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Preparations for Sutton Poyntz Street Fayre well under way

1:21pm Tuesday 22nd May 2012

• The ladies are hard at work painting furniture for the Shabby Chic stall, one of many stalls being prepared for the Sutton Poyntz Victorian Street Fayre on Sunday 24 June. The team need more furniture, so if you can help by donating an item, contact Pat on 837162. The Fayre, set around the beautiful village duck-pond, is a Victorian themed fun day for all the family. There will be music and entertainment all day long, as well as stalls selling plants, jewellery, books, antiques, and gifts (not forgetting the wonderful Shabby Chic furniture), a farmers' market, cream teas, barbecues, children's games, and a grand charity auction run by Goadsbys with villagers and stall-holders dressed in period costume. Guy Bridge, chairman of the committee said "The whole community comes together, enjoys a great day out and helps raise a substantial sum for local charities.” So mark Sunday 24 June in your diaries for a wonderful time in a marvellous setting.

MU table top sale affected by the weather

1:20pm Wednesday 16th May 2012

• Attendance at the Mothers’ Union Table Top Sale in the Church Rooms suffered a little from the atrocious weather, but those who did make the effort were rewarded with a wide range of goods on sale. The hall was packed with stalls ranging from crafts through books, beautiful hand crafted cards, plants, preserves, cakes and much more. Richard on the Scout stall was raising money towards a 2013 expedition to Madagascar by 63 scouts and 17 leaders of which 3 will be from Dorset. They will be working for and with the local population to improve the infrastructure in the country. Beryl, Chairperson of the MU, told me that the proceeds from the sale would be going to MU projects in the third world. She wanted to thank those who attended and those who helped, including, as you can see from the photograph, gentlemen members of the MU.

St Andrew’s Flower Festival a breathtaking success

10:21am Tuesday 8th May 2012

• The Flower Festival in St Andrew’s Church was a marvellous and uplifting experience. Caroline Crisp, assisted by 36 ladies, a number of enthusiastic gentlemen and with the support of local businesses, turned the church into a blaze of colour on the theme of ‘Beside the Seaside’. The 27 stunning individual flower arrangements, each suitably annotated, ranged over such topics as the Chesil Beach, the Lodmoor Bird Reserve, the Jurassic Coast, the RNLI, the Coastguard, the Olympics and many more. Of particular note was the beautiful and moving item ‘Jesus stills the storm’ created in the Sanctuary by Melcombe Regis Flower Club in memory of their Chairman Roxane, a much loved Preston lady. The constant stream of visitors over the three days also enjoyed the music played throughout by a dedicated team of organists led by John Tallon, the opportunity to partake of delicious homemade refreshments in the Church Rooms afterwards, and the bell ringing under John Foggan on the last day. From the many comments received there can be no doubt that everyone had been entranced by the quality of the designs and the talent on display which showcased the ancient Norman church so well. Whilst entry to the church was free, donations were invited and these plus the proceeds from refreshments will be shared between the children’s hospice Julia’s House and the church itself. As Rev Tim West said in his introduction ‘We are blessed in so many ways’ and the teamwork, energy and artistry evident in the Festival is a tribute to all concerned and Caroline is to be congratulated for organising this most successful event.

Preston Preschool lets things go to its head!

12:13pm Wednesday 11th April 2012

• At the Preston Preschool Easter Bonnet Afternoon the children enjoyed themselves immensely in the fun filled end of term event of games, songs, refreshments and, of course the Easter Bonnet competition for the mums.

Friends getting down to the soil for a good cause

10:08am Tuesday 27th March 2012

The Friends of the Samaritans of Dorset (in Weymouth) have taken up gardening!

Flower fundraiser feeds local folk

2:21pm Monday 27th February 2012

A fundraising lunch for the forthcoming St Andrew’s Church Flower Festival was recently organised in the Mission Hall by Caroline Crisp and her band of willing and enthusiastic lady helpers. The sell-out lunch comprised a choice of homemade stilton & broccoli or carrot and coriander soup to start followed by cold ham and roast beef, mixed green salad, plus homemade potato salad, coleslaw and chutney with a selection of desserts - the trifle was magnificent! - and coffee to finish. All those who attended were warm in their praise of the occasion, and there was warm applause when Caroline thanked her food preparers, waitresses and everyone who helped with the lunch, with a special mention of Barbara Clements in the Spar shop on Preston Road, who donated, cooked and sliced the delicious roast beef. A coffee morning raised £350 for the Festival, and Caroline expects the lunch to add £500 to that total, helped by a raffle on the day with a number of excellent prizes. The Flower Festival will be held on Saturday 5, Sunday 6 and Monday 7 May with the theme “Beside the seaside”. The banner in the picture was made by Judy Backwell. Help is required with the flower festival, both from those with perhaps a hidden talent for flower arranging and/or from those willing to serve refreshments in the Church Rooms, and/or make cakes. There will be no charge to visit the Church to view the stunning floral exhibits, but donations will be invited, and all the proceeds will go to charity. An event surely not to be missed.

Local ‘Time Team’ digs up the past in Plaister's Lane

10:12am Monday 13th February 2012

“Recent excavations in Sutton Poyntz” was the subject of the Sutton Poyntz History Group Winter talk held in the Mission Hall recently. A capacity audience heard Richard Breward and Allan Prentice from the South Dorset Community Archaeological Society give a fascinating description of the work carried out over a six year period in and around Wyndings, Dorothy and Simon Emblen’s home in Plaister’s Lane. Describing themselves as enthusiastic amateurs, Richard started with a general overview of the archaeology of Preston and Sutton Poyntz, including the well known Roman Temple above Bowleaze Cove, the much less known Roman Villa in the Haven Holiday Park and the many barrows, bumps and other evidence of life in the area so many years ago. Allan then gave an account of the excavations at Wyndings which had resulted in the unearthing of a kiln and a rich haul of artefacts; so many in fact that cataloguing is still going on. The work led to interest in the field adjacent to Wyndings, and permission was granted by the farmer and Wessex Water for further exploration. Richard described how, after extensive magnetic detection and geo-physics activity, a number of trenches were dug. Again items were found, but none of the major structure that had been hoped for. However more work is planned, including another round of geo-physics so, as they say, watch that space. On behalf of the History Group Caroline Crisp thanked Richard and Allan for their hard work and for sharing the results. Then, over a glass of wine, came the opportunity to view the interesting artefacts which had been brought along to the Mission Hall, and it was fascinating to be able to handle a jug that might last have been used over 2,000 years ago.

Funeral of popular and highly respected Sutton Poyntz resident

12:32pm Tuesday 31st January 2012

John Harrison, a popular and much loved resident of Sutton Poyntz passed away recently after a long illness.At his funeral his three children Stephen, Anthony and Emma gave eulogies to his happy and fulfilled life. John was born in the village in 1932 and went to St Andrew’s School, which was then located near the church. On leaving school he became an apprentice carpenter at Portland Dockyard, following in his father’s footsteps, also a ‘chippy’ who built the family home in Plaisters Lane. During his National Service in West Malling, Kent he met Barbara, and three years later, in 1957, they were married. John returned to his job in the dockyard and they lived in Weymouth for four years, his only home away from Sutton Poyntz. On the death of his father in 1962 they returned to the family house and John continued to work on Portland until his retirement. John was always very active in village life, including the darts team at the Springhead, and skittling with the Poyntz Pirates, for which he received a cup after 30 years service. With his lovely Dorset accent he appeared in the Thomas Hardy plays put on by Sutton Poyntz Players and went on to become a founder member of the Preston Pantomime Group. His faultless comic timing is remembered with great affection. Devoted to his family, he will be greatly missed by them and his many, many friends. Our thoughts are with Barbara, Stephen, Anthony, Emma, and grandchildren, Lewis, Mathew, Daniel, twins Sean & Ronan, Rebecca and Heather at this sad time.