DROITWICH Spa's lido has finally been given the go-ahead to be rebuilt. A six-year battle came to an end when Wychavon councillors unanimously agreed to redevelop the lido, with the hope that it will be open by the summer. But they warned the project
A TEENAGER died after a car ran over his body while he was lying down in the middle of a busy road after a night out drinking. An inquest heard that Robert Blythe, aged 18, of Hunters Close, Droitwich, was on his way home in a taxi in the early hours
MALVERN people have a new £3m state-of-the-art health centre in the town. The primary care centre and separate crche replaces the existing practice in Avenue Road and has been jointly funded by South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust and specialist health
Health-conscious students at Worcester College of Technology are trying to help city centre shoppers and visitors to quit smoking. Four second-year students reading health studies put up a display in Worcester's Crowngate shopping centre and were on hand
WRITER Sarah Parry was inspired by her experience as a wife and mother to write her first children's book, Action Replay. It is no coincidence that the heroes are twins Archie and Rosie Carr, whose father is a star striker. The Evesham-born author has
A WETLAND restoration project praised by wildlife expert David Bellamy has been sabotaged, causing thousands of pounds of damage. In the latest of a series of attacks on the nature reserve at Longdon Marsh, near Upton-upon-Severn, structures to control
A GUNMAN who escaped with thousands of pounds following a raid on a building society office in Pershore was being hunted by police this week. The man, said to be aged between 40 and 55, walked into the High Street offices of the Cheltenham and Gloucester
PEOPLE in Kidderminster have been shaken by the death of an 18-year-old man who plunged, feet first, from the top floor of a town centre car park. Clusters of flowers and balloons were attached to the railings of the Swan Centre car park in Blackwell
A SKIP hire firm is set to breathe new life into a derelict Kidderminster forge with plans for a state-of-the-art £5 million recycling centre creating more than 100 jobs. The former Folkes forge, on Stourport Road, which shut down in 2000, has been bought
DRIVERS in Wyre Forest are set to stump up extra cash with car parking charge increases likely to be given the go-ahead. Wyre Forest District Council members will discuss the new fees at a cabinet meeting tonight. Last year, councillors decided to increase
YOUNGSTERS riding mini moto motorbikes around Kidderminster housing estates are making life a misery for residents, it has been claimed. District councillor, Helen Dyke, is urging householders in the Aggborough and Spennells areas to help her stamp out
WORCESTER Rugby Club's Under 16s took on Dorking at 'A' and 'B' team level and honours were shared with the Sixways side winning the 'A' team game and Dorking successful at 'B' level. Worcester started strongly in the 'B' encounter and Ian Prior was unlucky
A COURT has ruled that eight cows which tested positive for bovine TB on a Pensax farm must be slaughtered - but the farmer is hopeful of saving the offspring of three of them. One of the pregnant cows gave birth to her calf in the early hours of Monday
PLANS are in motion to recreate the original waterwheel at a 13th century mill in Kidderminster. The project, which will see the Broadwaters mill lit up at night using water power, has been made possible thanks to a £5,000 grant from Biffa. Vice-chairman
A COMBERTON headteacher has welcomed a scheme that has helped make the roads safer for school pupils. Worcestershire County Council devised the new safer routes to school initiative after surveying pupils from Comberton Middle and First schools on their
AN elderly Harvington resident fears someone could be killed if road signage is not improved in her street. Doris Philips, of Harvington Hall Lane, said there had been several occasions when nurses and social workers had driven past her house after failing
ONE of the founding members of a family firm brought 60 years of working to an end by retiring on his 74th birthday. tractor mower and brothers, David, left, and Neil. Cedric Hardwick, of Hardwick Landscape Centre, in Wolverley, was presented with a sit-on
IT may come as no surprise to you ladies out there, but British men have become so useless at positioning curtain poles and figuring out flat-pack furniture, that women now account for more than half of the 18 to 34-year-olds carrying out home improvements
EVESHAM U3A. More than 80 members filled the dining rooms of the Three Ways Hotel at Mickleton for the branch's traditionally-belated Christmas lunch. The chairman, Sophie Dodds, reported that the branch, which was formed barely four years ago, goes into
SPECIAL SERVICES: Two special services over the last two weekends at St James' Church have been well supported by people in the village which has given considerable encouragement to the organisers. The Songs of Praise was devised by Mervyn Huggins and
WEDNESDAY CLUB: Members were welcomed by chairman Mary Mountford. Members present were asked to sign for the spring tea on March 1, costing £3 each. A vote of thanks was taken, choosing a traditional turkey dinner for the new year lunch 2007. The talk
INNER WHEEL CLUB: The Inner Wheel Club of Pershore held a frugal lunch to mark Inner Wheel Day. This was held at the home of Elizabeth Crowther on January 12 and more than £200 was made for the charity Hope and Homes.
Your headline on January 19 issue "Health Service 2006" was very thought-provoking. I am pleased that young Adam Tandy recovered from his breathing difficulties. I was interested in reading of his parents' instructions to take him to Worcester, Redditch
A DAY of street art and dance workshops is on offer at Malvern to give young people an opportunity to find out more about hip-hop. The event ties in with a new hip-hop production TAG... Me vs The City and has two types of workshop, one on street art and
A DYNAMIC new dance duo, Antonia Grove and Theo Clinkard, otherwise known as Probe Dance Company, will be starring at the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury next month. The couple invite the audience to take an exhilarating ride with them as they drive them
THE Royal Shakespeare Company celebrates the life and work of Arthur Miller with one of his greatest plays, The Crucible. Miller, who died on February 10, 2005, wrote The Crucible in 1953 during the McCarthy period. He set the play against the backdrop
NEW Triad Theatre Company presents Oscar Wilde's masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest, the story of Jack Worthing, found in a handbag at London's Victoria Station as a baby. He needs to discover his identity before he can marry Lady Bracknell's
JIM Conway has been suspended from his dual role as Kidderminster Harriers physio and general manager after more than 20 years at the club. Conway was sent home from Aggborough on Monday morning and has been placed on leave by Harriers bosses. Harriers
IYSEDEN Christie has revealed that he would be happy to remain a Harrier - but the prospect of him staying at Aggborough is unlikely. With the transfer window slamming shut on Tuesday, speculation is mounting that the top scorer will be on his way. Christie
HARRIERS 2 SCARBOROUGH 1 ANOTHER hectic week in the Kidderminster Harriers soap opera should not detract from the fact that new boss Mark Yates has made a sold start to life in the Aggborough dugout. While transfer speculation continues to mount about
PHOTOGRAPHERS at a Wyre Forest club are looking forward to going digital after receiving a cash boost from the lottery. Stourport Camera Club has received a grant of £4,998 that will help pay for the latest equipment, including laptop and desktop computers
ANDY Ward is among the winners at this year's Wyre Forest Sport Awards after bowling over Kidder-minster Carolians by setting up a thriving new sports section at the rugby club. Ward's efforts in establishing the bowls section have been rewarded with
STOURPORT'S economy could be handed a massive boost after a national supermarket chain announced it plans to open a superstore in the town. The proposed new Tesco store would be built on the former Carpets of Worth site in Severn Road and replace its
Kidderminster Cricket Club KIDDERMINSTER are among 100 cricket clubs throughout England and Wales taking part in the Chance to Shine project aimed at rejuvenating competitive cricket in state schools. The Chance to Shine initiative was set up by The Cricket
KIDDERMINSTER Cobras crashed to an 86-40 defeat to Chase Panthers after their worst West Midlands Premier League performance for three years. A total capitulation in the last 15 minutes made this a game to forget for Cobras. They were second in the league
AN ATHLETIC Stourport doctor is busy limbering up for a fund-raising run in the London Marathon. Rachel Ward, who has only been running seriously for two years, is tackling the 26.2-mile course for the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre - MRSC. Money
KIDDERMINSTER Chess Club maintained their unbeaten record in Division One of the Worcestershire League with a 3-3 draw at home to Worcester. The highlight of the match was John Wrench's 13-move defeat of Eric Myers on the top board. Full results (Kidderminster
KIDDERMINSTER and District Midweek Bowls League's annual meeting will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday, February 2 at Chainwire Sports & Social Club.
100 Years Ago January 27, 1906 The report of the first year's working of the Evesham Charity Organisation Society which was presented to a very small meeting of the subscribers on Wedne-sday, is most satisfactory. It shows that the people of Evesham recognise
WYRE Forest youngsters were treated to a day of thrills and spills at the area's first Xtreme Sports Festival. Pupils from 11 middle schools got to try their hand at skateboarding, roller-blading and riding BMX bikes during the event at the Glades Arena
BEWDLEY angler Bill Drew won the Wednesday Open on the Meadow Pool at Moorlands Farm Fishery, when 18 fished the contest. Drew fished peg 59 for his catch which weight 29lb 14oz. Moorlands anglers took the next two places - Dave Highfield landing 27-15
Wednesday Open, Moat: Roy Arnold 30-3 (12), Keith Perrin 25-8 (2), Alan Esbury 18-12 (5). Saturday Open, Heron: Ronnie France 19-10 (21), Nigel Davies 17-6 (34), Ivan Laight 17-4 (23). Sunday Open, Heron: Laight 40-1 (20), Perrin 25-8 (24), Harry Taylor
Wednesday Open: Dave Roberts (Hereford) 10-3 (82), Stuart Braithwaite (Bromsgrove) 9-5 (78), Martin Tayloe (Golden Maggot) 8-11 (85), Rob Brennan (Colmic) 8-3 (81). Saturday Open: R Middleton (Starlets) 10-0 (67), S Pierpoint (Shimano) 9-1 (69), M Briggs
Caunsall: P Knowles 4-1, G Owen 2-0, M Sztybel 1-6. Sunday, Caunsall: N Ferriday 4-9, B Downing and K Woodhead 3-7, J Fox and Owen 3-5. The next match is on Sunday, February 12 on the Wren's Nest pools, draw 8am.
TWO cars were stolen from outside a Kidderminster house after burglars broke in and stole the keys. A silver L reg Audi A4, worth £19,000, and a gold W reg Ford Focus, worth £3,500, were stolen from Bruce Road between 10pm on Monday, January 16 and 5.45am
A match will be held on Sunday on the canal at Caunsall, the draw to be made at the bridge at 9am. Final aggregate positions: Stan James 168, Clive James 149, Mick Scott 134, Pete Mountford 125, Nathan Puplett (junior) 77.
The annual meeting will be held on Sunday in the Blue room at Chainwire Club, at noon. Subscriptions and card money for 2006 will be taken at this meeting, so members who have not yet paid are urged to attend.
Woodside: Steve Barnacle (visitor) 24-6, G Yeomans 9-14, R Moule 8-10. The next match will be on Meadow View Pool at Ockeridge Lakes, on February 5. Anglers are asked to meet at Dog Lane car park at 8am or Areley Kings crossroads at 8.05am. The draw will
A SWAN that was shot at by youths earlier this month has made a speedy recovery and was released back into the river Avon this week. The injured swan was spotted when a local woman with her family saw a group of youths aged between 15 and 18, armed with
A HIGH-SCORING Sunday Division Two Kidderminster derby saw Harriers Trust fight back from 4-1 down at half-time to edge Hoobrook Town 6-5. Cleobury Town enjoyed an 8-2 victory over Sunday Division Two bottom side Fish Athletic. St John's Tigers won a
A BOGUS workman alert has been issued by police after two or three men tricked their way into the home of an elderly woman in Beckford this week. The victim discovered later that her bedroom had been searched and bolts securing the front door had been
There will be a contest on Sunday on the Staffordshire/Worcestershire canal, numbers eight to nine. Anglers are asked to meet at the venue at 7.30am.
A Worcestershire MP has tabled a parliamentary question to establish whether Evesham and Vale patients are suffering from poor care at Worcestershire Royal Hospital. Sir Michael Spicer, MP for West Worcestershire, asked Secretary of State for Health Patricia
FERNDALE under-10s beat Kinver 3-1 in the Mercian Girls League with a brace from Abbie Walters and a goal from Holly Baron. Rachel Birch was star player. The under-12s girls hit Redditch United for six in a 6-2 win. Rachael Scotford and Mel Lawley both
PLANS to put up 24 domed lettuce-growing tunnels across 1.4 hectares of land in Bretforton and Offenham are set to be approved today despite opposition from parish councillors. Offenham parish council objects to the scheme because it says young families
FURIOUS Badsey homeowners are up in arms over a planning application they say could knock up to a million pounds off the value of their homes. The applicant Michael Pilade, of Twyford Bank in Evesham submitted an application to Wychavon District Council
ARTOIS Athletic battled their way to the final of the Kidderminster Six-a-side League End-of-season Cup Knockout, beating Running Horse on penalties in the semi. They will play the winners of Ads Lads v Masters. Fixtures, Monday: 8pm - Ads Lads v FC Irrelevant
NATIONWIDE CONFERENCE P W D L F A P Accrington 25 17 4 4 46 27 55 Exeter 26 14 5 7 44 25 47 Grays 24 12 8 4 50 31 44 Halifax 26 12 8 6 35 28 44 Hereford 24 12 7 5 31 18 43 Stevenage 26 12 7 7 41 31 43 Morecambe 26 12 6 8 38 23 42 York 26 10 8 8 37 26
CLEOBURY Mortimer's magical Cup run had a knock on effect as they boasted a bumper turnout of players for an 8-0 league victory over Marconi Coventry and their second team game. The Love Lane club had 19 men available for the Midlands Four West South
WORCESTER Ladies continued their good form from last week with a nine-try bonanza in the 51-0 victory over Thirsk at Sixways. The last time the teams met, the match ended in a 0-0 draw and this game pr-omised another close en-counter as Worcester were
WORCESTER Men's Firsts piled the pressure on but lost 3-2 at Melton Mowbray in Coaching Solutions Midlands One. The city side went down 1-0 after five minutes but scored a deserved equaliser through man-of-the-match Steve Poole. Worcester dominated the
THERE was a good attendance at the latest duplicate competition on January 17 with a Mitchell movement being played over nine tables. The results on north/south was close with Doreen Round and Terry Lucey taking first place with 57 per cent, only two
DEFIANT staff at Broadway's Lygon Arms - stripped of its coveted Michelin star - this week vowed to roar back and better it next year. Although no reasons are given for the withdrawal of stars in the annual guide, it comes just a few months after chef
THE Christmas dinner took place at Cleobury Mortimer Golf Club. The New Year started with a talk and demonstration on the making of stained glass, by Stephen Byrne and David Williams. Finished samples were shown to members, most depicted birds. The competition
IT is five years since the inaugural meeting of the trust on January 24, 2001. Over the past five years the Friends organisation has run the Weavers Loft, raised funds for the trust, provided volunteers to work at the Carpet Archives Centre, arranged
THE annual meeting will be held on Wednesday at 2pm at St George's Annexe, Radford Avenue, Kidderminster. All members are welcome to start of the New Year.
THERE are two rides on Sunday. The A ride starts at 8.30am and climbs Caer Caradoc near Church Stretton. The B ride starts at 9.30am and visits Bridgnorth Station. Both rides leave from The Green, Blakebrook, opposite the hospital. All cyclists will be
THE annual meeting will be held tonight at Stourport Day Centre, at 7.30pm. Once gain the society ran its two-day show and festival on the Riverside Meadow on August Bank Holiday weekend, with all classes filled and a steady flow of visitors. Cups and
AT the January meeting Mr and Mrs Betts showed a selection of slides of the Lake District and local views in Herefordshire & Worcestershire which were accompanied by music. Arrangements were made to go ten-pin bowling and for a visit to the Rose Theatre
LICKHILL celebrated the New Year with a party. Events in the coming months include a lunch, followed by a 1940s sing-along at Bridges, Claines, on February 23, then on March 7, a visit to the Rose Theatre to see a production of My Fair Lady. The arts
SCUBA dive trips for the coming year were organised at a club meeting held last Sunday. At the same meeting congratulations were in order for a group of nine new members having completed their basic training. New SCUBA diving courses (12 to adult) and
THE king of British rock 'n' roll Marty Wilde and the Wildcats will be rocking the Subscription Rooms, Stroud, on Saturday, February 4 at 7.30pm. Marty presents a stunning evening of rock memories from his own vaults and pays homage to many friends who
SALLY Wagstaff and Sue Mantom told of their holiday to Rajasthan on the Indian railway, at the January meeting. They illustrated their talk with slides, including one of the Taj Mahal at daybreak. At the Monday, February 13 meeting, Barbara Allen will
GARDEN CLUB: The 2006 programme begins on Monday at the usual time and venue when Tony Hamblin returns with an illustrated talk The Magic of the Celtic Islands. The treasurer will collect the subscriptions, at the same rate as last year. The £10 sub covers
MARK Yates has trimmed his Kidderminster Harriers squad by releasing Patrick Flynn. The 21-year-old former Wolves player made a good impression in six Harriers games at right-back but has not appeared since Yates was appointed boss in early January. Flynn
YOUNG asylum seekers being cared for by Warwickshire County Council have been exploring what life in their new homes means to them in an arts project. They have taken part in a photography project that helps them explore their identity after what is often
VILLAGERS in Willersey are set to benefit from the largest single bequest ever given to the parish council - but they have had to wait more than 27 years to receive it. Miss Nancy Hewins, a long-time resident of the village until her death aged 76 in
THE old sports pavilion down on the Evesham Sports Club alongside the River Avon and opposite Glovers Island was in the 1940s the meeting place for RAF men and women's XIs and Evesham mixed XIs both in hockey and cricket teams. The photograph provided
A SUPPORT and treatment group dedicated to people with leg problems which recently celebrated its first birthday is providing the model for other groups nationwide. Evesham Leg Club, one of 15 in England will soon be visited by representatives of one
TENBURY League of Friends has been so successful in its fund-raising efforts that state-of-the-art equipment has been bought to benefit patients at the town's Community Hospital. A new bladder scanner was presented to Dr Angus Thomson, consultant in obstetrics
THE story of a daydreamer who tells lies to get himself out of trouble will be performed on stage next week. Billy Liar will be the first production in the new season at Kidderminster's Rose Theatre and runs from Monday until Saturday, February 4. The
PERSHORE pupils have been doing their bit for the disaster relief effort for the Tsunami and the earthquake in Pakistan and Kashmir. Pershore High School pupils raised £490 for a Pershore Rotary Club shelter box by holding a non-uniform day. The shelter
A VALE MP has challenged the Government to allocate more cash to schools in Worcestershire, claiming local children were being discriminated against. In a letter to schools minister Jacqui Smith, Peter Luff, the conservative MP for Mid Worcestershire,
PERSHORE High School students achieved a higher than average number of A*-C grades according to the latest figures. Sixty-two per cent of pupils attained the higher grades, five per cent more than the national average with 96 per cent gaining five or
A GUNMAN who escaped with thousands of pounds following a raid on a building society office in Pershore was being hunted by police this week. The man, said to be aged between 40 and 55, walked into the High Street offices of the Cheltenham and Gloucester
ORGANISERS of a disabled people's club have been overwhelmed by the public's generosity after their community ambulance was struck by vandals. Shirley Gledhill, chairman of Kidderminster and District Disabled Club, said they have been inundated with calls
A KIDDERMINSTER teenager now has friends across the world after attending a Guide camp in Mexico. Katherine Jones, of Low Habberley, flew out to Central America to take part in an event celebrating 75 years of Guiding in Mexico. The 16-year-old, who is
VICTIMS of Nazi atrocities will be remembered during an event in Kidderminster. National Holocaust Memorial Day tomorrow will be marked on Sunday with a ceremony at the Wyre Forest Holocaust Memorial outside St Mary and All Saints Church. The short ceremony
SENIOR citizens in Wyre Forest look set to see the lower age limit for car parking permits reduced to 60 for both men and women. The recommendation will be put forward at a Wyre Forest District Council cabinet meeting tonight. The council had previously
A WARNING has gone out to Wyre Forest residents to beware of an email scam which appears to originate from a church near Kidderminster. Police have been contacted by a Hertfordshire man who received an email, claiming to be from a Father Victor Wilson
A KIDDERMINSTER College lecturer has been sacked following allegations over the sexual content of a website. Anjana Jinman, who taught in the IT department at the Market Street campus, was dismissed from her post last week following an investigation.
POLICE are targeting boy racers who are causing a nuisance by racing around a Kidderminster car park during the evenings. The problem, at Pyke Mills car park, off New Road, was raised by shop workers and college staff at a neighbourhood meeting discussing
A KIDDERMINSTER music enthusiast who is promoting unsigned rock bands as a hobby is offering local bands the chance to benefit from his help. Dave Smith, a television weather man from Lea Street, set up the Avalon Music Project with his friend, Aimee
BUDDING young performers in Wyre Forest have been invited to audition for the chance to appear in a hit musical. The London Palladium production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be at the Birmingham Hippodrome from Monday, June 26 until Saturday, September
JACKSONS in Kidderminster will welcome live music from Sons and Beeches on Saturday. The band will on stage at the pub, in Marlpool Lane, from 9pm until 11.30pm and admission is payable on the door. For further information, contact 01562 748355.
PLANS for eight first and second floor apartments at the MR Ms shop, in Green Street, Kidderminster, have been approved. The building is situated between Aldi and Shipley's bingo hall. The plans, which were submitted by ESP Estates, were considered by
A SUPERSTAR Radio 1 DJ will be appearing in Kidderminster on Sunday. Judge Jules will be at "Oh Funk It's Sunday", which is held at Yates's in Oxford Street, Kidderminster. "Oh Funk It's Sunday" is held on the last Sunday of every month. The evenings
A CONCERT to raise money to help children in Sri Lanka who were caught up in the Asian tsunami disaster will be staged at Kidderminster Town Hall. The Band of the West Mercia Constabulary, the Kidderminster Valentines and the Kidderminster Male Choir
BLOOD donors have the chance to give in both Kidderminster and Bewdley during upcoming sessions. Trinity Methodist Church, Churchfields, hosts the Kidderminster sessions, from 1pm until 3.15pm and 4.30pm to 7pm, on Friday, February 3. Bewdley High School
A DRIVER suffered multiple injuries when he collided with a car that was overtaking his. Geoffrey Perks was on the A456 bypass in Bewdley when he appeared to have tried to overtake another vehicle in his BMW 325 saloon, colliding with one that was overtaking
A HARTLEBURY brick-making firm has proved its green credentials by earning re-accreditation to an environmentally friendly Europe-wide scheme. Baggeridge Brick, at Waresley, has won Eco-Management and Audit Scheme - EMAS - recognition for its commitment
NOMINATIONS are being sought for Wyre Forest companies in an awards scheme recognising the best of business in Worcestershire and Herefordshire. The search has begun for contenders in eight categories for the 2005 Chamber Awards competition, being run
HEADTEACHERS across Wyre Forest have praised a new truancy watch scheme launched by a Kidderminster organisation. The measure, which will see staff at various town stores using descriptions of school uniforms to identify which one the pupil comes from
A TRAINEE solicitor has been taken on by Kidderminster law firm, Talbots Solicitors. Lisa Pickering, who had previous experience with another legal practice, focuses on family, matrimonial and children issues. Her hobbies include astronomy. Senior partner
WE elected the council to look after, not to set about destroying our heritage. Forge Mill is the only needle museum left in England - and the very item which puts Redditch on the map, which brings in people from all over to visit and explore both the
A RAILWAY enthusiast who, as a schoolboy spent many happy hours watching the trains travelling in and out of Kidderminster station has recorded his memories. Bewdley resident, Adrian Turley, has published The Railway at Kidderminster in the 1940s, which
LIKE many people, we were surprisedRedditch Council has "suddenly" discovered it needs to make major financial savings. It is particularly disappointing to see the cultural and arts budgets are at the forefront of these savings. We believe cutting these
I WRITE to add my opinion about the proposed cuts in local expenditure but specifically those that may affect the Palace Youth Theatre. The Palace Theatre, as everyone knows, in undergoing extensive refurbishment (as was necessary) but includes development
AN award-winning Kidderminster-born poet will be reading her work at Kidderminster Library next month. Voices of Poetry with Esther Morgan will be take place on Friday, February 10 at 7.30pm. The freelance writer will be reading from her recently published
I WOULD like to draw attention to the £17,000 grant promised to the Worcestershire Racial Equality Council that is now under threat because of the need to cut spending due to budget shortfalls in Redditch Council's accounts. The work the WREC does is
ARROW Valley Countryside Centre is under threat of closure despite the annual increase in visitor numbers. Last year, 25,000 visitors used the facilities. Families from all cultures and abilities use the centre for relaxation, leisure, exercise, sport
I WOULD like to protest against the possibility of Forge Mill Museum being closed. I believe this is the only mill of its type left in the world and to close it would be not only an injustice to the history and people of Redditch but would deny the many
WITH talk of council tax increases, cuts in grants and amenities and possible redundancies, it is not time for there to be open and detailed discussion about how the tax is spent? At more than one neighbourhood group meeting, I have asked for a breakdown
A high-tech bus that bends in the middle was given a successful road trial on express routes in Worcester, Droitwich, Malvern and Pershore this week. It was the second visit to the county for the futuristic StreetCar, which was available for people to
BARBARA Dickson is without a doubt one of the UK's most popular and versatile singers and actresses, and has become an institution in her own right. As part of her new 2006 UK tour, she makes a return visit to Malvern Theatres for one night on Saturday
A FORMER Worcestershire man whose wife and baby daughter were found shot dead is wanted by police in America. Neil Entwistle, a 27-year-old computer programmer, who used to live in Swan Drive, off Hanbury Road, Droitwich, is being sought for questioning
THE Mayor of Worcester has been left distraught after his beloved pet duck was found beheaded in what he believes was a deliberate attack. Coun Aubrey Tarbuck offered a £100 reward last week to anyone who knew the whereabouts of his one-eyed drake Henry
A young, fit schoolteacher died after suffering a massive heart attack while he was using a rowing machine, an inquest heard. Jeremy Smith, 26, who lives in Elgar Avenue Malvern, was a regular customer at the Malvern Splash gymnasium in Priory Road. He
The concerns regarding 'Out of Hours' medical provision in the area warrant further comment. Until recently, Family Doctors were responsible for providing medical care for twenty-four hours each day, 365 days of the year. In recent years they usually
I visited the Evesham Council Offices to buy some garden refuse bags and was told the charge would be £1.60p per bag. Could someone please explain how such an exorbitant charge can be made for something so essential? I am aware that garden refuse can
I WAS pleased to read the report in the issue dated January 19 regarding the closure of the Hill and Moor WI after so many successful years. However, I was more than disappointed to read that "I had been a member for more than 20 years." This should have
A VALE MP has challenged the Government to allocate more cash to schools in Worcestershire, claiming local children were being discriminated against. In a letter to schools minister Jacqui Smith, Peter Luff, the conservative MP for Mid Worcestershire,
CLARKE Edna To heaven I send a birthday wish, To a mum whom I dearly loved and sadly miss. From Martin. x Published in paper 26/01/2006
WILDE Paddy Happy memories of a dear friend and adopted sister, who died one year today. Marian and Carole. Published in paper 26/01/2006
SOWNEY George Passed away fourteen years ago. Always in our hearts and thoughts, wife Beryl and Family. x x x x Published in paper 26/01/2006
NICKLIN Rose Memories of a special mum. You shared our love, our tears. Thank you for those wonderful years. God bless. Love Gordon. ---------- Happy memories of a dear granny. Love Jo and Kev, Lynette and Rod. ---------- Treasured memories of a dear
BEVINGTON Lesley Albert Les Of Northwick, Worcester. Suddenly at his home on January 21st, aged 85 years. Loving brother of Ivy and a dear uncle and great uncle. Funeral Service at Worcester Crematorium on Wednesday, February 1st at 11a.m. Flowers may
MOREWOOD Esther Emily Dot Of Keswick Drive, Warndon. Passed away peacefully at Worcestershire Royal Hospital on January 20th 2006, aged 91 years. A much loved mom, granny and great granny. She will be sadly missed by all her Family and Friends. Funeral
SALTER Alice Mabel Passed peacefully away in Worcestershire Royal Hospital on January 22nd, aged 87 years. Wife of the late Howard and a dearly loved sister, sister in law and aunt. She will be greatly missed. Funeral Service will take place at Worcester
SMITH NEE MERRY Betty Formerly of Tudor Mount Rushwick, Worcester. Peacefully in hospital on January 22nd, aged 85 years. Wife of the late Cyril former Scout Master Crown East and sister to Eric, Roy, Joan, Thelma and the late Edna and Ken. Funeral Service
THE Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra will be making a welcome return visit to the Priory Church, Leominster, on Sunday, February 26. In addition to being a popular part of Leominster Festival's annual June programme, the BPO have been visiting Leominster
TONIGHT: Birmingham: Marriott Hotel - Lupa. Stourbridge: Broadway Inn - Green Bay. Malvern: Forum Theatre - Feinstein Ensemble play Bach. Coventry: Warwick Arts Centre - Waterboys. Big Youth. Wolverhampton: Robin R'n'B2 - The Carpet Crawlers. FRIDAY:
PARISH COUNCIL: The council met on Tuesday, January 10. Highways: Permission for planters to be installed at the entrances to the village in Pershore Road and Tewkesbury Road looks likely to be granted. A site meeting will be held to resolve the positioning
EVESHAM U3A. More than 80 members filled the dining rooms of the Three Ways Hotel at Mickleton for the branch's traditionally-belated Christmas lunch. The chairman, Sophie Dodds, reported that the branch, which was formed barely four years ago, goes into
SPECIAL SERVICES: Two special services over the last two weekends at St James' Church have been well supported by people in the village which has given considerable encouragement to the organisers. The Songs of Praise was devised by Mervyn Huggins and
GARDENING CLUB: The January meeting of the Moreton Gardening Club held in the WI Hall was well attended. The speaker for the evening was Mr Hallam who gave an illustrated talk entitled Oxfordshire, One Man's View. This covered local history, customs,
INNER WHEEL CLUB: The Inner Wheel Club of Pershore held a frugal lunch to mark Inner Wheel Day. This was held at the home of Elizabeth Crowther on January 12 and more than £200 was made for the charity Hope and Homes.
MUSIC SOCIETY: Shipston Music Society opened the programme for 2006 with a live concert presented by The Chameleon Ensemble. This was a repeat visit by this well known group of musicians which was formed in 1993. They have played as resident artists in
A DAY of street art and dance workshops is on offer at Malvern to give young people an opportunity to find out more about hip-hop. The event ties in with a new hip-hop production TAG... Me vs The City and has two types of workshop, one on street art and
THE Royal Shakespeare Company celebrates the life and work of Arthur Miller with one of his greatest plays, The Crucible. Miller, who died on February 10, 2005, wrote The Crucible in 1953 during the McCarthy period. He set the play against the backdrop
NEW Triad Theatre Company presents Oscar Wilde's masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest, the story of Jack Worthing, found in a handbag at London's Victoria Station as a baby. He needs to discover his identity before he can marry Lady Bracknell's
IAN Richardson is as nice as you would imagine him to be. An early morning chat on the phone is as easy as meeting your neighbour over the hedge. Star of the small and big screen, as well as a veteran stage actor (it's where he thinks he belongs), the
TWO new plays will be performed next month by the new theatrical companies based at Evesham Arts Centre. The Green, Red and Blue Light companies for writers, actors and crew will be joining forces for the plays, which will be performed over three nights
TALENTED comedy entertainer Gordon Peters, who has appeared in TV favourites Are You Being Served, Hi-di-Hi, Little Britain and Dad's Army, recreates the comic genius of Flanders and Swann in Worcester next month. Mud Mud, The Gasman Cometh and Madeira
LAST Wednesday, fusion cooking came to the Courtyard - not in the kitchens but on stage, where the Hereford Concert Society had something very different on the menu: a band called Zum. Zum have been around for five years and have taken far too long to
GARDEN CLUB: The 2006 programme begins on Monday at the usual time and venue when Tony Hamblin returns with an illustrated talk The Magic of the Celtic Islands. The treasurer will collect the subscriptions, at the same rate as last year. The £10 sub covers
Events/talks 26 Yoga/stress management introductory talk, with six week course/workshop to follow, 7pm. 01432 268760. 29 Talk by local author Sam Llewellyn, How to write exciting stuff, Presteigne Assembly Rooms, 3pm. 01544 267163. 2 Public meeting with
THE new season at Kidderminster's Rose Theatre will kick off on Monday, promising plenty of comedy, drama and music. Resident theatre company, The Nonentities, will present Billy Liar, by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, which charts Billy's ups and
COTSWOLD-based entertainers The Midnight Storytellers will give the first professional performance at the new Sandhurst Village Hall, near Gloucester, on Friday, February 17. Country Tales from the Cotswolds is modern story cabaret for grown-ups, featuring
BUDDING young performers in Wyre Forest have been invited to audition for the chance to appear in a hit musical. The London Palladium production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be at the Birmingham Hippodrome from Monday, June 26 until Saturday, September
TIME is running out to get tickets to see 60s chart toppers, The Bachelors, at a Kidderminster venue. Organiser, Steve Jones, said tickets were selling quickly for the show, at Kidderminster Harriers Social Club on Saturday, February 11, and only a limited
PARKFIELDS Gallery's 2006 exhibition programme gets off to a colourful start on Saturday with its latest exhibition, Valerie McLean and Friends. Valerie McLean enjoys creating vibrant intuitive paintings, often using brightly coloured inks together with
A BEWDLEY-based rock band will be playing in Birmingham on Thursday, February 2. Great Eskimo Hoax, who are made up of singer, Joe Robinson, 19, guitarist, Andy Halford, 19, drummer, Dominic Hand, 19 and bass player, David Bailey, 18, will be in The Catapult
A CONCERT to raise money to help children in Sri Lanka who were caught up in the Asian tsunami disaster will be staged at Kidderminster Town Hall. The Band of the West Mercia Constabulary, the Kidderminster Valentines and the Kidderminster Male Choir
A RAILWAY enthusiast who, as a schoolboy spent many happy hours watching the trains travelling in and out of Kidderminster station has recorded his memories. Bewdley resident, Adrian Turley, has published The Railway at Kidderminster in the 1940s, which
PLACES are still available for children who want to join a weekly dance class in Kidderminster. It is open to 13 to 18 year olds and is held at Baxter College from 4.15pm until 5.45pm on Tuesdays. To book a place, ring DanceFEST on 01905 611199 or email
THE name may be new to the Hereford recruitment landscape, but Flexforce, founded in 2005 by Mel Donnelly, brings together an established, highly experienced and highly valued team of consultants who, between them, have been involved for more than 40
As retired headteacher of Alderman Knight School and in response to my Chairman of Governors kind words in your letters column of 19th January, I would like to reciprocate. Dave Waters is a very astute, considerate and effective Chairman. I always found
I visited the Evesham Council Offices to buy some garden refuse bags and was told the charge would be £1.60p per bag. Could someone please explain how such an exorbitant charge can be made for something so essential? I am aware that garden refuse can
I WAS pleased to read the report in the issue dated January 19 regarding the closure of the Hill and Moor WI after so many successful years. However, I was more than disappointed to read that "I had been a member for more than 20 years." This should have
YEOMANS Valerie Val Passed away peacefully at home on January 21st, 2006, aged 69 years. Formerly of 'Home and Garden Store' Astwood Road. Much loved wife of Sid, mum to Neil and Nigel, mother in law to Jackie and Angie and grandmother to Mark, Leanne
BALLARD Ernest William Bill Passed away in Worcestershire Royal Hospital on Saturday, January 21st 2006, aged 92 years. Funeral service at Worcester Crematorium on Wednesday, February 1st at 12.30 p.m., donations, if desired, for the Friends of Beechwood
COOK Edna Passed away peacefully on January 23rd, 2006, aged 76 years. Dearly loved by Dave, Melanie, grandaughters Michelle and Emma and great grandaughter Alisha. The Funeral Service will take place at Churchill Church, Spetchley on Thursday, February
TAYLOR Harry Harry the Butcher Passed away peacefully at Worcestershire Royal Hospital on January 22nd, aged 89 years. Husband of the late Joyce, father of Sandra and Cheryl, and a dear 'Poppy' to his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Funeral Service
LOWE Joseph Joe Another year passes but you are always in our thoughts. Loved and missed still by Margaret, Tony, Christine and Wayne. x x x x Published in paper 26/01/2006
FRIENDLY parents and grandparents are needed to help people who have made 152 calls since April to a charity supporting families with young children in Worcester and Wychavon. Forty-six of these calls have come in the last eight weeks, as the season of
Pupils and sports enthusiasts in Evesham could be seen in a better light if plans to revamp the sports facilities at a local school are approved. The county council wants to upgrade the floodlights on the sports pitch at Evesham High School, create a
YOUNG achievers have been recognised for their success in training for vocational qualifications. Protocol Skills, which provides vocational training in areas such as customer service and hospitality in Worcestershire, held its annual awards day at the
TONIGHT: Birmingham: Marriott Hotel - Lupa. Stourbridge: Broadway Inn - Green Bay. Malvern: Forum Theatre - Feinstein Ensemble play Bach. Coventry: Warwick Arts Centre - Waterboys. Big Youth. Wolverhampton: Robin R'n'B2 - The Carpet Crawlers. FRIDAY:
AN Oscar-style ceremony has been staged to celebrate the achievements of people living and working in the Oldington and Foley Park area of Kidder-minster. More than 200 people attended the first Pathfinder Oscars at Kidderminster Town Hall, hosted by
WORCESTER Ladies continued their good form from last week with a nine-try bonanza in the 51-0 victory over Thirsk at Sixways. The last time the teams met, the match ended in a 0-0 draw and this game pr-omised another close en-counter as Worcester were
A POLICE officer did not attempt to resuscitate a man - who had spent most of his life in Kidderminster - who hanged himself in a Worcester bail hostel, an inquest heard. Police and the Prisons and Probation Service Ombudsman investigated Kevin Bray's
A CREATIVE Wyre Forest youngster has used his skills to think up and help design the new name for the district's after-school clubs. Peter Gallagher, 11, came up with the name, Fun Factory, while taking part in the district council's summer Kids Klub.
PARISH COUNCIL: The council met on Tuesday, January 10. Highways: Permission for planters to be installed at the entrances to the village in Pershore Road and Tewkesbury Road looks likely to be granted. A site meeting will be held to resolve the positioning
PARISH COUNCIL: The council met on January 16. Parish Plan: The group had requested financial support to kick off the exercise with the whole village. It was agreed that expenses up to £250 would be accepted. Station Road verge damage: Views were expressed
THE new president of the Moreton-in-Marsh and District Agricultural and Horse Show Society is John Lloyd, a long-serving member of council and former chairman of the horse section. He was presented with his badge of office by retiring president Douglas
GARDENING CLUB: The January meeting of the Moreton Gardening Club held in the WI Hall was well attended. The speaker for the evening was Mr Hallam who gave an illustrated talk entitled Oxfordshire, One Man's View. This covered local history, customs,
MUSIC SOCIETY: Shipston Music Society opened the programme for 2006 with a live concert presented by The Chameleon Ensemble. This was a repeat visit by this well known group of musicians which was formed in 1993. They have played as resident artists in
ACTOR Michael Hadley, who is playing the character of The Franklin in the RSC's production of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, took time off to visit the grave of a franklin discovered in a Cherington church. The visit was arranged by church secretary Richard
THE Swan Theatre Amateur Company presents One Fine Day, a moving one-man play about family life and love. This play was originally performed to critical acclaim at London's Albery Theatre in 1995, handling its subject matter with sensitivity, warmth and
KIDDERMINSTER coach Neil Howarth is ready and waiting for a Conference call - but the assistant boss will not be knocking on the manager's door if he is not given an on-pitch part to play. Howarth, who came on as an injury time substitute in the LDV defeat
CARLISLE 1 HARRIERS 0 THE debate will rage as to whether the Harriers cup is half full or half empty after the last drop was drained from their involvement in knockout football. Pessimists will point to them being battered into submission in a one-sided
COCK & Magpie captain Neil Harrison saw his team lose out to Rising Sun A in the Banks's Bewdley Darts League after an incredible night of action. Alf Common and Harrison brushed Sun's Mick Link and Ian Parker in the doubles and the skipper did the
STOURPORT'S dynamic duo managed to raise £470 for charity after an adventure in which they braved freezing waters. Generous 12-year-olds, Tom Sheldon and Elliot Preece, took the fund-raising plunge at the Saundersfoot Swim dressed as comic superheroes
STOURPORT Forward has invited people to an information meeting about its Community Chest programme. The regeneration group will give presentations about the initiative at Lickhill Community Centre next Thursday,at 6pm. A share of £23,100 is being offered
ST John's A beat St John's E 4-1 in the latest round of matches in Kidderminster and District Wednesday Snooker League. Franche A hold a 10-point lead at the top of the table over Franche C, though the latter's latest results were not to hand at the time
STOURPORT Men's indoor team have been relegated from the national league after a poor performance over the past few weekends. They won two and lost six of their eight games and finished second bottom of their division after the fixtures in Hull. However
KIDDERMINSTER Ladies drew 2-2 at Badsey in an extremely physical contest. Giverny Gallagher and Kerry Venskus got the goals for Kiddermisnter who were only prevented from winning by the fine from of the opposition keeper. Player of match was Rachael Wills
Running MEMBERS of the Amazing Feet Running Club started the Inter-Club Race League at Sunday's Not The Roman IX 12km road race, at Stratford-upon-Avon. The 16 athletes joined the field of around 600 on a bitterly cold morning, the race starting in fog
Mick Round drew peg 15 for the second week in succession, and improved on the previous week's second place by winning Sunday's open on the Furnace Pool, though the weight was 5oz down. Sunday Open: Round (Furnace Mill) 54-6 (15, using corn), Paul Savings
Wednesday: Ed Turner (OB Black) 58-12 (Chestnut 36, corn and maggot 16m), Mel Kitson (Rod & Gun) 54-14 (Sycamore 36, corn and pellet, side), Mick Plant (OB Black) 43-1 (Sycamore 2). Thursday, 27: Eric Bancroft (Rod & Gun) 39-2 (Oak 32, pellet,
HOME entertainment items, including a DVD recorder, were stolen in a burglary at a Kidderminster house. A rear window on the property in Salisbury Drive was forced open between 2.30pm and 11.45pm on Sunday, January 15. A Sony PlayStation2, worth £115,
AN 81-year-old man is facing a prison sentence for sex attacks on an eight-year-old girl. William Maund, of Badgers Walk, Stourport, was convicted by a jury last Friday of four counts of indecent assault. He was found not guilty of rape against the same
HETA Pool: John Hodgetts 13-9, Michael Charlesworth 11-14, David Moult 8-15. There is a Winter League match on Sunday - anglers to meet at the lay-by near the Mitre Oak, Crossway Green, at 7.30am.
WYRE Forest drivers are being warned to step up security after thieves targeted satellite navigation systems. Five of the hi-tech gadgets, each worth hundreds of pounds, were stolen from vehicles in the town between January 6 and 10. Motorists are being
The annual meeting will be held tomorrow at Park Inn, Stourport Road, Kidderminster. There are 29 contests booked for this year, on 22 different pools. New members will be welcome. For further details telephone Chris Shuck on 01299 825458.
Those fishing the Winter League are asked to meet at Springfield car park for 8am on Sunday.
BEWDLEY Town have set their sights on progressing to a "whole new level" after stretching their West Midlands Premier Division unbeaten run to 10 games with a 2-1 win at Shawbury United. They have not lost a league game since the middle of October and
AS a pensioner living in Wyre Forest and facing a hip operation, I read all the articles on health matters with interest. The last paragraph in a letter in your January 5 issue, from David Priestnall, of Wyre Forest PCT, made me angry. In it he hopes
STOURPORT Swifts are still searching for stability in their struggling Southern Football League division one west squad with teenage talisman Chris Hughes the latest player to depart Walshes Meadow. Despite the scoreline, Hughes shone in Stourport's 4
A VALE of Evesham plant centre boss who usually uses £2-£3,000 worth of water a year has been sent a bill for a massive £95,516. Then to add to his problems, when Philip Insley, of the Proculture Plant Centre, Knowle Hill, Evesham, tried to query the
I WOULD like to respond to Mr Marshall-James letter (Shuttle/Times & News, January 12) regarding his views of the hunt near the A449. It is important when we are hunting false trails to cover all possibilities. It would be nave and foolish to assume
CHADDESLEY Corbett warmed up for their forthcoming Worcestershire Junior Cup semi-final against Fairfield Villa with a comfortable 4-0 home win over struggling Sedgley Town in West Mildands League division two. With new keeper David Anson unavailable,
MORE than 50 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion calling on Home Secretary Charles Clarke to consider alternative options to the current plans to restructure the police services. West Mercia's Police Authority chairman Paul Deneen joined his colleagues
LAST October I wrote to the Shuttle/Times and News, condemning Wyre Forest District Council's decision to consider building a multi-million pound civic headquarters, at a time when council tax charges were going through the roof. Replying to my letter
WHAT are Stourport & District Youth Football League trying to do to young people? Having managed about 10 founder member teams (Lickhill Colts) in this league - then called Stourport & District Under-14 League - back in 1974-75, I felt very sad
BURLISH Olympic Ladies had "elevenses" on Sunday, bashing Bredon 11-0. Debbie Prescott continued her superb scoring record with five goals, while Sarah Lojko hit a hat-trick. Mary Calder, Carla Worrall and player of the match Jo Carpenter also found the
KIDDERMINSTER Carol-ians came close to upsetting the form book during a competitive 17-9 defeat to Midlands Three West North leaders Bridgnorth. KCs produced a superb second half performance to frighten the table-toppers but it was too little too late
STOURPORT are still going strong at the top of North Mids South Two despite being given a run for their money by Bromyard in a 28-7 win. It took the Walshes Meadow men until the last 15 minutes to wrap up the victory which keeps them eight points ahead
KIDDERMINSTER under-14s ran in seven tries as they comfortably defeated Chaddesley 39-0. Braces from Will Short, Charlie Evans and Alex Hopkirk did the damage while Josh Bennett was also on target.There were two conversions. The under-sevens firsts beat
IF at first you don't succeed try, try, try again. That was the motto at Comberton Middle School when up-and-coming rugby ace Carl Robinson stopped by to pass on sporting tips to the pupils. The Worcester Warriors academy star called into the Borrington
WORCESTER Warriors director of rugby John Brain is almost certain to bring back Pat Sanderson for tomorrow's showdown at Bristol. But he remains adamant that the player's absence was not the reason for a run of three Premiership defeats in 13 days after
CHAIRMAN of selectors David Graveney believes England will lose the symbol of their side should Ashley Giles be ruled out of the tour of India. England face an anxious wait on their number one spinner's availability for the nine-week trek which begins
WORCESTER City boss Andy Preece admits the play-offs are back in sight after his side completed back-to-back Nationwide North away wins. City took another massive stride to easing their relegation concerns with a convincing 3-1 victory at Hinckley United
MARK Yates has trimmed his Kidderminster Harriers squad by releasing Patrick Flynn. The 21-year-old former Wolves player made a good impression in six Harriers games at right-back but has not appeared since Yates was appointed boss in early January. Flynn
STOURPORT Men's Firsts retained their English Indoor Hockey League Division One North status. They lost all four games at the weekend to Cannock (9-6), University of Birmingham (9-2), Sheffield UB (7-2) and Barford Tigers (10-1) to finish second-from-bottom
EVESHAM lost a high-scoring Coaching Solutions West Midlands Premier encounter with Stone 6-4. They could have won the game but failed to capitalise on Walsall's shaky defence with the score at 3-3. Player-manager Martin Husbands said: "That's possibly
DRIVING instructor Janet Gosling is hitting the road for a spot of pampering after scooping the top prize in the Operation Covert Christmas raffle. Mrs Gosling, of Pembroke Way, Stourport, won a £500 holiday voucher - donated by Kidderminster's Co-op
A KIDDERMINSTER artist with fond memories of his days in the Cubs and Scouts has used his talents to raise money for Operation Covert. James Hall has been busy putting together a collection of work for his first home town exhibition to be held at Kidderminster
TWO new plays will be performed next month by the new theatrical companies based at Evesham Arts Centre. The Green, Red and Blue Light companies for writers, actors and crew will be joining forces for the plays, which will be performed over three nights
THE president welcomed five visitors to the first meeting of the New Year. Members voted for the Worcestershire Federation Executive Committee ready for the annual council meeting at Malvern on March 21. Members were also encouraged to attend county events
FLOCK masters have been warned to keep a special watch over their sheep following a dog attack at Cropthorne. Dog owners are also being asked to make sure their pets are under control after a pedigree Cotswold ewe belonging to Richard Mumford, of Upper
WOMEN are being urged to sign up for a charity run in Chipping Norton in June. Cancer Research UK's Race for Life will be run at Heythrop Park in Chipping Norton on Sunday, June 18. It will be the fourth time Chipping Norton has hosted the 5km fund-raising
ARRANGEMENTS for the group meeting in March, which will be on the theme of "Trafalgar", were finalised. Reminders were given of the craft and chat evenings which start on Tuesday, March 17 at 7.30pm at Regina's house. The "Beads" pack will arrive for
THE first meeting of the New Year will be on February 8 when Frank Townsend will give a talk about canals. The meeting, at Franche village hall, Wolverley Road, Kidderminster, will start at 8pm. For further information telephone Christine Matthews on
THE January meeting was the New Year party which ended with a short beetle drive and raffle. Notices were given out, including details of the annual council meeting at Malvern on March 21. Names to be taken next month. The speaker for February 7's meeting
THE institute celebrated its 88th anniversary in January. Diary dates included the Lucy Hingley Lecture on diabetes on March 17, the spring rally on May 15 and the annual council meeting on May 15. Myra Godwin asked members for competition ideas. "Dowsing
AT the January meeting, members were asked to knit vests for children in Africa with AIDS. An outing to Denman College will take place on July 28, there will be a skittles evening and supper on March 23 and a visit to see My Fair Lady at the Rose Theatre
TALENTED comedy entertainer Gordon Peters, who has appeared in TV favourites Are You Being Served, Hi-di-Hi, Little Britain and Dad's Army, recreates the comic genius of Flanders and Swann in Worcester next month. Mud Mud, The Gasman Cometh and Madeira
THE Wyre Forest heart support group which is affiliated to the British Heart Foundation, will welcome Geoff Gough of Bromsgrove Heartstart to the meeting on Monday, February 13. An instructive evening is promised, for people who would like to know what
WHEN leading a guided walk around the nature reserves, one activity is to turn over a log or a stone to have a quick glance at what wildlife may live beneath. I always choose a log or stone near a path that I will have already used and I tend to use this
THE holiday competition, for the AG Maiden Cup, was held at the January 10 meeting. Entries were: Rio de Janeiro by John Bryan, Ring of Fire by Martin Humphries, Paris in the Spring by Roy Rowles, Buddy Diving by Mike Rendall, Nashville and Memphis by
FARMERS are holding a series of open meetings in the West Midlands region for livestock and dairy producers to allow discussion on the Defra consultation on TB. The consultation is likely to produce some lively discussion because the National Farmers
EMERGENCY work has to be carried out on a roof which could fall in at any time at Bewdley tourist attraction. Tiles and timber covering the top of the buildings either side of The Shambles at Bewdley Museum have been deteriorating over several years and
LAST week I met Jane Kennedy, MP, Minister of State in the Department of Health with other MPs to impress upon her the need for NHS approval for the drugs for Alzheimer's Disease. The decision of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
A BEWDLEY pub has swept the board for the fourth year in a row after being crowned the best seafood pub of the year. The Running Horse, on Long Bank, has clinched the title of National Seafood Pub from a chain which has 170 pubs throughout the country
VALE of Evesham-based Bomford Turner Ltd has donated a tractor to help a Romanian farm. The Massey Ferguson tractor has been sent to Oat Farm, which was set up by the Faure-Alderson Romanian Appeal. The tractor was handed over by Geoffrey Davies, managing
I AM looking forward to Bristol tomorrow night like you wouldn't believe! It feels like I haven't played rugby in ages and I am itching to get back on the park. The game will be a big challenge for us. It's a difficult place to go and Bristol are probably
TENBURY Town Council is to re-visit the possibility of providing overnight parking for heavy lorries in the town. Councillor Joe Watson, who proposed that the town council's car park in Palmer's Meadow could be used, said: "We cannot get away from the
THE new season at Kidderminster's Rose Theatre will kick off on Monday, promising plenty of comedy, drama and music. Resident theatre company, The Nonentities, will present Billy Liar, by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, which charts Billy's ups and
A Worcestershire MP has tabled a parliamentary question to establish whether Evesham and Vale patients are suffering from poor care at Worcestershire Royal Hospital. Sir Michael Spicer, MP for West Worcestershire, asked Secretary of State for Health Patricia
MORE than 50 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion calling on Home Secretary Charles Clarke to consider alternative options to the current plans to restructure the police services. West Mercia's Police Authority chairman Paul Deneen joined his colleagues
COTSWOLD-based entertainers The Midnight Storytellers will give the first professional performance at the new Sandhurst Village Hall, near Gloucester, on Friday, February 17. Country Tales from the Cotswolds is modern story cabaret for grown-ups, featuring
A NEW class has been set up at Bidford library aimed at helping residents over the age 50 to become more computer literate. More than 14 villagers attended the free Silver Surfers class at the Bramley Way library last Friday and took part in the class
COLOURFUL lanterns will light up Kidderminster on Saturday to celebrate the Chinese New Year. A procession, which will also feature Chinese lion dancers, will travel around the town centre to mark the Year of the Dog, which starts on Sunday. Anyone is
YOUNG readers in Wyre Forest could benefit from a book swap shop in Kidderminster this month. Parents wishing to donate their children's old reading books can now do so at the Early Learning Centre in the Rowland Hill Centre. In exchange, parents who
CLASSICAL music enthusiasts will be meeting to hear a presentation of recorded music to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the BBC Symphony Orchestra Lyndon Jenkins, who is vice-president of the Classical Music Society, will present the evening at Holy
AN inquest into the death of a retired director of a carpet fitting company has been adjourned. George Edwards was admitted to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital on Wednesday, December 28 following a fall while in respite care at Bryden House, Marlpool
