MAY
n West Dorset visitors and locals headed to the beach to enjoy the hottest day of the year so far and the hottest early May bank holiday since records began.
n The new mayors of Bridport and Lyme Regis were sworn into office and set out their plans for the year ahead. Cllr Michaela Ellis continued as mayor for Lyme Regis for another year, while Cllr Barry Irvine took over from Cllr Anne Rickard.
n Beachgoers looked on as a base jumper threw himself off East Cliff on to a packed West Bay beach. He plummeted 150ft in just six seconds before quickly gathering his equipment and leaving the area.
n Prince Charles visited the recently opened Bridport LSI and given a tour of the re-vamped facility in East Street.
JUNE
n Symondsbury Primary School celebrated its 150th birthday. Students dressed in 1940s clothing, enjoyed food of that era and took part in a special church service.
n Thousands of residents and visitors flocked to Asker Meadows to enjoy the Bridport Food Festival and Bridport Round Table’s beer festival.
n TV chef Phil Vickery joined the team at The Club House in West Bexington to film a cooking segment for ITV’s This Morning.
n Students from the Sir John Colfox Academy, Beaminster School and Woodroffe School celebrated the end of their exams with a prom night.
n Bridport MusicAthon raised £2,000 for the Richard Ely Trust and Bridport Youth and Community Centre when it took place at Bridport United Church and Bucky Doo Square.
JULY
n The NHS celebrated its 70th birthday with a procession through the town – accompanied by a nine-foot skeleton – live music and a performance from the Cartoon Action Theatre.
n The community comes together to support all those affected by the fire at St Michael’s Trading Estate, with £3,000 raised in 24 hours to help the artists and business owners get back on their feet.
n The Class of August 2017 at Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy launched their boast into the sea. The 18 students built seven boats.
n Community stalwart and co-founder of the Living Tree,
Jo O’Farrell MBE, loses her battle with cancer, with tributes flooding in for an inspirational woman.
n The Jurassic Fields music festival returned to Asker Meadows with a stellar line-up of the Dub Pistols, Tankus the Henge and Shelby’s Elbows.
n The annual RNLI Raft Race at West Bay attracted hundreds of people and raised more than £2,000 when teams donned fancy dress to compete in home-made rafts on the River Brit.
AUGUST
n West Bay Discovery Centre opens its doors after years of fundraising and planning. The Methodist Church has been given a new lease of life by Bridport Area Development Trust.
n The community came together to set up CB3 bus service, which links Bridport, Beaminster and Crewkerne and the Bridport Service 7.
n Ten-year-old Evie Swire and her mum Anya call for a statue of pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning to be erected in Lyme Regis and set up the #MaryAnningRocks campaign.
n Organisers hosted the 10th Buckham Fair at Martin Clunes’ farm in Beaminster.
n Bridport Carnival returned to the town, parading through West Street and South Street as crowds lined the streets.
n Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week, Candles on the Cobb and I Love Lyme Day attracted thousands of visitors to the seaside town.
n Thieves attempt to steal a cashpoint from Beaminster.
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