BRAVE Bewdley crept to a two-wicket victory over leaders Evesham with 11 balls to spare. Steve Odell (33) and Mark Edwards (20) helped them reach their target of 113 in a low-scoring encounter at Lower Park. Evesham struggled to 36-4 in 19 overs as Mark
MORE than 100 employees of a Kidderminster carpet firm still have an uncertain future after a subsidiary division was sold off. Carpet maker Gaskell confirmed last week it had sold the Crucial Trading arm of Kidderminster-based Tomk-insons for £1.77 million
LOWLY Victoria and Blakeley Hall's recent run of good Worcestershire Saturday League Division Three form was halted in a narrow defeat to fellow strugglers Enville. Visiting Victoria were invited to bat first and were soon in trouble as they were reduced
CHAINWIRE slid into the bottom two after a defeat at lowly rivals Hewell in Worcestershire Saturday League Division Five. They are kept off the bottom by win-less Bridewell despite being dispatched by eight wickets at the hands of the villagers. Chainwire
CAMPAIGNERS who rejected a controversial traffic scheme were aghast to find planning notices for the project erected within days of their historic vote. Protesters' champagne corks had barely been cleared up around the streets of Cleobury Road, Bewdley
VILLAGERS are being nail-ed in a "sick" vendetta that is putting the lives of drivers at risk. Three-inch long nails are being planted along a roadside verge in Callow End to put the brakes on motorists taking a short cut. Furious drivers have bombarded
BRINTONS added to bottom-of-the-table Bridewell's woes in Worcestershire Saturday League Division Five with a six-wicket win on Saturday. Andy Maiden hit 58 to help the Kidderminster team home after Neil Waldron took 4-24 when the strugglers were dismissed
POSTAL workers in Worcestershire face an uncertain future after Consignia announced 17,000 job losses throughout the country and losses of £1.1bn last year. The jobs will go over three years and come on top of 13,000 previously announced. A company spokesman
ORGANISERS of Kidderm-inster's golden jubilee celebrations have been left with £2,000 worth of debts after its grant application for Lottery funding was bungled, it has been claimed. Peter Picken, treasurer-secretary of the Kidderminster Golden Jubilee
A TRAINING centre for the disabled where 25 hand-reared chickens were slaughtered in a fox attack is urgently appealing for birds to be donated. Noelle Wilson is calling for people to help replace the flock in time for an open day. "We've already had
A REWARD has been offered to try and track down the "mindless vandals" who damaged play equipment in Droitwich's Lido Park - days after it had been replaced. Worcester police believe youths were behind the attack on the new multi-play unit in the park
A "SNARLING" and "aggressive" dog chased the neighbour's children around a driveway after he made a dash from his home. Oliver, the collie cross, escaped from Angela Speed's house after her children left one of the doors open at around 10.30am on Sunday
AN historic pub is set to be sacrificed for a new Co-op supermarket. The Waggon and Horses, on Bewdley's Kidderm-inster Road, will be demolished in favour of a 5,500 sq ft store - more than double the size of the existing one in Load Street - if West
A WORCESTER kindergarten is being investigated after complaints it kept Government funding earmarked for parents. Worcestershire County Council confirmed it was looking into claims by concerned parents that The Kindergarten Group had failed to forward
OPENING times at Kidderminster's Glades leisure centre are to be cut as part of a cost-saving package. Under moves agreed by Wyre Forest District Council's executive committee, the centre will shut its doors at 8.30pm instead of 10.30pm on Sundays "as
THE British Red Cross has been accused of putting asylum seekers before the elderly people of Worcestershire. Days after the Government earmarked a site at Throckmorton for refugees, a meeting was called at Adelaide House in Malvern to announce the charity
LIVE wires dangling inches from the kitchen sink are among a string of hazards in a council house, a Worcester mother claims. Delaine Ross said she has bombarded council bosses with complaints about the conditions, including smoke-blackened walls, but
A WORCESTER man died from severe head injuries after his Ford Escort van careered into the path of an oncoming tractor, an inquest heard. Mark Godfrey, aged 26, died in the accident on the A491 Sandy Lane, Bromsgrove, at the junction with Money Lane.
A FIGHTING fit mother and daughter from Worcester have donned their trainers to raise awareness for Cancer Research UK. Hotel receptionist Maria Harrison and her daughter Genna, aged 8, will take to the city's streets this Sunday in the charity's Race
THE chairman of a Droitwich Spa community group is concerned about head lice outbreaks at one of the town's school. David Simones-Jones, who leads Westlands Action for Residents and Tenants (WART), said the problem at Westlands First School, in Farmers
A FARM worker from Inkberrow found to be more than twice the drink-drive limit had been suffering from serious depression, a court heard. Craig Davis, aged 30, was stopped by police as he drove along Greenhill, Evesham, in the early hours of Saturday,
A FARRIER from just outside Droitwich is counting his lucky horseshoes after scooping a top scholarship from an equestrian charity. Craig Hopkins of Wychbold has won a bursary from the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) and in return
ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour by youths is causing anxiety to elderly residents at a sheltered housing complex in Bromsgrove. Measures to tighten security at Lowes Court, Norton, have already been put in place but members of Bromsgrove District Council's cabinet
YOUNGSTERS throughout Worcestershire are being taught skills to help them avoid accidents and injury. Wyre Forest District Council and West Mercia police have joined forces to host The Young Citizen Challenge. A total of 1,400 children from nearby schools
A WALL chart, video and class visits are part of a campaign to stop children being tempted by the "adventure playground" lure of quarries during the holidays. The "Play Safe...Stay Safe" campaign has been launched in response to renewed fears about youngsters
WORCESTER City will be faced with a £250,000 repair bill to upgrade St George's Lane if they don't secure a ground move inside five years. This summer the club has splashed out £25,000 on rebuilding the Brookside perimeter fence to crush barrier standards
PARISH COUNCIL: At the recent meeting Cllr Llewellyn was re-elected as chairman, and Cllr Southcott as vice chairman. Annual grants were agreed as follows: Fladbury village hall £100, parochial church council for church clock £30, parochial church council
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE:. The Pershore U3A next meets on Tuesday in the Civic Centre at 2pm. Visitors are welcome to join the members to hear Mr A Whiting give a talk on the History and Development of the Almonry, Evesham. If you are over 50 and
GOLDEN JUBILEE: Celebrations set off with a fine start and the weekend's packed programme is to be followed with other events through to June 28. On Saturday at The Bell Inn and on the Green festivities started with a treasurer hunt, barbecue and a hill
WEDNESDAY CLUB: Met on June 5 when Mrs M Boath presided. Birthday cards were distributed. A few minutes silence was observed for the passing of two members, Mrs Iris Perkins and Mrs Helen Norman. Our mystery tour and cream tea at Cosy Corner, Broadway
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING: The main topic for discussion was the general lack of police presence in the parish. Complaints were raised that the police were rarely visible, difficult to contact and dilatory in response. Mr Terry Dryden remarked on the number
AN initiative to give police officers more profile in the community has been welcomed by traders battling against shoplifting and abusive behaviour. Operation Reacquaint covers the rural part of the Kidderminster Police Division and involves up to 10
NEW action to tackle flooding in Stourport at a cost of £425,000 has been launched by Severn Trent Water. Five homes - three in Lichfield Street, one in Mart Lane and one in Severn Side - which have all been flooded in the past will benefit from sewer
Plans to build a training centre at the Stourport premises of a construction company have been received by Wyre Forest District Council. The three-storey building and additional parking would be developed at the Thomas Vale Group site on Worcester Road
CAN anyone solve the riddle of why Evesham is not so busy? No excuse we can give because of foot and mouth, yet with so much to offer why is the Town so quiet! If I did not know better I would have said a ban on visitors has been enforced! Is it due to
ARNOLD Ridley's classic thriller The Ghost Train rolls into Malvern Theatres on Monday, June 24, and a stunning cast of favourite actors disembark. Jeffrey Holland, Louise Jameson, Henry McGee, Christopher Strauli and Margaret Ashcroft star in the show
THE wit and intelligence of Alan Ayckbourn, Britain's most popular comic playwright, comes to the Malvern Theatres from Tuesday, July 2, to Saturday, July 6, with Just Between the Lines, starring Les Dennis and Jean Boht. Dennis is a DIY fanatic, incapable
STRATFORD College students are inviting the public into the exciting world of Commedia dell'Arte, a colourful and extremely theatrical 16th-18th Century Italian theatrical style. Second year BTEC national performing arts students will be paying tribute
THE owner of a car sales business escaped death by inches after a thief who had just test-driven a BMW made off in the vehicle by driving straight at him. Martin Arnold, 51, who runs MGA Motors on Kidderminster's Wolverh-ampton Road was forced to dive
SNOOKER: A young snooker star's dream of turning professional is getting ever closer to reality. Lee Page, 14, has been selected for the English juniors to play in the home internationals at Prestatyn's Pontins in September. Since 1995, eight of the boys
SWIMMING: Claire Cashmore won a silver and two bronzes in five events at the DSE National Open Swimming Long Course championships for different classifications of disability. The event at Ponds Forge was a time trial for the Commonwealth Games and attracted
HORSERACING: A Wyre Forest jockey brought the biggest cheer at Chaddesley Corbett's point-to-point with a success in his first season of competitive riding. Kidderminster's Phillip Needham, 37, took Percy Medlicott to victory in the opening members' race
THE manager of the Officers' Club clothing shop in Kidderminster High Street has app-eared in court accused of obtaining £400 from his employer by deception. Danny Sanghera, 25, of Santolina Drive, Walsall, is charged with obtaining the money dishonestly
A KIDDERMINSTER man jailed for falsely obtaining £4,335 in state benefits has walked free after a successful appeal at Worcester Crown Court. Terence Hudson had failed to declare he was receiving a modest pension when he made claims over a six-year period
A TAXI driver was robbed of his wallet at knifepoint as he was dropping off two passengers in Kidderminster. The man, who had picked up a man and a woman in the town centre at about 11pm on Sunday, had just driven them to the Horsefair. But after he stopped
SWIMMING: Kidderminster exile Todd Cooper has added to his growing reputation with a superb win at the British Super Grand Prix in Glasgow. The teenage swim star, who competes for Stirling, was first home in the 100m butterfly in a formidable 54.84 seconds
A WOMAN whose new car was stolen and smashed into a Kidderminster fish and chip shop has had her replacement vandalised. Maria Alberone's three-month-old Renault Megane was driven into Bewdley Road Fish Bar late at night on Tuesday, April 16 - narrowly
STOURPORT continues to be a very popular resort town, attracting thousands of visitors to enjoy our riverside meadows, historic basins and traditional hospitality. The jubilee weekend, being two Bank Holidays rolled into one, brought double the numbers
SKIING: Annual trips to the French Alps helped a school's pupils hone their skills and sweep to victory at the West Midlands Schools Championships. The girls' U-10s team from Chaddesley Corbett's Winterfold House School were successful, while the boys
ATHLETICS: Amazing Feet Running Club's Brian Humphries spent the weekend collecting winners' trophies despite appalling weather conditions. In the club's annual handicap race over 3.5 miles in Wyre Forest, Humphries tore round from a next to last starting
IT is encouraging to read that Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust chairman Mr Michael O'Riordan has said the return of elective surgery to Kidderminster is a high priority. However, "as soon as possible" means little until we see some action. He
A MERCIFUL judge at Worcester Crown Court reduced a jail sentence on a father-of-four so that he could keep his home. Vincent Walmsley was originally sent to prison for nine months for an attack on a woman in a Kiddermin-ster nightclub. But two hours
SAILING: Roger Stretton and last-minute stand-in crew Andy Calder held off the opposition to win the GP14 title in a close Jubilee pursuit race at Trimpley Sailing Club. Tom Rogers raced his Laser against newcomer Phil Windley but was handicapped after
WHILE attending school in Cleobury Mortimer during the 1970s I used to spend many Saturdays helping around Bewdley Museum. I have just returned to the UK and this is one of the places that I intend to bring my children too, so while checking the Shuttle
l May we say a huge "thank-you" to our friend and warden Jo Illingworth for the wonderful weekend of jubilee celebrations she provided for us. Our thanks also go to the many people who helped Jo. ALL THE RESIDENTS Adam House Woodfield Street Kidderminster
I AM writing to complain that Bewdley is, once again, the forgotten town. I understand that Bewdley paddling pool is not being filled with water during the summer months, due to lack of money. Surely the life of children is more important. Kidderminster
GOLF: Deanne Robson has been in tremendous form lately in Little Lakes ladies section. Alone with husband John and Sheelah Salsby, Robson won the Three Clubs and Putter Competition as well as partnering Pam Kay to victory in the Ladies Foursomes. She
IN reply to Councillor Gittins' letter on Bewdley traffic calming (Shuttle Times & News, June 6), I am the person who erected posters and signs on the bank in front of my own property on Bark Hill. I also stood on Bewdley bridge, informing motorists
FURTHER to Councillor Gittins' letter (Shuttle/Times & News, June 6), I was one of the two people on Bewdley bridge who urged residents to vote on traffic calming. We selected that location because the road works had slowed traffic to a crawl and
CHESS: Jim Friar recorded his best victory of the season as Kidderminster Knights kept on course for the Worcester and District League Division One championships with a 2.5-1.5 success at Malvern. Friar completely tied down his experienced opponent to
KIDDERMINSTER'S Peter Davis used a buzzer at Shatterford Fishery to catch seven trout to 3.5lb. Another angler caught seven to 3lb with a buzzer, while a cats whisker was used to catch eight to 3lb. On the coarse scene, meat and nuggets landed five catfish
FRIDAY Evening open, Dragonfly: Andy Price 41-0-8dr, Barry Parsons 37-3-8, Steve Fletcher 26-12-8. Sunday Morning, Bilston Labour Club: Joe Cotterill 28-12, Alan Richards 12-9, Brian Cotterill 10-10. Sunday Afternoon, The Old Dial: Gary Haywood 24-3,
MONDAY, Meadow, Bank and Moore: Neil Russell 81-13, B Marklew 79-15, Andy Newton 69-15. Monday evening, three hours 30 minutes: Newton 93-13 (39), Mick Henshall 78-10, D James 70-4. Tuesday, Meadow, Bank and Moors: Dave Hinton 83-7, Neil McKinnon 69-11
AT the match at Holt Fleet, B Edwards landed six fish, five in double figures and the best weighing 19lb. His total weight, landed on macaroni cheese, was 61lb 8oz. Result: Edwards 61-8, M Johnson 25-8, B Parkinson 20-12. The next match is at Sion Farm
IT was left to Tewkesbury's second team to consolidate their position at the top of Division Two with a four-wicket victory over Woodmancote after the senior side were rained off. On a damp but by no means difficult wicket Woodmancote slumped to 44 all
CHALLENGE Shield, fished at Willow Marsh silver fish pool: G Rosser 16-11, P White 16-10, R Broadhurst 11-2, J Gale 9-13. The Wild Life Trophy will be contested on the River Severn at Winterdyne on Sunday. This is round two of the knockout. Aggregate
STACKPOOL: D Morris 7-11, T Wills 6-4, R Knowles 4-8. On June 23, a match will be held at the pools, draw 2pm, fishing 2.30pm until 6.30pm.
POOLE Hall, Abbey Pool: C Monger 32-0, P Harvey 24-7, B Staite 11-0, S Humphries 9-10. There is a meeting at the Red Lion, Cookley, on Tuesday at 8.30pm which all members are asked to attend.
STARS of Villa Park's famous past will be unveiling their football skills at Common Road later this year. Aston Villa Old Stars will be sending a team of former players to take on an Evesham United eleven on Sunday, September 1, kick-off 2.30pm. The match
LOCAL businessman, Tony Cosnett, has been elected to replace Tony Bradstock as chairman of Pershore Town. A member of the club's original squad following re-formation in 1988, 41-year-old Cosnett was elected at last Sunday's annual general meeting when
RELIVE the magic of the Millennium Stadium and watch again how Cheltenham Town clinched a place in Division Two of the Nationwide League. The latest offering from Whaddon Road gives full coverage of the Division Three play-off success over Rushden and
A FIVE-year fund-raising campaign to raise £80,000 for much-needed church repairs will be boosted with a fete on Saturday. Parishioners of St Mary's Church, Harvington, are raising the cash to repair everything from a leaking roof to crumbling walls.
THE Worcestershire FA is holding a second annual Female Football Festival at Pershore High School on Sunday, June 23. The day-long event will include a six-a-side tournament for all the teams in the county when there will be five age groups - under-10
ROGER le Moore are close to the Kidderminster Six-a-side League Division Two championship after beating 3 Points Again 3-1. Division One: Woodthorpe Wdrs 3, Bridge Inn The Gap 0; Briars 2, Prawn Stars 3; FC Harriers 1, FC Magic 1; Bridge Inn The Gap 0
SHOPPERS were making a noise in Kidderminster town centre on Saturday so a message can be sent to world leaders. Members of Wyre Forest Friends of the Earth took their campaign for global rules for big businesses to the streets to raise awareness of threats
CHURCH leaders have backed the Bishop of Dudley's condemnation of the government's proposals for an asylum centre in Throckmorton. The Worcestershire diocesan synod, meeting at Hartlebury Castle, warned of the wisdom of placing such a centre in a remote
A Kidderminster hotel could be replaced by eight bungalows under plans submitted to Wyre Forest District Council. Under the application, the Gordon House Hotel, off Comberton Road, would be shut and eight dormer bungalows erected with new access to the
MORE than £4,000 has already been pledged by residents in and around Throckmorton in the fight against an asylum centre. It promises to be a David and Goliath battle, with the government on the opposing side having already paid out more than £15m on the
ROCK Rockets went four points clear in Cleobury Mortimer Sports Centre's U-14s league but Ruff Stuff have moved up the league to second place. Remaining in close third are Persil Boys followed by No Name who won 4-0 against goal-less Powder Puff Girls
A BIRD trapped in its nest had both the RSPCA and the fire brigade racing to free it. The month-old raven was spotted by visitors with twine wrapped round its leg, dangling from its nest 60ft up in the east tower of ruined stately home Wit-ley Court near
PRINCE Henry's High School, Evesham, has won a prestigious Artsmark Silver Award which recognises schools that demonstrate a commitment to providing opportunities across the arts from drama to music, design to literature, dance to sculpture. The scheme
THE second annual female football festival will be held at Pershore High School on Sunday, June 23. The Worcestershire FA organised day-long event will include a six-a-side tournament for all the teams in U-10s, U-12s, U-14s, U-16s and open age. Players
HISTORIC Sudeley Castle launches its second Rose Week later this month, but visitors can get a taste of what's in store through a new publication. The Gardens of Sudeley Castle has been published in a new edition with a foreword by Roddy Llewellyn, who
WORCESTERSHIRE FA have organised an electric wheelchair fun taster football session at University College, Worcester, on Friday, June 28. Boys and girls of all ages from special or mainstream schools are invited to take part from 10.30am until 2pm for
GOLDEN jubilee celebrations continue next week when a flower festival will be held over three days at Great Witley Church. The church will open on Friday and Saturday from 10am until 6pm and on Sunday from 11am until 6pm. On Saturday there will be an
FORMER Wyre Forest MP David Lock has put his devastating election defeat last year to a failure to "sell the message" on the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital. The ex-minister, who was trounced at the polls by Independent Dr Richard Taylor a year
GARDENERS in two villages throw open their gates to the public this weekend. Ten private gardens are being opened as part of the Hartlebury in Bloom programme. The village gardening club is raising funds towards the cost of planting the tubs which decorate
Volunteers willing to roll up their sleeves and give blood are being asked to come along to the Civic Centre, Stourport, on Tuesday, or Trinity Methodist Church, Churchfields, Kidderminster, on Friday, June 21. The Stourport sessions will befrom 1.30pm
FROM the three Rs to the seven seas, youngsters at a Kidderminster playgroup had a whale of a time when they celebrated the group's 15th anniversary. Wyre Forest Childminding Group staged a series of activities with a nautical theme with a prize for the
Members of Kidderminster Male Choir took their singing talents to a wider stage when, along with family and friends, they toured Australia for three weeks last month. The 90-strong party, responding to an invitation from Sydney Male Choir, gave nine concerts
THERE'S double the reason for carnival celebrations in Bewdley this week which, for the first time in more than a century, also mark a Queen's Golden Jubilee. A packed programme of activities has been lined up for the 35th carnival since it was reinstated
ONLY a dropped catch denied Martin Johnson a 10 wicket haul but his figures of 9-56 were still enough to earn the Pershore bowler the Evening News/Duncan Fearnley Cricket Sales Ltd Cricketer of the Week award. The 44-year-old's display against Astwood
CLASSIC car enthusiasts braved poor weather to view a bumper turn-out at this year's transport day at the County Museum at Hartlebury Castle. About 300 visitors and 146 owners of cars, restored tractors, historic motorcycles and commercial vehicles -
PREMIERSHIP new boys West Brom face a baptism of fire after being handed a nightmare start to their first top-flight campaign in 16 years. Gary Megson's side will open the season on Saturday, August 17 with a desperately difficult trip to Old Trafford
The success of a jubilee tea dance has inspired organisers to try and make it a monthly affair. Last Thursday saw the Wyre Forest District Council event at Stourport Civic Centre attended by more than 80 people doing the waltz and the tango. Anyone interested
THE rangers special four- legged conservation volunteers have returned to the Wyre Forest District Council's nature reserves. This year, their first mission is to help increase numbers of the beautiful southern marsh orchid which grow within the Site
A nimble-fingered needleworker with a business in Broadway is undergoing the culture shock of his life. Adam Spiers, of Cotswold Needlecraft, who lives in Evesham, is testing his stamina in front of millions of television viewers. He is one of 30 men
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers will entertain crisis club Lincoln City in their first Division Three fixture of the season on Saturday, August 10. Lincoln have been placed into administration and new boss Keith Alexander has been relying on up-and-coming non-league
CHELTENHAM will be rocking to the sounds of Abba when a tribute band comes to town next month. Abba Gold will be performing at the Town Hall on Sunday, June 16, with a set list comprising all the favourite hits of the legendary 70s Swedish stars, such
A blackbird has successfully hatched off a clutch of eggs while travelling around in her nest in the wheel arch of a tractor. Don Driver, of Sandfield Lane, Sedgeberrow, was amazed when he found the nest, the edge of which was no more than half an inch
Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff has pledged to renew his campaign for a full public inquiry into the foot and mouth outbreak if the final report from the "Lessons Learned" team is not hard hitting and comprehensive. Speaking after meeting members of
REPORT of Defford and Besford parish council meeting. Friendly reminders would be sent to owners of property fronting the footpath to the A4104 whose hedges were still projecting and therefore obstructing the footpath. The clerk displayed the revised
SEAM bowler Martin Johnson exploited favourable conditions to the full as Pershore returned to winning Worcestershire County League ways at Astwood Bank last weekend. Johnson was back to his mercurial best in recording magnificent figures of 9-56 from
EVESHAM crashed to their first Worcestershire County League defeat of the summer after being dismissed for 112 on a tricky track at Bewdley. The second division leaders hit back after tea as Quinn Jones mesmerised the home batsmen with figures of 6-57
EXHALL and Wixford's hopes of a place in the regional final of this season's National Village Championship were aided and hampered by the elements last weekend. After being advised to travel to Fillongley, a saturated ground meant that no play was possible
THANKS to the marvellous efforts of groundsmen John Bishop and Adrian Hands, a 35 overs a side match was made possible at London Road on Saturday. Batting first, hosts Shipston struggled against the vagaries of a damp wicket and a spirited effort from
FIDDLER on the Roof, the powerful and moving musical set in pre-revolutionary Russia, is coming to Cheltenham in July. The show, which became famous through Topol's recording of If I Were A Rich Man from the 1971 film, revolves around the dairyman Tevye
MELVIN Silcox stepped in at the last moment at the May meeting, as the arranged speaker had been taken ill. July 31 is the date of the next committee meeting when the two-day flower, vegetable and floral art show, to be held on August 17-18, will be discussed
ON May 21 the resolutions' meeting was held. The resolutions, concerning support for local abattoirs and stricter control of imported food, were discussed and overwhelmingly endorsed. Edna Mills, Sylvia Perkins and Margaret Booth attended the intermediate
100 years ago June 14 1902 A VERY large congregation assembled at All Saints' Church, Evesham, at a quarter to twelve on Sunday morning in response to a public invitation to attend a service of thanksgiving for the termination of The Boer War. The Mayor
THE private visit to the Carpet Museum Trust and County Museum exhibition at Hartlebury Castle in May was well attended by members and friends. The next meeting will be in the form of a guided walk through Spennells Valley with Wyre Forest Ranger Service
PEOPLE to help victims of crime are in demand by a national charity. Victim Support is looking for seven volunteers for north west Worcestershire, which covers Wyre Forest, to offer emotional support, information and practical help to people affected
A MOST successful AM AM was held at The Vale Golf Club by the ladies section. Despite torrential rain, 26 teams from 12 clubs throughout the area competed and £1000 raised for the captain's charity, The Macmillan Nurses. The winning team with 79 points
VISITORS from 27 clubs from across the Midlands joined with home representatives to compete for the Open Mixed Four-somes Trophy at Broadway. This net medal competition, played off half combined handicaps, was won by the visiting duo of Malcolm and Sheila
Rose, Kidderminster - The Winslow Boy until Saturday. Alexandra, Birmingham - Make 'em Laugh Sunday. Crescent, Birmingham - The Mikado until Saturday. The Blood Donor Saturday until June 22. Repertory, Birmingham - Masterpieces until Saturday. Grand,
EVESHAM Rugby Club holds its annual general meeting on Monday evening from 7.15pm. All members are invited to attend for the chairman's report and election of officers.
Evesham Jubilee AS THE new season starts when members fish for the presidents Simon de Montfort Cup at the Willow Pool at Lenchwick. All members are requested to attend, draw at poolside at 7am. A series of open matches will be held at the Jubilee Fishery
n THE Worcestershire Royal Hospital has yet another problem. As well as the forgotten car park, nowhere to put patients' records, no nurses home for trainee nurses to live, trouble with the incoming phone calls and so on, there is now a shortage of orthopaedic
REGARDING the story headlined "Traffic Plan Objections" (Evening News, Friday, June 7) this showed yet again this special skill of county councillor Stephen Clee (right) of presuming to read other people's minds and getting it totally wrong. My reaction
I MUST congratulate the loyal people in the suburbs of Worcester who must have worked very hard to celebrate the Golden Jubilee. It was obvious they all enjoyed themselves and the weather was kind too. Well done. But I'm afraid I can't say the same for
A DECISION to take an improving Kidderminster school out of special measures seven months early has been hailed by its headteacher as "fantastic" news. Sladen Middle School, Hurcott Road, has been given the all-clear following a visit by Government inspectors
OBJECTORS to road closure at Wyre Piddle when the new bypass is opened are expected to oppose the traffic orders, according to county councillor Liz Tucker. She said last week after a cabinet meeting, which voted almost unanimously for closure, that although
OFSTED inspectors have given the thumbs-up to a Kidderminster school describing the standard of education as "very good" and support and guidance as "very caring." More than one-third of the teaching staff observed by a team of 16 inspectors at King Charles
SPORTY residents are being invited to meet their match for free at tennis courts in Droitwich Spa. Budding Tim Henmans can use the facilities at the Lido Park, off Worcester Road, on a first come first served basis. A Wychavon District Council spokeswoman
A SCHOOL in Kidderminster has won national recognition for its commitment to physical education and sports provision. Holy Trinity School is one of 507 in England to receive Sportsmark status from Sport England in the award scheme. Headteacher Elizabeth
VILLAGERS in Broadway are being urged to enter this year's best garden competition. Judging is taking place on Sunday, July 7, for a whole list of categories including hanging baskets, front and back gardens and patios. Businesses in the village are automatically
VALE football fans face another nervous 90 minutes when England line up for their next World Cup match. After a heroic victory against Argentina last Friday the team made it through to the second round of the competition with a 0-0 draw yesterday. The
POOL player Darren Selvey has hit the heights at The Hilton Hotel. Evesham's top potter helped the Welsh squad to victory in the Embassy World Eight-Ball Championships in Blackpool. Selvey, who is sponsored by The Anchor Inn, Fladbury, earned his first
HORDES of Northern Soul fans will be descending on Kidderminster later this month for the chance to see legendary DJ Dave Evison in action at the Glades. It is the first time Dave, who spun the turntables at the now famous Wigan Casino, has DJ'd in Kidderminster
THEATREGOERS are being invited to "Tuck" in to a treat of a show at Stourbridge Town Hall later this month. Ophanboom Theatre Company is staging an 'arrowing retelling of the Robin Hood legend using a winning blend of masks, boisterous acting and fast-paced
ALL the colour of the Caribbean will be coming to Ludlow Assembly Rooms next month when the venue stages a carnival extravaganza. Among the workshops lined up from Monday, July 22-25 are drumming sessions with Jamaican-born Kevin McIntosh and dance and
POPULAR TV and stage actor Tony Britton is irascible Salford boot-shop owner Henry Hobson in a new production of the comedy classic Hobson's Choice. Directed by Jonathon Church, artistic director at Birmingham Rep, the play, best known for the film version
SINGER-songwriter Clifford T Ward has been ranked ahead of The Beatles in a Queen's Golden Jubilee poll of the nation's favourite songs. The Stourport 70s pop star, who died in December, came fourth in the BBC Radio 2 poll with Home Thoughts From Abroad
THE Ghost Train will be pulling into Malvern Theatres later this month with a host of household names on board. Hot on the heels of supernatural chiller, The Woman in Black, the new show, by Arnold Ridley, better known for his performances as Godfrey
VOCALIST-guitarist Bev Pegg, who has played with such greats as Robert Plant, Acker Bilk and Spike Milligan, will be in action tomorrow at The Bonded Warehouse, Stourbridge. Bev Pegg and his Good Time Four who are gaining a growing reputation, will be
COME on in - the singing's lava-ly. That's the message from Worcester Community Choir Volcano which is urging more people to come forward and join in. The emphasis is on fun and the pleasure of singing with others. There are no auditions and there is
THE Worcestershire FA is holding a second annual Female Football Festival at Pershore High School on Sunday, June 23. The day-long event will include a six-a-side tournament for all the teams in the county when there will be five age groups - under-10
SEAM bowler Martin Johnson exploited favourable conditions to the full as Pershore returned to winning Worcestershire County League ways at Astwood Bank last weekend. Johnson was back to his mercurial best in recording magnificent figures of 9-56 from
PERSHORE'S Under-15s side made progress in the Sun Life Cup after seeing off Malvern Ramblers by 28 runs. Sam Howell scored 90 and Ben Bales an unbeaten 85 as Pershore rattled up a daunting 203-1. The loss of two early wickets gave the home side the edge
LAST weekend's racing at the Lausitz Ring proved to be an incredible test for the UCL Honda Team. The Vale Park-based team arrived at this superb racetrack after 720 of high-speed autobahns. The circuit is a purpose built track only 15 miles from Poland
AVON Valley Spartans are still looking to develop both their local and National League standing after a successful season in the West Midlands League. The club rounded off the Sum-mer Conference with a home out-ing against Hagley Hawks that saw the visitors
THERE will be fast and furious quarter-mile doorslammer action this weekend when Stratford-upon-Avon's Shakespeare County Raceway thunders into life for the Mid-Summer Nationals. Among the headliners competing at the Obsession Motorsports organised race
DEFEATS on three of the five rinks failed to prevent hosts Evesham overcoming Pershore by seven chalks in the Concorde League. The damp conditions suited neither side but, a 28-11 success in the top match in an otherwise tight contest, guaranteed a home
SAILING was fast and furious for Evesham club members last weekend with a strong blustery wind from the south east and heavy rain at times on Sunday. Most crews ended up in the river at some time but all capsizes were quickly righted. Mike Long was soon
TER company is rebranding and consolidating its operations under a new company structure. At the moment, BDE International plc trades under three identities. In the Midlands it trades as Micro Dynamics from its head office on Worcester's Blackpole Trading
HEREFORDSHIRE'S Wyevale Garden Centres has kept up its excellent record at the Chelsea Flower Show by winning a gold medal. The garden centre, whose head office is in Kings Acre Road, Hereford, collected its seventh gold medal since it first began exhibiting
A MAJOR electricity supplier in the Midlands has announced plans to cut its workforce. The move will mean 230 jobs will be lost at Aquila Networks, which distributes electricity to homes and businesses across the region. The company does not, however,
A WORCESTER business has won an award for its work with the arts. Vantage Computer Solutions, of St John's, received a commendation at the ninth annual Arts and Business Awards, at St David's Hall, Cardiff, last month. The company won the award in the
STAFF at a Bidford hairdressing salon showed they were a cut above the rest when they designed a winning window display for the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Hair by Chris in High Street, clinched first prize in the shop window competition, which was organised
BIDFORD'S day of Jubilee celebrations attracted more than 2,000 people to the village. Jubilee committee spokesman Brian Tafft said the attractions on the Big Meadow on Monday, June 3, saw people flocking to the village from all over the country. The
JOHN Brain has confirmed that Worcester are in talks to bring centre David Officer to Sixways. Worcester's director of rugby is hoping to wrap up the deal in the next couple of days as he looks to bolster his squad for next season's promotion push. Officer
My wife and I are frequent weekend visitors to Stow (in fact we spent our honeymoon weekend in our wonderful Cross Keys B&B there) and we come regularly as a break from the daily grind of working and living in London. We love cycling around the beautiful
THE Friends of Abbey Park First and Nursery School Pershore would like to say a big 'Thank You' to everyone who helped our Float to win a First prize at the carnival on June 3. As well as all the parents and children who worked so hard to put together
IN-FORM Kidderminster Cricket Club star Ted Baylis' pursuit of a second chance at county level has been backed by his skipper. Opening bowler Baylis, 19, has made quite an impression in Birmingham League Division One since leaving Worcestershire's academy
In view of the constant rise above inflation that myself and other tax payers within the Wychavon District Council (WDC) area see their council taxes go up every single year, can somebody please explain, why WDC offer a FREE Landscape Plan Service to
Re: Stratford upon Avon Railway station and the North Warwicks Line. My first thoughts that the line should be called The Shakespeare line is why haven't we done this before as the line does not run into any part of North Warwickshire, what a good idea
A BAND has been forced to call off its first national tour after thieves snatched £1,000 worth of equipment. Kidderminster group Weak 13 had its Peavey PA system, including two speakers and a head mixer, taken from a band member's car after returning
THE recalled John Shackleton and Colin Buckle inspired high-flying Stourport to a gritty league victory at home to Feckenham. Shackleton and Buckle were brought back from the seconds team to great effect as the town side continued their impressive league
THUGS threw glasses, smashed plates and wrecked chairs as Kidderminster pubs were forced to close after England's World Cup victory against Argentina. Celebrations turned nasty within hours of the match on Friday, forcing town centre pubs to shut for
POLICE will step up patrols in Kidderminster, Stourport and Bewdley on Saturday to prevent a recurrence of the thuggery which marred celebrations of England's World Cup win last Friday. One person was injured and five people arrested after the Argentina
CRUMBLING batting cost Cookley dear as they slumped to a Worcestershire Saturday League Division Two defeat at Eastnor. They are third from bottom in the table after a four-wicket defeat which saw them post just 90 runs. Cookley were dumped out of the
AN Italian man employed by a firm sub-contracted to install new dyeing equipment at a Kidderminster carpet factory has had a foot amputated following a horrific industrial accident. The man's foot and lower leg were severely injured and his right shoulder
STONE failed to field a full side for the second week running and paid the penalty with a home defeat in Worcestershire Saturday League Division Five. The villagers suffered a seven-wicket defeat to fellow mid-table side Hanley Castle and Upton. Stone
A DECORATOR who took refuge in his van to eat his Chinese takeaway after a night in a Warndon pub has been found guilty of being drunk in charge of the vehicle. Donald Macbeth denied the charge when he appeared before Worcester magistrates yesterday,
CUTNALL Green's big game at Worcestershire Saturday League Division Five leaders Cape Hill Victoria was abandoned. Both sides were awarded eight points, leaving Green 23 points off the top in third place with Worcester Corinthians second.
FORMER world boxing champion Richie Woodhall looks set to be a knock-out when he officially opens a state-of-the-art fitness suite at Cleobury Mortimer's Lacon Childe School. The Telford-based boxer will unveil a plaque before speaking to guests from
BEWDLEY Cavaliers held on for a losing Worcestershire Saturday League Third Teams Double draw at home to Worcester. Andy Hartley's superb 92 not out was vital for Bewdley as they gained nine points by totalling 183-5. Top-of-the-table Worcester had earlier
KEVIN Hughes took 4-6 for Worths A to guide his team to an eight-wicket Stainweld Cricket League Sunday Cup victory over Waterfront. Brintons beat FKA Prince in the Wednesday Cup by 41 runs as Steve Parker scored 36 runs for the winners. Only one Sunday
KIDDERMINSTER-BASED opener Fern Bagley helped guide Worcestershire U-15s girls to a victory over Nottinghamshire. Bagley scored 34 not out and Stacy Whittall 38 as the county completed their victory in the 23rd over, beating their opponents' total of
THE National Lottery Awards for All group has awarded the unusual Worcestershire cricket club Fossils £1,195. The nomadic club brings cricket to both sexes over 50 years of age and the disabled. Treasurer Bill Jones was delighted with the award which
A 70-ACRE Powick hop farm could be turned into a country park, with attractions such as a pay-and-play golf course, a maze of dwarf hops or a mountain bike circuit. Owner Thomas Hawkins wants people in Powick and Callow End to tell him what kinds of activities
HEALTH care staff in Worcestershire will have medical information at their fingertips thanks to a re-organisation of health libraries throughout the county. All libraries now offer a 21st Century service after being connected to the Unicorn electronic
AN angry husband drove his car at his wife's former lover, a jury was told. Kelvin Conway had ended a relationship with married Melanie Kerton whom he met at a nightclub in the city. But he claimed that when he went round to her flat in Broxash Drive,
A "CONFUSED" man worried about his ill father stole a bottle of champagne as a thank you gift to carers. Martin Phillips hid the bottle inside his jacket as he walked out of a store in Ombersley, near Worcester, the city's magistrates court heard yesterday
AFTER an enforced break last year due to foot-and-mouth, the Three Counties Show returns to its Malvern showground this weekend. From Friday to Sunday, the 70-acre show site at Blackmore will be packed with exhibits, entertainment and attractions for
THE appliance of science is proving a big hit with pupils in a village near Droitwich. Students at Cutnall Green First School, in School Road, are enjoying a science week to mark National Science Year in Britain. Eighty-nine children have already investigated
CONCERNS have been raised with Powick Parish Council over tipping and burning of rubbish at Broadfields farm track, Powick. The council drew the attention of Malvern Hills District Council to problems there in January and asked for the removal of an "
TWO popular nurseries run by Worcester College of Technology Childcare Services are celebrating their first anniversary. The Community Play Tec scheme has proved invaluable to student parents, who can access the care while carrying out their studies.
GARDENING CLUB. Last Wednesday the members enjoyed a funny and wide-ranging talk by the former Pershore College lecturer Mrs Betty Foster. Taking as her subject A Fool's Guide to Gardening, she used unusual plant materials and her own experiences of a
WARWICKSHIRE Farmers' Market is about to enter the world of Absolutely Fabulous with the appointment of a public relations guru to help them promote their produce. However, Helen Bowie, whose £11,000 a year part-time appointment as promotions and development
QUIZ WINNER: Entries for The Golden Jubilee Quiz which was on sale at the recent Festival of Hobbies and Crafts held in St James' church have now been marked and the overall winner is Mrs Linda Attwood who wins the first prize of £25, with Mrs Janet Till
AN enterprising night-shift worker is gearing up to cycle round Europe's second largest freshwater lake in aid of sick children. Twenty-six-year-old Rebecca Chater, who works at a Clent children's home, has set her sights on the four-day 180-mile challenge
A MIXED choir up against older rivals has impressed judges at a final of a singing competition. Stourport's Burlish Middle School entered for the second time the biennial Sainsbury's Choir of the Year and travelled to Bristol with 11 other choirs for
THERE'S a time-honoured tradition in Britain whereby a fed-up individual can take so much, then take no more. The planting of nails in soil alongside a traffic-calming measure in Callow End would appear to be the work of just such a person. You can almost
PL:24boat.jpg:Michael Matus (left) and Billy Carter THINGS are looking shipshape at the Royal Shakespeare Company, which is celebrating the rave reviews for its current production of Eastward Ho! Actors Michael Matus and Billy Carter, who play the roles
TWO men were arrested after a stolen car collided with an oncoming vehicle during a police chase through Stourport and Kidderminster. A patrol car tried to stop the red Ford Orion which was using false numberplates after it was seen being driven erratically
LAPTOP computers worth more than £5,000 were stolen from a hotel in Stone by opportunist thieves. Intruders entered an unlocked conference room at the Stone Manor Hotel between 12.30 and 1.30pm on Monday 6 and made off with the three pieces of equipment
THURSDAY: Kidderminster: Town hall - David Brookshaw Organ Recital (lunchtime). Worcester: Huntingdon Hall - Fairport convention. Birmingham: Symphony Hall - The Coronation of King George II with The King's Consort. Brierley Hill: Robin R'n'B - Rainbow
A DISQUALIFIED driver arrested after a police chase has had his jail sentence cut on appeal at Worcester Crown Court. Lee Reynolds, 28, of Offmore Road, Kiddermin-ster, was arrested last September after he was seen at the wheel of a car in the town, said
CYCLING: Phil Blacker was celebrating after winning his first open road race of the year for Wyre Forest Cycle Racing Club in style on Sunday. Blacker rode a tough 70km course near Stratford well, including a 14 per cent climb of Edge Hill for each of
MOTORSPORT: Robin Morewood and his wife Gill won their third event in a row at Bewdley Motor Cycle Club's third round of the British Sidecar Trials Champs over Clee Hills on Sunday. The Morewoods dropped 41 marks, 19 less than 11-times champions Robin
A GALAXY of stars are set to entertain audiences at this year's Malvern Summer Festival. The event runs from early July to late September and promises a wealth of top-quality entertainment at Malvern Theatres. Well-known names and faces set to appear
MAGISTRATES have called for a psychiatrist's report on a driver who broke through the gate of a playground with his van, then assaulted a policeman. Adrian McGinley, 28, of Wilden Lane, Stourport, admitted driving the van with excess alcohol in his system
SWIMMING: Two Wyre Forest teams claimed runner-up spots in competitions at Leamington Spa and Cwmbran. Swimmers aged from 10 upwards, apart from those with Midland district qualifying times, competed in the Mercian League round two at Leamington. Meanwhile
REGARDING the letter from Martin Meredith (Shuttle/Times & News, June 6), no decent Englishman would deny refugee status to anyone whose life was in danger for political reasons. But apart from the fact that they are not sent home when the danger
A TEENAGER who butted the head teacher of a Kidderminster school has been warned he could face a custodial sentence. Courts took a serious view of assaults on staff on school premises, magistrate Morris Lashford told 18-year-old Paul Jennings. Jennings
ATHLETICS: Tom Kenderdine took first prize for the three-race Hereford 5km series after another fine display in the final contest. Kenderdine completed the course in 15 minutes 33 seconds for third place on the day. International star Lucy Wright was
I WISH to express my thanks to the good Samaritans of Stourport, following an incident by the river on Wednesday, May 29. While I was searching for somewhere to have a cup of tea, my wife had a fall, hitting her face on the footpath. A man nearby phoned
Raiders escaped with a red Volkswagen van worth more than £16,000 after forcing their way into a Stourport home. The intruders were disturbed by the homeowner after breaking into the rear of the Heightington Place house but escaped with the keys to the
Thieves made off with audio and computer equipment and other property worth more than £3,000 after breaking into a Kidderminster home. They forced a rear door in Canterbury Road and stole three TVs and a video recorder, computer equipment, tools, radio
TENNIS: Two Bewdley Tennis Club youngsters are one step nearer to playing at a famous venue after winning the town finals of the U-14s Road to Wimbledon Challenge and Club Championships. Olly Hicks, 13, beat John Guy 6-4, 6-4 in the boys' singles final
ATHLETICS: Junior and senior teams from Abberley Hall School impressed in a competition at The Blue Coat School, Birmingham, finishing first out of six schools in a host of track and field events. The team was made up of Tom Shuttleworth, David Abel,
ROWING: Bewdley Rowing Club women's vet C four, stroked by Jo Atkinson and coxed by Lindsey Salmon, won their event at Worcester Regatta. Richard Jackson was also successful, adding the junior 15 single sculls to his season's tally. Lewis Beech beat strong
GYMNASTICS: Gymnasts can join in an annual summer training school to improve their skills in July. Wyre Forest Gymnast School are holding three courses at Harry Cheshire High School for four to 18-year-olds. Complete beginners to advanced performers can
SO the county council's "traffic calming" scheme has been given the boot by the sensible people of Bewdley. It appears the gang in Westminster will dole out any amount of money, providing it is used to inconvenience the motorist - done under the cloak
THE good people of Bewdley have been misled by a small group of people who seem to regard their cars as being more important than children's lives. The result of the recent Parish Poll should be no surprise to anyone. To my knowledge, there was no-one
THERE has been good fishing on all coarse waters throughout the week. A junior angler landed 20 fish, the best a 1.5lb roach, fishing peg 10 on the Heron Pool. The best perch weighed 3lb 1oz, caught on peg 21 on the Heron. Sunday Open, Heron: Nigel Kimberlee
SATURDAY: Andy Price 11-2, Mick Price 8-4, Trevor Wills 5-8. The last match of the series is on Saturday, draw 8am.
PAUL Wanklyn, a student from the Clive Harrison's School of Tae Kwon-Do based at the Tewkesbury Sports Centre, has been successful in attaining the grade he sought at a Black Belt grading with Global Tae Kwon-Do International (GTI). Paul, who travelled
TEWKESBURY swimmers started Jubilee week in excellent fashion at the University of Bath meeting and finished it in fine style at Swindon Link Centre. At a high profile meeting at Bath, Tewkesbury's select group returned with eight gold medals, six silver
HAZELHURST: Neil Walford 17-13, Graham Billingsley 15-11, Terry Leonard 12-4, Barry Southall 7-6. Pitchcroft is the venue for the contest on Wednesday, draw 9am.
CHILDREN between the ages of eight and ten are invited to join Tewkesbury Youth FC. If you enjoy playing football then come along to Tewkesbury Comprehensive sports field on Sunday, June 23 between 10am and 1pm when trials for teams for the 2002-03 season
STACKPOOL: Dave Smith 3-9, Bernie Partridge 2-9, Neil Walford 2-4. A contest will be held on Sunday, June 23 on Hallow Tip. Members are to leave the village at 6.30am. The Tuesday Evening League will resume next week, draw 5pm, fishing 6pm until 9pm.
HAWFORD Pools: J Moon 19-08, R Price 16-14, J Whitehouse 11-8, J Baylie 11-5. The next contest will be held on Sunday, June 30, at Nordley Pool number two. Members are asked to note annual subscriptions and Lyttelton card monies are now due.
STAFFORDSHIRE/Worcestershire Canal: J Link 1-15, J Ellis 1-12, T Hughes 1-4. There will be a cutting-out session on Sunday from around 9am until 10am. The next match is on Strawberry Pool on June 23.
FRANCHE Pool: A Griffiths 19-4, P Connolly 11-8, C Orr 7-10, B Bowers 7-7. Docklow is Sunday's venue for a contest with the coach leaving the club at 7am.
A GIANT image of top stage and screen actor Pete Postlethwaite has appeared in Kiddermin-ster as part of a major police campaign. The picture, together with the caption, "buying stolen goods - it's criminal", on a billboard on Comberton Hill, is one of
A CONTEST on Sunday will be held on the canal bridges 41-42 with a 7.30am draw. Those taking part should meet at the venue.
IT was an especially memorable jubilee for Churchill pensioner Joan Rand as she watched her grandson escort the Queen's golden state coach through London. Alex Mattinson, 26, who served with Her Majesty's Life Guards for five years, has been groom to
A MUSEUM set up to preserve a proud part of Kidderminster's industrial history is set to welcome its 1,000th visitor this weekend. Kidderminster Carpet Museum, which is based at the New Meeting House, Church Street, has been open on Saturday mornings
A MUSICAL first for Evesham could be followed by a repeat performance next year. Organisers of a workshop for adults conducted by legendary singer Lillian Boutte say the event was such a success they are now looking to hold it again. Andrew Hughes said
EVESHAM Marina's owner has lashed out at Wychavon planners after councillors rejected plans for a £1m redevelopment. Tom Smith, of Wakering Engineering Company, said councillors were not given the correct information when plans for a single-storey office
THE Stanton have carried on where they left off in the Cleobury Mortimer Sports Centre adult five-a-side league after winning the winter competition. They won all three of their Division One matches and are the only unbeaten side in the division. Three
THE Nonentities close their current season in style with this popular Terence Rattigan play, based on a true story. It tells of a 13-year-old naval cadet who was expelled from college for stealing a postal order. The dogged fight to clear his son's name
ALISTAIR McGowan, the top TV impressionist from Evesham, will be helping to boost his old school's funds tomorrow. All tickets are sold for the Promises Auction in aid of Evesham High School to be held at the Northwick Hotel in Evesham. Alistair is hosting
PERSHORE'S long-awaited new leisure centre is expected to open in less than a month, almost two years after the old centre closed. The new £3.7m Pershore Leisure Centre in King George's Way is scheduled to open its doors to the public on Saturday, July
I AM so grateful this talented young pianist managed to fit Kidderminster into his busy schedule. This year he has recitals in Symphony Hall, Birmingham, in Amsterdam, Vienna and Carnegie Hall, New York - to name but a few. I usually cringe at the thought
NOMINATIONS are being invited from tourist related businesses in the Vale for this year's Excellence in Tourism Awards. Organised by the Vale of Evesham Tourism Association, the competition was inaugurated last year and proved a big success. "We want
A LOVE of walking on Bredon Hill which started when he first moved to the area more than 30 years ago prompted Joe Aspey to write a book of walks starting from his home village of Ashton-under-Hill. Having taken on the job of parish footpath warden, he
DAVID Beckham may be wowing the crowds in Japan but Wyre Forest has it own star footballers - and they perform poolside. West Midland Safari Park's four seals have been showing off skills taught to them last year by trainer Peter Montague when the foot
MEMBERS of the Evesham and District Burma Star Association celebrated the 41st anniversary of the branch at a dinner at the Northwick Hotel, Evesham. "We always try to have the dinner of the actual day, and our branch was formed on May 30, 1961," said
A packed programme of activities has been lined up for the 35th carnival since it was reinstated, although the origins of the carnival in the town go back to the Middle Ages. Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee was celebrated in the town in 1887. Among the
Mental health services in Wyre Forest will be on the agenda when MIND holds its annual meeting at Kidderminster Library on Monday at 7.30pm. Ian McPherson, medical director, and Sue Hunt, chief executive, of Worcester-shire Mental Health Trust will be
Taxing advice is on hand in Kiddermin-ster next Thursday when the Inland Revenue mobile advice centre rolls in. A team of advisers will be offering free help and leaflets at Kidderminster Jobcentre between 10am and 4pm.
A TALK on meditation will be staged at Kidderminster's Fred Bennett Centre, George Street, on Wednesday. "Clarity of the Mind" by Caroline Belanger from the Tara Buddhist Centre in Derbyshire will give an explanation of meditation and the event gets under
LIVING legends after more than 40 years in the business, the Temperance Seven are coming to Worcester's Huntingdon Hall. The band's original members have long sinceleft, but the current members have carried on in the long tradition of the band and notched
FOLK able to spare a few hours a week to help others are being urged to come forward and join Wyre Forest's army of volunteers. A fresh appeal for helping hands has been launched in the district as part of a national campaign marking Volunteers Week.
WORCESTER City will be faced with a £250,000 repair bill to upgrade St George's Lane if they don't secure a ground move inside five years. This summer the club has splashed out £25,000 on rebuilding the Brookside perimeter fence to crush barrier standards
JOHN Brain has confirmed that Worcester are in talks to bring centre David Officer to Sixways. Worcester's director of rugby is hoping to wrap up the deal in the next couple of days as he looks to bolster his squad for next season's promotion push. Officer
ONE of the most popular cricketers ever to wear an England shirt will be the star guest at Worcester Nomads' 75th anniversary dinner. Derek Randall, winner of 47 Test caps in the 1970s and 1980s and famous for his clowning, brilliant fielding and unorthodox
PUPILS from Bewdley High School will be among Wyre Forest campaigners setting off for Westminster next Wednesday in what is being billed as the biggest-ever lobby of Parliament. A coachload of protesters from Wyre Forest is expected to take part in the
TOM Wolfendale's 66 and a four wicket haul from Dave Sutton were the highlights of Colwall's 92 run win over Apperley. Colwall lost the toss and were put into bat on a soft wicket and struggled early on as they suffered the losses of Dave Powell (16)
DROITWICH captain Ian Duggan is due to ring the changes after another lacklustre display by his side against bottom of the table Hagley on Saturday. After being asked to bat on a thoroughly wet pitch Droitwich again struggled to post a competitive total
THE Old Vigornians excellent start to the season ended with a seven wicket defeat at the hands of Coombs Wood at New Road on Saturday. The OVs collapsed from 120-3 to 159 all out after being put in on a damp ptich. Dave Mendham top scored with 36, and
A children's hospice is £700 better off after a Kidderminster woman plunged 12,000ft during a tandem parachute jump. Sally Freeman, 39, of Sutton Park Road, undertook the jump on her birthday last month in aid of the Acorn Children's Hospice Trust. Sally
A fund-raising day for Kidderminster Boys Brigade, complete with music from its band, raised £375. The branch of the Christian-led organisation, a forerunner to the Scouts, collected the money in Kidderminster town centre for new equipment and running
A BEWDLEY woman went nowhere on a marathon walk - but her efforts paid handsome dividends for charity. Katja Lloyd, 31, decided to step out to boost Cancer Research after her mother, a neighbour and a colleague were diagnosed with the disease. She took
A street collection in Bewdley on Saturday, May 25 in aid of the Kidderminster Royal Naval Association raised £247.21.
COMIC poet John Hegley has a promise for theatre-goers in Chipping Norton. On being told that the town was commonly known by many as Chippy, he pledged: "I'm going to be lippy and dippy in Chippy." The man with the glasses is visiting the town's theatre
IAN Britton has warned he will take no risks in the transfer market to avoid a repeat of previous seasons at Kidderminster Harriers. The club have counted the cost of settling players' contracts over the last two years with big names leaving including
