Tragic Ferry Accident Kills Two

Two elderly people have died after a shipping collision caused a spillage of toxic chemicals in Poole Harbour. The man and woman, who are yet to be identified, are in their eighties and are believed to have died from lindane poisoning after leaping from their passenger ferry when it was hit by a cargo vessel.

Lindane – which is used as an insecticide and a pharmaceutical treatment – was spilled into the sea after the cargo vessel it was on collided with a passenger ferry crossing the harbour.

Over 70 people have been admitted to hospital amid concern that both passengers and rescue teams who have come into contact with the water are at risk from lindane poisoning.

To avoid further contamination, the Environmental Agency has advised rescue teams to wear protective clothing and have constructed chemical boons in the water, but there are fears that it is too late for the wildlife in the harbour.

Coastguards are closing off the area and warning residents against fishing, walking their dogs or otherwise going near the beach and the harbour for at least 48 hours.

Chief Loader for Sandbanks Ferries, Nick Gosney, said “There’s a big hole in the other ferry, and our ferry’s chain snapped so the boat can’t move. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

It was the maiden voyage for the cargo vessel El Taurus, which was headed towards Cherbourg in France.

There were eight crew members and 20 trucks of cargo on board, and it is not yet known how much of the chemical has been spilt or what other cargo has been lost.

The two ferries are still stationary and emergency services are attempting to evacuate people and get both boats moving as soon as possible.

Bournemouth Pensioner Recalls Childhood

John Heslop, 77, says that his earliest memory is being evacuated during the Second World War.
When he was eight years old, having grown up in Leeds, he and his siblings were taken to Lincolnshire during the war.

The Yorkshire-born pensioner says of the experience, “I don’t remember that much, because I was too young, but I remember feeling quite frightened. Unfortunately my memory is quite bad but one of my older brothers told me a few stories about the war, so I remember small parts based on that.”

After the war, John, who now lives in Poole Road, went on to pursue a career in factory management, and eventually met and married Pat, 74.
He and Pat have two daughters, Carol and Ann.

Big Nights Out In Bournemouth

When I first meet Nick De Souza, he’s behind his mixing desk at 60 Million Postcards, an alternative bar on the edge of Bournemouth. Every Sunday, Nick – who lives with his girlfriend in Tisbury near Salisbury – hosts the now-infamous pub quiz there, but as I learn a few weeks later, there is more to him than meets the eye.

In 2003, Nick started his own DJ company, Big Night Out, which provides a DJ-ing service for all occasions; from 18th birthdays to quizzes, to weddings.

The 34-year-old walks with a confident gait and looks open and approachable in the bar, as he drinks his lager. It is evident from watching him that he is in an industry which values openness, honesty and friendliness – without these he would swiftly find himself without and audience and therefore out of a job.

He says of his career choice, “I was always into sound and music. I’m classically trained on the piano and I used to write my own songs.”

It transpires, though, that he fell into DJ-ing almost by accident. Whilst working at Tescos, Nick was on the board that organised social nights out. Once every few months, they would host a quiz night.

“I went to one, and the sound was awful, everything was just terrible so I asked them if I could do it next time”, he says, and from then he progressed to doing birthday parties for colleagues and friends of friends.

Eventually after spending some time balancing both DJ-ing and his full-time job at Tesco’s, he felt confident enough to leave the job and go into the DJ business full-time, starting his own company.

Nick estimates that he carries out around 50 ‘other’ events a year, as well as three quizzes a week at 60 Million Postcards, The Royal Oak in Winchester and the Old Ale House at Salisbury.

So, what makes a good DJ then, I ask. “There are essentially three types of DJs, you have the radio station or celebrity DJs, for example Zane Lowe, then there’s club DJs which just play songs and don’t talk, and then you have mobile or party DJs – like me – who talk a lot and interact with their audience.”

He tells me that on a personal level, people appreciate the lively way he talks to them, and the way that he has a relationship with his audience. Every quiz night he does, for example, he gives out sheets with song requests on them, and encourages feedback in this way.

When I talk to some of his regulars at 60 Million Postcards, they are full of praise. “We used to go to another quiz night in Bournemouth but it got a bit boring because it wasn’t challenging enough. With Nick, he feels like a mate, and the quiz is always a laugh” says Colin Miles, 24, who has been going to Nick’s quiz nights for around two years.

“I like the fact that he encourages us to ask for songs and write funny quiz team names. Also, the format of the quiz is always familiar but the questions are always really random. You learn a lot actually.”

Eden Penketh, 23, is also appreciative of Nick’s particular quiz-master style. “You never know what questions you will get. They’re never usually too easy, so it’s really challenging and difficult to win.”

So why does he still go? “You always know it’s going to be a good night, you’re going to have a laugh and a drink, and listen to some good music. It helps that you might go home £100 richer as well!”

Nick goes quiet when I ask him what he wants to do in the future or what direction he envisions his career going. “I’ve always liked the idea of doing radio,” he says, but then is quick to add, “but it’s such a hard thing to get into, you need to start at the bottom and for me it’s not worth it at the moment. A part of me also feels like it’s a bit late for me to be starting all over again at the bottom at this stage in my life.”

“I’m currently looking at progressing Big Nights Out further, by doing bigger, higher-end events. Eventually I’d like to be able to do more events management, for example outside events, where I can hire a marquee and organise everything from catering to DJing. I don’t know quite how I’m going to do it but that’s my goal at the moment.”

Nick owns the DJ Company, Big Night Out, www.big-night-out.com and also the Big Night Out Quiz, www.bignightoutquiz.co.uk

University Joins Drive to Clear Chlamydia

Bournemouth University has organised DIY Chlamydia Screening Tests for students, amid fears that Bournemouth is the Chlamydia capital of Dorset.

Students living in the University halls of residence were given specific days to go and get a quick test done, which involves a pee-in-a-pot for the men, or a self-taken swab for the women.

Matt Wilson, who lives in Cranbourne House, said “I think it’s a really good idea, it shows that the University care about the welfare of their students, and it’s so easy to do as well”

The screenings are part of the Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust (PCT) drive to raise awareness of the disease and check those who are deemed to be at high risk – those between 16 and 25.

The organisation has been applauded for their innovative approach to testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections, which has proved popular with young people. The screenings are confidential and self-tested, and results are sent by text message.

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease amongst young people in the UK, with diagnoses increasing 150% in the last ten years, and a large number of cases estimated undiagnosed.

Dolly Renahan, Chlamydia Screening Coordinator at the PCT, said: “Offering the Do-It-Yourself kit helps people who might be embarrassed to take the test and enables them to access follow-up treatment and advice about good sexual health.

“The vast majority of sexually active young people who test positive for Chlamydia have no symptoms. It is very easy to treat but can lead to serious problems if it goes undetected for a long time.”

Murderer Decapitates Mother

A woman was found decapitated after her son stole weaponry and went on a murderous rampage lasting several hours.

Louise Tonk – affectionately known as Lulu - was found along with her pet dog, Laughing Gravy, at the house of her son Pascal Tonks, after he set it on fire and fled.

These murders are also linked to the murder of a man on Wimborne Road, and the shooting of a dog on Horseshoe Common.

The Belgian man, named Mels Rattue was shot with an arrow and killed near St Augustin’s Church, as he got off the bus.

A witness, Dennis Landsbert, 52, said the 32-year-old was due to attend the Bonsai Tree Convention with him at the Church hall, and is said to be “absolutely devastated” at his death.

Rattue was announced dead at the scene after being shot in the eye with the arrow, which is one of the set believed to have been stolen from the sports centre.

The crossbow and arrows were stolen from the Kieren Verdon Archery Range in Chapelgate after a JCB was used to break into the compound.

A Shiatsu was also injured in a similar incident on Horseshoe Commons.

The dog’s owner, Pippa Shufflebottom, said, “I was taking him for a walk and someone riding a bike came along, shot him and then rode off laughing.”The dog sustained injuries and required an operation.

Police cornered Tonk at the Talbot Combined School in Wallisdown and report that Tonk “brandished his crossbow” at officers, which resulted in them opening fire and killing the suspect.

Barry Linden, assistant chief constable, has called Louise Tonk’s death “a tragic end to the day”.

Brand Outrage Sparks Community Response

Russell Brand and Jonathon Ross rang up veteran actor Andrew Sachs - better known as Manuel from Fawlty Towers - during Brand’s BBC Radio 2 show, and left four offensive voicemails on his answer machine.

Since the story broke in a Sunday paper, the story has hit headlines and caused controversy on a national scale, with Brand resigning and the axe hanging precariously over Ross’s head.

Many people feel that they have overstepped the line, as Andy Butler from Lansdowne says, “They seem to think that because they are famous, they can do what they like”. The 41-year-old, who lives in Frances Road, adds: “But they haven’t murdered or raped anybody, they haven’t hurt anyone, so I’m on the fence about it really”.

Faye Dunwoody, 30 and Rosalind Smithe, 21, from Poole and Bournemouth, both agreed that the presenters should know better, but are also unsure whether sacking Jonathon Ross is the right outcome. This is a sentiment echoed by mother and daughter Valerie and Kathy Balam, 60 and 81, from Pine Tree Glen in Westbourne: “They shouldn’t have done it but it’s hard to say what the appropriate action to take is.”

Chris Hudson, 53, from Hannington Road in Pokesdown, feels much more strongly about the situation. “It’s a scandal. They shouldn’t have joined forces to do that to an old man. The outcry is right and justified, and the Prime Minister stepped in at the right time.”

Other residents, like Margaret Luck, believe that we should take a more light-hearted approach. The 30-year-old, said: “It’s just a joke. I really like Russell Brand and I think people shouldn’t take this too seriously”.

Sue Laster from Vale Road in Branksome echoes this opinion, adding that people shouldn’t listen to programmes if they don’t like the presenters. The 37-year-old continues, “Everybody knows that they are both controversial characters, that is what makes them funny.”

Vanessa Love, 26, agrees and goes on to say: “The reaction is really very over the top. I think people should get over it, there are more important things in the world to worry about.”

Although the BBC Director has organised a series of meetings with Ross and is busy debating how to deal with the situation, nothing has officially been announced.

A Senior Journalist at the corporation, Alan Soady, said, “It’s a ridiculous storm in a teacup… It obviously didn’t offend the people who listen on a regular basis, but is it the sort of thing that the BBC should be broadcasting? Probably not. Who is responsible? The 25 year-old inexperienced producer, the person who hired him, whoever hired Brand, or the two presenters themselves? We don’t know yet.”