Well I don’t expect an application to join NASA to be forthcoming anytime soon, but I did survive my flying weightless experience in Chicago! There were only 12 wannabee astronauts on this flight when 36 is the usual number, so much more room to try  forward, backward and even sideways somersaults plus handsprings and other Gymnastic manoeuvres!

Somewhere over Lake Michigan we initially experienced Martian Gravity (50% bodyweight) then Lunar Gravity (30%) making Press-ups really easy. Once we got to Zero Gravity for the first time Boof! ….. it was straight up to the ceiling! Being weightless for 30 seconds at a time is the most bizarre feeling ever as you adjust to trying to control not only your body but also your stomach which seems to be spinning in different directions to the rest of you (and yes the receptacle in my right hand was required, so I now have something in common with Tom Hanks who used this aircraft while preparing for the Apollo 13 film)

Beforehand I hadn’t really thought about the 10,000 foot dive before each climb – that was pretty scary and loud so all in all I was quite relieved to walk on airport tarmac after my 3 hour flight. To mark joining the weightless club the name badge on my suit was ceremonially turned the right way up, and I was allowed to keep my flight suit!

As well as the challenge I’m raising money for the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation and will be most grateful if you feel you can donate online:                                                     https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/rosiethompson2

As part of our celebrations to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday, the churches in the Shaftesbury Team Ministry launched a poetry competition open to anyone in Year Six or below.

Children were invited to write a poem about the Queen’s birthday, celebrating her life of    service and her dedication to the people of this country. There was a prize for the winning poem and it was read in public during the service of thanksgiving held in Shaftesbury Abbey ruins on 12th June.

Shaftesbury Town Silver Band and Shaftesbury Community Choir led the singing of favourite hymns and there was a variety of readings – including the prize-winning poem – as well as prayers of thanksgiving and activities for children.

Harry and Archie from year 6 Abbey School won the competition

The Tank Museum delights residents at Gillingham care home

 Residents at Care South’s St Martins Grange care home in Gillingham were  delighted to welcome representatives from The Tank Museum to the home for a fantastic Second World War reminiscence session.

The interactive session gave residents the chance to hold artifacts and   memorabilia from the era and they were even more excited when given the  opportunity to dress up in period costume including hats and jackets’. The visit took place in the home’s lounge which was decorated especially for the occasion with Union Jack bunting and old photographs.

The session was a great success, as it allowed residents to share their memories of the war with the group including tales from experiences in the Land Army.

Karen Mandle, Home Manager at Care South’s St Martins Grange, said: “We would like to say a big thank you to The Tank Museum for visiting us and bringing their fascinating memorabilia with them. The workshop was really interactive and the sensory nature of the visit meant it was perfect for our residents. At St Martins Grange we work hard to ensure we plan a varied activities    programme that will have something for everyone.”

The Tank Museum is a collection of armoured fighting vehicles at Bovington Camp in Dorset.  The collection holds almost 300  vehicles on exhibition from 26 countries and is the largest collection of tanks and the third largest collection of armoured vehicles in the world.

Deputy Head Teacher Mrs Sandy took a band from Abbey School Shaftesbury, over to St Mary’s Primary Orchestral Day led by Sarah Pugh.

Shaftesbury Primary School and St Andrews  were also in attendance.

The morning was spent practicing and in the afternoon the children performed a  concert for the parents.