• AT A RECENT art exhibition held in the gallery above Poundbury Garden Centre over 20 artists displayed their work.

No less than four of them came from Sutton Poyntz – Tony Heathershaw, Elizabeth Morris, Caroline Nairn and Roy Winstanley!

The range of media employed was very wide, from conventional oil paintings, water colours, jewellery, wood turning to a beautiful and unusual giclee print entitled Ammonite, which Caroline told me had caught the light in the stones almost better than the original!

This proved to be a most interesting exhibition by some very talented local artists.

  • THE FOURTH birthday of Preston Ladies Circle was celebrated by 40 members and guests with lunch at the Spice Ship on St. George's day, red roses and Union Jacks being much in evidence.

Afterwards at the village hall Rene Crowson cut the birthday cake and photographs taken by Mr. Trevor Matthews were on display.

Mrs Enid Ramsden then entertained with poetry readings, including a surprise finish displaying her 'Oh so loverly Victorian bathing costume'.

The next meeting is on Wednesday 27th May at 2pm in the Village Hall when Mrs B.Howe will give a talk on Journalism.

  • THE ENVIRONMENT Agency report that 42 people attended their public exhibition of their proposed flood alleviation scheme for the River Jordan.

In response to concerns raised, they point out that the scheme will reduce the chance of flooding in Mill Lane and Fisherbridge without increasing the risk in Puddledock or Sutton Poyntz.

This will be achieved by installing a pumping station and constraining the higher reaches of the river into the existing channel, which should also allow more run off for surface water, which is a continuing problem.

The flood embankment across Osmington Valley has been rejected on cost benefit grounds, though other sources of funding are being sought.

Residents directly affected by the scheme will meet EA representatives from June onwards for one to one discussions, and a planning application will be submitted in the autumn.

  • At Betty Hennessey’s recent 80th birthday party a collection was taken in support of the Hedley Court Hospital Help the Heroes charity campaign.

Betty tells me that £300 was raised, and she would like to thank everyone who contributed.

She would also like everyone to know that her son Christopher is recovering again after the recent setback in his health following his accident.