Archive

  • Medic gets into his top gear for hospice appeal

    THE vice-chairman of St Richard's Hospice is getting into top gear ready to cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise money for the charity appeal. Consultant professor Richard Lewis will be making the 1,000 mile trek in memory of a family friend

  • Good Samaritans

    SIR - I had the misfortune to fall down the steps to the bus station in CrownGate Shopping Centre on Saturday, March 24. I would very much like to thank the very kind people who came to help me. MRS JEAN WILCOX, Worcester.

  • Page of delights

    SIR - I am delighted that John Phillpott (Seven Days, March 25) now has a full page each week. His comments are by far the best thing in the Worcester News (apart from old Cowley's letters, of course). GEORGE COWLEY, Worcester.

  • Mr and Miss are a credit to Young Farmers

    Worcestershire'S Young Farmers are as busy as ever, with a host of competitions held at The Hundred House, Great Witley. Events included Member of the Year, Junior Member of the Year, Stars in their Eyes and ballroom dancing. The Member of the Year

  • YOUNG FARMERS' CLUBS

    IT was in at the deep end for the newly-elected club officers of Worcestershire's Young Farmers Clubs on a training weekend in Dorset. Twenty-eight of them from 13 of the county's YFCs took part in the three-day event at Woodberry Down Training Centre

  • Fearless Rita could ride with the best

    MEMORIES of a Worcestershire world of long ago have come flooding back with the death of Rita Wilson, a member of the Philips farming dynasty of Claines, near Worcester. Born in 1920, Rita was the youngest of six children of Claines farmer James Philips

  • Extend the deadline for farm grants

    THE Government could improve the relationship between farmers and their bank managers by a simple adjustment of the Single Payment system, according to a business consultant. "Defra could relieve the huge pressure on farmers caused by the delay in issuing

  • It's time to give your horse a close shave

    NOW'S the time of year for your horse to get its haircut. Any equine that is in medium to hard work over the winter, albeit an indoor showjumper or a hunter, will need to have some of its coat removed to prevent excess sweating and to help it keep condition

  • Roll up for the grandest horse show in Britain

    COUNTRY News equestrian fans have the opportunity to win four coveted tickets to this year's British Open Show Jumping Championships, which will be held in Sheffield's impressive Hallam FM Arena in April. The four-day event will provide an unrivalled

  • POINT-TO-POINT FIXTURES

    Saturday, February 11: Harkaway Club; Chaddesley Corbett Sunday, February 12: Albrighton; Weston Park Saturday, February 18: North Hereford; Whitwick Manor Sunday, March 5: Ross Harriers; Garnons Sunday, March 12: Cotswold; Andoversford

  • The village will suffer if we have to close

    SUCKLEY Post Office and Village Stores, tucked away in the pretty hamlet of Longley Green, probably has few claims to fame. But did you know it's better than being in Australia? At least it is in the eyes of Roger and Barbara Blackburn, who run it. Having

  • Is this the end of tail docking for dogs?

    FOR the owners of certain breeds of working dog, there could be a sting in the tail of the Animal Welfare Bill currently lurching its way through Parliament. The proposed legislation reaches its report stage on Wednesday, March 8, when rumour has it

  • A special horse is up for the cup again

    THE pounding of hooves drummed across the Worcestershire countryside as Caught At Dawn flashed up the gallops at Kinnersley on a crisp, clear winter morning. Trainer Martin Weston looked on and nodded his approval. It's early days yet, but the 12-

  • Let me show him around Brussels

    SIR - Jack Kinsman (Worcester News, March 18) advises another letter-writer to "swot up on Europe before he puts pen to paper again" because he "obviously doesn't have a clue about what is happening in Europe". This advice is really rather odd coming

  • Evidence hunts acting illegally

    SIR - Jon Burgess asked to see evidence that hunts are acting illegally. He only has to venture into the countryside on a Saturday afternoon during the season to see it for himself. A hunt in the south east of England has recently been banned from

  • Council tax payer must bear brunt

    SIR - Following Unison's strike action last week, I called my local council office to find out when the rubbish in my area would be collected. I was informed that it would not be until next week. I am sure that I am not the only council taxpayer who

  • Worcester's top of the shop charts

    THE modern term for it is retail therapy - and judging by our front page report today, Worcester is rapidly becoming a centre of excellence as far as this form of life-enhancing treatment is concerned. Of course, many of you will know it as just plain

  • How about voting this bunch out next time?

    SIR - How sad it was last week to see a quote in the Worcester News by Councillor Adrian Gregson, the leader of the Labour Group on the city council, "hoping that the strike by members of Unison would highly disrupt our daily life." Worst still, it is

  • Firm launches new digital TV service

    NAMESCO Limited, one of the UK's largest independent internet service providers, has launched its new tvMax Broadband and Digital television service in Worcester. Based at the recently developed Perdiswell Park in the city, Namesco provides internet

  • Riddle over who owns green space

    MYSTERY surrounds who owns a piece of land in Worcester. Children have played on the small area of green in Bilford Avenue, off Bilford Road, for years but now the city council, which maintains the land, is keen to trace the real owner so they can take

  • Will Ann be the face of Britain's cancer nurses?

    A cancer nurse from Droitwich is through to the final of a national competition to win the chance to tell people more about her job. Marie Curie nurse Ann Brady is shortlisted for the Cancer Care Nurse Of The Year award, sponsored by bank Abbey. The

  • Rescued Rolf's unable to bark or bark

    THIS malnourished German shepherd dog was one of two left fighting for their lives and covered in their own excrement when they were rescued. Rolf was so weak that RSPCA inspectors had to pick him up off the floor because he could not stand. He was

  • Bid to curb pushers at school gate

    WORRIED parents have taken action to stop drug dealers hanging around schools in Droitwich. They have joined the local housing association, schools and the police to form a special task force specifically aimed at the problem of drug use and begging

  • We've got babies we dreamed about

    TWIN girls have been born to a Worcester couple who won fertility treatment through a newspaper competition. Lydia and Will Stark, from Rainbow Hill, were selected to undergo a single cycle of IVF treatment after unsuccessful attempts to conceive naturally

  • Concert tickets could help save orchestra

    A BID to save the Malvern-based English Symphony Orchestra from closure due to lack of funds could succeed with the help of music lovers. Tomorrow's concert at Malvern Theatres, originally planned as a 25th anniversary celebration, now marks the start

  • It'll be a big day for these skater boys

    SKATEBOARD enthusiasts are being invited to a day of fun at Perdiswell Young People Leisure Club. The special day this weekend will see youngsters competing against each other in front of judges. A Third Foot - a professional skateboard company from

  • The bike shop on the move after 126 years

    A WORCESTER cycle shop though to be the oldest in the country is leaving its home of 126 years. Fred Lewis Cycles has been selling and repairing bicycles and offering advice to cyclists in New Street since 1880. But on Monday all that history will

  • Uni is new owner of Rev's beloved books

    A LIFETIME'S collection of hundreds of children's books have been donated to the University of Worcester by a vicar from Cornwall. The collection of more than 400 books, periodicals and articles, written by the renowned author George Alfred Henty,

  • Students hold their heads high

    STUDENTS have had a close shave to raise funds in memory of two inspirational teenagers. Sophie McGorrigan, of Pershore High School, died in December after a year-long battle against a rare type of cancer that affected the area between the nose and

  • CITY SHOPPING IS PURE HEAVEN

    SHOPPING in the Faithful City is better than ever. A city council survey has shown that Worcester is a shopaholic's heaven with its balance of high street chains and unique independent stores. The survey asked 1,000 households what aspect of the city

  • Community health pays price in latest NHS crisis

    STAFF redundancies and service cuts are on the cards to make up a gaping £8m cash shortfall at South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust. Health chiefs announced yesterday that they are facing the massive funding gap this financial year after the extra

  • Children help environment

    CHILDREN and teachers from Lyppard Grange Primary School filled seven black bags with rubbish when they went litter picking as part of the Rubbish? Sort it! Campaign. All of it was found around the Lyppard Grange pond and surrounding hedgerows during

  • Drivers `are putting pupils' lives at risk'

    SPEEDING drivers are endangering the safety of children and parents outside a Worcestershire school, a headteacher has warned. Mari Jones, of Ombersley Endowed First School, said drivers often ignore 30mph signs until its too late as they enter the

  • 6/4/06 - Victory vital to our season

    IT was good to get a win against Northampton last weekend, but what I was most impressed with was the manner of the victory. Not only did we get the win, but we put in a really good performance too. We've won a few games this year, but I felt we played

  • 6/4/06 - Jaques will miss first six matches

    PHIL Jaques' inclusion in the Australia squad for their forthcoming two-Test series in Bangladesh will indirectly mean him missing Worcestershire's first six games of the season. Although the second Test against Bangladesh is scheduled to finish on

  • 6/4/06 - County bowlers suffer

    WORCESTERSHIRE suffered a heavy 183-run defeat in their second warm-up game of the season against Essex at Chelmsford yesterday. Essex smashed the County attack to all corners as they piled up 317-5 from their 50 overs. Ben Phillips was the star for

  • 6/4/06 - Seddon poised to sign on next season

    ANDY Preece believes his former Bury marksman Gareth Seddon will prove an excellent acquisition for Worcester City. Seddon, 25, made a stunning one-off appearance on Tuesday night, teaming up beautifully alongside Adam Webster and netting the opener

  • 6/4/06 - Football fixtures

    SATURDAY WORCESTER & DISTRICT LEAGUE Premier Division: Hallow WMC v Powick (B Taylor); Hanley Swan v Welland Athletic (K Ruff); Lamb & Flag v Tolladine Sports (P Roberts); Pershore Manor Rovers v Martley Spurs (N Canning). Division One: Bromsgrove

  • Tinley leads the Fourths to eight-goal romp

    FOUR-goal Simon Tinley led the charge as Worcester Men's Fourths trounced Hereford 8-1. The city started brightly and soon turned possession into goals with Tinley's shot half-saved and slotted in by Tom Padden. Tinley was soon on the scoresheet,

  • Stalker and Bell rack up the games in cup clashes

    BISHOP Perowne High School hosted a successful Worcester League Championships which attracted a smaller entry than the previous year. John Stalker and Ian Bell were by far the busiest players, playing 20 games and 18 respectively. Nine-year-old Michael

  • Perdiswell gold medal win for Pike

    DESPITE the cold and windy weather throughout March, a number of Worcester's Perdiswell Golf Club members have turned in some creditable performances. Arthur Pike was a clear winner of the EGU Gold Medal with an excellent net 62, followed by Reg Andrews

  • Age group races in the city

    SWIMMERS from clubs throughout Worcestershire are taking part in the Cheestrings National Age Group Championships to find this year's most promising young swimmers. The Worcestershire Championship took place in Worcester and swimmers aged between nine

  • Jaques will miss first six matches

    PHIL Jaques' inclusion in the Australia squad for their forthcoming two-Test series in Bangladesh will indirectly mean him missing Worcestershire's first six games of the season. Although the second Test against Bangladesh is scheduled to finish on

  • County bowlers suffer

    WORCESTERSHIRE suffered a heavy 183-run defeat in their second warm-up game of the season against Essex at Chelmsford yesterday. Essex smashed the County attack to all corners as they piled up 317-5 from their 50 overs. Ben Phillips was the star for

  • City women staying up

    COACH Malcolm Wilkinson declared Worcester Firsts' survival in the English League was vital for women's hockey in the city. On a dramatic final day, Worcester were so nearly dragged into the National South relegation play-off with Preston and the possibility

  • Seddon poised to sign on next season

    ANDY Preece believes his former Bury marksman Gareth Seddon will prove an excellent acquisition for Worcester City. Seddon, 25, made a stunning one-off appearance on Tuesday night, teaming up beautifully alongside Adam Webster and netting the opener

  • KVCC clan ready to clean up

    VOLUNTEERS at Kidderminster Victoria Cricket Club will swap their bats for brushes when they take part in a scheme to spruce up their Chester Road ground. KVCC hope to make the venue more attractive for the increased crowds they are expecting following

  • Tories seeking overall control

    THE leader of Wyre Forest District Council is one of 50 candidates who will battle it out in May's local elections. Stephen Clee and his Conservative group will be looking to take overall control of the authority, with 14 of the 42 seats up for grabs

  • What's On

    TONIGHT: Kidderminster: Town Hall - Tim Morris lunchtime organ recital. Gainsborough House Hotel - Upfront Entertainments Agency showcase. Birmingham: Marriott Hotel - Lupa. Symphony Hall - The Trumpet Shall Sound, symphony organ concert. NIA Academy

  • £61m price tag on Wharf

    WEAVERS WHARF, Kidderminster's showpiece shopping complex, is up for sale - at an asking price of £61 million. A commercial property boom has prompted owners, Yorkshire-based Highstone Group, to put the 20-acre retail site on the market. The company has

  • Time to tune up for Twickers

    CLEOBURY Mortimer 's rugby players will be aiming to hit the high notes when they head for Twickenham for a dream date at the home of the English game on Sunday. More than 1,000 villagers will make the trip for the final of the Powergen Junior Vase, including

  • Views split on 'banana sign'

    HIGHWAYS engineers have been criticised for failing to repair a damaged sign which looks "like a banana". The Bewdley nameplate went missing from the top of Blackstone Bank, on the Stourport Road, in November. The sign - one of two remaining traditional-style

  • Lollipop lady's pheasant pest

    A BEWDLEY lollipop lady has to fend off an unpleasant pheasant, which is attacking residents and cars, as she helps children on their way to school. Linda Hughes, of Wassell Drive, who works in Grey Green Lane and Clarence Way, said the male bird chased

  • London calling creative styling team

    CREATIVE hairdressers from a Bewdley salon have shown they are a cut above the rest after reaching the finals of a national competition. A team from Abacus Hair Studio in High Street won the regional finals of the L'Oreal Colour Trophy, which were held

  • Aston Somerville

    MURDER MYSTERY: A fun murder mystery will be held at the village hall on Friday, April 21. Set in the 1960s, Jimmy 'Diamond' Johnson, the owner of Shooting Stars Television Studios, is found dead after being pushed over the first floor balcony of one

  • Chipping Chipping Campden

    DEBATING SOCIETY: The Annual General Meeting was held before the final debate of the current season in the Church Rooms on Saturday, March 25, when the topic was This house believes that Chipping Campden should remain essentially unchanged. The main proposer

  • Evesham

    OLDER PEOPLE'S FORUM: The next meeting of the Evesham and District Older Peoples Forum will take place next Tuesday at Wallace House, Oat Street at 2pm. The speaker will be the Mayor of Evesham, Councillor Frances Smith. ROYAL AIR FORCES ASSOCIATION:

  • Harvington

    VILLAGE HALL: The village hall management committee held its annual meeting last Wednesday evening when its members, and a few Harvington residents who were present, heard a pleasing report of the year's activities. The hall had been well kept despite

  • Top marks for high schools

    THE latest Government Key Stage Three performance tables showed all five Wyre Forest state high schools improved on last year's results. Wolverley High School's successes prompted Schools Minister, Jacqui Smith, to pen a letter of congratulation to headteacher

  • Problem solver Engie brings show to stage

    A YOUNG boy who loves helping to solve his friends problems is the star of a colourful treat for children. A pantomime production of Engie Benjy, the CITV children's favourite is showing twice at the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury on Thursday, April 13 at

  • Bringing back the spirit of wartime Britain

    THE Roses Theatre will travel back to wartime Britain for one afternoon as an all-singing all-dancing array of entertainment hits Tewkesbury. We'll Meet Again, a light-hearted look at the life of people involved in the Blitz and is showing on Tuesday,

  • Cricket

    VOLUNTEERS at Kidderminster Victoria Cricket Club will swap their bats for brushes when they take part in a scheme to spruce up their Chester Road ground. KVCC hope to make the venue more attractive for the increased crowds they are expecting following

  • Martial arts

    MARTIAL ARTS: Two Kidderminster Tae Kwon Do students grabbed gold at the Tae Kwon Do Association of Great Britain English Championships in Coventry. Lamara Harding and Nicolas Pryce, who train at Holy Trinity School, took the top prizes in the girls heavyweight

  • Results

    FOOTBALL NATIONWIDE CONFERENCE: Harriers 0,Stevenage 0. Fixture: York v Harriers, 3pm KitKat Crescent. SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, Division One West: Burnham 0, Stourport 1 (Findlay). Fixture: Stourport v Ashford, Walshes Meadow. WEST MIDLANDS FOOTBALL

  • Tennis

    BEWDLEY Tennis Club are warming up for the new season with a recruitment drive and a series of friendlies. The club attempted to attract new members with an open morning at the Rediscover Bewdley festival last weekend. The programme of in-house friendly

  • Willow Marsh Fishery

    Witley Fisheries: A Williams 19-8, A Fletcher 9-14, T Hughes 0-2. The next match will be at Haye Farm, Cutis Pool, on April 16. Anglers should meet at Dog Lane car park at 8am. The draw will be made at 8.15am. All members must pay for pegs.

  • Black Boy AC

    Witley Fisheries: A Williams 19-8, A Fletcher 9-14, T Hughes 0-2. The next match will be at Haye Farm, Cutis Pool, on April 16. Anglers should meet at Dog Lane car park at 8am. The draw will be made at 8.15am. All members must pay for pegs.

  • Grave repair plans

    RESPONSIBILITY for repair work to gravestones in Kidderminster Cemetery will be spelled out to plot holders, if council cabinet members back a proposal. Wyre Forest District Council's commercial services policy and scrutiny panel, meeting last night,

  • Old Bear AC

    Junior's results, Stack Pool: T North 4-3-0, J Bellingham 1-2-0, J Martin 1-0-0, B O'Brien 0-14-8. There is a seniors contest at Cookley Canal on Sunday. Anglers should meet at venue for 7.30am draw. New rod licence must be shown.

  • Pupils aim to clean up for hospice funds

    STUDENTS from Wolverley High School will be making a splash with a charity car wash on Saturday. Twelve pupils will be getting out the buckets and sponges in aid of Kemp Hospice as part of their work towards the Prince's Trust xl Award. The 14 and 15

  • Landlords urged to sign up to scheme

    LANDLORDS are being warned they could face fines of up to £20,000 if they fail to sign up to a new licensing scheme governing certain properties. Wyre Forest District Council's housing department is preparing application forms to send out to property

  • Bewdley Town

    BEWDLEY Town's impressive 1-0 win over runaway leaders Market Drayton Rangers is a measure of how far the West Midlands League Premier Division surprise package have come. They became only the second team to inflict defeat on the Shropshire pace-setters

  • Bewdley AS

    Welfield, Meaton Pool: Pete Mountford 15-4-0 (chub and crucians on feeder), Jon Foulkes 14-4-0, 3 Brian Hill 11-7-0. The section winners were Stan James and Reg Putnam. The next club meeting is at 8pm on Monday.

  • Four stages for second bridge?

    I WROTE and criticised the new junction from Areley Common to the Dunley Road, and I have not changed my view that it was sketched on a fag packet just before closing time. But, we have it and I cannot see them spending another £187,000 to undo the mess

  • District with a history of party defections

    I AM grateful to Paul Gittins (Letters, March 31) for reminding readers for what Independent Health Concern stands. What he omitted to include was our freedom of speech and the right to act with independence or without party political pressure. In speaking

  • Kidderminster and District Football League

    UNBEATEN Wyre Forest strengthened their grip at the top of the Premier Division in the Kidderminster and District Football League with a 3-1 win over visiting Brintons. Goals from Oakes, Griffin and Perry gave them victory in the local derby and stretched

  • Lottery boost for town memorial

    A NATIONAL Lottery grant has come as a welcome boost to a town charity dedicated to restoring Kidderminster's memorial to its war dead. Members of Kidderminster War Memorial Conservation Trust have welcomed the Awards for All grant, of £5,000, to enable

  • Journal fair is a boost for job seekers

    TOP interview tips and advice on creating the perfect CV were on hand at The Journal Series Jobs and Careers Fair on Friday. More than 300 Job seekers in Evesham were given a helping hand to find their ideal career at the event held at the Public Hall

  • Floods of praise

    I AM sure I speak for everyone in Bewdley in saying a big thank you to the Environment Agency on the completion of the flood defence works and reconstruction of Severnside South. Not only have they ensured that flooding is a thing of the past, but they

  • Cleobury preview: Villagers' final Twick or treat

    CLEOBURY Mortimer's all conquering cup run stops off at Twickenham on Sunday with the rugby heroes insisting: "Let's bring home some silverware!" Around 1,300 Cleobury fans are set to follow the Mortimer men to the home of rugby for Sunday's Powergen

  • Lesiure Leagues six-a-side

    SECOND-placed Wolverley Boys are continuing to pile the pressure on Leisure Leagues six-a-side leaders Three Lions after beating Comberton Athletic 5-4 on Sunday. Comberton's Steven Shewry put in an inspired display and did not deserve to be on the losing

  • HETA AC

    Heta home match: 1 Brian Oliver, 2 Keith Moss, 3 Alex Hardiman, 4 Mick Carrick, 5 Peter Hardiman. The next contest is on Sunday, April 16, at the Three Crowns. Anglers should meet at Running Horse car park, Bewdley for the 7.30pm draw with fishing from

  • Powerful gesture!

    STAFF and youngsters at Harvington First School were devastated when their school was burgled and equipment including two digital cameras were stolen. But they were all smiles again this week when a local store presented them with two new replacements

  • New homes cash will aid families

    PEOPLE struggling to get a foot on the housing ladder in Wyre Forest are being given a multi-million pound boost. The Government has awarded just over £6 million in funding towards development of 162 new homes in the district. That will supplement a further

  • On your marks in the Race for Life

    THE spirit of fundraising is well and truly in the air in Evesham as more than 1,000 women in the town prepare for a challenge that will make a difference to thousands of people in the UK. The challenge is Race for Life, the charity is Cancer Research

  • Key results for Vale exams

    PUPILS at three of the Vale's secondary schools have achieved top exam results in key stage three league tables. Prince Henry's High School, Evesham High School and Pershore High School all rank high on the results tables for Worcestershire which show

  • Girls football

    FERNDALE Flyers under-10s ended their Mercian League season on a disappointing note with a 3-0 defeat at home to Worcester Raiders Robins. Worcester played with the wind behind them in the first half and opened up a 2-0 interval lead before adding a third

  • Trust equipment aids charity worker Rob

    THE well-known phrase "charity begins at home" had a special resonance for Vale man Rob Oakes during a recent visit to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital. For the man from Atch Lench who has spent years supporting the Evesham charity, the Tracy Sollis

  • Firm's old home to be legacy to village

    VILLAGERS will benefit from new sports fields and a village hall thanks to the development plans of a local company. Family-run vegetable company Simms and Woods wants to build 30 affordable homes on its old site in Wyre Piddle but after consultation

  • Drugs seized

    DRUGS, stolen property and cash were seized in a police raid in Kidderminster. Officers carried out the raid following complaints from residents in Bradley Thursfield Court on Wednesday last week. Several arrests were made and four people were on police

  • Cleobury preview: Manley was in last-dance saloon

    JAMES Manley is desperate to be doing a victory jig on Sunday - after a dance-floor disaster almost scuppered his dream of playing at Twickenham. The Cleobury winger was out celebrating his 20th birthday in Worcester last month after the club's league

  • False claims

    A KIDDERMINSTER woman who falsely claimed more than £5,537 in benefits has been ordered to do 50 hours of community work. Kelly Scriven, 28, of Pershore Road, Kidderminster appeared before magistrates in the town. The court heard Scriven had failed to

  • Accused of fraud

    A 25-year-old Kidderminster woman has appeared before Worcester Crown Court charged with a plot to obtain an elderly woman's savings. Lisa Dean, of Hawfinch Rise, Kidderminster, is accused of conspiring to defraud the woman of £10,049 from her bank account

  • Fined for selling alcohol to minor

    A KIDDERMINSTER trader and licensee was fined £200 and ordered to pay £314.51 costs after pleading guilty at Kidderminster Magi-strates Court to selling alcohol to a 15 year old. In an organised test purchase by Worcestershire County Council trading standards

  • Perdiswell gold medal win for Pike

    DESPITE the cold and windy weather throughout March, a number of Worcester's Perdiswell Golf Club members have turned in some creditable performances. Arthur Pike was a clear winner of the EGU Gold Medal with an excellent net 62, followed by Reg Andrews

  • Are you a winner?

    * (I) indicates Internet entries. WINNERS of tickets to the Ideal Home Show, at Earls Court, London, from March 9 until April 2, were: P Ashcroft, Rangeways Road, Kidderminster; Miss A Bonas, Callow Hill, Rock; Mrs D Radcliffe, Millfield Gardens, Kidderminster

  • Ram-raiders drive car into post office

    THIEVES made off with cash and cigarettes from a building in Broadway after another ram-raid in the town. The incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning at around 4.30am, when a Ford Escort was reversed into the front door of Broadway post

  • 6/4/06 - Jaques will miss first six matches

    PHIL Jaques' inclusion in the Australia squad for their forthcoming two-Test series in Bangladesh will indirectly mean him missing Worcestershire's first six games of the season. Although the second Test against Bangladesh is scheduled to finish on April

  • 6/4/06 - County bowlers suffer

    WORCESTERSHIRE suffered a heavy 183-run defeat in their second warm-up game of the season against Essex at Chelmsford yesterday. Essex smashed the County attack to all corners as they piled up 317-5 from their 50 overs. Ben Phillips was the star for the

  • Abbey to resound to music of top UK band

    ONE of the UK's top entertainment brass band will be performing at Pershore Abbey in April. The Abbey will resound with the music of the popular Polysteel Band in a charity concert on Saturday, April 22 at 7.30pm. The concert is being organised by the

  • April 6, 2006

    EVERYONE is confused by the Government's statements minimising NHS deficits. Until now trusts foreseeing a year-end deficit have been able to borrow money from other trusts to conceal their deficit. For the first time the year 2004-5 ended with an overall

  • 3 Doors Down Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton. Tuesday

    3 Doors Down Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton Tuesday WOLVERHAMPTON's Wulfrun Hall was rocking as Mississippi band 3 Doors Down belted out their hits. The four-piece group, made up of singer Brad Arnold, guitarists Matt Roberts and Chris Henderson and bass

  • 'Local veg is best' say Vale growers

    GROWERS from the Vale of Evesham and the Cotswolds are backing a project by Heart of England Fine Foods and Mack Multiples to raise awareness of shoppers to locally grown, seasonal vegetables. The aim is to encourage shoppers to buy more locally grown

  • Search for asparagus tales and recipes

    AN Evesham man researching for a book he is writing on asparagus is looking for stories from growers and recipes from cooks. Chris Sheehan, of Fairwater Close, a keen amateur cook himself, developed a particular interest in asparagus after moving to the

  • New home for town superloo

    A TARDIS-style toilet in Stourport could disappear from its current location and rematerialise elsewhere in the town. Moving the superloo from Raven Street to a more central spot near to or on Stourport High Street is among a series of recommendations

  • Door to door advice on dental services

    TAKE-up of dental services by people with poor reading skills on a Kidderminster estate went up after the benefits were explained verbally on the doorstep. With tooth decay and general oral hygiene a longstanding problem in Oldington and Foley Park, Wyre

  • We've got babies we dreamed about

    TWIN girls have been born to a Worcester couple who won fertility treatment through a newspaper competition. Lydia and Will Stark, from Rainbow Hill, were selected to undergo a single cycle of IVF treatment after unsuccessful attempts to conceive naturally

  • Bid to curb pushers at school gate

    WORRIED parents have taken action to stop drug dealers hanging around schools in Droitwich. They have joined the local housing association, schools and the police to form a special task force specifically aimed at the problem of drug use and begging.

  • Rescued Rolf's unable to bark or bark

    THIS malnourished German shepherd dog was one of two left fighting for their lives and covered in their own excrement when they were rescued. Rolf was so weak that RSPCA inspectors had to pick him up off the floor because he could not stand. He was on

  • It'll be a big day for these skater boys

    SKATEBOARD enthusiasts are being invited to a day of fun at Perdiswell Young People Leisure Club. The special day this weekend will see youngsters competing against each other in front of judges. A Third Foot - a professional skateboard company from Birmingham

  • Professional job ends even Stevens

    Harriers 0 Stevenage 0 - Mat Kendrick reports from Aggborough FROM the team's improved performance to the skipper's cynical sending off, everything about Harriers was professional as they made a point against play-off seeking Stevenage. After the home

  • 6/4/06 - Victory vital to our season

    IT was good to get a win against Northampton last weekend, but what I was most impressed with was the manner of the victory. Not only did we get the win, but we put in a really good performance too. We've won a few games this year, but I felt we played

  • Country lanes familiar to the Bard... and to tipsy air crew

    VALE of Evesham historian Michael J Barnard paid a nostalgic visit to Long Marston airfield, set in a part of the South Warwickshire countryside that Shakespeare knew and loved. He talked to Gerry Barnett about it:THE country lanes and byways around Long

  • Start of a big push for local business

    THE launch of the Vale 100 Forum was given the thumbs up by the business community from both Evesham and the Vale at its launch at the Northwick Hotel, Evesham, A total of 72 business were present at last Thursday's meeting and there was support from

  • Stranded by minibus theft

    HEARTLESS thieves left elderly residents stranded at their Stourport nursing home when they stole their minibus. Police recovered the vehicle the next day but it was damaged, which will take time to repair before it can be used again to take people living

  • Desert training sessions set Jason up for big race

    A STOURPORT soldier is putting the finishing touches to his preparation for a fund-raising run in the Flora London Marathon after starting his endurance training deep in the Afghan desert. It will be the first time Jason Mantle, who is running in aid

  • Anger as talks are rejected

    ANGRY Stourport town councillors have called for answers after their wish for a public discussion on the impact of a supermarket giant coming to the town was rejected. Members wrote last month, asking Wyre Forest District Council for the issues surrounding

  • Club hit by new spate of attacks

    THE chairman of a Stourport football club attacked by arsonists just two weeks ago has renewed his plea for police help after vandals struck again. A cabin used for storage and changing rooms by Mostyn Rangers FC, based in Minster Road, was broken into

  • Beat manager on shortlist for top prize

    A STOURPORT-based police officer has been shortlisted in a national competition to find Britain's top public servants. PC Jon Harris, the town's beat manager, is one of three finalists in the Raising the Standard category of the Public Servants of the

  • Students show they are cut above the rest

    A GROUP of sixth formers at Pershore High School organised a sponsored event this week to raise money and also to pay tribute to two friends who died of cancer last year. Eight teenagers from the school took a trip to UK Barber Shops in Pershore on Sunday

  • Panic over health debt

    VALE MP Peter Luff has described the £13 million reduction in the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust budget for the financial year as "devastating". The loss of five per cent of its expected revenue would mean damaging cuts to local services, he

  • Andrew brings a vision of hope to Africa

    A VALE man who spends his working days helping people to see more clearly is now taking his skills to the third world to do the same. Pershore optometrist Andrew Brady is travelling to Ethiopia in May to work for the charity Vision Aid Overseas. Andrew

  • Sound Advice

    QUESTION: I have my gas from British Gas and always struggle to pay my winter bills. I am an old age pensioner on Pension Credits and Attendance Allowance. Why can't British Gas help us? ANSWER: British Gas has said it will provide rebate payments for

  • Areley Kings Wives

    A "NEXT One" fashion show was presented by Tom Speak at the March meeting. Proceeds from the raffle were donated to Christian Aid. An evening visit to Benthall Hall, Broseley, has been organised for Thursday, April 13. For further information telephone

  • Cleobury Mortimer Bridge Club

    THERE is a now a full membership, and a waiting list of pairs wishing to join. Visitors are accepted for an evening, as and when room permits. To book in telephone Pat Smith on 01299 270592. The latest duplicate competition, held over eight tables, saw

  • Phoenix Club

    ON Tuesday, April 18 at Trinity Church Centre, Kidderminster, Mike Dickens will give a talk on "Sounds of History", complete with audio illustrations. The meeting will start at 2pm. Visitors are always welcome at meetings. For further information telephone

  • Wyre Forest University of the Third Age

    ON Monday, at St Ambrose Social Club, Leswell Street, Kidderminster, at 2pm (doors open 1.45pm), Cyndy Firth from Arthritis Care will be the guest speaker. There will be a walk on Tuesday, starting from the Button Oak public house at 10.30am. As membership

  • £4m help for home buyers

    ALMOST £4 million of Government money earmarked for affordable housing is heading towards the Stratford District Council area - and villages in the south west of the district could benefit. A £3.8 million grant from the Housing Corporation, the national

  • Classical Music Society

    WHAT'S in a name? is the question posed by David Norman, who presents a programme of recorded music at Holy Innocents community centre, Kidderminster, tomorrow at 7.30pm. A group from Guinborne Recorded Music Society, led by Derek Castle, will present

  • Kidderminster Cycling Club

    THIS weekend the club is holding its annual event, to Tregarron, mid-Wales, and back. The ride will leave Wolverley Memorial Hall on Saturday at 7am. More than 100 entrants are expected to take part, from all over the country. On Sunday, there will be

  • Lickhill TG

    THE Stourport-based group, which has been running for 37 years, will be in desperate need of a secretary by the end of the year. In November, the present secretary will be resigning and, unless a replacement is found, the group will have to consider folding

  • Kidderminster Holistic Therapists

    THE group organised a holistic health fair at Wolverley Memorial Hall. Since the group began in 2003, the aim has been to educate and inform people in the area about different therapies and health products which are available locally, and to promote the

  • The Bloor Society

    ANY readers who have Bloors, Bloores or Blores in their family trees are invited to attend the next meeting of The Blo(o)r(e) Society, celebrating ten years of this one name family history society. The meeting is being held at Belbroughton Church Hall

  • Wyre Forest Business Club

    THE Local Business At Its Best event, with a spring business sale, scheduled for tonight has had to be postponed, due to the illness of James Dudley. The group is remaining committed to build on the theme of local business at its best, the aim being to

  • Association of Retired and Persons Over 50

    AT the recent meeting, there was a talk with slides by Judy Berrow, on how to start a garden from scratch. On Thursday, April 20 at 10am, in the Lickhill Community Centre, Stourport Memorial Park, Sue Merril will be giving a talk entitled "From One Pig

  • Springing into size

    KIDDERMINSTER Male Choir will welcome the start of spring at Kidderminster Town Hall on Saturday. The concert will start at 7.30pm and features guest soloist, Elizabeth MacDonald. The soprano trained as an actress at the Birmingham Theatre School and

  • 6/4/06 - Seddon poised to sign on next season

    ANDY Preece believes his former Bury marksman Gareth Seddon will prove an excellent acquisition for Worcester City. Seddon, 25, made a stunning one-off appearance on Tuesday night, teaming up beautifully alongside Adam Webster and netting the opener in

  • Hollies to headline at Hole in Wall concert

    MUSIC legends, The Hollies, will be rocking at this year's Hole in the Wall concert. The open-air event will be held at Hopton Court in Hopton Wafers, near Cleobury Mortimer, on Saturday, July 15. The group who have had more hits than any other British

  • Hits to span five decades

    COVERS band, Rough-n-Ready, will be the latest group to appear at Kidderminster pub, Jacksons. The group is made up of lead vocalist, Greg Williams, drummer Loz Edgell, bass player, Andrew Hutchinson, guitarist, Daryl Griffiths and another Greg Williams

  • Tenbury close to shield win

    Tenbury 15pts Old Griffinians 19 A STRONG wind played a dominant part in Tenbury's hard-fought North-Mids Shield game with Old Griffinians, who are a well-drilled Birmingham side heading their division in the Midlands West League. It is true to say that

  • Good Samaritans

    SIR - I had the misfortune to fall down the steps to the bus station in CrownGate Shopping Centre on Saturday, March 24. I would very much like to thank the very kind people who came to help me. MRS JEAN WILCOX, Worcester.

  • Page of delights

    SIR - I am delighted that John Phillpott (Seven Days, March 25) now has a full page each week. His comments are by far the best thing in the Worcester News (apart from old Cowley's letters, of course). GEORGE COWLEY, Worcester.

  • Let me show him around Brussels

    SIR - Jack Kinsman (Worcester News, March 18) advises another letter-writer to "swot up on Europe before he puts pen to paper again" because he "obviously doesn't have a clue about what is happening in Europe". This advice is really rather odd coming

  • Palms return in a starring role!

    THE once celebrated Kingfisher Shopping Centre palm trees are set for a return visit to their former home on Sunday. Branches from the trees, which were removed from the centre in October, will be used in a Palm Sunday procession through the centre. The

  • Evidence hunts acting illegally

    SIR - Jon Burgess asked to see evidence that hunts are acting illegally. He only has to venture into the countryside on a Saturday afternoon during the season to see it for himself. A hunt in the south east of England has recently been banned from a local

  • Art fun for children

    BEWDLEY Museum's resident artist will be helping young visitors to make wacky sculptures on Tuesday. The Wild Imagination Workshop, led by Hilary Baker, will run from 10.30am until 12.30pm. An Easter-themed activity will take place next Thursday, between

  • Friends are united by love of postcards

    FRIENDS brought together by a shared love of postcards are celebrating the release of their book, which follows the River Severn from its source to the sea. Keith Turner and Jan Dobrzynski, who both live in Kidderminster, have compiled A Postcard from

  • On course for garden makeovers

    GREEN-fingered residents who would like to build a trellis or sculpture for their garden are invited to a new course at the Arrow Valley Countryside Centre. Workshops will be held at the Battens Drive centre on Sunday and then on April 23 and May 14.

  • 6/4/06 - Football fixtures

    SATURDAY WORCESTER & DISTRICT LEAGUE Premier Division: Hallow WMC v Powick (B Taylor); Hanley Swan v Welland Athletic (K Ruff); Lamb & Flag v Tolladine Sports (P Roberts); Pershore Manor Rovers v Martley Spurs (N Canning). Division One: Bromsgrove

  • Plan issue on larger scale

    I THANK you for publishing our story, (Cotswold Journal, March 23) regards huge building application to CDC Planning at Cirencester. In the story it looks as if I am just fighting for my son's B&B of course we are all selfish and yes, it is a serious

  • Vale Mayor's week

    Monday, March 27: Attended meeting of Evesham High School Sports College Management Board, followed by meeting of Evesham Town Council's Planning & General Purposes Committee. Tuesday, March 28: Attended Evesham Rotary Club meeting and lunch and a

  • COOPEY

    COOPEY Gavin and Emma Congratulation on the birth of your two little boys, Aron Thomas and Evan William, on Friday March 31st, 2006. Brothers for Ryan and Ella. Lots of love, Mum, Dad and Dean. Published in paper 06/04/2006

  • HARRISON NEE FOWLER

    HARRISON NEE FOWLER Dean and Zoe Are pleased to announce the safe arrival of James on March 31st, 2006 weighing 6lbs 12 ozs. Brother for Andrew and Chris. Thank you to all concerned at Worcestershire Royal Hospital Published in paper 06/04

  • PULLIN

    PULLIN Christopher Happy birthday Chris. Lots of love Catherine. xxx ------- Have a great day dad. Love from Elizabeth, Lawrence, Edward, Richard and Thomas. xxxxx Published in paper 06/04/2006

  • MCKAY

    MCKAY Vera The Family would like to thank Doctors and Staff at Knightwick Surgery for their care. Thank you also to those who have given a donation in memory of Vera. Published in paper 06/04/2006

  • CARTER

    CARTER Ann Mick, Chris and Angie would like to thank everyone who sent cards and donations during this sad time. Special thanks to St Richards Hospice and all Medical Staff for their support. Over £1,200 was donated to St Richards Hospice. Published

  • CASELEY

    CASELEY Alfred Charles Passed away peacefully at The Alexander Hospital, Redditch on April 2nd, 2006, aged 83 years. A loving husband, father and father in law, also a much loved grandfather. Funeral Service will take place at Worcester Crematorium Chapel

  • GRAY

    GRAY nee Conway Annie Slipped away after a long illness bravely borne, with great dignity, at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, on April 1st, 2006, aged 78 years. Dearly beloved wife of Michael, much treasured mother of Marie, John, Bridget, Edmond, Michael

  • GREEN

    GREEN Janet Passed away suddenly at Worcestershire Royal Hospital on March 29th, aged 65 years. A loving wife to Roy, a dearly loved mother of Julie and Neville, mother in law to Paul and Mandy and a devoted grandmother. Funeral Service will take place

  • MINETT

    MINETT Vince Formerly of Worcester. Following a short illness passed away March 25th, 2006 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Much loved father of Craig, Duncan and Rebecca and grandfather of Summer and Sienna. Will be missed terribly by Jill and everyone

  • MAGGS

    MAGGS Mildred Sixteen years today you passed away, But in our hearts you will always stay. We miss your face, Your smile, Your warm embrace. Your loving daughter Ann and son David. Published in paper 06/04/2006

  • Aston Somerville

    MURDER MYSTERY: A fun murder mystery will be held at the village hall on Friday, April 21. Set in the 1960s, Jimmy 'Diamond' Johnson, the owner of Shooting Stars Television Studios, is found dead after being pushed over the first floor balcony of one

  • Chipping Chipping Campden

    DEBATING SOCIETY: The Annual General Meeting was held before the final debate of the current season in the Church Rooms on Saturday, March 25, when the topic was This house believes that Chipping Campden should remain essentially unchanged. The main proposer

  • Evesham

    OLDER PEOPLE'S FORUM: The next meeting of the Evesham and District Older Peoples Forum will take place next Tuesday at Wallace House, Oat Street at 2pm. The speaker will be the Mayor of Evesham, Councillor Frances Smith. ROYAL AIR FORCES ASSOCIATION:

  • Harvington

    VILLAGE HALL: The village hall management committee held its annual meeting last Wednesday evening when its members, and a few Harvington residents who were present, heard a pleasing report of the year's activities. The hall had been well kept despite

  • Ilmington

    PARISH COUNCIL: At their March meeting, parish councillors, chaired by Cllr Tony Wilkins, were shown draft plans for a possible new pavilion by Mr F J Edmunds, chairman of the Ilmington Playing Field Committee. The chairman said that there had been no

  • Problem solver Engie brings show to stage

    A YOUNG boy who loves helping to solve his friends problems is the star of a colourful treat for children. A pantomime production of Engie Benjy, the CITV children's favourite is showing twice at the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury on Thursday, April 13 at

  • Bringing back the spirit of wartime Britain

    THE Roses Theatre will travel back to wartime Britain for one afternoon as an all-singing all-dancing array of entertainment hits Tewkesbury. We'll Meet Again, a light-hearted look at the life of people involved in the Blitz and is showing on Tuesday,

  • Brilliant yellow gorse can transform the landscape

    THE first week of spring colour has just arrived much later than last year but no less welcome. Spring is still very much in its infancy with very few species coming into flower. However, last week a few species which have an abundance of blooms came

  • Oliver's on way to the fame academy

    CHIPPING Campden teenager Oliver Tabor is taking the first steps to being a rock star. Oliver, who is in his final year at King Edward VI Grammar School in Stratford, has been picked as the drummer in a new rock band being formed by Warwickshire County

  • 3 Doors Down Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton. Tuesday

    3 Doors Down Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton Tuesday WOLVERHAMPTON's Wulfrun Hall was rocking as Mississippi band 3 Doors Down belted out their hits. The four-piece group, made up of singer Brad Arnold, guitarists Matt Roberts and Chris Henderson and bass

  • 'Local veg is best' say Vale growers

    GROWERS from the Vale of Evesham and the Cotswolds are backing a project by Heart of England Fine Foods and Mack Multiples to raise awareness of shoppers to locally grown, seasonal vegetables. The aim is to encourage shoppers to buy more locally grown

  • Farmers go green to help save wild birds

    A GROWING number of farmers are going greener to restore breeding grounds for wild birds. Since last August, nearly 1,900 farmers have entered agreements under the Entry Level and Organic Entry Level Stewardship scheme which pays farmers to create new

  • £1.4m revamp of Royalist HQ

    ONE of Worcestershire's main tourist attractions is undergoing a £1.4 million renovation to bring the history of its past to life. The Commandery in Worcester is the subject of a Heritage Lottery Fund project which aims to revitalise the area as a heritage

  • Hollies to headline at Hole in Wall concert

    MUSIC legends, The Hollies, will be rocking at this year's Hole in the Wall concert. The open-air event will be held at Hopton Court in Hopton Wafers, near Cleobury Mortimer, on Saturday, July 15. The group who have had more hits than any other British

  • Hits to span five decades

    COVERS band, Rough-n-Ready, will be the latest group to appear at Kidderminster pub, Jacksons. The group is made up of lead vocalist, Greg Williams, drummer Loz Edgell, bass player, Andrew Hutchinson, guitarist, Daryl Griffiths and another Greg Williams

  • Nesting blackbirds inspire exhibition

    A BLACKBIRD building a nest provided the inspiration for a Bewdley historian's exhibition at Kidderminster Library. Robert Barber, of Sabrina Drive, took photographs of the bird, which was nesting on top of a brick pillar under his carport four years

  • New guide for walkers

    WALKERS can enjoy the beauty of the Teme Valley with the help of a Kidderminster author. Bob Charteris, of Kennedy Close, has completed a walking guide, which describes a 100-mile walk from the centre of Worcester to Newtown in Powys. The Teme Valley

  • Quiz time for charity

    DRINKERS at a Wolverley pub will be able to test their general knowledge in aid of charity next week. A quiz, which will raise funds for Kemp Hospice, will be held at The Kingsford pub on Wednesday from 8.30pm.

  • Plan issue on larger scale

    I THANK you for publishing our story, (Cotswold Journal, March 23) regards huge building application to CDC Planning at Cirencester. In the story it looks as if I am just fighting for my son's B&B of course we are all selfish and yes, it is a serious

  • Vale Mayor's week

    Monday, March 27: Attended meeting of Evesham High School Sports College Management Board, followed by meeting of Evesham Town Council's Planning & General Purposes Committee. Tuesday, March 28: Attended Evesham Rotary Club meeting and lunch and a

  • What's On

    TONIGHT: Kidderminster: Town Hall - Tim Morris lunchtime organ recital. Gainsborough House Hotel - Upfront Entertainments Agency showcase. Birmingham: Marriott Hotel - Lupa. Symphony Hall - The Trumpet Shall Sound, symphony organ concert. NIA Academy

  • Pershore

    U3A: The April monthly meeting of Pershore and District U3A will hear from Bill Douglas who will be talking on the theme By Yak to Venice this is to be held on Tuesday, April 18 at 2.15pm. The monthly meeting are held regularly on the third Tuesday of

  • Shylock... through the eyes of a friend

    THE tragic, funny and often unbelievable life of fiction's most famous Jew, Shylock, will entertain audiences at Pershore's Number 8 Community Arts Centre tonight. Is Shylock a villain or a victim? Or something more intriguing? Gareth Armstrong's award-winning

  • Are you a winner?

    * (I) indicates Internet entries. WINNERS of tickets to the Ideal Home Show, at Earls Court, London, from March 9 until April 2, were: P Ashcroft, Rangeways Road, Kidderminster; Miss A Bonas, Callow Hill, Rock; Mrs D Radcliffe, Millfield Gardens, Kidderminster

  • High-flyer in concert

    ONE of the jazz world's brightest stars will be joining the BBC Big Band for two special concerts at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on July 15-16. Since launching her career in 2001, Clare's extraordinary singing

  • Abbey to resound to music of top UK band

    ONE of the UK's top entertainment brass band will be performing at Pershore Abbey in April. The Abbey will resound with the music of the popular Polysteel Band in a charity concert on Saturday, April 22 at 7.30pm. The concert is being organised by the

  • World premiere at Number 8

    A MODERN musical ensemble from Birmingham is visiting Pershore in April to present another leg of their whistle stop tour of the area. The award-winning Birmingham Contemporary Music Group is preparing to give a world premiere performance of a specially

  • Search for asparagus tales and recipes

    AN Evesham man researching for a book he is writing on asparagus is looking for stories from growers and recipes from cooks. Chris Sheehan, of Fairwater Close, a keen amateur cook himself, developed a particular interest in asparagus after moving to the

  • Mill owners help with daily bread

    A TRADITIONAL family-owned flour mill in the Cotswolds, FWP Matthews has just launched a new 7.5kg bag of flour for people with breadmaking machines or use it on a regular basis. "The 7.5kg bag is popular in Australia and has been developed by FWP Matthews

  • Springing into size

    KIDDERMINSTER Male Choir will welcome the start of spring at Kidderminster Town Hall on Saturday. The concert will start at 7.30pm and features guest soloist, Elizabeth MacDonald. The soprano trained as an actress at the Birmingham Theatre School and

  • Rock at library

    KIDDERMINSTER rock band, Escape from Alcatraz, will play an acoustic set at the town's library on Tuesday. The group's Blood is Thicker Than Water tour kicked off at The Cavern in Liverpool on Sunday, April 2. Guitarist Lee Jeffries, singer Andy Edwards

  • Art fun for children

    BEWDLEY Museum's resident artist will be helping young visitors to make wacky sculptures on Tuesday. The Wild Imagination Workshop, led by Hilary Baker, will run from 10.30am until 12.30pm. An Easter-themed activity will take place next Thursday, between

  • Friends are united by love of postcards

    FRIENDS brought together by a shared love of postcards are celebrating the release of their book, which follows the River Severn from its source to the sea. Keith Turner and Jan Dobrzynski, who both live in Kidderminster, have compiled A Postcard from

  • Fun with charcoal

    CHILDREN can have fun with charcoal at Wyre Forest Discovery Centre on Tuesday. Visitors to the attraction in Callow Hill can draw a picture of the forest after making their own charcoal. Children, who must be aged five to 11, need to be accompanied by

  • Music hopefuls have new venue

    A VALE pub and music store have joined forces to support local musicians and give them the platform to play to live audiences. Bretforton's Fleece Inn and Vine Music in Evesham have arranged a number of Acoustic Sundays to allow breakthrough acts the

  • Many strengths of school

    RE Eckington CE First School - Ofsted Inspection. The school had a very successful Ofsted Inspection on March 8. The report's key judgements were: 3 exceptional and outstanding grades; 21 above average grades; 2 broadly average grades and 0 inadequate

  • Staff, governors and parents are pleased...

    How disappointing to see such a misleading feature on your front page. Staff, governors and parents alike are justifiably pleased with the recent Ofsted report for Eckington CoE First School. Of the 26 categories individually assessed by the inspectors

  • Test in times

    I was pleased to see this article on Vale people being given the chance to have their blood pressure tested for free and I would like to congratulate the Pershore Rotary Club and the Stroke Association for offering such a great service. But as a matter

  • COOK

    COOK Peter Thomas Passed away peacefully on April 2nd, 2006, aged 86 years. Loved and beloved husband of Maisie, devoted father of Terry, Christine and Maureen and a loving grandfather, great grandfather and uncle. Funeral Service at Worcester Crematorium

  • VINE

    VINE Ellis Frederick Frank Passed peacefully away on April 3rd, aged 92 years. Much loved husband of the late Grace, father to Susan and Richard. Father in law to Tony and Jane and grandad to Michelle, Stuart, Denise and Louise. Funeral Service at Worcester

  • Friends trapped on rollercoaster

    FIREFIGHTERS had to rescue three people stuck 40ft in the air on a West Midland Safari Park rollercoaster on Sunday. Paul Hinton, 21, his girlfriend, 20-year-old Elizabeth Bowen and their friend, Amy Tea, also 21, were trapped on the Twister for almost

  • More police jobs up for grabs

    WYRE Forest will be given more police on the streets through a £2.9million West Mercia Police Authority drive to recruit more officers. A total of 316 extra police staff positions, of which 300 will be community support officers, are to be filled across

  • Axed traders vow to fight food ban

    A TOWN centre vendor has been devastated by a council decision to kick him out of Kidderminster following complaints from WH Smith's bookshop. Mark Garamszegi has sold hot potatoes in Kidderminster for 20 years but Monday's Wyre Forest District Council

  • Geared up for birthday ride

    AN adventure seeker from Bewdley hopes to prove age is no obstacle by completing a gruelling 276-mile bike ride. Steve Gillespie, of Richmond Road, will be jetting off to Peru for Macmillan Cancer Relief's cycle challenge in September. The 59-year-old

  • Store's car park goes hi-tech

    A LEADING Kidderminster supermarket is replacing its much-criticised car park barrier with a state-of-the-art number plate recognition system. Tesco, in Weavers Wharf, is investing in the hi-tech equipment to give customers a better deal, after floods

  • Clothes shop boosts centre

    THE heart of Kidderminster town centre will receive a welcome boost when a new clothes shop opens in the former Marks & Spencer store. Madhouse, which sells clothing for both men and women, will open a branch in High Street on Good Friday, April 14

  • Page writes new carnival chapter

    IT was third time lucky for Kidd- erminster's new carnival queen, Page-Leanne Price, when she clinched the coveted title in a hotly contested competition. For the 15-year-old King Charles I High School pupil, it was her second bid to be queen and she

  • Putting carpet town on the map all over again

    THE creation of a museum was the vision behind the Carpet Museum Trust in 1981, when former trustees, Kenneth Tomp-kinson and Charles Talbot, set about putting industrial Kidderminster on the map. A suitable site was hard to find, however, and that problem

  • Pershore

    U3A: The April monthly meeting of Pershore and District U3A will hear from Bill Douglas who will be talking on the theme By Yak to Venice this is to be held on Tuesday, April 18 at 2.15pm. The monthly meeting are held regularly on the third Tuesday of

  • Ilmington

    PARISH COUNCIL: At their March meeting, parish councillors, chaired by Cllr Tony Wilkins, were shown draft plans for a possible new pavilion by Mr F J Edmunds, chairman of the Ilmington Playing Field Committee. The chairman said that there had been no

  • I'm Running 26 Miles - in a Tutu

    A MANAGING director from Droitwich will leave his briefcase at home and don a tutu when he runs the London Marathon later this month. Mike Rudge, aged 43, of Willow Court, has never taken part in a marathon before and has literally run into a few problems

  • Shylock... through the eyes of a friend

    THE tragic, funny and often unbelievable life of fiction's most famous Jew, Shylock, will entertain audiences at Pershore's Number 8 Community Arts Centre tonight. Is Shylock a villain or a victim? Or something more intriguing? Gareth Armstrong's award-winning

  • Rugby special: Villagers' final Twick or treat

    CLEOBURY Mortimer's all conquering cup run stops off at Twickenham on Sunday with the rugby heroes insisting: "Let's bring home some silverware!" Around 1,300 Cleobury fans are set to follow the Mortimer men to the home of rugby for Sunday's Powergen

  • Motorcycling

    MOTORCYCLING: The Easter Monday Red Marley Classic Motorcycle Hill Climb will again be held at Walsgrove Farm, Great Witley. Entries are already up on last years' record number, and presenting the prizes will be ex-world champion speedway rider, Peter

  • Parish Games

    PARISH GAMES: Stone won the short mat bowls event in the Wyre Forest Parish Games - but Churchill and Blakedown lead the overall competition after finishing runners-up. Six parishes turned out for the round-robin bowls contest at Gilt Edge Leisure Centre

  • Athletics

    KIDDERMINSTER and Stourport AC proved once again that they are the top endurance running club in the county at the Midlands Road Relay championships at Sutton Park. Both the men's 12-stage team and the ladies six-stage team finished first for Worcestershire

  • Swimming

    WYRE Forest Swimming Club members were at their best at this year's Worcestershire County Championships. The club's 28 participants achieved an unprecedented 109 personal bests over two events at Wolverhampton and Worcester. It follows in the footsteps

  • Hockey

    STOURPORT men's and ladies' hockey teams finished their resepctive seasons on a high with victories in their final matches - while their golden oldies have marched through to a national final. Phil Lashford's lads concluded their National North Division

  • Chess

    CHESS: Kidderminster did the double over Hagley with a 3-2 victory in division two of the Worcestershire League. Individual results (Kidderminster names first): Mark Riley 0.5, P Keate 0.5; John Varilone 0, M Borley 1; Paul Thomas 0.5, G Voskanian 0.5

  • Cycling

    CYCLING: Wyre Forest cycle racing club's Paul Carson finished a superb ninth overall in the Welsh CA 25 mile hilly time trial at Crickhowell. The race kicked off the eight-round Magic Dragon series with round one attracting a field of 80 riders. It took

  • Netball

    NETBALL: Worcestershire's county netball team has been disbanded after a restructuring of the sport by English Netball. The focus from now on will be on club netball with clubs aspiring to progress up a pyramid, like in football. To celebrate the end

  • Table Tennis

    TABLE TENNIS: With Jims Gym A retaining their Division One title and Wordsley A winning Division Two, all the emphasis will be on the relegation battle in the final two weeks of the Kidderminster Table Tennis League. Divison One results: Harriers B 3,

  • Badminton

    BADMINTON: Budding Badminton players can take part in a Worcestershire Schools Badminton Association competition at Perdiswell Leisure Centre, near Worcester, on Saturday, May 13. The tournament wil be divided into under-14s and under-16s with doubles

  • Furnace Mill Fishery

    ANDY Newton and Neville Groves both topped the 100 lbs mark as they finished first and second in Furnace Mill Fishery's Sunday Open. Sunday Open, Mucky Meadow and Furnace Pool: Andy Newton (Shimano Tipton) 113-9-0 (54), Neville Groves (Fosters) 100-1-

  • Reunion for variety show stars

    PEOPLE who took part in Kidderminster variety shows during the 1950s and 1960s are being invited to a reunion this weekend. Scouts and Guides who took part in the Gang Shows, based on the original idea by Ralph Reader, at the town's Playhouse Theatre

  • Moorlands Farm

    Wednesday Open, 15 fished, Meadow Island: Pete Wellington (Moorlands) 59-1-0 (Meadow 14), Dave Highfield (Moorlands) 42-2-0 (Island 13), Alan James (Moorlands) 41-0-0 (Meadow 53). Thursday Cost-cutter, 22 fished, Bank middle: Andy Newton (Shimano Tipton

  • Park Inn AC

    Willowmarsh: Chris Lyons 21-15-0, Dave Parry 14-0-0, Terry Poole 10-15-10, silver fish winner: Barry Chesson 7-15-0. The next contest is on Sunday, April 16, at Woodside Fisheries. Members wishing to fish this match should contact Kev Driver on 07904

  • Message spell-ed out

    JOB hunting Wyre Forest parents are being offered help while their children are held spellbound by a magical wizard at an event next week. The fun day, being held at Stourport Library, has been specially arranged to give adults advice on finding employment

  • KDAA Pool

    The first Saturday silver fish match for affiliated members only is on April 15 with the draw at 8am.

  • Stourport Swifts

    STOURPORT Swifts boss Roy Rencher insists there is a real belief that the club will survive in Southern Football League Division One West after finally climbing out of the bottom two. A vital 1-0 win at Burnham last weekend continued the Walshes Meadow

  • Tunnels protest march

    CAMPAIGNERS are taking to the streets on Saturday to voice their opposition to plans to turn Wolverley's Drakelow Tunnels into a training centre for the unemployed. Hundreds of protesters are expected to turn out for the walk after a group formed to fight

  • Tomkinsons AC

    Two keepnets are required for the contest at Keepers Pool, Cleobury, on Sunday. The draw is at 8am with fishing from 9am to 1pm. Members intending to fish this contest must have an up to date rod licence.

  • Keeping pubs alive

    REAL ale drinkers are being urged to help keep the traditional British pub alive in Wyre Forest by joining the Campaign for Real Ale. The organisation, CAMRA, is planning a series of social events, including a talk by the Campaign for the Protection of

  • Chaddesley Corbett

    CHADDESLEY Corbett will unveil their new team manager this weekend - after rubberstamping the appointment at a committee meeting tonight. With long-standing boss Martin Westcott stepping down at the end of the season, Chaddesley have been searching for

  • Smaller projects win welcome handouts

    GOOD causes across Wyre Forest are being given cash boosts through lottery handouts. Awards for All money will help organisations including a school and a sports club, following the announcement of the latest round of grants in the West Midlands. Out

  • Banksiders AC

    Stackpool results: S Rayner 9-15.5, A Vickers 5-12, D Moles 3-3, J Hancocks 2-13. The next contest is on Sunday at Darnel Pool. Anglers should meet at the venue at 7.30am or at Duke William at 7.15am. An up to date rod licence is required to fish.

  • County's sound business case

    I WOULD like to respond to the letter by Terry Green "Is our money spent wisely?" The highways problems have nothing to do with expenditure on County Hall. The county council is a four- star authority, and the only one to be awarded top marks for value

  • Lyttelton AA Veterans Section

    Round one of the Summer League will be fished at Woodlands View on Wednesday, April 12. The draw is at 9am with fishing from 10am. Members are asked to bring two keepnets.

  • New £4.4m superstore is planned for the Vale

    A NEW £4.4 million supermarket is due to open in Evesham on the site of the old Somerfield store in Swan Lane, it was announced this week. The German cut-price chain Aldi will move in after the site has been redeveloped, bringing with it another boost

  • Community effort for Fairtrade event

    KIDDERMINSTER Fairtrade Group would like to thank everyone who helped with the exhibition which launched Fairtrade Fortnight in the town. Thanks go to Wyre Forest District Council for the use of the Corn Exchange and the council staff for their help and

  • Woodward Grosvenors

    The next contest is on Sunday on the Staffordshire/Worcestershire Canal Number 10-11. Anglers should meet at the venue at 7am.

  • Who will win the mayor's award?

    THE hunt is on to find a worthy recipient of this year's annual Evesham Mayor's Civic Award. Nominations are being sought by town clerk Frank Green, who is appealing for people to write in with a suggested nominee and reason why they think that person

  • Survey will halt traffic

    MOTORISTS in Wyre Forest are being asked to take part in surveys to determine if district roads can cope with increased traffic from proposed developments. Survey results will be taken into account in development decisions, with new housing or employment

  • The future of our hospital is secure?

    THE future of Evesham Community Hospital is safe - for as long as the primary care trust can afford to pay its doctors and nurses. The assurance was given by South Worcestershire PCT acting chief executive Paul Bates during a board meeting yesterday.

  • Top store dips in to fund for Covert

    ONE of Kidderminster's leading stores has backed Operation Covert with a donation of more than £150. Marks & Spencer staff at Weavers Wharf chose to back our appeal through their charity fund, which supports a wide range of local causes. Manager,

  • Giving to appeal in memory of Marjorie

    DONATIONS instead of flowers at the funeral of Kidderminster woman has boosted Operation Covert by £200. Marjorie Jones, who lived in the town all her life, died at the age of 92 and her daughter, Murray Cairns, decided to ask family and friends to support

  • Village anger at hall land U-turn

    ANGRY villagers in Harvington are to ask Church of England officials to stand by an offer to sell them a plot of land for a new village hall. The village hall committee, acting on what members thought was an agreement in principle by the Diocesan Glebe