AUTUMN fundraising for the village hall has started, and there will be one of the popular quizzes in the hall on Friday, November 14.

Please note the new start time of 7.15pm prompt.

Tickets are available from Charminster Stores, Elizabeth Elliott (01305 269866) or from me at Netley House, North Street (01305 263478) and will cost £5, which includes an excellent ploughman’s supper.

(Feel free to bring your own drinks!).

Tables can be made up of up to eight per team – don't worry if you want to come along on your own, teams can be made up on the night.

However, this event is always well attended, so you will need to make sure of a place by getting your ticket in advance.

The following fundraising event will be the grand auction on December 12 and Elizabeth Elliott will be very pleased to accept any gifts/donations to be offered at this event.

  • OVER 40 members attended the October WI meeting in the village hall, and greatly enjoyed the talk given by the very informative and entertaining Stephen Goldsack from West Holme Farm Garden Centre, giving lots of ideas for autumn and winter colour and planting for the garden. He had brought along a great many unusual and colourful plants for various soil types, answered lots of questions and left the ladies deciding that an outing to West Holme Farm was very likely in the spring.

After the president Lyn Willis had dealt with all the relevant business, the menu for the Christmas meal was passed around for members to decide what they fancy.

The results of the first round of the county quiz had not been received at the time of writing this report.

Next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 14, 7.30pm start in the village hall as usual.

  • STILL on the colourful gardens theme, St Mary's Church has been very 'flowerful' in recent weeks.

There were several weddings during September, which meant the church was beautifully decorated, culminating with the splendid display for harvest festival – not forgetting the whopping great pumpkin!!

  • A NOTE for your diary – there will be an ethical Christmas shopping event in church on Saturday, November 22 from 10am-12.30pm.
  • PLEASE note I am not keeping the village hall diary any more – hall bookings should be made with Lilian Matthews, on 01305 266082.