A WOMAN who served as Blandford’s town crier for more than 40 years has sadly passed away Jean Jeffery died at the ripe old age of 90 last Tuesday (April 15) Jean was a familiar face to those in the town as she was often seen carrying out her ceremonial duties at civic events and celebrations The town council described her as a “cherished voice” of the community “Jean served Blandford Forum with great pride and passion for over 40 years becoming a cherished voice of our community,” a spokesperson said READ MORE: Traffic lights in Blandford coming down for Easter – before new ones get started READ MORE: Plans to build 44 houses on “historic parkland” near Blandford refused “Her joyful spirit brought tradition and warmth to countless town events and celebrations over the years “We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and all who knew and loved her An outpouring of grief followed on social media when news of her death broke Jean celebrating her 90th birthday Picture: Blandford Forum Town Council Among those praising her for her commitment to the role was the MP for the area A lovely lady who loved Blandford and Blandford loved her said: “Jeannie was very much loved by her Tarrant Valley Players family; she brought such fun and joy into every production we did “We all cherished her friendship dearly and will miss her enormously.” Members of the Ancient & Honourable Guild of Town Criers said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Jean’s family at this sad time.” Jean won the Stanley Mansbridge Perpetual Trophy – open to town criers in Dorset only – in 1997 Details about Jean’s funeral will be shared on the Blandford Forum Facebook page. Follow us on Subscribe to the Salisbury &Avon Magazine The New Stour & Avon Magazine The Purbeck Gazette beta This is a new service – your feedback will help us to improve it Preparation work for Dorset Council's new Blandford Waste Management Centre is set to kick off next week (starting 3rd February) Located just south of Sunrise Business Park this new development will feature a modern Household Recycling Centre (HRC where kerbside rubbish and recycling will be collected before processing The design draws from the award-winning Bridport Waste Management Centre This new facility will replace the current site at Blandford Heights Industrial Estate which is challenging for some residents to use and can't keep up with the growing demands of Dorset Council's waste services To ensure safe construction of the new site and its drainage various traffic management measures will be in place over the next few months: construction will move away from the highway and into the site itself You can find more information on the Blandford Waste Management Centre webpage. Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Place Services “It’s fantastic to see this exciting development get underway Recycling waste is key to our efforts in tackling the climate and nature crisis we've come up with plans that boost development potential while keeping the impact on the natural environment to a minimum “Residents will be getting a brand-new household recycling centre that's easy to use and highly accessible The new site also allows for better segregation of materials “Our teams will also benefit from the new facility allowing our waste services to continue growing leading to more waste being recycled and more efficient use of our funds for kerbside and commercial collections in the future.” Categories: Waste Planning Highways For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar Environment Agency Updated: 13:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 6 May 2025 Fine and settled under the influence of high pressure A chilly start but with plenty of clear skies bringing long spells of sunshine Cloud thickening from the west later in the afternoon but remaining dry for all with light winds Evening cloud gradually clears away leaving a dry night with clear spells Wednesday brings a mixture of sunny spells and cloudy skies A few spots of rain may be felt in the far southwest Widely dry and settled with high pressure dominating this week Dry across the vast majority of the UK with clear or sunny spells but also some patchy cloud Cloud will likely thicken across the far north and northwest during the weekend with some outbreaks of rain for a time There is also a small risk of some heavy showers in the far south or southwest high pressure will be dominant across the UK This will bring predominantly fine and dry weather for the majority of places Temperatures are likely to be slightly above normal for the time of year although there is a chance of some cold nights Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average Retailer The Range welcomes excited locals and visitors as it opens its new-format superstore UK retailer, The Range with shoppers rushing to explore the products on offer in the former Homebase location The opening was part of an exciting chapter for the retailer which now offers an upgraded shopping experience with the introduction of the ‘Garden Centre by Homebase’ A ribbon-cutting ceremony kicked off the celebrations as local residents and visitors enjoyed the festivities The store now includes the ‘Garden Centre by Homebase’ from outdoor plants and gardening tools to essential supplies like compost and pots This expanded offering ensures customers have a one-stop destination for all the home improvement and gardening needs as the first 50 people through the doors received exclusive goodie bags filled with The Range’s sought-after products There were also two fantastic prizes for early arrivals the 18v Cordless Combi Hammer Drill worth £120 and a Slush Puppy with Party Pack for second place Rolf C Hagen and Sodastream were on-site to offer expert advice product demonstrations and promotions and giveaways to shoppers The grand opening in Blandford Forum was one of several new-format store launches taking place today including the opening of Stroud and Putney Road with more expected to follow throughout 2025 Alex Simpkin said: “We’re excited to have opened this brand-new superstore in Blandford Forum and to be welcomed by such a lovely crowd The new store format allows us to offer a broader range of home improvement and garden needs We’re particularly proud of the new Garden Centre by Homebase which really enhances the customer experience It’s an exciting time for me and the whole team and we look forward to welcoming more shoppers into the store.” The Range continues its dog-friendly initiative welcoming well-behaved dogs on leads in this store Keep up to date with the latest news in the retail industry by subscribing to receive the digital edition and latest news by e-communications for FREE +44 (0)1787 222251 enquiries@a1mediamagazines.com 4 U MEDIA LIMITED T/A A1 Media A1 Retail Magazine Unit 4 Fox and Pheasant Centre White Colne Colchester Essex CO6 2PS A1 Lighting brings you the latest lighting news comments from leading voices in lighting as well as extensive coverage of industry events A1 Lighting reaches all the important figures in the industry in the form of a hard copy magazine and social media channels which are updated daily with the latest news www.a1lightingmagazine.com ©Copyright 4 U MEDIA LIMITED T/A A1 Media document.write(new Date().getFullYear()). All Rights Reserved | Website Design by Chalk Media Keep up to date with the latest news in the retail industry by subscribing for FREE today Blandford Forum, Events & Entertainment, Personalities | Posted on September 16th, 2024 | return to news Presenter and star of the BBC programme ‘Flog It!’ Paul Martin will be hosting a free community valuation day at The Crown Hotel in Blandford Forum on Tuesday 24 September Run in partnership with auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Son Paul will be sharing his knowledge and experience with Dorset residents from 10.30am–3pm Members of the public are encouraged to bring along their precious possessions to be discussed Items likely to be valued include antiques Expressing his enthusiasm for the upcoming event and I’m always excited to see the fascinating items people bring in These days offer an opportunity to uncover hidden treasures and hear the incredible stories behind them “Whether it’s a family heirloom or a curious find I’m eager to explore the stories behind each item “Even though I am a TV presenter and still enjoy my broadcast career I’m an antiques man at heart and these events allow me to get back to what drives me — the people their objects and the stories they tell.” The event will take place at The Crown Hotel on West Street General Manager David Norton said: “For a hotel and town steeped in so much history we’re excited to have such a practised antiques dealer like Paul visit us to share his knowledge and expertise “It will be interesting to see if he spots any treasures whilst visiting us at the hotel.” As well as ‘Flog It!’ Paul is also known for ‘Antiques Road Trip’ and ‘Britain’s Hidden Heritage,’ and has a new programme ‘Paul Martin’s Auction Showdown,’ airing on on My5 He is also head of valuations at Henry Aldridge & Son For more information about the event, and other valuation days, visit https://www.henryaldridge.com/valuations/valuation-days/south-west/ Subscribe to the online magazine news letter and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" DORSET VIEWDana HouseSpinneys LaneFerndownDorsetBH22 9BZ © Dorset View 2025 | Terms & Conditions | Copyright | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy BEREAVED people in Blandford Forum can now write letters to their loved ones that are no longer here thanks to a new postbox The Letters to Heaven postbox was installed at Blandford’s Cemetery in February Postboxes of this nature have become increasingly more common around the country after a nine-year-old girl near Nottingham wanted to send letters and cards to family members that have passed away A Letter to Heaven postbox was installed at Gedlington Cemetery in 2022 and cemeteries and crematoriums around the UK have followed suit with Blandford the latest to adopt the postbox idea postcards as well as birthday anniversaries and Christmas cards can all be accepted in the postbox The contents will be securely stored and will never be opened or read The post box is not operated by Royal Mail READ MORE: Blandford museum launches ground-breaking project to bring history to visually impaired READ MORE: Blandford charity shop re-opening next week after refurb A spokesperson for Blandford Forum Town Council said: “Grief is a deeply personal journey and everyone experiences it in their own way and at Blandford Forum Town Council we truly understand that.” councillor Noc Lacey-Clarke chaired the town council meeting in February when councillors agreed to introduce the post box He said the postbox is available to anyone who might find solace in it “It doesn’t matter when your loved one passed or where their service took place,” he added Cllr Terry Clarkson posting the first letter to his much missed wife Yvonne Picture: Blandford Forum Town Council The first letter to be posted was from cllr Terry Clarkson who wrote to his beloved and much-missed wife Linda Scott-Giles and business support officer ‘We hope that visiting Blandford Forum Cemetery and posting a letter to your loved one brings you some comfort every time you visit “We understand that finding peace with the loss of a loved one is a personal journey filled with both small and larger milestones “We hope this post box can be part of that journey.” THE GRADE I LISTED St Peter and St Paul Church in Blandford Forum has won the ‘King of Prussia Gold Medal’ at the Church Architecture Awards The Georgian church has recently been restored and repaired includes a pulpit believed to have been first designed by Sir Christopher Wren for the church of St Antholin in the City of London Historic England describes the Church of St Peter and St Paul as a prime example of Georgian church architecture outside London It was rebuilt after a fire between 1732 and 1739 by local builders John and William Bastard The church’s five-year £10,000 major roofing works completed last year included repairs to the timber roof structure and areas of lead work plaster repairs and the renovation and redecoration of the apse to re-gild its ‘hemi-dome’ The roof repairs included restoration of a cupola When the church was rebuilt in the 18th century it was originally intended that a spire should be constructed on the top of the tower funds had run out so the cupola was hastily designed by the Bastard brothers the restoration included a local artist repainting four curlicues on the base’s corners The completed restoration project means that the building is now watertight it is expected that the church will soon by removed from Historic England’s At Risk Register The church restoration project has now received an award from the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association. Architects, Benjamin + Beauchamp were recognised for ‘The Big Church Project’ with judges praising the use of local trades for key parts of the project including the new plaster cornices being cast within walking distance of the church presented the King of Prussia Gold Medal to representatives from the church for high quality church conservation or repair work that overcomes the greatest aesthetic or technical challenge The Prince said: “This church that is now watertight Roof insulation is being installed across the whole building to ensure increased thermal efficiency Georgian plasterwork that had been damaged by water ingress has been repaired and the apse at the west end of the building has been restored The award and a cheque for £500 for the church was presented to Sara Loch Project Co-ordinator from St Peter and St Paul Church and Tom Griffin >> Read about more heritage roofing projects in the news Issue 117 - March 2025 Sign up now to get news by email from Roofing Today CUPA 12: The trusted choice for the most skilled roofers RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Bright Membrane for Cool Roofs Traditional Roofing spring 2025 BLANDFORD could see its Market Place partly pedestrianised in the future – and the town council wants to hear what residents would like to see in the potential new space Blandford Forum Town Council say it is responding to the local desire to revitalise the Market Place by creating a vibrant atmosphere and attracting more footfall the council is considering a part pedestrianisation of the area to the left of the Town Hall/Corn Exchange – with ideas already discussed such as pop-up cafés theatrical and musical performances – but the council say it is “very much open to ideas.” the plans would see some of the parking spaces removed The Market Place area which could be part pedestrianised Click on the image to enlarge it Picture: Blandford Forum Town Council An online consultation has been launched to find out what residents want and its officers have put this plan together offering the town council the opportunity to introduce and manage a six-month trial period A spokesperson for the council said: “The town council was involved in discussions with the former North Dorset District Council (NDDC) 10 years ago looking at potential improvements for the Market Place with a focus on a covered market area and possible pedestrianisation READ MORE: Blandford Farmers And Makers Market will not run in the future READ MORE: Popular Blandford eatery announces changes in bid to avoid ‘burn out’ the town council took on responsibility from NDDC for the street market a Market Area Enhancement Working Group was established with the aim of delivering a project to enhance the street market area using a £70,000 grant provided by NDDC “The town council was keen to see some sort of pedestrianisation in the Dorset Council-owned area and initial consultations were carried out.” Before these ideas could be further progressed followed by the replacement of the town centre paving slabs by the Dorset Council which rendered any further large-scale changes in the town centre impractical for the time being A spokesperson said: “In September 2023 the Dorset Council proposed pedestrianisation of the area to the left of the Town Hall/Corn Exchange their intention was for the trial to take place in 2024 which would have coincided with the works taking place to the Corn Exchange and the anticipated requirement for plant to be located outside the building “The Town Council therefore resolved that the part-pedestrianisation project will be linked to the completion of the regeneration of the Town Hall/Corn Exchange “The Town Council’s Working Group wants to know how residents would like to see the space being used “This is a monthly agenda item on the Town Council meetings so you are welcome to attend a meeting to hear discussions and express your opinions too.” Scan this QR code to go to the consultation Picture: Blandford Forum Town Council A public consultation has been produced by the Town Council and you can share your views by 31st August 2024 by scanning the QR code (above, picking up a copy from the Town Council Office in Legion House, Church Lane or using the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/syDKRUhbMC A CHIPPY tea is a Friday night tradition across the UK the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) has issued a map featuring the nationally-recognised top 40 chip shops in the UK made up of those up for the fish and chip takeaway of the year award only one Dorset chippy features – the Forum Frier the Oyster Shell in Bath also makes the list The tradition of a Friday-night chippy tea can be traced back to eating fish on Good Friday as part of a Roman Catholic custom of not eating warm-blooded animals on Fridays as well as acknowledging the death of Jesus Christianity recognises that Jesus died for our sins on Good Friday and some people choose to abstain from meat on the anniversary of Christ’s death said: “Good Friday is a huge trading day on the fish and chip shop calendar when businesses across the country welcome hundreds of customers through their doors keen to enjoy this holiday staple “Making the top 40 fish and chip Takeaway of the Year list is a huge achievement for these outlets that have all worked extremely hard to make it on there and all of which have had to go through a rigorous judging process by a panel of fish and chip experts “Each and every one will be dishing up delicious portions of the finest fish and chips so if you’re lucky enough to live locally to one of the shops mentioned or are keen to visit one Which Dorset chippy do you think should have made the list Best fish and chips I have ever had ,very consistent AN awards ceremony at a school in Blandford Forum celebrated the achievements of its students throughout 2024 The Blandford School hosted its annual awards ceremony in December to honour students’ academic Awards were presented to students across all year groups in various categories READ MORE: Blandford business helps dad see daughter in wedding dress before sight fades – and features on This Morning Among the standout moments of the evening was the presentation of the Headteacher’s Award which recognised a student the school said demonstrated “exceptional commitment to their studies and a positive impact on the school community” Special honours were also given to students who overcame significant challenges to achieve their goals A spokesperson for The Blandford School said: “Guests at the event included proud families and esteemed alumni who returned to inspire the next generation of achievers.” They added: “The ceremony featured captivating performances from The Blandford Performing Arts with music and dance pieces that highlighted the exceptional talent within the school’s arts department.” This year’s ceremony came at the end of a particularly positive year for the school as it received a Good rating from Ofsted at the awards ceremony Picture: The Blandford School the sixth form secured its place in the top 1% of UK schools and sixth forms for value added as judged by ALPS using data from the last three years of results A spokesperson added: “As we move into 2025 The Blandford School remains committed to its mission of nurturing well-rounded individuals who aspire to make a meaningful difference in the world building on the successes of a landmark year.” TEMPORARY traffic lights in Blandford are set to be removed over the Easter weekend in a bid to ease traffic – with new ones on the way have been installed as work on the new Waste Management Centre continues temporary traffic measures have been in place to ensure safety during these roadworks Four-way traffic signals remain in place at Hill Top Roundabout to allow drainage work to continue and are expected to stay in place until Wednesday Dorset Council said they would be removed over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend – from Friday to Monday two-way traffic signals will manage traffic flow between Sunrise and Hilltop Roundabouts to allow drainage systems and access roads to be built Once the new access road is mostly finished the traffic management measures on the A350 will no longer be needed cabinet member for place services at the council said: “This development shows our commitment to sustainability and innovation “The Blandford Waste Management Centre will be an important resource for Dorset and we’re proud to see progress that takes care of both people and the environment.” Phase 2 main construction works are expected to start soon with the Waste Management Centre set to be completed in the autumn of 2026