Archive
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Historic club to hold crisis talks on future
CRISIS talks have been called in a bid to save an historic village sports and social club which, following dwindling funds and membership, could be forced to close. Stoke Prior Sports and Social Club, in Westonhall Road, is used by a variety of sporting
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Terror on the tracks
YOUNG vandals are wreaking havoc on Worcester's railway line by bombarding trains and risking death by playing on the tracks. Police say the problem is worst at the King George V playing fields in Brickfields, where children have been spotted dropping
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Iraqi despot justice probe
SADDAM Hussein could be tried for alleged war crimes after a new probe was launched. Scotland Yard is considering what evidence might be available to prosecute the Iraqi dictator. It will focus on more than 4,500 Britons taken hostage at the start of
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Nine-hole golf course
SPORTY Droitwich residents may soon be able to practise their strokes on a new town golf course. Droitwich Golf Centre, in Copcut Lane, wants to create a nine-hole course. It is planned across 30 acres of land owned by the centre which has been running
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Fiance killed in horror car crash
A WINE bar manager crashed his newly-bought car killing his fiance on the way home from a birthday celebration, a jury was told. David Barnard lost control of the Peugeot 205 GTI as he overtook a Ford Escort. It hit the kerb and somersaulted into bushes
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Infestation of rats near WRI
WORCESTER Royal Infirmary has been forced to call in pest controllers after rats were discovered at its Newtown site. The hospital took action 10 days ago after the rodents were spotted near ward buildings. The infestation is believed to have been caused
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Dedicated to helping
THE mother of former Worcester MP Peter Walker has died, aged 94. Rose Walker passed away peacefully on Sunday morning at the Baptist Rest Home in Britannia Square, Worcester, where she lived for the past 10 years. She had spent her life helping others
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And finally... £10,000 task nearly done
THE wraps could soon be off Worcester's Boer War memorial statue, being restored by a leading conservation company. The Grade II listed statue, in Worcester Cathedral precinct was erected to commemorate Worcestershire's losses in the second Boer War.
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Teams wanted for new league
THE Bromsgrove Corporate six-a-side football league is looking for teams for the new season in May. All games are played on Thursday evenings, on state of the art astroturf pitch in Bromsgrove. The league is professionally organised with on site administrators
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Get along to open day
CALLING all sports fans! Bromsgrove Cricket, Hockey and Tennis Club stage its first ever combined open day this Sunday. And the St Godwalds Road club in Aston Fields are inviting budding sportsmen and women to come along and see what's on offer. A whole
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Mixed results for Prior
STOKE Prior Bowling Club suffered a rollercoaster set of results in the last week. In the Warks and Worcs League, the A side had a terrific away win at Brookvale Social by four shots, but then suffered an away defeat at the Barn Social Club in Witton.
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Chris speeding to success
WATCH your back Carl Fogarty --there's a new race ace out to take your crown. Droitwich youngster Christopher Jones is the talent in question, and the ten-year-old has a glittering racing career ahead of him. The Winterfold House Private School pupil
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25/4/01 - Molby fined for clash with official
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers boss Jan Molby has escaped a touchline ban after a Football Association hearing. A three-man panel at the Birmingham County FA headquarters yesterday warned the former Liverpool star over his future conduct and fined him £500. He
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Dogs crisis sparks plea
THE dog warden caring for unwanted Droitwich Spa pets says the number of stray dogs in her patch has reached crisis point. Wychavon District Council is so concerned about the increase it may be forced to reconsider its non-destruction policy. In recent
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Joint action would curb this problem
A GROWING trend in Redditch is the rise in teenage and child disorder. When I lived in Coronation Street-style houses in Alum Rock, Birmingham, as a child, we had no green areas, no play areas, no TV and though my father worked hard at the Co-op bakery
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Horrified by slaughter
CALL 'culling' what it really is - slaughter. I write following The Mirror's investigation of mass cruelty, which I am sure is only the tip of the iceberg. I witnessed the mass slaughter at Salters Lane, Batchley. Was this public execution really necessary
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Weekly shop is now an ordeal
IN response to what was written about having too many of the same kind of shops in the Kingfisher Centre and not much selection in retail outlets (Letters, April 4), I couldn't have put it better myself! What the centre needs is a supermarket, not another
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Members' pay among lowest
MAY I correct some figures given in a recent letter (Advertiser, April 18) questioning the amount of councillors' expenses? I am not sure where the information came from, but the highest figure paid to any member of the borough council last year was actually
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Letter from Westminster
Foot and Mouth Disease has struck in Astwood Bank again in a farm next to the first outbreak three weeks ago. This is devastating news for the affected farms whose businesses will take years to recover. Local farmers have told me that the prize of disease-free
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On course for a water dilemma
MORE Matchborough residents have complained after being told to dig up illegal water pipes in their gardens or face a £5,000 fine, writes Matt Smith. Redditch Council has ordered at least 10 households in Atherstone Close, Cosford Close and Barford Close
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Council deal puts land sale on track
A DEVELOPMENT to include shops and houses could be created on waste ground in the town centre after a deal was struck between Redditch Council and Railtrack Property, writes Becky Procter. The land at Hewell Road has been up for sale for more than 10
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Player-coach signs up
REDDITCH have recruited former Worcester back Danny Badham in a bid to improve their fortunes next season. The Kingfishers finished their season with a narrow 18-17 defeat to near neighbours Droitwich on Saturday with Badham making his Redditch debut.
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Kings slump
KINGS Norton finished the season anchored to the foot of the Midlands West Three South after a 39-0 thumping at champions Stratford on Saturday. The Hopwood side's horrendous points difference had already condemned them to the bottom spot and the weekend
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Villagers await store decision
STUDLEY villagers could soon get an answer as to whether their only supermarket, the Pioneer Co-op Store, is to stay open, writes Julian Seva. Owners CWS have confirmed that although the store is still on a 'sell-off list' a smaller store might be developed
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Pensioner distraught at garden ornaments theft
A PENSIONER has been left distraught after her prized collection of garden ornaments, which has taken more than 20 years to develop, was stolen. Cilcanita Clarke, of The Gaunts, Alvechurch, had built up an array of flamingos, pelicans and parrots from
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Numbers up at country centre
MORE than 70,000 people visited the Arrow Valley Countryside Centre last year, it has been revealed, writes Matt Smith. The news comes just a week after the £1 million complex celebrated its first year in business. But centre manager Steve Sullivan hopes
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Green fencing fury along drovers road
A BEAUTY spot, already controversially earmarked for housing, is at the centre of another wrangle after fencing was erected without warning. English Partnerships, which claims ownership of the Winyates Green 'triangle' in Far Moor Lane, was shocked last
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Restaurant hit by blaze
A FIRE which may have been started by a cigarette broke out above a town centre restaurant on Saturday, causing damage running into tens of thousands of pounds. The fire started in a storage and preparation room directly above Italiano's, Unicorn Hill
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Marathon operation
Two nurses at the Alexandra Hospital completed Sunday's London Marathon. Jackie Fowler and Sue Poole finished the event in four hours and five-and-a-half hours respectively. The nurses, who have both taken part in marathons before, were joined by Mrs
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Animal group's charity charge
AFTER 15 months of successful fund-raising, a Redditch and Bromsgrove branch of an animal charity is launching a renewed campaign to attract attention to its cause. Inspired by a recent collection in the Kingfisher Centre where donations and the sale
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Top awards honour training operation
TWENTY young people signed their deeds of apprenticeship at a special award ceremony held by Segta Management Services at Redditch Town Hall, writes Matt Smith. Stuart Parish signed his apprenticeship indentures as part of his modern apprenticeship with
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Mill's sign of the times
AN attractive new 'welcome' sign was revealed by a Redditch museum last week. The sign was put up at Forge Mill Needle Museum, in Riverside, on Friday welcoming guests into the museum. Rockford Consulting, a Redditch firm based in Oakenshaw South, is
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Runner beat sports hero
A CRABBS Cross man's legs were in full working order when he ran the London marathon for Redditch's Break-a-Leg Theatre Company. David Tomkins, 46, of Boultons Lane, raised around £200 for the charity on Sunday when he came in at four hour 30 minutes
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Rovers snatch crucial points
Bromsgrove Rovers (1) 2 Paget Rangers (0) 1 Dr Martens League Western Division ROVERS grabbed three vital points against relegation rivals Paget at the Victoria Ground last Thursday. It was a generally nervous performance from the Greens, but Costas Xiourouppa's
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Village flies the flag
A DAY of specially organised events took place in Alvechurch on Monday to celebrate St George's Day in style. The English flag was flying from the village's church tower from 7am, accompanied by bell ringing, and children at Alvechurch Middle School wore
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Family flees blaze
A MOTHER and her three children were evacuated from their Woodrow home on Saturday after a fire broke out in one of the children's bedrooms. Redditch firefighters attended the fire at Astley Close at about 7.15am and used two breathing apparatus and one
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Last service from rector
THE rector of a Redditch church will conduct his last service on Sunday after serving the people of Headless Cross and surrounding areas for almost a decade, writes Helen Clarke. The Rev Brian Halfpenny, rector of the Ridge Team and St Luke's Church,
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We've got all the junior soccer scores
MAYPOLE U8s 3 Bromsgrove Town Boys U8 6. Maypole scored first with an opportunist strike. Bromsgrove struck back with two goals by James Brighton. In the second half Brighton completed his hat-trick. A few moments later James Ward spotted the keeper off
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Late goal hits Fairfield
Fairfield Sunday (0) 1 Westbury Celtic (1) 2 ALTHOUGH Fairfield started well, Westbury took the lead after 20 minutes and Fairfield struggled to lift their game before half time. The second half was more even as far as possession was concerned, but Westbury
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A Thorn in RBL's side
Wychbold RBL FC (0) 2 Thorn FC (0) 1 WYCHBOLD RBL struggled to beat lowly Thorn, who belittled their low position in the table with some good steady football. Thorn proved hard to breakdown in the first half with RBL struggling to push forward. Both teams
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Land problems mounting up
DEVELOPMENT work taking place on land which is due to become public open space has concerned community leaders. At a meeting on Monday, Droitwich Spa town councillors raised fears about the site off Primsland Way. Primsland Estates Ltd, which plans a
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Animals 'taken to farm to be burned'
THE town's Conservative MP claims a Himbleton farm is being used as a funeral pyre for Worcestershire animals infected with foot and mouth. Peter Luff has received complaints from residents about acrid smoke coming from Saldons Farm which fell victim
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Estate's paths are 'appaling'
A CONCERNED OAP is urging highway chiefs to repair worn out Droitwich roads. Walter Bennett, of Woodmans Close, wants potholes filled in and cracked pavements upgraded on his estate. Mr Bennett has lived in Westlands for 30 years. He said: "I've never
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Marriage debt led to burglary
A TEENAGER became involved in a "Fagin" style burglary near Droitwich Spa to help pay off a debt. Working with an accomplice, Peter Loveridge used a pair of rubber gloves and bolt cutters to break into a stable block in Doverdale Lane, Hampton Lovett.
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Man went off the rails 'because of drugs'
A MAN with a good job came off the rails after dabbling with drugs, a court heard. Daniel Weir lost his house and job and fell in with old acquaintances who used drugs, Droitwich magistrates were told on Thursday. The 27-year-old admitted stealing two
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Weather hits County again
WORCESTERSHIRE finally had to admit defeat when the opening day of their County Championship Division Two match against Sussex at New Road was washed out today without a ball being bowled. For frustrated County officials and players it was a bitterly
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Helicopter called in
FIVE police cars and a helicopter were deployed on Monday lunchtime to track down a driver after a road crash. Police were called to a two-car smash, in Bromsgrove Road, near the Chateau Impney Hotel, at 11.45am. A driver was arrested at 12.30pm. A man
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Hall needs makeover
A TOWN community hall could be spruced up if funds are secured. Droitwich Spa Town Council wants to give the Heritage Way hall a makeover. A working party has been formed to assess what repairs are needed. At a meeting on Monday, councillors agreed to
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Johnson leading Lions to Australia
England rugby union captain Martin Johnson will make Lions history this summer when he leads a 37-strong squad to Australia. Johnson, at the helm in South Africa four years ago, becomes the first player to lead successive trips. He takes charge of a squad
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Green scheme gets go-ahead
LAMPPOSTS lighting a busy Droitwich road will be spruced up. Thirty lampposts in The Holloway will be transformed from drab grey to forest green. The work, funded by Worcestershire County Council, follows ardent campaigning from the authority's social
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Work to be done before win is secured
The John Barton column GOING into tomorrow's second leg of the Dr Martens League Cup final at Crawley Town with a 4-0 advantage is beyond our expectations. We said before last week's first leg that we would have liked to take a lead into the return game
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Help needed in battle to beat crime
RESIDENTS who want Droitwich Spa to be a safer place are being urged to support plans to draw up an audit of crime and disorder in the town. Wychavon District Council's new community safety officer, Alan Paul, wants to hear from Spa groups, agencies or
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Redditch push Spa right to the wire Redditch First XV 17 Droitwich First XV 18 Midlands Four West (S
SPA played down the slope in the first half and were immediately awarded a penalty which they ran through forwards Ashley Perry and Nick Godfrey. This saw them make ground, to be awarded another penalty. This time Matthew Blackmore converted to give Droitwich
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25/4/01 - Weather hits County again
WORCESTERSHIRE finally had to admit defeat when the opening day of their County Championship Division Two match against Sussex at New Road was washed out today without a ball being bowled. For frustrated County officials and players it was a bitterly
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A tragedy of epic proportions
'The innocent are slaughtered. The sun shines on.' Just one insight into the British premiere of a new translation by John Harrison of the timeless Greek tragedy Medea hitting the stage at the Palace Theatre on Tuesday, May 1. The story is that of a woman
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Astwood all-clear for cricketers
ASTWOOD Bank have been given the all-clear to compete in the Worcestershire Clubs League Division Two this season. There were fears the club would be banned from competing after two cases of foot and mouth were diagnosed near the village but officials
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Miller misses opener
STUDLEY will have to manage without the services of overseas quickie Brandon Miller when they open their Birmingham Senior Two Eastern campaign at Water Orton on Saturday (1pm start). The South African pace ace does not jet into the country until next
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Alex cash spend could hit £7.5m
MORE than £7.5 million could be spent on improving and providing new facilities at the Alexandra Hospital, it has been announced. The news comes after hospital chiefs revealed a staggering £2.75 million had already been spent on upgrading the hospital
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Jabs reduce mortality rate
A HIGH uptake of flu jabs led to a fall in the winter mortality rate among the elderly last winter. In Redditch, 68 per cent of those at greatest risk were immunised, three per cent higher than Government recommendations. Overall, the death rate for elderly
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Hunt on for more carers
THE British Red Cross is on the look out for more volunteers to join the Home from Hospital service. The scheme is to start in Redditch on Monday and will provide help to newly-discharged patients from the Alexandra Hospital. The success of the scheme
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Firm wins Skoot cycle contract
A BROMSGROVE firm is contributing to an innovative new mode of transport for trendy cyclists. Bayer's ABS plastic Lustran is being used to create mudguards and casing for the new Skoot cycle. The bike folds into a travel case and can be carried or pulled
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In the swim with Oktopus
A CONSTRUCTION and cold store firm, based in Droitwich Spa, has three new senior managers. Dedicated Sales and Services, in North Street, has recruited staff to provide technical and sales support for its Oktopus panel lifting machinery and other product
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25/4/01 - Barton boosted by duo's return
WORCESTER City could be boosted by the return of two players for tomorrow's second leg of the Dr Martens Cup final at Crawley Town. Winger Ian Reed, who has been sidelined by a knee injury, and defender Andy Bradley (back) should both play in tonight's
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Biking ace uses Legs
A REDDITCH-based superbikes team are heading for the top in their first full season of competition. Former trials biker Dave Worthington has launched Team Legs Eleven and is reaping the rewards of one of the highest-profile sponsorship deals on the circuit
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Hart-y display from bowlers
WHITE Hart got off to a flying start in the Wednesday Alliance Division 1 with a healthy home win by 27 shots against Bournville Sports. Although it was four wins each at the end of the night, Marg Robinson with a 21-4 against Tom Lawley, got Hart off
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Slow start for Alcester
ALCESTER had a disappointing start to the Heart of England League, losing home and away to Raven. In the away leg Raven made home green advantage tell with five wins from eight. Alcester got off to a disastrous start with a 5-21 card, and never looked
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Kings of the table
TABLE tennis ace Daniel Sheridan beat Andrew Seymour in the final of the Bromsgrove, Redditch and District Table Tennis Association Novice Youth Championships. And the two finalists, who fought out the title at Droitwich Leisure Centre, have the chance
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Wythall by a whisker
WYTHALL ensured their Division 2 survival in the WICA Stratford and District Mens Winter Tennis League with a 3-1 victory over relegated Aston Cantlow. Studley Sports B lost 0-4 to Henley leaving FISSC needing a point against a weakened Pershore. But
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Teacher tops class
SIX pupils from Walkwood Middle School, along with PE teacher Michelle Kimberley, competed in the British Schools Biathlon finals at Rugby. In appalling weather conditions pupils had to complete an 800m run and 50m swim. Michelle Kimberley entered the
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Skippers on their travels
STUDLEY Blue and White Rope Skippers are enjoying an active start to the summer season with a sapping European schedule. Laura Summers came second at the Danish Open Masters (individual) at the weekend. Beci Dale took bronze with Rachael Dale and Kim
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Stefan sixth in practice
HEADLESS Cross Formula Ford driver Stefan Hodgetts was testing at Donington yesterday (Tuesday) in readiness for his return to action at the weekend. Hodgetts, lead driver for Heathrow-based Sweeney Hopper Racing, wants to give his Zetec Championship
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KEEP THIS MONSTER CAGED
A CATSHILL couple are asking Advertiser/Messenger readers to back their plea to Tony Blair to keep the paedophile who murdered their son behind bars. Sue and Tony Edmonston are distraught after learning the killer is due to go before a special panel which
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Mum's fight to care for Karis
A BATTLING Bromsgrove mum claims social services bosses are using "bully boy tactics" to force her to cope alone after she received "paper threats" to take her daughter away from her. Karen Lane, whose ten-year-old daughter Karis has cerebral palsy and
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School has lab
PUPILS at Ridgeway Middle School will enjoy the benefits of a brand new science block this term. The block, which will be officially opened by Redditch MP Jacqui Smith, has radically improved science facilities at the school and will allow more effective
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Thank you
MAY I through your You Say page thank the person who handed my shopping bag and handbag into the staff of Mothercare on Friday, April 13. I suffered pure panic when I realised it was missing, but pure thankfulness that honest people do still exist. MRS
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We have a lot to learn on slaughter
BRITISH methods of combating the foot-and-mouth outbreak seem to be primitive, crude, brutal and not very effective. The sight on TV screens of some inefficient slaughterman, with a firearm, chasing a wounded sheep round a field before wrestling it to
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Brown has left us a half-empty cup
IN reply to Andrew Watson's glorification of Gordon Brown's success as Chancellor, I would say this wise Chancellor has sold our gold and bought euros, thus making our cup half empty and not half full. Are we also to acknowledge, due to Government spending
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I am annoyed
AM I getting old? Neighbours' barking dogs annoy me, neighbours' noisy cars annoy me, neighbours driving too fast annoy me, TV adverts annoy me, teenagers annoy me, food packaging annoys me, the Government annoys me, footballers annoy me, TV replays annoy
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Use of Third World is unfair
IN answer to S Johnson's letter of Tuesday, April 10, I think we have to agree to disagree on the pros - and - cons of socialism. As a socialist, I neither claim nor feel intellectually superior but I can assure him that I am not about to turn my back
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Too much pressure too young?
IT'S that time of year again when students get their heads in their books ready for the annual exams. Thousands of 15 to 18-year-olds are already getting in a sweat over their GCSEs and A-levels. Their future education can depend on whether they gain
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Teachers deserve reward for overtime
IT'S not enough for children to attend lessons in school these days. There are a variety of after-school activities as well. Pupils take part in sports lessons as well as other extra-curricular activities, from art to cookery. They can be a godsend to
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Thieves target artwork
A TALENTED pensioner has been left devastated after three of her specialist works of art were stolen. Nancy Young, of Wythall, had spent 98 hours creating one of the three-dimensional decoupage pieces which were for sale and on display in Becketts Restaurant
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Vandals spoil showcase seat
MORE than £400 has had to be forked out to repair benches which were smashed up by thoughtless vandals in Studley's showpiece Millennium Green. The three benches, which together cost more than £1,000, have now become two benches after one was used to
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Read all the latest junior rugby reports here
DROITWICH U7s 30 Walsall U7s 15. Jack Sealey and Henry Whitfield played their first game and were quickly involved in a defensive role. Andrew Bishop collected a loose ball and some fine passing by Matt Wilkinson and Tom Ryder sent Josh Skinner over to
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OAPs are penalised for working hard
JUST a few points about the high increases to our parents' cost for the pleasure of occupying a warden controlled flat in Bromsgrove. Why has the cost of sheltered housing gone up so drastically? The answer would appear to be that Bromsgrove District
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Church chase final double
ALVECHURCH manager Mick Preece, without seven players for last night's planned Challenge Cup semi final, had an unwelcome reprieve when the match was postponed. The Lye Meadow pitch once again fell victim to the wet weather as Preece prepared to take
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Reds are safe
LEAGUE officials have confirmed there will be no relegation from the West Midlands Womens Football League this season. The announcement means lowly Redditch United Women will avoid the drop and manager Steve Tayler was left relieved after a shocking display
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Washout!
Mopping up... Worcestershire CCC groundsman Roy McLaren has his work cut out trying to dry out the waterlogged New Road ground.
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Shooting charge youth remanded
A TEENAGER accused of a shooting in Barnt Green that left two people injured has been remanded in custody for a further two months. James Robert Matthews, of Aqueduct Lane, appeared before Worcester Crown Court for a preliminary hearing yesterday. The
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100 years ago
April 27, 1901 THE weekly meeting of Astwood Bank Poultry Society on Monday night commenced with the usual business. After this, Mr Geo. Huxley, the vice-president, exhibited a model of a folding coop and run which was very much admired by all of those
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50 years ago
April 28, 1951 THE centenary of the opening of Studley Church of England School on April 23, 1851, was marked by a special service held on Monday conducted by the Bishop of Coventry, Dr Neville Gorton. Other clergy present included Canon PG Kemp, vicar
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Tax bills to arrive -- a month late
ONE thousand householders in Bromsgrove can expect to receive their belated council tax bills in a few days, more than a month after the rest of the district had theirs. In March, instead of their new bills, Bromsgrove District Council sent Lickey End
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Angry OAPs urge council to quit
DESPERATE tenants are calling for Bromsgrove District Council "to go quietly" after experts failed to convince them the extra service charges they face are justified. Yesterday saw the last of a series of visits by the authority's officers to sheltered
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Filling station till snatch
POLICE are hunting two men who snatched £80 from a till in the shop at the Forest Service Station, in Birmingham Road, Lickey End. The par ran off in the direction of Bromsgrove's ambulance station, in Barnsley Hall Drive, where it is thought a car was
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Firm director disqualified
A STOKE Prior man has been disqualified from acting as a company director after the metal fabricating firm he ran folded with debts of more than £1.7m. Christopher Boden, from Causeway Meadows, took a legal pledge on Friday April 20 not to act as a company
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Broom WI
THE venue was back to the hall after the water problem had been fixed. A date in June was fixed for a celebration strawberry tea for the institute's 70th birthday. Broom WI started in January 1931 in an old corrugated shed belonging to Francis Adkins,
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Question mark over councillor
A QUESTION mark hangs over the political future of a member of Bromsgrove District Council who has not attended meetings for several months. According to Labour sources, Cllr Len Boden, one of three Tory councillors for the Catshill ward, has told villagers
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Crime spree in car parks
SIX vehicles were targeted on a hotel car park when raiders went on a district-wide thieving spree at the weekend. Police, who are appealing for witnesses to the incidents, said locations varied but pubs and hotels seem to have been especially singled
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Redditch Music Society
THE young British pianist Yuri Paterson-Olenich's playing has been variously described by leading critics as 'powerfully expressive,' 'astonishingly assured' and 'having poetic dreaminess.' All these qualities and more were clearly evident in an outstanding
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MP defends voting record in Commons
THE Conservative MP for Bromsgrove has defended her claims that women must adapt to Parliament, after new figures showed her attendance rate was one of the worst in the House of Commons. Figures from the Commons' library show Julie Kirkbride has attended
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Redditch Speakers Club
A TEAM from the club recently took part in the Solihull Trophy. Team members were Pam Nicholls, Hazel Bradley, Ron Sutton and Pat Langley. Titles for the speeches were Brawn, Brains and Beauty. Pam Nicholls was chairman for the evening and gave brief
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Housing investigation
AN inquisitive Labour leader has called for an investigation into Bromsgrove District Council's housing budget as stock continues to dwindle but administration costs rise. At a meeting last Wednesday, Cllr Peter McDonald (Uffdown and Waseley) asked members
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Solihull & District Orchid Society
THE annual show took place on April 14 and there were some outstanding displays by visiting societies, including some rare and unusual plants. The winners were: The Society Cup for the most points in show went to Malcolm Moodie, who also won the Durrant
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April 27, 1901
"SALT King" John Corbett, one of Worcestershire's most worthy sons and a captain of British industry, died at his home at Impney, Droitwich Spa, on Monday, aged 84. 100 years ago April 27, 1901 "SALT King" John Corbett, one of Worcestershire's most worthy
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Drive on litter has its limits
FUNDING a ''Rolls-Royce'' litter picking service is not possible with Bromsgrove's current level of taxes, council bosses have admitted. But they are appealing to the public to help in initiatives to make streets cleaner, put a stop to littering and illegal
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Man knifes lover after ten pints
A JOBLESS Bromsgrove man living with two girlfriends knifed one of them in the leg after a drinking binge, Worcester Crown Court heard on Monday. Jonathan Brookes, who had downed ten pints of lager on top of anti-depressant tablets, waved a kitchen blade
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OAP death rate falls
FLU vaccines saved the lives of pensioners this winter with the death rate of elderly folk falling, say health bosses covering Bromsgrove. In Worcestershire, 70 per cent of those at risk from the effects of flu were immunised this year -- a higher rate
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Hospitals clean up act
HOSPITALS serving Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa have been given a clean bill of health by a Government inspection. Both the Alexandra Hospital, in Redditch, and Worcester Royal Infirmary's Castle Street site were rated as acceptable in terms of cleanliness
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Parade breaks with tradition
POLICE guidelines for ensuring safety in parades and public events have hit another time-honoured Bromsgrove tradition. The St George's Day parade of the Bromsgrove District Scouts Association has taken place for more than 60 years with a procession through
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Father-to-be dies after car smash
THE funeral of a soldier and father-to-be from Rednal who died in a car crash this month was due to be held yesterday. Relatives from all over the country and fellow soldiers are expected to attend the military service for Private Ross McComb at St Chad's
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Court case sparks angry questions
ANGRY Tories in Bromsgrove have asked the deputy Prime Minister for guidance over Labour councillor Peter McDonald's suitability for political office following his recent conviction for misusing confidential data held on council records. Cllr McDonald
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Visitors hail tourist spots
TOP tourist attractions in Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa have been given the thumbs up by a party of visitors from national coach tour operators. The three-day visit was organised by Worcestershire Tourism, which is a partnership between various local
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Centre served lottery grant
SUMMER holiday blues will be a distant thought for Rubery youngsters after a village leisure centre was served a massive lottery grant. The £4,234 from the National Lottery Awards for All will allow Rubery Leisure Centre to run a youth tennis coaching
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Society's music of the night
REDDITCH Choral Society will be pulling out all the stops on Saturday for a performance of music by two giants of the classical world. Mozart's Requiem and Vivaldi's Gloria will be the focus of what promises to be a night of spectacular music at St Stephen's
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The Iceman commeth...
ICEMAN, by Brenda Fowler. (Macmillan, £20) IN 1991 two German hikers stumbled on a frozen, intact body melting out of the remains of a glacier in the Alps. Iceman is the story of the scientific investigation studying the world's oldest naturally preserved
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MP's have their say!!!
MEN like rugby and women like chocolate, right? Not according to MPs Julie Kirkbride and Paul Keetch. A trawl through the list of Early Day Motions the rival MPs have signed has revealed quite the opposite. Tory MP Ms Kirkbride has shown herself to be
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Brief encounter with PM
PETER Luff could be heading for the record books for receiving the shortest ever answer to a written Parliamentary question. Prime Minister Tony Blair managed just seven words in reply to one inquiry by the Tory MP. In his second response, Mr Blair did
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Farmer's waiting game
THE deadlock between Tibberton farmer Rob Chilman and the Ministry of Agriculture over the slaughter of his pedigree herd continued today. MAFF confirmed earlier this week it was taking legal action to allow it to slaughter Mr Chilman's herd of 140 Holstein
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No risk of slaughtermen carrying virus home
A WORCESTERSHIRE huntsman drafted in to help with the slaughter of animals in Cumbria has told of the lengths his team goes to in order to kill off the foot-and-mouth virus. Chris Burrows-Wood's revelation came as test results were being awaited to confirm
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Funeral pyre sparks concern
MID-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff has demanded answers from the Ministry of Agriculture over fears that Himbleton may be turning into a funeral pyre for the whole county. A pyre was built on the site of the Saldons Farm outbreak and was supposed to be
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Disabled workers 'add no extra cost'
MORE than half of all small firms in the region that employ disabled people say it costs their business nothing because of a flexible approach to work, a new report claims. The Disability Rights Commission survey revealed 51 per cent of small companies
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Beer festival launched at pub
DRINKERS will be toasting their European neighbours in large measures when a beer festival is launched at a Worcester pub. Cask-conditioned beers from the Czech Republic, Germany and southern Ireland will be on tap at the Postal Order in Foregate Street
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Internet success for slug-buster
THE Japanese will be swapping sushi for slug-busters thanks to a Kidderminster pensioner's business launched on the worldwide web. Inge Beaumont, managing director of Westfield Products, has been asked to supply 32,000 slug traps to Japanese gardeners
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Themed bar planned for cinema
MORE than two years of uncertainty is finally at an end after it was announced the former ABC Cinema will be transformed into a themed restaurant bar, writes Becky Procter. The Redditch Advertiser can exclusively reveal cinema bosses were due to clinch
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Survey shows more 'horror' on the buses
THE bus service in Redditch could end up being suspended following the results of a passenger survey. 'Horrifying' stories of assaults have been detailed as part of a survey for the county council, which subsidises the buses. A woman, who doesn't want
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Terror on the tracks
YOUNG vandals are wreaking havoc on Worcester's railway line by bombarding trains and risking death by playing on the tracks. Police say the problem is worst at the King George V playing fields in Brickfields, where children have been spotted dropping
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Exposure linked to attack on girl
AN indecent assault on a 13-year-old girl in Worcester's Meco Alley could be linked to other offences in the area, police have warned. The attacker pounced on his victim as she walked through St John's at 8.30am on Wednesday, April 4. Reports of a man
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Disasters led to drink-driving
A CATALOGUE of disasters led to a man crashing his car after trying to drink his troubles away, a court has been told. Rodney Stone had recently heard of his daughter's attempted suicide and the 48-year-old computer programmer's girlfriend had died suddenly
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Opening of £50,000 cycle and pedestrian path
CYCLISTS in Malvern have been invited to point their wheels towards the town's north-eastern fringes. Worcestershire County Council has opened a new £50,000 cycle path, which stretches for 400 yards. The combined cycle and pedestrian route runs alongside
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Police warn on arsonists
PARENTS of pupils at all Bewdley schools have been warned of the consequences vandals could face in the wake of a spate of arson attacks on schools. David Bailey, head of St Anne's First School, Wyre Hill, said the latest wheelie bin fire had damaged
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Dolphins clinch third spot in gala
IN the first of the Worcester Winter League galas, Droitwich Dolphins were drawn to swim against Oldbury, Bromsgrove and Triple X from Birmingham. This was a tough competition which produced many personal bests for Droitwich swimmers, even if they weren't
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Darren's F1 days
SIDEMOOR Formula One fan Darren Price was at an extremely cold Silverstone over the weekend. The 36-year-old watched the teams who were trying out the electronic aids which will come in for the next grand prix in Spain. It was a high profile test with
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DISMAY AS 600 STAFF FACE AXE AT FACTORY
NEARLY 600 workers at a Droitwich Spa factory face redundancy after a top client terminated a vital contract. Christian Salvesen's leading customer, Sainsbury's, plans to axe the Spa depot from its network. The Berry Hill Industrial Estate firm employs
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Disease puts paid to farmers' market
THE town's first farmers' market of the season has been cancelled because of the foot and mouth crisis. Rural traders planned to set up stalls in High Street on Saturday May 5 but Worcestershire Farmers' Market Group has pulled out. Members fear the risk
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Train station is an eyesore
WELCOME to Alvechurch. Can anyone be surprised if visitors to Alvechurch do not get off the train at our station? It resembles a Kosovan village after the troops have left - it's a disgrace. With this slovenly attitude, is it any wonder that the trains
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Options will hit residents
WARWICKSHIRE County Council is set to vote on May 22 on whether or not to recommend options 2 or 3a of the proposed Studley bypass. Anyone who attended the recent Redditch Town Hall meeting on April 11 about the bypass will be left in no doubt as to how
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We were first to campaign
AFTER reading the article "Rivals given green poser" (Advertiser, April 11), there is only one Green Party and Liberal Democrat prospective Parliamentary candidate Mike Ashall is not it. Or has he forgotten what party he is standing for? Where was Mr
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Feckenham homes back on the agenda
PLANS to develop 19 homes in Feckenham have been resubmitted to Redditch Council despite an original application being turned down. Chase Homes Ltd was recently refused an application to create 29 homes on land off High Street after a strong campaign
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Canines kept out of centre
DOG group representatives are outraged by their ban from Hopwood Community Centre and playing field, despite other organisations now being allowed to use them. The ban was imposed by Alvechurch Parish Council in light of the foot and mouth crisis and
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Resident meetings called off
THE next round of neighbourhood group meetings across the town has been scrapped as a result of the foot and mouth crisis. Redditch councillors made the decision to cancel the meetings last week because of the postponement of the county council elections
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Wrangle over for skate park
THE future of Redditch Skate Park has finally been secured after a year of problems and legal wrangles over its management, writes Becky Procter. A service agreement between Redditch Wheels Project, which runs the park, and Redditch Council has now been
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Custom ruined by disease fear
A VILLAGE tradition will be broken next month with the cancellation of the annual Beating the Bounds ceremony. Wythall parish councillors decided to abandon the walk along the village boundaries at the full council meeting on Thursday. Most boundaries
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Cash injection for social help
MORE than £100,000 could be spent on extending neighbourhood alliances across the town, writes Becky Procter. The move comes after the success of alliances which have been launched in Woodrow, Batchley, Smallwood and Church Hill. The alliances were set
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Axed meetings leave councillor in a fury
A REDDITCH councillor is fuming borough meetings have been postponed because of county elections. Conservative borough councillor Brandon Clayton slammed the decision to put back the borough's neighbourhood group and committee meetings despite the fact
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Homes in work dispute
ABBEYDALE residents are calling for the council to replace draughty windows after they claimed they were treated like 'second class citizens'. The housing management sub-committee was due to decide tonight if the 291 houses should be fitted with double-glazing
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Bromsgrove Rovers Football Club - factfile
Formed:1885 President: Charles W Poole Chairman: Keith MacMaster Vice-Chairman: Directors: Harvey Morrison, George Perry, Jack Sharkey, Pete Slater, Jack Stewart Football Secretary: Brian Hewings Manager: Brian Kenning Physiotherapist: Peter Taylor Commercial
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Captain takes club title
ALCESTER RFC captain Andy Flynn bagged a much-deserved Clubman of the Year award at the club's annual dinner. Flynn was nominated after guiding the first team to safety in a season which saw his rugby career ended by injury. Former British Lion and England
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Gallery opens - on the Net
AN innovative Internet virtual gallery is playing host to contemporary Bromsgrove artists. Newly-launched Virtuizmo supports artists by displaying their work. The website was set up by Bromsgrove entrepreneurs Jay Bridge, of Carlyle Road, and Dan Huband
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Team in a play for members
REGULARS from the Red Lion Pub in Hunt End are on the lookout for more members to join their growing petanque team. The five-man team meets up most Sundays at the pub and shows off its playing skills. The squad has been playing regularly for a year now
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Disease taking its toll on firm
THE future of a Redditch firm established 150 years ago could be in jeopardy if the foot and mouth crisis continues, writes Becky Proctor. Barretts of Feckenham, which sells camping, hiking and horse riding gear, has been hit severely and trade has dropped
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Go on Alberto, express yourself
ALBERTO GINASTERA: PIANO CONCERTOS NOS 1 AND 2 Dora De Marinis (piano) and the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. (Naxos, 8.555283) APPARENTLY Alberto Ginastera's two piano concertos, penned in 1962 and 1972 respectively, belong to his "neo-expressionist
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Serving up a feast of Irish fun
IRISH eyes will be smiling this week when Redditch Irish Society's annual cultural festival kicks off at the Kingfisher Centre on Saturday, writes Melina Cannon. The week-long festival, which always begins on the last Saturday in April, will be opened
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Winyates woes
WINYATES people are to have their say on how a troubled shopping centre can be brought up to scratch. Redditch Council, the Probation Service and police officers will be setting up shop in the Winyates Centre on Monday and Tuesday to listen to residents
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Morning blaze alert
Redditch firefighters were called to a fire at Dial Direct, at the old Windsor Road MEB buildings, Enfield, on Tuesday. The fire broke out in an air conditioning and extractor unit at about 6.15am and a thermal image camera was used by firemen.
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Building up to new look
SEEING really was believing when the Redditch Advertiser went 'behind the scenes' to look at building work in the Kingfisher Centre. Hidden away from shoppers, scores of workmen were busy transforming the centre as part of its £60 million revamp. Above
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Plea for help with schooling
MEMBERS of Redditch One World Link are asking for donations to help secondary school pupils in Mtwara. Many parents of these pupils are too poor to pay school fees while some youngsters have been orphaned, and face forfeiting the chance of secondary education
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All they want is a room somewhere
IT'S make or break time for a dedicated charity theatre group which will soon be homeless if help is not forthcoming, writes Julian Seva. The Break-a-Leg Theatre Company, which currently resides at St John Fisher First School, Church Hill, desperately
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Joy as plea for funds answered
A REDDITCH charity which supports victims of crime has notched up another success after appealing for sponsorship, writes Helen Clarke. In October, Redditch Victim Support put out a plea for both companies and members of the public to sponsor desperately
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Fairfield Villa (1) 5 Burntwood Town (0) 1 Midland Combination Division One
FAIRFIELD, playing their fourth game in seven days, ran out easy winners. The game started on a bumpy pitch and after 15 minutes Villa were awarded a penalty for handball. From the resulting spot kick, taken by Vinny Rattray, the Burntwood 'keeper pushed
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Vic raid the Castle to stay in second division title hunt
Bromsgrove Advertiser/Messenger District Football League THE Division Two title race is boiling up nicely, with plenty of points to play for in the promotion battle. Victoria Barnt Green stayed in the hunt for the title with a crucial 4-3 victory over
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Success prescribed
REDDITCH pharmacist John Turner ran up an impressive £1,600 for the Prostate Cancer Charity when he completed the London Marathon on Sunday. Mr Turner, who works at Carrington and Turner Chemists in Church Green West, was featured in the Redditch Advertiser
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Red Lion quiz
DROITWICH Red Lion FC will be holding a quiz at the Red Lion pub on Sunday April 29, 8pm start. Teams of four to six people are invited to turn up at a charge of £1 per person and be entertained by compere Sir Keith Oswell. Proceeds of the quiz will go
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Sunday squander lead
Garringtons Sunday (2) 3 South Redditch (0) 3 GARRINGTONS, although struggling to field a side, started in great style, playing some good football. They took advantage of their superiority after 21 mimutes when Luke Change won the ball and hit a tremendous
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Blaze forces closure
A PUB restaurant near Droitwich Spa has been forced to close for six weeks following a dramatic kitchen fire. Diners fled from The Swan, at Martin Hussingtree, when a blaze swept though the kitchen roof last Tuesday. A chef bravely attempted to extinguish
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Young stars 'jest' having a laugh
PINT-SIZE theatre lovers were asked to cast magical spells when they watched an enchanting show on Saturday. Excited families packed out the Norbury Theatre, in Friar Street, to see The Witch and The Jester. The musical is the latest Children's Theatre
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Drug addict jailed for grave theft from OAP
A THIEF who stole an 80-year-old widow's handbag while she was visiting her husband's grave in Droitwich on their wedding anniversary has been jailed for 15 months. Adam Harrison noticed the victim had failed to lock her car door when she parked outside
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Addict told to commit crime
A HEROIN addict from Droitwich was advised by police to commit crime if he wanted fast access to treatment for his drugs problem, a court was told. James Patterson, who appeared before town magistrates on Thursday April 19, for a number of theft offences
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MP halfway in voting figures
THE Spa's MP attended more than half of all votes held in Parliament in recent months. Peter Luff, who is a Conservative Party whip, took part in 66 per cent of the 155 votes at the House of Commons. The Mid-Worcestershire representative ranked 291 out
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Barton boosted by duo's return
WORCESTER City could be boosted by the return of two players for tomorrow's second leg of the Dr Martens Cup final at Crawley Town. Winger Ian Reed, who has been sidelined by a knee injury, and defender Andy Bradley (back) should both play in tonight's
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Molby fined for clash with official
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers boss Jan Molby has escaped a touchline ban after a Football Association hearing. A three-man panel at the Birmingham County FA headquarters yesterday warned the former Liverpool star over his future conduct and fined him £500. He
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Dead plant debate
WINTER weather has taken its toll on Cordyline plants but town councillors have granted a stay of execution for eight outside their civic building. The tropical looking plants feature in beds outside St Richard's House, in Victoria Square. At a Droitwich
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Payne shines in Evesham triumph
A welcome return to form saw Evesham United beat Rocester 4-1 in the Dr Martens League Western Division last night. Despite several regulars being rested ahead of tomorrow's first leg of the Worcestershire Senior Cup final at Moor Green, United proved
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Tough decisions
THERE will be some tough decisions ahead for Worcester City manager John Barton over the next couple of weeks. It's getting to the stage where he has to decide which players to keep and who to let go as he plots a title course for next season. But the
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Richards' bold Venture
NICKY Richards' decision to pull Venture To Fly out of a race at Ayr last Friday can reap its reward at Perth tomorrow. The fast ground at the west of Scotland track forced Richards into an 11th-hour rethink and the going at Perth is guaranteed to be
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Foursight's saga
THE Palace Theatre will welcome back Foursight Theatre on Tuesday following the company's previous production of Six Dead Queens and an Inflatable Henry. The Wolverhampton-based company will perform a new translation of Euripides' Medea, a play which
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What strange things lurk in the shadows?
THERE'S a recurring conversation among certain old codgers at the Evening News that always runs along the same lines. It usually starts like this. Sports editor Paul Ricketts will start whistling or attempting to, anyway a tune by an instrumental beat
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Outraged by animal slaughter
EVERY day on our TV screens and in our newspapers we are treated to yet more scenes of animals being slaughtered, buried or burned. For heaven's sake why? Foot and mouth disease is not fatal to pigs, cattle or sheep, nor is it contagious to humans. It's
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Cricket club's player worry
REDDITCH CC skipper Guy Muspratt has a number of selection headaches ahead of Saturday's league curtain-raiser at Shifnal. Wicketkeeper Alan Houghton has dropped a bombshell on the club by deciding to play golf this summer and reserve keeper Jeff Russell
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Ragley Park start season
ALCESTER and Ragley Park managed to play some cricket at the weekend before the heavens opened. The Cotswold League Division One side were 68 for 2 in a friendly against Kenilworth Wardens when rain stopped play. But the club has still had no decision
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Tommy guns the Greens' morale Callinan's head seals victory
Bromsgrove Rovers (0) 0 Gloucester City (0) 1 Dr Martens League Western Division GLOUCESTER City player-boss Tommy Callinan headed a 67th minute winner to hand Rovers another headache in their survival battle on Saturday. Callinan was left unmarked at
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Top rod Richards is egg-tra special on Easter Monday
Angling news with TONY BRUNN A VERY busy holiday week calendar started with the Woodland View Easter Monday Open and 62 die-hards must have sweetened the way with Easter eggs for wives and girlfriends. To be able to wet a line, winner Lee Richards (Fosters
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Justice for Saddam, the war criminal?
JUSTICE is a word which is invoked by all sides at time of war. Fighting a just war is a phrase which has echoed down the ages. But it was only with the end of the Second World War that the western nations began to formalise a code of judicial punishment
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Huge site now boasts 700 workers
THE group managing a business park in Rubery has clinched two more office lettings. AMEC has let the major office buildings at Parklands to Compass Group, a food service organisation. The total number of people working at the site, off the A38, is now
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Double delight
A COMPANY is celebrating a double success. Barton Firtop Engineering Company, of Stoke Prior, near Bromsgrove, has been awarded the Investors in People standard. Bosses have also scooped an export contract worth £236,000. The firm will make strainers
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Club/Society News
Test story, Club/Society news coverage begins on Thursday April 26th.
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4/4/01 - Evesham through to second round
EVESHAM United moved into the second round of the Worcester Royal Infirmary Cup following a 4-0 win against Malvern Town at Common Road last night. In a game played in a continual downpour, honours were even at half time, although the home side had just
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28/3/01 - Shepherd foils Evesham's hopes
A LATE goal from recent signing Mark Shepherd ensured that Worcester City and Evesham United will meet again to decide who goes through to the Worcestershire FA Senior Cup final after a 2-2 draw at Common Road last night. Shepherd struck with just eleven
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Salter helps out his club
REDDITCH came in third in the final round of the Worcester Winter League in a week which saw them reap the rewards of Olympian Jamie Salter's Sydney heroics. After achieveing a personal best in the 200m freestyle last summer, Salter won a Kellogg's Personal
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Ten mile tester
WARWICKSHIRE Road Club staged their fifth evening 10-mile time trial on the infamous K37 cycling course. Despite worsening weather conditions, a large field assembled at the start. Warwicks hopeful Ian Ingram was unfortunate to puncture on the way to
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Spring series starts
REDDITCH Sailing Club's officer of the day set a testing course under cold grey skies. Both handicap and pursuit races used the same course and at times strong flick winds caught out even the most experienced. Jackson and Dowkes, a new pairing, took the
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Golf success
REDDITCH golfer Jamie Pollard is on his way to the regional final of the Lombard Trophy after winning the Kingfisher club qualifying competition. Pollard, 35, a construction plant foreman, will join club professional David Stewart at Coventry on Monday
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25/4/01 - Tough decisions
THERE will be some tough decisions ahead for Worcester City manager John Barton over the next couple of weeks. It's getting to the stage where he has to decide which players to keep and who to let go as he plots a title course for next season. But the
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Turn off the show
JOHN Phillpott writes (Evening News Tuesday, April 17) "I loathe EastEnders - each episode is a series of variations of the same argument..." If he loathes the programme so much, why on earth does he keep on watching it? Has he no books? GEORGE COWLEY
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Nothing but high praise for doctor
REGARDING the article on Dr Mould's retirement - unfortunately I was unable to attend due to minor health problems, and I have also had to pull out of the London Marathon. Dr Mould was a fantastic hard-working consultant, who without any doubt in my mind
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We must leave this expensive EU club
STEPHEN Clee (You Say, Tuesday, April 17) is quite right when he says that Tony Blair and his Government have been playing down the significance of the recent Nice Treaty. This treaty - yet to be ratified - has laid further foundation for the formation
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25/4/01 - Work to be done before win is secured
GOING into tomorrow's second leg of the Dr Martens League Cup final at Crawley Town with a 4-0 advantage is beyond our expectations. We said before last week's first leg that we would have liked to take a lead into the return game, and the tie wouldn't
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Glory for town lads in top tournament
ON the back of excellent league performances, Broms-grove Town Boys under-8's won the Sports Tours South West England International five-a-side trophy. The three day tournament in Torquay, Devon from April 14-16 attracted teams from thoughout the country
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Goods taken
THIEVES took more than £500 worth of items, including a Sony Playstation, from a home in Aldington Close, Lodge Park, between 2-10pm last Tuesday.
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Appeal on fire attack
A POLICE investigation is under way after two flammable 'devices' were thrown into the back garden of elderly Alvechurch residents on Monday. Firefighters were called to the Tanyard Lane home at about 6.45pm and a fire investigation team was also called
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Two cars in fire attack
ARSONISTS burnt out two cars in a secure yard over the Easter holiday causing £32,000 worth of damage. The Volkswagen Boras were set alight between 5pm on April 13 and 10pm on April 16 at Kisters Ltd in North Moons Moat. Both of the cars, worth £16,000
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Court date for shotgun case
AN Alvechurch man was due to appear at Crown Court yesterday charged with a firearms incident in Hewell Road, Barnt Green. James Robert Matthews, 19, of Aqueduct Lane, is charged with grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm and possession of a sawn-off
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Is this a sick joke?
LET us explore the antics of Bromsgrove District Council to discover what exactly it is trying to do. It proposes to bring in a rent increase of ten per cent in 2002 and a further increase in 2003, this could make it 42 per cent over four years. Is this
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Lesson from history
EVERY time I see the ritual of disinfecting vehicles and plunging wellingtons in buckets of disinfectant, I am reminded of the situation 50 years ago. We were then witnessing the decimation of our rabbit population by myxomatosis, a viral disease of tumour
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Unbalanced view
CLLR Nick Psirides has called into question figures quoted by Trevor Porter in a recent letter. He added that he has been informed by an officer at Bromsgrove District Council that the balances of reserves were reduced to £2.3m while the Labour Party
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Age limit concern
ALTHOUGH it would be a good idea to have a skatepark built at the adventure playground site in Droitwich, it will totally go against what it is needed for. A site is required that will be open seven days a week until at least 10pm to stop people hanging
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Handy strike boosts BKL
STUDLEY took a major step towards the Midland Combination title with a hard-earned 1-0 win over leaders Nuneaton Griffs. The Bees had seen Nuneaton overhaul them at the top with a 1-0 win over Feckenham last week but cometh the hour, cometh the team,
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Borough at the Valley
SOLIHULL Borough are set to return to the Valley tomorrow night (Thursday). Borough are continuing to catch up on their fixture backlog with a home game against Tiverton (ko 7.45pm). The club was set to return to their flood hit Damson Park home on Monday
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Lawless is planning for next season
KINGS Heath manager Sean Lawless is already planning for next season after admitting the Birmingham Senior Cup is all he has left this year. The much-postponed fixture against West Brom was again called off last week after a pitch inspection at the eleventh
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Player-boss is supersub
FECKENHAM manager Clive Campion said Saturday's late win over lowly Handrahan Timbers had restored pride after a poor run. "We played very well against Nuneaton Griffs but lost 1-0 so I was glad we got something out of it on Saturday," said the player-manager
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Cross admit defeat in promotion push
HEADLESS Cross Ladies manager Rob Auld says his side's promotion push is over after a 5-0 defeat to Villa Veterans. The Abbey Stadium side lost heavily in their promotion six-pointer and look unlikely to finish in the top three, with only the top two
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TOWN THUNDER INTO CUP FINAL
Old Halesonians Firsts 16 Bromsgrove Firsts 32 North Midlands Cup semi-final BROMSGROVE Rugby Club cruised into the final of the North Midlands Cup with a great victory over Old Halesonians at Wassell Grove on Sunday. What was perceived to be a tricky
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Bogus ID man frisks teenager
A MAN who claimed to be a plain clothes detective searched a 13-year-old boy at a Bromsgrove supermarket. The man produced what appeared to be a warrant card at Asda, in Market Street, told staff he was a detective sergeant and said he believed the lad
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Thief steals bag
A BLACK handbag containing a mobile phone, wallet and other personal items was stolen from a car parked outside Broadway Modern in High Street, Broadway, between 12noon and 12.10pm on Tuesday. CCTV evidence suggests that the thief was a white man who
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Luxury flats plan welcomed
A LEADING Labour councillor has welcomed moves to demolish an ''eyesore'' at the entrance to Rubery and build 36 luxury flats there but he is worried about nosy neighbours. Bromsgrove district councillor Peter McDonald (Uffdown and Waseley) has been campaigning
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Race row: MP will not sign pledge
BROMSGROVE MP Julie Kirkbride declared this week she will not be gagged in the forthcoming General Election campaign by refusing to sign a pledge calling on race not to become an issue. Miss Kirkbride said she objected to being "blackmailed" by pressure
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25 years ago
April 23, 1976 REDDITCH cemetery has been condemned as a "ruddy disgrace" by a local councillor. "There are mounds of earth, wheelbarrows and workmen's shovels every where. I found it disgusting," Councillor Bill Lock said. The attack came at a meeting
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Rats problem in village park
A CLEAN-UP around Cofton Park has been ordered by Bromsgrove District Council after residents complained that rats were being attracted. Cofton Hackett Parish Council received several complaints after residents saw the vermin attracted by rubbish around
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Sewer works
THIS week Memory Lane digs up a picture from 1949, loaned by Arthur Newbould, of Feckenham, who used to own excavation company Newbould Plant with his brother Ted. The photograph shows sewer works in progress near the bottom of Unicorn Hill. At that time
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The cricket season's here
THE 2000 season for Bromsgrove Cricket Club finished with mixed results -- the third team were promoted, the seconds demoted and the first team scrambled to keep their division one status in the Birmingham and District Premier League. So on the eve of
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£500,000 facelift
A MAIN road in Bromsgrove is to get a £500,000 facelift to make it smoother and safer for motorists. Work will begin on improving the A448 to Redditch at the Caspidge Bridge over Pike's Pool Lane on Monday April 30. The road surface, damaged concrete
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Cookhill WI
April should have been another busy month for members but due to the foot and mouth outbreak, many events have been cancelled. One successful event was the car boot table and therefore another table will be taken at the May car boot sale. The speaker
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Ladies Probus Club of Alcester
AFTER the visitors' lunch at Kings Court Hotel on April 11, president Enid Phillips introduced speaker Nigel Perrin with his talk entitled If music be the food of love, sing on. Mr Perrin, from Somerset, teaches music at Wells Cathedral School. From an
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Lecture enthralls audience
FEW who saw the dramatic TV pictures of the fire which destroyed much of Windsor Castle in 1992 could have failed to have been saddened at the loss at a stroke of so much of the nation's history and heritage. The story behind its painstaking renovation
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Threw glass as row broke out
A heavy drinker who threw a glass in a pub injuring a customer has been put on probation for 18 months. An argument blew up between 31-year-old Veronica Swift and Neil Shingler in the Queen's Head, in High Street, Bromsgrove. She picked up two glasses
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St Leonard's Mothers' Union
ENTERING the candlelit church on March 26, peaceful music met the participants as The Quiet Evening, led by the Rev David Rogers, unfolded to the theme The Christ We Share. Images from around the world were used as illustration. Some were disturbing but
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Cops blow whistle on uniforms
POLICE officers are set to get a new look when the force which covers Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa blows the whistle on the traditional uniform. Newly-recruited police officers joining West Mercia Constabulary are no longer being allocated with the traditional
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Studley Lunchtime WI
THE president welcomed members to the April meeting. Margaret Kerr gave an interesting report of the spring council meeting. During a break for refreshments a bring-and-buy sale was held. Due to a change of circumstances, the original speaker was unable
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It's a ton-derful life for Lizzie
TAKING things as they come and not worrying about anything is the secret of success for sprightly 100-year-old Bromsgrove woman Lizzie Smith. The Gilbert Court resident, who still does all her own cooking and cleaning, celebrated her centenary this month
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Wythall WI
President Sheila O'Shaughnessy welcomed members to the April meeting, which was well attended despite pouring rain and 'Who shot Phil Mitchell?' on television. She announced that the Primrose Hospice Choir evening was a great success and raised £1,150
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Fan club is never lonesome tonight
THERE'S not a quiff in sight when the Bromsgrove branch of the Elvis Presley Fan Club gets together. Instead of mimicking the King, the group, which meets every two months, describes itself as a "pledging our love" fan club. Members celebrate Elvis's
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Players prove to have comic timing
ROWNEY Green Players' spring production looks set to be a stormer - not to mention a timely piece of work with the General Election in the offing. The Players will be presenting Ray Cooney's Out of Order tomorrow, Friday and Saturday at the Rowney Green
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Preview: Cheltenham v Kidderminster
After Harriers 3-0 demolition of Plymouth last Saturday, hopes are high that they might record a result at play-off hopefuls Cheltenham. Drewe Broughton returns from suspension inplace of Andy Ducros who is dropped to the bench. Drewe Broughton Tony Bird
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Band hopes for big time song success
REDDITCH rock band Season have released their debut single this week with the creatively titled song Cracked and Sore. Town singer Matt Malone, from Batchley, recorded the single with band members at Redditch's Smallwood Studios last month. The group
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Witless exercise
MY long-held belief that opinion polls are a waste of time has been confirmed by a MORI study that has come my way. Those who took part placed more faith in Government Ministers than in politicians generally. Only 18 per cent of people interviewed thought
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Oh Danny, what a boy
DANNY BOY, Jo-Ann Goodwin (Bantam Books) DANNY Boy is a surreal novel punctured with foul language, catchy slang, guardian angels, lots of Class A narcotics, suicide and spirituality it's compelling. From start to finish the drug-fuelled exploits of Danny
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Park-and-ride: Bath sounds a timely warning
WORCESTER'S new northern park-and-ride may have opened but what's the next step? In 1999 county councillor Margaret Wills used her casting vote to approve the controversial Perdiswell scheme. The next day she told the Evening News that Worcester would
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Carcase it was and carcase it remains
I'VE been itching to write about this next issue for days, given that there was no Evening News on Bank Holiday Monday. Cast your mind back. The front page of our Thursday, April 12, edition reported that a cow's carcase had fallen off a lorry, sparking
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MP clashes with Ministers over burials
TORY MP Peter Luff today claimed carcases could be sent from as far away as Devon to be dumped at Throckmorton airfield. He said senior Ministry of Defence sources had confirmed slaughtered animals from Worcestershire had been taken to Devon for disposal
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Keeping it in the family
THE Ullenhall Players will be putting a spin on a classic farce when they appear in Ray Cooney's It Runs in the Family from May 2-5. The production follows last year's successful performance of Shut Your Eyes and Think of England. And it promises to be
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Ducks killed in attack
FOUR birds were discovered floating in Arrow Valley Lake after being shot dead with a pellet gun on Monday evening. Three mallard ducks and a goose were callously killed in the incident which is not the first of its kind at the Redditch beauty spot. Bosses
