• THE annual Scutt Hall Plant Sale was as well attended as ever - even Dave Caddy put in an appearance, despite hobbling about on his crutches with his burnt foot bandaged up. He did tell me that it is on the mend, though it had been very painful. The stallholders were doing a brisk business and dispensing gardening advice in equal measure, with geraniums, chrysanthemums, cottage garden plants, perennials, fuchsias, violas, bedding plants and many more on sale.

Maureen Bond, the organiser of the sale, expressed her gratitude to all the stall holders who took part, to all those who attended and to the tireless tea ladies Pat Bellis, Caroline Crisp and Liz Newbold, whose tea and delicious home made cakes were, as ever, one of the high spots. Over £100 was raised for Julia's House, and the stall raising money to help two Nepalese villages made £110. Another fine village event helping those less fortunate than ourselves, so well done to all concerned.

  • AN UNIMPEACHABLE and highly reliable source of information tells me that that actors Bill Nighy and Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman took a break from filming 'The Boat that Rocked' in Weymouth Bay to visit The Springhead at Sutton Poyntz for dinner. Seated at a discreet table in the corner of the restaurant, they were uninterrupted as they enjoyed their meal, and by all accounts had a very pleasant time.

This is not surprising, as Sutton Poyntz is, of course, well used to visits from celebrities. During the 1960s, which is the period in which 'The Boat that Rocked' is set, the Springhead Hotel, as then named, was where all the top variety acts at that time stayed when appearing in Weymouth, including, for example, Bruce Forsyth. The tradition was for all the famous guests to leave their signature on a brass plate that was then affixed to one of the wooden beams in the bar. Some of these still remain, including one large plate signed by a number of American Seamen from a visiting United States warship.

Many of the more famous plates have disappeared over time but Richard Treadwell, current mine host of The Springhead, is considering restarting the tradition - should Bill Nighy and Philip Seymour Hoffman decide on a return visit!

  • Edith Storey reports that at the last meeting of the Preston cum Sutton Poyntz WI members discussed resolutions suggested for the forthcoming AGM in Liverpool, with those present supporting both of the topics. Mrs Peggy Pressley, delegate to the Spring Council meeting at Poole, reported back to the members on the meeting. After a birthday tea provided by President Gayl Salt, the afternoon closed with games. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 4 June in the Village Hall at 2.15pm when the speaker will be Nigel Hewish on the subject of Kingston Maurward'. The competition is a penstemon or salvia flower, or a photo or drawing. All are welcome to attend. There will also be an outing to Sidmouth on Wednesday, 11 June starting at 9.30pm from the Village Hall.