VOLUNTEERS from Dorset are doing their bit to help people caught up in the catastrophe in Japan. A firefighter from Highcliffe is working in the earthquake-stricken north of the country with an international search and rescue team, while a Wimborne
A DORSET fire engine’s world record-breaking expedition attempt hit a snag in New York – because it was too high. The Follow that Fire Engine crew, travelling in memory of late Wimborne firefighter Garth Moore, had to take off Martha the engine
MORE than 1,600 public sector jobs are under threat in Dorset, with more to come, the latest round-up by trade union GMB has revealed. The public services union says spending cuts in local authorities, the NHS, and other public bodies including
PLANS for a major “landmark” leisure development in Bournemouth will be unveiled to the public next week. The Pavilion Gardens project would see a nine-screen cinema, 15 restaurants, shops and a 350-space car park. As part of the £35
NEVER one to shy away from angry headlines, comedian Richard Herring is following his politically-charged 2010 tour Hitler Moustache, which tackled the issue of racism head-on, with his latest stand-up routine, Christ On A Bike. The show
AN EYESORE in the historic heart of Ringwood is to be given a temporary makeover after New Forest District Council threatened to serve legal notices on the developers. The old town hall – later the cinema – was to be included in a development
DOZENS of customers joined a silent protest outside a Poole music venue shut down over its poor crime record. Supporters were rallying over the closure of Chords, which had its licence revoked earlier this month. The bar’s regulars have
A LOVING father-of-two, who was killed in a horror smash that split his car in half, was driving home to tend to his young daughter, an inquest heard. Phil Padmore, who had been drinking at a house in Poole with close friends, was over the
CHILDREN living in poverty in Dorset need more emergency help than ever before, according to charity Barnardo’s. This year it is set to hand out more than £56,000 in crisis loans in the south west, more than four times the level of just three
It fell to shaken Conductor Laureate Andrew Litton to make the formal announcement of Yakov Kreizberg’s death at the age of 51. This concert was dedicated to the former Principal Conductor of the BSO (1995-2000) and prefaced by a poignant performance
THE threat of forest sell-off may be over but a fledgling Christchurch campaign group is determined to have their voice heard. The newly formed Friends of Hurn's Forests will hold a membership launch day on Sunday from midday-4pm at Hurn Bridge Sports
CASSIUS is fearless in the tackle but could be forgiven for staying off the pitch altogether. The six-year-old from Bournemouth has the blood disorder haemophilia A and yet he has already been scouted by Southampton’s football academy.
A MINISTER described the case against Dorset County Council cutting its lollipop patrols as “compelling.” Norman Baker, a junior transport minister, yesterday responded to a debate at Westminster Hall, Parliament. The council is slashing
THE last time you got on a bus, where you greeted with a grin or a grunt? Chances are it was the latter - bus and train drivers have just been named the unfriendliest workers in the country. But if you’ve borne the brunt of a less than jovial journey
AN ACCIDENT victim accused of lying to obtain £3.4 million in damages has spoken out about his ordeal after being cleared of exaggerating his injuries. Insurance company Direct Line won the right to appeal against the compensation award
WHEN you are a comedienne used to performing in the back room of a spit and sawdust pub, it must be a dream come true to take centre stage at major theatres across the land. That is how Sarah Millican feels after landing a spot at this year
PIRATES’ Elite League hopes have been dealt an early blow with the news that Darcy Ward will miss the start of the season following a motocross crash. Poole will look for a replacement after confirming the Aussie ace sustained a broken wrist and shoulder
IF a pint of Guinness sounds a bit too heavy for you, raise a glass to St. Patrick with these Irish themed cocktails. Black Velvet 1/2 flute of champagne 1/2 a flute of Guinness Pour the champagne into a flute, when the bubbles have rested, tilt
TWO schools will have solar panels installed as part of a pilot scheme designed to reduce Bournemouth Council’s carbon footprint. Kingsleigh and Heathlands primary schools have volunteered to take part in the project, which will see photo-voltaic panels
Irish Stew For each serving: 80g trimmed diced lamb shoulder 45ml water 20g thick cut onion slices 10g sliced celery 20g carrot in large chunks 30g new potatoes Pinch salt Pinch pepper Chopped thyme Chopped
AFTER travelling 560 miles to celebrate her mother’s 95th birthday in Bournemouth, Judie Burman faced an agonising decision. Her frail mother Doris Carter from Highcliffe is a patient in a Royal Bournemouth Hospital ward closed by the Norovirus
HAVING just returned from North Wales to see my sister, I had a taxi to the railway station for my return which was about three miles and was only £4.20. On my return to Poole the taxi home is two-and-a-half miles, I was charged £9, so what is going
WITH regard to your article concerning the cost of investigation of councillors' behaviour by the standards committees of local authorities (Daily Echo, March 14), it must be borne in mind that in any democratic society the integrity of elected officers
COUNCIL tax bills have been sent out. In the current climate of reform why is Bournemouth not leading at the front and showing the rest of the country how a reformed and modern council could work? Councils across the country have become bloated and
SO bus drivers have been named as being among the unfriendliest workers in the country. I can’t agree with that at all. In my experience, bus drivers, generally, are pleasant-natured, helpful when you are buying tickets and acknowledge the cheery “thank-yous
WITH Dorset County Council passing responsibility for many services to other authorities, councils and voluntary groups and district councils merging departments, there are obvious questions. Do we need 50 county councillors? Do we need a county
WOOL & District Cancer Research UK (registered charity no: 1089464 – Lincolns Inn Fields, London) would like it to be made known that we have no association with the new group in Wool – Wool Cancer Care. We have been running for 35 years and have raised
I FIND it hard to believe that a young woman from Lilliput did not know that picking flowers in a public place was against the law (Daily Echo, March 15), as indeed is the picking of any wild flowers, i.e. primroses, bluebells etc. The daffodils at Whitecliff
COULD someone tell me what is happening with the postal service? We always used to get our mail by 10.30am now the earliest we get it is 1.30pm - although most days it arrives between 2.30 and 4pm. Yesterday I received a letter with a first class stamp
WHAT a shame that the BBC had not kept us informed of the country’s finances during the term of the last Labour government. All we got was notes joking about the country running out of money. Now every news bulletin features a reporter being told by
POOLE Soroptimists are delighted that the Home Secretary, Theresa May, has given recognition to Bournemouth’s need for a properly funded rape support centre. Poole Soroptimists have persistently raised awareness about the lack of facilities for rape
A 33-YEAR-OLD man has been charged over the deaths of the London couple killed in September’s horror crash at Sandbanks. The Poole resident faces two counts of causing death by dangerous driving after Alan and Rochelle Bernard died in the Banks
TOM Killick believes Poole Town’s directors deserve to be rewarded with a sell-out 2,000 crowd for their home FA Vase semi-final tie on March 26. But it looks like Dolphins’ manager won’t have to worry about that target not being reached as he told the
STEVE Fletcher insists Cherries must soldier on irrespective of the pluses and minuses on the Dean Court injury list. Cherries were boosted by the return to action of striker Steve Lovell during the midweek reserve clash with Swindon. However, while
WHEN Ryan Garry describes his latest injury predicament as “the hardest of my career”, you know it must have been pretty torturous. The accomplished Cherries defender has been sidelined for more than four months due to a nagging nerve-related problem
TOM Killick believes Poole Town’s directors deserve to be rewarded with a sell-out 2,000 crowd for their home FA Vase semi-final tie on March 26. But it looks like Dolphins’ manager won’t have to worry about that target not being reached as he told the
SWIM Bournemouth “ex-pat” Nathan Theodoris toppled five Dorset records as he took on the best of Britain at the British Gas Championships. They were among nine Dorset senior and junior records set by three swimmers during the eight-day meet in Manchester
WEST Dorset Warriors were crowned the new champions of the Dorset Novice League following a convincing victory in the final at Littledown. Thirteen wins and 16 second places in the 44-event programme contributed to a 44-point victory margin from runners-up
WHAT does a European Tour player do when his game no longer matches his ambition and the money pot runs out? Unfortunately, it is question that has faced too many of our players in recent times, with Dorset professionals Gary Emerson and Lee James both
We have formed a Young Friends Watch Group in conjunction with The Dorset Wildlife Trust. The list below shows some of the projects we would like to undertake. Litter-picking Mammal surveying Looking for and identifying fungi
