9 October 2025 - Allsorts
Poppy workshop
The final workshop, attaching the poppies to the netting, will be on Friday Oct 24th at the Mission hall from 10 am-1pm. We'll need volunteers to help attach them - but please continue making poppies until the last minute - they'll be much appreciated.
Pond clean-up
We've decided to do an autumn pond clean-up this year - on Saturday October 25th at 9am. EVERYONE is welcome! Bring your hand garden tools, wheelbarrows and wellies and be ready to muck-in (literally!)
Fortunately - Jon has negotiated hard with Weymouth Town Council and they have agreed to cover the cost of the truck to take away the green waste. You may recall that last time we had to pay over £400 of your hard-subscribed-cash to clear it away.
Unfortunately - the Springhead will probably still be closed for renovations so you may want to bring your own coffee and bacon rolls. And some for me please.
Open Gardens 2026
More unfortunate news to bring to you - we've only got about 12 households wishing to open their gardens next year. It's not considered viable at this level of participation so we're going to abandon the plans for 2026 and reconsider for 2027. That means you have an extra 12 months to get your gardens ship-shape - you'd better start now - I've just cut my lawn...
We were anticipating timing the Open Gardens to coincide with the Scarecrow competition. Well, we think it's still good fun to do the scarecrows and we'll probably do them during July leading up to the Cream Tea (and anything remaining of the Vegetable/Baking Show) for the grand voting/judging. Watch this space for further news.
Treasurer / Secretary
After many years doing both jobs, Andy has decided to step down from the Committee next year at the AGM. I'd like to say that these will be big shoes to fill but to be honest they're both easy jobs. If you'd like to put yourself forward to join the committee, ease yourself in, and take on one of these well-paid* roles, then please let any of the current committee know (except Andy, who will tell you all sorts of stuff about what a lot it involves and how you'll need to be superhuman).
* you'll be on the same pay-scale as the other committee members, but if you do both jobs you'll get paid double. (I think I have all the qualifications needed to be Treasurer because even I can tell you that twice zero is zero.)
Christmas baking demo
Chris 'masterbaker' Balfe is offering to put on a demonstration session of recipe ideas, tips and tricks for your Christmas baking. There'll be no charge although he will accept donations to his favourite charity "The Friendly Food Club". If this sounds like something you'd be interested to attend, please drop a quick message to Chris so he can get an idea of whether it's worth doing. Contact him by voice, text, WhatsApp or smoke signals to 07969 781145
J & S
30 September 2025 - Mission Hall news
Dear all,
Hall refurbishment: When we had various refurbishment and improvement works done to the Mission Hall early this year, the general response to what we had done was very positive, with the one caveat of "when are you going to do the floor?" We now have (just) enough pennies to rub together to be able to get the floor sanded and resealed, in a toned-down colour that will be similar to the current colour of the stage's boarding. This work will be done at the very start of 2026, in the week beginning 5th January. Nearer the time we will be looking for volunteers, first on Sunday 4th to get the furniture from the main hall into the kitchen and lobbies, and then on Saturday 10th to get it all back into the main hall.
Therefore, the Hall will be CLOSED from Sunday 4th January to Saturday 10th, inclusive. We apologise to those who will have to cancel or rearrange bookings, but very much hope this extra work will be the cherry on the cake in providing a really attractive and usable Hall.
Spanish Evening: We have just enough money to be able to go ahead with the floor work, but of course need to fund raise energetically for future planned work. I'm delighted to say tickets for the Spanish Evening on Saturday 11th October have sold well, but there are still places available. So that we know numbers for Helen Furness, the caterer, please would you book your tickets (by phoning Maureen on 01305 835533) before this Sunday evening, 5th October. To get your taste buds gently drooling, the menu starts with a Tapas medley, followed by Chicken Espaňol (chicken and olive casserole), and ending with Crema Catalana (lemon and orange crême bruléé). There will be a raffle, and also a gentle Spanish General Knowlege quiz waiting for you at your table. See you there.
Best wishes,
Bill Egerton - Mission Hall Chairman
29 September 2025 - Shock horror - Springhead closure...
... for the month of October for refurbishments!
You may have seen that the pub exterior has had a full repaint over the last few weeks - well now it's time to do the interior. Who knows what they will do? Will they change the colour scheme? Nicotine Brown used to be a pub favourite - maybe it's time for Elephant Breath? Hmm, that might be a step too far.
Anyway there will be a grand re-opening at the end of dry-October. Jo, Steve and Karen will welcome you all to see what they've done and to enjoy a glass of fizz to celebrate. Watch out for details nearer the time!
J & S
23 September 2025 - Spanish Evening at the Mission Hall
Dear all,
Tickets are now available at £15 per person, from Maureen on 01305 835533, for the Spanish Evening and Meal on Saturday 11th October. Food mainly provided by Helen Furness, so you can be confident it will be to her usual high quality. 7.30 p.m. start. Recorded music and video with a Spanish theme. Bring your own drink. Raffle. We look forward to seeing you there. See the poster below for a picture of some typical Sutton Poyntz villagers enjoying la festa. See you on the 11th.
Also, please don't forget the various music evenings on the way:
- Saturday, 18th October, 7.30, an evening of folk music with Bob Whitley
- Friday, 7th November, an evening of jazz with Clive Ashley
- Sunday 28th September, an evening with the well respected Canadian singer-songwiter Stephen Fearing.
Best wishes,
Bill Egerton - Mission Hall Chairman
22 September 2025 - Biodiversity Newsletter
For over 15 years John Newbould has been chronicling the changing seasons in his monthly nature notes Newsletter. Each month he has highlighted some of the goings on in the natural world locally and his latest, for September, is now available. Why not take a look - you can see it via the Biodiversity Group Home Page.
(Editor's note: if you missed any, the last 15 years-worth are all there!)
J & J & S
17 September 2025 - Residents' Meeting
Invitation to Residents' Meeting from Louie O'Leary:
"News on the Dorset local plan which in many ways is like a bigger version of the Neighbourhood Plan (but supersedes it). It's about the allocation of sites for housing. Partly due to the fact the Government's new housing target for Dorset is around 55,000 in 17 years as opposed to the previous target of 17,000, a large number of sites for potential housing have been raised in the draft plan.
For Preston and Sutton Poyntz, sites for around an extra 1500 houses have been suggested. We are holding a Residents' Meeting to discuss on the 29th September at 18:30 in the Preston Village Hall. There is an online consultation running until the 13th October that can be found here.
For those who can't make the 29th we will also be having a meeting at Littlemoor Community Centre, Canberra Road at 19:00 on the 6th October.
Also attached is the map for our part of the world. Any questions feel free to get in touch:
07809905412
Cllr Louie O’Leary
Dorset Councillor for Littlemoor and Preston"
12 September 2025 - Village happenings
The village Open Gardens meeting on Thursday was productive and engaging and we hope to go ahead if we get just a few more gardens signed up. The date proposed was agreed as the first weekend in July - in case you don't have a diary for 2026 yet, that's the 4th and 5th. (When you get a diary - in your Christmas stocking? - make sure the first thing you enter is for those dates!)
So far we have about a dozen gardens signed up but if you were unable to attend the meeting but would like to open your garden and support the village in raising money for deserving charities then please drop Jon an email:
Read on...
The previously mentioned Village Quiz is happening on September 20th. That's 2025 so it should be already noted in your diary/calendar/smartphone/whatever. We have a few places left - either for individuals who can force themselves onto a team of their choosing, or for whole teams of up to six to sign up. Everyone is made very welcome so even if you haven't been before and think you're rubbish at quizzes then you'll definitely feel at home here. Did I mention the sooper snacks? And you bring your own drink so no need to tell you how good that's going to be.
Get in contact with either Hilary 07707 830846
And what's happening in November - specifically on Friday 21st? No - this is not part of the quiz - yes, it's Beaujolais Nouveau night with a professional wine taster (we get to taste it too). He'll be providing us with five wines and accompanying cheeses for a splendid evening. Tickets will be available from mid-October (blimey - your diary is going to be full of reminders).
J & S
2 September 2025 - An autumn of music at the Mission Hall
Dear all,
By a mix of design and fortune, we have a busy autumn of music events coming up at the Mission Hall
- On Saturday, 18th October, 7.30, an evening of folk music with Bob Whitley - see the poster below. Tickets, £10, from Sue Cottam at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 07714 506168. Click bobwhitleymusic.co.uk for more information on Bob. - Then on Friday, 7th November, an evening of jazz with Clive Ashley - more details to follow later.
In addition, we have on Sunday 28th September an evening that is likely to prove very popular - the well respected Canadian singer-songwiter Stephen Fearing returns to the Mission Hall, with music from his new album The Empathist. Details can be found in the second poster below, including how to get tickets.
Finally, please remember the regular Coffee Morning, this Friday at 10.30, and also put the evening of Saturday 11th October in your diaries, when we will be holding a Spanish meal evening for Mission Hall funds (all together, Viva! Viva! Olé! Olé!) - more details to follow soon.
Best wishes,
Bill Egerton - Mission Hall Chairman