MARTINSTOWN

THE Valley villages really pulled out all the stops when it came to the Winterborne Benefice appeal to raise money to help the people of Haiti.

Thanks must go to the owners of the Steepleton Manor Residential Home for allowing this event to take place in such comfortable surroundings, where it was most tempting to take root and add to their number of residents.

The views down the Valley are most beautiful, as are the grounds around the manor, not to mention that delightful little stone-steepled church, which at this time of year is surrounded by a carpet of snowdrops.

As always it was a wonderful community get together including those ladies from Poundbury who always support village events. No doubt all will meet up again once the Lenten Lunches start, which is held in Martinstown Village Hall on Fridays, at 12.30pm, at a cost of £3.50.

PEOPLE are most generous in their support of fundraisers as the recent coffee morning, in aid of Shelter, made a most rewarding total of £245.

Thanks to all who supported this event.

LOOKING ahead, it seems as though Palm Sunday (March 28) at 10.30am will prove to be a most memorable occasion, as hopefully, by then, the Rev John Good will have acquired a donkey.

Any Quixotic offers to him on 889466.

MARTINSTOWN Women’s Institute continues to flourish but, of course, would always welcome an influx of new members.

Maybe a change of meeting day and time will achieve this end?

If the outcome of the members’ vote is in favour, future meetings could take place on a Wednesday instead of the traditional Monday evenings, and an earlier time of 6.30pm.

Most grateful thanks were expressed to the treasurer Jan Griffiths for her courage and dedication in undertaking duties that other refused to even consider. To make her task easier Jan would like all to pay up front when booking for events, especially those organised by the County.

A talk entitled Clerical Error was given by the Rev Stewart Timbrell.

It had members convulsing with laughter over the numbers of bricks he had dropped during the course of his ministry. This was mainly in Lancashire and for some reason involved school visits with a ferret called Humphrey and a graveyard riddled with small earthworks.

The March meeting will be nearer to home when Mrs Una Russell and Mrs Audrey Grindrod talk on The Manor Houses of Dorset.

As usual the meeting is open to visitors at 7pm.

CONGRATULATIONS to Joseph Elford who has recently passed in an agricultural course at Kingston Maurward.

Well done Joe, you are a credit to our village, especially as you are a real local lad.