ANDY Preece says winning is all that matters as Worcester City go into Saturday's FA Cup clash with Midland Alliance side Romulus. The City boss has praised his side of late for improved performances, particularly after the 3-2 comeback against Blyth
HEREFORD United are aiming to bounce back from two defeats on the road when they entertain Coca-Cola League Two basement boys Macclesfield Town on Saturday. The Bulls were beaten 1-0 at Wrexham on Sunday and 2-1 at Bristol Rovers on Wednesday despite
A WORCESTERSHIRE councillor joined a delegation battling for a better deal on education funding in the county. Councillor Liz Eyre, the county council's cabinet member for children and young people, joined six other representatives from the funding group
SIR - I agree with John Phillpott (September 2) Britain is barmy - after all, it produced me in 1937. GEORGE COWLEY, Worcester.
SIR - Clare Short has announced that she will not stand for election next time. I think this is the most honest thing she has done. She is a failed minister and should have stepped down a long time ago, because I think she hasn't been a very good team
A TRIO of craftsmen from the Malvern area have scooped the three top prizes in the World Pole Lathe Championships. Ben Orford, from Cradley, Mike Abbott, of Bishops Frome, and Dave Jackson, from West Malvern, were first, second and third respectively
SCHOOLS will benefit from a new road safety campaign being launched across the county tomorrow. Worcestershire County Council's Caution Children Walking poster campaign is aimed at increasing awareness among drivers and provides posters to all schools
FORMER Newcastle midfielder Jamie McClen is in pole position to fill the considerable gap in the Kidderminster Harriers midfield left by Russ Penn's suspension for Saturday's visit of Crawley Town. Penn has been one of Mark Yates' most impressive players
EVESHAM United manager Paul West believes league form will go out of the window when his side face Moneyfields in the FA Cup on Saturday (3pm). The Robins are still unbeaten in Southern League division one midlands after two wins and four draws, while
BROMSGROVE Rovers manager Rod Brown believes he has landed a real gem in Scott Stamps - if the defender can prove his fitness. The former Kidderminster Harriers left-back or wide midfielder signed for Rovers on Tuesday and played an hour of their 1-0
STOURPORT Swifts are riding the crest of a wave after two wins out of two. Following a disappointing start to the season, manager Roy Rencher set his side the target of winning three games in a row from last Saturday. They began with a 2-1 home victory
A DIGLIS couple have come through hard times to reach their golden wedding. Beryl Morris, then aged 19, met 23-year-old Ivor when she went round to his Whittington house to console his mother, with whom she worked, over a family death. The pair got
IF you have a heart attack in Malvern your chances or surviving have now improved thanks to a volunteer scheme. The West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust has trained nine volunteers in life saving skills, including the use of a portable defibrillator
THERE is anger in Droitwich after last week's decision for a major development at St George's Square to be given the go-ahead despite protests. Wychavon District Council's development control committee approved the plans last Thursday. The former car
SIR - After the Boxing Day tsunami the people of Britain gave generously to the victims. However, in the province of Aceh, Christians are forbidden to move into the homes built by Christian organisations. Do you ever feel you are being taken for a ride
PRIZE-winning bunnies are giving children at Acorns Children's Hospice a thumping lift with a national show to support hospice care. Show organiser Vic Ingram, of Hereford, has joined the city's Mayor's Charity Appeal by dedicating next month's show
HUNDREDS of people in Worcestershire will be sipping coffee tomorrow as part of Macmillan Cancer Relief's World's Biggest Coffee Morning fund-raiser. The event is the cancer support charity's flagship event and is now in its 16th year. It has grown
SNIFFER dogs were used by police in Worcester to check nightclub revellers for drugs. One person was found carrying a haul of ecstasy tablets after the dogs were used to patrol the city's streets, and in particular queues outside city bars and clubs.
OUT-GOING Worcestershire chairman John Elliott has singled out the impending ground re-development at New Road as the legacy of his eight-year tenure. Elliott, who has been involved with the County since joining the playing staff as a 16-year-old, has
A MAGNIFICENT floral display took centre stage at the church of St Laurence in Bidford last weekend as celebrations to mark the putative 800th anniversary of the church continued. A programme of concerts is also planned as vicar David Hall and his parishioners
A FLOWER festival held at St Laurence's Church, Bidford to mark its 800th anniversary raised £3,000. Last Friday's event attracted more than 20 people from Bidford and the surrounding villages with each participant creating a floral display depicting
AN Offenham author has been hailed a "heroine" as she attempts to emulate the success of one of the country's finest writers. Sheila Jones, a former teacher and managing director of a recruitment company in the City of London has completed a sequel to
A YEAR on since traditional butcher's shop Rightons of Shipston reopened its doors under new ownership, marking the transformation of the family business into a highly successful local food emporium, it has been hailed as one of the country's 50 Best
A GROUP of ten Pershore Group of Colleges students, led by horticultural lecturer Duncan Coombs, went on a study tour of China. Their aim was to record the flora of Yunnan and Sichuan, a wild and mountainous region of south west China, famous for its
THE Royal Association of Dairy farmers has called for the industry to unite and establish a National Dairy Body to introduce a voluntary milk regulator and the concept of Fair Trade Milk. Meanwhile, the association remains quietly confident, optimistic
AS part of Worcestershire's acclaimed Rural and Community Touring Scheme, Shindig, Irish Quartet The Graffiti Classics bring their special brand of musical mayhem to Cleeve Prior Memorial Village Hall. They are a string quartet with double bass replacing
A WEALTH of musical tributes is being lined up for Worcester's greatest son- by the choir which bears his name. Next year sees the 150th anniversary since the birth of Sir Edward Elgar and the city's Elgar Chorale has lined up performances of some his
READING Jim Powell's recent letter, I would modify his suggestions somewhat: 1 Reverse the traffic flow in both Swan Lane and Oat Street; 2 A mini roundabout at the junctions of each with High Street; 3 Make Mill Street twao-way so that traffic from Port
BY Government edict, analogue broadcasting will cease in the ITV Central Region five years from now. After year 2011, if we wish to watch TV or listen to the radio we shall require TV and radio sets which can receive digital transmissions. The problem
SENSATIONAL, groundbreaking, masterpiece and fascinating. These are just some of the comments from the international press about media performance D.A.V.E. (Digitally Amplified Video Engine), which can be seen at Malvern Theatres next month. Based on
WILLERSEY Footlights, an amateur dramatic group celebrates 20 years of treading the boards, will mark the anniversary with a new show next week. The Lost Secret reveals the truth about a village myth, through a rich mixture of comedy, song and dance.
LOCAL residents, groups and organisations are being invited to take a sneak preview tour of Pershore's new hospital and health centre before it officially opens it doors. Wychavon District Council, which has built the facility and will lease it back to
PUPILS from St Barnabas First and Middle School in Drakes Broughton joined thousands across the UK to sing for peace during the International Day of Peace last Thursday. "No wars will stop us singing to show commitment to Peace Day in homes, schools,
HE may be a mild mannered support analyst during the day, but in the evening a Pershore man turns into a determined athlete driven to raise money for charity. Ben Andrews, 36, of Cherry Orchard will be doing the Great North Run this Sunday October, 1
LADIES' Guild: Members met on September 5 at Wulstan Hall, Pershore. The speaker was Frank Townsend - a genealogist who was researching his own family tree. The illustrated talk was entitled Family Tree Tapping. He explained how his own research had started
AN Evesham prison officer spoke for the first time this week of his "18 months of hell" since he was suspended from his job following allegations that he had committed a racially aggravated assault in the town centre. As Andy Hutchison prepared to return
A NATIONAL convention to celebrate the success of market towns nationally comes to Evesham today and one town will be chosen as the most successful of all. The 2006 Action for Market Towns National Convention is named Changing Places. It will seek to
WORCESTERSHIRE County Council's children's services councillor joined a key delegation to lobby for extra cash for the region's schools. Councillor Liz Eyre, cabinet member for children and young people, was one of seven representatives from the F40 group
ONE of the few remaining traditional plum orchards in the Vale of Evesham has been rescued, thanks to a £13,700 award from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The grant means Worcestershire Wildlife Trust will be able to set to work restoring and protecting part
STAFF at Abbey Medical Practice in Evesham no longer face a month long wait for lighting in their car park after Wychavon District Council agreed to pull forward the date of installation - following a number of calls by the Journal. The council had planned
A FOUR-day music festival using local talent is planned for Evesham next year. The Festival of Music is being organised by the Rotary Club of Evesham from Thursday to Saturday, June 27-30. Events will be held in venues including St Lawrence, All Saints
THEY might be seen as one of the most unpopular items on Britain's roads, but according to statistics released recently, speed cameras are saving lives in the Vale. The West Mercia Safety Camera Partnership issued their annual review for 2005/2006 and
AS the keys to a multi-million pound hospice were handed over on Monday, the initiative received a welcome financial boost from Rotary clubs in the area. No sooner had the official hand-over taken place at the brand new, £5.25m St Richards Hospice, a
SIR - I refer to letter from Peter Alcock (Letters, August 14). First he suggests that the EU flag is not a "valid" flag. This statement needs clarification. This correspondent also suggests that 60 per cent of English people do not wish to be in the
HUNT Bert Joan and Family would like to thank all Relatives and Friends for their support and messages of sympathy received in their sad loss. Many thanks to all who attended the Funeral Service and for the donations received for the Kidderminster Renal
ROLLINS Ann Florence Passed peacefully away in Worcestershire Royal Hospital on September 23rd, aged 90 years. A dear wife of Arthur and a much loved and greatly missed mother of Gloria. She will be sadly missed by all her Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren
SHELLAM Kath nee Phillips Passed away two years ago today. Thinking of you today and always. God bless. Bob, Esther, Alan, Hannah, Millie, Tom and Laura xxx Published in paper 28/09/2006
STRAIN Bert Passed away twenty three years today. Thinking of you always. Sandra, Wendy and Families. xxx Published in paper 28/09/2006
SHELLAM Kath Passed away two years ago September 28th Dearly loved deeply missed and always in our thoughts. Husband Dave, Ashleigh, Tracey and Chris. Published in paper 28/09/2006
JORDAN Bert Lost to us a year ago today. Fondest memories. Lucy, Brian, Caroline, Elisha, Tarnia Published in paper 28/09/2006
Laing Homes (West Midlands) has been granted full planning permission for an exclusive £7.5 million development in the picture-postcard village of Inkberrow. Barley Meadows is a development of contemporary but sympathetically-designed and spacious family
While a sensible skincare regime can prevent many skin problems such as blocked pores, dehydration or sun damage, there are certain issues that can only be resolved with professional treatment. Springhill Clinic specialises in permanent blemish removal
A BIDFORD GP claims the recent review of the acute services at Coventry and Warwickshire's five hospitals will see an increase in waiting time for patients in need of life saving treatment. A public consultation meeting was held this month at Stratford
A BIDFORD householder may have disturbed thieves when she returned home after a shopping trip on Monday. The occupant from Falcon Crescent found offenders had forced their way into the bungalow through the back door after climbing over a fence and a wall
BIDFORD residents will be able to learn how to save on fuel at an exhbition. The South Warwickshire Energy Efficiency (SWEEP) team will hold the roadshow on Monday, October 2 at Bidford parish council meeting room from 6-9pm. The display will offer villagers
PARISH Council: Local transport: It was agreed to request an update regarding the bus service to North Littleton from Worcestershire County Council. For the bus shelter (crossroads), an order has gone in for sides and seating. Cleeve Road: A request has
DEDICATED Offenham villagers who have totted up a collective 230 years helping the Poppy Appeal have been honoured for their charitable work. Awards and certificates were handed out by Jeff King, the vice-chairman of the Evesham branch of the Royal British
THE country's largest festival of forestry, woodland and arboricultural equipment, the APF International Forest Machinery Exhibition, was staged on the Ragley Hall estate. There were 250 exhibitors and 16,000 visitors over the three days from Thursday
CLIENTS visiting a Pershore hairdressing salon are being given a musical bonus, with proprietor and stylist Nick Long throwing in live entertainment for no extra charge. Nick, who is currently in rehearsals for the musical Godspel, which opens at Malvern
EVESHAM Arts Centre is making final preparations to ensure its latest production goes with a bang. Showtime 2006 A Musical Extravaganza takes place on Friday and Saturday, September 29 and 30, with performances from the Vale Connection Ladies Chorus and
Dame Felecity Lott has been forced to with draw from a concert in Cheltenham at short notice. Her place will be taken by fellow soprano Sally Matthews, who will join the Orchestra of St John's in the first of the Cheltenham Concert Series at the town
FORMER Malvern girl and award winning singer Clare Teal is set to make a return to The Forum Theatre, Malvern on Friday, October 13 with a new band line up and songs from the hit UK comedy film Confetti. Two songs written by the Sony/BMG artist were chosen
WITH more than 50 albums, two Grammy Awards and consistently sold-out world tours, Jack Jones is famous for his wit, sensitivity and vocal power. One of the major singers of our time, Jack's records include The Race is On, Call me Irresponsible and What
I READ, in amazement, the letter from Mr J T Powell regarding Setting the blueprint for Vale's traffic. This letter contained very little substance but carried a sting in the tail for both the Highways Agency and the local council tax payers. In his capacity
ALONG with other drivers on a short stretch of the M40 recently, we were the first, to experience four lane, motorway driving in this country, by using the hard shoulder during congestion periods. Instead of the expense of widening motorways, this scheme
100 Years Ago September 29, 1906 The Church of St Andrew, Cleeve Prior, after being thoroughly restored, was re-opened on Saturday afternoon. The Bishop of Worcester was announced to be present to dedicate the new organ which has been presented to the
WORCESTER Gilbert and Sullivan Society presents Yeoman of the Guard at the Swan Theatre, Worcester from Tuesday to Saturday, October 3 to 7. The Yeoman of the Guard is one of Gilbert and Sullivan's best loved operettas. Set on Tower Green at the Tower
A GLOUCESTERSHIRE artist is to exhibit her new collection of nature paintings with an abstract twist. Sue Law's latest collection is available for viewing in Lower Slaughter Village Hall from Wednesday, September 27-Tuesday, October 3 from 10.30am-5.30pm
YOUNGSTERS at a Pershore school have been reaping the rewards of their own little vegetable patch this week. Pupils at Holy Redeemer Primary School on Priest Lane, have been sampling the delights such as beans, tomatoes, giant pumpkins and potatoes from
PERSHORE councillors decided to install a CCTV system in the walkway next to the town hall in order to prevent more incidents of vandalism in the area. Councillors voted to install the cameras after a number of incidents in the area involving damage to
PERSHORE residents are being invited to lend their ideas to the town's new parish plan. Letters have already been sent out to alert those who are needed to attend a meeting on Friday, October 20. Karen Humphries from Community First and Andrew Ward from
SEVENTEEN Primary Care Trusts across the West Midlands will be responsible for spending £6.5 billion each year on health and health care for our benefit. One of the new trusts that comes into being on Sunday is the Worcestershire PCT, which will be led
A MAN has been arrested after the death of a motorcyclist when his two-wheeler vehicle collided with a car and caravan and another vehicle on Tuesday. The biker riding a Peugeot Speedfight 100 scooter was driving along the A46 Evesham bypass, near the
ARMED robbers injured a woman and threatened a man with a knife before stealing thousands of pounds from a Vale post office. Three men wearing scarves or balaclavas burst into Harvington Post Office, Village Street, on Friday at around 3.15pm and left
A TALK will be held by two experts from Worcestershire's Archaeological Society next week about the history and construction of medieval barns. Nick Molyneux and Ian Tylers will give the lecture on Monday at the Worcester Association for the Blind, Bradbury
VALE motorists who continue to use their mobile phones while they are driving are facing a massive crackdown by West Mercia police. Senior officers decided to take the offensive after the latest figures showed more and more drivers were flouting the law
ROAD planners are to carry out a detailed traffic survey ahead of a proposed new development of 300 new homes off Badsey Road, Evesham, it was announced this week. The move follows a public consultation exercise which attracted more than 300 people to
STAFF at Evesham Library are inviting mums, dads, grandparents, children and friends to join in Family Learning Week. It is part of a national annual event, co-ordinated by the Campaign for Learning. Kicking off events at the Oat Street library will be
VALE MP Peter Luff is hoping a strongly worded letter will provoke the Prime Minister into aborting the "scandalous" cutting of hospital chaplains across Worcestershire. In the letter written last week the MP for Mid Worcestershire questioned Tony Blair's
HANDS-UP all those who did Shakespeare's Cymbeline at school? Even if you did, it wouldn't have been anything like the latest offering in the Complete Works Festival in Stratford. Now before all you purists reach for the Shakepeare Book of Insults, you
SIR - I have just read Mark Beunderman's report for the EU Observer, and I quote: "The European Commission will from next week onwards start to send its proposals for EU laws directly to national parliaments for comment, but it has made clear that it
KITE Jean Elizabeth Formerly of Stonehall Common, Kempsey. Passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 23rd, 2006, aged 78 years. Funeral service at St Marys Church, Kempsey on Wednesday, October 5th, at 11.15 a.m., followed by cremation at Worcester
No longer the only source of heating in homes, fires and fireplaces aren't usually judged in terms of competence and adequacy these days - yet they're once again at the top of the list of desirable features. A fireplace puts heart into a house, and flickering
CHAPMAN - JONES Louise Stephanie Chapman, only daughter of James and Jacqueline Chapman of Kingswinford, married Steven Carl Jones, only son of the late Colin and Eileen Jones of Wrexham, at St Mary's Church in Kingswinford on August 4. The bride was
A FORMER member of the chart-toppers Boyzone has appeared at a Worcestershire Christian event - and exclusively revealed the band may be reforming. Shane Lynch was at the Bank House hotel, Bransford, near Worcester, to address an annual Alpha Supper
A DRINKING ban looks set to be enforced in an area of Worcester which has been blighted by anti-social behaviour. A no-alcohol zone that has been in force around the Tallow Hill industrial estate since February is set to be extended to include the Tallow
FORMER England and Worc-estershire cricketer Neal Radford, who is now managing director of Radford Ezy Net Ltd of Bishampton, has been awarded the contract to provide his company's cricket netting systems for next year's cricket world cup in the Caribbean
MALVERN'S magnificent floral displays have produced a golden result, securing a place in the record books. It is the first town to win a gold award at its first attempt in the Britain in Bloom Competition. Malvern was one of three towns to scoop gold
MANY women try to have it all - the perfect career, relationship and family. Now working mums could take another step towards achieving that goal under new plans revealed by the government. They will be able to select their hours and take paid time-off
A WORCESTER man whose mother was helped by an advice service for the disabled in the city has raised £650 for the charity to say thank you. Dean Awford, from Graham Street in Barbourne, held a garden party for nearly 100 people who enjoyed a DJ and cabaret
A QUAINT city pharmacy which is believed to have been dispencing medicines since the 1930s has closed its doors. On entering Murray's pharmacy in London Road, customers were taken back in time with stock on display on old wooden shelves. But now, Murray's
HISTORIC Hanbury Hall is opening its gates to reveal its traditional fruit trees in aid of celebrating the fruits of autumn on Saturday. Families are encouraged to enjoy a tour of their orchard's 136 apple trees. The orchard is home to an impressive
A £500,000 repair job to Upton Bridge could see the town grind to a halt. That is the fear of Upton-upon-Severn councillor Eric White, who thinks residents and businesses will be hit hard if the bridge is closed and no alternative arrangement made.
A LOCAL MP has met with former homeless people to find out how they are being helped and supported though funding. Dr Richard Taylor, independent MP for Wyre Forest, visited the Worcester YMCA on Tuesday, September 27, to talk to workers and residents
A MALVERN pub is celebrating after being named Town Pub of the Year for Britain by The Good Pub Guide 2007. The Nags Head in Malvern became the first pub to receive the accolade, which was devised after the editor noted that most town pubs were "fairly
THE Bishop of Worcester came face to face with himself after unveiling his new portrait at the Old Palace in the city's Deansway yesterday. The metre-wide and 1.3 metre-tall oil painting of the Rt Rev Dr Peter Selby is the official portrait during his
A NEW affordable housing threshold in Worcester has been rubber-stamped as the debate rumbles on over how many budget homes developers should produce. At Worcester City Council's cabinet meeting on Tuesday, members agreed to approve a plan so that developers
A UNIQUE partnership between nine Worcestershire Rotary Clubs has raised a staggering £78,000 towards the new St Richard's Hospice. About 200 members from the clubs in south west Worcestershire all backed the challenge to raise funds to pay for two relatives
One of the key themes of the Labour Party conference this week has been the strength and breadth of new policy ideas which are being considered. These may apply in Whitehall, devolved assemblies or local government. Since 1997 new Labour policies have
AS you sow, so shall you reap. Yes, we applaud the efforts by Worcester City Council to insist on 40 per cent affordable housing in any new development, but this newspaper would be failing in its duty if we didn't remind ourselves of the major contributing
A MAN has told of the terrifying moment a powerful dog ran loose and knocked him out cold. Fred Hackett, aged 66, was brushed aside by the rhodesian ridgeback when it lunged at his own pet labrador Buster. He fell on to the pavement and lost consciousness
SIR - I have just read the article online referring to George Chicken George' Webb passing on and it brought back some wonderful memories of my childhood and teenage years in Worcester before I moved away. George's dances were the highlight of a Saturday
WORCESTER City Youth got their FA Youth Cup campaign off to a flying start as they thrashed Cradley Town 10-0 in the first qualifying round at St George's Lane. Jamie Parker, Leigh Bergin and Matt Dinsmore all scored twice, while Ollie Clarke, Ryan Miller
SIR - I am increasingly struck by the absence of factual argument from Europhile correspondents. They always seem to know exactly what's best for the rest of us. They are able to see the big picture', which we are too thick to grasp. They have an unshakable
SIR - The Government has just released the Welfare Reform Bill, aiming to pave the way to an ambitious reforming statute which may rewrite the contract between state and citizen in relation to incapacity benefits. The present benefit is a modified version
DUTCH international Alexei Kervezee is the latest promising youngster to commit his future to Worcestershire. The 17-year-old, who has already played four ODI's for Holland including a top score of 47 against Sri Lanka, has signed a two-year deal at
