A local expert from Citizen’s Advice provides timely tips on consumer issues.
Q: My mum has been claiming Personal Independence Payment for three years and I claim carers’ allowance so I can help her. We’be been told that PIP is going to be cut very soon and we are worried about how we are going to cope without that money coming in. What should we do?
A: We realise that recent announcements have caused a lot of concern to people claiming PIP – and to those who care for them. However, it is worth noting that no changes have yet been made. The changes are being proposed via a Green Paper entitled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working. A Green Paper is a government consultation document that outlines proposed policies or legislation, and seeks feedback from the public and other stakeholders before the government makes a final decision. It’s essentially a way to gauge public opinion and gather input on different policy options.
The consultation There is a consultation running now on the proposed changes. The consultation, which runs until 30 June, sets out plans and proposals to reform health and disability benefits and employment support The government says it is “keen to hear views from a wide group of people, in particular disabled people and people with health conditions” and that it is “committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people and people with health conditions at the heart of everything [it does].” A description of the consultation and details of the consultation events are here and links to the Green Paper itself and the consultation questions are here and here There is both an audio and a BSL version. There are 20 consultation questions and also the opportunity for a free text reply. If you would like to add your voice and comment on the proposed changes, you should respond to the consultation (and yes, unfortunately, it will take a couple of hours) and also contact your MP to express your views. Finally, if you have been considering applying for PIP and would like to do so before any future changes are implemented, the details on how to do so are on the Citizens Advice website.
We love pairing a vintage postcard with a photograph taken in the same spot today. Alongside the postcards, we feature a newspaper article from the same time and place – a little glimpse of life when the card was posted.
Bradford Abbas, with a new war memorial on the leftThe scene is remarkably unchanged a century later. ‘Now’ images by Courtenay Hitchcock
BRIDPORT NEWS SHERBORNE POLICE COURT, MARCH 14th, 1902 A YOUNG GIRL WEARY OF LIFE ALLEGED ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
On the 6th inst., at the Sherborne Police Court, Rebecca Anne King, 16 years of age, daughter of Henry King, of Bradford Abbas, was charged with attempting to commit suicide on the Monday previous in Bradford Hollow. Henry King, labourer, said prisoner was his daughter, and was 16 years of age. She had not been living at home lately—not for the last three years. She had been at the Rev. Mr. Locke’s home for about two years, at Misterton. Witness saw her last on Monday morning near Bradford. He wished her good morning. No other words passed between them, She went towards Yeovil. He was surprised to hear afterwards that she had been stay ing at Bradford Abbas. He knew she had left Mr. Locke’s home and gone into service in Yeovil. He thought she was still in service. He did not notice anything peculiar about her when they met. He did not know why she left home at 13 to go to the Rev. Mr. Locke’s home. He had nothing to do with her leaving. Witness had other children at home by another wife, aged 3,9, 12, and 14 respectively. On Monday he received a message at about 4.40 p.m., and in consequence he went to Bradford Hollow, and looked for his daughter, but could not find her. He was by himself. He went back into Bradford, and from what he there heard he proceeded to the other Hollow. He found his daughter in a dry ditch lying down. She was unconscious. He could get no answer from her whatever. He pulled her out of the ditch on to the bank, where she commenced vomiting. Her clothes were not disarranged, and she had her hat on. Witness ordered a trap, and with the assistance of George Chainey, the driver, he carried his daughter to the vehlcle, and they drove to his house. He telegraphed for Dr. Colmer, of Yeovil, who came in about an hour. The police also came that night, and took her in custody the following day. George Jeanes, a keeper of Mr. Clayton’s, at Bradford Abbas, said he was in the Hollow between three and four when he saw something lying on the ground. He found it was the prisoner. He tried to rouse her, but he failed. He put her inside the ditch for care, and then went up the road, He met his niece, who came with him to see if she could recognise the girl. He despatched his niece to tell Mr. King, he himself going home. In about an hour he returned, and found that her father had gone to fetch her. Dr. Colmer said he received the telegram about 7.45, and immediately went over to Bradford. He found the girl on the couch downstairs, She was in a semi-conscious condition. The pupils of her eyes were slightly dilated. There was a whitish vomit on her cape. There were no signs of irritation on her throat or lips, and no particular odour from her mouth. There were no signs of violence. Her pockets were searched, and several notes found, addressed to a young man at Yeovil and to her relations. In one of these, read by the Clerk, the girl said “I have been loneiy since my mother died.”—The doctor, continuing his evidence, said the girl told him nothing, but he concluded she had taken something. There was nothing to lead him to a conclusion as to what it was. The vomit had not yet been analysed. He made a superficial examination of the girl, and came to the conclusion that she was not enciente. P.C. Ford detailed his visit to the King’s house. After the girl had taken some tea, she became fairly sensible, and said she took 3d of gin and 2d of carbolised oil on Sunday. She further stated she had thrown the bottle away in the hollow, but though he had searched he could not find it. Prisoner, on being charged, said she had nothing to say.—The Bench committed her for trial at the next Quarter Sessions.
*At the Quarter Sessions in the April, Rebecca was indicted for taking a quantity of carbolised oil, with intent to kill herself, but the Grand Jury found No Bill – they did not believe there was sufficient evidence, and essentially, refused to accuse her of wrongdoing.
Yeovil Junction was within Dorset until 1991. Taken in 1918, it was a major railway hub connecting Yeovil Town with the main line to Taunton and Salisbury, with two platforms serving three tracksIn 2025 the Yeovil Railway Centre, a small railway museum, is in the G.W.R. transfer shed built in the 1860s and the S.R. turntable has been restored to working order for the servicing of steam locomotives – image Courtenay Hitchcock
Classic & Supercar Sunday is back – and 2025 promises the biggest and boldest show yet! Now held at the spectacular Canford School near Wimborne, this year’s event brings more space, more horsepower, and more family-friendly fun than ever before. Since its grassroots beginnings in 2022, the show has grown rapidly. ‘Canford represents a huge step forward,’ says Zander Miller, Director of Aperta Events. ‘It gives us the scale and facilities to take things to the next level – we’re turning into ultimate car event of the summer.’ Expect hundreds of dream machines, live entertainment and plenty of surprises throughout the day. Canford’s iconic sunken lawn will showcase a curated display of exceptional vehicles, from rare classics to head-turning supercars – all set against a stunning historic backdrop.
What’s new in 2025 – Street food village: gourmet burgers, artisan coffee, cocktails and local favourites – Bigger Family Zone: more room, more activities, all-day entertainment – Mini Rovers: the electric Land Rovers return. Still FREE for kids, complete with driver’s licence – Live rock band: keeping the energy high all day. Headline sponsor Daizun Investments returns in 2025, backing Aperta’s mission to create standout experiences. ‘We’re car enthusiasts ourselves,’ says CEO David Rogers. ‘This event brings people together to celebrate some of the world’s most iconic cars. We’re looking forward to an unforgettable day.’
Got Something in the Garage? Do you own something special? A rare classic, a beautiful restoration or a head-turning supercar? Apply now to exhibit and share your pride and joy.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW – early booking is advised. Sunday 24th August, 10am to 4pm £19 adult/£10 over 5s/£45 family. Canford School, BH21 3AD apertaevents.com
From CPR on the kitchen floor to spinning honey in a shed, Stephen Toop found peace, healing and purpose in beekeeping on a Dorset farm
Stephen Toop working on his hives in the Tarrant Valley All images: Courtenay Hitchcock
Exuding the ruddy glow of someone who spends his days outdoors, Stephen Toop sits at a small kitchen table in his cosy farmworker’s cottage. It was in this very kitchen that a near-death experience changed his life – for the better. A dairy hand since leaving school – his dream job since childhood – Stephen collapsed at home on a break between milkings. His quick-thinking wife Dawn performed CPR, bringing him back to life. That moment was a turning point: Stephen needed something calmer, where he could be alone. No mobile phone and away from the pressures of modern-day farming. Most of us would likely opt for yoga, but Stephen chose to surround himself with thousands of bees!
Stephen Toop, who came to beekeeping while searching for a calm, stress-free occupation after a near-death experience
‘I chill and chat with my bees,’ he says. ‘They tune into me, and I tune into them. There’s a real connection. The level of their buzzing tells me whether to leave them alone.’ Now running 45 hives across Tarrant Monkton’s Manor Farm, with around 80,000 bees per hive, Stephen has found his sanctuary. ‘I’ve always been fascinated by bees. I’m dyslexic and struggled at school, but a brilliant teacher, Mr Spring – to whom I’m forever grateful – introduced me to environmental studies. The school kept ducks, chickens and bees, and I was able to learn in a practical way which suited me much better.’ Initially, Stephen invested in two garden hives, plus a hot tub as a thank you to Dawn for saving him. Unfortunately, the bees also enjoyed using the tub for water, leading to a stung Dawn! After chatting with farm bosses James and Barbara Cossins, Stephen was loaned field corners for his expanding hives. He joined a local beekeeping club, gained a first qualification and was allowed to take Saturdays off from his farmwork from May to August to continue his studies.
Stephen Toop looks after more than 3.5million bees, with 45 hives scattered throughout the Tarrant Valley in field margins and unproductive farm corners
The bees now play a valuable role on the farm. During what’s known as ‘the spring flow’, they are moved around the fields to pollinate crops. ‘They work in tandem with the farm,’ explains Stephen. ‘Once the oil seed rape is finished, I move them to pollinate the beans. In the ten years Stephen has been taking hives to the fields, there’s been a significant increase in crop yields. The farm is also experimenting with different grass seeds – chicory, cornflower, red clover and white clover provide bee treats and enhance biodiversity. The farm has turned areas of unproductive ground into nectar strips for the bees. Barren earth has been transformed into a honeybee highway of wildflowers where bees can rest and refuel.
image Courtenay Hitchcock
image Courtenay Hitchcock
The smallest livestock Though beekeeping started as an escape, it’s now Stephen’s second career. His day starts at 3am with the cows, and then he tends his bees between milking sessions. ‘They’re livestock, not just insects you leave in a garden. They must be checked every seven days for diseases and overcrowding, which could lead to swarming.’ In the evenings, his cottage has become a base for a micro-business, producing delicious honey and its by-products. Dawn creates beautiful honey wax melts and candles at the kitchen table. Meanwhile Stephen cracks on with the sticky task of spinning hundreds of pounds of honey in a processing unit in his garden shed. With real North Dorset provenance, their award-winning Tarrant Valley Honey is sold a few miles away at Rawston Farm Shop and features in dishes at the farm-owned Langton Arms pub. Due to demand for his honey, a website is coming soon. ‘It’s pure goodness in a jar,’ says Stephen. Some customers swear by its medicinal properties, often using it on ulcers and eczema. Stephen discovered the healing effects himself when honey he was spinning inadvertently soaked into his chest – and soothed his own eczema.
image Courtenay Hitchcock
All profits are reinvested into bee care: ‘My ethos isn’t about how much honey I produce. It’s all about caring for the bees.’ Stephen is in the throes of setting up a local beekeeping social club, and has recently hosted his first beekeeping experience. ‘I’m aiming them at anyone who would like to understand more about bees and bee-keeping. We open up the hives and people get a chance to build their own honey-spinning frames.’ Are all the stings worth it? ‘If I get stung it’s my own fault for rushing or not concentrating. You can’t hurry bees – that’s what I love about them. ‘Plus, the bonus is a sting is the cheapest and best of all Botox!’
Tarrent Valley Honey – image Courtenay Hitchcock
Join Stephen for A Bee Experience on 6th July at Rawston Farm, Tarrant Rawston – 2pm, £60 per person (£100 per couple). Protective equipment will be provided and afternoon tea is also included. To book, call 07488 311024 or email stephentoop@sky.com
Raku flames, wheel-throwing and sculptural centrepieces – Potfest South West is a must for collectors, creatives and curious visitors alike
Potfest South West in Dorset
From 4th to 6th July, Turnpike Showground near Shaftesbury plays host once again to Potfest South West – a major event in the UK’s ceramic calendar. More than just a marketplace, it’s a chance to explore the breadth and depth of modern ceramic artistry, meet the makers behind the work, and experience the dynamic processes that bring clay to life. Now in its fourth year, the South West show is the youngest in the Potfest family – but has quickly become a favourite. With its spacious countryside setting, laid-back atmosphere and exceptionally high standard of exhibitors, the event draws collectors, interior designers, architects, gallerists and curious visitors alike. Whether you’re looking for the perfect mug or a sculptural centrepiece for your home or garden, this is the place to find it.
Jeremy James’ Reader and Cat
Meet the makers One of the unique pleasures of Potfest is the opportunity to engage directly with almost 100 exhibiting potters – each selected for originality, craftsmanship and professional practice. It’s a rare chance to talk about form, glaze, technique and inspiration with the person who created the piece. The work spans everything from finely thrown domestic ware to large-scale sculpture, delicate jewellery to conceptual installations. Every item is hand made – often one of a kind – and most artists are happy to take commissions or discuss their wider body of work. In addition to the exhibitors’ stands, live demonstrations run throughout the weekend. These free sessions offer insights into the craft: try your hand at wheel-throwing slab-building, slip decoration and glazing. Whether you’re a potter yourself or simply curious about how raw clay is transformed into functional or sculptural objects, this is a fascinating chance to learn from highly skilled, professional makers.
Jana Griffiths Ceramics
The drama of Raku Adding a theatrical edge to the event is the hugely popular Raku firing display – a traditional Japanese technique that embraces unpredictability and heat. Watching the process unfold is unmissable: pots are removed from a red-hot kiln and placed in sawdust or combustible materials, where they smoke and cool to reveal iridescent, crackled or metallic finishes. It’s a fiery, smoky spectacle that never fails to draw a crowd – and a reminder of the elemental nature of ceramics.
Charlie Collier
Not just collectors While Potfest South West is a serious event for collectors and curators, it’s also enjoyed by anyone with an interest in handmade craft or art or contemporary design. Families are welcome, there’s food and drink on site, and the open rural setting gives space for children to roam and visitors to linger. Many makers exhibit work suitable for outdoor display, and garden ceramics are a growing highlight of the show.
Browsers enjoying Sarah Sullivan’s Serenity Heads
Why Potfest matters Potfest South West reflects a growing appreciation for ceramics as both an artistic medium and a sustainable, tactile alternative to mass production. Buying directly from makers supports independent businesses, reduces wasteful shipping, and offers genuine transparency in how objects are made. It’s also immensely rewarding – you’ll leave with something not just beautiful, but very personal. Whether you’re adding to a collection, hunting for a thoughtful gift, or simply looking for a day out with substance, Potfest South West delivers. It’s three days of clay, creativity and conversation – and a rare window into one of the UK’s most vibrant creative communities.
Potfest South West runs from 4th to 6th July at Turnpike Showground, near Shaftesbury. Adults £6.50, under 16s go free. Visit potfest.co.uk for tickets and to preview the full list of exhibiting potters.
Triplets, toast-hungry sheep and maddeningly meaningless TB test results – George Hosford on the exasperating limbo that farmers face
Sowing the cover crop seed at Traveller’s Rest All images: George Hosford
Below is a shot of the long walk home for our huge flock, after shearing on a Sunday morning. We were very keen to get the 11 ewes clipped, seeing as the weather at this point was seriously warming up, and lambing just around the corner. It seems to happen every year: the first ewe lambs the day after shearing. Sure enough, the next morning Conker popped out her three lambs. Triplets are always tricky to rear, as three onto two (teats) just doesn’t go, and the stronger two will always pinch most of the milk to the detriment of the third. So after the colostrum had been shared, the prettiest one was taken away to be pampered with four feeds a day. We saw three more ewes lamb in the next two days: at time of writing the score is eight ewe lambs and one boy. For the more professionally minded reader currently cocking a sneer at our miniscule flock, I should point out that, after decades of trying to find a way to make a profit out of sheep farming – and failing over and over again – our sheep enterprise was long ago relegated to hobby status. The only reason for their presence on the farm now is as entertainment and teaching aids for our school visitors. Being tame, it is very easy to take a class of thirty children into the field where the greedy sheep will promptly get up close in search of toast. It is a fair enough transaction – some crunchy food in exchange for top quality entertainment. The children can feel the wool, discuss the chewing of cud and talk about the lambs. Some even get hugged.
The long walk back from shearing for Traveller’s Rest’s hobby flock
Inconclusive nonsense The handsome beasties pictured opposite have had to be isolated from the rest of our herd, being the unfortunate recipients of an ‘inconclusive’ test result at our TB test at the end of March. This is a serious blow: we now have to be closed until we test clear. The category ‘inconclusive reactor’ (IR) seems to me to be utterly useless. Either our animals have been exposed to the TB organism … or they have not. As I understand it, having spoken to many vets, an animal reacts to the TB test vaccine if it has been exposed to TB. Full stop. However DEFRA, through the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), deems that the reaction lump has to be above a certain size in mm in order to be classified as a reactor. In other words, so that they will take it away and compensate the farmer for the loss of the animal. However, between ‘reactor’ and ‘clear’ there is this murky category of ‘inconclusive’, which has its own unique set of associated rules. An inconclusive has to be isolated from the rest of the herd until it can be tested again – it gets a second chance 60 days later. If it is inconclusive again, it becomes a full reactor and will be taken by APHA. If clear, it can return to the herd – but it will never lose the label that says it was once an inconclusive, and its presence in the herd prevents the farmer from reaching CHKS status for the herd (entitling him or her to extend the period between regular TB tests from six months to one year, which is hugely helpful). The only way to get out of this situation is therefore to dispose of the animal as soon as possible. It can legally go for slaughter, but if it’s a beef animal it may not be fit (big enough) – meaning the farmer inevitably loses out, receiving a lower price than if they’d been able to keep it until fully grown. Things are more complicated for dairy farmers: the IR cow may be carrying a calf, forcing a difficult decision – whether to keep her until the calf is born, or sell her quickly to reduce the risk of spreading infection to the rest of the herd.
The inconclusive reactors in isolation
It’s not all badgers Underpinning all this frustration is the very poor standard of the test used for regular TB testing, which relies on the measuring of lumps. The TB skin test is the common name for the Single Intradermal Comparative Cervical Tuberculin (SICCT) test. This skin test is regarded as the definitive indicator of infection by the bacterium that causes TB in cattle – Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). It is the required test in the EU, and has proved to be a reliable tool worldwide. Two types of tuberculin, one made from killed Mycobacterium bovis and the other from killed Mycobacterium avium, (a bird-related bacteria) are injected into the skin on the side of the neck, approximately three inches apart. The animal is then examined three days later: if the bovine lump is larger than the bird lump, then it has reacted. The reason for the bird-related vaccine is to account for background levels of infection in the local environment: it is the difference in the size of the two lumps which is the all-important factor. It’s worth recalling the TB cull, which controversially involved capturing and dispatching badgers – a known vector of bovine TB. In Dorset, the five- to seven-year cull periods across various parts of the county led to a reduction in new TB outbreaks of over 50 per cent. This has taught us two main things: firstly that reducing badger numbers can reduce TB in cattle, and secondly, that reducing badger numbers will never eradicate TB. It could only ever be one of a number of tools in the box, and only of any justifiable use if we are a great deal more rigorous in removing TB from cattle herds than we are currently. After many years of TB levels rapidly expanding, it is now everywhere, deeply embedded. And all too often, with current testing methods, it is lying undetected and infectious in many herds. It is utterly depressing, with insufficient vigour being put into properly dealing with the problem. A number of things are needed: Better testing Better on-farm hygiene, keeping cows and badgers apart, and more rigorous health screening of cattle. A TB vaccine, which can be distinguished from actual TB in animals An acknowledgement that TB is in the wild deer population and action on this, too Allow for badger culling in areas where TB seems endemic. I know of one large dairy farm where any animals that show the slightest reaction to the skin test are taken out: a zero tolerance policy. There is a lot to commend this approach: it seems costly to the farmer initially, but in the long term it is probably the cheapest and most effective solution.
The bees seem to access the bean flower nectar through the side of the flower tube
Useless bees At the end of April Will sowed the spring section of our cover crop seed supply for next season. Alongside the lovely bright turnip plot he has sown buckwheat, spring vetch, daikon radish and camelina. On the far side of the turnips is a lively plot of winter vetch, and beyond that, over the hedge, is a patch of winter-sown phacelia, which is fully in flower, making us very popular with the bees which have just arrived on the farm from the cherry fields of Kent: we now have around 40 hives in different locations across the farm. Robert Hogben, from Dorchester, has been bringing his bees here for many years, and around 20 hives live on the farm all year round. Robert was keen that the new bees are close to the beans this year, but after careful observation, I doubt the value to the farmer of bees in the bean crop. I have watched as they stick their proboscis through the side of the flower tube, directly into the drops of nectar, rather than fight their way into the flower from the top – therefore they do not collect any pollen with which to fertilise the next flower they visit … do not pass go, and do not collect £200. There could be a risk that the drilled hole would actually cause the flower to abort, though I don’t have the heart to mention this to Robert. I would however be very grateful to anyone who could shed some (scientifically rigorous) light on this.
Follow George and his updates from Traveller’s Rest Farm on his blog viewfromthehill.org.uk
If you’re feeling in need of a holiday – or want to give your regular carer a break – but are worried about how your care needs will be met, a respite break could be the perfect solution. A respite break is a temporary stay in a residential care home, complete with expert, tailored care. Suitable for those who currently receive support at home with daily tasks, have nursing care to support with a long-term or complex medical condition, live with dementia, are recovering from illness or injury, or are just planning for the future, a respite break ensures that your care requirements are taken care of, so that you can focus on enjoying the change of scenery!
Once you have established that your chosen care provider can meet your individual care needs, you are free to choose your respite break as you would choose a holiday anywhere else! Think about the location of the residential or nursing care home – are you looking for a summer holiday near the sea, a chance to rest, reset and get away from it all in the countryside, or perhaps you fancy the hustle and bustle of a town or city break? Do you prefer a contemporary setting with modern interiors, or somewhere more traditional which feels homely? Also consider what activities and hobbies you enjoy – you will have full access to all of the entertainment, activities and facilities on offer at your chosen care home, so have a think about how you would like to spend your time. It’s also a great opportunity to meet new friends and discover new interests. Like an all-inclusive holiday, respite stays include your accommodation, all of your meals, housekeeping and activities – with the added bonus of specialist care tailored to your individual requirements. Respite breaks at our care homes have been described as ‘like being on a cruise – without leaving port’, and we can see why! For some, short term respite care provides a well-deserved break for themselves and their carers. For others, it provides a great opportunity to experience life in a care home before making a permanent move. Whether you stay for a few days or a few weeks, you and your loved ones can relax, knowing your needs are taken care of.
To discuss your care needs, check availability and book your respite break at one of Somerset Care’s care homes across Somerset and Devon, please call 0800 817 4925 or visit somersetcare.co.uk/respite today. We look forward to helping you to discover your perfect respite break getaway.
A spirited summer afternoon of live music awaits as the 28-piece Oddfellows Brass band returns to Dorset for the first time since 2016. Hosted by the Phoenix Oddfellows, the concert will take place at Stalbridge Hall on Sunday 29th June at 3pm (doors open 2.15pm), in support of the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance. Formed in 1981 and sponsored by the national Oddfellows Society, the Leicestershire-based band brings together talented musicians of all ages. Many original members still perform, including founder Rob Boulter, who will be taking the stage once again. With a lively, crowd-pleasing repertoire spanning opera, stage and screen classics, and traditional brass favourites, the two-hour show (with interval) promises something for everyone – whether you’re a seasoned fan or simply curious. The band last performed in the area at Blandford’s Corn Exchange to an enthusiastic reception. ‘If you’ve never been to a brass concert before, our show is a great place to start,’ says Rob. ‘There’s nothing better than seeing audiences singing and dancing along.’ Refreshments will be provided by Blackmore Vale u3a, with a raffle on the day in aid of the Air Ambulance. Tickets are £10 and available from Williams Florists (Station Road, Stalbridge), The Swan (High Street), or by contacting Judy on 07984 170571 or on judy.penfold@oddfellows.co.uk.
Find out more about the Phoenix Oddfellows and their community work at oddfellows.co.uk, or explore the band’s history and music at oddfellowsbrass.co.uk.
James Gibson Fleming has been named in the King’s 2025 Birthday Honours List, awarded an MBE for services to charity, community and business.
Though well known in the region for pioneering rural broadband, the award recognises far more than just his role in transforming digital access. For more than 40 years, James has been quietly but consistently building a legacy of service, shaping the county’s charitable landscape and supporting long-term regional development.
James Gibson Fleming
His voluntary work began in 1994, when he played a key role in establishing Cancer Care Dorset, a charity offering home-based support for families affected by cancer. As Chairman, he oversaw its merger with Joseph Weld Hospice to form Weldmar Hospicecare – Dorset’s only specialist palliative care provider, and regarded as one of the best hospice organisations in the country – and continues to serve as Vice President.
James’s impact extends beyond healthcare. He spent 36 years as a trustee of the Talbot Village Trust, guiding a major regeneration project around Bournemouth University’s Talbot Campus that has generated significant economic benefits for the local area. From 2006, he also served as Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, acting as a tireless ambassador for the county and its communities.
Alongside these roles, James has led an impressive business career. After military service in Cyprus, Germany and Northern Ireland, he trained at the Royal Agricultural College before heading up Hanford Plc and later founding Wessex Internet in 2010. The idea came from lived frustration with rural connectivity in North Dorset. Starting with a few wireless links between farms, the firm now delivers full-fibre broadband across four counties, employs more than 300 people and has won numerous national awards for its rural innovation.
Despite the scale of his achievement, James is keen to share the credit. ‘I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition which really belongs to the volunteers at Weldmar and the Talbot Village Trust, the incredible teams at Wessex Internet and the communities who have supported us every step of the way,’ he said. ‘The approach has always been the same – take the long view, invest in your community, and build something sustainable that will serve people for decades to come. ‘Any success we have had – whether with the hospice work or building Wessex Internet – has been down to the dedication of local people who believe in serving their communities for the long term. I’ve simply been fortunate to work alongside such committed individuals who do the real work of connecting and caring for Dorset. This honour is theirs as much as it is mine.’
