Local Events Diary

01 Lyme Regis New Year Duck Race Starts at midday along the river Lym from Windsor Terrace to Jordan Flats. A new year tradition, raising money for the town's Christmas lights. Ducks on sale before the start of the race at £1.

01 Annual Lyme Lunge Sandy Beach area, Lyme Regis. A fancy dress dip in the balmy waters of Lyme Bay, 1pm at the Cobb Beach, all for charity. This year the charities supported are the RNLI and ShelterBox. Everyone welcome, whether ‘dipping’ or contributing to our charity collection. Have a go. Prize for Best Fancy Dress.

05 Powerstock Cinema: Unknown (2011) Powerstock Hut, Powerstock DT6 3SL, 7.30pm. Licensed bar and snacks available. Tickets £4 on door. 01308 485375 info@powerstockcinema.co.uk (www.powerstockcinema.co.uk)

05-07 The Secret Garden - Family Theatre Dorchester Corn Exchange, High East Street, DT1 1JF, 7pm (door and bar open at 6.30pm) plus Saturday Matinee 2pm (door and bar open at 1.30pm). Tickets £12 (£10 member). £8 under 18s, Family £35. World premiere from our resident theatre company Angel Exit. Family Show for Ages 6+. Tickets from Dorchester TIC. Box Office 01305 266926

06 Dorset Wildlife Trust Talk: Volunteering for Wlildlife in Dorset United Church Hall, East St, Bridport, 7.30pm. IIllustrated talk by Debbie Watkins (DWT manager). Members £1.50, £3 non-members inc refreshments.

07 Faience and Glass-Making Workshop Dorset County Museum, Dorchester, DT1 1XA, 2.30pm. Pre-Booking Essential. With Bill Crumbleholme and Kate Verkooijen. £5 Tickets available from Museum Shop. 01305 262735 (www.dorsetcountymuseum.org)

07 National Trust Talk – “No Knickers” Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne, 2.30pm. A talk on life in the West Country in Tudor Times presented by the Blackmore Vale & Yeovil Association of the National Trust. 01747 838810 (email: brijo@waitrose.com)

08 Heathland Bash Meet at RSPB Arne Nature Reserve Car Park, 10am-4pm. Have a go at scrub-bashing, amoungst other things. Families Welcome. Training, hand tools and gloves provided. Bring a packed lunch; cake and hot drinks provided. 01929 553360

08 Dorchester French Circle Meeting Char Chars' Tearoom, South Street, Dorchester DT1 1DQ, afternoon tea at 3pm. 01305 854025 (www.dorchesterfrenchcircle.org)

08 Starving Poets' Society The Old Tea House, 44 High West Street, Dorchester DT1 1UT, 4pm – 5.30pm. Every 2nd Sunday of the month - cream tea and poetry with Beth Blake, Debbie and Derrick Dalley. Children welcome. Cost £8.50 per person. Leading to spring Poetry Fest and Old Tea House' Poetry Anthology. Please drop into TOTH and sign the Poets' handbook.

08 Weldmar Hospicecare Trust Men's 10km or 6km sponsored walk Starts from The Royal Hotel, The Esplanade, Weymouth at 11am. Sponsored walk along Weymouth Seafront, with a pie and a pint at the end of the walk. To register please call 01305 215320 or see (www.weld-hospice.org.uk/pieandpint)

10 BHS Talk: The Dig on Golden Cap and the Durotriges Bridport United Church, East St, Bridport, 2.30pm. Bridport History Society talk with Martin Papworth. £2 visitors. 01308 456876 or 488034

11 DNHAS Geology Lecture Series: Ten Years of the Jurrasic Coast World Heritage Site Dorset County Museum, Dorchester, DT1 1XA, 7pm. Fossils Economics: Past, Present and Future. Talk by Richard Edmonds (DCC Jurassic Coast Team). What is fossil collecting worth to the economy of the coast? Free Entry-£3 donation encouraged. 01305 262735 (www.dorsetcountymuseum.org)

11 Sherborne Flicks - "My Afternoon with Margeuritte" Church Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne, 7.30pm. Stars Gerard Depardieu. In French with English subtitles. Tickets £5 - available from Sherborne TIC or on the door 01935 815341

12 Sherborne Historical Society Lecture Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne, 8pm. "A Glimpse of Byzantium" - lecture by Patrick Moule. Entrance £5 (free for members and students) 01935 873535

12 Annual General Meeting Beaminster Museum, Whitcombe Rd, DT8 3NB, 2.30pm. 01308 863577

13 U3A “Beautiful Birds – A Journey Through the Rainbow” Woodmead hall, Lyme Regis, 10am – 12 noon. After the usual tea and coffee (10-11am) Andy Swash, a fantastic photographer, will give an illustrated talk.

14 Potato Day St Marys Church House, South St, Bridport, 10am – 3pm. Unusual seed potatoes, other seeds and plants for sale. Seed swap stall, with refreshments. Bring and buy stalls and lots of torch-bearers will lead a procession through the streets of the old town to finish in St. Michael’s church. The catchy songs and dances should life the mood, however, and there will be spiced mulled ale to finish!

15 Big Breakfast Salwayash Village Hall, Nr Bridport, 9am - 1pm. In aid of Michael Charnely's(14) volunteer work in Kenya for Summer 2013 Camp Internations event Tel 01308 455628/488295

16 Community Lectures 2012 - "Iraq, Afghanistan and The Arab Spring" The Thomas Hardye School, Dorchester, 7pm. Lecture with John Lee Anderson. Admission free but by ticket only available from the school. Donations welcomed at the end of each lecture supporting charitable causes. (email: stcainr@thomas-hardye.dorset.sch.uk)

18 A Visit to New York - architecture and art of the City that never sleeps Bridport Arts Centre, South St, Bridport, 2.30pm. Presented by the West Dorset Decorative & Fine Arts Society. Visitors £6 01308 897209

18 Zum United Church, Dorchester using South Street entrance, 7.30pm. Adam Summerhayes-violin, Chris Grist-cello and Eddie Hession-accordion Eileen Johnson 01305 266028

19 Fallen Pharaohs: Egypt's Civil War and Cultural Renaissance Dorchester County Museum, High West Street, Dorchester DT1 1XA, 7pm. A talk by Margaret Maitland, British Museum. Tickets £5 available from the Museum Shop. Tel: 01305 262735 (www.dorsetcountymuseum.org)

19 Ramblers Walk: from Beaminster Meet at Yarn Barton Car Park, Beaminster, 10am. A 6 mile walk - please contact leader to confirm details. 01460 76366 (www.somersetramblers.co.uk)

20 Bridport & West Dorset Music Club Concert: John Greenbank and Antony Saunders Colfox School, Bridport DT6 3DT, 7.45pm Includes Bel Canto songs and pieces by Mahler. 01308 423110

20 Market St. Martin's Community Hall, Broadmayne (Next to the Church), 2pm-3.30pm. Raffle, craft, plants, books, Jigsaws, Cards, local lamb, sausages & eggs, local Watercress, cakes and preserves and a chance to sit and chat with a cup of tea or coffee. All proceeds for St Martin's Community Hall. Eleanor Piper 01305 853765

21 Books, Coffee and Cake Moreton Village Hall DT2 8RF, 10am-12noon. Huge selection of 'as new' books for just 25p a book. Homemade cake and coffee/tea. Donation books always welcome. Maeve 01929 463221

21 Book Fair Church Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne, 9.30am - 4pm. Free admission 01803 613356 (email: colinbakerbooks@btinternet.com)

21 Sweet Chorus (Artsreach) St. Mary’s Middle School, Puddletown, 7.30pm. A tribute to Grapelli and Reinhardt. Licensed bar from 7pm. Tickets on door (if available) or in advance from 01305 261984 / St. Mary’s School Office.

24 Horn Park Quarry: Fossils and Future' Beaminster Museum, Whitcombe Rd, DT8 3NB, 3.30pm. A talk by Sam Scriven, Dorset CC Jurassic Coast Geologist. Admission £2.50 Tel: 01308 863577

25 Burns Night Supper and Entertainment with "Rainbarrow" Puddletown Village Hall.

25 Care and Management of Trees and Shrubs Uplyme Village Hall, Uplyme, Near Lyme Regis, 7.30pm. A talk by David Usher (including pruning and garden tool care). Members free, guests £2. Presented by Uplyme and Lyme Regis Horticultural Society, 01297 444034

26 West Dorset Humanists - Science and Religion: Contradictory or Complimentary? Wessex Royale Hotel, 32 High West Street, Dorchester DT1 1UP, 7.30pm. Everyone Welcome. A Talk by David Nunn. Free (£2 Donation Suggested). Tel: 079213 11518 (email: westdorsethumanists@hotmail.com) (www.westdorsethumanists.blogspot.com)

28 The Dorset Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers Open Day The Dorset Youth Association Hall, Lubbecke Way, Dorchester, 11am – 3.30pm. Come and “have a go” at weaving, spinning and other crafts. Free admission, coffee and tea available. Children, 16 or under must be accompanied by an adult.

28 Barn Dance & Ploughman's Supper Uplyme Village Hall, Uplyme, Near Lyme Regis, 7.30pm. Annual Barn Dance with “Long Odds and Short Straws” band. Organised by Uplyme and Lyme Regis Horticultural Society, Tickets £8.00 (under 12s £4.00) incl. Ploughman’s supper, available from Uplyme Stores, Ginger Beer Lyme Regis or ring 444034. BYO alcohol, soft drinks on sale. Last year’s dance was a sell out so please book early to avoid disappointment 7-30pm

30 Donkey Sanctury: 40 Years On Bridport United Church, East St, Bridport, 2.30pm. Illustrated talk by Dean Hancock, Visitor Facilities Manager, The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth. Presented by the Golden Cap Centre of the National Trust. Non - members welcome. 01308 863577

30 Soup and Ploughman's Alexandra Hotel, Pound Street, Lyme Regis. An annual event held by the Rotary Club of Lyme Regis, 2012 charity is WaterAid.

30 Sherborne Over 50s Group Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne, 2.30pm. Speaker : Bob Ruthven on "Home Improvements and the Handy Van Service". Open to all ages. Free refreshments. 01935 813150

31 Sherborne Jazz -Jam Session The Plume of Feathers, Half Moon Street, Sherborne, doors open 7.30pm. An informal and friendly meeting place for musicians - bring your instrument and a tune and sit in with the house band - or just come to listen and enjoy. Admission £3. 01935 816569 (www.sherbornejazz.org.uk)

PANTOMIMES AROUND THE AREA

Bath - Dick Whittington 01225 448844. Theatre Royal, Sawclose, BA1 1ET (www.theatreroyal.org.uk)
15th December 2011 – 22nd January 2012

Bournemouth - Jack & the Beanstalk 0844 576 3000. Pavilion Theatre, Westover Road, BH1 2BU (www.bic.co.uk)
3rd December 2011 – 2nd January 2012

Bristol - Peter Pan 0844 871 3012. Bristol Hippodrome, St. Augustine’s Parade, BS1 4UZ (www.bristolhippodrome.org.uk)
10th December 2011 – 8th January 2012

Exeter - We’re going on a Bear Hunt 01392 493493. Northcott Theatre, Stocker Road, EX4 4QB (www.exeternorthcott.com)
8th December 2011 – 1st January 2012

Poole - Cinderella 0844 406 8666. Lighthouse Theatre, Kingland Road BH15 1UG (www.lighthousepoole.co.uk)
9th December 2011 – 8th January 2012

Salisbury - Jack and the Beanstalk 01722 320333. Playhouse, Malthouse Lane, SP2 7RA. (www.salisburyplayhouse.com)
7th December 2011 – 7th January 2012

Southampton - Peter Pan 023 80 711811. The Mayflower, Commercial Road, SO15 1GE (www.mayflower.org.uk)
9th December 2011 – 14th January 2012

Street - Sleeping Beauty 01458 442846. Church Street, Street BA16 0AB (www.strodetheatre.co.uk)
27th December 2011 – 2nd January 2012

Taunton - Alice in Wonderland 01823 283244. The Brewhouse Theatre, Coal Orchard, TA1 1JL (www.thebrewhouse.net)
2nd December - 31st December 2011

Weymouth - Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs 01305 783225. Pavilion Theatre, The Esplanade, DT4 8ED (www.visitweymouth.co.uk)
14th December 2011 – 2nd January 2012

Yeovil - Cinderella 01935 422884. Octagon Theatre, Hendford, BA20 1UX, (www.octagon-theatre.co.uk)
10th December 2011 – 1st January 2012

MARINE THEATRE LYME REGIS	13th & 14th January 24th January	A Secret Garden Budapest Café Orchestra Daytime classes: Ballroom Dancing – Wednesdays 11-12 (beginners) 12.15-1.15 (improvers) Salsa DX Dance Exercise Class – Mondays 10.30-11.30 A Dance A Day – Thursdays 11.15-12.14 For full details 01297 442394 www.marinetheatre.com Marine Theatre Box Office: 01297 442138 (Lyme Regis TIC)
ELECTRIC PALACE BRIDPORT	13th January 20th January 23rd January Coming Up:- 9th February 11th February 13th February 17th February 27th February	Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick Fiddle & Banjo Celebration Concert Met Opera ‘Enchanted Island’ Coming Up:- National Theatre ‘Travelling Light The Phil Beer Band Feb Met Opera ‘Wagner’s Gotterdamerung’ Bella Hardy Met Opera Verdi’s Ernani’ www.electricpalace.org.uk Electric Palace Box Office: 01308 424901 (Bridport TIC)
DORCHESTER ARTS	5th – 7th January 7th January 15th January 28th January	The Secret Garden Blues Night with Guy Tortora & Coasta Tamcredi Lazi Bird (part of Sunday Sessions) Magic Drum Workshop New Dorchester Arts Brochure out in the New Year www.dorchesterarts.org.uk Ticket Office: 01305 267992 (Dorchester TIC)
COUNTRY WORKSHOPS	Highway Farm, Bridport (www.highwayfarm.co.uk) 01308 424321. 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. Kingcombe Environmental Studies Centre, Toller Porcorum (www.kincombe.org). Natural history, wildlife, archaeology and art and craft courses run all year. Booking essential. Gift vouchers available. Mallinson Woodland Workshop, Holditch (www.mallinson.co.uk). 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. 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, Near 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) Countryside Conservation Services – Hedgelaying Courses on 14th & 28th January. Tel. 01963 23680 or (email: coppiceworks@aol.com) for more details
	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 *