Don’t miss your chance to have a say on the priorities for our community in the years ahead.
The survey is now open for anyone and everyone in Dorchester to complete.
Surveys are available in various ways:
Deadling for your response: 31st October 2023
The museum has just acquired a silver bodkin, found in a field in Dorchester in 2019 by a detectorist, passed to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, and then assessed at the British Museum. The bodkin is thought to be possibly from the period 1500-1700, weighs 10.83g and measures 70mmx30mm, and has the inscription SW on one side and a maker’s mark ‘D S’ within a flower on the other, a five-pointed star above and a pellet below. We can only speculate about its possible owner, and how it came to be in the middle of a field! It will be on display in the museum before the winter closure.
We now have MODES software, a widely used system for museum collections management. The MODES database update and editing is progressing well, thanks to Candy Madeley’s excellent work in training us to use the system. A collection of old postcards of Dorchester which belonged to the late Muriel (Jane) Hill, and kindly donated by her daughter Paula Elias, has been documented on the database by Megan Parry and Denise Line, each with a description and photograph. We plan to keep adding new items as well as editing the older records on the database.
The museum officially closes on Sunday October 1, but will open on Saturdays in October, 2-5 pm, including the half-term weekend. Closed in November except for tours.
Christmas shopping weekend: Saturday and Sunday December 2 and 3, 2-5pm, as well as the following Tuesday morning, December 5,10am-12.30pm
Alyce Chaucer was Geoffrey Chaucer’s granddaughter and later became Duchess of Suffolk. She lived in Ewelme for many years and is buried in a fine alabaster tomb in St Mary’s Church, Ewelme.
If you have read Christina Hardyment’s novel about Alyce, The Serpent of Division, you’ll want to know that Volume 2 of the series, entitled The Book of the Duchess, will be published on October 22, and will be available in the museum shop and from Linda Hender (linda.hender@gmail.com)
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What a great start to a new year here at Dorchester St Birinus!
We have welcomed a group of new children into our Willow Class for their Reception year. They have really impressed us with how well they have settled and how they have integrated so brilliantly with the rest of the children in our school.All our children have made a superb start to their new year groups and we are excited to see what our children will be able to achieve this year.
We are extremely grateful to the Hurst Water Meadow Trust who have provided further funding for us to continue to employ our specialist Forest School leader for this year.
We love going to explore the river, build dens, investigate the wildlife and learn how to take risks.We have lots of other exciting things in the pipeline for the rest of this year too, including taking part in ‘Oxtrail’ in aid of Sobell House Hospice. We are keen to be involved in this fundraising project which will culminate in a sculpture trail across Oxfordshire next summer. In order to take part in this exciting venture we need a business who could agree to match our fundraising.
Our target would be double the number of children in the school, so we are looking for a business who could match our fundraising of approximately £150. If you work for, or run, a company who may be able to help us with this please do contact me at school: 01865340081. Many thanks.
If you would like to come and see what our school has to offer, please do come to our open morning on Thursday 9th November. There is no need to book; just turn up and one of our lovely children will give you a guided tour. School staff and governors will also be around to speak to and answer any questions you may have. We’d love to see you!
We have welcomed a group of new children into Willow Class Reception year. They have really impressed us with how well they have settled and how they have integrated so brilliantly with our Year 1 and 2 children. The new set up in Willow Class has worked amazingly well this week and we are looking forward to seeing what they will all achieve You can find out more about our school from our website here: https://www.st-birinus-pri.oxon.sch.uk/
Jo Staples
Headteacher
The Flower Show is on Saturday 16th September.
We hope you are all planning your entries – not long to go now. The schedule / entry form is attached below and is also printed in Dorchester News.
Remember:
- Entry forms and entry fees to be in no later than 7pm on Wednesday 13th September to Christina Stores, 55 High St (post through letterbox please)
- Bring your entries to the Village Hall between 9 and 10.15am on the Saturday of the show.
Good luck to all,
from The Committee
Autumn Flower Show schedule 2023
Let’s get your Ping on and come along to our table tennis event! Free to join and fun for all ages and abilities! Fun games and competitions, and chance to win free bats and balls, come along and join in!
Dorchester Recreation Ground, Drayton Road, OX10 7PG
Saturday 8th July 10 am – 12 noon
