• March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, and to mark the event Theresa Clayton organised a very successful Teddy Bears Picnic and Pyjama Party in the Church Rooms in aid of the Eve Appeal charity for research into this disease. The Church Rooms were packed and nearly everyone was dressed in pyjamas, carrying a teddy bear or both. There were lashings of tea, homemade savouries, sandwiches and cake, a quiz about teddies – nobody got more than half the questions right – and a grand raffle controlled by Sue Sadler, also fetchingly attired in her nightwear! Theresa and everyone who helped are to be congratulated on a fun event enjoyed by all who attended with lots of money raised for such a good cause.

• This year will see another Three Halls Garden party, to be held in June at the Old Vicarage. This is always a great day out, with all proceeds being divided equally amongst the local Halls. There will be a meeting on Wednesday 3 April at 7.30pm in the Village Hall to discuss the event. If you have any ideas, would like to help or know someone who would like to help, drop in to the meeting to see what is being planned.

• Have you noticed the extremely large white painted circle on the road at Overcombe Corner? Hardly a ‘mini-roundabout’! The January Consultation report on the ‘Improvement’ Scheme says 40% of those questioned wanted the DCC preferred option for the Chalbury Corner roundabout, but 33% said do nothing! 34% of people supported changes to the road between Overcombe Corner and Chalbury Corner, but 31% said do nothing! Hardly a ringing endorsement for the proposed changes!

• David Mannings tells me that a new bus shelter will be erected at the K5 bus stop where the Preston 4/4B bus service has been moved. Contrary to reports elsewhere, work has not started, making it a very cold and draughty wait for the bus. David also points out that the service terminates at the old Information Centre and moves to the K5 stop exactly on the due departure time. This means that the service is always late starting off because boarding has to take place first. So while there is no shelter, perhaps the service could finish at K5 so people could board immediately and get out of the wind as a bonus? Passengers are also still very unhappy about withdrawal of the bus service along Oakbury Drive.