Archive

  • Gymnastics: Hobbs steps onto world stage

    FAREHAM gymnastics sensation Vanessa Hobbs announced her arrival onto the world stage with a surprise bronze medal in the Great Britain versus Russia international at Liverpool. Hobbs, who has just sat 11 GCSE's at Cams Hill School, had a largely clean

  • Phone bullies warning issued by headteacher

    A BOROUGH headteacher, concerned by the potential for bullies to use mobile phones to ring pupils in the classroom, is urging parents to tell their children to switch them off during the day. Hilary Jackson, headteacher at Testbourne Community School,

  • The highs and lows of fame

    TOTTON once had two claims to fame. The first proudly took its place in the record books while the other was not something to boast about. It is now a town but for many years local people could pride themselves on living in the largest village in England

  • Win with Sailsolent

    Each month we will be offering the Sailsolent visitor's the chance to win a superb nautical prize. This month's prize is... 'The Book of The Solent' Just click on the right hand link to 'Win with Sailsolent' answer the question and if you name gets pulled

  • Youngster Robbie is top of the class

    Young Robbie Claridge, from Lymington, beat 59 other Optimist sailors to take the class prize in the RYA Southern Area Zone championships on Sunday. The six-race series, spread over Saturday and Sunday, tested Claridge and his fellow competitors' stamina

  • Partially sighted and the blind find their sea legs on Solent

    "Don't forget to put that winch handle back where you found it as I'll need to lay my hand on it and we blind people have exceptional memories." This was a word of warning given to me when out sailing a 65ft yacht two summers ago with a group of partially

  • Hants sailors hit the podium

    Hampshire sailors won five medals in four Olympic classes at Kiel Week, Germany. Chris Draper, sailing with Hampshire's 2000 Olympic silver medallist Simon Hiscocks, fought off stiff competition to take gold on the final day. Lymington's double Olympic

  • Injured officer out of intensive care

    A HAMPSHIRE police officer left fighting for his life following a car crash as he raced to the aid of a female colleague who was being attacked has been moved out of intensive care. Area car driver John Turner-Bone, pictured, was rushed to Southampton

  • Dominic Holland

    WHILE many comedians pride themselves on being as offensive as possible to get laughs, writer and stand-up comic Dominic Holland is more interested in making people happy. "I like cynical comedy if it's done very well - I think Bill Hicks could do it

  • Lilies on the Land

    THIS weekend the Women's Land Army will be descending on the Forest Arts Centre in New Milton for the Lions Part Theatre Company production of Lilies on the Land. The show recounts the tales of over 140 women during the Second World War who worked on

  • Arsenic and Old Lace

    TAKE two sweet spinsters and a pinch of poison and you've got the recipe for fantastic show that opens at the Plaza in Romsey on Tuesday, courtesy of Romsey Amateur Operatic Dramatic Society (RAODS). Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring was first

  • Up, up and away - perhaps later today

    A PLANNED mass balloon extravaganza to launch Southampton's balloon and flower festival was scrapped this morning. Organisers had planned to light up the morning sky across the city by flying up to nine huge balloons to mark the start of the annual event

  • Can we dodge a fine? Yes you can!

    BEANS means fines - at least they will do if Southampton's leisure bosses have anything to do with it. A radical new scheme which allows people with overdue library books to pay off their outstanding fines by donating tins of food to charity has been

  • We're all singing our hearts out!

    HUNDREDS of Southampton schoolchildren sang their hearts out at a special vocal festival in the city. Youngsters aged between nine and 16 joined together at the event, which was held at the Turner Sims Concert Hall and led by professional animator and

  • Delays

    We don't like to blow our own trumpet, but feel we've been doing our bit to champion Southampton band Delays. Word on the street is that people are started to sit up and take notice of this four-piece, signed to Rough Trade records. They are actually

  • Sparklehorse

    Riding high on the success of their latest album It's A Wonderful Life, Sparklehorse have once again produced an enigmatic sound, leaving the listener more enthralled with each play. The third album proper from the band is primarily the creation of Mark

  • Judith Durham

    Forget Kylie, Judith Durham was the first Ozzie pop princess. Back in the 1960s she was lead singer with The Seekers and her voice led to her acquiring a legion of devoted fans who still follow her career today. A singer, composer and pianist, her music

  • Music Round-up

    LOCAL band Sounder have just won the regional final of Battle of the Bands held at Portsmouth's Wedgewood Rooms on June 21. They were joint winners with fellow Southampton band Toupe. Both will be playing at the UK final at London's Astoria on July 20

  • ROAD VICTIM'S FIGHT FOR LIFE

    A MOTORCYLIST has been questioned by police after a road crash in which his pillion passenger was left fighting for her life. Police say the 24-year-old rider took a breath test in hospital following the accident with a truck in Portchester yesterday.

  • Woman died from head injuries

    A POST-mortem carried out on a woman whose body was found in the sea off the Isle of Wight on Sunday showed she died from severe head injuries. Police said they were unable to formally identify the body discovered in Freshwater Bay until results of DNA

  • ROAD VICTIM'S FIGHT FOR LIFE

    A MOTORCYLIST has been questioned by police after a road crash in which his pillion passenger was left fighting for her life. Police say the 24-year-old rider took a breath test in hospital following the accident with a truck in Portchester yesterday.

  • Dame Julie's ship spectacular

    Hollywood legend Julie Andrews sent a blizzard of colour, confetti and streamers blowing across Southampton when she named the world's newest luxury cruise ship in the city yesterday. The celebrated superstar, who set the hills alive with The Sound of

  • It's unashamed luxury . . . with your own butler

    CRYSTAL Serenity is 68,000 tons of unashamed luxury with passengers travelling in the top-of-the-range cabins even having their own butler to look after them throughout the voyage. The ship is designed to appeal to those who demand the best in accommodation

  • CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE (12A)

    THIS is one of those films that you want to love but, as with all love affairs that go wrong, end up feeling cheated by. It should be great - feisty heroines, plenty of action, some good cameos and Demi Moore in a great comeback role. But somehow it all

  • CINEMA LISTINGS

    Films showing in the Hampshire region until 10 July. 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS (12A): An ex-cop-turned illegal street racer is recruited by the police to help catch a drug dealer. Lots of high-energy car races and chases ensue. ANGER MANAGEMENT (15): An easygoing

  • Rose suffers another bad day at K Club

    Justin Rose was spiralling towards his first missed cut of the year after suffering another Smurfit European Open nightmare at the K Club in Dublin yesterday. It was at the same venue in Dublin's fair city exactly a year ago that the young Hampshire star

  • Teenager critical after mystery car accident

    A Hampshire teenager is today fighting for his life after a mystery accident in Hampshire. The 17-year-old suffered head injuries and a fractured pelvis when he fell into the path of an on coming car in West End. The youth had been a passenger in a red

  • Partnership set to take town forward

    BASINGSTOKE is a place with a great future, according to the man heading a new initiative designed to improve the lives of people in the town and borough. The Local Strategic Partner-ship (LSP) involves different organisations from the public and private

  • Williams within striking distance

    Glynn Williams' Swan 45, Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, crewed by a predominantly Hamble and Southampton based team, has it all to play for on the final day of the Swan European championships being held off Cowes this week. After having swept the board at

  • Cogswell Olympic bid gets a boost

    A story of triumph over adversity. Mike Cogswell, an avid sailor and regular Swan 49 competitor, broke his back in a skiing accident just four years ago. Determined and committed, he is back on the sailing circuit and competing at the highest level, namely

  • In Port

    Today's Principal Arrivals: Adonia, cruise ship, 0645, 106; Autofreighter, ro/ro, 0730, 201 link; MOL Integrity, container, 0800, 205; Tinka, container, 1800, 204W. Today's Principal Sailings: CMA CGM Bizet, container, 0130, 205; P&O Nedlloyd Drake

  • Trust offering the chance to win voyage of a lifetime

    The Jubilee Sailing Trust, with support from Marlow Ropes, is currently offering two people the chance to win a voyage of a lifetime on board their tall ship, Lord Nelson. The three-masted barque was specially designed to enable able-bodied and physically

  • I'll be back

    BASINGSTOKE'S teen-age tennis star Josh Goodall's Wimbledon hopes for 2003 were terminated this week, but he has vowed to return to the All England Club next year in the men's senior event - so watch out Tim Henman! Playing his last Junior Wimbledon this

  • Totton sign up five new faces

    JOHN Robson is "quietly optimistic" about the future of AFC Totton now that the club have ironed out the summer creases that triggered a player exodus from Testwood Park. Five new signings have already climbed aboard and Robson is in talks with a 'keeper

  • Gymnastics: Hobbs steps onto world stage

    FAREHAM gymnastics sensation Vanessa Hobbs announced her arrival onto the world stage with a surprise bronze medal in the Great Britain versus Russia international at Liverpool. Hobbs, who has just sat 11 GCSE's at Cams Hill School, had a largely clean

  • Cycle Speedway: Woodhouse lifts British title

    Southampton Cycle Speedway rider, Shaun Woodhouse stormed to victory last Saturday, winning the British Under-19 Individual Championship at Exeter. Shaun, from North Baddesley, dropped just one point from five rides to finish one point ahead of his nearest

  • Diving: Under-19s the best in the country

    Youngsters from Southampton Diving Academy proved that the club is the best in England for the under-19s when they won the team event at the Amateur Swimming Association Age Group National Competition held at the Quays . The squad comprised 15 of the

  • Diving: Danny hits gold at first attempt

    A bumper team of 23 youngsters travelled to Reading to represent Southampton Diving Academy at the Albatross Novice Invitational Gala, bringing back a total of one gold, three silver and two bronze medals. They also came second in the team event. The

  • Cycling: Longland in bid to stay ahead of Armstrong

    WHAT have Southampton born Glenn Longland (Antelope RS Holdings RT) and the Texan ranger, Lance Armstrong (US Postal) got in common? Both cyclists compete in races this weekend; they have won several times before and they will share the same mental pressures

  • Teachers laid off at school

    A VILLAGE school near Winchester has been forced to make staff redundant because of a sharp fall in pupil numbers. Twyford Primary School is this month cutting two part-time teaching posts and two learning support assistant jobs in order to stave off

  • New row over CCTV cameras

    CRIMEBUSTING cameras in the New Forest are at the centre of a row over how long the system's nerve centre should be left unmanned. Staff at the closed-circuit television control room operated by New Forest Council monitor the footage and report any incidents

  • Barry Cryer

    Like many people Barry Cryer cites Eric Morecambe as his comedy hero. But what fans of Eric and Ernie may not realise is that Barry Cryer was responsible for many of their best jokes. In fact the TV and radio star wrote for many of the top names of comedy

  • Far from the Madding Crowd

    LOVE and tragedy come to the Theatre Royal Winchester this week, courtesy of Thomas Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd. The exciting new adaptation of the Dorset love story, by the award winning Middle Ground Theatre Company, follows the joyous and tragic

  • Jesus Christ Superstar

    AWARD-WINNING Eastleigh Borough Youth Theatre (EBYT) brings Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's famous religious rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar to The Point from next Wednesday. The show first exploded onto the stage in 1971. Acclaimed as a masterpiece

  • Chesil lifts curtain on autumn shows

    COMIC drama comes to the fore at Chesil Theatre in Winchester with the recent announcement of the group's autumn line-up. A mix of classic drama and contemporary work looks set to help us through the long, dark winter nights with a new season of six plays

  • WE DEMAND ACTION

    HUNDREDS of people turned out last night to deliver a powerful message to the government: do something about our A36. Residents, campaigners, road-users and politicians put their weight behind the Daily Echo campaign to stop the carnage on the road, one

  • Teenager critical after mystery car accident

    A Hampshire teenager is today fighting for his life after a mystery accident in Hampshire. The 17-year-old suffered head injuries and a fractured pelvis when he fell into the path of an on coming car in West End. The youth had been a passenger in a red

  • Dame Julie's ship spectacular

    Hollywood legend Julie Andrews sent a blizzard of colour, confetti and streamers blowing across Southampton when she named the world's newest luxury cruise ship in the city yesterday. The celebrated superstar, who set the hills alive with The Sound of

  • Traffic chaos fears at threatened pub

    SCORES of residents spoke of their fears last night over controversial plans to bulldoze a Southampton pub to make way for a housing development. Householders near The Elephant and Castle in Bursledon Road, Sholing, said the proposals would lead to traffic

  • Surfing the Net at new cyber centre

    RESIDENTS in Southampton will have the World Wide Web at their fingertips, thanks to the launch of a new cyber cafe in Thornhill. The facility has been funded by the government's UK Online initiative and the Thornhill New Deal for Communities and aims

  • Willow

    WHEN indie band Willow take to the stage tomorrow, a home crowd will greet them. Singer Paul, 23, feels this will give them 'a real confidence boost' before going on to new territory on their imminent tour of Scotland and northern England. A 400-capacity

  • Purkiss is full of confidence

    MELANIE Purkiss returns to the scene of one of her greatest track triumphs in Ireland tomorrow. It was at the Cork City Games of 1999 that the Team Solent sprinter - then a up-and-coming 20-year-old - had the audacity to beat Australia's 400 metres golden

  • END OF LINE FOR FARES

    FARES are to be slashed from Hampshire's newest railway station less than four weeks after the Daily Echo exposed how passengers travelling from Chandler's Ford were being taken for a ride. The Daily Echo revealed how it was cheaper to travel from Southampton's

  • DARK BLUE (15)

    SET against the backdrop of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Dark Blue is a gritty police thriller from an original script by renowned fiction writer James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential). It's April, just days before four white officers from the LAPD are sensationally

  • BROKEN WINGS (15)

    EVERY family has its problems but one Israeli household seems to have more than their fair share. After her husband dies from a bee sting, Dafna is left to bring up her four children alone. Each of them responds in a different way to the tragedy. Dafna

  • The Plough, Sparsholt, near Winchester

    PART of the pleasure of the Plough Inn at Sparsholt is the journey to it. Tucked away in the rolling countryside just to the west of Winchester, the winding roads that take you to the delightful pub afford spectacular views. On the evening my husband