An exhibition that explores the stories and contribution of black people in Dorset over the past 300 years runs every day during this year’s Dorchester Festival.

The exhibition includes a display of photographs, stories, writings, short film and audio recordings detailing the lives and histories of people of African, Asian and Caribbean heritage in Dorset.

Dorchester Arts Centre:   May 25-28:  11am-2pm:  Free

The perennial Beatles vs Stones debate rolls on but, to my reckoning, The Who topped the both of them. Normally I’d be dubious about seeing a bunch of geriatric has-beens live (i.e. The Stones) but I saw Roger Daltrey supporting the Doves at a Teenage Cancer Trust gig a few years back and he’s still the Ace Face. Well worth the trip up to Southampton.

Southampton Rose Bowl: £45 standing, £47.50 standard seating

Ricky Gervais brings his new stand-up show to Bournemouth in June. Get your tickets now to listen to Ricky’s musings on ‘Fame’ as they are likely to be snapped up pretty sharpish.

BIC:  Tickets £25

Sundog, described as a ’red hot blues outfit’, perform at the Dorchester Arts Centre on Saturday night. Formed in 2004, their members have a wealth of experience of working with some of the top blues artists. Their first album, Drive On, resulted in an invitation to perform a Radio 2 session on the Paul Jones Blues programme.

Dorchester Arts Centre: Tickets £9.50 in advance, £10.50 on the door 

The National Trust has apologized for shooting 15 goats after introducing them as part of a heathland restoration scheme in Purbeck.

The goats, which the National Trust had initially rescued from a trip to the abattoir, were brought in to graze on Studland and Godlingston heaths, but kept managing to escape from the fenced off areas meant to contain them.

They were then moved to the slopes of Corfe Castle but continued to escape, causing a traffic hazard in the area, which led to the Trust’s decision to shoot them.

There has been outrage that they couldn’t be found new homes, and the Trust’s request for suggestions for help in rounding up the 3 remaining wild goats is likely to fall on deaf ears considering the fate of the rest of the herd.

Prince William, following in his brother’s footsteps, has arrived in Purbeck for six months’ army training.

Keen to keep out of the public spotlight, he headed straight to Elements nightclub in Bournemouth, and found himself all over the weekend’s redtops for gyrating with a young lass and inviting her back to his Bovington barracks.

That’s already one up on his brother Harry, who rented a love nest cottage with Chelsy last summer, much to the amusement of the press hounds when they found out it was in the hamlet of SHAGGS, East Lulworth.

[Prince William at Madame Tussauds, courtesy of Mharrsch]

Pete Doherty and his shambolic crew stumble into Bournemouth town in November.  Whether he’ll still be alive or at liberty in 8 months’ time is another matter - buy your ticket now but keep the receipt just in case!

Babyshambles:  Bournemouth International Centre: 26 November: £23.50

[Image from www.enkeling.nl]

The award winning poet and novelist Simon Armitage will be appearing on Friday night at the Poetry Cafe, Dorchester Arts Centre. Food, drink and live literature are on offer as Simon takes on the broad theme of ‘Identity’.

Phone 01305 266926 to book your tickets. 

Fans of the legendary folk singer Nick Drake should get along to the very cosy and intimate setting of the Square and Compass in Worth Matravers on Saturday night to see Keith James perform his ‘Songs of Nick Drake’. Keith has been touring all around the country to very good reviews.

It was very sad to hear the news that the founder of Monkey World, Jim Cronin, has died of liver cancer at the age of 55.

Jim set up the Wool based ape rescue centre with his wife Alison in 1987, and since then they have rescued apes from all over the world.

Monkey World has attained worldwide recognition for its conservation work and has been the feature of the long running ITV series, Monkey Business. Jim was only diagnosed with the cancer a few weeks ago so it has come as a big shock to everyone.    

Welcome to purbeckblog. This website aims to keep its readers informed about upcoming events in Purbeck and the surrounding area in the county of Dorset.

 It has been inspired by my sister’s fantastic ventnorblog, and by the fact that the first time we often seem to hear about events is in the local paper after they have happened.