the community news that matters
Woman assaulted in Asda car park – appeal for witnesses
Police officers investigating an assault in a supermarket car park in Weymouth are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
The incident occurred at around 7.20pm on Tuesday 19 May 2026 in the car park of Asda in Newstead Road.
The victim ...
Bakery proposal for former Halifax premises approved
by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
Bakers, Reeve, have been given permission to open in the disused former Halifax Building Society in South Street, Dorchester.
The building has been empty since November 2022.
A planning agent for Reeve the Baker, which started ...
Dorchester credited as a Watermark Town
The community of Dorchester has been recognised for its efforts towards saving water and protecting the environment.
Dorchester has achieved Watermark Town status after the Town Council completed a 12-month programme and received an award from Wessex Water.
The endorsement secures ...
by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
The growth of Dorchester’s annual Literary Festival is being held back by a lack of a suitable large venue in the county town and parking problems.
Town councillors have been told that most events are ...
Charity Gala raises £300,000 for Dorset County Hospital Appeal
A philanthropic group of Dorset based individuals have come together in support of Dorset County Hospital Charity’s Emergency and Critical Care Appeal raising an incredible £300,000 at a Gala Dinner held at Chettle House in Dorset on Friday 8th ...
40-year council service recognised
by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
Long-serving councillor Molly Rennie has been honoured for her 40 years of public service.
Dorchester Mayor Les Fry presented her with flowers and a gardening voucher at the start of Tuesday’s evening town council meeting.
The ...
Car Boot generates cash for the community
Last year the Dorchester Market Car Boot Fund awarded £11,746 worth of grants to community organisations in the Dorchester area.
Local sports clubs, youth projects, projects for people with disabilities or long-term health related issues and projects tackling cost of ...
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 21 May
Smuggling in Dorset and Hampshire
Location: Dorset History Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester, DT1 1RP7:00 pm. In the 18th & 19th centuries high taxes led to increased illicit imports to Britain. Stories of the battles between smugglers & excisemen have been handed down in archival records, family stories, local legends & songs. Join us for an evening of music, folklore and local history with Bonny Sartin. Tickets are £8 for Dorset Archives Trust members or £10 for non-members. Please book via web link below.
Contact: Dorset History Centre | 01305 250550 | Email | Web | MapSat 23 May
Wild wetland bird walk
10:00 am to 12:30 pm
Location: Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, Poole, BH13 7EEBrownsea Island is a haven for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Our guided walks, led by an expert Dorset Wildlife Trust ranger, take you through the island’s beautiful wetlands. Brownsea Lagoon is one of the best birdwatching sites in England. The lagoon’s shallow, nutrient-rich waters draw in thousands of birds annually, creating an ever-changing avian spectacle.
Contact: National Trust | 03442491895 | Email | Web | MapSun 24 May
Choral Eucharist for Pentecost
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 for Pentecost on Sunday 24th May at 10.30am in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes: Tallis’s ‘O Lord give thy Holy Spirit’, Mozart’s ‘Missa brevis in F K.192’ and Grayston Ives’s ‘Listen sweet dove’. All are very welcome to this free service. More information via web link below.
Contact: Music at St Peter’s | 01305250719 | Email | Web | MapTue 26 May
Coffee and Chat
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: The Kings Arms Hotel, 30 High East Street, Dorchester, DT1 1HFCome and join us for a coffee and chat at the Kings Arms, High East Street, Dorchester where the first two drinks will be paid for by The Oddfellows. Refreshments available to order from the bar.
Contact: The Loyal Hand in Hand Lodge of Oddfellows | 07788436797 | Email | MapThu 28 May
Meet the Author event with Michael Malay
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Location: Weymouth Library and Learning Centre, Great George Street, Weymouth, DT4 8NNDo you enjoy creative writing? Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to join award winning author Michael Malay at Weymouth Library on 28 May for an inspiring creative writing workshop! Everyone is welcome and no previous experience is necessary. Tickets are Pay What You Can (including free) – see web link below. This event is part of the Words Alive in Libraries tour. (Also see Meet the Author Talk in separate listing below).
Contact: Dorset Council, Libraries | 01305762404 | Email | Web | MapOn demand, at your convenience
Reporting from the Dorchester Annual Town Meeting
On 8th May Dorchester Town Council held the Annual Town Meeting in the Corn Exchange. This was a chance for members of the public to meet local Dorchester Town Councillors and hear more about the work of the Town ...
A live session with guitarist Paul Sundt
Paul Sundt has been on Andy Senior’s list of prospective guests for quite some time. With around 25 years of experience as a professional guitarist, musician and tutor, Paul brings both talent and passion to everything he does. If ...
Countryside Matters 62, 11.05.26
In this edition:
Mike Burks, Managing Director of the Gardens Group, explains the advantages of growing dwarf varieties of fruit trees if you only have a small garden, or a patio, since a number of them – apples, pears, cherries ...
Red for Archie – a fun run in memory of a special lad
Please listen to the audio track below…
Archie Miller sadly passed away in June 2024 at the age of 11 and in his memory Archie’s parents set up a charitable organisation, ‘Archie’s Warriors’ in honour of their beautiful boy with ...
Idris Martin reporting from the archaeological dig at the old Weymouth bowling ally
Residents and visitors were invited to explore Weymouth’s hidden history when a major community archaeology dig opened its doors to the public on 9th May. The Weymouth Community Excavation 2026 Open Day took place at the excavation site on ...
Countryside Matters 61, 27.04.26
Trevor Bailey, who is a long-time resident of the village of Bourton in north Dorset gives the reasons why he accuses the government’s housing policy of creating an “unprecedented assault” – his words – on rural England, and Dorset ...
