• A HIGHLY-paid Hampshire health trust boss finally quit her position – but left with a payout of £190,000.

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust’s Katrina Percy, who was moved sideways to a specially created role after resigning as chief executive following a damning report by the Care Quality Commission, resigned completely amid more controversy over her hefty pay-off.

She stepped down following weeks of mounting pressure from relatives of people who died while under the trust’s care.

  • BUSINESSES and the community rallied round to save a historic Hampshire transport link.

The future of the Hythe ferry was in doubt after the firm running the service, White Horse Ferries, admitted it was “unlikely” to continue operating.

But a petition set up to save Hythe ferry and pier gathered nearly 1,500 signatures, while other boat companies confirmed they are looking at taking over the service.

  • RIO Olympic swimming gold medallist Adam Peaty opened a £9million Hampshire leisure centre.

Holly Hill Leisure Centre in Sarisbury boasts a 25-metre pool with six swimming lanes and learner pool, a state of the art gym, exercise room and dance studio.

Adam, who was the first British male swimmer to win gold for 24 years, swam to glory, winning Team GB’s first medal of Rio 2016 in the men’s 100m breaststroke with a world record.

  • SAINTS legend Franny Benali was given a hero’s welcome after finishing his extraordinary 1,400-mile run and cycle around all 44 Premier league and Championship football grounds.

He received a rapturous welcome from 30,000 fans at St Mary’s at the end of his odyssey.

Hundreds more lined the route from the Ageas Bowl at West End to urge on the former defender who raised around £350,000 from his marathon efforts.

  • A MUM diagnosed with melanoma – the most deadly form of skin cancer – thanked her local community for raising £30,000 to help her battle the cancer.

The money will be used to fund alternative therapies that could prolong her life.

The wife of former AFC Bournemouth player John Bailey, Emma Bailey, was overwhelmed with the support of a major fundraising drive launched after the local community learned she was seriously ill.

She has said an emotional thank you to all the people in her New Forest village who pulled together for the fundraising drive.

She is the wife of former AFC Bournemouth player John Bailey.

DAME Judi Dench came to Hampshire, it was announced, to boost a Winchester family-support charity.

She was due to appear at an event at Winchester Guildhall on December 12.

The funds raised would help Home-Start Winchester which provides friendship and emotional and practical support for parents.

  • SAINTS legend Francis Benali completed his first day of a two week challenge as he looks to raise a million pounds for charity.

The former Southampton FC player made it to Bristol today as part of Benali’s Big Race which will see him cover at least 100 miles a day to raise vital fund for Cancer Research UK.

He will be running one marathon and then cycling the remaining distance every day. So far the dad-of-two has raised more than £275,000.

  • A HAMPSHIRE lorry driver pleaded guilty to causing the horrific crash which killed a mother and three children on the A34 in August.

Tomasz Kroker, 30, from Andover, admitted four counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one of causing serious injury by dangerous driving when he appeared at Reading Crown Court.

Tracy Houghton, 45, and her two sons, Ethan, 13, and Joshua, 11, and her partner’s daughter Aimee Goldsmith, 11, died in the crash near Newbury which happened when Kroker smashed into stationary traffic while scrolling through music selections on his phone.

  • SOUTHAMPTON city councillor Satvir Kaur headed across the Atlantic to help Hilary Clinton fight her presidential election campaign.

Cllr Kaur was approached by Hilary Clinton’s election management to help in North Carolina as they liked her enthusiastic style.

A former University of Southampton student, Cllr Kaur was tasked to go knocking door to door, setting up street stalls and speaking at rallies to encourage the American people to vote for Mrs Clinton.

  • CAMPAIGNERS were gearing up for a second “Battle of Dibden Bay” after Southampton docks owner ABP admitted its controversial plans to build a new terminal were likely be revived.

Bosses said they must find a way of expanding the port, which is fast running out of space.

But a new bid to develop the site on the western edge of Southampton Water was set to put them on collision course with villagers, conservationists and wildlife lovers.