2021 in review: Dorset's biggest news stories - January to June

With the shadow of Covid still looming large, we've been subject to the lows of lockdowns that have hit businesses hard, the highs of restriction relaxations that have seen the return of a number of Dorset's most much-loved events and the euphoria of the Euros which saw us swept away in football fever right until the final.

Here's just a snapshot of some of the stories that hit the headlines during the year - as we celebrate the first day of 2022 in Dorset. 

JANUARY:

-On January 6, the country was plunged into a third lockdown with all schools told to close and the public ordered to stay at home - amid rising Covid rates.

In a major U-turn, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered primary and secondary schools to close immediately and move to online learning for all pupils except children of key workers and the most vulnerable.

Dorset was plunged innto a full lockdown at the start of 2021

-Tourists were fined for travelling 170 miles from Coventry to Dorset. The group was blasted for breaking lockdown rules – as police and councillors pleaded with tourists to stay at home.

Police visited Lulworth Estate as part of their patrols on Saturday, January 9 and found two car loads of tourists who had travelled from the Midlands to visit Durdle Door.

-Alarming figures revealed that more than 2,000 patients had been waiting more than a year for routine treatment at Dorset County Hospital Trust due to the ‘significant impact’ of the Covid response.

DCH under pressure

The Royal College of Surgeons of England said a ‘huge, hidden waiting list is building’ across the nation under lockdown.

NHS rules stated that patients referred for non-urgent consultant-led elective care should start treatment within 18 weeks.

But NHS statistics showed 2,169 patients listed for elective operations or treatment at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust at the end of November had been waiting for at least 52 weeks - a record high for the month.

FEBRUARY:

-In February, Covid-19 cases were dropping and police and councils in Dorset were working on plans to cope with the expected massive influx of visitors at Easter and during the summer.

The county’s police and crime panel heard that they were caught out by the huge numbers which flooded into the county last year as soon as lockdown was lifted.

Dorset Police prepared for an influx of visitors

-Struggling businesses were hoping a clear path to reopening was given as soon as possible so they can look forward to welcoming back customers.

Weymouth restaurant owners, publicans, shop owners, leisure attraction owners and business leaders were eagerly awaiting news of when they were able to reopen after nearly a year of closures, disruption and a huge loss of income.

-A coronavirus outbreak at The Verne prison triggered calls for staff to be vaccinated immediately - after more than 120 inmates were understood to have tested positive for the virus.

A major Covid outbreak was reported at The Verne prison on Portland

MARCH:

-More than 200 students at a Weymouth school were told to self-isolate as ‘some positive cases of Covid-19’ were identified - leading to concerns about the mental health impact on children.

The whole of Year 10 at Budmouth Academy - 230 students - were back to remote learning from home, just days after returning to the classroom.

-Budget supermarket The Range opened its new store in Weymouth’s flagship former Debenhams building on April 30, creating 80 jobs, it was announced.

Business bosses spoke of their delight as the opening was confirmed and said the store, in New Bond Street, would be a major boost for the town’s economy as retail restrictions were eased.

The Range opened at the former Debenhams store in Weymouth

-A man died after he was found in a vat of grain on board a ship that pulled into Portland on March 26.

Police, paramedics, coastguard officers, the fire service and the Air Ambulance rushed to Portland Port at around 5pm on the Friday afternoon after receiving reports that a man had been found in a vat of grain in the hold of the Beks Yilmaz ship.

The multi-agency response saw staff across the emergency services board the 44,000-tonne cargo ship, which was registered in the Marshall Islands.

Tragedy struck on Portland

APRIL:

In April, the Weymouth public set their eyes on the controversial harbour railings for the first time.

Drinkers, crabbers and families were told they would no longer be able to sit on Weymouth’s harbour walls at Custom House Quay as a barrier was put in place.

Dorset Council announced it would be putting a 250-metre long barrier in place amid concerns about people being injured.

End of seaside traditions as railings to be put up on Weymouth Harbour wall

-Tributes were paid to Prince Philip, who died aged 99.

Prince Philip, the Queen’s husband of 73 years, was described by Elizabeth as her ‘strength and stay’. He made numerous visits to Dorset over the decades both alone and as the Queen’s consort.

-April 13 saw businesses announce: 'We’re back'.

Pubs, restaurants, gyms, hairdressers, beauticians, non-essential shops and outdoor attractions reopened in some capacity as the country took another step on the Government’s ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown.

Most hospitality and leisure venues had been closed since the country was plunged into a third national lockdown on January 6, and business owners and staff were thrilled to get back to work, while customers were chomping at the bit to get back to the pub or get a haircut.

April saw businesses celebrate the Government's roadmap for reopening

MAY:

-Litter louts were slammed by business owners after rubbish was left strewn along Weymouth Harbourside following the busy bank holiday weekend, between May Saturday 1 to Monday 3.

Plastic bags, empty beer bottles, pizza boxes and cans were among the piles of litter which were left dumped along the harbourside over that weekend, which saw huge crowds gather at the quayside to socialise.

Owners of businesses which operate on the harbourside hit out at the ‘disgusting people’ who abandoned their rubbish and left the streets looking like a tip, which their customers were forced to look at while they dined.

Residents were outraged by the disgusting mess at Weymouth Harbour

-In early May, the Force was with Dorset.... as Hollywood took over a quarry to film scenes for a new Star Wars production.

There was a flurry of activity at the old Winspit Quarry on the Purbeck coast as cameras rolled for an instalment of the epic space franchise.

At the time, the Echo understood that it was a Star Wars TV series, likely to be Andor, which will serve as a prequel to 2016’s Rogue One and focus on the early formation of the Rebellion.

The Disney+ series was filming in England, with lead actor Diego Luna and stormtroopers spotted filming on a beach in Cleveleys, Lancashire.

Excitement as Star Wars was filmed in Dorset

-On May 17, businesses spoke of delight to finally reopen their doors after months of closure – while pubs, cafés and restaurants described their relief at being able to welcome customers back inside after Covid regulations eased.

A number of restrictions were eased as part of the government’s third phase of its roadmap out of lockdown.

Groups of six or two households could meet indoors, hospitality venues can serve customers inside, overnight stays can take place and indoor entertainment sites such as museums, cinemas and children’s play centres could reopen.

JUNE:

-The Prince of Wales returned to Poundbury to take a tour of a ‘ground-breaking’ green energy plant in his first public visit to Dorset in more than a year.

The prince visited Rainbarrow Farm to view an anaerobic digestion plant and officially open Biocarbonics, a green carbon dioxide energy supplier for use by the food and drink and horticultural industry.

A Royal visitor in Dorset...

- There was delight for the Covell family, from Buckland Newton, after they were finally reunited with beloved Jack Russell, Crumpet, after 11 years.

The dog had gone missing from their back garden aged just three months back in 2010 – and completely out of the blue they received a phone call to say he had been taken into a veterinary surgery a 30-min drive away 11 years later.

Crumpet's delighted owners as Jack Russell returns home

-Businesses across Dorset spoke of their devastation after Boris Johnson announced the ‘Freedom Day’ planned for June would be pushed back until July, with restrictions remaining in place. The hospitality industry called it a ‘devastating blow’.

-Dorset Council submitted a £17m funding bid from the government for the regeneration of iconic Weymouth sites, including Brewers Quay, North Quay and the peninsula.

-Gladis, a four-year-old heavily pregnant cow, was chased by two dogs at Eggardon Hill Farm, near Askerwell, and died after suffering a 40ft fall – sparking a national campaign for a law change to protect livestock.

The bid for new legislation – Gladis’ Law – for dogs to be kept on leads around livestock was officially launched.

The tragic death of Gladis the cow sparked a national campaign for new legislation

-Dorset got swept up in football fever for Euros 2021 – but a large screen installed outside The Rendezvous on Weymouth harbourside was taken down following the first England game due to social distancing concerns after fans packed in to watch the match.

What were your highlights of 2021? Let us know in the comments - and stay tuned tomorrow as we bring you July - December in part two of our roundup...