Shaftesbury RotaKids on litterpicking duties in the town
RotaKids from Shaftesbury Primary joined the Abbey Primary RotaKids and the Hilltop Litter Pickers on the first litter pick of the school year on 15th November. More than 20 students headed for three locations around town, all armed with hi-viz vests, litter pickers, gloves and rubbish bags. As well as offering a valuable community service, the litter pick was also good fun for everyone who took part – the students from the two schools also enjoyed working as a team. Michelle Alford from Hilltop Litter Pickers spoke to the pupils about the importance of keeping Shaftesbury clean and tidy, and a fun question and answer session ended the trip. RotaKids is a fun and exciting way for children aged seven to 12 get involved with important activities in the community, all while having a great time and making friends in the process. RotaKids was set up by the Rotary club, and they are based in schools, youth groups or community centres. With the help and support from teachers, youth leaders and the local Rotary club, children can gain a valuable experience in helping others and learning interesting, new things. Children enjoy a boost to their confidence and self-esteem at a key age and develop an lifelong understanding of how their actions can impact on others. If you want to know more or to get involved with Rotary, see rotarygbi.org or contact Peter Sale at Shaftesbury Rotary Club
Dorset Mind volunteer Annabel Goddard suggests a pause for reflection and gratitude during the darkest months of the year
As the year draws to a close, many of us look forward to those last few weeks of frenetic happy festivities before January arrives. However, the same time of year can be very difficult for others, for a variety of reasons. The cost-of-living crisis and family/relationship struggles can have a massive impact on our mood around Christmas – not to mention the many people who don’t celebrate at this time, which can lead to them feeling marginalised. While the religious elements of the festive seasons are important to many who celebrate, all of us could use this time to reflect on the importance of community, regardless of religious beliefs.
Little things mean a lot Consider taking a moment this month to consider gratitude – being thankful for the people in our lives who care about us and to appreciate what is often taken for granted, such as food, warmth and connection with others. It’s also helpful to remember that you should be able to enjoy the season no matter what your financial situation. Try to avoid feeling as if spending money on gifts is more important than simply spending time with family and friends. If money is tight, have a movie night in together or go for a winter walk. There are so many ways to celebrate, and it shouldn’t rely on how much money you spend. Even just checking in on someone who’s having a hard time and letting them know you’re there for them can be a thoughtful and helpful gift at this time of year.
Find the daylight The shorter, colder days mean there is less time to spend outside after work, which can reduce the number of hobbies you’re able to do if you enjoy outdoor activities. If you’re able to, try and find a replacement indoor activity or class to help you regain your evenings. It’s easy to feel like doing nothing when the days get short but exercise and hobbies really do help to boost your mood throughout winter. Above all, this time of year is a good opportunity to think about your own mental health and to take some time to reflect on the year. If you’ve been journalling your feelings it might help to read back, and ask yourself if you need more support. It can all start from a casual conversation with a friend who cares about you – make sure you confide in someone if you need to.
Support for you: Visit dorsetmind.uk for local mental health support and ways to keep mentally healthy Call Samaritans on 116 123 for free 24/7 emotional support Call Dorset’s mental health helpline Connection for support on NHS 111 Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger
What to do with those loved ones who, when asked what they would like for Christmas, say “Oh I am sure whatever you pick will be fine …” ? There are some fabulous book choices available this Christmas, and I hope they will relieve some of the gift anxiety. My hand-picked selection below represents just a small selection of what is available at Winstone’s – please drop by for a warm welcome and the full Monty! Have a good Christmas! Wayne. PS – Just click the book covers to buy. And if you need more inspiration, you can see all my previous Book Corner recommendations on the BV website here a good read never goes out of date!
Shakespeare: The Man who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench £25 Cavorting naked through the countryside painted green … Acting opposite a child with a pumpkin on his head … These are just a few of the things Dame Judi Dench has done in the name of Shakespeare. It’s like sitting across Judi’s kitchen table listening to her reflect on an amazing career.
My Name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand £35 Behind the sequins, beneath the wigs and through the glass of the recording studio, there’s just a woman who dreamed of being famous and made it happen, on her terms.
Politics on the Edge by Rory Stewart £22 An insider’s searing account of ten extraordinary years in Parliament from Rory Stewart, former Cabinet minister and co-presenter of breakout hit podcast The Rest Is Politics
Lawrence of Arabia by Ranulph Fiennes £25 The authoritative and illuminating biography of TE Lawrence – the man who inspired the iconic film Lawrence of Arabia – from “the world’s greatest living explorer” Ranulph Fiennes.
The Princes in the Tower by Philippa Langley £25 Has the 540-year-old mystery been solved? The evidence revealed is astonishing. The Missing Princes Project redraws what we know about Richard III and Henry VII.
French Braids by Anne Tyler £10 This gorgeous novel follows one family’s joys and heartbreaks, mistakes and secrets, from the 1950s right up to the present day.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa £11 A tale of love, new beginnings … and the comfort that can be found between the pages of a good book.
Trust by Hernan Diaz £10 A novel about power, greed, love and a search for the truth that begins in 1920s New York. Can one person change the course of history? A Wall Street tycoon takes a young woman as his wife. Together, they rise to the top in an age of excess and speculation.
Kay’s Incredible Inventions by Adam Kay £15 (age 7+) A ridiculously funny read that will delight, gross out and educate all at the same time.
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell £15 (ages 8-12yrs) Christopher is stunned when he discovers a passage to the Archipelago: a cluster of magical islands where all the creatures of myth still live and breed and thrive in their thousands. There he meets Mal, a girl from the islands who is in possession of a flying coat and a baby griffin … and who is being pursued by a killer.
How the Grinch Lost Christmas by Dr Seus £17 The Grinch’s newfound Christmas spirit is in jeopardy with the arrival of the Whoville’s Christmas tree competition, but can one special Who remind him of what’s really important? A sequel to the timeless classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Asterix and the White Iris £12 The latest adventure from our indomitable hero and his friends! A strange new philosophy is gaining popularity among the Roman soldiers, spearheaded by the charismatic Isivertuus.
It’s December and that means Christmas is nearly here! This month I thought I’d talk a little bit about handmade gifts for Christmas. It’s not just a time of giving – it’s all about spending time with friends and family. One thing that many people really like to do (and to receive) is to hand-make a few special gifts or decorations each Christmas. Another option is making Christmas cards to give to friends or relatives.
Gift in a jar One of the best and easiest handmade gifts is one of the many in-a-jar ideas – cookie mix in-a-jar or Hot Chocolate in-a-jar. These can usually be made from grocery store items very quickly and easily, and are endlessly adaptable – there are some great in-a-jar gift ideas on craftaholicsanonymous.net to get you started!
Make some decorations There are a lot of handmade Christmas decor ideas online you can easily make. Here are a couple of my favourites:
simple paper snowflakes are not only a really fun craft for all ages – if you make a lot of them and hang them for the ceiling from cotton they can be really effective. Just think what Buddy does in Elf!
Christmas tree snow jar
Gold painted glass ornaments
Wreaths Why not make a new wreath for your door this year? They also make beautiful and personal gifts. There are lots of great ideas here or check your local garden centre to see if they have a wreath-making workshop you can take.
Handmade cards Making Christmas cards at home isn’t hard to do, and there is so much inspiration online for simple cards using simple supplies. You can get the kids involved as well! There is a great list of ideas here for Christmas cards to make with kids. And try this Cosmo DIY card ideas round up for more sophisticated, but still uncomplicated card ideas. I hope you enjoy looking at this article and wish you a Merry Christmas. Maddie
Andrew Livingston considers Thérèse Coffey’s exit – an end to a contentious stint, overshadowed by water pollution debates and strained farmer relations
Oh Thérèse, how we … hardly knew you. Yes, after just one year, Thérèse Coffey resigned from her post as Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Her time as head of DEFRA won’t go down as one of the greatest political appointments – but over the past seven years I’m not sure what really can. Nevertheless, I thought it might be an idea to look back on the memories she leaves us with, and look forward to what is to come with the new appointee. In September 2022, after campaigning for Liz Truss to be Prime Minister, the 52-year-old was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and given the role of Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Weeks later, after the mini-Budget fiasco, she stood down from her position and was entrusted with the leadership of DEFRA by new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. She had a fairly abrasive first NFU conference meeting which didn’t endear her to the farmers in attendance, one of whom was The BV’s own George Hosford, who said in the March edition that she was ’grumpy and rude, not very well briefed, and completely failed to engage with the room. ’It was the poo wot dunnit In fairness to Thérèse (here comes my Christmas goodwill), since then she worked hard to try and repair her relationship with farmers. In September she scrapped the deadline for the ceasing of culling badgers. In the same month she also announced that there was to be no ban on the herbicide Glyphosate, which some campaigners say is harmful to humans. Despite the heroic efforts to reverse farmers’ opinions, Thérèse Coffey was always going to struggle to rebuild bridges with the public after poo-gate; her tenure has literally been littered with poo. When she first took office in October 2022, she took massive criticism after she announced she would not be prioritising water pollution. This was topped off in February this year when she claimed that bathing waters were ‘much cleaner under the Tory government’. Her proud point was rather diminished in August at the World Triathlon Championship Series in Sunderland, when 57 swimmers came down with sickness and diarrhoea after they swam in waters with high levels of E. coli. Ultimately, it was her complacent attitude to tackling the water companies responsible for polluting our rivers and seas that did for Thérèse. There is massive public anger about the quality of our water, but, with Coffey gone, can someone finally come in and make the change? Well … at best it’s very unlikely, from what I can tell. Steve Barclay (who replaced Thérèse Coffey as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care) is once again set to replace her, this time at DEFRA. And why do I fear that Barclay will do nothing to finally take down the water companies? Because his wife, Karen Barclay, is an executive of Anglian Water – a water company currently under investigation for illegally dumping raw sewage. You couldn’t make it up! Sadly, this is not a Christmas pantomime … this is just another example of 21st century politics.
After a series of sold-out shows throughout Dorset this autumn, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is wrapping up the current Artsreach season with a special Christmas concert in Sturminster Newton. This is part of their ‘BSO On Your Doorstep’ project, which brings the magic of live music right into the heart of local communities. Lucy Warren, head of BSO Participate, says, ‘Our BSO on Your Doorstep concerts give audiences an opportunity to come and experience something new and different from their local orchestra, from the seasoned concert-goer to those who are completely new to classical music. Programmes include well known music alongside lesser-known works from Bach and Adele, to Jessie Montgommery and William Grant Still. We want to give everyone the chance to experience something new; whether that’s hearing known favourites in a new light through our arrangements, or a new piece of music entirely, all concerts are presented from the stage and give the audience that extra special chance to get to know more about the players and music of their local orchestra.’ Artsreach, Dorset’s very own travelling arts charity, invites you to join them for a special concert of festive favourites and magical winter music as ten musicians from the BSO perform a programme of ‘Christmas Crackers’, with classic carols, Christmas music, wintery tunes and seasonal songs there will be lots of familiar tunes to hum along to! Sink into the spirit of Christmas with a fun concert for all the family, introduced by a BSO presenter. Join the festive celebration at The Exchange Sturminster Newton on Friday 15th December at 7:30pm. You can find more details and book tickets on 01258 475137 or artsreach.co.uk.
The Old Ox Inn has undergone quite a transformation – though the bones of the building remain, all the windows have changed and the brick and flint exterior has been hidden by render. Beyond it, the old thatched cottages are also long gone. It appears to be doing a roaring trade in Nesbitt’s time, with plenty of carts and traps ‘parked’ outside!
The old Post Office is still entirely recognisable in Shillingstone today, though it is now a vintage homewares shop. The old postcard was sent to Pokesdown on 31st August 1907, with the message ‘I have sent you on two rabbits. All is well.’
Matron Tania Collin (left) with Marian Britton, and sister Jan Henville (2nd image left) with Michelle Chandler
Two colleagues at Wincanton Hospital are celebrating 83 years collective service at the hospital – both began their careers back in the 1980s! Marian Britton has worked at the hospital since she qualified as an enrolled nurse in 1980, later converting to a registered nurse. Michelle Chandler has been ‘part of the furniture’ for 40 years, taking up a variety of roles. She started in the housekeeping team, before becoming a healthcare assistant, and then more recently she became hospital’s ward clerk … with some bank HCA shifts too! Both Marian and Michelle were presented with flowers by matron Tania Collin and sister Jan Henville to recognise their unwavering commitment and dedication over the years.
Embrace a locally-sourced Christmas with the NFU’s push for British turkeys, offering a sustainable and economical choice amidst the cost of living crisis
As Christmas speeds towards us, we’re being encouraged to ‘buy British, buy local, and buy whole’ for the very best value when selecting your festive turkey. The 17th of November heralded the NFU’s very first Buy My Turkey Day’, a day when turkey farmers across the UK showed off their farm fresh turkeys on social media. It was fun, but it was also a clarion call for consumers to consider the roots of their festive feast, urging them to use the NFU’s online Turkey Finder to purchase directly from the UK’s turkey farmer. By sourcing a turkey from your local producer, you’ll be getting a high-quality bird which has been raised to world-leading standards, at the same time as cutting your own food miles and supporting the rural economy. Jonathan Smith, the chair of the NFU turkey group, says: ‘Turkey is a fantastic choice for Christmas dinner, providing a delicious and nutritious meal to share with the whole family. By buying a British turkey directly from the farm where it has been produced, you will not only be backing British farming, but also helping a local business. ‘We know that everyone is being affected by the cost of living crisis, which is why we are encouraging shoppers to buy a whole bird as it represents the best value for money. The versatility of turkey meat means that once you’ve enjoyed your Christmas dinner, there are plenty of healthy, tasty dishes you can try with any leftovers to make sure there is no waste and that all the fantastic meat is put to good use. ‘Shoppers can use the NFU Turkey Finder to quickly locate their nearest producer and buy a turkey direct from the farm where it was reared. If you’re buying a turkey from your local butcher, ask them if it’s British and which farm it’s been sourced from.’ We hope that a delicious British turkey will take pride of place on your festive table this Christmas!
