There are so many dates to fit in this letter that I don't have much room for idle chatter. 'Jolly good thing too' I hear you say. Years go we used to reckon that the summer was the quiet time of the year for us but these days the work seems to pile in and to be the kind that needs a certain amount of adaptability on our parts. I can remember a British Council rep. saying when we were on our exotic jaunts to the Far East etc. that The Yetties are like corks bobbing on the ocean and I guess this has stood us in good stead. Barns, marquees, village halls, theatres, street fairs, agricultural shows, private parties, radio, television. Tis all grist to the Yetties mill.
Yetminster Fair & Friday Night Party 5th & 6th July
This is one of Dorset's best village events of the year. Come along for the day and book your tickets for the evening concert from [contact details removed]. Unfortunately we will not be able to make the pre-fair night at The Weavers Club. We were made on offer we couldn't refuse by the Camping & Caravan Club and have a job at one of their rallies. However if you wish to go to The Weavers you will be made very welcome. I'm sure you will have a convivial night meeting all the regular fair goers. There will be music, we will supply you with some nosebag. We know you campers like to stock up for the weekend and it saves getting the primus out. The other advantage of The Weavers is, of course, the booze is at club prices. As Pete would say, 'You can save a fortune'.
Jubilee Celebrations
How the world has changed in the 50 years since the Coronation. We went by bus from Thornford School to watch a film of the service, parade etc. at Yetminster Village Hall. This time we shall be celebrating in The Digby hall Sherborne with a Ceilidh on the 1st of June. Yetminster Irish Dancers will be there to put on a show and Anne Knobbs will sing us songs from the 50's. Tickets are £7 from The Abbey Pharmacy, Cheap St., Sherborne; The Sweeterie, Middle St., Yeovil and from our PO Box. You can also [contact details removed]. Bring your own food. There will be the usual well-stocked bar run by Mark Williams.
Sponsored Walk
Every couple of years or so I do a sponsored walk for charity. This time it's for 'The Children of Fiji' and I will be walking down the River Parrett in Somerset on the 18th of August. We did a concert earlier in the year for the charity, which is run by Peter & Margaret Long of Cattistock in Dorset and I became intrigued by their drive, enthusiasm and plans. Originally they went to Fiji in November 1999 to help 40 children in a home but since then they have adopted every child on the Island with the object of providing some of the essentials for their education such as books, pencils etc. They persuaded Lakeland pencils for instance to give them product which was not quite up to standard and 30,000 pencils appeared on their doorstep. Airlines and carriers have been very good as well. If you wish to help by sponsoring me you can send a cheque made out to 'Children of Fiji' to the PO Box. I will, of course, have information with me at our concerts etc. as well.
Old Yetties LPs
I have sent quite a few of these to good homes (about £400 worth) in the last year and this money has gone to Halsway Manor Folk Centre. At the moment I have some 'Yetties of Yetminster,' 'Our Friends' and 'Dorset Is Beautiful' The rest seem to pass through my hands at a high rate of knots. If you are interested either to donate or to purchase please [contact details removed].
Bonny