THE Broadmayne Players will be holding their AGM at 7.30pm on Wednesday, May 12 in the Methodist Church Hall. Members of the community are cordially invited to attend to let the players know what they would like them to perform, possible other activities and ideas for the distribution of surplus funds.

If anyone would be willing to play the piano for the 2011 pantomime, to be held in February, please contact Geoffrey Small on 01305 852613

  • THE LAST meeting of Broadmayne and West Knighton WI was both an open meeting and the AGM.

Wendy Stent welcomed guests and the speaker, Gordon Le Pard.

Gordon gave a very informative talk on archaeology around Broadmayne, using old maps and aerial photographs to illustrate the field plans and burial sites in the parish, over the last 2000 to 3000 years.

Farming in Broadmayne dates back at least 5000 years to the mid-neolithic period and it was interesting to learn why gardens were long and thin, which was in order to take advantage of the different types of soil and growing conditions for crops to be grown throughout the year. Maps of the parish were shown from the original 1st edition OS maps of the 1880s and comparisons could be made between the village at that time and photographs taken in 1947 and 2005 were shown as examples of the growth of the village.

The use of both seasonal and clock time was explained and the fact that in medieval times the number of minutes in the hour varied depending on the season.

Photographs and drawings of sundials were displayed showing how parishioners could tell when it was time for mass.

Gordon was thanked for his enjoyable talk by Sue Pratt.

Members were invited to sign up for the spring outing, a visit to Bournemouth for a choice of visiting the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum or a shopping expedition and a tour, talk and tea at the Lillie Langtry Hotel will complete the outing.

At the AGM, Marilyn Holehouse was elected the new president.

The next meeting will be held at 7pm on Thursday, May 13 in Broadmayne Village Hall, when the speaker will be Jenny Clarke on Woofability, assistance dogs for the disabled.

  • I AM sure many residents were shocked by the sudden death of John Bound, who was well known and involved in many activities in Broadmayne.

Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.