ONCE again we are sending this report from Fiji, where we are continuing with our work to help children throughout the islands.

Our first major commitment this time was on the island of Vanua Levu, where we attended the official opening ceremony for our 6th kindergarten project.

A substantial donation towards this project was made by Tate and Lyle Sugars (UK), who buy all the sugar that is grown in Fiji. A further donation was made by LCPA, a local association that represents cane producers.

All our previous kindergartens were called ‘Sunny Smiles’, but on this occasion we decided to reflect the sugar connection by naming it ‘Sweet Smiles’!

The kindergarten at Tabia will benefit the children and grandchildren of cane growers and cane cutters. The ceremony was attended by elders and members of the village, representatives of Tate and Lyle and LCPA, pre-school children and their parents, and those involved in constructing the building and managing the project.

BACK in Dorset, Melbury Osmund Garden and Show Society is holding its annual Spring Show in Melbury Osmund Village Hall on Tuesday, March 19.

The staging of exhibits takes place between 6.30 and 7.30pm. Judging will be at 7.30pm On Tuesday, March 5 there will be a Spring Talk at 7.30pm. The speaker is still to be announced. The evening finishes with refreshments and questions.

All are welcome. Non-members pay £2.

FROME Valley History Society meets at Rampisham Village Hall on Monday March 11, when there will be a talk on The History of the Ilchester Family.

For further details please contact John Darneley on 01935 83347 MELBURY MEN’s Breakfast will hold their next meeting on Saturday, March 16, when the guest speaker will be Robin Sadler from Salisbury Medical Link.

Meetings are held at the Southern Counties Shooting Club Cafe on Wardon Hill (A37), starting at 8.45 and finishing at around 9.45am.

There is a vegetarian option for those who require it, as well as a lighter breakfast for those who do not wish to have the ‘full English’.

Please contact Paul Wilcock on 01300 321112 or p.wilcock@virgin.net for more information or to book a place.

DOGS without Collars will be performing in the Savill Hall, Cattistock on Friday March 22 to raise money for Friends of St Mary’s in Maiden Newton.

The evening starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £7 (£5 for under 16’s) and this includes a light supper. Please bring your own drink.

Please contact Paul on 01300 321112 for further information.

ARTSREACH presents David Mynne in Great Expectations on Thursday March 22 in Melbury Osmund Village Hall.

The evening begins at 7.30pm. The cost of tickets is £8 for adults, £6 for under 18’s and £25 for a family. There will be a bar.

To make a booking, please contact Teresa Oaksford on 01935 83410 There have been many one-person shows in Melbury, but this one promises to be the most challenging yet – one man bringing Charles Dickens’ story to life.

GREENFORD School will be hosting a ‘Stars in their Eyes’ evening on Friday, March 22 at 7.30pm in the school.

SARAH, our local Police Community Support Officer will be in the Fox and Hounds, Cattistock, between midday and 1pm on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.

The next opportunity will be on Tuesday, March 19.

Sarah also goes to Maiden Newton Coffee Shop on the last Tuesday of the month (the next opportunity being Tuesday, March 26) If you cannot make it but would like to talk, then please call 01305 226815 Do come along and discuss any issues that are concerning you. Or simply pop in to say hello to Sarah and share a coffee with her!

AS PART of this year’s Cattistock Festival there will be a Gardeners’ Question Time in the Savill Hall at 4.30pm on Saturday, March 23. Do come along and put your questions to a team of professionals.

The hall with be open from 3.30pm for tea, courtesy of Clipper Teas (included in the ticket price of £5). You will have the chance to chat with the panel on a more informal basis before the official event begins.

Tickets will be available from middle of the month in the shop and the pub, or from any member of the committee (Ian Gregory, John Willows, Mary Duff, Barbara Southcott, Cathy Evans, Patrick Nelson and Jenny Shanahan).

The panel of experts will be headed by Chairman James Foster-Pegg, a Chelsea silver medallist, and team members will be Maureen Locke, Joy Wallis and Giles Woodford.

Anything from cabbages, compost and cold frames to worms, works and wildlife gardening will be up for discussion. Bring your questions along and the panel will give you the benefit of their combined wisdom and experience.

Please contact as soon as possible if you would like to take part.

THE LADIES’ Thursday Group holds its next meeting on Thursday March 28, when the Town Crier, Alistair Chisholm will give a talk entitled ‘Dorchester – Plenty to Shout About’.

This time the meeting will be in Stratton Village Hall.

New members are always welcome. Do come along and give it a try – visitors pay just 50p, and refreshments are included!