Archive

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Cherries: Groves hoping to complete deals this week

BOSS Paul Groves says he is still aiming to strengthen his Cherries squad before the official start of pre-season training. Groves's players, who underwent a series of fitness tests last week, will report back for duty at Dean Court on Wednesday

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Cracking down on illegal loan sharks in Poole

A SPECIALIST team of investigators has joined forces with trading standards to launch a crackdown on loan sharks operating in Poole. The operation – to hunt down and prosecute loan sharks – was launched at Borough of Poole Civic Centre on Tuesday

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Ms Sceptical will be eating her words when I cross the finish line

There’s always someone you can rely on to put you down. “You?” this person scoffed when I told them about my goal of raising £2,000 for Winston’s Wish by walking across the South Downs in May 2012. “But you’re never going to make that. Why

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Expose yourself to Vitamin D

Feeling the sun on your skin doesn’t just feel good, it also helps to keep you healthy, as exposure to sunlight is the main way for your skin to produce Vitamin D. The lack of sunshine in the UK often means that many of us are short of the nutrient.

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Have your say on East Dorset council and ward boundaries

HOW many councillors does East Dorset need? That’s what residents are being asked in a six-week public consultation at the start of an electoral review that could see the number, names and boundaries of the district council wards change. The council

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It's time to do Race for Life collections in Bournemouth and Poole

RACE for Life organisers are calling on the 8,000 women and girls who took part in the Bournemouth and Poole events last month to get collecting. They hope a staggering £498,000 will be collected in sponsorship to be put towards Cancer Research UK’s

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Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns backs calls for EU referendum

BOURNEMOUTH West MP Conor Burns has become the first member of the government to back calls for a referendum on Britain’s relationship with the EU. Mr Burns – who was already expecting to lose his government job over his opposition to House

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Ska band Selecter headlines Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival

TOP bands and trade union heavyweights have been lined up for this weekend’s Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival. The event, at Purbeck’s Tolpuddle Village – the trade union movement’s spiritual birthplace – draws large crowds from across the country, indeed

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UPDATED WITH VIDEO: Flooding causes disruption across Dorset

3.41pm: Residents at Iford mobile home park are being evacuated from their homes due to a high risk of flooding following heavy rain at the weekend. The residents have been asked to temporarily leave their homes overnight as a precautionary

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More and more people turn to food banks to survive

HUNDREDS of children in Bournemouth and Poole are being fed from food banks as their parents struggle to make ends meet. Bournemouth and Poole Foodbanks and Bournemouth Community Church Life Centre have all reported big increases in the number of families

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'Royal Ascot' evening raises £400 for Lewis Manning Hospice

A BOURNEMOUTH hotel hosted a “Royal Ascot” style race evening for charity. The Highcliff Marriott has chosen Poole's Lewis Manning Hospice as its charity for the year and raised £400 on the night by fundraisers placing bets to raise cash.

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Ringwood Pedal Car Grand Prix fast approaching

IT’S nearly here! Sunday’s 25th Ringwood Pedalcar Grand Prix is fast approaching and it promises to be bigger and better than ever before. Spectators are being reminded to turn up earlier than usual as there will be two races for the first time. With

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Mudeford Sea Scouts pass muster

MEMBERS of Mudeford Sea Scouts manned the decks for their annual Royal Navy Inspection. All sections of Mudeford Sea Scout Group were present for the inspection by Lt Cmdr Karen Cahill who was ‘piped aboard’ by a seven-strong scout piping party at Highcliffe

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Bournemouth baulks at Boris bike scheme

BOURNEMOUTH looks set to shy away from introducing a full-scale ‘Boris bike’ scheme, fearing it could prove a drain on the public purse. Instead, councillors are being recommended to support Bournemouth University if it decides to go ahead

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Take a jaunt to Brownsea Island for Shakespeare in the open air

THE Bard returns to Brownsea Island this summer with an open air production of Love’s Labour’s Lost. The play, which will run from July 25 until August 10, marks the 49th season of the Brownsea Open Air theatre Company. Although other National Trust

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Purbeck Folk Festival: ‘Summer rains won't ruin our event’

ORGANISERS of this year’s Purbeck Folk Festival won’t care about the August weather. The festival site centres around Wilkswood working sheep farm at Langton Matravers and both artists and festival-goers will be protected by three massive barns housing

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Bournemouth retains its 'Purple Flag' award for managing nightlife

BOURNEMOUTH has held on to its ‘Purple Flag’, awarded for managing nightlife. The town was reviewed again by inspectors a year after first winning the honour. A council spokesman said: “The inspectors were particularly impressed with the well managed

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Blink 182: Pop-punk veterans put on one hell of a party

“BOURNEMOUTH is better than Zurich, and they sell knives at the airport there!” That was the view of Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus as the US rockers shook the BIC to its foundations on Saturday night as part of their 20th anniversary tour. First on the bill

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Dorset car dealers revving engines for Big Test Drive Weekend

MOTOR dealers around Dorset are starting their engines for the Daily Echo’s Big Test Drive Weekend. Taking place on Saturday, July 21 and Sunday 22, it will see dealers giving those looking to buy a car the chance to get behind the wheel. So far, the

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Wessex Youth Orchestra, Lighthouse, Poole

A Night in Vienna, transportation; purely musical, atmosphere; bubbly. Maybe this is in anticipation of the forthcoming tour to the Salzburg area, though with an alternative programme from Saturday night’s cheerful Austrian-based selection. In charge

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The sun comes out for Grooves on the Green festival

THOUSANDS of revellers packed out Ashley Cross’s popular Grooves on the Green event as the sun finally put in an appearance on Sunday afternoon. Acts such as Hazey and the J’s, Brave Mariner and Jouis entertained the crowds in what was the

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'Miracle' Cofe Mullen twins complete first year at school

AS Millie and Grace Gander squeal while big brother Thomas tickles them and chatter excitedly about fairies and princesses, they seem like any other five-year-old girls. But the identical twins are, in fact, miracle children who defied all the odds when

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Exhibition of unique wooden clocks at Moors Valley Country Park, Ringwood

AN UNUSUAL exhibition of unique wooden wall clocks is currently on display at Moors Valley Country Park, near Ringwood. Local craftsman Mark Nobes lives in the New Forest and has made nearly 200 clocks over the last two years, all from timber sourced

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MPs react to defence cut plans

TWO former soldiers, who are now Conservative MPs, gave very different reactions during the debate on the latest round of defence cuts. The government announced five infantry battalions are amongst the cuts as the Army’s strength falls from 102,000 to

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Bournemouth shops remain empty despite interest in filling them, claim traders

FRUSTRATED traders say Bournemouth shops have been empty for years – despite people wanting to move in. Pokesdown has become a haven for boutique shops selling alternative and vintage clothing and furniture. But the Pokesdown Community

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Olympic flame is just days away from visit to Dorset

THE countdown to the Olympic torch’s arrival is almost over. Residents in Bournemouth, Poole and Purbeck have just four days left until they get the chance to witness a little piece of history winding through their streets. Indeed, many

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Driving rain can't dampen beach polo at Sandbanks

DRIVING rain failed to dampen the mood during the final day of Sandbanks’ annual Beach Polo event on Saturday. Revellers described the plush gathering as “fantastic and magical” despite being battered by almost continual rain and gusty winds. Event

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Everyone is in this together aren’t they?

THEY just don’t get it. Everyone is in it together, except, the bankers. Free school lunches are possibly being discontinued, yet MPs have a subsidised restaurant. Hungry children don’t get it, either (food). Name and address supplied

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Albany Lodge hotel was a lovely place

I WOULD just like to mention that the Grove Hotel which has been open now for a year, is not the first hotel of its kind in the country to cater exclusively for those with cancer, or a life-threatening illness. I think that accolade goes to The Albany

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Wallace stamped a place in history

I AM seeking any descendants of John Wallace who died in Bournemouth in 1954 and/or his three sons William, Herbert and Albert. My purpose is to obtain more information for an article for the Royal Victorian Philatelic Society magazine regarding

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Grateful for great spirit of community

MY brother ‘Laurie’ of Parkstone recently died and I would like to thank all the people locally who were so kind to him over the years and especially during the last few months. I am very grateful to you. I would also like to extend my thanks to the

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Praying that the weather improves for Olympic relay

IT just keeps on pouring. Saturday’s torrential rainfall meant some events were cancelled, travelling was difficult and everybody who ventured outside got a good soaking. It’s hard to believe we are in July and summer hasn’t started yet. In fact,

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Charges help us to be a success

IN reply to Mr Gerault’s letter (July 2) regarding admission charges and access to the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, I would like to make the following points. In order for the museum and art gallery to continue to be a successful, sustainable

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Junction is now much worse

I AM amazed to have just received the following communication from Dorset Police via our neighbourhood watch team. “Since the new Canford Bottom roundabout has been opened, there has been an above-average number of road traffic collisions reported to

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Stag-do prank pair fine unacceptable

RE: Echo June 30 “Brothers Fined For Stag-Do Stupidity” is quite unacceptable and the fine did not meet the crime. A prank is a prank, yes we accept that, but not with animal cruelty. The chickens were boxed for the occasion and spent five-and-a-half

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Woman escapes death by inches after tree comes down

AN ELDERLY woman was nearly hit by a 60ft tree when bad weather brought it crashing to the ground. The woman had just crossed Manor Road on Bournemouth’s East Cliff when the pine tree fell, blocking traffic and a pedestrian crossing on Saturday. Resident

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Police hunt men after attack on foreign students in the Lower Gardens

POLICE are hunting a group of men involved in a “nasty, unprovoked and callous attack” on five foreign students. Two of the victims needed hospital treatment after they were set upon near the Bournemouth Eye in the Lower Gardens at 1.30am on Monday July

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UPDATED: Elderly man rescued from flood water

AN elderly man was rescued from his car after flooding in Sturminster Marshall on Sunday evening. Firefighters were called by police to Church Street around 7.55pm after a man was reported to be stuck in his vehicle due to flooding on the road

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Blaze drama: lucky escape for mum as roof caves in

A BOURNEMOUTH mum had a lucky escape when a fire caved in the roof of her new flat, next to where she was standing. More than 40 people dialled 999 as smoke from the blaze at Mandy Batey’s first-floor flat in Cooper Dean Drive billowed onto

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Bike campaigner Jason Falconer fights for life after collision in Poole

MESSAGES of support from well-wishers have been pouring in for a cyclist who is fighting for his life after a Poole crash. Jason Falconer, who is in his 40s, sustained serious head injuries in a collision with a car as he rode along Constitution Hill

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WIN: a Me to You gift set worth over £50!

WITH the end of the school year in sight it’s time to let your favourite teachers know how much you appreciate them by saying thank you with Me to You. Six lucky gang members will be the envy of all their friends by winning themselves Me to You gifts

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Tennis: Murray's effort inspirational says Dorset's Deem

DORSET tennis chief James Deem is confident that Wimbledon 2012 will spark an increase in participation across the county – despite Andy Murray’s final heartbreak. Deem, the Lawn Tennis Association’s development manager for Dorset and Somerset

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Speedway: Middleditch looking to upset Aussie rule

PATRIOTIC Neil Middleditch is vowing to forget his Pirates loyalties when Britain bid to cause a World Cup shock against Poole-inspired Australia. Manager Middleditch will be aiming to guide Team Great Britain into Saturday’s final by winning Event Two

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Cherries: Stephen's humbled by level of 'great support'

STRICKEN Stephen Purches says that “humbling” well wishes are spurring him on in his battle to recover from the worst moment of his career. The popular Cherries star is continuing his patient progress following the double leg break he suffered at Rochdale

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Speedway: Boss Middlo's faith in the future for Team GB

NATIONAL boss Neil Middleditch admits the Brits are playing catch-up against speedway’s powerhouses but he insists: “We will keep pushing.” Team Great Britain manager Middleditch gave his verdict on the state of the shale sport in this country

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Cricket: It's just reward for Metcalfe's reliability

BOURNEMOUTH boss Ken House labelled Matt Metcalfe “Mr Reliable” after his fine form had been rewarded by the Southern Premier League. The Lions bowling star earned rich praise after he had scooped one of the SPL’s cricketer of the month prizes for June