the community news that matters
Pop-up Pride Dorchester back for 2026
Pop-up Pride Dorchester is back for its second year with a fabulous and packed programme.
The initiative, driven by Dorchester Town Council with the support of local partners, brings together events happening throughout Pride month in June – hosted by ...
After making 259 appearances for Weymouth Football Club and scoring 118 goals, Brandon Goodship has left the Terras and signed on for Poole Town.
Goodship replaces former Dorchester striker Shaquelle Gwengwe, who scored 43 league and cup goals for the ...
Presentations made following the Boys are Back fundraiser
Idris Martin reporting.
Two cheques of £500 each were handed over to representatives of two local charities, Two Little Birds and Butterflies.
The money was raised on the evening of Friday 15th May at the Boys are Back band re-union gig ...
Man jailed after five officers subjected to unacceptable assaults in Weymouth
A man has been jailed after five officers were subjected to unacceptable assaults by a man in Weymouth.
At around 7.55pm on Thursday 2 April 2026 officers responded to a call from the public about an aggressive man who was ...
The People’s Emergency Briefing to be screened in Dorchester
Chris Packham backs Dorchester’s screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing which is being hosted by Dorchester Town Council, Dorset Climate Action Network and Dorset Action.
A free public screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing will take place at The Corn ...
E scooter trial proposal to be considered by Dorset councillors
Dorset councillors are being asked to give their views on proposals to introduce a regulated e‑scooter rental trial in some of the county’s towns.
Dorset Council has been offered the chance to participate in a national government-supported e-scooter trial that ...
Witness and dashcam appeal following collision in Dorchester
Police officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to get in touch following a collision in Dorchester.
At around 4.20pm on Saturday 23 May 2026 a two-vehicle collision occurred involving a grey Hyundai i10 and a black ...
Recent news items
- Air Ambulance second helicopter touches down – and you can help name it
- Dorset partners mark Carers Week 2026 with new support to build carer friendly communities
- Weymouth Town Council hold Service to Mark US Memorial Day
- Weekend Sports Report
- Weldmar Hospicecare is Weymouth Half Marathon’s charity partner for 2027
- West Dorset Cider & Perry Pub of the Year 2026
Delightfully Different, every time
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Below are the next 5 upcoming events. There’s much more in the Local Events Diary…
Fri 29 May
HMS Dorsetshire and the sinking of Bismark
6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Location: Dorchester Army Reserve Centre, Poundbury Road, Dorchester, DT1 1TAHosted by military historian Lt Col James Porter along with a drinks reception, this fascinating talk is about the County Class heavy cruiser HMS DORSETSHIRE and will follow her career from the laying of her keel on 21 September 1927 to her loss on 05 April 1942. However, the main focus will be on DORSETSHIRE’s role in the hunt for and the eventual sinking of the German battleship BISMARCK.
Contact: The Dorchester Keep Military Museum | 07586161872 | Email | Web | MapSat 30 May to Sun 31 May
Wessex Folk Festival
Location: Weymouth South Harbourside & Hope Square, Weymouth, The free Wessex Folk Festival returns to Weymouth, bringing live music, Morris dancing, workshops and family entertainment back to the town’s picturesque harbourside for another weekend of celebration. This year’s programme includes performances from Granny’s Attic, The Countrymen, Captain’s Beard, Threepenny Bit, and many more. New for 2026 is the launch of The Fringe, an exciting programme of performances and workshops hosted at Weymouth Drama Club.
Contact: Wessex Folk Festival | WebSat 30 May
Piddlefest
1:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Location: Piddletrenthide, Main Street, Piddletrenthide, DT2 7QLCommunity run event in Piddletrenthide. Music festival with food and drink. Kids go free money raised goes to Piddle Valley First School and Air Ambulance.
Contact: Piddlefest | 07540381749 | Email | Web | MapSat 30 May
Choral Evensong
4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Location: St Peter’s Church, High West Street, Dorchester, DT1 1XAYou are warmly invited to our monthly, cathedral-style service of Choral Evensong on Saturday 30th may at 4.30pm in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes Gibbons’s ‘Come, Holy Ghost’, the ‘Preces & Responses’ by Martin Neary, Blair’s ‘Evening Service in B minor’ and Elgar’s ‘The spirit of the Lord’. Admission is free and there is a glass of wine to follow. All are very welcome. More information via web link below.
Contact: Music at St Peter’s | 01305250719 | Email | Web | MapThu 4 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 | 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 ...
