Martinstown

RESIDENTS from every compass point within the village turned up at the Martinstown Village Hall for the unveiling of an amenity that could well be the envy of every hall in Dorset, namely a new kitchen.

Many months of hard work and planning have resulted in a customised room that’s light, airy and spacious in order to deal with a bevy of helpers not to mention the fantastic amount of storage space available.

Many people needed to be thanked but the biggest debt of gratitude is owed to Ann Matthews for without her tireless work in ploughing through a multitude of planning applications, all would have been just a pipe dream.

Ann said she could never have managed without the help of Gerald Duke to steer her through the wilderness of officialdom. Plus the support of good friends Ann and Cedric not to mention husband Ron.

Since the Martinstown Women’s Institute is one of the many organisation to use the hall on a regular basis it seemed appropriate for a most grateful vote of thanks to be given by WI members.

AT the monthly meeting of the Martinstown WI there was a talk by Jenny on dogs that were trained to assist.

Jenny had become wheelchair bound following an accident, and was accompanied by her dog, Farah, who was an assistant dog.

Life had indeed looked black until Farah provided a priceless gift of independence, enabling her to cope at home and most importantly allow Jenny’s husband to go to work.

Farah not only empties the washing machine but also transfers the clothes to the drier.

She also “answers” the phone so that the caller knows that Jenny is on the way to talk but most importantly if the need should ever arise that Jenny needs a helping hand Farah will bark until someone turns up to assist.

At present there are only seventeen assistant dogs in the whole of Dorset, a mere drop in the ocean when there is a need for at least 1,200 dogs. To try and breech this gap Jenny has founded Woofability, which trains dogs for disabled people and like Guide dogs for the Blind, depends on donations.

OTHER WI members giving assistance in a practical way are the Fleur de Lis Knitters, who have so far knitted over 500 blankets for the third world children, in places such as Ecuador, Cambodia, Malawi and the Sudan.

Naturally they would appreciate gifts of wool, in bright colours if possible, and this can be left in a marked box at the back of St Martin’s church or given to one of the knitters at a Sunday service.