BRAINS in gear – the Annual St. Laurence’s Church Quiz got under way with many sets of questions themed to the date, March 13 - quite surprising just how much has happened on that date, and some people knew some of the answers, rigorously marked by Paul Sutcliffe.

Run by Patrick and Jan Kimball-Smith, every table was taken and there was a lovely warm atmosphere, helped, no doubt, by an excellent, but simple, supper (Betty Sutcliffe ran the kitchen) and whatever participants had brought to quench their thinking thirsts More than £250 was raised from this event – this time the money was for keeping the show on the road, not for the windows!

THE AGM SEASON goes on... This week it has been the turn of the Upwey Society, whose president, Angela Lousley, opened the proceedings at the Old School Village Hall, greeting a remarkably good turn out, as members attended to hear of the doings of the Society in the year just passed.

The chairman (that’s me!) gave her report, commenting on the events of the previous year and most particularly highlighting the support the Society had given to local trade; she also made mention of the value of the newsletter as one of the principal means of communication in the neighbourhood and congratulated the editor, Diane Crumbleholme, on her excellent production.

Treasurer, Dave Mountjoy, gave an account of the Society’s finances, remarking especially that subscriptions would remain at only £2.00 per household, as they had been for the last 15 years, and that there was no need to raise them as, with advertising revenue, the cost of the production of the newsletter was covered – no credit crunch here, then.

The Society is financing new curtains for the Old School Village Hall, and members were pleased to vote money towards the cost of the urgently needed new toilets for our local voluntary-aided primary school – the county funds only a part of the cost.

Under the heading Planning and Conservation, comment was made that the Society keeps an eye on planning applications, but can only make recommendations.

In 1994, a small piece of land, known as Goulds Bottom, opposite the turning to Friar Waddon , was made available to the Society as a village amenity. This is now being very well cared-for by Mr. Barry Day and visitors are welcome to use it for picnics (taking their rubbish home, of course).

Membership of the Society now stands at 239 households.

Serving officers were reelected, and we said farewell to two committee members – Angela Lousley, remaining as our valued president, had served on the committee for over 30 years, and Jim Wilkinson who had served as secretary and wine adviser. John Huggins was elected to join the committee.

After various points made under any other business, the meeting closed and members enjoyed wine and nice nibbles and jolly chat.