A WORCESTERSHIRE businessman is urging people to follow his lead and help a disabled man buy a new wheelchair for Christmas. Tony Tozer, who owns the sex shop Taboo, in Kidderminster, has donated £500 to Christian Fulton's wheelchair appeal. The 19-year-old
TORY MP Peter Luff has secured a Westminster debate on the "disappointing" Government grant to Worcestershire's cash-strapped schools. But it was immediately dismissed as a "political stunt" by city MP Mike Foster, who is not allowed to take part. Mr
WORCESTER City Council's cabinet is due to hold crisis discussions on the budget cut proposals it announced last month. The plans, which outline how the council intends to prevent a £1.4m deficit in next year's budget, have been scrutinised by members
A BURGLAR who raided a Worcester shop was confronted by the owner after he heard noises on the stairs. Marshall Walker quizzed 21-year-old Andrew Fraser before he brushed past him with goods worth £2,600. Fraser was convicted by South Worcestershire magistrates
AN irate father is accusing his three-year-old daughter's school of profiteering from people's fear of paedophiles. Doug Padgett claims that St Clement's CE Primary's refusal to allow parents to use camcorders to tape the seasonal Nativity play - and
MIDLANDS ONE Saturday, December 21 Malvern v Kenilworth. Saturday, December 28. Malvern v Dunstablians. Saturday, January 4 Spalding v Malvern. Saturday, January 11 Malvern v Hinckley. Saturday, January 18 Walsal v Malvern. Saturday, February 1 Malvern
A NEW strategy aimed at helping poorer people across the county keep warm this winter has been developed. The Worcestershire Countywide Affordable Warmth Strategy has been developed by a range of bodies including district councils across the county, electricity
Documentary records show that Monkwood was granted to the monks of Worcester Priory in the 8th Century. All the English and Welsh priories were destroyed by Henry VIII and much of their land redistributed, but Monkwood seems to have remained in the ownership
MORE than 140 firefighters from across Worcestershire and neighbouring counties were today battling a blazing oil depot near a housing estate. Fire crews from Worcester, Malvern, Bromsgrove and Stourport-upon-Severn were scrambled to the inferno at Claymore
A WORCESTER paratrooper received a special award at his passing out parade. Pte Thomas Neathway won the award for the best endeavour of 678 (Rhine) Platoon, PARA Company at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire. The former pupil of
FIXTURES WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL LEAGUE Tuesday, December 17 Worcester Royal Infirmary Senior Cup Second Round: Malvern Town v Worcester City Reserves (7.45). Saturday, December 21 Premier Division: Malvern Town v Smethwick ST (2.45). Division One South
20/07/02 Cheltenham Town (Home) PSF 0-3 27/07/02 Kidderminster H (Home) PSF 2-2 30/07/02 Willenhall T (Away) PSF 0-2 01/08/02 Wolves (Home) PSF 0-4 06/08/02 Stourport Swifts (Away) PSF 2-1 09/08/02 Solihull Borough (Away) PSF 2-1 12/08/02 Bedworth United
Cambridge Singers A Cappella - Britten: Hymn to St Cecilia and music by Schumann, Ravel, Debussy and Poulenc. Directed by John Rutter. Unaccompanied voices have always been recognised for their purity and simplicity, but there was very little a capella
IT'S crunch time at Worcester Guildhall tomorrow as the city leaders debate their budget strategy for the next year. It must be a long time since they have faced up to such a fundamental fact-of-life - that they cannot afford to run the city in a manner
THE parents of a Worcestershire toddler who died from a rare brain tumour have spoken out about the crucial role Acorns Children's Hospice played in their lives. Alun and Sarah Edwards, whose daughter Catrin died in August, a month before her second birthday
Released by Aston Villa, Brock signed for Harriers in September 1997 after a short spell at Northampton Town where he failed to make an appearance. He made his Harriers first-team debut in November of the same year and has proved himself a fine shot-stopper
Versatile Hinton began his career at right-back before reverting to a centre-half role during the Conference championship-winning season. The change of position proved the making of the former Birmingham City trainee who was once rated at £1 million and
Rangy Ayres joined Harriers as a youth-team player from Walsall but progressed to the reserves after impressing at the heart of the defence. A big future is predicted for the youngster who signed a two-year deal and made his competitive debut in the tough
The third player signed by Ian Britton on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers this season, following Mark Clyde and John Melligan. Stocky six-foot defender Coleman, only just turned 20, has been a regular reserve teamer for Wolves but is yet to break into
Another youth-team product with experience at non-leaguers Marconi, Khela is yet to play in the Football League. He is currently gaining vital first-team games in the Dr Martens League Western Division with Evesham United. This season: 0 games. Status
The son of former England goalkeeping legend Peter spent two seasons at Hartlepool before his free transfer move to Third Division opposition Harriers. An attacking midfielder who also filled in at wing-back, he moved from Plymouth Argyle to Coventry
Bennett was a then club record buy of £30,000 from rivals Bromsgrove Rovers in January 1999 and proved a goal-scoring menace to Conference opponents in the title-winning season. The ex-England semi-professional international signed a two-year deal at
Ex-England youth and schoolboy international Ducros has been used by Harriers both behind a front-two and in attack. He was a record signing for £80,000 from Nuneaton Borough in July 2000 after only 12 months at the Conference side. The diminutive Ducros
Tall target-man who made an immediate impact with his aggression, spirit and goal-scoring on being signed for £50,000 from Peterborough in January 2001. Despite his disciplinary problems, Broughton is a first choice when fit and wins a lot of aerial challenges
WITH Christmas just around the corner, I suppose we should brace ourselves for the arrival of the first seasonal jokes and pulling-of-crackers. Personally, I never become involved before December 24. Being a superstitious poor old country boy, the festive
NOW here's a bit of a coincidence for you all. It's a story of celebrity, strange quirks of fate . . . and some signs of the times. In June, my wife and I went to one of those glorious summer parties that seem to last forever. Lots of food and drink -
A SECOND-half double from striker Richard Ball gave Dr Martens Western Division strugglers Stourport Swifts a 2-1 victory at Gresley Rovers. Recent signing Ball took just nine minutes to bag the goals and help the Walshes Meadow side ease further away
Evesham Utd 1, Bromsgrove Rvrs 0 SKIPPER Nathan Jukes fired in a stunning stoppage time winner that could kickstart United's inconsistent season. The midfielder smashed the ball into the Bromsgrove net from all of 25 yards to secure his side's first win
LUCTONIANS clinically exposed Bromsgrove Rugby Club's failings as they ripped them apart with a 61-6 Mortimer Park massacre. The Midlands One sides, who both started the season with high hopes of a top three finish, seemed on different planets on Saturday
A SPECTACULAR injury-time winner by Nathan Jukes settled a fast and furious local derby in favour of Evesham United when they beat table-topping Bromsgrove Rovers 1-0 in the Dr Martens League Western Division. Despite their lowly league position United
MARAUDERS beat Castaways 415-387 in Monday Division One of the E & E Engineering Worcester Friendly Skittle Lea-gue Division One Marauders 415 (16) M.Vobe 41, Castaways 387 (4) D.Wade 41, S.Morse 40; Cardents 440 (16) A.Minton, Paul Smith 55, J.Pegram
Worcestershire Abbey Road Playgroup, Abbey Park First School, Pershore. Adventurous Aardvark Club: Evesham Community Hospital, Waterside, Evesham. Aphabet House Pre-school: St Richard's Hall, Fairfield, Evesham. Ashley's Montessori Nursery: Cannon House
Sat July 20 Halesowen Harriers (a) 3-1 Mulders, Stanier, Dobson Sat July 27 Boldmere St Michaels (a) 1-4 Giddings Mon July 29 Stourbridge (h) 3-2 Giddings, Stanier, Fletcher Thurs Aug 1 Rushall Olympic (h) 2-3 Bailey, A Nicholls Sat Aug 3 Telford United
The Desert War by George Forty (£25) / Arnhem by Lloyd Clark (£25) / WRNS In Camera by Lesley Thomas and Chris Howard Bailey (£19.99). All published by Sutton. NO ONE combines pictures and prose more effectively than Sutton - and with these three wartime
Essential Gardening Techniques compiled and edited by Barbara Haynes and Richard Bird (Mitchell Beazley, £16.99). SO you know absolutely nothing about gardening, you're a total duffer with a dibber and can't tell a dandelion from a dahlia... then here's
Blood Royals by Charles Mosley (Smith's Peerage, £29.95) Thank heavens for the pictures! If it weren't for them, then I fear this would be very tedious indeed. Mosley may have an impeccable CV, but this is so dry, it makes a packet of water biscuits seem
The Asquiths by Colin Clifford (John Murray, £25) COLIN Clifford has written an enthralling story about the Asquiths - the social and political dynasty in late Edwardian Britain. The book draws for the first time on Margot Asquith's own journals, HH Asquith's
A House Somewhere: Tales of Life Abroad (Lonely Planet, £7.99) PETER Mayle started the current fashion for living in a foreign country for a time and then writing about it in an "Englishman-abroad-struggling-with-funny-foreign-habits" sort of way. But
John Betjeman: New Fame, New Love by Bevis Hillier (John Murray, £25). THIS will be familiar territory to all readers of JB's Letters. Where Candida Lycett Green's collection of her father's correspondence was sometimes frustratingly incomplete here,
WITH regards to the recent correspondence on the Federal EU issue, my original response to Gary Webb was concerning his notion that the EU needs the UK more than we need them. Gary Webb now shifts his argument by jumping on the Britain's independence
AHMED Raza writes (You Say, December 3) of the dangers of free speech, yet, if it didn't exist in this country, his letter wouldn't have been published. GEORGE COWLEY, Worcester.
IN response to Mr Ryland's letter (You Say, December 4) I find it strange that he believes that psychology is an objective science. Can depression be weighed, measured, touched? No - and yet that doesn't stop psychologists studying its subjective symptoms
WITH reference to the item headlined "Facilities vital for promotion" I was very surprised to see that Richard Kemp regards the Northwick Lodge as a sports field. The Northwick Lodge is a recreation ground, for the use of local inhabitants and has been
I DO not believe the Worcester Royal Infirmary buildings should become a campus for University College. This area has seen the damage caused by students and the creation of a ghetto where fewer and fewer Worcester residents want to live. This would undoubtedly
MALVERN'S long journey to the Potteries appeared to have all the hallmarks of a damage limitation exercise following the previous month's hammering at Spring Lane. LONGTON 27pts, MALVERN 3pts Instead, the visitors gave as good as they got, and for long
SEPTEMBER 28 H Oxford NT 100-96 OCTOBER 05 A Oxford NT 84-108 12 H Plymouth NT 89-88 15 H Bath NT 83-72 20 A Bath NT 90-88 27 A Plymouth NT forfeited NOVEMBER 02 A Westminster NL 81-82 09 A Worthing NT 84-118 17 A Black Country NL 94-72 23 H North-West
A BOGUS cop is trying to con credit card details out of shopkeepers, warn police. The fake is telephoning businesses across the county posing as an officer investigating credit card fraud. At shops in Worcester, Broadway and Malvern, he has requested
SATURDAY SOCCER NATIONWIDE LEAGUE Division Three: Kidderminster Harriers 1 York 2. NATIONWIDE CONFERENCE Hereford United 5 Woking 0. DR MARTENS LEAGUE Premier Division: Chippenham 0 Worcester 0. Western Division: Evesham 1 Bromsgrove 0; Gresley 1 Stourport
Somers Trad Folk Club are meeting at The Albion, 48 Bath Road, Worcester on Dec 13. For further details telephone Sam Simmons on 01684 575704 Malvern Christian Witness Choir presents a Christmas Musical at Lansdowne Methodist Church, Malvern on Dec 12
Bei Meiner Ehre : On My Honour. International Contemporary Jewellery Exhibition at Foyle Gallery MAC Centre Birmingham. November 9 - January 1 2003. For further details telephone 0121 440 3838. Bollywood in Love Exhibition at Public Space Galleries. MAC
Friday December 13: Morso - The Marr's Bar Saturday December 14: Trivia - Barbourne Ex-Servicemens Club, Setting Sons - The Marr's Bar Sunday December 15: Amy Wadge - The Marr's Bar Friday December 20: B Movie and Gash And C-Scooter - The Marr's Bar Saturday
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Symphony Hall, Birmingham. December 12/13. Tickets available from 0121 780 3333. Raising the Roof - A Christmas Concert at All Saints Church, Deansway, Worcester. December 13. City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sat July 13 Stratford Town (a) 1-1 Lewis Mon July 15 Evesham United (a) 4-0 Ducros, Broughton, Corbett, Shilton Fri July 19 Reading (h) 2-4 Broughton, Henriksen Sun July 21 Solihull Borough (a) 3-4 Shilton, Foster (pen), Corbett Wed July 24 Wolverhampton
Saturday, December 14, 2002 ON the face of it, a goalless draw at third-placed Chippenham Town would seem like a good result for title-chasing Worcester City. But with leaders Tamworth cruising to a 4-0 win at Chelmsford, John Barton's men have lost further
HOME, away (Dr Martens Western fixtures unless stated) JULY Thu 18 Cradley Town (Friendly) 1-0 (Crisp) Sat 20 WEST BROMWICH ALBION (Friendly) 1-6 (Burgess) Tue 23 STOURBRIDGE (Friendly) 1-3 (Lloyd) Sat 27 WILLENHALL TOWN (Friendly) 2-0 (Laydon, Palmer
JOHN Barton is not losing any sleep over the exploits of rivals Tamworth despite seeing them extend their lead over Worcester City at the top of the table. City earned a point at fellow challengers Chippenham but the Lambs defeated Chelmsford 4-0 away
FIREFIGHTERS with specialist training are offering emergency cover throughout Worcestershire and Herefordshire. The Royal Air Force's own fire service, which receives similar training to conventional firefighters, is on standby in the two counties in
WHAT do you buy the family who has everything? How about posting them a taste of Worcestershire in the form of Just Rachel's ice-cream. The company, based at Bromsberrow, near Ledbury, pledges to send the additive-free ice cream anywhere in the country
AN oil spill company that has a base in Droitwich has been asked to help with the clean-up operation following the sinking of the tanker Prestige. The Prestige went down 145 miles off the coast of Spain on November 19. It was carrying 77,000 tonnes of
TROUBLED cider maker HP Bulmer has appointed a new group chief executive, following the resignation earlier this year of Mike Hughes. Miles Templeman is the former head of the Whitbread Beer Company and is set to start as the new chief executive at Bulmers
A NEW study has revealed that Herefordshire has a higher percentage of self-employed workers than most other areas in Britain. The study, by the General Municipal and Boilermakers (GMB) union, shows that almost three million people in Britain are classified
COMPANIES are being offered the chance to exhibit their products or services for free at the two counties' biggest business festival. The second annual Herefordshire and Worcestershire Business Festival is due to take place on March 13, 2003, at Malvern's
THIS week's football fixtures for clubs across the two counties include: TONIGHT Midland Floodlit Youth Cup: Mansfield Town v Hereford United. Midland Floodlit Youth League Southern Division: Evesham United v Cinderford Town; Wellington v Alvechurch.
DRINKS, fruit and jams were just some of the goodies won when the Evening News held a competition with Worcestershire Farmers' Market Group. Three readers won a hamper full of fresh produce from market which is held once a month in Worcester. The winners
SIX Worcestershire children reported missing have still not been found. Matthew Neade, aged 14, Stacey, 11, Ashley eight, Jasmine, two, and Chantelle, 11 months, were recently made the subjects of an emergency protection order which was implemented before
WORCESTER'S specialist fire brigade vehicles used for rescuing victims from serious car accidents could be decommissioned by July next year. Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade intends to disband the teams which use the four-wheel-drive emergency tenders
A BIG-hearted Santa Claus has proved he has plenty of Christmas cheer after donating his fee to charity. Grandfather Bert Biggs, who is not the real Santa, is playing Father Christmas at Worcester's CrownGate shopping centre for the first time this year
CHARACTERS from Kenneth Grahame's Wind in the Willows are leading the way to Father Christmas at Witley Court. Rat, Toad, Mole and Badger have left the river bank behind and are taking part in the annual Christmas Adventure organised by the English Heritage
A JEALOUS husband burst into the home of a man he suspected of having an affair with his wife and attacked him in bed. Adrian Davies repeatedly punched Timothy Faulkner in the face and on the head, breaking his nose and causing severe bruising, said Nicolas
OPINIONS vary as to what makes a good winter walk. One thing is certain, however - the type of soil can play a huge part. Go for a walk in some parts of south-east Worcestershire and (assuming you can find a footpath that isn't obstructed) the thick,
FARM buildings at Hindlip, near Worcester, are to be transformed into an environmental education centre with the aid of a £999,000 Lottery grant. Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, which owns the buildings and eight acres of land at Lower Smite Farm, recently
EVERY area has its classic walks which can't be improved upon and which are familiar to most local walkers. One that fits that description is the walk from Droitwich to Worcester. It's an obvious choice of route, easily followed and full of interest.
THE English Symphony Orchestra will be performing Handel's Messiah by candlelight in Malvern. This will be the second time the orchestra has given its highly-acclaimed performance of Handel's famous oratorio in the Malvern Theatres. The whole stage will
THE chairman of debt-ridden South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust has condemned a Worcestershire MP for his public criticism of the organisation. David Barlow has been engaged in a war of words with Sir Michael Spicer since the MP attacked him for his
A THREE-YEAR-OLD boy died in hospital from injuries that caused concerned staff to raise the alarm with police. Christian Blewitt, from Bromsgrove, died last Thursday, after initially being admitted to Russells Hall Hospital, in Dudley, on Sunday, December
Saturday, December 14, 2002 NATHAN Jukes' 93rd minute 25-yard strike condemned Bromsgrove Rovers to their third Dr Martens Western defeat of the season. Full match report to follow.
The John Rutter Christmas Album The Cambridge Singers and The City of London Sinfonia, directed by John Rutter Christmas is one of those times in the year which can be evoked purely by a few bars of a particular favourite tune. For some, it may be Cliff
ANDY Keast paid tribute to Worcester Rugby Club's resolve after they grafted out victory at Sharmans Cross Road. The Sixways coach was delighted with the spirit on show as Worcester came from behind to take all five National One points on offer. "It was
Dr Martens League Western Division AUGUST SAT, 17 GRESLEY ROVERS 1-0 Scorer, Bullock Att, 111 Mon, 19 Solihull Borough (a) 2-2 Lutz, Pinkney 216 Sat, 24 Taunton Town (a) 2-3 Bullock, Preedy 358 MON, 26 CINDERFORD TOWN (H) 3-1 Jukes, May (2) 134 Sat, 31
Summer signing Parrish has enjoyed three promotions before from Division Three, twice with Northampton Town and once with Chesterfield. The competitive left-footed midfielder with an eye for goal turned down a one-year deal with Chesterfield to sign for
Vastly-experienced Flynn took over the captaincy in Mark Blake's absence after putting pen to paper on a year's deal before the first league game with Lincoln. The influential central or right-sided midfielder is known for his tough tackling and will
The Worcester-born teenager has worked his way through the youth set-up and reserves to get a handful of first-team chances. Showed enough with good movement and work-rate to earn a two-year deal at Harriers in the summer of 2001 but has had to patiently
Has joined Harriers on loan for a month from Division One side Walsall to gain experience of first-team football. A prolific scorer in the youth teams at the Bescot Stadium, Bishop also found the net for the reserves this season but was yet to make his
WORCESTER Wolves suffered a setback to their National Basketball League Division One title hopes when they lost 85-70 at home to leaders London United. Last year's league runners-up London included top scorer Pete Deppisch, the 6ft 7in long range shooter
JOHN Barton is not losing any sleep over the exploits of rivals Tamworth despite seeing them extend their lead over Worcester City at the top of the table. City earned a point at fellow challengers Chippenham but the Lambs defeated Chelmsford 4-0 away
MINARDI boss Paul Stoddart has no intention of running his Formula One motor racing team solely from Britain. The Australian plans on continuing to operate from Faenza, Italy and Ledbury in Herefordshire. "To be honest, when I first bought the team I
ANDY Keast paid tribute to Worcester Rugby Club's resolve after they grafted out victory at Sharmans Cross Road. The Sixways coach was delighted with the spirit on show as Worcester came from behind to take all five National One points on offer. "It was
WORCESTER Wolves sufferd a setback to their National Basketball League Division One title hopes when they lost 85-70 at home to leaders London United. Last year's league runners-up London included top scorer Pete Deppisch, the 6ft 7in long range shooter
WORCESTER Wanderers continued their outstanding form with a 26-0 victory over Stourport at Sixways. Wanderers' forward play set up a solid platform for the backs to turn in a sparkling performance in the North Midlands One encounter. The first try from
PERSHORE Rugby Club turned on the style to outclass Birmingham Exiles 38-12 in Midlands Three West (South). An impressive first half performance saw Pershore win the game by half-time and notch up their sixth victory in succession. The home side crossed
Saturday, December 14, 2002 KIDDERMINSTER Harriers boss Ian Britton accepted that Drewe Broughton deserved to be sent off during Saturday's 2-1 Nationwide League Division Three defeat against York City at Aggborough. The bustling striker was given his
Whistle Stops by Peter Ashley (English Heritage/Everyman Pocket Books, £5.99) HERE'S an idiosyncratic view of part of our heritage. Vibrant views of railway architecture and artefacts bring back memories of a days long gone. At one time you were never
Royal Poxes and Potions by Raymond Lamont-Brown (Sutton, £7.99) ONE to thumb through and then read in detail. This is a lively account of the quacks, apothecaries, sycophantic charlatans - and also extremely learned men - who assisted the kings and queens
Steptoe and Son by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson with Robert Ross (BBC Worldwide £16.99) THERE were two comedy shows in the early 1960s that were capable of bringing the entire nation to a complete halt. One was Hancock's Half Hour. The other was Steptoe
Empire of Darkness, by Christian Jacq (Simon and Schuster, £10.99) DON'T look in the "History" section of your local bookshop for this tale of everyday Ancient Egyptian-folk - despite its veneer of historical fact, it belongs firmly on the shelves marked
Saturday, December 14, 2002 WORCESTER moved to within three points of title rivals Rotherham after a dogged display at the home of the Bees. With the Millmoor club failing to take five points against Orrell, the Warriors cut the gap with a performance
Almonry Heritage Centre, Abbey Gate, Evesham. Local history. Contact for opening time, (01386 446944). Avoncroft Museum of Buildings, Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove. Restored buildings including working windmill, agricultural buildings, industrial buildings,
Christmas Fayre at Bishop Perowne High School, Worcester on Sat Dec 7. All welcome. The Evening Primrose Bereavement Society are holding their Christmas Party Night on December 10 at the United Reformed Church, Albany Terrace, Worcester. For further information
MORE than 130 firefighters have been tackling a huge blaze at an oil refinery at Washford Industrial Estate. The fire broke out a two-storey building containing chemicals at about 4.30am this morning (Monday). About 20 engines are at the scene, along
Pinocchio. November 26 - January 4. Swan Theatre, Worcester. Box Office 01905 27322. The King and I. Dec 4 -Jan 18. Alexandra Theatre Birmingham. Tickets available from Box Office Hotline 0870 607 7535. Sleeping Beauty. Dec 6 -Jan 11. The Courtyard, Hereford
A MALVERN man whose brother and nephew are firefighters has urged Worcestershire people to show their support for the strikers. Martin Harris spoke out after this week's pre-budget report revealed that the Government would need to borrow £20bn more in
UP to 70 firefighters' posts could be axed in Worcestershire and Herefordshire under controversial Government modernisation plans, the Fire Brigades Union warned last night. The claim was made as the FBU, employers and the Government dug in for a bitter
THERE was little or nothing to cause excitement when the MPs' Register of Interests was published last week. Nationally, there was the odd eyebrow raised by Peter Mandelson's trip to Bali and the outside earning power of William Hague and Michael Portillo
THE name David Lock has once again cropped up at Westminster. Again, it was in connection with a comeback. In the immediate aftermath of his General Election hammering by new Wyre Forest MP Richard Taylor, he was considered a spent force. But Home Secretary
MIKE Foster's train journey from Worcester to London on Monday was useful. The Worcester MP learned the tactics of the pro-hunt lobby and put one over on a bemused Tory lord. His ears first pricked up when the smart-suited man next to him in the carriage
