FUNDRAISING CEILIDH!

Thursday, June 8

All welcome on a guided evening stroll around Dorchester Borough Gardens at 6.30pm, by Blue Badge guide Joy Wallis. Free! Collection for the Mayor’s charities.

A silent disco is being held for Dorchester Community Nursery School at the Trinity Club. The nursery is in desperate need of urgent building repairs. £10 at tickettailor.com/events/ dcnsfundraisingteam/859542

Philip Sutton RA will give a talk in conversation with Maureen Murray at 6pm, surrounded by his dazzling solo exhibition at Sladers Yard Gallery, 6 W Bay Rd, West Bay, Bridport DT6 4EL. Sutton, 94, was born in Poole in 1928 and returned to live in Dorset in 2014. A wonderful speaker as well as painter. Tickets £6, call 01308 459511.

James Bradley is doing a tour of the south coast on his mobility scooter raising money for Macmillan cancer support. The tour starts with a puppetry fun day today at St Andrew’s Church rooms, Preston, Weymouth DT3 6BU and ends in Plymouth in July 2023puppetingworldtour.com

Cattistock open gardens will be held today and tomorrow 2pm-5pm. Adults £15 for both days, £8 for one day, under 18s free. Refreshments in hall from 1pm, compost heap and pond competition. Grand raffle and plant sale.

If you’re a vintage vehicle buff, or just enjoy a bit of good-oldfashioned nostalgia, then head for the West Bay Vintage Rally at Melplash Showground, today and tomorrow

A fundraising ceilidh will be held at 7.30pm at The Digby Hall (next to the library), Hound Street, Sherborne, DT9 3AA. Music from Sherborne Folk Band with caller Michael Catovsky. Bar and car park. Raffle & interval entertainment Tickets £12 in advance at sherbornefolkband.org or £16 on the door.

Bridport Rotarians are holding a tabletop sale at the Town Hall from 10am-2pm, with crafts, bric-a-brac and lots more, plus refreshments and a raffle.

The West Dorset Vintage Tractor & Stationary Engine Club (WDVTSEC), a small club of 380 or so members who meet once a month at the Colliton Club in Dorchester, have been holding the rally since 1976. It was held at Puncknowle before moving to Gore Cross, Bridport, with its final move to West Bay.

There’ll be plenty to see and do (and eat!), from a vintage auction on the Saturday, from 10am – which always draws the crowds – to perusing a fabulous cross section of stationary engines, tractors, vintage cars, steam engines and more.

There are marquees and stalls with a plethora of craft displays, model makers and collections. The Ring will also host the vintage vehicle parades, the ever-popular Extreme Falconry on the Sunday, plus there’ll be everyone’s favourites – the beagles!

The team have raised nearly £90,000 for local charities and community projects. Local groups also pitch in and help them over the weekend too, from the Young Farmers to the Scouts, to name but a few. 9am-5pm at Melplash Showground, West Bay Rd, Bridport, DT6 4EG. Adults £10, OAPs £8, 11-16s £2, 7-U11s free when accompanied by an adult. wdvtsec.com/rally

There’s a Celtic Music Concert with Head North, live at All Saints church, Wyke Regis 7pm. Mix of traditional and progressive music, with some Transatlantic additions and original tunes. Tickets £5 at parishofwykeregis.org.uk/events or from Jeff Thomas on 07710 096174. Cash bar. All proceeds to the church roof fund.

A Quiet Day will be held at Marian Dunlop House, 8 Prince of Wales Road, Dorchester from 10am to 3.30pm.

A day of restorative relaxation and meditation.

The house belongs to The Fellowship of Meditation and has an extensive library you can browse in, time can be spent in the beautiful garden with its summerhouse and seats all around. Tea and coffee provided but bring lunch. Everybody welcome, no booking required. Donations welcome.

Donkey Down campsite is hosting a super series of live music events this summer.

Tonight, the amazing What the Phunk take to the stage at the scenic campsite near Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth. There’s live music every Saturday night with Stress on June 17, Masau’u on the 24th. Moving into July it’s Jolly Boys Outing on July 1, Vanilla Radio on July 8 and Trinity Knot on July 15. Music then switches to the nearby sister site of Culliford Trees from then onwards, with Small Mercies on July 22, Robbie, Steve and Jess on July 29. For August, the line-up is: Robbie McIntosh band on August 5, What the Phunk back on August 12 and it’s the punk/new wave sounds of The Shakespearos on August 19. It’s all free and but there’s a £5 charge if you’re staying overnight on site. Full details at donkeydowncamping.com or 07970 498772.

Weymouth Choral Society host their famous afternoon tea and cakes concert, with musical theatre favourites, popular songs and light classics, at St Aldhelm’s Church Centre, Spa Road, DT3 5EW at 3pm. Tickets £12 to include refreshments, under 16s free. Book at Weymouth Pavilion, Ticketsource or 07929 519973.

The West Dorset Group of the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society is meeting at Loders village hall at 2pm. There is a cream tea to remember members who have recently passed away, including Celia Martin, Diane Trenchard,

Dorchester

September 23: Liam Halewood as Boy George & George Andrew as George Michael

December 16: Liam Gray as Robbie Williams & Simon King as Freddie Starr

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

Sat, June 10 ct’d

Cecil Amor, Pam Pully and Diane Jagged. There will be short presentations about the research they were involved with and time to chat and look at photos showing activities undertaken by the group over the years. These include migration, stone circles, and house history. Do come along and share your memories. Let Jane know as soon as possible, so they can organise catering. Jane 01308 425710 or jferentzi@aol.com

Sunday, June 11

Events from June 10 happening today (see previous page): Cattistock Open Gardens West Bay Vintage Rally

The Originals band, playing hits from the 60s 70s 80s, are playing at Dorchester Borough Gardens 2pm-4pm.

Broadwindsor’s Got Talent is at the Comrades Hall from

5pm-7pm, £3 entry including a drink, U16s free. Tickets from the community stores..

Yetminster & Ryme

Intrinseca’s open gardens, featuring 16 beautiful gardens, is on 11am-5pm, cost £5, U12s free. Morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon teas served in Jubilee Hall. Proceeds to Friends of the Yeatman and Blood Bikes

Put on your wellies and take a tour of Denhay Farm in Broadoak from 10am to 4pm. Melplash Agricultural Society is working with the Marshwood Vale Farmers’ Cluster and Coppet Hill LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) Open Farm to host the open day. The free event has informative and fun activities giving visitors of all ages the chance to learn about farming and the countryside. People can get up close to Jersey cows, Portland and Dorset Horn sheep, Saddleback pigs, chickens and pygmy goats as well as learning about soil health and the crops that are grown on the farm. There will be a ‘spot and learn’ tour of the farm teaching people about wildlife and the chance to learn about beekeeping, hedgelaying and other rural skills. Activities for children plus there will be a picnic area and local food and drink available. There will also be displays by Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty partnership, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Dorset Farming, the Wildlife and Advisory Group, Bridport Bird Group and Wessex Water. Melplash Agricultural Society chairman Philip Hardwill said: “Enabling members of the public to learn more about how their food is produced and the many ways in which farmers are striving to care for their soil and the environment around us, is a priority for our society.”

Cathedral-style service of Choral Eucharist at 10.30am in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. Immediately after there’s a coffee concert at 11.45am. Young artist Stefan Oakes (baritone) will play a 30minute programme of Barber, Vaughan Williams and Handel. Free admission, coffee & cake.

The Quangle Wangle Choir will give a short concert at St Nicholas’ Church, Abbotsbury DT3 4JJ 3pm-4pm. Tickets £5, children free from Barbara 01305 871532, thcbar1@gmail.com. quanglewanglechoir.co.uk

Beaminster Festival: As You Like It (Shakespeare) 2.30pm at Beaminster Manor by young theatre company Three Inch Fools. Bring a picnic from 1.30pm. Tickets £16/£6 U18. TicketSource 0333 666 3366 or beaminsterfestival.com

Monday, June 12

Dorchester Townswomen’s Guild will be entertained by Miranda Pender in Dorchester Community Church, Liscombe Street, Poundbury DT1 3DF at

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

2pm. She is an accomplished musician and public speaker with a wicked sense of humour. This talk is entitled Perils of Research. Visitors welcome, £3. Enquires 01305 832857.

MS Society Dorset is holding a social evening at the Bull Hotel Bridport. If you have MS, care for someone with MS or would like to volunteer come along on the second Monday of each month. Accessible private room. Join Dorchester Choral Society at a short free concert at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church, Cerne Abbas. This is an ‘Italian Feast’, featuring opera choruses (including The Bridal Chorus from Wagner’s Lohengrin and Verdi’s Va Pensiero from Nabucco) plus some lighthearted musical fare from Genee (Italian Salad) and Banchieri (Festino):

Bridport Museum is hosting a talk by local author Sarah Acton on Seine fishing from Chesil Beach at 5pm for 5.30pm. £5 from museum shop.

Ann & Neil’s acoustic night at the Woodman, South St, Bridport. Solos & duos play and sing folk, blues, country and all things rootsy in the round. Free. Every 2nd Tuesday 8pm. New performers and singers welcome or just listen and enjoy.

The Dorset branch of the MS Society is holding their regular Weymouth social evening in the Lulworth block at Weymouth College 6.30pm9pm.

Bere Regis Floral Group is running a free two-hour beginners’ flower arranging workshop at Winterborne Kingston Village Hall at 2pm. This class is open to anyone with an interest in flower arranging who wants to learn some new skills. You don’t have to be a member of the club, so give it a try! The class will be led by Irene Hickson, a leading flower arranging teacher in the area and will be both informative and fun. The workshop is free to both members and non-members. Contact chairman Bob Holman on 01305 848262 or bobdiholman@btinternet.com

Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance will give a talk to Loders WI 7.15pm-9pm at the village hall. Everyone welcome, £5, members free.

Weds, June 14

An open mic poetry evening at The Occasional Bookshop 16 Durngate Street Dorchester DT1 1JP 7pm-9pm.

Picnic and Churchyard Tour. All Saints, Wyke Regis from 11am. A Great Big Green Week activity. To include wildflower area planted last year and a unique labyrinth. parishofwykeregis.org.uk

Thurs, June 15

Rock Steady Boxing South

West, a high intensity, noncontact boxing and exercise programme specifically designed for members of the Parkinson’s community starts today at B! Health & Fitness in Lyme Regis. Physical activity has been proven to help people living with Parkinson’s. See Rock Steady Boxing, South West facebook page: rsbsouthwest

Bridport & District Gardening Club will meet at 7.30pm at the WI Hall North Street when Alan Eason will talk about The Importance of Foliage. He is a partner in a gardening business in North Dorset and very involved in the world of garden history, so is an active member of the Dorset Gardens Trust.

Slinky Machine and Moose are playing Clocktower Records Bridport. Word of mouth spread quickly last time Slinky Machine played at Clocktower, leading to a sellout gig, so be sure to book your tickets fast for this awesome instrumental funk fusion prog band. This grooving four-piece group play a heady mix of instrumental tunes guaranteeing a jumping dance floor. Guesting is Moose, immersing you in the intimate sounds and feels of jazz fusion. Tickets from Bridport TIC online or on 01308 424901 performed at Dorchester Prison earlier this year. For tickets, email weldmar-fundraising@ outlook.com All proceeds to Weldmar.

The Originals band, playing hits from the 60s 70s 80s, are playing at The Centenary Club, Weymouth

Armed Forces Weekend will be held from Saturday, June 17 to Monday, June 19.

The Owermoigne Arts & Drama Society (TOADS) proudly present a murder mystery dinner at the village hall, DT2 8XD at 7.30pm. Tickets £25 including 3-course dinner. Cricket Club bar will be open or you can bring your own drinks. Please note: this is the same murder mystery that was

On Saturday at 10am historic military vehicles will be at the Pavilion before parading along the Esplanade at 12.30pm. There will be charities and awareness stalls on Weymouth Esplanade. The Castletown DDay Centre will welcome the convoy at about 1pm. On Sunday at 11am Weymouth seafront will host an open air service for veterans at the Cenotaph followed by a Parade along the seafront with marching bands and military vehicles. There will be band performances in the afternoon. On Monday at 10.30am, the weekend will end with Weymouth Town Council raising the flag at The New Town Hall, Commercial Road.

The Quangle Wangle Choir will give a gold-themed concert at St Nicholas’ Church, Broadwey, Weymouth, DT3 5DN, 7.30pm-9.30pm. See quanglewanglechoir.co.uk Tickets from Susana at susanamalik@yahoo.com or on 07944 617553. Adults £8, children free. Cash bar.

Bridport Folk Dance Group are holding a ceilidh in the WI Hall, North Street, 7.30pm-10.30pm. All welcome including children; no experience or partners necessary. Refreshments available. £5, children free. 01305 863552 or 459001.

The first ever Chesil Youth Pride is being held, hosted by Dorset Council, Weymouth College, Space Youth Project, The Drop-In (Portland) and Dorset Police.

There will be a stall event held at Weymouth College from 1pm, where you will find organisations offering advice and support, with plenty of fun and activities. There will then be a parade down the promenade to the Pavilion at 4.30pm, ending the celebrations with music and dancing.

Moreton Village Hall has a Coffee & Book Morning from 10am to noon, followed by a screen quiz night at 7pm. Prizes and light supper.

About 25 private gardens in Cerne Abbas will be open from 2pm until 6pm today and tomorrow. This is the 47th event. Proceeds to the Charles North Charity set up in 1943 to help folk in distress in the village and the Dorchester Food Bank. Entrance to all gardens is £8 for adults, U16 free. A few gardens are wheelchair accessible and most accept well behaved dogs on leads. Plant stall and teas are provided by the local youth club, both open at 1pm. Almost all gardens are within easy walking distance of the free car park. More information at cerneabbasopengardens.org.uk

Calling all wannabe Indiana Joneses – Beaminster Museum is offering to identify archaeological finds people have made by chance while out walking or working in their gardens. Dorset’s finds liaison officer Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen is returning to the museum for another session identifying artefacts from 11am to 3pm.

A museum spokesperson said: “It’s not just metal detectorists who uncover treasures from the past. Every year thousands of archaeological objects are found by people out walking, pottering in the garden or through their work.

“Ciorstaidh is interested in all manner of things that tell the story of how previous Dorset generations lived and worked, from coins and metal objects to pottery, flint and tiles.” If your find is of special interest – for example if it’s dated to before 1700 – Ciorstaidh may ask to borrow it for further research and to record it on Portable Antiquities Scheme national database. When it’s returned, you’ll receive copies of the records and the images. Highlights from last October’s session included a Roman brooch, coin and tessera (mosaic tile); a medieval buckle; post-medieval pottery; and various undatable bone and stone items.

Sat, June 17 ctd

Martinstown Open Gardens will be held today and tomorrow 2pm-6pm with more than 20 private gardens. £5 entry valid for both days. There’s also an art exhibition at the hall and home made teas. On the Saturday, there will also be a Fun Family Dog Show –details of classes on the hall page at martinstown-news.co.uk. All profits from both events to the village hall.

A Fair Trade coffee morning will be held at All Saints, Wyke Regis 10am-noon. A Great Big Green Week activity. All welcome for Fairtrade, coffee, tea, cakes and books.

Sutton Poyntz is holding its Open Gardens on June 17 and 18, noon-5pm. More than 20 gardens, cost £5 for both days. Proceeds to CRUK and Dementia UK. Refreshments in the Mission Hall and a plant stall, also a scarecrow trail.

Talent in the Town will be held 10am-4pm in Beaminster Public Hall as part of Beaminster Festival. Exhibition of local skills, hobbies, interests and collections. Free admission.

Thornford Fete and Craft Market will be held 2pm-5pm at the village hall DT9 6QB.

Events continuing from June 17 (see previous pages):

Martinstown open gardens

Cerne Abbas open gardens

Sutton Poyntz open gardens