Archive

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17/5/04 - Ensuring standards poses a test

WORCESTERSHIRE will be cursing Duncan Fletcher's request that James Anderson be given a game in the County Championship. He was the reason for Lancashire's first innings superiority at Old Trafford. And so the battle rages on over how much cricket is

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Review into abortion case

A JUDICIAL review into the circumstances surrounding an alleged illegal abortion has been stopped to allow a police investigation to be completed without risk of prejudice. West Mercia Constabulary's application to stop the review was not heard at the

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Library to close for refurbishment

EVESHAM Library will be closed for three weeks from from Monday, May 31, for refurbishment. Walls will be repainted and new carpets fitted. The library is due to open again on Monday, June 21. County councillor Clive Holt of Evesham Town Division said

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Hospice help

GENEROUS shoppers at Sainsbury's supermarket in Blackpole, Worcester, donated £573 to St Richard's Hospice. The money was collected over two days by 10 volunteers from the Rose Hill hospice in Worcester.

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Good citizen hunt

A COMPETITION to find the bravest and most community-minded youngsters living in and around Worcestershire is nearing its closing date. West Mercia's Good Citizens 2004 awards honour young people who are making a positive impact to people's lives across

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Race driver walks from hospital

MOTOR SPORT: A racing driver was air-lifted to Worcestershire Royal Hospital after crashing his car at the opening meeting of Shelsey Walsh's hill climb season at the weekend. Bob Gale, from Worcester, complained of back pains after the collision, just

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Nightclub assault

AN investigation is under way after a man was left with facial injuries after an assault outside a nightclub in Hereford. Police say the man, who was with a woman outside Manhattan's bar, is believed to have been the victim of an unprovoked attack by

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Ending my affair with evil weed and why Irish ban's meddling gone mad

ONCE upon a time, just a few ashtrays ago, I was your typical dyed-in-the-wool hardline junkie of a smoker. Like thousands of others hooked on a substance that some say is more addictive than heroin, every single waking moment revolved around tobacco.

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Report reveals waiting times

ONE in five patients has to wait longer than six months to be admitted at two Worcestershire hospitals, a health watchdog report has revealed. On Saturday, Worcestershire Hospitals NHS Trust was celebrating reports that the Sunday Times' Good Hospital

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3 boys injured in3 accidents Young trio hurt in weekend carnage on the city's roads

THREE boys were knocked down by cars in separate accidents in Worcester at the weekend, sparking road safety warnings. The first was a nine-year-old in collision with a car outside Sainsbury's in Windermere Drive, Warndon, at 5pm on Friday. The second

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Police scheme to slash bikers' road deaths

SLASHING the death toll of motorcyclists on Worcestershire's roads is the key aim behind a high profile police campaign to improve biking skills. Statistics showed Worcestershire has seven of the worst 12 routes for bike accidents and that a total of

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Wrapping up the war on city waste

MORE than 250 people took part in 26 litter picking events to make this year's Rubbish? Sort It! campaign another huge success. The third annual event, organised by the Duckworth Worcestershire Trust, city and county councils and supported by the Evening

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Chopper's near miss in nuclear no-fly zone

A HELICOPTER was 80ft away from crashing into a former nuclear power station and spreading radioactive fallout across Worcestershire, a Sunday paper has claimed. The military Chinook chopper entered a no-fly zone around the Berkley station, in Gloucestershire

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It's just too hot for scarecrows!

A SIZZLING weekend saw people enjoying a whole host of activities in the blazing sunshine - including a scarecrow competition! The mercury hit a scorching 24C (75F) yesterday, according to Evening News weatherman Paul Damari - making Worcester as warm

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HEALTH: Cash injection for Worcestershire elderly mental health patients £722,000 boost to slash be

A LACK of county nursing homes providing specialist care for elderly mental health sufferers has seen a third of psychiatric hospital beds for older patients being unnecessarily "blocked". Now a massive £722,000 is being ploughed into nursing homes for

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Outrage at plans to demolish lodge

PLANS to demolish an "integral" part of the famous Chateau Impney Hotel and replace it with a new bungalow have outraged historical groups and residents. Impney Hotels, which owns the impressive Droitwich-based building, want to demolish the existing

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Caf breaks with tradition on smoke

SMOKING is set to be stubbed out in a Worcester caf. Drucker's Patisserie Caf, in Chapel Walk in the CrownGate Shopping centre, is to introduce a non-smoking policy from next Monday. And if the move proves popular, then every one of the chain's 33 cafs

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Waterboy Jago's extra lengths for sufferers

A BRAVE county youngster with a rare condition that means he can not walk or bend his elbows is to do a sponsored swim to raise funds for charity. Selfless Jago Baker of Dunley, near Stourport-on-Severn, was born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita

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Parents bring in high-profile support

PARENT campaigners will this week enlist heavyweight political support in their bid to halt county council plans to transform the special education system in Worcestershire. A four-man delegation from Thornton House's Parents Action Group are set to meet

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MP backs Pensions Bill debate

MID-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff is putting pressure on the Government to help the victims of collapsed company pension schemes. He has added his name to an amendment to the Pensions Bill to be debated on Wednesday in the Commons. The all-party motion

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RACE FOR LIFE: St John's sports centre staff prepare to tackle the course

ENERGETIC employees at a Worcester sports centre are limbering up for Cancer Research UK's Race for Life. Ladies at St John's Sports Centre will take part in the 5km course to raise funds for research into the prevention, treatment and cures for cancer

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Parking is main problem

WHEN they invented the car, they invented parking problems in the Arboretum. Residents have become more and more frustrated over the years by increasing difficulties with parking their cars near their homes. The simple answer according to some of them

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Spotlight on city's multi- cultural face

PEOPLE from dozens of different countries gathered to celebrate the first anniversary of the One World Rainbow Social club - revealing just how multi-cultural Worcester has become. Around 100 people representing countries as diverse as Japan, China, India

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Worcs worried by Hall's injury

WORCESTERSHIRE are today sweating on the result of a scan on Andrew Hall's back injury. The problem has forced him out of the Frizzell County Championship Division One match with Gloucestershire which opens at New Road tomorrow. The all-rounder was forced

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Wilson's six appeal bowls over Pelsall

WORCESTER were indebted to their overseas player Campbell Wilson as they recorded their first victory of the season in the Birmingham Cricket League Division Two. The 49-run win over Pelsall at the Gordon Jones Memorial Ground came after Wilson's haul

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17/5/04 - Worcs worried by Hall's injury

WORCESTERSHIRE are today sweating on the result of a scan on Andrew Hall's back injury. The problem has forced him out of the Frizzell County Championship Division One match with Gloucestershire which opens at New Road tomorrow. The all-rounder was forced

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Win a Polo! Find out how you could win a brand new Volkswagon Polo E1.2, only in your Worcester Eve

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17/5/04 - Royals ticked off after below-par show

DIRECTOR of cricket Tom Moody branded Worcestershire Royals' performance against Durham Dynamos at New Road yesterday as 'not acceptable'. Durham, boosted by centuries from Marcus North and Paul Collingwood, triumphed by 94 runs to send the County crashing

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A Shrew-d move

WORCESTER City should have had their dream ticket years ago, when the Football League Third Division was extended and made into North and South, City applied to go into the South section. After voting was taken there was a vacancy in the North section

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We need to send a vital message to Tony Blair over Iraq

AS the Iraq crisis deepens, Tony Blair was asked during Prime Minister's Questions about the deaths of untold numbers of innocent adults and children caused by US attacks. He "regretted" civilian deaths but, yet again, backed the US actions. Tony Blair

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How I long for the good old days of stability

I HAVE just paid £95.22 to Severn Trent for six months water supply. Now we are told that charges will probably escalate by 50 per cent over the next five years. I can remember when water rates amounted to a few shillings tacked on to the foot of the

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17/5/04 - Confident coach waits on decision

JOHN Brain believes there would be something "fundamentally wrong" with the game if Worcester were denied promotion. The Sixways director of rugby has been watching the off-the-field speculation with interest as he continues to prepare for next season's

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15/5/04 - Brain puts the record straight

JOHN Brain has laughed off Rotherham's protestations over the signing of Brad MacLeod-Henderson. Since Worcester made the ann-ouncement this week, the South Yorkshire club have consistently denied that the South African has signed on at Sixways. However

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14/5/04 - Sixways dreams are under threat

WORCESTER Warriors promotion to the Premiership may be hanging in the balance following claims that their application to play in the top flight next season arrived too late. Speculation was mounting today that the board of England Rugby Limited could

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12/5/04 - Sparks to fire Warriors pack

JOHN Brain has continued his summer shopping spree with the acquisition of Steven Sparks. Worcester Warriors' director of rugby has brought in the vastly experienced prop to beef up his pack as the newly-promoted side continue their countdown to the Premiership

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No, you don't have to be a farmer to join up

WHEN Worcestershire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs held its first county rally on May 8, 1948, they couldn't quite work out who'd won at the end of the day. After an afternoon of stock judging, poultry trussing, sheep shearing and tug-of-war on Pitchcroft

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Pub man's safari prize from Rossy

A WORCESTER businessman has won an award in the pub industry's version of the "Oscars". John Pettit, from Knightwick, near Worcester, was named Business Development Manager of the Year and received his prize from TV star Jonathon Ross at a glittering

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Bookies' unlucky punters winner

BOOKMAKER William Hill said a losing streak among punters betting on horseracing helped it score a strong start to the year. The London-based group said it was confident about its prospects for the rest of the financial year after strong trading across

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Chance for folk to have their say

PEOPLE have welcomed the opportunity to have their say on local and countywide issues as the new-look Local Area Forums. The first report summarising the meetings - held in Herefordshire during March - went to Herefordshire Council's cabinet earlier this

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Spring show is blooming success

HANBURY Hall held its annual spring plant fair yesterday to raise money for its gardens. Last year's sale was a roaring success raising more than £3,000 for the gardens. Plants on offer this year were lovingly grown by the gardeners at the hall, as well

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Youngsters learning French

PARLEZ-vous Francais? Children in Ombersley are learning to do just that in a new class aimed at giving them a head start across the Channel. Gill Nixon, headteacher at Ombersley First School, off Droitwich Road, said she hoped more parents would take

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Pupils help to put the boot into poverty

FROM alien-looking slippers to flip-flops, from football boots to espadrilles, pupils wore a dazzling array of footwear to school on Friday. Students at Blessed Edward Oldcorne RC High School paid 50p each to take part in Odd Shoe Day, to "put the boot

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Please make it cleaner all year

HATS off, today, to the 250 people who teamed up across 26 litter-picking events in Worcester and made this year's Rubbish? Sort It! campaign a huge success. Though the final amount of rubbish cleared is still being measured, the two tons of waste gathered

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Share your memories of unique village rituals

Memories of village life in Worcestershire are being sought by a Somerset-based author who is keen to write a new book, covering the years 1930 to 1970. Henry Buckton, of Glastonbury, said he would love to hear from anyone who has photographs and memories

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Pension Service team will give city residents expert advice

PENSIONERS in St John's will be able to get expert advice on the new Pension Credit and other benefits for older people. The Pension Service, which is part of the Department for Work and Pensions, is working in partnership with St John's Library to provide

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Confident coach waits on decision

JOHN Brain believes there would be something "fundamentally wrong" with the game if Worcester were denied promotion. The Sixways director of rugby has been watching the off-the-field speculation with interest as he continues to prepare for next season's

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Malvern looking for double

Malvern Town bid for a West Midlands League double when they line up against Brierley and Hagley in the league cup final at Ludlow tonight (7.45). Town expect to welcome back the injured duo of Dean Roberts and Craig Williams while Nathan Owen also returns

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Last match defeat for Bromyard

BROMYARD Town's last West Midlands Premier Division game of the season saw them go down 4-3 at Lye Town. Bromyard took the lead in the 20th minute when Carl Fairhurst turned two defenders on the edge of the box and smashed the ball into the roof of the

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Low-scoring game ends in defeat

OLD Elizabethans went down to a three-wicket defeat in the Birmingham Cricket League Division Two at Solihull Blossomfield. OEs were invited to bat first on a green, damp pitch which promised difficult batting conditions right from the start of the game

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North Mids in the final

NORTH Midlands clinched promotion to next season's Tetley's County Championship and booked a place in a Twickenham final with a 33-3 win over Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire at Stourbridge. The win in the Tetley's County Shield semi-finals secured North

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Winning draw for KVCC

KIDDERMINSTER Victoria Cricket Club picked up a valuable 14 points from their Birmingham Cricket League Division One winning draw with Aston Unity. It is not often that a team will use 10 bowlers, but acting skipper Jonathan Wright gave everyone a bowl

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Seek work or serve

WE regularly read criticism of the Government for using foreign workers. The Government says they are needed to fill vacancies. I think it would help if all the people who did not want to work were forced to do something. I know several in their 20s quite

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What's happening at Royal Mail?

CAN someone tell me what is happening to the Royal Mail? It now appears to take a week rather than a day for a letter to travel from one area of Worcester to another. On Saturday morning, we received our telephone bill, dated April 28. Saturday's date

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Are speed cameras for collecting cash?

IN reference to speed cameras and, in particular, the one sited on the main A40 road at Childswickham, which is between Evesham and Broadway. I am amazed that one has been sited in such a lonely and quiet spot. If one is to believe all the propaganda

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A soggy start, but this year's show really got a wriggle on

THE Malvern Spring Gardening Show was another outstanding success, despite the frustration of persistent wet weather hampering preparations right up to the evening of the show. Attendance over the three days topped 93,000, well up to the record set last

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15/5/04 - Sixways poised for green light

CECIL Duckworth remained defiant last night after confirmation of highways approval arrived at Sixways. Worcester Rugby Club's chairman has been awaiting news from the Highways Agency over the National One champions' plans for traffic management on match

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14/5/04 - Greef signs for Warriors

THE relationship between Worcester and Rotherham looks set to be strained even further after the Warriors today swooped for another of their players. Leon Greef has become Worcester's ninth close season signing following hot on the heels of fellow Millmoor

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11/5/04 - Brad set to be crowd pleaser

ANDY Keast has backed new signing Brad MacLeod-Henderson to become a crowd favourite at Sixways. Worcester Warriors' head coach put the finishing touches to the capture this morning as the newly-promoted club continued their summer shopping spree. The

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* Three youngsters injured in weekend crashes * Get ready to race for life * Bishop Perowne High Sch

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Norwegians intrigued by Worcestershire cheeses

A WORCESTER cheese maker has been flying the flag for British produce at a food exhibition in Norway. Colin Anstey, of Anstey's of Worcester, was one of 30 small food producers from Britain invited to the British embassy, in Oslo, for a British food promotion

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Firm does everything including kitchen sink

THEY say that 'from small acorns, great oak trees grow' and this is what has happened for a Worcestershire catering equipment company. Acorn Catering Equipment celebrated 25 years of trading on Friday with a lunch for 60 people including friends and staff

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17/5/04 - Kabir eager to bounce back!

KABIR Ali is determined to catch up for lost time when he comes off Worcestershire's casualty list. The 23-year-old paceman has missed the start of the season after undergoing surgery to cure a double hernia. But he's now well on the road to recovery

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3 boys injured in 3 accidents - Young trio hurt in weekend carnage on the city's roads

THREE boys were knocked down by cars in separate accidents in Worcester at the weekend, sparking road safety warnings. The first was a nine-year-old in collision with a car outside Sainsbury's in Windermere Drive, Warndon, at 5pm on Friday. The second