THE OLD SCHOOL Village Hall moved into the 21st century well and truly at the end of half term, when Laurence Eastwood and his mates set up Wii games for anyone to come and play and to raise funds for the Haiti relief efforts.

Quite a good number of young people (and a few older ones) turned up to try their hand and eye co-ordination playing tennis, and other games or dancing with lifesize images on a huge screen.

Great fun, and very challenging.

As a first effort, Laurence was pleased with the turn out and considers repeating the event, and generous players raised more than £130 for the appeal.

It was nice to see members of Melcombe Regis Rotary Club in attendance with one of their amazing Shelter Boxes.

AT THEIR February meeting, members of the Horticultural Society heard a very interesting and enlightening talk about plant hunters.

Few of us realise how many men spent their lives in exploring far-flung and dangerous areas of the world in order to bring back to England many thousands of new plant species.

These were lovingly tended and encouraged by nurserymen back here - one of the most important families in this business being Veitch of Exeter – to provide us now with the many and varied flowers, bushes and trees which grow in our parks and gardens.

At their next meeting on Thursday, March 4, the speaker from Castle Gardens of Sherborne will be talking about gardening folklore (do you think that might include the fairies at the bottom of the garden who sow fully grown weeds overnight?)

MEMBERS and friends of the Upwey Society turned out on a very unpleasant evening to hear stories of farming in Upwey.

Charles Foot and his family, over many generations, have been farming the land around Upwey and he gave us a comprehensive account of the history, farming at present and what he expects to see in the future.

Nicely seasoned with some lively anecdotes, we came away feeling that perhaps we now know a little more of food production, at least where it all begins, and the not-at-all-easy life of the farmers who produce it.

MORRIS DANCERS are on screen on Wednesday, March 3 at the Old School Village Hall, 7pm.

Festus Merriman Morris side are foregoing their usual practise night to enjoy the film, “ Morris- A Life with Bells On” described as one of the funniest recent films recounting the tales of one fictional side.

For tickets, costing £8, which includes supper, contact Bill on 812030 or bill@upweypotters.com

There will be a bar with beer supplied by Dorset Brewing Co of Hope Square and the food for the ploughmans supper also will be locally sourced.

The evening is expected to end at about 10.30pm.

THE AGM season is almost upon us, and in Upwey this kicks off with the Old School’s AGM on Thursday, March 4.

Come and find out about the administration of this very popular venue, where the money goes, how the hall is managed, proposals for future events and meet the people who run it.

The doors open at 7pm and the meeting starts at 7.30pm.

Drinks and nibbles provided.

THE following week, on Thursday, March 11, the Upwey Society will be holding its AGM at the Old School village hall and the committee hope that as many members as possible will come to hear about their very active society.

The evening always takes the same shape – get the meeting over and done, then enjoy some drinks and nice nibbles while you chat to friends old and new.

Doors will be open from 7pm and the meeting begins at 7.30pm.

Prospective members are welcome to join the Upwey Society at this time.

ALSO on Thursday, March 4, the Upwey and Broadwey WI meet at 2pm at the Memorial Hall in Victoria Avenue when the speaker will be Mr Buxton who will be describing the Islands of Scotland.

Let’s hope the weather for this meeting will be kinder, the WI had to cancel the January meeting due to threat of snow, but the February one was well attended to hear about the work of Julia’s House, the hospice for children.

WALKERS on the footpath which runs along the back of Elwell Street have expressed concern about the smaller of the two goats who live in the field there.

She is rather lame, but the vet visits regularly and she is being very well looked after.