• THERE was a very nice party at the Old School Village Hall to mark the retirement of our curate, Rev Pat Jones, after 14 years service to the parishes of Upwey, Broadwey, Bincombe and Buckland Ripers.

However, Pat isn’t completely retiring: she’s taking a long break and after that may be around to take some services from time to time. She remains, of course, a priest and a much-loved one. We wish her happiness in her more relaxed life.

  • ANOTHER change has taken place in the village since the beginning of the new year: The Old Ship Inn on the Ridgeway is now in the very capable hands of Daniel and Sara and their companion Gareth.

Full service is the order of the day, every day, and they are keeping the Reading Room open.

No doubt further plans and information will be forthcoming as they get their feet under the table there – or is it better to say – behind the bar? Welcome to Upwey.

  • UPWEY and Broadwey Horticultural Society begin their new year with a talk from a member of the Borough Parks Department about Floral Displays.

Weymouth is awfully good at these and the seafront and various public gardens always looks splendid in the summer. The Parks Dept also looks after our smaller flowerbeds at the top of Elwell Street. That’s on Thursday, February 3.

In March the speaker will be advising members on container growing – all those pretty pots full of colourful plants which adorn our gardens throughout the year.

Then preparations are well under way for the Spring Show on Saturday afternoon, Saturday, March 19.

Meetings, to which visitors and prospective members are always welcome, take place on the first Thursday of every month at St Nicholas and St Laurence School on the Dorchester Road, from 7.30pm.