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
4 July 2025 - Village Jumble Trail
Wow - almost THIRTY of you have signed up to sell your unwanted stuff! We had to reject one who thought she might get a few bob for her old man! (But we found a buyer anyway...)
As you know it will all happen on Sunday 13th July 10.30-14.30. There'll be a number of tables at the Mission Hall, mainly comprising small, highly-attractive, high-value but bargain items. (In case that wasn't clear, it's where I've got my stuff.) Refreshments will also be available.
To help you to be sure you haven't missed anything you really want or need, there's a beautiful map, made by the village master-map-maker, Mike Haine of course. The participating houses will also hang balloons outside so they'll be easy to find.
See you there!
pp Gail
23 June 2025 - Clear yer lofts!
You'll remember that we told you about a Village-wide “Jumble Trail”, taking place on Sunday 13th July 10.30-14.30 around the village and in the Mission Hall / garden?
Well it's the last chance to sign up to participate and get your 'garage' on the map.
There's a nominal £10 fee to participate which will all be donated to the Mission Hall's next renovation project (the floor!) A limited number of tables will be available in or around the Mission Hall for anyone who has a small number of small objects to sell and perhaps lives a bit out of the way. There will also be tea and cakes available there.
Closing date to get on the map will be June 28th - register with Gail on 07415 050235 or
pp Gail
20 June 2025 - Poppy Workshop 2
As discussed at the first workshop, it was agreed to run further sessions for not only those who were unable to previously attend but also to give the volunteers an opportunity to discuss with Rita any questions they might have. A bit like Prime Ministers Question Time. All are welcome and if you can bring any finished poppies Jon can collect them. We look forward to seeing you on Friday July 11th at the Mission Hall 10 am to 1 pm.
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J & S
18 June 2025 - French Summer Picnic
Dear friends,
A reminder of the French-themed Summer Picnic, on Sunday 29th June, starting 12.30 in the Mission Hall garden (or inside if the sun-gods let us down). Tickets, £10 per person, are available from Maureen Morris, 835533. So we know the numbers, please get your tickets before next Wednesday, 25th June. BYOB.
Look forward to seeing you there.
Also, thanks to those of you who attended our AGM on Monday, with some interesting discussions.
Best wishes,
Bill Egerton - on behalf of the Mission Hall Committee