Hampshirecounty

The family of murdered student Henry Nowak have called for changes to knife laws to improve police understanding of ceremonial blades. Henry's father, Mark Nowak, is pushing for improved legislation on religious and ceremonial knives, particularly the Sikh kirpan, to help police distinguish between permitted religious items and illegal weapons. An ITV broadcast revealed the family felt 'manipulated' by police, with Henry's stepmother Katie saying they were 'failed multiple times'. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she had not 'taken any options off the table' regarding clarity on the legal definition of the kirpan.

Two 16-year-olds from Southampton have been charged after five boys were stabbed at a supervised Halloween party in Chandler's Ford on 31 October. One teenager faces a charge of attempted murder and the other wounding with intent. Four of the five injured boys have been discharged from hospital, but one remains in a serious condition.

Families of men who served in the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG), a Second World War special forces unit known as the 'Ghost Patrol', have launched a £150,000 appeal to create a permanent memorial. The appeal follows the death in August of Jack Mann, aged 100, the last surviving veteran. The LRDG was formed in Cairo in 1940 and operated behind enemy lines across North Africa and later the Mediterranean, gathering intelligence and conducting raids. Fifty-one LRDG men died during the war and at least 182 were captured.

Five teenagers were stabbed at a supervised Halloween party in Chandler's Ford on Saturday night after an unknown group gained entry over a garden fence. One boy, 17, remains in hospital in serious condition; four others have been discharged. Six arrests have been made.

Brian Holland, a Royal Air Force veteran in Littlehampton, has regained confidence and independence thanks to an assistance dog named Marine, provided by Hampshire-based charity Hounds for Heroes. Holland retired early from the RAF due to an incident and deteriorated with age before approaching the charity, which supplied him with Marine the following year. Holland says the dog has transformed his life, allowing him to go out alone and helping with everyday tasks.

An East Hampshire artist, a Farnham UCA graduate, is creating festive window art displays on local high streets. The artist is putting herself in the shop window as part of the effort to bring seasonal magic to the area.

The Rural Life Living Museum in Tilford has opened a new learning space. The facility provides dedicated areas for the thousands of schoolchildren and families who visit the museum each year.

The Bordon Herald reports that a suspected scammer from Farnham has been accused of defrauding the Post Office out of £103,000 during a seven-week period.

Nora Pearce-Roberts, from Bedford, was found unresponsive at her grandparents' home in Broughton on February 8, 2025. An inquest at Winchester Coroner's Court on October 29 ruled her death sudden and unexpected. The coroner said she had been a healthy, well-grown child full of life.

Andover Advertiser reports that Edith Robert, founder of Edith Robert Botanical, has received a £750 Business Incentive Grant from Test Valley Borough Council to support her new flower business. She grows and sells cut flowers and plants at local markets including Second Sundays and at the Hawk Conservancy Trust. Robert plans to expand the business with new products such as resin ornaments and jewellery made from dried flowers.

Paultons Park, home to Peppa Pig World, will transform into a Christmas wonderland from Saturday, December 5, 2026, to Sunday, January 3, 2027. The event, A Celebration of Christmas, recently won Best Christmas Event at the UK Theme Park Awards. The park will offer more rides open than any other major theme park during the festive period, with twinkling lights, animatronic characters, and Santa's Grotto experiences.

The King's Royal Rifle Corps War Memorial in Winchester's Cathedral Close, unveiled in 1922 and designed by sculptor John Tweed, features a bronze rifleman in an unusually relaxed pose. The figure's relaxed stance surprised observers at the time, with the general who unveiled it reportedly expecting a soldier standing to attention. The nickname 'Sloppy Joe' emerged from this more modern posture, and cathedral staff have reportedly used the statue to warn recruits about maintaining proper military bearing.

Basingstoke Business Week will run from November 9 to 13, 2026, under the theme 'Skills for the Future'. A senior government representative will be among speakers representing leaders from AWE, Farnborough Airport, the University of Reading and other organisations in defence, aviation, manufacturing, artificial intelligence and education. Luke Murphy, MP for Basingstoke, said the event offers opportunities for business leaders, employees and job seekers to connect and upskill.

The Andover Advertiser publishes an account from a nurse who escorted a convict patient home following surgery. The nurse was asked to accompany the man by wheelchair and taxi to his flat in East London, where she encountered poor living conditions including a broken toilet and litter.

Local newspapers in Hampshire and Andover are publishing First Class specials celebrating children starting reception. The supplements, featuring photographs of local pupils in their uniforms meeting new friends and settling into school, will appear in the Hampshire Chronicle and Romsey Advertiser on 5 and 6 November, and in the Andover Advertiser on 6 November. Digital editions are also available.

A former nurse has shared memories of her time working in healthcare, including experiences in community nursing, maternity units and as a carer in nursing homes, to inspire others to pursue careers in the NHS. She describes supporting doctors under stress, encountering a newborn baby during maternity training, and volunteering with ambulance crews. The former nurse also recalls her own experiences as a patient receiving transport to hospital.

Plans for 99 affordable homes at Basingstoke's former Camrose football ground propose 124 parking spaces, or 1.25 per property. A local councillor has raised concerns about the ratio, questioning whether 'inner urban' parking standards should apply to a site outside Basingstoke's ring road. The developer's planning statement says the proposed spaces meet inner urban requirements and are consistent with previous approvals for the site.

Mick Cook from Winchester, 70, has worked in demolition for 35 years and continues on site despite his age. His career has included major projects at Heathrow Airport and the Tate Modern, as well as supermarket strip-outs. Cook said he plans to work for another six months before considering retirement, and noted that his son has also entered the industry to join him on jobs.

Seven Hampshire destinations have been named among the UK's best places to live in 2027 by lifestyle website Muddy Stilettos in its guide featuring 260 locations. The selections include Alresford, a Georgian town on the edge of the South Downs National Park known for pastel houses and riverside walks, Alton, an East Hampshire market town with direct trains to London, and Andover, Hampshire's largest Test Valley town, which is undergoing a town-centre makeover.

A rowing challenge held on 28 August in memory of Winchester businessman Liam O'Sullivan, who died suddenly from acute cardiac failure aged 43, has raised more than £5,000. Staff at his company, GH Property Management Services Limited, completed a 100-mile rowing challenge to celebrate his life. The money will fund a defibrillator for the business park where the company is based, with remaining funds going to Diabetes UK and St Francis, causes close to O'Sullivan's heart.

A new digital radio station dedicated to Christmas music is launching in Andover on Monday, November 9. Andover Radio Christmas will broadcast festive favourites around the clock, with a mix of classics, party anthems and seasonal hits. Ben Tuffin, director of Andover Radio, said the station gives listeners the choice of when to start their Christmas music, adding that the main Andover Radio service will continue normally with Christmas songs joining the playlist from 1 December.

Around 30 per cent of jobs in Hampshire and the Solent could be transformed by artificial intelligence, according to research from the University of Southampton presented on 5 November. Roles in finance, professional services, ICT and public administration face the greatest changes, while construction, hospitality and care are less affected. About 55,000 workers—five per cent of the regional workforce—could see large portions of their duties taken over by AI, disproportionately affecting women, part-time employees and mid-career workers.

Calvin Bailey MBE, Minister for Veterans and People, visited Frimley Park Hospital to recognise military healthcare staff embedded through the Joint Hospital Group, which places defence personnel in five UK hospitals to work with NHS teams. The visit, ahead of Remembrance Weekend, was joined by Aldershot and Farnborough MP Alex Baker. Mr Bailey said the personnel make 'a real difference every day' whilst maintaining the skills Defence requires.

Winchester City Council is progressing long-standing plans to redevelop St Peter's Car Park in the city centre as an affordable housing scheme. The council plans to build 40 flats and four houses on the site, more than the 30 homes originally earmarked in the Local Plan. The scheme is part of the council's New Homes Programme to increase affordable housing supply across the district.