DOZENS of postal workers went on strike last night at Worcester's Royal Mail sorting offices in a dispute over hot drinks. Eighty staff walked out of the processing department of the Wainwright Road offices, in Warndon, for nearly two hours. According
A SERIAL robber who raped a young shop assistant on his last raid was starting the first day of a 20-year sentence today. Peter Beckford attacked the woman inside a Worcestershire off-licence before brazenly walking out with £900 worth of cigarettes.
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to keep acute health services in Kidderminster want to join forces with Worcester's Ronkswood Action Group to force a public meeting. Twenty-nine Wyre Forest district councillors have voted to renew their efforts and to consider holding
AN Ombersley woman is to head for Caribbean sun, sea and sand after scooping first place in an Evening News competition. Jean Charlwood was one of more than 1,000 readers who entered the contest to win an all-inclusive holiday for two in Barbados, where
FANS of James Bond's Pussy Galore can see Honor Blackman when she appears at Birmingham's Old Rep Theatre during Jean Anouilh's Mademoiselle Colombe. The former Bond girl will star as Madame Alexandra alongside Donald Pickering for the performance, which
Stephen Billington may not be a name which jumps to the forefront of everyone's mind, but woman-beater, Greg Kelly, from Granada's Coronation Street is sure to jog the memory. Last year the actor became one of television's most hated men as he played
DESPITE the 30mph speed limit through parts of the village and the recent fuel shortage, vehicles still exceed this limit most of the time. People travelling along the main roads were going noticeably slower while fuel was almost unobtainable but the
A COFFEE Morning will be held on Thursday, October 5 at 14 Orchard Way, Callow End. There will be cards, bric a brac, cakes for sale plus bring & buy and a raffle. The event is from 10am to noon and all proceeds are for St Peter's Restoration &
A JAZZ Evening in aid of St Michael's Hospice will take place at Colwall Village Hall tonight (Friday) at 7.30pm. For those of you who still have not collected your copy of 'Colwall through the Millennia', there is still time to pick up your copy from
1st POWICK Brownies enjoyed a walk last Friday evening and in spite of rain early in the day the weather cleared and enabled the walk to go ahead. Twenty two children and seven adults walked from Bush Hill Farm, through the apple orchard and down to Bush
ON Sunday next, September 24, the service of Harvest Festival will be held in the parish church of St James, Staunton at 10.30am. A ploughman's type lunch will be held in the church following the service, when it is hoped members of the congregation will
GREAT news for West Malvern this week! The village shop, which many believed had closed for the last time when Ron and Shelagh Mason put up the shutters at Easter, is to re-open under new management in about a month's time. The new shopkeeper is Julie
EXTRA trains will be laid on by the Severn Valley Railway this weekend to make up for the cancellation of its Autumn Steam Gala. SVR leaders said feedback from guesthouses and hotels suggested up to a third of railway enthusiasts who had booked accommodation
Ledbury Poetry Festival has organised a reading by a top writer to celebrate National Poetry Day on October 5. The Burgage Hall in Church Lane will be the venue, from 7pm, for an event called "Out of Silence". Poet Lawrence Sail will read various poems
TICKET sales for this year's Cheltenham Festival of Literature have broken all previous records, say organisers. In less than six weeks, more than 25,000 advance tickets have been sold by the box office. Sell-outs include Bill Bryson, Hannah Gordon and
VISUALLY striking, provocative and humorous prints are currently on display at Worcester Art Gallery and Museum. Twelve London-based artists have put together the contemporary exhibition called Screen, which has been touring the country. Imagery in the
BARNT Green Spartak piled more misery on last season's Division One champions Rubery Redstar, dumping them out of the LMS Shield in a 7-1 rout. Simon Brown grabbed a hat-trick and Richard Cameron a brace with further goals from Mark Uddin and Malcolm
PEOPLE power is needed to preserve a mediaeval Droitwich landmark which could collapse if costly repairs are not completed. St Andrew's Church, in St Andrew's Street, faces an uncertain future unless £750,000 is raised to improve its structure and replace
THE residents of communities in Worcestershire, and beyond, owe a debt to Judge Michael Mott, today, for jailing Peter Beckford for 20 years for the rape of a young shop assistant during a raid. There are few things more bewildering than reading that
REDDITCH United boss Rob Smith says nothing less than nine points from the next three games will do. Reds entertain Racing Club Warwick in the Dr Martens League Western Division tomorrow, the first of three successive games against struggling sides. Smith
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers have cancelled the contract of defender Dylan Kerr with immediate effect after a breach of club discipline. The former Kilmarnock campaigner recently signed a one-month deal with Harriers as cover for the injured Scott Stamps, but
AS I have watched the TV programmes commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, my mind had been full of praise and pride at the way in which we, as a nation, were saved from slavery under the German jackboot. This has been replaced by
I was astonished to discover (Malvern Gazette, August 25) that £1.3m is needed to 'save' the Malvern Hills. The 'problem' is the same one which has been explained to households in the area with a glossy leafletting campaign by the Conservators and by
THE British public have long tolerated an ever-increasing tax on motor fuel so it hardly came as any surprise when disgruntled farmers, road hauliers and their families decided to make their protest by blockading refineries throughout the UK. It's never
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers have cancelled the contract of defender Dylan Kerr with immediate effect after a breach of club discipline. The former Kilmarnock campaigner recently signed a one-month deal with Harriers as cover for the injured Scott Stamps, but
MANCHESTER'S director of rugby Alex Keay lit the touchpaper for tomorrow's crunch clash by branding Worcester the biggest underachievers in rugby history. The former Moseley coach slated the Sixways club before the National League Division One enounter
WORCESTER City are set for a triple boost in tomorrow's home Dr Martens League Premier Division clash with Salisbury (3pm). Defender Chris Green-man, winger Ian Reed and striker Micky Cotter all came through training last night and could be included in
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers have cancelled the contract of defender Dylan Kerr with immediate effect after a breach of club discipline. The former Kilmarnock campaigner recently signed a one-month deal with Harriers as cover for the injured Scott Stamps, but
HEREFORD United Director of Football Graham Turner is backing his side to bounce back from the end of their unbeaten start to the Nation-wide Conference season. The Bulls, who entertain Steven-age Borough tomorrow (3pm), went down 2-1 at Doncaster last
WORCESTER'S leading rally driver, Jon Tainton, achieved his best result so far when finishing first in Group 'N' and eighth overall in the Wexford Stages Rally in Rosslare. Only 83 finished from 143 starters and Tainton finished well ahead of anyone else
A MALVERN nature reserve will soon be run by a local volunteer group which has been looking after the site for the district council. Malvern Hills District Council met this week to discuss proposals to allow St Wulstan's Local Nature Reserve Group its
BOBBY and Peter Farrelly's Me, Myself & Irene has left a bad taste in the mouths of many who have seen it Stateside. The comedy dresses itself up like a sweet and hopeless romantic who believes in love at first sight, but who behaves as a filthy-minded
This short walk on the edge of Worcester is full of wildlife and historical interest. In wildlife terms, the most important feature of the walk is the River Severn, which forms an immensely valuable green corridor through the city. The most noticeable
BROMSGROVE Rovers boss George Rooney wants his side to forget about their FA Cup exit quickly. Rovers entertain Shepshed Dynamo in the Dr Martens League Western Division tomorrow after a dismal replay defeat at Oldbury in midweek. Rooney said: "They were
MALVERN Town have had one Banks's Brewery League Premier Division point deducted and been fined £75 for fielding an ineligible player. The League has ruled that Martin Phillpotts had not been properly signed on before Town's match with Tividale as correct
A WORCESTER estate is awash with heroin and children as young as five are queuing to buy it, according to two concerned mothers. They claim members of one Dines Green house are regularly spotted "brazenly" offering wraps of the drug in their front garden
MARK Roberson continued his good form for Stoke Works at Astwood Fishery in the Bluebell Pool Open with a pole, corn and meat catch of 23-7-0 of carp from peg two. In the annual British Telecom Invitation Challenge held at Elmdon Pool, John Hudson (Drum
THE Green 1sts ended their WCL Division Two programme on a disappointing note on Saturday when Bromyard visited North End Lane and won by seven wickets. BARNARDS GREEN 1ST XI v BROMYARD 1ST XI An hour was lost as the pitch was very wet which reduced each
BARNARDS GREEN CC Saturday, September 23. 'A' XI v TBC (Home). Meet Club 1pm. T Clarke, P Drinkwater, D McKay, K Golder, J Drew, R Lewis, J Sherliker, D Goodman, J Clarke, B Adams, R Longmore. Sunday, September 24. 1st XI v TBC (Home). Meet Club 1pm.
THE Malvern Singers launch their new season with a charity concert to raise funds for the County Air Ambulance on Saturday, September 30. The event is being held at the Methodist Church, Somers Park Avenue, at 7.30pm, and the programme includes a range
SAM Brown is not expecting massive radio airplay for her new album and she undertook an extremely arduous tour of Russia to promote her last single. For a woman who stood at the top of the music business when her debut album Stop was released in 1988,
GLASGOW Phoenix Choir is looking forward to its 50th anniversary next year but before that it has a performance to do in Ledbury. The choir will be joining forces with the Hereford Police Male Voice Choir for the concert on Sunday (September 24) at St
AMERICA beckons for Philomusic of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire but there is time for a concert in Kempsey before they go. St Mary's Church will host the concert, on Saturday, September 30, at 7.30pm, where there will be a chance to hear what the
MALVERN Rugby Club's Midlands Two West fixture away at Selly Oak was postponed on Saturday due to the fuel shortage. Malvern played a hastily arranged friendly away at Old Richians and won 31-22 but David Robins, Director of Rugby, was less than happy
WITH Selly Oak being sidelined by Birmingham Council's lack of fuel for mowing machines, Malvern travelled to Gloucester for this hastily arranged friendly. OLD RICHIANS 22pts, MALVERN 31pts Richians playing true, rumbustious West Country style, so these
MALVERN RFC Youth Development Section kicks-off its season of fixtures this Sunday (September 24) with two home games and an eight-team tournament at The Chase. At Spring Lane, the HSBC Malvern Under 16 "Stags" take on a talented Bromsgrove team who the
MALVERN RFC Saturday, September 23. 1st XV v Wolverhampton (Home). Meet Railway Inn 12.30pm. Kick-off 3pm. No. 1 Dress Code. T Allies, D Irish, S Cooper, S Smith, J Owen, P Hart, A Thomas, M Gaubert, G Blakeway, S Philips, D Beech, M Humphries, G Richards
A BEAUTIFUL sunny afternoon marked the start of Upton's North Midlands One League campaign, but it didn't last. LEDBURY 1ST XV 23pts, UPTON-UPON-SEVERN 1ST XV 6pts The 'black and white's' found the clouds soon gathered over a team uninspired for a tough
SNATCH (18): Guy Ritchie-directed heist thriller starring Brad Pitt. Odeon, Worcester. Fri, Mon-Thu 1.10, 3.50, 6.25, 8.50. Sat/Sun 6.25, 8.50. UCI Dudley. (2.15 Sat/Sun only), 4.35, 7.10, 7.40, 9.30. Fri/Sat Late 12.00. X-MEN (12): Comic book heroes
Tonight Bubba. The Marr's Bar, Pierpoint Street, Worcester. Tomorrow IXI Duo. Barbourne Ex-Service Men's Club, The Moors, Worcester. Pool and Fook. The Marr's Bar, Pierpoint Street, Worcester. SUNDAY Brian Jones. Barbourne Ex-Service Men's Club, The Moors
FOR many years, mobile home residents have had cause for serious complaint about the results of their peculiar situation - living in homes they owned on land they did not own. Dubious contracts, huge rent rises, overcharging for water, bottled gas and
THOSE who care about what we are doing to our environment will agree with much of what M H Reynolds says. That said, I would suggest that the problem of waste and recycling doesn't lie with the general public. It lies with local and national politicians
SPECIAL refuges for stag beetles are to be built in Upton to preserve the town's status as a major centre for the rare insect. The three-inch long beetles lay their eggs in rotting timbers, where the larvae live and feed for three to six years. But there
CCTV cameras for Barnards Green and Malvern Link moved a step nearer this week - days after a wave of vandalism struck firms in the Green. On Tuesday (September 19), Malvern Hills District Council's executive board agreed to spend £2,000 on a full consultation
VOLUNTEERS who look after a nature reserve in Malvern Wells say they are fed up with feeling like "unpaid slaves". And they want Malvern Hills District Council to hurry up and put in place a management agreement to look after the St Wulstan's Nature Reserve
BRINGING Malvern Town Council together with the people and businesses in its area is the task of Selina Saveker, the newly-appointed town projects manager. Selina only started her job last week, but she's no stranger to Malvern, having previously worked
West Mercia Police will be one of the first forces in the country to introduce a new digital radio service. The force has signed a contract with BT to provide the new equipment, which is undergoing trials in Lancashire in the autumn. The system will be
BUDDING basketball players are being urged to join a thriving set-up that has recently expanded into Droitwich. Avon Valley Basketball Club, who train at Droitwich Leisure Centre and Nunnery Wood High School, Worcester, are searching for more slam-dunk
WORCESTER City are set for a triple boost in tomorrow's home Dr Martens League Premier Division clash with Salisbury (3pm). Defender Chris Green-man, winger Ian Reed and striker Micky Cotter all came through training last night and could be included in
CHRIS Bocock has been chief executive of Malvern Hills District Council for several years. But on Wednesday (September 27) he'll be leading council staff in something quite different: a charity relay run across the Malvern Hills. They will be raising
THE founder of the National Bird of Prey Centre in Newent has died, aged 84. Phillip Glasier was Britain's leading authority on falconry when he set up the Falconry Centre, as it was originally called, in 1967. The centre, which is now run by his daughter
TRAINING on the Malvern Hills came into its own when Liz Jones arrived in Canada for a charity trek through the wilds. Now back at her desk at Malvern Hills District Council, Liz, from Ledbury, said the challenge was every bit as tough as she expected
A MALVERN volunteer is waiting to hear if she's won a top national prize. The winner of the National Association of Citizen's Advice Bureaux awards will be announced on Thursday (September 28) at the association's annual conference in York. In line for
A MALVERN charity worker has uncovered the truth behind a chain letter currently circulating in the area. The bogus appeal on behalf of a child with terminal cancer has fooled hundreds of reputable organisations into sending compliments slips to an address
SIXTY years ago, as the bombed cruise ship Lancastria slipped beneath the calm seas off St Nazaire, Jacqueline Tillyer's father kept her afloat by gripping her clothes between his teeth. When the ship went down, Clifford and Vera Tillyer were already
THERE was disappointment for Upton Youth Band when last weekend's marching bands competition at Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent, was called off because of the fuel crisis. The band had been working extra hard for the competition, hoping to qualify for the British
RUMOURS about another fuel crisis escalated out of all proportion on Tuesday as Malvern garages witnessed a repeat of last week's chaos. Just as garage owners were beginning to breathe a sigh of relief and predict a return to normality, motorists suddenly
SHEEP carcasses and offal dumped in a country lane had to be cleared up by field staff of Malvern Hills Conservators. Conservation officer David Whitehorn told Board members last week that he suspected the waste to be the product of illegal slaughtering
St Katherine's Surgery in Ledbury is to have its own hi-tech "syringe driver", thanks to donations from the relatives and friends of the late Rev. Robert Dore and Richard Hopkins, both of whom lived locally. The district nurses based at the surgery decided
A PROPOSAL to change the status of the A38 trunk road near Upton-upon-Severn has been approved by Malvern Hills District Council's executive board. But it insists the "detrunking" is accompanied by enough money to make sure the road is well maintained
THE achievements of young writers from the Malvern area were celebrated on Monday (September 18). St James's School, West Malvern, was the venue for Malvern Writers' Circle Young Writer of the Year awards. The winning writer was Francesca Brookes, aged
100 years ago Many ladies and gentlemen have by them old or disused false teeth, which might as well be turned into money. Messrs. R. D. & J. B. Fraser, of Princes Street, Ipswich (established since 1833), buy old false teeth. If you send your teeth
A COLWALL magistrate has been appointed to the job of counting every man, woman and child in three counties for next year's Census. Alun Llewellyn will be in charge of counting the population in Herefordshire, Malvern Hills, Tewkesbury, Forest of Dean
Malvern Cinema: The Luzhin Defence (12) Fri, Sat & Sun 7.30pm, Mon, Tues & Thurs 8pm, Sat, matinees Sat, Sun & Wed 3pm. The Virgin Suicides (15) Wed 27th only 8pm. Odeon Worcester: Me, Myself & Irene (15) 12.55, 3.25, 5.55, 8.35; Chicken
A FORMER Hanley Castle High School pupil is hoping to hit the high spots on the London comedy circuit. Geoffrey Mills, aged 22, of Malvern, is off to try his luck in the capital after a successful summer up in Edinburgh. He and comedy partner Tim Wellburn
SHOWING this week at Malvern Cinema is The Luzhin Defence (12), a film revolving around chess and romance, based on a Vladimir Nabokov novel. John Turturro is Alexander Luzhin, an introverted chess grandmaster from a loveless background. Sparks fly when
A PARTY of more than 300 from Malvern Girls' College successfully negotiated the London Underground to complete a day at the Millennium Dome. Plans for last Sunday's trip were hit by the fuel crisis, which led to the cancellation of a fleet of London
MALVERN Town Council is asking people living near Victoria Park, in Malvern Link, what it should do about the park's grandstand. The council want to know whether it should demolish the structure or refurbish it, which could cost £18,000. But demolition
THE country's first health improvement programme for men has been launched by Worcestershire Health Authority. Dr Ian Banks, a British Medical Association advisor to the Government on men's health issue, launched the programme's "core document" in Worcester
BROMSGROVE triathlete Dave Brearley is celebrating after being selected to represent the Great Britain veterans' team for the World Triathlon Championships in Edmonton, Canada, next July. The 55-year-old was chosen following his performance at the National
ELGAR Property Care has successfully hit targets set by the Housing Corporation. A specialist arm of the Partnership Housing Group, it provides on-going maintenance for more than 5,000 homes in Malvern and Ledbury provided by Elgar Housing Association
MEET the new recruit to the town's No.1 newspaper. Chris Vaughan has taken over the reigns from sports editor from Teresa Phillips, who worked at the paper for 13 years. A former pupil at South Bromsgrove High School, Chris is already familiar to the
HEREFORD United Director of Football Graham Turner is backing his side to bounce back from the end of their unbeaten start to the Nation-wide Conference season. The Bulls, who entertain Steven-age Borough tomorrow (3pm), went down 2-1 at Doncaster last
Local children are the stars of a new book from professional photographer Richard Surman. Mr Surman, of Ledbury, well known for his best-selling The Times Book of Church Cats, has attempted to capture the fun, magic and mishaps of a typical Nativity Play
BROMSGROVE were well beaten in their second league game by a fitter and committed Hinckley side who scored three tries without reply. With no previous record of fixtures with Hinckley, who have suffered two league demotions in recent seasons, Bromsgrove
The Ledbury and District Society Trust is the proud owner of a special Millennium spoon which has been made by a local jeweller and donated anonymously. The spoon, which celebrates the history of Ledbury, was given as a thank-you for 22 years of lectures
PUBLIC comment on the plan to introduce grazing animals to the Malvern Hills will be invited at a special meeting of Malvern Hills Conservators. The Board will meet in Priory Lodge Hall on Tuesday, October 10, at 7.30pm, transferring from the smaller
G K Chesterton's detective Father Brown will be brought to the stage in The Mystery of Father Brown, a play by Philip Monks adapted from the short stories. Worcester Theatre Company will be staging the play from Thursday, September 28 to Saturday, October
TICKETS for Thank You For The Music, the latest show from Midlands Musical Theatre Group, are selling like hot cakes. Speaking at the group's AGM, president Robert Wilson said: "The group is going from strength to strength and this year looks like being
WHY did the Tories destroy the miners' strike of 1984 yet supported the fuel blockade of 2000? What's the difference? JIM STOTE, Worcester.
AN exciting last over victory against Sutton Coldfield was more than enough to secure Bromsgrove Cricket Club's future in Birmingham and District Premier League Division One on Saturday. The match proved to be almost identical to the previous week's farce
MALVERN Rangers' Worcester League Premier Division fixture against Crown & Anchor last Saturday was postponed due to the fuel shortage. Tomorrow (Saturday) Rangers are due to be back in action when they visit Droitwich Spa for a Premier Division game
DUE to the problems facing motorists last weekend because of the fuel shortage, the League postponed all games in the Sterling Classic Malvern Football League. However the League returns to action this Sunday with some interesting fixtures. In the U18s
MALVERN RM continued their excellent start to the season by making it three wins from three matches. VIRGIN SPORTS FC 0, MALVERN RM 2 The home team were a very good match for the Malvern side but Malvern rode their luck a little bit and good goalkeeping
BULMERS chairman Esmond Bulmer, who has retired after serving the family cider firm for 40 years, has raised a glass to his successor Will Samuel. Mr Samuel, aged 48, has been a non-executive director of the Hereford firm for 10 years. He is joint group
AFTER all the wonderful things that the bowlers of the Malvern Victoria Club have achieved this season, the finals weekend lived up to it all. The weather was hot and sunny, the Competition Secretaries Kit Aldridge & Derek Webb worked hard to make
MALVERN United Angling Association members contested their latest match, the Taylor Cup, last Sunday on the River Severn. The river level was normal despite recent rains and there was a tinge of colour in the water, which encouraged the anglers. The contest
A RUN-IN with the local mafioso and learning your venue won't provide a sound system can't be the most auspicious way to start a tour of Russia. But Sam Brown's band appeared to rise to the occasion and improvised where needed to cover the six dates with
OUTRAGED people living in a Worcester street have issued an ultimatum to the city council, threatening militant action if they are not given parking concessions. Car owners in Edgar Street fear visitors to the cinema at the new Warner 'citiplex' - due
A FORMER Worcester Mayor has threatened to take legal action against water giants Severn Trent for causing a stink in a city suburb. Councillor Derek Prodger has gained cross-party support for his suggestion that Worcester City Council should seek to
A STATE-of-the-art body scanner has been unveiled at Worcester's Ronkswood Hospital. More than £400,000 has been invested in the new CT scanner, which enables faster and more complex examinations to be carried out. Worcester MP Mike Foster joined staff
AN emergency training exercis scheduled to take place in Worcester this weekend has been postponed because of the effects of the fuel crisis. The county council's head of emergency planning, Dr John Asquith, was not prepared to reveal the nature of the
A FORMER Worcestershire social services worker has blamed the department for its predicted £4.6m overspend, saying not enough money is spent keeping children out of care. Diane Jackson worked as an independent social worker in the former Hereford-Worcester
HARVEST Supper on Friday, October 6 at 7.30pm at Berrow Hall. More details next week. Please let members of the Social Committee know if you can come because of seating arrangements. Phone Celia on (01531) 650346 or Elsie on (01531) 650332.
TOMORROW (Sat-urday) Pendock School and Pendock Playgroup are holding an Autumn Fayre at Pendock Primary School. Children's handicraft show (ages 4-16 years) entries to be in school by 10.30am, exhibition opening at 2pm. Prize winners announced at 3.30pm
THE prize winners at the Village Hall Fortnightly Whist Drive were:- Brenda Errington, Mrs K Field, Claire Skirten, Joyce Rusling, Olive Timme, Mrs Farmer, Jean Gurney, Pat Gisby, Joe Skirten, Reg Gurney, Betty Parsons, Gill Warner, Philip Awford and
ON September 13 Longdon Churchwom-en's Fellowship members were guests of Tewkesbury Methodist Young Wives and enjoyed a very personal interpretation of Creation by Sally Harvey of Naunton. Mrs Harvey took seven days of creation as a theme to show a marvellous
FANS of a chart-topping 70s singing star from Worcestershire are being invited to a special concert and annual convention to celebrate his music. Clifford T Ward, who lives near Stockton-on-Teme, was forced to cut short his recording career after being
THE family of a "bubbly" schoolgirl crash victim are trying to piece together the events leading up to the incident. Kate Spink, aged 13, is showing signs of gradually pulling herself out of unconsciousness after suffering two skull fractures. She was
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to keep acute health services in Kidderminster want to join forces with Worcester's Ronkswood Action Group to force a public meeting. Twenty-nine Wyre Forest district councillors have voted to renew their efforts and to consider holding
This short walk on the edge of Worcester is full of wildlife and historical interest. In wildlife terms, the most important feature of the walk is the River Severn, which forms an immensely valuable green corridor through the city. The most noticeable
WILKO Johnson is living proof that old rockers don't die...they just lose a little hair. The founder member of Dr Feelgood, who went his solo way in 1977 citing "musical differences", has hardly changed otherwise. His enthusiasm, verve and obsession with
GOALKEEPER Tim Clarke is set to return for Kidderminster Harriers' tough Nation-wide League Division Three trip to unbeaten Cardiff City tomorrow (3pm). The experienced 32-year-old has been back in full training for over a week following a knee operation
I AM sorry the last Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter (September 15) did not carry any suggestion of another side to the issue of fuel prices. While not surprised by protests from certain sectors, I find the supposed 80 per cent of the general public
NOW that fuel for motor cars is now available in Malvern again it is worth reflecting on the real cause of the crisis for local farmers. Six of the seven leaders of the blockade of fuel depots were farmers protesting at the high cost of fuel. In fact
THE recent fuel tax protests may have been correct in claiming that reducing the level of duty on fuel will help haulage companies compete in Europe. However, road transport demands a heavy price - every year thousands are killed, tens of thousands are
THERE are some searching questions this week over the news that a new sports hall for Malvern could cost £0.5m more than expected. One of which is: what kind of sports facilities do we want in this country. As we wish Ceris Gilfillan, from Welland, all
LEE Westwood picked up two birdies in three holes to signal his intentions early on the second day of the Belgacom Open on the Royal Zoute course in Knokke, Belgium. The world number six resumed in a five-way share of second place on six under par and
A MARTLEY pony has qualified for the prestigious final of a national veteran competition. Helen Smith was over the moon when she qualified My Little Promise for the Super Solvitax R-A Formula Veteran Pony of the Year Award. She qualified at the Puddleston
GIANT'S Causeway can emulate the great Mill Reef at Ascot tomorrow. The "Iron Horse" can land his sixth Group One success on the trot in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and equal the achievement of the 1971 Derby winner. Giant's Causeway's achievement in
AS the redeveloped City Arcade in Worcester High Street nears completion, it is timely to look back two centuries to the construction of the first Market Hall on the site. Berrow's Journal reported in this week exactly 200 years ago: "A very considerable
A MIDNIGHT kick-about after a marathon drinking session has cost a Malvern man £100. Foul-mouthed reveller Colin Stowe joined a street football game on Graham Road in Malvern as he waited for his pals to buy chips from the Golden Kitchen. But the late-night
ON West Malvern's final Sunday fixture of the year they entertained Rushwick at Mathon Court. WEST MALVERN v RUSHWICK Rushwick opened the batting but could not get to grips with the batting conditions or West' bowlers, losing wickets at regular intervals
"EIGHT miserable years" is how Miles Hunt describes the most commercially successful period of his musical life, as lead singer and songwriter with Indie outfit The Wonderstuff. Despite Dizzy, a No 1 collaboration with comedian and friend Vic Reeves,
Catherine Drummond is playing at Bartestree Village Hall later this month as a guest of Hereford Electronic Organ and Keyboard Club. Leicester-born Catherine's previous performances include festival and theatre organs around the country, one of which
DAVE Brubeck fans are in for a treat next week, with the next concert arranged by the Friends of Upton Jazz Festival. The experienced musicians of the Martin Hart Quartet will present Dave Brubeck - A Life Story at Hanley Castle High School on Friday,
A FREE concert by four members of a Malvern family will be the reward for those who attend the annual meeting of Upton Arts Music Group tomorrow evening (Saturday). There is no charge for admission to the meeting in Upton Memorial Hall at 7.30pm, when
SATURDAY, September 23 FA CARLSBERG VASE Second Round Qualifying: Arnold Town or Kirby Muxloe v Malvern Town. BANKS'S BREWERY LEAGUE Division one (South): Malvern Town Res v Sedgley White Lions. TUESDAY, September 26 BANKS'S BREWERY LEAGUE Premier division
FANS of Bromsgrove Rovers are getting together on Wednesday, October 4 for the inaugural meeting of the club's supporters' trust. The initiative, spearheaded by Rovers director and former Bromsgrove District Council chairman Phil Baker is open for anyone
IRONICALLY, the recent fuel crisis has highlighted one big advantage (apart from their weather) that the continentals have over us, namely low fuel taxes. The way forward, surely, is to embrace the EC properly and for Ministers throughout Europe to push
REPLYING to Mr Fisher, the gentleman who is a horse racing enthusiast, I would point out that in Worcester, the four main sporting venues are New Road, St George's Lane, Sixways and Pitchcroft. Unlike the other three, which exist for the furtherance of
EACH time I go round the Barbourne area, I notice numerous drains are blocked up by leaves, rubbish, even grass grown over them. I thoughT drains were for a purpose and supposed to be kept clear and to allow any surplus water to flow. It appears all is
Line Dancing. Every Monday. Begin 6.30pm-7.30; Intermediate 7.30pm-9.30pm and Every Thursday. Intermediate 7.30pm-9.30pm. Kempsey Parish Hall (01905 352696). Festival Weekend (All donations for Church Funds). Sept 22-24. Holy Trinity & St Matthew
LOOKING at Roy Booker's excellent picture of the Severn from the Glover's Needle area, I cannot see why man-made "improvements" are needed here, quayhead or otherwise. There are lovely trees, the eye-catching rippling of the water, swans, a beautiful
AFTER the recent petrol blockade and the public support it received, could we pensioners learn a lesson from it? It seems that, as long as you have public support, you can hold the Government to ransom fairly quickly. Pensioners have overwhelming public
HOW can Social Services account for the costs of £100,000 for each child that is taken into care? I have a son and I do not spend that much money looking after him even if I had the money. So many children are in care in the Worcester area. You stated
TONY Blair has demonstrated with his handling of the recent fuel crisis, that either he badly misjudged the situation, or he was ill-advised. But worse still, he demonstrates more of the political arrogance associated with the current government. History
MALVERN'S new sports hall needs an urgent cash injection after tenders came in over budget by £500,000. Designs for a new sports hall in Priory Road were given the go-ahead in April by Malvern Hills District Council's planning committee and £1.8 million
WEST Malvern's village shop has been saved after fears that the business would remain closed. Since its former owners, Ron and Sheila Mason, retired at the end of March, Meco Stores has remained shut up. A meeting about its future held in May attracted
MANCHESTER'S director of rugby Alex Keay lit the touchpaper for tomorrow's crunch clash by branding Worcester the biggest underachievers in rugby history. The former Moseley coach slated the Sixways club before the National League Division One enounter
DECISIONS over cuts and an indication of the level Council Tax will be hammered out by Malvern Hills District Council over the next eight weeks. Spending plans to cover the next two years and return the Council to a balanced budget will also be presented
MALVERN'S Olympic hope is gearing herself up to represent Britain in the cycling events in Sydney next week. Ceris Gilfillan, aged 20, from Welland, is due to take part in the women's road race on Tuesday and the individual time trial on Saturday. The
DEFENDER Jeremy Carr is poised to make his debut for Dr Martens League Western Division leaders Evesham United in tomorrow's crunch home clash with Hinckley United (3pm). Manager Phil Mullen has snapped up the centre-half from Shepshed Dynamo. He hopes
MALVERN College is launching a £1.6 million appeal for new facilities to enhance its national and international reputation. They include a £1.2 million International Communication and Language Centre and a £400,000 all-weather playing surface. The college
A PLEA by two Brownies for more girls to join the 6th Malvern pack has gone unanswered. Two weeks ago Sylvia Moeskops, aged eight, and nine-year-old Danielle Stocker wrote to the Malvern Gazette in a last-ditch attempt to encourage more girls to enlist
THE number of pupils excluded from Worcestershire schools has continued to fall, but not in line with Government targets. A total of 110 children were excluded in the last school year - a drop of 18 on 1998/9 - the majority of them from secondary schools
PROBATION and social services from Herefordshire and Worcestershire have joined up with West Mercia Police in a system to manage dangerous criminals who have served their sentences. The new protocol builds on one which has been in place for two years.
A STEAM locomotive is returning to home turf when it arrives for a loan spell at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. Great Western Railway steam locomotive No 3205 will be the guest of the Toddington venue until the middle of November. Built at
WORCESTER City boss John Barton has saluted Carl Tranter's role in the club's revived form. Since his arrival earlier this month, the 21-year-old striker has linked well with fellow front man Mark Owen and helped City score 13 goals in their last five
MALVERN Library has secured a copy of an account of the lives of three sisters, one of whom lived in Malvern during the last century. The Aunts: A Brief Memoir is the work of the late Pearl Jephcott and has been published privately by her sister-in-law
LOCAL MP Sir Michael Spicer has pledged to find out what will be done with the former DERA North Site in Malvern. Sir Michael made the promise after visiting the Malvern Hills Science Park, next to the main DERA site, on Monday (September 18). He said
WORRIES about the effect on Malvern Common of changes at DERA have been raised by Malvern Hills Conservators. A multi-million pound facelift proposed for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency site includes plans to upgrade the Longridge Road access
A RARE species of fungi rediscovered by a schoolgirl in 1996 has appeared once again. Worcestershire Fungus Group has carried out regular checks on the site of the Berkeley's Earth Star (Geastrum berkleyii) in Cradley since its first appearance after
The bell-ringers of Cradley are enjoying the sweet sound of success, having been awarded a £50 Millennium Prize in the Herefordshire Village of the Year Competition. The award was in recognition of the £62,000 raised by the village towards the recasting
A FAST-improving school where pupils have a good attitude to learning was found by inspectors who visited Welland Primary in June. Under the headship of Mrs Gill Callaghan, the 128-pupil school has overcome serious weaknesses identified in 1997 and made
WORK on a new pelican crossing near the car park in Hanley Road, Upton, is due to begin at the end of October. The crossing will be installed by Worcestershire County Council's highways department, but the Town Council has agreed to contri- bute £500
Upton's problems will be the centre of attention at a "planning for real" exercise tomorrow (Saturday). A scale-model of the town, built by pupils at Upton CE Primary, will be on display there between 11.30am and 4pm. The idea is for townspeople to identify
THOUGHT-provoking photographs by the Reverend Peter Holzapfel will be on display at St Denys' Church, Severn Stoke, as part of this weekend's flower festival. The last exhibition by Mr Holzapfel, who is Rector of Kempsey and Severn Stoke with Croome d'Abitot
THE relief of Ladysmith, together with that of Mafeking, were defining moments in the Boer War, which was already almost a year old by the time the Malvern Gazette of September 21, 1900 appeared. The Gazette was pleased to be able to bring its readers
MOST of the equipment has been taken away from two playgrounds in the Malvern Link area. Malvern Town Council is now asking local people what they want to replace them. All equipment except the swings have been removed from the playgrounds at Michael
CROQUE en Bouche will discover on Monday (September 25) whether it has won a prestigious wine award. The restaurant and wine merchant, in Malvern Wells, is one of 12 Michelin starred establishments shortlisted nationally for the Champagne Gosset Trophee
ALMOST the entire village of Leigh is contained in a new booklet giving a snapshot of residents in the Millennium year. Photographer Malcolm Scott has compiled the booklet, which has the village's longest standing resident, 80-year-old Harry Banner, on
GEORGE Rooney admitted the 1-1 stalemate with Oldbury United in the FA Cup first qualifying round on Saturday was the team's worst performance since he took charge of Bromsgrove Rovers in June. Two second half injury time goals saw the two sides replay
A WORLD-famous escapologist will be performing for the last time this weekend at the Malvern Autumn Garden and Country Show. Nick Janson, dubbed the man of 1,000 escapes, is hanging up his handcuffs and swapping his daredevil lifestyle for a well-earned
A pensioner who broke a court order not to annoy his neighbours has been warned he risks a jail sentence. Richard Dawe imitated the sound of a peacock near the home of parish councillor Shirley Schooling. The 66-year-old also swore at another neighbour
BROMSGROVE Swimming Club clinched promotion to Division Two of the Nuneaton and Warwickshire Diddy League in a gripping final last weekend. Although Town's young swimmers never quite reproduced the form that had seen them win all the preliminary rounds
THE 60th anniversary of The Battle of Britain struck a chord with Malvern people, as a congregation of around 120 joined a commemorative service. Members of the Malvern Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association and the 1017 (Malvern) Squadron of the
MALVERN Hills District Council has been dubbed "the best in the rural West Midlands" for its housing policies. The accolade comes from the Government Office for the West Midlands and the Housing Corporation. MHDC funds many housing developments directly
A MALVERN school is going into the new Millennium with a new uniform and a new logo, designed by the children. To commemorate the historic occasion, each pupil at St James' CE Primary School, West Malvern, has been presented with a commemorative plate
HAVING exited the nation's biggest television show, Stephen Billington seems remarkably happy with the prospect of a trip to Malvern and life outside 'the Street' in general. The former Coronation Street actor was stuck in a traffic jam in Colchester
I SOMETIMES wonder if the Rev Denys Griffin lives in the real world. He says (You Say, September 10) that most pensioners squandered their salaries. My dad worked hard all his life for a mere pittance. He never had a car or a foreign holiday - the only
Theatre September To Sept 23-Mr Peters' Connections by Arthur Miller at the Festival Theatre, Malvern. 2.30pm & 8pm. Tickets £10-£18 (concs £1). Box Office (01684) 892277. 25-30-Willy Russell's Blood Brothers at the Festival Theatre, Malvern. 2.30pm
MALVERN Town were left kicking themselves having let two Banks's Brewery Premier Division points slip against a very ordinary Heath Hayes side at the Langland Stadium on Saturday. MALVERN TOWN 2, HEATH HAYES 2 Starting brightly Town went ahead after only
JUBILANT townsfolk heard today (Friday) that Evesham had been named best medium town in the Britain in Bloom awards for the Midlands. The town's entry into the competiton is the culmination of hard work throughout the year by the Evesham in Bloom committee
A WELLESBOURNE student has been honoured with a major award for developing a revolutionary non-slip vinyl floor coating for a new company. Natasha Hirst, who studies at the University of Warwick, has been awarded the Shell Technology Enterprise programme
AN EVESHAM cat owner is warning others to be extra vigilant after her cat was shot and seriously injured with an air gun. Celia Kimberley, of School Road, Hampton, said: "I was so devastated that someone could shoot him. I'm really upset that someone
MALVERN Radar earned their first Worcester Saturday League Premier Division points of the season in this seven-goal thriller at Lower Howsell Road. MALVERN RADAR 4, INKBERROW 3 Youngster Mark Taylor was Radar's top man notching a fine hat-trick and despite
WEST Malvern returned to winning ways on Saturday and recorded their first Worcester League division one victory. WEST MALVERN 7, DEW DROP 2 With a full squad available the West got off to a good start when Andy Hurrell opened their account within the
MALVERN Athletic's Midland Combination division two fixture away at Leamington was postponed last Saturday due to the fuel shortage. Athletic are due to be back in action tomorrow (Saturday) when they entertain West Midlands Police Reserves at Victoria
AN August visit to Wigan Athletic's JJB Stadium for a pre-season friendly, stadium tour and tickets to their Worthington Cup match must have inspired Welland U16s for their opening Mercian League game and they ran out comfortable winners. STREETS AHEAD
FAILURE to build affordable homes in the countryside will blight job creation in rural Worcestershire, landowners have warned. In the wake of the fuel crisis, the Country Landowners' Association is urging the Government and Worcestershire County Council
A FORMER scrap metal dealer believes the industry will soon collapse amid diving prices. Len Stokes wound up his one-man business last December as he struggled to make a profit. Now he believes there is no future in scrap metal dealing because many merchants
MALVERN Bowling Club (Priory) held their finals day recently at their Orchard Road greens. Winner of the mens championship was Arthur Elmer and the ladies champion was Jean Groves. RESULTS: Men's Championship - A Elmer bt G White 21-15; Ladies Championship
LIGHT winds and hot sun greeted visitors to Arden Sailing Club at Defford for the club's annual Comet Open Competition which attracted 16 competitors from as far afield as Chester and Merthyr Tydfil as well as from other local clubs. The Comet dinghy,
BROMSGROVE Rovers boss George Rooney wants his side to forget about their FA Cup exit quickly. Rovers entertain Shepshed Dynamo in the Dr Martens League Western Division tomorrow after a dismal replay defeat at Oldbury in midweek. Rooney said: "They were
AFTER being promoted into Division Two of the League as champions last season Malvern Ladies Hockey Club have begun their preparations for this new season. MALVERN LADIES 7, PERSHORE 0 On Saturday they played a second friendly and were keen to play good
A man appeared before Redditch Magistrates on Friday, September 22, charged with the murder of 18-year-old Liam Gall. Omar Mohammed, 19, was remanded in custody until Friday, September 29. No application was made for bail. Mr Gall, from Druids Heath,
