A VICAR used his experiences with migrant workers and asylum seekers in Worcestershire to develop theological arguments in a new book. "I wanted to write from a local base, looking at local people's concerns," said the Rev Dr John Reader, who is priest-in-charge
PENSIONERS have been given a boost after Droitwich town council agreed to subsidise bus passes at an emergency meeting. The council already contributes to the cost of bus passes for the over 60s and disabled passengers so they only have to pay £12.50
DEBRA Shipley, the Labour MP for Stourbridge, is to leave Parliament to have treatment for breast cancer. The 47-year-old MP, who was educated at Kidderminster High School, Oxford Polytechnic and London University, worked as a lecturer before she became
CHOCOLATE and trains are being mixed up for a mouth-watering Easter weekend of fun for the family. The Severn Valley Railway line between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth is set for an epic Easter Egg hunt between today and Easter Monday. Twelve Easter eggs
COUNTY residents have been warned to be on their guard against a man pretending to be a police officer and who claims to be investigating a murder. The man knocked on a door in Lickhill Road, Stourport, around 8.30pm last Sunday and told the owners he
THE NEW 20-year flood management strategy for England has been welcomed by the county's wildlife trust. Water for wildlife officer Andy Graham said it would benefit wildlife and biodiversity. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has drawn
THE snapshot of Uche Oduoza's thrilling raw talent has remained a Sixways highlight this season. The flying winger showed his vast potential when his try treble brought the house down in December during Worcester's demolition of Rovigo. And, with him
WORCESTER City captain Carl Heeley described last night's testimonial against Coventry as "fantastic" and hailed the club's loyal supporters. The 35-year-old defender was given a guard of honour from both sets of players when he stepped out at St George's
WORCESTER City captain Carl Heeley described last night's testimonial against Coventry as "fantastic" and hailed the club's loyal supporters. The 35-year-old defender was given a guard of honour from both sets of players when he stepped out at St George's
EVESHAM United manager Dave Busst has suffered a double blow of ahead of tomorrow's Southern League Division One West derby clash with Stourport Swifts. The Robins enter the Common Road fixture aiming to maintain their promotion chances but are without
BROMSGROVE Rovers are looking for in-form strikers Paul Szewczyk and Arthur Appleton to come up with the goods again over the Easter weekend. Manager Jimmy Mullen asked for his side to make the Victoria Ground 'a fortress' and they responded with a 6-
BROMYARD Town aim to bounce back to form tomorrow when they travel to high-flying Shawbury United in the West Midlands League Premier Division (2.45pm). Town lost their second consecutive game last Saturday, crashing 2-0 at Heath Hayes, and they will
THE search is on for a top-notch junior netball team to represent Worcester in the forthcoming Worcestershire Games. Former Welsh university player Becky Giles, who recently joined the city council's sports development team as community sports coach,
What happened to good manners? I have been somewhat annoyed this week more than once with some very poor manners, which, as my dad always told me, " costs you nothing". On Saturday, my chum and I sat to watch the Ireland v Wales rugby international, in
IF Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor wishes to bring faith and religion into a British General Election, in the American style, one hopes that he will bear in mind the Biblical exhortations, "Love Thy Neighbour" and "Do unto others, as you would, they should
March 25: Sir John Stainer's The Crucifixion in the new orchestration by Barry Rose. The Magdalene Singers and Orchestra, directed by Ian Pattison at Saint George's Church, Barbourne, Worcester. Tickets available from 01905 611427 or on the door. April
Until March 26: Tap Dogs, the hottest show on legs at Birmingham Hippodrome. Ticket sales: 0870 730 1234. March 26: The Fish's Wishes. A little fish lives in a little glass of water. One day the cat decides to have him for breakfast but he breaks the
WITH reference to "Day after tomorrow" (Kate Smith, Letters, Tuesday, March 15), the figure I've used in my letters is a sea level rise of 80 metres, or around 256 feet. It's not simply just a case of the Arctic ice (which is rapidly thinning) and Antarctic
THE free local bus travel for the disabled and pensioners is to be warmly welcomed by the long campaigning pensioners' group such as Worcester City Forum for Older People and the National Pensioners Convention (NPC). More than half of Worcester's 13,000
THE music of critically-acclaimed singer Frank Zappa will come to life in Worcester as Jimmy Carl Black and the Muffin Men roll into the city. The musicians will be playing a selection of Zappa's best-known songs together with some of their own arrangements
AN energetic stage performance is promised at Worcester's Marr's Bar on Saturday as Afterview bring their fusion of rock and infectious melodies to the city. Showcasing singer/guitarist Gary Harper as one of the UK's most formidable new guitarists backed
A MUSICAL Easter is promised at one Worcester venue staging a selection of young hopeful bands aiming to rock the socks off audiences. Che, Two Minute Warning, Colour Moves and Utoxator will all be playing the city's Marr's Bar on Easter Sunday, March
CANOES, wheelchair-friendly fishing pegs and a path for the disabled will all be part of a new £250,000 canalside park in Droitwich designed to help people of all ages and abilities enjoy the great outdoors. The project, paid for by Sport England and
POLICE hope that a distinctive mark on a £20 note will lead to thieves who held an 81-year-old woman in her home for more than an hour while they ransacked the premises. The robbery occurred some time between 6.30pm and 7pm on Saturday March 19 at an
THE Worcester branch of the Samaritans was due to welcome city MP Mike Foster to its branch in Sansome Place today. Mr Foster was to tour the centre, which fields an average of 13,000 calls a year from members of the public who need a sympathetic ear.
NATURE lovers in Worcestershire have been asked to look out for the arrival of the harlequin ladybird, an invasive species that is a potential threat to Britain's native ladybirds. Originally from Asia, the harlequin was introduced to North America to
PUPILS will have lessons in blue sky thinking thanks to a "fantastic" new open-air "classroom". On Wednesday, Ronkswood Infants School, opened the new facility - which is joined to a conventional classroom - to the delight of both pupils and parents.
LITTLE chatterboxes at a Worcester nursery mooed, baaed, quacked and clucked their way through nursery rhymes and farmyard stories for charity. Youngsters at Sticky Fingers @ St Stephen's Playgroup, in Droitwich Road, took on the Chatterbox Challenge
A WOMAN is finally finished with the school dinner hour after 25 years service as a supervisor, and is looking forward to taking up painting in her retirement. Since 1978, hangman, board games and the odd child's tantrum have been a regular occurrence
CRAFTS, music, theatre and comedy are all in store for children in Worcestershire this Easter in a bid to stave off boredom. Youngsters are being invited to attend Number 8, in Pershore's High Street, for a host of activities and fun. Today, artist Sarah
MAXIMUS, the mascot of Worcester Rugby Club will be made an honorary member of a rugby charity this weekend to help raise funds for young people who are disadvantaged. At the Worcester v Saracens rugby match at Sixways tomorrow, John Gibson, the area
THE Dulux dog is urging people to recycle paint, ready for use in schools and community centres. On Wednesday, April 13 Community Re>Paint will start collecting unwanted household paint from residents and businesses, which can then be sold on to members
ONCE described as a "national treasure", Mo Mowlam has regularly topped the polls as the UK's most popular political figure - and she's set to talk about her life in politics at a Worcester theatre. "The evening will be a behind-the-scenes look at my
STALE biscuits and weak cups of tea with a rather ominous layer of congealed milk on top. No, I'm not describing my tea break at work - if I had one - but the memory that sprang to mind when I discovered I'd be interviewing comic Russ Abbot. I was only
March 25: 25th Annual Alf Westover Memorial Lecture at the Frank Parkinson Lecture Theatre, Pershore College of Horticulture. An illustrated talk by Mr Michael Upward. March 25 until Sept 28: The garden at The Bannut, Bringsty, near Bromyard will be open
March 18 onwards: From Worcester to the Hills, an exhibition of paintings at the Shires Gallery, Sidbury, Worcester. For further details telephone 01905 616333. Until March 30: Saying it with Flowers. An exhibition of floral work by a variety of artists
March 25: Dr Teeth's Big Band, Marr's Bar, Worcester; The Meteors, Drongos For Europe and Cracked Actors, Carling Academy 2, Birmingham; Rise: My Alamo, Computer Club and Breezer, Bar Academy, Birmingham; Milliondead plus Fighting Wire and No Hope In
LONDON-based rockers Fans of Kate will be making the trip to Worcester this month to play a gig at the city's Marr's Bar. The concert, on Thursday, March 31, is part of a 39-date UK tour for the guitar-based melodic pop band, who are due to release new
ONE of UK's greatest interpreters of American 20th Century composers Wayne Marshall will star in next month's Hagley Parish Music Festival. Marshall will perform some of the well-known music of Gershwin and Cole Porter at St John's Church, in Hagley.
AN energetic stage performance is promised at Worcester's Marr's Bar on Saturday as Afterview bring their fusion of rock and infectious melodies to the city. Showcasing singer/guitarist Gary Harper as one of the UK's most formidable new guitarists backed
TOP musician Dr Teeth is set to drop into Worcester with his band for their last gig before they make the trip across the pond for a tour in the USA. The former bouncer and reformed heavy metal singer moved all the way from Chicago to front the wildly
A MUSICAL Easter is promised at one Worcester venue staging a selection of young hopeful bands aiming to rock the socks off audiences. Che, Two Minute Warning, Colour Moves and Utoxator will all be playing the city's Marr's Bar on Easter Sunday, March
A LONG-awaited bus shelter in Malvern's Brookfarm Drive could finally be put in place if town chiefs give the go-ahead this spring. Malvern Town Council's planning and transportation committee, under the previous administration, put forward the recommendation
TOURISM chiefs in the Malvern Hills are bracing themselves for what they hope will be a great year as a flood of visitors is expected to arrive in Malvern over the weekend. Malvern Hills District Council's tourism manager Angela Lessimore said the Easter
THE Mayor of Worcester helped three council employers celebrate a golden 25 years of service to the city. Allah Ditta presented Allan Laidler, Tracey Groves and Sam Bosdyk with certificates and service awards for their long serving efforts. Environmental
YOUNGSTERS were getting into the Easter spirit this week as they took part in a whole host of festive activities at their pre-school group. Norton Pre-School, in Wadborough Road, Littleworth, near Norton held its Easter fun day last Friday. They were
A THREE-car accident halted the progress of holidaymakers hoping to make an early getaway yesterday. The incident took place on the M5 northbound between Junctions 6 and 5 at 2pm. The vehicles were cleared within an hour, but traffic remained slow for
ONE of the most traditional rites of spring - the competition to be named carnival queen - is to get under way in north Worcestershire. Girls in Kidderminster are getting ready to put in their bid for the chance to be crowned this year's queen - as well
MUD monsters will be created during a fun family event at the Wyre Forest Discovery Centre. Old clothes and boots will be required for the session, which will run from 2pm to 4pm on Tuesday. Admission costs £3.50 per child, while youngsters under seven
Coun Dan Wicksteed: I dread even the possibility of one complex issue, like abortion, coming to dominate a whole election due to pressure from religious groups. Hopefully, that will not happen in Britain because the range of decisions to be considered
PUBS and clubs in Worcestershire are being warned to apply for new alcohol licences or risk breaking the law. New Government licensing laws stipulate anywhere that sells alcohol, provides public entertainment or late night refreshment has until Saturday
IT was Mark Twain who popularised Benjamin Disraeli's famous phrase: "There are three kinds of lies - lies, damn lies and statistics." Which, of course, is as true today as it was when it was first uttered more than 150 years ago. The row which has erupted
STUART Watkiss believes Kidderminster Harriers' strength in depth up front will prove essential as they aim to boost their survival hopes over the Bank Holiday period. The Aggborough club travel to play-off chasing Darlington tomorrow before entertaining
WORCESTER Rowing Club's juniors are attemptong a sponsored Ergo marathon on Saturday, April 2 to raise money for a new lightweight eight. The event will be held outside Worcester Guildhall where the jun-iors will take on a rowing marathon of 25 kilometres
THE Easter weekend is a busy time for local point-to-point enthusiasts with a number of meetings scheduled. The United Pack hold their fixture at Brampton Bryan tomorrow with a 1.30pm start for their seven-race card. Greenwich, trained by Marilyn Scudamore
STUART Watkiss believes Kidderminster Harriers' strength in depth up front will prove essential as they aim to boost their survival hopes over the Bank Holiday period. The Aggborough club travel to play-off chasing Darlington tomorrow before entertaining
ONCE described as a "national treasure", Mo Mowlam has regularly topped the polls as the UK's most popular political figure - and she's set to talk about her life in politics at a Worcester theatre. "The evening will be a behind-the-scenes look at my
STALE biscuits and weak cups of tea with a rather ominous layer of congealed milk on top. No, I'm not describing my tea break at work - if I had one - but the memory that sprang to mind when I discovered I'd be interviewing comic Russ Abbot. I was only
March 25: 25th Annual Alf Westover Memorial Lecture at the Frank Parkinson Lecture Theatre, Pershore College of Horticulture. An illustrated talk by Mr Michael Upward. March 25 until Sept 28: The garden at The Bannut, Bringsty, near Bromyard will be open
March 18 onwards: From Worcester to the Hills, an exhibition of paintings at the Shires Gallery, Sidbury, Worcester. For further details telephone 01905 616333. Until March 30: Saying it with Flowers. An exhibition of floral work by a variety of artists
March 25: Dr Teeth's Big Band, Marr's Bar, Worcester; The Meteors, Drongos For Europe and Cracked Actors, Carling Academy 2, Birmingham; Rise: My Alamo, Computer Club and Breezer, Bar Academy, Birmingham; Milliondead plus Fighting Wire and No Hope In
THE latest UKIP letter (Worcester News, Wednesday, March 16), suggesting that we could help Third World countries by leaving the EU, was odder than most. Such countries clearly prefer us to be in. My former colleague John Corrie, Conservative Member of
MY father served in the Eighth Worcestershire Regiment and the Machine Gun Corps during 1915 to 1919 and I have just discovered this from a diary he had written during his time while in the Army. The reason I am writing to you is that during his training
HEFF, Heart of England Fine Foods, arranged a splendid two-day food for the trade at the end of February. The venue was the Birmingham Hippodrome and I was invited to put on what was in fact an impromptu wine tasting, selecting bottles from those on show
LONDON-based rockers Fans of Kate will be making the trip to Worcester this month to play a gig at the city's Marr's Bar. The concert, on Thursday, March 31, is part of a 39-date UK tour for the guitar-based melodic pop band, who are due to release new
SOME of the best names across world, folk, roots and contemporary music will be playing at this summer's Wychwood Music Festival. The new event runs from Friday, June 3, to Sunday, June 5, at Cheltenham Racecourse and will give festival-goers the chance
ONE of UK's greatest interpreters of American 20th Century composers Wayne Marshall will star in next month's Hagley Parish Music Festival. Marshall will perform some of the well-known music of Gershwin and Cole Porter at St John's Church, in Hagley.
POPULAR musical Thoroughly Modern Millie is coming to the stage of a Midland theatre. Running from Tuesday, April 5 until Saturday, April 16 at the Birmingham Hippodrome, the show stars Lesley Joseph (Birds of a Feather, Vagina Monologues) as the eccentric
TOP musician Dr Teeth is set to drop into Worcester with his band for their last gig before they make the trip across the pond for a tour in the USA. The former bouncer and reformed heavy metal singer moved all the way from Chicago to front the wildly
RISING Worcester stars the B-Movie Heroes will be hoping for a warm welcome as they return to the faithful city for a homecoming gig next week. The band will be playing Drummonds Bar in New Street, on Wednesday, March 30, and the gig will be a launch
A MAN beaten black-and-blue in a terrifying attack by a gang of youths has moved to Worcester for a new start in a safer city. Matthew Lewis was walking home from work in Leicester when he was set upon by four men. They stole £70 and his mobile phone,
A GROUP of Worcester motorcyclists will delight dozens of autistic schoolchildren with a special Easter egg delivery. The Poachers Motorcycle Club will travel from the city to Coddington Court School, near Ledbury, this Sunday armed with about 40 eggs
THOUSANDS of chicken carcases left in the debris of a massive fire at a Herefordshire farm have been left rotting for the past three weeks. About 9,000 chickens perished in the blaze at Hill House Farm, near Ledbury, earlier this month but will only be
WORCESTERSHIRE County Council has defended its actions after reports that Pershore High School allowed a sex offender to resign quietly, only for him to continue to abuse children. Russell Ward, a PE assistant at the school, left his job at Pershore after
AN author who has written a book on the history of Perdiswell is the latest to pledge her support for the Worcester News Save Our Sauce Campaign. Joan Hinks, from Checketts Lane, Worcester has sent in four recipes using Lea & Perrins Worcestershire
March 25: Sir John Stainer's The Crucifixion in the new orchestration by Barry Rose. The Magdalene Singers and Orchestra, directed by Ian Pattison at Saint George's Church, Barbourne, Worcester. Tickets available from 01905 611427 or on the door. April
Until March 26: Tap Dogs, the hottest show on legs at Birmingham Hippodrome. Ticket sales: 0870 730 1234. March 26: The Fish's Wishes. A little fish lives in a little glass of water. One day the cat decides to have him for breakfast but he breaks the
HEFF, Heart of England Fine Foods, arranged a splendid two-day food for the trade at the end of February. The venue was the Birmingham Hippodrome and I was invited to put on what was in fact an impromptu wine tasting, selecting bottles from those on show
SOME of the best names across world, folk, roots and contemporary music will be playing at this summer's Wychwood Music Festival. The new event runs from Friday, June 3, to Sunday, June 5, at Cheltenham Racecourse and will give festival-goers the chance
POPULAR musical Thoroughly Modern Millie is coming to the stage of a Midland theatre. Running from Tuesday, April 5 until Saturday, April 16 at the Birmingham Hippodrome, the show stars Lesley Joseph (Birds of a Feather, Vagina Monologues) as the eccentric
THE music of critically-acclaimed singer Frank Zappa will come to life in Worcester as Jimmy Carl Black and the Muffin Men roll into the city. The musicians will be playing a selection of Zappa's best-known songs together with some of their own arrangements
RISING Worcester stars the B-Movie Heroes will be hoping for a warm welcome as they return to the faithful city for a homecoming gig next week. The band will be playing Drummonds Bar in New Street, on Wednesday, March 30, and the gig will be a launch
