Within just 18 hours of making the difficult decision to postpone the Spring Countryside Show due to the severely waterlogged conditions at Turnpike Showground, organiser Cat Harris has announced the show has been swiftly rescheduled for the 8th and 9th of June – and technically, the first day of summer is the 21st June, so it will even still be a spring show!
Despite the major setback, the show’s lineup remains as exciting as ever – Cat has confirmed the return of all the main ring attractions, and visitors can once again look forward to seeing the UK’s only arena stunt clown comedy act, alongside heavy horses, dancing ponies and racing pigs.
Breathing a sigh of relief Cat Harris said: ‘We’re thrilled. The team has been working tirelessly through the bank holiday weekend to find a solution. And we’ve done just that! We are thrilled to be able to announce that the Spring Countryside Show has been reorganised for the 8th & 9th of June this year. There’s a renewed sense of hope and excitement and the team intends this year’s show to be a remarkable experience for everyone. We believe the new dates will provide us with the opportunity to host the show under the best possible conditions.’
Alongside the main ring attractions, there will be free tractor and trailer rides throughout the weekend, horticultural and gardening attractions and a huge range of Dorset food and drink along with live music to celebrate the season.
‘We want to reassure our traders and ticket holders that bookings and tickets will automatically be transferred to the new dates or a full refund will be given,’ says Cat. With a can-do spirit, the team is shaking off their wellies and firmly looking forwards to June.
*EDITED – the G&S Spring Countryside Show has been re-scheduled: it will now happen on the weekend of the 8th and 9th of June 2024. See more here *
Turnpike Showground has been a victim of the recent onslaught of wet weather, and the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Spring Countryside Show has been forced to cancel.
Show Organiser Cat Harris told The BV that the board had made the difficult decision to call off the show, due to the extremely waterlogged ground.
One of the Spring Countryside Show car parks over the Easter weekend
“It’s been a tough and heartbreaking decision, but the ground conditions will not support the set up of the Show. Although the event is still a month away, we had to make a call now – the large, heavy machinery is due on the showground to begin build in just a week’s time, and the ground is simply too waterlogged to make that safe: we cannot put contractors or the public at risk.
“We are hopeful that the show can be re-scheduled, but have obviously been hampered by the long bank holiday, and we will need a few more days to make that final decision. Obviously it’s incredibly disappointing, and the team are working hard to get all the systems in place. We ask the public for a little patience – the refund process will be online within a couple of days.”
The Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show is on the 14th and 15th August 2024.
We are recruiting a full-time Care Administrator to join our small team at Angel Holistic Care.
At Angel Holistic Care, we provide bespoke live-in care, and work in partnership with Care Commissioning Groups, Local Authorities, families and next of kin to provide excellent levels of care to our clients. We consistently achieve this through recruiting passionate and committed staff that share our values and understand the needs, concerns and expectations of clients and colleagues alike. We are proudly award winning in 2024, rated an extraordinary 9.9/10 on Homecare.co.uk, and have received ‘Outstanding’ in Caring, by Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The role of Care Administrator will involve playing a crucial role in the smooth operation of our live-in care services, by handling administrative tasks efficiently and effectively, as well as providing daily support visits to our clients. It is therefore important that candidates possess previous experience in an administrative role and hold a valid UK driving licence. Care experience is preferred, however not essential as full training will be provided in-house by the Registered Manager.
General responsibilities:
• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date records, for both clients and caregivers
• Provide daily support visits to our live-in clients in and around Shaftesbury, and devise and implement a comprehensive activities program that aligns with individual interests and enhances overall quality of life
• Serve as a primary point of contact for clients and caregivers, as well as families and healthcare providers to facilitate smooth communication and delivery of care
• Coordinating care services, both live-in care and daily breaks
• Collaborate with relevant healthcare professionals to develop and implement care plans tailored to each client’s needs
• Process applicants and caregiver registrations in accordance with the Company’s recruitment policies
• Manage the Company’s social accounts and produce marketing materials
• Ensuring compliance with regulations and Care Quality Commission
• Basic general office duties including responding to emails, answering the telephone etc.
A full job description can be provided on request.
This role is full time, Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours a week. Candidates will be expected to be on-call outside of working hours with the Deputy Manager through an alternate on-call roster. Within a working day, the Care Administrator will be required to complete administrative tasks in the office in morning, and provide remote support visits to clients in the afternoon.
To be successful in this role, we ask that you hold the following qualities and skills:
• Highly experienced in administrative roles, preferably in the healthcare sector
• Proficient using ICT systems and social media, including Microsoft Office, Facebook and LinkedIn
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Brilliant communication skills for effective collaboration with clients, families, and team members
• Strong organisational skills and interpersonal abilities
• A compassionate and patient demeanour, dedicated to promoting the well-being of those we serve
• A true commitment to providing the best quality of care, striving for ‘Outstanding’ day-in and day-out!
What can we offer you?
• A supportive and collaborative team environment
• A competitive salary
• 28 days holiday + bank holidays
• Paid mileage
• Paid DBS
• Mandatory care training
• Two-year Blue Light Card membership
• Opportunities for professional development and growth within the healthcare sector, including the opportunity to learn about more complex areas of care
• A companionship role within care
Please note: You must hold a valid UK driving licence and have access to your own car, as you will be required to visit our clients every afternoon.
If you would like to embark on a fulfilling career within the healthcare sector, and help to enable individuals to remain at home where they are their happiest and most comfortable, do not hesitate to apply today as Care Administrator. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Please contact us on 01747 359017, or email [email protected] to apply today.
In this episode we have three fascinating interviews behind some of this month’s stories – alone with Parkinson’s, Dorset girls dominating the boxing ring, and the ‘fine food’ that’s not at all posh.
Just press ‘play’ below 👇
Retired Colonel Guy Deacon was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease in 2011. In 2019 he embarked on an epic solo journey from his home near Sherborne to the southern tip of Africa. In a revealing and personal interview, Terry talks to Guy about his journey:
‘There’s nobody handing out spare parts for a VW camper between Morocco and Namibia, so that was a bit of a problem…’
Jenny talks to Shaun Weeks, who runs Sturminster Newton Amateur Boxing Club – in February the club’s female boxers brought home gold, silver and ‘Best Fight’ from the world’s largest female boxing tournament, The Golden Girl Championship in Borås, Sweden. Sturminster Newton ABC was also selected as Best Club.
‘It was totally unexpected. I got quite emotional about it. There were 400 contestants and maybe 60 or 70 clubs there from all over Europe. And we won the Best Club Award! I’m so proud of the whole team. Absolutely phenomenal!’
How a small business in North Dorset took over the food world. As the 2024 Great Taste judging starts, Terry talks to John Farrand of the Guild of Fine Food, who run the Great Taste Awards. The little black and gold badge is a familiar sight and a reassuring signal of good food, but the Guild – based in Gillingham in Dorset – does far more than the most popular and globally-recognised food award.
‘People think the task of a judge is rather a romantic one – but We have specially-written software and spreadsheets, and 90 judging days to blind taste a thousand products a week. That’s just a heck of a logistics task. ‘It’s not about posh food. We’re often judging pork pies. Well-made, good tasting food can be inexpensive – if you shop well you can buy better food which is more satisfying than cheap processed food.’
The March issue of the BV is out now, you can read it here: Inside this issue are good people, good dogs, good motorbikes, good books (and good booky people) … and a foal with the zoomies (he may or may not be good, it’s under review). Frankly, it’s so jam-packed with Dorset goodness, it’d be rude not to.
The BV is the ‘glossy’ monthly digital magazine from Dorset, shortlisted in 2024 for ‘Best Regional Publication in the UK’.
Loving husband to Marina. Beloved Dad, Grandad and Great Grandad.
Funeral to be held at Lesley Shand funeral home Corfe Mullen 10 April at 11.30 followed by a private burial. Family flowers only .Donations to be made to:Fortuneswell Trust via Lesley Shands website.
Fantastic opportunity for enthusiastic person with experience of trail-hunting, to join established top class trail-hunting yard in West Dorset with exceptional facilities & accommodation.
Requirements: • Confident with riding big, fit horses • Good stable management knowledge essential • Clip, plait & turnout to very high standard • Willing to learn • Driver essential (very rural location) • HGV qualification an advantage, but not essential
Accommodation: Spacious & very well equipped, two-bedroom, flat adjacent to the stable yard included/
Job benefits: Lovely yard with exceptional facilities; work alongside very experienced Head Groom & friendly team; rural countryside setting; training available for HGV & First Aid qualifications.
Please email your CV with full details of your experience & 2 referees to: Wendy Johnson – [email protected]
Contract type: Part time, flexible hours capped at 20 hours per month, 7 days a week.
Fixed Term 15th April 2024 – 31st October 2024
An exciting vacancy has arisen within our Swimming Pool Committee team at Milborne Port Primary School.
You will be responsible for maintaining our school swimming pool and playing a crucial role in the development of the pool for the benefit of our pupils, staff and local community.
You will implement and follow planned preventative maintenance, carry out chemical level control checks, stock management and advise on all technical management issues.
You will manage contractors and liaise with the School Leadership team with day-to-day challenges.
You will have a hands-on approach to guiding the Swimming Pool Committee team and volunteers to deliver the highest possible standards. Ensuring safe working practises by complying with current legislation, maximising opportunities to improve energy efficiency and the management of safety records and annual safety works. We’re looking for someone who has previous experience in a facilities environment and experience of working in and / or running a swimming pool plant room environment. You should have a good working knowledge of swimming pool technical policies and a Pool Plant Manager’s License is desirable but not essential.
Milborne Port Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share in this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
To obtain an application form, job description and person specification, please contact Mrs Claire Brown, School Business Manager via email on: [email protected].
All applications should be returned electronically to Mrs Brown
Visits to the school are warmly welcomed. Please telephone the school on: 01963 250366
Closing date: Noon on Monday 15th April 2024
Interviews will be held on: Monday 22nd April at 1.30pm
The full shortlist from all categories contains the great and the good of British publishing, from the likes of the Guardian, Times, Telegraph, The Spectator, Country Living, Hello Magazine … and OBVIOUSLY The BV!
Our tiny team works so hard to inform with accuracy and integrity, but also to entertain, and to never lose that little bit of personality which makes us uniquely ‘Dorset’.
To be recognised among such talented and respected titles on a national scale is astonishing. And of course it’s never just a personal achievement – it can only be a reflection of the entire team’s efforts to deliver impactful and relevant stories and features.
The winner will be announced at a posh hotel ‘dinner do’ in May in London. We’ll keep you posted…
