Karen Sutton, who patrols at the junction of Barnes Lane and Allotment Road, is supporting police and council chiefs to crackdown on threatening behaviour by motorists towards crossing patrol workers.

Lollipop lady Karen Sutton

The 50-year-old, who has been a lollipop lady for 12 years, said people have sworn and yelled at her from cars and once she even had to dodge a bag of rubbish thrown towards her by a passing car.

“Last year there was an incident with a group of lads in a car with beer and I was with some mums at the crossing. They threw this bag out at us and I saw it coming so ducked, but it hit one of the mums,” she said. “Actually having things thrown at you is ridiculous.

“The worst incident was a guy in a truck who was going too fast. He screamed on his brakes and launched a tirade of abuse and was telling me I was doing my job wrong.

“When I first started the job it used to really upset and scare me. I used to come home feeling quite emotional and tearful. Now I don’t let it affect me.

“It must be quite scary for the children, especially the little ones, if someone is hurling abuse.”

So Karen said she is supporting Hampshire Constabulary and Hampshire County Council’s bid to reduce these incidents, adding: “It’s a good idea if they can bring it to people’s attention and make them more aware. If you polled a group of people they probably wouldn’t believe this happens, but it does.”

Councillor Mel Kendal,the county council’s transport boss, said their behaviour was unacceptable and added: “It’s appalling to hear reports of verbal abuse in any situation but particularly so when those targeted are members of staff doing their job in helping to keep people safe as they walk to and from school.”

Drivers are legally obliged to obey signals and signs used by School Crossing Patrols under section 35 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Motorists who are prosecuted could face a fine of up to £1,000 and three penalty points on their licence.

Inspector Jon Snook, from Hampshire Constabulary, added: “School crossing patrols provide an invaluable service escorting children across busy roads to school safely. We will not tolerate any incidents of aggression and intimidation, especially when the victim is simply trying to do their job.

“The police will deal with all such offences involving school crossing patrols and anyone assaulting patrols could be arrested and placed before the court.”

In with the new - a firefighter wearing the new gold-coloured kit which will be seen across Hampshire from today, replacing the dark-coloured uniform. Photo: Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The new protective clothing for the county’s firefighters is being phased in to the 51 fire stations across Hampshire. The uniform, which replaces the old dark-coloured kit, includes new boots and helmets.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said the new kit would deliver a high technical specification and a more ergonomic design increasing its usability for our frontline staff.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service took the decision to introduce the new fire kit in June 2010 after seven of the fire services in the South East Region agreed to a joint project to create a strong and professional regional identity, whilst also delivering efficiency savings for each fire service.

Malcolm Freemantle, Station Manager and project lead for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Our main aim is always to provide the best possible PPE for our firefighters.

“The project to select the new regional kit was rigorous, involving extensive service and technical evaluation as well as wearer trials in which Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service played a key role throughout.”

Two vehicles, one of which was a Ford Transit van, collided in Cartwright Drive at its junction with Southampton Road at 2.44pm today (May 17).

Hampshire Constabulary said there were no injuries in the incident. It is believed one of the vehicles hit a lamppost.

There were some traffic delays in the area as a result of the incident.

The teenage boy riding a red Peugeot Speedflight moped was seriously injured when he collided with a 44-year-old man riding a dark blue Honda 1300cc motorbike.

The crash happened just off the A32 at the junction of Wykeham Field and School Road.

Police said the boy, from Wickham, sustained life threatening injuries and was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital where he remained in a critical condition.

The man, from Winchester, was taken to Southampton General Hospital suffering from potentially life threatening injuries. He was also taken to hospital where he remains at this time in a serious but stable condition.

School Road at its junction with Bridge Street and Fareham Road was closed for some time as emergency services attended the scene.

Hampshire Constabulary asked for any witnesses to contact Sgt Wayne Voller at Fratton Roads Policing Unit on 101, quoting Operation Dolman.

Calls be made anonymously on the Crimestoppers line 0800 555111.

Councillors have agreed to attend a public meeting a meeting on Thursday (May 17) in the community centre to discuss school provision for those living in Whiteley but who fall outside the Whiteley Primary School catchment area.

Concerns will be raised with Councillor Sean Woodward, leader of Fareham Borough Council, and Winchester Councillor Patricia Stallard. The organisers want eligible families with more than one child to be able to get them into the same school. They also want to open up Yew Tree Drive for all vehicles rather than just buses.

Organiser Laura Poustie, of Coleridge Drive, said: “Everywhere you go everyone’s talking about this.

“A lot of my neighbours and friends have unfortunately not got into Whiteley School or had any of their top three choices.

“We live 0.67miles from Whiteley school. The catchment area is 0.4miles. The surrounding schools are fantastic, so I’ve been told. But they’re difficult to get to.

“In a family there could be one child at school in Botley and the other in Titchfield. They have to get both children to school on time and themselves to work by 9am.

“What options are available to us because all of these other schools are full?

“I know there were 37 families who didn’t get their top three choices who wrote to Sean Woodward. He said he agreed to meet with us.”

Discussions at the meeting will include issues about primary provision and secondary provision and those worried about road access.

The 31-year-old mum-of-two said, although her eldest child is not due to go to school for another two years, she wanted the community to get together now to make a change.

Mrs Poustie added: “I want my children in the same school – and not just for practicality. I think it’s important for their development and wellbeing that they’re together.

“But if the children have to be out of this area then we’d like the road to be opened up for access.

“I don’t think we’re naive enough to think we’re going to suddenly get a new school built in this economy. We’re not asking for the impossible. But I don’t think we’re asking for the unachievable.

“I firmly believe that unless we all work together change won’t happen. It’s important for the kids that we sort this out.”

She added that she expected the numbers attending “to be high” with 75 people confirmed and another 300, who have been given leaflets about the meeting, may possibly attend.

A campaign group for a free school in Whiteley will also be attending the meeting to discuss a renewed application being put forward to the government.

The public meeting will be held at 7pm.

Dance-a-cality and Cheer-a-cality are set to perform a host of musical numbers telling the tale of events throughout the seasons at the community centre at The Green raising funds for two great causes.

Dance-a-cality to perform debut show at Sarisbury Green Community Centre

The show ‘Four Seasons’ will be raising cash for voluntary sign language group SignAlong and the Piam Brown children’s cancer ward at Southampton General Hospital, where Principal Lara-Jean Hallam’s friend Catherine Gittins’ two-year-old son Charlie Marsden was treated before he died  in March.

Lara-Jean, 28, from Locks Heath, said there would be volunteers from SignAlong signing the words to the songs at the shows, among them her mum.

She added: “All these signers do it out of their love of it. It’s motivational and inspiring when you see it. It’s a different way of communicating.”

Lara-Jean, who has been a dancer throughout her life and used to perform on cruise ships, set up the dance school a year ago. She hopes to raise as much money as possible for both charities because they are close to her heart.

“My younger cousin passed away from cancer when she was six and having experienced it directly in my family, I can understand, to a level, what Catherine and her family are going through,” she said.

Cheer-a-cality jumping into action

“I teach children and I dread to think of anything happening to them. Originally we were raising money for Charlie to experience as much as possible, to go on holiday and so on, before the inevitable happened. But sadly he died before then.

“This is my way of trying to help. Whatever we can raise, every penny helps.”

The shows are on Saturday (May 19) at 7pm and Sunday (May 20) at 2.30pm. Tickets cost £8 for adults and £6 for concessions and children.

For more details visit www.dance-a-cality.co.uk

Applications

Titchfield

Batleys Plc, Talbot Road. Proposed generator compound consisting of 12 units and 40 no solar PV panels. Mr Andrew Hyndman. Case Officer: Richard Wright – P/12/0350/FP

Titchfield Common

141 Hunts Pond Road – land adjacent to – Park Gate. Erection of two semi detached dwellings. Mr Grant Rayner. Case Officer: James Bennett – P/12/0348/FP

36 Lyndale Road, Park Gate. Change of use of ground floor of premises from retail to residential. Mr Clive Matthews. Case Officer: Richard Wright – P/12/0368/CU

Warsash

66 Warsash Road, Warsash. Proposed dropped kerb. Mrs Jennifer Placidi. Case Officer: Simon Thompson – P/12/0354/FP

The following application is one for a neighbouring authority that may affect the area. Check the authority website for details.

Portsmouth City Council, Civic Offices. Residential redevelopment of part of former school site for construction of 80 houses and five flats including roads/footpaths with associated parking/landscaping and new access onto Jubilee Avenue. Mrs Anne Sloan. Case Officer: James Bennett – N/12/0002

Decisions

Park Gate

18 Painswick Close, Sarisbury Green. Erection of first floor side and rear extensions and conversion of the garage to a habitable room. Mr A Few. Withdrawn – P/12/0189/FP

Sarisbury

Glen Acres, Holly Hill Lane. Fell 1 no. Beech and 2 no. Hornbeam trees covered by FTPO 227. Mr Damien Kenning. Approve – P/12/0115/TO

Brooklands House, Bridge Road. Retention of retaining walls in garden and erection of new pergoda/colonnade (affecting the setting of a listed building). Mr Brian Campbell. Approve – P/12/0200/FP

3 Dickens Drive, Whiteley. Erection of two storey rear extension. Mr and Mrs D Heath. Approve – P/12/0249/FP

Titchfield Common

6 Oaklands Gardens, Fareham. Extension of front monopitched dormer, erection of rear monopitched dormer and alterations to windows. Mr Melvyn Colson. Approve – P/12/0169/FP

1 Trevose Way, Fareham. Erection of single storey side extension. Mr James Sprack. Approve – P/12/0221/FP

A coroner ruled that Harvey Ashworth, of Fleet End Road, died in his sleep of natural causes while staying at Syvotia resort in Thesprotia on July 18 last year.

He was on holiday with his father Luke Ashworth and step mother Georgia.

His step mother discovered Harvey dead in his bed when she went to wake him on the first day of the two-week holiday.

The inquest in Portsmouth heard Harvey had suffered panic attacks since a young age, which doctors put down to “separation and anxiety” after his mother, Trisha Griffin, and father divorced.

Harvey developed facial twinges and as he grew up he began to have fits in his sleep. He would often find it difficult to breathe during the panic attacks for three to five seconds and on extreme occasions he was unable to breathe for 15 to 45 seconds at a time.

His parents helped him with relaxation techniques during these attacks.

The court heard Harvey was fine during the plane journey to Greece, but while travelling to the resort by coach he suffered two “mild” panic attacks.

Mr Ashworth said Harvey had been excited about the annual holiday.

“He was always very excited because it was an active holiday,” he said. “On the plane he was falling about laughing. He put his hand on the back of my head and said I love you dad.”

But on the 90 minute coach journey, Harvey suffered two mild attacks.

Mr Ashworth said: “I’d seen some of the extreme ones, but this was a mild one. They were cope-able ones – I didn’t think we were in an extreme situation.”

Harvey was staying in an adjoining room to the couple. Mr Ashworth described the moment his wife found Harvey.

“I heard an ear-piercing scream,” Mr Ashworth added. “All I remember was looking at his front. He was grey.

Mr Ashworth tried to resuscitate his son and paramedics used a defibrillator when they arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post mortem examination could not find a cause of death.

Coroner David Horsley said: “Everything seems to point to a death due to natural causes. It’s very difficult to understand because Harvey seemed to be a very healthy boy apart from these problems with panic attacks.”

The coroner expresses his condolences to the family members who attended the inquest and recorded a verdict that Harvey died of natural causes.

Kevin Bevis, Amy Bevis, Charlie Black and Chloe-Anne Blackman are Walking for William

Amy Bevis and Richard Fraser organised Walking for William in memory of the tot who died from pneumococcal meningitis – an aggressive form of the brain bug.

They hope to raise awareness of the disease and cash for Meningitis UK’s Trust Your Instincts campaign with a seven-mile walk from Warsash to Hamble on May 19.

They hope people will join them on the day starting at the car park by Thornton Avenue with their children – Amy’s daughter Chloe-Ann Blackman, 11, and nine-year-old son Charlie Blackman, as well as Richard’s son Charlie, aged seven. Amy’s dad Kevin will also join the walk.

Amy, 25, urged anyone to get involved or to donate for the cause. “I’m hoping there will be a lot of people,” she said. “The more the merrier – it’s open to everybody

“It’s something that we will do every year. It brings awareness and helps to raise as much money to fund research to hopefully eradicate meningitis.”

As reported in the Gazette, when one-week-old William would not feed and had trouble breathing, Amy and Richard, 28, instinctively knew something was wrong.

The couple desperately tried to get help after midwives and doctors attended their family home in Weybridge Close and could not find anything wrong with William.

After numerous phone calls, William was eventually taken to Southampton General Hospital for treatment. He suffered seizures and lost the use of all his limbs, his sight and hearing.

William Fraser at three days old

Amy and Richard decided made the decision to switch off William’s ventilator and take him to the family home where he passed away on November 21, last year.

The pair donated his heart valves to Oxford University Hospital, which saved the lives of two other children. But the couple hope that their experience and fundraising will go on to help more families suffering a similar ordeal.

Amy added: “In a little area like this you don’t expect something like this to happen and when it does it stifles you and you want to make more people aware of it.

“I can’t bring William back but we’re hoping we can do a lot to help others and try to change the procedures of what happens when you phone up your surgery and if they tell you not to worry, trust your instincts and go on and take your child to hospital.”

T-shirts will be sold for £4 each on the day for anyone to get involved. There will also be a disco and raffle event in the evening at the Salterns Working Men’s Club in Warsash with tickets costing £3 for adults and £2.50 for children.

The pair will also be at an opening day for Asquith Day Nursery in Church Road, Warsash on June 9 at 1pm. The event is free for anyone to attend and donations to the charity will be welcomed.

Meningitis UK founder Steve Dayman will be attending both events and will be giving a talk on the charity at the new nursery event.

For sponsorship forms for the walk contact Amy on amzbevois@hotmail.co.uk

To sponsor on the William tribute website click here.

Paralympic swimmer Chloe Davies

Chloe Davies will not only be attending the London 2012 Paralympic games, she will be greeting guests at the primary school fayre in Southampton Road on July 7.

The Friends of Titchfield Primary School have organised the annual family fun event where there will be birds of prey on display from ‘Regal Raptors’ – with the chance to hold one.

There will also be lots of stalls, a barbecue, beer tent, cream teas, games, bouncy castle, face paints, sumo suits and the school’s steel pan band ‘Pans Ablaze’.

To round off the afternoon, the children will get to vote for the teachers they wish to see get gunged.

Ness Curtis, chair of the organising group, said it will be a honour to have the British record holder for 100m backstroke at the event, adding: “We’re having an Olympic theme, so for Chloe to be there will be a really great inspiration for all the children to see dreams can come true if they work hard.

“Chloe will enhance the day and make it special.”

Admission costs £1 for adults and children go free. Free parking is available at the Titchfield Community Centre car park. The event, which is sponsored by SBK Proprty Consultants, is from 12pm to 3.30pm.