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FROM THE EDITOR
This month the on-
...FROM WHITE TO CHRISTMAS
The year has flown faster than ever and Christmas is waiting round the corner. Once again, The Dubber will be asking the children of St George’s to design a front cover for the December edition... it’s very useful having a school at our midst to call on like this. Let’s hope it stays that way!
MANY THANKS
The Dubber would like to thank Corfe Castle Parish Council for a donation of £100 and Harmans Cross Village Club for its gift of £25.
PACKED EDITION
Once again, there has been a huge number of submissions this month in the run up to Christmas.
I apologise for harsh editing and omissions.
Angela Bell
Cover design thanks to Billy Beck and Burngate’s printmaking workshop
LETTER FROM THE RECTORY
November 2009
Dear Friends
A possible postal strike and the thought of the letters I write in my Christmas cards set me thinking about letters. In spite of the plethora of bills, I still look forward to the arrival of the post.
Admittedly, there have been times when I have opened a letter from someone who is very angry or upset and, even though I have not intended hurt or harm, the words have stayed with me for days. But they have been mercifully few. Or there are those times of suspense or dread, before opening test or exam results. Or, as in the debate about the schools future when letters have been flying about like confetti, there has been the frustration of waiting to receive a reply, which does not come, or receiving one which either misunderstands or dismisses your views.
But I am an optimist and still look forward to the possibility of good news in the post. And it’s doubly good when it is a surprise. Twice this summer I have had letters from visitors who came to church in the summer, thanking us for the welcome and spiritual blessing they received. One young mum wrote: “I just wanted to thank you and your parishioners for your recent kindness to me and my family. My husband contracted meningitis when we were on holiday in Langton. You kindly prayed for him and several parishioners, especially Anne took time to talk to me and offer help. I’m pleased to say that Simon is now fine. I can’t think of a more welcoming village.”
Not unlike some of the letters preserved in the New Testament, which are mixtures of scolding and encouragement, teaching, messages and practical advice. On St Luke’s day, we heard Paul writing to Timothy. ‘Only Luke is with me. When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpas at Troas, also the books and above all the parchments... Do your best to come before winter.’
And the letter ends, with good wishes, as this one does, Good bye (God-
Judith Malins
Priest in charge
Kingston, Langton Matravers, & Worth Matravers
BE A CHORISTER
Salisbury Cathedral Choir’s popular annual open day ‘Be a chorister for a day’ is
on Saturday 14 November. An informal and friendly way for boys and girls in school
Years 2 -
SWANAGE VOTES FOR NEW SECONDARY
Swanage Town Council has joined the call to create a new local secondary school to secure the future of the town, neighbouring villages and our children. At a meeting on Monday 5 October the Council voted unanimously to urge Dorset to opt for educational provision in Swanage and Langton that ‘provides local children with the opportunity at both Primary and Secondary levels to be educated within their own community’.
The news is welcomed by Education Swanage, a group of parents, school staff, governors and business people, who are campaigning for a secondary campus of the Purbeck School in Swanage. They are proving that such a campus would be educationally and financially viable – and could improve education provision across the district.
If you were one of the people queuing up to sign the Education Swanage petition outside
the Co-
Like many parents, the Town Council want assurances that the curriculum at a Swanage campus will be broad enough, but Education Swanage has spoken to local experts who say that pupils could choose from more options under such a plan than at a single large school. In addition, DCC’s own sustainable transport department supports the aims of Education Swanage to secure a secondary school in the town.
Although good progress has been made and DCC appear to be listening, the active support of the wider community is essential and Education Swanage welcomes your help. Together we can convince DCC that a secondary campus in Swanage will not only be viable and sustainable, but vital for the town’s future and better for children across Purbeck.
Please visit our website at www.educationswanage.co.uk where you can find out more, and send your views to the Purbeck Review Project Manager, Rick Perry, by email at purbeckreview@dorsetcc.gov.uk or by post to Rick Perry, Children’s Services, County Hall, Dorchester DT1 1XJ.
Education Swanage
DEMISE OF NATURAL HISTORY CLUB
Sadly, the Purbeck Natural History Club has fizzled out. It began about 40 years ago as the Purbeck Bird Club, at the instigation of Horace Alexander, when similarly interested people chose to meet monthly and exchange reports etc. In those first years an attempt was made to survey the breeding birds of Purbeck and the results were published in the Annual Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society. Sometimes eminent visitors attended meetings but meetings were informal and beginners as well as experts were equally welcomed.
Numbers grew beyond being accommodated in one another’s houses, so permission was sought and granted to use a classroom at Leeson. That was in the days of ‘Buck’. I would like to thank him and subsequent wardens, plus other staff, for facilitating this. Monthly meetings, skilfully chaired by Rees Cox over recent years, usually took the form of an illustrated lecture, but informal chat and reports of sightings remained part of the mix. Often these related to plants, insects, fish and mammals, as well as birds, hence the name change.
Recently, numbers of people attending were too low to justify getting a speaker to travel any distance and our average age went on going up! So, alas, it is over. However, life goes on. Friends of Durlston regularly hold meetings focusing on natural history, the Dorset Trust for Nature Conservation have afternoon meetings in Langton Village Hall and the growth of recording and exchanging sightings on computers is phenomenal.
Wallacker
BRITISH BUTTER IS BEST
Thank you Johnny Rotten! If this bit of farming news has passed you by then and you like I seldom watch ITV. Johnny Rotten... Sex Pistols... Punk... memories of sitting in my room with a record player turned up full volume, a glass of rough Dorset cider in one hand and a cigarette in the other, what has that got to do with farming? Well, nothing, but I thought you might like to know how a young farmer passed his time back in the 70s. Dairy Crest has used Johnny in its latest butter advertising campaign. The result is that Dairy Crest Country Life butter is now the second top selling brand.
To me, it is unbelievable that Lurpak should be the brand leader. It comes from Denmark,
for goodness sake, and I have never liked taste. Don’t get me wrong, I like the Danes,
and when it comes to intensive farming their country is second to none. The third
top-
So get me a great tasting British butter from well cared for British cows. Give me milk from Osmington, butter from Coombe Valley and cream from the Blackmoor Vale. I like to know that my food comes from animals kept to the highest welfare and hygiene standards. I like my food local. So this means choosing food that is produced in Purbeck, Dorset, England and UK, in that order.
Christopher Lees
NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL TRUST
This month we thought we’d take the opportunity to invite you to get involved in our work along the parts of the South Purbeck coast. East Man, near Worth Matravers, is both a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for lowland limestone grassland and part of a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) for the medieval strip lynchets on the hillside.
Without active management this important site would become overgrown with bushes such as gorse. This can reduce the rich variety of habitats and can damage the archaeology of the strip lynchets. Along the stretch of the South Purbeck Coast that the National Trust manages, we must keep a balance between grassland and scrub so that a variety of wildlife habitats are maintained.
This winter as part of our restoration project at East Man we will be carrying out some drainage and ditch work, in conjunction with our tenant farmer Paul Loudoun. This will enable the natural springs on East Man to be used as a water supply for the cattle, which play a vital role in maintaining grassland and preventing the encroachment of scrub.
We will also be cutting and burning some of the scrub on East Man with the help of
our regular volunteers, and we would like to invite more people to come along and
get involved with one of our task days. This is a great chance to participate in
local conservation work, meet people and enjoy a bonfire-
PURBECK ARTISTS & STALLHOLDERS
Purbeck Artists & Stallholders would like to thank everyone who supported us during
the summer at Worth Village Hall. We raised over £1,231 for the Village Hall. Particular
thanks should go to the VH Committee for buying a new vacuum cleaner! Look out for
us again from 5-
Di Quinn
WHERE AM I IN PURBECK?
Where are these things and what on earth (or under it) are they? 
The friendly emus last month were in the pets corner at Norden Farm which, in case you don’t know, is just outside of Corfe on the Wareham road.
Chris Meadows
THANK YOU
The Governors of St George’s School would like to thank the many people who came to our drop in with officers in September. There was a wonderful show of support and it has persuaded the County Council to take our School’s future more seriously. The posters on display and letters written are working changes and pulling our communities together in a show of determination and love for our place and children. However, Dorset County Council still, I regret to say, prefer the option to close our school and send the children to Swanage. We must continue to speak out and defend the right of our children to be educated in such a caring village school until this is put to rest. The Governors have been working very hard behind the scenes to put plans in place which guarantee an excellent education for our children in the future. To support the School’s continuation in Langton please help us in the following ways. If you wish for more information then please check Langton Post Office notice board and others around our locality, the Churches and School where details and leaflets can be found. We have an Action Group that meets frequently. These meetings are open to all so do pop in and find out more.
GIG
We have a fund raising publicity gig with Jim Etherington at the Ship from 8:30pm on Friday 20 November. Come and have fun with us. We need big numbers as it will be covered by media.
OUR VILLAGE
On 24 November we are taking two coaches, leaving approximately 8am, of families and community members to County Hall in Dorchester. We invite as many who can to attend. We have a Landrover and trailer with haybales organised in Dorchester to carry ‘Our Village’ in a carnival type float, to the door of County Hall to present a petition and portfolio to the chair of the committee about to discuss its future. If you would like to take a place on one of our coaches please ring the number below and your place will be reserved. We are asking for a small donation of about £1 per person to help towards the costs. Alternatively do join us there and make your own travel arrangements. We could do with help to decorate it if you are able.
URGENT!
We need everyone to sign our petition. We need at least 1,000. They are widely available to sign. If you wish to take some blank sheets to take to friends and relatives and get 13 people for us apiece, what a help that would be!
If you have not yet written then please send, or better still adapt and duplicate, the letter enclosed to one of the addresses of the decision makers. Address lists are available in the post office, Church and School and some were in the last Dubber. The addresses do change according to the meetings we are aiming to influence.
CONTACTS
Finally, if you feel you have any contacts in media, law, influential groups, then please do let us know. There is a wealth of talent and many connections which we can draw on. The Governors are most grateful for the stream of support which is growing into a river. Let’s have a torrent by mid November! Keep the school at the heart of a great community!
Sarah Painter & the Governors of St George’s School
LANGTON PRE-
A new term has started and we said a fond farewell to over 20 children who joined
the reception class at St George’s from the pre-
We have a friendly, experienced team who provide nurturing childcare, with close
links to the school, church and community. We are just about to start an exciting
project with the Purbeck School to create a mural for the pre-
If you would like to pop in to see us to chat about the pre-
Kelly Fenech
MAGIC DRAGONS
This Mother, Baby & Toddler group meets every Thursday from 1.30-
Kelly Fenech
BURNGATE STONE CARVING CENTRE
It’s another busy month in November at the Burngate Stone Carving Centre, with a variety of courses to introduce you to the art of stone carving.
On 7 and 8 November -
You are always welcome to visit us at the centre to get more information or find out what else we can offer you. It’s a great venue and we are also able to rent out the space, either for your own individual carving needs or for anything else... it’s a versatile building and you even have access to the kitchen to make your own tea and coffee.
We also have special day courses organised by WEA Learners. A History of Metal Mining in South West England by Dr Mick Atkinson and Prof Roger Burt will be held on Saturday 28 November and Saturday 12 December. Please contact WEA Learner Enquiries on 0845 4582758 or the Burngate Stone Carving Centre for more information and enrolments.
And finally, just in case you don’t know, we have a new telephone number –439405. Please contact David or Kelly to find out what the centre can offer you!
Kelly Fenech
NEWS FROM LANGTON MATRAVERS
LM HISTORY & PRESERVATION SOCIETY
The next meeting takes place in the Village Hall on Thursday, 19 November at 7.30pm
when Nancy Grace, the National Trust Archaeologist will give an illustrated update
on the latest excavations at Corfe Castle. All welcome, members £2.50, non-
Rosemary Stevens
A HALCYON WEEK IN LANGTON
This article should have appeared before but because of an internet glitch it’s winging its way round outer space instead of arriving at the Dubber office.
We have received a magnificently illustrated brochure from the Oil Depletion Analysis Centre, (I bet you’ve never heard of it). The age of cheap oil is over. According to that delightfully quirky movement of Transition Initiative Totnes the first oil well was drilled by a man called Drake in Pennsylvania in 1859. In the short space of 100 years we will have discovered and exhausted the world’s oil. We have reached the peak in world oil production and we are already over the hill with that golden bonanza of North Sea oil.
Our two acres of allotments are producing enough food to reduce, even by a very tiny bit, our dependency on oil. The allotments are the result of efforts by the Parish Council and proof that local councils can be more than merely reactive in their own patches. The Council tried to get funding from the Awards For All Lottery but it was turned down. It was prepared to fund the enterprise from its own resources but through a tortuous line from Dorset Community Action to ACRE, (Action with Communities in Rural England) and to DEFRA’s Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund a grant in aid was obtained. Apart from helping the local economy I never thought that living within a mineral extraction area would have such advantages.
The allotments were officially opened on 16 August when upwards of 200 people attended under blue skies and in warm sunshine. On a fine day the south facing allotments are a glorious venue. The opening was conducted with her usual aplomb by the chair of the Allotments Association, Kelly Fenech, and the Vicar, Judith Malins, blessed the enterprise.
In this increasingly materialistic and secular age the Blessing may seem to be merely
a quaint old tradition but these traditions mean a great deal to rural communities
such as ours and probably are envied by many urban dwellers. Our allotment tenancies
run from January to December but in Swanage they run from the time-
I only attend church on high days and holidays and for weddings and funerals but paradoxically I would be very sad to see the church close. I am grateful to that large band of volunteers who maintain it and enable me to opt out of its care.
St George’s School is a Christian faith school inextricably linked to the nearby St George’s Church and the village and its strong cultural traditions have much to do with our determination to do all we can to keep it in Langton. It confers intangible values that we won’t find at a newly built school at Herston. The link actually started in 1846 when what is now the Village Hall was built as a National School. I’m sure a new school would provide an excellent academic education but it wouldn’t capture the heritage and affection that 163 years of history have bestowed on St George’s. There is little point in becoming technically competent if at the same time we become culturally inept.
The Parish Council has been expressing its support for the school by writing to all of those who can influence the decision on its future. It would not be helpful at this stage to list those who have failed to acknowledge our letters.
Norman Priddle
LANGTON MATRAVERS PARISH COUNCIL
Sarah Painter, Chair of the Board of Governors for St George’s First School, said
that the governors wanted to thank the Council for its support, which they believed
had had some effect on County Councillors. The great response to the drop-
The Clerk was instructed to write to the Board of Governors of St George’s school to urge them to enter into a dialogue with the Trustees of the Cothill Educational Trust with the idea of acquiring land from the Old Malthouse School to allow expansion of St George’s.
The Clerk was instructed to write again to the diocese and to send a copy to the bishop to ask for their support in retaining St George’s school in the village.
Widening East Drove -
Windmill Lane -
Allotments
The Allotments Association had reported that some plot holders had asked for the water supply to be left on throughout the winter. It was agreed that this would not be possible because of the danger of the pipes freezing and bursting. It was agreed to turn off the water supply on 1 November.
It was also agreed that the Council would not pay the Allotment Association’s Public Liability insurance for next year, that the annual rent should not be increased next year and that the Council should place an advert in The Dubber inviting applications for the Council’s waiting list for an allotment.
Planning applications this month
Plan submitted by Mr & Mrs Dyer; Erect straw storage barn and covered feed store
at Knaveswell Farm, Knitson, Corfe Castle -
Plan submitted by Mr A O’Connell; Variation of conditions 4 & 6 of PP0744 to allow
the display of plants, shrubs and plant foods externally at Putlake Adventure Farm,
High Street, Langton Matravers -
PDC decisions affecting this parish
Plan submitted by HF Bonfield & Son, Blacklands Quarry, Acton; extend life of extraction
until 2015 -
Plan submitted by Mr C Garner; Raise ridge to facilitate loft conversion, insert
dormer windows and roof light and rebuild garage and porch at ‘April Cottage’, Tom’s
Field Road, Langton Matravers -
The next PC meeting is 7pm, Thursday, 12 November in LM Village Hall.
John Bellucci, Clerk to the Parish Council
WORTH AFTERNOON CLUB
A warm welcome was given to Simon Goldsack of Holme Nurseries at the October meeting. His informative talk began with the geology of our area and continued to advise on how to provide optimum growing conditions for plants in our challenging environment. It was a most enjoyable afternoon.
On 11 November, we shall be having a ‘hands on’ session making table decorations for Christmas, so please bring a small pair of secateurs or scissors.
If you are coming to the Christmas lunch on 2 December please bring £15.50 per ticket to November’s meeting, together with your note of food choices, to be given to the Treasurer.
Rachel Seaton
YOUR VILLAGE NEEDS YOU!
There has been a lot of publicity in recent times about the decline of villages and village life, and Worth Matravers is not immune to that. As you know we are a very special village in an amazing location with spectacular scenery and a striking village centre that reflects the quarrying and farming history of our community. We also have a unique pub, but we are gradually losing other facilities – the Craft Centre, the Post Office and Shop, and probably now the Tea Rooms as well. However, there is, and always has been up to now, a stalwart band of Worth Villagers that get together from time to time, to organise and produce excellent events on behalf of our very special Village Hall. Some are on committees, some are organisers of particular events, others take on the responsibility for running different elements of the events or become enthusiastic helpers on occasions such as our annual Coffee on the Green, and still others show up as members of working parties to publicise, erect and dismantle all the paraphernalia that makes the presentation of these activities so special.
To keep this going we need enthusiastic, dedicated, dynamic people to become committee members and take on leadership or supportive roles of different aspects of the Village Hall and the considerable number of events that we put on for the benefit of the village. It doesn’t have to take a massive amount of time; how much each individual gets involved is up to them, and has to fit in with the other commitments they have in their lives.
The questions for you are these: Are you someone who wants to see the continuation
of village life through village events, village get-
We currently have vacancies on both these committees and are keen to fill them with
enthusiastic, energetic and creative individuals who can maintain or improve on those
who have recently, and reluctantly, had to move on. Are you up for the challenge
of maintaining the very fabric of our village community? If you are prepared to join
us or would like to find out more about it, please contact any of the committee members
– their names are listed on our notice board -
Jack Ross
WORTH MATRAVERS PARISH COUNCIL -
At the October meeting Pam Bayley was presented with a watercolour painting of St Aldhelm’s Chapel, in recognition of her 15 years as Footpath Officer and all she does for the community.
Matters raised at the meeting included, the urgent need for a pavement to HX Village
Hall, flooding of the road outside the Village Hall, drainage work to the south side
of the bridge -
We have received notification from BT that they are closing down a number of red telephone boxes in Purbeck, due to little usage. BT will remove the telephone equipment and the boxes can then be purchased for £1. If anyone is interested in purchasing a box please contact the Clerk 439194 for information. The boxes for sale include HX, Acton and Kingston. Please note the telephone box on the green at WM is NOT affected, and will continue in use.
In October, a long unseen portrait of Benjamin Jesty, was unveiled at Dorset County Museum in Dorchester. Members of the community were invited to a special preview. In 1774, Jesty performed the first validated smallpox vaccinations on his own family. He moved to Downshay in 1797 and is buried in Worth churchyard. The exhibition ‘Benjamin Jesty: Dorset’s Vaccination Pioneer’ runs at the museum from 26 October to February 2010.
Negotiations are ongoing with the owners, over the proposed rent increase for HX car park. The future of Swanworth Quarry, once Tarmac have completed extraction, is being discussed with PDC and a public meeting will be held in the new year for everyone to express their views. Cllrs Burden, Larthe and myself attended a planning training session at PDC. Our accounts for 2008/09 have been signed off by the auditors.
Planning applications this month
Sunnybank, WM. Amended plan to chimney pots showing two pots per chimney. -
TPO Valley Rd, HX. Reduce Oak Tree by 30%. -
The next meeting is on Tuesday 3 November at 7.30pm at WM Village Hall.
Joyce Meates, Chairman
KINGSTON NEWS
Nothing world shattering seemed to have happened in my brief absence, for which I am very grateful.
Harvest has been the feature of the past month. The service was well attended. The
church was beautifully decorated with flowers and produce by Sue Ireland and her
helpers. By Monday evening, the church had been transformed. One long thin table
stretched from the West door to the Chancel steps and it was covered in green and
white squares; Sue Ireland’s work again, amongst many other things which she did
for the supper. It looked like a medieval banqueting hall; I hasten to add that the
behaviour of the diners did not try to compete with their forebears – it was all
very decorous. The main courses were cooked by the Scott Arms -
They also supplied plates and cutlery which they washed up. This was a terrific bonus to the organisers! We had a record attendance of 58 of all ages. It was good to see Simon from the pub there with his family. There was a good atmosphere and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. We need to thank our auctioneer, Simon Philips, for getting through the sale of the produce so efficiently and raising £64. Thanks are also due to Peter and Cynthia Buckle for all their efforts before, during and after the event. They raised £89 from the raffle. Peter has a knack for getting money out of people!
The same few names keep coming up with regard to organising things in the village. There is no monopoly. Those involved at the moment would gladly welcome help and ideas from others. Do not be afraid, volunteer! Have ideas!
We are pleased to welcome newcomers to the village – Mick and Dodie Gould. They have come from West Sussex to retire in Foreman’s Cottage. Mick still does some consultancy work, but has time to be a volunteer on the Swanage Railway. He used to come to Swanage on holiday as a boy and they have always visited the area as a family. We hope that they will be happy here.
Poor Dave Dennis is suffering from a very bad hip. He went for tests in Poole and was told that they could not do the operation there and that he would have to go to Bournemouth and start all over again. He has no idea when he will be operated on. We wish him well, at this difficult time.
To keep you going through the dark nights, there is the prospect of a Christmas party in the Scott Arms. Watch out for the date in the next Dubber.
George Pitman
SAD DAY FOR MAYDAY SINGERS
There will be an afternoon of ‘Music for Remembrance Day’ on 15 November in Kingston Church. In true Dave Cook style the music for the service will be led by excellent string and brass players as well as the MayDay Singers. It will be a sad day, however, for the singers, as it will be Dave’s last time conducting them.
Nearly 20 years ago, MayDay was formed to sing from Langton Church tower at 6am on
1 May -
We owe many thanks, too, to Di Cook, who has filled up her (or is it Dave’s?) wardrobe with music and kept careful track of it, concert by concert, over the years.
We hope to find someone to take over the baton so that MayDay can continue to give concerts (anyone out there?). In the meantime, we look forward to seeing you at Kingston.
Sue Haysom
FOUNDATION STONE
Glen Bower and Joan Hollister, the village’s longest serving residents,
supported by the Village Hall Management Team
at the laying of the Foundation Stone of the new Harmans Cross Village Hall on 14 October
HARMANS CROSS RESIDENTS’ CLUB
One October Club Night attracted members and guests to a Pub Quiz devised and compered by David Hollister, and Keith Fisher. After 10 rounds, and despite being only fourth at the interval, the ‘Spartans’ team of Sue & Sylvester Smith and Jo & Nigel Edmonds beat five other teams to win a £5 bar voucher and a bottle of wine. Watch this space for similar special events in the future.
In the last two weeks, the Residents’ Club has run a bar for Winter Warmers, the
Village Club’s ‘Call My Bluff/Just a Minute’ evening (our best night on the bar to
date) and the following fund-
The next few Club Nights at the village hall from 7.30pm to 10.30pm are: 30 October, 13, 20 & 27 November and 11 & 18 December. A special party night is planned for the last Friday before Christmas.
Nigel Edmonds, Chairman
WAY TO SUPPORT YOUR VILLAGE STORE?
Our 2008 Parish Plan asked residents to actively support the (then) recently opened SPAR convenience store in Harmans Cross. Last month, three couples were invited to another couple’s house in the village for a ‘SPAR Challenge’ dinner party. This idea was the brainchild of Sue Smith and Sheila Wilson.
The rules for the evening stated that everything to be consumed had to be bought from the village’s SPAR shop including any consumables brought by the guests. The only concession was that any existing supply of basic store cupboard ingredients could be used so long as they were also available from the shop. We discovered that you can order specific vegetables, lamb, beef, pork and even fish from the SPAR shop by giving a few days’ notice, subject to availability – not a lot of people know this!
At the first dinner, pre-
Nigel Edmonds
HASH HOUSE HARRIERS SCORE A HIT
A bright and breezy October Sunday witnessed the colourful invasion of over 45 Poole
based Hash Harriers who ran, sauntered and walked a cross country course before arriving
back at the Village Hall, suitably tired, hungry and thirsty. Just over £250 was
raised for New Hall Funds. This event was the first of what could become a regular
one. The day was ‘rounded-
Alan Stephenson
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JUDY!
At the Winter Warmers Lunch on 14 October,
Judy Robson was called away from her ‘behind the scenes’ duties
and, in a surprise presentation, was asked to blow out the candles on her birthday cake!
HARMANSWORTH CHALLENGE
The gauntlet was thrown down at last year’s Call My Bluff night held at Worth Matravers
when the home team won the trophy again! The Village Club picked it up with their
usual style on behalf of Harmans Cross and what a night it was -
Jo Edmonds
MODEL RAILWAY GROUP
At our October meeting, we were pleased to see Mr Butler from Harmans Cross who exhibited
a scale model of the Waverley. He lifted part of the deck to reveal the white wicker
chairs in the bar and the tables in the dining room. Colin and Rita Caddy displayed
some 00 gauge private owner wagons. Terry Jenkins, who now lives in Harmans Cross,
set up a Hornby-
Robin Brasher
HELPERS’ PARTY
Following the successful August Bank Holiday Field Day, the Village People at Harmans Cross followed up with a great evening Pig Roast and dancing to Hardy’s Footsteps, for close to 100 helpers, families and friends at Quarr Farm on 10 October.
At the party, Field Day organiser, David Hollister, revealed that the final sum raised was £9000 – a great contribution to the New Village Hall funds, considering the economic climate. Chairman Richard Bullock thanked all concerned.
Alan Stephenson
DORSET SMUGGLERS AT AGM
As well as the important ‘matters of the day’ for the community, attendees at this
year’s AGM on Tuesday the 10 November will be treated to a talk on Dorset Smugglers.
Chairman Richard Bullock with Roger Tucker, will cover the progress on the New Village
Hall, as well as new committee members, the results of the annual fete and financial
matters. Following an ‘Open Meeting’ question time and refreshments, Roger Guttridge
who is a descendant of some of Dorset’s most notorious smugglers and was brought
up with family legends about their deeds and misdeeds, will present his talk. Roger
will trace the history of smuggling from its modest beginnings to the height of the
trade in the 18th and 19th Centuries, when armed gangs up to 300 strong terrorised
the country as they ruthlessly defended their cargoes of spirits, wine, tea and tobacco.
Roger Guttridge is well-
Alan Stephenson
THE VILLAGE CLUB
In September we welcomed Wendy Damen who gave an interesting talk on vitality for
life and the beneficial results that acupuncture can achieve. As long as any terror
of needles can be overcome of course! The coach trip to Winchester Mill on the 26
November still has tickets available – call Eileen (481063). Cost is £10 members,
£12 non-
Jane Rogers
TEAR FUND DONATIONS
When Woodside Chapel was a place of worship the members gave generously to the Tear Fund. In 1982, Jack Foley (the founder of Woodside Chapel) asked if I would take responsibility for all monies given to the Tear Fund. I gladly agreed and a designated Tear Fund account was opened.
Despite the closure of the chapel in 2000, a small number of the members continued
to contribute and the bank account was re-
During the time the account was open we paid in some £10,950 and I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to all those who supported us during this time. I am now personally giving to the Tear Fund by Direct Debit and if any Dubber readers wish to donate in this way the address of the charity is Tear Fund, 100 Church Road, Teddington, TW11 8QE.
J. E. Hollister
Old men forget and some of us I am afraid were not that hot at remembering even when we were young. Personally, I find that those times when it is important to remember something are the very times that I don’t listen. Most commonly this occurs when a stranger tells me their name. We all know how embarrassing it is to forget a name, so we make a great effort to implant it in our memory cells, yet two minutes later it has vanished without trace. Roughly the same thing happens when I stop the car to ask for directions. Having given my informants profuse thanks, I see them in the wing mirror gesticulating in distress as I drive off in the wrong direction and realise that I have been so preoccupied by their appearance or possibly their personal relationships that I only listened to a very small part of what they so painstakingly told me.
Things get especially bad at weather forecast time. I wait impatiently to hear the forecast for the South only to have my mind wander at the crucial moment and return just in time to learn it is raining yet again in Ireland. Even the BBC acknowledges this is a problem and is currently changing the way it presents the forecast to make it more memorable. I am sure that by now someone has transformed this inability to pay attention into an impressive medical condition, (negative focus syndrome?) worthy of a pill rather that a clip round the ear, which was generally the recommended cure at school.
Teachers would occasionally give me their individual attention in a doomed effort to help me grasp some simple maths principle. I remember reassuring them through the fog which always descended on these occasions, that all was now perfectly clear and at last I understood, though in truth my mind had marched off elsewhere.
The only consolation is that I have survived despite these inadequacies and remain I suppose living proof that one can just about get by, despite a tendency to forget names and directions and not be able to add up. I remember thinking that old men not only forgot things but were pretty lazy as well. They always seemed to be sitting down and being the last to offer help when needed. I now know why. In fact after the age of seventy sitting down is an essential part of keeping going.
One has to husband ones resources just as I used to do years ago, running my car down the hill to start it rather than use up the valuable juice one hoped still remained in the battery. Sitting down has the additional advantage that it reduces to an absolute minimum the amount of possible gardening.
At weekends in Swanage the air is rent with the buzz of strimmers and mowers mostly
being applied to lawns where no blade of grass ever dares venture more than an inch
above the ground. Many Swanage lawns were built on ex-
I doubt whether the proud householders who hurtle down from London to flatten their bit of Purbeck pasture would recognise my lawn as a lawn at all for the air round my house is seldom rent by flymos or anything louder than the buzzing of insects punctuated by the occasional snore. Fortunately, I have got past the age when I want to impose my personality on piece of ground which left to its own devices has a perfectly adequate personality of its own.
Weeds are a great deal more interesting than cultivars which are all head and brash colour. Also, garden centre exotics don’t sustain as many insects. Penny, who took over this column in August, trapped and then released an amazing number of moths. There were far more than I ever knew existed, but I suspect they were only a small proportion of what is around.
So enjoying the country as it is rather than energetically trying to pummel it into something different, conserves energy and enables one happily to snore through yet another day.
Tony Viney
WEDDING CONGRATULATIONS
Janine Drayson and Toby Hoad were married at Worth Matravers village Church on Saturday, 26 September. It was a truly magical occasion. A horse and cart, decorated with ivory roses and hedgerow flowers, collected Janine, Eliza and Collette from the Hyde. Neighbours and family waved them off up the hill to Worth.
The party arrived at the Church to the sound of bells and they were warmly greeted by Reverend Judith. The trio walked up the aisle to the folksy sounds of the fiddle and the whistle. Proud mum, Collette, gave her daughter away to Toby. There were readings by Liz (Toby’s mum) and Jack and Eloise Hoad (Toby’s nephew and niece). After the ceremony, rice and rose petals were thrown over the bride and groom by children, friends and family. As a surprise, Janine’s horse Zoe was brought to Worth Green, with mane and tail decorated with ribbons and wild flowers. After group photos on the Green the bride and Groom returned to Toms Field Campsite by horse and cart. Photos were taken out on the fields with the Purbeck Hills and Swanage Bay as a backdrop. The marquee and tables decorated with Old Man’s Beard, baskets of Honesty, autumn dried hedgerow flowers, and allotment produce created a rustic, homely feel. Willow cartwheels with fairy lights hung high from the roof of the marquee.
Family and friends tucked into a hearty Ploughman’s feast, and fairy cakes…. then the speeches. During the evening bands played and guests danced to the Skiffle and Black Sheep band. Paul’s BBQ fed the hungry. At the end of the evening tired but happy children and parents retired to tepees and tents. The bride and groom to their pie shaped cosy yurt, sprinkled with scented red rose petals…
Janine and Toby’s families would like to say a huge thank you to everyone for making this such a memorable and happy wedding day. Please accept this as our thanks. We wish Janine and Toby every happiness.
Tim, Liz, Collette, Richard & families
THANKS
David Pope and all the family wish to thank all those kind neighbours, friends and relatives who sent tributes, messages of condolence and flowers to ‘Light House’, Tomsfield Road on the occasion of June’s death. Also our profound gratitude to those who visited or helped nurse June in her last illness and to those who sang so well at her funeral service. June (with a little help from David) were Dubber staplers for 16 years.
David Pope and Family
DID YOU KNOW?
Having just started reading the new much-
Lady Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-
Whilst transcribing the names on the two graveyards in Kingston, a copy of which is in the new church of St James’, I discovered some interesting facts. To the left of the gate on entering the old churchyard there is a communal grave with an inscribed monument to some of the people I have written about above.
Interred in this grave are William George Frederick Cavendish-
Patricia Jones
Dear Dubber
I am writing to air my concern about the advertising boards placed on and around the village green every summer and which are now becoming a regular feature. If you agree with my concerns please write to Joyce Meates at the Parish Council and ask her to take this matter up on your behalf.
Worth Resident
Dear Dubber
Has it occurred to the ‘planners’ that the Middle School could become a good technical academy? Instead of denuding Langton and Swanage of their local primary schools this could be a valuable asset to growing children whose talents are practical rather than academic. Primary schools are important because of smaller classes, local bonding for children as well as young parents. To close Langton School would strike a lethal blow at the village already suffering from empty holiday cottages for eight or nine months of the year.
Elizabeth Matthews, ex-
Letters should be emailed to ed@thedubber.co.uk
Anne Meadows’ Pumpkin Bread
18 ozs plain flour
23 ozs sugar
2 tsps bicarbonate of soda
1½ tsps cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp salt
20 ozs shredded pumpkin
4 eggs
8 fluid ozs sunflower oil
5 fluid ozs water
1 tsp vanilla essence
Oven: 175˚C, 350˚F, Gas 4
Mix first 6 ingredients. Add pumpkin, eggs, oil and water and stir until smooth,
then add vanilla essence. Line 4 x 1lb loaf tins and divide the mixture between them.
Bake for 45-
If you have a recipe that you’d like to share, please send it to ed@thedubber.co.uk.
