With the winter almost behind us and the ever popular Barfleur returning from refit signalling the start of Sprint there's no better time for a quick jaunt to France to recharge the batteries or, more importantly re-stock the cellar! On a Tuesday,
CAMPAIGNERS called on Prime Minister Tony Blair to act over the world's water supplies as they set up a stall in Weymouth town centre. One dressed as Mr Blair and bathed in dirty water as shoppers were invited to sign a petition. The protest was held
I am indebted to the Echo for helping spread the word about Community Music developments in the county (Plans for new music festival', Echo, 15 March). If any reader would like to know more about the developments, they can contact me either by e-mail
A WEYMOUTH school has finally secured its own sports hall and gym - 31 years after it first opened. Westfield Special School has been surviving without a proper sports hall since it was built in 1976. But now, thanks to a £3 million development, children
A FORMER care worker found in possession of cannabis has been jailed. Police seized almost two kilograms of the class C drug - worth at least £8,000 - from the home of Man Yong, 26. Yong, of Lower Burton Farm, near Dorchester, and Frederick Knowlden
I suspect that the Echo's 'Over the Hill' columnist Chris Hubbard and I would make the ideal couple. Having spent a lifetime's career being 'civil' and diplomatic to people I feel my impending three score years and 10 should herald some enjoyable changes
I REFER to Colin Huckle's letter Rail link may cost same as relief road' (Echo, March 21) about rail links and the relief road. He might like to know that there is a perfectly good rail link between Weymouth and Exeter via Yeovil. There is a rail line
Some years back, when the Portland Police Station on Castle Road was being closed, we were assured that a station would be established at the Southwell Business Park, and a telephone number was provided. Once or twice, when I required the services of
ON March 3 I made a street collection to raise money for the Kingfisher Ward at Dorset County Hospital. I raised a total of £107 and would like to thank everybody who gave so generously towards it. I am running the Flora London Marathon on April 22
FIRE chiefs are warning owners of thatched properties to check their homes following a fire at a pair of cottages in Piddlehinton. Group manager Chris Hewitt of Dorset Fire and Rescue said householders should check inside the roof space where chimney
In response to Mr Dickinson's letter Wessex Water's shocking increases' (Echo, March 13), the industry regulator Ofwat is responsible for setting the prices charged for the water services supplied by Wessex Water. At the beginning of the price review
BOSSES at a Dorset golf club fear recent floods have highlighted problems they will face if a road is closed as part of the Weymouth Relief Road scheme. Roads chiefs at Dorset County Council are proposing to close the access route off the A354 to Broadmayne
Recipe Name: Corn Beef Hash Recipe Description: Old Army Dinner Ingredients: Beans Patato Corn Beef Cheese Spam and a few herbs. Method: Layer the bottom of a pirex dish with grilled spam, then layer over that with beans, the layer the beans
THE front page article Hedge of destruction' (March 21) referred to youths indulging in the new craze of hedging' and filming their antics on mobile phones. 'I am wondering if the new craze is actually filming their bad behaviour rather than the deeds
CHILDREN from schools across West Dorset got together at Charlton Down's Herrison Hall to launch a festival of dance. The youngsters took part in the first West Dorset School Sports Partnership dance festival with the theme of the Olympics. Andrea Williams
IT'S CRUNCH time for West Bay's £1.3 million regeneration scheme. At a special open meeting on Tuesday town councillors will be asked to decide which of two projects finally gets the green light. Planners were forced back to the drawing board when
Dr Guy Dickinson's letter (We will pay a high price for the bypass', Echo, March 20) was little more than a rehash of David Moth's recent letter (Here they are: 19 Alternatives', March 13). Nothing new was aired. It's futile to expect Dorset County Council
Thursday In an effort to catch up I do another 5 miles tonight - I can't wait for the clocks to go forward and actually do some of this training in day light!!!
Many thousands of men and women served in HM Forces as volunteers in the years after the last war and up until 1972. I for my part served nine years in the Royal Navy. A certain percentage of our pay was deducted to provide for a pension but alas all
A MUM whose teenage daughter was stabbed by a man at a bus stop has spoken of her family's frustration after his sentencing was delayed yet again. Michelle Teague's daughter Charlotte was one of three schoolgirls attacked by knifeman Ian Ruby as she
A MAN who died at a Dorchester flat has been named as 40-year-old Robert David Laidlaw. Mr Laidlaw, of the travellers' site near Wareham, was found dead at a property in High East Street on March 7. A postmortem has taken place, and police are awaiting
Hampshire Division One ALTON 1 WEYMOUTH 4 THE young brigade did the damage for the Seasiders as they gave their survival hopes a huge boost at third-placed Alton. The Dorset outfit entered the game as massive underdogs despite beating Blandford 5-
GYM worker Jenny Beech has made history by becoming Portland's first female firefighter and the island station's youngest recruit. She joins a team who live on Portland and have jobs in the community but are called away in an emergency to fight fires
PORTLAND boss Dave Kiteley reckons it will be a "travesty" if his side fails to overcome Blandford United tomorrow to take their place in the Dorset Premier League Cup final (2.30pm). "That's no disrespect to Blandford who are a good young side," said
A PRESTON man's historical connections with Napoleon were reawakened when he visited a historic ship berthed at Portland. Christopher Doveton-Gerty, 69, of Bodkin Lane, paid a visit to RMS St Helena - the last Royal Mail Ship still in service. The vessel
AN ORGANISING committee has completed preparations for the 2007 Dragon Edinburgh Cup in Weymouth. The group held their final meeting on Monday to finalise plans for the prestigious event. Members of the committee include David Dunn and Derek Abbott
BRIDPORT travel to second-bottom Weston St Johns in Toolstation Western League Division One tomorrow. The Bees have been in scintillating form on the road and should be capable of chalking up three points against a side that have won just four times
DORCHESTER, the side who just can't perform at home, are happy to be on the road again tomorrow when they travel up the M3 to Farnborough (3pm). The Magpies have only failed to return with points from four of their 16 away games in the Conference South
WEYMOUTH player-manager Jason Tindall wants the off-the-field issues hanging over the club's future to be resolved as soon as possible. The 29-year-old made the admission after telling Echosport that he knew nothing about chairman Martyn Harrison's plans
A perfect lazy tea! Just throw everything together and let the oven do the rest. Serves 2 Four handfuls of pasta (swirls, penne etc will do) Cherry tomatoes Ham slices (preferably thick sliced) For cheese sauce Knob of butter Level tablespoon
According to Mitsubishi, the new Outlander is the greenest seven-seater on the road and has a smaller "footprint" than many standard family cars. With a full complement of passengers, the new Outlander claims to have lower per-passenger CO2 emissions
10: THE PRETTY THINGS Come See Me/£.s.d (Fontana, 1966) I ADORE The Pretty Things. They roared out of much the same London R&B scene that spawned The Rolling Stones, but the best of their early material crackles with an electric charge that leaves the
GOLDEN couple Irene and Denis Mears will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary watching Irish folk duo Foster and Allen at the Weymouth Pavilion. But they are suspicious that their children might have some other surprises in store. Mr Mears said:
WHEN 16-year-old Vi Titley from Birmingham started to write to 18-year-old Portland soldier Terry Woodhouse, little did she think that they would celebrate their golden wedding on the island. Terry, a cook in the army, was on his way to Korea in a troop
Despite nay-sayers claiming that SUV sales are in major decline, industry projections show a major growth in the sector. Recent bad publicity over environmental issues appear to have had little impact on sales - rather, the recent decline is explained
MARTY WILDE THE GREATEST HITS: BORN TO ROCK N'ROLL (Universal) BONNIE TYLER FROM THE HEART: GREATEST HITS (Sony/BMG) ELTON JOHN ROCKET MAN: THE DEFINITIVE HITS (Mercury) ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK ARCHITECTURE AND MORALITY: THE COLLECTOR'S
DIRECTORS of Fordingtons Windows and Conservatories were presented with a certificate at their best open weekend so far. John Manley and Mark Richardson received the award for the second year running to mark the company's performance in sales, customer
A fresh tasting health evening meal. Perfect for guests and family Serves 2 2 Chicken breasts Small tub of natural yoghurt 1 lime (or lemon will do) Empty yoghurt into container (large enough to take marinade & chicken in) Grate lime (or
