Bjarne Pedersen has been handed a World Team Cup reprieve after being called-up into Denmark’s side to replace injured Nicki Pedersen. Poole’s former captain, on duty for Pirates at Eastbourne tonight, will line up in event one against Poland
THE sacrifice of members of the Rifles regiment lost on active service in Afghanistan could be commemorated in Shaftesbury if plans for a new war memorial are successful. Town mayor Cllr Lester Dibben hopes to record the memory of Rifleman Phil Allen
SHE is quite literally half the woman she used to be. Sheila Terry, a customer services officer at Christchurch Borough Council, has lost ten dress sizes since Christmas thanks to a new health regime. Fed up with her aching joints
“MADNESS!” That’s the view of a Poole pensioner who has spoken out over fears surrounding new cycle lanes close to her dental surgery. Sadie Sherwood, 80, says the lane in the westbound carriageway of Penn Hill Avenue will expose cyclists to
INJURED soldier Ben Parkinson has become a patron for a charity run by ex-special forces soldiers as they gear up for their latest challenge. The 26-year-old lost both his legs in Afghanistan in 2006 and suffered memory loss and skull fractures. At the
A TINY 14-year-old dog is fighting for her life after being “swung around like a rag doll” by a bull mastiff-type dog. Sadie, a lhasa apso, stopped breathing in the attack, which left her with four puncture wounds, teeth marks on her neck and
DETAILS of a proposed £2.5 million restoration scheme for Bournemouth’s historic Lower Gardens will go on display this week. The draft plans include improving the links between the gardens and Westover Road and Pier Approach by opening up the
PURBECK Shooting School recently held a charity day in aid of Help For Heroes. The morning consisted of a variety of competitions for the experienced shooters, followed by a hog roast, charity auction and prize giving ceremony. The afternoon
WORKERS at a Ferndown industrial estate had to be evacuated on Thursday morning (July 15) after a major gas leak. Gas was said to be ‘pouring out’ of a high-pressure gas main near Enterprise Cleaning on Cobham Road. Police, called to the scene at around
A wooden beach chalet is being tipped to sell for a staggering £325,000 after it was put on the market. From the outside, the single-storey shack looks little more than a glorified garden shed, with only timber walls and roof to shield the occupants
HOW well do you know your neighbours? On Sunday the Big Lunch will be hoping to stoke the sense of community spirit, when people from all over the UK will be coming together for food, drink, and the chance to get to know others in their neighbourhood
THERE’S no beleaguered newsreaders, no floundering soap stars and not a rock star’s ex-wife in sight. This is Strictly Come Dancing without the ‘celebrities,’ where the put-upon professionals finally get a chance to dump their hapless partners and
THIS is the moment robbers sprayed a defenceless woman in the face with pepper spray. Detectives are asking for help in identifying the men captured on CCTV during the armed robbery at Throop Post Office on Monday morning. The 37-year-old
Broad Bean and Flamed Pepper Salad 1 red pepper, deseeded 340g shelled broad beans 115g mixed bean sprouts For the dressing: 2tbsp wine vinegar 4tbsp cold pressed sunflower oil 1-2 tsp sesame oil
Schoolboy angler Nick Richards struck gold when he reeled in this enormous bright orange goldfish. Nick, 16, was fishing for carp when he caught the supersized fish, which weights 5lbs, is 16 inches long and is believed to be the biggest ever
THE widow of fallen Poole firefighter Jim Shears fought back tears as she paid tribute to her “selfless” husband. Carla Shears spoke publicly for the first time at the special memorial service held at Winchester Cathedral in honour of Jim,
ON WEDNESDAY we ran a feature about the odd things that staff here at the Echo could remember from days gone by (long gone in some cases). You can read the piece here Many members of staff made some highly impressive/strange claims in
Here's our selection of Dorset ditties... (feel free to add your own) Pokesdown Face - Lady Gaga. To see the full lyrics click here Upton Girl - Billy Joel You Wareham Well - Rod Stewart Upwey We Belong - Joe Cocker and
A HOLIDAYMAKER was so enamoured with the charms of Poole he has penned a song about it, which he is sharing with the world on YouTube. Harbour Romance, written by amateur musician David McLeod for his wife Carole, was inspired by their holidays
A JURY yesterday heard a recording of a phone call from Susan Toop minutes before the bodies of her parents were discovered at the family’s Bournemouth bungalow. In a shaky voice Toop tells friend, Maxine Hill, she had not been answering her calls because
BOURNEMOUTH is one of the least car-friendly towns in the UK, according to a new survey. The research, carried out by Virgin Money Car Insurance, took into account factors including petrol prices, parking costs and the number of speed cameras
It’s been many years since my wife and I wrote to the Echo extolling the virtues of our younger generation. Then it was the lads and lassies of the 3rd Christchurch Boy’s Brigade. We have since taken on another interest which gives so much pleasure
The statements by Zenna Atkins, chair of Ofsted, that “Every school should have a useless teacher”, and that “If kids” (by which she presumably means children) “can manage to cope with one bad teacher, that’ll be a good learning lesson for them in life
Following on from the letter regarding litter in The Triangle area of Bournemouth (Have Your Say, July 12), why doesn’t Bournemouth council make it a condition of granting a licence to a takeaway food outlet that the holder of the licence is responsible
I read with interest the varying views with regards to the resignation of Cllr John Beesley as chairman of the planning board, and particularly those who are sad to see him step down. However, my main worries about John concern the ill thought-out decisions
Over the years I have witnessed varying forms of transport travel along the top of the West Walks of Wareham. I have seen cycles, motorcycles, 4x4s, but until now I’ve never witnessed a horse travel along there, be it only slowly, as it munches away
PORTCHESTER School has been awarded the Quality in Study Support (QiSS) recognition, which is given to schools which prove that the support given to their students is beyond that of the National Curriculum. The Bournemouth school is one of only 169
THE successful Summer Reading Challenge is entering its 12th year with youngsters across Dorset being encouraged to take part in the Space Hop. Children between the ages of four and 12 can sign up at their local library for the event, which promises
WITH her finely honed six-pack and large chiselled biceps, Denise Mellor certainly looks like a world class fighter. And according to her coach, she can punch and kick harder than any man in Dorset, too. Yikes. I’m about to step into the ring with the
HARMAN’S Cross residents are celebrating completion of their new community hall after six years of fundraising. It has a kitchen, servery, meeting room, computers and audio-visual equipment as well as a children’s play area. David Keynes, from building
Never work with kids or animals is what they say... maybe so, if you’re a big movie star, that wants all the limelight, but I can’t think of any two things I love more. As the owner of a nutty Boxer dog, I could go on forever about the things
I OFFER no regrets in revealing that there are a few blokes – and women too – here at the Echo who would gladly have a word with the scumbag featured on our front page today. Anyone who has witnessed the CCTV footage of the cashpoint robbery on our website
Faith Eckersall’s article on puffins was a disgrace. She has decided to write that Jewish scholars could not decide wether the birds were human or fish. This is badly written. Nowhere is it written that these birds should be killed.
Having visited the Russell Cotes Museum the other day to see the Views of Bournemouth exhibition, I would urge the councillors responsible for the Town Centre Master Vision for Bournemouth to see it for themselves. Then, after having inwardly digested
Well done RSPB in questioning Talbot Village Trust’s application to build 378 homes and 450 student units on land south of Wallisdown Road and its recent approval. Thank goodness that someone is looking at this and its long term implications. The proposed
THERE’S something in the air at Poole Park – and angry visitors are blaming the something in the water. The park’s 40-acre saltwater lake has been blighted by green algae since late June, leading environment chiefs to open sluice gates and even
BUSINESS students at Twynham School received advice and tips when Rock Recruitment gave a talk on management techniques and styles. Angela Fletcher and Liz Tucker addressed Year 13 students and offered to help them with their courses and with finding
A LECTURER is celebrating after winning a top national award for the second time. Adrian Martin, who lectures in hospitality and catering at Bournemouth and Poole College, won the innovative teaching award, given by the Professional Association for Catering
VETERAN goalkeeper Kevin Leonard – who once again starred against Cherries in the annual Magna Road friendly – admits he may call it a day at the end of this season. The 45-year-old Hamworthy Recreation stopper produced another eye-catching
BASHLEY boss Steve Riley is backing Dominic Allen to prove himself in the Southern League after securing the striker’s services. Riley, who needs someone to fill Dave Allen’s boots after the star player left the Recreation Ground, has drafted in the
IVAN Mauger proudly reminisced about his pioneering 21-point performance at Poole almost 50 years ago during the interval of their polished 56-33 home triumph over Lakeside last night. The six-times world champion, who lives in Australia these
DARCY Ward has hit out at critics who claim he is having too much fun off his bike and not preparing properly for meetings. Ward, 18, scorched to a scintillating 10 paid 11-point tally in Poole Castle Cover’s comfortable 56-33 home Elite League win over
IT WAS apt that Pirates put on a champions’ display in front of two legendary sportsmen who were guests of honour at Wimborne Road last night. Ivan Mauger, the record-sharing six-times speedway world champion, and Joe Calzaghe, unbeaten world
BOSS Eddie Howe singled out new recruit Mitchell Nelson for special praise following last night’s pre-season friendly victory over Poole Town. Nelson, a summer signing from Tooting and Mitcham, has experienced fluctuating fortunes in Cherries’ opening
CHAIRMAN Eddie Mitchell today issued a defiant message to would-be buyers of AFC Bournemouth: “We’re not selling.” Mitchell’s comments come just hours after a deadline set by Russian bidders Vladimir Antonov and Roman Dubov passed at midnight. Three
