10 May 2024 - Barbara Harrison
Dear all,
Very sadly, another of our best loved villagers has died, and this Newsbite is to let you know the arrangements for Barbara's funeral and wake. The Funeral Service will be next Tuesday, 14th May, at St Andrew's Church, starting at 11 a.m. After the church service, the family will move on to a private farewell ceremony at Weymouth Crematorium, but while that is happening they invite all villagers to a Wake, at the Mission Hall. Barbara's family will join the rest of us at the Mission Hall as soon as they can.
It is the wish of Barbara's family that, rather than sending flowers, people should make donations to the Mission Hall Trust. Details of the Trust bank account can be found below.
Barbara is the last member of the Harrison family who had lived in Sutton Poyntz for almost 150 years. Although not a native of Sutton Poyntz, she was always a warm and generous member of our village community since she came here on marrying John, who many of you will have had the joy of knowing. The first Harrison in the village was John's grandfather, William, who moved to Weymouth from East Coker, met and married a Sutton Poyntz girl, and was living here by 1881. The family lived for a time in Prospect Cottage, and were the village carpenters, wheelwrights, and later builders. The family built the house Springside for Walter and his wife Rose, and this is the house that their son John was born in and lived for his whole life, and that Barbara then lived in ever since she and John married.
John and Barbara's family lived and grew up in that cottage, and both John and Barbara were enthusiastic members of the Sutton Poyntz community. Barbara was a long-time member of the Village WI, and a member of their Committee for a number of years. She was an energetic member of the Mission Hall Committee for about 9 years, being the WI's representative, before retiring just 4 years ago. She and John were both members of the Sutton Poyntz Players who produced a number of Thomas Hardy dramatisations, and then of the Preston Pantomime Group. Finally, she was a very talented artist, a member of the village Art Group and a contributor to their annual Exhibitions; an exhibition of her art work is planned, at the Mission Hall at the very end of May. Barbara was a great asset over many years to the life of the village.
Bill (acting as stand-in for J & S)
Mission Hall bank details: Sort code 20-26-62 Account number 00739871 Account name Sutton Poyntz Mission Hall Management Trust