CLARE Teal has been described as a major star with "an extraordinary voice, the ability to write songs that promise to become classics and a wonderfully sharp wit." Following two previous outstanding performances at Malvern Theatres, Clare returns on
Thursday, June 2 Dancing in the Streets, Birmingham Hippodrome. Until June 4. Tickets from 0870 730 1234. The Unexpected Man, Festival Theatre, Malvern. Until June 4. Tickets from 01684 892277. All and Sundry: The Pied Piper, Artrix Theatre, Bromsgrove
Wednesday, June 1 Show: Pied Piper, All and Sundry Theatre Group, Artrix, School Drive, Bromsgrove, 7.30pm. Music: Time Enough, Hop Pole Inn, Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove. Thursday, June 2 Music: Free Spirit, Hop Pole Inn, Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove.
THE faint-hearted should keep away from Birmingham's Repertory Theatre, when a "bloodcurdlingly brilliant" new version of Bram Stoker's Dracula opens on Tuesday. Written in 1897, the novel of "sexual repression and Gothic terror" with its story's epic
MUSICAL poet and folk singer Donovan appears at Stratford's Civic Hall on Monday as part of his 40th anniversary tour. Donovan first came to prominence at the age of just 18 in 1965 with his debut single Catch the Wind. The song won the Ivor Novello award
AVONCROFT Museum of Historic Buildings will host an evening with Carl Chinn. The Black Country and Birmingham radio presenter and historian will be speaking in the Guesten Hall on Thursday, June 9. Social and working life in the area will be up for discussion
It'll be a laugh a minute this summer as Jongleurs Comedy Club brings two more shows to Malvern on June 9 and July 21. Being Victor Borge on July 16 is a tribute to this brilliant pianist and virtuoso comedian by the highly acclaimed entertainer Rainer
THIS is a tale about wine but, more importantly, it explores the disastrous effects of its over-consumption. Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church star as college friends Miles and Jack, who resolve to spend a week touring the Californian wine region
THE words ''it's not clever and it's not funny'' have never been so apt. This time, Greg (Ben Stiller) takes his fiance (Teri Polo) and her ultra straight-laced parents (Robert De Niro and Blythe Danner) to meet his rather more liberal mum and dad (Barbra
THE medley relay team from Bromsgrove School was in the swim by clinching a title at the Otter Public School Championships at the Whitgift School, London. The team smashed the school record by nine seconds in the final of the 4x100 metre medley relay
A QUARTET from Bromsgrove RFC suffered heartache at Twickenham as North Midlands were beaten 20-13 by Hertfordshire on Sunday. The regional side, containing Bromsgrove players Jon Taylor, Richard Arnold, James Lloyd-Jones and Dan Ott, staged a daring
KIDDERMINSTER Victoria firsts and seconds are second in their respective Birmingham League divisions after a productive Bank Holiday weekend. The firsts slipped up with a losing draw at home to Water Orton in Division One on Saturday but bounced back
BEWDLEY emerged pointless from their losing draw with Division One leaders Kington after entering the match with a depleted attack. Andy Hartley and Simon Smith dropped both the visitors' openers early on with the batsmen going on to score half centuries
SIMON Cook hit a superb 97, and Nick Turner 80, to put Spennells back on the top of the Wilden Industrial Estates Sunday Cricket League, with a 79-run victory over Hartlebury. Phil Williams was the Wednesday League's top scorer with 95 for Stourport as
A BROMSGROVE band will pay tribute to the Beatles this month. Reflections will play the band's hits at the Swan Inn, Upton Warren, on Saturday, June 18 - the birthday of Sir Paul McCartney.
SHOP owners and residents are being urged to register their CCTV systems so the police could have more evidence if a crime is committed nearby. And at the same time private camera owners are warned to make sure their equipment does not fall foul of the
DROITWICH is gearing up for the 2005 Sounds Music Festival. This year's event will run from July 3 to July 15 and offer a wide variety of music. The thirteen-day festival has 33 events booked with 14 different participating venues in and around the town
VOLUNTEERS across Worc-estershire who assist the National Trust in its gardens, historic houses and countryside properties are being thanked for all their hard work during National Volunt-eers Week this week. Throughout the county, residents are volunteering
NEW laws aimed at ending disputes over high hedges have come into force - but Worcester City Council has been criticised for charging £300 to hear complaints. Households responsible for tall trees and shrubs that blight neighbours' lives could be fined
POPULAR Hollyoaks star Marcus Patric will be raising the temperature in Worcester when he pays a visit to a city nightspot. The actor - who plays fireman Ben Davies in the Channel Four soap - will be at Tramps Nightclub on Thursday, June 9. Clubbers voting
A HEADTEACHER has condemned new licensing laws which, he claims, will encourage under-age students to sneak out to pubs. Hugh Carson, headmaster of Malvern College, hit out at guidelines due to come into force in August banning boarding schools from serving
TEACHING seems to be one of the hardest jobs around these days. It must be worse than being an entertainer in a northern club. If it goes well, fine. If not... hecklers, drunks or worse. Having said that, I don't recall reading of shoot-outs in front
WITH the US Masters about to tee off next week, golfing fans will be trying to curb their growing excitement while those not so keen on the sport may be yawning at the prospect. But is the world of golf merely 18 holes followed by a whiskey and cigar
SWITCH on the news and it's always crime, crime, crime. With headline horror stories such as the man hacked to death by an axe-wielder on a affluent London street, it's no wonder we're all so terrified. There are constant calls for more bobbies on our
I ALWAYS look forward to World Book Day. This is the day when authors and illustrators like me come out of their holes like moles, blinking in the sunlight and feel suddenly needed, and, dare I say it, important. We're called upon to talk about the wonder
The attention of the world is rightly focussed on the awful impact of the tsunami in Asia. There must be very few people who do not feel huge sympathy for the nations, communities, families and individuals who have been affected. The scale of the generosity
THERE will be General Election this year, probably in May. It is becoming increasingly difficult to classify your average British voter these days. As recently as a few years ago, the battle lines were well marked out with clearly defined ideological
WYTHALL residents have been given a pat on the back by police after an "outstanding" year that saw a fall in crime. The statistics, published in a recent issue of internal police magazine Force, revealed total recorded crime in Wythall dropped by 16 per
Is this the rape of our rights? A BURGLAR breaks into your home and you take him on. Upstairs, your wife and daughters are huddled in a corner, quaking with fear. How much force do you use against the criminal? The politicians have been debating this
A £1million sports development in Batchley suffered a set back following a suspected arson attack in the early hours of Monday morning. Fire ravaged a fence and a shed at the Redditch Cricket, Hockey and Rugby Club, quickly spreading to the back of the
REDDITCH Magistrates have fined two residents for benefit fraud after prosecutions bought by the council. Darrell Baldwin, 30, of Winyates, pleaded guilty to two offences of fraudulently claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit between January
FOR A-level students across Worcestershire and Herefordshire, yesterday was a day of drama, relief, tears and excitement. Years of hard work finally paid off, giving Britain's schools and colleges the highest pass rate after the 22nd consecutive year
This week the state once again intervened in the argument as to whether it is right that we should smack our children. The House of Lords voted against a reform, which would outlaw smacking and it has led to a healthy debate in the national media. National
THIEVES made off with titanium worth £50,000 from Mettis Aerospace, Windsor Road, Enfield. The raiders are thought to have approached the unit via farmland. A flat-bed lorry is believed to have been used in the raid between May 20-22.Anyone with information
IT'S a strange kind of limbo, this in-between time. Christmas feels as if it's over, but of course, there is still lots to come. The lull will last all this week. And then a slumbering, bloated and Yuled-out nation will once again explode into life with
MY first editor was a well-spoken, tweed-suited English gentleman who was the very personification of politeness and fair play. A former prisoner in one of the Stalags during the Second World War, he rarely used Christian names, instead preferring the
THE co-ordinator of Worcestershire's Fathers-4-Justice campaign, Terry Hunt, is one of many who feel the actions of protester Ron Davies have raised the group's profile in a positive way. Forty-four-year-old Mr Davies said he was prompted to hurl powder-filled
I SUPPOSE it was someone, somewhere, who coined that hardy perennial about life being short. Perhaps it was the caveman about to be speared by the tusks of a woolly mammoth, who, on account of not being driven over the cliff, had decided to wreak his
AFTER six years of planning and building, a new Acorns hospice in Worcester for seriously ill children is to open its doors to families for the first time - thanks to you. Years of fund-raising by literally thousands of Worcestershire residents now means
JUST days after picking up a top award, Redditch United winger Simon Hollis has walked out on the Nationwide North club. But manager Rod Brown has moved quickly to line-up a replacement with former Cheltenham Town striker Chris Murphy at the top of his
MARTIAL ARTS: Cage fighter Ross 'The Boss' Mason flew the flag for Britain in his latest contest. And the Woodrow ace proved too strong for French opponent Damien Riccio, taking the victory with a technical knockout towards the end of the third round.
ONCE upon a time, just a few ashtrays ago, I was your typical dyed-in-the-wool hardline junkie of a smoker. Like thousands of others hooked on a substance that some say is more addictive than heroin, every single waking moment revolved around tobacco.
Husband and wife Stephen and Jill Bliss have set off on a two-wheeled adventure to raise money for Acorns Children's Hospice. The couple will travel on a Yamaha XJ900 motorcycle to Land's End, in Cornwall, before heading to John O'Groats, in Scotland.
CYCLING: Ollie Braithwaite took the honours in the latest Redditch Road & Path evening time trial. Braithwaite completed the 14.8-mile course through Cookhill, Flyford and Weethly in a creditable 35.32mins, battling against the very windy conditions
WIDOW June Sayce is pleading with Evening News readers to donate cash to help life-limited children and fulfil her late husband's dying wishes. For 79-year-old Mrs Sayce the new Acorns' hospice in Worcester has an extremely special place in her heart.
Racewalk rivals Sharon Tonks and Katherine Horwell travelled to Bedford on Bank Holiday Monday to compete in the CAU Inter-counties Championships - Tonks representing Worcestershire while Horwell entered as an independent. The 3km (7.5 lap) race was a
MARTIAL ARTS: Redditch instructor Roy Hancock, who has been in martial arts for 35 years, was graded and promoted to the rank of 6th Dan ju-jitsu by the British Kempo Ju-jitsu Federation. Hancock, a well-known character through his teaching at local clubs
Thursday, June 2 Dancing in the Streets, Birmingham Hippodrome. Until June 4. Tickets from 0870 730 1234. The Unexpected Man, Festival Theatre, Malvern. Until June 4. Tickets from 01684 892277. All and Sundry: The Pied Piper, Artrix Theatre, Bromsgrove
UPPER Arley proved they had staying power when they were crowned Wyre Forest Parish Games champions 2005 after leading the tournament from start to finish. Although they only managed third place in the final event, a general knowledge quiz last week,
BLAKEDOWN Scout Group's canoe polo team were soaked in success after winning a tournament at their home base. They proved they were the hosts with the most by triumphing in the Blakedown Open at Belbroughton. Blakedown A defeated Soak, from Stratford
TOM Kenderdine won the Cobra Classic 14km multi-terrain event at Halesowen, completing the course in 49 minutes 27 seconds. This time gave the Kidderminster and Stourport Athletics Club member a clear margin of more than a minute over the second-placed
JIM Friar cruised to victory in Kidderminster Chess Club's annual handicap tournament, capturing the trophy with a round to spare. The top two seeds struggled. John Wrench was never in a challenging position and Maurice Bissell had his worst ever competition
AN awesome foursome have kept Holy Trinity School's sporting success story rolling with individual awards. Sophie Gatehouse is the most improved player for the under-16 county netball team, while Phillipa Kuligowski has received the award for the under
ALVECHURCH County Councillor George Lord has been re-elected as leader of the authority. The Conservative councillor was elected unopposed at the county's annual meeting on Thursday. Councillor Lord said: "It's obviously an honour to be asked to lead
STUDLEY Womens FC are set to host their first football tournament this weekend. Sunday's six-a-side competition, for players aged over 14, has attracted teams from across the Midlands. Sponsorship from car dealers Murley and Len Owen of Property and Environmental
SURPRISING twists on Shakespeare's famous play Hamlet are revealed in Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guilderstern Are Dead, at Malvern's Festival Theatre from Tuesday. Presented by the award-winning English Touring Theatre, this major revival of Stoppard's
MUSICAL poet and folk singer Donovan appears at Stratford's Civic Hall on Monday as part of his 40th anniversary tour. Donovan first came to prominence at the age of just 18 in 1965 with his debut single Catch the Wind. The song won the Ivor Novello award
Andy Newton won the Friday Afternoon open with a 67lb plus catch, fishing between four and six metres using cupped corn with corn on the hook. On Sunday specimen mirror carp at 21lb 8oz were reported on the Dragonfly pool. Friday Afternoon Open, Dragonfly
There will be a contest on Sunday, June 12 at Three Crowns Pool. Members are asked to note that annual subscriptions and Lyttelton card monies are now due. These should be paid to J Baylie or M Weston on or before the next contest.
UPTON-upon-Severn based Olympic gold medallists Leslie law had every reason to be delighted with his performance at the 2005 Windsor International Horse Trials, held in the parkland surrounding Windsor Castle. The 40-year-old had two chances at the two-star
TWO county pool stars have been handed the chance to test their talent against the best in the world. Marc Evans and Andy Jones, both Welsh internationals, are competing for the first time at the World Eight-Ball Pool Championships, being held at Blackpool's
DAVID Powles produced an outstanding individual performance as Pershore beat Coleshill by three wickets in Division Three. Powles took 5-40 before returning to smash an unbeaten 106 with the bat. After winning the toss, skipper Stephen Cooper invited
SOUTH African Divan Van Wyk reached 143 not out as Kidderminster Victoria recorded a 102-run victory at Stratford in Division One. Despite losing skipper Jonathan Wright for a duck, a partnership bet-ween Van Wyk and Craig Wood produced a useful 130 runs
INCONSISTENT Droitwich Spa CC slumped to their first defeat of the season in the Worcester League Division One, as they lost to Alvechurch and Hopwood by six wickets on Bank Holiday Monday. Droitwich, who had beaten Chaddesley Corbett on the previous
Brockhampton 175 all out Ombersley 178-2 Ombersley win by eight wickets OMBERSLEY cruised to an easy victory over Worcester League Division One's strugglers Brockhampton on Saturday. The early season pacesetters were too strong after the enhanced their
Belbroughton 232-7 Hagley 85 all out Belbroughton win by 147 runs THE Tons recorded a thumping victory over the Worcester League Division One's bottom side on Saturday. Dan Attwood (61) and Will Pardoe (50) provided Belbroughton's cutting edge as they
Rushwick 212 all out Cutnall Green 216-2 all out Cutnall Green win by eight wickets NEIL Fletcher came agonisingly close to his century as Green cruised to their first victory of the season in the Worcester League Division Four on Saturday. Fletcher hit
IN the course of chatting to teenagers from a Worcester school about their experiences of education, there was a clear consensus of opinion. There was little worry about the political battlegrounds of city academies or voucher systems for school admission
LUKE Radford was Evesham's ace in the pack during the Bank Holiday weekend when the Avon Street side took up residence at the top of Division Three of the Birmingham League. After Saturday's splendid run chase against Coleshill, inspired by Radford's
AFTER suffering a heavy defeat last Saturday, Pershore hit back with a vengeance to defeat Mon-day's visitors Coleshill by seven wickets. David Powles was the Bank Holi-day hero with a magnificent unbe-aten century and a five-wicket haul. Skipper Stephen
SEVEN points separate the top six sides in Division One of the Cotswold Hills League supported by John Shepherd Estate Agents. First defeats of the season for Norton Lindsey and Winchcombe sees the former still at the summit but with only a two-point
ACROSS the county, hundreds of 17 and 18-year-olds are preparing their final applications for university, typing and retyping their letters to make sure the admissions tutor has the perfect first impression. Others, who are awaiting the results of their
DUMBLETON reached the Gloucestershire group semi-finals of the npower Village Cup with a comfortable victory over Twyning last Sunday. The rescheduled tie saw Dumbleton set the Cotswold Hills League side 164 for victory with Rob Churchman top scoring
Cotswold Hills League Results - Premier Division: Tanworth 117, Exhall & Wixford 118-1; Overbury 58-3, Twyning 57; Broadway 152, Strat-ford Bards 153-6; Alcester & Ragley 157, Earlswood 268-4; Moreton-in-Marsh 152-9, Shipston 207. Division One
THE ladies' home column in the Messenger gave advice on summer gowns, lining and sleeves. It advised women that smart petticoats in brighter colours were in this year but black, the most useful colour, was still popular. Headgear for elderly women was
Warm, sunny nights + windows open = BONFIRES. Bromsgrove Council has recently provided most of its residents with green recycling bins, for the sole purpose of recycling our hedge trimmings, and green garden waste. So why do some residents think that
WHY have car-parking charges gone up in Bromsgrove where there's hardly any decent shops to go to. Get rid of some of the card shops and phone shops - we do not need them all, it's so dull and boring. We need a decent shopping centre like touchwood in
I WOULD like to add to the comments on the new poolside changing facilities at the Dolphin Centre. Whoever is responsible for this sorry mess did not make any provision for the parties of schoolchildren who spend every weekday morning there. It's impossible
I AM writing to you following my failed attempt last weekend to access the Worcestershire on-call doctor service. I rang the designated number on numerous occasions throughout Saturday and Sunday. My call was logged by an automated answer machine, but
Come on all you ex-MG Rover employees - don't let the likes of Chris Stephens and his small-minded cronies get away with writing comments such as those published last week - let's put the record straight for a few of the people out there. With regards
On behalf of the Friends of the Princess of Wales Community Hospital (Bromsgrove), I would sincerely like to thank Morrisons (Buntsford Hill) for allowing us to hold a collection outside their store. I would also like to thank the people of Bromsgrove
AS the chairman of the refuse and recycling working group, I applaud the residents of Bromsgrove for making kerbside recycling a success. The service has improved immeasurably and households are now recycling over 30 per cent of their waste. I am aware
BOOKS, films and TV documentaries give us an arresting insight into the absolute horrors and carnage of the trenches, but not so widely appreciated is that some of our troops were taken prisoner during the First World War. And many of them were victims
THE position of town mayor is one which has been held by many individuals over the years. Most of these have risen to the challenge of this honorary position, and carried out the mayoral duties with the dignity required. Our outgoing mayor, Councillor
WHAT new idea will come from Councillor Kate Spencer? Newly-elected as deputy mayor by the Tory town council, she suggested a flower bed to replace the lido at last year's town meeting. Residents, do not forget. What next in her new role - hang on to
IS this what Droitwich Spa has stooped to? A newly-elected county councillor whose only concern during his election campaign was to oust an existing hard-working county councillor. Mr Harwood is an extremely naive man. A councillor's role at any level
SHIPSTON Rugby Club have been relegated from Midlands Three West (South) after having ten points deducted because of registration irregularities. The Mayo Road club admitted playing an unregistered player under the name of a different registered player
"ROCKETING interest" in the Redditch AIR music festival saw townsfolk snapping up every available ticket at the weekend after it was announced they would be given away. Festival organiser Councillor Rebecca Blake said she was encouraged after the council
I AM sure the organisers behind the AIR Festival must be feeling they have the Sword of Damocles hanging over them having announced the concerts will now be free. Presumably, the reason for this decision is poor ticket sales. I appreciate there will be
REDDITCH'S first big arts AIR Festival kicked off with a massive fanfare at the weekend as townsfolk hit the streets in their thousands to enjoy a host of entertainment and displays. Saturday's main event saw youngsters enjoying the sunshine and proceeding
A MATCHBOROUGH family have spoken of their relief after surviving a blaze that ripped through their home, leaving them homeless. Matt Hardware, aged 20, said the fire at the family's Binton Close home on Wednesday afternoon destroyed most of the rooms
THE continued success of Alcester-based Helping Hands Homecare has seen the appointment of six new managers, including two new specialist roles and the purchase of new premises next to its head office in Church Street. Its highly-developed training division
A COMMERCIAL fencing expert from Redditch has been appointed contracts manager for a top Midland supplier of high quality timber and metal systems. Alan Rogers will be responsible for developing Nationwide Fencing Ltd, the new UK-wide arm of Wednesbury-based
A SUMPTUOUS meal at a top restaurant is just one of the prizes up for grabs in a competition to find Redditch's best temporary worker. Recruitment agency Pertemps is asking its clients to nominate their best temp as part of National Temporary Workers
REDDITCH Older People's Forum is going from strength to strength. The forum's secretary Lorna White said they are launching a monthly coffee morning at the Ecumenical Centre in Redditch. "We hope to have a speaker at each coffee morning from a range of
IT came as no surprise to me to see Jacqui Smith elected for a third term with an increased majority as she is a first-class MP, regardless of party politics. The Conservatives' reputation as the ''nasty party'' has been very evident in Redditch of late
A MAN was seriously injured in a head-on-collision between two cars near Wythall. The crash occurred on Sunday at 8.45am when a grey Rover 214 collided with a silver Ford Mondeo on Broad Lane, Holt End. The driver of the Rover, a man in his 40s from Claverdon
PLEASE could I say a big heartfelt thank you from the family of the late Brett Griffin, aged 18. To all Brett's friends who saved their pocket money and played football matches in order to raise money for the beautiful plaque and tree left to remember
A HEARTBROKEN Redditch mum has been told she cannot put a new headstone at the grave of her son, who died 16 years ago, because all rights to it belong to her estranged ex-husband. Sarah Woodward, of Abberly Close, Church Hill, was devastated when she
MEMBERS of an Ipsley church will be making a splash for charity when they 'Walk with Water' on Saturday. Ramblers at St Peter's Church on Ipsley Church Lane will carry buckets of water around Arrow Valley Lake in Lakeside as part of the 'Make Poverty
THE fascinating history of one of Redditch's oldest churches, St Peter's in Ipsley, is the focus of a new book which has just been published. The book, by church member Alaric Napier, a South African architect temporarily living in Britain, details the
A DROITWICH Spa amateur artist is holding his first exhibition at the town library. Stephen Evens, from Mayflower Road, is currently displaying his work, titled Pastels for Pleasure, at Droitwich Spa Library. The exhibition is on the ground floor of the
MOTORISTS are responding well to new traffic calming measures in Cookhill, according to the village's parish council chairman. John Fletcher has spoken in favour of the new road markings and signs, which are in operation along The Ridgeway, outside the
WYTHALL residents fed-up with antisocial behaviour have stepped up their campaign for the closure of a nearby hostel for the homeless. People living near Wythall Lodge in Alcester Road say, despite numerous talks with hostel owners Bromsgrove Council
It'll be a laugh a minute this summer as Jongleurs Comedy Club brings two more shows to Malvern on June 9 and July 21. Being Victor Borge on July 16 is a tribute to this brilliant pianist and virtuoso comedian by the highly acclaimed entertainer Rainer
IT is only natural that if one is attacked you defend yourself. Defending is what Worcester's tourism officials, and the Worcester News for that matter, are doing about the comments written in the Lonely Planet Guide to Great Britain. I am Worcester born
IN response to the European Union's Working Time Directive, I see Tony Eaves wasted no time in regurgitating UKIP's tired old message of saying "no" to anything the EU has to say (Letters, Monday, May 23). His letter seemed to defend the rights of those
Chairman Betty Long welcomed 60 members and guests, particularly saying how nice it was to see Ida Parkinson back after her long illness. Members will be visiting Hergest Gardens on June 23. Members heard that the annual summer dinner will take place
THE speaker at the May meeting was Jack Reedy, chairman of the Warwickshire Badger Group. Illustrated with slides, his talk on "Brock the Badger" was excellent. He covered everything from their physical attributes, all perfectly adapted to their way of
THE search is on for a new home for a 12-year-old crossbreed dog at a Catshill animal adoption centre. Staff at Blue Cross, in Wildmoor Lane, are looking for loving owners for Oscar, who has spent much of his life on his own outside in a garden. His advancing
FORMER Rover workers were offered support when a top MP came on a fact finding visit to Rubery. Secretary of State at the Department for Trade and Industry, Alan Johnson, met former Rover apprentices at the Hollymoor Centre, Manor Park Grove, where they
A POPULAR Stoke Prior play area is temporarily closed after it was trashed by vandals. Ryefields Road recreation ground was again hit by yobs over the weekend. The vandals set fire to safety matting under play equipment. The latest damage includes parts
PRESIDENT Delice Bayliss welcomed members to the May meeting and apologies were received from four members. The minutes were read, approved and signed. Matters arising included a report from Jenny Cox on a possible theatre visit to Birmingham but tickets
GREEN-minded pupils at a Bromsgrove school have won a top award. Four youngsters from year eight at Aston Fields Middle School scooped certificates for their outstanding contribution and the school was announced joint winner of the Jaguar Environmental
AT the luncheon at Kings Court Hotel on May 11 members were told the sad news that Gillian Harris had passed away. Speaker Anne Nicholas gave a talk on millinery. She lives in Pershore and was a home economics teacher in Quarry Bank. She started her career
A CHARFORD law student has helped save an American prisoner from the death penalty. Twenty-year-old Michelle Harding, of Wesley Walk, helped overturn the death sentence of Missouri offender Carman Deck. In the initial trial Deck was convicted of two counts
THE 215th meeting took place on April 27. There were 29 members in attendance with 14 apologies. President Horace Jobson welcomed everyone with a special welcome to David Hunt, attending as a guest of Bert Randall. Congratulations were extended to Graham
A WELL-attended meeting opened with a lively discussion on the control of aphids, slugs, snails and bugs. Regular spraying with sprays containing sunflower oil controlled most pests. A weak solution of Jeyes Fluid sprayed on the ground and around plants
A BARNT Green footballer has called on members of the public to come forward with information to help police find the driver of a car which left him lying in agony on the road last week. Daniel Wilkes, aged 17, was left sprawling helplessly in Stratford
THE society brought Dickensian London to the Grieg Hall last week with their rich production of Lionel Bart's musical. From the opening chords of Food Glorious Food to the closing bars of the finale, the audience was treated to an evening of well-presented
AT the Kidderminster branch April indoor meeting, Gerry Griffiths hosted an extremely well-attended 'in-house' identification workshop. Birdsong sounds were taken from Witherby's Sound Guide to British Birds, although the emphasis of the evening was placed
A MASSIVE pioneering project to clean up a Bromsgrove estate of drugs is underway. Operation Jericho has been launched in Charford to look at the whole picture surrounding drug-related crime, from environmental issues to the rehabilitation of offenders
WEATHEROAK held their spring group meeting at Hopwood Village Hall on April 13. As members arrived, hostesses from Hopwood WI, wearing overalls and hard hats, greeted them. The hall had lots of notices such as might appear on a building site. It was a
A CONCERNED councillor has hit back at claims over the new-style changing rooms at a Bromsgrove leisure centre. Bromsgrove district councillor June Griffiths (Con-Alvechurch), portfolio holder for leisure services, said a lot of time was invested in consulting
SPA pets are being offered a special service for a cut-price this month. Townsend Veterinary Practice, on North Street Industrial Estate, in Droitwich Spa, will be taking part in the third annual National Microchipping Month in June. Microchipping pets
TWO million pounds has been made available by Bromsgrove District Council to help with a major staff restructuring programme at Burcot Lane. District councillors voted to release the money at a special meeting on May 24 to cover the shake up of senior
TOWN watchdogs have written to road chiefs about motorway noise affecting the quality of life of Spa residents. The Droitwich Spa Civic Society, which represents the views of town residents on matters affecting the environment and quality of life, has
BROMSGROVE police are re-appealing for information after a cold-blooded shooting outside a town post office. A Post Office worker who was shot in the neck with a handgun during an armed robbery outside Lickey Post Office, in Old Birmingham Road, is stable
Birmingham Premier Lge STUDLEY face a wicketkeeper crisis ahead of this weekend's Division Two clash with Wolverhampton. And it could not come at a worse time as the village side looks set to bounce back from their most dismal display of the season on
A MAJOR local employer is looking for townsfolk to help its workforce bloom thanks to an an extra 28 jobs. Webbs of Wychbold garden centre, in Worcester Road, will take on the extra staff and increase its number of employees to more than 300. The vacancies
RECKLESS yobs caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage around Bromsgrove during a weekend of vandalism. Youths forced their way into the cellar of St John's Parish Church, in Crown Close, which is used as a youth club, and trashed the site. The gang
Worcestershire Lge ALVECHURCH went into the weekend without a win to their name in Division One but back-to-back victories made it a Bank Holiday to remember. Church returned from Droitwich Spa with an emphatic six-wicket win, Martin Hayward helping them
SPA residents are being urged to inform police if they are offered a laptop for sale after 125 of the portable computers were stolen from Hartlebury Trading Estate. The laptops - worth £120,000 - were taken from TNT UK Ltd premises on the estate, near
A SPA nursing home held an open day to commemorate the 108th birthday of its founder's trust. Townsfolk turned out to enjoy the six-acres of garden at Rashwood Nursing Home, on the A38, and partake in a traditional Victorian afternoon tea on Saturday,
A SPECIALIST surgeon has joined the team at the town's joint clinic, which is now putting Droitwich Spa on the world map for orthopaedic care. Melwyn Pereira, a foot and ankle surgeon, will add to the existing team of experts on all things bony at The
FITNESS fanatics in Droitwich Spa are set to receive a boost to their exercise regimes with a £500,000 improvement plan for facilities at the town's leisure centre. The gym at the Briar Mill centre will be expanded, a large dance studio will be created
SPA school children were taught a religious lesson in a novel way last week. The little ones at St Joseph's RC Primary School, in Ombersley Way, had a visit from Jester Theatre which performed its version of 'the greatest story ever told' - the birth,
THIS is a tale about wine but, more importantly, it explores the disastrous effects of its over-consumption. Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church star as college friends Miles and Jack, who resolve to spend a week touring the Californian wine region
THE words ''it's not clever and it's not funny'' have never been so apt. This time, Greg (Ben Stiller) takes his fiance (Teri Polo) and her ultra straight-laced parents (Robert De Niro and Blythe Danner) to meet his rather more liberal mum and dad (Barbra
''Two years after my mother died, my father fell in love with a glamorous blonde Ukrainian divorcee. He was 84 and she was 36. She exploded into our lives like a fluffy pink grenade, churning up the murky water, bringing to the surface a sludge of sloughed-off
DAN Eaves fears his and teammate Matt Neal's British Touring Car Championship lead will be overturned by Yvan Muller and Jason Plato Brands Hatch on Sunday. The Moreton-in-Marsh driver believes his Team Halfords Honda will not be as competitive as it
MICHELLE Parsons returned from the International Triathlon Union's Elite Long Course Duathlon World Championships with a team gold medal in her bag after finishing an impressive 14th overall in her first Elite World Championships. Last year she won the
A MYSTERY benefactor has stepped in to save a popular folk festival after it was cancelled because of lack of funds. The Alcester and Arden Folk Festival, which has been running in the town for the past five years, failed to get any grants this year and
WORCESTER'S fifth Race for Life proved to be the ultimate summer event. The sun was shining, the setting ideal, and thousands met at Pitchcroft to support, celebrate and raise money for cancer research yesterday. More than 3,200 runners were eventually
A WOMAN is seeking compensation after complaining she was given no time off from her duties as residential manager of an Alcester complex of homes for retired people. Elizabeth MacCartney told a Birmingham employment tribunal she was virtually on duty
SNIPPETS from the Worcester Journal, the world's oldest surviving newspaper, give a colourful insight into what was happening in the city and county this week: 250 Years Ago (1754) Notice is hereby given that the Worcester Stage-Coach for London now goes
CANOEISTS from the city joined thousands of other women in the Race for Life through the streets of Worcester yesterday. Worcester Canoe Club entered the fund-raising event in memory of their coach, Alan Edwards, who died of cancer three years ago. Pink
THE Tories' plight heading into the forthcoming General Election was reinforced this week with the publication of two polls suggesting they are actually making inroads into Labour's lead. An ICM poll found that, with the election expected within months
MIKE Foster's efforts to point out that Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce is safe has reached far and wide - all the way to Canada. After tabling an Early Day Motion this week to heighten awareness that only Crosse & Blackwell sauce contains
ON Sunday, May 8 we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. I would consider this to be a very important day and I assumed it would be treated as such. On VE Day in 1945, Alcester was awash with red, white and blue
FIRST-time house buyers in Redditch could soon be given a leg up onto the property ladder by Redditch Council. Council Leader David Cartwright said the authority would be looking at new ways to provide affordable housing. A report by the council's housing
A TRAGIC accident befell a workman who plunged to his death from the railway viaduct at Worcester this week exactly a century ago. The Journal of April, 1904, reported: "An employee of the Great Western Railway Company met a sudden death by drowning on
A GROUP of NHS workers are running the annual Race for Life this Sunday to raise money for cancer research and "have some fun". Calling themselves the NHS Nutters, 11 of the 16-strong team work in health records for the Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust,
PRS Road Surfacing League STRATFORD B continued their domination of the Premier Division when they impressively disposed of last year's runner-up Studley with a straight-sets victory. Closest rivals Inkberrow gained a valuable 3-1 win over Chipping Campden
COME along to Worcester Racecourse's premier meeting of the season on Saturday and enjoy a fantastic afternoon at the races! The picturesque tree-lined location, on the banks of the river Severn, offers the perfect place to spend your afternoon, while
Evesham and District Disabled AC and Partnership's MEMBERS took part in the second round of the Evening Summer League last Thur-sday on the Middle Pool at Manor Farm. Another good turnout of 15 competitors enjoyed good sport with Wayne Panting taking
SATURDAY afternoon's heavy showers did not deter revellers from joining in the fun at the 18th Astwood Bank Carnival. Hundreds of residents enjoyed the parade of colourful floats, the host of exciting stalls and entertainment in the marquee. Carnival
A CONVICTED murderer who absconded from Hewell Grange Prison was arrested in Stoke on Sunday (May 22). Police found Stoke man Michael James Smith, 50, in a Trent Vale home at 5.20pm. He had been issued a travel warrant for a home visit but was expected
BLUE Peter presenter Simon Thomas will launch a new scheme for youngsters at the Kingfisher Centre on June 1. The Kids Club is free to join and gives children aged three-10 access to an exclusive membership with special offers, advance warnings of entertainment
AFTER reading the results of the General Election, one can only wonder. Conservative candidate Karen Lumley got 15,296 votes, an increase of 881 from 2001, although not enough to win the seat. I believe Karen did well and coming from a smaller party myself
I GOT in touch with Redditch Council over two months ago about parking and have not even received an acknowledgement. Where we live, if we get a parking space we feel lucky. But then the problems start. If we want to get out in a hurry, we have to find
A MAN has been arrested in connection with a Redditch abduction in which a man was assaulted, tied up and driven to Birmingham. But police are still appealing for two people to come forward who spoke briefly with the 37-year-old victim after his black
THERE are leaders and there are followers. "A leader is a person whom others are willing to follow for what they believe to be their common good." Tony Blair has a lot to answer for over the totally predictable Iraq fiasco. When I was called out with
A TAXI driver was brutally assaulted in Redditch on Friday night. The driver collected a man in Drayton Close, Matchborough, at about 7pm and dropped him in Oxhill Close. But the passenger made off towards Matchborough Centre without paying his fare.
WHY is it when the council cuts the grass in Grangers Lane, it looks a mess? It's never cut evenly, grass is left on the footpath and road and the leaves are never cleaned up. Sheep would do a cleaner job. In Austria, they sweep up every day with brooms
I AM writing to thank Redditch Co-operative Homes and Breedon Housing Co-operative for offering me the opportunity of a lifetime. I have recently moved into a two-bedroom bungalow and not only have I moved into a beautiful home, I have also discovered
A BENEFITS fraudster who obtained £46,000 while having savings in a building society account has been jailed for nine months. Neil Fisher, of Latimer Road, Alvechurch, carried out the scam for five years before being arrested, Worcester Crown Court heard
REDDITCH'S first youth radio station was launched with a fanfare as it took to the airwaves last week. Redditch FM is based at Kingsley Youth Centre and is run by young people for young people, providing a forum for discussions on local issues, give-aways
NIGHT-TIME thieves are targeting homes in Woodrow, Greenlands and Lodge Park. Police are warning residents in these areas to be especially vigilant following a spate of break-ins since the beginning of this month, which have been happening between 2-5am
THERE were two important firsts for Redditch Council this week when Councillor Diane Thomas was appointed mayor by fellow councillors. Mrs Thomas is the first Liberal Democrat to hold the post but she has also broken with tradition and appointed a Humanist
THE Victorian house was the subject of a fascinating talk by Nicole Burnett. The museum consultant presented the architecture and interior design of lower middle class town housing. Typically, these dwellings were aspirational ''villas'' found in the
AN Astwood Bank woman had a narrow escape from a phone scam in which she was told she had won £45,000. The female caller, who phoned the woman at noon on Tuesday, May 17, claimed to be from HM Customs & Excise. After receiving permission to open a
PATIO furniture and a barbecue valued at £1,500 were stolen from the garden of a home in Alcester Road, Wythall. The items, including six teak chairs and a large table, were taken overnight last Wednesday. A police spokeswoman said: "We believe the items
A ROAD in Redditch town centre will be closed for safety reasons during an under-18s disco at Time nightclub. Church Road, between Church Green West and Adelaide Street, will be shut between 9pm-11.30pm on Wednesday, June 1. Sgt Stuart Crebbin, of Redditch
A BEOLEY slaughterhouse was fined £5,000 for polluting a brook with sewage and causing "serious environmental damage" by Redditch Magistrates last Wednesday. Poultry abattoir and processing company Attwells, of Seafield Lane, pleaded guilty to a charge
INQUISITIVE pupils at Ridgeway Middle School have been investigating transport problems in Astwood Bank. Year seven geography students took time out from the classroom to walk down The Ridgeway and Evesham Road to look at the flow and speed of traffic
IN a bid to engage people's interest in recycling, Redditch Council's waste management service has launched a novel scheme in which e-mail bulletins are sent directly to residents' PCs. A spokesman said the bulletins are packed with useful information
DURING March, members took part in three walks, including a nine-mile hike around the Henley-in-Arden area an orienteering walk in the Lickey Hills, supervised by an official from the countryside centre, and a nine-mile walk around the Ashby de la Zouch
PRESIDENT Helen Powell welcomed everyone to the April meeting. After business, the speaker introduced himself with the words: "Good evening all." Pc Benjamin intrigues all with tales of his time in the police force. One very humorous tale he told was
FAVOURITE backers were disappointed when only two won on a seven-race card at the Albrighton Woodland Hunt's point-to-point at Chaddesley Corbett on Bank Holiday Monday. Romsley trainer Wendy Bayliss, joint owner Sue Jordan and jockey Emma James combined
SINCE the last meeting, the highlight for some of members was the visit to the gardens of Highgrove House. The guided tour threw great light on the Prince of Wales' thinking and planning for his extensive grounds. In April, the tulip walk, with up to
At the May meeting, the resolutions were discussed and voted on. County adviser Christine Hickman- Smith was on hand to give information and answer questions. The president and secretaries had attended a meeting to consider the practicalities of the changes
RESOLUTION time has come around again. Both resolutions were carried. There was a bring-and-buy sale during the tea break. Several Crabbs Cross and Hunt End members joined the meeting. The outing to Boundary Mill Stores was successful. Names were taken
PIANIST David Quigley returned to give a superb recital to end the current season. A demanding programme began with a set of 12 waltzes by Schubert, which are rarely performed and proved quite delightful. After three popular works by Chopin, the first
A WYTHALL grandfather who was too ill to collect his degree certificate was rewarded for his efforts with a special ceremony - at his home. Paul Southwick, 72, had been studying Integrated Studies for almost seven years at Birmingham University when he
CREEPY-crawlies and critters will be lurking around Croome Park this weekend. Families are being invited to finish off half-term by letting their children lead them around a nature trail or enter a colouring competition with the chance to win some prizes
A MATCH to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Worcestershire Bowling Association saw a team packed with past officers of the English Association and former county presidents from all over the country take on host club Broadway. In perfect conditions
FIFTEEN members of the Evesham Wheelers took part in Sunday's weekly run out to the Malvern Hills and the Kettle Sings Cafe - a favourite haunt of cyclists. The A ride enjoyed a brisk run out on busy roads to west of Worcester where some hilly lanes were
WARM Bank Holiday sunshine and a lazy breeze that wandered in from all points of the compass greeted the eager sailors at the Evesham Club last Sunday. With two long races over it was an afternoon for patience and concentration. With a massed start, the
CHURCH Street resident John Moss has not been out of his house for the past 18 months so when his motorised wheelchair arrived, he relished the prospect of a shopping trip. But when Mr Moss ventured into the High Street, he found things were not quite
A CHARITY dance featuring the band Velcro Fly will be held at Alcester Trades and Labour Club on Friday in aid of the renal unit at Stratford Hospital. Tickets cost £2.50 and are available from Nicky Bonehill on 01789 765799 or on the door.
ACORNS hospice is here thanks to the hard work of the fund-raising public - but the tireless efforts are by no means over. The charity needs to continue raising money to ensure the facility can remain open. And with less than 10 per cent of funding coming
RUNNING the new Acorns hospice will be no mean feat - with staff working around-the-clock to ensure high-quality care for the children and their families. More than 40 highly experienced nursing and care staff will work at the hospice alongside a team
MOTORISTS are set for a summer of misery as major roadworks close important roads into Worcester city centre. Friar Street and Sidbury will be closed to traffic and the outbound carriageway of College Street will be reduced to one lane. It comes at a
A FACTORY worker's forearm was stripped of skin after it became trapped in a printing press. The accident happened at the VMB Ltd factory on the Blackpole Trading Estate, Worcester, at 1pm yesterday . The victim was Dean Roberts, of Goldsmith Road, Warndon
BUILDERS are busy working on the foundations of a futuristic-looking primary school which is set to replace the current outdated two-storey building. A month after demolition crews moved on to the grounds at Fairfield Community Primary School the headteacher
A BROMSGROVE band will pay tribute to the Beatles this month. Reflections will play the band's hits at the Swan Inn, Upton Warren, on Saturday, June 18 - the birthday of Sir Paul McCartney.
DROITWICH is gearing up for the 2005 Sounds Music Festival. This year's event will run from July 3 to July 15 and offer a wide variety of music. The thirteen-day festival has 33 events booked with 14 different participating venues in and around the town
A TOP folk act will stop off in Worcester as part of an exciting new tour. Battlefield Band, will play at the Huntingdon Hall on Wednesday, June 1 for their 'On the Great Silk Road' tour. The gig will start at 8pm with tickets costing £12.50 from the
SURPRISING twists on Shakespeare's famous play Hamlet are revealed in Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guilderstern Are Dead, at Malvern's Festival Theatre from Tuesday. Presented by the award-winning English Touring Theatre, this major revival of Stoppard's
Kipper Tie brings its enormously successful 'poodunit', The Mole Who Knew it was None of his Business to Malvern Theatres. The show can be seen on June 11 as part of the theatre's Saturday morning children's theatre series. Aimed at children aged three
A DROITWICH Spa amateur artist is holding his first exhibition at the town library. Stephen Evens, from Mayflower Road, is currently displaying his work, titled Pastels for Pleasure, at Droitwich Spa Library. The exhibition is on the ground floor of the
THE society brought Dickensian London to the Grieg Hall last week with their rich production of Lionel Bart's musical. From the opening chords of Food Glorious Food to the closing bars of the finale, the audience was treated to an evening of well-presented
A bostin' night out was had by all at this Brummie show. Starring well-loved Birmingham folk like Jasper Carrott, Don Maclean and Malcolm Stent, who also wrote and directed the piece, the musical was very much about the pride and spirit of the Second
EIGHT years after they first created tidal waves on the dance music scene, Faithless present their greatest hits album. It's hard to believe their first colossal, genre defining hit Insomnia was kept from the top spot by the Spice Girls- how time flies
''Two years after my mother died, my father fell in love with a glamorous blonde Ukrainian divorcee. He was 84 and she was 36. She exploded into our lives like a fluffy pink grenade, churning up the murky water, bringing to the surface a sludge of sloughed-off
BROMSGROVE Rovers' need to add some firepower for the 2005/2006 season became a top priority for manager Jimmy Mullen this week after last season's top scorer Paul Szewczyk joined Hednesford Town. Szewczyk, who scored 45 goals in 76 appearances for the
Batting (last weekend) Knocks of 50 or more: 153 Alex Roden (KVCC 2nd); 143no Divan van Wyk (KVCC); 112 Paul Edwards (KVCC 3rd); 98 Neil Fletcher (Cutnall Green); 97 Simon Cook (Spennells); 95 Phil Williams (Stourport); 87 Sam Pountney (Chainwire); 80
A TOP folk act will stop off in Worcester as part of an exciting new tour. Battlefield Band, will play at the Huntingdon Hall on Wednesday, June 1 for their 'On the Great Silk Road' tour. The gig will start at 8pm with tickets costing £12.50 from the
CLARE Teal has been described as a major star with "an extraordinary voice, the ability to write songs that promise to become classics and a wonderfully sharp wit." Following two previous outstanding performances at Malvern Theatres, Clare returns on
A MAN is recovering in hospital after being stabbed near Evolution nightclub in Worcester's Lowesmoor over the Bank Holiday weekend. Police were called to the scene at 12.54am on Monday. Lowesmoor was cordoned off and had a heavy police presence throughout
SPRING sprung earlier than ever in Worcestershire this year, according to a national television survey which asks people to report the first sign of the season. The BBC2 programme Springwatch, which is running the survey n conjunction with the Woodland
Anne's weakest link with the Tories ANNE Robinson says the Tories' main problem is that "they don't have anyone you'd want to go to bed with". That's her split infinitive, not mine. I'm confused. The po-faced presenter of Weakest Link has obviously got
DANNY McDonnell has given Andy Preece a further summer boost by declaring himself fit and raring to go for pre-season training. The 32-year-old Worcester City goalkeeper is currently undergoing rehabilitation following a successful hernia operation. McDonnell
ONE of the most interesting aspects of a recent television series about the English Civil Wars was the revelation of just how pivotal a role religion played in people's lives in those days. All things on Earth in the middle of the 17th Century - from
BROMSGROVE Rovers' need to add some firepower for the 2005/2006 season became a top priority for manager Jimmy Mullen this week after last season's top scorer Paul Szewczyk joined Hednesford Town. Szewczyk, who scored 45 goals in 76 appearances for the
FORMER reserve team manager Dave Connell has hit out at Bromsgrove Rovers boss Jimmy Mullen's treatment of the second string and branded him 'unprofessional'. Connell, who is joining West Midlands League side Ledbury Town, claims the Rovers boss did not
A DISTRAUGHT dog-owner whose Staffordshire Bull Terrier was stolen in Beoley is appealing for help to return it. Anne-Marie White, of Kings Norton, was walking Maisey in Seafield Lane at 10.30am on Tuesday, May 17, when a white van drew up. The dog ran
Crime prevention is not just for the cities. Wychavon District Council is working hard to reduce crime and the fear of crime across its whole area. Here, Dave Hemming, Wychavon's community safety co-ordinator, explains just what is being done. IN Wychavon
Ann Nicholls heads-up the Anti-Social Behaviour Detached team which is already well on the way to becoming a mutually-respected and independent task force providing a rapid response to incidents involving young people in Worcester. Viewed as a ground-breaking
A HITMAN who once escaped from Redditch Magistrates Court has been sentenced to at least 30 years in prison for the murder of a drug dealer in Birmingham. Peter O'Toole, 26, jumped the dock at the courthouse in Grove Street in 1999 in what police believed
A CHILD'S blue mountain bike was stolen from the garden of a house in Jubilee Avenue, Headless Cross. The Apollo bike, suitable for a nine-13 year old, was taken overnight on Friday, May 20. Redditch crime risk manager Pc Eddie Mills advised residents
A teenager accused of threatening to kill his father and burn his house down has been sent for trial by jury. Oliver Higgins aged 18, of Batan Farm, Packhorse Lane, Wythall, denied making a death threat against Brian Higgins and threatening to sprinkle
FOLLOWING Tuesday's report in the Evening News about a bogus taxi driver attempting to kidnap a young woman in Worcester, the city's Taxi Drivers' Association clarifies the service it provides. Today, secretary Lesley Borthwick explains what a person
A decade ago controversy struck the nation when women were allowed to be ordained in the Church of England. Today The Venerable Dr Joy Tetley, Archdeacon of Worcester talks of how women priests have fared over the last decade. TEN years ago, I was among
GROWING up as a teenager is never going to be easy, especially in a fast-paced adult world in which childhood is seemingly disappearing. For today's youngsters, drugs are readily accessible, the peer pressure to be sexually active can be immense and the
A FEW months ago, I took a tilt at the Blair government's declared intention to introduce identity cards. Some of you might remember that I said the whole idea was flawed, not least because the British tend to be complete incompetents when it comes to
WE'VE certainly been short-changed with the weather this year. It seems that the entire summer was spent sitting in the garden for a maximum of three minutes until the next shower arrived, forcing light-deprived souls such as myself to dive for cover
THE man they called The Sheriff strode up to the lectern, touched the coffin of the recently departed, and fixed the assembled congregation with the firm, clear gaze of a man on a mission. As if on cue, a shaft of late summer's sun pierced the stained
LAST month "Old" Labour party member and critic of Tony Blair's Government Peter Nielson compared New Labour to a "rudderless ship" which has "used the Labour Party's historical capital as a power base to pursue an alien agenda". Today - following Mr
THERE'S rarely a good time to drive into Worcester, but motorists planning to visit the city this summer may want to delay their journey - until about September. Major roadworks are due to disrupt one of the main roads into the city centre from June 27
A COUNTY charity hopes to raise more cash for life-limited children after opening a new community office near Pershore. The office will be manned by Acorns Hospice Three Counties project team, which has been working tirelessly over the last three years
A RESTUARANT in Upton-upon-Severn is offering diners a taste of the East in a bid to help raise funds for a new Worcester hospice for life-limited children. Pundits' Restaurant, in Old Street, is holding a fund-raising buffet in aid of Acorns Children's
SCOTT Carmichael bludgeoned Exhall & Wixford to a breathtaking victory in the regional quarter-finals of National Village Knockout Cup. And the win means skipper Simon Hollands must rally his troops again this weekend when they take on visitors Stockton
SUPPORTERS and staff at a new hospice being built in Worcester will be on top of the world today as they celebrate a major milestone in the £4m building project. The new Acorns Children's Hospice, being built in Bath Road, near the city centre, will be
A HEADY mix of Bob Dylan and wit and playwright Oscar Wilde is hitting a hotel stage to help children with life-limiting illnesses. Worcester band, Shadowlands, and London actor Neil Titley will perform their own unique tributes to their idols at The
A £4m appeal to build a children's hospice in Worcester for life-limited youngsters has reached the half-way mark. Fund-raisers from Acorns, which plans to build the 10-bedroom home in Bath Road next year, were today "over the moon" to reach the £2m milestone
MEMBERS of a newly formed bowls club in Stourport were bowled over by a visit from the game's national ruling body. Stourport Bowls Club played host to officials from the English Bowling Association for a special dinner last week. But their hospitality
KIDDERMINSTER Cobras' West Midlands Premier Basketball League campaign has ended with mid-table respectability. In finishing fifth out of 11 teams, the Cobras were unable to reach the heights of the 2003 season when they came third. But despite a topsy
Wednesday, June 1 Show: Pied Piper, All and Sundry Theatre Group, Artrix, School Drive, Bromsgrove, 7.30pm. Music: Time Enough, Hop Pole Inn, Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove. Thursday, June 2 Music: Free Spirit, Hop Pole Inn, Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove.
A BROTHER and sister duo from Wyre Forest, who are both members of Droitwich Fencing Club, have enjoyed success already this year. Ashley Newton, 11, who attends Sion Hill School, won the Under-12 boys section at the Birmingham schools event in March.
WYRE Forest Cycle Racing Club's promising junior rider Pete Banham rode superbly in the Welsh road race championships. He finished fourth fastest junior and 13th overall in the race for junior third and fourth category riders over a 100km course at Llanelli
WYRE Forest Cycle Racing Club is holding the first "Easyriders" ride on Monday, from Stourport sports centre. This is an introduction to cycling rides, and anyone interested in taking part should meet at the sports centre in the Kingsway, Stourport, at
TRAVELLERS in Studley could be served with a legal notice to move on after all, despite original doubts over whether it could be infringing their human rights. Residents living to the east of the village in the Castle Road area have become increasingly
CRAIG Hall landed two of the top prizes at Alvechurch's presentation night. The central defender picked up the awards for Players' Player and Manager's Player of the Year following an impressive season for the Lye Meadow side. Other awards went to fellow
THE faint-hearted should keep away from Birmingham's Repertory Theatre, when a "bloodcurdlingly brilliant" new version of Bram Stoker's Dracula opens on Tuesday. Written in 1897, the novel of "sexual repression and Gothic terror" with its story's epic
