the community news that matters
Appeal for information following burglary at Maiden Newton Fire Station
Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward following a burglary at a fire station.
We received a report at 11.34am on Saturday 13 June 2026 of a break-in at Maiden Newton fire station.
It was reported ...
Plans for Statue of Dorchester’s Famous Cat Susie to Be Decided On 30 June
Steve Bulley reporting.
A planning application to install a statue of Dorchester’s famous feline, Susie the cat, will go before Dorset Council’s Northern Area Planning Committee on 30 June.
The proposal, submitted under reference P/FUL/2026/01516, seeks permission for a statue depicting ...
Family hub changes at Littlemoor Youth Club
Major changes are being proposed at Littlemoor Youth Centre, Louviers Road, adding external canopies and internal changes in a six-figure re-make of the ageing and austere building.
A planning application (P/FUL/2026/02367) has been submitted for new doors and windows, an ...
Russian tanker intercepted by Royal Marines and anchored off Weymouth
Idris Martin reporting.
British armed forces boarded the oil tanker Smyrtos, which is thought to be one of the Russian Shadow Fleet in the English Channel, on early Sunday morning, the Prime Minister said.
“The ship is now anchored in Weymouth ...
Tragedy as motorcyclist dies in accident near Chickerell
Police officers investigating a fatal collision near Chickerell are appealing for witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.
At 10.22am on Sunday 14 June 2026 a road traffic collision occurred on the B3157 Chickerell Hill near to Bagwell ...
Buckets through Maiden Newton to keep fire station open
Over 50 villagers from Maiden Newton came together to reenact how a village would have fought fires a century over 200 years ago before modern fire appliances. Villagers formed a line to haul water from the bridge over the ...
Weymouth Football Club’s wide man Matt Burrows has parted company with the Terras after signing 12 months ago.
Local Dorset Cricket League Results:
Martinstown beat Broadstone by 7 wickets. Dorchester beat Bere Regis by 6 wickets. Blandford beat Marnhull by 6 ...
Recent news items
- Hundreds of trees to be planted across Dorset this autumn
- New hospital discharge carers pilot launched
- Billy Bragg to headline incinerator campaign’s ‘Protestival’
- Bird hide at Chesil Centre approved
- Man assaulted and robbed in Weymouth
- Poundbury Self Guided Walking Leaflet launched to Celebrate the Official Birthday of HRH King Charles III
Delightfully Different, every time
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Is your organisation running an event which the community needs to know about? You can promote a charitable or non-profit event on our popular What’s On page, FREE OF CHARGE, to boost interest.
Below are the next 5 upcoming events. There’s much more in the Local Events Diary…
Mon 15 Jun to Sat 20 Jun
Educating Rita
Location: Royal Manor Theatre Company, 138A Fortuneswell, Portland, DT5 1LT7:30 pm. We are proud to present Willy Russell’s much loved “Educating Rita” for 6 nights from 15th June 2026. Frank, a disillusioned and alcohol dependent professor, finds his spark reignited when he agrees to tutor Rita, a working-class hairdresser hungry for self-improvement. This witty and moving comedy explores the price of “fitting in” and the true meaning of personal freedom.
Contact: Royal Manor Theatre | 03336 663366 | Email | Web | MapThu 18 Jun
Evening Echoes: Bird and bat safari on Brownsea Island
7:20 pm to 10:30 pm
Location: Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, Poole, BH13 7EEA nocturnal safari looking at birds settling down for the evening there will also be bat detecting and we will be looking out for the mysterious nightjar. There will be plenty of moths on the wing too. There are 2 sailing times with the second boat leaving at 19.50 and returning at 22.50.
Contact: National Trust | 03442491895 | Email | Web | MapSat 20 Jun
Wud Eye Lye 2 Ewe
Location: St George’s Church Hall, High Street, Fordington, Dorchester, DT1 1LB7:30pm. Teams of 4 to 6 are invited to participate in a hilarious ‘Dorset’ version of the popular BBC panel show. Rustic supper included £5.00 per person. Bring your own bottle. Prize raffle!
Contact: The Loyal Hand in Hand Lodge of Oddfellows | 07788436797 | Email | MapSat 20 Jun
Lunchtime Concert
12:30 pm to 1:00 pm
Location: St Peter’s Church, High West Street, Dorchester, DT1 1XAJoin us at St Peter’s Church Dorchester on Saturday 20th June between 12.30pm and 1.00pm for our monthly lunchtime concert. Jonathan Prentice (baritone) and Rob Taylor (piano) perform an eclectic programme of songs and arias. Admission is free. More information via web link below.
Contact: Music at St Peter’s | 01305250719 | Email | Web | MapSun 21 Jun
Choral Eucharist
10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: St Peter’s Church, High West Street, Dorchester, DT1 1XAYou are warmly invited to our cathedral-style service of Choral Eucharist on Sunday 21st June at 10.30am in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes: Bruckner’s ‘Locus iste’, Gabrieli’s ‘Missa brevis’ and Fauré’s ‘Cantique de Jean Racine’. All are very welcome to this free service. All are very welcome to this free service. More information via web link below.
Contact: Music at St Peter’s | 01305250719 | Email | Web | MapOn demand, at your convenience
A hike with a difference to raise funds for MND
Today we heard from from Graeme Lloyd and John Kelly who will be taking part in a charity walk with a difference. On 18th June, they will be walking from Bovington to Portsmouth wearing specially created 3D-printed models of ...
Reporting from Kushti Boc in Dorchester
Kushti Bok, the leading, and award-winning, Gypsy and Traveller advocacy charity in Dorset formed in 2002, hosted a Roma History Day in Dorchester on Saturday, 13 June 2026. The event took place at Borough Gardens and featured traditional crafts, ...
Mark Topp is the Pastor at The Storehouse Church in Cambridge Road, Dorchester and he regularly calls into the studio with news of the latest goings-on at the church and elsewhere, Messy Church being one topic. Once again Mark ...
Countryside Matters 64, 08.06.26
This programme’s theme is almost entirely plants. First, Mike Burks, Managing Director of the Gardens Group, reveals some of the more fascinating and secret ways that plants communicate – and defend themselves from enemy predators!
then Dr Stuart Thompson of ...
The High Sheriff of Dorset walks the County Lines path
The High Sheriff of Dorset, Helena Conibear, has recently embarked on a marathon trek around the outline of Dorset’s border with other counties – Wiltshire, Hampshire, Somerset and Devon – all to raise funds to help against the criminal ...
Reporting from the Dorchester Community Lunch
The Dorchester Community Lunch, an event aimed at members of the Dorchester local community and voluntary organisations and those that work to support the voluntary sector, was held in the Town Hall on 12th June. Our reporter Andy Worth ...
