Sutton Poyntz

Dear all,

 

The SP Village WI have planned a lovely day out to Poole, with a cruise to Swanage, on Thursday 11 July. The idea is to meet at the Cart Shed at 8.30 am. and travel to Poole by coach. The boat leaves Poole at  10.30am for the cruise to Swanage. The views of Old Harry Rocks from the sea are well worth seeing. There's time for a look around Swanage and a bite of lunch before the boat begins the return journey to Poole at 2.30pm. The aim is to arrive back at the Cart Shed circa 5.30pm. The cost depends on the number going, but should be less than £25, or half that if you elect not to sail on the wide blue yonder. The trip is open to everyone, so there will be lots of partners going along. For more details or to reserve your place contact Liz Slee  - 01305 570168 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Regards

Chris

Dear all,

 

The Elm Tree phoned Richard Backwell on Friday evening to tell him that the pub would be closed on Tuesday 18 June for refurbishments, despite assurances that it would be open. However the Village Walk will still go ahead on that day, because Richard, doughty warrior that he is, has implemented plan B.

 

The walk will now take a circular route starting from the Kings Arms in Portesham  and visiting the limestone quarry and dinosaur - you'll have to be there to find out what this is - before ascending to Hardy’s Monument. At 3.5 miles it is a shorter walk than the one originally planned but should take a similar time due to the longer ascent. For those not wanting to do the full route, there is a short cut reducing the walk to about 2.5 miles. Richard says that Judith and he will be at the Kings Arms from 6pm onwards to take orders for refreshments before starting the walk at 6.20.There are six menu options available, including vegan and vegetarian. Richard can be contacted on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 01305 833349. Due to a prior walking engagement that evening I cannot be with you, but I walked down from Hardy's Monument to the King's Arms last week and the views are spectacular. Well worth experiencing, so make a point of going along.

 

Regards

Chris

Dear all,

 

There will be a coffee morning next Tuesday, 11 June, in the St Andrew's Church Rooms between 10.30 am and noon. There will be plants, cakes, handmade jewellery, wooden craft items and flowers on sale, and the cost is a very reasonable £3 for coffee or tea plus some homemade cake. All proceeds from the coffee morning will go towards the flowers used in the St Andrew’s Church Flower Festival on Saturday and Sunday, 6 and 7 July. Donations received at the Flower Festival will be given to local charities The Horse Course, the Bus Shelter and St Andrew’s Church. So don't forget to drop in at the Church Rooms next Tuesday between 10.30 and noon for some good conversation and a welcoming brew. See you there.

 

Regards

Chris

Dear all,

 

The third Summer Coffee morning - are we nearly half way through the summer already - will be taking place this coming Friday, 7 June, between 10.30 and 12.00 in the Mission Hall.  On offer, in addition to news, views and scintillating conversation, there will be teas, coffee, homemade cake and of course Jeans delectable cheese scones, made to a secret recipe first devised back at the dawn of time. I still can't remember the sure-to-be reasonable entry charge nor which local charity is being supported. You'll have to come along to find out - see you there, by which time I'll have the answers to both.

 

Best regards

Chris

Dear all,

 

SPAM. The gentlemen of Spam will be gathering in the Springhead at 8pm on Monday, 3 June to consider the pressing national and international matters of the day - or perhaps just to enjoy a glass of the Springheads finest ale. There's sure to be good company and great conversation in an excellent location. Don't forget. Monday at 8pm

The Sutton Poyntz Women's Institute. The SP WI will be meeting in the Mission Hall on Wednesday 5 June between 2pm and 4pm. The speaker on this occasion will be Reg Potter of Quantock Wines, who will be taking you on a 'A journey thru' the Springhead Wine Cellar', which should be most interesting. The competition is a hangover cure, but take it from me - they don't exist! Do make a point of dropping in; you are sure of a warm welcome as a regular member or guest.

Chris

Dear all,

 

Dorset Council have announced that they have received the final version of the Sutton Poyntz Neighbourhood Plan for examination. They are required to carry out a consultation process which starts today and ends on Friday 12 July. This gives everyone an opportunity to comment on the plan and/or how it was produced. All comments received will be passed on to the independent examiner.

 

The plan and supporting documents can be viewed on line at https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/sutton-poyntz-neighbourhood-plan

and on the SP website at http://suttonpoyntz.org.uk/index.php/neighbourhood.

 

After a bit of finger, memory and eyesight trouble I can confirm that they are there!

 

Hard copies are available at South Walks House in Dorchester and at the Council Offices at Weymouth Library and more locally, courtesy of Peter Dye, at the Mission Hall, St Andrews and - wait for it - the Sutton Poyntz Tourist and Residents Information Centre (SPTaRIC) perhaps better identified as the ex-BT Telephone Box opposite the Cartshed. Comments should go to Dorset Council and you can ask to be kept informed of the progress of the Plan.

 

Happy reading.

Regards

Chris

Dear all,

 

Be not afrit if in the near future you spy shadowy creatures lurking in the dark around the village, for after a break of five years, the Scarecrows are coming back! Sutton Poyntz will once more be the scene of a gathering of scarecrows from Saturday July 20th until Sunday August 6^th. Everyone in the village is invited to make a scarecrow and to display it in their front garden. The optional theme will be Walt Disney, so lots of scope for some fantastic creations, but let your imagination rip. If my garden was in the village I would make 15 scarecrows to represent the Welsh rugby team that won the Six Nations Championship earlier in the year. But I digress.

 

The public - and they really do come out in their droves to take part - will be invited to vote for their favourite scarecrow and the winner will receive the prestigous Sutton Poyntz Scarecrow Award - the next best thing to a Knighthood. All proceeds from the competition will be go to West Dorset Home Start, a charity that works in the home with parents and pre-school children - a worthwhile cause indeed. Entry forms for the competition are available from Liz Balfe at Little Acorns in Puddledock Lane or Caroline Crisp at Bellamy Cottage. Ring Caroline on 832529 if you have any queries.

 

Best regards

Chris

Dear all,

 

The approach of summer is the time when SP Villagers' thoughts turn to doing things in the great outdoors, and this year is no exception.

 

The first event is the Bar-B-Que in the Mission Hall Garden on Sunday 16 June between 12.30 and 5pm. I am reliably informed that there will be burgers and sausages in buns slathered with fried onions. There are rumours of extras like cheese and bacon, and even - you read it here first - that the bread is being produced by our own Balfey the Baker. It's worth the £10 for that alone, but it also includes a dessert. There's a vegetarian option available on request and you should bring your own liquid refreshment. Time to break out that Dom Perignon champagne you've been saving for a special occasion. In the highly unlikely occurrence of inclement weather the Mission Hall will be pressed into use. So book your place with Andy NOW on 07946 323681 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

 

Then two days later the next in the legendary series of  Sutton Poyntz Society Evening walks will start from the Elm Tree pub in Langton Herring at 6.15 pm on Tuesday, 18 June. Our leader Richard Backwell has applied all his knowledge of the high trails of Nepal in planning a circular walk of about 4 miles, suitable for everyone. However, if you would prefer something a little shorter there is a diversion which will reduce the distance to 2½ miles. For those eating afterwards, Judith and Richard will be at the start from 6pm onwards to take your menu choice. This will enable the pub to have the meals ready on our return from the walk. It would help if you could let Richard know if you intend to go along  on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 01305 833349, although he appreciates that attendance may be governed by the forecast weather conditions. But then, it's always nice in Dorset!

 

Mark the dates in your diary and book your places for both

 

Regards

Chris