Dorking’s Talking about… August 2026
Here’s a question for you: why were so many Dorking children playing truant in Augusts past? Here’s a clue: there was something special for them to do at this time of year…
Also in Dorking Talking this month, we hear what Glaucoma UK and the RNIB Newsagent services are all about, tips for VI travellers, and a look back at two of Dorking’s pubs in days gone by. And, among other things, we feature a whole assortment of dogs who help.
And the answer to the question? You’ll have to listen to the magazine to find out, but you could try looking up whortleberries, known as “hurts” in these parts….
- Welcome & Birthdays
- High St Update
- Dorking Halls Whats On
- Mole Valley Life – The Digital Switch
- Glaucoma UK Survey
- Tips for VI Travellers
- But At Least I’m Cool wheelie bin poem
- International Assistance Dog Day 4th Aug
- Puppy Academy Training In Action Patrick
- More Than A Harness guide dog’s poem Dave Steele blind poet
- RNIB Newsagent details
- What the Papers Said – Truants Picking Hurts
- Dorking Pubs Past & Present
- St James Least – Security Cameras
- Heritage Open Days
- Thought Community Fridge
- Endpiece
- Accessible Exercises #8
July’s Dorking Talking
Summer’s definitely arrived and here we are in July with a heatwave again! Not to worry, though, Dorking Talking’s got plenty of good listening for you – just find a shady place and a cool drink to enjoy it with.
So join us for V.I. Reading Groups, a Race Across the County and memories of Woman’s Hour presenter Jenni Murray; the chapel that walked, what the papers said a century ago, and local pubs past and present. Something for everyone!
Just click the button to join us…
- July Welcome & Birthdays
- High St Update
- Dorking Halls What’s On
- Retina UK Connection Through Stories
- Woman’s Hour’s Jenni Murray
- VI Race Across the County
- Puppy Academy #9 Retraining
- What the Papers Said
- St James the Least: What the Adverts Really Mean
- Providence Chapel Capel
- Dorking Pubs Intro
- Thought: Make the Most of Life
- Endpiece
- Accessible Exercises #7
Welcome to June’s Dorking Talking!
Welcome to June: a heatwave and then downpours – the British summer has arrived!
In this month’s magazine you’ll find local happenings and local travel both old-style and bang up to date, Pru Leith’s recipe for ageing well, and 2 lots of dogs making a difference. Dancing, cycling, and Royalty – it’s all happening here! Just click the Listen Here button to join us:
- June Welcome & Menu
- High St Update
- Dorking Halls What’s On
- New Banking Hub for Dorking
- Dorking Day of Dance
- Surrey Highways App Makes Public Transport Easier For VIP
- Glaucoma UK Help with Eyedrops
- Dorking Cycling Exhibition
- Pothole Problems…
- Puppy Academy: Angel Meets Her Match
- Litter Clearing Dogs In Germany
- St James the Least Heating the Rectory
- Prue Leith on Ageing Wonderfully
- Thought for June: Showing Up Fully is Enough
- Buckingham Palace Garden Party
- Endpiece
May’s magazine is here!
May’s here with all the fun of the fair as we dress up for Abinger medieval fair, maypole and all! Then we look at two possible new treatments for sight loss, and the merits of regular sight checks. We also meet a new assistance dog puppy, reminisce with a 102 year old WAAF, and check out how sometimes “help” offered online can be misleading.
- May Welcome & Birthdays
- High St Update
- Dorking Halls Whats On
- Betchworth Operatic & Dramatic Society 90 Years
- Two New Treatments to Improve Sight
- Life Hacks For VIPs
- Don’t trust AI for health Info
- New Scams To Beware Of
- Regular Eye Tests
- Sight for Surrey Moving
- Abinger Medieval Fair
- St James the Least Summer Fete
- May Nature Notes
- Puppy Academy: Meet Bobby
- 102 yr old WAAF joined 85 years ago
- Thought for May
- Endpiece
Dorking Talking – April’s here!
April’s here, showers and all, and Dorking Talking’s ready for it with activities both indoors and out. We focus on cataract operations from the point of view of both surgeon and patient, look at low vision assessments, and report on a revolutionary implant which could transform the lives of patients with wet AMD. We also visit a new Dorking shop specialising in old-fashioned table-top games. Outdoors, we walk the High Street, and hear about hanging baskets, frogs and dogs. Just click the link to enjoy it all with us https://dorkingtalkingnewspaper.org.uk
- April Welcome & Birthdays
- High St Update
- Dorking Halls What’s On
- Music in Dorking Leith Hill Festival
- VIP Local Elections Voting
- Understanding low vision assessments
- Lady Jean Wilson, Sightsavers
- Revolutionary AMD implant
- Cataract operations
- Game N Play interview
- Easter Monday Traditions
- Hanging Baskets
- The Great Amphibian Trek
- Bakers’ Dozen Guide Pups
- Puppy Academy Buddy-dogs #6
- Thought for April
- Endpiece
- Accessible Exercises #4
Dorking Talking – Hello March!
Welcome to March – and we’re still afloat! This month’s magazine has some (wet) weather reflections, asks whether eye exercises can help your sight, and finds out about rabbits, Mothering Sunday and some myths about medicines. We have memories of post-war thrift, and it’s decision time for Buster the guide dog puppy – will he make the grade to continue his training?
Click the link to find out…
- March Welcome & Birthdays
- Dorking Halls What’s On
- High St Update
- Eye Exercises – What Can They Offer You?
- Medicine Myths
- Buckland Lake Sand Processing
- River flooding
- Last Year at Broomhill Farm
- About Rabbits
- The Gift of Thrift
- Mothering Sunday
- Buster Guide Pup – Decision Day
- Weather Brainteaser
- Gardener’s Prayer
- Thought for March
- Endpiece
- Accessible Exercises # 3
Happy New Year 2026! January Magazine
Happy New Year from the Dorking Talking Newspaper! Let’s hope 2026 is going to be a good one for all of us.
Dorking Talking’s getting off to a busy start, with theatre and pantomime, bandstands and holidays, history, advice and poetry – not to mention sheep, horses and a guide dog too…
So just click the link and join us to enjoy it together:
- January Welcome & Birthdays
- High St Update
- Dorking Halls What’s On
- Soundings Panto Ear-spy
- Macular Society Free Counselling Service
- Dorking Museum in 2025
- Dorking Community Bandstand
- Seeable Holidays
- Buckland Parish Magazine Centenary
- Ockley Shepherdess
- Ground Force – Surrey Farms
- Thomas the Lifeguards Horse
- Guide Dog in Training: Buster #3
- New Year Poems
- Endpiece
- 10 minute exercises #1
December Magazine
It’s the run-up to Christmas and here come shopping and shows, useful gifts, wrapping tips, and holly & ivy, as well as partridges in pear trees. Also winter wildlife, audio books, local national treasure Prunella Scales and Buster the guide dog in training…
Don’t miss a thing – just click the Listen Here button!
- December Welcome & Birthdays
- High St Update
- Dorking Halls What’s On
- Have a Merry LOCAL Christmas!
- Christmas wrapping tips
- Life hack stocking-fillers
- Guide Dog in Training: Buster #2
- Audio & Tactile Library Services
- Farewell to Prunella Scales
- Christmas Wildlife
- Holly & Ivy
- On the Cadge – Mummers
- 12 Days Of Christmas from the Bible
- Kindness of Trees poem
- Christmas Thoughts
November Dorking Talking
We have lots of seasonal events for you this month as we approach panto season – oh yes we do! We hear about theatre touch tours of stage sets and a chance to meet the cast for VIPs, as well as a blind actor on stage with her guide dog. There’s guide dog puppy Buster as he starts his training and a tribute to blind politician David Blunkett.
And on the health front, we bring you pharmacists, stress awareness, the air ambulance and tips for macular sufferers.
Just click the button to join us and listen…
Into September with Dorking Talking
September’s Dorking Talking magazine is here! As well as updating you on the High Street & Dorking Halls, we hear about astonishing research which suggests implanting tooth material into the eye to improve vision, kitchen hacks, and proposed changes at the Macular Society. That’s as well as social prescribing, Heritage Open Days, the making of a guide dog, and beyond the slime to the virtues of slugs – all in this month’s mix. Just click the “Listen Here” button to enjoy it with us:
01 September Welcome & Birthdays
02 High St Update
03 Dorking Halls Whats On
04 Government Phone Alert Warning
05 Social Prescribing
06 Macular Society Changes
07 Tooth Implant in Eye to Improve Vision
08 Heritage Open Days 2025
09 Polka Theatre Autumn
10 The Downsmen Barbershop Harmony
11 Making of a Guide Dog
12 Kitchen Top Tips
13 Slugs: More Than Just Slime
14 Sept Thought: Harvest
15 Endpiece
16 Blind Tim Tests Flapjack Recipe