Today we continue our look back at Dorset's biggest news stories of 2021 - starting with July, when Dorset's summer was in full swing.
This is the second half of our two-part roundup. For January - June's top stories click here
JULY:
-Fans continued to get swept up in the spirit of the Euros with hopes raised that that football really was coming home and hospitality businesses reported a boost to trade following months of Covid restrictions – only for their dreams to be snatched away during penalties in the final against Italy.
-Facilities at Weymouth’s three Haven holiday parks were closed to visitors due to the ‘noisy and unruly’ behaviour of some guests, which were described as ‘terrifying’ by one family.
All entertainment facilities at Haven’s sites in Weymouth – Littlesea, Seaview and Weymouth Bay – were closed for an entire weekend. Guests were unable to go swimming, visit the clubhouse, enjoy shows, play at arcades, or visit the bar – meaning many could not watch the final of the Euros as they had planned.
-Thousands of holidaymakers and residents packed beaches and beauty spots across Dorset for a four-day heatwave, providing a much-needed boost for businesses and the local economy following the lifting of lockdown restrictions.
-A £70m vision for the future of the landmark former QinetiQ Bincleaves site at Newton’s Cove was unveiled. The draft proposals from Juno Developments UK Ltd included 184 one, two and three bedroomed apartments, plus a 65-bed care home.
-Dorset’s Emma Wilson closed the month by claiming a magnificent bronze at Tokyo 2020 after a stunning second position in the RS:X medal race.
It was the debut Olympic Games for Wilson, who is from Christchurch and lives on Portland.
AUGUST:
-The month kicked off with the dramatic rescue of a man, believed to be under the influence of alcohol, who was trying to swim out to one of the cruise ships moored in Weymouth Bay in his underwear.
The man was spotted by a member of the Jurassic Jet Ski Company - who was out supervising a charity swim – who rescued him and took him safely to shore.
-Portland sailors Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell continued Team GB’s Olympic medal haul by winning 49er gold at Tokyo 2020, with the emotional pair saying they had achieved their dream, before Dorset’s Hannah Mills became the most decorated female Olympic sailor ever with gold in the women’s 470 class.
-Hero Weymouth pub manager Dawn Axe saved the life of a motorcyclist who suddenly collapsed near the venue. Dawn raced out of the Waterloo after the biker fell, along with her friend Ricky Cleverley, and gave the desperately ill man CPR until paramedics arrived.
-Hopes of bringing back the much-loved Weymouth Carnival were dashed as the organising committee folded. Carnival Committee director Seb Green announced he would be stepping down – citing mental health reasons, a lack of financial support and shortage of volunteers - before the entire committee disbanded.
-Arsonist Jesse Everett was given an 11-year prison sentence for setting fire to a block of flats in Dorchester with the intention of killing people living there. The 27-year-old had intentionally set fire to Signal House in the middle of the night, forcing terrified residents to evacuate and leading to some being rescued, while causing £70,000 of damage to the building.
OCTOBER:
-Dorset Council was awarded £380,000 to fund CCTV and education to help women and girls feel safer on Weymouth’s streets following the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard. The money came from the Government’s £23.5m Safer Streets Fund to be used to install CCTV around town, provide additional support for a stalking clinic and run a series of workshops to increase awareness of dangers to women.
-Almost £1m was allocated to fund the long-awaited demolition of the eyesore North Quay former council offices in Weymouth following years of discussions about transforming the site into luxury homes.
-Weymouth came up roses after it scooped a gold award in the prestigious Britain in Bloom competition – the first time the town had entered the award. Weymouth won the gold award in the Business Improvement District category – said to be ‘unheard of’ for a first time application – as well as additional recognition for outstanding contribution in horticulture at Greenhill Gardens and ‘best newcomer’.
-Devastated animal lover Angela Starling spoke of her heartbreak after her beloved rescue cat was found beheaded. Treacle the cat went missing from Angela’s home in Preston, Weymouth, and was found ‘dumped’ on someone else’s front garden decapitated.
-Tributes flooded in for Dorset’s former Chief Fire Officer, Darran Gunter, who died at the age of 55 following a long battle with cancer. Mr Gunter’s sons described him as an inspirational and selfless hero who gave everything in his life his absolute best.
NOVEMBER:
-Undercover police officers patrols began outside bars and clubs were confirmed to protect women enjoying nights out during the Christmas party season.
Dorset Police confirmed plain-clothes and uniformed officers would operate outside night-time venues across Dorset in a bid to stop perpetrators approaching vulnerable people – particularly women and girls – and displaying unprovoked aggressive behaviour.
The move came after Dorset Police first launched the Operation Vigilant initiative on August 28, which saw plain-clothed officers patrol Weymouth, targeting hotspots including the Esplanade, beach and adjacent alleys.
-Tighter regulations were proposed to tackle anti-social behaviour including illegal camping on beaches, open fires in woods and heathland, and problem drinking in public.
The orders covered two areas, West Dorset and Weymouth and Portland, but in future would be set at town level for Weymouth, Dorchester, Portland, Bridport, West Bay and Lyme Regis.
DECEMBER:
-Graffiti was daubed on cliffs at Durdle Door beach - leading to condemnation from bosses of the iconic attraction who have slammed the ‘destructive’ behaviour of the vandals responsible.
A witness captured video footage of two people spraying a ‘we were here’ tag on rocks at the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site, which is run by the Lulworth Estate.
-The Omicron variant had officially hit Dorset.
The Prime Minister announced the military would be drafted to help the NHS get Covid-19 boosters into arms, while health bosses in Dorset cases of Omicron in the county.
Britain was told to 'urgently reinforce our wall of vaccine protection', while the PM set a new deadline of jabbing everyone over 18 by the new year.
-Pubs and restaurants said they feared for the future after being hit with ‘constant’ cancellations since the Government advised people to minimise social contact in the run-up to Christmas.
Venues said the hospitality industry had been ‘hung out to dry’ with customers urged to stay away amid the emergence of the Omicron Covid variant - but with no financial support to pick up the shortfall.
-A tribute was left at the scene of a fatal crash in Weymouth - as police continued to appeal for witnesses to the tragedy on Christmas Eve.
A local man aged in his 50s who was riding a bicycle sadly died after he was in collision with a silver Mitsubishi 4x4. It happened at around 11.30am on the A354 Weymouth Way between the Chafeys and Manor roundabouts.
- Weymouth Harbour swim goes ahead
THE annual harbour swim in Weymouth once again brought festive joy as huge crowds of people watched swimmers brave the chilly conditions.
Around 350 swimmers - wearing a variety of festive outfits - took to the water of Weymouth Harbour on Christmas Day to raise cash for good causes.
Wishing all our readers a happy and prosperous 2022
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