3504 SHA Your Voice 15 - Spectrum Housing Group

Facts aboutSturminsterNewtonNewton refers to a new farm or estateand Sturminster to a church on theStour. The Town was recorded in theAnglo-Saxon charter in 968 as Nywetoneat Stoure. In the Domesday Book theTown was recorded as Newentone.Originally the two parts of the namereferred to the settlements on thenorth and south of the river, butwere combined to distinguish thetown from Sturminster Marshall andthe other Newtons.The town is situated at a historicfording point on the Stour. The fordwas replaced in the 16th century witha six-arch stone bridge, and a quarterkilometre embankment crossing theflood plain. The bridge was widenedfrom 12 to 18ft in 1820. The bridgecarried the penalty of Transportationfor life for anyone who damaged it.There are ruins of a small castle onthe Newton side of the river. A reportfrom 1865 says there was originally aRoman structure on the site anddescribes the ruins as a keep within avallum and ditch seated on a hill.Sturminster Newton was home topoet and author William Barnes.Thomas Hardy also lived inSturminster Newton and he wrote apoem called On Sturminster Bridge.The parish church was rebuilt in 1486by one of the last abbots of Glastonbury.There has been a market since 1272,sadly the cattle market which was thelargest calf market in Britain closedand was demolished in 1998. On thesite today stands ‘The Exchange’(the new town hall, which thecommunity raised funds towards).Alison Moors, Your Voice Editor,provided the information about herhome town. Why not share someinteresting facts about your homecity, town or village? You will findour contact details on page 8.New Representativesfor Signpost residentsThere is good news forSignpost residents living inthe Dorset areas of Morden nearWareham, 1-4 Dellsmead inTarrant Rushton, Addison Closein Gillingham and Child Okeford.Four residents have volunteeredto become brand new OpenRepresentatives. This means thatthey will represent you and yourcommunity at Signpost Residents’Forum meetings and you can approachthem if you have concerns that youwould like them to raise with us.Terry Rance lives in Child Okeford,North Dorset, and was recently highlycommended in the CommunityChampion Awards for his voluntarycontribution to his local community.He is a member of the Planned andResponse Repair Review (PARRR)Group at Signpost and has a keeninterest in both his local community andalso the services provided by Signpost.Trixie Lye lives in Morden nearWareham, Dorset, and has recentlybecome involved with a number ofgroups at Signpost – PARRR, thejudging panel for CommunityChampion Awards and the SignpostSignpost Residents’ ConferenceSignpost residents from all corners of the south west got togetherat Cricket St Thomas Hotel at the end of November for theirannual Residents’ Conference. Members of Signpost Residents’Forum and the West Area Residents’ Forum met with Boardmembers and staff to share information and news with one another.John Wright, Managing Director of Signpost Housing Association and SignpostCare Partnerships presented delegates with an overview of the operatingenvironment and Julie-Ann Foster, Director of Housing Services gave apresentation entitled The year so far and into the future.After a hearty lunch, residents had the chance to have their say with feedbacksessions on The Environment, Community Involvement and FinancialInclusion. This was followed by a question and answer session with WayneMorris, Chief Executive of Spectrum Housing Group. Suggestions andcomments from residents have been made into a report which will informnext year’s business objectives for Signpost.18gardencompetitions.She is keen tokeep her localneighbourhoodlooking its best.Nigel Wardlives in Dellsmead, Tarrant Rushtonnear Blandford, North Dorset. He iskeen to keep his local area clean, tidyand well maintained. Nigel also has aninterest in the work of Signpost and isa member of the PARRR Group.Stella Turner lives in Addison Close,Gillingham, North Dorset. She washighly commended in the CommunityChampion Awards for her voluntarycontribution toher localcommunity. Stellaworks hard tokeep her localarea looking good.If you would likethe contact detailsof your OpenRepresentatives,please telephone The Resource Centreon 01258 484748.If you are interested in becoming anOpen Representative for your localarea, please contact Liz Baker on01258 484879 or emailElizabeth.baker@sha.co.uk