Archive

  • King Charles I High A levels

    A PASS rate of 90 per cent in A-level examinations has been reported by King Charles I High School, Kidderminster. The following gaining passes in the subjects indicated. Christopher Bagley En, G, GS, PE; Helen Bartlett DT, En, GS, PE; Laura Bassett DT

  • Stud farm inquiry opens

    CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new stud farm on land near the village of Ford are under investigation this week. An appeal hearing into the scheme, rejected by district councillors, started in Temple Guiting village hall on Tuesday. It is expected to last

  • Wolverley High School A levsl

    STUDENTS at Wolverley High School achieved A-level passes in the subjects shown. Thomas Billcliff En, GS; Andrew Bishop EL, GS; Richard Bowman En, GS, P, PE; Stewart Branford Gr, GS; Robert Finch Gr; David Ford A, EL, GS; Fiona Gardener B, EL, G, GS;

  • Village anger at Dome's millions

    VILLAGERS in the north Cotswolds have hit out at National Lottery bosses for saying they had no money to help replace their crumbling village hall - and then handing £47 million to the Millennium Dome. Fund-raisers in Condicote were stunned when they

  • All smiles for the great family show

    NEAR perfect show weather and a massive attendance have delighted organisers of last Saturday's Moreton Show. Lord Oaksey and Thewell pony winner Lucy Robbins and Tanya Robbins at Moreton Show. Show society secretary Tim Gardner said: "I was pretty pleased

  • Alcester Civic Society

    ON a perfect summer evening in July, 47 members arrived at Weethley Farm, where Lord Hertford, the society's chairman, had organised tractor and trailer for a tour of the farm. The Marquess accompanied members for the tour, which included Ragley Park,

  • Millers blow it once more

    Southam United 3, Feckenham 1 THE Millers shot themselves in the foot once again on Saturday. Despite creating the better chances they still went down. Southam opened the scoring when Gary Shaw's cross hit the far post and went in after only two minutes

  • Studley off to a great league start

    Badsey United 3, Studley FC 5 Studley started their Stratford Premier League campaign with a deserved victory against an experienced Badsey. For the first 30 minutes Studley played brilliant attacking football, mounting numerous attacks and the only surprise

  • Fixtures

    Saturday, September 9 DR MARTENS LEAGUE WESTERN DIVISION Blakenall v REDDITCH UNITED 3pm ko FA CARLING VASE 1ST ROUND QUALIFYING Highfield Rangers v Studley BKL 3pm ko MIDLAND FOOTBALL COMBINATION PREMIER DIVISION Coventry Sphinx v ALVECHURCH Massey Ferguson

  • Alcester Gardening Club

    On Thursday, August 17, Grace Darby, of Kings Heath, Birmingham, gave a slides talk on bulbs, corms and tubers. The subject of bulbs was so informative that time did not allow for corms and tubers to be covered. It is hoped these will come around again

  • Astwood Bank Operatic Society

    THE Society will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday, September 13, at 8pm at the Methodist Hall, Astwood Bank. Rehearsals for the society's 2001 production of Offenbach's La Vie Parisienne begin on Monday, September 4 ,at 7.30pm and every Monday thereafter

  • Friends of Coughton Court

    Marjory Carter, of the Lace Making Society, shared her 80 years' knowledge of lace making with the friends, who were fascinated and amazed by her skills and beautiful display of articles on show which were greatly admired. Lace making came to England

  • Redditch Cameo Club

    AT the August meeting, members enjoyed an afternoon of fun and games. There was a quiz, bring-and-buy stalls, games of hoy and a raffle. The next meeting will be a trip to Snowshill Manor on September 13.

  • Heavy away defeat

    BEWDLEY Rugby Club were soundly beaten 72-12 when they visited Old Hales who fielded a team mainly of first team and veteran players on Saturday. Bewdley's only first-half score was a try by a winger borrowed from their hosts. Fly-half Brendon Bentley

  • Taking the fight against crime to grass roots level

    OLD ladies twitching at net curtains, jotting down car registration numbers in notebooks and weekly get-togethers for nosy neighbours is how many see Neighbourhood Watch schemes. Just nosy parkers with nothing better to do. Well apparently, it's not like

  • Readers flock to use News website

    EVENING News readers flocking to its Worcestershire website have helped boost page visits by a staggering 80 per cent. Thisisworcestershire website has attracted 1,102,887 page visits already this year compared to a total of 864,270 last year. The Evening

  • Bounding to the top in the dog agility stakes

    YOU'VE seen it on TV - dogs speeding over see-saws, powering through tunnels and leaping fences like a champion hurdler. Greg Derrett with Jaycee. But who would have thought that tucked away in Aston Somerville is a young man called Greg Derrett who can

  • Park and smiles

    SCHOOL holidays might be at an end but that's no excuse for not visiting the Cotswold Wild Life Park at Burford. The millennium sees the Oxfordshire park, which is set in 160 acres of landscaped gardens and parkland, celebrate its 30th anniversary. It

  • Local plan sparks fears

    COUNCILLORS in Stourport fear the town may be neglected in the new local plan which will shape the future of the district in the next decade. A summary paper from Wyre Forest District Council, which sets out the framework for planning decisions on housing

  • Boys on form to lift cup

    HARD-DONE-BOYS won Stainweld Cricket League's Sunday Cup in the 28th over against Spennells with three wickets in hand. Steve Offley, who ended on 40no, was selected as the man-of-the match. Spennells 126-6 (Phil Mullen 38, Julian Varley 3-25), Hard Done

  • £43m scheme to prevent flooding

    NEARLY four miles of sewerage pipe is to be laid in Pershore as part of a £43m initiative by Severn Trent Water to protect Worcestershire rivers and prevent flooding. The water giant is to start the second phase of its initiative to replace the town's

  • Welcome for race sentence

    THE decision to sentence a neighbour from hell to probation after she hurled racial abuse at her Asian neighbours has been welcomed by race relations workers in Worcester. Stephanie Davis, a divorced mother-of-five, was sentenced to two years' probation

  • Dig at history

    Droitwich is as rich in archaeological sites as the city of York, a leading archaeologist has claimed. Derek Hurst, of Worcestershire Archaeological Service, who has worked in York, said he believed people should be made more aware of the spa town's colourful

  • Rail firms shrug off error on timetable

    A SPELLING mistake has led to hundreds of railway timetables being issued referring to "Worcester Scrub Hill" station. The blunder comes as preparations are fine-tuned to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Shrub Hill, which has undergone a facelift this

  • HIGHWAY SNUBBERY

    A ONE-stop-shop formed two years ago to streamline council highways operations has been slammed for operating like a secret club and achieving "zilch". Frustrated Bewdley town leaders have accused the joint Wyre Forest District Council and Worcestershire

  • Brave Daniel earns fun on the footplate

    IT was full steam ahead for dozens of brave children who had a day out to remember with the launch of special train trips. The youngsters, who are all patients at Birmingham Children's Hospital, were able to invite friends, brothers and sisters to join

  • Ambulance man's Roman coin delight

    A LONG-TIME hobby provided a moment to treasure for a metal detector enthusiast from Kidderminster when he hit the jackpot after 20 years. Philip Harriman unearthed a hoard of 419 Roman coins last year in a field near Chaddesley Corbett - and his find

  • 'Lost pensions' hope for factory workers

    WORKERS from former Kidderminster carpet factory Coloroll have been urged not to miss out on benefiting from a £2 million pension pay-out. The call from Wyre Forest MP David Lock follows his meeting with administrators Punter Southall & Co, which

  • Fun in the sun boosts charities

    MORE than 25,000 visitors flocked to Stourport at the weekend to enjoy the town's historic 75th carnival - the first time it has been staged over two days. And organisers say hundreds of pounds has been raised from the fun in aid of town charities. Attractions

  • Gardens to visit

    In aid of the National Gardens Scheme. n SUNDAY: Blockley gardens, some unsafe for small children, 2pm to 6pm, teas and plants. Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, 10.30am to 5.30pm, plants and teas. The Priory, Kemerton, near Tewkesbury, 2pm to 6pm, teas and

  • Be alert over these new access plans

    I WOULD ask all residents not be complacent over the renewed application of English Partnerships to gain accesses onto Far Moor Lane. Residents should take a moment to study the new plans at the town hall. The two proposed access roads have been moved

  • Let the children play

    I COULD not agree more with Christine Evans (Letters, August 23) regarding children being the responsibility of their parents. At the end of the day, parents should take full responsibility for the safety and the behaviour of their children wherever they

  • Bring back the old days!

    VIRTUALLY every week nowadays, I see letters in these columns from previously unknown council officers, with remarkably obscure titles, replying to previously published letters from your readers. We had one from Alex Urka (Advertiser, August 23), who

  • Just what is a fair fare?

    A FEW weeks ago I got a taxi from Redditch to Astwood Bank and was charged £5. Today, I again did the same journey, and the fare was £6.75. I did not argue (I am over 80 and recovering from a fractured hip). I would be interested to know what is recognised

  • TALK OF THE TOWN

    By Town Centre Manager JANE MUCKLE EXCITING changes for the town centre are now just around the corner. The first major development this autumn will be the demolition of the old bus station and Kingfisher House, making way for a Wilkinsons store, a food

  • Racist abuse has no place here

    THE vast majority of the people of Worcester have made it clear over the past few years that racist behaviour has no place in our society. And that message has been conveyed again today after the court case involving divorced mother-of-five Stephanie

  • Victory does not live up to promise

    Alcester 1st XV 14, Old Wheats 1st XV 10 ALCESTER Rugby Club opened their season's account with a win, but this was a much below par performance that failed to live up to the expectations of the club's promising pre-season. Despite conceding two early

  • Couple sleep as chip pan blazes

    A CRABBS Cross couple were lucky to escape a fire in their flat despite having a smoke detector fitted, according to a firefighter. Sub officer Paul Johnson, of Redditch fire station, said there were no batteries in the fire alarm and the occupants were

  • Alcoholic died from drowning

    AN Abbeydale mother-of-two, who had a history of alcohol-related problems was found dead in the River Arrow, an inquest heard on Monday. Carol Ester Lawless, 44, died from drowning in the river off Old Forge Drive and was discovered by a woman walking

  • Fumes over smoke room

    DISPUTE action is being taken at the Alexandra Hospital after the decision to close the staff smoking room on Septem-ber 17. Unison spokesman Paul Tasker said he was absolutely fuming after receiving a memo detailing the closure of the smoking room and

  • Nurse fillip from Philippines

    THE Alexandra Hospital is to recruit Filipino nurses ready for the busy winter period. This week, the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, has sent a senior nurse to the Philippines, to recruit some of the surplus nurses

  • Hospital transport moves up a gear

    A NEW bus service launched this week to run between Kidderminster, Worcester Royal Infirmary and the Alexandra Hospital, has already been criticised by a Unison spokesman who claims it does not accommodate staff's shift times. The service provides free

  • Man fined for mistreating dogs

    A Riverside man was fined £200 and disqualified from having custody of any animal for life for mistreating two dogs in his care. On August 23,Redditch magistrates heard how Graham George Hayes, 46, of Huband Close, failed to give the proper care and attention

  • Race on for charity champ

    THE race to become a Primrose Cham-pion 2000 is hotting up with about £11,000 having been raised so far in aidof the hospice. People in Inkber-row, Studley and Redditch have raised £5,000 from a variety of sponsored events, while engineering company GKN

  • Councillors in clash over cash

    councillors are at loggerheads over whether decisions about the allocation of neighbourhood group money should be put out to consultation to residents not present at the meetings. Confusion has arisen after an amenities committee meeting in July, where

  • Project will drive home safety issue

    A HARD hitting campaign aimed at improving the behaviour of drivers will be coming to Redditch this month. Worcestershire County Council's Road Safety Team has joined forces with West Mercia Police and the Worcestershire Institute of Advanced Motoring

  • OAP victim of trickster

    A MAN posing as a water board official stole a quantity of money after tricking his way into the home of a 70-year-old Crabbs Cross woman. Police are investigating the theft, which happened at about 3.30pm on Saturday, August 26. The caller claimed he

  • Rot takes toll on church

    CONCERNED Redditch people have voiced their opinions about a Methodist church with an uncertain future. Individuals and groups with attachments to Headless Cross Methodist Church, Evesham Road, were asked to attend a consultation workshop to discuss the

  • Green light for roadworks

    WORK on a £50,000 project to resurface Birmingham Road in Bordesley is set to start within the next month, it has been announced. The news comes after plans for a by-pass around the road were turned down again despite a long campaign from residents and

  • Laura brushes up on royal subjects

    A REDDITCH woman who found her talent for painting while recovering from cancer has just finished her most regal piece to date. Laura Pirie, of Hillside, Southcrest, used to specialise in pictures of pets until she unveiled her latest painting, a portrait

  • Service to ease 999 pressures

    A NEW £100,000 ambulance service has been launched across the county which will help ease the pressure on the busiest paramedic crews in Redditch. Two additional ambulances took to the road last week to cover a number of non-life threatening calls across

  • Youths in car rampage

    A GANG of youths went on a destructive rampage causing damage to a number of cars in Lodge Park last Tuesday. Police are investigating the incident, which happened at about 10pm in Sillins Avenue and Prospect Road. Between three and four youths damaged

  • Fraud search widens

    REDDITCH Council's ground-breaking fraud investigation unit may be extending its battle onto the internet, possibly by October. The council is looking at setting up a website to provide further opportunities for townspeople to blow the whistle on those

  • Don't ride roughshod over us

    WHAT have you got to complain about? If you can manage to scrape along and keep yourself warm in winter that's all you need when you get older, you've had your life, it's time you knuckle down to a life of sitting at home. It seems that's what the majority

  • Real links with the name are long gone

    IS it not time that we stopped referring to what remains of the once famous and internationally renowned furniture manufacturer, as 'Gordon Russell'? I have no doubt that the move of the Guilds to Chipping Campden and the opportunity for the young Gordon

  • Superb pictures

    THANK you for the editorial you have given to us over the past few weeks in both the Journal and the Admag. The coloured photographs in lastweek's edition in the Journal were superb. We had a wonderful day with visitors from a wide area. Profits go to

  • Hoping challenge leads to return of civic pride

    CONGRATULATIONS to the Shuttle for highlighting the black spots around the town and giving opportunity for a debate on the subject. Although they may not always express it publicly, people do care. Kidderminster has suffered in the past from so much bad

  • Man facing arson trial

    A former resident in a Kidderminster nursing home is facing crown court trial on an arson charge. Darren Arkell, 24, who now lives in a home at Pershore, is accused of endangering life by setting fire to a bedroom at the Larches residential home in Larches

  • Shame of garden neglect

    WITH my visitors from Norfolk, I visited our lovely Brinton Park, Kidderminster. As usual the flower beds were a picture, although many plants uprooted. On visiting the senses garden, in memory of the children killed in the M40 minibus accident, we were

  • Computer theft at firm

    A trading estate company has lost cash and equipment worth £2,200 in a burglary that also caused extensive damage. A first floor window was smashed and other property broken in the raid at Milson Engineering on Rushock Trading Estate over the weekend.

  • Follow example of Bridgnorth

    I AM so pleased to see your write-up about the state of Kidderminster. I was beginning to think it was just me who was concerned about it. I've lived here most of my life. I am 56 years old and can't believe how the town has got into such a state. Worcester

  • 7/9/00 - Molby in search for new keeper

    KIDDERMINSTER Harriers boss Jan Molby may have to make a late transfer swoop for a new goalkeeper. Stuart Brock broke his hand during their Worthington Cup defeat against Walsall and joins Tim Clarke, who has had a cartilage operation, on the sidelines

  • Unit never opened...

    RECENTLY I gave birth to a healthy little boy at Wyre Forest Birth Centre (Kidderminster Maternity Unit) after what was a perfect pregnancy and almost perfect labour. After six hours of labour things started to go seriously wrong and I had to be rushed

  • Disabled parking

    DAVID Lock claims in the Shuttle of August 31, than an agreement between him and officers to provide parking for the disabled in Church Street, Kidderminster, was overturned by councillors on the local highways forum. In fact there was no such agreement

  • Match and fisheries round-up

    AFTER a two-year lay-off from sporting competition, 17-year-old Ian Giddins has been enjoying success at Moorlands Farm Fishery for the last three weeks. On Monday he won the open event on Meadow Pool with 159lb 3oz of fish, beating, among others, the

  • BISHOP'S DIARY

    THERE has been something captivating about the terrible story of Russian submariners dying at the bottom of the sea. Something about more than 100 people trapped in a metal canister in the cold darkness while a world of technical brilliance and political

  • Franche crack in eight in derby opener

    FRANCHE Village Club started their Kidderminster and District Football League Sunday Division Six season in style with an 8-0 away victory over St John's Tigers. Another Wyre Forest derby fixture ended in a 7-0 home victory for Sunday Division Five's

  • Oakes hits treble

    WYRE Forest defeated Midland Combination Division Two bottom side Kenilworth Wardens 7-2 on Saturday in their first home match of the campaign. A first half hat-trick by Andy Oakes plus a fine individual goal by Darren Raybould gave Forest a 4-0 half-time

  • Warriors set to boost Worcester

    WORCESTER Rugby club will be able to give fringe first team players vital experience this season after launching a new reserve side. Worcester Warriors were today unveiled with chief executive Geoff Cooke hailing it as the solution to a long-running problem

  • Fresh new ground bid by United

    EVESHAM United Football Club is making one last attempt to find a new home on land near Cheltenham Road. The club, who had a planning application rejected in March, is submitting scaled down plans, encouraged by a report from Wychavon's head of planning

  • Blunder claim halts inquest

    RELATIVES of a Kidderminster butcher who died after a five-month coma following a road accident have been told a hospital blunder may have accelerated his death. Pedestrian John Mellsop, 39, died at Kidderminster Hospital on Saturday, February 5, five

  • Worcestershire Beacon's new toposcope

    FEATURES seen from the Malvern Hills can now be identified as a replacement toposcope plate has been installed at the summit of Worcestershire Beacon. The original plate, which was 100 years old, was stolen earlier this year. Despite the offer of a reward

  • Couple will soon be surfing the waves

    A COUPLE will be "Surfin' USA" after winning the holiday of a lifetime. Mary and Jim Bosbury, of Sion Hill, Kidderminster, will be catching the waves in Hawaii after winning a competition in a national newspaper. They may have been around to remember

  • On target for gifts to save sight

    ORPHANS and the destitute in Romania will this month receive state-of-the-art eye testing equipment in memory of a 20-year-old Stourport girl tragically killed in a road accident. Family and friends of Sarah Hampton of Titton said they would go ahead

  • Carpet boss in quit shock

    A KIDDERMINSTER carpet boss has quit spearheading a top firm less than a year after it took over one of the town's largest carpet companies. Mike Hield has resigned as chief executive of Gaskell - the Lancashire firm which took over Tomkinsons, of Kidderminster

  • Redditch 2nds beat Kington 2nds by 6 wickets

    BY WINNING this match Redditch 2nds became League Champions. On a wicket giving help to the bowlers, Kington were always under pressure with young Mat James taking 1-11 then, with excellent support from Wil Wilson with 6-27 and Chris Taylor, 3-43, both

  • All aboard for art

    STRATFORD artists are getting a whole new perspective of Waterside in a new floating gallery. Dylan Hemley of the new Barge Gallery at teh canal basin in Stratford. Artists will be based on a 65ft narrowboat while they paint and, at the same time, they

  • Resident hits out at commuter parking

    A STRATFORD woman who has had enough of commuters parking in her road has called for plans for a park and ride scheme to be stepped up. For Anne Grey, of Maidenhead Road, the last straw came a few weeks ago when she was involved in a car accident with

  • New sighting of mystery big cat

    ANOTHER big cat has been seen in south Warwickshire. This time, what was believed to be a puma was seen stalking across a popular dog walking spot in Hampton Lucy. Irene-Anne Bennett of Snitterfield Street was walking in the fields behind her home when

  • Jailed for 'savage attack' on girlfriend

    WHEN Simon Lawrence wrongly believed his girlfriend of five years had slept with another man he launched a savage and uncontrolled attack on her in their Stratford home. Yet despite injuries, including a collapsed lung, Katrina Elsey later said she did

  • Balloon proposals still up in the air

    PLANS for a high-altitude balloon ride in Stratford town centre are still up in the air after councillors decided to postpone a decision until they had seen the ride for themselves. District councillors had already rejected Robin Hood Centre's plans for

  • Talented dancers need aid

    A MASSIVE fund-raising drive has been launched in a bid to see young dancers from Stratford and Bidford dance on Broadway. The Mayor of Stratford, Juliet Short, has teamed up with Mary Felton, of the McCarthy-Felton School of Irish Dancing, to put on

  • Children blamed for blaze in empty factory

    CHILD firebugs are believed to be behind a fire that gutted a disused food warehouse in Stratford this week. Four fire crews and an ambulance were called to the warehouse leased by Campbells Foods, which is by the Amec site on the Timothy's Bridge Road

  • 7/9/00 - Win will secure Worcs survival

    WORCESTERSHIRE Royals begin their fight for Norwich Union National League Division One survival when they visit fellow relegation candidates Leicestershire Foxes in a floodlit clash tomorrow. "It's a massive match for us," said New Road coach Bill Athey

  • Under-14 winenr

    MARK Hassall, of Kidderminster, won a junior contest for under-14s at the Waggon and Horses Angling Club's pools on Sunday. The event was held to introduce novice anglers to competition, hoping to encourage others to take up the sport. There were 15 youngsters

  • SENIORS A column for senior citizens

    WORCESTERSHIRE County Council's trading standards service and Worcestershire Age Concern have joined forces to offer, for a second time, a free testing service for elderly people in the county who own electric under blankets. This follows a growing concern

  • New legal challenge dropped

    LEADERS of Wyre District Council have scrapped the idea of a legal challenge against the county health shake-up. The authority will urge members not to pursue action through the courts over the health plan at a meeting later this month. Its decision came

  • Stratford

    GUILD OF WEAVERS, SPINNERS AND DYERS: The speaker at the June meeting was Mrs Olwen Veevers who breeds a wide variety of rare sheep with a diversity of coloured and white fleece. During the summer several members have hosted and attended garden spinning

  • Pershore

    VELO CLUB DE PERSHORE: Next Wednesday - training ride, 20 miles, leader Malcolm Benning, meet 7pm Broad Street, Pershore, destination The Mill, Elmley Castle, lights required. HERITAGE AND HISTORY SOCIETY: Brian Hoggard, author of the recent knowledgeable

  • Longborough

    JUMBLE SALE: On Saturday, there will be jumble sale, together with a raffle, cakes and teas in the village hall, at 2pm. Proceeds are for new equipment for the playground. CHURCH NEWS: Under the new arrangement with Moreton benefice, there will be a service

  • Harvington

    VILLAGE HALL: The management committee meets on September 18, at 7.30pm and members will see for themselves the newly refurbished men's lavatory, with hot water and hand drier now added to its other new facilities. Sadly, they will also be hearing about

  • Chipping Norton

    HISTORY TALK: The first meeting of the Chipping Norton History Society takes place next Monday when the speaker will be Martin Way who will talk about the age of coaching. The meetings are in the Methodist Hall, at 7.30pm and visitors are welcome. FOLK

  • Evesham

    PHOTOGRAPHY: Next Monday The Vale of Evesham Camera Club welcomes Ron Poppleton to give a lecture entitled Lore of the Lakes and Another Sequence at the Friends Meeting House, Cowl Street, 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start. New members always welcome. CYCLISTS

  • Bourton

    BOURTON VALE AUTUMN SHOW: This year's show was a success although entries were down on last year, due to the adverse weather during the summer with not a single cabbage being entered in the vegetable class. Other classes were well supported especially

  • Safety first puts firm in top ten

    A FACTORY with 330 employees has helped a global conglomerate become one of the "best managed" companies in the world. Stourport's Textron Automotive, in the doldrums only seven months ago because of a business downturn, is now in high favour with its

  • Experts called in to help carpet workers

    A PACKAGE of measures to help 120 carpet workers facing redundancy has been announced. They include employment service advisers visiting the workers at Carpets of Worth on a weekly basis until their redundancies take effect on November 3. There will also

  • New plan to tackle rent debt

    Commercial tenants from council-owned trading estates and shops who pay rent invoices at a cash desk or by post have been highlighted as late or non-payers by officials bidding to stamp out outstanding debt. Direct Debit is to be phased in as a new way

  • Boom time for sailors

    REDDITCH youngsters had an impressive international debut for Great Britain at a dinghy sailing competition last month. Liz Peacock, 16, Rick Peacock, 14, Helen Duncan, 15, and Richard Hitchman, 16, all travelled with the national youth squad to compete

  • John Bushell's angling round-up

    THE chill evening on Sunday seemed to me to mark the changing of the seasons. September is often one of the best months of the angling year. Bream and barbel in particular usually feed very well this month and the lower water temperatures often bring

  • En garde for new season

    REDDITCH Youth Fencers' new season starts on Saturday, September 9 between 10am-12noon at Redditch Youth House, Ipsley Street (enter at rear). Some spaces are available for new members aged 8 upwards. Registered BSA coaches are in attendance. For further

  • Farce takes to the stage

    A CLASSIC farce is set to be one of the early highlights of the Rose Theatre's new season this month. Kidderminster Operatic and Dramatic Society will be bringing Ray Cooney's Not Now Darling to the Kidderminster venue from September 20 - 23. The play

  • Theatre

    n Alexandra, Birmingham - Grease Friday until September 23. n Malvern Theatres - God Only Knows until Saturday. n Grand, Wolverhampton - Eternal Flame until September 16. n Crescent, Birmingham - This Lime Tree Bower until September 16. n Swan, Worcester

  • Giving the Sydney Olympics a real run for their money

    THE eyes of the sporting world will be firmly fixed on Australia this month for the Sydney Olympics, with hopes high of an unparalleled festival of sport, writes Andrew Flaxman. A scene from last year's Dover's Games. Yet if all the scandal and commercial

  • Extreme

    BRITAIN had more than enough problems when our own postal workers went on strike. Now we have to put up with Europeans, particularly the French - who are more extreme. STAN HILTON, Worcester.

  • Humilty is Endless

    I APPRECIATE that, at 81, Mr Margrett is 18 years older than I am, but he does seem (You Say, August 24), to have become thoroughly disgruntled with life. The poet T S Eliot said of old age: "Humility is endless". GEORGE COWLEY, Windermere Drive, Warndon

  • Good idea, but...

    GREAT news and long awaited - a farmers' market for Worcester, but where? It's Severn Street and when? Sundays! Why can't it be held in Angel Place or Bank Street as before? However, it doesn't really matter, because with no buses running, people like

  • Clean-up overdue

    A PLEASANT Monday morning walk ended in a visit to the vet and a bill for £139 for my daughter after her dog was left with a cut foot caused by a carelessly discarded bottle or tin on Pitchcroft. I suggest to Arena that part of its plans for the racecourse

  • Cattle: a time to rebuild

    WHEN it comes to beef on the hoof, South Devons are among the most competitive classes in the cattle rings, with several local herds regularly entering their best stock. The champion Hereford at the Moreton Show. X1182/19a The Northwick Estate at Blockley

  • Goat show seeks home

    GOAT exhibitors at Moreton Show come from far and wide, but some come from just over the road. Even the goats wanted the best view of Moreton Show. X1184/27a David and Valerie Baker, from Moreton, certainly fall into the latter category, keeping a flock

  • British Vendeen top for judge - and diner

    IF Sunday lunch was a joint of prime lamb, then it's possible you could have been tucking into a British Vendeen bloodline. Chairman of the British Vendeen Sheep Society is Mr Charles Vernon Miller, of Blackwell, near Shipston, who was among show prize-winners

  • It was horses, horses, horses for show day

    HORSES galore were on show at this year's event from tiny Shetlands to huge shire horses and everything in between. Show president Michael Lee (left) with Barbara Lee and chairman Tony Godwin tour the showground. X1179/23a Classes included qualifiers

  • Fears fail to prevent Tesco plan approval

    FEARS that the expansion of Evesham's Tesco could could seriously harm the livelihoods of other retailers in the town were over-ridden last week. Wychavon's planning committee approved the supermarket giant's scheme to extend its Worcester Road store

  • Move to new home spells a fresh start

    A SUCCESSFUL Vale company whose products will be on show at this month's Olympic Games has been given permission to relocate. Keith Ree, managing director with the tractor which will be appearing in the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics.

  • WI rustle up a millennium winner

    TABLES buckled under the weight of lip-smacking treats like apple pie, home-made jams and cherry cakes for a millennium show in Middle Littleton last Saturday. Prize winners Betty Jackson (left) and Jean Bayliss (right) with Littletons WI president Val

  • MP slams PO for failing to talk first

    VALE MP Peter Luff has called for the suspension of all plans to move Evesham's post office until the whole town has been properly consulted. Mr Luff is furious about the lack of consultation by the Post Office Network and the fact he has not received

  • 7/9/00 - Fresh new ground bid by United

    EVESHAM United Football Club is making one last attempt to find a new home on land near Cheltenham Road. The club, who had a planning application rejected in March, is submitting scaled down plans, encouraged by a report from Wychavon's head of planning

  • Bill delay posing a havens threat: Trust

    WILDLIFE havens in Worcestershire could be under threat if the House of Lords backlog continues to delay the progress of a countryside bill, warns the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. The organisation claims many of the county's finest wildlife areas could

  • Hats in the air for help for hall

    IT WAS hats in the air at Elmley Castle to celebrate another grant to help pay for the new Village Community Hall. The £35,000 award to the Bricklehampton, Elmley Castle and Netherton Village Hall Committee Village Hall Committee came from the Mercia

  • Firm ordered to end tipping

    A VALE firm has been ordered to stop illegal tipping near Pershore. Directors of Ivory Plant Hire Ltd face being sent to prison if the court injunction, obtained by Worcestershire County Council, is breached. The council obtained the injunction to stop

  • Just to say - Congratulations!

    THE PETER Pan of pop music, Cliff Richard will be entertaining young fans from Evesham at his 60th birthday bash in London this Saturday. The event, at the Grosvenor House Hotel, is being organised by the Royal Castle Lung Cancer Fund. And among the die-hard

  • Trevor's tractor marathon

    AN epic seven-mile-an-hour, 951 mile journey lasting 11 days has raised more than £9,000 for the cancer-fighting charity the Cobalt Unit Appeal Fund. Trevor Clark on his Lister Autotruck. Trevor Clark of Bredon undertook the mammoth trek from John O'Groats

  • Wall is star swimmer

    KEVIN Wall was the star when Wyre Forest Swimming Club began the autumn season with the Shuttle Trophy gala at Stourport Sports Centre on Saturday. He completed a winning double, coming home first in the 11 years 50 metres backstroke and the 12 years

  • Paul notches first belt at fifth level

    PAUL Moss of Kidderminster's Samurai Judo Club has become the first local judo player ever to achieve the highest possible contest grade of all - fifth level black belt. Moss has travelled all over the country during the last year for contests against

  • Off to St Andrews

    VICTORY in the qualifying round of the Famous Grouse Shotgun Foursomes means Habberley Golf Club members Craig Donald and Michael Nicholson will be following in the footsteps of Tiger Woods. Their sub-par 60.5 to win their club competition meant they

  • Bird flying high as junior champ

    THIRTEEN-YEAR-Old Steve Bird is the new Wyre Forest Golf Club junior champion. The youngster, who has been a club member since he was eight, scored 77 and 83 in the 36-hole stroke play competition. Results: gross - Steve Bird 77 and 83 = 160 (nett 137

  • Baron snaps up hat-trick

    A HAT-TRICK by Teri Baron helped Stourport Ladies Hockey Club 3rd to a 4-0 victory over Studley in their opening friendly fixture at Redditch on Saturday. Stourport took the initiative early on, forcing a series of short corners, and the pressure paid

  • Rock hit target

    ROCK made a winning start to the Wyre Forest Parish Games on Saturday when they triumphed in a new event - archery. The competition was hosted by Wyre Forest Company of Archers at Upper Arley. Four teams took the opportunity of a free training session

  • Top award for engineering student

    ENGINEERING student Aidan Krier has made it through to the regional finals of a national competition to reward enterprise. Aidan, aged 20, comes from Temple Guiting, but is studying engineering science at Oxford University. He came through the Gloucestershire

  • Singer gains scholarship

    A SINGER from Kidderminster is set to shoot to the top after being awarded a prestigious scholarship at Britain's oldest performing arts school. Rebecca Green, 20, is now preparing for two years of hard work at London's Italia Conti Academy, where she

  • Charity guitarist died of heart attack

    A MONTH after appearing in a charity gig with rock star John Entwhistle, Stow guitarist Derrick Goddard had a heart attack and fell downstairs to his death, an inquest has heard. Mr Goddard, aged 54 and a builder by trade, was found dead at his home,

  • Exceptional reasons keep thief from jail

    BURGLAR John Simpson stole £1,800 worth of figurines during a raid at a south Warwickshire house while a family was asleep upstairs, and then crashed while making his get-away in their camper van. However, he escaped being jailed after a Judge heard that

  • School is top of the form

    PUPILS and staff at a Stourport school are starting the new term on a high note after its Key Stage 2 youngsters achieved excellent SATS results. Passes at Windmill Middle School were up by five per cent to 72 per cent in English, 16 per cent to 61 per

  • Health services plans to be aired

    CHIPPING Norton residents will have the chance to hear about plans for the future of health services in and around the town next week. A public meeting takes place at 7.30pm, in the town hall, next Monday, when new proposals for the creation of primary

  • Plug is pulled on trust exhibition

    ORGANISERS of an exhibition which has helped to increase public knowledge of one of the Cotswolds' great artistic influences say they are being forced to pull the plug on it. Secretary Frank Johnson at the Guild of Handicraft Trust exhibition in Chipping

  • Cup joy floweth over

    JUBILANT north Cotswold villages have been breaking open the champagne this week after the area completed a clean sweep in the Bledisloe Cup competition. Celebrating Lower Slaughter's win after a 20-year wait for glory are Gillie Lord (right) and Ronnie

  • GCSE results round-up

    THE following Wolverley High School pupils achieved GCSE passes in the number of subjects indicated, with the number at grades A*-C shown in brackets. Christopher Allen 8, Robert Allen 7 (2), Deborah Andrews 7 (1), Richard Baker 9, Darren Ballinger 8,

  • Grubb keeps Bees buzzing

    Studley BKL 1, Cheslyn May 0 A stunning Andrew Grubb strike proved enough to maintain BKL's unbeaten start to the season. Bees' Brian Powell flashed one angled drive just wide within the opening minute. Cheslyn's relief was short however, as Davis, Powell

  • Chances go begging

    Romulus 5, Alvechurch 3 Alvechurch played a good part in their own un-doing after taking a third minute-lead against fancied Romulus. Phil Cotterill's early shot was too hot to handle for keeper Keyte and Dean Tilley pounced for the easiest of chances

  • Alcester & District Local History Society

    THE immense variety both of landscape and places of interest which comprise Warwickshire and the West Midlands was the topic of the most recent meeting, when the speaker was Bernard Pumfrey, well known to several generations of Alcester scholars for his

  • Feckenham Forest History Society

    During the new season of talks, the society will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a dinner at the Redditch Golf Club. In keeping with such a year, the new programme, arranged by Ann Ray, has incorporated some new ideas. The first meeting will be held

  • Shields makes impact

    CLEOBURY Mortimer Rugby Club scored a 22-11 home victory over a combined Stour-bridge 2nd/3rd team in a friendly on Saturday. The sides managed a penalty apiece in the first half, but Cleobury held the edge after the break after replacement Allan Shields

  • Gary is helping to keep the wheels turning in Ghana

    CHARITY stalwart Gary Williams is back home in Broad Lane, Bishampton, after visiting health projects in Ghana. Gary, a trustee of TRANSAID Worldwide and chairman of its fund-raising committee, made the visit to see how the charity's funds were being

  • Kidderminster Harriers Football Club

    Formed: 1886 President: Chairman: Lionel Newton. Vice-Chairman: Colin C. Youngjohns. Company Secretary: J. Richard Painter. Directors: Paul Byrne,Graham R. Lane, Tom Murrant. Chief Executive: Neil Morris. Financial controller: Alan Biggs. Football Secretary

  • 100 years ago

    September 8, 1900 THE opening services in connection with the new Methodist Free Church situated in Mount Pleasant are announced for tomorrow. We understand that the church is fitted up with the electric light. The building is well lighted and perfectly

  • 50 years ago

    September 9, 1950 Studley and Astwood Bank railway station won the premier award for the best kept station in the Birmingham Midlands area, according to the result of the station guard competition just published by the London Midland Region of British

  • 25 years ago

    September 5 1975 Astwood Bank Royal British Legion branch funds were boosted by over £100 raised at the annual flower, fruit and vegetable show last weekend. The show was opened by County Councillor AE Johnson, who said he knew what a lot of good gardeners

  • CHRIS LEWIS Chairman of Wyre Forest Community Housing Board

    WHEN Wyre Forest Community Housing took over 6,000 council houses at the end of March the move represented a sea change for Chris Lewis. Chris, of Dunlin Drive, Kidderminster, had been a council tenant representative for 20 years ever since she first

  • Helping others to launch companies

    DEVELOPING and delivering a business start-up service for young people has scooped a Worcestershire County Council worker a prestigious award. Margaret Gray, principal economic development officer, was rewarded by Shell LiveWire, the national scheme which

  • Catalogue giant in internet deal

    KAYS parent company Great Universal Stores has spent £37m on an internet software company so it can branch out into multi-media computer sales. The deal, which puts all the issued share capital of jungle.com under GUS ownership, is expected to be completed

  • Nutritious meals for children on the M&S menu

    CHILDREN tend to be the most fussy of eaters, making parents feel frustrated that they're not getting the nutrition that they need. Well High Street store Marks & Spencer is aiming to end the hair-pulling and teeth- clenching meal moments. They've

  • START DATE FOR STATION WORK

    WORK on demolishing the town's reviled bus station and knocking down Kingfisher Hall and the Kingfisher House office block will begin on Monday, November 20, it has been revealed. The news comes after the release of a timetable for the first stage of

  • Coroner told of tragedy of crash woman

    A SOUTHCREST woman died four days after being sent home from the Alexandra Hospital following a car crash, an inquest heard on Monday. Edna May Lammas, 77, of Greenfields, died from bronchial pneumonia at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital on October 30 last

  • Brasserie fine food, beautifully presented

    If you're looking for beautifully presented fine food, which you can enjoy throughout the day - Forbes Brasserie, at the Cotswold House Hotel, Chipping Campden, should fit the bill perfectly. Michelin starred head chef Alan Dann has created a mouth-watering

  • Henry V, RSC, Stratford

    ONE of the bonuses of This England - The Histories has been watching the same actor moving through Shakespeare's plays. David Troughton as the pretender to the throne and then Henry IV has been one such, Desmond Barrit as Falstaff another and, in this

  • Fame, The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham

    THERE was hardly a leg warmer in sight but the show had all the other trademarks of the eighties film and TV show. From the moment the cast of some of Britain's most talented young performers took to the stage on Monday, there was almost continuous energetic

  • Back to Methuselah, The Other Place, Stratford

    GIVEN Bernard Shaw's rudeness about Shakespeare, it is certainly generous of the RSC to lavish so much of its talent on this production. As originally written, it lasted about 10 hours, to be seen over two or three nights and is nothing less than GBS's

  • Labour leader to hand out cash

    THE leader of Wyre Forest District Council's Labour party has put his money where his mouth is in the ongoing row over hikes in councillors' allowances. Jamie Shaw has pledged to distribute his £4,450 special responsibility allowance among "many worthy

  • Wolves hungrier than KCC for win

    KIDDERMINSTER Cricket Club lost by 60 runs to next-to-bottom Wolverhampton in a Birmingham and District Premier League match at Chester Road on Saturday. The visitors had nothing to lose and everything to gain in this clash and having lost the toss and

  • Bewdley lose by four wickets

    BEWDLEY Cricket Club visited Feckenham in a Worcestershire County League Division Two match where their hosts beat them by four wickets. Bewdley batted first in a match which was reduced to 47 overs a side. Captain Mark Bennett, having returned from injury

  • 7/9/00 - Promotion suits grassroots game

    WHEN Cecil Duckworth looks around the fabulous Sixways stadium his money has helped to build, he cannot fail to see the irony which is staring him in the face. His finance has made the club what it is today -- something the city can be proud of. But it

  • DAD'S GIFT OF HOPE

    A YOUNG leukaemia sufferer who touched the hearts of Worcester people has had a pioneering transplant to help him battle the disease. Schoolboy Robert Tipton is only the 18th youngster in the country to have a stem cell transplant. The new procedure is

  • Police quiz man in ravine mystery

    A MAN who sparked a major hunt after his car was found 100ft down a ravine is being quizzed by police today. Mystery surrounds the actions of Eric Spalding who was nowhere to be seen when his red saloon was found at the bottom of a gorge off an unclassified

  • Travellers 'a danger to the public'

    TRAVELLERS who have set up camp in the Warndon area of Worcester are a danger to the public, it has been claimed. A group of travellers have drawn up their caravans next to Rodborough Close and nearby householders claim they are speeding along a cycle

  • Boss landed in soup

    A CITY restaurant boss has been fined £6,500 after a waiter fell and scalded himself as he tried to negotiate narrow, twisting stairs. The accident at Clockwatchers, in Mealcheapen Street, led to James Evans suffering burns on his right forearm after

  • New water warning system for the county

    A NEW system of flood warnings is to be introduced in Worcestershire after a survey by the Environment Agency found current codes confused people. The red, amber and yellow warning codes are to be scrapped after a review of the system - instigated by

  • Warehouse safety push

    WAREHOUSES in Worcester could receive early morning inspections under plans by environmental officers to cut the number of accidents. New figures reveal "warehouse activities" were the highest cause of non-fatal injuries to staff and members of the public

  • Over 65 and feeling fine

    ALMOST one in five people in Worcestershire is more than 65 years old and that figure is growing. And while the proportion of people aged over 75 and 85 is a lot smaller, at 7.1 per cent and 1.7 per cent respectively, these percentages are rising at an

  • ' Helicopter on the trail of wild puma

    MORE evidence has come to light that a mysterious puma-like beast is back stalking the fields and streets of Wyre Forest. The large cat, which has become something of a cult myth in the district over the past eight years, has been sighted twice in the

  • School backed on £1m sports centre

    A PARISH council has backed a school that came under fire over plans to build a major new sports centre. Cleobury Mortimer Parish Council has passed a motion of "complete confidence" in Lacon Childe School which hopes for Sports College status and a £1

  • 17-year-old Michael's 'high five'

    A KEEN student from Kidderminster is off to Cambridge after racking up five top-notch A-levels - before most people of his age have even taken one! Michael Stubbington, of Yew Tree Road, is hoping to pursue a career in pharmaceutical research in America

  • Walks for the weekend

    SATURDAY: Moreton to Stow. Seven-mile walk starts from Moreton station at 10.30am; after the arrival of trains from London (8.48am), Oxford (9.55am), Great Malvern (9.23am) and Worcester (9.43am). Finishes in time for the 3.20pm bus from Stow. This connects

  • Forget Birdland, now the Vale looks set to swing

    IF two jazz-loving couples from Pershore have their way, the town could have an annual jazz festival to call its own from next year. Dutch Lewis, his wife Jayne and Dick and Jackie Chapman, of the Antique Six Jazz Band, believe the success of their recent

  • Stop spoiling town for us

    I SAW your report about the Environmental Centre being vandalised for the second time. The money which is spent on vandalism could be spent on something more constructive. If children and teenagers stopped vandalising, then the money spent on repairing

  • Review claim is incorrect

    PURELY for the record. Mrs C Hopkins is wrong in claiming a Conservative-controlled Hereford and Worcester County Council initiated the Redditch Review. In fact, a Labour/Liberal Democrat-controlled council was in power for years until 1998. Worcestershire

  • Lifted by smoking ban plan

    AT LAST it looks as if there may be a ban on smoking in the Kingfisher Centre. It's about time. Who wants to walk through the precinct breathing filthy cigarette smoke. If you want to sit on any of the seats in the precinct, for a few minutes, you have

  • Did council help fight?

    I ASSUME Alex Urka (Letters, August 23) has not worked for Redditch Council for very long and did not attend any of the Neighbourhood Group Meetings when the plan for Headless Cross Green was discussed. For 20 years, the residents of this area have been

  • Helping ease the horrors of Bosnia's war

    STOW shopkeeper Richard Rasdall is taking his healing hands to Bosnia this month for the second time. Mr Rasdall, who runs The Honey Pot in Church Street, is a skilled masseur and leaves England on September 16 to travel to the north Bosnian town of Ostra

  • Council changes under review

    A REVIEW of the way senior Malvern Hills district councillors operate will be held next week. Since June 1999, the council has been split into a two-tier system, with an executive board making decisions and "back-benchers" scrutinising policies. Malvern

  • Dig at history

    Droitwich is as rich in archaeological sites as the city of York, a leading archaeologist has claimed. Derek Hurst, of Worcestershire Archaeological Service, who has worked in York, said he believed people should be made more aware of the spa town's colourful

  • What's On

    l TONIGHT: Birmingham: NEC Arena - Steely Dan. Ronnie Scott's - Tony Hadley. Brierley Hill: Robin R'n'B - Buddies. Wolverhampton: Robin R'n'B2 - Viva Santana. l TOMORROW: Kidderminster: Library - Nic Fallowfield & Linda Rhodes. Birmingham: Ronnie

  • Tragic death of caring father

    GREIVING friends and family are mourning the tragic loss of a caring father-of-two who died in a Welsh walking accident last week. Barry Mullis, of Quibery Close, Winyates, was holidaying in Lydstep Haven, South Wales, with wife Enid and children Wayne

  • Waiting for a home to go to

    A PENSIONER is still languishing in the Alexandra Hospital almost four months after being admitted, due to a lack of NHS funding for a nursing home placement. Edward Bishop, 84, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, was admitted on May 6 for a bowel operation

  • Top talent is toast of town

    TALENTED townsfolk were out in force on Saturday night for the Redditch Carnival Millennium Talent Contest. More than 20 acts took to the stage in front of a packed audience at Arrow Valley Social Club to vie for honours in three age categories. The four

  • Great line-up for big event

    REDDITCH certainly won't be lacking for entertainment when Mardi Gras carnival day finally arrives on Saturday, September 16. The procession starts and finishes at the HDA club in Batchley and will consist of the Miss Redditch and Junior Miss Redditch

  • Lake to lap up learning

    A MAJOR new project to provide water sports activities to youngsters across the town will be launched at Arrow Valley Lake next month. Charitable trust Youth Afloat has formed a pioneering partnership with Redditch Council to offer the service. The organisation

  • New site launched for village

    STUDLEY will be put firmly on the map when a new website is launched later this week detailing everything going on in the village. The site is being set up by Henley based Redenet in conjunction with Studley Business Watch and will include links to Studley

  • Fine display after long road lay-off

    STEVE Gould, of Kidderminster Running Club, marked his first half-marathon for 11 years by clocking one hour 13 minutes 38 seconds to take seventh place at Wolverhampton on Sunday. Personal bests were recorded by Tom Kenderdine in 16th place in 1-16-48

  • Confused man overdosed

    A WINYATES man, who had a history of problems with alcohol, depression, anxiety and epileptic fits, died from an overdose of prescribed drugs, an inquest heard on Monday. Douglas John Apps, 47, of Fownhope Close, who worked as a carer, was found dead

  • Batchley babes get a boost

    THERE has been a real boost for Batchley babies and their parents after a new facility opened this week. The brand new baby clinic was officially opened at Batchley community centre, Cherry Tree Walk, yesterday, by the chairman of the Worcestershire Health

  • Charity on lookout for new blood

    A CHARITY which provides a vital lifeline for vulnerable Redditch people and their carers is looking to younger people to increase the amount of support it can offer. Carers Careline has been running in Redditch for about 12 years with a group of dedicated

  • Blackout hits village again

    VILLAGERS in Astwood Bank have reached the end of their tether with electricity supplier GPU Power after suffering frequent power cuts. Electricity was most recently lost for three hours on Monday morning but people in the south of the village can cite

  • Why a slice of new bread tasted so good

    AS another ex Dunkirk veteran, I was interested to read about Mr Allvey from Harvington, who also was in the RASC when Dunkirk fell. I joined the service at Plymouth, Devon, in 1938, and was posted to Rushmoor Arena, near Aldershot, for kitting out purposes

  • Home-brewing is no criminal offence

    UPON looking at the front page in the Evesham Journal, August 24, 'Call for cider law changes', I had to check the calendar, surely, April Fool's day has passed. Mr Lampitt may be well intentioned, but if he wishes to be a martyr to his beliefs, so be

  • Offer to start cleaning up...

    l There has been a brisk response to the Shuttle/Times & News article highlighting the state of Kidderminster this summer. One group has offered to make a start to cleaning up graffiti across the town and we will be bringing news of the project in

  • Why Post Office move is welcome

    I AM writing regarding the Post Office's decision to relocate to Co-op. I would like to ask the Journal why it fails every week to represent the views of those who believe this move is a good thing? All we seem to hear are the views of Mr Stych who, for

  • Jail warning for man who stole car

    A BUSINESSMAN who stole a £2,900 car from an 80-year-old garage boss has been warned he is likely to be jailed. William Wade test drove the Peugeot 405 after calling at Grocondo Tramontana's garage in Clows Top. He persuaded the pensioner to let him show

  • Nothing new

    THERE is nothing new about the stereo surround sound system at the Regal Cinema. It was introduced for the first Cinemascope film The Robe. There were thin magnetic strips on each side of the 35mm film perforations and there were speakers all round the

  • Locals overlooked

    ON a visit to the Evesham Safeways today, (September 2), we were pleased to see they were advertising 'new season apples' - but then shocked to see that they came from New Zealand. In September, in the Vale of Evesham! Why do not our supermarkets stock

  • Infuriated at sorry state of town's war memorial

    WITH reference to your article on the state of the town, I totally agree with the comments and photographs, but what I am so infuriated about, is the condition of our war memorial at the cenotaph. I wrote to the Liberal Democrat Party early in 1998 and

  • £7,000 cut off carpet worker's tobacco debt

    CARPET worker Colin Angell, who is serving a jail sentence for evading duty on tobacco and alcohol, has been excused payment of £7,000 compensation to the Customs and Excise. Angell, 54, of Oldnall Road, Kidderminster, was sentenced on August 22 to four

  • It was nothing to smile about

    MY daughters attended Wyre Forest Glades Leisure Centre for a summer playscheme parade around the town. The day was sunny, the children played and a good time was had by all. My youngest insisted on having her face painted in the style of a ladybird (

  • Bewdley riverside

    MAYBE the very tired resident living in Severnside North, Bewdley, (Letters, August 24) could note the following. About the stinking river water flowing through the house most winters - he should have thought about the floods and fishermen before buying

  • Swifts on the FA Cup trail

    STOURPORT Swifts made an early start to their FA Cup campaign when they scored a 2-1 away victory over Racing Club Warwick in a preliminary round tie on Saturday. It earned them a first qualifying round game at Atherstone on Saturday, September 16. Swifts

  • Ladies' cup duty

    KIDDERMINSTER Harriers ladies football team will travel to Tamworth on Sunday in an extra preliminary round of the AXA FA Women's Cup. Kick-off will be at 2pm. If they beat Tamworth their reward in the preliminary round on September 24 will be a home

  • Flowers on target as Brintons edge home

    BRINTONS won their first Banks's Brewery Football League Division One South home match on Saturday when they beat Sedgley White Lions 1-0. Although Sedgley had lost their first two games of the season, they had the better of the first half exchanges.

  • New sixes league

    A NEW six-a-side soccer competition gets under way later this month. All matches in the Stourport and Kidderminster Soccer Six will be played on the new artificial pitches at Stourport Sports Club on Monday nights between 7pm and 9.30pm. Each team will

  • Tough fixture list but KCs know opponents well

    WITH the reorganisation of the leagues, Kidderminster Carolians Rugby Club will be competing in Midlands West One and find themselves with a tougher fixture list than has been the case in recent seasons. Most of their opponents were in West One last time

  • KCs too strong in first outing

    KIDDERMINSTER Carolians opened the new campaign on Saturday with a 33-0 verdict over Kings Norton in a friendly at Marlpool Lane. It gave them the chance to put training plans into operation, and by and large it worked. Even without any recognised centres

  • Win will secure Worcs survival

    WORCESTERSHIRE Royals begin their fight for Norwich Union National League Division One survival when they visit fellow relegation candidates Leicestershire Foxes in a floodlit clash tomorrow. "It's a massive match for us," said New Road coach Bill Athey

  • Molby in search for new keeper

    KIDDERMINSTER Harriers boss Jan Molby may have to make a late transfer swoop for a new goalkeeper. Stuart Brock broke his hand during their Worthington Cup defeat against Walsall and joins Tim Clarke, who has had a cartilage operation, on the sidelines

  • Greenman boost for City

    WORCESTER City boss John Barton believes Chris Greenman could be ready for a first team return in the next couple of weeks. The defender and club captain continues his rehabilitation in a reserve friendly at Malvern tonight, having been out since last

  • Thomas takes great victory

    THE host club's Gill Thomas took the honours in the open ladies' race at Worcester Stirling Triathlon Club's Sprint Triathlon. A field of almost 200 athletes competed over the sprint distance of a 400m metres swim, 25km undulating bike and a hilly 5km

  • Crowds on the climb at races

    WORCESTER Racecourse rounds off one of its most successful seasons in years with a two-day meeting, starting tomorrow. Racecourse manager John Baker is delighted, saying: "Attendances are 38 per cent up going into this final weekend, which is massive

  • 7/9/00 - Molby in search for new keeper

    KIDDERMINSTER Harriers boss Jan Molby may have to make a late transfer swoop for a new goalkeeper. Stuart Brock broke his hand during their Worthington Cup defeat against Walsall and joins Tim Clarke, who has had a cartilage operation, on the sidelines

  • Patsy's Double to shine

    UPPER Lambourn trainer Michael Blanshard can upset the big stables by saddling Patsy's Double to win thehorsesmouth.co.uk Champagne Stakes at Doncaster tomorrow. His colt goes into one of the most important two-year-old events of the season with his unbeaten

  • Needles threat to firemen

    FIREFIGHTERS checking out street hydrants this week say they have been saddened to find many being used as places to hide cast off syringe needles. Kidderminster station sub-officer Mick Rowlands said: "It's a sad reflection on modern times. "In the old

  • Brave passers-by flagged down train in rescue attempt

    A RESCUE attempt by brave passers-by was not enough to save a depressed man who threw himself off a 30ft high Kidderminster bridge, an inquest heard. Kevin Doherty, 44, died after being found on the railway line beneath a bridge at Husum Way on Sunday

  • Noxious substance denial

    A FORMER prison nurse has been remanded in custody accused of administering a noxious substance to a woman. William Barbour, aged 44, of Balmoral Court, Chester Road North, Kidderminster, pleaded not guilty at Worcester Crown Court. He is charged with

  • Working together to tackle problems

    CHANGING the face and public perception of an area for the better is not an easy task - nor one that is tackled without involvement from all corners of the community. Because of this, the project to reduce crime and disorder and improve the quality of

  • Bridging gap to show success

    BEWDLEY festival organisers have a bridge to cross before October - discovering who took down the town bridge 50 years ago and put it up again, all in four days. If anyone can supply information or pictures on this incident, it will be good news to Jenny

  • Supergran Janet dives in

    A GREAT-grandmother is certainly in the swim about fitness after becoming the first person in the district to reach a water-borne level. Stourport swimmer Janet Roberts, 61, has swum 20,000 lengths of the town pool to achieve diamond status in the Jewels

  • Scheme marks 10 years of childcare

    NEARLY 10 years ago a Wyre Forest school launched a scheme that revolutionised life for working women. The out-of-school-hours children's club at Franche First School in Kidderminster is now one of 14 in the district which are the pride of educationalists

  • Needles threat to firemen

    FIREFIGHTERS checking out street hydrants this week say they have been saddened to find many being used as places to hide cast off syringe needles. Kidderminster station sub-officer Mick Rowlands said: "It's "a sad reflection on modern times. "In the

  • Smith century fails to avoid draw

    Studley 1sts drew with Moseley Ashfield 1sts STUDLEY lost the toss again and were asked to bat. After an average start, opener Adie Smith battled brilliantly for his top score of the season so far, 111. He was well supported by Hall with 45 and skipper

  • Kington 1sts winning draw against Redditch 1sts

    KINGTON, put into bat on a damp pitch, lost a quick wicket to Guy Muspratt, but it was off spinner John Lostitch who made inroads into the middle order, again bowling with enterprise and accuracy, to finish with 5-42 off 20 overs. With Muspratt 3-50 and

  • Redditch 3rds v Studley 3rds

    IN A match played on a damp pitch, Redditch played Studley for the chance to gain promotion to Division 2 next season. Redditch were asked to bat and were soon in trouble with the loss of two early wickets, but Steve Rose, 8, and Muhktar, 53, began to

  • Feckenham 1sts won Bewdley 1sts by 4 wickets

    BEWDLEY batted first and lost an early wicket to Mark Davidson. Opener Bennett top-scored with 43 but again the spin bowling of Ed Sellwood and Steve Kings put a stranglehold on the batsmen and, combined with some good catching, Bewdley were dismissed

  • Bewdley 2nds lost to Feckenham 2nds by 115 runs

    FECKENHAM'S batsmen took advantage of having first innings by running up a total of 237-5 from their 50 overs. Chris Perry top-scored with 66 and Roger Powell scored 54. David Baylis consolidated the innings with 31 and Andy Perry 35 not out. Manger led

  • Alcester & Ragley 1sts beat Broadway 1sts

    ALCESTER skipper Mark Fawthrop won the toss and put Broadway into bat. The away side started steadily with 31 for the first wicket but with tight bowling Alcester took wickets steadily and kept the run rate in check. Shaun Quirke with 4-19 polished off

  • Fixtures

    (2pm start unless otherwise stated) Saturday, September 9 WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE DIVISION ONE REDDITCH 1STS v Pershore 1sts 12.30pm Pershore 2nds v REDDITCH 2NDS 12.30pm BIRMINGHAM & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIVISION TWO Worcester NT 1sts v STUDLEY 1STS

  • Bridge work is under way

    WORK on a £60,000 improvement to Lucy's Mill Bridge began this week, with the help of workmen based on pontoons and barges. Paul Watson, project engineer, reflects on the task ahead at Lucy's Bridge. The floating workstations were drafted in to allow

  • Plan condemned

    A STRATFORD councillor has condemned plans for extra social housing, claiming they will lead to the creation of rundown estates in the middle of the town. The town council agreed last week to ask the county council to reopen the examination of the Warwickshire

  • English Music Festival is back on form for this year

    THE fifth year of the Stratford English Music Festival is the first under new management and, after 1999's slimmed-down effort because of a lack of cash, is set to demonstrate a real return to form. After last year's event was reduced to just a long weekend

  • Club work goes on display

    IMAGES of all aspects of the Stratford Photographic Club are on display in the town as part of the club's annual exhibition. Malcolm Ranieri, chairman of Stratford Photographic Club with some of the members' work. Colour and black and white prints are

  • Festival is full of fizz

    Samuel West leads the celebrations to launch a sparkling fringe festival by Royal Shakespeare Company actors and staff.

  • Fringe is a cut above the rest

    STRATFORD theatregoers can enjoy entertainment, music, comedy and new plays for just a fiver as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's fringe festival 2000. Company actor Samuel West, who is directing a production of Hamlet for the fringe, launched this

  • LETTER FROM WESTMINSTER by DAVID LOCK MP FOR WYRE FOREST

    THE alarm went at 5.15am and it was time to get up and get back to work. Government runs at a slightly different pace in August and I put in some much-neglected family time. Even in August, work goes on; the red boxes arrive and constituency correspondence

  • SOUND ADVICE

    A new advice column put together by Kidderminster Citizens Advice Bureau especially for Shuttle/Times & News readers QUESTION: My son is away at university and he is arranging to move into a flat with two other friends. The landlord of the flat wants

  • Free bus service details

    MORE details have been revealed about the free bus service set up to ferry people between Worcester-shire's hospitals. An extended and improved hourly 303 service running from Kidderminster Bus Station to Worcester Royal Infirmary sites at Castle Street

  • Hospital impresses

    HEALTH watchdogs from Wyre Forest visited Worcester's new £91 million PFI hospital. Members of Kidderminster and District Community Health Council went on a site visit and saw a mock-up of a four-bedded ward with en-suite facilities. They were then taken

  • Rise in 999 calls is mystery

    AMBULANCE chiefs have ruled out any connection between a sharp rise in emergency calls and the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital. Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service bosses are investigating an increase of nine per cent in emergency calls and

  • Recruiting in Philippines

    ABOUT 90 new nurses will be on the wards of Worcestershire hospitals this winter. Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has created 90 new posts across the county. The trust has also stated it has recruited about 50 nurses to replace those who have

  • Westcote

    VILLAGE PUMP RESTORED: The village pump has been restored and now has a new handle and - it works ! The work has been carried out by blacksmith Tim King, from Bourton, and was organised by Joy and Stephen Moss. FETE: On Saturday, Westcote Fete takes place

  • Ilmington

    VILLAGE FETE: One of the best parts of fete day is coming down to the playing field at 8am, when hardly anyone else is about, with the sun shining and an autumn feel in the air. This year the pig roaster had to be woken up to light his fire, as he had

  • Condicote

    VILLAGE HALL MEETING Following the refusal of a lottery grant for the village hall, there will be a meeting to consider future plans for the hall on September14, at 7.30pm, in the hall. SUNFLOWER JUDGING: Takes place today (Thursday) when plants will

  • Broadway

    GARDEN CLUB SHOW: The annual show will take place on Saturday on the village green and, at about 4.15pm the draw will take place for a unique watercolour of Broadway Village Green. Donated by Patrick Thwaits, the artist is Frank Shipsides, a well-known

  • Bredon

    VILLAGE FAIR: Thanks go again to those who gave their time and energy to run the village fair. More than £3,000 was raised, of which a large proportion will go to village organisations. During the six years that Lloyd Thompsett has been involved with

  • Special date for star skier

    A REDDITCH teenager is over the moon after being selected to represent the country at the Special Olympic World winter games in Anchorage, Alaska, in March next year. Skier Daniel McFadden, 13, of Enfield Road, Hunt End, has been training with the Redditch