Sherborne’s Sunday Times bestselling author Sophie Irwin invites you to an evening of love, literature, and questionable conduct as she presents her latest novel, A Lady’s Guide to Scandal, at a launch event on Monday 4th September at Castle Gardens. The evening will feature an exclusive interview, conducted by fellow romance author Lulu Taylor, as Sophie shares the scandal surrounding her fictional character, Eliza the Countess of Somerset. Caught between two men, Eliza’s story is a passionate exploration of love and intrigue in a world filled with opulence and decadence. The daughter of The Gardens Group’s owners, Mike and Louise Burks, Sophie’s passion for period research shines through the pages of this sequel to A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting; it’s another delightful, escapist Regency romance. The event promises more than just a glimpse into the world of Sophie’s characters; it’s an invitation to experience the allure of historical romance, accompanied by free refreshments provided by The Walled Garden Restaurant. Following the interview, attendees will have the opportunity to have their books signed by Sophie. Tickets are priced at only £2 and are available for purchase at Winstone’s Books on Cheap Street and at Castle Gardens in Sherborne. Doors will open at 6:30pm
The ‘Rishi Sunak helicoptering in to announce a carbon-capture project hypocrisy’ is a fine dead cat of a story. Cynically positioned alongside news of his first family holiday abroad in four years, it’s clear that many ordinary holidaymakers in the same position will feel some sympathy for him. But it’s pure distraction. The real story is Sunak’s decision to grant 100 new North Sea oil and gas licences – demonstrating an ongoing investment by the government in irreversible damage to the planet. Firstly, 80 per cent of North Sea oil is exported. If we needed more, there’s clearly enough existing supply; simply redirect it to the domestic market. And as for the gas – this was not, as advertised, a move that will ease household energy bills. Before the war in Ukraine, Russia provided just four per cent of the UK’s gas (most of it comes from Norway). Prices rose due to the war in Ukraine because they’re set by global traders. Will more gas from the North Sea mean cheaper domestic fuel bills? Unlikely. Rishi Sunak can’t force the licensees – many backed by multi-national companies – to sell it at a discounted price in the UK. They trade at the international prices. In the face of this tidal wave of environmental vandalism, the announcement of the new carbon-capture project in St Fergus, Aberdeenshire, is like offering an egg cup to bail out an already-sinking ship. In the same week that the Met Office announced that last year’s 40º-plus UK heatwave will be considered on the cool side within a few decades, and the UN declared July 2023 to be the hottest month in human history, the Tories are clearly not taking climate change seriously enough. In light of this decision – and others like it – the UK’s Net Zero by 2050 target seems increasingly unachievable. Meanwhile the recently reinforced commitment to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 seems more and more likely to buckle under pressure from the loony libertarian wing of the Tory Party that is really running the show. Sunak’s commitment to meet our net zero target in a “pragmatic and proportionate way” but without “unnecessarily adding costs and burdens to families” is also a nonsense. Even his own party chairman has admitted that his current policy will not take a penny off household bills. And neither will a continued commitment to oil and gas do anything to mitigate our reliance on fossil fuel oligarchs and dictators who do not share our democratic values. Pat Osborne North Dorset Labour
Village squire Henry Hastings was one of old Dorset’s greatest country sportsmen – but wild animals were not his only quarry, says Roger Guttridge
Henry Hastings
In one respect at least, country sportsman Henry Hastings was a generous man – but it was not in the hunting, shooting and fishing kind of sport that his ‘generosity’ truly excelled. Judging by the comments of his neighbour, Anthony Ashley-Cooper, first Earl of Shaftesbury, the squire of Woodlands, near Wimborne, merrily shared his DNA far and wide. And it’s pretty certain that many Dorset people carry Henry’s genes to this day – though few of us would know it. According to Lord Shaftesbury, Dorset’s own ‘Hooray Henry’ spent almost all his time hunting, shooting, hawking and fishing … except for the time during which he ‘borrowed his neighbours’ wives and daughters’. He had a particular penchant for younger women, apparently preferring those of the ‘lower classes’ who were below the age of 40. In Shaftesbury’s words, there was no young woman of the status of a yeoman farmer’s wife or lower ‘but it was her own fault if he was not intimately acquainted with her’. One of Henry’s favourite tactics was to butter up the women’s fathers, husbands and brothers, inviting them to his house and serving them ‘beef, pudding and small beer in great plenty’. Given his standing in the community, it was hard for the menfolk to do anything except turn a blind eye.
Buck, badger, otter, hare Henry – born in 1551 – was the second son of George Hastings, fourth Earl of Huntingdon. He became lord of the manor of Woodlands through his marriage to Dorothy Willoughby, the second daughter and co-heiress of one Sir Francis Willoughby, who was the builder of Wollaton Hall, Nottinghamshire. Lord Shaftesbury, the squire of nearby Wimborne St Giles, described him as ‘low, very strong and very active, of a reddish flaxen hair’. He continued: ‘His clothes were always green cloth and never worth, when new, £5. ‘His house was perfectly of the old fashion, in the midst of a large park well-stocked with deer; and near the house rabbits for his kitchen; many fishponds; great store of wood and timber.’ The scope of Henry’s sporting activities was as limitless as his philandering. ‘He kept all manner of sport hounds that ran buck, fox, hare, otter and badger, and hawks long- and short-winged. ‘He had all sorts of nets for fish. He had a walk in the New Forest and the manor of Christchurch supplied him with red deer, sea and river fish.’
Wanted: housekeeper Champion seducer and great country sportsman Henry certainly was – but his housekeeping standards left something to be desired. ‘The great hall was strewed with marrow-bones, full of hawks’ perches, hounds, spaniels and terriers,’ said Shaftesbury. ‘The upper side of the hall hung with fox-skins of this and the last year’s killings; a pole-cat intermixed; guns and keepers’ and hunters’ poles in great abundance.’ More dogs could be found in the parlour, where most of the great chairs were usually occupied by litters of cats, who were not to be disturbed. Some of the cats attended their master at dinner and he kept a ‘little white stick that he might defend such meat that he had no mind to part with to them’. The windows in the large parlour were littered with Hastings’ bows, arrows and other equipment, while the corners of the room were ‘full of the best-chosen hunting or hawking poles’.
The Hunter, by Adriaen Beeldemaker, painted in Henry Hastings’ time 1653. A returning hunter with his dogs and a dead hare tied to his rifle
A century of good times At one end of the parlour was Henry’s oyster table; well used, as he ate Poole oysters twice a day. At the other end was a desk, on which sat the Bible and the Book of Martyrs, and two tables. On the tables were hawks’ hoods, bells and other paraphernalia and two or three old hats with the crowns pushed in to hold 10 or 12 pheasant eggs. Nearby was a drinks closet stocked with wine and beer – although the booze was strictly rationed, as Hastings never permitted excessive drinking by himself or his guests. Lord Shaftesbury added: ‘He was well-natured, but soon angry, calling his servants bastards and cuckoldy knaves, in one of which he often spoke truth, and sometimes in both. ‘He lived to be 100 and never lost his eyesight but always wrote and read without spectacles and got on horseback without help. Until past four score, he rode to the death of a stag as well as any.’ According to the Dictionary of National Biography, Henry just failed to make 100, dying aged 99 in 1650. His long-suffering first wife died in 1638, 12 years before her husband. Six months later, Hastings settled part of his estate on Anne Langton, of Woodlands, the unmarried daughter of William Langton. They subsequently married – but when Henry died, he was buried alongside Dorothy at the old Horton church. Their son, Sir George Hastings, joined them there after his death in 1657. There is no mention of Anne in the epitaph.
Silent reflux is often missed, and could be more common than we think. But lifestyle changes may help, says expert Karen Geary
It may be because my clients tend to be more senior, but I have recently had a flurry of cases of silent reflux in my clinic. Silent reflux has a number of annoying – and seemingly unrelated – symptoms, so I thought I should write more about it. I suspect it is more common than we think. Silent reflux is the backward flow of stomach acid into the throat and larynx. Unlike typical acid reflux, silent reflux lacks the usual painful symptoms of heartburn or regurgitation. There are many factors that can contribute to it, and these factors may also interact with one another, – including obesity, diet, pregnancy, sleeping position, chronic stress, medications or an underlying medical condition. However, one often-overlooked factor is low stomach acid – I’ll return to this one. In healthy individuals, there are four barriers between the gut and the throat and larynx, which together prevent reflux (gastric acid) from escaping upwards. Silent reflux occurs when one of those barriers weakens, meaning that stomach acid may escape the stomach and travel into the upper throat. Persistent coughing, especially worse at night when lying down or after meals, is a common indication of silent reflux. Some may develop difficulty swallowing or experience a recurrent sore throat, hoarseness or chronic throat clearing. Unexplained asthma-like symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath or post-nasal drip may also be linked to silent reflux. You must consult a GP if you have a persistent cough, asthma, or shortness of breath to rule out potentially more serious health issues. Occasionally silent reflux is missed due to the vagueness of symptoms. It is typically only when a client consults someone like me, often for something apparently unrelated, that the dots get joined.
What causes low acid? So where does low stomach acid come in? It – and its related symptoms – is just one possible connection to silent reflux when we consider the digestive process and gut-related symptoms. When we have sufficient levels of stomach acid, it activates digestive enzymes, allowing the breakdown of food. However, in cases of low stomach acid, fewer enzymes are produced, impairing food breakdown. Several factors may contribute to low stomach acid. Ageing is a common cause – stomach acid levels tend to decrease with age. Chronic stress and a fast-paced lifestyle can also hinder acid production, as does a poor diet. Another factor is the use of certain medications like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and antacids, which suppress stomach acid production over time. Infections, such as Helicobacter pylori, can also disrupt acid levels. Over time, low stomach acid may fail to activate the proper closure of the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES), one of those four protective barriers, making it easier for stomach acid to reflux upward and leading to symptoms of irritation.
What can be done? A personalised nutritional approach, together with carefully selected supplements, may support silent reflux, alongside a long-term approach to keeping the gut in optimum condition. Some self-help support includes: Reducing or eliminating caffeine and/or alcohol Eliminating carbonated drinks Losing weight Not eating large meals before bedtime Stopping smoking Reducing the amount of very fatty meals Always consult a professional before taking any supplements.
In Ukraine the people are fighting for their nation – for a future free from the disgusting influence of the criminal clique in Moscow. Thank you, Ukrainians, for showing us that democracy is worth fighting for. Dorset is doing its bit in support – more than 400 Ukrainian families have joined our West Country ranks and are starting to make their own contribution. Meanwhile, we had a great Lib Dem outcome in the Somerton and Frome by-election. What pleased me the most was the evident faith put in the strength and capability of our local candidate, Sarah Dyke. She is a genuine local – of our land and our rural ethos, and will make a difference “up in the Smoke”. More power to her elbow, I say. I spent the day “telling” outside a couple of polling stations, much of the time alongside my Conservative equivalent. It wasn’t long into the morning before we all knew what was happening, just from the various comments of people en passant. My oppo wasn’t surprised or downcast. There was, however, a fatalism about the situation and a wish that the last 18 months in the Tory party hadn’t happened. Our discussions ranged from illegal migration (France’s fault) to climate change (China’s fault). These may be the popular sentiments but, of course, they lay the blame on the effect, not the cause. The real causes lie in complex geo-politics, and in the West’s combination of consumerism and post-industrial mindset. It is sad to hear of the likely rolling back of what Johnson labelled “Green crap” as a result of the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election. It is typical of our short-termist, keep-power-at-any-cost politics that the knee-jerk reaction from the governing party is to appeal to the pound in your pocket today and stick it to the next generation … Tory to a tee! Time to move on from government for the populists, by the populists, egged on by the populist press. On to something a bit more serious. So, first up, how about proportional representation as a means to get the whole country engaged in the process of government? Today’s winner-takes-all system results in the disengagement of about two-thirds of the population, because they are being governed by people they did not vote for. “What about the virtues of Strong Government?” I hear you cry. What virtues? The stonking majority of 2019 has created a monster now controlled by its right wing. No wonder it just goes round in circles! Next stop for us is Mid-Bedfordshire – home to the dreadful Dorries, a powerful minister under Johnson and once with the future of the BBC in her gift. More than time for change: it is time for the grown-ups. Time for Sarah Dyke and her like. Mike Chapman North Dorset LibDems
The tantrum-prone 2023 weather gods were kind, and the sun actually shone on Turnpike Showground.
Image Courtenay Hitchcock BV Magzine August 2023
From early morning the cattle and sheep lines were busy, the showing areas constantly moving as the important work of finding show champions got underway.
The car parks swiftly filled as visitors flooded into the ground – and they certainly weren’t disappointed! The Shetland Pony Racing was a delight, the Jamie Squibb Freestyle Motocross was addictive (and so so high ), the Lightning Bolts Army Parachute display team, the Grand Parade … it was tricky to pull away from the big attractions in the Gritchie Brewing Co Main Ring!
But there was so much else to see and do.
In the Wool Village the first ever G&S Sheep Shearing Compeititon was an absolute hit – brilliantly entertaining, with the huge crowd it drew laughing and ooh-ing (and gasping at the unexpected jumping sheep!) while managing to learn a few things about sheep and wool too.
Up the other end of the showground, the Turnpike Ring had a whole different set of acts; the falconry display and Jonathan Marshall’s Spirit of Freedom show, the terrier racing… Then there was the dog agility and ferret racing. The heavy horses. Live music. A funfair. So. Much. Food. There were aisles and aisles of trade stands to get round (garden furniture, clothing, high street brands and local producers – it was a country high street located in a field!).
SO MUCH to do and see!
It’s a wonderful show; and a lot of that is thanks to the fact that it never forgets that for more than 160 years it has been an agricultural show: with farming strongly at its heart, it’s a brilliant day out for everyone, whether you’re a farmer or not!
A few images from the 2023 Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show:
Does every town need a town centre? Despite changes in retail habits, town centres continue to play an essential role, argues MP Simon Hoare
Simon Hoare MP
Many years ago I attended a lecture given at the Royal Town Planning Institute. While it was not a sell-out affair (I doubt attendance at such an event is on anyone’s Bucket List) the topic was an interesting one: does every town need a town centre? It was not a rhetorical question and the lecturer felt that the question was answerable in the negative. He felt that Internet shopping, coupled with increased access to personal modes of transport, meant that retail and local services could be focussed on one or two towns with quite a large geographical area. I did not, and do not, agree. Every town is different. It has evolved over varying timespans and for various reasons. Notwithstanding this, the needs of a town’s inhabitants appear to be pretty universal. We need somewhere to meet and hold community events. We need food, so food retail is important. A pub or two and a few eateries provide space for socialising and entertainment. We need to be groomed and occasionally pampered. A post office or bank provides essential financial and other services. It is true that our retail habits have changed with the advent of the internet – supermarket home delivery means that increasingly the ‘big shop’ is undertaken online. The internet also plays an increasingly important role for banking, TV licence renewals etc, as it will increasingly do for health, too. So our town centres are necessarily evolving to meet the needs of today.
Old street, new look Doubtless some current commercial properties will be converted, possibly re-converted, to residential use. This is to be welcomed, providing, as it does, sustainable living space and a sense of community and activity in the centres long after the shops have shut. Trying to win the pricing competition is an uphill struggle for small local independent traders, and it is not one they should embark on. Instead, a resolute focus on product knowledge, local supply chain, short food miles and a personal level of service makes the local shopper feel valued and the experience a pleasant one. Some current commercial units are likely to be converted to provide entertainment, leisure or – to use the real estate phrase ‘dwell time’ – facilities. Our town councils have an important role to play too – ensuring the streets are clean, planters attractive and that there’s the odd bench here and there to attract people to their area. We are blessed in North Dorset. The principle towns of Blandford Forum, Sturminster Newton, Shaftesbury, Gillingham and Verwood all have unique character and charm. They also have stand-out town councils and councillors who play a key role. The restrictions of COVID lockdowns (they seem a lifetime ago, don’t they?) forced people to use their towns – and they liked what they saw and found. As more people work from home, the opportunity to shop locally and on one’s doorstep presents itself, thereby maintaining footfall and supporting local business. We all have a role to play. Central government needs to provide flexibility within the planning rules and continued support for Business Rates. Dorset Council needs to be fleet of foot on planning and harnessing the energies of local entrepreneurs, benefactors and others to deliver sustainable change, ensuring the longevity of our centres. But above all, if we are to answer the question my lecturer posed in the affirmative – we need to use them or lose them.
Clayesmore is a wonderful school in which to work, with excellent facilities and a warm, supportive and happy atmosphere.
An enthusiastic, proactive and practical person is required from September 2023 to provide the skills and expertise to support teaching and learning within the vibrant DT department.
This post is full time, term time only, Monday to Friday
The salary for this role will be £19,300 per annum.
Other benefits include a non-contributory pension scheme, Death in Service benefits, a free lunchtime meal and free membership of the Clayesmore Sports Centre.
For further information and an application form please go to
Closing date:8:00am on: Thursday, 31st August 2023
Clayesmore is committed to the safeguarding and promotion of children’s and young people’s welfare and expects all staff and volunteers to share in the commitment.
In a small switch in format, we’re moving from three to two podcasts a month, allowing for a longer and more involved format for the interviews. Let us know what you think! Just click the ‘play’ button below to listen to the first August episode:
As usual we start the month with the letter from the editor, as well as all the BV’s reader’s letters.
The red kite is a popular conservation success story, and Jenny talks to Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Adam Woolcott about his love of the birds of prey, who – despite their rising population numbers – are still at risk from poisoning.
Simon Hoare MP asks whether every town needs a town centre – he thinks it does.
Mike Chapman of the LibDems says it’s time for a change – and time for the grown ups.
Labour’s Pat Osborne condemns the governments recent decision to grant new oil and gas licences.
Ken Huggins of the Greens talks about the good, the bad … and the downright ugly.
And in part two of Jenny’s fascinating conversation with the co-director of Bournemouth University’s Duropolis dig, Paul Cheatham, you can hear about the ‘monsters’ found in the pits – and Paul also discusses the mystery surrounding the complete lack of human remains from the Iron Age settlements.
), the Lightning Bolts Army Parachute display team, the Grand Parade … it was tricky to pull away from the big attractions in the Gritchie Brewing Co Main Ring!
