A CRITICAL report exposing Elbury Mount Primary's failings has justified the regime change at the Worcester school, according to the county's education chief. Director of education Julien Kramer said the findings of Ofsted's two-day October inspection
WORCESTERSHIRE County Council chiefs are considering investing in a satellite navigation system worth around £2m to track Worcestershire's buses - despite hoping to cut funding for the fleet. Transport managers hope giving passengers the chance to log
THE rare sight of a flock of birds from Scandinavia in a Worcester garden has made birdwatchers chirp with delight. More than 20 waxwings have made themselves at home in a tree at an address in Penhill Crescent, St John's. The birds, which first appeared
CHINESE colour, sound and dance is set to embrace Worcester shortly as the Year of the Monkey arrives with a celebratory New Year party. With lion dances, firecrackers and music, the celebrations promise to be the most magical of the year - and everyone
A PILOT who was used as a human shield during the first Gulf War received a four-minute standing ovation during a talk to Worcestershire war veterans. Retired Sqdn Ldr John Peters, of Mamble, near Stourport-on-Severn, spoke at the annual conference of
MIDLANDS TWO (WEST) 24/1/04: Malvern v Newbold. 31/1/04: Aston Old Edwardians v Malvern. 14/2/04: Malvern v Nuneaton Old Edwardians. 21/2/04: Kenilworth v Malvern. 28/2/04: Malvern v Hereford. 13/3/04: Barkers Butts v Malvern. 3/4/04: Malvern v Derby.
LADIES living in Hereford and surrounding areas are being invited to another evening under the bonnet in aid of Acorns Children's Hospice. Car care and maintenance company EasyFit Auto Safety Centres is hosting a fun and informative charity ladies night
BROADBAND has finally arrived in Upton-upon-Severn. BT introduced the service last week, bringing high speed internet connection to the town and surrounding area. To upgrade the local telephone exchange has cost about £200,000 and BT needed 200 people
A FLAIR for performing could be the passport to a job in the sun for wannabe entertainers from Worcester. An international agency, working closely with Jobcentre Plus, is scouring the city for potential holiday entertainers at resorts on the Spanish island
POLICE are appealing for information following three distraction burglaries in Herefordshire. They believe the two in Hereford and one in Ledbury are linked and could also be connected to a similar incident in Worcestershire. Three men carried out all
A MOTORIST has branded proposed new laws penalising drivers caught using a cycle lane as unfair - saying cyclists should be also be fined for not using the lanes. Malvern College caretaker Melvyn Hiles said he has had several near-misses in his car with
Saturday, January 10, 2004 FOUR goals from Paul Szewczyk and one from Sam Bowen gave Rovers victory. Full report to follow.
AUGUST 16 H Havant & W. 1-1 (Kelly) 19 A Merthyr Tydfil 0-2 (Kelly, Wilde) 23 A Welling United 0-1 (Middleton) 25 H Moor Green 3-0 (Kelly, Owen, Webster) 30 A Crawley Town 0-4 SEPTEMBER 1 H Hinckley United 2-0 (Holloway, Davies) 6 H Dorchester Town
BROMSGROVE Rovers are likely to be without Danny Scheppel and Richard Tomkins for this Saturday's Dr Martens Western visit of Cirencester Town. Scheppel, who also missed last Saturday's 2-1 victory over Sutton Coldfield, has a knee injury while Tomkins
GEORGE Rooney insists his Bromsgrove Rovers side is not daunted by the crucial FA Cup final qualifying round replay at Whitby Town tonight. Rovers make the long trip to north Yorkshire after the two sides drew 2-2 at the Victoria Ground last Saturday.
Versatile Hinton began his career at right-back before reverting to a centre-half role during the Conference championship-winning season. The change of position proved the making of the former Birmingham City trainee who was once rated at £1 million and
Stamps started with Torquay United despite being brought up in Birmingham and his obvious talent earned him a £10,000 move to Colchester United in 1997. The left-footer moved to Harriers on a free in September 1999 after playing in the Second Division
The uncompromising defender was Ian Britton's last signing before the manager was sacked in October 2003 and cost Harriers a four-figure fee. Hatswell has a second chance to impress in the Football League after leaving Oxford under Ian Atkins due to a
After starting off as a trainee at Liverpool, Williams was released at the age of 19 to return to his native Wrexham. The Wales U-21 international played on-off for the Second Division club but made a good impression with many for his uncompromising style
HOME, away (Midlands Two (West) fixtures unless stated) SEPTEMBER Sat 06 HEREFORD 47-9 Sat 13 Kenilworth 15-16 Sat 20 STONEYGATE (Powergen Intermediate Cup First Round) 31-9 Sat 27 NUNEATON OLD EDWARDIANS 27-19 OCTOBER Sat 04 Aston Old Edwardians 20-8
Bennett was a then club record buy of £30,000 from rivals Bromsgrove Rovers in January 1999 and proved a goal-scoring menace to Conference opponents in the title-winning season. The ex-England semi-professional international signed a two-year deal at
Parrish has enjoyed three promotions before from Division Three, twice with Northampton Town and once with Chesterfield. The competitive left-footed midfielder with an eye for goal turned down a one-year deal with Chesterfield to sign for two years with
The Republic of Ireland U-20s captain did well in the reserves at Wolverhampton Wanderers but failed to make his first-team debut. Ward was released at the end of the 2002/03 season as a result but caught Ian Britton's eye in a trial with Harriers and
Once capped by England U-20s and also in the national youth sides, the Birmingham-born midfielder has had a turbulent 2003-04 season. Murray signed for Harriers on an 18-month contract in January 2004 following a brief loan spell of three games earlier
A player with an impressive reputation in homeland Denmark, Henriksen signed a two-and-a-half year deal at Aggborough in February 2002. The flamboyant striker, who impressed in an initial three-month loan spell with an immaculate first touch, signed from
Christiansen's signing was another major coup for Harriers director of football Jan Molby in January 2004. The giant Danish striker attracted plenty of interest from clubs in his homeland but he wanted to play in England after a failed trial at Grimsby
SWIFTS 0, CIRENCESTER 1 STOURPORT could claim an 'A' for effort but rarely looked like scoring in a 1-0 home defeat to on-song Cirencester Town in the Dr Martens Western Division. The Gloucestershire side marched up to fourth in the table by extending
A GOALLESS draw at Team Bath extended Evesham United's unbeaten run to four games and lifted them up two places in the Dr Martens Western Division. Although missing a number of regulars through injury, United gave another polished performance and were
STOURPORT Swifts went down 1-0 at home to high-flying Cirencester Town in the Dr Martens Western Division. While Swifts could claim an 'A' for effort, they rarely looked like scoring against a side unbeaten in 14 matches. Solid defending kept Swifts'
DANNY Williams is winning his battle to be fit for Kidderminster Harriers' FA Cup third round replay against Premership strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux tomorrow (7.45). The influential midfielder twisted his knee when Harriers drew 1-1
Saturday, January 10, 2004 GRAHAM Ward missed a penalty that Dean Bennett should have taken in Kidderminster Harriers' 1-0 Nationwide League Division Three defeat at high-riding Mansfield Town on Saturday. Three minutes after Ward's spot kick failure
Pre-season friendlies Sat July 19 Bromyard (a) 7-1 Ball 3, Robinson, Giddings, A Wright, Wood. Wed July 23 Studley (h) 1-3 Ball Tues July 29 Westfields (h) 1-1 Wood Sat Aug 2 Bilston (a) 6-1 Ball 4, Sayer, Wood Tues Aug 5 Stourbridge (h) 4-1 Robinson
GOALSCORERS 12 - Szewczyk. 8 - Pope. 7 - Jackson. 6 - Atkinson. 5 - Banner. 5 - Frost. 4 - Benbow. 4 - Dyson. 2 - Bowen. 2 - Dawson. 2 - Jones. 1 - Beckett. 1 - Scheppel. ADVERTISER/MESSENGER MAN OF THE MATCH 6 - Pope. 4 - Szewczyk. 3 - Beckett. 3 - Dyson
MANSFIELD 1, HARRIERS 0 THE FA Cup dream did disrupt the bread and butter of Kidderminster Harriers' Division Three relegation scrap on Saturday. Harriers gave a strangely lifeless display as an attacking force and some players seemed to have an eye on
SATURDAY SOCCER NATIONWIDE LEAGUE Division Three: Mansfield 1 Kidderminster 0. FA TROPHY Third round: Exeter 3 Hereford 2. DR MARTENS LEAGUE Premier Division: Newport 0 Worcester 4. Western Division: Bromsgrove 5 Shepshed 1; Redditch 1 Bedworth 1; Stourport
HOME Office Ministers have finally offered an explanation for the extraordinary decision to give the same answer to 285 written Parliamentary questions. At the end of last year, Peter Luff lodged a complaint in the chamber of the Commons after Ministers
HOME, away (Midlands Three West (South) fixtures unless stated) SEPTEMBER Sat 6 Old Leamingtonians 17-8 Sat 13 CAMP HILL 27-8 Sat 20 Stewarts & Lloyds (Powergen Intermediate Cup First Round) 38-16 Sat 27 LEAMINGTON 18-24 OCTOBER Sat 04 Old Coventrians
HOME, away (Dr Martens Western fixtures unless stated) JULY Sat 19 WALSALL (Friendly) 5-1 (Sutton, Banner, Dyson, Bowen, Scheppel) Tue 22 WOODFORD UNITED (Friendly) 3-1 (Sutton, Stephenson, Scheppel) Sat 26 STOCKPORT COUNTY (Friendly) 0-0 Wed 30 ASTON
Saturday, January 10, 2004 THE legendary British wrestler Big Daddy was born just down the road from Otley in West Yorkshire. Maybe they are celebrating his memory or possibly campaigning for the sport's comeback in Britain. Whatever the motives, Otley
ANOTHER year, another looming row about the stuttering attempt to ban foxhunting with dogs. As ever, this throws up many questions. Does Tony Blair have the stomach to see the confrontation with the countryside through to the bitter end? Does the Hunting
THIS week's fixtures for football clubs across the two counties include: TONIGHT Worcestershire Senior Cup quarter-final: Worcester City v Redditch United (7.45). Midland Floodlit Youth League: Hinckley United v Hereford United; Leamington v Kidderminster
A PENSIONER who escaped a landslide by inches has vowed that he and his wife will not be moved from their Worcester home. Severn Trent engineers are investigating what caused a large section of John Cotterill's back garden to fall into a brook. The 79
EDUCATION bosses will find out next week if Worcestershire County Council is ranked among the best local education authorities (LEAs) in the country. National inspectors have spent weeks interviewing headteachers, school governors and councillors to assess
MID-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff has warned that plans for university "top-up" fees could leave graduates unable to afford a mortgage. The Mid Worcestershire MP gave the grim warning in the House of Commons last week, following Education Secretary Charles
A REVOLUTIONARY new thermal imaging system developed by Malvern-based QinetiQ to improve car safety could hit the nation's roads in the next couple of years. A small team of experts at the science and technology organisation, off Leigh Sinton Road in
WHILE the south west of England will be battered by severe storms, Worcester will escape with just wind and light rain, according to weatherman Paul Damari. "We are just likely to see some rain this morning and it will brighten up this afternoon," said
PAINTBALL games could be the answer to boredom and the eternal cry of "there's nothing to do" for teenagers in one county town. They will be able to work off surplus energy by battling it out with guns and paintball pellets on a Saturday morning. Upton-upon-Severn
ARSON could be behind a barn blaze which fire crews fought for 16 hours in a bid to save farm outbuildings and prevent the release of toxic chemicals. Eight crews spent all Saturday night and Sunday morning controlling the fire, which started at about
LEDBURY members of Herefordshire Council are pressing for a new town library to be among its priorities. The existing library, in the Elizabeth Barrett Browning building on the corner of the Homend and Bye Street, does not come up to the standard required
A REVOLUTIONARY new thermal imaging system developed by Malvern-based QinetiQ to improve car safety could hit the nation's roads in the next couple of years. A small team of experts at the science and technology organisation, off Leigh Sinton Road in
KIND-HEARTED shoppers at a Malvern store dug deep into their pockets to raise more than £1,000 for county people with life-threatening illnesses. Almost £1,800 was raised by a raffle at Matalan, in aid of St Richard's Hospice, based at Rose Hill, Worcester
GOVERNMENT inspectors agreed Colwall CE Primary was "a lovely school" and paid tribute to its caring attitude and very good standard of education. The school's staff, teaching and quality of leadership all came in for praise during the three-day inspection
GENEROUS regulars at a Worcester pub have raised £1,300 towards equipment for a stroke rehabilitation unit. Drinkers at The Winning Post in Pope Iron Road, Barbourne, took part in an auction and raffle to help buy an exercise bike for the Willows stroke
AN Evesham estate that has been plagued by car badge thefts has been hit again, after three more vehicles were targeted. Rear name badges were stolen from vehicles in Honeysuckle Close - following four that have already gone missing from the area - between
HOUSE prices continued to rise in Worcestershire last year, according to the latest figures. A survey of property trends by Nationwide, one of the country's biggest mortgage lenders, showed that homes in Worcester increased in value by 11.6 per cent,
FIXTURES WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL LEAGUE Saturday, January 17 Premier Division: Ledbury Town v Malvern Town (2.45). Division One (South): Malvern Town Reserves v Cradley Town Reserves (2.45). Saturday, January 24 Premier Division: Bustleholme v Malvern
A ONE minute silence was held ahead of Bromsgrove Rovers' match with Cirencester Town last Saturday to remember the life of Ashley Read. Ashley, who was just 18, played for both clubs during his short career before he tragically died following a car accident
IT wasn't pretty but Bromsgrove Rovers secured the league double over Stourport Swifts and with it took three valuable points at the Victoria Ground. Mark Atkinson and Marcus Jackson got a goal in each half to leave George Rooney's side, who won 2-1 at
BROMSGROVE Rovers' FA Cup run has seen their bank balance swell to the tune of £13,000. Figures released by the Victoria Ground club, recently out of administration, will make good reading for directors and fans alike following Rovers' six-game stay in
RICHARD Tomkins was in hospital with heavy concussion last night following a horror collision in Bromsgrove Rovers' 3-0 FA Trophy replay defeat by Weston-Super-Mare, which caused the match to be delayed by 23 minutes. The Rovers midfielder was knocked
LAST year, a Government think-tank put forward an idea on how to solve the so-called pensions crisis. It was this. At some stage in the future, people would have to continue working until the age of 70 if they were going to be able to enjoy anything remotely
Released by Aston Villa, Brock signed for Harriers in September 1997 after a short spell at Northampton Town where he failed to make an appearance. He made his Harriers first-team debut in November of the same year and has proved himself a fine shot-stopper
WORCESTER Wolves basketball team reached the final of the Patrons Cup when they beat North West London 87-79 at University College Worcester. The visitors included England international Michael Martin and Santana Ataha who joined the team following a
Another Mr Versatile, long-serving Smith signed for Harriers in 1997 for £19,000 from non-league rivals Bromsgrove Rovers. Smith's performances in non-league earned him three caps for the England semi-professional team as well as a Nationwide Conference
The versatile Gadsby was Ian Britton's first signing after the 2002/03 season, agreeing a one-year contract at Aggborough. A player with good defensive qualities in the air or on the ground, he did not figure much in a turbulent Division Two campaign
The Birmingham-born front man was once known as the Flying Postman from his non-league days at Cradley Town. Williams was 23 when he broke into professional football with Swansea City and he became a well-travelled player before signing for an initial
RUNAWAY leaders Redditch United will be gunning for the scalp of their more illustrious rivals Worcester City tonight (7.45). The two sides meet in the quarter-finals of the Worcestershire Senior Cup at St George's Lane with Rod Brown's in-form team 10
DANNY Williams is winning his battle to be fit for Kidderminster Harriers' FA Cup third round replay against Premership strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux tomorrow (7.45). The influential midfielder twisted his knee when Harriers drew 1-1
WORCESTERSHIRE owned Best Mate is one of 32 entries revealed today for the 2004 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Henrietta Knight-trained champion became only the sixth horse to successfully defend his title when following up on his 2002 success last year
WORCESTER Wolves basketball team reached the final of the Patrons Cup when they beat North West London 87-79 at University College Worcester. The visitors included England international Michael Martin and Santana Ataha who joined the team following a
PAUL Szewczyk netted four times as Bromsgrove Rovers beat bottom side Shepshed Dynamo 5-1 to move up to third place in the Dr Martens Western Division. Led from the front by Szewczyk and Sam Bowen, Rovers controlled the game throughout. However, they
DROITWICH Rugby Club got back to winning ways with a 10-9 win at Southam in Midlands Three West (South). The home side started the brighter and took the lead with a penalty but Droitwich then began to assert themselves. Due to several late changes in
RUNAWAY leaders Redditch United will be gunning for the scalp of their more illustrious rivals Worcester City tonight (7.45). The two sides meet in the quarter-finals of the Worcestershire Senior Cup at St George's Lane with Rod Brown's in-form team 10
WELL said (N Taylor, You Say, Friday, January 1) when he asks "Isn't it time the Conservatives came clean on Europe?" I am sure everyone concurs with him. My letter of November 28 called for Peter Luff to reply and give us some answers. He has failed
M BURCHER seems rather confused regarding the relevant performance of the world's economies. Britain doesn't have the world's fourth "strongest" economy, but it does, in fact, have the fourth largest. Strongest, in this context, refers to the growth rate
n I READ your article in the Saturday (January 3) edition of the Evening News with great interest. I am the county representative for the Green Lane Association. I have been involved with "green laning" for some 15 years. Although I do not in any way
n WORCESTER High Street is to undergo a cosmetic revamp purely for commercial reasons. Of the three types of tree presently growing, I assume that the majority of larger Acers have been selected for replacement by the Worcester Black Pear. This is an
Saturday, January 10, 2004 AS gee-ups go, slapping last season's top scorer on the transfer list ranks among the more radical by John Barton of late. But putting Darren Middleton up for sale might yet prove to be a catalyst for a number of City's under-achievers
Pre-season friendlies Sat July 12 Evesham (a) 3-1 Lewis, J Williams, Paschalis Sun July 13 Stratford (a) 1-0 Ward Sat July 19 Boldmere (a) 6-1 (og), J Williams 2, Lightbourne, Wilding, Danks Mon July 21 Leicester (h) 1-1 Shilton Sat July 26 West Brom
ANDY Keast paid tribute to his Worcester Rugby Club side's discipline after Otley's provocation in the Warriors 38-3 at Sixways. The Yorkshire side tried everything in the book to get a reaction from Worcester but Keast's men stood their ground and played
WORCESTERSHIRE and Herefordshire's MPs emerged unscathed from the annual poll on the nation's most boring politicians. Disproving the old theory that it is better to be talked about than not talked about at all, they all failed to chart in the list of
BRINTONS, the Kidderminster carpet manufacturers got a right royal seal of approval yesterday when the Queen named the largest cruise liner in the world, Queen Mary 2. The carpet giant, which employs 509 people at its Stourport Road site and 2,400 throughout
