Poole News
POOLE TRAIL LAUNCHES IN POOLE
Poole Trail is a permanent mobile-friendly trail for visitors and residents to enjoy, brought to you by the Borough of Poole in partnership with Poole Museums and supported by Poole Pottery.
This cutting-edge scheme has created a whole new way for people to explore the town and its history.
Inspiration for the Trail came from Borough of Poole Museum Service, whose collections and resources reveal the amazing stories that Poole's buildings, streets, open spaces and Harbour have to tell. As well as great archaeology, art, pottery and social history, the Museum collections include archive film footage, oral history recordings and historical photos which illustrate and tell these stories.
Through these stories the Museum Service wanted to provide visitors and residents with an open air museum where they could find out more about Poole's historic buildings, its natural environment and local attractions such public art-work. Working with other Borough of Poole services, the Museum appointed City-Insights, a company that specialises in mobile internet, to create a practical way of making these stories available to the person in the street.
City-Insights developed an approach for Poole which links street signage, information panels, a simplified street map, a mobile-friendly website and an expandable behind-the-scenes database of archive material. The team developed over 40 stories connected to 11 More to Explore signposts around Poole Quay, Old Town and Harbourside Park. The stories use short, edited clips of material from the Museum Service's collections that can be downloaded and enjoyed on a mobile phone while standing at the right location.
The stories cover all topics from notorious smuggling gangs to Britain's first Boy Scout camp on Brownsea Island, and can be explored via the website or by walking from More to Explore signpost to signpost. Rather than being a set route, Poole Trail is a series of related locations that you can visit in any order you wish, at any time you chose, coming across stories as you discover the town, and make your own trail.
Lots more information from the website at : www.pooletrail.com (Tue 31 Jan 12)
DATE SET FOR TWIN SAILS BRIDGE TO OPEN TO TRAFFIC
Poole's long awaited second harbour crossing, the Twin Sails Bridge , will open to traffic on Monday 27 February 2012.
This landmark structure stretches across the Backwater Channel providing an additional road link for Poole Town and Hamworthy communities unlocking one of the largest regeneration sites in the South West.
To celebrate the completion of this 20-month construction project a community weekend will be held on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 February 2012 on the Twin Sails Bridge before it opens to road traffic.
On the Saturday The Mayor of Poole and invited local guests will lead the first group to walk across the Twin Sails Bridge. The Mayor of Poole will then invite all local residents to participate in a walk across the bridge giving a fantastic opportunity to see their new bridge close up.
To mark this special occasion Poole Rotary Club will be offering residents the chance to purchase a commemorative certificate for a minimum £2 donation with all money raised going to local charities. The Twin Sails Bridge will also be available for residents to walk across on the Sunday.
An official opening ceremony will be held on Friday 9 March 2012. This is the anniversary of the opening of Poole's current bridge which opened on 9 March 1927. A free two hour spectacular event will be held on the former power station site in Hamworthy involving music, singing, parades and much more. Due to the capacity of the site this will be a ticket only event. Further celebrations will continue on Poole Quay including music, street entertainment and a firework display at 9 pm. (Tue 31 Jan 12)
MERRY MUSIC RAISES OVER £1000 FOR HOSPICES
A band of talented, local musicians has helped raise over £1000 for two Poole hospices. Broadstone Community Concert Band, which has about 45 players ranging in age from school children to the retired put on a charity musical extravaganza at Lighthouse, Poole's Centre for the Arts, just before Christmas.
The proceeds from the ticket sales have gone to benefit Forest Holme, a 10-bed hospice in Poole, which is dedicated to caring for patients with cancer and other life limiting illnesses as well as Lewis-Manning hospice in Lilliput.
The concert was the idea of band conductor Damon Corio and musical medic Dr Stephen Kirkham, a lead consultant in palliative care at Forest Holme and also a euphonium player with the band.
Broadstone Community Concert Band was founded in 1989. There is no formal playing standard to join – just a love of music. (Fri 27 Jan 12)
JACK'S MAGIC BEANS SET TO HELP LOCAL HOSPICE
Broadstone Pantomime Productions are showing that the spirit of goodwill continues even after Christmas. This year, the group's lively production of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk' will be raising money for Poole-based hospice, Forest Holme, which enhances the quality of life of patients with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses.
This year sees the group, which is a non-profit organization, clock up its thirty second panto. Catharine Hutchings who helps produce the shows said: “We have decided to give to Forest Holme because a couple of us on the committee know about the support Forest Holme give to people at such difficult times in their lives. We are hoping the show will raise about £400 for the hospice.”
The show runs until 21 January at Broadstone War Memorial Hall, Tudor Road in Broadstone. Tickets can be bought from Hillier and Wilson Estate Agents at 188B The Broadway in Broadstone. (Thu 19 Jan 12)
WINNER ANNOUNCED IN THE “I WANT TO SWIM THE YEAR” COMPETITION
With the sport of open water swimming increasing in popularity by the day, it was no surprise to see hundreds of hopefuls register their interest in winning a free pass to every event in the 2012 Speedo Open Water Swim Series. Competition winner Ivor Hewitt will not only receive entry into each event, but will also get his hands on a brand new Speedo triathELITE wetsuit along with lots of other goodies and training tools from the official sponsors and partners of the series. Ivor was as surprised as he was delighted; “I haven't won a competition since I won a biggest smile contest at school when I was about 8 so I'm really happy!”
The 2012 Speedo Open Water Swim Series is formed of six events starting with a lake swim in Eton on the 27 May which features the ‘10k swimmers marathon' along with a number of shorter distances for those not ready for the full 6.2 miles. Following that is the brand new Women Only event on the 10 June, which will see Ivor donate his free entry to someone more suited to the female-only environment! After the two lake swims, the Series moves to the River Thames for three swims at Windsor on the 8 July, Hampton Court on the 15 July and Marlow on the 26 August. The Series finale takes place on the 16 September at Sandbanks in Poole with a sea swim in one of the most picturesque locations in the UK.
All six events in the Speedo Open Water Swim Series 2012 are now open for online entries at www.humanrace.co.uk where you will also be able to follow Ivor's progress as he swims the entire year! (Tue 17 Jan 12)
REVISED BRIDGE OPENING TIMES
TO allow for the completion of Poole's new bridge, there will be temporary changes to the lifting schedule for Poole Bridge from Saturday 14 January 2012.
The 14.30 and 16.30 bridge lifts on Saturdays and Sundays will be cancelled and replaced with a single bridge lift at 3.30pm to allow the completion of work on the new Twin Sails Bridge.
The revised schedule will be in place until February 2012 when a new timetable will be implemented for the operation of a two bridge system.
- 05:30
- 06:30
- 07:30
- 09:30
- 10:30
- 12:30
- 14:30 (See above for changes to Saturday and Sunday times)
- 16:30 (from 14 January 2012 )
- 17:30 *
- 18:30
- 19:30
- 21:30
- 23:45
* This lift applies only Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays
(Sun 15 Jan 12)
NEW YEAR'S BATH RACE
The annual New Year's Bath Race took place on Poole Quay this morning. Despite the overcast sky and rain showers, large numbers of spectators braved the weather and gathered for the start of the race at 11am.
Numerous teams in many varied and imaginative craft took part, with even a tractor taking part this year!
As is often the case, some teams were in trouble before the start of the race, with the crews taking to the water as their craft either sank or overturned as they were "boarded" or sunk by rival teams.
Watch a brief video of this years event on YouTube in HD ...
(Sun 1 Jan 12)
CONDOR FERRIES LAUNCHES 2012 SUMMER SCHEDULE
Poole-based ferry operator, Condor Ferries has today launched its sailing schedule for summer 2012, allowing passengers to book journeys to France and the Channel Islands right up to 4 November next year.
Passengers travelling from Poole next year will be able to take advantage of an increased
number of sailings from the port, with connecting services available to St Malo in France via
Jersey and Guernsey. There will be an increased number of Fast Ferry services to the
Channel Islands compared to 2011 and the very popular day trip from Poole to the Channel
Islands will make a welcome return.
Services from Weymouth to both France and the Channel Islands can also now be booked, including day trips to Guernsey. With an expected influx of visitors for the 2012 Olympic sailing events, Condor Ferries’ additional sailings will allow both tourists and residents easy access to France and the Channel Islands even during peak times.
Alicia Andrews, Sales & Marketing Director at Condor Ferries commented: “We have worked hard to ensure that our 2012 summer schedule allows our passengers even greater freedom when it comes to sailing times for trips to France and the Channel Islands next year. “Our increased sailings from Poole demonstrates our commitment to the Dorset port and we are delighted to be able to resume the day trip service which gives passengers a taste of the Channel Islands plus genuine Duty Free shopping onboard. We’ve also introduced a new connecting service from St Malo back to Poole which gives passengers the unique opportunity to cross the Channel, shop onboard for genuine Duty Free goods and cruise through the spectacular coastline of the Channel Islands on one trip “
Customers wishing to book the newly-released sailings can do so via Condor Ferries’ newlook website – www.condorferries.com - which offers a wealth of content about its destinations including information about local events. The website also includes comprehensive details of sailing times, port facilities and visitor information which provide access to everything you need when planning a visit to the Channel Islands or the region around St Malo in France.
Visitors to the site will be able to use the streamlined, secure online booking service which
has been developed as part of the project and is designed to help customers find the best
fare available for their chosen travel dates. (Fri 30 Dec 11)
HELP - WALKERS URGENTLY NEEDED!
The Leukaemia Busters Sponsored Purbeck Odyssey Walks are back by popular demand!
(Runners and power walkers also welcome!)
When: Saturday 23rd June 2012
What: Charity Walks (2 miles, 4 miles, 7 miles, 12 miles, 19 miles and 30 miles!)
Where: Along the Dorset Coast - Taking in Corfe Castle, Tyneham, St. Aldhelms Head and Swanage amongst many other places of interest.
Details about the Walks:
Saturday 23rd June is the date for a specially organised series of walks along the hills, ridges and coastline of Dorset, taking in some of the countyâ?Ts spectacular panoramic views. Here is your chance to experience a great day out and enjoy some of the finest and most dramatic scenery that the British Isles has to offer. Choose from a variety of walks between 2 miles and 30 miles in length along the cliffs, coves and inlets of the stunning Dorset coastline. You can walk on your own, with family and friends, or as part of a team - a great way to see the beautiful countryside and raise funds for Leukaemia Busters and all successful walkers will receive a medal!
In the historic and glorious setting of Corfe Castle and with the breath-taking Purbecks as your scenery, whichever walk you choose the Purbeck Odyssey will be an enjoyable day out with family and friends.
How to enter: Closing date 16th June 2012
You can pre-register now by emailing contact@leukaemiabusters.org.uk and including the wording PO Walks 2012, or by telephoning on 023 8077 5590 and leave us your name and contact details on the answer phone.
For spectacular views and breath-taking scenery, the Purbeck Odyssey walks have it all. Young or old, families, companies, clubs or societies, YOU can help make childhood leukaemia a thing of the past.
AFC BOURNEMOUTH SHOWS ITS SUPPORT FOR LOCAL HOSPICE
AFC Bournemouth recently paid a visit to Forest Holme Hospice as part of The Football Leagues partnership with national charity Help the Hospices.
The local club has been assigned to support the Poole-based charity, which is dedicated to caring for patients with cancer and other life limiting illnesses, through various fundraising activities.
Not only was the visit a sign of support, it also gave the team the opportunity to look around the hospice and chat with staff about the care they provide.
Vice Chairman at AFC Bournemouth , Jeff Mostyn, said: “National charities receive so much repetitive support – local charities need help more than ever. AFC Bournemouth has a huge local profile to build charity awareness; we're professional, ambitious and enthusiastic in supporting local work.”
Debra Dennett, Fundraising Manager for Forest Holme Hospice, added: “We are very excited about working with AFC Bournemouth over the coming months. This partnership is a fabulous opportunity for us to raise the awareness of the hospice and promote the care we give to our patients.”
For more information visit www.friendsofforestholme.org.uk (Thu 17 Nov 11)
