THE summer holidays are well and truly under way and Upwey has been putting on its normal specials which began with the annual craft fair at the Old School.

The committee welcomed several new exhibitors this year and there were superb displays and shopping opportunities for finely hand-crafted items.

As always the raffle for the Upwey quilt attracted a lot of our visitors, and for the fourth year running the winning ticket had been bought by a local person – congratulations Mrs House of Broadwey, we do hope your butterfly quilt will bring you many years of pleasure and comfort.

Our quilting ladies, celebrating their success with an after-the-show cream tea, are already planning next year’s offering.

AS the craft fair ended, excitements on the Ridgeway began with a festival celebrating the ancient crafts, which have been practised over hundreds of years.

A village picnic organised by the Upwey Society took place in the later afternoon at Goulds Bottom park, a first, this, with hopefully more to follow. The energetic young and not-so-young nurdled their way up the Ridgeway and a barbecue finished off the day.

INGLESIDE residential Home on Dorchester Road celebrated its 25th anniversary with a party for the residents and their families.

Proprietor Chris Webb and his staff invited the deputy mayor to join them for a cream tea before well-known entertainer, Ed Hintze, completed the afternoon’s enjoyments.

NEXT up is the always eagerly anticipated exhibition of new works by local artist Justin Cooke, at the Old School Village Hall running from Sunday, August 15 until Sunday, August 22, 10am-5.30pm daily.

His work, usually very locally based, has been admired and widely exhibited far beyond Upwey for many years now as he finds something new to say about the light and colours of Dorset. A great honour this year, Justin has his painting “Ridgeway Night Horizon” hanging at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

Look out also for the enchanting paintings by Nicola Cooke, Justin’s wife, some of which will also be on display at the Old School.

ANOTHER essential of the Upwey summer is the Broadwey and Upwey Horticultural Society’s Summer Flower Show at the Memorial Hall in Victoria Avenue on Saturday, August 21, running from 2pm.

There’s always a magnificent display of flowers and plants, fruit, vegetables, garden crafts, preserves and cookery, flower arranging and classes for children. Janet Willment of Island Garden nursery is to be the judge of the various classes this year.

Contact Eve Morris on 01305 813942 or Mark Read on 01305 812932 for schedules and entry forms – new exhibitors are very welcome.

There are delicious afternoon teas with all those lovely homemade cakes, come and meet your friends here, take the chance to chat with experts and entry is free.