NICK Park followed up his maiden Southern League century with a swashbuckling 84 not out in the MCCA Trophy – but it was not enough to save Dorset from a five-wicket defeat. Park top-scored as Sean Walbridge’s men racked up a modest 185 all out batting
SKIPPER Jamie Thomas watched Poole Town defeat the reigning champions but refused to get carried away by his side’s title prospects. Poole, last season’s runners-up, displayed their credentials by beating arch rivals Parley on Saturday. Having scored
These intriguing round marks in the heath at Studland are definitely not crop circles – but what they are remains a mystery. Nestling in the heath near Poole Harbour, the 80 circles with an average size of 20 metres across are obviously man-made
THE soon-to-be leader of Christchurch council has rejected the idea there are too many Tory members. Cllr Ray Nottage, who is ward member for Purewell and Stanpit, said he did not think the number of Conservative councillors would be detrimental to the
DO you know of a young person who has made a difference to their local community? If so, the organisers of Bourne Brilliant would love to hear from you. Bournemouth Integrated Youth Service has organised a glittering ceremony to be held
HAVING grown up around disabled children, it was perhaps inevitable that Paul Barnard would end up working with them. But his passion for his work led to so much more than a job. Paul has just retired as chief executive of Diverse Abilities Plus, a
A QUICK-thinking pensioner turned detective after discovering that her 92-year-old neighbour was being burgled. Ryan Ashford and Darren Levesconte were caught red-handed after the woman, who is in her 70s, monitored their movements through her flat’
THE harrowing murders of Heather Barnett in Bournemouth in 2002 and Elisa Claps in Italy nine years earlier were so "strikingly similar" they could only have been carried out by the same person, Winchester Crown Court heard today. That person
POLICE officers in Dorset fear crime will rise when planned budget cuts come into play over the next four years. An online survey carried out by the Police Federation shows a staggering number of officers in Dorset believe the government cuts of 20 per
POOLE Town boss Tom Killick has revealed that Scott Joyce has agreed to join Dolphins from arch rivals Wimborne Town. The Southampton-born striker was a big favourite among the Magpies faithful during a prolific spell at Cuthbury. But he is poised to
TRAVELLERS who have set-up camp on Twynham School playing field, have been given until 5pm to leave. Around nine caravans are camped on a corner of the field after allegedly breaking through a barrier at the entrance to the playing fields last
It really is all about balance, whether I'm riding a bike or writing this blog. As part of my involvement in cycling as a sport, mode of transport and leisure activity I have met lots of different people and been involved with a number of different
THE mother of a Bournemouth soldier who died on active service in Afghanistan has welcomed the Prime Minster’s announcement to enshrine the military covenant in law. Diana Russell, whose son, Capt Mark Hale, died in Helmand Province in 2009
The Second Bournemouth Beer Festival was held at the BIC from 22-24 April 2010. I managed to get to the Saturday night session, I was even first in the queue. That’s how dedicated I am about bringing news to my regular readers, or something like that
A SKATEBOARDER wants to say thanks to a passer-by who helped save his life after he came off his board on Bournemouth’s Horseshoe Common. Ironically, Matthew Ingle-Finch, from Parkstone in Poole, was on his way to buy travel insurance for a trip to
A MUM says she was left terrified following a dispute with a bus driver over a fare. Cristina Underwood, 35, had boarded an M1 Wilts & Dorset bus at Westbourne on her way to an African dance class at the Pavilion in Bournemouth. She says she was charged
Eton Mess Serves 2 1 punnet fresh strawberries a pint whipping cream 6 oz (175 g) golden caster sugar 3 large egg whites Place the egg whites in a bowl and whisk until they form soft peaks. Then add the caster
AROUND eight million disposable nappies are thrown away every day in the UK, with the vast majority ending up in landfill. That equates to nearly 700,000 tonnes of nappies – the weight of 100 million six-month-old babies. They are shocking
BRITISH strawberry growers couldn’t have wished for better weather this spring. The prolonged heatwave has been perfect for their plants, which by now will be buckling under the weight of plump, juicy strawberries. And our unique microclimate
PROJECTING the Living Tradition theme right into the 21st century with two new works and honouring Sir Dan Godfrey (now resting in St. Peter’s graveyard) whose enterprise brought composers such as Parry and Elgar to Bournemouth to conduct their own music
JAZZ diva Stacey Kent is one of America’s finest singers and has six bestselling albums and a string of awards to prove it. Now she is here with a major UK tour, which arrives at the Regent Centre in Christchurch on May 22. American-born Stacey
POLICE are still yet to make any arrests following a serious sexual assault on Canford Heath over Easter. A Bournemouth woman in her 20s was subjected to a terrifying ordeal in the early hours of Easter Monday. The attack took place on heathland sandwiched
DICKENS’ famous character Oliver won’t be the only one asking for more as the smash hit musical makes its way to the south coast, the Daily Echo can exclusively reveal. Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of the show will star Brian Conley as Fagin
DORSET’S musical talents reaped 100 points and 11th place in Saturday’s Eurovision Song Contest. Re-formed band Blue, featuring Blandford’s Duncan James, briefly topped the leader board in Dusseldorf with I Can, a song co-written by Ashley Cross musician
I AM writing on behalf of my lovely partner Jackie, who has over the past 12 months been nursing her elderly mother, who had ovarian cancer. After an operation in the Liverpool ladies’ hospital she was unable to have chemotherapy. My partner gave up
IN the past month it has been reported by the Bournemouth Daily Echo that the council has installed 25 solar bins along Bournemouth golden seafront. These new generation bins are expected to encourage people to dispose of their waste more responsibly
IT WAS always an unsettling experience. Telling professional writers that we would give them a much-needed break so we could unearth some local talent. But for the past five years, we have invited our readers to compose their own columns to replace
Throughout the town last week’s election was a total disaster for the Liberal Democrats. Their party has gone from 33 councillors in 2003, and control of the council, to seven in 2007 and now three councillors. The referendum on AV became a referendum
I CANNOT see Derek Borthwick resigning after he decided to cross the political floor and become a Conservative councillor. Why? I think the administration is too powerful and the arrogance is there. It will be a case of riding out the storm, which the
AFTER reading about the foolhardy people going out to sea in these plastic toys that resemble boats, it appears that no amount of distress stories through the media has any effect on those thinking ‘it won’t happen to me’. Over the years the same story
IN MAY 2010, 30 churches across the denominations, contributed in various ways to the work of Christian Aid, raising more than £27,000. Some of us will be knocking on your doors this week, hoping that you will have popped something in the little red
POOLE Park retained their unbeaten record in A Division with a 45-40 victory over Swanmore. Trailing at 15 ends, the Dolphin squad of Floss Godsell, Pam Smith, Sandie Smith and Rosemary Spetch sprinted home to win 25-21. Kris Saunders held on to a 20-
CHERRIES assistant boss Steve Fletcher believes gamesmanship may have contributed to Danny Ings’s play-off penalty despair. Striker Ings saw his first-half spot kick superbly saved by Huddersfield goalkeeper Ian Bennett during the 1-1 draw at Dean Court
WERE you watching Eddie Howe, Jason Tindall and Sean O’Driscoll? Well, yes, they were and, for different reasons, they would have been impressed with what they saw. For Howe, this stirring encounter would have been a reminder of what he
A POOLE mum left in a wheelchair by cancer is planning to complete a remarkable fight back by completing this summer’s Race for Life. Dee Bayliss, 47, stunned doctors when she started walking with the aid of a stick just weeks after a major
THEY say you need a little bit of luck and Chris Holder got a deluge of it in Gothenburg. The Aussie claimed his second career Grand Prix title in monsoon conditions, pipping Greg Hancock on countback as the Swedish Grand Prix was abandoned following
STEVIE Lovell leapt to the defence of Danny Ings and insisted his fellow frontman would bounce back from his penalty woe. The 18-year-old saw his first-half spot kick saved as Cherries and Huddersfield drew 1-1 in Saturday’s play-off semi-final, first
