THE VILLAGERS are pleased to welcome our new landlords Pat and Phil to “The King’s Arms” who have moved from East Sussex and are very much looking forward to becoming the social centre for the local community.

The pub reopened on Saturday last week after a week of closure, the chef who has joined them is Paul Rowland who lives in the village and is a trained chef with pub experience.

We wish them every success - it would be grand to see our village pub once again become a friendly bustling place to meet up for a drink, enjoy a good meal and a social laugh and chat.

  • THE WI are organising the Village Café on Saturday, February 12 that will have a “valentine” theme Included in the refreshments as well as the usual bacon butties will be “beloveds on toast” so come along and find out what they are!!

Stalls will include homemade cakes, quilted articles for sale, raffle, tombola and a display of craft made by the members of the craft afternoon sessions.

The library (which seems to grow with each Village Café and is now quite extensive) will be there so bring your books read over Christmas to exchange for some others borrowed for 50p each.

The next WI meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 8 under the title of “Beetles, tea and buns” - a beetle drive, tea and buns followed by a short mat bowls competition.

The meeting starts at 7.00pm for 7.15pm in the village hall, new members welcome.

Please also note that the meeting for March will take place a week later than usual on Tuesday, March 15.

  • IT IS WITH SADNESS that I report the passing of Kath Smeaton, a well known and loved resident of Portesham for many years.

Kath worked hard for the village during the years she lived in Portesham and served on many committees including the Horse Show, Church Fete, Fez Wik and the local Conservatives.

She also organised the flower and brass cleaning rotas for St. Peter’s Church and was a strong supporter and member of the PCC for many years.

Kath was a lovely, kind, generous lady with many friends and a wonderful neighbour who could tell a good tale, arms waving, laughing and a little exaggeration but always a good story and a fun character.

Unfortunately in 2002 her husband Les died and after a few years she found the garden too much for her and moved to Cyprus to be near her younger son and to get away from the English winters.

She died in Cyprus on January 10th this year after suffering ill health for some time.

A memorial service is being held on Wednesday, February 9 in St. Peter’s Church at 7.00pm.

  • ON A LIGHTER note the World Championship Sychronised Pancake Tossing to music will take place on Tuesday, March 8 in Portesham Village Hall preceded by the St. Peter’s Church fish and chip supper.

Teams of two or more for the pancake tossing event who wish to participate in this prestigious event with no entry fee should get their names in to Liz Draper on 871316 within the next month.

Tickets for this very popular evening are now available at the Village Hall Post Office (or Liz Draper 871316) at £7.50 each to include fish and chips and pudding so get buying your tickets as they will sell quickly - last year many people were disappointed at missing this event.

I will be giving further details of the evening in my forthcoming reports.