WE WERE delighted to welcome The Puppet Lab, a pioneering, dynamic arts charity based in Edinburgh, to Winfrith Newburgh this week.

They are staying in one of the holiday cottages in the village and agreed to give a performance of their latest show Beauty and the Beast at Winfrith Village Hall.

So 55 children, teachers and helpers from Lulworth and Winfrith First School plus a scattering of mums and babies came and enjoyed this different show.

Puppetry is a fantastically rich hybrid art form which bridges the gap between visual and performance arts.

This show combined beautifully made marionette puppets and sets with cameras and a screen, a vibrant mix of technology and live story telling.

The layered backgrounds and foregrounds created a miniature world for the puppets to act out this classic tale together with especially composed music and computer animation which made this a unique concept live theatre experience.

The Puppet Lab will be performing at Dorchester Arts Centre for the rest of the week, so call them for details of timings for their shows on 01305 266926.

  • HOLY Trinity Church is planning a special SONGS OF PRAISE service on April 20 starting at 6pm.

There will be favourite hymns, readings and poems. So please contact Barbara on 01929 400537 with your favourites and hopefully these will then be featured in this special service in West Lulworth.

  • THE Winfrith Playing Field Committee AGM will be held on Wednesday, March 19 at The Countryman at 7.30pm.

Anyone with an interest in the sports pavilion and recreation field would be most welcome.

  • ALSO on the same night, the West Lulworth History Group are meeting at West Lulworth Village Hall and it looks as if it's their AGM as well, but everyone is welcome to come and listen to a talk by Brian Jackson who comes from Weymouth about Cosens Steamboats in Lulworth.
  • SARAH Welton, who gives excellent informative talks, will feature at the quarterly meeting of The Lulworth Society starting at 7.30pm on Thursday, March 27 at West Lulworth Village Hall.
  • AN ADVERT is being placed for a new rector in the National Church Times and shortlisting will take place during the middle of April and if a suitable candidate can be found then it looks as if we might welcome a new priest-in-charge in September.

The churchwardens thanks all the retired clergy who are giving so generously of their time to keep Sundays special in our churches.