From photography to Rotary, marching Majorettes to U3A and everything in between: West Dorset has countless clubs offering something for all ages and interests.

Every week the Bridport and Lyme Regis News features the latest news from YOUR club. Here's this week's offering.

Want to contribute? We'd love to hear from you. Email us or write to Bridport and Lyme Regis News, Fleet House, Hampshire Road, Weymouth, DT4 9XD

THORNCOMBE WI

THORNCOMBE WI celebrated their centenary with a supper held on Tuesday, October 10, followed on the next day by a coffee morning for the village. 

The group were entertained at supper by the Fairey family, who sang and played while members enjoyed a delicious meal, together with guests from County Office and from neighbouring WIs. 

Pennants from all the WIs in the county adorned the walls of the village hall, and in the foyer the club had arranged a display of articles and photographs from the past 100 years, which had been amassed from our archives. 

Two cakes had been made to celebrate the Centenary, one of which was cut and distributed at the supper and the other at the coffee morning.

A spokesman said: “It is wonderful to know that Thorncombe WI, founded in 1917, is still going strong!”

UPLYME AND LYME REGIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

THE society presents a new-style Autumn Show on Wednesday, October 25, in Uplyme Village Hall at 7.30pm.

There are 16 classes for competition - just bring your entries along from 7pm on the night - see the website for details, or find a copy of the schedule in Uplyme Stores, Ginger Beer or Raymonds Hill Post Office. 

Most classes will be judged by public vote, and they range from flowers, fruit, veg, cookery, preserves, craft and floral art - something for everyone. 

There will be a bring and share supper after the judging, so bring something to eat! 

There will also be presentation of cheques to a number of local organisations from the profits of the very successful Summer Show, and we are glad to be able to help these charities in this way.

BRIDPORT BARNARDO’S COMMITTEE

THE evening was a three-course dinner for 75 people, hosted 
by The Riverside Restaurant. 

The guests enjoyed aperitifs and canapés to the background of Bridport’s trad jazz band “Mood Indigo”. 

They then sat down to a sumptuous three-course dinner, followed by coffee and chocolates, after which they were given a snapshot of the work of Barnardo’s today by chairman, Jean Humphries. 

Mood Indigo continued to provide background music, until the end of the evening.

The event produced a profit of £1,500, which was a great result, and leaves the group on track to achieve their target of £5,000 for the year.

The Bridport Barnardo’s Committee, would like to thank all those 
who supported the event, and especially the staff at the Riverside, who worked so hard to provide Michelin quality food, and Mood Indigo, for creating such a wonderful atmosphere.

BEAMINSTER PROBUS CLUB

SOME 30 members attended the club’s Annual General Meeting in the Fleet Club, Beaminster, where, after socialising and enjoying coffee and biscuits, the election of officers for the ensuing year took place. Retiring President, Roger Smith, thanked the committee members and said that he had enjoyed a rewarding and busy year in office.

Dr Murray Rose was then elected President, and Andrew Ravenhill Vice President. Chris Chaney was elected Events Secretary, and other committee members agreed to serve one more term.

The club, which is open to retired and semi-retired professional and business men in Beaminster and its surrounds, meets twice each month, i.e. the second Monday at the Fleet Club for a coffee morning (where a member gives a short talk on a subject of his choosing), then the fourth Monday at Highlands End, Bridport for a luncheon, where guest speakers are invited to talk on a range of subjects.

Each year the club hosts two events, to which members invite their partners. The first is a Ladies’ Summer outing by coach, followed by luncheon, then a formal Christmas luncheon is held at Highlands End, Bridport. 

Prospective members are invited to attend both a coffee morning and luncheon in order to meet other members and preview the club activities.

Anyone interested in joining should initially contact Malcolm Webster (secretary) for further details on 01308 488088 or malcolmwebster@hotmail.com

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH WEST DORSET

OVER ninety people had their photographs taken on Saturday in support of Friends of The Earth West Dorset’s continuing campaign to bring awareness of the importance of reducing our fossil fuel footprint. 

Visitors to the Apple Day celebrations in the Bridport Orchard on Saturday, October 14 were invited to stand on a ‘rock’ holding a banner stating ‘STAND UP FOR OUR CLIMATE’ and be photographed by professional Scott Morrison. 

Those photographed signed a pledge to encourage the use of renewable energy in the home and in the wider community and restrict use of fossil fuels. These signatures will be collated together with other campaigners across the UK and forwarded to Government.

A vintage Polaroid camera was one of the cameras used on the day.
By standing on our rock, members of Friends of the Earth wish to show solidarity with the people of Standing Rock in the Sioux Reservation where an oil pipeline is proposed to flow through the landscape, where the possibility of spills would pollute streams and rivers.

Reduction of fossil fuels means that people will look forward to a future of clean rivers and clean air energized by renewable energy and energy conservation.

For further info visit www.foe.co.uk.

BRIDPORT ROTARY CLUB

THE Rotary Club of Bridport was pleased to welcome Roger and Diana White from the Rotary eClub 7020 of the Caribbean, to a recent meeting.

Roger is a Past President of their Club and Diana a former District Governor for their district. 

Diana and Roger gave short talks on the impact of recent hurricanes on Caribbean islands and the importance of Rotary help. They were delighted to see the fund raising by the local clubs for hurricane relief since the two storms affected seven of the ten countries/territories in their district. They reported that shelter boxes for which all the Clubs had donated had arrived early on. Several Rotarians there had themselves been badly affected by the hurricanes. 

Also present at the meeting were District Governor Nominee (DGN), Dennis Stevens, from the Yeovil Rotary Club, and the Presidents of the Rotary Clubs of Lyme Regis, Melcombe Regis and Weymouth, Les Baker, Roger Willis and Robert Sedgbeer respectively. Theirs and other local clubs, including Brit Valley, have been active in raising funds to help with shelter boxes and other projects which are starting to emerge as the recovery continues.

The picture shows the President of the Rotary Club of Bridport, Bernard
Paull, presenting a club pennant to Diana White. Also, from the left are
Roger Willis, Robert Sedgbeer, Les Baker, Roger White, and DGN Dennis
Stevens.