25 YEARS AGO

MARCH 18 1994

NEW MAYOR: Liberal Democrat Roger Draper has been chosen as Bridport’s next mayor.

The former headmaster, who is currently deputy mayor, will become mayor in May, says development of Bridport’s public footpaths, parks and gardens will be priorities during his term in office.

JOB CENTRE REFUSAL: Plans to turn an empty shop opposite Bridport Town Hall into a unified Job Centre and Employment Service office have come under fire from the town council.

Members of the plans committee voted to recommend refusal of the application on the grounds that the office would occupy a prime retail site.

RESCUE UPDATE: The battle to save the dolphin that was washed-up on West Bay beach ended in sadness when the creature died in a Cornish seal sanctuary.

Catherine Hill, at the Gweek sanctuary, said the young striped dolphin became ‘extremely weak’ the day after it arrived at the refuge and ‘got into quite a traumatic state’.

50 YEARS AGO

MARCH 14 1969

NEW ASSOCIATION: Mr Norman Welsford, who resigned from Beaminster Parish he called ‘petty, frustrating, backward-looking attitudes’ of certain members, has now been successful in forming a Beaminster and District Ratepayers’ Association.

More than 50 people attended a meeting at Tindall Hall when the association was formed.

CAR CRASH: Three cars were involved in a triple collision near the Barrack Street junction in East Street, Bridport.

The drivers and passengers of the three cars, two Triumph Heralds and an Austin Mini van, sustained slight injuries.

MORE WOMEN COUNCILLORS: A call for more women to serve on the local council was made by the mayor of Bridport, Alderman Harold Smith.

He said: “We need more women on our councils. In Bridport, we have two women councillors out of 24 members. More women should come forward and play their part in local government.”