Free To Every Home In The Parish July 2016 - Dorchester Abbey

Pre-SchoolNewsThe Memorial Service to celebrateMary Tame's Life was held in the Abbey on Thursday 2 June. This was verywell attended by family, friends and expupils, the Women's Institute was wellrepresented by Pauline Goddard theChairman of the Oxfordshire Federationand of course by many members of ourand other nearby WIs. It was a veryjoyous occasion, remembering thefriendly, caring lady that she was, combined with a certain firmness whichalways kept us all focused. At the beginning of the Service the outside wasdark but as the ceremony progressedthe sun shone through the beautifulstained glass windows and continuedthrough the rest of the day.On 9 June Nick Brazil talked to usabout ‘Artistic and Literary Footprints ofthe Thames Valley’.A very interestingtalk, highlighting artists, poets and authors. Many that I have never heard oflike Cecil Aldin and Eric Kennington anartist in both World Wars. Also Lawrence Binyon whose words For theFallen are spoken at Remembrance Services throughout our landand beyond.Sunday 10 July 2.30-5.00pm AbbeyTea Rooms Please make cakes andscones. Helpers needed. Monies forour Institute funds. If you have not already filled in the list offering help andto make cakes, then please contactSusan Jupp 341066Also on 14 August at 2.30-5.00pm Abbey Tea RoomsThursday 14 July 2.30pm VillageHall: ‘Bishops, Sex and Money’ withTony Stafford11 August Henley Boat Trip. Moredetails nearer the time but please letSusan Jupp have the money now asshe has already paid.OAP 12.50 Younger 15.00The topic for this term is'Under the Sea' and the children in pre-schoolhave been busily making a mermaid andstar fish collages using different texturesto feel. We are looking at the book Rainbow Fish and are carefully putting sequins on to the collages to look sparklyin the setting.We had a good time over at the schoolhall doing some P.E. We were stretchingas tall as the sky and as small as an ant.We really worked well as a team in theteam games and had a few sports racepractises in preparation for sports daynext month.Being the last term of the year we will bebusy with school visits starting reallysoon to aid the older children's transitionto Big School in September. We haveenjoyed Mrs Harding and Mrs Holubowiczcoming to visit us.The rest of the term promises to be busywith visits from the librarian and a tortoise (not at the same time!), a picnic inthe park, afternoon tea, a music session,cake sale and summer raffle, sports dayand the school leavers disco. We'll all beready for a well earned summer breakwhen term ends!Matthew Kestner,ChairDoT WI continued.We happily welcome new members.Women from 18 years upwards mayjoin and no upper age limit!We will also need other people to serveon the Committee.Many of the current committee havegiven to the Institute another year oftheir time.Cheques made out to Susan Jupp personally. 01865 341066For example, I will not be doing this jobfor DOTWI or even be a member ofthis Institute next year.Thursday 8 September at 2.30pm inthe Village Hall. ‘From Guns and Roses to Hearts and Flowers’ with KateLaceI have just started a new evening WI inSandford- On -Thames meeting on the2nd Thursday in the month at 7.30pmin SOT Village Hall.6 October 7.30pm Shillingford GroupMeeting. Dorchester Village Hall hostsDOTWIRemember that you can have a dualmembership, paying just the local feeto your 2nd Institute. This year it was 18 for the full year.Please keep this date free, tickets willbe 5 each and will be on sale at theJuly meeting.Jill LovePublicity and Assistant TreasurerVery urgently needed for the 6 OctoberMeeting the loan of an Electric KeyBoard. If you have one you are willingto loan please contact Susan Jupp on01865 341066Village NewsSt BirinusSchool NewsAs I write this we areapproaching the end of theyear with our Year 6 children bracingthemselves to move on to their nextschool – an exciting but nervous time!I have often mentioned, in our news, theBig Write and how it is making an impacton the children’s writing across theschool. As part of this process, we arealways thinking of exciting new topics,visits and events that will inspire andmotivate the children to write. On the 23May, the whole school went on one suchouting. We all went to the WinchesterPlanetarium to explore the universe andthe science investigations around thecentre. It was a great day and certainlyadded to my knowledge of the planets.Since the visit, our ‘Big Writes’ haveincluded a recount of the visit, persuadingsomeone to go to a particular planet (notnecessarily a real one!), space poetryand a space story.Our Musical Evening was next on theagenda – this was an opportunity for thechildren who learn a musical instrumentor drama, either in school or in their owntime, to perform in front of an audience.It was absolutely fantastic to see theamazing talent we have within schoolfrom the children just starting theirmusical/dramatic journey and othersfurther along their path. We were alsojoined by the Abbey Song School, whowere our special guests for the evening.The event is such a highlight!On the last afternoon of Term 5, we invitedparents and grandparents in to school totake part in the NSPCC Board GameDay, where for a small donation everyone had a great afternoon playing theirboard games – there was certainly agreat atmosphere around school and weraised 80 for the NSPCC at the sametime.At the beginning of Term 6, Blue andRed Class were out and about – firstly tosupport their topic on Italy, Blue Classvisited Pizza Express to learn how tomake a pizza with of course the excitementof bringing their creation back to schooland eating for their lunch. The followingday, Years 5 and 6 went on their annualvisit to St Birinus School, Didcot to takepart in the Moon Buggy Challenge. Priorto the actual day, the children (and staff)had been extremely busy building theirmoon buggies and producing someamazing shells to decorate their craft.On the day, they were up against otherlocal primary schools in a variety ofchallenges and categories, as well astrying out some our activities within theschool.Russell LeighHeadteacherDorchester St Birinus CE Primary SchoolContinued in next column.5Dorchester News July/August 2016

Dorchester News July/August 20166

Village NewsDOGS NewsThe London Chorus ConcertI would like to thank so many of the residents in Dorchesterfor their support by coming to the concert in the Abbey on 14May to hear the London Chorus and the Instruments of Timeand Truth give a wonderful concert in memory of my husband,Douglas, he would have loved it. The London Chorus reallyenjoyed their visit to Dorchester and a good deal of moneyhas been raised for Parkinsons from a variety of sourcesthrough donations, sponsorships and concert goers in recognition of Douglas. So a big thanks to you all.Aunt Sally evening at the Fleur de Lys, 7 JuneA good turn-out for a light-heartedsocial event proved conclusively thatthe Fleur’s regular players havenothing to fear from DOGS’ AuntSally ‘throwers’. A number of stickshad to be retrieved from the neighbouring garden and the evening wascompleted in the bar (as tradition demands).Susan JuppFuture eventsMonday 18 July, 5.00pm. Golf. Just 9holes at the Springs GC (just up the roadfrom us). We take advantage of an earlyevening tee-time to encourage busy peopleand juniors to turn out. This is one of thethree reduced-hole events scheduled thissummer as a way of offering low cost golfwith less of a time commitment. Cost 10Saturday 13 August. Social. Babecuehosted in Jan and Joey’s lovely garden inWatling Lane. Freshly cooked meats, avariety of salads and home produced desserts. Tented dining arrangements withsensibly priced drinks. All welcome.Tuesday 16 August, 5.00pm. Golf. 11 holesat Huntercombe GC. This is DOGS’ secondreduced--hole outing this summer. It is ahighly-regardedwell-establishedgolfcourse with many interesting features. Cost 15. Followed by an optional meal at theWhite Hart Hotel.For these and other matters call Mike and Jan Rimmer01865 343719Logs for SaleMartin Drew01865 343378 or 07774 1707277Dorchester News July/August 2016

Dorchester News July/August 20168

DADSAHoliday Nightmare is Am-Dram Dream Showll Exclusive by Hugh Morrison wasperformed by DADS (Dorchester Amateur Dramatics Society) 18 to 21 May.A package holiday that is somehow lessthan perfect is perhaps within the experienceof most DN readers but being caught inno-man’s land between rival armed forcesand having to hide from their tanks is amercifully rare occurrence. It is in this context,however, that Hugh Morrison has set hisvery amusing comedy about ‘the British’abroad and class war between the‘working man’ and the self-styled‘intellectual elite’.The action takes place by the pool of LasCantatas Hotel on the Central Americanisland of San Itairi. This clever use of justone set kept the pace flowing while the‘Solarflair’ holiday company rep, TrishaHeddy (a clever caricature created byJane Brooks) made sure that everyonewas fully aware of all the entertainmentson offer in other parts of the ‘all inclusive’resort, where the buffet was open all daybut only served food at meal times.The play opens with Ian Hurst (Mark Williams)– a London-based art critic who has justinterviewed the celebrated local conceptualartist Miguel Corantes – complainingabout the hotel to his office. The call is cutshort by the arrival of a new group of‘chavs’ (as Hurst calls them). Angie Belperand Pauline Beswick (the chavs) are brilliantlyplayed, respectively, by Christine Jonesand Sue Kitson - two well-establishedDADS members with distinguished cvs –immediately followed on stage by DADSdebutants Lois Axenderrie and DominicFlanagan in the roles of courting coupleKaren Kay and Steve Trout – two verywelcome additions to the DADS talentpool.It is clear that Hurst has nothing in common with these new arrivals. Karen, however, is studying art through a WEAcourse and when she realises that Hurstis not only the writer of one of her setbooks but has also just met Corantes, oneof her heroes, she is deeply impressed.Somewhat overwhelmed by the attentionhe is receiving from this pretty girl, Hurst(another role that further demonstrates theversatility of Mark Williams) responds in away that annoys Trout and the hostilitybetween the two men is a thread thatbinds the rest of the story together.Much of the play’s comedy is centred uponAngie and Pauline – the archetypal BritonsThe cast and author with director Rachel Winslet-Morris centre.abroad. Angie is worried about having toeat foreign food so her suitcase is full ofEnglish delicacies such as pizzas, burgersand ‘Vesta’ curries. For Pauline the mainconcern is that there should be space inthe luggage to take home a plentiful supplyof duty free cigarettes and Scotch whisky.resplendent in classic revolutionary battledress complete with machine gun anddark glasses. This is a role in which EdMetcalfe carries off with great authorityand presence. In fact it is easy to see whythe new workers’

As usual there will be no separate issue of Dorchester News for August, so we wish everyone a happy summer and we’ll be back in September. Ian Brace Editorial Team Ian Brace, Gail Thomas Distribution Co-ordinator Maurice Day Dorchester News September edition 12 Aug October edition 9 Sept Nov