Archive

  • Dorchester pupils gets to grips with the media

    YOUNGSTERS have been getting to grips with the media industry at an event in Dorchester. A total of 16 young people from across the county took part in the media training day at the Dorchester Youth and Community Centre in Kings Road. As well as writing

  • Free iPhone app promotes Dorset tourism

    VISITORS to Dorset are now able to take advantage of a new tourism iPhone app. Visit Dorset has launched the free app, which offers tips on things going on and places to visit in the county. The app, which is designed to be used by local residents as

  • New sign on Weymouth Relief Road celebrates twinning links

    GROUPS are delighted a sign is finally up at the gateway to Weymouth celebrating the area’s twinning links. It has taken months for Dorset County Council to act following pressure from the associations representing Weymouth and Portland’s twin towns

  • Pensioner spat at by youths in North Dorset

    A PENSIONER was verbally abused and spat at by a group of youths, police said. The 70-year-old woman was assaulted in High Street, Gillingham, on Monday afternoon. PC Mike Henstridge, of Gillingham police, said: “This is a particularly

  • Dorchester gymnast’s team in chance of £100k TV prize

    A GYMNAST from Dorchester is limbering up for a television appearance on a new sports talent show. Liam Gallagher, of Alfred Place, Fordington, will be appearing on ITV’s Let’s Get Gold on Friday when his gymnastic team Infinity performs on the show

  • Soldier killed in Afghanistan

    A DORSET-trained soldier was among three British forces personnel killed by a man wearing a police uniform in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defence said three British soldiers were killed at a checkpoint by a man wearing an Afghan police uniform. The

  • Revamped Sandsfoot Castle opens its gates for Tudor fayre

    A CELEBRATORY mood was in the air as families enjoyed a historic site that has been closed to the public for 80 years. More than 1,000 people are thought to have come through the gates at Sandsfoot Castle for the Tudor Fayre on Sunday. The Grade II-listed

  • Reunion: The Rod family

    A WEYMOUTH and Portland family had a reunion for 180 family members. The Rod family, also spelt Rodd, met up at Jubilee Hall Conservative Club Easton Portland for their first ever reunion. Many members of the family had not met before. Most of the family

  • Dorset habitats brought to big screen

    DORSET'S landscapes and wildlife are hitting the really big screen this summer with 360 degree Olympic screenings. Two new films by Dorset Wildlife Trust will be showing at the ICCI360 Arena in Weymouth as part of The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad by

  • The diamond wedding of: Marjorie and Albert Gale

    YOUNG Marjorie Blandford only lived in South Street, just across the road from St Mary’s Church in Bridport – but she still managed to be late for her wedding! Anxious groom Albert Gale must have forgiven her because on June 28 Mr and Mrs Gale celebrated

  • The diamond wedding of: Roger and Fay Hellaby

    A COUPLE who first met roller skating have just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Fay and Roger Hellaby, from Radipole, met when they were just 15 and 17 years old when they were partnered together in the Weymouth Roller Skating Revellers.

  • Electric buses launched in Poundbury

    A GROUNDBREAKING new green bus service has hit the road in Poundbury. The first ever fully electric bus service in the south of England is now operating between the development and Dorchester town centre. Prince Charles tested one of the two electric

  • Warning over new fishing restrictions in Lyme Bay

    RESTRICTIONS on shellfish pots in Lyme Bay could spell the end of the industry, a merchant has warned. Conservation charity the Blue Marine Foundation yesterday introduced a voluntary code of conduct which restricts the amount of gear used by each fisherman

  • The tale of Grannie Wallis

    THE pictures of Queen Elizabeth II visiting Weymouth with her parents in 1939 (Looking back, June 5 and June 12) caused quite a bit of correspondence. One of the people the royal family met was ‘Grannie’ Mary Levena Wallis, who was the oldest woman in

  • Three men in a boat has brought back memories

    WE published this photograph on June 12 and it brought back some wonderful childhood memories for Derby resident Marianne Morris. It turns out that the vessel was called Dauntless and the three men in the boat were her grandfather Harold Warren on the

  • Olympic preparation: Come rain or shine...

    EXCITED pupils escorted the torch on the first day of their very own torch relay. From the opening ceremony at the Nothe Fort the torch was taken to Weymouth College by runner Maria Lochrie and her team. It was then handed along a human

  • A step back in time

    KEEN historians Geoffrey Pritchard and Andy Hutchings have written a fabulous photographic book charting the development of Weymouth over the years. Weymouth and Portland Then and Now in Colour is a hardback book crammed with images of iconic places

  • Crime up in Dorset after police cuts

    CRIME in Dorset is rising as savage cuts to the police force take hold, it has emerged. Inspectors found that in the first year of savage cuts being forced on Dorset Police there was a rise in general crime locally as well as increases in robbery and

  • Weymouth assault woman given suspended sentence

    A SINGLE mother who threw a plastic glass in one young woman’s face and assaulted another has received a suspended prison sentence. Kirsty Roberts, also known as Kirsty Druitt, was sentenced at Dorchester Crown Court for the offences at Dolce

  • Our Olympic Team: Stuart Bithell, Portland's 470 sailor

    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

  • Olympic sailors compete in Round the Island Race

    THE Olympic clock might be ticking faster than ever but Hannah Mills has been used to racing against time ever since she joined forces with Saskia Clark. Last weekend the duo, who have enjoyed a whirlwind 17 months since joining forces in February 2011

  • Weymouth's Carnival Queen contest needs more entrants

    ORGANISERS of Weymouth’s Carnival Queen competition are appealing for more entrants to sign up as the date draws near. The choosing of the three finalists will take place at a glamorous ceremony to be held on Saturday at Banus nightclub on the Esplanade

  • Easy way to deal with roundabouts

    I read the piece in the Echo about Dorset wanting companies to adopt a roundabout. I would suggest that they all be dug up and replaced by traffic lights. Charles Baker, Easton, Portland

  • Where to park for Pavilion shows?

    ALL the car parks will be closing for at least a month from the middle of July, in particular the Pavilion car park. This is going to have a major effect on local people attending any of the shows on at The Pavilion. Perhaps the Echo could find out

  • Well done to the pilot gig's crew

    Congratulations to the crew of the Weymouth pilot gig Sir Tristan for their oarmanship and endurance during the adverse conditions of the Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant. The barge’s crew of Nelson’s flagship would have been proud of you! RF Eggleton

  • Action is needed to stop injuries

    I am a local resident and lived in Weymouth all my life and have seen Weymouth change over the years, especially the improved walkways, in particular the improvements to King Street. As a driver and pedestrian, I pass thought King Street on a regularly

  • There aren't too many finer places

    I MUST reply to Francesca Bell’s letter ‘let’s stop all the negativity’. I am not at all surprised at the ‘backlash’ of comments her letter received. Weymouth residents, like any other community in this country have reasons to whinge about changes

  • Olympic 2012 updates: Support, in concert and volunteer

    Support DJ Rob da Bank showed his support for Britain’s most successful Olympic sailor at the JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. The Radio 1 star sported the Ben and Rita socks, in port and starboard colours in Cowes, ahead of racing

  • Dorchester couple show its never too late to get married

    A DORCHESTER couple proved it’s never too late to find love when they tied the knot. Lynn Windsor, 66, and Norman Purchase, 89, saved up for ages so they could push the boat out on their lavish event. The happy couple celebrated their love story surrounded

  • Avenue kick-off for Magpies

    PHIL Simkin may have got his wish in terms of a home game on the opening day of the forthcoming campaign but he is under no illusions about the strength of the opposition. New Eastbourne Borough boss Tommy Widdrington has certainly been splashing the

  • Simon signs off in style for Seasiders

    STALBRIDGE 231-9 (9pts) lost to WEYMOUTH 232-8 (19pts) by two wickets SIMON Browne brought the curtain down on his season by helping lead Weymouth to a two-wicket success at The Park. The experienced all-rounder, who will now return

  • Dorchester youngsters shine bright in Poole defeat

    POOLE TOWN 153 (18pts) beat DORCHESTER 138 (10pts) by 15 runs DORCHESTER’S talented teens went desperately close to pulling off a dramatic victory at Poole Park. Due to unavailabilities, the visitors included six under-19s in their line-up and they

  • Ironman Andy records personal best on French Riviera

    ANDY Sloan produced a personal best time whilst competing in Ironman France in Nice. The personal trainer from Weymouth lined up alongside 2,700 other competitors at the event and completed the 2.4-mile open water sea swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2

  • Weymouth winners called up to Team GB

    ZARA Dampney and Shauna Mullin, who won the Weymouth Classic in 2010, will represent Great Britain at London 2012, the British Olympic Association has announced. The London Games will be the first time Team GB has been represented in beach