St Andrew’s Primary School, Fontmell Magna, returned triumphant after competing in the Dorset Athletics tournament at Gillingham School. On Tuesday 17th January, St Andrew’s Primary pupils participated in a physically demanding competition that required them to compete in numerous athletic events that tested their agility, strength and fitness as well as their perseverance and courage. The tenacious young people endeavoured to succeed in events including relays, speed bounce, triple jump, long jump, vertical jump, obstacle course, chest push and javelin; and were delighted to emerge victorious! Headteacher Debbie Brown said ‘Watching our young people thrive in this competitive environment was an absolute pleasure and highlighted so many talented individuals – many of whom lacked confidence and doubted their own capabilities. Yet they prevailed!’ Winning the Dorset Athletics tournament propels the children of St Andrew’s into the County Athletics final, hosted at Purbeck School later this year. They cannot wait to shine once again!
Fairmead School transforms the lives of young people aged between 4 and 19 years with additional learning needs (MLD and ASD).
We are seeking to appoint enthusiastic and dynamic Classroom Teachers who have the flexibility to teach a range of curriculum subjects across the school. Successful candidates will be self-motivated, creative, fun and inspirational teachers who have a desire to build meaningful and positive relationships with all the young people they encounter. They will need to approach curriculum subjects in a purposeful, age appropriate and exciting way, engaging young people through first hand experiences. They will have high aspirations for our students and will be committed to, and passionate about, preparing them for successful, independent and happy futures in adulthood.
The successful candidates will join our committed, passionate and dedicated staff team and play an integral role in building an exhilarating future for our school community.
We welcome applications from teachers with all levels of experience and from a range of education backgrounds in both mainstream and special sectors.
Successful candidates will benefit from:
Joining a strong and committed staff team with a bright future.
Excellent CPD opportunities.
Outstanding opportunities for pedagogical development, working with specialist practitioners and experienced leaders.
The opportunity to make life-defining differences for an amazing group of young people.
If you are interested and would like to know more about working in a special needs school, please contact Mrs Berryman on 01935 421295.
Closing Date: Thursday 16th March 2023 Interview Date: Thursday 23rd March 2023
NB: Fairmead School is committed to safeguarding the school community. All job applications must contain the disclosure of any spent convictions and cautions. The school will carry out pre-employment vetting procedures, which include the successful outcome of an enhanced DBS.
In this month’s Looking Back column, Roger Guttridge describes a disastrous – and yet miraculous – day in North Dorset’s memory
Flood damage in Wyke Bridge Street, Gillingham, proves a popular attraction for the townsfolk. Picture from the Barry Cuff Collection, published in Lost Dorset: The Towns, by David Burnett
To those who’ve suffered water damage recently it will be no consolation, but Dorset has rarely seen flooding like that which hit the county’s northernmost reaches 106 years ago. The event was both a disaster and a miracle – the latter because there was no loss of human life, although there were numerous narrow escapes. It all began at 6pm on 28th June, when the mother of all thunderstorms deposited 10 inches of water on Bruton in Somerset, and 5.75 inches on Bourton here in Dorset. The rainfall proved too much for the dam at Gasper Bridge, which held back 18 acres of water to form Stourhead’s lower lake. During the night of June 28-29th, the lake suddenly burst through, destroying both bridge and dam and releasing millions of gallons into the valley. Witnesses likened the roar of rushing water to ‘continuous thunder’. The force of the water gouged a 30-feet-deep chasm from the roads on either side, uprooted trees and washed out the foundations of Gasper Mill. As it entered Dorset, the flood first encountered Hindley’s Bourton Foundry, a former mill which traditionally manufactured heavy machinery. Since the outbreak of the First World War it had produced three million hand grenades known as Mills bombs. The Western Gazette reported that a ‘great wave’ swept through the workshops, causing ‘damage of a most extraordinary character’. Sheds and outbuildings were ‘swallowed up’ by the torrent, walls demolished, heavy machinery, a steam lorry and a 15cwt safe overturned, a large boiler swept from one workshop to another and 200 to 300 tons of coal washed away. A large cart was carried several hundred yards downstream along with fences, posts and other objects. The main part of a flatbed lorry was later found half a mile away. The water and mud were up to 10ft deep in parts of the foundry and the caretaker – the only person on site at the time – only escaped by climbing on to a roof.
The road to Bourton bridge on the day after the flood. Picture from Maggs and Hindley, by Robert Mullins
When pigs swim The bridge that carried the London to Exeter road over the river collapsed, but in doing so probably saved the life of one Bourton resident, a Mr Tufts. His cottage was flooded up to its ceiling but would almost certainly have been demolished had not the main force of water been released by the bridge collapse. Many other houses flooded to depths of three or four feet, including the police station. The impact on the community was ably described by Bourton Parish Council chairman B. Pope Bartlett in an appeal for money to help residents. He wrote: ‘In many cases their homes have been flooded out, their furniture, clothes and food washed away or destroyed, and their gardens and allotments, on which they had spent so much time, wrecked beyond repair.’ As it headed for the village of Milton, the floodwater continued to wash away ricks and freshly cut hay, poultry from their pens and even pigs from their sties, though some pigs swam to fight another day.
Locals survey damaged Bourton bridge from a temporary structure. Picture from Maggs and Hindley, by Robert Mullins
Evacuation At Gillingham, a supplementary drama unfolded at Plank House, which the Red Cross had taken over as a hospital for wounded soldiers from the front. Miss Brock, the night nurse, first noticed the rising water at 1.40am. It was only ankle-deep at that point but by the time Dr Farnfield arrived it was chest-high. As Miss Brock and Sister Jones continued to evacuate the downstairs wards, the doctor and two relatively-able patients raced to rescue others from shelters and summer houses. ‘Half-swimming, half-walking, one by one these three men rescued the helpless patients from the open-air shelters,’ reported the Western Gazette. ‘Only just in time were all rescued, for by 3am the flood had risen to a depth of 4ft 6ins in the house and 6ft outside.’ The water also washed away an oak tree and 16yds of stone wall. It flooded numerous houses, shops and other Gillingham businesses to depths of up to five feet. Grocer Mr Hayden and butcher Mr Toogood were among those hardest hit, along with Wilts United Dairies whose engine room was flooded and churns and equipment washed out of the yard. At Town Mills, the water reached one of the highest levels ever recorded. In the immediate aftermath, Gillingham Grammar School head Alfred Mumford loaded a 25lb joint of beef and all the trimmings on to a farm wagon and delivered it to Plank House to feed patients and staff. Repairs to many of the bridges and buildings took months but production of Mills bombs at Bourton Foundry resumed with lightning speed due to their importance to the war effort.
• In 2017, the Bourton Players performed a play that followed the fortunes of five women Mills bombs makers at the foundry.
Sherborne Primary pupils and staff are celebrating an outstanding year of reading by pupils throughout the school. Competing with schools from around the world, they have been declared winners of the Renaissance Award for Success and Achievement.
The award recognises educators across the globe for their dedication to teaching, and celebrates whole school achievements. The Renaissance software, called Accelerated Reader, helps track a pupil’s reading age and ability throughout their time at school. Children can keep track of how many books, and even words, they have read each year. Felicity Griffiths, deputy headteacher at Sherborne Primary says: ‘Our children love reading – we’re lucky to have a vast selection of books in our library, and they know they can read what they love and what interests them. We centre our English curriculum around sharing amazing reads and promoting a love of literature, and I think it’s because of this that we achieve amazing results. Over 95 per cent of children in Years 2 to 4 are meeting or exceeding their expected reading age, which is truly fantastic! Last year, children in our school read 9,922 books, totalling nearly 64 million words! Pupils can earn awards for the number of books they read, and earn ‘millionaire’ badges when they exceed that many words.’.
Could you buy a book? Sherborne Primary has also teamed up with local bookshop, Winstone’s in Sherborne, to further enrich their library. With such keen readers it is important to have a supply of new books to keep them interested, so the school have created a ‘Buy a book for the school’ wishlist, where families or members of the local community can donate a book to the school via the shop. If you are interested in donating a book, see the wishlist here
At the start of the year, each horse has a plan laid out for the coming season and the building work begins, says eventer Toots Bartlett
Toots and Freestyle R, both wearing ALL the layers to work in the frozen weather
I think I can speak quite confidently for the entire Eventing community that January isn’t anyone’s favourite month! It’s a month that likes to test our determination and motivation when it comes to working outside. I have definitely broken my record for the number of layers worn at one time over the last couple of weeks! With temperatures going down to around -7º and generally not reaching 1º throughout the day, we have had to develop and adapt our riding plan to avoid the icy roads and frozen arenas. I have been incredibly lucky and blessed to be able to base myself at William Fox-Pitt’s yard for the last year. To have access to an indoor school and an all-weather gallop means we have been much more fortunate than others and have been able to keep our horses safely in work. With the yard being purpose-built with rubber matting everywhere in the purpose-built yard means we have been able to carry on safely and get every horse out of the stables.
Toots knows she is ‘lucky and blessed’ to have access to the purpose-built all weather facilities at the Fox-Pitt yard
A new plan With the 2023 season creeping up slowly, all my horses have had their winter holidays; they are rested and recovered and are now all back in work. At this time of year we are mainly working on correct muscle building, increasing strength through their core and back, and fine-tuning any small details which were off last season. We are yet to get them out competing or round a course of jumps, but are focusing hard on polework to improve their strength and flexibility. The first draft of the 2023 season plan has been drawn up, and we can start looking at the details. I tend to work backwards from our spring event goals to make sure we are focused and ready to achieve our hopes and dreams for the coming season. It’s not one general team plan: each horse has its own individual season plan tailored to suit its own strengths and preferences, targeting different events and classes for each. I have been forcing myself back into the gym as well, to ensure I am just as fit and strong for the upcoming season as my horses –it will help to increase the chances of success. It’s a very exciting season ahead. We have lost some local events, due to rule changes, but we have gained exciting classes at top venues, including the recent news of the addition of the Chard BE to the South West fixture list.
Among the 35 awards from the local family brewery were 18 Dorset charities and community groups who will receive vital funds
Hall & Woodhouse has announced the successful recipients of its annual Community Chest grants – 18 of which are Dorset organisations. In total, the company has awarded more than £50,000 to worthy causes. Each year, Hall & Woodhouse (H&W) invite applications from charities and community groups across the south of England, largely from Dorset to Devon. This year, a wide variety of charities were awarded funding, and over £25,000 was awarded to the 18 charitable organisations in Dorset, with a further four charities in Wiltshire, Hampshire, and Devon being recognised at the awards ceremony held at The Brewery Tap in Blandford. Mark Woodhouse, Family Director of H&W, said: ‘Our Community Chest was founded over 20 years ago to support and strengthen the local communities which make Hall & Woodhouse such a vibrant company. This year, we have found the need to provide people with food, warmth, and shelter to be extremely high. ‘With costs rising during a financially difficult time for many, being able to offer necessary support for those in desperate need is more important now than ever before. We are proud to make it our duty to help where we can with this critical fund.’ The Vale Pantry, which provides food aid and support to struggling families in North Dorset, was awarded £3,000. The grant will be used to purchase fresh food to ensure the charity is able to continue making food packages to meet the increased demand for this service. Since 2002, the Hall & Woodhouse Community Chest has donated over £760,000 to more than 850 causes across the south of England. The fund works in close partnership with both the Dorset and Sussex Community Foundations.
It’s February, so obviously Caz Richards of Dorset Food & Drink is thinking love, romance … and pancakes.
Pancakes with raspberries and blueberries and chocolate sauce (shutterstock)
Planning to impress your beloved with gourmet food at home this Valentine’s Day? This month we’re going green for our take on a three-course menu idea from the Watercress Company – bursting with flavour, simple, and delicious. Perfect for Valentine’s Day or just for treating your beloved or bestie to something a little bit special. Start with a classic watercress soup, served with homemade bread you learned to make for Real Bread Week! Follow with Pesto Linguine, and if you still have room for dessert, then a Pavlova Roulade with seasonal fruit, and perhaps a chocolate or two. Our top picks are Chococo’s Valentine assorted caramels and delectable Dark Chocolate Love Bar. If your Valentine is into shoes, then this funky chocolate Leopard Print Milk Chocolate Stiletto from Chocolate Arthouse is sure to please! New on the Dorset chocolate scene are Poco Chocolate. We’ve been working with them at a few of the Dorset Farmers Markets, and their handmade small batch chocolates always go down a storm.
Going out – drinking in Remember that supporting your local pub, café or restaurant is a super cool way to eat locally-sourced food and drink. We love this Valentine’s menu from Weymouth 51, starring four courses of Dorset loveliness. Booking is essential; places at these fabulous feast night pop ups sell out fast! Perhaps treat your Valentine to a glass of classically elegant locally-made wine. Romance in a glass! Whether you’re having a bottle with dinner, or pouring a glass after a date night, a delicious wine is the perfect way to get into the romantic mood. Because Dorset has such a warm climate and good quality soil, it’s an ideal place for growing grapes. Check out our great selection of Dorset wines here. If you prefer something without alcohol, then how about Kombucha? It’s a fermented organic green tea, lightly effervescent, delicious, and available with a range of delectable flavours. Whatever your tipple of choice, have a fabulous Valentine’s Day!
Using up your ingredients If you still have a jar of mincemeat lurking in your cupboard from the festive season, then this Jalousie from Liz Crow aka Lizzie Baking Bird will be just the job!
Flippin’ good fun Shrove Tuesday (Pancake day!) is Tuesday 21st February. Savoury or sweet. Traditional, or something with a nod to those fluffy American pancakes? The choice is yours, but we like this smorgasbord of toppings to give them a Dorset twist. The sweet stuff – Passion Fruit Curd From Dorset With Love. Dorset Sea Salted Caramel Sauce from A JarOf and Lemon Curd from Neil’s award-winning Chutneys & Preserves. Buy online or check the websites for stockists. Spring is just around the corner, so hold that thought. But until next time, keep spreading the Dorset Food & Drink ‘lurve’!
Foaling season has begun, but between the all night camera duty shifts Lucy and Doug have managed to go and see some of ‘their’ foals on the track
Solitairy Girl and her Jack Hobbs filly, foaled 22nd January, 18 days before her due date.
Confident that the mare we had been watching on the foaling cameras all night was quietly finishing up her breakfast and knowing that the girls would be arriving shortly to start work for the day, at 7.30am I relaxed my vigil and went to tack up the first horse I had planned to ride. Not long after, I heard a shout of ‘Sway’s foaled!’ and sure enough, in that short time from having shown no outward signs that foaling was imminent, Glanvilles Guest had got on with it on her own, and there in the straw was a lovely, big, chestnut colt. This season’s first foal had arrived the week before, but with the more usual fanfare warning signs that a mare is in labour. At 11.00pm we watched on camera as Solitairy Girl started pacing the box, lying down and then getting up again. At 11.30pm she was starting to get sweaty, at 11.45pm we could see the bag appear and by 11.58 there was a filly foal, lying in the straw being busily licked by her dam. Again, a nice easy foaling with very little help required. This was the seventh foal out of the mare. Her first foal is a 6yo, 128 rated gelding called Soul Icon, who is in training with Kieran Burke and who has won an impressive seven of the eleven hurdle races he has run so far.
images: Courtenay Hitchcock BV Magazine
Stretch the legs There is another early February foal due to a mare called Seemarye, who is in foal to the champion British jumps sire, Nathaniel. The mare’s pregnancy is looking huge, and being fat and unwieldy she goes into the all-weather turnout and just stands in one place and munches hay all day. Her lack of movement is meaning that her legs are beginning to fill and, as she is too heavily in foal to put on the walker, we are leading her up the track for a really good leg stretch, before she comes back into her stable in the afternoon, just to get her moving and get her circulation going. No more mares are due until early March, so once Seemarye has foaled, Doug and I should get a couple of weeks break from constant night-time camera watching. We might even take the rare opportunity to go away for a few days!
Glanvilles Guest’s Planteur colt, foaled 30th January, six days early.
TGS foals at the races At the same time as the first foal was being born on the stud, Doug was up in Doncaster selling three foals and an infoal broodmare. You may recall I’d talked about their being prepared for the sales in the January column. We had bought the mare, Spirit of Rome, in 2017 as a maiden 3yo filly (which means she was a young horse, had raced on the flat but not won) with a good pedigree. She had since been leased to trainers to add form to her page (a horse’s page in a sales catalogue describes the quality of its racecourse performance plus that of its relatives, going back three or four generations. You can see Spirit of Rome’s here), winning twice and placing seven times over hurdles. We were now trading her on. The foals and the mare were all sold – although some for not as much as we had hoped – and we look forward to following the racing careers of the foals in a few years. From our breeder’s point of view, racing at Wincanton today, Thursday 2nd February* was a real pleasure, with a number of TGS-connected horses running. In the second race, a novices’ handicap steeplechase, Triple Trade, a 7yo Norse Dancer that we bred out of Doubly Guest came a very good second to a horse carrying 23lbs less than him. As this race was a novice handicap, horses are allotted a weight to carry that is proportionate to how good their previous performances have been. The theory being, if the handicapper does his job perfectly, all the runners will dead heat as the weight they are carrying gives all horses an equal chance. So, if today they had been running off level weights (all carrying the same weight) the finishing positions would likely have been very different. But it was a good race nonetheless and the winner did well to beat the other horses in the race with better form.
image Courtenay Hitchcock BV Magazine
The last race, an open, maiden mares National Hunt flat race, saw another TGS-bred horse running: the 6yo Sam’s Amour, a Black Sam Bellamy mare out of the recently retired Aphrodisias (who incidentally is grandma to our first foal born this year!). A second mare in this race, the 4yo Tique, whom we had foaled for her owner Heather Royle and who quickly became a yard favourite due to her extreme friendliness and beauty, was also running. Both ran good races and although they finished out of the placings today, I will never tire of seeing the foals we help bring into the world out doing their jobs on the racetrack. Breeding a racehorse is just the start of the journey and there are so many pitfalls along the route to their first (and subsequent) races that we always say, ‘Just getting a horse to the racetrack is a win in itself. Actually getting that horse to then win a race is the icing on the cake!’
yes, I do tend to send in late copy, apologies editor! (Luckily for you – as usual – I’m now gripped and have therefore forgotten how late you submitted. Again. – Ed)
Pics by Samantha Cook Photography, 27th April 2019. Diverse Abilities 5km Dorset Neon Run 2019, Poole Park, Poole, Dorset, on 27th April 2019.
Diverse Abilities, is looking for volunteers for the coming year to help with ongoing projects and a series of community events throughout the year. Events on the 2023 calendar include:
Diverse Abilities own events:
Dorset Neon Run
Country Challenge
Rugby Lunch
Gala Ball
Christmas Carol Service
The charity’s annual Christmas tree collection service
Community events including Grooves on the Green, Wimborne Folk Festival and Camp Bestival, as well as street collections throughout the year, with further events to be confirmed. Laura Stanley, fundraising officer at Diverse Abilities, commented: ‘We’ve got an exciting calendar of events this year where we need the help of our local community in order to take on a variety of tasks including bucket collections, running stalls, and handing out flyers, as well as raising awareness of Diverse Abilities. You’ll have a great time, as well as helping to raise money to support children and adults with disabilities in the local area.’ As well as events, Diverse Abilities are also on the lookout for volunteers on more a regular basis, for roles such as a transport assistant at the Beehive to support students getting to and from the centre, and gardening or decorating roles across the charities’ services. Volunteers are crucial to the work charities like Diverse Abilities carry out, and donating free time is just as valuable as giving money. In turn, the opportunities give volunteers a chance to learn new skills, meet new people, enhance CVs, gain experience, discover new interests and improve mental wellbeing. Visit the website here for more information about the roles available. Contact Laura on [email protected] if you would like to get involved.
