September 26, 1903 AN alarming accident occurred at the water tower which is being erected at Dagtail, Astwood Bank, on Thursday morning. Two men named Harry Hemming, aged 20, of Fleece Hill, Studley, and William Gregory, aged 26, of Dagtail, were engaged
VIOLENT patients who attack Worcestershire ambulance crews and paramedics will still be hauled before the courts even if the police decide not to prosecute. The Department of Health has set up the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service to combat
PLANS to put pristine cabs on Worcester's streets will give disabled residents a better service. Members of the city's taxi drivers' association have asked the council to consider only registering hackney carriages, which are both new and have wheelchair
CORES of Droitwich residents turned out to pay their last respects to a former town mayor. The memory of church organist Reginald Pearson was honoured at a memorial service at St Peter's church. A former county councillor, Mr Pearson had more than one
A BURGLAR caught in the stock room of Worcester's WH Smith claimed he was looking for a toilet, magistrates heard. Recovering drug addict John Croke was spotted on CCTV a week later stealing a purse from the staff room of another city centre store. At
WEARING bikinis and swimming trunks, goggles and sun hats, Droitwich residents turned out in force to demand the reopening of the town's Lido. More than 100 people came to support a demonstration by SALT (Save A Lido Today) after news earlier this month
CHIEFS behind plans to build a new hospice in Worcester for children with life-limiting illnesses are celebrating after the contract for the project was signed yesterday. The move brings the £4m development for the Acorns Children's Hospice Trust on Worcester's
MORE than 6,000 entries have flooded into the Evening News after thousands of pounds worth of prizes appeared in the paper's Birthday Bonanza supplement. Just some of the prizes include fish and chips once a week for a year from The Rose Avenue Fryer,
A TOWN leader has slammed a report focusing on the condition of Droitwich car parks. The subject was reviewed at Wychavon's overview and scrutiny committee meeting on Tuesday, September 9. The report, produced by the car parking scrutiny team, praised
PUBS and clubs in Worcester will soon have to apply to the city council for alcohol licences, under recently-approved legislation. After alcohol-fuelled rowdiness hit the headlines this summer, the council is planning a series of meetings with pub and
A CONTEMPORARY art exhibition has attracted hundreds of visitors since its first week of opening. Artspace at Church Farm, Shrawley, near Worcester, has proved a great success, with many overseas visitors buying the original works on offer. A forged steel
A STAR of the beautiful game turned country music singer will be performing at a Droitwich Spa club next month. The Dick Edwards Trio has been invited back to entertain the End of the Trail Country Music Club on Saturday, October 11. The lead singer is
CHILDREN in Worcester have been put through their paces and taught how to dodge danger during a five-day safety drive. Around 600 children are expected to take part in the "Danger Dodgers" workshops, which began on Monday at Worcester Rugby Club in Sixways
AN organ recital by Paul Charman will kick off the winter season of fundraising concerts at St John's Parish Church next month. The evening concert will take place in the Kidderminster Road church on October 11 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 each and all proceeds
DROITWICH residents are being invited to "walk on water" in an effort to restore Britain's canal and river networks. A sponsored walk along the Droitwich Barge Canal this Saturday, September 27, is being run by the national charity The Waterways Trust
VOTED the world's greatest Phantom of the Opera, West End star, Peter Karrie, is to take to the stage at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre next Mon day for one night only, in his unmissable show for musical lovers entitled "Peter Karrie and Friends," an
AN illuminating event will take place at West Midland Safari Park this weekend. The tourist attraction, in Bewdley, will celebrate its 30th birthday with its first ever "Glow in the Park" walk-through illuminations. Lights will be switched on at sunset
WES Davies believes his move to Sixways can ignite his international career. The former Wales rugby league star made the switch back to union this week with Worcester and is already setting his sights on the international stage. The grandson of rugby
WORCESTER'S Chris Hall has received a two-week ban following his red card at Otley. The hooker was handed the suspension at an RFU disciplinary hearing last night and will now sit out Saturday's league clash with London Welsh. "We're happy with the two
A REDDITCH man was attacked and robbed by a gang as he walked along a footpath between Brooklyn Garage, Battens Drive, and Arrow Valley Lake. The incident happened between 8-9pm on Monday, September 8. The 31 year old noticed a group of men standing on
POLICE are appealing for information after a burglary at an Alvechurch fencing company on Tuesday, September 16. The theft happened at about 9.15pm when an old style, blue coloured Toyota Hilux with an open back was seen driving away from the company
EIGHTEEN months ago, the Evening News took a concerned look at the rise in the amount of both physical and verbal abuse to which paramedics in Worcestershire and Herefordshire were subjected. It beggared belief that anyone could attack or abuse ambulance
WYTHALL A and Studley B met in a local derby for the opening match in Division Three of the Stratford League at Studley. The opening match was between Studley's Mel McGregor and Ken Simmons and Wythall's Colin Capper and Matthew Smith. Smith and Capper
Released by Aston Villa, Brock signed for Harriers in September 1997 after a short spell at Northampton Town where he failed to make an appearance. He made his Harriers first-team debut in November of the same year and has proved himself a fine shot-stopper
Defenders and PA announcers beware - Seretse Cannonier is here to stay. Studley's St Kitts and Nevis international striker bagged a hat-trick to help the Bees to a 6-1 FA Vase victory over Wednesfield on Saturday. And manager Mark Chambers said Cannonier's
CUP minnows Shirebrook Town arrive in town on Saturday in a bid to pull off one of the big FA Cup shocks of the day. Two divisions separate Redditch United and their tiny Derbyshire visitors who play their football in Division One of the Northern Counties
ARTHUR Miller's American tragedy A View From The Bridge premieres at Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Friday. A collaboration between the REP and West Yorkshire Playhouse, the new production is directed by the REP's resident director Toby Frow, who was
SHAKESPEARE'S tale of star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, plays at Malvern's Festival Theatre from Monday. Stephen Unwin, who directed King Lear starring Timothy West at Malvern last year, directs the English Touring Theatre's new production. The story
Thursday, September 25 Birmingham Royal Ballet: The Immortals, Birmingham Hippodrome. Until September 27. Tickets from 0870 730 1234. Cake, The Door, Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Until October 4. Tickets from 0121 236 4455. Meet on the Ledge, Symphony
Headless Cross maintained their place at the top of the table with a resounding 9-0 win at Banbury. It took Cross 20 minutes to break through, Denny Markham's free-kick being flicked on to Sarah Day who looped a header over the keeper. Chances then went
Wednesday Division One of the E & E Engineering Worcester Friendly League saw league secretary Ivan Willis of Morganite floor 59 (12,14,15) as his side took Freshmen apart. This was matched by M Jackman of Tower All Stars, who trounced New Castings
WORCESTER'S Chris Hall has received a two-week ban following his red card at Otley. The hooker was handed the suspension at an RFU disciplinary hearing last night and will now sit out Saturday's league clash with London Welsh. "We're happy with the two
HILLBILLIES and Claines RBL are the early leaders in their Monday divisions in the E & E Engineering Worcester Friendly Skittle League. Division One Rushwick 440 (3) D Meigh 47, S Johnson 45, Travellers 444 (17) P Knight 43, N Taylor 40; Wild Bunch
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers have parted company with French striker Mickael Antoine-Curier -- after just 27 minutes with the club! The former Nottingham Forest and Oldham Athletic man made a substitute appearance for Harriers in the second half of the 2-1
STOURPORT Swifts old boy Peter Sutton proved a point last night as he helped Bromsgrove Rovers beat his old club 2-1 in the Dr Martens Western Division. Sutton had an unhappy spell at Walshes Meadow last season but he undid the hosts with a lively first
A 2-0 defeat at Cirencester Town last night sees Evesham United hovering dangerously close to the foot of the Dr Martens League Western Division. United produced another dismal display and the introduction of the returning Shaun Pratt from Sunday football
BIRLINGHAM will play Alcester and Ragley in the final of the Griffiths Cup round-robin competition. The villagers booked their place after beating Alcester by 43 runs in their final group match. Andy Howorth (41) and Gavin Spares (84) gave Birlingham
HALLOW A opened the new Nationwide Doors and Windows Worcester Snooker League season with a 4-1 away win over Suzy Q A in Division One. DIVISION ONE Suzy Q A 1, Hallow A 4 (E Richards 31, M Roberts 39; D Meynell 31, A Morgan 73; D Grubb 10, S Poyner 61
THE massive Fine Fare department-type store under construction on the old cattle market site in Bromsgrove would find jobs for 240 local people. However, it remained something of a mystery. District councillors had been given details in a glossy brochure
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers have parted company with French striker Mickael Antoine-Curier -- after just 27 minutes with the club! The former Nottingham Forest and Oldham Athletic man made a substitute appearance for Harriers in the second half of the 2-1
DEAR EDITOR -- I collected my car from the Asda car park only to find someone had badly damaged it, obviously trying to get in or out of the parking space. This will be at least a £400 job. The old car park was much easier and safer to park and leave.
DEAR EDITOR -- Once again Charles Bateman springs to the defence of an indefensible position and his effrontery is to be admired. He knows full well that the Deputy Prime Minister's Office was quite right to doubt that the people of Lickey End have been
TRAFFIC congestion around schools is not a new phenomenon - and nor are Government proposals to tackle it. In June this year, Transport Secretary Alistair Darling suggested introducing tolls for drivers during the school run, though little more has since
Powergen Junior Vase Daventry 56 Alcester 10 Alcester crashed out of the Vase at the first hurdle against a disciplined and well-drilled Daventry side from a level above them. Alcester started well and nearly went in front in the first few minutes, lock
ONE of the world's greatest entertainers will be starring on a Birmingham stage next month in the premiere of a new production of Scrooge. Tommy Steele, who has been there and done that all over the world, will be in the lead rolewhen this hit musical
WITH Christmas just around the corner, partygoers can pick up tips for seasonal looks at a beauty and fashion evening in Bromsgrove. The Hilton Hotel, in Birmingham Road, is hosting the glamorous event on November 6 to raise much-needed funds for Sunfield
SOME people are concerned about industrial unrest in this country. But if we join Europe there will be discontent like we have never experienced in most of our life times. The cost of living will soar and naturally everyone will require more money just
ENERGETIC walkers in Wychavon are invited to enjoy the Bosbury countryside next week. The Wychavon 50 plus walking group will be holding a seven-and-a-half-mile trek around Fromes Hill next Tuesday. Fellow ramblers can meet at the Droitwich Spa Leisure
RENE Loesaus (You Say, Thursday, September 11) is right to say that Sweden, like all the Scandinavian countries, pays the highest taxes in Europe, if not the world. So what? The Scandinavians have enjoyed standards of living among the highest in the world
There was a good attendance at the September meeting chaired by Dot Waldron, president. Several members travelled to Rubery for a showing of the film Calendar Girls. Pat Kay will be arranging the skittles matches for the coming season, happy in the knowledge
BUILDING work on a new locally situated and funded six-bedded Palliative Care Unit is set to begin in the next couple of weeks. Primrose at the Princess - the new unit at Bromsgrove's Princess of Wales' Community Hospital - will have a £100,000 commitment
VILLAGERS in Belbroughton will have something to crow about this weekend with the return of a popular annual fundraiser. Thousands of visitors are set to flock to the picturesque village for the fun-packed Scarecrow Event, this Saturday and Sunday, and
TINKER the runaway terrier has left a Bromsgrove woman heartbroken and pleading for his safe return. Phyllis Raybould said she hadn't been out of her town centre home for very long in the last 18 months because she didn't want to leave the tiny Yorkshire
LEISURE chiefs in Bromsgrove are looking for good sports men and women who are willing to teach others in their spare time. Coaches are needed for the district council's extensive and ambitious programme of sports activities. Cheryl Holder, the district
TRIBUTES have flooded in for Bromsgrove district councillor Terri Matthews, who died last Thursday. The highly respected Conservative councillor, who represented the Furlongs ward, died in hospital, aged 66, after a short illness. Councillor John Tidmarsh
OH how I laughed. And laughed and laughed - and then laughed some more. And so did everyone else in the theatre, proving just how successful this delightful show is. Ben Keaton and Joe Alessi are a comedy double act in the best traditions of the legendary
THREE senior district councillors have been suspended from the Bromsgrove Conservative Party for six months amid allegations that they 'flagrantly breached group rules'. The shock suspension of Councillors Nick Psirides, Ann Doyle and Dr Elizabeth Lammie
FIREFIGHTERS in Bromsgrove fear their numbers could be cut under plans to change the way they use the hydraulic platform which is housed at the station. The platform has been based at Windsor Street for the last five years and is one of the three "aerial
RESIDENTS are to be asked to approve a plan to close the dated and scruffy Rubery Clinic and move facilities to a more central site. Rubery Clinic was purpose built in 1965 at the end of a cul-de-sac adjacent to the former Callowbrook First School. But
A CLENT headteacher will mark his 20-year career at the helm of a special school by speaking at a conference in New Zealand. Professor Barry Carpenter, principal and chief executive of Sunfield School, is preparing to address the annual conference of
HUNDREDS turned out for talks to decide the future of a neglected Droitwich Spa beauty spot. Wychavon District Council's plans to improve Primsland Way open space went on show at the Spring Meadow Pub last Tuesday. Over the summer Worcestershire County
CARE staff caught up in a bitter row over new contracts have until the end of the week to indicate whether they will accept the new terms. Nearly 90 employees at Westmead residential care home in Droitwich and Breme residential care home in Bromsgrove
It was a case of no pain, no gain for members of a Cutnall Green tennis club who took part in a charity "waxathon". The fun-packed event took place after the summer tournament finals day, organised by members James Pardoe and Christopher Jones, both aged
Few trainers will ever set foot in a basketball court, a skating park or even the inside of a gym these days because sneakers are now more about boosting street cred than sporting prowess. The humble trainer has been transformed, over the last 30 years
AN action film to rival any others Cradle 2 The Grave follows thief Tony Fait (DMX) and Taiwanese government agent Su (Jet Li) as they team up to track down some mysterious black diamonds. After Fait and his crew bungle a well planned robbery - mainly
I FIND it amazing that David Bowie keeps on producing exciting, new material after all his years in the music business, but Reality is really, really good. Not as slick as last year's album Heathen, Bowie has gone back in style to his more exuberant,
THIS is a modern day Cinderella story. Beautiful but downtrodden hotel maid Marisa Ventura (Jennifer Lopez) dresses up in a Dolce and Gabanna outfit she finds in one of the rooms she is cleaning. Then filthy rich senator-in-the-making Christopher Marshall
SPIRITS are high after our superb win against Bath City and it was the perfect way to sign off league action for two weeks. Thumping seven past the Romans was just the tonic we needed ahead of our FA Cup clash with Nuneaton Borough and the most pleasing
A DISABLED Redditch teenager had his dream come true when he escorted his favourite football team onto the pitch before taking three penalties against legendary goalie David Seaman. Avid Aston Villa fan Tim Craythorne, who suffers from a bone crumbling
AN open verdict has been recorded into the death of a Church Hill man whose decomposing body was found in a cupboard. Simon Leslie Astill, 33, was found in his Knowle Close flat by his friend Stuart Baraclough on August 17, an inquest at Stourport Coroner's
What's in it for us as a community? I am not currently in receipt of concessionary bus travel. Does this mean Council Leader Gavin Smithers will not treat my concerns over his bus pass-grabbing policy as selfishness on my part, as he suggests in the last
PAT Lyons has set his sights on an FA Cup goal at Nuneaton to spare himself further stick from his Worcester City team-mates. The midfielder came in for some flak from his team-mates after spurning a couple of good chances in their 7-0 thrashing of Bath
BUBBLY TV star Rustie Lee will be demonstrating her Caribbean cookery skills at the Palace Theatre next month. The Alcester Street venue is showing romantic comedy Love and Marriage and New York City on Friday and Saturday, October 10 and 11 for Black
I FEEL compelled to write because I am outraged at the way our children are being treated by bus company First. My daughter has just started high school at Kingsley College and uses local transport because I believe children should (wherever possible)
I ARRIVED in Redditch to shop in the Kingfisher Centre, only to find the specially adapted disabled parking facility had been overrun by a funfair - with a tatty notice saying 'ring this number'. This is hardly helping the disabled, especially without
ROYALTY came to town last week when HRH The Duke Of Gloucester presented a Redditch company with a prestigious award and officially opened the new magistrates court building. Arrowvale Electronics received the Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation
WOODFIELD Middle School is a 'good and effective school where all pupils achieve well', according to Ofsted inspectors. A team of 13 inspectors visited the school and a recent report commended the leadership of the headteacher, governors and key staff
The sun shone yet again on the society's outing on September 13, this time to Ironbridge. Some members intended to visit all of the sites but the Victorian village at Bliss Hill was so fascinating, no-one got any further. After a leisurely walk through
At the first meeting of the new season, members heard the history of the local parish of Sambourne from member John Yates. John has spent some years researching the story of the village he lives in, a project which he started when walking the lanes and
THE September meeting was presided over by Jeanne Bovett, standing in for president Ann Thurrell, who was attending a family graduation ceremony. As no meetings were held in August, there was much correspondence to deal with. Reports were given on a recent
PRESIDENT Sue Canfield welcomed members and visitors to the first meeting after the summer break. Reports were given on various outings that had taken place over the last few weeks, in particular the Almost August outing, which had been a great success
IN THE absence of the President the chair was taken by Janet Cottrill who reported that the August visit to Bridges Restaurant had been much enjoyed. There had been a pleasant evening ramble on another evening from the Fish at Wixford and others were
A NUMBER of developers have offered to buy a piece of land in Redditch worth £2 million despite plans for a mosque to be built on it. Members of the Redditch New Mosque Project have been approached by a number of agents asking to buy the land in Smallwood
VARIOUS news items were discussed at the September meeting. There had been a meeting of the group presidents and secretaries and the making of a group banner was discussed. There will be a group Christmas celebration in December. Kingfisher will have
OAK Hill First School pupils recently attended the launch of the Children's Fund at Worcester Rugby Club. Organisers want to attract groups from Batchley, Lodge Park and Smallwood in particular to access funds and run projects on behalf of the fund. Following
SPEAKER at the September 10 meeting was Jane Farrington, who spoke about porcelain dolls and the making of them. Jane lived in Stratford where her late husband, Councillor Kenneth Farrington, was mayor and Jane his mayoress in 1991-92. She has three children
AN EXHIBITION of prints is on display at Hollywood Library, May Lane, at the moment covering a number of different subjects. New members and visitors are welcome to meetings on Wednesday evenings at 8pm in the darts room, Wythall Community Association
BUILDING work on Tardebigge Community Hall is forging ahead with the roof of the building about to go on. But fundraisers for the hall cannot rest yet as escalating building costs mean there is still another £50,000 to raise for the project. The hall
A REDDITCH man has helped forge even closer links between Redditch and its twin town of Auxerre in France after celebrating his first wedding anniversary with a woman he met through the twinning association. Cycling enthusiast Derek Harriman, who recently
AN expert from Germany has been enlisted by a group of Alcester residents to talk about the potential health hazards of Tetra phone masts. On Tuesday, expert guest speaker Dr Gerard Hyland, executive member of the International Institute of Biophysics
IF every picture tells a story, then there is a group of people from Studley and Cookhill who are up there with the likes of Hans Christian Anderson, Charles Dickens and the Bronte sisters. The Cookhill and Studley Camera Club was established in 1961
THE history of the police force in and around Redditch is the subject of an appeal for information. Town entertainer and former special constable Colin Wheeler, of Mount Pleasant, is compiling a history of the local constabulary. Mr Wheeler said: "I'm
A NEW initiative to make life easier for blind and partially sighted people has been launched in Redditch. Debenhams, Yates's, The Litten Tree, Poppins, Burger King and the NEW College restaurant are providing Braille and large print menus for visually
PLANS for Alcester's new community sports hall have been given the go-ahead by councillors. The Arden area planning committee gave the thumbs-up to the £2 million sports hall plans for the Alcester Grammar School site on Thursday. Alcester Grammar headteacher
TWO Bidford residents will be vying for a position on the parish council next week. The council is a member short after the departure of Sonia Blick, who resigned earlier this month as she is moving away from the village. Christine Getgood and John Sandle
ROTARY International's HQ in Alcester will be holding a butterfly tea party today in aid of the Association of Children's Hospices (ACH). The town branch, in Kinwarton Road, has organised the party from 3pm in association with the Acorns Hospice in Selly
THINGS are bubbling along at double the pace for an independent brewery that has expanded its production facility. The Teme Valley Brewery, in Knightwick, near Worcester, has doubled output, to 720 gallons a week, after two new fermenting vessels were
A CORONER has recorded a verdict of accidental death after a Winyates Green man received multiple injuries when he was hit by a van in January. Peter Anthony Murray, 41, from Illshaw Close, was walking in the middle of a slip road on the Coventry Highway
THE Palace Theatre is to embark on one of its 'most exciting projects to date' with the staging of Love and Marriage and New York City. Coming direct from sell-out successes in Jamaica and America, David Heron's award-winning production is described as
TOMMY Wilson's fun fair made its annual pilgrimage to Redditch at the weekend. Mr Wilson's fair, which has been in his family for generations, filled most of the town centre with rides and stalls. On Friday, he invited disabled adults and children to
IT'S been four years since Redditch last held its traditional carnival procession, which used to see crowds of residents thronging the streets. Sadly, the procession is now just a memory, though the annual Wilson's Funfair continues. But for those who
A PAIR of drumsticks once owned by legendary Led Zeppelin drummer and Redditch man John Bonham are expected to fetch £2,000 at an auction at Sotheby's today. The signed sticks were given to a Kidderminster woman who knew the band in the early 70s. Bonham
ALCOHOLISM is a mental and physical illness which affects not only the drinker but everyone around them. Families can be torn apart, people can become homeless and crimes can become a way of life as a direct result of being an alcoholic. Twice a week,
MORE than 80 people joined an anti-war protest yesterday to oppose a conference in Malvern examining latest developments in battlefield communications technology. Members of Worcester for Peace Group, formerly Worcester Stop the War Coalition armed with
BOUNCERS in Worcester will have to be included on a national register as part of new Government rules to keep tabs on the industry. Door staff have been strictly regulated by the city council and police since 1998 and the partnership has kept the city
THE family of suicide victim Karen Meadows hopes that other families will never have to share their experiences because of the current mental health laws. The 28-year-old's family has always believed that she should have been sectioned because of previous
WAITING times at Worcestershire Royal Hospital this week topped the three-hour mark, as ambulances were delayed in dropping patients off and doctors treated people in corridors. Some ambulances had to wait in two-hour-long queues outside the accident
A MALVERN man has been named as the victim in a road crash on a notorious stretch of road. David Pitchford, aged 40, of Malvern, was pronounced dead at the scene after his car left the road near Newtown Cross, near Hereford, on Sunday morning. He had
A CAR owner has received the latest in windscreen technology, after winning an Evening News competition. Diana Wyllie, from Barbourne, Worcester, can now drive safely without the glare of the sun, thanks to the latest tint technology. Bekaert Speciality
A TUNEFUL town choir is set to perform a musical extravaganza for charity next month. The Primrose Choir is busily rehearsing for its popular annual Proms concert at the Spadesbourne Suite on Saturday, October 18. Land of Hope and Glory and Jerusalem
ROMANTIC residents are invited to an enchanting evening of music and poetry in aid of charity this weekend. Blackwell woman Janet King is helping organise the Love Makes the World Go Round concert in aid of international charity UNICEF. The harmonious
RURAL residents have been saving petrol - and the environment - by taking advantage of an evening bus run by parish councils. Parish councillors in Martley, Wichenford, Grimley, Hallow, Lower Broadheath and Rushwick put in a joint bid to the Countryside
WIT, wisdom and wonderful music will be the recipe for success at a meeting of Bromsgrove Folk Club tomorrow (Thursday). Scottish artist Robin Laing will be entertaining folk fans with his superb songs at The Ladybird Inn, in Finstall Road, Aston Fields
THE big red bird in the sky just became bigger. Because the County Air Ambulance has taken delivery of a new Eurocopter EC135 helicopter to fly out of its base alongside the M5 motorway at Strensham. It replaces a Messerschmitt Bolkow 105 DBS and while
HUNDREDS turned out for talks to decide the future of a neglected Droitwich beauty spot. Wychavon District Council's plans to improve Primsland Way open space went on show at the Spring Meadow Pub. Over the summer Worcestershire County Council asked 970
A VICIOUS nightclub attack has left a man blind in one eye. Police are appealing for information after a 41-year-old Birmingham man lost his sight after being hit with a bottle. The incident occurred outside Redwoods nightclub, Dixon Street, Kidderminster
FOUR men appeared before Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday jointly charged with affray. Matthew Lambert, aged 25, of Eymore Wood, Trimpley, Bewdley, Christopher Jones, 26, of Blakebrook, Kidderminster and Joseph Harrison, 20, and Matthew Phillips,
ENFORCEMENT officers in Malvern have been given stronger powers to combat illegal imports of exotic food from other parts of the world. It follows fears that more sophisticated tastes encouraged by easier foreign travel may have created a ready market
A 12-year-old girl managed to struggle free after being attacked by a man as she walked along a footpath between Greenlands and Lodge Park on Friday evening. The assault happened between the junction of Wirehill Drive and Oakenshaw Road between 7-8pm
BOSSES at Alvechurch FC are hoping to safeguard the club's future - by buying their Lye Meadow ground. The Birmingham Road premises are up for auction next week and Alvechurch vice-chairman Fred Evans said hopes were high that directors of the club could
CHANGES to the Alexandra Hospital's special care baby unit will be made on October 6 - despite fears the move could eventually lead to the whole maternity unit being closed. The final decision came last week after the new chief executive of Worcestershire
THE Alexandra Hospital's League of Friends will receive a £500 cash boost when the new Tesco Express store opens in Lodge Park next week. Friends' chairman Pat Hadley will cut the ribbon at 10.30am and a cheque presentation will take place as part of
AS a young Birmingham City player in the early 1990s David Foy had it drummed into him the importance of possession. Anyone at St George's Lane on Saturday, in fact at any match that Foy plays in, will recognise those lessons have been taken to heart.
Redditch United manager Rod Brown breathed a huge sigh of relief after seeing his side grab a last-gasp winner against fellow high-fliers Rugby United at the Valley Stadium last night. The Reds boss had seen his team's 100 per cent start to the season
Versatile Hinton began his career at right-back before reverting to a centre-half role during the Conference championship-winning season. The change of position proved the making of the former Birmingham City trainee who was once rated at £1 million and
Impressed on trial with Harriers during pre-season and signed a one-year deal before the start of the 2003/04 season. Started his career as a young professional at Coventry but was not given a first-team debut for the then-Premiership club. The promising
The Cork-born defender showed promise at Kidderminster during a 2002/03 loan spell where he played 15 Division Three games. It was well timed for Coleman as he was released from Wolverhampton Wanderers at the end of the campaign after being confined to
After starting off as a trainee at Liverpool, Williams was released at the age of 19 to return to his native Wrexham. The Wales U-21 international played on-off for the Second Division club but made a good impression with many for his uncompromising style
Feckenham claimed their sixth straight win at the weekend but manager Lee Adams is taking nothing for granted as he gears up for back-to-back battles against two of the toughest sides in the Icis Midland Combination Premier Division. The Millers were
BIRMINGHAM Royal Ballet opens its autumn season with The Immortals triple bill at Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday, followed next Wednesday by classic romantic ballet Giselle. The Immortals contains two company premieres and a world premiere of a
Andy Hibbert is looking forward to a hectic few days as he looks to lift his side following Saturday's FA Vase defeat at the hands of Central Midlands Supreme Division side Heanor Town. Church went down 1-0 in Derbyshire but Hibbert says it is more important
Alvechurch goalkeeper Andy Harper was taken to hospital after collapsing to the floor during his side's 2-1 defeat at home by Causeway United last night. The Lye Meadow stopper punched clear a cross late in the match and then fell to the floor. Play was
THE Palace Theatre goes back in time when The Ultimate 60's Show rolls into Redditch on Saturday evening. Presented by the Imposters, the show includes music by sixties greats such as The Who, The Beatles, Cliff and the Shadows, The Dave Clark Five, The
WES Davies believes his move to Sixways can ignite his international career. The former Wales rugby league star made the switch back to union this week with Worcester and is already setting his sights on the international stage. The grandson of rugby
Grosvenor Vikings were one of the giant killers in the first round of the Worcester & District Skittle League Team Knockout Cup. Vikings of Division Four played Division Two side Poachers on the Coppertops and despite losing the first two legs managed
PAT Lyons has set his sights on an FA Cup goal at Nuneaton to spare himself further stick from his Worcester City team-mates. The midfielder came in for some flak from his team-mates after spurning a couple of good chances in their 7-0 thrashing of Bath
FORMER Wales international Ryan Green struck in the third minute of stoppage-time to fire table-topping Hereford United to a dramatic 2-1 win last night over Telford United at Edgar Street in the Nationwide Conference. The right-back ran on to an audacious
THIS year's Battle of Britain parade in Bromsgrove was larger and more impressive than ever before, despite some organisations being under represented. The parade marched through the town to the parish church for a special service. A DISPLAY of some 700
THE "bathing season" was in full swing in Droitwich. Most of the Spa's premier hotels were bursting at the seams with titled guests from all over Britain who had journeyed to Droitwich to take the waters. AN auction of personal items owned by the six
DEAR EDITOR -- As a young 81 and three-quarters, may I add my two-penny worth on the question of how to deal with the ageing process. We seniors - after all, in most cases, are far from helpless, and want to remain in our own homes as long as possible
DEAR EDITOR -- For years we have seen MPs voting (by huge majorities) on behalf of their constituents to ban the so-called 'sport' of hunting with dogs, and for years the House of Lords has obstructed the progress of such legislation. Two months ago the
DEAR EDITOR -- The organisers of the North Worcestershire Bikeathon held on Sunday, September 14, would like to thank everyone who helped to make this event such a great success. We would particularly like to thank our main sponsor Regal Garage, Bromsgrove
DEAR EDITOR -- As far as I am aware the current refuse collection specification in Bromsgrove is to take one dustbin to the gate, to empty it, then to return it to its original location. Under the new scheme - as I understand it - the householder has
DEAR EDITOR -- My wife and I went to the new Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham, having rung up the night before to order a mobility scooter for her to ride around on as she is disabled. The instructions we were given over the telephone were such
DEAR EDITOR -- How much did the flowerbed - the traffic island - off St John's Court Nursing Home in Bromsgrove cost? I saw two men working on it for about four weeks. Surely the cost of it could have been better used repairing the many potholes around
DEAR EDITOR - So, Mr Bateman has at last come clean on the precept figure he and other members of the Anti Parish Council Group have been using to mislead and to frighten the electorate of Lickey End into voting for them at the two Parish Council elections
Redditch Exiles 29 Bournville 12 Each season the boys in pink ask themselves just how good they are and how would they get on if they were playing league rugby. Last Saturday those questions were answered, they would certainly hold their own in North
A TALENTED town snapper shows off the intricate design and bright colours of a handful of jelly babies in a new art exhibition. Graham Jordan, of Bantmill Road, puts a range of household objects under the microscope with dramatic results in an exhibition
Wednesday, September 24 Show: Forces Sweethearts, Palace Theatre, Alcester Street, Redditch, 7.30pm. Show: Umoja, Alexandra Theatre, Station Road, Birmingham. Until Saturday. Ballet: The Immortals, Hippodrome Theatre, Hurst Street, Birmingham. Until Saturday
I FEEL compelled to write to you having just read your article on long-serving council employees (Evening News, Thursday, September 18). While I have nothing but admiration for the people mentioned in your article, I would like to point out that my father
The September meeting opened with the singing of Jerusalem, with Sue Kirby our president, welcoming the members after the summer break. The minutes, read by secretary Marge Colvin, were approved and signed, apologies were received and birthday wishes
Nancy Davis welcomed members and speakers to the September meeting, which was well attended. The Colgrave outing on August 5 was fairly well supported. Although it was a hot day, those attending enjoyed the colourful displays, flower arranging demonstrations
WHY doesn't the county council quit while they can? Their fairy tales become more outrageous by the day. The whole of St John's knows that last week's story about building a new CWHS themselves is a deliberate attempt to mislead the planning inspector
The society's annual Summer Show was held in Wychbold Village Hall at the end of August, with entries in the classes being of the customary high standard and reflecting the special care and attention given to them by the exhibitors. The following awards
E W Carr's should do some intelligent research before putting pen to paper. If so, then he would discover that Ted Heath and Britain did not sign up for the Treaty of Rome way back in March, 1957. Regarding Marshall Aid, chewing gum and Hollywood movies
August is always an eventful month for Fairfield WI. Saturday, August 9, saw the ninth annual produce show to be held at the village hall. All exhibits were staged during the morning and judging followed. The event was then formally opened to the public
AFTER reading A Cook's letter (You Say, Wednesday, September) I now realise why hunting should continue - because God approves! I must admit it really gave me a good laugh reading this letter. So, having run out of valid reasons as to why they should
A BAD sign at Bromsgrove's new station car park has left grammatical visitors pondering a misplaced apostrophe. Motorists with a keen eye for the English language have been faced with a glaring mistake under the list of parking restrictions. On the third
STUDENTS took a walk on the wild side when they participated in an exciting art project. Around 60 pupils at South Bromsgrove High were given the chance to work with professional artist Philip Cox, who creates life-size sculptures of people and animals
THE Minor Injuries Unit at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bromsgrove, which was to be axed to save cash, is to remain open. Members of the Bromsgrove and Redditch Primary Care Trust voted to keep the unit open at a meeting yesterday (Tuesday). The
AROUND 60 people gathered outside the lido to call on the council to re-open it. Pressure group, Save Our Lido (SALT) headed Saturday morning's demonstration in the Lido Park, off Worcester Road. The original plan to turn Droitwich's open air pool into
TWO Droitwich Spa High School students put their best foot forward for charity at the weekend. Stuart Brooks and Andy Hall were among the 47,000 people competing in the televised Great North Run in Newcastle, Gateshead and South Shields last Sunday. The
Three teenagers who robbed a 15-year-old schoolboy on a bus between Redditch and Bromsgrove have been sentenced to nearly nine years' youth custody. Victim Jonathan Kennedy was punched in the face and ordered to hand over £2. Another passenger, Barry
A RETAIL study of Bromsgrove town centre, which is set to cost £35,000, will not contain details of any development on the Rovers football ground. The Victoria ground is currently at the centre of a fierce row over whether it should be redeveloped. But
GREEN fingered townsfolk were praised for their efforts in a popular gardening competition. Richard Webb of Webbs of Wychbold presented prizes to the winners of the annual Spa Housing Association Sheltered Housing Schemes in Bloom contest. He congratulated
A FORMER councillor and school governor's confession to collecting indecent pictures of children has astonished the community. Married father-of-two, Keith Rogers from Birch Coppice, Droitwich pleaded guilty to down loading the pictures after police found
PLANS to build 48 houses on green belt land in Stoke Prior have been hit by a storm of opposition from local villagers. Residents from Fish House Lane have formed an action group to fight proposals to build on the land Avoncroft Cattle Breeders are selling
PICTURES by one of the country's most popular artists are now on display at Droitwich library. David Hockney's drawings inspired by the tales of the Brothers Grimm have arrived at the library from the Haywood Gallery on London's South Bank. Various pictures
A TOWN leader has slammed a report scrutinising the condition of the Spa's car parks. Parking in Droitwich was reviewed at Wychavon's Overview and Scrutiny committee meeting on Tuesday, September 9. The report produced by the car parking scrutiny team
MORE than one hundred competitors from all over the country turned out for the annual hedging and ploughing match in Droitwich. Vintage tractor and commercial tractor ploughing drew large crowds of visitors from all over the district last Thursday. Others
SCORES of Spa residents turned out to pay their last respects to a former town mayor. The memory of church organist Reginald Pearson was honoured at a memorial service at St Peter's Church on Sunday. A former county councillor, Mr Pearson had more than
Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham (Runs until Saturday) JUDGING by the rapturous applause that punctuated the whole of Monday night's show, hardly a soul could have been untouched by Umoja's spirit of togetherness. This dynamo of a show is a glorious celebration
Fortunately many of us rarely come into contact with the police. We base our knowledge on television police shows investigating drug dealing, robbery or murder. What about the unspoken crimes? Domestic violence is still very much a taboo subject. Many
IT'S a gamble that people may well wonder 'who?' when an artist embarks on a comeback after being absent from the album charts for so long. It's been over 10 years since Seal arrived on the music scene with the vocals to Adamski's techno tune Killer.
Saturday, September 20, 2003 CARL Heeley will probably need to pinch himself to make sure Saturday's Roy of the Rovers' exploits were not just a dream so if City's captain is reading - yes you did score a hat-trick and yes Bath were indeed blitzed for
A DISTRAUGHT mother has appealed to the hit-and-run driver who left her 12-year-old son lying in the road with serious injuries. Todd Morgan was yesterday drifting in and out of consciousness at the Alexandra Hospital after undergoing several operations
Monday, September 1, 2003 CITY bounced back from Saturday's crushing de-feat at Crawley with a slightly flattering victory against Hinckley United last night. Goals in either half from defenders Jon Holloway and Allan Davies settled an intrigu-ing encounter
I WAS very pleased to see such a good turnout at the demonstration outside Redditch Town Hall on Friday morning. The crowd left no one in doubt about their disgust at the proposal to do away with free bus passes for the elderly and disabled. I was there
REDDITCH has the highest number of serious fires across the whole of Hereford and Worcestershire, recent figures have revealed. The news comes as plans were announced for a major shake-up of the service, which will be presented to townsfolk during a huge
ABOUT 500 angry pensioners and disabled residents descended on the town hall on Friday to protest against a decision to scrap their free bus travel after 20 years. Protesters have pledged to take drastic steps if the decision is not overturned at the
Three teenagers who robbed a 15-year-old schoolboy on a bus between Redditch and Bromsgrove have been sentenced to nearly nine years' youth custody. Victim Jonathan Kennedy was punched in the face and ordered to hand over £2. Another passenger, Barry
A motorist hit two cars and injured a resident after a row blew up over parking outside a block of flats. When Anthony Ward went to visit a friend in Upton Close, Winyates, his Metro blocked in Patricia Allen, who suffers from a heart complaint. She spoke
TOUGH decisions must be faced up to in politics and the Liberal Democrat group had to make a tough decision over the concessionary fares scheme. Why? Because the bus service in Redditch is in crisis. Without positive action, all bus routes except for
HOW envious must the much-maligned market traders be on seeing Redditch town centre's prime position being occupied for the best part of a week by the annual interloper of a funfair. How many of us living in this town, I wonder, actually welcome this
Has the council finally heard the plight of the struggling Redditch market traders and re-located them - in Headless Cross? Yesterday, as I returned from a woodland ceremony in Warwickshire, I noted that the throughfare of Evesham Road was closed for,
LIKE your correspondent (Advertiser, September 10) I am not a member of the Something for Nothing Brigade and would be quite willing to pay a reasonable contribution to the cost of a bus pass, with one or two provisos: That we get a regular and reliable
IT was a very sad day for a lot of us when Albert Wharrad lost his position as Council Leader in Redditch. It didn't take the present Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors very long to show their true colours and intentions. No doubt they all
I AM devastated and quite honestly worried about my own future if the Redi Centre closes. I started going there five years ago on the recommendation of my social worker. I have multiple sclerosis, which has affected my confidence, my physical abilities
COUNCILLOR Gavin Smithers gives the impression that pensioners will flock back to the buses once concessionary passes are abolished or reduced. I regularly use public transport and know a lot of pensioners who depend entirely on the bus. I must confess
THE choir has begun its autumn and winter sessions, rehearsing and working towards various engagements, including the British Legion Remembrance Concert and a busy Christmas programme. It is particularly looking for extra second sopranos and first altos
STUDLEY pooch Willow is preparing for Studley Parish Church's annual animal blessing service. The popular service normally sees all creatures great and small packed into the church with their owners to be blessed. The service is at the Castle Road church
THE September meeting went a bit wild for once. Peter Sheasby, speaking authoritatively on British wildflowers, held the audience enthralled as he showed them slides of some of the ever-decreasing species in this country. He toured habitats from woodland
THE September meeting was a good time to catch up with friends after the summer break. Speaker John Todd is a volunteer for the Acorns Children's Hospice. He has been involved with the hospice for 11 years and told members about a new one that is being
IN August, Robert Bearman, archivist at the Shakespeare Trust, spoke about the Verney family of Compton Verney. Sixteen generations of Verneys lived there until the estates were sold in 1921. Richard Verney bought land in Warwickshire in 1435. He had
SUPPORT and help is to be offered to potential police officers from the Asian community in an attempt to get at least three ethnic minority beat bobbies walking the streets of Redditch. A project to raise awareness and change attitudes among the Asian
PRESIDENT Jenny Cox welcomed members and a visitor, Mrs Sarah Gordon, to the meeting. As there had been no meeting in August quite an amount of correspondence had accumulated. Assistant secretary Miriam Tilt read through it and in particular, members
AN annual cultural day to celebrate the Pakistan community in Redditch attracted more than 250 people. Singers, speakers and workshops entertained visitors throughout the day-long event at the Ecumenical Centre (above). The occasion, heralded a great
THERE was a lot of fun for freshers at NEW College when a day of events was held to welcome the students to further education. The aim was to get people used to the college and to encourage students' social development. Events included a gladiator duel
THE Redditch and Alcester group has reformed as an official support group for the continually expanding Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. Meetings will continue to be held in Studley every month during the autumn, winter and spring months and a programme
AFTER a successful summer programme of outdoor visits to photograph various local churches both inside and out, the Chartist Cottages at Bromsgrove and Arrow Valley Lake, the society opened its winter programme with an enjoyable social evening on September
"Oh no not again!" everyone shrieked. Five minutes into the start of the meeting the lights in the hotel fused again. The hotel immediately provided emergency lighting but fortunately the room was lit soon after. As always, members continued without wavering
President Jill Warner congratulated members on their fund-raising efforts throughout August. The Wythall Carnival had been very successful despite thunderstorms and the books, cakes and craft stalls had all been very popular. Thanks went to Anne Laugharne
A 42-year-old man was found dead on a boat on the Birmingham to Worcester canal near Alvechurch on Saturday. Police officers were called at about 11.30am after a member of the public discovered the body of Andrew Leonard Bonner, of Tindal Street, Balsall
STUDLEY pooch Willow is preparing for Studley Parish Church's annual animal blessing service. The popular service normally sees all creatures great and small packed into the church with their owners to be blessed. The service is at the Castle Road church
ALL eyes will be on Bidford at the end of the year when the first two CCTV cameras are due to be installed. Stratford Council is hoping to put the cameras in High Street and they will be operated from Stratford. Parish council clerk Elizabeth Kidner said
BIDFORD Parish Council has come into the 21st century with a new website. The site, created by Redditch-based webmaster Tony Jay, includes a history of the village as well as parish events, details on the Crawford Hall and the B50 appraisal group. Bidford
THIS year's Alvechurch Alight festival was a blazing success . The event began with a Bavarian beer festival at Alvechurch Cricket Club. On Saturday there were circus skills and a 'storytime' at Alvechurch Library with a guest appearance by Magic Bob.
THE state-of-the-art Bidford library will be celebrating its first birthday on Tuesday with the news that it has brought in more than 500 new members. The Bramley Way library, which was built as part of a £2 million project with the new village primary
A SPONSORED horse riding event in aid of the British Red Cross will be held at Ragley Hall on Sunday. The first 13-mile trek through the countryside starts at 9.15am with the last one at 2.15pm and riders will be able to start at any point during these
HIGH street retailer Ciro Citterio has gone into administration. Ten stores in the West Midlands are affected, including the one in Worcester's CrownGate Shopping Centre, which employs five people, and the Kidderminster store, also employing five people
AN old Studley pub could be demolished to make way for sheltered housing for the elderly. Developers McCarthy and Stone propose to demolish the Duke of Malborough Pub in Alcester Road and in the process create a three-storey building for elderly residents
September 22, 1978 A plan to ban all dogs from the new town shopping centre has been shelved by Redditch councillors after it was described as being 'too like Russia'. The council will now get together with Redditch Development Corporation for further
September 25, 1953 Twenty four hours after the 23rd annual Redditch Carnival closed on Saturday evening, it was known that record takings had been obtained in at least two spheres although they were slightly lower in other respects. This was in spite
