New Year's Eve in Dorset (From Dorset Echo)

New Year's Eve in Dorset

12:10pm Tuesday 27th December 2011 in Looking Back By Ruth Meech

THIS great pic of a bunch of guys and gals all dressed up for New Year was sent in by Looking Back reader Esmee Nicholls.

She believes the date was 1995 and the are from ARE on Portland. Esmee’s son Craig is at the front blowing a kiss. Can anyone put names to the other revellers?

Going out in fancy dress to celebrate the arrival of a New Year has long been a Dorset tradition.

It started in Weymouth and spread to the other towns and now it seems all of Dorset celebrates by going out in fancy dress.

FOOTBALL ACE FRANK GOING STRONG AND TELLING STORY Following on from a report in Looking Back on December 13 (Fond memories of Hospice Visit) we were contacted by Peter Sapsworth.

The original story was submitted by reader Graham Sargent, who was recalling the time when he was in hospital as a lad and was visited by the legendary footballer Frank O’Farrell.

He ended up by wondering what Mr O’Farrell was doing these days, cue Peter’s reply.

He said: “I read with interest Graham’s childhood memory relating to his meeting with Frank O’Farrell and how he would be interested to know how he was these days.

“Coincidentally only last Friday I was talking to Frank O’Farrell in Torquay. He is now 84 and in good health. He has recently written his autobiography details of which were recently covered in the Echo.

“I went down to see him because my father was chairman during Frank’s time as manager of the football club. He remembered his time fondly and he asked to pass on his very good wishes to not only all his past players but also those supporters who went to the old ground at that time.

“He still goes to watch Torquay and hopes to do so for a long time.”

Many thanks Peter.