• Helen Webb would like to thank everyone who supported the St Andrews 200 Club last year. This is the St Andrews School Lottery which operates every month from November to October. With a maximum of 200 members (hence the name!), each pays £1 per month for a number. The children draw the winning numbers with prizes of £50, £30 and £15, which rise to £150, £75, £50 and £20 in May and December! All proceeds go towards projects which benefit the children, and last year’s £474 helped maintain the adventure playground, a very popular and important resource. Everyone is welcome to take part - parents, grandparents, former pupils and members of the community who want to support St Andrews Primary School PTA. The first draw is on Friday 16 November, so if you would like to help please contact the School Office (832346) or Helen (834908) for an application form.

• Jo from Preston Pre-School tells me that “We have been really busy under new leadership, starting with a fantastic open morning in June and lots of new children joining. During the summer we held very successful Stay and Play sessions where the children could play and the mums could meet other mums and the staff. We now take children from 2 years, which has been so popular that there is now a waiting list! Our Barn Dance raised enough money for some much needed new chairs and I would like to thank everyone for supporting us, especially the Sutton Poyntz Victorian Fayre for their amazing donation. We welcome all our new parents and children and look forward to fun times ahead.”

• Dorchester Country Market is on Saturday 27 October in the Church Rooms, from 10am to 12.30pm. The usual high standard of cakes, savouries, preserves, crafts, eggs, plants and flowers and seasonal vegetables will be on offer. Refreshments are available, and entry is free.

• The Scout Autumn Jumble also takes place on Saturday 27 October in the Scutt Hall starting at 2pm. Items they can sell on would be much appreciated – clothes, bric a brac, toys, garden equipment anything in fact that you no longer have a use for. If you can help please ring Betty Hennessey (833614) to arrange collection. The proceeds from the Sale will help to keep the Scutt Hall in good repair for the benefit of the local scouts and guides.