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So long, Thérèse | Farm tales

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Andrew Livingston considers Thérèse Coffey’s exit – an end to a contentious stint, overshadowed by water pollution debates and strained farmer relations

Oh Thérèse, how we … hardly knew you. Yes, after just one year, Thérèse Coffey resigned from her post as Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Her time as head of DEFRA won’t go down as one of the greatest political appointments – but over the past seven years I’m not sure what really can. Nevertheless, I thought it might be an idea to look back on the memories she leaves us with, and look forward to what is to come with the new appointee.
In September 2022, after campaigning for Liz Truss to be Prime Minister, the 52-year-old was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and given the role of Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Weeks later, after the mini-Budget fiasco, she stood down from her position and was entrusted with the leadership of DEFRA by new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
She had a fairly abrasive first NFU conference meeting which didn’t endear her to the farmers in attendance, one of whom was The BV’s own George Hosford, who said in the March edition that she was ’grumpy and rude, not very well briefed, and completely failed to engage with the room.
’It was the poo wot dunnit
In fairness to Thérèse (here comes my Christmas goodwill), since then she worked hard to try and repair her relationship with farmers. In September she scrapped the deadline for the ceasing of culling badgers. In the same month she also announced that there was to be no ban on the herbicide Glyphosate, which some campaigners say is harmful to humans.
Despite the heroic efforts to reverse farmers’ opinions, Thérèse Coffey was always going to struggle to rebuild bridges with the public after poo-gate; her tenure has literally been littered with poo.
When she first took office in October 2022, she took massive criticism after she announced she would not be prioritising water pollution. This was topped off in February this year when she claimed that bathing waters were ‘much cleaner under the Tory government’.
Her proud point was rather diminished in August at the World Triathlon Championship Series in Sunderland, when 57 swimmers came down with sickness and diarrhoea after they swam in waters with high levels of E. coli.
Ultimately, it was her complacent attitude to tackling the water companies responsible for polluting our rivers and seas that did for Thérèse.
There is massive public anger about the quality of our water, but, with Coffey gone, can someone finally come in and make the change?
Well … at best it’s very unlikely, from what I can tell. Steve Barclay (who replaced Thérèse Coffey as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care) is once again set to replace her, this time at DEFRA.
And why do I fear that Barclay will do nothing to finally take down the water companies?
Because his wife, Karen Barclay, is an executive of Anglian Water – a water company currently under investigation for illegally dumping raw sewage.
You couldn’t make it up! 
Sadly, this is not a Christmas pantomime … this is just another example of 21st century politics.

Go ‘Christmas Crackers’ at Sturminster Newton Exchange

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After a series of sold-out shows throughout Dorset this autumn, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is wrapping up the current Artsreach season with a special Christmas concert in Sturminster Newton. This is part of their ‘BSO On Your Doorstep’ project, which brings the magic of live music right into the heart of local communities.
Lucy Warren, head of BSO Participate, says, ‘Our BSO on Your Doorstep concerts give audiences an opportunity to come and experience something new and different from their local orchestra, from the seasoned concert-goer to those who are completely new to classical music.
Programmes include well known music alongside lesser-known works from Bach and Adele, to Jessie Montgommery and William Grant Still. We want to give everyone the chance to experience something new; whether that’s hearing known favourites in a new light through our arrangements, or a new piece of music entirely, all concerts are presented from the stage and give the audience that extra special chance to get to know more about the players and music of their local orchestra.’
Artsreach, Dorset’s very own travelling arts charity, invites you to join them for a special concert of festive favourites and magical winter music as ten musicians from the BSO perform a programme of ‘Christmas Crackers’, with classic carols, Christmas music, wintery tunes and seasonal songs there will be lots of familiar tunes to hum along to! Sink into the spirit of Christmas with a fun concert for all the family, introduced by a BSO presenter.
Join the festive celebration at The Exchange Sturminster Newton on Friday 15th December at 7:30pm. You can find more details and book tickets on 01258 475137 or artsreach.co.uk.

Shillingstone | Then and Now

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The Old Ox Inn has undergone quite a transformation – though the bones of the building remain, all the windows have changed and the brick and flint exterior has been hidden by render. Beyond it, the old thatched cottages are also long gone. It appears to be doing a roaring trade in Nesbitt’s time, with plenty of carts and traps ‘parked’ outside!

The old Post Office is still entirely recognisable in Shillingstone today, though it is now a vintage homewares shop. The old postcard was sent to Pokesdown on 31st August 1907, with the message ‘I have sent you on two rabbits. All is well.’

Wincanton’s long-serving stars shine with 83 years at hospital

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Matron Tania Collin (left) with Marian Britton, and sister Jan Henville (2nd image left) with Michelle Chandler

Two colleagues at Wincanton Hospital are celebrating 83 years collective service at the hospital – both began their careers back in the 1980s!
Marian Britton has worked at the hospital since she qualified as an enrolled nurse in 1980, later converting to a registered nurse.
Michelle Chandler has been ‘part of the furniture’ for 40 years, taking up a variety of roles. She started in the housekeeping team, before becoming a healthcare assistant, and then more recently she became hospital’s ward clerk … with some bank HCA shifts too!
Both Marian and Michelle were presented with flowers by matron Tania Collin and sister Jan Henville to recognise their unwavering commitment and dedication over the years.

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Find Your festive bird locally with NFU’s Turkey Finder

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Embrace a locally-sourced Christmas with the NFU’s push for British turkeys, offering a sustainable and economical choice amidst the cost of living crisis

As Christmas speeds towards us, we’re being encouraged to ‘buy British, buy local, and buy whole’ for the very best value when selecting your festive turkey.
The 17th of November heralded the NFU’s very first Buy My Turkey Day’, a day when turkey farmers across the UK showed off their farm fresh turkeys on social media. It was fun, but it was also a clarion call for consumers to consider the roots of their festive feast, urging them to use the NFU’s online Turkey Finder to purchase directly from the UK’s turkey farmer. By sourcing a turkey from your local producer, you’ll be getting a high-quality bird which has been raised to world-leading standards, at the same time as cutting your own food miles and supporting the rural economy.
Jonathan Smith, the chair of the NFU turkey group, says: ‘Turkey is a fantastic choice for Christmas dinner, providing a delicious and nutritious meal to share with the whole family. By buying a British turkey directly from the farm where it has been produced, you will not only be backing British farming, but also helping a local business.
‘We know that everyone is being affected by the cost of living crisis, which is why we are encouraging shoppers to buy a whole bird as it represents the best value for money. The versatility of turkey meat means that once you’ve enjoyed your Christmas dinner, there are plenty of healthy, tasty dishes you can try with any leftovers to make sure there is no waste and that all the fantastic meat is put to good use.
‘Shoppers can use the NFU Turkey Finder to quickly locate their nearest producer and buy a turkey direct from the farm where it was reared. If you’re buying a turkey from your local butcher, ask them if it’s British and which farm it’s been sourced from.’
We hope that a delicious British turkey will take pride of place on your festive table this Christmas!

A sprinkle of Dorset snow | POSTCARDS FROM A DORSET COLLECTION

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This month Barry Cuff has chosen a couple of seasonal chilly postcards full of the white stuff. One’s a typically abrupt ‘Dad message’ from Evershot, and the other shows the senders house in Iwerne Minster.

This postcard was sent to a Master E Smith at 23 Elvaston Mews, Queen’s Gate, South Kensington in 1909. It feels a rather typical ‘Dad’ message of just four sentences! ‘This is Evershot whilst the snow was about. It was alright for snowballing then. Hope all are well. Love to all. Dad’ (the mews still exist, and the same property last sold in 2015 for £5.2m)

This card of Iwerne Minster was taken in the same snowfall of winter 1908, seemingly taken from this point on the Blandford Road. It was posted in Iwerne Minster, and only sent as far as Rushay House in the hamlet of Bagber, just outside Sturminster Newton. It was sent to a Mrs E Duffett – and if anyone can enlighten us to what the illegible word says, we’d love to know!
‘Dear A, Happy New Year to you all. Thank you ever so much for your present, I am very pleased with it. I’m doing […illegible]. This is our house, where you see the porch, taken with the snow on the ground. Hope you are better. Tell Ernie(?) not to worry about that. With love to all from EHJ’

Alison’s happy for 35 years on shift

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The staff and 66 residents of Maiden Castle House, a not-for-profit care home in Dorchester, are proudly celebrating a significant milestone – Alison, one of the home’s housekeepers, has reached an impressive 35 years of service.
She’s become not only an essential member of the team but also a beloved part of the Maiden Castle House community.
Alison’s journey with Care South began in its early days when it was still part of social services. She has been a key witness to the home’s growth and transformation, including its move from Weymouth to Dorchester in 2007. Remarkably, Alison still works the same shift pattern she began 35 years ago!
Renowned for her infectious smile, Alison brings a daily dose of cheer to everyone at the home. Her cleaning trolley, often accompanied by music, isn’t just a tool for housekeeping; it’s a beacon of positivity on wheels, spreading comfort and happiness to everyone around the home.
Alison said: ‘I am absolutely thrilled to be celebrating 35 years with Care South. It’s been an amazing journey – the support from my colleagues and the wonderful atmosphere at Maiden Castle House have made every day a joy.’
Ash Smith, home manager at Maiden Castle House, said: ‘Alison’s dedication and positive spirit have been a cornerstone of Maiden Castle House for more than three decades. We are proud to have her as part of the team and look forward to many more years of working together.’

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Feeling the season turn | The Voice of the Allotment

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This year’s supermarket Brussels sprouts might be on the small side – but the homegrown ones are doing just fine, says Barry Cuff

Barry Cuff’s Sturminster Newton allotment getting its annual feed with 20 wheelbarrow-loads of compost

A report on Radio 4’s Farming Today programme this month warned that British-grown Brussels sprouts would be smaller this year. This is due to the majority of the plants in the muddy fields leaning at an angle due to the very wet and windy weather experienced over the last few weeks – resulting in the lower larger buttons being splattered with soil – and unusable. This year, growers will have to harvest the smaller sprouts further up the stalk to compensate.
Having a large allotment we’re able to devote a large area to brassicas, including Brussels sprouts.
For us, the brassica plot is looking exceptionally well with some very tall plants, all of which were tied to stakes in the early autumn to avoid wind damage. The whole area is also netted against pigeons! We grow the complete range of brassicas with the exception of kale:
Broccoli – we’ve grown two varieties this year. Rudolph for December to February, and Cardinal ready from March onwards.
Brussels sprouts – we have grown the variety Brendan for a few years now and we picked our first buttons recently. The plants will continue cropping until the end of February, and we’ll have a good supply for Christmas!
Calabrese – we are still cutting small side heads from Ironman, a top-selling variety that has been given the RHS award of garden merit.
Cauliflower – This year we have grown four varieties of cauli:
Cheesy – all cut in September and October.
Snow Prince – we cut the last two heads of these in mid-November.
Cendis – a wonderful variety producing large, pure white heads. These will be ready in December and January.
Medallion – still growing, will be ready to cut from February onwards.
Red cabbage – we grow Red Drumhead which produces tight heads with crisp hearts for stir fries and salads. They have been harvested from mid August and we are down to the last plant.
Romanesco – Natalino plants should be ready to harvest in December.
Savoy cabbage – Vertus is our favourite, and we planted on two different dates. One plant remains of the first sowing and more are coming on from the second. These will be ready in mid December.

Elsewhere on the plot …
During November we added 20 wheelbarrow-loads of homemade compost to one of our plots – the remaining plots will receive farmyard manure. The delivery will be stacked in heaps, ready for spreading as areas become available after cropping throughout the winter.
Our Witloof chicory was lifted on the first of the month, topped and tailed and put in a large container of moist compost in the dark. We hope to cut chicons by the beginning of December.
Carrots, parsnips, leeks, celeriac, celery, radishes and autumn salad leaves are all still being harvested when required
From our stores and freezer we have also been eating our own winter squash, potatoes, onions, peas, sweetcorn and broad beans.
As I write we have only experienced two slight frosts, but I will be keeping a close eye on the forecast over the coming weeks; if frost is predicted then the salad leaves will be protected with fleece.

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Frost, Thelma

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16/03/29 – 4/12/23

Of Bagber

Survived by her four sons Richard, Mike, Paul and James.Say hi to Dad, Nan and Grandad….God speed

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