CHURCH SERVICES: Christmas Eve will be celebrated with a candlelit service around the crib at 5.30pm at St Giles and the 11.30pm Midnight Eucharist. On Christmas Day there will be an 8am Communion at Bredon's Norton and a Christmas Family Communion at
PARISH COUNCIL: Affordable Housing - by a unanimous decision, the survey on affordable housing as suggested at last month's meeting by Mr Saunders, will not be taken further but reviewed in six months' time. Financial Report - A financial statement was
INTEREST AND LEISURE CLUB: The December meeting was held in the Royal British Legion Hall and after the business was completed the entertainer for the afternoon, Tony Minchella, was introduced. He played a variety of different numbers, some of which accompanied
ARTS THEATRE CLUB: At the meeting on December 10 the speaker was Hamish Dawson, who delighted members with a seasonal talk entitled Greetings from the Grotto, being reminiscences of his time as Father Christmas over many years in department stores in
MUSIC SOCIETY: At their December meeting, members enjoyed a Christmas concert given by Charles Matthews and his family. Mr Matthews teaches at Birmingham Conservatoire and is organist at St Catherine's Church, Chipping Campden. His wife plays the flute
AN award-winning young guitarist from Kidderminster who has rubbed shoulders with former Beatles producer, Sir George Martin, is set to rock his home town next week. Rob Hayes was crowned Contemporary Popular Music Student of the Year by the world famous
MUSIC fans are being urged to book early for what it is likely to be their last chance to see a top Wyre Forest tribute band. Dale Minaker, lead singer of Crowded House soundalikes Crooked House, who reformed earlier this year after two years apart, said
I have been working as a Ranger within the Wyre Forest District Council for some fourteen years and over this time have found it to be exceptionally rewarding watching the nature reserves change and improve as the management works start to have an effect
THE all-out drive to achieve maximum security at Worcester's 16 municipal car parks has taken a leap forward after two received Park Mark Safer Parking awards. The King Street and Pitchcroft/Moors car parks won the awards, which were set up by the Association
BURGLARS broke into a Worcester bowling centre causing more than £3,000 of damage and stealing £870 in cash. CCTV footage from inside Bowl Xtreme, off Droitwich Road, shows two people walking around with a torch at 2.21am yesterday. "They knew exactly
EIGHT stag party friends whisked Ledbury bridegroom-to-be Philip Burton off to Samnaun, Switzerland, to compete in the Santa World Championships. Together with Chris Harris, a colleague at Hereford Nature Trust, Mr Burton pitted his wits against 170 other
A RECYCLING company is offering people the chance to give their loved ones the perfect last-minute present this Christmas - by having a tree planted in their name. Cartridge World - which refills and re-manufactures empty printer cartridges and has premises
IT might not be the 11th day of Christmas yet, but these pipers have already started piping. Paul Collins, aged 38, and his pupil Dominic Mulcahy, 13, were in Worcester to perform on BBC Hereford & Worcester's Twelve Days of Christmas segment. Mr
BRAVE five-year-old Dylan Munro is looking forward to "the best Christmas ever" after winning a trip to Lapland for being a model patient while enduring months of painful hospital treatment. His relieved mum, Carrie Munro, said: "This is going to be an
THE chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS trust, John Rostill, has told the Shuttle/Times and News he personally feels Wyre Forest Birth Centre will not re-open. He expressed his "personal gut feeling" - which, he stressed, was not the
PLANS to build a huge waste treatment and recycling plant at Hartlebury have won the go-ahead from county councillors. The multi-million pound centre on the Hartlebury Trading Estate will process 100,000 tonnes of household rubbish a year from Wychavon
GENEROUS shoppers and readers have made Christmas a little brighter for children across Wyre Forest by backing the annual Christmas Tree Appeal. More than 500 gifts, estimated to be worth over £4,000, were donated to the scheme run by the Shuttle/Times
A COOKLEY resident has accused police of picking on "soft targets" after a purge on parents parking illegally outside the village school. Steve Lee, of Bridge Road, urged officers to focus on the real crime that was hitting the village, such as the recent
CHURCH SERVICES: Christmas Eve will be celebrated with a candlelit service around the crib at 5.30pm at St Giles and the 11.30pm Midnight Eucharist. On Christmas Day there will be an 8am Communion at Bredon's Norton and a Christmas Family Communion at
PARISH COUNCIL: Affordable Housing - by a unanimous decision, the survey on affordable housing as suggested at last month's meeting by Mr Saunders, will not be taken further but reviewed in six months' time. Financial Report - A financial statement was
WEDNESDAY CLUB: Mr John Wilson from Coggeshall Farm and Museum talked to members about Shepherds. John had brought along examples of Shepherd lore, ancient tools, dress and equipment and he explained their use and answered questions. In December, John
INTEREST AND LEISURE CLUB: The December meeting was held in the Royal British Legion Hall and after the business was completed the entertainer for the afternoon, Tony Minchella, was introduced. He played a variety of different numbers, some of which accompanied
DISABLED CLUB: Forty members of the club enjoyed Christmas lunch at Broadwell village hall. The North Cotswold Rotary Club provided the lunch, which included waiting service, all looking professional in dinner jackets. Canon George took his keyboard and
THIS year will go down in history, not least because it was the year Worcester tried to revamp its High Street. We use the word "try" because the £1.3m scheme - mainly funded by Worcestershire County Council - hasn't yet succeeded. The latest problem
A COUNTY charity hopes to raise more cash for life-limited children after opening a new community office near Pershore. The office will be manned by Acorns Hospice Three Counties project team, which has been working tirelessly over the last three years
Worcester's High Street is falling apart already - and they haven't even finished it yet! Worcester's £1.3m High Street is already suffering from wear and tear - less than two months after being installed. Delivery trucks dropping heavy loading lifts
POLICE are hunting for clues from the public following an armed robbery at a Worcester store in which a gun was pointed at a shopworker. Three raiders, one of whom was believed to be armed with a revolver, stole a substantial quantity of £1 and 50p coins
RESIDENTS in Worcester are being urged to visit a city pub tonight and get dancing to raise cash for premature babies. When staff at the Beefeater Three Pears Pub, in Warndon, read about the Evening News Tiny Tots Appeal, they new they wanted to help
CITY councillors have accused Worcester MP Mike Foster of living on another planet and not supporting them in their bid to secure better Government funding. Senior Tory councillors Francis Lankester and Derek Prodger said Mr Foster should speak up for
DANNY McDonnell insists Worcester City should be aiming to take at least four points from their seasonal double against Midlands rivals Nuneaton Borough. City's goalkeeper is adamant that the St George's Lane club can still win the Nationwide North title
HUNT supporters in Worcestershire have welcomed news today that foxhunting is set to continue for another year under a deal sanctioned by Tony Blair. The field sport will be outlawed from February 18 after the Parliament Act was used to force through
MATERNITY services could be expanded at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in a bid to prevent another "tragedy" in which six babies died at a county birthing centre. The revelation was made yesterday by hospitals' chief John Rostill, who said he personally
PROBATION hostel residents "sabotaged" the chances of a deaf and mute Kidderminster crook who was spared jail by a judge last month, Worcester Crown Court was told. They ganged up against 29-year-old William Carter in Brayley House, Worcester, and made
A PENSIONER was left distressed after her Kidderminster home was broken into for the second time in a month. The 70-year-old, from the Stourport Road area, woke up after an afternoon asleep in front of the television to find someone had been in her house
ADULTS in Wyre Forest are buying alcohol and passing it on to underage drinkers, according to a Bewdley policeman helping enforce a new initiative clamping down on drink-related violence. Bewdley beat manager, PC Nigel Barter, has worked with Stourport
DR George Lord's letter on December 9 regarding the Wyre Forest education review states the £160 million investment purely to be in buildings. So there will be no funds to purchase materials, books, or other equipment. The letter goes on to mention falling
VALE hunts are expecting record turnouts for their Boxing Day event before next year's proposed ban. Pro-hunt campaigners are adamant that next Monday's hunts will not be the last, despite plans to introduce the Hunting Act on February 18. Organisers
VALE folk dreaming of a white Christmas have a fifty-fifty chance of it coming true, according to the Met Office. Although Worcestershire weatherman Paul Damari puts the odds higher on the Vale looking like a picture postcard on the big day, children
CHRISTMAS is not a happy time for everyone as David and Brenda Brookes know all two well. Three years ago, their lives were shattered when daughter Alison died suddenly, on Christmas Eve, aged just 28. Alison was an apparently healthy young woman and
MANY thanks to Wyre Forest Community Housing and the staff of Gainsborough House Hotel for a lovely afternoon, and to the wardens for putting on a very good Christmas show. They just get better and better. They are worth their weight in gold. Roll on
A GIPSY family who were told they had to leave an official Vale site, have been given a reprieve to stay on until the New Year. Officers from Worcestershire County Council granted the Smith family an extension to stay until Sunday, January 4, after the
A CASH boost will be used for the good of residents after Wychavon District Council was granted £36,062 for environmentally friendly waste disposal. The district council is set to receive its share of the Waste Performance and Efficiency Grants announced
INVESTIGATIONS are continuing into a fracas at the Evesham Mayor's Ball. Police are still investigating allegations of assault brought against the Mayor of Worcester's chauffeur Steve Baker by Evesham town councillor Paul Rencher Cllr Rencher attended
WORCESTER Warriors have been dealt a double blow ahead of their trip to Leicester Tigers. Centres Thomas Lombard and Dale Rasmussen have both been ruled out of Monday's Zurich Premiership clash with shoulder and rib injuries respectively. There is also
DANNY McDonnell insists Worcester City should be aiming to take at least four points from their seasonal double against Midlands rivals Nuneaton Borough. City's goalkeeper is adamant that the St George's Lane club can still win the Nationwide North title
HANLEY Swan's world record holder Anna Bailey took the gold medal in the women's 50+ event at the European Indoor Rowing Championships in Amsterdam. She recorded a season's best time of seven minutes 18.6 seconds -- 30 seconds quicker than her nearest
WORCESTER all-rounder Mark Newman capitalised on a good draw when he took an excellent winter canal weight of 8-5-0 to win the WDUAA open. Twenty-eight anglers lined the towpath between the Arboretum and Diglis but a draw on the productive lower section
The craft fair held on December 11 made £1,153 profit. This was the first craft fair in the new village hall, but the Friends hope it will not be the last as there were many visitors.
THE Father Christmas spirit was back in Broadway this year when the annual Santa race took place. The race has been a feature of the Broadway calendar for nearly 20 years but had to be cancelled in 2003 because the organisers were unable to get insurance
At the December meeting, the WI Christmas carols CD was played. The county news sheet was read, and members were asked to let the secretary know if they wish to join the visit to the Tate Gallery. Jan Jones gave details of a proposed visit to the Grand
Margaret Lillis reported on the carol concert in Kidderminster Town Hall at the December 7 meeting, and presented each member of the skittles team with a bottle of wine for getting nine points or over. Members were asked to put their names down for the
The annual "Christmas Cracker Walk" will take place on Monday, starting and finishing at The Dog Inn, Dunley. The walk will start between 10.30am and 11am, and is open to anyone on submission of the necessary details and entrance fee. This walk will take
on Wednesday, January 5, Tim Bridges will present "Behind the Scenes at Worcester City Museum" at St George's Church annexe, Radford Avenue, Kidderminster. The talk will start at 7.30pm and visitors, as always, will be welcome. There will be a nominal
The 2005 programme will start on January 14 with "Hidden Talent", when some of the newer members will present a recording of their choice. The meeting at Holy Innocents Community Centre, Kidderminster, will start at 7.30pm. Highlights of the coming year
There will be one ride on Sunday - a "Boxing Day Breather" starting at 10 am from The Green, Blakebrook, Kidderminster . All cyclists will be welcome and should be home for lunch. On Sunday, January 2 there will be two rides, both going to the Three Horse
Entrance for the "Day Out in the British Isles" competition for the David Griffin Cup included John Bryans video of wildlife in north Devon, entitled "The Little Dipper", hot air "Balloons over Malvern" as videoed by Bill Williams, Paul Bye's "Day at
The Wyre Forest group has organised a four-mile walk on Tuesday. Walkers are asked to meet at Blackstone Rock car park at 10am. Dogs will only be allowed with the leader's prior consent, and walkers are asked to ensure they wear suitable clothing and
A TEENAGER was the envy of her classmates after being asked to take to the catwalk during a school visit to The Clothes Show Live. Katie Archer, 15, was spotted among a group of Bewdley High School pupils at the UK's biggest fashion show, at the National
A BEWDLEY charity shop needs more volunteers. The Friends of Victim Support charity shop, inside RG Timmis hardware store in Load Street, particularly needed people to cover for staff holidays, said manager, Sue Holmes. She added: "There are not many
A DECISION on whether to allow a skatepark to be built at a Bewdley housing estate has been postponed until the new year. Councillors who will decide on the controversial plan have agreed to visit the site before making their minds up. Wyre Forest Community
The LMA Manager series is without a doubt the best and most successful management series to grace any video games console. This season The Championship, League 1 and League 2 have all been updated and added to the selection of leagues and teams available
SPANIARD Pedro Matias has plunged bottom-of-the-table Kidderminster Harriers' Boxing Day preparations into further disarray. The 31-year-old, who scored one goal in five games after joining from Bristol Rovers on a non-contract basis, has returned to
JOHN Danby's impressive comeback display was a rare highlight for Kidderminster Harriers in their Worcestershire Senior Cup exit last night. The highly rated 'keeper, whose eye-catching form has encouraged the scouts to flock to Aggborough, pulled off
AT a recent meeting with the hospital chief executive, John Rostill, I heard that he has had no indication from local people that they wish the Wyre Forest Birth Centre to re-open! This amazed me because I believe that fit mothers-to-be deserve the choice
GARY Gold's reaction to London Irish's victory at Sixways was very interesting on Saturday evening. The Exiles' head coach said he was "dreading" returning to Worcester on New Year's Day for our Premiership clash. It's maybe not the reaction you would
VALE folk dreaming of a white Christmas have a fifty-fifty chance of it coming true, according to the Met Office. Although Worcestershire weatherman Paul Damari puts the odds higher on the Vale looking like a picture postcard on the big day, children
A PERSHORE businessman pleaded guilty midway through his trial at Worcester Crown Court to a child porn offence. John Huntley told the jury he had not knowingly subscribed to Landslide Productions, an American agent for websites showing children being
A FEW weeks ago, I had to correct a claim made by Conservative parliamentary candidate Margaret Harper. She said crime was rising in Worcester, when we all know it is falling. How very disappointing to see that she is at it again (You Say, Thursday, December
DROITWICH Spa tots put on a bit of a show for civic leaders who visited their nursery. Councillor David Noyes, chairman of Wychavon District Council, enjoyed a performance of The Bossy King at Droitwich Spa Nursery and Kindergarten last Friday. Along
SPA pensioners got into the festive spirit at a Christmas lunch. Turkey with all the trimmings was served up at the luncheon, hosted by Droitwich Spa Ladies Circle on December 11. Elderly residents also enjoyed a raffle, bingo and a good old sing-a-long
PENSIONER, Joyce Edwards, knows the importance of counting her pennies after donating a massive £50 in coppers to Operation Covert. The Bewdley resident and her son, Bruce Edwards, kept their spare change in a giant whisky bottle and, after reading about
A WHIP-ROUND at a meeting of Wyre Forest District Council brought in more than £70 for Operation Covert. Councillors dipped into their pockets at this month's meeting of the full council. A total of £73 was pledged to our campaign. The collection was
WEB surfers are just a click away from all the latest Operation Covert news with the launch of an internet site dedicated to our appeal. A new website will bring you all the stories about Operation Covert and tell you how to donate and get in touch about
A GRIEVING widow whose husband died after being paralysed from the neck down in a car crash has paid tribute to a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. Raymond Brownlow died of a bronchial haemorrhage exactly 11 weeks after he was airlifted to Selly
AMOROUS staff at a Kidderminster snack shop have taken the Christmas theme of goodwill to all men to the extreme by dispensing kisses with their cheese cobs and club sandwiches. Cammellia Rowe, manager of Charlie G's Baguette Shop in New Road, decided
A MAN'S quest to discover the identity of an old business in Kidderminster has reached a fruitful conclusion, thanks to Shuttle/Times and News readers. Following Roger Mathews's appeal for information relating to an old programme he found, his suspicion
WORCESTERSHIRE County Council was given a glowing write-up by the Audit Commission. The authority was given the top ranking of "excellent" in its Comprehensive Performance Assessment. It was judged to have shown "positive achievements" which "continue
A MODERN retelling of the nativity story - involving mobile phones, computers and McDonalds - was greeted with smiles from parents in Wolverley. The production of Follow That Star, by the Sebright Cygnets Nursery, based at Wolverley Sebright First School
FORMER Shuttle/Times and News reporter, Chris Bishop, had a unique role in a former South African troublespot on the 10th anniversary of the country's move to democracy. He had been commissioned by Johannesburg Council to make a television documentary
A HISTORY of Kidderminster is a comprehensive account of the town from its origins to the pesent day. The book is the latest work by Nigel Gilbert whose knowledge as a social as well as local historian shines through with accounts of the lives, work and
BRITAIN'S biggest independent importer of quad bikes and leisure vehicles has created an extra six jobs by moving to larger premises on the Hartlebury Trading Estate. Apache Quads, which first relocated to the estate from Droitwich just over a year ago
THE Worcester job market looks set to see a flurry of resignation letters in the New Year, according to research from the travel specialist i-to-i. Results of the company's annual career breakers survey show that, even more so than last year, Worcester
A WORCESTERSHIRE company is celebrating a hat-trick of successes after scooping the Champion of the Year award. Midland Technical Translations (UK) Ltd, in Church Street, Kidderminster, scooped the title for the third year in a row. The award is given
DOG lovers are needed to pamper pooches who have been rescued from the canine equivalent of death row this Christmas. Hereford and Worcester Animal Rescue has 15 four-legged friends in its care and is looking for pet lovers to offer them loving homes.
I have been working as a Ranger within the Wyre Forest District Council for some fourteen years and over this time have found it to be exceptionally rewarding watching the nature reserves change and improve as the management works start to have an effect
WARM-HEARTED guests of an inn near Worcester are being asked to show some Christmas spirit. Darren Barson, landlord of the Nightingale in Evesham Road, has adorned his Christmas tree with labels detailing small gifts needed by needy groups in the city
WITH Christmas and the New Year just days away, people in Worcester are being urged to consider their health and take up the ancient Chinese martial art Tai Chi. Worcester instructor Catherine Hyde is offering people the chance to get involved at a new
A PLAN to create a touring caravan site at Hill Bee Farm, Welland Road, Upton-upon-Severn, has raised objections from town councillors. From occasional use as a club site, it would become a "proper" caravan site, with 19 separate pitches, said Simon Wilkinson
RUNNING out of gas or electricity over the festive season is not on anyone's Christmas list. So British Gas is reminding electricity and gas pre-payment customers in Worcestershire to stock up for the holidays. Customers can top up their Key or Smart
TOWN councillors at Upton-upon-Severn may think again about introducing alcohol free zones in the town. In the past, they have repeatedly rejected the idea. They have been reluctant to damage tourism by creating alcohol free zones in the town, famous
VALE hunts are expecting record turnouts for their Boxing Day event before next year's proposed ban. Pro-hunt campaigners are adamant that next Monday's hunts will not be the last, despite plans to introduce the Hunting Act on February 18. Organisers
TONIGHT: Bewdley: The Talbot - King Rich. Birmingham: Marriott Hotel - Lupa. Symphony Hall - Classic Christmas (lunchtime and evening). Actress and Bishop - Farside and Casino. Wolverhampton: Robin R'n'B2 - Fred Zeppelin. Malvern: Priory - Handel's "Messiah
A YOUNG nurse from Cleobury Mortimer died in a car crash on her way to a Christmas shopping trip with her family. Twenty-two-year-old Erin Morton, who was on her way to meet her parents in Ludlow when the fatal collision occurred, has been described by
THE complaints procedure at Wyre Forest District Council is "underdeveloped" and must be improved, a watchdog has found. A report by the Audit Commission said it was unclear how complaints were "used to inform service delivery". It explained: "There is
A GRANDAD has pledged to stop his children visiting him if a phone company is given permission to put a mast "at the top of my garden". David Darby, 66, has joined the protest against the proposed O2 mast, at Godson Crescent in Kidderminster. He said:
THE problem of young people sleeping rough in Wyre Forest is being targeted by a new scheme which asks district residents to provide shelter to the homeless for the night. National charity, Nightstop, is looking to set up a branch in Wyre Forest to help
SCOUTS teamed up with Rotarians to raise a record £507 at a street collection in Stourport on Saturday. Stourport Rotary Club will make the amount up to £1,000 after calling on the Scouts' manpower for the fund-raising effort. Youngsters from KD8 St Johns
THE district's transport service for the elderly and disabled is celebrating a cash injection thanks to the Shuttle/Times and News. Wyre Forest Dial-a-Ride, which carries passengers ranging from just nine years old to 96, has received £5,000 from the
HOUSEHOLDERS are being urged to recycle as much as possible of the extra tonnes of rubbish that will be created over the festive period. It is estimated that in Britain three million tonnes of rubbish will be created - which is the equivalent of 400,000
ARTS THEATRE CLUB: At the meeting on December 10 the speaker was Hamish Dawson, who delighted members with a seasonal talk entitled Greetings from the Grotto, being reminiscences of his time as Father Christmas over many years in department stores in
MUSIC SOCIETY: At their December meeting, members enjoyed a Christmas concert given by Charles Matthews and his family. Mr Matthews teaches at Birmingham Conservatoire and is organist at St Catherine's Church, Chipping Campden. His wife plays the flute
YOUNGSTERS in an area of Stourport have been spreading their wings thanks to the help of an organisation which aims to offer alternatives to hanging around the streets. Community Action Newtown, part of the Urban Safety Initiative, is providing £1,500
A POPULAR monthly dance event in Worcester has proved so popular that it has raised almost £10,000 for patients with life-threatening illnesses. Brian and Philomena Green, both aged 64, of Westfield Close, in Fernhill Heath, near Worcester, started running
HOPES for the first white Christmas in more than 20 years remain as the Evening News weatherman predicts a moderate chance of snow. Even if we do not wake up to a blanket of snow on Christmas Day, we should wrap up because the mild Worcestershire weather
THOUSANDS of commuters were stuck in their vehicles when a crash brought Worcester traffic to a standstill during last night's rush hour. Most of the city was affected on one of the busiest shopping days of the year as queues formed fafter a two-vehicle
WHEN I told my friends I was going for a facial and a manicure, I was embarrassed. What sort of man was vain enough - or feminine enough - to want beauty treatment? But, in fact, the response was quite positive. This is the 21st Century after all, we're
A CONVICTED criminal says terrorists or opportunist thieves could be pawing through our post after he was allowed to work in Worcester's sorting office without security checks, despite telling the Royal Mail of his criminal record. The reformed former
DOG lovers are needed to pamper pooches who have been rescued from the canine equivalent of death row this Christmas. Hereford and Worcester Animal Rescue has 15 four-legged friends in its care and is looking for pet lovers to offer them loving homes.
EDUCATION in Worcester has received a boost after a city college was named as a national centre of expertise for special educational needs teaching. Children's Minister Margaret Hodge selected RNIB New College as one of only 12 specialist schools to promote
WORCESTERSHIRE could lose an MP under Conservative proposals to reduce the financial burden of politicians on the taxpayer. The Tories expected to announce plans to axe a fifth of Westminster MPs, from 659 to less than 550. This would mean each MP would
THE lighting of candles in homes over Christmas and New Year may be decorative and festive but it also poses a danger. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) people have suffered severe house fires when they have left candles
BRAVE five-year-old Dylan Munro is looking forward to "the best Christmas ever" after winning a trip to Lapland for being a model patient. The courageous boy has endured months of painful treatment. His proud mother Carrie Munro said: "This is going to
POLICE are warning elderly people not to keep large quantities of cash at home after thieves sneaked into the home of a Stourport man in his 90s and stole £400. The incident, in the Mitton area, happened between 7.15pm on Saturday and 10.15am on Sunday
I AM somewhat puzzled by the actions of Labour's parliamentary candidate, Marc Bayliss, in writing to the Secretary of State for Education with concerns about the re-organisation of schools in Wyre Forest, after Labour's cabinet members on Worcestershire
A HUGE thank-you to the people of Wyre Forest, who supported the two Traidcraft Christmas Fairs held recently in Kidderminster and Bewdley. We sold an amazing £5,300 of fairly traded crafts and gifts etc, which makes a significant difference to the lives
IT is almost 50 years since 32 apprehensive, but inquisitive boys arrived for their first day at Hartlebury Grammar School. I am trying to make contact with as many of those anxious first formers as possible for a reunion in April. Some I have tracked
IT comes as no surprise that David Evans, manager of the much-vaunted Kidderminster Treatment Centre, has resigned - or should I say moved on - like so many other senior managers in the short life of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. Like
HOUSEHOLDERS in the Vale look set to get at least a 4.25 per cent increase in local taxes next year after Worcestershire County Council put forward the recommendation on Monday. The figure, which means £35 on a D band property, is now to go out to consultation
THE letters published on this page reflect the on-going discontent with the way the recycling scheme has been implemented. In a recent issue of the Shuttle/Times and News, the previous Health Concern administration stated that their recycling consultation
WINTERS promise to be warmer for children at Ashton-under-Hill First School and residents who use the village hall. Worcestershire County Council's planning and regulatory committee gave the go-ahead to demolish an existing store and put up a new boiler
LEUKAEMIA sufferer Peter Harris is looking forward to Christmas after all. The 61-year-old looked set for a very grim Yuletide a few weeks ago but thanks to the intervention of the Journal things are looking up. Peter, who lives in Ragley Road, Harvington
AN Evesham sandwich shop is likely to be granted a late licence despite fears the extended opening hours could give rise to town centre violence Town councillors voiced concerns about the consequences of Subway Sandwiches in Bridge Street being allowed
THREE North Midlands players have been included in an eight-strong England 18-Group training squad for a session at Broadstreet RFC in Coventry from January 2 to 4. Centre Paul Bailey-Green (Abbotsholme School and Moseley RFC) and flanker Sam McDonald
FOUR Worcester Sixth Form College students will join a 60-strong party to tour New Zealand for 17 days from late June. British Colleges Sport have organised a boys' rugby team alongside girls' hockey and netball squads. Worcester's Jess Denton and Jackie
SPANIARD Pedro Matias has plunged bottom-of-the-table Kidderminster Harriers' Boxing Day preparations into further disarray. The 31-year-old, who scored one goal in five games after joining from Bristol Rovers on a non-contract basis, has returned to
Eve Owen is the president for 2005, and she reported on the carol service in Kidderminster Town Hall. Eileen Millward and Joan Docherty were the winners of the fund-raising Christmas quiz. The guest speaker on December 6 was Janet Miller with "A Christmas
The final trip of the year was a two-week diving/sightseeing holiday in Jordan. Besides visits to Petra, the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum, members dived in the Gulf of Aqaba, where wrecks included the Cedar Pride, scuttled in 1985 on direction of King Hussein
The 35th anniversary of the group was celebrated with a cake. The guest speaker was George Hook, who talked about the history of his family business, which makes items such as pearl buttons and cutlery handles, from mother-of-pearl. The Charity Christmas
GP surgery, Primary Care Centre and chemist rota for Christmas and New Year GPs and PRIMARY CARE UNIT Christmas Eve: GP surgeries until 6.30pm. Primary Care from 6.30pm until 8am, Wednesday, December 29. Wednesday, December 29: GP surgeries as normal
A HEARSE driver was told by a policeman to move from outside a Bewdley church - as family members carried the coffin towards the vehicle. The driver was told he would be booked if the hearse was again parked in Kidderminster Road, outside All Saints Church
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: A good time was had by the 80 members and friends at the Christmas wine and cheese party at the Victoria Hall. Entertainment was provided by the Dolly Mixtures of Worcester, singing barber shop and involving their audience in some
WORCESTER Warriors have been dealt a double blow ahead of their trip to Leicester Tigers. Centres Thomas Lombard and Dale Rasmussen have both been ruled out of Monday's Zurich Premiership clash with shoulder and rib injuries respectively. There is also
THE decorations that you hang on your Christmas tree reveal a lot about your personality. Supermarket giant Sainbury's questioned 1,500 people about their decorating habits and found seven popular styles of tree. The Kat Slater, named after the bold and
HOW I agree with the letter about pensions from Frank L Jones (You Say, Tuesday, December). However, he infers that £105 per week is some munificent sum that would see pensioners lifted out of the poverty in which many now find themselves. It won't. Even
IN their response to Mrs A Tongue, Mrs B Strain asked "where will it all end" and "when in Rome do as the Romans do" advised Mrs H Cornish. Well, respecting each other's ways works both ways. So when did the British adopt this code of behaviour - to behave
WITH reference to Samuel Richards' letter (Evening News, Wednesday, December 1), I plead not guilty to "gender stereotyping". As the head of the Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) for South Worcestershire division of West Mercia Constabulary, I would like to
AS a serving teacher of more than 30 years, I must say that Helen Donovan's letter showed a complete misunderstanding of both the school's role in a community and the purpose of additional funding. After-school activities such as sports, music and other
ANYTHING would be an improvement on that nauseous cavern in Angel Place. The state of the urinal belies the large wall notice proclaiming that it was inspected and cleaned hours since. ROGER MARTIN, Badsey, Evesham.
FATHER Christmas handed out early presents to each of the tots at Ragamuffins Pre-School. St Nicholas dropped in to see the 20 children at the playgroup when they held their Christmas party earlier this month. Sue Florence, who works at Ragamuffins, explained
THE JOY of Christmas Day will be truly out of this World for youngsters at a Vale School for more than the usual reason! Youngsters from Badsey First School will be casting their eyes to the heavens in wonder. But as well as looking for an old man dressed
SCOUTS teamed up with Rotarians to raise a record £507 at a street collection in Stourport on Saturday. Stourport Rotary Club will make the amount up to £1,000 after calling on the Scouts' manpower for the fund-raising effort. Youngsters from KD8 St Johns
BUSINESSES Cadspec Duke William pub Exilco Horwath Clark Whitehill Severn Water Products Topstitch Webb Tolley MJS IT Services Hartbeat Fitness Training SCHOOLS Franche First Mayfield House Kindergarten Sutton Park First Wolverley Sebright First ORGANISATIONS
AS families across the country get together for Christmas, one Blakedown woman will be many miles away from her relatives, serving with a medical unit in Iraq. Second Lieutenant Stacey Lidgate, 21, is one of many service personnel who will be deployed
TWO phone mast applications by mobile giant Vodafone have been thrown out by planners because they were set for green belt land. The bid for masts on a verge at Wolverley Road, Kidderminster and Rhydd Covert campsite, Bewdley were dismissed by Wyre Forest
THE district's sporting stars of the future have little more than a week to apply for a financial helping hand. The Ray Mercer Sporting Foundation, run by the Shuttle/Times and News, will be awarding up to £2,000 in grants to Wyre Forest's top young sportsmen
ACCESS to the whole range of Wyre Forest District Council's services is to be made available through a one-stop shop in Kidderminster. Part of the town hall is to be converted to house the centre, which will enable district residents to talk to council
FOR pupils of Kidderminster's Sladen C of E Middle School, learning about being good citizens is in the bag after they raised £1,041 for local good cause, Kemp Hospice. Citizenship is part of the pupils' curriculum in their personal, social and health
LOVE blossomed for a couple who met on an internet dating line and have tied the knot after a two-and-a-half year romance. Distance certainly made the heart grow fonder for Stourport secretary, Valerie Tattersall, and Michael Caffery, who lived 94 miles
A VIENNESE concert featuring music by Strauss, Mozart and Lehar will mark the start of the new year in Wyre Forest. Kidderminster and District Lions Club's fourth New Year's Day Concert will take place at Kidderminster Town Hall under the baton of Jonathon
AN award-winning young guitarist from Kidderminster who has rubbed shoulders with former Beatles producer, Sir George Martin, is set to rock his home town next week. Rob Hayes was crowned Contemporary Popular Music Student of the Year by the world famous
MUSIC fans are being urged to book early for what it is likely to be their last chance to see a top Wyre Forest tribute band. Dale Minaker, lead singer of Crowded House soundalikes Crooked House, who reformed earlier this year after two years apart, said
I REALLY feel like Christmas after this festive concert, which was packed with popular carols and yuletide songs. It was good to hear Mary's Boy Child, Silver Bells, Deck the Halls and although not particularly Christmassy, Rhythm of Life which really
NEVERMIND "Grease is the word", Grease is the musical where everybody knows the words which leads to a hand-clapping, toe-tapping evening of entertainment. This production is no exception with a vibrant young cast headed by Norman Bowman and Hayley Evetts
PUNTERS are toasting the success of licensees of two Worcester pubs which have scooped top awards - for the second time this year. The Morning Advertiser, a pub trade weekly, has named the Mug House in Claines as country pub of the year for the central
TONIGHT: Bewdley: The Talbot - King Rich. Birmingham: Marriott Hotel - Lupa. Symphony Hall - Classic Christmas (lunchtime and evening). Actress and Bishop - Farside and Casino. Wolverhampton: Robin R'n'B2 - Fred Zeppelin. Malvern: Priory - Handel's "Messiah
WEDNESDAY CLUB: Mr John Wilson from Coggeshall Farm and Museum talked to members about Shepherds. John had brought along examples of Shepherd lore, ancient tools, dress and equipment and he explained their use and answered questions. In December, John
DISABLED CLUB: Forty members of the club enjoyed Christmas lunch at Broadwell village hall. The North Cotswold Rotary Club provided the lunch, which included waiting service, all looking professional in dinner jackets. Canon George took his keyboard and
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: A good time was had by the 80 members and friends at the Christmas wine and cheese party at the Victoria Hall. Entertainment was provided by the Dolly Mixtures of Worcester, singing barber shop and involving their audience in some
The LMA Manager series is without a doubt the best and most successful management series to grace any video games console. This season The Championship, League 1 and League 2 have all been updated and added to the selection of leagues and teams available
A VIENNESE concert featuring music by Strauss, Mozart and Lehar will mark the start of the new year in Wyre Forest. Kidderminster and District Lions Club's fourth New Year's Day Concert will take place at Kidderminster Town Hall under the baton of Jonathon
I REALLY feel like Christmas after this festive concert, which was packed with popular carols and yuletide songs. It was good to hear Mary's Boy Child, Silver Bells, Deck the Halls and although not particularly Christmassy, Rhythm of Life which really
NEVERMIND "Grease is the word", Grease is the musical where everybody knows the words which leads to a hand-clapping, toe-tapping evening of entertainment. This production is no exception with a vibrant young cast headed by Norman Bowman and Hayley Evetts
