A CAMPAIGN to Save Druitt Hall in Christchurch has been started over fears it could be demolished. Visitors to the hall’s weekly Country Market, just off Christchurch High Street, were signing a petition on Monday dedicated to saving the hall for the
ZIMBABWE’S first black cricketer, who put his life and career on the line in a stand against dictator Robert Mugabe, has been inspiring audiences in Bournemouth. Henry Olonga and teammate Andy Flower famously protested against Mugabe’s tyranny
VICTIMS of domestic abuse will receive some festive cheer thanks to a Christmas collection at a Bournemouth café bar. The owners of Flirt, Rob Hazell and Peter Moody, are collecting gifts for families supported by BCHA in their Bournemouth refuge or
A GANG of burglars who targeted dozens of secluded houses in the New Forest have been jailed. The raiders picked 27 targets and struck when the properties were empty, often with the owners away on holiday, Winchester Crown Court heard.
HAPPY and confident, Frank Turner staged a bigger show than ever to a devoted crowd at the Boscombe O2 for the first date of his major new UK tour. All three levels of the club were opened up and the night climaxed with a burst of strobe lights
A GREENGROCER is now the only hurdle holding up a multi-million pound Tesco development in Bournemouth after it won planning permission yesterday. The supermarket giant is going to build over the Kinson shopping parade – after two decades of
FOREIGN Secretary William Hague had been asked to step in to help a New Forest father get back his abducted children in the weeks leading up to their deaths. Justin Mellersh had tracked his family down to Turkey and was desperately trying to
POLICE are investigating a report that a hit and run driver fled after a car crashed into a baby’s buggy in Bournemouth. Mum Shenagh Coombes was shocked when the woman drove allegedly off after the accident in St Stephen’s Road. Ten-month-old
ALTHOUGH last Thursday marked the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau for the 2011 vintage, avoid succumbing to this fading trend of artificial tasting wines and look towards what the region does best – charming and versatile reds made from the gamay grape
The baby food diet Reported celebrity fans: Lady GaGa, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston. What it’s all about Calls for eating only up to 14 jars of pureed or baby food every day, OR mostly pureed or baby food with one adult
CONCERNS are growing for the safety of a 77-year-old woman missing from her home in Fordingbridge. Mavis Hardy from the Fairings, in the town was last seen by friends in the afternoon of Sunday, November 13. She is known to be frail and suffering form
CHRISTMAS traditions. We all love them and have them – but a new survey says rituals on December 25 are less about a trip to church or the Queen’s speech and more about the family bickering and boozing. Maria Court investigates WHAT to watch
IT MAY be gardening that brought him to the public eye, but Alan Titchmarsh has had just as much success cultivating best-sellers. Alan Titchmarsh, famous for Gardener’s World and Groundforce amongst many other TV programmes, held a signing yesterday
POOLE music venue Mr Kyps has announced that pop star Gareth Gates has cancelled his show on November 24. The reason cited has been “work commitments”, although a new date has been rescheduled for February 10 next year. All existing
TWO Nutcrackers in one week could have been too much for this reviewer, but not when performed by two outstanding companies. The Moscow Ballet at the Pavilion last week had changed choreography. Clare was no longer a young girl, but a teenager and
BRITPOP survivors Ocean Colour Scene are set to celebrate classic album Moseley Shoals at the O2 Academy Bournemouth on November 29. In their 21-year existence Ocean Colour Scene have notched up nine albums, three of which went Top 5 – 1996
I EXPECT most readers will recall how the New Forest Conser-vatives were not in favour of the National Park Authority. Now the Tory administration have to share their premises in Lymington, combining the district council, with that of the National Park
I WOULD like to say a big thank you to two young ladies (one with pushchair and child) who stopped and helped me when I tripped on uneven pavement in Bargates, Christchurch as I was suffering a bad nose bleed on Friday, November 18 at about 9.15am. The
I FIND it incredible and offensive to the Borough of Poole that Conor Burns MP (for only a very small part, but too much, of Poole) should state that “Bournemouth has done extremely well in making savings and I would not want that progress to be contaminated
I MUST object for myself and all gardeners on reading (Echo, October 27) that Poole ratepayers will be unable to put garden waste in the black bin in future. What are we supposed to do with it? We compost every bit of green off every branch, but are
AS A MECDU supervisor in the NHS, I am writing to explain why I will be voting in favour of industrial action on 30 November 30 in defence of public sector pensions. I want the public to understand why I feel I have no choice, but to take action. Contrary
I AM most annoyed at the way in which Wimborne seems to pride itself in the busy business of Wimborne in Bloom and soon the lights, then the proposed Square change, when all the while the footpaths are disgusting with lots of holes and loose slabs. A
A Hypothetical dream... the postman had just delivered the mail, opening a letter I read with astonishment that I had been elected as leader of a local council and that I could put together a team of 10 men and women to spend up to £300 million in revamping
’TWAS the fight before Christmas (dinner)... and all through the house, Just one creature wasn’t stirring; they just couldn’t rouse The youth hung-over with a head like a bear, Slumped on the floor, wishing no one was there... I admit it
IT has taken over a year to complete and cost taxpayers more than £50,000. But any celebrations at the conclusion of the review of Bournemouth council’s constitution were shortlived when council leader Peter Charon said: “Quite frankly, it’
I HAD to have a little smile when reading the story that a naked man fished out of Poole Harbour was given a fixed penalty notice. I did so wonder where did they fix it? RA HILL, Poole
A RED Arrows pilot died of multiple injuries due to a fall from height following ejection from an aircraft, an inquest has heard. Flight Lieutenant Sean James Cunningham, 35, was killed when he was ejected from his Hawk T1 while on the ground at the
POLICE cordoned off homes and brought in the bomb squad after the arrest of a 43-year-old man for drugs-related offences. A spokesman said “a number of substances” had been located at an address in Kimberley Road, Southbourne. Royal Navy bomb disposal
LEE Bradbury has launched a beat-the-loan deadline swoop for Leyton Orient defender Charlie Daniels. Echo sources claim Daniels is set to discuss personal terms with the Dorset club today after Orient accepted an offer for the star. Cherries are
BOURNEMOUTH Poppies couldn’t make their dominance count in the Wessex League derby at Victoria Park as 10-man Hamworthy United escaped with a well-earned point. Despite dominating possession, Poppies created little in front of goal – Jon Blake’s tame
THE uncertainty over whether the Barfleur will return to Poole continues as a decision over its future is pushed back. Brittany Ferries, which was expected to announce this autumn if its ferry was returning to the Poole-Cherbourg route next year, has
