19/05/2014 South Today

is it too early to talk about the World Cup? Never too early. Today

the England squad went on the plane to Portugal. First cricket news.

Hampshire have announced the signing of batsman Owais Shah on a

short`term deal.The 35`year`old who's played 94 times for England

announced his retirement from first class cricket at the end of last

season, but has been brought in to boost the batting ranks with Michael

Carberry on international duty and Glenn Maxwell still playing in the

Indian Premier League. He'll make his debut against Sussex at Hove on

Friday. Meanwhile, on Day Two of their County Championship match

against Leicestershire at Grace Road... Hampshire added just eleven

runs to their overnight score, all out for 332. Leicestershire 292 for

nine in reply. Southampton captain Adam Lallana has reiterated that he

won't be distracted by speculation about his future whilst on

international duty. Lallana joined up with the rest of the England

squad before flying out to Portugal today for the start of world cup

preparation. Speculation over Lallana's future and that of

team`mate Luke Shaw has been much publicised since the end of the

season. But Lallana says he'll be fully focussed on representing his

country. It is easy for me to keep focused on the job in hand. It is

the World Cup, it is what kids dream of surveyors no chance of my being

taken off the ball. AFC Bournemouth defender Steve

Purches has announced his retirement after a 14 year playing career. Just

one year ago up from primary school finished rank last in the Hampshire

schools football cup without winning a single game, but now with the same

team, they've not only won a game, they've become county champions and

regional champions and this weekend will take part in a National Final!

Earlier today I went to meet the team. They are the schoolchildren

with the bounce back ability. Without a win last time round, the

roll call of 2014 now can't stop winning. Alistair, midfield. Sienna,

defender. Melick, Midfield. Thomas, defence. Paul, forward. Tom,

midfielder. Thomas, defender. Oliver, defender. George,

goalkeeper. Upham primary school booked their place in the national

finals with a dramatic last`minute goal in the regionals. Teachers have

dubbed them, the team that never give up. They have been training a

lot, every break time, lunchtime and every opportunity they get to play

football, they are playing football. What is lovely are the younger

children have been inspired by it. They have been joining in and

helping them to practice as well. Aged between nine and 11, they play

seven aside on smaller pitches with smaller goals. The dreams of winning

however, they are still as big. I like the buzz of excitement you get

before and after the matches even if you lose. Upham will now travel to

Aston Villa's training ground to compete against seven other schools

from across the country and they are hoping the winning run continues.

Good luck to everyone there. They have a great team and all of the

parents are going up on a coach. A real Phoenix from the flames story.

Good luck for the weekend. The world's greatest flower show got

underway today at Chelsea and the weather has certainly matched the

occasion. The South's horticulturists generally take

centre stage at the Show, and this year is no exception. Briony Leyland

has spent the day there and has been meeting some of the home`grown

talent at the show and joins us live now. This is one of the high`profile

show gardens here at Chelsea. It is called no man's land, inspired by

the landscape of France and how it was damaged in the First World War.

It draws parallels to the human experiences of some. It is a

thought`provoking design that is a popular theme at this year 's

Chelsea. Music macro. A new part bringing the history to life in

Chelsea. Michael Turner created his warhorse from stainless steel. His

local nursery worked with him to tell a wartime story through

planting. The horses coming through the trenches, he has been at war

coming from the dark side with moody colours and plans and taking him

through to the light and heading back to his home farm, hence the

nice flowers on the other side. This is a first for me. A fish out of

water. It is very exciting to see the sort of people of all walks of

life being able to see my horse. After a bitter and drawn`out winter

last year, this year has been milder and kinder to South 's growers. It

has been called the great Springer show. Last year was a nightmare. The

weather was dull and cold. This year it has been easier and we have not

had to move plans in and force them on, they have come unnaturally which

makes our life much easier. Chelsea always holds surprises exhibiting a

compost heap may seem like a risk, but a lot of thought has gone into

this. It shows how paper is made and how paper cuts `` Cubs can be

compost it into cups. I cannot begin to tell you, I have worked every

single day on this garden for the past eight months, just nonstop. It

has turned out well. Not a leaf must be out of place at Chelsea.

Attention to detail has made the team behind this garden look like it

has been here three years. Alison Hamilton has been scouring the

county for vintage props. We have paid so much money for these that

people walking by and saying why is she doing that? It is called the

Chelsea flower show, it is the details like that which make it

convincing. I show to entertain, stimulate and amaze. Every year

Chelsea finds new ways to turn heads. We brought you to a little

piece of the Isle of Wight at Chelsea. This is Alan tip marches

garden partly inspired by his home on the Isle of Wight. The judges

have made their inspections and the Queen has visited. The public will

be pouring in over the next few days, now it is time for the

exhibitors from the South who have been preparing for months to sit

back a little and show off. It looks divine briny. Everything looks nice

in the sun. We have had plenty of it this weekend. There is sunshine to

come but there's a B to the change. More unsettled weather to come but

let's enjoy the sunshine we had today. Now take a look at this. Part

of a Bournemouth shopping centre had to be cordoned

hank you to Martin Perry for that shot. Adrian Turner counted seven

cygnets in this swan's nest at Goring`on`Thames And I think I'd

give way to the oncoming traffic on the Swing Bridge at Freeman's Marsh

in Hungerford. Ken Rayner sent that one in. For many this evening is a

fine and pleasant end to the day. One or two of us may have boundary

downpours particularly Western Dorset where we will see lightning.

It looks as though we will stick with thundery downpours through the

night. The showers, that rainy area working in from the South West

bringing downpours through the course of the night. Not all of us

seeing them that there will be torrential rain in parts.

Overnight, temperatures mild with lows of 13`14 degrees. We start

tomorrow with wet weather which is being driven with low pressure. It

does is offer a time but we will see more showers cropping up through the

day. A grey and damp start for many. A bit of a breather with bright

intervals and some showers in the mix in the afternoon. Temperatures

through the day up to around 18`19 degrees. If you see a good chunk is

an shine you might see those temperatures nudging up a little.

Not doing too badly, you can dodge the showers that if you see the rain

there will be downpours to come. Tomorrow evening, potentially quite

nice. Maybe some dry spells to end the day.

West murky conditions. Overnight lows down to 9`10 degrees. In the

middle of the week, we have unsettled conditions to come. There

will be heavy, thundery downpours that there are bright intervals to

be had. We are not ruling out the chance of sunshine. It will be

slightly warmer than average for this time of year. We will