Archive
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KIDDERMINSTER MALE CHOIR Christmas Charity Concert
OUR men's choir's annual seasonal concert was well up to its usual standard, with lots of Christmassy songs, plenty of audience participation, and excellent guest artistes. The choir sang many of the popular carols, including an unusual arrangement of
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The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Rose Theatre, Kidderminster Until Saturday
I WENT on a magical journey to Narnia on Saturday, and enjoyed every minute of it. CS Lewis's famous story was brought to life by the Nonentities, and kept all the children in the audience (and the adults) rapt throughout. Four youngsters took the lead
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WEST SIDE STORY Wyre Forest Young Voices, Kidderminster Town Hall
ON Saturday former Young Voices Russell Painter, Beth Dunn and Laura Bassett, led the youngsters in a concert performance of a condensed version of Leonard Bernstein's masterpiece, and it was brilliant. As Tony, Russell treated us to a superb rendition
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DAVID CHADWICK and ROBERT MARKHAM Kidderminster Library
THE third in the series of Classical Music Society recitals featuring artistes from Birmingham Conservatoire was, as always, of a very high standard. Previous concerts in the series featured pianist David Quigley, and a wind trio called "No Strings Allowed
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MUSIC OVER THE YEARS Stourport Choral and Operatic Society's Celebration of 40 years of song
AS far as I am concerned, you can never go wrong with Gilbert and Sullivan, so I was delighted to see that the first half of this anniversary evening was a potted, concert version of HMS Pinafore. Mike Birch was brilliant as Sir Joseph Porter KCB, and
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TURANDOT Welsh National Opera Birmingham Hippodrome
MASTERMIND and University Challenge aren't a patch on the mental tortures dreamed up by cruel Chinese Princess Turandot. Most mortals could cope with a withering look from John Humphrys and Jeremy Paxman - but having your head chopped off in front of
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La Bohme Woverhampton Grand
STUNNING is the only word to describe this production of Puccini's masterpiece by the Russian State Opera of Rostov. From the moment the curtain came up, the audience knew they were in for a musical and visual feast. The set was simple but proved very
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Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds Wolverhampton Civic Hall
LIKE David Bowie before him, Nick Cave has won a huge cult following by balancing his love of discordant, semi-avant garde songwriting with melodic pop songs which retain the twist heart of his most daring work. Sunday's show in Wolverhampton leaned towards
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DOUBLE TROUBLE Rose Theatre, Kidderminster Until Saturday.
POINTLESS, silly and puerile, are the words which sum up the first of this double bill, presented in a joint venture between the Swan Playwrights and the Nonentities. Shagathon, by Nicholas Corder, tells the story of Dave, who aspires to be the next Becks
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Sticky Wicket - The Stars of Test Match Special Live Malvern Theatres
IT is often difficult to bring radio or television shows to the stage but, with its format of great chat and intimacy with the audience, Test Match Special is made for the stage. Host Ralph Dellor introduced cricketing legends Jonathan Agnew, Mike Gatting
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Babyshambles Shrewsbury Music Hall
WHEN Babyshambles last played this neck of the woods in April lead singer Peter Doherty was a member of The Libertines who, after just one album, were touted as the finest British band of their generation. Since then Doherty's addiction to crack has seen
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THE ANDY WARHOL SYNDROME Jenny Eclair Ramada Hotel, Bewdley
THE Andy Warhol Syndrome is Jenny Eclair's hard-hitting one woman comedy play which reflects the current obsession with reality television and the consequences on those living Andy Warhol's prophecy. We explore the life of Carol Fletcher, a faded ex-reality
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DAISY PULLS IT OFF Rose Theatre
"JOLLY hockeysticks" abound in this tale of a "posh" girls school, where the students are horrified to learn that an elementary schoolgirl has won a scholarship to their establishment. Among the pranks and midnight feasts, there is much snobbery, and
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Jesus Christ Superstar Birmingham Hippodrome Running until Saturday, September 18
BILL Kenwright's new production is a polished show with all the essential ingredients of a theatrical smash. The world premiere of the musical charting the last seven days of Christ's life boasted a striking musical score and strong cast, including former
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JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT Birmingham Hippodrome, until August 21.
WHAT can I say that has already not been said about this fantastic show? As always I left the theatre feeling I had been to a wonderful party. This version is the "proper" one, the Bill Kenwright production which has been around for over 20 years, and
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Valentines, Kidderminster Arts Festival, Town Hall
A CUDDLY baboon stole the show on Saturday night, having been taken along by Mary Baulk, who runs the Butterfly Puppet Theatre. Throughout the evening, when the emphasis was on fun for children (of all ages), Mrs Baulk and her collection of animals encouraged
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Todd Rundgren Symphony Hall, Birmingham
THOSE of you who own the clutch of stunning albums Todd Rundgren made during the early 70s probably pondered over whether to check out his show last week at Symphony Hall, one of his first British dates in a decade. Well, you didn't miss anything. Todd's
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Prime site worth taking risks for
Over the Christmas period it seems to me that we have had almost every sort of weather imaginable. There were days of torrential rain, snow, and bitter frosts, gales and bright sunny days where at a push you might have possibly got away with wearing a
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Macbeth Heartbreak Productions Wenlock Priory
DIRECTOR Peter Mimmack stated he wished to create a "fresh, visual, psychological, theatrical and dynamic perspective" with his version of this popular Shakespeare play. And he certainly achieved his aim in a thoroughly enjoyable version of the play that
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THE VALENTINES IN CONCERT Town Hall, Kidderminster.
ANYONE who did not enjoy Saturday's concert must be very hard to please. We enjoyed a relaxed evening of music-making, featuring not only our Valentines, but the Blaenavon Male Choir, Russell Painter and Jonathan French. The men did well to get through
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HELLO DOLLY Stourport Choral and Operatic Society Civic Centre, Stourport
JUDITH Standing forsook her usual position as musical director to take the title part in this happy musical, handing over her baton to Tim Hackett. Claire Worboys also stepped over the footlights, as director and choreographer. When I say Judith appeared
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Jade Lewis, Kidderminster Library.
THE Young Musicians series organised by the Classical Music Society has introduced us to many talented pianists over the years, and the first recital since being renamed the Beryl Chempin series, certainly kept up the standard we have come to expect.
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GUYS AND DOLLS Rose Theatre, until Saturday
KIDDERMINSTER Operatic and Dramatic Society have come up with another winner. Damon Runyan's story of gamblers, Sky Masterson who falls for Salvation Army Captain Sarah Brown, and Nathan Detroit who has been promising to marry Adelaide for 14 years, is
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FOOTLOOSE Alexandra Theatre Birmingham
THEY were dancing in the aisles (literally) as this new musical based on the hit 1980s film starring Kevin Bacon hit the stage at the Alexandra Theatre. The all-singing, all-dancing show - like a mixture of Fame and Grease - followed the story of Ren
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COLD MOUNTAIN On general release at cinemas nationwide
IT is little wonder this movie, which charts the effects of the American Civil War on a group of people whose lives are intertwined by love, desperation and sheer hopelessness, has been nominated for 13 BAFTAs and is expected to shine at the Oscars. Boasting
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New Year's treat for concert-goers
NEW YEAR'S DAY CONCERT Midland Concert Orchestra Town Hall, Kidderminster THIS super concert has certainly become part of my New Year celebrations, but I was surprised at the number of empty seats - perhaps the inclement weather put people off, but they
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Leave that leech alone - he's one sticky customer
Many of us will only have ever seen a leech on television when some daredevil of a presenter will allow him or herself to be bitten for the sake of scientific curiosity and presumably a fat pay cheque. Leeches are far from uncommon in the natural world
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A ranger's job is Bushtucker Trial on a daily basis
I have been working as a Ranger within the Wyre Forest District Council for some fourteen years and over this time have found it to be exceptionally rewarding watching the nature reserves change and improve as the management works start to have an effect
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Where the crow flies, you'll find dramatic scenes
Usually, crows are not very highly regarded birds. This is probably due to their relative abundance and their habit of savaging scraps and refuse, often in a very aggressive way as they squabble and fight amongst themselves. You may find it quite surprising
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Kings of Leon Wolverhampton Civic Hall
WHEN it comes to picking the handful of truly great bands which have defined the first few years of the 21st century, Kings of Leon will undoubtedly be on the list. The sheer quality of their two albums, released in 2003 and 2004, have won over any cynics
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NEW YEAR'S DAY VIENNESE CONCERT Kidderminster Town Hall
AT the start of this year's concert, the mayor of Kidderminster, Councillor Siri Hayward, gave a short history of the Town Hall to mark its 150th anniversary, then asked for a minute's silence in respect of the victims of the tsunami disaster. Possibly
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Postman's death unites community
THE sudden death of a popular Worcester postman has brought the neighbourhood he served closer together, residents claim. Brian Harvey, who had been delivering the mail in Warndon Villages for seven years, died suddenly over Christmas. The Evening News
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Scotland trip for 'worst team' supporters
TWO football fanatics from Worcestershire were unable to inspire Britain's worst team in their inaugural supporters' club trip. Jon Hale and Dyl Wilkins, both from Malvern, watched East Stirlingshire endure a 3-0 humbling at home to Elgin City on Saturday
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Journey of a lifetime that will help cancer sufferers
TREKKING the Great Wall of China or cycling across Cuba are just two of the ways Worcestershire residents could help terminally-ill cancer sufferers. Marie Curie Cancer Care is seeking members of the public to take up the chance of a lifetime, by taking
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25 years ago
December 31, 1954 ONE of the Christmas cards that arrived at the post office in Redditch last Monday was one written in the hand of a small child. Its address was simple. It just read: "To Heaven." Inside the envelope was a devotional Christmas card,
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100 years ago
December 31, 1904 On Monday morning, Mr George T Hollington, son of Mr Albert Hollington, needle manufacturer, met with a serious accident while shooting with a revolver. The weapon was loaded with a blank cartridge, one of which had been discharged,
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December 23, 2004
AT a recent meeting with the hospital chief executive, John Rostill, I heard that he has had no indication from local people that they wish the Wyre Forest Birth Centre to re-open! This amazed me because I believe that fit mothers-to-be deserve the choice
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December 16, 2004
LAST Thursday I attended the prize-giving at Baxter College. I wished for a glimpse of the school after all the changes that have occurred. I hoped that dramatic improvements would be visible as letters from parents disappointed at the prospect of their
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100 years ago
December 17, 1904 THREE boys named George Woodall, labourer, of Dudley, George Ashfield, of Red Lion Street, Redditch, and Samuel Cox, of Silver Street, Redditch, were brought up in custody charged with begging alms on December 13. Police sergeant Brunton
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25 years ago
December 7, 1979 REDDITCH taxi drivers are boycotting a potholed road because they say the "bumpy ride" is ruining their cabs. Taxi firms implemented the ban on Marlpit Lane, Headless Cross, after being faced with large repair bills for damaged vehicles
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50 years ago
December 10, 1954 BECAUSE there appears to be a lack of public interest in a number of vacant allotments, Studley Parish Council agreed at its meeting on Tuesday to ask Warwickshire County Council if there was a possibility of making some of the allotments
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25 years ago
November 30, 1979 INKBERROW villagers are still battling for a bus to work. Sixty villagers said they wanted a morning and evening bus to Redditch for workers and students but no definite answer had been given to their requests. Parish council clerk Mrs
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50 years ago
December 3, 1954 THE view that General Elections were decided by women, rather than men, was expressed by Mr Lester George, the prospective Labour candidate for the parliamentary division of Bromsgrove, when opening a Christmas fair at Washford Mills
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100 years ago
December 3, 1904 FREDERICK Edwins, an old man, living in Edward Street, Redditch, was summoned for arrears of maintenance, amounting to £1.17s 6d, in respect of his son Earnest, who is in the Hereford Industrial School. It appeared from the evidence of
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25 years ago
November 16, 1979 THE Redditch area tops a macabre police Road Accidental Death list. Redditch police 'B' division had more fatal accidents in July - for which figures are available - than any other area covered by West Mercia Police. Four people died
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50 years ago
November 17, 1954 REDDITCH, Alcester and surrounding districts were among the places which were affected by the dense fogs which have enveloped the countryside this week. Although the fog in the Redditch district was encountered in patches on Wednesday
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December 9, 2004
THE Hospital League of Friends had their Christmas party last Saturday when over 100 volunteers met for a buffet lunch and talks from the architect designing the new coffee shop, from myself and from David Wase, the chairman. I concluded by presenting
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December 2, 2004
AT a recent parliamentary briefing on digital hearing aids, I learnt that all NHS audiology departments will be routinely fitting digital hearing aids by April 2005. A National Day Nurseries Association reception informed me of the work of their members
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50 years ago
November 12, 1954 A FIRE which, it is believed was caused by a firework, broke out in the back of a saloon car in a garage of The Bungalow, The Slough, Crabbs Cross, on Sunday afternoon. The owner went to Studley in the car during the morning and alleged
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November 25, 2004
ON Monday I joined Class Four at Cookley Sebright First School for their lesson in the visiting Life Education Centres' caravan. This is a specially equipped caravan carpeted from floor to ceiling to accommodate up to 30 children with their teachers.
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50 years ago
November 5, 1954 THE poor condition of some of the gardens on Allendale Estate, Studley, was mentioned by Mr REW Boswell at Tuesday night's meeting of Studley Parish Council. He said the majority of tenants kept their gardens in a reasonable state but
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November 18, 2004
YET again affairs concerning us have been decided by a majority from other parts of the county. Recently Health Concern and other county councillors won a motion to full council for a vote in Wyre Forest on the Educational Review. Heedlessly this was
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50 years ago
October 29, 1954 ALTHOUGH Post Master General Earl De La Warr said in a speech last week the Post Office was "definitely on the offensive" when it comes to the matter of improving the telephone system, it will be another fours years at least until Redditch
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November 4, 2004
TWO important reports with which I have been involved have been published this week. The first follows an inquiry into the effect on NHS cancer services of funding through Primary Care Trusts (PCTs). Although cancer treatment is a very high Government
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50 years ago
October 22, 1954 FIRE which broke out on an unattended lorry in the garden at 42, Crumpfields Lane, Webheath, last Wednesday, is believed to have been caused when a tarpaulin, which covered the bonnet, came in contact with the hot exhaust pipe. Most of
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100 years ago
October 22, 1904 ELIZABETH Carlisle, a gypsy of no fixed abode, was brought up in custody charged with being disorderly in the Spring Hill Lane, Webheath, on October 15. Prisoner pleaded guilty. Supt Hayes stated that about 5.20 on Saturday morning, he
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100 years ago
October 15, 1904 WILLIAM Hemming, needlemaker, of Astwood Hill, Astwood Bank, was charged with being drunk on Astwood Hill on October 3rd. Police Constable Porter stated he was in plain clothes and saw the defendant, who was very drunk and staggering
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October 14, 2004
ON Monday I took part in one of the best debates I have attended. This was on the Second Reading of the Mental Capacity Bill. Party politics never entered the discussion and there were sympathetic, heartfelt contributions from those in favour of the Bill
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100 years ago
October 8, 1904 LEONARD Sealey, a boy living in Beoley Road, was charged with assaulting John Yates, needle pointer, of Beoley Road, on the 1st inst. Complainant's case was that defendant, with others, were "wriggling" on his wooden fence. He asked them
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50 years ago
October 1, 1954 ATTEMPTS by Alvechurch Parish Council to find out why the 142 bus service has been stopped from travelling along Bittel Road, Barnt Green, have reached something of a deadlock. A letter was read from the county council at Monday's meeting
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September 23, 2004
I have just attended a Stakeholder Workshop organised by the Environment Agency to study the value of the River Severn as a unique resource for everyone living near it throughout its long course. We listed the many environmental, recreational and historic
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25 years ago
September 21, 1979 EIGHT hundred Redditch pensioners are currently on the waiting list for free decoration of a room under a council scheme. Redditch Council said a record number of OAPs requested the service, which is carried out by the maintenance department
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50 years ago
September 24, 1954 FURTHER complaints from the residents of adjoining Headless Cross playing fields about the damage to property and the danger to the users of Birchfield Road were placed before Tuesday's meeting of Redditch Urban Council's parks and
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25 years ago
September 14, 1979 REDDITCH Development Corporation does not think that people really know just how much the town has to offer. So, together with Midland Red bus company, it is setting up a bus tour of the new town. A corporation spokesman said: "A lot
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50 years ago
September 17, 1954 LACK of co-ordination between higher authorities was criticised at Monday's meeting of Inkberrow Parish Council, held under the chairmanship of Mr R Hunt. The resurfacing of Church Road, Cookhill, was quoted as a case in point. Although
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September 2, 2004
I HAVE enjoyed a complete break during the last month, having had a fascinating trip to Taiwan to visit my son and his family. The safety and comfort of long haul air travel amazes me but I am always pleased to return to England with its climate and food
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25 years ago
September 7, 1979 REDDITCH councillors want to stop illegal parking outside the town's library which is intended for invalid cars only. They say drivers are pretending to be invalids to gain free and easy parking near the town centre. "Able-bodied motorists
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100 years ago
September 10, 1904 William Jackson, who refused to give his address, was brought up on remand, charged with begging alms in Red Lion Street, on September 3rd. Benjamin Freeman, of Walford Street, a stoker at the Electricity Light Works, deposed that he
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War anniversary remembered
THE recent 90th anniversary of the start of the First World War prompted a reader to send in this picture of her uncle, Albert Blick. Albert was born and bred in Studley before he went off to war, presumably as part of the Warwickshire Regiment. He was
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'Toilet show is not right for the BBC'
MP Peter Luff has kicked up a stink in the Commons about a children's BBC show based on toilet humour. The Mid-Worcestershire MP, who recently stoked outrage over the BBC's showing of the expletive-laden Jerry Springer - the Opera, questioned whether
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25 years ago
August 24, 1979 REDDITCH folk have been accused of complacency over a campaign aimed at improving medical facilities at Smallwood Hospital. They have not come forward with details of problems faced getting to casualty departments in Birmingham. Organisers
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July 8, 2004
ALTHOUGH we have suspected that the county council would decide on a move to a two-tier system for Wyre Forest schools, the announcement still came as a shock. My plea to separate the decisions about individual schools from the decision about tiers went
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100 years ago
August 27, 1904 JOSEPH Goode, gardener, in custody, was charged with being drunk in Evesham Street, Redditch, August 22. Police Constable Lee stated at 11.15pm he saw prisoner drunk and staggering along the street. The gardener fell into the officer's
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Alex hopes first prize is in the bag
A BUDDING product designer from Worcestershire has his fingers crossed that his novel idea to save shoppers from aching hands will win him an award. At the age of 22 and freshly graduated from university, Alexander Woodward hopes he will land himself
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25 years ago
August 17, 1979 EVERY area corporation forestry worker has been drafted in to repair hundreds of trees damaged in freak storms. The trees were ravaged in 70mph gusts which snapped the tips of mature poplar trees. Saplings were broken in half and uprooted
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50 years ago
August 20, 1954 THE question of payment to walk on the towpath of the canal at Hopwood was again discussed by Alvechurch Parish Council on Monday. One councillor said he had deliberately walked along the path hoping to be asked for his licence, or for
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July 1, 2004
THE debate on the report stage and third reading of the Human Tissue Bill took place on Monday. I found it fascinating and I hope, perhaps too naively, that it may herald a change in Government behaviour! The standing committee that scrutinised the Bill
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June 24, 2004
DESPITE two drenchings I enjoyed Kidderminster Carnival last Saturday. Between the showers the sun dried us off and I was delighted by the crowds that watched the parade and then congregated at Brinton Park. It was good to see the delightful Crocus Queen
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Hospice mourns for chairman of trustees
A RESPECTED former Kidd-erminster GP and chairman of Kemp Hospice board of trustees, Dr Michael Taylor, has died following a short illness. Dr Taylor, who died on December 20, became involved with Kemp Hospice as a volunteer almost 20 years ago, becoming
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June 17, 2004
ON our local election scene the triple convergence of mixing district council elections with multiple numbers of same-party candidates and the heavy overlay of the European election produced some surprising ward results which will take Wyre Forest District
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June 10, 2004
I had the worst journey to London in my experience last Monday evening. Having missed the 18.15 from New Street to Euston due to delays between Kidderminster and Birmingham, the 18.45 Virgin train, due to arrive in London at 20.31, arrived at 00.02, three
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The 'ride' stuff brings in £5,000 for hospice
FUND-raising chiefs at Kidderminster's Kemp Hospice estimate that £5,000 could have been generated for its coffers through a sponsored ride on the world's biggest bike. The 24-seater was ridden from Hurrans Garden Centre, near Blakedown, to Kidderminster
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See a bicycle made for 24
COMMUNITY-spirited Wyre Forest people will be using pedal power to raise money for charity on a special push bike. They will be riding the Fumair Flyer - one of the biggest bikes in the world - to raise money for Kemp Hospice. It is the first - and possibly
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100 years ago
August 20, 1904 CHARLES Morris, of Priest Field Farm, Astwood Bank, was summoned for carrying a gun without a licence in the parish of Feckenham on the 21st July. Mr Fletcher, supervisor, of Bromsgrove, appeared on behalf of the Inland Revenue Authorities
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50 years ago
August 13, 1954 WOMEN in search of hair beauty filled Wythall Institute on Monday afternoon when the women's section of the Conservative Association invited as guest speaker Mr AFG Ferrand, manager of a Birmingham hair dressing firm. He dealt with all
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Cuddly cartoon favourite boosts Kemp cause
ZOIKS! It looks like this cuddly toy Scooby Doo has had one too many Scooby snacks judging by his size but that is good news for staff at Kemp Hospice who have put him to work raising money. Fund-raisers at Kemp say you cannot miss him at events because
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May 6, 2004
I ATTENDED the celebratory mass at the Polish Church in Kidderminster on Sunday and the service, although mostly in Polish, brought home to me forcibly what it really means to Poles to become part of the European Community. Having suffered terribly in
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April 29, 2004
I REFERRED to the first public meeting of the Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust Patient Forum in my Viewpoint last week. It was disappointing that few members of the public were there but not surprising as the importance of this group of enthusiastic citizens
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Cash in the bag thanks to Lifestylers
HELPFUL youngsters packed bags of shopping as part of a summer challenge to encourage children to be good citizens. Friends gave shoppers in Stourport a hand and raised £445 for Kemp Hospice as part of West Mercia Constabulary's Lifestyle programme. The
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April 8, 2004
THE Easter Recess began on April 2, a week earlier than originally planned. The only reason that I could learn for this was the incredible theory that the House of Commons had run out of work. A partial explanation for this could be that Bills are delayed
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100 years ago
July 23, 1904 THOMAS Foley, alias Brinning, a labourer tramp, was charged with being drunk and disorderly at Beoley village on Saturday the 17th. Pc Bird proved the facts and defendant pleaded guilty. Prisoner was further charged with smashing a door
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Words come easy to Sam
A STOURPORT boy's winning way with words has won Kemp Hospice an award for being the best charity in the Midlands. Kemp Hospice has won the Carlton TV award of Best West Midlands Charity after beating off competition from more than 200 other independent
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100 years ago
July 16, 1904 JACOB Ruckstall, who formerly occupied a good position as clerk or foreign correspondent with a local fishing tackle firm but who has recently fallen on evil times, was charged with being drunk on licensed premises on July 6th. Defendant
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25 years ago
RESIDENTS living in a Redditch road may have to fork out £50 a year to park outside their own homes. That is if the county council goes ahead with plans to restrict parking in Lodge Road to residents who "buy" parking permission. Hereford and Worcestershire
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Help wanted to bring out sunflowers
KEMP Hospice is asking people to think outside the box to help them with an urgent fund-raising problem. Hospice fund-raising manager, Alan Ierston, needs people to help get the Hospice Sunflower Appeal lapel badge collection boxes out to the places that
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100 years ago
July 9, 1904 ALFRED Blundell, Parsons Row, Mount Pleasant, was brought up charged with stealing an invalid's chair, value £11s, the property of Thomas Loader, 45, Walford Street, Redditch, on 11th June. Prosecutor, a needle maker, gave evidence as to
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50 years ago
July 2, 1954 REDDITCH manufacturers are to be asked their opinions about instituting apprentices or schemes of training for girls and, if so, in what particular crafts or occupations. The investigation is to be made by youth employment officer Mrs WD
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Hospice takes positive step
KEMP Hospice took a further step towards moving into its new home after councillors approved the latest building plans. The charity was given permission to build the extensions at Cedar House, as long as neighbours approved of revised parking arrangements
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50 years ago
June 18, 1954 THE doors of Redditch Youth Club will be opened to the public on Monday. Throughout the week, a special youth festival is being held. People are expected to flock there to see an exhibition of the crafts and industries of Redditch and the
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February 12, 2004
IT has been good to see that the flood defences on Severn Side North, Bewdley, really work. Now I hope that insurance companies that have not reduced their premiums for protected properties because of doubts of the effectiveness of the defences will relent
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100 years ago
June 18, 1904 William Pye, a tramp in custody, was charged with being drunk in Evesham Street on June 13th and with begging in Prospect Hill on the 10th inst. Pc Overton gave evidence of seeing the prisoner in a drunken condition in Evesham Street. He
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Ken's carpets will bag cash for funds
A WOLVERLEY farmworker's winter evening pastime has resulted in a boost to the coffers at Kemp Hospice. Ken Evans, of Castle Hill Farm Cottage, has been hand-making carpets as a hobby for the past 20 years. He said: "It just passes the time during the
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50 years ago
June 11, 1954 BECAUSE of the shortage of teachers in local schools, Redditch Urban District Council is to build 12 houses for schoolmasters and their families, if permission is granted by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. A letter from the
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25 years ago
June 1, 1979 WHEN an oncoming vehicle flashed at Mr Denis Larvin as he drove into Studley he pulled in and found his car was on fire. Then he found he had pulled up in front of the fire station. "I was banging on the door," said Mr Larvin, "when along
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50 years ago
June 4, 1954 A WAGON on a goods train travelling from Alcester to Redditch caught fire just before it arrived at Studley Station on Tuesday. As the train pulled into the station, Studley's stationmaster noticed smoke coming from the wagon and he and his
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100 years ago
June 4, 1904 Thomas Knott, Melen Street, Redditch, was charged with riding a bicycle furiously in Bromsgrove Road, on May 22. He pleaded not guilty. Pc Knott deposed that at 3.30pm on the day in question, he was on duty in plain clothes with Pc Lea. They
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25 years ago
May 25, 1979 LOVELY ladies in the Redditch area are being called up by the British Army - to go on an all-expenses paid trip of Northern Ireland. The army wants a girl to visit military bases on a morale-boosting and publicity tour. She will be wined
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January 15, 2004
ALTHOUGH I was unable to get to the Harriers' match on Tuesday, I understand from reports that our players were not intimidated by the huge crowd and the circumstances and gave a very good account of themselves, coming very near to scoring on several
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Wacky ways to get cash
A BIG HEARTED and energetic crowd of Hartlebury folk have raised £8,000 for Kemp Hospice. The 33 players and supporters of the village's Torton Football Club have raised the money in less than a year with an array of imaginative and finely tuned fundraising
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January 8, 2004
LAST Saturday the Harriers were superb - first on the ball time and time again - and John Williams's splendid goal was richly deserved by the whole team. The heartbreak of the equaliser in the dying minutes did at least have the silver lining of the financial
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100 years ago
Saturday May 21 1904 A ROUGH-looking man named William Ballock, labourer, of Hunt End, was charged, in custody, with committing an aggravated assault upon his wife, Emma Ballock, on May 14. Prisoner admitted he did assault complainant, but not severely
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Scots will boost coffers
THE highlight of the social and cultural calendar for many Kidderminster Scots - Burns Night - will bring a boost to the coffers of Kemp Hospice this year. The night of January 25 is etched on the hearts of Scots all over the world as Burns Night. With
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Dancing for Asia
COUNTRY and Western fans are organising a special dance for the Asia tsunami appeal. The Teme Valley Shufflers Western Dance Club is holding the event at Queen Elizabeth High School, in Bromyard, on Saturday, January 22. It will feature line, partner
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25 years ago
May 11, 1979 MILITANT mothers in Church Hill are threatening to keep their children away from school in a protest at a shortage of classroom space on the estate. And they have called on the support of a council education chief who visited Redditch this
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Nat and Scott to spend a night in the cold
ENTERTAINERS Scott Denton and Natalie Hill are planning to sleep out in the cold on Friday night as part of a bid to raise money for the tsunami disaster fund. They will be outside Sainsbury's in Kidderminster from 2pm on Friday, when they will entertain
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Caring helpers who were in at the start
IF dedication and commitment are what makes a good volunteer then two women who work for Kemp Hospice have had it in bucket loads. Sheila Turner, of Valley View, Bewdley and Betty Russell, of Nursery Grove, Kidderminster have been two of the longest serving
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Date
Solanki handed England 'A' spot
WORCESTERSHIRE skipper Vik-ram Solanki has been named in an England 'A' squad to tour United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka. Solanki will join the 'A' team in February and March after playing with the England cricket squad in their one-day internationals
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Date
100 years ago
May 12, 1904 THOMAS Tolley, of Redditch, an old offender, was brought up in custody charged with begging alms on the 10th inst. Pc Lea said he saw the prisoner loitering about in Church Road. He went into the police station and watched the prisoner for
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Date
Sixways team in away tie
NORTH Midlands are guaranteed a club in the semi-finals of this season's Powergen Junior Vase after Solihull and Worcester Wanderers were paired in the quarter-final draw. The Midlands Four West (South) rivals have already met once in the league this
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50 years ago
Friday May 7, 1954. AFTER 41 years of a varied existence - during which it has been devoted in turn to professional and amateur band shows and professional boxing tournaments - the Palace Theatre, Redditch, will close at the end of tomorrow's show, possibly
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100 years ago
Saturday, May 7, 1904 SIX youths named Joseph Wilkes, Charles Wilkes, Alfred Gibbs, Ernest Sealey, Ernest Tolley and Frederick Haden were charged with playing tip-cat in Beoley Road on April 25th, to the annoyance of fellow passengers. They pleaded guilty
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25 years ago
April 27, 1979 REDDITCH residents fighting plans to build a warehouse and offices near their homes have lost the first round of their fight. A top council officer's report is recommending that proposals for the warehouse - which would back onto the Studley
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Archdales building up title credentials
TITLE-chasing Archdales were in breathtaking form as they swept aside Chelmsley 5-0 with a scintillating first-half performance. Dales were first to the ball right from kick-off in the Midland Combination Division Two clash, dominating possession which
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50 years ago
April 30, 1954 AN EMPLOYEE smothered the flames and extinguished a fire which broke out in a Redditch factory of High Duty Alloys Ltd last Thursday. The fire broke out in the anodising plant. A spark from some electrical apparatus ignited a 40-gallon
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100 years ago
April 30, 1904 A WEEK or so before, we briefly recorded an accident to Inspector Yates, resulting in the fracture of one of the small bones of the fore-arm, a considerable number of bad bruises and contusions and a severe shaking-up in general. The runaway
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25 years ago
April 20, 1979 REDDITCH shopping centre has been declared a tourist spot - by 44 German visitors to the town. The holidaymakers, from Frankfurt in West Germany, enjoyed their tour of the shops during their stay at Windmill House, the Weatheroak Youth
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Brigade mystery solved
THIS picture of the fire brigade printed in our Memory Lane column on March 31 prompted a bit of head scratching among readers. It was actually the brigade of Herbert Terry's factory, off Millsbro Road in Smallwood - not British Aluminium. Clifford Taylor
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25 years ago
April 13, 1979 WHEN James Duncombe drove to victory in a west Germany "rally" several weeks ago, he wasn't behind the wheel of a highly modified saloon car. Instead, the ex-Bridley Moor High School pupil was at the control of a half-ton army Land Rover
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50 years ago
April 16, 1954 IT is expected the new Studley Road school will be completed by Easter next year, Redditch District Education Committee was told at its meeting last Friday. But, said the clerk, Mr WA Sharpe, the matter had been discussed with the education
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25 years ago
April 6, 1979 WILY tinkers are leading local authority chiefs on a cat and mouse chase around Redditch - and the travellers are winning. The combined forces of the legal departments of Redditch Council and the development corporation have been outwitted
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25 years ago
March 23, 1979 A REDDITCH councillor has attacked suggested names roads on the new town as "absolutely terrible". Cllr Frank Cardy criticised suggested names like Bulley Close and Inkpen Close which were put forward for new developments in the town. "
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50 years ago
March 26, 1954 SPACE was given on this page last week to an article which hinted that the days of the Palace Theatre, Redditch, as a theatre, were numbered, and which made several suggestions for keeping the place open and thriving. There have been only
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100 years ago
March 26, 1904 FATAL accident - Henry Malin, employed by Mr Clement Haynes, Lea End, met with a fatal accident on Thursday evening at exceptional circumstances. The deceased was in the company of Mr Heynes as wagoner, and in the evening was attending
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25 years ago
March 16, 1979 Members of the Redditch branch of the Electrical Assistants for Women were given a lively talk at a recent meeting held at Headless Cross Methodist Church. The speaker for the evening was Mr Faith Jones who explained the workings of electricity
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100 years ago
March 19, 1904 GEORGE H Tilley, baker, Mount Pleasant, was also summoned for selling bread otherwise than by weight. Acting under the instructions of Pc Bowcott, Pc Lea went to defendant's shop and purchased a small loaf on Saturday night. The loaf was
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25 years ago
March 2, 1979 YOUNGSTERS from all parts of the country are converging on Redditch in search of "paradise". They come penniless to find jobs in the New Town but most of them are forced to return home disappointed. Mr Ernest Bond, social development officer
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25 years ago
February 23, 1979. A 12TH century pond has scuppered plans to build a £20,000 annexe to Redditch fire station in Birmingham Road. Dormitories to accommodate 12 firemen had to be demolished halfway through construction because of a mix-up of building regulations
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100 years ago
February 27, 1904 WITH the death of Mr John Tipping, Inkberrow has lost one of its oldest and best known farmers and one who has taken a prominent part in the affairs of the parish. The deceased gentleman, who was 77 years of age, died somewhat suddenly
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Photo hunt
THE hunt is on for photographs of the effects of wartime bombing on Redditch - images which seem to be few and far between. Historians Alan Foxall and Ray Saunders, who are the authors of the popular Redditch Remembered book, are preparing another book
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25 years ago
February 9, 1979 Headless Cross residents are campaigning against plans to ban traffic from Evesham Road. They say detailed plans for the development of the area should be drawn up before a bus only lane is brought into effect. The area's residents' association
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Wythall specials
HERE, in about 1943, are the Special Constables who policed Wythall and Alvechurch during the war years. The picture was taken at Redditch Police Station, which in those days was in Church Street in the town centre, and was loaned by Frederick Leonard
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50 years ago
February 5, 1954 AWHIST drive to be organised by Cookhill British Legion is the first step in a scheme to provide a memorial to the two Cookhill men killed in the 1939-45 war. Their names do not appear on the other memorials in the village. The church
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25 years ago
January 26, 1979 REDDITCH old town is on a second-class treatment programme" which must not be tolerated, according to one local councillor. Councillor Paul Dyson claims that the Lodge Park area in particular is badly serviced. "Road cleaning is certainly
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JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Birmingham Hippodrome
HIPPODROME bosses must have thought all their Christmasses had come at once when this year's panto star Joe Pasquale was named TV's King of the Jungle. Jack Trot has certainly hit the jackpot in terms of ticket sales and, the good news is, folks, he's
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Date
25 years ago
January 19, 1979 The new headmaster of Abbey High School took up his post last week knowing that his school could be ripped down within the next three years. Mr Eric Halsall (39) is well qualified to deal with the disaster if it comes though, for last
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50 years ago
January 22, 1954 Work on new houses on the Batchley estate, Redditch, has been affected this week because of the strike of electricians engaged on contract work. The strike, called by the Electrical Trades Union for Monday, is part of the Union's campaign
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Date
GREASE Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
NEVERMIND "Grease is the word", Grease is the musical where everybody knows the words which leads to a hand-clapping, toe-tapping evening of entertainment. This production is no exception with a vibrant young cast headed by Norman Bowman and Hayley Evetts
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100 years ago
January 23, 1904 Hunt End - Pigeon Shooting. On Saturday a match was shot off between R Edwards, Hunt End and C Salisbury, (Studley) (five birds), the latter to give one dead bird. Both men shot badly, Edwards only killing one out of four while Salisbury
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25 years ago
January 18, 1979 REDDITCH'S scenic views of Warwickshire and the Malvern Hills are to be saved. After much deliberation, Hereford and Worcester County Council agreed to keep the Ridgeway Policy set up in the 1950s to control development in that area in
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The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Rose Theatre, Kidderminster Until Saturday
I WENT on a magical journey to Narnia on Saturday, and enjoyed every minute of it. CS Lewis's famous story was brought to life by the Nonentities, and kept all the children in the audience (and the adults) rapt throughout. Four youngsters took the lead
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MUSIC OVER THE YEARS Stourport Choral and Operatic Society's Celebration of 40 years of song
AS far as I am concerned, you can never go wrong with Gilbert and Sullivan, so I was delighted to see that the first half of this anniversary evening was a potted, concert version of HMS Pinafore. Mike Birch was brilliant as Sir Joseph Porter KCB, and
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Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds Wolverhampton Civic Hall
LIKE David Bowie before him, Nick Cave has won a huge cult following by balancing his love of discordant, semi-avant garde songwriting with melodic pop songs which retain the twist heart of his most daring work. Sunday's show in Wolverhampton leaned towards
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DOUBLE TROUBLE Rose Theatre, Kidderminster Until Saturday.
POINTLESS, silly and puerile, are the words which sum up the first of this double bill, presented in a joint venture between the Swan Playwrights and the Nonentities. Shagathon, by Nicholas Corder, tells the story of Dave, who aspires to be the next Becks
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The Finn Brothers Wolverhampton Civic Hall
Nice blokes, The Finn Brothers. They drink what appears to be mugs of tea on stage, sing songs about how they grew up together, loved their mum and cherish their families and give fans the hits which made them famous as one half of Crowded House. Monday's
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KIDDERMINSTER MALE CHOIR ANNUAL CONCERT Kidderminster Town Hall
WE left the town hall to the strains of Thank you for the Music and those are my sentiments exactly. This was another fantastic evening of song, provided by our local songsters and their special guest, Charles Ngandwe, who won television's Stars In Your
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Sticky Wicket - The Stars of Test Match Special Live Malvern Theatres
IT is often difficult to bring radio or television shows to the stage but, with its format of great chat and intimacy with the audience, Test Match Special is made for the stage. Host Ralph Dellor introduced cricketing legends Jonathan Agnew, Mike Gatting
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BLOOMING MARVELLOUS From Ballet to Blooms, Bewdley Baptist Church.
STEPHEN Wicks and Mark Welford retired as principal dancers with the Royal Ballet 10 years ago, and opened a very successful flower business in Covent Garden. This entertaining roadshow allows their love of theatrical artistic expression to continue to
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Babyshambles Shrewsbury Music Hall
WHEN Babyshambles last played this neck of the woods in April lead singer Peter Doherty was a member of The Libertines who, after just one album, were touted as the finest British band of their generation. Since then Doherty's addiction to crack has seen
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Oklahoma! Civic Centre, Stourport, Until Saturday.
THE cast of Carpet Trades Operatic Society's latest production received a deserved standing ovation on Monday night. I have seen Oklahoma! so many times that I know all the songs and most of the dialogue, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Daphne Knight
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THE ANDY WARHOL SYNDROME Jenny Eclair Ramada Hotel, Bewdley
THE Andy Warhol Syndrome is Jenny Eclair's hard-hitting one woman comedy play which reflects the current obsession with reality television and the consequences on those living Andy Warhol's prophecy. We explore the life of Carol Fletcher, a faded ex-reality
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THE BLUE PLANET Alastair Fothergill Bewdley Baptist Church
ALASTAIR Fothergill told the remarkable story of the groundbreaking documentary series about our planet's oceans with great wit, charm and insight yet it was the breathtaking imagery captured for the BBC's TV epic which enthralled the festival crowd.
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DAVID QUIGLEY Kidderminster Library
WHEN David Quigley visited Kidderminster two years ago as guest of the Classical Music Society, I was most impressed by the confidence and style of this young pianist, and I eagerly awaited his return performance. I was not disappointed as this so-talented
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The Price, Malvern Theatres run until until Saturday
SUPERBLY written with some wonderful, witty dialogue, Arthur Miller's play The Price provided a perfect evening's entertainment. Set against the backdrop of the "Great Depression", the play explores family relations and how money, or lack of it, can affect
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Jesus Christ Superstar Birmingham Hippodrome Running until Saturday, September 18
BILL Kenwright's new production is a polished show with all the essential ingredients of a theatrical smash. The world premiere of the musical charting the last seven days of Christ's life boasted a striking musical score and strong cast, including former
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CHARITY CONCERT Kidderminster Town Hall.
I DON'T like being uncomplimentary about a concert which was a great idea and for a wonderful cause, but this lacked organisation, with little attention to timing, balance or musical content. The concert was organised by Operation Homeland to mark the
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JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT Birmingham Hippodrome, until August 21.
WHAT can I say that has already not been said about this fantastic show? As always I left the theatre feeling I had been to a wonderful party. This version is the "proper" one, the Bill Kenwright production which has been around for over 20 years, and
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Valentines, Kidderminster Arts Festival, Town Hall
A CUDDLY baboon stole the show on Saturday night, having been taken along by Mary Baulk, who runs the Butterfly Puppet Theatre. Throughout the evening, when the emphasis was on fun for children (of all ages), Mrs Baulk and her collection of animals encouraged
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Todd Rundgren Symphony Hall, Birmingham
THOSE of you who own the clutch of stunning albums Todd Rundgren made during the early 70s probably pondered over whether to check out his show last week at Symphony Hall, one of his first British dates in a decade. Well, you didn't miss anything. Todd's
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Prime site worth taking risks for
Over the Christmas period it seems to me that we have had almost every sort of weather imaginable. There were days of torrential rain, snow, and bitter frosts, gales and bright sunny days where at a push you might have possibly got away with wearing a
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18/1/05 - Sixways team in away tie
NORTH Midlands are guaranteed a club in the semi-finals of this season's Powergen Junior Vase after Solihull and Worcester Wanderers were paired in the quarter-final draw. The Midlands Four West (South) rivals have already met once in the league this
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Date
Macbeth Heartbreak Productions Wenlock Priory
DIRECTOR Peter Mimmack stated he wished to create a "fresh, visual, psychological, theatrical and dynamic perspective" with his version of this popular Shakespeare play. And he certainly achieved his aim in a thoroughly enjoyable version of the play that
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THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE Baxter College, Kidderminster.
IT was great to see the young folk of Kidderminster Operatic and Dramatic Society's youth section (KODYS) so obviously enjoying themselves while entertaining us last week. This was a shortened version of the Gilbert and Sullivan favourite, but most of
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LYSISTRATA Rose Theatre, Kidderminster
THE young cast from Kidderminster College made us laugh with this up-beat version of Aristophenes' tale of the original women's libbers, who decided they had had enough of war-making, so refused any love-making until their menfolk came to their senses
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Thunderous applause for local heroes
KIDDERMINSTER MALE CHOIR CENTENARY CONCERT Symphony Hall, Birmingham KIDDERMINSTER folk did their award-winning choir proud on Saturday night, as Symphony Hall was packed with familiar faces, who either arrived in the fleet of coaches which headed up
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DUNCAN HONEYBOURNE Kidderminster Library Classical Music Society
ON Friday night, after Duncan Honeybourne's performance of his Piano Sonata number one, composer John Joubert commented: "That was exactly right" - praise indeed. And that phrase sums up the entire programme, which was well-balanced, mixed between popular
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CHINESE STATE CIRCUS Oldington Park, Kidderminster
FOR an evening of breathtaking stunts, juggling dexterity and exhausting acrobatics, there can be no better place than at ringside of the circus. From the opening tumblers, we knew we were in for some exciting entertainment, and were soon treated to a
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KIDDERMINSTER MALE CHOIR Town Hall, Saturday
THE "men in red" are on top form in this, their centenary year, and made a super start to their concert season, the high spot of which will be their concert in Symphony Hall on June 19. We were treated to some popular items such as Cwm Rhonda, the gentle
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Jade Lewis, Kidderminster Library.
THE Young Musicians series organised by the Classical Music Society has introduced us to many talented pianists over the years, and the first recital since being renamed the Beryl Chempin series, certainly kept up the standard we have come to expect.
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LOST IN YONKERS Rose Theatre, Kidderminster, Until Saturday.
NEIL Simon's glorious dialogue is given a brilliant interpretation by the Nonentities this week. The story of the two lads who are left with their irascible grandma and child-like aunt while their father tries to make some money, is brought to life with
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COLD MOUNTAIN On general release at cinemas nationwide
IT is little wonder this movie, which charts the effects of the American Civil War on a group of people whose lives are intertwined by love, desperation and sheer hopelessness, has been nominated for 13 BAFTAs and is expected to shine at the Oscars. Boasting
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Date
Bo' Selecta 2 Channel 4 Productions Cert 18
WHILE it does not cater for everyone's tastes and takes some getting used to, there is no escaping the hilarious allure of spoof fly-on-the-wall documentary Bo Selecta once you're hooked - and I am. The second series of the show following celebrity stalker
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New Year's treat for concert-goers
NEW YEAR'S DAY CONCERT Midland Concert Orchestra Town Hall, Kidderminster THIS super concert has certainly become part of my New Year celebrations, but I was surprised at the number of empty seats - perhaps the inclement weather put people off, but they
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Date
Leave that leech alone - he's one sticky customer
Many of us will only have ever seen a leech on television when some daredevil of a presenter will allow him or herself to be bitten for the sake of scientific curiosity and presumably a fat pay cheque. Leeches are far from uncommon in the natural world
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Exploiting new food sources is key to survival
Winter is always a hard time for our terrestrial wildlife. The cold conditions mean that unless an animal has some way of heating itself up using an internal mechanism then it is going to be impossible to survive in an active form through the winter.
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Under-estimating rabbit ingenuity
A VISIT to a nature reserve can sometimes present us with a puzzle which can lead to doing a little detective work to solve the mini mystery. A recent example of one of these mysteries was a strangely smooth path in the wet woodland at Hurcott. There
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Robin proves welcome visitor in winter garden
WITH most of the trees having lost their leaves in readiness for the coming winter, gardens can often look rather bare. However, this drabness does seem to focus the attention on the wonderfully colourful small birds that have opted to brave out the British
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NEW YEAR'S DAY VIENNESE CONCERT Kidderminster Town Hall
AT the start of this year's concert, the mayor of Kidderminster, Councillor Siri Hayward, gave a short history of the Town Hall to mark its 150th anniversary, then asked for a minute's silence in respect of the victims of the tsunami disaster. Possibly
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Date
Truth behind threatened reserve's chequered past
THE Devil's Spittleful nature reserve, which lies in the triangle of land between the towns of Stourport, Bewdley and Kidderminster, must be one of the most enigmatically named nature reserves in the country. The name comes from local folklore which concerns
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Date
Paradise isle of Ceylon
I SUPPOSE it was inevitable that the devastation in South East Asia should remind me of my wartime sojourn in Sri Lanka where many places currently in the news are well known to me. In those days, the official name was Ceylon, but to those of us who took
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Colourful birds will soon find a place in your heart
NO matter what the weather, no matter what sort of horrible, stressful or boring day at work you may have had, there is one little wildlife gem that can always brighten the day and bring a smile to your face-unless of course you are a fish. Then the sight
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Tiny marsh provides refuge for wealth of animal life
ONE of the things that always surprises me is just how much wildlife can be found even in a small nature reserve. Blake Marsh Local Nature Reserve being only five hectares, or 12 acres, in size has to be one of the smallest reserves looked after by the
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Date
The act of lighting fires has become ridiculously easy
Fire mixed with nature is nearly always a bad thing. In pre-human times though, naturally started fire could prove to be really positive. It cleared areas of old growth and allowed new and diverse communities to become briefly established as the burned
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Conservation of wetland habitats is an uphill battle
ON many occasions I have written about the splendour of our district's lowland heaths. If you take a trip out to any of them now it is easy to see why as the heather is in bloom and the bleak heathland landscape is a wonderful purple colour. It is such
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Landscapes transformed into spectacular scenes
THE shortening of the daylight hours has a few advantages. For one thing it makes it much more convenient to explore the natural world at dusk and dawn. This is my favourite time out on nature reserves as the variety of different lighting conditions frequently
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Look a bit closer and you'll find hidden wildlife wonders
One thing that often puzzles me is the lack of wildlife programmes on television looking at British wildlife. When it is shown, the stars tend to be restricted to one or regulars such as foxes and badgers. On the other hand, we see the brightly coloured
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Embarking on the biggest adventures of their lives
SUMMER school holidays are great for the kids, but it can be quite a challenging time for some parents, as they attempt to keep the youngsters interested and prevent them from becoming bored and getting into mischief. For many years now Wyre Forest District
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Date
Impressive heron is a joy to behold as day breaks
ONE of Wyre Forest district's most impressive birds has to be the grey heron. When standing, this bird has a stature of nearly a metre and when in flight its wing span is nearly two metres which quite easily dwarfs our district's biggest bird of prey,
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18/1/05 - Solanki handed England 'A' spot
WORCESTERSHIRE skipper Vik-ram Solanki has been named in an England 'A' squad to tour United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka. Solanki will join the 'A' team in February and March after playing with the England cricket squad in their one-day internationals
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Date
From Golden Tigers to Silence of the Lambs star
ONE frequently asked question is "what is the difference between a butterfly and a moth?" The answer is a little fuzzy, as the distinction is much more historic than it is scientific. In general, moths fly at night and butterflies fly during the day.
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Date
Cattle achieving goals
IT is the sixth year of the Wyre Forest GAP project. The scheme focuses on providing cattle to graze areas of conservation value - local nature reserves, sites of special scientific interest, and national reser-ves in north Worcestershire. Many of these
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Date
Concrete ruins now offer perfect home for wildlife
IT must have been quite a few years ago when I first came across the remains of the old Second World War American army hospital's water tower on Burlish Top. At that time, it was just possible to make out the square outline of the foundations, the rest
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Date
Early summer flowers are a joy to behold
I ALWAYS feel that the months of May and June are important times in the calendar of a Ranger looking after wetland areas. It is at this time of year that the results of the previous year's management can be most clearly seen as the spring and early summer
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Date
Crafty rabbits find new ways to elude predators
THE deluge of rain we had in April has proved to be a bounty for many of our district's wild plants and animals, with mild and damp conditions being just what many of our springtime plants needed to put on a real spurt of growth. This abundance of plant
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Date
Insect quest comes to painful end as talented tiger beetle bites back
APRIL has certainly been a month of contrasts. The beginning of the month was cool and spring-like, the end of the month was wet and cool, while the middle of the month was hot and summery. It was on one of those sweltering summer-like days that I began
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Date
Educational programme spreads valuable message to youngsters
PART of my job as a ranger with Wyre Forest District Council is to share my knowledge, experience and enthusiasm of the natural world with others. Much of this work involves educating the district's children and even now, after 13 years, I still get a
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Date
Don't be fooled by first impressions
AT the beginning of April many people may indulge in, or at least keep a wary eye out for, people playing tricks on them. While in our human environment it is either harmless fun or irritating, depending on your point of view, in the animal world trickery
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Date
First flowers of spring warm our hearts
AS March blends into April spring slowly starts to unfold. The wetlands have been the first to respond to the sun's warming rays with new growth starting to come through. The first flowers have even started to open, with the most striking of these being
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Date
Beauties drive away drab winter days
IN the spring, many people take great delight in the beautiful display put on by many of the garden bulbs, such as daffodils, snowdrops, crocuses and hyacinths. Plants that develop from bulbs use nutrients which they store in that bulb from the previous
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Date
Fish Stocks
LAST week I was fortunate enough to spend some time working on Hurcott Pools and Wood nature reserve. My chief job there was to adjust the fish stocks in the main pool. Hurcott pool has very shallow water with high levels of nutrients and a very silty
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Date
Youngsters have muddy good time
THE first event after the holidays found the Young Rangers feeling heavy after eating too much, so it was time for some exercise. The walk started off on a cold day in Habberley Valley, with muddy conditions underfoot. After walking for 10 minutes, the
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Date
Hartlebury Common
THE evening before I had gone for a stroll on Hartlebury Common, and once away from the glare of the worst of the street lights, I had taken a moment to stop and stare up into the clear skies. The sky was a mass of tiny stars, but the most striking sight
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Date
Puxton Marsh
PUXTON Marsh nature reserve is a lovely place to visit in the spring when the wild flowers are coming into bloom. In winter, things are a lot drabber, with only the tussocks of the soft and hard rushes and distinctive brown sausage-shaped flowering heads
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Date
Frosty Morning
THERE is something nice about going for an early morning walk on a cold and frosty morning. Everything looks much more vibrant, compared to the usual drab winter colours. It is especially beautiful when a low sun is just peeping over the horizon, making
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25 years ago July 20, 1979
Townsfolk were complaining of being disturbed by low-flying jets. Bromsgrove's MP, Hal Miller, had written to the Ministry of Defence asking why the aircraft were training over the district. The planes had spooked farmyard animals, set infants screaming
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Date
50 years ago July 17, 1954
BOTH urban and rural councils in Bromsgrove were experiencing problems recruiting dustmen to carry out the fortnightly refuse collections from 8,000 homes in the district, At present, it was being done by 22 men using four carts but as more homes were
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Date
25 years ago July 6, 1979
BROMSGROVE council was preparing to get tough on motorists who refused to pay the £5 excess "fine" when caught not having paid the 10p car park fee. The amount so far lost to the authority since last year was £3,000. RECENT severe weather meant work on
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Date
25 years ago June 29, 1979
GOVERNMENT cutbacks in education grants, amounting to £13m over the past four years, was starting to have serious effects on local schools. Text books were in short supply and teachers had taken on many of the duties normally carried out by ancillary
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Date
50 years ago July 3, 1954
FOOD rationing was finally set to end this weekend and the final meeting of the Bromsgrove control committee was held at the Council House. Tributes were paid to the 50 committee members who had carried out the government's orders during, what at times
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Date
50 years ago December 18, 1954
MEMBERS of Stoke Prior Parish Council decided at their meeting to give their active support to the appeal for help in meeting the cost of renovating Stoke Prior Village Hall. Treasurer Mr ES Passmore told colleagues that the provision of a new floor had
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Date
100 years ago July 2, 1904
WILLIAM Crampton, landlord of the Boat pub at Stoke Works, and George Patterson, of the White Hart in Hanover Street, appeared before Bromsgrove magistrates charged with adding water to their whisky and rum respectively. In both cases Lucy Perry, whose
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Date
60 years ago December 16, 1944
IT was announced some 50 students from Bromsgrove County High School would be assisting with the mail deliveries to assure the Christmas post got through on time. University and college students were also assisting in mail sorting. People were being urged
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Date
June 22, 1979 25 years ago
RESOURCEFUL Ian Jennings, 16, of Old Station Road, Bromsgrove, was doing something practical to realise his dream of getting into showbusiness by arranging interviews with the stars. Already he had met John Inman, Trevor Bannister, Nicholas Parsons and
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Date
June 25, 1904 100 years ago
ALICE Potter, aged 17, from Bromsgrove, pleaded guilty at the Worcester Assizes to a charge of forgery. She had written a letter purporting to come from her family's landlord, Mr Ince, of High Street, to the bailiff, to the effect that no rent was owed
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100 years ago December 3, 1904
ELIZA Knowles was lucky to be alive, according to magistrates at Bromsgrove police court. She appeared before them charged with being so drunk, in Little Lane near her home in Worcester Street, that she was incapable of speaking or standing upright. She
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25 years ago November 16, 1979
CAR-STARVED British Leyland dealers who could not get their hands on enough of the firm's best seller, the popular Mini range produced at Longbridge, were having to turn customers away. This was having a detrimental effect on sales and which resulted
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25 years ago November 9, 1979
BROMSGROVE would know before Christmas whether its bid to form a twinning link with Gronau in West Germany would be successful. A delegation from Gronau had just completed a whistlestop tour of Bromsgrove to judge its suitability. Bromsgrove had already
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50 years ago November 6, 1954
SPEAKING at the annual dinner of Bromsgrove Town Band, Chairman of the Urban District Council, Mr Webley, gave the news that the long awaited bandstand will probably be erected in Sanders Park. The meeting was held at the Golden Cross, in Bromsgrove.
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25 years ago October 26, 1979
BROMSGROVE and District Canine Society had a good quality entry for their final show of the year. Best in show was a whippet bitch named Savillepark Symphony, best opposite sex was golden retriever Andy Grey Token of Michant, with a standard poodle bitch
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50 years ago October 23, 1954
TWO religious memorial murals given by Donald Gilbert of London in memory of his father Walter, one of the founders of the Bromsgrove Guild along with Lous Weingartner his loyal assistant for many years, were dedicated at a service at Hanbury church.
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25 years ago October 12, 1979
JOHN Edney, aged 42, a bus driver from Lander Close, Rubery, got a shock when experts told him the misshapen object he had dug up after locating it with bis metal detector was a cannon ball from the Civil War. He returned to the undisclosed spot and dug
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50 years ago October 16, 1954
COUNCIL house tenants in Bromsgrove were upset at new rules which limited them to keeping one dog, six hens and an outright ban on cockerels. Frank Taylor an enterprising tenant from Sidemoor who bred Alsations had got round the new ruling limiting the
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60 years ago October 14, 1944
WALKMILLS Farm at Wychbold, comprising a house, outbuildings and 57 acres of land came under the hammer at an auction conducted by Luce and Silvers the Bromsgrove auctioneers. After spirited bidding it was sold for £4,000. VISITORS to an open day at Bromsgrove's
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100 years ago October 1, 1904
THE daily newspaper The Morning Leader carried a picture of a lad from Wychbold, one Master Sproaten, whom it described as a "giant." The boy, aged five weighed a massive 9stones 4lbs. AN inquest jury sitting at Bromsgrove Police Court returned an accidental
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September 14, 1979 25 years ago
BOURNHEATH cat breeder Marion Pearson, from Parish Hill, was doing her bit to foster better relationships with countries from behind the Iron Curtain. Two of her prize Persian pussies had been exported to a village near Budapest where their new owner
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100 years ago September 17, 1904
COMPLAINTS from nearby residents about organised ball games, particularly football, being played in Crown Close could lead to the town getting its first official recreation ground. Bromsgrove's town council was to explore the possibility of allowing building
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25 years ago August 31, 1979
MRS Gill Hadgetts was presented with a cheque for £1,000 after being the last winner of the old-style Bromsgrove District Council lottery. It was the last draw before a new bingo style was introduced. BROMSGROVE juvenile court magistrates heard how two
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Merger brings rise in profits
A WORCESTER-based computer systems company has increased its annual turnover by £2m by merging with another business. BDE Group announced it has acquired 100 per cent of the share capital of the London-based Object Group. The new enlarged business, which
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Free trims for launch
A NEW hair salon is offering free trims to celebrate its launch today. Avant Garde has opened in the Cannons Health Club in Droitwich Road, Worcester, and is a unisex salon and will offer 20 per cent off all colours, cuts and treatments throughout January
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50 years ago August 28, 1954
Bromsgrove High School students were celebrating their exam results. Most pupils took one or two advanced levels, but some of the brighter ones excelled and passed three. Three or four 'O', or ordinary, levels were generally taken. The Messenger carried
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Changing name for Pershore solicitors
TWO of the oldest firms in the legal profession in Pershore and Tewkesbury are to change names. Solicitors Gordon Bancks of Pershore and Thomson & Badham of Tewkesbury will now operate under the one name of Thomson & Bancks Solicitors. The firm
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100 years ago August 27, 1904
BROMSGROVE was to have comedies and tragedies to look forward to as a theatrical licence was granted for Viola Jennings to stage plays in a temporary building in Crown Close for two months from October 1. Chairman of the magistrates' bench, Mr Hobson,
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25 years ago August 17, 1979
COMEDIAN Ernie Wise was to officially open Bromsgrove's new Fine Fare supermarket in Market Street. And the well-known actor Gordon Jackson had promised to come to make the draw for a raffle for a holiday of a lifetime, courtesy of the store. n THE widening
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100 years ago August 20, 1904
SOME paupers at Droitwich workhouse took the opportunity to complain about the plague of flies that was making life miserable, when one of the ruling guardians, Mr Holyoake Wight, paid a visit. They said bald inmates were particularly affected. The master
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100 years ago August 13, 1904
TRADE in Droitwich was getting worse, a situation that prompted the town council to ask the Salt Unionth largest employer if it could take on more staff. The Spa's baths industry and spin offs from it like the hotel trade were flourishing, but what what
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50 years ago August 7, 1954
BROMSGROVE firm JK Bradshaw was responsible for the first major building to be finished of the re-planned Coventry city centre, which was destroyed during the war. It was a contemporary designed hairdressing salon. The firm carried out the work in less
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100 years ago August 6, 1904
TWO Birmingham men appeared at Bromsgrove Police Court on a charge of illegal gambling. Thomas Marsden, of Bordsley Park Road, Birmingham, and James Bridgwater, of Green Lane, Black Heath, were charged with playing a game called 'backing the colours'
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Award for Fred's service to community
MORE than 25 years of service to people with learning difficulties were rewarded when Fred Middleton came runner-up in a nationwide competition. Mr Middleton who set up and runs the Thursday Activity Club at the Perryfield Centre in Stanley Road, Worcester
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Artist shares his skills
THE artist who painted a controversial portrait of Stanley Baldwin for Worcestershire County Council is now teaching others how to paint. Neill Lowdon, of St Peter's Road, Droitwich, has been painting full-time since he was 21. He was caught up in a political
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Turn up, tune up and raise cash
TALENTED musicians are invited to tune up and raise pots of cash for the tsunami appeal at a charity jamming session in Droitwich. Singers, drummers and guitarists alike are invited to Jam Sunday at The Doverdale Pub in Stalls Farm Road on Sunday, January
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Hospice benefits from collection
A PROPERTY company has helped boost the coffers of a Worcester hospice that provides care and support for people with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Worcester-based firm Lukel Properties organised a Christmas collection in city centre pubs
