WELCOME! I am writing this from a kitchen table in Corfu, where I am on holiday. It’s raining, the sky is overcast and the pigeons are cooing in a rather dispirited way. I could be in England. I must remember never to book a holiday the week I put the magazine together. While my husband is enjoying coffee in the marina, I am cutting and pasting like a demon. The more I do this job, the more I realise what an absolute star Aileen Bishop has been over the years. It’s just as well it’s not hot, otherwise I’d be very resentful.
There’s a new cover this month. It’s one of my pictures taken from Lewesdon Hill and overlooking the village. I was rather hoping for some photographic contributions from readers, after being told the magazine needed freshening up, but no- one has sent me anything. Sad face. So, here’s a reminder: if you have a high resolution, upright, seasonal photograph for the coming months, which will look good in black and white, please email it to the address below. I can’t pay you for it, but I’ll give you a picture by-line.
There are lots of community activities going on all over our patch this month, which you’ll see from the reports and adverts. There’s a bit of a change to fun weekend this year but we hope you’ll enjoy it. And my friend, Mandy Crane, and I would love to see you on the afternoon of Sunday 18 June for a village picnic on Bernards’ Place from 3.30pm. Read on for more details. Margery Hookings
Date for final copy: 12 June for July issue. [email protected]
TEAM MINISTRY Team Rector: Rev David Baldwin 862150 (day off Friday) The Rectory, Clay Lane, Beaminster. Team Vicar: Rev Jo Neary 867816 (day off Friday) The Vicarage, Orchard Mead, Broadwindsor. Team Curate: Rev Daniel Ingles 867215 (day off Thursday) Orchard Cottage, Mosterton.
BROADWINDSOR CHURCH NEWS In June, as part of the village fun weekend we have traditionally hosted a church service focusing on the life of our village. We sing familiar hymns and give thanks for the wide range of activities and societies in Broadwindsor. We also pray for the needs of our village – as we do every week during worship. Do join us in church at 11am on Sunday 11 June to celebrate Broadwindsor.
Did you know that we run an after-school church club on Tuesday afternoons in Broadwindsor school hall? Children come straight from school, have a drink and snack and then explore a bible story in various creative ways: art, craft, Lego, activities, drama. We worship together at the end; singing action songs, listening to a story, discussing and then praying. Usually we are the largest congregation of the week in the village, with children, siblings, parents and helpers all finding out more about God and faith. Our marvellous team of volunteers enable the club to happen from October to May each academic year. We have a great team but we always welcome new volunteers. If you enjoy spending time with young people and like getting messy and creative, then do get in touch.
Thank you to those who enabled GraveTalk to take place in the pub in May and to those who ran the Christian Aid coffee morning. Thank you to everyone who is involved in maintaining the churchyard – it looks fantastic. Finally, thank you to the after-school club volunteers on completing another wonderful year. Thank you for your enthusiasm, skill and effort. With every blessing, Jo
BROADWINDSOR GROUP PARISH COUNCIL The parish council held its Annual General Meeting on 8 May and I am pleased to report that Councillor Rowland Hibbard was duly elected to serve as chairman and Councillor David Leader was elected as vice-chairman for the period 2017-2018. It certainly was a well-attended meeting with just under thirty members of the public joining us. Thank you to all for coming along and for providing such informed and thoughtful discussion.
The council will shortly be starting its restoration programme for fingerpost signs, many of which are in an extremely poor state of repair. There are many to do, so the council will prioritise approximately five each year. We hope you agree that they are an important part of the village’s cultural heritage and should be maintained.
Please do check our website and Facebook pages for updates. The next meeting of the council will take place at 7.30 pm on 12 June at Comrades Hall. Please do join us, members of the public and press are very welcome to attend. The agenda will be posted on village noticeboards and online. As always, please do get in touch if I can be of any help. Helen Cudmore, Clerk to the Council 01308 488440 [email protected]
BROADWINDSOR COMRADES HALL At our AGM in April, we said goodbye and thanks to Nigel Budden, Charles Lawrence and Sue and Norman Eccles, who have provided much support and hard work on the committee, Nigel with Moviola, Charles as treasurer, Sue as secretary and Norman with his legal expertise.
Thanks also to Chris Newall, our chairman of several years, who also stepped down from the committee.
We are also very grateful to Lesley Tibballs, who has done a fantastic job as secretary, and despite moving to Drimpton, has agreed to continue as secretary until we can enlist the support of someone in Broadwindsor to undertake her hall secretarial duties. So I would welcome any community-minded person, who would be prepared to undertake the secretarial duties, to call me on 867638. Andrew Hookings, Chairman
BROADWINDSOR PRIMARY SCHOOL www.broadwindsor.dorset.sch.uk
The Year 6 pupils completed their SATs in May and now look forward to their residential trip in June at Butlin’s, Minehead. Their three days will be filled with activities and topped off with a ride on a steam train from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard.
Whilst the SATs take place it is an opportunity for our younger children to enjoy our local community, so they marched up to the top of Lewesdon Hill, with wellies on and fruit in the rucksacks, looking at the wonderful bluebells and the sheep in the fields. Another day was spent at Axe Valley Wildlife Park just outside Axminster.
The Year 4 pupils travelled to Cardiff at the end of April for their residential trip, together with three other schools - Salway Ash, Parrett & Axe and St Mary’s Academy schools. The trip included visits to @Bristol, The Rhondda Heritage Park, Cardiff Castle and Bristol Zoo.
There are many more activities planned, all of which enrich the core curriculum that the children follow. We look forward to a whole school trip to Magdalen Farm; sports events and tournaments; charity fundraising for school and for Unicef and the Yr5/6 Choral Concert. Nigel Arnold
BROADWINDSOR WI Broadwindsor WI held their AGM on 20 April. The first job was to elect the officers. The present committee consists of six people. Our very efficient secretary, Ann, and our equally efficient treasurer, Lynne, were happy to continue for another year with Sue, who is doing invaluable work to ensure that our Centenary Tree will be planted, and Donna, MCS representative, as committee members. Camille, press spokesman, is leaving the committee to become president of Bridport Inner Wheel. Brenda was again elected as president.
2016/17 was an enjoyable year with theatre trips, outings to National Trust properties and very interesting speakers on many topics. Thank you to our planners - Megan, Dorothy and Lynne.
Once business was concluded we enjoyed a glass of wine as member Pat Wallis told us of her life as a midwife starting in the sixties - think Call The Midwife. Pat also had a bike and fell off, not surprising when she had to carry three heavy bags, also lots of change for phone calls from red telephone boxes. She talked about the sad stories of stillborn babies who still have to be registered; horror stories of a 14 year old not knowing whether the father of her baby was her own father or her brother; amusing stories such as mother of a two-day-old baby bringing in the coal whilst baby screams and husband/father sits with feet up and happy stories babies born to loving parents. Midwives are responsible for mothers throughout their pregnancy and for six months after the birth. Camille Newall
BROADWINDSOR AND DISTRICT OVER 60S’ CLUB Annette Nunn, chairperson, opened the April meeting with the reminder about the first coach trip of the year to Bath in May. This month’s trip will be to Salisbury on Tuesday 13 June, leaving Comrades Hall at 9am and Mosterton Hall at 9.10am. We were also reminded that the Strawberry Cream Tea will be on Thursday 22 June and volunteers were requested to supply scones for the traditional event - big ones please! On behalf of the club, Annette then proffered congratulations to Mary Rousell, a member from Mosterton, for the long service (20 years) award she had received from the Dorset County Amateur Swimming Association. We were pleased to hear that Fran Waters is making good progress after her operation.
Annette then introduced our speaker, Carol Madigan, the community involvement co-ordinator for Mountjoy School, for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Carol explained all the many varied and different aspects the staff have to undertake and the many differing needs of the children. The original school was in Bridport from 1967 then re- located to the new building in Beaminster in 2012. The ages of the children range from 3 to 19 years of age and although the original building was for 48 pupils the total can be 61! The many pictures Carol provided gave us an insight of how the children are helped to achieve their full potential in life. Routine and consistency is very necessary for the children, communication of many differing kinds - vocal, visual and tactical - are very important as well as behaviour management and moral, cultural and spiritual education. Hydrotherapy, trampolining and swing therapy is also used and trips to the donkey sanctuary, riding schools and Magdalen Farm, to name a few, are places used to assist in the children’s education. Chancery House, Oh Crumbs and Groves also provide work experience for many older pupils. This talk gave us a brilliant understanding of how the school and staff work to assist the less advantaged children and the staff must feel very uplifted and proud to work for such a useful establishment.
This month we had a better response for Flower of the Month and the cup was won by Colin Case with a narcissus. There were also two tulips and a very strange little plant (common name mouse plant) which really captured my imagination! Thank you for your exhibits and don't forget to keep up the good work! Alice Moule
BROADWINDSOR FUN WEEKEND 10 & 11 JUNE Two days of fun are set for 10 & 11 June. It kicks off with the big breakfast at Comrades Hall on the Saturday, followed by afternoon tea on Bernards’ Place and then a barn dance in the hall – entry just £2 and children under-12 go free. On Sunday, there’s a village praise service in the church at 11am and then the afternoon pram race, organised by the pub. Please see advert for full details.
Do come along and join in – it’s all about fun for the village and raising money for local causes in the process. And if you’d like to help, please get in touch. This year, we’re very grateful to Broadwindsor Craft Centre, Symonds & Sampson and Kitson & Trotman who will be providing us with hampers to raffle on the Saturday. See you on Fun Weekend. We in the Jubilee Group are looking forward to it. Margery Hookings, Joint Secretary
BROADWINDSOR APRIL RAINFALL Rainfall recorded in Orchard Mead, Broadwindsor. April 2017: 35mm 1.377 inch April 2016: 62mm 2.440 inches April 2015: 28mm 1.102 inch Peter Caldwell
DRIMPTON NEWS
Christian Aid Coffee Morning A shortage of volunteers this year meant that the door-to-door collection was not possible but a good turnout at the Village Hall on 29 April enjoyed a well-stocked produce stall as well as a raffle. Many thanks to all who supported the event, which raised £245 for Christian Aid.
Lights, Camera - Murder Mystery The hall was abuzz with an extremely appreciative audience. The cast really made their characters believable and the audience engaged fully in the story and investigation of a tale full of clues and red herrings. Eleven ‘teams’ packed the village hall and, after a series of questions (and a hearty Drimpton meal!), three teams correctly deduced the murderer and the cast decided which team got the prize for the best deduction.
St Mary’s Church, Drimpton - 100 Club Draw May 2017 Number Name Prize 1st Prize 3 Mrs R Coates £15 2nd Prize 61 Mrs J Baldwin £10 3rd Prize 6 Mrs J Beck £5 4th Prize 25 Mrs V Watts £2.50 Norman Marsden
CLAPTON, WAYFORD, DRIMPTON & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY This year, to celebrate spring and new life in our gardens, we decided that our April meeting would be a Spring Show. We awaited the meeting with some trepidation wondering if we would get many entries. We need not have worried - members filled Drimpton Village Hall with spring flowers, wonderful flower arrangements and delicious Easter biscuits. The event was so successful it's likely to become an annual feature on our society's calendar.
After members had arranged their exhibits, we all sat down and enjoyed a glass of wine (or two) and enjoyed a pleasant evening socialising while exchanging the occasional horticultural tip. Meanwhile, Ian Hallett was busy with the difficult task of judging all the entries, following which he gave a very useful account of how he reached his decisions. A big thank you to Ian for his hard work - we can all look forward to an even higher standard next year.
Congratulations to Barbara Wright who won the trophy for most points in show. Best exhibit in show went to Christine McPherson for a beautiful vase of three multi-headed daffodils. Mary Wilson came first in the cookery section with a plate of four delicious Easter biscuits.
Our next meeting is on Wednesday 21 June when Michael Jordan is giving a talk entitled Fungi. Michael Jordan presented the Channel 4 series, Mushroom Magic, in 2012. He is the author of The Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe, founder and chairman of the Association of British Fungal Groups (ABFG) and is recognised as a UK expert on fungi. He has also written and talks about how to identify edible fungi.
This meeting is not just for gardeners but also for cooks, foragers, and anybody who was a Hippie in the 60s. This is a rare opportunity to hear an acknowledged expert talk about these fascinating organisms. Non-members are welcome to attend for a small admission fee of £1. It’s at Drimpton Village Hall, 7.15 for 7.30pm. Martin Rowan-Robinson
BURSTOCK NEWS Our Easter Day Service was well attended at Burstock when we welcomed Canon Alastair Wheeler to lead our service. A good collection was received in thanks to our retired partner priests who help lead our worship. A big thank you to our ladies for decorating the Church so beautifully.
After a quite month in Burstock, we are busy planning our events over the summer. Be sure to make a note on the calendar. First is our Big Strawberry Tea, which this year will be held at Manor Farm Burstock on Sunday 2 July, by kind invitation of the Case family. See advert for details.
Our Annual Concert and Supper will be held at St Andrews Church on Saturday 15 July, when Hilary Kenway will bring her pupils to sing for us. We have enjoyed listening to many of them in past years and note their progress. Details to follow next month.
Harvest Festival and Lunch will be held on Sunday 17 September, Harvest Service at St Andrews at 11am followed be Harvest Lunch at The Comrades Hall, Broadwindsor, served from 12.30pm.
Our flower and cleaning ladies for June are Mrs Snell and Mrs D Ewings. John Hansford
BLACKDOWN NEWS We celebrate our Patronal Festival on Trinity Sunday, 11 June at 7pm with a Eucharist. Please join us.
If anyone would like to help keep the churchyard tidy or be on the cleaning or flower rota this year, please contact Philip (01460 30661/30517). Many hands make light work.
Due to a snap General Election, I have been informed that Thursday 8 June will be the last date that voting will be held at Blackdown Village Hall. Whist falls either side of this date, so Blackdown welcomes them on Thursday 1 and 15 June at 7.30pm.
The nuisance of fly tipping has reoccurred in Blackdown, with rubbish being dumped along Speckets Lane, which was soon removed after being reported. Once upon a time it was possible to take a van and trailer to either Crewkerne or Bridport and recycle bulky household waste. Now both need permits if you use a van, which excludes Dorset residents using Crewkerne. Bridport also no longer lets you tow a trailer behind a van due to space restrictions, which seems an odd thing to say as you do not need a permit if you use a caravan, mobile home, campervan or minibus to take your rubbish to the centre. If you do have a trailer to tow behind your car it must be no bigger than 6ftx4ft (1.8m x 1.2m). Why is nothing straightforward anymore? Helen Doble
SIDMOUTH FOLK FESTIVAL As in previous years, a coach has been booked to take us to and from the festival. The coach will leave Broadwindsor Square at 10am on Sunday 6 August, and bring us home, leaving Sidmouth at 9.30pm.
This annual event is very popular, especially with folk from our community. Last year we almost filled a coach, so be sure to book your seat soon. Please add your name to the list of those attending, either at The White Lion, Broadwindsor, or The Royal Oak, Drimpton, or call me on 867638. Please pay £10 to reserve your seat on the coach, and book early to avoid disappointment. Andrew Hookings
BROADWINDSOR JAMMERS I still can't quite believe that my little group, Broadwindsor Jammers, have been selected to perform at the Street Party on the opening day of this year’s Beaminster Festival on Saturday 24 June. We are one of three groups performing from 5pm - 9pm so come along, like many of my neighbours in Hursey, and enjoy a fun evening of musical entertainment. Geoff Kerr
VILLAGE PICNIC ON BERNARDS’ PLACE
Come along to Bernards’ Place, Broadwindsor, on Sunday 18 June. Bring a picnic and just enjoy each other’s company. It’s part of the Great Get-Together, which the two of us heard about independently and both thought what a great idea for the village. The Big Lunch event takes place annually and this year, the organisers have moved it to the weekend of 16-18 June to coincide with The Great Get- Together in memory of Jo Cox, the MP who was murdered last year.
In her first speech to parliament, Jo said: “We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.”
So come along to our village green from 3.30pm on Sunday 18 June - just bring your own food and drink and chairs and rugs to sit on. Margery Hookings and Mandy Crane
‘Oscars’ Summer Lunch Drimpton Village Hall Sunday 11 June from 12 noon Prize for the best appropriately dressed lady and gentleman See what it’s like to walk on the red carpet! Put your glad rags on and have some fun! Two course lunch with wine £12. Ring Viv 868005 or Rosemary 867694 to book your place HAZEL’S ANNUAL CREAM TEAS DRIMPTON VILLAGE HALL Saturday 24 June 3 to 5 pm
£5 (under 12s, £2.50) *Raffle* *100 Club Grand Draw*
Hosted by Friends of St. Mary’s Church Proceeds for St. Mary’s Church
St Andrews Church, Burstock Big Strawberry Tea Manor Farm, Burstock July 2 at 3pm Adults £6 Under 15s £3 Raffle In aid of Burstock Church Tower Repairs
VILLAGE PICNIC BERNARDS’ PLACE, BROADWINDSOR Bring food and drink and chairs and rugs to sit on Picnic on the village green SUNDAY 18 JUNE 3.30pm
BROADWINDSOR FUN WEEKEND
Saturday 10 June
Big Breakfast, Comrades Hall, 9am-11.30am
Afternoon Tea on Bernards’ Place, 2.30pm–4.30pm
Barn Dance with Crooked Furrow, Comrades Hall. Doors at 7.30 - band on at 8 - until 10/10.30. Entry £2, accompanied children under 12 free White Lion Wood Burning Pizza Oven at the hall. Raffle of hampers kindly donated by Broadwindsor Craft Centre, Symonds & Sampson and Kitson & Trotman
Sunday 11 June
Village praise at the Church 11am Pram Race 2pm Pizza Oven at the White Lion from 4pm Shadrack Street Blues Band 5-7pm
Organised by Broadwindsor Jubilee Group
THE BISHOP’S KITCHEN Two Recipes for Chilled Summer Soups
Chilled Cucumber Soup with Mint, serves 4-6, 1 1/2 cucumbers (chopped with skin), 300 ml sour cream, 300 ml plain yogurt, 450 ml chicken stock, a handful of chopped mint, salt, whipped cream, cayenne pepper. In a blender, puree the chopped cucumber with the sour cream & yogurt. Add the stock, chopped mint & salt to taste, stir well to mix. Chill the soup in fridge. Top each serving with a dollop of whipped cream & a sprinkling of cayenne.
Vichyssoise with Chives 55g butter, 700g leeks (white parts only), sliced 1 onion chopped, ,3 small potatoes peeled and chopped, 450ml chicken stock, 150ml dry white wine, salt and pepper, 1 grating of nutmeg, 1 litre milk, 150 ml double cream, 3 tablespoons chopped chives. Melt butter in a large heavy pan and add the leeks, onions and potatoes. Let the vegetables wilt & soften without allowing them to brown, for about 10 mins. Pour in the stock and wine and bring to boil. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste and simmer for 20 mins or until vegetables are tender. Puree in blender. Mix in the milk. Let cool, then chill in fridge. Serve topped with the cream & chives.
MOST INGREDIENTS STOCKED AT THE VILLAGE SHOP BEAMINSTER MUSEUM The summer season is now in full swing, attracting much interest among our visitors, with extremely good comments, which reflects and rewards the hard work put in by our volunteers.
We were pleased to learn recently that we are still a ‘fully accredited’ museum. The announcement came at the end of many months of rigorous scrutiny by Arts Council England. We have had to prove our worth in several different areas, not least our internal governance, our value to the community, and the product we deliver to our visitors. It is not always easy to keep pace with ever-changing standards in the museum world, but this award proves that we do just that.
Our two main summer exhibitions continue to receive highly favourable feedback from the public. Many folk have told us, for instance, that they never knew how much they didn’t know about wood, and that they were fascinated by our display. Children are enjoying the hands-on part of this exhibition just as much as the established favourites elsewhere in the museum. The twinning exhibition, which will be taken down towards the end of June, has served to rekindle fond memories for many residents of Beaminster in particular. There are several old photo albums (containing several well-known old faces!) to browse.
The museum is pleased to host a Festival exhibition of photographs by students at Beaminster School. It adds a welcome splash of colour to our own collection of old and therefore mainly monochrome images, as well as reflecting our continuing commitment to relationships with all our local schools. The exhibition runs from 24 June until 2 July, during Beaminster Festival week, when admission to the museum will be free.
Come along and enjoy this and much, much more, both for younger and older visitors.
For more details of all events please see our website www.beaminstermuseum.wordpress.com Douglas Beazer
JUNE EVENTS CH Comrades Hall, BVH Blackdown Village Hall, DVH Drimpton Village Hall. Church coffee get-togethers: White Lion every Saturday 10.30am. Prayer walk from The Square, Broadwindsor, second Saturday of every month, 10am. Post Office, Comrades Hall, Tuesday and Fridays, 10am-12.30pm. Broadwindsor Guitar Club, Comrades Hall, every second Tuesday, 2pm–5pm
Thurs 1 Whist Drive, BVH, 7.30pm Thurs 8, General Election – polling stations at CH and DVH, 7am - 10pm Sat 10 Big Breakfast, CH 9–11.30am Sat 10 Fun Weekend Afternoon Tea, Bernards’ Place, 2.30-4.30pm Sat 10 Fun Weekend Barn Dance with Crooked Furrow, 8pm Sun 11 Village Praise, Broadwindsor Church, 11am Sun 11 Oscars Summer Lunch, DVH, 12 noon Sun 11 Fun Weekend Pram Race, CH 2pm Sun 11 Live Music, White Lion, 5-7pm Sun 11 Patronal Festival, Blackdown Church, 7pm Sun 11 Quiz Night, Royal Oak, 8pm Mon 12 June, Broadwindsor Parish Council, CH Tues 13 Over 60s outing to Salisbury, CH, 9am Weds 14 Film Club, DVH, 7pm Thurs 15 Whist Drive, BVH, 7.30pm Sun 18 The Big Lunch, DVH, 12 noon Sun 18 Village Picnic Great Get-Together, Bernards’ Place, 3.30pm Weds 21 Horticultural Society, DVH, 7.15 pm Thurs 22 Over 60s’ Strawberry Tea, CH Fri 23 Youth Club Film Night, DVH, 6.30pm Sat 24 Hazel’s Cream Teas, DVH, 2.30pm Sat 24 Opening Day Live Music, Beaminster Festival, 5-9pm