Financial challenges and declining membership mean that the golf club, located within the racetrack, will shut its doors in April.
Wincanton’s golf course
Wincanton’s nine-hole golf course, located within the racetrack, is no longer viable, say the owners, who have announced it will close on 1st April. It was opened by The Jockey Club in 1994 and has been popular with golfers across the south west region. In 2015, the Club headhunted a greenkeeper from Sherborne Golf club and the quality of the course improved appreciably, attracting considerably more members. Coaching is also offered by Andrew England, who has more than 40 years’ experience as a PGA golf professional. Ten months ago, tractors, mowers and other machinery, valued at more than £100,000, was stolen from the racecourse. At the time, racecourse manager Jack Parkinson said: ‘Insurance will cover the majority but the biggest issue for us is the waiting time on some of these vehicles. That’s where we might struggle a bit. Things like tractors take 18 months to two years so we’re going to need to hire in a lot of machinery to manage.’ Some members say that the quality of the greens and fairways has deteriorated. One, who did not wish to be named, commented: ’The theft didn’t help but the owners have let it slide. The greenkeeper has been told to do other jobs around the racecourse, the quality has fallen and members have left.’ Another golfer posting on the Golfshake website in January shared his view of the course: ‘I’ve played a few times over the years and up to this last year, it has always been just about OK. However, it really has fallen by the wayside … ‘There seems to be absolutely no interest in golf from the owners. ‘It is now being run by the manager of Exeter racecourse, who, quite naturally, has absolutely no idea whatsoever on running a golf course.’
Wincanton’s golf course
Jack Parkinson became manager at Exeter in 2017, and took over at Wincanton racecourse – and the golf club in November 2020, in addition to his Exeter responsibilities. He told The BV: ‘The decision to close the golf course has not been an easy one and we appreciate that this will not be welcome news to many. ‘A number of external economic factors have led to a huge rise in operating costs, and this, coupled with a consistent reduction in memberships over an extended period, has meant the course is no longer viable. ‘The last day of play on the course will be on Sunday 31st March 2024 – pay and play places remain available until then. ‘We have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know so many members and would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their loyal support.’
Racing returns to Wincanton on Thursday 19th October for the start of the jump racing season, followed by the Bob Champion Charity Raceday on 29th October.
It’s easy to get caught up with how terrible things are right now. How broken the world is, how hopeless things feel, how bad people can be. The problems around us are massive – and mostly unsolvable by you or I. And the constant battering of all that overwhelming hopelessness takes its toll. I start to avoid the news, actively switch off or turn away from terrible stories, and choose comedy over dark drama. But that’s no answer either. As I’ve pulled together this issue, these thoughts have been percolating in my brain, even though I’m blessed with a naturally-sunny disposition (possibly annoyingly so) – I’m quick to see the good, take the positive, and let the bad stuff go. As this issue grew, page by page, the answer was right under my fingertips. Story after story you’ll read about good people. Because we human beans, despite our constant bad press, really are innately good. We will stop and wait as a slow-moving elderly person crosses the road. Pass an item down for a short stranger from the top shelf at the supermarket – and we will take our trolley back and park it neatly. We will run to pick up a hat that flew off and laugh as we hand it back. We’ll smile at the cat stretched out in the sun – and say the obligatory ‘Biii-i-ig Strrreee-e-etccchhhh’ when it gets up. We will say ‘bless you’ to a stranger when they sneeze and ‘I love your shoes!’ to a total stranger on the train station. This month, among these pages, you’ll find a village which has simply scooped up a devastated young family and provided the support they needed. Time being taken to welcome and entertain refugees. The astonishing kindness of a donation more than 80 years ago, which was a thank you for a previous kindness, and is still creating ripples. Events made possible by huge teams working together – not because they’re paid, but because they believe that it’s worth doing. Communities supporting small local businesses – which in turn are run by good people working hard to do great things. And so much money being raised by good people for good things. I don’t know anyone who simply gives up a little time occasionally for a good cause that regrets it. Anyhoo. I just found the thought comforting. I’ll finish with a little only-Laura-ism from this month. We went out to dinner – gorgeous food, and a proper date night for us, such a lovely time. Instead of dessert I chose the cheese plate – it arrived with four hunks of cheese, and I tried a bit of each in turn; camembert, Roquefort, cheddar… and a rogue one I didn’t know. I placed a neat chunk (creamy, soft, almost oily texture … intriguing) onto a cracker, and took a bite. Butter. I had a chunk of butter in my mouth. sigh
Laura x
Cox’s Orange anyone? Thank you for your excellent magazine – the spread of articles introduces the broad spectrum of Dorset life and times, we love it! The September edition was particularly interesting for my wife and I because it covers some of the life and times of Alan Turing and his connection with Sherborne School. I wonder if you could help – not a matter requiring a ‘Turing’ answer, but could your readers advise where in Dorset I can find a Cox’s Orange Pippin tree that I can plant in the Garden? Tony Penn
Alweston will miss Jo I feel that I must record for the history of Alweston that our friend and neighbour Jo has moved to pastures new. A loyal supporter of all things connected to our village, she will be much missed by us villagers, but will now live so much closer to her family. Jo came to live in the village after her marriage – to live in the house that her husband’s grandparents had moved into when it was built and she has continued to live there ever since. She was a stalwart supporter of the church, the village school, served on numerous village committees, was a parish councillor and assisted with the WI (country) market. Readers will no doubt recall meeting her at our famous car boot sales! We wish her a happy time in her warm and comfortable new flat, with lots of new adventures. Shirley Warr, Alweston
Is Dorset’s local transport the worst? In my personal opinion Dorset Council is the worst I have ever known. Vast cuts in public transport make it impossible for many to go anywhere on Saturdays – there is no weekend bus service any more. Non-drivers who live in Shaftesbury are effectively stranded at weekends, unable to get to Gillingham station. Tourists cannot get to Shaftesbury. Those who wish to attend educational and recreational courses during the day are now unable to do so because the bus service to Sturminster Newton has been cut, and the times of buses that do still run have been changed. There are no buses in the evening at all. It’s awful for pensioners and young people attending youth clubs – what youth clubs there are – for they cannot get home and have to be collected by parents. This, at a time when we should be encouraging people to use public transport. A Conservative council. May it soon be gone with its Government. Dick Lawrence, Gillingham
Blandford’s (lack of) clinic Why are there no Covid vaccination sites listed for Blandford Forum? I have received two invitations to have a Covid vaccination – one by email and one by post. I went online to make a booking and found that all the information was out of date and did not relate to winter vaccinations. I then tried the online National Booking Service and was offered a booking anywhere between Colehill in Wimborne and Southampton, with no reference to Blandford Forum. I spoke to a person at the National Booking Service and he offered me a booking in Verwood! When I asked about Blandford he said he did not know. I then went back online and found a reference to the Whitecliff Surgery – when I phoned them, a recorded message advised me to press 1 on my key pad … which in turn referred me back to the National Booking Service … It would appear that Blandford Forum is being left out of the vaccination scheme? John Draper, Blandford
Having spoken to the Blandford Group Practice, they assure us that there are flu and Covid vaccine clinics every Saturday – please call their dedicated booking line on 01258 444526 – Ed
Roger Guttridge We have had so many messages on the passing of Roger, far too many to publish them all, but here are just a selection: ‘He was an exceptional journalist and will be much missed. Journalists as good as he was are few and far between now. Condolences to his family.’ – Damian Cullinane ‘A great Dorset writer who inspired me to write about my own county’s history and heritage.’ – Mark Vine ‘I remember Roger well, he was a really nice bloke. I worked in the darkroom at The Echo at the same time. So sorry to hear.’ – Chris Gill
As the autumn draws in, the allotment keeps producing – the main harvest has slowed but Barry Cuff is already picking winter salad
Barry’s second Ironman calabrese crop
By the end of September about 60 per cent of our plot had been cleared of the remains of the already-harvested vegetables, leaving bare soil. During October and November these areas will either be sown with green manure* or mulched with either our home-made compost or two-year-old horse manure. We don’t like leaving bare soil over the winter months! At this time of year there is plenty of material to add to the compost heaps – with a large allotment we have four heaps. One will provide us with good compost during October. The second and third will be at different stages in the process of breaking down the ingredients, while the fourth is the one to which we are currently adding new material.
A Cobnut is a type of hazelnut, traditionally grown in Kent
On the plot After the potatoes were dug mid-to-late summer, part of their area was planted up with leeks and sown with leaf and root vegetables for autumn and winter salads. All have put on good growth during September and we have already cut some of the Oriental mustards. We have continued cropping both runner beans and French beans during the month, thanks to fairly warm nights. Only twice did night time temperatures drop below 10ºC. We continue to pull beetroot and carrots when required, too, as we do with celery. The celeriac has been mulched and fed with liquid seaweed this month – the swollen stem bases will be ready in November. The brassica area looks well. During the sunny days cabbage white butterflies have been busy laying eggs on the plants, so we have to be on the lookout for caterpillars. We have cut some excellent red and white cabbages for coleslaw, stir fries and salads. At the beginning of the month we cut some large heads of Ironman calabrese – and within three weeks we were cutting smaller side shoots! The four courgette plants continued cropping, but had finally slowed down by the end of the month. The squash area gradually lost a lot of its leaves and we were able to see all of the fruits at last; these will be ready to harvest in early October. Tomato plants in the greenhouse continued providing us with a mass of fruit, though we picked the last of our outdoor tomatoes on the 22nd. Our raspberries gave us fruits all through the month, and the Kentish cob bushes gave a heavy yield of large nuts. All of these have been shelled, dried and stored in Kilner Jars. As we cleared the ground, we allowed a few of our special ‘weeds’ to flower – either for the bees or just because they are unusual (and nice to see). They include thornapple, borage, moth mullein and Apple-Of-Peru. *fast-growing plants sown to cover bare soil. Often used in the vegetable garden, their foliage smothers weeds and their roots prevent soil erosion. When dug into the ground while still green, they return valuable nutrients to the soil and improve soil structure.
Sherborne resident Alec Thorne will this month offer a glimpse behind the scenes in the world of television and film production. During his talk at the Digby Memorial Hall, he will be drawing on his experiences of working on period dramas such as Call the Midwife and Catherine the Great (2019) to illustrate how scripts are prepared for the screen – from research and set design, to costume, visual effects and lighting.
Thursday 19th October at 2pm Free admission for members of Sherborne Museum. Visitors: £5 on the door. Digby Memorial Church Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne, DT9 3NL
The BV’s astrophotographer Rob Nolan is back – and counting the days to those long winter nights
Summer seemed to give way to autumn spectacularly quickly this year, didn’t it? It did feel like we just spent our UK summer swinging wildly from one extreme to another! But … while the earth’s weather has been severely changeable, we can always rely on the celestial calendar – it never falters and rarely surprises … except for the odd new comet, meteor or supernova! The image this month is a bit of a revisit. Longstanding readers may recall a similar image of the Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635) back in the November 2021 issue. However, my recent image is vastly improved, using a dedicated mono camera and narrowband filters and using the SHO colour palette. The Bubble Nebula really comes to life in this wide field shot, which lies in the constellation Cassiopeia. The Bubble itself (top left) is created by the stellar wind from a massively hot, 8.7 magnitude young central star, catchily-named SAO 20575. The nebula is near a giant molecular cloud which acts as a container to the expansion of the Bubble Nebula, while itself being excited by the hot central star, causing it to glow. Shooting wide field enables us to see all the surrounding objects in these vast nebulas, such as SH2-157 (the Lobster Claw nebula), shown towards the bottom of the image. The distinctive claw is unmistakable in shape, which is caused by stellar winds being driven by large stars giving off radiation in the region. This month’s image was captured with my 340mm Refractor Telescope and the ZWO ASI2600MM Pro Astro camera with narrowband filters and is about 17.5 hours of data.
The night sky, October 2023 – Rob’s guide for your stargazing this month:
While September was a relatively quiet month for astronomical observations, things certainly liven up again in October – it’s a good time to start observing the Pleiades once again. We’ll also be in for a treat when Halley’s Comet produces shooting stars across our skies as bits of the comet smash into our atmosphere, and a minor lunar eclipse ends this month with a celestial crescendo! You certainly can’t have failed to notice that the nights are drawing in, and on those (rare!) clear nights, the stars and constellations are taking on a new, brighter form. It’s as though someone peeled back the curtain liner to reveal that stunning black night sky once again. Everyone I talk to at work or at the pub is saddened by the nights drawing in – but not us. We amateur astronomers are rolling up our sleeves and ready to go to work! Now’s the time to grab the largest telescope you can and start observing the planets. The mighty gas giant Jupiter is dominating our night skies at the moment, and the Great Red Spot, a storm that – just by itself – is bigger than planet Earth, is visible. It looks like the storm and the Red Spot have been shrinking for at least a century, but it’s not likely to disappear any time soon. Venus and Saturn are also visible this month, so I’d definitely recommend taking an astronomical stroll around our very own backyard. If you’re up and about before dawn on the 10th October, Venus hangs below the Crescent Moon with Regulus, the brightest star in the Leo constellation, in between them. The following night on the 11th, you’ve another chance to see a repeat act. This could be a great year for Orionid meteor shower, overnight on 21st/22nd October, as Halley’s Comet makes another pass around our planet and creates a dazzling heavenly fireworks display. Please clouds, take the night off for this one! At the end of the month on the 28th, there will be a partial lunar eclipse visible across Europe, Africa and Asia, and Jupiter will also be sitting on the sidelines. When looking at the Moon, 12 per cent of the surface will be obscured, starting at 20:35 and ending at 21:53. Finally, on 29th October, we’ll wave goodbye to British Summer Time, and the real astrophotography fun can begin!
A question for YOU. In the build up to Christmas, I’m going to open up the December image to BV readers. Send in your ideas – what celestial object would you like to see featured? Something I’m capable of imaging and can see from our hemisphere of course! Get thinking about what you’d like to see, and drop me a message via Facebook or Instagram. I’ll also be sharing a post on the BV’s Facebook group in due course. Until then, clear skies!
Alec’s Field: the amazing story behind a legacy of cricket and kindness in Hazelbury Bryan
International bestselling author Victoria Hislop answers the Random 19 questions
Bad boy Wilf – Andrew Livingston shares his brilliant story of the unintended consequences of unconditional love
A foal named Lettuce – who probably had the wonkiest legs you’ve ever seen.
Inspired by craft ales and Coldplay, Steve Farrell’s Eight Arches Brewery has brought commercial brewing back to Wimborne after a nearly 80-year dry spell
From Michelin kitchens to chilli-fermenting ones: David and Mikka Tamlyn have a new home for award-winning Weymouth 51 in Sturminster Newton
Cat Harris takes the reins at the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show
Get ready for a side-splitting comedy extravaganza as the acclaimed comedian Rhod Gilbert makes a triumphant return to the stage with his new live show, Rhod Gilbert & the Giant Grapefruit, scheduled to hit Lighthouse Poole on Friday, 4th October 2024. Widely recognised as one of the standout talents of a generation, The Book of John, Rhod’s last tour, was a resounding success that ran from 2019 to 2023, with extra dates added due to unprecedented demand, Covid-related delays, and Rhod’s own battle with cancer. This deeply personal and candid show saw Rhod perform to over 200,000 people, earning rave reviews.
When life gives you lemons Previously, Rhod was dealing with some pretty pungent life citrus, and an idiot called John. Little did he know that things were about to turn even more sour … But Rhod’s not bitter; he’s bouncing back and feeling remarkably zesty. Hilariously dark, passionate and way too personal, this is classic Gilbert, squeezing every last drop out of life’s latest curve balls… with a little help from an old adversary. In anticipation of his return to the spotlight, this new live show sees Rhod back on stage doing what he does best. Candid, hilarious and uplifting, it’s a show about navigating the dark bits and turning life’s giant grapefruits into something approaching lemonade. He says: ‘After the year I’ve had it’s wonderful to be alive and going back on the road. I can’t wait to get back on stage and I’m ready to get way too personal about life’s recent ups and downs. When life gives you lemons, you have to squeeze them ‘til the comedy juice flows, so prepare for some dark but funny s***.’ Tickets are on sale now, and will soon sell out, so don’t miss your chance to witness Rhod Gilbert’s comedic genius in action.
4th October 2024, 8pm Tickets from £38.50 at lighthousepoole.co.uk Concert Hall, Lighthouse Age guidance: 16+
It’s not near *anywhere*, and the paths appear to be forgotten or at best very little-walked. Yet the route passes through the typically pretty, neatly-folded countryside of West Dorset with sharp hills, hidden valleys, sudden surprise views and long shady walks in green lanes.
The small amount of road work wasn’t an issue – we didn’t encounter a single car. In fact, we didn’t see another person for the whole walk!
The original plan was to follow the Jubilee Trail into Wynford Eagle itself, but from the ridge of the last hill we could see the ridge opposite where the car was parked, and the weather was threatening (again).
So we opted to cut our losses and avoided another down-and-up climb, pretty though it looked. It’s an easy way to make up to the intended seven mile plan, if you’re wanting a little longer though!
The usual summer hedgerow stile vs nettles vs walkers battle in Dorset
The route was mostly clearly signposted. Being late summer, a number of the stiles were overgrown with nettles and bramble – a sturdy stick is a useful accessory.
Listen. If your path comes across a swing, the rule is you try it. Can confirm this is a good one.
One part of the walk was difficult – the valley bottom approaching Broom’s Farm appeared impossible to navigate. We followed an increasingly marshy steeply-sloped field down to the stream crossing(there was no visible path) – but the stream crossing wasn’t there.
On the ‘missing’ path – the stream runs through the tree line visible at the valley bottom; we jumped it in the ned, and then we climbed straight up hill, choosing not to break into the farmyard on the brow and going straight to the lane instead.
After tracking back and forth, we jumped over and fought the undergrowth on the opposite side, clambering up the opposite hill. We may have missed it, but there seemed to be no path at all, just abandoned scrubland on exceptionally marshy ground (possibly impassable in winter), and the footpath seems to go directly into the private farmyard. So instead we opted for the shortest obvious route, climbed through a horse fence to cut onto the lane.
Apart from this one small stretch, the rest of the route was easy – even where it looked like a field was a dead end a stile would magically appear among the overgrown hedge as we approached, just where it *should* be. Another bridleway seems to have been abandoned in favour of simply using the road – we did likewise!
All the Dorset Walks we feature have been created and walked recently by ourselves, so you know you can trust them – we aim for unpopulated routes with as little road and as many views as possible! You can always see the route and follow it yourself via the free Outdoor Active app – see all our routes here.
Join us to be part of the unfolding racing story of our young racehorses: helping shape their futures from birth and following their
progress on the track.
Part or full time days available for Stud Hands, to join existing team, either seasonal to the end of May or permanent.
The job involves working with well-mannered (mostly ) broodmares, foals and youngstock on the ground – leading in and out, mucking out, feeding, prepping for sales and assisting with stud maintenance. Helping with backing and riding young racehorses available for the right person but not essential.
‘Normal’ working hours and great conditions, a genuine 8am-5pm working day, with a half hour coffee break, a one-hour lunch break and paid holiday (29 days holiday this year!). Working pattern is a consistent five days on with two consecutive days off (and at least one day off is a Sat or Sun).
We have high standards, breeding quality racehorses and we all enjoy following the careers of the foals and youngstock we have raised.
Some previous experience with horses required, but main criteria is you are willing to fit in with, and become part of our happy team. We are easy to get to, in Glanvilles Wootton, five miles south of Sherborne – we’re even on the Dorchester/Sherborne bus route if that helps.
Please message us or call Doug Procter on 07974 314262 to discuss.
