Despite light snowfall first thing Dorchester’s second all-day Cracker event was a huge success. The town saw thousands of people brave the chilly weather to enjoy the festive atmosphere. Steve Bulley, vice president of Dorchester Chamber for Business, pictured with Paddington and a polar bear. said: “It was wonderful to see the town so busy […]
The West Dorset Magazine’s cartoonist Lyndon Wall has won a national award – beating the likes of The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Spectator and Private Eye. This magazine– which was only launched in February this year – was the only regional/non-London publication to be shortlisted for the Political Cartoon of the Year Awards, […]
Six swimmers who battled challenging conditions to try to break the record for the oldest standard six-person Channel relay swim have been left bitterly disappointed after their bid for ratification was rejected. The Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation’s ratification committee refused to allow the One Foot in the Wave 2 team’s swim, saying they had […]
When a costume makes you laugh out loud, you know it’s going to be a stonker of a show. The moment the Ugly Sisters (Alim Jadavji and Andrew Pollard) appeared in their bikinis I started laughing – they were absolutely hilarious. Their timing was impeccable. One of the many stand-out stars of the show was […]
The festive season is upon us and if you fancy buying your nearest and dearest something a little different, there is a host of independent West Dorset shops offering unique gifts which are truly inspired. Hunny Bunnies 7, Redlands Yard, Broadwindsor In Redland’s Yard in Broadwindsor, stands the little crafting shop Hunny Bunnies, Alison and […]
A popular village pantomime which has been staged for more than 40 years has been cancelled halfway through rehearsals due to concerns over ‘cultural insensitivity’. Ansty has enjoyed four decades of its annual show, and local children had been busily learning their lines for this year’s show – Aladdin, which was due to be staged […]
By Dan Goater An avid fossil collector has slated the failed £5.5m Seaton Jurassic World Heritage Site Visitor Centre as ‘not only a waste of money, but also a wasted opportunity’. Geologist and fossil guide Richard Edmonds says the visitor centre, which opened in 2016, lost £500,000 in running costs due to ‘poor visitor numbers’ […]
A young chef from West Dorset has wowed the judges and critics on MasterChef: The Professionals and looks set to go far in the BBC1 competition. And the good news is that Charlie Jeffreys, 24, aims to return here and open a fine dining restaurant of his own one day. Charlie’s love of good food […]
The Boundary Commission has issued new proposals for the division of constituencies in Dorset, which would see several West Dorset communities move into the North Dorset constituency. Under plans unveiled online, Cerne Abbas, Puddletown, Tolpuddle, the Piddle Valley and Cheselbourne would be shifted into North Dorset constituency, as the commission seeks to increase the number […]
A well-known teacher, musician and composer is holding the biggest event of his life in hopes of finally hearing his works performed by a professional group of musicians before his illness stops him in his tracks. Rick Birley, 68, who lives in Dorchester, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 15 years ago. The disease hasn’t stopped him […]