The beautiful Spring sunshine beamed into the room where nearly 60 members enjoyed an excellent lunch cooked and served by the staff of Highlands End Leisure Club. The first social occasion of the year was held in early March and greatly appreciated by everyone who attended - as can be judged from the following photographs of some of the happy diners.

Thanks goes to Valerie Gierth and Mick Holgate for their efficient organisation.

Smiles ...	... and ...
...sunshine ...	... made ...
... for a ...	... happy ...
... atmosphere ...	... while ...
... members ...	... eagerly ...
... anticipated ...	... their meals.
Judging ...	... from ...
... the buzz ...	... of the ...
... chatter ...	... friendships ...
... were renewed ...	... and new ...
... friends ...	... made.

Major Derek J Parsons TD, one of our Life-Vice-Presidents, celebrated his 90th Birthday in early February at a tea party organised by his many friends in the village of Burton Bradstock.

Photographs by Mike Southgate.

Derek Parsons with his wife Val arrive with their son.	Performing an important task!
The President expressing the Centre's members appreciation of Derek.	Thanks for a memorable day in celebration of a wonderful life.
Chris Walliker, Yvonne Welch and Roland Moss representing the Centre . . .	... along with Sally Moss, Helen Mann and Barry Welch.

A little bit of rain wasn't enough to dampen the enthusiasm of 40 members for a much anticipated visit to Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard's Victorian Festival of Christmas. There was so much to see that even a 5 hour visit wasn't long enough to fit it all in.

The first thing we saw on leaving the coach was HMS Warrior.	Through the gates we were greated by a couple of prisoners with their guard.
Along the road there were Victorian children singing carols ...	... and a group of protestors calling for women's rights.
These women here were more interested in earning money from passing 'trade'!	Inside a music hall another group of youngsters were ...
... entertaining an appreciative audience.	This gentleman didn't say very much ...
... and this trader wasn't raising much interest in his offer to sell the boy.	Up several flights of stairs we could see an actual sail from HMS Victory.
Outside again there was a steam train just waiting to take people on a ride.	HMS Victory itself was open for inspection ...
... of great interest to at least two of our group.	From the deck of the Victory tempting stalls were visible on the dockside.
Although there was no real rain during our visit we did find snow!	It seemed strange that it was only snowing in one particular area ...
... but it certainly created a very authentic scene ...	... and made the idea of being indoors feel most appealing!
As day turned into night HMS Warrior was seasonally illuminated ...	... as was the Spinnaker tower in the background.

The coach on our return journey was strangely quiet - while members rested their feet and thought about the glimpses they'd seen of the Victorian era.

On a wet miserable Saturday morning all was light and warmth in the Hall of the United Church in Bridport where we held our annual Autumn Coffee Morning. As well as tea, coffee and biscuits there was also on offer homemade cakes, good quality gifts, NT seasonal items, a guess the weight of a Christmas cake competition and a raffle. All this raised in excess of £225 which will be handed over to the West Dorset NT staff for use in our area.

Time for tea and a chat ...	before browsing the gift table ...
or choosing a homemade cake for tea.