TIME is almost out for Justin Rose in his bid to play in next week's 133rd Open Championship at Troon. The Hampshire star, despite a scintillating ten-birdie final-round 65 in yesterday's Smurfit European Open, has just this week's Barclays Scottish Open
SHANE WARNE enters Friday's second Test against Sri Lanka in Cairns needing eight wickets to beat Muriah Murilitharan's Test record haul. The Hampshire skipper took his career tally to 520 Test victims in 111 appearances with three victims in Australia's
EASTERN Province left-hander Carl Bradfield hit an undefeated 95 and shared an unbroken century partnership with Michael Barnes as Portsmouth completed the double over the Hampshire Academy by an emphatic eight-wicket margin at St Helen's, Southsea. Bradfield
THERE was no way that a spot of rain was going to dampen the spirits of revellers at Warsash's annual festival. Despite the odd drop and some ominous clouds, people turned out in their hundreds for the event, which has become a firm favourite. Youngsters
Why we remain enthralled by the sinking of the 'unsinkable' liner that will be forever linked with her home port of Southampton... SHE may have sunk 91years ago, but Titanic still continues to cause controversy. This week the Daily Echo reported that
A PERIOD dinner attended by actors playing Titanic crew members will be held during a food festival in Eastleigh borough. Guests are invited to dress as if they had been passengers - whether first class or steerage - for a lavish meal at the Botley Park
ONE of the largest models ever built of Titanic was on display at the annual British Titanic Society convention which took place at Southampton's Hilton Hotel in Chilworth. Model-maker Peter Davies-Garner has spent 18 months constructing the spectacular
AN embroidered sailor's hat ribbon given as a souvenir to a young boy who survived the sinking of the Titanic has been sold for a record £31,000. The hat band - which is embroidered with the name of the ill-fated liner - was the only thing that eight-year-old
THOUSANDS of people enjoyed a carnival atmosphere in Winchester at the weekend as the city's 30th Hat Fair hit the streets. The annual event, the biggest free festival of street entertainment in Britain, once again proved a success with the crowds, despite
BARONESS Margaret Thatcher has paid a private visit to Winchester. Lady Thatcher visited Weir House, Alresford, before going on to see the garden of Tory election candidate George Hollingbery. Weir House was open as part of the National Gardens Scheme
SOUTHAMPTON'S Newtown and Nicholstown has undergone a transformation from the days when it was the haunt of prostitutes and criminals... IT'S an area where people take pride at what has been achieved - and are excited about what the future will bring.
Al Murray - The Pub Landlord, Theatre Royal Winchester DESPITE his recent flirtation with celebrity in Hell's Kitchen, the Pub Landlord is as reassuringly bigoted and ignorant as ever. The only trouble is, some members of his theatre audience don't seem
THOUSANDS of people flocked to Southampton Common for the annual city festival. Not even the showery weather could stop bumper crowds packing on to the common for the popular weekend event. On Saturday no balloons managed to take to the skies, but Sunday
HE'S the cleverest man in the world - and that's official. Hampshire's Kevin Ashman has been crowned world quiz champion after beating contestants from across the world to scoop the title of world quiz champion. The 44-year-old saw off challenges from
A MOTHER and her two young children fled their blazing top storey tower block flat after it was torched while they slept. Terrified Maxine Cox, 20, scooped up Kayleigh, five, and two-year-old Leon, after waking up at just after midnight to find her 15
HERE they are - the Daily Echo Daredevils! A 40-strong team of women drawn from several departments at the newspaper, will be taking part in Race for Life in Southampton. The countdown has begun for the legions of women who are preparing to pound the
BUILDING a Lego robot, a marble runway and a solar powered vehicle were among the challenges schoolchildren faced at a special science day at Fareham College. Twelve 12 to 14-year-olds from eight local schools were put through their paces in the competition
PETTY'S Brook: The recent clearance of the brook appears to have been one of the most noticed and welcome events in Chineham lately. Please help to keep this great Chineham asset in good condition and we can be sure that the parish council will spare
DAVID Pollard: The sad news of the recent death of Dr David Pollard, after a brave fight against his illness affects us all. David gave so much to Kingsclere. The building and running of our health centre is one thing but he played many other roles in
SUNSHINE smiles forced their way through the showers as Hedge End Carnival turned into another spectacular crowd puller. Conditions had been looking good until that Wimbledon weather curse threatened to wash out the carnival fun as the colourful cavalcade
STEP back in time at a medieval event coming up in Eastleigh that is guaranteed to tempt the taste buds and stimulate the mind. The event, set in the grounds of St Nicolas Church in Stoneham Lane, will see local live history combined with food and drink
COMMEMORATION of D-Day: On June 5, in Dummer Village Hall, The Maidenthorne Singers presented a Commemoration of D-Day in word and song. With the aid of modern technology they were able to present a portrait of life, while retaining the atmosphere of
FRENCH authorities have launched a police investigation into the tragic death of a Southampton based shipping boss last summer. Senior Orient Overseas Container Line executive Courtenay Allan, pictured above, suffered multiple fractures in a freak accident
CONFUSION reigned in Southampton this weekend over the St Mary's future of James Beattie. Speculation continues that the 26-year-old will be the subject of a £7m bid from Newcastle, but officials at both Southampton and Newcastle have firmly denied the
HONOURS were even in the local cricket derby at Sonning Lane on Saturday as Reading and Basingstoke and North Hants fought out a draw. The home side nearly snatched an unthinkable victory as skipper Sameer Patel never gave up - even when 16 was needed
IT IS the season of the year when the various groups at Basingstoke's Central Studio show off their theatrical expertise in a series of presentations. From Thursday until Saturday, beginning at 7.45pm, the Central Studio Theatre Company performs 100 by
PAUL TERRY blamed a lack of runs from Hampshire's big three for a forgettable first 24 hours of Twenty20 Cup action. Successive defeats on consecutive days at Essex and Surrey have left Hampshire struggling to qualify for the latter stages of the tournament
FORMER AFC Totton skipper Martin Whiddett could be the man to fill Craig McAllister's boots at Basingstoke Town next season. McAllister's departure to Stevenage Borough leaves Stoke short of a commanding figure to complement the silky frontline skills
SOUTH Wilts looked to have a touch of championship pedigree about them as they swept to a sixth successive win, beating Bashley (Rydal) by four wickets to establish a four-point lead at the top of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League. With second-placed
It is perhaps the best known of all Southampton stories. It tells of courage, sorrow, bravery and survival. As the years roll by few remain behind who were actually around in Southampton on that day in 1912, when the legendary White Star liner, Titanic
A YOUNG couple were so inspired by the story of the youngest survivor of the Titanic disaster that they have named their baby after her. Millvina Dean, 91, was just nine weeks old when the doomed liner hit an iceberg and sank on April 15, 1912. Her namesake
People's fascination with Titanic, lost on her maiden voyage from Southampton in 1912, has never waned over the decades. Keith Hamilton looks at the latest photographs of the great liner beneath the waves... They are the most secret of the secrets of
THE fascination with a maritime tragedy that happened more than 90 years ago shows few signs of ending. The latest flurry of interest will be in Chilworth today when thousands of pounds are expected to be paid out when rare items connected with Titanic
A section of the Titanic's famous Grand Staircase is expected to fetch up to £22,000 when it sells at auction. The foot-long piece of oak made up part of the handrail of the staircase, which epitomised the luxury of the liner. More recently it was made
FAREHAM gymnast Vanessa Hobbs is virtually guaranteed a ticket to Athens after Britain's first two Olympic Trials. In the absence of Beth Tweddle, the European silver medallist on asymmetric bars, the Dynamo School of Gymnastics star stormed ahead of
A FORMER employee started a fire at a Winchester restaurant in revenge for being sacked. Darron Bayley, 32, committed arson at the 15th century Old Chesil Rectory, endangering one of the oldest buildings in Winchester. Now he is starting a 12-month prison
IT'S festival season in Winchester this month as the city's second series of summer events in under a week starts on Friday. The Seventh Winchester Festival gets underway on Friday with a programme geared towards music, drama, literature and the visual
PARENTS and pupils have penned a song as they continue their fight to save Moorlands Infant School from closure. It comes in the latest stage of their battle to save the Bitterne-based school which Southampton City Council want to turn into a one-form
Bonnie Raitt, Bournemouth International Centre IT WAS a perfect evening. Legendary performer Bonnie Raitt took to the stage in Bournemouth and she meant business. With her shock of red hair - set off with a stylish vanilla Mallen streak - and a figure
THE families of two winners of the highest military honour for valour, the Victoria Cross have spoken of their pride that the men have been recognised in a £7.5m building project at HMS Collingwood. The children of Rear-Admiral Robert St Vincent Sherbrooke
YOUNG musicians from Fareham and Gosport are behind a new symphony which will receive its world premiere in Portsmouth Guildhall on Sunday. The piece, called Elemental, is inspired by fire, water, earth and air. Gosport and Fareham Youth Orchestra, along
THE Child Minders Association: The group held a fun day on June 17 at Popley Fields Community Centre. Children made Father's Day cards, using stickers of tigers, birds, butterflies and generous amounts of glitter. Other children used potato prints to
WINE walk: Even though your taste for things Portuguese may have been affected by the result on June 24, do not be deterred from participating in St Leonard's Wine Walk on Saturday, July 10, when you can sample wine and food from Portugal and Spain. Tickets
CHILDREN'S Fun Club: The next one takes place next Saturday, July 10, from 10am until noon, at the community centre. For further details, contact the community office on 811262. ROADWORKS: Local residents will have noticed that roadworks are taking place
PATIENTS are being moved out of wards at Bishopstoke's Mount Hospital because staffing levels have reached crisis point. After years of uncertainty the axe is already set to fall on The Mount with a replacement package of services being developed to come
OAKRIDGE Junior School: The work is completed, the cladding removed, and the school looks very good. WHY not get fit? The Vyne Fit for Life Studio is open through the summer. There are bikes, treadmills, a multi-gym, cross trainer and rowing machines
DOWNPOUR! Even a downpour on June 27 couldn't dampen the spirits at Pond Cottage. Daphne Robertson-Macleod said: "I made more than £600, and it was really great." She added: "The weather was good for most of the afternoon and I'd like to thank everyone
Sir.-I wish to congratulate Robert Benford for his recent triumph at Aldershot magistrates court regarding motocross events. Mr Benford was always ready to negotiate, discuss or compromise with the objectors and councils but was never really given the
SAINTS defender Mike Williamson has been signed by one of the finest centre halves of England's recent football history. The 20-year-old centre half has been snapped up by Wycombe Wanderers, managed by Arsenal legend Tony Adams, on a season-long loan.
JUSTIN Rose re-discovered his best golf yesterday in the final round of the Smurfit European Open. The north Hampshire star shot a seven-under-par 65 to finish on minus-two for the tournament. It sent him racing up the leader-board to earn a top-20 placing
THE Hampshire Hawks will have to beat south coast rivals Sussex Sharks on Friday to keep their Twenty 20 hopes alive. After suffering their EIGHTH successive Twenty20 defeat, a 31-run mauling at the hands of the Surrey Lions on Saturday night, the Hawks
MAX Smith collected his Southern Electric Cricketer of the Month award for June - and then celebrated with a five-wicket haul which almost earned Old Tauntonians & Romsey their first Premier League win of the season. His spell of 5-49 in 16 overs
LACK of muscle power threatened to floor Hamble Week's traditional tug of war tournament. The strong men from the village's Victory Inn had been ready to pit their strength against any rivals. Opposition was very thin on the ground until volunteers stepped
A MANUSCRIPT which describes the final hours of the Titanic, written by the most senior officer to survive the sinking, was being auctioned today. The 17-page unpublished document by Charles Lightoller, the vessel's second officer, was going under the
Young Frederick Sheath, his mind numbed by visions of hysteria, stepped into Lifeboat One where he joined a shivering woman in a silk kimono. It was First Officer Murdock, the Officer of the Watch, who had ordered him to leave Titanic. There was no time
Today's Principal Arrivals: CFF Solent, ro/ro, 0715, 30; Newhaven, passenger, 0930, Saxon Wharf; Ladoga 106, cargo, 1000, 107; Pacific Angel, vehicle carrier, 1130, 201; APL Coral, container, 205; NYK Lyra, container, PM, 207; Hoo Laurel, cargo, TBA,
SOUTHAMPTON will not be playing host to an exhibition about Titanic in October. Tourism bosses confirmed that the show, which had a convicted paedophile as its main contributor, will not be coming to the city. But they've denied that the decision not
A ROW has erupted over whether a Titanic exhibition, which has a convicted paedophile as its main contributor, should come to Southampton. Paedophile Denis Cochrane, currently serving a seven-year prison sentence, is one of the contributors to the "largest
SHARES in Saints sponsor Friends Provident sank six per cent after it said it planned to issue new stock to fund a merger of its Isis asset management arm with Eureko's F&C. The shares fell 8.25p to 137.5p after insurer Friends said it intended to
THIS wedding proposal would be enough to knock the wind out of the sails of most people. It certainly did to 27-year-old yachtswoman Clare Straker. She gasped in delight when husband-to-be Greg Hoar popped the time-honoured question to her via a written
THE FUTURE of a £3m leisure centre is now back on track following crunch talks between contractors and New Forest civic chiefs. However, Totton and Eling Town Council chiefs have warned the Hanger Farm project will be seriously delayed. The Daily Echo
NOT even the dark clouds could overshadow the high spirits of Romsey residents this weekend as they flocked to the annual Romsey Mayor's Picnic. The memorial park was the setting for the fundraising event organised by the Romsey Test Rotary Club. Festivities
Featuring six comedians over three evenings, Forest Arts presented a preview of the Avalon Edinburgh Fringe Festival. "Stand-up" comics (and how else would they tell jokes - lying down?) like John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman who appeared on Friday, seem
A SOUTHAMPTON University student has bared all to capture that provocative pose made famous by call girl Christine Keeler. Katherine Hopson, 22, is among about half a dozen top Hampshire and Isle of Wight sailors who have stripped to their birthday suits
ASTHMA researchers in Hampshire are embarking on a sticky project which could help save thousands of lives. A new investigation announced by Southampton- based medical research charity Hope will focus on mucus. Experts based at the University of Southampton
FRENCH authorities have launched a police investigation into the tragic death of a Southampton based shipping boss last summer. Senior Orient Overseas Container Line executive Courtenay Allan, pictured above, suffered multiple fractures in a freak accident
DRAMA, dance and music filled Cantell School's hall during an afternoon of celebration to mark the official opening of the £15m complex. Pupils have been having lessons in the new classrooms of the three-storey school in Violet Road, Southampton, since
WONDERFUL music, spectacular fireworks, enormous picnics and a lucky reprieve in a rainy day - all made for a great evening at Exbury Gardens this weekend. A 4,000-strong audience turned out armed with hampers, rugs and deckchairs for the outdoor summer
A FAREHAM school is set to become masters of the arts with an Arts Week. Brookfield Community School pupils, in Sarisbury, will launch into their Arts Week with master classes in dance, photography, animation and music making. The highlight of the week
PARISH council: At the annual meeting on June 21, declarations of acceptance of office were made by Cllrs John Ferguson, Hugh Tottenham, Richard Wood, Annabel Sexton and Gordon Jackson, with Judy Foyle to accept on her return. Cllr Ferguson was elected
DEVELOPMENTS: The land to the rear of R&R Roofing will imminently be undergoing change. B J Champion, who is currently working on the building on the corner of George Street and Queens Road, has been contracted to demolish the old buildings and construct
BLOOMING wonderful: The recent Festival of Flowers in Ellisfield was a huge success - a triumph for Ellisfield Ladies, who organised the event and inspired so much dedicated work from so many residents. There were magnificent floral displays in St Martin's
EVENT: Don't forget to put Heart in the Park in your diary, on Saturday, July 10. It promises to be a fun day for the whole family, organised by Hook New Covenant Church, Sacred Heart Church and St John's Church. There will be games, races, music and
DOWN Grange: Basingstoke Rugby Football Club Ltd has submitted an application relating to four-and-a-half acres of land at Down Grange, Pack Lane. If you want to see the plans, they are available at the council offices during normal working hours. Any
HELLO: After Judy's introduction last week, hopefully most regular readers will already know that I have taken over her regular slot in Village News. Firstly, a massive thank you to Judy, who has kept us up to date with village news for many years and
A FAIR OAK pre-school that was praised to the hilt in an Ofsted report is struggling to find tots to fill its places. Inspectors heaped praise on Littleoaks Pre-School on a recent visit, impressed with how activities and resources as well as a high standard
POLICE changes: It is sad, but there is another change in the policing of our village. Pc Andy Steel is leaving us today, moving to another area. He has been our local bobby for about 12 months. He openly admitted to me when he arrived that he was a bit
BAZAAR and produce show: This takes place on September 4, in Pamber Heath Village Hall, from noon to 4pm. If you are interested in booking a table, then please contact me on the above number for more details. VILLAGE hall: The hall now has smart new front
ON Monday: The town council holds its full council meeting at the Immanuel Centre, at URC church hall, starting at 7.30pm. All are welcome to attend. At this, there will be presentations to the winners of the Litter Week quiz, and also the World Environment
WHO'S a clever boy then? Peter Dobinson, that's who, who completed his environmental project sponsored by the Young People's Trust for the Environment by putting up nearly 20 individual owl, bat and bird boxes all around Rotherwick. The project was officially
ROMAN dig: The archaeological dig starts on Monday, on Insula IX. I am sure visitors will be welcome once the diggers get settled and the work under way. CHRISTIAN Aid: The village collection raised around £600. Many thanks to the collectors and givers
Sir.-I write regarding Drake's bar. I have first-hand knowledge of the venue and type of entertainment both here and in other venues, having worked as part of a private security team. My observations are based on actual experience of the venue. How can
Sir.-If there is a police officer on the beat in Lychpit and Old Basing, then I'd like to know when he's about. The assertion by Superintendent Paul Netherton, Basingstoke's police chief, that each "patch" has an officer to keep in touch with the community
Sir.-I was saddened to read in last week's Gazette that strip shows were taking place at the Falcon Inn, Burghfield Road, Tadley, on certain Sunday afternoons. This very inn holds so many happy memories for my family. It was the birthplace of my younger
Sir.-Thank you to all who voted for the Liberal Democrats in the recent European and local elections. We had the best-ever result in both elections, moving into second place in the local elections and recording the only gain in both votes and seats for
JUST how much do Saints want to sign American winger DaMarcus Beasley? That is the question chairman Rupert Lowe must be asking himself after Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven joined the race to sign the 22-year-old prospect. Saints had what Lowe called a "substantial
SAINTS fans can catch that rarest of sights in the next week or so - Agustin Delgado playing football! The former St Mary's striker only made five starts during an injury-plagued spell as a Saint which ended with his contract being terminated last month
CHASE Armitage, recently awarded a scholarship by the Basingstoke Sports Trust, won three silver medals at the national wu shu championships. The 18-year-old from Popley missed one gold by just five hundredths of a mark when he competed against top British
BASINGSTOKE Ice Skating Club won their first National Team Challenge since 1999 at Lee Valley. The local club had several individual winners, as well as winning two team categories - the synchronized skating category and the show number. Basingstoke needed
