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A CANINE pal of Portland’s Paralympic contenders now has his own profile on a social media site.

Bertie, the therapy dog for the British Sonar Sailing Team, has joined Facebook and can be found by searching for Bertie2012.

He already has a Twitter account @Bertie2012 where followers are regularly updated with his escapades including playing tug of war with his friends.

You can also follow his adventures on his website bertie2012.co.uk.

Bertie lists his best friends as the Sonar crew Hannah Stodel, John Robertson and Steve Thomas and his brother Billy and his favourite songs as ‘Beware of the dog’ and ‘Who let the dogs out?’ In his own words Bertie said: “Well, what can I say – I am a lovely, almost white, golden retriever boy.

“I didn’t start out to be a therapy dog, but that’s where I ended up.

“My best friend is Hannah, and she’s part of a team who are going to be competing in the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

“I just hope I can help her and her team on the way to victory.”

Music

THE internationally-renowned Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) presents its trailblazing Cultural Olympic event on Portland this month.

Two hundred local school children, young Dorset dancers and singers plus some long-dead Vikings will join the BSO musicians for this celebration of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad in Dorset.

The Chalk Legend, a new performance piece by Stephen McNeff and Richard William, was inspired by the discovery of the decapitated skeletons of a group of young Viking men during the construction of the Weymouth Relief Road in 2009.

The tale of this tragic group is told in three site specific performances, to be shown at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy – the London 2012 sailing venue – on Friday, May 18, at 8pm and Saturday, May 19, at 5pm and 8pm.

Security

RESIDENTS are being warned to expect ‘increased activity’ on Weymouth waters this week as the Royal Navy ship HMS Bulwark participates in a security training exercise.

The 18,500-tonne vessel, which arrived on Monday night, is playing a key role in the four-day live exercise ahead of the Olympics, led by Dorset Police.

It is part of the nationwide Exercise Olympic Guardian and security tests are also happening in London.

The ship will return to the resort in July.