October issue out now! Stories this month:
• What do local GP surgeries do when they receive over 14,000 phone calls a month, and can physically only answer half of them?
(*see the digital BV October issue here: https://bit.ly/TheBV* )
• The inaugural BV Awards are launched! Not just a fantastic way to recognise the businesses in our community, we’re looking for a local community hero too. Get nominating! (p.6)
• 14yr old Stalbridge girl Ruby Else-White has become two times National Champion boxer – and also named ‘best female boxer’ at the national titles tournament last weekend. (p.8 )
• Roger Guttridge has shared the tale of Durweston’s ‘intelligent poltergeist’. It’s fascinatingly creepy. (p.14)
• Carl Bovis has treated us to three pages of practical, sensible and equipment-free advice on how to take great bird pictures. Along with a generous sharing of his own wonderful images (p.42)
•Food Consultant and Judge Simon Vernon is sharing his insider’s guide to the Great Taste Awards, the ‘Oscars’ of the food industry – and we share the local winners of the coveted stars.
• Our Random 19 guest this month is award-winning Dorset writer and poet Louisa Adjoa Parker (p.64). Fittingly for #BlackHistoryMonth, she has written extensively on ethnically diverse history, and set up the Black History in Dorset project. She also has issues choosing between chip shop chips and homemade cake.
• Those interested in the equestrian section have a packed read this month. We have internationally renowned trainer Shena Kozuba-Kozubska’s London Marathon attempt at the age of 77 – whilst still recovering from her near-fatal accident (p.16). Lucy Procter from Glanville’s Stud is talking mare pregnancies and floating teeth on p.46, and Sara Greenwood shares why the Pony Club Efficiency Tests are so important for young people.
• We’re saddened to share the death of Richard Batterham (p.18), one of the most revered potters of our time. So many will know him from his 60 years in his Durweston pottery.
• There’s a terrific look at the life and work of champion hedgelayer Russell Woodham in this months A Country Living (p.22)
• in farming, James Cossins is mulling on the ‘Great British Sowing… Bet’ (p.53), and Andrew reflects on Farmer Dads with the birth of his daughter Martha p.54.
• All alongside the usual 130+ pages of interesting reads; from rural living to gardening, health and wellbeing to a huge local food & drink section, plus the stunning reader’s photography and of course property and jobs.