Archive

  • Grecians in charge

    DORCHESTER 0 EXETER CITY 4 FORMER Magpie Tom Nichols found the net on his return to the Avenue Stadium as Exeter City flexed their muscles in tonight’s pre-season friendly. The Grecians grabbed two goals in each half to emphasise the huge gulf

  • High road for Macgregor

    WHEN Britain’s Olympic contender Lucy Macgregor begins Match Racing on Sunday, July 29, she will have her little sister by her side. But helm Macgregor, 25, says far from being the easy choice Kate, 21, was undoubtedly ‘the best person for the job’.

  • Olympics update: Tickets for sale; Island life; Walk Weymouth

    Tickets back on sale TICKETS are back on sale for eight of the previously sold-out Olympic sailing events. The Nothe Gardens is making history as the first-ever ticketed event for Olympic sailing. Tickets costing £20-£35 are available for Sunday

  • Fundraisers hail bells’ restoration work

    THE bells are ringing out over Chideock once more after a mammoth fundraising drive by villagers. Bell captain Dave Symonds and church wardens Sue Pettifer and Val Cowell took receipt of a new bell at St Giles’ Church. Villagers helped raise £70,000

  • Photo turns heads

    ANDY Hutchings’ picture of the staff at Maison Edwards hairdressers received a warm response from readers. Maureen Griffiths (nee Stone) who used to work at the salon contacted us with an almost complete list of employees’ names. Monica now lives in

  • Fond memories of a brave hero

    SEVERAL articles about Weymouth’s links with the famous St Nazaire raid of the Second World War have already appeared in the Looking Back pages. They featured Stoker Reginald Hodder, who came from Weymouth and lost his life when his ship, the HMS Campbeltown

  • Wareham dog show postponed

    THE WET weather has forced an animal rescue charity to postpone a major fundraising event. Margaret Green Animal Rescue was due to hosts its dog show and fun day at its centre at Church Knowle near Wareham on Sunday, July 22. However, due to waterlogged

  • Paralympian is inspiration for Dorchester children's movie

    YOUNGSTERS at a Dorchester school have received thousands of pounds to fund a Paralympic-inspired film project. Children from the Prince of Wales School have received £5,000 of National Lottery funding through the First Light project to make their

  • Drax votes against Lords reform

    South Dorset MP Richard Drax  voted against the proposed Lords’ Reform Bill. Speaking during a fiery, two-day Commons debate, after which 91 Tory MPs voted against the Bill, Mr Drax, right, said it would tear apart a successful institution. He

  • Man is jailed after harassing Weymouth woman for a date

    A MAN who harassed a single mother because he ‘was hoping to ask her out on a date’ has been sentenced to 12 weeks in prison. James Bruton, 27, was sentenced at Dorchester Crown Court after admitting a harassment charge, which related to his conduct

  • Pub’s fun day to help Dorchester hospital's stroke unit

    DORSET County Hospital’s stroke unit is set to benefit from a day of entertainment for all the family at a Dorchester pub. The Cornwall Hotel is hosting a 50/50 Family Fun Day on Sunday, July 22, from midday, with all proceeds from the day going to

  • Weymouth mourns artist Trevor

    TRIBUTES have been received for a much-loved Weymouth painter and musician who has died suddenly. Trevor Lawrence, 67, was described by friends as one of Weymouth’s ‘characters’ who will be sorely missed. London-born Mr Lawrence was an actor in his

  • UPDATED: Bodies found after Tunnel landslide

    EMERGENCY services are attempting to excavate a car buried in a landslide at Beaminster Tunnel. It is believed a couple lay buried in the vehicle  for more than a week. In a joint statement, Dorset Police and Dorset Fire and

  • Bridport pensioner was found with plastic bag on head

    A BRIDPORT pensioner was found dead by neighbours with a plastic bag over his head, an inquest was told. West Dorset Coroner Michael Johnston recorded an open verdict at the inquest into the death of 83-year-old Anthony Delaney Brooks. The hearing

  • Weymouth pupils' garden will open to all

    GREEN fingered pupils at Holy Trinity Primary School in Weymouth have received the ultimate accolade for their work outside. This coming weekend their garden will be open to the public – the only school garden in the South West to be opening for the

  • Race-hate yob is handed jail term

    A YOUNG man who displayed a ‘serious pattern’ of racially aggravated offending has been jailed for five years. Joe Alan Michael Scott, 20, appeared at Dorchester Crown Court to be sentenced for a string of offences including racially aggravated assault

  • UPDATED: Bodies found buried in landslide

    AN ELDERLY couple lay buried in their car in the Beaminster Tunnel. A man in his 70s, believed to be from Taunton and a woman in her 60s, believed to be from Crewkerne, Somerset lay in the car from more than a week. Emergency services are attempting

  • Weymouth fairy lights are back on the agenda

    WEYMOUTH’S fairy lights may twinkle again after people power forced them back on the council agenda. Councillors agreed to conduct further investigations into seafront lighting after being presented with a protest petition bearing almost 1,700 names.

  • £1k garage sale in Martinstown boosts Marie Curie fund

    A FAMILY has raised more than £1,000 for charity selling the possessions of their dad after losing him to cancer. Chris Taylor, 65, died on May 12 just three weeks after he was diagnosed with a form of liver cancer. His widow, Fran Taylor, of Martinstown

  • The marriage of Michael Willoughby and Jemima Davison

    CHARTERED surveyor Michael Willoughby and marketing manager Jemima Davison married at the Church of St Mary Magdalene, in Cottingham, Leicestershire. Michael, who works in London, is the son of Bruce and Anne Willoughby, of Bridport. Jemima, who works

  • The marriage of Mike Fuller and Leanne Blackett

    A WEYMOUTH couple celebrated their big day surrounded by family and friends in Dorset. The Orangery Suite in Wimborne was the perfect venue for Mike Fuller and Leanne Blackett from Weymouth when they tied the knot on June 22. Mr Fuller, 35, a vehicle

  • The marriage of Andy Cross and Leanne Tite

    A HORSE named Earl was the reason behind one happy couple meeting, falling in love and marrying. Equine dentist Andy Cross, 51, and horse enthusiast Leanne Tite, 34, met in 2008 when Mr Cross came to the yard to check out Earl’s teeth, true love blossomed

  • No events just before Olympics

    I have just got back from a walk along the seafront harbourside and town. It’s 8pm on a Saturday night, two weeks before the Olympics and what do I find? Absolutely nothing. No events, enthusiasm, interest or even people. How about we do the unthinkable

  • Many thanks for the town’s team

    I felt I must write to congratulate Weymouth on the Olympic Torch ceremony on Thursday. Despite the weather, we had a great time. The Park and Ride facility proved quick and efficient, the seafront looks better than it has done for years, the beach

  • View blocked by adults’ umbrellas

    The Weymouth evening celebration was well organised and great entertainment. I attended the beach event with my daughter and was prepared to get wet! However I was dismayed at a number of adults who despite being close to the front of the stage had

  • Who put up the colourful flags?

    The past few weeks have seen the high street in Dorchester transformed, with first the Union Jack flying from virtually every premises and latterly, flags of many countries who are participating in the Olympic Games. No doubt residents and more importantly

  • Well done all for our lovely village

    Whilst standing in the pouring rain with a neighbour awaiting the Olympic Torch to come through Portesham on July 12, one of the processional police outriders stopped immediately in front of us. He told us that he had been all around the country with

  • Police officers called on to tighten Olympic security

    DORSET Police officers are being drafted in to fill the gaps in Olympics security left by under-fire firm G4S. But they should be able to be withdrawn ‘over the coming days’, G4S has said. The private firm, which has seen its shares dive by as much

  • Appeal after man stabbed in North Dorset

    A 35-year-old man was stabbed in an attack in Walton Elm, Marnhull, police said. The Salisbury man sustained a single stab wound to the stomach but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. He had been making deliveries in a

  • Wykefest cancelled

    THIS weekend’s Wykefest has been cancelled. A spokesman for Value House where the annual event was due to be held said that the weather meant they had no choice but to cancel. A spokesman said: “The field is still very wet from all the current

  • Simkin's troops ready to face Grecians

    AFTER almost three months of waiting, Dorchester Town ret-urn to action with tonight’s visit of Exeter City (7.45pm). The Magpies have been back in training for 12 days but the recent wet weather has played havoc with their preparations thus far

  • Double take for Moreton at Town Tournament

    A RAIN-HIT Weymouth Town Tennis Tournament staged a successful conclusion as the sun finally came out for finals day. Clif Moreton was the star of the show as he appeared in three finals, taking two trophies. The first of which was won in the singles

  • Land blow for Wildcats

    LANDOWNERS have pulled the plug on providing a potential new home for the Weymouth Wildcats. The nomadic speedway club had been holding talks with the proprietors of a location on the outskirts of Weymouth for several weeks but the land that was

  • Big cove cheer for husband and wife

    HUSBAND and wife Ian and Carole Hughes both tasted success at round one of the Big Cove Swim Series. The married duo were the first man and woman across the finish line in the 1.5-mile event at Bowleaze Cove, recording times of 33mins 32 secs and