5 stories that brought us joy in Dorset this year

Although it’s felt like there’s always something to worry about in 2021, there have been some stories which have shown us the best in the human spirit, made us smile or were just generally nice to hear.

To remind us of some of the stories that warmed our hearts, here are five stories we enjoyed in 2021.

The 'pink house' 

In June, a pink house in Herbet Avenue was cheering up residents and commuters in Poole.

A post on the Poole Community Group on Facebook from a mother, who lived nearby, thanked the property for making her daughter smile has garnered hundreds of likes and comments with residents sharing their love of the property. 

Read more: 'It melts my heart': The bright pink house bringing joy to Poole community

Owners, Glen Butler and Grant Gould told the Daily Echo: "Especially with the whole lockdown thing it's just something to brighten up your day isn't it - we see people tapping each other and pointing when they're in their cars and little kids always call out 'it's the pink house!' when they walk past."

Seal hitches a ride on paddle board 

A very laid back seal gave a paddle boarder the surprise of his life when he hitched a ride just off Brownsea Island in Poole.

Cenk Albayrak-Touye said: “I had seen the seal’s head pop up a few yards away from me, then it came up by the board and just got on.

Read more: Laid-back seal hitches bank holiday ride on a paddle-board

“My dad didn’t realise why I had stopped because I didn’t want to shout out in case I scared the seal.”

He added: “I have only ever seen a glimpse of a seal so this was the last thing I expected. The seal was so relaxed and enjoying itself so obviously I didn’t want to touch it.”

Bobby's department store reopens 

Bobby's department store made a big comeback to Bournemouth half a century after its departure.

The historic department store officially opens its doors to the public in September, 50 years since it was replaced by Debenhams.

The reintroduction of Bobby's has received a postive response from many across the conurbation. 

Read more: Welcome back Bobby's! A first look at Bournemouth's new department store

The opening of the store brought back very happy memories for Margaret, 82, and Ron Bridle, 87. 

The couple attended the department store’s relaunch and it brought back memories for Mrs Bridle of buying her dress for the big day, 61 years ago.

Read more: Couple return to store's reopening 61 years after buying wedding dress there

Mrs Bridle said: “We were getting married on October 1 1960 and this was the shop to come for a wedding dress. So my mother and I came here, I was only 21 at the time, and we bought the wedding dress upstairs on the fourth floor."

'Supergran' celebrates 100th birthday with keep-fit class 

Great-grandmother Kay Caunter, nicknamed Supergran by her friends, celebrated her 100th birthday with a keep-fit class in November. 

The centurion sattends the over 50s keep fit club at Talbot View Community Centre in Poole weekly and says she has no intention of stopping.

Read more: The gran that STILL can: Heart-warming 100th birthday celebration for 'supergran'

She was even still riding her bike to the class until the age of 99, when a hip injury forced her to stop.

She told the Echo: “This keeps me going and I think it’s important to get out as much as you can. My secret is to not sit in a chair for longer than about an hour at a time. Get up, even if you just walk around the house."

The woman who has lived in same street for 82 years 

In August we met grandmother Evelyn Mary Wareham who wanted to know if anyone could beat her record of living in the same house for 82 years – and was also accepting applications for a gentleman to treat her to a blind date.

Evelyn, 82, was born in and lived at her home on Uppleby Road in Parkstone for her entire life and wanted to let residents of the past and present know that she is “still going strong”.

Read more: Have you lived in your house for longer than this Poole grandmother?

Evelyn told the Daily Echo: “I have no idea how old this place is. Over one hundred years I’d imagine, all I know is I’ve been here my whole life and I wonder whether anyone can beat that.”

However, just days later great-grandfather Harold Feltham broke her record. 

Read more: Great-grandfather sets new one-house living record. Can you beat it?

The 90-year-old was born in his house on Markham Road, Winton, in 1931 and has remained there for his entire life.

The house, which Harold believes is approximately 115 years old, was purchased by his parents in 1928 for "several hundred pounds".