WE ARE RECRUITING
26 January
Wimborne’s bid to become Dorset Council’s Town of Culture 2026 (ToC) moved forward on Tuesday when the Full Council by a vote of 14 to 1 agreed to make the full application. The Steering Group for the ToC bid had prepared a strong application, representing many aspects of culture across the town. I am very grateful to the Group’s efforts – 5 meetings over Christmas and New Year; 170 people surveyed in the street; all contributed to a portal containing updates on the strand of culture and entries for the full application; the Town Clerk worked tirelessly, ably assisted by the Communication, Events and Liaison officer. Damien Stone made a brilliant short film which will accompany the application – the film is here – https://youtu.be/qky_YyrB-E4. We will hear the result in March.
Meanwhile, back to raising funds for charity. Six schools have agreed to hold a non-uniform day (where the children pay a £1 and wear their own clothes for that day) – QE; Allenbourn; Colehill First; Hayeswood; Witchampton; Pamphill. This is brilliant news and could add as much as £3000 to the fund. My target was £5000 (for the hospital and Planet Wimborne) – I am upping this to £10,000!
22 January
Last night saw the Full Town Council approve our bid to become Dorset’s Town of Culture in 2026. We have established a Steering Group for this bid and they have worked tirelessly to meet close deadlines. The Town Clerk (Louise Harrison) and Community Events and Liaison Officer (Gary Mason) have led our application process and they have both worked very hard indeed – thank you both. An awarding panel will visit Wimborne on February 4 to find out more about our aspirations and we will hear in early March if we are the successful.
We attended the Holocaust Memorial service last Sunday at the Minster – very moving readings and music and a packed church.
Last Wednesday was the Celebration of Song at the Allendale Centre to raise funds for the Mayor’s charities: 5 choirs performed to around 200 people – see the Press Release below:
Celebration of Song Hits the Right Note in Wimborne!
The Mayor of Wimborne Minster, Councillor Jeff Hart, hosted a spectacular evening of music at The Allendale Centre, where five choirs performed to an audience of over 200 people. The event, titled Celebration of Song, was organized to raise funds for the Mayor’s chosen charities: Victoria Hospital and Planet Wimborne.
The evening was a resounding success, with the raffle alone raising over £400 and the total funds for the night exceeding £850. Generous donations from local businesses made the raffle possible, and the community’s support contributed to the event’s vibrant atmosphere.
The Mayor expressed his heartfelt gratitude, saying:
“What a great night! The five choirs were magnificent, the audience of over 200 was so appreciative, and there was an amazing atmosphere in the hall. My sincere thanks to everyone involved, especially the incredible choirs: Jubilate, Minster Choir, Local Vocals, LIVe Harmony, and Vivamente Voices.”
The Celebration of Song not only showcased the musical talent of the Wimborne community but also demonstrated its generosity and spirit.
12 January
Wimborne Council’s bid to become the Dorset Town of Culture in 2026 is taking up some time . This week, a number of us have been surveying residents and businesses to capture their views. The overall opinion is that this would be a great initiative if Wimborne can win to become the Dorset Town of Culture in 2026. People are very positive on culture in Wimborne and have submitted lots of suggestions on what more we could do: more activities for children and young people shone through, including the lack of a youth centre; they missed the old market; greater diversity and multicultural activities was suggested. People interviewed universally loved the town but some felt the new estates needed integrating better into Wimborne. The Steering Group for the Town of Culture application has already met several times and members of the group are focusing on different aspects to generate a bid that takes Wimborne Minster into the future boldly but celebrates our heritage and current culture.
Do come along to the Celebration of Song at The Allendale Centre on January 15 at 7pm – 5 choirs, licensed bar and raffle – what more could anyone want?
2 January
On Christmas Eve, I attended the Christian Aid Christmas Lunch, where soup and bread were served to raise funds for the organization. Christmas Day was dedicated to family time—our three kids came home, along with two grandchildren. The kids enjoy keeping up traditions from years past, such as stockings, writing notes to Santa Claus, watching the Doctor Who Christmas special, and going bowling and to the cinema.
New Year’s Eve was a fantastic celebration with a massive crowd gathered in the Square. There was dancing to music, the Town Crier as the MC, and a brief message of good wishes from the Mayor. The event was brilliantly organised, and the town truly rose to the occasion—thank you, Wimborne!