Archive
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TOT LACERATED IN BOTTLE BLAST
A TWO-year-old girl could be scarred for life after a glass bottle toppled off a stacked display in a Worcester supermarket and exploded in her face. Ella Cashion needed six stitches in her cheek and two in her lip after being showered with glass when
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Pooling resources
Millions of pounds worth of improvements are poised to begin at two leisure centres in Worcester. Worcester Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre, in Sansome Walk, and Perdiswell Leisure Centre, in Bilford Road, will have £3m of work carried out in order to
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Yabadabadoo! Charity run sets standard
DINOSAURS are roaming the city's streets, but never fear - it's just the crazy cavemen antics of Worcestershire Trading Standards. Dressed as cartoon characters from the Flintstones, the team is having a real "yabadabadoo time", in its wacky charity challenge
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Speed-trap villagers help police
VILLAGERS in Herefordshire are helping police target speeders - by catching the culprits on camera themselves. Members of the public have been loaned specialist equipment, given police training and issued with signs and fluorescent jackets as part of
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New goal for rugby champion
AN EX-Worcester Warriors rugby star and crowd favourite is preparing to tackle a new challenge after opening a nursery school in the city. Jim Jenner, who played for Worcester for five years, decided to take the plunge after swapping a full-time contract
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Future mapped out for walkers
WORCESTERSHIRE residents will be able to view a new map of land that could be opened up to walkers by 2005 at a Countryside Agency Roadshow hitting the county. The draft map has been created from several surveys, aerial photographs and field visits and
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Extension would mean more places
TWELVE more places could be provided at a Worcester day nursery if an extension plan goes ahead. But the scheme is likely to be turned down by city planners because of a shortage of parking space on the Bilford Road site. The Wishing Well nursery currently
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WI shrugs off tea-dance image
FROM making the headlines to inspiring Hollywood films, Hallow WI celebrated its diamond anniversary in the knowledge that the institute has thrown off its fusty image. Fifty-five members of Hallow's WI - aged from 30 to 85 - met up for its 60th bash
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25 years ago
23 July, 1978 GKN Contractors Ltd of Redditch, in joint venture with Ross Poultry Ltd, has won a contract with the Republic of Iraq worth £21.5 million for the design, supply, construction and commissioning of three poultry slaughterhouses for the Ministry
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100 years ago
July 25, 1903 THE members of Headless Cross young ladies' sewing class connected with St Luke's Church had their outing on Saturday when they went to Worcester. The city was reached about two o'clock and shortly after, the party were taking a river trip
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Violinist
TOWNSFOLK have just two more opportunities to catch a free lunchtime concert at St John's Parish Church. Today, (Wednesday, July 23) violinist Cathy Moseley will be performing , from 1pm. Alastair Moseley will accompany her on the piano. The final Lunchtime
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Businesses in full bloom
BUSINESSES have been getting into the spirit of this year's Worcester in Bloom by displaying hanging baskets outside their shops. For the past month, the bright colours and fragrant smells of flowers have greeted shoppers around the city centre. David
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Pastor managed to escape by boat on River Severn
A TERRIFYING attack on worshippers by an angry mob is described in a new book about Upton-upon-Severn's Baptist Church, written by a former Upton minister. The siege by "High Church furies" armed with an axe and iron bar was among many attacks on Nonconformists
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Spicer call for faster work on Pershore hospital plans
WEST Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer has turned up the pressure on health bosses to give a new Pershore hospital the green light as soon as possible. Sir Michael has written to the chairman of South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, David Barlow
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Crash sparks witness plea
REDDITCH police are appealing for witnesses after an accident on Saturday. The collision happened at 6.10pm at the island linking the Warwick Highway with Icknield Street Drive and Battens Drive. A green VW Lupo was in collision with a Vauxhall Cavalier
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Woman hurt in bag grab
A WOMAN'S arm and hand were injured when her bag was snatched in Walkwood Road as she walked home from work at 10.15pm on Sunday, July 13. Her bag was ripped from her shoulder by a man who ran up from behind. The woman chased the thief for a short way
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23/07/03 - Pope made a mistake leaving us
GEORGE Rooney says Steve Pope made a mistake leaving Bromsgrove Rovers for Redditch United after the defender made a shock return to the club. Pope turned out for the last half hour of Rovers' 5-1 pre-season friendly against Walsall at the Victoria Ground
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Another sad day for four candles
IN most homes around our nation, it takes little to conjure memories of Ronnie Barker's Arkwright's store, or the ironmongers around which he had Ronnie Corbett limping in search of various purchases. The humour works because - like the best comedy -
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Merger to save Alex baby unit
AN option to close the Alexandra Hospital's special care baby unit (SCBU) because of recruitment problems has been quashed. Concerns were raised by health watchdogs after a proposal to close the unit and transfer the service to Worcester was put forward
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Nightmare for Burbidge
Speed king Andy Burbidge had a weekend to forget as he travelled to Snetterton for the latest round of the MRO Powerbikes Championship. The Winyates Green rider missed out on Saturday's warm-up races after suffering clutch trouble at the Norfolk circuit
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First victory
Dark Lane AC held its Courage Cup and 3rd aggregate match, on club waters at Alcester on the River Arrow. After two seconds in the first two contests, Alcester ace angler Simon Howell topped the weights with 19lb 1oz from a swim at the top of the meadow
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Snitch to stop the dog mess
CHURCH Hill residents have been told that if they want to keep the area free of litter and dog mess, they might have to snitch on those causing it. At a neighbourhood group meeting, Roger Thatcher, of the council's Environmental Health Team said that
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Reds gear up with quickfire matches
FOUR games in nine days will give Redditch United's players a tough test ahead of the new league season. And that's just fine for manager Rod Brown who plans for his players to hit the ground running when the season starts next month. United had pencilled
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Ushered in
NEW signing Ben Usher struck twice as Alvechurch began their pre-season with a win in the West Country. Manager Andy Hibbert took his Lye Meadow side to Somerset for the weekend and they responded by easing to a 4-0 victory over Screwfix Western Division
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The genius of Gershwin
GEORGE Gershwin's masterpiece Porgy and Bess continues its world tour with a performance at Birmingham's Symphony Hall on Friday. The show features the classic songs Summertime, I Got Plenty O'Nuttin and It Ain't Necessarily So. The cast is drawn from
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Millers land striker
Feckenham manager Lee Adams has pulled off a transfer coup by signing goalscorer Carl Fairhurst. The former County Sports marksman is one of three players from the defunct Worcester side to link up with the Millers, fellow striker Gary Beadling and Justin
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Crisp start has Bees manager buzzing
Old hands Mark Crisp and Kevin Rowlands were among the goals as Studley opened their pre-season campaign with an 8-1 thumping of Northfield Town. The Midland Combination visitors agreed to Sunday's Beehive clash after West Bromwich Albion pulled out of
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Pope off before kick off
DEFENDER Steve Pope has stunned his new Redditch United teammates by quitting the club before kicking a ball! The former Crewe Alexandra and Kidderminster Harriers favourite has opted to return to Dr Martens Western Division rivals Bromsgrove Rovers.
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Lovers in triple tale
SHAKESPEARE'S Cymbeline opens at Stratford's Swan Theatre on Wednesday. The play involves three connected stories - the resistance of a British king to Roman rule, the story of two lovers driven apart by a villain's lies and the kidnap of two young princes
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Fixtures
Saturday, July 26 CRICKET Birmingham & District Premier League First XI Premier Division - Shrewsbury v Barnt Green (1pm). First Division - Aston Unity v Bromsgrove (1pm). IBirmingham & District Premier League Second XI Premier Division - Barnt
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What's On Guide
Thursday, July 24 HMS Pinafore, Festival Theatre, Malvern. Until July 26. Tickets from 01684 892277. Richard III, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford. Various dates in July and August. Tickets from 0870 609 1110. Miss Saigon, Birmingham Hippodrome. Until
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Rogers the star as Spa seal win
MIKE Rogers was once again the bowling star as he took a match-winning 6-64 to help Droitwich Spa Cricket Club First XI win for the first time in four games with an excellent 52-run home success over Chaddesley Corbett. Steve Walsh's side, without a league
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Green have league leaders in sight
BARNT Green Cricket Club First XI piled on more pressure on the Birmingham and District premier division leaders with a resounding eight-wicket home victory against Coventry and North Warwickshire. Lyndon Jones' side, still third in the Birmingham and
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Himbleton off bottom
VETERAN Pete Rogers hit a magnificent 135 not out as Himbleton Cricket Club First XI moved off the bottom of Worcestershire County League division four with a ten-wicket victory at fellow strugglers Old Halesonians. Rogers hit nine sixes and nine fours
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Green win by nine wickets
CUTNALL Green Cricket Club made light work of Brintons in Worcestershire County League division five last Saturday, running out comfortable winners by nine wickets. Matthew Harris won the toss and elected to field, a decision verified when his side dismissed
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Town move clear as Spa stay fourth
BROMSGROVE Cricket Club Sunday First XI clawed themselves further away from the base of the Worcestershire Sunday League with a five-wicket defeat of Kidderminster. The St Godwald's Park side, now fifth bottom with 18 points, batted first and posted 235
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Sky Blues test for City striker
ALL eyes will be on new signing Leon Kelly when he makes his debut for Worcester City against Coventry City tonight. The 25-year-old is set to be the star attraction at St George's Lane for the visit of the First Division Sky Blues (kick off 7.45pm).
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Flyford Flavell in tour glory
FLYFORD Flavell Cricket Club got back to winning ways with an excellent tour of Bath. They started with a close match with Shoscoombe. Flyford batted first and began slowly until Paul Roe entered and smash-ed 46 from just 23 balls. Then a fine partnership
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Fixture gap
BARNT Green Spartak are looking for an opponent to fill a gap in their pre-season warm-up programme. Solihull Borough were due to play GJ Singh's side at their Alvechurch base on Wednesday, August 13, but have pulled out of the fixture. Anyone interested
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Waters booked
WATERS booked by the Birmingham Anglers' Association. Saturday, July 26. Avon - Avon Meadows, Marlcliff 'B'' Severn - Danery, Brook Section 1, 2, Hampton Loade 'B' 1, 2, 3, 4, Stanley 3, 4; Sunday, July 27. Avon - Avon Meadows, Barton 1, 2, Marlcliff
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23/07/03 - Home draw
BROMSGROVE RFC First XV have been drawn at home in the first round of the Powergen Intermediate Cup. The Finstall Park side will host Stoneygate of Midlands Three East (North) on Saturday, September 20.
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16/07/03 - Clark named new captain
DAVE Clark has been named as the new captain of Bromsgrove RFC First XV. Open side flanker Clark, aged 32, takes over from new head coach Dean Ball as skipper at Finstall Park. He said: "It's a great honour to be captain of Bromsgrove and I am chuffed
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50 years ago July 25, 1953
CLOSE on 200,000 gallons of water a day was overflowing from the new 600ft-deep 30-inch borehole which had been sunk at Wildmoor by the East Worcestershire Waterworks Company. It would be capped when work was complete. Together with another, also at Wildmoor
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100 years ago July 25, 1903
HENRY Duffill, a shoemaker from Perry Cottage, Bromsgrove, appeared at the Police Court on a bigamy charge. Magistrates heard how he had returned from the South African war and married his cousin Lizzie while still married to the former Emma Goddard,
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Facility should be there for all to enjoy
DEAR EDITOR -- Here we are in the middle of July and the hottest spell of the year so far, so I have sent you a photograph of Droitwich's famous lido taken this evening. What a disgrace. Now I know that you get lots of letters about the lido when the
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Can't afford house move
Dear Editor - I am writing with regard to your article, "Priced out of the market". It is not only the young people who are having problems buying property in the Bromsgrove area. I am disabled and have mobility problems; I need a bungalow badly, but
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Are you Cinderella?
A LICKEY End drama group is searching for someone to say 'it fits, it fits' in the annual pantomime. The Lickey Players group is auditioning next Wednesday (July 30) for its Christmas pantomime, Cinderella, Current members and new faces, are invited along
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Boycie and Marlene return
TAKE three couples and two dinner parties and you have the perfect recipe for disaster, cooked to perfection by the master of comedy, Alan Ayckbourn. John Challis and Sue Holderness, perhaps better known as Boycie and Marlene from BBC's highly popular
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What's on guide
Wednesday July 23 Show: Miss Saigon, Hippodrome Theatre, Hurst Street, Birmingham. Until September 6. Show: You Can't Keep a Good Story Down: mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, 8pm. Film: Nicolas Nickleby, Cinemac, mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, 8.30pm
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Artists' showcase
A TALENTED artist from Droitwich Spa has embarked on a four-week exhibition to showcase her work. Rebecca Peberdy, of Corbett Avenue, has worked around the clock to complete the collection on display at Droitwich Library. The 22-year-old, who spends some
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Long may it remain
GARY Webb tells us he is fed up with George Cowley's inane prattle (Evening News, Thursday, July 10). The simple answer to that is just smile and move on to other letters that stimulate your educated senses more. Remember that all of us, however restricted
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The Real CA should stick to poking fun at MPs
THE article and We Say comment regarding the Real Countryside Alliance (Evening News, Tuesday, July 15) raises a number of points. The RCA have their own agenda which has been limited, at worst, to poking fun at pompous MPs. I hope it will remain just
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Make them pay for this filthy habit
WOULD it not be healthier for everybody if the price of diesel was put up to about £3 a litre? Maybe if it was, the drivers of diesel-engined vehicles would find out how to turn the engines off. It's quite noticeable, when one visits places where buses
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Graduates! Finding a job is hard work
AFTER giving careers and higher education advice for more than 20 years, specifically to students, I read with interest Dan Kendrick's article (Evening News, Wednesday, July 9) on graduates finding work hard to find. Obviously, with so many more graduates
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Eagle lands new home
EAGLE, the new donkey at a popular town museum, was flying high when he posed with museum director Dr Simon Penn. Sam, the donkey who lived at the Avoncroft Museum of Historical Buildings at Stoke Heath, sadly died earlier this year and Eagle is his new
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Spa crook lives luxury lifestyle
A CROOKED Spa businessman, who swindled more than half a million pounds for personal gain, is living a luxury lifestyle on a paradise island. Andrew Nolan, formerly of Nightingale Close, off Tagwell Road, has been tracked down in sunny Cyprus. The boardroom
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The way we were
TOWNSFOLK were transported back to Tudor times at Bromsgrove's Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings. Displays depicting Tudor life and food showed visitors what it was like to live and work more than 500 years ago. Organisers also donned Tudor garb
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Crime up but so's detection
VIOLENT crime in Worcestershire is soaring, according to new national figures, published on Thursday. Statistics for the last year show rates of violent crime went up by 3,000, from 16,966 to 19,848 in the West Mercia Police Constabulary force area. However
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Trucker death a tragic accident
AN INQUEST has heard how an experienced trucker from Droitwich was killed in a tragic accident on the M5. Roy Burton, 65, of Dowles Croft, was killed when his vehicle collided with a cattle truck, letting 20 cows loose on the northbound carriageway between
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Rally hits Hanbury
VINTAGE motorcycles dating back to the beginning of the 20th century graced the roads of Hanbury last Saturday. Sixty-eight bikes from the Vintage Motorcycle Club, based in Burton-on-Trent, took part in their annual rally, this year a circular route from
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Carnival cash is yet to be counted
POUNDS are still rolling in from the carnival weekend and chief organiser Gordon Hughes said he has a 'gut feeling the event will break even.' Families flocked to the weekend of festivities more than two weeks ago after the Spa carnival was held for the
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New jukebox a talking point
HISTORY fanatics will have a new way to get their fix of days gone by with an innovative new project launched today (Wednesday). Instead of playing the latest pop tunes, the new jukebox at the history centre in Trinity Street, Worcester, will contain
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Hard hats on, please
VISITORS to Hanbury Hall can take part in activities based on building and architecture this week. Demonstrations by specialist builders, including brickmaker Tony Mugridge will take place at the historic mansion in School Road on Saturday, 26 and Sunday
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Residents hung - over canal boozer
By LISA HERITAGE A SPA councillor is calling for a full consultation with residents before plans are put in place to boost trade and tourism in Droitwich. Cllr John Cook (Droitwich West-Lab) welcomes Droitwich canal restoration project. But he feels building
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No let up for old Eds
It just goes from bad to worse for Five Ways Old Eds at the moment. The Masshouse side were on the receiving end of a nine-wicket drubbing at the weekend against an experienced Streetley side. And skipper Chris Jones must now lift his players ahead of
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Mental health care wins two star status
By LISA HERITAGE RESIDENTS in the Spa and surrounding district can be assured tip-top treatment after Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust were awarded two stars this week. Chief Executive, Sue Hunt was delighted the Trust had maintained
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Leaders next for Studley
Studley captain Brandon Miller says his side are ready to bounce back from a dismal week - by beating the league leaders! The Birmingham Road side were beaten in the final of the Birmingham Cricket League Challenge Cup and then slipped to defeat at Dorridge
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Sinead Quinn Ready to Run
GET ready to run to the shops because Fame Academy loser Sinead Quinn has released a cracking album. Although she didn't win, the very graceful runner-up of the hit BBC talent show has, to her credit, released a pop album which is worthy of a listen.
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A place in last eight for Bank
Astwood Bank's cricketers were celebrating after claiming a place in the quarter-finals of the National Knockout Cup. The Sambourne Lane side now meet Staffordshire's Draycott & Hanbury in the last eight as they try to reach a Lord's final for the
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The Darkness Permission to Land
It's an old adage that there are really only two types of music - they being the good or bad variety. So it doesn't take Mozart (widely acknowledged to know a thing or two about music) to realise that The Darkness fall, or rather plunge, headfirst into
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Lisa Marie Presley To Whom It May Concern
SO Lisa Marie has followed in her old man's footsteps by embarking on a career in music - a move which suggests she either knows something we don't about her capabilities or is desperate to achieve something other than being Elvis's offspring or Wacko
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Team wins area title
AN athletics team from Droitwich Spa has set itself out as the best after winning a district title. The eight-man team from Witton Middle School, in Old Coach Road, fought off competition from six other schools from the town, Bromsgrove and Alvechurch
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Future is bright for town trio
THREE Bromsgrove tennis players have reaped the success of months of hard work to win a county tennis tournament. Kate Forester, Katherine Smedley, Andrew Pugh, all from Bromsgrove, and Matthew Sharp of Redditch, represented Redditch's Abbey Stadium Tennis
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Fireman double
FIREMAN Warren King rode to victory in the Birmingham CC two-day stage race at Beoley, Redditch. King, from Bromsgrove and riding for Wyre Forest Cycle Racing Club, began the time trial last Saturday, managing seventh place and followed it with ninth
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Fun days are here
FUN days at Bromsgrove Tennis Club begin next week for the summer holiday. Youngsters aged over six-years-old can take part in tennis and other team activities at the St Godwald's Road club for three days from Tuesday, July 29. The Tuesday and Thursday
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Notching up a quarter century
THE headmaster of fee paying Bromsgrove School has spoken frankly about the challenges of being a headmaster for a quarter of a century. This month Tim Taylor celebrates 25 years as a headmaster. The changes he has seen, particularly in the structure
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As safe as houses? - think again
It's the dead of night and you're asleep upstairs. The car outside is locked, the doors and windows are locked and you should be safe in your beds. But downstairs, unseen and unheard, thieves could be at work, rifling through your personal belongings,
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Creature comforts - no, 'creepy crawlies' - yes
NO electricity or running water will become a way of life for a Rednal headteacher who is bound for Uganda this summer. And despite the inevitable presence of 'creepy crawlies', Di Slater, of Rednal Hill Infant School, could barely contain her excitement
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Grafton win
A brilliant display of swing bowling from Darren Morris guided Temple Grafton to a 73-run victory over neighbours Welford in their Cotswold Hills Division 6 clash. A century partnership between openers Martin Ashfield (38) and Tom Benjamin (60) gave Grafton
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Effective way of keeping in touch
WE would like to respond to a letter last week as we feel it contains a number of inaccuracies. Redditch Borough Council is committed to keeping its residents informed about, and involved in, its plans and progress in ways that are interesting, engaging
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MP's anger at school threat
REDDITCH MP Jacqui Smith has reacted angrily to county council talks about closing a special educational needs school in Batchley. On reading of the notion to shut Pitcheroak School in a draft report, Ms Smith last week wrote to every county councillor
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Life in jail warning to guns man
A MAN with a mental age of 10 has been warned by a judge he risks a life sentence if he commits another firearms offence. Dean Nicholson was arrested by police after a car was broken into near the YMCA in Redditch. But while inside a police car, he produced
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Dog case appeal dropped
A WOODROW woman who was jailed for six months for causing unnecessary suffering to a dog - the maximum penalty for animal cruelty - has dropped an appeal against her conviction and sentence. The Advertiser reported Shirley Mentos, aged 53, of Astley Close
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The King in Yellow Playhouse, Cheltenham
THE tortured artist, teetering on the precipice of insanity, is a dramatic convention given fresh impetus in the Cheltenham Experimental Drama Society's presentation of The King in Yellow at the town's Playhouse Theatre. Set in an alternative 1922 America
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Kidderminster Harriers FC - Fixtures and results - 2003/04
Pre-season friendlies Sat July 12 Evesham (a) 3-1 Lewis, J Williams, Paschalis Sun July 13 Stratford (a) 1-0 Ward Sat July 19 Boldmere (a) 6-1 (og), J Williams 2, Lightbourne, Wilding, Danks Mon July 21 Leicester (h) 1-1 Shilton Sat July 26 West Brom
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Road system couldn't cope
THE grandiose proposals for the redevelopment of the Abbey Stadium, in my opinion, are at present of dubious viability. As with previous proposals, viability in financial terms will require a departure from the Worcestershire County Structure Plan and
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Apathy towards young
YOU were kind enough to run a review last week of our show Fran's War, a tough and gripping true-life drama of the Bosnian civil war, performed by a talented and committed cast of local young people. You had run three previous press releases and several
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Motorbiking's long heritage
RIDERS headed out onto the highway as part of a vintage motorcycle rally which passed through Inkberrow on Saturday. About 80 riders took part in the Vintage Motorcycle Club Limited's 26th International Assembly, which featured bikes ranging in age from
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Alcester Gardening Club
IN July, members enjoyed an evening visit to Woodpeckers, the beautiful Marlcliff garden of Dr and Mrs Cox. Members were welcomed by the owners, who garden the lovely two- and-a-half acre riverside site entirely unaided. The garden looked wonderful, with
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Astwood Bank Flower Club
THE July meeting was well attended. Joyce Mumford welcomed Frances Hales, demonstrator for the evening. Frances, a florist from Alcester, gave a demonstration entitled Signs of the Zodiac. She chose six signs and for one used weighing scales from the
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Bromsgrove Rovers fixtures and results 2003/2004
HOME, away (Dr Martens Western fixtures unless stated) JULY Sat 19 WALSALL (Friendly) 5-1 (Sutton, Banner, Dyson, Bowen, Scheppel) Tue 22 WOODFORD UNITED (Friendly) 3-1 (Sutton, Stephenson, Scheppel) Sat 26 STOCKPORT COUNTY (Friendly) Wed 30 ASTON VILLA
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Studley Daytime WI
AT the July meeting, Pauline Beare gave an interesting and amusing talk about her experiences and responsibilities as Federation Chairman. During the refreshment interval, a bring and buy sale was well supported. The next meeting takes place on Wednesday
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A wonderful show!
YOUNGSTERS at Meadow Green Primary School were in their own wonderland for their end of year production. Year 5 and 6 pupils at the Wythall school undertook five weeks of rehearsals before their final shows of Alice In Wonderland on Thursday and Friday
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23/7/03 - Sky Blues test for City striker
ALL eyes will be on new signing Leon Kelly when he makes his debut for Worcester City against Coventry City tonight. The 25-year-old is set to be the star attraction at St George's Lane for the visit of the First Division Sky Blues (kick off 7.45pm).
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A splashing time
Headteacher John Gooding set himself up for a good soaking when Webheath First School pupils enjoyed their school fete on Friday. The youngsters celebrated 100 years of Disney by dressing up as their favourite cartoon characters. The fete at the Downsell
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Rise in violent crime
VIOLENT crime across the Stratford district - which includes Alcester - has soared to new heights. The Home Office's annual police statistics for the district showed a huge 27.6 per cent increase with more than 175 more offences in 2002/2003 than the
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Eddie's legacy
Another £1,000 has been raised by the Eddie Boehm cancer appeal and been given to the cancer ward at the Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry. Mr Boehm, from Alcester, who set up the appeal before he died in 1992, was in the RAF and was cared for by staff at
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Back to grass roots
TWO of Shakespeare's most famous works will be performed at Coughton Court starting on Saturday. The historic Throckmorton family home will be the setting for A Midsummer Night's Dream performed by Facsimile Productions and Much Ado About Nothing by the
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Sunflower Street a bright idea for garden designer
A WINNING garden at this year's Chelsea Flower Show was made possible through the collaboration of a garden designer with a Worcestershire brick manufacturer. Garden designer Ian Shooter, from Cambridge, teamed up with Baggeridge Brick, an independent
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Computer systems firm on expansion track
A FIRM that opened an office in Worcester just four months ago has gone so well it is moving to larger premises. ADA Computer Systems Ltd opened an office in Restdale House, Foregate Street, to test the market in Worcestershire. The firm, which employs
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New car business just racing ahead
A REVOLUTIONARY toy car system, launched by a Worcestershire firm, looks set to hit top gear within the children's educational market. Wondawheelz.com, based in Tenbury Wells, is the dream of inventor Hugo Lywood, in his quest to find and create the ultimate
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Plea for ethnic helpers
REDDITCH Citizens Advice Bureau is calling on ethnic minority volunteers in the town to help with a continuing community project. The Minority Ethnic Community Involvement Project has already been running for a year and now is on the lookout for more
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Ben's dance revolution
A REDDITCH dancer who has spent the last four years treading the boards around the world is to premiere a new show at the forthcoming Edinburgh Festival. Ben Manners, 20, of Tredington Close, Woodrow, has teamed up with award-winning American dancers
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£350,000 pitch opens
A £350,000 state-of-the-art football and hockey training pitch is now open in Matchborough. Arrow Valley Sport Centre's new pitch has been created as part of a joint venture between Redditch Council and Worcestershire County Council and supported by Sport
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Swimmers to get free bus service
FREE bus trips for eight-14 year olds to Studley Swimming Pool start on Tuesday afternoons from Tuesday until August 26. Stratford Council is making the offer to get children to use the recently re-opened pool at Studley Community Leisure Centre for just
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Pretty maids all in a row... washing cars
A CAR wash with a difference is helping a team of Worcester schoolgirls to fulfil their dream. The four King's School girls, who have been selected to compete for England in Saturday's Home International Regatta, ignored the weather and donned their bikinis
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Hi-tech map will pinpoint trouble
A HI-TECH map is being drawn up to reveal trouble hotspots throughout the Malvern Hills district in a bid to crack down on anti-social behaviour. Malvern Hills District Council is developing a new computer database to enable it to pinpoint problem areas
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Mum driven to death
A MOTHER-of-two drove her car on to a railway line and waited to be smashed by a train to end years of work-related stress. Worcestershire County Coroners' Court heard yesterday how Susan Smith, a ward sister in Birmingham Children's Hospital, had become
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Dealership set to be refused permission
A CAR dealership employing 95 people is likely to be refused planning permission for a Worcester site because it would result in the loss of employment land. A conventional office block on the plot at Knightsbridge Park, Wainwright Road, could potentially
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Phw-oar! Bikini-clad boat babes bare almost all in a bid to raise funds for rowing regatta
DRIZZLING rain is not usually regarded as bikini weather - but a rowing team caused a splash when they donned skimpy cossies and started soft-soaping motorists for money. The four King's School pupils are trying to raise £400 each to travel to Cork on
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Chains are forcing us out of business
BIG name stores are destroying Droitwich High Street, according to a shop owner who is closing the family firm after 97 years of business. Ironmongers Machin's shuts its doors for the final time in October because it cannot cope with stores such as Wilkinson's
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Retirement would 'become nightmare'
A CITY couple have spoken of their horror at proposals to move a city roundabout to within about 50 feet of their dream retirement home. William and Neata Meadows moved to their three-bedroom house on Begonia Close about a year ago from St John's in Worcester
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Cycle space built in to canal flats
A FORMER builder's yard on a Worcester trading estate has been earmarked for a new canal-side residential development. It is proposed to put a three-storey block of 18 flats at Spring Lane, on the Three Springs Trading Estate, with 18 parking spaces and
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50 years ago
July 24, 1953 THE recent news that the Government was prepared to sanction a loan for the purpose of developing the Birmingham Road playing fields, Redditch, more properly known as the Plymouth Playing Field, gives real promise that there will be a happy
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Rawhide
FORMER lead singer of popular country music act Rawhide will be making a return visit to a Droitwich Spa venue next month. The popular vocalist has been invited by The End of the Trail Country Music Club to play in the Spa, along with his new group, Hombre
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Partnership to help firms find premises
A ONE Stop Shop to help businesses find commercial properties in Worcestershire has been set up. Worcestershire Property Services is designed to help companies find the best premises in the county to meet their business needs. The service, which is operated
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County firms are built to survive
NEW figures from the Annual Business Inquiry Show reveal that Herefordshire entrepreneurs are hitting the top in the West Midlands. Of businesses started up in Herefordshire in 1997, 71 per cent survived their first three years of operation - eight per
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Mum heard daughter's dying words
A MOTHER, whose 30-year-old daughter overdosed on four different drugs, heard her final words as she died in her arms. Victoria Hart, a schizophrenic who had suffered from eating disorders and depression for 15 years, collapsed on her bedroom floor around
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Cross-dresser found dead
A CROSS-dressing man, who changed his name to Suzanne and was awaiting a sex change operation, has been found dead at his Worcester home. Forty-seven-year-old Suzanne Ford, formerly called Steven Havercroft, was discovered by police in "extreme squalor
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Bromsgrove Rovers 3 Woodford Utd 1
Tuesday, July 22, 2003 GOALS from Peter Sutton, Ian Stephenson and Danny Scheppel saw Rovers to their second victory in four days. Att - c.100
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Bromsgrove Rovers 5 Walsall 1
Saturday, July 19, 2003 BROMSGROVE Rovers kicked off their pre-season warm-up with a 5-1 victory against a youthful Walsall XI at the Victoria Ground, writes Steve Riddick. George Rooney's team opened the scoring after 17 minutes when Peter Sutton turned
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'Despicable' attack on pensioner
AN elderly man was attacked and robbed in Meadowhill Road as he walked home in what police have described as a "despicable" act. The 79-year-old man was walking along the Riverside street at about 11.15pm on Tuesday, July 15, after going out with friends
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Gang in horror frenzy
A TEENAGER was punched in the head and repeatedly kicked by a gang of youths as he walked through Batchley to meet friends. The boy was walking towards Batchley Park at about 11.20pm on Saturday, June 21, when a gang of up to seven people approached him
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Old folk shaken by theft
ELDERLY residents in a sheltered housing scheme in Alvechurch have been left feeling upset and vulnerable following a recent theft. Sheltered housing officer Pam Davies said she noticed four plant pots donated by Hillside WI to mark the Queen's Golden
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Sign man fined
A LANDOWNER who displayed a large advertisement in a field has been successfully prosecuted by Redditch Council. Stephen Wood, of Weights Farm in Bordesley, appeared before Redditch magistrates and pleaded guilty to two offences of displaying an unauthorised
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Boot sale fakes alert
BARGAIN hunters are being warned to be on their guard after counterfeit goods were seized from a car boot sale in Redditch. Worcestershire County Council Trading Standards recently swooped on a car boot sale in Weights Lane, Bordesley, and found counterfeit
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Summer's here
THE summer hockey season is curently in action. Please send reports by licking on the above name.
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Round-up of Eric's sounds
ACCLAIMED singer-songwriter Eric Bogle appears at Midlands Arts Centre on Sunday as part of Sounds in the Round 2003. One of the most prolific songwriters of the past few decades, his most recognisable and popular song, The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
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Knockout joy for Bank
Astwood Bank skipper Alex Robinson led by example as he steered the village side through to the quarter-finals of the National Knockout Cup. The Worcestershire League Division Two side are now just two games away from a final at Lord's following their
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Title race deciders
Inkberrow A take on rock bottom Tanworth this week as the race for the Prudden Road Surfacing Tennis League Division One title goes to the wire. Inkberrow will have home advantage against a struggling Tanworth side who have yet to record a win this season
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Chief allays A&E fears
A HEALTH chief has spoken to the Redditch Advertiser to allay fears the Alexandra Hospital's accident and emergency department could be closed at night. Limits on junior doctors' hours, due to come into force next year under the European Working Time
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Trust's stars wane
THE trust which runs the Alexandra Hospital has shown "cause for concern" in some key areas, according to a Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) report. The latest NHS league tables gave Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which also runs Kidderminster
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A fresh push for MRI scanner
A HEALTH watchdog will reiterate its support for an MRI scanner bid which may dramatically cut waiting lists at the Alexandra Hospital. The Community Health Council (CHC) will report tonight on an X-ray department visit on Friday, which chief officer
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Off to the palace in style
REDDITCH Mayor Kieth Boyd-Carpenter was off to meet the Queen with his wife Val yesterday. They were officially invited to attend the Queen's garden party at Buckingham Palace. And the couple attended in style thanks to Thomas Brothers funeral directors
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Blues quartet make Euro squad
FOUR Birmingham City ladies have made it into the under-19s England squad for the UEFA European Championship Finals in Germany. It's the first time four players from the Blues, who play at Redditch United's Valley Stadium, have made it into the full squad
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Summer to sizzle with sport and art
A SPORTS and arts project will be launched in three areas of Redditch during the summer holidays following a cash injection of more than £6,000. Redditch Council's Action Sport has received money from Worcestershire Children's Fund to set up the project
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Inn place for women
TO mark the 100th anniversary of Emmeline Pankhurst's founding of the Women's Social and Political Union, canal-based Mikron Theatre Company presents A Woman's Place - The Fight for Women's Suffrage in Bromsgrove on Sunday. As part of the company's 32nd
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Twins act up at the Alex
A POPULAR book for young people which has been adapted for the stage opens at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre next Wednesday. Double Act tells the story of identical twins Ruby and Garnet who are forced to start a new life in the country with their dad
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Boars in danger of fighting drop
BROMSGROVE Cricket Club First XI could find themselves dragged into a relegation battle if results do not improve, according to skipper Nick Husbands. The Boars lost their fourth game in Birmingham and District division one this season last Saturday,
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Athey leads way to draw
A COMPREHENSIVE bowling performance from Avoncroft Cricket Club First XI gave them a winning draw at Claverley. Having been dismissed for 141 in their Worcestershire County League division four clash last Saturday, Paul Athey's side came up with some
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In the hunt for silverware
BARNT Green CC First XI have kept themselves on course for some silverware this season after reaching the final of the Birmingham and District League Cup thanks to the captain's century. The Cherry Hill Road side saw off Halesowen by six wickets last
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Green win the cup final
CUTNALL Green Cricket Club beat Stourbridge by four wickets to claim the Worcestershire County League Second XI and Single Team Cup at Chaddesley Corbett on Monday, July 14. At 69-1, Stourbridge flexed their muscles with Spence (22 not out) helping them
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Hereford striker will see specialist
INJURED David Brown is due to see a specialist today to assess the extent of the damage to his broken collarbone. Hereford United's new striker frac-tured the bone in a freak training ground accident when Richard Teesdale toppled on the 24-year-old last
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Gloucs battling for runs
GLOUCESTERSHIRE made a steady start after winning the toss and electing to bat at the start of the Frizzell County Championhsip Division Two clash with Worcestershire at Cheltenham today. Opening batsmen Craig Spearman and former Worcestershire player
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Nomads rewrite history books
HISTORY has been very much in the making for Worcester Nomads Cricket Club. Making his senior debut, under 14 batsman Nathan Newport demonstrated his undoubted talent by scoring an unbeaten 110 against Alvechurch. The following day saw the first ever
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Championship thrill for Dominies & Guild
WORCESTER Dominies & Guild won the West Midlands Regional U13 club cricket championship in a thrilling days cricket at Colwall. Drawn against Knowle & Dorridge representing War-wickshire in the semi-finals, Dominies & Guild produced an exceptional
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Triumphant Kempsey
AFTER winning the toss, Kempsey Cricket Club elected to field in a 40 overs-a-side friendly against Old Georgians. The Old Georgians found runs hard to come and were 59-1 wkt after 20 overs. J. Cooper (18), J. Libbetta (18), assisted by M. Wenham (43
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Swifts parade new players
STOURPORT Swifts en-tertain Studley tonight (7.45) with new signings Ronnie Sayer, Mark Jones, James Wood, Lee Evans and Anthony Robinson all on show. Manager Dave Titterton is still hoping to bring in a left-sided player to add shape to his team, but
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Schools unite for a day of rugby
TAG rugby players from district first schools took time out from their day to devote a whole afternoon to promote the sport. Five teams made up from Meadows First School, Wychbold First and Redditch's Marlfield Farm competed at Meadows First, in Stourbridge
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Freidrich's star turn
All-rounder Dan Freidrich proved Redditch's star man as he helped the Birmingham Premier League Division Two (West) side to a winning draw at home to high-flying Shifnal. Batting first, the Bromsgrove Road side suffered an early setback with the dismissal
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Pope made a mistake leaving us
GEORGE Rooney says Steve Pope made a mistake leaving Bromsgrove Rovers for Redditch United after the defender made a shock return to the club. Pope turned out for the last half hour of Rovers' 5-1 pre-season friendly against Walsall at the Victoria Ground
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Rovers open with victory
BROMSGROVE Rovers kicked off their pre-season warm-up with a 5-1 victory against a youthful Walsall XI at the Victoria Ground, writes Steve Riddick. George Rooney's team opened the scoring after 17 minutes when Peter Sutton turned in Danny Scheppel's
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Angling round-up
ELMBRIDGE fishery was the venue for the Northfield Starlets Veterans event on Tuesday, July 15. Topping a close score sheet was Alan Ryan (Worcester) who pole fished red meat at Heron pool peg 33 for 55-4-0. Second place went to Bill Drew (Bewdley) with
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Driver ignored stricken mother
A CHURCH Hill husband and wife were horrified when they saw a woman and her child fall in the road in the path of busy traffic and nobody stopped to help her. Judith Harris and her husband Ray, from Loxley Close, were driving along Windmill Drive, Crabbs
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25 years ago July 21, 1978
CARL Osborne, aged eight, was hailed a hero when he carried his brother Andrew, two, from their burning home in Woodrow Close, Catshill, while their parents were away. The cause of the blaze remained a mystery. TEACHER Zillah Windridge and three 11-year
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Act now to clean up town
DEAR EDITOR -- While talking to local constituents, and indeed many other people from all other areas of Bromsgrove district, the issue of litter keeps cropping up. Now Bromsgrove is in no way worse than other parts of the country but people are beginning
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Parish council should react
DEAR EDITOR -- I have read in recent editions of the Advertiser/Messenger of the various initiatives being undertaken in Catshill to combat the difficulties the area is apparently currently experiencing. However, one would ask why is the parish council
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Bromsgrove Bullies must be tackled
DEAR EDITOR -- As a parent with children both in Middle and High schools in Bromsgrove, I think it would be a very good idea to bring behaviour contracts into schools backed up by the police, social services and the local education authority. All my children
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Bohemian rhapsody
ARE you a budding Andy Warhol, Damian Hirst or Tracey Emin? If so, you could be in with the chance of having an exhibition of your work at a Bromsgrove gallery. The Bohemia Gallery, in Worcester Road, is looking to set up a month-long exhibition of work
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Impressions
AN EXHIBITION of paintings and drawings by Bromsgrove artist Dorothy Wheeler will be on show at the town's library later this month. The show, which is made up of impressions of landscapes, village scenes and old buildings and will start on July 28 and
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My Worcester knight in shining armour!
I AM hoping that this letter will be read by the gentleman who stopped and helped me by the side of the A404 (Marlow bypass) in Berkshire on Tuesday, July 8, after my car broke down. I was completely immobilised and, to say the least, upset at my predicament
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23/7/03 - Gloucs battling for runs
GLOUCESTERSHIRE made a steady start after winning the toss and electing to bat at the start of the Frizzell County Championhsip Division Two clash with Worcestershire at Cheltenham today. Opening batsmen Craig Spearman and former Worcestershire player
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SCHOOL CASH CRISIS
ANGRY parents hit out at their children's school after it emerged a severe cash crisis has forced two year groups to be merged into one. Mums and dads were furious at Charford First School's decision to combine the two years - because the school can't
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Teacher off on a learning trip
A TEACHER from Bromsgrove is looking forward to the experience of a lifetime this summer. Martin German, of Hartford Road, has won the chance to join a scientific research project in Costa Rica after being awarded a 3M Environmental Award for Teachers
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Cycle safely
Enthusiastic youngsters at two town schools donned their cycle helmets and got to grips with road safety. Pupils at St Peter's First School, in Rock Hill, and Meadows First have been taking part in a cycling training programme, under the expert tuition
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SCHOOLGIRL FOLLOWED
A CYCLIST with bad teeth is being hunted after a Spa schoolgirl was followed home from classes. The 13-year-old has told police a male bike rider tailed her from Droitwich Spa High School, Briar Mill, between 3.55pm and 4.05pm, on Monday. She first spotted
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Mixed feelings on new diploma
TWO of Bromsgrove's headteachers have voiced their hopes and fears over a proposal to replace GCSEs and A-levels with a diploma. They spoke up following a Government working party proposal to overhaul the curriculum for pupils aged 14 to 19. Plans include
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Mondo Generator A Drug Problem that Never Existed
BASSIST Nick Oliveri takes a break from his busy Queens of the Stone Age European tour to release a new album with old band mates. Mondo Generator are back with their second studio album but it's still not a patch on the Queens. Although Queens frontman
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Sea creatures most splendid
CREATIVE youngsters stretched their imaginations when they were visited by a local artist. Enthusiastic year 6 pupils from Witton Middle School in Old Coach Road enjoyed making large wire sculptures of sea creatures with artist in residence, Sally Harper
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Guides break out
ADVENTUROUS girl guides have broken out of Droitwich Spa to take on a European challenge. On Saturday, youngsters from across Worcestershire flocked to their HQ in Acre Lane to wave off six girls and two leaders. Competing against teams from across the
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School funds crisis tackled
LACK of funding for county schools was again tackled by Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff in a recent commons exchange. He was disheartened by the growing gap between Worcestershire and the English national funding average. In the commons last Thursday
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Review of traffic ban rule
CARS, ambulances and even lifeboats will be making a splash in Bromsgrove High Street if a change to policy gets the green light at a meeting tonight (Wednesday). District council members have called for a review of the policy, which bars vehicles parking
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A brush with success
BUDDING Picassos and Van Goghs were given the chance to show off their work in an art exhibition at a town school. The exhibition, at Sidemoor First School, was part of an open day held on Wednesday, July 9. Parents and friends visited the Broad Street
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Pub row man escapes jail
A man who drove a car over his girlfriend's brother after violence in a Bromsgrove pub has escaped a jail sentence. Stephen Bickford was glassed by Derek Tidmarsh in the Golden Lion in Austin Road, Charford, and was followed outside, said prosecutor Jabeen
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Family shop caves in to big boys
AN established family shop is closing after nearly a century in business. Machins has been based in High Street since 1906 and is set to shut at Christmas. Boss Andrew Machin, aged 50, blamed competition from companies such as Homebase and Wilkinson for
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Walking bus just the ticket
PUPILS at Tardebigge First School are celebrating the success of their walking bus programme. Road safety officer Barbara Wood praised the mums and dads who run the school bus. The Church Lane school first started the project last September. Originally
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Judgement day
VIBRANT and colourful displays of flowerbeds and hanging baskets greeted Britain in Bloom judges to the Spa. The panel visited and judged the town's efforts on Tuesday, July 15. The popular competition, saw Droitwich regionally up against towns in Staffordshire
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Neighbourhood Watch nets thief
POLICE have congratulated Wychbold's Neighbourhood Watch scheme after a thief who stole a garden ornament was arrested and cautioned. A 12-inch stone ornament, depicting two kittens, was taken from outside the owner's front door in De Wyche Road earlier
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Bring back free bus passes call
ELDERLY travellers in the Spa are calling for the return of a free town bus pass. Droitwich Spa Older People's Forum chairman, Eve Freer, is lobbying Worcestershire County Council to reinstate the special passes for elderly and disabled residents. The
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Sidaway's six
An inspired spell of medium pace bowling from James Sidaway helped Alvechurch & Hopwood to a crunching 89-run victory over Worcester Nomads in Division Two of the Worcestershire County League. Batting first, Alvechurch made 213-9 thanks to some solid
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Trucker death a tragic accident
AN INQUEST has heard how an experienced trucker from Droitwich was killed in a tragic accident on the M5. Roy Burton, 65, of Dowles Croft, was killed when his vehicle collided with a cattle truck, letting 20 cows loose on the northbound carriageway between
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50 Cent Get Rich or Die Tryin'
VERY rarely do rap artists live up to their high expectations. One that has is Eminem, the very person who 50 Cent knows as his mentor and executive producer. 50 Cent has now teamed up with Eminem and Dr Dre to produce this great new gangster rap album
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DVD Daredevil (15)
DESPITE ominous fears this would turn out to be some ludicrous comic strip-style adaptation with no plot or substance, it is actually quite a dark, cleverly crafted film. Ben Affleck is resplendent clad from head to foot in red leather as Daredevil, a
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Hopes dashed
ROSS Dingley of Bromsgrove Olympique Cycling Club saw his medal hopes dashed by the smallest of margins in Cardiff last Saturday. Dingley, aged 16, finished fourth, one place behind the medal positions in the U16s event at the British Cycling National
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Final place
DROITWICH Spa Bowling Club will have representatives in a national final next month. Two teams from the Worcester Road club competed against each other in the Worcestershire County Bowling Association Triples competition at Malvern Victoria BC on Wednesday
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Henderson victorious
BROMSGROVE rally driver Iain Henderson secured a convincing victory in his first visit to the Irish Sligo Stages. Together with co-driver Paul Farley in their MG ZR 160, Henderson won his class in the fourth round of the National Tarmacaden Championships
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Rocket man
AN EXHILARATING new hobby is taking the West Midlands by storm. It's the adrenaline, the buzz, the sheer satisfaction that makes The Black Knights Rocket Club take to the air strip to launch their home made rockets. Reporter, Lisa Heritage spoke to founder
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Inspired artist makes the grade
AS a teenager Richard Wincer enjoyed seeing his paintings grace the walls of North Bromsgrove High School, where he was once a student. He probably never imagine he would one day see his work exhibited in London's prestigious Royal Academy of Art. However
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Sheep shape and Bristol fashion
CHAMPION sheep keeping teachers Steve and Chris Higgins have learned enough lessons to come top of the class in their hobby. During the day, the couple both work in education. But out of school, Steve and Chris spend their time looking after a flock of
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Facing up to breast cancer
AN ASTONISHING one in nine women in the United Kingdom will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime, writes Emily Bridgewater. It is the most common form of cancer in women, with more than 40,000 cases discovered each year. However, during
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Just what duty doctor ordered
NURSES will soon play a pivotal role in helping sick Spa residents who need out-of-hours medical treatment. Health chiefs want to streamline the service and reduce the number of on-call hours GPs are expected to work. From July, 1 2003, patients registered
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Clamping down on sound
IF you've ever lain awake at night frustrated by the thumping bass line of your neighbour's music, you may have taken the traditional approach of banging a broomstick on the wall. But there is more than one way to tackle this thorny problem. Bromsgrove
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Motor firms cash blow
HARD-HIT Redditch manufacturers look set to miss out on a 10-year plan to regenerate the car industry in the West Midlands. Part of the plan by Advantage West Midlands (AWM) has left Redditch Council and bosses fearing for the future of manufacturers
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Penalty points were excessive
ON June 22, I was photographed doing 36mph in a 30mph area. The offence occurred on Birchfield Road towards the Foxlydiate in Redditch. I paid my fine in good grace and received three penalty points. Since then, I have become increasingly concerned and
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Litter ruins all that hard work
WHAT'S happening to our town? Why so much litter? Everywhere we walk there is a little (or large) reminder to behold of someone else's lunch, snack or supper. If we are unfortunate enough, we may encounter soiled nappies or dog mess. When we look at the
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Thanks Jacqui
I HAVE never been inclined to party politics or party politicians but feel I must pay tribute to MP Jacqui Smith for her personal treatment of individual problems. I have written to her on several occasions on a variety of subjects and, unlike the majority
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Scooter boy, 17 in crash
A 17-year-old Studley youth is in intensive care with serious head injuries after he came off a scooter on Sunday morning. The teenager was riding a 124cc Gilera along the A435 in Studley towards Alcester at about 2am when police think he clipped the
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Alcester Ladies' Luncheon Club (Conservative)
AT the July meeting, Mr Bev Bevins, a Blue Badge Guide, gave an illustrated talk entitled Birmingham, Second City - Second to None. He started with a brief history of the city, spoke about two of the most important men of the city, Joseph Chamberlain
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Friends of Coughton Court
IN June, the Friends listened to a most interesting account of the abdication of King Edward VIII given by Mrs Creed. David, as Edward was known to his family, was an immature man who made no attempt to find a young bride, preferring the company of older
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Inner Wheel Club of Redditch
IN the absence of president Irene Gardner, vice-president Sue Whiteside opened the meeting. Speaker Monica Carden drew the raffle, with winner Mollie Gibbs receiving the flower arrangement and then lighting the candle of friendship for Oslo in Norway.
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Ipsley WI
PRESIDENT Alison Warren welcomed members and guests from other Institutes in the Redditch group to Ipsley's 37th birthday party, which took place at the July meeting. All were saddened to hear of the death of Rita Jordan, a friend and fellow member from
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Kingfisher WI
THE July meeting took place on one of the hottest days of the year and speaker Mr George Hook brought beautiful shells with him and buttons and jewellery made by himself and his ancestors. His firm was founded in 1824 and is now the only remaining one
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Kington with Dormston WI
PRESIDENT Jenny Cox welcomed everyone, including visiting institutes, to the group meeting. Secretary Rosemary Smith read a report of the AGM held at the Royal Albert Hall recently. It was thought the resolutions put forward were rather poor this year
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Wythall WI
PRESIDENT Jill Warner read out several items from the County News, including the autumn council meeting and Christmas craft fair. Details for the trip to Oxford were finalised and members said they had enjoyed the group walk around Alvechurch. A show
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They're can-tastic!
PUPILS at Walkwood Middle School have been celebrating after topping the league in a national recycling competition. The school hit the top spot in the Tizer Can Challenge by collecting about 35,000 aluminium drink cans. Alcan and Tizer organised an end-of-term
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Meet the Osbornes!
AN Astwood Bank couple recently marked 60 years of marriage with a meal with friends and loved ones. Harold and Hazel Osborne, of Chestnut Road, celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on July 10. The couple are both from the Astwood Bank area and
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Looking forward to new post
THE new Curate for the Parish of Studley and Mappleborough Green is The Rev Pennie Hartopp. She has been working in the parish for just three weeks and said: "I have been overwhelmed by people's welcome, kindness and generosity. "I decided to come to
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Sleuths scoop top award
IN the finest traditions of Sherlock Holmes, pupils at Studley High School have been doing a bit of detective work and scooped a national award in the process. Year 9 students took part in a recent Planet Science "Whodunit" competition open to all primary
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Scheme takes off
SNEAKERS Childcare organisers are celebrating the launch of their new project 'Nursery in your Neighbourhood' in the Lodge Park area. The scheme offers flexible childcare to fit in with the needs of parents. A party was held last week attended by Jacqui
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Action plan for bus service
PASSENGERS believe Alcester's buses are dirty, uncomfortable and difficult to board - but the service still gets seven out of 10 in a new survey. About 50 bus users aired their views on the service in a survey conducted by Oversley Green resident and
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Susannah baldly goes...
BRAVE Susannah Grumball went through with her plan to shave off all her hair to raise money for Chinese orphans on Thursday. The kind-hearted 12 year old, of Ardens Grafton, near Alcester, completely shaved her head at Flyntz hairdressers in Stratford
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Salad days
A new addition to Coughton Court's extensive gardens was opened on Friday. The new fruit and vegetable garden or traditional English "potager" was opened to the public by Peter Blackburne-Maze, a well-known author on the subject and a committee member
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Summer science
HUNDREDS of budding Albert Einsteins descended on Alcester on Monday to take part in two science summer schools. Alcester High and St Benedict's High schools are both hosting the Creative Science Summer Schools - aimed at the top five and 10 per cent
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Merger is for growth
TWO accountancy firms with 96 years experience between them have joined. The merger between Pinfield and Company, Bromsgrove, and Foster and Company, Stourbridge, has resulted in a 21 strong practice, with a view to future growth. Established in Bromsgrove
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Advice offer to foreign visitors
THE Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is encouraging foreign nationals in Redditch to call in so they can explain new charges for immigration applications announced by the Home Office. The charges mean people applying to extend their stay in the UK will pay
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Green dream team
KEEN young gardeners at 1ST Astwood Bank Beaver Scout Colony proved their worth when they were chosen as runners-up in a West Midlands gardening competition. The youngsters have been celebrating their success in the Greenfingers Challenge Youth Group
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Homes blaze
DAMAGE was caused to the back of several homes in Hollywood after a fire broke out shortly after noon on Thursday. The blaze, believed to have been caused by an electrical item, spread along the back of houses in Simms Lane. A fire crew from Redditch
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Countdown for Steph
REDDITCH'S Big Brother contestant has just days left in the house as judgement day draws near. Steph Coldicott, 28, from Winyates Green, has survived more than 60 days on the reality TV show and is the only remaining female after the departure of Malvern
