LAVERSTOCK & Ford are the new Division 3 pacemakers following their battling 2-1 victory at bottom club QK Southampton. Martin Eyers' far post finish put the visitors ahead after 20 minutes but that lead was cancelled out right on half-time by Ralfe
THE fledgling airline owned by the world's youngest aviator is today at the centre of a mystery dirty tricks campaign. It is the latest controversy to hit Martin Halstead's Alpha One Airways, which is poised to run services between Southampton and the
A THIRD traffic survey will be conducted outside a New Forest primary school after the original results were disputed when a man counting the cars allegedly fell asleep. Staff and parents at Brockenhurst Primary School say that the official contracted
NEWS - The courage of defiant Nora who was robbed for just £2.50 NEWS - Police crackdown on yob culture HERITAGE - Life of the Echo in Above Bar SAINTS - 'It was a blur. One horrible, misshaped, whizzing, whirling, disastrous blur' Full report inside.
ICED-OVER windscreens, freezing conditions, icy roads and air so cold you can see your breath right in front of you. That's what's predicted as Hampshire braces itself for one of the coldest winters in recent years. Meteorologists at the Met Office have
A SCHEME to help clean up a Hampshire village has been hailed a great success. The Stubbington Crime Reduction Environment Week (CREW) saw one arrest, £500 of fines doled out, 11 bags of rubbish collected, 17 fire safety checks carried out and an increase
A SPARKLING success: The annual Hatch Warren Fireworks Extravaganza at the community centre proved another big success recently. In perfect weather - clear and cold - a massive crowd gathered to watch a great show. As always, it was very loud and very
HOOK Christmas Cracker: This year it will take place on Friday, December 2, starting at 5.30pm. Volunteers are still needed on the night. If you can help, contact Amanda Foot on 768223. HOOK Local History Group: Meets on Monday, at St John's Church, at
FUNDRAISING: Nick Ganf, of 11 Columbine Road, Kempshott, is helping to raise money for an Opdima machine at Basingstoke hospital. It is an improvement to the current mammography equipment and will enhance visibility of small lesions. Some biopsies and
THREE parcels of land have been earmarked in Eastleigh's Local Plan as reserve sites for future homes. Council chiefs say none of them may be needed as the authority's policy is to build on brownfield land rather than swallow up green fields. The sites
CHRISTMAS tea dance: A Christmas tea dance is being held on Wednesday, at Popley Fields Community Centre, from 2pm to 5pm. Tickets are £4 in advance or £5 on the day, so save yourself £1 and call 01256 414494 for a ticket. MAMMOTH jumble sale: Abbey Court
REMEMBRANCE: Sunday was marked in the village with a huge turnout at the War Memorial. The Rev Politt conducted the service and those lost in wars and conflict were remembered. Wreaths were laid on behalf of the British Legion and the parish council.
MULTI Sports Club: A new club for all with disabilities has a free open day on Monday, from 4.30pm to 6pm, at Hurst Leisure Centre. On display will be new age curling, skittles, football, and the use of the gym. For more details, call 0118 9811611. LIBRARY
Sir.-The news of proposed "improvements" to the Ringway-A33 junction is most unwelcome. I use that route most days and while it's a pain at peak times, the proposed changes don't seem at all well suited to the realities of the situation. There can't be
Sir.-To the wonderful people of Basingstoke for supporting this year's Mayor's Charity Firework Fiesta at the War Memorial Park on November 5, a tremendous thank you for the record turnout. Also, thanks go to our sponsors, Gazette Newspapers and 2-TEN
WINCHESTER are flabbergasted by reports they are ready to swoop for Bashley's top scorer Richard Gillespie. In condemning Guy Whittingham's young AFC Newbury side to a 5-0 FA Vase hiding on Saturday, City proved they already have a wealth of attacking
Southern Electric have extended their sponsorship of Southern Premier League cricket into a sixth summer. Players were told of the latest 12-month extension to the initial deal, which began in 2001, at the sell-out presentation dinner at the Southampton
CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after plans for the controversial Manydown housing development were blown off the map by a Government-appointed planning inspector. After 30 days of public hearings earlier this year, inspector Alan Foster has issued a report
Tottonian's returned from a long day's travel to Guernsey empty-handed after losing out 39-0. Skipper Paul Goodall did not want to place the blame on all the off-field issues. He was much more concerned about his side's inability to bring their home form
WORK on a major new school in Basingstoke is on course - but an additional sum of nearly £1million has had to be ploughed into the project. The additional funding has been set aside for the new John Hunt of Everest Community School in Basingstoke after
STRIKE action at a Basingstoke college saw some students left without classes for the day. The walk-out at Basingstoke College of Technology (BCOT), in Worting Road, happened on Wednesday, November 16, as part of a nationwide protest against the gap in
THE GOOD times are back at St Mary's. Saints put in a performance of commanding dominance, good goals, and slick moves. To top it all off, it was watched by 30,173 - their biggest crowd of the season and the largest Championship attendance of 2005/06.
CIVIC leaders in Southampton are due to send a blunt message to bosses at the city's airport today - "don't go ahead with controversial expansion plans". In a hard-hitting report, due to be rubber stamped by members of the council's ruling Liberal Democrat
FED-up residents living near Southampton General Hospital are demanding action to stop health workers parking on their roads. They say it is impossible to park outside their homes because hospital staff are taking up their spaces. Some residents even
PINK champagne was flowing at a Southampton beauty salon after staff raised £500 for charity. Women at Lisa Edwards hairdressing and skincare salon in the High Street were pretty in pink for Breast Cancer Care. Dressed in an array of pink clothing from
LIVING - 'I want a man for Christmas' BUSINESS - Eight pages packed with Business news. Spinnaker Tower - a view from the top. WHEELS -King of Pimping, Alex Pico, launches Ripspeed X Hedge End . PLUS new drive - the Lexus 250is
IT brings a whole new meaning to the rhyming slang: "On the dog and bone." Molly the West Yorkshire Terrier is set to find unlikely celebrity status after it was revealed she likes to say "hello" to her owners' pals over the phone. Owner Pauline De Ste
MANOR Field Junior School: The afternoon assembly was a special occasion on November 2. The headteacher, Mrs Cushing, explained that there were two assemblies on November 2. In the morning assembly, children were invited to vote for pupils to be members
AGM and social meeting: Cliddesden, Farleigh Wallop and Ellisfield Horticultural Society's AGM and social meeting takes place on Wednesday, November 30, in Ellisfield. COMMUNITY conservation: Work took place last weekend when the Cliddesden Community
CHRIST Church: During November, the congregation will be continuing its study of the book of Daniel. SHOEBOXES: And finally, don't forget that Christ Church, Reading Road, is well under way with preparations for sending shoeboxes filled with small gifts
ONE HUNDRED and eleven years ago a youngster called Charlie Miller went back to his family home in Brazil, took a couple of footballs and introduced the South Americans to the game. Three months ago another young fella from Middlesbrough arrived in Southampton
ST MICHAEL'S Hospice: Is asking for people to sponsor a light on its Christmas trees to celebrate the work of the hospice. Each year, supporters are asked to help light up the trees and remember someone special to them. A beautiful card dedicated to your
ST MICHAEL'S Hospice concert: Everyone will be very pleased to know that the recent concert in aid of the hospice raised more than £513. The organisers would like to thank all those people who came along that evening. DAVE Galvin: I'm sorry to report
"JUST shooting off": This was a phrase that brought a smile to many a teary eye last week, appearing as it did with a grinning photo on the back of the Order of Service! More than 350 friends and family packed Heckfield church to say goodbye and Godspeed
BONFIRE: More than 1,500 people attended the recent grand fireworks display. Profits from this support the Christmas party for village children and other events. Well done to the organisers and all who helped in any way. CHRISTMAS dance: Tickets are now
Sir.-I cannot help smiling or even laughing when I read about people who are unable to live without smoking through the day. They seem to think a ban on smoking is something new. Having been connected with the mining industry from the age of 14, as have
Nottingham Panthers 4 Basingstoke Bison 2 LADY Luck was certainly not on the side of the Basingstoke Bison on Sunday night in Nottingham after the home side's second goal was given by referee Michael Hicks despite not going in. Bison boss Mark Bernard
BASHLY boss Steve Riley is as mystified as Winchester City about reports linking striker Richard Gillespie with a move to the Wessex League title chasers. "I wouldn't discuss selling Gilly with anyone," he stressed. "I don't want to lose Richard Gillespie
Eastleigh fear master marksman Andy Forbes will be out for a minimum of two weeks following Saturday's miserable 2-1 defeat at Cambridge City. After a couple of heroic performances at central defence, Forbes resumed his normal frontline duties at Milton
EAST Cowes Vics chalked up the result of the season to date on Saturday when they sensationally thumped leaders Liss 4-0 at Whippingham. Efforts by Andy Ebbs plus an own goal midway through the first half put East Cowes in the driving seat, Wayne Newnham
A NEW late-night double-decker bus service is being launched in Basingstoke to help revellers get home safely. The service - which will cost £3 and will have security provision - will come into use on Saturday, November 26, and will normally run on Friday
Rentokil Initial is set to announce the sale of its conference centres division, including three Hampshire hotels, within days, it has been reported. A consortium led by Richard Balfour-Lynn, boss of property firm Marylebone Warwick Balfour, was said
Fawley suffered the shock of the Hampshire Gales Bowl quarter-finals, losing to the keen Southampton University Medics 31-13. It was much harder than they expected as the students played them off the park through skill and passion while Fawley were sadly
Portsmouth strengthened their position in the London Two South promotion shake-up with a domineering win over local rivals Gosport & Fareham, who drop back into the relegation zone. The damage could have been considerably worse for the off-colour
ILLEGAL pedlars are being warned: don't come to Winchester. Retailers, the city council and police are joining forces to keep them off the High Street in the run-up to Christmas. Anyone ignoring the warning runs a big risk of being arrested. Officers,
VANDALS have caused hundreds of pounds of damage to four cars on a Winchester Street after a late night attack. The cars had all been left parked on King Alfred Terrace overnight on Wednesday when the vandalism took place. The next morning owners found
ONE of Hampshire's top tourist attractions wants to steam into a new era by building a narrow gauge railway. Cars on show at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, will be joined by steam engines imported from South Africa if the scheme goes ahead. Plans
SCHOOL dinners have undergone a radical overhaul in and around Basingstoke - junk food is out and nutritionist-approved hearty meals are in. In response to national criticism, prompted by Jamie Oliver's campaign to banish processed food from school dinner
JAMES Taylor is confident that when he nets his first goal for Basingstoke Town it will open the floodgates to more striking success. The 31-year-old has had little luck since his arrival from Eastleigh in September, missing two penalties and also being
A RISE in complaints about antisocial behaviour has prompted the introduction of closed circuit TV around a popular park and community centre. Councillors in Park Gate have been receiving calls about the rising tide of vandalism and nuisance behaviour
DEVASTATED skipper Nigel Quashie walks past the celebrating Leeds players after Saints conspired to lose after leading 3-0. In the most amazing game ever at St Mary's, Quashie's double had helped his side establish a three-goal interval advantage. But
Injury-jinxed 400 metres star Iwan Thomas has had his Commonwealth Games preparations hampered - after being bitten by a dog! The reigning British one-lap record-holder was out training in Telegraph Woods in West End with his coach Mike Smith when a terrier
BAUGHURST Parish Council: The next meeting takes place on Thursday, November 24, at 7.30pm, at Heath End Hall. THE York Nativity Play (14th century): Will be performed in the parish church of St Mary the Virgin, Aldermaston, from December 8 to 11.
ST MICHAEL'S Hospice: We are all invited to "Light Up The Hospice" and sponsor a light on the Christmas trees to celebrate the work of St Michael's Hospice and to remember someone special. There will be a service on Sunday, December 4, with Basingstoke
BROOKVALE youth: The newly-formed local boys' football team is seeking a coach with experience. The team currently plays in the under-13s Peter Houseman League and can be watched every alternate weekend at Sherborne Road playing fields. Anyone who would
QUIZ: Julie and Ted Dowson are organising the Ellisfield Ladies' quiz evening on Friday, November 25, where you have plenty of time to eat some brain food and get ready to take on the challenge. Contact Julie Dowson, on 381529, to book your place and
HERITAGE Association: Has a meeting at the Village Club on Thursday, November 24, at 7.30pm. The speaker is Gerry Dutton, of North Waltham, and the subject is "The History of Tithes". The 1835 Tithe Redemption award for Kingsclere gives a fantastic picture
CHRISTMAS craft fayre: On Saturday, November 26, from 11am to 4pm, at the Hall for All. Entry is free. For more details, call 01256 475844. CHRISTMAS party: On December 9, at the Hall For All, from 2pm to 5pm. For tickets and more information, contact
CHANGE again: Yes, we are going to have another policeman. Pc Jon Peace is to take over the job of policing the village. Apparently he took over last week but, at this stage, no one is aware of this. Why are we changing again? In all honesty we don't
PUPILS from Sherborne House School at Chandler's Ford will be hitting fundraising notes for charity. Over the next two weeks they will be taking part in eight separate musical events, starting on Monday, December 5. From 4.30pm to 5.30pm they will be
Sir.-So, our MPs have voted against the 90-day detention rule for suspected terrorists. I suppose they will be quite happy if, and when, the police have to let a suspect go after the new 28-day period because they haven't had enough time to obtain sufficient
Sir.-What is going on in this town? Bonfire night was, and has always been, November 5. Fireworks have been going off every night for the past four weeks. And they were being sold three weeks before bonfire night. Dozens of people I have spoken to are
SHAUN Udal was upbeat despite his Test debut ending in defeat as England slumped to a 22-run loss to Pakistan. The visitors looked in great shape as they entered the fifth day needing just 174 to win with nine wickets left - but the tourists collapsed
