Help for Heroes supported by Open House (From Dorset Echo)

Help for Heroes supported by Open House

10:47am Wednesday 19th October 2011 in Community

Recently Liz Newbould, helped by Maureen Martin and friends, held ‘Open House’ in aid of the Help the Heroes charity.

With a bring and buy stall and a raffle plus homemade cakes and preserves on sale, many people took the opportunity to drop in to support the event and chat over tea and delicious cakes and biscuits - most welcome when I dropped in after a long walk on the hills!

Liz raised nearly £190 for Help the Heroes plus another £50 for the British Legion Poppy Appeal, and she is to be congratulated on her initiative in organising such a successful event.

The flu jabs – they have a more official name than that, but you know what I mean – were organised with great efficiency up at Westfield Technology Centre in Littlemoor Road recently.

As far as I could see, those needing the jabs were divided up into 2 hourly groups, and on arrival were firstly greeted by a policeman on duty at the turning off the road followed by car parking attendants to make sure that everyone found a place easily. Large signs directed us to the entrance where we were asked if we had the necessary documentation and pointed in the direction of the gym.

You couldn’t get lost in the corridors and stairs because every turn was well marshalled, and by the time you reached the gym there was no chance that you did not have the correct, properly signed consent form. There were about 10 medical staff actually giving the jabs, so waiting was at a minimum, and afterwards the St Andrew’s Community Angels had a room set aside for a welome cup of tea (and, dare I say it, a chat!).

There was even the opportunity to have your blood pressure taken by Team Curate Daile Wilshere, demonstrating that she has a nice medical as well as pastoral touch! Congratulations to everyone who organised and took part in making the occasion literally painless – well, almost!

The annual Weymouth East Scouts and Guides Autumn Jumble will take place on Saturday 29 October at 2pm in the Scutt Hall.

This is one of the major fund raising activities in support of the Scutt Hall for the use of the youngsters, so if you have any unwanted items that they could sell to help this good cause, contact Betty (833614) or deliver them to the Scutt Hall, which is open most early evenings. Otherwise they will be delighted to see you on Saturday, when they will have a host of excellent bargains – and refreshments – available.