£1 October 2020

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Hill OCTOBER 2020

A MAGAZINE FOR ALL WHO LIVE AROUND HAMBLEDON HILL IN CHILD OKEFORD, MANSTON, HAMMOON AND HANFORD

A MAGAZINE FOR ALL WHO LIVE AROUND HAMBLEDON£1 HILL IN CHILD OKEFORD, MANSTON, HAMMOONNon Subscribers AND HANFORD FIRST ISSUED IN 1967

VOLUME 53, NUMBER 10 CIRCULATION 525

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3 RECTOR’S RAMBLINGS

We are coming into the season of Remembrance: at the end of September it was the feast days of St Michael and All Angels, at the end of October we commemorate All Souls and then All Saints and then in November we hold our Act of Remembrance for the fallen of war. I wonder what you see in your mind’s eye when you hear the word “angel”? Do you see wings, harps, halos, white dresses, clouds, and possibly tinsel? Perhaps we should look a little more closely at the beginning and end of this season – St Michael and remembering those fallen in combat. At Coventry Cathedral there is a famous sculpture of St Michael defeating the Devil. Here is no white- frocked floating cloudy sort of angel - there is strength in his arms and Satan is all bound up at his feet. I'm over it now, but I used to get very upset when I was small because I was never chosen to be an angel, because I had dark hair and glasses - and it was always the blond girls who got to be the angels. This seemed very unfair - and I looked in vain for Christmas cards with pictures of dark- haired angels or even African angels - or Asian angels - or short-sighted angels, but they were always blonde with 20:20 vision. Are we all transformed when we become angels into white skinned, blond haired, blue eyed, chiselled nose entities, with stick on wings and a halo? I trust not. And I believe St Michael shows us that we will not. St Michael fights against the Devil, Satan - and we at our baptisms are called to fight against sin, the world and the devil and to be a faithful soldier. Fighting against Satan may not mean picking up a sword and slaying a dragon nowadays but there are still plenty of manifestations of evil and sin in our world. Satan is no longer to be seen in the simple shape of a dragon, to be slain and cast out of the world; in fact, Satan is much more insidious than that, and fighting it is much more difficult. Sin, the world and the devil are found today when people's lives are one-dimensional. We live in a world which has forgotten its past and is terrified it has no future. All the old certainties have gone, and so people shut down, and shut in on themselves. Christians are called to offer a three-dimensional world. We are called to fight the hopelessness and ultimate deep un-satisfactoriness of a one-dimensional world view. We believe in a man who died 2000 years ago i.e. we have a past - and we also believe that he is with us in the present, but most importantly of all, we believe that we have a future, and the future is bright and hopeful. Blessings, Rev’d Lydia

4 CHURCH SERVICES IN OCTOBER

04/10/2020 10.30am Trinity 17 Holy Child Isaiah 5: 1 - 7; Philippians 3: 4b - 14 Communion Okeford 11/10/2020 10.30am Trinity 18 Holy Shillingstone Isaiah 25: 1 - 9; Philippians 4: 1 - 9; Communion Matthew 22: 1 - 14 18/10/2020 9am St Luke’s Day Morning Zoom Isaiah 35: 3 - 6; 2 Timothy 4: 5 - 17; Worship Luke 10: 1 - 9 18/10/2020 10am St Luke’s Day Holy Okeford Isaiah 35: 3 - 6; 2 Timothy 4: 5 - 17; Communion Fitzpaine Luke 10: 1 - 9 25/10/2020 9am The Last Sunday Morning Zoom Leviticus 19: 1 - 2, 15 - 18; 1 after Trinity Worship Thessalonians 2: 1 - 8; Matthew 22: 34 - end 25/10/2020 10.30am The Last Sunday All Age Child 1 Thessalonians 2: 1 - 8; Matthew 22: 34 after Trinity Communion Okeford - end 25/10/2020 6.30pm The Last Sunday Evensong Manston Leviticus 19: 1 - 2, 15 - 18; Psalm 1; after Trinity Matthew 22: 34 - end 01/11/2020 9am All Saints’ Day Morning Zoom Revelation 7: 9 - end; 1 John 3: 1 - 3; Worship Matthew 5: 1 - 12 01/11/2020 10.30am All Saints’ Day Holy Shillingstone Revelation 7: 9 - end; 1 John 3: 1 - 3; Communion Matthew 5: 1 - 12

YOUR CHURCH Here we are, at the end of a lovely September. We have had a really good late summer tidy up in the churchyard; hedge cutting and strimming of the wild flower areas. The church is still only open 2 days a week and we have started rotating services around the Benefice. Who knows what might happen in the future so we will just have to wait and see. Please use this magazine or the Okeford Benefice website to find out what services are where and when as well as our usual Zoom Morning Prayer and Sunday morning services. 33 people visited our church on Ride and Stride Day - Saturday 12th September. It was nice to know that riders and striders had visited our church on such a lovely late summer day. Finally, we had our rather belated Annual Parochial Church Meeting, Because of Covid, re-elected Church Wardens and members of the PCC.

Keith Allen

WEDDING DAY IN CHILD OKEFORD

The granddaughter of Dudley and Doreen Wells was married by Reverend Lydia Cook on Saturday 19th September in St Nicholas Church. Jacqui Short married her soulmate Mark Barber. Her sisters TraceyKay, Toni, Mindy (maid of honour and photographer) and Mark’s daughter Holly were bridesmaids. Jacqui’s sons Ben and Tyler walked her down the aisle. The bridal party got ready in the family home and walked to the church. Afterwards visiting their grandparents graves to leave flowers. In family tradition Jackie’s sister Toni Coe-Brooker married Thomas Brooker (also wedding photographer on the day) 2 years ago on her grandfather’s birthday. Dudley was born in the village, attended school and church and is buried here.

MRS SIMKINS COUNTRY KITCHEN Apple and Blackberry Cobbler Absolutely delicious yet not a thing of beauty, the homely cobbler is quick to make and always popular. The name ‘cobbler’ may come from the way the soft biscuit-type topping looks like cobbles laid over the fruit, or the fact it seems to be just hastily ‘cobbled together’. It’s a bit late for blackberrying now so hopefully, you’ll have some tucked away in your freezer. According to legend, the devil landed painfully in a blackberry bush after being thrown from heaven by Archangel Michael on September 29th. He was so annoyed he spat on the fruits and cursed them: they’ve become inedible after that day ever since! Serve with thick cream or custard. Note: It may seem counter-intuitive to seemingly squeeze the life out of the dough, but it really does work and the cobbles stay light underneath with a nice crisp biscuity top layer. Serves 4-6 600g Bramley apples 200g blackberries 2 heaped tablespoons golden caster sugar 4 tablespoons apple juice (or water) Plus 250g plain flour 2 level teaspoons baking powder 175g golden caster sugar 150g salted butter, melted Preheat the oven to 180C (fan oven) gas mark 6 or equivalent You will need a1 litre capacity baking dish and a baking tray Peel and core the apples. Quarter and slice each quarter into 4. Put in a pan with the sugar and apple juice. Simmer until just tender. Gently stir in the blackberries for the last 3-4 minutes until the juices begin to run but the berries are still whole. Spoon the fruit into the baking dish: it should come ¾ of the way to the top. Set the dish on the baking tray (this will prevent any drips of juice spilling over onto the bottom of your oven). Combine the flour, baking powder and sugar and stir in the melted butter. Working quickly, whilst still warm, take satsuma-sized balls of the rich crumbly dough and squeeze and shape them into flat discs 1cm thick. Lay across the fruit, touching but not overlapping. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the cobbles are golden and the fruit bubbling. Tip: Cobblers need lots of juice to work properly: try using on other juice-producing fruit such as or plums, rhubarb or summer berries throughout the year. www.MrsSimkins.co.uk www.twitter.com/mrssimkinscooks 7

GOLD HILL ORGANIC FARM Ridgeway Lane, Child Okeford, Dorset DT11 8HB, 01258 861916 www.goldhillorganicfarm.com Email: [email protected]

After watching Extinction The Facts, it made me pause before I ran the mower over a persistent patch of nettles that I've had in the corner of my front garden behind the hedge. Until my clearing frenzy in my isolation, the patch had thrived there quite happily as a habit space, I left it. I should practice what I preach. When we have school parties and I take them down to the woods, I point out it doesn't matter how small your garden is, you can always be a custodian of wildlife. Leaving a patch of nettles/long grass, stones/rumble or upside down earth pots for insects and amphibians to hide/live in. Sometimes we get over zealous in keeping our gardens as tidy as our homes. The pictures of land destruction on a major scale on TV is awesome, in the wrong sense. Sometimes we do this clear earth policy in our own gardens killing and pulling out all weeds to stop encroachment into our space. 10m of cleared earth looks like a grand scale to a grasshopper or toad looking for a dark damp place. When we have our hedges occasionally trimed , the driver points out he can easily trim it back by 4m. As we receive no income from our (rare) permanent grass fields It's better to leave the hedges wide for the wildlife.. But I can't wait to get hold of the trimmer to release our apple trees from some of that bramble! I wish the program had done more on what we as gardeners could do to help mitigate the loss of insects and other wildlife. I remember going into tunnels and listening to 1,000's of insects pinging off the plastic. Memories at this time of year seeing fields full of starlings, rooks and crows pulling out the leatherjacket grubs of the daddy-long-legs. How often do we see either the daddy long legs or flocks of starlings around. On a more cheerful note I feel there were more insects around this year, as whenever I was on a bike I had to keep my mouth shut, for once, as it would inevitably fill with the odd insect or two. Many of our plants that need pollinators such as Broad Beans, courgettes and squashes have done very well this year.. The bright colours of various squashes are now displayed in the farm shop, Hopefully some of you managed to get to our Apple Day and walks around the farm on Sunday 27 Sept. A chance to see how in our own small way we are trying to enhance the environment.

Sara

8 THE SAXON Thank you for your support as we all work towards the new normal! We’ve been working hard to get in line with the new government advice and we are ready to welcome you all to The Saxon! We are open for longer hours – 12- close on weekends, we do Sunday roast 12 – 7 on Sundays. The new menu is up and running and going down well and as the kitchen team expand their socially distanced range the specials boards has started to come back to life!

All the very best, Craig and Emma.

9 THE CROSS STORES It has been a curious month which started with a classic Whodunnit, when someone dabbed paint stripper on four of the panels of the post office’s new car. The sleuths in the village pub have supplied a full list of motives- somebody suggested the episode was worthy of an Archers plot. On a less mysterious note, now that the new fridges and freezers are in situ, we are shifting our attention to seeing if we can gain top marks in our first hygiene inspection. With this in mind, we have completely revamped our back storeroom to make it clean, functional and fully sealed. We are now moving onto the deli area and you should see some great changes in the weeks ahead. Many of you have account books with the village shop. We understand that this is a service that has been very popular over the years. Unfortunately the credit has grown exponentially since Covid and it is proving to be administratively very hard and quite expensive to manage. I have therefore had to take the difficult step to stop it, and so from the 1 January 2021 credit books will no longer be available. However we understand that convenience is important and you may not always have cash on you, so we shall be offering a ‘reverse credit’ facility which currently operates in number of village stores. Under this system anyone wishing not to worry about bringing payment can deposit money and keep a float behind the till which they can then draw down on when they visit. We have also abolished the lower limit on card payments, so that even small transactions can be settled with a card or smartphone. We therefore hope that everyone will still be able to buy at the shop without having to carry cash. Meanwhile I am celebrating three weeks since becoming village postmaster. I suspect that for some of you, this has been a less auspicious period, especially if you have spent much of it waiting in a queue with the good people of Stur, whose post office went down at the same time as I took over at Child Okeford. If you have been caught up in this I thank you for your patience. In spite of my many mistakes, I never felt I needed the glass shield for protection. Jenny, Sarah, Amber and Mary are all doing great things to help bring me up to speed. You may also have noticed that ‘Emma’s Lashes and Beauty’ is now open above the shop. Emma offers a wide range of beauty treatments, including facials, massage and reflexology. She would love to hear from you on 07725910709. With the days becoming colder and the winter nights drawing in, the shop opening hours are changing. The new opening hours from 1st October will be; Monday to Friday 7:00-6:00 Saturday 8:00-6:00 Sunday 8:30-12:30 New phone number for the shop: We have had a challenging experience with BT who were tasked with porting the old shop number across to us. Unfortunately they have made such a mess that we have settled with a new telephone number for the shop. The new number is :01258861445 Andrew

11 s PURPOSE MADE JOINERY Hopefield' Doors, Windows, Wardrobes, Kitchens etc The Hollow NIGEL BASTABLE LTD Child Okeford Quality Carpentry & Joinery Tel: 01258-860459 Property Alterations and Repairs www.nigelbastable.co.uk

THE NOBLE CLEANER

All Domestic Cleaning Duties Cleaning, washing, ironing etc.

General daily duties. All ironing now undertaken, free collection and deliveries. (Excludes weekends)

Here to help make life easier

Please call Miss Ball 07938389250/01258 861651

Manor Barn, Child Okeford, DT11 8EF Tel: 01258-860638 [email protected] www.manorbarnbedandbreakfast.co.uk Cari and Peter Sorby

Five Star luxury accommodation at the foot of Hambledon Hill. Easy access. Two ensuite ground floor bedrooms with private sitting room.

CHILD OKEFORD VILLAGE HALL Central village venue for all occasions Richard Rowe including parties, weddings, christenings, PICTURE FRAMING social events and meetings. Excellent advice and Expert framing The current regular users are: Badminton. Oils, water colours, prints, photographs etc Table Tennis. Short Mat Bowls. Wives’ Group. Gardening Club. Gilding, wash line mounts, dry mounting Flower Arranging Club. Lunch Club. Restoration of oils, water colours & prints For further information please contact Can collect and deliver Sandra Abbott 01258 861802 Tel. 07968 235566 [email protected] Unit 3, Vale Farm, West Orchard, SP7 0LJ www.childokeford.org

12 24 Hour Service Edward’s Taxis & private hire Serving the Three Okefords 4 to 7 seats – wheelchair accessible vehicles

Local or long distance: airports, Eurostar, assisted shopping, hospital appointments

Telephone 01258 860730 or mobile 07772 2319Text 13

The Baker Arms, Child Okeford w 01258 860260. email: [email protected] Follow us on Facebook @Bakerarmsdorset, for updates & events. www.bakerarms.co.uk

James and Desi wish you a warm welcome.

We serve a freshly prepared, regularly changing menu and can cater for small seated gatherings of up to 15 people. We can also cater for buffets, wakes etc for up to 60 people, please contact us to discuss your requirements. If you have friends or family visiting then why not book Daisy Cottage, our ‘Home away from Home’ letting cottage, all details & images are available on our website.

James & Desi

SK Electrical reliable · efficient · insured

Call: Steve Keeble Tel: 01258-690452 Mob: 07711-816995 All domestic work undertaken Text No job too small, Free estimates, No VAT

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Luxury barn with spectacular views between Contact Stuart Carter Phone: 01258 861998 Mobile: 07982 040139 Hambledon and Hod Hill overlooking the River E-mail: [email protected] Stour

Two holiday lets sleeping four and six people that can be rented separately or together Lucinda Sunnucks - Chisel Farm DT11 8HH Tel 01258 863413 [email protected] www.chiselbarn.co.uk

ZUMBA - Latin-Inspired, Fitsteps FAB – a fitness class based on Ballroom & Latin dances easy-to-follow, dance fitness class FITSTEPS Monday 9.30-10.30am Portman Hall Monday 10.45-11.30 Portman Hall Shillingstone Shillingstone FAB Wednesday 11.15-12.00. Marnhull Village Hall Tuesday 10.00-11.00am Community Centre £6.00 per class Child Okeford Thursday 9.30-10.15am Pimperne Village Hall Nicola Thommes - 0788 792-1717 Wednesday 9.30-10.30am The Exchange [email protected] S Newton All classes are suited to the over 50’s 13 CHILD OKEFORD GARDENERS CLUB October 2020

Tips for your Garden: Tina Wright, reminds us start buying your bulbs now ,to ensure that you get the colours and types that you want. Linda Whatman, (Guest Editor) ,I have worked in many countries, up to 2018, so my gardening skills are minimal but improving, with help of this Gardening Club and friends. Pond Clearing: With three joined up ponds in Wimbledon (included a fox which fell in, trying to catch fish) with a frog ‘run’, plus escaping Budgies & Cockateels from nearby Cannizarro Park, loved drinking from it. Onto Great Linford, Bucks, it was a popular one disabled crane to fish in !! Then a wild pond in Martin’s Landing, Georgia, USA, including visits from possums, ducks & lake turtles, (a great event watching the tiny turtles scatter swiftly across the path into the lake 150 yards away, no river snakes though!. I now have a 3m pond, proved the most difficult to clean, without falling in! It had grown seven water lilies, from one plant, had overtaken the whole pond, there were newts, water snails, but the frogs had enough traversing, and emigrated!! So, after many buckets of sludge, overgrown weeds, rather large rockery stones, from the rockery, with the help of a friend, now all clean, and ready for replanting one water lily, water weed, and water iris, which will feel happier next year! And finally got two Dierama (Wand Flower or ‘Angels Fishing Rod’) to plant on rockery. . So, do clean your ponds out now and then!! As Keith would normally end this editorial, just to say, hope your gardens are progressing well, and that you are all getting ready for spring time planting bulbs.

Linda Whatman

CHILD OKEFORD ARCHIVE

Child Okeford Parish Council Minutes: Roads and Traffic Part 4

We concluded the previous episode in May with the news of the disbandment of the village Road Safety Committee in 1976 in deference to the new County initiative. After that things went very quiet as far as speed limits and white lines were concerned.

Concerns were expressed with the advent of the new school in 1978 and suggestions made to provide a lollipop person; put down yellow lines outside the school; make a pavement alongside Wynchards; and make a pavement from Nutmead Close to the kissing gate at the Hollow to pick up the footpath into Rectory Lane. Nothing happened.

The next recorded action followed a plea at the 1982 Annual General Meeting “in view of the excessive speed both motorcycles and cars went through the village, it would be a big help to the elderly if a speed limit were introduced. The chairman said that as this village was on a B road, it was unlikely that the County Council would agree to this but suggested that the County Council be approached to see if notices warning of bends through the village could be erected.”

The chairman reported back that the Surveyors Department told him “the Ministry of the Environment had now agreed that warning signs could be attached to village name signs and the work is to be carried out by the County Council and the cost would be from £25 to £30 per sign. Speed Limit signs are unlikely to be agreed to. It was agreed we should ask the County Council to suggest wording warning motorists of unmade roads and bends in the village”.

In the meantime the District Surveyor and the Highways Authority declined to take any further action with regard to enhancing Legal Lane or providing a pavement in the Hollow due to “financial cutbacks”

The District Surveyor later wrote “these signs are strictly controlled by the Ministry of Transport. The whole matter is a County responsibility and correspondence has been passed on……”. In the absence of any progress a chasing letter was sent in April 1983 and the minutes for April 1983 record “The signs at entrance village have been lost by the District Council which is proceeding with replacement”.

In August 1983 a quote for £345 plus VAT is received from the DCC to cover 6 extension posts and 4 signs. The parish council agreed to seek alternative signs and lower costs. The signs were eventually erected in January 1984. There was no mention of the cost.

At the parish annual general meeting in May 1984 it was reported “Roads in the village in particular, the Hollow to the Cross required improvement and a footpath, however the authorities tell us there is no money to spare for the projects but they appreciate that the roads are inadequate for any increase in traffic volume”.

We shall be back with the next chapter in 2021.

David Pope (861411) [email protected]

As told to Lydia

7 YEARS OF THE CHILD OKEFORD LUNCH CLUB On Wednesday 23rd September the Lunch Club should have been celebrating the end of its seventh year. Sadly, due to Covid19 regulations, there was no lunch! To help our regular diners know that they are not forgotten a little gift was delivered to their homes to commemorate those 7 years. The Lunch Club meetings are usually held monthly for the more elderly and frail members of the village. They come for a hot meal (served by several cheerful volunteers) and a gentle social atmosphere. There are also volunteers to drive anyone who finds difficulty in driving or walking , and special diets are provided where possible. The Committee and volunteers, including the diners, are all keen to return for the 8th year when it becomes possible.

The Lunch Club Committee Oonagh 860881 Annie 860118 Hilary 863713 Helen 860571 Liz 860432 16 SHILLINGSTONE RAILWAY STATION Jack Bath, Museum Curator. Telephone 01258 860696 “Double Diesels!” Since the government relaxation of Covid-19 rules this summer the latter part of August has seen us able to re-open subject to required social distancing requirements. A local Tesco’s kindly donated us the tapes, hand sanitizer, notepads, Perspex screen and other precautionary items requited to operate, similar to those at supermarkets. Not only were we able to receive the eagerly awaited return of visitors but our maintenance team were able to carry out particular repairs and improvements to the station. Replication of trackwork had been halted awaiting the arrival of our new acquisition of a more powerful diesel locomotive called ‘Ashdown’ but on the 7th of September she arrived and ‘touched down’ on Somerset & Dorset rails at seven minutes past two that afternoon. Ashdown will complement our diesel fleet of two diesel locos, the other being our Ruston ‘Little Eva’. A fine little video clip can be viewed on our website Facebook. Recently, and held in the open air of our children’s garden facility we enjoyed two separate visits from the Southern Armour Group (SAG) displaying their fantastic radio controlled model military tanks usually seen at Bovington. During September our annual autumn event of Flight Refuelling Amateur radio Society (FRARS) occupying our signal box contacting other heritage railways worldwide had been cancelled due to Covid-19 but they were able to represent us with our usual call-sign GB0NDR privately from another location. Looking to the immediate future, however, we are holding a Mammoth Clearance Book Sale over the weekend of 3rd and 4th of October to be held outdoors with social distancing in our car park area 10.00am until 4.00pm each day – so a perfect chance to come along and search for that elusive book bargain! Please see our website for further details and poster image. (Please wear social face mask when attending). Information whether the station is open or closed to visitors will be posted on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ShillingstoneStation/ and/or our website at www.northdorsetrailway.co.uk

'Seeing Double at the Station!' 48bhp Ruston Hornsby 0-4-0 diesel loco 'Little Eva' (left) wistfully looks across at newcomer 204bhp Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 diesel loco 'Ashdown' (right) following Ashdown's arrival at Shillingstone station on 7th of September.

17 REFLECTIONS FROM AMERICA The Rest of the Story; Part II of Falling in Love During the War Years Imagine yourself at nineteen years of age, newly married, just learning that you were going to have a baby, and not knowing when or if you would see your husband again. This was the situation my Mother found herself in in September 1945. By August 1945 my Father was discharged back to America on a “temporary leave basis” in case he would be needed to head to the Pacific; but fortunately, the war with Japan was over by early September. Back in Hastings Center, New York he began trying to make provisions for transportation for his wife and the expected baby because he didn’t want them to come to the U.S. on a troop ship. As he told me “they were not what you had in mind for your wife and child.” Transportation was the hold up because troop ships were still being used to supply Europe with basic necessities and airplane flights were expensive and difficult to come by. He had saved money during the war years and was now spending it on a flight back to England, finally, in August 1946. He had not seen his bride since their wedding more than a year earlier and had never seen his daughter (that’s me). After arriving back in Child Okeford, it took another four months to obtain three airline tickets to America, and then that only transpired after my American grandfather contacted his New York State government representative to cut through all the red tape. Imagine yourself again. It’s Boxing Day 1946. You are a young woman with an infant and you are leaving your family and your homeland. Would you ever see your kinfolk again? Would you ever see “England’s green and pleasant land” again? What would it be like to travel on an airplane? My admiration for my Mother increases the older I get. She must have had a brave heart. She must have had an adventurous spirit. She must have been so in love and willing to give up what she had known all her life to embark on this new endeavor. The American Overseas Airline plane manifest tells an interesting story. London to Shannon. Shannon to Goose Bay, Labrador. Goose Bay to New York City. The manifest reveals that 14 Brits, 4 U.S. citizens, 2 Canadians, 1 Belgian and 5 Norwegians were on board the two-day flight, including one child, and two infants. Upon landing in New York City, the young couple then had a three-hundred-mile train journey to upstate New York. Upon arrival in Hastings Center, Mom met her new relatives for the first time: a mother and father in law; three brothers and sisters in law and an assortment of nieces and nephews. Both my Mother and my Father’s families were rural folk, albeit from different countries. Few of their family members in either England or America had ever traveled more than fifty miles from their homes in their entire lives, but at this point both of my parents were already world travelers having had already journeyed thousands of miles. And, at the age of nine months, it was the start of my travels which continue to this day. 18 I remember my American grandmother well. She was nearly 50 years old when my father was born and was 75 when she met my Mom for the first time. She was also quite formidable. I think the character of Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey is an apt description of Grandma’s demeanor. So, my Mother must have had to summon a great deal of courage to adjust to her new situation and win over the hearts of her new relatives. My Father and two of his brothers, Byron and Wallace, bought a general store in 1946 in the tiny village of West Monroe from a local entrepreneur. Dad ran the meat department and although he knew nothing about meat he was able to learn from salesmen who showed him how to do different cuts. He soon was running the grocery section as well. Byron took over the hardware department as he had had some background having worked in a garage during the war years, but he left two years later for another job. That left Wallace heading up dry goods and hardware after Byron moved on. The store had two apartments on the second floor which is where my parents moved to in early 1947 and where my sister, Marie, was born in 1948. Dad told me that the previous owner Glenn Davey, didn’t charge very much for the store and there was an agreement to pay so much each year. Glenn left the inventory and all of the equipment for the new owners. After Uncle Byron left the store in 1948 my parents and Uncle Wallace and his wife, Aunt Helen, continued as proprietors for nearly twenty years. The Cross Stores in Child Okeford remind me of a smaller version of what was our family business. Pat Stocker

Child Okeford, DT11 8HB 01258 863866 www.theartstable.co.uk

Painting the Warmth of the Sun

Paintings and Monotypes by Robert and Dorothy Bradbury

Opening on Saturday 5 September

10am - 3pm

The exhibition continues until 3 October

Open Thur - Sat, 10am - 3pm

19 NATURE NEWS Firstly, a subject I've not covered before, Apples. I had an email from Bill Morris, who, on visiting the Community Centre car park, noticed for the first time an apple tree in the road hedge boundary which was loaded with large dark red apples. Curious as to what type of apple it might be, he contacted an “apple expert”, Gerry Edwards, who does work for many organisations including the RHS, and sent him photos including images of the apples cut open to show the core, which is dark red throughout. The response was that it was almost certainly a Wisley Crab Apple. (Who knew that crab apples grew to such a size? I must admit I was a bit sceptical, but looking it up on Google it appears to be the case.) Furthermore, from the photos of the tree , Gerry estimated the age to be around 50 years., which would mean that it was almost certainly planted during the construction of Community Centre and its grounds.

Next, a question. Who planted all the apple trees alongside the path that runs behind Olivers Mead, and is the first left on going down Netmead Lane? On the field side of the path, over a distance of around 200 yards, there are 23 apple trees of all different types and sizes. None are particularly large, and while some look to have been there for some time, others look to have been planted fairly recently.

20 Moving on to matters lepidoptera, I had an email from Susan Dreux who lives at The Old Stables in Apple Acre (Apples again!). She said that she had been at her house in Spain since mid July, and whilst there had let the cottage. One of her holiday guests set up a moth trap in the garden in late July (a light bulb and a bucket) and in the space of a week he identified 120 species of moth before

releasing them. He made me a wonderful collage of some of the species seen (see below)

I thought 120 species sounded quite impressive, and possibly the village might be a hotspot for moths, but when I googled the number of moth species in the UK the answer was over 2,500! Marilyn Peddle reported getting a Hummingbird Hawk Moth regularly in her garden in Greenway, and one day saw what looked like a hornet chasing it, but it returned the following day. She also has a Red Admiral around and on one occasion a Painted Lady , of which she had not seen many this year (which echoes my own experience, having seen only one this year, at the end of August). And Alf Strange sent me a photo (see below) that he took on Hambledon Hill in mid-August of what he is fairly sure is a Small Copper butterfly. (It certainly matches the image in my Butterfly Guide.)

Call Andrew on 01258 837092, weekdays or weekends

SARAH WARREN SPECIALIST PAINTER Hand-painted kitchens, bedrooms, studies & individual pieces of furniture

07842 412219 [email protected]

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22 The Saxon Inn Child Okeford Come to your friendly old village pub

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CHILD OKEFORD COMMUNITY CENTRE Monday – Friday Your venue for coffee mornings, childrens 8am – 6pm parties, family celebrations etc at Playing, Learning, Having Fun competitive rates All year round Full kitchen facilities For more information or to make a booking Baby Room Ursula Taxis 07581 041778 Toddler Room [email protected] Pre-school Room www.facebook.com/ChildOkefordCommunityCentre Breakfast, After School & Holiday Clubs High quality play and learning RB BURROWS & SON experiences tailored to meet each (ROGER BURROWS) child’s individual needs

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M&M Stoves & Chimney Services Child Okeford Your local friendly HETAS Qualified Engineer ● Fully Certified chimney sweep ● Installation of Multifuel/wood burning Stoves ● Installation of liners and twin wall systems ● Chimney Construction, Pointing & Capping ● CCTV Surveying Call Jason on ● Free no obligation quote 01258 451067 ● Fully HETAS Insured ● For all your chimney needs. Man & Van A.R.O Cleaning Service A competitively priced & reliable fully insured service. Offering house moves, office moves or single items. Carpet Cleaning, Chimney Any distance 7 days a week. Sweeping, Domestic Cleaning, Contact Tim 01963 204205 0r 07745 858440 email [email protected] One stop shop for all your home & business cleaning needs.

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23 With regard to dragon flies, Marilyn Peddle says that she is seeing Brown Hawker and Southern Hawker Dragonflies down Greenway Lane, and Bill Morris reports the arrival of dragon fly larvae in his new wildlife pond. (And as I write this, I am amused as I look out the window to see our cat chasing an (unidentified) dragonfly. She has made a number of prodigious leaps into the air, but has yet to catch it.) With regard to birds in the garden, Gill Fuglesang from Knotts Close tells me that she has been feeding a family of about eight Siskin since they hatched; they line up if they can’t all get on to their two favourite feeders at once!! (Siskin are only an occasional visitor to my garden, and always a treat to see.) Perhaps less ornithologically exciting, Gill also reported the 'Dance of the Mating Collared Doves' on her telephone wire; “ She moved two paces to the right, he moved two paces to the right, repeat by 3 …….., and then she flew off!! Poor chap never seems to have his wicked way!” And Marilyn Peddle reports the reappearance of very pristine looking Robins, and Sparrows and Starlings back in numbers, in her garden, though as yet none of her usual sightings at this time of year of Swallows gathering on the wires at the back of our house. More widely around the village, however, Marilyn said that she was beginning to see more small birds on her morning walks, and she had also seen Jays and Magpies squabbling, seen Buzzards around the hill and seen and heard them above her house. Also, plenty of Green Woodpeckers in the churchyard, down Greenway Lane and behind Portman Drive plus around the base of the hill, and plenty of Rooks on the cut wheat. With regard to mammals, Marilyn, very busy, reports spotting hares on a number of occasions - a couple of times a lone individual in Manor field, and then in the field opposite Manor drive there were three and it looked like two of them were boxing. She has also seen a fox at the back of Markstone Cottages, which soon disappeared, and then another at the base of the hill by the gate, which again disappeared quickly. And on her way back from Markstone Cottages a lovely Roe Buck. What a shame, she said, that they were culled in the spring (something I was unaware of.) Keep emailing me, Jack Shonfield, about anything of interest, to [email protected] [email protected]

WHY SO MANY WASPS? In August – September, you are settling down you are settling down for an al fresco meal or are picking fruit and suddenly lots of wasps appear. Why have they appeared as interfering pests at that time of year and not earlier? It is all to do with the life history of the colony. In the spring, the overwintering queen starts to lay eggs which hatch to produce larvae which then become workers – the initial brood are fed by overwintering workers. The new workers bring back insects (many of them garden pests) which they feed partly digested to the larvae and are rewarded with a sugary solution. Around August the queen starts producing young queen and drone (male) larvae which swarm and form the next year’s generation. Thus the workers are deprived of their sugary “hit” and search for it elsewhere – your sweet food, drinks and the fruit you are trying to collect. Therefore, as far as humans are concerned, wasps are both good (controlling garden pests) and then a nuisance – all due to the annual history of the colony. Roger Hull 24

BLANDFORD MUSEUM Bere Regis Buses Bere Regis & District Motor Services was a privately owned company that operated between 1929 and 1995. Its brown coloured coaches, known as the ‘Brown Bombers’ were a familiar sight around Blandford and surrounding villages for many years. From its depot in East Street, the company offered its bargain basement-priced coach trips. Mystery tours were a popular Bere Regis speciality when customers would be taken to an unknown destination by a route that was designed to confuse. The aim was to leave the passenger’s discovery of the journey’s end to as late in the trip as possible. A lady from Blandford, who worked as a glove maker, decided to take a well-earned week’s holiday in Bournemouth. As a treat, she booked herself on a Bere Regis mystery tour. After a circuitous journey along Dorset’s highways and byways she finally realised her day’s treat involved a trip back to her home town of Blandford. So, she returned to her home in Victoria Road, ate her tea, then rejoined her Bere Regis coach and returned to continue her holiday in Bournemouth. Largely by acquisition, the company grew to be one of the largest of its type in the county. Businesses acquired included Winterbourne Stickland based Lewis Sprackling together with others in Marnhull, Milton Abbas and Hazelbury Bryan. Bere Regis & District also operated a number of scheduled services. In 1949, the company operated some 49 such scheduled routes. These included Blandford-Milton Abbas, Blandford-Stickland & Blandford-Okeford Fitzpaine. During the post war period, there were a large number of National Service conscripts at Blandford Camp. So, weekend services to the Midlands and the North were a lucrative business for the company. Bere Regis coach trips were remarkably low priced. For example, a trip to London would dramatically undercut the cost of an equivalent rail ticket at a time when trains were far less expensive than they are today. To offer its basement prices, and to maintain a viable business model, the company had ruthlessly to control its costs. Immediately after the war in London, drivers would seek out a bomb site to park rather than have to pay parking charges. Wages paid to the drivers were low and they would hope to make up their money through generous tips. Second hand vehicles were bought by the company and run into the ground so there was always the risk of a breakdown to add to a mystery tour’s excitement. Climbing a steep hill near Abbotsbury could be stressful for both the driver and the passengers. Such mishaps led to the company being given the nickname ‘Bere Regis & Risket.’ Blandford Town Museum Bere’s Yard Blandford Forum [email protected] 01258 450388 25 MELTING THE ICE This is the saga that happened just the day before we went to Wales for four nights for a break, of scenery! I went to pull something out of the upright freezer, but I couldn't because the freezer had decided to make a frozen waterfall! It hadn't been there a couple of days earlier but maybe I had missed the signs. What to do next...... ummh!? Call my husband, Darling come and look at the freezer you won't believe what's happened, it did look rather impressive! (Actually I wish I had taken a photo). Well we had to do something. Turn off the freezer was a good start...... I'll take some things out, oh yeah, all stuck together with ice. Anyhow we managed to get the ice making tray out eventually. Then little by little the odd item came out. Gosh I can't remember having put that in. I got a hammer and started hitting the frozen waterfall but the hammer just bounced off it (not to be recommended anyhow). Then I thought kitchen scissors, really sturdy ones, and they did actually work quite well chipping away at the ice. We decided to leave it for half a day to defrost with the door open. Now it is a fridge freezer and the fridge part decided to warm up so everthing in the fridge then had to be decanted (luckily we had held onto an old fridge, thank goodness) so all the fridge items were moved into the old fridge. Meanwhile...... after quite a few hours nothing was moving or defrosting in the turned off freezer. Thinking about getting to Wales the next day without any delays we had to do something to get things moving, thawing. I know ...... hairdryer, that should do the trick! Well although it did sort of melt the ice whilst it was on, when turned off the ice just seemed to turn back into more icy ice, sort of! So more chipping with the scissors, the odd hammering and bits of ice flying. By bedtime it still wasn't all thawed although the ice waterfall had nearly gone. Anyhow next morning got up, couldn't believe it when I still couldn't get the bottom basket out of the freezer, it was still stuck in with an inch or so of ice. The floor meanwhile in spite of the towels which I had left there, was covered in a lake of water. So I mopped all that up, squeezed out the mop in the mop-squeezy-thingermejig on the bucket, but because I pressed down so hard trying to get the water out of the mop the bucket tipped over...... oh bother!.....and I had to start mopping all over again. I'm glad to say we did eventually set off for Wales in time and we left the now cleaned and dried freezer off until we came back. It is now working but we haven't dared turn on the ice-making bit of it yet....and the fridge is keeping it's coldness again! By the way, the bread-making did turn out really well in the end and was scrummie! (Last month's Hill magazine)

CHRISTMAS CHILD OKEFORD ART TRAIL November 27, 28 and 29, 2020 11 am to 4 pm To bring some Christmas cheer to our village, 14 Artists, painters, potters, glass blowers and scarf makers are offering open studios to see and buy their work in a socially distanced way. Look out for our Child Okeford Art Trail Map which will be available in local shops etc and will help you stroll around our arty village. The cafe and pubs offer refreshments and will be open for the majority of this time. Please do come and support our event which will be in accordance with government guidelines. Admission Free 26

SEPTEMBER MEETING REPORT

This month we hosted our first Zoom Speakers. Carrie and Steve Diamond recalled the journey taken by a team of members from Dorset and Guernsey NFAS when they competed at the Chelsea Flower show. It was a fascinating story that told of the many hours spent in a cold barn near Corfe Castle, planning and gathering the necessary artefacts needed for the display to the nine day Marathon at Chelsea when they built the final presentation and spent time on the stand each day whilst the show was open to the public. There was far more involved than just flower arranging! It was indeed a very time consuming exercise and all team members had to commit for a whole year. However All was worthwhile as they were proud to show us the gold medal they were awarded. All members present greatly enjoyed the talk and I am pleased to say that we now have produced our programme for the coming six months - all Zoom meetings as under current circumstances we do not believe we shall be able to meet as a group during this time. However the Community Centre is set up for the use of WI FI so if it were possible we could meet as a group and still Zoom. You will find the programme on our Website so should you be interested in joining any of our meetings you would be most welcome, just contact Liz our secretary. On 12th October we are going to experiment with a Face Yoga Workshop, all in the comfort of our own homes. If you would like more information about our lively and friendly WI you are welcome to contact one of the following. Me Pam Morris presidentchokwigmail.com Liz Secretary [email protected] Web Site childokefordwi.wordpress.com Or Twitter@ChildOkeWI

MANSTON AND HAMMOON We've had a few changes at Manston village Hall and it now looks very smart with new heaters and a new kitchen complete with new appliances. Small groups are beginning to hire out the hall from this month onwards. Our next coffee morning on 3rd October will be inside the hall with coffee tea and cakes on offer. Anti-viral precautions will of course be taken. Please could you amend my phone details. I no longer have a landline, and am contactable on 07766764878 or [email protected] Many thanks, Carin 27 Schizostylis / Kaffir Lily /Hesperantha Schitzostylis derived from the Greek schiz meaning ‘to split’ and stylis meaning ‘the styles of a flower ‘ in reference to the three styles of this genus. The name Schitzostylis coccinea was named by Backhouse and Harvey in 1864. Reclassification means that it is also referred to as Hesperantha, the Latin genus name meaning ‘evening flower’. Native to South Africa , the land of the Kaffirs and a member of the Iris family, Iridaceae, the Kaffir Lily is a semi evergreen rhizomatous perennial. It blooms here in Autumn or later if not too cold and is therefore a great addition to the late season border. Properly settled in rich soil that stays cool in summer means you can avoid too many watering sessions unless we have a particularly dry spell. Full sun exposure is mandatory to ensure continuous blooming. Although the plant likes moist soil and grows naturally in water meadows it must not be waterlogged especially in winter so adequate drainage is a good idea. Schizostylis is perfect for the border ,raised bed or large container to create some height as well as form and texture to the garden . It is a hardy plant which should survive normal winter conditions outside , especially if protected from the hardest frosts. They can sometimes continue flowering into December and beyond. At The Oasis Plant Centre we have Schizostylus Coccinea Pink Princess , a pretty blush pink and Oregan Sunset a bright coral red open flower on slender evergreen stems providing that perfect air of elegance to the Autumn garden. All priced at £5.50 Val Harbour 01258 861325 [email protected] COUNTRY LIFE Autumn has well and truly arrived - cooler mornings and very heavy dews. The days have shortened its dark before 8 o’clock. Every season has something to offer and this is Autumn for me! The sixteen heifers that were to receive the estrumate injection have all been served with sexed semen hopefully we shall have sixteen Friesian heifer calves. Two didn’t hold at the first service but are hopefully alright now. It will be good to get them out in the fields again for a couple of months. Nothing like a bit of sunshine for everyone and everything. We shall have to see how all this goes as to whether we shall repeat it. The straw is finished bow - we have had a poor year with smaller amounts of straw, probably the owners had smaller yields as well. There is plenty of straw further up the country they have had a much wetter year than us. The next big job is more silage making, another 100 acres. We’re quite short of clamp space, we shall have to bale and wrap most of it which works out quite expensive. Still its better to have too much grass than not enough. We have about 45 acres of maize to be harvested in about three weeks time. It’s a very expensive crop to grow, the benefits in the milk quality are enormous. It helps Butterfat and Protein both which contribute to our milk price. I believe the only time anyone should stray from the footpath is when picking mushrooms or blackberries. Please shut the gates. Open gates to cattle is a lovely day out! We are allowed to hedge trim now and we have a good many miles to do. Small fields are lovely in many ways - you all know I love hedgerows and wildflowers - it means more hedges to trim. We have a cow down at the moment with Milk Fever this sometimes happens when they calve. Usually an injection or two of calcium will sort it out. It can be fatal. Take care of yourselves, Di Morgan. 28 DORSET DREAM BECOMES REALITY FOR UK’S PIONEERING CONSERVATION CHARITY The long cherished Dorset Dream of pioneering conservation farmer Robin Page this week becomes reality as the Countryside Restoration Trust completes the most significant purchase in its 30 year history of wildlife friendly farming. Bere Marsh Farm on the banks of the idyllic River Stour at Shillingstone, near Blandford Forum, Dorset, is set to become the Trust’s national showcase for its holistic fusion of sustainable, traditional farming methods, habitat restoration and a dedicated education programme focused around the importance of food provenance. Furthermore, its idyllic 92 acres of wetland, grassland and woodland, rich in butterflies, birds, wildflowers and rare mammals makes it the perfect setting to commemorate the Trust’s co- founder and Dorset conservation icon, artist Gordon Beningfield. ‘It is the perfect place for us where we can bring together everything we believe in whilst remembering Gordon and his devotion to the countryside. It represents our vision and why he and I decided to found the Trust all those years ago. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us to shape it into the showcase for our work and our vision but it’s a challenge we have long wanted,’ said Robin Page, Executive Chairman of the Countryside Restoration Trust. The cornerstone of the CRT’s philosophy is that both traditional and innovative farming methods can be made to work profitably and sustainably together in conjunction with the protection and restoration of wildlife habitats and precious eco-systems. In all, it has 15 properties throughout the UK ranging from dairy and arable farms to sheep, rare breeds and woodland centres. Running in harmony with these sites is the curriculum based MOSAIC education programme for children at a network of nearby primary schools highlighting where food comes from, the value of its sustainable production alongside wild flora and fauna and how they can play their part in connecting with Nature and the wild world. All these key elements of the CRT’s programme will be brought together at Bere Marsh Farm under the supervision and direction of Estate Manager, Elaine Spencer White, an agricultural consultant and specialist marketeer who is also a Trustee of the CRT. ‘Bere Marsh has everything we want and need to make it the exemplar farm of our estate. The setting is magnificent, the farmstead and land perfect but above all else it has a trailway, footpaths, car parks and a bridleway all running through it – in short, lots and lots of visitors walking by. You could not ask for more in terms of footfall and site awareness.’ Robin Page agrees. ‘Our long term intention is to turn the farm into an education and visitor centre – to re-attach visitors, as well as ourselves, to the land, to our native wildlife and where our food comes from. This will be where we demonstrate everything that he Trust stands for.’ To this end the intention is to introduce a small herd of milking cows, free range hens, a small flock of sheep, an orchard and a nursery. It is even hoped to produce bread at the farm from wheat grown in the fields of other CRT farms as well as beer and cider from CRT barley and apples.

29 Existing barns and outbuildings will be specially converted to create the education centre alongside a dedicated art gallery devoted to the wildlife artwork of Gordon Beningfield.

‘It is a highly ambitious plan but it will be where the Countryside Restoration Trust puts itself on the map and finally makes our Dorset Dream come true,’ says Robin Page. Mervyn Edgecombe

SAVE THE BARN. SAVE THE OWLS It was lovely to read in last month’s nature notes that a barn owl had been spotted near Bere Marsh Farm. As the Countryside Restoration Trust has now purchased the farm with great plans for sustainability and education in the very special areas surrounding it, I would like to draw people’s attention to the notices relating probably to that bird’s habitat. The Trust wants to save the “Barn Owl’s Barn” which is the rather dilapidated barn on the river side of the Trail-way. An owl chick was reared there this year, but, without substantial work, there may not be many more “happy events” within its walls. The notices posted along the Trail-way say that the Trust needs to raise £30,000 urgently to preserve this wonderful contribution to our local wild life environment. If you would like to donate for this cause please go to the website – www.countrysiderestorationtrust.com where all will be revealed. Jenny Kretz

30 CHILD OKEFORD WALKING GROUP Since reporting in the last Hill the Walking Group have had two walks. In late August we visited Turnworth Wood and Okeford Hill (near the beacon) finishing just as the rain started. We then lunched at The Saxon. In September we walked from Fiddleford to Sturminster Newton in beautiful weather seeing the Manor and Mill at Fiddleford across the river meadows and back by the trailway. Lunch was al fresco at Fiddleford Inn. These two walks covered the varying countryside near to Child Okeford and enabled us to appreciate what a beautiful and interesting area we live in. For both walks we obeyed the Covid rules with a group of up to six people. For October I am planning a walk in the Bulbarrow area (Covid and weather permitting). The walk will be on Wednesday 14th (not Thursday as they have been previously), meeting at the Village Hall at 09.30. Will those interested in partaking please contact me before 5th October – the first six people will have a place on it. Roger Hull Tel: 863418 Email: [email protected]

WHEELY ADVENTURE An adventure awaited our now more confident riders on September's IS IT Wheely Wednesday? when we ventured south from the Milldown via the Trailway to Spetisbury. Not for the faint hearted was the crossing of Blandford with an e-trike and four bikes. When we passed beneath the old station footbridge, negotiated the sharp angled gate with trip hazard kerb and exited busy Station Rd carpark onto Damory Court St with its advance stop line, we had already entered new territory for our courageous and novice cyclists and the banter had slowed to concentrate. We filled the ASL cyclists box, crossing the junction as one before turning right through another busy carpark to pick up the NCN25 route and over the shared use bridge across Stour Meadows to the TESCO roundabout!! No provision here for anyone but motor vehicles but, undeterred, our intrepid quintet pushed trike or bike on pavement and assertively crossed the Bournemouth Rd to get to an even more challenging roundabout over the A354 with yet again scant provision for pedestrians let alone cyclists to cross south to the Trailway. Amazed motorists let us cross the bypass en masse when followed 'trial by hedge' as we attempted to cycle alongside A350 on its permitted metre wide footpath to access the comparative safety of Wards Drove and the Trailway once more. Chatter resumed and we dropped down into Spetisbury and enjoyed coffee al fresco at Marcia's newly extended farmyard cafe. After a half hour in the sun, none seemed eager to leave for home - I wonder why! IIWW? happens on First Wedneday of month meeting at the Milldown. IS IT Tring-Tring TURSday? takes place on the last Thursday of month meeting at Shillingstone Old Station trailway. Dilys Gartside - Cycling Instructor - NSIQ 01258 860157 CyclewiseDorset.co.uk

31 CHILD OKEFORD PARISH COUNCIL Child Okeford Parish Council held their September meeting once again via Zoom on the 7th September. It is becoming a very familiar to format to many of us and I am sure will be appreciated on the cold winter months going forward. If you would like to join the next meeting please contact the village clerk - [email protected] Sherry Jespersen was able to join the Council for this meeting and had a number of things to report in her Dorset Councillors Report. This report is available on the Child Okeford Website if you would like to view. Sherry stresses that there is a mass of information on the Dorset Council website and that all meetings are now virtual and are lived streamed and recorded for the general public to view. Sherry is also available to offer further help and advice on [email protected]. Footpaths & Tree Matters – our Footpaths Officer reports that all are in good order despite the storms. We have money available to update the gates on Mr Pearson’s land and it is intended that the remaining money be put towards the resurfacing of the footpath behind Nutmead Close. Planning – The applications for extensions in Melway Lane and Olivers Mead were both approved. The application for the demolishing and erection of a new garage at the Olde House in the High Street was also approved. The Appeal of Decision by Beehive (Dorset Self Storage Company) for 68 houses was dismissed and was therefore not approved. However, the planning for 32 houses off Haywards Lane was approved by Dorset County Council. The Chairman asked Cllr Kerridge to provide further comment on the decision of Dorset Council to approve the application and Cllr Kerridge stated that the PC had grounds to challenge the application. However this would be costly and the Council would require additional financial support from private individuals and ultimately the feeling was that this land would eventually be developed. We may need to raise funds to challenge the bigger developments in future. Cllr Jespersen also encouraged the Parish Council to review and comment on the Dorset Council’s draft response to the Planning White Paper and it was agreed that Cllr’s Smith, Cotton and Kerridge would review the response and comment on behalf of the Parish Council. We will also be contacting other local villages for their responses. A united response is always the best way forward. Highways – there is an application to close Upper Street on the 25th September by BT to test poles, the application was for 5 days but it is anticipated that this will only last for 1 day. After the resurfacing of many of the village roads, the Council has received correspondence again from a number of parishioners regarding the poor surface state of the Hollow. Cllr Kerridge also commented on the bad workmanship of the resurfacing in Duck Street. Cllr Sherry Jespersen asked that photographs be taken off the poor road surfaces and forwarded to the Community Highways team or the portal is available on https://dorset- self.achieveservice.com/service/Report-other-highways-issue Matters of Interest – Cllr Kerridge commented on the increase of low flying aircraft over the village and asked that the Clerk contact the relevant authority, in a rural setting this is very unsettling to both parishioners and livestock. 32

A member of the public had contacted Cllr Kerridge with regard to the change of use of the accommodation above the shop to offices. This has been discussed and the normal approvals process will be put in place. David Pope, who is the guardian of all things Village History has asked if we can put a filing cabinet in the new container on the Community Field, this is in hand if not already done. This will allow him to free up much needed space but also allow the village to have an archive of village history in a public space. The next meeting is on Monday 5th October at 7.00pm via Zoom.

THE FRIENDS OF BLANDFORD HOSPITAL The Friends of Blandford Hospital were so pleased to be able to reopen their charity shop doors after such a long closure and the wonderful welcome back we received from our customers was heart warming. The new normal is different, but our shops are still true treasure troves of pre- loved bargains and the friendly welcome may come from behind a mask, but it is still there! It has been so great to hear the tills ringing after so long. Our opening hours are still not quite back to normal but we are working on that as we strengthen the ranks amongst our returning team. Lots of the usual faces are there already, some are still to return when the time is right for them. In the meantime, we are looking for new volunteers to join our shop family. We are a happy bunch who enjoy what we do. We get a sense of fulfilment for giving our time to support such an important local charity that in turn is so important to our Community hospital and health related community projects. Volunteering in one of our shops is always tailored to suit you and the time you would like to give. It is a great way to meet new people, make new friends, develop your employment and life skills, give something back to the community and keep yourself busy. It is a very social activity and we laugh a lot whilst we work. Of course, we have Covid Secure procedures in place to do our utmost to protect our team and our customers but even during these extraordinary times we all enjoy what we do, and that great teamwork produces great results for the charity. If you think you may be interested in joining our shop team in either Blandford or Sturminster Newton then pop in to one of the shops for a chat with our volunteers and to pick up a simple application form. Or, call the Friends Shops and Fundraising office on 01258 451456 and we can discuss the opportunities available that may suit you. Full details on the Charity can be found at http://www.friendsofblandford.org.uk and regular updates are posted on our Facebook Page." HILL COPY DATE Please could we have your copy for the next edition by 19 October. We welcome contributions by email to [email protected] or call 01258 860010. It is also helpful if you would leave a phone number. The letters and articles published in The Hill are accepted in good faith and the views expressed are not necessarily the views of the Editors, whose decisions on publication are final. The Hill is published by the Child Okeford Parochial Church Council & printed by Sarum Graphics. The Hill Team 33 SURGERY NEWS This was recently posted by the Surgery on facebook. We have recently seen and received quite a lot of negative comments about us not wanting to see patients, not answering our phones and jumping through hoops to get an appointment. These comments have made us feel very disheartened. Since lockdown, we have been busier than ever and we have contended with reduced capacity for clinical rooms, clinicians and our admin staff. We have always been here seeing patients face to face, but our clinicians are speaking to everyone first to ensure we manage the appointments in the safest and most efficient way. We know this is not probably what people want, we don’t either, but it is essential for the safety and wellbeing of our staff and our patients. Dorset has had a low rate of infections of Covid-19, but the pandemic is not over. By law, and as part of our NHS contract, we have to follow national guidelines on how and when people can be seen, what protective equipment is required and to ensure thorough cleaning of the rooms between each patient. In the time we used to be able to see three patients face to face, we can now only see one. Please bear with us and be kind to our staff when you speak to them, they are working incredibly hard to keep you safe. Thank you I would add that my experience of the surgery on Saturday 19 September for a flue jab was exemplary – with all those at the surgery both professional and cheerfull throughout. Ed. Flu Update If you are eligable for the flu vaccine please give the surgery a call to get booked into one of our flu clinics. When you attend you must: wear a face covering attend only at your alloted time. Please do not go to the Surgery earlier than your appointment time. If you are in a car you will be asked to return later so that the car park does not get clogged or queues build up on Whitecliff Mill Street. If you are on foot you may be asked to wait outside until your appointment time in order to keep the socially distancing queue flowing. Remove your outer clothing once you have registered. Remember to wear short sleeved clothing or something that can easily have the sleeve rolled up. ‘*Calling all Dispensing Patients – Your Dispensary Needs You* The profits from our Dispensary help fund vital services at the Practice including additional phlebotomy appointments, additional clinical staff and free dosette boxes. If you are eligible to use the Dispensary we ask you bear this in mind when making the decision as to where you collect your prescriptions from. Without your demand we wouldn’t be able to keep the Dispensary open and every time you use us you are helping to keep the additional services above running. Thank you for your support’ 34 LIBRARY NEWS We are delighted to let you know that from Monday 14th September you will be able to start reserving items again from the library catalogue, for pick up from libraries in Dorset. If your preferred pick-up library is not currently in the drop-down list, we recommend using your nearest available library. Not all libraries across the LibrariesWest consortium are able to offer this service immediately. We have placed a temporary limit of 10 reservations per library member at any one time to help manage demand. This limit will remain in place until further notice. The pick-up library will notify you when your reserved item becomes available for collection. Before visiting a library to collect a reserved item we strongly recommend checking the opening hours first as most libraries are operating on revised hours. Not sure whether you still want to borrow items you have previously requested? Please log on to your library account and cancel anything that you no longer need to help your library service focus resources on items that customers still wish to borrow.

From Monday 14th September we will be removing the temporary 28-day loan period and reinstating the regular loan periods (e.g. 21 days for books, 7 or 14 days for DVDs). From the same date we will also be reintroducing overdue charges and hire fees (where relevant).

Returning Items It is important that you are aware when your items are due for return. To avoid overdue charges please check your library accountto see when they are due back and renew them if necessary. You can do this at www.librarieswest.org.uk or by using the LibrariesWest app. If you need a PIN reminder, please go to www.librarieswest.org.uk, click on ‘Log in’ and then ‘Forgot my PIN’. Any outstanding charges can be paid online by logging on to your account at www.librarieswest.org.uk and using a debit or credit card. You don’t need to have a PayPal account. Please be aware that any items that were already overdue on March 18th 2020 that you still have on loan will start accruing overdue charges from Monday 17th August. Overdue charges were paused between March 18th and August 16th so you will not be charged for this period. Keeping you reading online: 1000’s of e books, e audiobooks, and even magazines, newspapers and comics are available to download for free! Whether you’re looking for the latest issue of BBC Good Food magazine, today’s edition of The Guardian, or a great book to read or listen to just visit www.librarieswest.org.uk for more information. We’re regularly adding to the collections so there should be plenty to choose from!

Spread the word! Tell your friends and family to join LibrariesWest online for free by sharing this link: https://www.librarieswest.org.uk/join - a membership number will be generated to enable access to free e Books, e audio books, e magazines, e comics and e newspapers. Once they are ready to visit a library again, new members who have joined online can call in to a library to upgrade their membership so they can also borrow physical items such as books, DVDs and Talking Books.

Our Wish Tree – as you’ll see from the photo our little Wish Tree which was created during Lockdown by our Home Library Service Volunteers (HLVs) who asked their readers and fellow team members for their wishes after lockdown - through this not only was our Tree created but also a small publication of musings which we have distributed to all readers and HLVs – I’m pleased to report that the majority of wishes have been met – visits to hairdressers, being able to see family and a limited number of friends even nails painted to name just a few, we now need the kindness to all to continue ad infinitum. Our tree is currently appearing in Kutting Station (Hairdresser) in Sturminster Newton from there following a quarantine period it will move to Holebrooks the butcher and we hope after that our very own library in Stur and maybe later into the Exchange so watch all spaces where you will be able to read the wishes but please do not touch the tree it is very fragile. Our thanks go to all outlets who display our Tree and wishes in a small space.

For information on receiving a Home Library Service delivery of books or talking books free of charge or how to volunteer please contact:- Dorchester RVS Hub Office Tel No.: 01305 236 666 Carey Pearce Local Volunteer Co-ordinator – 07423 471019 or Email: [email protected] or Maria Jacobson Home Library Service Manager – [email protected] Website: www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk Facebook: Royal Voluntary Service N & SW Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire Royal Voluntary Service – Home Library Service September 2020

36 CARER SUPPORT DORSET SEEKING TWO NEW TRUSTEES Carer Support Dorset is looking to recruit two trustees, ideally with expertise in all or a combination of the legal and governance work and health and social care. The new trustees would be supporting the charity in its aims to provide services such as these for unpaid carers and influence care and support policy. The average time commitment for these roles will be one day per month and the charity will do its utmost to accommodate any special needs or provide training required. Becoming a trustee can be a fantastic way to make a real difference to a cause you believe in and learn new skills along the way. The aim of the organisation is to create carer friendly communities where carers are recognised, valued and supported. As a member of the Board of Trustees you will have the opportunity to make a real difference to carers’ lives through quality governance, development and monitoring of the organisations strategic goals and supporting the team and volunteers in the delivery of the services. Current Chair of Trustees, Liz Brown said: “I joined Carer Support as a trustee and have been inspired by the passion and commitment of the staff and volunteers. As a carer too I know how vital our work is to sustain lonely and vulnerable people in our community.” Ruth Martindale, Treasurer adds her reasons for joining as a trustee: “I had worked in the charity sector as a finance director for over 10 years and wanted to give something back. I had knowledge and experience that I felt would be of use to another charity.” Full details of the roles can be found here – https://www.carersupportdorset.co.uk/volunteer/

DISTRIBUTION OF THE HILL Thanks to our magnificent delivery team The Hill was delivered to subscribers last month and we hope to continue to do so for as long as government guidelines allow. Thanks also to those subscribers who have provided their contact details and a request to those who have yet to do so to email [email protected] or call on 01258 860010. Your details will not be passed on to anyone and will only be used in connection with The Hill subscriptions and deliveries. Many thanks The Hill Team WHAT’S ON Church Services p4 To 3 October Art Stable exhibition p18 3 October Manston & Hammoon coffee morning p26 3&4 October Book Sale p16 5 October COPC meeting (Zoom) 14 October CO Walking Group p30 19 October Hill copy deadline p32 27-29 November Christmas Art Trail p25

LOCKSMITHS 24/7 Quantum Locksmiths • Locks changed/repaired, UPVC specialists • Key cutting, doors/windows repaired • Lock Out/Gain Entry, DBS Checked & fully insured, No VAT Reg Hogg 01258 721236, mobile 07900196427

Plumbing & Heating by Knight Plumbing & Heating Services Gas Safe no. 546449 07791303302 - 01258 861372 [email protected]

KEITH ALLEN BAFRA Member, City and Guilds Qualified Tel: 01258 860068 or Mob: 07717 827427

RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION WORK Repairs & Restoration to all Antique & Period Furniture, Longcase and Bracket Clocks Veneering and Repairs to Veneer, Marquetry Repairs French Polishing, Staining, Colour Matching & Finishing

ELM HOUSE STUDIO Child Okeford DT11 8EJ Pottery made in Dorset by Cath and Jerry Broadway Ceramic artists Brightly coloured Earthenware and Stoneware Ceramics Studio Pottery for all occasions Telephone: 01258 863662 Email: [email protected]

WELL TRODDEN PATH A lifestyle approach to being fit and well.

Offering Sports and Remedial Massage, Personal Training and Stott Pilates. An holistic take on wellbeing and fitness to work towards your goals and ambitions. With Matt and Kate, qualified and insured fitness professionals. Please call for more details (01747 811920) or look at our lovely website. www.welltroddenpath.co.uk or email: [email protected]

PEAKE PERENNIALS

BEHIND OASIS PLANT CENTRE, SHAFTESBURY ROAD CHILD OKEFORD, DT11 8EQ Stocking over 300 named varieties of unusual Perennials and Grasses New plants added throughout the season Vegetable seeds and Spring flowering Bulbs Open Weds to Fri 9am-5pm (Mon and Tues by appointment) Weekends and Bank Holidays 10am-4pm www.peakeperennials.co.uk Tel: 07708872918

THE OKEFORD BENEFICE www.okefordbenefice.org Facebook @okefordbenefice Rector and Rural Dean: The Rev’d Lydia Cook 863774 / [email protected] (Lydia’s day off is Saturday) Licensed Lay Minister: Mr Mark Riley 860718 Lay Worship Leaders: Mr Steve Vestbirk 860910; Mrs Abi Rudd 861367 Lay Pastoral Assistants: Ms Carolyn Angelucci 860049; Mrs Ruth Allen 860068; Please direct all enquiries regarding Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals to Lydia The benefice is grateful to be served also by retired Lay ministers Details of all services throughout the Benefice will be found in The Hill The Okeford Benefice takes its responsibilities surrounding the safeguarding of children, young people and adults who may be at risk very seriously and works in partnership with the Diocese of Salisbury to ensure that we work in accordance with best practice at all times.

Our Benefice Safeguarding Policy can be viewed on our website. If you have any Safeguarding questions or concerns you can contact our Benefice Safeguarding Officer Sue Chandler on 01258 861432 or 07554 425971 or by email [email protected].

Child Okeford with Manston PCC Parish Council Clerks Child Okeford PC Secretary: Mrs Gaynor Cox 01258 861145 [email protected] Correspondence Secretary: Mrs Ruth Allen: 860068 Manston and Hammoon PC

[email protected] Churchwardens

Child Okeford Bookings Mr Simon Baird: 860477 Child Okeford Village Hall Mr Keith Allen: 860068 [email protected] Sandra Abbott 01258 861802 Hammoon Mr Charlie Poe: 860325 Child Okeford Community Centre Mr Steve Vestbirk: 860910 Ursula Taxis 07581 041778 [email protected]

Manston Village Hall Mrs Carin Ljungdell: 07766764878

The Hill Shillingstone Parish Magazine Subscriptions: Editor and Magazine Advertisements Alan Blackman: 860118 [email protected] Diana J Lewis: 472704 [email protected] Distribution: The Fippenny News Please contact Alan Blackman or Richard Muffett Editor: Derek Day: 861979, Editor and Advertisements [email protected] Richard Muffett: 860010 Child Okeford website:www.childokeford.org [email protected]