Archive

  • Dorchester teachers are up for digital education awards

    TWO teachers at Dorchester schools have been shortlisted for a regional award that celebrates the best in digital education. Gary Spracklen, acting assistant headteacher at Prince of Wales First School, and Richard Scott, media development manager at

  • Rail union to hold ballot over Olympic travel disruptions

    WEYMOUTH-WATERLOO operator South West Trains is standing firm on a pay deal in a dispute which threatens to disrupt travel during the Olympics. Transport union the RMT is trying to negotiate a deal for workers who it says will face additional

  • Bridport councillors' worries over new code of conduct

    COUNCILLORS are being asked to adopt a new code of conduct under the new Localism Act. But Bridport politicians are concerned that this involves disclosing their partners or spouses’ interests too. A full council meeting recently town clerk Bob Gillis

  • Crowds set to flock to Bovington Tank Museum festival

    BUMPER crowds are expected to flock to Bovington’s Tank Museum this weekend as the history of armoured warfare rumbles into life. The charity is hosting its 10th Tankfest event – widely regarded as the finest armoured military vehicle show on the planet

  • Revamped Sandsfoot Castle will open this weekend

    AN HISTORIC monument given a 21st century facelift will reopen this weekend. Sandsfoot Castle is opening up as part of the Tudor Fayre on Sunday in the gardens off Old Castle Road, Weymouth. The castle, which dates back to 1539, was

  • Dorset County Hospital to reveal plan for sailing Olympics

    DORSET County Hospital’s role in the sailing Olympics will be revealed on Wednesday. Members of the DCH Foundation Trust will hear its preparations during talks at Weymouth Community Fire Station. Trust chairman Dr Jeffrey Ellwood will

  • New access rights open up Jurassic Coast path to Portland

    RAMBLERS can enjoy a rejuvenated stretch of coastal path on the Jurassic Coast as new access rights come into force today. Improvements have been made to the area between Lulworth Cove and Rufus Castle on Portland as the first part of a national project

  • Dorset foursome in Punto on 10,000-mile trip to Asia

    THREE boys, one girl and an elderly Fiat Punto called Bruce are taking on the challenge of a 10,000-mile charity drive to Mongolia. Maria Robinson and Steve Crabtree from Bridport, David Dignam and Tom Brain are joining forces to take part in the Mongol

  • Furore over cost of new school uniforms for Portland Academy

    A FURIOUS row has broken out over the cost of new uniform prices for Portland Academy students. Parents have received a letter saying that the uniform must be bought from a specialist schoolwear supplier. They say it will cost them around £50 extra

  • Miriam Margolyes brings Dickens' women to life at Bridport

    THE first time Miriam Margolyes came to the south west she was a teenager posing nude for Augustus John. This time round, the ebullient actress is coming to Dorset with the one-woman show Dickens’ Women, in which she breathes life into 23 of the author

  • Bridport Hospital opens its doors to put fears at rest

    AFTER the furore surrounding proposed cuts to services at Bridport Hospital, it opened its doors to the public to get the message across that it is alive and well. Following the announcement of cuts to services, a campaign to fight them was launched

  • Cyclist, 51, dies after collision

    A CYCLIST has died after a collision with a car. Dorset Police are asking for witnesses to the incident on the A30 Babylon Hill, Sherborne to come forward. It happened at around 5.40pm yesterday when a blue Toyota driven by a 24-year-old Sherborne man

  • The Doors are flying off the handle in Weymouth

    LIFE, as profoundly summarised by that great contemporary philosopher Ronan Keating, is indeed a roller coaster. You queue for ages and when it’s your turn to have a go, you’re left feeling sick, is what I think he’s trying to convey to us.

  • What would Bill Bryson say now?

    Bill Bryson, author of Notes from a Small Island visited Weymouth in the early 90s and commented that he liked the town a good deal more than he expected to, and that it tried to maintain an air of Georgian elegance. He is known for his caustic, and

  • 2,012 to carry a flame for beach spectacular

    ORGANISERS of the Battle for the Winds are celebrating after 2,012 people have signed up to be Fire Torch Waders for the show’s grand finale. Groups of 100 volunteers at a time will wade into the sea on Saturday, July 28, carrying flaming torches as

  • We are up for it and raring to go

    We went to a very enjoyable show at the Pavilion the other day. It was packed full of people of all ages, all looking excited, smiling, some slightly overwhelmed but chattering away to complete strangers in the aisles. Not a usual theatre show we

  • Collection raised £223 for charity

    On behalf of the South West Dorset Talking Newspaper for the Visually Impaired, I would like to thank everyone who supported our recent collection at Morrisons in Weymouth. We raised a total of £223.44. I know there are always so many different

  • Olympic update: Art workshops; torch relay

    Arts workshops YOUNG people on Portland are being invited to help make 1,000 butterflies at a free art event this Saturday. An Olympic-themed workshop will be taking place at Fancys Farm from 1pm until 3pm, run by Dorset Scrap and Lorna Rees, pictured

  • Terras capture ex-Yeovil winger

    LEWIS Clarke has agreed to become the latest recruit at the Bob Lucas Stadium and will put pen to paper at tonight’s sponsors evening. The 18-year-old winger, who was released by Yeovil Town in May, enjoyed a successful loan spell at the Terras last

  • Simkin is geared up for pre-season

    PHIL Simkin is counting down the days until his charges report back for pre-season training. The Magpies are due to hold their first session of the summer next Thursday evening and the county town boss cannot wait to get started. He said: “We start

  • Trotter: Stalbridge trip will be no walk in the Park

    DAVE Trotter is expecting a tough test at second-bottom Stalbridge tomorrow (1.30pm), where Weymouth will be taking nothing for granted. The Seasiders have looked much improved this season but they are still struggling for consistency with the bat –

  • Chance to relax for ace Ainslie

    AS THE pressure and expectation reaches almost unmanageable levels ahead of the Olympic Games – Team GB medal hopeful Ben Ainslie can’t wait for a rare opportunity to relax ahead of London 2012, writes Ben Baker. Ainslie will make his final public appearance

  • Dorchester turn to Will-Power at Poole

    DORCHESTER will tomorrow hand a first-team debut to 13-year-old Will Caldwell. The rising star began the season with the county town thirds but a host of superb displays have caught the eye of senior skipper Martyn Richards. And the latter has no qualms

  • Success search for Seasiders

    WINLESS Weymouth Seconds will be hoping for a change of fortunes tomorrow when they entertain Beaminster at Redlands (2pm). Having scratched a game earlier this month, the Seasiders currently sit 57 points adrift at the basement and in desperate need

  • Woman injured after building site accident

    A WOMAN was taken to hospital with crush injuries after an accident on a building site. Wyke Coastguard Rescue team, Dorset Fire and Rescue and the South Western Ambulance Service worked together to evacuate the woman. The accident happened