Archive
-
Date
Duo serve up new record in quick time
ALLAN Benbow and Steve Worrallo smashed the record for the longest rally at Droitwich Tennis Club on Saturday and wrote their names into the Guinness Book of World Records. The duo surpassed the previous record set by a German duo by playing 24,966 shots
-
Date
Art exhibition open at Elgar Museum
A COLLECTION of fine art is on display at the Elgar Birthplace Museum, in Lower Broadheath near Worcester. The exhibition is as a result of a collaboration between the museum and University College Worcester and has been produced by research artists Lynne
-
Date
Big drop in dental care on the NHS
THE number of people with access to an NHS dentist has fallen in every Worcestershire constituency since 1997, according to detailed Government figures. Only 281,401 people in the county were registered with a state dentist in the last year - down more
-
Date
Mediaeval mystery
HOPES of unearthing exciting archaeological finds at Worcester's Commandery took a massive boost yesterday when two members of television's Time Team announced the results of a special survey. The crew carried out a two-day 'geofizz' at the Royalist Civil
-
Date
Alert over pub car park thefts
PUBGOERS are warned to make sure their personal belongings are safe and secure before leaving their vehicles following a spate of break-ins at a Tardebigge watering hole. Six cars have been broken into while parked at The Tardebigge pub in the last few
-
Date
27/04/05 - Rivals hold no fear
MANAGER Jimmy Mullen believes it doesn't matter who Bromsgrove Rovers face in Monday's crucial play-off semi-final - his side can beat anyone. Rovers must tackle either Yate Town, Evesham United or Clevedon Town away on Bank Holiday Monday if they want
-
Date
Help track down Trek bike
HAWK-EYED residents are urged to be on the lookout for a distinctive bike which was stolen from the garden of a house in the St George's area. The red and white Trek Madone racing bike was stolen on Sunday between 7.20-7.45pm. It has Zip Carbon 404 racing
-
Date
Appeal after assault
POLICE are appealing for information about an assault in which a 16-year-old youth suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone and bruising. The boy was walking along Evesham Road, near Hardings Garage, at about 10.15am on Tuesday, April 12, when a blue
-
Date
Thieves target old cars
REDDITCH Police are warning motorists to be vigilant after a series of vehicle thefts in the Woodrow, Greenlands and Lodge Park areas in recent weeks. These include two attempted thefts last Tuesday, April 19. The first was at 10.30pm in Wishaw Close,
-
Date
Perfect trip into the past
Review - Round The Horne... revisited at the Festival Theatre, Malvern AN outstandingly outrageous evening of comedy. Being a great fan of the 1960s cult radio show I was more than interested to see how it would be 40 years on as a stage show, and how
-
Date
You were missed last night
Most of us only have dealings with the police after something nasty has happened to us. Maybe we've come home to find our house has been burgled, or woken up to find a space on the drive where the car should have been. But the people of Upton-upon-Severn
-
Date
Hospice is now online
THE Primrose Hospice and Cancer Help Centre can now use the information superhighway to help more patients than ever before. The charity now has its own website at: www.primrosehospice.org The site provides information to cancer patients and their families
-
Date
Assurance on postal voting
REDDITCH'S deputy acting returning officer for the General Election is reassuring voters extra steps are being taken to prevent a repeat of the postal vote fraud witnessed in Birmingham. The majority of Redditch postal voters were sent their ballot papers
-
Date
Cue up for table night
Redditch and District Snooker League will be holding its annual presentation night on Saturday at 7.30pm at the South Redditch Sports and Socical Club. There will be a disco and comedian and tickets are still available.
-
Date
Luck's ready
Winyates Green SCSA racer Mike Luck is preparing well for his first outing of the season at Rockingham, near Corby. After finishing in second place in last year's rookie cup Luck is all fired up for this seasons campaign starting on Sunday (May 1). He
-
Date
Housing plans under attack
By Julian Seva CAMPAIGNERS are opposing plans for new homes on land in Lakeside, calling on Redditch Council to build community facilities instead. The disused allotments behind Sillins Avenue have been earmarked for social housing and a preliminary planning
-
Date
Cowley sees off Bees silver dreams
Halesowen Town 2 Studley 0 (Halesowen win 3-1 on aggregate) FORMER Redditch United winger Alex Cowley netted twice to see off Studley's chances of silverware this season. The Bees turned up at The Grove hoping to better their first leg draw with Halesowen
-
Date
Family secrets
THE final part of Brendan O'Carroll's hilarious comedy trilogy, Mrs Brown Rides Again, opens at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre next Tuesday. The story of Agnes Brown and her dysfunctional family, told previously in The Last Wedding and Good Mourning Mrs
-
Date
Latin American feast of colour and rhythm
BRAZILIAN contemporary dance ensemble Grupo Corpo take centre stage at the Birmingham Hippodrome on Friday and Saturday. Launching the Hippodrome's 2005 Wide World Series, which brings diverse international dance to theatre, Grupo Corpo was founded in
-
Date
Chemist rota
REDDITCH town centre rota chemist is Church Green Pharmacy, Church Green West, open every day except Saturday and Sunday until 7pm. Knights Chemist, Evesham Road, Crabbs Cross, is open weekdays until 7pm and every Sunday between 6-7pm. Foxlydiate Chemist
-
Date
Stanley key to City future says Preece
IN-FORM Jai Stanley will be a pivotal player at St George's Lane next season says his manager. Worcester City's midfield playmaker is enjoying one of his best spells at the club since joining in a £10,000 record fee from Moor Green in November 2003. Stanley
-
Date
Batting collapse condemns Nomads to defeat
STEVE Bowman took four wickets for Worcester Nomads but they fell by 51 runs at home to Colwall in a friendly. Colwall finished on 176 all out from 40 overs, mainly thanks to Tom Wolfendale (35) and T McNamara (92). Bowman was in form with a fine 4-13
-
Date
27/4/05 - Quins under the cosh says Keast
ANDY Keast believes the pressure is all on Harlequins after their damaging defeat last night. Worcester's head coach watched on as basement boys Leeds leapt three places to ninth in the Zurich Premiership table following their 21-10 win over Quins at
-
Date
A fine idea for villages
A WARDEN may be employed to help combat litter, dog fouling and graffiti in the Studley and Alcester areas. At a meeting of parish and town council representatives last week, it was decided to investigate using new powers given to councils to employ a
-
Date
Lions roar to first league title
ALVECHURCH Lions under 10s roared to their first league title on Sunday after a 4-1 away win at The Glades. Championship rivals Harborne Hotshots lost their last away game at Sutton to hand the Lions the title. Two goals apiece from Josh Poole and David
-
Date
MAY DAY!
IT seemed an impossible task. Redditch United were already two goals down to a Birmingham City Reserves side who looked to be cruising to Birmingham Senior Cup glory midway through the second half. Then, just as the murmurs of defeat mounted, Scott Rickards
-
Date
Droitwich out-muscled
Old Yardleians 30 Droitwich 24 DROITWICH almost ended their disappointing season on a high when they pushed Old Yardleians all the way on Saturday. The relegated side came close to taking maximum points off a powerful Yardelians side. Phil Horton's late
-
Date
100 years ago April 29, 1905
THE vicar of St John's Church in Bromsgrove, since 1890, the Rev E Vine Hall, dropped a bombshell over Easter when he announced he was planning to retire due to ill health. In his time at Bromsgrove he had brought about two major changes which had endeared
-
Date
Great credit
I AM writing to say 'thank you' to the couple (with a dog) who recently, having found my credit cards outside my house returned them to me so promptly. This kind act restored my faith in human nature and I hope that the couple concerned see this letter
-
Date
Posters row
WHILST not condoning the vandalising of the Tory posters, I would suggest to Cllr Ted Tibby that he seriously considers the following: The posters must have offended many drivers as they traversed this green and pleasant land. More importantly, it was
-
Date
Vocabulary
AFTER enjoying the night, having a few alcoholic beverages... my wife and I noticed that if, what we believed were Droitwich High School educated females, had the 'F' word deleted from their vocabulary, they would not be able to converse. Is this nationwide
-
Date
Welcome mat has gone
DO people remember when visitors came see our lovely town? Now visitors spend any time here looking at their watches and thinking of when they must leave. They are worried that parking attendants with tape measures are out checking that vehicles are not
-
Date
More tricks
ANOTHER ruse from Wychavon District Council. It increases Council Tax and reduces refuse collection- unless you pay! How do elderly pensioners and the disabled take garden refuse to the tip? They pay someone. What will the next trick be? The elderly cannot
-
Date
Depressing eyesore
RUBERY is a tip and I believe few people would disagree with this assessment. Every surface seems to be a target for all manner of refuse from beer and soft drinks cans, broken glass, to the revolting remnants of takeaway food. This week, the Callowbrook
-
Date
Little equity
I USED to work at the MG Rover and I feel desperate for the workers at this difficult time. Nor do I begrudge them help. However, the Government's response to the Rover has to be compared with the absolute zero support they gave to UEF in Bromsgrove and
-
Date
Appleton makes his point
Bromsgrove Rovers 1 Mangotsfield United 1 Division One West SUPER-SUB Arthur Appleton's late goal gave Bromsgrove a deserved point as Jimmy Mullen's men rained on the Southern League Division One West champion's parade at the Victoria Ground on Saturday
-
Date
Singing with joy
STUDLEY Operatic Society has been awarded the trophy for the regional Best Show in 2004 from the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA). The award was for their critically acclaimed show The Scarlet Pimpernel, which was directed by and starred
-
Date
Leaders put Villa to sword
Atherstone Town 7 Fairfield Villa 0 TWO defeats in a week mean the relegation trap door swung open below demoralised Fairfield Villa. Fairfield suffered a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Midland Combination Division One title chasers Atherstone Town on Saturday
-
Date
Top level shake-ups are so costly
REFRESHING, I thought, someone is at last going to do something to address what has almost become a culture of institutionalised incompetence in the way some Council Services have been administered. But there always has to be a down side and I see that
-
Date
Posters row
WHILST not condoning the vandalising of the Tory posters, I would suggest to Cllr Ted Tibby that he seriously considers the following: The posters must have offended many drivers as they traversed this green and pleasant land. More importantly, it was
-
Date
Cashing in
MAY I, through Your View, thank the good people of Bromsgrove for their generous donations at this year's Christmas Light display - staged at my house in Wrekin Drive. Special thanks go to Bromsgrove Round Table and the Football Referees Association,
-
Date
Vocabulary
AFTER enjoying the night, having a few alcoholic beverages... my wife and I noticed that if, what we believed were Droitwich High School educated females, had the 'F' word deleted from their vocabulary, they would not be able to converse. Is this nationwide
-
Date
Now wanted
IT is amusing what effect the recent changes to the word boundaries for the county council elections have. After all that Councillor Peter McDonald has said about us in Barnt Green over the years, he is now looking for our vote! Norman Witman Bittell
-
Date
More tricks
ANOTHER ruse from Wychavon District Council. It increases Council Tax and reduces refuse collection- unless you pay! How do elderly pensioners and the disabled take garden refuse to the tip? They pay someone. What will the next trick be? The elderly cannot
-
Date
School costs will increase
I WAS delighted to read in your newspaper last week that at long last there is to be a major investment in schools in Bromsgrove. Everyone in the town will obviously welcome this as all pupils should have access to the best possible education within their
-
Date
Depressing eyesore
RUBERY is a tip and I believe few people would disagree with this assessment. Every surface seems to be a target for all manner of refuse from beer and soft drinks cans, broken glass, to the revolting remnants of takeaway food. This week, the Callowbrook
-
Date
Little equity
I USED to work at the MG Rover and I feel desperate for the workers at this difficult time. Nor do I begrudge them help. However, the Government's response to the Rover has to be compared with the absolute zero support they gave to UEF in Bromsgrove and
-
Date
Step out for a lively comedy
THE shimmering comedy, Stepping Out - top-hatted and coat-tailed, and coming to the Festival Theatre, Malvern, from May 9 will help dance your troubles away. The show looks at the lives, loves and slightly worrying dance moves of a very different group
-
Date
27/4/05 - Great way to wind up our home games
I'M delighted that we ended our league campaign at St George's Lane in the right manner. Droylsden are a very strong side and it was the first time we had competed against a team high up the league table since the Southport game on my return to Worcester
-
Date
High hopes for screening
PREPARATION is well under way for the first film showing at the Artrix. New projection equipment, costing around £28,000, was delivered and fitted last week ready for the first screening tomorrow (Thursday). The Aviator will be shown at the venue, in
-
Date
Bromsgrove WI
Our WI met on the afternoon of April 12. Brenda Jenkins began on a sad note by mentioning the death of one our longstanding members, Jayne Boyer, who joined Bromsgrove WI in 1942. Birthday wishes and apologies were given out in the absence of our secretary
-
Date
It's not new
I REPLY to Gary Webb (Letters, Saturday, April 16).We have treaties with EU countries. Treaties with other states are nothing new. In the nature of things, all such treaties, signed for mutual benefit, curtail freedom of action to some extent. Whether
-
Date
Barnt Green Garden Society
AT our meeting on April 14 the speaker was Neil Cook, head-gardener at Hanbury Hall. His subject was the restoration of Hanbury Hall gardens, which has been going on for some years. The aim of the restoration is to bring the gardens as near as possible
-
Date
Countries need help
I WELCOMED the opportunity I had with other campaigners for Trade Justice for Developing Countries to meet Hilary Benn. He is the Secretary of State for International Development, and we had been invited to meet him when he was invited to visit Worcester
-
Date
Stoke Prior WI
AT the April meeting, it was agreed the lunch at the Ladybird Inn was enjoyed by all who attended. A report from the annual group council meeting at Malvern was read out. Four of our members had attended and Nick Owen of the BBC was the speaker. The local
-
Date
Sauce for goose not for gander
THE Barnett Formula allows Scotland 21 per cent more from the British taxpayer than we enjoy in England, while Wales received 18 per cent more - and Northern Ireland a massive 43 per cent more, if you please! British Army families returning to their home
-
Date
Spadesbourne Ladies' Club
Despite walking with the aid of a frame or a stick, after her accident, Betty Long managed to climb the stairs at Bromsgrove Golf Centre in order to welcome the members to the April meeting, and in her usual humorous way, telling us of the way that the
-
Date
Surely we should learn from our past mistakes?
I READ with interest the protest by the residents of Battenhall, Worcester, against the proposal by Manor Oak Residential Properties Ltd to demolish two Victorian houses to make way for the development of 10 town houses and 13 flats. I fully support their
-
Date
Chaddesley Corbett WI
OUR speaker for the April meeting was Mr A Alpen, or Mr Tilly as he is affectionately known. He has been in the antiques trade for many years running a shop in Moseley. We had our own roadshow with a quiz about antiques and many members brought along
-
Date
Congratulations Liz
IT'S not every day you turn 104 and Elizabeth Smith made sure she celebrated her big day in style. Elizabeth marked her 104th birthday with staff and relatives at Tutnall Hall Nursing Home. She was treated to a special cake and was presented with a basket
-
Date
Life on a farm
YOUNGSTERS at a Dodford nursery learnt about life on the farm. Enthusiast children got the chance to hold a chick and see a tractor when a farmer paid a visit to School House Nursery, in Priory Road. The event was part of lessons to help children understand
-
Date
Studley take derby
REDDITCH and Studley cricket clubs played their first game of the season against each other on Saturday. In the friendly 45-over match Redditch stuttered to 175-9 with Jack Williams top scoring with 35 and Russell Southwick not far behind with 28. But
-
Date
He's on the ball
A KINDHEARTED seven-year-old has been busy making pom poms to help blind children. Jacob Blasdale, from Millfields First School, is making the woollen balls to raise cash for a charity which creates Braille books for youngsters. The enterprising child
-
Date
Trapped driver cheated death
A DRIVER cheated death when he spent four hours suspended upside down inside his wrecked car with his body impaled on a long metal pole. Daniel Lang, from Hanbury, was left trapped with his head just inches above water after the vehicle spun off a lonely
-
Date
Firm wins schools bid
THE company which will undertake the massive £63m project to rebuild seven schools in Bromsgrove has been chosen. HBG PFI Projects Ltd has been picked by Worcestershire County Council after it produced the best bid from a shortlist of three. The firm
-
Date
Top cop on town tour
WEST Mercia's chief constable has praised Bromsgrove police officers after a visit to the town. Paul West spent last Wednesday in Rubery and Bromsgrove taking a closer look at local policing and he even went out on the beat. The top cop started the day
-
Date
PM's letter was dumped in skip
A SPA woman was disgusted to discover a private letter she had written to the Prime Minister complaining about her NHS treatment was found dumped in a skip in Oxford. Ex-school nurse and mum-of-two Ann Hodgson, of Florence Avenue, had a gynaecological
-
Date
Making roads safer for bikers
THREE local roads have the dubious distinction of being among 13 identified by West Mercia police as being the most dangerous routes for motorcyclists. The force is mounting a campaign to make the roads safer during the summer and to step up its enforcement
-
Date
School intruders caught on camera
A SPA police officer has praised Wychavon Community Safety Partnership for helping the police deal with intruders into local schools. After an incident in which four intruders were found on the premises of St Peter's First School, in Church Lane, last
-
Date
What a bright idea!
TENANTS in Droitwich are being urged to go green and are being helped out by their landlord. Spa Housing Association is taking measures to ensure that its 3,000 properties in the town and surrounding areas, including Redditch, Bromsgrove and Hartlebury
-
Date
Taking it to the top
WORKERS at a Bromsgrove college site will be scaling new heights when they take on the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge. The team of five from Moss Construction's site at NEW College will be climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in the Lake District
-
Date
Spa's patriotic parade
MEMBERS of the UK Independence Party took part in a motor parade to mark St George's Day on Saturday. Tony Eaves, the UKIP's candidate for Mid-Worcestershire, and chairman of the branch Peter Quick, who dressed up as St George, spearheaded the event and
-
Date
Happy ending for Hammy the hamster
A HAMSTER, which was rescued by a kindhearted police officer, has been reunited with his owner - thanks to the Advertiser/Messenger. PC Simon Wills, of Bromsgrove police, saved the black, white and brown hamster, which he named Little Willy, earlier this
-
Date
Use your vote
RESIDENTS fighting to save Droitwich Spa Lido used a public address system to get their message of the parish poll across last Saturday. Members of the Save A Lido Today (SALT) group were trying to encourage townsfolk to vote in the parish poll tomorrow
-
Date
Attacked for drugs money
A DISABLED Bromsgrove man died from head injuries after he was attacked for money to buy drugs, a murder trial was told this week. Andrew Lammas, aged 44, who suffered from curvature of the spine and arthritis, was found unconscious yards from his home
-
Date
Time for walkies!
STAFF and their dogs at a Spa company are getting geared up for a fundraising charity walk. Employees from Hotelshop, in High Street, will be lacing up their walking boots and grabbing their dog leads in aid of St Richard's Hospice on May 21. Workers
-
Date
Apology over refuse sham
A COUNCILLOR has apologised for the chaos caused when the new £1.2million refuse system started in Droitwich last Monday. Residents were unsure where to leave their rubbish, whether they had the right bags to take away the garden rubbish or where the
-
Date
Studley Operatic Society Musicality
THE songs just kept on coming when Studley Operatic Society performed this pre-centenary review in the intimate surroundings of Studley Village Hall. Amazingly, they managed to perform more than 70 songs in about two hours in this fast-paced show. However
-
Date
Exorcist - The Beginning (15)
IT may not be a patch on the original 1973 classic horror that was banned from our screens for so many years but prequel Exorcist - The Beginning is strangely addictive. Whether it's because any fan of the original would want to see this film fall flat
-
Date
Restless Natives (PG)
YOU'RE young, you're bored, you're broke and you're without a job in Thatcher's Britain. So what do you do? You become modern-day Dick Turpins and rob stupid tourists as they tour round the Scottish Highlands. Of course! At least, that's the plan that
-
Date
Meet the candidates
REDDITCH cannot have seen a more keenly fought general election campaign in recent times and with nominations in, it's full steam ahead for the candidates before polling day next Thursday. Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and UK Independence Party
-
Date
Karen Lumley Conservative
KAREN Lumley, 41, is married to Richard and has two children, Elizabeth, 19, and Christopher, 18. Elizabeth is at Swansea University and Chris is at NEW College in Bromsgrove. The couple own a geological consultancy company and live in Brockhill. Mrs
-
Date
Nigel Hicks Liberal Democrat
NIGEL Hicks, 49, lives in Winyates Green and is married to Sheelagh. They have two daughters at university, Fiona studying teaching and Michelle studying computer science and management. Mr Hicks is a chartered quantity surveyor working for international
-
Date
VIOLENT CRIME SHOCK
VIOLENT crime in Redditch was more than two-thirds higher than the national average in 2003/04, according to latest Home Office figures. The statistics, published on Thursday, revealed the number of violent incidents in the town during that period was
-
Date
Horror attacks on pets
A LAKESIDE mum has warned pet owners to protect their animals after she found her family's rabbit dead in the garden with horrific head wounds. On Monday just after 6am, Trisha Clark, of Prospect Road, discovered pet Zebedee's hutch had been smashed apart
-
Date
Needles feature is 'boring'
THE new £150,000 piece of public artwork at the Kingfisher Centre featuring huge metal needles has met with sharp criticism from some Redditch people. The Gateway Feature between the library and the post office celebrates the town's needle industry heritage
-
Date
Bring Mr Gnome home
CHEEKY thieves snatched a beloved garden gnome which "brought light into the life" of a seriously ill Redditch youngster. Grandmother Pat Hughes is appealing for the safe return of "Mr Gnome" after he was stolen from the back garden of her home in Mordiford
-
Date
Rocking to Academy
A TALENTED bunch of Redditch rockers are tuning up for their biggest gig to date. Page 44 will play at Bar Academy in Birmingham on Friday along with three other Midlands bands. The venue is one of the second city's best-known showcases for talented local
-
Date
Alcester & District Local History Society
THE Clopton Family of Stratford was the subject of a lecture by Mairi MacDonald. The speaker explained how the landowning dynasty was a focus of aspiration and support for generations of Stratford folk. A colourful Clopton was Hugh, who acquired Shakespeare's
-
Date
New school dinners are pukka!
WITH TV chef Jamie Oliver's recent healthy school dinners campaign still simmering away, one school near Redditch has introduced hot school dinners for the first time in its history Until Easter, the school dinners debate had been irrelevant for Tardebigge
-
Date
Williams shines as Moseley crushed
HOLDERS Barnt Green made a searing start to their defence of the Graham Williamson Trophy on Saturday. The Green, who have won the competition both times in its first two seasons, comfortably defeated under strength Moseley by ten wickets. Bowler Gareth
-
Date
Astwood Bank Flower Club
THE April meeting was a practical entitled Chinese Takeaway. The resulting arrangements were varied, with many incorporating bamboo and chopsticks. One arrangement included sparklers, which when lit gave a wonderful effect. Instead of biscuits with the
-
Date
Coaching fun
BROMSGROVE Tennis Club is hoping to entice more adults to indulge in the summer sport at its weekly coaching sessions. Newcomers into the sport will be shown the basics by a qualified coach at tennis and coffee sessions at Sanders Park between 9.45am
-
Date
Jones' Mallory misery
DROITWICH rider Chris Jones' frustrating start to the British 125GP Championship continued on Sunday. Jones, aged 14, failed to finish the third round at the Leicestershire circuit after colliding with Bradley Smith on the 14th lap. This means that the
-
Date
100 years ago
April 29, 1905 ERNEST Alfred Gazard, draughtsman, Walkwood Road, Hunt End, applied for a certificate of exemption from objections to vaccinations in respect of his child. Asked as to his objections to vaccinations, he said three years ago he was vaccinated
-
Date
Champions end in style
NEWLY crowned Division One champions Cofton Hackett B completed their season in the Bromsgrove and RedditchTable Tennis League by defeating Droitwich B 9-1. Sasha Grokhotov and Pat McCabe both won three games each for Cofton and the doubles, while Russell
-
Date
Inkberrow WI
THE April meeting saw members dressed in Sunday best, celebrating the 85th Birthday in style. Together with the county's outgoing chairman, incoming chairman and the WIA, members started with photographer for the evening, David (W, not B), taking a group
-
Date
Inner Wheel Club of Redditch
PRESIDENT Sue Whiteside's chosen charity for the year is Birmingham Focus on Blind, so it was with pleasure that Carol Smith, Multiple Disability Service Manager, and Liz Shaw, Manager, Day Services, were welcomed. They spoke about the support available
-
Date
Kington with Dormston WI
PRESIDENT Delice Bayliss welcomed members to the April meeting. The minutes were read and approved. In March, Molly Jones, Sheila Baskerfield, Margaret Humphries and Gill Blackband had taken part in a quiz for Greenfingers. It had been an enjoyable evening
-
Date
The ties have it!
STUDENTS at Arrow Vale Community College proved they were model pupils when they took to the catwalk to display their own creations. The Greensward Lane pupils designed ties and a school logo in a recent assembly as part of a competition sponsored by
-
Date
West Midland Bird Club
MEMBERS of the Kidderminster branch present at the fourth AGM re-elected the outgoing committee en bloc. Professional photographer Mike Wilkes presented his Spanish ornithological theme for the evening. Members were shown scenes of rollers nesting in
-
Date
Wythall Gardening Club
SPEAKER for the April meeting was Geoff Oke, who gave an informative talk entitled Fuschias are Fun. His passion for the plants began 25 years ago when he bought two from a garden centre. He became a horticulturist in Surrey and has been growing fuschias
-
Date
Bringing history to life
A PROLIFIC Hunt End writer has focused on the fascinating history of Redditch in her latest book. Anne Bradford, of Enfield Road, is celebrating the publication of her fourth book on local history - Old Redditch Voices - following three years of dedicated
-
Date
Attack hits school plan
SECURITY guards are patrolling the new St Nicholas School development in Alcester after vandals went on the rampage over the Easter holidays. Windows and doors were damaged during a series of attacks and one room was sprayed with foam from a fire extinguisher
-
Date
Market proves a success
THE sun shone on Alcester on Friday when the town hosted its first farmers' market. More than 15 producers set up their stalls around the town hall where business was brisk even before the official opening by Mayor Chris Gough. Mr Gough said: "To put
-
Date
Couple call for land answers
An Alcester couple claim they have been unable to sell their home because of the state of a county council property next door. Gill and Ken Holway have had to knock £20,000 off the value of their house in Stratford Road since putting it on the market
-
Date
Turnover rises by 70 per cent
BROMSGROVE construction group Weav-er PLC has revealed a record 12 months' trading with a turnover of £40m for the year ending Thursday, March 31, up just over 70 per cent on the previous year. According to Alan Adamson, joint managing director, many
-
Date
Brewer agrees pubs takeover
WOLVERHAMPTON & Dudley Breweries today said it had agreed a £45.8m takeover of Lake District brewer and pubs group Jennings Brothers. The Midlands brewer said the 430p per share offer was 32 per cent higher than Jennings' closing mid-market price
-
Date
Builders' training centre
A £1m training centre for people across the Midlands has been launched in Worcestershire. The centre, set up by construction company Thomas Vale at its headquarters in Stourport-on-Severn, has been hailed the first of its kind in the UK. It will open
-
Date
Cuts fail to raise hopes
APATHY, poor facilities and a bad reputation have been blamed for the Greig Centre's loss of income over the past year. Manager Stacy Robinson said people in Alcester and the surrounding areas were reluctant to use the facilities and as a result, the
-
Date
Their next step is to help with your career
NEARLY 30 more people have qualified to give careers advice for the two counties Learning and Skills Council's NextStep Programme. Twenty-one of them achieved either an NVQ Level 3 or Open College Network qualification in Advice and Guidance. They will
-
Date
School may close
A BALLET school which has been running in Alcester for 43 years will be forced to close if the Greig Centre's redevelopment bid fails. The Rutleigh Norris Ballet School meets in the studio behind the Kinwarton Road centre three times a week after moving
-
Date
Intelligent motors win firm royal recognition
A BLACKPOLE company's sterling efforts have won them the 2005 Queen's Award for Enterprise. Sterling Power Products was given the award for its mobile power systems designed for boats and caravans. The honour was presented last Friday, April 22, in London
-
Date
Stag fans hit the road
WITH the British motoring industry having taken a body blow with the collapse of MG Rover, a group of enthusiasts are reliving some of the industry's happier days with a tour of Switzerland in their Triumph Stags. Redditch and Bromsgrove members of the
-
Date
Town may lose earmarked funding
THE resignation of Phil Talbot as chairman of trustees of the Greig Centre casts another shadow of doubt over the future of the memorial hall and redevelopment of the sports hall as a community venue. Mr Talbot has made it clear in recent weeks that if
-
Date
Builders agree to save house
PLANS to demolish a Victorian school building in Bidford have been given the go-ahead after developers agreed to leave the adjacent school house standing. Westbury Homes Ltd wanted to demolish both buildings to make way for more houses on their development
-
Date
Town is at heart of event
REDDITCH organisations at the heart of the town's biggest ever arts festival will be given the chance to spread their wings and ''air'' their talents. Organisers of June's three-week extravaganza AIR festival (Arts in Redditch) are keen to see townsfolk
-
Date
Brooklyn building plan
ALCESTER town councillors have asked for extra time to consider a planning application for 28 dwellings on the site of Brooklyn Skoda. Neil Grinnall Homes Ltd have applied to Stratford District Council and the plans came before the town council for their
-
Date
Alcester letters
Quarrying worries I WRITE to you as a resident of Bidford-on-Avon, regarding the proposed quarry next to our village. I really hope that Warwickshire County Council (WCC) is not going to make a unilateral decision about our corner of the county without
-
Date
Market marvel
I am very pleased Alcester has at last got a farmers' market. My shop, Linda Rose Lingerie, has a lot of custom from visitors to the town and the farmers' market will also attract new visitors and also draw people from Alcester's surrounding villages
-
Date
GREEN: I'LL VOTE TORY
GREENS have been left red-faced after a would-be councillor admitted she won't be voting for her own party in the General Election as it "will not win". Wendy Hands believes that Green parliamentary hopeful Malcolm Victory will be 'Malcolm Defeat' on
-
Date
Apathy will not help to halt the vandals
PEOPLE in Upton-upon-Severn have been urged to become more involved with youngsters in a quest to stamp out vandalism in the town. They were warned at last night's town council meeting the problem could worsen if the community does not become more involved
-
Date
Late-night service for noise nuisance
RESIDENTS in a flap over noisy neighbours late at night and in the early hours will soon have help at hand. Wychavon District Council's environmental services department is about to restart an out-of-hours service for residents who experience nuisance
-
Date
Delight over new men on the beat
ST PETER'S is feeling the benefit of having a new bobby on the beat, who has recently been joined by a Community Support Officer. Beat manager Andy Hall was only assigned to the post in March and was joined by his right-hand man, Jason Atkins at the beginning
-
Date
Council orders Abbey travellers to move
TRAVELLERS who set up camp near Pershore Abbey and last night parked next to the town's council offices face eviction. District council managing director Jack Hegarty said the authority had ordered travellers to move off the Civic Centre car park in Queen
-
Date
Fears for woman last seen out walking in her nightie
CONCERN is growing for the welfare of a woman who went missing from her house days after moving in. Patricia Curry, aged 68, has not been seen since about 12.50am on Monday, April 18, the morning after she disappeared from her new home in Mount Pleasant
-
Date
Cornel takes top award for perseverance
COURAGEOUS schoolboy Cornel Hrisca-Munn has been given a Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Award for Young People for his ''success against the odds''. Cornel, who was born with no lower arms and has had a leg amputated, has raised thousands of pounds
-
Date
Pupils build house in true Tudor style
A TRADITIONAL-style Tudor thatched cottage helped bring history lessons alive for pupils from two Worcestershire schools. Children at Worcester's Stanley Road Primary School and St Barnabas First and Middle School, in Drakes Broughton, near Pershore,
-
Date
ELECTION 2005: WEST WORCESTERSHIRE
SIR MICHAEL SPICER, CONSERVATIVE At public meetings in towns and villages throughout West Worcestershire, and on hundreds of doorsteps, people are telling me that they think a third term in office for Labour would be a very bad thing for our country.
-
Date
Pupils prove tops at talking rubbish
FOUR pupils from Malvern's The Chase school have taken top honours in a poetry competition organised as part a month-long recycling and rubbish awareness campaign. The Talking Rubbish competition called on children to write a limerick, riddle or haiku
-
Date
Day nursery plan looks in jeopardy
THE conversion of Kempsey Community Centre into a much-needed day nursery could be turned down next week on road safety grounds. Parents of more than 80 village children support the plan, which would secure the future of the former school and adjoining
-
Date
Group set for Artrix debut
MUSIC lovers have the chance to see the Bromsgrove Operatic Society's first performance at the Artrix. Operatic Society will perform at the Artrix next month. The group will play at the School Drive venue for the first time on Monday, May 9 when they
-
Date
Perfect trip into the past
Review - Round The Horne... revisited at the Festival Theatre, Malvern AN outstandingly outrageous evening of comedy. Being a great fan of the 1960s cult radio show I was more than interested to see how it would be 40 years on as a stage show, and how
-
Date
Tackling terrorism
THE subject of terrorism has been tackled by theatre company Out of Joint with their new play Talking to Terrorists, based on real-life interviews, at Malvern's Festival Theatre from next Wednesday. Writer Robin Soans, Out of Joint and the Royal Court
-
Date
Beyond the Sea (12)
KEVIN Spacey hits a professional high note as lounge singer Bobby Darin in this glitzy, yet ultimately disappointing, biopic. Beyond the Sea charts the movie and musical career of Darin, from his humble roots as a sickly child brought up in the Bronx
-
Date
Restless Natives (PG)
YOU'RE young, you're bored, you're broke and you're without a job in Thatcher's Britain. So what do you do? You become modern-day Dick Turpins and rob stupid tourists as they tour round the Scottish Highlands. Of course! At least, that's the plan that
-
Date
Fancy a Night at the Movies?
REDDITCH Operatic Society will perform A Night at the Movies in Bromsgrove. All Saints' Church, Burcot Lane, will be the venue for the show on Saturday, May 21 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £6.50 from Reverend Wendy Moore on 01527 576515 or Sheila Woodbury
-
Date
Where to go
Wednesday, April 27 Talk: Nelson's Purse, Bromsgrove Festival, Bromsgrove School, Worcester Road. 7.45pm. Film: Midland Journey, mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham. 6pm. Music: Hard-fi, Little Civic, North Street, Wolverhampton. Thursday, April 28 Film
-
Date
Family secrets
THE final part of Brendan O'Carroll's hilarious comedy trilogy, Mrs Brown Rides Again, opens at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre next Tuesday. The story of Agnes Brown and her dysfunctional family, told previously in The Last Wedding and Good Mourning Mrs
-
Date
Latin American feast of colour and rhythm
BRAZILIAN contemporary dance ensemble Grupo Corpo take centre stage at the Birmingham Hippodrome on Friday and Saturday. Launching the Hippodrome's 2005 Wide World Series, which brings diverse international dance to theatre, Grupo Corpo was founded in
-
Date
What's On Guide
Thursday, April 28 Theatre Babel: Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry. Until April 30. Tickets from 024 7652 4524. Earthfall dance theatre company: At Swim, Two Boys, Forum Theatre, Malvern. Also April 29. Tickets from 01684 892277
-
Date
Nostalgic tunes to mark VE Day
UNION Jack flags will be waving to the sound of nostalgic tunes at the Norbury Theatre during Droitwich's celebrations of the 60th anniversary of VE Day. Players from the Friar Street venue will stage And A Nightingale Sang for four nights from Wednesday
-
Date
Step out for a lively comedy
THE shimmering comedy, Stepping Out - top-hatted and coat-tailed, and coming to the Festival Theatre, Malvern, from May 9 will help dance your troubles away. The show looks at the lives, loves and slightly worrying dance moves of a very different group
-
Date
High hopes for screening
PREPARATION is well under way for the first film showing at the Artrix. New projection equipment, costing around £28,000, was delivered and fitted last week ready for the first screening tomorrow (Thursday). The Aviator will be shown at the venue, in
-
Date
On the road to family fun
WYTHALL'S Transport Museum continues its 25th Birthday celebrations over the May Day Bank Holiday Weekend with a "bus load" of family fun. The museum, home to one of the largest collections of buses and coaches in the UK, will open its gates on Sunday
-
Date
A record- breaker is about to be unearthed
A WORLD-famous ballet, with all its mystery and passion, drama and tragedy, is the inspiration for one of 15 show gardens at the Spring Gardening Show (May 13-15) at Malvern's Three Counties Showground - a record-breaking collection for its twentieth
-
Date
Without a Paddle (12)
THREE childhood friends reunite after the death of a close friend to finish a mission he started - locating $200,000 that vanished with plane hijacker D B Cooper in the 70s. Their adventures see them almost drowning in water rapids, coming close to starvation
-
Date
Studley Operatic Society Musicality
THE songs just kept on coming when Studley Operatic Society performed this pre-centenary review in the intimate surroundings of Studley Village Hall. Amazingly, they managed to perform more than 70 songs in about two hours in this fast-paced show. However
-
Date
Exorcist - The Beginning (15)
IT may not be a patch on the original 1973 classic horror that was banned from our screens for so many years but prequel Exorcist - The Beginning is strangely addictive. Whether it's because any fan of the original would want to see this film fall flat
-
Date
Under strength Boars slain by Ivanhoe
UNDER strength Bromsgrove's preparations for the season were dealt a blow as they crashed out of the National Knockout Cup on Sunday. A Boars side containing four first team regulars produced an error-strewn display at Leicester Ivanhoe. This was the
-
Date
Bumper entries for canine competition
TAILS will be wagging in Malvern this weekend as the town hosts a regional canine show. The West of England Ladies Kennel Society's annual championship dog show runs from Friday, April 29, to Sunday, May 1, at the town's Three Counties Showground. Thousands
-
Date
Group set for Artrix debut
MUSIC lovers have the chance to see the Bromsgrove Operatic Society's first performance at the Artrix. Operatic Society will perform at the Artrix next month. The group will play at the School Drive venue for the first time on Monday, May 9 when they
-
Date
Soldier's medals go up for auction
THE First World War medals of a Worcestershire soldier killed by "friendly fire" near the First World War battlegrounds of Ypres are to be auctioned with some of his personal belongings. Cpl Arthur Long, who came from Lydiate Ash, was a motor bike messenger
-
Date
Fancy a Night at the Movies?
REDDITCH Operatic Society will perform A Night at the Movies in Bromsgrove. All Saints' Church, Burcot Lane, will be the venue for the show on Saturday, May 21 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £6.50 from Reverend Wendy Moore on 01527 576515 or Sheila Woodbury
-
Date
Ex-Rover? No tax bill
EX-Rover workers in the Bromsgrove area are being offered tax relief to help them back on their feet. Bromsgrove District Council has offered to suspend council tax bills for up to four months for Rover employees who are now out of work and struggling
-
Date
Drama as car skids into river
A MAN escaped from his floating car after it plunged into a river this morning. The Kidderminster man kicked out the window of his Honda car after it ended up in the River Stour at about 8am. He was driving along St Mary's ring road in the town when his
-
Date
jewel raid gang flees
by Joby Mullens THREE balaclava-clad men struck at a Worcester jeweller's today. But they were forced to flee empty-handed after they failed to force their way in. The bungled raid happend at Ernest Jones, in High Street, at around 5am, when it is believed
-
Date
23/04/05 - Appleton makes his point
Bromsgrove Rovers 1 Mangotsfield United 1 Division One West SUPER-SUB Arthur Appleton's late goal gave Bromsgrove a deserved point as Jimmy Mullen's men rained on the Southern League Division One West champion's parade at the Victoria Ground on Saturday
-
Date
20/04/05 - Reserves' final woe
Bromsgrove Rovers Reserves 0 Alvechurch 3 Worcestershire Senior Urn final PLUCKY reserves' adventure in the Worcestershire Urn came to an end as they were put to the sword by an experienced Alvechurch side on Wednesday night. Three first half goals in
-
Date
27/4/05 - Stanley key to City future says Preece
IN-FORM Jai Stanley will be a pivotal player at St George's Lane next season says his manager. Worcester City's midfield playmaker is enjoying one of his best spells at the club since joining in a £10,000 record fee from Moor Green in November 2003. Stanley
-
Date
MAY DAY!
IT seemed an impossible task. Redditch United were already two goals down to a Birmingham City Reserves side who looked to be cruising to Birmingham Senior Cup glory midway through the second half. Then, just as the murmurs of defeat mounted, Scott Rickards
-
Date
Toppled!
SUPERSTOCKS speedster Andy Tinsley was fortunate to escape with just bruises after crashing out at 130 mph at Mallory Park on Sunday. The Buildbase Knotts-Magnum rider, starting from pole position, had just recorded a new lap record of 93.99 mph and was
-
Date
Alex charges to go ahead
CAR parking charges for staff at the Alexandra Hospital will finally be introduced after months of negotiations. Workers will now need to apply for an annual parking permit, ranging in price from £20 per year for those on the lowest incomes to £220 for
-
Date
In a sweat over hike in gym fee
Redditch Council gym fees for students are to rise in June - sparking outrage from one user and the possibility she might even quit. Students who use Arrow Vale Sports Centre received a letter informing them fees were rising from £11 to £15 a month. Jenny
-
Date
Where to go
Wednesday, April 27 Talk: Nelson's Purse, Bromsgrove Festival, Bromsgrove School, Worcester Road. 7.45pm. Film: Midland Journey, mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham. 6pm. Music: Hard-fi, Little Civic, North Street, Wolverhampton. Thursday, April 28 Film
-
Date
Nice little Urn-er
Alvechurch 3 Bromsgrove Rovers Res 0 THE Churchmen made light work of a youthful looking Bromsgrove Rovers Reserves team on the way to picking up the Worcestershire Senior Urn at Kidderminster Harriers' Aggborough Stadium. It's the fourth straight year
-
Date
Bristow darts to Woodrow
The legendary Crafty Cockney, Eric Bristow, will be in town on Sunday (May 1). Bristow will be in action at the Woodrow Pub, in Woodrow Centre, from 7pm but the fundraising darts knockout starts at 3pm. All money raised will go towards a terminally ill
-
Date
Ladies get six-appeal
Headless Cross Ladies Reserves travelled to Droitwich at the weekend and saw themselves go above their opponents with a 6-0 thrashing. A Coral Ioney double and Lisa Paronuzzi penalty saw the reserves take a 3-0 half time lead. The second half saw Cross
-
Date
Town fencers looking for new club backing
Alcester's fencing elite was in competition at King Henry's School in Coventry for one of the national series of junior fencing competitions recently. Alcester Grammar School's Christopher Brenda made the final against Brentwood School's Henry Gann. Brenda
-
Date
Open trio for Orme
REDDITCH'S Freestyle Kickboxing Association was again in action at the UK International Open at Gloucester Leisure Centre. Seven students and an instructor at the club took part at the event. Chris Orme won the under 135cm advanced boys points after four
-
Date
A 'Shore win
Feckenham 3 Pershore Town 0 THE MILLERS continued their amazing unbeaten run with another victory at their adopted Valley ground. You have to go back to Christmas to see Feckenham drop all three points in the Midland Combination but boss Lee Adams is
-
Date
Tackling terrorism
THE subject of terrorism has been tackled by theatre company Out of Joint with their new play Talking to Terrorists, based on real-life interviews, at Malvern's Festival Theatre from next Wednesday. Writer Robin Soans, Out of Joint and the Royal Court
-
Date
Bees get calculating
Loughborough Dynamo 0 Studley 1 "MATHEMATICALLY we're not safe but logically we are" said Bees boss Kevin Rowlands after seeing Anthony "the saviour" Savery net his side possibly the most vital three points of the season. The win lifted the Bees from
-
Date
What's On Guide
Thursday, April 28 Theatre Babel: Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry. Until April 30. Tickets from 024 7652 4524. Earthfall dance theatre company: At Swim, Two Boys, Forum Theatre, Malvern. Also April 29. Tickets from 01684 892277
-
Date
Quins under the cosh says Keast
ANDY Keast believes the pressure is all on Harlequins after their damaging defeat last night. Worcester's head coach watched on as basement boys Leeds leapt three places to ninth in the Zurich Premiership table following their 21-10 win over Quins at
-
Date
Sophie proving big hit at King's
A TALENTED young cricketer has made history after becoming the first girl to represent King's School, Worcester's first team. Fifth-year student Sophie Le Marchand, 16, was selected for two weekend fixtures against Malvern College and Bishops Veseys Grammar
-
Date
Chamberlain's double sends Hampton chances crashing
MORETON Town lifted the Bluck Cup for the first time with victory over Hampton WMC at Broadway United. The first-half was goalless with Hampton WMC dominating possession but rarely threatening the Moreton goal. But the second period was more open and
-
Date
OEs make a triumphant home start
OLD Elizabethans got their season off to a winning start with a 107-run friendly victory at home to Kington. They were inspired by a hat-trick from Stuart Phillips, combined with an encouraging batting display. OEs, including three players making debuts
-
Date
Busy Smith in a hot finish to the winter
PERSHORE-based Bryan Smith made the line-up at the country's end of winter season national championships at Solihull in the West Midlands. Smith joined hundreds of riders from around Britain who had qualified for the Blue Chip Show Jumping Championships
-
Date
Berry fails to save Evesham
EVESHAM started their build-up to the Birmingham League campaign with a hard-fought defeat to Stratford in the Journal Trophy. The town side have retained all except one of last season's first-team squad and also recruited Mark Penter from Western Australia
-
Date
Blaber calls time on Droitwich Spa
MANAGER Kevin Blaber has stunned Droitwich Spa FC by announcing he will be stepping down at the end of the season. Blaber is set to end his four-year stay at the club after Droitwich take on Archdale 73 in the Worcester Nursing Cup Final on May 7. Blaber
-
Date
Ball demands more
Bromsgrove 27 Walsall 24 Midlands Division One DIRECTOR of coaching Dean Ball has issued a warning to his players that he expects even more commitment from them next season. The Boars completed their season, where they obtained their number priority of
-
Date
Junior rugby round up
JAMES Harborne scored the decisive try as Bromsgrove Boars under-10s defeated the hosts to win the Stratford festival on Sunday. Bromsgrove started the tournament by defeating Stratford Pumas 25-0 in their first group game, with James Harborne (2), Will
-
Date
25 years ago April 24, 1980
ANGRY radiographers from a wide area converged on Bromsgrove during a visit to the town's general hospital by health minister Dr Gerard Vaughan to protest about their latest pay rise which ranged from 2 to 15 per cent. FIFTY cleaning ladies employed by
-
Date
50 years ago April 30, 1955
BROMSGROVE Court Leet Bailiff, Mr D Howard Wood, at the weekend welcomed parties of friends and representatives from many organisations in the area to his home, Cotswold in Barnt Green, to view and welcome the daffodils which grew in abundance there.
-
Date
Top level shake-ups are so costly
REFRESHING, I thought, someone is at last going to do something to address what has almost become a culture of institutionalised incompetence in the way some Council Services have been administered. But there always has to be a down side and I see that
-
Date
Try tourism
TO all ex MG Rover employees - firstly my deepest sympathy for losing your job. Do you have a spare room in your house? Can you fry an egg? Then read on: Create, enjoy and profit from 'Tourism.' You can offer bed/breakfast and evening meal, weekend breaks
-
Date
Cashing in
MAY I, through Your View, thank the good people of Bromsgrove for their generous donations at this year's Christmas Light display - staged at my house in Wrekin Drive. Special thanks go to Bromsgrove Round Table and the Football Referees Association,
-
Date
Now wanted
IT is amusing what effect the recent changes to the word boundaries for the county council elections have. After all that Councillor Peter McDonald has said about us in Barnt Green over the years, he is now looking for our vote! Norman Witman Bittell
-
Date
Own devices
I FEEL I must respond to Ken Footman's letter in which he states to his certain knowledge WRRA Councillor G Denaro has never declined to pursue issues raised with him. When I have raised issues with him he always says, I will give you a name and phone
-
Date
Red herring!
WHY is Wychavon's publicity stunt lido splash pool shaped like a fish? Because it's a red herring! A cynical spoiler can't fool Spa voters again. Everyone put Wychavon's spin-doctors to shame - do vote in the Droitwich Parish Poll to save your Lido. James
-
Date
School costs will increase
I WAS delighted to read in your newspaper last week that at long last there is to be a major investment in schools in Bromsgrove. Everyone in the town will obviously welcome this as all pupils should have access to the best possible education within their
-
Date
Fishers are Castle Kings
Redditch 20 Bishops Castle 15 THE Kingfishers marched into the semi-final of the North Midlands Shield with a well-deserved victory over higher league Bishops Castle. A new look back line was used with a competitive debut for Aaron Atkinson and starts
-
Date
Rivals hold no fear
MANAGER Jimmy Mullen believes it doesn't matter who Bromsgrove Rovers face in Monday's crucial play-off semi-final - his side can beat anyone. Rovers must tackle either Yate Town, Evesham United or Clevedon Town away on Bank Holiday Monday if they want
-
Date
Reserves' final woe
Bromsgrove Rovers Reserves 0 Alvechurch 3 Worcestershire Senior Urn final PLUCKY reserves' adventure in the Worcestershire Urn came to an end as they were put to the sword by an experienced Alvechurch side on Wednesday night. Three first half goals in
-
Date
Fixture congestion takes toll
Droitwich Spa 1 Feckenham Reserves 1 DROITWICH'S hopes of winning automatic promotion from the Midland Combination Division Two came to end after Feckenham held them on Monday night. Spa, playing their fourth game in a week, had to win the game to give
-
Date
Dad's army!
Silhillians 2nds 25 Kings Norton 33 A DEPLETED Kings Norton travelled to Solihull for a friendly with a Silhillian 2nds side. Norton's player problems soon worsened as centre Pete May pulled his hamstring in the pre-match warm up forcing Derek Whitehouse
-
Date
Medics honour
Alcester RFC held their annual seven-a-side competition at King's Coughton and this year there is a different name on the trophy as Medics Old Stars from Birmingham University ran away with the honours. Twelve teams turned up to the Kings Coughton ground
-
Date
Dominant Spartak stun Sphinx
Coventry Sphinx 2 Barnt Green Spartak 3 SPARTAK ended Sphinx's 21 game unbeaten run in the league with a commanding display on Saturday. Kieran Holland handed his side the perfect start when he opened the scoring in the third minute. Delroy Brown added
-
Date
Try tourism
TO all ex MG Rover employees - firstly my deepest sympathy for losing your job. Do you have a spare room in your house? Can you fry an egg? Then read on: Create, enjoy and profit from 'Tourism.' You can offer bed/breakfast and evening meal, weekend breaks
-
Date
Great credit
I AM writing to say 'thank you' to the couple (with a dog) who recently, having found my credit cards outside my house returned them to me so promptly. This kind act restored my faith in human nature and I hope that the couple concerned see this letter
-
Date
Welcome mat has gone
DO people remember when visitors came see our lovely town? Now visitors spend any time here looking at their watches and thinking of when they must leave. They are worried that parking attendants with tape measures are out checking that vehicles are not
-
Date
Own devices
I FEEL I must respond to Ken Footman's letter in which he states to his certain knowledge WRRA Councillor G Denaro has never declined to pursue issues raised with him. When I have raised issues with him he always says, I will give you a name and phone
-
Date
Red herring!
WHY is Wychavon's publicity stunt lido splash pool shaped like a fish? Because it's a red herring! A cynical spoiler can't fool Spa voters again. Everyone put Wychavon's spin-doctors to shame - do vote in the Droitwich Parish Poll to save your Lido. James
-
Date
Nostalgic tunes to mark VE Day
UNION Jack flags will be waving to the sound of nostalgic tunes at the Norbury Theatre during Droitwich's celebrations of the 60th anniversary of VE Day. Players from the Friar Street venue will stage And A Nightingale Sang for four nights from Wednesday
-
Date
On the road to family fun
WYTHALL'S Transport Museum continues its 25th Birthday celebrations over the May Day Bank Holiday Weekend with a "bus load" of family fun. The museum, home to one of the largest collections of buses and coaches in the UK, will open its gates on Sunday
-
Date
A record- breaker is about to be unearthed
A WORLD-famous ballet, with all its mystery and passion, drama and tragedy, is the inspiration for one of 15 show gardens at the Spring Gardening Show (May 13-15) at Malvern's Three Counties Showground - a record-breaking collection for its twentieth
-
Date
Blackwell & Burcot WI
Our president, Pearl Prior, opened the meeting on April 13 at 2.15pm, when she gave a warm welcome to visitors and members alike, and thanked Beattie Denning for the lovely flower arrangement. Then four birthdays and three diamond wedding anniversaries
-
Date
Fairfield WI
Shirley Walker, our president, opened our April meeting. She welcomed everyone but particularly Kath Davis, our group president, Gwen Creswell, who has returned following a nasty fall, Norah Byng, who always comes back to visit us when she's in our part
-
Date
Shot in cold blood by callous raiders
A SECURITY guard is to undergo surgery after he was involved in a callous and cold-blooded shooting outside a local post office. The Post Office worker was shot in the neck with a handgun during an armed robbery outside Lickey Post Office, in Old Birmingham
-
Date
Mum's kidney will gift 'life' for her son
A MOTHER-OF-THREE from a village near Bromsgrove is to take advantage of a pioneering operation and donate a kidney to change her son's life. Margaret Vaughan, of Sandhills Road, Barnt Green, thought she had been ruled out of helping 26-year-old Alan
-
Date
They're drumming up interest
ENTHUSIASTIC youngsters from a Bromsgrove school enjoyed a day of music and rhythm. Children from St Peter's First School, in Rock Hill, took part in a music workshop, which was held last Thursday. 'Rhythm Works 4U' saw the children enjoy a drumming session
-
Date
Animal magic
CLEVER youngsters took a walk on the wild side when the Blue Cross Animal Sanctuary paid them a visit. Pupil's from Marlbrook Pre-School, which meets at St Luke's Church Centre, Braces Lane, Bromsgrove, were rewarded with the visit after receiving a very
-
Date
Turning the clock back to the mediaeval days
PRIESTS banning evil spirits and bearers carrying coffins used the same route centuries ago - now it's the turn of local historians to tour the sites of the town's mediaeval crosses. On Sunday, anyone interested in the town's history is invited to join
-
Date
Enjoying a well-earned retirement
A LONG-serving NHS worker has retired from Bromsgrove's hospital after more than 40 years' service. Sheila Stokes was ward manager at the Princess of Wales Community Hospital's rehabilitation unit. She retired last Thursday. Sheila was fundamental in
-
Date
Changing room is a big turn off
UNHAPPY swimmers have hit out at new communal changing facilities at a popular Bromsgrove sports centre. Some residents claim the area at the Dolphin Centre, in School Drive, makes them feel vulnerable, that the cubicles are cramped and there are no seating
-
Date
Without a Paddle (12)
THREE childhood friends reunite after the death of a close friend to finish a mission he started - locating $200,000 that vanished with plane hijacker D B Cooper in the 70s. Their adventures see them almost drowning in water rapids, coming close to starvation
-
Date
Clampdown on car crime
BROMSGROVE police have launched a campaign to reduce car crime and increase the number of detections. Vehicle crime, which includes theft from or of a car and taking a vehicle without consent, fell by more than 19 per cent during 2004-05, but detections
-
Date
Election 2005
RECENTLY we asked our readers to let us know the questions they would like to put to your prospective parliamentary candidates ahead of next month's General Election. Questions possibly on a burning topical issue, manifesto policy, something that may
-
Date
On board for Hall changes
BROMSGROVE School has been given the green light to make changes to Perry Hall Hotel by Bromsgrove District Council. At a meeting of the council's planning committee on Monday, members agreed to the application for refurbishment and alterations at the
-
Date
Festival gets off to a flier
THE Bromsgrove Festival is now underway and "has got off to a flying start." Last weekend saw this year's festival kick off with a Battle of the Bands competition in the Ryland Centre, New Road, on Friday April 22. That was followed by a performance the
-
Date
Baffled by vote chaos
RESIDENTS were left baffled by a vote on a motion of no confidence at a town meeting on Monday night. The meeting, held at the Community Hall, in Heritage Way, descended into chaos after Mark Heel, of Burrish Street, submitted two motions of no confidence
-
Date
Tax relief sparks row
A TAX relief move for ex-Rover workers in Bromsgrove has angered former employees at one of the town's major engineering works. More than 600 former Longbridge workers can apply to have their council tax suspended for four months to help them get back
-
Date
Bus service is scrapped
WESTLANDS residents will be stranded when the last bus route out of the estate is cancelled on June 17. The number 20 bus is currently the only route out of the estate and is a lifeline for many townsfolk. Bus company First, which operates the route,
-
Date
Crime down in Spa
POLICE say crime has dropped by nearly 15 per cent in south Worcestershire since last year. And officers added that detection of crime was up by six per cent in the area - in which Droitwich Spa falls. South Worcestershire police dealt with 20,739 offences
-
Date
Beyond the Sea (12)
KEVIN Spacey hits a professional high note as lounge singer Bobby Darin in this glitzy, yet ultimately disappointing, biopic. Beyond the Sea charts the movie and musical career of Darin, from his humble roots as a sickly child brought up in the Bronx
-
Date
Jacqui Smith Labour
JACQUI Smith, 42, is a former Redditch Councillor and economics teacher at Arrow Vale High School. She was elected as MP for Redditch in 1997 and re-elected in 2001. She served on the Commons treasury select committee before being appointed school standards
-
Date
John Ison UKIP
JOHN Ison, 36, lives in Hall Green, Birmingham, but lived in Redditch until recently. He is divorced and has five-year-old twin boys from his marriage. Since June 2003, Mr Ison has been a full-time campaigner for equal rights in family law and represents
-
Date
Bolly good show!
A TALENTED Redditch mum is enjoying her first taste of fame after starring in a new Bollywood movie. Jinder Mahal fulfilled a life-long dream of becoming a Bollywood star by winning a part in Chicken Tikka Masala, which was released in cinemas across
-
Date
St George to the rescue!
SCORES of patriotic residents watched as courageous Saint George rescued a damsel in distress from the top of St Laurence's Church tower on Saturday. The event was part of Alvechurch's St George's Day extravaganza and saw the namesake saint battle with
-
Date
Driver's miracle escape
FIRE fighters have spoken of a "miracle" escape after a man spent more than five hours trapped in his overturned car with a metal pole impaled through his body. Daniel Lang, aged 22, of Hanbury, was discovered in his Vauxhall Astra in a ditch in Tyrells
-
Date
Town target of 'big guns' in campaign
HOUSING and the collapse of MG Rover were two issues touched on by Conservative leader Michael Howard when he dropped into Greenlands on the election trail on Thursday. The ferocity with which the constituency is being fought over by the big parties had
-
Date
War veteran wins blue badge battle
A DISABLED war veteran whose parking concession badge was withdrawn after nine years has had it reinstated thanks to the Advertiser. Richard Lane, 83 (pictured), was horrified when he was deemed no longer eligible for a blue parking badge, despite suffering
-
Date
Police target 'knight riders'
THE A422 from Cookhill to Worcester has been identified as one of the most dangerous roads for motorcyclists. The road, which passes through Inkberrow, features in a list of the 13 most dangerous roads for bikers in the West Mercia Constabulary area.
-
Date
Alcester WI
THE speaker at this month's meeting, Sharon Hedges, was warmly welcomed by members as her topic, Operation Christmas Child, is a charity which many members support. Her talk, illustrated with 96 pictures, was both moving and heart warming as she showed
-
Date
Bromsgrove Rovers fixtures and results 2004/2005
HOME, away (Dr Martens Division One West fixtures unless stated) JULY Tue 20 Stratford Town (Friendly) 1-1 (Frost) Sat 24 AFC TELFORD (Friendly) 2-1 (Szewczyk 2) Tue 27 HEDNESFORD TOWN (Friendly) 1-2 (Frost) Thu 29 KOREA UNIVERSITIES XI (Friendly) 1-4
-
Date
Under strength Boars slain by Ivanhoe
UNDER strength Bromsgrove's preparations for the season were dealt a blow as they crashed out of the National Knockout Cup on Sunday. A Boars side containing four first team regulars produced an error-strewn display at Leicester Ivanhoe. This was the
-
Date
Cookhill & District Gardening Association
ON April 11, Doreen Hawley gave a presentation on her experiences in developing a wildlife garden for a charity in Dorset. She included some informative information on her successes in growing plants in unfavourable conditions and some surprising failures
-
Date
Spa edged out
Pershore 144-7 Droitwich 141 all out DROITWICH warmed up for the Worcestershire League Division One with an entertaining game on Saturday against last season's champions. Last summer's top two both had reasons for feeling happy about this closely fought
-
Date
Drakes Cross WI
MEMBERS were welcomed to the March meeting by president Brenda Dainty. Netta Pearson gave a report on the annual council meeting held in Malvern the previous day. Ed Shore's talk, illustrated with colourful slides, was about an epic nine-month journey
-
Date
Feckenham Forest History Society
AT the April meeting, members welcomed the return of Trevor Anthill to continue his journey along the Monarch's Way, which follows the escape route of Charles II after the final battle of the Civil War at Worcester in 1651. Trevor is a walking enthusiast
-
Date
50 years ago
April 29, 1955 A 19-year-old Redditch merchant seaman last week received the Bronze Medal of the Royal Humane Society for diving into shark-infested waters in the Pacific Ocean and rescuing one of six Korean fishermen who were in distress. The presentation
-
Date
Hopwood WI
THE meeting opened as usual with the singing of Jerusalem, accompanied by a new tape in a lower key - well received by members. A couple of walks are being arranged for June and August for the Stepping Out programme. Members will be helping with refreshments
-
Date
Regan's title dream out of reach
RUBERY heavyweight boxer Mark Regan's adventure in the national stages of the Novice Championships came to an end when he narrowly lost to Sheffield fighter Warren Baister on April 21. Regan, aged 21, lost to the much taller opponent from Sheffield based
-
Date
Ipsley WI
THE April meeting was organised by an ad hoc committee, leaving the elected committee to relax and enjoy the evening after dealing with business matters, which included reports of visits to Bentley Pauncefoot, the 40th birthday party of Crabbs Cross &
-
Date
Ipsley's Euro lessons
CULTURE vultures from Ipsley Middle School have been learning about life on the Continent. Thirteen teachers from three schools in Portugal, Majorca and Italy met with pupils and staff at the Winyates Way school during a six-day trip last week. The visit
-
Date
Ladies' Probus Club of Alcester
BEFORE lunch at Kings Court Hotel on April 13, members were asked to stand for a minute's silence in memory of Barbara Robinson, a member who had passed away suddenly. Joan Woodfield spoke about the outing on May 18 to the Botanical Gardens and more members
-
Date
Merry Wives of Alcester
ON April 12, the Wives enjoyed a fascinating evening with Irene Page, who gave a talk with sides and music about the history and meanings behind favourite nursery rhymes, many of which date back to medieval times. Valerie Huckell gave the vote of thanks
-
Date
Redditch Music Society
ENSEMBLE Andromeda provided a wonderful evening's music making for the penultimate concert in the current season. Ann de Renais, soprano, Nicholas Cartledge, flute, and Michael Robinson, piano, have all had extensive international experience in a diverse
-
Date
Solihull & District Orchid Society
ON APRIL 9 the annual show took place, this year the society's 40th anniversary. There were four excellent visiting society displays and a new trophy, the Janet James Shield for best visiting society, was awarded to Worcester Orchid Society. Ian Plested
