THE LAST WEEKEND in November proved a very busy but enjoyable time for residents of Portesham.

Two events, the Bridge Club weekend away and the Crafty Christmas Tea Party were not only successful but also very happy social times with profitable outcomes.

  • THE BRIDGE CLUB met in a hotel in Bournemouth for their annual Bridge weekend with three sessions of bridge and a free half-day shopping on Saturday morning.

The weekend was bitterly cold so staying in a warm cosy hotel seemed a really inviting treat.

Over the three sessions a record of scores are taken and a winner is announced for each session and an overall winner is declared from the overall scores for the whole weekend.

The winner of the Friday evening session was Julie Mason who is a newcomer to the club and only started to play bridge at the beginning of this year so well done Julie and congratulations.

The winner for the Saturday game was Clive Rowland and for the Sunday session Rosemary Smith.

The overall winner with the highest score for the whole weekend was Rosemary Smith and she was congratulated and presented with a prize by Bill Halford, the Club’s Chairman.

Everyone enjoyed getting some Christmas shopping done on the Saturday and Bournemouth town centre looked very festive and lively with crowds milling around the main square with all its pretty chalet style stalls selling all things Christmassy.

  • THE ST. PETER’S CRAFTY CHRISTMAS Tea Party had an excellent attendance of people for such a bitterly cold weekend There was a very happy, festive atmosphere in the village hall with exciting stalls of gift ideas and useful items for sale, games to play and lots of people enjoying cream teas and cakes.

A very successful afternoon with a fantastic amount raised to boost the church funds, well done to Liz and her team of helpers.

  • THE ST. PETER’S CAROL SERVICE is to be held at 5.15pm on Sunday, December 19.

This year people are invited to put a wrapped gift under the Christmas tree for the Women’s Refuge in Dorchester labelled to say if it is for an adult or child (boy or girl and the age the gift is suitable for).

The collection to be taken at the service will be for the “Crisis at Christmas” charity.

  • A REMINDER that the “Pie and Mash” supper run annually by the Abbotsbury and Portesham branch of the RBL will be held this year in Strangways Hall, Abbotsbury on Thursday, December 9 at 7.00pm for 7.30pm, not as other years in Portesham.
  • THE PARENTS OF PORTESHAM SCHOOL (POPS) will be organising the Village Café on Saturday, December 11 from 10am-12noon in the village hall with the usual bacon rolls (especially popular this time of year) and other refreshments.

There will be a raffle, tombola and food, toys and book stalls and the usual Café library and good company.

This is a happy, vibrant school with lots of exciting ventures always being planned in a very friendly village setting so do please support this event, and meet up with some of the parents and younger members of our Community.

Please come along and help boost funds for the Parents of Portesham School.

  • BARN DANCE tickets are selling fast but there are still a few available £7.50 each (£3.50 for a child) to include a live band “Teasing the Cat” and a ploughman’s supper.

A licensed bar will be available all evening and a very lively fun evening for all to get us into the Christmas spirit in the lead up to the big day.

Tickets are available at the PO in the village hall on Tuesdays, 10-12noon or by telephoning 871892 or 871392 to book.

  • I would like to take this opportunity of wishing all my readers of the Portesham news a very happy, festive Christmas and a peaceful New Year - please support your village, it is a great place to live.