Archive

Date

Shafayat impresses on Hants debut

JIMMY Adams admits that Bilal Shafayat has already given Hampshire a tough selection decision following his impressive debut. Adams scored the county’s first century of the season while putting on 164 with former England Under-19 captain Shafayat

Date

Parents pledge to keep fighting for school's future

“WE won’t give up the fight.” So say parents battling moves to close Hampshire’s only specialist school for autistic children. Earlier this year, the Daily Echo revealed bosses at Hampshire Autistic Society were considering closing Hope Lodge

Date

You can keep your passionate politics

YOU have to hand it to the French, they do a good election. Or at least they throw an impressive victory party. Contrast the crowds in the Place de la Bastille in Paris who greeted Francois Hollande on Sunday evening after his victory with our own

Date

Jail for cruise worker who spanked young boys

A PERVERTED children's supervisor who enjoyed spanking young boys in his care was jailed for four years today. Cruise ship worker Paul Trotter, 34, made films of himself spanking the boys on either their bare bottoms or over their clothes. He would

Date

Hampshire footballer banned for eight games

Aldershot striker Daniel Hylton has been handed an eight-match ban and a £1,000 fine after a regulatory commission proved two breaches of Football Associaton rules. The two incidents took place during the Shots' npower League Two match with Barnet on

Date

Tributes paid to popular 27-year-old

FAMILY and friends have paid tribute to a well-known Romsey man found dead at a nature reserve. Jason Thomas’s body was discovered by a passer-by in Tadburn Meadows Park, near Eight Acres in Halterworth, Romsey. More than 500 relatives and friends

Date

Bloodforge (Xbox 360 Arcade)

Reviewed On: Xbox 360 Available For: Xbox 360 Publisher: Microsoft Developer: Climax Genre: Action Age: 18 (PEGI) Click here for more screenshots It’s not for the faint-hearted, nor is it for the faint

Date

Brother's tears for Afghanistan bomb victim

THE brother of a Hampshire soldier fatally injured by an improvised bomb in Afghanistan broke down in tears today as hundreds paid their last respects. Sapper Connor Ray, 20, of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), who was born

Date

GB sailors to benefit from military technology

Britain's Olympic sailors and mountain bikers at London 2012 will have clothing and equipment covered with a liquid-repellent coating initially developed to protect soldiers from chemical weapons. The invisible "nano-coating" is fully breathable and

Date

Commending service at hospital

MY wife spent a week in the General Hospital recently. I would like to commend the service that she received. The emergency service arrived promptly and dealt with her problem efficiently and with consideration. Once into the hospital the staff

Date

Thanks to hospital

HAVING just come home from spending a while in Southampton General Hospital, I would like to express my praiseworthy comments, especially towards the catering department. There was a choice of over 24 main meals to choose from plus vegetarian

Date

40-year U-turn on Town Hall by Tories

WHEN back in 1974 local government reorganisation added 50 per cent to Eastleigh borough’s population, it was obvious that the existing Town Hall was not big enough to accommodate the extra administration staff needed and the council chamber, already

Date

Accept it? Why should I?

I’M writing in response to Charlie Arnold’s letter in the Daily Echo of May 7. While I appreciate no one is promised a job for life, I’ve worked for British Gas at the Southampton office since I was a school leaver at the age of 17; I’m now 51.

Date

Our local government is impotent on key issues

I READ councillor David Harrison’s letter about decision-making with interest. He makes some valid points about power devolving. For example, he’s correct in his views on fluoride and health issues. I’m afraid there’s a flaw! These are the

Date

Defying odds

NEARLY one in 11 businesses in the Southampton area that started up in the tough markets over the last three years is achieving £100,000 turnover, says Barclays. Ria Barlabas head of Barclays Business in the south east, said: “What makes this

Date

Is it sour grapes?

PERHAPS Charlie Arnold would care to elaborate on his suggestion that we should shrug our shoulders at 550 job losses at British Gas (Letters, May 7). Like many of the employees, my son has a young family and mortgage to finance and has now become

Date

Groves named as new Cherries boss

AFC Bournemouth have confirmed Paul Groves as the club's new permanent manager. Groves, who had been in temporary charge since Lee Bradbury's departure in March, has penned a two-year deal. Shaun Brooks, who had been assisting Groves in his role

Date

Inn for a Treat

THE pace is frenetic, the excitement of our fair capital city palpable, and at the end of the day the peace and serenity of The Holiday Inn at Mayfair is the perfect antedote. Located in the very heart of London you are immediately caught up in the

Date

Insurance giant moving into B&Q’s former base

HAMPSHIRE insurance giant Ageas is set to move to the former B&Q headquarters in Chandler’s Ford in the largest office deal in south Hampshire for three years. The new sponsor of the home of Hampshire Cricket paid an estimated £6m for the

Date

Seven Days

At Mayflower Park… THE Rainbow Centre and BDO are holding a Dragon Boat Challenge and Family Fun Day in Mayflower Park tomorrow. Crews from a host of local businesses will battle it out over a 200m course. The Rainbow Centre in Fareham helps children

Date

Jaw Dropping Fun

THERE is no doubt that a certain little pink pig has turned Paultons Park into an international destination for visiting families with pre schoolers. The opening of Peppa Pig World has been a massive boost for not only the family theme park but

Date

Stage Highlights

STORYTELLERS Mike Maran and Philip Contini tell the tales of their own families, who, alongside many Italians, left their sunny hillsides to start new lives in Scotland at the beginning of the twentieth century in Italia in Caledonia at The Nuffield

Date

Curtain Call Previews

IN the nine months before Second World War began, almost 10,000 German Jewish children arrived in Britain unaccompanied on what became known as Kindertransport. Sent by their parents to escape the horrors of the Jewish persecution in Nazi Germany

Date

Comedy

FOLLOWING several sell-out UK tours and bestselling stand-up DVDs, multi-award winning welsh wonder Rhod Gilbert is back on the South Coast. He appears at Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts tomorrow and at Bournemouth’s Pavilion Theatre

Date

Music Round Up

STACKRIDGE have the distinction of having opened and closed the very first Glastonbury. And fans new and old can enjoy the original line up in action when they take to the Talking Heads stage tomorrow. Andy Davis, James Warren, ‘Mutter’ Slater

Date

Show of the Week: A Marvellous Year for Plums

ANTHONY Andrews, Nicholas Le Prevost and Imogen Stubbs lead the cast in the world premiere of Hugh Whitemore’s sophisticated political thriller, which examines a flashpoint in British history that still resonates today. A Marvellous Year for Plums

Date

Between the Scales

RENOWNED Irish music ensemble Lúnasa bring their energetic, atmospheric blend of contemporary and traditional compositions to Turner Sims on Thursday, as part of their most extensive UK tour to date. With seven albums to their credit Lúnasa has

Date

Gig of the Week: Michael Kiwanuka

HOTLY tipped Michael Kiwanuka opens his spring tour with a south coast date on Sunday. Following the release of his acclaimed debut album Home Again and a successful appearance at SXSW in Texas, the soulful singer is going out on the road and

Date

Soap doom hits ratings

DEATH, murder, rape, cancer, misery. And BBC bosses wonder why no one watches EastEnders any more. Ratings have plunged to less than six million for the first time in its history, down from a historic high of more than three times that. They’ve

Date

Bringing their beat to the south

THEY promise thundering rhythms, huge drums, dramatic choreography, haunting bamboo flute and playful percussion. Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers will bring their dramatic stage show to the south coast tomorrow night. The group has been the driving

Date

Jeffrey joins all star cast at The Mayflower

IT’S Hi De Hi to The Mayflower this Christmas. The national institution that is Jeffery Holland will join the star line up as Dame Trott in pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk. He’s best known for his portrayals of Spike in BBC TV’s Hi-De-Hi and

Date

Passenger numbers fall again at Southampton airport

PASSENGER numbers at Southampton Airport fell 3.1 per cent last month. A total of 139,260 million passengers passed through the airport's terminals in April, down from 143,672 in the same month last year. Combining the March and April

Date

Young girl 'nearly died' after burglars targeted her home

IT IS almost impossible to measure the impact being burgled can have on a person, but one dad believes it almost cost him his daughter’s life. Having, hours earlier, found his family’s home had been broken into, Paul Cox then found himself battling

Date

Premier League set for its deciding day

The questions hang in the air as the final Sunday of a compelling season draws closer, writes Frank Malley. Can QPR boss Mark Hughes take his team to the Etihad stadium and earn the point which would escape relegation and almost certainly deprive

Date

Couple who drove off cliff could not live without each other

A couple who drove off a 300ft cliff in a suicide pact had a destructive relationship and could not live with or without each other, family members have said. Paul Charles, 53, and Jacqueline Charles, 48, were killed when the blue Renault Scenic

Date

Stabbing police search for plastic bag man

POLICE investigating the multiple stabbings in Southampton are eager to trace a man who had his hand wrapped in a plastic bag. The man, who is described as having dark skin, entered the Alexandra pub in Bellvue Road on Tuesday evening, just

Date

Bland in contention on the European Tour

RICHARD Bland moved to nine-under-par after his second round in the Madeira Islands Open, putting him into contention for a European Tour victory. The Southampton-based professional shot a round of five-under today, adding to the four-under

Date

Goal line technology tested at St. Mary's

GOAL-LINE technology moved a step closer to being introduced in football after a day of tests at St Mary’s – and could even be in place by the time Saints kick-off the new Premier League season. Hampshire-based company Hawk-Eye had their cutting-edge

Date

Survival fight set to ‘go down to the wire’ for Pompey

PORTSMOUTH’S fight for survival will go to the wire, but a takeover by fans is feasible, the club’s administrator said yesterday. However, Trevor Birch, head of PKF insolvency practice, warned that liquidation remained a real threat.

Date

Redknapp dismisses Barcelona Bale link

Harry Redknapp has dismissed a report claiming Tottenham have agreed a fee with Barcelona for the sale of star winger Gareth Bale. Spanish newspaper Marca this morning suggested that Spurs had sanctioned Bale's departure to the current European champions

Date

Norovirus outbreak

A HAMPSHIRE hospital has been hit by another outbreak of norovirus. Friends and relatives of patients at Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester are asked to restrict visits where possible to avoid spreading the stomach bug. Visiting times

Date

Health boss says sorry for Gary's death

I’M sorry – that was the categorical apology to grieving parents after a health boss admitted failings led to their son not being given immediate emergency treatment for pneumonia from which he later died. Rob and Tracy Lovett battled to get medical

Date

End or era for Island hovercraft manufacturing

THE final hovercraft hull has rolled off the production line at Griffon Hoverwork’s factory on the Isle of Wight. The aluminium hull is now being moved to Griffon’s main site at Merlin Quay, Woolston where it will be fitted out for sea trials next

Date

Fans create Saints' shrine at work

THEY are loyal members of Nigel Adkins’ red and white army who are on a mission to transform their office into a shrine to their beloved Saints. Armed with paint brushes and rollers staff at CPN Construction Services in Southampton are keeping

Date

Supermarket drops multi-storey plans

ASDA has scrapped controversial plans to build a multi-storey car park at one of its Hampshire stores. An application to extend the Totton branch of Asda and provide an extra layer of parking was approved last year – despite strong objections

Date

Drunk duo pay price of break-in

TWO drunken men broke into a Southampton house late at night thinking it was a shop, the city crown court was told. It was not until they heard the voice of the woman occupier that they realised they had kicked in the front door of a house, Judge

Date

New training college opens

THOUSANDS of young people are set to get the building blocks for successful careers thanks to a new specialist training facility that has opened in Southampton. The £500,000 ATL Training College in Burgoyne Road, Thornhill, expects to see more

Date

Solbakken set for Wolves job

Former FC Copenhagen and Cologne coach Stale Solbakken is expected to become the new Wolves manager. The 44-year-old, a former Norway international, is odds-on to replace Mick McCarthy, who was sacked as boss in February. Interim manager Terry

Date

Bilal keen to grab his second chance

HE is most well-known for frustrating Australia as England’s 12th man at the start of the 2009 Ashes. But Bilal Shafayat is determined to show Hampshire fans why he was once rated an England player of the future destined for more than a mere

Date

Photos that angered boyfriend accused of Emily murder

THE JURY in the trial of man accused of murdering his girlfriend Emily Longley have been shown photos as she posed with semi-naked waiters. These photos, which were posted on the internet, were a cause of embarrassment and anger to the defendant

Date

More carriages for overcrowded trains

THERE is light at the end of the tunnel for Hampshire commuters following moves to add extra carriages to packed out London-bound trains. The Government has announced 48 carriages and 2,400 extra seats on trains across the South West Trains

Date

Ex-Saint set for Winchester exit?

PROLIFIC ex-Saints striker Jamie White may have played his last game for Sydenhams Wessex Premier champions Winchester City. Having pledged to help the 22-year-old get a foothold back into the professional game, City owner Paul McCarthy has

Date

Vote for your top Hampshire player

Hampshire Cricket today unveil a new Fans’ Player of the Month award, supported by Carling. Voted for by supporters, it gives an opportunity to honour the players for excellent contributions on a monthly basis. During the season four awards will

Date

Parents vow to fight special school closure plan

Parents have vowed to continue their fight to save a school for autistic children after bosses confirmed it is to close. Earlier this year, the Daily Echo revealed bosses at Hampshire Autistic Society were considering closing Hope Lodge School

Date

Eastleigh snap up second summer signing

EASTLEIGH have secured their second summer signing, bringing in defender Osei Sankofa from Blue Square Bet South rivals Boreham Wood. The 27-year-old former Charlton Athletic player has agreed personal terms and joins the Spitfires on an initial one-year

Date

Motorcyclist fights for life after crash

A motorcyclist is fighting for his life after a crash in Hampshire. The male motorcyclist was rushed to Southampton General Hospital following the accident where he is being treated for life threatening injuries. Emergency services

Date

Funeral due to be held for Hampshire soldier

A HEARTBROKEN family will today join the country as it mourns the loss of hero Sapper Connor Ray, who died after suffering serious injuries in a Taliban blast on the eve of his 21st birthday. Hundreds of people are expected to pay their respects

Date

Southampton port freight workers balloted for strike action

TRANSPORT union members are to be balloted for strike action at Southampton port's main rail freight operator in a year long dispute over rosters and restructuring. RMT union General Secretary Bob Crow said last night he was confident they

Date

Winchester Cathedral's £10.5m exhibition bid

SECRETS of England's royal past could soon be revealed at Winchester Cathedral as part of a new £10.5m project. The cathedral is applying for the cash from the Heritage Lottery Fund to launch three exhibitions, including unveiling the bones