ANGRY parents have attacked plans to radically shake up special needs education in Worcester and are starting a petition to fight the proposals. The Evening News revealed yesterday that county council proposals include closing Manor Park School, in St
HUNDREDS of fans with the Hobbit habit packed into the city's Odeon cinema last night to feast their eyes on the long-awaited final instalment of The Lord of the Rings. And Return of the King did not disappoint, with the audience erupting into applause
WORCESTER Tories have chosen the person they hope will unseat city MP Mike Foster at the next General Election. Members of the city Conservative association voted in favour of Margaret Harper from a shortlist of three nominees. "I'm absolutely thrilled
Market Drayton 1, Pershore 0 PERSHORE visited Keele University for their final Coa-ching Solutions League game of 2003. The contest began at a high tempo with the visitors defending high up the pitch not giving the Market Drayton players time on the ball
Bidford Ladies 2, FISSC 4 THE losers took satisfaction from last weekend's defeat when the visitors scored twice in the second half to clinch victory. Sue Maisey was the goal hero for the winners with a hat-trick including the goal that gave FISSC an
A GROUP of young historians spent a day finding out what life was like during the reign of Queen Victoria. Pupils from Westacre Middle School, in Ombersley Way, Droitwich, enjoyed a taste of the past - making and eating gruel, scrubbing tables and polishing
A huge increase in Wychavon car park charges, to be implemented in February, has been described as a "stealth tax". In many cases the cost of parking in Evesham will be doubled, to earn the equivalent of a 12.5 per cent rise in council tax. "This is Wychavon's
SPEED cameras in Worcestershire have been successful in cutting the number of motorists speeding, according to figures released by the Safety Camera Partnership. The scheme is hailing results as proof of their success, which includes a 31 per cent reduction
ROAST chestnuts and mince pies will be on offer in at least one Upton-upon-Severn store as shopkeepers enter into the Christmas spirit. The Mayor of Tenbury Wells, Coun Janice Gluyas, will judge the town's Christmas Shop Window Competition today and,
IMPROVING the taste, smell and appearance of tap water was considered a priority by nine out of 10 Midlanders questioned in an independent survey. Severn Trent Water, which is planning a programme of improvements from 2005, has welcomed the research,
EDUCATION chiefs have told parents that a "fresh start" scheme for a Worcester primary school would put an end to its troubled history. Last night, around 40 people attended a public meeting to discuss the future of Elbury Mount, which was recently described
PROPANE cylinders had to be hosed down to prevent an explosion after a warehouse, in which they were stored, was set on fire in a suspected arson attack. Three crews, with a turntable ladder, from Worcester station were called out this morning at 3.45am
A PILOT was forced to make an emergency landing in a cornfield after his light aircraft developed engine problems. The 67-year-old pilot, who has not been named, had just taken off from Bewdley when the plane, a Zenair CH 601UL Zodiac, began to lose power
A FIGHT, in which a sledgehammer and brick were possibly used, has led to a police appeal for witnesses. Officers were called to the disturbance outside the Spar Shop, in Lickhill Road, Stourport-on-Severn, on Sunday, December 7, between 7.30pm and 7.55pm
A 50mph speed limit could be introduced on the A38 trunk road between Upton-upon-Severn and Tewkesbury. County councillor Bob Bullock, who favours the measure, said Worcestershire County Council proposed to introduce the speed limit as far as the M50
NEWS of the threatened closure of a Wyre Forest special school has met with dismay from the son of its founder, who lives on the other side of the world. Speaking from Australia, Richard Patterson said he was glad his father, Dr Alexander Patterson, was
A YOUNG chef and his team are doing their best to ensure a Bewdley pub is in the swim when it comes to serving seafood.Running Horse licensee Christine Probert with award-winning chef Matthew Gardner. The Running Horse on Long Bank has just won the title
THE leader of the Tory party in Wyre Forest was accused of being "cold-hearted" after opposing a bid to have a granny flat built on prized green belt land. Labour district councillor for Cookley Chris Nicholls made the comment after Councillor Stephen
OLD workmates from a long gone, but not forgotten, Kidderminster engineering firm are planning to host a reunion to mark the 25th anniversary of the company's closure. Bradley & Turton hydraulic engineers, a family company based in Kidderminster for
A FAMILY of five received a terrifying reminder of the importance of wearing seatbelts when their car was involved in a head-on smash. Matthew and Caroline Catmur were travelling home to Kidderminster with their three children when their Chrysler Cruiser
THE band will not play on in Bewdley after a flood defence boss turned down a last-gasp attempt to save a treasured bandstand on the town's historic riverside. Contractors will demolish the base of the structure as part of an anti-flood project due to
EVESHAM HIGH SCHOOL: Evesham High School's fast paced, high-energy production of Godspell was a smash hit. More than 700 people attended performances over the three-day run. Spectacular individual performances, exciting ensemble playing and exuberant
WEDNESDAY CLUB: A meeting took place in November entitled Butterflies. There are many different varieties of butterflies and moths around the world, explained Mr Paddy O'Brian of Broadway. From the age of 14, these have been his lifelong interest. Mr
OLDER PEOPLE'S FORUM: The coffee morning at Pershore Town Hall on Friday, November 28, to help promote the Pershore and District Older People's Forum, was attended by 70 to 80 people. The majority came from the villages, also from Evesham and Worcester
MUSIC HALL: Old time favourites were sung at the Old Time Music Hall at the village hall, on Saturday.
A WOMAN had her bag snatched after a struggle with two teenagers in Matchborough. The woman was walking along a small footpath near the lay-by in Breaches Lane when she was approached by the pair, who she had earlier noticed leaning against the wall of
A GOLD pocket watch with great sentimental value was stolen from a house in Evesham Road during a burglary. The watch, which is worth about £3,000, is a Swiss movement Omega with its casing manufactured in Birmingham. It was presented to the owner in
Thank you for publishing the letter from D.J. Wathen, December 11. At least I now know that there is at least one other person who has the same thoughts as me. Heroes ! Bah !! The name "Hero" should only be applied to a very brave person whose actions
A REDDITCH engineering company looks set to be at the heart of an exciting revolution in dentistry for years to come. Machined Components Systems (MCS), of North Moons Moat, has teamed up with Birmingham-based Everest Engineering and dentist Peter Winter-Moore
FOLLOWING their sell-out success with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe last January, the Malvern Theatre Players have another post-Christmas treat in store for all the family. They are presenting Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol, which has
REDDITCH town centre rota chemist is Carrington and Turner, Church Green West, open every day except Saturday and Sunday until 7pm. Knights Chemist, Evesham Road, Crabbs Cross, is open weekdays until 7pm and every Sunday between 6-7pm. Foxlydiate Chemist
HOCKEY: Holly Lashford and Melissa Kennedy struck twice each to give Stourport Ladies a 4-0 friendly victory over Bretforton. Stourport went ahead on 15 minutes when inter-passing between Fran Long and skipper Lashford allowed the latter to strike home
HOCKEY: Stourport U-16s gained a place in the last six of the Higgins National Indoor Finals. They recovered from losing their first game 2-0 to holders Cannock by beating Worcester 3-0, Repton School 3-1 and Painsley Private High School 3-2. The finals
HOCKEY: Two late goals for Warwick denied Kidderminster their third West Midlands League Premier Division win of the season in a 4-3 defeat. Warwick opened the scoring but Kidderminster won a penalty flick which Andy Pocknell slotted home and then new
TABLE TENNIS: Twins Chris and Alex Baldwin joined Jon McKeever in the Heart of England Cadet League-winning Kidderminster team. They won all their eight games against teams from cities like Birmingham and Coventry. It was the third time in five years
JUDO: Little and large brought home medals at Samurai's girls' and men's limited grades championships. Poppy James was successful in the girls' lightweights and Mick Hollis came up trumps in the men's heavyweights. With 24 clubs from as far away as London
JOHN Brain believes next month will shape Worcester's season and could yet decide their promotion dream. The Sixways director of rugby has studied the run-ins of both the National One heavyweights and believes that January will be key for Worcester and
DARTS: Worcestershire's record-breaking 15-game unbeaten run came to an end with a 19-17 defeat to neighbours Herefordshire. The county team had created a British Darts Organisation best with their run of hot form, helped by Wyre Forest players. But Paul
THE Bees protest too much methinks. The Birmingham side go head to head with Worcester on Saturday bidding to stop the Sixways juggernaut and quietly confident they can upset the odds at Sharmans Cross Road. The public message is quite different. Can't
SNOOKER: A tight battle between two St John's teams in the Kidderminster Wednesday League saw the higher-placed E team beat their struggling D side 3-2. Other results: St Georges B 4, Wribbenhall A 1; Wribbenhall B 0, Franche A 5; St Johns A 5, Pockets
A REVOLT was staged by councillors to nourish a "desperate need" for accommodation in Stourport after a planning expert recommended throwing out a bid to build bed and breakfast facilities in the town. Both the district planning officer and Stourport
ATHLETICS: Mark Roberts won the U-15s boys' section in the third West Midlands Young Athletes Cross Country League event at Northampton. He was one of a group of young members from Kidderminster and Stourport Athletic Club taking part. Other results,
COUNCILLORS in Stourport are to have their say on how £500,000 of government funding is to be spent. The cash - to be spent on improvements - was awarded to Stourport in February after it was classified as a market town. Now the Town Centre Forum has
SWIMMING: Holy Trinity School pupil Aimee Cook took home five gold medals from the Stafford Apex 2003 Long Distance Open meet at Wolverhampton. The Wyre Forest Swimming Club star swept home in the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle, the 200m backstroke and
THE old rent collection system used by Redditch Council ceases after Friday as new methods of paying become more popular. The council says there has been a decrease in the numbers of people using the service and it is no longer proving cost effective.
HIGHLY-RATED striker Scott Voice was due to put pen to paper on a club record deal with Dr Martens Western leaders Redditch United today (Wednesday). As revealed in last week's Advertiser Sport, the 27-year-old marksman will complete his move from Dr
A RAMBLERS' Association survey suggests more than half of public footpaths around Alvechurch fail to pass simple standards of care. The survey looked at 60 paths in countryside around Alvechurch, Rowney Green and Tutnall but found that only 29 of them
WORCESTER Wolves have been handed a home draw in the semi-finals of the National Basketball League's Patrons Cup. Wolves will entertain North-West London at University College Worcester on Saturday, January 10 (7pm) after winning their round-robin group
ASTON Cantlow Village Hall hosts The Cheeky Chappies in Treasure Island tomorrow at 7pm. The show is part of the Live and Local tour, which visits a network of village halls and community venues and is funded by The Arts Council and local councils. This
Boldmere 3 Alvechurch 2 ALVECHURCH boss Neil Bryan was left bewildered why his side cannot find consistency over 90 minutes after this latest Midland Alliance defeat. For the 'Churchmen should have finished the first half 4-1 ahead after missing a hatful
Coleshill 1 Feckenham 3 FECKENHAM assistant boss Alan Scarfe was left praising his team's all-round performance as they dismantled Coleshill with a fine performance. The Millers' second goal which saw a six-man move finished off by Steve Ferguson was
PLENTY of traditional festive music is on offer in the lead-up to Christmas at Birmingham's Symphony Hall. Kicking off the proceedings is Festive Favourites with The CBSO, which is performed on Thursday and Friday at 7.30pm and on Saturday at 3pm and
PETER Green landed 32lb of mixed fish at Poole Hall with maggot and meat bait. The Kidderminster angler's best fish was a 9.25lb common carp from peg six on the Abbey Pool. National Standard Open, Abbey: Dan Puplet (13-year-old junior) 26lb 11oz (peg
A COMPANY director from Kidderminster who gambled away nearly £1.6 million he filched from a pension fund over a 21-month period has been jailed for six-and-a-half years at Hereford Crown Court. Andrew Petrie thought he could beat the bookmakers but although
FUR and Feather, Staffordshire/Worcestershire Canal: G Owen 4-8-8dr, M Weston 3-8-0, J Baylie (aggregate winner) 3-6-0, J Brooks 3-2-0.
FUR and Feather, Gothersley, Staffordshire/Worcestershire Canal: Jerry Bartlett 4-10-8, Reg Bastable 3-11-8, Paul Wilson 3-1-8, Steve Freeman 2-14-0, Stan Jones 2-13-8.
A MARRIED woman denounced as "false" an allegation that she took part in a three-in-a-bed sex romp with her lover and a schoolgirl at a house in Kidderminster. Susan Morris told Worcester Crown Court that during her affair with Christopher Howley he had
Thursday, December 18 Madness, NEC Arena. Tickets from 0870 909 4133. The Bootleg Beatles, NIA, Birmingham. Tickets from 0870 909 4144 Treasure Island by The Cheeky Chappies, Aston Cantlow Village Hall. Tickets from 01789 488475. Snow White and The Seven
A 35-YEAR-OLD Kidderminster man denied a charge of having in his possession indecent photographs of children and six charges of making indecent photographs of children when he appeared before Worcester magistrates. Anthony Hyams, of Cherry Orchard, was
RESULTS, Moorlands Farm: M Johnson 25-12, H Sidebottom 9-10, K Billingham 6-14.
RESILIENT Wyre Forest Brintons fought back from two goals down to maintain their unbeaten run with a 2-2 draw at home to Blackheath Town. Forest Brintons had been beaten 5-1 by Blackheath in August and were keen to avenge the heavy defeat on Saturday
Evesham Utd 1, Sutton Coldfield Tn 3 TIM Clarke hardly had a save to make during the 90 minutes yet still ended up conceding three goals for a second successive Saturday, writes Mervyn Collins. He had hardly touched the ball when the diminutive Dean Perrow
PARK Tavern must have been dreading playing host to Cutler Division Two rivals Dog and Pheasant last weekend after shipping in 23 goals in their previous Stratford Alliance meeting. Park, however, showed a vast improvement as they only conceded a dozen
THE future of local government is currently unclear. It is, therefore, concerning to witness perpetual political spats between councillors within recent editions of the Shuttle/Times and News. Councillors should be working collaboratively to ensure the
WILDEN Village maintained their Kidderminster and District League Sunday Division Two charge by humbling leaders Bull Terrier Gators 2-0. Rock Sports are still in second place after a 4-2 win over lowly Crestwood Star. Division one side Queen's Head Wolverley
THREE high schools in the Vale are celebrating the latest Key Stage 3 exam results, which test 14-year-olds in English, Maths and Science. Out of 253 pupils eligible to sit the exams at Pershore High School, 90 per cent achieved level five in English,
COUNCILLOR Stephen Clee, Mayor of Stourport, in his defence of the county council's position on Stourport relief road, accuses a political rival of "misleading comments" about the project (Letters, December 11). Residents of Stourport may wish to consider
THE family of the late Frank Legierski, who was fatally injured on August 7, 2003, while attempting to cross Birmingham Road, in Kidderminster, would like to comment about coverage of the inquest in the Shuttle/Times and News. It was stated that Mr Legierski
VALE ratepayers got an early Christmas present this week with the announcement that a further £4.57 million in Government grant was going to the county council to keep local tax increases down. This, added to an extra £15.6m announced earlier, means that
ON behalf of all the traders in Kidderminster retail market I would like to thank our customers for their loyal support over the past years. It is very sad that Kidderminster is losing the indoor market through no fault of the traders. We were promised
A 24-YEAR-OLD Evesham man died when his car overturned and collided roof-first with a bridge as he drove home for a family reunion. James Matthews, of Bretforton Road in Honeybourne, collided with the bridge as he drove on the B4035 Badsey to Bretforton
FERNDALE Girls U-16s booked their place in the Central Warwickshire League Shield Cup semi-final with a 5-1 victory over Leamington Lions. They were rarely threatened and played some of their best football so far this season. Toni Hipkins (two), Emily
SATURDAY (3pm unless stated) WEST MIDLANDS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH BEWDLEY TOWN v Leominster Town (1.45pm) CHADDESLEY CORBETT v Ludlow Town Reserves (1.45pm) SUNDAY (3pm) NATIONWIDE LEAGUE DIVISION THREE York City v KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS
BRITAIN'S longest-serving fire officer is urging Journal readers to be careful this Christmas and have a happy and safe festive season. Chris Parsons, the sub officer of Pershore fire station, has called on his years of experience to issue some seasonal
DAVE Busst has been dealt another blow in his bid to elevate Evesham United away from the lower reaches of the Dr Martens League Western Division. Ever-present full back Andy Smith is at a wedding tomorrow and will be missing for the trip to Ilkeston
FOUR Nick White penalties gave Chaddesley Corbett a 12-6 win over Warley in North Midlands Three. Both defences dominated throughout to keep scoring opportunities to a minimum. With the wind at their backs, White kicked an early penalty and Chaddesley
KIDDERMINSTER Carolians U-12s produced their best display of the season to defeat a tough Willenhall side 35-7. Fly-half Will Short marshalled his three quarters to create tries for Alex Hopkirk, Tom Eades and Greg Campion. Joe Foley and Ewan Thompson
JOHN Brain has hit back at Phil Maynard's suggestion of a mass exodus at Sixways if Worcester won promotion. The director of rugby at Sixways was responding to Maynard's programme notes for last Saturday's clash at Pertemps Bees where the former Worcester
WORCESTER Wolves have been handed a home draw in the semi-finals of the National Basketball League's Patrons Cup. Wolves will entertain North-West London at University College Worcester on Saturday, January 10 (7pm) after winning their round-robin group
WORCESTER City's home Dr Martens Premier Division clash with Crawley has been re-arranged for Monday, January 26 (7.45). The game was called off last Saturday due to a waterlogged pitch. City's reserves visit Ledbury Town in the Worcester Royal Infirmary
DRESSAGE star Lucy Farrer will be in action at the popular Olympia International Show Jumping Championships, which run from today until December 22. The Kempsey-based rider is among eight of Britain's finest dressage riders who will be taking part in
HARD-working members of Studley's community have been recognised by the parish council. The council's annual Silver Jubilee Award has been presented to village stalwart Barbara Beaman. Parish clerk Dot Mitchell said: "Barbara works tirelessly for the
The bazaar and rummage sale were a success. The skittles team won their latest match. At the December meeting Margaret Lillis took names for the members wishing to attend the group carol concert when the hosts were Foley Park. The speakers were John and
BROADWAY will have its future mapped out in a parish plan which will shape the community over the next ten years. The parish council has been consulting Worcestershire County Council, who will provide the resources for the professional document to be
At the annual meeting Daphne Thompson was elected president. Retiring president Angie McCarthy gave details of the council meeting in Evesham where a vote was taken to oppose the EU's wish to end the national assay system for gold and silver (the idea
On Sunday two rides have been organised, both starting at The Green, Blakebrook, Kidderminster. The A ride, starting at 9am, is a wander through country lanes. At 9.30am the B ride will set off to explore the Droitwich canal. All cyclists will be welcome
Volunteers spent a day bag-packing at the Co-op Superstore, raising £517 towards day centre funds.
The club for social singles will gather at Astley village hall on Saturday for a Christmas party, dancing to Sound Chasers, from 8pm until 11.45pm. This event is free for members. A three-mile Boxing Day walk has been arranged, leaving the Queen's Head
AN Albion Christmas returns to Huntingdon Hall in Worcester next Monday. Traditional readings, folk carols and music featuring past and present members of the Albion Band and Fairport Convention will be all part of the festive show. Featuring Ashley Hutchings
THE winning ways of a Bewdley housewife have helped her scoop a competition to name a new Kidderminster coffee shop.De Bradelei Mill store manager Ann Morgan (left) and winner Paula Smith. Paula Smith also won a first prize in the 2003 Bewdley In Bloom
A DIAMOND jubilee has been marked in the churchyard of Kidderminster's parish church with a tree-planting ceremony. Sheila Gordon, county chairman of the Trefoil Guild, Margaret Lilis, chairman of the Kidderminser branch, and Loree Napier, secretary,
BRIGHT and beautiful Bewdley houses lit up for the Christmas period are being asked to come forward for a competition to find the town's best "radiant residence". Judges will tomorrow night pick the finest looking house - on either side of the river -
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: The meeting this month took the form of the annual cheese and wine party in the Victoria Hall, and was well attended by nearly 70 members and guests. The entertainment was from 'in house' with Ray Fardon, Audrey Barham, Rosemary
HELIOS Airways is the first independent airline in Cyprus to spread its wings in the European skies. To celebrate this, the airline has teamed up with the Shuttle/Times and News to run a competition where one lucky reader will win two free return flights
Alcester 28 Old Griffinians 15 Spurred on by the desire to turn in a good performance for their skipper Pat Lamb, who is recovering from a car crash, Alcester played some of their best rugby of the season to register an excellent win. Alcester started
Kings Norton drew Camp Hills' second team from the fixture pool during Saturday morning after their arranged fixture with Old rivals Handsworth had been cancelled. The Hopwood-based side, still licking their wounds after last weeks league defeat against
CHRISTMAS is just around the corner and the temptation at this time of year is to over indulge. I've no doubts, however, that this Worcester squad will be totally professional next week. We have a big game against Coventry at Sixways on December 27 and
I ENJOY reading the views of your correspondents about the euro, so I went into town to ask some questions. I called at a stationery shop, which had a sign in the window, "we still take Deutschmarks". The lady at the till said yes, a few people still
'SHE'S behind you' - that's what the residents at a Bromsgrove nursing home were shouting when staff took to the stage for a festive panto. Staff at Housman Court dressed up in costume on Sunday for their performance of Cinderella at the School Drive
Saturday, December 13, 2003 WORCESTER left the cabbage patch at Sharmans Cross Road to a standing ovation after this effort. They richly deserved the plaudits but the lingering concern will be that they might regret the one point dropped in this National
BROMSGROVE'S MP Julie Kirkbride helped a town museum celebrate scooping a top lottery award. Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings, which is in Stoke Heath, has been awarded £22,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards the repair and re-interpretation
KEMP Hospice is asking Wyre Forest people to give them a gift this Christmas - the gift of time. The hospice is looking for 100 new volunteers to add to the 200 already on their files.Linda Averil, Val Beeston and Alan Ierston are waiting to hear from
AT last I've started to feel Christmassy - and it's all due to a fun-packed two-and-a-half hours at Redditch's pantomime. Seated among the extremely noisy (but very well behaved) children of Years 3 and 4 of Oak Hill First School, I enjoyed all the fun
A STONE woman is well on the way to raising £1,000 for Kemp Hospice by turning her home into a Christmas tourist attraction. Gill Jones of Vicarage Road has caused something of a stir by decking her house out in 12,000 lights.Gill Jones outside her home
A CANCER help centre was on the move when it transferred its facilities back to its Aston Fields site, which now has a new £500,000 day hospice. Primrose Hospice, in St Godwald's Road, had been temporarily based in a bungalow in the Princess of Wales
CHRISTMAS lights twinkled at the United Reformed Church in Broadway at the weekend for the village's first Christmas Tree Festival. Trees were decorated by 19 organisations from the area, including Brownies, Broadway Music Makers, Broadway Traders and
BEING glued to the TV every Saturday night without fail, - grabbed this CD with all the expectation of a kid opening Christmas presents. Now I know how it feels to find a lump of coal and an orange in your stocking. Disappointment seeped from every pore
"THEY mostly come at night - mostly". No, Newt of Aliens fame wasn't talking about Santa and his reindeer but a far more dark and hostile creature. Alien Quadrilogy is the newest nine-disc box set of the highest order and is simply astounding. You think
A HUGE increase in Wychavon car park charges, to be implemented in February, has been described as a "stealth tax". In many cases the cost of parking in The Vale will be doubled, to earn the equivalent of a 12.5 per cent hike in council tax. Councillor
AS ONE wag in the crowd suggested early in the game, would a win for Pershore elevate them to 88th in the world! writes Mervyn Collins. And win they did in a superb Sunday spectacular of running rugby that brought 12 tries and left the tourists chasing
Pershore II 50pts, Old Yardleians II 12 WHAT Pershore's second string lacked in experience it certainly made up for with total commitment and team spirit. Old Yardleians were a big physical team but they were simply blown away by a side that scored tries
THE final capture of Saddam Hussein has come as welcome news to us all. I hope that it will lead to less terrorist activity in Iraq at least and bring closer the day when the occupying troops can be withdrawn. What effect this news will have on fanatical
HOT-SHOT Richard Ball should not leave for a fellow Dr Martens Western Division Club, according to Stourport Swifts boss Dave Titterton. Ball has already bagged 15 goals this season, including five in the last three games which have all produced victories
A £1,000 reward has been offered for the arrest of vandals who threw a brick through the window of a train approaching Kidderminster station. The driver suffered cuts to his face after the carriage was attacked last Thursday evening. Now Central Trains
REVELLERS have been warned not to overdo the festive celebrations and ruin things for other people in Wyre Forest pubs and clubs. Police will maintain a high visibility presence and will act at the first signs of trouble during the Christmas period. Kidderminster
MORE than 300 people bid a fond farewell to a much-loved publican from Kidderminster last week. David Beckley, of Bury Hall, Wolverley, died of cancer after 30 years of running pubs in Wyre Forest. He was buried at St John the Baptist church in Wolverley
AS a gay couple, we are disgusted by the Rev Andy Kelso's views (Letters, December 3) on gay "marriage" and how such a change in the law will be the downfall of our society. By his own admission, he states statistics prove married couples provide stability
THE Evesham Sunday Lea-gue has reached the Christ-mas break without losing a single game to the weather! Division Two is the tightest section with three teams level at the top. Leaders Pershore Town suffered a surprise defeat at Broadway where Luke Bayliss
Market Drayton 1, Pershore 0 PERSHORE visited Keele University for their final Coa-ching Solutions League game of 2003. The contest began at a high tempo with the visitors defending high up the pitch not giving the Market Drayton players time on the ball
AN inquest into the death of a 65-year-old former boilermaker has been adjourned. Keith Adams, of Derwent Drive, Blossom Hill, Bewdley, died at home on December 3 of pleural mesothelioma. A pathologist's report confirmed his disease was asbestos-related
CHILDREN celebrated Christmas in style with a festive-themed party at Wyre Forest Glades Leisure Centre.with Santa at the Glades party are Harry Tomkins and Sophie Booton. Among activities to keep the youngsters - aged from three months to three years
ANDY Watson was delighted with Pers-hore's points tally last weekend but admitted surprise at the ease in which the Indians folded. "I said before the game that it was a difficult one to judge and they started really well," the captain declared. "I didn't
A SHOP assistant was tied up during an armed robbery at Alvechurch Post Office on Saturday. The raider, who was carrying what is believed to be a handgun, walked into the shop at about 2pm and demanded the assistant open the till. He stole cash and then
FORMER pupils of a Kidderminster school got together for a special reunion to say hello to a classmate from 1952 who was up from down under. The get-together of 20 ex-Sladen pupils at the Land Oak pub was the first time most of had seen Geraldine Howard
FEARS a crucial health watchdog would not be set up in Redditch because of a lack of volunteers have been allayed. Following an appeal in the Advertiser, the number of people needed to sit on the Patient and Public Involvement Forum (PPI) have come forward
CAROLS and Christmas workshops are set to entertain adults and children alike as Wyre Forest visitors and discovery centres host a feast of festive fun. Wyre Forest Visitors Centre is holding an open afternoon from 2pm until 4pm on Sunday - the same day
SHOPLIFTERS and troublemakers in the Kingfisher Centre will be the main focus of a police operation launched this week. Operation Holly will see a number of extra officers drafted in to carry out high- visibility patrols within the centre in the run-up
DRUNKEN revellers going home singing "unrecognisable carols" in the early hours of Christmas Day is not wanted, say police. Redditch licensing officer Pc Nigel Payne made his case in a letter to councillors on the licensing committee considering extending
A NEW College fashion student became front page news last week when a photograph of her work appeared in a national newspaper. The Times on Saturday singled out a striking image of Sue Broads' pyramid head gear, which led to her avante-garde design appearing
I WAS alarmed but not surprised by the Rev Andy Kelso's letter. It contained a bizarre mixture of sport blurred into religion and an open season of offensive attacks on as many different 'easy target' groups as possible. And we thought this was supposed
I REFER to the Rev Andy Kelso's letter and would like to say how much I agree with his comments and I respect his courage in writing such a letter in today's PC climate. No doubt the atheists and do-gooders will be down on his neck like a ton of bricks
THE spirit of Christmas is with a Vale woman all the year round, as she prepares her 19th trip to El Salvador to bring comfort to destitute children. CLAIRE CHARLES reports: A SECOND-HAND book bought from a charity shop more than 18 years ago changed
AN annual Elizabethan-themed festive entertainment event has proved so popular, bookings are being taken a year in advance for the 2004 event. Tickets for this year's Elizabethan evening at Harvington Hall - on Friday - have already been snapped up, making
THE inquest into the death of a 67-year-old Bewdley woman has been opened and adjourned. Jean Poliquin, of Hales Park, Bewdley, who was divorced, was found dead in the bath at her home on December 3 by police. There was no water in the bath and Mrs Poliquin
SOME weeks ago, it was reported in the Advertiser in an article by Councillor Gavin Smithers that the cost of subsidy by the council for free bus passes amounted to £697,000 for the benefit of 13,000 users, which amounted to approximately £53 per person
THE undisputed Queen of stage and screen Dame Judi Dench, gave an awe-inspiring performance at the Swan Theatre in Stratford. She plays the countess of Rossillion in All's Well that Ends Well with great sensitivity and understanding. Her ability to get
THE RSC's production of Beauty and the Beast is without doubt one of the best shows I have seen for some time. The clever use of colour, with Beauty's family dressed in white and the chorus decked out in black, combined with the simple but effective sets
I WOULD be interested to know how many of your readers have contacted you about the A441 Alvechurch bypass dual carriageway from Bordesley to the M42 Hopwood Services. Following resurfacing in August, the road still contains loose stones by the hundred
FORMER Cowshed regular Kath Bickley, 63, watches games from the North Stand with husband Terry, 65, and has supported Harriers for 43 years. But the Kidderminster grandmother, who is not a season-ticket holder, has hit out at the pricing policy for the
It certainly was snow joke when a Headless Cross man scooped first prize in a competition run by a hardware store. Jeff Bennett won a giant snowman after entering a monthly competition run by Morris Mica Hardware, Evesham Road.
SPORTS EDITOR'S MAILBAG THE Harriers board has let all loyal season-ticket holders, like myself, down with the latest policy of ticket allocation and pricing for the imminent match with the Wolves. There is no concession for being a loyal supporter, we
A PARTIALLY sighted Redditch student has been chosen to receive a prestigious award for his outstanding contribution to his school and community. Luke Sugg is to receive the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award for Young People for the inspirational
ONE staunch supporter of Harriers who is throwing his weight behind the team ahead of their big FA Cup date has spelled out his intentions loud and clear. John Davies, who manages Hire-It in Kidderminster, commissioned a special sign - 18 metres long
A CAROL service brought together the many voluntary and professional organisations that serve the community in Wyre Forest on Friday. More than 200 people attended the event - organised by Wyre Forest District Council chairman Pauline Hayward - at St
SPORTS EDITOR'S MAILBAG AS a 70-year-old main stand season ticket-holder I feel I must express my dismay and disgust at the astronomical price increase imposed for the coming FA Cup match at Aggborough. On the coach from Woking we were all looking forward
JAN Molby has finally completed the first permanent signings of his second spell in charge at Kidderminster Harriers. Striker Scott Rickards and midfielder Lee Jenkins both put pen to paper on contracts running until summer 2005. The pair went straight
THE December meeting was a festive occasion. Sue Lawson, president for 2004, welcomed members to the Christmas party and introduced the officers of the committee. Membership is low and new members would be warmly welcomed. The buffet supper was provided
TWENTY years of hard work has paid off for a retired librarian celebrating the launch of her first book. Grandmother-of-four Sue Brown has spent two decades writing and researching Bewdley Institute: A Sketch from c.1875 to 1950 - and is thrilled it has
THE December meeting was Christmas party night. Maggie Cotton spoke about her life as a percussionist with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and, in particular, her valuable work with deaf youngsters. Afterwards, members enjoyed an American supper
THE December meeting was the institute's 83rd birthday. To celebrate the occasion, president Ann Thurrell began by welcoming partners, friends and two members from Alvechurch WI. Business was kept as brief as possible. Congratulations were given to the
VICE-president Pam Bailey chaired the November meeting in the absence of president Margaret Hood, who was on holiday. After dinner, Pam introduced speaker Wendy Nelson, daughter of past president Barbara Robinson. Wendy's talk was entitled TV - an Insight
At the last meeting, the annual speech competition took place. There was a cornucopia of excellent speeches. Eight members took part and each gave a speech entitled "Cornucopia". Much research and searching the worldwide web had obviously taken place
THE December 3 meeting opened with announcements and correspondence followed by a bring-and-buy sale and an enjoyable tea. Speaker Mrs Evans gave an amusing and informative talk about the derivation of many Christmas traditions. She brought along a splendid
ABOUT 80 youngsters from Meadow Green Primary School were recently involved in a tree planting project. The youngest and oldest children worked together to plant a tree each and about 40 native trees were planted, including Worcester pears, wild cherries
MORE than 900 homes in Brockhill will be added to the town's successful recycling collection scheme from tomorrow. An extra 12 tons of recyclable material was collected when the weekly scheme was extended to more areas of the borough. Redditch Council
REDDITCH taxis are set to change the way in which their licence numbers are displayed in a bid to improve passenger safety and deter unlicensed taxis operating. From New Year's Day, taxis issued with new or updated licences will have to display them on
ALCESTER'S community leaders met police to allay fears in the wake of last week's fatal stabbing. District and county councillor Susan Juned called the meeting after 39-year-old father of four, Alec Jones, of Redditch, was killed in Bleachfield Street
December 15, 1978 REDDITCH-born artist Alan Cotton is the subject of a major BBC 1 TV film tonight. Alan Cotton went to the Redditch County High School and did his initial art training at the School of Art in Redditch before going on to Bournville College
December 18, 1953 A 'no-waiting' ban will be placed on traffic for the whole of Unicorn Hill and part of Worcester Road if Redditch Council agrees to recommendations made on Monday by its Public Works Committee. A letter from Supt WD Gibson suggested
December 19, 1903 REDDITCH County Court - damage to a carriage. M Huntley & Son, Redditch, sued C Freeman, Astwood Bank, for £4 15s damage to a carriage. Mr F J Whitelely appeared for plaintiff. The action was undefended. Mr Whiteley said one of the
LITTLETON B continued their unbeaten run in Division Three of the Stratford Winter League when they entertained table toppers Wythall in the last match of the first half of the season. In the first set of rubbers, Dixie Collins and Ian Smith took on Wythall's
SUNDAY'S club run for Cycle Stuff riders took in the familiar roads through the Vale to Stratford. The group headed out to Harvington and Bidford before reaching the quieter lanes through the Graftons and into Hampton Lucy for refreshments. The return
TWO new uniformed officers have joined the ranks at Alcester police station. Community Support Officers (CSO) Paul Gunnell and Lee Proud will be based at Alcester and police Studley and Henley. Both Mr Gunnell and Mr Proud have completed an intensive
A MAN has been killed in a head-on crash on the A46. Andrew Hildrith, 27, died when the blue Toyota panel van he was driving was involved in the collision with a BMW at Redhill. Mr Hildrith, of Laceby, near Grimsby, was travelling towards Stratford with
A WOMAN who now lives in Inkberrow has written a fascinating autobiography about her life growing up in rural Worcestershire. Ruth Jackson, 91, was born into the Bomford family - a name which is synonymous with farming in this area and throughout the
TWO directors of a business selling, leasing and maintaining plant displays that failed with total debts estimated at around £100,450 have given undertakings not to hold directorships. Andrew Banner, aged 46, and Carol Ann Banner, 49, of Oasthouse Close
A SCHEME to help ease the lives of children who visit their mums who are in prison at Brockhill has been hailed a huge success. And members of the public who answered the call for help and made donations of cash and toys or generously volunteered their
A CELEBRITY chef was guest of honour at a ceremony for NEW College students at Redditch Town Hall. Rustie Lee presented students with their certificates at a gala evening. The event was the highlight of the year for many students who had completed their
A CANDLELIT sequence of English Medieval carols and liturgical music for Christmas is being performed in Blockley Church tomorrow at 7.30pm. Opus Anglicanum has sung its candlelit sequence of English mediaeval carols in Cotswold churches annually for
SEVERAL Redditch charities are set to benefit from cash boosts totalling more than £18,500. Mental health charity Tripod, Nightstop, the West Midlands Area of Young Farmers' Clubs and the Federation of Young Farmers Clubs are Redditch-based organisations
PEOPLE had the chance to hear about the changing attitudes of the Church of England towards sexuality and the affirmation of gays and lesbians into the Anglican Church at a recent meeting. St Leonard's Church, Beoley, held the event, which was addressed
PERSHORE voluntary organisations such as Tourism, the Heritage Centre and Number 8 have spent a great deal of time and effort in trying to improve the amenities and services of this outstanding Georgian town. Like Evesham, Pershore has received grants
WORCESTERSHIRE could never witness a Soham-style murder because vetting checks on school staff are watertight, county education chiefs have pledged. The promise came as 29-year-old school caretaker Ian Huntley began two life sentences for killing Holly
DELIGHTED shoppers experienced some Christmas colour when cast members from The Swan Theatre's Dick Whittington pantomime visited Worcester's Lush store. Three of the pantomime's dancers Sonna Cadman, Charlotte Musgrave and Gemma Hinton were were joined
Evesham 9, Bromsgrove 1 EVESHAM produced a stunning performance to completely outclass Saturday's second in the table visitors. Despite lying one place below their opponents, Evesham produced a performance of such outstanding quality to completely stun
THE Worcester boy who captured the hearts of millions when he bravely snubbed Saddam Hussein's attempts to use him as a propaganda pawn has told of his delight at the tyrant's capture. Stuart Lockwood was just five when he was used as a human shield during
Bromsgrove 2, Badsey Ladies 0 THERE was high drama when a neck injury to Louise Stephenson caused the game to be abandoned ten minutes into the second half. The Badsey captain was taken to hospital by ambulance but was found not to have sustained a serious
DROITWICH police officers are asking residents in the town to think ahead in order to stay safe as the Christmas party season starts. Residents are being told that a few moments forethought can make all the difference in ensuring their personal safety
BUDDING philatelists have had their creativity rewarded in a special competition. Pupils at Northwick Manor Junior School, in Northwick Road, Worcester, were asked by Royal Mail to design their own postage stamps. Overall winner was eight-year-old Alice
A fast-food seller who deliberately drove his car at a rival during a burger bar bust-up on a Droitwich car park has been convicted by a jury. Mark Doe flew into a rage when he found Anthony Astle had been given his pitch on the DFS furniture superstore
A jury trying a couple accused of a three-in-a-bed sex romp with a schoolgirl failed to reach verdicts after six hours of deliberations yesterday. Christopher Howley and his ex-lover Susan Morris insist the witness is lying about an incident said to have
THE flavour of Christmas will be experienced by more than 1,000 Faithful City folk tonight at the Evening News' annual carol concert. Many dignitaries of the city are expected as Worcester Cathedral hosts the evening full of traditional readings and some
WORCESTERSHIRE County Council has been given a "good" end of term report by inspectors. The independent Audit Commission awarded the council three out of four, according to ratings published today - the same as last year. Councillors scored top marks
FOR the second time, Ofsted inspectors have found standards at Fladbury CE First School so good that nothing of importance needed improvement. Their newly-published report, following a four day inspection in October, said the school provided very good
CONSERVATION volunteers from Worcester will start the New Year with some coppicing work, in preparation for hedge-laying later in the month. The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers Worcester group will carry out coppicing at Drips Hill Wood, Guarlford
POLICE in West Mercia used controversial "stop and search" powers almost 8,900 times last year, new figures have revealed. But the force made far less use of the weapon against suspected criminals than other forces. The figure of stopping 868 people for
THREE high schools in the Vale are celebrating the latest Key Stage 3 exam results, which test 14-year-olds in English, Maths and Science. Out of 253 pupils eligible to sit the exams at Pershore High School, 90 per cent achieved level five in English,
TOMORROW is "D-Day" for an under-threat Wyre Forest special school, according to its head - and its potential closure has sparked fury across the globe. Speaking exclusively to the Shuttle/Times and News from Australia, Richard Patterson said he was glad
FATHER Christmas and his helpers are the latest in a long line of generous souls helping to buy a desperately ill Wribbenhall woman her dream Christmas present. Shop assistants Ann Mansfield, Janet Broadhurst and Lindsey Guest of Card Warehouse in Kidderminster
THERE was a holiday atmosphere at Brintons carpet factory in Kidderminster when the Duke of York visited to open the new £6 million dye house.THe Duke enjoying his visit. Prince Andrew arrived at the Stourport Road site after a busy day visiting three
A SUPPORTERS' backlash against ticket arrangements for Kidderminster Harriers' massive FA Cup tie with neighbours Wolves has left the club's chairman "distressed". Speaking after the announcement of a set of amended plans, Colin Youngjohns confessed he
A HEADTEACHER has spoken out to defend her pupils and staff, claiming the publication of primary league tables give a "narrow and woefully misleading" picture of her school. Wendy Taylor, in charge at Birchen Coppice Middle School in Kidderminster, said
DON'T expect glittery palaces, lavish sets and all-round colourful opulance a la traditional fairy-tale pantomime from the RSC's new telling of this age-old magical favourite. Director/writer Laurence Boswell has stripped everything down to the bare minimum
THE owner of a Kidderminster nightclub has slammed demands by retailers for nightspots to pay towards a £130,000 CCTV scheme - blaming under-age drinking for much of the town's anti-social behaviour. Mohammad Ghoncheh, who has run Mirage in Dixon Street
TO paraphrase a football clich, this was a concert of two halves. Popular pianist Janine Smith brought along several of her pupils to entertain in the first half of the programme. The pianists ranged from grade one to grade seven standards, little nine-year-old
ALEXANDER Patterson School also has an Early Years Unit, which provides pre-school assessment for two to four-year-olds, a Next Steps specialist unit for two to eight-year-olds with complex learning and behaviour problems, six places for autistic children
WHEN Dr Richard Taylor swept aside sitting MP David Lock in 2001 it was the story of the General Election. And now the full history of a unique protest which started on the streets and is still being made in Parliament has been captured in a new book.Elizabeth
THE choir's annual Christmas concert was held mainly in aid of Kidderminster War Memorial Conservation Trust, and Victory Outreach UK.On Saturday night the men were joined by the children from Comberton Middle School, who sang carols, including an unusual
IT'S A BOY: This is the title of the musical play given by the infants of Bredon Hancock's Endowed First School. We were left in no doubt about the joy of Christmas in this exuberant production. The music had us all tapping our feet and the mood spread
POLICE are appealing for information after a car was written off following a collision where the driver of the other vehicle did not exchange details. The collision happened at the island by the Oast House pub on the Coventry Highway at about 1.15pm on
THE tradition of many families of getting up early on Christmas morning to put the turkey in the oven is quite unnecessary, according to Warwickshire producer Olle Gronning, of Heart of England Farms. "This has done more harm than good by giving turkey
SENIOR CITIZENS' PARTY: The Christmas lunch for the senior citizens of the village which has for many years been provided by the Willersey WI, was once again enjoyed and well-attended, around 90 residents being present. The assembly were welcomed by the
A 78-year-old woman had her £140 pension stolen when her bag was snatched in Studley. The woman was approached by a teenager on a bike in an alleyway between Millennium Green and New Road last Tuesday. He grabbed her black shopping bag, which also contained
NO matter what the weather, season or time of day, one bird you are almost always certain to spot on the nature reserves is the magpie. Their distinctive black and white plumage ensures they stand out wherever they are. Magpies are one of those birds
STUDLEY boss Mark Chambers hinted that his players could start dreaming of a glorious FA Vase run after they landed a fourth-round home tie against lower league Leamington Spa in Monday's draw. The Bees booked their place in the last 32 for the first
GOLF: Little Lakes Golf Club's oldest playing member also has the golden hole-in-one touch. Dougie Day, 81, is not content with just making up the numbers as he showed in a recent Seniors Winter League Monday match at the Bewdley course. The Kidderminster
SWIMMING: Wyre Forest Swimming Club's A team followed up their Division Two promotion by qualifying for the top Midlands final. Competing against larger clubs at Coventry in the final Speedo League rounds, they qualified and then finished sixth at the
ATHLETICS: Ten members of Amazing Feet ran the penultimate inter-club league race of the season at Sneyd, near Walsall. The 10-mile road event saw fine displays from leader Brian Humphries, who clocked 58 minutes 59 seconds, and John Amos in one hour
HOCKEY: Stourport fourths and their England veteran international David Knott endured a frustrating 3-2 loss at table-topping Beeston. With the firsts, seconds and thirds without a game, the fourth team took centre stage and conceded an opener to a scrappy
MOTORSPORT: Kidderminster driver Les Tyler picked up his best novice and A class win awards in the MG Metro Cup. Tyler is looking for sponsorship for next season and can be contacted on 07779 152026.
GOLF: Garry Barth won the men's singles knockout at Little Lakes, beating Kevin Phillips in the final, one-up on the 21st hole. The two finalists joined forces in the Daily Mail competition on Sunday to win 2 and 1 against Bob Nash and Steve Flavell.
A HOST of Christmas carols will fill Stourport Civic Hall on Saturday as Stourport Choral and Operatic Society performs its annual Yuletide concert. More information and tickets for the concert, which starts at 7.30pm, can be obtained by calling 01299
TWO men - one believed to be wielding a sledge hammer and the other a brick - were arrested by police after a fight outside a Stourport supermarket. A total of four men were arrested for violent disorder following the incident in Lickhill Road. Anyone
NETBALL: Kidderminster teenager Claire Johnson made her first senior start as Worcestershire lost 43-32 to Warwickshire in English Counties League Division Two. The county were 17-10 down at the end of the first quarter but replied to trail by just 23
CHESS: Kidderminster A returned to winning form in Wolverhampton League Division One with a 3.5-2.5 home victory over Bushbury. Individual results (Kidderminster first): Brian Sharp 0.5, L Grinsell 0.5; John Wrench 0.5, D Cooper 0.5; Jim Friar 1, J Staniforth
FORMER England and Wolves striker Steve Bull was told a few home non-league truths when he made a special appearance at Redditch United's Valley Stadium last Thursday night. "Steve fancies going into football management at some point but we told him we've
REDDITCH United coach Gary Whild admitted his Dr Martens Western Division league leaders were happy to keep their eight-game unbeaten run going against wily Ilkeston Town. The Reds thumped Town 6-0 on the opening day of the season which saw them arrive
THURSDAY, Island and Bank: Pete Short 65-14, Mike Henshall 51-6, Colin Pace 30-2; Friday: Dave James 560-2, Adam Toal 40-1, Short 33-0. Saturday, Bank, Moors and Island: Short 64-1, Henshall 51-2, Mal Talbot 39-6. Sunday, Meadow, Bank, Silver and Island
AN ANGLER using a dog nobbler on the Masters caught four trout to 7lb 8oz, while a goldhead was successful on the Stella with four trout to 2lb. Eight trout with a total weight of 11lb were caught with a red buzzer on the Andy Capp.
FUR and Feather, Poole Hall, Moorhen: Eddie McKeown 7-8, Dennis Moles 4-10, Mike Swalwell 2-10, Trevor Hyrons. There is an open at Springfield Canal on December 27 with guests welcome and an 8am draw on the car park. Fishing is from 9am until 1pm and
POLICE are warning drivers to lock their doors and leave valuable items out of sight after a bag was snatched from a parked car in the space of five minutes. The black leather bag was taken from an Alfa Romeo left outside Cleobury Mortimer Post Office
POLICE are seeking a crucial witness to a raid on a supermarket till. Officers want to talk to a customer who told staff he saw the thief grab the refund till from the top of a cabinet and take out cash at Safeways in Oxford Street, Kidderminster. The
POOLE Hall, Abbey: M Brown 6-0, A Kimber 5-0, J Middleton 4-12, K Tombs 3-6.5, G Mansell 2-3.5.
RAIDERS tied up a terrified cashier during a late-night robbery at a Kidderminster petrol station. Two men in balaclavas - one of whom was wielding a baseball bat - taped over the cashier's mouth before making off with his Rover 214 saloon car. The vehicle
CHADDESLEY Corbett's chances of returning to winning ways were thwarted by heavy rain. Their West Midlands League Division One South fixture at Reality Sports was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and they now face Ludlow Town Reserves on Saturday.
THE Director of Education at Worcestershire County Council, Julien Kramer's insistence that the threat of closure at Alexander Patterson Special School is owing to falling roll numbers is nothing more than a whitewash. Unlike most mainstream schools,
Badsey Rgrs U-14 6, Tewkesbury Yth 1 RANGERS ended the year unbeaten in both league and cup competitions as they extended their lead at the top of the Cheltenham Youth League to eight points. Lowly Tewkesbury set out to frustrate Badsey but their defence
BEWDLEY Town were frustrated at the weekend as their scheduled match was called off due to a waterlogged pitch. They had been due to entertain Hinton in the West Midlands League Division One South. But Bewdley are back in action on Saturday at home to
THE Evesham Sunday Lea-gue has reached the Christ-mas break without losing a single game to the weather! Division Two is the tightest section with three teams level at the top. Leaders Pershore Town suffered a surprise defeat at Broadway where Luke Bayliss
DEBBIE Prescott hit the 20-goal mark with a double in Burlish Olympic's 4-0 win over Redditch United in the Kidderminster and District County Women's League. Katie Jakeman also struck with a superb 25-yard bending shot and skipper Val Lavery scored her
STRENUOUS efforts are under way to save the internet broadband link to villages around Bredon Hill. The area was switched on to the high-speed link in August as part of a £13 million investment by regional development agency Advantage West Midlands. The
A former Evesham nightclub bouncer who went "over the top" in a street fight has narrowly avoided a jail sentence. Alan Eddy subjected Richard Holloway to a flurry of punches during a confrontation in Evesham. The prosecution at Worcester Crown Court
TOM Calder scored all the goals in Kidderminster Athletic U-13s' 7-1 Division Two victory over Ferndale Colts in the Stourport and District Youth League. In the U-8s, Jake Hollylee hit a hat-trick to help Burlish Hawks to a 4-0 home victory over Ombersley
AN Evesham bobby has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to community policing in Wychavon. Sergeant Paul Crumpton has been responsible for developing a beat manager system throughout the district and strengthening partnerships with a range
An Evesham acupuncturist who mounted a sex attack on a 17-year-old girl he lured to his consulting room has been jailed for nine months. Michael Locan dimmed the lights, put on a video and kissed the shocked victim on her chest. He had invited the teenager
A VALE pair of childhood sweethearts who met at primary school has celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Patrick and Edna Matthews were married at St Mary's Church in Childswickham, their home village on December 12, 1953. The couple attended the
KIDDERMINSTER Carolians gave their fans some hope with a promising 18-17 friendly win over Camp Hill on Saturday. The Midlands Three West North strugglers dug deep to chalk up a morale-boosting win over a mid-table outfit from the Southern equivalent.
STOURPORT were beaten 20-12 in a friendly at Upton as Ed Osborn gave a good display on his return. The heavier Upton pack were 8-0 ahead at the interval through an unconverted try and a penalty. The visitors piled on the pressure in the second period
A SCINTILLATING first-half performance laid the foundations for Worcestershire's 6-3 soccer victory over Leicestershire and Rutland in their latest Midlands Youth Championship match at St George's Lane. Worcestershire got off to the perfect start with
LUCTONIANS Rugby Club can give themselves an early Christmas present with victory at Midlands One leaders Bedford Athletic on Saturday. The Mortimer Park side lie second in the table behind Athletic but have already chalked up victory over the title rivals
LICHFIELD 4 WORCESTER 3 WORCESTER Hockey Club men's confidence going into this final Coaching Solutions Midlands Premier League game before the Christmas break had been raised from two excellent wins against Coventry and Shrewsbury in the last two weeks
STOURPORT Hockey Club men's first, second, third and fifth teams were all without fixtures, but the fourths travelled to table-topping Beeston. The match was tightly contested, but Beeston got the all-important first goal with a scrappy finish. That was
* (I) indicates Internet entries WINNERS of a pair of tickets to see Antii Siirala with the English Symphony Orchestra at Malvern Theatres on Friday, December 12 were: J Isaacs, Coniston Way, Bewdley; A Terry, Lower Lickhill Road, Stourport. THE following
NATIONALLY acclaimed Cotswolds writer Tony Bicat is bringing the spirit of Christmas to the stage this festive season. Robin of Wychwood is a pantomime set in the Cotswolds and combines the tales of Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood with a number of local
Evesham Utd 1, Sutton Coldfield Tn 3 TIM Clarke hardly had a save to make during the 90 minutes yet still ended up conceding three goals for a second successive Saturday, writes Mervyn Collins. He had hardly touched the ball when the diminutive Dean Perrow
The following Christmas services will be held. Sunday: Holy Trinity, Trimpley 10am; St Oswald's, with Broadwaters Methodist Church at the mill (carols with a difference), 4pm; St Peter's, Arley (by candlelight) and St Barnabas, Franche 6.30pm. Christmas
A total of £236 has been raised in two collections. A stall in Bewdley on November 29 achieved £91 while a Kidderminster street collection on December 6 realised £145. Anyone interested in joining this organisation is asked to contact 01562 515698, and
Christmas celebrations were held when entertainment and a musical quiz were devised by Paul Maguire. Monica Powell had sent gifts to the link institute in New Zealand and gifts had been received in return. These were raffled. Members visited Kidderminster
The following Christmas services have been organised at the parish churches of St Michael and All Angels, Stourport, and All Saints, Wilden. Sunday: Normal morning service, St Michael's, no morning service at All Saints. Family Nativity and Carols, St
