IT’S that time of year! They’re here again! For the fifth year running, Osmington is playing host to the amazing Sunset Café Stompers with their repertoire of foot-tapping traditional jazz in the New Orleans style. So make a date for Saturday, March 13 at Osmington Village Hall.

Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £8 from Keith Pratt, Buttress Cottage Church Lane, Osmington (01305 833847).

There will, of course be a licensed bar and hot snacks on sale. All proceeds go towards the maintenance of Osmington Village Hall. Don’t delay – it’s always a sell-out!

  • THE film, “The Age of Stupid”, starring Pete Postlethwaite, will be shown in Osmington Village Hall on Saturday, February 6 at 7.30pm. Sadly, we have been unable to arrange a wine tasting! Admission will be free (though there will be a retiring collection to cover costs) and the film will be followed by coffee/tea and biscuits, with a discussion of the issues raised in the film and how we can address them in our Community Plan. Come and join the discussion. For more details call Mary Kempe (01305 834095).
  • FOR the recorded music society, the new year began with a feast of great vocal music presented by Dudley Harris, who is also chairman of the Weymouth Classical Recorded Music Society. His programme title “Voices” gave a clear indication of his theme.

Many great voices of the past such as Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Maria Callas and Carlo Bergonzi were featured, as well as more recent artists including Kathryn Jenkins, Angela Georghiu, and Bryn Terfel. Kiri Te Kanawa and Placido Domingo formed a link between two ages of vocal excellence. If there was one track that stood out above all others it was, perhaps, Jussi Bjorling singing “Nessun Dorma” (with which he was universally associated until it was usurped by the Three Tenors).

On January 25, the recital is due to be introduced by Laurence Knight, a professional bassoonist with past associations with the Sadlers Wells orchestra, so promises to be interesting on both counts.

Meetings start at 2.15 pm on alternate Mondays and last for about two hours -refreshments are included. For more information call Brian Bishop on 833225, or e-mail blbishop@waitrose.com.

  • THE Hardy Quilters are a local patchwork and sewing group who meet on the third Monday of each month from 10am -12 at Osmington Village Hall. They are a friendly group who would welcome new members to come and chat, sew and exchange ideas over tea and biscuits. All are welcome to join, no experience is necessary. The group have regular guest speakers on various related topics, workshop sessions, including making quilts for charities, a library of patchwork and quilting books and a biennial exhibition.

A very jolly Christmas meeting featured two mini workshops, a quiz and a raffle which was enjoyed by all. It was also announced that, following a successful exhibition and sale of A4 mini quilts by members of our group, the sum of £1320 had been raised in aid of the Alzheimer's Charity.

At the next meeting, at 10am on Monday, February 15, the guest speaker will be Dru Perry on recycled fabric, and there will be a mini-workshop.

For more information call Desira on 01305 771450, email thehardyquilters@googlemail.com, or visit their website at www.thehardyquilters.blogspot.com.

  • IF you have ever been enthralled by the deeds of Robin Hood or the success of the Agincourt bowmen, why not try your hand at emulating them? Osmington’s archers cannot claim to be quite as expert as the mediaeval heroes, but they have an enjoyable time trying - with very varied levels of success.

If you might be interested in practising the up-to-date version of this ancient sport, why not come along to Osmington Village Hall any Wednesday at 2pm for a free sample session? Age and sex pose no limitations, no previous experience is needed, and club-owned kit is available for tuition. For more information you can contact Chris Hubbard (01305 833460), Nigel Hayes (01305 833672) or Bill Norman (01305 832378).