‘People make Places. Places make People’.... In 2011 villagers began an online Open Archive on an informal basis. We have been recording events, logging images, sharing ideas and making comments for several years. You are welcome to browse its entries and view its pictures. The archive was closed for submitting new entries in February 2019.

2012 - select a year: 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

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Submitted by: School       On: 13/2/2012 at: 13:39       Location: Broadwindsor

February News

Olympic athlete, Larry Achike, triple jumper, visited our school on the 1st February. It was a super visit – the children made him very welcome with banners and Olympic-themed bunting adorning the school entrance. He encouraged the children with the exercise routines they had practised and demonstrated the distance travelled for a triple jumper – from one end of the school hall to the other! The children were amazed!

The West Dorset area schools Cross-Country competition took place on the 11th January at The Sir John Colfox School, where we were represented by 14 of our children. The girls and boys teams performed excellently, both coming in 3rd as teams. We had high ranking individuals too. Well done to all the participants.

Sign2Sing - Early in February, we will be attempting to break the world record for the largest number of people taking part in the signing of a song. We achieved this last year, with over 94000 people around the country taking part. Let’s hope we can break the record again!

After half term some of our classes will going out on school trips – Year 5 and 6 will be visiting the Explorer Dome at Beaminster School, then Year 5 and 2 will be going to Bournemouth to visit the Streetwise Safety Centre. Both these are annual trips which the children greatly enjoy and it helps to extend their learning experience.

Easter is just around the corner – our Easter Service will be held on Friday 30th March at 11.00am. We break up on that day too, returning on 16th April.

Nigel Arnold


Submitted by: School       On: 13/2/2012 at: 13:37       Location: Broadwindsor

January News

The Christmas activities at school went very well - the Christmas Fayre was held in school during the afternoon of the 5th December and many parents and villagers came to enjoy the atmosphere. Holding the Fayre during the school day meant that every child was able to enjoy the fun and games, and Father Christmas’ visit too! Later on that week, the whole school went to see The Hare and The Tortoise at The Lyric Theatre, Bridport. This was a super production and we were pleased to be able to go somewhere local and have a short coach trip. Finally, the children put on a fantastic show – ‘The Night Before Christmas’, at the village hall. It was great to see so many parents, grandparents and friends of the school filling the hall to capacity.

This year will see the Olympics feature heavily in school life – we kick off the year with a visit from ex-Olympic athlete, Todd Bennett. After that, another athlete – Vicky Barr, will visit us when we will take part in fitness activities.

The West Dorset area schools Cross-Country competition will be taking place on the 11th January at The Sir John Colfox School, where we will be represented by 14 of our children. As always, I know they will try their very best and even try to enjoy the very big hill in the middle of the course!

At the beginning of February, the Life Van visits – this is an annual event which offers children specially designed programmes to suit all age groups, with the theme of healthy living. This year sessions range from ‘All About Me’ to ‘Decisions’. The children always enjoy these sessions and come away with new ideas for dealing with everyday situations.

Nigel Arnold




Submitted by: Heskie       On: 12/2/2012 at: 12:39       Location: Drimpton

Potato Day, Saturday 11th February.

Potatoes and people filled Drimpton Village Hall for the 5th Annual Potato Day. Pennard Plants filled the centre of the hall, with clearly labelled buckets containing a wide range of potatoes to suit most soils and tastes. There were also fruit bushes, asparagus crowns, rhubarb, onions, shallots, garlic and a huge variety of Heritage & Heirloom Vegetable Seeds. Plenty of good advice was on hand, plus an opportunity (which 30 people took) to enter the annual Potato Growing Competition - the weigh-in on Show Day, 11th August, should be interesting, if the techniques and tips on getting a good crop from just one seed potato, that I overheard, are anything to go by.
It wasn't all spuds and snacks, on stage there was much shaping of potato prints and application of paint to produce Drimpton's own version of that picture of happiness: Van Gogh's Sunflowers.
Teas, breakfasts, lunches, cakes, coffees and friendly smiles crossed the counter from the kitchen from early-on till the last visitor left for home. There is quite a team who work hard to put this on, but the fun and interest makes that all worth while.

Click on a thumbnail to view the photograph. Click on the photograph when finished.

Submitted by: stanleyG       On: 3/2/2012 at: 13:24       Location: Drimpton

Rainfall

Rainfall at Drimpton Cross in January 2012
41.25 (2011 95.75) OR 1.64 inches (2011 3.8 inches)

Winter at last ! Having had one of the mildest pre Christmas periods on record, the chill finger of Winter has finally arrived with very low temperatures to some parts of the Country. Those gardeners who have dug their vegetable plots and patiently been waiting for frost to break up the soil, have finally got their reward. SS


Submitted by: andrew       On: 2/2/2012 at: 13:48       Location: Broadwindsor

'Save Our Broadwindsor Shop' - press release

from Margery Hookings, Press Officer, after public meeting on 26/1/12:
'Broadwindsor residents have given a resounding thumbs-up to the idea of locating a temporary shop in the grounds of the Comrades Hall.
The village has been without a facility since Broadwindsor Stores closed six months ago. During that time, the Save our Broadwindsor Shop (SOBS) committee has been looking at opening a community shop to serve the village and surrounding area.
SOBS chairman Fraser Hughes, who is also a parish councillor, said: “We all agree that the best place for a shop is in the current premises, right in the heart of Broadwindsor. However, we have made two offers based on an independent valuation, which have been rejected by the owner. So we needed to come up with another option so we can get a shop up and running again in the village.
“A facility like this is vital to the community, not only as a place to buy provisions but also as a social point of contact. We miss our shop and we want it back.”
This view is supported by the results of the recent Parish Plan where 100% of Broadwindsor residents who replied to the questionnaire indicated they wanted a village shop.
The eight strong committee has visited a number of community shops in Dorset, Devon, and Somerset to find out how they work. And they have had sound advice from the Plunkett Foundation, a charity which promotes and supports co-operatives and social enterprises in rural communities.
The Plunkett organisation report for 2011 shows there are 271 community owned shops in the country with a substantial number in the South West. Success rate of this type of store is higher than owner run shops, with only 4% failing to survive.
At a meeting in the Comrades Hall on Thursday (26 January), Mr Hughes explained to residents what had happened since a crisis meeting was held on 24th August after which the shop and the White Lion across the road closed.
He said: “The good news is that the pub will be reopening on February 23rd. Our new landlord and landlady will be Martin and Karen Helyar (sp)? from the Admiral Hood at Mosterton.”
However, as far as the shop is concerned the situation is not as straightforward.
Approximately 60 attended the meeting and they were asked to vote on three options:
- Increasing the offer for the current shop, which could lead to funding problems because the offer would be higher than the valuation
- installing a portable building in the grounds of the Comrades Hall and running it as a temporary shop
- abandoning the idea of a community shop altogether
The shop would be run as an industrial and provident society (IPS), an organisation conducting a business for the benefit of the community who would have shares in it.
Residents were overwhelmingly in favour of pursuing the temporary shop option and setting up an IPS. The SOBS committee will now talk to planners and the Comrades Hall committee to see if it is feasible.
Mr Hughes said residents would also be circulated with a letter asking for their views.
‘Unfortunately this does seem to be the only route open to the community. We would like to see the permanent solution as Broadwindsor Stores, and anyone who comes along to buy it would have the overwhelming encouragement and support from the committee and the community’ says District Councillor Jacqui Sewell.


Submitted by: andrew       On: 2/2/2012 at: 11:06       Location: Drimpton

extracts from village newsletter for February


Village Hall Events – messages from the Committee
‘The Village Hall New Year’s Eve Party was a great success - lovely food, lots of dancing and children enjoying a fun evening. It dovetailed really well with the Royal Oak, when a large group from the Pub and the Hall gathered for our traditional rendition of Old Lang Syne in The Square followed by a packed pub. Seems like a good formula, do you agree? (Please write comments in Village Hall Feedback Book.)

Family Coffee Morning/Open House 21/1/12
We all had a great get together with an excellent gathering of all ages. Mary Poppins (well Mary Trott with a Mary Poppins hat) read to the children and we took £60+ over the coffee bar. This family event is proving very popular.

Barn Dance 28/1/12
Jointly staged by the Chapel & the Village Hall, this was a sell-out! About 80 people filled the Hall, enjoying the company, the music and the challenge of dancing! The food, produced and served by Beryl, Kate, Hilary, Sheila, Rosemary and their team was great. For video footage see other entries on Open Archive.

The VILLAGE HALL AGM will be in March. A new committee will be elected at that meeting. If you are interested in serving on the committee, please contact Mike Saunders.

The Phase 1 Refurbishment Fund was awarded £2,000 from the FMR Trust in January, which means we are over half way to achieving our goal. Rosemary Shepherd will be chairing a Sub Committee to consider Phase 2 Refurbishment, the kitchen improvements.’

******
WED 1st FEB: LIGHT LUNCH from 12.30pm at the Village Hall
Home made soups, bread and cheeseboard for £3.50. Extra soup, 50p. Great food in great company, All very welcome.

ROYAL OAK EVENTS:
SAT 4th FEB: THE SIDEKICKS, playing Country, Pop & Soul from 9pm
SUN 5th Feb: QUIZ NIGHT from 8pm
TUES 7th FEB: FOLK NIGHT for musicians and audience from c8pm.
[NOTE: Folk Nights have moved from the 3rd to the 1st Tuesday of each month.]

******
P O T A T O D A Y
SATURDAY 11th FEBRUARY 10:30 to 3:30
at the Village Hall: for food, fun and advice

Welcome to our 5th Annual Potato Day. Pennard Plants will offer dozens of Seed Potato varieties by the tuber or in bags. Potato Day is organised for gardeners by gardeners; you will find plenty of help and information.

There will also be Heritage Vegetable seeds, a selection of Garlic, Onion and Shallot sets, plus herbs, fruit bushes, rhubarb and more. You can enter our popular Potato Growing competition with weigh-in on Show Day, Saturday 11th August.

With All-Day Brunches, Lunches & Cakes as well as warming drinks.
As ever, there will be the popular activities for young people, so there's fun for everyone.

******
YOUTH CLUB – message from Mike Saunders
We had a big turn-out for our first meeting of 2012. We played 5-a-side soccer and the skills displayed have encouraged me to enter a team in the Fun Day 5-a-side soccer competition.

Our next meeting is on FRIDAY 10th FEB, Ten Pin Bowling. Transport departs the Hall at 6.30pm returns soon after 8.30pm - Free. Parent consent signature needed prior to departure.

*******
DRIMPTON and NETHERHAY COMMUNITY RECIPE BOOK
message from Rosemary Shepherd & Kate Hesketh

"Good Food" is in so many events in our village, isn't it? Now it's time to share it by way of a recipe book. We might even raise some funds towards the refurbishment of the Village Hall kitchen as well! The success of this depends on YOU!!!

There is a meeting on WEDNESDAY 22nd February at 7.00pm in the Village Hall to share ideas. We already have lots of people willing to help, but your involvement and enthusiasm is needed, too. Please come along (and bring your friends and neighbours as well). Let’s make this work, and then hopefully we'll have a great recipe book to use for years to come and give away as Christmas presents.

*******
SAT 18th FEB: COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNING/OPEN HOUSE
10.30am to 12.30pm at the Village Hall
Real Coffee & Cakes
Story time & Games
Supervised outdoor activities (weather permitting)
Plus
Having some fun Making and Tossing Pancakes!

*******
WED 22nd FEB : LENT LUNCH - 12.30pm at the Village Hall
Home made soups served up in a warm atmosphere. £3.50. Everyone very welcome.

******
PARISH PLAN UPDATE – message from Fraser Hughes, Parish Plan Cttee
‘We are conducting a focus group for mothers of children of school age at Hursey on February 6th so that we can better understand what their needs are and where things are lacking. We felt we were a bit under represented with the views from this group and before writing the report wanted to rectify this. We have a group of 8 from across the Parish, with children of different ages, and attending different schools. We are doing our best to get all groups properly represented. We are endeavouring to put the draft Plan in front of the Parish Council for their March meeting.’

*******
LENT COURSE starting THURS 23rd Feb at 2pm – message from Neville Adams
A Lent Course is to be held titled: 'Handing on the Torch - Sacred Words for a Secular Society.'
Everyone is welcome to learn more about the Christian faith, and to discuss the most serious questions facing our world in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere.
The venue is 6 Netherhay Lane, and the course continues for five weeks.
There will be a small charge for course material. Looking forward to seeing you.



Submitted by: Heskie       On: 29/1/2012 at: 12:39       Location: Drimpton

Barn Dance Video 2

This goes with the Barn Dance entry and the other video.

Submitted by: Heskie       On: 29/1/2012 at: 12:29       Location: Drimpton

Barn Dance with Raggy Annie and friends

Traditionally there has been a barn dance in the village close to harvest thanksgiving time. For a change, the Village Hall and Netherhay Methodist Chapel got together to lay on hot food and lively dancing to warm a winter's evening, all washed down with Chris' finest ales from the Royal Oak.
I think about 90 tickets were sold, and somehow with careful table planning there was room to eat and dance. At one stage, well after the food, I counted (excluding those of us on stage) over 70 people in the hall, and I think a goodly proportion of them looked happy to dance till dawn had the band been able to play that long.

Submitted by: Amanda       On: 25/1/2012 at: 20:00       Location: Drimpton

A Grey Day with a Bright Afternoon.....

It was grey and rainy outside but our gentle exercise group had fun in our session this afternoon. We moved to music which ranged from Glenn Miller to Mama Cass and from Tibetan bells to Lonnie Donegan. We explored Tai Chi inspired sequences and rounded off our work with a "seated" stick dance to authentic Morris dance music. The introductory lyric intoned; "Oh dear mother, what a fool I've been - 6 young fellas came a-courting me. 5 were blind and the other couldn't see - Oh dear mother, what a fool I've been!" - And away we went, crashing our sticks with gusto.

Then followed the most important exercise of all, which we observe faithfully very week - tea (thank you Christabel), biscuits, (often cake), and a good natter. Thus passed a happy afternoon....and despite the greyness we all noted the extending daylight, and went home cheered.

Submitted by: Heskie       On: 22/1/2012 at: 11:53       Location: Drimpton

Quiz and Puds, the Garden Club way

The very name of the Garden Club - Clapton, Wayford and District Horticultural Society - could well conjure up images of Percy Thrower-esk, earnest and worthy tweed clad growers, gathering to challenge one another's knowledge of obscure plants, by genus, species and variety.
Fortunately, our Chair and question-master Bob, does not tread paths of such esoteric trivia, preferring instead to test our knowledge, and his own at times, of a wide range of subjects with generous helpings of fun and puddings thrown in. It is clearly a winning recipe - as the packed hall (19 teams competing I think) which you can see in the pictures, clearly demonstrates.

Click on a thumbnail to view the photograph. Click on the photograph when finished.

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