It was a chance visit to Bridport Post Office when a reproduced greetings card caught the eye of photojournalist Carlos Guarita. The photograph, which dated back to the early part of the 20th century, depicted an industrial dispute staged by women at Gundry’s net and rope factory in Bridport. The event sparked Carlos’s curiosity, and […]
A grieving farming couple who wanted road safety measures put in place following their son’s death have reignited calls for action after being dealt a double blow. Leonardo’s Helicopters engineer Ben Solly died between the junctions to Maiden Newton and Cattistock on the A37 in January last year. He was 28. Last month the inquest […]
A jewellery maker who started her business as a hobby at her kitchen table on Portland five years ago now has two thriving shops – and is up for a string of national awards. Sophie Mitchell, 36, and Matt Williams, 41, had entirely different careers in 2020. Sophie had worked for New Look for 13 […]
A competition in the West Dorset Magazine for a meal for two at The Elm Tree Inn in Langton Herring piqued our readers’ interest as hundreds of people entered! But there can only be one winner, and the lucky Ron Glynn from Weymouth will be taking his wife Jen to this community run pub for […]
Peter Fry, a lifelong member of Came Down Golf Club, is proud of the club’s vital role in the establishment of the Ryder Cup. Peter said: “Sam Ryder certainly wouldn’t have been pleased to see the raucous goings-on at the weekend. “After the battle of Brookline in 1999, his grand-daughter said how disappointed he would […]
A young entrepreneur has launched a unique business in Dorchester’s South Street – offering a one-stop shop for people who want beautiful interior design. Laura Eleni, 34, has gathered together designers in a gorgeous co-working space, with beautiful lights, furniture and wallpaper and fabric samples. Olive & Wilde is a novel concept – possibly the […]
A couple who launched their range cooker business eight years ago are now jetting all over the world installing Agas after adopting a policy of ‘never saying no’ to work. Alison and Steve Smith started Rural Ranges in 2017 after Steve decided he wanted to work for himself. He took out a personal loan and […]
Good eggs in Dorset are needed to save hundreds of ex-commercial chickens from slaughter by giving them loving homes. The appeal from the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) comes after 400 hens were set to be rehomed late last month at a rehoming event in Beaminster. For the last 18 months, these hens have been […]
Weldmar Hospicecare has launched a new bereavement café in Lyme Regis, providing a vital local support network for anyone experiencing grief. The cafe will be hosted at Waffle on Broad Street from 10am-noon on the first Wednesday of every month. All are welcome, regardless of whether their loved one was cared for by Weldmar or […]
We are Bird Media – two experienced journalists who have decided to break free and launch
their own news publication The West Dorset Magazine.
Editor Miranda Robertson has worked for a number of local papers, including the Dorset Echo, Salisbury Journal and The New Blackmore Vale. She lives in Maiden Newton with her husband Peter, son Robert, jug PugsieMfanwy, pug Hugo and the ginger ninja Kitten Mitten.
Karen Bate has worked for the Salisbury Journal, Wiltshire Living Magazine, Bournemouth Echo and The New Blackmore Vale. She lives with husband Stuart, daughter Florence, dogs Sir Alfred Sticks and Buddy and cat Milton. There’s also a bonkers horse called Mars in her menagerie.
