Thursday 5th November 2009 Man robbed in dummy scam
A man who thought he was performing a heroic rescue suddenly found he
was on the receiving end of a scam. A 48 year-old man out walking his
dog in Foxes Forest, Portsmouth, was approached by a distressed
looking couple who said their son was in the lake after being attacked
by a swan. When the man swam out to the ‘boy’ he discovered it was in
fact a dummy. He then turned to see the couple rifling his coat
pockets. He swam back to confront the couple who attacked him,
spraying a liquid in his face. The pair escaped with £100 in cash.

The incident happened at 1045 GMT on 28 October in Foxes Forest, near
Peronne Road, Portsmouth. Police have released an e-fit image of the
girl in an effort to find witnesses to the crime. Hampshire

Friday 2nd October 2009 Portsmouth football club owner in hospital
The future of Portsmouth FC once again looks shaky as stories have appeared on the Internet suggesting that the new owner Sulaimin Al Fahim is in hospital undergoing tests, possibly for kidney stones. The Arabian Business website reported that the new Pompey owner has a attended a Dubai hospital.

The 32-year-old took the helm at the club after a protracted a messy take-over bid. But, despite his apparent financial largesse, doubts about the clubs financial stability persist. Despite recent promises to spend £10 million on the club in October there are also reports of players waiting to be paid after what the club described as a “delay in transfer of funds” after the deal Hampshire

Monday 21st September 2009 Mary Rose to have a new home
The wreck of King Henry VIII’s historic flagship the Mary Rose is going to have a new purpose built home to replace the hastily constructed dry dock and warehouse it currently lies in. The ship sank in the Solent in 1545, only to be raised again in 1982 after years of searching that many considered were doomed to failure.

The new facility will grant visitors a much better experience of the Mary Rose. The planned museum complex will allow visitors to walk along walkways that “imitate the vessel’s missing port side” according to the Mary Rose Trust. It’s a fitting plan for the ship which while an incredibly important part of our heritage, has hitherto lain in the shadow of the much better presented HMS Victory and HMS Warrior. It is hoped the ship will be back on display in time for the 2012 Olympics. Hampshire

Wednesday 26th August 2009 Britain steams into record books again
Britain holds the world land speed record for a steam powered car
thanks to the efforts of the Hampshire based British Steam Car
Challenge. Their streamlined 25-foot-long, three tonne car,
Inspiration, rocketed down across the Mojave desert on two runs that
recorded an average speed of 139.843mph. Driver and main financier
Charles Burnett III hit a peak speed of 136.103mph on his outward run
and 151.085mph on the return.

As he was congratulated by his jubilant crew, principal driver,
Charles Burnett III said:

"It was absolutely fantastic I enjoyed every moment of it. We reached
nearly 140mph on the first run. All systems worked perfectly, it was a
really good run. The second run went even better and we clocked a
speed in excess of 150 mph. The car really did handle beautifully. The
team has worked extremely hard over the last 10 years and overcome
numerous problems. It is a privilege to be involved with such a
talented crew, what we have achieved today is a true testament to
British engineering, good teamwork and perseverance” Hampshire

Tuesday 18th August 2009 Hampshire attempt at steam powered world speed record
A team from Hampshire will attempt to break the world land speed record for steam-powered vehicles in California this week. The Lymington built three-tonne vehicle, already dubbed as ‘the world’s fastest kettle’ hopes to smash the current record of 127mph set by Fred Marriot at Daytona Beach back in 1906.

The project’s main patron Charles Burnett III will be at the controls during the record attempt. The team also have the services of Don Wales as a test driver. He has serious speed attempt pedigree as he is the nephew of the late Donald Campbell, and grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell. The Campbell father and son took more than 20 land and water speed records between them. Hampshire

Friday 14th August 2009 Wet-suit sun block for bald penguin
When Ralph, a nine-year-old Humboldt penguin, lost all his feathers in a day it left him with a lot of sensitive pink skin exposed to the sunlight. The moulting process normally takes four to six weeks, allowing new feathers to gradually grow back and keeping the penguins protected from the sunlight.

Keepers at the Marwell Wildlife park knew that Ralph’s super-sensitive skin would quickly burn if exposed even to the relatively mild English sunshine. Smothering the slippery penguin with factor 50 sun block several times a day wasn’t a practical option so the wildlife park staff made Ralph a customised wetsuit, cut from the leg of an adult wetsuit, to protect him from the sun. Hampshire

Thursday 9th July 2009 Hampshire town residents suffer mystery stink
Residents of the Hampshire town Gosport have been enduring a mystery stench emanating from the Workhouse lake area. Described by some residents as smelling like sewage or rotting fish, there has yet been no information as to what’s causing the stink.

Southern Water say that untreated sewage has not found its way into the lake and that recent hot weather may be behind the smell. A nearby school, Haselworth Primary School has been forced to keep its windows closed because of the smell, despite the recent hot weather. Hampshire