Shaftesbury Rotary Club are delighted that their hugely popular annual fundraiser is back this month – complete with the new Family Ride
The annual North Dorset Cycle Ride will take place on Sunday 19th May 2024. As usual, there will be two routes – a 25-mile ride, and a 50-mile ride. Both with strat from Park Walk, and both will finish with the iconic ride UP Gold Hill. The 50-mile ride will start from 8.30am, and the 25-mile ride from 9.30am – registration opens an hour before the rides start. The Family Ride that was launched successfully in 2023 will also feature again. This year the family ride will wind around the town – with fun on the way – along safe side roads, and it’s ideal for beginner and energetic junior cyclists. When it reaches Shaftesbury Primary School, a range of skills tests will be on offer, led by local Rotarians and supported by RotaKids from Shaftesbury Primary and Abbey Primary schools. Every competitor who completes a ride will receive a medal. Full details of the ride and how to enter can be found on Shaftesbury Rotary Club’s website – follow the links to the North Dorset Cycle Ride. The main beneficiary will be the HOPE Charity, and for the third year running, the event will be sponsored by BV Dairy. If you want to know more or to get involved with Rotary, please contact: [email protected]
Tracie Beardsley catches up with renowned Dorset farmer Wakely Cox, whose family have farmed in Puddletown for almost a century
Wakely has a small flock of 130 sheep – his eldest son Anthony has a flock of 800. All images: Courtenay Hitchcock
Outside the farmhouse door, wellington boots of various sizes stand to attention. Dora, the golden labrador puppy, enthusiastically welcomes me into the kitchen where there’s a delicious smell of homemade scones. At a huge pine kitchen table, Wakely Cox chats with Anthony, his eldest son and a dead ringer for his dad. Anthony is a fifth generation Cox farmer – as are Wakely’s four other sons: Edward, Rupert, Benjamin and James, ranging from 36 to 28 years. Dorset farming is in the Cox genes. Wakely’s great grandparents, along with his grandparents Jack and Dorothy, moved from Beaminster to Puddletown in 1932 as tenant farmers at Stafford Park. After 20 years of hard graft, Jack and Dorothy managed to buy the farm.
Wakely and Caroline and their five sons farm 1,300 acres of mixed arable, cattle and sheep from their base at Warren Hill Farm
Wakely’s parents John and Mildred continued the legacy, and today, Wakely, his wife Caroline and their five sons farm 1,300 acres of mixed arable, cattle and sheep from their base at Warren Hill Farm. History tends to repeat itself: Wakely’s parents met at Young Farmers, and so did he and Caroline: ‘Caroline represented Blandford and I was Dorchester. Our eyes met across a heated farming debate!’
Wakely’s sheepdog Pops hitching a ride to check the calves – she broke her leg a few years ago and has limped ever since
Wakely recalls his childhood fondly: ‘I loved going in the Land Rover with Father to help feed the cattle. I was never keen on school, so as soon as I got home, I’d be out on the farm. There was always so much going on – lambs being born, cattle to be moved … ‘More men worked on the farm then. I remember them whizzing home on their bikes for lunch. And the smell of a pipe instantly brings back my grandfather. Happy memories.’ After leaving school, Wakely worked on a farm near Upwey while studying agriculture at Kingston Maurward. Later, he returned to the family farm to work for his parents. He also found time to teach future farmers and employees at Kingston Maurward. ‘It was another income stream for me, but just as importantly, it got me off the farm and gave me another interest. I love what I do, but I knew I also needed to get off the farm and see other people.’ He still stands by that thinking today. He was chairman of the Dorchester Agricultural Society for many years, and now, as chair of Dorset NFU, he travels all over the country. ‘Once I’m in my truck and heading to a meeting, I leave the farm behind to concentrate on other things. Modern farming can be very isolating. You can get stuck in your own ways and not see the bigger picture.
Wakely Cox in front of Warren Hill Farmhouse, which he and Caroline built almost 25 years ago
I meet up with farmers nationwide. Northern farmers have had a quarter of their corn ruined and lost sheep lambing in the awful weather this spring. It’s made me realise just how lucky I am farming in Dorset. I tell other farmers they must get out and see the bigger picture.’ He’s instilled this mindset in his sons, too. ‘I never pushed the boys to join me on the farm. They’ve all done their own thing. Edward farmed in Canada. Ben and Rupert have done harvests abroad, and they have all worked on other farms. Our youngest lad, James, is show organiser for Dorset County Show – but he still helps out feeding calves or hauling corn. Anthony has 800 sheep of his own and scanning rounds, so he works part-time for us. We all help one another.’ The day I interview him, Wakely is preparing to meet the Secretary of State. ‘There’s an election coming up, and he’s keen for the farming vote!’ Wakely is hugely respected as an advocate for Dorset farming. Not scared to put his head above the parapet, one of his other roles is as chair of the Poole Harbour Agricultural Group, challenging the Environment Agency and the apportioned ‘farmer nitrate pollution’ of Poole Harbour. ‘Farmers need to clean up their practices, but the EA presents us historic data – it’s 20 years out of date! To prevent nitrate leaching we need up-to-date facts in order to encourage a voluntary farmer-led scheme, not heavy-handed regulations.’ Is he positive about farming’s future? ‘Very, very positive. People will always need feeding! Shipping in food from abroad is just not sustainable. Home grown is the way ahead – if people will learn to eat more seasonally and sensibly. Yes, of course farming practices will change. But everything evolves.’ And at 63, does he still love farming? ‘How could I not? This is my life, it’s not just a job. I still get a thrill seeing a lamb born – new life that within a few minutes is up and about. ‘My seven grandchildren bring me a huge amount of joy, too. When they ask me “Papa, will you take me out in the Land Rover on the farm?” it’s like a farm echo, I can feel life coming full circle.’
Wakely has approximately 1,400 cattle, a mix of Hereford and Angus
Quick fire questions:
Book by your bedside? Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. Reading helps me switch off and I love this series so I stay up reading too late. Not ideal when you’re up at 5.30am!
A-list dinner party guests? My family and friends – some friendships Caroline and I made through Young Farmers go back more than 40 years. My old boss Mike and his wife Anne Lasseter, too: great employers to whom I owe much.
Wessex Internet has secured a significant new government contract worth £33.5 million to expand ultrafast broadband access to 21,400 homes and businesses in rural South and West Dorset, and South Somerset. This initiative is part of Project Gigabit, the government’s £5 billion effort to enhance digital infrastructure in the UK’s most remote areas, ensuring they aren’t left behind in the rapidly advancing digital age. This latest contract marks the fourth and largest Project Gigabit agreement awarded to Wessex Internet, emphasising their growing role in national efforts to improve connectivity. It follows closely on the heels of another major project announced in March, where the provider committed to an £18.8 million broadband rollout in South Wiltshire. Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez highlighted the critical need for updating the UK’s digital infrastructure, stating, ‘Outdated infrastructure restricts economic growth and reduces quality of life. Our Project Gigabit initiative aims to equip rural areas with state-of-the-art connections, allowing them to thrive in the digital economy.’ Hector Gibson Fleming, CEO of Wessex Internet, expressed the company’s commitment to enhancing rural connectivity. ‘Since our first installations in 2012, our mission has been clear—to ensure rural communities are not disadvantaged by outdated technology. This new project allows us to expand our network organically while maintaining the local, customer-focused service that defines us.’ The planned network expansion will commence construction in late 2024, targeting rural areas around Swanage, Isle of Purbeck, Dorchester, Sherborne, Beaminster in Dorset, and areas near Crewkerne, Ilminster, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, and Bruton in South Somerset. The project will implement full fibre, or Fibre to the Premise (FTTP) connections, offering speeds up to 10Gbps – significantly faster and more reliable than the older copper wiring systems. The above map shows the new areas covered by the latest contract. Much of rural Dorset is already covered by Wessex Internet (or built in to future plans). Those keen to take advantage of the high speed access, the best advice is to use the postcode checker on the Wessex Internet website, which will show access plans for individual properties. wessexinternet.com
When Seb was eight he received four pigs for Christmas. Now he has one of the largest pedigree herds of the rare British Saddleback pig in the UK. Two years ago he started showing them, and qualified for both the 2022 and 2023 national championships. In 2023 Seb became the youngest ever recipient of the British Pig Association’s New Pedigree Breeder of the Year award, enjoying a swish night out at the National Pig Awards in London last November! Seb, from Sturminster Newton, is about to start the 2024 show season with his team of 12 pigs – he takes it so seriously he even has a show ring set up at home to practise. Seb’s parents take him and the pigs all over the UK – even on the ferry to the Isle of Wight! His pigs are well known in the local area, and he sells them as far afield as Devon, Wiltshire and Hampshire. And as if his own pigs weren’t enough for one teenager, Seb’s recently taken a Saturday job on a local dairy farm, furthering his knowledge and passion for UK agriculture.
Do you have a Future Farmer? Send a picture with a few details to [email protected]
Dorset Chamber CEO Ian Girling encourages local enterprises to shine at the 2024 Dorset Business Awards, and it as a platform for success
This month I’d like to take a minute to talk about the 2024 Dorset Business Awards – they were launched in Dorchester in April, and are open for entries from 1st May to 13th June. The awards are free to enter and open to all businesses in Dorset. The aim is to celebrate the excellence and achievements of Dorset businesses across a wide range of categories. Now in their 27th year, they are widely recognised as one of the leading business awards in the South.
Why should I enter? Entering the awards offers a huge range of benefits to any business. Firstly, at its core it’s an extremely useful exercise to go through the application and to self-assess what you are doing well in that particular category – and also what you could improve or build on in that particular area of your business. This in itself is a very useful self-improvement exercise for any business. If you make the shortlist, being a finalist is incredibly exciting for your business and motivational for your team. Just being shortlisted means you and your team should be very proud of your achievements – this can have an extremely positive effect on morale (even more so if you win!). You’ll feel an incredible feelgood factor in your business. One of the most obvious benefits of being selected as a finalist – and of winning – is the amount of free marketing and PR you will receive for your business. Within the Dorset Business Awards, we promote the finalists in advance of the awards night across our social media channels, and winners can expect to be heavily covered in the local business media – including our own business magazine. Winning, or even being a finalist for an award, builds credibility and trust in your brand. The award recognises your achievements in that particular category, and can only improve your business reputation. This in itself is likely to improve customer retention as well as bring in new business.
Just do it The Dorset Business Awards are independently judged by a panel of business leaders from within Dorset, and the entry process is very straightforward. Entries are open now – my top tip is to always follow the guidance, and don’t leave it too late to start your entry! The awards Gala Dinner and Presentation will be on 10th October. What are you waiting for? dorsetchamber.co.uk
As the 2024 event season gets under way, Jess Rimmer finds herself balancing books and bridles as it coincides with exam season
Jo Rimmer training Jess and Mattie at the yard in Fontmell Parva All images: Courtenay Hitchcock
I thought I’d kick off this month’s report with an insider look at life juggling eventing with university. April saw both our first events of the season and the submission of my dissertation – so I don’t really have brain space to think about anything else!
Mattie gets a rub down after his workout
It’s a common misconception in the horse world that it is necessary to make a choice between pursuing a career in horses and continuing with education. People seem to think it is one or the other – but I didn’t see why I couldn’t do both! It has definitely been a juggle, though, and when I look back over the past three years I sometimes wonder how on earth we made it work! My weeks have generally involved being at uni in Bristol from Monday to Wednesday, then whizzing home to ride for the rest of the week. The pandemic meant a lot of my course was delivered online, which meant I’ve been able to keep up with my degree from home, fitting lectures in wherever possible around the horses’ routines.
Mattie (The Real McKay) missed the first events of the season with an untimely foot bruise, but he is now back on track
May sees the start of exams, which inconveniently clash with some of the first internationals of the season. Obviously I was never going to miss those – which is how I’ve ended up sitting exams from a hotel next to Houghton Hall, from the judge’s box at Bicton International and sitting in the back of a taxi in France! With careful time management, anything is possible. I guess what I’m trying to say is, if you want to go to uni but are worried about missing out on the horses, just go for it! And if anyone reading this is wondering how on earth they can make it work, I am always happy to chat.
Jess on Sir Henry Hall in his dressage test at Moreton
Mattie and Elsa catch up with each other in the stalls
The season begins OK, back to the horses! My season started a little later than usual this year, following a head injury over the winter. But with plenty of patience and support, I am now fully recovered and finally able to get the ball rolling! Our first event was a local one at Moreton, where we had Newt, Elsa and Henry. Newt and Elsa were introduced last month, but we didn’t meet Henry (Sir Henry Hall). He is a complicated horse with bucketloads of talent – but he is the ultimate worrywart. He would love to bury his head in the sand at everything scary – which is frankly most things, from his point of view! However, he always seems to perform under pressure. It’s as if he knows when it counts. At Moreton he jumped brilliantly, as did Elsa and Newt.
Super-groom mum Jo doing Henry’s studs at Moreton
We then went to Cirencester Park with the same trio, where they all performed superbly, setting us up nicely for the season ahead. Mattie (The Real McKay) sadly missed his first runs with an untimely foot bruise, but he is back on track, pictured in a training session at home, under mum’s watchful eye. His season will hopefully start at Tweseldown next month – which happens to be the day before my first exam. And so the juggling act continues! Looking ahead to May … you guessed it: lots of eventing, interspersed with exams – see you on the other side!
Remembering a steadfast leader and community champion in North Dorset
William (Bill) Batty-Smith died on his 95th birthday, 30th March 2024. Familiar to many as a North Dorset councillor, Bill was particularly known locally for his ability to chair the Planning Committee with a rod of iron. I first encountered Bill Batty-Smith at one of “his” North Dorset planning meetings. The air was tense as the room filled with local residents determined to give opinions on why affordable housing developments in Blandford and surrounding villages should not go ahead. What struck me was not only how Bill remained impassive and calm throughout the fiery debate, but also how he ensured council officers were protected from the wrath of the public gallery. It is testament to Bill’s leadership that those affordable homes are today full of young families and Dorset’s key workers.
Bill Batty-Smith, centre, with his family
A life in the East Bill Batty-Smith was born in 1929 and was educated at Sandhurst Military Academy and the Royal Military College of Science. He did his National Service in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, then was commissioned into the Corps of Royal Engineers, ending up with the rank of Captain. He spent much of the 1950s in Singapore, Malaya and Sarawak before a posting as aide-de-camp to the Commander of the British Forces in Hong Kong. Then he returned to the UK. After leaving the army, Bill worked extensively in the Middle East, specialising in oil and petrochemical health and safety. In 1977 he was awarded an MBE for services to the British community in Lebanon during the civil war. He was in Iran during the 1980 Revolution, and also in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, at the outbreak of the First Gulf War. From 1972 right up until he retired in 1995, he worked in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Iran and Kuwait, plus another stint in the Far East in the northern province of North Sumatra in the early 80s. His work in Kuwait during and after the First Gulf War was mainly co-ordination, command and control of emergency services cover for the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) and oil fire-fighting teams, to ensure their safe passage in and out and to ensure effective casualty evacuation cover in the case of an incident.
Bill spent much of the 1950s in Singapore, Malaya and Sarawak
A tireless community manIn 1996 he found a new and very active role in local politics. He was elected to North Dorset District Council (NDDC) in 1999 as the representative for Stalbridge, and was twice re-elected. He also served on the Dorset County Council Health Scrutiny committee for ten years, and worked as an independent chairman dealing with complaints against the NHS. Bill was also a member of the council of governors at University NHS Foundation Trust.Victor Fox, former chairman of NDDC, worked with him for many years: ‘I first met Bill in 1999, when he and Ron Ash were Conservative candidates for Stalbridge in the North Dorset District Council elections. They won, and we went on to form a new ruling team with help from two independent candidates. Bill quickly became a member of the Planning Committee, where his wide experience of the construction industry was much appreciated by the other members … if not always by the planning officers or developers! ‘I well remember being a member of the committee with Bill as chairman: he would deal with crowded meetings over many a difficult decision with resolute firmness. But he was always polite to everyone.’Graham Carr-Jones also worked with Bill as a district councillor representing Stalbridge.‘He knocked on my door one day and said “I need a running mate. What do you think?” Unfortunately I didn’t say no fast enough! ‘We worked the patch together as a partnership in Stalbridge and we got a lot done. We achieved free car parking, and we got The Hub for the village. We also got the library and kept the public toilets open when Dorset Council was trying to close them. Bill got some affordable housing passed as well.’
Bill with two of his sons
Bill was invited to the Council cabinet, but declined the position, feeling he could be of more use in Planning: “Over the years I have served on almost every committee, and as chairman or vice chairman of most of them, but my main emphasis has been on Planning. This has had its amusing moments, such as the person who put in an application to divide a curtilage and then when it came before committee, spoke eloquently against the division. There were also times when the agenda at full council was sleep-inducing. In my early days, I could rely on Angus Campbell to dig me in the ribs, but when this service was no longer available there was one occasion when Michael Oliver, in the chair, had to use his gavel to wake me up.” When Bill stepped down from NDDC in 2019, just before his 90th birthday, his work was recognised with the title of Honorary Alderman. Bill was proud of the council’s work, and in his letter of thanks, he said “North Dorset has, I think, set a standard for not only the county of Dorset but for how local government should operate. Controversial items have been resolved by sensible discussion between members of all parties and there has been none of the childish and immature ‘slanging’ which seems to be fashionable in the higher levels of what passes for Government these days.” It was acknowledged at the time that he had chaired the most difficult committee in the council – that of planning.
Bill with his daughter, Jules
Daughter Jules Batty-Smith paid tribute to her father: ‘Dad was the wisest and most knowledgeable man I have ever known, my idol and navigator in life. I miss him daily and the house is so quiet without him. He had such a hard time over the past eight months, but it has been my pleasure to spend every single day with him. He was a great distraction while I went through chemo – he waited until I got the all-clear from cancer, just two days before he passed, and until my daughter Georgia returned from university, before he asked to go. For him to leave this world on his 95th birthday, which was also his wedding anniversary, at home and surrounded by family … it is just how he would have wanted it. On his terms, as always. ‘He married mum, Anne Buck, at St Mary The Boltons, London, on 30th March 1957. He met her in Borneo, while he was serving, and asked for her hand two weeks later. She said no, and he pursued her for two years before she gave in. Typical dad, always getting what he wanted in life.’ Bill is survived by four of his five children, and five grandchildren. Graham Carr-Jones summed up his friend: ‘Bill Batty-Smith was a proper action man. He was a professional engineer and an old school do-er. The Bills of this world are a generation we are losing. He was a proper bloke – The Chairman to the last.’
One of the easiest and best ways to encourage wildlife in your garden is to leave a patch of lawn to its own devices, says Pete Harcom
I have been thinking about the ‘No Mow May’ campaign that was started in 2019 by the conservation charity ‘Plantlife’. Perhaps we should all consider this again. How about not mowing our lawns for at least the month of May? Apparently we have lost almost 97 per cent of our flower-rich meadows since the 1930s – and with them we have lost the food needed by pollinators such as bees, moths and butterflies. If your lawn is left to grow and set seed, it produces wildflowers, plants and fungi which all benefit your local wildlife. And all we have to do is NOT mow. Or at least, reduce our mowing from May onwards. If you do need to mow, try leaving a large area unmown – that will still help. Longer grass and wildflowers support a variety of insects such as beetles, spiders and grasshoppers. These insects are an important food source for many birds and other animals, and they also help to pollinate plants and break down organic matter in the soil. The only downside for a gardener may be that weed growth can establish if the grass is not mown for an extended period, so monitor and remove individual weeds if they start getting established.
Even leaving part of the garden unmowed can help your local wildlife
Jobs for May
May should be a lot warmer, but keep an eye on the weather forecast – you may need to wait to plant out bedding plants until the end of the month to guarantee the warmth.
Sweet peas can be sown direct into the ground during May – and if you sowed into pots a few months ago, it’s time to plant out your sweet pea seedlings during a mild spell.
Divide clumps of hosta plants as they come into their new growth.
Trim back aubretia after flowering to encourage compact growth and repeat flowering.
Prune penstemons now – cut back all the old shoots to the base.
If fuchsias and pelargoniums are growing well, take cuttings now to increase them.
Look out for signs of blackspot on roses. Blackspot is a fungus that presents as round, irregular black spots on the leaves and canes of roses. If discovered, and you wish to avoid using a systemic fungicide, pluck and dispose of the leaves, and try to keep the ground clear of dropped leaves where the fungus can thrive.
Prune spring-flowering shrubs – such as deutzia, choisya, weigela and philadelphus – after flowering to maintain shape.
Birds are starting to nest now – please check hedges before trimming them back. It’s possibly best to accept you missed your chance, and to leave the hedges until late summer now.
After a year of rigorous training and overcoming nerves, the young boxer showcases his potential and snatches his first national title
Freddie Norman wins the title
Freddie Norman turned up at the Sturminster Newton boxing gym with his dad just over a year ago. ‘He said he’d visited when we had our open sparring,’ says coach Shaun Weeks. ‘He just loved the feel of the club and the way it was run, and felt that this was the place he wanted to learn the rest of his trade.’ Now Freddie travels up from Parkstone three days a week to train with Shaun and his team – and in April he won his first national title. Still a junior, 14-year-old Freddie boxes in the under 63kg category – a professional Lightweight. ‘When he came to us he’d had six bouts – won three lost three.’ says Shaun. ‘Since then, he’s had 12 bouts and won 11 of them. That single loss was his second contest, he was stopped in a national quarter finals by a lad called Reuben James. ‘And what was nice about the recent competition weekend at Loughborough was that he was pitched against Reuben James again in the semi-final – only this year Freddie got a points win! ‘He then faced Charlie Hewitt, an unbeaten lad from the north west who comes from an old-school boxing family. Freddie beat him on points too, giving him his first national title: National Junior Cadet Champion.’ Following his win, Freddie was invited to the England Boxing Talent pathway trials, but of the 90 boxers who attended only six were selected, and unfortunately Freddie missed out. However, the feedback from the coaches was really positive, and he’s been invited to attend the junior England prep camps for the European Championships and other competitions, to provide sparring practice and to help the competitors prepare. The Junior bracket is a two-year window, currenty for boxers born in 2008 and 2009, and Freddie is right at the bottom of the age group. Selection was always a long shot, says Shaun. ‘And then when he was sparring, he missed his work a little bit. When we spoke afterwards, he admitted he’d been very nervous, it being his first time there. And he felt he rushed his work a little bit. But it’s a great learning curve – and the right people have seen him now. The fact that he’s been invited back to do sparring … It took me 18 months before they’d even look at Ruby Else-White, and she started the same way, by being invited up to spar to aid the England team prepping for a competition. ‘So at least we’ve got our foot in the door. I’m confident he’ll end up boxing for England, he will win national titles in the future – he’s dedicated, and he’s a good lad. ‘And for a small rural club to have not one but TWO national champions! But the quality of the boxers coming through is amazing, we’ve got a great coaching team, a good working committee, and we’ve got lots of local support, which is excellent.’
Freddie with coach Shaun Weeks left and coach Eddie Wareham right
For every competition the Sturminster Newton boxers enter, the club needs sponsors to help with costs: they are usually looking for ten businesses to donate around £200 each. They’ll get their logo on the event uniform T shirt, plus social media exposure. ‘Local trips aren’t so bad,’ says Shaun. ‘But we travel all over the country – we’re off to Sweden in November. ‘Other businesses support the kids with a regular monthly donation: whatever they can manage, even £20 helps, and that really helps to keep us ticking over. We only draw from it for travel costs, mainly for Ruby – and now Freddie – when they’re travelling to wherever the England camps are.’ If you’d like to get involved, contact Shaun on [email protected] or 07817 243101
