Archive

  • Hotel planning 28 new rooms

    PLANS to extend a hotel near Droitwich Spa have been prompted by its popularity with travellers. The Travelodge, at Rashwood, is seeking permission to build a further 28 bedrooms at its site off the A38. Bosses want to build the extension on the car parking

  • Bogus robbery couple jailed

    A MARRIED couple who staged a bogus robbery at the Droitwich news-agent's shop they ran have both been jailed. Manageress Theresa Stevens stole £1,500 from the safe and hid the cash in a Birmingham flat which her husband had secretly acquired, Worcester

  • Group secretary resigns

    A KEY member of a town retail group has resigned. The secretary of Droitwich Spa Association for Retail, Tourism and Services (DARTS), Clive Davies, stood down last week. Mr Davies said: "I do not feel I am in a position to continue in the role. "I simply

  • Near misses spark warning for pupils

    A CONCERNED councillor believes children are putting their lives at risk when rushing home from school. Droitwich Spa town councillor John Cook (Lab, Droit.West) has witnessed several near misses in Ombersley Way when youngsters have run into the path

  • Search on for flasher

    POLICE are hunting a flasher who exposed himself in Droitwich Spa on Saturday morning. The man made eye contact with his victim - who was waiting at a bus stop on the corner of Westwood Way and Shepherds Way - before flashing. Police say the incident,

  • Pals honour tragic friend by creating Alistair's Corner

    THE memory of a town boy killed by cancer will live on at a Droitwich Spa school which has dedicated a garden to his life. Alistair Wainwright died of a brain tumour last year aged six. The Chawson First School pupil has been honoured by his pals and

  • Time for a change

    TIMEKEEPING tots from a village nursery near Droitwich Spa have an important message for residents. Tick-tock, don't forget to change your clock, say children from Pippins Nursery, who meet at Hanbury Village Hall. Clocks must go back one hour at 2am

  • Water main bursts

    CHAWSON residents were left high and dry on Thursday when a water main burst. The four-inch main flooded Oakham Drive at 2pm and householders were without water until 8pm. Severn Trent Water had urged families to stock up on supplies because repair work

  • Mice and bird rescued

    KIND Droitwich Spa firefighters have been busy helping all creatures great and small. On Sunday, during routine checks, they rescued three mice trapped in a water hydrant point, in Forest Lane, Hanbury. The following day, they came to the aid of a bird

  • Flower power

    Assuming you don't suffer from appalling hayfever, chances are you will be carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers up the aisle with you on your wedding day to complement your dress. A lot of thought goes into flowers at weddings these days. Brides like

  • Wish lists

    EMMA EDMUNDS reveals the best way to avoid receiving unwanted gifts. Nowadays, it is generally recognised that the best way to avoid the six toasters, five clocks and seven trifle bowls scenario is to organise a wedding list. It's not greedy or grasping

  • Ten best..

    Excuses for being late on your wedding day. I was busy untying myself from the lamppost, finding my clothes and returning the handcuffs to the police station. The post was late and I had to wait for my Decree Absolute. The dog ate my top hat. I had to

  • Lord of the rings

    JO HAYWOOD examines the work of a North Yorkshire jewellery designer. Vin Bootle is a master weaver whose speciality is not wedding dresses, but wedding rings. He weaves gold and silver into Roman and Celtic style wedding bands, handcrafting every piece

  • Words of wisdom

    "I chose my wife, as she did her wedding gown, not for a fine glossy surface, but such qualities as would wear well." Oliver Goldsmith, writer (1728-74) in his novel The Vicar of Wakefield "My face looks like a wedding-cake left out in the rain." W H

  • Can-did camera

    JO HAYWOOD discovers how to get the perfect wedding album. And this is us at the church door. And this is us signing the register. And this is us cutting the cake. And this is us having our first dance. And this is me falling over with my dress over my

  • Who's who

    A beginner's guide to who does what at a wedding. Best Man Arrange the stag night (preferably at least a week before the wedding) and make sure the groom gets home safely. Check that the ushers know what are their duties on the day. Make sure the buttonholes

  • Did you know

    Wedding rings are worn on the third finger because it was believed that this finger contained a vein that went directly to the heart? On the morning of the wedding, the bride-to-be should put a silver coin in the toe of her right shoe and step out (right

  • Sites for sore eyes

    JO HAYWOOD jumps on her surf board to find weird and wonderful weddings websites. confetti.co.uk This is quite simply the best of the best. This site has information, advice and tips on everything you ever wanted to know about organising a wedding but

  • A clean sweep

    Sweep Philip Wall is used to people being pleased to see him when he turns up at weddings. "I always get a warm welcome, even though some people aren't entirely sure why I'm there," he laughed. He is, in fact, following a tradition which started about

  • Park and bride

    Close your eyes - go on. Now, imagine you own a beautiful stately home with acres of enchanting 18th century gardens and rolling parkland. Furthermore, you're the most beautiful woman in the world and you are wearing the most exquisite, long, flowing

  • Something bold, something new

    The rules which restricted where people could marry changed in 1995 and since then it has been a case of any time, any place, anywhere for couples with an eye for originality. But this doesn't mean you can literally marry anywhere. You have to find yourselves

  • Worlds apart

    Have you ever been abroad on holiday and come across a wedding taking place? If you have and, like me, have loitered around the church gates to curiously watch what is happening, you'll have probably noticed a number of subtle (or in some cases, not so

  • Bromsgrove Ladies' First XI 2 Stourport Ladies' Second XI 2

    THIS game was only a friendly but turned out to be a bit of a grudge match. Town captain Erica Bond received a call from Stourport's captain suggesting she was undecided as to whether she wanted to 'waste' first team players on a Bromsgrove side. As such

  • I find such nominations baffling

    IT was the last meeting of the temporary governing body of Ipsley Middle School on October 16. Councillor Betty Passingham came to address the temporary governing body to explain her choice of nominations for LEA governorships to the new school. I can

  • A dream we longed to see

    MY husband and I would like to say a big thank you to Sharon and Bill, Gina and Tony, Elsie and Chris, for all their hard work collecting donations from shops in Redditch and Woodrow centre. Many thanks to all the stores who kindly donated so many lovely

  • Road rage on a page

    IT does no good to adopt an abusive tone over the issue of the A441 roundabout. This is no better than road rage on paper. There are no 'idiots' in this situation, only uninformed and confused drivers. The actual layout of the roundabout is such that

  • Historical help wanted

    This is a greeting from Australia. I'm Michael Ahlberg, but I'm called Royal. I'm looking for people who have been involved in any way with the original manufacturing of the Royal Enfield Motorcycle. Do you know of any person who might have traded in

  • Help is much appreciated

    I WOULD like to thank the very kind driver and his assistant in the new BIFFA Waste Disposal lorry for their kindness in taking my new black box (and another lady's too) out to the street to be emptied. On this street we have always been very lucky in

  • Caring service

    I WAS delighted with the animal blessing service held at Studley Parish Church, with all proceeds to the Farm Animal Sanctuary, Middle Littleton, Evesham. Many animal lovers attended, with the blessing carried out in a very caring way by lay reader Pat

  • Letter from Westminster

    Unemployment in the UK continues to fall despite siren voices in the media who can't help but mention the word recession in any economic report. It seems that commentators are stuck using the language of the eighties when millions of jobs were lost at

  • All eyes to be on centre

    TOWN centre developments, transport and pedestrian flows will all be investigated by a team of independent consultants over the next two months. Chestertons will come up with a town centre appraisal and from it, Redditch Council will come up with an action

  • Dig this for an offer!

    TOWNSPEOPLE can rent an allotment free of charge for one year. Plots usually cost between £5 and £30 a year but Redditch Council is offering free rent to encourage people to sign up. There are sites in the town centre, Winyates, Lakeside, Batchley, Matchborough

  • Yeomanry

    THIS old postcard shows the Worcestershire Yeomanry at Hewell Camp near Hewell Grange. The picture was taken in June 1906 and was kindly loaned by Alan Foxall, of Redditch Pictorial History Society. Old pictures can be sent to Julian Seva at the Advertiser

  • Title tilt?

    ALCESTER captain Alan Williams says his side can win Alcester One after recording their third win in four league matches. Manor Park were the latest victims, beaten 19-12, and third-placed Alcester have the chance to go top by winning at unbeaten league

  • Town firm goes nuts in Brazil

    A NEW firm in Bromsgrove is working to forge links between UK and Brazilian businesses. Across - Research & Translation specialises in supporting companies working on projects in the Brazilian and Portuguese markets. Interpreter and research expert

  • Bridgnorth Town 3 Bromsgrove Rovers 2

    Tuesday, October 23, 2001 BROMSGROVE Rovers crashed out of the Rameses League Cup in the first round after a 3-2 defeat at Bridgnorth Town last night. Former Rovers boss Steve Daley had fired his men up and Town took the game by the scruff of the neck

  • Redditch juniors

    Redditch quickly got into their stride and began taking the game to the visitors. After excellent support play, Redditch got onto the board with a try by M. Derrick in the corner. D.K. responded with an unconverted try but Redditch continued unsettling

  • 24/10/01 - Fly-half flies in to wrap up move

    JOHN Brain welcomed Steven Vile to Sixways as the fly-half completed his signing for Wor-cester Rugby Club's promotion challenge. The 31-year-old met up with his coach and team-mates during a training session yesterday after jetting to England from New

  • 22/10/01 - Kiwi fly-half set for Sixways

    WORCESTER Rugby Club are on the verge of boosting their promotion bid with the signing of fly-half Steven Vile. The Sixways club expect to tie up a deal within the next couple of days with the former Bristol half-back jetting into England tomorrow. The

  • Wythall winners

    JULIE Gifford and Lynn Wooley won the Ladies Pedvin Tournament at Wythall Tennis Club. Gifford and Wooley saw off Pat Brunt and Hazel Buckle in a tournament held in honour of former club president Ted Pedvin. Men's star Kevin Turner picked up his fifth

  • Molby back on goal standard

    KIDDERMINSTER Harriers finally got their goalscoring act together last night when they registered their best ever Nationwide League Division Three victory with a 4-1 demolition of York City at Aggborough. Striker Drewe Broughton led the way with a brace

  • Fly-half flies in to wrap up move

    JOHN Brain welcomed Steven Vile to Sixways as the fly-half completed his signing for Wor-cester Rugby Club's promotion challenge. The 31-year-old met up with his coach and team-mates during a training session yesterday after jetting to England from New

  • Rovers dumped out of cup

    BROMSGROVE Rovers crashed out of the Rameses League Cup in the first round after a 3-2 defeat at Bridgnorth Town last night. Former Rovers boss Steve Daley had fired his men up and Town took the game by the scruff of the neck from the start. They took

  • Preedy stars for United

    A FIRST half goal by Philip Preedy enabled Evesham United to beat Racing Club Warwick 1-0 at Common Road in the Dr Martens League Western Division last night. After 34 minutes Mark Wolsey was fouled on the edge on the visitors box. Steve McCartan played

  • Malvern faced with selection problems

    MALVERN Town visit King-ton in the West Midlands League Premier Division tonight (7.45). Town have some selection problems Steve Walker is away on a course which makes him unavailable for midweek selection for the next three weeks, while Nick Clayton

  • Cotton on at Alex

    EASTENDERS' Nick Cotton is about to star in the smash-hit musical Chicago at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre. The show runs from Monday until Friday, November 16, and tickets, costing £10-£30, are available from the hotline on 0870 607 7544.

  • Ten Songs About You Ben and Jason

    Rating: three stars This album grows on you. At first all I could hear was a stream of esoteric lyrics, banked with tunes that didn't make an impression sung in a rather high pitch. I knew it was clever - "Five fives are Christmas and twice me is you"

  • Melody AM Ryksopp

    Rating: four stars IF top quality ambient music is comparable to an aural impressionist work, then Melody AM is Waterlilies. An impressive debut opens with a strafing note lifted straight from The Beach soundtrack but crooners' classic Blue on Blue slowly

  • The Watcher (15) - DVD

    Rating: three stars A NUTTER stalks young women, captures them, then brutally murders them. This pretty well sums up the plot of this film. But saying this, the film was slick and seemed to rise above the usual nutter v damsel in distress plot that has

  • Fuller's winning head

    Burman Hi-Ton (0) 2 Barnt Green Spartak (1) 3 Midland Combination Division Two SPARTAK beat the current league leaders on Saturday, who had been hoping to maintain their 100 per cent record. Barnt Green settled quickly and attacked Burman at every opportunity

  • Super Sports are five-star

    Droitwich Sports (4) 5 Continental Star Reserves (0) 1 Midland Combination Division Three SPORTS continued their fine run with an impressive display against Continental Star Reserves on Saturday. After only three minutes, Matt Jenkins lobbed the Star

  • All the latest junior football results in your No.1 paper

    HANBURY U9s 2 Alcester U9s 0. Hanbury grabbed their first victory with an excellent display. MoM Nathan Day scored the first goal with Alex Wilkes scoring the second with a lethal finish. Well done lads, from Peter and Roy. Rubery Juniors U10s 7 Olton

  • Injured Atlantic rower gives up

    DISASTER has struck Worcester rower Richard Wood's solo attempt to cross the Atlantic to raise £100,000 for the city's St Richard's Hospice. He had to abandon his bid to complete the mammoth Ward Atlantic Rowing Challenge after scalding his hand while

  • Redditch combo results

    REDDITCH and South Warwickshire Combin-ation results for Sunday October 21: Terry Cup round one: Wychbold RBL 6 Waseley United 1. Steven Troth Cup round two: Rednal Social 2 Webheath 3. Jim Fleeman Cup semi-finals: Hayes Harriers 5 HDA Res 2. Hymatic

  • MP demands atrocity apology

    THREE leading Tory councillors were today accused of bringing "shame" on Worcester - by trying to levy a £130 charge on a fund-raising event for victims of the US atrocities. MP Mike Foster has written to city councillors demanding an immediate U-turn

  • Mayor inspects Blue Watch

    WORCESTER firefighters stood to attention for a different type of inspection. The city's Mayor, Councillor David Clark, made a visit to the Worcester Fire Station to inspect Blue Watch with his two grandchildren Danica, nine, and Brandon, four. "Both

  • Hospital will be 'best in country'

    HOSPITAL boss Harold Musgrove thinks the new Worcestershire hospital will be the best in the country when it is unveiled. The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust chairman, who last week announced he would be stepping down at the end of the year,

  • New players

    CALLOWBROOK Swifts Under-10s B need a couple of players of a good ability to add to this year's squad. Experience is preferred. For more information contact manager Nick Clarke on 0121 694 5246.

  • Delayed project to tie in with jubilee

    WORCESTER'S belated South Quay "millennium" project could now be earmarked for launching the Faithful City's jubilee celebrations. With completion of the site now on target for the end of the year, city councillor Derek Prodger wants to leave the millennium

  • Worcester City FC: More than 250 jobs will be on offer

    MORE than 250 jobs would be created by a massive football stadium development if giant DIY firm B&Q is given the green light by councillors. The superstore chain is the financial backer driving Worcester City FC's bid for a spectacular new ground

  • Les works wonders with his gardening skills

    A SPRIGHTLY great-granddad has proved he has the greenest fingers by scooping a top gardener's award. Les Enock, aged 85, did not even know he had won the award until he turned up for the prize-giving ceremony by Elgar Housing Association. "I didn't expect

  • State-of-the-art patient technology

    NURSES and therapists working in remote areas will soon be able to access information on patients 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, thanks to a revolutionary new system. Twenty-one workers at Worcester Community and Mental Health NHS Trust are being

  • Two dates to cut show risk

    HIT by losses of around £100,000 due to foot-and-mouth disease, the Malvern-based Three Counties Agricultural Society is going for broke next summer. As well as staging its traditional flagship Three Counties Show in June, the society will also be holding

  • Dodford's festive fun

    TOWNSFOLK can look forward to a thigh-slapping treat when villagers put on their annual pantomime this Christmas. Dodford Village Hall will play venue to the Dodders Pantomime production of festive favourite, Dick Whittington. The show will run for four

  • Bromsgrove Ladies' 2nds/3rds 2 Droitwich Ladies' Second XI 1

    BROMSGROVE mixed their second and third teams for their friendly against Droitwich. Droitwich had push back and made a positive start with a goal from the first short corner by June Green after five minutes. With an early lead Droitwich commanded most

  • Bromsgrove Men's Third XI 2 Pershore Men's Third XI 0

    BROMSGROVE gave an improved performance over previous weeks, which showed in this well earned result. A strong performance from Simon Clifton, Pat Ebbert and Alex Marginson ensured the dominance of the midfield. Kevin Bennet also proved invaluable, efficiently

  • Law firm's top award

    TOP standards at a Bromsgrove-based solicitors have been recognised by legal chiefs. Thomas Horton and Sons is only the second law firm in Worcestershire to scoop the coveted Lexcel standard accreditation, awarded by the Law Society. Launched in 1998,

  • Medical firm moves to Spa

    A TOP medical equipment firm is relocating to a developing business park in Droitwich Spa. Kimal plc, which makes devices for hospitals across the globe, has taken a 15 year lease at Stonebridge Cross Business Park, off Kidderminster Road. Its new premises

  • Building a success story at Weaver

    A BROMSGROVE construction company is enjoying big business success. Weaver PLC, based in Worcester Road, has reported a top performance for the first half of 2001, having secured new contracts worth more than £20m. The firm's latest success is a £600,000

  • Driver in fight to keep lay-by open

    A LORRY driver from Bromsgrove has organised a 600-name petition against plans to close a lay-by off a busy town roundabout. Richard Evans, of Lyttleton Avenue, has taken a stance against plans to block land at Old Stratford Road, next to Bromsgrove Golf

  • Singer Will to perform with Big Brother's Dean

    A SINGER/SONGWRITER from Bromsgrove is determined to keep it in the family -- he is gigging with his own 'Big Brother' this weekend. Teenager Will Hunt, who hails from a musical background, will be performing at Birmingham's Ronnie Scott's with bass player

  • A timely reminder

    HICKORY, dickory do-ck, it's time to turn back the clock. At 2am on Sunday clocks go back one hour, bringing British summer time to an end. Townsfolk can enjoy an extra hour in bed as winter officially begins. Sun-worshippers will have to wait until Sunday

  • Director denies report exists

    CLAIMS that district councillors were misled and kept in the dark over the existence of an alleged health and safety report about the town's Dolphin Centre have been vigorously denied. Bromsgrove District Council's corporate director Bob Lewis has hit

  • Council tenants facing uncertainty over homes

    ALMOST two years of consultations lie ahead as council tenants in Bromsgrove wait on a decision which will decide the future of their homes. Tenants representatives were warned they will have to wait a minimum of eighteen months before a final decision

  • Villagers raise fears

    VILLAGERS in Stoke Prior face a nervous wait while district councillors decide the fate of a house in Brickhouse Lane which they fear could be used for business. Brickhouse Lane Residents Association (BRA) has strongly opposed a plan by the Foster Care

  • Raise your glass to real ale

    BEER-LOVERS from Bromsgrove are in for a treat next week thanks to a five-day festival at a town centre pub. Publican Becky Regan, who runs the Golden Cross, in High Street, has lined up what she describes as "an unbeatable selection of real ales" for

  • Come fly with me

    OWNERS of a Bromsgrove model shop have spread their wings to launch a new flying club for local aeroplane enthusiasts. Paul Gill and Tim Court of P and T Models Limited, in Worcester Road, are hoping to attract members of all ages to their new Sunday

  • Team is to ensure nothing but best

    A SPECIAL team of officers has been appointed to make sure Bromsgrove residents have "nothing but the best". The aim of the Bromsgrove District Council four-strong team is to ensure householders, visitors and businesses in the district get the best value

  • Marathon cyclist is 'lucky to be alive'

    AN adventurous Bromsgrove man is lucky to be alive after a hit and run tractor driver ran him over while he was cycling in Turkey. Andy Taylor, of Pennine Road, whose adventures were featured in the Advertiser/Messenger last month, reached 5,126 miles

  • 24/10/01 - Reds boss has Sutton in sights

    REDS boss Nicky Cross is tracking Solihull striker Peter Sutton and had a close look at the forward in Saturday's 1-1 draw. Sutton has been in limbo at Damson Park for much of the season as Dave Busst turned to Derek Hall and Chris Smith as his first

  • Council appeals for transfer applications

    REDDITCH parents of children due to transfer schools in September 2002 are being urged to submit application forms. The county council is highlighting the importance of the forms being submitted by Friday, November 23, to cut the number of admission problems

  • Ssssh! A new library

    A new library has been built inside a Redditch middle school in place of an old annexe outside. And pupils from Dingleside Middle School, Woodrow, will soon be able to go online and have access to computers in the new library. School secretary Karen Poole

  • Club gives chance to all kids

    BROMSGROVE Swimming Club hosted Saturday's Trophy gala, pushing two teams out to give as many swimmers as possible the opportunity for a competitive swim. Although some doubled-up in both first and second teams, it was rewarding to see so many individual

  • Season starts

    THE Bromsgrove and Redditch Table Tennis Association started their league programme this week. This is its 50th year since its foundation and it is hoped a reunion evening will be held at the end of the season, organised by Ron Butterton. Anyone who is

  • Badminton

    DROITWICH Friday Badminton Club are keen to recruit new members. They play social badminton at Droitwich Spa High School, Briar Mill, Droitwich Spa, on Friday evenings between 8pm and 10pm. The sports hall has four courts. A wide range of players are

  • Spa's top season

    DROITWICH Spa Cricket Club rounded off an enjoyable season on and off the pitch with its annual dinner and dance at the Copcut Elm. Awards were presented to the following players for their excellent performances over the summer: Mike Gunston (Firsts),

  • Snooker

    DROITWICH and District League results for October 16: Division One: BUC A 3 CWMC C 2, MILL B 2 AFSC C 3, BPC A 3 MILL A 2 Division Two: AFSC B 1 BUC B 4, BUC C 2 DGC A 3, CWMC B 2 DRBL B 3, BRBL A 2 BPC B 3 Highest breaks: Division One: Kevin Ellis, Mill

  • Cycling

    BROMSGROVE Olympique's cyclo-cross team was depleted in the West Midlands League at Rugeley last weekend. This was due to the number of other events which attracted members to travel further afield, two families going hundreds of miles. The Dingleys probably

  • 24/10/01 - Defensive frailties must be addressed

    WORCESTER City are conceding too many goals at the moment for my liking with another two against Tiverton Town on Saturday. I was pleased with the goals we scored against Tiverton and I don't think you will see a better four goals anywhere this season

  • Worker in frightening cash grab

    POLICE are trying to trace two youths after what was described as an 'extremely frightening' theft at a service station in Wythall. The theft happened at Star Service Station, in Alcester Road, at about 8.15pm on Wednesday, October 17. Two youths went

  • Cop a look at new website

    REDDITCH Police have re-launched their website this week in an effort to improve their communications, writes Julian Seva. Previously the West Mercia police website, which has been set up for some time, only included one page of limited information on

  • Striker's shock

    STUDLEY striker Dean Meyrick has told of his shock after being caught up in violent scenes which prompted the abandonment of Pershore's match at Coventry Marconi last week. The former Alvechurch striker agreed to guest for his Lye Meadow boss Mick Preece

  • Kings off

    KINGS Heath's trip to Pershore on Saturday is set to be postponed after violence prompted the postponement of Pershore's match at Coventry Marconi last week. A bust-up on the field prompted a pitch invasion and ended up with former Alvechurch striker

  • 'Timely reminder' of poor council services

    DEAR EDITOR - Can I thank Mrs D Stubbins, who lives in Stoke Prior, for kindly reminding me who is responsible for the poor council services that we are having to put up with in Stoke Prior. What with the intermittent bin collection, the unswept streets

  • Bikeathon thank-you

    DEAR EDITOR -- The organisers of the 2001 North Worcestershire Bikeathon would like to thank everyone who helped to make last month's event such a success. At one time it seemed that it would have to be cancelled because of the effects of the foot and

  • Willing to support local traders

    DEAR EDITOR - I was appalled to read in the Advertiser that car parking charges are to be increased in Droitwich. Wychavon District Council is not doing anything to encourage residents to shop locally and support local businesses. Why should we pay these

  • Aiming to sort out the facts from the fantasy

    DEAR EDITOR - I have resisted the temptation to respond to a range of negative letters over the past weeks, but I do feel that the people of Droitwich deserve to know the facts and not the fantasy put forward by Mark Heal (Letters/October 10). The proposals

  • Bantam Man weighs in with wise words

    I READ with interest the Phillpott File in the Evening News (Tuesday, October 16). It was very good reading, so I thought I may be able to help him when he is ready to buy a motorcycle. First, he needs to remember that he may not be quite as supple as

  • Terrifying violence against Afghans

    HARD as I have reflected, I cannot see how it can be argued to be "good", "civilised" or "democratic" for the US and UK to behave with such terrible and terrifying violence in Afghanistan with whom it is not it war to destroy one man and a particular

  • It's pointless

    IT would be pointless dredging the Severn upstream of Diglis Weir. As soon as a bucket of silt was removed, the area from which it was taken would be filled up with water.Thus the level of the river would remain the same, even if it was channelled down

  • Football fixtures

    Wednesday, October 24 DR MARTENS LEAGUE WESTERN DIVISION Chippenham Town v REDDITCH UNITED 7.30pm ko ENDSLEIGH CHALLENGE CUP ROUND TWO FECKENHAM v ALVECHURCH 7.30pm ko BIRMINGHAM SENIOR CUP ROUND TWO KINGS HEATH v Dudley Town 7.45pm ko Saturday, October

  • 20/10/01 - Tale of two pens

    Solihull Borough 1 Redditch United 1 A PAUL Danks penalty, 21 minutes in was the sole reward after United dominated the first half against their high-flying neighbours. Reds boss Nicky Cross will have been casting envious glances at Borough's lofty league

  • More rural routes

    A RURAL bus service will be extended to Sambourne from Monday. Hardings Coaches, which operates the 186 service for Warwickshire County Council, will now be dropping off at Sambourne, before journeying to Redditch and then Solihull from Mondays to Fridays

  • Walk on the wild side

    STUDLEY villagers can take a trip on the wild side on Saturday with a safari slide show. Studley man and keen photographer Jim Clarke will be presenting A Safari in Kenya as part of a fund-raising event. Money raised will go towards buying furniture for

  • Kingfisher WI

    AS the president was on holiday in Brazil, the October meeting was taken by May Lloyd. The second newsletter had been produced and was on sale to members at 20p. Coming up soon are the group meeting and half-yearly council meeting. Tickets for the Christmas

  • Kington & Dormston Village Hall

    ON October 6, the hall came alive again with a party for parishioners to celebrate the re-opening after a refurbishment which took nearly six months. Volunteers firstly stripped the interior and then the roof which was completely renewed, as were the

  • Ladies Probus Club of Alcester

    AT the September meeting, Mrs Joan Woodfield gave a talk on Life as an Army Wife. On October 2, members attended a coffee and danish morning at Kings Court Hotel. On October 10, Mark Garvie gave a talk entitled Ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future

  • Redditch Garden Society

    THIS month, there was an enthusiastic talk from Angela Tandy of Fibrex Ferns. Angela brought along selection of ferns - something for every situation in the garden, providing there is some shade. There were ferns for moist conditions and ferns for dry

  • Solihull & District Orchid Society

    AT the October meeting, president Peter White gave a talk and slide show on miniature Cattleyas. These are easy to grow and can be grown at home on the windowsill. The next meeting on November 3 sees Gordon Nash give a talk and slide show on Odontoglossums

  • St Mary's Wives Group

    THE September meeting was opened by Sue Barnard, who advised that a donation of £50 had been sent to St Dunstan's following the excellent talk by Terry Bullingham. Money was collected for a trip to the Pearl Button Factory and the Christmas meal in December

  • Chemists rota

    REDDITCH town centre rota chemist is Carrington and Turner, Church Green West, open every day except Saturday and Sunday until 7pm. Foxlydiate Chemist, Batchley Road, Batchley, is open on Sunday from 10-11am and weekdays from 6-7pm. Knights Chemist is

  • Ace Andrew still bowling 'em over

    DROITWICH tenpin bowling ace Andrew Jones is winning more trophies on his meteoric rise to the top. The 12-year-old's latest awards came when he won the English Junior Open for under-18s at Strykers, in Tamworth, where he claimed the highest individual

  • Memorial concert for charity

    A CONCERT in aid of the Finstall-based Primrose Hospice and Home-Start project is taking place on Saturday night. Sounds Musical presents The Neville Avon Memorial Concert at South Bromsgrove High School, in Charford Road, at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced

  • Joy for Spa youngsters

    SPORTY youngsters in Wychavon proved they are tops after the district clinched first place in the Worcestershire Gam-es 2001 following a last-minute victory. In the final heat of the event, the boccia, Wychavon pipped Redditch to top spot. Wychavon went

  • A happy return for boss Daniels

    Cradley Town (0) 0 Bromsgrove Rovers (2) 4 FA Vase round one ROVERS' first ever Vase match ended in a superb victory at the club Steve Daniels managed over ten years ago. And Daniels can feel chuffed at the way his men played on Saturday. Aside from the

  • Party to end month

    A FINAL celebration to mark the end of Black History Month will be held at Redditch Town Hall on Monday night. Redditch Black History Group has held a number of events in the town during October, including an exhibition at the library looking at the social

  • Proms evening

    An evening of top-class music is promised when the Primrose Proms Concert takes place in aid of the Primrose Hospice and Cancer Help Centre. The Primrose Choir and West Mercia Police Band will perform favourites, including Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem

  • A soulful show

    MIDLANDS-based six-piece The Soul Survivors perform at Rocklands Social Club on Saturday. The band have appeared alongside stars including The Temptations, The Three Degrees and Sister Sledge. The show begins at 8.30pm and includes Jamie Carr's Soul Roadshow

  • Church fire

    POLICE and fire investigators are treating a blaze at a Winyates church as arson. The fire started in a bin in the entrance to St Gregory's RC Church at about 11.45 today. Four fire crews from Redditch and Bromsgrove were on the scene in minutes to find

  • Police seize CCTV tape

    POLICE have already taken footage from town centre CCTV cameras as part of a criminal investigation - despite the fact the system is not officially in operation, writes Becky Procter. Unforeseen problems mean the scheme will now not be unveiled until

  • Bus journeys are at a price

    ELDERLY and disabled bus users across Redditch will be forced to pay full fare on a number of routes from Monday, writes Becky Procter. The news comes as bus company Pete's Travel prepares to take over the 61a, 177/178 and 179 routes axed by the town's

  • Takin' it back to..

    An old-skool party night is on the bill at a town centre pub next week in aid of the Red Cross American appeal. The Litten Tree, Market Place, is staging a fancy dress St Trinian's night on Tuesday. There will also be a battle of the DJs contest featuring

  • Distinctive award for Weaver

    A BROMSGROVE construction company has gone to the top of the class. A £1.2m contract at a local school has earned Weaver Plc a Distinction in Building award from Wychavon District Council. The project, at the Whitford Hall & Dodderhill School, in

  • Schools cash row set for Parliament

    A CAMPAIGNING town headteacher has welcomed news that funding of Worcestershire schools is being brought back into the political arena. Droitwich Spa Tory MP Peter Luff is today due to lead a debate at the House of Commons on unfair county education budgets

  • High hopes for an end to misery

    TOWERING conifers have left an angry resident in the dark and demanding action from a town housing group. Jean Jones is at loggerheads with Spa Housing Association over leylandii plants backing on to her Mayflower Road house. The fast-growing conifers

  • Mum's car ruined by arson attack

    ARSONISTS have devastated a Droitwich Spa mum's dream car. Debbie McCarthy-Maude, aged 40, was forced to cut short her holiday in Torquay, Devon, when firebugs set her purple Vauxhall Astra convertible alight. Residents in the St Nicholas Street area

  • Bin collections

    RUBBISH collection days in Droitwich Spa are changing. Wychavon District Council has been working with its contractor, Focsa Services, to extend and develop the area's recycling service. To prepare for improvements, the contractor has increased the number

  • Letter sparks hunt

    A SPA pensioner is trying to help track down a man being sought by an old pal from the Netherlands. Mick Booth, of Corbett Avenue, received an intriguing letter from Carolien Slooff, who is looking for Dominic Booth. The letter says they met in Thailand

  • Get me to the church on time

    How to arrive at your wedding fashionably late. It is the bride's prerogative to turn up late to her wedding, but the trick is to turn up fashionably late thanks to some stylish transportation. First of all, forget public transport - you know the old

  • Love is the law

    NICOLA GOODMAN discusses the rules of engagement when it comes to marriage. We have a certain Lord Hardwicke to thank for the modern marriage ceremony. Indeed, when he brought it in with the first Marriage Act of 1753, he was so keen on it that he thought

  • Money, money, money

    Forget love and romance - let's talk cold, hard cash. It is traditional for the bride's parents to organise and pay for the whole wedding, but this is actually much rarer these days than you might think. More often than not, the work and financial burden

  • Sanity savers

    Wear your shoes around the house before the big day to wear them in. It's hard to look serene and beautiful with gaping blisters on your feet. Have a glass of champagne before you walk up the aisle - it relaxes you beautifully. Practise fitting your veil

  • The Marrying Man

    Rob Livesey has married somewhere in the region of 10,000 people in the last 10 years. But before you put that call in to the News of the World, let me reassure you that none of the weddings in question was his own. As a superintendent registrar he has

  • Crowning glory

    If you want to get ahead, don't get a hat, get a tiara instead, says EMMA EDMUNDS. Little did Amanda Ellwood realise when she started making bridal tiaras as a 15-year-old girl that she would be doing it professionally several years later. "I started

  • Suits you, sir!

    If you are only smart for one day in your life, let this be the day. For most men, their wedding day is less about fashion and more about trying to stay sober long enough to cut the cake. Unlike their beautiful, blushing brides, they are probably not

  • Simply stunning

    When it comes to 21st century bridal style - glam rocks! But before you dash off to the dusty recesses of your wardrobe to dig out your spangly loon pants let's get one thing straight, we are not talking about the frocky horror show that was the 1970s

  • There is an alternative

    THE comeback of Robin King on your letters page (Advertiser, October 10) shows the secretary of Redditch Labour Party is still at the heart of the defence of that occasional football team. Robin's assertion that starting a petition 'smacks of extreme

  • Please put us in the picture

    COME on Rover, do the right thing and help Redditch viewers improve their TV reception. I challenge Rover to produce an independent report which states that the Longbridge plant is not responsible for poor reception in West Redditch. Why should families

  • Caution is sound, but let's not panic

    LEGENDARY American newscaster Dan Rather let a crucial point go missing in his otherwise totally inappropriate soliloquy to the cameras last week. He eulogised about the "true heroism" of a colleague turning up for work, despite having skin infected by

  • Park and play plan for town

    A PLAY area for toddlers and an 'open' space for youngsters could be created as plans to develop an urban leisure area in the town centre, writes Becky Procter. The news came during a town centre partnership meeting as members were updated on a multi-million

  • Be light-hearted!

    VISITORS to the town centre are going to see the light with a number of initiatives aimed at brightening up the place. The news comes after Redditch Council revealed it had allocated £60,000 towards Christmas lights in the town centre next year. But during

  • 100 years ago

    October 26, 1901 Unicorn Hill is, beyond all comparison, the worst bit of road in the district from a cyclist's point of view. Not a single good thing can be said about it. Its surface is very bad as a rule, it is in places steep and if there is a little

  • Cleaning up their act

    REDDITCH Council chiefs including borough director Chris Smith imitated television programme Back to the Floor on Friday by taking part in a manager's litter pick. Senior managers joined the council's refuse team in Woodrow as part of Local Democracy

  • 50 years ago

    October 27, 1951 MR Anthony Eden commenced his election tour of the Midlands on Monday by speaking at Redditch to an audience of some 500 from the bandstand on Church Green. The deputy leader of the Conservative Party was introduced by Mr Michael Higgs

  • Car calls flood council hotline

    TOWNSFOLK have flooded the town hall with calls about abandoned cars. Last week the Redditch Advertiser revealed plans to launch a car amnesty allowing people to get rid of their unwanted cars for free. The council will introduce the project next spring

  • 25 years ago

    October 22, 1976 COUNCILLORS in Redditch are to meet disgruntled supporters of the town's theatre following a clash over ticket sales this week. Members of The Palace's League of Friends pressed the council to stop selling tickets at the information centre

  • Row over housing

    OVERCROWDED one-bedroom council accommodation was the subject of a heated debate at a council meeting on Monday, writes Melina Cannon. Arguments arose after councillor Nigel Hicks proposed a controversial motion, seconded by fellow Liberal Democrat councillor

  • Basement rivals meet

    A MONTH into the season and Woodrush's derby clash against Kings Norton on Saturday (ko 3pm) is already shaping up to be a basement battle. Both sides dropped into Midlands West Four South this season, Kings Norton after relegation and Woodrush after

  • Skipper happy with the points

    REDDITCH have the chance to go second in the table at the weekend after a tight 14-13 win at Bishop's Castle. A win at home to Upton on Saturday (ko 3pm) could see the Kingfishers two points behind leaders Edwardians with a game in hand depending on other

  • Top test

    FIVE Ways Old Edwardians sit second in the North Midlands One table and have the chance to go top at the weekend. The Hopwood side trail leaders Edwardians by a point after four matches and a weekend win at Veyseyans (ko 3pm) could see them overhaul the

  • Injury woe

    Berkswell & Balsall 22 Woodrush 0 WOODRUSH are still without a win despite a valiant effort at Berkswell & Balsall. Trailing by just three points at the turn, Woodrush were optimistic about the second half, having had their fair share of the action

  • 24/10/01 - Entertainment is name of game

    LET'S get straight to the point. Football is about entertainment first and foremost -- unless of course you support a George Graham team. OK it is also about winning, but we can't all win -- look at Manchester United in Europe -- so for the average soccer

  • Sergeant double

    Alcester 19 Manor Park 12 MANOR Park and Alcester were at loggerheads in the first half with the teams evening each other out. Manor Park had the slope in the first half but failed to capitalise on their advantage. At half-time Alcester were ahead 14-

  • The College Kings

    NEWLY-FORMED Kingsley College is forging ahead in the sporting field after creating a new inter-house system. The inaugural cross-country event was run in front of around 100 staff and students and all the college students competed in the first multi-sport

  • Town suffer late defeat

    REDDITCH were pipped at the post in the final event of the Worcestershire Games. The town went into the weekend topping the table along with Wychavon but second place in the handicapped boules on their own patch was not enough as their title rivals won

  • League starts

    BROMSGROVE and Redditch table tennis league stalwarts Himbleton and Lickey Panthers have dropped out of the league for it's 50th season along with Hillcrest B. But West Midlands Phones have joined the league, entering a team in each of the two divisions

  • Coaching deal

    TALENTED young tennis players from the Alcester area are receiving advanced tennis coaching as part of the national lottery funded Active Sports initiative. Receiving 20 weeks of coaching by qualified LTA coaches, the youngsters have been selected from

  • Jamie dashes in for a flying visit

    Youngsters from a Redditch middle school were given a run for their money when an Olympic runner paid them a visit. Welsh 400m athlete Jamie Baulch, who competed in last year's Olympic Games in Sydney, visited St Bede's in Holloway Lane, Lakeside, last

  • Booth's brace is boost for Swifts

    TWO more goals from Lee Booth were sufficient to give Stourport Swifts a 2-0 victory at home to Dr Martens Western Division strugglers Cir-encester Town. But while Swifts' leading scorer was taking no prisoners at one end, the Stourport goal was leading

  • Sports hit back to win

    A TERRIFIC performance by County Sports gained three valuable points with a 3-1 Midland Combination Prem-ier Division win against high-flyers Coventry Sphinx. Sports went a goal down when an penalty kick was awarded after 10 minutes. The decision seemed

  • Droitwich in celebration

    DROITWICH Spa Cricket Club held their annual dinner-dance and presentation evening when awards were presented to their leading performers during the season. They were: Mike Gunston (1sts), Neil Williams (2nds), Phil Darlison (3rds). Mike Rogers and Peter

  • Kings are punished for errors

    Kings Norton RFC 8 Droitwich RFC 29 Midlands Division Four West (South) DROITWICH First XV recorded their second league win of the season on Saturday. They had been forced into a late change which saw Sasha Hobbs move to fly-half and the versatile Gareth

  • Clued up on death

    IN the tradition of Inspector Morse, Frost and other legendary whodunits the Palace Theatre presents Sleuth. The Anthony Shaffer play is an intriguing tale of mind games, adultery and spine-tingling suspense immortalised on film starring Laurence Olivier

  • Ship ahoy for operatic show

    REDDITCH Operatic Society will be treading the boards as well as the gangplank next month with the Broadway version of Pirates of Penzance. The company's autumn production will be staged at the Palace Theatre and promises to be a rip-roaring romp with

  • Using his loaf

    HEAVEN Can Wait tells the story of music heavyweight Meat Loaf's rock 'n' rollercoaster of a music career at the Palace Theatre next week. The show opens in 1977 when Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman produced Bat Out Of Hell, one of the most successful albums

  • Refuse row is rumbling on . .

    DEAR EDITOR - In response to Mrs S A Walters' letter regarding refuse collection, no one expects refuse collector to work on any Bank Holiday. As for her concerns about paying extra council tax, has it not yet sunk in to her that she is already paying

  • Transmission Gay Dad

    Rating: three stars ARE Gay Dad a real band or merely masters of disguise? Discuss. Well they certainly deliver the goods but the majority of songs on this 12-track album leave you a distinct feeling of dj vu. Although it's a good package - the band's

  • Gold Greatest Hits - Steps

    Rating: two stars IT'S easy to get snobbish about acts like Steps - very easy. So if you were to avoid such a social outrage you might, for example, avoid words like pap and inane. But here it is - a greatest hits album from five annoying dancers who

  • Harold's reign at an end

    THE man responsible for overseeing major transformations at the Alexandra Hospital is to step down. Harold Musgrove will withdraw as chairman of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust at the end of December. During his reign, Mr Musgrove has seen the

  • Fairfield's seventh hell

    Leamington (4) 7 Fairfield Villa (1) 1 Midland Combination Division One FAIRFIELD were well and truly beaten at Leamington on Saturday. Villa's day didn't start well when regular keeper Ken Sanders failed to turn up, so committee member Ken Downing went

  • Eight out of eight for Merlin men

    Bromsgrove Advertiser/Messenger District Football League MARVELLOUS Merlin won their eighth Division Two match in a row after a battling 2-1 triumph over Bromsgrove General on Sunday. Merlin had the better of the first half and could have been three up

  • Boss course

    THE Worcestershire Football Association will be holding a junior team management course at University College, Worcester, next month. The dates are as follows: Wednesday November 14, 6.45pm- 9.45pm. Saturday November 17, 9am-3.30pm. Wednesday November

  • Severn Valley's magical machine ride

    WITCHCRAFT and wizardry are in store for children travelling on the Severn Valley Railway this week. The Hogwarts Express has rolled into town especially for the half-term break and will be thrilling children on the Kidderminster to Bridgnorth line. The

  • Market hall closure for superstore?

    The Market Hall in Droitwich could be forced to close to make way for a new Waitrose supermarket, it has emerged. Plans to build the luxury superstore off the High Street will be presented to Wychavon District Council later this week. Planning experts

  • 'Lucky not to be locked up'

    AN ex-convent schoolgirl and her partner-in-crime who swept through Worcestershire on a mammoth shoplifting spree have escaped jail. Droitwich magistrates gave the pair an 18-month conditional discharge and told them they were lucky not to have been locked

  • Caught in an instant

    RICKY Brooks thought he had hit the jackpot when he wrenched two Lottery Instants dispensers off a petrol station counter. But the teenager's luck ran out when the cashier heard the commotion and quickly locked him in the shop. Magistrates heard 19-year-old

  • James minds the draught to win Starlets Veterans

    BEWDLEY matchman Stan James continued his good run on Tuesday by topping the Starlets Veterans contest on Woodlands Views Arles pool, staked on peg 14. Out of the wind he long poled maggots and casters for 45-1-0. Bill Drew (Bewdley) was at next door

  • Decision for club after brawl

    FOOTBALLERS and their Pershore club bosses who were chased around Coventry by violent rival fans will consider their future at a meeting tonight. Pershore Town Football Club could decide to hang up its boots after the clash with Coventry Marconi last

  • Drama group's call for talent

    BUDDING young thespians keen to display their talents are being offered the perfect forum thanks to a Blackwell-based actor. Martin Copland-Gray, of Station Road, has established a drama group for young people aged between 11 and 16-years-of-age which

  • Aladdin adventures starring Ashley!

    A TEENAGE thespian from Droitwich Spa has had a wish come true after securing a place with a touring theatre company. Ashley Boorman, of Manning Road, has been awarded a place with Scotland-based M and M Productions, which will be taking its show of Aladdin

  • Youngsters making sure night goes with a bang

    CHILDREN in Bromsgrove are helping to make sure this year's civic bonfire and fireworks display goes with a bang. Nearly 200 children are spending this week's half-term holiday making a giant Guy, an enormous rocket and a selection of lanterns for the

  • Schools on alert as tablets snatched

    SCHOOLS in Bromsgrove were put on immediate alert when tablets marked with the letter E were stolen from an industrial unit. Police issued an urgent warning to all schools following the theft of more than 1,000 pharmaceutical tablets from a unit in Factory

  • Opposition group leader vows to take the matter further

    LABOUR group leader Cllr Peter McDonald was thrown a challenge when he unsuccessfully asked fellow members of the council to back his call for an investigation over the alleged existence of a report from the Health and Safety Executive. Bromsgrove District

  • TV's Henry gets to point

    HATPIN enthusiasts from across the globe travelled to Bromsgrove at the weekend to celebrate a special event. Members of the Hatpin Society of Great Britain gathered at Routh Hall, Bromsgrove School, to celebrate its 21st anniversary and listen to guest

  • Volunteers needed for town carnival

    MEMORIES of the 2001 town carnival may still be fresh in the mind but thoughts are already foc-used towards plans for next year's gala event. The carnival committee is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to come forward with bright ideas at its annual

  • End in sight for flooding misery

    RESIDENTS in Catshill who, for more than 25 years, have suffered the misery of seeing their homes regularly flooded may soon be spared the agony. The problems at Green Lane extend back to the early 1970s despite numerous attempts to solve the problem.

  • Driver who rammed taxi facing prison

    A motorist who rammed a taxi after being banned from a Bromsgrove club is facing a jail sentence. Neil Sheldrake caused £1,100 damage to the cab and customer Darren Hodgkiss was injured as he tried to leap out of the way. The defendant "lost his rag"

  • Make sure your child goes to chosen school

    PARENTS of pupils in Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa who are due to move schools next year have been warned the process is now under way -- in a bid to avoid last year's problems. Worcestershire County Council is trying to highlight the situation to cut

  • Tampered tape claim set back

    A DISTRICT councillor received a set back when council chiefs refused to investigate claims that tape recordings of an authority meeting had been tampered with. Leader of the opposition Labour group on Bromsgrove District Council, Cllr Peter McDonald

  • Sports stars seek support at meeting

    BUDDING Bromsgrove sports stars can look forward to further funding, simply for exercising their vocal chords. An open meeting is being held at The Council House, in Burcot Lane, on Thursday November 1 to discuss the future of Bromsgrove District Sports

  • Shirley's Great Wall trek raises £1,500

    A KIND-HEARTED Bromsgrove woman is resting her tired feet this week after taking part in a fundraising adventure to raise money for charity. Shirley Stanworth-Hall, from Fordhouse Road, raised nearly £1,500 after being sponsored to walk along the Great

  • £1m buyout deal to entice supermarket

    DROITWICH Spa's indoor market hall is set to be bought out as part of a £1m deal to make way for a supermarket. Wychavon District Council has earmarked £875,000 to buy the hall and £125,000 to purchase Special Occasions, in Gurneys Lane, the Advertiser

  • 24/10/01 - Flyers get a fillip

    ABBEYDALE residents have given £150 to Age Concern so it can hold a Christmas party for elderly residents in the town. The donation will come from neighbourhood group funds. At a meeting last week it was also decided to give £400 to the United Flyers

  • 24/10/01 - Bias to United

    I HAVE been roundly criticised on the thisisrufc website for not supporting Redditch United enough and being too negative in my reports. This week a source at Redditch United, said it was my job as a local journalist to be biased towards the club. I was

  • A toy story

    MORE mums and youngsters are being encouraged to pop along to Beoley Toddler Group after it bought new toys. The group, which meets in Beoley Village Hall, recently spent £250 on puzzles, books and equipment for young babies. The group meets on Wednesday

  • Top verdict on Woodrow

    WOODROW First School has been given a glowing OFSTED report after being put under the microscope during a week-long inspection in May, writes Melina Cannon. Various aspects of the Woodrow South school were assessed, including the quality of teaching,

  • Textbooks on an African adventure

    REDDITCH schools have provided text books to be taken in a container to twin town Mtwara thanks to shipping agents Safmarine. Five Mtwara residents visited Redditch in July and highlighted an urgent need for school text books, sewing machines, typewriters

  • Back to school Karen

    TORY Parliamentary spokesman Karen Lumley went back to school last week as she addressed students at Kingsley College. Mrs Lumley and the students discussed a range of topics, including asylum seekers, education, the health service and the current world

  • Memorial to top teacher

    A MEMORIAL service will be held to celebrate the optimism and hope of a Redditch teacher who died of cancer last month, aged 58. Mary Stevens, of Lodge Park, who taught at St Peter's C of E Middle School, now Ipsley C of E Middle School, for 20 years,

  • A framework for the future on admissions

    PARENTS of 10-year-olds and other children due to transfer schools should beware. Worcestershire County Council has launched its admissions and transfer schedule for next year and is taking no prisoners. Following the high profile of several unhappy parents

  • Belgian drive ends in misery for Bull

    STOKE Heath rally co-driver Andy Bull returned to a happy hunting ground in the Flanders area of Belgium recently. His first visit to the rally in 1992 saw him narrowly miss out on a win in the popular Peugeot GTi Challenge with Birmingham driver Andrew

  • North's district success

    HERE'S a selection of the talented netballers at North Bromsgrove High School at present. Both the under-14s and under-16s were in great form at the district championships. The under-14s won all their matches against South Bromsgrove High, Droitwich High

  • Dog bites man

    A WOODROW man was ordered to pay £50 compensation to two police officers bitten by his dog while he was being arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour. Steven Walsh, 29, of Woodrow Centre, was 'feeling angry' when he visited a Studley Road pub on September

  • Race attack figures drop

    THE number of reported racial attacks and abuse in Redditch has fallen by nearly 50 per cent since July, writes Becky Procter. The news was announced at a town centre partnership meeting last week when police gave an update on the feelings of Muslims

  • Police out to scramble egg vandals

    POLICE in Winyates are looking to crack down on nuisance egg and stone throwing. Officers are appealing for information after reports of from a small number of residents who are coming under attack on a regular basis in the Costers Lane area. Witnesses

  • Junior rugby scorelines

    LONGLEVENS U11s 0 Droitwich U11s 35. In difficult conditions Droitwich continued their excellent start to the season, delivering the performance promised all season. Working hard everywhere, Droitwich wore their opponents down through hard work after

  • Buxton next for Studley

    STUDLEY'S reward for an impressive 5-0 Vase win at Rainworth Miners Welfare is a home draw in the second round proper. BKL entertain Buxton on Saturday, November 10, meaning the planned league trip to Pelsall Villa will have to be rearranged. The Northern

  • Service is 'second rate'

    DEAR EDITOR - In reply to Mrs S A Walters' letter "Support for the refuse collection," I would just like to highlight that I believe she is totally missing the point! The previous system, whereby when a Bank Holiday came along a different area each time

  • Powell injured

    FECKENHAM manager Clive Campion has revealed star striker Brian Powell is not fully fit despite cracking 14 goals in 11 games. The former Studley star improved his tally with the only goal in Saturday's 1-0 win over Coleshill Town. But Campion warned

  • It's a no-win situation

    DEAR EDITOR - In response to Mrs S A Walters' letter regarding Bank Holiday refuse collection in Bromsgrove. At the end of the day the council will have their way eventually, either by blackmail tactics or just sacking the men against the new system of

  • Headless hit late on

    Headless Cross 2 Stratford 3 HEADLESS CROSS matched Town in the first half and after some neat football the ball was played to Hayley Wootton who shrugged off a player to find Elaine Frampton on the right edge of the box to fire into the roof of the net

  • Opportunity wanted to state lido point of view

    DEAR EDITOR - I, and other 'SALT' (Save a lido today) committee members, were disgusted with Cllr Miekle's remarks at a recent Wychavon District Council meeting. Referring to 'pressure groups' as having negative attitudes towards any new project plans

  • Explanation of household waste site closure

    DEAR EDITOR - I refer to a recent letter regarding the closure of Droitwich Household Waste Site, and would like to clarify the following for the benefit of your readers. The refurbishment of the household waste site will involve major civil engineering

  • I challenge the Laylands

    COLIN Layland (You Say, October 13) says Worcester people said "no" to Labour in the 2000 city council election, but they actually voted for a council evenly balanced between Labour and Conservatives. He goes on to insult the intelligence of St Barnabas

  • Man's last frontier...

    GEORGE Cowley (You Say, October 16) said how reassured he was to see the stars of the Plough still twinkling away, 52 years after first seeing them as a 12-year-old boy. Does George realise that as the Plough is so many light years away (forgive me for

  • Lighten up!

    I WOULD like to say to Mrs C Reed, in response to her criticism of George Cowley and his jokes and comments, that she should stop being a killjoy. She should learn to live and let live. I always look for "George's Gems" every evening. He is light-hearted

  • On the peas

    JOHN Phillpott writes of middle-aged men wearing shirts outside their slacks to hide their tums. I'm 64 and two girls recently said: "Hello George - are you pregnant?" I replied: "I don't know who the father is," which went down well. It isn't a beer

  • Chair lift for village appeal

    AN appeal featured in the Redditch Advertiser to raise £2,000 for some new chairs for the revamped Wythall Village Hall resulted in a feast of free furniture being offered. It was hoped a bazaar held at the Alcester Road venue earlier this month would

  • Family's TV drama

    A BEOLEY family will appear in a television programme tomorrow revealing how children have the uncanny ability to influence the money their parents spend. Rosie Walker, of Bransons Cross Farm, and her three children are one of two Midland families who

  • Pool hopes to make a splash

    THE new Studley Leisure Centre will be opened with a fanfare in the New Year following 18 months of development - and a small delay, writes Julian eva. Despite some teething problems in the building of the new Pool Road centre, villagers can look forward

  • Alcester Flower Club

    THE October meeting took place in the Greig Hall. Demonstrator Margaret Packer's theme was Shades of Autumn and she used many types of flowers including protea, hydrangea, anthuriums and autumnal foliage. The Club holds meetings at the Greig Hall on the

  • Jobless figures

    THE number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Evesham during September was 391 - 64 fewer than during the same month the previous year. The latest figure, made up of 283 men and 108 women, meant 1.1% of people in the town's travel to work area

  • Society success story: A year on

    THE Bromsgrove Rovers Supporters' Society is celebrating its first year in business having raised an impressive £7,000 for the club. A significant part of that sum was included in the £40,000 bid generated by chairman-elect Tom Herbert and prominent townsfolk

  • Kington with Dormston WI

    THE AGM was held on October 10 in the newly refurbished hall, which members agreed was a vast improvement. The president thanked all members who had helped to make this possible. A group meeting takes place on November 8 at Upton Snodsbury and a seniors

  • Redditch Music Society

    CRIES of 'more' greeted the conclusion of Mad About Musicals presented by Muse&Music at the society's opening concert of its 40th season. The artists explored the world of the musical from the little known such as Sondheim's Passion and Novello's

  • Redditch Welsh Society

    THE October meeting was held at St Luke's Church Hall, Headless Cross. New chairman Essillt Thomas welcomed four new members. Future dates include Friday November 9 at St Luke's Church Hall, 7.30pm - A visit to Patagonia by Rev Robert Parry. Friday, November

  • October 26, 1901

    BROMSGROVE'S ancient Court Leet met for its autumn meeting in the Town Hall to elect a new Bailiff. The Reeve, traditionally the Bailiff elect, had left the area so the honour went to Thomas Roper. 100 years ago October 26, 1901 for its autumn meeting

  • Rowney Green Horticultural Society

    THE AGM took place on October 11 at the Peace Hall and was attended by a good number of members, including some new ones. Various officers gave reports on the previous year's activities and there ensued a lively and constructive discussion on a number

  • Pope off in cup defeat

    Bridgnorth Town (2) 3 B'grove Rovers (0) 2 Rameses League Cup BROMSGROVE Rovers crashed out of the Rameses League Cup in the first round after a 3-2 defeat at Bridgnorth Town. Ex-Rovers boss Steve Daley had fired his men up for this cup tie, and Town

  • Strat's the way to do it, Bromsgrove

    Stratford RFC 7 Bromsgrove RFC 44 Midlands Two West BROMSGROVE Rugby Club's first team continued their winning ways at third placed Stratford with a convincing five-try margin. The victory -- their fifth league win in a row -- was reward for a good all-round

  • Concert to boost fund for building

    There are just a few tickets left for a concert by the West Mercia Constabulary band at Cookhill Village Hall on Saturday. The concert starts at 7.30pm and is being staged in aid of the village hall building fund. Tickets cost £6, including supper, from

  • Band performs rock repertoire

    A BAND with a repertoire of rock classics is playing at an Astwood Bank pub next month. Rebus performs songs from the 60s onwards, from the Beatles to Blur to The Stereophonics. They will be at The White Lion, Evesham Road, on Saturday, November 24, as

  • What's On Guide

    Thursday, October 25 Red Skies Over The Severn, Swan Theatre, Worcester. Until November 10. Tickets from 01905 27322. The Monkees, Birmingham NEC Arena. Tickets from 0870 909 4133. The Merchant of Venice, The Other Place, Stratford. Until October 27.

  • Toys drop by arena

    WOODY the easy-going cowboy and high-flying space ranger Buzz Lightyear are set to appear on ice at Birmingham's NIA next week. The millions of gigabytes and pixels which took Disney's blockbuster Toy Story film 'to infinity and beyond' have been transformed

  • Fireworks warning to youngsters

    FIREWORKS were put through the letterboxes of two Redditch homes this week. In the early hours of Sunday, a firework was put through a letterbox of a home in Hunt End. It was extinguished before anyone was hurt but damage was caused to the hall. The incident

  • Don't forget the clocks

    STAFF at FW Hinds jewellers in the Kingfisher Centre certainly have their work cut out when the clocks go back an hour at 2am on Sunday.

  • Pub's school daze!

    CALLING all naughty schoolgirls! The Litten Tree pub, Market Place, is holding a St Trinians theme night to raise money for the Red Cross, which is collecting for the families of those killed in the American terrorist attack. All staff will be working

  • Work starts

    STEEL work for a £20 million three-storey building to include a transport interchange will be completed within the next week. The development, which will include a health club and several stores, will replace the former town centre bus station as part

  • Youngsters' lottery gain

    A REVOLUTIONARY counselling service for young people is to be launched in Redditch following a lottery cash injection, writes Becky Procter. Redditch YMCA will create the pilot project to provide a part-time qualified counsellor who will be based at both

  • Kidderminster Harriers 4 York City 1

    Tuesday, October 23, 2001 KIDDERMINSTER Harriers finally got their goalscoring act together last night when they registered their best ever Nationwide League Division Three victory with a 4-1 demolition of York City at Aggborough. Striker Drewe Broughton

  • Homes prices up

    THE West Midlands is the only place in the country to buck the downward trend in house prices, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The most recent RICS Housing Market Survey found the West Midlands was the only region to

  • Quality marks for impartial advice

    SEVEN local organisations have recently been awarded a nationally-recognised Quality Mark by the Guidance Accreditation Board. The mark acknowledges the high standards to which colleges, careers services and community-based organisations work in providing