Step back in time with our ‘Then and Now’ feature, where vintage postcards from the Barry Cuff Collection meet modern-day reality. Explore the past and present on the same page, and see the evolution of familiar local places. ‘Now’ images by Courtenay Hitchcock
The Piddle Inn has changed little and is still instantly recognisable, though behind where the horses enjoy their lunch the outbuilding has made way for an extension and some pavement.On the left, the building which now holds Jaspers Salon is a newer extension to the cottages in the ‘then’ image
Piddletrentide takes the first part of its name from the River Piddle and the remainder from its value in 1086, when it was assessed for the Domesday Book at 30 hides. The village’s Victorian school has gates that are 500 years old and come from Lady Margaret Beaufort’s tomb in Westminster Abbey! In his Shell Guide to Dorset, Michael Pitt-Rivers explains the Piddle/Puddle issue: ‘All Dorset Piddles and Puddles are named after the river Piddle – Pidele in Doomsday Book. ‘Victorian refinement preferred Puddle and for a long time there was a muddle as to whether each village was called Piddle or Puddle. Parish Meetings drew up letters of protest to the County Council, the Member of Parliament and the Postmaster General. Now they seem to have settled for the names which appear on the map: Piddletrenthide, Piddlehinton, Puddletown, Tolpuddle, Affpuddle, Bryantspuddle and Turners Puddle. It remains to be said that the Piddle is never a puddle but a bright chalk stream.’
This Sunday (7th July) Sherborne will host its first Pride Parade, so it feels apt that my album of the month features a self-described ‘queer’ band, Queen of Jeans. In fact, the South Philadelphia indie quartet credit the fact that various members had become so frustrated with being the tokenised, queer members of their respective previous bands with the formation of their new project. Their third long player (and first in five years following the swift one-two punch of 2018’s Dig Yourself and 2019’s If You’re Not Afraid, I’m Not Afraid), All Again finds the band in reflective mood. The chirpy, beat-driven pop of 2022’s Under The Radar song of the year contender Hiding In Place is largely absent in the latest album.
In its place are a set of subtle, expertly crafted and slow-burning classics. The production is silky, enveloping the listener in comforting waves of heartfelt but ultimately positive vignettes reminiscent of Phoebe Bridgers’ more introspective moments. Throughout the album there is a sense of regret and of opportunities lost. Books in Bed begins with a simple synth motif as vocalist Miri Devora describes “all the boxes piled up on the floor”. Later, on Go Down Easy, she reflects “I never should have let you in”. But these sentiments are by no means the end of the story. Elsewhere, refrains of “all my friends around me” (All My Friends) and “I feel better in my mind” (Karaoke) provide balance through moments of cathartic communion. While it is true that the album offers little which could be described as unique or groundbreaking, that isn’t the point. All Around is the sound of a songwriter hitting their sweet spot, and of a band fully committing to the cause. As a result, Queen of Jeans have produced one of the most accomplished records of 2024.
Barrie Cooper, a Blandford dairy and beef farmer, shares his work with Dorset FCN, providing vital support and assistance to local farmers in need
Barrie Cooper, the joint co-ordinator for Dorset FCN
May I introduce myself? I’m Barrie Cooper, joint coordinator for Dorset FCN (Farming Community Network) with Rebecca Hill. I farm near Blandford – dairy (about 175 cows), beef reared from birth to about 24 months and also arable. I joined FCN about four years ago. Being a farmer myself I know, and have experienced, a lot of what other farmers are going through. I know the stresses of animal passports for every animal, animal health and paperwork, inspections and the bureaucracy that has to be carried out on a daily basis on a modern farm. I felt that an organisation like FCN was where I can best help others. It is a national organisation with a 24/7 helpline for farmers, their families and those connected to agriculture. If a call imade to the national FCN helpine coems from Dorset it will be forwarded to Rebecca and myself. The Dorset team of volunteers are a mixed group of all ages, every one of us either working in agriculture or retired from a profession that serves the farming community. The case work that we get can be anything from a call for help with filling in paperwork for cattle passports or government grants, to a tenancy query through to bereavement and so many other matters. We work closely with Dorset Council, the NFU, the Environment Agency and other bodies who can all help. Our role is to be there – to listen to a callers concerns and then see if we can either direct them to someone who can help or to work with them ourselves to try and resolve the issues at hand.
FCN is here for you. The confidential, national helpline is open every day of the year from 7am to 11pm and volunteers provide free, confidential support to anyone who seeks help: Call 03000 111 999
Amjad Ali, an experienced SENCo, gave a lively talk on inclusive teaching
More than 300 educators from across the UK gathered at Bryanston School in June for the eighth annual Education Summit. This year’s theme was The Times They Are A-Changing: Future Proof Your Teaching – inspired by Bob Dylan’s iconic song, the day focused on embracing the ongoing changes in the education system. The summit featured a series of inspiring talks by expert speakers and leading educators, addressing the evolution of education in a rapidly advancing digital world alongside traditional teaching methods. A standout moment was Mary Myatt, an education adviser, writer, and former teacher, delivering a compelling talk on the intellectual power of narrative. Mary presented evidence showing that simply reading well-chosen books to children in the classroom significantly enhances their reading abilities. She emphasised that curiosity is a significant motivator for learning. Amjad Ali, an experienced SENCo, gave a lively and engaging talk on inclusive teaching, stressing the importance of the language teachers use with children and the need to avoid labels. Dan Fitzpatrick, ‘The AI Educator,’ had the room talking as he demonstrated various AI tools that could reduce teacher workload and help engage and inspire pupils. Stephen Davies, Education Summit Director, said, ‘We must run harder just to stand still in schools, let alone make progress and be at the forefront. Bryanston, with its ‘et nova et vetera’ motto, has always tried to look both forwards and backwards. The aim of the day was to look forward at how teaching – and being a teacher – could evolve in the coming years. AI is no doubt a big part of that debate.’
Reflecting on the overall event, Bryanston’s Head, Richard Jones, praised the unity of teaching colleagues from primary and secondary schools, both state and independent, especially in the context of the forthcoming General Election. ‘It is crucial for us all to come together to improve outcomes in our education settings. I sincerely hope that politicians recognise the strength of this collaboration, harness this collective strength, and allow us to continue building on the many successful cross-sector partnerships that already exist. The priority is, and must always be, to help drive standards up across all education for children in the UK.’
The Dorset County Show returns on the 7th & 8th of September this year, the county’s annual celebration of rural life with an exciting blend of new displays and beloved traditions. This year, the show introduces visitors to Atkinson Action Horses, the nation’s favourite IMPs Motorcycle Display Team, and brand new alpaca competitions. The grand family day out marks Dorset’s end of harvest celebration and still serves as a major networking event for the county’s thriving agricultural sector. The Show combines everything the county has to offer, featuring entertaining new acts, livestock competitions, traditonal crafts, local food and drink and live music. Atkinson Action Horses are set to thrill with their high-energy, breath-taking, and death-defying stunt show. Making their Dorset debut, the display promises to be a phenomenal exhibition of skill by both rider and horse. The IMPs Motorcycle Display Team are a crowd favourite, the roar of engines matched by the cheer of the crowd as they perform their billowing fire jump, a suspenseful multiple motorcycle combination ‘cross-over’ routine and a rolling human pyramid. New to the Woodland Area, visitors this year can try their hand at Tomahawk Throwing, completely free of charge. And you can meet more than 50 alpacas at this year’s Dorset County Show, as they offer competitions for the first time. The Halter Show includes judging in both types of alpaca – the Huacaya and the Suri. There will also be demonstrations and activities across the weekend. James Cox, Show Organiser, says, ‘We introduced new attractions and areas or last year’s show, and it was a huge success. This year we’ve built on those changes with even more brilliant new acts that celebrate Dorset agriculture and countryside while bringing fantastic, unmissable displays to the County!’
The IMPs Motorcycle Display Team
heart of the show, with visitor favourites including livestock, heavy horses, crafts, delicious food & drink and much more. Don’t miss the biggest weekend in the county calendar! For further information and to book your Show Ticket, visit dorsetcountyshow.co.uk.
Hard work paid off for Team Rimmer at Nunney and Kingston Maurward – but ongoing yard work shows it takes an army to raise an eventer
Jimmy (Talan Blue) is just trying to stay awake – he had a big weekend at the Kingston Maurward event!
June has been a really busy, fun month for Team Rimmer. Early in the month we competed at Nunney International Horse Trials. Mattie and Henry both made successful 3* debuts – Mattie in particular really moved us with his performance. With minimal runs due to cancellations, his preparation was less than ideal, but he gritted his teeth and gave each phase his absolute best efforts, finishing in the top third. It is a very special feeling when a horse really tries like that for you! Henry, being the anxious worrier that he is, slightly let the atmosphere get to him in the dressage. He jumped really well, though, and made lots of the cross country feel easy peasy. These two horses are like chalk and cheese – Henry has all the ability in the world but struggles to really get his head down, whereas Mattie is just the kindest, grittiest trier! That’s what makes working with horses so fascinating – no two are ever the same. The young guns have been flying round their events too, with Jimmy and Max both doing well at Nunney, and Max finishing fifth in a lovely, brand new event right on our doorstep at Kingston Maurward. To make it all the more special, the title sponsors, Andrews Plant Hire, are also Max’s owners. It was a really lovely moment when his owner, Peter, was able to present a prize to his own horse at the prize giving ceremony! Kingston Maurward was a beautifully run competition – one we will definitely be returning to.
Jess takes Max through his paces under the watchful eye of Georgia the saddle fitter
Checking the basics Behind the scenes, the horses have had their mid-season MOTs, all being checked over by our Spillers Horse Feeds nutritionists Katie and Leah,, and our wonderful Devoucoux saddle fitter, Georgia. She came to our yard, and we spent time checking the fit of each horse’s dressage and jump saddles, updating any padding as she found necessary.
Sir Henry Hall is a big fan of a chin scratch
Not only is each horse’s body a different shape, width and length, but they also change throughout the season as they build muscle, so it’s important to keep checking the fit of the saddles to ensure the horses have maximum comfort and freedom. All my horses are ridden in Devoucoux saddles, and they absolutely love them (as do I, obviously!). A day later, our local Spillers reps Katie and Leah came by the yard. We spent lots of time with each horse, assessing their weight and condition, chatting about how the horses are feeling as well talking through their current individually-tailored diets. Similar to the saddles, we had done this at the start of the season, but the horses have all changed a lot, so a few tweaks were made to make sure they are all receiving a balanced diet with the correct vitamins, minerals and protein. So much goes on behind the scenes in any equestrian yard – they say it takes a village to raise a child, but I’ll admit it feels like it takes an army to raise an eventing horse! Hopefully they are all now feeling absolutely tip-top, and ready for the next few months of competition.
All my horses are ridden in Devoucoux saddles, and they absolutely love them (as do I, obviously!)’
Not only is each horse’s body a different shape, width and length, but they also change throughout the season as they build muscle. So it’s important to keep checking the fit of their saddles to ensure they have maximum comfort and freedom.
The Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show is on Wednesday August 14th and Thursday August 15th this year, staying with the two day format which has proved so popular with visitors for the last two years. North Dorset’s biggest agricultural event celebrates 30 years at Turnpike Showground this year, and show organiser Cat Harris has lined up two full days of entertainment for the whole family. This year, stars of the show will undoubtedly be Joseph’s Amazing Camels – you’ve no doubt already seen them in Disney and Marvel movies – who will be entertainig the crowds in the main ring with some spectacular camel racing. The main ring will also be the place to enjoy the Shetland pony racing, competitive showjumping and everyone’s favourite, the Grand Parade of Livestock. Agriculture has always been the heart of the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show, and the Grand Parade allows visitors to see the show champions and all the prize-winning livestock parade around the ring – it is a spectacle not to be missed. Plus there’s ferret racing, skilled gun dog demonstrations, falconry displays and heavy horses! Everyone enjoys a wander through the Horticulture Marquee – last year more than 1,500 entries across the flowers, vegetables and cookery competitions. Due to popular demand, the show has expanded its opening hours this year, and after the main gates close at 6pm on the Wednesday, visitors on a day ticket can stay into the evening to enjoy live music from great local bands while the bars and pop-up food stalls stay open until 10.30pm Adults £18, 5 to 16s £3. Family ticket at early-bird prices £41 (two adults and two children). gillinghamandshaftesburyshow.co.uk The G&S Show welcomes dogs on leads and offers mobility scooters for hire.
A burst of sunshine comes to Shaftesbury this Summer in the form of Kipps, the new updated Half a Sixpence, reworked by Cameron Mackintosh and Julian Fellowes. Shaftesbury Arts Centre has chosen this joyous musical for its summer show, on at the Arts Centre from 11th to 20th July. With catchy music and a whirlwind of dance, you’ll walk away afterwards with a smile on your face as you hum the tunes. Older readers will remember the original starred Tommy Steele as the hero, Arthur Kipps, who worked for a penny-pinching draper. A chance meeting with a stage impresario reveals Arthur Kipps as the heir to a fortune, and he attempts to become a gentleman – in the process falling for the daughter of a customer. His intended love’s brother has his eyes on Kipps’ fortune, of course, and cheats him. Ann, his childhood sweetheart, helps Kipps to see where his true self lies.
With numbers such as If The Rain’s Got To Fall and Pick Out A Simple Tune you will find it hard to decide on a favourite … until the iconic Flash Bang Wallop starts! The cast of 32 ranges in age from ten to 80 – there are more than 100 costumes, 24 musical numbers and an orchestra under the steady baton of David Grierson. What more could you want? From 11th to 20th July. Tickets are £15, £12.50 for members and £10 for under 18s, available from Shaftesbury Arts Centre shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk or from the box office 01747 854321, open from 10am to 12.30pm Monday to Saturday.
This year’s Cinema Under the Stars has a starry line-up! Programmed by Purbeck Film Festival, the 2024 season runs across August with seven box office hits at stunning locations including Corfe Castle. The series begins on Saturday 3rd August with Barbie at Knoll House Hotel, Studland – can you picture a more appropriate setting for this clever, funny and utterly sunny film? Totally deserving of its box office success – and disappointingly unrecognised by the big awards for its brilliant satirical script (and fabulous performances by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling). The screening begins at 8.45pm, and “pink-themed drinks” (what else!) will be available. Next up is Ghostbusters (the original) at Durlston Country Park, Swanage, on Saturday 17th August, once again at 8.45pm. Corfe Castle is the atmospheric setting for two films at Corfe Castle, starting with the first Harry Potter – 2001’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – on Friday 23rd August. It’s amazing how young Daniel Radcliffe looks. It’s followed on Saturday 24th by the eternally boyish Timothee Chalamet as Wonka. If you haven’t seen this musical prequel to Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, it is delightful, with Olivia Colman as a thoroughly unpleasant character. Both are at 8.45pm. On Saturday 31st August at 8.15pm, Careys Secret Garden, a magical location near Wareham, is the venue for Calendar Girls, the original film, which is so much better than both the stage play and the musical, with a matchless cast headed by Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, Linda Bassett and Celia Imrie. The series ends at an iconic Purbeck location: the Blue Pool near Wareham.
On Friday 6th September, the film is A Room with a View – the beautiful adaptation of one of EM Forster’s finest novels, starring Maggie Smith, Daniel Day Lewis and Helena Bonham-Carter. On Saturday 7th, Baz Luhrmann’s glorious Moulin Rouge, with Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman, will light up the Purbeck night. Both screenings at 8pm.
