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Hampshire | Archive | 2005 | December

Stories for 2 December 2005

Andover News

Swift action to wipe out plague of rats

A PLAGUE of rats has descended on an important part of Andover but pest controllers say action to control the rodents should be quick and effective. more...

Quiet start for new opening times

THE first weekend of Britain's new licensing laws saw one woman drunk in Andover's Bridge Street during the early hours of Friday morning and two men arrested in Winchester Street at 3am on Saturday. more...

Green fingers for charity

A GROUP of over 50s from the newly-formed Club Phoenix planted bulbs to raise money for cancer research. more...

New bikes reach places that cars can't go!

NEXT time you see a flashing blue police light in Whitchurch or Overton it could just as easily be a uniformed police officer pedalling a push bike as one sitting in the more usual panda car. more...

Getting into the Christmas spirit

Father Christmas took time out from his busy schedule to visit a packed Broughton Village Hall over the weekend where the Broughton Christmas Market was taking place. more...

Pupils hard work rewarded

THEIR smiles said it all - students who took their GCSEs last term collected their prizes and were congratulated by their headteachers during presentation evenings at three secondary schools. more...

In the spotlight for dad

THE girls from Diva Dance School waited for their dads to come back from Iraq to perform a street dance show at Harrow Way Community School on Saturday night. more...

Proud moment tinged with sadness

A MEDAL presentation today in Tidworth will be tinged with sadness as the thoughts of soldiers receiving their medal will inevitably linger on colleagues killed and injured in the conflict which has taken the lives of almost 100 British soldiers. more...

Big screen fame for crop circle Colin

HE had his life transformed by the crop circle phenomenon and now American film-makers are to turn the story of Colin Andrews into a feature film. more...

GPs set to take over hospice from trust

MANAGEMENT of the Countess of Brecknock Hospice is set to be taken over by local GPs. more...

Well done, says Prince Charles

THE Prince of Wales and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, were in Tidworth on Tuesday presenting medals to soldiers back from a tour of duty in the Gulf. more...

Santa's special gift

A SPECIAL present from Father Christmas has opened up a whole new world of reading for a young Whitchurch boy. more...

Basingstoke News

Thanks for fall assistance

Sir.-I would like to say thank you to the kind people who stopped to help my husband after his fall in the town recently. more...

Court case clarification

Sir.-I am writing with reference to an article in The Gazette last Thursday regarding our burglary last month and the subsequent return of some of our items. more...

Fond memories of Fieldways

Sir.-Regarding the planned demolition of Fieldways - I have very fond memories of this house as I went there several times when I was young. more...

Listen to the local people

Sir.-I read the letters in last Thursday's Gazette regarding Manydown. more...

Bidding for an end to bullying

Sir.-I have five grandchildren and am absolutely disgusted to hear every day about the terrible bullying in the schools. Nothing seems to stop it. more...

Praise for great performance

Sir.-Recently I went to Aldworth Science College where the Rotary Club of Basingstoke Deane presented a Festival of Music. more...

So much for conservation

Sir.-I write regarding the crackdown by the borough council on the residents of Brookvale in connection with apparent contraventions of the rule governing conservation areas, as reported in last Thursday's Gazette. more...

Tadley

CHRISTMAS lights: Last week's turning on of the Christmas tree lights outside the town council offices by local Meridian news reporter Sangeeta Bhabra went very well, with the biggest crowd we have had at this event so far. more...

Silchester

COMPETITION winners: Each year, the Silchester parish magazine organises a competition with the schoolchildren to design a cover for the December/January edition of the magazine. more...

Sherfield-on-Loddon

VILLAGE hall AGM: Outgoing chairman Esme Ward reported on the year, lots of bookings and the renovation of the kitchen. more...

Rotherwick

OH YES you will... Have a great start to the festive season if you come along to the Hogs 'n' Hags Arts Group charity Christmas show this Saturday, in the village hall. more...

Pamber Heath

PETER Pan: On Saturday, December 10, at 7.30pm, at Pamber Heath Memorial Hall, with Proteus Theatre Company. more...

Old Basing

POLICING: It looks as though we now have a better police presence in the village with the arrival of Pc Jon Peace. more...

Oakridge/South View

NEWS flash: Free websites for Norden community groups. more...

Oakley

JUMBLE sale: There is a jumble sale this Saturday, at East Oakley Village Hall, in aid of Deane church, where there will be a white elephant stall, a raffle and a tombola. more...

Kingsclere

CAROLS in the Square: Returns on Wednesday, December 14. more...

Kempshott

KEMPSHOTT WI: Holds its monthly meeting at Kempshott Village Hall, off Pack Lane, on Monday, December 19, entitled "Christmas in Song" by Steven Jordan. more...

Hook

HOOK Players: Will be putting on their final performances of the pantomime A Knight to Remember at 7.45pm tongiht, and at 2pm and 7.45pm on Saturday. more...

Hatch Warren

CHRISTMAS activity day: Bookings are now being taken for the activity day at the community centre on Tuesday, December 20. more...

Ellisfield

PARISH council: Meets in the Memorial Hall, at 7.30pm, on Monday. more...

Cliddesden

THEATRE: There's a Hog the Limelight event in the Millennium Village Hall on Sunday, December 11, at 3pm, entitled Let's Have Dragon for Dinner by Morag Thorpe. more...

Chineham

FAMILY tree: What do you know about the history and people of Chineham? more...

Brighton Hill

COUNCILLOR'S surgery: I will hold my monthly surgery on Saturday, from 11am to noon. more...

Bramley

NATIONAL Women's Register: The November meeting, in Tudor Close, was a full house for Joan, as hostess. more...

Working mothers

GOOD pre-school child care is vital for mothers who have to return to work when their children are young. more...

Mayors gather to hail marvellous Margaret

FOR nearly 20 years, Margaret Payne has been an unsung hero behind the borough's mayors and deputy mayors. more...

Drinkers have a tipple at the bra!

EXTRAVAGANTLY-decorated bras have been adorning a Popley pub as part of its mission to help buy a machine that detects breast cancer for Basingstoke hospital. more...

Raiders bulldoze bank to steal cash machines

A GANG of smash-and-grab raiders has made off with £160,000 after using a stolen digger to snatch two cash machines from a bank. more...

Basingstoke Sport

'Stoke must keep ruthless streak

BASINGSTOKE RFC player-coach Jim Dixon says December is going to be a crucial month for his side as they look to maintain their challenge for the Powergen South-West One title. more...

Easy victory comes with difficult three-game ban

Basingstoke Town 4, United Services Portsmouth 0 more...

Ruthless 'Stoke run riot

Basingstoke 106pts, Tottonians 0 more...

Eastleigh News

Ramalley Pre-school is voted tops by inspectors

STAFF and tots at a Chandler's Ford pre-school have plenty to smile about. more...

Echowinchester News

Revamp will not mean fewer library books

HAMPSHIRE civic chiefs have defended their controversial plans for the new Winchester library. more...

Driver trapped after car hits council offices

A CAR smashed into the wall of the Winchester City Council offices after its driver lost control. more...

Forestandwaterside News

Parking free at Christchurch

FESTIVE cheer will be extended to drivers visiting the Christchurch Christmas Festival who will be able to park for free across the town centre . more...

Painting will be lasting legacy

AS works of art go, everyone at Brockenhurst Primary School agrees that it is a masterpiece. more...

Romsey News

Councillor cleared by Standards Board

A ROMSEY councillor has been cleared of allegations that he leaked confidential information to the press about a severance `pay off' to a former town clerk. more...

Shops plan branded a mishmash

COUNCILLORS have thrown down a challenge to the owners of Romsey's Waitrose superstore to come up with a better design for new shops they are planning next door to it. more...

Teenager beaten unconscious for his football boots

A MUGGER knocked a teenager unconscious on a Romsey footpath before making off with his football boots. more...

Footballers to return to Timsbury

MICHELMERSH and Timsbury's village footballers could soon be returning to their parish recreation ground. more...

Facelift for tatty town hall

Stockbridge's tatty town hall is set to receive a makeover - in stages. more...

Drinkers won't be able to fill up round the clock at Esso

ROMSEY'S police chiefs have talked Esso out of selling alcohol around the clock at its Greatbridge Service Station. more...

Twins win national orchestra places

TWINS Amy and Laura Innes have a date at London's Royal Albert Hall next summer. more...

Romsey Sport

RUGBY: Romsey miss out on first win by two points

Looking for their first win of the season Romsey went into Sunday's cup fixture with a confidence that was reflected in their play throughout. more...

M&T held to a draw

M&T Awbridge returned to a semblance of form on Saturday but had to be content with a share of the spoils from a match they dominated for the best part. more...

BOXING: Castle on a Couch trip

HENRY Castle steps back into the ring at Portsmouth on Sunday. more...

Seven up for Broughton

IN a one-sided game Broughton had Hamble Reserves beaten by half time. more...

Southampton Leisure

This weeks top 10 movies

1. WALLACE & GROMIT: The curse of the were rabbit(U) This latest beautifully crafted offering is undoubtedly Aardman Animations's best work to date. As Wallace might say, it's "cracking" stuff. more...

KEEPING MUM (15)

Keeping Mum is an offbeat comedy with a wickedly dark streak. more...

WHERE THE TRUTH LIES (18)

Where The Truth Lies is a stylishly conceived portrait of the seamier side of celebrity, and fame and fortune's slow yet irreparable corruption of the soul. more...

DOOM (15)

THERE is a time and a place for computer and video games, and respectfully, it's not on the big screen. more...

Between the Scales

Your guide to the south's jazz, blues, folk, classical and alternative music scene more...

Best of the Rest

YOU won't need a White Ladder to get into David Gray's concert at the Bournemouth International Centre on Thursday, just a ticket! more...

The Undertones

THEY'LL be Teenage Kicks aplenty in Southampton on Thursday as the late John Peel's favourite band, The Undertones, play a rare gig at The Joiners before heading to France to headline at a festival. more...

Robinson Crusoe

THE panto season begins in style at the Theatre Royal in Winchester this weekend with the fabulous Robinson Crusoe. more...

Youth group pay a Visit

AWARD-winning Eastleigh Borough Youth Theatre (EBYT) are inviting audiences to an intriguing show sprinkled with moral conundrums, colourful characters and a thrilling display of exhilarating physical theatre. more...

Southampton News

In Saturday's Daily Echo

WEEKEND MAGAZINE - Theo Walcott interview plus your seven-day TV and Satellite guide. more...

Will Mr Cowell favour 4Tune boys after all?

SOUTHAMPTON up and coming boy band 4Tune could soon be on the verge of signing a record deal with music mogul Simon Cowell. more...

All lit up for a charity Christmas

SINGING snowmen and dancing Santas are returning to a Hampshire neighbourhood this Sunday as residents switch on their famous charity Christmas light display. more...

Dad queues up for 12 hours for latest Xbox

A FATHER staged a 12-hour vigil at a Hampshire supermarket - to keep a promise to his eight-year-old son. more...

Hit squads bid to resolve NHS cash crisis

FINANCIAL hit squads are to move in on Southampton and New Forest health trusts to sort out their crippling debts. more...

Old Mutual lowers the bar but Skandia's resisting a takeover

THE SOUTH African financial giant in a £3.3 billion hostile bid for rival Skandia is determined to press ahead with the deal by lowering the bar of shareholder acceptance. more...