Western Gazette feed - This is Dorset

Lucky escape as woman, 72, trapped under tractor at Dorset County Show

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 08:58:00 GMT

TRAGEDY was narrowly averted at Dorset County Show after an elderly woman became trapped under a vintage tractor.

Anne Topp, 72, a mobility scooter user, was pinned under her machine after it was hit by the tractor which had rolled forward from its static display on Saturday.

Stewards, family members and onlookers, including an off-duty doctor, rushed to the pensioner's rescue.

She was taken to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester with a suspected broken leg, but later discharged with serious bruising to her left leg and upper left arm.

The owner of the tractor, from Abbotsbury, was not present at the time of the incident.

PC Kevin House, of Dorchester police, said officers would be undertaking an investigation of the circumstances.

He said: "The tractor was parked on a hill and somehow the brakes became disengaged.

"It could have been far worse."

Show secretary Sam Mackenzie-Green said: "The police were satisfied the brakes on the tractor were working properly.

"My understanding is someone climbed into the tractor and somehow let the brake off.

"It was terrible for the people involved, and very unfortunate. The tractors were moved off the hill as a result.

"There are thousands of people here at the show and we are bound to get a few incidents.

"We kept in contact with the lady involved, whose husband was with her, and we understand that she is all right and did not break her leg."

Invigorating play everyone needs to see

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

FOR the ultimate girls' night out, look no further than the hit show, Vagina Monologues.

Coming to The Octagon Theatre in Yeovil on Wednesday, September 15, for one night only, the hilariously witty and moving collection of tales based on vagina interviews with people all over the world makes the subject of sex funnier than ever before.

Made a global phenomenon by dynamic New Yorker and Director, Eve Ensler, Vagina Monologues has been translated into over 45 languages, performed in over 130 countries and seen a variety of famous faces act out original and unrivalled stories of orgasm, sex, birth and rape.

Kate Winslet, Glenn Close, Whoopi Goldberg, Mel B and Ruby Wax are included in the list of monologue deliverers.

Bringing this year's UK tour of taboo tales to life are some of soap opera's finest, Nikki Sanderson (Coronation Street and Heartbeat), Roxanne Pallett (Emmerdale) and Sue Jenkins (Brookside).

This will be the first time the three actresses have performed together and they will be revealing the most intimate and deepest secrets of women from all walks of life in a hugely entertaining and comical manner, but with a serious undertone.

Through a series of in depth monologues and quick fire question rounds, Sanderson, Pallett and Jenkins will transform themselves into several different characters, each with their own tone and accent, from sex workers to the homeless, lesbians to avid singles and the devoted wife to victims of sexual abuse.

While 80 per cent of the monologues are amusing, the remainder do tackle sombre issues related to sex and the vagina, and one of the show's aims is to raise awareness of violence towards women and girls through the not for profit organisation V-Day.

Adam Burgan, theatre manager, said: "Every performance of The Vagina Monologues will donate a portion of ticket sales to the V-day fund, an organisation that provides charitable aid to women and girls who have been victims of abuse and violence. Since May 2001 the West End and touring production of The Vagina Monologues has donated in excess of £250,000 to local charities."

No stranger to The Vagina Monologues, Nikki Sanderson has performed the show several times, but has never toured with it, so this will be her first time in Yeovil.

She said: "It's really exciting for me, not only to be able to work with The Vagina Monologues again but also to this time be able to go on tour with them. It's so fantastic that we live in this country but it's very rare that you get to see a lot of it and you tend to stick to the same places.

"On this tour we are going literally all over the place and I'm really excited because it's going to be such an experience visiting the places you've heard about but never been to, and Yeovil is one of them. I just hope we get a little bit of time during the day to appreciate where we are as well."

The show contains no nudity but as most of the subject matter is enough to make anyone blush, it is hard to imagine how the actresses act these situations out easily.

Nikki said: "If you had been talking about yourself it would have been more embarrassing, but because I am performing somebody else's story, you kind of get lost in the character and forget what the subject matter is and even though some of the subject matter can be sensitive stuff, because it is a character rather than your own experiences, you just go for it and completely lose yourself in the monologue."

The Vagina Monologues will be at The Octagon Theatre on Wednesday, September 15, and it is advised that no one under the age of 15 attend due to the explicit sexual language used. Men are welcome, but don't say you haven't been warned.

Philippa's enthusiasm can make students love history

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

THESE last few weeks have been either life changing or heart breaking for all the young people who have worked for exams and now have the results.

We must commend them all for their hard work and hope that their studies lead them into fulfilling their dreams.

When it comes to choosing which subjects to study, either for a chosen career path, or simply because of the enjoyment it brings, I imagine that is difficult. The love of a subject or that a certain teacher can bring a subject alive will make all the difference. Is history a popular choice these days?

If young people had had the opportunity to visit Brympton D'Evercy to hear the current No 1 bestseller Philippa Gregory speak about her latest book, then they would be queuing up to read history.

Waterstone's hosted this sell-out event at Brympton. We arrived early, overawed by the beauty of the house and church bathed in brilliant evening sunlight gilding the warm hamstone. We congregated in the magnificent entrance hall, then climbed the wide, highly-polished wooden staircase up to the ballroom to hear Philippa Gregory talk to us about her books. She loves history and refers to the kings and queens of medieval England like personal friends. I suspect, after spending so many hours researching her characters and the times in which they lived, she must feel that she knows them intimately. Her writing certainly makes the reader feel we are living with her characters, our predecessors in history.

Her talk was illustrated by pictures of the kings, queens and princes involved in what we call the War of the Roses, but it had another name, The Cousins' War. Not many of us knew that. So all the conspiracy and warmongering that went on for so many years with close friends taking sides, was a family tiff fuelled by money, greed, the need for women with no rights to make good marriages, and power. What a passionate period of history.

Philippa read several passages from her latest book, The Red Queen. This is the second book of what was originally a trilogy. The first book was The White Queen, but as she delves into medieval history, more and more characters keep emerging; perhaps the trilogy will rise to six or even seven books, who knows. She does know, however, that there is speculation about turning her books into a film. Now that would be very special.

Brympton House was built in the 1400s, the same time that Margaret Beaufort was marrying and giving birth at the age of 14 to Henry Tudor. After Philippa signed our books, we descended that wonderful wooden staircase once more, but looked at it with different eyes. Could we hear booted and spurred noblemen dashing down the stairs; the clicking of heels on flagstones as they crossed the hall, the unlatching of the mighty doors, before mounting their horses and galloping off to defend their land in the light of an ascending full moon?

A good writer of historic novels can certainly encourage the mind to explore these fanciful ideas.

That brings me full circle to young people making the choice of subject to study for a fulfilling future. Philippa brought history alive for us, she loves history; if that subject was taught with such lively enthusiasm then school children would love it too. Will it give them employment though?

A conversation I had with a young man was interesting, although sad. Someone asked why he worked in the pub in the evening after a full day's work in a shop. He answered that after university there were no jobs available that needed his qualifications. He is a landscape gardener and too many graduates are chasing too few jobs. So, I asked if he could write?

Show is the first without its founder

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

THE gates opened yesterday for the 42nd Great Dorset Steam Fair with organisers keeping their fingers crossed for more dry weather.

Showgoers are being treated to the usual array of steam and vintage agricultural exhibits, models, fairground rides and music.

This year's event has a special poignancy following the death in November of founder Michael Oliver of Child Okeford.

The Reverend Dr Stephen Foster will conduct a memorial and thanksgiving service on the Dean's Dancing and Bioscope stage at 2pm tomorrow. He described the show as " a living memorial" to the man who started it as a small gathering of engines in 1969.

In addition, a new trophy, the Michael Oliver Memorial Cup, will be awarded in his memory to the best overall exhibit at the show.

Mr Oliver's son Martin, who succeed his father some years ago as managing director of the massive event which attracts an estimated 250,000 visitors, said: "The 2010 show is going to be a very difficult one for all his friends and especially my family. "It just won't be the same without him parking up in his old grey Jeep in front of the showground engine line-up. But I know he would be very proud that his great show is carrying on and going from strength to strength."

Mr Oliver said last week's heavy rain made site preparations difficult but he would prefer the heavens opened before rather than during the event.

This year's special feature is a unique and rare gathering of over 40 McLaren steam engines, together with a rare collection of Porsche tractors in the static tractor section.

But standing out is this year's steam locomotive exhibit, the magnificent SR Merchant Navy Class Canadian Pacific weighing in at 150 tonnes and measuring 69ft 8in in length.

Courage Best Bitter is back as the main sponsor alongside the Vintage Spirit and Old Glory magazines and New Holland Agriculture.

For the third year running there is a short-stay camping facility and an overnight parking facility for those wanting to stay late for the fairground and concerts, including the ticket-only Outdoor Concert Area series featuring some of the top tribute bands in the country, and tonight the real thing in the form of Wurzels.

Other headliners include Ultimate Madness, Ultimate Specials and Rat Race on Friday and The Bohemians and Too Rex on Saturday.

Parking fees 'will cripple small traders'

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

FEARS have been raised that new parking charges will cripple small businesses in Mere.

Residents and traders packed a meeting of the South West Wiltshire Area Board on August 25 spilling out of the door of East Knoyle Village Hall to condemn plans to scrap free car parks in towns and villages in the district.

Three options have been put forward by Wiltshire Council under its "Local Transport Plan 3", including free car parks in small towns and for villages to begin charging 20p-30p for an hour's parking and up to £5 to park all day.

The unitary authority, created in April 2009, wants to implement the new system as part of a "harmonisation" programme designed to end the disparity in parking charges across the county that existed under the previous three-tier system of local government.

The proposals have been slammed by Mere and District Chamber of Trade chairman Barbara Hewitt.

Speaking after the meeting, she said: "They might as well build gates at either end of Mere, put locks on them and tell the world that we are closed for business.

"We rely on a lot of passing trade here. If people have to pay to park here they will stop coming and these facilities will be in real trouble."

Ms Hewitt also questioned whether the parking charges would make money for the council after costs of employing traffic wardens and paying for their transport were taken into account.

Mere has two free car parks which have no time restrictions.

George Jeans, independent Wiltshire Council councillor for Mere, said: "Traders are rightly concerned this will close all the shops up.

"The 20p charge for an hour doesn't sound much, but we know from the experience in north Dorset market towns such as Shaftesbury that the charges will creep up.

"There is also going to be a massive problem for people who drive in to work in Mere who will have to pay up to £5 per day to park, which for many will be like losing an hour from their wages each day. Mere is poorly served by public transport so most people have no choice but to use their cars."

Tisbury is already experiencing a parking crisis, with a lack of free off-street spaces encouraging motorists to leave their cars along High Street where they cause severe traffic congestion.

The timetable set out by Wiltshire Council expects the results of the consultation to be considered by its cabinet at a meeting on September 14 and a final decision to be made at a subsequent cabinet meeting on December 14.

Wiltshire Council communications officer Allan Clarke said: "The council's decision is by no means set in stone at this stage and the aim of the public consultation is to allow people to have their say, and we would encourage them to do so."

Mr Clarke said paper copies of the consultation are available through libraries and on request to the council. The consultation process, begun in July, ends tomorrow.

South West Wiltshire MP Dr Andrew Murrison also attended the area board meeting and spoke out against the proposed changes.

Alfie, 2, battles rare cancer

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

A RARE cancer that usually afflicts adults has struck a two-and-a-half year old.

Holly Pearce thought her son Alfie Slater's swollen stomach was due to a dietary problem, but when she was referred to hospital chronic myeloid leukaemia was diagnosed.

About 700 people in the UK are diagnosed with the disease each year and it rarely occurs in young children.

Miss Pearce, who lives near Dorchester, initially took Alfie to a dietician when his stomach started to swell.

It did not recede, so she went to her GP who referred them to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester. A scan showed Alfie had a swollen spleen and liver and blood tests indicated a very high white blood cell count.

Miss Pearce said: "He was not in discomfort but he got more tired. When he was sent to the hospital I thought it was good because they were finally checking out what was wrong with him.

"They did the tests and got the results on the day and told us he had leukaemia. The next thing we were transported to Southampton Hospital. He is only two-and-half and does not understand what's going on."

Alfie and Miss Pearce stayed together in Southampton Hospital's specialist patient-parent rooms for two-and-a-half weeks while he was given chemotherapy twice a day. They return to the hospital weekly to see the consultant.

Miss Pearce said: "At the hospital Alfie was just watching telly and playing like he normally does and was chatting to the nurses. I think his calmness helped me and I did not panic too much. You just get on with it and put your feelings to the back, so your child does not see you are upset.

"I have not been told how long he will have the treatment but, ultimately, he has to have a bone marrow transplant. They tested his sister, Ellie-May, but there's only a one-in-four chance they are compatible. We will know the result in a couple of weeks.

"They have not told us if they can cure it. They don't know themselves because it's so rare.

"We are getting support from doctors and nurses and a social worker from children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent. They give you someone to talk to, can give you financial assistance and help with travelling.

"Alfie is mad about tractors, so we took him to see a combine harvester on Sunday and he loved it. He is also mad on lorries and has a thing about steam trains. He likes Thomas the Tank engine.

"He has a tube down his nose for medicine and has to have blood taken daily by a district nurse."

Alfie's plight came to the notice of the organisers of Evershot's Wakky Races and a collection made at the event on August 22 raised £250 to help with his treatment.

Anyone wishing to support Alfie can donate to CLIC Sargent by visiting www.clicsargent.org.uk or calling 0845 1204442.

Crowds flock to leisure centre for grand opening

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

SCORES of local people turned out for the grand opening of the RiversMeet Leisure Centre in Gillingham on Saturday and Sunday.

The newly refurbished facility drew crowds with its offer of a free swim, plus a chance to explore the new gym and watch Olympic badminton star Donna Kellogg in action.

The RiversMeet Centre has won plaudits from many quarters in recent months, most notably from the Financial Times, which lauded the efforts of a team of local volunteers who stepped in to save the facility from closure when North Dorset District Council withdrew funding from the dilapidated Gillingham Leisure Centre in 2008.

But the acid test for the centre will be trying to attract enough paying members to keep the community-run venture afloat.

John Havill, chairman of the Gillingham and Community Leisure Trust behind the £4 million project said: "The opening day was very successful and I'm hoping everybody who enjoyed the experience is going to tell everyone they know to come down here.

"It is now up to the people of Gillingham, Mere and Shaftesbury and all the surrounding villages to come and use the place."

An estimated 1,000 people attended the open weekend, with the honour of taking the first plunge bestowed on a group of senior swimmers who had swum in the town's old baths, the Gillingham Victory Pool, when it opened on the same site in 1959.

Trust member Mick Lodge said that a problem with the pool's heating system had not put swimmers off.

He said: "We told the oldies that we had kept it cold for them so that it was like the old pool was back in the 1950s.

"The water was a bit chilly but we didn't have a single complaint from the public and we hope to have the problem fixed very soon."

The pool was closed on Tuesday while the contractor that installed the new heating system rectified the issue.

Lydia Everitt, 63, who swam in the Gillingham Victory Pool said: "The new pool is fabulous and the team has done a wonderful job.

"The building is absolutely beautiful and it is has all the modern facilities you would expect."

The new building has retained the shell of the old facility but has been extensively refurbished and now boasts a new gym, an enlarged badminton court, a cafe, new changing rooms and a competition standard six-lane 25m pool.

A previous report carried in the Western Gazette stated in error that the RiversMeet Centre continued to receive parachute payments from North Dorset District Council, which is not the case. In fact, the facility is supported by a number of local town and parish councils which voluntarily provide funding from their council tax precepts.

Salary shock for clerk as he takes up new post

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

BLANDFORD's departing town clerk Trevor Savage was displeased to find his salary posted for the world to see on a government consultation website just days before he moved to a new post in Sherborne.

The £40,000 per annum figure was quoted in a post on the Government's Savings Challenge website which invites the public to come up with ideas for reducing expenditure.

The post suggested savings which might be achieved if the various agencies operating in Blandford did not have to rent premises and were gathered together in a single publicly owned building.

It added that it was ridiculous to have a town clerk on £40,000 plus to administer the town council.

While not happy at having his salary broadcast to the world, he supported the thrust of the contribution.

Mr Savage, 51, said: "I would have loved to have been able to orchestrate such a move.

"But there simply is not the room in the town council offices or other buildings, and it is something which is not really within the town council's capability."

He said the salary was within the scale of salaries offered to public servants in line with his experience, the size of the authority and level of responsibility.

He pointed out that rationalisation of public service property was something the DT11 community partnership was seeking to address by finding premises in which they and a number of other voluntary organisations could be brought together.

During his term of office, Mr Savage has led the authority through a number of difficult issues, not least the "Tough Choices" agenda introduced by North Dorset District Council when it sought to transfer services and facilities to other authorities and organisations.

Under his direction the council also in 2007 drew up its first strategic and action plans, and in 2008 was the first in North Dorset to be designated a Quality Council.

Employees gathered for lunch at the Crown on Thursday to wish Mr Savage farewell and present him, amongst other gifts, with a T-shirt bearing the slogan "I love BF" (Blandford Forum).

Mr Savage's successor, who still has to work out his notice with their previous authority, is due to be introduced to councillors at their planning meeting on Monday.

Mr Savage applied for the vacancy at Sherborne which was advertised shortly after his move from Tisbury to near the West Dorset town.

He began work there yesterday picking up the reins left by Valerie Todd who retired after 15 years with Sherborne Town Council.

He said: "It was a difficult decision to leave Blandford, but when I saw the job advertised in Sherborne it seemed like a logical progression.

"I am very happy to have got the job and my first impressions of Sherborne are that it is a very nice town."

Eighty guests recently attended Mrs Todd's farewell party. Sherborne's mayor, Jane Smith, said Mrs Todd had provided loyal and dedicated service to the council.

Phone box is now lifeline to community

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

A REDUNDANT village phone box is to remain a vital lifeline for villagers who plan to use it to house a defibrillator machine in the booth.

Residents of isolated Stourton hit on the novel use for the traditional red kiosk after BT announced it would disconnect the phone after no calls were placed from it for an entire year.

Stourton and Gasper Parish Council has adopted the phone box and intends to use its existing power supply to keep the lifesaving equipment charged.

In use the machine delivers a powerful but controlled electric shock to restore normal heartbeat to victims of cardiac arrest.

Parish council clerk Julie Morgan said: "We were just going through the rigmarole of adopting the phone box from BT when we received a flier from the charity that installs the defibrillator machines.

"It came along at just the right time because we really didn't want to lose the phone box and this gave us the idea for a use for it."

The innovative project has won the approval of Wiltshire Council which pledged a grant of £965 to the scheme at a meeting last week of its South West area board.

The news will be especially welcome to one resident, who had to wait an hour for an ambulance to reach the remote village after suffering a heart attack, the board heard.

The public access defibrillator would be supplied and installed by the Community Heartbeat Trust charity and would be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The machine is secured inside a lockable steel box which can be opened with a combination code available from the emergency services by calling 999.

The machine is able to diagnose the type of heart attack a victim is suffering from and issues spoken step-by-step commands to tell the operator how to administer the treatment.

A £1,730 boost towards the purchase and installation of the equipment has been given by the National Trust, which owns the Stourhead Estate that the village lies within.

The total cost of the installation will be around £2,000 but more money must be found to cover running costs and refurbishment of the phone box.

Running costs are to be met by local fundraising and the project has already hit the mark with villagers who held a longbow competition on the village cricket pitch on Monday to help swell the coffers.

Mrs Morgan said: "The machine could be the difference between life and death for somebody, though we hope nobody ever needs it. It is great to see the community getting behind the idea."

Pharmacy blow for town's shoppers

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

PLANS to turn a former pharmacy into offices has prompted fears about the declining prosperity of Gillingham's troubled High Street.

When the St Mary's Pharmacy in The Square closed over Christmas 2008, residents hoped a new shop would replace it. But those hopes were dashed last month when the owners applied to North Dorset District Council for permission to change its use from a shop into two offices.

The news is a further blow to Gillingham's retail economy, already reeling from the loss of two potential new shops in Newbury at the other end of High Street.

Town councillors had insisted that two shops be incorporated into the complex of retirement flats being built where the Royal Hotel pub once stood, but developer Churchill Retirement Living successfully argued on appeal that doing so would make the 35-unit scheme financially unviable.

More bad news followed as the Government's planning inspectorate waived a condition requiring the Hampshire-based firm to make a £508,000 windfall payment for off-site affordable housing.

Chairman of the Save our Wyke town conservation group David Walsh criticised the pharmacy's change of use.

He said: "I want the shop to be kept as a retail outlet, but it seems likely that will not happen and it is another case of Gillingham's infrastructure taking a battering. The district council's New Plan for North Dorset says that it is looking to make Gillingham the strategic centre of the area and the main motor for development and employment.

"But people in the town tell me that to buy a simple thing, such as a school uniform, they have to travel to Shaftesbury, Yeovil or Salisbury."

The application divided town councillors when it came before them at a meeting last month.

Councillor Roger Monksummer said: "In reality the shop has already gone and ,if nothing is done, it will not be long before the building goes down hill. The creation of offices will also mean the creation of jobs."

Other councillors were aggrieved at the loss of the shop but preferred to see it converted to offices than stand empty any longer.

Councillors recommended approval after a vote of 5-2. Their view will be passed to the district council which will make the final decision.

Councillor Janet Robson, who was born and bred in the town, said: "The shop was a pharmacy for as long as I can remember and it was always very well used. I am a retailer in the town myself and I am very sad to see Gillingham lose a shop."

Mr Walsh said: "For people like me who want to see High Street completely regenerated, this is a great shame. I want to see Gillingham built up so that we can all be proud of our town and our young people will want to return here when they have been away to college or university. If they return to a High Street full of offices and no shops they will leave for good."

Mayor's on a mission to create butterfly sanctuary

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

SHERBORNE'S mayor is putting her weight behind a campaign to conserve butterflies and provide a new sanctuary for them in Pageant Gardens.

Councillor Jane Smith is getting behind the Butterfly Conservation's initiative to promote awareness of butterflies, moths and caterpillars in the South West.

She said: "Like many people I first got interested in butterflies when I was a child. We use to go out looking for them in the fields.

"We tried to catch them with nets to look at them in more detail.

"It was not until I retired that I got more involved. I went to Dorset Butterfly Conservation and became branch secretary in 2004 and my interest has continued since.

"This year I am mayor and thought it would be a nice idea if Sherborne does something for butterflies and creates flower beds for them.

"We are trying to make more places for them where they can obtain the food they need. Not all species are in danger but there are many in decline.

"Butterflies have been acknowledged by the government as a barometer of the countryside – it's like the canary in the mine.

"If they die out it's an indication we are not looking after the countryside and at the moment we are not doing too well.

"There's more understanding of different species and more positive action is being done in certain areas to create the right conditions for them.

"There are areas we can make things suitable for them. People's gardens are an important place for butterflies."

Friends of the Quarr, Sherborne's nature reserve, in conjunction with the town council, are to introduce a range of wildflowers to the Upper Slope which will attract butterflies and other insects.

Butterfly Conservation wants to develop an education project in the South West of England to get children to learn about butterflies and when the charity approached Sherborne Town Council for support of an initiative called "Eating Caterpillars" it agreed to help out.

The hope is to create another butterfly garden in Pageant Gardens, with the help of local schools and Castle Gardens.

Ms Smith has buddleia plants in her garden to attract butterflies and particularly likes seeing the Peacock variety alighting on the petals.

Anyone wishing to help monitor the changes in the flora and fauna of the Upper Slope or help in other ways can join the Friends of the Quarr group.

More than 10,000 people across the UK carried out 15-minute observations in gardens, parks and fields for the first Big Butterfly Count, between July 24 and August 1. It suggested that two species which had suffered a severe decline had begun to flourish again.

Despite the this Butterfly Conservation group warns 70 per cent of British species are in decline and half are threatened with extinction.

Colourful celebration takes to streets with a message

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

AMONG the colourful costumes, happy faces and good vibes was a serious message about raising awareness of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues at Dorchester's Love Parade on Sunday.

More than 100 people turned out to whistle, bang their drums, hold the banners, hand out leaflets, chant, cheer and sing as they walked down South and Trinity Street in the afternoon.

Pauline Daw, 45, a nurse of Dorchester, sang in the evening at Cafe Jagos in High West Street.

She said: "I am here to support equal rights for everyone and to reduce prejudice. It's important people know they can get support and information around sexuality and other things in their life. This event puts Dorchester on the map."

Robert Watts, 42, of Yeovil, said: "I normally go to things like this, including the Brighton Love Parade. I am so glad the sun shined, unlike last year."

Primary school teacher, Helen Stopforth, 36, of Dorchester, said: "I think it's really good to celebrate diversity and it's good fun. People here are very accepting, it's a free and easy-going town really."

Minehead Middle School student, Samantha Carter, 12, said: "I am here because I want to help out. It's supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transexual which is important because lots of people are scared to say that's what they are. It's to help them come out of hiding and show we support them."

Beverly Sharn, 31, a welder of Weymouth, said the parade was about diversity.

She said: "This is about people being accepted across the whole board. We don't want to hide any more."

Love Parade secretary, Charity Jay, 58, of Weymouth, said: "I am a transexual person. I am on the road to transition but whether the NHS thinks I am suitable, for a sex operation, is another thing, something that's very much a part of the transgender story.

"We are celebrating the diversity of the community. In rural areas some people feel isolated out in the sticks. We are trying to bring more fun and more acceptance."

Landlord vows to end pub problems

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

THE new landlord of a Sherborne pub says he wants to end its association with antisocial behaviour once and for all.

Sherborne born-and-bred Andy Bennett, 35, took over at The George Hotel in Higher Cheap Street on Monday, August 23.

He said he was fully aware of the pub's reputation and was in contact with police and hoped the establishment could rejoin the town's pubwatch scheme.

Six months ago, when Dave Sargent was landlord, police told Sherborne Town Council about problems linked to the pub which had led to monitoring by licensing officials. They had received complaints of antisocial behaviour, including a noisy altercation outside the pub on March 6, from nearby residents.

Mr Bennett said: "I have spoken to the police and I am due to speak to the licensing officer to look at ways forward and getting into the pubwatch scheme. I'm keen to get the pub back in the scheme. This will be good for the police, good for customers and good or ourselves.

"I don't know why it was not in the pubwatch scheme in the past and I am eager to get that changed. I am a straight, strict landlord. I don't tolerate problems. They will be dealt with as and when they arise.

"I have been in the pub trade quite a while. I have managed pubs in Sturminster Marshall and Ferndown on and off for 16 years.

"I have just installed Sky TV and I am going to be targeting the food trade. Long term I want to bring in charity events such as a community carnival. The pub used to have a pram and wheelbarrow race and it's things like that I want to try and involve the community in."

Police said The George had previously lapsed from Sherborne's pubwatch, a scheme which enables landlords to be aware of potential troublemakers so they can be excluded from premises.

Previous landlord Mr Sargent said care commitments to his ill son had meant he was unable to attend pubwatch meetings as required, but he still wanted the pub to be involved.

PC Mark Andrews, Sherborne town beat officer, said: "I have spoken to the new landlord and he has indicated he wants to join the pubwatch scheme. It's great The George is involved.

"The idea is to discuss any incidents and whether we are going to take people, who are banned, off the list or to put people on it. We have ten or 12 people on the pub ban list and those people are banned from all the pubs in Sherborne."

MP backs scheme to bring top level opera to theatre

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

WEST Dorset's opera-loving MP has got behind a scheme to bring top level performances to Bridport live by satellite.

Oliver Letwin took to the stage at the Electric Palace on Thursday, to back a plan which could see opera performed in New York as well as other stage events beamed to The Electric Palace.

The entertainment venue is raising funds for a satellite dish installed to receive live broadcasts of The Metropolitan Opera in high-definition from New York. Also available will be a new season of Britain's National Theatre Live.

Mr Letwin said: "It seems a very enterprising idea. I think it's wonderful people in Bridport and West Dorset can access live opera.

"The entire cast from New York or Covent Garden are not coming to Bridport in person so this is a great way of doing it.

"I am an opera fan and will make an effort to go to the Palace's showing of Verdi's Don Carlos in December."

Gabrielle Hitchin, the Electric Palace's general manager, said after a long process it managed to get planning permission for a dish, which had to be specially painted to blend in, on the Grade II listed building.

A benefactor loaned £3,000 for the bespoke dish and now events are being held to raise money to repay them.

Ms Hitchin said: "It's not the usual popular entertainment to put on but there's been a call for it.

"I was receiving so many calls from people asking us to do it. The Dorset Opera is really popular, and so is the Abbotsbury Opera.

"We did market research, phoned up the Picture House in Exeter and figures showed there is a lot of interest in the south west for opera. A lot of operas will be sold out in our 400-seater venue."

The 11-show season which starts on October 9 and runs to May begins with Wagner's Das Rheingold starring Welsh bass baritone Bryn Terfel.

Thursday's fundraising event featured a big screen presentation of Puccini's Madame Butterfly on DVD.

To ensure optimum sound quality, the services of a professional sound company are used for each screening.

Ms Hitchin, said: "Support from the community and individuals is vital as we continue to stage such ambitious and inspiring events."

After Thursday's screening of Madame Butterfly, Tanya Bruce Lockhart, who is director of director of Beaminster Festival and Bridport Literary Festival, said: "The audience was captivated and massively enthusiastic about the prospect of Met Live.

"Bridport has so much to offer its residents and visitors and the jewel in its crown is The Electric Palace with its wonderfully eclectic programme.

"The management has shown enormous initiative by bringing live performance from the Metropolitan Opera."

Criticism made after travellers site trouble

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

ORGANISERS of the temporary traveller site set up to accommodate visitors to the Great Dorset Steam Fair have defended their arrangements after travellers arriving early set up camp on Beech Avenue near Badbury Rings.

Damage was allegedly caused to National Trust and landowners' property and young pheasants were reportedly stolen before the caravans and around 100 occupants moved on to the official site when it opened last Tuesday.

General manager at North Dorset District Council Joyce Guest said: "The plan had been as in previous years to open the site on the Wednesday and it was set up with toilets, fencing, lighting and security on Tuesday. Some of the travellers turned up as the site was being set up and, as we were aware of the issues on the National Trust land, it seemed sensible to let them on.

"But if we had planned to open the site earlier we would have been criticised by people in the Tarrant Valley."

She said the opening date had already been brought forward from the Friday.

She said: "The earlier we open the site the earlier the travellers come. We cannot win."

She said the National Trust, as private landowners, could have applied to magistrates to have them evicted, unlike landowners in the public sector who had to first carry out assessments.

Inspector Bob Jacobs of Dorset Police said: "We really are in a no-win situation.

"The problems experienced at Badbury Rings are exactly why we go to these inordinate lengths each year to set up a temporary travellers site.

"Years ago, as I am sure many people will recall, we were inundated with encampments in Blandford, Wimborne and Christchurch.

"This year we had the single issue at Badbury rings and now that the official site is open, I do not envisage any further encampment problems at all."

He said they had to tread very carefully in terms of when to open the official site.

"Some locals in Tarrant Monkton and Launceston are vehemently opposed to the travellers site and object to any suggestion that the site is opened sooner, while others, including certain landowners I have spoken to in the last week, would wish it opened much sooner.

"It is virtually impossible to please everybody."

District councillor Mike Oliver, who represents the Cranborne Chase area in which the steam fair and traveller site are located, said he had been inundated with calls from people complaining about the presence of travellers last Monday.

"It is a very difficult situation, because no matter when the official site is opened, they seem to arrive the day before."

For two pages of pictures on the show, see P8-9

Last orders for eight-metre pub garden smoking shelter

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

A STRUCTURE which has been used as a smoking shelter in the garden of a pub has been refused planning permission by North Dorset District Council.

The 4m-high scaffold and cladding construction occupies the 8m-wide garden at Nelson's in Salisbury Street, Blandford.

It has been in situ, on and off, since early last year but the council's planing committee says it must come down in its present form.

Councillor David Milsted said: "I am all for smokers being able to smoke, but there is no way anything built of scaffolding poles and plastic sheeting can possibly enhance the conservation area. We all have pubs struggling with the Draconian no smoking law, but there are solutions to the problem, and this isn't it."

Chairman Bill Batty Smith suggested the applicant, licensee John Peniston, should go away and discuss with the conservation and planning officers what might be done to do something more acceptable.

"This looks like an extension under construction," he said.

Mr Peniston, who had applied for retrospective planning permission after being threatened with enforcement action against the structure, said he was happy to discuss how to replace it with something that was more acceptable. The committee heard he had already undertaken to reduce its height by more than a third.

He said: "Is it unsightly? Yes it is. Could the materials be more in keeping? Certainly. I will take any advice that is offered. But the Government has made people go out to smoke, and I would rather they went out at the back of the pub than at the front.

"As an ex-smoker myself I can appreciate people wanting to have a cigarette with their pint. The pub trade has been very difficult, and we need to use every possible angle to keep customers happy."

He said there had been complaints relating to the use of the shelter as a stage, but it had happened only three times.

"If you live next to a pub you have to expect some nuisance. I respect their needs but would ask them to accept mine in these difficult times," he said.

He was advised that the sole reason for rejecting the application, which had been recommended for refusal by officers, Blandford Town Council, and Blandford and District Civic Society, related to the structure being inappropriate for the grounds of a grade two listed building in the conservation area.

Cashing in on rare coins at two-day sale

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

THE Charterhouse two-day auction at Sherborne in September on Thursday and Friday, September 23 and 24, includes a collection of coins which have been hidden away in a box for the past 40 years.

Auctioneer Richard Bromell said: "The vendor was a keen coin collector as a teenager, and funded his passion by washing cars for 10 shillings (50p) a time back in the 1960s.

"He would then buy coins from top dealers such as Baldwin's, Seaby's and Spinks.

"He clearly had a good eye and purchased gold, silver and copper coins from the Roman period up to the late 19th century, always with a view to buying the coins in the best condition he could afford.

"I guess he must have cleaned a lot of cars as he formed his collection.

"Today, they are expected to sell for over £6,000 when they go under the Charterhouse hammer – that would be 1,200 cars cleaned at £5 a go in today's money."

As a young entrepreneur, the vendor lost some of his enthusiasm for coin collecting when he was 20 years old and met his wife. The box was then put away until the lapsed collector read about the auction Charterhouse are having in September and took the collection into their salerooms on a free valuation day.

Highlights in the collection range from an Edward III pre-treaty gold quarter noble, an Edward VI shilling to a silver penny from Danish East Anglia dating to circa 890AD.

The coins are going under the Charterhouse hammer as part of an important two-day auction which collectors and dealers will be able to bid live on the internet during the sale.

On day one, coins, medals, stamps and militaria will be sold in one session followed by a session devoted to Beswick.

This is then followed on Friday with clocks, watches, collectors' items and antiques, with in the region of 1,500 lots over the two days.

For further information regarding the auction or to arrange a free home visit contact Mr Bromell, partner, at Charterhouse 01935 812277 or via email enquiry@charterhouse-auctions.co.uk

NFU leaders reveal major problems facing farmers

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

BUREAUCRACY, food security, transparency in the food chain and a call to tackle bovine tuberculosis are the foremost concerns facing agriculture and its ancillary sector, say industry leaders.

At Melplash Show, National Farmers Union livestock board chairman Alastair Mackintosh, south west regional board chairman Anthony Rew and senior food and farming adviser Julie Edwards told The Western Gazette the critical need for the government to face up to these challenges, even if they are unpopular.

The Conservative-Lib Dem administration has set up a task force to specifically look at instances of "gold plating" and "duplication" of regulation that is costing NFU members and those of other land management organisations thousands of pounds.

Mrs Edwards said: "At the moment one of biggest problems we face is the increasing amount of regulation. The new Government has to address the gold-plating of regulations facing our farms.

"There are lot of areas where there could be a reduction in the amount of form filling. For instance, there is a huge amount of duplication and it's hugely expensive. Whilst we expect regulation from our customers but it has to be proportionate.

"Defra has given details of the spending cuts to their budget and there will be implications for us. There is a growing recognition that we need food security. We are being asked to produce more while impacting less on the environment and that they have to work at reducing the regulation."

Mrs Edwards says the regional NFU team applying for European recognition of their members' products through acquiring Protected Geographical Indicator status.

She said: The south west is different to other regions because it is mixed and has a large number of milk and lamb producers than any other region. The PGI status recognises the criterion we use to produce food here in the south west. The biggest thing we grow is grass through our extensive sheep and beef producers. The Melton Mowbray pie is based on PGI status."

The NFU also says consumers should take confidence in the Red Tractor logo as supermarkets have to abide by the law when using it as the food packaged for them with the logo on it has to be raised or grown in the UK.

Leisure complex still proving a hit with residents

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

LAST Wednesday, my wife Pat and I had a rare evening off duty and decided to watch a movie.

So we ferreted around for our copy of the Western Gazette (yes, we do buy one every week) and had a quick look at the cinema programme. We found a film – Knight and Day with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz – we thought we might like to see, and off we went by bus.

After the short walk from the bus station to the leisure complex, we were pleased to see that the whole place was buzzing. There were literally hundreds of people of all ages milling around or waiting for films. We joined the queue for cinema tickets for the 6pm show, and the studio soon became full with an audience of all ages.

It was a thoroughly entertaining film, acted out very much tongue-in-cheek by both stars. Afterwards, as other people headed off in different directions, we decided to make our way to an equally busy Pizza Hut to suitably reinforce ourselves for the walk home.

As we walked home, Pat and I reflected on the continued success of this complex and our minds drifted back to the time of the district council's quest to bring more leisure facilities right into the heart of Yeovil. At the time, considerable effort was made to find a developer that would include a wide range of facilities on the site, including the very popular Bowlplex, because local people desired this the most.

As a bonus, we were also fortunate enough to be able to introduce a multi-screen cinema, two food outlets and a fitness centre, the latter of which I have to confess, we did not visit on this particular occasion.

For us, it was a real reminder that this complex is just as popular now as when it first opened. It goes to show that even in difficult times, we must not lose sight of the need for a wide variety of leisure opportunities, not only for local people to enjoy, but also to make sure south Somerset is a good place to live and work – qualities that have a knock-on effect to the local economy.

Scandal ruins Pakistan's visit to the County Ground

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

WHAT should have been a chance for cricket-lovers to see a nation's best players preparing themselves for high-profile games in a match against Somerset has been tainted.

What a pity for patrons of the County Ground at Taunton who are among the most passionate about the game and ensure the stands are fuller than at most first-class cricket venues.

What is certain is that if paying spectators stay away because of the suspicions surrounding the Pakistan tour, the press box will be full to bursting.

The event will be more of a curiosity sideshow than a cricket game.

Many who witnessed the momentous events that took place on the pitch at Lord's now feel cheated following the accusations publicised in the News Of The World on Sunday. They thought they saw sporting history being made, but are now left with the feeling that they may have unwittingly watched a crime being perpetrated.

Yet should we be surprised at how things have turned out when betting, something that was once a sideshow to sporting events, now gives the impression that it is the main attraction.

No-one wants to return to the days when most legal betting, if not conducted on horse-racing courses or on the pools, was done in somewhat seedy back-street premises with obscured windows.

But things have changed so much that betting is now regarded as part of the financial services industry, alongside pensions and insurance.

And the things that can be wagered on know no bounds.

While most football teams used to have the name of the local car supplier or builder emblazoned on their shirts – mercifully Yeovil Town has DR Jones – some now trumpet the name of some online betting concern.

Chances are that a Fairy Liquid television commercial will be sandwiched between two advertisements advising you of ways that you can easily be divested of your hard-earned cash.

That gambling can be a successful business is predicated on the fact that the great majority of us harbour dreams of wealth. Without that premise the National Lottery would have gone into receivership many moons ago.

Some will wait patiently for their numbers to come up while others more ruthless and less scrupulous are not prepared to wait. And the opportunities for them have never been greater.

At least when gambling had that certain back-street image to it we knew roughly where to look for them.