Dolway Lane, Winterbourne Whitechurch, Blandford Forum, DT11 0AW Registered Charity 209082
THE BAR
what a hit
the very first THE BAR EVENT on Sunday 26/10/25 was a smashing success, it was fantastic to welcome some new faces and reconnect with familiar ones over good vibes and great conversation.
special shout out to our 3 four legged guests with wagging tail and happy grins, clearly the doggy treats were a hit
The feed back on Facebook has been overwhelmingly positive and thank you all for your kind words and enthusiasm, all the committee, thank you
Here's to many more events
The next Sunday 23th November from 12:00 to 15:00 . Each session will feature a unique theme, ensuring a fresh experience every time. MEET and GREET you parish councillors,
Whilst I was down the hall the other day, I met two charming strangers engrossed in an animated discussion about the window above our porch. Curiosity got the better of me, so I wandered over to see what was happening. To my surprise, they revealed they were geocaching, and, incredibly, our little window was a secret part of their adventure! Suddenly, the ordinary became exhilarating, and I was swept up in the thrill of the hunt.
Established 23rd Febuary 1937
Winterborne Whitechurch is situated in the Winterborne Valley at the point where the stream intersects the road between Dorchester and Blandford Forum which lies five miles to the north.
Recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 within the ‘Hundred’ (County sub-division) of ‘Combsditch’, along with Blandford, Charlton, Bloxworth and Thornicombe, Winterborne Whitechurch was registered as “Wintreburne” with a total population of 3 households.
The Hall was established in 1937, the following is an extract of the Constitution adapted from the original deeds dated 23rd February 1937:
‘The Hall shall be held upon trust for the purposes of physical and mental recreation and social moral and intellectual development through the medium of reading and recreation room, library, lectures, classes, recreations and entertainments or otherwise as may be found expedient for the benefit of the persons resident in Winterborne Whitechurch…… without distinction of sex or political or other opinions.”
“The Hall is for All”
What a frightfully fabulous evening it was! The place absolutely buzzed with witches, ghosts, cackling clowns, and a parade of spooktacular guests, all adding to an atmosphere brimming with mischief and magic. With haunting melodies drifting through the air all night, the boldest dared to take to the dance floor, and boggled to the monster mash or a bit of thriller cobwebbed decorations. The treat table was a ghoulish treasure trove, heaped with devilishly delicious delights that lured even the most courageous guests well past the witching hour.
And as for tricks? Our resident rascal—the ever-mischievous elf—was spotted red-handed, plotting a sneaky heist for a bottle behind the bar! His cheeky antics only stirred up more giggles, making the night all the more enchanting.
The kitchen became a scene of vanishing acts, as bloody finger rolls and mummy dogs disappeared quicker than you could say ‘Abracadabra!’ Not a crumb left behind—one might swear the monsters from the shadows had swooped in for a feast. It was a proper midnight munching mystery!
We even had a ghostly guest of the four-legged variety. With a wag and a woof, this magical pup fit right in amongst the witches and spirits, spreading a little extra tail-wagging enchantment through the crowd.
THE STORY OF NATASHA AND THE SPIDER
OR IS IT THE STORY OF THE NAUGHTY ELF
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A spot of back story – the committee have been on a mission, bravely battling their way through the hall, clearing out decades' worth of mysterious junk (seriously, who needs broken rails and a box of single socks?). Today, we rolled up our sleeves and tackled the loft, armed with bin bags, hope, and an ever-dwindling sense of how big is that loft MORE!!!!
(WHEN a blood-curdling scream that could have woken the ancestors – yes, that was our beloved chair, Natasha Someone (not naming any names, Chris M) decided it would be an absolute hoot to present her with a spider. Well, if you’ve ever wanted to see someone attempt the Olympic standing long jump from a standing start, Natasha’s performance would have bagged gold. Honestly, the poor spider looked more traumatised than Natasha. I reckon it’s still telling its mates about “the time it nearly got crushed by a flailing clipboard and a flying shoe”.)
Now, to the main event – picture me about to flop down for a well-earned dose of Strictly (yes, yes, I can hear you all groaning, but come on, it's Halloween week – there are sequins and questionable dance moves, what more could you want?). Disaster strikes! My glasses have vanished. “Oh FUDGE,” I mutter, realising I’ve left them at the hall. So, off I dash to the hall, and claim my prized parking spot right in front of the Astra recycling bin (prime real estate, if you ask me).
But wait! As I pull in my prized parking spot who do I spot? That cheeky little elf, caught red-handed with a lollipop bigger than his head! Whose sweeties has he pilfered this time? I barely had time to whip out my phone for a photo before he vanished, leaving only a faint scent of mischief and sugar in the air. Honestly, you can’t leave anything lying about with that elf on the loose – not even your dignity!
The roar of the crowd meets the rhythm of hooves.
RACE NIGHT
Apologies for the tardy race night blurb, blame a week of family chaos and the rare luxury of breakfast in bed (yes, it’s my birthday, and yes, I fully intend to milk it). As I wait for my coffee and bacon butty to arrive, I thought I’d fill you in you all in with the tale of race night, a grand evening full of surprises, shouts, and, as it turns out, criminally underappreciated nachos. Mental note to myself next time, I’ll advertise them louder than the race itself. If at first you don’t succeed, add more cheese and try again, I say!
Now, I confess, I’d never been to a race night before, though my “children” (fully grown adults who still pilfer my fridge) are seasoned pros. They assured me it was brilliant, and with all the positive feedback on Facebook,
I must say, the pay-outs had them grinning wider than the Cheshire Cat.
At the start, you can decide how much of the winnings you keep for your cause. As a committee, we chose to pump up the prize pot, which made us less Scrooge, more Santa, and set aside a modest profit for our next project, (details coming soon!) We’re this close to funding our glass washer, and with the next two events, that shiny new bit of kit will be ours.
For those new to the scene: all the jockey’s shirts are flashed up on the big screen and punters place their bets. Natasha and Sue got positively giddy with the tote computer, think kids in a sweet shop, but with a lot more shouting. Then the lights dimmed, the commentary got cheeky, and the races began! The room was filled with the sort of hollering usually reserved for free bar announcements or penalty shootouts, nothing like the thrill of cheering on your horse!
Of course, Neil couldn’t resist unleashing his inner dad-joke machine. When there was a horse called “Just the Ticket”, he sidled up and said, “I’ll have a bet on number three, please… that’s just the ticket.” Cue groans. And with a runner named “Meatloaf”, he couldn’t help himself “Hope it goes like a bat out of hell!” That’s two groans, and I’m still recovering.
Big shout out to Natasha, who always thanks the committee for our hard work—right back at you, Natasha!
It was such a good evening we are think of repeating it next year, Now, if you’ll excuse me, my bacon butty has arrived, and nothing stands between me and a good breakfast. Mmmmm.
19/12/25
bells jingle bell, jingle all the way
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to sit in a draughty hall all day, hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, laughter fills the air,
Mrs Deeney forgot the keys, so we're freezing on the chairs!
Tea and biscuits on the tray, someone brought a cake,
Chris’s karaoke starts at eight—how much noise can one hall take?
Jingle bells, jingle bells, echoes through the hall,
Mind the cobwebs from roof above and watch out for the spider!
Oh, the windows rattle loudly, and the heating's never right,
But village halls are magic places, especially on an events night!
13th December 2025
The committee of the village hall would like to express their absolute gratitude to the parish council for their exceptionally generous donation, which will make a significant difference in supporting the Christmas party for the village children. Their kindness and support are truly appreciated by all involved.