The Dorset Life Podcast

In this episode of the BV Podcast, hosts Terry Bennett and Jenny Devitt bring us conversations with three Dorset locals, each with their own unique story. Terry speaks with Dr. Michael Fernando, consultant paediatrician at Yeovil Hospital, about his work in Afghanistan. Michael shares how his team navigated complex cultural and logistical challenges to deliver life-saving neonatal training. He ref...

Welcome to the first October episode of the BV Podcast! In this episode, hosts Jenny Devitt and Terry Bennett cover key stories from Dorset. Covering the most recent political columns, they discuss the economic challenges facing local pensioners and farmers, with MP Edward Morello calling for urgent changes. Ken Huggins explores the issue of electoral reform and political donations. We also hear f...

In this episode of the BV Podcast, Terry Bennett and Jenny Devitt explore fascinating local stories from Dorset. Topics include the historical significance of Coker Cloth with Professor Terry Stevens, Jane Adams' adventure with mice in her attic, the alarming spread of Asian hornets with Andrew Livingston, and the inspiring story of James and Lucy Smart’s charcuterie business, The Real Cure, celeb...

As ever for the first episode of the month, we start with Laura's 'letter from the editor'. Then we hear from the local politicans – Terry and Jenny read the latest columns from Ken Huggins of the Green Party, Gary Jackson of North Dorset LibDems and Edward Morello, MP for West Dorset. In the September BV's equestrian section, Sally Cooper interviewed Charles Church. She asks him about his journey...

This month we hear from farmer Andrew Livingston - frustrated with a new government showing the same poor understanding in their approach to subsisides. Helen Lacey, town mayor and member of the Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival committee, fills us in on what's in store for the event this year.  Terry talks with Phil Silvester, the  chair of trustees of Riversemeet, Gillingham's not-for-profit le...

Inside this issue: After the usual Letter from the Editor, we move straight into the local politicians columns, the first since the General Election... Simon Hoare MP talks of feeling 'survivor's guilt'. Ken Huggins of the Green Party is excited by the Green Surge, with more than 2m votes for the Green Party nationwide. Gary Jackson of the LibDems tells of the crisis in Further Education, noting t...

Terry chats with Kate Fry, a local wildlife photographer, about her letter from Sir David Attenborough. The Reverend Andrew Gubbins talks with Jenny about some of the challenges facing Dorset's rural churches – and what he sees as possible answers to those challenges. And Terry has a fascinating and thought-provoking talk with Jez Hughes from the CPRE about what more genuinely-affordable housing i...

The first of July's Podcast is a packed one – from hiding spiders and cancer-causing protein (or does it?) to the scourge of fly-tipping and the essential art of the hedgerow lifecycle... Editor’s Letter from Laura - “…Hiding behind the idyllic facade of thatched roofs and high hedgerows lies an issue that has been overlooked, avoided and ignored by successive governments … the rural tax. Living i...

Discover the Dorset seals with expert Sarah Hodgson, join terminally-ill 75-year-old Marilyn McDonald's attempt at a daring wing walk, dip into Peter Morgan's award-winning cheese, and uncover the debates around Yeovil’s Stroke Unit. Plus, discover the inspiring journey of Sarah Rampton and the work of her charity, In Jolly Good Company.   Encountering seals on the Dorset shore is increasingly com...

In this episode: William Fox-Pitt bids a quiet farewell to 5* Eventing – Jenny and Terry read Sally Cooper's interview as she talks to Dorset's own Olympian about his reasons for retiring, ('To be honest, the biggest difference in lifestyle will be accepting that perfection is no longer essential … That “pretty good” is now perfectly fine.'), his plans for training and breeding, his love for his c...

Terry speaks to Ian Girling to discover just what the Dorset Chamber of Commerce does – and also to find out the insider guide to the prestigious Dorset Business Awards. Jenny vists Alex Woodhouse to find out about the popular summer pop up restaurant at Supper at Pleck   Terry spoke to Dick Bennet about the Sherborne Squat Thrusters, a 50-year-old circuit training group with an average member age...

As always we kick off the month with the letters - editor Laura is looking at the allure of business awards, followed by all the letters to the editor. Simon Hoare MP has been considering the problematic lack of positivity in politics: 'People don’t want to vote against things; rather they want to vote for things.' Ken Huggins of the Green party is loking for 'a green shift', and discusses the str...

From neighbours to award-winning booksellers: FOLDE’s founders Amber Harrison and Karen Brazier talk to Terry about their 'pandemic-induced mid-life crisis'. FOLDE, in Shaftesbury, has won the British Book Awards Independent Bookshop of the Year competition for the South West, organised by The Bookseller magazine and judged by a prestigious panel of industry specialists, authors and journalists. I...

In the first of the April BV podcasts, we of course start with all the letters – including editor Laura's exciting news. Then, in his monthly round up, Chris Loder MP takes a look at how rural Dorset will gain from the latest NHS dentistry reforms, and the latest record funding of £408,022 for Adult Social Care reforms in the county. For the Green Party, Ken Huggins takes a sideways look at the bl...

Retired Colonel Guy Deacon was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease in 2011. In 2019 he embarked on an epic solo journey from his home near Sherborne to the southern tip of Africa. In a revealing and personal interview, Terry talks to Guy about his journey: 'There's nobody handing out spare parts for a VW camper between Morocco and Namibia, so that was a bit of a problem...' Guy's book Running on Emp...

One in three of us yearns to throw in the day job and set up on our own. In this month's Letter from the Editor, Laura mulls over the realities of running your own business – who on earth would actually do it, and why do they love it?  The reader's letters are rather dominated by the reaction to the suspension of the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt story the BV ran last month. In politics, Sim...

Sam Peters, former rugby correspondent at the Mail On Sunday and The Sunday Times and author of Concussed, talks to Terry about the gathering debate around concussion in the sport: 'There was a seismic shift moving from the amateur rugby game in the mid-90s to the pro game in the mid 2000s. The game is completely different to how it looked 30 years ago, and evidence says clearly that the game has...

Experience the unique camaraderie of cold water swimming in one of England's highest (and coldest!) towns, and unravel the mystery of polecats with wildlife expert Jane Adams. Editor Laura reflects on the little pieces of ourselves we unknowingly leave with other people, from helpful motivation quotes to the embarassing little stories we would actually prefer to die away! In politics, Simon Hoare...

Claire Allen’s Epic Walk: 'I’m surprised I’m still here!’ Terry briefly interrupts Claire's year-long journey walking Britain’s entire coastline to find out how she started, where she is - and how it's going MP Chris Loder confronts the Post Office’s leadership, offering unwavering commitment to the Horizon scandal victims He graduated from Cambridge and, to his father’s consternation, went straig...

In the first of 2024's BV podcast we have all the January letters and politics, and Jenny talks to Fanny Charles about the rights and wrongs of the planned creation of the new Bonham Forest near Stourhead. Editor Laura Hitchock is looking for reasons to be cheerful during the longest month of the year The Reader's Letters this month include some wonderful memories of Iwerne Minster, triggered by l...

From Phnom Penh to Poundbury: in a fascinating interview, New Zealander George Norbert-Munns tells Terry how he came to bring the delicate gourmet flair of Kampot pepper to the UK’s foodie scene, taking a 'risk' on one small shipment – which he sold in his very first weekend! Gay Pirrie-Weir has been reviewing pantomime for longer than she cares to remember; she's seen more than 500 productions, s...

We start the month, as always, with the Letters to the Editor, before listening to a Brecon Cathedral bellringer at Hazelbury Bryan Primary School. Jane Adams chats to Jenny about the fascinating (no, really!) world of lichen, and lastly we hear from International harpist Gwyneth Wentink. In her letter this month, editor Laura is looking back to a specific shopping list she once saw on Twitter whi...

In this episode Terry gets to grips with some of the biggest issues currently pressing Chris Loder MP, Cllr Spencer Flower gives us a peak into his personal life, Penny Nagle talks to Jenny about a new producers market and Terry discovers the fascinating men behind award-winning Orris Leather in Wimborne. Cllr Spencer Flower shares his life's journey from a boy to a single mum on a Gillingham coun...

We start the month, as always, with the Letters to the Editor, before moving on to a slice of seriousness – along with the usual political columns we have the first part of Terry’s interview with Chris Loder MP as he answers the open post bag from this month’s Q&A. Finally Jenny chats to BV columnist and Nutritional Therapist (and podcast favourite) Karen Geary. Reflecting on the current seemi...

Tune into a candid conversation where soil meets soul, with Fifth-generation local farmer James Cossins. Delve into the trials and triumphs of this year's difficult harvest. Discover a world where the crunch of fresh produce and the rustle of golden fields meet business savvy and environmental stewardship. James opens up to Jenny about the delicate act of juggling profitability with passion for an...