Worth Matravers Village Hall

w.f.snook & son Ltd Installers of
Pvc-u and Aluminium
Fensa
13202
Windows · Doors · Patio Doors
Bifolding Doors
Loft conversions • Truss & cut roofing
Dormer & Velux windows
Replacement facias & guttering
Conservatories · Sectional Garage Doors
Doors · Guttering
Contact Peter Albin
Mob: 07834 983022 Home: 01929 425048
‘Kestrel’ Pvc-u Fascia · Soffit · Mouldings etc
Tel/Fax. 01929 481581
www.totalwoodwork.co.uk
10 Year insurance backed guarantee
Purbeck Furnishing
PURBECK STONE
CONSTRUCTION
61 Kings Road Swanage, Dorset
TEL 01929 422703
Stone supplied and fixed by
The Complete House Furnishers
Patios - Porches - Fireplaces - Walls, etc
Specialists In:
Fitted Carpets; Vinyl Flooring;
Venetian, Vertical & Roller Blinds;
Curtains & Re-Upholstery;
Chairs & Beds in stock
THE STONEWORK SPECIALISTS
Ross Prior, ‘Cosy Corner’
off Haycrafts Lane
Harman’s Cross, Swanage
Telephone: 481217
• We Guarantee Personal Attention •
Worth Matravers
Village Hall
MOONFLEET CARS Ltd
German & Vauxhall Specialists
Car Sales · Service · Repairs · MOTs
For your party, reception, regular or one-off
event and, by arrangement, your overnight stay
Tel: 01929 480215
Three main rooms, well appointed kitchen,
pleasant garden, marquee, gazebos & all the
equipment you need to make your event special
SPAR CONVENIENCE STORE
Newspapers · Top Ups · Hot Food
Beers · Wines · Spirits
Fresh Fruit & Vegetables
01929 480097
Elliot’sEstablished
Cleaning
Co.
2003
For bookings: 01929 500500
bookings@worthmatraversvillagehall.org
For more information:
www.worthmatraversvillagehall.org
Harmans Cross Village Hall
Splendid facilities include:
•
We clean: Offices, shops, communal areas, libraries
and homes (including one-off spring cleans)
•
Local • Fully insured • References available
•
Tel: 01929 427372
We can also supply
eco-friendly cleaning products
2 The Dubber
Large main hall & separate meeting room
- ideal for all events
Advanced audio, digital projection & lighting systems, fully
fitted commercial kitchen, two-way servery & patio doors
to outside terrace
New Children’s Playground & large recreational field Adjacent to Swanage Railway with ample parking space
Please phone Tina/David on 480540
Full details, prices & information at
www.harmanscrosshall.co.uk
Wilkswood Farm
Open Thursday & Friday
9am-5pm
Saturdays 8am-1pm
for quality meat direct from the farm
Wilkswood Farm is devoted to conservation grazing to
protect our Purbeck wildlife
NO SPRAYS • NO FERTILIZERS
OLD FASHIONED FARMING • OLD FASHIONED QUALITY!
“TASTE THE DIFFERENCE”
shop: 427970
web: www.wilkswoodfarm.co.uk
FIND US OPPOSITE THE KNITSON TURN ON VALLEY ROAD
Lander’s Quarries Ltd
Kingston Road BH19 3JP
Specialists in Purbeck Stone
- Showroom & shop - Visitors welcome
•
•
•
Building, Landscaping, Garden Features
Bespoke Flooring, Worktops, Fireplaces
Carving, Lettering & Monumental
Telephone: (01929) 439205
www.purbeckstone.co.uk - landers@purbeckstone.co.uk
ROY BROOKS
Quality installations by a family run company for over 30 years
•
•
Need a new kitchen, bathroom or bedroom?
We offer a complete design & fitting service
by our team of craftsmen with a no obligation quotation
• Full project management for a traditional or
modern restoration
Showroom: 60 High Street
Swanage, Dorset BH19 2NX
01929 475793 www.ivamydesigns.com
BRIAN GLASSOCK
BUILDERS LIMITED
PAINTING & WALLPAPERING
SERVING THE DUBBER AREA
TELEPHONE 01929 421366
CUSTOM WORK AT REASONABLE RATES
OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE
ST MICHAELS GARAGE
GENERAL BUILDING SERVICES
BG
Telephone: 01929 422732
Mobile: 07720 851363
Please phone for free estimate
‘Perelandra’, Gypshayes, Langton Matravers,
Swanage, Dorset, BH19 3HQ
THE PURBECK FORD CENTRE
Valley Road, Swanage, Dorset BH19 3DX
Telephone (01929) 480221
The Dubber 3
Thinking of selling your property?
For FREE ADVICE without obligation consult
The Property Professionals
41 Station Road, Swanage
Tel: (01929) 422284 www.corbens.co.uk
A.R.HARRIS & SON
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS
Established 1873
Unit 7, Purbeck Business Centre,
Victoria Avenue, Swanage Dorset BH19 1AU
CHARTERED SURVEYORS
ESTATE AGENTS * VALUERS
Phone 01929 424518 Fax 01929 427519
Emergency 24hr call-out service 07976 848880
Purbeck’s largest Self-Catering
Holiday Department
Fully Qualified Electricians
for all your electrical needs
National Inspection Council for
Electrical Installation Contracting
approved contractor
All types of Building Work undertaken
Fully Qualified Tradesmen
FREE ESTIMATES
“Newfoundlands”, Newfoundlands Close
Worth Matravers, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 3LX
Tel/Fax 01929 439209 Mobile 07966 216288
CARPENTRY AND JOINERY
APPRENTICE TRAINED 32 YEARS EXPERIENCE
KITCHENS, WARDROBES, LOFT CONVERSIONS
PURPOSE MADE JOINERY
GENERAL CARPENTRY AND JOINERY
WOOD FLOORING SPECIALIST
PURBECK STONE FLOOR SPECIALIST
TEL: O1929 408044
MOB: O7876 152 897
EMAIL: swanagecarpentry@gmail.com
4 The Dubber
Railway House
2 Rempstone Road
Swanage Dorset
Tel: 423333
Fax:427533
www.milesandson.co.uk
IAN T BUGLER
TREE CARE AND GARDEN MAINTENANCE
NO JOB TOO SMALL
LAWNS CUT, FENCING & TREE SURGERY
NVQ & CITY & GUILDS QUALIFIED
Fully Insured
1 Begbie Cottages
Worth Matravers
Swanage, Dorset
BH19 3LQ
01929 439453
Mobile 07930 434694
JAMES SMITH funeral directors
(Swanage) Ltd
AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY RUN SERVICE
PROUDLY SERVING THE ISLE OF PURBECK SINCE 1892
OFFERING A CARING AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Private Chapels of Rest - Memorials - Floral Tributes
Personal pre-arrangements - Pre-paid Funeral Plans
IMMEDIATE PERSONAL ATTENTION COVERING ALL AREAS
FOR ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE AT ANY TIME DAY OR NIGHT
CALL SWANAGE 01929 422445
60A KINGS ROAD SWANAGE
WELCOME & CONTENTS
view on-line at www.thedubber.co.uk
From the Editor...
T
he following poem was
sent in by Cath Brook. I
am more than a little keen on
glue and glitter myself and so I
can readily empathise with the
sentiment.
Angela Bell
ed@thedubber.co.uk
Craftaholic’s Prayer
I’m going to need some notice before my days are done.
You see I’m a craftaholic, a fact not known to some.
My craft room it is bulging, all corners,
crannies and nooks,
There’s loads of boxes under the bed,
I hope no-one ever looks.
I tell myself when shopping, “no more craft bits today”,
but the craft shops are like magnets drawing me their way.
I’m totally at their mercy, just “need” a dozen of each,
then I hurry home to hide them before the family
start to preach.
So Lord, I’ll need a little time to dispose of all this stuff.
And Lord, can we just keep all of this between the two of us.
(Author unknown)
Deadline for Next Issue
The editor, Angela Bell, appreciates the early submission
of contributions but, for those cutting it fine, the deadline
for the August issue is noon on Friday, 24 July and it will
be ready for collection on Tuesday, 28 July.
Contributions & Notifications
The editor welcomes news contributions and letters as
well as notifications of events within the Parishes for the
What’s On section and, space permitting, for free ‘one
off ’ box adverts which are included at the Editor’s
discretion. These can be submitted online to ed@
thedubber.co.uk or by post to The Editor, 2 The Steddings, Langton Matravers, BH19 3EU ((427202) or by
hand to St George’s Church or The Post Office, Langton
Matravers.
How to Format Submissions
Preferably, (but don’t worry too much!) all emailed Dubber submissions should be sent as 12 point Times New
Roman (or Minion Pro, if you have it) plain type (i.e. no
bold, italic or underlining) aligned left with single line
spacing. Those people seeking a really professional finish
can consult www.guardian.co.uk/styleguide for the definitive guide to copywriting!
Inside this issue...
5
Welcome from the editor
6
The Parishes letter from the Rectory
7
The Parishes Services & Parish Business
8
General News
11
Langton Matravers News
12
Harmans Cross News
13
Worth Matravers News
14
The Round
14
Have Your Say
15
News from Nowhere
17
What’s On
Thank you to Colin Garner for this month’s front cover
The On-line Dubber
Martin White uploads The On-line Dubber and can be
contacted at martin@thedubber.co.uk. Martin also welcomes additional photographs for inclusion on the web.
Permanent Advertising & Dubber Distribution
At the moment, there is a short waiting list for permanent
advertising within the magazine but, if you are interested,
you can be placed on the waiting list. You will be contacted
when you get near the top.
All adverts get the same amount of space (8cm x 6cm)
and the cost is £90 per year; this is the minimum run.
Please contact The Dubber Secretary, Terry Whicker
(terry@thedubber.co.uk) 29 Henbury Rise, Corfe Mullen,
Wimborne, Dorset BH21 3TE ((01202 695544) for more
details or bookings.
Terry Whicker also deals with queries about the distribution of The Dubber in the Parishes.
Additionally, if you, or someone you know, are leaving/have left the parishes and would like to continue to
receive a copy of The Dubber, please contact the Secretary
via email or telephone to arrange this.
The Dubber 5
THE PARISHES OF THE PURBECK HILLS
PRE-SCHOOL
SERVICE
a service for pre-school
children and parents
Wednesday 1 July
at 11am
at St George’s Church,
Langton Matravers
Parents and carers welcome
The Dubber is the
mouthpiece of the Parishes
of the Purbeck Hills
St James’, Kingston
St George’s, Langton Matravers
St Nicholas of Myra,
Worth Matravers
with Harmans Cross
The Chapel of St Aldhelm’s Head
Priest-in-charge
The Reverend Gaynor Burrett
The Rectory
St George’s Close
Langton Matravers
Swanage, BH19 3HZ
(01929 421179
8revgaynorb@btinternet.com
Parish Secretary
Anne Meadows (01929 426544
Churchwardens
Langton Matravers
Chris Meadows (01929 426544
Colin Garner (01929 424431
Worth Matravers
Brian Engel (01929 480605
Liz Hoad (01929 439380
Kingston
Sue Ireland (01929 481372
Letter From the Rectory
July 2015
I
was recently given the privilege of being
involved in a community event marking the
71st anniversary of the D Day Landings. It was
held at Leeson House, and was the idea of a very
passionate and persuasive lady called Dinah. She
had developed an interest in the ‘Landings’ from meeting veterans at
last year’s 70th Anniversary events, and had sought to make an opportunity to bring veterans and community of all ages together, to share
stories and memories, sing songs, say prayers, look at displays, contemporary vehicles, and, of course, drink tea and eat cake.
It was a wonderful event, not least because of the spirit in which it
was organised. There was little or no budget, so no extravagant spending! Cakes were donated to help towards tea, and there was enough for
all. People were asked to catch the vision for the event and offer what
they were able in experience, time and talent, and the result was a
community coming together and a fun, memorable afternoon of sharing.
It was lovely to see the young people respectfully listening to the
veterans, being moved by the stories they were hearing. It was humbling to see the courage the veterans showed in reliving some of their
harrowing experiences through the answers they gave to the questions
asked. It is so important that their stories are kept alive so that those of
us too young to have memories or experience continue to learn the lessons that war, however necessary it might sometimes be, is not glorious
or trivial, it is not entertainment viewed on the TV, cinema or games
screen, but is something ugly, costly, harrowing and painful.
We are hearing in the news of more young women leaving this
country to go to join IS in Syria. They are choosing to expose their
children to the horror of this terrorism, and it is hard to understand
what is driving their quest. I am saddened to think that the cost paid
so dearly by men, women and children all those years ago has failed to
bring an end to war as was hoped by the leaders of the day. But I am
grateful that they paid the terrible cost so that I today can live in freedom. I am grateful that so many paid with their lives so that I can live
in a country where people have to choose to go and join oppressive terrorist regimes rather than having them imposed. But I long to see more
of that wonderful ‘can do, will do’ attitude that built up community
and brought people together in a common cause to achieve the sometimes seemingly impossible. The attitude that made a commemorative
activity happen fuelled by passion, determination and an attitude that
turns ‘can’t’ to ‘will’, and carries supporters along in its wake. Thank
you Dinah and the Leeson House team for sharing your passion and
vision, and for reminding us again of the ‘Dunkirk’ spirit that makes
things happen and draws people together to achieve great things out of
the seemingly impossible!
Parishes of the Purbeck
Hills Prayer Chain
To receive prayer support
for a situation you are
concerned about contact:
Gaynor Burrett (421179)
6 The Dubber
Gaynor Burrett
Priest-in-charge
Kingston, Langton Matravers & Worth Matravers
THE PARISHES OF THE PURBECK HILLS
SERVICE TIMES IN THE PARISHES
sunday 5 july 5th after trinity
Holy Communion BCP
8am
(1662)
Hosanna!
9.30am
Benefice Service
10.30am
5pm
Evening Service
Langton
Langton
Langton
Worth
sunday 12 july 6th after trinity
Worth
9.45am
Holy Communion BCP
(1662)
Parish Communion
11.15am
Family Service
Kingston
6.30pm
Evensong
Langton
sunday 19 july 7th after trinity
Holy Communion
8am
Informal Service
9.45am
Parish Communion
11.15am
Langton
Langton
Worth
sunday 26 july St James’ Sunday
Patronal Service
10.30am
Evening Service
6pm
Kingston
HXVH
8am
Holy Communion CW1 (trad)
Langton
daily prayers
9-9.15am
9-9.15am
9-9.15am
Tues & Weds
Monday
Thursday
Meet for real coffee & cake on the
first Thursday of each month
St George’s Church
9am onward
Thursday, 2 July
All are welcome!
Langton
every wednesday
10am
The Coffee Pot
Langton
Kingston
Worth
changes in service times
There is predominantly the same pattern of services each month
but there are changes for festivals; please check the weekly notice
sheets within the church or in the church porch.
other denominations
The parishes are members of ACTS (The Association of Churches Together) & a list of services of other denominations locally
can be found in the porch of St George’s Church, Langton.
St George’s
Church Fête
12-4pm
11 July
Karl Latimer
St George’s School Choir
Stewart the Magician
All offers of help gratefully received
Please contact Chris Meadows
on 426544
or email cjmeadows@talktalk.net
ST George’s CHurch
HOSANNA! SERVICE
9.30am
Sunday 5 July
Men’s Breakfast
8.30am Saturday 18 July
& every third Saturday
each month at Putlake Farm
Crafty Church is taking a
break until Autumn
We wish all the children
happy holidays
Evening Service
at St Aldhelm’s
Throughout August
6pm Sundays
from 2 August
The Dubber 7
GENERAL NEWS
St George’s Pre-school
P
re-school continues to go from strength to strength, a
great many thanks to all the staff who provide a thriving
and nurturing environment for our children.
The children have been growing sunflowers and enjoying
the outdoor play area.
We have new equipment outside which the children have
access to during their free flow play. The good weather has
meant that they have been able to go out for walks and enjoy
being outside.
We are planning to get new computers at school and
iPads for the children. We would be interested in hearing
from you if you have any ideas for fundraising or would like
to help.
Be a Trustee
Do you have 10 hours a year to help the preschool? I
would very much like to hear from you if you would like to
become a ‘trustee’ for preschool we meet four times a year
in the evening, meetings normally last two and a half hours;
it would give you an opportunity to get involved with the
preschool and make decisions for the future. We would like
to hear from parents, grandparents or carers who may be
interested. Perhaps you know someone in the community
who may be interested. Without your support the preschool
would not be able to continue so successfully.
I look forward to hearing from you. Contact drvbell@
gmail.com
Vanessa Millman, Chairperson St George’s Preschool
Where am I in Purbeck?
A
friend asked me to do a painting recently. I needed to
take a photo as guidance and had to go through this
gate. Where was I? Chris Meadows
LANGTON CHURCH FÊTE
W
ill we be lucky with the weather again? We hope so
but even if it rains St George’s Church Fête will carry
on indoors and offer a happy and enjoyable afternoon out
for all the family. Karl Latimer will provide live music as will
the St George’s school choir and ukulele band also Stewart
the Magician will be there to entertain the children while
Mum or Dad have a moment to buy cakes or books or jewellery, china or bric-à-brac. There will be a bar provided by
the Kings Arms, food, ice cream and games for everyone to
play, so put the date in your diary, it’s 11 July and the Fête
will be opened at noon, carrying on until 4pm. This year
a team from St George’s Church will compete in a Boules
match against a team from The Kings Arms, come and cheer
8 The Dubber
them on.
Can you help? Every year we are so fortunate to have lots
of helpers on the Friday morning before the Fête to erect
stalls or move tables and also on the day to man the stalls,
serve food or help with parking or assist with the clear up at
the end.
The Fête wouldn’t go on without your help, so we would
much appreciate your assistance again. If you can help or if
you can provide jam or cakes or other items for sale please
contact Chris Meadows on 426544 or email cjmeadows@
talktalk.net.
However we get involved it’s always fun! Colin Garner
Energy Savings
T
here may be savings to be made in your energy bills.
Citizens Advice has been working on the Energy Best
Deal public awareness campaign with support from the energy regulator Ofgem and major energy companies since
2008. By the spring of 2015, it expects that Energy Best Deal
will have improved the confidence of over 350,000 domestic energy customers across the UK to shop around, reduce
their bills and get help if they are falling behind.
Helen Goldsack, the Manager of Purbeck Citizens Advice
Bureau, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jayne
Mulligan as The Energy Best Deal project Coordinator.
The project is aimed at low income consumers and people at risk of fuel poverty and will address the following:
• make people aware of the savings that can be made by
switching fuel providers or negotiating with existing
providers
• provide information about help available from energy
suppliers and government for people struggling to pay
their gas and electricity bills
• inform consumers about how they might save money by
using less energy, and sources of advice and help around
energy efficiency
“These days it is so important that everyone is aware of
any savings to be made and also any grants or benefits they
may be entitled to,” says Jayne, “My concern is not who you
buy your energy from but ensuring you get the best deal.”
Jayne and her team are based at the Wareham office of
the Purbeck Citizen’s Advice Bureau.
If you run a community group or are a member of a
group which you think may benefit from her advice and
presentation or if you are an individual who would like advice from one of her team please contact us on 550328 and
ask to speak to a member of The Energy Team.
Advice interviews can be provided either over the phone
or by appointment in one of our Purbeck offices. Dorset Adviceline: 0344 245 1291 or www.purbeckadvice.org.uk
Burngate
I
t was good to have a great turn out for the unveiling of the
Plinth during the PAWS weeks. The panels were carved
by Purbeck Scouts and pupils of Swanage School under the
tuition of Alan Davis, Roger Mordaunt and Jigger Stockley
– master minded by Carlotta Barrow and Burngate staff.
Hopefully, this is the first of a Sculpture Trail around Swanage and Purbeck. It is an on-going project dependant on
sponsorship money.
We have been forging more community links, with the
National Trust, local schools, foreign students, and the Purbeck Scout and Guide groups. We still need to encourage
everyone to support us whether booking a course or popping
in for a cup of tea. Remember, we will be running Children
and Family Have-a-go sessions during the summer holidays.
Thank you for the bubble wrap, please keep it coming!
Di Quinn & Sarah Foot, Burngate Administrators
COMMUNICARE
C
ommunicare is now exactly 31 years old and still helping the people of Swanage, Langton Matravers, Worth
and Kingston.
We still need yet more drivers to take people to the various hospitals - Bournemouth, Poole and Dorchester and
others.
Can anybody, who reads this lively magazine help us either on a weekly or monthly basis? You receive 40p a mile
to help with your car expenses.
Please ring for further information.... 288092 or 427576
or 480932. We will be most grateful and look forward to your
call.
Jenny Lazenbury, Director of Communicare
National Coastwatch
We are looking for volunteers willing to visit an isolated
person, usually for one hour a week, to provide friendship,
support and a link to the wider community. You will provide a listening ear and caring heart and will look for ways
in which isolation may be alleviated. You will not be there
to do the cleaning, washing up or other tasks (we can suggest others willing to do those). We hope you will be able to
build a valuable friendship, but will be free to withdraw at
any time.
We shall also need funds. We have part-time use of 21
Commercial Road as an office base and potential drop-in
centre. Set up costs, including resources and training from
Link Visiting, will be around £1500. Annual running costs
will be a similar figure. We shall be grateful for support from
individuals and groups.
Information meetings will be held towards the end of
July. Details will be advertised in church notice sheets. If you
would like to know more, or make a donation, please contact Alan at lvs.manager@outlook.com or phone 0774 867
2069.
Making the Message Accessible
Y
Phil Atlay (left) receives the cheque from James Gaggero
T
he last event of Purbeck Art Weeks was a ‘coffee concert’ at Encombe House. James Gaggero, the owner of
Encombe, allows the use of his house on condition that half
of the proceeds of the concert go to a charity of his choice.
This year Mr Gaggero nominated the National Coastwatch
Institution station at St Albans Head; the station, near Worth
Matravers, is on Encombe land. Mr Gaggero is a great supporter of the station’s work and charges its watchkeepers an
annual rent of just one crab. Following the concert, in which
an ensemble put together by Miranda Fulleylove played
pieces by Beethoven and Mozart, Mr Gaggero presented
the station’s manager, Phil Atlay, with a cheque for £900. Mr
Atlay suggested that in view of this generosity, the station
might provide its landlord with two crabs this year!
John Newth
The Link
W
e are now poised to launch this new scheme to provide regular visiting to isolated, mainly older people
in our community. The initiative has been set up by Churches Together and will complement the excellent work already
done by church pastoral teams, Communicare, Purbeck
Good Neighbours and others. We are a community project
hoping to involve people of all faiths and none. We have affiliated to this national network which is providing support,
resources and training. We have a small steering group.
ou will no doubt be aware that Bible Society translates,
produces and distributes large numbers of Bibles and
Scripture portions around the World – in fact over 300 million items per year.
But what if you are unable to read or are blind or deaf –
and many suffer in these ways around the World, especially
in the poorest countries and communities. One of the key
objectives of Bible Society is to make the message of the Bible accessible to everyone - in their own language, in a suitable format and at a price they can afford. Clearly the right
format that is appropriate for those unable to read or having
other disabilities is vital in order for them to experience the
message of the Gospel for themselves.
Bible Society seeks to address this area in a number of
different ways, by producing Braille Scriptures for the blind
and holding literacy classes for those unable to read. Such
classes not only teach people to read, but can also help translators as they seek the right words in the local language to
express the truths of God’s Word as accurately as possible.
Another resource which assists both the blind and nonreader, is the invention of the Proclaimer. This is a portable
radio-size unit with a computer chip holding the recorded
text of the entire New Testament in the particular local language. The Proclaimer can be operated by solar-power or can
be wound by hand, so in places where there is no electricity,
or where batteries are not available or prohibitively expensive, the Word of God can still be proclaimed. Proclaimers can be found all over Africa and in other countries like
Cambodia and Bolivia. People hear the Scriptures in their
own language and the Bible comes alive and deeply touches
them. “Consequently faith comes from hearing the message
and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Rom.
10:17) NIV.
Paul Bexon, Swanage Bible Society Action Group
Purbeck Artists & Stallholders
P
urbeck Artists & Stallholders, affectionately known as
PASH, will again be in residence at Worth Matravers
Village Hall for five weeks starting on Saturday, 11 July until
Sunday, 16 August. Open every day from 11am until 4.30pm
here is the place to find exciting treasures and gifts.
The Dubber 9
PASH is a group of local artists and makers who are passionate about creating handcrafted goods. You will find your
favourite local stallholders here plus new emerging talent
which means there is always something different to discover.
Refreshments will be available daily.
This unique annual summer event is an added attraction
to the picturesque village of Worth Matravers so bring along
friends, family and guests and enjoy some retail therapy
amidst beautiful countryside.
Anne Elford, Purbeck Artists & Stallholders
Crafty Church
Crafty Church had the theme of ‘friends’ for
its last meeting before the summer break
Eastington Farm Open Garden
A
very big thank you to Rachel and Allan James who so
generously opened their beautiful garden to raise funds
for St Nicholas Church. I would also like to thank all those
who helped and donated cakes and I am delighted to say that
we raised over £701. Liz Hoad
Organ Duettists Return
F
ollowing their popular evening of organ music last year,
Keith Moxon and Jennifer Woolley from Sittingbourne
in Kent are returning to perform again at Swanage High
Street Methodist Church at 7.30pm on Thursday, 16 July.
Admission is free and the music will range from pastoral to pomp, providing a pleasant interlude for a summer’s
evening.
Refreshments will be available and there will be a retiring
collection in aid of Action for Children, one of whose local
projects is Dorset Nightstop, providing emergency accommodation for homeless young people, offered by volunteer
hosts.
No advanced booking or tickets necessary and you can
be assured of a very warm welcome.
Eddie Noades
National Trust
S
lepe Heath, near Arne, is starting to reveal its treasures
after being acquired by the National Trust last year. Trust
ecologist David Brown said initial surveys of the 200 acre
site have uncovered surprisingly rich natural communities
on land which was until recently managed as forestry plantation.
Among notable species is the woodlark, which is rare
both nationally and on neighbouring heathland. Rare beetles found there by volunteer ecologist Dr Chris Spilling include Stenus Kiesenwetteri, which appears on the Red Book
list of internationally endangered species.
10 The Dubber
Slepe was the largest area of lowland heath
acquired by the Trust in
a decade when it came
Stenus
into our care last NovemKiesenwetteri
ber. Volunteers have since
(Photo
been hard at work surveycourtesy of
ing the site with the aim
of drawing up a manageChris Spilling)
ment plan.
The primary reason
for the purchase was to
link adjacent heathland
owned by the Trust, the RSPB and Natural England into a
single conservation grazing area. But the biodiversity gradually being revealed in the survey work is a welcome bonus.
Grazing at Studland
A conservation grazing experiment on the Studland peninsula which began last year has been extended.
A small number of Red Devon cattle, which have been
grazing a temporary fenced area of heath near Little Sea since
May, are being joined by a second group on the harbour side
of Ferry Road, bringing numbers up to ten in total.
Selective grazing by the original group has already had
an impact on improving the habitat for heathland species,
said Trust Lead Ranger Paul Bradley.
Grazing will continue until the start of the summer
holidays, when the temporary fencing will be removed. It is
planned to resume in the autumn.
Conservation grazing is widely used by the Trust and
other landowners to maintain heathland habitats and the effects are being monitored by ecologists.
If the experiment continues to be successful, other areas
will be grazed in future.
The Trust’s Red Devon herds have grazed Godlingston
Heath and Middlebere Heath for years, but small scale grazing was only reintroduced to Studland Heath last year.
Historically, the whole peninsula was grazed by livestock
which roamed freely in the way they still do in the New Forest today.
This free range approach is not practical in Studland
these days, but the aim of the experiment is to explore ways
of achieving the benefits of conservation grazing on wider
areas of the heath in a controlled way. Jon Bish
Where am I answer
I
was just about to enter the site of the other Corfe Castle,
which in case you don’t know is situated on the left as you
leave Corfe on the Church Knowle road. It is a Ring and Bailey castle built by King Stephen’s army in 12th century and
later used by the Roundheads in the Civil War.
Chris Meadows
SWANAGE TOWN BAND
BACK IN THE BANDSTAND
Wednesdays - 15 & 29 July
at 6.45 pm
Playing tunes for all to enjoy
on a summer’s evening
All Welcome
LANGTON MATRAVERS
Afternoon Tea
A
big thank you to those of you who joined us for Afternoon Tea in June. It was a very pleasant afternoon
hopefully enjoyed by you all. After expenses, we managed to
raise over £114 in support of Village Hall funds. Thank you
all for your continued support.
Langton Matravers Village Hall Committee
LANGTON ARTHOUSE CINEMA
I
n July, we are showing The Homesman on Wednesday 1st,
reviewed in last month’s Dubber.
Our August film, Wild Tales on Wednesday 5th at 7.30pm
in Langton Matravers Village Hall, is a portmanteau of six
tales of apocalyptic revenge revealing the dark side of human nature from Oscar-nominated Argentinian writer-director Damián Szifron.
The agenda is set in a short, sharp prologue, as a midair conversation between a music critic and a model leads
to an entire passenger roster realising they’ve wronged the
wrong guy. On the ground, a waitress ponders whether to
poison the customer who fleeced her parents, a flash motorist squares up to a middle-lane hogger, a wedding party
unravels into bloody chaos after an infidelity accusation.
Time and again, we’re left watching – sometimes horrified, most often amused – as people are pushed to the brink
and beyond, and small lapses in self-control change the
courses of multiple lives.
In this world, inner beast prowls dangerously close to
civilised surface; when temperatures rise to jungle level, primal instinct takes over.
We know our characters will pay for their vengeance, but
we’re never quite sure just what that payment will involve.
Occasionally, the eruptions prove liberating; more commonly, these characters emerge bruised and bedraggled, if they
emerge at all. No-one comes out of it looking good exactly.
It all adds up to an extended exercise in schadenfreude,
a valuable reminder, in this increasingly intemperate world,
of the benefits of keeping your fists in your pockets. In any
event while it’s boiling over, it’s jolly good fun – the movie
equivalent of cutting three inches off a cheating ex’s trousers.
In Spanish with English subtitles.
Tickets will be £5 on the door which will open at 7pm.
Glasses will be supplied should you wish to bring your own
drink with you.
If you want to be kept informed about future films you
can add your name to the mailing list by emailing info@
LangtonArthouseCinema.co.uk or visit www. LangtonArthouseCinema.co.uk. Chris Kwantes
Priddle Allotments
M
ost of the allotments are looking good with plenty of
produce being picked, after all the hard work digging
and planting etc.
You are invited to come along to our Open Day on 16
August and enjoy homemade cakes and a cup of tea (you
don’t have to look around the plots!)
If anyone has any garden tools, in good condition, that
are no longer needed, please let me know or just leave them
at Crabtree Cottage, The Hyde. They will be much appreciated by some of our younger gardeners. Thank you.
Pat Wright, LMAA
LANGTON MATRAVERS PARISH COUNCIL
June Meeting
resent: Cllr W Knight in the Chair, Cllr P Christie (ViceChairman), and Cllrs C Drayson, R Lucas, M Lovell, P
Loudoun, M Turner and P White. Cllr R Sheppard sent his
apologies. There were eleven members of the public present,
and three children.
Footpath report
Given cost-cutting changes being made at Dorset County Council, leading to reduction in funding and support for
footpaths in the area, Ian Vaughan-Arbuckle (RoWLO) proposed that he undertake a survey of footpaths in the parish,
identifying paths, stiles and gates in need of maintenance,
ranking these in terms of priority, and establishing who has
responsibility for their upkeep. The Council agreed to this
proposal, and asked that the survey be publicised, and that
parishioners be invited to assist and comment. Offers of
help/comments to Mr V-A on 426956 or email ian@ianva.
co.uk, or to the Clerk, as below.
Dancing ledge
The National Trust are sorting out teething problems
with the new licensing and booking system for activity
groups at Dancing Ledge and on other sites (licenses only)
along the coast. In response to a request for a ‘quiet zone’
such as Seacombe, where commercial activities would be
not be permitted, Mr Kershaw said that because numbers
are now limited at Dancing Ledge the companies are pushing for accommodation in other areas. Survey work is being done at the West Wood, and the public will have had an
opportunity to see the coppice work. The Trust are trialing
mobile ice-cream selling on their land for three months this
summer, to see if it would make a viable franchise in future.
Planning
• a) 6/2015/0296 Mr Ben Young, Valley Road (Nursery
Bridge Farm), Harmans Cross, BH19 3DX. Station agricultural workers temporary accommodation. No objection
• b) 6/2015/0278 Mr M.Barnett, Old Malthouse Lane
(Purbeck Ridge), Langton Matravers, BH19 3JA. Roof
conversion and install dormers. No objection
• c)6/2015/0297/0298 Mr and Mrs G Harris, Castle View
(Daisy Cottage), Langton Matravers, BH19 3HT. Demolish single storey extension and erect new single side
extension. Internal refurbishment and repairs. Install
chimney liner. Repairs to boundary walling and outbuildings No objection / (Listed Building Consent). No
objection.
• d) 6/2015/0324 Mr and Mrs J Cooper, Blacklands (Hedbury House), Acton, BH19 3LD. Demolish existing garage and erect two-storey and single-storey extensions.
No objection
Advisory Flashing Lights outside school
The lights could be made automatic at an approximate
cost of £3,000 for both units, plus annual service fees of
c.£300, neither of which can be funded by DCC. Cllr Knight
reported that the school governors will discuss the situation,
and decide a) if it would be sensible to purchase an automated system, and b) if yes, whether the school can afford it,
possibly with community support in some form. He suggested that the PC should wait until the school has taken a view
on the matter before making further comment. After discussion, it was agreed that a new position by the North street
school sign, though safer if the lights have to be manually
P
The Dubber 11
operated, would not be so visible to oncoming traffic, and
Cllr Lovell will contact DCC as a matter of urgency to halt
the move until a firm decision has been made as to whether
to go for programmable units.
Other items discussed included plans for a village car
park, results of the Play Area safety report and plans for an
updated PC website. For full Draft Minutes of the meeting,
go to www.langtonmatravers-pc.org
Next Meetings
The next Parish Council meeting is at 7 pm on Thursday,
9 July.
Contact Details
In order to comment on any local issues or request information, please write to: The Parish Office, 1A High Street,
Langton Matravers. Alternatively you can email the Clerk at
langtonmatravers@dorsetparishes.gov.uk or phone 425100.
The office is usually open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Mary Sparks, Parish Clerk
HARMANS CROSS
Music Nights Live
O
ur concert with The Acoustic Strawbs in June was a
great success and sold out one month before the event.
The audience of 110 enjoy a very informative, nostalgic journey through the bands history and music.
Our next concert is on 22 August with The Robin Bibi
Band one of the most entertaining bands on the UK Blues/
Rock circuit. The band has released seven albums since
being formed in 1997 and will soon be working on album
eight. Their mission is to entertain, uplift and inspire, which
they certainly achieve …….with no compromise! With Robin winning an award in 2014 for Best Guitar Solo from the
WRC club of Great Britain, ahead of solos by Joe Bonamassa
and Richie Sambora! You know you are in for something
very special. Anything can happen and often does!
Robin is backed by his very accomplished band with bass
player extraordinaire Tony Martyn and the very talented Wez
Johnson on drums. Their music is exuberant, passionate, dynamic, exciting and fun! It is music played straight from the
heart, it will move your head, your heart and of course your
feet! The band reaches out to young and old alike and audiences always leave their gigs smiling!
Robin Bibi paid his dues working with such names as
Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Ben.E.King, The Pretty Things
and Helen Shapiro, he launched the Robin Bibi Band in the
late 90s. Blues, Funk, Rock and Jazz/Fusion are all rolled
together in a unique feel-good concoction. Above all, the
Band’s aim is to give their audience a night to remember
whilst guaranteeing the best British Blues/Rock can offer in
a tried and tested, exciting format with the highest level of
musicianship.
For a taste of Blues/Rock at its very best…Please get your
tickets early.
Earlybird tickets for this concert are available now via
credit / debit card from the music night page of our website and from usual local outlets after 13 July. Full details at
www.harmanscrosshall.co.uk. John Dainton
HARMANS CROSS MOVIE NIGHTS
O
ur June movie, the highly successful British historical
thriller The Imitation Game, attracted an audience of
86 (our highest attendance for a year) who enjoyed the in12 The Dubber
tensity and emotion of the film and the brilliant acting – a
round of applause at the end is always a good sign!
Our next film, on Tuesday, 14 July, is the multi-award
winning The Theory of Everything (certificate 12A). ‘The
story of how British astro-physicist Stephen Hawking has
battled motor neurone disease to become one of the most
acclaimed scientists of his time is now pretty well-known’
said The Week magazine ‘but the quietly understated performances of Eddie Redmayne in the lead role and Felicity
Jones as his timid, tenacious wife Jane, bring it powerfully to
life. The whole movie is filmed in attractive sepia tones that
complement the old-fashioned narrative.’ Empire agreed:
‘two of the year’s best performances’ as did The Mail on Sunday: ‘Redmayne and Jones are simply stunning’. The Express
added ‘a well crafted, superbly acted drama that navigates
the tricky personal life of a world famous figure with style,
humour and humanity’.
The Independent gave the film a five-star review hailing
it ‘the best British film of the year... what’s most impressive
is how it transcends the pitfalls of the typical biopic. In spite
of its very conventional approach to its material, the film has
a lightness and inventiveness that most dramas taking us
through the lives of real people lack’.
Movie Nights are held at Harmans Cross Village Hall on
the second Tuesday every month. Tickets are £5 each and are
only available at the door on the night. The hall and licensed
bar will open at 7pm with next month’s trailer preceding the
film at 7.30 and, with a 15 minute interval, the evening will
end around 9.50pm.
In August we have two films: Paddington on the 11th;
then a special showing of the locally filmed, recently digitally restored 1967 version of Far From The Madding Crowd
on the 25th. This will be followed on 8 September by The
Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. For more on future films,
see next month’s Dubber or our website: www.harmanscrosshall.co.uk. Nigel Edmonds
is it The end of HX Horse Show?
T
he Harmans Cross Horse Show, which takes place annually on the August Bank Holiday Monday, started
about 60 years ago as a small gymkhana for local people,
growing over the years to become a popular and well supported event for many riders both young and old.
All profits go to local charities… but many members of
the organising committee have been doing so for over 40
years and are now hanging up their stirrups, making this the
last year this event will take place UNLESS new people come
forward to keep it going.
So, if this popular event is not to become a memory,
we really need some volunteers to take over the committee
roles, others to assist with the setting up/taking down as well
as the running of the event on the day. Could you help keep
this local event going? We, the committee, do not want to
see the Show fold but we cannot carry on as we are - we
are all getting older with our oldest committee member in
her eighties! So come on some of you younger people please
get involved! For more information please contact either
Sue Haw 426302 suehaw@hotmail.com or Doreen Farr
480837 doreenfarr12@gmail.com.
HARMANS CROSS RESIDENTS CLUB
T
his month, we have two Friday licensed bars at the hall
in the meeting room on 10 and 31 July – if the weather is
fine and warm we might even be able to take our drinks out
onto the patio. We have had to postpone our plans for a Fish
& Chips evening, originally set for 10 July, probably until
early next year. There is no Club evening in August.
Nigel Edmonds
HARMANS CROSS FIELD DAY
I
t is that time of year again when we are asking you to consider giving an hour or two of your time on Field Day – 31
August. This may be for help in sandwich making, clearing
tables, helping in the kitchen and all the other jobs necessary
for us to have a successful afternoon in the hall providing
refreshments; and also the very generous donations of the
beautiful cakes that you have kindly provided us with in the
past. We are only a small group of ladies and we cannot do
this without your help. If you are able to contribute in some
way please phone Sue Smith on 477148 or Marie Evans on
477141. Marie Evans
Harmony Rocks
H
armony Rocks are holding their very first concert on
Wednesday Afternoon, 8 July at 2.30pm at Harmans
Cross Village Hall.
The event is called ‘Songs & Scones’ and a delicious home
baked cream tea will be served during the interval. This will
be a ticket only event and tickets will be limited so it will
be essential to book early. Tickets cost £5. (including the
cream tea) and are available from Harmans Cross Spar Shop
at Moonfleet filling station, from Sue Smith on 477148, and
from choir members.
There will also be a Grand Benefit Raffle in aid of CODA
Music Trust which is a charity that improves lives by music
therapy. This is in keeping with the choir’s ethos of singing
for fun, friendship, and wellbeing.
Come along and enjoy an afternoon of light-hearted music (we are not a rock group!) and support your very own
community choir. Anne Elford
WORTH MATRAVERS
WM PUBLIC TOILETS CONTRACT
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
he Parish Council is seeking refurbishment of the existing Mens, Ladies and Disabled toilets situated in the
Worth Matravers car park. Experienced contractors who
wish to be considered for tendering for these works should
contact the Parish Clerk at worthmatraversparishclerk@
gmail.com giving details of relevant experience and references.
Finance is available for the work which is to be completed in 2015-16.
Scope of the Works -To supply and mechanically fix with
stainless steel fixings a tile backing cement based waterproof
board to all open wall surfaces Alterations to provide direct
mains feed plumbing supply to cisterns and flush urinals
relocating its cistern in attic with cistern miser facilities.
All wall boxing to be removed prior to tiling and replaced
thereafter. Works shall include tiling and associated works
to prepared wall surfaces with tiles to be supplied by the
Parish Council. Any necessary repairs / maintenance to ceilings shall be included as well as for preparing and repainting
wooden boxing after reinstatement post wall tiling.
Roger Khanna, Parish Clerk
T
WORTH MATRAVERS PARISH COUNCIL
Representing Harmans Cross and Worth Matravers
June Meeting
llr Burden (Chairman), Cllrs, Vosper, M Shanks, I Bugler, R Woolford, R Field. R Sandham and County/ District Cllr Lovell were in attendance.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Members of a local Coasteering and Climbing organisation who had been contacted by a local landowner attended
and briefed the PC on these activities as run by their long
established local company. They discussed the visitor growth
and the impact on their company of the recent NT proposals
for managing and licensing the Dancing Ledge and adjoining areas of cliff face and coastal edge. The NT proposed a
maximum capacity and a booking system to manage the local impact of organised attendances by themselves and three
other companies now meeting this commercial demand.
Other individuals groups and organisations including large
school parties were also current visitors. They estimated
there were at least 6000 visitors for this type of activity in
the main summer months with up to 200 at any one time on
Dancing Ledge. It was considered these NT proposals may
well extend and disperse demand especially from individuals
and smaller non commercial groups towards East Man and
Seacombe cliffs in WM parish. The discussion highlighted
that there were potential risks of ad hoc climbing and coasteering use of some of the cliff and coast areas in WM.
CORRESPONDENCE
Cllrs having noted the information provided in the public discussion period expressed their concern as to the lack
of any consultation from the National Trust with WMPC
in developing proposals for licensing and management of
Coasteering and Climbing activities which would affect
Worth Matravers Parish. They noted documentation recently supplied to the PC by email from the NT showing areas of
cliff and coast in the parish which were the subject of the NT
consideration. Cllrs were very critical of the failure of the
NT to take into account current cliff ownerships and historical issues especially at Seacombe. Ad hoc activities appeared
to be increasing with dangerous practices of cliff top roping
to unsecured fence posts having been recently observed. The
existing vehicle access and parking restrictions into WM village which prevented use of the coaches (vehicles of more
than 8 seats) used by these organisations did not appear to
have been considered by the NT. The Winspit road down towards the cliffs was a private road and a locked farm gateway
also used for emergency access for the coastguard service
had recently been observed as blocked by a visiting coach.
The PC asked that arrangements be made to obtain an NT
representative to attend the next meeting..
HIGHWAYS MATTERS
Cllr Sandham updated the PC on the implementation of
the proposals for improved CCTV. Car park surfacing works
to include a new foundation in the centre and waste bin relocation were agreed.
Cllr Woolford updated the PC on the proposed 30mph
for HX and ancillary measures being considered to support
Road Safe enforcement after implementation. The scheme
would go to the Regulatory Committee meeting at DCC in
June. Cllr Lovell asked that interested parties give notice, attend, and speak in the Public Discussion period in support
of these proposals.
The PC noted May meeting in Worth Matravers village
C
The Dubber 13
with DCC officers and agreed the extension of the existing
AAT restrictions and an increase in the limited waiting to
one hour.
PLANNING MATTERS
The PC noted that an Appeal APP/B1225/W/15/3028988
had been lodged with the Planning Inspectorate against the
Refusal to grant consent on - PA 6/2014/0599 Erect 9 affordable dwellings with associated parking and car ports;
form new vehicular access. Land adj. Abbascombe Cottages, Worth Matravers BH19 3LG. The PC agreed to pursue
with the PI their request that the appeal be held as a public
inquiry as the written representation procedure would not
allow proper examination and consideration of so many inaccurate and contested statements made by the developer in
their appeal statement.
The PC noted PA 6/2015/00211 Application for conversion of Agricultural Barn to domestic dwelling Renscombe Farm Renscombe Road Worth Matravers and PA
6/2015/00212 Listed Building consent for conversion of Agricultural Barn to domestic dwelling had been approved by
PDC
OTHER MATTERS
The PC noted receipt of the report and sign off of the
2014-15 Annual Account Statement and Return by the Internal Auditor. The WMPC Annual Audit Return and the Governance Statement for 2014-15 were signed by the Chairman
to be sent to the External Auditor.
Cllrs raised issues about black bag dumping by holiday
visitors in WM at the Green and the WM car park litter bins
and asked the Clerk to take this up with any identified properties. Attention was drawn to the poor condition of the top
style at Eastington and this was to be referred on to the NT.
Cllr Woolford confirmed a meeting with DCC Highways in
June to look at the issue of overhanging and overgrowing
grass and vegetation on the Valley road footpaths from the
Western end to the Ponderosa.
The extension of the highway safety scheme using the
400 small reflectors on roadside fence posts now purchased
was to be pursued with the landowners. It was not anticipated there would be any objections. The next Council meeting
will be held at Worth Matravers Village Hall at 7.30 pm on
Tuesday, 7 July. Contact: worthmatraversparishclerk@gmail.
com, 439044. Roger Khanna, Parish Clerk
Stalls in the Hall
Saturday 11 July 9.30am - noon
Harmans Cross Village Hall
We are promoting craft & produce
& homemade creations of
any description to sell
Hot drinks & delicious cakes for sale
free entry
Sellers can set up from 8.30am onwards
Stall Enquiries to 07769 826994
Don’t miss The Theory of Everything
at HXVH
Tuesday, 14 July 7.30pm
14 The Dubber
The round
David Scott
I
t was with great sadness that we learnt of David Scott’s
death. David was a Churchwarden of St James’, Kingston
for many years and we are deeply grateful for his service,
generosity and support for the Church here in the Purbeck
Hills – we will miss him greatly. Gaynor Burrett
HAVE YOUR SAY
Dear Dubber
Thank you to all who contributed to the Nepal Earthquake appeal by buying small objects at my studio. (Studio 50 Purbeck
Art Weeks). We made £218 in just one week. I have sent a
cheque for that amount to the British Red Cross Appeal.
Do Michell
Dear Dubber
I would like to thank friends in Harmans Cross who have supported me during my illness. There have been many offers of
help in the way of shopping, driving me to appointments, walking the dog etc. etc. Thank you to those who sent cards and
flowers and everyone who visited, you cheered me up no end.
I am now well on the road to recovery and I just want to say I
wouldn’t have got better so quickly without all of you. What a
super place to live.
Marie Evans
Songs & Scones
an afternoon of
light-hearted music
featuring
Harmony Rocks Choir
Wednesday Afternoon
8 July at 2.30pm
Harmans Cross Village Hall
Ticket only entry £5
(including cream tea)
Tickets available from
Spar Shop Harmans Cross,
Choir members, and Sue Smith
on 01929 477148
Grand Benefit Raffle in support of
CODA Music Trust
a charity improving lives
with music therapy
NEWS FROM NOWHERE
‘C
ookie’, as we nick-named our
science master, was probably
young, though not to us, of course,
and this would have been 1943, so
in hindsight he was probably unfit
for military service. If so, that was
why, during one lesson, Mr Cook’s
movements at his raised desk became
strangely unsteady, until he fell to the
floor.
We watched, fascinated, appalled, and with an instinctive
reluctance to touch so remote a figure as a gowned master
lying there, repeatedly striking his head against the fins of
an iron radiator – until Pappin, one of our classmates, ran
to fetch help. Cookie went about the school with a scar visible on a shaven part of his head; and my dismay at my total ignorance of what I should have done led me, some ten
years later, to join the local branch of the St John Ambulance
Brigade. And that’s how, fast-forward another eight years or
so, I met Yvonne, my wife-to-be. Sorry, Cookie – but thank
you.
Before I go on, please, please note that there is NO apostrophe ‘s’ - we were ‘St John’. And what an exciting and rewarding time we had. The Exmouth Division was very unusual in owning three ambulances and taking over the NHS
service each evening and at weekends. We four volunteers
made up The Wednesday Night Squad, and whilst awaiting
a shout (not wanting anyone to be hurt but hoping for some
activity), we practised and practised our first aid training
– to such a level of competence that time and again we won
the annual competition.
These events were stage-managed by Fred Theed, the
daytime ambulance supervisor, and what lengths he would
go to, to challenge the competing teams. He would take over
the local hall, and set up an incident with such realism that
on being admitted to the scene the competitors would instinctively ‘act as you would’. That was the phrase which always concluded the briefing – for example ‘You are passing
the sidings at Exmouth railway station when you hear a call
for help. Act as you would’. On that occasion, as we raced
forward we heard the chugging of a steam locomotive, and
the hall door opened to reveal a length of railway line, complete with sleepers and ballast, and a boy, one of our cadets,
lying white-faced across the track, the sleeve of his severed
arm wet with a mass of blood. Fred had good friends in the
town, including Porky Down, the butcher, and Porky had
provided a sizeable off-cut of beef to make sure that we lads
had – I was going to say ‘something to get our teeth into’ …
but you can perhaps sense the challenge this represented.
We took turns to drive the ambulances, and I recall
among my shouts a lady at a local hotel, suffering from lockjaw – a very distressing condition indeed – and an elderly
gentleman who had been ‘sectioned’ and was to be removed
to what was still known as the asylum. He passed the journey quite amiably, shooting turtles through the windscreen,
as he explained.
There were occasions when speed was called for, with
that typical British arrangement whereby I could (and
sometimes did) go through a red light, on the understanding that if all was well, that was fine, but if an accident resulted I would be held responsible. On that trip, with a lady
critically ill with appendicitis, I established a record time to
Exeter which may still hold good; on the more relaxed journey back, I made a detour to give her husband a chance to
pick up some fish and chips for the family supper. At least
his wife had been taken to a modern hospital. One of our
local cottage hospitals – a delightful, caring place with a fine
view of the sea – had a lift to the first floor, operated by two
ropes which we would haul on to convey our stretchered
patient to the ward.
It was not uncommon for us to return to the ambulance
station only to be handed a slip of paper with details of another job. No radio, no mobile phone, no sat-nav, no blue
lights, no siren, just a shiny bell on the bumper. No searchlight – and very often, in the rainy darkness of a Devon lane,
no idea where ‘Sunnyside’ might be.
Then there were the public duties. Speedway, where at
about 9 pm an excited 6 year-old boy fell from his viewpoint
on a high brick wall. We tidied him up and drove him home,
to his vaguely surprised mother who hadn’t realised he was
out. Theatre duties - and we didn’t turn up in the sensible
green work-suits that you see worn by St John at The Lighthouse – we wore the traditional black uniform with silver
buttons, peaked cap and white gloves. Back-stage at one theatre I was intrigued to read a notice reminding staff that the
message ‘Mr George is in the house’ was a signal to evacuate
in the event of fire.
Gymkhanas – and this will only impress older Dubber
readers perhaps – I was called into the ring to pick up Pat
Smythe, who’d been thrown from her horse and had twisted
an ankle. (While name-dropping, I could add that the lady
in the flat above mine used to take my milk in when I was
out at work. One evening she was replacing a photo on the
mantelpiece, and remarked that I probably recognised her
brother – General Montgomery).
Enough – if the Editor permits, I’d like to return to explain about meeting my bride to be. Roger Free
Saturday 11 July - Sunday 16 August
open every day
11am until 4.30pm
at
Worth Matravers Village Hall
Purbeck Arts & Crafts
Jams, Jellies & Chutneys,
Tea, Coffee, Cakes,
Cream Teas
Purbeck Ice cream
The Dubber 15
We are looking for trustees to join St George’s Pre-school
The Pre-school is thriving but we need support from the local community to keep it going.
Trustees meet 4 times (approximately 10 hours) per year. They make decisions about finance,
staffing and the school environment. You maybe a parent, grandparent or local person interested in
supporting the pre-school which is instrumental in keeping St George’s School successful.
We are also looking for a fundraising coordinator
It is important to maintain the cash flow into the preschool for the added extras for the children.
Last year, we bought outdoor play equipment; this year, we a hoping to buy new computers.
Please contact Vanessa Millman
drvbell@gmail.com
16 The Dubber
WHAT’S ON
EVERY WEEK
July 2015
Folk Dancing
Tues 7.30-9.45pm LMVH
1
7.30pm
LAC Film: The Homesman
LMVH
HX Art Group
Judy 480168
Tues 2-5pm
HXVH
2
9am
The Coffee Pot
St George’s Ch
Life Drawing
Sue Blake 427621
Thurs 2-4pm
HXVH
2
10.30noon
Coffee Junction
Mobile Lib (10.45-11.05)
Post Office (9.30-11.30)
HXVH
LANGTON SCOUTS & GUIDES (Term time only)
7, 14
2pm
Walking for Health
Renscombe CP
Scouts
7
7.30pm
WMPC Meeting
WMVH
8
2.30pm
Songs & Scones with
Harmony Rocks
HXVH
9
9.3011.30
Post Office
HXVH
9
7pm
LMPC Meeting
LMVH
11 July 11-4pm
- 16
August
Purbeck Artists &
Stallholders
WMVH
11
9.30noon
Stalls in the Hall
HXVH
11
12-4pm
St George’s Church Fête
St George’s Ch
11
7.30pm
Orlando Singers
St Mary’s Ch
14
7.30pm
Film: The Theory of
Everything
HXVH
15
6.45pm
Swanage Town Band
Swanage
Bandstand
16
10.30noon
Coffee Junction
Mobile Lib (10.45-11.05)
Post Office (9.30-11.30)
HXVH
16
7.30pm
Organ Duettists
Swanage
Methodist Ch
18
8.30am
Men’s Breakfast
Putlake Farm
21, 28
2pm
Walking for Health
WM Village
CP
23
9.3011.30
Post Office
HXVH
29
6.45pm
Swanage Town Band
Swanage
Bandstand
30
10.30noon
Coffee Junction
Mobile Lib (10.45-11.05)
Post Office (9.30-11.30)
HXVH
John Russ 439455
Mon 6.458.45pm
LM Scout &
Guide HQ
Cubs
Tues 6.30-8pm
LMSGHQ
Beavers
Tues 5-6.15pm
LMSGHQ
Rainbows
Thurs 4.305.30pm
LMSGHQ
Guides
Val Burden 439209
Weds 6.458.45pm
LMSGHQ
Brownies
Thurs 6-7.30pm
LMSGHQ
Explorers
Fri 7-9pm
LMSGHQ
Nicky Taylor 288753
Barbara Bray 480099
Val Burden 439209
Sue Bonfield 427281
Stephen Gadd
07917181525
Church Knowle Fête
Saturday 1 August 2-5pm
In the grounds of
the Old Rectory
COFFEE MORNING
Traditional stalls & games,
children’s activities, vintage
roundabout, pimms tent, hog roast,
cream teas, brass band & grand draw
Proceeds to Church Knowle, Kimmeridge
& Steeple churches, Heroes Haven, KERV &
Friends of Swanage Hospital
IN AID OF CANCER RESEARCH UK
august 2015
Please come and support us
for this our last Coffee Morning!
Bower Cottage,
Coombe,
Langton Matravers,
BH19 3DW
1
1012pm
Coffee Morning in aid of
Cancer Research
Bower Cottage,
Coombe
1
2-5pm
Church Knowle Fête
Old
Rectory,
Church
Knowle
2
6pm
Evening Service
St Aldhelm’s
Chapel
Saturday, 1 August
10-12noon
For information phone 427070
The Dubber 17
Professional Carpet &
Window Cleaning
15 Hillsea rd
swanage bh19 2ql
Telephone 426346
LANGTON MATRAVERS
Village Hall
Large Hall, Kitchen & Memorial Room
available for hire separately or all together
The following activities are held in the Hall:
LM Historical Preservation Society, Folk Dancing,
Dorset Wildlife Trust, Short Mat Bowls, Snooker,
Wutan School of Tai Chi & Moves Fitness.
New members are always welcome
Further details are on the notice boards
outside the Village Hall or ring:
Chairman: 01929 424736 Bookings: 01929 424074
Driveways ◆ Patios ◆ Groundwork
Turfing ◆ Fencing ◆ Walls & Brickwork
All aspects of hard landscaping
We also specialise in hedge cutting & tree care
Call Craig: 07440 390030
stag_paving@hotmail.com
SM Radestock
Quality Decorating
& Refurbishment
Quality Interiors & Exteriors
Handpainted Kitchens
Full House Refurbishments
all work guaranteed, excellent references
work carried out by qualified tradesman
contact Simon on
m. 07973 697435 t. 01929 480491
Harmans Cross, Corfe, BH20
www.radestock.co.uk
www.SootyTheSweep.com
Over 25 Years Personal Experience National
Association of Chimney Sweeps Member 6/627
Any flue swept, Wood Coal Gas Oil Aga Rayburn, All Stoves
Bird nests removed from Chimneys, Nets & Wires fitted.
Cowls, Caps, Vents & Pots fitted. Repointing, Flanching
Ladder work, Fire cementing. No job too small.
Grates, Baskets, Fire Bricks & Fireside accessories
Family business. Professional & Fully Insured
Clean, polite, reliable, friendly & conscientious
01929 427427/ 554700
Available
7 Day & Evening
ALAN THE STONEMASON
01929 481 314
alanthestonemason@googlemail.com
www.purbeckmasonry.com
18 The Dubber
SPECIALISTS IN;
• Refurbishment
• Kitchens
• Extensions
• Alterations
• Loft Conversions
• Carpentry
• Decorating
• Block Paving
• Hard Landscaping
• Drainage
• Mini Digger & Driver Hire
• UPVC windows, fascias & soffits
Swanage Building
SERVICES
Call for a no obligation quote
Telephone: 01929 426079
Mobile: 07966 395188
R J WOOLFORD
PROPERTY
MAINTENANCE
Alterations, refurbishments,
painting & decorating
Free estimates and advice
Tel: 01929 477267
NIGHTINGALES
HOME CARE SERVICE
Nightingales has been providing
care to clients in Purbeck
for over 12 years
We offer personal care tailored
to clients’ individual needs and requests
If you would like to contact us, please telephone:
Alison Frater or Caroline Rainsford
on 01929 480822 or 01929 481625
Mob: 07889 133727
CHIROPODY
Rachel E Ciantar
Registered with the Society
of Podiatrists & Chiropodists
HPC Registered
Home Visits • Clinic Appointments
Comprehensive Foot Care
Diabetic Patient Care • Biomechanics Specialist
Contact: 07979840542
WINDOW CLEANING SERVICES
•
Local art & craft
•
Gallery of sculpture
•
Family activities
•
Tearoom
Kingston Road, Lanton Matravers, Dorset BH19 3BE
01929 439405 info@burngatestonecentre.co.uk
www.burngatestonecentre.co.uk
~ WINDOW CLEANING - REGULAR / ONE-OFF ~
~ GUTTERS & DOWNPIPES CLEANED/EMPTIED ~
~ DECKING,PATIOS & DRIVEWAYS PRESSURE WASHED ~
~ CONSERVATORY & UPVC FASCIA CLEANING ~
Purbeck Everclean
For all enquiries call Dave Ford on
07729 827 188
email purbeckeverclean@aol.com
www.purbeckeverclean.co.uk
Purbeck Everclean. East Street Corfe Castle BH20 5EH. Est 2009
The Dubber 19
‘Solar Energy is the best
investment under the sun!’
B.F.A. Albin
Painter & Decorator
Household Maintenance •
Big or Small Jobs •
Free Estimates •
Discounts for OAPs
Tel : 01929 422763
Mob: 07900 145950
Computer Problems?
PURBECK PRODUCE
For prompt and friendly help call Alan on:
MARKET DAYS
01929 480529 or 07710 835905
Virus and malware removal • PC and Laptop repairs
and upgrades • Wireless router and printer setup
E-mail and internet support • Supply of new PCs
General support and advice
email: alan@ajvcomputing.co.uk
www.ajvcomputing.co.uk
20 The Dubber
Come and buy good quality, local produce
from Purbeck
Purbeck Produce Farmers Market will be held on the
second Saturday of every month in Commercial Road,
Swanage, from 9am to 1pm.
and at Putlake Farm as follows:
21 February, 4 April, 23 May, 29 August, 24 October
LOCAL PRODUCE FROM LOCAL PRODUCERS
www.purbeckproducts.co.uk
10% commission 1st year
Island Cottage 15%
therein
24h online booking
Holidays 28.3 weeks letting average
(no obligation)
We are now accepting new cottages to our
selection of quality holiday cottages in
the Isle of Purbeck.
If you would like to
consider renting
for holidays
please phone
01929 481555
Langton Village Store & Post Office
31 High Street, Langton Matravers, Swanage, BH19 3HA
NEWSPAPERS & MAGAZINES, GREETING
CARDS, FRESH BREAD, FRESH FRUIT & VEG,
OFF LICENCE, DRY CLEANING,
PHOTO-COPYING, FOREIGN CURRENCY
Monday - Friday 7.30am - 1pm & 2pm - 6pm
(closed Monday afternoon)
Saturday 8.30am - 1pm & 2pm - 5pm
Sunday 8.30am-12.30pm
www.purbeckcottageholidays.com
TELEPHONE 01929 475654
Family run company
(est. 1988) with a portfolio
of over 300 properties
& expertise in ...
Dorset Holiday Cottage Rentals
Remove stress of holiday letting using our services:
• We help find properties to buy
• We assist with furnishing for letting
• We handle holiday property management
Thinking of holiday letting?
...contact us
01305 789000 www.dream-cottages.co.uk
MIKE
HARDY
Independent Telephone Engineer
Installations & Repairs
(
DAVE PROSSER
GENERAL BUILDER
EX-BT 36 YEARS EXPERIENCE, SOCKETS INSTALLED
FOR PHONES AND COMPUTERS, REPAIRS AND CABLING, COMPUTER
NETWORK CABLING, HALF BT PRICES!
Telephone 01929 425 252
Professional home visit
hearing care
Award-winning hearing care from
your Registered Hearing Aid
Dispenser.
Call Keeley on 01202 511386
Keeley Salmon RHAD MSHAA
www.keytohearing.co.uk
Mobile: 07966 390399
Tel: 01929 423756
Ex
te
s
all
W
s
en
tio
rd
Pa
Ga
io
ns
ns
Re
p
t
oin
NEW LEAF
GARDENING SERVICE
ing
Dr
w
i ve
ay
s
t
MAINTENANCE & CARE OF LAWNS,
HEDGES, FLOWER BEDS & PONDS.
ALSO PRUNING, PLANTING, CLEARING,
TIDYING & HEDGE LAYING
One off jobs or regular service provided
(
John or Lorna on 439455
or 0788 7952191
The Dubber 21
Andy Lowe Computers
Friendly & Understanding
Free Call Outs
Upgrades ~ Repairs
Computer Speed ups ~ Wireless
Wanted
Properties To Let
Purbeck Lettings is an independent Lettings
Agent specialising in the Purbecks. All our
properties are marketed on a national level and
customer service is of paramount importance.
Tel: 01929 480 597
422453
07884452284
www.purbecklettings.co.uk
kate@purbecklettings.co.uk
ISLE OF PURBECK
GARDEN MAINTENANCE & landscaping
MINI DIGGER AND OPERATOR FOR HIRE
Site / Garden Clearance, Landscaping,
Fencing, Paving, Tree Work,
Groundwork, Drainage and
all Types of Digger Work, Free Estimates
Fully Insured
Simon Harding
TEL: 01929 421462 or 07812104225
Corfe Beauty
07885 589581
Facials · Waxing · Electrolysis
Eyelash Extensions · Brow/Eyelash Tint
Eyebrow Shape · Manicure · Gel Nails
Pedicure · Massage · Aromatherapy
Jane, Alison & Jenny look forward to welcoming you!
Corfe Beauty at Hartland Stud, Soldiers Road,
Norden, Wareham ��������
BH20 5DU
www.corfebeauty.com
Sally Roberts
MCFHP / MAFHP
Foot Health Practitioner
Home Visits
Telephone 421130
Also practising at
Swanage Therapy Centre
Telephone 426506
22 The Dubber