23 October 2025 - Pond clean-up this Saturday at 9am
Do you recognise that picture above?
There are no weeds or reeds to be seen...
I'm not saying we need to remove all the foliage and greenery around the pond, but the reeds do need a bit of thinning out and the weeds need to be removed.
EVERYBODY is welcome (nay, encouraged) to come and help - bring your wellies/waders, rakes, secateurs and wheelbarrows - but no power tools please.
Also, sorry to say, BYOB. (Bring your own bacon-rolls)
J & S
12 October 2025 - Ooh-la-la!
Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!
Yes, the first wine from this year's harvest will be released on November 20th.
We've planned a splendid evening of wine and cheese tasting at the Mission Hall on the following day, and we have booked a super wine expert to guide us through! (Until recently he ran the wine bar on the harbourside.) He'll be getting us to try 5 different wines - and he'll be bringing delicious cheeses from the same regions to accompany them.
So put this in your diaries: Friday (yes, Friday) 21st November 2025 at 7pm.
Tickets for this 'gourmet' event will be £25 per person.
Get your tickets quickly from the usual suspects:
Hilary 07707 830846
Sue 07813 267788
J & S
12 October 2025 - IMPORTANT! Defibrillator re-sited
Well the Subject says it all. During the pub renovations the access to the defibrillator has become too difficult, so today it's been relocated to the top shelf of the Phonebox.
I trust you all know where the phonebox is - at the junction of Sutton Road and Plaisters Lane, opposite The Cartshed.
I trust you all know where the Cartshed is - at the junction of Plaisters Lane and Sutton Road, opposite the phonebox...
While I have your attention, since I have been in discussions with Jo and Karen, I'm happy to pass on to you that they are very much looking forward to re-opening their smart and shiny new pub! It's currently planned (builders' talk for "fat chance") to be reopening on November 7th (2025). Meanwhile you can contact them on the usual numbers and email to book your events, meals, and Christmas parties.
"Cheers!"
J & S
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