Archive

THE niece of a woman who died in hospital is battling to win the right for an independent review of her treatment. Eighty-five-year-old grandmother Barbara Phillips, known as Barbie, was admitted to Worcestershire Royal Hospital with the killer lung disease

RIGHT Royal Evening News readers have the chance to wine and dine with the Queen as she celebrates the lives of inspirational people. Worcester's favourite newspaper has been invited to put forward ground-breaking individuals who readers feel deserve

A RENOWNED Worcestershire restaurant has been dubbed one of the best places to have Sunday lunch in the whole of the country. Annie Clift, who runs the Talbot, at Knightwick, with her sister Wiz and mother Jean, was busy in the kitchen when a friend pointed

TAXI drivers have spoken of their fears of working in Worcester following one of the city's drivers losing his licence for speeding to rid himself of drunken passengers. Ziafat Hussain, chairman of the Worcester Taxi Owners' Association, said drivers

HEART patients are being encouraged to put their best foot forward to help them make complete recoveries. An exercise scheme is being launched in the county next month, involving the creation of a network of walks. The initiative is mainly aimed at heart

A MAN was found dead three days before Christmas after injecting himself with heroin. An inquest into the death of Glynn Evans of The Slad, Stourport-on-Severn, revealed how his family had on Sunday, December 22, last year, forced the bathroom door from

A RIFT over the canal side restoration project in Droitwich intensified today, when Wych-avon District Council hit back at claims its plans "lack vision". Jon Axe, Droitwich Canals Trust director, accused the council of "selling off the family silver"

PORNOGRAPHIC DVDs are being sold illegally in at least three Worcestershire newsagents, it has been claimed. Licensed adult shop owner Tony Tozer raised the issue with Worcestershire Trading Standards after finding adult magazines bundled with hardcore

MANAGEMENT at the Three Counties Showground says it has axed two events from its schedule after complaints about noise and disruption. Showground chief executive Gareth Smith told members of Malvern Wells Parish Council that the Kit Car Show and American

RESIDENTS' lives will be made a little easier with the launch of a "one-stop-shop" for all council queries in Malvern. About 100 people turned up to Malvern library, on Graham Road, on Monday to see the customer service centre officially opened by Liz

EVERY school in Worcestershire will have lightning-fast internet links by 2006, the Government has promised. Pupils and teachers will be able to use speedy broadband connections to log on to the web in classrooms - helping them improve exam results. Ministers

A WOMAN is urging people who have any pictures of her sister as a pupil at Christopher Whitehead High School, St John's, to contact her. Jane Smith said her sister, who is now in her early 60s, and living in Australia, has no photographs of herself as

THOUSANDS of homes which were without power last night found themselves in the dark again this morning. Six thousand customers of Aquila Networks in Bromsgrove and the surrounding villages lost power at 10.30pm yesterday. Although power was restored by

UNIVERSITY College Worcester is hosting a national arts project which allows local artists to use its facilities to develop their work. The college is offering four places to professional artists on the Artists Access to Art Colleges' scheme, which begins

Teenagers living within the parish of Bromesberrow will have the opportunity to give their views on what they would like to see happening in their parish at a meeting to be held by the parish council on Monday, August 4, at 7.30pm, at the Village Hall

Friends of Cradley School, in conjunction with John Stoddard, are running an evening of music and dance entitled A Tribute to Gershwin, to be held at Colwall Village Hall on August 22. Tickets are £7 and are available from: John Goodwin, Colwall 01684

IT was with sadness and shock that people in the surrounding villages of Corse heard of the passing of Mr Anthony (Tony) Houldey, aged 70, who died at Gloucester Royal Hospital following a stroke at his home in Bromesberrow Heath. Tony was born at Green

The English weather, living up to its reputation, drove the Garden Party into the Village Hall last Friday, but spirits were not dampened and over 30 residents enjoyed a convivial evening. Everyone was given a name label and most people brought along

This years Pauntley Church Harvest Supper is on Friday, September 26 at Pauntley Memorial Hall, Brand Green. Do note the date because it is before the Harvest Festival Service this year.

Here are a few notes for your diaries: There is a Plant Sale at the village hall this Saturday, August 2, starting at 9:30am until 11:30am. All are welcome. On August 9/10, that's Saturday and Sunday, it is the Annual Arts and Crafts Exhibition, also

Carolyn Evans would like to thank everyone who helped her at The View on the two Open Garden days in June and last Sunday. On both occasions the weather was kind, and many visitors made the effort to climb Ochre Hill to see the garden. The Improvers Bridge

THE Senior Planner at Worcestershire County Council has now formally confirmed that the proposed floodlight installation has been withdrawn from the application by Evesham High School for refurbishment and enlargement of the tennis courts on the campus

DIGITAL artwork going on display at the Malvern Theatres is inspired by nature seen on the town's famous hills. Malvern-born Garry McKay will be showing around 50 pieces of art in his new exhibition Gilding the Lily which begins on Sunday. The 34-year-old

THE seventh annual art and craft exhibition at St Gabriel's Church, Hanley Swan, opens tomorrow afternoon. The event will be open every afternoon, except Sundays, from 2pm to 5pm, until Monday, August 25.

Don your wellies and fishing nets and join the hunt for wildlife with National Trust wardens at Berrington Hall, near Leominster. Seek out creepy-crawlies in the parkland and indulge in a bit of pond dipping in the lake to see what lurks within. The Ugly

A WELLAND painter is hoping to make a splash with the first ever gallery exhibition of his work. Anthony Leahy is showing an exhibition entitled Hot Tuscan Sunshine and Quiet English Meadows at the Malvern Hills Gallery on St Ann's Road. "Last year I

AT last the truth/common sense is coming out about the congestion in the High Street (Robert H Rowlands letter July 10). We don't need expensive surveys to tell us that with the increased residential building at Swan Brook, Mill Street, Old Mill, Box

A WEEKEND of organic gardening is being hosted by Gloucestershire's Sudeley Castle. All 10 gardens at Sudeley, including the famous rose gardens and the Victorian vegetable garden, are all managed organically. Throughout the weekend event, tomorrow and

THE 10th anniversary of a pioneering Gloucestershire project to provide top class office accommodation in the buildings of what was once a Victorian model farm was marked by the presentation of a major architectural award. Former Cotswold MEP Lord Plumb

I REFER to your headline Spy cameras to police car's ban, July 17. I have, over the past months, watched with interest the debate over the closing of the road at Wyre Piddle. I am intrigued as to what, or who, is so important at Wyre Piddle that the road

With four major rivers, there are many places in Worcestershire and Herefordshire where people can get into difficulty in the water - which is why Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade has developed a highly skilled and experienced water rescue service.

TOMORROW, Tony Blair celebrates Britain's longest continuous period of Labour rule - but the wonderboy who could once do no wrong might not be in the mood for a party. What a difference nine years make. After succeeding the late John Smith in 1994, he

GUILTY: Many are guilty of having the occasional garden bonfire. The cost of a decent grade shredder puts this out of reach of many and they resort to burning the prunings. However, some think it anti-social to light fires during very hot weather. A plea

U3A: The next meeting of the Evesham branch of the University of the Third Age will be held on August 7 in the Public Hall at 2pm. The speaker will be Roy Fairclough who will talk about driving for the over 50s. Members of the public will be welcome and

PARISH COUNCIL: There was a Declaration of Interest by Coun McDonald - resident's non pecuniary declaration of interest on issues associated with Salters Lane. Footpaths - The Clerk reported that, at a cost of £100, path No 14 had now been cut back and

RNA: MEMBERS of the newly formed Pershore and District branch of The Royal Naval Association held a special service in Pershore Abbey for the dedication of their Standard. Shipmate Arthur Young carried the furled Standard and presented it to Canon John

GARDENING CLUB: For the July meeting 23 members visited Pershore Plant Raisers at Pensham. They were hosted by the proprietors Mr and Mrs Edward Wilson, and did not allow the inclement weather to spoil their visit. The tour of the nursery started with

RECREATION CLUB: The AGM of Badsey Recreation Club Ltd took place on Wednesday, July 23. Graham Caswell the chairman retired after nine years in office and Ian Trout agreed to continue as secretary/treasurer for the time being. The new officers were elected

Movie Makers: The July meeting of the Evesham Movie Makers was held recently. Social Event: Final details were given out for the filming of the Severn Valley Railway on Sunday, 13th July. A draw will be made on the day to see which group will film at

PEGGY welcomed everyone to the meeting and members were pleased to see Janet Clemas, WIA present and one visitor, the daughter of a member. Pauline Bamber was thanked for organising the trip to the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham which had been enjoyed

GARDENING CLUB: At the July meeting members enjoyed an informal talk by Mrs Betty Foster of Wyre Piddle on Preparations for Shows. This was particularly appropriate as the Flower, Produce and Handicraft Show takes place on September 13 in King George's

PARISH COUNCIL: Sheepwash Bridge - No repair work has yet been carried out. Stop Sign (Long Hyde Road) - A communication had been received from Worcestershire County Council stating they had no authority to change this sign but they would apply to the

HERITAGE AND HISTORY SOCIETY: The next meeting will take place on August 7 and will take the form of a walk-about Treasure Hunt (indoors if wet). Please note change of venue to the Heritage Centre at the Town Hall, Pershore and time of 7pm instead of

SUNDAY: Stratford Ramblers - Chipping Camp den/Blockley, 10 miles. Details: 01386 841128. TUESDAY: Stratford Ramblers - Weethley, six miles. Details: 01789 299337. Stratford Ramblers - Grand Union Canal/Baddesley Clinton, five miles at a gentle pace.

WORCESTERSHIRE football coaches, teachers and managers have the opportunity to learn from one of the country's finest coaches at a football evening to be held at University College Worcester on Thursday, October 2. Star of the evening will be Dick Bate

UPTON residents want to see more police officers on the streets. That was the message from a packed meeting on Tuesday between police officers and the public. The meeting, at the Memorial Hall, was chaired by MP Sir Michael Spicer and attended by Chief

A NEW branch of the Conservative Party, serving Hanley Swan, Hanley Castle and Upton-upon-Severn, has been formed. Jack Bennett, from Ryall, was elected chairman of the group at the inaugural meeting last Thursday. Malvern Hills district councillor Mary

PROGRESS on plans to provide a new hospital in Pershore will be reported to a meeting of the board of South Worcestershire NHS Primary Care Trust next Wednesday. Sir Michael Spicer, MP for West Worcestershire wrote to David Barlow, chairman of the PCT

A JURY failed to reach a verdict after hearing that a married waiter raped a 19-year-old woman at an Upton-upon Severn restaurant. After retiring for nearly five hours at Worcester Crown Court, the foreman of a panel of nine men and three women said there

A CAMPAIGN to bring a hot-air balloon festival in Evesham was launched this week. The event could start next year and be timed to coincide with the town's carnival. Town and district councillor Andrew Dyke said that Evesham would be the ideal location

I am a parent of one of the children at Malvern Link CE School involved in the independent investigation which described the school as "institutionally racist" (Malvern Gazette, July 4) While I believe the Malvern Gazette deserves credit for reporting

THE letter from R Sword (Your Letters, July 25) was a gem of obfuscation. I know nothing of the trouble at the school in question and, to be frank, I am not particularly interested, but as a method of communicating something, R Sword's letter was a masterpiece

A MAN causing a commotion at his parents home told police he was an FBI agent. Darren Smith, aged 27, who lives with his parents on Balmoral Close in Evesham, appeared before Worcester magistrates following the incident when he returned home in the early

AS you reported last week, the Conservators have fenced off an area of End Hill to allow the release of cattle as part of its scrub management programme. This raised a number of concerns. The first is the very large area involved: the whole of the western

POLICE are searching for burglars who targeted two pubs in the Malvern Hills area last weekend. An occupant at the Yew Tree Inn, Colwall Green, was awoken by noises inside the building at around 3.15am on Saturday morning. The occupant went to check what

Monday morning, near Ivy Scar, on the narrow path ascending the breast of North Hill. As I stride upwards, eyes down on the scree-filled path, my thoughts are meandering. Something makes me look up; I see two mountain bikers bearing down on me. Their

WORCESTERSHIRE children have much better teeth than their neighbours in Herefordshire, according to the latest study. The figures show that 75 per cent of five-year-olds in the county are completely free from tooth decay, compared with only 58 per cent

MANAGEMENT at the Three Counties Showground say two events have been cut from its schedule after complaints about disruption and noise. Showground chief executive Gareth Smith told members of Malvern Wells Parish Council the Kit Car Show would no longer

Although I live in Pershore, I always follow Malvern news and I was amazed to see (Malvern Gazette, July 25) that Malvern is thinking of applying to the EU for funding to become a Centre of Culture. How very shameful and humiliating for a town as noble

A DETERMINED Malvern woman is celebrating passing her grade 8 piano exam, 57 years after she took her first exam and two years after she suffered a stroke. When Teresa Fry, 73, of Abbey Road had a stroke, it left her paralysed down her right side and

IN my last letter to you (Your Letters, July 25) I complained about the enormous expense we pet owners have for the health and care and treatment of our beloved pets in the Malvern area. But in this letter I have nothing but praise for the Whitehouse

THE family of a Hanley Castle woman who died in a car accident wants the speed limit lowered where she crashed. Sixty-nine-year-old Valerie Bown died in April from injuries sustained when her Peugeot 406 was in collision with a Land Rover at the Danemoor

Mr Tarplett (Your Letters, July 25) states that twelve of the Conservators' sheep have been killed by dogs. This is very unfortunate, and it is of course not the dogs that are to blame but their owners. He then says that dogs should be banned from the

PLANS for Malvern Hills District Council to move to a single site at the Picker-sleigh Road depot could be scrapped. The council is making a major review of all its property across the district, valued at £12.5 million. It costs £636,000 a year to maintain

Last Sunday night my old mother in Upton-upon-Severn had left the telephone off the hook causing concern by my sister in the USA and hence a call to me to see what was the matter. Having a drink I dare not drive my car. The neighbours were not about so

WYCHAVON'S councillors and staff are to get together at a special meeting to thrash out ways in which to improve their overall performance levels. The overview and scrutiny committee is to meet on Tuesday to discuss a performance report compiled by officers

THE government intends to make it a civil offence to put a house on the market without a Home Information Pack (previously called Sellers pack) being prepared first. In essence - if you are a seller, you will need to prepare a Home Information Pack by

NEW president Father Nino Papandreou has taken over the leadership of Evesham Vale Lions Club at a Handover Night ceremony at The BBC Club, Evesham. Outgoing president Peter Mace paid tribute to the few remaining members who had continued to serve others

ALLEGATIONS of unlawful operations in a Church Lench wood are set to be discussed by district councillors today. Among the complaints to be discussed by Wychavon's planning committee are that rubble has been deposited on woodland rides and footpaths,

FUNDRAISING for a new children's hospice will be going at a gallop in Hanley Swan. Harness racers from across the country will be trotting out to support the Acorns Three Counties Appeal on Sunday. Some of the country's top competitors will be among the

REPRESENTATIVES from Malvern Priory have visited artist Tom Denny to view progress on a stained-glass window, commissioned to celebrate the new Millennium. Basil Dewing, chairman of the Friends of Malvern Priory, said the work exceeded all his expectations

SALFORD PRIORS woman celebrated her 59th birthday by walking nearly ten miles to raise money for a new renal unit in Stratford. Nola Millward, whose son-in-law Kevin Cheshire has kidney problems, took up the challenge after meeting appeal publicity officer

A DEBATE on genetically modified foods and crops is being organised by Malvern Hills District Council. The council does not hold an official position on GM farming unlike other local authorities, including Herefordshire Council and Warwickshire County

A TOP show dog could have been snatched from the Eldersfield area on Saturday night at around 10.30pm. Owner Jane Wright is convinced that Elfie, a pale grey Weimaraner, was taken and is now offering a substantial reward to help find him. Elfie, who wearing

TENS of thousands of revellers gritted their teeth against the weather to party until dawn at the annual Global Gathering at Long Marston airfield. Some of the biggest names in dance music travelled from across the world for the event, which attracted

HOLLYBUSH residents want a mock-up mobile phone mast to be put up again because they say it was not in the place they expected it to be. The mast was put up by phone giant Vodafone as a trial run to show what a proposed permanent mast would look like.

A 91-YEAR-OLD Broadway woman chatted to Prince Phillip about how handsome her friends thought he was at the Queen's garden party at Buckingham Palace. Dorothy Twidale MBE, of Church Mews, previously met the Queen and Prince Phillip in Portugal in 1970

A WARTIME reunion organised by a Malvern veteran is set to be a great success tomorrow. More than 300 people have signed up for the reunion of Strathallan survivors at the Greenwich Naval Museum in London. For Stanley Hambrey, of Steamer Point, its success

THE Cotswolds Conference Centre in Broadway will be home to 50 marathon runners taking part in the longest six-day stage race in the world next week. The Children with Leukaemia Marathon of Britain will start in Malvern on Sunday and the runners will

CRIME seems to be a major feature in the newspaper this week. Generally it is what would be described as petty crime, although none the less upsetting for that. The one exception was the burglar confronted during a night-time break-in at the Yew Tree

GARETH Batty and David Leatherdale helped table-topping Worcestershire launch a dramatic fightback against Glamorgan on the opening day of the rain-affected Frizzell County Championship division two match at New Road. The determined Bradford-born duo

'Children in jeopardy at Link danger stream' A Malvern Link stream, filled with broken glass and litter, has been branded 'a disgrace' by nearby residents who fear children playing there could have a serious accident. Now they desperately want someone

WORCESTER City manager John Barton admits he will have to play a waiting game over transfer target Jim Rodwell. The much-sought after defender played for an hour in City's 3-2 defeat against West Brom but despite talks with the player, Barton is no nearer

A NEW centre where residents can access all council services under one roof opened in Malvern on Monday. The Malvern Hills Customer Services Centre is part of a £1.5m refurbishment scheme for Malvern library. Instead of visiting council departments in

GRAHAM Turner has signed right-back Ryan Green to bolster his Hereford United defence. The ex-Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday defender has signed a two-year deal and made his debut in the 1-0 defeat against Birmingham City at Edgar Street last night. Aged

A DISAPPOINTING return on a charity fun day forced organisers to dip their hands into their own pockets to boost proceeds for the Acorns hospice appeal. Nearly 300 children with their parents went to the Jungle Cubs Fun Factory in Evesham last week for

HEREFORD United suffered their first defeat in six pre-season matches when they went down 1-0 against a Birmingham City side featuring half-a-dozen players with Premiership experience. But the star for the Blues was triallist Dragan Zilic, the Montenegro

ONE of Worcestershire's long-est standing servants to football in the county has died. Bert Powell, who passed away peacefully last Thursday, was a former chairman of Worcester and District Lea-gue and will be remembered for his loyal service to the game

THE first Upton Veterans Regatta took place on a 400 metre downstream course from Poolbrook to the site of the old bridge. Thirty-nine crews from eight different clubs came to Upton to race against each other in eights, coxed fours, double and single

MATHON, Cradley & Storridge (MCS) Mens (B) team completed their summer league campaign with a hard-earned draw against Ludlow Burway Tennis Club. Chris Brandon-White and Duncan Hannaford won their opening rubber 7-5, 6-1 before losing 4-6, 4-6. In

SATURDAY CRICKET WEST OF ENGLAND CLUBS GLOS/WILTS Division One: Colwall v Swindon. Division One 2nd XIs: Swindon II v Colwall II. CRUSADER WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE Division One: Bromyard v Chaddesley Corbett, Eastnor v Pershore. Division One 2nd XIs

THE Other Place theatre in Stratford will be the venue for a special season of more than 30 theatrical events during August. Members of the RSC's current acting ensemble and other RSC theatre specialists have created a programme of drama, live music and

NEW Worcester-based arts production company artworcs is holding a series of practical one-day workshops at University College Worcester during the Worcester Festival. Local playwright and artworcs co-founder Lance Woodman is running a dramatic workshop

A FLEDGLING business launched by a woman in Broadway aimed at helping shoppers and producers is set to take off. The Natural Gourmet is the brainchild of Eva Barkasz who has a solid foundation of senior management experience in the top quality end of

A MIXTURE of swing, dance and jazz will be performed by the Syd Lawrence Orchestra when it visits Malvern. The Big Band sound has thrilled audiences around Europe for the past 35 years. It was formed by Lawrence when, as a member of the BBC Northern Dance

A CONCERT in aid of St Michael's Hospice will be held at Hellens, Much Marcle tonight (Friday) at 7pm. The performers will be Nicholas Clapton and Jennifer Partridge. Numbers are limited. The date was wrongly given in last week's Gazette. For more information

A SPECTACULAR evening at the Three Counties Showground of passionate and romantic music under the stars is promised on Saturday, August 23. The concert, featuring the English Symphony Orchestra, will include an extravagant finale of fireworks to Ravel's

PIANIST Stephen Watkins and mezzo-soprano Wendy Nieper will perform a song recital in Powick. The duo met around ten years ago while studying at the Birmingham Conserva-toire. Stephen is a piano teacher from Powick, while Wendy is based in London and

German singer Ezio Lunedei and his Kenyan guitar partner, Mark "Booga" Fowell, will be at Worcester's Marr's Bar on Saturday, August 9. Tickets cost £8 in advance, £10 on the night. Doors open at 8pm. Ring 01905 613336 for information.

JAZZ duo Dave Roach and Rob Storey-Day will be performing tomorrow (Saturday) at 9pm at the Lamb, West Malvern. Former members of Bristol-based Swing Driven Thing, Dave and Rob are back together as Gadjo Dilo - 'crazy outsider' in Romany. They will be

TOMMY Bridewell was in outstanding form at the eighth round of the British Motorcycle Championship held for the first time at Mondello Park in Ireland, some 35 miles south of Dublin, at the weekend. Fourteen-year-old schoolboy and ACU academy rider Tommy

BARNARDS Green found their effort thwarted by the weather on Saturday in their Worcestershire County League Division Three game against Birlingham at North End Lane. BARNARDS GREEN v BIRLINGHAM Green had raced to a superb total of 289-5 with Dan Flynn

GARETH Batty and David Leatherdale helped table-topping Worcestershire launch a dramatic fightback against Glamorgan on the opening day of the rain-affected Frizzell County Championship division two match at New Road. The determined Bradford-born duo

GEORGE Cowley's question "after Hiroshima, why then was a second bomb dropped on Nagasaki?" is nave. When you have to kill a venomous snake, you don't just hit it once. You strike several times until you are sure it's dead. My sympathies are more for

IN your article (Evening News, Tuesday, July 22) on Worcester's vision for the future, Councillor Stephen Inman is quoted as saying : "With our adoption of our new vision for the city, we know where we're going and what we are hoping to achieve." By this

PARTNERS in a new project have leapt into action to make life better for Spa folk. Installation of rural broadband, transport to the Royal Worcester Hospital and a heritage trail are among the ideas from Droitwich Spa Area Partnership. The group aims

THE big news 50 years ago in Malvern was that the town's two electronic research stations were to be merged. TRE and RRDE will be amalgamated on September 1 to form the Radar Research Establishment, reported the Malvern Gazette. The announcement was made

A CENTURY ago, Malvern Urban District Council voted by eight votes to four to accept a donation of £5,000 from millionaire philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to build a new library in the town. Malvern's first library had opened a few weeks previously in

MAKING a scale model of the Church of St John the Baptist in Beckford is a real labour of love for Paul Buckley. Paul, of Rose Cottage, almost in the shadow of the church, began the project in June 2002 and aims to have it finished and on display in church

Until Aug 1: If you're aged 13-18 and love dancing then check out danceFest's Summer School at University College, Worcester. Telephone 01905 611199 for further details. Until Aug 1: If you're aged 9-14 don't miss the Summer School at Malvern Theatres

Until Aug 2: From Apple Blossom to Acorns. Watercolour paintings of wildlife through the seasons by Rosemary Hatton, at The Gallery, Droitwich Spa Library. Telephone 01905 773292 for further details. n Aug 6 - Sept 6: The Colour Scene. A series of photographs

Until Aug 2: WODYS (Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society Youth Section) presents Annie Get Your Gun, at Swan Theatre, The Moors, Worcester. For tickets Tel 01905 611427. Aug 2: Vince Hill in With A Song In My Heart. As charismatic and handsome as ever

A NEW Worcester arts production company is holding a series of practical one-day art workshops. Sessions on dramatic writing, visual arts and music composition will be among the workshops being held by Artworcs this month. Local playwright Lance Woodman

RESIDENTS at a Bidford home for people with learning disabilities have received a new people carrier vehicle. Warwickshire Friends of Home Farm Trust have raised £18,000 in the last year for a new vehicle for residents at the charity's Arden Vale homes

A 91-YEAR-OLD Broadway woman chatted to Prince Phillip about how handsome her friends thought he was at the Queen's garden party at Buckingham Palace. Dorothy Twidale MBE, of Church Mews, previously met the Queen and Prince Phillip in Portugal in 1970

A BROADWAY garden could soon have a free standing iron pergola, if planning officers approve of submitted plans. The owner of Croft Villa on The Green is hoping for the go-ahead to site the pergola across the pathway in the east side of her garden. A

HAVE you ever sat in the cinema, watching the latest blockbuster when, suddenly, a piece of classical music is playing on the soundtrack? Can you identify it straight away? I very rarely can. This new CD by Naxos will put me, and probably many more, out

Villa des Roses by Willem Elsschot (Granta, £7.99) WELCOME to the faded Parisian boarding house, its motley group of guests, money-grubbing proprietors M and Mme Brulot and a tragi-comedy of turn-of-the-last-century manners. Elsschot delivers a succession

Queen Victoria At Home by Michael De-la Noy (Constable, £20). FOR a real insight into the life of Queen Victoria there can be no better book than that written by biographer and journalist Michael De-la Noy. Queen Victoria At Home is just what the title

COLWALL travelled to Dumbleton, skipper Tom Wolfendale won the toss and asked the home side to bat first on a dampish wicket. DUMBLETON v COLWALL Opening bowlers Majeed and Damian Berry caused the home side problems early on, reducing Dumbleton to 35-

MALVERN Seconds claimed 24 points in a Worcestershire County League game that lasted just over two hours. MALVERN II v ROMSLEY & HUNNINGTON II This was just as well, since a full day's play would have been impossible after heavy late rain set in.

BARNARDS Green 1st XI travelled to Bretforton for a Worcestershire Sunday Clubs League fixture. BRETFORTON v BARNARDS GREEN On winning the toss, the home team elected to bat. The first part of the innings was dominated by Daryll Mitchell who made batting

RAIN was all too much in evidence on Saturday, and perhaps deprived both 1st and 2nd X1s of wins from strong positions. COOKLEY V WORCESTER NOMADS The 1st XI invited the home side to bat first on a green wicket at Cookley, but despite being unable to

THE Nomads 2nd XI didn't get far into the match at Bransford, only managing to bowl nine overs at their visitors after having posted a target of 223 from a reduced 43 overs. WORCESTER NOMADS II v COOKLEY II Nomads opening partnership between Bland and

A LEARNING website run from a terraced house in Kidderminster has hit the big time after receiving subscriptions from one in five UK primary schools. And bosses at childrensmoneyworld.com - which teaches children up to the age of eight how to look after

ONE of Worcestershire's most famous companies has taken delivery of two new forklift trucks to speed up production. Malvern-based Morgan Motor Company is using two of Mitsubishi's new counterbalance models, supplied by MSM/DRH, the authorised Mitsubishi

BARNARDS GREEN CC Saturday, August 1 1st XI v Dominies & Guild (Away). Meet 12.30pm. T Williams (Capt), G Glendinning (Wkt), J Doughty, J Clarke, C Smedley, C Hill, T Clarke, R Richards, C Churchill, P Drinkwater, D Flynn. 2nd XI v Dominies &

Record new car sales have caused a slump in the second-hand market - with prices in Worcestershire falling by more than 10 per cent since last June. More and more buyers have snapped up new cars since their prices began to fall last summer - causing saturation

BUILDING on the success of 2001, Pershore will once again be the venue for a celebration of jazz, poetry, song and dance on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 8-10 A dedicated committee headed up by local residents Peter Farrall, Roy and Janet Daniels

If you confined your Worcestershire walks to the Malverns and Wyre Forest you would think the county had excellent footpaths. Venture outside these areas, and it's a different story. Much of the network is in a dismal state and this is never more apparent

A Mystery animal - half fox cub, half wild boar - is at large in the Worcestershire countryside. The creature calmly walked out in front of a car on Monday afternoon, startling its occupants, Jo Morris, from Suckley, near Worcester, and her mother, Rachel

Murdered army skydiver Stephen Hilder was described as "brave" and with a "zest for life", as hundreds gathered to mourn him at his funeral yesterday. The Reverend Jimmy Morrison led a celebration of the 20-year-old officer cadet's life at the Church

A CAMPAIGNER for flood defences in Worcester has hit out at the city council for not yet accepting an offer for temporary defences. Mary Dhonau, chairman of Worcester Action Against Flooding, presented a passionate argument at a meeting of the Development

EVERY family has its black sheep, someone who brings shame upon their relations with their behaviour. In most cases, they perhaps drink too much or indulge in petty crime. In my case, they plotted to kill the Queen of England. And failed. The black sheep

TWO lucky Evening News readers will be on cloud nine after winning a trip in a hot air balloon. Jenny Stevenson and Jeannie Vaughan were two out of hundreds of entrants in the competition organised by Malvern Hills and Wyre Forest District Councils and

RISING late night disorder in Evesham has prompted police to bring in reinforcements from Worcester and Droitwich. The move is part of a high visibility crackdown on loutish behaviour from who have drunk too much. Insp Steve Brooker told town councillors

THE rare opening of a historic clock tower in Abberley enabled more than 300 people to catch a breathtaking glimpse of six counties. The 19th Century, 161ft clock and bell tower, in the grounds of Abberley Hall, opened to the public for the last two Saturdays

SECURITY patrols in Malvern's Priory Park are being stepped-up following reports of young yobs intimidating theatregoers and leisure seekers. Police were recently called to the park by Malvern Theatres staff when a group of youths on bikes refused to

ROBBIE Williams' fans will definitely not be "caught short" after a Hereford business provided more than 400 miles of toilet roll for the pop star's extravaganza at Knebworth Park this weekend. Mark Williams, the owner of the Rotherwas-based firm Clearview

ENTERPRISING youngsters and a lot of hard work have ensured that a summer activity programme in Dines Green has made a fine start. Youth group Streets Ahead decided to set up a fund-raising committee to help fund activities this summer such as quad biking

TOP county cricketer had a taste of a jet-set lifestyle when he made a crucial half-century before being whisked away, by helicopter, for a dinner in his honour. David Leatherdale, a long-serving Worcestershire all-rounder enjoying a benefit year this

Thank you to all involved in Sunday's Garden Party. It was a great success, raising over £500 for St Gregory's Church. Considering the previous day's rain there was concern about whether the venue should be changed, but after the Sunday service the sun

REG Moule, broadcaster with BBC Hereford & Worcester radio, visited Powick Parish Hall recently. An audience of thirty-five people enjoyed a gardening question and answer session. Reg who lives at Drakes Broughton can trace his family back to the

The very popular Jumble Sale in aid of Redmarley Church will take place on Saturday, August 16, starting at 2pm There will be a very modest entry fee. Already some extremely nice items have been donated.The venue is Berrow Village Hall. Also on offer

Following the success of last year's Village Fun Day there will be another one this year. It is on Bank Holiday Monday, August 25 at Middletown Farm from 12 noon until 3pm.

The growth of vegetation both in gardens and on the Hills this year seems to have been lusher than ever - perhaps a reflection of climate change? St James's churchyard is as much affected as anywhere else, so Roy Brazier and his team would welcome anyone

FURTHER to the piece on the new draft access maps (Our Countryside, July 17), perhaps I could add that not only should farmers and landowners check them for possible errors of inclusion, but the public should also do so for possible errors of exclusion

Simon Foxall (Letters 24/07) needs to be reminded of the realities of the countryside. The British countryside is largely manmade, having been shaped and formed over centuries by farming and sporting practices. This beautiful countryside that we are lucky

TWO legal matters particularly took my attention this week: the first regarded the proposed ban on hunting with dogs. This has elicited various statements to the effect that the police will find it impossible to enforce a total ban. I am sure that the

AN illustrator whose talent once left violinist Nigel Kennedy cursing in admiration is preparing his first display in Malvern. Professional illustrator Philip Downs, aged 31, has honed his artistic skills to such a degree that he has worked for the likes

A model trains exhibition is on in Hereford this weekend to raise money for the Acorns Three Counties Appeal to build a new children's hospice in Worcester. Organised by the Hereford Society of Model Engineers, it will take place at Broomy Hill on Sunday

THANK you to all who supported the Climb street collection in Pershore on Saturday, July 12, which raised a total of £198.49 - all of this will go in support of the main aims of Climb: to support children living with metabolic diseases and their families

THE Journal (July 17) carried a lovely photograph and article regarding Greenhill School's speech day and prizegiving. Unfortunately it failed to mention that also at that event there was a presentation of a cheque to Acorns Childrens Hospice Trust. Over

A TOP folk artist will be wowing the crowds at a folk festival in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Eddi Reader, famed for her hit song Perfect with the band Fairground Attraction will be playing at Bridgnorth Folk Festival 2003. The event which runs from Friday

FLOWER SHOW: Badsey Flower Show held on Saturday, July 26. FLOWERS, POT PLANTS, GARDENS: q Roses - Bush large flowered, 5 blooms one variety or mixed: 1 Sid Norton, 3 Maggie Cain; bush large flowered, 3 blooms, one variety: 1 Maggie Cain; bush large flowered

GARDENING SOCIETY: The July Meeting was visiting Members' Gardens. Five Gardens belonging to members were open in Bidford, Broom and Cleeve Prior. Despite the hot dry weather and then a day of rain, the evening was a pleasant one. All the gardens were

MUSICAL EVENING: A musical evening with an Anglo-German theme was held at the home of Mrs Sophie Dodds last Saturday evening and proved to be a big success, despite the persistent rain which made the idea of the planned garden party impossible to carry

OUT AND ABOUT: The official handing-over of Broom WI Hall to the village took place on Wednesday, July 23. The keys were handed over by the president, Helen Powell, in the presence of WI members and members of the sterling committee. A reunion of Bidford

THE following gardens will be opening in aid of the National Gardens Scheme: SUNDAY, August 3: Alne View, Pathlow, 3m N of Stratford, teas, 2pm to 5pm. 101, Two Hedges Road, Bishops Cleeve, teas, 1.30pm to 6pm. THURSDAY, August 7: Gorsehill Abbey Farm

1st (£1,000) 18006, Grimley, Worcester; 2nd (£100) 13320, Battenhall; 3rd (£50) 11017, Claines, Worcester.

DID you know you can get information and advice on disability issues in Pershore? DIAL South Worcestershire will have a member of staff at the Pershore Civic Centre on Monday, August 4 from 10am to noon providing a free and confidential advice service

100 Years Ago August 1 1903 During the Coronation year many annual village institutions such a flower shows were allowed to lapse for a year. In some cases these fetes or shows have been weakened by the break, but more often they have been strengthened

WELLAND JUNIORS are looking for summer friendly games at under12s, 13s, 14s, 15s, & 16s. The club are also looking to organise regular small-side friendly games for the younger under 8s, 9s, 10s & 11 to take place throughout next season on a Saturday

Carl Rosa returned with its sell-out production of The Pirates of Penzance, last seen in Malvern in November 2001. None of the previous sparkle was lost, but some of the character casting had been changed. The fine orchestra in Richard Balcombe's safe

A FLOWER bed in Upton will look more colourful -if one of the town's district councillors has her way. Coun Mary Wilkinson has petitioned Malvern Hills District Council to change rules governing what can be grown because she believes the bed near the

WHAT must be one of the last commemorations of the Queen's Golden Jubilee is now installed in Evesham and keeping good time. The floral clock, planted outside the Almonry by the town council, joins the Town Hall clock that was put up to mark the Golden

Truck driver Desmond Howell bid a fond farewell to the coffin makers where he worked for nearly 50 years. A barbecue was held for Mr Howell, aged 65, of Hartpury, last Friday at the premises of L, T & R Vowles in Longdon Heath to commemorate his long

POLICE and the family of a 89-year-old widow from Evesham are urging anyone who picked up her pension to have a heart and give it back. Last Friday afternoon the pensioner went to Hampton Post Office to collect her pension and bought stamps. She believes

A jury has failed to reach a verdict in the case of a married waiter alleged to have raped a 19-year-old girl at the restaurant where he worked. After retiring for nearly five hours yesterday at Worcester Crown Court, the foreman of a panel of nine men

A CARNIVAL princess and attendants are needed to ride in a carriage during Upton carnival on August 23. A number of girls, aged eight to 11, will be picked by the mayor of the town to ride in a horse-drawn carriage through Upton. Those who would like

SEVERN Trent has been named as one of three water companies not meeting its targets in reducing water leakage from its pipework. But the company claims that the figures, released by Ofwat, are higher than previously recorded because the leakage had been

BROADWAY First School celebrated the end of their school term with the completion of a new garden area created to celebrate the Golden Jubilee. Pupils at the school created their own designs for the garden, which were translated into the final design

VILLAGES around Bredon Hill will join the internet broadband revolution next Tuesday as part of an innovative pilot project. Bredon Hill will be switched on to the high-speed link as part of a £13 million investment by regional development agency Advantage

OCCUPANTS of a minibus fled the scene when they were in collision with a car on the Evesham bypass. Police said all but one of the passengers in the white Ford Transit van, including the driver, ran off on foot when their vehicle was in collision with

IT is indeed good news (Malvern Gazette, July 25) that a revival of the Shaw Festival may be added to the forthcoming arts presentations already planned for Malvern. Malvern Concert Club is just about to start its centenary season and early indications

VALE youngsters have no excuse for being bored this summer with a packed programme of holiday activities organised by Wychavon District Council. The first event of the summer season was a day of mask making on Pershore's Abbey Park yesterday. Wychavon's

I DO not know the figures but Malvern seems to have an almost non-existent population of ethnic minorities and, therefore, it is not surprising that your report on the allegations of "Institutional Racism" against Malvern Link CE Primary School has met

A 25-year-old man charged with manslaughter after a railway level crossing tragedy near Evesham has been remanded in custody again, awaiting trial. Adnan Kadir Karam, of Carpenters Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, who appeared before a judge at Worcester

SECURITY patrols in Malvern's Priory Park are being stepped up following reports of disorder by young people. Last Thursday, police were called to the park by Malvern Theatres staff. A large group of youths on bikes were refusing to move from the back

A MAN suspected of robbery was released on bail after being arrested in Pershore High Street. Police were called out at 10am on Monday and a man was arrested less than an hour later.

WEST Mercia Probation has won a £1m boost to tackle the problem of persistent young offenders. The money will be used to launch a scheme allowing intensive supervision of offenders aged between 18-21 who would otherwise go to prison. Chief probation officer

AN Evesham businessman is threatening to withdraw his business rates because he says smells from an effluent treatment plant are hitting his trade. Joe Davin, who runs the diving company Joe Diver on the Four Pools estate, claims smells from the Evesham

I HAVE lived in Malvern all my life and have thrown bread to the ducks in Priory Park as a child and now as a mother with my daughter. On the second day of the school summer holidays, I heard there were ducklings on the pond, so my daughter, who is eight

THE search for the Pal Scruffts family crossbreed dog of the year is coming to Evesham this weekend. The Scruffts competition, which is now in its third year, gives crossbreeds that are not eligible for Crufts, a chance to shine. The Evesham heat will

According to last week's Malvern Gazette (July 25), a married couple taking a stroll near British Camp were attacked by young bandits using stones and an air rifle. This calls into question the safety of walking our hills which could have an economic

PERSHORE Flower and Craft Show could become a thing of the past, unless volunteers step forward to help save the annual event. This year's show, which will be held at the Angel Hotel on August 9, could be the last says committee chairman Councillor Val

A MALVERN hotelier is hoping to run three marathons in three months to raise money to help cancer sufferers. Mike Humm, aged 59, wants to raise £9,000 in memory of Phil Mico, a microbiologist and immunologist from Malvern, who made a major contribution

RATS, mice and insects are set to be dealt with more effectively following changes to Wychavon District Council's pest control service. Throckmorton-based Premier Pest Control has won a three-year tender to deal with chargeable services - including removing

EFFORTS to turn back the clock and restore the lake and river of Croome Court to their 18th- Century glory are underway. The National Trust, which owns the grounds of the estate near Upton, is preparing to clear scrub and undergrowth from the banks of

A PLANNING inspector was this week hearing evidence about a controversial plan for flats in Malvern Link. Ciel Properties, of Birmingham, were last November refused permission to build three blocks of flats on land between the A449 Worcester Road and

FOLK dancers from Malvern and beyond gathered at Hanley Castle for a day of dance in memory of a friend. Diana Hannah died in August last year after what friends called a "cheerful struggle against cancer." Diana was a founding member of the Appleyard

RESIDENTS at a Bidford home for people with learning disabilities have received a new people carrier vehicle. Warwickshire Friends of Home Farm Trust have raised £18,000 in the last year for a new vehicle for residents at the charity's Arden Vale homes

ORGANISERS of the Evesham Steam Rally are appealing for photographs of war time in the Vale of Evesham. The rally is centred on Ashdown Farm, Badsey Road, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 8-10, and Madeline Ross said: "We would like to have these

LACK of demand has forced Wychavon District Council to axe the rural outreach one-stop-shop services leaving just the Broadway shop in operation. The council had held monthly sessions in Hartlebury and Ombersley village halls offering advice and information

THE chief executive of Malvern Theatres is on the lookout for partners in Europe to help the town become a Centre of Excellence and Culture. Nic Lloyd is taking part in an effort to secure the designation for the town. Last Thursday, Mr Lloyd met William

AN Evesham school has been described as 'warm and friendly' by Government education inspectors. Staff and pupils of St Richard's First School learned of the positive Ofsted report just days before breaking up for their summer break. In the report, the

AN academic from Malvern Wells is looking for help to research an exotic religious tradition. Simon Weightman, 66, is studying the mystical poetry of the Sufist, Jalal al-Din Rumi, whose work is the latest spiritual fad in the United States. Sufism is

WORCESTERSHIRE are heading for defeat in their Second Eleven Championship against Northamptonshire at Northampton. They resumed yesterday on 6-2 in reply to the home side's bumper first innings total of 404-9 declared. They went on to make 234 thanks

HEAVY rain ended Badsey Flower Show early last Saturday but not before a very successful 102nd event. Entries were down on last year due to the hot dry spell before the show, but the children entered well and the handwriting competition produced 230 entries

A VALE woman who worked on the top secret Enigma project during World War Two has died at the age of 85. Christine Trollope, who lived for many years in Bishampton, was once a key member of the team that cracked the coded messages of the Third Reich.

THE idea for this article was to expose the opportunities for a nerve-tingling, adrenaline-pumping adventure in Malvern. My bright idea was to try this new mountain boarding lark, which seemed a great plan at the time. I'm no stranger to the world of

OUT to Grass has a competition team of local riders and makes regular trips around the UK to big events. The final event of the 2003 season is being held at the Cradley Centre on Saturday and Sunday, August 9/10. Attractions include the boarder cross-race

KIDDERMINSTER boss Ian Britton has hinted he may ring the changes for tomorrow's trip to Hereford United (3pm). The Aggborough manager has been pleased with his side's pre-season programme but is wary of his players overdoing it. He said: "There have

THIS year's Welland Steam Rally was the best ever, say organisers. More than 30,000 visitors flocked to the village, near Malvern, to see dozens of steam engines and machines of every type. David Prout, chairman of the Ross-on-Wye Steam Engine Society

WORCESTERSHIRE'S Leslie Law and Erica Watson will be taking on the world's finest event riders in the British Open Championships this weekend -- highlight of the Doubleprint Festival of Brit-ish Eventing at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire. The event

A LARGE field of competitors entered the midweek medal competition on the last day of the recent hot spell. Over recent weeks the scores, particularly in division one, have been exceptional and the standard of play continued to be so in this competition

GYMNASTS from Malvern Hills Gymnastic Club have returned after a successful visit to the 15th Kefalonian Gymnastics Festival. They are already planning a return visit next year with a larger team. Audiences were highly impressed by the quality of the

MALVERN Chess Club, playing away against Kidderminster in the County Division One, had a closely contested match, which finished in a three-all draw. Malvern had white on the odd numbered boards. Details are as follows, Malvern names first: 1, B Turner

THIS year's coaching courses at Mathon, Cradley and Storridge Tennis Club, run by club coach Andy Beesley, were supported by the Lottery Awards Board Grants for All, and catered for junior under 10s, over 10s and adult improvers. The juniors received

RACE officer Dave Bowen set a tricky course for the afternoon racing at the Arden Sailing Club (Defford) with wind varying in strength and direction the small fleet had many a near capsize but all managed to stay upright. Commodore Richard Drinkwater

THE English Symphony Orchestra will provide a magical journey of classical romance from Spain, through Italy to the land of the Arabian nights at a fireworks extravaganza at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern in August. Conducted by William Boughton

AUDIENCES will be able to see three of Shakespeare's most diverse plays in Stratford for £10 each during one week in August. There will be 200 of the best tickets in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre available during the RSC's Festival Proms Week from August

FAMOUS faces and big-name stars add up to another strong season at Malvern Theatres in the autumn. Among the famous faces coming to the Worcestershire theatre will be Ross Kemp, Edward Woodward, Penelope Keith, Donald Sinden, Lesley Joseph, David Essex

PEOPLE are being offered the chance to learn the ancient craft of drystone walling during August and September through free weekend training courses organised by Worcestershire BTCV. This will all take place on the picturesque slopes of Bredon Hill above

THE Proculture trial ground at Knowle Hill, Badsey, will be open from 10am to 4pm on Friday, August 15, with an international display of plants. The focus of the trial grounds is new perennial plants for introduction in 2004, in particular 10 new Pensham

FLAUTIST James Galway is appearing with the London Mozart Players at Gloucester Leisure Centre on August 9 (7.30pm). He will be performing Devienne's Flute Concerto No. 8 solo before teaming up with his wife Jeanne, for a performance of Concerto for Two

KIDDERMINSTER boss Ian Britton has hinted he may ring the changes for tomorrow's trip to Hereford United (3pm). The Aggborough manager has been pleased with his side's pre-season programme but is wary of his players overdoing it. He said: "There have

FAVOURITE songs from the golden age of swing are being resurrected. Hits made famous by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Dean Martin, including Volare, Mack the Knife and My Way, will feature in Kings of Swing at the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury

MALVERN band In2theshadows will be playing their tribute to The Shadows at the Green Dragon, Guarlford, on Saturday, August 23, from 9pm.

WORLD famous artists are gearing up for the Ross-on-Wye International Festival. Music-lovers will be spoilt for choice at the event, which runs from Thursday, August 7, to Sunday, August 17. Outstanding performers include Van Morrison, with two performances

Well, what have we here - Bradders writing a column in the paper? Hardly likely, you may say. Well, I'm going to be penning my thoughts - or rather typing them, as I can't write properly any more - each Friday, just looking back on the week and reflecting

A SERIOUS crash ended Morgan's 24-hour hopes at Spa after three hours of racing, when Neil Cunningham suffered a high-speed rear end impact in atrocious conditions on the straight leading into Malmedy. Cunningham had just taken over from driver Jacques

EQUESTRIAN lovers are in for a treat next week with two top class events on at Malvern's Three Counties Showground covering four days of action. The National Pony Society Summer Championship Show is being staged from Tuesday (August 5) to Thursday and

MALVERN Town travel to Market Drayton Town for their first game of the new West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division season on Saturday, August 16, kick off 2.45pm. Market Drayton Town, formerly Little Drayton Rangers, finished fourth last season

MALVERN Town have their first home friendly tomorrow (Saturday) when they entertain Shortwood United, from the Hellenic Premier League. The match kicks-off at 3pm and admission prices will be £2 and £1 concessions. Malvern then travel to Cinderford on

MALVERN gained a winning draw on Saturday at Romsley, with another impressive team performance in this Worcestershire County League Division Two fixture. ROMSLEY AND HUNNINGTON v MALVERN The Malvern innings was dominated by a superb century from Paul

THE call has gone out from Malvern Rugby Club to all 17 to 19 year olds living in and around Malvern to make the final transition into senior rugby by joining the club's newly-formed development squad. Malvern Rugby Club believes that all rugby players

IN reply to John Tainton, (You Say, Saturday, July 12), yes, some British companies are opposed to UK entry into the eurozone, but the largest concerns favour entry. There has been heavy American and Japanese investment in this country, creating many

IS anyone else shocked by the amount of swear words that abound in 12A films, TV programmes prior to the "watershed" or even the streams of abuse from sports stars that pitch mikes pick up? Are we all adopting such a laissez faire attitude that we're

JOHN Jackson of the Countryside Alliance claims that the organisation represents decent people. His definition of "decent" differs considerably from mine. By "decent" does he mean people who can ride roughshod over democratically-made decisions and continue

I AM not normal! According to G K Ryland (You Say, Monday, July 14) any person who is part of a religion is not normal. It angers him when people who have faith in a religion try to press it upon him. I sympathise - I am a practising Church of England

THE stalling of Tesco's bid for 24-hour opening at St Peter's comes as great news. I only hope the councillors make the decision to stop the 24 hours for good. Councillor Geoff Williams' remarks that there did not seem to have been much increase in traffic

TOWN residents are being assured that they have nothing to fear when Bromsgrove District Council introduces the new refuse collection service, next year. A special help line has been set up at the Council House in Burcot Lane to answer any queries townsfolk

RISING late night disorder in Evesham has prompted the police to bring in reinforcements in a high visibility campaign to crackdown on drunken louts. Inspector Steve Brooker told town councillors on Monday that disorder was reducing all over the southern

100 years ago The Malvern and Hanley Castle Sunday School Children and friends of the Salvation Army, to the number of 150, had their annual outing on Monday, at Holt Fleet. On arrival at Worcester, headed by the Army's brass band, a march was made to

CHARLIE'S Angels 2: Full Throttle (12A) is showing daily at Malvern Cinema from today (Friday) until Thursday, August 7, at 3pm and 7.30pm.

PERSHORE skaters say problems caused by their sport will be a thing of the past if a skatepark is built for them in the town. Youngsters on skateboards and roller-blades congregate around St Andrew's Church and the Co-op car park to skate but their hobby

Aug 9: Sir James Galway and Jeanne Galway with London Mozart Players at Gloucester Leisure Centre. Box office: 01594 544446 or 0871 2200 260 (24hr). Aug 9: The Regimental Band of the Coldstream Guards in Concert at All Saints Church, Deansway, Worcester

A very spooky but funny play for 5-11 year olds and their families. Box office: 01684 295074. Aug 9: Kings of Swing. The music of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin and many more is brought to life in this fabulous new show from Calibre Productions

THINK Lesley Joseph, and Dorien, her character in long-running BBC sitcom Birds of a Feather, immediately springs to mind. The role of the brassy, sex-obsessed neighbour is a million miles from the down-to-earth northern women characteristic of Alan Bennett's

A CHURCH sale, organised by a group of agoraphobics, forms the basis for a Worcester theatre comedy. The Swan Theatre Company, the resident amateur group at the theatre, is performing Sue Townsend's Bazaar and Rummage. The play sees four agoraphobics

THE latest Malvern United Angling Association cup competition was fished on the club's water on the Severn last Sunday. The river was carrying some extra rainwater and flowing quite hard which made life difficult for members and resulted in eels being

Theatre August 2-John H Stracey at the Conquest Theatre, Bromyard. Details (01885) 488575. 4-8-Anna Scher Theatre Summer School at Malvern Theatres. £60 per week. Details (01684) 892277. 11-16-Office Suite by Alan Bennett at the Festival Theatre, Malvern

LACK of demand has forced Wychavon District Council to axe the rural outreach one-stop-shop services leaving just the Broadway shop in operation. The council had held monthly sessions in Hartlebury and Ombersley village halls offering advice and information

The Pothead's Little Instruction Book by Dr VS Ganjabhang (Boxtree, £2.99) Ganjabhang? Is this name for real? In his potted history of the world's most popular soft drug, the good doctor reckons that since the declassification of cannabis in 2002, it

Reg Kray A Man Apart by Roberta Kray (Pan, £6.99) TOGETHER with his twin brother Ronnie, Reggie Kray was one of the country's most notorious villains. Banged away for life in 1969 - part of his incarceration was at Long Lartin, near Evesham - he met Roberta

WORCESTER City manager John Barton admits he will have to play a waiting game over transfer target Jim Rodwell. The much-sought after defender played for an hour in City's 3-2 defeat against West Brom but despite talks with the player, Barton is no nearer

THEY have been a part of our lives for more than 1,000 years - now Royal Mail pays tribute to the great British tradition of pub signs on special stamps. From alestakes in mediaeval times to the painted signs seen today, these under-rated works of art

MALVERN travelled to Astwood Bank on Sunday and after captain Andy Croft won the toss he decided to bowl first. MALVERN CC SUNDAY XI v ASTWOOD BANK All the Malvern bowlers bowled a good line and length. S Clarke (65) and B Griffin (27) had an excellent

WITH the British weather resuming normal service, Barnards Green thirds entertained Stourbridge at Newland on Saturday but were thwarted by the rain. BARNARDS GREEN III v STOURBRIDGE On a damp but otherwise excellent wicket, Green skipper Robin Longmore