Fence Stores Group is one in a thousand

The Dorset-based Fence Stores Group has been named in the London Stock Exchange’s ‘1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain’. The highly prestigious accolade means the company is one of the UK’s fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium sized businesses. To be included in the list, companies had to show consistent revenue growth over a minimum of three years, significantly outperforming … Read More

Cancer charity inundated with calendar entries

DORSET Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) has been inundated with stunning photographs for its first charity calendar. The DCCF is producing a 2017 calendar to fund its work in helping local cancer sufferers. In January it invited people to send in their favourite shots of Dorset. Since then it has received over 200 submissions, including a beautiful sunset scene taken at … Read More

Young hotelier opens chocolate-themed B&B

Leoni Wilton, whose family owns Bournemouth’s Chocolate Boutique Hotel has opened the town’s first chocolate-themed B&B. The Chocolate Box boutique B&B in West Cliff Road offers its guests chocolate-inspired rooms, daily deliveries of chocolate and Chocadence, a private hire venue, where they can eat and drink chocolate to their hearts’ desire. Ms Wilton, who is just 26, said: “It’s very … Read More

VIP birthday wishes for 100-year-old Arthur

Arthur Woodley’s 100th birthday celebrations included a surprise visit from the head of the parish council. Arthur, a resident at Colten Care’s Brook View care home in West Moors, near Bournemouth, was presented with a card and a bottle of red wine by councillor Penny Yeo. Mrs Yeo, who was joined by her parish clerk Judi Weedon, said: “When I … Read More

Longspee Academy – Outstanding across the board

Poole’s Longspee Academy has been rated as Outstanding across the board. Ofsted awarded the special school the highest possible grade in all areas, from its quality of teaching, to its leadership and pupil outcomes. Longspee, in Learoyd Road, provides education for boys and girls with emotional, social and mental health difficulties. The school joined Ambitions Academies Trust (AAT), which is … Read More

Schools celebrate Queen’s 90th

Bournemouth school children put out the bunting to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday in style. Youngsters at the Elm Academy wore red, white and blue, took part in regal activities and celebrated the day with a street party. Meanwhile their older peers from sister schools LeAF Studio and Oak Academy also came dressed in the patriotic hues of red, white … Read More

Avonbourne celebrates best EBacc results

A Bournemouth school is celebrating its best ever set of results in the prestigious English Baccalaureate (EBacc) benchmark. Avonbourne College saw 26% of its students achieve A*s to Cs in the core academic subjects that make up the EBacc – English, maths, history or geography, the sciences and a language. That was up four per cent on the previous year … Read More

Viner’s diners head for Bournemouth

One of the country’s finest Michelin-starred chefs is fulfilling a lifelong dream by launching a restaurant in Bournemouth. Former ‘National Chef of the Year’ Kevin Viner made his name in Cornwall, but only went there because he couldn’t find premises in the Dorset resort. Now he is Executive Chef at ‘Neo’, the distinctive and iconic glass-surrounded restaurant opposite the Bournemouth … Read More