The fact that this is the twentieth year that I have worked on our New Year’s issue was brought home to me by a customer I spoke to on the phone last week. He was in the process of winding down the business that he had built up over the last twenty years and pointed out that we both began in the same year. He recalled how we started our respective businesses in a time of turmoil—just after the 9/11 attacks in the US and against the backdrop of foot and mouth disease in the UK—and how the world was now in the throes of yet another crisis. It is hard to believe how many New Year’s resolutions have come and gone since then. And even harder to believe the level of uncertainty we face coming into another year. But I have looked back at some of those Marshwood Vale Magazine issues from the last twenty years and been amazed by how much has happened in this small patch of the UK. Apart from building a record of the people, events and sometimes the hopes and dreams of those that live here, I can see that, over the years, we have also captured a sense of the resilience and positivity of those that have helped build and maintain the landscape and economy of the area. Once a mostly agricultural community, changes in the way we work, the culture we create and enjoy, and the way we collect and consume our food, has meant the area is now made up of people from within a hugely diverse range of industries. The business from which the area derives its income has changed too. And although some may argue differently, that diversity has made us stronger; without hugely changing the heart and soul of where we live or the core thread of humanity that flows through our wider local community. And long may that be the case. By supporting each other, local businesses and the communities they serve can grow and work together and create a better future. In this issue, we hear from local leaders, local business owners and many others who are striving to make our world better. We will carry on doing our bit to keep highlighting and promoting them, and also continue to create a deeper record of the community we are part of. And although at a mere twenty years of age we are older than Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and all the other social media platforms—and thus a dinosaur in terms of modern communication—I think I can live with that. Besides, what would the Jurassic Coast be without its own dinosaur?
