Worcester News, Worcester Sport, Worcester Leisure - From The Worcester News

Worcestershire | Archive | 2003 | March

Stories for 14 March 2003

Leisure

Local talent

THE annual Herefordshire County Drama Festival is back. more...

The best from top shows

SONGS and dances from four of the most popular West End shows will be performed by school pupils. more...

Classic tragedy gets the modern treatment

AN actress who once close to hitting the big time comes to Malvern Theatres to portray the tragic heroine in the Duchess of Malfi. more...

Award winning film

THE Magdalene Sisters (15), which won the Golden Lion at last year's Venice Film Festival, comes to Malvern Cinema for a week from tonight (Friday). more...

Producer's life

THE acclaimed documentary The Kid Stays In The Picture (15) is showing at Malvern Cinema for a week from tonight (Friday). more...

A STUNNING ensemble cast, including Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert and Emmanuelle Beart, appears in 8 Women (15), one of the most acclaimed of recent French films, described as a tour de force of wit and wisdom. more...

Ledbury venue joins the line-up for film festival

THE Market Theatre in Ledbury is one of 18 venues taking part in the Borderlines Film Festival. more...

Win tickets to Big Bikes at Malvern show

Big Bikes at Malvern is "the" modern big bike festival with a difference. more...

Win tickets to Bike Live show

Bike Live is the all action event aimed directly at the heart of motorcycling. It will satisfy the most enthusiastic bike fans while also appealing to newcomers and the rest of the family too on May 10 and 11. more...

Top jazz band set for gig

ONE of Europe's most successful traditional jazz bandleaders is coming to Tewkesbury. more...

Bands due at Marrs

THE Marrs Bar in Worcester, will be holding its St Patrick's Day celebration tomorrow (Saturday) with I've Just Seen Roger. more...

Abbey Jazz line-up

ABBEY Jazz will be playing again at Malvern Rugby Club on Sunday, when double-bass player Len Thwaites will be joined by Tony Pipkin (trumpet), Mike Burney (saxes/flute/clarinet), Roger Heeley (piano) and Malcolm Garrett (drums). The music starts at 8pm. more...

Clive's gig at hotel

SINGER-songwriter Clive John is performing at the Malvern Hills Hotel, opposite British Camp, on Monday. more...

ESO hosts youth course

YOUNGSTERS keen to improve their orchestral abilities are being invited to join a weekend course hosted by the English Symphony Orchestra. more...

Latin rhythms to rock venue

ITALIAN rock music will be shaking the foundations of Malvern Youth Centre on Friday, March 21. more...

Elvis tribute

A TRIBUTE artist who won a nationally televised "Search for Elvis" competition is to star at Malvern Theatres. more...

Eroica performed at classic concert

PIANIST Martino Tirimo lines up with the English Symphony Orchestra for the second concert in its New Look spring series. more...

Passion in the music for jazz singer

ONE of the UK's leading jazz vocalists, Clare Teal, will be singing at Malvern Theatres later this month. more...

All the latest movies and where to catch them

CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND (15) more...

Young dancers put through their paces

YOUNG dancers from all over the area converged on a Malvern school to show off their moves. more...

Baking workshop

A HANDS-ON baking workshop with top chef Dan Lepard is on offer in Wellington Heath. more...

God's creations

AN exhibition of new work by Droitwich artist Ann Thistlethwaite has gone on show. more...

Experience Tudor period

A CHANCE to take a trip back in time and see what life was like inside a real 16th Century shop is being offered in Tewkesbury. more...

Art is displayed

PUPILS from sixth-form colleges in and around Malvern are preparing to exhibit their artwork. more...

Festival is a success

THE Elms School in Colwall became a hotbed of fun and creativity at the weekend when it hosted a festival of the arts. more...

Club's display

FLOWERS, animals and other images rendered in cross-stitch by members of Malvern Cross-Stitch Club have gone on display at Upton-upon-Severn Library. more...

Weekend of events will celebrate poets

A POET'S work is due for a timely reappraisal, thanks to a special lecture and reading organised by the Friends of the Dymock Poets. more...

Debut novel seen as next Harry Potter

A DEBUT novel by a former Ledbury schoolboy is tipped to follow in the footsteps of the Harry Potter phenomenon. more...

Water, water everywhere!

ONE of the things which makes this walk so enjoyable is water: it's everywhere, and that means lots of birds. more...

News

Joy as county festival is great success

THE second annual Herefordshire and Worcestershire Business Festival has exceeded all expectations. more...

Company has double reason to celebrate

THE winner of the Community Business of the Year category in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Business Festival Awards has a double reason to celebrate. more...

Firm's offering service that is really needed

FORWARD planning is the key to success, according to the winner of the Business Start-Up category in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Business Festival Awards. more...

And the winners were...

Best Service Company, sponsored by Hewett Recruitment - Rabjohns Business and Tax Advisers, Worcester. more...

Joy as county festival is great success

THE second annual Herefordshire and Worcestershire Business Festival has exceeded all expectations. more...

Can you cut it with credit?

YOUNG people today would rather go into the red than do without designer jeans and nights on the town. more...

Pair's devotion pays off

A COUPLE who have devoted their lives to a Malvern church have it to thank for their golden wedding. more...

Cards swipe benefit books

A HI-TECH scheme to revolutionise the way residents collect benefits is being rolled out at Droitwich Spa Post Office. more...

Perhaps he went to a different theatre....

PETER Luff MP is quite right to take John Phillpott to task over his description of the Swan Theatre as "a cash devouring monolith of self-indulgence masquerading as a temple of high art". more...

Thanks for your letter about The Swan, Mr Luff. Now give us your views on war

I MUST congratulate Peter Luff, my MP, for his letter in the Evening News regarding the Swan Theatre and who's to blame for its demise. more...

Will the councillor give cash to charity?

CONGRATULATIONS to Councillor Tom Wells for having the courage of his convictions by voting against the above-inflation pay rise that Malvern Hills Councillors have just awarded themselves. more...

Post office closures hitting the elderly

TONY Blair's Government is continuing with the closures of local post offices. more...

War on the innocents

HOW many people who demonstrated against war with Iraq have experienced war?" said F C Claxton (You Say, Monday, March 3). more...

The bottom line

WHAT to do in the event of a terrorist gas or biological attack? more...

Bright, early

IT was reported last week that US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld gets up at 5.30am to read intelligence reports. more...

Fighting fund

THERE'S no money in the public kitty for Worcestershire Royal Hospital's urgent upgrades but the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced lots of pennies for the war. more...

Thought for the Week

OUR world trade and economic systems are violent. Those with no power are mercilessly exploited. more...

Opinion

LITTER seems to be a fact of life and yet it is one of the few ways in which everyone can, easily and at no cost, improve their environment. more...

Clumsy stairs

I WRITE in support of the excellent letter from Derek Phillips (Your Letters, March 7) about the destruction of the Market House. If the disabled must have access to the upper storey the interior lift will give it them. The clumsy exterior staircase is of no use to them, so what is it for? more...

Probation office shuts

THE probation office in Evesham is to close by the end of the month - but the head of services says he hopes it is only a temporary measure. more...

No to change

It seems irresponsible to adapt in any way one of Ledbury's most beautiful and distinctive buildings. more...

Horse sense

I WOULD like to voice my opposition to Government plans to introduce "passports" for the UK's 850,000 horses. These proposals would see the creation of an identity scheme for all equine animals in the country and is yet enough another example of worthless central government bureaucracy. more...

Store welcome

I AM sure I speak for many when I say that I would like to see the proposed Countrywide store opened in Worcester Road, Malvern Link. more...

Form should be amended

I HAVE always found the treasurer's department of the district council courteous and efficient but I am sure they would not wish to be above criticism. more...

Litter is national disease

WHILST recently taking the by-pass route to the new hospital, I was appalled at the never-ending line of litter on the grass verges, that did not peter out until I turned for Spetchley. more...

A splash of red

I READ with interest Tom Wells observations and criticism regarding the pace of road repairs (Malvern Gazette, February 28). more...

Work together

I AM a frequent user of the Malvern Library and at one time made use of the computer help provided there by LearnDirect. more...

Radical solution

WITH response to the lack of suitable space for the relocation of the Court Road and Avenue Road surgeries in Barnards Green, may I suggest that MHDC be bold and plan for a radical development in the Green. more...

Welcome to stay

WITH regard to Mr Ridley's comment in the Malvern Gazette (February 28) that he would have been happy to stay in the meeting but had been ushered out by council officers, may I take this opportunity to correct the suggestion that he had been ushered out. more...

No GPs in centre

IT has been announced by the Primary Care Trust (PCT) that following a proposed new development relating to the Malvern Health Centre and Court Road Surgery, a public consultation exercise will be held at Priory Lodge Hall on Monday (March 17) at 2.30pm and 6.30pm. more...

Plan welcomed

BROOKLYN Garage is an ugly, split-level sprawl and has a detrimental effect, not only on this Conservation Area but on the 100-year-old residential area. more...

Marina plan needs work

THERE are two related aspect to Walton Marine Sales Ltd's proposed development. The first is a doubling of the capacity of Upton Marina by excavation in an adjacent riverside field. The second is the building of a "Holiday Village". more...

Actor thanked for support

ON behalf of Compassion in World Farming, I would like to thank the many people of Malvern who, despite the very cold, wet and windy day (Saturday), took time to sign our petitions against the live animal export trade, and other major concerns regarding animal welfare. The amount raised was £213.27. more...

Unveiling designs

KEITH Southall will be talking about garden design at the next meeting of Upton-upon-Severn Garden Club on Thursday, March 27. All are welcome to the meeting, which is at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall, Old Street. more...

Date set for litter pick

HANLEY Castle's Parish Litter Collection Day is on Saturday, March 29. Anyone wanting to help is asked to meet at 10am at Hanley Swan Village Green or Hanley Castle, outside the Three Kings. The day is being organised by Hanley Castle Parish Council. more...

Council's last meeting

THE next meeting of Hanley Castle Parish Council is on Thursday, March 20, at Hanley Castle High School. The meeting starts at 7.30pm and is the last before the elections in May. Anyone interested in standing for election should contact the clerk, Ann Canham, on 01684 310336. more...

Growing interest

A GARDENERS' Market will be held at Upton Church Room tomorrow (Saturday), from 9.30am to 1pm. A variety of unusual and traditional plants will be on sale. Admission is free. more...

Join them for coffee

A COFFEE morning is being held by the Friends of Beechwood next week-end. The event takes place on Saturday, March 22, at Beechwood, from 10.30am to noon. Proceeds from the event, which will feature a raffle, cake stall, tombola and white elephant stall, will go towards the care of residents. more...

Chance to quit

A QUIT smoking group is being held in Upton next week, just after national No Smoking Day. more...

Bones found

POLICE were alerted after people in Upton came across what they thought were human bones. more...

Quiz for band

A FUNDRAISING quiz night is being held at Upton Sports Pavilion on behalf of Upton Youth Band. more...

Local wine is sent to France

WINE from Tiltridge Vineyard in Upton will grace French tables as part of a promotion of British food and drink. more...

Lent talks

A SERIES of Lent talks at the Lechmere Chapel of St Mary's Church, Hanley Castle, continues with Praying with the Scriptures. more...

Thanks go to Cadets

A COFFEE morning will be held by members of Upton Royal British Legion to say thank you to the town's Army Cadets. more...

Birthday for branch

THE Upton branch of Macmillan Cancer Relief celebrated its tenth anniversary this week. more...

Season starts with a bang . . .

CLAY pigeons will soon start flying, and exploding, in the skies near Upton. more...

Record numbers make way to town

A RECORD number of people visited Upton's tourist information centre in the first two months of the year. more...

Tell us how you'll mark Red Nose Day

ARE you taking part in Comic Relief Red Nose Day on Friday, March 14? We, at the Worcester Evening News, want to cover as many local events as possible, so let us know what you'll be up to by emailing: wenedit@thisisworcester, or writing to: Comic Relief Activities, Evening News, Hylton Road, Worcester, WR2 5JX. more...

Scouts 'pick' Nose for charity

CHRIS Tarrant and The Scout Association have joined forces to encourage millions of ex-Scouts to help raise thousands of pounds towards Red Nose Day 2003 by joining the new website www.scoutsreunited.co.uk more...

Comic Relief crazy

STAFF at Evesham and Pershore Housing Association got into the spirit of Red Nose Day on Friday by donning their red noses and coming into work with mad hair. more...

It's all red-iculous

FACE-pulling, head-shaving, leg-waxing and eating 35 litres of ice cream are on the menu for thousands of people as the two counties goes crazy with fun and comic capers for Red Nose Day. more...

Ready for fresh night of laughter

IT doesn't seem two years since we last anticipated a night of Comic Relief fun. more...

West Malvern CORRESPONDENT Colin Jackson Tel: 01684 577604

The `General Election' for West Malvern Parish Council will take place (along with a few other local elections!) on Thursday May 1. It would be a healthy sign for our local democracy if there were more candidates than the seven places available to ensure a contested election and so a choice for residents. It is by no means certain that all the current councillors will stand again, so there is a real opportunity for fresh blood! Time is short, as nominations have to be lodged by April 1. For details, ring parish clerk David Sharp on 01684 573213. more...

WELLINGTON HEATH Correspondent: Mrs P Jacobs Tel: 01531634941

The hall management committee will be meeting on March 31 and not on April 7 as previous arranged. more...

Welland CORRESPONDENT Stephen Try Tel: 01684 310068

EFFORTS by the Friends of Welland (formerly Jubilee Committee) to repair the school bell were at last finished and the presentation, together with it's blessing by the Vicar, Rev Frances Wookey, took place last Tuesday afternoon. Despite the cold afternoon, children, teachers and various parents (and members of the Friends of Welland) were able to brave the elements to witness the school bell being rung again by the youngest and eldest pupil that we have in our village. In fact, the consensus of opinion is that it had not been heard for around 80 years! Now it can be heard daily at 9am at the start the school day and again at the end of the day. more...

STAUNTON Correspondent: Mrs U Groves-Smith Tel: 01452 840273

WITH a staggering 52 points, Wendy Fowler swept the board to win the Darley Cup for the WI member gaining the most points overall at Staunton & District WI's 33rd annual spring show. Anne Vaughan Davis was awarded the Ursula Groves-Smith Cup for the best in show with her flora art exhibit depicting Easter. All the judges were unanimous in their praise at the high standard of the entries in every class, which made the judging harder, though pleasurable. more...

PAUNTLEY Correspondent: Mrs S Martin Tel: 01684 562714

ON Sunday in St John the Evangelist Church, Pauntley, the parish communion will be at 11am with the Rev Michael Ward. Looking ahead to Easter Day and the traditional lilies, Mrs Anne Solesbury (Newent 820230) would be pleased to hear from anyone who would like to donate towards the lilies. This could be in memory of a loved one or as an Easter gift to the church. more...

OXENHALL Correspondent: Mrs S Martin Tel: 01684 562714

ON Tuesday at 7.30pm in the parish hall, two important meetings in the life of St Anne's Church will be held. These are the annual parish and the annual parochial church meetings. All parishioners interested in the affairs of the church are very welcome. On this evening a new Parochial Church Council will be formed. The annual accounts and reports will be presented and future projects will be discussed. more...

COLWALL Correspondent: Mrs P Hockett Tel: 01684 564872

HE next session of Young Colwall Players begins on Saturday, March 22 at 10am in the Jean Simon Room at the village hall. more...

CASTLEMORTON Correspondent: Mrs R Bolton Tel: 01684 833287

THIS month everyone attending the Castlemorton Gardening Club lecture will have a special treat. No worrying about planting seeds, pruning, slugs or snails, we shall just sit back and enjoy the fruits of someone else's labours. We are delighted to welcome Judy Berrow, who is the Worcestershire organiser of the National Gardens Scheme. She will be talking about Private Gardens for Public Enjoyment. So come along and plan your summer outings to these wonderful gardens. The lecture starts at 7.45pm on Thursday, March 20 in Castlemorton Parish Hall. Visitors are welcome. more...

BERROW Correspondent: Mrs R Bolton Tel: 01684 833287

A TREMENDOUS effort by Janet and her helpers raised the fantastic amount of £500 during the jumble sale for the County Air Ambulance during last Saturday afternoon at Berrow Village Hall. A big thank you to everyone who supported this worthwhile charity event with help, jumble, cakes and raffle prizes. more...

Jamie's a big Comic day pull

FACE-pulling, head-shaving, leg-waxing and eating 35 litres of ice cream are on the menu for thousands of people as the two counties goes crazy with fun and comic capers for Red Nose Day. more...

Collect a copy

RESIDENTS who have not received the latest edition of The Wychavon Magazine can collect a copy from the district council's One-Stop-Shops in Droitwich, Pershore and Evesham. more...

Funeral of care home owner

A HORSE-drawn hearse led a funeral procession through the streets of Worcester yesterday. more...

Decision on flood defence scheme met with jubilation

JUBILANT campaigners broke open the champagne to celebrate the Government's decision to fund a flood defence scheme for a Worcester's Hylton Road. more...

Anger over parcels for the troops

FRIENDS and relatives of soldiers who have gone out to the Middle East are being overcharged to send them parcels of treats, it has been claimed. more...

Man facing raid charges

A 33-year-old man has been charged with four counts of robbery following a series of incidents in the last three weeks. more...

Alert to county drivers as work on roads goes on

ROADWORKS along a major road look set to continue frustrating commuters. more...

Tax set at seven times the rate of inflation

HEREFORDSHIRE'S council tax has been set at seven times the rate of inflation. more...

There's always plenty on the menu at this city school

A WHOLE new world of school dinners has opened up at a Worcester special school since members of the sixth form started cooking. more...

Bus service blast by council chiefs

FED-UP council chiefs have asked the Department of Transport to investigate "totally unacceptable" bus services in Wyre Forest. more...

Generous Crook's kind gift

A GENEROUS jeweller has proved "the world is not full of bad people". more...

Police urge vigilance to deter frauds

HOUSEHOLDERS are being urged to put chains on their doors and to challenge callers for official identification before allowing them in to their homes. more...

Jobs to be axed at BT

WORKERS at Hereford's BT call centre, facing closure next year, received a further blow last week with the announcement the company was moving some of its work to India. more...

Battle for walk in Bill's memory

THE widow of a Powick rambler who spent years fighting to get a riverside walk for the parish is now hoping it will become her husband's memorial. more...

Doc `still waiting for reply to letter'

A CONSULTANT who wrote to Worcestershire's health chiefs 16 months ago about problems in the county's hospitals says he is still waiting for a reply. more...

`Fantasist' set fire to flat

A man who started a fire in a block of flats in Malvern has been termed "a manipulative fantasist" by a judge and jailed for four years. more...

MAFF more worried about the headlines

A REPORT analysing the Government's handling of the foot-and-mouth crisis has not provided any new answers, according to a Worcestershire farmer. more...

Samurai threat at loud party

A DROITWICH man threatened a neighbour with a Samurai sword after becoming incensed by the noise coming from a St Valentine's party she was hosting. more...

Henry hands out expert advice

PEOPLE eager to have their treasures valued by Worcester's own antiques experts packed out the Guildhall last night. more...

Business festival: Electricity firm sparks success

THE most outstanding businesses in and Worcestershire and Herefordshire have been honoured at a glittering awards ceremony. more...

Man, 24, kicked staff nurse

A MAN turned from a "mouse into a lion" when he kicked a staff nurse in the chest after taking too much medication. more...

Police name dead crash victim

POLICE have named the man killed in a road accident in Claines on Wednesday. more...

And mum comes too !!

A man celebrating his golden wedding anniversary will be accompanied by his 95-year-mother. more...

Lorry driver tells of loud explosion

A LORRY driver has told of "a white flash and a really loud explosion" when a stolen car driven by a 14-year-old smashed into his vehicle. more...

Jim's Best Mate's a marvel!

WORCESTERSHIRE'S favourite racehorse galloped into Gold Cup folklore with an emphatic victory at Cheltenham yesterday. more...