the community news that matters
Dorset Sunflower Trail reaches £100,000 donated to Dorset County Hospital
Dorset County Hospital (DCH) Charity is delighted to announce that the 2026 Dorset Sunflower Trail in Dorchester has raised £23,162.12 towards the Emergency and Critical Care Appeal. This this takes the total amount raised by Maiden Castle Farm for ...
Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
Dorset Council faces a £30million budget gap as rising demand for adult and children’s services puts its finances under pressure.
The authority say frontline services will be protected “where possible”, ...
Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter
Plans to relax dog restrictions on Weymouth’s main beach have been scrapped.
Dorset Council had considered allowing dogs on leads between 6pm and 6am during the summer season, but the proposal was dropped following concerns raised ...
Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
Eleven new bedsit homes could be created in a Dorchester town centre hotel and above a nearby former bank.
The two High West Street properties are part of a trend in the street for conversions back ...
Dorchester Men’s Shed seeks a new home
Dorchester Men’s Shed is appealing to local businesses, landowners, organisations and residents for help in finding a new home as it prepares to leave the workshop it has occupied at Kingston Maurward College since 2017.
The Men’s Shed has 22 ...
Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
Proposals for temporary and seasonal campsites, new homes in Broadmayne and Buckland Newton, and upgrades to a water treatment centre in Portesham are among the latest local plans.
Here are the details of those plans –
Ringstead ...
Two graves uncovered during Fairfield Road improvements in Dorchester
Two graves containing human remains were uncovered during improvement work at Fairfield Road in Dorchester on Monday 2 November.
The remains were found as contractors excavated the pedestrianised section of Fairfield Road. An archaeologist was already supervising the work because ...
Delightfully Different, every time
Click this image to enlarge it
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…
Fri 13 Nov
Bach by Candlelight – Goldberg Variations
7:00 pm to 8:15 pm
Location: St Peter’s Church, High West Street, Dorchester, DT1 1XAPlaying on a Robin Jennings Flemish Reproduction harpsichord, Royal College of Music scholar Markus Sadler performs Bach’s Goldberg Variations in the evocative, candlelit setting of St Peter’s Church Dorchester. The 75 minute programme will be performed without interval and tickets, priced £15 are available online. Early booking is advised. Tickets via web link below.
Contact: Music at St Peter’s | 01305250719 | Email | Web | MapFri 13 Nov
The Big Fat Quiz of Dorchester History
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Location: Corn Exchange, High East Street, Dorchester, DT1 1HFHow well do you know the history of Dorchester? Come to the Corn Exchange to test your knowledge and support the Mayor’s Charities Teams of 6, £10 per person. Physical Tickets (without booking fee) also available Tuesday-Saturday from Teasel & Skylark Bookshop, Trinity Street, Dorchester. Cash prizes for first three teams. Bring your own snacks or food, Corn Exchange bar will also be open.
Contact: Dorchester Town Crier | Web | MapSat 14 Nov
Christmas Coffee Morning and Sale
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: United Church Dorchester, 49/51 Charles Street, Dorchester, DT1 1EEStalls include cakes, crafts, gifts, books & puzzles, bric-a-brac. Refreshments on sale including bacon rolls and mince pies. All proceeds to benefit ‘The Leprosy Mission.’
Contact: United Church Dorchester | 07503177699 | Email | Web | MapSun 15 Nov
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 15th November at 10.30am in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes: Victoria’s ‘O quam gloriosum’, Mozart’s ‘Missa brevis in Bb K.275’ and MacMillan’s ‘Ave maris stella’. All are very welcome to this free service. More information via web link below.
Contact: Music at St Peter’s Dorchester | 01305250719 | Email | Web | MapTue 17 Nov
Whist Drive
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Location: The Trumpet Major, Alington Avenue, Dorchester, DT2 2ABCome and join us for a whist drive at The Trumpet Major Pub in Dorchester at 2pm for a whist drive. Everyone welcome, experienced players and beginners. Prize for top-scoring man and top-scouring lady! Cost £5.00 to include tea and a slice of homemade cake.
Contact: The Loyal Hand in Hand Lodge of Oddfellows | 07788436797 | Email | MapOn demand, at your convenience
Dorset Council commemorates Armistice Day at Memorial Corner
At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Armistice Day 2026 was commemorated at the Memorial Corner outside County Hall in Dorchester, the HQ of Dorset Council. The service this year was called the Lamp ...
COP 26 coming soon to Kingston Maurward
COP (Conference Of the Parties) 26 will be taking place on Saturday 14th November at Kingston Maurward. It’s going to be a full day of community-led climate action, where Dorset’s changemakers come together to reimagine the future of our ...
A new local amateur dramatic group soon to be treading the boards
Have you ever considered joining a local amateur dramatic group? Penny and Rowan Cake called into the Keep 106 studios to tell us about a brand new Community Theatre project here in Dorset, what’s involved and how to audition.
see more and listen to this audio ►
On 8th November 2026 the annual Service of Remembrance was held at the War Memorial in Dorchester when two minutes silence was observed in memory of those service men and women who lost their lives during two World Wars ...
UPDATED: Wessex Scenes – a radio play by the New Hardy Players
The New Hardy Players have embarked on a new radio play called Wessex Scenes, an adaptation of a former stage production in 2014. Based on real events the play tells the story from when the original Hardy Players staged ...
A new album for Halloween from local musician Nick Capaldi
Nick Capaldi dropped by the Keep 106 studios to chat about his exciting new album — and it sounds like the perfect soundtrack for Halloween! Packed with spooky-inspired songs, it could be just what you need to get your ...
