Archive

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The crooked councillor

DISGRACED ex-councillor Nazrul Islam has narrowly avoided jail for trying to get a friend into Britain illegally from Bangladesh. Islam, exposed yesterday as a liar, used his position as a representative for All Saints ward to copy a forged housing officer's

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Driver's ordeal with crack smoker

A WORCESTER drug-user yanked open the door of a stationary car and demanded a lift before hunting through the driver's possessions and stealing a pair of designer Oakley sunglasses. Justin Wynn and a friend clambered in to the J-registration Renault Clio

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Mystery as Worcester man goes missing

A MAN has gone missing from his Worcester home without taking any belongings or cash. Police have described the disappearance of Ross Strover, who lives with his parents in Barbourne, as "out of character". Officers said the 25-year-old, who went missing

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Police plea for men who helped attack victims

TWO good Samaritans are being urged to come forward by police after they helped a pair of young men who were being assaulted in Worcester. Police said the two friends had been out for the evening when they were punched in the face by two or three attackers

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Youth groups' grants slashed

YOUTH groups and the arts will be the hardest hit in Worcester City Council's proposals to slash £1.25m from next year's budget. In the plans that were revealed yesterday, grants to youth groups had been axed completely. Councillor Simon Geraghty, cabinet

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Rugby ace awarded £2,000 after broken jaw

A Worcester rugby player has been awarded £2,000 compensation after his jaw was broken in an attack during a match. Matthew Payne was unable to eat solids for a month following a punch from Scott Barrall, of Rugby Lions. The blow knocked Mr Payne unconscious

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'Cost-cutting exercise'

THE secretary of the Fire Brigades Union's Hereford and Worcester branch has condemned a proposal to scrap emergency tenders as a "cost-cutting exercise." Steve Laugher said the plan would waste valuable experience and could stop crucial equipment reaching

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19/11/02 - Bishop set for debut at Torquay

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers' new signing Andy Bishop is expected to make his debut in tonight's Nationwide Lea-gue Division Three clash against high-riding Torquay United at Plainmoor (7.45). The 20-year-old striker has joined Harriers on a month's loan from

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Readers help war research

A NUMBER of new leads are being followed up by amateur historian John Watts, thanks to the response of Evening News readers to an appeal for information about St John's war dead. Mr Watts, of Bromwich Road, is researching the histories of 102 men from

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Fixtures and Results - 2002/2003

20/07/02 Cheltenham Town (Home) PSF 0-3 27/07/02 Kidderminster H (Home) PSF 2-2 30/07/02 Willenhall T (Away) PSF 0-2 01/08/02 Wolves (Home) PSF 0-4 06/08/02 Stourport Swifts (Away) PSF 2-1 09/08/02 Solihull Borough (Away) PSF 2-1 12/08/02 Bedworth United

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Torquay v Kidderminster

We are unable to bring our live coverage from Tuesday's match at Plainmoor but normal service will be resumed for Saturday's clash with Oxford at Aggborough.

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15/11/02 - Solihull date set

BROMSGROVE Rovers' trip to Solihull Borough in the Dr Martens League Cup second round has been set for Monday, November 25. Kick-off is at 7.30pm.

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19/11/02 Parrish back on treatment table

SEAN Parrish's injury problems are set to continue tonight as Kidderminster Harriers bid to correct a mini down-turn in form at fellow high-fliers Torquay United. Promotion-chasing Harriers have won one of their last three games and suffered a 2-1 defeat

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19/11/02 Harriers hold off Marconi

JULIE Freeman and Sam Rogers were on target as Kidderminster Harriers Ladies beat Marconi 2-1 in the West Midlands League. Marconi dominated the early stages but substitute Lisa Stokes made an immediate impact after her introduction on 34 minutes. Stokes

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SEAN PARRISH - Midfield. 14/3/72. 5ft 10ins. Squad number 8.

Summer signing Parrish has enjoyed three promotions before from Division Three, twice with Northampton Town and once with Chesterfield. The competitive left-footed midfielder with an eye for goal turned down a one-year deal with Chesterfield to sign for

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JOHN MELLIGAN - Midfielder. 11/2/82. 5ft 9ins. Squad number 24.

Signed on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, the creative Dublin-born playmaker has made a good impression and extended his deal for a second month. Restricted to reserve appearances at the Division One club, his manager Dave Jones wanted Melligan to

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Little gloss from Matt finish

Rocester 2, Evesham Utd 2 PHIL Mullen's pre-match Western Division title ambitions took another dive at lowly Rocester last Saturday. The Robins needed a last-gasp goal from Matt Gardiner to even salvage a point against a side that played a man short

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Sixways stages schools derby

THE annual rugby clash between Worcester's two oldest schools, Royal Grammar and King's, takes place at Sixways tomorrow night (6pm) with added significance. The match will be a poignant reminder of former King's captain Neil Bowler who died last month

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Trinity Bridge the gap

IT certainly wasn't a case of a bridge too far for Trinity Sports in the Worcester and District Football League's Bernard Finnegan Cup. The game of the day pitched them against The Bridge in the clash between leaders of their respective divisions. The

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Century for the ladies

THERE were mixed results for Worcester Rugby Club's two Ladies sides in the second round of the Rugby World National Cup. The first team overcame South East One side Hove 107-0 to cruise through. The second team weren't so lucky, losing 31-5 at Premiership

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Whitehall purse has key to Swan crisis

THERE is, of course, an alternative to Michael Foster's plan for a weekly increase of 5p or 2.2 per cent on the council tax to pay for the community subsidy of the Swan Theatre. The Government could decide to more fairly distribute its grants to local

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19/11/02 - Fernhill Heath break duck at last

FERNHILL Heath recorded their first league victory of the season when defeating Archdales "B" in Division Two of in the Worcester and District Skittle League. Leading by 10 after the first leg Fernhill Heath increased the advantage to 18 after two legs

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Veterans' joy

ON Remembrance Sunday, after our parade and march to Claines Church and a memorable service, a party of veterans with their wives were again treated to an excellent three-course lunch plus wine by Mr and Mrs A Bloomer, licensees of the Talbot Inn, Barbourne

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Gib sell-out by Labour

I HAVE visited Gibraltar on a number of occasions. With their red post boxes, English-dressed policemen, it was like visiting a part of our own country. The people there respected and thought well of Britain. Now after all they did for our country, Tony

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Man arrested in sex case

A SPA man has been arrested in connection with an alleged serious sexual assault in Worcester. Police are now appealing for witnesses to the incident, in particular they want to talk to two people who may hold vital information. On Friday, November 8,

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19/11/02 - Brain to wait for casualty verdicts

JOHN Brain will give his walking wounded until Friday to prove their fitness ahead of Worcester's title showdown at Rotherham. The Sixways director of rugby saw five players leave the field during Worcester's 36-0 win over Wakefield on Saturday because

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Taylor: I'm sticking like glue...

ONE MP who is not going to be caught out by Westminster's anti-sleaze laws is Dr Richard Taylor. The independent, one of the more mature MPs, sticks to the rules governing the declaration of interests, like glue. Thus, in a House of Commons debate on

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Today's meeting may put an end to fire strike

THE eight-day firefighter's strike, due to take place next week, could be called off if an acceptable offer is laid on the table at a Government meeting today. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was due to hold talks with Fire Brigades Union (FBU) leaders

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'This MP walks into a bar...'

ONE of the more challenging aspects of life as a parliamentary aide is helping Ministers to write their speeches. Or, more specifically, helping Ministers to write the jokes with which they open their speeches. This was the task faced by Mike Foster as

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Perfect' job for an older person

A CALL has gone out for older people in he Vale of Evesham to return to work with a security company. Wood Group Security, trading in Evesham as Reddiguard, is looking for members of the older generation to join the team of security guards working in

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A welcome revival in tourism industry

FIVE hotels and pubs across the two counties have been handed top awards confirming the tourism slump of the last 12 months is finally over. Just a year ago, Herefordshire and Worcestershire's hospitality industry was reeling under the double blows of

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Islam: My hell years

DISGRACED ex-Worcester city councillor Nazrul Islam claims he has been through "two years of hell" and continues to maintain his innocence. Speaking after yesterday's court case, the 26-year-old questioned the ability of police and confirmed he would

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Police officer talks of case

ONE of the detectives who helped trap ex-councillor Nazrul Islam was today delighted he had finally been brought to book. Det Con Andy Denton, of West Mercia's Economic Crime Unit, said Islam's attempts to forge a letter from the council's housing department

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Fall from grace of former councillor

Nazrul Islam's fall from grace started six months ago, the Evening News can reveal. A smear campaign designed to oust the disgraced ex-councillor was launched just days before the May election. An anonymous A4 sheet listing allegations about the election

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City in gloom at cuts in arts, youth groups

IT WAS gloomy news for Worcester as the city council announced its proposals to prevent a £1.4m deficit in next year's budget. Culture and the arts will be hit, as will funding for youth and children's groups and parks and gardens. In the plans, 25 jobs

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Braille makes it on menu

EATING out for visually- impaired people in Worcester has become a whole lot easier - due to a range of accessible menus designed for everyone to read. Thanks to Awareness Support, based in Sheringham Road, St Peter's, restaurants and fast food outlets

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Superhero blows shoplifter's cover

AN INTERGALACTIC superhero sang like a canary and helped police trap a thief. Shop security staff spotted Shaun Markey stealing a Buzz Lightyear electronic room guard from Woolworths. Markey ran from the shop in Eign Street in Hereford and police gave

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Final two victims of disaster named

DEVASTATED neighbours and friends have paid tribute to the final two victims of the horrific M25 coach crash. Bernard Coppin, of Beech Avenue, Drakes Broughton, and Norma Evans of Synehurst, Badsey, were among five killed on Saturday when their cross-channel

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Auction joke at former PMs expense

THE Tories had a landslide victory over Labour at a celebrity Worcestershire auction - with the odd joke at John Major's expense. The former Prime Minister donated a signed cricket bat in the auction to raise money to save Defford cum Besford village

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National honour for Spot the dishy dog

A PRETTY pooch from Worcester who paraded in a national dog show has won third place in The Most Handsome Crossbreed Dog section. Spot, a cross bearded collie, scooped third position in the PAL Scruffts Family Cross-breed Dog of the Year competition,

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New video on Rachel's overdose launched in county

A THOUGHT-provoking video and lesson material surrounding the death of heroin addict Rachel Whitear has been launched in Herefordshire schools. The resource pack, which has been piloted by pupils at John Masefield High School in Ledbury, is being sent

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Talks over youths loitering at shops

TENSION between businesses, residents and youths in Warndon could be resolved by a series of meetings, a county councillor hopes. Councillor John Buckley is arranging meetings with everyone involved to deal with problems in the area around the Cranham

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Golden oldies at dinosaur rock roadshow

SCHOOLCHILDREN from across the two counties will be rubbing shoulders with stars of the past when a popular show rolls into town. The Rock and Fossil Roadshow will be visiting Shire Hall, in Hereford, on Friday, November 22, before moving on to University

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I'm not about to move, says Muff

KEMPSEY music producer Muff Murfin has quashed speculation that he is about to retire or move his recording studio from the Old Smithy in Post Office Lane, Kempsey. An outline plan to demolish the studio and build three houses on his back garden was just

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Islam: My hell years

DISGRACED ex-Worcester city councillor Nazrul Islam claims he has been through "two years of hell" and continues to maintain his innocence. Speaking after yesterday's court case, the 26-year-old questioned the ability of police and confirmed he would

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Give a book to Oxfam this Christmas

VOLUNTEERS are asking people to give a book to Oxfam for Christmas. The Oxfam Bookshop, off High Street, Worcester, has just celebrated its first anniversary as a bookshop. Previously the shop had been a general purpose Oxfam shop, selling the usual variety

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19/11/02 - Blake set for return

FORMER Bromsgrove Rovers striker Marvin Blake could make a return to the Victoria Ground tonight. Blake's Moor Green side, from the Dr Martens Premier, are Rovers' opponents in the Birmingham Senior Cup second round (7.45pm). Blake left Rovers in April

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19/11/02 - Solihull date set

BROMSGROVE Rovers' trip to Solihull Borough in the Dr Martens League Cup Second Round has been set for Monday, November 25. Kick-off is at 7.30pm.

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Nowhere to hide for city council

WORCESTER City Council knows it has nowhere to hide as it faces up to the grim task of cutting more than £1.2m from its spending in the next financial year. The outrage that has greeted moves to limit its grant to the Swan Theatre shows how passionate

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19/11/02 Season is looking up for Broughton

HARRIERS 2, RUSHDEN 2 FORTUNES are constantly changing for Division Three footballers, none more so than Drewe Broughton. The big target-man has had a turbulent season what with a 15-game goal drought and his fair share of disciplinary problems on the

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19/11/02 Harriers' glamour date

LOVELY ladies are being invited to become the female face of Kidderminster Harriers Football Club. The Nationwide League Division Three side is running the Miss Kidderminster Harriers competition on Thursday, December 19, from 7.30pm. Manager Ian Britton

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18/11/02 Bishop to watch over Aggborough

IAN Britton has used the loan system again to snap up Walsall reserve striker Andy Bishop for a month. The 20-year-old has been a prolific scorer during his rise through the ranks at the Division One club and signed a professional deal at the end of last

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50-somethings who count their blessings

IT was one of those typically British summer days when the rain clouds hung around like a threat, low and grey, poised to drench all attempts at recreational endeavour on the ground. There is something desperately tragic about the Brits and their love-hate

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Brain to wait for casualty verdicts

JOHN Brain will give his walking wounded until Friday to prove their fitness ahead of Worcester's title showdown at Rotherham. The Sixways director of rugby saw five players leave the field during Worcester's 36-0 win over Wakefield on Saturday because

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National title for Zoe

ZOE Johnson, a pupil at Worcester's Blessed Edward Oldcorne School, has landed a national indoor rowing title. The Year 10 pupil, who only took up the sport three months ago, stormed home despite being unseeded to take the women's Junior 14 crown at the

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Price is right for Purchase

KING'S School Worcester was well represented at the first of the Great Britain junior rowing trials in Boston. Zac Purchase, King's leading sculler, won the boys' event convincingly. With gold and silver medals under his belt from the summer, Purchase

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Coalville calamity

North Midlands suffered their third consecutive defeat in the Midlands 18-Group Clubs Rugby Championship when they were beaten 56-10 by Leicestershire at Coalville. Consolation tries from Rob Delahay of Stourbridge and Moseley fly-half Aaron Higgins in

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Bromsgrove trio back for cup clash

BROMSGROVE Rovers have added Steve Pope, Mark Benbow and Les Palmer to their squad for tonight's Birmingham Senior Cup first round clash against Moor Green at the Victoria Ground (7.45). They were all forced to miss Saturday's impressive 3-0 Dr Martens

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WIN! tickets to the Clotheshow

Clotheshow Live 2002 is going to be bigger and better than ever before, with an amazing celebrity line up which is set to blow the roof off at The NEC between December 6 and 11. And the Shuttle/Times and News has 12 pairs of tickets to giveaway for the

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Armistice day traffic shame

I ATTENDED the Armistice Day ceremony outside Worcester Cathedral. The traffic was allowed to flow as normal, drowning out the ceremony and violating the two minutes silence. What a shambles! Surely, the traffic could have been stopped for a few minutes

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It's always too little, too late

WHY is it that hospital management can only think with hindsight? At least a couple of years ago, I and other correspondents pointed out that agency nurses were very expensive to employ, whereas if nurses were offered a good living salary there would

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19/11/02 - Malvern grind out first away win

MALVERN halted their sequence of away defeats in the gloom and mud of Kenilworth on Saturday. KENILWORTH 5pts, MALVERN 26pts A dour battle up front, with the Warwickshire side taking advantage of incompetent refereeing, kept the points-hungry Malvern

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Heads bow in tribute

OLD soldiers bowed their heads in silent tribute to fallen comrades during emotional remembrance services and parades across the district at the weekend. Tears of sadness were shed as the men and women who gave their lives serving their country in conflict

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KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS FC MATCH FACTS - 2002/2003

Sat July 13 Stratford Town (a) 1-1 Lewis Mon July 15 Evesham United (a) 4-0 Ducros, Broughton, Corbett, Shilton Fri July 19 Reading (h) 2-4 Broughton, Henriksen Sun July 21 Solihull Borough (a) 3-4 Shilton, Foster (pen), Corbett Wed July 24 Wolverhampton

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Reeling back the years

THOUSANDS of hours of history and nostalgia will be freely available from today with the launch of Pathe's famous cinema newsreels online. The bi-weekly news bulletins, which played in cinemas from 1910 to 1970, kept the nation informed during two world

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Commendations for train firm

TRAIN operator First Great Western has won two commendations in the National Training Awards scheme. At an awards ceremony in Bristol, First Great Western was recognised for its driver training school and its management training scheme. It was among 800

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Mark prepares to take on challenges of his new role

WORCESTERSHIRE County Council has welcomed its new head of planning. Mark Middleton joined the authority last week to replace Chris Carter who retired in October. He has come from Worcester City Council where he served as head of planning and economic