Archive

  • A real delicacy for fund-raiser

    Winners at this year's Radio 2 British Folk Awards and well loved in the area, the Oysterband are to headline at a fund-raising concert in Titley, near Presteigne, on September 4. Stagg meadow, next to the Stagg Inn, will be the setting for the seven-hour

  • Moreton

    LAST CALL: The final reunion of Moreton branch of the Royal Air Forces Association was held at the Fire Service College on Saturday, May 21. Sixty who served there from 1941-1959 attended. Many friendships were renewed, one occasion was a meeting between

  • Pershore

    ARTS THEATRE CLUB: The last evening meeting of the season was on May 20. The speaker for that evening had been taken ill earlier in the week but members were delighted that Frank Townsend was able to step in at short notice. He gave a talk on Family Tree

  • Mickleton

    PARISH COUNCIL: The statutory annual meeting preceded the parish meeting. Chairman Cllr L Stowe retired from office after four years and Cllr M Stowe was elected chairman. Cllr J Medlyn was appointed vice-chairman and Cllr J Franklin was elected a responsible

  • Willersey

    VILLAGE OF THE YEAR: Willersey has won the Cotswold Life Village of the Year competition and the prize is a village fete to be held on August 20. The fete is being organised by Cotswold Life with a village liaison committee's help and is likely to include

  • Merry old time for Kate

    Hereford actress Kate Izon, a former pupil of St Paul's Primary School, Tupsley, will take a leading role in Gloucester-based Rain or Shine's production of Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor. Kate (right) plays Mistress Page in a nationwide tour

  • Courtyard takes Stand

    Reform theatre company returns to The Courtyard next Tuesday, with its new award-winning play, Stand. Phil and Kev, reformed football hooligans, are on the terraces for the United home game when they begin to question their attendance at the Saturday

  • Showcasing new works

    Courtyard-based theatre company New Theatre Works (NTW) is back with five new pieces, written by writers aged between 17 and 25. A total of 30 young people submitted work, which was then whittled down by director Dr Ellie Parker, in conjunction with Soho

  • Goldie and Elvis Presley

    Goldie Hawn was once told by Elvis Presley that she looked like a chicken that had just been hatched. That was in the '70s when the actress had gone to see him in a red knit jumpsuit. Now in 2005, with a 35-year career under the belt of her chocolate

  • Circus puts a sparkle in their young eyes

    IT'S undeniably difficult to impress a child of the 21st century. Computer wizardry and sophisticated special effects have rendered every child in the land more than a little blas. But judging by the open mouths and sparkling eyes there were plenty, young

  • Hamlet's pals step out into the spotlight

    TAKING two minor characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet and putting them at the centre of their own drama, Tom Stoppard made his stunning debut as a playwright in the late 1960s. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead introduced him as a dazzling new talent

  • Musical events will stir many memories

    THE music of Karen Carpenter, a 1940s music show and a heart-wrenching drama are set to make for a week of different emotions at Tewkesbury's Roses Theatre. On Sunday, audiences will be taking a sentimental journey through the Carpenters' hits with singer

  • Sultans squeeze in a date at Huntingdon

    THERE'S the usual interesting line-up of acts booked for June at the Huntingdon Hall. Julie Matthews, who was due to play on Tuesday, has had to cancel her concert but there are plenty more treats in store for music fans of all kinds through June. Next

  • Kennedy concerts will boost Acorns

    ONE of the world's leading violinists, Nigel Kennedy, is staging concerts locally which will be raising money for children's hospices. He will be teaming up with the English Symphony Orchestra for two concerts in July. The first is at the Centaur Centre

  • Church's music festival opens

    ST Leonard's Church in Bledington, will be packed with music lovers next week when its fifth annual music festival gets under way. On Tuesday, a popular trio return - flautist Philippa Legge, soprano Anna Belward and pianist Greg Smith. "They thrilled

  • Bidford

    GARDENING SOCIETY: The May meeting was held at the Methodist Hall, Bidford. The chairman announced that the afternoon outing on May 5 had been a success, visiting Brook Cottage, a private garden in Newent, and then returning via an orchid farm. The speaker

  • Jane slays 'em with her success

    Artist and murder mystery manufacturer Jane Froud is slowing down a bit. An exhibition of her work at Hereford's Frame Up gallery, in Widemarsh Street, tastes the variety of a life which has taken her all over the world. Growing up in east Africa and

  • War protest a hit

    Hereford teacher and writer Joe Jenkins has scooped an international prize with a home-made documentary about his own anti-war protest. Joe made Contempt of Conscience to raise funds for an anti-war campaign. The 12-minute film has been screened at several

  • Artists offered a new platform

    ARTY locals are being sought by Pershore's Number 8 Community Arts Centre. The centre is making ready to stage its first open exhibition which will be a platform for all local artists looking to exhibit their work for the first time or who are building

  • Concert targets diabetes

    AROUND three million people in Britain are believed to suffer from diabetes but half of these are blissfully unaware of the condition, which is a major cause of blindness among adults. With these alarming statistics in mind, a concert is being held on

  • Band showcase to be full of teen spirit

    TWENTY up and coming bands are to unleash their sounds on Wyre Forest in a musical showcase being staged by Kidderminster College's Mighty Atom Smasher Records. His Verbal Crusade, Dead Letter Office and Bare Bones are among the line-up being promoted

  • Tribute act offers blues and boogie

    A BRIEFCASE of blues and boogie will rock a Kidderminster Hotel this month. Blues Brothers tribute act, The Double Diamond Blue Bros, have performed to sell-out audiences in theatres and hotels across the world and are performing at the Briars Hotel in

  • Contest a real chalking point

    Hereford's historic Castle Green is the venue for a competition to find the best local pavement Picassos. This event for budding artists, aged four to 18, is on Saturday, at 2pm, with prizes for each age group and the overall winner going on to the national

  • Claire's chosen to show at Chelsea

    A Contemporary Applied Arts student at Herefordshire College of Art and Design has been accepted for the acclaimed Chelsea Craft Fair. Claire Malet is the first student from the college to be picked for the event, which is Britain's principal fair for

  • Folk star takes to club's stage

    A MUSICIAN being promoted as one of folk music's finest performers is playing at Stourport Riverside Folk and Acoustic Club tomorrow. Bob Fox began his career 30 years ago, playing around the many folk clubs in the north east of England and is now regarded

  • The Unexpected Man - Festival, Malvern

    MANY will go find their way to Malvern to see two big stars of the small screen but it is to be hoped that they come away enriched by the remarkable talent of a challenging and entertaining contemporary playwright. The performances of Sian Phillips and

  • Film rentals chart

    1 Meet The Fockers 2 Ocean's Twelve 3 Team America 4 Lemony Snicket's... 5 White Noise 6 Elektra 7 National Treasure 8 Sideways 9 Son of the Mask 10 Without a Paddle 11 Blade Trinity 12 SpongeBob Squarepants 13 Manchurian Candidate 14 Raise Your Vopice

  • New festival includes a genuine feast of music!

    STEVE Earle, Alabama 3 and Matthew Herbert are preparing for the first ever Wychwood Music Festival, being staged at Cheltenham Racecourse from tomorrow to Saturday. Eliza Carthy and Vrttin, Mory Kante, the Omar Sosa Trio and musicians from all continents

  • Let yobs suffer the humiliation

    PLANS to make yobs wear US-style uniforms while doing community work have been blasted by Human Rights groups. But what about the victims of these thugs? These yobs have chosen a life of crime so let them suffer the humiliation of being shown up as such

  • Don't knock 'stupendous' fair

    At first I thought that your correspondent Alan Simpson's complaint about Stow Fair, Journal, May 19, was a record of Friday night in Evesham town centre. You know - music blaring out everywhere, cars buzzing about, loads of youngsters having a great

  • Irish article full of errors

    IN last week's Journal, 'Comments Cause Row in Village' Michael Gordon-Smith said: "The article was a lovely piece of Irish writing." However, it was badly researched, full of errors and was untouched by the mainstream of the village. It was stated that

  • Thanks for kindness

    MAY I, through your paper, say a big thank you to the lady who came to my aid last Saturday, May 28. I was on Littleworth Street, going home with my shopping, when I suddenly felt very ill and almost fell. This kind lady helped carry my shopping and walked

  • Council saves nursery scheme

    A £1M nursery project for a deprived area of Kidderminster has been saved from a financial crisis after council chiefs intervened and took it over from a leading charity. The scheme for a centre to provide 40 full day-care places at Birchen Coppice Middle

  • M5 noise prompts Society's concern

    DROITWICH watchdogs have written to road chiefs about motorway noise affecting the quality of life of town residents. The Droitwich Spa Civic Society, which represents the views of town residents on matters affecting the environment and quality of life

  • Gardening fans to have a right royal day out

    A GROUP of garden enthusiasts from Worcestershire is looking forward to a rare royal treat when they visit Prince Charles' world-renowned private gardens at Highgrove. The 25 tickets, at £125 each, were instantly snapped up to join trip on Thursday, June

  • Visitors to Swan get glimpse of stage life

    THE public had a glimpse of life in the limelight during Worcester Swan Theatre's Access All Areas open day. Professional sword-fighting expert Rob Page gave tips on how to make on-stage punch-ups look realistic and dance worker Elizabeth Crosswell ran

  • Queen's wishes to anniversary couple

    THE Queen sent a card with her best wishes to world record-breaking couple Percy and Florence Arrowsmith when they celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary. She described their marriage as a "splendid achievement" and sent them "warm congratulations"

  • Runners train with rugby team

    A PAIR of Race for Life runners tackled their training head on by taking part in a work-out with Worcester Ladies rugby players. Carolin and Charlie Flothmann were put through their paces at Sixways ahead of their city run next week. They were joined

  • What's On

    TONIGHT: Birmingham: Marriott Hotel - Lupa. CBSO Centre - lunchtime Messaien Concert. Conservatoire - The Partisans. Wolverhampton: Civic Hall - Tori Amos. Little Civic - Iain Archer. Stourbridge: Rock Caf 2000 - Riverman. FRIDAY: Bewdley: The Talbot

  • Race for a skatepark

    WHEELS are in motion to help Tenbury youngsters lead healthier, fitter lives after a committee was formed to help provide a skating/BMX facility in the town. But time is running out for the group, which is calling itself Wheels in Motion, because a quote

  • Exhibitions

    MAC, Birmingham - Birmingham Print Makers, until July 3. The Ballad of Hoa, until June 26. A Boy in a Woman's Body, until June 26. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry - Works of Liliane Lijn 1959-80, until June 22. Lighthouse, Wolverhampton - Fluid One, until

  • Vandals attack listed building

    THE OWNER of one of Kidderminster's oldest buildings has slammed vandals who smashed its historic windows, which were worth thousands of pounds. Yobs threw large cobblestones through the leaded windows of the Tudor building in Church Street on Tuesday

  • Summer fun by riverside

    THE summer carnival season kicks off in Wyre Forest this weekend with a week of fun in Bewdley. Events are being held throughout the town during the coming days in the run up to the Saturday, June 11 carnival procession. Pubs and clubs will take to the

  • Plan to settle hedge rows

    NEIGHBOURS who fall out over the height of garden hedges might find council officers stepping in to resolve their disputes, although it could cost complainants £300. From yesterday, Wyre Forest District Council has been given new powers to allow officers

  • Couple's lasting lifeboat legacy

    A LIFEBOAT that has saved the lives of 264 people is to be officially named after the Kidderminster man who paid for it at a prestigious ceremony this month. The vessel, to be called the Joan and Ken Bellamy, is stationed on the River Thames in London

  • 2/6/05 - City decide to quit reserve division

    WORCESTER City have scrapped their Midland Combination League Reserve Division side to reduce wear and tear on the St George's Lane surface. City tendered their resignation from the league after deciding that too many matches were overburdening the club's

  • Eckington

    SUMMER FETE: Eckington Under Fives and Foes are holding a summer special fete on Saturday, July 2 from 2pm to 4pm. It includes a fun dog show. CHEESE AND WINE: To raise funds for Pershore and District Voluntary Help Centre, a cheese and wine evening will

  • Moreton

    LAST CALL: The final reunion of Moreton branch of the Royal Air Forces Association was held at the Fire Service College on Saturday, May 21. Sixty who served there from 1941-1959 attended. Many friendships were renewed, one occasion was a meeting between

  • Mayor opens care centre for animals

    THE mayor of Evesham, Councillor Frances Smith, spent time with the animals when she opened the new outdoor Animal Care and Rural Skills area at Evesham College. She was joined by supporters from local animal and rural skills related businesses and organisations

  • Mickleton

    PARISH COUNCIL: The statutory annual meeting preceded the parish meeting. Chairman Cllr L Stowe retired from office after four years and Cllr M Stowe was elected chairman. Cllr J Medlyn was appointed vice-chairman and Cllr J Franklin was elected a responsible

  • Willersey

    VILLAGE OF THE YEAR: Willersey has won the Cotswold Life Village of the Year competition and the prize is a village fete to be held on August 20. The fete is being organised by Cotswold Life with a village liaison committee's help and is likely to include

  • Heavy lorries are by-product of society

    HEAVY lorries on unsuitable roads are an unfortunate by-product of today's society, any chance to eliminate them, other than to stop consuming, went long ago with our failure to utilise our canal and railway systems. It is sad that Bourton-on-the-Hill

  • Kids locked out of new play area

    CHILDREN have been locked out of a fully equipped play area that has remained unused for eight months. The enclosure, promised as part of a new housing development in Stourport, has yet to open, despite being completed last October. Housing bosses said

  • I CAUGHT TOT AS HE FELL OFF ROOF

    A POSTMAN saved a Worcester tot from horrific injuries by catching him when he let go of roof guttering. The drama unfolded yesterday lunchtime when a neighbour saw young Sam clambering about on the flat roof of the extension in a property in McIntyre

  • They're giving a lead to rampant hounds

    MAN's best friend will be kept on a tight leash in the Malvern Hills this month as a new class starts to control dogs around livestock. The Sheepsafe courses are being run by professional dog trainer Sue Harper, of Orchard Road, Malvern in conjunction

  • Siblings' hearts broken by theft of treasured items

    TWO Kidderminster children have been left heartbroken after having their "irreplaceable" garden ornaments stolen. The items, worth over £100, were taken from their Gardeners Close home on Sunday morning. Addresses in nearby Beechfield Drive were also

  • Biker knocked to floor by youths

    A TEENAGED motorcyclist was knocked to the floor by two youths on trials bikes who then chased him down the road, brandishing bike chains. When the victim ran away, the offenders, who had been riding yellow trials bikes, returned to his red and black

  • Archers stunned by raid at school

    YOUNG archers were left devastated by the theft of their bows and arrows. The equipment was taken from Winterfold House School, Chaddesley Corbett, where the club meets, with the thieves' haul including 12 bows and 138 arrows. A rechargeable halogen lamp

  • Cemetery theft was a despicable act

    I WOULD like to address the person or persons who, on Friday night, May 20, stole two small cut-glass vases from my mother's grave in Kidderminster Cemetery. This was discovered by my father on the Saturday morning. The flowers had been tossed aside and

  • Don't lead Harriers into obscurity

    THE situation at Kidderminster Harriers appears to be going from bad to worse, with Stuart Watkiss's team-building plans in tatters. Everyone is aware of the Reynolds and Newton situation but surely, for the sake of the club, the manager and its long-suffering

  • Drink laws 'kick in teeth' for hall users

    FEARS have been expressed that new licensing laws could destroy village halls and the social structure of rural communities. Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff met concerned hall trustees in Bishampton last Friday and is due to air their concerns at a Commons

  • Teacher Debbie vying for top award

    A TEACHER at a Vale school has been nominated for an award to celebrate excellence in education. Twenty-eight-year old Debbie Morgan, who teaches maths at Pershore High School has been nominated for the Guardian Award for Teacher of the Year in a secondary

  • Jumping for Acorns

    MY wife Kath and I would like to offer our grateful thanks to everybody who sponsored my parachute jump, in memory of Dave, and to all those who provided help. These included Rotary Club of Bewdley, Stourport Boat Club, Stourport Rugby Club, Rotary Printers

  • Missing cheerful driver

    FROM time to time I use the small bus from the Kidderminster Hospital stop to Stourport, and return. The regular driver always seemed punctual and was ever cheerful and courteous. However, having not seen this driver of late, on inquiring I learned that

  • Playground result of 18-months work

    A NEW £46,000 playground is due to be officially opened in Bretforton tomorrow following 18 months of planning, fund-raising and consultation. After asking the village youngsters what sort of play equipment they wanted, a committee of volunteers set about

  • Teenagers keen to get people on their side

    MEMBERS of the Evesham youth group Our Side are looking forward to the future after 60 people turned up to support their quest for a suitable social club. The event took place on Wednesday, May 25 at the Public Hall in Evesham. Community members, youth

  • Deadline looms for firms vying for business awards

    SUCCESSFUL companies from the Vale of Evesham have just a week left to send in their nominations to be in the running for a prestigious awards scheme. The fourth annual Chamber Awards are taking place and nominations need to be in by Friday, June 10.

  • Kathy's hoping for ace support

    VALE sportswoman Katherine Hancock is appealing for support to help her progress through the ranks of her sport, Wheelchair Tennis. Thirty-seven-year old Mrs Hancock, of Sedgeberrow, has been a wheelchair user for nine years after a fall. Katherine took

  • Man jailed for iron bar attack over debt

    A man who mounted an attack with an iron bar in an Evesham street has been jailed for four months. Christopher Hagen hit Darren Poole on the head after an argument blew up over a debt, Worcester Crown Court heard last week. When police got to the scene

  • 2/6/05 - Brain calls time on Keast's Sixways stay

    ANDY Keast was forced out of Sixways by player unrest. Worcester's head coach left yesterday after director of rugby John Brain made the bravest decision yet of his four-year stay. The former British Lions coach, who arrived at Sixways in January 2002

  • Brain calls time on Keast Sixways stay

    ANDY Keast was forced out of Sixways by player unrest. Worcester's head coach left yesterday after director of rugby John Brain made the bravest decision yet of his four-year stay. The former British Lions coach, who arrived at Sixways in January 2002

  • Coach played key role in Warriors glory

    THE shock Sixways announcement has brought an end to the Brain-Keast era. The duo, who first met up at Gloucester in 2001, revolutionised the coaching structure at Worcester following the Geoff Cooke years. Brain arrived at Worcester in June 2001 after

  • City decide to quit reserve division

    WORCESTER City have scrapped their Midland Combination League Reserve Division side to reduce wear and tear on the St George's Lane surface. City tendered their resignation from the league after deciding that too many matches were overburdening the club's

  • Steve savages Fossils

    STEVE Savage led the way for Peopleton as they drew with the Fossils. Savage was in fine form, hitting seven fours and two sixes in a hard-hitting innings that saw Peopleton reach 206-6. He was backed up by 32 not out from Fred Walker, including seven

  • Flynn century too good for Exiles

    A CENTURY from Dan Flynn helped Barnards Green defeat Exiles by 132 runs in Division One of the Worcester Cricket League. Flynn (112 not out) and Chris Smedley (79) were in good form as Barnards Green scored 198-2. Exiles could only manage 66-9 in reply

  • Hamlet's pals step out into the spotlight

    TAKING two minor characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet and putting them at the centre of their own drama, Tom Stoppard made his stunning debut as a playwright in the late 1960s. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead introduced him as a dazzling new talent

  • Police find dumped pick-up after raid

    A BLUE pick-up truck believed to have been used in the theft of £40,000 from an HSBC cash-dispenser in Broadway has been found over the county boundary in Warwickshire. Det Sgt Paul Andrews said: "This is an important find in tracing the perpetrators

  • Multiple Sclerosis Society

    ON May 16 Mike Jones gave a talk on beekeeping. The next meeting will be on Monday, June 13 at 7.45pm at St George's Social Club, Radford Avenue, Kidderminster. On that occasion, Nicola Kelly, the area's MS nurse, will give a talk. For further details

  • Kidderminster Cycling Club

    ON Saturday, members will take part in a 200km event from Monkswood Green, Worcester. On Sunday two rides will start at The Green, Blakebrook, Kidderminster. The A ride, starting at 9am, is an informal trip with the destination to be decided on the day

  • The sounds of summer

    SOUNDS of Summertime, the concert to raise money for children of Chernobyl, is being staged at Evesham's All Saints Church this Saturday. It will feature the Still Time Jazz Band from London and Evesham's Avonbank Brass Band. It starts at 7.30pm. Tickets

  • Choir joins church's floral show

    A VALE village church will be filled with the sounds of an acclaimed unaccompanied choir next week. Mosaic from Warwickshire are appearing at St James' Church, Bishampton, on Saturday, June 11, when the church will be decorated for its annual Flower Festival

  • Sultans squeeze in a date at Huntingdon

    THERE'S the usual interesting line-up of acts booked for June at the Huntingdon Hall. Julie Matthews, who was due to play on Tuesday, has had to cancel her concert but there are plenty more treats in store for music fans of all kinds through June. Next

  • Kennedy concerts will boost Acorns

    ONE of the world's leading violinists, Nigel Kennedy, is staging concerts locally which will be raising money for children's hospices. He will be teaming up with the English Symphony Orchestra for two concerts in July. The first is at the Centaur Centre

  • Srourbridge and Kidderminster Cage Bird Society

    AT the May meeting G Haines talked about the ups and downs of the breeding season. He then took on the role of quizmaster. The next meeting will be on June 14 at The Woodman, Mount Pleasant, Kingswinford, when Tony Mulford will give a talk on foreign

  • Church's music festival opens

    ST Leonard's Church in Bledington, will be packed with music lovers next week when its fifth annual music festival gets under way. On Tuesday, a popular trio return - flautist Philippa Legge, soprano Anna Belward and pianist Greg Smith. "They thrilled

  • Junior chefs to cook up treat at top county show

    EASY cheesy caterpillars, an apple and lavender cake, a chocolate chip mousse tower and a volcano surprise - junior chefs across Herefordshire, Gloucestershire And Worcestershire have been creating some truly scrumptious concoctions for entry in a new

  • Annie's mission to aid orphans

    A BEWDLEY churchgoer has set up a charity to help orphans in Kenya after witnessing the country's "horrendous" poverty at first hand. Annie Austin has set up Orphans of Kenya under the umbrella of the Riverside Church in Dog Lane. The 62-year-old, of

  • A sunnier side to the students

    STUDENT lifestyle is constantly under fire in the media, whether it is criticism of so-called "soft" degree options, students' legendary ability to sleep all day or their boozy image. However, there is another side to campus life, which some take the

  • Fun day for our appeal

    PUPILS from throughout Wyre Forest have given Operation Covert a major boost with a sponsored non-uniform day. Children wore their own clothes or their Beaver, Cub, Brownie or Scout uniforms to raise cash for the drive to rebuild the torched activity

  • Pershore-on-Avon? A call for name change

    A MEETING of business and tourism leaders in Pershore heard that the town should consider changing its name in a bid to attract more visitors. The Promoting Pershore networking event at the Number 8 Community Arts Centre last Friday discussed the possibility

  • Pershore is all-at-sea for carnival

    THERE was fun in the sun as Pershore was transformed into a seaside town for its annual carnival. Apart from a short shower during the fancy dress parade, the weather at Pershore-on-Sea was bright and clear throughout Monday's event. Dave Shaw, the chairman

  • Rejection proves folly of 'project'

    THE French rejection of the EU constitutional treaty surely indicates, once and for all, the abject folly of the so-called "European Project". The French "left wing" objects that the treaty is too far inclined to the right while the French "right wing

  • Pay by the telephone

    Wychavon District Council has launched a 24-hour telephone payment line. The automated service will allow customers, using credit and debit cards, to pay council tax, car parking fines and invoices at any time of the day, seven days a week. Customer Services

  • Joy as long-awaited skate ramp is opened

    ORGANISERS of Broadway Youth Club have are celebrating a success story now a skate ramp has been installed in the village. The donated facility was installed at Broadway's recreation ground last October and with the advent of summer its popularity is

  • Billy's just kidding about the berries

    BILLY the kid is a young goat who has everything... but risks it all one fateful night. The Snow Dragon, based on the Toby Mitchell book, is a show for children aged three and older coming to The Theatre, Chipping Norton, with Tall Stories, a top children's

  • Wards face closure as part of £4m cutbacks

    TWO wards at Evesham hospital could be lost as part of a £4million cutback. Staff at the community hospital received the body blow this week when they were told to cut costs or lose services. Closing two wards at Evesham and transferring the orthopaedic

  • Back to school for double fund-raiser

    MORE than 20 years after he swapped his desk for a microphone, music star, Mike Sanchez, is going back to school to raise cash for Kemp Hospice and Bewdley In Bloom. The charismatic entertainer is performing at Bewdley High School on Saturday, June 18

  • On song to revamp church

    A BID to convert the annexe of a Kidderminster church into a parish office - creating more privacy for the vicar and his family - is to receive a musical boost this month with the start of a series of fund-raising concerts. The Canoldir Male Voice Choir

  • Folk star takes to club's stage

    A MUSICIAN being promoted as one of folk music's finest performers is playing at Stourport Riverside Folk and Acoustic Club tomorrow. Bob Fox began his career 30 years ago, playing around the many folk clubs in the north east of England and is now regarded

  • Well-trained mayor wants to do town proud

    THE new Mayor of Kidderminster said he knew what to expect for the busy year ahead after getting a taste of civic duties when his wife held the prestigious position. Peter Dyke spent a year as consort to his wife, Helen, when she was mayor in 2003 and

  • Recreating era of heavy horse power

    HORSE power of a different sort will be celebrated by Severn Valley Railway during an event that will also feature a Queen Victoria lookalike. The company's Heavy Horse Weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, will recreate the era when horses were used to pull

  • Licence plea to pubs

    TIME could be called on publicans who are dawdling over applying for new-style licences to sell alcohol. Other people who need the licences are also in danger of being caught out by the new system, which applies to communities and charities as much as

  • £1 million nursery plan saved

    A £1 million nursery project for a deprived area of Kidderminster has been saved from a financial crisis after council chiefs intervened and took it over from a leading charity. The scheme for a centre to provide 40 full day-care places at Birchen Coppice

  • Cash for charity

    A STREET collection in Kidderminster raised £264.06 for the town's branch of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. The collection was held on Saturday, May 14.

  • Head learns a lot from China visit

    STOURPORT High School's headteacher has described a recent visit to China as "life changing". Liz Quinn was part of a delegation sent by Worcestershire LEA to Beijing and Shanghai. The group also spent time in the province of Yang Zhou. She said: "The

  • Seven Tories in council cabinet

    THE council group which makes key decisions on education, social services, libraries and the roads has appointed a new-look decision making body. The cabinet at Worcestershire County Council is now made up of seven Conservatives, including Wyre Forest

  • Duck race to swell carnival 'current' account

    THE River Stour's resident bird population will just have to go with the flow on Saturday when hundreds of plastic ducks join them on the Kidderminster waterway. The annual duck race, which is now a traditional part of Kidderminster Carnival festivities

  • Learn to take relaxing time

    STRESS has become a major health problem and can have long-term effects on our bodies and mental stability, weakening the body's defences against diseases and infections. Stress is the second biggest cause of illness in the workplace and absenteeism costs

  • We've got the map, now for the treasure

    CHILDREN dressed as pirates and sailors used treasure maps to discover species of exotic plants brought back to Croome Park from the high seas in the 19th Century. The half-term activity at the National Trust park, near Upton, was one of several events

  • Business Brief

    New director A LEADING firm of auctioneers, valuers, surveyors, land and estate agents has appointed a new director at its Kidderminster office. Chartered surveyor and auctioneer Daniel Lovatt, aged 31, is on the board of Halls. He has been working closely

  • Unhealthy blacklist

    COMPANY bosses who ignore health and safety rules should be named and shamed and placed on a publicly available "blacklist", a leading safety organisation has warned. Responding to a recent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) consultation, the Association

  • Pension scheme funding shortfall

    Nearly nine out of 10 final salary pension schemes face a funding shortfall, a report showed today. About 89 per cent of the pensions are in deficit, collectively facing an estimated £130bn black hole, according to the Association of Consulting Actuaries

  • Let yobs suffer the humiliation

    PLANS to make yobs wear US-style uniforms while doing community work have been blasted by Human Rights groups. But what about the victims of these thugs? These yobs have chosen a life of crime so let them suffer the humiliation of being shown up as such

  • Irish article full of errors

    IN last week's Journal, 'Comments Cause Row in Village' Michael Gordon-Smith said: "The article was a lovely piece of Irish writing." However, it was badly researched, full of errors and was untouched by the mainstream of the village. It was stated that

  • What's On

    TONIGHT: Birmingham: Marriott Hotel - Lupa. CBSO Centre - lunchtime Messaien Concert. Conservatoire - The Partisans. Wolverhampton: Civic Hall - Tori Amos. Little Civic - Iain Archer. Stourbridge: Rock Caf 2000 - Riverman. FRIDAY: Bewdley: The Talbot

  • Theatre

    Rose, Kidderminster - Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Monday until June 11. Hippodrome, Birmingham - Dancing in the Streets, until Saturday. Birmingham Royal Ballet Stravinsky Celebration, Wednesday until June 11. Repertory, B I - The Fence, until Saturday

  • Exhibitions

    MAC, Birmingham - Birmingham Print Makers, until July 3. The Ballad of Hoa, until June 26. A Boy in a Woman's Body, until June 26. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry - Works of Liliane Lijn 1959-80, until June 22. Lighthouse, Wolverhampton - Fluid One, until

  • Emily's debut

    Emily Smith and her band have been playing at venues and festivals the length of the UK, Europe and the USA and on June 10 they'll be at Hereford Courtyard. With her passionate interpretations of the finest in Scottish tradition, together with the band's

  • Eckington

    SUMMER FETE: Eckington Under Fives and Foes are holding a summer special fete on Saturday, July 2 from 2pm to 4pm. It includes a fun dog show. CHEESE AND WINE: To raise funds for Pershore and District Voluntary Help Centre, a cheese and wine evening will

  • Evesham

    DANCERS from Stacey's School of Dance in Evesham participated in Bobby's Academy of Dance freestyle dance competition in Swindon. Debannie Phillips one of the youngest members of the school, came first in the under-eight beginners' solo event, having

  • Fladbury

    ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: The outgoing chairman, Mr W Llewellyn was thanked for his continued unstinting effort over the past year and was elected chairman for another year, his 10th. He thanked councillors for their past and continued support. Cllr

  • Mayor opens care centre for animals

    THE mayor of Evesham, Councillor Frances Smith, spent time with the animals when she opened the new outdoor Animal Care and Rural Skills area at Evesham College. She was joined by supporters from local animal and rural skills related businesses and organisations

  • Ilmington

    ANNUAL PARISH MEETING: The annual parish meeting, chaired by Cllr Tony Wilkins, was held recently with all six parish councillors, district councillor Chris Saint and 30 parishioners present. The meeting heard a report on progress on the playing field

  • North & Middle Littleton

    PARISH COUNCIL: At the May meeting Cllr Colin Emms was re-elected chairman and Cllr Alan Lloyd vice-chairman. Congratulations were extended to Cllr Tom Bean on his re-election as county councillor for the district. Representatives from Worcestershire

  • Heavy lorries are by-product of society

    HEAVY lorries on unsuitable roads are an unfortunate by-product of today's society, any chance to eliminate them, other than to stop consuming, went long ago with our failure to utilise our canal and railway systems. It is sad that Bourton-on-the-Hill

  • Hay, Hay, we're the festival

    Max Boyce proved a winner with locals on the preview night of this year's Hay Festival. Oggy Oggy Oggying and getting the crowd on its feet to his version of the Haka, the choice of a Welsh legend set the flavour for a bigger event, more rooted in its

  • Stories for grown-ups

    ONE of the country's top storytellers, Cat Weatherill, is coming to Evesham next week to entertain townsfolk before bedtime. Her show Mermaid is described as storytelling for grown-ups and it comes to Evesham Arts Centre on Tuesday. "An entrancing, visually

  • The sounds of summer

    SOUNDS of Summertime, the concert to raise money for children of Chernobyl, is being staged at Evesham's All Saints Church this Saturday. It will feature the Still Time Jazz Band from London and Evesham's Avonbank Brass Band. It starts at 7.30pm. Tickets

  • Choir joins church's floral show

    A VALE village church will be filled with the sounds of an acclaimed unaccompanied choir next week. Mosaic from Warwickshire are appearing at St James' Church, Bishampton, on Saturday, June 11, when the church will be decorated for its annual Flower Festival

  • Musical mix from Abba to Cuba

    THERE'S a musical theme to the variety of entertainment on offer at The Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham next week - dance spectaculars, Abba and the Stones. Direct from Cuba, Lady Salsa runs until Saturday, then on Tuesday, Phoenix Dance Theatre brings

  • Junior chefs to cook up treat at top county show

    EASY cheesy caterpillars, an apple and lavender cake, a chocolate chip mousse tower and a volcano surprise - junior chefs across Herefordshire, Gloucestershire And Worcestershire have been creating some truly scrumptious concoctions for entry in a new

  • Great Dane, great fun

    Victor Borge was a brilliant pianist and virtuoso comedian whose top-rating TV shows were loved by audiences throughout the English-speaking world, as were his live performances. Borge carried on touring the world until he was well into his 80s. It is

  • Flog those items with the BBC

    BBC2's Flog It team visits Hereford on Sunday in search of valuables. The hit show, which combines the tradition of the Antiques Roadshow with the knockabout excitement of Bargain Hunt, has the added twist that contributors can win or lose their own money

  • Lovers can pick up red-hot tips

    WOULD-be ageing lotharios will be able to pick up some tips at the Rose Theatre this month when The Last of the Red Hot Lovers is performed. The play, by Neil Simon, is being performed on the main stage of Kidderminster's only theatre next Monday until

  • Billy's just kidding about the berries

    BILLY the kid is a young goat who has everything... but risks it all one fateful night. The Snow Dragon, based on the Toby Mitchell book, is a show for children aged three and older coming to The Theatre, Chipping Norton, with Tall Stories, a top children's

  • Back to school for double fund-raiser

    MORE than 20 years after he swapped his desk for a microphone, music star, Mike Sanchez, is going back to school to raise cash for Kemp Hospice and Bewdley In Bloom. The charismatic entertainer is performing at Bewdley High School on Saturday, June 18

  • On song to revamp church

    A BID to convert the annexe of a Kidderminster church into a parish office - creating more privacy for the vicar and his family - is to receive a musical boost this month with the start of a series of fund-raising concerts. The Canoldir Male Voice Choir

  • Wilde at Heart - No 8, Pershore

    THE life of Oscar Wilde retains a fascination which is, perhaps, disproportionate to his theatrical output. He wrote just four major plays in English, and many people would struggle to remember the titles of more than two (The Importance of Being Earnest

  • Woman critical after speakers hit head

    A 28-year-old woman was hit on the back of the head with large stereo speakers when her car crashed on the A38 in Droitwich. The incident happened yesterday afternoon at 3.40pm when her blue VW Golf Ryder hit a bridge on the road and veered onto the central

  • Turn your garden into a competition winner

    TENANTS have been challenged by their housing association to nurture their garden into a competition winner. The Marches Housing Association, which has tenants in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, wants its residents to enter the green-fingered fray and

  • UK chef title's just for starters

    A TALENTED chef has honed his culinary creations to become the UK's Young Commis Chef of the Year. David Hammond, junior sous chef at The Elms Hotel in Abberley, near Worcester, was given a box of mystery ingredients and had to prepare a three-course

  • Celebrations as college marks its 50th year

    A HOST of activities are being organised at Pershore College this Saturday at an open day to help celebrate the college's 50th anniversary. There are plant sales, a farmers' market, craft market, demonstrations, sports activities, exhibition of model

  • Theatre

    Rose, Kidderminster - Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Monday until June 11. Hippodrome, Birmingham - Dancing in the Streets, until Saturday. Birmingham Royal Ballet Stravinsky Celebration, Wednesday until June 11. Repertory, B I - The Fence, until Saturday

  • Terror of dog attackgirl, 2

    Owner just hopped on bus and left after toddler is bitten in face A DOG bit a two-year-old girl's face in Bewdley town centre - then its owner got on a bus and left the scene. Distraught mum, Tiffany Cooper, thought her daughter, Ellie, had lost an eye

  • Calls for extended routes and trains

    EXTENDED rail routes and longer trains should be introduced to help commuters who travel between Kidderminster and Birmingham, rail bosses have said. More people were using the train to get in and out of the city and measures must be put in place to meet

  • Anger over closure

    Fear care home users may be 'cut totally adrift' DISABLED people in Wyre Forest are "desperately worried" about what will happen to them when the axe falls on a "vital" residential facility that provides a change of scenery and respite for carers, it

  • New group aiming to Green up district

    THE Green Party is going from strength to strength in Wyre Forest after a district branch of the group was set up and a Wolverley resident announced her intention to stand at a Midlands by-election for the party. The inaugural meeting of the Wyre Forest

  • Village flies flag for vets

    A NEW standard will flutter proudly in Cookley as residents of the village and neighbouring Wolverley see their generosity rewarded. Villagers raised the £3,000 needed for the Cookley and Wolverley branch of the Royal British Legion to acquire the new

  • Course aimed at parents

    LONE parents in Wyre Forest have been invited to take part in a series of workshops to help them progress into further learning and training. The Big Brother Project is a two-week course run by Inspire to Independence - i2I - in partnership with Jobcentre

  • Warning on home callers

    HOUSEHOLDERS have been warned to remain vigilant despite a 13 per cent drop in the number of distraction burglaries across the police area that includes Wyre Forest. West Mercia Constabulary's latest statistics showed 221 offences - in some cases with

  • Evesham

    DANCERS from Stacey's School of Dance in Evesham participated in Bobby's Academy of Dance freestyle dance competition in Swindon. Debannie Phillips one of the youngest members of the school, came first in the under-eight beginners' solo event, having

  • Pershore

    ARTS THEATRE CLUB: The last evening meeting of the season was on May 20. The speaker for that evening had been taken ill earlier in the week but members were delighted that Frank Townsend was able to step in at short notice. He gave a talk on Family Tree

  • Fladbury

    ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: The outgoing chairman, Mr W Llewellyn was thanked for his continued unstinting effort over the past year and was elected chairman for another year, his 10th. He thanked councillors for their past and continued support. Cllr

  • Ilmington

    ANNUAL PARISH MEETING: The annual parish meeting, chaired by Cllr Tony Wilkins, was held recently with all six parish councillors, district councillor Chris Saint and 30 parishioners present. The meeting heard a report on progress on the playing field

  • North & Middle Littleton

    PARISH COUNCIL: At the May meeting Cllr Colin Emms was re-elected chairman and Cllr Alan Lloyd vice-chairman. Congratulations were extended to Cllr Tom Bean on his re-election as county councillor for the district. Representatives from Worcestershire

  • Let's build on these eyesores

    Gradually, Worcester is becoming a whole city again, rather than a city full of holes. We've become used to an urban landscape that is pockmarked with derelict eyesores. But now, the brownfield sites that have made this otherwise fair city seem like a

  • Club for retired

    A STOURPORT club for retired people is looking for new members. The club, 050 Wyre Forest, meets at Lickhill Community Centre, Lickhill Road on the third Thursday of every month. The club welcomes retired people aged 50 and over. For more information

  • Nasty habit brought to book

    A STOURPORT man who beat his 36-year smoking addiction has written a book to help other smokers kick the habit. Author Clive Richards's Enjoy Giving Up Smoking details the mental techniques that he used when quitting in 1995. Mr Richards, of Pullman Close

  • Market buyer's promise on jobs

    UP to 100 jobs could be created after property developers bought a former fruit and vegetable market. A health and fitness centre and a motor showroom are on the cards for the derelict Worcester Produce site close to the banks of the River Severn in Hylton

  • Binge drink laws brew disaster for village halls

    VOLUNTEERS from village halls across Worcestershire have criticised changes to the liquor licensing system that could threaten community cheese-and-wine parties and celebrations. New legislation means halls will be required to find one villager willing

  • Family shocked by attack on car

    A KIDDERMINSTER family were left in a "state of shock" after their car was set alight outside their house in a motiveless attack. The Guinan family woke in the early hours of Tuesday morning to find their Rover 416 SLi had been set on fire in the street

  • Theft is denied

    A KIDDERMINSTER man has denied stealing a horsebox and handling a stolen Citroen car. Job Clarke, 36, of Eddy Road, Foley Park, was remanded in custody at Worcester Crown Court for a pre-trial review on June 20.

  • £120,000 laptops go in raid at trade park

    PEOPLE tempted by bargain-priced laptop computers if they come across them at car boot sales could be buying stolen goods, police have warned. A total of 124 machines, worth a combined £120,000, were taken from the premises of freight carrier, TNT UK,

  • From the archives

    100 Years Ago June 3 ,1905 It is a pity that the proceedings of the Sanitary Committee of the Evesham Town Council on Tuesday were not public as we and the ratepayers at large would not only know what happened, but the reasons which swayed the committee

  • Man jailed for grooming girl

    A MAN who groomed a 13-year-old schoolgirl for future sex frolics has been jailed for two years at Worcester Crown Court under new laws designed to protect youngsters. Claudio Alberone labelled the victim "sexy babe" in a flurry of text phone messages

  • 'Erratic' driver faces ban

    A KIDDERMINSTER motorist drove erratically because his drunken passenger was trying to open the front passenger door, Worcester Crown Court heard. John Baker also claimed a discarded cigarette blew back into the Volvo and went down his shirt and on to

  • Move will create bogus taxi boom

    THE Office of Fair Trading (OFT) published its report last year, saying that there is an unmet demand for taxis throughout the country. Hence, Wyre Forest District Council has no alternative but to adhere to this report. A survey was carried out in the

  • Thanks after fall

    ON Wednesday afternoon, May 4, I fell down outside the Town Hall in Kidderminster. I would like to thank all the kind people who came to help me, particularly the person who checked my injuries, another who tried to get my glasses repaired, and yet another

  • Caravan owners on alert after spate of thefts

    CARAVAN owners in the Vale have been warned to check the security of their vehicles after a spate of thefts. They are also being told to be wary of buying accessories at car boot sales and other unauthorised outlets. South Worcestershire police issued

  • Shoppers warned over pickpockets

    POLICE are warning shoppers to be on their guard following a spate of pickpocket incidents on Evesham High Street. Three female shoppers were targeted as they shopped in the town last Thursday (28). The first report was made at 12.15pm by a woman who

  • High school in search for the original Four Pools

    STAFF at Evesham High School at Four Pools are digging in to try and establish the whereabouts of the original four pools. "A feature of our Jubilee Garden which is to be officially opened on Friday, June 10 is a pond which we believe to be one of the

  • Youngsters scale new heights to raise cash

    PUPILS at St Andrew's CE First School in Hampton were blown away last Friday as they took part in their annual balloon race. Over the past weeks pupils have been busy selling balloons to friends and relatives. These were released in batches throughout

  • Attempted theft at nursery

    POLICE have issued descriptions of two men they want to question following the attempted theft of a strimmer from a Vale nursery. A man was seen at The Nurseries on Tewkesbury Road in Eckington attempting to make off with the equipment at 5.45pm last

  • Landlord's anger as road stays shut

    A THREE-year project to repair a Vale road that has seen costs soar by about £200,000 has been described as a "catalogue of disasters". Steve Brittain, landlord of the Fish & Anchor pub in Offenham, has accused Worcestershire County Council of "yet

  • Woman driver in lucky escape

    A WOMAN had a lucky escape when the car she was driving flipped over onto its roof in a lane near Temple Grafton. Firefighters were called to the accident last Friday at around 8.50am on Temple Lane, off the Alcester Road, near Redhill Farm. The driver

  • Son's anger at parking mix-up

    THE son of an elderly woman, caught up in a concessionary parking dispute, has slammed Wychavon District Council for being heartless. Eighty-five-year-old Nancy Connell, from Pinvin, stuck a concessionary 20p parking ticket on her windscreen, which she

  • Pay by the telephone

    Wychavon District Council has launched a 24-hour telephone payment line. The automated service will allow customers, using credit and debit cards, to pay council tax, car parking fines and invoices at any time of the day, seven days a week. Customer Services

  • 2/6/05 - Coach played key role in Warriors glory

    THE shock Sixways announcement has brought an end to the Brain-Keast era. The duo, who first met up at Gloucester in 2001, revolutionised the coaching structure at Worcester following the Geoff Cooke years. Brain arrived at Worcester in June 2001 after

  • Shoaib flies in for an early County start

    SHOAIB Akhtar could be in action for Worcestershire earlier than scheduled. The Pakistan pace ace flew into Britain last night in order to prepare for his summer stint at New Road after failing to win a place on his country's tour to the West Indies.

  • Gunner on mark for adopted side

    A CAPTAIN in the Royal Artillery made the most of his weekend off by hitting two centuries in as many days for Worcester Nomads. Charlie Harmer hit an unbeaten 113 for Worcester Nomads against Avoncroft on Sunday before reaching 134 in Nomads' Crusader

  • Fletcher injury dilemma

    SCOTLAND midfielder Darren Fletcher has vowed to play through the pain barrier if it can help his nation get to the World Cup finals. However, the 21-year-old will not put himself at risk in the double-header with Moldova and Belarus if it means missing

  • Astley Horticultural Society

    A SUMMER Ball will be held at Astley village hall on Saturday, June 25, when the music will be provided by The Crown Phoenix Big Band and Singers. All proceeds from the event will go to Kemp Hospice. The doors will open at 7.30pm, and there is a bar until

  • Bewdley and District Horticultural Society

    DUNCAN Straw of Perhill Nurseries gave a talk on perennials for difficult places. Everyone was given a coleus and a fuchsia, to enter a special class at the two-day flower, vegetable and floral art show on August 13-14. On the visit to Menith Wood Nurseries

  • Broome WI

    THE resolutions were discussed at the May meeting. A planned walk and lunch at Dudmaston Hall was cancelled, but it is hoped to arrange a new date in June. The annual fund-raising barbecue will take place on Sunday, August 7 at president Barbara Harris's

  • Chaddesley Corbett Gardeners' Club

    AT the May 11 meeting, Grace Derby, from Kings Heath, showed specimens from the large variety of shrubs, creepers and plants which grow in her garden. The next meeting in Chaddesley Corbett village hall, will be on Wednesday at 7.30pm, when Rachel Smith

  • Kidderminster District Probus Club

    MERVYN Needham was the guest speaker on May 18, talking about "Footsteps in the Andes". He commenced by showing a map of South America and outlined the trip he and his party, with guides, took on a recent holiday. He pointed out the main road through

  • Stourport Divers

    THE UK coastal dive calendar started with members enjoying beautiful weather over the early May Bank Holiday weekend, as they used the club boat to dive locations in the Plymouth area. Dives included the James Egan Layne, a Liberty ship sunk by a German

  • Stories for grown-ups

    ONE of the country's top storytellers, Cat Weatherill, is coming to Evesham next week to entertain townsfolk before bedtime. Her show Mermaid is described as storytelling for grown-ups and it comes to Evesham Arts Centre on Tuesday. "An entrancing, visually

  • Stourport TG

    MRS Bache, from the Casualties Union, gave a talk on how volunteers act as casualties to train Police, fire men and paramedics on how to deal with large-scale emergencies. An invitation to a strawberry tea in June has been received from Lickhill Guild

  • Lickhill WI

    MAVIS Morrissey and Kath Oakley led the discussions on the resolutions, which were passed unanimously. Mrs Oakley asked members to donate items for sales tables and a raffle at the strawberry tea, to raise money for Acorns. Yvonne O'Shaunessey's photograph

  • Friends Social Group

    THE Worcester branch of this group for the unattached, meets every Tuesday evening, at a pub near Worcester, at around 8.30pm or 9pm. On Tuesday, the social night will be held at Perdiswell, Droitwich Road, Worcester. Future meetings will take place at

  • Wyre Forest Business Club

    ON Wednesday, the third in the "communication" series with Fiona Mullany will take place, on the subject of "Beating procrastination". The meeting will be at the Ramada Hotel, Bewdley, doors open at 7.15pm for a 7.45pm start.

  • Worcestershire ME Support Group

    THE next meeting will be on Wednesday from 2pm until 4pm, at Unity House, Stanley Road, Worcester. A meeting will take place on Monday, June 13, from 7.30pm until 9.30pm at Malvern Evangelical Church, and the following day, from 2pm until 3pm, a meeting

  • Musical events will stir many memories

    THE music of Karen Carpenter, a 1940s music show and a heart-wrenching drama are set to make for a week of different emotions at Tewkesbury's Roses Theatre. On Sunday, audiences will be taking a sentimental journey through the Carpenters' hits with singer

  • Ramblers Association

    THE Wyre Forest group has organised an outing to Bath tomorrow, which will include an optional half-mile walk. For details telephone 01299 827883. On Saturday, there will be a six-eight mile early morning walk at Church Stretton, with breakfast at the

  • Musical mix from Abba to Cuba

    THERE'S a musical theme to the variety of entertainment on offer at The Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham next week - dance spectaculars, Abba and the Stones. Direct from Cuba, Lady Salsa runs until Saturday, then on Tuesday, Phoenix Dance Theatre brings

  • British Sugarcraft Guild

    THE Wyre's monthly meeting at Stourport Memorial Park community centre, at 7.30pm on June 9, will welcome international demonstration and author Alan Dunn, who will show how to make passion flowers. Mr Dunn has written several books and co-authored others

  • Andy Roberts - a good listener and the man at the top

    Since Councillor June Longmuir took charge of the county's education department, exam results have improved, targets have been hit and Worcestershire has achieved top marks from Ofsted. But, last week, she was removed. Education reporter Dan Kendrick

  • Bidford

    GARDENING SOCIETY: The May meeting was held at the Methodist Hall, Bidford. The chairman announced that the afternoon outing on May 5 had been a success, visiting Brook Cottage, a private garden in Newent, and then returning via an orchid farm. The speaker

  • June 2, 2005

    ONE excitement in London is that as there are now nearly 30 MPs who are not members of a major party, as a group we may be able to call for Opposition Day debates. Also there may be money available from Parliamentary allowances for extra support as already

  • We've supported Operation Covert

    1st Wilden Guides 5th and 6th Stourport Brownies 10th Hereford Cubs 12th Kidderminster (Blakedown) Scout Group Ash Friendship Fund Ballroom Glitz Beards Ironmonger Bulls Head, Cookley Bridgnorth Vintage Machinery Club Cadspec Chaddesley Corbett Freemasons

  • Rotary at the races

    ROTARY club members are hoping to boost Operation Covert with fund-raising at a motor racing event this weekend. The Shelsley Walsh British and Midland Hill Climb Championships takes place on Sunday,when Bewdley Rotary Club will entertain guests and hold

  • I'm working while mutts are walking

    Forget Do It Yourself, Brits are declaring 'Do It For Me' as the nation shells out a mind-boggling sum of cash to pay for other people to cater for their needs such as cleaning, gardening and decorating. Where our forebears expended a lot of their time

  • Lovers can pick up red-hot tips

    WOULD-be ageing lotharios will be able to pick up some tips at the Rose Theatre this month when The Last of the Red Hot Lovers is performed. The play, by Neil Simon, is being performed on the main stage of Kidderminster's only theatre next Monday until

  • 2/6/05 - Shoaib flies in for an early County start

    SHOAIB Akhtar could be in action for Worcestershire earlier than scheduled. The Pakistan pace ace flew into Britain last night in order to prepare for his summer stint at New Road after failing to win a place on his country's tour to the West Indies.

  • Is the government right to make us carry a card?

    CONTROVERSIAL plans for compulsory ID cards are back on the political agenda after being conveniently side-stepped during the General Election. Objectors to the government's proposals, reintroduced last week, highlight the estimated cost of such a scheme

  • Teacher Debbie vying for top award

    A TEACHER at a Vale school has been nominated for an award to celebrate excellence in education. Twenty-eight-year old Debbie Morgan, who teaches maths at Pershore High School has been nominated for the Guardian Award for Teacher of the Year in a secondary

  • She cuts a tragic figure

    HEATHER Timney cuts a tragic figure - forcing herself to read N Taylor's letters without appearing to have a coherent opinion of her own for protection! It's very simple Heather - if you really fear right-wing influence, just examine the past eight years

  • Forum to focus on the health of men in Vale

    MEN'S health week, staying independent longer and the voluntary sector will come under the spotlight at a forum in Pershore organised by Worcestershire County Council. County councillors Robert Adams, Adrian Hardman and Liz Tucker will be at the event

  • Cash for a good cause

    DURING RSPCA Week, April 25 to May 1, Tesco once again very generously allowed us to collect for the local branch at three of their stores and we raised £5,075.73. I would like to thank the Tesco staff members for their help and support, the customers

  • Mayor opens learning suite

    PERSHORE town mayor, Councillor Chris Parsons, officially opened the Learning Suite at Polestar Varnicoat in Terrace Road, Pinvin, as part of Adult Learners' Week. At the ceremony last Thursday, the mayor also presented certificates to six employees who

  • Building yet more roads is no answer to problem

    SO the new Mayor of Worcester wants the Western Orbital bypass extended (Worcester News, Monday, May 30). Trying to build your way out of traffic congestion has long been discredited. Look at the M25 close to Heathrow. Is it the second or third widening

  • Artists offered a new platform

    ARTY locals are being sought by Pershore's Number 8 Community Arts Centre. The centre is making ready to stage its first open exhibition which will be a platform for all local artists looking to exhibit their work for the first time or who are building

  • Concert targets diabetes

    AROUND three million people in Britain are believed to suffer from diabetes but half of these are blissfully unaware of the condition, which is a major cause of blindness among adults. With these alarming statistics in mind, a concert is being held on

  • Band showcase to be full of teen spirit

    TWENTY up and coming bands are to unleash their sounds on Wyre Forest in a musical showcase being staged by Kidderminster College's Mighty Atom Smasher Records. His Verbal Crusade, Dead Letter Office and Bare Bones are among the line-up being promoted

  • Tribute act offers blues and boogie

    A BRIEFCASE of blues and boogie will rock a Kidderminster Hotel this month. Blues Brothers tribute act, The Double Diamond Blue Bros, have performed to sell-out audiences in theatres and hotels across the world and are performing at the Briars Hotel in

  • Residents' fury at mast plans

    ANGRY residents battling plans to put three mobile phone masts on the same Kidderminster site say the area is in danger of becoming a "dumping ground" for masts. A 12 metre monopole has already been put up on the Charlie Brown site in Stourport Road,

  • Disabled get railway boost

    DISABLED passengers who use Kidderminster station are to benefit from a £370 million Government spending spree. The fund will provide "step free access" at the station. The Strategic Rail Authority fund will also enable the station to be fully staffed

  • Help is needed

    PEOPLE who can spare their time are being invited to help out at Kidderminster's Sense charity shop as National Volunteers Week is in the spotlight. The national event, which began yesterday and runs until Tuesday, has prompted the call for extra helpers

  • 'Wonderful' Rosie in line for award

    A RESPECTED Wyre Forest teacher is celebrating after being nominated for a prestigious award that recognises excellence in the profession. Rosie Moss, the head of creative arts at Baxter College in Kidderminster, has been chosen as a finalist in the West

  • Silver surfers learn as generations click

    OLDER residents in Wyre Forest have shown that age is not an obstacle when learning how to surf the net. The Community Housing Group - formerly Wyre Forest Community Housing - took part in National Silver Surfers Day, aimed at teaching older people how

  • Having your say on public rights of way

    RESIDENTS of Wyre Forest are being invited to have a say in improving public rights of way such as footpaths and bridleways. Worcestershire County Council's countryside service has to draw up an improvements plan for rights of way under Government legislation

  • Night shelter scheme in fresh appeal for supporters

    ORGANISERS of a scheme giving vital help to homeless young people are offering Wyre Forest residents the chance to support their work. Wyre Forest Nightstop provides safe, emergency accommodation for homeless people aged between 16 and 25 in the homes

  • The Unexpected Man - Festival, Malvern

    MANY will go find their way to Malvern to see two big stars of the small screen but it is to be hoped that they come away enriched by the remarkable talent of a challenging and entertaining contemporary playwright. The performances of Sian Phillips and

  • Wilde at Heart - No 8, Pershore

    THE life of Oscar Wilde retains a fascination which is, perhaps, disproportionate to his theatrical output. He wrote just four major plays in English, and many people would struggle to remember the titles of more than two (The Importance of Being Earnest

  • Film rentals chart

    1 Meet The Fockers 2 Ocean's Twelve 3 Team America 4 Lemony Snicket's... 5 White Noise 6 Elektra 7 National Treasure 8 Sideways 9 Son of the Mask 10 Without a Paddle 11 Blade Trinity 12 SpongeBob Squarepants 13 Manchurian Candidate 14 Raise Your Vopice

  • Ethic of work now in force at home

    PEOPLE are spending so long at work they are using business skills to organise their home lives, such as "outsourcing" cleaning work to give them more time to socialise. According to a survey of 1,000 workers suggested personality traits shaped by someone's

  • A day for learning adult skills

    EMPLOYEES for the Learning and Skills Council in Worcester took a break from their usual workload to try out something new as part of Learning to Work Day. Activities at the LSC base in Progress House in Midland Road included yoga, Tai Chi, photography

  • Top marks

    A GROUP of young accountants from Rabjohns, the Worcester-based business and tax advisers, are celebrating exam success. Beth Palmer, Laice Pinfield, Jenni Collins, Colin Boden, Gareth Thomas and Rose Arnold, all saw their efforts pay off in the industry's

  • Shareout at Co-op

    CO-OP Dividend cardholders in Worcester will share a £163,000 payout while community projects are also set to benefit from a bonus of £6,700. The top payment is £206 to a customer of the St John's supermarket, while many shoppers have accrued more than

  • Longer hours giving workers less time

    Almost one in three workers blamed long hours or stress for not being able to take up some form of training or education in the past three years. The survey of 1,000 TUC employees also revealed that stress levels were higher among full-time workers. The

  • Can your company take the top title?

    SUCCESSFUL companies are being urged to apply for one of the most prestigious business awards schemes in the two counties of Worcestershire and Herefordshire. The fourth annual Chamber Awards are taking place and nominations are being sought from companies

  • New festival includes a genuine feast of music!

    STEVE Earle, Alabama 3 and Matthew Herbert are preparing for the first ever Wychwood Music Festival, being staged at Cheltenham Racecourse from tomorrow to Saturday. Eliza Carthy and Vrttin, Mory Kante, the Omar Sosa Trio and musicians from all continents

  • Don't knock 'stupendous' fair

    At first I thought that your correspondent Alan Simpson's complaint about Stow Fair, Journal, May 19, was a record of Friday night in Evesham town centre. You know - music blaring out everywhere, cars buzzing about, loads of youngsters having a great

  • Thanks for kindness

    MAY I, through your paper, say a big thank you to the lady who came to my aid last Saturday, May 28. I was on Littleworth Street, going home with my shopping, when I suddenly felt very ill and almost fell. This kind lady helped carry my shopping and walked