News & Views

EXETER

Devon County Show is on The Devon County Agricultural Association has announced that the 125th Devon County Show will take place on Friday 2nd, Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th July 2021. Cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the show will move from its usual mid-May dates for next year only. Mary Quicke, DCAA Chairman said ‘we are absolutely committed to holding our Devon County Show in 2021. We believe that, by moving the Show to early July, it will give more time for the restrictions to have eased, the roll out of a vaccine to take place and life to be getting back to normal.’

BRIDPORT

Museum promotes romance Bridport Museum is celebrating Valentine’s Day this year by creating and sharing an online exhibition of wedding dresses, memories and romantic anecdotes. Each day in the run-up to 14 February the museum will share some of the stories and photographs behind dresses from their collection, as well as inviting people to share their own photographs and memories. They want to hear from anyone who would like to share their favourite love-themed photographs, objects or memories. You can also email director@bridportmuseum.co.uk.

CATTISTOCK

No knob throwing this year The Dorset Knob Throwing and Frome Valley Food Festival will, not take place in 2021 but will return to Cattistock in May 2022. This decision was reluctantly made due to current Covid 19 restrictions and their anticipated continuation. The Committee took the view that to continue in these circumstances could put people’s lives at risk and felt that they had a duty of care towards all visitors, volunteers and stallholders. Organisers said: ‘Without the freedom to mix openly the spontaneity and appeal of this event will be lost.’

LYME REGIS

Mary Anning on Mars The name Mary Anning is very much part of the fabric of Lyme Regis so it is exciting that the area can now lay claim to a piece of the planet Mars. NASA’s Mars rover ‘Curiosity’ has been drilling a new site since last July which they named ‘Mary Anning’ after the famous fossil collector. Alluding to the belief that her gender may have led to her work and discoveries being dismissed by the scientific establishment, a statement on the NASA website says: ‘Let Mary Anning’s name on Mars remind us to include everyone in the endeavor of exploration.’

WEYMOUTH

Safety fears at Sandsfoot Castle Sandsfoot Castle, an artillery fort in Weymouth constructed by Henry VIII has been closed to the public due to large cracks found in the walls. Although closed since 1930 the castle had been opened to the public in 2012 after extensive renovation. Also known as Weymouth Castle, it sits in Sandsfoot Gardens alongside the Rodwell Trail which is a disused railway line. The line was turned into a popular cycle and footpath. The castle has been fenced off while its structure is assessed by Weymouth authority and Historic England.