• Scallop Wars – a West Country trawler skipper tells of his experiences of being threatened and attacked by French fishermen
• “Cyril the Squirrel” gets his moment of fame, as told by vet Malcolm Welshman in this edition of ‘Pet Patter’
• We visit Mad Hatter day in Bridport and talk to a lady “sheep hatter” who takes biodiversity to the extreme. And no, she’s not mad!
• Where do all the phrases with the word hat in them come from? We explain, at the drop of a hat.
• One man (and his tank) who collects buckets of money for Help For Heroes – a report
• Dorset is famous for collections of historical military vehicles. We find an enthusiast who rebuilds WW2 Jeeps from the wheels up.

Air Ambulance charities across the country are once again coming together to celebrate National Air Ambulance Week (NAAW) which takes place between 10^th – 16^th September 2018.

Operational every single day, air ambulances are funded by the generosity of the public and treat over 25,000 patients throughout the year. On average, an air ambulance is deployed every 10 minutes; bringing the hospital to the patient and treating the most critically ill or seriously injured in their time of need.

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance will be using National Air Ambulance Week to raise awareness of their life-saving work via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@DSAIRAMBULANCE). Many supporters are already holding events, dressing up, or going to school in mufti to raise funds and it is not too late to get involved.

Tracy Bartram, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Communications Manager said: (more…)

A hoard of knitted ducks invaded Dorset County Hospital this summer – and they had an important message.

The Little Yellow Duck Project was taken on by the Renal Dialysis department at the hospital in efforts to raise awareness of organ donation, as well as keeping their patients upbeat and positive.

Linda Woodsford, Deputy Sister at the Haemodialysis Unit, said: “Our patients are here three times a week. Dialysis takes a lot out of their personal and social lives so we organise all kinds of things here to keep them positive and motivated.

“We asked our patients to knit the ducks and name them and then our staff would take and place them somewhere in the hospital ready for someone to find.” (more…)

• Why are 30 Weymouth b&bs up for sale? Is the town over-bedded? Many small hotels are struggling despite the summer sun.
• Weymouth Council leader says the town’s crown jewels  (that’s the properties and facilities it owns) will not be nabbed by the new Unitary Authority. Really?
• There’s a stink brewing about the new Esplanade unisex superloo planned for 2020. It’s the gender issue.
• We hear about a Dorset charity called Mosaic which helps children cope with bereavement of someone close.
  Contact details: Tel 01258 837071, web – www.mosaicfamilysupport.org, email – laura@mosaicfamilysupport.org
• Six trillion discarded cigarette butts – dropping one could cost you up to £1,000 if you ignore a fixed penalty fine for littering.

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Ridgeway Magazine 22nd August 2018