PLAYWRIGHT Sir Tom Stoppard, who was born in the former Czechoslovakia in 1937, has died at the age of 88. A statement from United Agents said: ‘We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved client and friend, Tom Stoppard, has died peacefully at home in Dorset, surrounded by his family. ‘He will be remembered for his works, for their brilliance and humanity, and for his wit, his irreverence, his generosity of spirit and his profound love of the English language. ‘It was an honour to work with Tom and to know him.’
Tom Stoppard at the 2013 Writers Guild Awards, Los Angeles
A Dorset life He lived near Shaftesbury and, despite his international profile and long list of major stage, writing and film awards, was actively supportive of the local arts, theatre and music in the area. There was an early stage performance of his 1967 radio play Albert’s Bridge at the chapel theatre at Shaftesbury School, which he attended. More recently, Shaftesbury Arts Centre staged a very successful production of his first major success, the Hamlet-inspired black comedy, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead – he sent a message to director Carolyn Hopkins. Earlier this year, he attended a concert by young singers at the Springhead Constellation academy residency at Fontmell Magna. Stoppard’s family fled imminent Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia. He went to school in Darjeeling, India, and came with his family to England after the war. He worked as a reporter on the Evening Post in Bristol before making his name as a playwright. His most famous plays include Jumpers (1972), Travesties (1974), Night and Day (1978), The Real Thing (1982), Arcadia (1993), The Invention of Love (1997) and his final play, finished at the age of 83, the epic Leopoldstadt (2020). The title refers to Vienna’s Jewish district and it is intensely personal. Nearly all of his close relatives, including all four of his grandparents, were murdered in Nazi concentration camps. ‘I knew I wanted to write a kind of oblique version of my family background,’ he told The New Yorker. At the same time, he realised his play tells the story of ‘tens of thousands’ of others. Among his screenplays were Brazil (1985), Empire of the Sun (1987), the Oscar-winning Shakespeare in Love (1998), and the BBC/HBO Parade’s End (2013). He was knighted for his contribution to theatre by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997 and awarded the Order of Merit in 2000.
With his joyful, no-audition ROKiT choir, Mark James invites everyone to ditch the sheet music and discover the power of easy, communal, feel-good singing
ROKiT choir performing at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton, with Mark James conducting
When ROKiT staged its summer concert at The Exchange this year, 90 singers squeezed onto the stage and 300 people filled the seats. It sold out fast. This wasn’t a traditional choir; it was looser, warmer, more fun. And now Stur is getting its own chance: the fourth ROKiT choir opens in the town on Monday 6th January. ROKiT is the creation of Mark James, a trained musical theatre performer and qualified singing teacher, whose route into music has been anything but straightforward. ‘I was the person at school who was told not to bother with music,’ he says. ‘It wasn’t my thing, apparently.’
Mark James is an infectiously enthusiastic choir master. Image: Courtenay Hitchcock
He ignored the advice. Mark began teaching from home, later opening his own music school in 2014. He trained through the Voice College, gaining an upper merit diploma and a nomination for the PJ Proby Student of the Year award. Since then he has taught hundreds of students, including gold record selling artists, across the UK, Europe and the USA. He has worked as a master vocal coach for River Studio in Southampton as well as the preferred coach for Evolved Artist Management. In 2018 he appeared as one of the 100 judges on BBC One’s All Together Now with Geri Halliwell and Rob Beckett. His trademark hat made him a recognisable presence on the show – ‘people kept asking who the man in the hat was,’ he says – and after the series ended, he wanted to use the momentum for something closer to home. ‘I wanted to do something a bit more modern,’ he says. ‘There wasn’t a huge amount of choice in the area. And I’ve always been someone that wants to give access to music to everyone. Music can feel a bit elitist these days, and all the fun seems to have gone.’
Blandford ROKiT rehearsal night Images: Courtenay Hitchcock
ROKiT was built deliberately to cut against that. No auditions, no sheet music, no barriers. ‘Members don’t need to read music,’ he says. ‘It’s all done through lyrics. Everything’s done on a backing track – and we share all the tracks on the ROKiT drive. People can learn at home, and then they all get together.’ On the very first night in Gillingham, back in September 2018, 44 people walked through the door. ‘Numbers always drop slightly in the first few weeks,’ Mark says. ‘But we ended up with around 30 regulars.’ Blandford followed, then Wincanton, and now there are more than 130 singers across the groups. ‘They’re all a good bunch,’ he says. ‘They all get on really, really well.’
Image: Courtenay Hitchcock
You’re just ROKiT ROKiT’s social side is as important as the music, says Mark: ‘We don’t put pressure on anyone,’ he says. ‘We don’t have set solos. And there’s no cliques – which I’m really proud of. As soon as someone walks through the door, they’re just part of the choir.’ He’s seen people join at difficult points in their lives and find something steady and supportive. ‘We’ve had people come in who’ve been through breakups,’ he says. ‘And it helps them build their friendship groups again. We’ve had relationships start here as well.’ There have been harder moments of grief, too. ‘We’ve unfortunately lost some of our members,’ he says. ‘But everyone supports each other, going through it together. And it’s not just “Blandford looking after Blandford”, or “Gillingham looking after Gillingham” – everyone knows everyone, across all three choirs. ‘Once you’re a member of ROKiT, you’re not a “Blandford member” or a “Gillingham member”. You’re just ROKiT.’
Image: Courtenay Hitchcock
That sense of belonging aligns neatly with what science has shown repeatedly: group singing lowers stress hormones, boosts mood, steadies breathing and builds social connection. For many people it’s as effective as a therapy session. Mark sees it weekly. ‘Some people just need to come and blast out a song,’ he says. ‘It relieves the stress. And that’s absolutely fine.’ Mark keeps the choir deliberately affordable. Membership is £35 a year – which covers T-shirts and access to the online learning tracks – and rehearsals cost £7 a night on a pay-as-you-go basis. ‘Times are quite hard for a lot of people,’ Mark says. ‘The last thing I want is someone worrying about whether they can afford next month. They’ve got friendship groups here. Some people need to be here.’
ROKiT choir performing at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show. Image: Courtenay Hitchcock
Ray Charles to Radiohead The ages range from teenagers to people in their 80s or 90s. Men were scarce at first. ‘We had just one man originally,’ Mark says. ‘He used to call it his harem!’ Now there are growing tenor sections at all the groups. The repertoire covers Queen (Bohemian Rhapsody took four months to learn), Ray Charles, Robbie Williams, The Monkees, Snow Patrol, Radiohead … ‘They do Creep really, really well,’ Mark says with clear pride. ROKiT has also swiftly become a familiar part of the local Christmas season. ‘We’ve had to turn down quite a few requests this year, because so many asked us to perform,’ he says. The choirs support charity events too – raising around £15,000 so far. ‘We don’t have one charity, we raise for lots of causes. One close to all our hearts is CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), in memory of one of our original choir members. She was only 52 when she had a major heart attack. ‘We’ve supported the Ukraine appeal and earthquake appeals, Brave & Determined Co, Air Ambulance … We try to support as many as possible,’ Mark says. From 6th January, Sturminster Newton’s own ROKiT choir will meet every Monday at 7.30 at the town hall. As always, anyone can join – no experience, no auditions, no pressure. ‘Just turn up on the night,’ Mark says. ‘Rock up and rock it.’ It’s a cheering thought for the dark nights of winter: a roomful of strangers, gathered on a Monday evening, lifting the roof together.
It’s been a year, hasn’t it? Not the triumphant hoorah kind. More the head-down, keep-plodding, ‘is it bedtime yet?’ sort of year. Whether you’re a farmer battling the weather (and the government), in hospitality and wondering where the customers are (and the tax money is coming from), a local journalist trying to keep the lights on (ahem), or simply doing your best to pay the heating bill – 2025 has not been gentle. But we made it. Just about. And as we shuffle slightly frayed and biscuit-fuelled into December, I’ll admit: I’m tired. Possibly delirious. Almost definitely weepy. ClassicFM keeps ambushing me with Somewhere in My Memory from Home Alone, which is frankly a cheap shot when you haven’t seen your eldest child in over a year. But he and his wife will be home in under three weeks – we’ll have a full nest for Christmas. We really will have ‘All of the music. All of the magic. All of the family, home here. With me.’ (…nope, weepy again. Definitely need more sleep.) But even as we’re winding down for Christmas, we’re winding up behind the scenes. We’ve got big, exciting things planned for 2026 at BV Towers – and no, we can’t share them yet. But oh, we really want to. Just know that we’re already plotting and scribbling and quietly fizzing with anticipation. Until then, we’re officially off-duty. We don’t do the fake “oooh we’re still monitoring emails” nonsense – the office door is shut, the mince pies are out, the wine is mulling, and January’s issue will be along on the 16th. Ish. Wishing you a peaceful, joyful, well-fed Christmas. May your trifle be boozy, your mince pies plentiful, and your egg nog just the right side of questionable. See you next year. (But not too early.)
Laura x
On more doctor strikes With more junior doctor strikes ahead, we’re being told – again – that this is all about pay. But is it really? According to Guido, even the BMA’s own chairman, Dr Phil Banfield, recently admitted that junior doctors have had a 7.9% real-terms pay rise since 2015. That may not match inflation perfectly, but it certainly undermines the narrative of complete stagnation. The real crisis isn’t pay – it’s retention. We spend up to £250,000 training a single doctor, only to make it near-impossible for them to progress or specialise. Many leave the NHS entirely or emigrate. We urgently need to widen training opportunities, reduce pointless bureaucracy, and create a system that values and keeps the doctors we already have. Throwing slogans and strikes at the problem won’t fix what’s become a deep-rooted failure of long-term planning. Name and address supplied
On devolution I was pleased to see the vote tonight in favour of Dorset Council continuing its discussions on Wessex devolution. It was not, as some seem to fear, a vote to sign us up to a mayor or a new tier of bureaucracy. It was simply an essential step to keep Dorset at the table while Government works out the national framework. Given the funding landscape, refusing even to explore this route would be an act of self-harm. The Leader made the point plainly: without a Mayoral Strategic Authority we are already losing around £300 million a year in investment that other regions can access. Transport, skills, housing, economic development – these are areas where Dorset has long struggled to attract serious Government money. Standing alone, we simply don’t carry the weight. Acting with BCP, Somerset and Wiltshire offers us a realistic chance of being heard. No one pretended tonight that an elected mayor is universally popular. But the direction from Westminster is unambiguous: no mayor, no meaningful funding. We can dislike that reality, but we cannot afford to ignore it. Keeping the door open is not capitulation; it is prudence. It’s not a major decision moment yet, and the council made the right call. Continue the talks, shape whatever deal emerges, and bring the final proposal back for a proper democratic decision. Dorset’s residents deserve the chance to benefit from the investment that almost every other region is now positioned to receive. Elliot Marsh, by email
On one councillor’s attitude to ADHD Today I came across a Dorset councillor posting on social media, questioning whether ADHD is “the new normal”, suggesting that we should stop labelling people and simply celebrate everyone’s uniqueness instead. While I believe the sentiment was meant to be kind and inclusive, the comment reveals a worrying misunderstanding of what ADHD actually is. ADHD isn’t a personality quirk or a lifestyle choice. It’s a recognised neurodevelopmental condition, involving a measurable chemical imbalance in the brain. For many of us, it affects executive function, time management, memory, focus and emotional regulation. It’s not about being “different” – it’s about trying to function in a world that wasn’t built for our brains. The current so-called “gold rush” to get a diagnosis is not people jumping on a trendy bandwagon – it’s people, especially girls and women, finally being listened to after generations of being overlooked, misdiagnosed or simply told to try harder. For those with ADHD (which is estimated to affect up to 20% of the population), a label isn’t a limitation – it’s a lifeline. It opens the door to understanding, support, medication, workplace adjustments and, crucially, self-compassion. Being told to just “be yourself” is not helpful when “being yourself” can mean struggling to manage relationships, hold down a job, or complete simple daily tasks without overwhelming exhaustion. I’d respectfully suggest that before public figures comment on complex neurological conditions, they take the time to understand what they actually are. Name and address supplied
On the wax-jacket-wearing Grumbler As a 60-something man with a strong attachment to my Barbour, I read last month’s Grumbler with both a chuckle and a slight sense of unease. I appear to also be the suspicious wax jacket man.
I’ve triggered more than one doorbell camera while returning misdelivered parcels, and been pinged on the village WhatsApp group while walking my dog (who, for the record, is considerably less suspicious than I am). Still, I won’t be giving up the wax jacket. It’s absolutely older than some of the tech that’s now apparently accusing me of shoplifting. G. W., Marnhull
I wonder if local readers are familiar with William Barnes’ Christmas invitation? He seems to have loved Chrostmas – he write about it beautifully. The following is my favourite of his, in his perfect ‘Dorset-ese’, and I thought you might like to give it an airing in your December issue? Merry Christmas to all! Annie Bartlett, Blandford
Come down to-morrow night; an, mind Don’t leave thy fiddle-bag behind; We’ll sheake a lag, an’ drink a cup O’eale, to keep wold Chris’mas up.
An’ let thy sister teake thy earm, The walk won’t do her any harm; There’s noo dirt now to spweil her frock, The ground’s a-vroze so hard’s a rock.
You won’t meet any stranger’s feace, But only neighbours o’the pleace, An’ Stowe, an’ Combe; an’ two or dree Vrom uncle’s up at Rookery.
An’ thou wu’lt vind a rwosy feace, An’ peair ov eyes so black as sloos, The prettiest woones in all the pleace, – I’m sure I needen tell thee whose.
We got a back-bran, dree girt logs So much as dree ov us can car; We’ll put ’em up athirt the dogs, An meake a vier to the bar.
An’ ev’ry woone shall tell his teale, An’ ev’ry woone shall zing his zong, An’ ev’ry woone wull drink his eale To love an’ frien’ship all night long.
We’ll snap the tongs, we’ll have a ball, We’ll shake the house, we’ll lift the ruf, We’ll romp an’ meake the maidens squall, A’ catchen o’m at blind-man’s buff.
Zoo come to-morrow night; an’ mind, Don’t leave thy fiddle-bag behind; We’ll sheake a lag, an’ drink a cup O’eale, to keep wold Chris’mas up.
Want to reply? Read something you feel needs commenting on? Our postbag is open! Please send emails to [email protected]. When writing, please include your full name and address; we will not print this, but do require it.
After a year-long internal review, we regret to report that The BV has repeatedly caused unexpectedly high levels of enthusiasm across rural Dorset.
Findings include:
• Weekend conversations derailed by ‘Did you read that BV piece?’ • Excessive forwarding of stories to unsuspecting family members. • Local businesses experiencing statistically significant boosts in visitors. • Readers developing firm emotional attachments to our photographers. And our equestrian’s horses.
Further investigation shows that our Christmas issue – historically responsible for seasonal outbreaks of delight – is shaping up to be the biggest culprit yet. Forecast models suggest raised heart rates, involuntary smiling and a tendency to say ‘Dorset’s actually brilliant, isn’t it?’
We sincerely apologise for any disruption this may cause. We will not, at this time, be reducing journalistic quality, local storytelling or photographic excellence. Management has agreed to allow the cheer to continue unchecked. Please proceed to open our Christmas issue at your own personal joy level. You have been warned.
Sincerely, The BV Team
P.S. The December issue is out now – filled to the brim and behaving exactly as predicted. PPS – MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL! From Laura & Courtenay
Welcome to December’s BV Puzzles page – your free spot for a quick brain workout. Complete the crossword, test your logic with a classic sudoku, or relax with our massively popular seasonal Dorset-themed jigsaw: this month we have a picture from a recent trip to Tyneham (for this month’s Then & Now ‘now’ images, of course) – we were so lucky with the weather that we enjoyed a saunter along the track to Worbarrow Bay and spent a delicious hour or so with the sea: we thought you might enjoy it too. No logins, no printouts – just free puzzles updated every month right here on The BV. Perfect for puzzle fans across Dorset and beyond, our digital puzzles work on mobile, tablet or desktop. Enjoy a quiet moment of challenge with new puzzles published every issue of The BV magazine.
EB Marsh & Son have very generously offered one lucky BV reader the chance to win a fantastic £400 LG 55″ 4K Ultra HD Smart TV – delivered in time to settle in for all your favourite Christmas films.
The LG 55UA74006LB.AEK is a cracking all-rounder: a big, bright 55-inch screen with true 4K Ultra HD clarity, bringing sharper detail, richer colour and a noticeably more immersive picture. Whether you’re binge-watching a new series or sticking on a family film, the upgraded sharpness and depth make everything look that bit better (you can see it on Marsh’s website here)
It also features LG’s 4K Upscaling, meaning even older or lower-resolution content is intelligently enhanced to look closer to true 4K. The TV runs on LG’s webOS platform – simple, intuitive and packed with the streaming apps most households use daily. From Netflix to iPlayer, everything sits neatly together for quick, easy browsing. You’ll also find FILMMAKER Mode for a more cinematic picture and HDR for improved contrast and realism.
In short: it’s easy to use, great to watch and a serious upgrade to anyone’s living room.
To enter, simply answer the questions in the widget below. It takes moments – and someone will be getting a rather excellent early Christmas present.
Important details:
– Delivery area: The winner’s delivery address must be within 25 miles of either EB Marsh’s Sturminster Newton or Sherborne stores. – Closing date: Midnight on 19th December. – Winner drawn:Saturday 20th December, with details passed straight to EB Marsh & Son to arrange pre-Christmas delivery.
Good luck – and a huge thank you to EB Marsh for such a generous Christmas treat!
Start your festive season with a heart-warming evening of music and community spirit at the Julia’s House Christmas Carols, held for the first time at All Saints Church, Branksome Park on Tuesday 16th December. The evening promises traditional carols, seasonal readings from Julia’s House families and staff, and a performance by local acoustic singer Shelley Edwards, who will be joined by the Julia’s House Choir.
.Julia’s House provides essential, specialist care for local children with life-limiting and complex conditions, bringing support, compassion and respite to families when they need it most. Care is delivered both in family homes and at their hospices in Corfe Mullen and Devizes – entirely free to families, made possible only through fundraising and donations. ‘We’re so excited to hold our carol concert at All Saints Church for the first time,’ says fundraiser Sarah Agnew. ‘It’s a lovely way to come together with the community, share festive joy, and raise vital funds to support seriously ill children and their families.’ Julia’s House Christmas Carols takes place on Tuesday 16th December, with doors opening at 6.15pm and the concert starting at 7pm. Tickets include mince pies and mulled wine, with all proceeds supporting Julia’s House. Tickets: £10 adults, £5 children, under 5s free. Book now at juliashouse.org/Carols2025
November’s podcast has hidden poverty, climate ambition, a teenage cadet scaling caves – and a parish power shift no one voted for. It’s a deep dive into rural Dorset’s quiet realities – and the people trying to change them. Just hit the play button below.
“It’s not always visible – but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there.”
This month’s podcast starts with Dorset’s hidden poverty – the kind no one likes to talk about, but far too many are living with. Help & Kindness CEO John Sloper explains why it’s everywhere and invisible – and how small, local action makes the biggest difference.
Then it’s on to the climate. Don’t switch off – this isn’t doom and gloom. Dorset COP organiser Giles Watts explains how we make climate ambition actually work in a rural county, and why language matters more than you think.
And if you’ve been wondering what “devolution” really means for Dorset’s towns and villages? The Dorset Insider has some strong views, a few sharp one-liners, and one big question: is this local empowerment, or just shifting blame?
Finally, we meet Wimborne cadet Charlotte Bedford – caver, climber, award-winner, and proud recipient of the UK’s top cadet honour. She’s brilliant. Don’t miss her.
Pop it on. It’s full of courage, climate, community and a healthy dose of quiet outrage.
This episode is based on stories from November’s BV. Read the issue here: https://bvmag.co.uk/Nov25 News, people, politics and rural Dorset life – every month, always free.
The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.
Set within one of Dorset’s most breathtaking school environments, Holroyd Howe is looking for enthusiastic and talented individuals to join our dedicated catering team at Milton Abbey School. We are now hiring for Chefs of all levels, Front of House Supervisors, and General Assistants to support our vibrant, welcoming dining experience for pupils, staff, and visiting guests.
As part of the Holroyd Howe family — one of the UK’s leading independent foodservice providers, you’ll be working in a kitchen that champions fresh, seasonal ingredients, creativity, and genuine hospitality. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone wanting to build their career in a supportive, food-led environment.
What We Can Offer You:
• A great work–life balance
• 5 over 7 working pattern
• Daytime shifts
• Free meals while on duty
• A friendly, forward-thinking team culture
• The chance to be part of something truly special in an inspiring school setting
If you’re passionate about food, people, and delivering an exceptional service, we’d love to hear from you. To apply, please send your CV to: Tim Flageul – [email protected] If you don’t have a CV that’s not a problem, you are welcome to send Tim an introductory email. He’d love to hear from you!
