A MOUNTAIN of seasonal parcels is waiting collection at Worcester's Royal Mail office. This year's post has been described by one worker as "colossal" and an appeal has gone out from the delivery office at Westbury Street, Rainbow Hill, Worcester. "We
WORCESTERSHIRE was awarded more than £7m today for improved school buildings and better access for disabled pupils. The county council will receive £5.96m from a £512m fund for building projects to create more pupil places. It has also been allocated
A TRAILER packed with cider was stolen after a lorry driver unhooked it as he waited to swap it to another vehicle. He detached the red curtain-sided trailer, briefly walked off and returned to find thieves towing the trailer away. Worcester police later
AILING Hereford cider maker HP Bulmer is cutting 200 jobs as it tries to shake off the effects of a disastrous year. The firm, famous for Strongbow, is also calling time on its international aspirations after running up hefty losses overseas. Bulmers
POLICE have arrested 58 motorists for drink-driving across the region as part of a Christmas crackdown. West Mercia have stepped up their offensive as part of a national campaign to warn of the dangers of getting behind the wheel after drinking. Nationally
AMBULANCE Trust chiefs are battling to win over staff after union members gave them a vote of no confidence. Workers from Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Trust have also voted against co-operating with the Trust management. The Association of Ambulance
REPAIR work to refill the upper dock in the Diglis Basin has now begun, with mud to dam the area brought in by lorry. Boaters have been left high and dry for nearly a week after an 18th Century storm sewer pipe was hit by British Waterways workers, causing
A WORCESTER theme pub's continuing tussle with Trading Standards over the right to serve beer in metric measures has resumed after a month-long stand-off. Two council officers yesterday visited Andrea Schutz and partner Anton Limlei, licensees of The
A DRUNKEN teenager who lashed out at two police officers will be spending Christmas locked up. The 17-year-old from Diglis was sprayed with CS gas after he tried to punch and kick the officers outside a shop in Cranham Drive, Warndon, last month, Worcester
A woman formerly from Worcester is to be sentenced in the New Year for wounding another woman. At yesterday's hearing at Hereford Crown Court, Joanne Dempster, aged 24, now of Kirby Avenue, Warwick, admitted unlawful and malicious wounding with intent
THE weather may have changed by the time you read this but, at the time of writing, the rain has been falling for weeks and shows no sign of relenting. So here's a city walk which provides fresh air and exercise without oceans of mud. There's an optional
A CHEF'S scheme to cook up some fun in the lives of lonely singles has boiled over since it was featured in the Evening News. Jennifer Aston Mills has been inundated with calls from people hungry for love since her match-making menu hit the headlines.
AQUILA chief Don Bacon has at last agreed to discuss compensation for the loss of power supply in Herefordshire and Worcestershire during the October storms. Mr Bacon is to meet Leominster MP Bill Wiggin next month to talk about some of the issues raised
A SERIES of seminars to increase awareness of drug and substance misuse are set to be held in the New Year. The Wychavon Community Safety Partnership is funding the seminars, which will be given by People in Vision. The courses are an introduction to
THE Mayor of Worcester joined in with a glass of Christmas cheer at the Odeon Cinema as part of an Evening News promotion. Councillor Robert Rowden made a flying visit to the Worcester Odeon on Foregate Street, but unfortunately didn't have the time to
A nursery worker from Pershore College of Horticulture launched a frenzied knife attack on his "only friend" at the place they both worked. Neil Spencer threw water over Richard Harris as they larked about at a disco and the pair engaged in a short fight
ARSONISTS came within minutes of destroying a Kidderminster factory at the peak of its busiest season. Campion Electronics, based on Worcester Road, was struck shortly before 3am on Friday when intruders scaled its perimeter fence and set alight to 150
THE Three Kings' Parade heralded the arrival of nearly 100 children marching through Kidderminster town centre on Saturday. The trolley floats, civic dignitaries and carnival queens and princesses - and the three giant kings - paraded round the town before
A STOURPORT school has been hailed for its excellence in raising pupils' awareness about "green" issues - and for the way it encourages youngsters to care for each other. Windmill Middle School leads the way by spreading the message about the environment
A WOMAN and a baby had to be rescued after a depressed teenager started a £4,000 blaze in a block of flats. Neighbour Richard Boo-shan stacked up wheelie bins to reach them on a first floor balcony at the premises in Windsor Drive, Kidderm-inster. The
Music runs in the family for Will Hunt, whose dad Bill was the original keyboard and French horn player in Wizzard and shoe cousin Miles Hunt is lead singer of the Wonderstuff. Will has been featured more than once on Evening News pop pages, and may well
1802: John Turner, wine, brandy and hop merchant at the Cross, Worcester, having imported a considerable stock of Port Wines from a connection he has with one of the principal Houses in Oporto, Portugal, assures the public he can offer them superior Old
CHRISTMAS in and around Worcester a century ago appears to have been a bleak and depressing time with widespread hardship, poverty and unemployment in the wake of the Boer War. Even the city's magistrates of 1902 added to the gloom by adamantly refusing
PRISONERS in the two gaols at Worcester were given some relief from hardship at Christmas 200 years ago, thanks to gifts from local benefactors. The Worcester Journal of 1802 reported: "The prisoners in our City Gaol return their thanks to Mr Forrest,
SWIMMING: Wyre Forest Swimming Club's A team secured promotion to Speedo League Division One next year by winning the final gala. A tremendous effort at Wombourne lifted them from second in the table with club captains Emma Cashmore and Simon Kitchen
MOTORSPORT: A successful racer has dedicated his title win to a Kidderminster motorsport fan who died earlier this year. Michael Dalzell sponsored race ace Geoff Jones and followed him around the country in the Monoposto 1,600 Kent Championship. The season
VOLLEYBALL: Rivals Tamworth were sent home empty-handed in the West Midlands League as Cleobury Mortimer triumphed 3-0. Player-of-the-match Becky Brookes starred with superb setting. In the same league, Cleobury lost 3-1 at Newcastle. The men lost a close
ATHLETICS: Amazing Feet's Eddie Sanders was first over-50 male at the Sneyd Christmas Pudding 10-mile run in one hour three minutes 38 seconds. John Amos finished second over-45 male in a personal best 1-0-40 and Brian Humphries ran 58-04. Amos leads
BOWLING: Wribbenhall beat Crusaders 15-12 in a close Gilt Edge Short Mat League contest. Brintons A came back strongly to defeat Blakedown 16-14, while Invincibles edged out Chester Road 19-17 in a battle of the high-fliers. Other results: Invincibles
SAILING: Trimpley Sailing Club's Ray Drury was one of only two dinghies to set sail due to the cold weather. Drury has been sailing alone for several weeks in his GP14 and is well ahead in the present series. The following day, Eddy Hillman was the only
TRIVIA: Over half the matches in the third leg of the Wyre Forest Cup produced tight finishes. Results: Bird-in-Hand 57, Beams 59; Old Rose & Crown A 56, George A 54; Black Star 56, Red Lion 47; New Inn 54, Bewdley Institute 55; Black Boy 54, Foresters
BURGLARS escaped with a haul worth nearly £1,500 after pulling a bolt off a tack room door in Blakedown. The break-in, in Deansford Lane, happened between 5pm on Thursday, December 12 and 9am the next day. Two saddles worth £600 each, four bridles worth
SATURDAY, Lyttelton: P Cook 19-9, T Moreton 19-2, M Wilkes 16-10, B Harris 14-10, R Speller 14-1. There will be meets on the Lyttelton on Saturday, Monday and Saturday, December 28, with 8.30am draws. More details are available on 01299 871735.
NOW that we are approaching the period when our leaders at Wyre Forest District Council are finalising their budgets for next year's Council Tax, let us hope that they bring a little reality, common sense, and compassion into their dreams. I am the sort
NEIL Walford won the Fur and Feather contest, the last of the season. Phil Reynolds won the knockout cup, while Wayne Price took the aggregate and shared the doubles with Dave Smith.
PERSHORE High School moved into the fifth round of the National Cup with a 2-0 win over Crestwood School. The home side started strongly at King George's, the home of Pershore Town, and their efforts were rewarded when Glen Jones opened the scoring after
A GOAL each for the third successive game by Steve Mares and John Maffei could not prevent Bewdley Town's first league defeat of the season. They lost 3-2 at home to promotion rivals Hinton in West Midlands League Division One South. Hinton should have
STRAWBERRY Pool: C Tipper 3-3, A Williams 2-13, B Hudson 2-12. The annual meeting is at noon on Sunday at the Woodman. The next match on the Strawberry Pool will be on Sunday, December 29, draw 8am.
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
RECYCLING is a statutory requirement, therefore an issue that cannot be avoided. The county council has shifted its responsibilities on to district councils and this should be viewed as an opportunity to do the job correctly. It need not necessarily mean
FUR and Feather, on canal at Wolverley: Ralph Harris 5-9, J Baylie 2-8, G Owen 2-3, D Kruckow 1-14-8dr.
Highgate Utd 4, Pershore Town 1 THE absence of defender Chris Jew and young forward Will Pedley severely handicapped a Town side that was also forced to play the final 27 minutes with only ten men after Adam Ward was sent off. By then, though, the hosts
Littleton 4, Handsworth Utd 0 LITTLETON continue to set the pace in Division Two of the Mid-land Combination after Saturday's emphatic victory. They have now reached the halfway stage of the league campaign and are two points ahead of Barnt Green who,
GOAL-hungry Rock Sports had little difficulty in making round three of the Kidderminster Hospital Minor Cup with a 9-0 hammering of Hamilton Rangers. But Cleobury Town took advantage of Rock's cup duty by moving above them to fourth in Division Three
TONI Hipkins bagged four goals in Ferndale Girls U-16s' 9-0 thrashing of Southam Town in the Central Warwickshire League. Kayleigh Hateley (two), Stacy Whittall (two) and debutant Jenni Beasley grabbed the other goals. Strong defending gave Becky Holland
A LONG-AWAITED Evesham bypass is set to go ahead after Worcestershire County Council received a government windfall of nearly £14m. The county council has been given a £13.9m grant to spend on its roads and £1m of this will go towards funding the Chadbury
I HAVE been following with interest the downgrading of our play areas by the Health Concern-run district council. I am flabbergasted to read that the single issue party which now runs our local council are implementing these terrible cuts. I live in the
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers Ladies did well to hold on for three West Midlands League points on Sunday against a strong Fairfield team. Harriers got off to a great start when Emma Bowdler scored from 35 yards on just six minutes. They doubled their lead three
Reese Witherspoon has turned herself into Hollywood's current A-list sweetheart by playing determined blondes who are not as dumb as they seem. Her larger-than-life belles in Election and Legally Blonde transformed the 26-year-old Tennessee native into
LATE night shopping in Evesham last Thursday is likely to be the last in its present form. "Those who came were buying and were there with a purpose, and more shops were open than ever before," said Wychavon District Council town centre officer Lew Hammond
A nursery worker from Pershore College of Horticulture launched a frenzied knife attack on his "only friend" at the place they both worked. Neil Spencer threw water over Richard Harris as they larked about at a disco and the pair engaged in a short fight
STUDENTS at Pershore High School can now prove their age if they are challenged when buying alcohol or cigarettes. Pupils have been given free CitizenCards, a national proof-of-age card, which has been issued as a result of local authorities working with
LOCKERS could be moved at Evesham's Leisure Centre to improve customers' security after a man broke into one and stole keys to a sports car. Wychavon Leisure, which runs the centre, are reviewing security arrangements after a silver BMW 330 Coupe, registration
IT begins with a single mince pie and glass of mulled wine, but before you know it the season of overindulgence has you in its grip and your body is fighting the consequences. Office parties, family get-togethers and assorted social engagements tempt
ONE hundred years of life in Evesham was celebrated when Doris Emms reached her centenary on Monday. Doris, a former landworker, who is now a resident at Bengeworth Fields House, celebrated her 100th birthday with friends, staff, and a glass of champagne
CONFIDENT Kidderminster Carolians are promising to put up a fight as they head to higher-ranked Luctonians in North Midlands Cup round two on Saturday (2.15pm). KCs may lead Midlands West Three (North) but Luctonians are third in Midlands One and hammered
HARSH words were needed from the Kidderminster Carolians' management team despite a 25-0 win over Bridgnorth taking them two points clear in Midlands Three West (North). It was not a top-of-the-table display from KCs who failed to impress in defeating
A REAL game of two halves saw Stourport fall 27-0 at local rivals Worcester Wanderers in North Midlands One. The home side dominated the early proceedings with two quick converted tries from intelligent back-row play. Worcester built on their lead to
CLEOBURY Mortimer's scheduled clash at leaders Solihull in North Midlands One was postponed.
CHADDESLEY Corbett continued their useful season in North Midlands Three with a good 24-15 victory at Essington. But the woe goes on for Bewdley who are struggling for players and recovering from Saturday's 71-0 hammering at the hands of mid-table Harborne
THE turbulent football career of Darren Bullock has taken a fresh twist with the news he has been booted out of Evesham United. The ex-Worcester City, Huddersfield, Swindon and Bury midfielder has played his last game for the Common Road club according
WORCESTER Norton men's first team crushed bottom-of- the-table Kidderminster 16-0 in their final match of the first half of the DTZ Midlands Hockey Lleague Division One campaign. Worcester, in third spot before the game started, were without captain Ian
ANOTHER course is being staged by the Worcestershire Football Association to help overcome the shortage of referees in the county. The course is designed for anyone wanting to take up the whistle, whether they have serious ambition to get to the top,
Revised household refuse collections in Cleobury Mortimer have been announced for the festive season. There will be no services on Christmas Day and collections will resume on December 27, 28, 30, 31, January 2, 3, and 4 - a day later than normal. Services
On Sunday, there will be two rides, both starting from The Green, Blakebrook. The A ride, will leave at 9am and explore the Netherton tunnel on the Black Country canal system. The B ride will begin at 9.30am, and visits Cobblers Corner, near Broadwas.
The bazaar and rummage sale were well supported, and president Margaret Ellis thanked members who had provided items to sell, and the helpers. The evening's speaker was Wendy Huntley, from Cookley WI, who talked about and demonstrated Painting On Silk
The following services will take place during the festive season. Sunday: Carols and crib service, 10am Holy Trinity; 6.30pm St Mary's, St Peter's, and St Barnabas. Christmas Eve: Crib service, 5pm St Mary's and St Oswald's. Eucharist, 11.30pm St Mary's
The first half of the current season ended with a Christmas social, attended by founder-member Ian Walker. Next year's lectures begin on January 8, with Andrew Wehner on Layamon, who was a 13th century writer. Meetings are held at St George's Church annexe
FEARS over children's safety have prompted Bewdley town councillors to recommend refusal on a plan for a new church and day nursery school. Applicant Jason Heron submitted a bid for planning permission to convert Dog House in Dog Lane, which is currently
A detached house in Bewdley is to make way for four new homes. Gerlensta on Grey Green Lane, Wribbenhall, can be demolished and replaced by four detached four-bedroomed homes, Wyre Forest District Council's planning (development control) committee decided
The Glorious Trees of Great Britain by Piers Browne with a foreword by HRH Prince Charles (John Murray, £35) DO you have a friend or relative with a quiet passion for the countryside? If so, I would suggest purchasing a copy of this stunning book for
LEARNING how to be a beauty therapist is not just about having a go at each other's make-up. Though practising this art forms a vital part of the course, students at Worcester College of Technology's Centre for Art and Design are also clued up on anatomy
HARVINGTON Golf Society staged its Christmas Awayday at the Vale Golf and Country Club. Twenty-four players took part and the format for the day was an 18-hole medal in the morning on the International Course followed by a nine-hole medal after lunch
STOURPORT Swifts' fortunes have taken another turn for the better with the signing of an England U-18s trialist. Robbie Taylor, 17, has been unveiled as the young player boss Dave Titterton has been tracking. Titterton expects to put the starlet on contract
Pershore 38pts, Birmingham Exiles 12 AN impressive first half performance saw Pershore have the points sewn up by half-time. The Piddle Park outfit crossed the line five times as they dominated in most areas particularly in the line-out where Levin Widmer
FOR anyone braving the weather last Sunday, the abiding memory will be the absolute bitterness of the wind and rain. However, for those Evesham supporters who braved the elements at Alcester, the memory will be of a cracking match at odds with the elements
Evesham and District Disabled AC and Partnerships SEVEN members turned up at Lemington Lakes, Moreton-in-Marsh for this year's Fur and Feather match. The bitterly cold wind and rain and an obvious lack of sport made for an extremely disappointing match
STUDENTS at Pershore High School can now prove their age if they are challenged when buying alcohol or cigarettes. Pupils have been given free CitizenCards, a national proof-of-age card, which has been issued as a result of local authorities working with
MAY we add our names to the growing member of objectors to the closure of the Swan Theatre? From a source in theatre land, we heard that only three theatres in the country have such insecure funding as the Swan, which is why it is so vulnerable. All the
THE New Forest has been a hunting forest for more than 1,000 years. It is a National Treasure. The true meaning of the word forest comes from the French language meaning an area reserved for hunting deer. The New Forest Buck Hounds hunted the fallow buck
THE big name draw for Hereford's Courtyard Theatre next year is stand-up comedian and star of Channel 4's Black Books, Dylan Moran. Moran, pictured right, who has won both a Perrier and Channel 4's So You Think You're Funny awards will be bringing his
PANTO fans will have to make the tricky choice between Melinda Messenger, Drew from Neighbours and Nigel from Eastenders. Former Page 3 stunner and more recently Celebrity Big Brother runner-up Melinda Messenger will head up the star-studded cast for
A NIGHT at Evesham mop in 1938 led to a great partnership for a farm worker from Wormington and a woman from Broadway. The couple, Harold and Julia Dones, married four years later and last Thursday celebrated their diamond wedding anniv-ersary. Mrs Dones
NAZI persecution victims will not be forgotten thanks to a new group. The Wyre Forest Holocaust Memorial Day Committee has been formed to organise and promote an annual national commemorative day in the district on January 27. Chairman, district and county
FIREFIGHTERS freed a woman from an overturned Land Rover Discovery following an accident which left the vehicle in a field. The accident happened at about 12.30pm on Monday on the A449 at Mustow Green. A Kidderminster Police spokeswoman said no other
DUNCAN Roke will miss out on a playing return at his former club as Worcester travel to European champions Leicester Tigers. Sixways' top scorer has broken a finger and is denied a visit to Welford Road where he began his rugby career. Hugo Southwell
STRATFORD'S MP John Maples has welcomed the news that improvements to Salford Priors' 'suicide island' have been set for early February. Mr Maples has received a letter from the Highways Agency confirming the start date for work at the A46 roundabout,
CHRIS Garrard has been cleared to play for Worcester at Leicester. A Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel accepted last night that the two-week club ban imposed on the winger, following his sending off at Rotherham, was sufficient punishment. Sixways
PERSHORE High School moved into the fifth round of the National Cup with a 2-0 win over Crestwood School. The home side started strongly at King George's, the home of Pershore Town, and their efforts were rewarded when Glen Jones opened the scoring after
Pershore 38pts, Birmingham Exiles 12 AN impressive first half performance saw Pershore have the points sewn up by half-time. The Piddle Park outfit crossed the line five times as they dominated in most areas particularly in the line-out where Levin Widmer
A 15-YEAR-OLD Kidder-minster girl who sparked a police appeal when she went missing had been staying with friends. Samantha Simms left her Upton Road home at 8pm on Tuesday, December 10 and disappeared after briefly visiting a friend in Broad Street.
A RECORD amount of cash was raised last month for a new hospice to care for children who are not expected to reach adulthood. The Acorns Three Counties Appeal was boosted by £102,000 and now stands at £1.92 million. Organisers of the £4 million appeal
THEATRE-goers will be boosting an appeal to build a new children's hospice at a pantomime starting tonight. Bucket collections will take place at Malvern Theatres during performances of Dick Whittington to raise cash to build an Acorns Children's Hospital
FANS of Motown and 60s soul will be flocking to Kidderminster Harriers Social Club this weekend. Nine-piece Black County soul band The Retro Flyers are in action at the venue on Saturday, covering music from The Blues Brothers and Commitments as well
I SUFFERED one of the aggravations of parliamentary life earlier this week when I sat through the whole of a debate for over five hours without a break and was not called to speak. Not only was five hours totally lost but also more time in actual preparation
CHRISTMAS came early for Milton Harris as Paxford Jack stormed to a front running victory at Cheltenham last Saturday. The Paxford trainer, who also owns the six-year-old, pocketed a winners' cheque for £30,000 after victory in the Doncaster Bloodstock
Evesham and District Pool League ALL teams in Division Four are reminded that, due to the closure of Giddings, Repro-bates now play their home matches at the George and Dragon. Scheduled matches against Gardeners (February 19) and Pershore Hot Shots (
THE second UK Grand Prix event took place last Saturday when the Welsh Indoor Championships (Cardiff Grand Prix) were staged at the Welsh Insti-tute of Sport in Cardiff. The Old Wrecks club was out in force again, along with a few other county competitors
THE home shoot at Throck-morton Clay Pigeon Club was a cold and damp affair. However, this didn't discourage the members turning out in healthy numbers. Excellent scores were returned despite the miserable conditions, with Dave Crowley and Brian Smith
Evesham and District Airgun League LEAGUE leaders Offenham benefited from the high scoring draw between Lygon Arms and Stanton Club to extend their lead at the summit to four points. Steph Anderson recorded her third maximum of the season in a 287-251
FIFTY members of Eve-sham Wheelers attended the club's annual dinner and prize presentation evening at Elmley Castle Village Hall. Members enjoyed a buffet style meal followed by dancing to live music at a successful evening again organised again by Brian
BUSINESS representatives from minority ethnic communities are being urged to get involved in a multi-million-pound scheme that will shape the future economy of the West Midlands. The plea came from Mohammad Nazir, chairman of the West Midlands Minority
A BIDFORD parish councillor has hit out at vandals who targeted the village Christmas lights. Since the lights went up on Sunday, December 1, bulbs have been removed from lights displays around the village square and smashed. Christmas trees have also
CHILDREN were lucky enough to get early presents when Father Christmas dropped by at Salford Priors Primary School. Santa turned up on his horse-drawn sleigh at the village school and sat in his grotto while children told him what they wanted for Christmas
STAFF and patients at Kemp Hospice toasted their last Christmas at the current premises - with the New Year set to signal a fresh start. The doors will close at the hospice in Sutton Park Road for the last time at Easter, when new premises at the Cedars
MEMBERS of the public will be given speed guns under a police pilot scheme. The West Mercia Community Speed Watch initiative, to be launched in the New Year, will specifically target rural areas. Active members of the local community will be given training
A SEVERELY disabled teenager will be forced to travel to school with a new escort after his carer of seven years was told she was no longer needed by the county council, his distraught mother claims. Jeanette Morgan, whose 13-year-old son Jonathan cannot
Bretforton 1, Bath Buccaneers 0 SATURDAY'S was the last league game before the mid season break and the first of the return matches. Bretforton had Phil Talbot to thank for standing in at the last minute to umpire and, after a delayed start, the match
THE Worcestershire teenager who emerged from an Australian rainforest after four days wandering lost and alone through dense jungle, has returned home for Christmas. Louise Saunders, aged 19, thought she would never see her family again as she spent three
A SECOND World War veteran died after his electric mobility buggy shot backwards into the road outside his Evesham home and fell on its side, an inquest heard. Cotswold coroner Lester Maddrell was told that David White forgot his buggy was on the highest
A DROITWICH woman has made a desperate appeal for the sprawling mould at her home to be dealt with before her disabled partner's life is put at risk. Deborah Johnstone says she has been begging Spa Housing Association for five months to sort out the problem
PINVIN parish councillors are preparing their village for a "traffic onslaught" with the opening of the Wyre Piddle bypass this Friday. They believe school children will be just one group put at risk by both the bypass and the re-routing of the A44 through
A MAN with a drink problem hurled a plant pot through the window of a cancer victim's home and stole three china figurines. Anthony Bradbury also stole from a friend's house and smashed a window with a chunk of cement, Worcester Crown Court heard. He
WORCESTERSHIRE County Council has delayed its budget process while it works out exactly how much money it will receive under the Government's new grant settlement formula. At a meeting of the cabinet, members from all parties agreed that more time was
A TEENAGER started a fire in his room because he felt he was being victimised, a court heard. The 16-year-old disappeared to his room in a Worcester care home after a meeting with his case worker, the city's magistrates heard yesterday. Mike Cowley, prosecuting
THE Mayor of Worcester's chosen charities are quids-in following help from city people. An open evening at the Guildhall staged by the Worcester in Bloom Association, Worcester Allotment Forum and the city council's parks section raised £250 for the Worcestershire
IT'S the best Christ-mas gift ever! That was the verdict of overjoyed Elizabeth Saunders as she hugged daughter Louise, back home in Kidderminster after her Australian ordeal. Louise, 19, made headlines around the world last month after getting lost while
JOBSEEKERS have received glad tidings for the festive season - but the New Year will bring uncertainty for one group of workers. Thirty jobs are to be created at a recycling project in Kidderminster while more than 100 jobs are under threat in Stourport
A FAMILY is in shock following the death of a "devoted" mother-of-four who was in collision with a car at the weekend. Shirley Royle, 46, died at Worcestershire Royal Hospital on Tuesday morning as a result of injuries sustained in the accident on the
EDUCATION welfare officers were "astounded" at the high number of children seen out with their parents in Kidderminster town centre during a pre-Christmas truancy sweep. And they have vowed to let schools know about all 46 youngsters who should have been
AN SOS has gone out to save a "vital" service at Kidderminster Hospital. More than 500 people have signed a petition to "Save Our Switchboard" after plans have been unveiled to move the service to the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch. Switchboard staff claim
BIG-hearted runners raised more than £5,000 when they took to the road for a group which helps bereaved children. Bramble's Trust members were delighted when a field of more than 400 turned up for its second 10k road race and fun run, organised by Kidderminster
ONE of the district's oldest petrol stations will close its pumps on Christmas Eve after 71 years. But the pensioner whose husband set up the firm in 1931 will be the first tenant in a new homes scheme on the site. Hingley and Callow Oils, Stourport Road
FRENCH signing Parfait Medou-Otye has been ruled out of Bromsgrove Rovers' home Dr Martens Western fixture with Racing Club Warwick on Saturday. Medou-Otye, signed from Stourport Swifts at the end of November, suffered a groin injury half an hour into
A duo will be bringing their brand of pop tunes to Worcester when they entertain party revellers on Christmas Eve. Wilson will be singing some original tunes and cover versions when they play at RSVP in High Street. Wilson are in fact half of pop band
It may come as a surprise to learn vocalist Eddi Reader did, in fact, grow up in a violent suburb of Glasgow - and it certainly did not do her any harm. The songster who is often described as having meltingly true vocals is a powerful figure in contemporary
SPEEDING drivers are a menace to life and limb. At best careless, at worst reckless, they blight our communities. The introduction of speed cameras has done something to redress the balance in favour of safety on the roads. But, if the experience of the
ANDY Ducros has re-signed for a second loan spell at Conference club Nuneaton Borough. Ducros was recalled by Kidderminster Harriers last week and was a non-playing substitute in Saturday's defeat by York City. But now the Harriers £80,000 record signing
SWIMMING: Wyre Forest Swimming Club are celebrating the best year in their history after winning the Speedo League Division Two. The A team clinched the title ahead of Wolverhampton and promotion to Division One with victory at Wombourne in the final
THURSDAY: Brierley Hill: Robin R'n'B - Fred Zeppelin. Birmingham: Symphony Hall - Christmas Crackers. NIA - Oasis. Fiddle and Bone - Clare Teal. Ty's - Curtis Little (and Friday). Edgbaston: Duck Inn - Ralph Allin Quartet. Worcester: Huntingdon Hall -
HOCKEY: Kidderminster's firsts will be thankful for the Christmas break after a 16-0 Midlands One thrashing at Worcester Norton. Their county rivals were far too strong and cruised into an 8-0 lead by the interval. Struggling Kidderminster were completely
HOCKEY: Stourport's first and seconds were without a match but the thirds were well up to the task of being the club's top representatives. They beat their visitors Edgbaston 9-0 with the ever-reliable David Knott scoring four and Phil Baldwin adding
MOTORSPORT: Arley schoolboy Ross Danby beat almost the entire adult entry in the Dudley and District Club trial at The Old Mine, Kinlet, on Sunday. Bewdley Motor Cycling Club's budding superstar dropped 44 marks, just four more than top adult expert Alan
ATHLETICS: Dave Hall won Kidderminster and Stourport Athletic Club's Christmas Cracker 5k fun run on Sunday. Hall completed the race from Stourport Sports Club in 17 minutes 40 seconds. In second place was Matt Granger in 18-08 with Mark Roberts fourth
CHESS: Kidderminster's seconds lost 4-1 to Stafford in Wolverhampton League Division Two. The team, led by Mike Kitchen, have lost all five matches so far. Results (Kidderminster first): Mark Riley 0, G Acey 1; Ken Durnell v M Armstrong (adj); Bill Pugh
ONE of a team of six sales employees - who have notched up more than two centuries of service between them - is about to finally step down. Michael Wakeman, 65, is retiring from Carpets of Worth after 33 years, leaving colleagues he grew up with in Stourport
RESIDENTS on the doorstep of a massive new housing development have spoken out against their new neighbour - and claimed its approval was a foregone conclusion. Last week Wyre Forest district councillors gave the green light to plans for 221 flats and
I ALWAYS look forward to this annual event, and am never disappointed. The concert, with Muller Cleobury Mortimer Band, was held on Friday and Saturday, and children from Great Witley School took part on Friday. I went on Saturday, when the gentlemen
EXTRA police will be on patrol across Wyre Forest tomorrow for one of the busiest days of the year as many workplaces shut down for Christmas. Insp Alan Baldwin, of Kidderminster Police, said the operation would include extra mobile and foot patrols from
TWO brothers who attacked a lorry driver in a road rage incident have been sent to jail. John and Michael Buckley got angry after Geoffrey Jones pulled in front of the their car during the morning rush-hour. The sugar beet driver was punched to the ground
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
LEE Nutland was the individual winner of Moorlands Farm Fishery Winter League's round six with a catch weighing 54lb 8oz. Winter League, individuals: Nutland (Mosella) 54lb 8oz, Neil McKinnon (Shakespeare) 51-5, Pete Whitehouse (Wessons) 50-0; teams on
DISTRACTION burglars carrying out a crime spree at farms across Worcestershire are thought to have attempted to strike in Chaddesley Corbett. Now people living in rural areas have been urged to be on their guard. Police were told two men had been spotted
REPAIRS to the Masters Lake are now complete and it has been re-stocked with rainbow trout ranging from 3lb to 22lb, plus a few brown trout to 10lb. Fishing there begins on Boxing Day but bailiff Mark Thistleton caught five trout to 6lb on a Shatterford
A PIONEER whose award-winning Upton firm gained worldwide recognition for its groundbreaking innovation in medical diagnostics has died, aged 56, writes Jon di Paolo. Born in Farnborough, Kent, Philip Mico attended Queen Elizabeth Hospital school, in
Evesham Utd Ladies 3, Malvern Tn 6 DESPITE having a player sent off ten minutes before half- time, Evesham staged an encouraging performance against a physical opposition last Sunday. Malvern, who had already defeated United twice this season, looked
Evesham Utd U-10 1, Newtown Spts Jnrs 1 OLLY Scarrott's early strike was cancelled out before half-time after United failed to make the most of almost constant pressure. The tables turned after the break and Evesham were forced to withstand a Newtown
CHADDESLEY Corbett fear their title challenge may be all but ended after a disappointing 0-0 draw at lowly Malvern Town Reserves in West Midlands League Division One South. They failed to create many clear-cut chances in a match lacking passion and dropped
Birdseye Sports Evesham Sunday League MOUNTINNEERS moved five points clear at the top of Division Three, after victory in their top of the table clash at Defford and Besford Utd. The Mount led at the interval with goals from Page and Reid and, despite
I HAVE followed the recent fireworks correspondence with interest. Ms Parker questions the IQ of some pet owners (Letters, November 28). Surely then she must question her own when keeping animals caged and unable to flee from fireworks. This correspondence
A SCHEME to develop a green field site close to the centre of Malvern has been turned down by planners. The Oseman family wanted to build housing on the 4.1-acre site, lying between Meadow Road, Malvern Link, and the railway line. The application has
WYRE Forest Brintons came back from an early two-goal deficit to beat visiting Leominster Town 5-3 in West Midlands League Division One South. Having lost two back-to-back matches against rivals Chaddesley Corbett, Forest Brintons were desperate for a
FORMER champions Shipston Excelsior turned the formbook upside down last Saturday when they inflicted a first defeat if the Stratford Alliance season on Campden Town. Nick Coe and Dan Hill were Town's tormentors with the two goals in a 2-1 Journal Premier
I WOULD like to put forward a view in the debate over the proposed cinema and Kidderminster town centre redevelopment. When there is talk of "out of town", we should surely judge these definitions in the light of "viable" and currently much-used alternatives
I FEEL I must respond to the misguided letter about Stourport's Christmas lights from James Woodman (November 28 issue). Contrary to his opinion that Stourport has a "Scrooge-like" council, it does, in fact, contribute heavily on an annual basis, despite
TITLE-chasing Ferndale Youth trounced struggling Droitwich Jaguars 12-0 in the Stourport and District Youth League U-13s Division One. In U-12s Division One, St John's Tigers were too strong for bottom side Droitwich Packers, winning 10-0. Mostyn Rangers
EVESHAM United manager Phil Mullen has told Darren Bullock that his services are no longer required, writes Mervyn Collins. The former Robins' skipper was due to be back in the reckoning for Saturday's visit to Weston-super-Mare but he now finds himself
THE parents of an Evesham boy who died in a road accident planted the first of three trees in his memory at Evesham High School. Robert and Julie Smout planted a winter flowering cherry tree outside the main entrance on Monday in memory of their 13-year-old
IT has been reported that thousands of pounds is to be spent on providing staff with personalised travel plans in a bid to solve Worcestershire Royal Hospital's car parking problem. But such a quantum leap in thinking is not needed. All that needs to
PINVIN parish councillors fear the increased amount of traffic from the Wyre Piddle bypass will blight the lives of villagers. Chairman Steve Mitchell and councillor Bob Mustard spoke out on the eve of the opening of the new £6m road tomorrow, which coincides
A BRETFORTON man has hit out at fly tippers who dumped an entire bathroom suite on his land. Warwick Partington, of Station Road, said he was "disgusted" by the indiscriminate actions of the tippers and said it was the latest episode in a growing problem
SATURDAY (3pm unless stated) NATIONWIDE LEAGUE DIVISION THREE Wrexham v KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS DR MARTENS WESTERN DIVISION STOURPORT SWIFTS v Gloucester City WEST MIDLANDS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH BEWDLEY TOWN v Malvern Town Res (1.45pm) Ledbury Town
A MAN who kicked a £40,000 Mercedes belonging to former Evesham mayor Mark Robinson was ordered to pay £1,500 by Worcester magistrates. The magistrates heard how Nicholas Langstone had kicked the 320 CLK convertible sports car after drinking with friends
VALE triathlete Anthony Wilson has sent a big thank you to people who helped him compete for his country in last month's world championships in Mexico. The 21-year-old from Peopleton, near Pershore, was partly funded by regulars at his local pub - the
VALE residents are being warned to avoid fines, court cases and angry neighbours by taking proper planning advice before building extensions and conservatories. The message comes from Wychavon District Council, which wants people to plan ahead and consult
Evesham Utd Ladies 3, Malvern Tn 6 DESPITE having a player sent off ten minutes before half- time, Evesham staged an encouraging performance against a physical opposition last Sunday. Malvern, who had already defeated United twice this season, looked
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
DUNCAN Roke will miss out on a playing return at his former club as Worcester travel to European champions Leicester Tigers. Sixways' top scorer has broken a finger and is denied a visit to Welford Road where he began his rugby career. Hugo Southwell
CHRIS Garrard has been cleared to play for Worcester at Leicester. A Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel accepted last night that the two-week club ban imposed on the winger, following his sending off at Rotherham, was sufficient punishment. Sixways
FORMER Welsh international David Llewellyn will make his debut at Spring Lane on Saturday as Malvern Rugby Club go head to head with Kenilworth in Midlands One. Scrum-half Llewellyn, capped 23 times, has signed for Malvern on loan from Newport as part
THIS weekend sees four Worcester Norton women's first team squad players begin their bid to win international hockey caps in next year's European Youth Championships when they have to attend the first England international assessment camp of the build-up
GOING into the mid-season break Stourport men's thirds, fourths, fifths and sixths are all well placed in the title chase for the top divisions of their respective hockey leagues. The first team have also had their positives, attracting Pakistani international
NOW the trees are almost if not completely bare, there are some things which seem to stand out in the woodlands, things which may well have previously gone unnoticed. Many plants with evergreen leaves are now standing proud in the woodlands. Several of
BROADWAY parish councillors have condemned a decision giving the go-ahead for plans to redevelop the village's former Gordon Russell furniture works site. Wychavon District Council approved a scheme that includes housing, parking spaces, a new tourist
The annual craft competition was won jointly by Audrey Rudd and Mary Collings, who will each hold the plate for six months. A party of members went to see Half a Sixpence, performed by Chaddesley Amateur Theatrical Society. In November, Vic Hemingway
The Wyre Forest group has organised a surprise three to four-mile walk, with Christmas meal, leaving New Road car park at 10am on Sunday. For details telephone 01562 66020.
THE Goodies were the week's highest scorers in the Worcester and District Ladies Skittle League. They floored 403 pins to defeat Hills Angels by 26 in their Division Two clash, led by a fine 45 from M. Brewer including a 12 spare. Division One Jubilees
SWEET HOME ALABAMA (12A) Add????? Odeon, Worcester (12.00, 2.40, 5.30, 8.30 Fri-Mon & Thurs) (12.00, 2.40 Tues only) UCI Merry Hill. 1.30, 4.00, (6.45, 9.30 Not Tues). Warner Village (12.00 Not Thurs), 2.40, 5.20, (8.00 Not Tues), Sat late 10.40.
100 years ago December 20 1902 The two new bells which have been purchased to complete the octave at Badsey Church arrived on Monday and were hung during the week. It will be remembered that the old bells were re-hung a short time ago. It is hoped that
THE parking woes which have blighted the £96 million Worcestershire Royal Hospital could be resolved in the New Year. Worcestershire county council chiefs have won a £30,000 government grant to fund a travel coordinator to help staff draw up personal
CRITICISM of the hospital trust is demoralising staff, a health chief has claimed. Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust chairman Michael O'Riordan said he was saddened some sections of the community only seemed to want to find fault. Writing in the
Monsters, Inc. Annual 2003, (Disney, Pixar, £6.99) Christmas is coming and the children will be expecting the stockings to be fat. If one of Father Christmas's standard fillers is the annual Annual then the Monsters, Inc variety may well fit the bill
Echoing Voices by John Harris (John Murray, £17.99) THE voice that echoes here is largely that of the author with delicious tales of his oddball upbringing, extraordinary life and lifelong love for the stately home. His previous book No Voice From The
Are We Related? by Eve McLaughlin (Countryside Books £7.95) THIS is a valuable handbook for genealogists - casual and serious - who wish to research their family tree in the hope of finding a well-known or titled ancestor. Eve McLaughlin is an expert
BROADWAY Golf Club's ladies' league first team crowned a highly successful 2002 season by winning Division One of the Cotswold and District Ladies Alliance. The Cotswolds club secured the trophy in the keenly contested scratch match play league by a margin
Rose, Kidderminster - Christmas Entertainment, Thursday and Friday. Alexandra, Birmingham - The King and I, until January 18. Hippodrome, Birmingham - Aladdin, Saturday until February 9. Crescent, Birmingham - 'Allo, 'Allo, until Saturday. Repertory,
Shipston on Stour 22pts, Kings Norton 0 IN front of a large crowd, Shipston soared to third place in the league with a game in hand over the leaders after completing the double over doughty opponents at Mayo Road. Playing down the slope in the first half
DRINKERS in Vale pubs this Christmas will be confronted by the image of a man in a wheelchair staring back at them from their beer mats. Worcestershire resident Ed Walsh, who has been a wheelchair-user since being hit by a drink-driver 16 years ago, features
SO Mike Foster likes to announce with glee that Worcestershire schoolchildren are only under-funded by £100 per-pupil compared to Birmingham. Sorry if I miss the point here, but aren't we supposed to treat our children equally? Or as Mr Blair wrote (Eric
I BELIEVE the long-awaited Wyre Piddle bypass will be opened shortly, and, contrary to previous understanding, the road through Wyre Piddle will remain open pending a public enquiry. Fine, that seems fair enough, adopting a wait-and-see policy. But to
ONE evening earlier this month a young girl took command of the situation at a bus stop in Windermere Drive, Warndon, whereby an elderly lady, aged 85,fell and injured her head. The bus stop is opposite a superstore goods entrance. There was no lighting
JOHN Phillpott's plug for the UK Independence Party (Phillpott File, December 16) might explain the plethora of anti-Europe letters that find their way into the You Say correspondence column which he edits. Mr Phillpott's motives have long been obvious
EVESHAM United manager Phil Mullen has told Darren Bullock that his services are no longer required, writes Mervyn Collins. The former Robins' skipper was due to be back in the reckoning for Saturday's visit to Weston-super-Mare but he now finds himself
EVESHAM Rugby Club's miserable season plunged to new depths at Nuneaton last Saturday. The Avon Street outfit lost for the ninth time in nine Midlands Three West (South) outings as league leaders Old Edwardians rattled up an emphatic 91-5 win. The defeat
PUTTING up the tree is generally when that cosy Christmassy feeling kicks in. The smell of pine needles, the untangling of the tinsel and the obligatory dud fairy light which stops the other 1,000 dead in their tracks. It's officially the most wonderful
GOLFERS have to be hunted down for their keys mid-round so their cars can be moved around on a busy car park, course owners claim. Wyre Forest Golf Club has applied for retrospective planning permission for an overspill car park on a vacant two-acre patch
FATHER Christmas will be travelling differently on Boxing Day - this time he will be using a vintage tractor. More than 50 tinsel-covered tractors carrying Santa, his elves and other characters will be parading around Bewdley and the Wyre Forest as part
Highgate Utd 4, Pershore Town 1 THE absence of defender Chris Jew and young forward Will Pedley severely handicapped a Town side that was also forced to play the final 27 minutes with only ten men after Adam Ward was sent off. By then, though, the hosts
ANGRY residents who endured months of disruption while new sewers were laid say they have been left with a muddy - and potentially dangerous - legacy of the work. A public patch of land at the corner of Marlpool Lane and Hay Close, Kidderminster, has
A MAN was lucky to escape with his life when a gas camping stove exploded in his kitchen, it has been revealed. It blew windows out with an "almighty bang" which roused the whole street, said sub officer Mick Rowlands, of Kidderminster Fire Station. The
AN appeal for gifts for needy Wyre Forest children has set a new record. Kind-hearted shoppers donated more than 500 gifts to Wyre Forest Business Club's stall in Kidderminster's Swan Centre. And hundreds more were dropped into the offices of the Shuttle
A GOVERNMENT watchdog has dubbed Worcestershire County Council a good authority in national league tables. All county and unitary authorities have been given a rating and placed in a league table by the Audit Commission, the independent watchdog. The
THERE is something fishy going on at a Bewdley pub which has won a national competition. The Running Horse in Long Bank has come up trumps for the quality of its fish board in a contest arranged by the Sea Fish Industry Authority for Chef and Brewer pubs
SOUL and R'n'B band Blind Lemon are gearing up for their 10th anniversary celebrations with a revamped website and a special Christmas gig at the weekend. The popular Wyre Forest six piece will be at one of their regular haunts, The Kingsford in Wolverley
ONE of the UK's leading "fingerstyle" acoustic guitarists is the latest visitor to a Stourport club enjoying a renaissance. Eric Roche is coming to the Galleon Acoustic Club, based at Stourport Boat Club, on Sunday. The thriving venue is the spiritual
A DRUMMER from Kidderminster who toured Europe with Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant can be heard live on national radio tonight. Andy Edwards has linked up with Stourbridge-based blues prodigy Ian Parker for his new project The Ian Parker Band, who will
Evesham and District Association SDM Spinners and Evesham Emperors are turning Division 3A of the H20 Plum-bing and Heating League into a two-horse race. The former extended their unbeaten run to ten matches but had a fright from Littleton Rock and Rollers
WELFORD bowlers Judith Hart and Trevor Francis have reached the area semi-finals of the National Mixed Pairs. The duo overcame Coventry opponents 22-20 despite trailing at the 18th end and looking like losing out. The club was also celebrating success
SIX Evesham archers attended Droitwich Archery Club's annual Worcester held at the Perdiswell Leisure Centre. For the first time, a double Worcester was shot, ten dozen arrows with a maximum score of 600. Due to the rarity of the round a full entry was
ONE in five small business owners in the two counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire will be working on Christmas Day, according to research. One in 10 small business owners also plan to work on New Year's Day, according to the latest survey by Alliance
TWO Worcestershire companies have gone bumper-to-bumper to do their bit to save the planet. Brooklyn Motors plc, which has car showrooms all over Worcestershire, has signed an agreement with Betta Special Waste to take away and dispose of its scrap bumpers
