Shaftesbury’s new Rotary Club president Peter Sale – Image Courtenay Hitchcock BV Magazine
On Monday, 10th July, at a bustling meeting of the Shaftesbury Rotary Club, Peter Sale was installed as President for the year 2023/2024. David Britton, the outgoing President, handed over the chains of office before President Peter installed Paul Slimm as his President Elect for the coming year. Following this, David Britton was honoured with a Paul Harris Fellow award, a prestigious recognition named after Rotary’s founder, Paul Harris. This tribute acknowledges a shared purpose with the humanitarian objectives of The Rotary Foundation. Britton joins a line of club members who have received this esteemed award.
The Shaftesbury RotaKids have completed a number of projects this year; including litter picking, running a bingo afternoon to raise money for children undergoing cancer treatment, and running a charity stall at the Gold Hill Festival.
Peter Sale brings a personal vision of working with volunteers to support local and international initiatives. ‘For me, Rotary is all about raising money for local charities and supporting initiatives in the local community,’ he says. Key events under Sale’s leadership include the Gold Hill Festival – plans are already afoot for a revised and improved event next year. The North Dorset Cycle Ride continues as another crucial event for the Ahaftesbury Rotarians, having raised thousands for Prostate Cancer over the years. Education and youth engagement are central to Peter’s plans. The RotaKids initiative, having started a club at Abbey School, will be expanding to Shaftesbury CE Primary School. The Youth Speaks debating competition, entering its third year, will be looking to expand further, and the Young Chef competition, successfully launched this year at Shaftesbury School, showcases culinary talents like Charlie John-Smith, who triumphed at the Area Final Senior Competition. Social connection is vital to the club’s vision, as well. Being twinned with a Rotary Club in Heerlen, Netherlands, has brought international camaraderie, with a reciprocal visit scheduled from 6th-8th October. ‘Joining Rotary is a way of developing fellowship with like-minded people. We meet at social events and work on community projects,’ says Peter.
Last year Shaftesbury Rotary Club raised £5,000 for Prostate Cancer UK
With a blend of community support, charity, educational initiatives, and social activities, Peter Sale’s leadership promises an energetic and compassionate direction for the Shaftesbury Rotary Club in the coming year. Those interested in knowing more or getting involved with Rotary can reach out at [email protected]. The club’s continued success is testament to its commitment to enriching the local community and beyond.
New report highlights the urgent challenges in UK food supply, with global shocks and rising costs, says county advisor Gemma Harvey
On 28th July, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee (EFRA) published its Food Security report. The report considers the current challenges facing UK food supply and the importance of food security. It especially considers the impact on households of high input prices – like energy and fertiliser – and consumer food prices.The government’s own UK Food Security Report was published in December 2021, but given recent global shocks such as the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the EFRA report argues that the 2021 report is already out of date. NFU President Minette Batters gave evidence to the EFRA committee as part of the process back in November 2022. She took the opportunity to lay bare the current issues facing farmers, and expressed the need for action to protect the UK’s food security. She called for a joined-up approach across government and highlighted how unprecedented rising costs have had a huge impact in all sectors. As part of her evidence, Minette detailed the results of the NFU’s 2022 farming intentions surveys, with responses demonstrating that farmer’s cropping plans showed contraction for 2023. She used specific examples of tomatoes and cucumbers, being at their lowest levels since records began in 1985.
The report response In her response to the EFRA report’s publication, Minette said: ‘The NFU has been calling for Government to take our national food security seriously for several years. We echo the committee’s recommendation for strong leadership on the issue. ‘As part of this leadership, the need for all Government departments to have a co-ordinated approach towards food policy is vital. We welcome the recommendation of a Cabinet Office review into all aspects of food policy. ‘At such a tricky time for many UK households, the report addresses many of the inflationary pressures experienced by both families and farmers and growers. Everyone should have access to affordable, good quality, sustainable food and British farmers and growers need the support of Government to have the confidence to continue producing. The report’s finding that only 54 per cent of the food eaten in the UK is being grown here is shocking – it is concerning that this figure could decrease further if British food and farming aren’t valued. ‘Food security matters. British farmers and growers are well placed to provide climate-friendly food for the nation, while protecting and enhancing our iconic countryside. ‘Last summer the Prime Minister committed to introducing a new self-sufficiency target and annual reporting. Clearly this needs to happen as a matter of urgency. With one of the best climates in the world for producing food, we should be aiming to produce more food here in the UK. ‘For this to continue to happen, we need to see the government act on the recommendations made by the committee to bolster Britain’s food security.’
Fairmead Community Special School transforms the lives of pupils aged between 4-19 years with additional learning needs (MLD and ASD). The school works in partnership with parents/carers and other stakeholders to develop our pupils in becoming positive individuals who make a valuable contribution to their community.
LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANT (LSA) 34.50 Hours per week, Term Time only (39 weeks)
Grade 15-14 – £16,919 – £17,540 (gross annual salary). Subject to an annual increase
Working hours Mon, Wed, Thurs, and Fri 8.30am-3.45pm and Tues 8.30pm-4.30pm – 34.50 working hours
We are seeking to appoint outstanding Learning Support practitioners who are compassionate, dynamic and resourceful individuals to join our dedicated and hardworking team of skilful support staff to work across the whole school. A desired element to this role would be experience of supporting young people with Autism and moderate learning needs.
It’s the official Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show magazine 2023!
What to find inside:
The timetables are here! check what’s happening and make a note of what you don’t want to miss this year
What not to miss! The 2023 G&S Show is bigger than ever and alongside some exciting new attractions, there’s a return of some much-loved old favourites
Wowie and the Wolfhangers – raising the teddy bear sheep
Matt Cradock, Chairman of the Sheep Section, is excited for the first ever G&S Sheep Shearing competition
Insider’s tips to the show, with the answers to all the Show Team’s most frequently asked questions
The clean boot South Downs Bloodhounds are parading this year as they demonstrate a new type of hunt – we take a closer look
DocBike, a motorcycle injury prevention charity, is calling motorcyclists to join their annual Dorset ride out on Sunday 24th September. Last year’s event raised over £8,000, with more than 400 riders participating! This year, riders can choose between two scenic routes: a 30-mile ride from The Churchill Arms in Alderholt, and a 40-mile ride from West Bay Esplanade in Bridport – both ending at Henstridge Airfield. The finishing line will welcome riders with music, refreshments, stalls, and the chance to meet the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance crew. DocBike works to get highly trained trauma doctors or critical care paramedics on two wheels, to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads due to motorcycle collisions. Working alongside local emergency services, they provide life-saving roadside critical care. Registration for the ride out starts at £10 and includes entry into the grand raffle. Riders are encouraged to raise a minimum of £25 for the charity, which receives no direct government funding. Dr Ian Mew, Co-Founder and Trustee of DocBike, emphasised the importance of this event in supporting the charity’s life-saving work: ‘“This is our big event for DocBike each year and the support of the local motorcycling community means so much. We’re dedicated to being there for anyone who needs emergency critical care.’
To register for the event or for more information, visit DocBike.org.
Harvesting has finally started at Rawston Farm, but James Cossins admits it’s a stop/start affair this year, thanks to the weather
Harvesting in the 70s at Rawston Farm
Eventually harvest started in the middle of July – and dodging the showers has been the name of the game! The weather has been the polar opposite to last year, when 19th July was the hottest day of the year in that astonishing heatwave. This year is totally different, with decisions having to be made about when to cut and how much are we prepared to dry. Fuel prices have dropped a little from the highs of last year but it is still expensive to dry grain and oilseeds. The yields of our malting barley have been variable, mainly dependent on soil type, but overall it’s been a satisfactory result. As I write, are about to start harvesting our oilseeds – which from a distance look fairly average so we will have to wait and see what ends up in the barn. Currently prices are volatile, seemingly dependent on what food exports Russia is allowing from Ukraine.
Take 5 Before harvest we hosted a Health and Safety meeting at Rawston, organised by the NFU. It was well attended by local farmers and their farm staff, and was a very informative day. The NFU’s Farm Safety Week, from 17th to 21st July this year, highlighted health and safety issues on farms – 23 people were killed on farms in 12 months between 2021 and 2022. Agriculture has a poor record on the number of deaths on farms and the theme of the safety week was ’Take 5 to Stay Alive,’ encouraging farm workers to pause, to take the time to address the task in hand and to work out the safe procedures. Statistics show the main causes of death were falls from heights, machinery accidents, falling objects and livestock incidents. In the course of a day’s work on a farm we have to complete a wide range of tasks, each with their own individual risks. It is important to take time to consider the risks involved to prevent potential accidents, whether major or minor. We all went away from the course with food for thought – hopefully leading to a safe harvest.
Take 5 to Stay Alive … This driver was unharmed, but 23 people were killed on farms in 12 months between 2021 and 2022
It’s show time! In Dorset we’re lucky to have three great show events each summer – the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show , the Melplash Show and finally the Dorset County Show in September. Hopefully the weather will look favourably on those days – and also on our harvesting. Some better weather would be very much appreciated!
Just in time for the summer holidays, Wayne Winstone shares his top reads for you to tuck into a suitcase or settle down with in the shade
As August stretches out before us, hopefully with more than a smattering of long lazy days to be enjoyed, it’s the time when many of us turn to our To Be Read pile. Whether it’s for a long journey to far-flung places, or just sitting in your own garden on a lazy day, it’s time to find something new to dip into. Wayne shares his personal suggestions for your summer reading pleasure this year (just click the book covers to shop).
The Perfect Golden Circle – Benjamin Myers This beautifully written novel is the story of two rural outcasts, and the crop circles they create under cover of night over the course of the long, hot and very strange summer of 1989. The adventures of these two oddball characters are told with gentle humour and the book is full of the sense of the English countryside, the mood of the late 80s and – with echoes of TV’s The Detectorists – of their warm and surprising friendship.
Demon Copperhead – Barbara Kingsolver Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, this is a modern David Copperfield-inspired story of a boy born to a single mother in a trailer, with little beyond his dead father’s good looks and his own copper-coloured hair, wit and innate talent for survival. Told in his unsparing and humorous voice, the story follows the boy as he braves the perils of the modern foster care system, child labour, athletic success, addiction … and love. Here too is the author’s anger and compassion, and faith in the powers of a good story.
Isaac and the Egg – Bobby Palmer This best-selling modern fable is an unforgettable novel about friendship, love, sorrow and joy. Told with humour and tenderness, it starts with the day Isaac Addy walks into the woods – the worst day of his life – and finds something extraordinary there, taking it home with him. A grieving Isaac and his curious new friend are unlikely companions, but this single chance encounter will soon transform Isaac’s life in ways he cannot imagine.
The Escape Artist – Jonathan Freedland In April 1944, Rudolf Vrba became the first Jew to break out of Auschwitz. He did it in order to tell the truth of the death camp to the world – and to warn what fate awaited others. He and his fellow escapee, Fred Wetzler, climbed mountains, crossed rivers and narrowly avoided German bullets, bringing the first full account of Auschwitz to the world. Their detailed report would eventually reach Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and the Pope.
The Lost Rainforests of Britain – Guy Shrubsole This is the story of a unique British habitat – one so ravaged most people today don’t realise it still exists. On a journey from the woods of the Western Highlands and the Lake District through the rainforests of Wales down to Devon and Cornwall, Shrubsole maps these ecosystems in exquisite detail – but underlines that without immediate political and public support, we risk losing them forever. This is the extraordinary tale of one person’s quest to find Britain’s lost rainforests and to bring them back.
Marple: Twelve New Stories A dozen original short stories, penned by 12 best-selling authors, will introduce Jane Marple to a whole new generation. Each author reimagines Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple through a unique perspective, but stays true to the traditional mystery story.
Ithaca – Claire North Penelope of Ithaca was barely into womanhood when she was married to Odysseus. While he lived, her position was secure. But now, years on, speculation is mounting that her husband is dead – and suitors are beginning to knock at her door. No one man is strong enough to claim Odysseus’s empty throne – not yet. But as everyone waits for the balance of power to tip, Penelope knows that any choice she makes could plunge Ithaca into bloody civil war.
Shrines of Gaiety – Kate Atkinson This hugely enjoyable and immersive novel is set in Soho in the 1920s, where nightclub owner Nellie Coker has just been released from prison. Greeted by her adult children who have been running her empire during her six-month absence, Nellie knows that the business she built is now under threat from those who want to take over. Full of interesting characters, including Gwendolyn, a war nurse turned librarian who becomes an invaluable assistant to Inspector Frobisher, and teenage runaway Freda.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow – Gabrielle Zevin In this exhilarating novel, two friends come together as creative partners in the world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy … and a kind of immortality. Spanning 30 years, from Massachusetts to California and everything in between, it’s a dazzling and intricately imagined novel that examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play and our need to connect and to love. Yes, it is a love story; but it is not one you have read before.
Wild Fell – Lee Schofield An RSPB Warden tells the story of how he worked to create an economically-viable hill farm in the Lake District that allows space for nature. His passion for making a difference, his advocacy for wildflowers and his eternal hope for the planet are an education and an inspiration. It’s a call to recognise that the solutions for a richer world lie at our feet and, by focusing, we can rebuild landscapes.
The Satsuma Complex – Bob Mortimer Gary, a legal assistant, agrees to meet colleague Brendan in the local pub for a drink. Shortly after, Brendan has to leave. Gary stays in the pub and gets talking to a girl who is reading a book called The Satsuma Complex. They get on really well, but she leaves without saying goodbye and he hasn’t got her name. So, she becomes Satsuma. The next day, he learns Brendon has gone missing and he tries to find Satsuma to see if she saw or heard anything. Missing people, murder, a love story, humour and plot twists make this a marvellously entertaining novel.
Darling – India Knight It takes a brave person to attempt a contemporary reimagining of a beloved novel – but India Knight has managed it brilliantly. Darling is a savagely funny, bracingly sad, dazzlingly clever take on Nancy Mitford’s The Pursuit of Love. It’s a razor-sharp, laugh-out-loud novel – imaginative and tremendously romantic, with sharp writing, perfect detailing and funny jokes.
SOYA Soya is a beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback X Breed who will require a special home as she suffers from separation anxiety when left alone. Soya is a very loyal dog once bonded to her owners and she is playful and affectionate. She requires a rural and calm home where she will be the only dog, potentially with children over the age of 10. She is very intelligent with good basic obedience, and is a gentle giant waiting for her forever home – could that be with you?
LOUIS Originally from Hungary as an imported puppy, Louis was brought to Ferne after another rescue sadly closed down. Louis is a shy boy, worried by the big wide world and will need a home with other dogs in a rural location. Louis came into our care with his pal Dexter, and they could be rehomed as a pair or separately, but will need other doggy pals for company if they are split up. Louis walks well on lead, is happy to use a crate as a secure den/sleeping area and he has come a long way since being in our care. Could you offer him the forever home he deserves?
DEXTER Dexter came to us with his pal Louis, they really do enjoy each others company and are very sweet together. Both are very worried, but not aggressive, and will need a home with other dogs or with each other in a rural setting. The team have been working hard with both Dexter and Louis, helping them to learn about life and how to become more confident. They are shy boys, but have come a long way and are now waiting for their forever home. Could you offer these boys or one of them a home to call their own?
Formed in 1972, Blandford Art Society is delighted to announce its annual Open Exhibition, a must-visit event for local art enthusiasts. It will be held 14th to 19th August, from 10am to 5pm daily, giving visitors ample opportunity to explore and immerse themselves in the artistic offerings. The venue for this year’s exhibition has changed to The Blandford School (DT11 7SQ). This fantastic new space not only allows for a broader display of artwork but also offers the added advantage of free parking. The collection has been carefully curated to include pieces not only from the Society’s members but also from talented artists around the county. The diverse styles, techniques, and themes promise to provide something for everyome to enjoy. In a collaboration with The Blandford School, the Society will also showcase work from young, emerging artists from the school itself, with the aim of nurturing future talent. Each year, a bursary is awarded to the most promising pupil, giving them a tremendous opportunity to hang and sell their work, and reflecting the Society’s commitment to fostering the next generation of artists. Come and browse at your leisure – if a particular piece catches your eye, you may wish to purchase it and take a piece of the exhibition home with you. Refreshments will be available, allowing you to pause and reflect on the art while enjoying a delightful treat. Members of the Society will also be on hand to provide insights and background on the displayed works.
