25 YEARS AGO

SEPTEMBER 9, 1994

DEAF PHONE: Dorset’s County Hall has installed a telephone for the deaf - and the first call was to a Bridport pub.

Deaf people with queries about council services can ‘talk’ to members of the authority’s staff, although callers will need the special Minicom equipment.

Council chairman Pat Hymers tried it out and rang the Crown Inn where landlady Alyson Carroll has a Minicom machine to keep in touch with her deaf friends.

POOL OPENED: Former Olympic swimming star Sharron Davies officially opened Bridport swimming pool at the town’s leisure centre.

Bridport teacher Lisa Crew gave Davies a special hello. Lisa and husband Gary became friends with her during Western Counties Championships almost 20 years ago.

BEAST OF BROADWINDSOR: Village shopkeeper Vincent Gavigan believes a big black cat like the Beast of Bodmin is stalking fields and lanes in west Dorset.

Mr Gavigan of Broadwindsor Stores said he was delivering papers early in the morning when he saw a large animal blocking the road near Lower Park.

50 YEARS AGO

SEPTEMBER 5, 1969

ROMAN FIND: A unique octagonal Roman plunge pool, dating back to the 4th century, has been unearthed during an archaeological dig at Higher Holcombe Farm, Uplyme.

The pool, with a mosaic bottom, is the find of the Devon Archaeological Society, which has been carrying out work on the site of the villa for the past four weeks.

ENGINEER AWARD: An ex-pupil of Colfox School, Oliver Willmott, son of the Rev. O. L. Willmott, vicar of Loders Church, has been presented with the Award for the Best All Round Sapper and Best Combat Engineer of his Basic Royal Engineer Training Course.

BANK HOLIDAY BLUES: Plenty of people, not enough money, too many cars, dull weather. That seemed to be the story of the 1969 August bank holiday in and around Bridport.