The BV – Digital Magazine of the Year!

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3 March 2023

We’re bowled over to be a top story ourselves for a change, thanks to Dorset Biz News – The BV is now officially ‘award-winning’, having won both Digital Magazine of the Year and Local Monthly Publication of the Year!

award-winning BV Magazine from the heart of the Blackmore Vale. — Laura & Courtenay Hitchcock at an event last summer. The husband and wife team own and run the BV Magazine from the heart of the Blackmore Vale.

The BV has been named Digital Magazine of the Year (The Prestige Awards), and Local Monthly Publication of the Year (CorporateLiveWire Awards). Judges were impressed by The BV’s “range of stellar columnists and contributors”, and comments included “each edition is packed with stories that define Dorset culture, encapsulating an authentic slice of the region”.

It feels frankly ridiculous, and a bit astonishing, to say that about our tiny little team. But then, I look at The BV each month, and it also feels frankly ridiculous, and a bit astonishing.

Because, at the sharp end, our team really is just the two of us – we get a 110+ page publication out every month with no designers, no sales team, no marketing staff, no admin assistance … it’s just us!

But of course behind us is a BRILLIANT team of writers we couldn’t manage without. We’re deeply and forever grateful to our journalists Tracie Beardsley, Rachael Rowe and Andrew Livingston, and to the sub-editing powerhouse of Fanny Charles and Gay Pirrie-Weir (I have accepted, however, that we will always disagree on a space before an ellipsis, and whether gifting can be a verb). And naturally to our amazing columnists – all of whom constantly amaze me with their knowledge and expertise.

I say it often, but it bears repeating. We are so lucky to work with the BEST people – not only are all the above incredibly skilled, experienced professionals, they also happen to be some of the nicest, kindest, funniest people I have come to know.

Most of the BV team, out in the wild. From Top left *deep breath*…
Laura & Courtenay Hitchcock, Barry Cuff, Gay Pirrie-Weir and Fanny Charles, Lucy Procter, Heather Brown, Karen Geary, Rupert Hardy, Philip Traves and Craig Wharton, Rob Nolan, Andrew Livingston, Toots Bartlett, Edwina Baines, Jenny Devitt, Wayne Winstone, Roger Guttridge, Tracie Beardsley, James Cossins, Hannah & Sadie Wilkins, Rachael Rowe, Ian Girling, Carl Mintern, Charlotte Northcombe, Jane Adams and Terry Bennett.

Above all, we’re so proud that The BV has swiftly grown to be the trusted modern voice for our often-forgotten corner of the country. We hope every reader leaves having been entertained, informed and uplifted. From farming news to world-class artists, a column from the perspective of a teenager with special needs to deeply fascinating local history tales from a journalist with an encyclopaedic knowledge of North Dorset. From an insider peek into a world-class Thoroughbred stud to the latest local politics and glorious photography … the silver thread running through every page is unstinting support and championing of local people.

Above all, we retain a strong and committed focus to the stories, successes and issues within our community. A passionate sense of place is the very core and foundation of everything we do and it’s baked into every story that we share.

We are excited to continue pushing the boundaries of digital publishing in the coming year.

(Psssst – the March issue of the BV is out today if you’ve not seen it yet!)

March’s BV magazine out now!

By

Laura

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3 March 2023

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March issue out now – have you seen your copy yet? It’s jam-packed with a look at the reality of Dorset’s new affordable housing, what happens to your rubbish, farming in 2023, an exciting peak inside The Red House … and if you like glorious photography or horses I promise you’ll be a happy reader …

Online only – read it here https://bit.ly/BVlatest

In this issue:

The fast-burgeoning rate of new housing developments in Dorset is a hot topic for many local Facebook groups. Rachael Rowe has been looking at who they really serve – and discovered one which is bucking the developer trend for providing genuinely affordable social housing.
Behind every rubbish lorry is a sophisticated team of recycling experts – Rachael had a weirdly fascinating chat with the Queen of the Bins, Cllr Laura Beddow
Rupert Hardy, Chairman of North Dorset CPRE , makes use of his opinon column to share his very frank thoughts on the current planning applications for two huge solar farms in Dorset
West End star Joanna Woodward answers the Random 19 questions – she grew up just over the border in Somerset, and is set to play Clare in The Time Traveller’s Wife – The Musical this autumn.
As event organiser at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show, shepherd Bonnie Cradock is facing a doubly-busy spring (thanks mostly to one over-excited fun-loving ram). Her Dorset Island Discs is joyous.
Edwina Baines had an exclusive tour of the exciting art inside the UK’s best new architect-designed house, The Red House.
Roger Guttridge has personal memories of the fire which destroyed Harding’s newsagent’s shop at Sturminster Newton in 1956. Do you remember it too?
Toby Hoad’s Dorset Horse Logging is featured in this month’s A Country Living – and I’ll be honest, it’s an absolutely glorious feast for your eyes. Don’t miss it.
Plus all the usual – local politics, gardening, wildife, books, the local hike (this month it’s a rather marvellous 8 miles from Pilsdon Pen), the stunning reader’s photography (as always) … Really, why wouldn’t you have a flip through?

By the way, we’re NEVER PRINTED! We love trees…

Mothers help wanted – Dorset DT10

By

Editorial team

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2 March 2023

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Busy family with four kids aged 8-17. Small menagerie of pets – dogs, cats, guinea pigs,
snake, lizard etc
Lively, fun, interesting person needed. Happy to turn their hand to anything. Working as part
of a team on a big estate with two busy working parents.

Needs to have initiative, sense of humour, outside active life. Some knowledge of ponies a bonus. Good cook with confidence to prepare lunches for owners or bigger groups.

Good English and clean driving licence.

Live in or out, separate private accommodation available

Salary depending on experience

Email with cv – [email protected]

Win tickets to this spring’s hottest shows at Lighthouse Poole

By

Laura

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2 March 2023

5

If music is your first love, read on…

We’ve teamed up with our friends at Lighthouse Poole to offer The BV readers the chance to win free tickets to one of five top live music shows.

Up for grabs we have a pair of tickets for each of the following:

Frances Rossi: Tunes and Chat (2 April)

The Status Quo legend takes up his acoustic guitar to showcase a selection of well-known hits and some previously not-performed-live tunes as well as share a few tales from his 50+ years on the road.

The Roy Orbison Story: 85th Anniversary Tour (22 April)

Barry Steele, honours the memory of The Big O who passed away 35 years ago, from his early hits to the music of The Traveling Wilburys. With special guest tribute to Buddy Holly.

Ray Charles: Tommy Blaize and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (26 April)

A 19-piece NYJO band is joined by classy vocalist Tommy Blaize to perform the unforgettable songs of one of the most iconic artists of the 20th century, Ray Charles.

Paul Young: Behind the Lens (3 May)

A major star for four decades, Paul Young celebrates the 40th anniversary of his landmark album No Parlez by releasing a remarkable new record and publishing his extraordinary memoir – both called Behind The Lens.

The Rolling Stones Story (12 May)

With an awesome production, superb musicians and the world’s #1 Mick Jagger lookalike Paul Ashworth, The Rolling Stones Story is a high-energy concert celebrating the music of the world’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll band.

Thanks to Lighthouse Poole, The BV has five sets of tickets give away – a pair to each show!

To be in with a chance to win, all we need you to do is select which show you’d like to win tickets for, using the widget box below. Please do make sure you’re available on the date selected before you enter, as tickets are non-transferrable!

To be in with a chance to win a pair of tickets to your chosen show, just answer the first two questions in the widget box below. There are more chances to win by completing the other entry options if you so wish – they’re entirely up to you! The closing date for this competition is 26th March 2023 and only entries received on or before that date can be included. The prize will go to the first randomly chosen entry for each show. Good luck!

SturAction celebrates with free parking in Stur on the 4th!

By

Editorial team

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1 March 2023

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SturAction – Sturminster Newton Community Benefit Society Ltd. – was set up four years ago this month to help maintain Sturminster’s reputation as a great place to live, work and play. All profits generated by the six retail outlets run by SturAction are used to support the Town.
The charity is celebrating its fourth birthday by paying for a days free parking on 4th March! In the morning the monthly Car and Bike Enthusiasts Meeting will be in town, to provide interest for visitors. The car meet also comes under SturAction’s umbrella, as the organisation covers the events insurance for the town.
SturAction is also celebrating the donation of the former Lloyds Bank Building to the town in perpetuity. The building has been renamed The John Roman’s Building to honour the donor and it will continue to house The Emporium and Art Gallery, with Dapper Chaps on the ground floor, and meeting rooms and an office used by SturBiz on the first floor. The currently-derelict top floor will soon be turned into office space to help embryo businesses with a hot desking facility.

For the Christmas Shopping Weekend, SturAction funded the town’s first ice skating rink

The success of 1855
SturAction runs a collection of pre-loved outlets: ladieswear in the pre-loved Boutique, a Dapper Chaps gentleman’s pre-loved boutique, The Emporium full of bric a brac and useful items, an art gallery and also a used furniture showroom. At the end of 2022, the newest business 1855 launched, allowing local makers and craftspeople to hire customer-facing space to market their products. The profits from all of these businesses are spent on projects to benefit the town – it is hoped that more free parking Saturdays can be paid for through the year.
Cheryl Basten, shop manager for SturAction says, ‘This year we are completing the second phase of refurbishing the 1855 building. It’s a lot sooner than we had originally planned, as we already have a waiting list of local Artisans keen to hire an area.
What an incredible four years! Three former banks back in use plus a boutique, with all profits being reinvested into the town.’
Other projects paid for by the SturAction funds include a defibrillator in the town centre, the town website sturminster-newton.org.uk, organising and underwriting events such as the synthetic ice rink last Christmas, putting up the town Christmas trees, more flowers in the town (in winter as well as summer!) and supporting Bib the Bike, which enables those with mobility issues to enjoy cycle rides in the countryside. It’s a long list of achievements that are only possible thanks to the group of shops.
Chairman of SturAction, Cllr Nick Dobson says. ‘our motto is the Joel Barker quote: “vision without action is merely a dream”. We have a fantastic team of staff and volunteers who routinely turn dreams into reality for the benefit of the town.
We are also fortunate to have had tremendous support from John Romans, who is a local man, born and bred, and wants to assist the town.’

An afternoon’s walk from Pilsdon Pen | 8.1 miles

By

Laura

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1 March 2023

0

A moderately energetic but incredibly peaceful circular West Dorset walk (as it’s West Dorset, you can obviously expect plenty of upping and downing!) through the undulating heart of the least populated part of the county. Starting with the car park at Pilsdon Pen, once you leave the NT hilltop you’ll be lucky to see another person on the whole route!

To follow this route using the Outdooractive App, please find the Pilsdon Pen route here.

The route is well signed and easy to follow, switching as it does between some of the biggest long distance Dorset trails (the Jubilee Trail, the Monarch’s Way, the Liberty Trail and the Wessex Ridgeway). It’s a varied route, mostly across open farmland, but with some small patches of woodland and crossing lots of small streams (all easily bridged or passable, even in February) and there’s a permanent sense of peace and quiet.

Just a few notes:

There is a small free car park for Pilsdon Pen, allowing easy parking to start the route.

The view to Golden Cap and the sea from the base of Pilsdon Pen

We chose not to go over Pilsdon Pen, taking the less-walked route around the base. But if you’ve never been before, do go up and over for the wonderful views – if you come down the back end, there is a gate which allows you direct access to the field where you can pick up the route again.

Behind Pilsdon Pen you come down to the wonderful Specket Cottage. The route crosses the lane, and there is a sign to suggest an alternatoive route to avoid the boggy ground. We risked it, and found the bog was entirely passable (hopping mound to mound) as it was only a 50′ stretch just below the road. However, if your footwear isn’t up to some bog water, or it’s been very wet, turn left along the lane (which is exceptionally quiet) and just pick up the route again at Cole’s Cross.

The final part of the route is a lo-o-ong uphill plod: the incline isn’t steep, but it does rather go on a bit, and if you’re out of practice like we were, it took a bit of puffing and a few rest breaks to make it all the way up!

The rewards on the long climb back up to the car

(If you enjoy this walk and are looking for other local Dorset walk suggestions, you can see all the published Dorset Walks by the BV magazine here)

ALLAN PIRKE

By

Editorial team

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28 February 2023

0

(FORMERLY OF DORCHESTER)

Passed away peacefully at Nazareth House Durban South Africa on the 17th February 2023 aged 98 years

Allan spent the last thirty years with his beloved wife Irene loving life in South Africa until her passing in 2020. He had many fond memories of times shared with old friends in Dorset, and he will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

RONALD BIRD (RONNY)

By

Editorial team

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28 February 2023

0

Passed away after a short illness on the 12th February 2023 aged 86 years

SADLY MISSED BY ALL OF HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

Family funeral has already taken place. But we would like to thank everyone for their kind
messages and cards.

Donations in Ronalds memory if desired to Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Service

Aethereus Presents: Spring Awakening

By

Editorial team

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28 February 2023

0

Aethereus Events invites you for an evening of culture, performance, live entertainment and a few surprises along the way at our Spring Awakening party set in the idyllic rolling chalk downs of South West Wiltshire.

March 25th, 5:00 PM – March 26th, 12:50 AM

The Bake Barn, Chicklade, Wiltshire SP3 5SY, UK

Aethereus Events invites you for an evening of culture, performance, live entertainment and a few surprises along the way at our Spring Awakening party set in the idyllic rolling chalk downs of South West Wiltshire. We have been working hard to secure some truly outstanding performers and have created a filled night of eclectic shows; from live swing singers to Dj’s, Opera to erotic cabaret we have spent winter piecing together an unforgettable and unique event. We have revamped the Aethereus Hell Fire Club with a whole new show curated by Sadiq Ali where guests will be dazzled with a devilish cabaret of burlesque and circus performance.

Those of you who experienced the show last year will know that this is a collection of exhilarating (and perhaps) risqué performances by some of the best performances of burlesque art in the country, and for newcomers prepare to be excited, very excited! There are two tiers of tickets available, see the events tab for details. Please note Premium Tickets have limited availability.

Onsite arking available – alternative transport options are also available please contact asap for more information [email protected].

ABOUT SPRING AWAKENING EVENT

“The owl of Minerva spreads its wings only with the falling of the dusk.” Georg Hegel.

Equally, Aethereus Events are preparing to spread their wings.

Leading us from the dark, cold winter months and soaring forward into Spring, Aethereus presents an evening of live music, culture and surprises.

And so…we are excited to announce our very first ticketed event: Spring Awakening 2023.

Hosting stage performance from some of the UK’s top cabaret acts incorporating burlesque with circus acrobatics, The Hell Fire Club makes its return to Wiltshire following a memorable event in 2021. The show promises to be spectacular and is not for the faint hearted.

The Aethereus Lounge is a stylish retro cocktail bar with live Jazz and Swing performances, as well as world-class cocktails prepared by our professional mixologists.

The Minerva Club will top off an extraordinary evening with live DJ Cat La Chapelle putting on her high-octane, hedonistic club experience until the small hours, with a few surprise performances along the way.

Limited premium tickets are available for our La Casa De La Flores experience, where guests will be treated to live operatic performances from classically trained tenor Vasili Karpiak and female Classical Crossover duet Eden, all whilst enjoying an included 3-course meal (plus wine!)

TICKETS

Their are two types of ticket available to purchase:

GENERAL ADMISSION £60

General admission tickets give you access to all performances at the Hell Fire club; swing, jazz, crooning at the Aethereus Lounge and partying at the stunning indoor Minerva Club. Several bars will be on hand as well as a street food vendor where you can purchase a range of hot food.

PREMIUM ADMISSION £108 (Limited availabilty)

Our premium ticket gives you unfettered access to the entirety of the Spring Awakening experience – as well as enjoying everything open to the general admission ticket you will receive EXCLUSIVE access to La Casa de la Flores where you will wine, dine and be treated to live Opera performances from some of the finest performers in their class. Male and female classical performances will be complemented by a three-course meal from the highly-rated Indulge Catering as well as wines from local suppliers (meal & wine included in price of premium ticket).

Buy tickets here – https://bit.ly/AethEvBVTickets