L-R: Dave McRobbie, Anthony Woodhouse and David Lakins
Hall & Woodhouse (H&W) has invested in Holidaymaker to enhance its guest engagement technology for the hospitality industry. Dorset firm Holidaymaker launched its guest experience app in 2020, aiming to help hospitality brands increase revenue, boost brand loyalty, and encourage repeat business. With H&W’s investment, the company is poised to revolutionise guest interaction in the sector. Anthony Woodhouse, Chairman of Hall & Woodhouse, says: ‘We feel strongly about backing Dorset-based winners and enabling entrepreneurs to unlock their full potential. ‘Holidaymaker was an obvious investment for us due to its work in the hospitality sector. ‘It is an exciting time to be working closely with Holidaymaker, as it looks to grow and push the boundaries of what can be achieved in the sector. ‘We are eager to see what learnings we can apply to our own business through this partnership.’
With H&W’s support, Holidaymaker has evolved from a guest experience app to a comprehensive software platform, allowing parks to market directly to their guests and owners. Anthony Woodhouse also serves on the Holidaymaker board in an advisory role. Holidaymaker CEO David Lakins says: ‘Having Hall & Woodhouse’s backing has provided us with the foundation to take the next steps to grow the business and expand our offering. ‘We are incredibly excited to have Anthony’s great insight, experience and guidance on the board, and his company is the perfect match, sharing innovation, passion and culture.’ ‘Holidaymaker is currently developing a new app for H&W,’ co-founder Dave Mc Robbie added. ‘It will offer personalised communication, providing information on menus, dining offers and local attractions. Guests will also be able to book tables, accommodation, and browse other pubs in H&W’s estate across the south.’ Anthony added: ‘Holidaymaker has a really interesting product with a strong management team. We believe in the team’s vision to provide technology that delivers innovative solutions for the hospitality sector. We feel fortunate to be part of the team’s journey to achieve this ambition.’
The RiversMeet swimming pool is heated by air source heat pumps
In the middle of Gillingham there is a shining light of environmental excellence: the leisure centre known to all as RiversMeet, where investment in green technology has been all-embracing. The pool and changing rooms are heated by air source heat pumps, roof mounted solar panels generate almost all of the building’s electrical energy requirements and all of the lighting is modern and low consumption. The management team has created a culture of sustainability that is wholly admirable. In the past two years, energy consumption has been cut by 50 per cent and carbon emissions by no less than 92 per cent. RiversMeet has just been certified with a category A property energy rating – the whole of North Dorset can be proud of the example being set. What is more remarkable is that RiversMeet is owned by the community, operated on a not-for-profit basis by a team of professionals overseen by a board of volunteer Trustees drawn from the community.
A unique asset The main centre on Hardings Lane, RiversMeet Active, was created on the back of strong community support and District Council funding in a rebuild programme from 2008 to 2010. In 2023, RiversMeet Performance was added as a new high-performance training and fitness centre located on the Brickfields Industrial Estate – perhaps more well known locally as ‘the old Legends nightclub’! This facility was enabled by considerable support from Dextra and lies alongside the centre’s gymnastics and soft play centre. RiversMeet is a unique community asset – there are no other wholly community owned-and-operated facilities of this kind in Dorset, and very few nationally. To succeed in these tough times, a health and leisure centre operating as a charity – with the many constraints that brings – has to be extraordinary and a valuable asset to its community. RiversMeet provides a great deal for its members: High performance training, gymnastic and broad range of fitness facilities A range of health and wellbeing resources A well-managed swimming pool for year-round use Flexible spaces for events and recreational activities A trained, professional team to support and enable a range of activities A place just to meet, enjoy a coffee and relax
The town’s growing RiversMeet’s business model is also based on delivering considerable value back to the community through: Physical education, rehabilitation and stimulation for those whose health demands it Affordable access for all ages and abilities through a flexible, no-contract membership plan Employment and advancement opportunities for young people in the town and volunteering opportunities for those with the time and skills to help take RiversMeet forward As a welcoming space for all manner of community, group and individual interests As a facility offering membership deals, advertising and sponsorship opportunities for local businesses, large and small Gillingham town is set to grow fast through the developments already under way and others in the offing. Demand for amenities like RiversMeet will grow too as we realise more and more just how important exercise and recreation is for our health and wellness. To keep up, RiversMeet needs to do three things – improve the resilience of some of its core systems, to modernise and upgrade its facilities and equipment, and it needs to build capacity both in the extent of its offering and the capability of its people. There are plans in hand for renewal and growth, and they now depend on the successful pursuit of grants, financial support and local fundraising. RiversMeet is the centre of the community of Gillingham. It is a vital asset and a provider of essential services. Frankly, RiversMeet is amazing.
Mike Chapman, Trustee The Gillingham Community and Leisure Trust Ltd
It’s the first time that Atkinson Action Horses will be performing in Dorset
If you’ve ever marvelled at the incredible horses featured in TV favourites like Poldark, Victoria or Peaky Blinders, you’ll be wanting to grab yourself some tickets for Dorset county Show. For the first time ever, the UK’s premier equestrian performance team, Atkinson Action Horses, will be coming to Dorset, thrilling spectators in the main ring on both days. Under the expert leadership of Ben Atkinson, the team promises to deliver an unforgettable display of high-energy, breath-taking and death-defying equestrianism – it’s guaranteed to impress. Ben Atkinson’s journey into the world of equestrian stunts began when his father moved from dairy farming into equestrian and never looking back. Ben rode in his first display as an 11-year-old and has been performing internationally since he was 16. The synergy between the horses and their riders is nothing short of spectacular, promising an unforgettable experience for all at this year’s County Show. James Cox, the Show Organiser, shares his excitement: ‘Atkinson Action Horses are unlike anything you have ever seen when it comes to equine displays. Prepare to be stunned – we certainly have been! This isn’t just the first time Atkinson Action Horses have attended the County Show – it’s the first time they’ve ever appeared in the county. We cannot wait: it’s set to be an absolute show stopper.’
Not all horse play In addition to the Action Horses, the County Show is delighted to welcome the IMPs Motorcycle Display Team to the main ring on both days, plus Tomahawk Throwing and Alpaca Competitions! The exciting acts will be entertaining the crowds along with the more traditional features of a county show – livestock exhibitions, food and drink marquees, showjumping, the Heavy Horse Village, Axemen displays and a vintage Steam Section.
Pawsome news! New this year is the County Show’s first ever ‘Fun Dog Show’. Kindly organised by St Giles Animal Welfare, there will be a class for everybody’s best four-legged friend: loveliest lady, waggiest tail, best biscuit catcher, the most appealing eyes and the best talent. Being an agri show, DCS know just how important the young handlers are, so there’s also a special ‘under 16s’ class to show off their winning handling skills.
7th and 8th September Dorchester, DT2 7SD Car parking is free at the Showground, walk from Dorchester or catch the FREE Shuttle Buses
Community Land Trusts offer hope for Dorset’s housing crisis, creating lasting, affordable homes in protected landscape, says Rupert Hardy
The CLT development at Timber Hill in Lyme Regis in 2017 – almost finished
Housing was a major campaign issue for all political parties at the election, not least for Labour, so Dorset CPRE’s June conference, ‘Dorset’s Affordable Housing Crisis’ was timely. We covered some of the main issues in July’s Rural Matters column, but I would like to take a deeper look at Community Land Trusts (CLTs). They are often put forward as one solution to the seemingly intractable problem of buying an affordable house in Dorset, where annual wages average only £35,000 but average house prices are around £400,000 – one of the highest ratios in the country. Alison Ward is a director of Middlemarch, an organisation offering technical support to community-led housing groups. During the conference she provided an overview of CLTs and their benefits, and showed some local examples.
What is a CLT?
A democratic, non-profit organisation that owns and develops land and its assets for the benefit of the community.
Typically provides affordable homes, a CLT might also become involved in all types of community projects such as civic buildings, pubs, shops, shared workspaces, energy schemes and conservation landscapes.
They are organisations set up by the community, a landowner, developer or council and run by ordinary folk to make a difference to their community, putting control of assets into the hands of local people.
A CLT ensures that homes are permanently and genuinely affordable. They act as long-term stewards of land and assets, ensuring they remain for the benefit of the local community, for every future occupier.
Planning and building process The initial task of any CLT is to establish local need – this is done by conducting a Housing Needs Survey in conjunction with the council. Once a need is established, the task of finding a suitable site follows, often helped by altruistic landowners with Rural Exception Sites*. These are usually small sites – under two acres – which are unsuitable for conventional housing development but located on the edge of existing rural settlements. CLTs can facilitate the provision of affordable homes for local residents, while ensuring the preservation of the character of the community. Normally the CLT will work with a housing association, rather than become a registered social landlord, which also gives easier access to finance. However, establishing and delivering a CLT is a long-term process.
Powerstock and Lyme Regis A good example of a CLT at work in Dorset is in Powerstock, where the first eight affordable houses were completed by Hastoe Housing Association in 2019. Forge Orchard, which was visited by the then Prince of Wales (now King Charles) in May that year, was much praised. The Powerstock and District CLT had selected the site, gained the landowner’s support and commissioned the architect before selecting Hastoe to develop and manage the development. Alison Ward says: ‘It is a real example of how a community group would pick a site that nobody else would pick in a million years … the site had sitting tenants on it and it was overlooked by a National Landscape**’. Lyme Regis CLT is also in the protected National Landscape. Restrictions on available land and building mean that any plots which do become available command high prices, and planning consent is notoriously hard to win. Like many other pretty seaside towns, housing for local people has become increasingly expensive, with young people finding it hard to get accommodation. Lyme Regis CLT was set up to create affordable housing for local people. Having identified a potential site at Timber Hill for 17 homes with affordable rent, the CLT was able to gain agreement with the landowner. A developer wouldn’t have been allowed to build market value homes, but the CLT would be creating affordable housing as a rural exception. The community was engaged right from the start and proved essential to gaining full planning consent. When the planning application went before the council, officers recommended it be turned down. However, a delegation of supporters from the community, the partner housing association Yarlington, the architects Boon Brown, the town council and Wessex CLT Project all spoke in favour. The proven support from the community and partners was persuasive, and the committee unanimously agreed to accept the plans. The first residents moved there in 2018. In North Dorset there are CLTs in Sherborne, Bishop’s Caundle and Bradford Abbas.
Forge Orchard was developed in partnership with Powerstock and District CLT and rural housing specialists Hastoe Housing Association
Inspired by US Civil Rights There are now more than 500 CLTs in England and Wales, and the movement is growing rapidly. Currently, 1,100 houses have been completed and 7,100 more are in the pipeline. The CLT model first emerged in the USA during the Civil Rights Movement, when a number of influential figures including Slater King (cousin of Martin Luther King Jr) wanted to create long-term opportunities for economic and residential independence for African Americans in the rural South. A CLT, where land is held by the community in trust, could do just that. In the early 2000s, this served as an inspiration for a number of academics and housing development professionals in the UK. A national CLT Demonstration Programme supported a number of pilot projects. The last Labour government in 2008 initiated a consultation paper on Community Land Trusts, so there is hope they will go further this time.
Dorset Middlemarch has been involved in CLTs throughout Devon, Somerset and Dorset, with 200 completed homes and 500 in the pipeline. Interestingly, 69 per cent are in protected landscapes or Green Belts, where it is hard to develop conventional housing. Most are Rural Exception Sites, and three quarters are for social rent (usually 50 to 60 per cent of market rent), and the rest are affordable housing (80 per cent of market rate). There are more than ten trusts in Dorset with completed housing projects or ones in the pipeline, and another 15 at earlier stages. However, with only 100 or so completed CLT homes in Dorset there is a long way to go to meet the county’s housing needs. Those interested in supporting or establishing one should visit communitylandtrusts.org.uk *Rural Exception Sites – small sites on the edge of existing rural settlements which may be provided below market value for development if used to build affordable housing for local people. **Previously known as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Dorset author Lorraine Gibson takes a Memphis journey as she explores Elvis Presley’s life through his iconic – and shocking – fashion
Lorraine Gibson in Lansky Bros., Memphis with Hal Lansky and a replica of the pink and black outfit Elvis wore to rehearsals for the Milton Berle TV show, 1956. Image: Steve Gibson
A really comprehensive delve into the sartorial life of The King has taken Dorset writer Lorraine Gibson almost 4,300 miles (as flown by the crow) from home to Memphis, Tennessee, so she could walk in his famed Blue Suede Shoes. Lorraine’s first book, Baden Powell: A Biography, was published in 2022, by which time she had already started on writing Elvis: The King of Fashion, a view of the life of the great rock’n’roller seen through the lens of fashion. And it wasn’t long before she decided she had to go to Memphis, Tennessee, where Elvis lived from the age of 13, and where clothier Bernard Lansky had been selling clothes since 1946. Now based in the historic Peabody Hotel, Lansky Bros has trademarked itself as Clothier to the King. ‘I grew up with Elvis,’ says Lorraine. ‘My parents played his records, I watched his films during school holidays, and his colourful outfits grabbed my attention – who needed Barbie when you had Elvis? I’ve been fascinated by his style ever since.’
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Lorraine already had the framework for the book in mind when spoke to Bernard Lansky’s son Hal on the phone. Bernard had dressed Elvis for more than 30 years, and Hal’s information convinced her she would need to visit Memphis to immerse herself in the world of Elvis. ‘I travelled to the Peabody Hotel, where Elvis attended his prom night, and later signed his life-changing RCE contract. ‘Hal, who advised on actor Austin Butler’s wardrobe for the 2022 movie Elvis, and has written the book’s foreword, answered some important questions. ‘I knew what Elvis wore, but I wanted the colours, details, fabrics. He really did wear pink and black outfits – shocking in conservative 1950s America. Ditto lace and satin blouses, and those blue suede shoes. I even discovered why he wore his belt buckle to the side. ‘At Graceland, the displays were inspiring and moving, especially the dance-worn white shoes and the exquisite beadwork on the Mexican Sundial jumpsuit that Elvis wore for his final concert before he died. ‘At Sun Studio, I held the original recording mic and stood where Elvis did when he cut That’s All Right (mama).’ The welfare-funded flat where he lived as a teenager, the Arcade Restaurant where he had his own booth and the Overton Park Shell, where he played his first live professional gig, were just some of the places Lorraine went. ‘As a child, I never dreamed that the American boy in the cheesy films would inspire such an adventure. I came back to Dorset understanding Elvis even better. Back in the UK, at an exhibition at Arches London Bridge I held some of the Elvis items I’d been writing about, including his famous gold belt. That really did leave me all shook up!’
Inspired by legendary coach Pierre Villepreux, Clayesmore coaches return from France with a fresh approach to rugby – Sam Peters reports
Team Clayesmore from left: Tom Griffiths, Robbie Winearls, Chris Middle, journalist Sam Peters, Richard Dixon and Frank Thomson
On a mission to improve rugby safety and promote a less confrontational playing style, staff from a Dorset school have returned from an inspirational trip to France, led by one of the world’s greatest coaches. Five rugby coaches from Clayesmore School, led by former Bergerac No.8 and current maths teacher Richard Dixon, attended a week-long camp in Lubersac, near Limoges, where they were trained in ‘Le Plaisir du Mouvement’ (LPM – translated as the pleasure of movement), a playing style originated by legendary former Toulouse coach Pierre Villepreux. Having developed LPM in the early 1980s, 81-year-old Villepreux was inducted into World Rugby’s Hall of Fame in 2018 and is widely regarded as one of the most influential coaches of all time. He was present throughout the seven-day camp, leading a one-and-a-half hour session on the first day, and on hand throughout to coach nearly 130 French children. Villepreux’s coaching principles are based on evasion, minimising contact, going forward and relentless support. Richard Dixon was first introduced to LPM in the early 2000s by former Oxford University coach Lyn Evans, and has been a disciple of the Villepreux method ever since. A regular attendee at the camps, he is one of only a handful of English coaches entrusted with coaching LPM. ‘It takes many years to learn this method and having Pierre on hand to help develop the aspiring coaches is inspiring,’ he said. ‘We are trying to teach children there is a different way to play, not based on collisions, set-piece dominance and other awful clichés that have crept into English rugby and turned so many people off. Rugby should be about skills and having fun.’ Since Villepreux first introduced his methods when coaching at Toulouse, the team has gone on to be the most successful club side in rugby’s history, winning 16 French titles and six European Cups in the last 44 years. ‘Every Toulouse team plays this way – it’s non-negotiable,’ says Toulouse academy coach Sam Lacombe, who also attended the camp, along with legendary French flanker Olivier Magne and other top coaches. Clayesmore’s delegation included head of rugby Tom Griffiths, head of PE Chris Middle, head of science Robbie Winearls and Frank Thomson, husband of head teacher Joanna Thomson, who commissioned the trip. Staff from Kingham School in Oxfordshire also attended. ‘You hear a lot of talk on television about rugby being a collision game,’ says Tom Griffiths. ‘But it’s an evasion game. We want to emphasise that to our students and stress the safety element of reducing direct collisions, where concussions are more likely.’ The trip follows a visit from Toulouse’s coaching staff to Clayesmore in January, initiated by Richard Dixon, when New Zealand’s double World Cup winning flanker Jerome Kaino led a coaching session.
I hadn’t spoken to Doug since his daughter had a serious fall at Cartmel racecourse in Cumbria on 20th July. He was his usual brisk, amusing, talkative self … until he wasn’t. The conversation stuttered as I asked after Alice. Lucy and Doug Procter own and run The Glanvilles Stud near Sherborne – and we’re proud to have them as The BV’s equestrian columnists: foaling season is an annual highlight, with its big spreads of foolish-faced whiskery day-old foals. Alice, their 21-year-old daughter, is a familiar face in Dorset’s equestrian community. A successful three day eventer through her teens, she succumbed to the family trade and the lure of the racecourse, initially with a successful point-to-point career, then training her own horse while working as an amateur jockey at Keiran Burke’s yard near Dorchester.
A humdinger of a fall ‘It’s the unthinkable for any parent,’ says Doug. ‘I was watching her in the 4pm Female Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle on the TV, and I saw her fall. I knew immediately it was a humdinger. But the race carried on – I had to wait for them to come past the second time … that was when I saw the screens were up. That was the moment. That was when I was really worried.’ Lucy, a keen trail runner, had taken the day off to run in Devon and was out of touch. Frantically scrolling every contact in his extensive list, from trainers to TV commentators, Doug tried to find someone on the ground at the racecourse who would know what was happening. He’s swift to praise the Cartmel team, especially the Clerk of the Course James Armstrong who did absolutely everything necessary to ensure Alice received the very best care, even working out how to get her belongings, including her phone, to the hospital 50 miles away when she left by air ambulance. Less than 90 minutes later, Doug was racing north, the never-ending panic of that five hour drive every parent’s worst nightmare, made even worse by the horrendous weather conditions as he headed to the major trauma centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, to which Alice had been airlifted. ‘By the time I arrived, she was already in surgery. She didn’t come out til four in the morning, at which point all we knew was that “the surgery was successful”. Which simply meant her injuries had been stabilised … It wasn’t until ten the following morning that we were able to get any kind of real news.’
Alice and Golden Poet won the Cattistock Ladies open at Chilfrome in April 2023 –Alice pictured with trainer Keiran Burke (left) and the race sponsor
Pudding and positivity Alice spent the next ten days in ICU – during the fall she sustained a number of injuries, the most serious being to her spinal cord in the thoracic region – it is affecting the lower half of her body. ‘The care she has received has been phenomenal,’ says Doug. ‘The ICU team was brilliant … amazing … I just don’t have words for them. Even to the point that when she wanted some fresh air, they unhooked the machinery from their stands, plonked it on her bed, and wheeled her outside for half an hour – still connected to all the machines – just so she could enjoy a little sunshine.’ The family finds that concentrating on the small things is helping. A few days after surgery, Doug and Lucy were trying to find tempting simple foods for Alice to eat – yoghurt was OK, and then she tried some rice pudding: ‘She loved it. So that was it – obviously I was straight off to Asda, stockpiling those Ambrosia rice pudding pots!’ says Doug. ‘It’s correct to refer to her as an amateur jockey, but the title somehow diminishes her ability. She’s so much more than that. She’s bloody good. She’s such a good rider. This could literally have happened to anyone. ‘And her attitude has been so positive. She’s bloody amazing. She’s absolutely determined, and keeps saying “I’m walking out of here. Watch me.” ‘And she’s just messaged me after proofing this article to ask “can we sneak in a mention of my sponsor, Honeycombe Shoot Sherborne, do you think?”. She’s still making me laugh. ‘Obviously it’s not all sunshine, and she has her down-in-the-dumps moments and, well, that’s … not easy. ‘But she’s astonishing. And we really, genuinely don’t know so much right now.’ Alice will require another couple of weeks on the major trauma ward and then will need space at a spinal injury unit – her injury will require further careful evaluation to guide future treatment and rehabilitation. Doug and Lucy still have a yard to run, so they are currently tag-teaming each other up and down the M6 as they take turns to spend time with Alice – the hospital has assisted with a relative’s room, so they have somewhere to stay, and it comes with a small kitchen small kitchen – thoughtful, small things which help to make life just a tiny bit less stressful. Meanwhile, Alice’s brother Freddie, also a jockey, has been anxiously following his sister’s condition from 4,000 miles away in the US. Despite his worry, he returned to the track, finishing fourth at Colonial Downs, VA as Doug and Lucy anxiously watched the race on the TV. As we publish this issue, Freddie will be landing at Heathrow, ready to head straight to his sister’s side.
Alice riding CC Captain Kannan at Cornbury – Alice was an accomplished three day eventer and a Horse Trials Support Group scholar
A GoFundMe has been launched to help Alice during her recovery – at the time of writing it had already reached more than £17,500: gofundme.com/f/alice-procter
Although she’s always loved racing, Alice was an accomplished event rider first, and a Horse Trials Support Group scholar. Riding under Rules she has ridden three times on the Flat, recording a second and third, while over Jumps she has partnered seven mounts including a third and a fourth. She is an accomplished point-to-point rider who struck up a fine association with Keiran Burke’s Golden Poet, winning three times on the Urban Poet gelding, including twice on the same day at Larkhill. As well as these victories, she rode her last point-to-point winner at Umberleigh, on Bistouri D’Honore who she trains and owns herself.
From Dorset With Love founders Chrissy and Karl Regler Image: Courtenay Hitchcock
In 2010 Chrissy and Karl Regler had just had their second child. Finances were tight, and Chrissy, on maternity leave from the solicitors office where she worked, took a part time job in a pub. When a supplier let them down, she offered to make the pub’s popular chilli jam. ‘They loved it,’ she says. ‘Then they wanted a real ale chutney. As time went on, I started making on a very small scale for people to buy. Finally, we realised that if I sold X number of jars, I wouldn’t need to work at the solicitors anymore. ‘I mean, it was tough. We don’t have luxury holidays. We don’t have expensive cars. And it has definitely been hard with us being married – you’ve got to have a good strong relationship to be able to deal with that! ‘We’ve had lots of challenges – Brexit increased the import costs. We had no glass available for three months last year because it was coming from Ukraine and Russia. And then Spain had major droughts … My job might sound cutesy and domestic, but it’s actually a hard business in which to keep your head above water. Prices change all the time and you’ve got to constantly look at procurement. You’ve got to have the quality of goods coming in, you can’t just buy any old stuff. ‘People ask “why don’t you use Dorset’s strawberries?” – the answer is that there’s nowhere in Dorset that could produce enough. Plus there’s the sheer cost of that premium UK fruit – people wouldn’t pay it. ‘We pride ourselves on being a family brand, we don’t want to charge £6, £7, £8 a jar. We want people to be able to afford to buy from us and have our products on their breakfast tables. We don’t see the point of things being out of reach or only for a treat. We want our product to be an achievable thing. ‘We are SALSA accredited (Safe and Local Supplier Approval) which is a supermarket standard, it means our food safety is a really high level. We supply The National Trust and the RSPB and they both require a high standard of food hygiene. We were stocked in Co-op but we chose to de-list – supermarkets are not for us. They would take £4,000-worth of stock, and then pay you from what they sell. But you’ve made the investment in all the jars, the ingredients, the production … and you’re just waiting to receive that back. ‘In a small business, you wear many, many hats. You’re in charge of your food safety, your accounts, procurement, marketing, sales and your customer service. You’ve got to be able to streamline as much as possible, or you’d go crazy. We don’t want to be a faceless brand. We want to be out there with fellow small traders, to go to a food festival and recognise our stockists – to stop for a chat. We want to be talking directly with the public, to say, “Oh, you can buy it here, here and here”. Food shows are great. Because people can see that we’re actually normal! We’re ordinary people who sit in on a Friday night and watch rubbish telly!’
Dorsetshire Sauce, the award-winning product that ‘made people take us seriously as foodies’
Dorsetshire sauce The From Dorset With Love range has grown over the years – the chilli jam is still there, but it sits in a broad range of jams, marmalades and chutneys. Last year Chrissy diversified into table sauces: ‘They’ve gone incredibly well. We also have fruit-infused balsamic vinegars, which are for more than just salads. But our main product is Dorsetshire source. It’s a unique taste – Karl spent 18 months creating it.’ ‘We’d started making ketchup and brown sauce,’ says Karl. ‘I wondered why we were buying Worcestershire sauce to add to our products when we could make our own. So I started experimenting.’ ‘But without the anchovies,’says Chrissy. ’Basically because we want to have friends – fermenting fish for 18 months isn’t ideal!’ ‘About ten years ago I ended up with the right recipe,’ says Karl. ‘It uses 21 ingredients, with 15 herbs and spices – and it won a three star Great Taste Award that year. Out of 10,000 products only 152 got three stars.’ ‘From there, Fortnum & Mason picked it up and things started to move,’ says Chrissy. ‘People took us more seriously as foodies. The Hix restaurant chain used it instead of the market leader. The Pig on the Beach uses it, The Salt Pig use it … it’s great for catering to allergies as it’s vegan and it’s gluten free.’ It’s still very much a family business – Chrissy’s brother works in the kitchen (he’s credited with fixing Chrissy’s grainy table sauce issues). Chrissy’s mum has been a staunch supporter from the start, and still helps out where she’s needed: she taught Chrissy to make a good marmalade, and it’s her piccalilli recipe in the jars. Although they’ve turned away from the supermarket route, Chrissy and Karl are still keen to expand the brand, exploring new markets and products, constantly innovating and testing. But there are certain areas of the business that won’t change. ‘There are food shows that we do every year,’ says Chrissy. ‘Strangely, of all of them, our local Sturminster Cheese Festival is absolutely one of the main ones! It’s popular no matter what the weather is doing. It’s a really good community event, and we always carry back empty trays on the Sunday because we’ve sold out – I don’t think we’ve ever had a bad event there. ‘The shows are where we can really tell people that we’re totally handmade. When a customer speaks to somebody there, they’re speaking to the person who makes it, or who’s packed the box or labelled the jar.’ From Dorset With Love products are stocked in lots of delis and farm shops all over the county (there’s also a stockist in Norway and a butchers in Belgium!) Products are available direct from the website, and of course you can stop and say hello to Chrissy and Karl at Sturminster Cheese Festival in September.
Chrissy on the stand at the Sturminster Cheese Festival
Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival
Always a major event in the local foodie calendar, this year the Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival boasts more than 20 cheese makers, alongside a wide variety of other local West Country food and drinks traders and producers. From Cheddar to blue cheese, olives to chutneys and cakes to chocolates, there will be something to tempt every taste bud … and let’s not forget the locally-produced gins, ciders and vodkas on offer! The Cheese Festival will take place on 14th and 15th September from 10am to 5pm at the Recreation Ground, Ricketts Lane, Sturminster Newton. Advanced Tickets £8 (£9 on the gate) bvmag.co.uk/sturcheesetickets
Callum Sutherland talks to the Hammoud family, as they celebrate British citizenship and the home they have found in Dorset
A view of the Hammoud family’s hometown in Syria, taken before the town was besieged All Images: Ammar Hammoud
Do you know which British scientist won the Nobel Peace Prize for discovering the structure of a DNA molecule? Or how many national parks there are in Great Britain? When you apply to become a British citizen, you need to know the answers to these questions and many more. For Ammar and Samar Hammoud, this was the British trivia they studied tirelessly when they took citizenship tests last year. After passing – alongside English writing and speaking exams – they, with their children Malak, Massa and Ahmad, became British citizens at a ceremony in May. The family fled Syria in 2013 during the country’s civil war. ‘We had to get out of our hometown,’ Ammar says. ‘It was besieged, we had no choice … A lot of our friends died. We suffered a lot and we had an open road only to Lebanon. ‘Our trip was terrifying and exhausting – we were bombed on the road. It was winter and we couldn’t take any [of] our clothes with us, there was no time. We were on a bus and the bombing hit the bus, a lot with us on the road died because of that barbaric attack.’ Four years later, the family came to Dorset as refugees with help from the United Nations resettlement programme. Samar says: ‘The UN said we could go to the US, France or Britain. I don’t know why I chose here, I just had a feeling inside that I feel very comfortable coming here.’ The family was originally told they would be moving to Devon, but were directed to Shaftesbury once they arrived. ‘At the citizenship ceremony, I was so proud to have my family with me,’ says Ammar. ‘It was a very special day. After, we went to eat fish and chips! That day will forever stay in my mind.’ This cherished achievement is something that the Hammoud family has been working hard for since arriving in Shaftesbury in 2017. Ammar describes how difficult the journey to citizenship has been. ‘Before, it was like I was going up, up, up the hill. Now I can sit down and take some rest. It was hard, everything was hard. It’s been difficult – when I came here I didn’t know anyone, I was anxious and worried all the time.’
From left: Anthony Woodhouse, High Sheriff of Dorset, with Malak, Ahmad, Ammar, Samar and Massa, as they receive their British citizenship certificates.
Shaftesbury Refugee Group In the face of these difficulties, a local charity has been on hand to help since the Hammouds first arrived. The Shaftesbury Refugee Group was set up in 2017 by local residents unhappy with the treatment of Syrian refugees and the lack of local support for them. They have since been supporting Syrians and, more recently, Ukrainians in the area, with whatever they need. The group has been crucial to the arriving families – including, of course, the Hammouds. ‘When I first came to the UK I couldn’t open my suitcase for a month because I wanted to leave,’ says Samar. ‘It wasn’t England. It was just that I wasn’t home. But the volunteers came and sat with us, spoke with us, made us less frightened. That meant that one day I could open my bag. The Shaftesbury Refugee Group was like a bridge that made it possible for us to live here. They provided all the support. Even when I was in hospital to give birth, it was like having my mother with me. It feels like they are our family, not volunteers.’ ‘I have this family, the refugee group,’ Ammar adds. ’Now I feel safe. If I have any problem, I know what to do.’ Volunteers and trustees with the charity have continuously supported the family – anything from help studying for the citizenship exams to booking an appointment with a GP. The charity’s information officer Stuart Twiss has supported the family with legal matters, accountancy and simply as a friend to hear their problems. Samar says: ‘Every year he helps us with accounting, because we don’t know the law, everything has been new.’
During hot summers in Syria, Ammar says local families would enjoy picnics in the shallow river to help cool off
And it was vice chair Roz Hanby who initially encouraged the couple to share their Syrian cooking with Shaftesbury. Now, the family runs Hammoud’s Kitchen, a catering service for the local area. Samar says: ‘I didn’t think people would like to taste the food I make but she said we should just try.’ Their business has flourished, selling at the weekly Shaftesbury market and regularly catering for local events. Most recently, Hammoud’s Kitchen featured at the Motcombe Music Festival, selling out rather quickly! Ammar says: ‘I really like to share my food and my culture, it has made me friends here. People like the baba ganoush, falafel, shawarma and my broad bean salad.’
Ammar’s family farm in Syria produced a variety of fruits and vegetables, such as these apricots, plums, pears, apples and oranges.
A future in Shaftesbury Over the last seven years, the Hammouds have found that, despite leaving everything they knew and owned behind, Shaftesbury has now become home for them. ‘Shaftesbury people are amazing, very helpful and always smiling,’ Ammar says. ‘I haven’t felt like a refugee here. If anyone asks “where are you from?” I always say Shaftesbury.’ While Shaftesbury has become a perfect place for the Hammoud family to settle, leaving Syria has still been extremely difficult. After 13 years of civil war, their hometown is almost unrecognisable. While talking about home, Ammar goes through photos on his phone of fruit that used to grow on his family’s farm. Looking through pictures of cherry trees, glowing white raspberries and brilliant yellow pears, he marvels at how juicy and sweet these fruits were. The produce found at Dorset’s supermarkets simply cannot compare, apparently!
The grapes harvest on Ammar’s family farm in Syria, before the war
For Ammar, though, his family’s future is firmly in Dorset – he believes he will never return to live in Syria: ‘If I can go back, I will, but just to sell my land, then come back and buy a house in Shaftesbury. ‘My life in Syria is gone. My friends, father and mother are dead. I don’t have anything there. They killed me when they bombed my house, killed my friends. Even if I am here, my heart is dead. I cannot go back to Syria.’ The painful reality of life back in Syria, compared with the warmth that has greeted them in Dorset, means that Ammar and Samar only see Shaftesbury as their future home. ‘It’s been difficult for the children,’ says Samar. ‘A new language, new friends, new culture. For months when Massa heard a plane, she would hide under the table. Now we just try to support our children and their future.’
Ammar and Samar are regulars at the weekly Shaftesbury market, where Samar’s baba ganoush and shawarma are very popular
North Dorset is now where their children have spent majority of their childhood. All three enjoy Taekwondo, and five-year-old Ahmad says he wants to learn French. Malak, who is just starting her GCSEs, recently received the highest possible award at school for her attitude and grades. Looking forward, aspirations are high. Malak wants to be either a lawyer or doctor, Ahmad aims to be a policeman and Massa likes the idea of being a teacher. Their parents say that if the children go to university, they would like to move as a family. ‘But when they finish we would come back to Shaftesbury,’ Ammar says. ‘If I leave for maybe a week, I miss it here!’ ‘The children feel very confident now, thanks to the support they get,’ says Samar. ‘We are very proud, especially for them – they have good education and a bright future.’
