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October 2023 October 2023
Andy: We would like to continue developing as a community hub and use the BERE REGIS HISTORY SOCIETY
facilities for other local events. For example, the Old Club House is used by the WI
once a month and the Rainbows and Brownies every Monday.
Spitfires Over Bere ..... Again
In October we are taking part in the Purbeck Film Festival and will be showing the
film “Champions” about a basketball coach. We are also hoping to have a film On a few days in June and July 2023 the village was rocked by
show every two months, outside when the weather is good enough, starting on the sound of Merlin and Griffin engines coming from Spitfire
September 30th. aircraft and a few other aircraft. On the 29th June I was
fortunate to be in West Street, when that sound came again,
Janey: Are you both still playing sport? and looking up, the unmistakeable shape of a Supermarine
Spitfire again roared up above me, swerving and sweeping,
Andy: I play cricket for the Dorset over 60s now and I lead the junior cricket then gently turning again to head north-west. Each time I had
programmes. not been quick enough to take a photo, but I did manage it, at the last moment,
Peter: I used to play football and cricket. But now I just play golf. I enjoy it for the on 10 June 2023 as it disappeared over the roof-tops.
camaraderie, and it keeps the brain cells going! It reminded me that my father had told me that Bere had been "beaten up" by
Details: Spitfires before, but this time in 1940 and 1941. The sons of the village headmaster,
Mr Whiteside, both regularly zoomed over the village and the head's house at
Bere Regis Sports Club is open to anyone to join as a member. If you feel you can Snow Hill after taking off from Warmwell Aerodrome nearby. Apparently they had
contribute as a part of a team, coach or manger, please make contact using the both deliberately zeroed in on their father's house, perhaps to raise morale
details in the directory section of this magazine. locally. Warmwell was about 6 miles South of the village, so just a couple of
The film “Champions” starring Woody Harrelson, will be shown on Tuesday 31 minutes away. Neither of the boys survived the war and are buried in the village
October at the Bere Regis Sports Club, The Jessie Harvey Pavilion. Tickets are £7 or cemetery.
£5.50 for students and Under 25s and available online from the Purbeck Film I later found that the
Festival website purbeckfilm.com Spitfires of 2023 had flown
out of Compton Abbas
ai rfi e l d, n orth of
Blandford, recently
bought by film director
Guy Ritchie and who was
charging passengers
£2,975 for rides which
went to the South coast,
about Lulworth, then
along the coast to the Isle
Spitfire over Bere in 2023 of Wight, back via Hurn,
then again across Bere
Regis about 15 minutes
later, then back to
Compton Abbas. It was
very exiting too, for us on
the ground.

John Pitfield, Projects Secretary

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