ONCE, going to university meant getting a good - and, perhaps more importantly, free - education, leaving home for the first time, widening horizons and coming out with a high-powered job. The future looked bright. These days, students are having to pay
THANKS to my mate Bob - who is a builder and probably gets fed up with the inevitable joke about his name and occupation - I now have three new double-glazed windows at the front of our house. Not being a builder, I have an instinctive fear of attacking
A gently feminist re-telling of the creation story. Big Mama is energetic, practical and doesn't hang around. Things are made for a purpose: the sun, so her baby knows when it is time to sleep, human beings so she has someone else to talk to. Even after
Martock 24 Bridport 7 BRIDPORT lost ground on North Dorset at the top of the Dorset & Wilts Division Two South with a surprise defeat against a well drilled Martock side. The Blues started badly in the crisp sunny conditions with their defence all
Intriguing photographic book where nothing is quite what it seems. In this surreal, doll's house world a turret is an ice-cream cone, a Hoover a razor, and a stool is made out of pretzels. When you have tired of trying to spot what's what you can check
None of the stories in these books are more than two pages long yet each packs a punch. The Short and Scary stories are particularly frightening with dark shapes under the bed coming to life and little girls trapped, for ever, in wooden chests. Not recommended
In this compilation of futuristic stories aliens are portrayed in various guises - cunning, scary and often rather poignant and helpless. Good enough to entertain even this reluctant sci-fi reader. Frances Perkins
Enthusiastic photographer Charlie takes a picture of a mystery animal. The photo leads to involvement with the children of a dysfunctional family, the youngest of whom is being bullied at school, and unforeseen dangers. A complex and compassionate story
Teenage Luke is going off the rails. His father's dead and the local gang bullies him into breaking into the house of the village recluse. What he finds there changes everything. This multi-layered novel is both a thriller and a powerful account of the
Three books in one, these chronicle the domestic ups and downs of an enchantingly naughty little girl, her family and friends. Ramona tries hard to be good, often gets things wrong, but is always utterly convincing. One of my all-time favourite children's
TEN-HANDICAPPER Dave Bolton scorched round the back nine at Came Down Golf Club to take the honours in the top Division of the historic club's January Medal event. A member at Came Down since 1986, Bolton tackled a course playing to nearly it's full potential
Dorchester make the short journey to Bestwall Park, Wareham in high spirits tomorrow to lock horns with Swanage in a South West Division Two East derby clash. Following their win at Coburg Road against Amersham and Chiltern last week, the county town
BRIDPORT have completed the signing of youngster George Leighton from Portland United. The teenage midfielder, who has been training with the Bees for the last few weeks, has appeared in the Blues first team this season, but has been frustrated at not
NICK Preston reckons Blackfield and Langley will provide the ideal opposition for his Portland side at Grove Corner tomorrow, kick-off 3pm. The Blues boss is hoping the islanders, who have seen four of their last five fixtures fall foul of the weather
MARK Robinson could be back in Weymouth's attack when they travel west to meet Tiverton in the Dr Martens League Premier Division tomorrow (3pm kick-off). Robinson's shift to a more attacking role triggered the recent revival that has seen the Terras
PART of West Bay seafront remains cordoned off this week after warnings that a major rock fall could happen at any time. West Dorset District Council engineers put up barriers and warning signs on the western end of the promenade last week as ominous
A SUMMIT on genetically modified (GM) food and farming is to be staged by Dorset County Council this month. Proposed by council leader Tim Palmer, the summit aims to tie in the government's national GM Debate. This week, lobby group Friends of the Earth
POP fans in Bridport have voted the town's Somerfield Supermarket a miss over their policy for exchanging music CDs. They are upset over the store's refusal to give replacements or refunds for unwanted discs unless they are faulty. The ruling was branded
DISTURBING reminders of West Dorset's link with murdered Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markhov were revived this week with the discovery of a suspected terrorist poison-making factory in London. Markhov, who is buried at Whitchurch Canonicorum, was killed
PRUDENCE is likely to be the watchword when Bridport town councillors decide next year's budget. At their meeting next Wednesday members of the finance committee are expected to vote for only a modest rise in the annual precept - adding at most 6p a week
THE number of firearms offences in Dorset has rocketed Government figures show the number of incidents involving guns in the county has risen from 14 to 34 between April 2001 and April 2002. The statistics, which were released by the Home Office, do not
CHAMPIONS of community causes in Weymouth have scooped a green gong for their work in the Park District Waterside Weymouth Community Forum (WWCF) volunteers picked up the accolade at the ninth Green Apple Environment Awards. The campaign was organised
PEOPLE who feared lives were at risk from lorries driving on the pavement in their narrow street are overjoyed after land was released to build a relief road. Householders in St George's Road, Dorchester, say homes are cracking and pavements are crumbling
THE number of people finding themselves homeless in North Dorset has rocketed, a new report has revealed. The district saw a 34 per cent leap in families and individuals seeking help between 1996 and 2001. Researchers from Bournemouth University undertook
INTEREST rates are likely to remain on hold for months to come despite signs of a slowdown on the high street, economists predict. Britain's soaring property market needs to come off the boil before a cut can be made, they warn. Bank of England officials
LYME Regis Town Council should not release any land at Langmoor Gardens because it would hamper a possible future enhancement scheme. The view was expressed at a meeting of the recreations committee on Wednesday by Coun Owen Lovell who stressed that a
TOWN councillors have picked up the gauntlet to act quickly and build a community changing room and toilet facilities on the Anning Road Playing Field at Lyme Regis. The challenge was laid down by Candles on the Cobb organisers Phil Street and Mike Higgs
LYME councillors are confident that their intention to use land near the former cadet hut will proceed, despite the fact that Magna Housing has not so far given the scheme its blessing. The council wants to put up two storage huts and provide a staff
LYME'S only bus shelter at Cobb Gate was in a terrible state, complained Coun Barbara Austin at a meeting of the recreations committee on Wednesday. "It needs regular cleaning, and I don't think it has had a coat of paint since it has been there," she
TOWN councillors at Lyme Regis are worried about public safety and the amount of rubbish created by the resort's annual November bonfire. They are keen to see the event continue but voiced their concerns on Wednesday night. "The last one was a tremendous
BOASTING a staggering eight million members, the smash-hit internet website Friends Reunited has been confirmed a runaway success after emerging as one of the biggest organisations in the UK. After only two years and two months online, the website that
THE Mowlem theatre and cinema will be in the dark for the next few weeks while work is carried out on a £50,000 project to install a new lift. It marks the first phase of a quarter-of-a-million-pound revamp of the 1960s building and follows new EU regulations
GARY Emerson's season got off to the worst possible start after chalking up a career-worst 12 on his card in the South African Airways Open yesterday. The Broadstone touring professional's hole from hell came at the demanding 476-yard par four first hole
Rachel, a lonely, imaginative child, confides in the mice who live in her vicar father's new church. She tells them her worries about her mother's pregnancy and they respond with tales about the heroic children who have been connected to St Michaels in
These jolly, rollicking and usually very rude rhymes read like junior rugby songs, full of toilets, spots, mould and pongs. They are cheeky enough to tempt even the most reluctant reader to find out what happens when Dad goes fishing in the toilet or
Jim faces a serious operation and is worried he might die. His nurse advises him to dream of an animal that will help guide him back to life. The words are compassionate and poetic and the illustrations by Ian Andrew are heart-breakingly beautiful. This
DAVID CANNINGS has spent a lifetime moving the metal from his car showroom forecourt. Now, recently retired, he has found an equally rewarding pursuit - hitting stylish woods from the fairway. The weekend's freezing conditions phased him not one bit,
YOUNG waterboy Kier Clarke is set to become a world class talent in competitive sailing. The 17-year-old Sir John Colfox School sixth form student, originally from Cheshire and now living in Bridport, is rated as one of the top youth sailors in England
Lyme Regis 2 Ilminster Res 1 LYME were looking for a spoonful of sugar after the bitter pill of their Boxing Day cup final defeat. And they got in thanks to a calamitous mistake by visiting keeper Trevor Priddle who dashed from his line and sliced the
THE elements are providing the toughest opposition for Bridport Football Club at the moment. Last Saturday's Screwfix Direct Premier clash at Keynsham Town fell foul to the weather when the sodden Crown Field pitch was deemed unplayable. Bridport Reserves
It is 1945 and Selina is sent a lovely frock and a pair of satin slippers. Where can she possibly wear them? Undeterred by wartime restrictions, her cousins plan a pageant for her that just grows and grows. A period piece where children have lots of freedom
DORCHESTER Reserves are due to test out the opposition for their first team tomorrow when they visit the County Ground to play Elite Teamwear Dorset Premier League championship challengers Hamworthy United. The Hammers are scheduled to visit the Magpies
FORMER Bridport Res-erves manager Mike Thompson will be hoping to put one over his old friends at St Mary's Field tomorrow, kick-off 3pm. Thompson, who was responsible for bringing in many of the current crop of Bees players, is now the assistant manager
EDGAR Maidment, the man who probably did more for post-warfootball in Dorset than anybody else, has died aged 77. Maidment, who died early yesterday at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester also led the revival of Portland FC after the war and served them
A BRIDPORT company has been singled out for special praise after helping to stem the tide during flooding. West Dorset District Council staff sprang into action when torrential rain and rising river levels put dozens of homes at risk over the New Year
UP to 230 new houses could be built on the former Eldridge Pope brewery site in Dorchester under new planning policy. More than 100 town and parish councillors turned out for a preview of the framework for planning applications in West Dorset. And they
MUM Patsy Strudwick has criticised the court sentence given to her ex-drug addict neighbour who stole her son's PlayStation. David Anthony Waterman, 34, of Princes Road, Bridport, was given a six-month deferred sentence at Dor-chester Crown Court yesterday
DISTURBING reminders of West Dorset's link with murdered Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markhov have been revived with the discovery of a suspected terrorist poison-making factory in London. Markhov, who is buried at Whitchurch Canoni-corum, was killed when
BUDMOUTH Technology College has been served a McMarvellous £150 after principal David Akers worked at a drive-through for a day. In a bid to strengthen links between the school and the restaurant Mr Akers donned full McDonald's uniform and volunteered
CHAMPIONS of community causes in Weymouth have scooped a green gong for their work in the Park District Waterside Weymouth Community Forum (WWCF) volunteers picked up the accolade at the ninth Green Apple Environment Awards. The campaign was organised
Around 18 Weymouth College students took part in a full-day mask workshop run by theatre company Trading Faces, including A-level theatre studies students, foundation degree performance students and BTEC national diploma performing arts students. Head
LYME councillor Ken Whetlor has accused the county authority of getting hold of the wrong end of the stick. And he says that he's "disappointed and flabbergasted" because its failure to grasp a request from Lyme means that Charmouth Road pedestrians remain
IF the local recreations committee has its way, Lyme Regis Regatta and Carnival Committee will be hit in the pocket if it fails to meet the council's deadline for the removal of the Marine Parade mural in future. If it is still displayed on the seafront
CHERRIES boss Sean O'Driscoll is today hoping to complete a beat-the-deadline loan move for highly-rated Portsmouth defender Lewis Buxton. O'Driscoll is poised to sign the 19-year-old on a month's loan after being given clearance by the Football League
A LYME Regis couple whose garden is falling in to the sea have vowed to stay in their home - even if landslips cause it to move. Dog warden Derek Hallett and his partner Susanne Whitemore say they won't be moved from their home on Church Cliff after parts
