Thursday, January 8
Sherborne Historical Society meets at 8pm to hear from Prof Jon Healey on Henry VI and the origins of the Wars of the Roses. How did Henry VI’s priorities as king diverge from what was expected of medieval monarchs? Digby Hall, Hound Street. Visitors £5. sherbornehistoricalsociety.co.uk
Friday, January 9
The Friends of Bridport Millennium Green are hosting The Alternative Twelfth Night at the town hall at 7.30pm, with Rough Assembly four-piece folk band. Music, words, poems and songs with Barry Bates and guest readers. Seasonal refreshments. Tickets £12 on the door (members £10). Contact 01308 423078.
Saturday, January 10
10,000 Miles in a Rainbow Skort is the title of an event hosted by Tracey Hannam at Owermoigne Village Hall from 3pm-6pm. In July 2020, Tracey set off to walk the entire coastline of the UK, adding on The Republic of Ireland too. Five years later she is bringing her journey indoors for one special afternoon. £5 inc coffee and cake, with funds shared between the RNLI and her ongoing journey.
A model railway exhibition is being held at Beaminster Public Hall in Fleet Street, DT8 3EF, hosted by the Bridport and District Model Railway Club 10am-4pm. A wide variety of layouts in various gauges and themes. Trade stands offering new and second-hand model railway products. Adults £5, U16 free. Parking at Yarn Barton.
Repair Cafe Weymouth at Southill Community Centre, 137, Radipole Lane, Weymouth, DT4 9SS, 10am-12.30pm. Bring items for repair by specialist volunteers for an optional donation. Electrical, clocks, jewellery, sewing and leather repairs, mechanical, sewing machines etc. Every second Saturday of the month. repaircafeweymouth.org
St Peter’s Church Dorchester, candlelit Epiphany carol service at 4.30pm. Admission free, all welcome. musicatstpetersdorchester.org
Sunday, January 11
Celebrate Plough Sunday at Puncknowle Manor Farm Grain Store (DT2 9BX) at 3pm, with Bride Valley and Chesil Churches. Everyone welcome for service and refreshments.
Monday, January 12
Dorchester Townswomen’s Guild meet at 2pm at Dorchester Community Church, Poundbury for a talk by Dr Francis Burroughes. Over 50 years an organist in churches, Dr Burroughes gives a real low-down view from the organ bench. These stories will certainly brighten your day. Visitors are very welcome to attend (£4).
‘Reflecting on American art’ art history lectures in Bridport start today, 2pm-3.30pm. The same lectures run online on Fridays from January 16 at 2pm. Artists include Grant Wood, Mark Rothko, Andrew Wyeth, Edward Hopper, Langston Hughes, Fra Dana, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Richard Prince, Kerry James Marshall, The Stettheimer sisters, Carrie, Florine, & Ettie, photography from William Eggleston and Vivienne Maier. United Hall, East Street, DT6 3LJ. Six lectures £65, or online £60. Individual lectures, £13. To book email chris.pamsimpson@btinternet.com
Tuesday, January 13
Southill Gardening Club starts its 2026 programme of events with a talk by Stephen Brown from the Dorset branch of Butterfly Conservation at Southill Community Centre at 7.30pm. Non-members welcome, refreshments available. Nigel Smith 01305 788939.
Royal British Legion, Dorchester Branch will hold a meet and greet social event (2nd Tuesday of each month) from 11am to 1pm at The Junction Hotel, Great Western Road, DT1 1UF. All welcome. More information from Carol Lewis at: DorchesterDorset.Secretary@RBL.Community
Wednesday, January 14
West Dorset Community Orchestra meet for rehearsal in the Christian Fellowship Hall, East Street car park, Bridport DT6 3PL 6.30pm to 7.45pm. New members welcome. 01308 456297 westdorsetmusic.org.uk
Thursday, January 15
Cash bingo at Charlton Horethorne Village Hall (Sherborne DT9 4FY). Doors 6.30pm eyes down 7pm. All welcome, friendly crowd. Queries: jb@classicmedia.co.uk
Bridport and District Gardening Club will enjoy a talk by Colin Varndell 7pm for 7.30pm at WI Hall, North Street. Colin is a Dorset-based natural history photographer best known for his evocative images of animals, birds, insects, wildflowers and landscapes. His work is reproduced nationally and internationally and is regularly used for advertising. Colin delights in photographing gardens and has won many categories in the International Garden Photographer of the Year. He has also won awards in the prestigious International Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Non-members £2.
Saturday, January 17
St Peter’s Church Dorchester is holding a free lunchtime concert 12.30pm-1pm, given by Daisy Tye (soprano) and Jonathan Prentice (piano). Admission free. musicatstpetersdorchester.org
Coffee morning at All Saints church, Wyke Regis, 10am-noon. All welcome. Coffee, tea, cakes, books.
Sunday, January 18
St Peter’s Church Dorchester is holding a Choral Eucharist at 10.30am. Music by Howells, Victoria and Berlioz. Admission free, all welcome. musicatstpetersdorchester.org
Tuesday, January 20
Beaminster Horticultural Society will meet for a presentation on The Island of Tresco by Ian Condon. Beaminster Public Hall, DT8 3EF. Doors 7pm, talk 7.30pm. Raffle, bar refreshments, plants may be available. Guests £3. Info: beamhortsoc@gmail.com
Wednesday, January 21
Live Laugh Love Ladies Club meets at Crossroads, 1 Crown Square, Poundbury. 7pm – 9pm. Speaker Maggie Moone, 80s and 90s TV singer and entertainer. Sally 07703 171545, email sallyannchildsslade@gmail.com livelaughloveladies.club/sallycs
West Dorset Community Orchestra meet for rehearsal in the Christian Fellowship Hall, East Street car park, Bridport DT6 3PL 6.30pm to 7.45pm. New members welcome. 01308 456297 westdorsetmusic.org.uk
Thursday, January 22
Sherborne Historical Society will enjoy a memorial lecture by Francis Brown on Sherborne Abbey: Georgian dilapidation and Victorian ‘restoration’ – The story of the Abbey’s state of disrepair in the late 18th century to the rebuilding of the tower in the 1880s at 8pm. Digby Hall, Hound Street. Visitors £5. sherbornehistoricalsociety.co.uk
Cornwall-based singer-songwriter Sarah McQuaid will play Shipton Gorge Village Hall (DT6 4LZ). Tel 01308 897649. Tickets £13, £7.50 U18s, 7.30pm (Doors 7pm) artsreach.co.uk
Tickets: ticketsource.co.uk/ artsreach/t-vxvxxay
Saturday, January 24
St Peter’s Church Dorchester will host a Choral Evensong at 4.30pm with music by Bairstow, Seal, Brewer and Tallis. Admission free, all welcome. musicatstpetersdorchester.org
Sunday, January 25
Netherbury Repair Cafe 10am-noon at the hall. Volunteers mend clothing, electrics, woodwork and metal. Bring spare parts. Home-made cakes.
Dorset’s Tank Museum in Bovington is holding its first Bumps, Babies and Toddlers event – with special guest Zoe Blaskey, the best-selling author and podcaster. The day will include a nearly-new sale, guest speakers and baby and toddler friendly activities. There will be sensory experiences, baby massage instruction and workshops focussing on perinatal health. The museum has a special offer for the day of the event – 50 per cent off entry.
Cornwall-based singer-songwriter Sarah McQuaid will play Milborne St Andrew Village Hall (DT11 0JX) at 7.30pm (doors 7pm). Tel 01258 839255. Tickets £12.50, £6 U18s, £35 fam. Tickets ticketsource.co.uk/ artsreach/t-plqllex
Monday, January 26
The German Occupation of the Channel Islands in WW2, an illustrated talk by Lt Col James Porter hosted by the Golden Cap Association at 2.30pm at The United Church Hall, East Street, Bridport. Visitors £5. Info from Chris Munden on 01308 426396.
Tuesday, January 27
U3A talk at Bridport United Church Hall, East Street DT6 3LJ at 2pm by James Taylor on The Voyage of the Beagle at 3pm. The tale of Captain Robert Fitzroy and Charles Darwin and their voyage aboard this famous vessel (1826-1836). Non-members £3.
Saturday, January 31
It’s that time again – when thousands of gorgeous snowdrops push their way out of the soil at Compton Valence. Lunches and teas at the hall till Sunday, February 8, 11am-3.30pm. Booking advised on 01308 482227 or tessa@cvfarms.co.uk
Film afternoon: Meeting Gorbachev at 3pm in Wyke Regis Memorial Hall. 2018 documentary. Entry £6.50 includes glass of wine, beer, or soft drink. Book at parishofwykeregis.org.uk/events contact Jeff on 07710 096174, or pay on the door.
West Dorset Singers will perform Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle at St Swithun’s Church Allington at 7pm. Rossini composed it in 1863, in his 70s and called it ‘the last mortal sin of my old age’. Tickets from Bridport Music Centre and at ticketsource.co.uk/wds
Sunday, February 1
A St Bride’s/Imbolc Pilgrimage will celebrate light, life and new beginnings from noon till 5pm from Hardy’s Monument (DT2 9HY). Imbolc is halfway between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, signalling spring, honouring the goddess Brigid with fire, purification, and themes of rebirth, fertility, and new beginnings. The pilgrimage will go through the Valley of Stones to the source of the River Bride at Littlebredy, and then through the Bride Valley to Freshwater, where the river enters the sea. Organisers are hoping to hire a minibus. From 5pm there will be a winter warmer event at Othona, followed by a candlelit evening of friendship for Candlemas. To register an interest email BVchurchesTA@outlook.com
St Mary’s Church, Edward Road, Dorchester DT1 2HJ will hold a Taize Worship for Candlemas at 6pm – a service of song, silence, prayer and contemplation.
Monday, February 2
Two new Dorset artists, Sue Verstage and Jakki Rook will be featuring their art at The Duchess of Cornwall, Poundbury from today until March 1.
Tuesday, February 3
Harbour Poets meet on the first Tuesday of every month in The Palm House Cafe, Weymouth, 2pm-4pm. Come and read and discuss your own poems and/or those written by others. All lovers of poetry are welcome. Refreshments available. Contact 01305 250645.
Beaminster Museum winter talk: Mapperton House and the intriguing history of the Montagu family. Peter Rand, Senior House Tour Guide at Mapperton, leads a virtual tour of the house. He will trace the estate’s history from circa 1086 to the present day, while highlighting the fascinating story of the Montagu family through the centuries. Tickets £5 on the door. 2pm Beaminster Museum, Whitcombe Road, Beaminster, DT8 3NB. beaminstermuseum.co.uk
Thursday, February 5
Sherborne Historical Society will hear a talk by Dr Geoffrey Tyack on The King and the Architect: George IV and John Nash at 8pm. Both as Prince Regent and King, George spent lavishly on architectural projects, with Nash his favoured architect. Meet at Digby Hall, Hound Street. Visitors £5. sherbornehistoricalsociety.co.uk
Bride Valley Films will be showing The Salt Path at Litton Cheney village hall – an emotional and life-affirming story of a couple whose connection with the natural world helps them overcome challenges. Capturing the beautiful scenery of parts of the South West Coast Path. Starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs. At the village hall (DT2 9AU). Doors 7pm, film 7.30pm. Tickets £6 (inc glass of wine). Tickets on the door.
Saturday, February 7
Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 7.5-mile walk from Maiden Newton. Call 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. Visitors welcome.
Monday, February 9
The Dorchester Committee of The Children’s Society is hosting a winter tea at St George’s Hall, Fordington 2.30pm-4pm. Tickets £4 on the door, inc tea, Dorset apple cake and crumpets. Waitress service and background music.
Wednesday, February 11
Live Laugh Love Ladies Club at Crossroads, 1 Crown Square, Poundbury. 7pm – 9pm. Speaker Nicola Pengelly, on the work of the RSPCA West Dorset Branch and Taylor’s Rehoming Centre. Sally 07703 171545 sallyannchildsslade@gmail.com livelaughloveladies.club/sallycs
Thursday, February 12
Sherborne & District Gardeners’ Association meets at the Main Digby Hall, Hound Street, at 2.30pm to hear from David Usher on Herbaceous Plants, Hints & Tips. Visitors £3. Richard Newcombe 01935 389375.
Saturday, February 14
Repair Cafe Weymouth at Southill Community Centre, 137, Radipole Lane, Weymouth, DT4 9SS, 10am-12.30pm. Bring items for repair for optional donation.
There’s a Valentine’s coffee morning at Maiden Newton village hall from 10am-noon in aid of Weldmar and the village’s Ivy Club. Cakes, raffle, books. Contact Sarah on 07469 739978.