The Dorset Spring Show returns to Puddletown on 9th and 10th May, opening the county’s open-air event season with a programme that leans into spectacle this year, led by headline motocross stunt rider Jamie Squibb.
Squibb’s freestyle team will roar into the Spring Arena, performing high jumps and mid-air tricks – including leaps of more than 30 metres onto a lorry-mounted landing ramp. If that’s not enough, the Bike Battle BMX team will bring a different kind of precision riding, with fast-paced displays running across the weekend. The show balances that high-adrenaline edge with the more traditional countryside demonstrations you might expect from the team behind the Dorset County Show. Away from the main arena, there’s plenty to keep the crowds busy: new for 2026 is the Circus Skills workshop (anyone can take part) and shows, and watch out for the full-sized dinosaur who will be roaming the site! Also new this year are the fire dancing performances, the music stage, wood carving demonstration, hands-on pottery workshops.
Sheepdog displays return – and, as the team point out, with working collies guiding goats into pens in front of a busy crowd, ‘anything can happen’. The Dorset Spring Show offers a full day out for all ages: the Spring Farm offers a chance to meet sheep, pigs, cattle, goats and alpacas, while shire horses take centre stage in the Heavy Horse Village. Now established as an early fixture in Dorset’s events calendar, the show continues to offer a brilliant family day out. The show takes place at Birch Lane Showground, near Puddletown (DT2 7LN), with free parking available. Children go FREE (aged 15 and under), adult tickets £14 until 2nd May. Full details and tickets can be found at dorsetspringshow.co.uk.
After 21 years at the helm of Arthur Conyers’ Gunshop and Fishing Tackle, Justin Frampton is offering this long-established and much-loved Blandford business for sale, alongside the adjoining Conyers Home & Country, launched in 2019.
After 21 years at the helm of Arthur Conyers’ Gunshop and Fishing Tackle, Justin Frampton is offering this long-established and much-loved Blandford business for sale, alongside the adjoining Conyers Home & Country, launched in 2019.
Offered as a complete going concern – lock, stock and barrel – the sale includes a new lease agreement with the landlord, providing a solid foundation for continuity and future growth.
Arthur Conyers, proudly trading since 1886, is the oldest shop in Blandford Forum and a cornerstone of the town’s country community. Renowned for its knowledgeable service and traditional values, the business supplies shotguns, rifles, angling equipment and country clothing to a loyal and longstanding customer base.
The decision to sell comes as Justin turns his focus to Houghton Springs Trout Farm and his other business interests.
Importantly, the business benefits from an experienced and dedicated team. Bryan, who has been with the company for 21 years, remains a highly valued member of staff, supported by Suzie in Conyers Home & Country. Both are keen to stay on and provide continuity for a new owner.
Offered as a complete going concern – lock, stock and barrel – the sale includes a new lease agreement with the landlord, providing a solid foundation for continuity and future growth.
This is a rare opportunity to acquire a heritage retail business with deep roots in the local community and a strong reputation built over generations.
For further information, please contact Justin at [email protected] or visit the shop to discuss in person.
With the welcome arrival of longer days, thoughts turn to sunshine and trips away. While the idea of a summer holiday is something to look forward to, how does this work if you or those you love will need expert care and support factored into their all-inclusive package holiday? Short-term respite breaks in a residential care home can be a great option for combining a change of scene with the reassurance of expert, tailored care. Traditionally though, respite breaks can only be booked a few days or weeks in advance, to account for any changes to individual care needs in the interim. With bookings only able to be made at the last minute, attempting to plan time away – especially if this is to coincide with pre-booked holidays for family carers – can be challenging and frustrating.
Yes, you can Thankfully, there is an alternative. Somerset Care’s book-ahead respite care solution allows you to pre-book your break months in advance, with just a small deposit to reserve your room and support package at your chosen care home. This means that you are free to choose and book your respite break with confidence: booking in advance to align with family member plans, and making sure everyone has a break to look forward to. As your choice of care home isn’t restricted to last-minute availability, you will also have the maximum range of suitable options available to you, from across Somerset Care’s 22 care homes in Somerset and Devon. Your break is reserved for you at a time of your choosing, with a care assessment carried out to confirm that your chosen care home can provide the support you need. We will reaffirm your requirements nearer to your booked break, to ensure everything is in place for you to stay safe and enjoy your time away. Even if your care needs increase, you can relax in the knowledge that, with expert care teams able to provide everything from light help with washing, dressing and daily tasks, right through to hospital-standard, round-the-clock nursing care, Somerset Care is well-positioned to meet you or your loved ones’ changing needs, and support you with the short-term respite care you need.
A book-ahead respite break enables you to plan ahead and look forward to your time away, safe in the knowledge that your break will include expert care tailored to your needs at the time of your stay. For some people, short-term respite breaks provide a well-deserved break for themselves and their carers: for others, it provides an opportunity to experience care home life before making longer-term decisions. Whenever you choose to stay, and whether you stay for a week or longer, you and your loved ones can now plan ahead with confidence. Somerset Care’s day care and respite services support you to live independently at home, for as long as possible. For information and advice, please visit somersetcare.co.uk/respite, or contact our expert enquiries team on 0800 817 4925.
A West Dorset ceramicist has established a new studio business near Charmouth, combining product sales with workshops as part of a deliberately diversified start-up model.
Amelia Christoffers
Amelia Christoffers launched Clay and Salt Ceramics in May 2025, initially running the venture alongside part-time retail work before moving to full-time within three months. The studio now generates income through a mix of ceramic sales, private tuition and group courses, with teaching built into the core offer to create a more consistent revenue stream and local customer base. Drawing on a background as a freelance florist in London, she produces ceramics designed for ikebana-style arrangements, focusing on minimal, low-waste floral display. ‘You don’t need huge displays,’ she says. ‘A single bloom can have the same impact.’ The studio was supported by a £3,000 Start Up Loan, funding essential equipment including a potter’s wheel, materials and fit-out, allowing the business to launch fully equipped rather than scaling gradually. Workshops attract individuals, families and groups, with the social element proving a key draw. ‘People enjoy learning together,’ she says. Now operating full-time, Clay and Salt Ceramics reflects a growing trend in rural Dorset towards small creative businesses combining making with experience-led services.
Victoria Sturgess has a clutch of comic classics to remind us that misfortune, misunderstanding and absurdity make great entertainment
Let us use the coming of spring (finally) to cheer ourselves up with some much-needed laughter. It’s not well known that Clockwise, the hilarious film starring John Cleese, was initially planned as a book but instead became Michael Frayn’s first film script.
Brian Stimpson is awarded the honour of being the first comprehensive school headmaster to chair the Annual Conference, and his immaculately ordered world swiftly unravels in a series of unfortunate circumstances. They are set in motion by him boarding the wrong train and proceed to delay him en route, resulting in a genuinely hilarious experience … for us, at least. Another ‘ordinary guy’, Gary, in Bob Mortimer’s The Satsuma Complex, finds himself in a not dissimilar ‘not of his own making’ situation which spirals out of control. As you would expect from the unrivalled storyteller of Would I Lie to You and Gone Fishing, the story unfolds wonderfully, with an entertaining cast of quirky characters: from Gary’s older, cranky neighbour and her chilled sheepdog to the gym-obsessed cafe owner Wayne and his dad. The conversations encapsulate Mortimer’s random sense of humour. Perhaps one of the first gentle comic classics is Jerome K Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat. This 1899 tale, describing a two-week boating holiday on the Thames, was originally intended as a guidebook. Jerome’s digressions into humorous anecdotes soon became the main narrative. There are also classic comedy set pieces such as a Plaster of Paris trout and the ‘Irish stew‘ made by mixing leftovers from their hamper – and not forgetting Montmorency the dog, who supplied a water rat. Catch 22 could never, ever be described as a gentle comic classic – though classic it most certainly is, often cited as one of the most significant novels of the 20th century. It is a savage, satirical book by Joseph Heller examining the absurdity of war and military life through the experiences of Yossarian, one of the most memorable and compelling characters in any genre of literature. He and his cohort desperately try to maintain their sanity in a nightmare world. And Catch 22? If one pleads insanity to stop flying missions with a high mortality rate, one is, in fact sane. However, one must be insane to keep flying those exact missions … Read this incredible giant of a book to see how this illogical logic underlies the whole, sorry – but also often incredibly funny – tale. It’s timeless, as current global absurdities prove. Sorry – I did promise to cheer us up. Only one author for that: P.G. Wodehouse. While Jeeves and Wooster are the (rightly) acclaimed leading players, I read the Blanding Castle series of ten books again and again. Empress of Blandings is an enormous Berkshire sow, and the subject of many plots and schemes, generally involving her kidnap for various purposes – all nefarious – one of which results in her suffering a hangover. Pure cheering-up guaranteed.
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The following photographs are a selection from a collection of 47 images preserved and shared by the Dorset History Centre. They offer a rare, detailed glimpse of everyday post-war life in Sydling St Nicholas in 1947. These official photographs were issued by the Central Office of Information in London, and each is annotated, though sadly no photographer is credited. They capture not just the village itself, but the people, routines and small moments that defined it.
The Village shop
Mrs G L Spriggs runs the local village shop, which is still called Sherry’s Stores after her father. Most of Sydling’s 350 people are registered with Mrs Spriggs for their rations. They can purchase almost everything (with the exception of bread) at the shop. Mrs Spriggs does all her own buying, dealing with as many as 60 different firms, and has over £500 capital tied up in stock. Rationing has added to her task enormously, and dealing with coupons, points and personal points takes up a great deal of her time. Knowing what to stock, and just how much of each item she requires, is a business that would take a lifetime to learn. But as Mrs. Spriggs, being born in the business, says ‘it is an art that must grow on you.’
The Village Petrol pump
Mrs Spriggs also owns the local petrol pump. A constant stream of cars and commercial vehicles keeps her running in and out of the shop, creating an additional burden in her very busy day. The tank which holds 600 gallons is beneath the small garden behind Mrs Spriggs’.
The village Produce Association
The village Produce Association, formed to encourage home-growing of produce, has 60 members in Sydling. Each pays 1/3d a year subscription, and for this they get seeds 2/6d in the pound cheaper, and seed potatoes 3s 9d in the pound cheaper. Lime is supplied to members at 2/- instead of 5/- a cwt under a Government subsidy. Annually the Dorset Village Produce Association holds a competition, and here (from left to right) is Mrs Bowditch, Miss Ridout, Mrs Palmer, Mr Hallett, Mr Kellaway, Mrs Bowring, Mrs Hallett, Mr Bowring and Mr Bowditch, packing up the produce for the competition which was held in Weymouth.
The Village Fete is the baby show
One of the most popular afternoon attractions at the Village Fete is the baby show. Here Nurse Nightingale, the District Nurse, is weighing six-month old, fair-haired, blue-eyed Barry Wilkinson, while attractive Mrs Wilkinson, herself a Sydling girl, holds her baby son.
Health visitors tour the villages to give advice to expectant mothers
The relationship of the village with the County Town is constant in all matters of health, roads, public utilities and education. From the County Medical Officer of Health’s department, health visitors tour the villages to give advice to expectant mothers and to mothers of young children. Here Nurse Keohane (pronounced Q-harn) calls on Mrs E M Swain of Up Sydling to see her eight-month-old son Terence is gaining weight satisfactorily. Mrs Swain has a cousin, Mrs Thelma Peterson, living in Winnipeg, and an aunt, Mrs H Teal, who lives in Victoria, BC.
Taking a sample of well water to test for purity
Sydling St Nicholas is dependent for most of its public services on Dorchester, County Town of Dorset. Here, Mr B R Swift, Assistant Sanitary Inspector of the Dorchester Rural District Council, is taking a sample of well water to test for purity. The Dorchester Rural District Council is responsible for 128,000 acres (roughly 20 miles square) of rural areas with a population of 16,000 for housing, water, drainage, inspection of milk producing premises, refuse collection, obstructions of right-of-ways and footpaths.
Drinking water is supplied through pipes running along the village street
Water is Sydling’s greatest domestic problem. There is no water grid-system, and very few of the cottages and farmhouses have their own well. Drinking water is supplied through pipes running along the village street, tapped at intervels from where the inhabitants can draw their supplies, as Mrs Turner and Joyce Grabb are đoing here.
The village school at Sydling St.Nicholas
The village school at Sydling St.Nicholas has 34 children. the headmistress is Mrs I S Bowring, who is also clerk to the Parish Council, Chairman of the Village Produce Association and a member of the WEA Classes. Much of the village life revolves around the headmistress, who is in close contact with the population from early childhood onwards. Here the junior class is in the background, and the senior class in the foreground. The latter will soon be moving on to either the Dorchester County School (for girls), Grammar School (for boys) or the Modern School (mixed).
A stroll through the main street
At dusk the village takes on a sleepy appearance, which belies the hard work that goes on from early morning to late at night. Mrs Davies (sister of the headmistress, Mrs Bowring) with her friend Miss Holland, on holiday from Scarborough, stroll through the main street while little Mary Lovell pauses in her play to watch them as they pass.
Mr Sherry winds the old Elizabethan clock of the parish church of St Nicholas
Every day Mr Sherry mounts the steps of the parish church of St Nicholas tower to wind the old Elizabethan clock. For this he is paid 1 1/2d [a penny ha’penny] The clock was installed in 1593. It has no clock dial, as was the custom of the period, being designed solely to chime the hours.
One simple flaw underlies the many government failures that have afflicted us for decades. Too many spending decisions are based on short-term cost considerations, with too little regard given to long-term benefits. Expenditure is seen as a drain on public finances, rather than an investment that more than pays for itself over time.
Ken Huggins North Dorset Green Party
A particularly serious example has been exposed in the recent report into the impact of the Covid pandemic. It highlighted just how close the NHS came to collapse – and key to avoiding that collapse were the heroic actions of NHS workers. They battled with shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), supplies and beds, as wave after wave of infection struck. Many suffered understandable mental health issues, and some even died as a result of the conditions forced upon them. And yet, four years before the outbreak, a simulation exercise was carried out to test the UK’s preparedness for a pandemic. It highlighted a shortage of PPE for NHS workers, but the then Tory government decided against purchasing more – a short-term cost decision that subsequently caused much unnecessary suffering and loss of life, as well as damaging our economy.
If only … Short-term thinking also lies behind the economic damage being caused by the present Middle East war. Had successive governments not steadily backtracked on environmental policies and delayed our transition to renewable energy, we would not now be so badly affected by rocketing gas and oil prices. In Dorset, the Navitus Bay wind farm that was blocked by Conservative councillors in Bournemouth would now have been powering much of our county. Imagine how much less the Iran war would now be costing us if we had invested in upgrading existing properties, built new ones cheaper to live in with high levels of insulation, PV panels and electric heating, and accelerated the transition to electric vehicles. Perhaps those politicians who are fond of describing climate action as ‘net zero stupid’ will now reflect on the real stupidity – dancing to the tune of fossil fuel interests instead of seizing the benefits of addressing climate change. Ken Huggins North Dorset Green Party
Pubs in Dorset’s countryside do more than provide food and drink—they serve as central gathering spaces for local residents. These rural venues offer comfort, routine, and a unique sense of belonging in scattered villages, continuing to play an irreplaceable role in community life.
On many evenings, you may notice a group sharing laughter and conversation over clinking glasses in the corner of a Dorset pub. Beyond serving pints and meals, these pubs help bridge gaps by welcoming familiar faces and encouraging lively discussions. For locals, mentions of odds on football are as likely to be heard at the bar as tips about nearby walking routes or updates about village happenings. In rural Dorset, pubs weave together recreation, tradition, and the shared identity that forms the backbone of village life.
Inside a rural pub: Scenes beyond the bar
Walk into a Dorset pub and you will see how it brings together multiple generations. Teenagers, retirees, and families often find comfortable spaces, forming groups around dartboards, fireplaces, or quiz sheets. There is a relaxed, familiar environment, influenced by regulars who visit as part of their daily or weekly routines.
Traditional forms of entertainment remain central to the pub experience. Many village pubs host darts or skittles leagues, quiz nights, and organise informal gatherings such as walking groups or knitting circles. These events add structure to local social calendars and ensure that those living alone can keep up regular, friendly contact with their neighbours and friends.
Pubs as community centres and support networks
In rural Dorset, where homes and farms are spaced far apart, the local pub provides an important communal “third place” distinct from home and work. Casual conversations help foster connections among people who might otherwise find it difficult to meet regularly, which helps reduce the sense of rural isolation. Interaction with well-known staff and other patrons builds a genuine sense of belonging, something not easily found online.
On days when major sporting events are televised, the pub becomes a lively hub. Locals gather to share the moments—celebrating or commiserating—which creates a welcoming space for all age groups. Organised match screenings are a sociable, low-cost way for the community to enjoy sport together, and such occasions naturally spark conversations where odds on football comes up alongside match predictions and friendly rivalries.
Everyday help, shared knowledge, and mutual trust
The rural pub functions as an informal noticeboard for the whole area. Flyers for community events, charity gatherings, or lost pets often fill the entrance and windows—reinforcing the role of the pub within the wider support network. Conversations at the bar might lead to offers of lift-sharing, assistance with errands, or useful tips for newcomers to the area.
This flow of local information is especially valuable in places where public transport is limited and word-of-mouth is one of the most reliable ways to keep informed. Regular gatherings help locals notice when someone might need support, and trust is built through seeing familiar faces and sharing routines. This can be particularly valuable for older residents or those without close family nearby.
Facing new pressures and finding a balance for the future
Despite their lasting importance, Dorset’s rural pubs face ongoing challenges. Many must cope with rising costs, changing trade between tourist seasons, and shortages of staff, which requires creative adaptation. Increasingly, pubs are adjusting menus, running special events, or updating their spaces to welcome both young families and long-time regulars.
Maintaining a balance between tradition and modern expectation is not easy. Successful pubs include newcomers while preserving a familiar atmosphere, redesigning interiors to suit both sports evenings and quiet meals. When a rural pub closes, the community loses far more than a business; it loses an important source of connection and identity.
Making the transition into care can be an emotionally-charged experience for all involved, particularly if it means taking a step back from directly caring for a loved one. People often find it hard to no longer have minute-by-minute knowledge of their loved one’s wellbeing, while also needing to learn to trust others to administer medication and provide the care they need.
Digital care planning can be a lifeline – providing round-the-clock access to live information about health, wellbeing and activities. Used alongside regular care planning meetings with residents and family members, digital care platforms are a simple way for family members to access real-time information about their loved one’s care, including their fluid and nutrition intake, and night-time checks, providing much-needed reassurance for family members. Vicki explains what access to her Dad’s real-time care plans means to her: “My Dad, Peter, now resides at Cooksons Court in Yeovil. He has been there since April 2025 and I was fortunate enough to visit him from Australia in November 2025. Dad took a few falls before he went to Cooksons and was living on his own. My brother and I felt it was time to find the ‘right’ care home for him that was also close by to where my brother lives. ‘As I live in Australia, it is sometimes very hard to know what is going on, especially now that Dad is getting more forgetful and confused. The time difference can be challenging for him also, and we often chat in the early hours of the morning. ‘When I arrived at Cooksons Court, it just felt right. The staff and carers welcomed me and gave me the space to be with Dad and join in the daily activities. It was so comforting to see firsthand how the residents were looked after. The manager, Kristie, also made sure that I could access the portal to view Dad’s care plans while I was there.
‘I can now see what Dad gets up to each day; who administers his medication; what activities he joins in; how he interacts with the other residents; what food he is given and how often he is checked on. It is such a relief for me to review this every morning and night. I can also have conversations with Dad about the activities which he sometimes forgets. ‘I cannot recommend this enough for family members like myself who live so far away – even for those that are close by. Having the reassurance of knowing what is happening with Dad and that he is so well looked after and safe, is a great comfort.’ All of Somerset Care’s 22 not-for-profit care homes, including Cooksons Court nursing home in Yeovil, offer digital access to person-centred care plans for eligible family members as standard. To find out more please visit somersetcare.co.uk or call 0800 8174 925.
