Local youngster all at sea cycling home – for Breast Cancer Care!

George cycles his way home across the sea

9:28pm Tuesday 14th May 2013

• Local Preston youngster, 19 year old George Bell, is a merchant seaman cadet in training, which involves a mixture of University courses at Warsash Academy near Southampton and time spent at sea. He is presently two weeks into an eight week period on a ship working out of Aberdeen, servicing oil rigs in the North Sea. On finding an exercise bike on the ship’s bridge he decided to raise some money for a charity close to his heart, Breast Cancer Care. Calculating that it is about 1000km from Aberdeen to his home at Preston, he is inviting sponsorship to cycle that distance in his spare time on the boat. The picture shows him hard at work, with the North Sea visible through the bridge window! So far he has covered over 200km, a distance equivalent to leaving Aberdeen and travelling through Dundee, Perth and Stirling. He is now, virtually, on his way to Glasgow! If you would like to help speed his progress ‘home’ and help a very good cause with a donation, go to https://www.justgiving.com/George-Bell/ or text GCFB 93, with an amount, to 70070.

May Fayre for Chesil Bank pre--school in Abbotsbury

Strangways Hall May Fayre

4:14pm Monday 13th May 2013

Hello all, firstly I have details of Chesil Bank pre-school’s May Fayre which takes place on Saturday 25th May at the Strangways Hall. The Fayre starts at 11.30am, with music and a barbeque. There will be lots of games, “Splat the rat”, “lucky ducks” and coconut shy, to name a few. There will also be a raffle (which will be drawn at 3pm) and a table top sale. To book a table or lend any help please call Julie on 01305 871155 or Pip on 01305 787436. There will be lots of activities for the children and also refreshments so please support them if you can. The friends of St.Nicholas’ are having an Open Gardens day on Sunday June 16th 2013 from 2 - 5.30pm. The focal point is The Old Gatehouse in Church Street. In addition, Steve Griffiths, Head Gardener of the award winning Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, will answer your gardening questions at the Old Gate House where plants and produce will be on sale. Refreshments will also be available from most gardens and for the children there will be a quiz with prizes. Tickets cost £3.00 for adults with free admissions for children accompanied by an adult and this includes entry to all of the gardens open on the day. They may be purchased on the day from any of the gardens or in advance by ringing Tricia Houlberg on 01305 871085. 1. The Old Gate House, Church Street 2. Abbey House, Church Street 3. The Manor House, 4 Church Street 4. Church View, 13 Rodden Row 5. Fleet Cottage, 19 Market Street 6. No 1 West Street Other events in Abbotsbury. The lunch club are having their next lunch on 31st May. It is proving to be very successful so please remember to book early on 01305 871832. The Royal British Legion Woman’s section Abbotsbury and Portesham Branch are now having their 65th anniversary event on 22nd June this has been changed owing to the county event which takes place on June 9th. Contact Mrs Peggy Ford for any information regarding the British legion Woman’s section on 01305 871269 There was no Garland made this year, this was because of a injury to the hand of the lady who makes it. However, it will be made next year and if anybody wishes to still donate funds can they be given to the RNLI when they collect for lifeboat week later in the year. Finally please remember to contact me regarding any news you may have. I can’t write it if you don’t send it! My e-mail is clare29051@btinternet.com or telephone (01305)871931  

Anyone for Tennis?

8:23pm Tuesday 7th May 2013

CATTISTOCK Lawn Tennis Club will be holding a Coffee Morning at 10.30am on Saturday May 18. The event takes place in the Savill Hall, Cattistock, and stalls will include ‘New to You’ clothes, cakes, spring plants, bring and buy, photographs, a raffle and refreshments. Everyone is welcome. Please come along and give your support.

Best Garden Competition

3:57pm Thursday 2nd May 2013

Green fingered gardening enthusiasts take note:- 3Zone Neighbourhood Panel supported by Synergy Housing is running a gardens competition this year. Residents of Littlemoor, Springfield, Upwey and Dorchester are eligible, you do not have to be a Synergy tenant as long as you live in Zone 3. There will be four categories: Small garden; Large garden; Basket/Container/ Communal spaces. Judging will take place at the end of July in time for presentation of prizes at this year’s Fantastic Family Fun Day on Saturday 17th August. There will be an award for the winner and runner up in each category and garden vouchers for the overall winner. To enter, just register your interest by phoning Jan on 01305 834126 and leave your details. Start digging! <.li>

SP Society has successful year but needs more volunteers

1:30pm Sunday 28th April 2013

• Mark Tewkesbury, Chairman of the Borough Planning Committee, spoke to over 45 villagers who attended the Sutton Poyntz Society AGM in what proved a lively and stimulating discussion. The evening then proceeded with AGM business, the approval of the Committee's annual report and the Treasurer's report, with no change to the annual subscription. There was satisfaction at the continuing bus service into the village, albeit reduced, and the Borough Council have now accepted responsibility for pruning the trees around the pond. There is no news yet of the application to open the Ridgeway track to motorised vehicles. The Village Biodiversity Group has been very active, and all Society events were well supported throughout the year. The committee elections left a shortfall of members, especially the absence of a Treasurer. It is important that the Society adequately reflects the views of the Village on such things as planning applications, and being a Committee member is not a huge commitment. Volunteers are urgently required.

New Littlemoor Walks leaflets available

4:36pm Thursday 25th April 2013

Last year Littlemoor resident Malcolm Beeson published a very handy free leaflet, ‘Walking Littlemoor.’ This was a pocket sized leaflet of the Littlemoor estate showing not only footpaths, but cul de sacs and cut throughs so that walkers could find the shortest route around the area. Now Malcolm, on behalf of the Littlemoor Community Action Group has  been commissioned by Dorset County Council to produce further leaflets for walkers wanting to enjoy the countryside in our area.  The first of these has just been published and some are available at the Co-Op. It covers a route over the green bridge overlooking Dorchester, along to Came Down, Bincombe and back to Littlemoor. This rather strenuous walk takes around 2 ½ hours. But the leaflet also describes two shorter walks in the area. Two more leaflets will be available very soon; these cover the Bincombe Bumps and Overcombe. Each leaflet also gives interesting historical information of things to look out for like the wartime bunker on Bincombe Down, the hill on which The Grand Old Duke Of York marched his men. Seven leaflets in total are planned and when they have all been published a folder will be made available so they can all be kept as a complete set. Each leaflet has been beautifully illustrated by Yvonne Lee, a Dorset based artist who is rapidly gaining a nationwide reputation. Every Friday morning Malcolm heads off with the Littlemoor Strollers of around a dozen or more people on walks of interest in and around the local area. If you would like to join him, there is no formal membership, just turn up at the shopping  precinct at 10.30.    Walking is a great way to exercise and what better place to do than through the lovely countryside that Littlemoor has on its doorstep?  <li> Don’t forget the next indoor Car Boot Sale at the community centre next Sunday (5th May) where you’ll find loads of bargains. It starts at noon and finishes at 3pm. If you would like to book a table a large one costs £4 and a small one £3. For further information or to book a table contact Jan on 834126 or Colin on 07576553536.  

Guinness Book of Records for Overcombe’s largest mini roundabout?

12:39pm Tuesday 23rd April 2013

• No doubt you will by now have driven over the new roundabout at Overcombe Corner, mainly because it is so big that you would have trouble trying to drive around it! Apparently it shouldn’t be that big, but County Council officials are quoted as saying it was “an honest mistake”, so that’s all right then! It was also an obvious mistake, which makes me wonder why someone didn’t spot it earlier, and also how many less obvious “honest mistakes” have been made?

Lording it at Minterne House!

2:52pm Thursday 11th April 2013

FROME VALLEY History Society has organised a morning visit on Monday, April 22 to Minterne House and Gardens, Minterne Magna near Dorchester (on the Dorchester to Sherborne Road, 2 miles north of Cerne Abbas). There will be a guided tour of the house by Hon. Henry Digby or Lord Digby. Coffee and biscuits will be served, followed by a walk in the garden, which should be at its colourful best.

Have your say about the cancellation of the bus along Oakbury Drive

1:30pm Wednesday 10th April 2013

• I got on the No. 4 bus at Overcombe Corner recently, but it didn’t move off for three minutes, despite nobody else boarding. I then alighted at Chalbury Corner, and by the time I had walked to Wyke Oliver Road, 2 or 3 minutes later, it was still idling at the bus stop! In that 4 or 5 minutes it could have travelled along Oakbury Drive, using no more diesel than idling at the bus stops. I have also been told that the service quite often waits at the bottom of Seven Acres Road. If you feel that the bus route along Oakbury Drive should be reinstated, and I know that well over 200 people felt strongly enough about this matter to email David Mannings, then he tells me that the person to email with your concerns is the local First manager Mark Williams, who can be reached on Mark.Williams@firstgroup.com You could also write to the First Customer Service Department, Empress Road, Southampton, SO14 0JW. Let them know what you think about the route change, which adversely affects a great number of potential passengers.

Indoor car boot a growing success

4:31pm Thursday 4th April 2013

The indoor car boot sale is growing in popularity, so much so that tables are being booked on a regular basis and if you want one you would be advised to book well in advance.

More Latest News»



Community NewsYourEcho

Read all the news from your local community

Read all the latest community news




Don't miss these links!



Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »

click2find


About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree