Last Friday's concert by the Ridgeway Singers held in St. John's attracted a great audience who enjoyed the performance of many popular numbers from their particular genre of music.

The next musical event in St. John's Church will be on Wednesday 13th December at 7.30pm when the West Dorset Community Orchestra will perform a programme of Christmas music under their conductor Walter Brewster. It promises to be an exciting evening so please make an effort to attend.

On Thursday, the  Committee of the West Bay  Community Forum held its last meeting of the year. Members will be up-dated on the progress made during 2017 and told of plans for further projects for 2018.

On Sunday, 10, at 6.30pm in St. John's Church there will be a reflective service in the Celtic tradition entitled the 'Haven'. Quiet reflection is particularly important at this time of year when everything seems to be an endless round of frenetic activity.

The Christmas Tree is up and lit. The service of carols in the Church, organised and run by Churches Together in Bridport and District, was very popular. Approximately 130 people crammed into St. John's to participate in  lusty singing of some well known carols as well as a 'new version' of an old tune. 'As with madness we prepare, for this festive time of year'  sung to the tune 'As with gladness men of old'. Looking at the congregation's faces the words resonated with most people about this period we have come to know as Advent.

I was particularly struck by the sailor in the congregation who chose the carol 'Joy to the world' because last year he was away from home completing his training, and they sang this carol. It was also the choice of the Mrs. Carol Irvine, the wife of the deputy Mayor, Councillor Barry Irvine who was present at the service. Outside the Church at precisely 4.15pn the Christmas Tree was lit by Georgina Woodhouse, a resident of Harbour House, and the spectacle was complete. None of this would have been possible without the hard work of Harbour Assistant Ben Harvey and his helpers who decorated the tree

The main organisers of the event West Bay Days would like to thank everyone who participated, especially members of St. Swithun's Band who  accompanied the wonderful singing of the 'Twelve Days of Christmas'. A special thank you is due to the 'Patridge in the Pear tree' - Sylvia Stafford.