BATTING star Nick Park set his sights on double Dorset glory this summer – despite tasting defeat in Oxfordshire. The opener hit an impressive 82 as the county began their MCCA Knockout Trophy Group Three campaign with an agonising four-run defeat at
REIGNING champions Parley made a perfect start to their title defence with a hard-fought victory in the Dean Park derby. Playing as the home side in Saturday’s league opener against Suttoners, who also use the historic Bournemouth venue, Parley secured
DORSET Police Authority has been criticised for spending more than £50,000 sending out a report to residents at a time when the force is having to slash its budgets. The authority – which has to find £18 million in savings over four years – has voted
COASTGUARDS are urging beach users to take the dangers of setting out in an inflatable dinghy seriously after two people found themselves stuck in Poole Harbour. The pair, who had set out from Rockley, were in danger of becoming stranded out when gusty
A BORDER collie has miraculously survived after plunging around 160 feet over cliffs at Kimmeridge. Chase the dog, perhaps appropriately named, was running after a rabbit when he sustained a broken right foot and severe bruising in his tumble
A GREAT-grandmother who moved from Boscombe to Alabama has described the horror of the deadly tornado storms. Eileen Gray, 83, met and married an American GI following World War II and now lives in the town of Gadsden, which was rocked by tornadoes
EVERY day Rachel Lawton feels lucky to be alive. For when you work at a cemetery you learn not to take life for granted. “It certainly makes you appreciate life much more,” she agrees. Although it seems an unusual role for a 44-year-old
ARSONISTS have torched a small area of heathland at a Poole nature reserve. A fire engine was mobilised to Bourne Valley Nature Reserve off Dalling (correct) Road in Poole at around 11.10am on Bank Holiday Monday following numerous calls from members
A 43-YEAR-OLD man from Poole has died in a four-vehicle crash on the A31. The motorcyclist died at the scene between Stag Gate and World’s End, Almer, following the incident at 6.40pm on Friday. Police believe the man was riding south
FROM Easter onwards, film studios clamber over each other to pull in family audiences with their big-budget movies. This year the season starts with Thor; released this week it’s a comic book adaptation directed by Kenneth Branagh. Then
KATE and Wills trusted a Dorset photographer with taking photos for their private wedding album. Millie Pilkington’s special informal shots, taken at the reception and also alone in a palace room, will be the ones the newly weds look back on in years
IT was indeed sad to read in the Echo (April 26) about the problems associated with the return of the Bournemouth Eye Balloon, which in recent years has become such an icon of what the town has to offer. Condolences go out to S&D Leisure who over the
THE funniest bit for me was when the Queen first arrived at the Abbey. I was giving blood in Bourne- mouth at the time and a nurse excitedly shouted out the colour of Her Majesty’s wedding outfit to those of us who couldn’t see the portable telly
I FEEL strongly about the proposed plans for the park. The owners of these luxury yachts can afford to go elsewhere. This is very much a people’s park, having served the area and neighbouring communities for many years. A safe haven for local children
A BIG thank you to the person that found my purse in Poole bus station on Tuesday, April 12 and gave it to the police. Thank you so much. I C SIGGINS, Cogdeane Road, Poole
YOU constantly publish letters with folks complaining of potholes in the roads. The council need to come and visit the footpaths in Westbourne – not a smooth part of path anywhere. You are lucky if you make it to the shops and back, especially if you
THANK you for the “Back to plaque” page (April 26), reminding us of Bournemouth’s former residents and buildings which collectively form the common heritage of the Borough. There is one blue plaque however which is not mentioned in your excellent feature
A BLUE Plaque omitted from the list given in the article ‘Back to Plaque’ was that in honour of the great British Astrophysicist Sir Fred Hoyle. The plaque is mounted at Admirals Walk in West Cliff Road, where he lived from 1988-2001. Besides being
CAN you help? I am 35 and wish I wasn’t too ill to work but I have been unable to do so for 12 long years. Being ill and unfit for work led to a very isolated and lonely existence. Severe anxiety has been my worst enemy, with OCD and agorophobia and
AT the last minute I decided to head up to London to watch the Royal wedding. Armed with a cheap camcorder and an old fashioned SLR camera, I caught a coach to London Victoria. What I didn’t bargain on was the sheer size of the crowds. I wondered why
Fears have been raised that the new Poole town centre road system will not be built in time for the opening of the Twin Sails Bridge. The Marston Road/Bay Hog Gyratory will cost £1.25m to build but Borough of Poole only has £150,000 in the pot. A report
KEYBOARD wizard turned Grumpy Old Man TV pundit Rick Wakeman is a self-effacing musical legend, with a great line in anecdotes. On May 20, the musician comes to the Regent Theatre, Christchurch, to perform some of his most memorable tracks and share
THE recent death of Dame Elizabeth Taylor brought back fond memories for Sally Armstrong, who met the film star her while working as a stewardess on Concorde. Sally, of Barton on Sea, spent seven years criss-crossing the Atlantic between London
POOLE Town star Carl Preston will this week stake his claim for a return to the Football League ranks. The former Cherries winger is today set to begin a three-day trial with Championship play-off contenders Reading. Preston will link up with the Royals
PERHAPS Cherries should consider signing Lionel Messi so the world footballer of the year could line up against Rochdale on Saturday. His arrival could be financed using the money that is growing on the trees high above the temporary South Stand at Dean
MANAGER Lee Bradbury says Cherries will relish the tag of underdogs in the League One play-offs and remains bullish on their promotion chances. Bradbury watched Cherries book their place in the end-of-season shootout courtesy of an eventful 2-2 draw
Osama bin Laden, the world's most wanted man, is dead, President Barack Obama announced. Mr Obama said his killing by US special forces in a raid in Pakistan "should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity". But Mr
