This time on Alfred, the podcast for Shaftesbury, The Vale and Chase areas of North Dorset and West Wiltshire:

Tim Chappell has faced some challenges recently. He has lost his life savings and has been diagnosed with Asperger's. Days after his 71st birthday he is embarking on his greatest challenge - to race around the world for charity. He knows how dangerous this is. (00:27)

Shaftesbury Town Council and the Chamber of Commerce have been to Frome to ask for help in enhancing our monthly Sunday market. Alfred hears what they have in mind. (09:15)

The Tourist Information Centre boss asks for help to prevent the TIC closing, due to a lack of funding. If cash can't be found by 2021, the Mayor has suggested moving the service to another building. Alfred hears more. (15:40)

Alfred meets professional storyteller Jane Flood. She will share stories about the women of Camelot at the Grosvenor Arms next week. Jane talks about her fascinating career and reveals what she has learned about the Arthurian legend. (25:12)

Shaftesbury-based marketing and website business Chain Digital is offering experts unique and free ways to promote our local food and craft producers online. Alfred chats with Jim Chetwode. (33:53)

This time on Alfred, the podcast for Shaftesbury, The Vale and Chase areas of North Dorset and West Wiltshire:

Dozens of people shared their stories about the town's past at the best-attended 'Shaftesbury Remembers' event so far. Alfred was there to hear how waiting for car crashes on a notorious bend was once a spectator sport. (00:26)

How free tea and cake at the Abbey View Medical Centre on Tuesdays could cut Shaftesbury's surgery waiting times. (11.13)

Sue Clifford chats about a special Shaftesbury souvenir, reissued after almost two decades. And why it is set to sell out. (23:08)

She was wearing no shoes as she ascended Gold Hill. We meet round-Britain barefoot runner Anna McNuff and hear why she stopped in Shaftesbury. (26:14)

Alfred attended the launch of a new Dorset Mind mental wellbeing project, where the town decides what support it wants. (29:12)

This time on Alfred, the podcast for Shaftesbury, The Vale and Chase areas of North Dorset and West Wiltshire:

Artist Zara McQueen tells us about her love for Shaftesbury and how her cancer treatment has changed her art. Zara is exhibiting her work at the Shaftesbury Arts Centre Gallery until 5th November. (00:27)

Bee expert Brigit Strawbridge plans a second Shaftesbury-set wildlife book and discusses her recent international award. It came as a surprise! (12:23)

Shaftesbury area skies are recognised for stargazing as we're named one of only fourteen Dark Sky Reserves on earth. Alfred chats with Amanda Scott of the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty about why this matters. (19:50)

Which Shaftesbury streets needs an electronic sign to tell people how fast they are driving? The Town Council wants to know. (24:22)

Sarah Williams quit banking to become a full time female adventurer. The motivational speaker and 'Tough Girl' podcast presenter previews her Shaftesbury talk inspired by   women who achieve. (29:19)

This time on Alfred, the podcast for Shaftesbury, The Vale and Chase areas of North Dorset and West Wiltshire:

Flash floods turn the Gold Hill 10k run into a water wading challenge. Alfred met organisers and runners on a soggy, foggy Sunday morning and chatted to the fastest woman, who has a strong Shaftesbury connection. (00:27)

Alfred meets with Max Lacy, owner of Enmore Green's Fountain Inn. The pub is set to reopen next summer and we hear about its planned refurbishment. (7:03)

Alfred visits the Community Front Room mental health crisis drop-in centre at Longmead. We hear how visitors have already been helped. (15:30)

There's huge support from the public for the policies proposed in Shaftesbury's Neighbourhood Plan. Alfred speaks with the plan's vice chairman. (22:43)

Sorry About Shaun launch their new EP to coincide with their autumn tour. We hear how the local band aim to make their songs catchy. (30:56)

This time on Alfred, the podcast for Shaftesbury, The Vale and Chase areas of North Dorset and West Wiltshire:

Radio 2's Johnnie Walker talks about his life in radio and life after death. We chat with the Shaftesbury-based star ahead of his talk to raise funds for the St James Church window. (00:27)

Shaftesbury Town Council turns to residents to find a better way to tackle the Mampitts Lane bus gate issue. We hear why Cllr John Lewer wants to recruit a working group to address the proposed through-traffic restriction. (16:24)

Shaftesbury's popular hand car wash has reopened in a new location. Alfred was there for the opening day. (27:00)

One of Britain's best rural writers will speak in Shaftesbury. Alfred chats with Tim Pears, who has been compared to Thomas Hardy. We preview his Grosvenor Arms Hotel talk. (32:31)

This time on Alfred, the podcast for Shaftesbury, The Vale and Chase areas of North Dorset and West Wiltshire:

Why driving a three-wheeler to The Gambia for Dorset Mind will present a challenge for two Shaftesbury friends. Alfred talks to charity adventurers Jon and Nick. (00:27)

A specialist off-licence will open on Shaftesbury High Street soon. Alfred hears about Joe Pestell's plans. (09:29)

A lifetime of composition – Shaftesbury folk musician Nick Crump releases a book of his best tunes. (18:47)

Shaftesbury climate campaigners set off for Studland on foot to show their opposition to oil drilling off the Dorset coast. Alfred saw them set off. (29:56)

This time on Alfred, the podcast for Shaftesbury, The Vale and Chase areas of North Dorset and West Wiltshire:

Shaftesbury and The Donheads celebrate Thomas Hardy with a film, feast and guided walk. Alfred talks to the event organisers. (00:24)

Martin and June Hull are a Shaftesbury couple arranging transport to tackle locals' social isolation through Shaftesbury Car Link. They volunteer and they have paid for their new accessible vehicle themselves. (10:33)

It's the final curtain for Semley's fancy dress store. Its owner reveals Shaftesbury's most popular outfits and costumes that nobody wants to hire. Jan Klakus explains why Gladrags is shutting shop. (20:39)

Why six visiting American artists will be selling Shaftesbury to their social media fans when they returned to the States. (28:45)

BV Dairy, one of Shaftesbury's biggest employers is officially best in the south-west. We chat to MD Jim Highnam about the company's award success. (33:10)

This time on Alfred, the podcast for Shaftesbury, The Vale and Chase areas of North Dorset and West Wiltshire:

Over the August Bank Holiday, people drove to Fontmell Down from as far away as Cornwall to go on a Butterfly Conservation hunt for a rare species. Alfred went along to understand why naturalists consider this North Dorset beauty spot so important. And our reporter enjoyed an unexpected surprise. (00:26)

After experiencing a terrible tragedy Shaftesbury resident Karen Cole found reading books offered her an escape. She's since become a well-respected and influential crime novel reviewer. Alfred met Karen. (11:21)

A new Shaftesbury green group intends to share practical advice on how to live a more sustainable life, rather than getting involved with politics or protest. Alfred sat in on a 'Shaftesbury Buttons' session and heard about their plans for a 2020 festival. (19:42)

Alfred meets Fontmell Magna Man Adam Masters and hears why he's so passionate about knots. Adam is the Dorset Chairman of an international society which aims to promote and preserve knot-tying techniques, skills and stories. (27:39)

This time on Alfred, the podcast for Shaftesbury, The Vale and Chase areas of North Dorset and West Wiltshire:

Alfred meets the Motcombe thatcher who re-roofed a Gold Hill cottage this summer. Ed Coney tells us that one type of bird causes problems for his profession and he addresses misunderstandings about the craft. (00:26)

Christopher Oram's life changed after his Twitter post was featured by news organisations all over the world. We hear how this Shaftesbury resident juggled his overnight van-driving job with making videos, podcasts and holding meetings in Parliament. (08:36)

Alfred tours Port Regis School with James Hardy, the teacher who hopes to make the site carbon neutral in six years' time. We hear how the project could bring benefits for nearby Motcombe residents. (18:30)

Million-selling author Mark Dawson is coming to Shaftesbury. If you believe that there's a book in you, he'll tell you how to make money by self-publishing your work. Alfred talks with Mark ahead of his Grosvenor Arms Hotel talk in October. (29:08)

This time on Alfred, the podcast for Shaftesbury, The Vale and Chase areas of North Dorset and West Wiltshire:

Alfred visits Tricuro's Shaftesbury day centre to see how local people with dementia are benefitting from a new, hi-tech table funded by our community. (00:26)

If you need a bike, or want your cycle repaired, you should head to Hope2Cycle. Alfred called in on the volunteers at their Longmead base and heard how their cycle sales help fund mental health projects. (09:03)

Alfred chats with Shaftesbury environmentalist Robin Walter about his new book tracing the history of UK forestry. And there are plenty of local references in this crowd-funded publication. (19:11)

Alfred meets the young man who will be Shaftesbury Carnival's first ever Carnival Prince. We find out why this new role has been introduced. (27:29)

Look at your feet when you walk around Shaftesbury's streets. Alfred hears how resident Tony Hawkins has been researching the history of our town's shoe scrapers. (30:29)