SO Robert Readman took his daily ‘I Love the Tories’ pill, and wrote his letter ‘Why Is everyone criticising Cameron?’ (Have Your Say, June 24). Well, look at the front page of that very Daily Echo. Our police forces are losing their helicopters, boats
RECENT evidence that 20 per cent of obese children have liver disease is worrying but entirely predictable. The Food Standards Agency needs to adopt a different approach to health education in schools and the community. Current labelling laws do not
This wind and rain this week has produced some very thuggish behaviour from my plants. Partly my fault, as I should have staked them better if at all but the rain has made everything go whoosh. My lavender is absolutely magnificent. OK maybe it
There’s Wimbledon, there’s Henley and then there’s the British Beach Polo Championships at Sandbanks, Poole. One of the top sporting and social events of the summer season kicked off today for its fourth year. Top international polo players saddled
A NEW memorial is now in place to commemorate the nine people who lost their lives when an RAF Halifax bomber crashed in Bournemouth 67 years ago. The plane took off from Hurn Airport just after midnight on March 21, 1944, bound for the Mediterranean
A serial rapist who preyed on Bournemouth prostitutes has been jailed for life. Following a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court, Gene Benjamin, 53, from Belle Vue Road, Southbourne, was convicted of raping six women, eight assaults and one
They did it! A group of men have completed their mammoth challenge to cycle 950 miles before taking on the might of Britain’s highest peaks. Tony Bernard, his son Jacques and nine friends and family members finished the immense journey with
A new planning application for a prime waterfront site in Poole has been slammed as ‘horrendously ugly’ and worse than the ‘carbuncle’ it replaced. Objectors who helped forced a rethink by Neptune Consultants for their West Quay site are organising
This has to be the ultimate in work experience – setting up and running your own shop. And the teenagers who have taken over two shops, one in Poole and one in Christchurch, are loving every moment of their taste of the retail trade. Sixty-five Year
MOST of Bournemouth’s councillors are well behaved, according to a report. The council’s Standards Committee has published its annual report covering the past year, which saw two high-profile cases involving both former leader of the council
IT may have been the month of unexpected downpours, thunderstorms and a freak sea mist – but the June temperature in Dorset was exactly average. The Met Office said the month’s average daytime figure of 18.6 C was exactly what they would expect
APPALLED relatives of Dorset soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan have greeted news they could be the latest victims’ of News of the World phone hacking with disgust. The Ministry of Defence is now seeking clarification from Scotland Yard
THEY must be the best dressed birds for miles around. Strutting around the yard at a rescue centre near Wareham, these two ex-battery hens are clearly enjoying their new-found freedom. And the featherless friends are now really warm and cosy, thanks
TOUCHING tributes have been paid to a “gentle giant” who was found dying in a Bournemouth street after being stabbed in the back. Glyn Helliwell from Poole had worked as a chef at the Bistro on the Beach restaurant on Southbourne promenade
HARRY Potter is set to weave its spell on Dorset one last time following yesterday’s premiere of the final film in the hugely successful series. The screening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two is expected to draw bumper crowds to cinemas
THE case of sacked railman Ian Faletto has been raised in the House of Commons. An 8,400-name petition calling for the award-winning employee to be given his job back has been presented to Parliament by New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne. He told the
HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE (PG) The first film, Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone was released in 2001 based on JK Rowling’s first book. It is full of stunning special effects and sparkling performances from everyone
WHILE internet forum Tripadvisor has its fair share of quirks and foibles, it’s clear that the growing popularity of new Thai favourite Tiien is making its mark locally. Indeed, the restaurant’s launch earlier this year certainly landed with a veritable
TWO men have been arrested over the death of the “gentle giant” who was found dying of stab wounds in a Bournemouth street. Now police investigating the death of 42-year-old chef Glyn Helliwell are desperate to recover his mobile phone or a
EVEN I recall a greater time for Saturday night TV, when variety was king. Jim’ll Fix It, Noel’s House Party, the Generation Game, crikey, even You’ve Been Framed (the proper version with Beadle) and the like, to name a few. Before reality TV stole the
A 33-YEAR-OLD man is due to appear in court next month in connection with the deaths of a London couple who died following a collision at Sandbanks, Poole. Jonathan Edward Arthur Knowles, of Randolph Avenue, London, is charged with two counts
WHILST Rona Hooper (‘I thought charity began at home’, Letters June 30) no doubt realises that the financial state of this country has been brought about mainly by selfishness, dishonesty and greed (sadly, as in most other countries), our so-called poverty
IT LEAVES one truly aghast that the perpetrator of the in-flight drunken brawl was given a suspended sentence. Yes, it was fortunate there were off-duty officers on board to assist at the time, but should that make the sentence any less? I have no doubt
WE ARE encouraged to take the bus and save the environment. I am sure the elderly, and dare I say not so elderly, might do so more often were it not for the foul language and great unwashed one encounters. The journey is further aggravated by those
POOLE and Bournemouth bus companies have driven to the rescue of residents stranded by the sudden demise of Shamrock Buses. But a warning has been given by an operator that small to medium companies are continuing to struggle in difficult trading
HAMPSHIRE councillor Melville Kendal’s letter (Wednesday) is a masterpiece of obfuscation. All he has to do to alleviate public fears over Purple Haze is to write one simple letter for publication thus: “Hampshire County Council has no plans now or
I WOULD like to express my thanks to Christchurch Borough Council for giving its support to the proposal to create a bicycle route along the Creedy Path in the Druitt Gardens. This was a forward-thinking decision that demonstrated responsiveness to
THROUGH the tragedy of them losing their son, I have the very great privilege and pleasure, as do many of my newsroom colleagues, of knowing Peter and Linda Thornton. I don’t use those words lightly or for effect. It is a great privilege and pleasure
EXTRADITION proceedings against the man who murdered Heather Barnett were adjourned on Thursday morning. The Italian authorities are seeking the temporary extradition of Danilo Restivo to stand trial for the killing of Elisa Claps in 1993.
A SERIAL rapist who preyed on Bournemouth’s prostitutes for six years was finally brought to justice yesterday when he was jailed for life. Gene Benjamin, 53, held his victims prisoner for days at a time, strangling them into unconsciousness
CAPTAIN Christian Pain is bullish about Lymington’s chances in the basement battle against Totton and Eling. Second-bottom Lymo host their fellow strugglers tomorrow and will be aiming to improve on their record of three victories in 10 games. Pain
BASHLEY captain Andy Neal believes the return of two bowling big guns will provide a timely boost to his out-of-form team. New signing Jamie Miller and star man Kevin Nash – first and third respectively in the 2011 SPL bowling rankings – have been named
REJUVENATED Davey Watt reflected on his mixed campaign so far and then expressed his delight at emerging from his struggles to star for Pirates. The Poole skipper was not at his best on English shale during the early stages of 2011. He revealed that
EX-Cherries trio Sam Vokes, Josh McQuoid and Jordan Rose have offered a public vote of thanks to mentor Joe Roach. The triumvirate, whom progressed through the Dean Court youth ranks under Roach’s tutelage, have expressed their “shock” at his sudden
BOSS Lee Bradbury has leapt to the defence of the Cherries board and insists they have always given him their full backing. Bradbury’s comments come in the wake of chief scout Des Taylor accusing the club of lacking ambition. Taylor fired the parting
WIMBORNE residents are refusing to back down over their right to park outside their own homes. Drivers in West Row say they have been leaving their cars on a strip of brickwork by their cottages for 27 years. Over the last month, parking inspectors
