Happy New Year to everyone! It’s been a very enjoyable Christmas in Abbotsbury and my first news item is from the Carol singing team. They went around Abbotsbury and seemed to be having a wonderful time. Joined by Father Christmas, they raised £78 for Julia’s house. Lots of Christmas activities took place and big thank you’s to Colin and his team at the Ilchester for his fun day and Children’s party. I don’t have news of the Beachcombers Boxing Day race yet, but hope to rectify that later. Also thanks to ATTA for organising the lights and Christmas trees.

Next I must mention a few projects being started for the summer. The Olympic torch is coming through Abbotsbury on the 12th July and Sue Melville is starting the “Olympic Sails” project, which she hopes will be an installation during the year from when the torch goes through the village until the Paralympics’ games in the autumn. She tells me she has 50 participants so far and hopes to get funding from the local council as a grant. The first meeting is on 18th January at 6pm in the Strangways hall. Telephone her on 01305 871800 for details and registering your interest.

I now turn to another interesting project for the Diamond Jubilee in Abbotsbury. Bec Freiesleben is organising a village sewing project to provide bunting for the village jubilee celebrations.

She asks for any scrap material in the red, white and blue colours and sequins etc to create “diamonds”. Can anyone interested in taking part either phone her or put contact details through her door, 36 West Street, by the end of January. An informal meeting can then be set up and planning can take place. Her phone number is 01305 871958. The bunting could also be used for the Olympic torch route in the summer.

The Abbotsbury and Portesham Branch British Legion will be having their quarterly meeting at Portesham village hall Thursday 19th January 7.30pm. The Woman’s section had a skittles match at the Swan inn on 9th Jan, by kind permission of Graham and Sue Roper. Their next event is a talk about ghosts with Chris Wade, at Portesham (7.30pm) Finally, the Abbotsbury and Portesham Diamond club are having a meeting on Tuesday 17th January at 2.30pm where the guest speaker is Kay Townsend “on life as a child in the fairground”. There will be no Bingo this month in Abbotsbury.

I will be reporting on progress of Jubilee and Olympic activities as the year progresses, so contact me about your news, hopefully it will be an interesting time. Clare James- clare29051@btinternet.com 01305 871931.