Archive

  • Adults and youngsters rescued in boat drama

    THREE adults and three children were rescued after two hours drifting in Poole Harbour on Saturday. Coastguards were alerted at around 5pm by a mobile phone call to the group stranded in two Fletcher speed boats near Brownsea Island.

  • Care home plan for school site

    FRESH plans to restore Homefield School to its “former glory” will be submitted to Christchurch Borough Council this week by its new owners. Bournemouth-based Quantum Lifecare acquired the former private school last year from Haxted Estates and Parkridge

  • Vase: Dolphins sunk by late strikes

    POOLE Town were the victims of daylight robbery as Vase holders Whitley Bay hit them hard with two late goals to steal a 2-1 triumph at Tatnam today. The Wessex League champions led 1-0 through a brilliant Carl Preston first-half solo strike

  • Delivery driver sparks major gas alert in Verwood

    A DELIVERY driver sparked off a major gas alert after reversing into a gas meter near the Shell petrol station in Verwood. The incident happened outside the new soon-to-open Venice Italian restaurant, formerly JC’s Wine and Video, in Ringwood

  • Purbeck cider project wins top award

    FOUR years ago, when National Trust volunteers noticed apples in neglected Purbeck orchards were going to waste, they decided to try and do something about it. Not content with harvesting the fruit for pies or hearty apple crumbles, they opted

  • Lapland conmen could have prison time reduced

    THE brothers behind the failed Lapland New Forest park could serve only 14 weeks of their 13-month sentence behind bars, it has been revealed Victor and Henry Mears, were jailed last Friday after being convicted of misleading customers at the site on

  • Big cat Kamien the newest addition to Pride in Bournemouth

    ARTIST Adam Klodzinski is the latest to make his mark on the Pride in Bournemouth public art event. Known as Soap, Adam was commissioned by Westbourne gallery Metropolis Art to paint Kamien, its life-size lion statue. Kamien will be one of at least

  • Cherries: Ref justice for Bradbury's boys

    REFEREE Mark Haywood took centre stage as Cherries were on the receiving end of two controversial decisions during an incident-packed clash with Charlton today. The official, who was escorted from the pitch flanked by a posse of stewards

  • Disabled parking plea decision must wait

    TOWN officials will wait at least two months before ruling on disabled parking at the taxi rank outside Swanage’s health centre. The Rev Edward Pratt started a petition last year after he took his disabled wife to the centre but found all three disabled

  • British Blues Quartet at the Tivoli

    If you are the kind of person who tends to get picky you might just raise an eyebrow at the fact that the British Blues Quartet currently appears to sport six members... and one them is German. But there’s no need to get pedantic about these

  • Bournemouth air festival prepares for take-off

    “WE can’t believe we’re into our fourth festival.” For the team behind the Bournemouth Air Festival, the last few years have been a whirlwind – and a massively successful one at that. Launched in 2008, nobody really knew whether the free event along

  • County's beaches have some of the cleanest water in the country

    IT’S official: local beaches from Milford-on-Sea to Purbeck have some of the best quality bathing water in the country. Around 500 beaches and inland swimming spots in England and Wales have been rated by the Environment Agency after undergoing testing

  • Gazza to go on stage in Bournemouth

    FOOTBALLING legend Paul Gascoigne is set to make his theatrical debut in Bournemouth after undergoing treatment for alcohol addiction at the local Providence Projects. Gazza, now said to be thinking of settling in the area permanently, will be joined

  • Last screen goddess can never be replaced

    THEY called her the Last Screen Goddess. For once they got it right. Well, can you think of any modern celeb who was even fit to touch the hem of Elizabeth Taylor’s kaftan? In Britain 2011 we fawn and fete and faff over characters like Kate Moss.

  • Mocked just for wearing a tie

    HOW I agree with Richard Grant’s recent letter about the lack of wearing a tie these days. My own husband, who always wears one on going out anywhere, was mocked on a coach full of holiday makers a while ago. When snooker is televised, Mr Steve Davis

  • Getting the hump over speed humps

    I have got the hump and Southbourne certainly has the hump! The traffic calming measures around Stourfield School has spread way beyond the boundary of the school in both directions. The traffic along Cranleigh Road is busy but with the amount of

  • Bankers only out to serve selves

    THE people of Milford are understandably up-in-arms over the decision by HSBC to close its branch – the last remaining bank in the village (Daily Echo, March 23). But as much as I sympathise with them, I fear they are spitting in the wind if they think

  • New marina just not necessary

    I AM utterly opposed to the Commercial Port Extension and Marina proposal from Poole Harbour Commissioners and seriously suggest that they consider the following alternatives: 1. Ensure the best possible economic use is made of every square metre of

  • Help us help Libyan people

    THE humanitarian crisis arising from the conflict in Libya is becoming more urgent by the day. A major reason behind the UN no-fly zone was to allow the international community to help the most vulnerable people in Libya. Many women and children have

  • No clear majority with AV system

    TONY Williams’ letter regarding the alternative voting system, (Echo March 8), sums up exactly what would happen in our country if this system was adopted. There would not be a clear majority, resulting in a permanently hung parliament and a series of

  • Change needed on spending

    WHILST I agree with Alderman David Trenchard that a zero Council Tax increase is good news, we shouldn’t get too carried away. It is local election year after all! I understand that 378 councils, just about all of the big ones, have frozen their Council

  • Fuelled up and ready to go

    IT’S hardly surprising that Firvale Road – at the heart of Bournemouth pub, club and bar culture, is still in the news when it comes to crime, especially drink-related. Alcohol is behind the majority of all recorded crime in Bournemouth. Not much of

  • Pirates: Ford set to redeclare team

    PIRATES look set to begin their Elite League campaign at Birmingham on Monday without Rafal Dobrucki. Wimborne Road supremo Matt Ford acknowledged yesterday he feared the Pole was unlikely to ride in this country because of issues regarding the sport

  • Cherries: Jones says promotion is 'long overdue'

    EX-Dean Court terrace hero Steve Jones reckons a return to the second flight for Cherries would be “long overdue”. Jones was a big hit with supporters during two spells with the club – his goalscoring exploits spearheading the original Great Escape in

  • Cherries: Parkinson can't see beyond play-off spot

    EX-Charlton boss Phil Parkinson thinks Cherries have already exceeded expectations this season and believes the play-offs are their only route to the Championship. Parkinson, who parted company with the Addicks in January, reckons Brighton are nailed-on

  • Cherries: Molesley could return before end of season

    RESILIENT Mark Molesley insists he is more determined than ever to boost Cherries’ promotion push after receiving positive news on his latest injury setback. Molesley turned his ankle playing for the club’s reserves against Swindon earlier this month