Alan Mew powered back into contention for his European Seniors card at Pestano Golf Resort in Portugal yesterday. A level par third round of 71 lifted the 49-year-old Stoneham clubman into a tie for 11th place at Final Tour School. With one last big push
SECOND-placed Leicester's loss at Burnley in their midweek game-in-hand left Pompey fans exuberant about their team's seven-point lead in Division 1. But Pompey boss Harry Redknapp was not looking at the automatic promotion positions at all - his eyes
THEY called her Victoria Warsash. A simple brass plaque bore the name given to her by people she did not know. It was a small congregation who gathered to pay their respects to the woman whose remains were washed up on the shores of Warsash two weeks
A POWERBOAT enthusiast has been ordered to pay £2,000 court costs and a £120 fine after endangering the lives of other boat users on the River Hamble. Richard Purssell drove his brand new vessel - Spooky - at speeds of up to 30 knots within 20ft of children
WHIZZ KIDS at a Warsash school are making the most of their computer skills after a dedicated Information Technology suite was opened. Pupils at Hook-with-Warsash school can take advantage of the latest computer equipment that includes interactive control
A COLOURFUL pink and lime green bus - that's the look of Basingstoke's new trailblazing alternative bus service. The Centre Shuttle is a daily service, running every 8-15 minutes from early morning until late at night, taking a route linking West Ham
ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour is successfully being stamped out outside some of Basingstoke's shopping parades, following the installation of CCTV cameras. Shopkeepers and visitors to the shops have noticed the hike in security has helped to deter young people
TRAVELLERS who have moved on to a former gypsy site on the outskirts of Basingstoke have been told they must go by Monday. Hampshire County Council, which owns the site at Peak Copse near Dummer, applied to the county court for an eviction order after
THE half-sister of a baby who died of a methadone overdose confessed to seeing him holding a bottle of the drug in his hands, a family friend told Winchester Crown Court. Neighbour Tracey Beattie told police how Claire Gormley had made the confession
RELIEVED Sherborne St John residents have heaped praise on the emergency services and local authorities for helping them after a gas explosion alert led to a day-long evacuation ordeal. More than 150 residents in Spring Close returned to their homes at
A BASINGSTOKE psychiatrist accused of being a sex addict who raped or indecently assaulted eight women over several years, refused repeatedly at his trial to say how many patients he had been involved in sexual relationships with. Prosecution counsel
A FRUSTRATED family are putting their Basingstoke home up for sale because they are fed-up with being targeted by burglars. Despite spending nearly £700 on security measures, the Purser family have been unable to stop persistent thieves raiding their
TODAY Millbrook is part of Southampton's urban sprawl, home to thousands of families, a commercial and industrial centre on the edge of the docks and a network of busy roads full of traffic heading in and out of the city - but it was not always like this
Ellen MacArthur's single-handed racing career came to an end last weekend with an emphatic victory in the Route du Rhum and a new monohull record for her Open 60 Kingfisher. After an intense battle with south coast rival Mike Golding in Ecover, fought
Tracy Edwards has secured the funds to move forward with her attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy next year in the giant catamaran Maiden 2. Since the campaign was first announced earlier this year, Edwards, who mortgaged her house to raise funds to buy
While Ellen MacArthur takes a well-earned break following her success in the Route du Rhum, her shore team back in Cowes are frantically completing the refit on the giant catamaran Kingfisher 2 in which she will make an attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy
Ali Kefford recently spent a few days with the crew of HMS Southampton in the Crimea. Here's her tale of an adventurous journey... ON REFLECTION, I think it was the smell of burning as we flew over the mountains that scared me the most. But the strong
Southampton's horror away form in London Division Four South-West will be put up for show again tomorrow, but they need to get a grip of this, and quickly, if they are to prevent a hasty return from whence they came last season. Mid-table Purley John
Local derbies between Fareham Heathens and Nomads are traditionally fiery affairs, and tomorrow's meeting of the deadly rivals will be no different as they meet in an intriguing match in Hampshire One. But Heathens will start overwhelming favourites given
Solent Stars cadets emerged 122-64 winners at London United last week - but they very nearly had a wasted journey. The game was close to being called off when the match officials failed to show at the appointed time, but one did eventually turn up and
SIX New Forest commoners have appeared in Southampton Magistrates' Court accused of not paying marking fees to the Verderers for the privilege of allowing their stock to graze on the open Forest. The six all pleaded "Not guilty". They are: Colin John
CONTROVERSIAL parliamentary boundary proposals to split a constituency in the New Forest have been dismissed after a public inquiry. Plans to create a new Boldre and Sway ward and move it into New Forest West were rejected by Assistant Commissioner Roger
EXBURY Gardens in the New Forest is famous for being a fairyland of flowers in the spring, but it's bidding for a reputation as a winter wonderland too. Thousands of lights and millions of gleaming holly berries are being used to transform the gardens
THE great Grease revival is continuing at a Hampshire school hall this week. Just days after the Seventies blockbuster film was given a television re-run and a reunion of its stars, pupils at Hardley School near Fawley are performing their own musical
ERF's exclusive southern dealership, KL Commercials, has supplied Southampton-based Pentalver Transport with four of the newly- launched ERF ECT tractor units. The new model is the result of collaboration between ERF's engineers and their colleagues at
WHENEVER the name Willy Russell is associated with a production, you know you're going to be guaranteed an evening of quality entertainment. Blood Brothers - like Russell's other best-known plays, Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine - offers an extremely
ITS main characters may all be animals, but The Wind in the Willows contains some of the most instantly identifiable characters in the whole of literature. The classic children's story by Kenneth Grahame, loved by generations of young readers and their
Breath of Spring, West End Little Theatre Club, Parish Centre, West End THE main thrust of a comedy is that it should be funny. Laughter was hard to come by in the first act as the actors laboured hard with the thinnest of material. Terry Wakeman made
ELDERLY people were put on alert today after two Southampton women in their 80s were targeted by doorstep conmen. Police appealed for householders to be vigilant following two unrelated attempted break-ins across the city earlier this week. The first
A yachtsman has spoken of how he was rescued by a Chinese fisherman after he and a pal were forced to abandon their boat ten miles off the coast of Malaysia. Southampton sailor Thomas Jordan, 28, was sailing north on his 38ft long yacht 'Blue' from Lumut
A MAN who survived being stabbed through the heart has donated £2,000 to the firefighters who saved his life. Bill Reeves was brought back to life twice by firefighters outside St Mary's fire station after the attack . All ten members of Red Watch leapt
THEY do say things come in threes - and when Saints-mad Hampshire couple Paul and Karen Richards netted £2.2m on the lottery, it was their third win of the day. Earlier Paul had won £427 on the football pools and £10 on the National Lottery Thunderball
ONE of Southampton's leading shopping centres is welcoming in a new era of customer service with a Daily Echo roadshow. Our friendly staff will be selling copies of the newspaper and exclusive goody bags for £1 tomorrow at the Bargate Centre. Children
The best club nights to be seen at in Hampshire. THE PERIOD between Christmas and New Year can sometimes be a bit flat - but not this year. Superstar DJ Judge Jules from Radio 1 will be headlining Spiral - The Christmas Ball on December 27 at Winchester
HE MAY not have hit the musical stratosphere in quite the same way as former duet partner and Neighbours co-star Kylie, but Jason Donovan is still something of a legend in his own right. The Australian soap star who won millions of young fans playing
AMERICAN punksters The Vandals bring their riotous tour bus to Portsmouth on Monday. The band are the founders of the infamous US Kung Fu label and are joined on tour by label mates Audio Karate and Tsunami Bomb. Following a string of UK dates the band
NO ONE would have believed, back in 1974 when Abba first came to public attention after winning the Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo, that the Swedish quartet would still be celebrated more than a quarter of a century later. But in the wonderful
VARIOUS members of Manfred Mann's original band are currently on tour in different guises, but this lot have the edge - they actually contain the man himself. The band lines up as Manfred Mann, Noel McCalla on vocals, Steve Kinch on bass, Mick Rogers
IF SHOWS like Fame Academy and Popstars The Rivals are to be believed, everyone wants a job in the music industry. But not, it seems, in Southampton. Local band Liaison, who describe themselves as "the ultimate party band", play at venues across the south
A PENSIONER branded "a neighbour from hell" this week has said she would be willing to give up one of her kidneys to pay for somewhere else to live. Mary Urry, 79, was given just 14 days to get out of her sheltered accommodation bungalow in East Cowes
A SEVENTEENTH century cottage reduced to rubble earlier this year is to be rebuilt. The Old Forge cottage Durley was razed when permission had only been given to build an extension onto it. The move caused outrage in the village where the thatched cottage
THE CHAIRMAN of the Isle of Wight Council, Councillor Heather Humby, has sent a message of congratulation to Cowes-based yachtswoman, Ellen MacArthur, for her single-handed victory in the gruelling Route du Rhum race. Despite equipment failure and growing
THE memory of a Falklands war hero will live on at the Gosport establishment where he trained. Petty officer marine engineering mechanic David Briggs was killed aboard the ill-fated HMS Sheffield during the 1982 conflict when the ship was hit by an Argentinian
A BUSINESS development will create at least 60 new jobs. MP Andrew Turner will mark the launch of the Ryde Business Centre next Friday, December 6. He will plant a festive fir tree and unveil a commemorative plaque to mark the launch of the £2m industrial
TWO LANTERN parades organised by Ryde Art Works and other community groups are set to light up the winter streets and mark the winter season in Ryde and Sandown. Ryde Art Works and the town's community forum will be setting the streets of Ryde alight
A £1 MILLION concert hall that is to be the "jewel in the crown" of a Chandler's Ford school has suffered thousands of pounds of damage in a drink-fuelled vandalism attack. Picnic benches were hurled through sheet glass windows and doors broken down in
PLANS to build a block of flats near Eastleigh's Boyatt Shopping Centre in Shakespeare Road have been thrown out by councillors - despite an officer's recommendation to give the go-ahead. BW Properties wanted to build ten flats on the site next to Crestwood
England were today on course for another Ashes humiliation after being dismissed for a lowly 185 on the world's fastest pitch just after tea on the opening day of the third Test. Despite captain Nasser Hussain winning the toss for the third time in the
A GROUP of patients waiting for hip and knee replacement operations at Basingstoke hospital are to have their operations in the private sector, at the Hampshire Clinic. The 27 patients have been informed by letter, after discussions with doctors, and
A FERTILITY scientist who allegedly defrauded couples desperate to have children was suicidal and could not cope with his work at a private Basingstoke clinic, a jury heard. Paul Fielding, 44, is accused of defrauding and assaulting women who wanted to
Three years after kicking off his solo racing career with a disastrous attempt on the Mini Transat, Nick Moloney has tasted success with a class win in the Route du Rhum. The Cowes based yachtsman took the Open 50 monohull title on Ashfield Healthcare
Today's Principal Arrivals: Nautila, cargo, 0400, 204W; Autotransporter, ro-ro, 0600, 201 link; Caronia, passenger, 0630, 38/9;Sir Tristram, military, 0800, 101W; Argus, military, 1130, 46; Sea Kestrel, cargo, 1430, 36S. Today's Principal Sailings: Lemmergracht
The winds and storms returned to the Solent for the sixth race in the Tyco Healthcare Hamble Winter Series but the weather hazards paved the way for an enthralling finale to the event. With one day remaining on Sunday, competition in the top two classes
Daily Echo columnist James Stagg has had time to reflect since GBR Challenge were knocked out of the 2003 America's Cup competition. We weren't good enough, he admits candidly but the defeat was still a bitter pill to swallow... It was a long sail home
SAILING groups have launched a major plea for safety on Southampton Water in their parting shots to the Dibden Bay public inquiry. In making its closing statement to the inquiry into plans for a huge container terminal between Hythe and Marchwood, the
The hopes of a return trip to Twickenham for a Hampshire club lies in the hands of the intrepid trio of Tottonians, Portsmouth and Winchester but all are on the road and will have to overturn in-form sides to progress. Tottonians probably have the toughest
It is very much time for both Havant and Basingstoke to put their recent poor runs behind them, but they will have to reset the trend of National League Division Three South and win away from home. Very few sides manage this feat, but Havant, who have
A new venue which has only seen cyclo-cross twice before has been chosen for the South of England Championships taking place this Sunday. A mid-week inspection by race organiser Steve Thomson of Swindon RC suggests course conditions will be: "very heavy
THE New Forest is not so desperate for back-up grazing land for its ponies and cattle that its boundary has to be pushed out into the Fawley area, parts of the Avon Valley and land south of Lymington. That was the view put to the public inquiry into plans
BUSINESS Link Wessex is giving Hampshire businesses a helping hand to devise a plan of action to increase business efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. The latest seminar from Business Link Wessex will help businesses consider their products or
A SOUTHAMPTON student has died suddenly of tuberculosis in the university's halls of residence. Students at the university who were in close contact with the victim are now being screened for the killer disease. They are being tested and treated at the
FURIOUS workers are set to walk out early next year in a row over jobs losses amid huge budget cutbacks at Southampton City Council. About 400 Unison members met at the Civic Centre yesterday to discuss the proposals, first revealed by the Daily Echo
A SPITFIRE memorial sculpture may soon be swooping in to a roundabout outside Southampton International Airport. Councillors on Eastleigh's local committee for the town area have agreed to the sculpture - subject to a feasibility study and consultation
WHEN it comes to the kings of cool then look no further than the Fun Lovin' Criminals. The funky threesome visit Portsmouth Guildhall on Wednesday in support of their latest album, Bag Of Hits, a greatest hits collection featuring all your favourites
WHEN you think award-winning blues the last place that springs to mind is rural Australia. But that's exactly where Geoff Achison come from - and there's no doubting his ability. Achison brings his distinctive blues sound to the Talking Heads on Wednesday
A FARMER is being investigated for allegedly ploughing a field in a bid to stop ramblers walking across it. The land on a farm in East Meon had been earmarked by the Countryside Agency for open access to ramblers. But walking groups were horrified to
ANGRY firefighters on the Isle of Wight claim lives could be put at risk because they say they have been locked-out of their fire station at Newport during the latest round of strikes. The firefighters say that they are being prevented from getting to
FAREHAM mayor Pam Bryant officially declared open a new business in the town. Father and son team Mike and Tony Hansford were delighted to welcome the borough's first citizen to perform the task of declaring them open for business. Situated in the heart
Ofsted report: Bembridge Church of England Primary School. PUPILS and staff at Bembridge Church of England Primary School are celebrating this week following praise in an Ofsted inspection report. The school is a good school and provides "good value for
Ofsted report: Totland Community Primary School A PRIMARY school on the Isle of Wight has been put on special measures after "serious weaknesses" were noted in its performance by a team of Ofsted Inspectors. The Island's council is to take over the running
AN EXHIBITION outlining one of the biggest and most ambitious projects the Island has ever seen, which is aiming to attract hundreds of millions of pounds in investment for the Isle of Wight, has been unveiled in Cowes. Project Cowes which is being developed
As the Island's foremost football team faces an uncertain future, Keiran Fox talks to those most concerned and looks at the possible options. MYSTERY and intrigue surrounds the future of the Isle of Wight's flagship football team. The 114-year-old Newport
TRIBUTE band, The Cavern Beatles, are playing at Ryde Theatre on Friday, December 20. Special rates are available for parties. For tickets call 01983 568099.
A SPITFIRE memorial sculpture may soon be swooping into a roundabout outside Southampton International Airport. Councillors on Eastleigh's local committee for the town area have agreed to the sculpture - subject to a feasibility study and consultation
THE official with the power to close parts of St Mary's has denied trying to make an example of Saints over the row on standing. John de Quidt, chief executive of the Football Licensing Authority, warned supporters they were still drinking in the last-chance
REMEMBER your first Chinese meal? I do. It was about 25 years ago when my parents brought home this strange-smelling food in cartons and tried to teach me the basics of chopsticks. Unfortunately the sticky orange sweet and sour sauce went flying that
WITH less than 30 shopping days to Christmas, you can get into the festive spirit that little bit sooner this year with The Santa Clause 2. Michael Lembeck's wintry comedy is a shamelessly sentimental yet enjoyably daft sequel to the 1994 Disney smash
Films showing in the Hampshire region until December 5. 28 DAYS LATER (18) **: A virus that locks those infected into a permanent state of killing rage, is accidentally released and spreads over the world. Twenty-eight days later, a small group of survivors
