Dorset author Lorraine Gibson takes a Memphis journey as she explores Elvis Presley’s life through his iconic – and shocking – fashion
Lorraine Gibson in Lansky Bros., Memphis with Hal Lansky and a replica of the pink and black outfit Elvis wore to rehearsals for the Milton Berle TV show, 1956. Image: Steve Gibson
A really comprehensive delve into the sartorial life of The King has taken Dorset writer Lorraine Gibson almost 4,300 miles (as flown by the crow) from home to Memphis, Tennessee, so she could walk in his famed Blue Suede Shoes. Lorraine’s first book, Baden Powell: A Biography, was published in 2022, by which time she had already started on writing Elvis: The King of Fashion, a view of the life of the great rock’n’roller seen through the lens of fashion. And it wasn’t long before she decided she had to go to Memphis, Tennessee, where Elvis lived from the age of 13, and where clothier Bernard Lansky had been selling clothes since 1946. Now based in the historic Peabody Hotel, Lansky Bros has trademarked itself as Clothier to the King. ‘I grew up with Elvis,’ says Lorraine. ‘My parents played his records, I watched his films during school holidays, and his colourful outfits grabbed my attention – who needed Barbie when you had Elvis? I’ve been fascinated by his style ever since.’
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Lorraine already had the framework for the book in mind when spoke to Bernard Lansky’s son Hal on the phone. Bernard had dressed Elvis for more than 30 years, and Hal’s information convinced her she would need to visit Memphis to immerse herself in the world of Elvis. ‘I travelled to the Peabody Hotel, where Elvis attended his prom night, and later signed his life-changing RCE contract. ‘Hal, who advised on actor Austin Butler’s wardrobe for the 2022 movie Elvis, and has written the book’s foreword, answered some important questions. ‘I knew what Elvis wore, but I wanted the colours, details, fabrics. He really did wear pink and black outfits – shocking in conservative 1950s America. Ditto lace and satin blouses, and those blue suede shoes. I even discovered why he wore his belt buckle to the side. ‘At Graceland, the displays were inspiring and moving, especially the dance-worn white shoes and the exquisite beadwork on the Mexican Sundial jumpsuit that Elvis wore for his final concert before he died. ‘At Sun Studio, I held the original recording mic and stood where Elvis did when he cut That’s All Right (mama).’ The welfare-funded flat where he lived as a teenager, the Arcade Restaurant where he had his own booth and the Overton Park Shell, where he played his first live professional gig, were just some of the places Lorraine went. ‘As a child, I never dreamed that the American boy in the cheesy films would inspire such an adventure. I came back to Dorset understanding Elvis even better. Back in the UK, at an exhibition at Arches London Bridge I held some of the Elvis items I’d been writing about, including his famous gold belt. That really did leave me all shook up!’
Inspired by legendary coach Pierre Villepreux, Clayesmore coaches return from France with a fresh approach to rugby – Sam Peters reports
Team Clayesmore from left: Tom Griffiths, Robbie Winearls, Chris Middle, journalist Sam Peters, Richard Dixon and Frank Thomson
On a mission to improve rugby safety and promote a less confrontational playing style, staff from a Dorset school have returned from an inspirational trip to France, led by one of the world’s greatest coaches. Five rugby coaches from Clayesmore School, led by former Bergerac No.8 and current maths teacher Richard Dixon, attended a week-long camp in Lubersac, near Limoges, where they were trained in ‘Le Plaisir du Mouvement’ (LPM – translated as the pleasure of movement), a playing style originated by legendary former Toulouse coach Pierre Villepreux. Having developed LPM in the early 1980s, 81-year-old Villepreux was inducted into World Rugby’s Hall of Fame in 2018 and is widely regarded as one of the most influential coaches of all time. He was present throughout the seven-day camp, leading a one-and-a-half hour session on the first day, and on hand throughout to coach nearly 130 French children. Villepreux’s coaching principles are based on evasion, minimising contact, going forward and relentless support. Richard Dixon was first introduced to LPM in the early 2000s by former Oxford University coach Lyn Evans, and has been a disciple of the Villepreux method ever since. A regular attendee at the camps, he is one of only a handful of English coaches entrusted with coaching LPM. ‘It takes many years to learn this method and having Pierre on hand to help develop the aspiring coaches is inspiring,’ he said. ‘We are trying to teach children there is a different way to play, not based on collisions, set-piece dominance and other awful clichés that have crept into English rugby and turned so many people off. Rugby should be about skills and having fun.’ Since Villepreux first introduced his methods when coaching at Toulouse, the team has gone on to be the most successful club side in rugby’s history, winning 16 French titles and six European Cups in the last 44 years. ‘Every Toulouse team plays this way – it’s non-negotiable,’ says Toulouse academy coach Sam Lacombe, who also attended the camp, along with legendary French flanker Olivier Magne and other top coaches. Clayesmore’s delegation included head of rugby Tom Griffiths, head of PE Chris Middle, head of science Robbie Winearls and Frank Thomson, husband of head teacher Joanna Thomson, who commissioned the trip. Staff from Kingham School in Oxfordshire also attended. ‘You hear a lot of talk on television about rugby being a collision game,’ says Tom Griffiths. ‘But it’s an evasion game. We want to emphasise that to our students and stress the safety element of reducing direct collisions, where concussions are more likely.’ The trip follows a visit from Toulouse’s coaching staff to Clayesmore in January, initiated by Richard Dixon, when New Zealand’s double World Cup winning flanker Jerome Kaino led a coaching session.
I hadn’t spoken to Doug since his daughter had a serious fall at Cartmel racecourse in Cumbria on 20th July. He was his usual brisk, amusing, talkative self … until he wasn’t. The conversation stuttered as I asked after Alice. Lucy and Doug Procter own and run The Glanvilles Stud near Sherborne – and we’re proud to have them as The BV’s equestrian columnists: foaling season is an annual highlight, with its big spreads of foolish-faced whiskery day-old foals. Alice, their 21-year-old daughter, is a familiar face in Dorset’s equestrian community. A successful three day eventer through her teens, she succumbed to the family trade and the lure of the racecourse, initially with a successful point-to-point career, then training her own horse while working as an amateur jockey at Keiran Burke’s yard near Dorchester.
A humdinger of a fall ‘It’s the unthinkable for any parent,’ says Doug. ‘I was watching her in the 4pm Female Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle on the TV, and I saw her fall. I knew immediately it was a humdinger. But the race carried on – I had to wait for them to come past the second time … that was when I saw the screens were up. That was the moment. That was when I was really worried.’ Lucy, a keen trail runner, had taken the day off to run in Devon and was out of touch. Frantically scrolling every contact in his extensive list, from trainers to TV commentators, Doug tried to find someone on the ground at the racecourse who would know what was happening. He’s swift to praise the Cartmel team, especially the Clerk of the Course James Armstrong who did absolutely everything necessary to ensure Alice received the very best care, even working out how to get her belongings, including her phone, to the hospital 50 miles away when she left by air ambulance. Less than 90 minutes later, Doug was racing north, the never-ending panic of that five hour drive every parent’s worst nightmare, made even worse by the horrendous weather conditions as he headed to the major trauma centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, to which Alice had been airlifted. ‘By the time I arrived, she was already in surgery. She didn’t come out til four in the morning, at which point all we knew was that “the surgery was successful”. Which simply meant her injuries had been stabilised … It wasn’t until ten the following morning that we were able to get any kind of real news.’
Alice and Golden Poet won the Cattistock Ladies open at Chilfrome in April 2023 –Alice pictured with trainer Keiran Burke (left) and the race sponsor
Pudding and positivity Alice spent the next ten days in ICU – during the fall she sustained a number of injuries, the most serious being to her spinal cord in the thoracic region – it is affecting the lower half of her body. ‘The care she has received has been phenomenal,’ says Doug. ‘The ICU team was brilliant … amazing … I just don’t have words for them. Even to the point that when she wanted some fresh air, they unhooked the machinery from their stands, plonked it on her bed, and wheeled her outside for half an hour – still connected to all the machines – just so she could enjoy a little sunshine.’ The family finds that concentrating on the small things is helping. A few days after surgery, Doug and Lucy were trying to find tempting simple foods for Alice to eat – yoghurt was OK, and then she tried some rice pudding: ‘She loved it. So that was it – obviously I was straight off to Asda, stockpiling those Ambrosia rice pudding pots!’ says Doug. ‘It’s correct to refer to her as an amateur jockey, but the title somehow diminishes her ability. She’s so much more than that. She’s bloody good. She’s such a good rider. This could literally have happened to anyone. ‘And her attitude has been so positive. She’s bloody amazing. She’s absolutely determined, and keeps saying “I’m walking out of here. Watch me.” ‘And she’s just messaged me after proofing this article to ask “can we sneak in a mention of my sponsor, Honeycombe Shoot Sherborne, do you think?”. She’s still making me laugh. ‘Obviously it’s not all sunshine, and she has her down-in-the-dumps moments and, well, that’s … not easy. ‘But she’s astonishing. And we really, genuinely don’t know so much right now.’ Alice will require another couple of weeks on the major trauma ward and then will need space at a spinal injury unit – her injury will require further careful evaluation to guide future treatment and rehabilitation. Doug and Lucy still have a yard to run, so they are currently tag-teaming each other up and down the M6 as they take turns to spend time with Alice – the hospital has assisted with a relative’s room, so they have somewhere to stay, and it comes with a small kitchen small kitchen – thoughtful, small things which help to make life just a tiny bit less stressful. Meanwhile, Alice’s brother Freddie, also a jockey, has been anxiously following his sister’s condition from 4,000 miles away in the US. Despite his worry, he returned to the track, finishing fourth at Colonial Downs, VA as Doug and Lucy anxiously watched the race on the TV. As we publish this issue, Freddie will be landing at Heathrow, ready to head straight to his sister’s side.
Alice riding CC Captain Kannan at Cornbury – Alice was an accomplished three day eventer and a Horse Trials Support Group scholar
A GoFundMe has been launched to help Alice during her recovery – at the time of writing it had already reached more than £17,500: gofundme.com/f/alice-procter
Although she’s always loved racing, Alice was an accomplished event rider first, and a Horse Trials Support Group scholar. Riding under Rules she has ridden three times on the Flat, recording a second and third, while over Jumps she has partnered seven mounts including a third and a fourth. She is an accomplished point-to-point rider who struck up a fine association with Keiran Burke’s Golden Poet, winning three times on the Urban Poet gelding, including twice on the same day at Larkhill. As well as these victories, she rode her last point-to-point winner at Umberleigh, on Bistouri D’Honore who she trains and owns herself.
From Dorset With Love founders Chrissy and Karl Regler Image: Courtenay Hitchcock
In 2010 Chrissy and Karl Regler had just had their second child. Finances were tight, and Chrissy, on maternity leave from the solicitors office where she worked, took a part time job in a pub. When a supplier let them down, she offered to make the pub’s popular chilli jam. ‘They loved it,’ she says. ‘Then they wanted a real ale chutney. As time went on, I started making on a very small scale for people to buy. Finally, we realised that if I sold X number of jars, I wouldn’t need to work at the solicitors anymore. ‘I mean, it was tough. We don’t have luxury holidays. We don’t have expensive cars. And it has definitely been hard with us being married – you’ve got to have a good strong relationship to be able to deal with that! ‘We’ve had lots of challenges – Brexit increased the import costs. We had no glass available for three months last year because it was coming from Ukraine and Russia. And then Spain had major droughts … My job might sound cutesy and domestic, but it’s actually a hard business in which to keep your head above water. Prices change all the time and you’ve got to constantly look at procurement. You’ve got to have the quality of goods coming in, you can’t just buy any old stuff. ‘People ask “why don’t you use Dorset’s strawberries?” – the answer is that there’s nowhere in Dorset that could produce enough. Plus there’s the sheer cost of that premium UK fruit – people wouldn’t pay it. ‘We pride ourselves on being a family brand, we don’t want to charge £6, £7, £8 a jar. We want people to be able to afford to buy from us and have our products on their breakfast tables. We don’t see the point of things being out of reach or only for a treat. We want our product to be an achievable thing. ‘We are SALSA accredited (Safe and Local Supplier Approval) which is a supermarket standard, it means our food safety is a really high level. We supply The National Trust and the RSPB and they both require a high standard of food hygiene. We were stocked in Co-op but we chose to de-list – supermarkets are not for us. They would take £4,000-worth of stock, and then pay you from what they sell. But you’ve made the investment in all the jars, the ingredients, the production … and you’re just waiting to receive that back. ‘In a small business, you wear many, many hats. You’re in charge of your food safety, your accounts, procurement, marketing, sales and your customer service. You’ve got to be able to streamline as much as possible, or you’d go crazy. We don’t want to be a faceless brand. We want to be out there with fellow small traders, to go to a food festival and recognise our stockists – to stop for a chat. We want to be talking directly with the public, to say, “Oh, you can buy it here, here and here”. Food shows are great. Because people can see that we’re actually normal! We’re ordinary people who sit in on a Friday night and watch rubbish telly!’
Dorsetshire Sauce, the award-winning product that ‘made people take us seriously as foodies’
Dorsetshire sauce The From Dorset With Love range has grown over the years – the chilli jam is still there, but it sits in a broad range of jams, marmalades and chutneys. Last year Chrissy diversified into table sauces: ‘They’ve gone incredibly well. We also have fruit-infused balsamic vinegars, which are for more than just salads. But our main product is Dorsetshire source. It’s a unique taste – Karl spent 18 months creating it.’ ‘We’d started making ketchup and brown sauce,’ says Karl. ‘I wondered why we were buying Worcestershire sauce to add to our products when we could make our own. So I started experimenting.’ ‘But without the anchovies,’says Chrissy. ’Basically because we want to have friends – fermenting fish for 18 months isn’t ideal!’ ‘About ten years ago I ended up with the right recipe,’ says Karl. ‘It uses 21 ingredients, with 15 herbs and spices – and it won a three star Great Taste Award that year. Out of 10,000 products only 152 got three stars.’ ‘From there, Fortnum & Mason picked it up and things started to move,’ says Chrissy. ‘People took us more seriously as foodies. The Hix restaurant chain used it instead of the market leader. The Pig on the Beach uses it, The Salt Pig use it … it’s great for catering to allergies as it’s vegan and it’s gluten free.’ It’s still very much a family business – Chrissy’s brother works in the kitchen (he’s credited with fixing Chrissy’s grainy table sauce issues). Chrissy’s mum has been a staunch supporter from the start, and still helps out where she’s needed: she taught Chrissy to make a good marmalade, and it’s her piccalilli recipe in the jars. Although they’ve turned away from the supermarket route, Chrissy and Karl are still keen to expand the brand, exploring new markets and products, constantly innovating and testing. But there are certain areas of the business that won’t change. ‘There are food shows that we do every year,’ says Chrissy. ‘Strangely, of all of them, our local Sturminster Cheese Festival is absolutely one of the main ones! It’s popular no matter what the weather is doing. It’s a really good community event, and we always carry back empty trays on the Sunday because we’ve sold out – I don’t think we’ve ever had a bad event there. ‘The shows are where we can really tell people that we’re totally handmade. When a customer speaks to somebody there, they’re speaking to the person who makes it, or who’s packed the box or labelled the jar.’ From Dorset With Love products are stocked in lots of delis and farm shops all over the county (there’s also a stockist in Norway and a butchers in Belgium!) Products are available direct from the website, and of course you can stop and say hello to Chrissy and Karl at Sturminster Cheese Festival in September.
Chrissy on the stand at the Sturminster Cheese Festival
Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival
Always a major event in the local foodie calendar, this year the Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival boasts more than 20 cheese makers, alongside a wide variety of other local West Country food and drinks traders and producers. From Cheddar to blue cheese, olives to chutneys and cakes to chocolates, there will be something to tempt every taste bud … and let’s not forget the locally-produced gins, ciders and vodkas on offer! The Cheese Festival will take place on 14th and 15th September from 10am to 5pm at the Recreation Ground, Ricketts Lane, Sturminster Newton. Advanced Tickets £8 (£9 on the gate) bvmag.co.uk/sturcheesetickets
Callum Sutherland talks to the Hammoud family, as they celebrate British citizenship and the home they have found in Dorset
A view of the Hammoud family’s hometown in Syria, taken before the town was besieged All Images: Ammar Hammoud
Do you know which British scientist won the Nobel Peace Prize for discovering the structure of a DNA molecule? Or how many national parks there are in Great Britain? When you apply to become a British citizen, you need to know the answers to these questions and many more. For Ammar and Samar Hammoud, this was the British trivia they studied tirelessly when they took citizenship tests last year. After passing – alongside English writing and speaking exams – they, with their children Malak, Massa and Ahmad, became British citizens at a ceremony in May. The family fled Syria in 2013 during the country’s civil war. ‘We had to get out of our hometown,’ Ammar says. ‘It was besieged, we had no choice … A lot of our friends died. We suffered a lot and we had an open road only to Lebanon. ‘Our trip was terrifying and exhausting – we were bombed on the road. It was winter and we couldn’t take any [of] our clothes with us, there was no time. We were on a bus and the bombing hit the bus, a lot with us on the road died because of that barbaric attack.’ Four years later, the family came to Dorset as refugees with help from the United Nations resettlement programme. Samar says: ‘The UN said we could go to the US, France or Britain. I don’t know why I chose here, I just had a feeling inside that I feel very comfortable coming here.’ The family was originally told they would be moving to Devon, but were directed to Shaftesbury once they arrived. ‘At the citizenship ceremony, I was so proud to have my family with me,’ says Ammar. ‘It was a very special day. After, we went to eat fish and chips! That day will forever stay in my mind.’ This cherished achievement is something that the Hammoud family has been working hard for since arriving in Shaftesbury in 2017. Ammar describes how difficult the journey to citizenship has been. ‘Before, it was like I was going up, up, up the hill. Now I can sit down and take some rest. It was hard, everything was hard. It’s been difficult – when I came here I didn’t know anyone, I was anxious and worried all the time.’
From left: Anthony Woodhouse, High Sheriff of Dorset, with Malak, Ahmad, Ammar, Samar and Massa, as they receive their British citizenship certificates.
Shaftesbury Refugee Group In the face of these difficulties, a local charity has been on hand to help since the Hammouds first arrived. The Shaftesbury Refugee Group was set up in 2017 by local residents unhappy with the treatment of Syrian refugees and the lack of local support for them. They have since been supporting Syrians and, more recently, Ukrainians in the area, with whatever they need. The group has been crucial to the arriving families – including, of course, the Hammouds. ‘When I first came to the UK I couldn’t open my suitcase for a month because I wanted to leave,’ says Samar. ‘It wasn’t England. It was just that I wasn’t home. But the volunteers came and sat with us, spoke with us, made us less frightened. That meant that one day I could open my bag. The Shaftesbury Refugee Group was like a bridge that made it possible for us to live here. They provided all the support. Even when I was in hospital to give birth, it was like having my mother with me. It feels like they are our family, not volunteers.’ ‘I have this family, the refugee group,’ Ammar adds. ’Now I feel safe. If I have any problem, I know what to do.’ Volunteers and trustees with the charity have continuously supported the family – anything from help studying for the citizenship exams to booking an appointment with a GP. The charity’s information officer Stuart Twiss has supported the family with legal matters, accountancy and simply as a friend to hear their problems. Samar says: ‘Every year he helps us with accounting, because we don’t know the law, everything has been new.’
During hot summers in Syria, Ammar says local families would enjoy picnics in the shallow river to help cool off
And it was vice chair Roz Hanby who initially encouraged the couple to share their Syrian cooking with Shaftesbury. Now, the family runs Hammoud’s Kitchen, a catering service for the local area. Samar says: ‘I didn’t think people would like to taste the food I make but she said we should just try.’ Their business has flourished, selling at the weekly Shaftesbury market and regularly catering for local events. Most recently, Hammoud’s Kitchen featured at the Motcombe Music Festival, selling out rather quickly! Ammar says: ‘I really like to share my food and my culture, it has made me friends here. People like the baba ganoush, falafel, shawarma and my broad bean salad.’
Ammar’s family farm in Syria produced a variety of fruits and vegetables, such as these apricots, plums, pears, apples and oranges.
A future in Shaftesbury Over the last seven years, the Hammouds have found that, despite leaving everything they knew and owned behind, Shaftesbury has now become home for them. ‘Shaftesbury people are amazing, very helpful and always smiling,’ Ammar says. ‘I haven’t felt like a refugee here. If anyone asks “where are you from?” I always say Shaftesbury.’ While Shaftesbury has become a perfect place for the Hammoud family to settle, leaving Syria has still been extremely difficult. After 13 years of civil war, their hometown is almost unrecognisable. While talking about home, Ammar goes through photos on his phone of fruit that used to grow on his family’s farm. Looking through pictures of cherry trees, glowing white raspberries and brilliant yellow pears, he marvels at how juicy and sweet these fruits were. The produce found at Dorset’s supermarkets simply cannot compare, apparently!
The grapes harvest on Ammar’s family farm in Syria, before the war
For Ammar, though, his family’s future is firmly in Dorset – he believes he will never return to live in Syria: ‘If I can go back, I will, but just to sell my land, then come back and buy a house in Shaftesbury. ‘My life in Syria is gone. My friends, father and mother are dead. I don’t have anything there. They killed me when they bombed my house, killed my friends. Even if I am here, my heart is dead. I cannot go back to Syria.’ The painful reality of life back in Syria, compared with the warmth that has greeted them in Dorset, means that Ammar and Samar only see Shaftesbury as their future home. ‘It’s been difficult for the children,’ says Samar. ‘A new language, new friends, new culture. For months when Massa heard a plane, she would hide under the table. Now we just try to support our children and their future.’
Ammar and Samar are regulars at the weekly Shaftesbury market, where Samar’s baba ganoush and shawarma are very popular
North Dorset is now where their children have spent majority of their childhood. All three enjoy Taekwondo, and five-year-old Ahmad says he wants to learn French. Malak, who is just starting her GCSEs, recently received the highest possible award at school for her attitude and grades. Looking forward, aspirations are high. Malak wants to be either a lawyer or doctor, Ahmad aims to be a policeman and Massa likes the idea of being a teacher. Their parents say that if the children go to university, they would like to move as a family. ‘But when they finish we would come back to Shaftesbury,’ Ammar says. ‘If I leave for maybe a week, I miss it here!’ ‘The children feel very confident now, thanks to the support they get,’ says Samar. ‘We are very proud, especially for them – they have good education and a bright future.’
Dorset’s longest-serving councillors – Stella Jones and Robert Corben talk to Rachael Rowe about 50 years of commitment to their communities
Three-time mayor Cllr Stella Jones has served Dorchester town council for 45 years and now chairs Dorset Council
Two Dorset residents are marking a remarkable combined century as councillors. Stella Jones has served for 50 years on Dorset councils, and Robert Corben has just marked 50 years with Okeford Fitzpaine Parish Council. In 1973, a the age of 27, Stella Jones was elected to West Dorset District Council, which she continued to serve until 2019, when she became a member of the new unitary authority, Dorset Council. She has been a member of Dorchester Town Council for 45 years, and Mayor three times. She has filled many district and town council roles and currently chairs Dorset Council, after the LibDems’ victory in the local elections of May 2024. When she took the chair, she symbolically removed her yellow LibDem scarf as she took the chain of office, demonstrating she wanted to remain non-political in the post. Stella was awarded the MBE in 2016 and continues to volunteer with youth charities.
Changing times When Stella joined the council in the 70s, local authorities were a very male-dominated environment:’There was a lack of facilities and services for young families – things such as playgrounds and dropped kerbs, where you could get around with a pram,’ she says. Having served as a councillor for most of her adult life, Stella has worked through challenges with her work-life balance and prioritising her family. ‘It is difficult balancing the role of councillor with that of being a mother and working,’ she says. ‘When my four children were young I had to arrange babysitting, collecting children from school and taking them to after-school activities. As my husband was also a councillor, I relied on good friends to help, and then would help with their children in return. When I went back to teaching I was fortunate that my school, Damers First, was very close to the council offices so I could attend afternoon meetings at the district council and evenings at the town council. It is more difficult for some councillors who live at a distance from Dorchester. The important part of being a councillor is meeting and helping residents, and this can usually be achieved at a time to fit in with other activities.’ Robert Corben has this year stepped down as councillor in Okeford Fitzpaine Parish Council, following five decades of service. ‘I was first approached by Fred Errington, who ran the village shop at the time. He encouraged me to be a councillor. Don Lambert was my first chairman, he ran a garage on Higher Street, and I’ve served under five chairmen since,’ he says. ‘I’ve seen loads of changes. More than 100 houses have gone up in the village in my time. Back when I started, the parish council was far more laid back. Nowadays it feels like it’s hard to get anything done because of all the legislation. It’s totally different from when I started.’ Stella is keen on change: ‘Yes, there have been many changes over the years. There is much more respect from officers and other councillors for women and younger members now. Contact with residents and officers is also much easier, thanks to the internet. Online meetings help enormously with time management and reduce the need for travel. ‘Councils across the country have had to innovate and change the ways they work to deliver significant savings and efficiencies. But there is only so much we can do in the face of large reductions in government funding and increasing demand for services. I would like to see councils being able to raise money locally and then spend it for the benefit of the residents.’
Robert Corben has just marked 50 years with Okeford Fitzpaine Parish Council
Big achievements Members of public have little knowledge of how much work councillors carry out on their behalf. Robert and Stella have both achieved a lot in their half-century of service. Robert is proud of getting extensions of the village hall and recreation ground pavilion to cope with increased demand. Stella is very proud of simply living up to expectations, and of her work with young people: ‘I am proud that people have faith in me and appreciate what I have achieved, and have re-elected me many times over the 51 years. I am also proud of being mayor of Dorchester three times, and now chairing Dorset Council. And I am proud of involving young people in council issues by setting up Dorchester Youth Council,’ says Stella. Inspiring future councillors is essential if Dorset is to attract new people to elected roles. During the recent town and parish council elections in the county, only 18 per cent of Dorset’s civil parishes were contested at the polling stations – with no competition, election is by default. Many of the uncontested parishes also had vacancies. Robert has advice for new and prospective councillors: ‘Do your best. I’ve always done what I think is best for the village. Not everyone will agree with you, but that’s how it is. That’s democracy.’ Stella says: ‘My advice is to keep in touch with all your residents. Listen to their views and visit anyone who contacts you with a problem. We’re here to represent our community and that’s got to be the overwhelming influence in your decision to be a councillor. Stick to your principles and clearly state your views – but don’t talk too much, or people will simply stop listening to you.’
Your August garden: prolong blooming, manage watering and prepare for next year’s display with expert advice from Pete Harcom
Help your lavender plants to keep their shape by trimming them after flowering
August’s jobs in the garden: Even with all the rain we’ve been having, it’s wise to keep a check on your potted plants and hanging baskets – the odd one can often miss out on all the rainfall, but naturally you won’t consider it needs watering after a downpour! The best time to water plants is early morning – this allows the foliage to dry quickly which discourages fungal spores. If you have to water in the evening, it is best to water at the roots and not on the leaves, reducing any fungal problems from wet leaves on the plant and on the soil overnight. However … plants in containers may well need watering twice a day – early morning AND evening! Keep feeding all your container plants with liquid fertiliser – once a week if possible. Regular feeding and dead heading – especially roses, dahlias and perennials – will help to keep the displays going. And in a step further than dead heading, sweet peas are at their best this month and they really do benefit from you constantly picking the flowers for vases in the house. It helps prolong the flowering period. Keep on removing those weeds, as they compete for water and soil nutrients. Prune all your summer flowering shrubs once the flowers are finished. And trim your lavender plants after flowering too, to help them keep their shape. This is a good month to remove the long whip side shoots from wisteria, back to approximately 20cm from the main stem (usually to 5 or 6 leaves). This will help control the growth and also encourage flowing next year. Wisteria will need pruning again in January or February. Now’s the time to plant your autumn flowering bulbs like Colchicum (autumn crocus) And believe it or not, now’s the time to order next year’s spring bulbs and perennials, ready for this autumn’s planting! Don’t forget your daffodils, tulips and Madonna lilies. Still looking ahead, start collecting seed from plants you want to grow next year – especially foxgloves, aquilegia, calendula, poppy and love-in-a-mist. Seed from aquilegia is an easy job – the seed pods rattle when they are ready to harvest, and they can be scattered immediately after gathering. Sow them in a shady spot if you need some colour there, or collect them for sowing in the Spring. You can store them in a dry spot in the shed until required for sowing.
Pauline Batstone shares her monthly round up of what’s happening among the town’s collection of community enterprises and events
1855 manager Cheryl Basten with SturAction’s Jacqui Wragg, celebrating their Gold Award
The Boutique, The Emporium and 1855 have all been having a bit of a makeover recently – a smart new sign over The Boutique, with new dark blue paint on the doors and windows of both it and 1855. And we’re pleased to be showing Earth Star, a new piece by local artist Jamie Hart on the front of 1855 – we want to do our part to make the town look attractive. Inside our shops the stock is as good as ever. Hopefully we may get a little more summer weather yet to encourage shoppers to enjoy buying some of our lovely summer clothes in The Boutique (Sale Now On!) and don’t forget Dapper Chaps. We must just say congratulations to 1855 for winning a Gold Award in the North Dorset Business Awards – and also to our tireless SturAction staff and marvellous volunteers. If you’ve not stopped by 1855 for a while, why not use the regular Meet the Traders event on the first Saturday morning of every month? It’s always the same day as the Car & Bike Enthusiasts Meet in town, so you can make a whole morning of it! The Art Week seems to have stretched on well beyond its official week – the town has been displaying some super paintings in the shop windows. A personal highlight was the totally mad but thoroughly enjoyable Art Race in The Exchange, with artists completing a painting in 20 minutes. The audience voted for their winner, and the pieces were also auctioned off. I urge everyone to come to the next one! In the meantime, don’t forget the vast collection of art upstairs in the Art Gallery above The Emporium.
1855 looking smart with new paint and the mounted Earth StarThe Art Race in The Exchange
In other news … The Wedding Festival will be back in 2025 – this time at the end of January. If you have a wedding dress in your attic which you would love people to enjoy again, St. Mary’s Church will be looking for more for the fourth exhibition! School holidays have started but that means the new term is looming closer. Don’t forget the FREE school uniform items upstairs above the Furniture Warehouse. Let the youngsters enjoy their summer freedom but as we move towards September come and see what we can help you with. We are trying to keep The Furniture Warehouse open on a regular basis – Monday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 4.30pm (plus other times when we have volunteers available). If the door is not open, do always come down to The Emporium and someone will pop along and open up for you. And if you have a few spare hours, would you like to come and join our cheerful SturAction family? Get out the house, meet new people, fill a few quiet hours and immerse yourself in the lovely feeling of giving back. We are always looking for more volunteers to come and join our SturAction family! Please do drop by The Emporium or 1855 for a friendly chat, or email Cheryl on [email protected].
We are often asked where the money raised through SturAction’s shops goes – here’s what your support enabled us to contribute to the Town during July: Art Week simply would not have happened without you We have paid a grant to The Blackmore Vale Practice to help fund various national awareness campaigns to keep us all healthy and happy We are one of the sponsors of the Riverside Festival on 17th August, which aims to give families a cheap day out We pay for the free car parking on the first Saturday of every month with the aim of bringing people into town to shop and also enjoy the Car & Bike Enthusiasts Meet (and we also pay the insurance for that event). We have made a grant to The Exchange towards an exciting ongoing project which they hope will draw more people in to the town. That is just one month’s work for the town by SturAction – it is all about making Stur a good place to live, work and play.
The ultimate Classic & Supercar Sunday returns to Clayesmore this month, and with more than 650 cars on display it’s set to be a huge day
The Clayesmore Classic & Supercar Sunday returns to Iwerne Minster on SUNDAY 18 AUGUST, showcasing more than 650 of the finest, fastest and rarest cars in the world. The Rev Offs return… be prepared to be wowed! Last year’s did not disappoint. Set against the backdrop of Clayesmore house, it’s an amazing spectacle when the competing cars line up for the showdown of noise and muscle! The Camaro ZL1 will return – allegedly after some modifications and a trick to bypass the rev limiter – as will the twin turbo Huracan, though it’s had a makeover. We are delighted to welcome back our headline sponsor, Harwoods, who will be presenting an array of Bentleys, McLarens and Aston Martins.
They will also be exhibiting INEOS this year! We’re excited to see the New Aston Martin Vantage and the new Bentley Continental GT up close and personal – and we are assured there will be some seriously rare specials car to see. WATCH THIS SPACE!
Haynes Heritage are making their first visit to the show, bringing a variety of rare cars and restoration demonstrations. It’s time for the kids to take the driving seat! The Mini Rovers experience for kids is back – free of charge, thanks to Harwoods – so every child can have a go on this exciting off-road adventure obstacle course (now sporting a patriotic livery from their appearance on Britain’s Got Talent!). Come and have a go in these mini electric Land Rovers and earn a little learner driving licence. We also warmly welcome Hendy, who will be displaying some fabulous brands, from Maserati to Mokes, and plenty of others in between including Jaguar and Land Rover.
Expect a surprise appearance from a yellow three-wheeler, a display of military vehicles, singing Land Girls … As always, we’ll be rocking out to live music, and as you’d expect there’ll be no shortage of delicious food, with gourmet burgers, wood-fired pizza, gelato and crepes.
