15 May 2025 - Old reminders and new news
A couple of reminders for you before we get into the real news.
1 - Don't forget Hilary is running a Coffee Morning and Raffle in aid of Bowel Cancer UK. It'll be in the usual place at the usual time but with extraordinary cakes and an amazing raffle (I've seen some of the prizes!) Anyway the date to get firmly engraved in your brains (or at minimum, your diary) is Friday 23rd May at 1030am.
2 - We'll be sending out the bailiffs in a couple of weeks to extract your Society 2025/6 subscriptions, unless you've already paid up! (A fiver per household or half-price for individuals, as you all well know.) If you want to avoid the ignominy of appearing on the wall-of-shame you can pay any committee member, or at any event, or for you modern types, wing it across the internet to the Society bank account:
Account name: Sutton Poyntz Society
Sort code: 60-23-35
Account number: 06822584
Reference: please include your surname, house name / number and road name. Include as much as you can before you run out of space!
Of course membership of the Society is completely voluntary, but without it you risk missing out on all sorts of discounts, special offers, member-only events, etc. Keep with the in-crowd and cough-up!
3 - And now some advance info about a summer event. "What" you say, "isn't it already summer?" Maybe, maybe not, but it is time to think about your entries to the Village Vegetable Show - except - we're winding down the idea of a vegetable show. The participation has been waning, and this summer-like weather has left the scorched earth not supporting a great vegetable crop. (Why do the weeds like it then?) So we're focusing on a few speciality food-focused classes and combining what was the morning Veg Show with the afternoon Cream Teas. More details will follow, but sufficient to say that the date to remember is Saturday 26th July pm, and the competitive amongst you will be revising your skills in: bread-baking, cake-making, cupcake-decorating, spud-in-a-tub (as always), and picking/arranging a vase of flowers. And we'll be supplying the Cream Teas.
4 - As you all know, the unsung heroes of the village keep it looking at its best. That might be gardening the communal areas, repairing bins or planters, wood-treating the benches, etc. Quite a number of Poyntz-little-helpers are committee members (or partners) and we'd like to extend the pool of helpers to anyone with a bent for a bit of DIY who'd be happy to be called-upon occasionally to do a little job here or there. If you've got an itchy screwdriver or a dry paint-brush looking for some exercise, send a message to Jon Waterman (07484 831418,
J & S
5 May 2025 - WI day trip to Highclere Castle
Message forwarded from the Sutton Poyntz Women's Institute:
"We have spaces for people who would like to join us on our daytrip to Highclere Castle where the Downton Abbey series was made.
Highclere is near to Newbury and the trip is booked for Wednesday 9th July.
The coach will be picking us up at The Cart Shed at 8.30 am and will bring us back at approximately 6 pm.
Tickets are £50 to include both the coach and the entrance fee.
There is a cafe at the castle where we can purchase coffee, lunch etc.
The trip is only for adults, it is a WI outing but men are very welcome too!
To reserve tickets please contact either Sue Davis on 01305 568804 or 07952289266 or Val Dawe on 01305 562807 or 07833670439"
1 May 2025 - Coffee Morning and Raffle in aid of Bowel Cancer Research
A message from Hilary:
You're Invited to a Coffee Morning and Raffle in Support of Bowel Cancer Research UK.
Last year, our son was diagnosed with bowel cancer. After major surgery and a gruelling course of chemotherapy (which he tackled like a champ), we’re incredibly thankful to say he is now in remission. The care he received at Dorset County Hospital and from the amazing Macmillan nurses was second to none.
Sadly, bowel cancer is on the rise in younger people - which is why I’ve decided to put the kettle on, bake far too many cakes, and invite you to a Coffee Morning and Raffle to raise funds for Bowel Cancer Research UK.
Please join us on Friday 23rd May at the Mission Hall at 1030am. There’ll be coffee (proper stuff, not the instant kind), delicious cake (probably too much of it), and a raffle with some brilliant prizes (and maybe a few daft ones too)! Every cup and contribution will help support Bowel Cancer Research UK and the fight against this disease.
We’d love you to pop in, have a cuppa, a chat, and help support a cause very close to our hearts.
Hope to see you there - with or without an elastic waistband!
With thanks,
Hilary Davidson
25 April 2025 - Mission Hall news
Dear friends,
We very much hope you are enjoying the refurbished Mission Hall after the work done in January and February. We would like to thank all the contractors for the excellent work they did in completing the work to a high standard and on time. In particular, Mike Fuller project managed the work for us as well as doing all the general building work, and Dave Kerr has decorated the hall, inside and out, to a very high standard. There is a photographic record of the work, assembled by Sue Cottam, at https://suttonpoyntz.org.uk/index.php/gallery/mission-hall/building-works-2025.
We also want to thank the various sponsors without whom we would have been able to do much less in terms of improvements to the Hall. In particular
- The Lottery Community Fund contributed about two-thirds of the cost of the double-glazed windows as well as money towards roof repairs and insulation;
- The Darlington and Valentine Trusts contributed over 80% towards a variety of works including the floor repair, WC improvements, skirting board, and improved Store Room shelving;
- A donation from the Britford Bridge Trust paid for the new furniture in the Hall;
- The bequest received a few years ago from the Rev William Kelly covered about 80% of the cost of the improved heating;
- Donations from the Sutton Poyntz Society and the Sutton Poyntz Victorian Street Fayre allowed us to go ahead with the improved lighting in the Hall. We also want to thank the Society for the very attractive new table cloths that they have contributed;
- Finally, some kind donations in memory of Barbara Harrison went towards the cost of the attractive new sign outside the Hall.
Other work, funded as a result of fund-raising events over a number of years, include removal of the chimney on the north side (to remove a recurring damp problem), better ventilation and damp-proofing of the void under the floor, repairs to the porch timber, and the cost of the redecoration. Altogether the works cost just over £60,000, of which nearly 40% came from our own accumulated funds.
This has all left our funds in a state where we shall need to be very frugal for a time, and will need to fund-raise quite energetically.
In that context, here are a few dates for your diaries.
- Firstly, a reminder of our next COFFEE MORNING, on Friday 2nd May.
- Next, our AGM will be on Monday 9th June, starting at 7.30 p.m. We will present our report on what has been a very busy year (not just getting the building work done but running events, getting the rather tedious paperwork in a better state, and working with the St Andrew's PCC towards a Lease Extension). We will also provide the financial accounts for the year. Despite the state of our funds we will be recommending no change to the Hall rental rate, at £10 per hour - this will run our Rental and Building Funds at a deficit but we are conscious that life is tight for everyone. Finally, we will be very happy if there is anyone who would like to come onto the Mission Hall Committee and help to run this valued village facility.
- On Sunday 29th June, we will run a SUMMER PICNIC in the orchard, with a French theme, so dig out vos bicyclettes, berets, et fils d'oignons, (or whatever other tired cultural stereotype you might choose), and be ready to apportez votre propre alcool (i.e. BYOB), while we provide les aliments (food) and, we hope, beaucoup de soleil (sunshine).
- On Sunday 13th July, Gayle and helpers are running a JUMBLE TRAIL, mainly in aid of Mission Hall funds. So if you, like me, have loads of stuff in your garage that you're always meaning to do something about, THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY!!!
- On Saturday 11th October, we are planning a SPANISH EVENING, restarting the very popular and enjoyable themed meal evenings that the Mission Hall used to run (remember the Gnomes!) when fund-raising for the kitchen extension.
More details on all of these in due time, but please put them in your diaries. We look forward to seeing lots of you then.
One final point - There are several times in the week when the Mission Hall has regular vacancies, so if there is anyone with aspirations to start a new village group or activity, do please come and discuss. The more the Hall is used, the greater the chance we can retain the current rental charge for the foreseeable future.
Best wishes,
Bill Egerton - on behalf of the Mission Hall Committee
23 April 2025 - Bites and bobs
It's been a bit quiet from our side for a while so a few minor items about which to update you:
- The VE-day celebration evening only has a handful of tickets left. If you fancy a fun evening of fish&chips, a themed quiz, and a glass of fizz with the beacon lighting, get your tickets now!
- No news on when the PortaLoos will be taken away. Maybe they're the new village landmark - now that Tony's green Renault has disappeared from its Cartshed parking spot which it has occupied since pre-Covid. On the plus side, I've seen the loos being used and I've even heard about them being emptied!
- The loos were installed for the Sutton Road resurfacing - since there have already been a few holes dug into the new surface, maybe they're keeping the loos ready for the next resurfacing? (Due in 2051 if they keep to their previous maintenance plan.)
- A load of ducklings have been seen in the pond - up to a dozen at a time - very cute and attracting a lot of interest thanks to pictures on Facebook. The Springhead is selling bags of duckfood for a nominal price - please encourage visitors and tourists to buy this instead of throwing bread (this attracts seagulls and big black flappy things who see ducklings as a tasty side dish).
- Finally we've had a good response to the requests (begging letters?) for society subscriptions for 2025-6. For any outstanding, I'm sure you remember that you can pay to any committee member (list here) or at any society event or via bank transfer (see previous newsletters here for details)
J & S
10 April 2025 - Jane Powell
Sadly we have lost Jane who passed away at home on the 30th of March after a long battle against lymphoma.
Jane moved to Sutton Poyntz in 2016 from North Dorset with her husband Nick.
She will be hugely missed by Nick and her children James and Jacqueline.
Although she didn’t become involved in a large number of activities in the village, she did work for a number of years for Muntsys on Portland with adults with learning difficulties, and helped out at the Victorian Fayre.
Her funeral will be held on Tuesday the 22nd of April at 3.15 at Weymouth Crematorium, to be followed by refreshments and a chat at the Springhead Pub.
lf you wish to make a charity donation in place of flowers the family have nominated Weldmar Hospice, Fortuneswell Ward at DCH and Muntsy's.
There will be a collection via Co-Op Funeral Care at the Crematorium or contact Nick on 07580 053676.
Our thoughts are with the family.
8 April 2025 VE-day 80th celebrations
As promised, here are some details of the VE-day celebrations planned.
We will join the rest of the nation in lighting the beacon, so doors at the Mission Hall will open at 7.00pm and we'll eat fish-and-chips from our friends at Stracey's at 7.30pm. When you've all finished noshing and we've cleared up, there will be a themed quiz, starting at about 8.00pm. You can imagine there might be a 1940's feel to some of the questions! Sometime after 9.00pm we'll wander off up to the beacon which will be lit at 9.30pm and a glass of celebratory fizz will be served.
It should be a fun evening, either with your friends or meeting new ones.
Given that we have to order the f&c we will need to have numbers in advance, so please purchase your £10 tickets (yes, £10 - what a bargain!) before April 30th from the usual suspects:
Hilary:
Sue:
Of course there'll be a veggy option - and remember it's BYOB...
J & S
ps - it's the AGM tonight, with guest speaker Susie Morrison - we start at 7.00pm
2 April 2025 - Event reminders (as if you needed them)
Friday 4th April 10.30 - Social Morning with Coffee and Cake
Saturday 5th April 10.00 - Village market at the St Andrew's Church Rooms
Saturday 5th April 19.30 - A Night at the Opera (sold out)
Wednesday 9th April 1900 - Life in DisneyWorld talk, plus AGM
J & S