• PAM Skinner was the lucky winner of the first prize in the Christmas raffle staged by the Society for the Protection of Markham and Little Francis. Andrew Summerfield, General Manager of Larkin Windows, presented her with the prize cheque.

The society have recently distributed about 6000 leaflets to households in Weymouth explaining the urgent need for a further £12,000 to finance the potential cost of lodging an appeal against the recent high court decision concerning the future of the town green.

If leave to appeal is granted the society will need funds in place ready to take the appeal forwards.

Donors may choose to have their money returned if leave to appeal is not granted, or can opt for their donation to be kept and used towards costs already incurred.

Members of the community are proving as supportive and generous as ever in the campaign to keep this valued area of undeveloped land accessible for public enjoyment. This is greatly appreciated.

For further information about making a donation or alternatively making a pledge pending the outcome of the forthcoming hearing telephone 01305 779936.

  • THE Sue Ryder shop in Abbotsbury Road is joining the other Sue Ryder shops in Weymouth in staging a book sale for a week, starting on Monday, January 31. All books will be priced £1.

The Abbotsbury Road shop also has a selection of good quality and reasonably priced musical instruments in stock, including clarinet, electric guitars, bongo drums and a cornet.

Contact 01305 780568 for further information.

  • THE president of Spirit of Wyke WI opened the first meeting of 2011 by wishing all the members and guests a Happy New Year.

After various business matters had been dealt with there was a Quick Quiz which caused much amusement with everyone.

During the interval there was a scrumptious finger buffet, courtesy of the members and guests, which was followed by the concluding part of the quiz.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, February 9, at 7.30pm at the Wyke Smugglers.

The subject for guest speaker Abigail Langstone-Wring will be "A pain in the Sciatic Nerve".

  • MY APOLOGIES to the ladies of the Wyke Regis Sisterhood for mistakenly advertising their weekly meeting as being on a Thursday. Please note they actually meet every Tuesday.