed Forces and

to honour those who continue to serve today. Here in Dorset, we know that our Armed Forces step forward time and again to defend democracy, freedom and human dignity.

In Swanage, in pouring rain and to the skirl of the bagpipes, hundreds came together for the service at the war memorial and St Mary’s Church. The enduring commitment of the people of Swanage to take part in this service is a powerful sign of our community’s thanks for all the Armed Forces have done for us.

Poppy Appeal, helping to sell poppies to shoppers and doing my bit to help the Royal British Legion (RBL) raise funds for their important work across Dorset. As an area with a history deeply intertwined with our Armed Forces, the work of the RBL and other organisations is vitally important in supporting veterans and their loved ones.

Lloyd Hatton

As well as attending the Remembrance Sunday service organised in Swanage, I was out on Saturday supporting the

When I see so many people coming together to honour our servicemen and women and recognise their past and present sacrifices, I also reflect on how the act of Remembrance unifies us. In an age of division and global uncertainty, it is inspiring to see our towns and

communities share in a moment of reflection. There are some things so important that they bring us together and Remembrance is one of them.

This is not just something we should bear in mind only once a year, though. Our Armed Forces work hard for us every day of the year.

Community groups and charities like the RBL and the Veterans Hub in Weymouth do their work every day of the year. Our support should be lasting, too.

Let us remember the bravery and commitment of all who have served and continue to serve, honouring their legacy not just this month, but every day.

LLOYD HATTON Labour MP for South

Dorset

Swans shaded by a point on away day

by Ron Butler Walcot 20

Swanage & Wareham 19

SWANAGE & WAREHAM

had a long trip to Walcot in Bath, and in an exciting game in which the lead changed several times, Swans were undone close to the end of the contest.

Both teams started with a couple of interceptions, but these were cancelled out by the defences, but after eight minutes a penalty to Swans, which was taken quickly, passed along the backs to winger Rory Ferguson who scored half way out. The conversion shaved the upright.

From the restart the hosts seemed to take charge, as Swans

RUGBY

were penalised several times, and on 16 minutes a penalty took Walcot into Swans’ five metres line, and from the line-out, a winger dived over in the corner. This was converted making the score 7 points to 5.

Swans conceded a couple of penalties, which took the hosts into Swans 22, and from a line-out Walcot passed the ball all along the three-quarters to score a brilliant try. This was converted, making the score 14-5 after 25 minutes.

A few minutes later a move by Swans’ backs nearly led to a try, but a last-minute tackle saved Walcot.

Swans came back into the game as Walcot gave away a few penalties, but in the last minute of the half Swans were penalised close to their 22, and Walcot added the penalty to make the half-time score Walcot 17 Swans 5.

A few penalties to both sides started the second half, and from one to Swans, the ball was won from the line-out, was passed all along Swans’ three-quarters to winger Olly Dillon, who ran round to score close to the posts. George Crouch added the extras (17-12) after 48 minutes.

It was all Swans for the next quarter of an hour. Walcot were reduced to two goal-line

Club successes on awards night

SWANAGE Cricket Club has enjoyed another memorable Dorset Cricket Awards presentation evening.

The Cricket Collective SafeHands Award went to long-serving, hard-working safeguarding officer, Michelle Nash.

CRICKET

She has led and driven the implementation of a successful safeguarding culture, ensuring the club are an open and inclusive environment where all members can thrive. The club received a

drop-outs, as Swans attacked relentlessly, and after 65 minutes a break by replacement second row Joe Towers saw him score close to the posts. Crouch added the conversion (17-19).

A couple of penalties took Walcot into Swans’ 22 and from a line-out Swans were penalised again. Walcot decided to kick for goal and that took the score to 20-19 after 72 minutes.

A move by Swans into the Walcot 22 had Swans score in the corner which the referee disallowed.

A Walcot player broke in the last minute, but Swans’ defence tackled him before the line, and Swans had a couple of tap penalties in their own half but could not break through to score.

Swanage winners at the Dorset Cricket Awards

Sustainability Award in recognition of the committee's hard work on projects such as the installation of solar panels and a large planting project across the grounds.

The club's vastly improved Women & Girls team received Runner’s-Up medals for reaching the final of the T20 Cup.

And Swanage player and coach, Lily Wood, received a trophy as leading run scorer in the T20 competition.

Swanage Cricket Club would like to welcome all members to their annual meeting on Friday, November 28, from 7pm at the club's Pavilion.

Meditations in nature: All for the love of trees

by Susanna Curtin

FROM winter through to spring, summer and autumn, trees journey with us through time, their demeanour changing with each seasonal shift. The dark skeletal forms of their branches in winter eventually give way to the fresh, bright leaves that turn our landscape green in spring. This is followed by their fullness and splendour in summer, and then to the rich autumnal shades that are gracing their leaves now in this fall. Whatever the season, their beauty and wonder is impossible to ignore.

In the fullness of summer, their leaves are designed to capture as much sunlight as they can, as light is their main energy source. Through photosynthesis, light is turned into sugar which is then stored in the tree’s roots, trunk and branches. In the autumn, as the sunlight hours diminish and the tree needs to conserve energy for the winter, it sends hormonal signals to its leaves to break down the pigments and the valuable nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which are then redistributed to the roots and trunk, ready for use in the spring. The colourful but depleted leaves are discarded and blow like confetti to the ground where they become shelter and food for invertebrates and nourishment for the ground below.

Now, in November, trees are preparing themselves for their winter slumber – a type of

hibernation called dormancy. Their metabolism slows right down. The buds that are formed in the summer are sealed up tightly with protective scales which will soften and depart when the spring’s light and warmth returns. To avoid the deadly effects of freezing weather, a tree will also change its chemistry. The formation of ice crystals can block water transport through their interiors and burst their cells open. But by replacing some of their water with the sugars and proteins they have stored, they lower the freezing point of the moisture they contain, and the formation of ice crystals is prevented – such a clever example of biochemical engineering.

Many people have a deep affiliation for their favourite trees. It is not just for their aesthetic appeal but also for what they have come to represent to us, such as childhood memories, picnics under their branches or just that they have become familiar landmarks that we see regularly while walking or driving. Their continued presence can make our world feel safe and unchanging. The word to describe this affiliation is ‘dendrophilia’, which literally means the ‘love of trees’. For as long as I can remember, I have cherished certain trees on my ‘patch’. It all began with the weeping willows in my childhood garden, under which we would hide or make camp,

and the ‘lightning tree’ that would save our house on the hill from the bolts of frequent thunderstorms. Now, living here in this beautiful county, I love to revisit my favourite trees from time to time or share them with like-minded people.

And so, on this blustery November day, I am with an old friend visiting an ancient woodland near home where I have discovered several ‘special’ trees. I have mapped out a route which takes us under the boughs of each of them – an enormous oak, two ancient beeches, one of which is at least 500 years old, and an ash tree that has an incredible story to tell. As we walk together amid the spiced tones of autumn colours, there is a rich musty smell of decay and fungi. Flocks of rooks skirt the woodland, playing in the breeze, while a jay feverishly collects acorns, caching them away in a winter larder.

The oak and the beech trees are our first stop before we sit beneath the thick enormous

boughs of the beech for our alfresco lunch. The skies have darkened and as we don our rain gear, the clouds burst with stair-rods. Undeterred, and enjoying the sounds and smells of the downpour that drips from every surface, we go to find the ash tree and marvel at its story.

We think that once, probably about 50 years ago, a large, very old, coppiced ash tree was felled. It toppled towards the downward slope of the hill. What was left in the middle of the stump rotted away, and then, over time, 12 young trees, connected by the same root system, sprouted from the base of the old tree, growing into genetically cloned versions of their parent with their tall, perfectly straight trunks reaching towards the light. This is one of the most magical places in this ancient woodland, and even as grown adults we delight in entering the circle, looking up at the sky beyond the canopy and making a wish. n Dr Susie Curtin (email: curtin.susanna@gmail.com)

Health & Wellbeing

‘Overnight breakfast’ is delicious and super-healthy

by Fiona Chapman

I ALWAYS find breakfast a nightmare. I have never been able to find anything I actually want to eat. It is too early to cook, and I refuse to cook three meals a day! Cereal doesn’t do it for me, and toast just goes after about five minutes, and I am so greedy about butter it is not a healthy option, so better not to have it at all!

So, my daughter persuading me to have ‘overnight oats’ has been a revelation. No cooking involved, well, not in the

morning, and full of goodness, roughage, fibre, protein, herbs and sustaining.

I am perhaps rather late to this concept, but for those who have not come across it, I thought I would share it.

First, I am lucky enough to have an apple tree that this year has been laden with fruit, so I have made lots of apple puree –an apple a day keeps the doctor away! I put about five tablespoons of apple puree into a container, then about eight to 10 tablespoons of organic oats –

extremely good for the nervous system, lower cholesterol, provide fibre and minerals. Then a couple of handfuls of pumpkin seeds which help to regulate blood pressure and are full of magnesium and other minerals; sunflower seeds, again packed with minerals, good for heart health and balance blood sugar. Almonds, lots of antioxidants and good for the gut; walnuts contain Omega 3 and are great for the brain; cashew nuts, which again help with cholesterol and blood sugar. Sprinkle a tablespoon of cinnamon, excellent for stabilising blood sugar, and/or ginger powder, excellent for the circulation and getting the blood moving. Then fill the container with filtered cold water to cover all the ingredients well. Pop in

Sometimes toast and butter just does not cut it...

the fridge, leave overnight and longer and eat all week for breakfast. Amazing! If you like yogurt, you can add some kafir, which is excellent for the gut. If you have a sweet tooth, add some local and organic raw honey and it will help with hay fever and allergies. It is so easy to eat, and the nuts are vastly improved by soaking and not nearly so hard to chew – something I find hard to do in the morning – they are also much more digestible. You can also add lovely dark berries, which are full of antioxidants. It is an extremely healthy breakfast that can help with weight loss and is really rather delicious!

n Fiona Chapman is a naturopathic herbalist (email Pellyfiona@gmail.com).

When your brain won’t let something go

by Kay Parkinson

FROM awkward hugs to lawn-judging neighbours, our brains tend to fixate on the little things, and it can be challenging to let them go.

Have you ever experienced a moment when something minor happens, like someone cutting you off in traffic, your partner responding ‘fine’ in a certain tone or a friend making a casual comment and find yourself replaying it while brushing your teeth, walking the dog or even shopping at the supermarket? This isn’t a sign that you’re oversensitive – it’s simply your brain doing what brains are naturally inclined to do.

Scientists have discovered that both humans and mice tend to hold onto emotional responses long after the initial moment has passed. To investigate this experience, they used a test familiar to anyone who has been to the optometrist – a puff of air directed at the eye, similar to what occurs during a standard eye pressure test. This procedure is quick, safe and painless, but it often

causes most people to flinch and blink.

The first reaction is purely physical – however, many also experience a secondary emotional response. You may tense up, feel mildly annoyed or brace yourself for the next puff of air. Remarkably, even months or years later, many individuals still recall that sensation when they return for their next eye exam.

This emotional aftermath is what the researchers were focusing on. The brain reactivates as if replaying the moment and retains that feeling. In everyday life, this is akin to how a minor awkward encounter, or a passing criticism, can linger in your mind long after it has occurred.

It is clever in its own way. If something uncomfortable happens repeatedly, your brain wants you to remember and be ready. That is brilliant for avoiding danger. It is less brilliant when the thing you are avoiding is a mild embarrassment at the school gates, your boss adding to your

to-do list at 4.55pm or your neighbour giving your lawn a look as though it has personally offended them.

The issue is that our brains struggle to distinguish between actual threats and situations that were merely awkward or annoying. They store all these experiences in the same mental space. As a result, we end up carrying around the emotional weight of these experiences for hours or even days, even when they don’t warrant such a burden.

While what worked for mice might not be applicable to us – we can still find ways to help our brains let go more easily. This could involve taking a brisk walk, sharing a laugh with someone who understands us, listening to music that lifts our

Care home pays tribute

THE Somerleigh Court care home in Dorchester remembered the fallen and those who served in two world wars and other conflicts in a service in the home’s grounds.

The service, attended by about 25 residents, included a reading by John Isherwood, the husband of one of the residents and a former member of the armed forces.

The Last Post and the

Reveille were played, and silhouettes of soldiers, crafted by the care home’s maintenance team, were put up on display in the gardens.

Home residents gathered over the period of Remembrance to share their memories of wartime or of serving in the armed forces.

Residents unable to attend the service watched live coverage from The Cenotaph screened in

the home’s three lounges. Regional support manager, Donia O’Connor, said: “It was a real honour to spend Remembrance Day at Somerleigh Court Care Home. “This day carries such deep significance for our residents, many of whom have personal or family connections to those who served and sacrificed during World War Two and in the years since.”

mood or taking a slow breath while reminding ourselves: “t’s over. I am safe now.”

Practising self-compassion means recognising when we are still stuck in the emotional aftermath of past events. It’s not about pretending those moments didn’t happen, it’s about acknowledging: “Thank you, brain, for trying to protect me, but I am alright now.” Our brains will always react to life’s small jabs. The skill lies in learning to thank the messenger and then letting them go. n Kay is a therapist specialising in trauma, emotional neglect and the impact of shame on identity and self-worth. Kay’s work focuses on transforming shame through the lens of authentic honour. Visit www. placetotalktherapies.co.uk.

John Isherwood gave a reading

Making a raised bed

by Sally Gregson

SOON, while the summer garden is sleeping, it will be time to work out plans for next year. After a summer of intense heat, it is tempting to think our climate has changed to a drier, hotter one. But, as the weather pundits tell us, it could equally be wetter and stormier.

On heavy ground, one answer is to raise the soil level of the borders. Raised beds are not just a relief to aching backs, they enhance healthy growth. Water in general retains its temperature longer than the surrounding air, and this applies to soil water. Wet soil could mean a later start to spring, and well-drained, dry soils warm up sooner.

We could take a tip from a great garden designer, Piet Oudolf, who raised all the borders of the new garden, Oudolf Field, that he designed

around the Hauser & Wirth art gallery in Bruton, Somerset. The soil was heavy, wet clay, so lifting the level of all the borders was well worth the extreme effort.

First, it is important to improve the drainage by breaking it up with a fork to prevent the formation of a ‘pan’ – an impermeable, solid layer. Then add plenty of grit and sharp sand loosely mixed with topsoil, to the desired depth. Consolidate this and prevent the invasion of weeds, by laying plain cardboard over the whole area, and covering it with a mixture of well-rotted manure and mushroom compost. By the time winter has worked its magic and spring has returned, you should have an area that will be perfect for planting. The edges of the bed could be formally enclosed or left to drift into the surrounding paths.

Small, formal beds are usually best framed with an edge, to accentuate their shape, and prevent the soil from washing away in a torrential downpour.

At Oudolf Field, the edges are left proud of the surrounding paths and well planted to

prevent erosion. The loose, relaxed feel to the planting is Piet Oudolf’s intention. And the year-round beauty of all those plants thriving in the correct conditions brings a contented smile to every visitor, and gardener.

How to grow tasty asparagus

by Sally Gregson

IT is definitely a delight to indulge in home-grown asparagus, pulled from the border and steamed straight away. They just need lots of creamy butter, black pepper and salt. And now is a good time to order the crowns while they go into dormancy.

Connoisseurs of asparagus recommend the variety ‘Backlim’ for its fat, green spears, or try ‘Pacific Purple’ for coloured stems.

In a new vegetable garden, it should be easy to put aside an area specifically for asparagus. They don’t like company, especially that of pernicious weeds such as dandelion, docks and ground elder.

When the crowns arrive, they should be kept in a bucket or tray of sand out of the damaging

frosts – young plants are vulnerable to freezing temperatures, especially if they have started to push up in a warm parcel.

Decide on an undisturbed location for a dedicated asparagus bed and prepare it by first clearing the soil of perennial weeds. Then fork in lots of well-rotted manure mixed with mushroom compost

to make the soil friable, easy-draining. And leave the border undisturbed over the winter.

Come February, as the soil starts to warm up, a haze of green weed seedlings will need to be cut off with a hoe, at least once. It’s a sign that the soil is ready to plant the asparagus crowns. Give each asparagus crown plenty of room – about

30cm wide and about 15cm deep should allow space for the developing crowns to expand. Make a mound of soil in the centre and place the crown on top with the roots spread out around. Cover the plant with about 5cm of soil firmed in gently.

Keep the plant watered during dry weather, and as the new spears extend, fill the trench up with more soil until it is full by the following autumn. The juicy spears should be ready for pulling after about three years.

The last piece of advice is perhaps the hardest – it is always important to stop pulling the shoots by the end of June. Allow the plant a little natural growth for the remainder of the summer. And enjoy the fruits of your labour, and your patience.

Create a super winter garden

WINTER does not have to mean a dull, lifeless garden. With the right plants and a little care, gardeners can enjoy a beautiful outdoor space full of colour and interest throughout the winter months. British Garden Centres suggests a wide range of winter-ready plants that brighten borders and pots throughout the cold months.

Even when summer flowers have faded, gardeners can still find plenty of plants that provide colour, texture and shape in the winter garden. One of the best known winter blooms is the hellebore, also called the Christmas rose. Hellebores are hardy perennials that come into life from late December, producing delicate flowers in white, pink, cream and sometimes even deep plum shades. Hellebores grow well in shady or semi-shady spots, making them perfect under trees or beside pathways. Planting several together creates lovely swathes of winter colour.

Heathers are another fantastic choice for winter colour and structure, when other plants are dormant. Winter heather blooms from autumn to spring, bringing cheerful pink, white or purple flowers. Its low-growing habit is ideal for brightening bare patches, containers or edging borders. Heathers also support important pollinators by providing nectar when few other

plants are flowering.

Gardeners can also brighten up shady corners and doorways with cyclamen, which boast small, butterfly-shaped flowers in shades of magenta, pink, red and white. Their marbled leaves add interest even when not in flower, and they thrive in frost-free spots.

Mahonia is another favourite with its bold evergreen spiky, glossy leaves and fragrant yellow flower clusters that appear from late autumn. These clusters attract bees, as well as providing a lovely scent. Its dark purple berries add colour in winter and are widely available and easy to grow.

For evergreen foliage and berries, Skimmia and Sarcococca are top picks. Skimmia japonica produces glossy, dark leaves alongside groups of red berries that last through winter. The flowers have a delicate scent, and varieties like ‘Rubella’ are especially popular. Sarcococca or sweet box is a low-growing shrub with glossy leaves and very fragrant, creamy white flowers in late winter. The scent is strongest on mild days, so position it where it can be enjoyed close up, like by the front door or lining pathways.

Don’t overlook the beauty of hardy evergreen ferns in winter. Ferns such as Polystichum setiferum keep their lush,

feathery fronds throughout the colder months and add soft texture and greenery to shaded parts of the garden. Combine them with other colourful foliage plants like Heuchera and ornamental grasses for depth and

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seasonal interest. Other winter heroes to consider include dogwoods with striking red stems, viburnums for early flowers and berries, and Nandina domestica with glowing red foliage in frost. Gardeners can brighten up shady corners and doorways with cyclamen

Walk this way: Our thousands of miles of footpaths

by AJ Selby

“Do not follow where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and make a trail,” Ralph Waldo Emerson

REGULAR readers will know how I enjoy walking in all seasons but with a view to taking in the scenery, watching the wildlife and just letting the world go by – so ambling rather than head-down hiking. There is no excuse not to take this form of exercise for anyone fit and able – and I often see the less fit and able still making the most of what they can achieve.

We are blessed with many miles of footpaths on this little rock adrift in the cold Atlantic Ocean, with more than 140,000 miles of public rights of way in England and Wales. That’s 246.4 million yards, and with about 68 million inhabitants, if everyone in the country stood on a footpath evenly spaced, there would still be 3.6 yards to

the next person, a remarkable figure on an overcrowded island like this one.

Dorset is well blessed with open access offering nearly 3,000 miles of public rights of way including 4,700 footpaths, 1,700 bridleways and 37 byways. The Dorset section of the South West Coastal Path covers 75 miles across some of the loveliest views over the entire 630 miles of the path. Many footpaths have been around for centuries – the Ridgeway goes back thousands of years – but the creation of definitive legal public rights of way was set down in the National Parks and Countryside Act of 1949 which required local authorities to prepare official maps noting the public paths.

Of course, there are many other long-distance paths apart from the Ridgeway that have been used by travellers for millennia, such as the Roman

Chapman’s Pool anchorage on the Isle of Purbeck viewed from the South West Coast Path looking towards Weymouth and Portland

roads like the Fosse Way built 2,000 years ago and running from Exeter to Lincoln, some 230 miles, and passing important Roman towns like Ilchester, Bath, Cirencester and Leicester. The Pilgrims Way, running from Winchester to Canterbury, ostensibly for worshipers to travel to the cathedral to pay homage to Thomas à Becket (d 1170), has been a trackway for a lot longer than that. Archaeological dating takes it back to 600BC but some experts think it has been in existence since the Stone Age a couple of thousand years into the distant past.

Some I have enjoyed walking, such as the Saxon Shore Way, the South Downs Way, the Peddars Way, the Norfolk Coastal Path and the Camel Trail. In the north, the Coast to Coast is one of the most famous – a fairly tough walk from Saint Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay covering 183 miles of undulating terrain at the top of the Pennines. It covers three National Parks – the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors. It’s on my ‘to do’ list, although the entire route may be a bridge too far.

The beauty of walking, say, the South West Coastal Path, is that it is relatively ‘local’ and can be done in sections of a day or a few days. I have done several of these in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, although I

have yet to tackle any of the northern section from Bideford to Minehead. There are many short walks within a mile or less of most people’s house, and the best way to find these is a local Ordnance Survey map. I was gifted a bespoke map a few years ago and this is a great resource. Rather than a standard map – how many times do I seem to live in the bottom corner? – you can buy a custom map where you order with your postcode as the central point on the map – or any other postcode of your choosing – and you can see all the walks and footpaths within a radius of your house. The Explorer range gives the best detail with a 1:25,000 scale giving loads of information including farms, churches, topographical details and close contour lines. The Landranger maps, with only half the resolution of 1:50,000, are better where a broader view is needed, such as the general area and for car or bike journeys.

Apart from using the maps to find your local walks –footpaths are a dotted green line, bridleways a dashed green line – it’s fascinating to study a map and look at all the places within a few miles of your home and see what is there. National Trails – green diamonds with an acorn, recreational routes – ditto but no diamond, national cycle networks, traffic-free cycle routes, access land, access land in woodland, foreshore access, civil parish boundaries and many other points of interest.

The maps are a joy to look at and I have met many a walker who has dozens of these maps covering most of the country. The stiff paper they are printed on is pretty resilient to folding and a bit of damp, although the ‘new’ way now is to sign up for an annual subscription and download the maps to your phone, which not only means you don’t have to fight wind and rain to see where you are going but a red arrow conveniently tells you exactly where you are.

Timeless topaz

by Amy Brenan, director of Heirlooms Jewellers,

21 South Street, Wareham TOPAZ has captivated jewellery lovers for centuries with its dazzling clarity and range of colours – from warm honey tones to rich golden amber and icy blues.

Though often associated with November as its birthstone, topaz has long been loved for its brilliance and versatility, making it a favourite among antique jewellers.

During the Georgian and Victorian eras, topaz was highly prized and often used in intricate brooches, necklaces and rings.

The most sought-after variety was the rich orange-pink ‘Imperial Topaz’, mined in Brazil and favoured by European aristocracy.

Its fiery colour symbolised strength and affection, making it a popular choice for sentimental jewellery such as love tokens and mourning pieces.

Blue topaz, now probably the one you are used to seeing due to modern treatments, was once

extremely rare in nature and early antique pieces featuring it are particularly valuable.

The piece you can see in the picture is a stunning Victorian quatrefoil pendant featuring four pear-cut aquamarines surrounding a central orange topaz, accented by two pink topaz and two peridot stones.

It’s fitted with both a brooch pin and roller catch, as well as a pendant loop for versatile wear, and showcases classic Victorian colour and craftsmanship.

One of the most famous examples of topaz in historic jewellery is the Braganza Diamond – a massive gem housed in the Portuguese Crown Jewels that was long believed to be a diamond but is now thought to be a colourless topaz.

Similarly, the Russian royal collection included exquisite Imperial Topaz jewels gifted to the Tsars from the mines of Ouro Preto.

Topaz continues to sparkle as a symbol of warmth, luxury and enduring beauty through the ages as well as appealing to contemporary jewellery lovers.

Stories, style and craftsmanship

DUKE’S auction house invites collectors and design enthusiasts to its Interiors sale – a curated celebration of craftsmanship, character and timeless style being held next week.

From Georgian refinement to mid-century statement pieces, the auction brings together a diverse selection of decorative arts and furniture.

A standout highlight is a watercolour by Albert Moulton Foweraker (1873–1942), A Spanish Town (1931), signed lower left, 35cm x 53cm.

The work comes from the collection of the late Stephen

Reginald Topp Wicks – a life-long Isle of Purbeck collector and dealer known for sourcing eclectic and curious objects from his Boscombe shop.

The painting is Lot 4 and is estimated at £300–£500.

Whether your taste leans toward stately antiques or bold conversation pieces, Duke’s Interiors sale offers a world of inspiration and a chance to discover items that bring stories, style and craftsmanship into the home.

The auction is on Thursday, November 27, at 10.30am.

Tourism businesses take turn in the spotlight

TOURISM businesses in Dorset celebrated as 68 trophies were presented at the 13th Dorset Tourism Awards at Weymouth Pavilion.

The event was the conclusion of three months of judging, with a team of independent judges carrying out 72 visits.

Hospitality businesses of all kinds were recognised for excellence in customer service, sustainability, digital communications and accessibility.

Guests were inspired by presentations from Professor Peter Jones, chair of the CRUMBS Project and last year’s winner of the Outstanding Contribution Award, and Rosie Radwell of Marsham Court Hotel. Both speakers urged the audience to do more to welcome and employ people with disabilities, with Marsham Court announced later as this year’s Outstanding Contribution winner.

A parallel raffle in aid of the

DORSET TOURISM AWARD WINNERS

n Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award, sponsored by The Crumbs Project: Gold, Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth; Silver, Museum of East Dorset, Wimborne Minster; Bronze, Brownsea Island – National Trust, Poole.

n Active & Learning Experience of the Year, sponsored by Ford Farm Cheesemakers: Gold, Safari Cruises, Birds of Poole Harbour, Wareham; Silver, The Best of Both, Lyme Bay RIB Charter, Bridport; Bronze, Animal Experiences, Oceanarium, Bournemouth.

n B&B and Guesthouse of the Year, sponsored by Goadsby: Gold, Woodland House B and B, Wimborne; Silver, Brace of Pheasants, Dorchester.

n Business Events Venue of the Year, sponsored by Laceys Solicitors: Gold, Lighthouse, Poole; Silver, Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth; Bronze, Merley House Events, Wimborne.

n Café/Tearoom of the Year, sponsored by Dorset Food & Drink: Gold, Compton Acres Café & Tearooms, Poole; Silver, Coffee Jazz, Weymouth; Bronze, Cherries Abbey Farm, Abbotsbury.

n Camping, Caravanning Park & Glamping Business of the Year, sponsored by Anytime Booking: Gold, Bagwell Farm Touring Park, Chickerell; Silver, Monkton Wyld Holiday Park, Charmouth; Bronze, Pineapple Farm

Holidays, Bridport; Commended, Ranmoor Estate, Blandford Forum.

n Dog Friendly Business of the Year, sponsored by Baboo Gelato: Gold, Greenwood Grange, Higher Bockhampton; Silver, Bagwell Farm Touring Park, Chickerell; Bronze, Moonfleet Manor Hotel, Chickerell; Commended, Golden Acre Jurassic Coastal Lodges, Lower Eype.

n Holiday Park of the Year, sponsored by Tozers: Gold, Newlands Holiday Park, Charmouth; Silver, Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport; Bronze, Hoburne Park, Christchurch.

n Large Hotel of the Year, sponsored by Booking.com: Gold, Hotel Collingwood, Bournemouth; Silver, Moonfleet Manor Hotel, Chickerell; Bronze, Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth.

n Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by Albert Goodman: Gold, Nothe Fort, Weymouth; Silver, Brownsea Island – National Trust, Poole; Bronze, Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, Dorchester and Moors Valley Country Park and Forest, Ashley Heath.

n Outstanding Contribution to Dorset Tourism, sponsored by Services for Tourism: The Team at Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth.

n New Tourism Business of the Year, sponsored by Visit Dorset: Gold, Club Casita, Christchurch; Silver,

CRUMBS Project raised more than £2,000 for the charity.

The trophies were presented to Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in 21 categories, in addition to the Winner of Winners award to Rudge Farm Cottages in Bridport.

Amanda Park of sponsors Visit Dorset said: “Visit Dorset are proud sponsors of the Dorset Tourism Awards and, as always, we were thrilled to celebrate the incredible range and quality of businesses that make Dorset such a standout

G&T Garden Tours, Stoke Abbott; Bronze, Myra’s Korean and Japanese Restaurant, Dorchester.

n Pub of the Year, sponsored by Goadsby: Gold, The Old Thatch, Wimborne; Silver, Chaplin’s and The Cellar Bar, Bournemouth; Bronze, Brace of Pheasants, Dorchester.

n Regenerative Tourism Award, sponsored by Suez: Gold, Rudge Farm Cottages, Bridport; Silver, Hotel Collingwood, Bournemouth and Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth; Bronze, Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport; Commended, Kingston Country Courtyard, Wareham.

n Restaurant & Casual Dining of the Year, sponsored by Casa di Vini: Gold, Catch at The Old Fish Market, Weymouth; Silver, Al Molo, Dorchester; Bronze, Lolas Spanish Tapas Restaurant, Bournemouth.

n Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year, sponsored by Quality in Tourism: Gold, Greenwood Grange, Higher Bockhampton; Silver, Wild Meadow Cottages, Weymouth; Bronze, Rudge Farm Cottages, Bridport; Commended, Burnbake, Corfe Castle.

n Small Hotel of the Year, sponsored by Agilysys: Gold, Summer Lodge Hotel, Evershot; Silver, The Green House Hotel, Bournemouth and The Priory, Wareham; Bronze, Outbuildings Dorset, Bradpole.

destination. This year’s event highlighted just how far our tourism sector has come — with fresh ideas, sustainable practices and unforgettable visitor experiences.

Congratulations to all the winners!”

Awards organiser, Robin Barker of Services for Tourism, added: “Awards mean so much to business owners, managers and their whole teams. It’s about recognition, profile, independent feedback and ongoing motivation to do yet more. I am sure that last night’s winners will go on to yet greater heights as a result.”

Many of the Gold winners in the Dorset Awards will also be nominated to represent Dorset in the national VisitEngland awards later in the year.

n Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by Resort Dorset: Gold, Museum of East Dorset, Wimborne Minster; Silver, Highcliffe Castle, Highcliffe; Bronze, Bridport Museum, Bridport and Shaftesbury Abbey Museum & Gardens, Shaftesbury.

n Spa & Wellbeing Experience of the Year, sponsored by Agilysys: Gold, Arcadia Spa Day, Arcadia Spa, Dorchester; Commended, Afternoon Retreat Package, The Eastbury Hotel & Spa, Sherborne.

n Tourism Event/Festival of the Year, sponsored by Tomorrows Travel: Gold, Bournemouth Writing Festival 2025; Silver, Poole Harbour Festival 2025; Bronze, Dino Week 2025 - We Are Weymouth and Swanage Carnival 2025.

n Unsung Hero Award, sponsored by Coastland College: Gold, Tegwyn Jones, Bridport Museum, Bridport; Silver, Chrissy Rolfe, The Walled Garden, Moreton and Tony Edwards, Kingston County Courtyard, Wareham.

n Wedding Venue of the Year, sponsored by Purbeck Chocolate: Gold, Rudge Farm Weddings, Bridport; Silver, The Italian Villa, Poole; Bronze, Highcliffe Castle, Highcliffe and Merley House Events, Wimborne; Commended, Kingston Country Courtyard, Wareham.

n Winner of Winners, sponsored by Visit Dorset: Rudge Farm Cottages, Bridport.

Art and history on show at port

STUDENTS from Coastland College drew inspiration from Portland Port’s historic Engine Shed to bring their artistic ideas to life.

They spent a day sketching and creating models based on the shapes and lines of the 19th century building before returning to the college’s Weymouth campus to develop their concepts into artworks. It formed part of the induction for the 12-strong group, starting the year’s study on the University of Arts London (UAL) Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at the college.

The Grade-II listed Engine Shed was built in the mid-19th century to serve the Admiralty Incline Railway, which transported stone from quarries to Portland Harbour for the construction of breakwaters. It was also the venue for an exhibition of The Portland Dress during the b side BIG Weekend, created through embroidery to explore themes of heritage, identity, migration and community on Portland.

More than 300 people contributed to the project in workshops guided by local textile artists, including residents, refugees and

migrants.

It was created as a ‘sister’ piece to The Red Dress project, conceived by artist Kirstie Macleod, for individuals, particularly women, and communities around the world to tell their stories through embroidery.

Portland Port also threw open its gate for its annual heritage tours for Dorset Architectural Heritage Week.

Guide Wes Parks led three tours for two hours a time about the history of the port and harbour, its construction and key figures and places.

The route included the Prince Consort Walk on the Victorian breakwater and the first stone laid for the breakwaters by Prince Albert as well as the Inner Breakwater Fort to view old harbour defences.

Wes talked about some of the famous shipwrecks of the 1,000 vessels estimated to be sunk along the Dorset coastline and the history of the port during the Second World War – including its importance to D-Day and Leading Seaman Jack Mantle who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery while defending HMS Foylebank in Portland Harbour.

Bill Reeves, Portland Port

chief executive, said: “It was a pleasure to once again welcome local people into the port.

“Our heritage tours are always very popular and we were pleased to make our Engine Shed available for b Side and Weymouth College.

“As a major local employer and contributor to local economy, we believe it is important to support the area where so many of our people and their families live as well as those of businesses based at the port.”

Motoring Headlight glare number one fear for drivers on dark nights

FOUR-IN-FIVE drivers (82%) are concerned about getting dazzled by vehicle headlights with the arrival of darker evenings, new RAC research has found.

With the clocks having gone back and the imminent publication of a governmentcommissioned report into headlight glare, the findings also show the brightness of some headlights is the top reason for feeling nervous when driving in the dark.

Of the four-in-10 respondents (38%) who said they are nervous about driving in the dark, three-quarters (75%) said it was because of bright headlights, compared to 63% who said spotting hazards is harder in the dark and 41% who said they cannot judge the speed of other vehicles as easily. A third (33%) reported they are nervous about driving in the dark as they find judging the distance of other vehicles harder, while around a quarter (23%) say they just feel less confident driving at night.

Following a rise in complaints from drivers about getting dazzled the RAC began campaigning several years ago, along with The College of Optometrists, IAM RoadSmart and Baroness Hayter, for the causes of headlight glare to be investigated. This joint work led to the Government commissioning independent research, conducted by TRL, which is set to be published soon.

Comprehensive RAC research earlier this year found as many as one-in-four (25%)

drivers who find vehicle headlights too bright are driving less as a result, with a further 22% saying they wish they could but that they have no choice other than to drive at night.

RAC senior policy officer, Rod Dennis, said:

“Unfortunately, for a lot of drivers the annual onset of darker evenings coincides with another unwelcome arrival –that of overly-bright headlights that they believe make driving more difficult due to dazzle and discomfort.

“While most of us have no choice other than to adapt to driving at night more often as the clocks go back, the fact headlight glare is the leading cause of nervousness underlines it’s a problem that needs tackling. At the same time, it’s important to remember that brighter headlights can give drivers a better view of the road ahead – so there’s a balance to be struck.

“We look forward to the publication of the Government’s

report and hope that it helps explain why so many drivers report struggling to cope with dazzling headlights – whether that’s due to changes in technology, the fact more of us than ever are driving vehicles that sit higher on the road, or for some other reason. We also hope it comes with recommendations that lead to road users feeling safer behind the wheel at night.”

IAM RoadSmart director of policy and standards, Nicholas Lyes, said: “November often sees a spike in the number of collisions as reduced grip and visibility catches out the unprepared driver.

“Sadly, the impact of headlight glare is now also a worry for motorists, so much so the evidence suggests many are reducing their driving in the

FIVE TIPS FOR AVOIDING GLARE

n Ensure your windscreen is clean, inside and out.

n If you wear glasses, make sure they are clean and smudge-free too.

n Keep up to date with sight tests with your local optometrist, to ensure you have the right glasses or contact lenses, and that your eyes are healthy.

n Adjust your interior mirrors to reduce the

dazzle from vehicles behind you.

n When faced with bright oncoming headlights, keep your eyes open until you can see clearly again. This can help minimise the discomfort of glare.

n If you are dazzled while driving, slow down and/or even pull over where safe and legal to do so until your vision improves.

evenings. It’s a timely reminder to check headlight aim, ensure lenses are clean, and replace any faulty bulbs promptly and carefully. Drivers should also consider adjusting their speed and increasing stopping distances during darker hours to account for any limited visibility.”

Denise Voon, clinical advisor at The College of Optometrists, said: “Patients are telling us more frequently that headlight glare from oncoming vehicles is affecting their ability to see clearly while driving, particularly at a time when brighter LED headlamps and larger SUV-type vehicles have become more common on the roads. We look forward to the findings from the Government’s headlight glare research project and hope this evidence enables the industry to find a solution that will reduce headlight glare and make driving at night safer for everyone.

“We also remind drivers to always wear their prescribed glasses or contact lens for driving, including at night, and we urge anyone experiencing issues with their vision while driving to contact their local optometrist for advice.”

The RAC website at www. rac.co.uk/drive/advice/roadsafety/headlight-glare carries a full guide to headlight glare.

It’s back to school for Christmas Assembly...

THE Big Christmas Assembly 2025 is coming to The Mowlem in Swanage this weekend (November 29).

What began as a few playful social media videos of teacher James B Partridge performing iconic school songs for his pupils quickly turned into a nationwide sensation.

The videos tapped into

nostalgic hearts across the UK and sparked the creation of Primary School Assembly Bangers.

Since early 2023, James has brought this live schoolassembly experience to stages nationwide, with viral performances at Glastonbury Festival.

James’s journey has taken him from school classrooms to

ALL WRAPPED UP

James B Partridge is ccming to The Mowlem in Swanage

some of the UK’s biggest stages.

Highlights include performing with Gareth Malone’s Voices at the Royal Variety Show and providing vocals for major artists like Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones and Electric Light Orchestra.

He has also appeared on BBC Breakfast, The One

Show, CBBC Newsround, BBC Scotland, ITV’s This Morning, BBC Radio 2 with Jeremy Vine and Scott Mills, and Virgin Radio with Tom Allen.

The festive-themed Big Christmas Assembly is at The Mowlem on Saturday, November 29, at 7.30pm. For tickets, visit www. themowlem.com

Just the ticket for families

FAMILY Cinema is on offer at Lighthouse Poole with a programme of British, classic, world and independent films – and tickets at affordable prices.

Among the movies the venue hopes to screen are ET the Extra-Terrestrial, Bridge to Terabithia, The Polar Express, Arthur Christmas, Kensuke’s Kingdom, The

Pirates!, In An Adventure with Scientists! and Where the Wild Things Are.

It is planned to hold two screenings a month – some of which will be relaxed –followed by a themed arts and crafts workshop.

Family Cinema offers a chance to see films on the big screen not often shown at the cinema with tickets priced £5.

It is a new collaboration as part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network (FAN) and development work, made possible thanks to National Lottery funding.

Lighthouse head of programming, Katy Griffiths, said: “The Family Cinema project aims to create and support a new family film community delivering

Jazz trio in the Showbar

THE Craig Milverton Trio will be serving up jazz in the Showbar at The Mowlem in Swanage at the end of this week.

Craig Milverton is one of Britain’s finest jazz pianists, recognised by winning Best Jazz Pianist in the 2010 British Jazz Awards.

Alongside Craig will be two of the most gifted UK artists, the virtuoso Ashley John Long on bass and young drum sensation Alex Goodyear.

The Craig Milverton Trio will be playing a free show on Friday, November 28, at 7.30pm.

SONGS from the stage and screen, plus seasonal favourites, are promised when the Encore Singers give an autumn concert at the United Church in Dorchester.

The concert is on Saturday, November 29, at

exceptional cinema experiences for families in our area that might not otherwise be able to enjoy a trip to the cinema.

“The programme will offer a diverse programme of family films for children up to 15 years old with screening accompanied by creative workshops themed around film.”

7.30pm, and entry is free of charge, with a retiring collection in aid of The Leprosy Mission.

John Wayman, from the group, said: “Why not go to the Christmas lights switchon in Brewery Square until 7pm, then come up to our concert to get warm?”

Hot stuff at village hall

HOT Fingers, led by the inimitable ‘Spats’ Langham, are heading back to Dorset for a three-night tour that takes in Corfe Castle, with arts charity Artsreach.

Tom ‘Spats’ Langham has been entertaining since his teens on tenor banjo, guitar, ukulele and vocals, and has performed with such notables as The Pasadena Roof Orchestra, The Temperance Seven and Acker Bilk.

Malcolm Sked, on tuba, sousaphone and double-bass, has toured the world with Bob Kerr’s Whoopee Band and The Charleston Chasers.

Together with vocalist Emily Campbell and multiinstrumentalist Danny Blyth on clarinets, guitar, mandolin and

harmonica, Hot Fingers sell-out venues up and down the UK.

Audiences can expect an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music, from the red hot jazz of 1920s New York and sophisticated 1930s Swing, to the king of gypsy swing, Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Oscar Aleman.

Hot Fingers are at the village halls in Woodlands on Friday, November 28; Milborne St Andrew on Saturday, November 29, and Corfe Castle on Sunday, November 30.

Tickets and full details are available online at www. artsreach.co.uk

Museum scores double win at tourism awards

THE Museum of East Dorset in Wimborne is celebrating a double triumph at the Dorset Tourism Awards.

The museum was awarded Gold in the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year category, recognising its outstanding visitor experience, imaginative programming and deep connection to local heritage. In addition, the museum received Silver in the

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award, honouring its commitment to welcoming all visitors through thoughtful design, inclusive interpretation, accessibility and community engagement.

The museum has wheelchair access and a lift, making all its floors accessible to all visitors as well as providing free braille guides and loaning walking aids.

It also provides free sensory backpacks equipped with a range of equipment including fidget toys and ear defenders as well as recently opening a new sensory shed in the garden with toys, musical instruments and special lighting.

Museum operations manager, Andy Putt, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to receive these awards.

“They reflect the passion and dedication of our team and volunteers who work tirelessly to make the museum a vibrant,

inclusive space for everyone.

“These accolades are a testament to Wimborne’s rich cultural spirit and the power of local collaboration.

“They’re also a wonderful way to celebrate our fifth birthday later this month since the renovation of the museum.”

The Dorset Tourism Awards, now in their 13th year, celebrate excellence across the county’s visitor economy, with entries judged on innovation, customer service, sustainability and impact.

Belvedere Singers’ Christmas concert

THE Belvedere Singers’ Christmas concert at St Mary’s Church, Swanage, features two local soloists.

Nick Aiko Dando – trumpet – and Martha Harwood –soprano – both hail from the town and are both Purbeck Youth Music Ambassadors.

Nick will play the Slavonic Fantasie by Carl Hohne while Martha will sing the solo in O Holy Night and join the choir as soloist in Kenneth Leighton’s Lully Lulla, a beautiful 20th century version of the text of Coventry Carol. As ever, the choir will sing

music from across the centuries with both familiar and sometimes more unusual Christmas pieces.

These will range from Gaudete (1582) to Walking in the Air and Winter Wonderland from more re-cent times.

The audience will get to

join in one or two special pieces – not least the eternal favourite, The Twelve Days of Christmas.

The concert is on Saturday, December 6, at 7.30pm and tickets are £9 on the door or from choir members, under-18s free.

Play finds humour at AA meeting

NATIONAL Theatre Live is coming to The Mowlem in Swanage with a screening of The Fifth Step.

Olivier Award-winner Jack Lowden – Slow Horses, Dunkirk – is joined by Emmy and BAFTA-winner Martin Freeman – The Hobbit, The Responder – in the critically acclaimed and

Scrumpy & Western favourites’ album launch gig

DORCHESTER will be ordering in extra cider supplies when much-loved band Skimmity Hitchers roll into town for a special gig.

The Scrumpy & Western four-piece are launching a new album at the Shire Hall Museum, performing an evening gig in the old courts. The venue fits perfectly with

subversively funny new play by David Ireland.

After years in the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, James becomes a sponsor to newcomer Luka.

The pair bond over black coffee, trade stories and build a fragile friendship out of their shared experiences.

But as Luka approaches step five – the moment of confession – dangerous truths emerge, threatening the trust on which both of their recoveries depend.

Finn den Hertog directs

the band’s love of Dorset and west country history, it being the location of the trial of the Tolpuddle Martyrs and many other important and intriguing cases from 1797 until 1955.

The album is a celebration of

the band’s 15th anniversary this year and is a re-recorded retrospective of their most popular songs, including West Country Holiday, Cider Drinkin’ Idiot and Kimberlin.

They will be performing all

the provocative and entertaining production filmed live from Soho Place in London’s West End

The Fifth Step is screened on Thursday, November 27, at 7pm.

15 tracks live on the night with a few surprises thrown in. As is usual with a Skimmity Hitchers gig – expect the unexpected!

Tickets for the gig on Saturday, December 6, are available online at www. skimmityhitchers.bigcartel.com and cost £16, including booking fee. Doors open at 5.30pm and the performance starts at 7pm.

Band frontman, Tatty Smart, said: “We are very excited to be celebrating 15 years of Skimmity Hitchers, and what better place to play than the heart of Dorset’s county town?

“Dorchester has been the site of many epic Skimmity gigs over the years – we’ve played at least 12 different venues in town – so it seems only right that we come back to where it all began!”

Opera coming to the village hall

OPERA newbies and aficionados alike will enjoy A Night at the Opera coming to Studland next month.

Soprano Callie Gaston, tenor Roger Paterson and pianist Elspeth Wilkes will serve up a variety of well-loved opera arias and duets followed by musical theatre classics.

Audiences wanting a relaxed introduction to opera can revel in the romance of Puccini, the passion of Gounod and the heartbreak of Verdi. Each piece is set in context by the performers, so no prior knowledge is necessary.

Callie and Roger, who trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland respectively, tour all over the world to perform.

Gaston has previously

appeared in Dorset as part of Opera Holloway.

A Night at the Opera is presented with Dorset rural arts charity Artsreach at Studland Village Hall on Thursday, December 4.

Tickets and full details are available online at www. artsreach.co.uk

Arts & Entertainment

Poets inspire school students

STUDENTS at Wey Valley Academy in Weymouth were thrilled to hear performances by internationally acclaimed poets John Agard and Phillip Nanton.

Agard delivered one of the most exciting performances in contemporary poetry, not only in the way he performed his work, but also in the way he discussed it with his year 11 audience.

Agard’s poem Checking Out Me History appears on the GCSE Poetry paper for the English Literature exam.

In his performance he combined historical awareness, cultural insights and extraordinary humour.

One student said: “The awareness of Agard’s poetry regarding identity, race and culture is significant.”

Another added: “This was such a creative workshop that explored issues in society today and alongside revising the poetry, we celebrated diversity and Black History Month here at Wey Valley Academy.”

Mark Chutter, head of Performing Arts, who organised the event, said: “Our thanks to Phillip Nanton and John Agard and to Renaissance One for such an innovative and creative day.

“The pupils were highly involved in the session creating their own poetry using the limerick form with Nanton.

“Agard’s performance was musical, rhythmical and electric.

“Poetry like this should be in schools – nurturing reading, creativity and performance in

our students is at the heart of Wey Valley.”

Mr Chutter presented Agard and Nanton at the Dorchester Literary Festival in the evening.

The performance was co-produced by Wey Valley Academy and supported by funding by Arts Council England with sponsorship from Authentic Education.

All things Bright and Beautiful

ART in the community is being celebrated in this year’s Art in Poundbury winter exhibition, Bright and Beautiful.

The event is showcasing 140 local artists – and hundreds of original works, prints and cards will be for sale.

The event is raising funds for the Dorset County Hospital Charity and Arts in Hospital.

The centrepiece of the exhibition is a community art piece, a flock of birds, handmade by groups from local schools, youth clubs, older living communities, businesses and Weldmar hospice.

It soars across the exhibition hall and each bird, created using the outline of the maker’s hand, carries a personal message of

hope.

The Bright and Beautiful exhibition is at the Jubilee Hall, Poundbury, until Sunday, November 30, 10am-4pm.

Local businesses and organisations have donated money, prizes, services and their time, including CG Fry & Son Builders, Morrish Homes, Rolls Landscaping Services, Art 2

Card, Parkers Property Consultants, Poundbury Gardens, Silverlake and Handelsbanken.

Tate Gallery artists in An Eclectic Eye

MODERN British and contemporary paintings and prints, pottery and jewellery will be on show in the An Eclectic Eye exhibition at Furzebrook Studios, near Wareham.

Tate Gallery artists will

be on show including Sandra Blow, Prunella Clough, Robyn Denny, William Gear, John Hoyland, Albert Irvin, William Tyler and John Wells.

Peter Joyce and others

will be exhibiting contemporary paintings.

Studio pottery includes work by Charles Bound, Mike Dodd, Janet Leach, John Maltby, Muchelney Pottery and Robin Welch. Vintage French pottery

and jewellery will also be on show.

An Eclectic Eye runs from Friday, November 28, to Sunday, December 7, open 1-5pm Monday to Friday and 11am-5pm Saturday and Sunday.

Spotlight Diary

Diary entries are £6 plus VAT per entry. The deadline for the December 8 issue is NOON on Thursday, November 27. Call us on 01963 400186 or email adverts@blackmorevale.net. Please call prior to attending events listed to ensure they are still on.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

TUESDAY

WAREHAM CAMERA CLUB ‘25 PROGRAMME

Parish Hall 7.30pm Wareham - unless on Zoom

Visitors welcome - £3

Zoom link available from website December

2nd Speakers Jane & Steve Lee ‘Our Journey in Print and AV’ - Raffle

9th Speakers - Carol & Norman Wiles - Rajasthan India

16th Christmas Buffet - 5 min AV’s & 10 minute talks

23rd No meeting

30th No meeting

SATURDAY

18.30 WHIST DRIVE at St Mary’s Church, Rectory Classroom, Swanage. Every Saturday. Tea and coffee provided. Very friendly group. Contact Richard: 01929 553516

SUNDAY

10.00 SUNDAY, 10:00, CAREY HALL TABLE TOP SALE, 30th November 10-12; £5 per table; book at hirecareyhall@gmail.com or 07931 628461, Carey Hall, Mistover Road, Wareham BH20 4BY

15.30

WAREHAM FATHER CHRISTMAS PARADE Sunday 7th December 3.30pm

Events

THE PILGRIM SINGERS’ Christmas Concert is on 7th December at 7.00 pm at St. Luke’s Church Wincanton. Tickets £12 to include refreshments, Under 16’s free.

BOOKS HARDBACK, FOUNTAIN PENS, coins and stamps, costume jewellery. Cash paid. Tel Mr Jones 01202-733550.

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• Computer Cleanup & Health Check

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