IF ever there is a case of good coming out of adversity, it's Gary Green's resolve to trim down a possible 182-day ban. The very fact that the veteran Winchester City midfielder is ready to fight his corner over the ban suggests that Sunday's FA Vase
IF YOU are looking to make a career change, Merit in Basingstoke is the company to help you. Local specialists within the engineering, manufacturing, management and IT sectors, they have a database of more than 30,000 candidates, as well as a large staff
TO SAY that Graham Fellows likes his comedy characters to be well-rounded is something of an understatement. Graham, the man behind Jilted John, John Shuttleworth and Brian Appleton isn't happy to come up with a superficial outline of his characters then
WHAT would you do if you found £735,000? Henry Perkins, a mild-mannered accountant has to make this decision when he discovers that his briefcase has been swapped for another at the underground station and he is now considerably better off than before
OSCAR Wilde lovers should catch Lord Arthur Savile's Crime, a play written by Constance Cox and based on Wilde's well-known story. After having his palm read shortly before he is about to get married, Lord Arthur is convinced his fate is to commit a murder
AN investigation has been launched into the finances of a group representing thousands of council tenants. The inquiry will centre on unaccounted for expenditure from the books of the Southampton Tenants and Residents Federation. Its former leaders have
TEACHERS are threatening strike action in Hampshire this summer following one of the biggest shake-ups to the school year. The move came last night after Hampshire County Council decided it would move all of its schools to a six-term year. The decision
WAKING up one day to discover the "not particularly well written" song you wrote eight years ago has become a worldwide smash hit must be pretty disconcerting. When people are referring to the song 30 years on as if it's the only thing you've ever done
DESPITE fears it would be a somewhat sombre affair, given the disappointment of Town's Conference South play-off defeat to Lewes three days previously, the club's annual end-of-season function found attending officials, players and fans in good spirits
READING manager Steve Coppell has started to re-shape his squad for next season. A two-year deal for Burnley winger Glen Little has been finalised, subject to a medical, and Coppell has released first-teamers John Salako and Kevin Watson, along with youngsters
FIRST Responders: Do you know about your local emergency service? There will be a talk and demonstration by the First Responders at the pavilion, Clift Meadow, on Thursday, at 7.30pm. All are welcome. For more details, call 850642. RNLI plant sale: Tomorrow
JUMBLE sale: A jumble sale is being held by the Senior Citizens Club at Brighton Hill Community Association, Gershwin Court, Gershwin Road, Brighton Hill, from 2pm to 4pm, on Saturday, May 22. There will be book and bric-a-brac stalls and a tombola. AGE
INFORMATION evening: On Thursday, at BCOT, from 6pm to 8pm. If you are thinking of attending the college in any capacity, this could be a useful and informative time to visit. BROOKVALE Teazer: Friday, May 21, at the village hall in Lower Brook Street
Saturday, May 22: This is a busy day in the village. In the afternoon there is St Leonard's excellent plant sale, in aid of church funds. If you're donating plants or produce, please deliver them from 11am. The Lych Gate opens at 1pm, please arrive early
ELLISFIELD'S Bluebell Walk: Last Sunday attracted 70 hardy walkers who braved soggy, squelchy conditions underfoot. Stout boots and wellies were the order of the day and we were rewarded by some splendid vistas, particularly in High Wood and Lower Preston
FASHION show: The improvement work currently under way at St Mark's Primary School will include facilities for a much-needed new pre-school - Dandelions. A fashion show is being held to raise funds, and this will take place on Saturday, May 22, at the
HOOK Fun Run: This Sunday, there will be a two-and-a-half, a five and a 10-mile race, with the first one starting at 11am. There will also be a race for the under-fives, starting at 10.45am. All races will start and finish at Hook schools, and if you
BASINGSTOKE Horticultural Society: The group will be holding its monthly meeting at Kempshott Village Hall on Monday, at 7.30pm . The meeting is entitled "Herbs for the 21st Century" by Mrs F Miller. Guests are most welcome to attend. SUMMER fayre: Aldworth
TRASH or treasure: A sale of somebody's junk / treasure is being held at the Village Club, tomorrow, from 10am to noon. Admission costs 20p, and items will be priced from 10p to £10 - no jumble. PLANT sale: The Friends of St Mary's have their annual plant
COUNCILLORS ward surgery: The next one is on Saturday, May 22, at Oakridge Methodist Church Hall, from 11.30am, for one hour. This is a chance to meet and talk to your councillors. NEWS from The Vyne school: The Footlights group will be performing Hard
D-DAY: During the weekend of June 4 to 7, the village will be represented at the 60th anniversary of the D-Day Landings. This will be well publicised on TV and in the newspapers, so it would be nice to know where our legion band is figuring in the celebrations
CHARITY dance: Tomorrow, at Pamber Heath Village Hall, from 8pm. Do you enjoy dancing the waltz, quickstep, cha-cha-cha, tango, jive and so on? If so, then come along and dance the night away. Profits will go to The Salvation Army. Tickets cost £6 each
MORNING meeting: There is a new group that has started up at Melrose Hall. It is for all young mums, aged 14 to 21. The group starts at 10am and finishes at noon, and is for you to express your ideas and wishes. There are plenty of toys for the children
CHEESE and wine tasting: Wine that maketh glad the heart... (thank you Psalm 104!) can be had tonight at the cheese and wine tasting evening taking place at the village hall, at 8pm. Learn about, and taste, some selected fine wines and test your knowledge
THEATRE: Silchester Players present the comedy thriller Tiptoe Through the Tombstones, tonight and tomorrow, and next Friday and Saturday, at 7.30pm, in the village hall. Tickets cost £6 for adults, £4 concessions, and are available from 0118 9815 600
Sir.-Please could you help me try to track down a kind woman who called me a few months ago? As publicity officer for Boundary Players, I received a call from someone who very kindly offered to donate us some costumes and I agreed to call and collect
IF it ain't broke don't fix it - a saying that, judging by these pictures, doesn't translate very well into German. Not content with selling arguably the most beautiful incarnation of the iconic Porsche 911 supercar, Stuttgart engineers have been tasked
SOUTH African paceman Charl Willoughby returns for Basingstoke and North Hants tomorrow at home to Radlett. Last Saturday, the club's opening IC3 Home Counties League game at High Wycombe was washed out along with the rest of the premier division programme
"ERNIE Howe must stay and lead us in the Conference South." That is the clear message from the Basingstoke Town FC faithful and club officials, who want the long-serving manager to remain at the helm and usher in an exciting new era at the Camrose. Supporters
RADIO is a heart-warming and old-fashioned slice of melodrama based on a true story, as reported in a Sports Illustrated story written by Gary Smith. Harold Jones (Harris) is the tough-talking coach of the American football team at a prestigious high
THE WORLD of boxing is dominated by men, both inside and out of the ring. Occasionally, however, women do break through the ranks and make their mark. Charles S Dutton's lightweight tale of triumph against prejudice and adversity recounts the supposedly
THIS is an incredible and gripping real life story of a journalist corrupted by ambition and an unquenchable thirst for attention. At a time when the media is increasingly under the spotlight, Billy Ray's mesmerising directorial debut reminds us of the
THERE'S good news for business as the economy is set to continue its recovery over the next 18 months. That was the message from leading economist Trevor Williams, as he spoke to Basingstoke business leaders at The ARK Conference Centre on Tuesday. Mr
THE smithy is long gone, but the forge where he would have shod the horses is now a three-roomed outbuilding for a refurbished cottage. Today, The Forge, in Pamber End (pictured), is selling with a £395,000 price guide through agents Dreweatt Neate. The
SILCHESTER Players' production of Tiptoe Through the Tombstones, a comedy thriller by Norman Robbins, begins today in Silchester Village Hall. Performances also take place tomorrow and next Friday and Saturday, May 21 and 22. The play takes place in the
Saints Under-19s manager Stewart Henderson tipped his play off winners to become first team contenders next season. Most of the side that beat Sheffield United so convincingly were playing a year below their age group. Henderson will still be able to
Two-goal Leon Best fired Saints to the club's first trophy in 28 years at Bramall Lane last night. Best scored one of the goals in Saints under 19s' 3-1 win against Sheffield United in the first leg of the FA Premier Academy League play off final at St
Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp was set for showdown talks with chairman Milan Mandaric today after relations between the pair reached breaking point. Redknapp is unhappy with Mandaric's intention to make changes at Fratton Park, especially on the coaching
MICHAEL DIGHTON can't wait to put himself in county cricket's shop window. The 28-year-old was on Wednesday named as Hampshire's FOURTH overseas signing of 2004. The Tasmania top order batsman, a state colleague of soon-to-be Hampshire all-rounder Shane
Zimbabwean Greg Lamb makes his ECB Southern Electric Premier League debut for the Hampshire Academy against South Wilts at the Rose Bowl tomorrow, 1pm. He is one of only two senior players in an otherwise all-teenage side captained by former county opener
Today's Principal Arrivals: OOCL Netherlands, container, 0230, 206; Autotransporter, roro, 0330, 201; CFF Seine, roro, 0530, 25; Anvil Point, roro, 0600, rlc; CMA CGM Debussy, container, 0930, 207; Le Castellet, roro, 1000, 203; Arroyofrio Dos, roro,
BASINGSTOKE'S pack has taken a huge hit after influential prop Neil Young decided to join Reading. Young's departure follows the retirements of fellow front row men Steve Hobden and Steve Buttle - although they are staying on at Down Grange to help with
AFTER delighting audiences with his performance in stage musical Chicago in 2002, John Altman is back at The Mayflower this week in another big musical role. John, who is best known for playing Nasty Nick in EastEnders, is starring in American Patrol,
THE Daily Echo today throws its weight behind a £1m appeal to improve the lives of hundreds of Hampshire people living with cancer. Macmillan Cancer Relief needs to raise the huge amount to fund a cancer information and support centre based at Southampton
SHE spent weeks making preparations for the big day. Now a Winchester pub landlady is set to miss out on the biggest sporting event in the city's history. Stephanie Reay, pictured, organised tickets for a special coach but is distraught that she will
FIVE hundred Royal Marines boarded the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean at Marchwood to take part in a major joint military exercise with the US Navy. A total of 5,900 UK service personnel will be taking part in the operation, which will rehearse the deployment
A stunning view of QE2 in dock at Southampton. It's one of many aerial images of Hampshire which will be published in Eye in the Sky, a 32-page supplement free with your Daily Echo on Tuesday.
A STATE-of-the-art double-decker bus has hit the streets of Hampshire to give youngsters something to do. The bus, kitted out with flat-screen computers, a cinema screen, a hot drinks area and a tuck shop, will be parked up around Totton on weekday evenings
COMMUNITY leaders are to hold emergency talks with council planners in a bid to rescue a scheme for a community centre in Chandler's Ford. People behind the plan for Hiltingbury Recreation Ground are to sit down with borough bosses to settle differences
POLICE will introduce a new method of dealing with complaints about officers taking too long to respond to calls from the public. The move comes after the Daily Echo revealed two cases this year of how it took police days to respond to two 999 calls in
IT PRIDES itself as being the Responsible Retailer but the Co-op has been accused of bully-boy tactics after barricading up the back door of a neighbour's home. The store erected a 20ft-high corrugated iron barrier inches from the back door of Nobby Clark
SHE'S had mixed musical fortunes over the years, but last year Elkie Brooks' profile received a welcome shot in the arm thanks to Reborn in the USA, the reality TV show in which she joined a group of fellow 70s and 80s pop survivors on the road in America
WHAT a difference a year makes. This time in 2003, Southampton four-piece Delays were making waves in the local music scene, but were virtual unknowns in the wider music world. Since then, the Bitterne-based band have released three hit singles - Hey
Chineham Parish Council annual assembly: This took place on Monday. Most people in Chineham must be content and have no queries, as only one member of the public attended and, thankfully, offered his services to support Cllr Brian Sperring, who is preparing
HAPPY Oakley! In a recent Government survey of more than 32,000 communities, Oakley was rated the third most desirable place to live after Chorleywood West and Crowthorne. Many different facets of life were considered, including public services, health
PERCY'S plant sale: Tomorrow, at Broadlands, Old Reading Road, from 10am. LODDON Sports Tournament Weekend: This is next weekend, May 22 and 23. On Saturday, the tournament features other clubs from the district, while on Sunday the "in-house" event is
BLOOD donor session: Today, at the community centre. I am sure you will be made most welcome. TONIGHT and tomorrow night: Tadley Youth Drama is presenting a Christian-based drama called Getting the Habit, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £4, concessions
Sir.-I have been following the letters about the Winchester Road Roundabout with more than just a little incredulity that it's taken this long to be raised as an issue. As I live in Winchester Road I have no option but to use this roundabout on a daily
Sir.-Re: the possibility of an IKEA in Basingstoke. The Gazette has made my day. Having spent last Thursday slowly making my way through the roadworks on the M25, then slowly around the North Circular, I finally reached IKEA and purchased a mattress,
Sir.-I write in response to Mr Godley's recent letter "Dogs a problem for joggers". While I am an animal lover, I do also take exception to uncontrolled dogs when I am out training. If a dog does not like runners (or indeed walkers or cyclists), or cannot
Sir.-I've listened to many views on lap dancing at Drake's Bar, and I understand how much upset this has caused people in Basingstoke. My personal view is that the lap dancing does not add anything at all to our town - in fact, it actively detracts from
WITH summer just around the corner, one in three of us will be affected by some form of allergy as the season peaks - and now your choice of car can help. According to recent figures, more than 20 million people in the UK suffer an allergy, including
HAMPSHIRE have signed a fourth Australian as cover when Shane Warne, Michael Clarke and Shane Watson are recalled for international duty. Tasmanian top-order batsman Michael Dighton will make his Hampshire debut against Kent on Monday, May 30. The 28-
HAMPSHIRE musician Andy Dickens is a man who cares passionately about the state of the jazz scene - and, refreshingly, he's got some new things to say on the subject. The bandleader, trumpeter and vocalist of The Andy Dickens Jazz Band, a six-piece group
THIS is a very British film about some of the very worst aspects of British life. Organised football hooliganism, racism, drug dealing, burglary and general violence are given their turn on the silver screen in The Football Factory - but is that something
WONDERLAND (18): Film based on the true story of the so-called Wonderland Murders, in which several drug dealers were violently slaughtered. VAN HELSING (12A): The first of the summer blockbusters, starring Hugh Jackman as a monster-catcher who has been
AN INTERNATIONAL banker has traded APR for DIY by becoming the first franchisee of a home maintenance company which forbids its employees from calling women "love" and accepting cuppas on the job. Andy Foulds, 55, will be covering the north Hampshire
MASSIVE pre-tax profits for a national house-builder that has regional headquarters in north Hampshire have delivered impressive financial growth for the 11th consecutive year. Westbury, which has its southern region headquarters in the village of Hartley
THE sale of a period cottage was set to be sealed this week by best and final offers, after 28 potential buyers crossed the common land at Hazeley Heath to view the unmodernised gem. The Odiham office of Lane Fox brought The Dingle (pictured) to the market
