The October 2026 edition of the Bride Valley News can be read HERE

The deadline for copy for any month’s issue is mid-day of the second Thursday of the preceding month. All material for publication must be sent to the Village Correspondent. For Litton Cheney this is: John Firrell, Tel: 01308 482313 email: jfirrell20@gmail.com

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The Bridport Local Area Partnership (BLAP) is here for the community. Current members of the partnership include Bridport The Bridport Local Area Partnership (BLAP) is here for the community. Current members of the partnership include Bridport Town Council, 9 Parish Councils and more than 80 community organisations and individuals working to improve the social, economic, and environmental wellbeing of Bridport and surrounding areas. For information or if you have a piece you would like to be included in the bulletin please contact Claire Peters-Way by email at: Claire.Peters-Way@bridport-tc.gov.uk Dorset Libraries - Green Week and Customer Survey The last day of Green Libraries Week is today (Tuesday 27th October) Libraries across Dorset will be running a range of free activities for all ages. Activities include nature-themed story time and family crafts, to seed swaps and fun interactive activities. Dorset Council will also be running a customer survey today and are encouraging residents to complete a short form when visiting the library to help demonstrate the real difference libraries make to people's lives. West Bay Discovery Centre - Free half-term children's activities Come along to the West Bay Discovery Centre and enjoy a range of free activities for children. From today until Sunday 1st November you can take part in the following activities: • Spider Hunt: Spiders are scuttling around the Centre! Can you find them all? • Leaf Rubbing Art: Get creative and discover the beautiful patterns of autumn leaves. • Halloween Colouring: Unleash your creativity with some spooky seasonal colouring! Free entry with family-friendly drop-in activities, no booking required. Donations are always very welcome and help continue providing free activities for local families and visitors. Today (Tuesday 27th October) there will be a 'Potions and Crafts' children’s workshop from 11am – 3pm at the Salt House, West Bay. Join the team for a fun, creative workshop inspired by their exhibition 'Dr Roberts – A Poor Man’s Friend'. This hands-on workshop invites children to explore the fascinating world of traditional remedies, ingredients and Victorian-style advertising. Suitable for children and families. Free drop-in event and no booking required. Donations welcome. Please note: Pretend potions are not for human consumption. Please inform the stewards of any allergies before participating. Wessex Water – drop in event Wessex Water’s community outreach team will be at Bridport Library on Wednesday 28th October from 10am – 2pm. For anyone who needs support with their water bill or has a question about supply or wastewater (or anything else water related). West Bay Guided Walks The last guided walk for this year will be held on Thursday 29th October. The theme is 'West Bay Hidden History'. Find out about the town's oldest building and what was once stored in the Customs House. The walk will be 1mile and last around 90 minutes. Please meet up outside the West Bay Discovery Centre at 11am. £5 per person payable on the day. Charmouth Craft Fair Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre will be holding a craft fair on Saturday 31st October at Charmouth Community Hall, from 10am - 4pm. Free entry. A range of stalls, Fossil sales, refreshments and a Halloween pumpkin competition. West Bay Days - Bonfire by the Beach This year's Bonfire by the Beach will be held on Saturday 31st October at East Beach, West Bay from 4pm - 9.30pm. There will be food outlets and an outside bar with live music and a guy competition. The fireworks display will be held at 8pm. A free shuttle buses will also be running. There will be a road closure in place between 4pm and 11pm along Station Road. Dorset Police Dorset Police will be at Bucky Doo Square on Tuesday 10th November between 11am and 1pm with the mobile Police Station van. Bridport History Society The next meeting of the Bridport History Society is on Thursday 12th November when the Society will be welcoming one of their own members, landscape architect and urban designer Tim Gale, who will give a talk titled ’The History of Downe Hall, Bridport.' Downe Hall has been described as one of Bridport’s best kept secrets and Tim will reveal the story of its owners – which includes great wealth, bankruptcy, royal connections and lunacy. The talk will be held at the United Church Hall on East Street, Bridport. Doors open at 2.15pm for a prompt 2.30pm start. All are welcome. Members £1pp and visitors £5pp. Bridport History Society meets on the second Thursday of each month (except July and August). Membership is open to all (£12 individual/£18 couple). For more information visit https://www.bridporthistorysociety.org.uk Allington Hillbillies Allington Hillbilly volunteers Max Cantrell and Cathy Harvey love sharing their knowledge of wildlife and the ups and downs of volunteering for nature. Their talk on Sunday 22nd November at St Swithuns Hall, Bridport at 2pm will be light hearted, entertaining and suitable for all ages. Tickets are on sale through Bridport Tourist Information Centre and online. All the profits will go to the Allington Hillbillies supporting their work looking after nature. They would also love to know if you have Dormice visiting your garden, or you look after a local green space and would like information on making it Dormouse friendly. Their aim is to build a map of where they are in and around Bridport and surrounding area. Bridport Stage Company Bridport Stage Company are a local group which is now in its 10th year! Members are currently rehearsing for their November (22nd, 23rd and 24th) production of 'Cabaret' at The Bull hotel. Tickets are now on sale from Inspired By, 29 South Street, Bridport, DT6 3NR with all proceeds going to the Samaritans. Western Area Transport Action Group (WATAG) WATAG's survey to help understand the demand for hourly bus services between Bridport and Dorchester has now completed and the survey results can be viewed here. Their next public meeting will be held on Wednesday 25th November at 6.30pm at Mountfield, Rax Lane, Bridport, DT6 3JP. The agenda, and zoom link to join the meeting will be issued in due course. Bridport Museum A new exhibition has opened titled 'Bridport's Sea Dragon Unexpected Survivor' unearthing the story of Bridport's fossil find. Featuring the remains of a 10-metre Ichthyosaur found locally, the exhibition will run until 10th April 2027. Cradle to Career Bridport – Community Tea & Cakes Adam Shelley (Headteacher at The Sir John Colfox Academy) is welcoming charities, voluntary organisations and community groups from across Bridport to celebrate the fantastic work taking place in the town and exploring how to work together to support children, young people and families. The event will be held on Thursday 3rd December 2026 between 4pm - 6pm at Bridport Town Hall. This will be an informal and welcoming opportunity to meet other local organisations, share information, identify opportunities to collaborate and discuss how to ensure that children and families can access the right support at the right time. The Cradle to Career initiative is a 10-year commitment to improving opportunities and outcomes for children and young people in Bridport, built around a simple ambition: Every Child. Every Family. Every Future. We want to understand what is already working well, where there are gaps in provision and how we can work together to make an even greater difference. Whether you are a large charity, a small voluntary group, a youth organisation or a community project, we would love you to be part of the conversation. There is no expectation to prepare a presentation or make a formal contribution. Simply come along, enjoy some tea and cake (provided), meet others and help us shape the future of Bridport together. Please RSVP to office@sirjohncolfox.org so that they can make sure there is plenty of cake for everyone. Bridport Town Council - Mayor's Log The latest edition of the Mayor's Log includes Bridport Hat Festival, 511th year Birthday Party Celebration of R.J. Balson & Son, Bridport and District Gardening Club Harvest Show, RAF Battle Of Britain Service, The High Sheriff visits Bridport and more. Bridport Town Council - Project Manager vacancy Bridport Town Council is looking for an organised, collaborative and creative Project Manager to help deliver priorities in their Five-Year Plan. Initially, the Project Manager will focus on developing and delivering culture and arts initiatives and demonstrating their value to the wider local economy, with scope to take on other Council projects. The closing date for applications is 9am on Tuesday 17th November 2026. To find out more click here. Dorset Community Foundation - Grant alert The October grant alert from Dorset Community Action features the Green Futures fund, Neighbourhood Fund (supports local community groups whose work addresses local issues, social problems, poverty and disadvantage), SWEF enterprise fund and DCF Bursary schemes.

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Parish Council – Next Meeting Tuesday 10 th November, 7pm, LATCH If you attend the meeting we can’t guarantee too much excitement but you will witness how local democracy works and how the parish precept is spent. If you decide you might like to be part of it then we would love to hear from you – please contact Clerk Debbie who’s details can be found at littoncheney.org.uk Remembrance Day – Wednesday 11 th November – Wreath Laying – All Welcome On Wednesday 11 th November there will be a Service of Remembrance including the laying of a wreath at the village war memorial in St Mary’s churchyard. All are welcome. Please gather by 10.45am. Two minutes silence will be held at 11 am as we remember those from Litton Cheney who served their country in two World Wars but never returned. Weight Limit on Whiteway – Vehicles over 7.5 tonnes (other than refuse lorries and tractors) are prohibited from using Whiteway. Getting the weight limit implemented was a long and hard fought battle – let’s make it count! If you witness such a vehicle, please report it to the Parish Council (details on the village website – www.littoncheney.org.uk) or call 101 (instructions shown on the village website home page). Registration number a must, and photo even better. See it, Report it: Potholes – The more a pothole is reported, the further it moves up the list for repair – Adopt a Drain – We are forecast to have a long wet and windy winter with the likelihood of local flooding. Why not “adopt” a drain near you, and take on the job of reporting it if it gets blocked. It could save you and your immediate neighbours from being flooded. What’s on at Litton and Thorner’s Community Hall (LATCH) in November REGULAR EVENTS Tuesday 9.45 -11.00am Morning Yoga with Jane (07882 527697) - janehutchinsyoga@outlook.com 4.45 – 5.45pm Short Mat Bowls (Ron Davidson 482661) Wednesdays 4.45 – 5.45pm Table Tennis (Paul Kingston 482162) 7.00pm Yoga with Jane (contact as above) OTHER EVENTS Thursday 5 th 7.00 pm onwards Film Night “H is for Hawk” Starts 7.30 Saturday 7 th 9.30am – 12.30 Breakfast Art & Craft Cafe Sunday 8 th 2.00 – 4.30pm Lino Cut Workshop (Lusea Warner Gale (meeting room) Tuesday 10 th 7.00pm Parish Council in Meeting Room Thursday 12 th 6.45 – 9.00pm W.I Craft in Meeting Room 7.00pm Alpha Course in Main Hall Thursday 19 th 7.00pm Alpha Course Sunday 22 nd 10.00am - 1.00pm Yoga with Nadiya Thursday 26 th 7.00pm Alpha Course COMING UP Friday 4 th Dec 6.30pm onwards Christmas Bingo Night!. Village Cafés: The hall is available for hire free of charge on Saturday mornings for a Café to raise funds for any group. It’s a good social event for the community and always popular. Hall Bookings/viewings: Wendy Firrell 01308 482532 Bride Valley Bingo Fundraising Group cordially invite you to the CHRISTMAS BINGO at LATCH on Friday 4th December. Doors open at 6.30pm and eyes down at 7.30pm. There will be great prizes, refreshment, a raffle and the bucket draw. All proceeds to go to a Dorset based charity. Come and join us and wear a Christmas jumper! Christmas Greetings in the BVN – May we remind readers that they can place Christmas greetings in the December edition as in previous years. This year the chosen charity is the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, for which we believe there will be a high level of support. As previously, all the money received will be divided between the charity and the BVN, and any support will be very much appreciated. The BVN do not charge for entries, but ask that a donation is made, which in past years has raised a considerable amount, which has helped the BVN balance the books. For more details on how it all works see Valley Notes in this BVN. A new Plan for the Parish Visit the community table at the Art & Craft Cafe, at Litton & Thorners Community Hall, on Saturday 7th Nov 9.30am -12.30pm ● Do you love your village? ● Are there things you’d like to change or do you like things just the way they are? ● How would you like to see Litton Cheney develop over the next 5 to 10 years? Come along to the Village Art & Crafts Cafe on 7th November and find out what a Parish Plan is, why we are producing one now and what the benefits might be. Make your views, needs and concerns known and help set the agenda to shape our village and bring about positive change where appropriate. For more information visit www.littoncheney.org.uk BRIDE VALLEY FILMS at Litton and Thorner’s Community Hall THURSDAY 5 NOVEMBER – “H IS FOR HAWK” ‘a beautifully shot fact-based drama’ When Helen's father passes away, she is overtaken by grief and loses herself in memories of their time birding and exploring the natural world together. She becomes obsessed with the idea of training her own goshawk, and so she brings the fearsome bird Mabel home her. As she labours to teach Mabel how to hunt and fly free on her own, Helen uncovers how neglected her own emotions and life have become. Starring Claire Foy, it is a soaring journey of the connection between people and nature, and how it might be possible to reconcile loss through love. Based on a true story. Cert. 12+ Ihr 40” THURSDAY 3 DECEMBER – “THE SHEEP DETECTIVES” ‘simply excellent and lots of fun’In this witty, new breed of mystery, George is a shepherd who reads detective novels to his beloved sheep every night, assuming they can’t possibly understand. But when a mysterious incident disrupts life on the farm, the sheep realize they must become the detectives. As they follow the clues and investigate human suspects, they prove that even sheep can be brilliant crime-solvers. Starring Hugh Jackman and Bryan Cranston. Cert.PG 1hr 50” Doors Open: 7.00 p.m. Films start 7.30 p.m. TICKETS: £6.00 (to include a glass of wine) available on the door. . For more details click here The White Horse How can it be November already? At the time of writing this we hadn’t lit the log burner. Now it’s less than eight weeks until Christmas apparently! Fortnightly quizzes and weekly meat draws are back in full flow and Sunday afternoon music continues until mid-November. We have a charity horse racing night planned for 21st November, then December’s entertainment moves to Saturday nights with the Mummers Play on 5th, a Christmas Punk Party on 12th and Carols and mulled wine and cider, accompanied by Paul Cheater on the keyboard, on 19th. Please see our TV screen and Facebook page for more regular and detailed updates. Otherwise we are open as usual with a few tweaks to the menu for the autumn. Thank you for your ongoing support; we really appreciate it. See you when you can. Andy and Liz xxx Saturday 7 th November 9.30 a.m to 12.30 p.m at LATCH, Litton Cheney DT2 9AU - Breakfast Art and Craft Café In aid of Alzheimer’s Art, paintings including cynotope, dry point etching, textiles and mixed media, cards, Christmas presents, woodcraft, sculpture, Jewellery, candles, raffle and bottle stall and much much more. Breakfast rolls, cakes, teas and coffees. Come and have a morning with friends, browsing, having breakfast cooked for you, drinking tea and coffee and enjoying the pre-Christmas atmosphere. For further information contact Liz at liz_gibbs@hotmail.com