Here's what made the headlines many years ago

DECEMBER 30, 1994

Much-needed homes for Beaminster families are in the pipeline with a £1 million development planned.

West Dorset Housing Association is to seek planning approval to demolish four former council houses on land off Gerrards Green and Willow Grove and build 17 houses, two bungalows and six flats.

Bridport’s economy has been given a huge boost, with a deal finally being done for a £1.4 million industrial estate.

More than 20 acres of land at Gore Cross has been bought by West Dorset Council and work should now start immediately.

Members of Beaminster NFU have broken with 70 years of tradition and picked a woman as their vice-chairman.

Shirley Preston, of Fortunes Wood Farm, Evershot, should go on next year to be Beaminster’s first chairwoman.

50 YEARS AGO

DECEMBER 26, 1969

Lyme Regis Fire Brigade was needed on Monday night - not to fight a blaze, but to fetch a piano.

The men delivered it to a ‘pianoless’ local hotel where Tim Moulding’s band had been engaged to play at the Lyme Regis Hospital staff’s annual dinner.

Bridport Football Club want to buy St Mary’s Field, the ground they have used since 1953.

The club had requested the town council to consider selling the ground to them, bearing in mind that they had rented it for 17 years and, during that time, had provided the town with a much-needed amenity.

Bridport’s Convent School has been told to close after 80 years.

The news came as a bombshell to the school’s 22 sisters when they heard recently that this would be the last year for the school. Only a few years ago new buildings were erected at a cost ‘running into many thousands’, bringing up the school’s facilities and capacity.