Events
What happened in Swanage this year? Review of the year 2022 As some kind of normality returned to Swanage and Purbeck in 2022, we look back at the top stories of the year. 
First Christmas in Swanage for newly appointed rector Preparations are well underway to welcome everyone back into church for the Swanage Town Carol Service at St Mary’s following two years of restricted numbers due to Covid. 
First Candles on Swanage Beach event is shining success The spectacular sight of Swanage Beach lit up with candles to remember loved ones looks set to become an annual event due to its popularity 
Swanage remembers all those who died in war Remembrance Sunday events took place in Swanage although many attending, including the local MP, were delayed by travel chaos - WATCH PARADE AND CEREMONY 
Swanage marks Armistice Day with two minute silence A service took place at the Swanage War Memorial to mark the anniversary of end of World War One and another commemoration will happen in Swanage on Remembrance Sunday - ... 
Swanage turns out to hear the royal proclamation The news of the accession of King Charles III to the throne was announced by the Swanage Town Mayor in a time-honoured tradition - WATCH VIDEO. 
Swanage WW2 bomb survivors return 80 years to the day Two brothers, now in their 80s, led a ceremony in Swanage to remember the civilians who died in the town during a series of bombing raids. - WATCH VIDEO. 
Swanage RNLI to get new lifeboat in 2023 The news that Swanage RNLI is to receive a brand new inshore lifeboat, comes at the end of its successful lifeboat week. 
Welcome return for Wareham Wednesdays as pirates invade! The major summer fundraiser for Wareham in Dorset - a series of Wednesdays in August with music, funfair stalls and fireworks at the quay - is back after three years. 
Church Knowle fete draws crowds and runs out of vital supplies! The first three parishes fete for three years drew the crowds to Church Knowle, near Corfe Castle, and caused the organisers to run out of ice cream. 
New CEO sees hard times ahead for Church Knowle animal charity The new CEO of the Margaret Green Animal Rescue Centre at Church Knowle says the charity faces ‘challenging times’ as it gears up for its animal dog show. 
What’s on in Swanage for summer 2022 With schools out for summer, there’s a full programme of events happening in Swanage and across Purbeck. 
Try paddleboard yoga at Swanage Pier’s first wellness weekend A weekend of activities from paddleboard yoga and kayaking to creative writing and drawing has been brought together by the Swanage Pier team, aimed at improving wellbeing. 
New charity shop to open in Swanage Lewis-Manning Hospice Care is opening a new shop in the centre of Swanage to fund its work helping those with life-limiting illnesses. 
Purbeck tractor convoy returns to raise money for cancer treatment The Purbeck coast charity tractor run is back for a second yomp through the area taking in Wareham, Corfe Castle, Studland and Lulworth 
End of the Falklands War remembered in Swanage The 40th anniversary of the Falklands War was commemorated in a ceremony at the Swanage War Memorial - WATCH VIDEO 
Villages across Purbeck celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Street parties and Jubilee Big Lunches took place across Purbeck to mark 70 years of the Queen’s reign, undeterred by the forecast of showers. Swanage celebrates Queen’s 70 year reign with huge tea party Not a town to shy away from a festival, Swanage marked the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in style - SEE VIDEO AND PHOTOS. 
Beacons light up across Purbeck for Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Crowds gathered to see the lighting of beacons across Purbeck including at Durlston Castle and Studland to mark 70 years of the Queen’s reign - WATCH VIDEO. 
Purbeck pirates lose out in clash with the Queen’s loyal supporters The Swanage and Purbeck Pirate Festival returns to the town after a three-year break but the swashbuckling fun has been scaled back by the Royalists! 
What’s happening for the Queen’s Jubilee in Swanage and Purbeck There’s plenty of celebrations planned across Purbeck to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee - WATCH SWANAGE ON THE BBC. 
Matt Le Tissier substituted as Swanage British Legion call off event Swanage Royal British Legion club has cancelled an event featuring Matt Le Tissier following the media controversy over comments the former Southampton and England footballer made on social media. 
Financial advice offered in Swanage as cost of living bites A service by Citizens Advice Bureau has restarted in Swanage to help those struggling with their finances. 
Built by quarrymen, a Swanage church marks 150 years A Swanage church which was built by quarrymen got a visit from the bishop to help celebrate this year's 150th anniversary. 
Perfect marriage of pencil and metal at Durlston’s latest exhibition Finely detailed wildlife pencil drawings and exquisite silver and copper metal work, combine to make up the new exhibition at Durlston Country Park in Swanage. 
Swanage rallies round and raises thousands of pounds for Ukraine Moved by the distressing images of the Ukrainian people under attack from the Russian military, Swanage has quickly sprung into action to help those fleeing their country. 
Swanage responds to Ukraine crisis Spurred to help Ukrainians fleeing from the Russian invasion, essential supplies are being sent from Swanage and Purbeck. 
Massive Swanage street party planned for Queen’s Platinum Jubilee To celebrate the Queen's 70 year reign, events in Swanage are being planned across the June Bank Holiday weekend. 
More than £20,000 raised over Christmas by Swanage Rotary Christmas activities organised by Swanage and Purbeck Rotary brought not only seasonal cheer but also raised an impressive £20,000 for good causes. 
The stories that made Swanage News headlines in 2021 It’s been an eventful year for Swanage and the surrounding areas and here's our pick of the top stories from 2021. 
Festival lights up Langton Matravers church with Christmas trees The Purbeck Christmas Tree Festival at St George’s Church in Langton Matravers is back with a twinkle after a year’s absence. 
Swanage remembers all those who died in war This year, Remembrance Sunday was able to be marked in Swanage with a parade, church service and the laying of wreaths at the war memorial. 
Remembrance Day service at Swanage War Memorial A service to mark the end of World War One and to remember those who died was held at Swanage War Memorial - WATCH VIDEO 
Poppy shop pops up in Swanage for Royal British Legion As part of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal, fundraising events are being held across Purbeck including a pop-up poppy shop in Swanage. 
Swanage gets spooky for Halloween trick or treat event Swanage is gearing up for its second town-wide Halloween trick or treat event – with more shops than last year taking part. 
Swanage church celebrates bell system that kept ringing through Covid Church bells will ring out across the world, including Swanage, to mark 200 years since the invention of a system that allows one person to ring several bells. 
Wonderful Studland Ladies raise more than a smile as lockdown fundraisers With many conventional charity activities cancelled due to Covid, a group of women based in or near Studland have raised an impressive £15,000 in six months. 
Pop-up Swanage shop for Chadwick fundraiser A new shop has opened in Swanage but only for three weeks, to raise funds for a statue of a Swanage hero who saved the lives of children at the ... 
Swanage bell to toll to mark the death of Prince Philip St Mary's Church in Swanage will toll a bell 99 times at midday on Saturday 10th April 2021 following the death of The Duke of Edinburgh and there will be ... 
Jurassic Coast fossil museum hosts Mary Anning conference An event to honour the legacy of Dorset fossil collector, Mary Anning has been organised by The Etches Collection in Kimmeridge near Swanage, 
Swanage Jazz Festival cancelled in July but may move to later in year A musical medley of jazz, folk and blues could take place in Swanage this autumn as the town's main music festivals may all happen in September. 
Swanage stargazers urged to take part in star counting survey With light pollution an increasing environmental issue, residents are being asked to help assess the extent of the problem in Purbeck. 
RSPB Arne urging residents to join in Big Garden Birdwatch This weekend it’s the annual RSPB nationwide bird survey and Swanage residents are being invited to record the local birdlife in Swanage and the surrounding area. 
Santa is coming to town – find out when he will be in your road! A global pandemic will not stop Father Christmas from coming to Swanage, Corfe Castle and Langton Matravers to celebrate Christmas this year. 
Swanage gets lit up for Christmas – watch the switch on As Swanage gets set to move from lockdown to Tier 2, the Christmas lights in the town centre have been switched on in the hope of shining some joy. 
Swanage’s older residents invited to join in an Age UK coffee morning over Zoom Zoom may not be everyone’s cup of tea but Age UK for North, West and South Dorset are trialling virtual coffee mornings to keep everyone in touch over lockdown. 
Remembrance Day marked across Swanage by all generations In a difficult year, Remembrance Day in Swanage was still able to be commemorated by young and old alike. 
Swanage residents urged to mark Remembrance Day silence from their doorsteps at 11 am In line with the restrictions imposed by lockdown, there will be a two minute silence across the town at 11 am and a scaled back act of remembrance at Swanage ... 
Swanage remembers the fallen at 3pm with two minutes silence – watch from home To mark Remembrance Sunday in Swanage, residents are being encouraged to stand at their doorsteps at 3 pm to honour those who have lost their life in conflict. 
Fire Service plea for a safe and Covid-free Bonfire Night Swanage residents are urged to account for COVID-19 restrictions and the new lockdown rules when celebrating Guy Fawkes night 
Swanage Market is back in business! Much missed during lockdown, Swanage Market is now fully operational, increasing its number of stalls and offering more than just fruit and veg. 
Racial equality starts in our hometown say BLM protest organisers There was a larger turnout than last weekend for the second peaceful Black Lives Matter protest in Swanage - WATCH VIDEO. 
Black Lives Matter in Swanage A peaceful demonstration took place over the weekend on Swanage Beach to draw attention to the Black Lives Matter campaign against racism. 
The Christmas Tree Festival lights up the Emmanuel Baptist Church and brings plenty of festive cheer We find out more about this annual event by chatting to the minister at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Swanage, Mark Hatto and the church's adminstrator, Janet Norley.