THANK YOU AND A HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS
As we rapidly approach Christmas and with 2020 just round the corner, it is an appropriate moment to pause and reflect on another good year for the HUB. Nothing would be possible without the loyal support of you our customers so we thank you most sincerely for your custom and your commitment to this community enterprise which we are pleased to say goes from strength to strength. We hope that this will continue in 2020 when Tony and his team will be doing all they can to meet your needs and seek to improve our products and service wherever we can.

CHRISTMAS ORDERS
Please note that orders for turkeys, meat, fish, fruit and vegetables should be made by Saturday 7^th December at the latest. You can either ring us or fill in the forms that are now available in the shop.  The cut off for collection is Monday 23^rd December and as we do not have long-term cold storage facilities, so it is important not to miss this deadline. And talking of Christmas we are now stocking wrapping paper, decorations, and a variety of novelty items which we suspect will be of interest to Father Christmas as he makes his plans to fill stockings in the Chalke Valley.

NEW TEAM LEADERS STARTING SHORTLY
We are delighted to welcome both Dawn Henderson and Rebecca Twig as our new team leaders in the coffee shop.  They join Kate Woollven and Nicky Matthews who have both settled in to their new roles very well.  With this strengthened team we are much better placed to continue providing the quality of service we strive to achieve,  BUT…..

WE DO STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS
This is a constant message but an important one as without our wonderful volunteers the HUB could not function. Inevitably some volunteers feel they have done it for long enough, some move elsewhere or family commitments pull them in other directions.  This is perfectly understandable and we thank those moving on most sincerely for their involvement. From time to time this leaves us with a few gaps which have been ably filled by our permanent staff but this is not a long-term solution so if you or anyone you know, would like volunteer, then please contact Tony who will talk you through what is involved.  If you know a volunteer already please talk to them and hear their first hand experience. We are confident they will tell you it is rewarding, fun and a worthwhile way of contributing to the local community.

THE KNIT AND NATTER GROUP….
….meet in the HUB mostly on Thursdays and sometimes Tuesday as well. The clue is in the name! Recently this splendid group had a sale in the coffee shop of the items they had made in 2019 and in the process. raised a magnificent £540 for the Salisbury branch of Parkinson’s UK.  We are always delighted to provide a venue for such occasions especially when the merchandise on sale is “home grown”.

The group also knitted some lovely poppies which were displayed on the railings in front of the shop leading up to Remembrance Sunday.

If you would like to join the group please contact Reina Musselwhite on 01722 781264.

A NEW SUPPLIER OF CAKES
We now stock a variety of cakes supplied to us by the National Trust’s own cake maker. These range from Red Velvet, Dorset Apple, Eccles cake and Muffins.  These have proved a huge success so if you haven’t tried one yet, wait no longer…treat yourself!

A SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR OUR CHEESE SUPPLIER
The Boot and Bucket cheese company, who have been supplying the HUB since shortly after they started their business just over a year ago, were a finalist in the 2019 Dorset, Food and Drink & Farming Awards. Congratulations to them on this achievement.  We are delighted to have supported this new company and contributed in some small way to their success.  This is a good example of our commitment to local produce and one which we always seek to expand whenever a new supplier of the right quality comes to our attention. Expect to find two of their new cheeses available in the shop as Christmas Specials.

CAROLS AND LIGHTING UP THE CHRISTMAS TREE
This very popular family event will take place, as usual, in front of the HUB on Friday 6^th December starting at 5.45. Carol singing will be lead by the wonderful Broad Chalke School choir. So wrap up warm and come along for some hearty singing and meeting local friends.  Afterwards you are invited to the Queen’s Head next door where you will be welcomed by Max and Paul with a tempting array of seasonal drinks and eats.

CHRISTMAS OPENING TIMES

December           Shop           Coffee Shop       Post Office

24^th                   8.30-1pm   8.30-12noon       Closed

25^th                   closed        closed                closed

26^th                   closed        closed                closed

27^th                   8.30-1pm   9am-12noon       closed

28^th                   8.30-1pm   9am-12noon       closed

29^th                   closed        closed                closed

30^th                   8.30-1pm   closed                closed

31^st                   8.30-1pm   closed                closed

January

1^st                     closed        closed                closed

2^nd                    8.30-6pm   9am-4.30pm       9am-1pm

QUOTES FROM THE VISITORS BOOK
“a lovely find, we will be back” (from Tokyo)
“peaceful, delicious food, easy to get into with my frame, comfy chairs and so friendly”
“wonderful atmosphere, food and company. Fantastic in every way”