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
1 September 2025 - What happens when you open your garden?
"Hang on!" you say - is this a Quiz or some news about Open Gardens?
YES! BOTH!
OK, first an informal meeting at the Mission Hall on Thursday September 11th at 7pm to discuss our 2026 Open Gardens. Pop along to find out more - whether you're thinking of opening your garden or not - and perhaps volunteer to help out during the event. We're going to need help with plant sales, parking, publicity and all sorts of other little things. Maybe you'd like to sell ice-creams? It might already be time to start thinking about growing some plants over the winter / spring to help raise money for the charities we are supporting (Motor Neurone Disease and Teenage Cancer Trust).
Second, a reminder about the next Village Quiz on Saturday 20th September at 7.30pm - still places available for this fun evening! Call or message one of the usual suspects to book your place!
J & S
28 August 2025 - Change of poppy-plans!
The next Poppy Workshop (knitting, crocheting, and sewing onto netting) will be on Friday September 26th at 10am (and not on the 19th as previously announced).
We will be starting to attach poppies to the netting. If you couldn’t crochet or knit but would still like to help, please join us for this final stage. Your contribution will be much appreciated.
We will run another session in October ready for the big reveal on Remembrance Day!
J & S
19 August 2025 - Dog, Sausage, Cider, Poppies and a quiz
You will have noticed that The Springhead are getting ready for their annual extravaganza on Sunday 24th August. It's probably the biggest day of the year for the village (since we had the Street Fayres) and you will all recall how busy the roads get. I've received a heartfelt plea from the organisers to help the village avoid becoming gridlocked - if you can keep Sutton Road and Plaisters Lane free of parked cars it will help tremendously. You are invited to use The Springhead overflow car park, or "Pudding Field" on Plaisters Lane. This will help the flow of traffic and worked really well last year. This year the chosen charity is Margaret Green animal rescue.
As mentioned recently, there'll be another Poppy-making workshop in the Mission Hall on Friday September 19th 26th at 10.00-13.00. There'll be coffee and biscuits as a reward for your efforts - and more hands-on training if needed. We want to make the Sutton Poyntz Remembrance Day display something special and to put the Tower of London to shame...
And yes, the Village Quiz is returning on Saturday September 20th at 7.30pm. An evening of fun at the Mission Hall! Teams of up to 6, or come and join a team. Tasty nibbles will be provided - even tastier than usual - and you can bring your own tasty drinks. £5 per person.
Book your team/place with:
Hilary 07707 830846
Sue 07813 267788
J & S
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