CHRISTMAS got off to a flying start with our Candlelit Carols followed by delicious Wassail in the Hall – not yet all sung out, the Salvation Army came to The Elm Tree and led us through the old favourites around a lit brazier – afterwards it was hot
CATTISTOCK WI will hold its next book group meeting on Monday, January 9, when ‘Birthday’ by Alan Sillitoe will be discussed. Thanks go to Liz Warren, who has worked so hard to provide the group with such a wide range of books of varying standards
A disappointed Terry Butcher rang me to say that the council have decided not to re-open the toilets in the shopping precinct. Despite a heroic campaign to get over 1,000 signatures on the petitions he distributed at his own expense, the council management
BUDDING birdwatchers should keep their eyes out for a new course starting this month. The Wild about Weymouth and Portland partnership is running another Birdwatching for Beginners course. The classes, to be held on four consecutive Tuesdays, are free
The year of 2011 saw record breaking heat waves send- ing beach lovers flocking to Weymouth – but not in the summer. Rainfall for the months of June, July and August was a whopping 41 per cent above average, with August being recorded as the wettest
SPARE tools are needed for a training project for young people. Transition Town Bridport (TTB) and the Bridport Local Area Skills Training (BLAST) will be running courses for unemployed 18 to 24-year-olds to teach them basic practical skills. The
AN ELEPHANT statue, an Olympic torch and Oriental treasures are among the discoveries to go under the hammer at Duke’s in Dorchester in the past year. The auction house continues to thrive despite the economic climate, with no shortage of both
A VOLUNTEER has been honoured for her commitment to a first aid charity with a royal order. Terry Shakespeare of Portland has been volunteering with St John Ambulance for 26 years and has been invested into the Order of St John at a ceremony in London
THE WEYMOUTH Lifeboat rescued an injured woman from a Brittany Ferry on the way to Spain with a suspected fractured hip. Portland Coastguards were asked to assist vessel Pont Aven enroute from Portsmouth to Santander Spain after the passenger slipped
A SHARK which was saved at West Bay was later found dead washed up on the beach at Burton Bradstock. Brave Jeannette Longley waded into the water to drag the 6ft long fish – believed to be a blue shark – back into the water after spotting it at West
TWO special constables in Dorset have resigned and a PC was disciplined for inappropriate use of social networking websites. Nationally, at least two officers have been sacked, seven quit and 150 were disciplined after posting inappropriate photos or
A COMMUNITY interest company is showing its support for a networking exhibition. Open4Business, which works to benefit Dorset businesses, is backing the forthcoming Business Connections exhibition. The exhibition, to be held on January 20, has already
FOR this young family, welcoming the Olympic Flame to Dorset on its UK tour is as much about personal heritage as it is national pride. Emily Hammick, 35, is the granddaughter of Commodore Douglas Neame, an Olympic athlete who brought the torch in a
A LORRY was blown over, trees were uprooted and power lines brought down as a violent storm battered Dorset. There was chaos on the roads as carriageways were blocked by fallen trees, debris and even small boats blown off their moorings by
Police are asking Dorset residents if they know the identity of the male body washed up on a beach on Hayling Island in Hampshire on New Year’s Day. Police are now widening the search to Dorset and nearby counties in an attempt to find out who he is.
A DRIVER had a lucky escape after his lorry was blown over in high winds. The 42-year-old had been driving the Perry’s Recycling lorry along the A37 from Yeovil to Dorchester when high winds caught the material-sided lorry and it toppled
BRIDPORT Arts Centre’s new season is guaranteed to brighten up the cold winter months with more events than ever. There is theatre, dance, comedy, live music, community events, exhibitions and an exciting new venture in the café … not to mention very
A FRIEND of suspected knifeman Arron Marshall has appealed for him to hand himself in to police. A manhunt was launched to find the 22-year-old Bridport man following a knife attack near the Londis store at Skilling . Police are seeking Arron Peter
EX-WEYMOUTH chairman George Rolls said according to your report on December 28 ‘it must be the pantomime season’. It is not only the pantomime season, it is the time when as the New Year dawns we look to the future and reminisce too. Many of us have
SKANDIA Team GBR is the British Sailing Team in the Olympic and Paralympic classes. The team consists of the Performance Squad and Development and Transitional squads, which jointly total around 70 sailors. The sailors train and compete across
Save the Children’s annual Christmas invitation coffee morning was a very successful event, but tinged with sadness for many. Our honorary secretary Mrs. Joan Cooknell lost her battle against cancer and the coffee morning had been traditionally
We are most concerned that the present location of the stone ‘pineapples’ at the entrance to the park and ride site is highly inappropriate. As a feature welcoming visitors to Weymouth and Portland, they should be positioned at a suitable site on the
TONIGHT'S match between Dorchester Town Reserves and their Christchurch counterparts has been called off. The Avenue Stadium surface failed a pitch inspection this morning following yesterday's bout of heavy rain. The Magpies are due
ALEX Jeannin believes a clean bill of health is the key to Weymouth’s bid to reach the play-offs in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier. The experienced defender, who made his first two appearances for the club in the recent victories over St Albans City
BRIDPORT RES 3 SHERBORNE RES 1 SUPER sub Ben Clarke came off the bench and netted twice as Bridport Reserves turned the table on basement boys Sherborne Town Reserves at St Mary’s Field. The first half was a bleak affair although both sides
DORCHESTER Town Reserves will be looking to start the New Year with a bang tonight as they play host to Christchurch (7.45pm). Following a two-week break due to the festive period, the Magpies are “champing at the bit” according to boss Robbie Taylor
STURMINSTER MARSHALL 1 CHICKERELL UTD 5 SHANE Sheridan grabbed a hat-trick in only his second appearance for the club as Chickerell United came from behind at Sturminster Marshall in the Magna Dorset Premier League. Daryl Williams put the hosts ahead
WESSEX Karate Academy students Jamie Northover and Liam Heard have successfully gained their 1st Dan Black Belts at the GKI (Go-Ju-Ryu karate International) Gasshuku. The duo were joined by Tom Evans who earned his 2nd Dan Black Belt at the event held
Under-10 WEYMOUTH 3 BRIDPORT 2 WEYMOUTH 8 BRIDPORT 3 WEYMOUTH staged two superb comebacks to overcome Bridport at Monmouth Avenue. Two first-half tries saw the visitors take command of the first game before their opponents came roaring back
