Six trays of broad beans have been moved outside to harden off. All images: Barry Cuff
Thanks to the miserable weather, very little groundwork was carried out in preparation for the spring. Even during the drier spell at the beginning of February the lack of sunshine coupled with low temperatures meant there was little drying out of the soil – and just as it became workable on the 19th we had more rain, putting us back to square one again. We had a good harvest though, so we’ve still been cropping parsnips, carrots, leeks, sprouts, broccoli, forced chicons, winter radish and salad leaves. From our store we’re still eating oour own potatoes, onions and winter squash, and in the freezer we have peas, broad beans, French beans and the last of the sweetcorn. The work we did manage to achieve this month: Broad beans: We’ve put six trays of young plants outside to harden. Fruit: Pruned the gooseberry and currant bushes, and the pear trees. We also cut down the old autumn raspberry canes to ground level. Mulched everything with manure, and weeded the strawberry patch. Greenhouse: We washed the glass. Plot work: On the 19th we spread manure on all the empty areas vacated by harvested vegetables, and all around the brassicas. Potatoes: We planted two Jazzy potatoes in a tub for some early new potatoes. Preserved – We had a chutney-making session. Seeds: We sowed lettuce and red cabbage in plug trays. We also sowed trays of mixed spicy leaves and an agricultural pea (to eat in salads as young sprouts). Sweet peppers: We pricked these out into individual pots.Six trays of broad beans have been moved outside to harden off. All images: Barry Cuff
Barry Cuff grows more then 30 different types of fruit and vegetables each year on his allotment
Talking of seed We grow more than 30 different vegetables on the plot and in the greenhouse, and all are raised from seed. It is admittedly becoming expensive, but it is still good value. Stored correctly, most vegetable seeds will still germinate well after two or three years, some even longer (this year we are using cabbage seed bought in 2021!) We test most carried-over seed to ensure it is still viable, and any with a germination rate below 50 per cent is discarded. We have found that French beans do not perform well after the first year, but contrary to advice given parsnip will perform well providing it was above 90% germination rate when packeted. Our Allotment Association is able to buy seed from Kings Seeds at a 40 per cent discount. Because we have a large plot and grow a wide range of vegetables, our seed bill is around £60 this year. The majority of packets are bought from Kings, with a few from Fothergills and Thompson & Morgan. There are some good value packets to be had from Wilko and CountryValue.co.uk. We always look at their displays and end up buying a few! The majority of our veg are started in plug trays, seed trays or small pots, using a good quality multi-purpose compost. Carrots, peas, parsnips, beetroot, spring onion and winter salads are all sown direct into the ground. We now need some decent March weather so that work on the plot can start in earnest!
With longer days on the horizon, it’s time to sow, plant, prune, and mulch – but Pete Harcom says don’t be fooled, frosty nights aren’t over yet!
March is the month to plant some colourful anemone coronaria tubers – but note that they need particularly well-drained soil, so be sure to add some grit to the soil to avoid water logging
The clocks will go forward on Sunday 30th March … spring is finally in the air, but be careful, it can be late April or even May before night time frosts are finally over. If the weather allows and the soil is not frozen, this could be a good time to prepare a flower bed or even create a new one. Make sure to incorporate plenty of good compost if the soil is in any way impoverished. Consider the siting of the bed when you plan the plants (how much light will they get here?). Also consider the edge of the border – does it need some defined edging? Once the border is prepared, annual flowers can be sown from March onwards: just rake the soil to a fine tilth on a dry day. Watch the weather forecasts for any frosty nights, and protect it if necessary with cloches or horticultural fleece. It’s often best to be patient and wait until late March before you purchase any tender plants like fuchsias and pelargoniums unless you have some good frost protection ready for them like cloches or a cold greenhouse. Keep an eye on weeds – take them out now with a hoe or similar, before they sart to spread. Cover all bare soil patches and around shrubs with a good thick layer of mulch or garden compost. Also take the opportunity to top up your potted plants with a layer of mulch or compost. March is your last chance to plant bare rooted trees and shrubs. Prune any bush and climbing roses quite hard, back to strong stems, with a sloping cut, no more than 5mm away from a bud.
Slug off Now’s the time to plant your summer-flowering bulbs such as lilies and gladioli. If you’re tempted by some anemone coronaria tubers, note that they need particularly well-drained soil, so ensure grit is added to the soil when you plant them to ensure that drainage is good and to avoid water logging. Divide your hostas now, before they come into leaf, and also any hellebores and polyanthus-type primulas after they finish flowering. Keep deadheading the winter-flowering pansies – they will carry on into the spring and even to early summer, if attended to frequently. Also deadhead your narcissus (daffodils) as they fade, but leave the foliage alone to die down naturally. Check whether any of your pots need watering – even at this time of year, they can dry out, especially those that are sheltered by eaves or balconies, as they can miss out on any rainfall. Hedgehogs will be emerging from hibernation around now: do remember that slug pellets are poisonous for hedgehogs, and frogs too, as they eat the snails and slugs that have been killed by the slug pellets. Lastly, if you can, clean up the inside of any bird nest boxes early this month, before they move in!
Pauline Batstone shares her monthly round up of what’s happening among the town’s collection of community enterprises and events
The Marketplace is the new name for the furniture recycling part of Stur’s quartet of community benefit shops. It’s had a bit of a makeover with new signs in the windows to brighten up the old bank facade. Not only that, we have some fantastic pieces of newly donated furniture, loads of mirrors, cushions and so many bags – of all types – ready for a new home. Pop in and see us whenever you are in town and hopefully we will have something you like! The Boutique is running a March Madness clearance sale – ANY FIVE ITEMS FOR £10! What a bargain! Come and fill up your bags with lots of fabulous goodies. March Madness will be hapenning until the 15th March. And if you’re in Stur it’s basically obligatory to go for a potter around the Emporium – it’s tricky to leave without something you definitely didn’t know you needed.
Free school uniform Upstairs in the Marketplace we have a large selection of pre-loved school uniform all completely FREE OF CHARGE. Please do come and help yourselves – and of course if you have any uniform in good condition that you no longer need, please bring it in to add to our collection.
Monthly column by Dorset Chamber CEO, Ian Girling: We are longstanding fans and advocates of Apprenticeships for both apprentices themselves in terms of a great career opportunity with training as well as the benefits for employers as brilliant way to recruit talented and motivated people. My daughter hugely benefited from undertaking an apprenticeship programme a couple of years ago and my son is hugely enjoying and benefiting from his apprenticeship programme that he started last September after leaving school.
I am pleased to say that the 2025 Dorset Apprenticeship Awards are now open for entry. The awards, supported by the Dorset and Somerset Training Provider Network and sponsored by Superior, are completely free to enter and open to all employers and apprentices in Dorset. There are five categories:
Level 2 (Intermediate) Apprentice of the Year
Level 3 (Advanced) Apprentice of the Year
Level 4 or 5 Higher Apprentice of the Year
Degree Apprentice of the Year
Supported Internship of the Year
Having run the awards for several years, it has been absolutely inspiring to hear the stories and success of so many people from a whole range of backgrounds. For many, the apprenticeship programme has literally been life-changing, giving people the opportunity to learn, grow and develop their skills and confidence. We have also worked with so many great employers who have given people great opportunities and progression through the apprenticeship programme.
You can enter online and as I say, the awards are open to all apprentices and employers in Dorset. Finalists and their family, friends and employers will be invited to a special awards ceremony attended by the Lord Lieutenant and local dignitaries on Thursday 15th May.
If you are an apprentice or employ apprentices, I would really recommend you enter the awards. Visit dorsetchamber.co.uk for more information.
Ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, editor Laura spoke to the ultimate insider Joe Tizzard: from festival memories to Gold Cup predictions, he shares his tips, insights and one horse that just might cause a surprise
Joe Tizzard
Few names in National Hunt racing carry the same weight as Tizzard. For decades, the family’s Venn Farm Stables in Milborne Port – perched on the North Dorset/Somerset border – has been synonymous with success at the highest level, producing some of the sport’s most beloved stars. Now at the helm, Joe Tizzard is carving his own legacy, blending the wisdom of his father Colin with his own formidable experience in the saddle. Joe’s journey in racing began in the shadow of greats. As a teenager, he cut his teeth just 15 miles from Venn Farm at the powerhouse Ditcheat yard of Paul Nicholls, before making an immediate impact as a jockey. He tasted Cheltenham Festival glory early, winning the 1998 Foxhunter Chase on Earthmover as an amateur. That same year he turned professional, quickly establishing himself as one of the most promising young riders in the sport. By the end of the 1998/99 season, he had been crowned Champion Conditional Jockey – the first major accolade in what would become a decorated riding career.
And then there was Cue Card But it was in partnership with the superstar Cue Card that Joe truly etched his name into racing folklore. Together, they stormed to victory in the 2010 Cheltenham Champion Bumper, marking the beginning of a glittering career that saw them land 16 wins – including eight at Grade 1 level – and amass more than £1.4 million in prize money. With horses like Thistlecrack and Native River joining coming in Cue Card’s wake, the Tizzard yard became a dominant force in the 2010s, culminating in Native River’s memorable Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph in 2018. After hanging up his jockey’s boots in 2014 with more than 700 winners, Joe stepped seamlessly into the training role alongside his father. When Colin retired at the end of the 2021/22 season, Joe took full charge – and wasted no time in making an impact. A seven-figure prize money season in his first year as sole trainer proved he was more than ready for the challenge. Now, as he continues to build on those foundations, all eyes are on his stable for this year’s Cheltenham Festival. With the biggest event in jump racing fast approaching, Joe Tizzard sat down with editor Laura – who was on a mission to get the inside track from a man who knows Cheltenham like the back of his riding boots…
What makes Cheltenham different from every other racing festival? ‘I think Cheltenham is just different. It’s the most competitive of the festivals: it’s certainly what every trainer aims for. There’s always Aintree and Punchestown, but I’d have to say it’s that competitiveness – everybody wants to be winning at Cheltenham.’
Joe’s favourite memory of Cheltenham – sucking up the moment on Cue Card after winning the Ryanair Chase Grade 1 at Cheltenham Festival on 14th March 2013. Image: Lajos-Eric Balogh/turfstock.com
What’s your best Cheltenham memory? ‘That’s got to be Cue Card winning the Ryanair, closely followed by the Bumper. But the Ryanair … you know, we knew we had him right. All I had to do was steer him, and just get that right. And I knew I was coming to the end of my riding career, so I was able to get the job done on him, but then sit back and really enjoy the walk back, coming down the walkway and back in. ‘I really managed to enjoy that … It’s probably the only time I’ve ever been able to take a deep breath and suck in what it’s all about.’
If you could only watch one race this year, which would it be? ‘The Gold Cup. For me, it’s just the absolute pinnacle in my mind. ‘I think Galopin Des Champs is going to go win a third Gold Cup this year, and he could be very impressive doing it. ‘But I think that the whole build-up and the tension and the celebrations afterwards … I just don’t think there’s anything quite like the Gold Cup.’ Which horse could surprise people at this year’s festival? ‘One of mine, probably: First Confession in the Albert Bartlett. Whether he’s good enough or not … we’ll find out. But I think he’ll run a big race, and I think he’s got an each-way chance at 40 to one, so he could just frighten a few people. I think he’s a lovely horse.’
What’s your best piece of advice for a first-time festival-goer? ‘My first piece of advice is to get there early, and beat the queues to get in! But make sure you go and just sample everything: go and be out the front for the first race to witness the roar. Make sure you go to the Guinness Village and soak up a bit of that atmosphere in there, and then get yourself around the winners’ enclosure for when a horse comes back in, especially for the big race of the day. ‘You know, I find the atmosphere makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as soon as I walk in the place. It’s just got this energy. ‘But go and enjoy it all. Get the full experience, and be sure to get down the front so you can get up close to the horses.’
Among the worst-served areas for rural transport, a House of Commons inquiry hears that failing bus networks are widening social inequality.
Rural Bus stop
For rural Dorset, public transport isn’t just inconvenient – it’s non-existent. Villages once served by regular buses now sit isolated, residents struggling to reach jobs, schools and healthcare. Those without a car face impossible commutes, rising costs, or a growing sense of being left behind. A House of Commons Transport Committee hearing on 26th February laid bare the stark reality of failing rural public transport networks, exposing the deepening link between poverty and poor transport access. Among the witnesses was Silviya Barrett from Campaign for Better Transport, who identified Dorset as one of the worst-affected areas in the country: ‘The places that were specifically poorly connected in the north-east were Northumberland and County Durham; and Dorset and Devon in the south-west,’ she told MPs.
No Buses, No Opportunities In Dorset’s rural villages and market towns, the decline in public transport is widening social inequality. Low-income families, young people, and older residents without access to a car find themselves increasingly trapped – unable to reach work, education or essential services. Paul Milner from CPRE, the countryside charity, described the growing transport poverty across rural England. ‘I see huge amounts of rural housing development, many with much-needed socially affordable housing elements. But why are we building houses in places for people who cannot afford cars, in places where there are no buses or train services?’ he asked. His concerns were echoed by Professor Karen Lucas, an expert in transport-related social exclusion: ‘There is definitely a joint issue around social deprivation and poor public transport. Those two things are absolutely linked.’ The collapse of rural bus services has not happened by accident. According to Stephen Frost, Head of Transport Policy at the Institute for Public Policy Research, government policy over the last decade has prioritised cars over public transport – a move that has pushed more people into car ownership and hollowed out rural bus networks. The Government asked ‘Where do we predict that we are going to need more capacity?’ and decided it is in cars, it is in road expansion, and it is therefore making places more attractive to reach by car.’ But this shift away from public transport creates a vicious cycle. ‘As people then buy cars because those places become more attractive, it undermines the viability of public transport, which is then removed from villages and towns, and people increasingly move out of those villages and towns, as do services and other things, towards more urban areas,’ Frost said. The impact is then felt most by the lowest-paid. ‘Badly affected are low-paid workers, especially shift workers and non-paid carers, because they have a lot of travel responsibilities for escorting their children and other people around,’ said Karen Lucas ‘Young people not in employment, education and training see the cost and especially availability of transport as a barrier to them taking up any of those activities: and particularly low-income households with children.’ For shift workers in Dorset’s tourism and hospitality industries, irregular bus services mean long, expensive commutes or missed work opportunities. Meanwhile, carers and parents juggling multiple responsibilities find their travel time and costs spiralling out of control.
We know it makes sense Beyond the social cost of lost bus services, the committee also discussed the economic damage caused by poor transport links. ‘There is much evidence on the economic benefit of buses, particularly by the Confederation of Passenger Transport,’ Silviya Barrett said. ‘Public transport, specifically buses, produces much higher returns on investment compared with road investment. For buses, it is a return of £4.55 for every £1 spent, whereas road investment it can be as low as £1.10 or even a negative value for money if we take the full externalities of road schemes.’ This means that investing in buses provides better economic returns than road expansion, reducing congestion and boosting local economies by making it easier for people to reach work, education, and businesses. The committee also heard that improved bus services help keep money in rural areas, rather than funnelling wealth into larger urban centres. ‘Local buses help to spread growth,’ Barrett explained. ‘Rather than attracting all investment to the centre of cities, they support local economies in the suburbs and in towns, where people can make shorter local journeys and spend in their local economy instead.’ Despite this, rural bus services continue to be cut, while investment in roads and car infrastructure remains the priority. Without a fundamental shift in funding, Dorset’s rural economy will remain constrained – and those without a car will continue to be left behind.
Every Village, Every Hour One solution discussed by CPRE’s Paul Milner was the Every Village, Every Hour scheme, which would guarantee a minimum rural bus service to prevent entire communities from being cut off. In Switzerland, every village of at least 300 people is guaranteed an hourly bus service from 6am to midnight, seven days a week. It is successful, with hugh occupancy and low subsidies. Switzerland, unlike the UK, is prepared to spend more on rural public transport due to the cultural importance of rural villages, and a tradition of using subsidies which are “justified as political acts of solidarity” to equalise service provision across cantons**. The CPRE believe that limited public transport in rural areas isn’t a given, or a natural side-effect of living in the countryside. Silviya Barrett also argued that buses should not be an afterthought: ‘Buses are an essential public service. They need to be treated as such and they need to be funded as such.’
You need buses for fares The hearing discussed the impact of the recent fare cap increase from £2 to £3, with concerns raised about affordability in urban areas. However, Silviya Barrett noted that ‘in rural areas, £3 can still be very good value compared to the prices there might have been before.’ But as Dorset residents know all too well, an affordable capped fare means nothing if there isn’t a bus to use it on. Without urgent investment in rural bus networks, communities will remain cut off—isolated not by distance, but by a failing system that leaves those who cannot afford a car with no options at all.
BT’s switch from analogue to digital has left one elderly Wincanton couple without a landline during medical emergency
In January, 77-year-old Kate Nutbeam received a letter from BT informing her that her current phone and broadband contract was ending. As BT is the only option for a reliable broadband connection in her Wincanton street, she was happy to keep things exactly as they were, and agreed to the new contract that was suggested. What followed was a series of miscommunications and technical mishaps that left her household without a landline – and weeks later, there’s still no clear way to get it back.
The unexpected upgrade After agreeing to the new contract, boxes of equipment arrived at her home. By the time the man from Openreach arrived on 14th February, her partner was critically unwell and receiving urgent medical care. The engineer explained that most of the existing equipment was incompatible with the new system and would need replacing: the telephone line entry to the house is in the bedroom where her partner was sleeping. Both Kate and the engineer realised that Kate had not been advised of the sheer scale of the work that was needed. He said he would note that on his report and someone from BT would contact her again before proceeding. He left, having done no work. Five hours later, Kate received an email saying she had refused the job – 10 minutes later the landline went dead.
The end of analogue The UK telecoms industry is phasing out analogue phone networks, replacing them with digital Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems. By January 2027, all landline services will rely on an internet connection. In most cases, the transition is seamless – simply plugging a phone into a broadband router should be all that’s needed. But Kate had been caught mid-transition. The engineer visit had been intended to switch her property to the digital system, and her analogue line had been scheduled for permanent switch off on the same day. The switch off was never cancelled, despite the new digital service not being activated, and it’s apparently a one-way switch. Without a landline, Kate, who has poor indoor mobile reception due to the thickness of her cottage walls, felt immediately vulnerable and exceedingly anxious. With her partner seriously ill, she had only the mobile with the dodgy signal to fall back on, and family overseas and friends trying to call and check on them on the landline.
A frustrating runaround Days passed, and multiple calls to BT yielded no solution. Kate’s account had been migrated to EE as part of the switch to full fibre, yet her new EE service would only activate once installation was complete. Meanwhile, BT’s system marked her landline account as inactive – with no way to restore it. Customer service agents bounced her case between BT and EE. When asked why her copper landline couldn’t simply be switched back on, BT explained that the move to digital was irreversible – despite the fact that no physical changes had been made to her home setup. After many hours on the phone and numerous failed attempts to get answers, Kate discovered she could plug her existing phone into the back of an EE hybrid hub (previously used as a backup for broadband outages). This allowed her to make outgoing calls – but her landline number had been replaced with an unknown temporary one, meaning she could not receive incoming calls.
Work begins On Friday 21st February, a week after Kate’s landline was turned off, an Openreach sub contractor arrived. After two hours and many calls to his manager, he discovered that the existing system was completely compatible: no work had been required for the switch. While testing the landline, he discovered Kate had been given a temporary number – but had not been told, or given the new number. The engineer finally left, assuring Kate that her old number would be back by midnight. It wasn’t. A week later, on Friday 28th February – and now two weeks without a landline service she has paid for until March – Kate telephoned the BT/EE Executive who had been attempting to resolve her issues: she wasn’t available, but a call back was promised. The Executive duly called Kate on the new temporary landline number on the landline, and although Kate could hear her, it seemed to be a one-way communication as the executive could not hear Kate.
National shift local impacts The switch from analogue to digital is not optional. From summer 2024, BT began migrating customers who do not identify as vulnerable or having additional needs without their explicit consent. But cases like Kate’s highlight significant gaps in communication and support, particularly for older, rural customers who rely on their landlines as a lifeline. So what went wrong? And what safeguards should be in place to prevent others losing vital communication links? A BT spokesperson told The BV: ‘We can confirm that Mrs Nutbeam’s service is working: because of an issue with the original order we have activated the service with a temporary number. We are working to get the original number restored this week. ‘BT has strict policies in place to protect vulnerable customers, particularly telecare users, where we are made aware of their status. We have recently launched our Connected Together campaign, aimed at reaching and guiding the loved ones of vulnerable customers. A key element of the campaign focuses on encouraging vulnerable customers to inform their communications provider if they require additional support, ensuring their specific needs are addressed during the migration process. ‘Customers can contact BT to report a problem by texting HELP to 61998 or calling customer services on 0330 1234 150. We’ll run tests on their connection and book an engineer visit if needed. Alternatively, there are several troubleshooting steps on our website that customers can follow to check their broadband connection or that their handset and settings are working correctly.’
As it stands At the time of publication, Kate’s landline has not been restored. The promised new phones have not arrived. The promised phone call from a BT/EE executive has not happened. She has received a £140 bill for the unreturned Wi-Fi equipment which the BT Executive told her not to return yet. She is still dependent on the mobile phone – and on a temporary number for her landline which appears to be an existing local phone number allocated to somebody else.
We have been so lucky to finally enjoy some spring-like weather over the last couple of weeks – it always comes as a welcome relief after a long, cold and constantly wet winter! We’ve had ten winners in the last month, bringing the season’s total up to 56 winners at the end of February: satisfyingly, that’s one better than Joe’s previous best of 55! The real sign that spring is almost here, though, is that Cheltenham Festival is just around the corner. With less than a week to go as I write, anticipation is at fever pitch … If you’re planning to watch – or even go to the festival – here’s your exclusive insider’s guide to the small but carefully selected group of horses we’ll be running: a behind-the-scenes look from us, just for BV readers …
Early morning gallops at the Tizzards yard in Somerset – image Courtenay Hitchcock
The Changing Man
Age: 8 Sex: Gelding Colour: Bay Sire: Walk In The Park Dam: Bitofapuzzle Official Rating: 140
Races entered: The Ultima Handicap Chase (3m1f) The National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices Handicap Chase (3m6f) The Brown Advisory Novices Chase (3m)
The Changing Man – all images Courtenay Hitchcock
The Changing Man was broken in and produced at the yard, having been bought at the Doncaster Store Sale in 2020 as an unbroken three-year-old. He was always a very good-looking horse, and has an excellent pedigree: by leading National Hunt sire Walk In The Park and out of a Grade 1-winning mare. Despite this, he proved to be a bit of a slow burner on the track and didn’t get his head in front until his sixth start, where he won a Stratford handicap hurdle off a rating of 95. He then won twice more over hurdles, and his mark rose to 132 over the next season. He went over fences last season and, despite showing some good placed form, didn’t manage to win. This means he is still able to run in Novice chases this season and, after three second-place finishes in valuable handicaps, he took advantage of this on his last start, absolutely bolting up in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novice Chase at Ascot in mid-February. He has a few options at Cheltenham but is most likely to run in the Ultima on day one. This race is a handicap, meaning horses carry weight according to their rating, and we feel he could still be well treated off his current mark of 140. He goes there full of confidence and in great form so should have a really solid chance.
Sunshine on the gallops for the Tizzards in Dorset – image Courtenay Hitchcock
JPR One
Age: 8 Sex: Gelding Colour: Bay Sire: Court Cave Dam: Lady Knightess Official Rating: 156
Races entered: The National Hunt Queen Mother Champion Chase (2m Grade1) The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (2m) Ryanair Chase (2m4f Grade 1)
JPR One – Image Courtenay Hitchcock
One of the real stars of our yard over the last few years, winning three hurdles and three chases. The highlight of his career came on his reappearance this season, when he won the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter impressively. He has run well to be placed in Graded races since, and now finds himself on a career high mark of 156 going into Cheltenham this year. He will either run in the Grade 1 Champion Chase or the Grand Annual Handicap Chase, where he would carry the second top weight. Neither looks an easy task, but he is flying at home and the drying ground will definitely be in his favour.
Lord of Thunder
Age: 7 Sex: Gelding Colour: Bay Sire: Getaway Dam: Harbour Mistress Official Rating: 134
Races entered: Jack Richards Novices Limited Handicap Chase (2m4f Grade2)
Lord Of Thunder – image Courtenay Hitchcock
Lord Of Thunder was bought at Cheltenham Sales having finished second in his only start in an Irish Point To Point. He won twice over hurdles in his first season under rules, but an injury last January put him out for the rest of the season. He made his chase debut at Cheltenham in October and was running well when falling two out. He has since become a very good jumper and, after finishing second in a Grade 2 at Ffos Las, was an impressive winner at Newbury on his latest start. He is a nice young horse who is still improving, and he should be well suited by a strong gallop over 2m4f in the Jack Richards Novices Handicap Chase on the Thursday.
First Confession
Age: 6 Sex: Gelding Colour: Bay Sire: Affinisea Dam: Lough Derg Lily Official Rating: 129
Race entered: Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (3m Grade1)
First Confession – image Courtenay Hitchcock
Another horse to graduate from the Irish Point To Point field, having won his only start in a 4-year-old Maiden. He has won two of his four starts in Novice Hurdles this season, both coming at Ascot over 2m3f on good ground. He is a big horse with a huge stride, and he gives the impression that the step up to three miles in the Albert Bartlett will really suit him. He goes there in great form, and despite currently being quite long odds we quietly fancy him to run into a place.
Rock My Way
Age: 7 Sex: Gelding Colour: Bay Sire: Getaway Dam: Far Rock Official Rating: 132
Race entered: The National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices Handicap Chase (3m6f)
Rock My Way – image Courtenay Hitchcock
Already a winner of a Grade 2 hurdle and a Novice Chase, Rock My Way joined us part way through this season, having previously been trained by Syd Hosie and Anthony Charlton. He has had one start for us, finishing second in a Novice Handicap at Doncaster in January. He is a talented horse who is really pleasing us in his work at home. He is untried over further than 3 miles, but gives the impression of a strong stayer and the race has changed to a 0-145 handicap this year, meaning he will carry a fairly light weight off his rating of 132. He is not guaranteed to run at Cheltenham, though, as he has the option of a valuable race at Uttoxeter the following Saturday.
From farm accidents to heart attacks … here are the stories of some of the many people who owe everything to the ‘hospital in a field’
by Rachael Rowe
The buzz of the helicopter rotors as they come in to land is a familiar sound across Dorset and Somerset. This month Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) is 25 years old. Whether it’s a major road accident, a stroke at home or a fall from a ladder, the care that the teams give can save lives. To celebrate the anniversary, The BV has looked at 25 lives affected by the air ambulance, highlighting how the DSAA is critical to emergency care in the region. In March 2000, Kenn Duffield of Dorchester was the first person to be treated by the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance after his motorcycle collided with a car near Sherborne. Although the accident occurred the day before the service was officially launched, the air ambulance team was ready: they mobilised and transferred him to Dorset County Hospital within minutes. Just over a year later, in September 2001, the DSAA celebrated its 1,000th mission.
Anne Roots of Nutley Farm near Winfrith was in a serious horse and carriage accident and was treated by the DSAA team
Farms and difficult terrain The air ambulance is a lifesaver when it comes to farming and rural accidents – it can get to places faster. When the front wheels of farmer John Harper’s quad bike dropped into a rut, he was catapulted over the handlebars and rolled down the hill: ‘down, down and down.’ the air abumalnce was only able to land at the top of the hill, and the crew needed the help of the hazardous area response team to get John to the helicopter. He was airlifted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol (see his full story here). In 2022, Kevin Groves from Bridport got his legs caught in farm machinery. Thanks to the quick thinking of his mother and the swift arrival of the air ambulance, his life was saved, although he did ultimately require an amputation. Specialist services were critical when Leanne Reid from Wellington had an accident on the M5. Medical teams treated her at the scene before airlifting her to Southmead Hospital in Bristol. Due to the extent of her injuries, Leanne, then a mother of two, was told she may not be able to have any more children. However, she has recently given birth to her third child, now ten months old. She told The BV: ‘It’s hard to put into words. The air ambulance made a huge difference. Without them I probably wouldn’t be here.’ Leanne has raised money for the air ambulance to thank them (although her new baby is keeping her busy at the moment!).
Sam Snowden was airlifted to hospital after a climbing accident on the Dorset coast in 2022
Fundraising for the DSAA DSAA receives no direct funding from the Government or the National Lottery and relies on the generosity of the public for support. Its operational costs are more than £5 million a year: each mission costs around £3,500 and in 2024, they responded to 2,909 emergency incidents. A close encounter with the air ambulance has inspired many people to fundraise for the service. In 2015, Anne Roots of Nutley Farm near Winfrith was in a serious horse and carriage accident (see her full story here) and was treated by the DSAA team. Over the last five years she has raised £52,000 from Christmas light displays on her farm. Sam Snowden was airlifted to hospital after a climbing accident on the Dorset coast in 2022: in a tribute, he successfully ran the Welsh 3000s, raising money for DSAA. Sadly, not all patients can be saved, but the air ambulance has given bereaved families a focus. Joe Abbess was 17 when he was caught in a rip current off Bournemouth beach. Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, they could not save him. Since then, his family has raised more than £5,000 for the air ambulance and continues to raise awareness of water safety. Minna Leatham was seriously injured in a head-on collision on the A30 east of Shaftesbury in 2020. Her partner Hugo Yaxley did not survive. Following her recovery, Minna has raised more than £22,000 in memory of Hugo for both the DSAA and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance. Hugo’s family also donated a trophy for a cycling challenge in aid of DSAA, helping to raise much-needed funds.
Swift action saves lives Summer is a busy time in Dorset – people come on holiday to enjoy the coast and countryside. Jonathan Belke, on holiday near West Lulworth, was walking with his wife when he suffered a cardiac arrest. Two bystanders started CPR, and when the air ambulance arrived, treatment was given at the scene before Jonathan was transferred to Royal Bournemouth Hospital where he recovered. The DSAA team includes pilots, critical care practitioners, paramedics, nurses and doctors, working from 7am to 2am, 365 days a year. Whether landing by a roadside, in a park, in a field or on a beach, they ‘bring the hospital to the patient’, providing complex and life-saving interventions at the scene. Phil Gregory was about to attend a family party when he suffered a cardiac arrest. Paramedics confirmed he was having a heart attack and the air ambulance was about to fly to Bournemouth when Phil’s heart stopped. The team defibrillated him and kept him alive while he was flown to hospital. Drummer Russell Poole was also saved by paramedics and the air ambulance when he had a cardiac arrest while playing in a gig in Weymouth. Being able to perform CPR is critical before help arrives. After a wonderful day in Lyme Regis, Stephanie Lehmann was about to drive home when she felt unwell: then her heart stopped. Her partner and bystanders performed CPR until the air ambulance arrived to transport Stephanie to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton. Initially thinking he had bad indigestion, Paul Rockett managed to call his wife before collapsing in his ‘man cave’ industrial unit on a very hot day (see his full story here). His wife arrived in time to perform CPR before the air ambulance’s arrival and the paramedics took over. Keith and Mary Trimby live near Henstridge, where the air ambulance is based. Astonishingly, both needed the DSAA services within 12 months of each other, and both required resuscitation. The couple are now well at home.
Specialist centre transport The DSAA not only gets people to heart attack centres rapidly, it also ensures people get the specialist care they need. Children are particularly vulnerable and their condition can change rapidly. When six-year-old Betty Boland fell after climbing on a neighbour’s workshop roof, she sustained a serious head injury. DSAA got her to Bristol Children’s Hospital in 20 minutes so she could get lifesaving treatment from specialists. What started as earache for young Ella McGuigan turned into severe mastoiditis. After she collapsed, her father performed CPR while waiting for the air ambulance. The DSAA landed on uneven ground at Parley Common before it was decided that Ella would be transported by road to Southampton General Hospital for urgent care. Since recovering, Ella and her family have continued to fundraise for DSAA. Sophie Dobbin was born with heart problems and just before her first birthday, collapsed. The DSAA got her to the heart specialists in Bristol in 20 minutes: a road journey would have taken over 90 minutes. Both time and specialist care make a significant difference in saving lives. Lucy Warren was transferred by the DSAA to Southampton for treatment for a severe stroke. When Harry Hollowell had a ten per cent chance of survival after being crushed by a 10-tonne telehandler, DSAA flew him to Southmead Hospital in Bristol where trauma teams saved him. After Issy Jarrett was helped by DSAA after a road accident, she went on to work for the NHS at Musgrove Park Hospital.
Working together When Preston Nicol-Hinde’s car flipped into a ditch filled with muddy water, he was unable to release his seat belt and was trapped below water.Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue got him out before DSAA conveyed him to Southmead in Bristol for emergency treatment (see his full story here). When 13-year-old James Clark needed lifesaving emergency surgery, DSAA flew him from the Isle of Wight to Southampton. In 2023 Patrick Grant suffered life changing injuries when a concrete wall fell on him. ‘My accident was while I was working in Sandbanks. I can’t remember anything about the accident or air ambulance … but without them I probably wouldn’t be here. We really need them. It is a great, great service to have, anywhere in the world.’
dsairambulance.org.uk A regular monthly donation is the most effective way to support the vital work of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.
