50 YEARS AGO
Friday, October 6, 1967

STORM FORCE: In the ferocity of Tuesday night’s storm West Bay residents had some frightening experiences. The following morning the area was in a state of considerable disorder.
An exceptionally high tide, whipped by a strong south-westerly gale caused flooding in many places and two boats were washed from the harbour basin on to the quayside.
Police were alerted by residents of Heron Court.
The forecourts were flooded to the depth of one foot.

LATE RETIREMENT: A great-grandmother wit more than 20 years service with a Bridport firm of dry cleaners and launderers has just retired three days before her 74th birthday.
She is Mrs Gertrude Acker of 134, West Bay Road, Bridport, who received retirement gifts of a travelling clock 
and a bouquet of flowers from the staff of Speedeluxe and a cheque from Mr W E Johns general manager.

COMMON MARKET: Many West Dorset Tories were among the 250 members of the Conservative Party who attended the conference 
on the subject of the Common Market at Cherbourg. 
The man who had the idea an d organised the conference was Major “Jim” Spicer, of Meerhay, Beaminster.

25 YEARS AGO
Friday October 2, 1992

EARLY WARNING: Late holidaymakers shopping for postcards and beach balls at Bridport Co-op’s non-food section have been amazed to be confronted by - Christmas trees.

RAID: A West Dorset head teacher was dismayed to walk into his primary school to find that nearly £1,000 worth of equipment had been stolen.
Peter Gorman, head of Salway Ash primary school, said he feld sickened when he arrived at the school and found items scattered all over the floor.

REPAIRS: West Dorset councillors are being urged to do a cheap repair job on West Bay Harbour wall and ignore English heritage’s insistence that the listed structure should be fixed properly - at double the cost.

LEGEND: International cricket star Ian Botham is expected in West Dorset tomorrow on a stage of his 22-day South Coast Walk for the Leukaemia Research Fund.
Botham, the England and Durham all-rounder who is hot-footing the 535 miles from Lands End to Margate, is due to arrive at the western outskirts of Lyme Regis at about 1pm.

FIRST PRIZE: Bridport’s top carnival float, Captain Hook and Peter Pan, created by staff of the town’s Sidney Gale House, gained first prize in their class and a large trophy at Sidmouth Carnival last Saturday.