Archive

  • Otterly charming pair of otters at Bournemouth's Oceanarium

    A PAIR of otters who charmed visitors to Bournemouth’s Oceanarium have celebrated their first anniversary there. More than £150,000 was invested to create a bespoke home to mirror the natural habitat of the Oriental small clawed otters. Stan and Roxy

  • Firefighter John Drew recalls toughest day

    ONE of Dorset’s longest serving firemen has recalled the moment he received the 999 call every firefighter dreads. John Drew, watch manager at Sturminster Newton fire station, was looking back over a near 40-year career with Dorset Fire and Rescue

  • Spinning the wheel for classic Elvis Costello hits

    THE concept of Costello’s Revolver Tour is that punters are invited to spin a giant wheel of fortune and the band plays whichever of the 40-odd tracks the arrow indicates. The reality is that there’s a fair amount of jiggery pokery going on and we end

  • Balkans return for soldier’s memorial

    A memorial to a Dorset soldier who died in Bosnia is to be returned to the Balkans – five years after it was brought back to England. Private Ben Hinton was serving with the newly-formed Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment in 1994

  • Cyclists glide by on 140-mile Beach to Beach bike tour

    SUPER fit cyclists pedalled their way from Bournemouth along the south coast to raise money for Asthma UK at the weekend. More than 250 people started the 140-mile bike ride from Kings Park on Saturday morning, winding their way down to Bournemouth

  • Family saves stranded seahorse in Poole

    Another seahorse stranded at Poole has been saved by a quick-witted family. Lianne Head had taken her two-year-old daughter Jessica to play on swings at Hamworthy Park when she spotted the spiny seahorse lying on the grass. “I thought it was a toy,”

  • £84k fund will boost Springbourne charity groups

    A ‘DEPRIVED area’ of Bournemouth has won £84,000 to fund voluntary groups and charities. People in Springbourne can now apply to get a share of the cash before the June 15 deadline. Elaine Findlay, chairman of the Springbourne Forum, said: “The money

  • Handing down Dorset's history

    WILDLIFE lovers shared their memories and discovered the history of Dorset’s very rare heathlands during a history day held at Upton Heath near Poole. They had the opportunity to join in traditional crafts like besam making and flint knapping, to see

  • Dominos takeaway would ‘ruin’ Westbourne

    TRADERS are fighting to stop Dominos Pizza ‘ruining’ the atmosphere of Westbourne’s independent boutiques. The fast food chain is considering moving into Seamoor Road when lingerie shop Mystique closes. A landlord has applied for planning permission

  • New Milton students make a splash in swimming competition

    A PAIR of New Milton school students have powered their way to success in a recent youth swimming championship. Ellie Kerslake scooped gold in the women’s 16 years 200-metre backstroke, seeing off nine other finalists to become the western regional champion

  • Darcy Ward trial: Jury retires to consider their verdict

    A JURY has retired to consider its verdict in the sex assault trial of speedway star Darcy Ward. The seven men and five women will consider whether Poole Pirates rider Ward, 20, is guilty of one charge of sexual assault, allegedly committed

  • Ringwood plumber admits £112,000 tax dodge

    A PLUMBER who evaded £112,000 of tax has been handed a four-month suspended jail sentence. Peter Mack, 59, failed to declare earnings from his plumbing and heating business and failed to register for VAT while paying no income tax and national insurance

  • Couple ordered to remove mobile home

    A HAMPSHIRE couple have been ordered to remove their mobile home after losing a seven-year planning battle. Anthony Ward and Sarah Moore defied New Forest National Park bosses for seven years by continuing to live in the illegal accommodation at

  • Get up close and personal with Kasabian on the big screen

    SWAGGERING rockers Kasabian will be putting in a big screen appearance in Bournemouth on May 30. The film Kasabian Live! Live At The 02 will be screened at the Odeon for one night only. It captures footage of the band’s incendiary live

  • Body of an OAP found in Wareham Channel

    THE body of a man in his 80s was pulled from the waters of Wareham Channel on Thursday. Members of the public spotted the body and raised the alarm shortly before 8pm. Poole’s all-weather and inshore RNLI lifeboats were launched at 8.15pm. Station

  • Very proud of school

    I RESPOND to your article ‘Our four-year-old doesn’t have a place’, published on Wednesday May 16. It is a shame that some people believe Kingsleigh Primary School to be a ‘rough’ school and that their children will be ‘isolated’. On behalf of everyone

  • Police officers facing Olympic challenge

    A POLICEMAN’S lot is not a happy one. Last week Home Secretary Theresa May was being heckled and booed at the Police Federation conference in the BIC at a time of cutbacks to the service. Now, Dorset Police is having to find up to 150 officers on any

  • Store will make our parking woes worse

    I HAVE been reading about the inconvenience caused by the work at Wallisdown but what also concerns me is the parking in Bryant Road. It is really bad at the moment, people park on the double yellow lines and on the pavement. They have no regard

  • Thanks to loyal customers for help

    WE are writing on behalf of Peacocks in Parkstone to thank all of our loyal customers for their support over the past few months and a special thank you to all those who signed our Save Peacocks petition. Peacocks was bought in February by the Edinburgh

  • Spanish have better things to worry about

    GIVEN the parlous state of its economy, one would think that the Spanish government had better things to do than throw yet another of its periodic hissy-fits over Gibraltar – protesting at the visit to The Rock by Prince Edward to Gibraltar next

  • Digging impossible on Shore Road beach

    WITH reference to your Opinion on May 15. There is no need to go to a rival beach to park a towel on pebbles. Just go to Shore Road. The sand there has been covered in stones and bits of rock for several years and you have to walk very carefully across

  • Why councillors cannot win

    I FEEL that I must respond to latest anonymous letter demanding that the IMAX building should be saved (Letters, May16). From the extensive consultation the council has done, I do not believe that is the view of the majority of Bournemouth residents

  • Ramble around Radipole Lake with RSPB staff and volunteers

    The RSPB at Weymouth Wetlands are inviting people to ramble around Radipole Lake with them this Saturday, May 26. The free, two-hour walk starts at 10am and staff and volunteers will be on hand to point out some of the reserve’s wonderful wildlife

  • Peter Ridley, former Ferndown town councillor and mayor

    PETER Ridley was born in Southwick, Sussex, in December 1929. He later attended Steyning Grammar School, and was a valued member of the choir at Southwick Congregational church. In 1951 he attended a Church Social event in Brighton where he met a shy

  • WIN: A brilliant family holiday at St Audries Bay!

    EDDIE Echo has teamed up with St Audries Bay to offer one lucky Gang Member and their family the chance to win a fantastic holiday to St Audries Bay in Somerset. The prize is for one week, on a half board or self catering basis where you’ll

  • RIP Robin Gibb: your favourite Bee Gees songs

    IN tribute to Bee Gees star Robin Gibb who has died after a long battle with cancer, we've been asking what your favourite Robin Gibb/Bee Gees songs are. Here's a selection. Let us know yours in the comments.

  • Child porn music teacher jailed for six months

    THE teaching career of a talented pianist and prolific composer is in tatters after he was jailed for six months for making pornographic images of children on his home computer. Bournemouth Crown Court heard how former musical director and

  • Crowds gather for Red Arrows return to Bournemouth

    SPECTATORS and aviation enthusiasts gathered at Bournemouth Airport to catch a fleeting glimpse of the Red Arrows as they returned for the first time since last year’s tragic crash, which killed pilot Jon Egging. The jets had stopped to

  • Scarred for life: slashed open with a 13-inch blade

    A MAN has been scarred for life after being slashed with a kitchen knife during an alcohol-fuelled argument with a “friend”. Scaffolder Shaun Kelly needed emergency surgery and 38 stitches for facial injuries following the vicious early morning

  • Beck smashes maiden ton in Milton victory

    LEE Beck crafted his maiden SPL century as New Milton sent shock waves through Division Two by trouncing much-fancied Hook & Newnham Basics. Beck’s heroics led New Milton to an impressive 129-run victory against the title favourites on their own track

  • Pirates: Ford backs Lindgren to 'haunt' old club Wolves

    MATT Ford is backing Ludvig Lindgren to continue his Pirates progress as he bids to build on his reputation as Poole’s surprise “match winner”. Lindgren will be aiming to again haunt his former club when he lines up for Pirates in tonight’s Knockout

  • Barlow laments dropped catches

    SKIPPER Scott Barlow felt Bournemouth had been architects of their own downfall following their 17-run defeat at the hands of Division One rivals Totton & Eling. Bournemouth paid the penalty for spilling two vital catches as Dave Taylor (83) and Sam

  • Dorset sweating on trophy fate

    DORSET were last night waiting to discover their MCCA Trophy fate after losing their final group game against Wales in Swansea. A six-wicket defeat at the Mumbles left Dorset sweating on the outcome of other results to determine whether they would qualify