THE end of the year is almost upon us.

So the Daily Echo is taking a look back across the year to remember the big stories to make our pages over the past 12 months.

March brought some heroics from Hampshire teachers who saved a teenager's life with a defibrillator, the 2015 Miss Hampshire contest and a murder investigation after an Eastleigh newsagent was found badly beaten.

Here are the major stories from March:

  • MARCH didn’t get off to a bright start as a Southampton British Legion club was targeted by vandals.

The Daily Echo reported how the club in Bitterne faced bills for thousands of pounds after the branch, based in Upper Deacon Road was burgled and smashed up five times – in just two weeks.

Vandals even broke into an outdoor shed and opened nitrogen gas cylinders which could have destroyed the club had they exploded.

Falklands War veteran and the former leader of Southampton City Council, Royston Smith, branded the vandals the “lowest form of life”.

The attacks came as the club was preparing to mark 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War.

Daily Echo:

Bitterne Royal British Legion members after their clubhouse was burgled

  • A TWELFTH-century Hampshire church was almost destroyed when a fire ripped through it.

Scores of firefighters battled to save St Andrews Church in Timsbury, near Romsey after the blaze broke out.

Shocked residents and churchgoers watched on as the firefighters tried to quell the flames.

They managed to save some of the church’s treasures including an irreplaceable 1613 chained Bible, but the tower and historic wooden vestry were destroyed.

Daily Echo:

  • COMMUTERS in Hampshire were facing two months of rail disruption.

Thousands of train passengers had their travel plans thrown into chaos after the line closures, which saw services running through Southampton Central railway station replaced by buses at weekends.

It was part of a £20m improvement project to add 30 sets of points between Southampton Central and Redbridge stations. Network Rail and South West Trains Alliance said the work will “improve the reliability of trains”.

They say there has been a huge increase in the number of people using trains at the station over the past ten years, and with more than six million using it every year that is increasing the strain on infrastructure.

However the plans were criticised by business leaders who hit out at the disruption.

  • A PAIR of controversial car dealers who had been lying low amid a storm of complaints over defective cars and bouncing refund cheques were back in business – in the same premises as a sexy underwear shop and boutique.

A Daily Echo investigation revealed that Stan Rudgley and Richard Burbage had resurfaced after closing Hampshire dealerships following fury over the cars they were selling and breaking promises to make amends.

We revealed how the pair were involved in a new online car dealership, Valley Cars – which operates from the same premises as a shop selling ladies lingerie called Ophelia’s Boutique in Botley.

The Daily Echo tried to contact Mr Rudgley about the latest developments – but instead of revealing what was going on he unleashed a torrent of abuse by email.

Daily Echo:

Richard Burbage, left, and Stan Rudgley, right

  • NOT many people can say they own their own port – despite never having stepped on board a ship.

But one shipping enthusiast built his very own version of Southampton dockyard – in his spare bedroom.

Clive Curtis has been passionate about ships for more than 50 years. The 58-year-old from Outer Circle in Coxford, has collected 36 diecast model ships and spent a week building docks for them to set sail from, in the upstairs of his home.

Grandfather-of-four Clive spends hours at a time tinkering with his newly-built pride and joy. The Southampton General Hospital porter began collecting model ships ten years ago when his friend took him to a toy fair in Devon.

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  • IT is a story that has touched the hearts of thousands.

In March the Daily Echo exclusively reported how Alex Lewis became a triple amputee when a cold developed into a flesh-eating bug.

The 34-year-old, from Stockbridge pictured, was however determined to fight back and insisted he is lucky to be alive and the near-death experience has made him realise how precious life is.

He was adamant that the Daily Echo told his story to inspire people never to lose hope, however horrendous the situation they find themselves in.

Despite the experience changing the dad-of-one’s life forever, his has a positive outlook and hopes that he will one day walk again with the use of prosthetic limbs.

The Daily Echo backed a trust set up to provide vital support to Alex and his family called the Al Lewis Trust.

It aims to fund rehabilitation costs as he searches for a suitable home and ways to help him re-establish his independence.

Daily Echo: Alex Lewis with his son Sam.

Alex Lewis with his son Sam

  • A HAMPSHIRE schoolboy had his life saved by teachers – including one attending a job interview – when he collapsed and suffered a heart attack on the sports hall floor.

Sam Mangoro’s heart stopped when he was taking part in a PE lesson at the Mountbatten School, in Romsey.

But Emma Denham who was being observed taking a class as part of the interview process at the school quickly leapt into action along with other staff who gave the 16-year-old life-saving CPR using a defibrillator that the school had only purchased a few months earlier.

The story prompted the Daily Echo to launch our save a life in schools campaign which urges all Hampshire schools to obtain life-saving defibrillators.

Daily Echo: Sam Mangoro back at Mountbatten School, pictured with Janet Barrett, Lyn Lovell, Mark Chance and Heather McIlroy

Sam Mangoro with Mountbatten staff

  • THE true cost of tobacco use was laid bare as it was revealed that smoking sets Southampton back by a massive £75m a year.

The eye-watering figure, which includes spending £2m picking up fag-ends, came days after plans were unveiled to stop smokers from lighting up in outdoor children’s play areas.

And it comes amid estimations that more than £81m is spent on cigarettes and tobacco in the city every year, while £22.5m in work output is lost every year simply as a result of early deaths related to smoking in the city.

The figures were revealed in a Southampton City Council report in response to data released by the city’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment report showing 22.6 per cent of adults in the city smoke – above the national average of 20 per cent.

  • THE Miss Hampshire contest ended with a row after it was revealed that its winner Charlotte Giles, 22, lived miles outside the county in Twickenham.

However organiser Paula Langley said that it was within the rules of the national contest to allow any girl to enter any of the regional rounds – regardless of where they live – providing it is within 50 miles of Hampshire.

Fellow contestant Michaela Cater of Holbury called upon the rules to change and said that she felt “let down” by the organisers of the competition.

Daily Echo:

Charlotte Giles

  • THE Daily Echo revealed plans for a new £50m luxury hotel complex set to bring more than 1,300 jobs to Southampton.

The Southampton Harbour Hotel, which could become the city’s first five-star establishment would begin in summer.

The firm behind the plans says that 300 jobs will be created at the hotel while more than 1,000 other positions could be created as a result of the new complex.

The vision for the site, is centred on a 76-flat hotel in Ocean Village which will extend out into the marina and feature a spa, rooftop restaurant and champagne bar with stunning views of Southampton Water. It will also feature 12 luxury duplex flats.

Work on the site will begin in July, and could be completed within 18 months.

  • A SOUTHAMPTON diner created a supersize burger challenge.

Buzz’s Diner has produced a giant burger that weighs in at nearly 2kg, and comes with a 48oz pattie, eight slices of bacon, half a pound of cheese, a huge portion of mushrooms and is served on an eye-watering 1kg portion of chips.

The burger called “Buzz’s Big One” costs £26.95 and has some 5,000 calories in it – which is twice the recommended daily calorie count for an average man.

Daily Echo reporter Michael Carr tried taking on the challenge but was badly beaten by the burger and failed with more than half of the burger left strewn across his plate.

Daily Echo: Michael Carr looks at the burger in awe at Buzz's Diner in Southampton

Daily Echo reporter Michael Carr takes on the challenge at Buzz's Diner

  • POLICE launched a murder investigation after a Hampshire dad was brutally attacked and left for dead just yards from his doorstep.

Newsagent Choudry Zishan was viciously beaten as he set off for work in the early hours on March 3. Medics tried desperately to keep him alive as he lay dying in Eastleigh High Street, close to his home above Newsmarket newsagents.

But despite being rushed to Southampton General Hospital he tragically succumbed to his injuries, sparking a major murder inquiry.

The killing, which happened close to the Swan Centre shopping complex, sent shockwaves through what is a close-knit community.

Brothers Sam and Jon McKinley were later found guilty of murder and jailed for a minimum of 28 years each.

Daily Echo:

Choudhry Zishan