A TRIP to the House of Commons and £200 worth of tools are two of the prizes up for grabs at an auction of promises. The Friends of Pitmaston Primary School aim to raise more than £2,000 at the promises auction. Previous fund-raising by the group has
A TWENTY-FIRST Century shop opened its doors yesterday at Worcester's £96m hospital, hailing the return of a band of devoted volunteers. The Women's Royal Voluntary Service has extended its 20-year relationship with Worcester hospitals by staffing the
A MAN defrauded the city council by more than £1,500 after he continued to claim benefits while he was working. Steven Mason did not tell Worcester City Council he had found work and received working families tax credit, Worcester magistrates heard. As
FAKE £20 notes are circulating in the Evesham area. A small number of the notes have been spotted in the past few days and police are offering people advice on how to spot them. PC Mike Stephenson, crime risk manager, said there were a number of ways
ICY winds and a layer of frost may have covered much of the county this morning but signs of spring are sprouting. At this time of year, visitors from as far as the Cotswolds, the Black Country and Birmingham travel to Birlingham, near Pershore, to see
A MAN who was at a Worcester pet-rol station while an armed robbery was taking place is being urged to come forward by police. Police are re-appealing for information after a robber pulled out a small gun from a canvas holdall and demanded money from
YOUNGSTERS who fancy some wild and wacky fun should take part in an It's a Knockout contest this summer. Evesham College is inviting local schools and colleges to battle it out to help raise money for local charities. The event is being organised as part
SURVIVING Second World War bombs and becoming a firefighter were just some of the memories brought alive by a pile of old bills. Worcester's past came flooding back to Winifred Plant after she discovered a selection of bills buried at the bottom of a
AN EVESHAM mum has single-handedly launched a campaign to loosen Government purse strings for county education. And she hopes parent power will win the day. Helen Donovan, who has two children at a town primary school, has launched the campaign to counter
TRADING Standards officers were not enforcing the law in Worcester today as the ban on tobacco advertising came into force. Instead, they planned a far more gentle approach, offering advice and help to traders. Steve Birch, operations manager with Worcestershire
A POTTERY company has launched a Valentine's Day search to find the romantic customer who proposed to his girlfriend with a specially decorated mug. The young Romeo created his "will you marry me?" message at Paint Pots, in Lowesmoor, Worcester, where
THE congregation were treated to a wonderful evening of music at a concert held in St Peter's Church on Sunday. The musician were all pupils from St James's School, West Malvern. The programme was varied, there were solos on flute and cello, two pieces
HAS it been a long dreary winter for you? Well put on your glad rags and come to the Castlemorton Common Association social supper at the Castlemorton Village Hall on February 22. Doors open 7.30pm and the bar will open shortly afterwards! There will
DAZZLE continues tonight and tomorrow afternoon and evening at Colwall Village Hall. This is the latest production by the Colwall Players with the Young Colwall Players. Evenings 7.30pm and the matinee performance at 2.30pm. Tickets available from John
As part of National Marriage Week, a special service of evensong will be held at St Peter's Church, Powick this Sunday at 4pm. Included in this benefice service will be the renewal and re-affirmation of wedding vows. The service is not just for those
DON'T forget the Castle Tump Women's Institute spring show at Pauntley Memorial Hall in Brand Green on Saturday, February 22. Entries must be made by Tuesday, February 18. Schedules are available from Janet Price, telephone (01531) 820949 or from June
West Malvern has a new parish councillor. Kathryn Roberts was co-opted at Monday's meeting to fill the vacancy left by the recent resignation of Karen Douglas. Kathryn is a clothes designer of international experience, now with her own business in Ledbury
DANCING enthusiasts and would-be pop-stars can brush up their steps at Holy Trinity Church Hall, Link Top. A new salsa refresher class starts on Thursday from 7.30pm to 8.30pm and runs for eight weeks. The class is suitable for beginners and no partner
A poet is to give readings of her work at The Chase on Friday, February 28. Julia Copus' work has been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and included in numerous anthologies. She will be reading from 7.30pm in the drama studio. Her appearance will coincide with
POWICK artist Ann James has won a bronze medal from the Royal Horticul-tural Society for her paintings of lilies. She entered the competition in September, when she sent four paintings to the society, and was invited to London to exhibit a further eight
ARTIST Val Hepplewhite visited Malvern Theatres on Tuesday to see three of her paintings on exhibition there. The portraits depict Dr William Boughton, Professor Robin Stowell playing the violin, and an Irish fiddler. Dr Boughton conducts the Malvern-based
Royal Oak Hotel in the Southend, Ledbury every Tuesday. Beginners classes will take place at 8pm, intermediate classes at 9.15pm and funky merengue and zumba classes at 9pm with Venezuelan instructor Thomas Melendez. Entry is £4 for one class or £5 for
DEATH dominated the news in the Worcester Journal this week 250 years ago. For instance, the edition of 1753 gave readers a breakdown of local deaths over the previous year - 450 in all, 227 men and 223 women. Of the deaths, 130 were through age, 102
TWO small boys were killed in separate horrendous accidents in city centre streets at Worcester during this week exactly 100 years ago. Berrow's Journal brought readers the horrifying details of the two tragic incidents. "On Monday, four years old Arthur
PEOPLE of Worcester and the county showed great sympathy at this time half-a-century ago for the victims of severe coastal flooding in the East and South-East of England. Berrow's Journal reported that citizens of Worcester had already contributed more
ENGLISH china, including items from Royal Worcester, was being ordered for the White House by the American First Lady at this time a century ago. "Crowquill" explained in his Journal comment column for this week of 1903: "With regard to Mrs Roosevelt's
Evesham-based band Morso return to Worcester once again when they play the Marr's Bar tonight. The band have recently released a video called Watch Me Try, which is on the end of their CD called Do It With Friends. The EP, which was recorded a while ago
MALVERN Chess Club had a bad start to their season in the Worcester and District League Division One when Kidderminster Knights gained revenge for their defeat in the previous season's cup final with a 2 - 1 win. The final score actually represented something
PRIMARY schools gathered at Malvern College to participate in the annual pop lacrosse tournament on Saturday. Eight teams participated in the tournament and represented the following schools: The Elms School, Great Malvern Primary, Hillstone, The Wyche
THE quarter-finals of the Malvern Table Tennis League's Secondary Handicap competition are forming and all three divisions will be represented in the next round. In the game between two sides near the top of Division Two Vulcans gained a good victory
THE Ledbury and District Swimming Club team had mixed fortunes during the third round of the Wyvern League held at Monmouth as illness still affected many swimmers. Many swims were only fractions of a second slower than in previous rounds but with both
RANGERS travelled to Hadley Stadium on Saturday to play West Midlands League Division One (South) seventh-placed Mahal, a side that beat Rangers 4-2 in October. MAHAL 1, MALVERN RANGERS 3 With once again a depleted squad available, manager Roger Kitchener
MALVERN Girls' College pupil Sarah White, aged 16, is to represent Worcestershire at the National Schools Cross Country race in Brighton in March. At the Hereford and Worcester District Cross Country Championships held at Bredon School, Sarah came tenth
WITH Trinity Sports at the top of the Third Division of the Worcester League, this Bernard Finnegan Cup match was destined to be close. MALVERN PREMIERS 3, TRINITY SPORTS 2 (aet) It was Trinity Sports who opened the scoring after only three minutes with
MALVERN Ladies FC entertained top of the table Burlish Olympic on Sunday. MALVERN LADIES FC 0, BURLISH OLYMPIC 2 Malvern started brightly and in the third minute a 25 yard shot by Jenny Shail hit the underside of the bar and bounced out to the Burlish
A DAME and a baddie whose acting is as good as the professionals help make this year's Bromyard panto an entertaining laugh-a-minute. As nurse Gladys, Richard Hulbert does a great job in propelling the action along. Peter Goodson too, as the wicked Sherriff
Worcestershire Youth Music Theatre Company presented a thoughtful production of West Side Story last weekend, full of excitement and teenage angst. The story relocates Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to 1950s New York where Puerto Rican Maria and Italian-American
EXPRESS knew this cup match would be their toughest test of the past few weeks and weren't wrong as they faced the league leaders in a what turned out to be an entertaining game on a poor Victoria Park surface. EXPRESS 4, EXCEL STAR & GARTER 1 (aet
RADAR crashed out of the Bernard Finnegan Cup last Sunday although if they had taken their chances the score would and should have been a lot closer. KAYS 3, MALVERN RADAR 0 The first half an hour was very entertaining with both sides playing some great
THE West suffered their fourth home defeat of the season on a heavy pitch where good football was always going to be difficult and for the first time this season they failed to score. WEST MALVERN 0, GOODREST SPORTS 2 The game opened with Goodrest making
BARNARDS Green extended their good league and cup run, thanks to a fine individual display from Adam Webber, with an unconvincing 2-1 win against bottom of the league Saracens. BATTLEDOWN SARACENS U18s 1, BARNARDS GREEN U18s 2 Saracens applied the early
WELLAND travelled to Cropthorne for their latest fixture with a depleted squad and a stand in goalkeeper. EVESHAM COLTS 5, WELLAND JUNIORS U14s 7 The team took time to settle and despite dominating the opening stages the visitors found themselves 2-0
A MAN has been arrested after a 25-year-old woman was found dead on a Malvern estate. Kathryn Angela Allen's body was discovered at her Elgar Avenue flat in the early hours of Sunday morning. Her boyfriend, 37-year-old Alan Hill, broke down in tears when
A PUBLIC meeting to discuss plans for an extension to Upton Marina has been called by the town's Civic Society. Representatives of marina owners Walton Marine and other interested parties will be at Upton Memorial Hall at 7.30pm on Friday, February 28
PROPOSALS for a town centre manager covering Upton-upon-Severn have been criticised as a waste of money by the chairman of the Tourism and Trade Association. The £30,000 which Malvern Hills District Council needs to fund the position would be better spent
PUBLIC meetings have been called to discuss the relocation of GP surgeries in Malvern. South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust will start their consultation exercise on plans to move Court Road Surgery and Malvern Health Centre to Townsend Way with two
A MALVERN man has been charged with unlawfully imprisoning his estranged wife, threatening to kill her and assaulting her. Stephen Burton, aged 41 of Jamaica Road, was also charged with threatening to kill two police officers. He appeared before Worcester
West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer has called for a Parliamentary debate to discuss the future of Malvern's new hospital. Sir Michael said statements by the Primary Care Trust have created uncertainty about the future of Malvern and Pershore hospitals
UPTON Deanery is selling off Christmas cards at half their normal price to raise money for a school in Africa. Packs of 10 cards are being sold at £2.50. The money will go towards the Deanery's appeal for Anajali School in Nairobi, Kenya.
A SCHEME to convert the Brooklyn Garage site to housing will be considered by planners. The amended plans for 207 Worcester Road, Malvern Link will be considered by Malvern Hills District Council's southern area planning committee at 7pm on Wednesday
MALVERN Town Action Group councillor Alistair Macmillan has resigned from Malvern Town Council after a row with the mayor. Mr Macmillan's departure was in protest at what he called an "arbitrary and unreasonable" ruling by coun Frances Victory at a meeting
I wonder if local residents realise that in several months time the 'residential care' of the elderly in Ledbury will be monopolised by the owners of the Community Health Care Centre. Leadon Bank Residential Home is to be transferred from Hereford-shire
A MALVERN club has applied to build on land owned by Malvern Town Council without asking the council's permission. At a planning meeting on Wednesday, town councillors examined plans submitted by the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association. It has asked
I AM amazed you give front page coverage to Linda Hart so she can criticise the work of Malvern Hills Conservators and attack the visit of a key member of our royal family (Malvern Gazette, February 7). Surely no one can be so stupid as not to appreciate
DEVELOPERS prevented from building a block of "affordable" flats in Malvern more than a year ago say they are still keen on the project. Birmingham-based housing association FCH Housing and Care was refused planning permission to build 38 flats at the
Malvern Health Centre, at Victoria Park, is in Malvern Link, close to the shops where there are two pharmacies. It is also within walking distance for many patients living in the Link. A few months ago the centre was refurbished and modernised, which
DAVID BECKHAM masks were worn by animal rights campaigners who staged a protest in Great Malvern last Saturday. Members of Worcestershire Animal Rights Coalition gathered by the Elgar statue, beneath Belle Vue Terrace, to protest against Adidas, which
ENVIROMENTALLY friendly pupils are making Wyche C of E Primary a greener place to go to school. Children from each year group, teachers and parents have formed an Eco-Committee, which is responsible for monitoring waste, energy and recycling. Several
AFTER reading your article 'Wish list for North Site' (Malvern Gazette, February 7), it is obvious to me that our councillors are a bunch of headless chickens with no idea of what the town requires or wants. Little thought has gone into the infrastructure
MY daughter, a resident of Malvern, gave me your newspaper to read last weekend and I was interested in the views concerning development of the North Site, and in particular the opinions of G S Crump (Your Letters, January 31), who states: "Malvern is
I RECENTLY wrote to the Foreign Secretary to ask what the British and American definition of "weapons of mass destruction" might be and where on the scale he would put the weapons, including sanctions, used by the west on Iraq during and since the Gulf
A DEVELOPMENT of five new homes is to be built on land at Hop Pole Green in Leigh Sinton after planning permission was granted last week. Upton-based Flanagan Homes Ltd hopes the project will be finished by the end of the year. Malvern Hills District
FOLLOWING the 'consultation' meeting at Malvern Library held by Worcester County Council and Malvern Hills District Council, I am concerned that a call centre is being forced upon local residents. Architects plans were on display and the staff for the
OVER 100 demonstrators from the Malvern area will travel to London tomorrow (Saturday) to take part in a protest against war in Iraq. The Malvern Justice and Peace Group has organised two coaches to take protestors to the capital for the march, organised
A GROUP protesting about the loss of a village pub this week criticised Cradley Parish Council for its lack of support. Members of Cradley Crown Crusaders attended the council's meeting on Tuesday to demand the council clarify its position on the issue
I WOULD like to thank the gallant gentleman who helped me up off the pavement after my fall in Worcester Road on Wednesday, February 5, and called for an ambulance. Also the kind lady who gave me a seat in her car to await the arrival of the ambulance
GREAT MALVERN will be deprived of another business when a flooring shop moves from the centre of town. Peter Bonomini plans to relocate his flooring business, which has been in Graham Road since 1993, to larger premises, away from the town centre, where
A CAMPAIGN against the introduction of regional government for the West Mid-lands has been launched by Sir Michael Spicer. The West Worcestershire MP started gathering signatures on a petition against the plans at Malvern Market on Friday. He said he
THE voices of a hundred youngsters filled the hall of Great Malvern Primary School last week. Pupils from Great Malvern, Poolbrook and Somers Park primary schools gave a concert for friends and relatives on Friday, the culmination of a ten-week musical
A £30,000 fence in Victoria Park, Malvern Link was 'opened' yesterday (Thursday) by Malvern mayor Frances Victory. The 13 feet high fence will stop people getting into the skate park and sports facility after hours. It follows complaints from residents
THIS week West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer launched a campaign against a West Midlands regional assembly, and he can certainly add my name to his petition. Already an un-elected shadow assembly is at work in Birmingham paving the way for this
LAST week my church held a baptismal service for a young man in our congregation. Being a 'Baptist' church these are inevitably viewed as very special occasions. In our tradition you are totally immersed in water - just as Jesus probably was at his baptism
MARK Shail is poised to make a dramatic return to first team action for Worcester City against lowly Folkestone Invicta at St George's Lane tomorrow (3pm). The veteran defender has not featured in the Dr Martens Premier Division campaign since limping
A CACHE of disco equipment worth £3,500 was stolen from a house in Malvern's Elgar Avenue. The equipment was taken between 7.30pm on Friday and 8am on Monday from a shed belonging to a house. The items taken include one Cloud 9 twin disco deck unit, two
STILLWATER ace Bob Wilson once again showed why he is regarded by many as Worcester's 'King of Carp' when he headed a good turn out to win the latest Alans Tackle open held at Brockamin. Using waggler and corn tactics on unfancied peg 40 on the bottom
NEW signing Gary Smith will make his Evesham United debut in tomorrow's Common Road derby with Redditch United (3pm). The former Worcester City midfielder, who is also a full international for St Kitts and Nevis, has signed from Gresley Rovers and will
JON Ford insists Bromsgrove Rovers will come through their current sticky patch to maintain their promotion charge. Rovers have lost three of their last five league matches and now trail leaders Merthyr Tydfil by five points in the Dr Martens Western
Badminton Juniors and Adults: Owen Sidaway, Lyppard Grange Community Centre, Millwood Drive, Worcester (01905 21459). Bishop's Badminton Club: (01905 740148/371289). Pitmaston Badminton Club: Mrs M James, 5 Geneva Close, Worcester (01905 455214). Worcester
Abbey Jazz play at the Three Horseshoes, Poolbrook Road on Monday, February 24. Guest performers are Mike Turner on clarinet and soprano saxophone, Mel Hill on cornet and Jake Reeves on guitar. Admission is free and the band will play from 8.30pm to 11pm
WORCESTER Concert Club's season continues with Malvern born violinist Eleanor Percy and Russian pianist Irina Lyakhovskaya at the Huntingdon Hall. The duo will perform Mozart's Sonata in B flat, Prokoviev's Sonata No 2 in D and Franck's Sonata on Sunday
A PROGRESSIVE rock pioneer, a veteran folk group and Scotland's 'greatest living songwriter' make up a week of music at Huntingdon Hall, Worcester. Peter Hammill, frontman of Van Der Graaf Generator in the 70s, continues to produce albums described as
The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler (Walker Paperbacks, £4.99) THIS latest offering for the teenage readership is about an overweight girl who loves web chatrooms, and cheesy movies but hates mirrors and crowds. Her larger
Bikers by Gary Charles (Independent Music Press, £9.99) YOU wouldn't know it by reading this book, but motorcyclists come in two tribes. There's the modern version, all multi-coloured leathers, clean-cut image and several thousand pounds of gleaming,
MALVERN Town entertain Wolverhampton United at the Langland Stadium on Saturday (2.45) and will be looking to continue an Express and Star West Midlands League Premier Division run that has seen them pick 34 points out of a possible 36. Despite Town's
ONE of the region's leading children's charities, Acorns Children's Hospice Trust, is set to expand the care and bereavement support it can offer to families with a life-limited child in Bromsgrove and Redditch, after receiving a £75,000 grant from one
COMMUNITY services in Droitwich Spa have been winning more compliments than complaints. A total of 812 positive comments were lodged with Wychavon District Council between July and December 2002. This compares with 42 negative niggles. Most of the moans
LUCK and love were the ingredients in the recipe for a 60-year romance for a Cofton Hackett couple. Edouard and Jean Dufrane celebrated their diamond anniversary last week. The couple first met during the war when Edouard, who is Belgian, and Jean's cousin
HEATHER Hill of Welland has positively identified the wartime parade picture published in Malvern Memories on January 10. "This photograph show the Drumhead Service held in Priory Park on Saturday, May 17, 1940. It shows all members of civil defence at
100 years ago Rev F W Davenport is working hard in connection with the scheme for the erection of the Queen Victoria Memorial Hall in Christ Church parish. Building operations are likely to commence shortly, the total amount available being £800. To augment
MARK Shail is poised to make a dramatic return to first team action for Worcester City against lowly Folkestone Invicta at St George's Lane tomorrow (3pm). The veteran defender has not featured in the Dr Martens Premier Division campaign since limping
Over 50's Gentle Steps Exercise Dance Classes are being held at Dance at 8, 8 High Street, Pershore Tuesday mornings. For further details telephone 01386 556665 Calling all Kids .... Learn to dance like a Pop Star..... classes are held every Friday at
Valerie Briggs and Trevor Smith (Worcestershire Wetlands Wildlife). The work of two artists showing 'A passion for Swans' and other birds and water in Worcestershire. Feb 1-28. The Gallery at Droitwich library. Victoria Square, Droitwich Spa, Worcs. (
February 14 - Morso, (pictured) The Marr's Bar, Worcester; Jim Ryder & Adam James, Royal British Legion Club, Droitwich; The Rivieras, Ramada Heath Hotel, Bewdley; Terry Mitchell at the Gainsborough House Hotel, Kidderminster; Xerox, Copcut Elm, Droitwich
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Symphony Hall, Birmingham on February 14. Tickets available from Box Office 0121 780 3333 or book on-line www.cbso.co.uk City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Symphony Hall, Birmingham on February 20/22/25 &
The Nonentities Society present The Beauty Queen of Leenane. The Roses Theatre, Kidderminster, from February 17-22. Tickets available from Box Office 01562 743745. Michael Pennington starring in John Gabriel Borkman, Feb 19 - 22 at Malvern Festival Theatre
Theatregoers have the rare privilege of seeing a new and completely original pantomime when Malvern Wells Players stage their latest production next month. Ding Dong Belle is the work of 16-year-old Oliver Sutton, a member of the Players and student at
Theatre February Until 15-Dazzle by Colwall Players at Colwall Village hall. 7.30pm, Sat mat 2.30pm. Tickets from John Goodwin Estate Agents, Colwall. 15-22-Street Week workshops, dance & film at Malvern Theatres. 18-22-Ali Baba & the Forty Thieves
A QUICK glance at Peter Luff's curriculum vitae will tell you he is no slouch when it comes to public relations. But his performance after Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday still raised an eyebrow. MPs left the chamber after the 30-minute session
CALLS are being made for a residents' parking permit scheme after warnings people who park their cars on town centre roads will be fined. All town centre roads have had different parking restrictions for about a decade but these have not been enforced
A TOP British furniture manufacturer has named a Worcestershire man as its Salesman of the Year. Keith Moore, from Bewdley, beat 10 other short-listed colleagues to win the title at Glasgow-based Morris Furniture. "I am delighted to have been awarded
SATURDAY WORCESTER & DISTRICT LEAGUE Premier Division: Inkberrow 'A' Res v Worcester City (P Daffin); Kempsey United v Bretforton Old Boys (B Martin); Powick v Henwick Academicals (M Stephens); Tolladine Sports v Upton Town (D Kings). Division One
A FURIOUS Labour councillor has broken ranks and demanded the immediate resignation of Worcester's hospital bosses. City and county councillor Richard Udall said the only way the "inadequate" Worcestershire Royal had a chance was if Acute Hospitals NHS
TORY MP Peter Luff has stepped into the row over plans to boost the police share of Worcestershire council tax bills by 19 per cent. The Mid-Worcestershire MP said the massive rise was more than taxpayers could afford after years of big increases. Mr
CHINESE lion dancers and military bands will be bursting on to the streets of the Faithful City at the opening of the first ever Worcester Festival. Initial plans were put in place for the festival after the city hosted the Three Choirs and Fringe festivals
A PROJECT to make learning more accessible to communities in rural Worcestershire looks set to end because of lack of funding. Rural Opportunities was set up in 2000 and made courses accessible for those living in the countryside without having to travel
A DROITWICH teacher has been invited to a reception at 10 Downing Street to celebrate excellence in Special Educational Needs. Sue Muir, who is Special Needs co-ordinator at Droitwich Spa High School, has been invited by Prime Minister Tony Blair and
Hartlebury Common belongs to the county council and was designated the county's first Local Nature Reserve in 1979. It includes important wildlife habitats, including sandy heathland and acid bog, both of which are now very rare in Worcestershire. There
There are many good walks around Tenbury Wells, but this is one of the best. It includes panoramic views from peaceful Haws Hill, to the south of Tenbury, and Kyre Park Garden, which has lots to offer the visitor. The garden was laid out in 1754 and has
A shoplifter brandished a syringe to threaten a security officer trying to arrest him after a chase through Worcester city centre. Worcester Crown Court heard how Mark Spragg had been spotted stealing toys from Woolworths and was pursued across The Shambles
A DANCE school is in a spin after making history when all 60 pupils scored full marks in their latest exams. The examiner from London was bowled over by the Symphony Dance School's students' routines and high standard of choreography in the Imperial Society
MALVERN residents are being urged to be vigilant after a series of opportunist thefts from homes where windows and doors had been left unsecured. The warning comes after a Malvern woman had hundreds of pounds stolen after a man who turned out to be a
AN Evesham family's fight against the flab will be broadcast on national television to millions of viewers on Monday. The Williams family, from Abbey Gardens, will be appearing on BBC1's Inside Out at 7.30pm. The family let cameras into their home to
A DISTINCTIVE 117-year-old caravan may have been stolen to order, fears an Evesham family. The Burton wagon, dating back to Victorian times, was stolen from a yard in Boston Lane, Charlton, near Evesham, between 6.30pm last Thursday and 8.10am the next
PARISHIONERS in Harvington, near Kidderminster, pulled out all the stops to celebrate the 90th birthday of their organ player, Lilian Rain. Lilian still plays the organ regularly at the village's church. Party Members of the congregation at St James's
A PAIR of Casanovas have the chance to whisk two lovely ladies off on a Mediterranean cruise by getting into the Valentine's spirit at a Worcester nightclub. Chicago Rock Caf has pledged a four-day "passionarama", ending on the French Riviera, for two
KEMPSEY'S cash-strapped community centre could get its roof mended and its car park improved this year, but the parish council budget will not run to painting and decorating. A list of work needing to be done includes repairing the roof, replacing worn
PEOPLE lucky enough to receive a Valentine card this year are being asked to recycle them. Wychavon District Council wants residents to take cards to recycling banks or, if they are taking part in its new recycling scheme, put the cards in a purple sack
THE HOURS (12A): Weaving together the stories of three women facing similar dilemmas in different eras, The Hours is unquestionably one of the films of the year. Nicole Kidman, sporting a prosthetic nose which renders her almost unrecognisable, submerges
A CENTURY ago on St Valentine's Day a discreet service took place in the churchyard at Holy Trinity Bosbury. Edna Lyall, one of the best known novelists of the Victorian era, had left specific instructions as to her final resting place and on February
FOLLOWING our excellent trip around Argentina in January, Castlemorton Gardening Club meets again on Thursday, February 20 for a lecture on a more practical note. Hilary Twigg from Pershore College is returning to give us some useful help and advice on
CORSE & Staunton Playing Fields lottery club winners in December were: P Caine, D Wylie, B Thomas and L Homer. In addition 12 lucky people each received a bottle of wine. The twice lucky accumulator now stands at £460! Winners in Corse & Staunton
THE ceilidh held on Saturday night raised the sum of £345, which will go to hall funds. It was a great evening, and the many children particularly enjoyed themselves - thanks to everyone who supported the event. WHAD have started preparing for their next
Both the Ledbury and Bromyard areas feature in Herefordshire...Vision and Verse, put together by Eardisland author Kathleen Freeman. The book of photographs, prose and classic poetry, from Arrow Valley Publications, is intended to be a fresh look at Herefordshire
MALVERN Hills College was turned into pages from The Beano and scenes from Disney movies last week as cartoon characters took over the Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy departments. The departments' students were taking part in a competition to re-create
YOUNG potters will be gathering in Eastnor next week for a seasonal flowerpot-making workshop. Over 100 youngsters will be taught to use the potter's wheel and get the chance to make a thrown flowerpot under the expert gaze of clay-master Jon Williams
A TALE of relationships in the Second World War, including scenes set in Malvern and Leigh Sinton, has just been published. Author Barry Jackson, from Ross-on-Wye, spent 15 years writing The Tears of Autumn, fitting in a chapter or two around working
UPTON travelled a short distance to the professional set up at Worcester Sixways to play the amateur section, the Wanderers. WORCESTER WANDERERS 42pts, UPTON 0 The Wanderers have recently put together a string of good results as they chase a third successive
1803: William Hough of the parish of Oddingley has lately eloped from the parish of Defford and left his wife chargeable to that parish. Whoever will apprehend the said William Hough and bring him to the parish officers of Defford shall receive a One
IT'S nearly five years since the Evening News started the ball rolling towards a summer festival each year with our Proud to be Worcester campaign. It could, we hoped, be much, much more than a carnival. It could be a time when imagination could run riot
A musician has gained some national recognition after his band's LP was voted best alternative album of the year. The vote came for band Bonebox, right, in The Big Issue's 2002 round-up of music. Alex Balch, who used to live in Clifton-upon-Teme, says
THE former frontman of legendary 70s band Van Der Graaf Generator will be coming to Worcester for a rare visit. Peter Hammill, who has been playing glamorous locations such as Japan and Argentina, says he has not played outside London in 10 years. He
Ave Verum Corpus - Motets and Anthems of William Byrd - The Cambridge Singers, directed by John Rutter A RARE and beautiful thing. The music of one of this country's greatest composers captured on recording for us to enjoy time and time again. Despite
UPTON Ladies hockey team continued their recent good form with a win over Bournville. UPTON 1, BOURNVILLE 0 Starting the match with the luxury of three substitutes Upton immediately made their presence felt, the established pairing of Martha Recordon
COLWALL gained a point from their clash with Portishead/ Firebrands of Bristol in a fast and furious game from start to finish. COLWALL 0, PORTISHEAD/ FIREBRANDS 0 Both teams started well with some slick passing, both defences cancelling out attacks.
THE Winter series of mixed golf games at the Worcestershire Golf Club continued on Sunday, January 26 with a Betterball Stableford. It was cold, damp and windy but the winners, Sally and Andrew Dare, posted a good score of 40 points. There was a count
MALVERN Squash Club II went into this match against Altered Images with high hopes of a victory to push them up the table. The evening started well as first Guy Rutter and then Dave Watson took their opening games confidently. But they, like Mark Read
BELL Inn 98 entertained The Soccer Site Malvern Football League leaders and present champions Bull Allstars on Sunday. This local derby lived up to expectations keeping spectators entertained throughout. The game started at a frantic pace and it was the
SATURDAY FOOTBALL WEST MIDLANDS LEAGUE Premier Division: Malvern Town v Wolverhampton United, Bromyard Town v Smethwick ST. Division One South: Chaddesley Corbett v Malvern Town Reserves (2.15), Malvern Rangers v Ludlow Town Reserves (2.15). HFA COUNTY
LANGLAND Sports entertained Welland Athletic in the quarter-final of the Worcester league's Phipps Cup and the young teams produced a feast of good football. LANGLAND SPORTS 3, WELLAND ATHLETIC 1 Sports started the more determined and took the lead through
A POLICE raid aimed at recovering CDs containing copies of lost recordings by The Beatles has taken place in West Malvern. Officers were looking for a series of discs in box sets thought to be copies of the infamous "Get Back" sessions, caught on reel-to-reel
UPTON Primary School pupils enjoying their newly acquired play equipment have also put up facilities for nesting birds. The school has just completed a £10,000 project to improve the environment in their playground and this week added nesting boxes to
Dyson Perrins pupil Sam Mcpike has won £250 as the overall winner of the Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter's News Writing Competition. A member of Malvern Youth Theatre, the 15-year-old from Cowleigh Road was prompted to write about the closure of
RENEWED calls for extra policing in Upton have been made by the town's Tourism and Trade Association. Member Sue Walker said she was increasingly concerned about the policing situation in the town following a spate of vandalism and violence on Friday
THE newly refurbished Upton Church Room will be open next Friday (February 21). An open evening, from 7pm to 9pm, is being held to show off improvement work carried out with grants from the Friends of Upton and Hook Churches, the Eleemosynary Charity
VALENTINE'S Day is a particularly special one this year for one Malvern Link couple. Derek and Jean Craske have been Valentines for more than 50 years and are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary today (Friday). Despite marrying on the most romantic
fundraising events at the Talbot Head Inn, Upton, in 2002 raised over £2,000 for charity. Takings on the door on New Year's Eve of £820 have been donated to the Upton Water Festival and a 'bottle on the bar' brought in £1,000 for the County Air Ambulance
A BASS singer is being sought by Upton choir Meadowsweet, which currently has 11 members and meets every Thursday. They perform unaccompanied choral music ranging from folk songs to spirituals and motets. Anyone interested in singing in a relaxed atmosphere
A PUBLIC meeting has been called in Welland to discuss plans to install cattle grids on Castlemorton Common. David Sharp, parish clerk for Little Malvern and Welland, said proposals to put the grids in are causing worry among horse riders. Other concerns
MALVERN is in dire straits, there is no progress, local businesses are in decline and tourism is becoming non-existent. The Malvern Gazette (January 24) highlights some of the problems. Shia Shankara (News Writing Competition) is very perceptive in her
A MALVERN war veteran will attend a reunion for survivors of a sunken troop ship, thanks to his appeal in the Malvern Gazette. Stan Hambrey was one of hundreds of soldiers aboard the Strathallan when it was torpedoed by a U-boat in December 1942. Last
AN elderly woman was robbed in her Malvern home by two teenage boys last Wednesday (February 5). Police are appealing for information after two white boys broke into the woman's home in the Victoria Park area at about 5.30pm. She sustained minor lacerations
CONSULTATIONS on proposals for a new M50 junction near Sledge Green are due to begin at the end of March. At a meeting of the Southern Area Joint Councillor Forum at Upton Memorial Hall on Tuesday, Malvern Hills Highway Partnership manager Mike Davis
IT will have come as a shock to your readers to learn that there is insufficient cash to build a new hospital in Malvern (Malvern Gazette, January 31). As the population of Malvern increases so does the need for a new hospital. We can only live in hope
I WAS surprised to read (Malvern Gazette, February 7) the comment by Coun Tom Wells that he had "thrown down the gauntlet" to the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust regarding the future of the proposed new Malvern hospital. Coun Wells seems to have
PLAQUE removal of the criminal kind was in evidence at Malvern Link Dental Surgery at the weekend. Thieves made off with three brass plaques, valued at £140, bearing the names of the dentists between 4.45pm on Friday and 8am on Saturday. Anyone with information
I AM sure all of us here in Malvern were disappointed to learn from the Malvern Gazette (January 3) that it is unlikely money will be found in the near future for our new hospital at Seaford Court. Much as we have loved our old one at Lansdowne Crescent
TRADERS in Church Street, Malvern, are reminding residents that shops are still open, although the street is closed to traffic. Severn Trent has been carrying out sewerage repair work on the stretch of Church Street between the Grange Road and Abbey Road
IN general we can't blame the teaching profession for the high level of poor performance of many pupils. The cause lies fairly and squarely with the food that goes into their mouths, Not only does poor nutrition render their brains unable to function
MY congratulations to Peter Dauncey on winning the seat in the by-election for Bromyard Town Council on February 6. It was a good rehearsal for May 1 when all seats for parish and county councils come up for grabs. In the last edition of Off the Record
while for some Valentine's Day can be a day of romance and strengthening of relationships, for others it can bring a heightened awareness of the lack of someone special in their lives - especially among younger people. Samaritans listen every day to people
HIGH-TECH body armour developed by a Malvern firm could be worn by West Mercia Police in the future. Stab-resistant vests using material developed by Malvern-based Lorica Research Ltd will be among those being tried out by 19 officers across the region
I write in response to an article in last week's Malvern Gazette (February 7) regarding the generous donation of biodegradable poop scoop bags from Automated Packaging to Malvern Hills District Council. My New Year's resolution was to walk to the Worcestershire
DESPITE a "good level of interest" organisers of a competition designed to highlight the best work being done in the Malvern Hills district want to see more entries. The Platinum Awards, run by Malvern Hills District Council, are designed to reward excellence
THE future of a Worcester skatepark threatened with closure looks rosier after support from local businesses. Opened by an ex-Malvern man, Chris Buckland, the RampAge skatepark is regularly used by inline skaters, skateboarders and BMX bikers from the
RECYCLING, the future of parish government, disruption to electricity supplies and elections over the internet are all subjects for discussion at a meeting of Malvern Hills District Council's executive committee next week. Council officers have recommended
ELEVEN flats kept for Malvern firemen are to be sold to raise money for a new brigade administration base. Two flats in Victoria Park Road in Malvern Link have already been sold and another nine in Players Avenue are expected to go on the market within
A MALVERN woman living in Afghanistan is appealing for donations of equipment to help children whose lives have been torn apart by war. Carol Stemp went to Afghanistan in March last year with her work for the World Bank and since then has been living
THE efforts of Hanley Castle High School children in the battle against leprosy was recognised by the UK's leading charity for the disease last week. Year Seven students at the school raised £1,003.44 after undertaking a sponsored aerobics session, enough
OWNERS of personal data assistants (PDAs) could soon find their gadgets talking back to them, thanks to a Malvern company. 20/20 Speech, based at Malvern Hills Science Park, has just launched Aurix Activator, a two-way speech interface for PDAs which
THE M50 motorway is subject to traffic calming measures as it undergoes a major overhaul between junctions one and two. Work on the stretch of road began on Sunday (February 9) and is scheduled to finish in July. The work includes resurfacing, replacement
JAMES Brown will make his first Worcester Rugby Club start since September as the National One leaders face Orrell on Sunday. The fly-half replaces former Scottish international Craig Chalmers who is ruled out with a thigh strain for the 2pm clash at
THE PARENTS of a Malvern man killed in a road accident last year have pledged to keep his name alive by creating a charitable foundation. As a member of the armed forces, Kevin Taylor spent six months as a peacekeeper with the UN in Bosnia. Although the
TWO Worcester Rugby Club players are in the England U19 squad for their game against France at Broadstreet tonight. Lock Will Bowley has retained his place in the starting line-up, having played against Scotland recently, while scrum-half Rhodri McAtee
MALVERN'S Link Top memorial bus shelter was demolished on Sunday. Situated in Worcester Road, opposite Holy Trinity Church, the shelter was closed in 2000, deemed too dangerous for use. A new shelter was erected in February last year about 20 yards away
DROITWICH golfer John Bickerton is well up the field after the second round of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth, Australia. A second round of 68 left Bickerton sharing 13th place on six under par, although still nine shots behind leader Ernie Els.
WORCESTER'S Simon Archer's hopes of glory at the All-England Open in Birmingham have been dashed. In the mixed doubles, Archer and his Scottish partner Kirsteen McEwan were beaten by Indonesian duo Trikus Haryanto and Emma Ermawait 11-2, 11-1 in their
A TV feature about Haile Selassie, the legendary emperor of Ethiopia, visiting Mal-vern is to be screened in a prime-time BBC slot. The programme's creator, Isabel Perceval, was alerted to the story when she saw a piece about Selassie in the Malvern Gazette's
MALVERN was the centre of attention across the country on Friday when the BBC Breakfast programme's weather forecast was broadcast live from Castlemorton. The show decided to film from the Malvern area and came to town early on Friday morning. After initial
DONCASTER is a place not usually associated with unusual instruments and intoxicating bhangra beats. So a performance by a band from the town, the Angel Brothers and Satnam Singh, in Colwall Village Hall on Friday, February 28 should surprise local residents
CELTIC musicians Mouth Music will be fusing their instruments with those from Africa and beyond at Malvern Youth Centre from 8pm on February 22. The multi-layered five-piece band, fronted by Martin Swan, will perform their translation of Gaelic dance
A CHART-TOPPING pop star has given his seal of approval to a new CD released by Upton band Reel Bones. Benny Gallagher, formerly of Gallagher and Lyle, described the recording, Live at The Bridge House, as great. "I really think they are a great live
AUTHENTIC New Orleans jazz band New Orleans Heat will play at the Market Theatre, Market Street, Ledbury on Saturday, February 22. Music starts at 8pm and tickets, priced £7 (students £4), are available from Ledbury Book and Maps, High Street.
Last Man Down: The Fireman's Story by Richard 'Pitch' Picciotto (Orion, £6.99) THE events that unfolded in New York on September 11, 2001, were terrifying in the extreme. Those flicking TV channels momentarily thought they were watching some unscheduled
Mannekin Pis by Vladimir Radunsky (Walker Hardbacks, £10.99) This is the retelling of that legendary Belgian tale of the little boy who peed on a war. The bronze statue in Brussels depicts the legend to this day, but Radunsky's version grabs hold of the
The Honey Gatherers: A Book of Love Poems edited by Maura Dooley (Bloodaxe Books, £9.95) DON'T make love at the garden gate/Love may be blind, but the neighbours ain't... is not one of the rhyming couplets you will find published in this new anthology
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers will be checking on Sam Shilton's fitness before finalising their side for tomorrow's Nationwide League Division Three clash against play-off rivals Torquay United at Aggborough (3pm). The midfielder, son of former England goalkeeping
I FEEL I must write to congratulate you on your lead story (Evening News, February 8). How proud and delighted we citizens of Worcester must be that one of our "top models" and aspiring actress has actually spent a "night of passion" with Leonardo di
REGARDING Jonathan Arnott's letter on the British National Party, as far as I can see, most members of the BNP have shaven heads and look as though they are just itching for a punch-up. GEORGE COWLEY, Worcester.
REGARDING the letter from Peter Presland of the Countryside Alliance, words fail me that anyone could make such comments. When a fox catches a rabbit he does it by himself. When the hounds catch a fox they do it with the "help" of lunatics on horseback
I REFER to the latest letter from Matthew A Clarke (You Say, February 4). Let this correspondent remember that Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell and his Puritans dethroned and executed a King who had Roman Catholic tendencies. Cromwell's brutal plundering
MALVERN'S form on the road this season had been abysmal - until Saturday at Westleigh Park, where England skipper Martin Johnson learned to ply his rugby trade. LEICESTER LIONS 18pts, MALVERN 29pts Acting captain Shaun Lancett had fired up his troops
HAVING read Rob Turner's account of the abuse he suffered at the hands of foxhunters on a main road, something occurred to me. I hope that these hunters who block public highways and cause mayhem have some form of Public Liability insurance. If someone
MALVERN Town made hard work of overcoming a relegation threatened, but spirited Dudley side at the Langland Stadium on Saturday. MALVERN TOWN 2, DUDLEY TOWN 1 Despite enjoying the lion's share of possession, Malvern created very little during the first
CONSTANT criticism is not the answer to the new Royal Hospital. The fact of the matter is that it is just not big enough. We need an overflow for the not-so-urgent cases.The Worcester Royal Infirmary, Castle Street branch, should never have closed. It
SEVENTY five players have entered the Malvern Table Tennis League's championships to be held next Sunday (February 23) at the Forum, Malvern Theatres. Included is an encouraging entry of Cadets (U15) and Juniors (U18) - a testament to the success of the
I SEE that our politicians are performing their annual ritual in which they each try to avoid any blame for excessive council tax increases (Evening News, February 6). The Conservatives blame Labour, Local Government blames Central Government and each
MALVERN Town are submitting an application for membership of the Midlands Football Alliance. Applications have to be submitted by the end of the month and are subject to the necessary ground grading criteria Promotion to the Alliance is normally only
A PASSION for poetry was instilled in Sheila Seabourne by her parents and inspired her first collection of prose. In My Mind's Eye is a selection of poems about families, life events and relationships by a creative town pensioner. Sheila's book has hit
EARL Beauchamp of Mad-resfield Court went to law 100 years ago in a case involving a Malvern water spring. The nobleman took Messrs Archer and Co and Malvern District Council to the High Court of Justice (Chancery Division) to restrain them "from interfering
THE quarterly licensing sessions were reported in the Malvern Gazette 100 years ago. While many of the names, such as the Unicorn in the town centre, the Cavalry in Clarence Road and the Cross Keys in Belmont Road are still going strong, some of them
MALVERN'S Forum Theatre continues its weekly venture into cinema with a showing of acclaimed documentary Lost in La Mancha (15) on Wednesday. The film, which starts at 8.15pm, charts the jinxed production of Terry Gilliam's Don Quixote filmed on location
THE Fellowship of the Ring will be shown at the Market Theatre, Market Street, Ledbury, on Sunday, February 23, at 3pm and 7pm. Starring Elijah Wood and Ian McKellan, the film is the first part of Tolkein's fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings. Tickets
JAMES Brown will make his first Worcester Rugby Club start since September as the National One leaders face Orrell on Sunday. The fly-half replaces former Scottish international Craig Chalmers who is ruled out with a thigh strain for the 2pm clash at
CHICAGO, the all singing, all dancing musical starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere and Renee Zellweger, hits Malvern Theatres cinema next week. From tonight (Friday) until Thursday, February 20, the venue screens the story about the rise and fall
IT'S unlikely the red carpet will be rolled out for Adam Wilde at St George's Lane tomorrow but it wouldn't matter anyway - the winger is still walking on cloud nine after his England appearance. The 24-year-old represented the National Game XI against
HENRIK Ibsen's masterpiece John Gabriel Borkman is brought to the Malvern Theatres by English Touring Theatre next week. The play follows the eponymous lead (Michael Pennington) who has been in voluntary seclusion in an upstairs room since serving a prison
MALVERN kept up their recent good form with a hard fought victory over a spirited students side closely allied with the current Malvern setup. In fact many of the faces included for the visitors have recently played for the Dogs. MALVERN II (DT DOGS)
WHY did Sutton Coldfield have to choose this friendly match to come good? SUTTON COLDFIELD 52pts, MALVERN U14s 0 It wasn't that the Pirates played poorly; in fact they played as well as they did against Tamworth the week before but on this occasion Sutton
A WORCESTERSHIRE hotel has scooped a top accolade in the RAC's annual awards for the British hospitality industry. The Brockencote Hall Hotel, in 70 acres of landscaped parkland at Chaddesley Corbett, near Kidderminster, has received an RAC Blue Ribbon
BUSINESS leaders from Herefordshire and Worcestershire are getting behind a new scheme that gives new and growing companies much-needed cash. Advantage Business Angels is a new organisation designed to benefit small and medium-sized businesses. The alliance
A MALVERN couple have launched a product that should make the world sit up and listen. Justin and Becky Moule are deaf. In 2000, they launched Connect4deaf Ltd, which aimed to raise awareness, improve communication and help boost independence for the
