25 YEARS AGO:

September, 10 1993

WINNER: Make way for the champ! Lynne Symes, of Crepe Farm, Symondsbury, gives her champion donkey Daresoak Peek A Boo a congratulatory hug after the three-year-old colt was judged top donkey at the Dorchester Show.

Last month, Peek A Boo was reserve donkey champion at the Melplash Show.

ARTISTIC: Hopeful artists queued up in their hundreds this week to submit paintings, photographs and sculptures for judging in Bridport Arts Centre's first open art competition.

Organisers of the competition were overwhelmed with the response from people who poured into the South Street premises with entries ranging from modestly sized pictures to a nine-feet high sculpture which was too big to get into the building and to be left outside.

Now the arts centre are facing a problem of where to display the 500-plus entries, whose owners hope to scoop the £500 top prize in what could become a regular event in Bridport.

RACE: Wessex Autistic Society's home near Broadwindsor and the local Caldwell recording service for the blind will benefit from the proceeds of the village's annual pram race.

50 YEARS AGO:

September, 6 1968

SWIMMING: Ten-year-old Mark Hoskins and his seven-year-old sister,m Lisa, are keeping up their family tradition in the swimming world.

Lisa recently became the youngest swimmer ever to complete the half-mile course in Bridport Swimming Club's blackbuoy race.

There was an extremely strong tide to contend with on the night she made swimming history at West Bay.

MELPLASH: This year's Melplash Show was quite an occasion for two old pupils of Beaminster Grammar School.

Mr Ralph Wightman, famous 67-year-old west country broadcaster, arrived at the show ground in West Bay, to find that the supreme championship award had been won by Mr George Newman, who was in the same form at school 30 years ago as Mr Wightman's nephew, David, who now farms at Piddletrenthide.

FUNDRAISING: Charmouth Scouts' Supporters Group has again been busy with money-raising events for the new troop hut.

On Saturday night, a packed WI Hall played bingo for prizes, donated entirely by the people of Charmouth.