2011 spring web version - Merley Community Centre

The Merley
Spring 2011
Newsletter
Magpie
MCA
MERLEY
C O M M U N I T Y
A S S O C I A T I O N

Merley Community Centre
Harrier Drive, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1XE
Tel: 01202 841330
Interested in advertising in the (rates from £12.00), or
wanting to arrange a reminder for the next deadline?
Contact the Editor, Pete Spedding, on 889055, or email:
editor@merley.org.uk
Welcomes contributions from all individuals and organisations in Merley.
The will be published on the Merley.org. website from the summer 2010.
All contributors/advertisers must make it known if there is anything they do NOT wish
to appear on the internet. Deadlines are as follow:
Spring issue: 15th Feb. Summer issue:15th June, Winter issue:15th Oct.
Please send all material to: Peter Spedding, 170 Lynwood Drive, Merley,
Telephone 889055, or email it to: editor@merley.org.uk
Neither the Editor nor Merley Community Association necessarily endorse the views
and opinions expressed by contributors.
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A belated Happy New Year to all
Merley residents. I hope you all
survived the snow and ice, which
was an experience we have not had
for sometime.
Although the continued gloom of recession
and cut backs hangs over
us, at least we have a royal wedding
to look forward to. If anyone is
planning a community party and
would like to involve the community
hall and club please let us know.
Since I became secretary I have
been amazed at how many people
do not know we have a community
centre and club, so we have inserted
a flier in this Magpie which we hope
you will have time to read and pass
onto your friends. Also, if you are not
a member, why not take advantage
of the free drinks voucher on page
eight and come along and see us.
ANDREW PLATT
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
Interior & Exterior
Painting & Decorating
General 'Handyman' Jobs
Free Estimates
All Enquiries Welcome
Please call Andy on
07749 831618
or 01202 885414
Merley Social Club
Although we have not finalized our
entertainment programme for 2011,
we would like to mention a new attraction
which is becoming very popular
with all, ballroom dancing. Why
not come along and enjoy. Look out
for separate posters with dates.
We are also hoping to re-introduce
curry nights, possibly the first Saturday
each month. Again, watch out
for dates.
At last a darts team looks possible, if
you are interested please contact us.
Both pool teams are doing well in the
Wessex league, but we welcome
new members. The Petanque team is
growing, and crib is still popular. We
also have a golf society which would
welcome new members. The meat
draw takes place on a Friday night,
and the members draw, where you
could win up to £100, restarts in
March.
Website:
www.merleysocialclub.co.uk
John Bennett
Secretary MSC
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Club telephone 841330
7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Surname(s): __________________________
First Name(s): __________________________
Occupation(s): __________________________
Date(s) of birth: _________________
Address: ____________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Post Code: ____________ Tel. No._________________
Please provide the name of the member introducing
you to this club:
Members Name:_____________________________________________
Members No: ___________
Merley Social Club
New Members' Application Form 2011
I/We agree to abide by the rules and bye-laws of
Merley Social Club
SIGNED: ___________________________
DATE: ___________________________
Rates for 2011 Social
Club
Subs
4
Non-refundable
share
Total payable
Ordinary members £15 £1 £16
Seniors - men 65 yrs & over
- ladies 60 yrs & over
£10 £1 £11
Partners of members £07 £1 £08
Please make cheques payable to Merley Social Club.
The personal information requested on this form is the
minimum required under the Industrial and Provident
Societies Acts. Merley Social Club will use information
provided by members for membership purposes only. Under
no circumstances will this information be disclosed to third
parties. All information is held in accordance with the Data
Protection Act 1998.

Merley Community Association Report
Welcome to the first edition of the
Merley Magpie for 2011. It has
now been ten years since our editor,
Peter Spedding, took over the
running of this local magazine and
to celebrate, the front cover has
been updated. Thank you Peter for
all the hard work (unpaid I might
add) that you have contributed
over the past decade.
I hope that everyone came through
the bad weather relatively unscathed.
I am pleased to confirm
that no problems were encountered
at the Community Centre,
apart from a very icy car park.
We had been able to have the
heaters repaired before the cold
weather hit us. The flooring in the
large hall had become damaged,
and a thank you to Derek Froud,
who came and repaired the floor at
short notice. The carpet in the
lounge has also been repaired.
Bookings for the two halls remain
buoyant, but don't forget the special
offer still available, whereby
the Large Hall can be hired for a
K . H .
O V E R 2 0 Y E A R S E X P E R I E N C E
F U L L Y Q U A L I F I E D S T A F F
F R I E N D L Y & E F F I C I E N T S E R V I C E
A L L T Y P E S O F E L E C T R I C A L W O R K
S M A L L J O B S W E L C O M E
A l l y o u r e l e c t r i c a l
p r o b l e m s s o l v e d
National Inspection Council for Electrical
Installation Contracting
APPROVED CONTRACTOR
W I M B O R N E
0 1 2 0 2 8 8 9 6 6 4
M o b i l e : 0 7 8 3 1 3 0 9 9 6 8
3 B r a b a z o n R d , W i m b o r n e
CORGI
Registered No.
193166
5
Saturday night at a 25% discount
and an even further discount for all
Social Club members. (No under
25 year old parties I'm afraid.)
Not a lot more to report for this
edition, other than that the A.G.M.
for the MCA is at 8.30 p.m. on
Thursday, 26th May. Look forward
to seeing you there.
Martin Stevens
Chairman
Over 15 years experience in
acrylic nails.
Based in Parkstone, less than 15
minutes from Merley.
Offering evening and some daytime
bookings.
GAS, LPG & OIL SPECIALIST
P D HEATING
Paul Dipple
Tel/Fax: 01202 467363
Mobile: 07810 483028
Full Set £20.00
Refills £12.00
Manicure £5.00
Phone or text Janice on
07834590204
360 Blandford Road
Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset BH15 4JH

Collection of Milk
Bottle Tops
Margaret Hamilton, who has been
collecting plastic milk bottle tops for
charity, has had to stop. Please do
not take any further bottle tops to
the Community Centre. Margaret
thanks all who have helped with the
collection over the past months.
Local Resident offers
crime talks.
Newly retired Malcolm Acreman is an
Age UK volunteer and has been
trained in presenting information on
crimes such as scams, identity theft
and distraction burglary, which are
often targeted at people later in life.
His talks, with a DVD, take about an
hour. If any local organisations
would like to take advantage of his
offer they should email Malcolm on
acreman533@btinternet.com, or call
him on 01202 842432.
The wimborne clinic
Excellence in Healthcare
Chiropody & Podiatry
A Complete Footcare Service
By HPC Registered Chiropodist/Podiatrist
Treatments include Callus, Corns, Ingrowing
Toe Nails, Nail Infections and Diabetic Feet
Home Visits available
Angela Churchill Bsc. Pod Med. Mchs
Call 01202 841000
Knobcrook Road, Wimborne, Dorset. BH21 1NL
www.thewimborneclinic.com
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Canford & Merley
Women‛s Institute
We meet on the second Wednesday
of the month at 7.15 for 7.30
p.m. at Merley Community Centre,
and I am pleased to say that each
month sees new members arriving.
Our Winter programme included
some interesting illustrated talks
and the final meeting of last year
culminated with a superb magician
who entertained us for our Christmas
celebrations.
I must thank all our members who
make our meetings so friendly and
informative. Next year has a varied
and interesting program already
planned. If you have other areas of
interest, e.g. Scrabble, Reading,
Craft or Badminton we have smaller
get-togethers throughout the
month to cater for all interests. We
even have a number of members
who organise themselves into
small walking groups, and others
who just go out together once a
month for a meal. Our recent Skittles
Evening saw over 100 members
and their partners gather for a
Ploughman’s Supper. The evening
went well, raising over £150 for
Charity.
Do come along and give us a try.
Please ring Penny, our President,
on 885866 for further information.
DISLIKE IRONING?
HAVEN’T GOT THE TIME?
Fast, friendly, efficient collection
and delivery service.
£7 per hour. (1 hour minimum)
Tel: 01202 883497

The Dorset group of the
Arthritis & Musculoskeletal
Alliance
(ARMA www.arma.uk.net/default.html)
is holding a public meeting, at the
East Dorset Heritage Trust, Allendale
House, Hanham Road, Wimborne,
BH21 1AS, on Wednesday
6th April.
This meeting is for patients and carers
of patients who suffer from musculo-skeletal
conditions.
Health-care professionals will give
their view on how patients will be
cared for and supported in the future
and there will be an opportunity for
those attending to discuss their experiences
and how they would like to
see services improved or changed.
The meeting will start at 6 p.m. and
run until about 7 p.m. There will be
a light buffet available from 5:45 p.m.
If you wish to attend, please contact
Barry Faith, Dorset ARMA
coordinator at:
barryfaith@betterprojects.co.uk,
or tel. 07773 793299.
Dorset ARMA has also recently
published its periodic report. This is
available via email,
barryfaith@betterprojects.co.uk.
Scotts private hire
your local transport service
airports, coach &
railway stations
long and short distances
4 & 6 seater vehicles available
Tel: Tina Scott
01202650144 or 07886825446
(recommended by Merley Taxis)
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MERLEY SOCIAL CLUB
Not yet a member? Don’t worry! This
is your chance to come and look for
yourself.
With premium lager at over £3.00 a pint
at the local Pub it would be silly not to
take advantage of this offer.
You might just enjoy the experience
enough to join.
FREE DRINK VOUCHER
Present this voucher to the bar staff and
receive a free drink at
MERLEY SOCIAL CLUB.
Offer ends 30th April 2011
Limited to non-members over 18
yrs of age
Name: ____________________
Address: ___________________
NICK HUGHES
PATIOS, PATHS,
WALLS, FENCING,
GATES, TURFING, &
GARDEN FURNITURE
EST. 25 YEARS
FRIENDLY SERVICE
FREE ESTIMATES
WIMBORNE
TEL: 01202 887736

Merley Community Pre-school
Merley Community Centre, Harrier Drive, Merley, Wimborne.
Phone number: 07876 267984 Reg. Charity No:-1037295
Our over-arching theme, ‘Images’
continues to inspire and challenge
children and adults alike. We have
used a black-out tent, torches and
other light sources to experiment
with and explore the properties of
light, dark and shadows. We have
explored ‘magnetism’ and enjoyed
experimenting and marvelling at
the results. Art and craft activities
have been introduced to design,
plan and produce 2 & 3D models,
collage and drawings. We are also
looking forward to producing a
‘Year Book’ where individual
children publish their own entries.
The children have been
encouraged to reflect on their
experiences and learning and to
engage with the practitioners as
‘research partners’ in order to
make sense of their findings.
The Spring Term brings new
provocations. We plan to design
and make a new curtain for the
playroom, engage in simple
kitchen experiments, introduce
clay, sand and soil sculptures, and
turn our role play area into a
‘space station.’ During the
summer months we plan to explore
‘growing and life;’ study famous
works of art, e.g. Van Gogh’s
‘Sunflowers’ (not unfortunately,
the original!) and Ancient Egyptian
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Art with the intention of developing
our own pre-school hieroglyphics!
Our Summer Exhibition, ‘A
Celebration of Local Children’ is
planned for Saturday 2nd July,
from 2.00 p.m. Our grateful thanks
go to the Community Centre
Committee for their support. Other
Community Centre users have
expressed an interest in joining us:
Footlights Dance Academy, the
U3A & W.I. Watch out for posters
with further details.
The ‘Mini Movers’ music and
rhyme group for babies and preschoolers
continues to flourish.
We meet in the lounge on Tuesday
afternoons during term time –
everyone is welcome.
If you would like your youngster to
share in these exciting
experiences please come and
visit. My team and I would be
delighted to show you around.
Alternatively phone on 07876
267984.
Nicki Whitworth
Pre-School Leader
GILLIAN ADLEY M.Ch.S.
HPC Registered
Chiropodist/Podiatrist
Home visits. Tel: 880947

Reader‛s Letter
Sir
It was interesting to read Barry
Faith's letter in the Summer 2010
Magpie concerning the demise of
swifts and swallows in Merley over
the past 20 years.
While swifts may have nested at
Canford School, I believe that
house martins are among the species
that many long term residents
will have missed most, since they
nested on ordinary houses, including
ours (on the Queen Anne Drive
side of the estate) from 1980 -
1983. In the last few years I have
only seen them nesting in the Sopwith
Crescent area but other readers
may have different
experiences. I have seen historical
data on the number of house martin
nests at Canford School before the
Merley estate was established, with
an impressive 153 nests in 1963 for
example. Possibly someone at the
school continues to monitor the
situation. It would certainly be good
to read occasional updates in the
Merley Magpie.
Despite the decline in hirundines
(swallow like birds) ,the recent cold
weather has brought less common
species into our gardens, notably
redwing in December 2010 and
fieldfare the previous Christmas.
Arguably the most unlikely visitor to
our garden this winter has been a
grey wagtail, which we normally
only expect to see on the River
Stour. Unlike residents of Canford
Heath we haven't been lucky
enough to see waxwing here, but
have others in Merley ?
Paul Lear
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Your Home Watch Needs
YOU!
Become a co-ordinator in Merley
Home Watch Association.
It won’t take up a lot of time. All you
need to do is deliver a newsletter 4
times a year to approximately 20
homes near you. Once a year collect
the 50p subscriptions and leave a
receipt. Pass the subscriptions on to
the treasurer.
There is an annual social evening for
co-ordinators in recognition of their
work. Most co-ordinators have done
the job for many years and don’t find
it too onerous, giving up about 4
hours a year.
As with most organisations we really
do need new blood to enable Home
Watch to continue. We need you.
Contact Carole Spedding on 889055
if you can help.
The Home Watch A.G.M. will be on
the 18th May, 7.30 p.m. at Selkirk
Hall, Selkirk Close. Everyone is
welcome to attend.
Baby Sitting Offered
in the Merley Area by a reliable 15 year old.
£3.50 Per Hour Minimum of 2 hours.
References Available
Contact Amy on:- 01202 883343
Josephine Leigh-Brown
MSSCh, MBChA, HPC registered
Chiropody
Tel: 657556
or surgery
591990

Magpie on the
Web
In response to requests
from one or two households
who do not get the
newsletter delivered, the
Merley Magpie will be
published in PDF form on
the web.
If you know of anyone
outside our delivery area
who wants to see a copy,
tell them to visit:
www.Merley.org.uk
To respect privacy some
personal information will
be omitted on the web
version.
Merley Evening Townswomen‛s
Guild
We continue to grow and flourish and after
our A.G.M. in March we will be starting our
2011 programme. This will include the return
of the very popular Call my Bluff in
April, the History of the Kimono (cancelled
last October due to illness) in May, the
return of Marion Emery in June and Life on
Board the Royal Yacht Britannia in July.
This is the first half of this year's programme
so if you fancy coming along to any
of these evenings you will be made very
welcome.
We had a good variety of speakers and
entertainment last year including several
theatre trips, a Christmas shopping trip,
monthly coffee mornings and an excellent
Christmas dinner at the Bear Cross pub.
We have got off to a flying start this year
with a Skittles evening at the Cobham club
and about 20 members supporting the local
economy with a return visit to the Dogs at
Poole!! If any of these events appeal to you
and you want to meet new people you will
be made very welcome.
We meet every third Wednesday of the
month at 7.30 p.m. at the Merley Community
Centre.
Annual General Meetings
of the Merley Community Association
and the Merley Social Club
Will take place on Thursday 26th May
at the Community Centre.
The meeting for the MCA will start at
8.30 p.m.
That for the Social club will follow at
9.30 p.m.
11

Playing the lute in the
garden
Until last summer, I thought of the
lute as a musical instrument. However,
the need to level my lawn
(after 30-odd years of thinking
about it !!!) caused me to discover
there was another instrument, or
better, tool, which is called a ‘lute’.
(Search the internet for ‘garden
lute’, ‘lawn lute’ or ‘levelling lute’,
and you will find this device is used
to help level lawns.) So I decided
buy one and experiment, along
with about a half ton of top soil
(50% sharp sand, bearing in mind
the clay at Merley) and plenty of
seed. An afternoon of work left me
with the top soil spread across my
lawn and a lot of patches filled with
the topsoil and seed mix. You
never know, perhaps next year I’ll
have a flat lawn. I’ll let you all
know.
Carolyn Smith - Sugar Practitioner
A NATURAL FORM OF HAIR REMOVAL
32 Montacute Way, Merley
Tel: 888278
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S.J. Construction
Over 25 years experience
For all your building needs:
Loft Conversions
Kitchens
Bathrooms
Extensions
Decorating
Property Maintenance
Full Refurbishments
No job too small
Insurance work undertaken
Clean and reliable service
Just call Simon for a free quote
Tel: 01202 884952
Mobile: 07970 021772
Frederick's
Fitted furniture specialist
Bedroom, study or kitchen.
Free survey and quotation.
Please call
Fred Gosling on 01202 696645
60 Dunyeats Rd, Broadstone.
Community Centre Hall for Hire
Why not hire the large function hall at the Merley Community Centre
for your:-
Anniversaries/Birthdays (25th & over only), Christenings or
any other Celebrations.
Available for up to 120 persons. Kitchen facilities included and
Licensed Bar always available for you and your guests.
25% Discount if you quote “ ” when booking. (Saturday
Hiring only) Further Discounts for Social Club Members.
Contact Rob Johnson on 01202 880235, or email:
weekend.bookings@merley.org.uk

WOODLAND BURIAL & MEMORIAL GARDENS
A truly tranquil setting with views of Poole Harbour
And the Purbeck Hills, Harbour View is the
Perfect place in which to remember the life of
someone special.
Harbour View caters for both woodland burial
And interments of cremated remains.
A number of pre-arrangement and pre-payment plans
are available, affording you the chance to plan ahead
with confidence.
For further enquiries or a brochure please
call the number below.
Randalls Hill, Lytchett Minster, Poole,
Dorset BH16 6AN
Tel. 01202 630111
www. woodlandburial.net
13
S.J. Drywall
Over 25 years experience
For all your building needs:
Plastering
Artex made smooth
Plaster boarding, Dry lining
Coving & Cornice
Rendering
Stud Walls
Suspended ceilings
Screeding
No job too small
Insurance work undertaken
Clean and reliable service
Just call Simon for a free quote
Tel: 01202 884952
Mobile: 07970 021772
SELKIRK PROPERTY
MAINTENANCE
ALL ASPECTS OF LANDSCAPING, PROPERTY MAIN-
TENANCE AND REPAIRS
FENCING GATES
PATIOS PATHS
BLOCK PAVING RENDERING
CONCRETING PAINTING
DRAINAGE TURFING
ALL JOBS CONSIDERED
A LOCAL RELIABLE MERLEY COMPANY
QUALITY WORK AT REASONABLE RATES
CALL SIMON: 010202 887438 or 07894 860886

It is clear that our country is experiencing
an economic crisis as this
government has inherited a huge
deficit in its budgeted accounts
which had to be covered by international
loans, the interest of
which is costing billions of pounds
annually.
Draconian cuts in monetary grants
to local government are the result
of the 'fast track' method of recovery
the Government has chosen,
consequently local councils' income
has been significantly reduced
resulting in a 'tightening of
proverbial belts'.
In order to relieve some of the
financial pressure without affecting
local services too much; vis: Social
Services, Education, Road Maintenance
et. al. the Government prepared
a plan – 'The Big Society',
where local councils entered into
partnerships with neighbouring
councils and voluntary organisations.
The depth of this financial 'Black
Hole' however has called for even
more drastic measures, including
greater reductions in Government
funding - resulting in more efficiency
drives and greater reduction to
local services, until the original
cause is remedied.
In an effort of collateral limitation
the government has chosen the
path of 'decentralised policy conceptualisation'
with the Localism
Bill which passes some policy formulation,
and its associated responsibilities
and accountability,
Localism
14
to local government, communities
and local residents. See
http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/
page.do?pageId=15692252
The outcome of this for Borough
of Poole residents is that there will
be cutbacks in some services,
such as in street cleaning, weed
reduction and vegetation control to
name a few. So as individuals, if
one sees a drain cover blocked by
leaves or other debris please take
the initiative and clear the offending
item away. If one sees some
weeds starting to grow along the
kerb or footpath then next time the
garden is sprayed with weed killer,
spray these weeds also.
As a residential area we need
more organisation as a community.
Councils in most instances will
only entrust such responsibilities
to 'official' organisations, e.g., the
Community Centre and the
Church. Perhaps we need to build
up volunteer groups that could
help cut back overgrown vegetation
and pick up litter throughout
our area.
This is our area of which we should
be proud and welcoming, so
please could we work together during
these troubled times, helping
our neighbours if necessary (every
little helps!) to arrive at the desired
outcome.
So please, no more of 'it's the
Councils job'. We are in this together.
P. Maiden
Local Councillor

GARDEN CENTRE
pet shop is now open!
Large range of Wild Bird, Dog, Small Animal,
Aviary and Aquatic foods, treats and other
products available to order. All delivered
direct to your door!
Gardening products coming soon!
Visit
Our new online
www.theoaksgardencentre.co.uk
and click Online Shop
Queen Anne Drive, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3BA
Tel: 01202 603322 | Web: www.theoaksgardencentre.co.uk
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