A HAMPSHIRE school for pupils with moderate learning difficulties has been described as good by inspectors. Heathfield Special School in Fareham was found to have many strengths by the inspection team from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted
IMPROVEMENTS to a Hampshire recreation ground could soon be carried out despite fears that it could lead to an increase in antisocial behaviour. Fareham Borough Council's planning committee is meeting today and will discuss the proposed changes to
A DRIVER who died in a horror crash in Hedge End was a talented child actor and dancer who had once starred in Oliver! at the London Palladium. Jonathan Springall, 24, of Thurmell Close, Hedge End, died on Sunday night when the Toyota Supra he was
EASTLEIGH, voted the top council in the south-east for its efforts to introduce renewable energy, is staging a special green weekend. The free events this Saturday and Sunday will highlight the different ways in which renewable energy can be provided
Ventnor have sent ECB Southern Electric Premier League title holders BAT Sports crashing out of the Cockspur Cup national club championship. They piled up 274-4 at Steephill before bowling out BAT for 180 to celebrate a handsome 94-run second-round win
Champions Eastleigh & Otterbourne and much-fancied Locks Heath crashed to defeat in the second round of Hampshire League, County Division 1 matches. Eastleigh lost by four wickets to St Cross Symondians, while an undefeated century by James Kennedy
DESPITE winning only two rinks Hampshire beat Surrey 109-107 in their women's inter-association friendly at Fleet United. Hosts Hampshire were indebted to the 29-16 victory of Irene Galpin's foursome, with vital backing from Sheila Gard (Petersfield).
ATHERLEY, who traditionally host the finals, are to donate £600 annually for the next five years to the Southampton Open tournament. As this popular event does not currently have a sponsor the club's generosity has been warmly welcomed by tournament secretary
FILM-MAKERS were yesterday packing up after using Winchester Cathedral as a backdrop for nearly a week. Several scenes of The Golden Age, starring Cate Blanchett, were shot in the cathedral. The directors had planned to shoot an outdoor scene in Cathedral
THE British Ameri-can Tobacco sports ground is today at the centre of a new sell-off controversy. Sale documents passed to the Daily Echo suggest that New Forest District Council supports housing being built on part of the land. However, council chiefs
MEMBERS of New Forest District Council have elected a new chairman. David Scott has succeeded former Squadron Leader Michael Pemberton, pictured below right, who has stood down after completing his 12-month term of office. Cllr Scott, who represents Bramshaw
IT looks as though one highlight of the year for Winchester mayor, Neil Baxter, has been finding his future wife. The 806th mayor of the city, who was due to hand over the chain of office to Sue Nelmes last night (Wednesday), is to marry the person who
WINCHESTER'S leading police officer has warned teenage mini-motorbike riders they face strict penalties if they are caught riding them in public places. And their parents could also be punished. Last Saturday afternoon, police on patrol stopped a 15-year-old
WINCHESTER College is considering admitting girls after more than 600 years as a single sex school. The college's governing body and the head master, Dr Ralph Townsend, have set up a committee to consider in detail the question of whether or not girls
FOR ONCE, it was Dad's turn to be in the spotlight. Yet, as city sheriff, Councillor John Slade was sworn in as Southampton's 784th mayor, there was someone else uppermost in most people's minds. At the city's annual mayor making ceremony at the Guildhall
SOUTHAMPTON is today without an elected leader after councillors failed to agree on who should head the city council. At one point in yesterday's marathon council meeting it was even suggested the leader be chosen by the toss of a coin. However, the proposal
OLYMPIC 400m athlete Iwan Thomas MBE officially opened the new gym at Romsey technology firm Roke Manor Research. The firm, the technology arm of electronics giant Siemens, built the gym for its 450 staff as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations.
FAMILIES enjoyed a storytime with a splash in Southampton. Parents, carers and toddlers enjoyed floating away with books at The Quays Eddie Read Swimming and Diving Complex. The event was organised by Sure Start Central - a government backed organisation
LARGER-than-life actor Brian Blessed left his mark on the New Forest yesterday. The boisterous performer, famous for his trademark loud voice, wowed visitors with an unforgettable performance at the Court of Verderers before taking a walk in the Forest
An opening partnership of 167 between Patrick Pritchard and Stewart Magee laid the foundations for a huge win for Compton at OTs & Romsey in Hampshire County Division 2. The pair immediately set out to dominate the home bowling with some sparkling
Emily Jenkinson has just become the British Under 10 biathlon champion. The Hedge End youngster won the title in the lowest age bracket at the British Championships, held in Manchester at the weekend. Emily, who attends Berrywood School, was up against
The wind at Weston took no notice of the forecast, and competitors were blessed with fantastic conditions on May 13/14 for the National 12s event. Six races were run over the weekend, with expert timing from the race management team. Graham Camm and Zoe
IT HAS been a week of fun for hundreds - but behind the smiles there was a serious message. Pupils from 12 Fareham schools have descended on Fort Nelson on Portsdown Hill for Junior Citizen Week. Focusing on Year 6 pupils, aged 10 and 11, the main aim
DIY giant B&Q, which has its headquarters at Chandler's Ford, has helped to sow the seeds for a new project at Eastleigh College. Seven students on a course for adults who have moderate learning difficulties or disabilities, have started a gardening
ATHERLEY and Banister Park marked their centenaries with prestigious fixtures on their respective greens against the English Bowling Association. Yorkshire-based national president Ian Woodcock from Hull headed a distinguished team that included senior
Lord Romsey's Longbridge Lake has been in fabulous form with numerous pleasure bags to 250lb in a day session. Neil Hider from Netley took 16 carp from peg 18, including a 19-12 ghostie and a 17-3 mirror plus crucians to 1-4, roach to 1-12, bream to 2
SCORES of former pupils from a Hampshire school helped to celebrate its centenary. Winchester County High School was founded in 1906 and had its last intake in 1973. Today it is occupied by The Westgate Secondary School. To celebrate its 100th birthday
WINCHESTER city planners have given the green light for homelessness charity, Emmaus Hampshire, to build a "live/work" community on the outskirts of Winchester. The community development will offer, at any one time, 22 previously homeless and socially
PLANS showing the size and scale of the proposed Waitrose development in Weeke were given a mixed response by residents last Friday. More than 350 householders turned out at the St Barnabas Church Hall to view outline drawings and have their say on the
A HAMPSHIRE farmer has defended spreading sewage sludge on fields in the face of residents' concerns about pongs and pollution. Micheldever parish chiefs called a public meeting last Thursday after villagers complained about human effluent from London
VILLAGERS want a 20ft tree knocked down outside the community centre in St Vigor Way at Colden Common by a Hampshire County Council lorry to be replaced. It was felled after the vehicle backed into it twice on Monday. However, parish clerk, Bill Reed,
A TRAGIC accident at a ski resort in the French Alps caused the death of a mother-of-two, an inquest was told. The inquest in Southampton heard that Tina Yearsley, 49, was driving one of seven skidoos on a ride through the slopes of Arches-La-Frasse on
WH SMITH customers are angry after personal credit card details of their transactions were left dumped in a Winchester skip for several days. Police and data experts have warned that the effects could have been disastrous if they had fallen into the wrong
CONTINGENCY plans are being put into place so final year students at Southampton's two universities and at Winchester can graduate despite an assessment boycott by some lecturers. Members of the Association of University Teachers (AUT) and the National
SOUTHAMPTON'S next generation of passenger liner, Cunard's £300m Queen Victoria, marks a major milestone in her construction with the laying of the ship's keel tomorrow. Queen Victoria, due to enter service in December 2007, will be the third in Cunard's
Riverside Indoor Bowling Club recently presented a cheque for £800 to the Magpie Scanner Appeal for Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital. The cheque was handed over by chairman Alan Vines at the club's annual Awards Presentation Night. Trophies
Winchester sent several teams to the Hampshire Championships at Bournemouth on May Bank Holiday Monday. The Ladies' 1st XI were beaten 6-1 by Southampton, who play in a league four divisions above them. Meanwhile, the 2nd XI were beaten 1-0 by Farnham
THE man who led a parish council back from the brink of collapse has stepped down from his post. Pat Wright took control of Whiteley Parish Council when five councillors stepped down over a row about Meadowside skatepark. Leading a depleted council, he
A BISHOPSTOKE pub is staging a fun day to raise money for the life saving Community Responders. Previously known as The First Responders this is a dedicated group of volunteers who provide emergency treatment in the community. Community Responders are
YOUNG actors and actresses from a famous drama school have been gracing the stage at Eastleigh's Barton Peveril College. Third year students from The Guildford School of Acting and Musical Theatre (the GSA Conservatoire) performed their touring production
POTENTIAL Saints director Patrick Trant says Michael Wilde's new-look board will run Saints more as a football club than a business. Trant, chairman of Totton-based Trant Construction, is the only local businessman among Wilde's initial five-man delegation
THE largest Saints supporters group meets tonight and is expected to officially adopt a resolution to call for Rupert Lowe's resignation. The Saints Trust has grown rapidly since its launch at St Mary's back in January. Since then, they have gathered
SOUTHAMPTON'S next generation of passenger liner, Cunard's £300m Queen Victoria, marks a major milestone in her construction with the laying of the ship's keel tomorrow. Queen Victoria, due to enter service in December 2007, will be the third in Cunard's
