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April 2021 April 2021

DORSET TRADING STANDARDS MEMORIES OF VIC STONE

Dorset County Council Trading Standards Service check and It is thirty years since the death of my father Vic Stone
approve businesses so you don’t have to. who died on the 26 April, l991. I recall the occasion of
th
For more information visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk or his thanksgiving service held at St Mary’s church
call 08454 040506. Wareham on 3rd May. I have spent some of my
To report or seek advice about problems you have lockdown time reaching for some thirty year old audio
typing skills and have typed out from the cassette
experienced when dealing with a trader call 08454 040506. recording of the service the eulogy delivered by
George Willey on this Occasion.
Bird Flu at Christmas as told by an Animal Health Officer. As my father was chairman of the Purbeck District Council at the time of his death
After a very busy year dealing with the various challenges covid had thrown up the service was held in Wareham. Bloxworth church was too small. Bere Regis
running the Dorset Council Trading Standards Animal Health Team I was looking residents and Bloxworth residents along with the great and Good of Purbeck
forward to a nice break over Christmas. In an attempt to be organised for once I district council all gathered with standing room only in St Mary’s. My father was
had booked the week running up to Christmas off so I would have plenty of time Governor of Purbeck School. The school orchestra played. My cousin Liz sang the
for Christmas shopping. Unfortunately one phone call from the Government William Barnes song Linden Lea. My cousins in the Red Post choir sang an
Animal and Plant Health Agency arrangement by my Uncle Mick Gulliford of Swing Low Sweet Chariots to reflect
(APHA) ruined these plans. An my father’s love of rugby.
outbreak of bird flu had been found I will place a full copy of the typed eulogy on the memories of Bere Regis
in a small backyard flock of ducks Facebook page as at nearly 3,000 words it is rather long for the parish Magazine. I
and chicken near Gillingham. Bird flu am not sure after all this time many people will remember that much detail.
is brought into the country by George Willey was a great friend of my father’s, a well known local thespian and
migratory birds and if it infects press reporter. I will also forward a copy to John Pitfield in the Bere Regis History
domestic birds it can have a society who can place a copy among his file of press cuttings on my father.
devastating effect with very high
mortality rates. It was reported that 5 My father farmed at Bloxworth from 1961 until his death. All five of his children
of the 6 chicken in the effected flock attended Bere Regis School. My father was a frequent visitor to Bere Regis village,
died within 24 hours of becoming to shop, to put fuel in the car and to visit the local pubs. His beaten up blue Saab
sick. 96 was a regular sight in
the village with mud, baler
As soon as a case of bird flu is twine, fencing poles and
confirmed a 3km protection zone is put around the infected premise and it is the growing crop of corn
Dorset Council’s job to support APHA to visit as many properties as possible in that wedged in the bumpers.
zone to see if the household are keeping poultry in their back gardens. In this
outbreak the zone took in most of Gillingham which meant over 5000 properties. I In 1966 he was very
was very lucky as most of my colleagues in Trading Standards stepped forward to involved with the making
help out and so on the first day of foot patrols 13 of us were knocking on doors, of the film far from the
maintaining a Covid social distance, in the area and 3 days later we had finished, Madding Crowd at
just in time for a hectic Christmas Eve shopping spree. Bloxworth and taught the
film star Julie Christie to
As a result of various outbreaks around the country all poultry must be kept in milk a cow. He was an
housing and not allowed to free range. Further details of the rules can be found agricultural advisor to the
on the gov website. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu film company and had a
small part with screen

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