OLD Hardyeans are being sought for a special event in Dorchester next month. The old boys of Hardye's School, which was in Culliford Road from 1954 to 1992, and Old Grammarians from pre-1954 plus ex-students of the Thomas Hardye School will be gathering
BARDS have until the end of the month to enter a new poetry competition being run by the Thomas Hardy Society to commemorate Hardy scholar James Gibson. The contest offers thousands of pounds in prize money and may become a regular event for the society
A MUSIC teacher and concert pianist faces jail after being found guilty of indecent assault and sexual activity with a child. Ian Huw Garland, 30, of Stonechat Close, Weymouth, had denied four charges of sexual activity with a boy, 15. He also denied
When some drivers reach a "certain" age, the need for seat-of-the-pants thrills can become a little tempered by the needs of, er, your seat. It's nice to have a serious bit of fun on the road but later you'll want to calm down and relax with a few more
STAFF from Poundbury Systems Limited handed proceeds over to charities after raising £400. The Dorchester-based information technology firm sent electronic cards at Christmas and donated money it would have spent to charity. It split the proceeds between
STAFF from Cresta Leisure in Dorchester have scooped two honours at industry awards. The swimming pool and hot tub specialist did the double when prizes were awarded at the Swimming Pool and Allied Trade Association (SPATA) annual conference. The Railway
FIRMS in Dorset were today warned of new corporate manslaughter legislation coming into force in April. Parts of the legislation are set to place a greater emphasis on the senior management of a business or organisation and their duty of care. The Corporate
In the last few years, Peugeot has been a front-runner in terms of new models, updated models and styling cues. As the owner of more than one Peugeot in the dim and distant past, I was interested to see how the latest productions compare with the long-running
The Splash is Suzuki's all-new mini-mpv and is the fourth model to encompass the practicality and fun styling initiated three years ago with the Swift. There's a range of four models, a GLS 1.2-litre manual, GLS+ 1.2, an auto version of the GLS+ and
THREE Dorset firms secured slots in the new Buyout Track 100 lists. Sea Life Centre's owner Merlin Entertainments, superyacht builder Sunseeker and wallpaper and paint maker Farrow & Ball featured in the new list from the Sunday Times. Farrow & Ball
Woodland Trust gives trees to scouts THE First Beaminster Scouts' base will be green and pleasant in future after a donation of trees from the Woodland Trust. Scouts, beavers and cubs, helped by a number of parents, planted 80 trees - ash, cherry, maple
A NEW vision was set out today to transform Weymouth and Portland by 2016. The nine-point plan has been developed by the Weymouth and Portland Partnership after several stages of research and consultation. It is entitled Your Place, Our Future: 125
Thousands of local residents took up last year's offer, here's your chance to get this year's Privilege Pass! The pass will entitle holders to £2.50 entry at any time of the year (current admission is £12.95). Getting your Privilege pass to SEA LIFE
THE people's bank' has passed a landmark £1 million of loans handed out since its launch. Officials from the First Dorset Credit Union revealed the figure as the group's annual report was published. The organisation hailed a successful year of helping
INCREASING numbers of people are being diagnosed with eating disorders at the Dorset County Hospital. Figures released by the Dorchester hospital show numbers of sufferers have increased six-fold in the last five years. During 2003 four patients there
AN ELDERLY man has dropped his appeal against a council enforcement notice ordering him to clear up debris from a fire-ravaged site in Cerne Abbas. Site owner John Gordon, 79, was due to appear this month at a magistrates court hearing in Weymouth over
A BUMPER crowd enjoyed a host of big band favourites at a fundraiser for scouts in Dorchester's Corn Exchange. The Purbeck Big Band delighted the audience with numbers from the likes of Glenn Miller, Count Basie and Duke Ellington in a night of entertainment
MEMBERS of HMS Portland put themselves through the pain barrier to raise £1,788 in aid of Weymouth Lifeboat. Paul Birch said they tackled everything from riding a bike to weight lifting and general physical exercise during their 24-hour marathon effort
Anyone who has employed a builder knows that as sure as eggs are eggs the price agreed at the outset of a contract is rarely the price charged at the end. So are we surprised when Howard Holdings announces it wants an extra £30 million to work on the
DRIVERS - do not blame the road. That was the message today from Dorset County Council road safety chiefs trying to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured in car crashes in the county. Team leader Rob Smith said the death toll would
GOVERNMENT plans to tackle violent crime have been criticised in Dorset for not addressing the root of the problem. The Dorset Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said proposals announced by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith are nothing
COUNCILLORS face crucial decisions on job cuts and parking charges on Thursday when they meet to thrash out Weymouth and Portland's budget for 2008-2009. They are looking at a raft of measures which include service cuts, Pavilion efficiency savings
THESE maps show the death and injury toll on Dorset's roads. Road safety chiefs at Dorset County Council have called on drivers to change their habits and take responsibility behind the wheel. They are dedicated to reducing the number of people killed
Once again, the Wey Valley School has scored a hit - I refer to their excellent production of Oliver', at Weymouth Pavilion. At a time when young people receive so much criticism it is uplifting to see what can be achieved when hard work, humour and
ABBOTSBURY Swannery workers are quietly confident their bird flu nightmare could soon be over. No dead swans have tested positive for the lethal strain of the H5N1 virus at the reserve for three weeks. An announcement from the Department for Environment
A NEW, high-energy production of the popular rock musical Godspell is coming to Bournemouth in time for Easter. Often considered - wrongly - as the poor relation of Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell is a fantastic, rousing slice of entertainment with
A MUSIC teacher described a former friend as one of the most amoral people' he had ever met while giving evidence at Dorchester Crown Court. Prosecutor Robert Griffiths asked Ian Huw Garland if he said that about her because she had expressed concerns
WEYMOUTH first-team skipper Dean Janaway is looking forward to the club's forthcoming three-week tour of New Zealand. The Seasiders will fly out on March 1 and visit both Christ-church and Queenstown, playing three matches over the course of their stay
WHY do people set themselves the task of getting fit in January? Think about it - it's the worst possible time of year. The weather is miserable, the days are dark and when it comes to a toss-up between a trip to the gym or an evening on the sofa with
DORCHESTER Cricket Club look set to secure the services of all-rounder Dan Belt from Weymouth. The Dorset county player is yet to officially join the county town side but says he is "95 per cent sure" of becoming the club's third signing of the close
BRIDPORT will be looking to build on Saturday's last-gasp draw when they welcome Hengrove Athletic to St Mary's Field tonight in Toolstation Western League Division One (7.45pm). The Bees, playing their second home game in succession, salvaged a point
CHICKERELL'S domination of the Dorset Senior League continued at Weymouth College where they stretched their winning run to 13 games. Even defender Michael Coombes got in on the act at Cranford Avenue, scoring the pick of the goals with an incredible
WEYMOUTH Sports bounced back from last week's disappointment with an emphatic 8-0 victory over Broadmayne at Dorchester Rec. Sports were on the wrong end of a heavy defeat seven days previous when they were overwhelmed 6-1 by Bournemouth University,
WHILE The Damned may not have gone down in history as the greatest Hammer flick ever made, the film still has a place in the hearts of many residents of Weymouth and Portland. A deluge of responses followed Looking Back's appeal for information on the
ROYAL Oak manager Rob Pavey blamed his side's third successive defeat on an inability to turn possession into chances. First half goals from Gregg McKinstry, Nick Preece and an own goal from Chris Howell gave the Tuatara Bar all three points in a 3-
TWENTY people were evacuated from flats in Sherborne after fire broke out today. A spokesman for Dorset Fire and Rescue said the fire started just before 7am at Hillbrook Court in Acreman Street. He said an investigation was under way to find the cause
Southern Counties South DORCHESTER 13 OLDFIELD OLD BOYS 31 A MUCH-IMPROVED performance by a depleted Dorchester side could not prevent high-flying Oldfield from taking two Southern Counties South points at Coburg Road. Injuries and unavailability
Dorset & Wilts Division One SWANAGE & WAREHAM II 12 WEYMOUTH 18 WEYMOUTH captain Tony Worle labelled his side's victory over runaway leaders Swanage & Wareham II as the best performance he has seen at the club. The Seasiders became the first team
Dorset & Wilts Division One South NORTH DORSET II 17 PUDDLETOWN 12 PUDDLETOWN were left reeling after two crucial decisions by the referee went against them at North Dorset II. The hosts continued their recent good run of form in Dorset & Wilts One
NOT everyone can float like a butterfly and sting like a bee but at a Boxercise class you don't have to. Stick at it, and one day you will feel you are the greatest'. This is boxing training for everyone and for one night a week Weymouth Amateur Boxing
WHO knew that potatoes could be so fascinating? Lots of people in Drimpton apparently. The Clapton, Wayford and District Horticultural Society held its first ever Potato Day and it was so successful another has been booked for next year. Vice chairman
LOOKING at my calendar the other day and experiencing the realisation that there is now only two months to go until we take to the streets of London was a sobering thought. I have come a long way in a relatively short space of time since I started my
