Ann and Ron help village to win award

11:39pm Monday 14th July 2008

MANY factors must have contributed to the fact that Martinstown won the category for the Best Kept Village in the larger village class.

One of these must surely have been the newly-painted village hall, which has proved to be such an essential hub of community life.

It is also down to the fact that Ann and Ron spend so much time and effort taking care of the surrounding grassy area and flower beds, not to mention those wonderful hanging baskets. All the plants are raised by them and nurtured with copious doses of TLC.

• IF YOU are wondering why you have not seen Joan driving around the neighbourhood it has nothing to do with reducing her carbon footprint.

Sadly her incapacity is due to a broken bone in her arm needing to be plastered.

Incidentally, she did enjoy her outing to Brownsea Island despite her slip-up on a pebbly path, for the long-term injury only became apparent at a later date. Meanwhile she can enjoy her chauffeur driven status and delegate the household chores to husband Geoff.

• WE WERE treated to some wonderful changes rung on the bells of St Martin's Church.

I first enjoyed them whilst walking ESS Fern and had a mild panic attack in case I had missed out on a local wedding. I did learn later that it was a visiting team of bell ringers.

• IT WAS very welcome to find in the Valley & Valence newsletter a detailed report of the parish council meeting, thanks to Patrick.

Another debt of gratitude is due to Patrick & his wife Margaret for allowing the recent Blanchard Charity fete to be held in the garden of Chantry House.

The lawns were covered with a wide variety of stalls and games of skill, while the WI members satisfied the demand for tea and cakes.

A great vote of thanks to William and Jonathan, who worked their socks off going round to collect all the empty cups.

This kept Sheila chained to the kitchen sink well beyond the call of duty so that Monica despaired of ever taking her turn to wash up.

The sun shone on what proved to be a most successfully happy gathering of villagers

• A REMINDER that the popular Locals Lunch' at the Coach and Horses will be held on the first Wednesday of each month at 12.45pm.

Special rate on producing the ticket in the Parish Newsletter, which for some reason did not appear in the current edition.

• THE Valley View lunch at the Stevens Farm shop will be held as usual on the first Tuesday of each month.

What a wonderful excuse for not self-catering! Our Community Support Police Officer, Sarah, will also be at the farm shop on the following dates in July - Wednesday, July 16 10am-11.15am and Wednesday, July 30 2.15pm-15.30pm.

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