25 April 2022 - More SP Soc AGM News
Hello everyone,
Andy asks me to remind you that subscriptions to the SP Society for the coming year are due from the date of the AGM, this Wednesday 27 April.. He will be delighted to collect these on the night at £2 per person, maximum £4 per household but only in cash please. The Mission Hall doors will be open from 6.30pm and Andy also tells me that nibbles and drinks will also be available from then. Which is music to the ears of a serial nibbler like me. Definitely see you there.
Stay safe, smiling and sensible
Chris
24 April 2022 - SP Soc AGM Documents
Hello everyone,
The SP Society AGM is almost upon us – this coming Wednesday evening 27 April at the Mission Hall to be precise. The doors open at 6.30pm and our two guest speakers will begin at 7pm. At 7.45pm there will be a break for drinks and nibbles (or nibbles and drinks if you prefer) with the AGM proper starting at 8pm. Andy has prepared the attached information – the full agenda, the minutes of the last AGM, the Chair’s Report and the Treasurer’s Report - so you can be fully informed and raring to go even before the evening begins. There are two places available on the committee for the coming year so if you have a little time to spare and would like to help your fellow villagers then consider putting yourself forward for election.
I could never resist a nibble so I’ll see you there.
Stay safe and smiling
Chris
19 April 2022 - Platinum Jubilee bench
On your circumnavigations of the village you will undoubtedly have noticed – indeed, you might have availed yourself of its soothing location to rest awhile - the new Platinum Jubilee bench installed at the top of the pond. SP Soc Chair Hilary says “Jon and Ian have worked, with help at the end from Jez, to concrete the Platinum Jubilee bench in place. It is a beautiful bench and has been much admired. It’s the perfect spot to sit and watch life round the pond. Thanks to Jon for organising it”.
I am sure we all agree with those sentiments. A couple of pictures show the work in progress, and clearly indicate the location for those whose map reading skills are a little suspect. Something to enjoy for years to come.
Stay safe and smiling
Chris
14 April 2022 - Platinum Jubilee Coronation Exhibition
Hello everyone,
As part of the Village Platinum Jubilee celebrations Caroline Crisp is organising a Coronation Exhibition in the Mission Hall on Friday 3 June and Saturday 4 June between 10am and 4pm each day. Entry to the Coronation Exhibition will be free (should that be ‘for free’?) and as you might expect with any event in the Mission Hall, teas and coffees with home-made cake will be available for a modest charge. On display will be a wide range of memorabilia that should bring back a flood of memories for those of you who are of my age, or provide a snapshot of what life was like then for those not quite so ancient. Caroline says that she already has many very interesting items, including a variety of coronation mugs, original papers and magazines of the period, a map of London on the day with all the travel details, a model of the coronation coach and Coronation prayer books. She also has copies of the Echo with details of the celebrations in Preston and Sutton Poyntz together with information from St Andrew’s Parish magazine and photographs taken on the day. These photographs show individuals with which she would welcome help in identifying. Caroline would be appreciative of offers of assistance at the hall for any or part of the two days, and if you have any memorabilia from the coronation that you are prepared to lend then she would love to hear from you on 07901 741648. So mark it in your calendar - Coronation Exhibition, Friday/Saturday 3/4 June 10am to 4pm each day.
One last thought. Caroline believes that an oak tree was officially planted at Chalbury Corner by Mrs Scutt – as in the ‘Scutt’ Hall - in honour of the Coronation and wonders where exactly it was and what might have happened to it. If you have any information on this – perhaps your Great Grandmother might have mentioned it? – then let Caroline know. It’s definitely not the one that’s now in the middle of the roundabout.
Stay safe and smiling
Chris
12 April 2022 - The rumour is true
Hello everyone,
The village grapevine is alive with the news that at the SP Society AGM on 27 April 2022, Chris Hubbard will once again be relinquishing his role as editor of the village Newsbites and Newsletters. He tried to do this two years ago, but the Covid lockdowns made it a less than ideal time to hand over the reins. With more knowledge of Chris than anyone else, I was asked to provide – well, not exactly asked, but nobody said no – a few words to cover the history of the last fourteen years or so of village communications.
Prior to this time Chris was famous for his factual, hard hitting and occasionally humorous articles in the premier publications of the day, notably the Dorset Evening Echo. Well, to be more exact, only the Dorset Evening Echo. In turning his carefully honed skills to the service of the village he did not let the power and authority of the role go to his head. He reported even-handedly on all village matters, never looking for a ‘bung’ for a spot of bias or false information. Just as well, for these turned out to be non-existent because, as everyone in Weymouth believes, Sutton Poyntz is a deprived area inhabited by impoverished folk.
During his tenure there have been over nine hundred Newsbites, thirty or so Newsletters and an unlimited number of spelling and grammatical mistakes. Quotes from village readers of the Newsbites demonstrate the high esteem in which his literary efforts are held. These quotes range from “Chris who?” through “Never read the things myself” and “Thought they were spam” to “Waste of time if you ask me”. What higher praise could a writer expect?
When I approached him for words on his own swansong, he was characteristically modest in his usual brief, witty and informative manner (his words, not mine).
He said that it had been a pleasure and a privilege to serve those who had both a concern for their neighbours and the village of Sutton Poyntz at heart, and he wished everyone all the best for the future, including of course his successor(s).
So it’s goodbye from him and it’s goodbye from me.
Stay safe and smiling
A friend
5 April 2022 - Coffee morning, Homewatch
Numbers at last Friday’s Coffee Morning were down a bit, probably due to a combination of the cold snap, the rising infection rate and absences on holiday. A pity because the coffee, cake and chat were as good as ever, and we had the opportunity to learn more about the Repair Café Weymouth from Judy Luffman, one of the three original founders of the organisation in Weymouth. In addition to telling me all about their eco/person friendly activities in repairing a wide range of items brought along to the Top Club in Louviers Road, Littlemoor between 10:30 to 12:30 on the second Saturday of the month, she also was on the lookout for new repairers. I suspect that, given the myriad of abilities that villagers possess, she might well have found some recruits. If you would like to use their services or can help as a repairer, you can find the “Café” on Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/RepairCafeWeymouth or at their Website: https://repaircafeweymouth.org/
Peter Jones has sent the following about Homewatch for your information:
“Hello Member/s. Peter and Rita Riley have spent several years as area coordinators of our Homewatch. They now feel the time is right to hand over to another member to take over their role. Our watch has thrived and most of the village are members. Crime rates are low but the threat of cyber and social media crime is increasing. The village comes together so well as a community and this is recognised by our good relations with the police. I am seeking a member to take over the Riley's patch. It is not an onerous task and I perceive it to be one of keeping the village aware of the threats that may affect us all. Please contact me on 01305833288 or e-mail
I am sure you would join with me in thanking Rita and Peter for their past work on our behalf, and our good wishes to their successors – who might of course, be you?
Stay safe and smiling
Chris
3 April 2022 - Street Fayre, SP Soc AGM
Hello everyone,
A couple of attachments for your edification. (I read that in a Government document somewhere)
The first is a leaflet which has been circulated by the Village Victorian Street Fayre Committee. This provides details of the various stalls that will be appearing on Sunday 3 July. It lists what they will be selling and who is in charge of the organisation of that stall. If you have any items that you would like to donate then they would be very pleased to hear from you. I could wax lyrical about what will be occurring but I think the leaflet eloquently says it all. In addition to the need for saleable items, physical assistance for all manner of activities will be needed. If you are up for this contact Jez. His contact details are – guess where!
The second attachment is the Agenda for the AGM of the Sutton Poyntz Society which will be taking place at 7pm on Wednesday 27 April in the Mission Hall, together with interesting updates on things happening in and around the village. The details are all in the attachment. The really good news is that this will be a marvellous opportunity to re-join the Society for the coming year. At only £2 per person, a maximum of £4 per household (cash only) it has to be the bargain of the year. See you there.
Stay safe and smiling
Chris
31 March 2022 - Coffee morning, Spud in a tub, Hedge plants, Cherry tree planting
Hello everyone,
A reminder about tomorrow’s Coffee Morning, Friday, 1 April, in the Mission Hall from 10.30am until noon. For just £3 you can sup a cup, take a cake, talk the talk and learn all about the Repair Café Weymouth. I know that the last doesn’t scan but there’s a limit to even my poetic abilities. Hope to see you there.
Jez also has a reminder that it is time to plant your spud in a tub so that it produces an enormous crop in time for the Village Vegetable Show. The date of this has not been finalised yet but it’s usually around the last weekend in July. So let the compost trickle through your fingers now – you have to be in it to win it.
Whilst on horticultural matters a little while ago I mentioned the planting of 150 hedge plants and told you, o mea culpa, that these had been bought by the SP Society. In fact, they were donated by the Woodland Trust Green Canopy Scheme, which is encouraging the planting of trees and hedging as part of the Jubilee celebrations.
And on the same theme, the Monty Don of Sutton Poyntz is pictured planting a cherry tree as part of the same celebrations. Thanks to Jon not just for this but all his hard work on behalf of the village.
Stay safe and smiling
Chris