Abbotsbury LOCAL Dorset artists Barbara Laurie, Iryna Yermolova, Oksana Bratt and Mark Megilley will be holding an exhibition of their artworks at Strangways Hall from the May bank holiday week end until Sunday, June 5th.

Paintings, photography, silk; prints and drawings will be on show.

The exhibition is open between 10.30 am and 5pm daily.

AN AUCTION of promises in aid of Chesil Bank Pre School and Abbotsbury Community Space will take place at the Ilchester Arms on Friday, June 3rd.

Doors open at 7.00pm, Auction at 7.30pm.

Oliver Letwin MP will host the evening.

Information given to me details 43 items on offer which include such diverse delights as family passes to all sorts of places, beauty and hairdos, local wine and House of Commons whisky, a helicopter ride, meals out plus many, many more.

Please come, dig deep, join in the fun and support our village causes.

Ring Michelle on 01305 871293 for more details VILLAGE CAFE - the Abbotsbury and Portesham Women’s Section of the Royal British Legion (RBL) is to host the café in Portesham village hall on Saturday, June 4 from 10am – noon.

MASTER of the Rolls, Lord Neuburgher and his wife Angela open their lovely garden at The Gatehouse in Church Street in aid of the Friends of St Nicholas on Sunday, June 5 from 2.30pm.

The garden is on different levels and has views up to St Catherine’s Chapel and down to the sea.

There will be refreshments and plants for sale.

All profits will be for the church roof appeal.

THE SPEAKER for the Abbotsbury and Portesham RBL Women’s section meeting in May was a volunteer guide at the Tudor house in Weymouth.

This fascinating property, one of five built of Portland Stone in Trinity Street, was built in 1600 just before the death of Queen Elizabeth 1st.

This area was the original Weymouth where the sea lapped the edge of the houses and was called ‘The Hole’.

Later due to pollution the Harbour was relocated.

After the Second World War the house which by then had been divided into two cottages and had been condemned, was acquired by town architect Mr Lewis who founded the Weymouth Civic Society in 1944.

The house was then restored and rented out eventually being handed to the Civic Society on his death in 1977.

It is unique and furnished as far as possible in the Tudor and Stuart style.

It is open to the public Tuesday – Friday, from 1.00pm – 3.45pm and is well worth a visit.

Thanks go to Joyce Pugh for filling me in on this interesting talk.