Puddletown

  • CRICKET club chairman Pat Stockley welcomed all guests to the official opening of the new practice nets.

He expressed thanks firstly to David Hawkins, who represented Viridor and Entrust, the main sponsors of the net project who had donated £4,000, and mentioned how helpful administrator Bob Attwood had been.

Pat also thanked the Lords Taverners' Trust for donating £3,000.

The club also received donations from Dorchester car boot sales, and £3,000 from West Dorset district council.

The Parish 106 Building Fund allocated £2,500.

Pat went on to say that the club itself raised £9,500 over two years.

The total cost of the project was over £21,500.

Great thanks go to Barry, Gerry and Tom who worked solidly with me for three whole days to dig out the site for the nets, Pat added. Over 90 tons of topsoil was removed in those three days.

Tim Pryce also deserves great thanks for erecting the rabbit-proof fencing without cost to the club, and also Club Turf for its expert handling of the project.

Pat concluded by paying tribute to the fundraising team who put on the bingo evenings, the supporters of the 200 club and the numerous others who helped in so many ways in the fulfilment of the club's ambition to obtain such a state-of-the-art facility for Puddletown cricket club.

It is a pleasure to see so many of our young people using the facility as well as the adults.

Pat then called upon John Ridout, treasurer of the Dorset Cricket Board to officially open the new practice nets.

Guests to the opening were then able to mingle and chat together over refreshments before a six-a-side cricket tournament.

On the evening following the official opening of the new practice nets. the youth under 15s team came up trumps and won the final of the West Dorset competition.

The results of the 200 club draw for March and April are:

March:

1st £50 no 190 Miss T Knott

2nd £30 no 173 Mrs M Butcher

3rd £20 no 197 Miss M Sawney

4th £10 no 89 Mrs M Mitchell

5th £10 no 16 Mrs C Maddocks

April:

1st £50 no 108 Mr P Kellaway

2nd £30 no 174 Mrs K Gatehouse

3rd £20 no 204 Mr J Ridout

4th £10 no 62 Mr P Bishop

5th £10 no 215 Mr R Preston

  • ADDITIONAL volunteers are needed to assist West Dorset Credit Union at St Mary's Middle School.

At present, two volunteers spend half an hour each week in term time helping the children to manage personal savings accounts.

Contact either Dr John Taylor on 01305 848552 or Rachel at West Dorset Credit Union on 268444.

  • DIANA Wilson reports for the church events committee:

    We would like to pay tribute to Pat Alford who lost her battle with cancer on May 2.

    Pat had a great gift for friendship and we will all miss her efficient secretarial skills which she used for the church events committee, the Puddletown Society and the horticultural association. She was an inspired arranger of flowers and helped enthusiastically with cake stalls and the monthly lunches - Pat's steamed treacle sponge was always eagerly awaited. We have been privileged to know her.

A thanksgiving service for the life of Pat was held in St Mary's church on Tuesday, May 26.

  • THE Songs of Praise, led by Hugh Ashley in St Mary's Church in May, was well attended and a joyous occasion with enthusiastic singing of the chosen hymns. It was good to have the Weatherbury Singers in the gallery, and Jenny Hansford playing the organ. We will look more carefully now at the names of the hymn writers and those who composed the music, after Hugh's fascinating introduction to each hymn. The collection will be used for tower repairs.

Bangers and mash went down well at the monthly lunch and diners enjoyed deciding which pudding to choose.

The next monthly lunch will be on Monday, June 8.

As in previous years, the July lunch will follow on after the carnival coffee morning on Saturday, July 4, and the profit will go to the carnival fund.

We're looking forward to Music for a Summer Evening by the Wolfeton Singers in St Mary's Church on Saturday, June 20, starting at 7.30pm. The programme will include madrigals, spirituals, folk songs, 20th century part-songs and anthems. Tickets are £7 to include a drink and nibbles, and are available from Jim/Diana Wilson, telephone 01305 848510 and Gladys Antell 848646 and at the door.

  • THE horticultural association has a coach trip to Wilton House and gardens on Tuesday, July 14 leaving the village hall at 9.45am.

The cost is £14 adults, £12 concessions. RHS members £10 and £8.

If you would like to go, contact Jenny Maunder on 01305 849073 by June 30.