Former pub landlord takes reins of Dorset Year Book (From Dorset Echo)

Former pub landlord takes reins of Dorset Year Book

4:00pm Friday 8th March 2013 in News By Martin Lea

A FORMER pub landlord will be serving up some colourful stories as he takes over the reins of a respected Dorset publication.

Trevor Vacher-Dean, whose varied career includes running The Boot pub in Weymouth, has been named as the new editor of the Dorset Year Book.

The book has been published annually by the Society of Dorset Men since the organisation began in 1904.

It is a much sought-after and well-recognised publication containing articles, items and poems reflecting the history, traditions and dialect of the county.

Mr Vacher-Dean becomes the tenth editor, succeeding Peter and Jill Pitman, who have retired after 12 years in the chair.

He said: “I am delighted to be offered the opportunity to become editor of the Dorset Year Book, following in the footsteps of some very distinguished Dorsets.

“It is a daunting task, but I set about it with a good heart and much enthusiasm. I am ever proud to be a Dorset man and shall do my best to continue upholding the traditional values of this ever popular publication.”

Mr Vacher-Dean has been a member of the society’s committee since 2006 and now lives in Weymouth.

In 1966, he joined the Poole & Dorset Herald as a staff reporter before moving to Devon to become a police constable. There he met and married Jilly, and eventually they returned to Dorset, and Mr Vacher-Dean worked as an estate agent in the Poole area for 20 years.

They came to Weymouth in 2000 as popular licensees of The Boot, the town’s oldest pub, dating from about 1600. Since retiring in 2005, the couple have travelled extensively at home and abroad to visit their five children and 12 grandchildren.

Society spokesman Michel Hooper-Immins said: “The Society of Dorset Men is delighted to welcome Trevor Vacher-Dean as the new editor of the Dorset Year Book, joining this very select band of editors.”

“I know Trevor will undertake the role with great expertise and flair.”

The first named editor of the Dorset Year Book was Sir Newman Flower, from 1914 to 1920.

The longest serving editor was the late Nat Byles, then owner of Sherrens in Weymouth, who occupied the editorial chair for a record 17 years from 1961.

History of the society

THE Society of Dorset Men was founded on July 7, 1904.

It has a long and rich history, beginning as the Society of Dorset Men in London and aiming to bring together fellow Dorsets in the capital city.

Since the 1950s, the main activities of the organisation have been centred on Dorset.

Today, there are around 1,200 members throughout the UK and all over the world. The president is Oscar winner and ITV Downton Abbey creator Lord Fellowes of West Stafford.

He succeeded Sir Anthony Jolliffe in 2011, the only Lord Mayor of London to be born in Weymouth, who still lives in Wyke Regis.

The objectives of the society are ‘to make and to renew personal friendships and associations, to promote good fellowship among Dorset men wherever they may reside, to foster love of the county and pride in its history and traditions and to assist, by every means in its power, natives of Dorset who may stand in need of the influence and help of the society.’