Worcester News - Stories for 12 July 2007

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Worcestershire | Archive | 2007 | July

Stories for 12 July 2007

Alcester

Garden views

SAVVY snappers have the chance to spend the day with one of the world's premier garden photographers in the Throckmorton Family Gardens at Coughton Court on Wednesday, July 18. more...

Gardens through a lens

SAVVY snappers have the chance to spend the day with one of the world's premier garden photographers in the Throckmorton Family Gardens at Coughton Court on Wednesday, July 18. more...

Ofsted report praises school

OFSTED has described St Benedict's Catholic High School in Alcester as "outstanding" after a recent inspection. more...

Pastor brings Italian flavour to the parish

A PASTA loving pastor who works in Wootton Wawen has become a fully-fledged priest. more...

June’s big bingo win

A BEAMING bingo player from Alcester is planning lots of treats for her family and friends after winning more than £10,000 playing the game. more...

Ex-worker wins dismissal case

A FORMER aluminium worker has helped his colleagues win more than £100,000 compensation for unfair dismissal in a test case - and pave the way for further awards of about £300,000. more...

Death of home’s oldest resident

THE oldest resident at Salford House residential home in Salford Priors has died at the age of 106. more...

Business

We are raising a glass to our juice

THE art of turning tomatoes into a popular drink is reaping dividends for one of Worcestershire's leading fruit growers. more...

Property market could be about to dip, says city agent

THE swings and roundabouts of the property market could be about to make one of their periodic dips, says Worcestershire estate agent Allan Morris. more...

Christopher Whitehead Proms

Christopher Whitehead Prom

The ladies and their car. Pic supplied by Julie Lawrence. more...

Christopher Whitehead Prom

Rochelle, Natalie and Larissa dressed to party for Christopher Whitehead's Valedictory ball at Worcester Rugby Club. Pic supplied by Petra Sandy. more...

Cricket

Poor start for Artefacts

MALVERN ARTEFACTS v NORTHWICK STROLLERS more...

Twenty/20 fever hits Malvern

MALVERN and Offenham were caught up in Twenty/20 fever on Sunday and decided to celebrate the popular new format of the game by staging two impromptu matches. more...

Pearson is man-of-the-match

MALVERN III v WORCESTER NOMADS III more...

Ankers drops anchor

MONMOUTH II V MALVERN II MALVERN Seconds chose to field in this Worcestershire County League Division Two 2nd XIs fixture at Monmouth. more...

Green in six-wicket win at Nomads

WORCESTER NOMADS II v BARNARDS GREEN II more...

Adam Dovey is the Malvern hero

MONMOUTH v MALVERN more...

Taylor turns in 7-27 for Nomads

EASTNOR v WORCESTER NOMADS more...

Elections 2007

zsfsd

November and is disappointed with the way members have been treated. more...

zsfsd

November and is disappointed with the way members have been treated. more...

zsfsd

November and is disappointed with the way members have been treated. more...

MONEY BACK

OUTRAGED gym members have spoken of their anger after a popular fitness centre suddenly closed and filed for administration. more...

MONEY BACK

OUTRAGED gym members have spoken of their anger after a popular fitness centre suddenly closed and filed for administration. more...

MONEY BACK

OUTRAGED gym members have spoken of their anger after a popular fitness centre suddenly closed and filed for administration. more...

In Brief

Centre holds open day

A WOMEN'S and children's centre is hoping Friday 13th won't scare off people from visiting its open day. more...

Kidder News Latest

Accolade rewards export sales boost

THE Queen's official representative in Worcestershire visited a Cookley factory to present an accolade from Her Majesty. more...

Devoted Friends donate £34,000

MORE than £34,000 was provided by a support group to buy medical equipment for Kidderminster Hospital over the past year, members of the group will hear. more...

Music boost for breast cancer

A KIDDERMINSTER school has raised over £1,000 in aid of breast cancer. more...

Music boost for breast cancer

A KIDDERMINSTER school has raised over £1,000 in aid of breast cancer. more...

Music boost for breast cancer

A KIDDERMINSTER school has raised over £1,000 in aid of breast cancer. more...

Shop owners' heartbreak

THE co-owner of fire-gutted Kidderminster arts and crafts shop, The Treasury, has spoken of her devastation and heartbreak following the blaze that ravaged it. more...

Service for much-loved teacher

TRIBUTES will be paid to a respected and long-serving King Charles I High School teacher at a memorial service on Tuesday. more...

‘We’re still here – don’t forget us’

"BEWDLEY is still open for business" is the defiant message from traders hoping to resurrect the town's tourist season, which has taken a battering from the recent deluges. more...

Cash to help SVR get back on track

A £750,000 lifeline has been thrown to Severn Valley Railway to help the popular tourist attraction get back on track after it was left devastated by storms. more...

Mum is haunted by near miss

A KIDDERMINSTER mother has spoken of her terror after a car raced along a pavement towards her and her young child, narrowly missing them. more...

Mum is haunted by near miss

A KIDDERMINSTER mother has spoken of her terror after a car raced along a pavement towards her and her young child, narrowly missing them. more...

Van actions raise suspicion

POLICE are appealing for information after a van was seen acting suspiciously in the Franche and Marlpool areas of Kidderminster. more...

Elderly woam victime of purse thieves

A WOMAN in her late 70s had her purse stolen while her attention was distracted by a couple in a Kidderminster supermarket. more...

Elderly woman victim of purse thieves

A WOMAN in her late 70s had her purse stolen while her attention was distracted by a couple in a Kidderminster supermarket. more...

Suspected brothel raided by police

FOUR people have been arrested after a premises allegedly being used as a brothel was raided. more...

Suspected brothel raided by police

FOUR people have been arrested after a premises allegedly being used as a brothel was raided. more...

Cruel thieves raid children's graves

RELATIVES of children buried in Kidderminster Cemetery have been left devastated and horrified by heartless thieves who stole ornaments from the graves. more...

Latest

U-Turn after traffic chaos

TRAFFIC chaos struck Worcester as thousands of drivers got stuck at the Ketch roundabout during rush hour. more...

Porcelain homes plans ‘too boring’

PLANS for a block of 16 apartments at Royal Worcester Porcelain have been thrown out after the city council rejected the design as not good enough. more...

Date set for new Rachel inquest

THE family of a young Herefordshire woman whose body featured in a graphic anti-drugs campaign are to finally see a fresh inquest into her death open later this year. more...

I’ve done well at college after turning internet firm into big hit

A WORCESTER woman has juggled caring for her two young children and running an internet business to gain vital qualifications to further her career. more...

I fear for future of café says owner hit by rivals

A COFFEE shop owner has revealed he is struggling to even earn the minimum wage since a rival chain started trading beneath him illegally. more...

Going back to 1940s

A LANCASTER bomber flypast will be one of the highlights as thousands go back to the 1940s at Croome Park, near Worcester, this weekend. more...

Man who took topless pictures of girl aged 15 cleared of two sex crimes

A professional photographer who took 112 pictures of a bare-breasted 15-year-old girl has been cleared by a court of two sex crimes. more...

1,000 sign petition to save ambulance centre

MORE than 1,000 readers have now backed the Worcester News' campaign to save the city's ambulance control centre. more...

MALVERN: Flats plan delayed as bats wait for home

A HOME-sweet-home for bats could soon be built in Malvern so that a building project can go ahead. more...

Stop cowboy motor sales, says city MP

SELFISH car sellers are setting up mock car show rooms' in a Worcester street in spite of new laws making it illegal. more...

Catch vandals who did this to my sign

VANDALS have destroyed a £500 sign placed in a field on the edge of Worcester directing customers to a local bed and breakfast. more...

42-year-old died weeks after she broke her ankle

A PHARMACY manager from Worcester died two weeks after falling over a road bump covered by snow while out delivering prescriptions to the elderly, an inquest heard. more...

College student wins major governor award

A STUDENT at Worcester College of Technology has beaten stiff competition to be named Student Governor of the Year. more...

Our really wild test for young bookworms

YOUNG readers have been issued a challenge for the summer holidays by Worcestershire County Council. more...

Enter fair’s scarecrow competition

A SCARECROW competition is likely to keep the birds away at a summer fair. more...

Hunt for heroes fighting drug misuse

THE search is on for the unsung heroes in Worcestershire who are winning the fight against the misuse of drugs. more...

Cowboy builders could be hit with an Asbo

Bogus builders and rogue traders operating in Worcestershire could be given an Asbo if they try to rip off homeowners. more...

Leisure centres given life-saving equipment

STAFF at three leisure centres across Worcestershire are being trained to use life-saving defibrillators to help save heart attack victims. more...

PERSHORE: Challenging new works at theatre thanks to arts grant

THEATRE-goers should prepare themselves for some out-of-the-ordinary productions after a market town arts centre secured a large grant. more...

It doesn’t feel like we’ve been together 60 years

LOVE for each other and for ballroom dancing has kept one Worcester couple together for 60 years. more...

DROITWICH: Happy birthday to Arthur and Helena - at 101 and 102

A TEA party was the setting for a very special day for two people at a residential home in Droitwich. more...

Twins Fred and John celebrate being 100

TWO of the oldest twins in the country celebrated their 100th birthdays in style - by getting a special letter from the Queen. more...

Twins Fred and John celebrate being 100

TWO of the oldest twins in the country celebrated their 100th birthdays in style - by getting a special letter from the Queen. more...

Twins Fred and John celebrate being 100

TWO of the oldest twins in the country celebrated their 100th birthdays in style - by getting a special letter from the Queen. more...

Arson suspected in skips fires

FIRES in three industrial skips at a Worcester retail park are believed to have been started deliberately. more...

Motorist seriously assaulted

A MOTORIST was taken to hospital after being seriously assaulted by another driver in Worcestershire. more...

Motorist seriously assaulted

A MOTORIST was taken to hospital after being seriously assaulted by another driver in Worcestershire. more...

Chicken carcasses close motorway

THE M5 in Worcestershire was closed after a lorry load of chicken carcasses spilled on to the road - without the driver realising. more...

Aldi wins go-ahead for controversial Droitwich store

GIANT supermarket chain Aldi can open a store in Droitwich after councillors went against their own planning policy and agreed to the new shop. more...

Strike action tonight

POSTAL workers from Worcestershire are set to strike tonight in a row over pay and job cuts. more...

Man arrested after swimming in the Severn

A MAN has been arrested after he decided to go for a swim in the Severn tonight (Thursday). more...

Patch needs a new home after owner dies

STAFF from Evesham's Dogs Trust are hoping to find a new home for Patch, a cross-breed which had been abused by its previous owner. more...

Road rage man sought

POLICE today launched a hunt for a road rage driver who savagely beat another man on the Evesham bypass. more...

Road rage man sought

POLICE today launched a hunt for a road rage driver who savagely beat another man on the Evesham bypass. more...

Road rage man arrested

POLICE today arrested a man in Cheshire an hour and a half after a motorist was badly beaten in a road rage attack on the Evesham bypass. more...

They're the first responders in a crisis. They're the people who lay down their lives to rescue us. They're firefighters, who get their expertise from a college in the Cotswolds. Reporter Anita Deshsmukh looks at the background to this internationally-renowned college and we launch a children's art competition, with the theme draw or paint your firefighter of the future, to mark its special open day. more...

Ready to face every disaster

Vale mayor’s week - July 12, 2007

AFTER the tremendous Festival of Music final concert on Sunday night I thought that would be it, but how wrong can you be. more...

Assault charge men arecleared

Two men accused of attacking a convicted drug dealer and his brother have been cleared by a jury at Worcester Crown Court. more...

Patch needs a new home after owner dies

STAFF from Evesham's Dogs Trust are hoping to find a new home for Patch, a cross-breed which had been abused by its previous owner. more...

Praise for school at its speech day

EVESHAM MP Peter Luff said he was delighted to discover that political apathy was absent when he addressed Prince Henry's High School speech day. more...

How you can easily become a life-saver

VALE and Cotswold people are being urged to become life-savers by signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register during National Transplant Week, which runs until Saturday, July 14. more...

Victor and Sheila... still in love after 65 years

A DASHING young Canadian airman who arrived in the Vale in 1940 as one of the first to join the RAF met and fell in love with a local girl. more...

Question mark over future of major firm

SPECULATION was mounting this week over the future of Evesham Technology, one of the biggest employers in the town. more...

Horror as knife blade is 'discovered' in doughnut

AN EVESHAM mother was horrified after her husband claims to have discovered a Stanley knife blade in a doughnut she bought from a leading supermarket. more...

All aboard for the Vale River Festival bonanza

EVESHAM is preparing for one of the biggest weekends of the year as the annual River Festival goes ahead as planned despite the recent appalling weather. more...

Letters

All we wanted was to save education centre

SIR - The many teachers, pupils and parents who know the benefits of the Malvern Outdoor Education Centre will be concerned at the direction in which the Worcestershire County Council may be heading. more...

You could stop jams with a tin of paint

SIR - It is easy to see why the cost of solving the congestion at Powick traffic island would be £1.3 million: £10 for a can of yellow paint to create boxes and the rest to educate the drivers who use the island not to selfishly block the free flow of the other traffic! more...

Customers should have boycotted cafe

SIR - Regarding the story recent stories about Cafe Nero winning permission to trade, I too am very disappointed that the council has given in by granting retrospective planing permission. It is yet another example of how the money of big business is more powerful than the law. more...

Most dentists want patients to drop in

SIR - I refer to the article in the NHS dentists waiting to fill thousands of spare spaces' (Worcester News, June 29). more...

I fear for our boys in NHS hospitals

SIR - If a terrorist link exists between NHS workers and Al-Qaeda then I fear for the safety of wounded British soldiers who are now treated in NHS hospitals. more...

You can’t compare Blair to Churchill

SIR - I disagree with George Cowley (Letters, July 2). Tony Blair cannot be compared to Sir Winston Churchill, who saved our country from disaster in the 1939-45 war, unlike Mr Blair who took us into an illegal war with Iraq. more...

...or a ghost town?

With reference to Mrs Daniel's letter Journal 5th July. more...

...or a ghost town?

With reference to Mrs Daniel's letter Journal 5th July. more...

Improvement for Pershore...

Janet Daniels' letter last week gives me the opportunity to say that I'd be very happy to talk to anyone who is concerned about the Pershore high street traffic management plans. The scheme will inevitably cause disruption in the short term but I believe will have long term benefits for the town. more...

Real constitutional basis in PM power

Reading Douglas J Wathen's views on constitutional reform last week, I was not only bemused by his arguments, which seemed to show a fragile grasp of both British constitutional history, but shocked that something that is, at best, ill informed nonsense and, at worst, fallacious Tory propaganda, was even committed to print. more...

The butt of joke

YOUR article in the Journal dated Thursday July 5, (Fine warning for smokers) Mr Carpenter the council's environmental protection manager said and I quote: "We are very pleased they have proved popular, he was of course talking about the plastic ash trays that the council have been giving away. more...

Different code for the school run

WHICH version of the Highway Code do those who only sit the Taking the Kids to School' driving test read? It must be a very different one to that associated with the regular driving test. more...

Path closure will not stop crime

IN response to the letter concerning the dumping of rubbish in the woods between Aggborough Crescent and Cobham road, I am a resident of Aggborough Crescent and I am appalled at the behaviour of a small minority of my fellow residents. more...

Foreign invader threatens river

THERE is at least one giant hogweed plant growing in the Stour riverbed in Stourport. more...

Why does pool need this fence?

WHAT is happening at Captains Pool on Spennells? more...

Memory Lane

100 Years Ago, July 20, 1907

A FATAL accident befell Henry Green, a respected Droitwich man and employee of the Great Western Railway Company. While oiling the points at the junction line at Droitwich station, he was knocked down by a Midland train. His fellow workers, realising the seriousness, sent for doctors, but there was no hope of any recovery. An inquest later found Mr Green was accidentally killed, with no blame attached to the driver. more...

50 Years Ago, July 20, 1957

THE annual safe cycling trials, organised by Bromsgrove Road Safety Committee, saw 74 youngsters taking part. Members of the committee, police, teachers and special constables acted as stewards along the route, from Ednall Lane to Finstall Primary School. more...

50 Years Ago, July 20, 1957

25 Years Ago, July 16, 1982

CAMPAIGNERS were celebrating with the news that Bromsgrove's rail link to Birmingham had been given a reprieve. A shock decision by the county council to withdraw Bromsgrove's subsidy, giving it all to the Redditch line, had put the link's future in doubt. However, a proposed British Rail programme for 1983-84 showed the service of nine trains a day would be continuing. more...

The last line of defence

THE men - and boys - who would have defended Rubery in the event of an invasion during the dark days of World War II briefly come on parade for our inspection in Memory Lane this week. more...

The last line of defence

THE men - and boys - who would have defended Rubery in the event of an invasion during the dark days of World War II briefly come on parade for our inspection in Memory Lane this week. more...

Music

Jazz rhythms inspire dance piece

WORCESTERSHIRE'S Youth Dance Company was one of two representatives from the West Midlands in the National Youth Dance Festival. more...

Two shows in one night

YOUNG musicians will be upping the tempo when they dash between two concerts in one night tonight. more...

Choral concert

RISING stars from Wyre Forest will sing their hearts out during a four-day concert tour of Devon. more...

Hits all the way at Hopton Court

BEATLE mania will be in full swing when Hopton Court hosts its Hole in the Wall concert tomorrow. more...

News

Signing targets Sixways trophies

NEW Zealand ace Sam Tuitupou insists he has moved to Worcester Warriors in order to win trophies. more...

Signing targets Sixways trophies

NEW Zealand ace Sam Tuitupou insists he has moved to Worcester Warriors in order to win trophies. more...

Surrey have no complaints over New Road decision

SURREY have backed the decision of the England and Wales Cricket Board to order a re-staging of the LV County Championship match between their main relegation rivals Worcestershire and Kent. more...

Kabir angered by omission

WORCESTERSHIRE paceman Kabir Ali has hit out at the England selectors for failing to include him in the provisional squad for the World Twenty20 in September. more...

Youth given away game for starters

WORCESTER City have been handed an away fixture in their bid for success in the FA Youth Cup. more...

City new boys in frame for debuts

WORCESTER City will give debuts to their three new signings against tenants Evesham United tomorrow. more...

City new boys in frame for debuts

WORCESTER City will give debuts to their three new signings against tenants Evesham United on Saturday. more...

Sixways starlets blossoming

WORCESTER Warriors academy manager Andrew Stanley has paid tribute to the conveyor belt of talent being produced at Sixways after rising star Charlie Fellows signed a one-year contract. more...

Warriors link up with Welsh outfit

HAVING already brought three New Zealand stars to Sixways, Mike Ruddock has now forged further links with the All Blacks - albeit a little closer to home. more...

County chairman offers Newton backing

WORCESTERSHIRE chief executive Mark Newton has received the backing of club chairman Percy Price despite his failed attempt to stage the LV County Championship match with Kent at New Road. more...

Rhodes is tipping his players to be ready

STEVE Rhodes is eager to unleash his chained bulls' on Hampshire Hawks when Worcestershire Royals kick-off their NatWest Pro40 campaign tomorrow (4.40pm). more...

Daly departs but West moves quick to fill gap

LIAM Daly has signed for Corby Town after weeks of wondering whether the talented central defender would be leaving Evesham United, writes Mervyn Collins. more...

Harriers get to work

WITH training in full swing Kidderminster Harriers manager Mark Yates has had a chance to run the rule over the trialists. more...

Harriers get to work

WITH training in full swing Kidderminster Harriers manager Mark Yates has had a chance to run the rule over the trialists. more...

Malvern away in EDF Energy National Trophy

MALVERN Rugby Club will play in next season's EDF Energy National Trophy against one of the oldest rugby clubs in the country. more...

Ledbury Town in visit to Langland Stadium

MALVERN Town welcome Ledbury Town to Langland Stadium tomorrow (Saturday) for their first pre-season friendly. more...

Opinion

It was worth trying to play at New Road

FEW businesses in Worcestershire have been hit as hard as the county's cricket club in the aftermath of last month's floods. more...

Past

From the archives - July 12, 2007

100 Years Ago July 13, 1907 BADSEY Flower Show is fixed for Tuesday, July 23, and intending exhibitors should apply at once for schedules. Many prizes are open to all comers, including table decorations, bouquets etc., all of which form one of the charming features of this show. As the quantity of exhibits annually increases, the committee are providing a second tent to afford the necessary tabling accommodation. A good programme of athletic sports has been arranged, and novel competitions in the shape of shooting the goal for footballers and a women's washing contest" will no doubt prove attractive. Roundabouts etc. are specially engaged. There will be dancing the evening to the strains of the Evesham Volunteers Band. more...

Pershore

Rainbow coloured clothes for charity

CHILDREN at Cherry Orchard First School went to lessons in all the colours of the rainbow in the name of charity. more...

Jailed for assault on partner in pub

A MAN who grabbed his girlfriend around the throat and threw beer glasses at a landlady has been sent to jail for five months. more...

Reubens picture inspires pupils

CHILDREN from Holy Redeemer Primary School in Pershore have been studying An Autumn Landscape With Views of Het Steen In The Early Morning by Peter Paul Reubens as part of the Take One Picture Project by the National Gallery. more...

Delighted patient is raising funds for ward

A PERSHORE woman was so delighted with her treatement in the Burlingham Ward of Evesham Community Hospital she is staging a charity fundraising event. more...

Here’s looking at you kids...for the best Bugsy

TEENAGERS Olivia Adams and Josh Allen prepare for their roles in the Pershore High School production of Bugsy tonight and tomorrow. more...

Nostalgic for days of the steam train

A PERSHORE man's life-long fascination with trains and railways has been recognised with a two-book publishing deal. more...

Places To Go

Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth

Venue: Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth more...

Property News

Property of the week - Traditional home is now modernised

THIS traditional semi-detached property at 23 Offenham Road, Evesham, has been modernised and improved by the current vendors to a very high standard. more...

Reviews

CD - Libertad - Velvet Revolver

IT would be hard to review Velvet Revolver without talking about Guns N' Roses and Stone Temple Pilots. more...

DVD - Them (15)

THEM is a strange little film. more...

CD - We Are The Night - The Chemical Brothers

BACK with another one of those block-rocking beats! more...

CD - Twighlight of the Innocents - Ash

LISTENING to this album brought back memories of sitting in a dingy bar at university listening to Girl From Mars with my shoelaces tied together. more...

DVD - Norbit (12)

WHEN his parents die, Norbit Albert Rice (Eddie Murphy) is taken under the wing of the enigmatic Mr Wong (Murphy again) at the Golden Wonton Restaurant and Orphanage, where the young Norbit meets his beautiful and intelligent soulmate, Kate (Thandie Newton). more...

Round-Up

Cobras celebrate achieving black belts

ELEVEN students are celebrating after passing their black belts at the Cobras Tae Kwon Do group, which covers Inkberrow, Peopleton and Crowle. more...

Young coaching duo on FA course

TWO Worcestershire teenagers have been selected to represent the West Midlands in a nationwide search to find the next generation of football coaches. more...

Gregory aiming for top-six progress

EVESHAM Rowing Club's Alex Gregory wants more than a new British record in his GB quadruple scull at the Lucerne World Cup Regatta. more...

Upton to stage its maiden triathlon

MORE than 150 competitors will be swimming down the River Severn from Upton on Saturday, just weeks after severe flooding in the area. more...

Purchase prepares with help of ladies

WORLD lightweight singles champion Zac Purchase has been launching out with the ladies ahead of this weekend's Lucerne World Cup Regatta. more...

Medal-hungry Jonny has rivals Tye-d up

KING'S School pupil Jonny Tye confirmed his national dominance in junior under 14 kayak racing at the British Canoe Union Flatwater Spring Championships. more...

Young takes honours in Alan's Tackle Open

WORCESTER-based matchman Nick Young rarely fishes open matches on commercial fisheries but when he does he is no slouch. more...

Swifts boss swoops for double signing

MANAGER Phil Mullen has added two new faces to his Stourport Swifts squad. more...

Money is issue in approach for Darby

ROD Brown believes Bromsgrove Rovers will miss out on signing former Shrewsbury striker Duane Darby. more...

Keeper Skyers gets Malvern chance

FORMER Worcester City goalkeeper Lewis Skyers is set to make his debut for Malvern Town this weekend. more...

Harriers boss to run rule over side

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers boss Mark Yates is aiming to ensure everyone in his squad gets a game this weekend. more...

Race inspection set

WORCESTER Racecouse will hold an inspection on Monday ahead of the scheduled meeting next Wednesday evening. more...

Helping to celebrate

MEMBERS of a Bromsgrove group helped celebrate Avoncroft's 40th birthday by holding its annual general meeting at Guesten Hall at the Stoke Heath, museum. Bromsgrove Society members enjoyed wine and cake last Thursday to mark Avoncroft Museum of Buildings reaching the landmark year.At the event, Jim Griffith, society chairman, gave a review of the year, with Pat Tansell, who chairs the local history group, and vice chairman, and chairman of the environment committee, Ron Skidmore, presenting their annual reports. John Sketchley reported on progress being made on Bromsgrove's new railway station, treasurer John Rowlands told members the society was financially sound. Following the meeting, members were given a talk by Simon Carter, director of Avoncroft, who reviewed the museum's origins and set out his vision for the coming years, to be based on the development of the existing exhibits. more...

It’s ready teddy go

A "BEARY" special event is taking place in Sanders Park this Saturday with fun for all the family. more...

Ethical banking

THE HSBC could come under scrutiny, now Bromsgrove District Council has called for ethical banking.Labour councillors, Peter McDonald and Colin Wilson, put forward the motion at a full council meeting and the move has now become an all party aim. Cllr Wilson said: "It was a Labour initiative to find out whether we were involved in ethical banking, but we have cross party agreement to ensure we are investing tax payers money in ethical banks who do not do business with oppressive states." Council finance chiefs have confirmed that the authority's main banker is HSBC. It has now been agreed at a full council meeting that this matter will be looked into by the council's audit board. more...

Trains run on time

RAIL passengers in Bromsgrove have benefitted from more trains arriving at their destinations on time. more...

Bagging a top industry award

Bromsgrove-based Byron has been acknowledged as a top innovator by the electrical buying category of retail giant B&Q. more...

Good food

THE search is on by the county council for school staff, pupils and their families and friends to find out how their health-conscious schools have fared in the Worcestershire School Food Awards. more...

Three peaks

A DEDICATED team of Bromsgrove workers have raised cash for charity after scaling three mountain peaks. more...

Boosting our air quality

A CROSS-party task group has been set up to examine the air quality work being carried out by Bromsgrove District Council. more...

Sheena is aiming for the top

A BROMSGROVE singer has scooped a top place in a new girl band. more...

Black tie event

A GRAND charity ball is being held at the Gaudet Luce Golf Club, Hadzor, near Droitwich Spa, in aid of St Richard's Hospice. more...

Give blood

THE National Blood Service is appealing for volunteers to attend a donor session, which is being held in Droitwich Spa. People can give blood at the Royal British Legion, Salwarpe Road, during the session, which will be held on Thursday, July 26, from 1- 3.15pm and again from 4.30-7pm. more...

Coffee morning

DROITWICH Spa's Area Forum for Older People is holding a coffee morning, which will raise cash for international charity Water Aid. The event, which will be on Friday, July 20, is being held at the Salt Rock Cafe, Gurney's Lane, Droitwich, from 10am to 12noon. more...

Grass track fans on to a winner!

THE Worcester Winner is one of the biggest Grasstrack meetings held in the Midlands and seems to be increasing in popularity. more...

Bretforton book place in final

A 3-1 victory over Leamington earned Bretforton Ladies a place in next Monday's Stratford Summer Hockey League Final against Hampton-in-Arden. more...

Latest homing pigeon returns

Evesham and District Flying Club TWELVE members sent 151 birds to Kingsdown on July 7, liberated at 9.30am into a light south south west wind. more...

Vale mayor’s week - July 12, 2007

AFTER the tremendous Festival of Music final concert on Sunday night I thought that would be it, but how wrong can you be. more...

Wickhamford - grassroots

GARDENING CLUB: The next meeting will be held on July 25 in the Memorial Hall at 7.30pm. Marie Paginton will give an illustrated talk entitled New Zealand Homesteads.The monthly competition is a holiday photograph with horticultural interest. more...

Wick - grassroots

PARISH COUNCIL: At the meeting on July 4 it was reported that Wick residents would be given the opportunity to see the plans being proposed for revising the conservation area within the village. more...

Offenham - grassroots

FLORAL ART: Another successful couple of months gone by and now we are looking forward to the August outing to Margaret Thomas's Design Studio in Hereford (a few spaces still available - phone Chris 01386 446159). The society is having a Christmas Bonanza this year. An evening demonstration at the Evesham Arts Centre on December 3 with Sue Blandford and Christmas Decoration - her new demonstration specially designed for this night. There will be stalls selling suitable Christmas gifts and tea/coffee plus mince pies is included in the ticket price. For more information contact Chris on 01386 446159. more...

Offenham - Pupils take the walking bus to school

PARENTS and pupils from Offenham First School are doing their bit reduce the amount of traffic on the roads by operating a walking school bus. more...

Mickleton - grassroots

MICKLETON SOCIETY: Members were due to hold their garden party last week but, at very short notice, it became their King George's Hall Party! The wisdom of this decision became clear when a torrential thunderstorm developed during the evening with flooding and power cuts. Sandra Barlow and her helpers provided their usual spread. The next event is the outing to Kelmscott Manor on Thursday, September 6. . more...

Ilmington - grassroots

PARISH COUNCIL: The June meeting was chaired by Cllr Tony Wilkins. Mr Peter Tuckwell showed councillors a draft welcome leaflet which he had produced for consideration. It was agreed it was not necessary for this to be a glossy publication as only a small number would be required each year and it would require regular updating. Cllr Rob Hawkins and Mrs Sheila Ribbans agreed to discuss the draft and would liaise with Mr Tuckwell. more...

Harvington - grassroots

FIRST SCHOOL: The leavers' service held in the school hall on Sunday morning was well attended by parents, members of St James' congregation, school governors and other well wishers. Music was provided by the Joyful Noisemakers. The service was taken by the rector who spoke to the children about their time and experiences at Harvington school, memories of which he hoped would never be forgotten. Prayers were led by some of the leavers, after which, in keeping with tradition, each child received the gift of a Bible from the church. As the final act the children sang Drop in the Ocean, a song which is rapidly becoming their school song. more...

Harvington - grassroots

Fladbury - Crowds flock to see attractions at village annual walkabout

ABOUT 2,000 visitors from all over the Midlands turned up to Fladbury's annual walkabout and flower festival at the weekend. more...

Broadway - Estate courses

ACTIVITIES are being held at Farncombe Estate near Broadway this weekend. more...

Broadway - Blues nights

A SERIES of Blues nights are being held at the Crown and Trumpet Inn, Broadway over the summer months. more...

Broadway - lengthsman

A NEW parish lengthsman is to start in Broadway. more...

Broadway - lengthsman

A NEW parish lengthsman is to start in Broadway. more...

Broadway - Teacher Sara to be on TV show

CHILDREN at Broadway First School will have the chance to get their first glimpse of their new teacher on TV before she takes up her new post. more...

Broadway - Teacher Sara to be on TV show

CHILDREN at Broadway First School will have the chance to get their first glimpse of their new teacher on TV before she takes up her new post. more...

Broadway - Weather fails to hit tourism

TOURISM is on the up in Broadway despite the washout weather and floods that hit the county in June - which was officially the wettest on record. more...

Bidford - grassroots

GARDENING SOCIETY: On June 20 members visited Cerney House Gardens, near Cirencester, and Buscot Park, Faringdon. The visit at Cerney House began with a short talk given by the owner's daughter who runs the gardens with her husband. more...

Bidford - Rumours of new owners

HOPES were raised this week that jobs at Bomfords in Salford Priors may be secured, as a new owner was reported to be preparing to take over the troubled company. more...

Bidford - Bogus officials target the elderly

TWO men forced their way into an elderly, disabled couple's home in Bidford last Tuesday evening. more...

Bidford - Bogus officials target the elderly

TWO men forced their way into an elderly, disabled couple's home in Bidford last Tuesday evening. more...

Bidford - Top marks in school report

AN ALCESTER school which takes pupils from Bidford, Salford Priors and Evesham has been ranked in the top five per cent of schools nationally after receiving a favourable Ofsted report. more...

Countryside - chefs help

PLANS are well advanced for this year's British Food Fortnight, from September 22 to October 7, a national celebration of the diverse range of food Britain produces. The event's initiative inviting chefs to work with schools to teach children how to cook is being expanded this year. Organisations representing over 9,000 chefs have volunteered to take part. more...

Countryside - Attracting young to farming jobs

THE NFU has launched a new report aimed at attracting young people to jobs in agriculture. more...

Bidford - Suppliers needed for new venture

REGIONAL food group Heart of England Fine Foods is offering local producers and growers the opportunity to supply a speciality food hall and gastropub in an affluent area of Warwickshire. more...

Countryside - A sharp increase in opportunist farm thefts

A SHARP rise in farm thefts has prompted South Warwickshire based rural insurer NFU Mutual to warn country people of the need for effective security measures. more...

Countryside - Fresh, local foods to your doorstep

PEOPLE living within a 30 mile radius of Evesham can have award-winning local products delivered direct to their homes or workplaces. more...

Countryside - Fresh, local foods to your doorstep

PEOPLE living within a 30 mile radius of Evesham can have award-winning local products delivered direct to their homes or workplaces. more...

Cleeve Prior -Just clowning around!

CLEEVE Prior First School welcomed Kevin the Clown into the classrooms as part of a fun-filled circus experience funded by the school's Parent Teacher Association. more...

Archives - Scout membership doubles

MEMBERSHIP of the Pershore and District Boy Scouts Association had doubled in the past 12 months and was eight times larger than when the district was reformed in 1947, the Journal reported 50 years ago. more...

Archives - Fete goes ‘swimmingly’ despite heavy rain

HEAVY rain was a problem in the Vale of Evesham 75 years ago, as the Journal reported. more...

Archives - Grass-track racing not as spectacular in dry weather

SIXTY years ago enterprising members of Beckford Men's Club, in co-operation with Cheltenham Motor Club, succeeded in making Beckford a popular centre for grass-track racing. more...