THE CHURCH FETE held recently proved to be a very successful afternoon with the background of live music by the Mill Street Jazz Band, dog show, teddy bears’ picnic and loads of money raising ideas.

The afternoon was warm and very pleasant and attracted an extremely large crowd, plus a record number of entries for the dog show with their proud owners keen to prove that they were the best in their various classes. The dog or bitch in best condition class was won by Jet, a lovely black Labrador who came from Weymouth.

Games that gave some laughs such as water pistol shooting, ball in a bucket and guess the smells were popular as were the well-stocked tombola, raffle prizes galore and stalls with produce, fresh bread and cakes, cards and pictures and a beautifully dressed large teddy in splendid bonnet and long dress for “guess the name” competition which was won at the end of the afternoon by a couple on holiday in Portesham who guessed correctly the name of “Gloria”.

A large team of volunteers were on hand to run the various stalls and games and provide teas and cakes for refreshment, which seemed very busy all afternoon.

Thanks must go to the many helpers, churchwardens and most importantly to Liz Draper for a wonderful, well-organised and very successful afternoon - proceeds to St. Peter’s Church.

  • CHOOSING my next Portesham unsung hero seemed obvious this time with her never ending fundraising for various different good causes but especially village needs.

Liz Draper is very well known to the Dorset Echo readers as she was the previous correspondent for Portesham Community News for many years providing witty, sometimes ‘whacky’, but always great reports of village life and activities and I might add, a very hard act to follow!!

She is a well-loved and popular lady in Portesham and creates year after year many innovative and fresh ideas for fundraising which involves her in hours of preparation and organisation.

For many years Liz and her husband Ken chaired the committee responsible for the annual “Fez Wik” which ran for 4 days and raised hundreds of pounds for church and village hall funds to include lump sums for clubs that applied for help with expenses or equipment and it was a sad day for Portesham when they were forced to pull out of the large responsibility and nobody has been brave enough to take on this challenge since.

Every year Liz also holds an Open Garden in her beloved garden in Winters Lane, organises the Fish & Chip Supper, Christmas Crafty Tea Party and is also a brilliant artistic florist with great flair and has produced many wonderful arrangements in the Church at Easter, Harvest Festival and Christmas to name but a few.

Her energies are unflagging and the village, church and school owe much to this talented and enthusiastic lady - thank you Liz from us all!

  • SUMMER Extravaganza is to be held by Parents of the Portesham C of E Primary School on Friday, July 3 from 3.15-4.30pm with refreshment and BBQ, so do come along and give them your support.
  • A PLEA to all dog owners in Portesham that the number of cases of dog fouling has increased recently so please think of others, especially wheelchair users, children and pushchairs that accidentally run over dog mess which is disgusting and completely unnecessary and difficult to clean up so come on dog owners, play fair and PICK UP!

There were two cases of dog fouling very soon after the grass was cut in the churchyard recently - this behaviour is selfish and thoughtless, especially for the mower who has to mow the grass again!