The White Horse sheds its coat (From Dorset Echo)

The White Horse sheds its coat

10:43pm Tuesday 23rd November 2010 in Community

THE valley below White Horse Hill was filled with a virtually continuous buzzing all day on Thursday, November 18, and for most of the following morning, as a busy helicopter ferried the last of Anneke Rice’s limestone chips (and those of her predecessors) from the monument to a dumping site across the valley, whence they will be recycled to other uses.

Following the previous helicopter lift in October, Gregorys, our local contractors, had worked hard to gather up the last of the stones, not only from the surface of the horse itself, but from where they had spread into the surrounding vegetation. By the time they had finished, over 150 large white bags of limestone were ranged along the horse’s belly and legs, ready for lift-off. On the appointed Thursday morning, Veritair Aviation’s team of ‘three men and a chopper’ from Cardiff started the task, working until dusk at an amazing rate, despite the showers. They were able to shift a bag every 3 minutes, and only paused from time to time to refuel from their bowser in the adjacent field. Only a few bags were left by that evening, and those were cleared by noon next day – an amazing effort.

As a result, the ground is now clear for the next stage of the restoration project - already under way – aimed at identifying and marking the original outline of the figure. Meanwhile, the horse will continue to look somewhat patchy until a final treatment, to stabilise and restore the surface, which it is hoped to complete in 2011.

Don’t forget that if you want to know more about the restoration project, and to follow its progress stage by stage, you can log on to the project website at www.osmingtonwhitehorse.info.

• GOOD quality Christmas trees are in short supply this year, and the Osmington team have only managed to secure a reduced number for their annual charity sale in the village next month. Trees will be on sale at Osmington Hill Farm (on the A353 at the top of the village) on Saturday and Sunday, December 11 and 12. Alternatively, to make sure of getting a tree, it can be ordered in advance (with free delivery to your door within Osmington and Poxwell) by calling Mary Kempe (834095) or email mk.thebeehive@phonecoop.coop Prices will still be very competitive, and all profits will be divided between St. Osmund’s Church and local charities.

Volunteer helpers will be needed, so if you can spare a couple of hours to help man the stall during the sale weekend, please contact Mary, as above.

• THE recorded music society’s recital on October 18 proved to be an outstanding success. “Coral Island Classics” was the local version of that long-standing radio favourite, “Desert Island Discs”. The castaway was David Bruce-Payne, local resident, organist and singer, whose background encompassed a life- time in music, beginning as a boy chorister at King’s College Chapel, and going on to be an assistant organist in Westminster Abbey.

His choice of music contained some surprises, including Art Tatum playing “Tea for Two”, and Whitney Houston singing “Didn’t We Almost Have It All?” There was much for all members to enjoy, whatever their tastes, and the concert ended with Kreisler’s “Praeludium and Allegro” and a “Stabat Mater” by Pergolesi, with the Bach Players, of whom David’s daughter Sally is a member. Peter Foster was superb in the role of interviewer, and his years of experience in hospital radio and local radio clearly showed.

November began with Isabella Jones continuing her “Composers’ Alphabet”, this time featuring letters M to P. She began with something that was new to most members - Sir Alexander McKenzie’s overture “The Cricket on the Hearth” - and continued with works from Mendelssohn, Mozart, and Nikolai (Merry Wives of Windsor) in the first half, and from Carl Orff, Poulenc and Puccini in the second. Members look forward to the journey continuing through the alphabet.

The month continued with two further programmes, with Richard Searle of Dorchester U3A presenting “The Life and Music of Robert Schumann”, and Sandra Brown from Bridport Recorded Music Society making her Osmington debut with “All Creatures Great and Small”.

December brings two programmes. On Monday 6, Brian Bishop will celebrate two names synonymous with The Proms in a programme called “Timber and Flash”, and then on December 20 all members are invited to take part in “Bring a Disc” when they can play their own choice of music.

Meetings start at 2.15 pm and last for about two hours. Refreshments are included.

For more information ring Brian Bishop on 833225, or e.mail blbishop@waitrose.com.

• OSMINGTON Village Hall will be closed for redecoration from Monday, January 3, 2011 for approximately 3 weeks. The Antiques Fair on January 16 will, however, proceed as planned.