• The Salisbury Diocese provides family holidays for those with particularly stressed or difficult lives who would benefit from a break they could not otherwise afford.

The Preston Team Mothers Union referred a local family last year with such a success that this year they decided to do the same again, and set about fundraising to cover the cost of a week at a large Christian holiday centre in Sidmouth for a family of five – mum, dad and three daughters aged 7 to 13. They managed to raise nearly all that was needed for holiday, and the freemasons in Dorset stepped in to top up the amount to the total required. The Freemasons’ Charity Steward David Dunford visited the ladies – and gentlemen! – of the MU at a recent meeting to say that the donation was one of a number made by the Freemasons’ to help with such holidays throughout Dorset and that he was pleased to be able to assist the MU with their sterling work. The picture shows David, a local Sutton Poyntz resident, addressing the meeting.

• The Snow Ball is back – bigger and brighter than ever! It will be held at the Riviera Hotel on Saturday 11 January from 7pm, with a buffet and dancing to live music. Tickets cost £25 and Sue, Tomina, Rosemarie and Yvonne hope for your support as all the profits go to St Andrew’s Angels. This is a most worthwhile cause, so ring 832620 to book your tickets. They are sure to sell like hot cakes - or should that be cold ice lollies?

• The St Andrews 200 Lottery club is drawn every month from November to October with a maximum of – guess – that’s right, 200 members, each paying £12 per year for a lottery number. The children select three lucky numbers at random each month, with prizes of £50, £30 and £15 which increase to £150, £75, £50 and £20 in May and December! Every penny raised helps fund projects for well being of the children, and last year’s £458 will be used to buy new Early Reader books for the younger children. Everyone who wants to support St Andrews Primary School PTA can join - so if you wish to help contact the School Office (832346) or Helen Webb (834908).