When The West Dorset Magazine discovered what a happy, community-oriented and thriving place Sturminster Newton was, we decided to make a rare addition to our already enormous patch and clasp the town to our collectively heaving bosoms. Copies of our mighty organ can now be picked up in The Emporium, 1855 and Harts.
Here, editor MIRANDA ROBERTSON is introduced to the movers and shakers of Stur.

I’ve just returned from Stur with a warm and fuzzy glow.
Despite being born and bred in Dorset, the proximity of eight towns within half an hour of the WDM HQ in Maiden Newton means I rarely venture oop north (in reality Stur is only a few miles from the old West Dorset border).
But on the insistence of our Fiona, who reigns over our classified ads, I ventured up to chat to a group of people making Stur possibly the most community-minded, happy town for miles around.
A huge amount is going on here, thanks to SturAction. And much of what the committee have been able to achieve stems from the benevolence of Stur’s property magnate and lifelong lover of the town John Romans.
The man loved the town so much he bought three banks and handed over the keys to benefit the community.

One of the banks, now named The Emporium, he gifted to the community in perpetuity.
NatWest, Barclays and Lloyds are now busy hubs full of initiatives that improve the lives of countless people – from the sale of preloved furniture in the old Barclays, to clothes and household items, free food, free school uniform and free signposting and information at The Emporium in the old Lloyds. NatWest houses a collective of dozens of local artisans.
A fourth venue sells preloved clothing, with a designer floor above.
All the proceeds are poured into making Stur a better place.
Another of the town’s great initiatives is The Pantry, run by the Vale Family Hub, which allows people on low incomes to get up to £50-worth of nutritious food for just £6 including fresh meat and dairy.
The Pantry was launched in 2020 and paid £1 a year rent for one of John’s shops, before moving to the industrial estate when it outgrew the premises. Leftover food from the Pantry is given to The Emporium, and given away to anyone who wants it.
Shops don’t stay empty for long here – when I visited Stur were just three shops unoccupied.
There’s a real focus on keeping the town centre full and thriving, with the town council, the chamber of commerce and Stur Action all pulling hard in the same direction.

Cheryl Basten, who runs 1855 and also coordinates volunteers at the three charity shops raising money for the town, is well known as she pops from shop to shop, often with her terrier-pug cross Baxter in tow.
She said: “It’s a social enterprise which makes a big difference.
“I have 104 traders in 1855 and 42 volunteers manning the other three stores – it’s still not enough!
“The furniture shop in particular needs people fit enough to move heavy furniture, and many of our volunteers aren’t able to do that.
“People come in daily for a chat – sometimes more than once a day.”
In 1855 Cheryl has made full use of the space, with a wine cellar in one of the vaults selling English wines and every room full, but not cramped, with locally produced items from clothing and jewellery to food and drink.
“Everything I here comes from a 30-mile radius,” she said.
Two traders who started their businesses in 1855 have recently opened shops in Stur, having gained the confidence to go it alone.

SturAction is the short name for Sturminster Newton Community Benefit Society Ltd.
It all started in 2018 with a community chest launched by Mike Woods, then evolved into a much wider drive to provide for the needs of the community and boost trade.
Over the years they have raised tens of thousands of pounds and paid for flower boxes around the town plus Christmas trees and lights and running the town website.
They also paid for umbrellas over the seating areas, laid on entertainment and Father Christmas at their annual festive market and they pay for the insurance for a classic car group to meet there on the first Saturday of the month. They also have free parking for visitors that day.
There’s so much going on in Stur, thanks to the united efforts of locals. From theatre and arts at The Exchange, to the weekly markets and large-scale annual events like the Great Dorset Chili Festival and the cheese festival.
Jacqui Wragg, who runs the town’s arts hub The Exchange and who is in the process of relaunching the town’s chamber of commerce Sturbiz, said: “More people are coming in from further afield as word spreads.
“There’s a buzz and positivity here.”