Archive

  • Newport 4 - Croydon 0

    NEWPORT IoW's manager-in-waiting Steve Leigh confessed he might have changed his mind about taking charge next season had the Islanders lost their fight for Ryman 1 survival. Thankfully, it's no longer an issue. Saturday's 4-0 home hammering of relegated

  • Cowes cup glory

    COWES Under-18s became the first Island side to win the Hampshire Youth League Cup when they beat Winchester 3-1 at Gosport yesterday. Now the Cowes youngsters will be aiming for a double celebration when they tackle Winchester again in the final of the

  • Ryman League: Marshall 'goal' peps Eastleigh

    EASTLEIGH will have key home advantage in the Ryman Premier League play-off semi-finals on May 4 after clinching third place with an undistinguished single-goal victory over Heybridge Swifts. The likelihood is that either Braintree Town or Hampton &

  • Ryman League: Newport win - and new boss stays

    NEWPORT IoW's manager-in-waiting Steve Leigh confessed he might have changed his mind about taking charge next season had the Islanders lost their fight for Ryman 1 survival. Thankfully, it's no longer an issue. Saturday's 4-0 home hammering of relegated

  • Ryman League: Holiday's off!

    WHITES pleased manager Nick Holmes as they ended their away travels for this season with a 2-1 win at Hendon. Holmes said: "This was a big battle on a bumpy pitch and our lads learned a little from last week's game against Harrow. We were a bit sloppy

  • Wessex League Div 1: Ball's in Linnets' court as City suffer

    WINCHESTER CITY manager Neil Hards admitted: "We don't deserve to be top" as the rollercoaster Wessex championship race took another thrilling twist on Saturday. While Bemerton's two-goal striker Stuart Findlay came back to haunt his former club in Saturday's

  • Wessex League Div 1: Leader's five-year spell ends at BAT

    BAT boss Andy Leader managed the Totton-based club for the last time on Saturday before leaving to take up the managerial reins at Wessex rivals Christchurch. "Whilst I'm looking forward to the new challenge at Christchurch, I do leave BAT with a heavy

  • Wessex League Div 3: One point away

    COLDEN Common will be crowned Division 3 champions if they can secure a point from their final game of the season at Fleetlands tomorrow evening following Saturday's 4-2 home win against Overton United. Only third-placed Hayling United, who drew 1-1 with

  • The Wedding Date (12a)

    KAT Ellis (Debra Messing from Will and Grace) hires a male escort (Dermot Mulroney) to pose as her boyfriend at her sister's wedding. Her plan is an attempt to dupe her ex-fianc, who dumped her a couple years previously.

  • Drew Smith League: Nursling unbeaten

    NURSLING kept their unbeaten tag for the season with a 2-1 defeat of AFC Target. Lee Brown put them ahead but Target threatened to spoil the party by equalising - until Brown popped up with a winner in the third minute of injury time. Nursling now look

  • Cursed (15)

    THE king of scary movies, Wes Craven, directs Christina Ricci and Joshua Jackson in this werewolf tale. A hairy beastie loose in Los Angeles changes the lives of three young adults.

  • Warne hails Hants thriller

    SHANE WARNE hailed Hampshire's south coast derby with Sussex as 'an exceptional game of cricket'. Hampshire were set 285 to win in their second innings, and needed 196 on Saturday's final day, with seven wickets remaining. After a rain delayed start,

  • The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (PG)

    DOUGLAS Adams was able to write the screenplay for this film version of his novel before he died - and, apparently, it's so good it will more than please the fans. Seconds before Earth is to be demolished by aliens, Arthur Dent is swept off the planet

  • PORTSMOUTH 4 - SAINTS 1

    BELIEF IS such a precious thing in football - whether you are chasing titles or trying to avoid the drop. Saints don't seem to have any right now. I certainly refuse to buy into the theory that the Saints players don't care or they don't try. They do,

  • Darts legend throws back the years

    THE Crafty Cockney Eric Bristow scored a bullseye with darts fans when he stepped up to the oche in Odiham. The five-time darts world champion played 16 games against regulars at The Crown, in Alton Road, on Tuesday night. Despite his reputation as one

  • Police 'Turn-Up' the heat

    PEOPLE who have skipped bail and dodged court fines have been collared by Basingstoke police in a crackdown this week. A five-strong team of officers have conducted early-morning calls across the town, arresting those who have failed to turn up to court

  • Housing plan for derelict site

    DEVELOPERS have put forward a plan to turn a derelict area of Basingstoke previously set aside for industrial use into the site of more than 300 flats. The site, sandwiched between Eli Lilly and Theodore Alexander on Kingsclere Road, has been unused for

  • In Port

    Today's Principal Arrivals: APL Hong Kong, 1215, 206; P&O Nedlloyd Drake, 1330, 207; P&O Nedlloyd Jakarta, 2000, 204 Today's Principal Sailings: Grande Europa, vehicle carrier, 1200, 202; Autofreighter, ro/ro, 1630, 201 link; Mungo, cargo, 1700

  • Why our firms need to be more 'deaf aware'

    WITH nine million people in Britain affected by deafness, many firms could be missing out on business because they do not understand the needs of people with a hearing loss. That's the view of the Hampshire Deaf Association who believe that failure to

  • All aboard! Business leaders join QM2 gathering

    ONE of the largest gatherings of the region's top businessmen and women in living memory takes place in Southampton on Thursday. More than 350 high-profile figures, including millionaire entrepreneurs, chief executives, lords and vice-presidents, gather

  • Women on top

    WOMEN will be the richer sex by 2025, according to new research. They will own 60 per cent of the UK's personal wealth - up from the current 48 per cent. The study by the Centre for Economics and Business Research also found that UK millionaires aged

  • London 2: Gosport survive - with five minutes to spare!

    THE BATTLE against the drop from London Division Two South went all the way to the final five minutes of the season as Gosport & Fareham survived - thanks to their win and Guildford's last-gasp triumph. Gosport eased to a 21-0 victory over Tunbridge

  • London 3: Totts' finish falls a bit flat

    TOTTONIANS had to settle for fifth place in London Three South-West. But they were disappointed not to have finished their best-ever season on a high as they fell 19-5 at Farnham. Totts started well, scoring an excellent try within two minutes of the

  • Leader's five-year spell ends at BAT

    BAT boss Andy Leader managed the Totton-based club for the last time on Saturday before leaving to take up the managerial reins at Wessex rivals Christchurch. "Whilst I'm looking forward to the new challenge at Christchurch, I do leave BAT with a heavy

  • Bashley 0 - Banstead 1

    Banstead banished their relegation fears with a 1-0 win at Bashley. Ironically it was skipper Chris Ferrett - arguably Bashley's most consistent performer of the season - who handed the Surrey side victory with 12 minutes remaining. Just back from a three-match

  • Lymingon & NM 5 - Christchurch 0

    LYMINGTON & New Milton manager Ian Robinson faces five more sleepless nights before his team host Gosport Borough at Fawcetts Field next weekend knowing that victory will give the friendly Foresters a fifth Wessex League championship. "I can't tell

  • Moneyfields 1 - Totton 2

    Goals by Scott Bundy and Matty Monk saw Totton triumph 2-1 at Moneyfields to finish eighth in the league, the Moneymen replying with an 85th-minute penalty from Lee Mould.

  • Hail as Hayles wheels in

    OLYMPIC medallist Rob Hayles, pictured, returns to Hampshire in June to open Winchester's annual celebration of cycling. The Bike Fair and Cycle Cavalcade is the local event marking National Bike Week, from June 11-17. Rob, originally from Portsmouth,

  • Postal vote error

    THE candidates affected by a postal voting blunder in the forthcoming elections have voiced their concern. A massive slip-up in the New Forest left 2,000 residents with the wrong ballot papers, as reported in the Saturday's Daily Echo, pictured top right

  • Town's chamber of commerce sunk by lack of support

    AN organisation established to represent the business community in New Milton has folded due to a lack of support. A crisis meeting of the New Milton and District Chamber of Commerce attracted only four people despite 250 invitatons being sent out. Businesses

  • Fun galore in carnival week

    A NEW Forest village is gearing up for its 58th carnival week from June 4-11. Copythorne's annual spectacular will culminate on Saturday, June 11 with a carnival through the streets of the picturesque village near Cadnam. Judging of the fancy dress, floats

  • It's a prison play within a prison play

    MANY performers like a captive audience-and one has been guaranteed at Winchester Prison this week. A mixture of students from University College, Winchester, and jail inmates have taken to the stage to perform Our Country's Good, a true story about an

  • Taking theatre to the villages

    YOUNGSTERS living in rural communities are to benefit from a new theatre outreach scheme. The Theatre Royal has taken over the Winchester Rural Youth Theatre and is hoping to introduce drama and dance to young people in Denmead, Waltham Chase, Alresford

  • Pupils know the way to help tsunami victims

    JUST when you thought you had heard enough of the chart-topping Is this the Way to Amarillo, a group of youngsters from Winchester's St Cross are planning to do a six-mile sponsored walk -- chanting the hit song all along the route! School friends Oliver

  • Faith in repairs go down drain

    A STANMORE family plagued by drainage problems at their council house say they have little faith in the city council's pledge to fix them. Heavy rain last weekend left Andy Batchelor's front garden awash with rubbish, and on Monday, the 42-year-old claimed

  • It's a prison play within a prison play

    MANY performers like a captive audience-and one has been guaranteed at Winchester Prison this week. A mixture of students from University College, Winchester, and jail inmates have taken to the stage to perform Our Country's Good, a true story about an

  • Why volunteers want a garden

    THE Winchester Volunteers organisation is on the lookout for a small garden to tidy up. It wants to do the work to launch its Volunteer of the Year scheme, which is backed by the Hampshire Chronicle and supported by IBM and Hampshire Constabulary. The

  • Protecting avenue's character

    A PLAN to safeguard the character of Winchester's Chilbolton Avenue area has been welcomed by city council cabinet members. They have agreed to release a draft version of a Local Area Design Statement-the first of its kind in the district-produced for

  • Support police take to streets

    CONTROVERSIAL Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will be patrolling the streets of Hampshire next month. Currently 26 recruits are preparing up for their new role at the police training headquarters at Netley. They will deal with low level antisocial

  • A nailbiting finale . . .

    THE graffiti daubed on a house outside Portsmouth's Fratton Park ground that greeted Saints fans spoke for itself - it said "Southampton, Welcome to Hell". And for frustrated supporters, the sentiments proved prophetic as Harry Redknapp's men were handed

  • Airport handled over 1.53m passengers

    SOUTHAMPTON Airport handled 1.53 million passengers last year - an increase of just over a quarter, official figures showed today. According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Southampton, pictured right, was among UK airports handling 217 million

  • How do we put city back on the map?

    THIS was one of the key questions posed by members of the public at a questions and answer session with parliamentary candidates for Southampton Test yesterday. About 120 people turned out to the event at St James Methodist Church in Shirley despite the

  • Brockenhurst 5 - Alton Town 0

    Brockenhurst triumphed 5 - 0 against Alton Town. A Carl Foster brace plus efforts from James Guetling, Nick Kemp and Danny Mills made up the Badgers' quintet, Cav Ferris bagging the visitors' consolation.

  • Lemar and Rooster booked in to play Power in the Park

    R 'n' B star Lemar and rock band Rooster have been announced as the first acts to play at this summer's Power in the Park. The annual music extravaganza takes place on Southampton Common on June 5. Fader, a three-piece girl punk band, and Free Faller,

  • Review: Lemar, Southampton Guildhall

    IT'S hard to believe that R&B artist Lemar has only been in the spotlight for a couple of years. The Fame Academy star looked like he'd been around for a decade with his more than comfortable performance before a sell-out crowd at Southampton Guildhall

  • Tune in for music with your lunch!

    NEXT month sees the beginning of a new lunchtime concert series based at The Winchester School of Art, run by the music department at the University of Southampton. The series kicks off with pianist Mai Tanaka who is a student studying for her masters

  • Super signing for the Bestival

    WELSH rockers The Super Furry Animals have just been announced as the main Saturday headline act at the September Bestival music festival on the Isle of Wight. The event takes place at Newport's Robin Hill Country Park from September 9 to 11 and also

  • Controversial skate park to go-ahead

    A DATE has been set for the completion of a controversial Hampshire skatepark. Youngsters in Whiteley have been battling for two years to get the park built on the recreation ground in the centre of the village. The manufacturer has now revealed work

  • Wartime saga unfolds in naval museum

    AUTHOR Lilian Harry will read extracts from her new wartime saga about the heroes of Dunkirk at a special preview evening in Hampshire. Three Little Ships will feature in the the 18th century former armaments store "The Grand Magazine" at the Museum of

  • Bramley

    PLANT sale: Please put May 21 in your diary, and go along to the RNLI plant sale in St John's Hall, Mortimer. Local representative Sheila Dance will shortly arrange for information leaflets to be distributed in Bramley with more details. Call 881540 for

  • Kingsclere

    SUPPORT: The Heritage Association will be taking part in the local history fair at The Willis Museum on Saturday, May 7, from 10am to 4pm. The Tidgrove video will be shown all day and you can talk to the archive team about the records held by the association

  • Allotment holders dig their heels in as inquiry starts

    IT'S D-Day tomorrow for campaigners who have fought a long-running battle to save Eastleigh allotments from being sold off for housing. On the 866th day of the campaign spearheaded by Eastleigh and Bishopstoke Allotments Association, a public inquiry

  • Oakley

    CONGRATULATIONS: To the Oakley Junior School Year 5 football team, which last week won the Hampshire Schools Cup 2-1. The competition involved more than 40 teams, so it was a fantastic result. FOOTBALL: Oakley Yellow under-10s football team has retaken

  • Support for 'home zone' bid

    HUNDREDS of Eastleigh residents have won the first round in their battle to slam the brakes on traffic speed and rat-running through the Newtown area of the town. After receiving a petition bearing more than 300 signatures, Eastleigh civic chiefs included

  • Oakridge/South View

    APOLOGIES: For the lack of columns these past two weeks. Two reasons - I've had no news, and my computer failed and has been unavailable for some time. Hopefully, all should be back to normal now. OAKRIDGE Festival: Is anyone interested in helping and

  • Let's plant seeds of knowledge

    WORK has started on a new purpose-built day nursery in the grounds of Eastleigh College which will provide more students with the opportunity to learn. Kevin and Teri Crowley, who run the 60-place Little Acorns day nursery in St John's Road, Hedge End

  • Old Basing

    ALLOTMENTS: Quite a few huts were broken into recently. Nothing serious was stolen but most of the locks were forced off with a spade stolen from one of the sheds. It seems as though there were two men with a dog seen on the site. When they were approached

  • Chernobyl children's homes plea

    EASTLEIGH families are being asked to open their homes to children from Belarus who are still suffering from the after-effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. The Eastleigh Link of the Chernobyl Children Life Line charity needs families to

  • Pamber Heath

    RED Cross week: Collectors are wanted for Pamber Heath. If you can spare some time to go around collecting for the Red Cross during the week of May 2 to May 8, then please contact our local organiser on 0118 9700588 after 6pm. WALKING for Health: Is coming

  • Popley

    HEALTH walks: Now the weather has cheered up a bit, its time to think about some good fresh air in your lungs. Why not come along to Popley Fields Centre on Friday, at 11am, and join our walking for health group? We start from the car park. Bring some

  • Rotherwick

    HOLD your horses... whoa, Nelly! Unfortunately, the Scouts' St George's race night, scheduled for last Saturday, had to be cancelled due to a family bereavement. Many thanks to everyone who had already bought tickets and please watch this space for the

  • Sherfield-on-Loddon

    EVERGREENS: On Tuesday, April 12, the Evergreens enjoyed their trip to the Old Time Music Hall at Wickstead. Jean Wright said: "Everyone really enjoyed it. It was our first visit and this time the carousel was outside, the gardens were lovely, there was

  • Silchester

    JAZZ Moves: Will play a concert in the parish church on May 14, at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from 0118 9700825 and 9700349, and cost £6.50, including a glass of wine. This is the first time there has been jazz played in our ancient church. Money raised

  • Tadley

    GOOD news: The Tadley Roundabout website is about to undergo a complete revamp. It will be worth taking a look at in the next few weeks as more categories will be added including gardening tips, computer tips and photos. There will be an online shopping

  • Hustings event for everyone

    Sir.-The General Election hustings meeting at QMC is for everyone in the town. This is the only hustings meeting to be held in Basingstoke for everyone, and it will be on Friday, April 29, from 7.45pm to 10pm, at Queen Mary's College, Cliddesden Road,

  • Clarification of hunting issue

    Sir.-I was astounded by the recent letter from Paul Connolly regarding the Hackwood point-to-point. I am a keen supporter of point-to-points and attended the Hackwood event on Easter Monday with friends. All point-to-point horses are obliged to go hunting

  • WE CAN DO THIS

    HARRY REDKNAPP believes Saints now need to pull off the 'greatest of the great escapes' to maintain their 27-year Premiership status. A dreadful performance saw Saints trounced 4-1 on Redknapp's return to Pompey and stay rock bottom of the table with

  • Redknapp: We just weren't quick enough

    HARRY REDKNAPP admitted Pompey's pace "frightened" his team and highlighted once again defensive woes that have seen Saints concede 14 goals in their last five Premiership matches. Saints were totally overrun in a dreadful opening spell which saw Pompey

  • Derby day comment: Black day at Fratton Park

    THE sign hanging off a bridge on the M27 between Southampton and Portsmouth ensured no one, least of Harry Redknapp, travelling across the divide yesterday could have any doubt about the likely reception. "Welcome to hell," it read. Much had been made

  • Aid for start-ups and growing businesses

    ENTERPRISE First is the new name for a business support agency which has a base in Basingstoke. The agency brings together the Blackwater Enterprise Trust, the former BANDEC, and an expanded area into west Surrey and south Berkshire under one umbrella

  • Aid for start-ups and growing businesses

    ENTERPRISE First is the new name for a business support agency which has a base in Basingstoke. The agency brings together the Blackwater Enterprise Trust, the former BANDEC, and an expanded area into west Surrey and south Berkshire under one umbrella

  • For Art's sake, it's worth a look

    Art, Haymarket Theatre, Until April 30 IF YOU thought it was just the female of the species who liked to get over-sensitive and have picky arguments with friends, family and whoever else happens to get in the way, a surprise awaits you in the production

  • Planks for the memory

    WHEN Cynthia Trollope looks at this old black and white photograph, precious memories of childhood days on the Hythe Pier come flooding back. More than 70 years on, she is following the Daily Echo's campaign to save the Hythe Ferry with a vested interest

  • Bison quintet return

    FIVE of last season's Basingstoke Bison team will be returning in the autumn. Shawn Maltby, Doug Sheppard, netminder Ronnie Vogel, Jerry Galway and British teenage forward Shaun Thompson will then be joined by new addition Mark Richardson. Highly-rated

  • Cowes Sports 6 - Portland Utd 0

    It's going right down to the wire at the bottom as well after Portland United were sunk 6-0 at Cowes Sports - two-goal Matt Bowler, Michael Pointer, Simon Bonser, Ollie Buckett and James Butt doing the damage.

  • Wessex League Div 1: Winning's OK, the problem is sleep!

    LYMINGTON & New Milton manager Ian Robinson faces five more sleepless nights before his team host Gosport Borough at Fawcetts Field next weekend knowing that victory will give the friendly Foresters a fifth Wessex League championship. "I can't tell

  • Gosport 2 - Wimborne 2

    Third-placed Gosport threw away a 2-0 lead and were held 2-2 by Wimborne Town, who missed out on all three points when 'Boro keeper Colin Matthews saved a last-minute penalty. Neil Scammell (46) and Graham Lindsey (51) put the home side ahead only for

  • Wessex League Div 2: Town first to the title

    LYMINGTON Town completed the first part of a possible 'double' for the town when they clinched the Division 2 crown with a 1-0 victory at Stockbridge. "It's still not sunk in yet," smiled Town boss John Pyatt. "But I'm over the moon for all the players

  • Guess Who (12a)

    A SARCASTIC father (Bernie Mac) has plenty to say about his daughter wanting to marry a white boy (Ashton Kutcher) in this comedy from the director of Barbershop 2.

  • The Interpreter (12a)

    THERE'S little spring in the step of the movies around at the moment, and silly old me thought that The Interpreter was going to be the start of a better roll. True, it's not awful, but the general air of mediocrity that surrounds it is definitely disappointing

  • Throat slash victim hails 'brave' Anya

    A CIVIL engineer who had his throat slashed in an horrific attack has paid tribute to the "amazing" woman who saved his life. Rob Kendal, 23, said if it wasn't for the quick-thinking actions of Anya Bradford, he would not be alive today. The 32-year-old

  • Throat slash victim hails 'brave' Anya

    A CIVIL engineer who had his throat slashed in an horrific attack has paid tribute to the "amazing" woman who saved his life. Rob Kendal, 23, said if it wasn't for the quick-thinking actions of Anya Bradford, he would not be alive today. The 32-year-old

  • Events planned for deaf week

    HAMPSHIRE Deaf Association will be holding a series of events next month as part of Deaf Awareness Week. The activities during the week from May 2 to 8 will begin with an Information Day at the Isle of Wight College on Tuesday May 3. Other events will

  • Foreign technician

    AN ELECTRONICS manufacturing company in Hampshire was forced to recruit abroad because of a dearth of suitably qualified workers in the south. Wojciech Jukiewicz, 26, from Gdansk, Poland, is employed as a surface mount technician for Datalink Electronics

  • Eastleigh 1 - Heybridge Swifts 0

    EASTLEIGH will have key home advantage in the Ryman Premier League play-off semi-finals on May 4 after clinching third place with an undistinguished single-goal victory over Heybridge Swifts. The likelihood is that either Braintree Town or Hampton &

  • Brockenhurst 5 - Alton Town 0

    Brockenhurst triumphed 5 - 0 against Alton Town. A Carl Foster brace plus efforts from James Guetling, Nick Kemp and Danny Mills made up the Badgers' quintet, Cav Ferris bagging the visitors' consolation.

  • BAT 1 - AFC Newbury 1

    Anthony Alleyne gave AFC Newbury the lead at BAT, who earned a point with a 57th-minute equaliser from Paul West.

  • Family of artist killed by grizzly bear facing ruin

    THE family of a Winchester artist who was killed by a grizzly bear are facing financial ruin and ill health as they continue their quest to recover scores of his missing paintings. Trevor Percy Lancaster died after being attacked by the animal in 1992

  • Accountant's polar fortunes begin to slide

    AFTER a promising start the fortunes of a Winchester accountant have taken a downward turn in the Arctic. David Aston, 35, is taking part in one of the toughest challenges on earth, the Polar Race 2005. After the first leg of the 350-mile slog David's

  • Marwell appeal for new big cat enclosure

    VOLUNTEERS are being sought by one of Hampshire's top tourist attractions to help raise money for a new enclosure for one of the world's rarest big cats. Marwell Zoological Park near Winchester has made the appeal ahead of a sponsored walk around the

  • Opposition to Forest tours for disabled

    MOTORISED "safari" tours for the disabled are being proposed for the New Forest's tracks. The vehicle used would be modified for disabled people so they could enjoy the sights and sounds of the national park. But plans for the commercial operation ran

  • Sell-out show celebrates dance school's 20th year

    WINCHESTER'S Florian School of Dance celebrated its 20th birthday with a sell-out show. More than 300 youngsters took to the stage at The Point in Eastleigh . They performed Rumpelstiltskin, a ballet based on the classic fairytale, followed by a showcase

  • School meals set for Jamie treatment

    CELEBRITY chef Jamie Oliver could be drafted in to spice up school meals in Hampshire after his popular TV series led to a drop in pupils taking up the school dinner option. A new-look menu, which starts in September, comes after the high-profile campaign

  • MoD probes secret files found at tip

    THE MoD has launched an investigation after a laptop computer allegedly containing secure files was found at a council tip in Winchester. Martin Dunn, a car parts manager, was hunting for computer components at the Bar End recycling centre when a woman

  • How silly I was to trust them, says duped OAP

    A terrified pensioner has warned homeowners not to trust any stranger who calls at their front doors. The woman, who lives in a retirement complex in Weeke, was conned by a teenage gang this week in what police described as an "unusual" attempted burglary

  • Crackdown on bail breakers

    Police have joined forces with the courts for "Operation Turn-Up". The fines blitz is being carried out by 10 teams of court enforcement officers, backed up by police. They will be calling at homes and work places and taking people off to court. There

  • Taking theatre to the villages

    YOUNGSTERS living in rural communities are to benefit from a new theatre outreach scheme. The Theatre Royal has taken over the Winchester Rural Youth Theatre and is hoping to introduce drama and dance to young people in Denmead, Waltham Chase, Alresford

  • Merger points the way ahead for housing group

    FOR the sake of its own future, Winchester Housing Group is set to merge with a larger organisation. It is joining the A2 Housing Group, which manages over 11,000 homes in the South-East. With the approval of the WHG board, work has now begun on a business

  • Sell-out show celebrates dance school's 20th year

    WINCHESTER'S Florian School of Dance celebrated its 20th birthday with a sell-out show. More than 300 youngsters took to the stage at The Point in Eastleigh . They performed Rumpelstiltskin, a ballet based on the classic fairytale, followed by a showcase

  • Parking permit hike comes under fire

    WINCHESTER City Council's planned increases in parking permit charges have been described as "iniquitous" and "outrageous." The council has been accused of failing to explain the rises. Over 100 people in the Hyde area have signed a petition which will

  • Review: Gift of gab lifts spirits

    Lettice and Lovage, Portchester Players, Portchester Community Centre. IN a world where mediocrity and blandness are often accepted as the norm, anyone who can brighten our lives, albeit by embellishment and exaggeration, has to be encouraged. This is

  • Planners unveil £1.2m revamp of London Road

    PLANS to redesign a congested city centre road have been unveiled in Southampton. City council planners have taken to the streets to show how a £1.2million scheme will make the traffic-burdened London Road more pedestrian- friendly. As part of a public

  • 'Come home: We miss you'

    'YOUR family misses you and needs you back.' That's the impassioned plea going out to a Southampton grandfather who walked out of his home three weeks ago and has not been seen since. Donald Sim has not been spotted since April 5 when he left the home

  • Lemar and Rooster booked in to play Power in the Park

    R 'n' B star Lemar and rock band Rooster have been announced as the first acts to play at this summer's Power in the Park. The annual music extravaganza takes place on Southampton Common on June 5. Fader, a three-piece girl punk band, and Free Faller,

  • Church backs Lal's fourth bid to stay in England

    HE fled his country to avoid endless torture. Now three years on Lal from Burma is going through his fourth application to stay in England or face certain death. Members of Shirley Baptist Church, where the 25-year-old worships, have written 100 letters

  • Merger plans win the parents' vote

    PARENTS, teachers, governors and residents have shown overwhelming support for turning Mansel Infant and Jun-ior schools in Millbrook into a primary. The proposal received the most votes during a six-week public consultation into the removal of 400 surplus

  • It's not cricket

    SPORTS and social club members across Hampshire fear their groups face ruin because of a massive increase in licensing fees. Changes to the Licensing Act passed in Parliament earlier this year mean that small sports and social clubs are categorised in

  • High-fliers targeted by Priory

    HIGH-fliers who hit the bottle to help them through their stressful working days are being targeted by a Hampshire hospital. The Priory Hospital Marchwood has launched a new advertising campaign aimed primarily at high-performing alcoholics in the financial

  • Winchester 3 - Bemerton 3

    WINCHESTER CITY manager Neil Hards admitted: "We don't deserve to be top" as the rollercoaster Wessex championship race took another thrilling twist on Saturday. While Bemerton's two-goal striker Stuart Findlay came back to haunt his former club in Saturday's

  • Super signing for the Bestival

    WELSH rockers The Super Furry Animals have just been announced as the main Saturday headline act at the September Bestival music festival on the Isle of Wight. The event takes place at Newport's Robin Hill Country Park from September 9 to 11 and also

  • Review: Rooster struts to teenage adula

    Rooster, The Pyramid Centre, Southsea STRUTTING across the stage with a swagger and a pout reminiscent of a young Mick Jagger, Rooster's lead singer Nick Atkinson has a powerful voice that belies his age. Belting out the line 'It's good to be here', the

  • Woman, 34, attacked

    POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a serious assault on a 34-year-old woman on the Isle of Wight left her in a critical condition. Three men were arrested after police were called to Culver Parade where the woman was discovered on a beach near Colonel

  • Village in the swing to pay tribute to Home Front

    WICKHAM villagers have arranged a music festival to celebrate the part played by local people on the Home Front in the Second World War. There will be a series of concerts, dance, carnival, picnic and folk singing for the second annual Wickham Music Weeks

  • Wildlife captured on film

    HAMPSHIRE wildlife photographer, Trevor Codlin, has captured some stunning imagery in his photographic exhibition that is showing now at Titchfield Haven's art gallery. Nature-lovers should not miss out on the opportunity to see the pick of Trevor's favourite

  • Baughurst

    EXHIBITION: Kennet Valley Artists held a very successful spring exhibition at Brimpton Village Hall last weekend, with paintings by seven different artists in a variety of different mediums, each in their own distinctive style. Artists exhibiting were

  • Brighton Hill

    BASINGSTOKE Breast Cancer self help group: Will next meet on Tuesday, from 7pm to 9pm, in the conference room at The Ark, behind Basingstoke hospital. The group meets monthly, and at the next meeting the speaker will be a lead cancer nurse. Responsible

  • Brookvale

    CARETAKER/cleaner needed: Would you love an opportunity to earn a bit of extra money with a part-time job? Would you like to play a part in being involved in your local area, by taking care of our wonderful village hall? If so, please contact Louise,

  • Chineham

    NETBALL: There are two netball teams in Chineham and you could be playing for one of them. Present players are of various ages from 14 to 40-plus. If you are interested in joining one of the teams, then you are invited to attend training sessions at Four

  • Ellisfield

    FASHION: Ellisfield's Ladies Club meets next Wednesday evening in the Memorial Hall. Travelling Trends will be modelling this season's High Street fashions. RUN: There will be an Ellisfield ladies team running again in this year's Race for Life in Basingstoke

  • Hatch Warren

    SENIORS: The next meeting of the Hatch Warren Seniors Group will be on Thursday, at the community centre, from 1pm to 2.30pm. New faces are always welcome. POLICE surgery: The local Hatch Warren beat officers will be at their regular monthly surgery next

  • Hook

    THEATRE: Next Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 28, 29 and 30, the Elizabeth Hall will be decked out for perhaps the longest and most chaotic wedding reception in the history of the village, when Hook Players will present their production of A Perfect

  • Kempshott

    KEMPSHOTT WI: Is holding its monthly meeting at Kempshott Village Hall, off Pack Lane, on Monday, at 7.30pm. This month, the speaker, Bryan Ironside, will be talking about "Fitness for Life". SOUTH Ham Library: Is holding a card-making day on Tuesday,

  • Views on what's in a name

    Sir.-It was with some astonishment that I read the article refering to the town centre manager wanting to change the name of the Top of the Town. Does this lady actually live in Basingstoke? It is pretty obvious to me why it's called the Top of the Town

  • Beaten black and blue

    SAINTS face an anxious wait to see whether top scorer Peter Crouch will be fit to play against Norwich on Saturday. The 14-goal hitman was forced to watch Saints' defeat at Fratton Park from the sidelines yesterday after dropping out of the warm-up with

  • Norwich and Palace to play keeps hope alive

    SAINTS coach Kevin Bond believes Saints can still get out of relegation trouble - if they stop conceding goals like at Fratton. Bond, like Jim Smith and Nigel Quashie, followed Harry Redknapp from Portsmouth to Saints and yesterday's clash at Fratton

  • Jim: Home games can keep us up

    JIM SMITH was brutally honest when he assessed the defending that led to Pompey's opening blitz on Saints yesterday. "The first goal was joke, the second goal was joke and the third goal was a joke," he said. "We just made bad decisions and they didn't

  • Maton returns to British senior team

    TWO-TIME world champion powerlifter Jean Maton has earned a recall to the British senior team - even though she is an over-40 competitor. Last weekend, the 41-year-old retained her British masters title in Birmingham. She had an outstanding day, achieving

  • Maton returns to British senior team

    TWO-TIME world champion powerlifter Jean Maton has earned a recall to the British senior team - even though she is an over-40 competitor. Last weekend, the 41-year-old retained her British masters title in Birmingham. She had an outstanding day, achieving

  • Firms gather at showcase event

    THE first-ever Local Business Show in Odiham has been hailed a success. Representatives from about 20 companies took part in the showcase event, which was held at the Cross Barn, Palace Gate. It was organised by the Hart branch of the Business Referral