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Heroic horsewoman runs the London marathon (aged 77) for the charities that saved her life

By
Editorial team
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This month, Shena Kozuba-Kozubska will be running her second London Marathon. It’s likely to be even tougher than the one she did 30 years ago. Running that one, she “only had a fractured skull and broken hand,” she recalls understatedly.

What this top-class horse rider had actually suffered was a massive blow to the head, resulting in near-fatal subarachnoid haemorrhage. Her horse had bolted, flinging her head-first on to some posts. Even with these injuries, Shena managed to complete the gruelling 26.2-mile race in four hours, and raised £6,000 for the Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund. The charity helped her financially to get back in the saddle after she couldn’t run her equestrian school for a year.

Second near-fatal accident

Forward to 2021, Shena’s now 77 and once again recovering from near-fatal injuries. An horrific accident five years ago left this internationally renowned horsewoman and instructor from Donhead St Andrew with broken breast bone, hip, ribs, shoulder and pelvis, plus internal injuries resulting in her losing a kidney. “The entire left side of my chest was caved in and I had massive internal bleeding. I shouldn’t be here, I really shouldn’t, but thanks to the amazing action of paramedics and Somerset Air Ambulance, I survived.” All Shena can recall from that fateful day is stopping her ‘bombproof’ horse to let a car pass. She woke up four weeks later in intensive care. The horse was found nonchalantly grazing by her side, uninjured. Her story of recovery is not easy. It took three people to get her
out of bed. She recalls being left in excruciating pain in a chair in Southampton hospital. She rang the call-bell and shouted but it took overworked nurses three agonizing hours to come to her aid. She had to learn to walk again after being wheelchair- bound.

18 year old Sheena with the Queen 1969 at Badminton

Horatio’s Garden

Shena was intensely grateful to be moved to Odstock Hospital in Salisbury. Here she rebuilt her strength and delighted in the fresh air of Horatio’s Garden, connected to the spinal injury unit. “I’m an outdoors person so the confines of hospital were extremely difficult for me.” Shena also had to cope with the grief of losing her sister Joanna to motor neurone disease. “Joanna had died a year and a day before my accident. My sister Danuta and I had cared for Joanna, who was an incredible woman. She’d been a prison governor in charge of the infamous Moors murderer Myra Hindley followed by a successful career in business management. “Motor Neurone disease is
devastating – that’s why, as well as Somerset Air Ambulance, I’m fundraising for the Motor Neurone Disease Association as well as Horatio’s Garden. I know how much this green space helped my sister as well as me.”

A long career

Shena’s equestrian career began after she was introduced to riding at Longham stables in Ferndown when four years old. She progressed to pony club competitions and after leaving school trained at Wylie “the best and only training yard that there was at that time.” She went on to become the youngest British Horse Society Accredited instructor. At 18 she competed at the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials and has worked alongside some of the
biggest names in the equestrian world, including HRH Princess Anne, Olympic champions Lucinda Green, Virgina Leng and Richard Mead, our most successful male equestrian Olympian. She’s also worked with Chris Bartle, dressage champion and now eventing coach for Olympic riders. Born in Kenya, Shena has returned there to run horse clinics. She also taught Carole Annett to ride, wife of Olympic athlete, Lord Sebastian Coe. This contact came in handy when Shena wanted to enter her first marathon in 1991. “My head injury had meant I couldn’t work for a year. I was overweight so set myself the challenge of running a marathon. It was January and the race was
happening in April so I called Seb and he managed to get me in!” This determined woman hopes to raise £6,000 again this year. She admits the training ‘is almost killing’ her as she still struggles to walk up hills, let alone run
up them. “I swore I’d never do it again but I’ve been feeling crumpled and useless. I can’t ride and would never get back on a horse as it wouldn’t be fair to Danuta, who cared for me through my recovery. I can’t even keep horses, as just a nudge from one could send me flying as I’m still not stable. I’m really hoping I won’t get pushed over amongst the 50,000 plus runners! “I’m not strong enough to jump out of a plane or wing-walk. I don’t knit! So, I will run, or totter this time, for these crucial charities because none of us know when we or our loved ones may need them.”


Support Shena through her JustGiving page here

By: Tracie Beardsley

How will I cope with my bills?

By
Editorial team
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A local expert from Citizen’s Advice answers a question from the public. This Month: How to cope with the upcoming £20 cut in Universal Credit.

Worried man sitting at table with bills and laptop while his wife and daughter sitting on sofa. Shutterstock

Q: “I keep reading that Universal Credit is going to be cut. I struggle to get by as it is and I’m really worried that if I lose £20 a week, I’ll get into serious debt. I’m already behind on some of my bills. What can I do to avoid things getting worse?”

A: Firstly, depending on your situation, you might be able to ask to have your Universal Credit paid differently – these are called ‘alternative payment arrangements’. This might be an option if you’re in debt or rent arrears, among other things. To apply for an alternative payment arrangement, call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644

Behind on the bills

If you’re behind on some of your bills, the first step is to make a list of how much you owe and add up how much you need to pay each month.

You now need to prioritise your debts. We have advice on our website to help you do this. Some bills can cause you more problems than others: Rent or mortgage arrears, council tax and energy bills are your priority debts – there can be serious consequences if you don’t pay them. Get in touch with the organisations you owe money to (these are known as your creditors). They might be able to help by letting you pay smaller amounts or taking a break from
payments. Many organisations have put in place protections for people who’ve struggled to pay their bills during the pandemic. The government-backed Breathing Space scheme could also give you extra time. If you’re eligible, you could get 60 days where your creditors can’t contact you, take action to make you pay, or add interest and charges to your debt. You’ll need to get advice from a debt adviser first – they’ll check all your debts to see if they’re covered by the scheme.

Finally, it’s always a good idea to have a budget – take a look at the budgeting tool on our website and make sure you’re getting all the income you’re entitled to.

Ask for help.

Everyone’s circumstance is different, particularly when it comes to managing personal finances. If you need more specific support or don’t feel able to manage your situation alone, contact your local Citizens Advice or call our debt helpline: 0800 240 4420. Other organisations providing free debt advice include Stepchange and National Debtline.”

The intelligent poltergeist | Looking Back

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Editorial team
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On January 11, 1895, the Western Gazette published a story about strange goings-on in a Dorset village. The paper described ‘considerable excitement’ at Durweston ‘in consequence of the supposition that one of
its cottages is haunted’.

The cottage was one of a semi- detached, white-walled pair that stand high on the hill above Durweston.
They have been a familiar landmark for 170 years and can be seen to this day from the A350 and the trailway between Blandford and Stourpaine. The events that caused the stir began on December 13, 1894, when widow Mrs Best heard knocking and scratching sounds in various parts of her cottage. The strange noises recurred several times over the next few days, gradually increasing in volume until next-door neighbour Mr Newman could also hear
them.

Shutterstock


Bizarre occurrence

The village blacksmith said the sounds were ‘as heavy as sledgehammer blows’. Mrs Best, aged about 60, had
recently taken in two orphaned sisters from the workhouse, Annie, aged 12 or 13, and Gertie Cleave, who was four. Annie was in poor health. A doctor described her as ‘of a markedly consumptive tendency’ and ‘hysterical’. As December wore on, even more bizarre occurrences took place. Small stones flew through the windows, breaking the glass, then returned of their own volition through the clean, round holes they had made. On December 18, Annie saw an old boot fly from the garden and strike the back door, leaving a muddy mark. Gamekeeper Mr Newman saw beads strike the window while a ‘quantity of little shells’ and two thimbles travelled horizontally 5ft
off the ground. ‘They came very slowly and when they hit me I could hardly feel them,’ said Mr Newman. ‘The
thimbles struck my hat.’ Other moving objects included a slate-pencil and a hasp. After the old boot returned, Mrs Best threw it outside and Mr Newman put his foot on it and commanded: ‘I defy anything to move this boot.’ ‘Just as I stepped off, it rose up behind me and knocked my hat off; there was no-one behind me,’ said the incredulous gamekeeper. Other witnesses included Durweston’s rector, the Rev W M Anderson, and schoolmaster, Mr Sheppard.

Following the two men’s arrival, Mrs Best put the girls to bed in Mr Newman’s house and lay down beside them. Loud rappings were heard on the walls in different parts of the room, along with occasional scratching sounds. Despite checks to ensure no-one was playing tricks, the ‘loud and continuous’ sounds continued for much of the night. By using a specified number of raps for ‘yes’, Mr Sheppard asked the ‘agency’ if it would communicate by writing on a slate. This was not just any old poltergeist but one with intelligence. It was clever enough to answer a series of questions as to where the slate should be placed, declining every location
apart from the windowsill. The presence’s first attempt on the slate resulted in a few meaningless scratches but
after Anderson and Sheppard asked it to try again, it produced curves that were ‘beautifully drawn’ with firm, bold lines ‘such as no child could produce’. When the exercise was repeated twice more, the words ‘MONY’ and ‘GARDEN’ appeared on the slate. When Annie and Gertie stayed with the Cross family elsewhere in Durweston, the poltergeist went with them. Scratching and tapping sounds were heard even when the girls were asleep and plaster fell on their heads. Before many witnesses, the presence again rapped out answers to questions. Then came perhaps the most intriguing event of the whole saga – it tapped out a well-known tune. Fred Cross requested several more ‘comic, School and sacred songs, which were all answered by raps on the head of the bedstead for each single note’. ‘The only tune we asked for which was not rapped out was The British Grenadiers,’ he said.
The sisters were split up soon after and the story has a tragic ending. Annie, who was thought to be the conduit for the poltergeist, went initially to Iwerne Minster and then to London, where she died of tuberculosis. What happened to Gertie is unknown.

Roger Guttridge’s books Paranormal Dorset and Dorset: Curious and Surprising both include chapters on the
Durweston Poltergeist.

Investigating destructive haunting

Book review by Roger Guttridge

Books on ghosts abound but there are very few on poltergeists, a rarer and more specific phenomenon which usually involves furniture and other objects moving around, sometimes with considerable violence.

Poltergeists also tend to be associated with a particular person and rarely last more than a few weeks or months.
Ghosts, on the other hand, occur at a specific location, are often seen by many people and can go on for years or even centuries. In a new book, paranormal investigator John Fraser contends that while ghostly sightings are almost impossible to prove, poltergeist phenomena can be empirically verified. Fraser – former vice-chair of the Ghost Club and a leading member of the Society for Psychical Research – invites his readers to join his quest to discover the truth behind this complex and contentious subject. His journey embraces poltergeist cases ancient and modern, famous and little known, and includes his own investigation of The Cage, a medieval jail at St Osyth, Essex, where 13 witches were imprisoned while awaiting their trial in 1582. Fraser personally interviewed two dozen witnesses, including owner Vanessa Mitchell, who was driven out of her home by the poltergeist activity.

Poltergeist: A New Investigation into Destructive Haunting, by John Fraser (6th Books).

By: Roger Guttridge

Lisa Takes the Honours at Society of Master Saddlers’ National Competition

By
Editorial team
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Master Saddler Lisa Hoskins from Kington Magna won the prestigious Open Bridle class for a Bridle suitable for Cross-Country riding.

“To win at the National Saddlery Competition is always a great achievement, something to be proud of after all the work and effort” said Lisa “I love making bridles, especially ones with ‘bling’ browbands!”

Hard work and high standards

The Award recognises those who uphold the highest standards of leathercraft skills. Lisa has won the Open Bridle Class of the National Saddlery Competition three times, and has also won The Alf Batchelor Award for Best Piece of Bridlework. Recently, she has judged at the competition too.

Not just saddles.

As a Master Saddler and Qualified Saddle Fitter, Lisa’s work varies hugely from making a dog collar to fitting and flocking saddles and putting zips in boots. Lisa enjoys her trade, but confesses that saddle fitting is among her favourites. “It gets me out of the workshop, and I get to meet some lovely people and horses; many clients have become good friends.”

www.bespokesaddlery.co.uk

The Random 19 with writer Louisa Adjoa Parker

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Editorial team
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Louisa Adjoa Parker is a writer and poet of English – Ghanaian heritage who lives in Dorset. Louisa has
been highly commended by the Forward Prize; twice shortlisted by the Bridport Prize; and her grief poem, Kindness, was commended by the National Poetry Competition 2019. Louisa gained wide local attention in the summer of 2020 with her poem Dear White West Country People.

1. What’s your relationship with the Blackmore Vale (the area, not us!)?
I have lived in West Dorset since I was 19 – North Dorset has always been the beautiful neighbour I can pop over and visit!

2. What was the last movie you watched? Would you recommend it?
People Just Do Nothing: Big in Japan! People Just Doing Nothing is one of my favourite TV shows. I love the writing, the characters, the cringe comedy, even their story as actors. It was my first cinema trip for nearly two years, and it was a brilliant film. I’d recommend watching the TV shows first though!

3. What was the best thing before sliced bread?
Books and the printing press, without a doubt!

4. It’s Friday night – you have the house to yourself, and no work is allowed. What are you going to do?
Netflix and some prosecco! If we had a bath, I’d be in it, but we don’t at the moment. Soon, hopefully!

5. What would you like to tell 15yr old you?
Oh. Okay. Well I had a tough childhood and a difficult adolescence. We moved to Paignton to be near my grandparents when parents split – I was 13, and sadly within a few weeks my granddad died. It was a tough time, and I really struggled as a teenager – especially being mixed race in Devon. I saw no-one who wasn’t white. I struggled to make sense of myself, I got into drinking, smoking, all the typical teen things. So I’d say to 15 yr old me: “No matter what people say, you’re not fat. You’re notugly. Things will get better. Life is tough, it’s going to be challenging. But there will be lots of joy too. Hang in there, and just keep going.”

6. What’s your secret superpower?
Resilience. I’ve been through a lot of tough times, but I’ve learned to cope – and also to recognise when I’m not coping so well, and to look after myself.

7. What shop can you not pass without going in?
I do love clothes, I love to take a look at what’s happening with the latest fashions. Oh, actually I really love a good health food shop. If I see one I’m in.

8. Chip Shop Chips or Home- baked Cake?
Oh this is hard. These are hard! I like both. I’m trying to cut carbs (I know, I’m so boring), but I love to bake cakes at home with ground almonds. This is really tricky… okay, I’ll go for cake. No chips. No, cake. Chips. Cake! Then I can put what I want in it.

9. If you were sent to an island for a year and could only bring three things, what would you bring?
(the island has a magical power source and a laptop waiting for you) I’m going to choose a book, a duvet and headphones. But don’t ask which book. Far too hard for me to choose!

10. What in life is frankly a mystery to you?
Why humans do the things we do. I really really struggle to understand it. I think that we have this amazing capacity to do great things, to be so kind and compassionate; and yet so often that just gets lost, and we behave in awful ways. I really don’t understand why. Humans are imperfect, and make mistakes, but how do people turn on others so easily? Why don’t we learn?

11. What’s your most annoying trait?
Hmm. I talk a lot? Some people might find that annoying. Actually, it’s probably that I’m over-sensitive to noise, I’m sure that’s annoying to a lot of people. Especially my husband. Lots of noises irritate me – even someone eating can put me on edge. That’s probably very hard to live with!

12. The best biscuit for dunking?
I’m one of those mildly annoying people that’s given up gluten and refined sugar. I haven’t actually had a proper biscuit for years. But I can still remember how much I loved a chocolate digestive dunked in a mug of tea.

13. Who’s your celebrity crush?
Right now it’s going to be the entire People Just Do Nothing cast!

14. What book did you read last year that stayed with you?
A state of fear by Laura Dodsworth. She challenges the reader to think and interrogate what’s been going on since last March, and offers an alternative narrative which is incredibly well researched and beautifully written.

15. Your top three most- visited, favourite websites? Clothes sites – including Cos and H&M. I’m trying to be more ethical and they seem committed to sustainability.
Netflix! I get involved with the comedies and dramas, I really escape into stories (probably why I became
a writer), I love choice, and I love binge watching!
Spotify – I have loads of playlists and love a wide range of music!

16. Favourite quote? Movie, book or inspirational – we won’t judge.
Oh. My favourite one is sweary, I can’t say that! Hmm. I think it has to be ‘This too will pass’. I know, it’s hippyish. But when I’m struggling, it’s good to be reminded this isn’t going to be here forever. I find it can be reassuring and powerful.

17. What’s the best evening you’ve ever had?
Recently I went to see a band called Laid Blak in Lyme Regis. It was just the most fun – being able to dance, in a room full of people, seeing young people having a good time, a couple of cheeky glasses of wine… Just being with people who are happy. I think all my good evenings have involved all those things; people coming together and having a good time.

18. Favourite crisp flavour?
Salt and Vinegar, without a doubt. (The first spontaneous answer in a year to this contentious question! Well done. Ed)

19. You have the power to pass one law tomorrow, uncontested. What would you do?
I would declare that everyone had to be kind. Just be kind to other humans. It seems to be something we’ve lost, and social media makes it easy to be horrible and not think about the consequences of our actions. So I’d pass the law to make everyone act compassionately and with empathy.

Louisa’s poetry pamphlet, She can still sing, was published by Flipped Eye in June 2021, and she has a coastal memoir forthcoming with Dorset’s Little Toller Books.

By: Laura Hitchcock

Dorset trials ‘sensor-based’ care to keep elderly at home

By
Editorial team
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Independence is important to all of us – but as we reach a certain age or develop a medical problem and the threat of a care home looms, it becomes a jealously guarded treasure.

The ability to stay in your own home is beneficial for all sorts of reasons. Now, there’s a new technology being tested in Dorset and you don’t even need to be able to use the internet to take part. But does it work, asks
Rachel Rowe.

Shutterstock


So who is Lilli?

Dorset Council is working with a technology company called Lilli on a three month trial using assistive technology in homes. Having been completely unnerved by an Alexa device in a friend’s home recently, I’m sceptical – and like most people, wondering where my information is going. Dorset Cabinet Lead Member for Health Cllr Piers Brown explained: “The Lilli technology consists of some very discreet sensors that are placed around a person’s home. They simply detect movement around the house. The data collected from the home is transmitted to a team of occupational therapists working in the social care department at Dorset Council. Using artificial intelligence and cloud technology, the team are able to monitor trends and overall health with that person.” I’m still left wondering whether this is all a bit too intrusive but I’m reassured by Piers. “The sensors are very discreet. You barely know they are there. It’s not like one of the pendants that older people are given to wear- and then of course are not
wearing it when they fall over.” All the data is handled securely by Dorset Council and the project has to undergo a
rigorous assessment to ensure a person’s information is handled in confidence before it can start. The technology does not ‘observe people’, it simply detects movement – or a lack of it. And one of the things that fascinated
me was how it can detect a problem before it happens.

It’s all in the hips

Fractured hips are one of the biggest causes of someone over 50 losing their independence. They result in decreased physical activity, losing the ability to go out and socialise, having to move to residential care – and
research shows one in three adults aged over 50 dies within 12 months of suffering a hip fracture. And that’s before anyone starts talking about the cost to the NHS and hospital bed occupancy. But what if that could be prevented? That’s where technology like Lilli comes in. When the occupational therapy team are monitoring
the data, they can pick up when someone’s balance is deteriorating and do something about it before they fall. A
therapist could introduce a few exercises to help that person, or place an appliance in the home to support them.

Staying out of care homes

The Lilli technology can also detect a urinary tract infection (UTI) before it happens just by monitoring the number of times someone uses the loo. Given a simple UTI in an elderly person causes dementia-like confusion and can lead to them falling at home, there are huge opportunities for the occupational therapy team to intervene and deal with an issue almost before it has happened, preventing admissions to hospitals and most importantly, keeping people healthier and more independent in their homes. Often, someone about to be discharged from hospital just needs a little support to stay independent. Instead of needing a care home bed they can go straight home to the comfort and familiarity with the Lilli monitoring arrangements.

Dorset Council is currently recruiting 100 people for a three month trial

Staff will identify people suitable and participants will have a choice of taking part. You don’t need to be able to
use the internet or even have a computer to have the Lilli technology in your home. Piers is clearly an enthusiast.
“The technology enables us to design reablement (temporary care to help a convalescent get back to normal and stay independent) care around the person. It makes a meaningful difference to someone’s life.” With the ability to improve quality of life by keeping people safe in their own homes and improving health, the new technology makes it an exciting time for reablement in the county.

By: Rachael Rowe

Garden jobs for October 2021

By
Editorial team
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Autumn is officially here! We can look forward to the spectacular display of colours from our deciduous trees and shrubs.


For an organic treatment, Neem Oil works well to suppress powdery mildew, black spot, and other rose diseases. As an added benefit, it also repels Japanese Beetles and keeps them from decimating your roses. For chemical control, the fungicides tebuconazole (Provanto Fungus Fighter Concentrate), tebuconazole with trifloxystrobin (Provanto Fungus Fighter Plus, Toprose Fungus Control & Protect), and triticonazole (Fungus Clear Ultra) are labelled for the control of rose black spot. Image Shutterstock

Here are a few jobs for you this month:

  • In general terms Autumn is the best time for planting trees and shrubs and hedge planting. The winter can be too cold and in autumn the soil is still warm and usually moist.
  • Cut back and divide herbaceous perennials, and protect half-hardy plants with leaf mould or compost if you are leaving them in the garden borders. Hardy fuchsias will definitely benefit from this.
  • Move tender plants (fuchsias, pelargoniums etc), into the greenhouse to overwinter.
  • The usual advice is to dig up dahlia tubers from the borders and overwinter them in dry compost in the shed or greenhouse. But with the milder winters we have nowadays, you may wish to take a chance and just leave the tubers in the ground – especially if they are in a sheltered (warm) location in your garden.

• Clear up your borders, remove annuals, and plant up for spring with wallflowers, pansies and perhaps Bellis Perennis daisies.

A little maintenance

If you have shade paint on your greenhouse glass, now is the time to remove it. When it is dry remove the paint carefully with a dry cloth. This will help let in more light and help grab as much of the sun’s heat in the cooler days

Clean out the greenhouse or shed and prepare for the winter sowing. Clean and disinfect all pots, the staging and shelves plus the inside of the glass with a warm solution of Jeyes fluid to reduce pests and any fungal infection. Also use this time to clean up and maintain all garden tools and equipment.

Now’s the time to treat black spot on your roses.

Black spot is caused by the fungus Diplocarpon rose. The fungus develops in cool/damp/ humid situations, especially early in the year, so now is the time to try and prevent it. At first, roses appear to cope with black spot, but in a year or two they will become susceptible to other diseases. During the warmer months try to keep foliage as dry as possible; only water early in the day so the plant can dry before evening. Keep rose beds and plants clear of fallen rose leaves if black spot is a problem. Do not compost the leaves if they have the fungal black spot on them.
One effective treatment is a fungal spray to control overwintering spores and the rose will need to be sprayed again in the early growing season. There are organic methods which include sulphur, and Neem oil which are available as sprays or dusting powders.

by Pete Harcom –
Head Gardener at Sherton Abbas Gardening

Sponsored by: Thorngrove Garden centre

14yr old Ruby ‘The Pocket Rocket’ Else-White is crowned Two Time National Champion

By
Editorial team
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1

Last weekend Stalbridge teenager Ruby Else-White competed in the England Boxing National Schools Championships, and once again was crowned champion. Twice-national champion Ruby was also selected as Female Boxer of the Tournament by the England Talent coaches.

Earlier this year we reported that 14 year old Ruby Else-White from Stalbridge has earned recognition as one of Europe’s top boxing prospects. As she boarded the flight to Newcastle Ruby admitted that she felt confident for Saturday’s semi- final, with a game plan that she stuck to. But the Sunday final saw her nerves jumping. “I didn’t know my opponent; she’d come from nowhere so I hadn’t had the prep I usually do. I was proper nervous. We knew nothing about her – I just managed to watch her semi-final after my own.

Winning the title

Did she feel like she’d won? Ruby grinned again. “I thought so. I keep a count in my head of the punches they land, and the ones I do. Plus Shaun tells me at the end of each round how I’m doing” I wondered if her coach Shaun Weeks would really tell her mid-fight if she was losing? “Yes he does! It’s ‘fight harder, do more, be smarter, you’re not working hard enough!’ So if he says I’ve got it, I know I’m doing okay. But nothing’s ever guaranteed.”

The Team GB pathway

The England Boxing National Schools Championships has now been running for a century and gives young boxers their first taste of competitive action on the national stage. More than 200 boxers took part this weekend – and though Ruby was thrilled to win her class (female 48kg), it was being selected as ‘Female Boxer of the Tournament’ – from all classes – by the England Talent coaches that really made her grin as we chatted. “it means I’ve been noticed!” Those who won Classes A and B titles are now invited to train with the England Talent coaches later this month. In March next year Ruby plans to make it ‘Three Times National Champion’: “If I make the final of the National Junior Championships, I’ll compete for England in the Tri Nations European Championship. If I win that then I’m put forward to represent GB in the Junior European Championships next summer. Next stop Olympics 2028!”

Shaun cautions that Ruby would need to continue winning National Titles over the next four years in progressive age classes, to be in a very strong position to be selected by the Olympic committee: “there is a lot of hard work, commitment, dedication and sacrifices to be made to get there.”

She’s a girl with a very clear plan; it’s easy to think that the drive and determination might be all-consuming. And yet hearing her complain about the ‘huge bruise’ on her cheek (“I never get hit!”), and seeing her checking her hair in the gym mirrors before posing with her golden gloves, blithely ignoring the older male boxers waiting for her to be done, it’s easy to see she’s actually just a 14 year old girl who loves to box.

By: Laura Hitchcock

The voice of the allotment | October 2021

By
Editorial team
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Due to the lack of any substantial amounts of rain for many weeks (at the time of writing!), all the later plantings and sowings needed frequent watering during September.


The comma butterfly gets its name from the only white marking on its underside, which resembles a comma. When resting with wings closed this butterfly has excellent camouflage, the jagged edges and cryptic colouring of the wings conceal hibernating adults amongst dead leaves. The larvae, flecked with brown and white markings, bear close resemblance to bird droppings.

These included leeks, Winter and Spring cauliflowers, Romanesco, Savoy cabbage and calabrese. Other crops needing water were the Witloof chicory, celeriac and celery. The celeriac was also mulched and fed with liquid seaweed.

All the Autumn salad crops sown during late August and early September were watered every other day and put on good growth.

We finished picking the Swift sweetcorn on the 23rd. From 45 plants of this early extra tender and sweet variety we harvested about 70 well filled cobs. Many of these were eaten with lashings of butter within a few hours of picking, the remainder ending up in the freezer.

Carrots, beetroot, radish and lettuce were harvested as required. The plants from our last sowing of lettuce will be protected by cloches and will be ready in October.

Brassicas and cob nuts

The last Cheesy cauliflower was cut mid month, and next to harvest in October will be Fargo and Di Sicilia violetta with purple curds. Cendis will follow during November and December and then Medallion in February and March. We aim to have cauliflower available for about six months of the year – to achieve this we raise and grow five different varieties.

Early planted Ironman calabrese is providing us with some good heads. Hopefully these plants will produce smaller side shoots over the next few weeks. The cob nut bushes in our hedge have given a heavy crop of large nuts. These bushes were planted about 25 years ago. Our raspberry canes have cropped over a two month period and at the moment the variety Joan J is doing exceptionally well.


Due to its decline, weasel’s snout is classified as “Vulnerable”. The pink flowers resemble a miniature snapdragon and are
followed by a hairy green fruit which is said to resemble a weasel’s snout. Image: Barry Cuff

In other news…

The sunny September days saw many butterflies on the plot attracted by Tithonia, sunflower and Cosmos. We have noted Comma, Peacock, Painted Lady and Small Tortoiseshell. Both Large White and Small White have been very active laying eggs on the Brassica plants. Their eggs and caterpillars are squashed before they can do too much damage. The plants are inspected daily as the caterpillar of the Small White is green and quite often lies along the midrib of the leaf making it difficult to spot.
An interesting plant still flowering on the plot is Weasel’s snout (Misopates orontium), a miniature snapdragon with pink flowers (below). This is a fairly rare annual weed. Over the next few weeks we will be requesting catalogues from seed companies and ordering well rotted horse manure from a local farm.

By: Barry Cuff

Sponsored by: Thorngrove Garden Centre

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