Review of the year 2018: October, November and December

• Four-year old Rory Scullion doesn't let cerebral palsy stop him taking part in the Bournemouth marathon festival to raise money for the SSSFA military charity. Proud dad, Ross, is in the Navy.
• Angry motorists claim Bournemouth Borough Council leader John Beesley is ‘burying his head in the sand’ about the hated A338 roadworks. He says he’s doing everything he can.
• Ryan Justin Thornton admits to murdering Venezuelan bank worker, Stela Marisabel Domador Kuzma, just a week after they moved into the same flat. Thornton tells police the killing was a 'birthday present to himself'. He is later jailed for life.
• Former Poole Council leader Elaine Atkinson describes the town’s bus-station as 'like a war zone’ because of the yobs alleged to be plaguing the place.
• Conservationists celebrate, as beautiful Sherborne House is saved after a charitable trust takes over its running.
• Chief Brexiteer Nigel Farage visits Christchurch and Bournemouth as part of his Leave Means Leave campaign.
• Wealthy young businessman Mitchell Stuart, 21, is papped running away from court after being convicted of speeding his £70,00 Porsche at almost double the speed limit near a Poole school.
• Charm the pony is rescued from a ditch in St Leonards by fire crews. She is ‘tired but OK’.
• Residents are evacuated from Poole’s Sterte Road after a large explosion takes place at a property there. A 66 year old man is arrested.
• Poole hospital worker Paul Ermitano, from the Philippines, is threatened with deportation over a benefits mix-up. Following a spirited campaign by his colleagues, he and his family are given permission to stay.
• Christchurch’s historic Bridge Place house goes up for sale. The pink property by the River Avon is a local landmark and is on the market for £2.5 million.

November

November

• The Upside Down House opens in Bournemouth and proves an instant success with its visitors.
• Ramley Road, Pennington, puts out a brilliant display of knitted poppies to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice. More than 2,000 have been made by the local church members and friends. And Christchurch junior school pupils produce their own beautiful display, with hundreds of ceramic poppies made by the children.
• The centenary is marked poignantly throughout the district with a lone piper at Bournemouth War Memorial and a refurbished war memorial re-opened at Poole Park by mayor of Poole Sean Gabriel.
• Jose Mourhino says Manchester United are ‘very lucky’ to win 2-1 against The Cherries.
• Boxing legend Frank Bruno is ‘touched and delighted’ to be honoured with a doctor of arts degree from Bournemouth University.
• A year after her tragic death, the friends and family of Gaia Pope honour her memory.
• Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood plays the Tivoli Theatre, joining pal Ben Waters for the surprise gig tribute to the late Chuck Berry.
• And Harry Redknapp enters I’m A Celebrity.

December

• A large seagull starts stealing customer’s food as they leave the Old Christchurch Road branch of Greggs.
• Motorists tell the Bournemouth Echo that delays are so bad on the A338 they are missing hospital appointments and weeping in their cars.
• Royal Bournemouth Hospital Boss Tony Spotswood steps down, leaving the way clear for Debbie Fleming of Poole Hospital to become interim joint hospital chief.
• The Christmas lights go on in New Milton’s Byron Road.
• Britain’s Best B&B, Bindon Bottom near Lulworth, goes on the market.
• After two weeks of being stuck in the upright position, Poole’s Twin Sails bridge is finally lowered. But why it broke down is still a mystery.
• A lorry ploughs into the home of Paul Hammond in Fordingbridge. He is unhurt.
• The Robert White Cancer Centre opens at Dorset County Hospital.
• It’s revealed that Dorset Police have dealt with reports of five ghosts and a UFO but no vampires or zombies over a four-year period.
• Bournemouth sees a 42 per cent rise in footfall in the town centre thanks to the Christmas Tree Wonderland.
• Bournemouth Hospital’s League of Friends closes down after 64 amazing years.
• A row breaks out after ‘protected’ trees are chopped down at Parkstone Golf Course.
• And, after completing all the challenges, telling the best anecdotes and melting the nation’s hearts with his love for wife, Sandra, Sandbanks resident Harry Redknapp is crowned King of the Celebrity Jungle and heads back home.