Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Thursday, Feb 9 A roarsome time awaits in dinosaur trail

Compton Valence snowdrops and refreshments in the village hall, 11am – 3.30pm until February 12. Walk or drive through the beautiful village and see the stunning white drifts of snowdrops.

To book call Tessa Russell on 01308 482227 or tessa@cvfarms.co.uk

Booked guests will take priority as the hall is small.

The Emperor’s New Clothes will be staged at The Royal Manor in Portland at 7.30pm (& on Friday and Saturday).

Emperor Richard is very vain, spending all the kingdom’s wealth on the most fabulous clothing, much to the consternation of the royal accountant. To afford a new outfit for his jubilee, a competition is announced to find the very best designer to create a masterpiece. A quest to find competitors takes the royal footman Pierre across the land, encountering a collection of strange townsfolk and sad tales. Who will create the best outfit? How amazing will the Emperor look at his jubilee?

For tickets visit ticketsource.co.uk/royalmanor theatre

Sherborne and District Gardeners’ Association meeting is at 2.30pm at the Digby Hall in Sherborne David Ennals will give a talk on bonsai for beginners. All welcome. Non-members £2.

Bridport History Society will meet at 2.30pm at United

Dinosaurs are back! We Are Weymouth (BID) is launching its dinosaur trail on Sunday, February 12 – the trail is on until March 26. This year the trail features five life-size dinosaurs installed throughout the town, as well as a Dino PAW trail, all kicked off with a dino-tastic launch event, with baby dinosaurs and their handlers, a giant dinosaur egg and visits from walking and growling dinosaurs; the spinosaurus and raptor. Everything is free to attend. Head to Bowleaze Cove and

Church Hall, East St at 2.15pm to hear a talk entitled ‘Distressed’ in Dorset: A Tale of Debt, Bankruptcy and Flight in the 1820s by Dr Robert Nantes. Visitors welcome £4. For more info and Zoom link please contact Jane: tel: 01308 425710 or email: jferentzi@aol.com

A talk by Professor Ronald Hutton – Witchcraft and Magic – will be held at 6pm at Dorchester’s Shire Hall Museum.

This talk will examine the beliefs in witchcraft and magic held by ordinary British people between 1740 and 1940, a neglected period between the end of the witch trials and the appearance of modern New Age witches.

The talk looks at who became

The Lookout Cafe, The Palm house at Swannery Walk, The Nothe Tavern, Nautico Lounge as well as the Royal hotel to discover all the dinosaur installations. With QR codes at each point, visitors can learn folk magicians and why, what techniques they used, whether they worked in groups, how much they were persecuted, and what became of their traditions. It also considers who was suspected of evil witchcraft and what happened to them. Tickets at shire-hall-historic-courthousemuseum.myshopify.com

Friday, Feb 10

An Open Mic Night will be held from 8pm at Tippling Philosopher Milborne Port Go along to listen and/or take part. This isn’t a show, it isn’t a competition, it’s just fun!

Sherborne Library is holding a talk with Sarah Acton entitled Seining Along Chesil between 2.30pm and 3.45pm Hear about Sarah’s new book all about each dinosaur and the Jurassic Coast. The launch event will be held in the town centre, with the giant egg at Cineworld. Visitors are encouraged to share pictures on Facebook and Instagram and tag @WeAreWeymouthUK #WeAreJurassic

For full information on where to stay and what to do, head to weareweymouth.co.uk which remembers and celebrates the Seine fishing communities.

Free, booking advised on 01935 812683.

Loyal Hand in Hand Lodge of Oddfellows is holding a Friday Coffee Morning at Crossways Village Hall, DT2 8JA between 10.30am and noon.

All welcome. For more details contact Mary 01305 853125 or marybrewer44@icloud.com

BSO Trio of Flute, Harp & Cello – Spring Serenade will be at Portesham Village Hall at 7.30pm.

Box office: 01305 873891. £12, £6 u18s, £25 fam. Artsreach and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra present a magical programme, with Dvorak and Debussy, Bach and

Brahms, Grieg and Grainger.

Swanage singer Alexis is performing her solo Motown act at Wellworthy Sports and Social Club in Wyke Regis, Weymouth.

Alexis is joining Crystal Ship, the former Weymouth-based band from the sixties and early seventies who reformed in 2017 and have continued to play since for a set.

Tickets £10 on the door or info@classicmedia.co.uk

Saturday, Feb 11

Prize bingo at Maiden Newton Village Hall at 2pm – eyes down 2.30pm. Raffle, children’s game, tea and cake.

A Repair Cafe will be held 10.30am-12.30pm at Top Club

Littlemoor

Volunteers fix your broken items while you watch. No charge – donate as much or as little as you like. Free parking. Tea, coffee and homemade cake

Bridport Record and Music

Fair will be held at 10am at Bridport United Church. Music and Record Fair with knowledgeable, impartial dealers.

Swanage Railway is holding an Open Weekend 10am-5pm today and Sunday, February 12.

Tickets: swanagerailway.co.uk

Fancy a look behind the scenes at Swanage Railway? Well, this is your chance! See the inner workings of the railway including visits to the signal box and signalling museum at Corfe Castle as well as the carriage restoration shed at Swanage. Visit the footplate of one of the steam locomotives at Swanage as well as the opportunity to drive one of the Class 08 Diesel shunters in Swanage in their Driver for a fiver sessions.

Quinn’s Quinney will be playing at Bridport’s The Ropemakers from 9.15pm.

Circus of Horrors will be at Weymouth Pavilion at 7.30pm with their sensational new show The Haunted Fairground, set in a decrepit fairground on the edge of nowhere. Haunted by creatures of the unknown who had been plastinated as exhibits in The House of Wax & brought back to life by a Tesla Coil machine to run havoc. Amazing set, stellar lights, special effects and beautifully bizarre circus acts.

Tickets £26 - £28.25 via Ticketmaster.

Bournemouth Model Railway Exhibition 2023 will be held from 10am-4pm at Hamworthy Club, Magna Rd, Wimborne, BH21 3AP, hosted by The East Dorset N Gauge Group. Tickets bmre.org.uk

Adults £8, accompanied children free. Free parking. Hot and cold food and drink available from 10am, bar.

St Nicholas Church in Broadwey (DT3 5DN) is hosting a Valentine’s Concert at 7.30pm.

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Off you trot! Spring show set to be amazing

Macsetal & Friends will be performing songs and music of love to get you in the mood for Valentine’s Day. There will be a cash bar.

The event is to raise funds for Wessex Heartbeat and St Nicholas Church repair fund. Tickets are available at £8 from susanamalik@yahoo.com or 07944 617553

A whist drive is held every Saturday, 7.30pm, at Holy Trinity Church Hall, Lysander Road, Yeovil, BA20 2BU. Just turn up, or call Nigel on 01935 862325 for more details.

Sunday, Feb 12

Armed forces veterans’ breakfast club 9am-11am at The Greyhound Hotel in Bridport

Serving armed forces personnel, veterans, partners and relatives are all welcome. No subs or joining fees, just breakfast and banter.

Weymouth Comic Con and Gaming Festival will be held 10am-4.30pm at Weymouth College Sports Centre. Tickets: tickettailor.com/ events/ukcgf/803425

A Choral Eucharist Service will be held at St Peter’s Church in Dorchester at 10.30am for the first in a new series of monthly services.

The music includes: Haydn: Missa brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo (Little Organ Mass), Stopford: God be in my head, Tallis: If ye love me and Mozart: Ave verum corpus. All welcome.

Monday, Feb 13

A Fun Quiz will be held at The Dorchester Townswomen’s Guild at the Community Church, Liscombe Street, Poundbury at 2pm.

Ian Campbell will host the quiz,

Shake off those postChristmas blues at Dorset’s first country show of the year. The Spring Countryside Show, organised by the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Agricultural Society, is returning for its second year on Saturday, April 22 and Sunday 23 at the Turnpike Showground in Motcombe. A showcase of rural crafts including wood carving, farriering, heavy-horse logging, gun dog handling and terrier racing plus a dedicated farm yard area full of animals to meet is on offer. There will be a Strictly Come Dancing style sheep contest at The Sheep Show and, in the rural ring, prepare to be stunned by the star attraction - the famous Lloyds Bank black horse, Amadeus, will which will not be mastermind standard!

Non-members are invited and tea and coffee will be served. Enquiries. 01305 832857 be part of a horseback falconry display. There will be show gardens, a ‘cookery theatre’ with demonstrations from local chefs, a funfair with bouncy castles, working steam engines and a classic car display plus stalls selling clothes, homeware and produce.

MS Society Dorset meets for its Bridport Social Evening at 7pm-9pm at The Bull Hotel. If you have MS, care for someone with MS or would like to volunteer for us then go along on the second Monday of each month. Chat, advice and hot beverages.

Natural Art is a half term activity at The Kingcombe Centre at 1pm.

Do something creative guided by the team, while exploring the wildlife living in Kingcombe Meadows. Tickets are charged per child, and accompanying adults go free.

Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Book at eventbrite.

Snowdrop walks are held every Monday and Wednesday in February at Kingston Lacy NT. Spot different varieties and see the carpets of naturalised bulbs, and meet the gardener in the Fernery, who will discuss the different varieties of snowdrops. Walks cost £2. Admission applies (free to National Trust members). nationaltrust.org.uk/ visit/dorset/kingston-lacy

Tuesday, Feb 14

This Is Me Dorset runs LGBTQ+ meets in Weymouth and Bridport, open to all LGBTQ+, their allies and friends every Tuesday from 7pm to 9pm at the Royal Oak, Dorchester Road, Weymouth. More information from anabellebayne@gmail.com or 07411 465007.

Ann & Neil’s Acoustic Night will be held at The Woodman,

There’s also a festival area with live music, food and a bar with local ales, gin and cider open until 10pm on Saturday.

Tickets for the two-day event are on sale now, with early bird prices of £10 per ticket for adults, children go free. gillinghamandshaftesburyshow.co.uk

South St, Bridport at 8pm. Solos & duos play and sing folk, blues, country and all things rootsy in the round. Expect some love themed songs this Valentine’s Night. Every 2nd Tuesday. New performers and singers welcome or just listen and enjoy.

A Warm Space with a Hot Meal is promised every Tuesday at The Veterans Hub, 114A Portland Rd, Weymouth (DT4 9AD) from 8pm. The team will be opening the café doors from 1800-2000hrs for anyone in the community that would like to warm-up, recharge, and have a free homemade hot meal – open to the entire community.

World of Water will run from 10.30am at The Kingcombe Centre.

Tickets: Free - £3.60 from Eventbrite.

Explore Kingcombe Meadows which is teeming with wildlife. The nature reserve is managed as a working farm, grazed by cows, sheep and Exmoor ponies, without the use of modern agricultural practices. The result is a patchwork of fields of unimproved flowerrich grassland, broken up by thick hedges, streams, ponds, ancient green lanes and wooded areas spreading up the valley either side of the River Hooke. This river supports a wide range of wildlife – explore the minibeasts that live in the river! Tickets are charged per child, accompanying adults go free.

A free after hours relaxed opening will be held at Dorset Museum from 4.30pm. The event is designed to support autistic and neurodiverse children and families. Families can explore the galleries with adjustments and lowered volume levels and take part in arts and crafts activities. They have a quiet space to take time out should anyone need it and sensory resources and ear defenders are available to support your visit.

Best for children aged five to 15. Siblings are welcome.

Wednesday, Feb 15

The 2nd Dorchester Company Boys Brigade and Girls Association is a uniformed youth organisation that meets every Wednesday 6pm-7pm at Boys Brigade Hall, Sawmills Ln, Dorchester and welcomes boys and girls ages 5-11. Lots of fun activities and new things to learn. For more info go to boys-brigade.org.uk.

If you would like your child to join or any other information, email Phil at boysbrigade2nd dorchester@gmail.com

Jack and the Beanstalk will be performed at Woodmead Halls, Lyme Regis, until February 18. Tickets available now at lymepanto.co.uk/tickets

Starring a talented local cast with enough razzle dazzle to light up Lyme Regis, the most talked about beanstalk comes to town during February half term.

A Dinosaur Sleepover is being held at Dorset Museum from 5.45pm until 8am.

The Jurassic Coast Trust’s event features an evening of fun and varied activities led by experts, plus a film and breakfast, and the chance to spend the night in this beautiful and historic museum in the heart of Dorchester.

Tickets are £25 for adults and children. Suitable for children aged 6-12 years.

Your ticket includes hot chocolate and biscuits in the evening, breakfast in the morning, and tea and coffee for the grown-ups. shop.jurassiccoast.org

ROH Live: The Barber of Seville comes to Dorchester’s Plaza Cinema at 7pm. Expect heart-melting serenades, ridiculous disguises and a fairytale ending waiting just out of reach. From the barber’s opening number ‘Largo al factotum,’ with its cry of ‘Figaro!,’ to Rosina’s feisty aria ‘Una voce poco fa,’ Gioachino Rossini’s comic opera is a riotously entertaining affair. pddorch.admit-one.eu

Thursday, Feb 16

Dr Marc Morris will talk about The Anglo-Saxons at Sherborne Historical Society at 8pm in Digby Hall. Members free, visitors £5 sherbornehistoricalsociety.co.uk

West Dorset Ramblers tackle Ringstead to Durdle Door and back at 10.15am - 8 miles Philip and Michelle 01460 62060. ramblers.org.uk

Sandra Brown will present a talk on ‘Banking in the 1950s,

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Thatched, Grade II-listed 16th century freehouse at the heart of the historic village of Yetminster. Acclaimed Sunday roasts.

Classics fun run. Classic car and motorcycle-friendly.

Large, floodlit asphalt surfaced rear car park with CCTV. Car wash facilities.

Feb 16 continued when the Customer Was Always Right’ at 2.30pm, Bridport WI Hall, North Street, in support of Bridport Millennium Green. Nonmembers £5, members £4 to include tea and biscuits. Details 01308 423078.

Artsreach theatre production: Georgia And The Iceberg will be at Comrades Hall, Broadwindsor at 3.30pm. Can you imagine spending your holiday in Antarctica? Or becoming best friends with a penguin? When Georgia goes to visit her big sister Helena, all she wants is to explore the big frozen continent outside her bedroom window. While Helena is focused on completing her chores, Georgia discovers a giant iceberg on a collision course with the nearby penguin colony. If she can’t get across the ice in time to warn them, everyone’s in danger. She might need some help …. A brrr-illiant adventure filled with puppetry, jokes and a heartwarming original story.

Tickets: £6 adult - £5 under 18from artsreach.co.uk/ event/georgia-dorsetborn or margaretmwing@gmail.com or 07796 454203.

Refreshments available – cash only. Recommended 7+ and their families. Children must be accompanied by an adult during the whole performance.

Bridport & District Gardening Club meets at 7.30pm in the WI Hall, North Street. Colin Varndell will talk about garden birds. Colin has been photographing the landscape and wildlife for over 42 years. His evocative photographs of animals, birds, insects, wild flowers and the landscape are reproduced in books, magazines, newspapers, greetings cards, calendars and in advertising worldwide. He has won awards four times in the prestigious International Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. His pictures were used to promote the BBC millennium programme Living Britain

Thorncombe Environment Group meets 9.30am to 2pm at Thorncombe Sports and Social Club, Horseshoe Road, Thorncombe, TA20 4PS. There will be a mix of stalls from local community groups and businesses to wildlife and conservation organisations plus craft activities for children. Come and learn about protecting our environment and living in a more eco-friendly and sustainable way. All welcome. Entry free. Tea, coffee and cakes available, bar open. For more information or to book a stand please email ThorncombeEnvironmentGroup @outlook.com

Sherborne Library host Jungle Crafts for children, 3-4pm. Free and suitable for children aged 3 and older. Booking is advised – visit Eventbrite or call 01935 812683.

Friday, Feb 17

Make a willow deer sculpture in a beginners class with Studi0ne in Bridport from 10am-4pm. All materials & metal stand included. Call or text 07486 062343.

The RSPCA’s annual quiz will be held at Kingston Maurwood at 7pm.

Teams of four people at £10 per team. This can be paid on the night but teams will need to email their team numbers and names beforehand. Raffle, refreshments. Email office@rspcataylorsrehoming. co.uk to register your team.

Saturday, Feb 18

Join the Bridport Folk Dancers for their barn dance/ceilidh in the WI Hall, North Street, Bridport from 7.30pm10.30pm. Come along for a swing and a stomp ...with or without a partner. No experience necessary as a caller and musicians will lead the dances. Soft drinks available or BYO. Adults £5, children free. Proceeds to Julia’s House.

Make your own pottery beer tankard from 4pm-6.30pm at Tom Brown’s Pub, Dorchester

This beginner-friendly pottery workshop will be held as part of BREW DORCH beer festival 2023. Complimentary pint of beer. Once complete, your tankards will be taken to be dried, fired and glazed - ready to be collected in four to six weeks. NHS/Student/Blue Badge 15% discount. Limited spaces available. Adult only: 18+. potsnpints.co.uk

Meet the Author at Dorchester Library between 11am-noon, when poet and storywriter Jim Potts will talk about his books and ‘facing off the Thought Police’. Jim has written about Dorset and many countries (both friendly and hostile) where he has lived and

OPENING

IN GILLINGHAM

Soon

Book an appointment in March for 5% off bridesofdorset.co.uk

FB: @bridesofdorset tracey@bridesofdorset.co.uk

07506 627630

Unit 4, SP8 5FB worked overseas. You can turn up or book at Eventbrite 01305 224440.

Dorchester/Weymouth

All breeds walk will meet at 11am at Wareham Forest, with a short drive to a nearby pub. Meeting at Lawsons Clump Car Park, Morden Rd, Sandford, Wareham, BH20 7AA, which has lots of parking off road, walking on main gravelled tracks around the forest. To book your spot go to dorsetdogs.com/book

You must have your own pet insurance to attend.

If your dog gets overwhelmed there’s a stress-free walking group too: dorsetdogs.com/ stress-free-walks

Jumble sale, Maiden Newton Village Hall, 2pm.

Shire Hall Museum in Dorchester will host a Comedy in the Courtroom night with Heckle & Squelch.

Headlining is Ignacio Lopez, a Spanish and Welsh comedian who has headlined top comedy clubs all over the UK and Europe.

Supported by three great acts and hosted by Heckle and Squelch’s James. First drink free, book at shirehalldorset.org/events/ comedy-in-the-courtroom/

Sunday, Feb 19

Sherborne Folk Band Workshop, 1.30pm – 4.30pm at Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road, DT9 3NL.

Workshops are led by Julia Catovsky or a guest musician, who will teach tunes and harmonies by ear. The workshops are suitable for all levels and acoustic instruments. Sheet music and audio supplied in advance.

Admission: £15 on the door or cheaper when paid in advance via the website. sherbornefolkband.org info@sherbornefolkband.org

Julia: 07527 508 277 .

Osmington Tea Dance will be held at the Village Hall from 3.15pm-6pm. Complimentary tea and cakes await you at the dance. Please bring your own teacup or mug to reduce waste. theswingdancecompany.co.uk

A Dorchester Pub Race will be held from 5pm as part of Brew Dorch, hosted by Blast Off P.T Fitness and Mindset Coaching. This is a fancy dress beer race to raise money for Dorchester Foodbank. Teams of up to 6 will race to various pub and locations for stamps. Your team will be given a list of 10 pubs at the start and you will have to work out the fastest route to visit each pub to collect a stamp . The finish line is Tom Brown’s, where the team with the best fancy dress and the fastest team will win amazing Dorchester Drinks Hampers stashed full of beers, spirits and wines. There will then be a live band playing at Tom Brown’s to keep the party going.

The Fancy Dress theme is ‘something beginning with B’. All money raised will be donated to Dorchester Food Bank. There must be at least two people in the team that are over 18. Tickets £18 from eventbrite.co.uk

Monday, Feb 20

Bridport Literary Festival is holding two special talks at the town’s Bull Hotel Ballroom, aimed at all those interested in gardening and horticulture. Jim Bartos will be giving an illustrated talk at 2.30pm on his book, The Ornamental Wilderness in the English Garden, and Anna Pavord will be talking about The Seasonal Gardener at 4pm.

Sandwiched in between will be tea and cakes with the authors. Tickets are £25 for Friends of Bridport Literary Festival and £30 for non-Friends, which includes the two talks and tea and cakes. Book at the Bridport Tourist Information Centre either in person or by calling 01308 424901.

Becoming a Friend of Bridport Literary Festival entitles you to an advance copy of the Festival Brochure and priority booking of tickets, along with other benefits.

Subscription costs £15 a year or £25 for couples. Visit bridlit.com/support-us

Tuesday, Feb 21

A Folk Night & Fish and Chips will be held from 6pm at the White Lion in Broadwindsor. You can get fish and chips from the van in the Square and bring them into the pub. Free admission.

A Turn Lyme Green Talk: The Common Ground will be held at 7pm at Driftwood Cafe, Lyme Regis Baptist Church (top of Broad Street, DT7 3NY). The Common Ground Project creates community land trusts that take land out of private ownership and drive its use towards diversity, regenerative practice and common good. The project works in all areas of human wellness in relation to the land, including food, ecology, affordable housing and energy. It is creating two land trusts in East Devon, near to Lyme Regis (Harcombe & Gore Lane), and will be sharing how the model works and welcoming proposals about the use of the land.

Continued next page l All members are personally vetted and interviewed l Enjoy one to ones and group social events l Affordable memberships and unlimited access to profiles

Are you looking for companionship or just friendships?

Just Dorset Introductions offers a personal, discreet friendship, introduction and dating service for people of all ages.

You will be guided through photo profiles by your area manager in the comfort of your home with ongoing support all the way.

07593 542952 emma@justintroductionsgroup.co.uk Justintroductionsgroup.co.uk

Chance to join writing shed

The Chesil Bank Writing Shed meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7pm-9pm at Portesham Village Hall. Do you write, would you like to write?

From poetry to prose, fan fiction to literary fiction, and biography to travel guides.

Whatever your writing style and genre come and share it with us for feedback; challenge yourself with fun writing prompts and learn more about the business of being a writer. New writers welcome. Find out more: writingshed.co.uk

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Thursday, Feb 23

The Gods Are All Here at Sherborne Library between 7pm and 9pm.

This storytelling performance weaves myth, song, folktales and legends of the African diaspora, and uncovers Phil Okwedy’s experiences of growing up as a child of dual heritage in 1960 & 70s Wales Tickets £10 from Eventbrite online or 01935 812683 .

Slinky Machine & King Heron

LIVE Jazz Fusion at Clocktower Music Bridport at 7pm. Tickets from Bridport’s Tourist Information Centre: 01308 424901.

Slinky Machine is a four-piece modern jazz fusion band who are equally at home in a jazz bar as they are playing to a festival crowd, with a typical Slinky Machine set ranging from exciting original material, through Jazz Fusion classics, to classy re-workings of contemporary tunes.

There’s a chance to get in on a bulk buy deal for solar panels in Bridport and around at Bridport WI hall, North Street, at 6.30pm. Email bridportsolar panels@gmail.com for details

Dorchester Branch of the Children’s Society will host Gardeners’ Questions in St George’s Church Hall, Fordington at 7.30pm. Guest speakers will be Simon Goldsack from Holme Gardens in Wareham, Nigel Hewish from Kingston Maurward and Bob Hollister from Country Garden Plant Sales.

Homemade cake will be served. Tickets are £8 in advance from Nicoll World Travel, 23 High Street, Dorchester or from Jane Culliford on 01305 264360 or Dorothy Maggs on 01305 262436 or on the door.

There’s a new monthly Paint Night starting at Dorchester’s Trumpet Major at 7pm.

Cost: £15 includes all materials No experience needed. Booking essential: creativeimagestudio