EX-SAINT David Hughes admits it will be a "bitter sweet" experience for Eastleigh if their hot strike property Robbie Matthews gets his big professional break. It's certainly a distinct possibility after the 20-year-old ploughed an impressive lone furrow
ANDOVER have already put some top-class noses out of joint this season and believe they have the pace to upset title-chasing Lymington & New Milton at Fawcett's Field tomorrow. Led by 24-goal marksman Justin Bennett, the youthful north Hampshire side
VOSPER THORNYCROFT manager Dave Diaper is almost ready to hand the Hampshire League title to Winchester City. And at in form Ringwood tomorrow he and his side will be looking for another win in their quest to winning the top flight's 'second division'
Former England player Norman Gifford, Simon Katich's coach at Durham, has described the Australian as a 'fantastic signing' for Hampshire. Left handed batsman Katich's return to county cricket with Hampshire was confirmed earlier this week. The 27-year-old
Ellen MacArthur and her crew on Kingfisher 2 have arrived at their French training base to prepare for next year's attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy. Following an intensive push to get the 110-foot catamaran ready, involving nearly 24-hours work a day
Today's Principal Arrivals: Parkgracht, general, 0130, 33; Alianca Brasil, container, 0500, 204; Neptune Dynamis, ro/ro, 0930, 201 link; Takamine, ro/ro, AM, 34/35; Tapiola, ro/ro, AM, 43; MOL Advantage, container, 1300, 206; Pegasus Leader, ro/ro, 2030
A 15-year-old boy yesterday began his bid to become the youngest person to sail single-handed across the Atlantic. Seb Clover, from Cowes on the Isle of Wight, was due to set off on his daring adventure last weekend but had to postpone his plans because
Bishop's Stortford 3 Basingstoke Town 1 BASINGSTOKE Town crashed out of the Bryco Cup at the hands of Bishop's Stortford on Tuesday evening, writes Ian Trodd. The kick-off was delayed five minutes due to traffic problems. Town arrived and warmed up quickly
IF Andover are to survive an instant return to London Division Three South-West and stay in Two South, the next three matches either side of the festivities could be vital. Keith Mitchell's North Hampshire outfit meet all three of the sides surrounding
The thermometer may have been nudging the freezing mark, but that didn't deter a streaker from halting play in a football match in the New Forest. It happened on Wednesday night during a Hampshire Senior Cup tie between Bashley and Winchester City. A
Parking at Winchester's River Park leisure centre will no longer be free, if city council plans go ahead as expected. Members agreed on Wednesday to charge all users, but to keep the fares low for people visiting the leisure centre. The aim is to stop
Hants Constabulary has taken the first step towards a multi-million refurbishment of its headquarters in Romsey Road, Winchester. Detailed costings and options for revamping the building will go before the police authority in the spring. The long-discussed
The discovery of two bodies at a house in the village has rocked Ropley, near Alresford. Police launched a murder inquiry after Elizabeth Francis (83) and her daughter, Teresa (54), were found dead in Wykeham House, in Petersfield Road, Ropley, last Thursday
A Winchester man was acquitted by a jury of setting fire to a block of flats at midnight and endangering more than a dozen lives. Tarkon Huggett (32) was alleged to have set ablaze his flat at Meon House in Milland Road, Highcliffe, shortly after a row
The opening of a new theatre is always an exciting event and the gala performance of music, dance and drama, which celebrated the new Varley Theatre at Peter Symonds' College, Winchester, was no exception. It showed the high standards the students attain
An architect has criticised those people in Winchester who believe the city must not change. "Many of the Hampshire Chronicle's recent and well-intentioned, if sometimes intemperate, correspondents have missed an important feature of Winchester's character
This weekend, while most people are completing their Christmas shopping, 100 Scouts from around Hampshire will be setting off on an expedition to Thailand. Along with 30,000 others from around the globe, they will be taking part in the World Scout Jamboree
A prisoner who started a blaze in a cell in the segregation unit at Winchester jail on Sunday evening was rescued by firefighters and taken to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. A prison spokesman said there
Architectural campaigners have failed in a bid to halt new building in Winchester. Five residents' groups had asked Winchester City Council to impose a temporary moratorium on granting planning permission in the city centre. Their concerns that too many
Police are appealing for help in identifying a couple captured on security video stealing an antique clock. They were filmed in the Bakhtyiar Gallery in the High Street, Stockbridge, at around 2pm on Friday, December 6th. Detectives say the woman distracted
Santa Claus has been ordered to stay away from a Winchester school. Donald Goodenough had dressed up as Father Christmas and positioned himself close to a crossing patrol in Kings Avenue - so the children could see him on their way to Stanmore Primary
A Winchester man has appeared in court on drugs charges following the fatal overdose of a 30-year-old in a block of flats in the city last summer. Stuart Swann, of no fixed abode, was found dead in a corridor at Forder Court, St Cross Road, in July. Scott
A spectacular new exhibit has been presented to the Light Infantry Museum in Winchester. The 50th Anniversary D-Day Bowl is made of Waterford Crystal and engraved with various D-Day scenes and images. Kathleen Lambrette (84), of Shirley, Southampton,
Doug and Pat Buckingham, this week happily celebrating their golden wedding, are both from bombed-out backgrounds. At 13, Doug and his parents had to leave the family home in Hendon because of the Blitz and they made their way to Winchester. They moved
A Winchester lecturer has scooped a top slot on Christmas morning TV for the screening of his film, The Christmas Storykeepers. The feature-length children's film re-tells the story of the Nativity and is expected to be viewed by millions. It has also
Winchester saw a spate of handbag thefts last weekend. A woman who left her handbag in Costa Coffee in the Brooks shopping centre, returned to find it had been snatched. The theft occurred on Friday (December 13th) between 2-3pm. The Quiksilver bag contained
Jane Austen lived most of her life in Hampshire and died in Winchester in 1817. She's one of the greatest writers in the English language, with admirers all over the world. But nobody really knows what she looked like. All we have is a tiny pencil and
FURIOUS parish councillors have hit out at delays surrounding two long-awaited projects that aim to cut teenage crime in a Waterside village. A £48,000 skateboard park at Marchwood is weeks behind schedule - and talks about a new youth centre are likely
RECYCLING has rocketed through the roof as the New Forest area ends the year near the very top of the UK's local authorities. A £192,000 reward from the government has meant that even more rubbish will be put to good use in the future. New Forest District
DEPARTMENT store chain Allders is set to be taken over in a deal with retail veteran Terry Green worth more than £158m. The group, now based at Croydon but formerly with headquarters at Bournemouth, has agreed a cash offer from Scarlett Retail, which
THE Wessex Nuffield Hospital in Chandler's Ford is the first private hospital in the UK to have taken delivery of a revolutionary "16-slice" CT scanner. The machine represents an advance over all existing scanners currently used within the health sector
A FORMER heroin addict was jailed for life yesterday for the horrific murder of a Southampton man. Ian O'Brien was killed during a frenzied stabbing attack outside his Portswood block of flats by 23-year-old Liam Jones. Mr O'Brien, 40, had a knife plunged
NEEDY children will be smiling on December 25 thanks to Southampton's own Mother Christmas. Liz Fisher - who works on the P&O Ferries reservations team - has gathered more than 600 presents from generous co-workers for youngsters who would otherwise
No, he can't. Bob the Builder will axe 60 jobs after moving in on Thomas the Tank Engine... In the cold, hard world of children's cartoons, 60 people are to lose their jobs just before Christmas from the home of Thomas the Tank Engine. The entertainment
SHOPPERS in Southampton were treated to a seasonal mini winter wonderland yesterday. Staff at Lush hired a machine which spilled snow on to the street outside the Bargate-based soap shop. The team were on hand with free soap, music and even the odd alcoholic
PORTSMOUTH'S own Beatles tribute band, The Silver Beatles, return to their home turf for a pre-Christmas gig. Andrew Powell (Lennon), Jason Kaye (Macca), Darren Vernall (George) and Jim Rogers (Ringo) have received many favourable comparisons to the original
IF YOU fancy a change from the usual guitar-heavy gig, you could do worse than discover the creative Celtic charms of Bluehorses, described as 'the world's finest twin fiddle-driven contemporary retro-futuristic Celtadelic roots fusion music ensemble'
PLANS to transform Cowes into a centre of excellence for world yachting could be sunk if deep-water harbours are not provided for boatbuilders in the scheme. That's the message of a hard-hitting report by the town's harbour commissioners which follows
PARENTS' dreams of a new primary school in Whiteley moved a step closer after funding bids by education bosses. A bid led by Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth Diocese was one of a number put before government officials who yesterday agreed a lump
A LEADING councillor has been slammed for suggesting Island residents should boycott paying sky-high council tax payments. The leader of the Isle of Wight Conservative group, Councillor Andy Sutton, has condemned the comments made by leading Island councillor
A PLAN to re-establish a resort as a major tourist attraction has been given a massive boost. The Sandown Community Partnership has received a £240,000 thumbs-up for its plan to regenerate the seaside town and help to restore Culver Parade to its former
A family who brought mayhem to a district of Newport are being allowed to return, despite a local housing association getting an earlier injunction preventing them from doing so. Appeal court judges ruled this week that the injunction granted against
THE COMMISSION for Health Improvement is set to begin a routine assessment of ambulance services on the Isle of Wight. The 17-week review will look into the management, provision and quality of the service provided by the Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS
PUPILS from Cowes High School got a taste of life on North Sea oil rigs when 26 sixth formers took part in a trial with BP's new rescue and recovery craft at Haslar. The pupils took part in a trial of the new 18.6-metre craft at QineiQ's Centre for Marine
THE skateboarders on the Isle of Wight are viewed as a problem by many residents - as they prefer to skate on the streets rather than making use of skate parks. But the skateboarders could be in for a real treat within the next couple of years if a proposed
THE DIRECTOR and general manager of Cowes Yacht Haven is to take early retirement. Roger Granger will leave his post on January 1 after ten years at the helm. He will be succeeded by Steve Cole, who has been general manager of the yacht haven for the
CHRISTMAS has started early for a local children's club which has had a "Kickstart" from Eastleigh Housing Association. Home-Start Eastleigh's new Wednesday Club has been awarded a £500 grant to help with running costs. Kickstart is a small grants programme
MOST people fall into one of two categories when it comes to Indian food - either they love it or they hate it. So choosing a restaurant for a meal out with friends can present a few problems, with some members of the party really wanting an Indian while
LET'S cut to the chase. The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers is everything you've been told and so much more. The second part of JRR Tolkien's Middle-earth trilogy is a cinematic rush of blood to the head that exhilarates, astounds and enchants, and
FANS of Nickelodeon's popular animated series are in for a surprise and a shock. Hey Arnold! The Movie transplants the eponymous schoolboy hero, whose head appears to have collapsed under its own weight, to the big screen with little fuss or ceremony.
FOR a lot of people, It's a Wonderful Life is as essential a part of the festive celebrations as turkey with all the trimmings. Even though it will doubtless pop up at some point in the Christmas schedules, fans of the classic 1946 film starring James
Films showing in the Hampshire region until December 26 ANITA AND ME (12A) ***: British film following the life of 12-year-old Meena as she and her family attempt to come to terms with English life after moving from India - Odeon Cinema, Southampton.
The Tractor Boys drive down to Fratton Park tomorrow with Pompey's Paul Merson a great admirer of Ipswich - rating them as the second best side, behind his own, in the First Division. Merson said: "I firmly believe that Ipswich are a better team than
FORMER Dell hardman Mark Dennis has labelled Fleet's must-win Eastern Division basement showdown with Newport tomorrow: "Easily our most important game of the season." The north Hampshire side are four points adrift at the foot of the table - and nine
Neil Johnson believes he may not be the right man to replace Hampshire skipper Shane Warne on a temporary basis next season. The Zimbabwean left hander is currently playing in South Africa for Western Province but is still keen to play county cricket
SCREAMING teens gave SNAP a storming send-off at the last Sports Centre disco. The Basingstoke centre's main hall buzzed with energy as 800 youths chatted, bounced on Space Hoppers and danced to live music from bands Quiet Storm and Awesome. But the atmosphere
A frustrating start to the third leg of the Around Alone Race has left Emma Richards trailing at the back of the Open 60 fleet and battling with gear failure. The only British sailor in the single-handed round-the-world race, Richards was in third place
Miranda Merron plans to use her time well while she awaits a decision over future plans from her French sponsors. The Hamble yachtswoman has set her sights on winning the inaugural Route du Nouveau Monde in January. Merron, who came eighth in her first
FACILITIES at Down Grange are set to be up-graded in one of the biggest advances in local sport for more than a decade. Last week's decision by Basingstoke and Deane's development control committee gave outline consent for re-development of the central
Loner Liam Jones was yesterday jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering a Southampton man in a frenzied knife attack. Sarah Cole reports... A FORMER heroin addict was today starting a life sentence for the frenzied stabbing of Southampton
If it is festive cheer, full of fun and frolics that you are looking for, then Hooks Lane, the home of Havant Rugby Club may not be your ideal pre-Christmas Saturday's entertainment, as they tackle their deadly county rivals Basingstoke in a huge National
With the leagues at the lower levels taking a two-week sabbatical over the Christmas period, there is a skeleton programme of matches, with teams taking the chance to experiment and allow fringe players the opportunity of a first team appearance. Fawley
Garnier Road, Winchester, will remain closed until late January. Heavy rain and an unforeseen need to divert gas and electricity supplies have put bridge replacement work back by a fortnight and the replacement of a gas main near a disused railway arch
Winchester Night Shelter is appealing for Christmas puddings and presents to provide the homeless with a little Boxing Day cheer. "We have two turkeys but no puddings or presents," said manager, Jonathon Walker, who said suitable presents would include
The cycling efforts of eight Hampshire businessmen have raised £7,000 for charity. All members of the Property Pedallers' Cycling Club, they completed the three-day 560-mile Chartreuse Challenge, taking them from Le Havre to Chartreuse in the French Alps
The last lecture of the year for the Winchester Archaeological Rescue Group was by Ian Wykes, project manager for Lankhills. The Roman cemetery was discovered by Frank Cottrill in 1961 and excavations followed from 1962 to 1972 under the leadership of
A "Bad Taste" party, held by students at Winchester's King Alfred's College, has raised £150 for charity. The cash will be donated to the Terrence Higgins Trust. Natalie Pallet, student union welfare officer, said: "The president, vice-president and two
Health services in central Hampshire will get a generous cash increase from the Government next year. "But there isn't going to be bundles of money," warned John Williams, finance director of Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust. The cash increase
Winchester College head, Dr Nicholas Tate, welcomed around 130 delegates for the city's first education conference, entitled "Changing the fortunes of 14 to 19-year-olds". Dr Tate, who was chief executive of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
Winchester has been twinned with the heritage city of Laon (France) since 1992. Dr Loykie Lomin, a French national who lectures in tourism management at King Alfred's College, has been awarded a fellowship to enable him to develop a project with the Winchester-Laon
Council rents in Winchester aren't going up by as much as had been feared. The city's 5,300 tenants will pay 2% more next year - even though Government advice had been that rents should rise by 3.5%. Garage rents will go up 2.5% and the city council has
A King Alfred's College, Winchester, lecturer is celebrating after securing three funding awards. David Harradine, who teaches in the School of Community and Performing Arts, has been awarded a research and development grant byYorkshire Arts, to spend
Police are appealing for witnesses after a two-car head-on collision on the A33 at Kings Worthy on Saturday evening. Firefighters cut the drivers - both women - from the wreckage and the road was closed for five hours. A 65-year-old from Winchester, who
A controversial plan to extend a car park into grassland in Winchester's Bar End has been given a ringing endorsement by councillors and members of the public. Environmentalists are angry at plans to extend a park and ride scheme into the so-called Bar
PART of the New Forest coastline has been sealed off after torrential rain resulted in landslides. A section of cliff at Barton on Sea has dropped two metres and cracks have appeared in a coastal path following the exceptionally heavy rainfall last month
The sound of those coveted golden envelopes being opened will soon be heard again as the Southern Daily Echo gears up for its prestigious Curtain Call Awards 2002. Hailed as the Oscars of the amdram world, the date is set for the third awards ceremony
A NATIONAL asthma charity is joining the fight to save a service offering a vital lifeline to thousands of asthma and allergy sufferers in Hampshire. The National Asthma Campaign is backing the Daily Echo Fight for Breath campaign, which aims to save
CALLING all kind-hearted Southampton residents and businesses - your hospital needs you. Staff at Southampton General Hospital have issued a heartfelt appeal to the people and firms of the city for toys for the children's wards. Every year Christmas presents
HE BECAME a cause clbre as 80,000 sympathisers across Hampshire and the world rallied round to protest against his plight. Now Ian Stillman is free from the Indian prison hell which he feared would cost his life. He is back in Britain enjoying a feeling
The sound of carols filled the passenger terminal at Southampton International Airport as hundreds of people checked in for the airport's annual Christmas service. Mayor of Southampton, Brian Parnell, together with his Eastleigh colleague, Gillian Connell
2-Tonic, Gone To Pot and Mighty Snortin' Power Rangers form the line-up for this gig targeted at fans of Two Tone and ska. Hampshire band 2-Tonic will be headlining with covers from such Eighties heroes as Madness, Bad Manners and The Specials, interspersed
BLUES is in many ways a historic musical genre, born out of the poverty and suffering of the black people of the southern states of America. Most of the great exponents have now gone to meet their maker, although the ethos has remained in a few capable
HEALTH chiefs at an under pressure Hampshire hospital have urged patients with minor injuries to attend a closure-threatened Gosport hospital. They say that the accident and emergency department at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, treats 300 people on
THE long-awaited £190m supertram system linking Fareham, Gosport and Portsmouth has moved a stage nearer but it will be some time before the project is operational. Formal bids to build and run the light tram system have been returned to the South Hampshire
GLOBAL warming could transform the Isle of Wight into "the Costa Del Solent." Hotter, drier summers and wetter winters over the next 80 years could radically improve the Island's tourism industry. Holidaymakers could flee the Mediterranean during the
THE Apollo Players' festive special takes place on December 22 at the Apollo Theatre, Pyle Street, Newport, at 7.30pm. The festive show brings alive the magic of Christmas with music, song and laughter. The evening concludes with carols, wine and mince
EASTLEIGH is set for a multi-million-pound facelift after councillors last night paved the way for the biggest investment package in the town since the railways arrived. More than 720 homes will be built on three sites in the town and £20m will be ploughed
RUPERT LOWE has branded plans to limit the number of foreign players in the Premiership as "ridiculous". The Southampton chairman believes a UEFA idea to insist that half of every match-day squad is home-grown would be bad news for the English game. He
Paul Jones is preparing to make his 200th Saints appearance against Leeds at Elland Road tomorrow - but knows he is facing renewed competition from rival Antti Niemi. Jones, who has played the last two matches against Birmingham and Newcastle while Niemi
AT FIRST glance, the Asha Indian and Bangladeshi Restaurant seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary - but on closer inspection it proved to be an eatery of considerable merit. Located on Lyndhurst Road in Ashurst, the inside is decked out with pleasant
