AFC TOTTON closed in on a third place finish in the SWL with a crushing 8-1 demolition of rock-bottom Portland United at Testwood Park. Remarkably, it was their second such winning scoreline in six days following their thrashing of neighbours BAT on Easter
Eastleigh are eyeing a top five Nationwide Conference South finish after cancelling out a half-time deficit to beat Lewes 2-1 at the fantastically-named Dripping Pan. But they will have to win their final match at home to play-off hopefuls Havant &
MORE than 1,000 lives may have been saved thanks to kind-hearted readers who have pledged their support to The Gazette's Life-Blood Campaign. Since the launch of the campaign in January, a total of 451 generous people from Basingstoke and north Hampshire
A MUSIC-LOVING footie fan is hoping supporters will embrace his lyrical efforts to get people singing England to victory at the World Cup. David Smith, 41, has reworked Sir Edward Elgar's music for Land of Hope and Glory into an up-tempo and catchy ditty
HE'S done it! Talented teenager Billy Phillips has made it through to the grand final of South Coast Idol after beating off fierce competition in the regional heats. Hundreds of people clapped and cheered as the 16-year-old gave a winning rendition of
DAY services for adults with mental health problems are about to undergo a major reform in north Hampshire. Plans are being developed to merge Adelphi Place, in Church Square, Basingstoke, and Vyne Road Day Service, in Vyne Road, Basingstoke. The two
RELEGATED Gosport and Fareham almost ended their season with a win but for the bounce of the ball and a single point. In the dying seconds against Lewes Wayne Dugan nearly scored when he raced through to dive on a kick. But he was beaten to the ball as
SOUTHAMPTON heaveyweight Colin Kenna suffered his second defeat on the bounce when he was knocked out by Ukrainian Oleg Platov in Germany. Fighting on the undercard of the Klitschko v Byrd World IBF title fight in Mannheim on Saturday night, the 29-year-old
IT was double delight as Winchester & District AC shone in the opening round of the RR10. Natalie Cain claimed victory in the women's race, staged over a two-lap 4.75-mile course at the Royal Victoria Country Park, while Gavin Smith made it a Winchester
POLICE in Winchester have appealed for witnesses to a car crash after one of the passengers died in hospital. The accident happened as one car overtook another on the A303 near Micheldever Station, just north of Winchester, on Tuesday at about 5.30pm.
LORD Montagu of Beaulieu's eldest son is to serve a second three-year term as one of the New Forest Verderers. The Hon Ralph Montagu who was appointed by the Forestry Commission in 2003, has been asked to carry on until summer 2009. The Official Verderer
VOTERS in Whitchurch will be presented with just one ballot paper on borough council election day, despite the fact that both of the town's seats are up for grabs. Councillor Alison Wall has come to the end of her four-year term on Basingstoke and Deane
As part of The Gazette's Local Elections 2006 coverage, political reporter Kate Martin quizzes candidates from each of the five political groups about their views on housing in Basingstoke and Deane. Conservative, Councillor Horace Mitchell, standing
SOUTHAMPTON has cashed in a multi-million-pound pay cheque after the busiest 48 hours its docks have seen for 40 years. As thousands of people lined the waterfront yesterday to watch a spectacular parade of some of the most famous ships in the world,
Workers hit out at base closure SHELL-shocked workers at a Hampshire military base have accused their employers of keeping them in the dark about plans to axe the complex. The 200 civilians employed at RAF Hythe only found out about the threat to their
A GIANT pipe bomb discovered under the runway of a former Royal Navy base in Hampshire has been made safe. Parts of Lee-on-the-Solent could be evacuated when it is removed by bomb disposal experts. The British device was discovered during survey work
DANNY Brown says he is happy to have returned to Basingstoke Town "to play for a manager who wants me" after being told he had no future at Billericay. The 20-year-old ex-Wycombe centre-back was a surprise inclusion in the Town line-up at Carshalton,
A GROUNDBREAKING scheme will be launched to reduce "roadside clutter" in Hampshire. The county council and Campaign to Protect Rural England are undertaking a pilot project to cut the amount of unnecessary signs in the countryside. It will begin this
CHINEHAM litter pick: About 30 residents, young and old, turned out for the Chineham Easter litter pick last Saturday. While litter picking might not be a "must do" event, it turned out to be very rewarding in terms of the amount of rubbish collected
ABANDONED car: It was sad to see the burned shell of a car abandoned on the track by the school. I'm not sure how long it's been there but it really is a blot on the landscape. Unfortunately, it seems that the problems of urban life are creeping out to
ST MARTIN'S Church: It looked beautiful this Easter - outside, there was a sea of daffodils and primroses and, inside, beautifully arranged, fragrant Easter lilies, all bought by members of the village in memory of a loved one. ELLISFIELD Ladies: Enjoyed
SATURDAY Fun Club: The next Children's Fun Club takes place at the community centre on Saturday, May 6, from 10am until noon. The club is for children of primary school age and gives children the chance to enjoy a morning of fun and crafts and make new
HOOK Players: Are getting ready for their performance of Alan Ayckbourn's play Relatively Speaking on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 27, 28 and 29. Tickets cost £12, concessions £10, and are available from the box office on 767213. For more details
POST office: Once again, the long-term future of our post office is under threat. About four years ago, the Government decided to abolish pension books and replace them with a card cash account. The alternative was for your pension to be paid direct to
JJ'S Indoor Play and Party Centre: Situated in Morse Road, West Ham Industrial Estate, Basingstoke, has been set aside on May 26 for children with special needs, along with their brothers and sisters, to attend, learn, exercise and develop through play
CHANDLER'S Ford Good Neighbours are holding a coffee morning to raise awareness of the scheme. It is being staged from 10am to 12pm at the Dovetail Centre, Chandler's Ford Methodist Church in Winchester Road on Friday. The event is open to all and will
MODERN trends: Black and white photographs of the family are all the rage. If you want to go modern, call Marion on 328611. She can tell you all about the photography session at the Old Basing Toddler Group, between 1pm and 2.30pm on Wednesday, April
BALLROOM dancing lessons: These will restart on Wednesday, for five weeks. Contact Kerry Pretty on 01256 471870 or 07979 850786, for more information. ANNUAL parish meeting: This takes place on Monday, May 8, at St Stephen's Hall, Little London, starting
JIMMY Williams: More than 200 people attended the funeral of Jimmy Williams at St Peter's Church, Brimpton, last week, and all came to pay their respects to a great man. He was a man who was well respected among the showmen's community, where he carried
About 15 years ago Jack Charlton and I were strolling the touchline of a quaint little ground in Cork, Republic of Ireland, with a massive slope from one end to the other. We hadn't seen each other for a while but had to stop our eager conversation before
Sir.-Most politicians agree that one of the biggest challenges we face today is climate change, and how to tackle it. But it can sometimes seem that, while everyone is keen to agree something should be done, few people are willing to stand up and take
LOW fare airline Flybe has confirmed it is to be Saints new shirt sponsor in a multi-million pound three-year deal. As first revealed in the Daily Echo back on February 22, Flybe will replace Friends Provident as the main club and official shirt sponsor
TEENAGE fencing star Ben Peggs' great start to the year continued when he represented Great Britain and England for the first time. The 15-year-old from Bramley, who continues to climb the national rankings, made his GB debut at foil in the Koblenz Cadet
The champagne corks popped merrily as Salisbury celebrated their Southern Premier League title triumph in true championship style. Skipper Aaron Cook lifted the impressive Premier Shield in front of over 1,300 ecstatic fans, who poured on to the Raymond
BASHLEY need snookers to lever themselves into the Ryman Division One play-off picture, despite cruising to a 3-1 win over basement boys Corinthian Casuals. Goals from Richard Gillespie, Steve Riley and Danny Gibbons sealed the points for Bash, despite
LONG-serving defender Karl Broadhurst described his return to the Cherries starting line-up as a "bitter-sweet" experience. Broadhurst was drafted in for his first start for more than 14 months during Cherries' 2-1 defeat by Colchester at Dean Court.
Nic Pothas blasted Hampshire to a solid start in their defence of the C & G Trophy - after refusing to eat duck the night before. Superstitious Pothas smashed a brilliant 69 from just 74 balls as Hampshire beat Ireland by seven wickets, and with 16.2
HE nearly died from a heart attack while playing for University of Southampton Medics in the first round of the Hampshire Gales Plate. But on Saturday Mike Davis was at the Lordshill Rec in Southampton to see the teammates who helped to save his life
In London Three South West Winchester won the race for fifth place with Hampshire rivals Tottonians. Winchester were easy 38-24 winners over Chobham and, but for a few soft tries from restarts, it could have been a more comfortable victory. Scores from
PLANNERS have rejected proposals for a controversial new moto-cross track - but two huge events will still go ahead this summer. Promoter Steve Dixon wanted permission for earthworks to create jumps on the track and a paddock area at Matterley Basin close
SHELL-shocked workers at a Hampshire military base have accused their employers of keeping them in the dark about plans to axe the complex. The 200 civilians employed at RAF Hythe only found out about the threat to their jobs when they were contacted
TEACHERS, governors and pupils at an Old Basing school are celebrating after receiving an outstanding Ofsted report. St Mary's C of E Junior School, in Belle Vue Road, was graded as "outstanding" in almost every aspect after inspectors visited the school
If two words could sum up Saints' season they would be 'missed opportunities' - and, boy, did we see the most extreme example at Palace. Over the course of the season it would apply to the way things have panned out and the inability to pick up enough
THE Liberal Democrats have come under fire from dentists after an election guide issued by their head office advised candidates to give out sweets to children. The Guide to Fighting and Winning Local Elections told candidates to act like the "Pied Piper
THE Green Party is hoping that this year will present it with a breakthrough in Basingstoke and Deane. Party members are making a big push to grab seats in next month's borough council elections - contesting five of the 22 seats available on May 4. This
IT will be their longest day. After saying their goodbyes and making their last phone calls home, soldiers from across Hampshire were starting to fly out to Iraq today. The first troops of the First Battalion Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment - known
A GROUNDBREAKING scheme will be launched to reduce "roadside clutter" in Hampshire. The county council and Campaign to Protect Rural England are undertaking a pilot project to cut the amount of unnecessary signs in the countryside. It will begin this
NEW Forest teenager Stewart Mills hustled his way into the next round of a television dancing competition by polling the second highest score. Stewart, 19, and his dancing partner Clare, pictured right, were given 32 points - the second highest score
HUNDREDS of people bombarded an energy company with calls after a gas cloud passed over part of Southampton. Southern Gas Networks, which delivers gas to city homes, received 420 phone messages complaining about the smell of gas on Saturday evening. The
HOME-Start - the local family support charity - has been getting some egg-stra support. It was from Boyatt Wood Weight Watchers who donated 90 chocolate eggs to be distributed to families with young children in the local area. Weight Watchers leader Barbara
TRIBUTES have been paid to five retiring Winchester city councillors. The longest serving is Ian Bidgood, who represents Col-den Common and Twyford. As reported in the Daily Echo last week, Mr Bidgood has served in local politics for 35 years. Members
DANNY Brown says he is happy to have returned to Basingstoke Town "to play for a manager who wants me" after being told he had no future at Billericay. The 20-year-old ex-Wycombe centre-back was a surprise inclusion in the Town line-up at Carshalton,
Basingstoke Town 0, Histon 1 TO NEW manager Francis Vines' ongoing frustration, Basingstoke Town succumbed to another insipid home defeat, only 48 hours after their fine 2-1 away win at Carshalton, with this Bank Holiday Monday reverse to Nationwide South
SHOPPERS were given a glance of the latest must-have designs with a fashion parade at a Hampshire shopping centre. Clothes and products from many of Fareham Shopping Centre's 90 big-name stores were given the catwalk treatment in the bi-annual event to
HEATH End Gardening Club annual plant sale: This will be in The Hurst Community College's hall on Saturday, April 29, from 11am to 1pm. QUIZ night: The next Wolverton quiz night is on Friday, April 28, when fish and chips, chicken and chips or sausage
CLIFT Meadow: The refurbished pavilion is now up and running. The trustees invite you to come and have a look, on May 20. There is a large room with a kitchen off it, as well as other facilities. The tennis courts have been updated and the long-awaited
CHURCH of Christ the King: The service for Maundy Thursday, conducted by the Bishop of Winchester, was well attended on April 13. The service commemorates Jesus and the disciples at the Last Supper. After supper, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples
ANNUAL parish meeting: On Thursday April 27, at 7.45pm, at St Leonard's Centre. There will be a review of the past year and Chris Brooks, our local Pc, will be available to answer questions on police-related matters. It is hoped to give an update of the
HOME-Start - the local family support charity - has been getting some egg-stra support. It was from Boyatt Wood Weight Watchers who donated 90 chocolate eggs to be distributed to families with young children in the local area. Weight Watchers leader Barbara
SILENCE is golden... And it certainly was last month when silent bids in the barn, in the Whitewater parishes' very first silent auction, raised nearly £3,500 for the refurbishment of Rotherwick church. Special thanks are due to our sponsors, all those
TODDLER Time: Next Wednesday, from 4pm to 4.30pm, at St Leonard's Church, where all are welcome to enjoy nursery rhymes, stories, prayers and refreshments. Meet on the red carpet in church. Contact the Rev Politt on 01256 882209 for more information.
ROMAN Weekend: I have just had the good news that £3,900 was raised at the Roman Weekend. Thanks again to Silchester Association for the hard work that was put into this event, which was not without its share of headaches. EASTER: Several services were
While praising Alan Shearer, a little word for another ex-player in Nick Holmes, who deserves congratulations on getting Salisbury City promoted. Supporters can applaud him when he joins the other 12 surviving Cup final players at the reunion next Saturday
Sir.-I would like to thank your readers for supporting this year's Bad Hair Day in support of St Michael's Hospice. So many of you coloured and curled your hair in February to raise funds for our vital work caring for local people with life-limiting illnesses
Sir.-On Monday, April 10, at approx 6.50am, I was involved in a serious accident on the M3 between junction six (Basingstoke) and junction five (Hook). My stationary car was hit from behind at considerable speed, resulting in it hitting a Transit minibus
Sir.-I write to clarify the position on funding for Overton halls ("New hall misses out on developer's cash", Gazette, April 6). It is a complicated situation. The decision made by the Overton United Halls Group was to recommend that the borough council
Sir.-About four or five weeks ago, you kindly published my letter seeking a very dear friend of mine who I hadn't seen in more than 40 years. Thanks to The Gazette, Sandy and I met up for lunch on Monday, April 10. Needless to say, we had a great afternoon
Sir.-I am a mother of a four-month-old boy who was diagnosed with having severe acid reflux at seven weeks old. It has been a very difficult and stressful time for the whole family. The situation isn't helped by the lack of support by some of the doctors
