Archive

WORCESTER City's reward for drubbing Bemerton Heath Harlequins 7-0 on Saturday is an FA Cup third qualifying round tie at home to in-form Tonbridge Angels. The Kent club are unbeaten this season and sit second in the Ryman League Division One after chalking

ELKIE Brooks, whose career took off after supporting The Beatles on the early 1960s, will be the star name on the bill when she plays on the first night of the Worcester Festival. Elkie who embraces rock ballads, blues and jazz, is the biggest-selling

ANDY Preece is hoping the FA Cup will take the pressure off his Worcester City players and kick-start the club's season. City must lose their mediocre league form tomorrow as lowly Bemerton Heath Harlequins arrive at St George's Lane in the second qualifying

ADAM Webster and Shabir Khan should win their fitness battle ahead of Worcester City's FA Cup clash with Bemerton Heath Harlequins on Saturday. Webster, 25, bagged City's goal in the 1-1 draw at Moor Green but was withdrawn with a sore back, while Khan

AL Pitcher will be causing a flap in the Everyman Theatre's County Bar in Cheltenham on Monday when he kicks off the first of the Comedy Nights for 2005. Credited as being New Zealand's answer to boredom, he began his career in stand-up in his native

THE Relics will take people on a trip down memory lane when they play music from the 60s and 70s in aid of Cancer Research. The four-piece will be playing at The Vine pub, Ombersley Road, Worcester on Sunday at 7.30pm. Admission is free, and there will

UNLUCKY Jai Stanley described his latest knee injury setback as a "complete nightmare." The 26-year-old Worcester City midfielder undergoes a scan on his right knee later today. It is the same knee that has twice required operations since Stanley joined

WORCESTERSHIRE returned to form in their final Twenty20 match but it was too little too late. The fact that Warwickshire qualify top of the group when we beat them twice and that Leicestershire and Derbyshire, two of the weakest teams in all competitions

THE Ordinary Boys are no ordinary act, as this year has proved. The band are now continuing a year of success that has seen them hit the top 20 in the single and album chart. They will be playing Carling Academy Birmingham, on Monday, October 11. In addition

AN up-and-coming Worcester band which is causing a stir on the music scene is looking forward to toasting a successful first year together - with the addition of a new band member. Rising stars Rainmaker formed in January, this year, after 24-year-old

ANDY Preece is facing his severest headache as Worcester City boss with five players injured for tomorrow's Midlands derby at Moor Green. Crocked quintet Jai Stanley, Nick Colley, James Smith, George Clegg and Les Hines are all out, leaving Worcester

WORCESTERSHIRE'S Twenty20 campaign is almost certainly over by now, but this particular cloud has a silver lining. Should the County not progress in the competition, the Aussies will visit New Road for a three-day fixture starting on Saturday, July 30

NEXT weekend, Worcestershire's biggest annual summer event the Three Counties Show takes place at Malvern, firing on all cylinders again at last. Now restyled by marketing moguls as the Three Counties Countryside Show, to emphasise its broadening appeal

JAI Stanley could be ruled out of Saturday's Moor Green showdown with a knee problem. The 26-year-old midfielder's right knee, which required an operation last year, was badly inflamed following Worcester City's 1-0 home defeat to Hucknall Town. He is

CHRIS Garrard is one of the stars set to play in Monday night's United match at Sixways. The winger, who has lost his place in the first team following the form of newcomer Wes Davies, will be one of a host of first teamers in the match with Oxford University

Grandmother Ivy Osgood is more determined than most to fight plans to close The Willows stroke unit - she believes it has saved her husband's life. Ivy and husband George are convinced that if he had not moved onto the ward four weeks ago today he would

THE Pirates of Penzance opens at Malvern Theatres on Wednesday. The show will be Worcester Gilbert and Sullivan Society's last production in its current guise - as the amateur dramatics group has a new name and logo which they are hoping will bring them

WES Davies has won the wing battle to start at Manchester. Worcester Rugby Club's new signing, who marked his first start with two tries against Harrogate last weekend, is again given the nod for Saturday's National One clash at Grove Park (3pm). Davies

DAVE Boddy insists victory over unknowns Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round is "vital" to Worcester City's coffers. A series of below-par attendances at St George's Lane has increased the pressure on City overcoming the Sydenhams

SUSAN Hampshire has been taking a well-deserved rest. The star of ITV's popular series Monarch of the Glen is half-way through a touring production of Alan Bennett's comedy The Lady in the Van but when panto season kicked off she had a month to recuperate

SPEAKING of the EU, it rather looks as if its romance with the British trades unions movement is on the rocks. Autumn's approaching, so that means the conference season is getting under way. The unions are worried that a pan-European state is rapidly

NEW York's Lord Bishop Rocks will be bringing their loud and proud sound all the way to Worcester's Marr's Bar in what promises to be a wild show. Lord Bishop, the front man of the trio, is a larger then life character who whips the crowd into such a

WORCESTER Rugby Club could be set for a sixth round clash with Pertemps Bees in the Powergen Cup. The two Midland sides, who occupy the top two places in National One, have been potentially drawn together for a sixth round match on November 15. The Sixways

WORCESTER City received a boost today after being drawn at home to Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the FA Cup second qualifying round. Salisbury-based Bemerton, currently 16th in the Sydenhams Wessex League Division One, travel to St George's Lane on Saturday

EVESHAM MP Peter Luff fired off an angry letter to Tony Blair after Prime Minister's question time in the Commons. Mr Luff asked the PM why proposals to decimate Evesham Community Hospital were even being considered when they were contrary to government

BALANCE distinguishes the greatest performers in all sport. Control, side-steps, passing shots, at pace and under pressure, are the hallmarks of genius. So too with cricket in batting, bowling and, as with all other team sports, greatness lies in the

IF Father Christmas failed to bring you the gifts you wanted then it is time to console yourself with the goodies the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury is set to offer. This month sees The Circus of Horrors perform 10 Years of Shock n' Roll - described as a

THANKS to the brilliant Scissor Sisters, pop music has exploded in an edgy, sexy, and tuneful commotion. The band's songs cover a variety of colourful subject matters such as coming out of the closet. Their creative sparks first ignited five years ago

MORE than 300 letters protesting at the planned cuts at Evesham Community Hospital were being posted off to the offices of health secretary Patricia Hewitt. Evesham Mayor Frances Smith and Journal editor John Murphy are enclosing covering letters, calling

THE story sprawled across our columns like a stain across the page. Even in a world where one has become used to the myriad casual cruelties of the age, there was something about this grubby little tale that lowered the faithometer by several degrees.

MALVERN based DJ Ad Lib returns to the Octagon Bar at St Ann's Well Cafe, Great Malvern tonight to deliver a selection of chilled beats & funk-soul grooves. n A night of roots and dub, old school and new DJs will be taking place against the glorious

FORMER England full-back Jon Callard will launch the North Midlands Coaching Society's winter programme with a session at Worcester's Sixways headquarters on Wednesday. Former Bath player Callard, who is now head coach at Premiership side Leeds Tykes

WERNER Swanepoel will not have to go under the knife after all. Worcester Rugby Club's skipper was booked in for an operation on what doctors initially thought was a knee cartilage problem. However, after further scans, the injury - suffered against London

ANDY Preece delivered a simple battlecry ahead of tomorrow's St George's Lane showdown with Hucknall Town -- no more mistakes! Worcester City entertain last season's FA Trophy finalists with an undesired reputation for handing too many soft goals on a

A crowd of 3,000 people gathered in the centre of Evesham on Sunday to send a message to local health chiefs. It was an unequivocal message and it was chanted over and over - No cuts, Save Our Hospital. They listened carefully as speaker after speaker

CRICKET: England Women lost by 65 runs to Australia in the second NatWest series match at Kidderminster's Chester Road North ground. Australia batted first and posted 193-8 from their 50 overs. England were going well at 80-2 in reply but collapsed to

WES Davies and Jon Hylton will be handed their first starts as Worcester play Harrogate at Sixways. The new signings, who joined last week to bolster John Brain and Andy Keast's squad, are both included in the side for the third round Powergen Cup clash

WORCESTER City's youth team continued their stunning start to the season with a crushing 7-2 win over Kidderminster Harriers in the Midland Floodlit League Premier Division. In-form striker Troy Wood took his goal-tally to nine from three games by smashing

I GAIN the distinct impression that Worcestershire's firefighters are less than happy with this idea for a new fire and rescue regional control centre at Wolverhampton. The very title reeks of bureaucracy. And that never bodes well, does it? However,

CANADIAN international Jus-tin Thompson is unlikely to play again for Worcester City. The 24-year-old made four full appearances and came off the bench once during his four-week trial stay at the St George's Lane club. He combined turning out for Worcester

FRESH from being crowned King of the jungle, I'm a Celebrity... Get me Out of Here winner Joe Pasquale is now hot footing it back from Australia for his starring role in Jack and the Beanstalk - just one of the magnificent pantomimes across the region

WORCESTER City midfielder George Clegg is out of action for up to three weeks after straining medial ligaments in his right knee. The 24-year-old was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital after breaking down in the early stages of City's reserve victory

SAVE Our Hospital campaigners will be out in force this Saturday at the famous Evesham River Festival. Members of the Friends of Evesham Community Hospital will be handing out car stickers and posters in Workman Gardens, while getting people to sign the

WERNER Swanepoel was carried from the Sixways pitch with a knee injury after Worcester's 34-0 win over London Welsh on Saturday. The injury initially looked to be a bad one, but the Warriors' skipper was yesterday hoping that the problem would not keep

MIDFIELDER George Clegg strained medial ligaments to his knee last night as Worcester City thumped Broms-grove Rovers 5-0 at St George's Lane. The 24-year-old was taken for treatment at Worcestershire Royal after hurting his knee in the early stages of

MEMBERS of Wychavon District Council agreed this week to offer financial help in a bid to stop the front-line cuts proposed at Evesham Community Hospital. Executive board member for health, Councillor Judy Pearce read out proposals to go to the South

A FEW years ago, my father-in-law was interviewed by some enthusiastic young people and asked for his memories of the Home Guard. The purpose was to record the recollections of an elderly man who could remember a time not that long ago when it looked

THE first un-plugged open stage night will be taking place this evening at The Octagon Room, St Ann's Well Caf, in Great Malvern. The event will feature performances by Malvern-based musicians. Singer-songwriters Charlotte Strawbridge and Matt Woosey,

ORGANISERS were delighted when 300 people packed the Public Hall for a briefing meeting by leaders of Save Our Hospital Campaign. Mayor Frances Smith, who is also chairman of The League of Friends of Evesham Community Hospital, one of the leaders of the

IT'S a sure sign that important people have been in Worcester. Perhaps it's my imagination, but if I were a betting man, I'd say that the reason why Tent City seems to have moved a few hundred yards in the Diglis weir direction is purely because of the

ANDY Keast has told Sixways supporters to lay off Daren O'Leary. Worcester Rugby Club's coach has been disappointed with early season criticism of the former Gloucester wing but believes two tries in his last two games have quietened the voices somewhat

FRUSTRATED striker Leon Kelly is preparing to change his style of play to beat the shackles of opposition defences. The 27-year-old Worcester City frontman believes a few tweaks to his natural game is essential, especially after failing to hit the target

AS I walk down Worcester's Bath Road each morning, it is often my fate to observe one of the Faithful City's famed First buses. They always appear to be going in the opposite direction, but even if I wanted to catch one, I'd be out of luck. For most are

WORCESTER'S coaches have warned their players to cool it or face the cold shoulder. John Brain and Andy Keast have dropped Dean Thomas to the bench for Saturday's Sixways clash with London Welsh (3pm) after his sin-binning at Bedford. It was the third

WORCESTER City central defender Barry Woolley has left the club. The 26-year-old has failed to impress manager Andy Preece this season and is expected to join fellow Nationwide North Club Hinckley United. There he will link up with another former St George's

NICK Cave and the Bad Seeds will be gigging at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Sunday, November 7. Nick, the son of an English teacher and a librarian, brought a rare intelligence to the post-punk scene of the early 80s. His pre-Bad Seeds band The Birthday

CHRIS Smith is expected to win his battle for fitness in time for Worcester City's clash at Harrogate Town this Saturday. The influential defender was ruled out of Bank Holiday Monday's 2-1 Nationwide North defeat to Droylsden with an injured ankle. Smith

THE SINS OF SYNTAX DAVID Ryder of Worcester writes occasionally to the page opposite, complaining about the odd literal here, the odd typo there. He would do. As an English teacher at - is it still King's, David? - his half-moon glasses are invariably

ANDY Preece is tipping goal-shy strikers Adam Webster and Leon Kelly to break their league duck against Droylsden at St George's Lane today (3pm). Last season's on-song front duo are yet to get off the mark in four Nationwide North matches this term.

HUNDREDS of people angry about threatened hospital cuts are expected to attend a mass meeting in Evesham Public Hall tomorrow. The open briefing meeting at 7pm is aimed at giving people more information about the proposed closures at Evesham Community

I was panicking. I knew I was doing a phone interview with Syd Little, but the details were a bit vague. Was I ringing him or was he ringing me? If I was phoning him, I'd lost the number. If I'd ever had it that was. Due to the delights of modern technology

JOHN Brain slammed Worcester's performance at Goldington Road but admitted he was pleased with the result. "We're not happy with the performance," said the director of rugby. "We created problems for ourselves and we're just relieved to get out of Bedford

NICK Colley is eyeing his first goal of the season at Workington tomorrow -- and the challenges don't stop there. The 30-year-old believes he can net 10 times for Worcester City this term and retain the honour of leading midfield marksman. Colley burst

Hundreds of people have already signed the petition circulating in the Vale objecting to the proposals. The mayor, Frances Smith said: "This is even before we have got them all out. They are going into post offices, chemists, petrol stations, surgeries

ROBERT Woodhead had the worst stutter I have ever heard in my entire life. The poor lad could only get his words out if his listeners exhibited limitless patience and understanding. Laboratory conditions, if you like. Even then, there was no guarantee

STEVE Ballard has been described as one of the best impersonators of the King Of Rock 'n' Roll - Elvis Presley. During 2002, Steve appeared at two concerts at the 25th anniversary Elvis convention in Memphis. There he met members of Elvis' original band

ANDY Preece believes the gloves are off for Worcester City after chalking up their first Nationwide North win. Close-season signings Chris Smith and Graham Hyde both hit the target as City beat Gainsborough Trinity 2-1 at St George's Lane. Victory over

A COLOURFUL production featuring some of the most poptastic chart topping hits from the 60s and 70s is set to hit the Swan Theatre stage next week - and one of the stars of the show will be on familiar territory. Damian Matthews - from Low Fold Close,

IF you asked me to make a list of my major worries in life, I expect I'd get to double figures quite easily. Money, the welfare of nearest and dearest, state of the country and world... there you go. And I haven't even given the matter much thought. But

PARTY-poopers are not the sort of audience expected to turn up to a Disciples gig, as the band like to see everyone strutting their stuff on the dance floor. The Disciples, who play cover versions of all types of songs, ranging from rock 'n' roll to punk

TOMMY Hayes - the hero of Worcester's weekend win over Orrell - will only make the bench on Saturday. The former Cook Islands international fly half is named as a substitute for the Warriors' National One trip to Bedford (3pm) as James Brown comes into

Evesham GP Dr Martin Ounsted raised the Evesham situation when he spoke at a national conference in London last Thursday. He said the loyal support of current and previous GPs in Evesham Community Hospital for a pittance was rewarded with the proposal

EVERYONE knows the saying, never judge a book by its cover, but that's exactly what critics did when it came to the Alarm's new record. After 21 years in the rock and roll business, the band knew the possibility of being snapped up on the critics hit

WORCESTER Rugby Club will not be citing any Otley players after video evidence failed to reveal anything untoward at Cross Green. The Sixways club were sent the video by Otley from their opening National One match where a number of incidents occurred

WORCESTER City captain Graham Hyde believes his side deserve more than a solitary point from their opening two league games. The St George's Lane club are still waiting for their first win of the Nationwide North campaign after losing at Kettering Town

FANS of BBC 1's Monarch of the Glen will instantly recognise Lloyd Owen as Hector's illegitimate son Paul who has recently taken up the role as laird of Glenbogle. But as well as seeing the heart-throb grace TV screens on Sunday nights, audiences at Malvern

LLOYD George knew my father, ran that old popular refrain in those innocent days when Britain was fortunate enough to have leaders who were actually respected by the population at large. And, I daresay, there was the folksy equivalent back in Nelson's

Dig out your glam rags, funky flares, and glitter at the ready, for T.Rextasy, the ultimate tribute band to Marc Bolan & T.Rex are about to hit Worcester. T-Rextasy are not to be mistaken for any of the current cabaret style bands that don wigs just

BEN Hinshelwood will know tomorrow whether he can play one more Worcester game before the World Cup. The Sixways centre was released from Scotland duty to play in the 40-14 victory over Orrell on Saturday. Warriors coaches John Brain and Andy Keast are

EVESHAM MP Peter Luff challenged Junior Health Minister Liam Byrne in a Westminster debate yesterday to justify the sacrificing of Evesham Community Hospital to meet the bills of two private sector contractors. "Evesham must be saved," Mr Luff said in

WHAT do you do when three women you know all reach a stage in their lives when they develop an interest in New Age beliefs? Kim and Lynn Davies, a husband and wife team from Evesham, claim to know three such women and used them as inspiration for a fascinating

A KIDDERMINSTER band bagged a top producer for their debut single, thanks to a chance meeting. Meg were playing at the Actress & Bishop in Birmingham, when Gavin Monaghan of John Peel fame, came over to the band. Gavin has now helped produce, record

ADAM Webster has been rated "touch and go" to face Gainsborough Trinity tomorrow. Last season's triple award-winning striker missed Worcester City's stalemate against Hinckley United with a problematic knee. And the 25-year-old's importance was highlighted

NEARLY 40 years after Jack Wild shot to fame as the Artful Dodger in the hit Oscar winning 60s musical Oliver!, his fans are in for a double treat. At Christmas, not only is Jack starring as Baron Hardup in Worcester Swan Theatre's pantomime Cinderella

ANDY Preece has "no fears" as Worcester City attempt to register their first league points against Hinckley United tonight (7.45pm). City crumbled to a 2-1 defeat at Kettering Town in the opening Nationwide North fixture on Saturday, with former striker

THE manager of Evesham Hospital Radio, Martin Brain, is backing the campaign with 2.5 kilo watts of sound. He said he plans to spread the word and distribute and receive the Journal petitions at venues all over the Vale. Mr Brain said two members of his

ANDY Preece believes the weight of expectation on Kettering Town's shoulders will work in Worcester City's favour tomorrow. Both clubs, highly fancied to gain promotion from the Nationwide North, come together at Rockingham Road for an opening-day showdown

Lachrymae - Music for Strings. Purcell, Britten, Part, Walton, Vaughan Williams, Tippett. Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Viola - Nicholas Bne. n Warner Classics CD 2564 60190-2 THIS CD, one of two recordings, was recorded live in a series of concerts presented

AN artist who helped revive an interest in English Morris dancing and its music will be playing at Worcester's Huntingdon Hall tonight. Ashley Hutchings released the first ever electric Morris album, Morris On, in 1972. It was followed by Son of Morris

WORCESTER Rugby Club are already struggling with injuries just one week into the season. The Sixways club, who suffered a terrible time last year with a catalogue of injuries, will be without Dan Zaltzman, Drew Hickey and David Officer for Saturday's

CHRISTIAN Moore believes he has 'nothing to prove' to Worcester City fans when he leads the line-up for Kettering Town on Saturday. Striker Moore, aged 32, was the target for criticism from a section of City supporters during a wretched injury-ridden

THE managing director of an Evesham company has vowed to back our campaign all the way. Richard Austin, of Evesham Technology, said: "I was appalled when I heard about the plans for the hospital. "Cutting down on local, easy to get to hospital beds can

VIRTUOSO violinist Beverley Davison and her female musicians Hot Strings have taken the performance of classical music, given it a kick up the backside and made it fun. Forget the staid and stuffy traditions you might expect from a stereotypically sophisticated

NOW I know how King Henry II felt about Thomas a Becket... that troublesome priest was probably in his face all the time. A bit like Bob Geldof, in fact. Believe me, I'm not, for one single moment, suggesting that a contingent of heavily-armed Norman

AUGUST Saturday 14 Hinckley United H Tuesday 17 Redditch United A Saturday 21 Barrow A Monday 23 Moor Green H Saturday 28 Stafford H Monday 30 Hucknall Town A SEPTEMBER Saturday 4 Runcorn Halton A Saturday 11 Lancaster City H Monday 13 Kettering Town

PATIENTS in the Willows Ward at Evesham Community Hospital are living in fear, according to a Vale man. Stroke victims are worried about what will happen to them if they are turfed out of the specialist ward to fend for themselves. Lionel Wright, whose

THE media is often littered with horrifying tales of dank and depressing care homes where the elderly are left, old and alone, to perish by themselves. Many of us probably fear the day we find ourselves too frail and ill to cope in our own homes, and

POP legends Status Quo are gearing up for their concert at Ragley Hall, near Alcester, next Sunday. Quo have had worldwide sales of more than 112 million, and have enjoyed 22 top 10 British hit singles. I caught up with the band's guitarist Rick Parfitt

NEW signing Ben Daly admitted his first Worcester try was a bitter-sweet moment at Otley. The hooker ran through for a last-minute try before taking a vicious kick to the head by a Cross Green player. "I remember crossing the line and trying to improve

PEOPLE in St John's have been promised action over riverbank cider drinkers. But don't hold your breath. If the powers-that-be want to eradicate the problem on the west bank of the Severn, they should start on the opposite side first. For judging by the

WORCESTER Rugby Club will decide today whether to take action after hooker Ben Daly was kicked in the head at Otley on Saturday. The Australian ran through for a last-minute winning try at Cross Green before getting a whack to the head courtesy of an

WORCESTER City are unlikely to have Kettering Town quaking in their boots after losing 1-0 in their final summer warm-up to Newport County. After showing a great deal of promise earlier in pre-season, City left their most disappointing performance for

DON Clay may be in his 70s but he still has stars in his eyes and the smell of the greasepaint lures him on to the stage once again as he celebrates 50 years with a Worcester amateur dramatic association. The city pensioner is currently in rehearsal for

ANDY Preece believes his Worcester City troops are set up perfectly for next Saturday's Nationwide North opener. City face a daunting first league game at Kettering as they start their long bid for promotion. But a string of solid pre-season displays

Il Campanello - Gaetano Donizetti. Historic recording from 1949, featuring Sesto Bruscantini, Renato Capecchi, Miti Truccato Pace and Orchestra Lincae Coro de Torino della RIA. Warner Fonit 5050467-1044-2-6 Gaetano Donizetti was born of poverty-stricken

THE Lightness are a tribute band to The Darkness and even dress like the lads. The band, who hail from Kidderminster, Bewdley and Bridgnorth, are beginning to tour the country, and have been playing such places as Edinburgh, Swansea and Liverpool. Now

WORCESTER Rugby Club will make a decision on trialist Jon Hylton over the next week. The former Wasps wing has been involved in Worcester's warm-up games, notably scoring a hat-trick of tries against Stourbridge. With wing Nnamdi Ezulike still recovering

Tomasz Stanko Quartet - Suspended Night ECM Records CD No: ECM 1868 981 1244. Tomasz Stanko is acknowledged to be one of the best of today's jazz musicians, with a faithful following of fans across the world. He was one of a large group of Polish musicians

I'VE become utterly fascinated at the way taxpayers' money is being thrown about by the lumbering juggernaught that is Worcestershire Racial Equality Council. Suspensions, investigations, claims and counter claims. People are accused, cleared, resigning

TOMMY Hayes has won the race for number 10 at Sixways. Worcester Rugby Club's new signing has been given the vote by coaches John Brain and Andy Keast ahead of the Warriors' trip to Otley on Saturday (3pm). Hayes, who signed from Glasgow in the summer

Muslims make up the largest minority religious group in Worcester - but how have they been affected in these troubled times? Reporter Sundeep Kumar finds out what it means to be a follower of Islam in the city. SAJID Riasat has had to make some changes

So the Festival has finished for another year. We always greet the final fireworks with a mixture of sorrow that's it's all over, and relief that we can start getting our lives back to something like normal, or as normal as it ever is working for Huntingdon

THERE are a couple of significant anniversaries coming up this year, both of which concern Worcester-shire. One of the most appealing aspects of Britain is the fact that it's impossible to travel more than a mile or two before coming into contact with

A HEREFORD duo are celebrating after being voted through to the second round of a new music programme. BiZali appeared with two other bands in the last heat of the first round for ITV1 Central's Music (Uncovered) last Friday. They will now be appearing

Romance is as much a part of working life as computers and coffee machines. A quarter of long-term relationships begin at work, according to estimates by The Trades Union Congress. So why do so many of us use the office as the place to meet a potential

POPULAR entertainer and television celebrity Les Dennis is set to take to the stage in Birmingham in a star-studded performance of the hit show Kiss Me Kate. The star - who made his name through popular ITV game show Family Fortunes - will be playing

RENOWNED singer and songwriter Jamie Knight is set for his big break after being chosen to be part of an international music compilation in aid of charity. The Greatest Music You've Never Heard, Volume 1, is to help raise money for breast cancer research

THE announcement by the people who run the Worcestershire Royal Hospital that they have decided to bring in 'management consultants' to find a way to slash spending by a whopping £20m a year has, understandably, got people worried. After all, the news

COMEDY gurus can enjoy a night of hearty entertainment when The Keith Barret Show goes live. Rob Brydon plays the hapless chauffeur Keith Barret, who first found notoriety in the award winning comedy Marion and Geoff. The character was given his own primetime

WE have halfwits turning residential streets into racetracks, 4X4 fanatics ploughing up woodland walks... and now river hooligans in powerboats. I saw one such inadequate on Sunday as I walked by the river on the way to Severn Stoke. The craft announced

WORCESTER Warriors put in a spirited performance to beat last season's Zurich Premiership champions London Wasps 16-13 in a highly competitive friendly at Six-ways last night. It was a deserved win with the Worcester forwards outstanding. From the start

A FRIENDLY by name but not by nature! That was Saturday's latest warm-up clash that proved a more than useful work-out for a Worcester City side including several trialists. It was easy to see just why hosts Evesham United had earned a reputation for

J S Bach - Cello Suites. Soloist Alexander Kniasev. Warner Classics 25646 1294-2. Three-CD set. THE Bach Cello Suites have a special place in the repertoire of cellists who are masters of their instrument. A solo platform means that the player must be

THE cornerstone of Warren Mitchell's career has been the ability to play a character much older than himself and he's still at it at 78. The man who was only 40 when he erupted on to British television as the shock and awe pensioner Alf Garnett in 1965

IT must be a remarkable experience to reach the age of 100. Take former teacher Richard Clay. Born in Hallow, near Worcester, he was nine when the First World War broke out, and 21 the year of the General Strike. In fact, he was no spring chicken when

WORCESTER Rugby Club complete their pre-season preparations tonight when Premiership champions Wasps visit Sixways for their final friendly (7.30). Wasps, who beat Gloucester in the championship play-off at the end of last season, are sending a strong

Historic Saxophone - Claude and Odile Delangle. Bis CD -1270 Digital. TO many, the saxophone would be considered a "new" instrument, and in many ways they would be right. Invented by Belgian musician Adolphe Sax- who played the clarinet and flute - it

THEY liked it so much, they're doing it again. Great Witley Operatic Society is to repeat the formula of its Golden Jubilee concert, which had audiences enthralled at Worcester's Swan Theatre two years ago. Billed as A Celebrity Gilbert and Sullivan Concert

WHEN Stephen Hatton and his wife were looking for a nice place to move to last year, they consciously looked for a house far from any kind of radiation. The couple chose a house in Nightingale Avenue. But now they are just yards from the planned mobile

ONCE we feared wolves and brigands knocking at our door. Nowadays, it is the design of modern houses that fills some people with mortal dread. I have some sympathy with residents of Wick, near Pershore, who cannot abide the look of a neighbouring property

IT would be difficult to come across a better theatre for a performance of Shakespeare's The Tempest than the Swan. That's the thought of one of the show's stars as actors from the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, return to Worcester promising a mystical

EX-Worcester City 'keeper Aaron Kerr is set to join Conference side Gravesend and Northfleet after being offered a contract. The 22-year-old Ulsterman joined City on a game-by-game basis last season to deputise for the injured Danny McDonnell. Kerr made

IN their first North Midlands One game of the season, Upton were up against a newly-promoted and highly-motivated Tenbury team who were to prove that they are going to make a real fist of their first term in this division. TENBURY WELLS 19PTS, UPTON-UPON-SEVERN

AFTER a long day in a stuffy office, the last thing you want to do is join a queue of traffic. But it seems we're heading for a summer of misery when a major 10-week roadwork project to replace decaying gas pipes begins on Monday, affecting important

Fazil Say Black Earth. Fazil Say, piano; Laurent Korcia, violin. Nave. Sometimes you take a chance - this CD is one, and is it different? Yes, very different. Fazil Say is Turkish, and has been playing music since he was a child. He started by studying

A SONG, which is becoming a favourite on the line-dance floor, is helping raise funds for a disease that nearly spelt tragedy in one woman's life. Half the profits new CD, If I Can Have This Dance makes, will be donated to the Meningitis Trust. Meningitis

WERNER Swanepoel could be set to make a dramatic comeback at Neath-Swansea next weekend. Worcester Rugby Club's skipper has made significant prog-ress in his recovery from an Achilles injury and may yet play some part in the club's second pre-season friendly

IT'S the oddest General Election I can remember. In the past, Worcester's suburbs have been festooned with placards and posters extolling passers-by to vote for the preferred candidate. Walking the streets of the Faithful City, I must say that there are

FORMER Wolves striker Jimmi-Lee Jones gave Andy Preece food for thought after grabbing a brace in Worcester City's 3-1 pre-season friendly win at neighbours Malvern Town. The trialist came on as a half-time substitute at Malvern's Langland Stadium and

FROM Tokyo to New York, people across the globe celebrated World Environment Day last Sunday - but did it slip by you unnoticed? The event was part of a desperate bid by the Environment Agency (EA), one of a host of organisations that are working tirelessly

NOTHING could have prepared me for the scene of complete, bloody carnage that greeted my eyes. Fragments of what had once been life lay torn and twisted across the rabbit run, already attracting flies in the thin April sunshine. Part of me went into shock-induced

WHEN is a chairman not a chairman? When he's a she and is a chairwoman, a chairperson, or even just a chair. Is political correctness an absurd blight on modern society? Or necessary nit-picking to consign damaging stereotypes and traditions to the history

IF you fancy seeing an artist who has shared the same billing as Sting and even the legendary Bob Dylan, then look no further than the Marr's Bar this Sunday. Juliet Turner was named Best Contemporary Artist at the Irish World Awards this year, and her

ANDY Keast is hoping to involve Ben Hinshelwood in Worcester Rugby Club's opening pre-season friendly next Saturday. The Sixways coach wants the centre to play in the home match with Stourbridge but is well aware that the Scottish camp will now be encroaching

CHRISTIAN Moore's move to Kettering Town is back on as both parties re-entered talks. The transfer-listed striker was absent from Worcester City's 3-1 pre-season defeat to Walsall as he negotiated with the Rockingham Road club. Nationwide North rivals

THE six teenagers shift about uncomfortably with a glare that hovers between menacing and simple curiosity. Their bodies loll over the railings of their gathering point at the pavilion in the King George V Playing Fields in Brickfields, Worcester. Some

TEACHING seems to be one of the hardest jobs around these days. It must be worse than being an entertainer in a northern club. If it goes well, fine. If not... hecklers, drunks or worse. Having said that, I don't recall reading of shoot-outs in front

AN up and coming solo artist, who is used to playing acoustic gigs, is looking for a guitarist and other musicians to help her promote a new album. Laura Thompson, who has just completed her second acoustic album, Inside Violet Clouds, is set to re-record

DAREN O'Leary looks set to shrug off a hamstring injury and make his debut for Worcester Rugby Club next weekend. The former Gloucester winger has a slight tear in his hamstring but took part in some training this week and is now expected to be fit for

ANDY Preece applauded his side's resilience following Saturday's friendly defeat to Walsall. Worcester City aimed to hold Football League opposition for the second time in three days, but they went down 3-1 to Paul Merson's men off the back of a goalless

DRESSED in a smart suit with her hair perfectly styled in a neat coiffure, Julie Bolton looks every bit the well-turned out businesswoman she is. But lurking beneath her neatly pressed blouse lurks a hidden gem - a belly button ring. And that's not her

PEOPLE who have always fancied being part of a theatre production will now have the opportunity to do so in one performance - thanks to the interactive show HMS Pinafore From Scratch. London Operetta will be presenting its famous Gilbert and Sullivan

A WORCESTER landlord tells me that the new alcohol licences are a complete can of worms. Anywhere that sells alcohol or provides public entertainment has until August to convert their existing licences to new-style local authority versions. One of the

MULTI-platinum selling and award-winning singer Mary J Blige will bring her Love & Life Tour to The NEC Arena this June. Mary J Blige last performed in this country in 2002 and is returning to perform songs from her latest album Love & Life. This

WORCESTER Rugby Club's new boys are already packing a punch at Sixways after it was revealed boxing has been introduced into training. The 10 summer signings have impressed the coaching staff so far with their efforts in Phil Richards' new regime. However

IN an admission that will probably give heart to all aspiring thespians, Roy Hudd said he has the very devil of a job remembering his lines. "Always have done," he complained. "Ever since the age of 12. "I don't know what it is. I suppose I can put it

WORCESTER is hoping for a major tourism boost when a new survey is released soon. It is hoped that the Heart of England report will recommend the city as a prime location for more high-standard hotels. The Whitehouse Hotel, in Foregate Street, will be

WERNER Swanepoel is backing Worcester Rugby Club's recruitment drive following John Brain's summer shopping spree. The Sixways skipper is still recovering from an Achilles injury and hasn't yet been fully involved in training since reporting back to the

I T'S like something out of a movie. Penniless people forced to flee war-torn countries, led into the lion's den, to be mistreated and exploited. Some live 30 to a room, barely able to move, while gangmasters rub their hands in glee as they pay their

ARTISTS in all fields are invited to the Arthouse caf in Worcester's CrownGate tonight to join in the first anniversary celebrations of Phillip Newth, a city based art project that specialises in alternative cabaret. A year ago, two Worcester-born youths

APRIL in Paris... all right, let's settle for Worcester. Yes, I know, High Street is hardly the Champs Elyses - unless, of course, the Parisians are also lumbered with a builders' yard as well, in which case they have my deepest sympathy. And I also appreciate

GEORGE Davis is already eyeing a return to Sixways after signing for Exeter Chiefs. The prop, who was released by Worcester Rugby Club earlier in the summer, signed for the County Ground side this week on a one-year deal. However, the former Bristol man

A STALWART actress, renowned for her feisty and glamorous roles is due to take to the stage in Worcester. Kate O'Mara will play Mary Stuart in Shadow in the Sun, a dramatisation of the events leading up to the execution of The Queen of Scots and her relationship

A SINGER who has previously won the Best British Vocalist category at the British Jazz Awards, will be showing off her talents when she comes to Worcester's Huntingdon Hall. Claire Martin won the Best British Vocalist category in 1995 at the British Jazz

ANDY Preece insists first-team opportunities will arise next season for Worcester City's rising stars. Youngsters coming through the ranks at St George's Lane have been promised a look-in, especially after a triumphant 2004/05 term for the academy side

Coun Dan Wicksteed: I dread even the possibility of one complex issue, like abortion, coming to dominate a whole election due to pressure from religious groups. Hopefully, that will not happen in Britain because the range of decisions to be considered

A BAND from Hereford will be one of the last band's to battle for a place in the second round of a new music programme. BiZali, will be appearing with two other bands in the last heat of the first round for ITV1 Central's Music (Uncovered) on Friday,

FORMER Sixways prop George Davis is the on the verge of moving to Exeter Chiefs. Davis, who was released by Worcester Rugby Club in the summer as part of a clearout, has been on trial at the County Ground with a view to a permanent move. If successful

IT was back to the grind for Worcester City as Andy Preece's troops returned for pre-season training. Under the imposing Worcester Cathedral, player-manager Preece and assistant Andy Morrison put the squad through their paces with sessions at King's School

Rapier of defence WORCESTER'S most celebrated Irishman has taken a pop at reluctant Romeo, Chris Pratt. Dismayed by the dashing cavalier's spurning of a lady of mature years, Seamus Kelly drew his rapier of righteousness and, if not exactly demanding

SOME of the hottest new musical talents from Worcestershire and Herefordshire have been chosen to battle it out in a new television series for ITV called Music Uncovered. Pop rock bands, Volta from Pershore and Frantik from Hereford, and acoustic folk

WORCESTER City legend Carl Heeley admits the scheduling of his return to St George's Lane could not be better. Heeley, 35, left City this summer after 11 glittering years at the club, opting to end the final chapter of his career at Nationwide North rivals

As you peruse this, dear reader, Huntingdon Arts will be girding its loins for the start of the Worcester Festival, and praying for good weather. The Festival has had months of planning and organisation. From the de-brief of last year's Festival in September

HOSPITALS across the country are running up huge debts, despite extra funding going into the NHS. Overall, almost one third of National Health Service Trusts are in deficit, with the total standing at more than £350m. This shambles - for that's precisely

ANDY Preece admits the breakdown of Christian Moore's proposed move rules out the possibility of a third summer signing at Worcester City. Experienced striker Moore was expected to complete his switch to a rival Nationwide North club earlier this week

Cop swap for CCTV WORCESTER'S spy cameras are to be upgraded. The city council's going to spend £123,000, the police nod their heads in approval, and shoppers seem generally to be in favour. But... Tracy Hunt of Malvern, when asked by our reporter, did

VOICES will sing out in celebration at a special event in Pershore Abbey on Saturday, October 1, as part of a global fund-raiser. The event will celebrate the first ever World Hospice and Palliative Care Day which is dedicated to increasing awareness

I ALWAYS look forward to World Book Day. This is the day when authors and illustrators like me come out of their holes like moles, blinking in the sunlight and feel suddenly needed, and, dare I say it, important. We're called upon to talk about the wonder

SHOPPERS in north London's Brent Cross area could be forgiven a few double takes the other day, because even in this age of cross-dressing a figure in men's trousers and women's stiletto heels is not a common sight. Nevertheless, Paul Nicholas struggled

TOP UK snooker players are to stage a great evening's display of skill at a special exhibition night in aid of St Richard's Hospice. The evening event will take place at Droitwich Snooker Centre in St Andrew's Square on Saturday, September 24. Five of

BEN Hinshelwood is staying cool about his World Cup bid but it's hardly surprising after braving temperatures of -130c. Worcester Rugby Club's centre jetted off with the rest of the Scottish national squad earlier this month bound for Poland and a pre-World

IT'S 8pm, you rub your neck in a useless attempt to unwind the growing tension knot and your eye twitches as you stare at the computer, trying to desperately finish that dreaded report so you can get home in time to kiss the kids goodnight. You've been

COMEDY'S hottest property is appearing in Stratford this October for a week-long laughter fest. Jimmy Carr, Mark Thomas and, for the kids, James Campbell are amongst the line-up hitting the RSC's Swan Theatre from October 22-30. Also appearing is Rob

EVERY now and then, Have I Got News For You's Paul Merton and his nemesis Ian Hislop are upstaged by a genuinely ultra-witty personality. As was the case when Linda Smith appeared on the show. With an almost child-like delivery, the comedienne's razor-sharp

GENEROUS drivers have delighted St Richard's Hospice fund-raisers after donating more than £7,000 already this year to help the work of the charity caring for people with cancer and other life-threatening illness. The pennies and pounds have all been

The historic face of hunting with hounds changed forever at midnight last night after legal challenges opposing a ban on the tradition were thrown out of court. Scores of hunts in Worcestershire are determined to still meet and have promised to turn out

STRING and brass players interested in playing some orchestral masterpieces are in demand to join Worcester Philharmonic Orchestra. The orchestra is due to give four concerts to large audiences at Pershore Abbey next season, besides performances for children

ONE in seven Worcestershire people in their early 20s spend their days doing nothing, according to a Government report. Apparently, 14 per cent of youngsters in this age group do not have jobs, college courses or training schemes to attend. But doing

IMMIGRATION, migration, integration and assimilation are all words thrown around like dominoes strewn across a pub table. They have almost a neutralising affect on your mind with very little meaning, and no one seems to know how and what they mean and

JAZZ vocalist Tina May will be steering audiences through an evening of musical tales filled with woe, warmth and wit when she comes to Worcester's Huntingdon Hall. If you don't know who Tina is, you may have heard her performing the theme tunes to two

LISTENING to Evelyn Glennie perform her critically acclaimed music, you'd never guess she was profoundly deaf. As Brian Wilson overcame his Achilles heel of hearing everything in mono, the elite percussionist, who normally appears on stage barefooted,

ITS internationally renowned, potently hot and has its roots firmly embedded in our very own Faithful City - let's hear it for Worcestershire Sauce. Since the early 19th Century, the legendary Lea & Perrins kick has livened up tongues across the globe

CHELTENHAM'S Everyman Theatre has proved to be a showstopper in itself after smashing its record for ticket sales. In just a week, the theatre sold 8,019 tickets for this autumn's productions, making it the most successful week ever. On Friday, June 25

THE Three Counties Appeal to help raise the £4m needed to build a new Acorns Children's Hospice in Worcester has been officially launched. Determined staff from Acorns Children's Hospice Trust have laid down the gauntlet to people throughout the three

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IYRAN Clunis already feels at home at Worcester despite his recent move. The 18-year-old hooker was in the same under 19 England squad along with Chris Hallam, Will Bowley, Mark Hopley and Rhodri McAtee last season while he knows James Percival and Neil

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CECIL Duckworth will lead from the front this season as he aims to spearhead Worcester's promotion challenge. The Sixways chairman is to have a more hands-on role at the rugby club as Worcester battle for the National One title and promotion to the Premiership

A drinking binge used to be a rare event, perhaps a binge to celebrate a wedding, a success or even to mourn, following bereavement. The new binge culture is more prevalent in the UK than in any other European country with 40 per cent of men and 22 per

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A NEW rose being sold to raise money for St Richard's Hospice has proved a success at a Worcestershire garden centre. Since launching the Precious Memories rose just over three months ago Webbs of Wychbold has sold more than 800. The salmon floribunda

ANDY Keast has labelled new signing Drew Hickey 'The best back row forward in National One by a country mile.' Worcester Rugby Club's coach has been delighted with the new signings that began training last week and admits that he cannot wait to see Hickey

Broad-minded? You bet I am, mostly because I've seen it all. By day, shoplifters, burglaries, drug pushers, car crime, harassment, anti-social behaviour, road crashes, hold-ups, lost children, truants, street crime, the lot. By night, people falling-down

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A NEW rose variety named by a Malvern woman has smelt success fund-raising for St Richard's Hospice. Webbs of Wychbold garden centre has sold more than 800 of the salmon floribunda, dubbed Precious Memories by gardener Lauriene Hubbard, who beat 1,400

BEN Hinshelwood jets off to Poland tomorrow desperate to keep his World Cup dreams alive. Worcester Rugby Club's star centre will travel with a Scotland squad to Poland as they begin the countdown to the autumn showpiece event Down Under. However, this

Ninety-nine per cent of people pray at least once. For example, how many of us - whatever our background - will shout an involuntary prayer when faced with a sudden emergency? You see deep down, when our veneer of civilised society is lifted, what we

SIXTY-four youngsters from a city drama group are gearing up for the rock 'n' roll musical Return to the Forbidden Planet, which launches into Worcester's Swan Theatre next week. Members of Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society's Youth Section have

Is this the rape of our rights? A BURGLAR breaks into your home and you take him on. Upstairs, your wife and daughters are huddled in a corner, quaking with fear. How much force do you use against the criminal? The politicians have been debating this

A STUNNING selection of plays whose cast include Penelope Keith (The Good Life, To the Manor Born) and the actress behind the 1980s TV policewoman Juliet Bravo, are being brought to Malvern this summer by the founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

THREE Worcester Rugby Club players are among a party of 36 England Under 19s who are flying out to South Africa today for a two-week training camp. The three Sixways boys are all forwards -- Dylan Hartley, a prop who has already played for England at

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DISTINCTLY diverse interpretations of a work of art by a husband and wife provide the backbone to a new play taking centre stage at next month's Worcester Festival. Mouthpiece presents the UK premire of Ugly Art, by American playwright Terry Roueche,

THE first turf was dug yesterday to mark the start of work on a new 15-bed St Richard's Hospice in Worcester. The £5.25m scheme heralds a new era in the 21-year history of the hospice, with urgently-needed specialist beds in addition to the free day care

DAREN O'Leary has admitted it was the Andy Keast factor that brought him to Sixways. The winger, who signed for Worcester Rugby Club from Gloucester in the close season, is delighted to have re-joined the coach after spells with him at Harlequins. O'Leary

THE debate about whether foxhunting should be banned has dominated the headlines over recent years - and the furore is unlikely to die down now the Hunting Bill has been made law. In fact, the ban looks likely to stir up emotions even further, with Prime

TOMMY Hayes will embrace Worcester Rugby Club's free-flowing ethos with open arms following his Sixways move. The fly-half arrived at Worcester with a big reputation for his kicking style. However, with Worcester's emphasis on keeping ball in hand, the

PICNICKERS enjoyed a performance of classic songs and raised over £1,300 for St Richard's Hospice at a special charity concert. Around 100 people were in the audience for Great Witley Operatic Society's A Grand Night For Singing at Worcester's St Mary's

THERE was a mini reunion yesterday at Worcester Rugby Club as Sydney University's class of '99 got back together. Ben Hinshelwood, Ben Daly and Drew Hickey were reunited four years after winning a grand final with the Sydney side. Back then the trio broke

THE Rev Morphy said his reasons for being against "Trick or Treat" begin with reasons of safety, and keeping children out of trouble. "For most of the year parents instill in their children a number of basic rules to keep them safe like: 'Don't talk to

WORCESTER Rugby Club's new fitness guru has promised his players a 'brutal' time in training. Phil Richards immediately made his presence felt yesterday at Six-ways as Worcester's promotion-chasing squad reported back for pre-season training. The former

A PLAY dedicated to Laurie Lee's remarkable journey into war-torn Spain in the 1930s has been penned by the author's cousin for a debut in Cheltenham. A Winter of War, written by Paul Downey, runs in the Everyman Theatre's The Other Space from Monday,

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WHY lug a double bass around school when you can send shivers up the spines of the opposite sex with a few blue notes from the sassy sax? And why fork out for a bulky £1,200 tuba when you can become the next Jimi Hendrix for a couple of hundred quid and

PHIL Richards will today begin the task of turning Worcester into National One's mean machine. The newly-installed Worcester Rugby Club fitness coach met up with the Sixways squad today as the players reported back for pre-season training. And the former

It may already be too late to prevent the looming pension crisis, according to the conclusion reached by the recently published Turner Report. Crisis is an overused word but it is perfectly appropriate in this case. Why has this come about? The impending

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MALVERN Theatres has put together what it calls its "biggest and most varied programme yet" for the autumn season. Considering the track record of the area's top theatrical venue, this is some prediction. So let's scan the list. Malvern favourite Penelope

NICHOLAS Parsons takes his tea strong, with just a splash of milk. He's not terribly keen on dairy products and, as he is in his 70s and still very sprightly, avoiding them can hardly be said to have been to his detriment. In fact, the veteran entertainer

BEN Hinshelwood will begin pre-season training with the rest of Worcester Rugby Club's squad on Tuesday. The Scottish international, still recovering from his broken leg suffered in January, continues the road to recovering with the rest of the Sixways

IT'S becoming increasingly difficult to shield children from the harsh world that we live in and tragically some innocent youngsters end up becoming directly involved in the reality of terrorism. Who could forget the chilling news footage of hundreds

HUNTINGDON Art's larger than life director Chris Jaeger belts across the Swan Theatre foyer, "this isn't a music festival, nor an arts festival - it is a celebration of life." It's the launch of the second Worcester Festival, which hits the Faithful City

JOHN Brain has thanked his Worcester Rugby Club squad for sticking together as he checked out from his summer shopping spree. Worcester's director of rugby has brought in 10 new faces during the close season but he is equally delighted to have kept the

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ONE of the most successful musicals in early British theatre history marks its 50th anniversary in Droitwich next week. Salad Days originally opened on May 1, 1954 at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre after being pencilled in for a three-week run. But fate

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WITH a line-up ranging from a latter day Tommy Cooper to a poignant dance portrayal of family life, July at Huntingdon Arts' city arenas should be sunny with a smattering of showers. On Thursday, 15, funnymen John Moloney and Jim Tavare present a double

FOLLOWING sell-out seasons in the West End, Moira Buffini's wicked comedy Dinner comes to Malvern Theatres on Monday as part of a national tour. Paige, hostess extraordinaire, has invited an artist, a scientist and a sexpot to celebrate the publication

WORCESTER Rugby Club will once again have the chance to reach the Premiership after promotion for the National One champions was rubber stamped. A panel from Premier Rugby, three from First Division Rugby and one from the RFU has been reviewing promotion

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RABBI Lionel Blue may come across as a doting grandad, signing off our interview with a sincere "Goodbye, my dear, and God bless", but he is still a force to be reckoned with. Known to millions for his poignant Thought of the Day on BBC Radio Four, which

WORCESTER Rugby Club duo Nicky Crawford and Jo Yapp play for England in their second match in the Churchill Cup in Canada tonight. The pair are both in the starting line-up to face the United States at the Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver. England beat

When I joined the police service 33 years ago, I did so for the same reason that police officers join today - to protect and serve the public and prevent and detect crime. Our safety, the security of our families and the protection of the communities

IT'S a strange kind of limbo, this in-between time. Christmas feels as if it's over, but of course, there is still lots to come. The lull will last all this week. And then a slumbering, bloated and Yuled-out nation will once again explode into life with

THE A449 to Malvern will probably be strewn with rose petals next week and no doubt the red carpet is ready and waiting, along with half a dozen hunky flunkies and a celebrity chef or two, because Joan Collins is in town. The lady is, I suppose, what

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GAVIN Pfister has undergone surgery after complaining of a shoulder injury. Worcester Rugby Club's openside flanker played through the pain last season but is now expected to be fit for the start of the season. "He played the last quarter of the season

LESLEY Joseph is one of those lovely ladies who invariably plays an over-the-top character on stage or screen, yet in real life is as down to earth as your best mate. She talks like a real friend, not some show biz prima donna and so I considered it only

THE news that the writing may soon be on the wall for video recorders does not fill my heart with impenetrable gloom. Far from it. For I never, ever learnt how to set the wretched timer, despite a colleague once giving up much of a memorable morning to

SIMON Trinder's Bolton drawl and laid back expletive-littered attitude to life does little to justify the stereotypical image of your average thesp. But that's exactly what the 25-year-old former Worcester schoolboy has been for near on two years in a