LIKE so many footballers, David Prutton is a different person when he crosses that white line. Thoughtful, intelligent and placid off the pitch, he is always hugely determined, committed and psyched up on it. Few Premiership players are so passionate
SIR ALEX FERGUSON admitted he thought the Premiership title was slipping away before boy-wonder Wayne Rooney rescued United with his superb late winner at Old Trafford. Hours after Arsenal's defence of the championship ended at St Mary's, the south coast's
GEOFF Butler again showed his managerial pedigree by leading his patched-up Bashley side to a 1-1 draw at play-off chasing Metropolitan Police on Saturday. In fact, the Foresters - leading by a 69th-minute Richard Gillespie, pictured, goal - were looking
NEW Portland United boss Dave Court savoured his first victory in six attempts as manager with a crucial 1-0 success over Downton in their relegation six-pointer at Grove Corner. Portland postman Court had to wait until the 85th minute before Danny Cullen's
SIMON KATICH scored the second half century of his one day international career as Australia clinched a series win in New Zealand. But the Hampshire player still faces a battle from close friend Mike Hussey for an ODI and Test place. Katich and Hussey
LIKE so many footballers, David Prutton is a different person when he crosses that white line. Thoughtful, intelligent and placid off the pitch, he is always hugely determined, committed and psyched up on it. Few Premiership players are so passionate
A YOUNG man who killed a father-of-three when a drunken punch hit the wrong person has been jailed for two-and-a-half years. Alexander Kane, 24, was involved in a scuffle outside Liquid nightclub in Festival Place, Basingstoke, when he threw the punch
TRADE union members at the Sainsbury's distribution centre in Basingstoke have voted to strike should negotiations falter over controversial new weekend working hours. A total of 350 members of the Transport and General Workers' (TGW) Union attended a
A LOCAL sailor competing in a round-the-world yacht race has taken time out from her gruelling schedule to tie the knot in Australia. Laura Alexander, 29, from Oakley, married fellow race competitor Graham Thompson during a romantic ceremony in Sydney
Today's Principal Arrivals: Galicia, vehicle carrier, 1330, 201; APL Hong Kong, container, 1400, 207; Grand Benelux, ro/ro, 1530, 105; Olivia, vehicle carrier, 2000, 203 Today's Principal Sailings: Velazquez, ro/ro, 1300, 105; Jetstream, cargo, 1600,
UNSTOPPABLE global bank HSBC today revealed a 37 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to £9.6 billion as a leading union called for strike action. Much of the profit, the biggest recorded by any bank in the UK, has been made abroad, it emerged this morning
SHARES in VT Group rose after the Hampshire based shipbuilding and services company landed a £30m contract to build a helicopter-carrying offshore patrol vessel for the Royal Navy. The group said the deal would create 100 jobs and safeguard up to 400
FOR the local clubs in London Divisions Three and Four, it was a tale of traffic jams, frosted pitches and late call-offs that ensured they enjoyed the warmth of the clubhouse rather than the harsh chill of outdoors. Alton virtually hammered home the
COLIN Smith has lived through two world wars, seen world-changing events and met many people in his 100 years. In fact 100 of the people Colin has met and befriended attended his 100th birthday luncheon party yesterday. Among those who made the trip to
NEIGHBOURHOOD wardens start work in Highcliffe on Monday and are eager to begin making a difference. The wardens, who will eventually cover Stanmore as well, are employed by Winchester City Council and will work with community groups, schools and the
COUNCIL chiefs are considering a plan to revitalise an industrial estate in Winchester which they say has become "tired and unattractive" to investors. At the cabinet meeting on Wednesday (March 2nd), councillors will be asked to commit £25,000 to fund
A MULTI-million "flagship" building for students and residents is planned at University College Winchester. The college says the new "cultural venue" will be the second biggest building project at the Sparkford Road campus, and will cost between £8m and
A PENSIONER in her 90s fended off two suspected burglars with her walking stick. The woman was called to the front door of her home at The Crescent, in Twyford, near Winchester, at around 1pm on Saturday. Two young men standing outside said they were
DOOR staff working in Southampton's pubs and nightclubs could be issued with handcuffs to help restrain violent customers, the Daily Echo can reveal. Police chiefs are drafting guidelines on the possibility of arming door supervisors with the solid steel
CRITICS have hit out at this year's 3.5% council tax rise in Hampshire, the smallest increase in more than 30 years. Protest groups Isitfair and South Hampshire Opposes Unfair Taxes (SHOUT), condemed the controlling Conservative group on the county council
NEEDY children in Hampshire are missing out on financial help because charities are not making use of Government cash. Money put aside for good causes in the county could now be sent back to Westminster because of a lack of suitable takers. The county's
Jackson's Way, Winchester Theatre Royal MEET Chris John Jackson, the man who finds motivation from a sandwich box and unfathomable happiness from a sweaty hand. Jackson is the character created by Perrier Comedy Award winner Will Adamsdale in his latest
A FIRE engulfed a Hampshire sawmill causing the main building to collapse and destroying thousands of pounds worth of machinery. More than 80 firefighters from across the county tackled the blaze at family-run R F Giddings and Co sawmill in the New Forest
PUPILS at a Southampton school will today be tested for tuberculosis following the death of a classmate from the disease. The news follows calls from more than 70 anxious parents, who have demanded help from experts at the Health Protection Agency and
ONE of Hampshire's busiest trunk roads was to reopen this morning after being closed for the past six weeks. Traders on the A36, who had seen business plummet by between 50 and 90 per cent during the closure, welcomed the final removal of cones. However
ABOUT 150 people packed into a city church at the weekend to join the Make Poverty History campaign, to eliminate world debt and support more and better aid. Green MEP Caroline Lucas was one of four speakers who addressed the meeting at Central Baptist
THREE of Britain's best glam rock bands are coming to Bournemouth's Pavilion Theatre on March 17. On one amazing bill, The Sweet, The Rubettes and Sailor will be putting on a sensational show, taking you back to the very best of glam rock for the ultimate
A £2m discovery centre, the first in Hampshire, opens in Gosport on Wednesday. Billed as a new generation of library, the centre aims to combine the best in traditional libraries with an exciting world of fun, learning and leisure. Visitors will be able
CLEANLINESS is top of the agenda for Fareham residents, according to a new survey. A poll of customers at the town's new Robert Dyas store in West Street found that more than 50 per cent employ a professional cleaner to keep their home sparkling, mainly
CARERS Together: The next meeting will be held on Thursday, and offers an opportunity to meet other carers and share your concerns over lunch. Note that this will be a lunch out, so please contact Jane on 01256 353290, or Maggie on 01256 357150, for more
VILLAGE Design Statement: Work on the Village Design Statement for Chineham continues on a rather rough road to preparing a meaningful document. This will place on record local assets (before they disappear) and put forward thoughts about how our parish
NOMINATIONS: If you're still thinking of putting yourself forward as an Ellisfield parish councillor, you have only until noon on Tuesday to hand your nomination papers into the borough's Electoral Services department (in the Civic Offices, London Road
WESSEX Cancer Trust: The Basingstoke group is holding a jumble and bric-a-brac sale at Kempshott Village Hall on Saturday, March 5, at 1.30pm. There will be a selection of good-quality china, clothes, household goods, toys, books etc, and admission is
HEALTH chiefs are facing a £1m setback in their efforts to balance the books. Hospital bosses set themselves a target of saving £13m from this year's budget and were hoping to achieve it through cutbacks, savings and selling land including the Mount Hospital
THE Lost World: "One of our pterodactyls is missing". The Challenger Expedition returns from the Lost World with a dinosaur collection but one item goes on the run in London. This is the theme of the Forest Forge Theatre production at the Village Club
FAIRTRADE: The Fairtrade Foundation guarantees a better deal for Third World producers by giving farmers and plantation workers fair and stable prices for their products. St Mary's Church is working towards becoming a Fairtrade church by the use and promotion
A NEW state-of-the-art fitness suite in Fair Oak is looking to provide the community with a step in the healthy direction. Eastleigh mayor Councillor June Hughes unveiled the new facility at Wyvern Technology College in Botley Road, Fair Oak, and took
WELCOME all carers: At next Thursday's meeting, carers are welcomed to a lunch out. The meetings run from noon to 2pm, and are based at Hylton Court, Bowmonts Road, Tadley. For more details, telephone Jane on 01256 353290 or Maggie on 01256 357150. PAMBER
Sir.-On a recent "green bin day", although mine was full, I forgot to put it out in time. For the next two weeks, I filled two bin bags with items for recycling (mainly paper and tins). On the day of the next green bin collection, I put the full bin out
Sir.-I read with interest last Friday's letter from Aidan Richardson, which was headlined "Out of touch with reality". I was expecting at least some fact but was sadly disappointed. He claims the UNISON and the local Government workers are out of touch
Sir.-Charles Kennedy sums up the Liberal Democrats in two comments (The Monday Gazette, February 21). Firstly, "there are no glass ceilings" in the Lib-Dems and, secondly, "I don't think there are any hard and fast rules". The Lib-Dems first say they
Sir.-Tadley residents are puzzled. They learn from The Gazette that their council has been recognised as a Quality Town Council. Well done to all who helped earn this accolade. Therefore, by inference, all must be well in Tadley and with its folk. Not
Sir.-Have any other readers noticed what a terrible mess has been made of cutting hedgerows recently? I refer in particular to the central hedging along the Thornycroft/Winchester Road dual carriageway. In my opinion, it hasn't been cut - it's been hacked
HARRY Redknapp knows David Prutton could be facing a lengthy ban after his midfielder manhandled referee Alan Wiley. "If he has done what everybody says he has done he is going to be in big trouble - he is probably going to get a long ban," said Redknapp
PETER CROUCH defended David Prutton for his moment of madness after joining Kevin Phillips at the top of the Saints goal charts. Crouch's equaliser against Arsenal was his eighth goal in 12 starts since Harry Redknapp took over as manager. He and Kevin
THE last time a player manhandled a Premiership referee, Harry Redknapp was the man to benefit. Back in September 1998, the infamous Paolo Di Canio pushed Paul Alcock to the floor in a top flight game when he was playing for Sheffield Wednesday . By sheer
PAUL SMITH is preparing to take on former club Brentford tomorrow night - fresh from the best performance of his Saints career. Goalkeeper Smith kept a clean sheet at bottom of the table West Brom last Tuesday but rated his performance against Arsenal
Fife Flyers 4, Basingstoke Bison 6 BRITISH defenceman Ricky Skene scored his first goal of the season as the Bison came from behind to beat the Fife Flyers 6-4 on Saturday night. The victory completed a 100 per cent record in Scotland for the Herd during
HAVING proved they can live with the best at the Sparshatts Stadium on Saturday, Eastleigh are more convinced than ever that they can nail down a place in May's Ryman Premier play-offs. For 45 minutes of Saturday's absorbing 1-1 draw, league leaders Yeading
ALTHOUGH the Whites will meet stiffer challenges than Northwood were allowed to muster, a 3-0 hammering of their Hertfordshire hosts left their huge travelling support with thoughts of a late run for the play-offs rather than a fight against relegation
IT'S been a faltering February for Lymington Town, who started the month with a massive ten-point lead at the head of the Division 2 table and have ended it just a solitary point clear of Poole Town. After just two defeats in their first 27 league games
THERE was no place like home for leaders Farnborough North End and third-placed Otterbourne as they both won their vital top-of-the-table clashes in convincing style on Saturday. Table-toppers North End nailed fourth-placed title rivals Paulsgrove 4-0
LOCKSLEY Sports and Nursling warmed up for Wednesday's Southampton Senior Cup semi-final with wins. Locksley were 4-1 victors against Otterbourne Reserves with Scott turner, Aaron Connolly, Keith Smart and Ricky Butler sharing the goals. Nursling were
THE widow of a Basingstoke dad killed by a drunken punch has spoken of the heartache her family has suffered - and urged people to heed the tragic consequences of alcohol-fuelled violence. Father-of-three Alan Clement, 38, was an innocent bystander during
A SCHOOL has told pupils they will be banned from cycling to school if they do not wear safety helmets after an accident left one teenager in intensive care. Children at The Hurst Community College, in Baughurst, will now have to don the specialist gear
SOUTHAMPTON Institute is promoting the health benefits of physical activity to people in the local community with a range of medical conditions including Parkinson's disease, osteoarthritis and lower back pain. Level 2 BA (Hons) Health and Fitness Management
A FORMER Treloar College student has returned as the first ever Performing Artist in Residence of the Hampshire based college for disabled people. Professional actress and aspiring playwright Robyn Hunt, pictured right, took up her new position at the
HAMPSHIRE Association for the Care of the Blind has recently appointed Chris Hedges, pictured right, as its new chief executive officer. His career has spanned many years in senior management and consultancy positions in the statutory and not for profit
THE future of the 42 remaining staff at the Southampton branch of Allders looks increasingly precarious after it was revealed that the potential purchasers have no interest in taking them on. Allders' administrators Kroll refused to disclose the identity
A CONSORTIUM featuring south coast defence firm Cobham has been chosen as preferred bidder on the £13 billion RAF Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft programme. Defence procurement minister Lord Bach is to make the long-awaited announcement today, which
THE CLASH in a fortnight's time between the league's top two has taken on even more significance for Trojans, following another incredible round of results in this division. After second-placed Sandown & Shanklin dropped to a surprise 20-7 reverse
THE win was crucial, the relief was evident but they are still not out of the dreaded bottom three. That's the facts surrounding Gosport & Fareham's vital 16-7 win over Old Mid-Whitgiftian. A try deep into second-half injury-time from James Barnes
MORE than 200 people supported an exhibition being staged as part of a campaign to protect the attractiveness of their neighbourhood. People living in the Oram's Arbour, Fulflood and Chilbolton Avenue areas staged the event to ask locals what they like
HEALTH chiefs are facing a £1m setback in their efforts to balance the books. Hospital bosses set themselves a target of saving £13m from this year's budget and were hoping to achieve it through cutbacks, savings and selling land including the Mount Hospital
THE Winchester public will have its first chance to quiz developers over how they plan to revamp a huge swathe of the city centre. Last year the city council signed an agreement with Thornfield Properties for the £100m Broadway Friarsgate redevelopment
A MAJOR industrial site will be included in the boundary of the New Forest National Park after the government defied expert advice. Fawley Power Station will form part of Britain's newest national park, which will officially come into being tomorrow.
A CHUNK of history unearthed in the New Forest is thought to be part of a royal hunting lodge built about 600 years ago. Workmen were digging the foundations for a new spa at the New Park Manor Hotel in Brockenhurst when they came across a large lump
A RIDING therapy centre has been awarded more than £3,500 by county council chiefs to fund sessions with Lymington primary schoolchildren. The Fortune Centre of Riding Therapy, in Bransgore, provides weekly sessions for youngsters with a variety of physical
FOUR charity workers in the New Forest have been praised for their outstanding commitment. Val Baker, Caroline St John, Dave Greenhough and his wife Elva help out at the New Forest branch of the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals. The dedicated team
THOUSANDS of supporters turned up at the Hampshire Hunt on Saturday to defy the new law outlawing foxhunting. The pro-hunters were keen to show their disgust at the new Hunting Act, which makes the blood sport illegal. The turnout mirrored the strength
PETER Symonds' College, Winchester, is outstanding. Ofsted inspectors, not given to hyperbole, have used the word 10 times in the two summary pages alone. Furthermore, they added five "excellents". The full 60-page report confirms, in detail, the extremely
The Seagull - Lighthouse, Poole HOW wise of Compass Theatre Company to use Tom Stoppard's perceptive and highly accessible version of Chekov's classic. The melange of interwoven relationships is as relevant today as when conceived more than a century
A LORRY driver was sprayed in the face with what is believed to have been pepper spray as he tackled a thief. The driver had been making a delivery at the Co-op store in Aldermoor Road, Southampton, at 7am on Saturday when he saw a man leave the cab of
THE LONG-running wrangle over who will fight Southampton's Itchen seat for the Conservatives in the general election was due to be discussed by national party bosses today. The Conservative Party Board - one of the highest decision-making bodies in the
A POTENTIALLY dangerous mentally ill patient was today still on the run after escaping from a Hampshire psychiatric unit. Faysal Diiriye, 32, has not been seen since he broke out of the Department of Psychiatry at the Royal South Hants Hospital in Southampton
HIGHWAYS bosses today start work to install long-awaited warning signs at a dangerous Hampshire bridge. In just a few weeks last year, six lorries became wedged under the bridge, in Greatbridge Road, Romsey. Some jammed firmly beneath the protective beam
WHEN Kieron Betteridge puts on his protective goggles and overalls he forgets he's still a schoolboy. Every week the 16-year-old from Millbrook Community School spends a morning at work getting hands-on engineering experience. Stepping inside the Southampton
SOUTHAMPTON Institute is promoting the health benefits of physical activity to people in the local community with a range of medical conditions including Parkinson's disease, osteoarthritis and lower back pain. Level 2 BA (Hons) Health and Fitness Management
Bishop's Stortford 10pts, Basingstoke 25 JIM DIXON praised his Basingstoke side's solid defence as instrumental in helping secure another away win. A hard-working performance yielded a vital two-point reward, but it was also a victory that enhanced 'Stoke's
PORTSMOUTH Wedgewood Rooms will launch 1Xtra's 2005 Xtra Bass Week tonight with a drum and bass marathon led by DJs Friction and Andy C and MCs SP-MC and 2Shy. Xtra Bass Week will broadcast 24 hours of live radio and will be touching down in ten cities
A FAREHAM landlady is preparing to fight a fresh battle to protect her home and livelihood after developers submitted another application to bulldoze her pub and build flats. Val Harty, landlady of the popular Redlands Inn, defeated developers in the
PAINTING and decorating students at Fareham College are on the look-out for charities and organisations whose premises could do with a lick of paint. They currently put their skills to work on the college campus, including a revamp of the coffee shop,
MOZART Close play area: At the time of writing, it was understood that equipment for the new play area was due to arrive on site this week. I hope people will be pleased to hear the news. CHOPIN Road: Environmental improvements are expected to begin in
HATCH Warren WI: The next meeting of the WI takes place next Thursday, starting at 8pm, at the community centre. New members and visitors are always welcome. DON'T forget Mother's Day: Anyone looking for interesting pocket money gifts for Mother's Day
CASH to save their allotment sites from being sold for housing was cultivated when members of the Eastleigh and Bishopstoke Allotment Association staged a fun and fundraising day. As donations rolled in, organisers were estimating that the event was likely
EASTLEIGH police are urging Chandler's Ford residents to stay vigilant and to keep taking "stringent" security measures after two homes were burgled in overnight raids. In one break-in, thieves ransacked rooms and left drawers on beds of a home in Thornbury
THANK you: To all those people who braved the weather for the children's jumble sale at Melrose Hall last Saturday. FAMILY creative arts workshops: Are being held at John Hunt of Everest Community School. The third one is "Family Book Illustration" with
WHAT a difference a day makes: Following on from the reorganisation of Hampshire Mobile Library Service, the day the library van visits Rotherwick is changing to Thursdays, from this week. It is planned that the new, updated vehicles will be larger with
TSUNAMI relief fund: Great news, the 0-5s' Jump for Joy, held on Tuesday, has raised £110 for the tsunami relief fund. Well done to all who took part. VILLAGE hall: For the first time ever, the village hall is going to be out of action during the first
AUCTION: Another successful auction raised welcome funds for the village hall coffers. More than 275 lots were entered, most sold and all the refreshments went very quickly. At our next auction, we are not able to take car seats, crash helmets or any
CHANGE of name: The WI market is changing its name to "Country Markets Ltd", subject to its AGM in March. The name may be changing, but it will be the same market as before. SWIMATHON: Takes place at Tadley swimming pool in March. If you want to register
Sir.-Many readers will have watched the recent BBC1 documentary When Your Face Doesn't Fit. This programme very tastefully concentrated on one of the many terrible complications associated with neurofibromatosis - facial disfigurement. Although it was
HARRY Redknapp knows David Prutton could be facing a lengthy ban after his midfielder manhandled referee Alan Wiley. "If he has done what everybody says he has done he is going to be in big trouble - he is probably going to get a long ban," said Redknapp
HARRY REDKNAPP did not hide his disappointment at David Prutton's sending off - but now hopes his fiery midfielder can learn from Saturday's incident. Prutton had already been cautioned eight times this season and it was his sixth dismissal of a 224-game
HARRY Redknapp admitted Saints' recovery from what looked like an impossible half-time position had reinforced his view that the current team can still win their relegation scrap. Despite being 1-0 behind at half-time and down to ten men, Saints took
Basingstoke Town 5, St Albans City 1 ERNIE Howe hailed his Basingstoke Town side after they put St Albans to the sword with a vibrant display and emphatically halted their recent morale-sapping slump. Striker Neville Roach hit a hat-trick, while David
