On Wednesday 3rd September, Status Supercar Society hosted a Charity Supercar Evening at The George Albert Hotel just outside Dorchester, bringing together more than 70 supercars and prestige vehicles in support of Dementia UK.
The RS 200 – image by Eds Car Media
The line-up was nothing short of spectacular, featuring everything from a Gintani SVJ and a genuine Ford RS200 to a one-of-one Supertrofeo-inspired Lamborghini Huracán. Guests spent an hour and a half admiring the cars, enjoying food and drink, and catching up with fellow enthusiasts.
At 7:15pm, a passing rain shower prompted a move indoors for the eagerly awaited charity raffle. Hosted by Zita, the draw featured a remarkable selection of prizes donated by local businesses and individuals—including a full-length automotive YouTube video, a luxury spa getaway, Lego bundles, and more. After 45 minutes of prizes and excitement, Jack closed the evening with a heartfelt thank-you speech.
by Eds Car Mediaby Eds Car Mediaby Eds Car Mediaby Eds Car Media
As the rain cleared, attendees took one last walk around the cars before starting engines and heading home.
Thanks to the generosity of supporters, the event didn’t just meet its £1,000 fundraising target—it surpassed it, raising an impressive £1,500 for Dementia UK.
Organisers were quick to share their appreciation: “This community never fails to amaze us—together we’ve made a real difference,” said Jack.
The rain has finally rained. And I’m neither a farmer, an equestrian, nor a gardener (I always point out to visitors oooh-ing over our garden that it’s entirely down to Courtenay. I just enjoy the fruits of his labour, offer occasional weeding services and have sporadic opinions, usually met with a raised eyebrow. So personally, I’m just sad that such a glorious few months have finally come to an end. How suddenly our brown, parched landscape is green again (which, according to Lucy Procter this month, comes with its own set of problems). I’m already mourning the end of al fresco breakfasts and Picky Bits dinners – and the fact the sun won’t set after 8pm again until April 2026. But we’ve been busy. This month’s issue is a packed one – including two deep dives into Dorset’s newly launched Local Plan consultation. I know, I can feel your eyes glazing over already. But this one matters. It’s the blueprint for how Dorset looks, lives and grows for the next couple of decades – and we’ve got just eight weeks to shape it. I’ve spoken to former North Dorset planning chief Sherry Jespersen, and the CPRE have weighed in too. Both are sharp, experienced and very clear-eyed about what’s at stake. If you’ve got thoughts about housing, infrastructure or just keeping Dorset looking like Dorset, now’s the time to speak up. This week, an Australian photographer stumbled across his great-grandfather’s photography work in our history section – his own father had died young, so he knows little of his family story – he’s thrilled to learn photography has run in the family for more than a century. Elsewhere this month, we’re going deep – literally – into Dorset’s past. A Saxon burial dig in Iwerne Minster has revealed some extraordinary finds, and we were lucky enough to get private access (yes, there are photos). It’s a good one. So – pop the kettle on. Or better yet, pour a glass of something cold. Summer may be gone, but I refuse to start talking about pumpkins just yet.
The number of houses ain’t it So the government wants Dorset to build 50,000 new houses over the next 17 years – but who are they really for? We already have roughly 450 homes per 1,000 people, which is in line with the OECD average. The number of homes per capita has actually increased, yet house prices have tripled since the year 2000. Maybe – just maybe – the problem isn’t how many houses we build, but who they’re built for. Second homes and speculative development are driving prices far beyond the reach of local wages. More building won’t fix that. Until we tackle ownership, affordability and the misuse of housing stock, Dorset risks sacrificing more of its countryside for absolutely no gain to the people who live and work here. Name and address supplied
It is beyond ridiculous that we’re still relying on big developers to solve the country’s housing crisis – including the so-called “affordable” and social housing quotas (affordable for who, exactly?). These are private businesses. Their profits depend on keeping prices high. Why on earth would they suddenly flood the market with genuinely affordable homes and bring down the value of their own product? It’s bloody obvious they won’t – no matter how many targets the government throws at them. The current system isn’t broken. It’s doing exactly what it’s designed to do: make money for developers. And Dorset Council nodding along with plans to build 50,000 new houses under this model is either naïve or wilfully blind. We don’t need more empty promises in shiny brochures. We need proper public housing, built for need – not profit. Eric G, Blandford
If Dorset Council is serious about helping young people stay in the county, it’s time to stop pretending that big developers will solve the housing crisis. They won’t – because their business model relies on keeping prices high. Instead, let’s look at three practical alternatives that could actually work: Community Land Trusts (CLTs) keep land in local ownership and build truly affordable homes that remain affordable forever. CLTs already work – why are we not doing more? Self-build plots for locals using pod housing: Allocate small plots specifically for young local people to build simple pod-style homes – low-cost, sustainable, and requiring no traditional footings. It’s a perfect first step onto the housing ladder, without the inflated price tag. Old school parish or council-owned rental homes: The old ‘council house’ system. Properly managed social housing, with rents tied to local incomes, not market rates. None of this is radical. What is radical is expecting Dorset’s young people to compete with second-home buyers or wealthy retirees, and still afford to stay in the towns they grew up in. Anna J, Shillingstone
On Trump Andrew Livingston’s August column paints a romantic picture of American farming, but the reality is far bleaker. US farmers are battling crippling input costs, tariffs, poor mental health provision and market volatility. Some are literally burning crops because they can’t afford to harvest or store them. Trump may have said something sympathetic – for once – but let’s not pretend the American system is working. It’s brutal. R. Green, Shaftesbury
While Andrew’s article struck a chord with many, it’s important not to gloss over Trump’s wider record on agriculture. This is the same man who dismissed climate change, walked away from environmental protections and pushed trade deals that would flood the UK with cheap, low-welfare, high-additive US meat. Our farmers don’t need sympathy from Trump – they need protection from exactly the policies he champions. Chris R, Fontmell Magna
On why North Dorset needs a technical college (The BV, Aug 25) Your article on the urgent need for a technical college in North Dorset struch a chord – and judging by the online discussion, I’m far from alone. As well as the basic trades, we mustn’t forget the importance of land-based industries in this area. They’re a major part of North Dorset’s economy, yet accessing further education in those subjects is often prohibitively expensive. Travel to existing colleges like Kingston Maurward costs over £1,000 a year – assuming there’s even IS a bus. Our roads run east–west, and our colleges are north–south. There’s a gaping educational void in North Dorset, and our teenagers are paying the price. Not everyone has a car, and not every young person is academic. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have access to skilled training. A local technical college isn’t a luxury – it’s basic infrastructure. The growing population in this part of the county deserves more than just housing estates. Owen P, Gillingham
Take a Hike We’ve just returned from a two-week family holiday in Dorset. While the grandchildren loved the beach, I must confess – Bournemouth in a heatwave was our idea of hell. We abandoned them to their parents, and headed inland to escape. By sheer luck, we stumbled across your Hell Lane walk online: we followed it, loved it, and quickly found ourselves working through more of your walks library. What a revelation! We explored places we’d never have found on our own – timeless green lanes, ancient woodlands, hidden villages, hillforts and proper quiet countryside. It felt like we’d finally discovered Hardy’s Wessex. Thank you for helping us see a whole new side of Dorset – we’re already planning next year’s return. John & Margaret P., Bedfordshire
Dear driver… To the tourist (I’ll be generous and presume they weren’t local) in the shiny SUV who met a tractor hauling a full trailer of barley and sat there flashing your lights, flapping your hands and looking generally baffled as to why others were getting shouty – welcome to Dorset! Local tip: the 20-tonne vehicle doing the actual harvesting does not reverse for your tour of pretty thatched cottages. Emma G, Fontmell Magna
Happy Birthday Us! We received so many lovely messages congratulating us on our fifth anniversary – it seemed silly to publish them all, so we’ll just say a big THANK YOU. And leave you with this merry missive from a one-time columnist of ours, who, happily, hasn’t entirely vanished from my inbox:
Here is a mag held in the greatest of stead. ‘cos It delivers each month with maximum cred. Fully five years in being, And still worth the seeing… What can we say but “full steam ahead!” Mike C, Bourton
Want to reply? Read something you feel needs commenting on? Our postbag is open! Please send emails to [email protected]. When writing, please include your full name and address; we will not print this, but do require it.
Planning urgency, Saxon skeletons, opinionated locals, a 700-year-old murder case and it’s Dorset County Show weekend – this month’s BV is big, bold and brimful of Dorset.
“Planning isn’t fair” – As Dorset’s Local Plan consultation opens, former planning chief Sherry Jespersen and the CPRE explain why residents must speak up now.
Unearthing the Anglo-Saxons of Iwerne Minster – A seventh-century Christian cemetery discovered beneath a village housing site.
Dorset County Show special – Your essential guide to the biggest weekend in Dorset’s calendar.
The Grumbler returns – and this month it’s a historian unimpressed by a certain show commentator.
Ela Fitzpayne was a local 14th century noblewoman who was ‘proud, independent and didn’t easily bow to authority’. She was also a thief … and a murderer
Letters: local voices and a whole lot of opinion – from solving the housing crisis to tourists who don’t know how to reverse.
Equestrian insight with a kick – Tamsin Doar tells all on the chaotic charm of veteran show classes.
Plus: eight unsurprisingly glorious pages of readers’ photography, wildlife, equestrian, farming, puzzles, and plenty of proper Dorset wit and wisdom.
Free to read, exclusively digital, and awarded Regional Publication and News Site of the Year 2024 – dive in.
Welcome to September’s BV Puzzles page – your free online spot for a quick brain workout. Complete the interactive crossword, test your logic with a classic sudoku, or relax with our seasonal Dorset-themed jigsaw: this month we have the heavy horses at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show. No logins, no printouts – just free puzzles updated every month right here on The BV. Perfect for puzzle fans across Dorset and beyond, our digital puzzles work on mobile, tablet or desktop. Enjoy a quiet moment of challenge with new puzzles published every issue of The BV magazine.
Constructed by The BV using the online cross word maker from Amuse Labs
This month’s jigsaw is of the heavy horses in the Main Ring at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show – The BV were proud sponsors of the Heavy Horse Village, and it was a joy to watch them.
The countdown is on – the Dorset County Show returns on 6th & 7th September, and we’re delighted to bring you the official pre-show magazine, created in partnership with the Show team.
This year’s issue is full of stories, previews and insider tips to help you get the most out of your visit. From big-ring thrills to the quieter corners of the showground, it’s a celebration of everything that makes the Dorset County Show such a favourite in the rural calendar.
Here’s just a taste of what you’ll find inside:
Ben Atkinson’s Liberty Horses – back by popular demand after last year’s runaway success.
Paul Hannam’s ATV Stunt Show – Britain’s quad daredevil brings jaw-dropping jumps and the UK’s only multicar rollover quad.
59 free things to do – proof that some of the best parts of the Show won’t cost you a penny.
The Sheep Show – music, laughter and education from one of the UK’s most-loved arena acts.
C&O Tractors’ Matthew Holland – 47 years in the business, loyalty, tractors, and why the Show is a fixed date in his calendar.
Plus the map (screenshot it for the day), timetables (DITTO!), food & drink highlights, the Fun Dog Show, and much more.
Whether you’re here for the animals, the machinery, the food or just the atmosphere, the magazine is your guide to making the most of the weekend.
📖 Read the magazine above – free and easy on any device, just make it full screen and flip the pages.
🎟️ Don’t forget to book your tickets in advance – discounted prices end Friday 5th September. Get tickets here.
Not quite … but it’s changing the game, says expert Karen Geary
I’m currently trialling four different AI tools. My background before nutrition was in technology, so I’ve always seen software as an enabler. It feels a lot like the early wave of digital transformation – only now, it’s coming for healthcare. So, can AI replace me? It’s a question I hear more and more – and I’ve even asked it of myself. After all, AI can write diet and fitness plans, identify nutrient gaps, summarise research in seconds and calculate macros (though it doesn’t yet access the most accurate food databases). It can explain how magnesium affects sleep and how vitamin C supports iron absorption. Tasks that used to take practitioners hours can now be completed in seconds. So: am I obsolete? Not quite. But the ground beneath us is shifting. And frankly – it’s exciting!
The rise of the data-literate client We are entering an era where clients are no longer passive recipients of advice – we’re becoming data-literate, AI-supported decision-makers. Many are already wearing Oura rings, logging meals in Cronometer, and asking ChatGPT which supplements might help their energy. And that’s a good thing. Functional nutrition has always emphasised empowerment and root-cause thinking. AI simply accelerates access to that information. What used to be specialist interest – continuous glucose monitors, gut microbiome tests, HRV tracking – is now becoming mainstream. My clients aren’t just arriving with questions anymore. They’re arriving with data and sensible hypotheses too.
What AI can do well I use AI daily. It has become my virtual assistant: Explaining concepts: From methylation to mitochondrial health, it quickly turns jargon into plain English Recipe ideas: Give it a list of allergies, macros, and time limits – et voilà, lunch Protocol support: It can suggest food lists, flag nutrient gaps, and cross-reference emerging research Time-saving: From draft handouts to generating meeting notes—it’s like having a research assistant on call Used wisely, it frees up time for deeper, more meaningful conversations with clients.
What it can’t do (and why I still have a job) Here’s what AI still cannot do: Contextual thinking: It can’t notice that your bloating worsens only during business travel, or that your fatigue appeared after grief Pattern recognition over time: It won’t link a trail of “unconnected” symptoms across decades or recall what you said six sessions ago Emotional nuance: It can’t catch the hesitation in your voice when you say you’re “fine” but clearly aren’t Clinical discernment: It can’t distinguish a histamine issue from a trauma loop – or flag that a low FODMAP diet may be unnecessary Understanding contraindications: Unless you prompt it with absolute precision, AI lacks context around medications, interactions and medical nuance And it certainly can’t sit with you while you untangle years of confusing symptoms and self-blame. Nutritional therapy isn’t just data. It’s dialogue. The clues are often in what’s not said – and in the health history you didn’t think mattered, but your practitioner does.
Ethical considerations As AI becomes more deeply embedded in nutrition, it raises important ethical questions. Data privacy is paramount – AI tools often require access to sensitive health information, which must be handled securely and transparently. There’s also the risk of bias: if training data lacks diversity, recommendations may not be equitable or appropriate for all populations. Transparency is crucial. Practitioners must inform clients if their data (even anonymised) is shared with third-party tools, especially AI platforms. Clients also deserve to understand how AI generates suggestions and be empowered to question them. Addressing these concerns is essential to building trust and ensuring AI enhances, rather than undermines, nutritional care.
The future is a partnership I don’t think AI will replace nutritionists. I think it will expose poor practice – and elevate good ones. My job now is interpreter, not gatekeeper, helping clients make sense of the flood of information they carry into the clinic.
What you can do now Start a health timeline: Record your history – not just diagnoses, but symptoms, stressors and family patterns Own your data: Use the NHS app to gather your blood work history, track your wearables and keep records of medications and supplements. Bring data with you to appointments. By all means use AI to try and help you make sense of things, but you need to have the right background to know what you are looking for in order to prompt AI in the right way. Use AI … wisely: It’s great for reflection, learning and ideas. But it’s not a diagnostic tool – and no substitute for personal advice. Stay curious, but cautious: AI is only as good as your input. If you don’t know what to ask, you might not like the answer. Take the information with a grain of salt and always fact check.
Final thought AI is transforming healthcare. But healing still happens in a client-practitioner relationship. ChatGPT can suggest zinc-rich foods, but it can’t assess how well you absorb them. It can summarise biochemical pathways, but it can’t sense what’s missing between the lines. So yes, AI is remarkable. But you – your body, your story, your goals – are more than an algorithm. And for now, at least, I still have a job. And it’s a privilege.
• Part time – £12.25 to £13.50 per hour depending on experience.
• Minimum of 20 hours per week (flexibility needed) Monday to Friday
• Plus additional evenings and weekend working as needed
We are looking for a proactive and practical person to join our friendly team as Caretaker. The Exchange is a vibrant, community-led arts and activity centre, home to a 300-seat theatre, six meeting and activity rooms, a community café, gallery/exhibition and market spaces in the heart of Sturminster Newton.
Main responsibilities include assisting the General Manager and Team in facilitation of variety of activities—including live music, theatre, and general community events, and ensuring an excellent experience is had by all who use The Exchange.
As Caretaker, you’ll play a vital role in maintaining the premises to a high standard inside and out. This will also include setting up event spaces, supporting technical and backstage needs, maintaining high standards of cleanliness, upholding security & health and safety measures in a timely manner and taking overall care of the building.
Other duties involve setting up rooms for bookings/events and packing down afterwards, plus carrying out general maintenance and cleaning duties and supported by two part-time Cleaners.
This role requires flexibility & willingness to regularly work some evenings and weekends in agreement with the General Manager. Lone working will also be expected in certain situations. As the public face of The Exchange on occasions, an ability to work competently & graciously with all users of the building is essential.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
Caretaking, cleaning, facilities support
• Basic IT knowledge (emails, spreadsheets, logging safety checks).
• Good communication skills and ability to work well with hirers, performers, and colleagues.
• Ability to take initiative, manage own time, and maintain high standards of work.
• Awareness of theatre and live event operations would be a bonus (e.g., stage setup, backstage etiquette).
The role involves regular manual tasks, including lifting, carrying, and moving equipment and furniture. Candidates should be capable of undertaking these duties, with reasonable adjustments made where required.
This is a practical, hands-on role, ideal for someone who takes pride in their work, enjoys variety, and is comfortable in a lively community and performance environment. Your contribution will help make our events happen and ensure every visitor, performer, and community member has a positive experience.
Benefits:
• Employee ticket discount
• Company sick pay
• Company pension scheme
• On-site free parking
A job description is available – if you’d like a copy please contact [email protected]. We will send a copy of the job description to those candidates that are selected for interview.
If you think you’ve got what it takes to be our Caretaker, please send a copy of your CV witha covering letter telling us why you’d be a great addition, to [email protected].
