Help and Kindness at the heart of Dorset

6 October 2025

‘I don’t know what I need’ – Jon Sloper received one phone call that revealed the power of connecting the dots to support lives across Dorset

A call came in from an older Dorset resident this week: ‘I’ve just come home from hospital after treatment for a fractured hip. I can’t lift anything for a month. I’m trying to sell my house – my wife died recently and my family live hundreds of miles away. I’ve been given a postcard from the hospital saying you might be able to help … I don’t know what I need, or what to do …’
At the start of the week, I’d been in a meeting with NHS colleagues, talking about how to reduce hospital readmissions after planned treatment.
The next day, I was meeting Dorset Council to talk about unpaid carers – so often family members, balancing care with cleaning, shopping, loneliness, bills, and stress.
Yesterday, I was standing on a farm, discussing food security and the current crisis in agriculture: farmers’ mental health, food standards, procurement and poverty.
These might sound like separate issues. But they’re not. They’re woven through daily life here in Dorset, each one connected to the next.
Through our work at Help & Kindness, we’ve had the privilege of listening to those voices, looking at the challenges and the reality of life in Dorset, finding the overlooked issues, the unheard voices, and the wicked problems that are beyond the scope of any one of us – or any one agency – to fix.
Where we began
Back in 2019, my wife Nicola and I set up Help & Kindness as a not-for-profit project, with a simple idea: to make it easier for people in Dorset to find help, offer help, and work together.
That idea has grown into a wide-ranging journey – and a humbling one. We’ve learned how the systems work (and don’t). We’ve seen the real impact of rising need and stretched services. And we’ve done our best to offer something practical in response.
Over the years, we’ve built strong relationships with NHS teams, local councils, communities, businesses and national organisations – but most importantly, with local people. We’ve created a growing database of more than 13,000 Dorset-based services, organisations and community groups. Hundreds of people help keep it up to date, so it remains genuinely useful.
But from the beginning, we knew an online resource wouldn’t be enough. Not everyone in Dorset has internet access – so we also take phone calls, respond to letters, and share information face-to-face and by post.
Through thousands of these conversations, we’ve gained a real-time picture of what’s happening on the ground. It keeps us focused on lived experience – not just policy, plans and projections.
Over time, public sector teams began inviting us into their discussions, asking us to share insights and shape how services might work better. And we’ve kept doing the work – one call at a time.
Which brings us back to the gentleman who rang this week.
We helped him find a carer who could assist with domestic tasks, and connected him with local befriending services to ease the loneliness. We’re also linking him with the frailty team for extra support. We’ll check in again soon – and we’ve posted him a letter with all the details.
His situation shaped the NHS discussions we’d just been having – about discharge planning, and how we can support people before they go into hospital, to help make their return home safer and easier.

Small, simple steps
Last winter we ran a Be Prepared campaign to encourage people to think about the things that they’d need if they went into hospital suddenly: mobile phone and charger, hearing aids and batteries, medicines, neighbours’ phone numbers, etc. This autumn, we’ll run it again, building it into conversations around planned treatment to make sure the discharge-planning happens before the person is even admitted to hospital.
Over recent years, we’ve brought stories like this into wider conversations across Dorset: about transport, social care, housing, mental health, the arts, inequality and more. It’s not just about services … it’s about people, their needs, their experiences and the way the system responds.
This is what “help and kindness” looks like in practice. It means helping someone find a carer. It also means helping public sector teams see what’s working, what isn’t, and what could be done better.
We’re not part of the public sector, but we do work alongside it – one foot inside, one foot firmly in community life. That perspective lets us speak honestly, highlight what’s needed, and encourage collaboration.
No two weeks look the same. But whether we’re talking to a farmer, a hospital patient or a policymaker, we keep returning to the same principle: that by working together – across sectors, silos and services – we can build something better for everyone in Dorset.

Learn more about Help and Kindness, their services, and community projects at helpandkindness.co.uk.
If you need help, contact the team on 01305 595958 or [email protected]

An Abbey harvest service for 30 years of farming’s quiet heroes

Editorial team

5 October 2025

Sherborne Abbey was filled with voices, laughter and a strong sense of solidarity as 500 people gathered to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Farming Community Network (FCN) with a traditional harvest evensong on Sunday 28th September. Farmers, landowners, rural families and dignitaries joined FCN volunteers for an evening that brought Dorset’s deep agricultural roots to the fore.

More than 500 people filled Sherborne Abbey for the Farming Community Network’s 30th Anniversary Harvest Evensong.
All images © Nigel Gidney

The Abbey choir, led by James Henderson, filled the space with their voices, while the bells rang out a quarter peel in FCN’s honour.
The event was organised by Bec Hill, the joint co-ordinator for Dorset FCN, who farms at Winterborne Kingston. She, along with her fellow co-ordinator Barrie Cooper, have a network of trained volunteers who support farming families through times of difficulty and change.
‘It was a joyful, inclusive event,’ she says. ’The Abbey choir performed, and the hymns were ones that everyone knows! It was a proper celebration of what Dorset does best.

A traditional bundle of wheat held by a member of the congregation, symbolising gratitude for the year’s harvest

‘It’s not only about looking back at 30 years of FCN’s work, but also about bringing our community together to give thanks and look forward. We’re proud to have hosted this event in Dorset – we’re a county with deep agricultural roots, and a strong spirit of support.’

Produce was donated for local food banks

FCN’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jude McCann, attended the abbey service: ‘Thank you to our generous and caring volunteers, trustees and colleagues for a truly uplifting and inspiring service,’ he says. ‘It is thanks to the hard work of our local volunteers and their close connections to farming that we are able to build relationships and help people to find a positive way forward. This was a beautiful service and a true testament to the hard work and resilience of UK farmers.’

Dorset Young Farmers acted as ushers in their white showing coats

The Abbey was dressed with wonderful floral arrangements courtesy of the Sherborne Flower Ladies and the Dorset Young Farmers decorated the Abbey porch. They also attended as ushers in their traditional white coats, helping guests to their seats. Sherborne YFC’s Silas Horsington delivered a reading during the service.
Afterwards, the crowd headed to the Memorial Hall for tea, coffee, cake and conversation, with catering by Dorset Delights. Produce was collected for local food banks, and a raffle was held of 29 generously-donated local hampers.
More than £5,000 was raised by 45 local sponsors in support of FCN’s work.

Vintage tractors were parked outside the Abbey

From the vintage tractors parked outside to the warmth inside, the evening was a celebration not only of FCN’s 30 years, but of Dorset’s resilient and caring farming community that continues to show up for one another.

fcn.org.uk

Does DSAA really need your £1 million?

Editorial team

4 October 2025

Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance has £44 million in reserves, but is still asking for donations. Is its second helicopter appeal really necessary?

Pegasus – ‘Peggy’ – the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Helicopter

The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) has launched a public fundraising appeal to raise £1 million – the final piece of funding, it says, needed to acquire and equip a second helicopter to meet growing demand.
The new aircraft would be based at Henstridge airfield, joining the charity’s existing Leonardo AW169 helicopter, ‘Peggy’, which responded to more than 3,000 incidents in the last year alone.
According to DSAA’s chief executive, Charles Hackett, the goal is to improve service resilience and move toward a full 24/7 emergency response. The second helicopter, he says, will help ensure uninterrupted coverage during downtime and maintenance – and allow them to extend operations from the current 7am to 2am. It’s a compelling case … until you look at the accounts.
An investigation by Somerset Confidential has done just that, and their findings, published this week, were revealing.

Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance G-DSAA coming in to land near the Dorset coast

£44 million in reserves
According to DSAA’s annual report, published just ten days before the appeal, the charity holds nearly £44 million in reserves – with £9.5 million already earmarked for a second helicopter.
And yet, the charity is now asking for £1 million more.
That’s raised more than a few eyebrows.
‘Urging donors to dig as deep as possible, Hackett chose not to explain that the charity already had the money it needed to buy and equip a second helicopter,’ noted Somerset Confidential (SC), whose investigation first highlighted the inconsistency. ‘Donors to the fund would be giving the charity money it already has banked – potentially depriving other charities in greater need of financial support.’
So why is DSAA asking for public donations to cover a cost it’s already budgeted for?
DSAA says it anticipated a £1 million shortfall in 2024–25, but last-minute legacy donations wiped it out. The appeal went ahead anyway, and that explanation hasn’t convinced everyone: ‘They forecast a £1 million shortfall in 2024–25 but did better, and didn’t have one,’ a former air ambulance charity chief executive told SC.
‘They’ve known for the last six months that they didn’t have a shortfall. The last accounts show their income was £11 million – up from £9.4 million the previous year. In the three years before that, they made surpluses of more than £2 million each year.’

24/7 ambition at what price?
The charity is open about its longer-term ambition to move toward 24/7 operations – a goal that has prompted some to question whether it is necessary or financially sustainable. ‘It’s not just a second helicopter – they will need more pilots, paramedics, doctors, fuel, aircraft maintenance … Why not be transparent about that?’ says the former chief executive. He also questioned the clinical case for flying at night: ‘Most of the country sees few serious incidents between 3am and 6am – and at that hour, it’s often quicker to drive than fly.’
He points to Thames Valley Air Ambulance, which recently scrapped night flights in favour of rapid-response cars – a model it believes delivers faster patient care. East Anglian Air Ambulance operates two aircraft 24/7 at a cost of £17.8m annually – £7m more than DSAA’s current budget. ‘To match that model, DSAA would need at least an extra £5 million every year. Do the trustees really think that’s realistic? And can the people of Dorset and Somerset afford it?’
In response, a DSAA spokesperson re-affirmed that all funds raised in support of the 2nd Heli Appeal will be spent solely on the new aircraft and its medical fit-out.
There’s no doubt that DSAA is a vital and rightly much-loved service, nor that its ambition comes from a desire to do more, not less.
But at a time when household budgets are under pressure and smaller charities are fighting for survival, it’s reasonable to question whether this particular appeal is necessary – and whether the trustees’ long-term vision is realistic.

Read more – This article is based on original reporting by James Garrett for Somerset Confidential. To read the full investigation – including the detailed financials, operational breakdown, and expert commentary – click here to view the full story on Somerset Confidential

*The former chief executive, who stills works in the aviation industry, has requested anonymity.

Dorset rogue traders jailed

Editorial team

4 October 2025

£36,000 for cutting trees, £120,000 for useless roofing – Dorset Trading Standards secures convictions in two major fraud cases targeting vulnerable residents

The mess left behind by rogue gardeners Coker and CochraneLeft in the scaffolded lurch

An elderly Dorset resident was charged £36,000 for gardening work that should have cost £3,500. Now four people have been convicted at Bournemouth Crown Court in one of the county’s most shocking recent fraud cases.
In 2022, a man approached the victim and his wife, claiming he had been recommended to speak to them by two neighbours, whose hedges he had cut. The victim agreed to the hedge trimming, but the man, Dan, did not provide written cancellation rights, a legal requirement for “doorstep contracts.”
Two men carried out minimal work, and then demanded £1,600 in cash. Over the following days, they returned repeatedly, using misleading and aggressive tactics, claiming trees were dangerous or diseased and recommending work, much of which turned out to be unnecessary. They felled three conifers, a holly and a sycamore tree, reduced the height of another sycamore from 60ft to 15ft, and a conifer from 60ft to 30ft, coppiced two hazels and vigorously pruned a fruit tree. The victim, concerned about their liability and safety issues with the (apparently) diseased trees, eventually paid out a total of £36,000.

More crooks caught
Trading Standards investigated the case and traced the cheque payments through multiple bank accounts – they identified Scott Cochrane (aged 35, from Poole) and Daniel Coker (aged 39, from Salisbury) as the principal offenders. Both men were later identified by the victim in an identity parade.
Aaron Frigot (aged 27, from Poole) banked a cheque for £25,000 from the victim. He passed the majority of the money to Coker and Cochrane via Penny Jayne Barney (aged 57, from Verwood). At the Bournemouth hearing, His Honour Judge Fuller KC said Barney “had laundered the money for financial gain and turned a blind eye to its source.”
Daniel Coker, an experienced offender who was on bail for other matters at the time, was sentenced to six years and seven months imprisonment. Scott Cochrane, who was also on bail at the time of the offences, was sentenced to three years and seven months. Penny Jayne Barney had her 12-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months, was sentenced to a 7pm to 7am curfew for five months and ordered to pay £200 in compensation. Aaron Frigot, who had pleaded guilty earlier at Poole Magistrates Court, had a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to spend up to 20 hours in rehabilitation and to pay £1,500 compensation .
The victim statement read to the court said: ’Two years since the offence, I am still haunted by it. These men left my garden in a terrible mess. I am still concerned about the state of it today. Every morning when I wake up, I think about what happened and hope that nothing similar ever happens to me or anyone like me again. I am fearful of being targeted again.’
This was not the only recent successful prosecution by Dorset Council’s Trading Standards service. They secured convictions against a couple trading as Your Roof Buddy Ltd. Christopher Call (aged 36) of Horsham and Georgia Smith (aged 33) of Cranleigh admitted carrying out grossly inflated and incompetent roofing work, targeting vulnerable individuals aged between 65 and 93, who responded to leaflet drops. Smith also falsely claimed to be a member of Checkatrade, despite having been removed from the scheme and instructed to stop using its name and logo on her company website.
Call would initially suggest minor repairs, which quickly escalated to claims that entire roofs needed replacement. Customers who questioned the work, or refused to pay, were threatened by Smith with legal action.
The total quoted for roofing work across four victims amounted to almost £120,000. An expert building surveyor later assessed the properties and concluded that the work was “incompetent, unnecessary and of no value.” All the work needed to be redone.
Cllr Gill Taylor, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Housing, said: ‘This case is a stark reminder of the devastating impact rogue traders can have on vulnerable members of our community. I commend our Trading Standards team for their tireless work in bringing these individuals to justice. This is the second conviction this month and work is ongoing on a number of other cases.’
Neil Martin, principal officer in Public Health and Prevention at Dorset Council said: ‘Sadly this type of crime occurs regularly in Dorset. Mostly it involves gardening, roofing, driveways and loft insulation (the installation and/or the removal of foam-sprayed insulation). We feel a great deal of sympathy for the victims of these types of crimes. The criminals who carry out this type of work can be very convincing, and will often offer small, simple jobs such as trimming a hedge or replacing a roof tile. Once they have gained the householder’s trust, the price and need for additional work quickly increases. Unfortunately, they often prey on the more vulnerable consumers, who perhaps don’t know the true value of the work carried out, or are too afraid to say no.’
How easy is it to fall foul of a dodgy gardener or tradesman? Surprisingly so – and I speak from experience. I thought I could spot a scam. But two years ago, after struggling for months to find someone to fix my shed roof, I hired a man who simply made it worse – and then became aggressive when we questioned the bill. Eventually, we paid, just to end the calls.
A few days later, I saw a Facebook post about fly tipping in a nearby farm gateway … and there was a photo of my old shed guttering, dumped with the rubbish. I hadn’t just been scammed – I’d unknowingly contributed to illegal fly tipping, and the council made it clear I was still liable.
Lesson learned.

How not to get ripped off
With con artists continuing to prey on the vulnerable (and not-so-vulnerable) who do need gardening work done, how can the public find someone who will provide a good quality job? Neil Martin has some advice: ‘Never respond to someone knocking on your door to offer work, and be very cautious responding to a leaflet put through your door. Many reputable firms advertise in this way, but unfortunately we are finding that more rogue traders are also using this method to gain work. If you need work carried out on your home, try to use a local business recommended by family or friends, and get several quotes. If you cannot find a business, Trading Standards operates a trusted trader scheme called Buy With Confidence. All members of this scheme have been vetted by trading standards so you can be sure they are honest and trustworthy. A full list of Buy With Confidence members can be found at buywithconfidence.gov.uk or by calling 01392 383430.’
Charlie Saunders of Hambledons, a specialist gardening service based in Shillingstone, adds: ‘Always get three quotes – and don’t only judge on price. Consider the overall professionalism of the company too – does the quote include all the necessary detail? Ask what’s included, check if they’re insured, and look for memberships in schemes like Buy With Confidence, or any other scheme where traders are vetted – it gives you a route to complain through if things go wrong.
‘If they’re a limited company, you can easily check their financial health on Companies House.
‘Remember, the cheapest quote is not always the most cost-effective: A 10-year fencing guarantee may cost more upfront – but it’s far better value.’
In a positive end to the awful gardening fraud case, a local business, Knighton Countryside Management, heard about the victim and offered to clear up the mess left behind by the crooks – entirely free of charge.

Crafty Stur: creativity, community and cauldrons this October

Editorial team

4 October 2025

Sturminster Newton is quietly becoming one of Dorset’s most creative corners. Whether you’re hunting for a handmade gift or hoping to be inspired by fellow makers, there’s no shortage of opportunities to get stuck in.

Spooky season arrives in style
Sturminster’s Halloween celebrations are going big this year: it’s all happening on Thursday 31st October, right in the middle of half term. There will be a big, family fun event in theafternoon at the Railway Gardens, with other events around the town too:
Stur the Cauldron in the Railway Gardens: 3pm to 7.30pm: Loads of outdoor activities, there will be a pumpkin trail, slime making, apple bobbing, cake decorating, mask-making, spooky bookmark crafts, photo booth, face painting and more!
4pm to 6pm: Storytelling sessions:
4pm (ages up to 7),
5pm (ages 8 to 12)
6pm (ages 12 to 18)
4.30pm Best fancy-dressed pet competition 6.30pm Best costume competition
Children’s Light Party at the Methodist Church, Church Street: 3.30pm to 5.30pm
BugFest at The Exchange, 3pm to 5pm. This is a FREE event, thanks to Friars Moor Vets and Southwest Wills and Probate Ltd
SNADS Halloween Murder Mystery at The Exchange – 7.30pm, tickets available from The Exchange (£20, includes dinner and dessert)
Halloween story competition – entries close 21st October, winners announced on the night
The Halloween event is a joint community effort from SNADS, SturAction, Riverside Festival, Home-Start Blackmore Vale, LitFest, the Vale Family Hub, Community Connections, Sturminster Newton Town Council … and a band of enthusiastic local ghouls and goblins.

New faces at 1855
Stur’s own eclectic Artisan Market and shopping destination, 1855, continues to thrive, bringing an exciting mix of local talent and creativity to the community. With new faces and fresh offerings, the market has been buzzing with excitement. In just the last two months alone, 13 new traders have joined, including:
Tolive
Silver jewellery and hand-crocheted bags
Handmade with Love by Natalia
Stunning pipe cleaner flower art
The Compton Candle Company
Handcrafted candles and diffusers
Bath Bomb Boutique
Luxurious handmade bath bombs
Regenerative Nomads
Herbal teas and botanical remedies
Flo & Mo
Aprons, cushions, and tooth fairy pillows
Jane Wade Scarlet
Local author
Wild Lines
Eco cards featuring endangered animals
Quilting Jane
Bespoke patchwork tote bags
Olivia’s Treats
Handmade cheesecakes
Buckridge Dairy
Local handmade ice cream
Mystacoll’s Spirit
Copper wire tree sculptures
Paul Hawthorn
Professional artist and sculptor

Crafts at The Exchange
Held in the Atrium of The Exchange on the first Saturday of each month, this craft market brings together around 20 rotating stalls from local crafters and artists. Expect to find jewellery designers, potters, glass artists, woodturners, textile makers, soap and wax crafters and more. Many accept commissions and create bespoke pieces – perfect for thoughtful gifts (we are all strating to think ahead for Christmas, yes?) or just for treating yourself. Entry is free, and profits support the maintenance of The Exchange building.
Upcoming Saturday craft market dates are 4th October, 8th November and 6th December.

RiverFest Quiz & Curry Night
Join the fun on Friday 3rd October as Mayor Joe Rose hosts a quiz night in aid of RiverFest 2026.

1855 Meet the Maker
On the morning of Saturday 4th October, some 1855 traders will be moving next door to showcase their craft in the garden of the White Hart.

Car and Bike Enthusiasts Meet
Also on 4th October, the Car and Bike Enthusiasts return to the Rec from 9am to 12pm – and there’ll be free parking across both town car parks.

Knit and Natter
Join the friendly Knit and Natter group in the Coffee Bar at The Exchange on the first and third Wednesday of every month, 2pm to 3pm.
All abilities very welcome.

Creative classes at Beads with a Twist
From glass fusing and stained glass to silver clay and wirework, Beads with a Twist has a packed programme of hands-on workshops this autumn. To book or find out more, contact Petrina on 07967 806849 or [email protected]

From a boat to Bosch: the incredible story of E. B. Marsh

Editorial team

4 October 2025

It started with a leap and ended with a high-tech retail leader: for nearly a century, Sturminster Newton retailer E.B. Marsh has been serving Dorset

When Sarah Palmer’s great-grandfather was 13, he jumped off a Newfoundland-bound boat in Poole Harbour … and walked home to North Dorset.
Henry got as far as Fiddleford, just outside Sturminster Newton, where he was taken in by a chimney sweep. The rest of his family sailed on without him – they couldn’t get off the ship – and by the time they returned, years later, he had changed his surname from March to Marsh and become a chimney sweep himself.
That unlikely moment of teenage defiance was the first chapter in a family story that’s lasted nearly 100 years. Today, E.B. Marsh is one of Dorset’s most trusted names in electrical goods: a third-generation family business that has continued to adapt, thrive and serve the community since 1930.

Sarah’s father Richard (Dick) Marsh, left, and his father Edward

Moving with the electrical times
The E.B. Marsh story, as we know it today, began in 1930, with Edward Bramwell Marsh and his brother Harry. Together they opened a garage at the top of Station Road, trading as H.W. Marsh. Back then, it was a garage for charabancs – early motor coaches that took locals on outings – but the brothers also built bicycles and even their own cars, ran a petrol pump and offered mechanic services.
As electricity crept across rural Dorset, the business adapted. In 1940, the brothers moved into the Market Square shop which the company still occupies today. Seeing a new opportunity, the brothers started wiring homes, and before long, they were selling and repairing electrical appliances too.
They parted ways in 1942 – Harry went off to become a builder in Blandford, while Edward – Ted – continued solo under a new name: E.B. Marsh.
By the 1950s, the shop had become a local hub for modern living. Edward was one of the first in the area to sell televisions – he’d often leave them running in the shop window during national events so passers-by could watch.

Edward Marsh’s van was a familiar site in the 1950s and 60s, present at most local events with these enormous speakers strapped to its roof

From redundancy to reinvention
Edward eventually retired in the 1970s, but his son Richard – ‘everyone knew him as Dick’ – was already a familiar sight in the business, and he kept the business steady through the following decades.
‘Dad’s van was a familiar sight at fetes and gymkhanas,’ says Sarah. ‘It had huge speakers strapped to the top, and he’d provide the sound. That van went everywhere – we still have the speakers up in the attic!’
But by the mid-1990s, change was coming again.
Sarah Marsh had built a career in finance, working for big names like Ryvita and Johnson & Johnson. When she was made redundant, her father had just turned 65 and was ready to step back.
‘Some of his cronies asked him, “What are you doing? Sarah’s a girl. You can’t give it to a girl!” And he replied, “Oh, it’s not only a girl … it’s Sarah!”’

In the 1950s, Marsh’s was an official dealer for Murphy, a popular manufacturer of television sets

Sarah wasn’t there to simply take over the reins. Instead she transformed the business. Her first move was to knock down the internal walls behind the front counter, reclaiming rooms that had once been a house and offices.
‘I’d won a competition in an electrical retail magazine,’ she says. ‘The shop front was basically unchanged since the 1960s, and the prize was £5,000-worth of shopfitting. So I thought – brilliant. Let’s open up the space properly.’ the changes kept coming. The original garage in Station Road, still bearing its big glass doors, became storage space. In 2001, Marsh’s opened a second shop in Sherborne, converting a long-neglected furniture store halfway down Cheap Street. Sarah reflects on how fast things have changed – and how quickly customers’ expectations have evolved: ‘I remember my mum had a Keymatic Hoover washing machine – you put a little key into the top to select the programme. It had a drop-down door you just closed. Fifty years ago, twin tubs and spinners were big sellers.’

E.B. Marsh, c.1960 – outside stand a Ford Consul MkII and a new Ford Thames 400E van

Holding their ground
While other independents disappeared under the weight of online shopping and retail parks, Marsh’s quietly held its ground.
‘We’re always working to stay ahead of the curve,’ Sarah says. ‘I’ve spent hours in dark rooms comparing TVs – thinking “surely the picture can’t get better than this model” – and then it does. Not just the picture, the sound too.’
That attention to detail runs deep. The team doesn’t just sell products – they learn them inside out: ‘Every item that goes on the floor is tested. The guys check the energy ratings, open the doors, run through the programmes. It’s not just about what a machine can do – it’s about what you actually need it to do.’
That knowledge isn’t held back for high-spenders either: ‘We don’t pay commission – we just pay good wages. So there’s no sales pressure. We ask the right questions, find the right product, and build trust. That’s why people come back. And it can’t be that wrong – most of my team have been here for years. Clifford’s 80 now – he joined Marsh’s at 15 and still works three days a week. He’s our white goods engineer. If Clifford can’t fix it, it’s not fixable.’

Sarah Palmer – image Courtenay Hitchcock The BV

Click, deliver, compete
Marsh’s has never been stuck in the past. Long before ‘Euronics’ became a high street name, they were already part of it.
‘People think it’s a modern thing,’ says Sarah, ‘but it began as Combined Independent Holdings (CIH) – and we’ve been members since the 1960s.’
CIH started as a buying collective, giving independent retailers the bulk-buying power of the big chains. Today, it still means Marsh’s can offer competitive pricing – with frequent deliveries from distribution hubs. ‘We get two or three deliveries a week,’ says Sarah. ‘It means we can match John Lewis or AO.com on most prices – and still provide proper service.’
That personal service is where the big box stores often fall short. ‘If it’s not in stock, we’ll get it. If you need it delivered in a hurry, we’ll find a way. It’s that flexibility customers really value – and it’s what makes us different.’

Sarah Palmer (left) with the team at the opening of the Sherborne store in 2001

So, what’s hot right now?
‘For TVs it’s a Panasonic – the Z95B,’ says Sarah without hesitation. ‘We’ve got one on display. The picture is stunning, but it’s the sound that really sets it apart. Panasonic have built Technics speakers straight into the set – the full sound spectrum, proper amplification … it’s a really big leap forward.’
For years, she says, manufacturers prioritised slim design over sound quality.
‘Everyone was chasing “thin”. But what’s the point if you can’t hear the telly properly? Now it’s about the full experience – picture, sound and connectivity.’ And in the kitchen?
‘Air fryers were huge – they still are. But people are starting to explore different cooking styles. I’m not sure what the next big thing will be…’
Some things, though, never change: ‘Washing machines always sell. They do a hard job – 8kg of clothes, probably at least once a day for a family household. And during this summer’s heatwave, we sold loads of fridges and freezers – they really struggle to keep up when it’s hot.’
Delivery, too, is no small-scale operation.
‘We were down in Weymouth today, then Bridport and Crewkerne. We go over to Glastonbury. Up to Salisbury … And for big items like American fridge freezers we often send two teams. We’ve taken off doors, gone through windows, lifted them over garden walls … People always forget to measure the route to the kitchen – not just the space it’s going in!’

The showroom size and range often surprises first-time visitors – image Courtenay Hitchcock The BV

Inside the Sturminster Newton store – image Courtenay Hitchcock The BV

A look to the future
So, is there a fourth generation Marsh waiting in the wings?
‘They’re too young,’ says Sarah. ‘And besides, I think Dad had the right idea – you can’t force your children into the business. They have to decide for themselves if it’s right for them. And they might decide it’s not. That’s okay.’
She pauses, then adds: ‘Plus I’ve got a few years left in me yet.’
After nearly a century in business, E.B. Marsh’s is still evolving – holding fast to the values it was built on, while staying nimble in a changing world.
‘We’re just a local company for local people,’ Sarah says. ‘We try to look after every single customer the best we can. And if something goes wrong? They know they can come back to us, and we’ll sort it – properly.’

Some of the E.B. Marsh team in 2025 – image Courtenay Hitchcock The BV

And her advice if you’re thinking about upgrading?
‘Just come in and have a chat. Whether you’re looking for a new kettle, a 65” TV, or someone to carry a fridge through your kitchen window – Marsh’s will get it sorted.’

ebmarsh.com

Robbie Cumming answers the Random 19 questions

Editorial team

4 October 2025

How Robbie went from Gillingham High School to landing a seventh series on BBC4 with a 42ft narrowboat called Naughty Lass

Robbie Cumming with Naughty Lass
Image © Stuart Woodman

Robbie Cumming never imagined he’d end up a cult TV favourite. But after a chance offer from a school friend to house-sit a London canal boat, everything changed.
‘It was through Sam Martin – she was the year below me at school and later became a comedy producer,’ Robbie says. ‘In 2012, she had a boat in London she was trying to sell. She asked if I’d look after it, rent-free, while she sorted the sale. I was dating someone in London at the time, and I didn’t want to keep paying for train fares – so I said yes.
‘I didn’t even have a job at the time – I was trying – but I just fell in love with boat life. So I neglected the job hunt and my relationship … and then boat sold. So I was left with nothing but a drive to return to the canals to explore them further. I’d grown up in Gillingham with no idea what the canal system even was. I just thought boats were for hippies or old people.’
It wasn’t an instant transformation to a TV presenter life, however.
‘It took a further two years to find a boat I could afford! Then I spent my first year aboard, learning the ropes while trying to hold down my work from home job. I started a YouTube channel for fun, filming in my spare time. It’s pure chance the BBC picked it up – and that Canal Boat Diaries became a thing.’
Now filming its seventh season, the quietly captivating BBC Four series follows Robbie as he travels solo through the country’s canals, exploring quirky industrial engineering, forgotten landscapes, and the slow magic of life at 4mph – with his own music as the soundtrack.
‘I film most of it myself on my iPhone – it’s got a very DIY feel. But it’s polished by some brilliant people behind the scenes, and I’ve learned loads from them over the years. Working in TV was always the dream, but it still feels absolutely mad.’
The result is oddly soothing, gently funny and packed with surprising niche appeal: Canal Boat Diaries has found an unexpectedly broad audience, from young kids watching with their dad to heavy metal fans.
‘I think it’s the industrial heritage. Or maybe it’s just me being a bit of a weirdo!’
His own passions often sneak into the show. ‘I’ve featured Led Zeppelin’s house, bits of music history, even comedy stuff – because that’s always been part of me. I used to run a six-week improv comedy course in Shaftesbury when I lived there.
‘Music, design, videography – I’ve always been into all of it. This opportunity somehow brought everything together. And yeah, the audience might be niche – but I think niche audiences are undervalued.’
When he’s not on a tight schedule, Robbie says his Dorset roots take over: ‘If I’ve got time, I head straight for the quietest, most remote mooring I can find. Somewhere peaceful, with a nice view. I’ll have a little fire, a barbecue, just sit outside and enjoy nature.
‘TV work can be stressful – the pressure’s full-on. So when I get the chance, I’ll just find a spot where I can stare at a fire or look across the water. That’s my reset button.’
Back in Dorset this month for a live appearance at The Exchange at Sturminster Newton, Robbie’s excited to slow things down with a local audience.
‘Dorset doesn’t have the same industrial heritage you see up north, so I love showing people the forgotten corners I get to explore – oddly-shaped bridges, crumbling locks, canal archaeology … it’s all out there.’
Before he hits the stage, we threw 19 quick-fire questions Robbie’s way – here’s what he had to say…

‘Living on a canal boat, you have to be flexible and prepared to rough it’
Image © Stuart Woodman

What’s your relationship with Dorset?
I lived just outside of Gillingham, on a garden centre, Milton Garden Plants, which moved and is now Orchard Park. I went to Gillingham High School and I moved away when I was about 20. My parents still live locally, though they’re in that weird bit around Shaftesbury which is technically Wiltshire.
The last song you sang out loud in the car?
Something by Bring Me the Horizon … probably Happy Song.
The last film you watched?
Beekeeper with Jason Statham. Its an enjoyable romp with old Statham, who never disappoints for me, in action terms. But the scene where he throws the jar of honey and sets it on fire was a bit far-fetched.
I couldn’t help but think “What are you doing?” I know honey’s technically combustible, but it’s not flammable!
It’s Friday night, you have the boat to yourself, no work is allowed. What will you do?
I would definitely sit and record some music, but I think that’ll come under the ‘work’ rule … so I’d probably end up playing video games. I admit I play a lot. That, and watch movies.
The best biscuit for dunking.
Moore’s Dorset Knob biscuits. I’ve been to the Dorset Knob Throwing Festival, which was just hilarious. If I remember correctly, it wasn’t just knob throwing: you could count the knobs, run the knob and spoon, guess the weight of the big knob … only in Dorset.
But yeah, they sell them as great to dunk in your cider, and you didn’t specify tea …
Your most annoying trait?
I can’t sit still and just chat normally in a pub setting. I find it excruciatingly painful. So I will, annoyingly, pester my friends or literally anyone who’s nearby into playing a game – pool, cards or Jenga, anything but sitting and chatting. Recently I was diagnosed as having ADHD – which probably explains a lot.
What advice would you give to 15-year-old you?
Don’t take life too seriously. But do remember that your mind is very, very powerful. If you think you’re going to achieve something, you will. But equally, if you doubt yourself and put yourself down, that will do the opposite.
I’ve never forgotten my careers advice at school: “You come from Gillingham, and you want to work in TV and radio or film? Forget about it.” That’s what they told me. They were trying to be realistic, I guess, but even when I was doing normal jobs and going the normal route, like everyone else, in the back of my mind, I believed in myself, that I was going to do something completely different and weird. So yeah … believe in yourself.

On board Naughty Lass
Image © Stuart Woodman

What completely ordinary thing brings you disproportionate joy?
It’s just being on my boat sometimes when I’m in that peaceful location, having a camp-fire, and just sat there staring at the flames. It’s just such a stupid, simple thing … but it doesn’t give me joy. It gives me peace. I’m not out here looking for happiness. I’m looking for contentment.
What’s your secret superpower?
I think it’s being able to come up with ideas – many of which happen all at once, keeping me up at night … and it’s very difficult to pick the best one.
Also, being able to adapt to any circumstance – with a narrowboat, you have to be versatile and independent, and willing to rough it a bit.
What was the last gift you gave or received?
I bought my dad a trip on the Caledonian canal, we’re going on a family boat trip, for four nights. It’ll either be a lovely memory or a stressful nightmare. Probably both.
What totally irrational thing makes you unreasonably cross?
Being rushed, when I want to take my time.
I spend a lot of my life driving around at four miles an hour on a narrowboat, and roads often feel a bit hectic. But you encounter it on boats too. People hire one, and think they’re still on the roads and they’re just rushing to try and get as quickly as possible to the next place. And that’s not really the point. You’re in the wrong vehicle for that sort of thing. I wish people would just slow down a bit, chill out and enjoy the moment.
What’s your go-to comfort meal?
I think I’d have to say a carbonara, an absolute Italian classic, especially if you use the right ingredients. And I like pepper, so I put loads of pepper in it. Although I can’t say it’s a genuine recipe … if I made it for an Italian, they would probably spit it out again and accuse me of heresy.
What shop can you not pass without going in?
Any charity shop. I’m a massive charity shopper. I did try working in one in Gillingham once, the Poppy shop. But I found out very swiftly that what I really loved is going to all the different ones in a day, not being stuck in the same one! I just want have a rummage and see what’s there. You never know what you’re going to find. You can’t really go out looking for certain things in charity shops. You just have to see what turns up.
What little luxury would you buy with £10?
I might go to the gym. There’s a gym I know that’s £10 a session, but also they include a sauna and steam room. So that’s what I probably would do.
I know, it’s an odd luxury. But I’m travelling around on the boat a lot of the time. Because I don’t live in one place, I can’t just pop in to ‘my’ barbers, or whatever. I don’t have one, actually: going to the barbers is a treat, too.
Even though I’m bald.
The best crisps flavour?
Salted. I know that sounds very sad, but I’m allergic to certain ingredients, and they keep putting rapeseed oil in everything. Popchips, any flavour – but they are quite expensive. Poshchips.

‘Being on my boat, having a camp-fire, and just sat there staring at the flames. It’s just such a stupid, simple thing’
Image © Robbie Cumming

What was your first job and what did it teach you?
I worked for my dad, mowing lawns and helping customers.
It taught me the value of customer service, and that you’ve got to be polite to the people serving you, whether that’s in a pub, a supermarket … or the boy helping you in the garden centre.
I still remember the people who were rude to me!
What in life is frankly a mystery to you?
Women! I know, I’m not doing myself any favours saying that.
What was the first book you read and loved?
Goosebumps, by RL Stein. That was one of the first ones I remember genuinely enjoying reading … I find reading really hard to focus on for long. But Goosebumps was brilliant, and it gave me a lifelong interest in horror films.
You have the power to pass one law uncontested – what would you do?
You absolutely have to wave to someone else if you’re passing them on a boat. That’s it, it’s now officially law.

An Evening With Robbie Cumming will be at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton on Thursday, 16th October at 7:30pm. Tickets £20, available at: stur-exchange.co.uk

Allotment diary: September 2025

Editorial team

3 October 2025

Barry Cuff takes a look back at what happened on his Sturminster Newton plot last month

The summer’s drought came to an end on 26th August. Since then, we have had around five inches of much-needed rain, followed by a drier spell with sunny days and night-time temperatures dropping to near freezing on a few occasions.

‘We are harvesting red drumhead cabbage and ironman calabrese when needed’. Image: Barry Cuff

Growth – After the first of the rain, most vegetables put on a growth spurt – as did the weeds, with new flushes of seedlings, especially chickweed and fat hen. Our grass paths also needed mowing every five days.

French and runner beans – Despite the rain, these finished producing by the third week. The Moonlight runner beans gave the lowest yield for many years, with few pods left to take seed from.

Brassicas – Looking well under their net, with just a few caterpillars of both the large and small white cabbage butterflies. We are harvesting red drumhead cabbage and ironman calabrese when needed: the calabrese throwing new side heads after a few weeks. We cut our first cendis cauliflower on 25th.

Root crops – Our carrots are growing well since the rain, including the latest lines sown. Early-sown lines are now harvested as required. We dug our first palace parsnip on 25th, which we tried roasted and steamed for Sunday lunch.

Lettuce – The last batch we planted was devoured by slugs overnight (forgot the pellets!).

Winter squashes – Most of the leaves and stems have died back now and we have some amazing-looking fruits – eight butterfly butternut and seven crown prince – which will be ready to harvest beginning of October.

Tomatoes and sweet peppers – We’re now coming to an end of production in both greenhouses.

Leeks – We can see good growth, and but they do need frequent hand-weeding.

Autumn salad and stir fry – Mustards, radishes, mixed leaves, Chinese cabbage and radicchio all growing well, needing frequent hand weeding and thinning.

Fruit – We have had a second small crop of strawberries, which was most welcome! The pears are all now harvested … one of the best years ever.
We are enjoying them poached in homemade wine with honey, cinnamon, cloves and vanilla.

Seed and manure – We have put in our orders, and both should arrive in the coming months.

Compost – The heap to which we are adding spent vegetables and weeds is now over-full. A job for October is to empty the adjacent one, which contains the well-rotted material.

Clearing away – The bean canes and pea wires have all been put away for the winter.

Green manure – This is a cover crop which is grown specifically to be dug into the soil while it’s still green to improve soil health. It suppresses weeds and releases essential nutrients like nitrogen. We have sown about 20 per cent of our plot with phacelia, and may sow a further 20 per cent with winter field beans.

Wild life – The garden spiders are everywhere now, with webs appearing between every tall plant and structure overnight.
On sunny days there are still commas, red admirals and peacock butterflies on the Michelmas daisy and tithonia.

October jobs in the garden

Editorial team

3 October 2025

Don’t hang up the trowel just yet – this month is full of quiet garden jobs that pay off in spring, from bulbs to buds to blooms

Move potted tender plants like fuchsias and pelargoniums into the greenhouse to overwinter – most will survive happily in a cold greenhouse

While we can look forward to a spectacular display of colours from our deciduous trees and shrubs, this is a good time of year to take stock of the garden – what has done well? What hasn’t? – and then make a plan for next year!

A few jobs for the month …
The big job for October is to clear up your borders, and remove the tired annuals. Then you can plant up for spring with wallflowers, daffodils, alliums and crocus – and perhaps add some winter pansies. There is a wide range of spring-flowering bulbs, corms and tubers available now.
If your summer pots and containers are also looking past their best, clear them out too and either plant them up with winter bedding plants, or add some more bulbs. Try crocus and small daffodils such as Tete-a-tete. Also look for dwarf tulips, and iris reticulata. These miniature bulbs lend themselves to creating displays on tables or in the cold greenhouse, where you can appreciate their blooms close up.
With our milder winters, dahlias may well cope with being left in the ground: the foliage will be blackened by the first frosts – label them now so you know which are your favourites! Make sure you mulch them well, with at least four inches of leaf mould or compost over the tubers.
If you’d rather not take a chance and wish to dig them up, clean off the soil carefully and store the tubers in a crate in a frost-free shed – check them regularly for mould.
Cut back and divide herbaceous perennials, and protect half-hardy plants with leaf mould or compost if you are leaving them in the garden borders. Hardy fuchsias (even though they’re officially deemed hardy) will definitely benefit from this.
Prune rambling and climbing roses once they’ve finished flowering, and tie in the stems before autumn winds cause damage. Then clear up all fallen rose leaves to prevent diseases such as black spot from over-wintering. To avoid spreading any damaging fungi, don’t compost the collected leaves.
This is the month for a big greenhouse-keeping session too: clean and disinfect used pots, all staging surfaces and the inside of the glass with a warm solution of disinfectant to reduce pests and fungal infection.
Prepare the greenhouse for winter sowing and the bringing-in of plants: move potted tender plants (fuchsias, pelargoniums etc), into the greenhouse to overwinter, most will survive happily in a cold greenhouse. Tidy up, remove the growth by half, clear out any weeds in the top of the pots and reduce watering significantly.

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