Archive

  • Cracking the code to D-Day

    Code names and acronyms were vital to help maintain the blanket of secrecy in the planning and build-up to the Allied invasion of Europe in 1944. Here are a few: :: D-Day: The date of the operation. :: H-Hour: The hour of the invasion :

  • American troops given guide to getting on with Brits

    TENS of thousands of American troops arrived in Dorset in the lead-up to D-Day. They were regarded as wealthy and glamorous, an impression that had been gleaned from the Hollywood movies of the time, so their arrival was a cause of great excitement

  • The feathered friends who brought news of D-Day

    They were the original tweeters - pigeons who acted as vital message carriers to relay urgent news about the D-Day landings. Thousands of pigeon fanciers gave their birds to the war effort to bring back news on how the troops were progressing during

  • D-Day leaders who influenced the course of the war

    Many strong military leaders emerged during the Second World War, each playing prominent parts which led Britain to victory over Germany. Here are some who influenced the outcome of the war. :: Sir Winston Churchill was elected Prime Minister in

  • A guide to the D-Day beaches

    GOLD This was at the centre of the landing zones halfway between the Cotentin peninsula and the River Orne and near Asnelles. The British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division were faced with steep cliffs and strong German resistance. But

  • HEROES OF D-DAY: D-Day weatherman James Stagg

    The planning which went into the D-Day landings may have been meticulous but there was one thing troops could not rely on - the weather. The fate of thousands of Allied soldiers due to land in France as part of Operation Overlord lay with the weather

  • CRICKET: Pretty good show as James claims a fifer

    WITCHAMPTON SECONDS 104 (3pts) lost to CHARLTON DOWN 105-3 (20pts) by 7 wickets JAMES Pretty claimed his first five-wicket haul for Charlton Down and Jae Miller scored an unbeaten 66 as the visitors coasted to victory in this low-scoring County

  • BASKETBALL: Tigers on court to help mark D-Day anniversary

    DORCHESTER Tigers Basketball Club are off to Bayeux in northern France to help mark the 70th anni-versary of the Normandy D-Day landings during World War Two. The club is the only British basketball team to have been invited to the French town

  • FOOTBALL: Barney's treble earns Bridport cup glory

    Kenway Cup Final BRIDPORT PRIMARY SCHOOL 5 MRS ETHELSTON’S PRIMARY SCHOOL 1 BARNEY Sutcliffe’s hat-trick and strikes from Adam Elliott and Ethan Robertson won the Kenway Cup for Bridport Primary School at St Mary’s Field. After the

  • Fire service issues safety tips in bid to save lives

    ‘GET out, stay out and call 999’- that’s the message from the county’s firefighters as part of a campaign this summer. Dorset Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) is asking residents to make sure their family, guests and loved ones who might be in their

  • BOXING: William gets the verdict

    DORCHESTER & District ABC’s William Rowberry produced a mind-blowing performance as a last-minute replacement at the Andover Tournament in aid of Help for Heroes. A packed crowd were left stunned by Rowberry’s clash with hometown favourite

  • WRESTLING: Grapple fans get to see return of Shah

    ULTIMATE Pro Wrestling was a hit on its return to the Corn Exchange in Dorchester, with five pulsating bouts on the bill. The show featured some top up-and-coming entertainers as spectators were engrossed in the action, they were also treated to

  • TERRAS: Matthews swoops for Sills and Wannell

    WEYMOUTH have announced the double-signing of experienced marksman Tim Sills and former Magpies’ loanee Jacob Wannell. The duo come into the Terras’ squad to bolster both attacking and defensive options, and manager Jason Matthews has expressed

  • Oven fire in Weymouth causes light smoke damage

    AN oven fire has caused light smoke damage to a Weymouth property. A crew from Weymouth Fire Station were called to an address in Wyke Regis this afternoon at around 1.27pm. The fire was confined to the oven in the ground floor kitchen and

  • ANGLING: Ray is shining light in night match

    THREE boats entered Weymouth Angling Society’s latest Thursday Night Boat League match, a competition fished in calm conditions. Ray Goodwin was top angler on the night with his catch of pout, dogfish, cuckoo wrasse, pollack and bass giving him

  • Council leader questions wind farm

    THE PROPOSED Navitus Bay wind farm development could produce as little as 20 to 30 per cent of the one gigawatt estimated output quoted in the original planning application, it was claimed at Dorset County Council's cabinet meeting today. On Tuesday

  • Buyers from the Far East triumph at S&S auction

    Buyers from the Far East triumph at S&S auction Symonds & Sampson’s auction on 30 May at the Digby Hall, Sherborne, proved to be a fascinating day with properties for sale in Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. Auctioneer Mark

  • Newly slim Chris Powell backs national heart campaign

    A WEST Dorset man who rapidly gained weight after he was diagnosed with a heart condition is backing new NHS guidelines to ‘lose a little and keep it off’ for life. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) wants overweight people

  • Novel experience for former Dorset Echo reporter Juliet West

    A FORMER Dorset Echo reporter has published her first novel. ‘Before the Fall’ is the debut work of mum-of-three Juliet West. She described it as a ‘moving tale of a love affair, set in the East End during World War One and based on an unforgettable

  • Poundbury putting 'extra strain' on Dorset County Hospital

    A GOVERNOR has promised to tackle the board after concerns were raised about the impact of Poundbury on Dorset County Hospital. Patient governor Derek Julian received a letter from a concerned West Dorset resident, who asked to remain anonymous

  • Fundraising drive to restore traditional signs across Dorset

    A RESIDENT from a Dorset village has launched a fundraising drive to help restore part of the ‘national heritage’ of the county. Peter Jones, from Sutton Poyntz, has created the Greenhill Fingerpost Project to raise money to restore the dilapidated

  • New display tells fascinating history of Dorchester cafe

    THE DRAMATIC history of a Dorchester cafe is now on display for all customers to see. Lord and Lady Fellowes of West Stafford came to unveil the new history board at the Horse with the Red Umbrella in High West Street after owner John Fiori had

  • Church concerts will raise cash to restore antique organ

    A PAIR of summer fundraising concerts are planned for All Saints Church in Wyke Regis, Weymouth, to raise cash to spruce up an historical organ. A classical concert on June 12 will feature Brahms and songs by Elgar. This will be followed by

  • Resident urges motorists to use roundabout properly

    A RESIDENT has hit out a motorists he claims are treating a Dorchester roundabout as if it does not exist. Antone Spiroc-tica lives in High Street Fordington with a view over the mini roundabout by the One Stop shop at the junction with Kings Road

  • In the dock: Dorchester

    CLIVE WHITTY, aged 54, of Damers Road, Dorchester. Proved in absence of using a vehicle on a road without third party insurance. Fined £600 and ordered to pay £85 costs. Licence endorsed with six penalty points. LEIGH STEFFAN MARSDEN, aged 36,

  • In the dock: North Dorset

    RICHARD LEE CHALKER, aged 35, of School Drive, Sherborne. Proved in absence of driving a vehicle on the A350 at Spetisbury at a speed exceeding 30 miles per hour. Fined £400 and ordered to pay £85 costs. Licence endorsed with four penalty points.

  • In the dock: West Dorset

    PETER AREY, aged 45, of Dorchester Road, Maiden Newton. Admitted driving a vehicle on the A31 at Winterborne Zelston at a speed exceeding 40 miles per hour. Fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs. Licence endorsed with three penalty points. GILLIAN

  • In the dock: Weymouth

    KRIS CONROY, aged 32, of Turton Street, Weymouth. Proved in absence of using a vehicle on a road without third party insurance. Fined £600 and ordered to pay £85 costs. Licence endorsed with six penalty points. STUART ALAN SLADE, aged 30, of Holme

  • Residents air views on wind farm plans

    PEOPLE in Dorchester got their chance to air their views on a proposed wind farm near the county town. Broadview Energy Limited is preparing to submit a planning application for a wind farm on agricultural land at Slyer’s Lane to the north of Dorchester

  • Cinema reports growing patronage

    A DORCHESTER cinema is reporting a surge in visitors over the past 12 months. The county town’s Odeon cinema at Brewery Square says footfall has increased by 45 per cent – the highest growth in attendance across the whole chain. The cinema

  • All safe and sound at Bart sail centre

    THE Andrew Simpson Sailing Centre has received its first donation to help it launch safely into the seas. Crewsaver, a manufacturing company specialising in marine safety equipment, has donated safety clothing and equipment for 100 sailors as well

  • EQUESTRIAN: Fox-Pitt still world number one

    WILLIAM Fox-Pitt has retained his place at the top of eventing’s world rankings list. The Sturminster Newton star, despite being eliminated after falling from the highly-fancied Parklane Hawk during last month’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse

  • Pool reopens at sports centre

    THERE was plenty of splashing around as Dorchester Sports Centre celebrated the full reopening of its main pool. The centre held an open weekend as a special thank you to customers after part of the pool was closed for several weeks following storm

  • Chance to play rounders for free

    YOUNGSTERS in West Dorset will be able to enjoy playing rounders for free this summer. West Dorset District Council has received a grant of £1,800 from Rounders England and will be running sessions for young disabled people aged 14 and over at

  • Police warn motorists in anti-drink drive campaign

    DORSET Police are reminding motorists to ensure they are fit to drive the morning after drinking. The force launched its summer drink and drug drive campaign on June 1 with a series of stop checks, specifically targeting those drivers who may still

  • Policeman sacked after assault conviction

    A POLICEMAN convicted of assault after a drunken night out in Dorchester while he was off-duty has been sacked. Dorset Police have confirmed PC Pete Lawrence was dismissed from the force yesterday. A force spokesman said: “Following criminal

  • Planners approve prison site vision

    THE DEVELOPMENT of the Dorchester prison site has been described as a ‘unique opportunity’ for the town. Members of Dorchester Town Council’s planning and environment committee have given a resounding backing to the local Civic Society’s vision

  • Plea as pet ducks go missing from Janet Barnes' garden

    A WEYMOUTH woman has launched an appeal after two of her pet ducks went missing. Mrs Janet Barnes, 71, from Littlemoor Road, noticed the birds had gone missing on Wednesday evening as she went to lock them up in their pen for the night. Three

  • Purbeck teacher wins prestigious award

    A TEACHER from The Purbeck School has won a prestigious silver Pearson Teaching Award. Carly Jones, pictured left, one of 55 teachers selected from more than 20,000 nominations, has won the award in the outstanding new teacher of the year category

  • WITH VIDEO: Kayakers all set for D-Day Channel challenge

    PORTLAND will be the starting point for a kayaking challenge between England and France to commemorate D-Day and raise money for five charities. Starting today Ben Collins, Dwayne Cadwallader, Colin Richardson, Matt Allmond, Richard Bentley and

  • Party is over for our fayre

    With reference to my letter of early February stating that due to health reasons I am standing down as organiser of The Portland Gooseberry Fayre and asking for someone to come forward to take over the running of this great charity event. I have

  • New surface is dangerous

    The re-surfacing of a stretch of the A37 from Monkey’s Jump roundabout has left my car with a cracked windscreen and cracked sidelight, both of which need replacing. Why has the council just left the road surface covered in loose stones? Even at

  • We need defences

    I am sure the people of the Somerset Levels are thanking heaven that the flood threat has departed – at least for a while. Meanwhile we are treated to depressing squabbles about who is to blame. More intelligent is the growing understanding that the

  • HEROES OF D-DAY: Naval hero recalls Longest Day

    Eric Alley served in some of the most iconic operations of the Second World War, including the D-Day landings and the Arctic Convoys to Russia, for which he successfully campaigned for a commemorative medal. Eric Edward Alley, OBE, died on May

  • HEROES OF D-DAY: Memories of tank commander

    FORMER Portland councillor Harry Booth, a commander of a Sherman tank with the 144th Royal Armoured Corps, landed on Gold Beach. Mr Booth, an Honorary Alderman of the Borough died a few days after the 61st anniversary of D-Day in June 2005. “We

  • BEES: Carter agrees to be assistant

    EX-WEYMOUTH reserve-team boss Mark Carter has agreed to become Trevor Senior’s new number two at Bridport following Kev Leigh’s departure. Leigh, who had been Senior’s assistant at St Mary’s Field for 18 months, has returned to former club Sherborne

  • Vital care funds cut for disabled Weymouth youngster

    A MUM whose five-year-old son fights for his life every day has hit out at the government for cutting off vital benefits. Little Bradley Webber suffers with a form of brain damage called lissencephaly, also known as smooth brain, and was not expected

  • SAILING WITH VIDEO: Dempsey and Shaw enjoy perfect day

    WINDSURFERS Nick Dempsey, from Weymouth, and Bryony Shaw both had flawless days in their respective fleets with three race wins each on the second day of the Sail For Gold Regatta. The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy welcomed

  • CRICKET: Belt drives Dewlish to first league win

    DEWLISH are off the mark in Division One after a Dan Belt-inspired four-wicket win over visiting Martinstown. Until their victory, the Cheselbourne outfit had not tasted success in the league so far this season, losing their first two matches.