FURTHER to my recent report on the Chesil Bank Parish Plan Showcase held in November I have had an email from Andy Matthews of Dorset County Council.

Although those that attended the showcase were extremely disappointed not to see a representative from the Highways Section as expected I must make it clear Andy was there in the morning in his capacity as transport co-ordinator for passenger transport at the council.

  • THE Bridge House Singers from our villages and further afield led us into Advent with their Soiree and Carols.

Daniel Strong from Weymouth took our breath away with his rendition of The Star from the musical Les Miserables as did Peter Dillistone from All Saints School, who was a soloist with the choir. Hazel Cathro from Portesham, who is moving to Devon and was is a founder member of the choir in 1987, was given the biggest of surprises. Geoff Northcote, who was the original director of BHS, also a potter and garden designer, presented Hazel with a bowl that he had made in that year which was decorated with old penny glaze and the choir presented her with a beautiful basket of flowers.

Hazel has not only been a loyal member of the group but also their treasurer for the 20 years from 1987 - 2007.

  • ON Wednesday family and friends of Margaret Ann Langford, known as Jane to her family and friends, gathered together in St Nicholas Church to celebrate her life.

Jane, aged 69, passed away last week after a very difficult few years of illness bravely borne having spent her last few days in the care of the Joseph Weld Hospice.

Jane was a real local lass born and bred in Abbotsbury.

After leaving school she worked in the local Post Office and in 1957 married Dennis starting their married life in Langton Herring before returning to the village. Jane was devoted to her family and with Dennis had two daughters, six grandchildren, and four great grandchildren and they celebrated their golden wedding in September.

Jane worked at Grundys in Bridport, became the manager of Woolworths in Weymouth before managing the Sue Ryder charity shop in Dorchester until she retired through ill health.

Found amongst her papers was A day in the life of a Sue Ryder volunteer a little something that she had written which summed up her life as a women who was forthright, honest, humorous and caring.

You may wonder why she was called Jane. Apparently when she met Dennis there were already two Margarets in the family so he called her Jane.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all her family at this very sad time.

  • Boxing Day in the village will be a riotous affair if the usual antics of the Beachcombers are to go by.

This year the fun starts at the Swan Inn at 11am for a five-legged race.

Participants are requested to dress as cartoon characters and in past years after cavorting around the village they have ended up at the Ilchester Arms. This is not just jollity however but a fundraiser for the Abbotsbury Beachcombers Association.

Who can forget all those hairy brides a few years ago!