In 1998 the Sturminster Newton’s Creamery won many awards for cheese in the various national competitions and the Creamery Manager, Peter Mitchell, was approached by Lynne Saunders (the Towns community liaison officer) who wanted to know if, as the largest employer in the town, the creamery could do something to help bring back the much-needed visitors and put Sturminster Newton back on the map.

Initially, they looked at the possibility of holding an event to promote cheese – not just produced at the creamery but also by other cheese makers in the area. However, to give the event more attraction to visitors they could not rely on cheese alone as being the only attraction, so other small scale food producers were invited.

In 1999 preparations began for the first Cheese Festival. A general interest meeting was held at the High School and a committee was set up which became known as The Cheese Board. The local National Farmers Union office and the County Council provided the much-needed funding to help start the event. A programme of events over the second weekend of September was devised. The Creamery opened to visitors and Harts of Stur provided some refreshments and a BBQ. The local scouts provided a tent on the recreation ground for stallholders who included our very local Dorset Blue Vinney Cheese, over the weekend there was even a fashion show, live music and a quiz to round off on the Event on Sunday evening.

The weekend turned out to be a great success with the promise of being repeated the following year – and it is still going strong.