BLUE skies ensured that a great many people made their way to the Martinstown Cricket ground for the Oddfellows Fete.

An amazing number of stalls catered for all tastes, from the bookworms to those folk ever hopeful of spotting a rare antique item amongst the bric-a-brac.

The Royal Navy stand has become a traditional fixture, where I feel duty bound to pay my respects on behalf of my ex-RN family members, above and below the ocean waves.

It was a wonderful opportunity to meet up with friends and catch up, for busy lives do not always present an opportunity for time to stop and chat with a clear conscience.

MAYBE all this will change with the local Benefice project of “Dreams and Visions” for amongst the proposed ideas is the one of a Community Café, which has proved very successful in other villages.

Other proposals include a Valley Festival and the Churches provision for parents and children. I do know for a fact that a youth club and a group for young mothers have been successful in the past years.

However, a group for young fathers could be most helpful, as a back up for those who think that they are alone to be told “It is your turn to get up tonight.”

Make a note of Saturday, September 25, 9.30am-12.30pm in Martinstown Village Hall.

All are welcome to stay for a ploughman’s lunch at 12.30pm when no doubt much more will be discussed for no one quite likes to stand up and speak at a meeting.

Martinstown WI will be holding an Autumn Sale on the village green on Saturday, September 4, 2pm-4pm.

Their monthly meeting will be on Wednesday, September 8 at 6.45pm, in the village hall.

The talk will be on “Happy Feet”, given by a well-known shoe company.

Visitors are welcome.

Dorset Historic Churches Trust Annual Sponsored Cycle Ride is on Saturday, September 11.

Martinstown participants should contact Alec and Gill McCourtie.

TIME flies by and it seems that the village panto is under starters orders.

Auditions will be taking place in the hall on Sunday, September 5, at 2.30pm. Both children and adults are needed, as well as helpers both on stage and back stage.

Community Policewoman Sarah Pilcher will be at Stephens Farm shop from 1pm-2pm and the Manor Grove Community Centre from 2pm-3pm on Wednesday, September 8.