We had a visit from Wessex Water's Distribution Manager earlier, to let us know about their planned work which will start around 8am tomorrow morning (6th August).  They need to repair a major mains leak in a field off Underhill.  They have told us because they are using our meter access, but I don't think they were planning to inform anyone else. So I thought I'd share.

"Everyone's" water will be cut off for 10 - 15 minutes and, for 22 households, including ours, drinking…

Saturday 5 August - opens 12 noon

The villagers of Pen Selwood are preparing for their 68th traditional Village Fete, which is held every August on the first Saturday. This family-friendly event is organised and run by an enthusiastic team of villagers which is how we keep our prices affordable! Please remember this is a cash event. Note the date now!

As…

Final preparations are underway for Pen Selwood’s 66th Traditional Fete this Saturday afternoon.  Everything is organised and run by the villagers themselves, apart from the provision of the free entertainment for the children who attend ~ this year the chance to try as many different Circus Skills as they wish.

This year, Fete visitors will find the Pen Teas in a marquee located behind the Village Hall in the  Churchyard.  This is to provide better ventilation and spacing to keep…

Busy day, but in case still sought... this circular scarf/snood is on fence beside track

The first edition of The New Blackmore Vale paper came out today and I understand it is available through all the usual outlets on alternate Thursdays.  Local news in a new format, more colour and for now slimmer, I take it as a sign that life carries on under Covid-19 restrictions.  If advertisers return, the new team behind the publication hope to return to a weekly format.

There is also a BVM online service which covers north Dorset.  The implication is they are…

Very many thanks to Debbie Jeffries and her sharp eyes for spotting on Facebook some kind stranger’s post about finding an iPhone at the end of Marsh Lane.  Sadly it is almost certainly beyond repair but confirmed that shopping for a new one is the right things to do today!  Our daughter and family had just set out.....

Many thanks to everyone who has responded and tried to help.  Stella and Geoff

A service to celebrate the life of former resident Maggie Vlasto will be held on Friday 18 October 2019 at Motcombe Church at 12.30pm.

In case you missed the two massed flights of Hot Air Balloons over Pen today, you may have a chance to see them again over the weekend. 150 balloons are taking part.  More details are available on the Longleat website. Tickets for tomorrow are SOLD OUT but some are available for Sunday. They are expecting ‘perfect’ conditions for tomorrow morning’s launch which starts at 7am.....  There is also an evening event.

 Verity Ockenden is racing today at the European Cross Country Championships in Tilburg, you may have seen her training around Pen since she moved here with her mother Fiona.

She will be running as part of the GB Senior Women’s team at 1235 our time. You can watch on the BBC red button, coverage for the under 20 and u23 events starts from 0930. There is a also livestream from European-athletics.org

Here are…

Gillingham Library will be closed for refurbishment on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd November. Books may be renewed online at www.librarieswest.org.uk. Library queries - contact Shaftesbury Library 01747 852256.

PEN  SELWOOD  ALLOTMENT  ASSOCIATION

Can you spare an hour to help us?

Saturday 18 November between 10.00 – 14.00…

Stourton & Kilmington WI are having an open meeting with a talk by George Goodwin, historian & author based on the British Life of American's Founding Father.  

Benjamin Franklin, statesman, diplomat, writer, important inventor and much more, lived in London for more than one-fifth of his life.  He dined with prime ministers, members of parliament, even kings. Member of the Royal Society and with an interesting mix of friends he was a long time loyal British royalist before…

Jim Ebner and myself are holding a work party on Saturday to clear the site in readiness for returning the site to pasture. If you have any time available to give us a hand, please see the details in the Events listing. You'd be welcome to salvage any unwanted fruit bushes etc...

Has anyone seen a friendly brown chicken missing from The Green area? It went AWOL on Saturday.... Please contact Alex or Clive Kirby on 840846

Does anyone know who might have lost a small black male dog? He has a short coat and relatively short legs. He's not wearing a collar and is reluctant to be caught. Two young girls came door to door to locate the owner after finding him on the Village Community Field this morning, 21 July. Robbie and Ian are working in the Village Hall and think perhaps he has been a round for a few days.
Please spread the word..... Stella 841216

Due to the high level of interest, the Exhibition covering 60 years of the Pen Selwood Fete and Flower & Produce Show first displayed during the 2014 Show in St Michaels Church, will be available in the Village Hall from 29 August to 29…