FEW albums have had as traumatic a genesis as Smile, the Beach Boys' legendary "lost" follow-up to Pet Sounds. Brian Wilson, the genius who had transformed the Beach Boys from purveyors of feel-good, sunshine-splashed pop to the Beatles' only serious
LIFE began at 40 for golfer Gary Emerson in Moscow last night. The Salisbury veteran, who celebrated his 40th birthday last autumn, chalked up the first European Tour victory of a long and chequered career when be brilliantly won the BMW Russian Open
DAVID Unsworth did not take long to show why he was given the title of chief penalty taker upon arriving at Fratton Park. With 15 minutes gone of Pompey's opening day clash against Birming-ham City, Unsworth stepped forward to equalise Robbie Savage's
ANDY Forbes came in for some ribbing from his new teammates after becoming one of a hat-trick of Eastleigh players to score on their debut at Tonbridge Angels. After netting 76 goals for Winchester City last season and attracting the attention of a posse
BROCKENHURST were a team in a hurry on Saturday as they notched up a 3-0 opening day win over Christchurch at Grigg Lane. Three first-half goals inside 25 minutes did the trick for the Badgers leaving their player/manager Graham Kemp a happy man after
THE Boatmen of VTFC launched their new Sydenhams Wessex League campaign in impressive style, their stunning 6-0 broadside sinking Alton Town without trace. Although it was a 'home' game for VTFC, the match was actually played at Alton's Anstey Road as
CHELSEA had too much power and experience for Southampton Saints' young guns in yesterday's FA Women's Premier League Southern Division opener. Saints have lost a clutch of players since finishing runners-up last season and, though their youthful replacements
NIC POTHAS blamed his "amateurish" teammates for Hampshire's fifth defeat in six one-day league games. Hampshire's bowlers had to rush towards the end of the Glamorgan innings in the knowledge that they would be docked six runs if they did not begin the
A YOUNG woman was still recovering in hospital today after being seriously injured when a boat struck a mooring buoy in the middle of Southampton Water after the Cowes Week firework display. The victim, who has not been named, was among seven people on
MAPPING agency Ordnance Survey is setting up a new business partnership with SOLACE, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives. The deal gives OS closer links to local government and means they will now supply SOLACE with mapping services. OS director
SOUTHAMPTON'S Peter Waterfield and his diving partner Leon Taylor launched Britain on the Olympic medal trail on day one of the Games in Athens - and simultaneously ended a 44-year drought. Their silver in the 10m platform synchronised competition was
ISLE of Wight breaststroker Darren Mew's hopes of an Olympic medal were literally blown away on the ripples of a windswept pool in Athens last night. Mew - officially ranked second in the world this year and fourth in the all-time list - could finish
SCORES of youngsters have been enjoying an activity packed summer holiday in Winchester thanks to the work of the city's Tower Arts Centre. The children, all aged under 16, have been learning a whole host of new skills in a week-long series of events
A MAJOR junction built to ease summer gridlock in the New Forest isn't working. Critics say the recently opened right-turn facility on the A326 at Colbury has done nothing to cut traffic congestion in the centre of Lyndhurst. Vehicles are continuing to
NO one could accuse civic leader Mel Kendal of failing to face up to the problem of littering in the New Forest. For the council chief is volunteering to let youngsters use his mug for target practice - using chewing gum as ammunition. Cllr Kendal has
SHE WAS given just half an hour to live. But now, against all the odds, Hampshire teenager Christina Corp, pictured above, is out of her hospital bed and on her feet. The battling horse lover sustained serious head and pelvic injuries in an horrific car
SOUTHAMPTON diver Peter Waterfield was the pride of Hampshire at the weekend after winning a silver medal at the Athens Olympics. THE biggest celebration for Southampton diver Pete Waterfield's silver success in the Olympics wasn't at the poolside in
A YOUNG woman was still recovering in hospital today after being seriously injured when a boat struck a mooring buoy in the middle of Southampton Water after the Cowes Week firework display. The victim, who has not been named, was among seven people on
TOTALLY Tennis performance player Tanya Hasking has jetted off to the USA after securing a tennis scholarship at the University of North Texas in San Antonio. Hasking, who was 18 at the beginning of August, has played at Totally Tennis since she was seven
DOGS herding ducks, horses sitting on their hind legs, the New Forest Plonkers and a parading band of Hogwart's wizards - it could only be the Southampton Show. Thousands of people turned out for the two-day spectacle, sponsored by the Daily Echo, at
A YOUNG woman was still recovering in hospital today after being seriously injured when a boat struck a mooring buoy in the middle of Southampton Water after the Cowes Week firework display. The victim, who has not been named, was among seven people on
WITH several thousand boats descending on a small stretch of Southampton Water, the Cowes Week firework display could well be a recipe for disaster. Everything from small dinghies to luxury powerboats and packed ferries line up to watch the finale to
RESIDENTS at Anglesey Lodge in Gosport showed off their talent to two local artists ahead of the Hampshire Autistic Society traditional summer fete there later this month. Jan Milsom and Marsha Hale, both from Hedge End, paid a visit to the home which
PAWS 'n' More is a service for pets and pet owners. People who are busy or going on holiday will be pleased to hear about the reliable and friendly service provided by an experienced member of NARP (National Association of Registered Pet sitters) and
SO WHAT do you want to do? The community centre wants to hear from the youth of Hatch Warren. The centre is there for us all, so it's important that everyone gets a say on the activities and facilities that they want. There must be lots of young people
CROWD puller: More Ellisfield residents came to last Monday's parish council meeting than for many months. The reason - Pc Andy Reid, our new local bobby, was there to say hello. He brought good news. First, and most importantly, he said: "Any problems
A Fair Oak playground has been closed after killjoy yobs turned it into a late-night drinking den. Glass from broken bottles was scattered across the slide and playing surface, making it unsafe for young children to play. Local residents had been kept
THE POINT in Eastleigh has a spectacular autumn season ahead with a host of exciting dance and theatre groups to entertain. Organisers have scoured the country to bring locals the very best award-winning and inspirational dance companies and productions
TEA for two... and hopefully considerably more, will be on the go at the Whitewater senior citizens' garden tea party this Wednesday. It is to take place in the beautiful garden at Bannisters' Farm, Mattingley, by kind permission of Peter and Charlotte
A LOCAL school has received a prestigious award for its commitment to improving facilities for its students and the local community. Wildern School in Hedge End has been given the prime minister's public buildings award in recognition of the architectural
ROMAN site: After another huge crowd came to look around last weekend, the diggers are now winding down their work for 2004 on site and will leave soon. They have had a very happy time in Silchester and got some very good sun tans! We look forward to
LAST week: The roadworks didn't seem to create too much of a problem, although some mindless person or persons in the early hours of Sunday did something to the lights. When I went through the town in the early hours the lights were not to be seen and
Sir.- Just over a week ago, I, and I assume several others, witnessed two mentally inadequate youngsters systematically wreck a small car and cause damage to some adjacent garages. This happened within the confines of a block of garages, in South Ham.
Sir.-On behalf of the Basingstoke and District branch of the Alzheimer's Society, I should like to thank all those who contributed to the success of our Awareness Week collections. Thanks goes to the generous people who put money in our tins and the Friends
More than 47 tonnes of citrus fruit at Southampton's port had to be destroyed because it was deemed unfit for human consumption. The variety of mandarin, known as kinnos, had been imported in two containers from Pakistan but was deemed "out of grade"
THE Olympic Games will open today in the spirit of peace - but with the grim spectre of terrorism casting its shadow. The 28th Olympiad will be held amid the biggest security operation the world has ever since the 9/11 New York atrocity and Southampton's
PAUL STURROCK has still not given up the battle to keep James Beattie. Although the 26-year-old is yet to hand in a written transfer request, Beattie has verbally indicated that he wants to leave, with Aston Villa understood to be his preferred destination
DAVID PRUTTON denied James Beattie's possible departure was causing dressing room unrest and laughed off his on-field spat with Antti Niemi. Saints opened their Premiership campaign with a dismal display in a 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa. The 2004/05 curtain-raiser
SOME of the pre-match talk was of unrest and disquiet in the Saints camp. Unfortunately, if those responsible for printing such stories in the past week were looking for vindication, events on the Villa Park pitch seemed to back them up. Within minutes
EX-Pompey winger Mark Kelly celebrated his first competitive match in charge of Salisbury City with a 1-0 wiin against Folkestone Invicta on Saturday - and got the seal of approval from new signing Mark Lisk. Kelly, who works full-time with the AFC Bournemouth
RICHARD Gillespie shrugged off his recent back problems to get Bashley's Ryman Division 1 campaign off to an encouraging start at Croydon. Having lost seasoned campaigners like Mark Lisk and Mark Jones this summer, the Foresters' faithful were understandably
HYTHE & DIBDEN left the New Forest on Saturday evening still wondering how they weren't taking any points back to the Waterside following their 3-2 defeat by Ringwood Town. "I just don't know how we lost this match," sighed Hythe & Dibden chairman
NEVER mind promotion in the championship, the Hampshire Hawks are now in a battle to avoid relegation from the totesport National League's first division. A fifth defeat in six leaves Hampshire needing to win their last two one-day games of the season
SOUTH WILTS were forced to put their ECB Southern Electric Premier League championship celebrations on hold after Havant gate crashed the champagne party by inflicting a five-wicket defeat on the leaders at Lower Bemerton. The Salisbury club collected
WHAT a crazy week it's been for Liphook & Ripsley. Just seven days after being skittled for 38 by Havant, they bounced back and beat BAT Sports - ending any prospect of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League championship trophy staying at Southern
THE BUILD-UP, the excitement, the hype... it lasted 12 minutes. If there was a danger of Saints' first league game of the season being overshadowed by James Beattie's potential move from St Mary's, then it was just as well. It certainly seemed the attentions
Today's Principal Arrivals: NYK Lodestsar, container, 0800, 207; Red Osprey, roro, 0804, rp; CFF Solent, roro, 0830, 30; Sylvia, cargo, 0900, 44; Ville De Virgo, container, 1200, 204; Nordsee, cargo, 1400, 205w Today's Principal Sailings: Emden, roro,
SOUTHAMPTON financial services group Skandia has unveiled a bumper set of interim results With Cowes Week, which Skandia sponsors, still fresh in the memory, the company announced UK premium income up a massive 59 per cent on the same six months last
PIZZA giant Domino is looking to set up five new stores in south Hampshire to satisfy booming demand for takeaway food. The new stores will each employ up to 30 people, creating 150 new jobs in the region. Two of the new stores will be located in Southampton
You Are What You Eat, Dr Gillian McKeith, Celador, £12.99 THOSE of you familiar with the Channel Four series You Are What You Eat will be well aware of Dr Gillian McKeith. A small, spritely figure who looks 25 from the back and 65 from the front, she
FAREHAM'S Vanessa Hobbs produced some steady performances in her first Olympics. The 17-year-old member of the Southampton-based Dynamo gymnastics club was competing in the women's artistic events. Hobbs was 42nd out of 85 in the women's balance beam
THE first antisocial behaviour order in the country to be imposed on a persistent shoplifter has been handed out to a 42-year-old Winchester man. Stephen John Davies was made the subject of the order after repeatedly stealing from shops in Winchester
A MAN who collapsed and died outside Winchester's registry office two months ago had almost ten times the lethal dose of heroin substitute methadone in his system, a court has heard. Long-term substance misuser Donald McCallum died on May 25 after consuming
WINCHESTER tenants continue to snub the council's efforts to interest them in the future of their homes. The council is consulting tenants about the future management of their houses through a series of roadshows. But so far only 22 people have attended
ROMSEY and its market go together like Southampton and the docks. But street trading rules evolved over centuries in the Hampshire town are in line for a shake-up, after being dubbed confusing and unfair. At the moment, Test Valley Council, Hampshire
THEY all had one thing in common - their name. About 50 members of the Hampshire-based Tyrrell Family History Society staged their annual get together in the New Forest. The reunion is always held at the famous Sir Walter Tyrrell pub, near Brook. It is
POLICE are hunting a man who attempted to abduct a 14-year-old girl in broad daylight as she walked along a busy Southampton street. It's the fourth attempted abduction in less than two months on the city's streets although police are not linking any
GREEN-fingered residents are needed in Millbrook to help transform an overgrown piece of land into a spectacular organic vegetable plot for the whole community. The farm, in Green Lane, has picked up a £4,000 cash grant from the Outer Shirley Regeneration
ST MARY'S Church in Southampton was the venue for an over-50s celebration of life. Attractions included a performance by The Southampton City Albion Band with the Crescent Singers. The special service was the first event of Southampton's annual Over-50s
THESE intrepid Sea Scouts from Southampton are the third group to receive a share of cash in our £10,000 give-away. The 9th Itchen and Woolston Methodist Sea Scouts have received £150 in the Daily Echo Combined Insurance Make it Happen awards. We teamed
A WICKHAM woman has blasted planners who gave the go-ahead for a pair of affordable homes next door to her elderly parents. Jenny Hollis, of Buddens Road, led a band of more than 100 protesters against the plans by Winchester Housing Trust in her street
THE Band of the 6th Fleet of the US Navy will make a rare appearance in the UK to bring a taste of Americana to the Grand Military Tattoo at Fort Nelson near Fareham next month. Stationed in Naples in Italy, the band rarely performs in the UK. It is flying
LIFEBOATS: Mortimer and District Branch of the RNLI is holding its annual book sale on Saturday, September 25, from 10am to 2pm, at St John's Hall, Mortimer. The organisers depend on donations of good saleable books, either hardbacks or paperbacks, children's
CHRIST Church, Reading Road, Kids' Club: A special day of fun activities has been organised for those between the ages of five and 11 years old, on Tuesday, August 24. The day will run from 10am until 2pm, and anyone attending is asked to wear old, comfortable
BASINGSTOKE Horticultural Society: The next meeting is at Kempshott Village Hall, off Pack Lane, at 7.30pm, on Monday, and is entitled "Growing and Showing" by Mr Hooper. You can bring plants/fruit/veg for showing. Also, Martin Burr has resigned. Arthur
EASTLEIGH has shaken off its unfashionable tag to become a tourism hot spot. Last year it was revealed that tourism was worth more than £77m to the borough. And special events by Hamble Valley Tourism - the initiative set up by Eastleigh Council to drive
FOOTPATHS: The footpath group will be meeting on Saturday, August 21, at 10am at the village club, and not on the last Saturday of this month. There still seems to be a lot of vegetation to clear, including growback, and our waymarking needs checking.
CHARCOAL: The conservation group is also still offering charcoal for sale at £3 per bag. Contact Jean on 780853 for more details. VOLUNTEER: The editorial team of the Oakley Link are still looking for a volunteer to take up the post of delivery manager
GET-TOGETHER: There will be an afternoon get-together on Tuesday, between 2pm and 4pm, at Heath End Hall. There will also be a bring-and-buy and a raffle, as well as refreshments and activities. Everyone is welcome, and transport can be arranged. Call
OAKRIDGE Regeneration news: The village green landscaping is ongoing through this month. Turf has been laid and is being watered, and planting will commence in October/ November. Public access to the green has yet to be determined, to allow time for the
HAMPSHIRE County Council: The council is still holding £460,000 from the proceeds of the sale of The Grange. This will be used towards the development of the area around the barn. Alan Turton has got his finger on the pulse of this one. He is like a dog
EVERGREENS: The Evergreens had their August meeting last week, when three fire and rescue officers came to talk to the group. Jean Wright said: "It was very interesting and different from the talk they gave us last year." She added: "They demonstrated
Sir.-I recently read of the controversial plans for Dr Weaver's surgery, in Old Basing, which were opposed by the parish council. The reason given was that it would spoil the character in the conservation area. In my opinion, the conservation area has
Sir.-Your St George's Day campaign seems to be gathering support, but I wonder what it is about George that has got you so enthusiastic? The latest scholarship tells us that he was probably a Christian martyr in Palestine in about 300AD. That's it; the
Sir.-I write in response to "Traffic calming supported" (Letters, August 6). There have been very few accidents in Heath End Road during the 22 years I have lived nearby. Even so, some people were concerned that the 40mph limit was too high. It so happens
PAUL STURROCK has challenged those conducting a whispering campaign against him to step out from the shadows. The Saints boss was refusing to blame recent national newspaper stories of disunity for Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa. But he admitted
PAUL STURROCK felt some of his team allowed themselves to be "bullied" out of Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa. The Saints boss admitted he was "mystified" by the contrast between a dire first-half performance and an improved display in the second-half
THE recent British solo ice dance championships in Sheffield brought success for four Basingstoke Ice Skating Club members, writes Peter Phipps. Charles Howard-Jones took home a silver medal in the under-14 primary men's category. The 13-year-old, who
