DO you know someone who needs help kick-starting a business or climbing the career ladder? Then a group of leading Worcester business people wants to hear from you. The Worcester Severn Rotary Club has launched a scheme to offer free advice to people
TRAFFIC chiefs are maintaining that disruption to commuters' journeys is not too bad despite continuing traffic jams caused by the closure of Holt Fleet Bridge. But the city's traffic chiefs maintain the problem has not been as bad they first thought
INCREASES to council tax bills in Worcester have been finalised after the city council agreed a 2.5 per cent rise in its demands. The rise - which means the average home will spend just under £4 a month more for city council services - means overall bills
FOUR youths have been arrested after causing havoc and thousands of pounds of damage to vehicles in a Droitwich car park. Members of the Droitwich Spa Bowling Club were busy enjoying their regular evening game last Friday when the incident occurred. It
A boxing tournament has proved a knockout success by raising £2,150 for a Worcester hospice. Members of Droitwich Spa Boxing Club competed in the tournament in aid of St Richard's Hospice. The bouts were held at Worcester Rugby Club and organised by Droitwich
A serial female arsonist was warned by a judge that she is danger of being given a life sentence. Teenager Donna Littlewood put the lives of eight people at risk after setting fire to a house in Ombersley Road, Worcester. Judge Frank Chapman revealed
THE former vicar of Lower Broadheath who served most of his ministry life in the Diocese of Worcester has died at the age of 93. The Rev Jack Stephens died in hospital in Worcester on Thursday, February 26, after a short period of illness. His funeral
DRIVERS are being urged to put their skills to the test in a pioneering police scheme aimed to make them more "streetwise". West Mercia Police has teamed up with the Institute of Advanced Motorists and MG Rover group to raise the standards of driving
A GROUNDBREAKING scheme will help to unlock Worcestershire's historic landscape with the launch of the Tithe Map Project. The county council's record office and historic environment and archaeological teams have brought the 18th and 19th Centuries back
FAR from seeing themselves as vandalisers of the countryside, green laners are intent on keeping open ancient byways traditionally used by vehicles. They say many have become overgrown and fallen into disuse and that if they have become muddy and rutted
Tuesday, March 2, 2004 A KEVIN Banner goal gave Bromsgrove Rovers a local derby victory at Evesham United last night. Banner's strike right on half time was enough to give George Rooney's side their fourth straight Dr Martens Western win and keep them
AN internet bulletin board specifically for environmental and social justice groups in and around Worcester has been launched. Worcester Green Party hopes the board, called "Green Gossip", will provide a useful forum for the exchanges of information and
FORMER pupils at Dines Green Primary School, Worcester, are gearing up for its big 50th reunion, now that tickets have gone on sale. The reunion, which is being organised by former pupil Dawn Stewart, is being held to celebrate the school's 50th anniversary
FIXTURES WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL LEAGUE Saturday, March 6 Premier Division: Wellington v Malvern Town (2.45). Division One (South): Leominster Town v Malvern Town Reserves (2.45). Tuesday, March 9 Worcester Royal Infirmary Cup Semi-final: Malvern Town
A 33 year old was left with a broken ankle after he went to the defence of his girlfriend who was trapped in a car surrounded by three youths. The man and his girlfriend arrived in separate cars in Beech Tree Close, Batchley, at about 10pm last Tuesday
DROITWICH Spa Men's First XI won their third game in a row with a 4-2 home victory over Leamington. The result lifts Barry Williams' side a place to sixth, moving above Walsall, who Spa defeated two weeks ago. The captain said: "We commanded the whole
REDDITCH United's record-breaking hitman Scott Voice answered his critics in style at the weekend with a goal befitting his truly amazing scoring record. Remarkably the Wolverhampton-born goalscorer, who joined the league leaders in December, has come
Astwood Bank rider Andy Tinsley is gearing up to defend his British Superstock crown. Tinsley, 31, will again be racing alongside partner Luke Quigley and new team mate Tristan Palmer. Tinsley and Palmer will ride the Suzuki GSX R 1000 bikes and Quigley
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
Released by Aston Villa, Brock signed for Harriers in September 1997 after a short spell at Northampton Town where he failed to make an appearance. He made his Harriers first-team debut in November of the same year and has proved himself a fine shot-stopper
Coventry Marconi 1 Feckenham 0 "IT'S the best we played for a long, long time," was how Millers' boss Lee Adams summed up his side's defeat at the hands of Coventry Marconi in the challenge cup semi-final. Feckenham are just one step away from a Challenge
Causeway 2 Alvechurch 1 JOINT 'Church boss Neil Bryan has put a ban on any talk of relegation after the Churchmen slumped at Causeway. Fourth from bottom Alvechurch have nine games left and 27 points to play for until the end of the season and a crunch
FAR from seeing themselves as vandalisers of the countryside, green laners are intent on keeping open ancient byways traditionally used by vehicles. They say many have become overgrown and fallen into disuse and that if they have become muddy and rutted
Bennett was a then club record buy of £30,000 from rivals Bromsgrove Rovers in January 1999 and proved a goal-scoring menace to Conference opponents in the title-winning season. The ex-England semi-professional international signed a two-year deal at
STUDLEY'S title ambitions took a blow as Quorn netted in the second half to take all three points. The Bees are nine points behind Alliance leaders Rocester but still have three games in hand. Bees boss Mark Chambers said: "I was disappointed . We played
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 two years with
Once capped by England U-20s and also in the national youth sides, the Birmingham-born midfielder has had a turbulent 2003-04 season. Murray signed for Harriers on an 18-month contract in January 2004 following a brief loan spell of three games earlier
The Birmingham-born front man was once known as the Flying Postman from his non-league days at Cradley Town. Williams was 23 when he broke into professional football with Swansea City and he became a well-travelled player before signing for an initial
One of Harriers' Conference-winning heroes made a surprise return back to Aggborough in February 2004 on a month's loan. Released by Ian Britton to Chester in the summer, Jan Molby decided to bring back the forward who had served him well in the past.
Saturday, March 6 FOOTBALL Dr Martens Western - Yate Town v Bromsgrove Rovers (3pm). Midland Combination Division One - Kenilworth Town v Barnt Green Spartak; Thimblemill v Fairfield Villa. Challenge Vase Semi-Final 1st Leg - Droitwich Spa v Wellesbourne
BROMSGROVE School has won the second Bromsgrove Cricket Club six-a-side tournament. The Worcester Road school, who won tickets to Worcestershire's Twenty 20 fixture against Gloucestershire later this year, demolished Bromsgrove CC's Boars B side by 86
DROITWICH Spa-based cricket star Ashley Giles has embarked on England's tour of the West Indies. Giles flew out to Jamaica with the rest of Michael Vaughan's squad last Wednesday ahead of a two-month trip. England are due to play four Tests and seven
Fresh back from a week winter snow trecking in the high Spanish mountains, Bromsgrove and Redditch AC racewalker Sharon Tonks lined up for the Worcestershire County 5km Race Walk Championships. Concerned about her lack of race fitness she was disappointed
HEREFORD United's defence was praised after they won 3-0 at Telford United last night to close to within five points of Nationwide Conference leaders Chester City. The win took the Bulls' goal tally to 12 in the last two games but midfielder Rob Purdie
HEREFORD United reduced the gap at the top of the Nationwide Conference table to five points with a 3-0 victory at Telford United last night -- their 10th away win of the season. And the three goals -- from Andy Tretton and David Brown (2) -- added to
A KEVIN Banner goal gave Bromsgrove Rovers a 1-0 local derby victory at Evesham United last night. Banner's strike on the stroke of half time was enough to give George Rooney's side their fourth straight Dr Martens Western win and move them into third
STOURPORT Swifts will have a second crack at claiming the scalp of First Division Stoke City tonight in their Staffordshire Senior Cup quarter-final replay. The sides go head-to-head at Walshes Meadow following their 2-2 draw three weeks ago. Swifts boss
DROITWICH Spa RFC's director of rugby Julian Bailey believes his First XV's 58-0 thrashing at Silhillians was no surprise given the club's injury crisis. Bailey currently has nine first team personnel on the casualty list, including prop Jethro Tedman
Evesham Utd 0, Bromsgrove Rvrs 1 SKIPPER Lee Knight saw red on his return from a four-match ban as United lost out to their Worcestershire rivals on Tuesday night, writes Steve Carley. Knight got his marching orders for two bookable offences in a match
Evesham Utd 3, Bedworth Utd 0 A BOOST for Busst, joy for Jermaine but another wretched day for referees, writes Mervyn Collins. After losing Sean Flynn permanently and the injured Lee Ross temporarily, Evesham's manager watched his rejigged side equal
DROITWICH Spa RFC First XV suffered their worst defeat of the season as they were thrashed 58-0 at Silhillians. Fielding a weak side due to injuries did not help Spa's cause last Saturday as they failed to score a point for the second week running and
GREENLANDS Boys under 7s are hoping to keep the rain off with new jackets given to them by Redditch company Tyre Sales. The team, who play in the Central Warwickshire League, Division Three have two games left before the end of the season and manager
I WAS astounded to read the county's fire authority can now decide how much it is going to increase its precept by. When did this happen? Was anyone consulted? Are all authorities in the county going to set the amounts they want? Does this mean that county
WOULD be interested to know what other readers think of the new car parking pay times up to 10pm each night and costs (due to go up on April 1, I understand), particularly in the car park in School Drive next to the Dolphin Centre in Bromsgrove. I understand
ROMSLEY Parish Council has put it out in the parish magazine that all parents can now use the Sparrow's Nest public house car park to park their cars when visiting, taking and collecting their school children from the St Kenelm's School on the main Bromsgrove
A KEVIN Banner goal gave Bromsgrove Rovers a local derby victory at Evesham United last night. Banner's strike right on half time was enough to give George Rooney's side their fourth straight Dr Martens Western win and keep them in a coveted top seven
BROMSGROVE Rovers will be without Chris Dawson for most of the Dr Martens Western season run-in. Dawson suffered a broken rib in last Saturay's 3-0 home victory over Swindon Supermarine and will be out for four to six weeks. Playing in place of Steve
LAST Friday marked one year since the death of footballer Ashley Read. As a tribute, Bromsgrove Rovers chairman Tom Herbert presented Ashley's girlfriend Caroline Hill with a plaque at last Saturday's league game with Swindon Supermarine (pictured). The
JUST 48 hours after being involved in a car accident, Paul Szewczyk scored twice as Bromsgrove Rovers beat Swindon Supermarine 3-0. Szewczyk, Rovers' top marksman this season, escaped with bruises after rolling his car on black ice last Thursday. Yet
BARNT Green Spartak's lead at the top of Midland Combination division one is down to five points after they were held 1-1 at home by mid-table Bloxwich Town. GJ Singh's side, who lead Pilkington XXX at the summit, were left kicking themselves last Saturday
BROMSGROVE RFC First XV continued their push for promotion from Midlands Two (West) with an emphatic 51-0 thrashing of Kenilworth. And with last Saturday's result at Finstall Park Dean Ball's side, still a point behind leaders Derby, exacted revenge for
FAIRFIELD Villa recorded their first win of 2004 with a 2-0 victory over Midland Combination division one basement boys Loughborough. Neil Gallagher's men did all the early pressing and a Richard Whitlock header on ten minutes brought the game to life
ROSS Kendall scored four goals as Churchill United trounced Golden Lions 14-1. United, in their first season out of junior football, made it 15 wins from 15 at the top of the Advertiser/Messenger League division three last Sunday and only need a point
Callowbrook Swifts U12s A 5 Continental Star U12s 1 Mikey Chambers put the hosts ahead in this Open Cup quarter-final but it was soon 1-1. Jack Wilson then struck a 20-yard goal before the break. Man of the match Dan Phillips scored twice in the second
IT'S been a long time coming and finally the organisers of Go Fishing at the NEC got the format right, writes Tony Brunn. Last weekend there was something for everyone to see: forums, talking-ins, and demonstrations. The retail trade stands selling all
A CRITICALLY-acclaimed folk singer will be performing in Bromsgrove next week. The well-loved Bob Fox (pictured) will be appearing at the Bromsgrove Folk Club on Thursday, March 11. Bob began his career in folk music during the seventies as a floor singer
TALENTED youngsters at a Bromsgrove school gave a modern twist to one of Shakespeare's best-loved comedies. Senior pupils at Bromsgrove Preparatory School, in Conway Road, recently staged 'Score', an adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. Audiences loved
LAUGHTER and music will be the main ingredients at a country and western concert in Droitwich Spa later this month. The End of the Trail Country Music Club is looking forward to its second double bill show of the year on Friday, March 12. Ivor James and
TOWNSFOLK wanting to get in trim for the summer can join an energetic walk around Fairfield this weekend. The Fairfield Ramblers will be taking a stroll around the countryside on Saturday. The group will meet outside the Fairfield Post Office, on Stourbridge
Kings Norton 12 Stourport 18 KINGS Norton coach Ian Jackson took the opportunity to have a look at a number of players on the fringe of the first team in this friendly against North Midlands Two side Stourport. Jackson rested nine players from the win
THE architectural gem, which is the new Birmingham Bullring, will be discussed at a lecture in Bromsgrove this month. Tim Walley, general manager of the newly constructed shopping centre, will talk to The Bromsgrove Society on Thursday, March 25. It will
Alcester 54 Old Wheatleyans 10 ALL three Alcester sides were involved in high scoring games but only the first XV managed a win. In another break from Warwickshire One action the first XV turned in a much improved display to see off a largely lacklustre
STRANGERS visiting Catshill Church were not made welcome, the writer of a letter in the Messenger's correspondence columns claimed. "Disgusted", of Barley Mow Lane, said they were given neither hymn nor prayer books and were made to stand throughout services
A NUMBER of cuts which look set to be made to the town's bus services, including the Worcestershire Royal Hospital route, have come under attack by civic leaders. First Midland Red currently operate a number of town routes but subsidy contracts between
A QUICK-thinking six-year-old girl, who saved her younger brother from drowning in a swimming pool, is to receive a special award. Daisy Gamble will be presented with a letter of commendation from the chief medical officer of St John Ambulance during
THE man spearheading Bromsgrove's new refuse and recycling scheme, which has been severely criticised, has apologised to residents. Council leader Dennis Norton, speaking exclusively to the Advertiser/Messenger, accepted responsibly for its failings:
ASDA which last year pumped £1m into building Bromsgrove's first multi-storey car park and enhancing the front of its store, is upset at proposals to charge motorists to park on Sundays. With the added benefit of free parking, Sundays are now one of the
COMPLAINTS about rubbish being left uncollected following the end of the back door collection system have been arriving thick and fast at the Advertiser/Messenger office this week. Except in certain circumstances rubbish will only be picked up from the
THREE quad bikes worth a total of £20,000 were stolen from a Bromsgrove business on Sunday night after thieves used an industrial metal cutter to gain entry to the premises. Ace-ATV and Equipment's premises in Sherwood Road, Aston Fields, was broken into
REDNAL residents will have to travel miles to draw out their savings or buy a stamp following plans to axe two of the village's Post Offices. Post Offices at Edgewood Road and Bristol Road South have been earmarked for closure as part of a scheme to reduce
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a two-vehicle collision on the A38 where two men were taken to hospital. The incident occurred near the junction with Alexander Avenue around 1.30pm on Thursday, February 26 and involved a silver Ford Puma and a white
TRADE has been sluggish in a village near Droitwich as the busy bridge over the River Severn closed for repair work this week. Vital repair work started on the Holt Fleet bridge near Ombersley on Monday and, despite prior notice, was met with discontent
FOR some patients in Bromsgrove the irksome task of getting a repeat prescription from their GP may soon be a thing of the past. Patients will simply call into their local pharmacy to pick up their medicines when needed. The new scheme will be available
ELITE sportspeople throughout the Bromsgrove district are being reminded that they can use the three council's sports centres for free. Leisure chiefs in Bromsgrove have opened the doors of the Dolphin Centre in the town's School Drive, the Haybridge
A ROLEX gold watch worth nearly £4,000 was stolen from a jewellers in Rubery. A man entered RF Collyer Jewellers in New Road on Thursday, February 19, at around 12.10pm and asked to look at some watches. As the female sales assistant opened the drawer
A sudden influx in unwanted pets has prompted a rescue centre in Tibberton to call on the public to open up their hearts and share their homes with a pet pooch. Supervisor Dave Lannie, from the Danemere Animal Rescue Centre in Plough Road is looking for
VILLAGERS in Hanbury are celebrating joining 'broadband Britain' after a campaign was launched to find more users. In just over three weeks, villagers have reached the trigger level set by British Telecom (BT) to bring broadband internet access to the
GOALSCORERS 17 - Szewczyk. 9 - Pope. 8 - Banner. 8 - Jackson. 7 - Frost. 6 - Atkinson. 5 - Benbow. 4 - Dyson. 2 - Bellingham. 2 - Bowen. 2 - Dawson. 2 - Jones. 1 - Beckett. 1 - Scheppel. ADVERTISER/MESSENGER MAN OF THE MATCH 7 - Szewczyk. 6 - Pope. 5
IF, as M Hunt claims (You Say, Wednesday, February 25) there is no difference between London or Paris to a "new European" why is it that Paris can refuse to accommodate any of the 55 million expected brothers and sisters of your new Europe? Aren't we
THIS is a short-ish film by today's standards, but one and a half hours is probably just about all you could take of this feeble offering. Which is particularly disappointing as the Coen brothers, who must be held responsible, have produced some absolute
Bidford Cricket Club are hoping to bounce back to the good times and will be running three teams in the Cotswold Hills League this season. The First XI are in Premier Division action, the seconds in division four and an under 14 team has been entered
IT'S a tribute to Hendrix's improvisational ingenuity that no two of his gigs ever sounded the same. But by no means does that suggest they were all masterpieces of performance and here is a rather good double CD set of two January 1969 gigs demonstrating
LISTEN very carfefully, I shall say this only once. The Rowney Green Players' first production at the Palace Theatre was a resounding success. A packed audience enjoyed a hilarious couple of hours in their company, helped of course by Jeremy Lloyd and
TWO judo players from Droitwich Spa have scooped medals at an international event. Maria Stokes and head coach Thomas Ewins won gold and bronze medals respectively at the Fifth London Judo International, attended by 1,300 competitors last month. Maria
A BADMINTON star from Bromsgrove School has won the Lancashire Senior Open. Kelly Mead (pictured), aged 17, won eight matches to claim her first senior title at the event in Accrington on Saturday, February 21. Born in Warrington, Kelly joined the Worcester
BROMSGROVE Olympique Cycling Club is set for a share of a six-figure sponsorship sum. Olympique is one of 35 in Great Britain registered for the 'Go Ride' youth development programme, which has had £175,000 pumped into it by new sponsors Persil. The club
IT is very important to eat a good breakfast, to literally break the overnight fast and to help you concentrate at work, writes Kate Hughes. But, according to new research, it can also help reduce your risk of cancer as part of a healthy diet. Cancer
RESIDENTS of all ages are being encouraged to take up tennis next month in Bromsgrove and Rubery. District leisure chiefs are re-introducing their tennis sessions in Sanders Park, Kidderminster Road, Bromsgrove, and at Rubery Leisure Centre, in Holywell
BROMSGROVE and Redditch Table Tennis League division one basement side SPSP were whitewashed 10-0 by leaders Lickey Monarchs in the latest round of matches. Another 10-0 victory went to West Midland Phones A at Droitwich B. Droitwich B also had another
THE British Free Fighting Academy has launched a regional programme to increase its profile and number of instructors. The self-defence academy, based in Aston Fields, plans to send already licensed instructors into areas such as Redditch, Birmingham,
DROITWICH Snooker Centre A moved into pole position for a title defence by returning to the top of the Droitwich and District League Division One. Their 5-0 defeat of Bromsgrove Royal British Legion B saw them leap frog Catshill A, beaten by Bromsgrove
BROMSGROVE cyclist Len Holbeche was the fastest Wyre Forest Cycle Racing Club rider home in their first race of the new time trial season. Ten club riders entered the open 10-mile time trial at Severn Stoke last Saturday. Holbeche, of Manor Court Road
SIMON Taft, son of Droitwich Spa deputy mayor Ann Taft, endured a disappointing start to his Peugeot Total 206 Super Cup rally series. Taft, of Worcester, finished 13th in Bournemouth last weekend after being forced to retire when his car hit a pothole
SATURDAY SOCCER DR MARTENS LEAGUE Premier Division: Cambridge C 0 Worcester 0. Western Division: Bromsgrove 3 Swindon Supermarine 0; Evesham 3 Bedworth 0; Gloucester 1 Stourport 0; Redditch 2 Gresley 0. MIDLAND ALLIANCE Westfields 1 Oldbury 1. WEST MIDLANDS
CONSERVATIVE leader Michael Howard dropped into Matchborough Centre on Friday to look at moves to tackle crime and regenerate the area. He was also in Redditch as a show of support for his party's Parliamentary candidate, Karen Lumley, who is looking
A PENSIONER strangled a woman he had enjoyed a "loving relationship" with for four years after hearing voices telling him to kill. Edwin Shore and Sheila Lochlin lived on opposite sides of Mickleton Close in Oakenshaw. They shared each other's homes and
NEGLECT contributed to the death of a Redditch mum-of-four who died at the Alexandra Hospital, an inquest heard. Worcestershire Coroner Victor Round recorded a verdict of 'natural causes to which neglect contributed' following the death of 45-year-old
CONCERNS over the spread of infection at the Alexandra Hospital have been voiced by a Redditch woman whose mother was put on a quarantined ward, despite her illness being undiagnosed. Catherine Hughes' 82-year-old mother Hilary Owens was admitted with
A PHONE robber who threatened his victim with a broken bottle has been jailed at Worcester Crown Court. Peter Read had been waiting for his girlfriend for more than three hours and was phoning her mother from a booth in Redditch to find out where she
COUNCIL tax payers in Redditch, as elsewhere in Worcestershire, will find their bills going up by more than seven per cent. The amount of money to pay for services in Redditch, however, will be frozen. With every councillor in the town facing re-election
BEING an activist in local politics, I try my best to involve myself in local events run by the council at various venues all round the town. On Saturday, February 21, I attended a council-run litter pick held in Church Hill. In attendance was Councillor
WHY are we making such a fuss about sorting our waste into separate containers? Some of our continental neighbours have been doing it for years and it's really time we caught up with them. MI Jackson Sheltwood Close Webheath
WELCOME to more noise. Welcome to more litter. Welcome to more traffic. Welcome to an ugly skyline. Welcome to mature woodland felled to build fast-food joints. Welcome to local property prices crashing. Welcome to The Experience. Welcome to Redditch.
THE next normal meeting will be tonight at 7.30 pm. Anyone interested in an inexpensive evening of good music is invited. Entrance fee is £1 for members, £2 for non-members. For more details, call secretary John Hearn on 893263.
A STAGGERING 83 per cent of taxis subjected to a spot check in Redditch on Friday were banned from the road. The taxi safety check was carried out by police, Redditch Council officers and the Vehicle and Operator Safety Agency. A total of 18 taxis were
WES Davies looks set to miss out on a trip to Cornwall after a reoccurrence of his back injury. Worcester Rugby Club's winger has been struggling with the problem for some time and is not likely to be involved in Saturday's National One clash at Penzance
PUPILS from a Redditch school have donated more than £700 raised from their Christmas performances to the Alexandra Hospital. Children from Vaynor First School, Headless Cross, raised the money as part of an ongoing programme of fund-raising for town
PRESIDENT Sue Canfield welcomed members and visitors, one from as far away as Malvern, to the February meeting. The year had already been busy with a behind-the-scenes visit to the Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford, a win in the second skittles match
MEMBERS were well represented at the AGM on February 16. In the absence of any nominations, the committee was re-elected, with the exception of Carol Atkinson, who wanted a well-earned rest after serving for 10 years, a long time, as secretary and vice-chairman
ON February 20, Trevor Antill spoke about the interest in walking and history that led him to design the 610 Monarch's Way route. It goes from the Commandery and King Charles House, Worcester, via Boscobel to Stratford. The story of Charles fleeing vengeful
A REDDITCH teenager could become the next Kate Moss after beating more than 4,000 aspiring models in a national competition. Sarah Meade, 14, will appear on the cover of the May issue of teen magazine Sugar after winning the national Sugar Rimmel London
AN ancient spiritual and cleansing tradition has been bought to life in Wythall by a member of a Native American tribe. Eve Gray Wolf's people are the Huron and she is also a member of the Seneca Wolf Clan. She has recently introduced sweat lodges - which
A SMALLWOOD woman will be walking 85 miles to raise funds for a Redditch horse rescue centre. Helen Batson, of Marsden Road, hopes to trot up a staggering £30,000 by walking from Morton Morell to Bath across the old Fosse Way in six days. The walk, called
March 2, 1979 YOUNGSTERS from all parts of the country are converging on Redditch in search of "paradise". They come penniless to find jobs in the New Town but most of them are forced to return home disappointed. Mr Ernest Bond, social development officer
March 5, 1954 SIX members of the Redditch division of the Special Constabulary were presented with long service awards on Monday. Making the presentation, Superintendent WD Gibson, head of the Redditch police division, said he was very grateful for the
March 5, 1904 CHARLES Crow, labourer, of Redditch, was brought up in custody charged with being drunk and disorderly at Studley on February 19th. He pleaded guilty. Pc Saunders stated that at 11.15pm on the night in question, he saw Crow in Redditch Road
PUPILS from Meadow Green First School, Wythall, had a hair-raising experience as part of a week-long charity event. The bad hair day was one of a number of sponsored events which raised about £2,500 for the Acorn Hospice in Worcester. Youngsters helped
AN organisation set up to provide support and advice to town charities has opened its doors with a £20,000 fund. Redditch Community Commonwealth consists of a number of charities and has been set up to help groups identify sources of funding to expand
INVESTIGATIONS are being carried out into how the ongoing problem with car parking can be addressed across the town. Calls are being made for part of a £2 million Government windfall, given to Redditch Council to spend on improving its housing stock,
A ROAD safety officer from Redditch received his MBE from the Queen during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Roger Woodward, who began working for Worcestershire County Council in 1980, initiated training for school minibus drivers following the Hagley
A committee formed to raise cash for vital repairs at St Nicholas' Church will be hanging up their collection boxes after years of hard work and dedication. The St Nicholas' Church Restoration Committee has been fund-raising since February 1998 to find
YOUNGSTERS in Alcester have once again proved they have the gift of the gab after taking part in the annual Youth Speaks Concert, organised by Alcester Rotary Club. Nine teams entered, including three from Alcester Grammar School, one from Alcester High
A HOLLYWOOD woman returned this week from a 523-mile cycle ride in Cuba to raise funds for mental health charity MIND. Dr Nicola Hothi hopes to raise £3,000 from the challenge, which took place in the mountains of Havana over six days and in temperatures
A FLIPPIN' good time was had by all in Alcester last week when the annual pancake races took place in High Street. Teams and individuals armed with their pans hurtled along the road from the post office to the gates of St Nicholas' Church, hoping to do
A BIDFORD group which not only offers youngsters fun and friendship but also the chance to learn about saving their own and others' lives is inviting new members to join up. Bidford-on-Avon Young Firefighters Association is a new group which has been
BUSINESSES in Worcestershire are being urged to apply to a scheme that has a track record for developing dynamic new companies. The Mustard TeamStart programme is being rolled out and organisers are hoping to attract more businesses in rural parts of
FRIGHTENED residents in a Worcestershire village fear a gang of teenagers has set up a drugs den just yards from their homes. They say the group of around 25 teenagers have started fires, damaged trees and even chased them away. Police have played down
PEOPLE who want to increase their knowledge of drug problems can attend a free seminar tomorrow. The Wychavon Community Safety Partnership funded scheme will offer an introduction to drugs training. Those who wish to continue will have the opportunity
A TRAIN had to stop for extended toilet breaks at stations between Worcester and London - because its own WCs were "out of order". Around 100 passengers on the 10.33am Thames Trains service to Paddington were warned they would have to leave the train
AN intrepid youth worker rowing his way across the Atlantic to Barbados fears he may miss his target altogether if the winds of good fortune fail to blow. Richard Wood, of Northwick Road, Worcester, has now travelled more than 1,000 miles since setting
ORGANISERS behind a popular Herefordshire show are already making plans to ensure this year's event is a success. The Bromyard Gala takes place in the town on Saturday, July 3, and Sunday, July 4. Daredevil motorbike stunt group, the Solent Eagles is
DEBATE is raging in the countryside over off-road vehicles using green lanes. Opponents say the drivers are destroying lanes and ruining them for walkers and horse riders. However, the "green laners" as they call themselves, are intent on keeping open
LAST Friday marked one year since the death of footballer Ashley Read. As a tribute, Bromsgrove Rovers chairman Tom Herbert presented Ashley's girlfriend Caroline Hill with a plaque at last Saturday's league game with Swindon Supermarine (pictured). The
BROMSGROVE Rovers will be without Chris Dawson for most of the Dr Martens Western season run-in. Dawson suffered a broken rib in last Saturay's 3-0 home victory over Swindon Supermarine and will be out for four to six weeks. Playing in place of Steve
A FERTILISER spillage caused hundreds of fish to die at Longdon Brook, says the Environment Agency (EA). The Evening News reported last week that around 350 dead fish, mainly chub and pike, were found dead in the brook, which runs through a Worcestershire
A novice monk at a Hereford abbey sexually abused schoolboys with whom he came into contact during his training, a jury was told. John Kinsey allegedly molested two victims while instructing them in bell-ringing and a third who was learning duties as
Saturday, February 28, 2004 JUST 48 hours after being involved in a car accident, Paul Szewczyk scored twice as Bromsgrove Rovers beat Swindon Supermarine 3-0. Szewczyk, Rovers' top marksman this season, escaped with bruises after rolling his car on black
GENEROUS motorcycle scramblers have helped the Droitwich Spa division of St John Ambulance buy a new emergency vehicle. Cotswold Enduro-Motocross Group are supported by the charity at many of their events and handed over a cheque for £500 at a recent
A HEROIN user has been ordered to meet with probation officers before being sentenced by Worcester Magistrates Court. Steven Smith, of Roberts End, Hanley Swan, near Malvern, yesterday admitted stealing a purse and dishonestly using a debit card to purchase
AN inspector has dismissed an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a house on land at Wheatley Cottage, Worlds End, Grimley. Malvern Hills planning officers had refused the application on the grounds that the house would be in open countryside
A CONTENTIOUS plan to build a new house in the grounds of an imposing house in the Kempsey conservation area has been recommended for approval at tonight's planning meeting in Malvern. A decision on the plan for Woodlands, in Old Road North, was deferred
AUGUST 16 H Havant & W. 1-1 (Kelly) 19 A Merthyr Tydfil 2-0 (Kelly, Wilde) 23 A Welling United 1-0 (Middleton) 25 H Moor Green 3-0 (Kelly, Owen, Webster) 30 A Crawley Town 0-4 SEPTEMBER 1 H Hinckley United 2-0 (Holloway, Davies) 6 H Dorchester Town
FOUR goals from Ashley Clarke helped Bromsgrove Hockey Club Men's First XI thrash West Midlands One basement side Kynoch 8-1. Clarke bagged a first half hat-trick for Julian Court's side last Saturday and one after the break. Bevan Edwards also scored
IF the terse exchange of views at last night's city council meeting represented the opening salvo of this year's local election campaign, then heaven help us all in the weeks to come. After agreeing a 2.5 per cent rise in its part of the overall 7.79
YOUNGSTERS at Barnt Green Sailing Club are celebrating wave after wave of success. Upper Bittell Reservoir sailors Charlotte Savage and Maia Walsh have been awarded the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) West Midlands Sailors of the Year. The girls came
TWO free talks being held at Webheath Village Hall next Wednesday will aim to take the mystery out of hypnotherapy. A new hypnotherapy practice has just opened in Bromsgrove by STOP & Rethink Consultancy Ltd and organisers are keen to let Redditch
SEVEN months putting your feet up sounds like bliss to some but for footballers it's nothing short of torture. Unfortunately for Kevin Halliday that's precisely what he has had to endure since injuring his knee in pre-season before a competitive ball
Police are investigating a break-in and theft from Les Topham Nursery, Birmingham Road, Mappleborough Green, overnight on February 24-25. A window was smashed at the back of the premises and a laptop computer, £100 cash and walkie talkie radios were stolen
REDDITCH'S longest serving councillor - who was controversially dropped from defending the area she has served and lived in for most of her life - has been re-selected to stand for another ward. Pat Wilson, 76, received a letter from the Conservative
Stratford Town 2 Studley 0 IT was another cup exit for the Bees last night as Stratford Town barged them out of the Polymac Services League Cup at the quarter-final stage. A goal either side of the break was enough for Alliance highfliers Stratford as
Versatile Hinton began his career at right-back before reverting to a centre-half role during the Conference championship-winning season. The change of position proved the making of the former Birmingham City trainee who was once rated at £1 million and
Stamps started with Torquay United despite being brought up in Birmingham and his obvious talent earned him a £10,000 move to Colchester United in 1997. The left-footer moved to Harriers on a free in September 1999 after playing in the Second Division
August Sat 16 Sutton Coldfield (a) 1-2 James 147 TUES 19 CLEVEDON TOWN H 2-3 Shepherd (2) 118 SAT 23 ILKESTON TOWN H 0-1 140 Mon 25 Cinderford Town a 3-0 Shepherd (2), Oakey 176 SAT 30 HALLEN (FA Cup) H 3-3 Burrow (2), Jukes 97 September Tues 2 Hallen
The uncompromising defender was Ian Britton's last signing before the manager was sacked in October 2003 and cost Harriers a four-figure fee. Hatswell has a second chance to impress in the Football League after leaving Oxford under Ian Atkins due to a
AMERICAN politics is the subject of two plays by internationally acclaimed playwright David Edgar to be shown at Birmingham Repertory Theatre next week. The two plays that make up Continental Divide are related through theme and characters and can be
Redditch United 2 Gresley Rovers 0 SEAN Flynn put pen to paper at the Valley as Advertiser Sport reported last week but the 35 year old played no part in United's victory over Gresley at the weekend. However, Reds manager Rod Brown has vowed the former
The talented midfielder was reunited with Jan Molby in February 2004 after the Dane had initially signed Keates when in charge of Hull. Keates was seen as an important squad member at the Division Three promotion chasers but wanted regular first-team
TIMELESS classic musical Grease hits Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre for a one-week run on Monday. Featuring all the songs from the hit movie recently voted the number one greatest musical by Channel 4 viewers, the show stars Ben Richards and Suzanne Carley
The pacey striker started off at Derby as a youngster but failed to make a first-team appearance and had trial spells at Walsall, Mansfield and Oldham. Rickards ended up at Tamworth on a free in July 2001 and immediately bagged 17 goals, leading them
Christiansen's signing was another major coup for Harriers director of football Jan Molby in January 2004. The giant Danish striker attracted plenty of interest from clubs in his homeland but he wanted to play in England after a failed trial at Grimsby
Thursday, March 4 Astwood Bank Operatic Society: Ruddigore by Gilbert & Sullivan, Palace Theatre. Until March 6. Tickets from 65203. Suddenly Last Summer by Tennessee Williams, Festival Theatre, Malvern. Until March 6. Tickets from 01684 892277. Birmingham
PAUL Athey will lead Avoncroft CC First XI into their first ever Worcestershire County League Division Three campaign. Athey was re-instated as captain for his third year at the club's recent annual general meeting after leading the team to promotion
DROITWICH Spa A and B both picked up five-wicket victories in the latest round of the Worcestershire Indoor Cricket League Division One. Spa A, second in the six-a-side league table, saw off the previously unbeaten Worcester Royal Grammar School while
WHILE Dave Busst had another go at the referee for sending off his skipper, the United manager had no sympathy for Lee Knight, writes Mervyn Collins. "It was another poor sending off in terms of the two decisions but, having spoken to Lee about his disciplinary
A SPECIAL forum will take place at the town hall next Thursday to give residents the chance to air their views on the bus service in Redditch. The bus users forum will be run by Redditch Council, Worcestershire County Council and Redditch and Bromsgrove
REDDITCH Music Society's concert on Saturday will be given by critically acclaimed young South African baritone William Berger. Accompanied by John Reid on the piano, his programme is entitled Wanderlust - A 19th Century Voyage and includes Vaughan Williams
WORCESTERSHIRE County Council has axed fines for late return of library books issued to children under 13 to encourage more youngsters to read. Fines were scrapped from Monday for books but additional loan charges will still apply for audio-video material
RAGLEY Hall will be hosting an extravaganza of music legends in the summer. On June 26 and 27, the stately home in Alcester will be throwing open its doors to the hugely popular Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra and Status Quo. Jools will
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers moved six points clear of the Nationwide League Division Three relegation zone with a precious 2-1 win over Northampton Town at Aggborough last night. Goals from Dean Keates and Dean Bennett either side of the break proved enough
WES Davies looks set to miss out on a trip to Cornwall after a reoccurrence of his back injury. Worcester Rugby Club's winger has been struggling with the problem for some time and is not likely to be involved in Saturday's National One clash at Penzance
DROITWICH golfer John Bickerton and Hereford's David Park will be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Tiger Woods and Ernie Els at the Dubai Desert Classic, which starts tomorrow. Both players are in the running for the £1 million first prize -- the biggest
MALVERN Town destroyed Ettingshall during a seven-goal second-half blitz last night. Neil Hunt's side were just one up at the interval but stormed to a 8-0 win at the Langland Stadium to cement their place, five points clear, at the top of the West Midlands
REDDITCH Council is joining forces with the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) to launch a national swimming teaching plan. The launch will take place at Kingsley Sports Centre on Saturday and will be attended by 1,000 children, ASA mascot Tony the Tiger
BROMSGROVE RFC First XV continued their push for promotion from Midlands Two (West) with an emphatic 51-0 thrashing of Kenilworth. And with last Saturday's result at Finstall Park Dean Ball's side, still a point behind leaders Derby, exacted revenge for
Camp Hill U9s 15 Bromsgrove U9s 30 Bromsgrove took the initiative through Chris Cornelissen before Callum O' Carroll extended the margin. Camp Hill created a try on the break and then brought the scores level. Cornelissen then conjured a try with a run
I FEEL so strongly on this issue I had to write and see what other local residents who drive think? What on earth is happening to our local road and traffic systems? I hope locals will agree with me that the roads in our area are absolutely shocking and
IN the light of the recent publicity regarding the surgeon Mr Tudor, I would like to make the following comments. Mr Tudor administered to my wife, he diagnosed her illness and within a few weeks performed a three-and-a-half-hour major operation which
AS a parent I am always concerned by the lack of funding to schools, so is Julie Kirkbride, our local MP, who admirably champions the cause of increasing and harmonising the level of funding to local schools. So why does the Local Education Authority
RECENTLY I went into Birmingham city centre for the first time in a while to see the new Bull Ring development and was mightily impressed by what I saw. I feel our district council could learn a lot from the Second City. The Selfridge's building, which
FOLLOWING the well attended public meeting at Rigby Hall School on the proposed closure of the school, I do not accept the LEA's assumption that parents want their children to be educated in mainstream schools, nor do I believe mainstream schools will
DROITWICH Spa RFC's director of rugby Julian Bailey believes his First XV's 58-0 thrashing at Silhillians was no surprise given the club's injury crisis. Bailey currently has nine first team personnel on the casualty list, including prop Jethro Tedman
DROITWICH Spa A produced one of their best performances of the season to beat Worcester Premier League leaders Tolladine Sports 4-1. Spa withstood early pressure from the hosts last Saturday before a well worked move saw the re-called Arron Parr smash
Tuesday, March 2, 2004 KIDDERMINSTER Harriers moved six points clear of the Nationwide League Division Three relegation zone with a precious 2-1 win over Northampton Town at Aggborough last night. Goals from Dean Keates and Dean Bennett either side of
A NIGHT of rock, soul and reggae music is on the cards at a popular Bromsgrove venue this weekend. Whiskey Bandits will be performing for the first time at the Hop Pole Inn, in Birmingham Road this Saturday. Pub co-owner Dave Thornton said: "This is another
THERE'S still chance to sign up to take part in the fundraising fire walk in Finstall next weekend. The Primrose Hospice, in St Godwald's Road, is hosting the event on Saturday, March 13. Brave soles can get a sponsorship form from Safeways, in Buntsford
Redditch Exiles 62 Ledbury 3rds 0 THE conditions for Exiles open running rugby were perfect and just what the frozen huddle of supporters were treated to. At virtually every opportunity the ball was run at the opposition, who fought hard but ultimately
THE mother-of-five who accused Bromsgrove surgeon Paul Levick of botching her operations told the Advertiser/ Messenger she is planning a trip to America to have her breasts fixed. The former glamour model and nurse - known at the GMC hearing as Mrs A
KATHLEEN Edwards, aged 68, and her sister Janet, 65, were dismayed to learn that the were to be turned out of the bungalow they had shared at Lickey End for close on 50 years. They were given the grim news that the land was needed for the M42 slip road
WORCESTERSHIRE FA officials ordered that a county junior cup match, in which Bromsgrove team Chadstone had beaten Grimley 7-6, should be replayed because the pitch oat Catshill Junior School was too short. A sharp-eyed Grimley fan had spotted one side
FOUR youths have been arrested after causing havoc and thousands of pounds worth of damage to vehicles in a Spa car park. Members of the Droitwich Spa Bowling Club were busy enjoying their regular evening game last Friday when the incident occurred. It
CABINET members approved a five per cent rise in the Bromsgrove district council tax last week. And now the increase was set to be passed by the full council at a meeting last night (Tuesday) at the Council House - the final stage in deciding the amount
POLICE and councillors can now ban groups of people from parts of the town - thanks to new legislation. Section 30 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act provides the power to disperse groups of two or more people who are intimidating or harassing others in
PATIENTS, who recently used an ambulance, may soon be asked to take part in a survey to ensure the service meets the needs of the residents. Over the next week or so, 850 randomly selected patients will have a questionnaire dropping through their letterbox
THREE quad bikes worth a total of £20,000 were stolen from a Bromsgrove business on Sunday night after thieves used an industrial metal cutter to gain entry to the premises. Ace-ATV and Equipment's premises in Sherwood Road, Aston Fields, was broken into
HERE at the Advertiser/Messenger we pride ourselves on being first with the news. But there's no good filling your paper with exciting stories, features and sport without an army of paperboys and papergirls to make sure it gets delivered to your house
IT WAS game, set and match for the feisty young children from Wychbold who improved their tennis skills this week. The budding Tim Henmans from Wychbold First and Nursery School in School Road have recently started learning the finer skills of the sport
MORE than 100 protesters packed into Wychavon's Civic Centre to show their anger at the end of the concessionary fare scheme. The pensioners protested at the new scheme, which was ratified by Wychavon District Council last Tuesday. The vote means an end
THOUGHTFUL townsfolk took time out of their weekend to pay a visit to a Bromsgrove hospice. More than 200 people flooded in to the Primrose Hospice in St Godwald's Road, Finstall for its open day last Saturday between 10am and 4pm. The open day was held
TOWN councillors marked the end of an era when they paid tribute to popular traders, the Machins this week. After the High Street ironmongers HR Machin closed its doors for the last time on Christmas Eve, many civic leaders thought it appropriate to award
THE controlling Tory group at Wychavon has officially set next year's district council tax increase at 2.5 per cent, making it the cheapest place to live in Worcestershire. At a recent council meeting the proposed budget for 2004/5 was ratified. Residents
RUBERY residents are being warned to be on their guard after a spate of burglaries in the area. In the past two weeks there have been thefts in Callowbrook Lane, Beacon Hill, and School Road. One man who did not wish to be named, had his house on Beacon
THE future of a popular Spa park is in the spotlight and residents are being urged to have their say on how it can be improved. Wychavon District Council is holding a public consultation session at the town's library as part of their plans to regenerate
A CAT loving Bromsgrove woman has had to give up her dream of building a holiday home for them after losing a planning appeal. Sandra Cupples-Taylor had her application to open up a boarding house for cats at her home in Astwood Lane, Stoke Prior. She
Saturday, February 28, 2004 BROMSGROVE RFC First XV continued their push for promotion from Midlands Two (West) with an emphatic thrashing of Kenilworth. And with last Saturday's result at Finstall Park Dean Ball's side, still a point behind leaders Derby
n IN your edition of Thursday, February 26, it was reported that Worcester Magistrates imposed a driving ban on a man convicted of the heinous crime of driving 5mph over the limit on City Walls Road. This man could now lose his job as a result of this
n HAVING been in hospital during the recent floods I'm getting up to date with a backlog of copies of the Evening News. The barrier appears to me to have only been a partial success. Hylton Road had to be closed, Croft Road and Newport Street threatened
IN response to the letter from Mr and Mrs C Truettens (You Say, Saturday, February 22) it concerns me that local residents want a roundabout at the Newtown Crossroads. My wife was knocked from her motorcycle at the junction almost two years ago. She was
CAMERAS are there to save lives. But Britain's top policeman does not approve of speed-check cameras being used to raise cash. Doesn't he know what the cameras are for? They are to slow down the motorised idiots. I believe the problem is that the fines
HEWELL Cricket Club is still on the lookout for more members to join their Worcestershire League, division six ranks. New members are invited to join the club's weekly pre-season indoor net practices. The practice takes place at St Augustine's Sports
MEN'S FIXTURES SEPTEMBER 27 A Tamar Valley NL 127-76 OCTOBER 4 A Coventry PC 101-95 11 A City of Sheffield NC 87-84 18 A Hackney NL 92-71 25 H Manchester NC 76-85 NOVEMBER 1 H Coventry PC 80-73 15 H Northampton NL 104-77 22 H Liverpool PC 99-63 29 H Hull
A NETBALL star from Bromsgrove is on top of the world after being selected to represent her country. Stacey Francis, daughter of former Birmingham City footballer Kevin Francis, has been named in the England U17s squad to take part in an international
AN outstanding first half display on Monday night not only booked us a cup final place but has also given me food for thought ahead of Saturday's Dover game. If a squad's strength can be measured by its substitutes' bench then I would say ours is looking
STUDLEY'S world champion Blue and White skippers 15-17-year-old team have just returned from a training weekend in Belgium. Blue and White members, Beci Dale, Rachael Dale, Kim Averiss, Sorrel Bickley and Billie Green worked with Belgium club Rivierenhof's
IF SHINY fetlocks, flaring nostrils and a plaited mane are your bag, then this is the film for you. If you don't know one end of a horse from another, then this is also the film for you. And it's faultless. Seabiscuit tells the true story of a flawed
OH how we could have done with one of these patrols after three inches of flakes on Friday. But whatever the weather, vocalist/guitarist Gary Lightbody has one of those voices which is strangely different yet familiar and should take his band a long way
ROY (Nicholas Cage) and Frank (Sam Rockwell) are scam-pulling, wheeler-dealing con men, sorry, 'con artistes' as Roy would rather they were known. Though they are good at their jobs, they try and remain small time, scamming relatively small amounts of
FENCER Chris Taylor received a standing ovation after two top performances in one weekend. Chris, of Bromsgrove School, won the U16s boy's Epee national finals at the British Youth Championships at Fenton Manor, Stoke, on Saturday, February 7. The 15-
STOURPORT Swifts will have a second crack at claiming the scalp of First Division Stoke City tonight in their Staffordshire Senior Cup quarter-final replay (7.45pm). The sides go head-to-head at Walshes Meadow following their 2-2 draw three weeks ago.
URGENT talks were taking place yesterday after it was announced a leading employer is to shed about 130 engineering jobs in Redditch. Honeywell, which took over Hymatic Group in January, announced on Monday it was to combine its airframe systems business
RECENTLY, both the Prime Minister and the health secretary paid a visit to the university where I am training to be a nurse to discuss those issues relating to nurses and the National Health Service. It was reported on the news that a student nurse challenged
THE General Medical Council has refused to act any further into the death of a Webheath woman despite reopening investigations into the case it originally threw out. Calvin Tudor, who lost his wife Carol to bowel cancer in May 2002, spoke of his disappointment
ANGRY relatives of three girls left Worcester Crown Court shouting threats after a Redditch pensioner was cleared of six sex assaults. Patrick Oprey, aged 68, admitted to police that he hugged children but denied any improper behaviour. He claimed that
Pre-season friendlies Sat July 12 Evesham (a) 3-1 Lewis, J Williams, Paschalis Sun July 13 Stratford (a) 1-0 Ward Sat July 19 Boldmere (a) 6-1 (og), J Williams 2, Lightbourne, Wilding, Danks Mon July 21 Leicester (h) 1-1 Shilton Sat July 26 West Brom
IT is good news Redditch Council is not to increase its share of the council tax. Perhaps I could offer Councillor Gavin Smithers some advice on saving money. First: Close the ineffective neighbourhood offices. I have never found them to be of any use
LAST November, Labour politicians were assuring us "50p a week at the most" would enable Redditch Council to maintain free bus passes for everyone over 60 (Advertiser, November 26, 2003). This implied that, at budget setting time, the Labour group would
I WRITE to comment on the latest Liberal Democrat brainwave (or is it brainstorm?) announced by Councillor Diane Thomas relating to the ongoing matter of the future of free bus travel for pensioners and disabled in Redditch, a scheme that has lasted for
THIS week, Parliament debated the Pensions Bill. It will bring in protection to more than 10 million individuals who pay into company pension schemes. It will end the scandal of workers like those at BKL Fittings who saw the savings built up over a lifetime
JUST 13 per cent of Alvechurch voters turned up to give their opinions on St Laurence's new Ark development which has caused controversy in the village. But the votes which were cast revealed villagers were generally unhappy with the way the church had
A PLAQUE in memory of a popular street cleaner has been fitted to a new bench in Redditch town centre. Roy Cook, known as Cookie, had worked for Redditch Council since 1982 and for Redditch Development Corporation before that. He died in 2002. The new
TIME Traveller David Lord arrived clad as Robert Rookwood, Lieutenant of Pike, a Roundhead from the 17th century, who would have been in charge of 1,200 Parliamentarians fighting Royalists and King Charles I. Bloody battles took place during the nine
ABOUT £1 million extra will be spent on revamping the Palace Theatre as part of an ongoing project to bring it "in keeping with the rest of the town". Eighteen months ago, Redditch Council allocated more than £1 million to be spent on improving the Alcester
A NETBALL star from Bromsgrove is on top of the world after being selected to represent her country. Stacey Francis, daughter of former Birmingham City footballer Kevin Francis, has been named in the England U17s squad to take part in an international
REDDITCH has been named and shamed after taking its place in TV Licensing's annual West Midlands League of Shame, after more than 29,500 evaders throughout the region were caught without a licence in 2003. The league exposes towns and cities where TV
Saturday, February 28, 2004 DROITWICH Spa RFC First XV suffered their worst defeat of the season as they were thrashed 58-0 at Silhillians. Fielding a weak side due to injuries did not help Spa's cause last Saturday as they failed to score a point for
A MUCH-loved postman was given a definite stamp of approval as he retired on Friday when residents of a Headless Cross close presented him with a parting gift. Residents of the Stonehouse Close sheltered housing complex off Birchfield Road were sad to
BUDDING musicians from a Woodrow school celebrated the Hindu festival of Diwali by creating music using movement. Kingsley College pupils created the music using a sound beam, an interactive instrument that converts movement into sound. The pieces were
STAFF, management and trustees at the Greig Centre in Alcester are celebrating after it was announced the Kinwarton Road facility had secured a massive grant from the Lottery. The hall has just been awarded £100,000 from the National Lottery's Community
A FUNDRAISING operation launched by a Redditch woman after a heart transplant saved her father's life has now got even bigger. The Transplant Stitch (formerly the Harefield Hospital Sponsored Stitch) has been going from strength to strength since its
A MEETING to try to advance plans for a new hospital for Alcester was held last month. The event, at Alcester High School, also helped bring residents up to date on how far the scheme had developed. The original plan was for the Primary Care Trust (PCT
WHILE pancake mania hit Alcester High Street, there was another fun event taking place which had a far more serious theme. A 'No Smoking' roadshow was held in High Street, organised by Stratford and Warwick District Councils who had joined forces with
BUSINESSWOMEN will be trying to "beat the clock" when they meet for a networking session. Called BUSI networking, the system gives everyone three minutes to talk about their business before moving on to the next person. It is being utilised by the Evesham
CALLS will be made to reverse a controversial decision to alter a programme to replace hundreds of windows and doors in Redditch Council properties. In December, a decision was made to review the original £1 million project and replace it with a scheme
ABBEYDALE and Riverside residents will be able to learn more about exciting plans for a new Sure Start centre. Sure Start works with parents, carers and local organisations to give children the best start in life and is a government-funded organisation
AN Alcester design company is celebrating a three-year sponsorship deal with a leading chamber orchestra from Stratford. Intelligent Design Solutions (IDS) announced the partnership with the Orchestra of the Swan, which will see it designing and maintaining
