16 August 2025 - Three more events

Just when you've been waiting for ages, three come along at once.

Before we start, let's just see where we are:  Bill's recently reminded you about the Art Show at the Mission Hall this coming weekend, and you've all been beavering away all summer, making poppies*, so now it's down to me to tell you about the events that the SP Society are organising to brighten up your future.

 * Jon asks me to mention that there will be another poppy-making workshop in September - date yet to be confirmed - in preparation for making the Remembrance Day display.  In the meantime, keep going!  If you want to drop off your finished poppies at 84 Sutton Road, Jon can work out how many thousand more we need.

 First, the ever-popular Quiz Night will return on Saturday 20th September at 7pm.  We'll provide the questions, you invent the answers.  Tasty nibbles will be provided and you can have the privilege of bringing your own preferred beverages.  You can come as a team of a maximum of six participants - if you've got eight then pick the worst two and tell them the wrong date.  It'll be a 7pm kick off and we'll extract a measly £5.00 per person.

 Second, we're reviving an old favourite - the Beaujolais Nouveau evening.  This will be a professionally-run wine tasting on Friday 21st November at 7pm.  There will be five different French wines and complementary cheeses to taste from different regions.  There'll be a charge of £25 per head - but guess what - you don't have to bring-your-own-bottle!  In fact, there will be wine for sale so you can go home with more than you brought.

 Third, looking ahead to 2026, we're planning to do a village Open Gardens next year.  We've set a provisional date of 4-5 July 2026 so now we are kicking-off with a meeting at Mission Hall on Thursday 11th September at 7pm to find out who's interested - either in opening your garden or just being a background helper.

 Enjoy the sunshine - but don't forget your factor-50!

 J & S

15 August 2025 - Art Group Exhibition

Dear all,

Sutton Poyntz's very own (and very talented) Art Group will be holding their annual Art Show next weekend, 23rd/24th August, at the Mission Hall.

The event, which will showcase the works of local artists, will be open to the public from 11am to 4.30pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

This year, a new feature has been added to the show - the Judy Backwell Award. This award will be presented to the artist of the public's favourite picture. The award is named in honour of Judy Backwell, one of the founding members of the Sutton Poyntz Art Group.

The art show is a great opportunity for art lovers to admire and appreciate the talent of local artists. It also provides a platform for the artists to gain recognition and appreciation for their work.

The addition of the Judy Backwell Award adds an exciting new element to the event.

Best wishes,

Bill Egerton - Mission Hall Chairman

9 August 2025 - Pam Dawson-Hollis

Dear friends,

I have been asked to pass this on to you:

Many of you will have known Pam Dawson-Hollis, who has passed away after a short illness. Pam was secretary of the Mission Hall Committee for many years, a longstanding member of the Art Group and a dedicated volunteer at the Street Fayre. Our thoughts are with Alan and their family. Pam’s funeral is planned for Monday 8 September at 2.30pm, Weymouth Crematorium. The service will be followed by a get-together in the Mission Hall to celebrate her life. Everyone is most welcome.

Another very sad death of someone who contributed much to our village and village Hall.

Bill Egerton - Mission Hall Chairman

2 August 2025 - Preston and Sutton Poyntz Residents meeting

A message from Louie O'Leary:

A planning application has recently been submitted proposing the addition of over 200 extra caravans at the Weymouth Bay Holiday Park.

This proposal has raised a number of concerns so to ensure the community has a chance to hear more and express views directly, we are holding a public meeting:

📍 Location: Preston Village Hall

📅 Date: Monday 11th August

🕡 Time: 6:30 PM

Cllr Louie O'Leary
Dorset councillor for Littlemoor & Preston
07809 905412

30 July 2025 - Veg Show - and Coffee Morning reminder

 A Triumphant Veg-Free Vegetable Show! We’re thrilled to report that this year’s show was a roaring success—with a fantastic turnout and a whole lot of heart.

 Thanks to your generosity, £173 was raised from the sale of delicious home-baked bread, and refreshments brought in an additional £100. Every penny has been donated to The Friendly Food Club, a local charity that transforms lives through cooking - you might've spotted them in the Dorset Echo recently!  Chris "Baker" Balfe, chairman of the charity, sends his heartfelt thanks to the village for their incredible support.

 And the Winners were…

• Dorset Wigg Spiced Bread Competition:  A new challenge this year, won by Sue Branch, selected by Chris himself
• Victoria Sponge Cake Competition:  Jackie Raw, expertly judged by Louie O'Leary who asked if he could now eat it...
• Spud-in-a-Tub Challenge:  Violet Sleightholme, age 7, beat all the rest of the village with her heaviest crop of potatoes grown from a single seed potato - judged by Jon Waterman’s impeccable kitchen scales. She thus added another notch to the Sleightholme dynasty's growing legacy.

 Before we share some snapshots from Chris, here’s a quick reminder…  Coffee Morning this Friday (1st August) at Mission Hall, starting 10:30 AM. Come along on a warm day for a nice cuppa and warmer company!

J & S

24 July 2025 - Reminder: Village Vegetable Show & Cream Tea

  Artisan Bread Sale

Hold off on buying crappy supermarket bread this week – seriously!
Because this Saturday afternoon the Mission Hall will be bursting with freshly baked, artisan loaves at the Village Vegetable Show & Cream Tea!
Local bakers will be offering superb hand-made loaves, fresh from the oven. Forget supermarket bread – this is the real deal.

 Baking Competitions

As you will recall, the village ovens are firing up for two legendary challenges:
- the classic Victoria Sponge – judged by celebrity foodie Louie O'Leary
- the Dorset Wigg – in the expert hands of master baker Chris Balfe

 Cream Teas

If this all gets your digestive juices running come and enjoy fresh scones, jam, cream, and a cuppa – all for just £4. You’d be mad to miss it!

 The Great Spud-in-a-Tub Weigh-In
It’s back! The Des Evans Trophy is up for grabs.
No politics, no favouritism – just pure potato physics.
Whose tub-grown titan will tip the scales this year?
Will the Sleightholmes dominate once again?Come hungry. Come curious. Come to the Village Vegetable Show.
Saturday 2.30 - 4.30pm at the Mission Hall!

All in aid of The Friendly Food Club, teaching Dorset folk some basic cookery skills.

J & S

15 July 2025 - Jumbled!

Sunday's Jumble Trail was a great success!  Loads of stuff from lofts, garages, sheds and other hiding places has been moved on to new homes.  Some of us made a nice little wodge of money, others were just glad to see the back of things that had lain unused and unloved for far too long.  And either way some charities have benefited - in particular the Mission Hall.  

Each seller paid in a tenner and the MH themselves provided drinks and cakes at a modest price. The final total is not known precisely but Gail has told me that at least £600 will go into the MH funds and towards the next renovation project - the floor. 

No newsbite of this type would be complete without a paragraph of thanks to all involved. Clearly Gail takes the majority of the blame kudos but quite a few others contributed with designing, printing and distributing posters, leaflets, maps and flyers.  Maureen’s persuasive talents managed to encourage yet more volunteers to make cakes and sell the refreshments on the day.  And without even being asked, the usual suspects set up the hall and garden with chairs, tables and gazebos - and that oft-forgotten job of clearing up afterwards. Thanks - and well done everyone!

pp Gail

10 July 2025 - Books, jumble and coffee

The village library (the little red building disguised as a phone box) is appealing for donations. Its shelves are feeling a little depleted so any paperback novels that you have cluttering up your home bookcases would be very welcome.  And if you've been borrowing more than lending, think about 1-in and 1-out - I hear our Prime Minister supports this idea.

(As an interesting aside, it seems that non-fiction books - and also hardback fiction - stay on the shelves for ages, so make your donations fiction-in-paperback-form if you can please.)

And a last-minute reminder that the Village Jumble Trail will happen on Sunday, i.e 3 days time.  You've already received a map from me showing who's participating, and maps have been posted around the village.  Don't forget to come and pick up a bargain (and a drink and some cake) at the Mission Hall.

While I’ve got your attention, even though it's three weeks away, it’s worth mentioning that the August Coffee/Social Morning will pop up on August 1st. Weather permitting we should be able to use the outside parts of the Mission Hall. If you’re in the habit of not turning over the calendar page from July to August until part-way through the month - don’t miss it!

 J & S