Saturday, January 4
Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 7.5 mile walk from Evershot. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. New members/visitors welcome.
Celebrate the start of 2025 with an evening of words and music by Rough Assembly and friends at Bridport Town Hall at 7.30pm.
West Dorset folk group Rough Assembly loves playing this event, and enjoys researching the poems and readings they think will make an inspiring start to the year.
Rough Assembly draw their songs and tunes from traditional and modern English and Irish musicians and americana, with an emphasis on strong melody, interesting stories and rousing choruses.
Wednesday, January 8
Bridport Camera Club will be meeting at the town hall, DT6 3LF at 7pm for a talk by acclaimed wildlife photographer and author Richard Peters, entitled Back Garden Safari.
Known his use of dramatic light, he shows how even the most common wildlife found on your doorstep can produce unique images and tell a story by capturing the light that falls on the subject.
Visitors welcome for £5 available from bridportcameraclub.co.uk
Thursday, January 9
Sherborne Historical Society will hear from Dr James Ross on Henry VI and the Origins of the Wars of the Roses at 8pm at Digby Hall, Hound Street.
How did Henry VI’s priorities as king diverge from what was expected of medieval monarchs, leading to the collapse of political society and the outbreak of the Wars of the Roses? Members free, visitors £5. For more information go to sherbornehistoricalsociety.co.uk
Sherborne & District Gardeners’ Association will meet at the Digby Hall, Hound Street at 2.30pm to hear from Castle Gardens on pests and disease control. Non-members £3. Contact Richard Newcombe on 01935 389375.
Friday, January 10
A free guided health walk will start from Higher Bockhampton (DT2 8QH) at 10am. The walks, every Friday, are approximately 60 mins and led by trained volunteer leaders. No booking is necessary, just turn up outside Hardys Birthplace Visitors Centre.
The Oddfellows are holding a coffee and get
together with bring and buy at Crossways Village Hall 10.30am to noon.
This is open to all and whilst not a fund
raiser, it has, through donations raised a large sum of money to be divided
between Julia’s House, Children’s Hospice and ‘Doc Bikes’ – a charity that
sends paramedics out on motorbikes to attend road traffic accidents,
particularly those involving motor bikes. We had a presentation from them and
the statistics were truly shocking.
Saturday, January 11
Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 8 mile walk from Bovington Camp. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. New members/visitors welcome.
A January sale shopping evening is being held at Church Farm in Purse Caundle, near Sherborne (DT9 5DY) from 6pm-9pm.
Meet makers and designers selling their products along with music, wine, cider and new year bargains.
More info at laycockcider.co.uk
The Trading Post at Wyke Regis Horticultural Society, Rylands Lane, will be open on Saturdays 9.30am-12.30pm and Wednesdays 2pm-4pm from today. Seed potatoes should be in.
Bridport & District Model Railway Club is holding an exhibition at The Public Hall, Fleet Street, Beaminster, Dorset DT8 3EF, from 10am-4pm.
Admission £5, U16 £3, accompanied children free. Cash or card.
Full disabled access, car park nearby and light refreshments all day. 20 layouts, demonstrations and trade stands. Contact Ken Banks on 07484 213267 or kenbanksrailway@gmail.com
Repair café: Bring your broken items for repair by volunteers in return for a donation from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Top Club, Louviers Road, Weymouth DT3 6AY.
Sunday, January 12
St Mary’s Church, Dorchester DT1 2HL. Words and music to celebrate the New Year with the Serendipity Recorder Consort 4.30-5.30 pm preceded by tea at 4pm. Admission is free, but donations are invited in aid of the church roof.
Plough Sunday is an occasion to celebrate rural life and an opportunity to thank God for all those who care for the land. This is being held at Puncknowle Manor Farm Grain Store, DT2 9BX at 3pm by kind permission of Sarah Wild.
Go along to think about those who work on the land and produce food in this and other communities.
Parking at the farm and plenty of refreshments! Invite all your friends and family.
The Oddfellows are holding their branch meeting at 7pm at the ‘Sleeping Bear’ (Formerly the Wessex Royale’ Hotel in High West Street, Dorchester.
Monday, January 13
David Taylor will be the speaker at the meeting of Dorchester Townswomen’s Guild in Dorchester Community Church, Liscombe Street, Poundbury, DT1 3DF. Visitors are very welcome to attend (£3). His talk is entitled ‘Ancient Tunnels in Dorchester’ and follows a short business meeting and cups of tea or coffee. Enquiries 01305 832857.
Sunshine for January in the south of France is the title of art lectures about beautiful Bonnard, Picasso’s response to the south of France & Leger and lesser known artists Jacqueline Marval and Carlos Nadal, Mondays, 2pm, January 13, 20 and 27 at United Church Hall, East Street, Bridport.
Or Fridays, 2pm, online, January 17, 24 and 31.
Fee: £39 for three lectures, or £13 for individual ‘drop in’ lectures. To book email chris.pamsimpson@btinternet.com
Tutor is Pam Simpson, MA, art & design historian, who is associate lecturer at University of the Arts in London and who has had a 37-year career teaching in London art colleges.
Do you write? Would you like to be a
writer? Whatever you want to write why not come and learn with creative writing
group Chesil Bank Writing Shed? New writers always welcome. 7pm-9pm, Portesham
Village Hall. Find out more by calling Linda on 01305 871802 or visit lindaph.co.uk
Tuesday, January 14
Blackmore Vale U3A is hosting Paul’s Grand Winter Quiz.
Doors open for refreshments at 2.15pm at Henstridge Village Hall BA8 QD. blackmorevale.u3asite.uk
Southill Gardening Club starts its 2025 programme of meetings with a talk by Dr Dave Aplin entitled Dave Aplin’s Horticultural Exploits at 7.30pm in Southill Community Centre.
Dr Aplin is an experienced leader in the fields of botany and horticulture with over 35 years’ experience in nursery development, plant propagation, interpretation, and the development of curated plant collections.
Members and non-members are welcome and refreshments will be available.
For more information ring Nigel Smith on 01305 788939.
A divine union soundbath is being held 9pm-10.30pm at Digby Memorial Hall, (Griffiths Room), Digby Rd, Sherborne DT9 3LN, £16.
Book on 01935 389655 or email ahiahel@live.com Last minute booking queries or cancellations 07798 530515.
West Dorset Ramblers, 8 miles walk East from Salway Ash and Melplash. To book and for details please call 07952 517764.
Thursday, January 16
The New Arts Group will be hosting a talk at Bridport Town Hall from 1.30pm for a 2pm start.
The Object Talk with speaker Marc Allum, with people bringing small antiques and curios for him to discuss.
Neil Lucas, the UKs leading ornamental grass specialist, will be giving a talk at the Bridport and District Gardening Club at its meeting at the Women’s Institute Hall in North Street Bridport at 7.30pm.
Neil is the director of Knoll Gardens and has been developing his naturalistic style for over 29 years.
In the talk he will explore the use of grasses in designed spaces from naturalistic style of meadows and prairies to rain gardens and alternative lawns offering environmentally conscious gardeners a mix of nature friendly informal design and easy maintenance.
Entrance to the talk is free for members and £2 for non-members.
More information at bridportgardeningclub.co.uk
A quiz night is being held at The Fleet Club in Fleet Street, Beaminster, from 7.30pm in aid of the Prout Bridge Project.
Teams of up to four people, £2.50 per person, tickets from Yarn Barton Information Centre, or Anita Smith on 07802 734976. The event is being hosted by the Beaminster Royal British Legion.
Saturday, January 18
A White Tara Healing Retreat will be held 10.30am-4.30pm at Oborne Village Hall, DT9 4LA, with Anna Howard and Dean Carter.
Known for her ability to bring swift healing, good health, and wisdom, White Tara is a key figure in Tibetan Buddhism and an aspect of the Divine Feminine whose blessings we can invoke and whose qualities we can activate within ourselves.
In this day retreat they will introduce you to her in detail, then working with guided visualisation, meditation, and the therapeutic pure sounds of crystal and Tibetan bowls and vocal overtoning, awaken her healing power.
£80/60 concs for the day. Book in advance via 01935 389655 or email ahiahel@live.com
Anna’s website is at white-tara.co.uk
Sunday, January 19
An open-mic poetry afternoon is being held at The Occasional Bookshop, Durngate Street, Dorchester from 3pm-5.30pm. Bring your own or others’ work to read. Doors open 2.30pm. Free.
Thursday, January 23
Sherborne Historical Society is holding a memorial lecture by Matthew Saunders – The Almshouse in Britain: an architectural history at 8pm, Digby Hall, Hound Street.
The story of housing the needy in buildings of beauty and presence over the last 1,000 years. Members free, visitors £5.
sherbornehistorical society.co.uk
West Dorset Ramblers, 5 miles walk around Bridport , west and north areas. To book and for details please call 07952 517764.
Sunday, January 26
Netherbury Repair Café will be held 10am-12pm at Netherbury Village Hall. Bring your broken things (and any spare parts you know you need) – as long as you can carry it, we will take a look at it. Repairs and café with a full range of Clipper teas and cakes (including vegan). Contact: Lisa Willis lisagracewillis@gmail.com
A divine union soundbath will be held 2pm-4pm at Oborne Village Hall, DT9 4LA, costing £16.
Book via 01935 389655 or email ahiahel@live.com Last minute booking queries or cancellations 07798 530515.
Monday, January 27
Bridport: Abbotsbury Swannery – A Year through my Lens. An illustrated talk by Charlie Wheeler, manager of the Swannery and warden of the Chesil and Fleet Nature Reserve. Charlie has worked at the Swannery for 18 years and his talk documents the first territorial fights, courtship and egg laying, to cygnets hatching, the moult and the first faltering flights of the juveniles. United Church Main Hall, East Street, Bridport at 2.30pm. Members £3, Visitors £5. National Trust Golden Cap Association. Contact: Mike Nicks 01308 45855.
Tuesday, January 28
West Dorset Ramblers, 5 miles walk from Weymouth to Ferrybridge, To book and for details please call 07947 881635
Bridport U3A talk at 2pm in Bridport United Church Hall, East Street, DT6 3LJ.
Entitled Now I Belong to Me, speaker Christine Wallach will describe her life after being born into a religious sect.
Christine met her husband there and they had seven children together. After two of her sons broke the rules by visiting a cinema the whole family was thrown out. Her talk will describe life before and after the ejection, and how she built a new and successful life.
Wednesday, January 29
Ray Wills, the Gypsy Poet, will give a free talk and poetry reading at Poole Library from 2pm-3pm.
The new Live Laugh Love Ladies Club is meeting 7pm-9pm at Crossroads, 1 Crown Square, Poundbury. For details, to book and membership information contact Sally 07703 171545 or email sallyannchilds slade@gmail.com
Friday, January 31
Dorchester: Join award-winning historian Tom Holland for a talk exploring Rome’s Colosseum and gladiatorial combat 6pm-7pm at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.
When the Colosseum was inaugurated in AD 80, it was not only the largest permanent arena in Rome, but the only one. Why had it taken the Romans so long to erect such a monument in the heart of their capital? What were the origins of gladiatorial combat, and why had they inhibited the construction of a stone arena in Rome for centuries? How did the inaugural games staged in the Colosseum offer to spectators a vision of the heavens? And why, as viscera spilled out into the sands of the great amphitheatre, did the watching emperor pray that the dead of Pompeii and Herculaneum would be content with the offering of blood?
This event is part of the public programme supporting the British Museum Partnership Exhibition with Colchester + Ipswich Museums: Gladiators of Britain (open January 25 to May 11 at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.
Tom Holland is an award-winning historian, translator and broadcaster.
He is co-presenter of the world’s most popular history podcast, The Rest is History.
Saturday, February 1
Mike Denham (piano) Steve Graham(reeds) and Trevor Whiting (Trumpet) form EliteSyncopation at Weymouth Bay Methodist Church at 7.30pm. Tickets £12 on door or £10 in advance from Pete 01305 812637.
Compton Valence Snowdrops are out! Enjoy a wander round, with lunches and teas at the village hall from today until Sunday, February 9, 11am-3.30pm.
Walk/drive through the beautiful village and see the stunning white drifts of snowdrops.
To book contact Tessa Russell on 01308 482227 or 07818 037184, or email tessa@cvfarms.co.uk
Pre booked guests will take priority as the hall is small.
In bad/icy weather it may not be open. Cash only.
West Dorset Ramblers, 8 mile circular walk on coast and country in Ringstead area. To book and for details phone 07974 756107.
Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 6 mile walk from Tibbs Hollow, near Bradford Peverell.
For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340.
New members/visitors welcome.
Tuesday, February 4
Dorchester-Bayeux Society will show Populaire at Dorchester Corn Exchange at 7.30pm.
The utterly charming story of a girl from a Normandy village who finds a route to stardom and freedom via typing competitions. Based in 1958 it is a stylish, fun French film to chase away the January Blues. (2012)
Films are open to all and have English subtitles.
£6 cash on the door. Doors open 6.45pm. Bar available.
Wednesday, February 6
The Dorchester and District Gardening Club will hold a talk by Bryan Madders on ‘Salvias and other summer flowering perennials’.
Please note: We have a new venue – from the February meeting onwards our monthly meetings will be held at the United Church Hall, entrance
from 49/51 Charles Street, Dorchester DT1 1EE. Doors open at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start, free entry for members, visitors £4 on the door. There is also a bring and buy stall and a draw, with tea/coffee and biscuits available afterwards. All welcome. Contact: Jane, Secretary 01305 268523 or email dorchestergardening@gmail.com
Thursday, February 6
Sherborne Historical Society welcomes Prof Julian Jackson talking about Hero or Traitor: The Trial of Marshal Pétain at 8pm at Digby Hall, Hound Street. This talk examines the history of resistance and collaboration in Occupied France through the prism of the trial of Marshal Pétain in 1945. Members free, visitors £5. sherborne historicalsociety.co.uk
Saturday, February 8
A Mind Body Spirit Fayre at Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne DT9 3AA with psychic mediums, tarot, therapists, stalls a tombola plus free, medium demonstrations.
Homemade cake served all day. Entry £1, children free.
Repair café: Bring your broken items for repair by volunteers in return for a donation from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Top Club, Louviers Road, Weymouth DT3 6AY.
The West Dorset Group of the Somerset & Dorset Family History Society is meeting at 2pm at Loders Village Hall, DT6 3SA for its annual business meeting and members’ own stories and research.
Hear of the highlights of members’ research over the last year (or so), the triumphs and failures, the new websites you’ve discovered, new contacts you’ve made, in fact anything however brief, that you like to share. It doesn’t have to be long, in fact short is good!
See sdfhs.org/events
Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 7 mile walk from Beaminster. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. New members/visitors welcome.
Thursday, February 13
Sherborne & District Gardeners’ Association will meet at the Digby Hall, Hound Street at 2.30pm to hear from Jonny Hartnell on orchids. Non-members £3. Contact Richard Newcombe on 01935 389375.
Friday, February 14
Poundbury Rotary Club is holding a quiz night in aid of the Nepal Water Project at the Brownsword Hall, with rounds inspired by TV game shows including The Chase, Tipping Point and Mastermind – doors open 7pm. £12 per person to include a buffet, bring your own booze. Book via Peter Noble at pjwnoble@gmail.com
Saturday, February 15
Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 7 mile walk from Symondsbury. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. New members/visitors welcome.