03 March 2025 - News round-up
The re-opening of the revamped Mission Hall was reviewed in the Dorset Echo today https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/24974039.sutton-poyntz-mission-hall-reopens-55k-revamp/ and if you missed the big reveal at Saturday's Open Day then come to the March Coffee Morning this Friday.
Tickets went on sale today for “A Night at the Opera” and I hear Sue and Hil have been busy receiving bookings - don’t leave it too late!
Don't forget that the consultation regarding the Weymouth Neighbourhood Plan is due to run until this Friday 7 March 2025. Use this opportunity to comment on the plan. The plan and supporting documents can be viewed online via the following link: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/weymouth-neighbourhood-plan
J & S
2 March 2025 - A Night at the Opera
Saturday April 5th - keep the date! (And time: 7.30pm.) We're running a dinner with entertainment - and it's going to be a bit posh! And it'll be in the posh refurbished Mission Hall, sitting in posh new chairs!
The theme is "A Night at The Opera". If you're middle-aged you're probably thinking of this:
If you're closer to the average village demographic, you might be thinking this:
In fact our speaker/singer is Grace Lovelass and she'll be talking about her time singing opera, running her own Edinburgh Fringe events, and completing two Ironman challenges! There might even be audience participation but don't let that put you off!
So do I really mean it's going to be a bit posh? Not too much, but we encourage you to dress up for the event. There'll be a delicious 3-course supper included, but bring-your-own-bottle(s) as usual.
Buy your tickets at only £20pp before March 28th from:
Hilary -
Sue –
J & S
13 February 2025 - Spuds, Bake-offs, Cake-offs, and Cream Tea
Wow - what a mix!
Following a declining participation in the Village Vegetable Show, we've decided to focus on 2-3 popular items. And to combine a few events together into one fun-packed day.
So the first thing to know is that there will be a Spud-in-a-Tub competition in 2025. You probably need to get planting that 1 seed potato in that bucket-sized tub now!
The second thing is just to note in your diaries that the spud judging (weigh-in) will take place on July 26th - and that's going to be a busy day. We'll be hosting a Cream Tea in the Mission Hall (garden?), and we'll also be running a competition for the best bakery item (usually that means a bread loaf) and the best cake. If you're doing one of Master Baker Balfe's training courses you might be in a good place...
J & S
10 February 2025 - Mission Hall reopening
Dear friends,
Work to renovate and improve the Mission Hall has now been going on over the last 5 weeks, and we are expecting the work to complete by Friday 21st, with the Hall reopening on Saturday 1st March. We have been really impressed with the work done, particularly the builder Mike Fuller and the decorator David Kerr - we're really grateful to them especially. As a reminder, the "new" Hall will have brighter, dimmable, lighting, new overhead heaters, double glazed windows, new chairs and additional tables, a new audio system, a "Mission Hall" sign at the front of the Hall, and a better, safer layout in the Store Room, as well as less visible improvements such as renovated floor joists, minor roof repairs, better ventilation for the loft and under the floor, loft insulation, woodworm treatment, improvements to the WC at the far end of the Hall, and a proper Fire Door at the far corner of the Hall. Finally, the whole Hall has been redecorated inside and out, with a colour scheme that we think will be much brighter and more attractive.
The Hall will be open for business again on March 1st, and so the next village coffee morning will be there, on Friday 7th March. The Hall will also be holding an Open Day on Saturday 1st March, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to give you all a chance to see what has been done. Mission Hall Trust members will be available to show you round the changes. Teas, coffees and biscuits will be available - no charge.
All this has been made possible by fund-raising done for and by the Mission Hall in the past, and by grants and donations, firstly general donations towards the building work from the National Lottery Community Fund, the Dr & Mrs Alfred Darlington Trust, and the Valentine Charitable Trust, plus donations from the late Rev. William Kelly (whose legacy went towards the new heating), the Britford Bridge Trust (with a donation for the new furniture), the Sutton Poyntz Society (whose donation made the new lighting affordable and who are providing new tablecloths), and friends of the late Barbara Harrison (whose donations have paid for the new sign). We are hugely grateful to all those people and organisations for their generosity, and hope we have used their contributions well.
As a result of all this, we have left the Mission Hall Trust's coffers very nearly bare, so we will need to do some fund-raising, initially so that we can restore a sensible "rainy day" financial reserve, and then for other works that we would have liked to do but have had to put off. We are planning a Village Picnic in the summer, so watch this space for further news.
We had a brilliant team just after Christmas to clear the Hall, and it's now, of course, time to plan to get all the equipment back into the Hall. If you are available and able to help, on Saturday 22nd February, please get in touch with Bill Egerton (
So we look forward to seeing some of you on Saturday 22nd (for moving back in), and then lots of you on Saturday 1st (Hall Open Day) and Friday 7th (Coffee morning).
Best wishes,
Bill Egerton - on behalf of the Mission Hall Trust
10 February 2025 - Bread baking day
Our local Master Baker (Chris Balfe) is offering a bread baking day at his house (Little Acorns on Puddledock Lane) on February 28th, 10 ‘til 4.
He has space for a couple more people if anyone would like to join in.
Don't worry if you are interested but can't make that date - Chris says he would be happy to do another one!
The cost for the day will be a very reasonable £0.00 - yes, you read that right - and you may even get to keep the bread you make!
Please reply to Chris directly via 07969 781145 (phone, text, WhatsApp etc)
Form an orderly queue please...
J & S
06 February 2025 - Message from Louie
Our local councillor asks us to publicise the following:
"a residents meeting at 19:00 on Monday night 10th Feb at Preston village hall. The main topic for discussion is the proposal of 200 additional caravans to be put on the Weymouth Bay holiday park site. Other local issues such as the Neighbourhood plan, a bus service update will be discussed as well as general question and answers. Lifts for the event can be arranged by getting in touch with me at
J & S
5 February 2025 - Reminder!
Just to say that if you enjoy socialising then come along to The Springhead on Friday at 10.30 for Coffee and Cake! Next month's Coffee Morning might be in the refurbished Mission Hall so watch this space...
J & S
24 January 2025 Weymouth Neighbourhood Plan
The following has been received from: Dorset Council Neighbourhood Planning.
Your feedback can be made online, for the next 6 weeks.
Dear Sir/Madam
I am writing to let you know that a final version of the Weymouth Neighbourhood Plan has been submitted to Dorset Council for examination.
Dorset Council, as the local planning authority, is required to carry out a consultation on the submitted plan. The consultation is due to commence on 24 January and run until 7 March 2025. This will give individuals the opportunity to comment on the content of the plan or how it was produced.
The plan and supporting documents can be viewed online via the following link: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/weymouth-neighbourhood-plan
Kind regards
Community Planning Team
Spatial Planning
Dorset Council
County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, DT1 1XJ