HIGHLIGHTS	Don’t miss this month…
MARKETS & FAIRS	Bridport - Weekly Market in the Town Centre every Wednesday and Saturday, Farmers’ Market 2 nd Saturday in each month – Arts Centre 9.30am-2pm, West Dorset Country Market in the WI Hall, North Street every Saturday 9am-12 noon. Dorchester - Weekly Market in Fairfield Car Park, Weymouth Ave 8am-3pm every Wednesday, Farmers’ Market 1 st Saturday in each month at Poundbury, 9am-1pm, Country Market at The Corn Exchange every Friday (exc Easter) 8.30-11am. Sherborne - Pannier Market on the Parade every Thursday and Saturday; Country Market in Church Hall, Digby Road, Thursday mornings, 9.15am-11.15am; Farmers’ Market 3 rd Friday in each month – Cheap Street, 9am-1pm. Saturday Antiques & Flea Market – held the last Saturday every month (Jan-Nov), Church Hall, Digby Road. 9am-4pm. Monthly Book Fair – held third Saturday every month, Church Hall, Digby Road. 9.30am-4pm. Owermoigne - Monthly market in the village hall 2 nd Saturday of the month, 10.30am – 12 noon. Homemade produce, bric a brac, plants, crafts, books.
WALKS	Fossil Walks - Regular guided fossil hunting walks in Lyme Regis and Charmouth are run year round by Dr Colin Dawes 01297 443758, Brandon Lennon 07944 664757 (www.lymeregisfossilwalks.com), Lyme Regis Museum 01297 443370 (www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk), Lyme Regis Fossil Shop 01297 442088, the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre 01297 560772 (www.charmouth.org) and Chris Pamplin 0845 00943757 (www.fossilwalks.com). Times vary according to the tides, telephone for full details and booking information. Sunday Strolls With the Ramblers Association from Bucky Doo Square, Bridport, 2.15pm. Tel: 01308 863754. Walking the Way to Health in Bridport, with trained health walkers. Every Tuesday and Thursday at 10.30am from Bridport TIC. Walks last approx 30mins, all welcome, free of charge. Tel: 01308 452263 for more information. Dorchester Strollers, walks with trained health walkers. Every Monday at 10.30am and Tuesday at 2.30pm. Walks last up to one hour, all welcome, free. Tel: 01305 263759 for more information. Literary Lyme – walking tours available throughout the year. Tel. 07763 974569 for details and to book. Mary Anning Walks, Lyme Regis. Explore the paths and streets of Old Lyme as Mary knew them with expert guide Natalie Manifold. Details from Lyme Regis Museum. Tel: 01297 443370. (www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk)
ARTS	Regular Art Exhibitions are held at Dorset County Museum, Dorchester (www.dorsetcountymuseum.org), Lyme Regis Museum (www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk), the Town Mill Gallery, Lyme Regis (www.townmill.org.uk) and Bridport Arts Centre (www.bridport-arts.com). Dorchester Arts (www.dorchesterarts.org.uk), Bridport Arts Centre (www.bridport-arts.com), Electric Palace, Bridport (www.electricpalace.org.uk) and Eype Centre for the Arts (www.eypechurcharts.co.uk) run a full programme of performances and events - drama, music, comedy, dance and more - suitable for all ages. Artsreach present a range of live professional arts events in rural Dorset. Full programme online at (www.artsreach.co.uk). Opening times, programmes and further details from your local TIC

Local events diary

01 Grand Duck Race From Woodmead Road Waterfall, Lyme Regis, 12 noon. In aid of Lyme Regis Christmas Lights. Started by Town Crier Phil Street. Ducks on sale at the start for £1 each.

01 Lyme Lunge Main Beach, Lyme Regis, 1.15pm. Take a plunge in the sea for charity. Prizes for the best fancy dress.

02 Muddy Wellies Day Kingcombe Centre, Toller Porcorum, 10.30am – 4pm. Free refreshments. 01300 320 (email: davinahansford@kingcombecentre.org.uk)

08 Blackmore Vale & Yeovil Association – Talk on Bulbs Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne, 2.30pm. “Bulbs : Growing and Showing them to Best Effect” by Christopher Ireland-Jones of Avon Bulbs. 01747 838810 (email: brijo@waitrose.com)

08 Seasonal Circuit in aid of Weldmar Hospicecare Starts from Weymouth Pavilion, 10am. Men’s 10Km or 6Km sponsored walk along the esplanade and back. To register call 01305 215320 or see (www.weld-hospice.org.uk/seasonalcircuit)

11 Bridport History Society Talk : From Methodist Chapel to the Parish Church Bridport United Church Hall, East Street, Bridport, 2.30pm. Local historian Tom Connor considers the architecture of Bridport. 01308 456876 / 488034

13 Sherborne Historical Society Lecture Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne, 8pm. “A History of the Quakers in Industry”, with special reference to the West Country by Dr. M Atkinson. 01935 873535

13 An Evening of Jazz, Swing and 60s music The Big Schoolroom, Sherborne School, 7.30pm. The Friends of The Yeatman Hospital invite you to an evening of jazz, swing and 60s music with Mike Turner, Sherborne School Swing and Jazz Bands, Sherborne School for Girls Jazz Band and Sherborne Prep School Jazz Band. Tickets £6 from Sherborne TIC 01935 815341

14 Bridport Music Club Performance – Lucille Burns and Vincent Lindsey Clark Sir John Colfox School, Bridport, 7.45pm. Includes Piazzola Tango and Bartok’s Rumanian Dances. 01308 423110

15-30/4 Georgian Faces : Portrait of a County Dorset County Museum, Dorchester, Monday to Saturday 10am – 4pm. Exhibition of portraiture featuring many works from collections rarely on public display.

17 Annual Soup and Ploughman’s Lunch Alexandra Hotel, Pound Street, Lyme Regis, 12 noon to 2pm. In aid of Polio Plus – the eradication of polio worldwide, a Rotary International Project.

17 England’s Treasure The Olive Tree Restaurant, Bridport, 6.30pm. A virtual guided tour of famous excavations with Chris Tripp MA, PIFA, archaeologist and lecturer £10 per session (10 weeks). Refreshments plus 2 site tours included 07768 695 162 or 0781 730 2984 (email: tripp.chris60@gmail.com) / (email: psafrigon@tiscali.co.uk)

21 The Dorchester Association for Research into Local History and Archaeology County Museum, High West Street, Dorchester, 7.30pm. The History of the Goulds – Roger Gould and Beki Murphy, 2 family members tell of the establishment and history of the store which was founded as the drapers shop in Dorchester.

21 Market at Broadmayne St. Martin’s community Hall, Broadmayne, 2-3.30pm. Raffle, craft, plants, books, jigsaws, cards, local produce, cards jewellery and a chance to sit and chat. All proceeds to St. Martin’s Community Hall. 01305 853765

22 Classics by Candlelight Sherborne Abbey, 7.30pm. Candlelit concert by Christchurch Sinfonia. Tickets available from Sherborne Tourist Information Centre.

22 Minerva’s Emporium Dorchester Town Hall, High East Street, Dorchester, 10am – 4pm. 07866 595 596 (email: minervasemporium@hotmail.com)

25 “Townsend Fairs” Beaminster Museum, Whitcombe Road, Beaminster, 3.30pm. Speaker Kay Townsend on Dorset’s travelling fair before, during and after the war. 01308 863577

27 Café Sci Drama Studio or 6 th Form Centre, the Thomas Hardye School, Dorchester, 4pm. Dr Marcello Ruta from Bristol University – “The Emergence of Terrestrial Vertebrates” – an informal talk and discussion between a scientist, Thomas Hardye School students and the public. All welcome. Free refreshments. 01305 255064 (email: jwardlaw@thomas-hardye.dorset.sch.uk)

27 Sherborne Historical Society Lecture Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne, 8pm. “Kingston Lacy : An Undiscovered History” by David Smith. 01935 873535

28 The Swansea Opera Company – A Night of Romantic Opera Brownsword Hall, Pummery Square, Poundbury, 7.30pm. An enchanting evening of arias and ensembles performed by 3 singers all with major opera houses. Tickets £12 in advance from the Garden Centre of Stitchinghouse Design Poundbury, £15 on the door. 01305 751815

28 Lecture “Six Digby Brothers at Sherborne Castle” Dorset County Museum, Dorchester, 7.30pm. A lecture by Ann Smith of Sherborne Castle – part of Dorset County Museum’s new exhibition on Georgian Faces : Portrait of a County. Tickets £5 - 01305 262735 (www.dorsetcountymuseum.org/events)

29 The Dorset Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers – “Come and Have a Go” Dorset Youth Association Hall, Lubbecke Way, Dorchester, 11am – 3.30pm. Have a go at spinning, weaving and many other related crafts. Free admission.

31 “Works of Art, Old and New – the work of The Art Fund, saving works of art for the Nation” United Church Hall, East Street, Bridport, 2.30pm. Illustrated talk by Anthony Pugh-Thomas. Presented by the Golden Cap Centre of the National Trust. Non-members welcome. 01308 863577.

PANTOMIMES

Bath – Theatre Royal Aladdin 16th Dec to 23rd Jan 01225 448844 (www.theatreroyal.org.uk)

Bournemouth – Paviion Theatre Cinderella 4th Dec to 2nd Jan 0844 576 4500 (www.bic.co.uk)

Bristol – Hippodrome Dick Whittington 11th Dec to 9th Jan 0117 973 3955 (www.bristolhippodrome.org.uk)

Poole – Lighthouse Peter Pan 10th Dec to 9th Jan 0844 406 8666 (www.lighthousepoole.co.uk)

Salisbury – Playhouse Aladdin 8th Dec to 8th Jan 01722 320333 (www.salisburyplayhouse.com)

Southampton – The Mayflower Aladdin 10th Dec to 8th Jan 023 80 711811 (www.mayflower.org.uk)

Street – Strode Theatre Dick Whittington 27th Dec to2 nd Jan 01458 442846 (www.strodetheatre.co.uk)

Taunton – Brewhouse Theatre Sleeping Beauty 16th Jan to 22nd Jan 01823 283244 (www.thebrewhouse.net)

Weymouth – Pavilion Peter Pan 14th Dec to 3rd Jan 01305 783225 (www.visitweymouth.co.uk)

Yeovil – Octagon Theatre Peter Pan 11th Dec to 2nd Jan 01935 422884 (www.octagon-theatre.co.uk)

MARINE THEATRE LYME REGIS		Daytime classes & activities including Ballroom Dancing, Pilates and Over 50s Fun & Fitness – for full details 01297 442394 www.marinetheatre.com Marine Theatre Box Office: 01297 442138 (Lyme Regis TIC)
ELECTRIC PALACE BRIDPORT	8 January 13 January	Met Opera Live : Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West National Theatre Live : Fela www.electricpalace.org.uk Electric Palace Box Office: 01308 424901 (Bridport TIC)
COUNTRY WORKSHOPS	Local artists and craftspeople share their skills at one and two day workshops including willow sculptures, hazelwood garden furniture, watercolour painting and many more. Small groups, booking essential. Gift vouchers available. Highway Farm, Bridport (www.highwayfarm.co.uk) 01308 424321 Natural history, wildlife, archaeology and art and craft courses run all year. Booking essential. Gift vouchers available. Kingcombe Environmental Studies Centre , Toller Porcorum (www.kincombe.org) A wide range of two and five day courses, April-November, including carving a bowl, green woodworking, pottery, chair making and more. Also offer one day children’s courses suitable for ages 8 and up. Gift vouchers available. Booking essential. Mallinson Woodland Workshop, Holditch (www.mallinson.co.uk) The Dorset Wildlife Trust runs a programme of walks, talks, workshops, workparties and other wildlife events. Tel: 01305 264620. (www.dorsetwildlife.co.uk) Monkton Wyld Court runs a programme of walks, talks, workshops and courses and other countryside events. Tel: 01297 560342. (www.monktonwyldcourt.co.uk) The Bodger’s Barn Nr. Bridport. Green woodwork courses throughout the year - short courses and evening classes, all small groups. Also workshop sessions for groups including special needs. Tel. 01308 425455 (www.brightwater.org.uk) Arty Crafty Workshops – Cake Decoration, Textiles and Creative Crafts Contact Dennie Rose for details of this month’s workshops 01308 459100 (www.dennierose.co.uk) Marilyn Allis water colour artist. (www.marilynallis.co.uk) (email: info@marilynallis.co.uk) Tel: 07789026546
FEBRUARY	Coming up next month…
	Dorchester TIC, Antelope Walk, Dorchester. Tel: 01305 267992 Bridport TIC, South Street, Bridport. Tel: 01308 424901 Sherborne TIC, Digby Road, Sherborne. Tel: 01935 815341 Lyme Regis TIC, Church Street, Lyme Regis. Tel: 01297 442138		dorchester.tic@westdorset-dc.gov.uk * bridport.tic@westdorset-dc.gov.uk * sherborne.tic@westdorset-dc.gov.uk * lymeregis.tic@westdorsset-dc.gov.uk *