Welcome to the Chideock and Seatown Community Website. This website belongs to ‘the community’ and is all about Chideock, North Chideock and Seatown. We hope these pages will be of interest to both local residents and visitors to our village.
Chideock is an amazingly busy village with lots of groups that anyone can join and lots of entertainment and events that are happening so please take your time to look through our website – not forgetting our stunning Photo Galleries.
If you are a visitor to this beautiful part of West Dorset please check out our Accommodation Guide.
- R.I.P. Rosemary Denise Daniel
Rosemary Denise Daniel (nee Wilkinson) beloved wife of the late Colonel John R A Daniel, both of Chideock, Dorset died aged 84 on Wednesday 28 May 2025. She leaves four sons including Tom who returned to the village in 2008.This is not an obituary (which will be written in due course) but a bit of context for her friends in the village that she loved and those who knew her or wanted to attend her funeral.Rosemary returned to live in Chideock in 1982 to live near her parents – The Honourable Justice Major James and Denise Wilkinson-Guillemard of Chideock Court, in preparation for her husband, Colonel John Daniel’s retirement from the Army. However Rosemary’s connection with Chideock and Dorset began when, in 1907, her grandmother Daisy Best of Wynford Eagle married an Irishman – Rivallon de la Poer. At the same time one of his sisters Eleanor married Humphrey Weld (the father of the Colonel Humphrey Weld who some senior members of the village may remember) and came to live at Chideock Manor. She was later joined by her sister Yseult Duthie (married to Colonel Arthur Duthie) who, as a couple, built and lived at Chideock Court from 1922 to 1981.Rosemary’s father James grew up in Eype and met Daisy’s daughter Denise de la Poer through his Stonyhurst schoolfriend (later Colonel) Humphrey Weld whilst on a trip to the de la Poers in Ireland. James was on leave as he was making his way practising law in Nairobi. On the outbreak of war they married in Chideock Catholic Church and headed out to Kenya. Rosemary was born in 1940 – the eldest of what would eventually become a family of six. With James fighting with the KAR in Abyssinia – there was a risk to Kenya and it was decided to evacuate the young family back to England. Aunt Ells kindly took in all her family and the Wilkinson’s were allocated the dinning room at the manor to live in for the duration.Rosemary went to the Chideock Catholic School and at one point in her life lived for a while in Seatown. In 1945 – with James having fought in Burma, survived and won an MC – the family returned to Kenya. Rosemary continued her education there (she played school tennis for Kenya) and then back in England.Rosemary trained as a nursery nurse at St. Thomas’s hospital in London. Faith was always important to Rosemary and she professed a desire to become a nun. Whilst many of her family were religious this was considered a step too far and she was sent to visit relatives and then work in Malta and hopefully meet someone to change her mind. She met her future husband John Daniel, an army officer, who was serving there with the Royal Fusiliers. They were engaged within 5 days and only after they were engaged would she agree to put her arms around him on his motorbike. They went on to have four sons as they were posted all round the UK and the world including living in Germany, Yeman, Hong Kong (where she dragon boat raced), Kenya, Poland and Saudi Arabia.In preparation for retirement in 1982 they bought the White House in Mill Lane as by that time Rosemary’s parents were living in Chideock Court. Rosemary and Colonel John (who died in 2004) were active in Chideock life (at one point the village fete was held in their garden) and especially the Catholic Church. Rosemary played the organ there for about 20 years and she and John helped the Welds and priests prepare and run the services. Faith was central to Rosemary’s life and she was a governor at Catholic schools in Bridport and Axminster. Next came family -she leaves 4 sons, 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren so far.After John died – Rosemary moved to Dawn Cottage where she lived for many years and continued to thrive on all things Chideock, her faith, family and friends. She moved only last year to the Old Vicarage in Leigh near Sherborne where she described herself as “on mission” welcoming new residents and organising events. She sadly passed away on Wednesday 28th May after a short illness. May she rest in peace.Continue reading →Rosemary’s funeral will be at 1400 on Friday 20th June at the Catholic Church in Chideock. It will be followed immediately afterward by a private burial with just the family. If you would like to attend please email her sons at hi@cd42.net - CHIDEOCK NEWS – JUNE 2025
- Local History Evening – Rise and Fall of a Chideock Cottage – Sat, 12th July
- PATHWAY TO QUARR HILL FROM CHIDEOCK NOW COMPLETE!At long last, after many years of campaigning, the pathway from Chideock to Quarr Hill has been completed and is now open and can be used by pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. Until now it has been impossible to get from Chideock to Bridport unless in a motorised vehicle. Pedestrians and cyclists took their lives in their hands if they tried to navigate the A35 east out of Chideock. It’s narrowness, the lack of a pavement and the high volume of traffic, especially HGVs, made it just too dangerous. Now a 3 metre wide, crushed stone track, running alongside the A35, makes this journey safe and pleasurable .The long-fought campaign, which began in the early 2000s, very nearly happened. But then the need for an improved road to Weymouth before the 2012 Olympic Games, pushed the project to the back burner. The plan was then revived some 6 years ago by Winston ‘Meash’ Maskell, who led the campaign with patience, perseverance and good humour. Sadly Meash died last summer and will never see the fruits of his labour. The villagers of Chideock plan to place a memorial to him beside the track so his hard work will never be forgotten.Apart from Meash, we would like to thank Mr and Mrs Howard Coates for making the land available, Dorset Council, and the Dorset National Landscape fund for financing the work.And now we need to take the pathway further east so that we reach Bridport. There are problems about obtaining the next section of the path which is owned by another farmer.Continue reading →
- CHIDEOCK NEWS – MAY 2025
- CHIDEOCK NEWS – APRIL 2025
- THE CHIDEOCK 100 PLUS CLUB
THE CHIDEOCK 100 PLUS CLUB
Any newcomers to the village wishing to join The Chideock 100 Club are very welcome
Our 100 plus club (Chideock News) has now had its finial Draw In March .
I am now collecting for the New Year starting on 1st April 2025
The cost is still £12.00 per number
The subs can be paid by cheque payable to – 100 plus club (Chideock News) or by Cash
Both of these payments can be dropped through my letterbox at
Chideock House
Main Street
Chideock
DT6 6 JN
Cheques could be put in the post
Or via the bank
TSB
Account name 100 plus club Chideock News
Sort code 77-50-35
Account. 19265860
Please put your name as reference for identification purposes
The more numbers taken the larger the donation to the Chideock News
Many Thanks for your continued support.
Anna Dunn.
Continue reading → - CHIDEOCK NEWS – MARCH 2025
- GIVE GENEROUSLY FOR THE NEW DEFIBRILLATOR
We need your help to fund Chideock’s new defibrillator which is now positioned on the wall of the Village Store in the centre of the village.The Chideock WI has successfully managed to obtain a new defibrillator in a smart cabinet for the village but we have to provide 50% of the funding, plus we need to be able to replace the batteries and pads over its expected life span of ten years so we are looking for around £1,000.
There have been a number of occasions recently when a defibrillator has been needed in the village, either for residents or visitors, and we believe that its position in the centre of the village will be of benefit to all. We are very grateful to Martin Cox and his family and the staff of West Dorset Leisure Holidays for hosting the machine and offering to carry out the regular checks that are needed.
The original matched funding payment, which was needed in a hurry to benefit from the offer, was made by Chideock WI but we need to reimburse them for part of that amount. We are most grateful for the donations that have already been received. The Clock have kindly offered to have a collection box on the Bar. Donations can also be made online to Chideock WI – Account Number 00242136, sort code 30-91-21 with the reference Defibrillator/Surname. Donations can also be sent to Mrs Janet Carey, 2 Pettycrate Lane, Chideock DT6 6LB.
Please give generously – any of us could be the next person needing the defibrillator.
Continue reading → - CHIDEOCK NEWS – FEB 2025
