Ken Clay, a volunteer guard on the Moors Valley Railway, is probably the oldest railway guard in the country. Ken, who crewed Lancaster bombers in WW2, will celebrate his 90th birthday on 26 October. He lives in Ferndown. The steam railway at Moors Valley is the south’s longest fully signalled narrow-gauge railway, with 17 steam…
Chairman of East Dorset District Council, Cllr Robin Cook was taken on a tour of the Heatherlands Centre in Ferndown on 23 October.
Welcomed by the Centre Manager John Hanrahan, the tour included a visit to Hopscotch Pre-school where Lorraine Clark talked about the new extension that will cater for 75 children.
Robin also met the leader of the Age UK group, Theresa and her helper Miriam and spoke to some of the 27 members. The group provides a much needed meeting place, lunch and activities for all who attend.
A rare inland sighting of an arctic breeding wading bird, the grey phalarope, has been recorded on the largest of six new ponds which have recently been created on Dorset Wildlife Trust’s (DWT) Tadnoll and Winfrith reserve.
Residents of Care South’s The Fearnes residential home in Bournemouth paid a visit to AFC Bournemouth’s Goldsands Stadium last week.
Residents were given a full tour of the stadium, where they had the chance to sit in the terraces, stand in the players’ tunnel and try out the Manager’s and coaches’ seats and the substitutes’ bench.
The tour was finished off with coffee and biscuits in the boardroom.
Robert Walter MP (North Dorset) paid a visit to Blandford Foodbank on 23 October to meet staff and learn more about issues surrounding foodbank provision.
At the invitation of Blandford Foodbank Steering Group Chairman, The Rev Brook MacCallam, Bob met with Rev MacCallam himself, Alistair Doxet-Purser, Chief Executive Officer of Faithworks Wessex, volunteer Jacquie Dakin and Foodbank Manager Gail del Pinto at Blandford Forum Methodist Church to find out more about the operation of this local foodbank and hear staff views on the challenges surrounding foodbank provision.
The Deputy Mayor of Ferndown, Cllr Julie Robinson purchased the first poppy in the town following the launch of the Poppy Appeal by the Ferndown branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) on 24 October.
Those who gathered in the Garden of Remembrance for the occasion included D-Day veteran Ted Young aged 91, who served as a Royal Engineer. He heard earlier this week that he has been awarded the Legion d’Honneur by the French government – the country’s highest honour.
Lawrences’ popular jewellery auctions in Crewkerne attract a large amount of enquiries and prices at the firm’s recent sale were showing fresh strengths across the market. Amber, long recorded as merely a decorative resin, has now achieved the status of being acquired like a semi-precious stone and a there were nearly 30 lots of amber…
With three top quality displays, Bournemouth Fireworks’ Remember, Remember night on Saturday, November 8 will commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of World War One with a unique fireworks show set to music. The Band of the Royal British Legion Christchurch is to join the Poppy Appeal on the eve of Remembrance Sunday at Bournemouth’s…
The steely powerhouse Ann Widdecombe, best known for her feisty and witty appearances on TV, in shows such as, ‘Have I Got News For You,’ and for her unforgettable performance on BBC1’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, was the speaker at a dinner at Parley Manor near Ferndown, Dorset on 16 October.
From making lanterns to enjoying mouth-watering dishes, tiny tots at one Bournemouth nursery were given a taste of the Indian festival of light, Diwali.
It is currently being celebrated by Hindus across the globe and also a little closer to home at the Bournemouth Day Nursery where the children enjoyed a whole day dedicated to this ancient festival and learning about India.
