• THE RESIDENTS of Abbeyfield’s Macpherson House in Wyke Oliver Road recently held open house with a most enjoyable coffee morning.

These events are always eagerly anticipated, for they provide the opportunity for local people to meet the residents informally ‘at home’ and find out how they are getting on.

The proceeds from the stalls and the raffle held at the coffee morning go towards providing amenities for the residents later on in the year.

Chairperson Barbara Mills would like to thank everyone who helped and all those who attended for making the morning such a success.

  • THE FRIENDS of Lodmoor Country Park, founded last November, are very pleased to have enrolled their first members from Preston.

Committee member Dinah Ellis told me that "Since we were set up to protect, improve and promote our park, we have realised that people from a very wide area spend time there, either enjoying what it has to offer or walking through en route to somewhere else.

To have members from the Preston side of the park was a welcome breakthrough, and we hope they will be the first of many."

Visitors to the park are urged to look out for the notice board on the recently refurbished shelter near the children's play area, where upcoming events are publicised.

Anyone wanting to join The Friends can ring Secretary Fran Davies on 774839 or Dinah Ellis on 772075

  • YOU NOW have the opportunity to take up table tennis by visiting the brand new sports hall at Westfield School on a Wednesday evening between 7 pm and 9 pm.

There are four championship standard tables available, and everyone, expert, novice or in between, is welcome. Bats and balls are supplied, but you will need to be over 16 and wear soft shoes.

The cost is £3.50 for the evening and presently about 10 people take part, but they are hoping to enter a team in the Dorset League when more join.

For further information ring Stan Smith (078021 621 870) or Danny (07792 200 669) – they will be delighted to hear from you.

  • LOCAL resident Tony Thorp is a man of many parts - fireman in the Dorset Fire and Rescue Service (DF&RS), keen runner and organiser of the DF&RS Walking Section.

He and work colleague Paul Johnson are planning the next annual Dorset Chesil Challenge Walk on Sunday, 10 May, with a choice of two routes, 20 miles and 14 miles, taking in some of the most beautiful parts of our Dorset countryside and coast around Portesham.

The start - 8am to 9am - and finish is at West Fleet farm camping site (grid reference SY 624810) and the cost of entering is £8, or £10 on the day, which includes refreshments en route and a commemorative plaque.

Proceeds will help to supply the DF&RS Climbing Section with essential equipment, and as there is a limit of 200 entries you would be well advised to enter early.

You can obtain an entry form by emailing blue07@dorsetfire.gov.uk or phoning 01305 767466.