Archive

  • Hants FA concern over refs

    HAMPSHIRE FA officials admit they are "hugely concerned" about the falling number of qualified referees in the county. And chief executive Laurence Jones is urging anyone interested in officiating to ignore negative media hype and become referees. Despite

  • Austin facing a long ban after two dismissals

    Paul Austin has been suspended for 176 days by the Hampshire FA after being sent off twice while playing for Horndean in the Jewson Wessex League this season. His suspension starts on March 10 2003 and continues until September 1. Gosport Borough have

  • Queensland to provide tough test in final Ashes warm-up

    England will face another major challenge in their final warm-up match before the start of the Ashes series, with Queensland naming a virtually full-strength line-up for the three-day game starting on Saturday. Having almost overcome a strong Western

  • Hussain leads from the front

    Nasser Hussain hit the first century of the Ashes tour today as England continued their revival with a determined batting display against a strong Western Australia line-up at the WACA. The England captain scored a superb 117 to guide the tourists to

  • At last! Nasser & Co impress

    England's under-fire attack produced their best performance of the Ashes tour so far today to dismiss a strong Western Australian line-up for 213 in their rain-hit warm-up match at the WACA. Criticised for their performance during the drawn two-day match

  • Mother's plea to missing Daniel

    THE mother of missing Hampshire teenager Dan Nolan has urged him to get in touch after his grandmother passed away. Pauline Nolan posted a touching note to her 15-year-old son, pictured above, on his official website so that he can access it anywhere

  • Sensory garden so rosey for Jasie

    A TEENAGER who inspired the setting up of a charity a decade ago has now become the latest person to receive one of its grants. Jasie Mair-Smith, 15, suffers from a number of conditions leaving him blind, wheelchair bound, severely allergic and needing

  • Whitchurch blitzed

    Wimborne Town 8 Whitchurch United 1 JWL basement boys Whitchurch crashed to their to their heaviest defeat of the season with last Saturday's eight-goal mauling and manager Brian Drury admitted: "It was men against boys, they were much too good for us

  • Tearful Dale bows out a winner

    CHILBOLTON rally driver Justin Dale ended his final drive as a Peugeot works driver with a class win at last weekend's Michelin South of England Tempest Rally in Aldershot. Dale, who is off to race with the big boys in the World Rally Championships next

  • Emma sails in to a leading position

    HAMPSHIRE yachtswoman Emma Richards has regained second place in the Around Alone race, but has entered the calm of the Doldrums. Emma, in her 60ft yacht Pindar, is now 40 miles ahead of Thierry Dubois in Solidaires. The Frenchman had taken second place

  • Boat-racing business still in the Doldrums

    SOUTHAMPTON-based boat racing company Clipper Ventures showed it had suffered from the stormy economic environment post-September 11. The Shamrock Quay firm, which launched its Clipper 2002 round-the-world yacht race from Liverpool, said it had been hit

  • In Port

    Today's Principal Arrivals: Hyundai Freedom, container, 0700, 206; Autotransporter, ro/ro, 0700, 201 link; Trinidad, ro/ro, 0830, 34/35; CMA CGM Debussy, container, 1500, Con Term. Today's Principal Sailings: APL Pearl, container, 0400, 206; Autotransporter

  • Le Tissier: It was good to be back

    Matt Le Tissier played for an hour on his Eastleigh debut last night, before admitting: "I've missed playing more than I thought." Le Tissier helped Eastleigh win 3-0 against Newport (IOW) in the second round of the Hampshire Senior Cup. And afterwards

  • EASTLEIGH 3 - NEWPORT 0

    When Matthew Le Tissier made his first competitive Saints start as a 17-year-old in 1986 he found himself up against his boyhood idol Glenn Hoddle. But on his Eastleigh debut in the Hampshire Senior Cup it was his new teammates and the players of Newport

  • DAY 106: School would 'suffer' also

    ONE of Hampshire's top comprehensive schools has lodged a powerful plea for the new dock to be rejected. Cathy Cooke, chairman of governors at Totton's Hounsdown School, told the public inquiry into Associated British Ports' plans for a container terminal

  • Diving: Home joy for Southampton divers

    THERE was home success when Southampton Diving Academy hosted an invitational competition at the Quays. Southampton romped to victory in the eight-team event, scoring 204 points with second-placed Luton well adrift on 80. The Academy entered a strong

  • Table Tennis: Hat-trick hero Mark is Waterside star

    COUNTY captain Mark Butler helped Waterside A to a 6-4 win in their Southampton table tennis league Premier Division top-of-the-table clash with Alpha A. He won his three singles and was supported by Howard Davies and Colin Thompson who each won once.

  • Freshwater Fishing: Mancey's Hordle haul so impressive

    MIKE SMITH'S Long Lake on his Hordle Lakes Complex produced its best match weight when Christchurch angler Steve Mancey took a huge 107lb haul. Fishing the pole at 11 metres and worm and corn, Mancey fished to a lily pad against the island on Long Lake

  • Bowls: Denny Cup triumph for record-breakers

    ATHERLEY soared to a club record score for the Denny Cup when pounding Isle of Purbeck 127-35. Billy Groves, who has had a subdued start to the indoor season, showed he is recapturing form with a 40-6 massacre of Alan Carpenter at Swanage and he was backed

  • SURVIVOR

    A PENSIONER stranded in the New Forest for three days during some of the stormiest weather for years has been found safe and well. How Edward Harper, 79, survived his ordeal as gale-force winds swept across the area has amazed rescue experts. He was found

  • Stage is set for new £500,000 arts centre

    PLANS to turn a redundant New Forest farm into a £500,000 arts centre have taken another leap forward. Totton town councillors have voted to support proposals to convert historic Hanger Farm, pictured, into a major music and drama facility. They also

  • It's not convenient

    BEACH hut owners have launched a campaign to save two public toilets used by the huge number of people who visit Calshot Spit. Protesters say people will use the sea as a lavatory if New Forest District Council presses ahead with controversial plans to

  • Airline buzzing in with a jobs boost

    MAJOR no-frills, low-cost airline buzz is to target air travellers across the south with flights in and out of Bournemouth Airport from next year. Initially two 148-seater Boeing 737-300 jet aircraft will be based at Bournemouth, creating more than 200

  • New start-up help

    START-UP businesses in Hampshire are offered a range of support services under a new scheme introduced this week. The Institute of Chartered Accountants' start-up business rewards programme gives owner-managers of new businesses discounts on everything

  • Lighthouse shines on a creepy classic

    LIGHTHOUSE - the newly-revamped and rechristened Poole Arts Centre - gets its brand-new season off to a hair-raising, and occasionally hilarious, start next week with a classic straight from the Gothic vaults. Frankenstein might seem like an over-familiar

  • AN INDIAN TAKEAWAY

    ONE of Hampshire's biggest employers was today accused of replacing its workforce with cheap labour in India. Ordnance Survey has signed a £23 million deal with a firm based in New Delhi to produce a digital map of the UK. Workers today expressed fury

  • Society of St James still have work to do

    A CHARITY that helps the homeless in Southampton is gearing up for fresh challenges following the success of its 30th anniversary year. The Society of St James provided more housing and support this year than ever before. But the hard working staff know

  • Warning signals to keep salmon on track

    SOME of the world's most valuable fish will be given a sharp 'rebuke' if they stray away from their journeys home to Hampshire. New high-tech equipment has been installed at Fawley Power Station to prevent migrating salmon from getting into the screens

  • Big Bear cheers up patients

    YOUNGSTERS at Southampton General Hospital were paid a visit by a special friend when a television star popped in to say hello. Bear from Jim Henson's American show Bear In The Big Blue House is in the UK to promote his forthcoming live tour and took

  • Church raider hunted

    ANDOVER police are hunting a man thought to be responsible for attempted burglaries at two village churches on Friday. An unsuccessful attempt was made to force open the vestry at All Saints Church in Upper Clatford and the raider left empty-handed. The

  • Making a splash

    POOLSIDE staff and swimmers at Andover Leisure Centre splashed their way through aquabeat sessions all dressed in pink - to mark their support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Nearly £300 was raised for the charity during two sessions held on a Monday

  • Line closed after teen jump threat

    A SPECIALIST negotiator was called in by Andover police when a teenager threatened to jump from Andover's Redon Way railway bridge on Tuesday morning. The main railway line in both directions was closed for two hours, a train travelling towards Waterloo

  • Green waste dumped in landfill sites

    CONSCIENTIOUS householders who have been separating their green waste for collection by Test Valley Borough Council have been wasting their time for more than a year. All the green waste collected from the kerbside has been dumped in landfill rather than

  • Firefighters breathe sigh of relief

    FIREFIGHTERS in And-over breathed a collective sigh of relief following the news that the first two 48-hours strikes had been cancelled. Leading firefighter Rob Dellow: "There is huge relief from just about everybody I have spoken to that we are not going

  • Delight as crowds see school extension open

    HUGE crowds gathered at St Mary Bourne Primary School to mark the official opening of its new extension. The new building houses a classroom and library, which in turn has provided more space in the main school for staff and pupils. Headteacher Sally

  • Talented pair make a show of themselves

    SHOW Of Hands certainly get around. After playing virtually every domestic folk festival this summer, the popular two-man group are still in demand with a 48-date tour including dates at Salisbury and Winchester. The success of Show Of Hands lies in the

  • Ring roads set for lower speed limits

    ANDOVER MP Sir George Young has welcomed Hamp-shire County Council's pledge to reduce the speed limit of certain sections along the A343. Sir George contacted county surveyor John Ekins following the death of Troy Parker, who died after his bike was in

  • Carnival fun helps hospital

    STOCKBRIDGE Carnival Committee has donated £3,000 to the Nick Jonas Ward at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester. More than 2,000 people attended the annual carnival procession and show in July, one of the biggest held in the village so far

  • How can we justify this rise, demand councillors

    TEST Valley's borough councillors have agreed to raise their allowances by more than 10 per cent - by a narrow vote. Several Conservative councillors decided to back the Liberal Democrats in opposing the rise which went through on a recorded vote by 18

  • Tree felling inquiry call

    A CRISIS meeting was due to take place today after nearly 200 trees protected by preservation orders were felled next to an exclusive private Sarisbury estate. Now Fareham council's executive leader Councillor Sean Woodward has called for an inquiry to

  • Ghostly fun at centre

    WIZARDS and ghosts came to Locks Heath Shopping Centre yesterday as children were treated to some Hallowe'en fun. Magic shows and goodie bags were on offer and youngsters even had the chance to trick or treat at selected shops around the centre. Michael

  • New pumps launched to stop floods

    A MASSIVE £1m scheme to protect Ryde from flooding was officially opened this week. More than 1,000 cubic metres of material was removed from beneath the Esplanade and more than 400 cubic metres of re-inforced concrete was used to create the pumping station

  • Island helps Aussies go green

    ENGINEERS on the Isle of Wight are playing a major part in making Australia greener. A shipment of 69 giant wind-turbine blades manufactured on the Island have been loaded on to the mv Aleksandrov for their journey from Southampton Docks to Adelaide.

  • Mapping cycle route around the Island

    A NEW leaflet outlining the Round-the-Island cycle route has been issued in a partnership between the Isle of Wight Council's Highways Department and Cycle Wight. The leaflet, which is a companion to the Guide to Cycling Trails of the Isle of Wight leaflet

  • Watching coastline crumble

    LAST weekend's storms, which battered the south coast with winds of up to 80mph, are thought by some experts to be the result of global warming. With climate change and rising sea levels predicted for this century, many southern coastlines are under threat

  • Anniversary date for Island's gay helpline

    A HELPLINE which serves the lesbian, gay and bisexual community on the Island is celebrating its tenth anniversary on November 4. The Wightout Helpline has been operating twice a week on Wednesday and Saturday nights between 7.30pm and 10pm since it began

  • More parent helpers needed quickly

    MORE volunteers are needed by the Eastleigh-based Parentline to help the growing number of stressed families. The plea has been backed by the town's MP David Chidgey who has been having talks with Parentline officials at their Wessex House base. It follows

  • Council happy with meeting

    The councillor in charge of issuing the license allowing St Mary's to operate has welcomed an open meeting to discuss the problems of standing facing the Northam End next Thursday. Southampton City councillor Richard Williams, the Cabinet member for environment

  • Le Tissier: It was good to be back

    Matt Le Tissier played for an hour on his Eastleigh debut last night, before admitting: "I've missed playing more than I thought." Le Tissier helped Eastleigh win 3-0 against Newport (IOW) in the second round of the Hampshire Senior Cup. And afterwards

  • Le Tiss upstaged by two-goal Rob

    When Matthew Le Tissier made his first competitive Saints start as a 17-year-old in 1986 he found himself up against his boyhood idol Glenn Hoddle. But on his Eastleigh debut in the Hampshire Senior Cup it was his new teammates and the players of Newport

  • GUTTED

    YOUNG arsonists are being hunted following a blaze at a West End school. Police launched an investigation after most of Kings Primary School's sports equipment was destroyed in the fire, which broke out shortly after 9pm yesterday. The main school building

  • Street go nap at Fawley

    Fawley 1, Andover NS 5 BEATEN only once in their last seven matches, Andover New Street moved towards mid-table respectability in the Hants Premier after last Saturday's nap-hand drubbing of bottom club Fawley. Pete Swinney continued his fine form of

  • Lions demolish Downton

    Andover 8, Downton 0 IT was like old times at The Portway on Tuesday night as Howard Goddard's Lions completed their first JWL double of the season with a one-sided eight-goal demolition of Downton. Tormentor-in-chief was Vinnie Rusher, who crowned a

  • Street take point off leaders with only 10 men

    Andover NS 1,Winchester City 1 ANDOVER New Street became the first side this season to take a point off runaway Hants League leaders Winchester City on Tuesday night - with just 10 men! Street skipper Kevin Knight was red carded midway through the first

  • Referee goes walkabout

    AN Andover & District Sunday Football League cup game had to be abandoned at the weekend after the match referee decided that he had had enough - and walked off the pitch! Station Hotel from division two were winning 3-1 against first division side

  • Ghost of city's past

    The witching hour is upon us and Southampton's horrific past will come back to haunt us this evening. Echo reporter Kieran Fox braves hearing of the city's true ghost stories... HAVE you heard the tale of the murderous chambermaid who haunts a historic

  • Cycling: Calshot track is raising the standards in Hampshire

    TIME will tell if controversial proposals by the Union Cyclisme Internationale - the world's governing body for the sport - to switch the annual track championships to the winter half of the year (at least so far as the countries of the northern hemisphere

  • Compost waste 'goes to landfill'

    ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners have hit out at Test Valley Borough Council for collecting residents' green waste for recycling and then dumping it in landfill sites. North Baddesley ward councillor Alan Dowden discovered the council has been dumping the waste

  • Classic Encounter at the Haymarket

    CLASSIC Forties' film Brief Encounter steams to The Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke, next month in a new stage version. The gripping tale of illicit love written by Noel Coward and made into a film by David Lean in 1946, will be performed by Middle Ground

  • 1984 as you have never seen it before

    NORTHERN Stage Ensemble bring their version of the classic George Orwell novel 1984 to Winchester next month. The chilling tale of one man's rebellion against an oppressive regime which controls everything from language to thought, fuses music, physical

  • The price of cutting costs . . .

    COST-cutting council chiefs in Southampton spent almost £3,000 on a weekend away - to work out how to axe jobs and save cash. The 18-strong team travelled to a Hampshire management centre earlier this month to thrash out ways to make better use of the

  • Taxi firm to pull out of busy city pick up

    FEARS have been raised that weekend late-night pubbers and clubbers could be stranded after a taxi firm announced it was pulling the plug on a busy depot. Dusty Miller, of West Quay Cars, blamed "outdated" legislation on his decision to withdraw the service

  • Have passport, will travel . . . eventually

    NOTHING would stand in the way of a 70-year-old Hampshire woman and her dream holiday, let alone an out-of-date passport. When Christina Bray arrived at Gatwick Airport with two relatives for her first holiday to Italy she was informed that her ten-year-old

  • Schoolgirl rescues children from water

    A HAMPSHIRE schoolgirl is being hailed a hero after dramatically rescuing three children from the water while on holiday. Twelve-year-old Kathryn Tolliday pictured, has also been nominated for the Rookie Lifeguard of the Year Award for her brave actions

  • Coroner backs bike campaign

    DEPUTY central Hampshire coroner Simon Burge has backed the Andover Advertiser's bike campaign, launched after the death of schoolboy cyclist Troy Parker. Troy died from serious head injuries caused when his bike collided with a Smart car as it attempted

  • Snakes alive!

    Former World Wrestling Fed-eration star Jake 'The Snake' Roberts was at Andover Leisure Centre complete with a 17ft python, to headline an evening of wrestling ent-ertainment. "It was a great success with the crowd of 200 thoroughly enjoying themselves

  • Streams in the desert

    What are we talking here - Some miserly mist above the dunes? A drip in the sand? A damp patch in the shadow of a rock? Or just vapour, a mirage? A taunt for a thick-tongues wanderer Mad with heat and dust, And a thirst that can't be quenched? No, this

  • Sponsorship plea after grant bid rejeceted

    ANDOVER Bowling Club is looking for sponsorship to help pay for new paving stones replacing the 40-year-old slabs surrounding the green. The uneven paving is causing problems, particularly for the 24 visually-impaired players who only recently became

  • Flood villages ditch warning

    ABOUT £100,000 is to be invested by Hampshire County Council in Appleshaw and Redenham as part of a £11.5 million county-wide flood prevention programme. The money - raised by deferring planned maintenance - will be used to resurface and raise part of

  • Rabbit disease warning

    THERE'S a stark warning to rabbit owners in Andover to get their pets immunised following the death of two family rabbits from the highly contagious myxomatosis disease. The eight-month-old dwarf lops were put down within days of each other after contracting

  • Mult-talented entertainer

    FO'C'SLE Folk Club welcomes a singular talent to the Duke of Wellington pub in Bugle Street, Southampton on Friday, November 8. Derek Brimstone is a singer, guitarist, composer, author, banjo picker and comedian who always alway proves to be great entertainment

  • Gale force winds knock out power

    RESIDENTS in Andover escaped the worst of gale force winds, which battered much of the south at the weekend. Scores of trees and branches fell, blocking roads and in some cases hitting cars, but a number of injury and damage incidents were not said to

  • New deal for centre great start

    A MULTI-million pound deal between Test Valley Borough Council and Valley Leisure to run Andover Leisure Centre has finally been clinched, making it the biggest of its kind in the country. Valley Leisure has won a 15-year contract to manage the ALC, Romsey

  • Street wardens praised for good start

    ANDOVER'S street wardens are now up to their full strength and have been on patrol on some town estates for three months. Cllr Marion Kerley, the portfolio holder for social wellbeing on Test Valley Borough Council, says the wardens have already played

  • Vandalised royal wall ownership a mystery

    A MULTIGAMES wall opened by the Queen on a visit to Tidworth a decade ago has no official owner, it has been revealed. The wall in Ludgershall Road was the first of its kind in the country but has become the target for graffiti artists and other vandals

  • Help with the heathland plea

    MEMBERS of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust have launched a campaign to raise £30,000 to restore and manage precious heathland in the two counties. Donations should be sent to the Heathlands Appeal, Hamp-shire & Isle of Wight Wildlife

  • Kicking out for charity

    TAE-KWON DO mad tots will be among the participants in a grand charity display at Andover Leisure Centre tomorrow. The nationwide PUMA (Professional Unification of Martial Arts) organisation has opened a club in Andover and is celebrating by holding a

  • Move to end cheap fares anomaly

    CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed plans by Fareham council to expand its concessionary travel scheme to men aged over 60. Under the proposals men aged between 60 and 64 will be given a free bus pass entitling them to half-fare travel. At present they have to

  • TAXES MAY RISE 37%

    THOUSANDS of households across the Island could face massive council tax rises if government plans to cut grants to Isle of Wight Council are given the go-ahead. In a worst case scenario, a person paying an average band D council tax of around £981 could

  • Inquest opened on teenager

    AN INQUEST opened and adjourned at the Island's coroner's court yesterday into the tragic death of a Gurnard teenager who died when his car plunged over cliffs at a local beauty spot. Paul Bowen, 19, of Jordan Close died following a police chase. His

  • Police grant makes Internet cafe a reality

    AN INTERNET cafe at a Locks Heath youth centre is to open in December after police backed the project with a £4,000 grant. Insp Stephen Havis, of Park Gate police, said he was delighted the police authority had supported the project at the Genesis Centre

  • Transport service: You're getting there

    HIGHWAYS and transportation services provided by Isle of Wight Council are fair and have promising prospects for improvement, according to a government finance watchdog. An inspection team from the Audit Commission gave the service one-star following

  • Fire service hits the quality mark

    THE ISLE of Wight Fire and Rescue Service has retained its Charter Mark for another three years after being found to provide an exceptionally high-quality service. The prestigious award was first presented to the Island's Fire and Rescue Service by the

  • Schools have 'nothing to fear' from us

    STATE schools on the Isle of Wight will not be affected by Tory plans to lure inner-city children into private education. Isle of Wight MP Andrew Turner believes state schools have "nothing to fear" from Conservative plans announced recently, to help

  • Rowlandson's work set to go on show

    ART lovers will get the chance to see more of Thomas Rowlandson's "Travels with a Sketchbook" when part two of the exhibition opens in Newport on November 2. Part one of the exhibition of watercolour sketches of the Island, which were completed by Rowlandson