The May 2025 edition of the Bride Valley News can be read HERE

The deadline for copy for any month’s issue is mid-day of the second Thursday of the preceding month. All material for publication must be sent to the Village Correspondent. For Litton Cheney this is: John Firrell, Tel: 01308 482313 email: jfirrell20@gmail.com

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Litton Cheney Parish Council The Next Parish Council Meeting will be the Annual Meeting and Parish Assembly on Tuesday 20 th May commencing at 7pm. The Annual Parish Assembly is a meeting of village residents and a chance to discuss the local issues of the day affecting the village, a chance to put forward any cracking and inspirational ideas you may have that allows the community to come together and get involved and, if you really must, to have a moan, or more hopefully celebrate local services and happenings. Have your say, but more importantly come and meet your fellow villagers! Openreach have mostly completed the infrastructure in the village. There are however some planned works coming up, which involve traffic management: 10 April Closure of Cow Lane to allow for overhead works. 23 June request made to close Chalk Pit Lane, although this has not yet been granted and I have no information as to what works are to be carried out. Apart from that, as said before, if you have signed up via the voucher scheme then that is an obligation to do so. I would also recommend to anyone who asks, that the upgrade to Full Fibre is well worth doing, not only because of the performance, but also because of the connection benefits (fewer dropouts). If you have any questions or problems then please contact me, Rob Matthews robertmatthewslcpc@gmail.com 80 th Anniversary of Victory-in-Europe (VE) Day - 5 th to 8 th May Plans are now coming together to enable as many residents/families as possible to enjoy commemorating this event during the week 5 th to 8 th May. Monday 5 th May is a Bank Holiday and current thoughts centre around a Bring your own Picnic (Street Party) Lunch at LATCH when we hope the Litton Cheney Community Choir comes together again as we celebrate and relive the songs of the 1940’s. A little later, and for those a little older, there will be jollifications, music and food of the period – did we hear Sausage & Mash? - down at the White Horse. On VE Day itself (8 th May) as well as aligning ourselves with the national events of the day, there will be a special school church service at St Mary’s (see church entry above for more details), and at lunchtime the school children will have their own street party. In the evening there will be a chiming of church bells across the nation, a lighting of beacons and lanterns of peace and we will pause in silence remembering those whose ultimate sacrifice made victory in Europe possible, an event we still celebrate and remember in 2025. More details closer to the day, but be prepared to celebrate, and also remember. What’s on at Litton and Thorner’s Community Hall (LATCH) in April REGULAR EVENTS Mondays 3.30 – 4.30pm Big Q (term time only) Tuesdays 4.45 – 5.45pm Short Mat Bowls (Ron Davidson 482661) Wednesdays 4.45 – 5.45pm Table Tennis (Ron Davidson 482661 or Paul Kingston 482162 7.00pm Mindful Movement (Jane Hutchins 07882 527697) Thursdays 9.15 – 11.15am First Steps Toddlers (fortnightly, term time only) Fridays 10.00 – 12.00 am Art Group (4 th ) in Meeting Room OTHER EVENTS Thursday 3 rd 7.30pm Film Night “Conclave” Saturday 5 th Morning Village Café run by the W.I. Monday 7 th 7.00pm Pastoral Skills Course (Main hall) Friday 11 th 7.30pm Bingo Night Monday 14 th 7.00pm Gardening Club meeting (Main Hall) 7.00pm Pastoral Skills Course (Meeting Room) Monday 24 th 7.00pm Pastoral Skills Course (Main Halll) Sunday 27 th 10.00am Yoga with Nadiya Wynn Monday 28 th 7.00pm Pastoral Skills Course (Main Hall) Coming up in early May: Thursday 1 st Film Night. A very special showing of “Bottle Shock” – the story of Steven Spurrier’s “Judgement of Paris” which rocked the wine world. Village Cafés: The hall is available for hire free of charge on Saturday mornings for a Café to raise funds for any group. It’s a good social event for the community and always popular. Hall Bookings/viewings: Wendy Firrell 01308 482532 wtlitton@gmail.com Thank you to everyone who supported the ‘pop up’ Coffee and Chat in LATCH on Thursday 20 th February. The donations raised £70 for Fledglings. We are grateful for the village’s support of the event. Thank you Elizabeth and Sarah for organising. ‘Litton Cheney – It’s Historic Sites and People’, a history of the extended parish of Litton Cheney, is a 276-page A4 book and is available from the author Paul Kingston. paulkingston1440@btinternet.com A fascinating and intriguing detailed record of Litton’s days of yore. Bingo Evening – April 11th On Friday 11 th April Bride Valley Bingo Fundraising Group will be holding an Easter Bingo Evening at LATCH, School Lane, Litton Cheney to raise money for University Hospitals Dorset NHS charity towards their BEACH Appeal (Birth, Emergency, Critical Care & Children’s Health). Doors open at 6.30pm and eyes down at 7.30pm. Great prizes, raffle, refreshments and bucket draw. All welcome! Since we started the Bingo Nights in 2019 we are very proud to announce that this will be Fundraiser Number 10 for Dorset based charities and we always have great pleasure in welcoming you all, and truly appreciate your continued support. Please tell your friends to come too – don’t keep it to yourself! Easter Sunday - 20 th April. An important date for your diary everyone! This year’s Annual Great Litton Cheney Duck Race will take place on Easter Sunday 20th April. We will be selling ducks in aid of Julia’s House from 10.30am at the start line ready for the off at 12 midday. If you want to be super organised, Andy and Liz at the White Horse will be selling ducks during the week before the big day, Thursday 10th to Thursday 17 th April. There will be a BBQ at the pub from 11.30 until 2 pm, either indoors or outdoors depending on the weather, and from 1 pm you can also enjoy musical entertainment from Greg Agar - The Piano Man. Really hope to see you all there! Ralph, Sam, Liz and Andy The White Horse After a difficult start to 2025 we are beginning to get back in the driving seat and working on future plans for the White Horse, particularly the food offering. For now, we are continuing as before with the pub menu, and the highlights of Friday night "Traditional Pub Night" with Fish and Chips from 5.30pm, Happy Hour from 6.30pm to 7.30pm and our popular Meat Draw at 8.15pm, and Sunday Roasts from midday to 2.30pm. We really do advise booking for both of these to avoid disappointment - 01308 482539. We have Pizza Basilico food van every other Tuesday to coincide with our fortnightly Snowball Quiz (drinks only on the alternate Tuesdays). We also have lots of other activities going on in April, with Live Music every Sunday afternoon at 4pm, and don't forget we are the finishing post for the Great Litton Cheney Duck Race on Easter Sunday, 20th, at 12 o'clock with a BBQ from 11.30am and the fantastic Greg Agar, Piano Man at 1pm. Easter Monday we have Knock 'n Run at 4pm, a band of young teenagers with amazing musical talent - not to be missed! For May, keep an eye open for news on celebrating the 80 th Anniversary of VE Day. We look forward to seeing you all in April. Andy & Liz Bride Valley Garden Club The sun is out, the sky is blue – but still very cold. Hopefully by the time this plops through your letterbox the weather will be warmer and gardening will be tempting again. With the tidying up completed there are usually some newly discovered spaces and 'planting opportunities' and this means good reason to visit one of the many plant fairs on offer locally. If you are already a member of the club you'll know that good plants are regularly for sale at monthly meetings and on TUESDAY 22 nd April (a departure due to Easter from our regular Monday spot) there will also be opportunities to buy young fuchsias when our speaker Derek Dexter will talk to us about the care and growing of these plants. Be sure to keep some pocket money for visiting some of the other plant sales which often support a local charity as well. Saturday March 29 th 9-12.30 outside Bridport United Church. Bridport Garden Club offer plants for sale as part of their Spring Show with proceeds going to The Harmony Centre, supporting those with mental health issues. Easter Saturday morning, April 19 th From 9 am. Stepping Out – the local cancer rehabilitation exercise scheme - celebrates their 10 th anniversary in Bucky Doo Square and has a large plant stall offering a huge variety of plants, many of them unusual or hard to find. Grown by just two enthusiasts, of whom I'm one ,100% of sales will be donated. Sunday April 13 th 10-4 on a more grand sale, will be the annual Mapperton Plant Fair offering a range of profesional nurseries and a wide selection of plants. £7 admision includes seeing the garden and a % of sales will go this year to Weldmar Hospice. Our club meeting on TUESDAY 22 nd April will begin with the AGM at 7pm followed by drinks, plant sales and the Fuchsia talk at 7.30. Doors open at 6.30. As always, visitors welcome , £2. Of course I'm biased but hope to see you in Bucky Doo square! Ali (balletboots@live.com)