PEOPLE living in rural communities in Worcestershire and Herefordshire will once again be able to take computer courses in their village halls. Holme Lacy College, part of the Pershore Group of Colleges, is offering specialist training for small rural
ONE person was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital after a three-vehicle accident on the M5. Firefighters were called to the scene on the southbound carriageway between Junction 4A at Bromsgrove and Junction 5, Wychbold, yesterday at about 2.30pm. One person
WORCESTER Citizens Advice Bureau has moved to new offices in the Hopmarket after being based in a church crypt for 13 years. The nine staff and 47 trained volunteers transferred to their new base in the week before Christmas, ready to start the New Year
WITH the festive period in full swing, the alcohol is flowing and all-day hangovers have become a constant state of being for many people. As many of us party with friends and family, alcohol becomes the accepted form of currency for exchanging goodwill
AN enormous paw print found on a car near Bringsty Common has left its owner in no doubt a large cat is prowling the area. Businessman Steve Marshall said he discovered the mark - left by an animal with a 7cm by 9.5cm oval paw print - on his 4x4 vehicle
What, where, when and who... WATER The emergency number for the Worcester, Wyre Forest, Malvern, Pershore, Droitwich, Evesham and Bromsgrove, Hereford and Ledbury areas is 0800 783 4444. ELECTRICITY If your electricity goes off, look out of the window
A CHRISTMAS card design by a Wolverley schoolgirl will be printed in its thousands next year after it was judged the overall winner in a West Midlands competition. Emily Dunn, 12, from Heathfield School, triumphed in the contest to create West Midland
A CHRISTMAS card design by a Wolverley schoolgirl will be printed in its thousands next year after it was judged the overall winner in a West Midlands competition. Emily Dunn, 12, from Heathfield School, triumphed in the contest to create West Midland
CLIFFORD T Ward's songs would be covered by Art Garfunkel and Cliff Richard but it was at Stourport Secondary Modern School where his singing first attracted attention. He first honed his talent in the school choir and between classes met the inspiration
THE decision to underwrite the £1.2 million cost of buying the Kidderminster site earmarked for an incinerator has been slammed by the leader of Wyre Forest District Council. Councillor Mike Oborski said the vote by the Worcestershire County Council cabinet
THE road from Kidderminster to Calcutta is not a well-trodden one but it has been travelled by a history student fulfilling a childhood dream to follow in Mother Theresa's footsteps. Nineteen-year-old Verity Worthington has taken a year out from her studies
LOVERS of Gilbert and Sullivan are in for a treat in the New Year. Worcester's G & S Society is presenting HMS Pinafore with Trial by Jury at the Festival Theatre, Malvern, from January 22-26. The operettas are two of the most popular Gilbert and
THE search is on for kind-hearted singers, musicians, and dancers to take part in an evening of international music in Evesham next year. The Evesham and Pershore Racial Equality Network (EPREN) is looking to represent all backgrounds ranging from Asian
A VIENNESE Waltz Spectacular is being staged at Cheltenham Town Hall on January 2, by the London Gala Orchestra. Soprano Jane Streeton and tenor Tim Evans will be singing a wealth of romantic songs such as Love Unspoken and Be Mine Dear Love, in beautiful
IT'S an irresistible thought that, somewhere in the Faithful City, a family may be easing from Christmas towards the New Year blissfully unaware that tragedy's not far away. The photo of Anita Gair on Page 9 is both an awful reminder that someone's child
WORCESTERSHIRE pace ace Andy Bichel played a starring role as Australia took charge on the second day of the first Test against South Africa at Melbourne. Bichel, who will return for a second season at New Road next year, has been considered surplus to
JOHN Brain is sweating on the fitness of a number of key players before the Midland derby with Moseley on Saturday. Worcester Rugby Club's head coach has worries over fly-half Steven Vile, forwards Christian Evans, Andy Collins and Richard Nias after
Address: Common Road, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 4PU Tel: 01386 442303 Fax: 01386 443902 Capacity: 2,000 (350 seated) Directions: Turn into Oat Street off the High Street and then left to join one way system. Turn next right down Conduit Hill into
HOME side Wyre Forest crowned the season with a win in the final gala of the year at Stourport. They retained the Nat West Trophy gala which they had won in 1999 and was then cancelled due to floods the following year. Forest fielded two teams in the
ALAN Sykes has won the Scratch Knockout for the West End Garage Cup at Cleobury Mortimer for the third year in succession. The trophy was presented to the club by professional Jon Jones and Matt Nixon in 1998 when the winner was Joe Ferguson. P Carpenter
STOURPORT Badgers gained a comfortable 3-0 victory over Lichfield with two goals for 12-year-old Ben Harris and one from James Powell. The Badgers have won nine, drawn two and lost just one of their 12 matches in their inaugural season. They have scored
AMAZING Feet Running Club's Martin Childe and Gordon Sims had a terrific battle in the Mortimer Forest hill race. Sims just beat Childe though both recorded a time of 1 hour 47 minutes in the tough 10-miler. Conditions underfoot were poor in places and
A MAN who attacked a guest after a wedding reception and knocked out two of her teeth has been jailed for 21 months. John Baker, 24, of Hurcott Road, Kidderminster, was convicted of assault causing physical harm on Mrs Kelly Whall . The conviction came
CANNABIS worth £2,300 was found on a Stourport man who was searched by police on the car park of the town leisure centre. Andrew Newey, 25, of Broach Meadow, was committed in custody by Kidderminster magistrates for sentence at Worcester Crown Court on
A MAN who took drugs to blot out a death crash burgled his mother's home, Worcester Crown Court heard. Mark Timmins needed goods to sell for heroin and broke into the unoccupied house. He began taking drugs in prison after being jailed for five years
AN obsessed gambler took money from a fruit machine at Stourport Police Club and used it to play the machine. He carried none of the cash away, his solicitor, Brian O'Connell, told Kidderminster magistrates. It all went back. Anthony Hutton, husband of
WORCESTER City boss John Barton is poised to complete the signing of striker Adam Webster from Bedworth United before the weekend. The two clubs have agreed a deal and Barton, who has met the player to discuss personal terms, said last night that he was
I HAVE been reading a copy of your Wyre Forest Memory Lane book and it is great. I love it. My name is Jenny Roehead (nee Wakeman) and I have lived in Melbourne for 30 years, but I was born in Stourport and still have a son and his family there and brothers
TESTIMONY Films is making a documentary about the home front during the First World War (1914-18) and we are looking for interviewees from around the country. Were you on the home front during the First World War? During this conflict when many men went
CHADDESLEY Corbett turned the form book upside down with an emphatic 4-1 win over title chasers Wyre Forest in West Midlands Division One South. Ian Vogel, Craig Pratt and Ashley Phillips missed early chances for Chaddesley before visiting Forest took
MALVERN'S historic Toposcope, which was stolen from the top of the Hills nearly two years ago, has been recovered. The engraved metal plate, installed at the highest point of Worcestershire Beacon in 1898, was found by police at an address in Walsall,
THE campaign to create a West Mercia Health Authority has been quashed by the Government. Health minister John Hutton has announced Worcestershire Health Authority will be part of a new "super authority" to also cover Coventry, Warwickshire and Herefordshire
Officials at Hereford Racecourse were forced to abandon yesterday's National Hunt meeting because of frost. Deputy clerk of the course Jason Loosemore said: "We unfortunately had to decide to abandon racing. The forecast wasn't promising enough basically
WORCESTERSHIRE pace ace Andy Bichel played a starring role as Australia took charge on the second day of the first Test against South Africa at Melbourne. Bichel, who will return for a second season at New Road next year, has been considered surplus to
MIDFIELDER Scott Goodwin fired Hereford United to a vital 1-0 win at in-form Telford United in the Nationwide Conference. The former Hednesford player swept home Matt Clarke's deep right-wing cross in the 79th minute of a hard-fought match. Goodwin's
The match of the day in the Worcester and District League Saturday Premier Division saw leaders Tolladine Sports go down 3-0 at fast-rising Inkberrow whose goals came from Chris Dixon (2) and Andrew Baxter. Also in the Premier All Blacks recorded their
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a health and fitness centre in one of the most deprived wards in Kidderminster have been given the go-ahead. But Wyre Forest District Council planners, who described the development at Foley Business Park as a "godsend", insisted
MORE than 30 people with learning disabilities have been transferred to new homes following the closure of a Kidderminster residential home. Ashbourne House, Chester Road North, closed its doors on Sunday, December 23 and the 31 residents were placed
PLANS to open a hot and cold food and drinks business at a former Kidderminster shop have been received by district planners. Under the plan food including tea and sandwiches, will be sold at the former West End Bakery, Crescent Road. The application
AN application to demolish Mothercare and Bacon Shoes in Vicar Street, Kidderminster, to create a pedestrian route to the new Weavers Wharf development have been received by district planners. Centros Miller has submitted the bid which will require listed
A BEWDLEY dad will be spending the New Year with the teenage son he has not seen for more than a year after scoring success in a competition. Steve Burrows, of Winbrook Road, won the chance to have his 16-year-old sibling, Mark, flown back from Canada
HOSPITAL bosses say they have ironed out problems with a computer system which had been leaving doctors and patients in the dark. Glitches in the patient record system at Kidderminster Hospital and Redditch and Worcester meant dozens of patients missed
COSTUMES worn by such famous Shakespeare actors and actresses as Sir Michael Redgrave and Diana Rigg are now on view at a new exhibition in Stratford. The exhibition, which features outfits from A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Merchant of Venice, has
ART lovers have until January 13 to see impressive pieces produced by top Gloucestershire craftspeople. An exhibition is being held at Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum in Clarence Street, Cheltenham, which runs up until January 13. Everything from sculpture
A TOUCHING Christmas wish has been made by a Droitwich Spa family who have raised thousands of pounds for cancer research. Debi and Nigel Wainwright have spent a busy year fundraising for Alistair's Appeal, a campaign launched when their six-year-old
Evesham Rambling Club: The November ramble set out from Hayles Fruit Farm on the Cotswold Way along a steep bridle path. This took us to the tiny village of Farmcote complete with St Faith's Church and the original village water pump set into the hillside
PARISH COUNCIL: Minutes of meeting held in Lower Moor Village Hall on December 6. The Chairman announced with regret the resignation of Cllr J Everall. A presentation was made to Mr R Miller for his work within the village and especially his interest
WYRE FOREST RAMBLERS - The Festival of Winter Walks takes place on Saturday at Bewdley. The walk, which is approximately four miles long, is open to everyone. Those interested in taking part should meet at Blackstone picnic area on the A456 at 10am.You
WEST MIDLAND BIRD CLUB - A new branch has been formed in Kidderminster under the leadership of Tony Kettle. The club already has flourishing branches in Birmingham, Solihull, Stafford and Tamworth. A full programme of indoor and field meetings during
JOBS in the British carpet industry are under threat from illegal competition on the continent, it has been claimed. The Kidderminster-based Carpet Foundation, which represents 14 leading manufacturers, has called on the Department of Trade and Industry
PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP - The Kidderminster and District group held a carol concert on December 11 in St Mary's Church. The evening was introduced by Canon Owain Bell, and featured Wyre Forest British Legion Youth Band playing carols, while soloist
WOLVERLEY WI - A Christmas party was held on December 10 when, after business matters were dealt with, members played games, including a timed hat-making competition which Sue Mantom won. The home economics section provided punch and refreshments. To
INNER WHEEL CLUB OF STOURPORT - Rotarian David Tyrrell attended the recent meeting, reminding members that Harry Morris will be taking office as district governor of district 1060 in June, 2002. He is the first member of the Rotary Club of Stourport to
LICKHILL EVENING TG - The annual Christmas meal was organised on December 10 at the Swan Hotel. Several members were booked to go to the Rose Theatre last night. Blankets, vests, bonnets and bootees are being knitted by members for babies in the third
STONE WI - A Christmas party was held on December 3, when Muriel Owen reported on the shopping trip to Oxford. Pat Farr reported on a performance of Camelot produced by an amateur society at the newly refurbished Chaddesley Corbett hall. A Christmas cake
BROCKENCOTE WI - At the members' meeting in November, Kay Palmer brought in the special tablecloth, used for the president's table, on which she had sewn leaf shapes for members to each embroider their signatures. Chris Jordan led a line-dancing session
CLEOBURY MORTIMER BRIDGE CLUB - John and Barbara Northfield were outright winners in the latest Duplicate competition, after playing the "double" to good effect against the opposition, giving them a score of 67 per cent. Norman and Jo Hall and Nick Holcombe
KIDDERMINSTER AND DISTRICT ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCEITY - Dr Simon Penn, the director of Avoncroft Museum of Buildings, has accepted the office of president of the society in succession to the late Dr Graham Webster. Dr Penn is a distinguished
YOUR grovelling editorial on Wednesday, December 12, about Worcester City FC's new stadium failed - as usual - to address the real issue. What you uncritically describe as an "enabling project" by B&Q is quite simply a bribe by the company to circumvent
HAVING read the contribution by Maurice Brett, suggesting that veterinary surgeons show an ignorance towards foxhunting (You Say, December 14), I think that it is probably fair to suggest that he and his small band of anti-hunting protesters have now
I AM writing to your readers through you to highlight a cause which is very close to my heart - that of lung cancer awareness. As many of you will know, my husband Roy lost a very courageous battle with lung cancer in 1994. Since then, I have vowed to
FORMER boss Rod Brown and hot-shot Lee Booth return to Walshes Meadow on New Year's Day with Redditch United. Booth linked up with Brown again late last week after the top scorer quit Stourport Swifts for their Dr Martens Western Division rivals. Brown
CHILDREN from schools in Kidderminster and surrounding areas joined in an annual Christmas concert organised by West Midlands Co-operative Society. Over 400 people attended the concert by pupils from Lickhill Middle School, Wribbenhall Middle School,
YOUNGSTERS at Franche First School tucked into a Christmas lunch with a difference to celebrate the end of term. Staff organised a family-style festive meal at the Kidderminster school with small tables each headed by a teacher who served the children
A Vale of Evesham woman is set to visit Australia to carry out scientific research with the environmental charity, Earthwatch, after winning a Millennium Award. For Linda Mason, aged 53, of Church Lench, who has never been abroad, never flown and has
An Evesham man has talked of his family link to JRR Tolkein as Lord of the Rings mania grips the nation. Tolkien's nephew, Vale man Gabriel Tolkien, has revealed fond memories of the famous author. The writer and his wife Edith both smoked pipes and were
FARMERS are hoping to win over Evesham town councillors next year in a bid to hold their markets more centrally in the town. Earlier this month councillors refused to allow farmers to relocate their monthly market from outside the former post office in
PERSHORE Group of Colleges has sold a large part of the land at its Hindlip site to West Mercia Police Authority. The deal for the 249 acres, which includes training buildings, followed the group's decision to rationalise its operations on its sites at
Wednesday, December 26, 2001 JAN Molby admitted that two-goal hero Bo Henriksen almost missed out on Kidderminster Harriers 4-1 Nationwide League Division Three demolition of high-riding Rochdale at Aggborough yesterday. The Harriers chief revealed the
A WORCESTER-based investment company has bought a leading British distributor of pipe work systems for the water industry. Macerata - a privately funded investment company operating out of Worcester - has paid an undisclosed seven figure sum for Floline
TRAVEL sales soared in the lead-up to Christmas as people queued for festive getaways. Thomas Cook, which has offices in Worcester, Bromsgrove and Kidderminster, said sales showed thousands of last-minute sunshine and skiing holidays had been booked.
MALVERN'S Three Counties Show is to have a change of name after 80 years. From 2002 it will be known as the Three Counties Countryside Show - a small, but significant, shift in emphasis as its parent body, the Three Counties Agricultural Society, battles
A CONMAN posing as a police officer stole cash from an elderly woman after she left her door open. The woman, who has not been named, left the front door to her home in Bath Street, Hereford, ajar while she fetched a key from her kitchen. On her return
HUNDREDS of jubilant hunt supporters turned out to welcome horses and hounds as the Worcestershire Hunt held its traditional Boxing Day meet. Yesterday's gathering in Droitwich was the first high-profile meet of the season following the end of the foot-and-mouth
TERRIFIED staff at an Evesham burger bar were threatened by balaclava-clad robbers wielding hand axes. Staff at The Little Chef/Burger King restaurant gave the robbers a large amount of cash after being threatened with the small, handheld axes. The two
YOUNGSTERS spending Christmas in hospital were given a different kind of fireman's lift when members of Worcester's fire brigade delivered presents. Seven firefighters from the retained service handed out gifts yesterday to children who had to spend the
A CELEBRATION of the life of a Worcester charity worker is due to be held in the New Year. Trid Sarkar died at his home in the city last Saturday. He was 68 and had been suffering from progressive heart disease and diabetes since a heart attack in 1983
AS MILLIONS of teenagers gear up for the biggest party of 2001 on New Year's Eve, Worcestershire youngsters are being warned to stop and think before they take illegal drugs. A new hard-hitting Government campaign, launched today, asks 11 to 18-year-olds
FEARS of vandalism have scuppered plans to reinstate busts of two of Malvern's best-known musicians in Priory Park. The original busts of Sir Edward Elgar and Swedish singer Jenny Lind were removed from their plinths in Priory Park to make room for a
PLANS to build a multi-million pound community sports hall in Malvern town centre have been put on hold. Malvern Hills District Council's executive committee has decided the council could not afford a £2.7m bill for a sports hall to be built in Priory
A "FANTASTIC" response to an appeal to build a new £2.2 million hospice in Kidderminster has brought New Year cheer to cancer sufferers and their families. Kemp Hospice which aims to have a new, purpose-built state-of-the-art centre up and running by
WYRE Forest will be hit by a double cash whammy next year, the district council's financial chief has warned. Interest rates look set to continue falling, slashing the council's annual income by half a million pounds, while government funding is failing
A CARPET manufacturer has beaten off competition from around the world to win an award for innovation after long-term investment paid off. Brockway Carpets, based off Spennells Valley Road, Kidderminster, clinched the British Wool Quality Award for Innovation
THE image of the leader of the district council wearing a Stetson, standing on a bench and dancing to Achy Breaky Heart, once contemplated is impossible to forget. The occasion is the subject of one of many anecdotes recounted by Mike Oborski in his new
THOUSANDS of pounds' worth of garden equipment has been stolen from a Kidderminster showroom, clearing out the store's entire stock of some lines. Power Equipment Services, of Stourport Road, suffered a break-in during Sunday evening on December 9 in
A MOTHER who kept her daughter at home in an allocation row with Worcestershire County Council has won her battle for her school of choice. Rebekah O'Neill, nine, will be starting at Comberton Middle School, Kidderminster, in the New Year more than three
A BID to restore rare heathland at a Kidderminster nature reserve started last week. Worcestershire Wildlife Trust is felling trees at Devil's Spittleful Nature Reserve. It is one the few extensive areas of lowland heathland in the county. But its survival
AN Evesham woman who sings in a tribute band has said her first night on stage in the West End was abba-solutely fantastic. Claire Gordon, aged 26, of Larkspur Drive, who takes the role of Agnetha Faltskog in The Real AbbA Gold show, made her West End
TOP crime writer Frances Fyfield will be sharing some of the secrets of her success next month when she makes an appearance at Kidderminster Library. The author, who won the coveted Silver Dagger award for Deep Sleep, has also found success on the small
CALLING all Vale voices - the search has begun to find the Choir of the Year 2002. Entry is free and open to all amateur UK choirs, from chamber choirs, gospel and barbershop choruses to school, church and youth groups. There are four categories in the
FAIRPORT Convention violinist Ric Sanders is bringing his own band to the Huntingdon Hall in Worcester next month. Ric has been a member of Fairport Convention since 1985, but before then he played with the well-known Albion Band and Soft Machine. He
l TONIGHT: Wolverley: Memorial Hall - Ballroom Glitz. Birmingham: Symphony Hall - Tchaikovsky Gala. Brierley Hill: Robin R'n'B - Killer Queen and tomorrow. Wolverhampton: Robin R'n'B2 - Mark Taylor. l TOMORROW: Kidderminster: The Briars - Buddies Rock'n'Roll
CHAMPION Helen Weaver has kicked out for a national trophy after 14 months training. The blue belt is U-16s over-155cm advanced World United Martial Arts British Open holder. Kidderminster's Weaver, 15, won at Cheltenham against the best of Wales, Scotland
Pre-season 21/07/01 - Redditch United 0 Kidderminster Harriers 3 (Hadley, Hinton, Middleton) (friendly) 24/07/01 - Redditch United 2 (Danks 2) Gloucester United 3 (Tatton, Meadows, Freeman) (friendly) 28/07/01 - Weston St Johns 2 Redditch United 6 (Campbell
A BURGLAR confronted by a 76-year-old householder launched an attack on the pensioner with a fire extinguisher, Worcester Crown Court heard. Carl James got into Paul Foster's home in Load Street, Bewdley, after heavy drinking. He claimed he went into
I HAVE been shocked by recent letters in the Shuttle/Times & News concerning the huge fines being handed out at the Crossley Park retail site in Kidderm-inster. This has led to recipients of the fines stating that they will no longer shop in our town
THERE is a touch of Basil Fawlty in your correspondent Operative No 9701 who oversees parking on Crossley Park. (Letters, December 13). I too am one of his victims - assumed by him to be guilty of returning to the same car park within two hours of leaving
HAS Worcestershire County Council got the faintest idea what it's doing? The council sends out pamphlets extolling the laudable virtues of recycling, while Jeff RomanIs and Councillor Jeremy Webb say there is no alternative to incineration. The council
THE British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is looking for more volunteers, throughout the country, to join in their Garden BirdWatch survey. If you are interested in the birds which visit your garden and would like to help compile information that could
STOURPORT'S debut season in Midlands Four West (South) continues to be blighted by injury. They are contending with a string of problems which became worse in the previous week's surprise 22-10 North Midlands Shield first round exit to Ludlow. Chris Hoare
WORCESTER City boss John Barton is poised to complete the signing of striker Adam Webster from Bedworth United before the weekend. The two clubs have agreed a deal and Barton, who has met the player to discuss personal terms, said last night that he was
JOHN Brain is sweating on the fitness of a number of key players before the Midland derby with Moseley on Saturday. Worcester Rugby Club's head coach has worries over fly-half Steven Vile, forwards Christian Evans, Andy Collins and Richard Nias after
JAN Molby admitted that two-goal hero Bo Henriksen almost missed out on Kidderminster Harriers 4-1 Nationwide League Division Three demolition of high-riding Rochdale at Aggborough yesterday. The Harriers chief revealed the on-loan Danish front-runner
Halesowen Town came from behind to clinch all three points with a 3-1 win at Redditch United in the Dr Martens Western Division. The game, which was delayed due to the late arrival of the referee, took a while to warm-up on a pitch still frozen in places
FOUR generations of one family have gathered to celebrate a former Worcestershire archery champion's 100th birthday. Marjorie Higgins, who reached her centenary on December 8, lived in Chaddesley Corbett for 50 years until she moved to Rashwood Nursing
A "FANTASTIC" response to an appeal to build a new £2.2 million hospice in Kidderminster has brought New Year cheer to cancer sufferers and their families. Kemp Hospice which aims to have a new, purpose-built state-of-the-art centre up and running by
POLICE have appealed for help in finding a vulnerable 34-year-old man who went missing from his Kidderminster home on Wednesday, December 19. John Pugh, of Jubilee Drive, who has a dangerous heart condition, said he was going out to the shops for a few
A PENSIONER was left grazed and suffering from shock after she was mugged by a robber who stole her handbag and shopping bag. The victim, who was in her 70s, fell to the floor during the struggle which happened at the Greatfield Road end of Claughton
PLANS to site telecommunications equipment at a Stourport water tower have been received by district planners. The application by Orange to install three antennae, four dishes and 10 equipment cabinets on the tower at Mount Pleasant Hill, Bewdley Road
BURGLARS caused thousands of pounds worth of damage but fled empty handed after bungled raids at homes in Kidderminster and Bewdley. In the first incident, intruders tried to force entry through a window at a house in Woodthorpe Drive, Bewdley, but failed
IT is always nice to spend a few moments reflecting on the previous months at this time of year. I have prepared a recap of the developments and wildlife encounters spotted, while out and about on the Wyre Forest District Council nature reserves. Winter
OH yes they are - Peopleton Players are back on stage at Peopleton Little Theatre, complete with new stage, new curtains, new lights, new scenery and a new panto. Aladdin is bigger and better than ever with all the fun of a team of mixed ages, backgrounds
MORE than 8,000 people are expected to attend the Anne Frank Exhibition which opens at Worcester Cathedral on January 5. The exhibition has attracted international recognition with Schindler's List director Steven Spielberg sending a personal message
A SLICK comedy with a seasonal twist is on offer at the Playhouse Theatre Cheltenham in the New Year. The Games People Play by Bridget Derrett is to be premiered at the theatre on January 9-12. The fun show centres around a bizarre double booking in a
Official Opening of Fladbury First School Millennium Link: The long-awaited official opening of Fladbury First School's Millennium Link finally took place on December 12. The opening ceremony was conducted by the Bishop of Worcester, the Right Reverend
n Hippodrome, Birmingham - Dick Whittington until February 24. n Alexandra, Birmingham - Me and My Girl until January 19. n Repertory, Birmingham - The Wind in the Willows until January 19. Winnie The Witch until January 12. n MAC, Birmingham - The Firebird
MORE than 30 firms signed up for a seminar organised by Kidderminster College and aimed at helping companies build their business on the Internet. Many of the delegates who came from companies based outside Wyre Forest, including Birmingham and Hereford
THE Rose Theatre's resident drama group the Nonentities has released details of productions it is staging in the new season. Five shows from some of the last century's greatest talents - appealing to a wide range of tastes - will hit the Kidderminster
WYRE FOREST BUSINESS CLUB - Dr Richard Taylor MP will be the guest speaker at Ramada Hotel, Bewdley, on Wednesday, reminiscing on My First Impressions. After his talk, Dr Taylor will answer questions from the floor. The meeting will open 7.15pm for a
THE Carpet Foundation will enter 2002 with a new member on board. The foundation, which was set up to boost the image of carpet, has been joined by Blackburn-based Causeway Carpets. A major factor in Causeway's decision to join was the success of the
KIDDERMINSTER AND DISTRICT PROBUS CLUB - On November 21 Ingrid Pasteur spoke about the Trade Justice Movement which aims to encourage trade from the third world countries. She told about the Traidcraft company which was set up to purchase goods and crafts
ASTLEY WI - The annual meeting was held recently, in the newly refurbished and extended village hall. Marjorie Whiting retired as president and Shirley Fieldhouse was elected in her place. The Shrinkin' Violets performed a selection of songs and comic
CHADDESLEY CORBETT WI - The president and a group of members attended Hartlebury Museum, where a Worcester black pear tree was planted by WI in the museum's commemorative garden. At the December meeting arrangements were made for craft afternoons in the
COOKLEY WI - At the December meeting, after new president Jeanne Round had welcomed members and new secretary Ann Evanson read the minutes of the previous meeitng, details were given of the November skittles match which was won by Blakedown. Travel arrangements
KIDDERMINSTER CIVIC SOCIETY - A Christmas event was held at Kidderminster Carolians Rugby Football Club, when Brian Gittins and Norman Broadfield gave a talk on The History of King Charles I Grammar School. They told of the separate development of the
SOMERLEYTON WI - At the December meeting, Margaret Burbey reported on the Merry Christmas day at Blakedown, when demonstrations had included dishes from the store cupboard, table decorations, cracker making and flower arranging. Chairman Angie McCarthy
CLASSICAL MUSIC SOCIETY - On Friday, December 14, the annual Christmas party began with words and music, and ended with an American supper. Down in the forest was the first music heard, then chairman Graham Kiteley read Ghost Story by Dylan Thomas, and
IN reply to George Cowley's letter (You Say, December 8), and his reply to mine of November 26, I don't know how he got the idea I was referring to youngsters. My main concern is the teenage thugs who knock old ladies down and steal their pensions. I
TO celebrate 150 years of caring for sick children in 2002, Great Ormond Street Hospital is on the hunt for past patients, nurses and doctors. Were you a patient, or the parent of a patient who benefited from pioneering surgery? Or perhaps you remember
I HAVE learnt that we now have in Malvern an outreach worker, appointed by the West Midlands European Network to assist local voluntary groups obtain "European funding". I suspect other such outreach workers have been installed elsewhere. I do not know
FROM Greenhill in Evesham to the white mountains of Switzerland. That's the remarkable journey made by Glenn Parsons. The 24-year-old owes his dramatic change in scenery to the annual skiing trip enjoyed by pupils at Prince Henry's High School. As a 14
THE train station, town hall, Kidderminster Harriers' ground and Wyre Forest Glades Leisure Centre, were all on the agenda when Offmore First School children toured the town. Travelling by coach, year three pupils completed a questionnaire on Kidderminster's
FRESH air fanatics in Wyre Forest can draw inspiration from an event that promises to "unlock the great outdoors" in February. The 2002 National Boat and Caravan and Outdoor Leisure Show will be staged at Birmingham's NEC from February 16 until 24.
THE writing is on the wall for a Kidderminster school if a neighbouring area changes its education structure, it has been claimed. Worcestershire County Council cabinet has voted to delay a decision on whether to replace Hagley area first, middle and
A MOTHER has vowed to keep her daughter away from school amid allegations of "victimisation and bullying". Susan Woodhouse claims St Anne's Middle School, Bewdley, is ruining her 13-year-old daughter Sandy's education and is prepared to take her case
AFTER almost a decade, the headteacher of a Kidderminster first school is moving on amid tributes from colleagues, children and parents. Spennells First School head Steve Gough has finished his last term before leaving for a Worcester first school in
UNITED were cruelly punished as the league leaders showed their class with a late show at the Valley. Redditch showed their new grittier nature by digging in against their illustrious visitors and even having the impudence to take a shock lead after the
LOWER Moor residents are being encouraged to make their village look blooming marvellous for the Queen's Golden Jubilee this year and every year after that. Hill and Moor Parish Council is now in the process of organising floral displays, which it hopes
IT certainly wasn't a bad hair day for Laura Cocker when her tresses were transformed by students from Evesham College last Thursday. Technicolour face. She was part of a Hair and Beauty competition, to celebrate the end of term and their NVQ successes
PUPILS at Broadway First School took a long, hard look at themselves before embarking on their latest art project. All 88 children in the school painted self-portraits of themselves, which were then framed and displayed in a special exhibition where parents
PADDLERS took to the River Avon at Fladbury for a voyage of discovery to Pershore. Six boats, with nine people in each, representing all the organisations in the village, travelled from the Fladbury Paddle Club through Fladbury Lock to Jubilee Bridge,
SISTERS from Pinvin who saved the life of a tramp lying unconscious on the railway line at Pershore railway station are to be presented with medals for bravery from the Queen. It was on August 8 that the two, Tamie Kellard, aged 15, and her sister Charlene
CALLS OF "rubbish" and "disgraceful" were directed at a Wychavon planning officer when he advised an inspector not to put too much weight on a petition for a post office in Cropthorne. Area planning officer, Mark Lynch, was speaking at a two-day appeal
RESIDENTS of Evesham's Waterside have welcomed a major tidy-up operation that has got underway on the banks of the Avon, according to Wychavon District Council. As part of a £47,000 enhancement scheme for the town, heavy undergrowth and trees have already
AN Evesham residential care home is hoping to double the size of its operation. It wants to start work soon on a major new development for which planning permission was given nearly five years ago. Bengeworth Fields House, which looks after elderly people
YOUNG people in Worcestershire looking for an "electrifying" career move in 2002 should contact the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). The CITB's National Construction College East is launching a new, three year modern apprenticeship in January
BUSINESSES could face a heavy fine if they do not use properly authorised forms or people to dispose of their waste, the Environment Agency has warned. "Failure to take all reasonable steps to ensure that it is being disposed of correctly is an offence
A 29-year-old Stratford taxi driver and his two passengers from Bidford-on-Avon were taken to hospital last Friday after the taxi was involved in a collision on the A435 road at Coughton. All three were taken to the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch, where
