Archive

  • MP in talks with doctors

    WYRE Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor is meeting Kidderminster Hospital consultants tomorrow to expose "the truth" about the downgrading of the town hospital. It is the first in a series of meetings the former hospital consultant is holding in his quest to

  • Maiden speech highlights 'gagging'

    DR Taylor has spoken out against the sinister background to the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital in his maiden House of Commons speech. He highlighted the "punitive and unfair" downgrading of the award-winning hospital amid a backdrop of farcical

  • Prof heads up review of surgery

    PROFESSOR Ara Darzi has been appointed chairman of the independent review into elective surgery at Kidderminster Hospital. Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor, who dismissed the review as a pre-election stunt when it was announced on the eve his historic

  • Clause in Bill is hailed as victory

    THE Government has already taken action to avoid "another Kidderminster Hospital" it has been claimed. A clause of the NHS Reform Bill will give scrutiny powers over the NHS to local councils. This is being seen as a consequence of Dr Taylor's remarkable

  • Man hunted after woman grabbed in centre of city

    A WOMAN has been grabbed from behind as she walked through Worcester city centre in the early hours. The seemingly motiveless attack happened as the 31-year-old victim walked along St Mary's Street, Arboretum, just after midnight on Tuesday, June 26.

  • Influential jobs for county MPs

    MIKE Foster and Sir Michael Spicer are today celebrating influential new jobs after a successful 24 hours for the local MPs. Worcester MP Mr Foster has been promoted to the fringes of Government after landing a job as the Parliamentary aide to Education

  • Motorway chaos as flatbed hits barrier

    FIFTEEN-mile tailbacks left drivers in a spin after a flatbed truck ploughed through the central reservation on the M5 and blocked two lanes. Yesterday's traffic chaos unfolded just after 2pm when the newly-built lorry - which had not even been registered

  • Workers' quick action averts major gas leak

    A MAJOR gas leak was averted in Hartlebury when quick-thinking workers managed to relocate 22 tons of gas seeping from a broken container into a tanker. Last night's drama began at around 7.30pm when a driver for Callow Gas, on the Rushock Trading Estate

  • 'Police invented statement'

    A WITNESS in the trial of three men and a woman accused of plotting a series of armed robberies in the West Midlands claimed police had invented parts of her statement. Lisa Jones was asked about interviews with detectives after a failed raid on Wolverley

  • Hospital review terms upset Wyre MP

    INDEPENDENT MP Dr Richard Taylor has criticised the terms of reference for the review of services at Kidderminster General Hospital. The Evening News yesterday revealed that Professor Ara Darzi, of Imperial College, London, was to chair an independent

  • Rebel vicar in vow to stay put

    A REBEL vicar at the centre of a gay sex row has vowed to stay put when his licence ends next January. Rev Charles Raven, of St John's Church, Kidderm-inster, said members of a controversial trust he has established are backing his move to remain with

  • Teenager shaken by mugging

    AN eighteen-year-old Kidderminster woman was left shaken after being punched in the face by muggers who stole her handbag. The attack happened at 11pm on Saturday as she was walking home from the railway station in Comberton Hill. As she walked along

  • A rising star

    RISING jazz singing star Stacey Kent is playing at Worcester's Huntingdon Hall next month. Her repertoire of standards, in a style influenced by the greats like Ella Fitgerald, has been featured on television in the UK and the USA. She grew up in New

  • Court is top for days out

    HISTORIC Witley Court is the fastest growing English Heritage attraction in the West Midlands region with around 60,000 visitors so far this year. Attendance is up 38 per cent on last year which saw figures rise 58 per cent on 1999's figures. News of

  • Raise the roof

    THE Marsh Singers will be raising the roof of St Thomas' Church in Todenham tomorrow (Friday). The concert programme will include Elgar, Mozart and Sullivan. Admission is £3.50 and tickets can be obtained on 01608 652259 or on the door at 7.30pm.

  • A dream will come true

    STRATFORD College lecturer Ed Pinner's dream will come true when one of his musical heroes, legendary New York blues man Popa Chubby, plays at the college next Wednesday. Ed, who is deputy head of the college's school for creative and cultural studies

  • Band say don't put label on us

    BEING pigeonholed is the great fear of Stratford band Franksound. The band, whose five members are in their mid-20s and come from the Stratford area, describe their music as an eclectic mixture of groove, funk and acid jazz. "We've got a totally original

  • On the horns of a housing dilemma

    IT'S no surprise that so much hand-wringing accompanied last night's debate on the future of Worcester's city council housing stock. It's been that way for some time. The relatively low turnout at the meeting shouldn't lead us to think that the rest of

  • Bad boys of rock give electric performance

    AC/DC - National Bowl, Milton Keynes, Friday, June 8 EXPERIENCED bad boy rockers, AC/DC looking very fit, mean and keen, despite all being on the wrong side of 30, performed the British leg of their Stiff Upper Lip European tour to a packed crowd at Milton

  • Museum to reopen

    COUNTY Museum at Hartlebury Castle is due to reopen on Monday - later than planned due to foot and mouth disease restrictions. The castle's open day, planned for June 24, was cancelled as the Bishop of Worcester - Rt Rev Peter Selby - who lives on site

  • 28/6/01 - Mac and Coyle win County Cup

    DUNCAN MacPherson continued his rich vein of form by winning Boughton Park's County Cup with partner Rob Coyle. The fourball betterball was won by the pair with a points score of 62. Six other couples were tied on 62 but MacPherson and Coyle won it on

  • Warmed by opera

    JUST to report a wonderful evening, thanks to the Journal, at the Longborough Festival Opera. The temperature seemed to be sub-zero and the most successful item of the standard English summer picnic was hot coffee! I would have liked longjohns under my

  • Police hunt for attack suspects

    A MAN needed hospital treatment after he was assaulted in a racially aggravated incident at Kidderminster Job Centre. He was taken to Worcester's Ronkswood Hospital for treatment after the attack. Police are seeking information about four people who left

  • Thank you PODS

    THROUGH your newspaper, may I pay the following tribute to Pershore Operatic and Dramatic Society (PODS), for the wonderful show, Me and My Girl which they presented at the Swan Theatre, Worcester. May I say congratulations! This was your best yet. The

  • 28/6/01 - Rhodes may miss out

    WORCESTERSHIRE'S Steve Rhodes is in danger of missing only his second County Championship match through injury in 17 seasons. He is due to have a fitness test later today on a calf problem to determine whether he will be able to play in the Championship

  • Hunt still on for sex pest

    THIS is the e-fit picture of a man who carried out two sexual assaults in the space of an hour but who has so far eluded Kidderminster Police. The image has been put together in a renewed appeal to trace the man responsible for the frightening attacks

  • They are victims of a dysfunction history

    TODAY is history tomorrow. Sadly many individuals in today's society are unaware of the significance of history in their education and personal development and, hence, show no respect for the environment in which they live, work or play. Those individuals

  • Hunt is on for flasher

    POLICE are hunting a flasher who exposed himself to two women in Kidderminster on Sunday. The two 21-year-olds were sat in a parked car in Lyndholm Road at 4.30pm when the man shouted across the road to them and exposed himself. The two women, who noticed

  • Too small for vital meeting

    MY wife and I went to Kidderminster Town Hall to attend the planning meeting for the proposed development of the college site and the quarry in Aggborough. We were prevented from entering the gallery. An official told us that it was already full and that

  • Females shoot for success

    WORCESTERSHIRE Football Association's first ever Female Festival proved a real hit last Saturday. Thirty-three teams from all areas of the county enjoyed the lovely weather and played some great football in the under-10, 12, 14, 16 and senior age groups

  • Almost 24 hours on trolley

    LAST week, after attending an outpatients diabetic clinic at Kidderminster Hospital, my husband was refe- rred to the medical assessment unit at Ronkswood. It was there that we experienced the effects that the downgrading of our hospital at Kidderminster

  • Hardly fantastic

    BEFORE all those who support Dr Taylor get too hyped up about their "fantastic success" it should be remembered, if one does the maths, that Dr Taylor now represents us at Westminster due to only 39 per cent of the local electorate. In other words, 61

  • Middlesex mugged by minnows

    The tranquil setting of the North Herefordshire village of Kingsland was the scene of one of county cricket's most audacious limited-over muggings. Minor Counties minnows Herefordshire stunned mighty Middlesex, four times winners, by dumping them out

  • Pipe breaks record in Worcs romp

    Wicketkeeper James Pipe claimed a competition record eight catches as Worcestershire stormed into the fourth round of the C & G Trophy. Worcester hammered poor Hertfordshire at Balls Park, Hertford by 267 runs -- a record winning margin in English

  • Rhodes may miss out

    WORCESTERSHIRE'S Steve Rhodes is in danger of missing only his second County Championship match through injury in 17 seasons. He is due to have a fitness test later today on a calf problem to determine whether he will be able to play in the Championship

  • Chalmers poised to arrive at Sixways

    SCOTLAND'S record-breaking fly-half Craig Chalmers will today agree to become Worcester Rugby Club's main man for next season. The 32-year-old will be Worcester's 17th new signing in the space of just two months as they set their sights on winning National

  • Lightning ton leaves Solihull thunderstruck

    SAM Smith scored his second century of the summer and took 3-32 for Royal Grammar School, Worcester to win the Evening News/Duncan Fearnley Cricket Sales Ltd. Cricketer of the Week award. The teenager struck an aggressive 133 off just 117 balls including

  • Angry driver slams 'maniacs'

    A FURIOUS driver has blasted brick-throwing yobs whose missiles came within inches of maiming his wife. Max Keen, of Derwent Drive, Bewdley, fears someone will die if the missile throwing maniacs strike again. He was driving along Kidderminster ring-road

  • Reserve paths remain closed

    FOOTPATHS through Spennells Valley Nature Reserve are now the only ones in the district still closed as a result of foot and mouth disease. The reserve lies within a three kilometre protection zone around Sparum Farm in Stanklyn Lane, which was the site

  • Arson fear at skip hire site

    FIREFIGHTERS battled for three hours and used nearly 22,000 litres of water to douse a blaze which started after 30 tonnes of rubbish were set alight. The fire at Wolverley Plant and Skip Hire, the site of a major arson attack in February 1999, involved

  • Revamp for 'eyesore' is thrown out

    COUNCILLORS have said no to a bid to revamp "one of the world's singularly unpleasant eyesores" in Kidderminster. Changes to Crown House, Bull Ring, which has been lambasted by Wyre Forest District Council leader Mike Oborski, have been declared unsuitable

  • 28/6/01 - Chalmers poised to arrive at Sixways

    SCOTLAND'S record-breaking fly-half Craig Chalmers will today agree to become Worcester Rugby Club's main man for next season. The 32-year-old will be Worcester's 17th new signing in the space of just two months as they set their sights on winning National

  • There's a lot to be said for joining a club

    VALE riders are being urged to join local riding clubs which are in turn affiliated to the British Horse Society. Membership of riding clubs has dropped during the foot and mouth crisis owing to the lack of riding competitions, but there are many benefits

  • Mabel marks a century

    A HUNDRED-year-old who says "contentment" is the key to longevity has become the first centenarian in the history of a Kidderminster sheltered housing complex. Mabel Haynes celebrated her century with friends and family at Arch Hill in Orchard Street

  • First riding show since foot and mouth curbs were lifted

    STAFF at Woodlands Riding Stables at Wood Stanway are looking forward to their first show since the foot and mouth crisis. The horse jumps have been newly painted in readiness for a combined training competition this Sunday. Competitors can enter four

  • Forum targets district road

    WYRE Forest people are being urged to come forward with their concerns over the state of district roads. Stephen Clee, Worcestershire county councillor for Chaddesley Corbett, has been newly installed as chairman of the Wyre Forest Highways Partnership

  • Fairytale comes true

    DREAMS came true for two budding Wyre Forest dance stars at a national competition. Life's a cabaret for Holly Gittins and Tamith Hooren after their rendition of Peter Pan classic The Second Star to the Right scooped an award. Song and dance team Tamith

  • Jack's the lad to be leader of the band

    IT will be a family affair in Cleobury Mortimer when a six-year-old takes up the baton to conduct a brass band for a good cause. Cornet player Jack Martin will join mother Linda, 34, who plays the euphonium with the Bell Inn Brass Band, at a special fete

  • £166,743 boost for funds

    COMMUNITY groups will gather next week to celebrate a massive fund-raising boost and prepare for further cash bids. Members of Community Action Wyre Forest, which in April scooped £166,743 of lottery money, will meet at the Glades Leisure Centre, Kidderminster

  • Floods trade fair

    BEWDLEY people whose lives were blighted by last year's flooding devastation will be able to see a range of flood defence systems demonstrated around the town on Saturday. The town is hosting the country's first ever flood defence trade fair, which will

  • Bid to create festival fringe

    YOUNG people from across Wyre Forest are being invited to help launch an alternative to the well-established Bewdley Festival. Janet Ferguson is hoping to launch a fringe to run in the week before and alongside this year's event, from September 29 to

  • Super Cooper the star

    PERSHORE defeated Lye in Saturday's run feast at The Bottoms in Worcestershire County League Division One. Home skipper Trevor Ridings won the toss and asked Lye to bat on a good batting wicket but his plans were soon in disarray when leading wicket taker

  • Late order duo deny Evesham a first county league success

    EVESHAM were denied victory by a stubborn eighth wicket stand after the home batsmen had shown their best form of the summer on a flat surface. The home bowlers had 11 overs to end Belbroughton's late resistance but Hayward and Farmer stood firm and Evesham

  • Under-13s on title trail

    NORTH Cotswold Young Cricketers moved a step nearer to retaining the Under-13 title after an emphatic win over undefeated Dumbleton. The visitors were unable to make much headway against the NCYCC attack and lost wickets at regular intervals. It was left

  • Slips in field prove costly

    DROPPED catches proved Pershore second team's downfall as their unbeaten run came to an end at Lye on Sat-urday. Dave Wickersham and Liam Ridings gave the visitors a fine start adding 44 for the first wicket as the latter went on to compile an excellent

  • Openers on song

    UNBEATEN Birlingham visited Harborne in Division Four of the Worcestershire County League and the hosts scored 190-8. Barber (3-44) and Horton (4-37) were the most successful bowlers. Openers Robin Drake (27) and Andy Howarth (55) paved the way for victory

  • Find out what the butler really saw

    DROPPED trousers, cross-dressing and attempted incest are just a few of the subjects about to be unleashed on Malvern. Malvern Theatres is opening its summer festival with Joe Orton's What the Butler Saw, a bawdy sex-farce set in a mental institution.

  • Pottery master in town

    ONE of Italy's leading potters arrived in Broadway on Friday to to exhibit his work. Paolo Staccioli is bringing his creations to Britain for the first time. In his native country he is considered one of Italy's greatest living potters and is known as

  • What an exhibition

    CHILDREN from the Holy Redeemer R C First School in Pershore have a display of their art work on show at the Number 8 gallery in the town's High Street. "We were asked if we would put on the exhibition and we provided a selection of work from every class

  • Inside/out

    WORCESTER City Art Gallery is to be turned 'Inside/Out' by a new exhibition. Jane Joseph is bringing a new collection of paintings, prints and drawings to the gallery between Saturday and August 4. The exhibition includes landscapes from Italy, Scotland

  • On show at the Royal Academy

    A MAJOR showcase of works by living artists - held annually since 1768 - this year features the talents of exhibitors from Warwickshire and Gloucestershire. The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the largest open contemporary event of its type in the world

  • Bretforton

    PARISH COUNCIL: Open Forum: A complaint was received about horse manure on the pavements in the village, particularly in Weston Road. County Council: Coun T Bean was absent from the meeting, coun G Bourne thanked to everyone who had supported him in the

  • Evesham

    BURMA STAR ASSOCIATION: Held their National AGM and Conference at Blackpool last weekend in the Winter Gardens - with dancing and cabaret Friday and Saturday evening with the 'Grumbleweeds', Beryl Johnson international singing star and Danny Larue. Hosts

  • Ilmington

    ILMINGTON SINGERS: The Ilmington Singers presented their summer concert with the help of some of their young friends this year. There are many talented young musicians in the village, the youngest to join us being Rose Perry who plays the clarinet and

  • Mickleton

    GARDENING CLUB: Another busy month for the club. On June 11, 19 members enjoyed an evening visit to Mill Dene, the Blockley garden of a converted mill, with millstream running through its centre. At the monthly meeting, entomologist, Roger Umpelby, gave

  • North & Middle Littleton

    PARISH COUNCIL: Some of the items discussed at the meeting held on June 13: Apologies were received from A Christison and G Haywood. Present - A Lloyd, Mrs J Bayliss, C Emms, P Brown, R Heming, three parishioners, Mr Bean, county councillor, and Mr Saunders

  • Produce

    Evesham Wednesday CABBAGE primo £2.50 to £4 crate, duncan £2.50 to £3.50 crate, cauliflower £5 to £8 doz, tomatoes 23p to 26p lb, beans broad 23p to 35p lb, dwarf 54p to 80p lb, peas 25p to 45p lb, courgettes £2.50 to £4.50 box, asparagus £2 to £2.80

  • Robinson falls away

    AFTER leading the tournament on the opening morning, Jeremy Robinson finished a disappointing tied 67 th at the Great North Open at Slaley Hall last weekend. The Evesham golfer made a marvellous start last Thursday, reaching the turn in just 32 shots

  • Jobs boom hope is a step closer

    A MULTI-MILLION pound plan to regenerate Stourport is one step nearer after councillors decided it should form part of the local plan. The Severn Road and Lichfield Basin redevelopment scheme, which is designed to bring new housing, business and employment

  • Profits hit in big SVR year

    A LANDSLIP, locomotive problems, appalling weather and a massive slump in profits derailed 30th anniversary celebrations for a major Kidderminster attraction. Heavy rain caused the closure of Severn Valley Railway between Bridgnorth and Hampton Load for

  • Theatre

    College, Kidderminster - Private Lies Thursday. Norbury, Droitwich - Romeo & Juliet Tuesday. Alex, Birmingham - Present Laughter until Saturday. Grand, Wolverhampton - Doctor Doolittle until Saturday. Suddenly At Home Tuesday until July 7. Malvern

  • ABBERLEY VILLAGE DANCING CLUB

    The drama section of the club, which meets every Sunday night at the village hall, was started three years ago when the senior citizens of the village were invited to a concert and tea. This was followed by a supper to a paying audience. The following

  • CHADDESLEY CORBETT WI

    Mike Randle and two colleagues from St John's Ambulance were guests at the June meeting. They explained and demonstrated anti-choking and resuscitation techniques and some members were able to practice on models. Rosalie Palmer reported on the food and

  • CLEOBURY MORTIMER WI

    The June meeting was a "theatrical" evening, as Colin Russell, whose main interests are literature and show business, gave an account of the colourful history of Drury Lane Theatre. His talk covered the era of Charles I and Nell Gwynne, coming up to date

  • KIDDERMINSTER CENTRAL TG

    A new venue from September onwards was discussed at the June meeting, and a show of hands from members showed the favoured meeting place to be St Ambrose Hall. Pam Hussey was welcomed as a new member, secretary Muriel Wanklin read the news from headquarters

  • KIDDERMINSTER CYCLING CLUB

    There will be two rides this Sunday. The A ride starts at 9am and visits Ironbridge in the Severn Gorge. The C ride starts at 9.30am and is a half day ride to The Jinney Ring Craft Centre near Hanbury. Both rides leave from The Green, Blakebrook, opposite

  • STOURPORT WRVS DARBY AND JOAN CLUB

    Mike Jones gave a demonstration on beekeeping at the June 11 meeting, showing hives and materials used for his hobby. Members were sorry to hear of the deaths of M Drew, the last member of the "Naughty Nannas" and Mrs Meadows. The "blind box" was opened

  • STOURPORT ROTARY CLUB

    Members of Stourport Rotary Club took folk young and old from the O'Dell Centre, Park Street, on a day trip to Drayton Manor theme park. Rotary member and Stourport mayor Michael Grinnall said it was a pleasure for the group to meet the people and their

  • WYRE FOREST BUSINESS CLUB

    On Wednesday Dale Powell of BBI will explain Stakeholder Pensions, at the Jarvis Heath Hotel, Bewdley, at 7.15pm for 7.45pm prompt start.

  • WYRE FOREST RAMBLERS

    There will be a four mile walk at the Severn Valley Country Park on Sunday. Walkers should meet at New Road car park, Kidderminster, at 10am. There are still a few places left on the joint walk with Bromsgrove group to Derbyshire on July 8. Anyone wishing

  • WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY WIs

    Tomato production will be the theme of the Science Club's meeting at Haven Nurseries, Little Witley, on Monday. Members should meet at 1.45pm for 2pm start. Anyone wishing to attend should contact Janet Clemas or Pam Harvey on 01299 266369.

  • COUNCILLOR

    SPEAKING as the county councillor for St Martin's ward covering the Warndon area, I am delighted with the excellent news that The Elgar High School has been awarded Technology College status. In recent times, this school has taken a lot of knocks by some

  • One step further

    FULLY agree with J Turner on voting (You Say, June 22). However, I would go one step further and support the Australian system of compulsory voting. We could also include a further option of being able to vote against any candidate that we, the voter,

  • Here's my wishlist for High Street

    SO Worcester's High Street is "tired out", (Evening News, June 22). It should be kept in good repair, but personally, I rather like the High Street as it is - cluttered. But it's not as cluttered as in the days when the present pedestrian precinct was

  • Single issue line fails dismally

    WENDY Hands has on numerous occasions attempted to portray the Countryside Alliance as a single issue group, fixated only with the preservation of hunting. Ms Hands fails dismally. She simply has no evidence to prove her case. Of the broad array of interests

  • Great fun as bike swap a success

    THE verdict was unanimous when Jim Curry and Simon Andrews swapped bikes for yesterday's jaunt around Mallory Park, writes Mervyn Collins. "It was great, said former British 125 champion Curry. "I thought Simon rode extremely well all things considered

  • Classic soul in town pub

    WEST Midland Soul Club is offering "classic oldies, Motown memories and northern soul" tomorrow night. DJs Mr Tee, Basil and Steve Russell will be playing at The Briars in Habberley Road, Kidderminster, from 8.30pm until 12.30am. Entry is £4. Information

  • Difficulty of coping with our rubbish

    AS your readers so rightly point out, people with a Monday collection are short changed in all ways. I always thought the old rotating system of collection generally worked very well. However, I have recently discovered that a lot of councils who operate

  • PAULINE ANNIS Stourport Civic Society Chairman

    PUTTING something back into the town she has come to admire is the inspiration behind the work of Stourport's Pauline Annis. The Stourport Civic Society chairman believes the town's Georgian past and the "wonderful" opportunities for its development make

  • Concern over fishing rights

    DROITWICH Canals Trust has re-negotiated fishing rights with the Railway Inn Fishing Club, who should have properly informed the public. There are a number of fishing clubs to whom we lease stretches of the canal to raise funds for the restoration. David

  • 'Model' evening

    WE had the pleasure of attending "A Thousand and One Tales" on Saturday, June 2, and would like to thank the organisers for a wonderfully entertaining evening. And congratulate them on an extremely well done and professional performance. The whole evening

  • It just makes you want to cry . . .

    VANDALISM is not a new phenomenon but it never ceases to shock and infuriate in equal measure whenever it happens. Isolated targets, often shrouded under cover of darkness, are sitting ducks for those intent on causing maximum damage and damn the consequences

  • A Vale-based poet who takes his inspiration from the land

    AN Evesham man has combined the two hobbies he is most passionate about - and is using one to raise money for the other. Visitors to next month's Stratford Poetry Festival are likely to hear extracts from Spirit of the Vale, Poems from nature and life

  • New bid to cut town car crime

    Evesham police are launching a scheme to cut car crime in the town. They are holding a car security and safety day in the Safeway car park, from 10am to 4pm on Saturday. Beat manager PC Tom Iddon said: "We will be giving advice on keeping your car secure

  • Food fair sets the taste buds tingling

    EVESHAM'S first-ever Asian food and arts fair certainly tempted the taste buds of visitors from far and wide. The event in the Workman Gardens proved a real winner with hundreds of people flocking to picnic on the Indian and Chinese food being served

  • Anger as paths are reopened

    STAFF at an animal sanctuary and Vale farmers in The Littletons, are incensed at the county council's decision to reopen footpaths. They say the move puts their healthy animals at risk from foot and mouth and is totally ridiculous while strict rules are

  • Young artists

    BUDDING Botticelli's and potential Picasso's had their work displayed and sold at an art exhibition on Tuesday. Every child at Church Lench CofE First School and the Lenches pre-school had a picture framed and put on display for parents and public to

  • Council plans to go hi-tech

    PERSHORE Town Council is planning to go hi-tech in a bid to gain "quality" status. Government changes mean that councils can now have their efficiency and quality gauged and Pershore is keen to adopt the new standards. Chairman John Grantham told members

  • Starring attraction

    NEVER mind a song about the little red Corvette - an Evesham man has got the goods for Maroon Morris Marina and has helped a show to go on in Birmingham. Terry Archer, of Pershore Road, Hampton, was absolutely "gobsmacked" to find a note on the windscreen

  • Chance to speak on health services

    VALE residents are being invited to have their say in shaping the future of their health services. Worcestershire Health Authority has now launched its consultation process designed to get people's views on its plans for a South Worcestershire Primary

  • Crackdown on sharp practices

    SHARP practices in the selling of public utilities such as water, electricity, gas and telephones are to be targeted as part of a cross-border initiative in Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Shropshire. New Consumer Minister

  • Ted's on top

    EVESHAM rider, Ted Roebuck claimed first and second places on his CT 125 Honda in Sunday's latest round of the EMRA Club Championship. Shipston rider Mark Steed was in the running for third in the Mallory Park opener when the second-placed rider came

  • Superb display clinches September showdown

    EVESHAM SC swam the final round of the Nuneaton League at Tamworth last Saturday. Superb performances from all the swimmers secured a place in September's grand final. The nine-year-old girls' medley relay team of Louise Schoenrock, Colleen Penrose, Tara

  • Nostalgia Nationals set to turn back the clock

    DRAG Racing, the most visual and colourful of all motorsports, returns to Shakespeare County this weekend as the raceway turns back the clock 40 years or more for the Nostalgia Nationals presented in its ninth year by the National Street Rod Association

  • Fun for families at Sunday meeting

    STRATFORD Racecourse will be hoping for record crowds at the third Coventry Evening Telegraph Family Day on Sunday, July 15. The newsgroup will be sponsoring six of the seven-race card and providing a celebrity penalty shoot-out in the parade ring from

  • Tom's rink is hottest

    THE South Warwickshire Association were the hosts at Whitnash to Leicestershire Vice Presidents Association on what was reputably the hottest day of the summer so far. Temperatures soared to approximately 80F with only a slight breeze. This caused the

  • Pershore make progress

    PERSHORE have secured a place in the first round of the Travelsphere Top Club Championship, with a 3-1 home victory over Barbourne, after taking all but the singles in the preliminary round. Wilma Day and Eileen Attwood had a comfortable 34-8 victory

  • Brazilian venture for firm

    A NEW venture between a Herefordshire company and a leading Brazilian food manufacturer is to be set up in Worcester. Hereford-based Sun Valley Foods has signed an agreement with Sadia to form a joint undertaking in the UK called Concordia Foods Limited

  • Falling for lawyers - hook, line and sinker

    A COUNTY law firm hoped to tip the scales of success by mailing 500 fish to rival solicitors. Morton Fisher sent the plastic fish to top matrimonial lawyers across the UK to nudge them into taking advantage of its knowledge of family law and financial

  • Going into cabinet

    WYRE Forest District Council is to adopt the leader and cabinet model of political management, pending approval by the Government. The move follows two official periods of consultation which saw an overwhelming three out of four people voting in favour

  • Teens dicing with danger

    SKINNY dippers who take the plunge in the pond at County Hall are dicing with death. Youngsters are stripping off to cool off at the Spetchley site while the hot spell continues, according to a County Hall security guard. He is regularly having to warn

  • 'You have to sell'

    SELLING off Worcester's council homes to a private landlord is the city council's only option if it wants to stay in the black. Chris Woods, director of auditors HACAS Chapman Hendy, told a housing board meeting the alternatives of keeping its 5,085 homes

  • Sainsbury's new plan set to go before council

    FRESH proposals by Sainsbury's for a supermarket in St John's are likely to be put before Worcester city councillors for a decision within two months. The revised plans are for a store in Swanpool Walk with a reduction of 1,500sq ft of sales space and

  • Trio jailed for terror incident

    SPURNED lover Gary Farr and two accomplices broke into his former partner's new home at night and terrorised the occupants, Worcester Crown Court was told. Ryan Harford kicked down the front door to enable Adrian Roberts, armed with a baseball bat, to

  • Event boost for play area

    A WORCESTER group has arranged a fun event for this weekend to help raise cash to revamp a children's playground. The Blackpole Residents Group has organised the event to be held on the playground and park, which is next to the Blackpole Estate. Worcester

  • Anger over high trees

    A WOMAN claims that her neighbours' "obsessive planting scheme" has left her back garden with no sunlight and a partially toppled fence. Sabita Chanda, who shares a common border with neighbours Chris and Gloria Chapman, said her problems began four or

  • In memory of mother

    A FATHER and his two dau-ghters are set to scale the heights of Ben Nevis in memory of his late wife and for leukaemia research. Chris Penny and his two daughters Hannah, 13 who suffers from a type of cerebral palsy, and Fran, 15 are to make the moving

  • 'Wildcat' girl's friend assaulted police officers

    A FRIEND of a "wildcat" schoolgirl who was locked up for terrorising a Worcester estate has been placed on a supervision order for assaulting three police officers. Droitwich magistrates heard how the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, lashed

  • Enjoying the sweet smell of success

    CHILDREN at a Worcester after-school club have come up smelling of roses. The youngsters have been working on an environmental project in the city as part of National Kids Club Week. The 40 members of the Cheeky Chimps After School and Holiday Club have

  • Soldier is hero of bomb blast

    A BRAVE Territorial Army soldier from Kidderminster has been hailed a hero for saving the life of the Serbian ambassador's secretary after a dramatic bombing in war-torn Kosovo. Pte Robert Thompson, of the B (WFR) Company, West Midlands Regiment, raced

  • Time out at nightspot

    A NIGHTCLUB has closed its doors in Kidderminster and is set for a "radical" re-launch this summer under a new manager. Luminar Leisure Ltd, which owns Time nightclub in Blackwell Street, blamed a shift by customers to other parts of the town centre for

  • Pension fears as axe falls on jobs

    ONE third of the workforce at a beleaguered Kidderminster motor forgings firm faces the axe with the loss of 70 jobs, it has been announced. Workers at United Engineering Forgings have been stunned by the severity of the cuts which will see 61 shopfloor

  • Patrols scheme will cut crime

    INNOVATIVE crime-fighting and safety schemes pioneered in two villages are to get a district-wide launch. Wyre Forest's Neighbourhood Watch Committee was replaced with a new Police and Community Support group, which will incorporate NW, at its annual

  • Double helping of wartime nostalgia

    IT will be a double dose of war nostalgia as thousands flock to the biggest event in Wyre Forest. Due to a massive increase in numbers the Severn Valley Railway 1940s Weekend is being held on two successive weeks for the first time - starting Saturday

  • Bid for new civic centre

    A NEW home in Kidderminster looks on the cards for Wyre Forest District Council under proposals currently being studied by a working party. The bulk of officers currently based at various locations across the district would be brought together on a single

  • The business

    FORMER Communards singer Sarah-Jane Morris, best known for her contribution to the No 1 single Don't leave me this way, will be talking about her life in the music business at the RSC's SummerHouse at 5.50pm on Sunday. The free talk is one of the highlights

  • What's On

    THURSDAY: Brierley Hill: Robin R'n'B - The Big Town Playboys. Worcester: Huntingdon Hall - Hugh Cornwell. Birmingham: Ronnie Scott's - Como No until Saturday. Wolverhampton: Robin R'n'B2 - Brother to Brother. FRIDAY: Kidderminster: King Billy - Andre.

  • Ticket to ride for theatre hopeful

    A FORMER Stourport carnival queen has a ticket to ride after beating off more than a thousand hopefuls for a prestigious place at Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. Hayley Beddard, 18, of Stourport, who attends Stourport High School, was among 1,500

  • Buy a brick for new bandstand

    INDIVIDUALS and businesses have been urged to help raise the final £1,000 needed to build Stourport's new riverside bandstand. Plans to allow folk to "buy a brick" to be used in building work were due to be finalised at yesterday's meeting of the Stourport

  • Badger snag on homes

    BADGERS could yet have a say in the future of a plan for five new houses in Stourport. Wyre Forest District Council's planning (development control) committee has approved the bid by Timothy Smith homes to build the houses at the rear of The Firs on Bewdley

  • History of town is put in the spotlight

    THE history of pubs and shops in Stourport is coming under the spotlight with the launch of a project by the town's civic society. Stourport Civic Society has appealed for traders, licensees and older people with memories of Stourport in times past to

  • Safety honour

    THOMAS Vale Construction Ltd of Stourport is celebrating after receiving a prestigious national safety award from the British Safety Council at a VIP-studded presentation ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Company managing director Tony

  • Drugs aid for burglar

    A STOURPORT burglar is to be assessed in prison to see whether his drug habit can be treated. But Judge Richard Rundell warned Ian Titley he is more likely to be sentenced to custody rather than being made the subject of a drug treatment and testing order

  • 28/6/01 - Sharpe has edge to win CMS Cup

    WHARTON Park Golf Club's Vauxhall sponsored CMS Cup was won by A. Sharpe with a points tally of 46. In second place was E. Marszalek with 41 points followed by D. Smart on the same score. In the club's June medal S. Bayley took the division one honours

  • 28/6/01 - Bruce proves cut above at Boughton Park

    A GREENKEEPER'S lot can be a tough one at times - they spend hundreds of man hours preparing a course only for golfers to come along and hack great chunks out of it. Unreplaced divots, gaping pitchmarks, trolley tracks around green aprons, - the scars

  • Charity cycle ride

    A CYCLE ride from Blackpool to Paris which hopes to raise £40,000 for a kidney charity will pass through Stourport. The 500-mile trip, which will last seven days - starting at Blackpool Tower and ending at the Eiffel Tower - has been organised by The

  • And thanks again!

    I felt so proud to be a part of the audience on the last night of PODS production of Me and My Girl. Those present were treated to wonderful entertainment, a show so well written, so well directed by Jan Simpson and so well acted by such a talented company

  • Vandals in car wrecking spree

    A FURIOUS Kidderminster couple have blasted the "moronic idiots" who have embarked on a car wrecking spree since Christmas. Keith and Susan Thomson, of Worcester Road, said damage to vehicles, fighting, speeding and verbal abuse has become a regular occurrence

  • PODS say thanks

    Pershore Operatic & Dramatic Society would like to say a big thank you to all our supporters who followed us to the Worcester last week and helped to make Me and My Girl an outstanding success. The crowning glory had to be the standing ovation we

  • Housebound after sixth bike is stolen

    A DISABLED Kidderminster man has been left virtually housebound following the theft of his sixth specially adapted bicycle in five years. Ryan Webb, 27, of Grosvenor Avenue, ruptured several discs in his back more than five years ago and since then has

  • Spreading the word

    THE Stratford Society was pleased to see your coverage of our Millennium Photographic Exhibition in the Stratford Journal (June 21). We hope that it spreads the word, before the exhibition closes on Saturday. There will be another chance to see the pictures

  • Too long to honour Korean war hero

    REGARDING your headline in the Cotswold Journal (June 21) Joy as Korean war hero added to roll of honour. I write as an ex Korean war veteran of the 27 British Commonwealth Brigade, and chairman of Moreton branch of British Legion in the late 1950s. Some

  • A campaign not a debating society

    THE Save Tramway Walk Campaign is not a debating society. In your report (Stratford Journal, June 21) a spokesman for Minitrams Systems was reported as complaining of not being invited to speak to our public meeting held on June 17. The 300 or more Stratford

  • Plea from pupils to stop the vandalism

    WE are writing on behalf of Post 16 from the Vale of Evesham School. We would like some help please because we have got some vandals at our school and we would like it to STOP. What they have vandalised at the school is the greenhouse and bins and they

  • Ten-year-old boy on arson charge

    A BOY of 10 faces trial before a crown court judge on a £350,000 arson charge. The boy and a 13-year-old are accused of endangering life by setting fire to Dillons One-Stop newsagents shop at Foley Park, Kidderminster, in February. Magistrates at a Kidderminster

  • They're not all horrors or yobs

    Some months ago in the Evesham Journal I read an article about a young boy who suggested that Evesham needed a skate park. At the time I just agreed and didn't do anything about it. However since then my own seven year old boy has outgrown the play park

  • Sad and serious loss

    I WAS very saddened to read of the folding of Wyre Forest Flying Doctors. As a staff nurse, sister and senior nurse on our local accident and emergency department spanning 20 years, I was very privileged to work with and alongside these doctors from the

  • Readers provide answers

    WYRE Forest folk have responded to a plea in last week's Shuttle/Times & News when a correspondent asked for help in tracing her pension from carpet firm TA Naylor. Many readers contacted us and it would appear the pension-fund holder is Scottish

  • Testing question on church window

    I AM compiling a history of Stourport and would like to know if anyone has information about the stained glass window to Mr Ganderton in the Methodist Church. Does anyone know anything about this? Who was Mr Ganderton? Although I am working on a written

  • 'City' sweepers set to clean up

    STREET sweepers used in New York, Madrid and Milan are set to clean up in town centres across Wyre Forest. The district council has purchased three state-of-the-art mini sweepers - which will be put to work in Bewdley, Kidderminster and Stourport next

  • Heroes relish New Road tie

    HEREFORDSHIRE are relishing the prospect of playing Worcestershire after their giant-killing Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy triumph over Middlesex. A breathtaking three-wicket win off the penultimate ball in yesterday's third round tie at Luctonians

  • Seconds take easy win

    Half-centuries by trialist Philip Hearle and Kadeer Ali provided the platform for Worcestershire's 83-run victory over Glamorgan in yesterday's Second Eleven Trophy clash at New Road. Trialist Hearle led the way with 71, which included eight fours off

  • Indian to scalp his rivals

    INDIAN Spark was only narrowly beaten in the Northern Rock Gosforth Park Cup 12 months ago and he can go one better in the Showcase Handicap at Newcastle tomorrow night. Jim Goldie's sprinter went down by just a neck to Henry Hall last year having finished

  • Sweet taste of success

    SCHOOLS and businesses came up trumps to raise thousands of pounds for Kemp Hospice's Wear Yellow Day. Friday's event, for national Hospice Sunflower Month, involved people wearing or selling anything in yellow. l Kevin Williams, of BAe Systems gives

  • 17 flee town flats blaze

    SEVENTEEN people were evacuated from a set of Kidderminster flats after an arson attack which caused major damage to a first floor property. The residents of the four-storey block in Windsor Drive were removed while firefighters tackled the blaze shortly

  • Warning over holiday offer

    A KIDDERMINSTER woman has warned people to be wary of letters telling them they have won a holiday. Marcia Walker, of Dunlin Drive, was asked to send £29.50 to a firm called Holidays Direct in Bournemouth after receiving a letter offering a choice of

  • Garden gate swings open

    GREEN-FINGERED folk can sample the delights of a cottage garden which is opening for the 10th year next month. Arley Cottage Gardens, Upper Arley, will open its doors in aid of the National Gardens Scheme on Sunday, July 15, when plants and cream teas

  • Village carnival fun day

    ORGANISERS of this year's Wolverley Carnival are busily preparing for a feast of fun ahead of next month's event. Stalls, a tug-of-war, archery, pony rides and quad bikes are all part of the fun at the annual extravaganza on July 7. Carnival committee

  • From the archives

    100 years ago - June 29, 1901 Pershore: John Kettle, a groom of High Green, Severn Stoke, was charged at Pershore Petty Sessions with being drunk while in charge of a horse on June 7 in Defford. PC Bennett said he saw defendant riding a horse on the Defford

  • Blazing resin

    A LOUD explosion was the signal for Kidderminster firefighters to dash to a town boat building factory. Two crews spent more than an hour dealing with the blaze at Sealine International which happened when a large skip used for storing waste resin burst

  • Friends rally to brave gran

    A GRANDMOTHER who was lucky to be alive after being crushed under a bus shelter in a horrific road accident has been raising more cash for County Air Ambulance. The service came to the rescue of Mary Farmer, 50, who was badly hurt in the accident yards

  • Knight on the town

    SALES adviser Lauren Wood did not exactly find her knight in shining armour when a fund-raising drive for Macmillan Cancer Relief hit town. The 18-year-old student from Cleobury Mortimer, who has a Saturday job at the Bon Marche clothing store in Kidderminster's

  • Falconry on show

    A FALCONRY display will be one of the highlights of the Wribbenhall Millennium Green Fair next week. Storytelling, school art projects, a bouncy castle, face-painting and stalls will be other attractions alongside the Hawkeye Fal- conry Display Team on

  • Batsmen pave way for final win

    EXHALL and Wixford booked their place in the last 32 of this summer's Wadworth 6X National Village Cham-pionship in emphatic style on Sunday, writes Mervyn Collins. It was third time lucky for the Cotswold Leaguers after a couple of Leicestershire and

  • Delight for Dumbleton

    DUMBLETON eased into the last 32 of the Wadworth 6X National Village Knockout after Sunday's seven-wicket win at Haresfield. The hosts were always on the back foot despite rattling up a quickfire 37-0 after making first use of the wicket. Dumbleton's

  • Kineton spring surprises as leaders snatch a tie

    KINETON provided a brace of shocks as fixtures returned to normal in glorious sunshine after the previous week's washout. The club's senior side dealt Shipston a huge blow to their hopes of regaining the Cotswold Hills League, sponsored by Readers and

  • A night full of glittering stars

    "TONIGHT Matthew I am going to be seeing... Freddie Mercury, Elvis Presley and Tina Turner," to paraphrase the catchphrase from TV's Stars in Their Eyes. At least those people who get along to the Lifford Hall in Broadway next month will be able to utter

  • Harvington

    CofE FIRST SCHOOL: Is approaching the end of the year in its usual burst of events, this week is Bear Week when money is being raised for Action Research, it being felt by staff that the children should know what it is to be engaged in raising money for

  • Pershore

    NUMBER 8 GALLERY: An exhibition of paintings and masks by pupils of Holy Redeemer RC Primary School, Pershore. FILM AT NUMBER 8: Pershore and District Film Society, Saturdayat 7.30pm, Some Like It Hot (1959) cert U. Starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis

  • Vicar's thanks for F&M help

    THE Chaplain for Agriculture and Rural Life in the Diocese of Worcester has thanked people for their generosity in supporting those hardest hit by the foot and mouth epidemic. The Rev Canon John Willis has received funds, on behalf of the Rural Support

  • With the golfer

    LAURA Day had a brilliant win when Evesham staged their Lisa Lightfoot Salver and Rose Bowl competitions. After recently returning from a successful season in Australia, Laura won both trophies from Jenny Mars-ton and Verity Lawrance respectively. Monthly

  • In-car table idea takes the strain

    LIFE on the road could become a lot easier for travelling sales reps and businessmen thanks to a flash of inspiration from a Kidderminster man. Richard Latham came up with the in-car workstation while stopped at a motorway services in London - and it

  • Start of new chapter

    A BUSINESS and professional networking organisation with nearly 2,000 "chapters" is launching a Kidderminster group. The new Kidderminster and Worcester Business Networking International (BNI) groups were due to be launched today at the Swan Theatre,

  • ASTLEY WI

    Seven members helped collect rubbish from around the village hall in support of "Bin It" week. Several visited the brine baths at Droitwich in May. At the June meeting, members gave demonstrations of hanging baskets, an arrangement using fruit and vegetables

  • Warning on goods claims

    TRADING standards has urged consumers to report mis-described goods after a firm was fined £6,000 by Kidderm-inster magistrates. Newark-based mobile phone supplier PT Distribution Ltd pleaded guilty to four offences under the Trades Descriptions Act.

  • Groups bid to point way

    A BUSINESS leader is seeking an urgent meeting in a bid to solve a long-running road problem in Stourport which is threatening to grind the town centre to a halt. Russell Hinton, chairman of Stourport Business Association, will meet with members of the

  • Rugby club AGM

    THE annual general meeting of Evesham Rugby Club will take place in the clubhouse next Thursday night. Business is scheduled to start at 8pm and all existing and any new members are invited to attend. Training for the new season is taking place on Tuesday

  • CLEOBURY MORTIMER, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

    A meadow which has fallen out of use in Cleobury Mortimer is to be transformed into a wildlife and conservation area. The town's youth charity Pioneer Centre is planning to develop the land to be used by Cleobury Mortimer Primary School - which will be

  • KIDDERMINSTER CIVIC SOCIETY

    The visit to Drakelow Tunnels attracted many members and friends, who saw the complex of tunnels, which were constructed in 1941 into sandstone, and used during the Second World War for the manufacture of aircraft engines. The tunnels were subsequently

  • STOURPORT FLORAL ART CLUB

    Two social events are planned for the summer months. A Strawberry Tea will take place on Wednesday, at the home of Mr and Mrs Beard from 4-6pm. Strawberries and cream will be served on the lawn with a bring and buy, plant stall. The second event is on

  • STOURPORT, ARELEY KINGS WI

    Matters discussed in June included the summer outing, on August 4 - a tour of Herefordshire. A guided tour of Burton Court is planned, and a visit to Pembridge, also the church of St Mary Magdalene in Eardisley, with tea provided by the WI. A sub-committee

  • WYRE FOREST, NATIONAL GARDENS SCHEME

    - Harvington Hall, a moated manor house, will open in aid of the scheme for the first time on Saturday from 11.30am until 5pm. An Elizabethan herb garden, partly planted in memory of Father Geoffrey Tucker, and recently completed by volunteers from Hereford

  • PHOTO

    COUNCILLOR Derek Prodger looks on as Stephen Thomas removes graffiti (Evening News, Thursday, June 21). Wouldn't it have been nice if a few others who have to do community hours had been in the photograph with Coun Prodger? I suggest that all you councillors

  • Tony has worked hard for his pay

    IN answer to George Cowley's letter regarding Mr Blair's pay (You Say, June 21) if he thinks more about this he will realise Mr Blair has done his years of schooling, university and has very cleverly worked his way to the top. Surely, whatever your political

  • Rita records first league win

    Evesham and District Disabled AC/Partnership's NINE members met on the Pleasure Gardens for last Sunday's third outing of the new Summer League season. In glorious sunshine, Rita Bennett ran out the winner for the first time with a net of 1.12.0. Chairman

  • Thoughts on the stars of yesterday

    JOHN Phillpott quoted his younger friend Dave (Phillpott File, June 19): "It's changed since your day". Dear God, you can say that again. Where now is Picturegoer magazine with its photographs of Jane Russell's legs and Sophia Loren's figure? Where are

  • Appeal

    SOME time ago, you were kind enough to publish our appeal for used British and foreign loose stamps on postcards and envelopes. We wish to thank the editor and readers for sending us their stamps. Many readers are writing to us to enquire if our appeal

  • Election

    MARGARET Beckett told Peter Luff "sadly there is no way to deal with disease of such gravity". However, there s a much easier way - it's called vaccination. As to her other comment "the key priority has to be to bring the disease to an end as quickly

  • What's on at your local theatre

    Henry V by William Shakespeare. (Festival Players Theatre Co). June 24. 5.30pm, ground open 4pm Sounion, Old Road North, Kempsey.(open air production, please bring own chairs, picnics etc, indoor if wet). (01905 820436). They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

  • Let's bear in mind who makes the potholes

    IT is with disbelief that I read proposed work relating to the 79 patches of tarmac in the High Street between the Nationwide Building and Edinburgh Wool Mill are to be funded by the county, or more accurately us, the taxpayer. Each one of these patches

  • 28/6/01- Pipe breaks record in Worcs romp

    wicketkeeper James Pipe claimed a competition record eight catches as Worcestershire stormed into the fourth round of the C & G Trophy. Worcester hammered poor Hertfordshire at Balls Park, Hertford by 267 runs -- a record winning margin in English

  • Playboys back for Midland gig

    A RHYTHM and blues band which started life in Wyre Forest is making its first visit to the Midlands in 18 months tonight. The Big Town Playboys are back with a new singer and a brand new set of original songs and R'n'B gems. The band was started by Kidderminster

  • Band lands drummer

    AN indie group from Stourport has tasted success in its search for a drummer after snapping up an 18-year-old Kidderminster man. Martin Price has joined Spinner after an appeal in the Shuttle/Times & News and the band are now busily rehearsing at

  • Band to boost funds for Romania trip

    A ROCK and roll band will be playing in Kidderminster next week to boost a man's bid to do charitable work abroad. Alan Wright has hired highly-rated three-piece group The Heartbeats to play at the Chainwire Social Club on Friday, July 6. He is hoping

  • Students setting test standards

    STUDENTS at Stourport High School have volunteered to swap their exercise books for a marker pen to act as "shadow" judges for a national competition. Fourteen year 10 pupils will read and discuss the work of authors who have submitted books for the Carnegie

  • Help for hospice

    HARTLEBURY First School is breaking with tradition to raise money for a children's hospice at its summer fete which takes place on Saturday. The fete raises money for school resources but 10 per cent of money raised will this year go to Acorns Children's

  • Pupils are busy bees

    CHILDREN at Holy Trinity School in Kidderminster are buzzing with excitement after raising more than £1,000 for a good cause. Barnardos arranged Barney Bee's Bumble Jumble, Busy Bees and Bar Codes competitions which were entered by children as young as

  • Students have a crafty day

    A HOST of displays and demonstrations were on show as students with learning difficulties held an open day for the public. Visitors enjoyed everything from lace-making to fabric painting demos as the students showed off their skills at the Kidderminster

  • Going against the flow of reason

    THIS nonsense that no one knows who is responsible for the brook that runs through Brook Road recreation ground beggars belief. Bromsgrove District Council knows full well that it is responsible; they even paid thousands of pounds for a consultant to

  • Election issues

    I WOULD like to congratulate the Advertiser for its coverage of the recent General and County Council elections. The issues raised by the parties were reflected in a fair and unbiased manner. Unfortunately the County Council has once again failed to give

  • Spotting those speed limits

    JUST a quick question, does anyone know what the speed limit is coming into Droitwich from the Copcut Island? This town seems to have a fetish for road signs. First as we approach the Island we are greeted by the Droitwich town sign, then once on the

  • When the Saints were marching in

    ON page 85 of the Advertiser of May 30 under the heading 'Girls football ready for kick-off in Droitwich' - you imply that there has never been a Ladies' Football Team in this town. I wonder if you are aware there was, St Andrew's Ladies Football Club

  • Great generosity of local population

    MAY I, through your columns, take the opportunity to thank all the people of Bromsgrove who contributed towards the recent House to House and Flag Day collections held in the town, and apologise for any intrusion into their privacy. St John Ambulance,

  • Nutritionist Hilary knows that we are what we eat

    THERE is more to good nutrition for children than just eating your greens, writes CAROLYN MORRIS. Scientists are finding out more and more about how what we eat affects the delicate chemical balances in our bodies - and one woman seeing direct results

  • 'Help repair Regal or I'll close it'

    THE countdown to closure has begun for Evesham' s Regal Cinema - despite a massive campaign by townspeople to preserve it. August 31 is the deadline for the crumbling building now enforcement notices have been served on owner John Angel to carry out certain

  • St John is on target

    EVESHAM and District Ladies Darts League hit more than their target when they were on the oche last season. They also held a charity evening and a grand draw and raised £1,000 each for the Evesham St John Ambulance Appeal and the County Air Ambulance.

  • Sun shines on fun day

    FUN and socialising was the order of the day at The Early Years Partnership Picnic hosted by Bowbrook House School, Peopleton, last Friday. "We had 155 children and 42 staff from seven schools in the Pershore area and we spent a lot of time playing and

  • Rescuer's alert to parents

    A 23-year-old Harvington man is calling for parents to be vigilant after he dived into the Avon to save a small boy from drowning last Friday. The weather was glorious, the Fish Inn at Wixford was packed with happy customers drinking and eating but disaster

  • Man beat up his girlfriend hours after freed from jail

    HOURS after release from prison for previous assaults, Dennis Gubbins left his long-time girlfriend with a smashed nose and fractured cheekbone. Gubbins, aged 41, of Farrington Place, Norton, pleaded guilty at Droitwich court on Monday to assaults on

  • School target of vandals' attacks

    VANDALS have targeted an Evesham school in a wave of attacks, leaving it with repair bills of several hundred pounds. Hooligans have also been out in the town's Abbey Park, regularly setting light to litter bins. The Vale of Evesham School, in Four Pools

  • A spring in their step

    THERE was a spring in the step of pupils at Honeybourne First School when they raised money for charity. Every child at the school took part in a sponsored skip - Jump Rope For Heart - to raise cash for the British Heart Foundation. PE teacher Barbara

  • Wise old birds are called in to help clean-up hall

    PIGEONS might think twice in the future about using Evesham's Public Hall as a toilet. Wychavon District Council has invested in two plastic owls in a bid to frighten off the feathered fiends. The council hopes that the presence of the owls will deter

  • Good news on cruelty levels

    CONVICTIONS for animal cruelty in the Midlands doubled last year - but the RSPCA says it's good news because it underlines how people are much more tuned in to animal welfare. In its latest series of statistics released yesterday (Wednesday), the charity

  • We've got a real passion for cars

    GLEAMING chrome and steel stood out in the sunshine of historic Ragley Hall last weekend. Thousands of visitors padded around the lawns of the stately home to take a look at some of the latest models to hit the road and some classics from the past as

  • Winners collect season's spoils at prize night

    THE Evesham and District Ladies League staged its annual presentation of prizes at Evesham Public Hall. Season's winners - Division One: Winners, Coach and Horses; runners-up, Hospital B. Division Two: Winners, New Inn A; runners-up, Police Club. Division

  • Great fun as bike swap a success

    THE verdict was unanimous when Jim Curry and Simon Andrews swapped bikes for yesterday's jaunt around Mallory Park, writes Mervyn Collins. "It was great, said former British 125 champion Curry. "I thought Simon rode extremely well all things considered

  • Stabbing witness in tears

    A KEY witness in the trial of Omar Mohammed, the man accused of murdering Liam Gall in Redditch town centre last year, broke down in tears as he gave an eye-witness account of his friend's death. Sean Collier, 17, said: "Omar reached for a knife, grabbed

  • Jim's double race honour

    THE Bob McIntyre Memorial meeting, held near Edinburgh last weekend, was special in two ways for Evesham's classic motorcycle racer Jim Curry. He was guest of honour for the two-day meeting and was asked to present the trophies. In the process, though

  • Dress up for a night at races

    LARGE crowds are expected at Stratford Racecourse tomorrow evening for the Inaugural Ladies Day when females are encouraged to dress up and dust off their hats for the start of the summer season. The first of six National Hunt races starts at 6.50pm and

  • Hungary for points!

    TEAM Dynamics headed off for Hungary this week in preparation for rounds 11 and 12 of the FIA European Touring Car Championship. The Pershore-based team's driver, Matt Neal, is delighted to be back in his 2000 Nissan Primera after the disappointment of

  • Fun run cashes in

    THE sun shone on Ink-berrow's 16th annual Fun Run when a record turnout saw Bernie Jones, a four-times previous winner - lead the 157 six-milers to the finish in just 31 minutes and 42 seconds. Dave Kesterton ran a courageous race to come in second with

  • From the lofts

    Evesham and District Flying Club EIGHTEEN members sent 211 birds to Exeter on June 23, liberated at 11.25am in a moderate easterly wind. 1 T Gould 1516.17; 2 & 3 G Carter 1495.84 & 1491.66; 4 H Heckingbottom 1491.54; 5 Mrs J Heckingbottom 1491.38

  • Dave leaps at Festival chance

    DAVE Pither from Stretton-on-Fosse has confirmed his participation in next month's 2001 Silverstone Historic Festival. He will compete as part of a 40-strong grid of the most exciting Formula 750 and Unlimited 4-stroke classic racing motorcycles in the

  • Vets in club victory

    EVESHAM Wheelers promoted the annual inter-club challenge against Cheltenham & County last Wednes-day evening. The 25-mile Time Trial took place on the Chel-tenham Road to Todd-ington course and was supported well by both clubs. The accumulative winners

  • Littleton pair resist strongly but tie break settles scoreline

    PRS Summer League THE second half of the Division One season started with wins for joint leaders Inkberrow A and Stratford B. Inkberrow's seemingly convincing 4-0 win against Littleton A, however, hides a strong performance by the Littleton pairing of

  • Check out the plans

    A PROPERTY consulting company is advising Malvern residents to look closely at any conversion plans now - while a review of the Local Plan is under way. Malvern Hills District Council is inviting submissions on the Local Plan up until July 16, 2001. Property

  • Support group proving to be a success

    A SUPPORT group set up for children and young people who look after sick or disabled relatives in the Stratford district is proving a hit. The South Warwickshire Young Carers Project, launched 18 months ago, is now helping about 50 young people between