Family support charity launches Cost-of-Living Crisis Appeal

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25 February 2023

Home-Start Wessex is standing alongside local families with a new appeal launched this month. In a recent survey by Home-Start UK, 74 per cent of families said they were expecting to need financial support this winter. In 2022, Home-Start Wessex helped a record 300 families across Dorset and the borders of Wiltshire and Hampshire. Demand increased by 30 per cent as more families struggled to cope and needed their help. Volunteers provide practical, compassionate and emotional support to parents whose worries about finance are adding to the challenges of post-natal depression, isolation, physical health problems and bereavement. Alongside one-to-one support, they also run five family groups and weekly ‘Wellness Walks’ to help families get outside and connect with others whilst having fun and getting some exercise.
Kathy Fryatt-Banks, Chief Executive of Home-Start Wessex, said, ‘Parents from across the area are telling us how they are worried – heating is unaffordable, and they are missing meals to buy nappies and food for their babies. Times are tough for many, but please give whatever you can. Even a small amount will make a huge difference this winter.’

To donate, please visit their Just Giving page. You can also support families by becoming a Home-Start volunteer, ensuring that a family has the support they need. No qualifications are necessary, and full training will be provided. Contact Michelle by email – [email protected] or via the website – homestartwessex.org.uk

The BV talks to Tim Laycock and gets the inside track on the Council Tax levy

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Laura

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25 February 2023

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The third and final episode of February’s BV podcast – in this episode Jenny gets to listen to the wonderful Tim Laycock’s Random 19 answers, and Terry has a fascinating interview with Cllr Peter Wharf, in which they discuss the very latest developments on Dorset Councils decision to add a second home Council Tax levy.

Never miss an episode – if you’re not already subscribed to the BV, you can sign up here and receive a notification of each new podcast (just three a month) straight to your inbox! Or you can catch up on all previous episodes right here.

In this episode:

Folk musician, singer, actor, storyteller, historian, Thomas Hardy expert … Dorset’s Tim Laycock is a man of many talents, and Jenny has his answers to the Random 19 questions.
Terry has been talking to Cllr Peter Wharf as he gets to grips with Dorset Council’s additional council tax levy on second homes, and the pros and cons of the arguments surrounding a heated debate.
Reggae, Strauss and Gershwin? It must be Dorset Island Discs. Pauline Batstone has spent a lifetime working with ex-offenders as a probation officer, and spends retirement working for her community
Jenny reads this month’s column by wildlife writer Jane Adams, who is missing her early morning alarm call – but feels there may be signs of hope for mavis, as Chaucer named the British song thrush.

The BV podcast is brought to you every month by the wonderful Terry Bennett and Jenny Devitt.

All based on articles from the February issue of The BV magazine – never printed, it’s only available right here online. Subscribe (it’s free!) here https://bit.ly/TheBVsubscribe and receive it direct to your inbox every month**

Take an hour for a browse in Stur

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Editorial team

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25 February 2023

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This month’s news from the unofficial capital of the Blackmore Vale…

1855, the new artisan’s market in Sturminster Newton

Sturminster Newton is always a great place to come and have a browse; potter round our niche shops, pubs and cafés. SturAction is the Community Benefit Society which runs a number of shops in town, the profits of which all gets funnelled back into supporting the town and its people.
If you haven’t visited yet, then start your visit with a wander round 1855, the new artisan’s market in the former NatWest Bank. There are over 40 local traders offering a range of wares – there’s a new treasure to find on every visit!
The Emporium and Art Gallery are exactly what it says on the tin. Inside there is a treasure trove of interesting pre-loved items at very reasonable prices, as it’s all donated goods.
The Dapper Chaps Gentleman’s Boutique is inside The Emporium – a sorely needed source of pre-loved men’s clothing in the town. And upstairs is the Art Gallery with its ever-changing eclectic display.
The Furniture Store is in the old Barclays Bank building at the other end of the town – and it’s filled with pre-loved furniture at knock down prices, ready to furnish en empty corner or to take on for an upcycling project (donations are always welcome).
On the opposite street to 1855, is The Boutique, which is filled with pre-loved good quality ladies and children’s clothes and accessories. Always a first port of call when you want a fun upgrade of your wardrobe.

Meet the traders
There is a special late night opening at 1855 on the last Friday of every month, when the shop will stay open until 8pm. There may be wine tasting, some of the artists, traders and makers will be present to talk to and it is rapidly building into a regular social evening in the town.

Dates for the diary:
Wedding Fair
4th February, 10am to 2pm
Sturminster Newton invites couples & families to a unique town event, where they can discover enticing offers for all occasions. Visit wedding and special occasions exhibitors in The Exchange – everything you need to make your event wonderful. Then follow the trail through Sturminster Newton and visit the wedding exhibitions in some of our independent shops on your way to St. Mary’s to view the wedding dress display.

The monthly car and bike enthusiasts event
4th February, 9am to 12pm
A great family friendly event with a huge variety of vehicles from vintage to modern supercars, and vintage to modern bikes. Occasionally we’re lucky to get classic buses or lorries too. This month’s event is in Station Road car park.

North Dorset Schools Career Day
9th March, 10am to 6pm
Calling all Dorset employers! Exhibit for free and showcase your key roles, apprenticeships, and career progression. Meet and engage with young people from five schools in years 8 to 11. The twilight session is open to other schools, year groups and parents. The event will be at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton, and you can register as an exhibitor here.

February’s Book Corner

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Editorial team

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25 February 2023

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Firstly, I want to take the opportunity for a huge thank you to all our customers who have supported us over the past year – both by coming to the shop and also attending our author events. We really appreciate your custom. For this month’s selection I thought I’d suggest two titles that came out late last year which may have been overlooked among the tinsel. They are well worth a look. Wayne.

ZEALS A biography of an English Country House by Jennie Elias (£20)
Zeals, an English country manor house in Wiltshire, was filled with life, dogs, books, flowers and a grand piano in the Great Hall.
It was a house for landed gentry – but is now on Historic England’s ‘At Risk’ register. The house has medieval origins, but there were later additions; predominately those from the 19th century by Victorian architect George Devey, but also earlier changes in the 17th and 18th centuries.
This fascinating house naturally has a rich history. Charles II took refuge at Zeals House on his flight to the coast. A family member was beheaded by Oliver Cromwell for daring to confront his parliamentary troops. The Chafyn-Grove family, later Troyte-Bullock inheriting in a sideways move, lived at Zeals House for 500 years until the mid-20th century, when the fate of the estate mirrored that of many others in England.
Jennie Elias charts the joys and tragedies of generations of Zeals House residents, with characters ranging from haughty to charming and eccentric to prejudiced. There were of course failures through political levelling down and cultural change, but there were also many entirely of their own making. This definitive history also explores and celebrates the architecture of Zeals.

The Story of Art Without Men
by Katy Hessel (£30)
Can you name 20 women artists? If not, read this book.
Who makes art history?
Did women even work as artists before the 20th century? And what is the Baroque anyway?
Prepare to have your sense of art history overturned, and your eyes opened to many art forms often overlooked or dismissed. From the Cornish coast to Manhattan’s east side, Nigeria to Japan, this is the story of art for our times – one with women at its heart, brought together for the first time by the creator of the website The great women artists.
(if you’re on Instagram, do follow @thegreatwomenartists)
“The Story of Art Without Men should be on the reading list of every A-level and university art history course and on the front table of every museum and gallery shop.” – Laura Freeman, The Times. “Passionate, enthusiastic and witty, this spirited history celebrates female artists without any dreary finger wagging.”
Signed copies available at Winstones, Sherborne.

Blowers in Dorset, my dear old things!

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Editorial team

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24 February 2023

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Legendary cricket commentator and broadcaster, Henry Blofeld OBE, known amongst his many fans as Blowers and famed for his plummy tones and all-round good humour, invites you to join him in a brand new show, My Dear Old Things – coming to the Exchange in Sturminster Newton next month.

I asked him what made him head out on tour again – did he not think, at 83, he might be ready to retire from the rigours of touring?
‘I don’t know what you mean? I don’t recognise this word ‘retirement’. No, I shall never retire. I have a number of friends who retired at 60, and they were either dead at 65 or spend their days drunk and playing bad bridge. Not me. You can cut that one out, pretty quick. You’ve GOT to keep your little grey cells going. You can’t give up. If you retire, what do you do? Drink?
‘Doing nothing bores me to death. I enjoy what I do hugely.
I wondered if the audience need to be cricket fans to enjo… I didn’t even get the rest of the question out before Henry chips in: ‘NO! I hate the phrase “cricket fan”, actually. People will know me because of cricket, of course, but it’s not a cricket evening at all. It’s humour and anecdotes. The same way an awful lot of avid listeners to Test Match Special didn’t particularly like cricket.
Four years ago I did the Marigold Hotel programme in India. There were some splendid behind-the-scenes stories, but COVID came around and I couldn’t share them with anyone. So for the first hour I’m talking – I hope quite amusingly … I think quite amusingly, anyway – about the stories from India that couldn’t be seen on camera. And the second act is Test Match Special stories – there are some really funny ones to share. Hopefully everyone leaves just having had an excellent time!’
Henry will be appearing at the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne on 8th March, at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton on 16th March and the Memorial Theatre in Frome on 17th March.

Mosaic supporting bereaved children and young people

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Editorial team

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23 February 2023

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Mosaic are a Dorset based charity supporting bereaved children and young people, their families and the professionals working with them.

Founded in 2007, Mosaic was created to fill the gap in bereavement provision across the county. Prior to this, support for bereaved children and young people was limited – the only support available was from hospices offering support after the death of someone suffering from a long-term illness.
Mosaic support children and young people who have been bereaved of someone special – perhaps a parent, sibling, friend or extended family. This includes all causes of death such as sudden death, suicide, murder or road traffic accident, not just long-term illness.

If you require further information about Mosaic’s service, please do not hesitate to contact us:
01258 837071
[email protected]
mosaicfamilysupport.org

Strikes are another learning opportunity

By

Editorial team

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23 February 2023

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As parents of two kids in primary school, it’s fair to say that the teachers strikes are inconvenient for me and my partner. For me it means taking time off work at a really busy time. For my wife, who runs her own business, it means rearranging appointments and potentially missing out on a few days’ pay.
Similarly, as someone who values education, I don’t want my kids to miss out on valuable learning time. But we both wholeheartedly support the striking teachers.
Anyone who tried, as we did, to grapple with home schooling during lockdown, will know how challenging it is to try to encourage your own kids to sit down and learn for an hour or two a day. Our kids’ teachers are expected to achieve this every day, often more than 30 kids, all with different needs, in supersized classes with ever fewer teaching assistants (TAs) to support them.
There is a crisis in teaching.
More teachers and TAs are needed to deal with demand, but more than 12 years of Tory austerity have meant real-terms pay cuts, and the cost of living crisis has made things harder still. Burned out, undervalued and underpaid, teachers are understandably leaving the profession in their droves, making the situation even more difficult for those who remain – and increasingly undesirable for talented people who might otherwise have considered joining the profession.
All of this affects our kids, damaging them much more deeply than a day or two off school – and that means much more to me than the inconvenience of a day off work.
This article will be published after the first day of strike action (1st Feb), and our plan is that we will have thanked the teachers standing on picket lines and headed down to Weymouth for the TUC’s Protect the Right to Strike rally. They may not be in school, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be learning a valuable lesson from their teachers on how to express their democratic right to withdraw their labour and stand up for what is right and fair.
Pat Osborne
North Dorset Labour Party

Dinner and Jazz with the Sherborne School Swing Band

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Editorial team

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23 February 2023

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Friday 24th March at 7.30pm

Dining Hall, Sherborne School

The annual black-tie event with foot-tapping numbers by the Swing Band and a four-course dinner.

Scan the QR code to book now or email: [email protected]

Tickets £25.00

The legless marshal and complaints about farmers

By

Laura

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22 February 2023

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We are loving Jenny and Terry’s new BV podcast format – the interviews allow for so much more depth and discussion than we have space for within the magazine. Steve Tarrant is moving as he tells the story of the horrific life-altering 130mph crash at Goodwood which caused him to think HE was the lucky one, and Jenny talks to farmer and BV journalist Andrew Livingston in a wide-ranging talk which started with complaints about farmers and ended with Farmtok!

Never miss an episode – if you’re not already subscribed to the BV, you can sign up here and receive a notification of each new podcast (just three a month) straight to your inbox! Or you can catch up on all previous episodes right here.

In this episode:

• Terry talks to Steve Tarrant, a north Dorset man who suffered life-changing injuries at Goodwood in 2000. He has recently has been awarded the highest honour in motorsport for his courage and commitment. This is SUCH an interesting conversation – I suspect Terry will be back to talk more to Steve.

• Jenny talks to farmer and BV journalist Andrew Livingston, who says that thanks to the national newly-sanitised view of Countryfile-d farming, complaints about animal welfare are on the increase. It was SO interesting hearing Andrew discuss this in far more depth than we have space for in the magazine. Also, he says ‘rain makes cows look sad’ 😂

• In this month’s A Country Living column, Tracie Beardsley met Richard Lee, Dorset craftsman, founder of Plankbridge and pioneer of a global revival of shepherd’s huts

• Rachael Rowe shared the story of the Dorset surgeon who changed the worlds of art and science. The famous Hogarth paintings which hang above the Hogarth Stair at St Barts Hospital in London are undergoing restoration. But what do they have to do with a surgeon from North Dorset?

• The day the dam burst! In this month’s Looking Back column, Roger Guttridge describes a disastrous – and yet miraculous – day in North Dorset’s memory when the dam at Stourhead’s Gasper Bridge burst and the flood waters rushed through the bomb factory at Bourton, and on to Gillingham, over a century ago.