the community news that matters
Renewed appeal in search for missing Portland man

Police officers are issuing a new image of a missing Portland man as they continue their searches for him.
Gary, aged 59, was last seen in the area of Park Estate Road at around 1.30pm on Thursday 23 April 2026.
It ...

Weymouth, Dorchester and Portland United football teams will all compete in the Southern League Division One next season.
Dorchester were relegated from the Southern Premier League last weekend and Weymouth’s two nil away defeat at Berkhamstead on Saturday also condemned the Terras to division one ...
Weymouth’s Anzac Day in pictures

On 25th April 2026 Anzac Day was commemorated in Weymouth with a service at the memorial on the seafront.
The service, including a wreath-laying ceremony, recognises the sacrifices made by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps personnel during the ...
Dorchester Walking Festival coming soon

Excitement is building as the 2026 Dorchester Walking Festival prepares to launch this Saturday, with more than 650 individual tickets already sold and over £2,500 raised in support of local charities.
Taking place from 2nd–10th May 2026, this year’s festival ...
Public appeal in search for missing Portland man

Police officers are appealing for help from the public as they search for a missing man on Portland.
Gary, aged 59, was last seen in the area of Park Estate Road at around 1.30pm on Thursday 23 April 2026.
It is ...

Weymouth Football Club’s Southern Premier League survival will be decided on Saturday at Berkhamstead.
Last week’s win against Chertsey lifted Weymouth out of the relegation zone after Evesham’s defeat at the hands of Gosport with just one game remaining. That means a victory at Berkhamsted on the final ...
Can you help Dorset Council be an age-friendly county?

Dorset Council is seeking volunteers to build a countywide network of Ambassadors, to help make Dorset a better place to grow older.
The ambassadors can be any age, from any background; all they need is a commitment to helping shape ...
Recent news items
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…
Thu 30 Apr
Transported for the Rest of Your Natural Life!
Location: Dorset History Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester, DT1 1RP7:00 pm. A Talk by Mike Randall. Learn about the sufferings of “unfortunate and melancholy souls” convicted at Dorchester Assizes in the late 18th and 19th centuries and what befell them and the families they left behind. Tickets are £8 for Dorset Archives Trust members, or £10 for non-members. Please book via ticketsource (web link below)
Contact: Dorset History Centre | 01305 250550 | Email | Web | MapFri 1 May to Sun 3 May
'Life Class' a comedy for Dorchester Arts
Location: Corn Exchange, High East Street, Dorchester, DT1 1HF7:00 pm. Two local writers have written a brand new comedy, ‘Life Class’ and it is being staged as a fund raiser for Dorchester Arts. A talented cast of local actors are bring to life the story of a London artist, who flees to Dorset and sets up an art class in a village hall. Lives are changed by the power of art.
Contact: Dorchester Arts | 01305 266926 | Email | Web | MapFri 1 May
Age UK North South and West Dorset Maker's Market
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Location: The Age UK NSW Dorset Hub, Crown Square, Poundbury, DT1 3ENOur Maker’s markets are hosted by a team of our volunteers. These clever creative volunteers keep busy creating handcrafted, knitted, sewn, items to sell alongside and home-grown plants.
Our Maker’s market will be held on the 1st Friday of each month. Come along and join us for a cuppa and a home baked sweet treat.
Fri 1 May
May Day Kiddies' Keilidh
5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Location: The Thomas Hardye School Theatre, Queen’s Avenue, Dorchester, DT1 2ETCome and celebrate May Day with the bright and colourful TatterBand accompanying dances especially chosen so younger families can enjoy some gentle folk dancing. Friendly caller Angela Laycock will teach the dances, so no experience is necessary. All children must be accompanied by an adult. £5 per person from Dorchester Arts.
Contact: Tatterdemalion and Dorchester Arts | 01305 266926 | Web | MapFri 1 May
The Big Dorset May Day Ceilidh
7:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Location: The Thomas Hardye School Theatre, Queen’s Avenue, Dorchester, DT1 2ETCome and celebrate May Day with folk music, dancing for everyone, and good company at the Thomas Hardye Theatre.
Join us for another of their seasonal family ceilidhs, this time to celebrate the coming of summer. The TatterBand play tunes which were used for dancing in Dorset 200 years ago, and now you can enjoy communal dancing, with the moves taught by experienced caller Angela Laycock.
On demand, at your convenience
Countryside Matters 60, 13.04.26

It’s undoubtedly the busiest time of the year for gardeners, and maybe even busier this year with more people thinking of growing their own veg. Mike Burks of The Gardens Groups talks about some of the more unusual vegetable ...
A plan Dorset Wildlife Trust to release beavers into the Frome and Hooke rivers

Dorset Wildlife Trust recently held an event in Dorchester’s Town Hall to publicise their plan to release beavers into the wild on the Frome and Hooke rivers. The trust wanted as many members of the public to attend and ...
World Heritage Day celebrated at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery

On Saturday 18th April Dorset Museum & Art Gallery marked World Heritage Day and the 25th anniversary of the Jurrasic Coast becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site. Running just for one day the event brought together science, art, and ...
Commemorative Plaque unveiled at County Hall to honour those conscripted under National Service

On Monday 30th March a ceremony was held at the Memorial Area outside County Hall in Dorchester to honour the people of Dorset who were conscripted to serve under National Service. Their contribution and time in the armed forces ...
Moonfleet: Crimson Tide – a new take on a classic story

Making a welcome return to Keep 106 today was local musician and storyteller Will Adams. He’s joined by the very talented guitarist Paul Sundt, along with 13-year-old local performer Toby, who plays the lead role in Will’s new audiobook ...
Countryside Matters 59, 30.03.26

Food resilience and the Feeding Dorset Partnership: Jon Sloper, CEO of Dorset charity Help and Kindness talks about what the Partnership is and does, and about the importance of growing and distributing more food locally – and how Dorset ...
















