• Yvonne Connolly at Bosworth Care Home tells me that the residents and staff got together to spring a surprise celebration on a very special occasion - Cora Catterall’s 102nd birthday! Cora's daughter Sheila and good friend Peggy joined in the afternoon of entertainment, refreshments and cake, and Cora was presented with a beautiful bouquet. You can see from the pictures how much she enjoyed herself, and I know that I speak for everyone when I wish her many happy returns of the day.

• At a very well attended Ready Steady Bake event in the Mission Hall in Sutton Poyntz, bread baking secrets were imparted by local resident Chris Balfe. Chris is an auditor by profession who turned baker just four years ago. He initially worked as an apprentice at Lyme Regis, where, after finishing at 10am following a 12 hour shift baking 500 loaves, he needed a 20 minute sleep in a lay-by on the way home to recover! With the help of volunteers from the audience, Chris baked a sourdough loaf then bread rolls of all shapes and sizes. While this was going on the audience enjoyed tasting the seven or more types of bread which Chris had brought along. His baking quiz was harder than expected, and the winner (not me!) achieved 18 marks out of a possible 24. Chris then gave his judgement on the bakery items brought along by villagers, which, after trying a bit of each, I have to say were all delicious. Incidentally, Chris is multi-talented, because his scarecrow won first prize in last year's competition. No prizes for guessing what his figure was!

• Following the enormous success of their first event, Mo and Dave Martin will be organising the Autumn Jumble Sale on Saturday 28 March at 2pm in the Scutt Hall in aid of the Weymouth East Scouts and Guides. They would be grateful for any saleable items that you might care to donate, so if you were thinking of clearing out that packed wardrobe, cupboard or groaning loft then now is the time. Gather the items together and ring Mo & Dave (836332) or Betty Hennessey (833614), to arange for delivery or collection. And don't forget to go along on the day for that genuine bargain. Your support will help to maintain the Hall for the benefit of all our local youngsters.