A TUNEFUL look back at the Victorian era will be on offer in Barnt Green. The Barnt Green Coral Society will present the show on Saturday June 11. It will take place at St Andrews Church, Sandhills Road, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £6 including supper and
Review: Ocean's 12 (12) THE sequel to the popular and stylish Ocean's 11 begins three and a half years after the gang pulled off the massive heist we saw in the first film. We are shown what main characters, Danny (George Clooney) and Rusty (Brad Pitt
EVOCATIVE tale Cider with Rosie is the latest production by Swan Theatre Amateur Company at Worcester's Swan Theatre from Thursday, June 16. The best-selling autobiography by Laurie Lee charts his growing up as a boy in the Cotswold village of Slad before
SATURDAY sees the welcome return visit of the Voices in Harmony Choir to Redditch Baptist Church. The Easemore Road church will host the 30-strong choir from the Black Country in a varied programme of songs and choral pieces, with a taste of barber-shop
REDDITCH rock 'n' roll 'n' blues 'n' soul band Somethin'ELSE are looking for someone else after vocalist Richard Smith's decision to quit to record original songs with band Sahara Boat Club. Richard, aged 27, said: "It was a very tough decision to leave
Thursday, June 9 Wythall Writers open evening and workshop with guest author Chris Collet covering aspects of story writing. Starts 7pm at Wythall Library. New members welcome. Call Charles on 0121 445 2008 or Gill 01564 824874 for details. Bands Nite
TOWNSFOLK will have the last chance to view the work of a popular Bromsgrove artist and teacher this week. Mary Long, who died in 2003, aged 89, can be remembered through her work, which being show at Bromsgrove Library, in Stratford Road, until Saturday
AUDIENCES in Bromsgrove can explore the spirit world with a trip to the Artrix. Guests to the School Drive building will be offered an insight into messages from the other side when The Psychic Show comes to town on Saturday, June 11, at 7.30pm. After
REGULARS to pubs in Bromsgrove are being encouraged to Give up a Pint for Primrose and donate to cost of a drink to charity. The Primrose Hospice fundraising department has sent out collection boxes for pubs to put on their bars throughout June, which
THE Coral's third full-length release (or three-and-a-half, if you count last year's mini album Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker) has moved on from the exuberant days of 2003's Magic and Medicine. The Invisible Invasion is edgy, moody and somewhat delirious
THIS is the darker, deeper follow-up to the Gorillaz first self-titled album, which sold more than six million copies across the globe. It's fair to say expectations were running high, with fans apprehensively wondering whether the band's second offering
CARERS can benefit from free advice sessions run by Worcestershire Carers Unit as part of this year's national Carers Week this month. Anyone who is a carer can either drop in or make an appointment to get help, information or advice on a range of issues
A PSYCHOLOGY lecturer at University College Worcester is hoping 13 will prove lucky for him in a charity challenge for St Richard's Hospice. Dr Colin Crampton is due to compete in his 13th marathon, in Edinburgh this Sunday, and is aiming to raise more
A TUNEFUL look back at the Victorian era will be on offer in Barnt Green. The Barnt Green Coral Society will present the show on Saturday June 11. It will take place at St Andrews Church, Sandhills Road, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £6 including supper and
Police are continuing investigations into the discovery of human remains in woodland in Worcestershire. It has not yet been confirmed if the remains, which have been there for a minimum of three years, are those of a male or a female. "The next stage
A COUNCILLOR has praised the hard work being done by police to tackle underage drinking at a Headless Cross beauty spot. Last month, Crabbs Cross police said the problem with boozing among youths in Morton Stanley Park was becoming increasingly worse.
FROM rooks to raccoons, crocodiles to cuddly bunnies, there are few things alive today that somebody, somewhere, doesn't make a meal out of. Our much-loved family pets are, inevitably, someone else's main course. Do you love your horse? Then don't go
STUDLEY'S Andy 'The Pie Man' Smith is taking aim on a massive £30,000 darts jackpot as he heads to Lancashire this weekend. Smith is the top seed in the Laurel UK Open at Bolton's Reebok Stadium. And that means he is seeded above Mr Darts himself, Phil
Motorsport: RACE ace Andy Tinsley crashed out after just three rounds of his latest Superstock race at Croft. And in a disappointing weekend for the Buildbase/ Knotts/Magnum team, second rider Matt Llewellyn experienced clutch failure after eight laps
Darts: IT was a double-header in the Astwood Bank League with teams involved in both league and Reddiparts Cup action. The pick of the league games saw the Trades pushed all the way before they managed to maintain their 100 per cent record with a 5-4
Golf: REDDITCH duo Janice Kerr and Julian Bates head to one of Britain's top courses this weekend to launch their assault on the International Pairs world final. The Redditch Golf Club pair are the reigning English mixed champions and will compete at
THE first Studley Women's FC Football Tournament has been hailed a massive success by organisers. Teams from across the region took part in Sunday's event with Coventry side Marconi running out eventual winners. There was plenty of local interest in the
Inkberrow Eagles are holding a recruitment day at Sands Land, Inkberrow, on Saturday, June 18. The club has FA qualified coaches and welcomes u7s, u8s, u9s and u10s from school Years 2 through to 5 to register from 9.30am. Players for their u11s and u12s
A MOTHER and her children had to flee their Worcester home after it caught fire. A spokesman for South Worcestershire Police said yesterday's blaze at 90 Carlisle Road, Ronkswood, was being treated as possible arson. He confirmed two youths had been arrested
GAS pipe repairs that will close part of a busy Worcester road will be halted during the popular Three Choirs Festival. Engineers in charge of the project have agreed to stop working in Sidbury before the eight-day event begins, on Saturday, August 6.
A WORCESTER mum is heading to London next week to lobby Parliament in an effort to save her son from the severe muscle wasting condition Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Jane Field, an osteopath from Kepax Gardens in Barbourne, will be taking part in the
THE waiting is over, 49,000 votes have been counted and little Tia Roberts, from St Peter's, Worcester, has been chosen as Worcester News Baby of the Year 2005. Eighteen-month-old Tia clapped her hands with excitement as editor Stewart Gilbert announced
THE Mercian Festival Junior League is going ahead with its plans to introduce Under-8s football for the first time next season. This will be in the format of a Saturday morning league but, instead of a Knockout Cup competition a "Fun Day" will be arranged
POTENTIAL members of ambitious Har-vington FC are invited along to the club's open day on Sunday. The Mercian Festival League club, winners at Under-10 and Under-12 age groups last season, are recruiting new faces for the Under-9s, 10s, 11s, 12s and 13s
SATURDAY sees the welcome return visit of the Voices in Harmony Choir to Redditch Baptist Church. The Easemore Road church will host the 30-strong choir from the Black Country in a varied programme of songs and choral pieces, with a taste of barber-shop
JAZZ singer Clare Teal makes a welcome return to Malvern's Forum Theatre later this month. Described as the new queen of swing, Clare Teal recently signed a record-breaking deal with Sony Jazz and brings her extraordinary voice and wonderfully sharp wit
REDDITCH rock 'n' roll 'n' blues 'n' soul band Somethin'ELSE are looking for someone else after vocalist Richard Smith's decision to quit to record original songs with band Sahara Boat Club. Richard, aged 27, said: "It was a very tough decision to leave
Thursday, June 9 Jongleurs Comedy Club, Malvern Theatres. Tickets from 01684 892277. Sultans of Squeeze, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester. Tickets from 01905 611427. The Touring Consortium: Dracula by Bram Stoker, Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Until June 11
Thursday, June 9 Wythall Writers open evening and workshop with guest author Chris Collet covering aspects of story writing. Starts 7pm at Wythall Library. New members welcome. Call Charles on 0121 445 2008 or Gill 01564 824874 for details. Bands Nite
WORCESTER'S Simon Whatling is a man on a mission, hell-bent on landing the IRB under-21 World Championships in Argentina and impressing the Warriors coaching hierarchy in the process. Whatling is one of three Warriors in Nigel Redman's 25-man squad in
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers' grim boardroom power struggle rumbles on after an angry clash between majority shareholder Lionel Newton and the troubled club's board of directors. The confrontation came during last night's heated annual meeting of shareholders
WORCESTER'S Simon Whatling is a man on a mission, hell-bent on landing the IRB under-21 World Championships in Argentina and impressing the Warriors coaching hierarchy in the process. Whatling is one of three Warriors in Nigel Redman's 25-man squad in
WORCESTERSHIRE made an early break-through in their Frizzell County Championship Division Two fixture against Somerset at Bath's Recreation Ground. The hosts elected to bat first after winning the toss, but lost opener John Francis for one in the second
JUNIOR motorcycle racing sensation Chris Jones has landed his first victory in the British 125GP Championship. The 14-year-old from Droitwich Spa, riding for Red Bull Honda, won round six on his Honda RS125 at Croft, riding a superb race for his best
HEREFORDSHIRE failed to master Cheshire's spinners once again as they crumbled to a 211-run defeat in their opening Minor Counties Championship Western Division fixture. On the final day at Luctonians Cricket Club, Herefordshire resumed their second innings
DANNY Williams has joined Nationwide Conference club Stevenage Borough within a month of being released by Hereford United. The 24-year-old right-sided midfielder app-eared 108 times for the Bulls after arriving at Edgar Street from Chesterfield. Despite
Clive Richards took his first drag on a cigarette as a rebellious teenager. Thirty-six years later he was still battling to give up the evil weed. But after spending a lifetime trying every stop smoking method on the market, the Worcestershire resident
Droitwich Spa 162-9 Astwood Bank 163-2 Droiwich lose by eight wickets DROITWICH were blown away by their neighbours in a one sided match in the Worcester League Division One on Saturday. Spa proved to be no match for the newly promoted side, despite steady
Worcester Nomads 178-8 Belbroughton 182-2 Belbroughton win by eight wickets BELBROUGHTON cruised to victory over struggling Worcester in the county league Division Two on Saturday. Tom Higgins took 4-43 as the Nomads were kept to 178-8 in a rain delayed
Cutnall Green 272-8 Hanley Castle and Upton 136 all out Cutnall win by 136 runs CUTNALL inflicted an emphatic defeat on Hanley Castle in the Worcester League Division Four on Saturday. A partnership of 130 between Derek Higgins (94) and Paul Hutchins
Chaddesley Corbett 271-7 Ombersley 264-7 Chaddesley Corbett get winning draw CORBETT ended their miserable run of results in the Worcester League Division One by stunning title-chasing Ombersley on Saturday. Before Saturday Corbett had been flirting with
HAVING already blazed a trail with the bat, Australian Mark Penter showed his paces with the ball as Evesham stayed at the top of the Birmingham League third division table after gaining maximum points last Saturday. The off-spinner decimated Penkridge's
MEMBERS of St Godwald's Church, in Aston Fields, led by the vicar, the Rev David Tongue, took part in a belated Rogation Day service. After a hymn in the church car park they set off to bless local farms, the fields and agricultural implements. THERE
A PLAGUE of flies was making life in Droitwich almost unbearable. Their numbers were such that brooms had to be used to sweep the dead insects off the floors of houses. Sticky fly papers were covered in minutes. It was said the insects were coming from
AFTER a prolonged absence, this week's rain was much welcomed by farmers and smallholders in the Bromsgrove and Droitwich areas. It had come at a critical time to save the strawberry crop and boost the growth of grass in fields set aside for hay. Pleasure
I HAVE indeed taken note of the comments by Russ Clayton (Advertiser, May 25). It is said that manners maketh the man. His reply to my letter of May 11 certainly presents a stark self-portrait. It is good that he has spoken so plainly and cleared all
I REFER to the letter from Paul Whitehouse published in Your View on May 25. I, like Paul Whitehouse, would also like to know who decides how traffic in Bromsgrove is determined and managed. Paul mentioned the notices at the roundabout at the junction
I ATTENDED the opening of the new enlarged and revamped play area in Sanders Park. It was a hot, sunny afternoon and the council staff had provided soft drinks, biscuits and balloons for the children and tea for the parents after the ceremony. This was
HOW many times has Mr Blair said he was going to bring back the police? When Nelson gets his eye back or the railings around his plinth. When Adolf bends the knee to the best of jewery. When the knights of old who were so bold would flee in ignorance.
MAY I, through your column, take the opportunity to thank all the people of Bromsgrove who contributed towards the recent house to house and flag day collections held in the town, and apologise for any intrusion into their privacy. St John Ambulance,
IN her letter, Tracey Turner wrote that she had seen, "asylum seekers being given cheques for £2,500 for transport to look for work." I am not sure where she saw this happening, but I would be surprised if it was in this country because it is illegal
FAIRFIELD Villa have been given another chance to prove themselves in the Midland Combination Division One next season. Villa, who had finished second from bottom of Division One, will remain at the same level. Tipton Town's decision to move their second
SINCE the elections we have seen various Conservative councillors submitting letters to your paper, the first being one from Pam Davey thanking all those who voted for her and for a fair fight from the Liberal candidate. Does that mean the winning Labour
I AM responding to the recent letter printed from Colin Barratt, a Scoutmaster, and son of Conservative councillor and magistrate, Mike Barratt. Despite Colin Barratt's intimations, I believe I have carried out the office of Mayor with dignity and decorum
FURTHER to the letter from Councillor Kate Spencer entitled Naive Move (Advertiser June 1). I was disappointed that she should make such a vitriolic attack on Edgar Harwood. May I remind her that it was not Edgar alone who ousted Pam Davey, but the electorate
THERE can, of course, be no objection to Colin Barratt expressing his opinion (Advertiser June 1) that the former mayor's support for the rebuilding of the Guide headquarters endangers the existence of both Scout groups. We have no knowledge of this matter
AGE played a big part when the final results were totted up for this year's Harvey Cup competition at Broadway. Male veterans over 55 were in opposition and there was a bonus point for every five years over the veteran mark. George Sloggett picked up
HARRY Potter fans are being invited to dress up as their favourite character for a sing-a-long concert. The event at the Swan Theatre, in Worcester, will be held at 11.30am on Saturday (June 11) and will feature theme music from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's
n ONCE, when on an internal flight in the USA, I found myself in conversation with an American woman who had once visited Worcester as a tourist. Yes, she was suitably impressed with our Cathedral, what she could remember of it, and praised the Royal
REGULARS to pubs in Bromsgrove are being encouraged to Give up a Pint for Primrose and donate to cost of a drink to charity. The Primrose Hospice fundraising department has sent out collection boxes for pubs to put on their bars throughout June, which
YOUR leader (Tuesday, May 31) writes of encroaching on villages. In the 1940/50s I was brought up in Aston Somerville, near Broadway. Then, there were only five posh houses - The Manor, The Hall, The Rectory, a farmer's house and farm manager's house.
AT our meeting on May 11, Grace Derby, from Kings Heath, showed us specimens from the amazing variety of shrubs, creepers and plants growing in her own garden. Her knowledge and enthusiasm kept us all enthralled. Our next meeting is at the village hall
WHAT a wonderful letter in your newspaper from Seamus Kelly about John Hewlett regarding the invitation to have lunch with the Queen. Mr Hewlett has deserved this invitation for the work he has done for the Royal British Legion. But I only wish that the
I REFER to your article about Cliff Lord's views on Worcester. While I agree with a number of Mr Lord's comments - particularly his view that planning for poor quality development is easy to gain and affects civic pride - I disagree with his comments
MANY Worcester folk will have fond memories of Ceci's Italian delicatessen in Wyld's Lane. The premises are now being converted to residential but the familiar old sign is still in place. Can the Worcester News lead a campaign to have it preserved in
A SCHEME to build two new schools in Bromsgrove, as part of a £60m investment in local education to replace cramped and crumbling buildings, has hit a snag even before the plans are approved. The proposed site and entrance of the new combined Meadows
HEALTH and safety chiefs have welcomed a two-and-a-half year jail sentence for a bogus gas fitter. The Health and Safety Executive, which brought the case against Mark Gall, of Martingale Close, Stoke Heath, says it hopes the sentence will deter other
YOU can take the boy out of Bromsgrove, but you can't take Bromsgrove out of the boy. That's what Ken Hartle found when he came home for the first time after living in Australia for more than 50 years. Ken, who originally lived in Cobnall Lane, left British
HUNDREDS of green-fingered schoolchildren are expected to flock to a local garden centre to find out if their petunia will be picked as a regional winner in a national growing competition. More than 700 youngsters from 11 Worcestershire schools have been
YOUNGSTERS in Bromsgrove are being offered a rare chance to step back in time to experience a glimpse of what life was like in the grim, dark days of Second World War. This year marks the 60th anniversary of VE Day, and Susan Evans from Stoney Hill says
A FIRE crew, who only in October fitted smoke alarms in an elderly couple's Rubery home, were called out on Sunday to fight a blaze which was detected by the alarms. The fire service say that it is almost certain the alarms saved the husband from serious
IT'S heartening to know that at least some Americans still retain a sense of irony and are ready to take a sideswipe - or rather full-frontal assault - on the country's pious self-belief that it's peopled by the greatest humans ever and has the world's
THEY say that diamonds are forever and now a Catshill couple have proved it by celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. Arthur and Nancy Healey, from Oak Road, toasted their diamond wedding anniversary with family and friends last Thursday. The happy
STAFF at a Bromsgrove travel agent promoted British holidays during a day of charity fundraising. Workers at Midlands Co-op Travel, in Mill Lane, held the theme day last Saturday with all money raised going towards children's cancer charity, CLIC Sargent
A PILOT mobile CCTV scheme, which it is claimed has seen incidents of burglary, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage fall by more than 90 per cent, was rolled out across Bromsgrove yesterday. The mobile scheme has been successfully operating in Stoke
A NEW leaflet is being launched in Charford giving residents details of how drug-related crime is being tackled on the estate. The leaflet, going to every household, is part of Operation Jericho which looks at the whole picture surrounding drug-related
Worcestershire League ASTWOOD Bank bounced back from a disappointing Bank Holiday weekend by trouncing Droitwich Spa in Division One. And they had batsman Andy Clayton to thank for steering them to an eight-wicket victory. Droitwich struggled to get to
THE Save A Lido Today (SALT) campaign group has hit out against a letter by the deputy mayor in last week's Advertiser. Newly-elected deputy mayor Kate Spencer (Con-East) said in her letter she thought county councillor Edgar Harwood (Lab-Droitwich East
A FARMER was killed when the tractor he was fixing slipped into a slurry pit on February 4, an inquest heard. Seventy-two-year-old Barrie Heath, a farmer from Bradley Green, was at his son Chris' farm - Park Hall in Hanbury - mixing up the slurry with
Bidford's disappointing campaign in Division One of the Cotswold Hills League continued when they were beaten at home by Henley-in-Arden. The Big Meadow side reached 148-9, Andy Pickles (49) and Macer Nash (41) grabbing the bulk of the runs. But given
TEA-slurping townsfolk are being called on to create the World's Biggest Tea Party in aid of St Richard's Hospice. The annual Tea at 3 event on Friday, June 17, is a fun way to raise money for hospices and last year thousands of tea parties took place
A READER of the Advertiser has won a competition to name a new development in the town. McCarthy and Stone's new retirement development in Worcester Road, Droitwich, has been called Whittingham Court, after Whittingham House, the building that used to
A GROUP of parties concerned about the future of Droitwich Spa lido will be meeting today (Wednesday) and discussing the way forward for the saltwater attraction. The meeting forms part of the consultation process on Wychavon District Council's lido proposal
MUSICAL townsfolk are in for a treat at the forthcoming festival after the programme of events was finalised at a meeting on Monday night. The jam-packed music festival schedule features 'something for everyone', according to organisers, and is set to
THERE is no doubt The Pacifier will blight the television schedule on Christmas Eve afternoons forever more. It is the type of unbearable Disney schmaltz which is only watchable as an alternative to listening to your toothless gran suck her way through
THE Coral's third full-length release (or three-and-a-half, if you count last year's mini album Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker) has moved on from the exuberant days of 2003's Magic and Medicine. The Invisible Invasion is edgy, moody and somewhat delirious
THIS is the darker, deeper follow-up to the Gorillaz first self-titled album, which sold more than six million copies across the globe. It's fair to say expectations were running high, with fans apprehensively wondering whether the band's second offering
CENTRAL defender Adam Cooper has become Dave Busst's first recruit ahead of life in the Southern League Premier Division. Evesham manager signed Cooper when he was at Solihull and the pair will link up again when the players report back for training on
AN AFTERNOON of frayed tempers both on and of the field saw Exhall and Wixford's dreams of a second visit to Lord's dashed, writes Mervyn Collins. The Cotswold Hills League outfit lost for the first time in four seasons at the group stage when a man of
Prudden Road Surfacing League AT THE halfway point in the season Stratford B are looking invincible as they lead the Premier Division listings by nine points from Inkberrow after both enjoyed 4-0 wins. Third-placed Littleton A could only manage a draw
Prudden Road Surfacing League AT THE halfway point in the season Stratford B are looking invincible as they lead the Premier Division listings by nine points from Inkberrow after both enjoyed 4-0 wins. Third-placed Littleton A could only manage a draw
A MAGNIFICENT all-round display from Martin Johnson guided Pershore to an unlikely victory at Moseley Ashfield last Saturday. "Magic" produced a virtual one-man show to leave the hosts shellshocked on an afternoon of fluctuating fortunes in the third
IT WAS with foreboding that several months ago I read the news the Labour trendies on the council planned a music festival and that they were underwriting it to the sum of £500,000. A quick calculation indicated this is about £15 of council tax from every
THE Mercian Festival Junior League is going ahead with its plans to introduce Under-8s football for the first time next season. This will be in the format of a Saturday morning league but, instead of a Knockout Cup competition a "Fun Day" will be arranged
COUNTY success has ear-ned a trio of bowlers from the Pershore club a place at the national finals in Leamington in August. Lyn Tattersall, Penny Rudd and skip Wilma Day overcame the challenge of their opponents from Gilt Edge BC 20-8 to book their place
Evesham and District Disabled Club and Partnership's A DOZEN anglers turned out despite the dismal weather for last Thursday's third match of the Summer Evening League on the Middle Pool at Manor Farm. Clive Leeming topped the weights with a net of 36lbs
DESPITE the apparent success of Redditch's first big music festival, the council's ruling Labour group was still fielding criticism about its organisation this week. Conservatives and Liberal Democrats accused them of "arrogance" after they decided to
FIREFIGHTERS were called to two house fires in Redditch at the weekend. The first took place on the ground floor of a three-story house in St Georges Road, St Georges, on Saturday at 12.45am. Firemen carried out a search of the house but all residents
A REDDITCH man was airlifted to hospital with spinal injuries after a car crash in Matchborough. The driver of a grey BMW 528 was taken by air ambulance to Selly Oak Hospital following the accident on Thursday at 10.44am. The BMW was travelling down Claybrook
A REDDITCH man has admitted the manslaughter of the retired journalist brother of Hollywood actress Deborah Kerr. A guilty plea was entered just before Eugene Warwood, 55, of Salop Road, Southcrest, was due to stand trial for the murder of 78-year-old
A STUDLEY man died days after being injured as he got on a bus at Redditch bus station, an inquest heard, and now police are investigating whether the death should be treated as a "road traffic accident". Dennis Styler, 79, of The Grove, off Crooks Lane
BRAVE firefighters demonstrated some of the skills they use every day at an open day on Saturday. Families flocked to Redditch Fire Station for the host of demonstrations, games, rides and advice stalls. Fire crews showed the visitors how they deal with
WHOOPS of delight were by no means unusual when young men for the first time in their lives were issued with two new suits of clothing, three shirts without collars, two pairs of boots, five pairs of socks, underclothes, a greatcoat and other items, including
A REDDITCH charity is appealing for new helpers to coincide with the National Week of the Volunteers. The Where Next Association is looking for volunteers to help with a range of tasks including gardening, administration, fundraising, driving and carpentry
I WOULD like to thank Redditch Police for stopping the chaotic parking in Easemore Road every Tuesday and Friday opposite the British Legion Club. I should point out the problems were nothing to do with the legion. It started months ago with one or two
HUGE upkeep costs and failing public interest has resulted in the owners of a Feckenham bird farm having to sell some of their stock. Lionel and Cathy Peak decided to open up Countryside Bird Farm Garden and Pottery on Droitwich Road to the public on
GAS mains work which has caused "total chaos" in Studley is to be suspended while another firm carries out different work nearby - but unfortunately for drivers, traffic mayhem will resume in September. Transco's work in Alcester Road and High Street
AN extra £10,000 has been awarded to Studley Community Infants School for an outdoor learning centre to complement a huge redevelopment of the school now under way. The school, off High Street, is undergoing a £900,000 transformation at the moment to
A BED-BOUND disabled pensioner was saved just seconds before being engulfed by smoke when the kitchen of her Matchborough bungalow went up in flames. Fire crews from Redditch and Bromsgrove were called to the home in Ilmington Close at about 12.30pm last
DRIVERS are being warned that a new mobile speed camera site is to be set up along the Alcester Road in Mappleborough Green. The 40mph road, which has been a notorious accident spot in the past, is to be monitored "in response to a request from local
COOKHILL Parish Council has a new chairman. John Fletcher of The Ridgeway has taken over from Bob Pinfield, who stood down about a month ago. The parish council is also looking for a new clerk ready for when Joan Rogers steps down in August. "We want
PLANS for new flats on the site of the old Co-op Pioneer store in Studley look to be back on track, despite an earlier scheme being rejected. The original plans for the corner of Alcester Road and High Street were thrown out by Stratford Council in February
BROMSGROVE Swimming Club used competing at the Dolphin Centre to their full advantage to win round two of the Mercian League Division Two on Saturday. The team, which wasn't allowed to use its swimmers with midland district qualifying times, edged Broadway
CHRIS Jones secured his first victory in the British 125cc Grand Prix Championship since joining Red Bull Honda Racing at the Croft on Sunday. The Droitwich rider, aged 14, produced a gutsy display in round six to put him in contention for the riders
Bromsgrove Blaze 36 Kidderminster 14 BROMSGROVE Blaze Basketball Club's girls team sealed a comfortable friendly victory at the Ryland Centre last week. Two baskets in a row by Kylie Mosley put Blaze in charge in the first quarter. Emma Forrest also bagged
Prudden Road Surfacing League AT THE halfway point in the season Stratford B are looking invincible as they lead the Premier Division listings by nine points from Inkberrow after both enjoyed 4-0 wins. Third-placed Littleton A could only manage a draw
THE tennis section of Evesham Rowing Club is holding its annual Play Tennis day next Friday between 4.30 and 7.30pm. The event is sponsored by the Lawn Tennis Association and aims to encourage a wide range of people to pick up a racquet. There will be
SHOWING support for National Recruitment Week from June 4-11, Broadway Bowls Club is looking to recruit youngsters to take up the game. The club is hopeful that young bowlers can emulate 18-year-old Andrew Walters who made his debut for Worcestershire's
A DISABLED Alcester man is calling on other wheelchair users in the town to join forces to campaign for a better deal. Tony Wyer, of Blackthorn Way, believes that as a group they would have more success getting improved access to shops and other services
LAST Sunday proved a profitable afternoon for Cotswolds-based trainers and jockeys at Stratford. The meeting at Luddington Road saw the opening three race winners all boast Gloucestershire connections with Jonjo O'Neill trai- ning the opening winner and
STRATFORD Racecourse is staging the Premier Cruz Charity Raceday on Sunday. The afternoon of racing includes a parade including Gold Cup hero Desert Orchid between the third and fourth races. The first of the six National Hunt races is off at 2.10pm and
Evesham and District Flying Club ELEVEN members sent 114 birds to Poole on June 4, liberated at 9.45am into a south west wind. 1 G Carter 1543.66; 2 T Gould 1505.98; 3 H Taylor 1483.47; 4 Mrs J Heckingbottom 1478.45; 5 Silvester bros 1476.03; 6 H Heckingbottom
BROADWAY enjoyed another successful week on the green when winning another Concorde League game, having a team progress in the National Two- Rink competition while also claiming a mixed friendly win against Bank House. Pershore was the venue for last
FOUR members of Evesham Wheelers made a 12-day trip from Land's End to John o' Groats to raise funds for the Air Ambulance. The hardy quartet covered 970 miles and collected more than £2000 plus on a journey in which three members stayed together all
AFTER their annual trip to Saundersfoot, the majority of the Arden club's fleet retu-rned to sail at Defford last Sunday. The first race was a pursuit contest and a sudden gust shortly after the start forced John Tildersly (Comet) to retire leaving Keith
Vale of Evesham League Honours 2004/2005 - Division One: Winners, The Swan; runners-up Talbot. Division Two: Bretforton Legion; Angel B. Jim Cox Trophy: The Swan; Offenham Legion. Pairs: Adrian Danby & Chris Ross; Pete Wright & Paul Jelfs. Knockout
ALCESTER town councillors have led the way in a bid to keep vital community funding in towns and villages of the district. At a meeting of Stratford District Council's Arden Community Committee, former mayor Chris Gough protested over the proposed withdrawal
REGULARS at an Alcester pub have helped raise £500 for Olivia Clarke, the Staffordshire youngster who had to have her hands and feet amputated through meningitis. The Friends of The White Lion organised an inter-pub five-a-side tournament over the May
HUNDREDS of visitors enjoyed a stroll through the gardens of Alcester on Sunday afternoon and raised vital funds for Cancer Research UK. The local branch of the charity organised its annual walkabout, with about 20 town centre gardens opening their gates
PUBS, restaurants and clubs in Worcester have hit out at Government plans to charge them for extra policing. Landlords in the city said proposals to make businesses in areas hit by drink-fuelled violence, pay a blanket tax of £100 a week each, were "unfair
MUSIC fans can now compile a DVD of all their favourite tracks thanks to an innovative service from a Worcestershire firm. Videmix Ltd, in Redditch, has a vast array of sports and movie clips on its Retrobytes website, and has now signed up with Sony
WORK hard and behave yourself at St Nicholas School, Alcester, and you can earn a special dinner served by the headteacher. It is all part of a reward scheme where children start in gold zone and move up or down the scale according to their performance
A CHEAP holiday in Sri Lanka turned into to a major fund-raising campaign for a Coughton parish councillor and her friend from Alcester. Maureen McTavish and Jane Sergeant were so touched by the plight of children at the Sudharma College in Galle that
THE Alcester-in-Bloom team is offering its famous hanging baskets as memorials to loved ones again this year. The scheme has proved very popular, raising hundreds of pounds towards the floral decoration of the town, and chairman Maggie Payne is keen that
Review: Sin City (18) NOIRISH comic book adaption Sin City is a brutal thriller that is not for the faint of heart. The film weaves three dark and dangerous stories, set in Sin City, from the mind of acclaimed writer Frank Miller. All three are packed
Wednesday June 8 Film: The Life Aquatic of Steve Zissou, Artrix, School Drive, Bromsgrove, 7.45pm. Thursday June 9 Talk: Carl Chinn, Avoncroft Museum, Stoke Heath, 7.30pm. Music: Half Man Half Biscuit, Wulfrun Hall, North Street, Wolverhampton. Friday
An exciting and varied summer season from Birmingham Royal Ballet - including two world premieres - kicks off at the city's Hippodrome Theatre this week. The first of nine productions is Stravinsky! A Celebration, featuring four of Stravinsky's dance
JAZZ singer Clare Teal makes a welcome return to Malvern's Forum Theatre later this month. Described as the new queen of swing, Clare Teal recently signed a record-breaking deal with Sony Jazz and brings her extraordinary voice and wonderfully sharp wit
Thursday, June 9 Jongleurs Comedy Club, Malvern Theatres. Tickets from 01684 892277. Sultans of Squeeze, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester. Tickets from 01905 611427. The Touring Consortium: Dracula by Bram Stoker, Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Until June 11
HARRY Potter fans are being invited to dress up as their favourite character for a sing-a-long concert. The event at the Swan Theatre, in Worcester, will be held at 11.30am on Saturday (June 11) and will feature theme music from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's
IT'S heartening to know that at least some Americans still retain a sense of irony and are ready to take a sideswipe - or rather full-frontal assault - on the country's pious self-belief that it's peopled by the greatest humans ever and has the world's
AFTER the mysterious death of their parents, the Baudelaire children are left orphaned with only their resourcefulness and each other to pull them through. Taken far away, they are left in the care of their distant relative, the villainous Count Olaf
THERE is no doubt The Pacifier will blight the television schedule on Christmas Eve afternoons forever more. It is the type of unbearable Disney schmaltz which is only watchable as an alternative to listening to your toothless gran suck her way through
WHEN One Word, the first track on Ms Osbourne's album, hit the airwaves, there were two things I liked about it. One, it wasn't her laughable Madonna cover Pappa Don't Preach and two, it wasn't the vomit-inducing version of Black Sabbath's Changes which
BROMSGROVE Rovers are closing in on signing Welsh goal ace Steve Rodgers. Manager Jimmy Mullen and his assistant Bernard Mackey are set to speak with the 26-year-old hitman this week. Rodgers was top scorer for Welsh Premier League side Welshpool, scoring
CAPTAIN Richard Illingworth is confident that Barnt CC Green will be firing on all cylinders in the Birmingham and District League Premier Division, once the team gets a full strength squad back. The title chasers have been frustrated by a series of injuries
CHRIS Jones secured his first victory in the British 125cc Grand Prix Championship since joining Red Bull Honda Racing at the Croft on Sunday. SPEED DEMON: Chris Jones celebrates victory on Sunday. The Droitwich rider, aged 14, produced a gutsy display
AN enterprising student has helped design and build a revolutionary new babies' cot which could mean no more sleepless night for parents. Student Peter Lea, aged 24, from King's Acre in Hereford, has worked with three fellow students at Coventry University
ENERGETIC children at Colwall Primary School, near Malvern, returned from half-term to discover a brand new adventure playground ready to swing into action. The school's previous outdoor equipment had closed in May last year, after a decade of faithful
A CHARITY is to honour a city man in recognition for his years of fund-raising. Lowesmoor-based Scope 1st Key Worcestershire, which provides a range of community-based living options for people with cerebral palsy and associated disabilities in the city
WATER hero Flush Gordon was due to land in Worcester today to help save local residents from a life of dehydration. Severn Trent's superhero was at Elgar Retail Park to offer general advice on how to check if you may be dehydrated and what to do about
PLANNERS are to decide whether a large development company should be allowed to build 22 flats on a busy road next to a canal conservation area. Neil Grinnall Homes wants permission to put up the four-storey apartment block on Bath Road, between its junctions
THE first pint at the re-opened Lyppard Grange pub in Warndon Villages was pulled by Acorns children's hospice fund-raiser Lucy Howells. The bar has been transformed into a more traditional-style pub and before its closure for refurbishment it held a
ROB Warner believes a troublesome knee problem will heal ahead of the scheduled start for pre-season training. The 28-year-old Worcester City full-back was rested from the club's final game of the Nationwide North campaign, a 3-0 defeat at Gainsborough
ETHNIC minority workers in Redditch's Asian and Chinese restaurants and takeaways will receive greater protection from the police against racial attacks. Police will ask owners and staff at the town's food outlets whether they have been victims of religious
OWNERS of CCTV systems in Redditch are being urged to do their bit to make the community safer. As part of a public-spirited gesture, police are asking people to contribute to a forcewide database by registering their CCTV systems. It means that in the
Review: Ocean's 12 (12) THE sequel to the popular and stylish Ocean's 11 begins three and a half years after the gang pulled off the massive heist we saw in the first film. We are shown what main characters, Danny (George Clooney) and Rusty (Brad Pitt
Review: Sin City (18) NOIRISH comic book adaption Sin City is a brutal thriller that is not for the faint of heart. The film weaves three dark and dangerous stories, set in Sin City, from the mind of acclaimed writer Frank Miller. All three are packed
FECKENHAM striker Ryan Field admitted he was 'gobsmacked' after picking up a prestigious award. The 23-year-old collected the Wilf Eastwood Memorial Trophy as the most outstanding player of the season. The presentation was made to club officials during
American Football: UNBEATEN South Wales Warriors proved too hot to handle for Redditch Arrows at the weekend, claiming a 22-0 victory in Cardiff. And it means a record of just one victory for the Arrows from their three games so far this campaign. Both
DISAPPOINTED Exhall & Wixford skipper Simon Hollands said his side must make no mistakes in their bid to land the Cotswold Hills Premier Division title. His rallying cry came after the league leaders crashed out of this year's National Village Knockout
Athletics: RACEWALKER Sharon Tonks headed to Spain at the weekend for the International GP at La Caruna. Despite the race being held at 6pm the temperature was still very hot for the athletes, many of them full-time. Anglo-Spanish athlete Niobe Menendez
Wednesday June 8 Film: The Life Aquatic of Steve Zissou, Artrix, School Drive, Bromsgrove, 7.45pm. Thursday June 9 Talk: Carl Chinn, Avoncroft Museum, Stoke Heath, 7.30pm. Music: Half Man Half Biscuit, Wulfrun Hall, North Street, Wolverhampton. Friday
EVOCATIVE tale Cider with Rosie is the latest production by Swan Theatre Amateur Company at Worcester's Swan Theatre from Thursday, June 16. The best-selling autobiography by Laurie Lee charts his growing up as a boy in the Cotswold village of Slad before
An exciting and varied summer season from Birmingham Royal Ballet - including two world premieres - kicks off at the city's Hippodrome Theatre this week. The first of nine productions is Stravinsky! A Celebration, featuring four of Stravinsky's dance
WORCESTER Warriors are in no rush to appoint a successor to Andy Keast. The Sixways club, who parted company with their head coach last week, are mulling over their options and hope to clarify the situation in the near future. Appointing a replacement
ROB Warner believes a troublesome knee problem will heal ahead of the scheduled start for pre-season training. The 28-year-old Worcester City full-back was rested from the club's final game of the Nationwide North campaign, a 3-0 defeat at Gainsborough
WORCESTER Warriors are in no rush to appoint a successor to Andy Keast. The Sixways club, who parted company with their head coach last week, are mulling over their options and hope to clarify the situation in the near future. Appointing a replacement
CAPTAIN Richard Illingworth is confident that Barnt CC Green will be firing on all cylinders in the Birmingham and District League Premier Division, once the team gets a full strength squad back. The title chasers have been frustrated by a series of injuries
Leamington 214-6 Barnt Green 171-8 Barnt Green Green get a winning draw COUNTY duo Roger Sillence and David Wigley helped Green grab an unlikely winning draw in Leamington on Saturday. Gloucestershire all rounder Sillence (84) and Worcestershire's Wigley
Bromsgrove 207-10 Sutton Coldfield 136-9 Bromsgrove obtain a winning draw BROMSGROVE held their nerve to take the lion's share of the points against Sutton Coldfield in the Birmingham and District League Division One on Saturday. The Boars, powered by
DROITWICH continued their defence of the Worcestershire Sunday League in fine style with a comfortable victory over Old Elizabethans. Captain Steve Walsh won the toss and elected to bat. Dave Scott-Walker (98) and Paul Bryan (75 not out) then set about
Amblecote and Wollaston 161-9 Avoncroft 165-4 Avoncroft win by six wickets A SECOND wicket stand of 133 by Dave James and Matt Hare ensured Avoncroft victory in the Worcester League Division Three on Saturday. Victory moved 'Croft into third in the table
JUST days after picking up a top award, Redditch United winger Simon Hollis has walked out on the Nationwide North club. But manager Rod Brown has moved quickly to line-up a replacement with former Cheltenham Town striker Chris Murphy at the top of his
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers' grim boardroom power struggle rumbles on after an angry clash between majority shareholder Lionel Newton and the troubled club's board of directors. The confrontation came during last night's heated annual meeting of shareholders
THIS year's Gloucester Cricket Festival welcomes reigning Frizzell County Champions Warwickshire for the four-day game at the King's School Ground at ArchDeacon Meadow that starts tomorrow. Gloucestershire is also pleased to welcome Morley Fund Management
TOMORROW night at Evesham CC, weekly sessions for youngsters that proved so popular last summer will restart. There will be coaching and games for boys and girls aged seven to 12 looking for an introduction to the game from 6pm. Meanwhile, there will
BADSEY slumped to a heavy and swift reverse at Highley last Saturday. Asked to bat first on a bouncy pitch, the visitors encountered problems from the start and were dismissed for just 81 in the 37th over. Dave Powell, Tony Cowley and Clive Richards were
TEMPLE Grafton lead the way in Division Four of the Cotswold Hills League after a magnificent bowling display from Jon Holt. Visitors Harvington had no answer to the second change bowler who reeled off seven overs, three of which were maidens to record
DUMBLETON easily qualified for the Gloucestershire group final of this year's npower Village Cup competition with an 88-run success over Stone. Captain Rob Churchman smashed 90 and Paul Engelbrecht an unbeaten 51 in Dumbleton's 214-5. Mike Barfoot and
IN response to your article regarding the siting of mobile phone masts, I am incensed by comments made by Dave Hammond, from Bromsgrove District Council's planning department, that they had advised T-Mobile that they would 'get opposition from residents
HAVING invested significant personal funds and effort into retraining for a career to provide childcare for local families, we seem to have fallen foul of the NIMBY brigade. Our naive honesty with our neighbours kicked off a real stink with complaints
WASN'T Mr Stephen's letter just simply typical of modern times. Look, you can blame Phoenix for wasting money, not cutting overheads to suit the potential market or whatever. You can blame the Government for introducing too much foreign competition, but
FURTHER to the article by the Catshill resident. In order to help, I have learned an invaluable lesson of late with regard to highlighting issues that don't seem to get fixed. It really is so very easy - together with other 'affected residents' make a
USUALLY I pay my parking fee religiously, but on May 30 - Bank Holiday Monday - I did not pay. I thought: "I'm only going to be a few minutes and it is Bank Holiday Monday," so I didn't. On returning to my car, I found that Bromsgrove District Council
Redditch Ravens gained their first ever Rugby League win as they narrowly edged out Birmingham Bulldogs 30-24. The Ravens opened their account as early as the 4th minute with Colin Bryant scoring his first try for the club which was converted by Gareth
BROMSGROVE Rovers are closing in on signing Welsh goal ace Steve Rodgers. Manager Jimmy Mullen and his assistant Bernard Mackey are set to speak with the 26-year-old hitman this week. Rodgers was top scorer for Welsh Premier League side Welshpool, scoring
I SEE arch-wrecker Action For Droitwich (AFD) is alive and well and living amongst us under its new name of Save A Lido Today (SALT). I was one of the thousands who voted 'yes' to save the lido in the recent SALT inspired (or should that be AFD inspired
RE: Witton traffic lights. A few weeks ago you printed a letter by the Manchester Man, from Danube Close. I agree largely with the letter and have to confess I was chairman of the town council planning committee that agreed to the lights. The junction
WE had a parish poll to stop the new Waitrose store being built in its current location. The result was overwhelmingly in favour of placing any supermarket on the Kidderminster Road. This poll was ignored. The poll only appeared to be about housing at
IS Droitwich getting horrid 'wheelie bins' by stealth? Once there were two bags, black for 'genuine' rubbish and clear for recycling. Then came different colour recycling bags, so we keep half our smelly salvage cluttering the home for two weeks. Refusing
LINDA Carruthers held her nerve to ensure the ladies of Broadway Golf Club made further progress in this year's Mail on Sunday tournament. Cirencester were the visitors and they matched the home side's brace of wins with the other two matches halved.
WORCESTERSHIRE made an early break-through in their Frizzell County Championship Division Two fixture against Somerset at Bath's Recreation Ground. The hosts elected to bat first after winning the toss, but lost opener John Francis for one in the second
THE gap between now and pre-season is an important time for several players to recuperate from injuries, bumps and bruises. One of those is Danny McDonnell, whose recent hernia operation went successfully. Those sort of surgeries are pretty straight-forward
TOWNSFOLK will have the last chance to view the work of a popular Bromsgrove artist and teacher this week. Mary Long, who died in 2003, aged 89, can be remembered through her work, which being show at Bromsgrove Library, in Stratford Road, until Saturday
Evesham and District Disabled Club and Partnership's A DOZEN anglers turned out despite the dismal weather for last Thursday's third match of the Summer Evening League on the Middle Pool at Manor Farm. Clive Leeming topped the weights with a net of 36lbs
AUDIENCES in Bromsgrove can explore the spirit world with a trip to the Artrix. Guests to the School Drive building will be offered an insight into messages from the other side when The Psychic Show comes to town on Saturday, June 11, at 7.30pm. After
IN Your MP writes, Sir Michael Spicer, MP for West Worcestershire says that he has been "chosen... as their Member of Parliament." It is interesting to reflect that less than a third of West Worcestershire's 77,000 electorate actually voted for Sir Michael
FOR the club's June meeting, we have a subject with a local interest, with a presentation by author Philip Jarvis on the Redditch to Ashchurch railway. This slide presentation will cover the history of the railway plus more recent material. Phillip has
THE president, Maureen Timmins, welcomed the members and thanked Trish for the floral arrangement. Members were saddened at the sudden death of one of the founder members. The minutes were read and events organised by the county were noted and a 'thank-you
AS a resident of Hallow I generally agreed with Mr Jackson's comments (Letters, Thursday, June 2) but not to the proposal to exile Aubrey Tarbuck to Worcester's St Peter's as every village needs an idiot. It would seem typical, but unfortunate for Worcester
THE president, Maureen Smith, welcomed the members to the meeting, giving welcome speech to the WI adviser, Christine Hickman-Smith, who came to take over the discussion and writing on the resolutions to be presented at the June AGM. Birthday greetings
THE meeting on May 10 saw Pat Batley and Ann Price as dual presenters of 'A Magical May Day'. These two ladies, each wearing an orchid corsage, were making a welcome return visit to us, and they had brought along for their arrangements a selection of
OUR WI members were welcomed on May 10 by president Brenda Jenkins. After opening the meeting with the singing of Jerusalem, birthday wishes were given out, along with details of forthcoming events - an outing to Webbs Garden Centre on June 28, and a
Birmingham Premier League STUDLEY maintained their place at the top of the Division Two table following their three-wicket victory over Wolverhampton. But they did it with just one ball to spare after rain almost wrecked their chances of claiming the
THE excitement could be keenly felt when Major Mustard's Travelling Show rolled into Bromsgrove Library. An appreciative audience of youngsters, mums, dads and grandparents enjoyed last Thursday's performance, which included story telling, puppets, music
AFTER the mysterious death of their parents, the Baudelaire children are left orphaned with only their resourcefulness and each other to pull them through. Taken far away, they are left in the care of their distant relative, the villainous Count Olaf
NEW, improved opening times have come into operation at the minor injuries unit at Bromsgrove's Princess of Wales Community Hospital. The new times replace the old 'office hours' which had been heavily criticised. The former 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
TOWNSFOLK who use public transport are being hit with yet more service cuts. A popular bus route into Birmingham is being axed by First Midland Red. From Monday, the half hourly 143 service, which runs into Birmingham from Bromsgrove, will terminate at
A FORMER anorexic Spa woman - who is now a size 18 - claims she was refused entry to a nightclub because she is overweight. Lyndsay Oliver, of Ploughman's Court, Westlands, was refused entry from four Worcester bars and nightclubs on Friday. Bouncers
RUBERY'S neighbourhood watch scheme is growing after yet another street joined up to help crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour. Links Drive, near Lickey Hills Golf Course, is the new addition to the team of residents determined to deter and prevent
Cotswold Hills League A FOURTH defeat of the season kept Alcester & Ragley rooted to the foot of the Premier Division table. A batting collapse ensured they returned from Moreton-in-Marsh empty-handed, licking their wounds following a 110-run defeat
A GOVERNMENT minister was in town last week to visit a well-known dairy. The new food and farming Minister, Lord Bach, called in to Robert Wiseman Dairies, at Stonebridge Cross Business Park, on Friday to learn from those at the heart of the dairy industry
A KIND-hearted girl from Wychbold has been presented with a special Girlguiding award to recognise the caring role she has at home. Brownie guide Jade St John, aged eight, has been helping her mum, Sarah, cope with her epilepsy for more than two years
A SPA school is celebrating getting a big thumbs-up from inspectors this week. Children and staff at Wychbold First School and Nursery, in School Road, were thrilled to receive the glowing report, which particularly praised maths and art and design teaching
WHEN One Word, the first track on Ms Osbourne's album, hit the airwaves, there were two things I liked about it. One, it wasn't her laughable Madonna cover Pappa Don't Preach and two, it wasn't the vomit-inducing version of Black Sabbath's Changes which
TEAM Halfords' Matt Neal and Vauxhall's Yvan Muller were the winners of Sunday's three Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Cham-pionship races at Brands Hatch. Neal won the first two races to take the championship lead from Dan Eaves, while Muller tasted victory
A MAGNIFICENT all-round display from Martin Johnson guided Pershore to an unlikely victory at Moseley Ashfield last Saturday. "Magic" produced a virtual one-man show to leave the hosts shellshocked on an afternoon of fluctuating fortunes in the third
REDDITCH'S biggest and most ambitious music and arts festival has been hailed a great success by organisers - the first of many to come they hope. Thousands of residents poured into Arrow Valley Park at the weekend to enjoy two large concerts featuring
TEAM Halfords' Matt Neal and Vauxhall's Yvan Muller were the winners of Sunday's three Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Cham-pionship races at Brands Hatch. Neal won the first two races to take the championship lead from Dan Eaves, while Muller tasted victory
FOUR members of Evesham Wheelers made a 12-day trip from Land's End to John o' Groats to raise funds for the Air Ambulance. The hardy quartet covered 970 miles and collected more than £2000 plus on a journey in which three members stayed together all
AFTER their annual trip to Saundersfoot, the majority of the Arden club's fleet retu-rned to sail at Defford last Sunday. The first race was a pursuit contest and a sudden gust shortly after the start forced John Tildersly (Comet) to retire leaving Keith
THE memory of a Redditch community stalwart will live on in a new road named in his honour after the opening of a housing development in Batchley. Redditch Co-operative Homes (RCH) has decided to name its latest scheme Stallard Close after Charles Stallard
Congratulations to Redditch Council for perpetrating yet another monumentally hideous blunder. A pop festval to equal Reading or 'v'. My eye! An event of this nature would require at least 12 months worth of nationwide publicity, not a few half-baked
THREE Redditch charities will get a slice of the £1,500 raised at the town's annual fun run around Arrow Valley Lake. Radio Pulse, based at the Alexandra Hospital, the Where Next Association and the Redditch Unicorns will each receive £500 from last month's
AFTER nigh on eight years without an effective Opposition in Parliament, I can understand why Jacqui Smith would be confused in her Letter from Westminster (Advertiser, June 1). Perhaps she doesn't realise parties in opposition are supposed to provide
COOKHILL residents are celebrating after their recently-revamped village hall was given the seal of approval. Wychavon District Council, the local authority for the village, recently awarded the hall its prestigious Seal of Excellence certificate. The
D ANDREWS writes (Letters, May 26) about the state of the grass cutting in Grangers Lane and Redditch Council's apparent reluctance to leave the area tidy afterwards. "Sheep would do a cleaner job," D Andrew writes. "In Austria, they sweep up every day
A SCHEME which helps people who cannot get credit needs volunteers to help it expand. The Stratford-on-Avon Credit Union was actually started in Studley and has recently expanded to take in Alcester and other parts of the Stratford district. It is a non-profit
THE Arts in Redditch (AIR) Festival concerts this weekend were great. Big crowds cheered the acts and I thought the whole weekend was a success. My favourite was Jools Holland but local bands did really well, particularly those from Kingsley College.
AFTER spending 35 years working with books, the former manager of Redditch Library has now written his own. Charles Johnson, of Buckleys Green, Alvechurch, is celebrating the publication of his first book of poems, The Feather-List Extracts. The poems
THE Redditch Philatelic Society has given its stamp of approval to a new logo and has launched itself on the worldwide web in advance of its 35th anniversary. The previous logo was used for many years, almost since the stamp collectors group started.
A REDDITCH painter and decorator has been awarded £900 by Birmingham Employment Tribunal after a construction firm unlawfully deducted money from his wages. David Horne, of High Trees Close, Oakenshaw, was a sub-contractor for 16 months for High Class
DROITWICH Spa based rider Angela Rucker and young Whack shared the spoils with the winner at Kingston Blount recently but should give a good account of themselves in the Ladies event at Saturday's Harkaway point-to-point at Chaddesley Corbett, near Bromsgrove
MATT NEAL roared to the top of the British Touring Car Championship with a double victory in rounds seven, eight and nine at Brands Hatch on Sunday. The Droitwich driver won the first two rounds to leap frog fellow Team Halfords ace Dan Eaves at the top
KERRY Coulter and Beverly Dodds were the first women's pairing ever to win Bromsgrove Golf Club's Winter League final. Chris Mole won the singles event, while John Foster and Tony Aykroyd won the senior pairs section. Bromsgrove's team in the Worcestershire
GOLFER John Bickerton finished 44th at the Celtic Manor Wales Open over the weekend. The Droitwich professional ended the tournament strongly at the Celtic Manor course to record a one-over-par score of 277 over the four days. He made a disastrous start
SPORTING tots at the All Day Sunshine Pre-School are having a 'wheelie' good time thanks to a £3,000 grant. The playgroup at Bentley Village Hall in Manor Road used cash from the Local Network Fund to buy sports equipment. Youngsters and parents are now
IT was all bells and whistles when children from Ronkswood Infants' School, Worcester, showed off their dancing skills at a residential home. The Year 2 pupils from the school in St Alban's Close, Ronkswood, put their best foot forwards for a lunchtime
ONE win from the four rinks played meant defeat for Eve-sham Ladies at Pershore. The 20-16 win by the trio of Strong, Upton and Hemms was the only highlight of the Conc-orde League clash although the visitors provided stubborn resistance on two of the
COUNTY success has ear-ned a trio of bowlers from the Pershore club a place at the national finals in Leamington in August. Lyn Tattersall, Penny Rudd and skip Wilma Day overcame the challenge of their opponents from Gilt Edge BC 20-8 to book their place
THIRTEEN boats were at the start line for Sunday's first race when Evesham club members enjoyed the best day's sailing this season. Within the first lap. David Way and Alastair Gordon had both become overpowered by the wind and had to retire. With some
THE Vale Triffids participated in their third race of the season. Having gained a place on the Ross to Monmouth race and winning fastest ladies trophy at Arley, the ten-strong mixed team of Andy Rattue, Gary Pickering, Jason and Wendy Foytik, Graeme Adkin
PETE Boyles has enjoyed a successful early season in the National Earlystock Champion-ship. Riding the Paxford Garage sponsored Yamaha XJ550 and Suzuki GSX750 and supported by Chap-man-Tyrrell Racing, initial engine problems have been quickly overcome
THE Greig Centre has waived its fees for hosting the Alcester and Arden Folk Festival to make sure that the event stays in the town. Organisers would have had to fork out about £1,500 to stage their events at the Kinwarton Road centre but when lack of
