‘You need to take more exercise, dad.’

I’d heard it before, not only from my daughter but the doctor as well. I just couldn’t be bothered. I knew why. It was since I lost Emily. We used to walk a lot during our forty years together, but now it just wasn’t the same. But to shut my daughter up I agreed to start walking again in the new year.

‘A new year’s resolution,’ I said, ‘I’ll have a walk twice a week. Now can we get on with enjoying ourselves?’

She waited until the 2^nd January to ring and remind me of the resolution. It seemed a fine day, so I told her I was just about to go out.

Where I live it’s rural and the walks are lovely, but not short. I talked myself into a walk up the hill, down the other side, then back to the pub for refreshment.

I didn’t see a soul until after I’d crowned the hill and begun my descent. Then I saw a figure below me, heading uphill. It looked like it would be ten minutes before we met. But after a little while I saw the person stumble, then slip off the path and begin to fall down the hill side. I chuckled to myself, thinking they must have slipped, but then I saw the figure lying still on the grass.

Something’s wrong, I thought and quickened my pace. I was out of breath when I found the unconscious woman.

I’d done some first aid long ago so checked for vital signs, breaks and bleeding. There wasn’t much to see, but she didn’t look like she was coming round. I couldn’t carry her down the hill, it was more than I could manage, and she clearly needed help. Then it started raining, heavily.

I phoned the emergency services, and ten minutes later the Air Ambulance was hovering overhead. They winched her aboard and then said, ‘you’d better come along too.’ The crew had her on a drip by the time I was onboard, and they took us to hospital.

I didn’t even know her name, but the staff kept telling me about her, how she was alright and would be able to go home soon.

Then, there she was, thanking me for saving her life. It turns out she was diabetic and had forgotten to bring any sugar with her on her walk. If the ambulance hadn’t got to her, she would have died.

I got us a taxi home, least I could do.

‘What were you doing, walking in this weather?’ I said in the back of the taxi.

‘Well, it was fine when I set off,’ she said, ‘and I’d promised my son I’d get more exercise, a sort of new year’s resolution.’

She didn’t understand why I laughed, but we’ve been walking together now for a year. And whenever we do, we count our miles and contribute to the Air Ambulance. We both know neither of us would be walking if it wasn’t for them.

After fifteen years at unit 19 Old Market Centre we have undertaken a massive £40,000 refurbishment. Total redecoration, new carpets and state of the art LED lighting. The transformation looks spectacular.

In addition to this we have purchased lots of new machines including cross trainers, bikes and two more cable machines and totally changed the layout of our main gym due to the big demand for our fitness 45 group personal training sessions. We now train the majority of our members twice a week, offering over two hundred fitness 45 sessions all day every day, seven days a week.

These sessions are unique to our club where members can choose any two sessions each week to have personal training by appointment, at flexible times to suit them, as we don’t believe in leaving members on their own like many other clubs. We also give lots of free healthy eating advice. The results have been amazing, with lots of our members achieving well beyond their initial goals.

In seventeen years we have never turned anyone away from the club and currently have an age range of 13-97 who train with us each week. Most were absolute beginners so if that’s you don’t worry.

‘We are the results orientated club’

We cater for all ages, shapes and sizes whether it is weight loss, rehab from illness or injury or sports specific training with the best free weights room for twenty miles.

If you are not happy with your health and fitness and are not sure where to start, come down for a cup of tea and a chat so that we can show you how we have helped many people just like you to achieve their results and how we can help you to achieve yours. If you want help and support and to be motivated every time you train, we are the club for you.

Call us now on 01747 835180 to book your free guest visit.

‘This is not just fitness. This is Fitness by Design!’

I don’t normally like raising my voice but sometimes, when I’m working, I have to. This is one of those days.

The clocks have been put back and it is already getting dark. The wind is high and blustery, and it’s been raining for a couple of hours. Trees sway in the wind. The last remaining brown leaves are driven into already clogged gutters creating miniature dams and large puddles along the edge of the road. Those leaves that aren’t swept into the gutter stick fast, turning the pavement into an ice rink. The tarmac glistens in the street lights.

As if the noise of water running in gutters and wind blowing the trees is not enough, traffic on the road hisses and splashes as tyres carve a path through the sodden road. The bright lights of headlights flashing past one way and hot, red tail lights in the other direction make my work doubly difficult.

And just look at the drivers. Hunched over, steering wheels gripped as tightly as the scariest fairground ride, eyes focused on the car in front. People leaving work, looking forward to the warmth and dry of their homes, not caring about anyone else.

In amongst the cars are motorcycles, mopeds, occasionally cyclists smothered in tent like capes, all jostling for position on the wet, slippery road, all intent on their own journey. Occasionally one of the drivers might glance in my direction but their gaze quickly reverts to the stream of traffic. They are supposed to be able to see me clearly with my high visibility vest, but most of them seem blind to its neon yellow.

A large van goes past blocking my view, wheels in the gutter, splashing water and sodden leaves over my shoes and trousers. It’s then that I have to shout.

‘Stop. Stop, wait there,’ I yell at the top of my voice, hoping to be heard against the traffic and weather. The movement that I had seen ceases and I push myself out. This is the most dangerous and nerve-wracking part of my work. And this is the scariest time of year, when the dark comes early. But I must do it, so I lean out beyond the kerb, wave my yellow gloved hand in front of me, hoping the drivers see me. I watch and wait until I make eye contact through the beating windscreen wipers and see the car begin to slow, brake lights spilling red onto the road.

As the first car comes to a stop I step out, white coat flapping beneath my vest. I walk to the very centre of the road and plant my pole firmly on the ground, making sure its round sign can be seen by everyone. When all the traffic has stopped only then do I give the signal. The signal that it is now safe for the children to cross. There’s never a dull moment in the life of a Lollipop Man. Sometimes I wish there were.

‘Where are we going, mum?’ said Emily.

‘I’m taking you to see Santa, I told you I would.’

‘Hooray, hooray, hooray.’ Emily danced around the kitchen. It’s hard to contain excitement when you are five.

‘Did your mum take you to see him when you were little?’ said Emily.

‘She did, and I think I was almost as excited as you. And I never forgot what he told me.’

‘What did he tell you, mum?’

Julia remembered, word for word, the long-ago conversation. ‘That’s a secret,’ she said. And she would not tell despite Emily’s most plaintive pleading.

Mother and daughter arrived at Santa’s Grotto and joined the queue of excited children.

As they inched towards the head of the queue the excited hubbub was replaced by uncertain anticipation.

‘What’s he like, Santa?’ said Emily, nervousness crossing her brow.

‘He’s very wise, and very kind,’ said Julia.

Emily stayed quiet until it was her turn. The Elf took Emily by the hand and led mother and daughter into the Grotto. There, bedecked in red with a huge white beard and bright blue sparkling eyes, sat the same man Julia had seen all those years ago.

‘Ho, ho, ho, you must be Emily,’ he boomed.

‘But, how do you know?’ a quiet Emily said.

‘I know all the children, and all those who used to be children,’ and he looked at Emily’s mother.

‘Hello Dr Julia, I hope you are well. You have a beautiful daughter. But please stand back, as you know the conversation between Emily and I must be secret.’

As Julia stepped back Santa began to talk quietly with Emily.

‘What would you like to be when you grow up, Emily?’

‘I want to be a princess,’ said Emily.

‘Then I am certain you shall be,’ said Santa.

Emily looked doubtful. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Oh yes, very sure. If that is what you really want to be. But here’s a secret. You can change your mind if you want to. People often change their mind as they get a bit older. You might decide you want to be an explorer, or an astronaut, then you will be one. All you have to do is tell yourself that’s what you really want to be.’

‘I don’t have to do anything else, just tell myself?’ said Emily.

‘There may be other things to do, but they’ll be easy. The first thing is to tell yourself. Now here’s another secret. When your mother was your age, she wanted to be a ballerina.’

‘But she isn’t one,’ said Emily, a little too   loudly.

‘Well, she changed her mind when she was ten, and decided she wanted to be a Doctor.’

‘And she is a Doctor,’ said Emily incredulously, ‘it really does work.’

On the drive home Julia said, ‘did you have a good visit with Santa?’

‘Oh, yes,’ said Emily, ‘I told him I wanted to be a princess when I grow up. But I may change my mind later.’

Julia smiled.

I should like to thank all those who participated in The Veteran’s Dream Opera, commemorating the end of WW1, on 13th October at St Mary’s Church, Gillingham.

The opera was a great success due to the dedication, talent and artistry of all those who took part and to a very supportive audience.

I wanted a fitting anniversary commemoration to pay tribute to all those who gave so much during WW1.

Our thanks and good wishes, not least to Fran Hill, Editor for incredible publicity for the event. The opera was performed by the community for the community.

All good wishes,

Francesca and Piero Mattei

During the summer, the committee has been working closely with Shaftesbury Town Council’s business manager, Brie Logan, to assess and explore the supermarket site’s long-term viability and to develop what many of us now know as ‘Project Belle’

The newly formed Economic Development Advisory Committee held an inaugural formal meeting on 31^st October 2018 and the Council are delighted to be working in partnership with the following members of the Shaftesbury business community.

Jackie Upton King MBE– Twenty years of Community Regeneration experience, currently Hon.Sec. Secretary of the Civic Society takes on the role of Chair

Jemma Ricketts – Owner of Enchanted Plants and business entrepreneur takes on the role of Vice Chair

Tim Edwyn Jones – Chartered Surveyor and Chair of the Neighbourhood Plan

David Perry – Owner of Shaftesbury Wines and Chair of the Chamber of Commerce

Keri Jones – Journalist and owner of ‘This is Alfred’

Julia Markus – Business Outreach Officer – adult education

Anna McDowell – Chair of Swan’s Trust and business owner of Dorset Buttons

Bill Walsh – Property Developer

Norman King – Property Developer

Kirsty Schmidt – Manager of the Grosvenor Arms

Councillor Lester Taylor will be supporting the group as the Lead Councillor, however he will not be part of the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee are looking forward to keeping the wider community updated on progress with Project Belle over the coming weeks.

For anyone who would like company and a Christmas Day meal, a warm welcome awaits guests living in Gillingham or any of the surrounding towns and villages – singles, couples or families. Please contact gillinghamchristmasmeal@gmail.com or 01747 823699