25 September 2019 - Driving courses & Bus services
Dear all,
Although I personally believe that the term ‘older’ refers to those at least 5 years older than me, Jez Cunningham, as perhaps an ‘older’ driver, has suggested that the following might be of interest to those of you in the same category.
But on a more serious note, Dorset Police have launched the Older Drivers Forum made up of experts in road safety from across Dorset, and businesses specialising in keeping older people on the road safely for longer. They also offer services and guidance for those motorists who feel that perhaps the time is right for them to retire from driving. They aim to support and engage with the older driver in order to provide those who wish to continue driving with practical and informative advice on ‘driving safely for longer’, to Inform about the risks faced and ways to reduce them with tips on hazard perception,to help to identify when the time has come to retire from driving, and to offer the opportunity to engage with some practical reaction testing games and tasks. Locally they will be holding a ‘Meet and Greet’ event on Tuesday 1 October at Tescos, Dorchester between 1000-1500 and a workshop on Wednesday 2 October starting at 18.30 until 21.00pm at Weymouth Safewise Centre. To book a place on this email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. More information can be found at www.olderdriversforum.com
Peter Riley and Colin Marsh have both noticed that there has been an improvement in the bus service from the village, with the addition of a bus at 14.12, initially for the timetable period 23/9/19 to 20/12/19. The timetable shows the 4A leaving Weymouth at 09.30, 11.55, 13.55 and 16.00 and leaving Sutton Poyntz at 09.47, 12.12, 14.12 and 16.17 – though I must say that it passes my house, where I am beavering away on Newsbites like this one, at some pretty random times. It’s also surprising that First have introduced a new bus to the timetable without letting anyone know, so thanks to Peter and Colin for the information. On the principle of ‘use it or lose it’, it’s now up to us to support the service.
Regards
Chris
20 September 2019 - Victorian Fayre 28 June 2020
Dear all,
David Langridge, Chairman of the Victorian Street Fayre committee, has called an open meeting on Wednesday 25 September at 7.30pm in the Mission Hall to discuss options for the Village Street Fayre. The Fayre is planned for Sunday 28th June 2020, and Dave wants to find out if everyone is keen to make it to happen again, and if so, who is prepared to help. Monthly meetings of those involved will probably begin in November, so Dave asks that if you are interested in pledging a commitment to help please you turn up at the Open Meeting on Wednesday 25 September. You can also let him know via e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or you can call him on 834818 or 07990 508355 if you want to discuss anything related to the Fayre committees. Last year’s Fayre 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 Dave with how you can help.
Best regards
Chris
4 September 2019 - Building at the Waterworks
Dear all,
I attach details of the building work on-going at the waterworks, as prepared by Wessex Water.
A digest of this information appeared in the May Newsletter.
Regards
Chris
3 September 2019 - Coffee Morning
Dear all,
The last Coffee Morning of the Summer season is this coming Friday, 6 September, in the Mission Hall between 10.30 and 12.00. It only costs £3/person to get in, which includes coffee and cake - not to mention Jean’s famous cheese scones. These are delicious, and I will be very sorry to miss them due to hospital appointment that morning. The proceeds will be going to the Fortuneswell Clinic at Dorchester County Hospital, a cause dear to the hearts of many of us. The next Newsletter will have a full report on the summer coffee mornings and the good causes they have supported, and the Winter Coffee Mornings will start on Friday 4 October
Regards
Chris
31 August 2019 - Help with your surplus produce
Dear all,
Tony Ferrari sends grateful thanks to everyone who responded to his appeal last week for surplus fruit and vegetables for use by the Lantern Trust, the Weymouth Charity which helps people in times of difficulty. It has all been used to provide delicious meals for their clients. Tony himself is recovering well from his separated shoulder – don’t ask; alright, a fall while running on slippery pebbles - and can now wash his left armpit with his right hand. Up til now he had to use his left hand on his left armpit, a tricky process. But I digress. Tony would again be grateful for any surplus fruit or vegetables - except courgettes/marrows, as the Lantern have enough of these to last for quite a while. This suggests that it has been a good year for marrows, despite there being only one entry in that class at the Village Vegetable Show! Anyway, please pop anything you can spare into the wooden box with a white lid by the phone box and Tony will deliver them on Monday morning. He will do this every Monday until the end of the growing season, so please help every Sunday until then if you can.
Regards
Chris
30 August 2019 - Pimms and Ploughmans tomorrow
Dear all,
There is the Pimms and Ploughman's lunch tomorrow lunchtime at the Mission Hall between 12 noon and 3pm. On offer are a ham and cheese ploughman's, a large glass of Pimms with all the usual vegetation, followed by a scrummy dessert. All this for just £10 per adult, £4 for the under 16s and nothing for the under 5s. You can of course bring your own favourite beverage as well, to supplement the Pimms. When I last spoke to Andy there were a few tickets left, so if you would like to come along, contact him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 07946 323681.
Regards
Chris
22 August 2019 - Helping charity with surplus produce; item exchange
Dear all,
The Lantern Trust are a Weymouth Charity which helps people in times of difficulty, for example the homeless or people with mental health or addiction problems. They provide cooked food for their clients, but have to buy anything that is not donated which takes money away from their front line services.
Tony Ferrari has set up a scheme to collect surplus vegetables from the village and take them to the Lantern where they will be turned into delicious meals, thereby saving them from having to buy food. He will put a wooden box with a white lid by the phone box every Sunday evening. If you have any surplus fruit or vegetables please pop them in the box and Tony will deliver them on Monday morning. Many thanks in advance for your help.
Also, if you have any items for sale, or need anything that you think someone else in the village might be willing to sell/barter then pop a notice in the Top o' the Pond notice. The notice should include the date posted, a description of the items available or wanted and a method of contact. Remember that it is open to anyone to read, so make sure the contact 'address' is one you are happy to have in the public domain. Happy hunting.
Regards
Chris
15 August 2019 - Pimms and Ploughmans
Dear all,
A lunchtime gathering, a Pimms and Ploughman's no less, will take place in and around the Mission Hall on Saturday 31 August between 12 noon and 3pm. Under a cloudless sky (not guaranteed, but highly likely given the saintly nature of the organisers) you will be able to enjoy a ham and cheese ploughman's, a large glass of Pimms with all the usual vegetation, followed by a scrummy dessert. All this for just £10 per adult, £4 for the under 16s and nothing for the under 5s. You may of course bring your own favourite tipple as well - there's no charge for corkage, but no reduction either. Book your tickets from Andy at
Whilst on the subject of future happenings, Marianna Dodd has volunteered to maintain the calendar of events on the Village web-site. By co-ordinating activities she can avoid clashes and advise on venues, so if you are organising something, give her a call on 07528 011722. She will be only too happy to help and in appropriate cases offer some beautifully crafted and erudite Newsbite publicity (well I would say that).
Regards
Chris