A FORMER Dorset Echo journalist has joined Deep South Media.

James Tourgout, former deputy head of news, is now an account director with the firm.

His appointment marks the sixth appointment of a journalist to the firm’s PR division.

Mr Tourgout spent 18 years writing for the Echo and its associated titles.

He has worked in Weymouth, Dorchester and Bridport and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

In his new role Mr Tourgout will be providing press office, communications and PR support for clients across the South and the West Country.

Mr Tourgout, who lives in Weymouth, said: “I have joined Deep South Media at just the right time. The company is growing and I am looking forward to contributing to that continuing success. Everyone at Deep South Media has great experience, enthusiasm and expertise.”

* SWANAGE law firm Ellis Jones has appointed three new partners.

Tim Sharpley, Lauren Day and William Fox Bregman have become partners at the Swanage solicitors firm.

Mr Sharpley was previously a partner before leaving in 2008 to become a partner at another law firm. He trained at Ellis Jones and qualified as a solicitor in 1993. His specialist areas of law include commercial land and property purchase, commercial residential redevelopment, commercial leases, hotel purchases and sales and commercial shop leases.

Mrs Day joined Ellis Jones in 2007 and is a key member of the firm’s dispute resolution team.

She has a particular interest in the growing area of contentious trust and probate work including Inheritance Act claims, contested wills and probate disputes.

Mr Fox heads up Ellis Jones’ specialist banking department which is currently handling about 50 cases involving the mis-selling of interest rate hedge products.

* A REFURBISHED care home is welcoming a new manager.

Maiden Castle House in Dorchester has been recently refurbished and has appointed Dawn Palmer as the new manager.

Mrs Palmer will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the care home, overseeing all activity within the home and ensuring the quality of the care provided is of the highest standard.

She first joined Care South in 1994 and most recently managed Care South’s home care office in Crewkerne, which covers West Dorset and Somerset. With over 20 years’ experience in the care industry, Mrs Palmer also holds a professional certificate and NVQ Level 4 in management. Prior to working at Care South, she worked in Dorset social services, across Weymouth, Bridport and Dorchester. She said: “I’m very excited to have started my new role at Maiden Castle House and am enjoying getting to know the residents and their families.

“I’ve already had lots of compliments about the refurbished dementia units and staff have commented on the positive impact the refurbishment has had on the residents.

“I’m very used to working in the care sector but this new role brings with it new challenges.”

* PURBECK Shooting School has made a key appointment to help support its expectations for continued sales growth and expansion.

New operations manager Colin Pennington will lead the school’s future sales and marketing activities, and will be responsible for managing the organisation’s development plans and growing programme as an educational centre of excellence. As an experienced sales manager Pennington has spent more than 14 years with technology giant Siemens, the last seven with responsibility for the sale of Intelligent Traffic Systems in the UK and Europe.

“Colin is a highly experienced sales leader and qualified shooting instructor,” said Graham Brown, senior instructor and managing director of the Purbeck Shooting School for the past 18 years.

“To help sustain the school’s growth and augment the business further across all products, his talent and experience will strengthen the management team and provide a considerable boost to the commercial operation of Purbeck Shooting School.”