THE multi-million pound transfer of Worcester's council houses to a private company has been finalised. The deal, worth around £12.5m, was due to be signed at lunchtime today between the city and Worcester Community Housing. The not-for-profit company
TRAFFIC will be restricted on the main bridge in Upton-upon-Severn this week as repair works begin. A routine inspection by Worcestershire County Council revealed serious problems with the flood viaduct between the main bridge and the access route into
A GROUP of animal rights activists who have been accused of harassment has vowed to continue to fight for its cause. Greg and Natasha Avery, Heather James and Lynn Sawyer - all members of the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) - who give their address
THE owner of a Worcester bridalwear shop has hit out at the city council after claiming the smell of fried onions during the annual Victorian Christmas Fayre is making her customers feel ill. Anne Wild, who owns Perfections, in Friar Street, said the
RACHEL Whitear's mother has told of her grief during the "traumatic" exhumation of the 21-year-old's body and criticised a controversial portrait of the heroin addict. Pauline Holcroft, from Ledbury, said a service held a day before the heroin addict's
MOTORISTS in Droitwich are being warned not to leave their car keys on view at home after two high-value vehicles were stolen by burglars. Thieves snatched ignition keys through a letterbox and a kitchen window in two separate incidents in the town. In
INNOVATIVE students from Droitwich Spa High School have been making a name for themselves in the business world. Silver Wings is the name of a company formed by 14 Year 12 pupils at the Briar Mill-based school. They sell high quality trinket boxes, cards
HEREFORDSHIRE'S new top police officer is calling for county residents to play their part in upholding the law. Chief Supt Kevin Bentley today took over as head of West Mercia Police's Herefordshire division. The 45-year-old, who is originally from Worcester
TWELVE young people struggling to put their lives on track have been given the chance of a lifetime by an innovative housing project in Worcester. This week the 16-25 year olds, deemed most needy by Worcester City Council, will be moving into these quality
A WOMAN who was still waiting for the results of her smear test after three months found out she had an aggressive form of cancer after pressing for the results. Ann Hayes rang the Evening News after an article was published last month about a mother
FANS of labradors and golden retrievers will have a ball at The Game Conservancy Trust's regional gun dog working tests and fun days. The Worcestershire branch of this national charity is holding its event at Dunnington Heath, near Alcester, in May, with
A POSSIBLE "Adopt a Worcester Swan" scheme is just one of the plans Worcestershire's Greenpeace Network has had on its March agenda. The group has successfully lobbied Marks & Spencer to eliminate chemicals from children's projects, and campaigned
AUGUST 16 H Havant & W. 1-1 (Kelly) 19 A Merthyr Tydfil 2-0 (Kelly, Wilde) 23 A Welling United 1-0 (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
Stepped onto the bench after the release of Brendan Murphy and was needed to make two substitute appearances in season 2001/02, including a league debut at Luton. The Stoke-born teenager had been playing for the U-19s, including during their fine FA Youth
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
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
Director of football Jan Molby caused a stir by recruiting former captain Yates to help in Harriers' battle against relegation in February 2004. The midfield anchorman, whose versatility also makes him useful as a defender or attacker, spent four seasons
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
The pacey striker started off at Derby as a youngster but failed to make a first-team appearance and had trial spells at Walsall, Mansfield and Oldham. Rickards ended up at Tamworth on a free in July 2001 and immediately bagged 17 goals, leading them
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
One of Harriers' Conference-winning heroes made a surprise return back to Aggborough in February 2004 on a month's loan. Released by Ian Britton to Chester in the summer, Jan Molby decided to bring back the forward who had served him well in the past.
A GUTSY performance by Rangers was not enough to beat the very gusty weather conditions and visitors, league leaders Gornal Athletic on Saturday as Gornal came from behind to take all three points with two well struck goals. MALVERN RANGERS 1, GORNAL
WITH a gale blowing diagonally across the pitch, this game became a lottery with no advantage to either side whether kicking up or down wind. PLUMBERS ARMS 1, WELLAND ATHLETIC 1 In many cases a stationary ball could only be kicked with the help of colleagues
THIS was Radar's first game for four weeks and it showed in this Worcester Sunday League division two encounter. MALVERN RADAR 0, PERDISWELL 1 There was plenty of huff and puff from both teams but nothing too creative and a goal 14 minutes from time secured
WORCESTER City are gunning for a seventh successive home win as they bid to topple leaders Crawley at St Geor-ge's Lane tonight (7.45). Victory will also close the gap to seven points, paving the way for a late title charge by John Barton's third-placed
WORCESTER Rugby Club are re-fusing to let their focus drop as they face the biggest week in their history. The National One leaders, who will clinch the league title if they beat Bristol Shoguns at Sixways on Saturday, will keep everything as normal as
WORCESTER light-middleweight boxer Leroy Williamson lost on points when he travelled to Edinburgh for a four-round contest against Fauldhouse youngster Colin McNeil. Williamson gave the local favourite a rough ride at times but finally fell to a 40-36
WORCESTER Wolves missed out on the National League Division Two title despite winning 83-70 at Cov-entry Crusaders. Coventry needed a win to secure fourth place and a home tie in the play-offs while Wolves knew a win for them would maintain pressure on
COLWALL secured the point they needed to guarantee second place in Severn Division Two with a 2-2 draw against league champions Hereford IIs at Ledbury Leisure Centre on Saturday. COLWALL WHC 2, HEREFORD II 2 The teams looked evenly matched in the first
IN Division One of the Brewin Dolphin Securities sponsored Malvern Table Tennis League last year's runners up Manor Park Cavaliers are this year's champions following their 10-0 win over Ledbury Lions. It was their sixteenth straight win of the season
THE third race of the Spring Handicap series at Arden Sailing Club, Defford took place on Sunday. The weather was once again very challenging. Just as the race was about to be started a particularly vicious squall came through, with those already sailing
LIKE many farmers today, Anne and Mick Meadows are looking forward to a future where they have more control. It is something they have been working towards for some time and last year they celebrated a landmark in their efforts, the opening of their own
ENGLAND continued their domination over Caribbean cricket with Worcestershire's Gareth Batty underlining their strength in depth by emerging from the sidelines to inspire an eight-wicket victory with his best performance at this level. The off-spinner
WORCESTER City are gunning for a seventh successive home win as they bid to topple leaders Crawley at St Geor-ge's Lane tonight (7.45). Victory will also close the gap to seven points, paving the way for a late title charge by John Barton's third-placed
I WOULD never attempt to answer the questions posed by R J Morris (You Say, Tuesday, March 22) but instead urge him to consider the origins and development of local government taxation then try to contemplate the enormity of introducing and enforcing
WELLAND'S Dave Wise has been heavily involved in football since his schooldays but has swopped his boots for training shoes to run for charity in next month's London Flora Marathon. Dave, aged 63, trained as a football referee early in his days and progressed
ALEC Bond's letter (You Say, Tuesday, March 24) about damage to Sandy Lane is factually inaccurate. He speaks of "off-roaders" whereas Sandy Lane is a public road free for the passage of all, so this is "on-road" driving. Anyone who uses this lane in
MALVERN'S Clinton Dorrell commenced the 2004 Sports Racing & GT Challenge perfectly at Silverstone by securing his maiden win. Clinton couldn't have asked for a better way to start his second season in the series with his GD Cobra. He now heads the
THIS North Midlands Cup semi-final took place at Spring Lane with gusting winds making conditions difficult at the lineout and accurate kicking a lottery. MALVERN 57pts, HEREFORD 7pts For the first 20 minutes, both sides struggling to acclimatise, there
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
IF you live in one of Worcestershire's listed buildings, John Burrows could soon be round your house, if he hasn't already. Because John is taking part in a national project called Images of England, which aims to compile a photographic record of all
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
MALVERN Town continued their quest for the Express and Star West Midlands Premier Division Championship with this last gasp victory against Wednesfield on Saturday. MALVERN TOWN 2, WEDNESFIELD 0 With the gale force wind denying any hopes of cohesive football
MALVERN Town Reserves could consider themselves a little unlucky to lose out to Bewdley by a three-goal margin in Wednesday night's WFA Saturday Junior Cup final played at St George's Lane. BEWDLEY TOWN 3, MALVERN TOWN RESERVES 0 On the balance of play
THE very strong wind running the length of the pitch, making the ball difficult to control, threatened to ruin this West Midland Division One (South) game, and the first half ended scoreless. BLEDBURY TOWN RESERVES 2, MALVERN TOWN RESERVES 3 The scoring
MALVERN Town opened the scoring within two minutes of the start of this home league cup tie. MALVERN TOWN RESERVES 3, HINTON 0 A quickly taken free kick by Rob Perrins caught the Hinton goalie napping as the ball slipped through his fingers for a soft
SCIENTISTS in Malvern have moved a step closer to treating liver cancer with a product they are developing - after signing a manufacturing agreement with another company. A team of more than 10 experts from medical technology company pSiMedica have spent
BOY racers and aggressive drivers have made a street so dangerous it is only a matter of time before someone is killed, residents say. Homeowners in Ambleside Drive, Warndon, Worcester, say they are "sick and tired" of speeding traffic, blocked driveways
THE multi-million pound transfer of Worcester's council houses to a private company has been finalised. The deal, worth around £12.5m, was due to be signed at lunchtime today between the city and Worcester Community Housing. The not-for-profit company
POOCH-loving pensioner Marion Hooper has spent a staggering £3,000 pampering and preening her two beloved shih-tzu dogs. "Nothing is too much trouble" for Mrs Hooper, aged 74, who has taken pampering of her shih-tzus, Bonnie and Philli, to the extreme
"URGENT action" needs to be taken to help young people on to the property ladder in Worcestershire, a city councillor has warned. With house prices going through the roof, the need for affordable homes has never been greater. First-time buyers are becoming
HEAVY loads could soon be making their way to Worcester up the River Severn, rather than by road. The news follows the naming of an £8m multi-purpose pontoon vessel, built to ferry Concorde to its final resting place. The Terra Marique will work in conjunction
POLICE are warning people to be vigilant after a woman in her 80s was tricked into letting a bogus telephone engineer into her home. The man claiming to be from British Telecom called at the elderly woman's home in the Hurcott Road area of Kidderminster
A MUSICAL showcase of Sir Edward Elgar's European influences starts next month at a museum dedicated to preserving his memory. The Elgar Birthplace Museum, Lower Broadheath, presents a series of inspirational concerts from Thursday, April 15, featuring
PEOPLE in Worcestershire and the rest of the country should be given the chance to have their say on whether Britain should adopt the European Constitution. That is according to West Midlands MEP Philip Bradbourn, who at a meeting in Welland, condemned
FIXTURES WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL LEAGUE Saturday, April 3 Premier Division: Kington Town v Malvern Town (2.45). Division One (South): Hinton v Malvern Town Reserves (2.45). Tuesday, April 6 Premier Division Cup (First leg): Tividale v Malvern Town (7.45
AN orchestra keen to see if it is tune with audiences has commissioned a Kidderminster-based company to research how it is perceived. Jill Gramann Market Research (JGMR) will run customer focus groups on behalf of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
WORCESTER City Council chief executive David Wareing describes the transfer of his authority's housing stock to a private company as a "win-win" situation. The not-for-profit Worcester Community Housing is, from today, responsible for the city's 4,659
THEY were certainly some double act. In the one corner there was the ample form of Chris Jaeger, in the other, the more sparingly proportioned Esther Blaine. One was the boss. The other, the loyal sidekick. One was the hardened showbusiness veteran, the
WORCESTER Wolves missed out on the National League Division Two title despite winning 83-70 at Cov-entry Crusaders. Coventry needed a win to secure fourth place and a home tie in the play-offs while Wolves knew a win for them would maintain pressure on
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 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
The giant Senegal-born defender returned to Aggborough on a non-contract basis in February 2004 after training with the club for a few weeks. Sall, who left Aggborough the previous season and eventually went back to France, did not have the best of second
A one-month loan deal took the vastly experienced Viveash from Swindon to Harriers in early March as injury and suspension hit Harriers' defence. The dominant centre-back chose against signing a new one-year deal with Division One club Reading and dropped
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 race for the Soccer Site Malvern League division one title continued last Sunday when both leaders Bishops Frome and second-placed Oak Allstars took maximum points from their home games. Leaders Bishops Frome entertained third-placed Talbot Head and
WEST Malvern entertained Inkberrow on Saturday hoping to complete their first Division One double of the season but due to gale force winds the game at times was a farce. WEST MALVERN 1, INKBERROW A 2 The West kicked with the wind behind them in the first
NEWTOWN Sports Juniors U10 Girls football team took part in their first ever mini-soccer match at a football festival organised by the Worcestershire FA. The format of the event, which was held at the University College Worcester, was to give the girls
WELLAND JUNIORS U15S 5, MALVERN UNITED 2 THE weather had a big part to play in this local derby but it was the home side that made best use of it. The opening phases of the game were evenly contested but it was a clinical finish by midfielder, Russell
ENGLAND continued their domination over Caribbean cricket with Worcestershire's Gareth Batty underlining their strength in depth by emerging from the sidelines to inspire an eight-wicket victory with his best performance at this level. The off-spinner
PAUL Szewczyk snatched three crucial points for Bromsgrove Rovers in their quest for a Dr Martens Western Division top seven spot with two late goals to beat Evesham United 2-1. Rovers, who parted company with manager George Rooney last week, were staring
A PHIL Preedy hat-trick kept Malvern Town three points clear at the top of the West Midlands League Premier Division as they thumped bottom club Coseley Town 6-1. Preedy gave Malvern the lead when he converted a cross from his brother Duncan, and a header
SHOBDON trainer Steve Flook has long had a reputation for transforming horses of moderate ability. He gave a further demonstration of his skills at the Ledbury Hunt point-to-point fixture yesterday when he saddled a double at the Maisemore Park course
LEDBURY and District swimmers enjoyed a successful third championship gala on Saturday resulting in 13 new records. The longest race was the 200m butterfly, a very difficult event which nevertheless attracted an entry of 35 with 18 competitors aged only
MALVERN Chess Club played away to Worcester City in the County League Division One and had a draw 3-3. Malvern had white on the odd boards. Individual results are as follows, Malvern names first. 1) B Turner - J Keene, 2) G Herbert - S Mellor, 3) I Clarke
Saturday, March 27, 2004 SIMON Brown boosted Kidderminster's Division Three survival hopes with a debut goal at promotion-chasing Lincoln City. The 20-year-old, signed on a month's loan from West Bromwich Albion on transfer deadline day, pounced in the
GOALSCORERS 19 - Szewczyk. 10 - Pope. 8 - Banner. 8 - Frost. 8 - Jackson. 6 - Atkinson. 5 - Benbow. 4 - Dyson. 2 - Bellingham. 2 - Bowen. 2 - Dawson. 2 - Jones. 1 - Beckett. 1 - Scheppel. ADVERTISER/MESSENGER MAN OF THE MATCH 7 - Szewczyk. 6 - Pope. 5
IT is ten years since a then lowly Malvern side from the reaches of North Midlands Two went on that long trek which ended at Twickenham and the lifting of the Pilkington Shield by skipper Andy Ridley. More than 3,500 Malvernians made the trip that day
MALVERN TOWN 2, WEDNESFIELD 0 MALVERN Town continued their quest for the Express and Star West Midlands Premier Division Championship with this last gasp victory against Wednesfield on Saturday. With the gale force wind denying any hopes of cohesive football
REGARDING the letter headlined "Nothing but praise for city's new hospital" (You Say, Tuesday, March 23) alas, I assume in a very rare moment of madness, the Letters Editor "has got his knickers in a twist" so to speak. I understood that the praise given
LEAGUE leaders Malvern Town entertain bottom-of-the-table Coseley Town tomorrow (Saturday) in another Express and Star West Midlands League Premier Division game (2.45pm). Their cause is made even more important as Tipton closed the gap on Town to just
I READ with interest the various responses to my recent correspondence regarding Conservative policies and our vision for Britain. I do apologise for raising your correspondents' collective blood pressures. However, the Conservative Party and I must be
THE first XV of the Malvern Angels brought home a 65-0 win against Hucclecote WRFC last Sunday. The Angels travelled to Hucclecote RFC and in the not so promising weather prepared to play against the Hucclecote team, which have been very successful in
FOLLOWING recent media coverage about sex education and the need for parents to be more frank with their children on the subject - we at the charity Parentline Plus would like parents to know that there is help on hand for them to do just that. Parentline
I NOTE the proliferation of road traffic signs providing masses of useless information on the city and county roads. The latest example seen on the A44 was a sign courtesy of the Worcestershire County Council thanking me for my patience during the resurfacing
THE Morgan Works Race Team, popular underdogs of the international motor racing scene, stunned fans and cynics alike last Saturday with a storming performance in the opening round of the American Le Mans Series at Sebring, Florida. Watched by millions
WITH most of the Malvern U15 'Pirates' at the Banbury 10's festival, the remaining squad members with the three players from the U16s travelled to Stourbridge as the Malvern U15 'Corsairs' for a hastily arranged fixture. STOURBRIDGE U15's 24pts MALVERN
MALVERN U15 'Pirates' took a squad of 15 players to the Banbury ten-a-side tournament at on Mother's Sunday. Unfortunately, traffic delays caused the team to break the first golden rule of such tournaments, which is to arrive early and prepare well. 10
THERE wasn't a spare seat at a Worcestershire farm last week as farmers crowded in to hear how the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy will affect them. Shires Farm, Hawford, near Claines, was the latest stop for the Country Landowners' Associaion
Saturday, March 27, 2004 A SET of stud marks is the customary calling card of a defender but Allan Davies left an altogether more memorable imprint on Saturday with a stunning goal. His 20-yard pile-driver sparked City's sixth successive home win at St
WITH SUMMER approaching, many more horses are going out into their fields and the danger of them being stolen is increasing. Perhaps it is time to make sure your horse is well-protected against theft. The Stolen Horse Register acts as a database which
WORCESTER Rugby Club are re-fusing to let their focus drop as they face the biggest week in their history. The National One leaders, who will clinch the league title if they beat Bristol Shoguns at Sixways on Saturday, will keep everything as normal as
PREPARATIONS for the coming season get under way this weekend at Colwall Cricket Club. On Sunday, March 28, former club captain, David Sutton, will be leading a new training venture at John Masefield School, Ledbury. Running from 10.30am until 3.30pm
TNT Express Services' employees earned more than pennies for their thoughts when they raised thousands of pounds for disabled and disadvantaged youngsters, after completing a company questionnaire. Staff at the company in Hartlebury, near Droitwich, answered
BUSINESSES are heavily burdened with red tape and an increasingly complex tax system, claim Tory MPs. But the Conservatives would make it simpler and fairer, promised shadow paymaster general Mark Prisk at a meeting of the Central Worcestershire and the
