Weymouth Bay Methodist Church are delighted to announce that one of their members, Peter Clarke, is to be an official Olympic Torch Bearer. It is understood that his leg will be in the Chickerell area, but actual firm details are yet to be confirmed
A WEYMOUTH family blighted by cancer will be supporting the fight against the disease when they take on this year’s Dorchester Race for Life. Jayne Lilley, 51, will be joined by her five daughters as she takes on the 5km course at Kingston Maurward College
WEYMOUTH and Dorchester train passengers will be among those to benefit from a new rail alliance. Train company South West Trains and infrastructure operator Network Rail yesterday announced the launch of a new alliance with the aim of delivering
HUNDREDS of people turned out in force to support the Dorchester Skate Jam event despite poor weather conditions. The annual event offered a wealth of adrenaline-pumping activities to mark the anniversary of the county town skate park’s opening in 2009
Close your eyes and imagine – the sun dappling over you through green fresh leaves, the scent of damp woody earth and spring flowers filling your nose and the sound of birdsong all around. You could only be in one place, a beautiful British woodland
THE RSPB at Weymouth Wetlands nature reserve is celebrating International Dawn Chorus Day on Saturday, May 5, with a walk around Radipole Lake and an introduction to bird song. If you’ve ever wondered why birds sing or found it difficult to tell a robin
A WEYMOUTH man who failed to carry out any of an unpaid work requirement imposed as part of a community order has been jailed for 26 weeks. Benjamin Gough, 36, was sentenced to a 12-month community order in October 2010 with a requirement that he carry
A DISUSED pub is to be converted into a care home. Councillors granted planning permission for the Jolly Sailor Inn in Castletown, Portland, to become a 16-bedroom care home for adults with mental health problems. Councillors gave the plans delegated
A TRIBUTE act is appealing for performers who are gaga about dance to become her little monsters. Leanne Warne, a Lady Gaga impersonator from Weymouth, is looking for backing dancers to join her in her performances. The mum of two, who changed her
Scientists work to unravel dino skull mysteries museum marvels at jurassic jaws VISITORS were given a unique opportunity to get inside a dinosaur’s head at Dorset County Museum. Scientists got up close and personal with the fossilised pliosaur skull
RESIDENTS are being warned to expect ‘increased activity’ on the waters of Weymouth Bay as a training exercise gets under way with the Royal Navy ship HMS Bulwark. The 18,500-tonne vessel, which arrived last night, is taking part in a four-day security
A SHAVED head and full body wax will be the order of the day for a group of brave fundraisers. Staff and regular visitors to the White Hart Pub in Weymouth will host a fundraising night to raise money for Weymouth youngster Max Price and Great Ormond
MOTORCYCLISTS can make sure they ride safely by taking part in a subsidised course this weekend. There are still places available for the two-part BikeSafe course taking place at the Allendale Centre, Wimborne. As the course, starting at 10am, is
DORSET County Hospital has announced it will be opening its dedicated cancer ward to patients tomorrow. Fortuneswell Ward has been specifically developed to care for patients who have cancer and malignant haematology disease. The move is part of a bed
A MOTOR boat caused brief tailbacks when it slid off a trailer at a busy Weymouth crossroads. It was being towed by a black Nissan Navara, registered to a Weymouth man, when it came loose in Westham yesterday afternoon. A Dorset Police spokeswoman
THE court heard how Mrs Billington was now suffering from both the financial and emotional fallout of the dramatic events on January 20. Miss Rickman said that as a result of the oil tanker driving into her house Mrs Billington had been left with substantial
As we all know the street lights are switched off in the early hours but does this money saving scheme give you cause for concern? Do you think twice about going out at night now, in case the lights go out before you get home? Do you think that the
THE man who leapt into the oil-filled tanker and drove it away from the flames was hailed as a ‘very brave person’ by the judge. Judge Jarvis said: “Everybody needs to pay tribute to the actions of Darren Fletcher. “He must have realised there was some
A MAN who rammed an oil tanker full of kerosene into his estranged wife’s home while she was inside has been jailed for seven years. Hugh Robertson Billington, 51, was told by a judge that he acted in ‘a wicked way’ and could have caused an ‘enormous
WEYMOUTH’S Tall Ship Pelican is up for sale on the open market with an asking price of around £2.45million. Smith & Williamson has been appointed receiver to the vessel and internet yacht broker Eastern Yachts.com is advertising the sale. The ship,
HIGHLY acclaimed musicians Imagined Village will be showcasing their brand new album Bending The Dark at the Electric Palace on May 17. Bending the Dark, as a title doesn’t refer to trendy new physics or even Lord of the Rings wizardry, it’s really
WHEN the Olympics descend on Weymouth and Portland this summer they will be the biggest thing to hit the resort for many years. In the late 1980s and 1990s, Weymouth also used to host the hugely-popular Radio 1 Roadshow, which toured seaside resorts
A STAR-STUDDED cast paid Weymouth a visit ahead of this year’s brand new panto experience. The cast of Jack and the Beanstalk put their schedules on hold to get to know each other ahead of the festive show, which is backed by the Dorset Echo. This year
DYB dyb dyb – and these youngsters really did do their best. The picture, left, sent in by Kenny Best, shows the 1st Weymouth Scouts seated around a rather handsome football trophy. It was taken in Weymouth’s Old Town hall opposite the Boot Inn during
CORONATION memories have been sent in by Wendy Andrews of Charminster near Dorchester. The image is of Wendy and her friends performing a dance at Bradford Peverell village hall and had already performed a routine called Coronation Circus Ponies that
A FORMER welder celebrated his 80th birthday with friends and family. Alfred Ernest Dowdell marked the occasion with a family meal at the Seven Stars pub in Wool. And the great-grandfather of three has only just retired. Granddaughter Shelley Carter
A DORSET couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniv-ersary surrounded by family. Ron and Peggy Beale celebrated their 70 years together with a small family party at their house on Portland on April 15. The couple met at a dance in Marnhull when Mr Beale
A DORSET couple had their perfect big day surrounded by friends and family. Ellie Rowsell, 30, a TV producer, and James Harper, 31, a project manager for The Watercress Company, from Winterborne Clenston tied the knot at Higher Melcombe Manor in Melcombe
Portland sailor Luke Patience has told how winning Olympic gold is the first thing he thinks of each morning. The 25-year-old, who has been selected for Team GB for the 2012 Olympics, said he is ‘dreaming big’ in the run up to the Games.
Local elections will soon be upon us and it is a good time to reflect on the performance of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and in particular its management committee. Ten years ago a report found that Weymouth’s ferry service contributed £7.7million
A MAN has told how he climbed into a stream to help an elderly couple who were trapped upside down in their car after it plunged 10ft off a bridge. Derek Bateman smashed the window of the pensioners’ car with a crowbar and reassured the pair. He waited
THIEVES targeted 12 lorries in a spate of fuel thefts in the Dorchester area. Diesel was stolen from six lorries and a fuel tank in a yard in Wanchard Lane, Charminster. Another six lorries at Bardon Aggregates, Warmwell Quarry were also siphoned.
On the Downclose Estate at Wyke, we have had very little improvement or input by council or councillors as they think we’re less important members of society. We were overcome with emotion when a council garden van pulled up at the end of our road,
On behalf of both our charities and its members we wish to record a sincere thank you to the two young ladies, Amy Davies and Nia Kamellaki, who organised and held a fundraising event at Burton Bradstock to benefit our charities as reported in the Echo
On Saturday, April 21, 2012, I fell over and sustained head injuries. I was admitted to Dorset County Hospital. This was the first time I have ever been in hospital in 64 years. I would very much like to thank, if permitted through the Dorset Echo
STEPHEN Reed believes removing Brendon King from the Terras’ hot-seat would be a huge mistake. The 26-year-old is in his third spell at the Bob Lucas Stadium and is adamant the current boss has what it takes to deliver the stability the club
WORLD number one William Fox-Pitt’s hopes of landing the Rolex Grand Slam have been dashed after this weekend’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials were cancelled because of a waterlogged course. The Sturminster Newton star was hoping to be more
CHICKERELL United will lock horns with title-chasing Westland Sports at Cranford Avenue tonight (6.30pm). The Chickens have lost seven of the eight games they have played against the top-four sides in the Magna Dorset Premier League this season
Portland UNITED 4 SWANAGE TOWN & HERSTON 0 STUART Heath has announced he will be stepping down as Portland United boss at the end of the season. The island chief informed the players of his decision prior to Saturday’s 4-0 victory over
WEYMOUTH RESERVES 2 PARLEY SPORTS 0 JAKE Richmond enjoyed watching his side win ugly in their latest outing against Parley Sports. In recent weeks the Terras have not always gained the rewards their efforts have deserved but on this occasion they
WINDSOR 22 DORCHESTER 15 DORCHESTER narrowly failed to finish off an excellent season with promotion to South West One East at Windsor. The county town outfit outscored their hosts by two tries to one but conceded too many penalties in their own twenty-two
Police are investigating after a Weymouth flat is believed to have been deliberately set alight. The fire, in a ground floor flat on Chickerell Road, happened just after 2am this morning. Dorset Fire and Rescue service said two crews from Weymouth attended
DORSET STORM CAVALIERS 83 WEYMOUTH BANDITS 67 WEYMOUTH Tandoori Bandits saw their winning run come to an end at the hands of the Cavaliers. The Bandits entered the clash in buoyant mood, following back-to-back victories, and knew that a third straight
