AN AUDIENCE will be introduced to a wide selection of Portland characters and hidden places at an upcoming talk.

The fourth talk of the Friends of Weymouth Museum's 2023 Autumn Programme takes place on Monday, November 6 from 2pm to 3.30pm.

It will be held at Hope United Reformed Church at 8 Trinity Street, Weymouth.

Geoff Kirby will also talk about the extraordinary life of Marie Stopes, the family planning pioneer, who lived in the Upper Lighthouse and who scandalised the prim and proper Methodist Portlanders with her raunchy lifestyle.

Other characters include Jack Knapp who managed to be banned from every pub on Portland along with his pet dog and goose, Dodger Cutting with his pampered cow and Dickie Hoskins with his fake pets’ cemetery.

Portland’s hidden buildings include over-grown Victorian gun batteries, a vast and very secret underground bunker, Penn’s bath carved two centuries ago out of solid rock hidden in a wood… and much more.

Geoff moved to live and work in Weymouth 60 years ago and has had a long-held fascination with both the histories of Portland and Weymouth.

Tea and biscuits will be served from 2pm and the talk will begin at 2.30pm.

Tickets will be available on the door and are £2 for members of the Friends and £3 for visitors. (Exact change would be appreciated, if possible).