MATTHEW LE TISSIER did more than any other player to head off relegation crises in the nervous nineties. Without him, though, Saints took the plunge yesterday and the crestfallen Channel Islander admitted: "I never thought I would see this day." Le Tiss
FORMER Saints boss Alan Ball insists that blame has to be shared for Saints' cataclysmic drop into the Championship. Though Ball is highly critical of chairman Rupert Lowe for his part in the club's fall from grace, he believes that Lowe's fellow board
HARRY REDKNAPP believes it will be tough for Saints to bounce straight back into the Premiership without major surgery to the squad. The Saints manager is unsure about his own future. But he is certain that the club MUST reduce the quantity and improve
LAWRIE MCMENEMY couldn't bear to watch game that sent Saints hurtling out of the top flight. Instead, the club's most successful manager spent yesterday afternoon with autistic children - part of his many fund-raising activities in the area. "There was
IT was the day the dream died and the tears flowed. Danny Higginbotham sits disconsolate on the St Mary's pitch after Saints are relegated from the Premiership. The 2-1 home loss to Manchester United condemned the club to a spell outside the top flight
SOUTHAMPTON cruise ship, Aurora answered a midnight Mayday from a yacht in distress and altered course to make a mercy dash off the Dorset coast. In gale force conditions, Aurora, pictured, went to the aid of the 51ft yacht Grandee which had put out an
A SOUTHAMPTON cruise ship that cancelled its voyage because toilets on board had broken down arrived back in port this morning. The newly refitted Thomson Celebration cruise ship cut short its Mediterranean cruise in Lisbon on Friday after the plumbing
BURGLARS raided two homes in the Bursledon area. A gold hexagonal-shaped pocket watch with a white face was stolen from one house along with two gold rings, a gold chain and a PlayStation. Jewellery and credit cards were stolen from a house in Lionheart
DEVELOPERS who wanted to create 251 flats - including an 11-storey tower block - at Hedge End's Wildern Mill have finally ditched the scheme. A year ago residents cheered after civic chiefs rejected the controversial plans from Bellway Homes Wessex Ltd
A GROUP of pub-based Fareham fundraisers have started planning their annual raft race extravaganza across Fareham Creek. Sponsored teams paddle the short distance across the murky waters in home-made rafts to raise cash for charity. It's been a happening
AN EXCITING free family open day is set to take place in Gosport soon. X Factor Objects is a special event taking place at the Search Hands On Museum in the town centre where a host of weird and wacky artefacts will be on display. There will be lots of
QUEEN Victoria's former holiday home on the Isle of Wight is set to be the venue for a production of one of Shakespeare's greatest plays next month. The Lord Chamberlain's Men will be staging the tragedy Macbeth in traditional style with an all-male cast
Jenny Charles, an outreach worker for the Southampton-based Rose Road Association recently went sailing aboard the Jubilee Sailing Trust tall ship, Lord Nelson, with 16-year-old David Smith who has cerebral palsy. She has written an account of the adventure
A VERY special concert is taking place at the Turner Sims Concert Hall later this month to honour the memory of Southampton Jazz Club's first chairman and founding member Gary 'Skip' Conway who died in November last year. Gary was one of the true greats
STAFF and pupils from a Southampton school have secured an extension to their Activemark Gold Award. Harefield Infant School in Yeovil Chase is one of only 155 schools across the country to extend their award in the latest round of Sport England presentations
YOUNG designers at a Hampshire school could turn out to be the car designers of tomorrow. Pupils at Brookfield Community School were offered the chance to design and build remote controlled cars from scratch. The event was part of a special technology
LECTURERS at Southampton City College are threatening strike action over pay. Union leaders from NATFHE, The University and College Lecturers Union, are balloting about 140 members on taking part in a day-long walk out. It's the culmination of a dispute
POLICE have arrested three boys following a series of violent incidents on Southampton Common. The 12-year-old and two 16-year-olds have been arrested and are being questioned by detectives about attacks in which almost all the victims were subjected
A FOOTBALL FAN was attacked and seriously injured near the St Mary's football stadium yesterday. It happened shortly before kick-off on Sunday afternoon on a green in Golden Grove as a group of Manchester United fans were approaching the Saints ground
TWENTY million pounds - that's the cost of Saints' relegation from the Premiership, and that is just for starters. The massive fall-off in lucrative television revenue means a drop of at least £14m. Meanwhile, the lack of free global advertising through
REBUILDING the communities of Pondicherry is the topic of a special Fair Trade talk in Southampton. The region in south-east India was devastated by the Asian tsunami disaster and a number of Fair Trade schemes have been set up in the communities to help
A SOUTHAMPTON cruise ship that cancelled its voyage because toilets on board had broken down arrived back in port this morning. The newly refitted Thomson Celebration cruise ship cut short its Mediterranean cruise in Lisbon on Friday after the plumbing
COMEDY with a serious motive - The Kili Players are raising money for Tools for Self Reli-ance, a charity that helps the people of Africa sustain their communities and beat poverty. Absent Friends exposes the very worst human traits and flaws. Childhood
THIS summer sees a new and exciting addition to the Winchester Cathedral's events list with a stunning adaptation of Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice. The most romantic of Austen's novels, will be brought to life on June 29 in the Inner Close
RESIDENTS in Stanmore, Winchester will be able to have their say on controversial proposals to demolish garages and build houses in their place. At a meeting of the Stanmore Steering Group on Tuesday night, plans for a public consultation on proposals
HAMPSHIRE's newest choir has got off to a flying start, with two "come and sing" sample sessions packed with would-be singers. Winchester Community Choir is responding to this big demand with two further "taster" workshops, open to all-comers, to complement
A COUPLE are taking drastic action after nearly losing their beloved pet. Melvyn and Gillian White believe that Alfie, a 10-month-old West Highland terrier, fell into the clutches of a dognapper. When a white van pulled into the drive of their bungalow
AN Alresford mother has lost her fight against the siting of a controversial piece of mobile phone equipment - even though it was put up without planning permission. Members of Winchester City Council's telecommunications sub-committee gave retrospective
THE Liberal Democrats snatched Itchen Valley from the Conservatives in the Hampshire County Council elections. In a 76.22 turnout, Jacqueline Porter took the seat from Tory hopeful and Winchester City Council member for Wonston and Micheldever, Barry
UNDER-age drinkers in the city centre are creating an "air of menace", worried residents claimed at a public meeting this week. Their fears were echoed by Insp Chris May, who told the Winchester forum that under-age drinking in the city was "rife". Insp
AN Alresford mother has lost her fight against the siting of a controversial piece of mobile phone equipment - even though it was put up without planning permission. Members of Winchester City Council's telecommunications sub-committee gave retrospective
A COUPLE are taking drastic action after nearly losing their beloved pet. Melvyn and Gillian White believe that Alfie, a 10-month-old West Highland terrier, fell into the clutches of a dognapper. When a white van pulled into the drive of their bungalow
Hampshire County Council has appointed Rea Mattocks as its new director of adult social services. She has been responsible for adult social services at the London Borough of Merton since 2000, first as director of housing and social services, then as
THE seeds of allotment fever have been firmly sown in the minds of New Alresford residents. After over a decade without a public place to grow one's own crops in the town, more than 30 green-fingered citizens now have a plot they can call their own. Demand
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build 70 homes on green belt land in the New Forest has been rejected for the second time in nine months. District councillors have refused the latest application submitted by the Pinetops Nursery, which has outgrown its current
A MAJOR campaign has been launched in the New Forest to prevent pensioners from falling victim to doorstep con men. Old folk are being given special information packs that aim to help them spot bogus workmen, turn away unscrupulous salesmen and avoid
FORESTDALE Hotels has acquired the 75-bed Winchester Royal Hotel in Winchester for £3m. The New Forest-based group's 19 UK premises include the Wessex Hotel and Carrington House Hotel in Bournemouth; the Burley Manor, Forest Park and Lyndhurst Park in
TEA and cakes, a permanent fixture at any school fete, will be on offer at South Wonston Primary School fete on Saturday. However, this year visitors can also find out how to walk off with all the sweet treats. To tie in with National Walk to School week
IN glorious summer sunshine almost 2,000 women took part in Winchester's biggest ever Race for Life yesterday all for one common cause. Urged on by thousands more supporters, the participants ran, jogged and walked around the 5km course at the city's
Romsey Town Council is at the heart of a gathering storm of public protest relating to alleged irregularities with the largely Lib Dem-controlled authority's finances and the restructuring of administration. Even former Euro MP Roy Perry has stepped into
NEW calls have been made for a much-needed footbridge to help give children a safer route home from schools to the Flexford area and other parts of the parish of Ampfield. The issue was raised at Ampfield's annual parish assembly, amid reminders that
SOUTHAMPTON marketing firm Lawton is celebrating winning the contract for Portsmouth Commercial Port for a further five years after a competition between six agencies. Lawton has managed the account for the past ten years, working across integrated marketing
ONE of the biggest property consultants in the region saw annual turnover rise by 15 per cent to a record £110m-plus. King Sturge, which has an office in Southampton, employs 1,225 staff in 17 offices around the UK and is represented internationally.
THE FRIENDS of Southampton Old Cemetery are organising a tour for wheelchair users and people with disabilities. A BSL signer will be on hand to allow guests with hearing disabilities to share and enjoy the tour. The walk will take place on Friday May
Southampton Institute hosted an afternoon tea to thank volunteers who took part in an innovative programme to promote the health benefits of physical activity. Adults with a range of specific or even multiple medical conditions and their student exercise
THE soles of people's shoes were not the only things burning at this annual fund-raising extravaganza - the holes in people's pockets were feeling the heat too. Guests at the Saints Wessex Heartbeat Fire Ball proved only too happy to part with their cash
FEARS that young children could be at risk from broken glass in a run-down play area are to be addressed. Numerous complaints from residents about the state of a park in Martin's Wood, Chineham, have been logged with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
SHANE Warne praised Hampshire's batsmen after a memorable first appearance at Lord's for four years. Warne was back at the home of cricket for the first time since helping Australia win the second Test of the 2001 Ashes series by eight wickets. And the
MOTTISFONT made a winning start to the new season with a good team performance at Bengers Lane last Saturday. The visitors, who were relegated from Division 2 last season, won the toss and invited their hosts to bat first. After ten overs, with the score
MOUNTBATTEN SCHOOL's Georgina Barton has recently been awarded the prestigious Mike Hughes Trophy by her Head of Year. The award acknowledges her outstanding contribution to school sport during the last twelve months. The sixteen-year-old pupil, from
MICK CHANNON called for Southampton FC'S board of directors to "stand up and be counted" after suffering the torment of their Premiership demise. One of the finest players ever to wear the red and white stripes roared: "The board's indecision has been
HARRY Redknapp stressed it was results over the season and not yesterday's defeat against Manchester United which had ultimately ended Saints' 27-year stay in the Premiership. "It was always going to be a tough day," he said. "I think the club has won
EASTLEIGH civic chiefs hailed a remarkable score of 50 not out when they made a special presentation to Councillor Godfrey Olson, pictured, for completing half a century of unbroken service. The man they call "Mr Eastleigh" was given a crystal decanter
EASTLEIGH'S mayoralty is in safe hands after councillors unanimously elected former professional goalkeeper Bernie Wright as the borough's number one citizen. Eighty-one-year-old Councillor Wright, pictured, became the oldest ever holder of the office
GOSPORT and Fareham Youth Orchestra is celebrating 50 years with a mammoth celebratory event due to take place on May 28. The event will be held at Brune Park School in Military Road and past members are invited to bring their instruments for what promises
A BUS company is threatening to axe a service because of car parking problems on a road bend. First Bus might terminate service 28 from Whiteley to Segensworth and Fareham along with services 76 and 76A from Whiteley to Locks Heath and Fareham. They claim
SOUTHAMPTON'S team of Neighbourhood Wardens will offer advice to people hoping to take up similar roles on the Isle of Wight. The Island council plans to establish its own Neighbourhood Warden scheme, and is keen to learn from the experiences of 34 wardens
POWER in the Park, the south's biggest outdoor music party, is less than one month away! We've teamed up with our friends at Power FM to give one lucky Echo reader the chance to meet the station's breakfast show hosts Rick and Rachel at the big event.
SOUTHAMPTON cruise ship, Aurora answered a midnight Mayday from a yacht in distress and altered course to make a mercy dash off the Dorset coast. In gale force conditions, Aurora, pictured, went to the aid of the 51ft yacht Grandee which had put out an
THE tears say it all. Saints fans today faced life outside the top division for the first time in 27 years. Defeat in front of 32,000 fans at St Mary's yesterday meant relegation from the lucrative Premiership. Fans, former players and mangers are now
THIS is the first glimpse of how a run-down brownfield site in Southampton could look following a multi-million pound redevelopment project. Planning bosses at Southampton City Council have given the green light to a scheme which will see the redundant
THE EXTENT of villagers' fears about plans for a housing scheme in the middle of Cheriton was revealed on Monday night. More than 100 residents crammed into the meeting as Knightspur homes unveiled its proposal for the former timber yard at Freeman's
Six months after the launch of a specialist new team the Roads Policing Unit is hailing its success. Seventy-nine drug-drivers have been taken off the roads of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, thanks to the Impaired Driver Unit, the first in the country.
Hampshire County Council has appointed Rea Mattocks as its new director of adult social services. She has been responsible for adult social services at the London Borough of Merton since 2000, first as director of housing and social services, then as
THE seeds of allotment fever have been firmly sown in the minds of New Alresford residents. After over a decade without a public place to grow one's own crops in the town, more than 30 green-fingered citizens now have a plot they can call their own. Demand
UNTIL recently Winchester accountant David Aston had done nothing more dangerous than cross the road. But just two weeks ago he was sat at the North Pole after a four-week, 350-mile slog from Canada through snow, ice, sub-zero temperatures and blizzards
WORK began this week at Hampshire County Council's Westholme older people's home in Winchester to provide 30 nursing beds. The new nursing home, in Harestock Road, with a construction cost of £2.9m, is the eighth of 10 nursing homes being built by the
BURGLARIES and other crimes across Winchester and Hampshire have hit a 30-year low, according to the latest crime figures. But police this week called for more support from the courts in tackling crime in the region. The statistics reveal officers detected
VOTERS in Winchester have obliged in the 'Make It Mark Again' campaign to return the Liberal Democrat MP to Westminster. Mark Oaten, the city's MP since 1997, was elected last Thursday, although his majority was reduced from 9,634 to 7,476. After the
A NEW battle is looming over plans to build a major housing development on the edge of the New Forest. Churchill Retirement Living has lodged an appeal after planning chiefs rejected its application to redevelop a site at Sea Road, Barton-on-Sea. Churchill
HE led them safely across a busy town centre road for more years than anyone can remember. Pupils at Lymington Infant School could always rely on crossing patrol warden Donald Gibbs to help them negotiate the ever-increasing amount of traffic using Avenue
FORMER BBC journalist, Siobhan Hand, is running her first open course at Winchester Guildhall on Thursday, May 19. Siobhan, 37, who now has her own company, said: "We help people communicate more clearly with their clients, their staff and the media so
THE spotlight this week is on the four firms shortlisted for the final in the University College, Winchester, Award for Business in the Community category of the Winchester Business Excellence Awards. KUDOS EMPLOYMENT: This Hampshire-wide charity, based
A WINCHESTER artist turned her home into an art gallery to show off work by a group of 16 artists. The walls of Beryl Osborne's home in Canon Street were adorned with numerous mixed media exhibits based on textiles. Dozens of art lovers flocked to the
FEARS are growing that this year's Winchester Festival may be the last. The search for a major sponsor in 2006 has proved elusive and without cash support the event will not go ahead in its ninth year. This year's programme promises to be one of the most
HUNDREDS of people in Winchester have called for a last-minute rethink on plans to more than double the cost of residents' parking permits. Winchester civic chiefs have received 250 letters and two petitions from people living across the city who are
A BROUGHTON farmer is Test Valley's new mayor. But Conservative, Peter Boulton's, appointment was marred by four Lib Dem members from the North Baddesley and Valley Park wards who refused to back his appointment. Mr Boulton was unaware of Steve Cosier
MORE than 200 new homes are set to be built on Romsey's former brewery site if planners give the go-ahead next Tuesday. The site's owner, Stanborough Developments Ltd, has submitted plans for 211 new homes and planning officers have recommended the scheme
Test Valley's decision to put all planning applications on the internet could prove a great help to financial crooks. That's the view of Baddesley Borough Cllr Alan Dowden, who points out that the name, address and most importantly signature on applications
WESSEX Property Services (WPS) has won a contract to provide repairs and maintenance services to Hampshire Autistic Society. The £30,000 contract sees WPS, part of the Eastleigh-based Atlantic Housing Group, provide services to day and residential centres
A SETBACK but not a long-term financial disaster - that's the verdict about the economic effect to Southampton of the team's relegation from the multi-million-pound Premiership. Jimmy Chestnutt from the Southampton & Fareham Chamber of Commerce said
Today's Principal Arrivals: Thomson Celebration, passenger, 0630, 101; APL Germany, container, 0800, 205; Asian Emperor, ro/ro, 1530, 43; Swanland, cargo, 1830, Marchwood Quay; Atlantic Bay, ro/ro, 2030, 102; UKD Sealion, TBA, 101; Wyepush, TBA, American
SEVEN protesters were arrested after a demonstration outside a nuclear weapons plant in north Hampshire. The anti-nuclear weapons campaigners were part of a large group that blockaded an entrance at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, in Aldermaston, on
CAMPAIGNERS battling to save a postal delivery office from closure are celebrating victory after Royal Mail bosses made a U-turn decision to keep it open. In February, residents and workers were incensed to find that Whitchurch's Church Street office
ILLICIT photography enthusiasts have sparked a security review at the former Park Prewett psychiatric hospital in Basingstoke after they broke into the main buildings to take pictures. The two enthusiasts, who like photographing and exploring forbidden
THREE trainspotters got a surprise when they were stopped and searched by police at Basingstoke railway station under legislation aimed to target possible terrorists. Michael Fidoe, 57, was one of three rail enthusiasts searched by officers at Basingstoke
A COURAGEOUS Territorial Army soldier is heading off to war-torn Iraq for six months on his first deployment. Private Peter Cowton, who lives in Moat Close, Bramley, will be travelling to the country's second largest city, Basra, on Wednesday to take
AS one door closes, another one opens. As a numb St Mary's faithful made their way to the exits yesterday they suffered a full gambit of emotions. Much like grief of losing a loved one it ranged from upset to anger, from abject despair to defiance. St
SHANE Warne blamed the cold weather for Hampshire's failure to finish off Kent at Canterbury on Saturday. Kent denied the Hampshire the chance to top the county championship's first division by finishing on 447-9 - and holding on to a draw. Warne said
KEVIN PIETERSEN will be available to play for Hampshire in next week's crunch championship match against Warwickshire at Stratford following his omission from the England squad for the opening Test of the summer against Bangladesh. Pietersen was overlooked
HAMPSHIRE recorded their first totesport National League win of the season - thanks to a record-breaking performance at Lord's. Simon Katich (85 from 63 balls) and Kevin Pietersen (80 from 50 balls) performed further heroics following their return to
OLD Tauntonians & Romsey snatched defeat from the jaws of victory at Loperwood Lane on Saturday. Things began well after winning the toss, skipper Mike Trodd (22) and Charles Forward (137no) starting positively. The unfortunate run out of Trodd led
KATIE LOUISE SANGER HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY KATE As another year slips by its wonderful to see the truly lovely person you have grown to be, love ya loads Mum, Jordan, Jamie, Nanny Young. X X X X
HOLMAN JOHN LAURIE Passed away three years ago today. A very special and dearly loved husband, dad and grandad. No words can ever express how much I miss you, your love and care and all the fun and laughter we shared. Life is so empty and lonely without
LOOK WHO'S ONE TODAY JACK ANDREW TURNER Happy Birthday our gorgeous little man. Love from Mummy, Daddy, Kane and Laura-Lee. X X X
ETHERINGTON MARY (nee DREW) Aged 60 May 4th, 2005 in Scotland, passed away peacefully after a long illness bravely borne. Sadly missed by sister Jean, brother Clive and sister-in-law Joy and family.
LOOK WHO IS 40 TODAY STUART PASSFIELD Happy Birthday Stuart. With love from Mum, Dad and Nan. X X X
SEAGRAVE DOUGLAS Our dad and grandad taken from us 13 years ago today. Sadly missed, never forgotten. Love your sons, daughters and their families. XXX
KENDALL LYNNE To a wonderful sister and daughter who passed away ten years ago. Sadly missed so very much, today and always. God bless you. From Mark, Mum and all the family. xxx.
GOOCH KEITH BRYAN Passed away peacefully after a long illness courageously borne on Thursday, May 12th, 2005, aged 65 years. Loving husband of Anne, dear father of Carolyn, Amrik, Mark and Ness and devoted grandad to Sasha, Esher, Jess and Lauren. Will
CLUETT ALAN Passed away suddenly on May 11th, 2005. Dearly loved husband of Mary. Cherish him Lord he was not only the best he was my soul mate and my greatest friend. What am I going to do without you? Goodnight Ally, God Bless, see you in the morning
GRIFFITHS DOROTHY "DOT" Will be sadly missed by all. Ging (John), niece and nephew Angela and Paul and all the family. XXXX
