THE goals seem to be flying in all over the place since striker Tim Langford took the step up to management at Stourport Swifts. Langford was assistant boss in the 3-2 defeat to Halesowen Town and took over the reins for Saturday's FA Trophy shock 5-4
LEFT-BACK Scott Stamps was the main cause for concern after he was stretchered off in Kidderminster Harriers' 2-0 home defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers last night. The much-awaited friendly, watched by 2,696 fans, turned into something of a disappointment
A BIG night is awaiting Kidderminster Harriers with a Worthington Cup first round visit to past European Cup winners Nottingham Forest. Ian Britton's men are set to visit the City Ground on Wednesday, September 11, to take on the famous Division One outfit
STRIKER Tim Langford will cut his teeth in management at Stourport Swifts after a shock U-turn by Brendan Hackett. Swifts' players were expecting to be led by former Worcester City midfielder Hackett with Langford as his assistant this week. But Hackett
COMEDY is a funny old business and farce particularly so. Or not, depending on your taste. Ayckbourn was, during the 80s, the second most performed playwright in the world after Shakespeare and his comedy, middle class, middlebrow and middle England,
LAST season's Aggborough wing wizard Colin Larkin has attracted a £135,000 bid from Division Two new boys Mansfield Town. The 20-year-old Irishman, who scored seven goals in a long loan spell at Kidderminster Harriers, is well down the pecking order at
DEFIANT chairman Chris Reynolds expects to fill the Stourport Swifts managerial hot-seat by early next week after a host of applications. Reynolds was delighted with the amount of interest in the vacancy after management team Rod Brown and Gary Whild
The following each won a pair of tickets to the Music Live event at the NEC, Birmingham: Mr A Greer, Bruce Road, Kidderminster; Colin Taylor, Beechway, Bollington, Macclesfield; Adrian Carloss, Crescent Road, Kidderminster; Adrian Carloss, Crescent Road
STOURPORT Swifts will bounce back a stronger club after Rod Brown's resignation, according to chairman Chris Reynolds. Experienced defenders Jan Mulders and Mark Dearlove are expected to take temporary charge as Swifts entertain Bedworth United on Saturday
IT has been four years now since cattle grazing was introduced on Wyre Forest nature reserves. Habitats such as marshland and heathland were naturally created and maintained by large grazing animals which, many thousands of years ago, used to wander wild
PROMOTION-WINNING boss Rod Brown has sensationally quit Stourport Swifts to take over at Dr Martens League Western Division rivals Redditch United. Brown, who took Swifts up from the Midland Alliance last season, revealed his decision to the club late
AFTER poor reviews of some current shows and the uproar over the radical re-structuring of the company, the RSC needed a hit - The Prince of Homburg, I suspect, isn't it. With Neil Bartlett directing - whose recent production of Marivaux's The Dispute
COME high summer, most of the wetland nature reserves are covered with tall, rank vegetation. However, on each of the reserves, tall reeds and rushes usually tower above this jungle-like tangle, where they grow together to form dense patches which sway
THE opening carols sung by Kidderminster Male Choir were somewhat marred by the sound of money chinking and the tearing of raffle tickets at the back of the hall. I was a little disappointed with the choir in those opening items, especially a medley of
HOT prospect Matt Lewis' growing reputation is set to earn him his chance for Kidderminster Harriers in Division Three this season - if he is still at the club. Lewis, who made two promising substitute league appearances in 2001-02, linked up with Aston
Adams House: Woodfield Street, Kidderminster (01562 740195). Age Concern: Tulip Tree Centre, Castle Road, Kidderminster (01562 827788). Age Concern: Helan Davies, Cleobury Day Centre, St Mary's Place, Cleobury Mortimer (01299 270185). Arch Hill: Orchard
HIGH-FLYING Stourport Swifts believe they can mount a Dr Martens League Western Division promotion challenge. Swifts are within two points of leaders Solihull Borough with a game in hand after Saturday's hard-fought 1-0 victory at Sutton Coldfield. They
SOUGHT-AFTER striker Matt Lewis bagged Kidderminster Harriers' first pre-season goal in Saturday's 1-1 draw at sunny Stratford Town. Harriers were given a useful work-out by their competitive Midland Alliance opponents who took the lead in the first half
ROD Brown is prepared to be patient in his search for a striker to bolster Stourport Swifts' ranks. The Swifts boss, whose side went third in the Dr Martens League Western Division after Tuesday's 2-0 win over Cirencester, is looking for talent from a
THE new multi-million pound Sky Sports television deal is set to net Kidderminster Harriers a whopping six-figure cash bonanza over the next year. It is believed Harriers will make just short of £200,000 in a series of instalments before the start of
Areley House: Mrs Hook, Areley Lane (01299 823751). Broome House Rest Home: Broome Village, Clent, (01562 700417). Cambrian House: Chester Road North, Kidderminster (01562 825537). Drakelow Manor Rest and Retirement Home: Sladd Lane, Off Drakelow Lane
I WAS impressed by the orchestra's new musical director Damian Penfold when he appeared at Music For You, which gave a taste of great things to come - and I was not disappointed on Saturday. The orchestra played with so much more confidence and with several
NEW signing Sean Parrish has been handed the number eight shirt in Kidderminster Harriers' squad numbers for the new season. Dean Bennett has reclaimed the number seven shirt and big defender Abdoul Sall starts at two. Full list: 1 Stuart Brock, 2 Abdou
Age Concern Rural Links: Irene McFarland, Victory Hall, Clows Top (01562 827788). Association of Retired and Persons Over-50: Mrs G A Woolley (01562 822398). Civil Service Retirement Fellowship: Secretary Pam Hussey (01562 755632). NHS Retirement Fellowship
THE familiar strains of Down at the Old Bull and Bush opened this evening of nostalgia when the audience joined in the choruses with gusto. We sang along to many old standards, such as Daisy, Daisy, and For Me and My Gal, and I particularly enjoyed some
THE rangers special four- legged conservation volunteers have returned to the Wyre Forest District Council's nature reserves. This year, their first mission is to help increase numbers of the beautiful southern marsh orchid which grow within the Site
There are many good performances in this production, with excellent versions of those wonderful songs, but the show is dominated by Nigel Preece. I have seen Nigel before as Tevye, the milkman with five daughters to marry off, and he gave a good performance
CONFIDENT boss Rod Brown believes Stourport Swifts can hit the FA Cup first round proper if they enjoy the luck of the draw. Swifts equal their best run in England's top competition when they visit Unibond League Premier Division Hucknall Town on Saturday
Resident group The Nonentities turned their attention to farce, a notoriously difficult genre to perform, with their latest production at The Rose. Despite one or two slips in the timing, a crucial element in plays such as Ray Cooney's Funny Money was
NOW the trees are almost if not completely bare, there are some things which seem to stand out in the woodlands, things which may well have previously gone unnoticed. Many plants with evergreen leaves are now standing proud in the woodlands. Several of
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers will retain their trademark passing game with new boss Ian Britton but he is demanding a tougher mentality among his players. With the start of pre-season training less than three weeks away, fans will wonder what kind of changes
Compli-Medicare: 28 Bewdley Road North, Stourport (01299 829055). Holloway P: 13 Delamere Road, Bewdley (01299 403309 or 07703 794475). Miss S. Downton: 135 Linnet Rise, Kidderminster (01562 862835). Watson J: Sion Barn, Hillpool, Chaddesley Corbett,
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers have netted a big boost with plans for a new £1 million stand getting the green light. The Football League set a deadline of May next year for a minimum of 2,000 seats to be in place when the club was promoted from non-league football
There are animals which will now be casting their eyes at British shores to spend the summer months here after avoiding the cold of the English winter in the warmer climes of southern Europe or even Africa. Even to humans this lifestyle seems attractive
FOOTBALL club bosses have backed England to beat Brazil in the World Cup quarter-finals tomorrow. Ian Britton and Tim Langford are both confident Sven-Goran Eriksson's men can progress. Kidderminster Harriers manager Britton declared: "England will win
HARRIERS community scheme is counting down to the summer holidays with the last five weeks of the player development centre. The programme, designed by UEFA A license coaches, is designed to coach individual technique and develop understanding of the
SATURDAY'S FA Cup opponents are the kind of team Stourport Swifts will have an uphill battle against, according to assistant boss Gary Whild. Promotion-chasing Dr Martens Western Division Solihull Borough visit Walshes Meadow on Saturday in the second
AS I am not usually a fan of Alan Ayckbourn's plays, my enjoyment of this production was probably largely due to the first class interpretation by Kidderminster Operatic and Dramatic Society. The play circulated around a production of The Beggar's Opera
IAN Britton has warned he will take no risks in the transfer market to avoid a repeat of previous seasons at Kidderminster Harriers. The club have counted the cost of settling players' contracts over the last two years with big names leaving including
THE concert marked the return of musical director Judith Standing, and Angela Savage made a most impressive Kidderminster debut as accompanist. There were some lovely moments in the concert, such as the glorious extracts from The Mikado, which the singers
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers will entertain crisis club Lincoln City in their first Division Three fixture of the season on Saturday, August 10. Lincoln have been placed into administration and new boss Keith Alexander has been relying on up-and-coming non-league
THE Football League has given Kidderminster Harriers and fellow cash-strapped clubs a boost by changing the rules on loan signings. Harriers will now be able to make up to 10 temporary captures next season to improve their side and cover for injuries
FOR most of us who prefer to avoid being attacked by squadrons of bloodthirsty mosquitoes with the unsightly lumps and itching that result, this month and the early part of Maywill be our last chance to visit the new nature reserve of Hurcott Pools and
STAFF at Kidderminster Harriers have been urged to pull together on and off the field after a dramatic week of cuts. The troubled club followed up reductions on the playing side by axing five other employees. Business development manager Terry Smith and
ROD Brown is set to enlist the help of neighbours Kidderminster Harriers to ease Stourport Swifts' player shortage. Long-term suspensions to defenders Quentin Townsend, Steve Ulfig and Anthony Davies are starting to give Swifts boss Brown real problems
For four years, Wyre Forest District Council's nature reserves have been managed with the help of grazing animals. Even after this length of time, the sight of these magnificent rare breed cattle wandering across the reserves is a delight. The cattle
GOOD weather, especially at this time of the year, always seems to bring out the best in a nature reserve. There may not be the spectacular blasts of colour we will see when the majority of springtime flowers come in to bloom a little later this month
THE Classical Music Society's latest "Live At The Library", provided an evening of piano trios. Pianist Michael Jones had played in Kidderminster many times, and Dawn Gwilt on cello was making a welcome return to the society. Howard Marshall was unknown
LAST week's high winds saw the end of many fine trees. Damage on the nature reserves was relatively minor but one species of tree which suffered more than most was the crack willow. The land around Kidderminster and along the Stour and Severn river valleys
AT last, as far as the fungi are concerned, autumn has arrived. This year as on many previous years, I've carried out a fungal foray around Habberley Valley in September. We found some fungi, including interesting species such as the bizarre looking beef-steak
AS the weather begins to warm up many of the rarely seen residents of local nature reserves slowly wake up from hibernation. A recent walk across one of the districts' heathlands with a fellow Ranger produced an unusual sight. Basking in the midday sun
STOURPORT Swifts must cope without three defenders for the next 35 days - but they have added striker Nathan Harvey to the squad. Swifts host Gresley on Saturday in the Dr Martens Western Division without the suspended Quentin Townsend, Steve Ulfig and
AS with all things in life, money is an important part of the fuel which drives the conservation works in Wyre Forest. Fortunately, this year the district council has been awarded funds through English Nature and a lottery grant scheme called "Tomorrow's
OCTOBER has given us our first few chilly days. One consequence of this is the low lying land which runs along the district's major river corridors has been shrouded in a deep creepy mist. Marshes have often had supernatural stories associated with them
ALEX Cowley could be the ace in the Stourport Swifts pack, according to boss Rod Brown. Brown believes the 20-year-old wing-back may one day return to the Football League after being a trainee at West Bromwich Albion. Cowley will be one of the key players
AS we move into October and the weather starts to turn we often start to think about getting out our warmer winter clothing. Animals out on the nature reserve will also be making preparations for winter. Many of our common summer birds have already left
Bewdley Civic Society: Ken Hobson, Chairman, 57 Kidderminster Road, Bewdley (01299 402700); Peter Archer, Secretary, 16 Park Dingle, Bewdley (01299 403845). Kidderminster Civic Society: Mr C. E. Talbot, Barratts Court, Rectory Lane, Rock, Kidderminster
DURING the summer recess I have had a week in mid-Wales and a week in Suffolk with my family. The highlight for me was superb bird watching. In Wales, two red kites resting disconsolately in misty rain and lazily gliding from one fence post to the next
STOURPORT Swifts will be hoping to kick off the new season with a piece of silverware when they meet Stourbridge for the Joe McGorian Trophy at Walshes Meadow on Saturday (kick-off 3pm). And with a game at home to another Midland Football Alliance side
Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Association Kidderminster and District Branch: L. Billingsley, 3 Badland Avenue, Kidderminster (01562 741532). Polish Ex-servicemen's Club: Alpine House, 29A St George's Terrace, Kidderminster (01562 740048). RAF
THE House rose for the summer recess yesterday so it is appropriate to reflect on the past year. It has become obvious that a Government with a huge majority cannot be forced easily to alter course. However, it did change its mind in the NHS Reform Bill
OLD boys and girls of Wyre Forest can reminisce about their school days with the launch of a new Shuttle/Times and News website. Class pictures which are more than 20 years old can now be submitted for inclusion in our Old Schools site. Hundreds of pictures
SHEPSHED Dynamo at home will be the opening test for Stourport Swifts in their first Dr Martens League Western Division campaign. Swifts play Worcestershire rivals Evesham United on August 27 (home) and Boxing Day (away). They take on fellow county side
Cleobury History Society: Dr Pat Treves, Old School House, Neen Savage (01299 270319). Kidderminster and District Archaeological and Historical Society: Secretary Miss C. Guest, 178 Birmingham Road, Kidderminster (01562 823530). Richard Baxter Society
CONFERENCE side Hereford United have been added to Stourport Swifts' pre-season dates. Graham Turner's men will head to Walshes Meadow on Thursday, July 26.
Astley Horticultural Society: Chair Michael Ecob (01299 822167). Bewdley and District Horticultural Society: Mr D. Aston, 215 Stourbridge Road, Kidderminster (01562 751992). Cleobury Horticultural Society: Mrs G. Chapman, Ragged Edge, Ludlow Road, Cleobury
A PARTY will be in full swing at Walshes Meadow on Saturday when Swifts celebrate the Midland Alliance championship from 7pm. Former managers and players are welcome. Meanwhile, Swifts will entertain Worcestershire rivals Redditch United in the Dr Martens
WHILE the weather recently has produced some of the most stunning displays of natural beauty, it has to be said that for many people the icy roads and freezing mornings can become a bit tedious. The warmer days of summer seem a lifetime away. Although
IT would seem to me this summer there are more puddles to be found on the nature reserves than usual. These puddles are doing the animal life no end of good. Many of the reserves' larger animals will be glad of this extra water at this time of year, particularly
PROMOTED Stourport Swifts have another reason to be happy after capturing all five players they targeted at the end of last season. Centre-backs David Davies, snapped up from Oldbury and put on contract, and Quentin Townsend, an ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers
DESPITE the World Cup and threatening weather, crowds turned out to watch the procession at Bewdley Carnival. Those of us walking with the procession were kept abreast of the score by people who left their televisions briefly to watch the procession pass
THE festive season is upon us and many of us will be sending each other Christmas cards. On the front of these there will often be an animal or bird portraying a Christmas or winter scene, robins seem to be a particular favourite in a snowy scene. This
LAST week we debated the Lords' amendments to the NHS Reform Bill. The most contentious point in this Bill is that it abolishes Community Health Councils (CHCs). In previous debates and in committee the Opposition, including myself on this occasion, has
A real rebellion in Wyre Forest - this was how the Rev Martin Smyth, Ulster Unionist MP for Belfast South, couched his congratulations to me after Health Concern's stunning results in last week's local elections. Several other MPs offered their congratulations
THIS month has been remarkably mild so far with only the occasional frost. The coldest night to date has been only just below freezing and even then the temperature rose to well above freezing fairly quickly after dawn. Also, there hasn't been much rain
It was a great privilege for my wife and myself to attend the presentation of the loyal addresses to the Queen in Westminster Hall. This was a combination of pageantry and simplicity. Richly uniformed trumpeters silhouetted against gloriously coloured
THE prime requisite for a frontbencher in the House of Commons is a loud voice. The conclusion of the Budget debate on Tuesday evening was even more rowdy than Prime Minister's Question Time. Serious points made by many MPs during the debate were completely
CATTLE in the Grazing Animals Project have been on the heathlands of the Rifle Range and Devils Spittleful nature reserves for a few weeks now. This year there is one main herd composed of 16 rare breed Belted Galloways. This is the largest herd that
TO me there are four important local community issues at the moment and these are the incinerator, Kidderminster Harriers, Bewdley Museum, and of course, the hospital. I make no apology if Viewpoint reflects my interest in these primarily as it was on
THE hospital battle is accelerating and spreading. This week we have had news of threats to Whitehaven, nearly 40 miles from Carlisle, to Kendal which we have regarded as a workable model, and to the A and E Department at Oswestry. On the other hand,
LIFE as a butterfly is rather hazardous. Butterflies are seen by many a creature as a welcome snack. Most birds see butterflies as a welcome meal and many carnivorous insects see butterflies as a source of food. To defend against predators some butterflies
THE Parliamentary Health Select Committee visited Canada and the USA to study delayed discharges from acute hospital care. Staff in Vancouver have avoided the unfortunate term "bed blockers" and instead use the abbreviation "ALC" for patients who no longer
Bewdley: Scott Ward, Chairman (01299 404402). Cleobury Mortimer HQ: The Bell Inn, Lower Street, Cleobury Mortimer (01299 270305). Cleobury Mortimer Womens' Branch: Miss L. M. Jordan, Beechcote Lodge, Cleobury Mortimer (01299 270035). Hartlebury Memorial
MY gripe this week is about the railways. The commuters among you will know how frustrating train travel has become. I had my worst journey last Thursday. I left Euston on the 14.40 train to New Street. Just before Birmingham International, the train
AUTUMN is always a time of change and this is reflected in the work of the Wyre Forest District Council Rangers. As a ranger, summer is a time to celebrate the beauty of the natural world and to show this off to as many people as possible. The Rangers
THIS week I have had important meetings with Nigel Edwards, acting chairman of the NHS Confederation, with 11 MPs, Sir George Alberti, president of the Royal College of Physicians, and Elizabeth Manero, chairman of London Health Link. Elizabeth is a highly
OVER the past few years, the Young Rangers Club has grown to be very popular with its members. They have enjoyed exciting adventures, daring challenges and crazy races. They have learnt survival skills, map reading and shelter building and have been on
BECAUSE of the Whittington Hospital row, I had a busy day with the media on Friday. The high spot was a brief appearance on Newsnight with three students from Stourport High School who were researching a newspaper article. I have had talks about the proposed
A SIGHT I often take pleasure in is of magnificent birds of prey twisting in thermals or tearing across woodland clearings in the sky above the reserves. These birds are one of the signs that the natural environment on these reserves is a healthy one
THE Parliamentary Health Select Committee has started its investigation into the functions of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). This is proving interesting as already we are hearing about the difficulties faced by NICE in maintaining
A HOST of exciting conservation and outdoor activities are in the pipeline with the re-vamp of the Young Rangers Club. The club, run by Wyre Forest District Council in partnership with the Shuttle/Timesand News, is being re-launched next month. Planned
IT might be a rather pessimistic observation, but it would seem that the nature reserves are already starting to show the first signs of the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. A walk through the woods of Habberley Valley will prove, or as in the
THE House of Commons restarted on Tuesday. It was like returning to school with some homesickness! The first task was to catch up with correspondence and to study voluminous papers before two meetings of the Health Select Committee this week. At home
A GREAT-grandmother who has become one of Britain's top adder experts is making her name as a public speaker. Sylvia Sheldon has three children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. But the other loves in her life include the adders and the
I have had a super family Christmas and I am very grateful that people have been so considerate during this time. I attended a retirement party for Dr Martin Lewis, the well-loved consultant haematologist and joined in the tributes to someone who contributed
I HAVE had an informative meeting with the chief constable of West Mercia Police and met several of his senior officers and the director of finance. I was very interested in presentations about police recruitment, and a detailed analysis of the drugs
MANY of us will have or will be planning to take a trip to the seaside this summer to relax and enjoy the natural facilities found at the beach. What we often do not realise is when we are visiting the beach we are visiting one of nature's harshest habitats
I REGRET that I did not achieve an oral question to the Health Secretary last week and I was not called to speak at an adjournment debate on flood defences. One result of this debate was a proposal to form an all-party group of MPs on flooding and this
VISITING a marshland in summer time can leave you with the feeling that you have taken a trip to a far distant land. In the Wyre Forest district we are fortunate to have some of the best areas of marshland in the region, around the River Stour valley,
TO my delight I have hit the jackpot twice in a week. The adjournment debate last night gave me an opportunity to speak for 15 minutes about the downfall of Kidderminster General Hospital and its future, followed by a reply from a health minister. I have
"Dr Taylor, you are stalking me". This was the greeting from Health Secretary Alan Milburn when I walked into a meeting of the Fabian Society last week to hear him talk about his ideas for the future of the National Health Service. His ideas are copious
ITt has been an exciting week in London and at home.The first meeting of the Health Select Committee was held and members asked Alan Milburn and Jacqui Smith questions relating to NHS expenditure. To me, the most interesting thing was the Ministers' skilled
THE House of Commons was recalled on Monday for a further debate on the terrifying international crisis. The Prime Minister's statement has been reported in the press and we were told that the targets have been very carefully selected, mostly out of city
THE recommendations of the long-awaited Darzi report are welcome and I regard them as a first step in restoring sanity to the county's hospital services. I appreciated a meeting with John Hutton MP, Minister of State, Mr Milburn's second-in-command at
I HAVE been continuing my summer recess task of up-dating myself about as many local issues as possible. I have had meetings with local clergy, Severn Valley Railway managers and staff, the economic development manager of the district council, the chief
I AM writing this on the day the civilised world has been paralysed by the horror of the terrorist attacks on civilian targets in the USA. We do not know the death toll yet but it is likely to be numbered in thousands. Think of the utter terror instilled
WHILE England was trouncing Germany last Saturday, my wife and I were enjoying the Stourport river procession aboard an ocean-going motor yacht. We were the guests of the commodore of Stourport Yacht Club. Every goal scored was relayed to us by the cheers
THE House of Commons is in recess so I will take this opportunity of telling you about the Parliamentary Health Select Committee. There are 16 departmental select committees and although these have no executive power they can affect Government policy
AFTER a hectic last week of my first Parliamentary session, the House adjourned for the summer recess on July 20. It was a productive week, ending with a meeting with Yvette Cooper, the Public Health Minister, who has special responsibility for the West
TO my amazement I have now been an MP for six weeks. The learning process continues with a meeting with representatives of the local medical committee, a very instructive time with Ray Brookes and the other executive officers of Wyre Forest Community
Kidderminster: Manager J. Jacobsen, 12 Lower Mill Street, Kidderminster (01562 623800). Stourport: Salford House, 29 Bridge Street, Stourport (01299 293729).
THE initial excitement of arriving at Westminster and the intense press interest is now settling down. It means I am tackling the routine work of the constituency and the relevant debates and divisions in the House itself. Having to make up one's own
Prior to elections on May 2, 2002 AGGBOROUGH AND SPENNELLS Helen Dyke (Lib Dem) 45 Dunlin Drive, Spennells, Kidderminster DY10 4TB (01562 741955). Peter Dyke (Lib Dem) 45 Dunlin Drive, Spennells, Kidderminster DY10 4TB (01562 741955). Frank Baillie (Health
MUCH has happened in Westminster in the last week. I have taken part in several divisions voting with the Opposition on amendments to give foot and mouth disease a higher priority in the Queen's Speech, but then voting with the Government on the speech
AFTER the initial excitement of arriving at Westminster it has been hard work for my secretary and myself coping with masses of correspondence punctuated by periods of high adrenalin flow waiting to be called to speak. The Queen's Speech with the pageantry
It has been an amazing few days since June 7. My initial impression of the House of Commons is a maze of buildings staffed by people who are uniformly kind and helpful. All other members that I have met so far have given me a warm welcome, regardless
Bewdley Conservatives: Stephen Clee, Three Gables, Hop Pole Lane, Bewdley. (01299 402338). Conservative Association Wyre Forest: Wayne Lawley, Margaret Thatcher House, 35 Mill Street, Kidderminster (01562 823820). Independent Health Concern Group: Ken
CATHERINE Guest is a woman with a past - as secretary of Kidderminster Archaeological and Historical Society she has spent much of the last ten years delving into the story of the town, though as she admits, much of that past has been swept away. "There's
The footbridge and level crossing in Minster Road, Stourport, were still in use in the picture above, taken in the 1970s, looking toward Kidderminster. Since the picture was taken the road has been widened and housing estates built on either side of the
FULFILLING a teenage ambition to work in a job helping the community has left Ellen Coe contented in her work. The community development worker at Kidderminster's Oldington and Foley Park Community Network is delighted to have played a major part in raising
MIXING business with pleasure is sometimes described as a dangerous thing, but Stourport pub landlord Andy Holmes has no such worries. Mr Holmes, who took over the Bridge Inn with wife Kate two years ago, is loving every minute of life in the town, especially
Cleobury Mortimer Bridge Club: Steve Clifton (01746 718434). Kidderminster Bridge Club: Mrs G. Woodward, 543 Chester Road South, Kidderminster (01562 824458).
IN football terms, Walshes Meadow is a world away from Old Trafford - but a Stourport man has proved himself to be equally at home in both. Nigel Green has entered his third season at secretary of Stourport Swifts, having retired from his role as a Premier
FROM an early age, the future Kidderminster Cricket Club captain Mark Mansell was never stumped for a choice of sporting career. And after enjoying 21 years with the Chester Road club the skipper is proud of his decisions to remain with the team, which
FROM Kidderminster convent girl to Hollywood star, life has been a rollercoaster ride for erstwhile actress Sammi Davies. Best known over here for performances in box office smashes Mona Lisa, Hope and Glory and The Rainbow, Sammi, 36, has given up the
The demolition of buildings in Mill Street, Kidderminster, are the subject of the picture above taken in 1976. The levelling of the buildings revealed the rear view of the Church Street properties and, more significantly, the school rooms of the Baxter
HAVING an appreciation of what you are trying to sell is an advantage in any walk of life - and Stourport's Richard Woodhead is in a better position than most for doing so. The man responsible for spreading the word about Wyre Forest's very own Last Night
Dating from 1968, the picture above shows Oxford Street, Kidderminster. In the foreground is the former Co-op store which closed in 1988, causing uproar amongst pensioners at the loss of a piece of town history - the bench instore where they used to gather
THE decision to give up the glittering world of modelling may surprise thousands of women who aspire to become a catwalk queen, but for Anette Rodal-Rouse it was the wisest choice she ever made. The 33-year-old Norwegian, who has lived in Kidderminster
The picture above shows Kidderminster General Hospital in Mill Street, taken in 1984, prior to the complete re-location to its current site in Sutton Road, the outside of the Victorian building appears virtually unchanged, being turned into a development
BALLROOM dance teacher Wynne Freeman has rubbed shoulders with all the greats - Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant, Black Sabbath, Marc Bolan. For during the 60s and early 70s, the Kidderminster dance school she ran with her late husband, Frank, also served
FANATICAL Aston Villa supporter Les Jones completed two very different marathons during the glorious weekend of his team's last FA Cup final appearance a year ago. He followed a marathon drinking session on the day of the game by completing the Hereford
FINDING ways to spend time after retirement may present a problem to some, but Stourport's Jill Fairbrother-Millis is faced with no such dilemma. The Stourport Civic Society secretary is relishing her role in trying to preserve the "historic beauty" of
Bliss Gate Trees: Sonia Gamble (01299 266092). Cookley Playing Fields: Honorary Secretary F. Morris, Lea Lane, Cookley (01562 851220). Shipleys Riverside Bowl and Amusement Park: Riverside House, Bridge Street, Stourport (01299 877377).
Bewdley: Load Street, Bewdley (01299 403303). Cleobury Mortimer: 2 Lower Street, Cleobury Mortimer (01299 270490). Friends of Cleobury Library: Chairman, Mrs M. Cartwright, 11 Lower Street, Cleobury (01299 270725). Kidderminster: Market Street, Kidderminster
Bewdley Museum: Load Street, Bewdley (01299 403573). County Museum: Hartlebury Castle, Hartlebury (01299 250416). Friends of Carpet Museum Trust: Bronwen Ingram, 147 Hurcott Road, Kidderminster (01562 68908). Kidderminster Railway Museum: Station Drive
IN his gladiatorial quest to brush up carpet's image Rupert Anton is well versed in the cut and thrust of the chase. After all he wrote a degree dissertation on Roman chariot racing. Though a competent linguist his passion for Latin did not extend to
IF something is happening in Bewdley then Pat Jones is sure to know about it. She has not, by her own admission, lived in the attractive riverside town as long as some - but she is in a prime position to witness the comings and goings after 22 years overlooking
ONE of the men who keeps the ambitious Stourport Swifts Football Club ticking insists he prefers to stay in the background. John McDonald has been involved with Swifts for 32 years, playing a part in their rise from Kidderminster League Division Three
FINDING somebody in a job which they never wish to retire from is something of a rarity but it is the "great" situation animal lover Phil Rudlin finds himself in. The Wyre Forest wildlife ranger is still "relishing every day" of his work in the woodland
August 18 Shepshed (h) 2-0 Booth 2 21 RC Warwick (a) 1-0 (og) 25 Clevedon (a) 0-2 27 Evesham (h) 2-3 (og), Cowley September 1 Rugby Utd (h) (FA Cup preliminary round) 5-1 Marsh 2, Charlton, Booth 2 8 Gresley (h) 2-0 Booth 2 11 Redditch (a) 2-1 Langford
Rowland Hill Shopping Centre: Vicar Street, Kidderminster (01562 742779). Swan Centre: King Charles Square, Town Centre, Kidderminster (01562 753210).
COMBINING business with pleasure is not always the wisest thing to do - but for Stourport's Russell Hinton it is simply doing what comes naturally. Mr Hinton is relishing partnering his role as the new chairman of Stourport Business Association with working
Bodenham Arboretum: Earth Centre, Wolverley, Kidderminster (01562 852444). Hagley Hall: (01562 882408). Hartlebury Castle: Hartlebury (01299 250416 ). Hartlebury Castle State Rooms: Secretary Julie Wright (01299 250410). Harvington Hall: Mrs S. Breeden
KIDDERMINSTER-born Norman Broadfield found his mind wandering back to his home town while sitting in a hotel room in Santiago, Chile, last September and his creative instinct took over. Sports fan Norman, who was on a business trip for carpet firm Brintons
THIS week has seen another crest in the storm waves that have gathered over plans for a giant incinerator in Kidderminster. For Chris Connor, three years in the Stop Kidderminster Incinerator campaign hotseat, the Wyre Forest District Council meeting
GUIDING has come a long way since it began more than 90 years ago - but has maintained a traditional philosophy at its heart since entering the 21st century. That is the view of Kidderminster Guides stalwart Cathy Walling - who is better equipped than
New Worlds: The Great Voyages of Discovery 1400-1600 by Ronald H Fritze (Sutton, £25) IT is still a fantastic notion that only a few centuries separate total ignorance of the world and today's almost blas familiarity with the geography of the globe. Thanks
MOLLY Dowell sees herself as a crusader in the cause of art, which has been an abiding passion from the days of her childhood. She is passing on the benefit of her experience to students in the Wednesday Painters' club that meets in Shrawley Village Hall
FOR Eric Davies, there was only one solution to the problem of finding good fish for dinner. Become a fishmonger! Eric The Fish, as he is known, is the cheerful six-footer in the blue striped apron who has been filleting and serving fresh fish in the
RON Price prides himself in his achievements at the Sunday football club he set up and runs - but there's more to the busy 70-year-old than that. The Offmore Farm resident, married to Vera for 40 years, juggles managing Tri-Star Windows, cricket umpiring
A NEW face will be saying 'allo, allo, allo' to the media and public after taking up a community relations role at Kidderminster Police Station. Caroline Schubert has been appointed media liaison and public relations officer at Kidderminster Police. However
TERRY Smith may be quick with a wisecrack but he's also been rapid in taking advantage of the new commerical opportunities open to Kidderminster Harriers in the Football League. With only one executive box available for the rest of the Division Three
FROM the highlands to the islands many a proud Scot will celebrate St Andrew's Day next week. Wyre Forest will be no exception as its Scottish society members don tartans for a fun-filled bash. But as president Donald Macphail explained, this is no inclusive
AUTUMN is a busy time for Pat Simmonds. It is the season for grant applications and preparing for Christmas at Age Concern's Tulip Tree Centre in Castle Road, Kidderminster. With a constant battle for funds to keep the day centre and its services going
IF the traditional image of a painter's life is of isolation in a garret with only an easel for company, it does not fit with Colin Simmonds, of Kidderminster. Mr Simmonds is a well-known personality in Wyre Forest and he will not have to rely on posterity
NOBODY will ever hear John Goodhead complaining of having a "rough" time at work. Mr Goodhead MBE, who joined Birmingham Dogs Home in 1969, has "loved every minute of his time" at the centre, of which he is now manager. Mr Goodhead, of Blakedown, was
THE urban sprawl of Nick Hughes's native Birmingham held relatively little appeal when he was looking for somewhere to settle down and carve out a career. Birmingham's loss was Kidderminster's gain as Nick, 41, opted for life in the carpet town. Aside
TWO happenings in the life of Carole Swingler have made the last few weeks a time of celebration. They are the birth of a first grandchild and a record early rush for tickets for what promises to be a bumper Bewdley Festival in October. The two events
A WOMAN with a natural talent for organisation has pledged to bring a Wyre Forest advice service up to date for the 21st century. And Kate Bennett is relishing the task after being installed as manager at Kidderminster's Citizens Advice Bureau on New
BRIAN Daniels seems to have all the essential ingredients of a purpose-built Rotary Club leader. The new president of the Kidderminster club has a strong commitment to the Rotarian philosophy, a long career that linked him with business, the local economy
FANS of Kidderminster Harriers are still bubbling over with happy memories from last season and waiting with breathless anticipation for the new one starting in a week's time. But few people would have been more thrilled at the team's elevation to the
SKINNY schoolboy John Wyatt didn't need sand kicked in his face to undergo a Charles Atlas type transformation. From pumping iron at the tender age of 12 to suffering brutal nights of pain in the ring - Wyatt has always been "ready to rumble" simply because
CONSIDERING the effort Stourport's Avis Field puts into her work as a volunteer worker at Kemp Hospice, it is small wonder she has any time left to enjoy the whole array of hobbies she has. Mrs Field, who spent many years in midwifery and as a district
JANE Hatton can be expected to cope well in the Three Peaks Challenge team she joins for charity this month. Climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon in 24 hours must be a doddle to someone who has faced as many challenges as 35-year-old Mrs
A MAN who has handled all the strange things life has had to throw at him with steely aplomb was hoping for good luck as he looked to the future and "reflected" upon his past. Kidderminster folk may see 54-year-old Scot Jim Reid cruising the streets in
STOURPORT Swifts' fortunes have taken another turn for the better with the signing of an England U-18s trialist. Robbie Taylor, 17, has been unveiled as the young player boss Dave Titterton has been tracking. Titterton expects to put the starlet on contract
GAZING out of the window of Emma House's office at County Museum, Hartlebury, provides a serene experience which is a far cry from the hustle and bustle of city life - but the talented designer would not have it any other way. One might be tempted to
STRIKER Michael Moore will be back in training with Stourport Swifts tonight but boss Dave Titterton has ruled out a quick return to action. Titterton has a strong squad to select from for Saturday's game at home to Gloucester City and can afford to give
SINCE becoming the first full-time marketing manager at the Severn Valley Railway in Bewdley, John Leach is simply 'chuffed' to bits with the progress being made. He is helping with a host of special events to help mark the railway's 30th anniversary
STOURPORT Swifts have been dealt a "massive" blow after learning experienced defender Jan Mulders is suspended for Saturday's tough trip to Gresley. His absence will give boss Dave Titterton a headache as he attempts to mastermind a second successive
ANYONE who has experience of dealing with youngsters of today would know the wide range of skills needed to be a youth worker. Ann Baldaro, a key member of the team at Kidderminster's Bromsgrove Street Youth Centre, could hardly be better equipped. A
A WATERLOGGED Bedworth pitch prevented Stourport Swifts from making up ground on their Dr Martens Western Division rivals on Saturday. Swifts remain fourth from bottom with the teams below them all losing and they are three points behind Rocester, who
FOR somebody who "doesn't particularly like running" Bewdley's Ted Dalton has a remarkable set of achievements to recollect from his athletics career. The 71-year-old, of Woodthorpe Drive, became an international cross country runner after starring for
INCENSED Stourport Swifts boss Dave Titterton will write to the Football Association after claiming he had seen "the most incompetent refereeing display in 17 years". Titterton was banished from the dug-out and midfielder Leon Blake sent off as Swifts
IT'S a long way from Kimberley to Kidderminster, but bridging huge gaps is all in a day's work for Wyre Forest's very own bagpipe-playing church minister. The Rev Gerald England was born in the famous diamond province in the heart of South Africa in 1961
STOURPORT Swifts face a tough task at Walshes Meadow tonight (7.45) with the visit of second-placed Merthyr Tydfil but boss Dave Titterton refuses to be daunted. Swifts have failed to win or score in their last two Dr Martens Western Division games. But
BETTY Bridgewater is well known in Bewdley for her commitment to the public good. What she is not yet well known for, though she fully intends to be very soon, is her new mission to support women suffering from breast cancer. Two months ago, Mrs Bridgewater
BINDIANA Jones, Mad Mac, John McBride or just Mac - whatever the name, there is a good chance anyone connected with Wyre Forest has heard of "Kidderminster's famous globe-trotting binman" as he has been described in dozens - possibly hundreds - of newspaper
FORMER Stourport Swifts boss Tim Langford has signed for Midland Alliance side Oldbury United as a player. The striker had a brief spell at Phil Mullen's Evesham United who then snapped up Kidderminster Harriers' teenage star Matt Lewis on loan.
A KIDDERMINSTER man is enjoying every minute of his working life after conjuring up the careers of his dreams. Thirty-four-year-old magician Andy Kirk, of Mallory Drive, Spennells, who describes his work as being, "a pleasure when I can bring enjoyment
OLD friends Gary Hackett and Dave Titterton come face to face as managers for the first time tonight when Stourport Swifts entertain Bromsgrove Rovers in the first round Dr Martens Cup clash (7.45). The pair played together at the Walshes Meadow club
THE Greek Government is set to recognise David Walker's service during the Second World War by awarding him a medal. The Royal Army Service Corps driver was captured in Crete during the Second World War and held for four years. He had been on the British
DELIGHTED Dave Titterton admitted he faced his biggest managerial decision as Stourport Swifts won their first game of the season on Saturday. The new Swifts boss chose to drop veteran Jan Mulders and bring Dave Davies back from injury to partner Parfait
ANYONE drawn to a key role in influencing important changes in the way society is organised would envy Isobel Dale's CV. It is difficult to imagine better credentials for her new post from April as a non-executive director of the new Worcestershire Community
GOAL poacher Michael Moore has been snapped up from Stratford Town to end Stourport Swifts' search for a prolific scorer. The 29-year-old is among new boss Dave Titterton's initial signings as Swifts hunt their elusive first win of the season. Titterton
IT was a visit to an Ideal Homes Exhibition which led former district nurse Bob Belding to move to Stourport 31 years ago. He had been offered a job as a district health education officer in the West Midlands but his wife Maude would only make the move
AN INFLUX of new faces will be joining the Stourport Swifts ranks for Saturday's Dr Martens Western Division trip to Clevedon Town. The crucial newcomers are first-time manager Dave Titterton, named as Tim Langford's replacement, and his assistant Kevin
FORMER Hereford United and Coventry City defender Dave Titterton is the new manager of Stourport Swifts. Titterton, who has also played for a string of Midlands non-league clubs, has joined from Ludlow Town where he was assistant boss. He will be assisted
CAN you imagine being suddenly cut down in your prime and left helpless, unable to talk or walk? Jeannette Baldwin of Kidderminster learned that young people too can suffer from a stroke and has made it her business to see they get the special help and
EXPERIENCED defender Jan Mulders leads troubled Stourport Swifts into their tough FA Trophy test at Mangotsfield United on Saturday. Swifts are not expected to appoint a new manager in time for the big match following last week's axing of player-boss
DR Colin Starkie has played an incredible role in the medical and social history of Wyre Forest district. A school, Kidderminster and district medical officer for almost 30 years, he was responsible for the creation of the area's first family planning
STOURPORT Swifts will have a new manager on board in time for Saturday's FA Trophy clash at Mangotsfield United. Chairman Chris Reynolds is lining up a replacement for sacked player-boss Tim Langford and hopes to make an appointment by Friday at the latest
THE successes of Burlish Middle School choir would make anyone think Jean Fry was blessed with a collection of angels under her baton. How does a school music director attract 70 children, nearly a fifth of the school, into a choir that keeps a strict
FRENCHMAN Parfait Medou-Otye has signed for Stourport Swifts after being given the all-clear following a heart condition scare. The 25-year-old defender/midfielder quit Kidderminster Harriers last season when he was advised to rest from football due to
RIVALS Bromsgrove Rovers and Stourport Swifts go head-to-head at the Victoria Ground tonight (7.45pm) with sharply contrasting fortunes. Table-topping Rovers have blasted 19 goals in their last four home games, while Swifts are languishing at the bottom
STOURPORT Swifts face an anxious wait to see if defender Steve Ulfig is fit to take over from Dave Davies in Saturday's battle of the early strugglers. Tim Langford's second-from-bottom Swifts travel to basement club Rugby United in the Dr Martens League
STOURPORT Swifts have added an experienced front-man in a bid to reverse their bad start to the season. Tim Langford snapped up striker O'Neill Donaldson who immediately made an impact with the equaliser in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Solihull Borough. Swifts
THE search for Stourport Swifts' morale-boosting first win of the season continues at Cinderford Town in the Dr Martens Western Division on Saturday. Swifts have lost four in a row since drawing the opening day clash at Swindon Supermarine, leaking 14
TIM Morris would say Kidderminster is lucky to have a "gem" of an organ so admired it draws visitors from as far away as Australia and America. There are many who would add the historic Hill Organ in the Town Hall is fortunate to have a custodian and
A CHANCE visit to the memorabilia shop at the Severn Valley Railway in Bewdley was the beginning of a railway buff's loyal 18 years voluntary work there. Geoff Richardson is now the sales manager of the Erlestoke Manor Fund and buys collections of railway
TIM Langford admitted he was "pig sick" after the Stourport Swifts player-manager's injury woes struck again. The veteran striker, who enjoyed his best pre-season for five years, tore his hamstring after just 25 minutes at Swindon Supermarine. Swifts
A TORN hamstring will rule Stourport Swifts' player-boss Tim Langford out for a month. Langford limped off during Saturday's 2-2 draw at Swindon Supermarine. His replacement Andy Wright, who is due to have a knee operation next month, stands by to start
PLAYER-BOSS Tim Langford grabbed a late goal to earn Stourport Swifts a draw against their Dr Martens Premier Division visitors Halesowen Town on Friday. And the former Kidderminster and Telford striker then admitted he felt the fittest he had been for
A CAR accident at the age of seven was a life-changing event in the life of Steve Swansborough. He was paralysed from the shoulders down after being knocked down in Birmingham Road, Kidderminster, in 1983. Now aged 23, he is the chairman of Wyre Forest
TIM Langford has stepped up his efforts to add experienced striker Dennis Bailey in another tussle between bitter rivals Stourport Swifts and Redditch United. The 36-year-old former Birmingham City and QPR poacher, who Langford sees as a potential 20-
ANOTHER solid display from Stourport Swifts gave them hope for the season but county rivals Worcester City pinched a last-minute winner on Tuesday night. Swifts lost 2-1 to their Dr Martens League Premier Division opponents at Walshes Meadow, courtesy
IT is rare for an everyday occupation to bring a great deal of enjoyment - but do not tell that to Kidderminster puppeteer Mary Baulk. Mrs Baulk, of Franche, is a member of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Directory of Artists, and a look at her puppets
IF Jenny Paddock were not "an unfailing optimist" she might think times could never be better. But with another year to go as Bewdley Festival director and with the year 2000 to look forward to as West Midland education manager for the Millennium Experience
RIVALS Swifts and Redditch United are set for another player tug-of-war for former Birmingham City striker Dennis Bailey. Bailey, freed by Halesowen Town, scored for Swifts in Saturday's draw with Telford United but has also lined up for Redditch in a
LIVING in a town where the River Severn flows through provides ample opportunities for boating enthusiasts, but there are few who can have done as much for others as Arthur Page. The 69-year-old is retiring as the organiser and skipper of the Stourport
AFTER netting goals at Highbury, Maine Road and Old Trafford, Dennis Bailey can add Walshes Meadow to an ever-growing list. The former QPR and Birmingham City striker may be 37 later this year but he still showed a clean pair of heels to break clear of
DOREEN Reynolds will always be content with her life as long as there is happiness in it. What is more remarkable though is the lengths the 74-year-old of Cookley will go to in order to achieve it. Mrs Reynolds judges dog shows the length and breadth
IT will be an exciting 10 years for Kidderminster, according to the manager of one of the town's two shopping centres. Phil Dunn, who has been head of Rowland Hill Shopping Centre for the last five years, said the redevelopment on the former Brintons
I HAVE just read Bill Davison's reply to my earlier letter. He is obviously a Sainsbury's shopper. It is obvious that St John's needs a supermarket. I still think the Tesco plan is the best - after all, some traffic could enter from Bromwich Road. As
THERE may be many superwomen living in Kidderminster but few perhaps so deserving of the title as Jola Merrick. In just six years since taking her 40-hour-a-week job as a theatre nurse at Kidderminster General Hospital, Mrs Merrick, of Low Habberley,
A GREAT deal has been written about Worcester City's incompetence in getting itself into a budget deficit of £1.25m this year. One must ask - who is to blame? If you listen to Councillor Francis Lankester it is the Labour administration of three years
VERSATILE former Aston Villa man Richard Crisp has played his way into Stourport Swifts' plans for the coming season. The 30-year-old, who has also turned out for Telford and Halesowen Town, can operate anywhere on the pitch. But boss Tim Langford has
EARLIER this year, I took Worcester City Council to task for what I perceived as their lack of vision over numbers 1 and 2 Hylton Road. In the light of those comments and recent events, perhaps I now need to accept that perhaps, after all, the city does
KERRY Giddings scored the only goal as Stourport Swifts finished on the wrong end of a shock 4-1 drubbing at Midland Alliance side Boldmere on Saturday. Swifts will aim to make up for the friendly defeat with another pre-season clash at home to Stourbridge
MOST people would need two lifetimes to do it all - accountant, director of a football club, MD of a nationwide bakery business and treasurer of the FA in Ireland. But by last year Joe Delaney, who now runs the Swan Hotel in Stourport, had been retired
FORMER Stourport Swifts loan man Ian Cottrill has been forced to retire from football. The 33-year-old, who made 431 appearances for Worcester City over 15 years, has been struggling with wear and tear on his knee. Midfielder Cottrill spent a successful
STOURPORT SWIFTS will entertain Worcester City in the Worcestershire Senior Cup second round if they can defeat Halesowen Town at the first stage. Tim Langford's men will entertain Dr Martens League Premier Division Halesowen on or before October 23.
A MIDLAND man was found dead on train tracks near Droitwich Spa station, just after midnight on Saturday morning. The 25 year-old local man was hit by Central Trains' 23:34 Kidderminster to Worcester train, which was empty. Its driver reported hitting
AMBITIOUS Stourport Swifts are launching a £170,000 scheme to boost training facilities for the club and the community. The Dr Martens League Western Division side want to set up a floodlit astroturf area with two five-a-side pitches at Walshes Meadow
THEY say Guinness is good for you. It certainly led to fame, and even fortune of a kind, for Clows Top man Terry Keegan. Mr Keegan of the Oxley's smallholding is probably the only regular horse brass designer in Britain and is certainly one of the country's
THE pre-season friendlies will get progressively harder for Stourport Swifts before their league opener at Swindon Supermarine next month. Alliance sides Halesowen Harriers, Boldmere and Stourbridge will provide the lower-graded opposition. Then Swifts
A LACK of major financial investment at Stourport Swifts has forced them to work extra hard for funds in the Dr Martens League. Like in the professional leagues, the bigger spenders tend to prosper in the competitive Western Division. Swifts' promotion
CLAIRE Worboys talks passionately about her job as an actress - it is all she ever wanted from an early age. Miss Worboys recounts the time at school she announced she wanted to be a singer and the class burst out in laughter. ''I was so embarrassed I
THE renowned team spirit at Stourport Swifts is epitomised by some well-known names in local circles. One of the key ingredients is assistant manager Jan Mulders who has played across Worcestershire and built up a reputation as a dependable defender.
BEWDLEY has lately been paying tribute to a Scotsman who may never have lived in the town and become one of its most prominent citizens had it not been for love. Jim Murdoch's whirlwind courtship with Bewdley born-and-bred Vera, whom he married 43 years
THERE can be few people as much in demand in the community as Ray Harrowing. A man who says he keeps fit by running from one committee to another, the label ''have shorthand, will travel'' would fit him nicely. But Ray, as the Wyre Forest arts circle
STOURPORT Swifts begin their Dr Martens League Western Division campaign with a trip to Swindon Supermarine on Saturday, August 17. And Swifts have some long-awaited derbies against Worcestershire rivals to look forward to. They head to Redditch on Monday
A GRUDGE FA Trophy first round tie awaits Stourport Swifts if they can win their preliminary round clash at Mangotsfield. Swifts can line up a home date with big county rivals Redditch United if they dispose of their fellow Dr Martens League Western Division
Franche VC AC: Kidderminster (01562 827656). Furnace Mill: Wyre Forest (01746 862547). Kidderminster and District Angling Association: M Millinchip, 246 Marlpool Lane, Kidderminster (01562 753471). Lyttelton Angling Association: Brian Dickinson, Water
JOHN Powell has returned from working in the USA to solve Stourport Swifts' coaching dilemma. Swifts boss Tim Langford will be delighted to welcome the former Kidderminster Harriers striker back after his stint as a coach overseas. Powell's return has
IT was what can only be described as a ''gaffe'' when the health visitor called on Thelma Smith on her 75th birthday and asked kindly if she would like to be put in touch with the Stourport Day Centre. Mrs Smith has been regularly cooking and making tea
IN times of war, the military services are necessarily thrown into high profile. So it seems probable, the new army recruitment officer covering Wyre Forest might well be wondering whether Britain's entry in the NATO war in Kosovo will affect his work
The Fitness League Movement is Life: Mary Baulk, 11 Broomfield Road, Kidderminster (01562 751101). County Organiser (01905 770007). Beauty Therapy Compli-medicare: 28 Bewdley Road North, Stourport (01299 829055). Health and Nutrition: Mrs G Hamilton,
LIVING every day as if it was his last is Brian Glass's motto in life and his own experiences seem to bear out that principle. Spells helping his parents in a cafe in Park Butts, Kidderminster, producing missiles, being a delivery driver and then contracts
WYCHAVON District Council has announced who will replace the managing director when he retires. Jack Hegarty, council head of planning, will be promoted when Sid Pritchard leaves in April 2004. At a meeting of Wychavon's executive board, last week, members
Areley Kings: Mrs B. Jackson, 15 Jackson Crescent, Stourport (01299 826188). Cleobury: Secretary Mrs H. Birch, Beechcote Lodge, The Hurst, Cleobury (01299 270035). Kidderminster Deanery: Leader Mrs Mary Wear, Oakenshaw, Rosenhurst Drive, Bewdley (01299
AFTER a season of twists and turns it was fitting that Stourport Swifts' Dr Martens Western Division campaign finished on a high with a 5-2 victory over fresh-faced Bilston Town. The result left Swifts eighth at the end of their inaugural season - an
ON the night that Stourport Swifts secured an excellent 1-0 victory over third-placed Weston-super-Mare, it was a pity that all the talk was of referee Hardip Singh and his hapless assistants. The 'men in black' infuriated the home crowd by allowing Weston
