Tolpuddle

  • COFFEE and cakes were served to visitors who had come along to see the refurbishment of the village hall that had taken place over the past few months.

Patrick Evans tells me that there was standing room only at the height of the morning which also included a display of photographs of some of the recent events.

The village show committee presented donations to some of the village groups following the summer show.

  • SOUP and sweet lunches in the village hall in aid of St John's church will take place on Friday, November 20 and Friday December 18, from noon until 1.30pm.

Affpuddle

  • ALI PECK's dedication to her job with the RNLI at Poole communicated itself vividly to the audience during the most interesting talk that she gave to villagers in Briantspuddle village hall recently.

Audience members left at the end of the evening feeling that they not only knew far more about the organisation's work, but also appreciating what interesting people we had in the heart of our community.

  • DARLING Clemmie, the Artsreach performance in the village hall was exquisitely performed by Rohan McCulloch. The evening made a profit of £105.87 for village hall funds.
  • FATHER Christmas is making a celebrity appearance at Briantspuddle Christmas Fair in the village hall on Saturday, December 5 from 2pm until 5pm.

Don't miss coming along to see him!

If you would like to run a stall at the event, telephone Maggie on 01929 471544 or Lara on 471916.

  • NEW Scorpion Band comes to Briantspuddle village hall on Saturday, December 19 at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £10 to include supper. Telephone Philippa Thorniley on 01929 471497.

Puddletown

  • HORTICULTURAL Association members gathered for the annual general meeting and social evening.

Chairman Eric House welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming.

In Eric's resume of the association's past year's events, he said what a sad start the year had had with the illness and loss of Pat Alford, a wonderful secretary and a very special friend.

Great thanks were expressed to retiring committee member Dorothy Alder for all her years of hard work.

Colin Faers presented the accounts, and the officers for the coming year were appointed.

Members then enjoyed a delicious supper with coq au vin with creamed potatoes and vegetables for main course, followed by a choice of numerous sumptuous desserts.

Thanks were expressed to Mary and Christine for organising this, and to Claire for washing up.

The next meeting of the horticultural association will be in the village hall on Tuesday, November 24, when Simon Goldsack from Holme nurseries will talk about winter shrubs.

  • THE Christmas fair and coffee morning in aid of the church will be on Saturday, December 5 in the village hall from 10am until noon. Stalls are available to rent. Telephone Diana on 01305 848510.
  • A BIG thank you to everyone who completed and returned the parish plan questionnaire.

Over 300 were received.

Times that by the number in each household and that's a lot of responses!

The information is being analysed so that the final parish plan can be prepared.

A lot of work has gone in to get this far, but now extra help is needed to put together the plan for publication.

Can you help with photography, graphics, write clear, concise and inviting text or put together an action plan?

If you can help, please ring John Paton on01305 848336 or John Bacon on 848083.

  • SUE Darler's talk on her life and quilts was greatly enjoyed by the members of the countrywomen's club.

The competition was won by Thelma Coombes, second Wendy Cox.

The next meeting of the club will be its Christmas lunch at the Fox Inn, Ansty, on Wednesday, December 9.

Bere Regis

  • BOB Holman reports for the swimming club: The club hosted a friendly gala at the Purbeck Sports Centre on with Poole and Bournemouth swimming clubs taking part in a three-cornered competition.

Our team was magnificent in what turned out to be a wonderful evening enjoyed by all three clubs.

The result was in doubt right up to the end with Poole winning with 102 points, Bere Regis second with 92 points and Bournemouth third with 86 points.

To perform so well against big town clubs has given a real boost to our team.

There were some outstanding individual performances in which our boys secured 11 first places, and the girls were winners of six races.

There were many children swimming for the first time for the club and they all did us proud.

Marilyn, one of the Poole team managers remarked on how much the standard had risen and Dave Bradley from Bournemouth said that they must have a return fixture as the gala was swum in the right spirit and they must try and beat us next time!