Archive
-
Date
Need the Samaritans... now you can text as well as talk over the phone
PEOPLE in desperate times can phone for help – and send a text message too. Samaritans in Dorset now have the ability to receive text messages from those who have nowhere else to turn. The move comes as Samaritans, the good listeners at the
-
Date
River Cottage staff dive in with athletes
MEMBERS of the team from Hugh Fearnley-Whitting-stall’s River Cottage television show took the plunge as they trained with Team GB’s diving squad. River Cottage’s host ambassadors, Steve Lamb and Stefanie Smith travelled up to Sheffield to take
-
Date
Looking at environmental support from farming practices
VISITORS to a Dorset nature reserve got the chance to find out how farming practices are supporting the environment. West Dorset conservation officer Nick Gray, of Dorset Wildlife Trust, led the group around Kingcombe Meadows to explain the connection
-
Date
Hospital doors thrown open for tours
WEST DORSET’S main hospital will open its doors for a public open day. The event is being held at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester on Saturday, September 21, between 2pm and 4pm. A range of departments will be open for tours and the on-site
-
Date
Campaigners to meet MP as 5,000 sign petition against parking meters
THE petition opposing new on-street parking meters in Bridport has now reached 5,000 signatures. And opponents of the scheme are hoping to enlist MP Oliver Letwin’s help when they meet him tomorrow, September 13. They will also be meeting with
-
Date
Gardening show is a growing success
A well-stocked plant and produce stall drew the crowds to Bridport Gardening Club’s late summer show. “A record number of entries in floral art and handicrafts, including decorative hats for the Hat Festival, enhanced the show, which was declared
-
Date
Swimmer rescued by RNLI Lyme Regis off Charmouth beach
A swimmer reported to be in difficulties off Charmouth beach was rescued today by the crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat. The lifeboat was launched at 9.28am and found the man floating on his back. He was taken aboard the lifeboat, suffering
-
Date
Marilyn's photos show a picture of our past
HOW lucky we are to have readers able and willing to share their old photographs with us. Our thanks this week must go to Marilyn Sealy of West Bay who has lent us nearly 50 of her family photographs. We’re sure there are quite of few of them that
-
Date
Modern Millie was thoroughly enjoyed
The talented Bridport Musical Theatre treated us to Thoroughly Modern Millie, set in the roaring twenties. The company excelled with their singing, great dance routines and threw in humour and pathos with their acting. Credit must go to the
-
Date
Donation of fruit warmly welcomed
MAY I offer sincere thanks to the lovely people at Washingpool Farm for their generosity in donating fruit to Leaps and Bounds baby and toddler group in Salway Ash. It is very much appreciated by us all. The group runs on Wednesdays at the village
-
Date
Many missed guitars on the beach
I would just like to voice the disappointment of hundreds of guitarists and spectators alike who missed Guitars on the Beach (GOTB). The event took place half an hour earlier than advertised because of the rain – ironically, at 5pm when it was
-
Date
Invaluable support for host programme
Following a very successful hosting programme for the long-established Japanese exchange, we would like to express our thanks to the following for their invaluable support: Mayor Maggie Ray and her husband Martin, St John Ambulance, the Sir John Colfox
-
Date
Fundraiser helped victims of torture
On behalf of the West Dorset Group of the charity ‘Freedom from Torture’ I’d like to say a big thank you to the good people of Bridport who supported our 50p stall on Saturday, August 31 by purchasing all our bric-a-brac bargains. The generosity
-
Date
There’s a job for a beach litter picker
During our annual two-week holiday in west Dorset, we were left dismayed and upset at the state of Abbotsbury beach when we visited on August 30. Litter had been left all over a long stretch of the lower part of this beguiling beauty spot, which
-
Date
Toughen your tastebuds at first ever world garlic-eating contest
THERE’S sure to be a whiff of excitement in the air around Chideock this weekend. The first annual charity World Garlic Eating Competition takes place on Saturday, September 14, at The George Inn. Fans of the “stinking rose” will be invited
-
Date
Peak performance for charity cyclist
FILMMAKER Dave Young, 46, from Eype has tackled more mountains in seven days than cyclists do in 21 days on the Tour de France. But thanks to months of gruelling training he actually enjoyed the challenge of taking part in the Haute Route cycle
-
Date
Use the town hall for the hat festival
At the Bridport Hat Festival last year there were lots of lovely stalls at the church hall, but they were unfortunately too far away. And due to a high rent this year many did not return to the youth centre – again too far away. Organisers,
-
Date
We shouldn’t need protest campaigns
So, another idea from West Dorset District Council bites the dust. Not content with depriving thousands of residents and visitors alike of a simple human ‘necessity’ (I refuse to call it a ‘convenience’) the council abandons the unrealistic idea
-
Date
Count me in on councillor’s stance over on-street meters
I would like to applaud Councillor Lathey’s stance on the subject of installing parking meters along the streets of our town. How dare the council impose this curse on us? Yes Mr Lathey, it is high time one of our local councillors banged his
-
Date
Short-term outlook would bring long-term revenue loss
Over the last few years there have been several TV programmes highlighting the decline in High Street trade with consequent shop closures and a look of desolation to what had once been an area of activity. Two towns examined were Shepton Mallet
-
Date
Stride out for church repairs
WEST DORSET residents are being urged to ‘ride or stride’ to raise money for the maintenance and repair of the county’s historic churches. Scores of churches in villages from Askerswell to Whitchurch Canonicorum and in Bridport, Beaminster and
-
Date
Don’t spoil ‘gem’ with parking plan
I was delighted to see that Bridport is one of ten finalists in the BBC Countryfile Market Town competition. It is indicative that the town exhibits all the qualities that are today so rare in our towns – a wonderful range of independent retailers,
-
Date
Bus usage study ‘inaccurate’ in winter
CARRYING out surveys of bus use in winter is unlikely to give an accurate figure on which to base important decisions. That’s the view of members of Bridport Town Council which has been asked to respond to proposed cuts in services by Dorset County
-
Date
Thieves steal bronze pig
THIEVES have ‘rustled’ a huge and much-admired ornament from a West Dorset garden. The giant bronze resin pig which has delighted passers-by for five years in the garden of Pamela and Martin Chant at Greenham, near Drimpton disappeared overnight
-
Date
Woodroffe School trial lower speed limit at peak times
A NEW 20mph speed limit is to be trialled during peak times outside the Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis. Chaotic scenes outside the school have prompted fears for pupils’ safety. As a result of guidance changes from the Department for Transport
-
Date
£20k cost to take over out-of-use toilet block
BRIDPORT Town Council would have to find £20k a year to take over the redundant toilet block in East Street. And that figure does not include the cost of buying or renovating the building. Last night Bridport councillors on the finance and
-
Date
Meeting to discuss Hunters Lodge 'death trap' junction safety plans
A HIGH-LEVEL meeting is to be held after pleas to make the Hunters Lodge ‘death trap’ junction safer. Neil Parish, MP for Honiton and Tiverton, has arranged for a meeting between himself and Axminster and Uplyme Parish councils after being contacted
-
Date
'Poop squad' to name and shame thoughtless dog owners in Bridport
A COMMUNITY ‘poop squad’ could shame thoughtless dog owners in Bridport into clearing up after their pets. The volunteers, armed with poop-scoops and bags could provide a visible reminder to pet owners that they must clean up. The idea was
-
Date
Eco home owners to throw doors open in Bridport
THE option of making homes more efficient, eco friendly, warmer and cheaper is easier than people think – that’s the message transition town Bridport wants to get across this weekend. There will be 12 homeowners who can prove this when they share
-
Date
Hatfuls of fun by the thousands
A HATFUL of fun was had by all as thousands gathered in Bucky Doo Square on Saturday for the Bridport Hat Festival. Click here to see our fantastic gallery of pictures from the event. From unicorns to rollercoasters, swans to windmills, the
-
Date
Two more awards for Broadchurch
THE BROADCHURCH awards tally has grown with more big wins. The ITV crime drama, which stars West Bay, took two top titles at the 2013 TV Choice awards this week. At a glittering ceremony at London’s Dorchester Hotel, the series won the Best
-
Date
Ploughing contest rescheduled
THE annual Melplash Agricultural Society'’s ploughing and hedging match takes place on Saturday, September 21 at Higher Langdon, near Beaminster, on Tessa Mackenzie-Green’s land. Dan Newman, society chairman, said: “The ploughing match has always
-
Date
Parking meters 'not a done deal' says council
DORSET County Council has denied claims it has already purchased the parking meters which would see an end to free parking on the streets of Lyme Regis. Council officials also insist they are not dictating to the town about parking and have pledged
-
Date
GOLF: Club captain bags White Jug glory at Bridport
THE men’s Sunday competition was the White Jug, a Stableford for two-man teams playing off three-quarter handicap, both scores counting. The weather was mostly dry with the occasional shower and 28 teams took part. The winners were club captain
-
Date
Records shattered as thousands join forces to create Britain’s biggest-ever band
SPARKS were flying and records were shattered in Lyme Regis as more than two thousand guitarists joined forces to create Britain’s biggest-ever band. Guitars on the Beach, organised by Geoff Baker, attracted worldwide interest and saw 2,267 musicians
-
Date
BEES: Luke’s return is a boost for Bridport
BRIDPORT’S midfield maestro Chris Luke is set to make his first appearance on home soil this season when the Bees face Longwell Green Sports at St Mary’s Field on Saturday (3pm). The other good news for fans of the West Dorset club is that Matt
-
Date
LYME REGIS: Tim targets Lyme glory
Lyme Regis v Ilminster Reserves NEW Lyme Regis boss Tim Edwards is eyeing silverware this season but building a squad for the future is also one of his main priorities. Providing he is successful and given the chance, player/manager Edwards
-
Date
RUGBY: Kamikaze run for young Blues
THE hills around Mapperton reverberated with the roar of the Bridport Under-16s rugby team at the weekend. A 17-strong squad of 15-year-olds took on, and conquered, the gruelling Kami-kaze run, an eight-mile endurance race that includes a number
-
Date
RUGBY: Krissie takes the reins with Blues
SEEING a woman coach at any level of men’s rugby is still a rare sight these days – not at Bridport RFC. With two women already coaching in the club’s junior set-up, the Blues have given their top job to Krissie Washington, formerly with Welsh
-
Date
Twinning of Lyme Regis and Barfleur edges ever closer to completion
THE twinning of Lyme Regis and Barfleur has taken another step forward as the official document to mark the occasion nears completion. Calligrapher and illuminator Fiona Graham-Flynn, is putting the finishing touches to the document that will be
