22 December 2021 - Festive Season Greetings
Dear all,
The members of the Sutton Poyntz Society committee - Hilary, Jez, Linda, Kevin, Shirley, Jackie, Marianna, Sue, Andy, Jon, Jackie and Tony - would like to thank you for supporting them during the last challenging year.
On their behalf Hilary says “ Thank you for joining us in such numbers at coffee mornings, the beacon lighting, the vegetable show, the village picnic, race night and many more. Especial thanks to all those volunteers who helped at events and to all who work so hard to keep our village looking spic and span by for example maintaining the planters and keeping our much used ‘library’ tidy throughout the year. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and happy and healthy New Year”.
Undoubtedly a vote of thanks is also due to the Committee for all their hard work, and may I add my best wishes to you all for an enjoyable and peaceful Christmas.
Stay safe and smiling
Chris
16 December 2021 - Sutton Poyntz as Community of the Year
Dear all,
Further to the recent Newsbite about the Wessex Water/ Newsquest support for the Dorset Community of the Year competition. Lots of you have already voted for Sutton Poyntz as Community of the Year, but voting continues up to midnight on Sunday 19 December so there is still time to take part. It’s also worth noting that voting is per person, not per household. Jane and I have both voted using our different email addresses. If there are one or more people in your household with their own email addresses they can vote individually if they wish to do so. The link to use is
https://wessexwater.co.uk/dorset-community-awards
There’s £500 donation made to a nominated local charity of our choice if Sutton Poyntz comes first. You might think it worth giving it a go?
Stay safe, smiling and voting
Chris
13 December 2021 - Sutton Poyntz in final of Community Competition
Dear all,
Wessex Water, in partnership with Newsquest who publish the Echo, are supporting the Dorset Community of the Year competition. There are various categories and Sutton Poyntz has made the shortlist in the Community of the Year section along with Bridport and Sturminster Newton. The winner is decided by public vote and will receive a £500 donation made in their name to a nominated local charity. Should you wish to do so you can vote by following this link
https://wessexwater.co.uk/dorset-community-awards
After one hiccup I managed to vote and found it quite easy, and if I can do it, anyone can. Admittedly Bridport has rather more people in and around it than we have, which may skew the result, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Voting closes at midnight on Sunday 19 December, but don’t delay, for if you are like me and don’t do it immediately you might forget.
Stay safe, smiling and voting
Chris
9 December 2021 - Village Christmas Tree
Hi everyone,
Following on from the highly successful Coffee Morning which raised £250 for the Weymouth Food Bank comes some more good news just in time for Christmas. A little while ago Tamzin Hyde got in touch with the SP Society Committee. As you may know, she and Pete live in the village and own Trinity Street Christmas Trees, very busy at this time of year. In the past Pete used to donate a tree which was erected on the grass opposite Quackers, and I well remember singing carols in front of it, but this has not happened for a number of years after the Mission Hall erected its own tree. Tamzin said they would like to donate one of their lovely Trinity Street Christmas Trees, fifteen feet high with lights, to be located in a prominent place for everyone to enjoy. Of course this generous offer was accepted with alacrity but finding a suitable site, just off road and with an accessible power supply, took a little while. But now it is up in all its glory, as you will know if you have recently walked or driven through the village after dark, when you can see it at its best. It can (easily) be found outside No. 84 Sutton Road, tucked in the lee of the Cartshed opposite the Telephone Box. Jon who lives there cemented a pipe to hold it securely in place and now it really is a lovely sight, centrally placed. Thanks are due to Jon for his groundworks and supplying the power for the lights but even more thanks to Tamzin and Pete for their great generosity. It is another fine example of things being done by villagers for the village and makes me feel quite Christmassy.
Stay safe and smiling
Chris
7 December 2021 - Coffee Morning and the Street Fayre date
Dear all,
It was announced before the event that all proceeds from the monthly Coffee Morning in the Mission Hall would be going to the Weymouth Foodbank charity. This seems to have been a big incentive to generous local folk for it was very well attended, despite these strange times in which we live. The Hall was dressed festively, as were a number of those attending. Christmas themed sweaters were much in evidence, the most musical being Rudolph complete with bells. Specially mentioned because it was mine. Maureen and Jean were busy in the kitchen, and make tea just as it should be made - so weak it can barely struggle out of the pot.
Marianna sums up the morning “A big thank you to everyone who joined our charity festive coffee morning and donated so generously towards Weymouth’s Food Bank. The SP Committee would like to give thanks to the Mission Hall committee for waiving their hall hire fee, to our volunteer bakers for the ever popular cheese scones, mince pies, Stollen, Dundee Cake plus festive sponge cake and to our Christmas helpers (they know who they are) with a special mention for our local Preston Spa shop for the donating the take away bags.” Thanks are also due to Marianna for all her hard work in organising the event. Well done to all.
And now, having kept you in suspense, to the amount raised. With two generous donations from villagers who could not attend, and adding in the proceeds from the take-away sales, the total, which is nearly five times that collected at the last coffee morning is – wait for it - a tremendous £250. So again well done everyone for what was a marvellous morning in aid of a good cause.
At the Coffee Morning I spoke to David Langridge, Chairman of Sutton Poyntz Victorian Street Fayre Committee, who now confirms that the Street Fayre date has been moved to Sunday 3 July 2022. David explains “The Springhead have an event already booked on Saturday 25 June which is the day before we planned to run the Street Fayre. With the potential influx of people and cars (some of which may get left all weekend) the chairman and committee felt this added some logistic complexity that could make setting up and running the event a challenge. Therefore we have moved the Fayre on one week to Sunday 3 July.”
So mark the new date in your diary now, as David and his team will need lots of help that weekend.
Stay safe and smiling
Chris
2 December 2021 - Stop press news - Take away service available at the Coffee Morning
Dear all,
Stop press news - Take away service available at the Coffee Morning.
Marianna who organises the Coffee Mornings for the SP Society tells me that we are in for a treat tomorrow at the Mission Hall between 10.30 and noon. She says that her lovely cake making volunteers are producing a lot of edible Christmas themed offerings - mince pies, cheese scones, a chocolate cake (maybe a yule log), a Christmas themed cake and a stollen to name but a few. Bang goes my diet then! Also the Mission Hall has been decorated and some of people will be in festive jumpers - Marianna and me anyway. As all donations tomorrow will go to the Food Bank, Councillor Louie O'Leary will be at the Coffee Morning as it's the charity he supports.
However, if understandably you are a little wary of mixing with others right now don’t let that stop you dropping along briefly (and outdoors if you wish , no rain between 1000 and 1300) to collect a take-away scone, mince pie, piece of cake or whatever – your choice – which will be nicely wrapped for you in exchange for a donation.
Hope to see you tomorrow, even if only briefly.
Best regards
Chris
1 December 2021 - Coffee Morning on Friday
Dear all,
A reminder that the next Coffee Morning is this Friday, 3 December, between 10.30 and noon in the Mission Hall. As cash donations will be invited instead of the usual entrance fee - proceeds to the Weymouth Foodbank – your attendance would be greatly appreciated. It will also be your chance to ask me about my recent bowls prowess and last week’s SPAM visit to the Bovington Tank Museum. I should stress these topics are not related and that one of them will shortly feature in a Newsbite. No prizes for guessing which. See you on Friday.
Regards
Chris
28 November 2021 - SP Race night
Dear all,
Unfortunately I could not attend the SP Society’s Race Night on Saturday 20 November in the Mission Hall. However as you would expect I have a network of Newsbite Undercover Reporters (NURs) who keep me informed on all matters in, around, over and under the pond. From all accounts it was an excellent evening much enjoyed by everyone who took part. It sounds as though Steve is Sutton Poyntz’s Premier Selector of Horse Ability. I attach the NUR details for your edification. As they are labelled ‘Highly Secret’ you must read them then destroy. Do not make a mistake and destroy before reading for I will send them only once.
Stay safe and healthy,
Chris