Thursday, 12 June 2014

Soldiers in Training

By Jack Welch, Volunteer Press Officer

10 June 2014

Embedded image permalinkThe WITS team were thinking about healthy living today, as we made a trip to the STEPS Youth Club in Weymouth for an accredited course in considering their lifestyles and experiencing first-hand the physical training of a World War II soldiers. Despite the fact our project focuses on the previous War, research found that fitness courses for volunteer soldiers for this era, and previously, was rather inconsistent for using Swiss techniques, which for many who went on the frontline, were greatly unprepared for what confronted them. It wasn't until the introduction of the Parkour training discipline, and the methods of how American G.I.'s were trained, that a change came about.

The group first underwent a circuit course, which encompassed exercises including press-ups and sit-ups, as well as jump squats and shuttle runs. Like any good fitness fanatic, we had a good warm-up first to ensure our joints and muscles would be flexible as possible for the training ahead and we'd be ready for whatever was thrown at us. In small teams, the groups went through each discipline for a maximum of two minutes (a blessing, probably for some) and began to feel the burn as a soldier might have done on a regular basis. For many in the group though, they made the most of the physical challenges and only wished they could go outdoors in the brilliant sunshine outside.

Embedded image permalinkFollowing that, the group made their way to the meeting room, where greeted with a healthy selection of snack-bars and an assortment of fruit, we now went into what makes a good healthy diet for most people. Looking at topics on the recommended food varieties we should eat, such as vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates and fibre sourced products, as well as recommended sleep amounts in the evening, the group were surprised just to see the number of dangerous foods that  caused issues as diabetes, insomnia and obesity. However, it's not just the food we eat which can be trusted for a healthy body alone - without actual exercise, any of the natural fats and sugars we consume would become food waste inside our bodies. It looks like that having the healthy mindset is equally as important to get out and about.

With this weekend's camping in the New Forset, we'll be sure our bodies will be in tip-top condition for the coming activity!

Thursday, 8 May 2014


 Here is a picture of veteran paratroopers sitting in the restored Dakota plane that they flew in during the second world war. This is not entirely relevant to our First World War project, but we felt it was an amazing photograph, worth sharing with you.

Tuesday, 6 May 2014

Presentation at Care South HQ in Poole.

Members of our team came to explain how to take and record Oral History. The team: James, Ash, Becki, Rosie, Julia, Liz, Ben, and Greg were joined by Maria from the Dorset History Centre. We talked about recording peoples memories, including the technical aspects. James and Becki were lead presenters. Ash was the Hub team representative. Rosie and Julia talked about the interview they made with Joyce, who is now ninety two, her mother worked in a cafe for World War One soldiers in Dorchester.

Ash demonstrates an audio recorder.
Carers trying out an audio recorder.

The carers had a chance to have a go at recording each others own memories. We used  Power-point to present and provided the audience members with our Oral History training guide. This was the second training session we have given aimed at adults. We hope that the participants can now record the memories of the residents that they work with. The audience feedback was very positive.

Group shot of our team and members of the audience.



Tuesday, 8 April 2014

Our exclusive visit

On the 29th March 2014 the Walking in their Shoes Project group got a sneak preview of the Bovington Tank Museum War Horse Exhibition.
The group really enjoyed the visit scoring the session a 9.9 and enjoyed being the first group to view the Exhibition and give feedback that was appreciated by heritage professionals who told us it will help them tweak and develop the exhibits and presentation – so young people’s views at heart of exhibition development.


One of the group said “The new exhibition was really interesting it was good to compare with WiTS” They impressed the exhibition officer Sarah Lambert with their knowledge of WW1 and tanks, Sarah Lambert said – “the group is very knowledgeable” and she also gave us some very positive feedback on our tank cache that will form part of our interactive heritage trail Walking in a First World War One Soldiers Shoes. Sarah Lambert is keen to be one of the first to trial it.

The group were then treated to lunch in the museum canteen and celebrated being V.I.Ps during a very enjoyable day.



 These horses will talk as you walk by .

There are the sound's of battle in the inter-active displays .





A fine body of young soldiers!

Thursday, 27 March 2014

Trench Art with a twist

Today we did some trench art crafting and made two characters to do with the first world war. Our aim was to make some First World War characters  (above picture left), who will be travel bugs that will sit in our cache boxes and get taken by the public around Europe to important sites linked to the First World War.... but then as time wore on we went bananas and made some very creative pieces!


The cache creators were working hard in the back room and upstairs getting stuff finished before our busy next seven days that includes a preview of the new Warhorse exhibition at the Bovington Tank Museum, A walk with the Bishop of Sherborne on Tuesday then the Dorset History Center and finishing up next Thursday at the The Keep Military Museum of Devon and Dorset to check our research and story interpretation. So some sensible work did get done!



Tuesday, 18 March 2014

Here are the events for this month and what's going on ! 

War Horse Exhibition Special WiTS Sneek Preview Bovington Tank Museum Saturday 29th March 2014 meet at Routes time to be confirmed followed   by WiTS walk.


Walk with the current Bishop of Sherborne 1st April 10.30 car park of Maiden Castle and bring picnic finish 3:30 pm


Meet the expert - Dorset History Centre Anglo-Saxons briefing and archives tour, 1st April, 4 pm -6 pm 
meet there at 3:50 pm Bridport Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1RP


WiTS workshop at Military Keep Museum checking the cache cards Thursday 3rd April 10 am – 1 pm


2 x Dorset County Museum St Aldhelm Workshop 8th or 9th April plus one in May (Dates to be confirmed)



Oral History Training delivered by the hub team to Care Home South activity coordinators and care staff 1st May 10:30  am 12:30 (date to be confirmed.)


Tuesday, 11 March 2014

Today we had a visit from Brian Bates an author of a book we are using extracts from for our research and he kindly gave us some material to use on our cards in our geocaches. we also found a link to a clip about the German Prisoner of war camp in Dorchester. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-24906894

Jack and Ray holding a copy of Portait Of An Era A history of Britain 1900 - 1945.

Brian Bates book on war history in Dorchester which he kindly let us use extracts from.