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March 2021 March 2021
guidelines. The vaccine is shown to be effective, but we don’t yet know at this
rounded grey shingle bay. Here our group decided to split into two with most stage whether it prevents transmission of the virus. As time goes on, this will
people choosing to walk further around the bay to enter from the beach. A few of become clearer.
us chose to swim from the boat slipway, negotiating the very shallow water and
swimming across the bay, eventually joining the others. As I lay back taking in the This has been a particularly
view, I could imagine all the smugglers who in times past might have used this challenging time for
secluded spot with its cliffs and rolling Purbeck hills on all but the seaward side. children and young people,
who have been faced
Back to land we came, first one or two, then the rest ready for the steep climb again with school closures. I
back to our cars. Gerry was there to greet us "You're ten minutes early he said "I have been very keen for
thought you would take an hour and a half to do that". Gerry was the real linchpin our schools to re-open fully
for the whole day acting as my transport manager and organising all the backup. as soon as possible, so that
Unable to do the heavy walking required for this trip, he was saving himself for the we can get back to
final swim at Durdle Door, an ambition of his ever since he came to Dorset a few classroom learning. Many
years ago. parents and carers have
been in touch about the
A short drive took us through
Corfe Castle (an awesome sight challenges of juggling work and home schooling, and it has not been an easy
as we descended the hill from time. Our teachers have been doing an amazing job, but it is not the same as
Kingston) and the onto Tynham when everyone is in the classroom. I was really pleased to hear about some of our
and a swim in Warbarrow Bay. local schools trialling the mass testing regime last year, and I hope their expertise
As we walked to the bay I was can be shared to help this become a reality for more schools in our area as they
reminded how the village was open again.
requisitioned by the Ministry of Please do get in touch if you help or support. As my staff are all working from
Defence so that the surrounding home, it is best to get in touch by email michael.tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk . I
countryside could be used for send out a regular email update – you can sign up on my website
tank training during the second www.michaeltomlinson.org.uk where you can also find links to
world war. The villagers were the latest coronavirus advice. Follow me on twitter
promised that they could return @michael4MDNP or find me on facebook
after hostilities had ceased. This www.facebook.com/michael4MDNP
of course never happened and
the village remains in a time-warp, a magical but eerie place.
Warbarrow Bay is a wonderful place to swim and has a dreamlike quality. Here we
had the backdrop of the Isle of Portland jutting out into the ocean. Bob said later

"This has always been one of my favourite swimming locations and to say this is a LOCAL MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
most beautiful place would be an understatement of Dorset's natural gem. When
floating out to sea I was imagining myself floating above the level of the shore"
Michael Tomlinson MP 
Back to land for a quick change and another short drive to swim at Lulworth Cove Michael.tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk
and Stair Hole. This was to be a major challenge for everyone in the party. We holds regular surgeries
were to change on the beach and swim out through the cove entrance, turn west in the constituency. For  01202 624216
and make our way the two or three hundred metres keeping close to the rocks details of forthcoming www.michaeltomlinson.org.uk
until we found Stair Hole, a cathedral of rocks and crags. surgeries or to make an 
Easy you might say, but not quite! The swim in the bay was straight forward enough appointment, please @Michael4MDNP
but as soon as we emerged into the open sea it became a cauldron as the waves contact his office.
dashed against the rocks and threw the swimmers this way, then that. Everyone

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