26 October 2021 - Horses for courses
Dear all,
The sound of thundering hoofbeats will be heard around the Village from 7.30pm on Saturday 20 November, for that is the night that SP Society horse racing comes to the Mission Hall. You are cordially invited to attend for the miserly sum of £10 which will include a portion of fish and chips from Stracey's with all necessary condiments thrown in. You will be provided with “money” to bet on horses in each race via a battery of bookmakers selected for their mathematical competency. Events will then unfold before your very eyes on the giant laser display board – known more prosaically as a television screen – before you collect your considerable “winnings”. Master of Ceremonies Jez assures me that he has all the necessary equipment – make of that what you will – and promises complete impartiality. Tickets, cash with order, are available now from Sue Smith (phone 07812 267 788 or at Talbothays Puddledock Lane). Unfortunately I will be at my Gamblers Anonymous meeting that night, but don’t delay, contact Sue today. You could end up being crowned the SPPSoHA* in the next Newsbite.
Best regards
Chris
*Sutton Poyntz’s Premier Selector of Horse Ability
24 October 2021 - History Evening and the Queen's Platinum Jubilee
Dear all,
Two exciting events for next year worth putting in your diary now.
The first comes from Bill Egerton, who describes a forthcoming History Evening. He says “Looking forward to Friday 11 March 2022 we have arranged a talk by ffiona Peregrinor about Lady Alice de Bryene, who owned the manor of Sutton Poyntz for nearly 40 years up to her death in 1435. She was a wealthy landowner in her own right, having inherited land in East Anglia from her father. She also inherited lands from her father-in-law, Lord Guy de Bryan, which she held on behalf of her two daughters, Lord Bryan's only direct heirs. These included the Dorset properties of Woodsford Castle, Hazelbury Bryan, and Sutton Poyntz. ffiona wrote a fascinating book about Alice de Bryene called "Medieval Gentlewoman - Life in a Gentry household in the later Middle Ages" based on the estate and household account books that were maintained on her behalf which are preserved in the National Archive. These accounts, with other source material, helped ffiona to build up an excellent picture of Alice's life with much more detail than is available about most women of that time. The book is about to be republished and we hope that copies will be available to buy on the evening.” More information on what is sure to be an interesting talk, including how to get tickets, will follow after Christmas.
The second date of note is Sunday 5 June 2022 when there will be a village celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Following a very successful second meeting of the Planning Committee, a hog roast and entertainment have been booked for a lunch adjacent to the pond. Also, to mark occasion it is hoped that 70 trees will be planted in the village in pots or gardens. If people would like to send Jez Cunningham (
It is certainly all happening in Sutton Poyntz - just not at the moment.
Best regards
Chris
16 October 2021 - Jumble sale, Queens Platinum Jubilee, Road closure, Paperbacks needed
Dear all,
Recently I mentioned the Scouts and Guides Scutt Hall Jumble Sale on Saturday 30 October at 2pm to raise money to help maintain the Scutt Hall. Sam Wykes the organiser said she would be grateful for donations of almost anything – well, it was a very long list – that could be delivered to the Scutt Hall on the afternoon of Friday 29 October between 2pm and 4pm or from mid-morning onwards on sale day. She could also collect items if you phoned her, but as some of you found the number given was incorrect. Her number is actually 07533550832 and I have it on good authority that this does reach her.
The next meeting to discuss the Queens Platinum Jubilee Celebrations will take place ‘here’ on Friday 22 October at 10 o'clock. As ‘here’ sounded a little too general I set up a Royal Commission headed by a learned Welshman and after 30 seconds thought costing £20 million can confidently inform you that ‘here’ is actually Hilary Davidson’s house, Hawthorns, on the right hand side up Plaisters Lane. The first meeting was here as well, and was a considerable success, with lots of good ideas and support pledged. But more of the same will be needed, so please go along if you can contribute.
My sources tell me that there is no truth in the rumour that Wessex Water have permanently closed Plaisters Lane. It just seems that way. No doubt they have run into difficulties – nothing in life is ever simple – and will complete the work just as quickly as they can.
Last but not least, the stock of paperbacks in the Village Library i.e. the Telephone Box by the Cartshed is getting low, so if you have some paperbacks that you enjoyed reading – or even if you didn’t, let someone else suffer - then perhaps you could drop them in.
Best regards
Chris
14 October 2021 - Rights of Way Improvement Plan
Dear all,
I am grateful to Cllr Peter Dickenson for sending me the attached details about the consultation that Dorset Council are carrying out to prepare a Rights of Way Improvement Plan. But a health warning here. I found the details a bit confusing – though you may well be brighter than “wot I is” and have no trouble with them. So consult the attached unexpurgated version if you wish, but if not read on for my humble interpretation (you might find this even more confusing).
Anyway, DCC are asking for our ideas and views on rights of way improvements via a survey.
This survey will allow us to: –
- Highlight a “missing link” where a new path would join up the network.
- Identify a strategic route linking communities that could be shared by walkers, equestrians & cyclists
- Explore the possibility of creating a safe off-road route where walkers, equestrians and cyclists currently must use the road
- Pinpoint good locations to improve a path’s surface, replace stiles with gates and generally indicate where small measures can potentially make a big impact
- Suggest areas where better signage would be useful
- Raise concerns and how they might be addressed
- Reveal historic details such as old stiles and river crossings that need protecting
You can get to the survey by clicking on the blue survey above or the link below. You will be invited to answer questions and if you want to give matters a little more thought part way through you can save your survey answers and come back to them later. When I had a go I had to pause at the point where they asked for my ideas on 1 to 7 above. Some time later after considerable thought I was able to continue.
The definitive map of footpaths will be finalised in about two years’ time, so this is one of our few remaining chances to influence this map before it is cast in concrete.
Best regards
Chris
https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/rights-of-way-consultation
10 October 2021 - SP Village Victorian Fayre Planning Meeting
Dear all,
I have been asked to send you the following item.
“David Langridge, Chairman of the Sutton Poyntz Victorian Street Fayre committee, has called an open meeting on Wednesday 27 October at 7.30pm in the Mission Hall. The plan is to outline what the Village Street Fayre is all about for those new to the village, to discuss if the village would like to run an event in June 2022 and to get some commitment from people who are willing to lead an area as part of the committee. The likely date for the Fayre is Sunday 26 June 2022 and monthly meetings of those involved will begin in November.
David asks that if you are interested in pledging a commitment to help please turn up at the Open Meeting on Wednesday 27th October. You can also let him know via e-mail at
The last Fayre in 2018 was a truly memorable event, so those involved then will need no urging, and if you are new to the village, it’s one of the best ways to make many new friends and thoroughly enjoy yourself into the bargain. Go along to the meeting, or if you can’t make that, contact David to discuss how you can help.”
I can vouch for what David says about the last Fayre being a wonderful day for the village and for everyone who took part, and I personally hope that another can be held next year. It will be a fitting climax to our local Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, and of equal importance it will give me the chance once again to wear my bowler hat in public, so let’s go for it.
Best regards
Chris
9 October 2021 - Scout Jumble Sale
Dear all,
After a long gap – as happens with everything else in life it seems these days – there are plans to hold the next Scutt Hall Jumble Sale on Saturday 30 October at 2pm. This Jumble Sale is one of two that used to be held regularly in the Spring and Autumn and the money raised goes to maintaining the fabric of the Scutt Hall that is used by our local Scouts and Guides for their meetings. After years of sterling organisation by Betty Henessey, latterly Mo and Dave Martin and many helpers, Samantha Wykes from Weymouth has taken over the reins. She tells me that she would be grateful for donations of bric brac clothing, shoes, boots, handbags, perfume, toiletries, bedding, cushions, toys, books and jewellery, which seems a pretty comprehensive list. Sam (07533550732) can collect, or donations can be left at the Scutt Hall on the afternoon of Friday 29 October between 2pm and 4pm or mid-morning onwards on sale day itself. The hall may be open on the days running up to the sale for delivering donations, and if this is the case I will let know.
Best regards
Chris
2 October 2021 - Closure of Plaisters Lane and new planning application page on the website
Dear all,
I was going to send this off earlier, but instead we took the time to make our last batch of bramble and apple jam, or jelly to be precise. Another 15 jars to keep us going through the winter. But now to business.
I suspect that every household will by now have received a letter from Wessex Water regarding the closure of Plaisters Lane to all through traffic from Monday 4 October until Friday 8 October in order for essential work to be carried out on the sewage network. Apparently access will be maintained for residents but this may be restricted. Alternative routes will be clearly signposted – in my experience that probably means a 200 mile detour to take in the delights of the Lake District, and you would hope they would be clearly signposted otherwise you might get lost en route. Anyway, from the map it looks as though the closure is between just north of the Cartshed junction i.e. from Silver Street up to just south of the Mission Hall Lane junction. On past experience Wessex Water make best efforts to minimise disruption but be prepared for some delays.
Our diligent web master Bill Egerton has added a new webpage which lists planning applications in and around the village. He is providing this service because villagers have pointed out how tedious it is to find planning applications on the Dorset Council website. You can find the information at http://suttonpoyntz.org.uk/index.php/sutton-poyntz-society/recent-planning-applications either by a Cntrl+Click or pasting the address into your browser. We must be grateful to Bill not only for this example of his hard work but all the other effort he so willingly puts into maintaining the website for us.
Best regards
Chris
30 September 2021 - Coffee morning tomorrow
Dear all,
It’s sneaky when the first day of the month is a Friday because then we get little notice that it will also be a coffee morning day. But thankfully I remembered to look at my diary. Alright, I’ll come clean. It was actually the rush of messages concerning the arrangements that alerted me to the event. Good job other people’s memories are better than mine. Anyway, tomorrow morning Friday 1 October is the coffee morning in the Mission Hall between 10.30 and noon. Only £3 for a delicious piece of homemade cake, choice of tea/coffee and all the conversation you can manage. I’ll see you there, but don’t let that put you off.
Best regards
Chris