Archive

Date

Comedy struggles to keep afloat

Review: Without A Paddle (12) THREE old friends get more than they bargained for when their last big adventure before they hit 30 spirals into disaster in this endearing but mirthless movie. Meek doctor Dan (Seth Green), man-child Jerry (Matthew Lillard

Date

Where to go

Wednesday, April 20 Exhibition: Mehndhi Around the World, ancient art of mehndi, Droitwich Library, Victoria Square, Droitwich. Thursday, April 21 Event: Bromsgrove and District Flower Arrangement Society, All Saints' Church Hall, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove

Date

Going bonkers for Yonkers

THE United States during the Second World War is the setting for Wythall Theatre Company's latest production, Lost In Yonkers, at Kingsley College Theatre from today. Written by popular playwright Neil Simon and winner of the Pulitzer Drama Prize, the

Date

No disguising a great tale

THE RSC's summer season continues with the dark comedy Twelfth Night, which previews at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from Tuesday. The story of twins Viola and Sebastian, shipwrecked with each believing the other to be drowned leading to a tale of disguise

Date

What's On Guide

Thursday, April 21 Wythall Theatre Company: Lost In Yonkers by Neil Simon, Kingsley Theatre. Until April 23. Tickets from 830728. Studley Operatic Society: 'Musicality,' Studley Village Hall. Until April 23. Tickets from 892594. Ray Gelato and his Giants

Date

Shakin' Stevens The Collection

IT is a truth universally acknowledged that any 80s singer who is trying to resurrect their career more than 20 years after their prime will end in abject failure. So it will be for Welsh "rocker" Michael Barratt, who is trying desperately to cling onto

Date

Taxi (15)

YOU could probably count on one hand the amount of films that sees the car as the main star. Incredibly, this is one of them. But even the high-octane action movies like The Fast and The Furious and Gone in Sixty Seconds have made some kind of effort

Date

Car hits house

A CAR was driven into the front of a house in Low Field Lane, Brockhill, causing "considerable structural damage" on Monday. The woman driver drove off following the collision at 6.14pm but was later arrested on suspicion of drink-driving. Hereford and

Date

Police monitor travellers' site

POLICE are monitoring a new travellers camp set up on a car park on the Washford Industrial Estate. Officers were called to the Heming Road site, opposite Valeo, last Friday at 9am after reports the travellers had been ripping down fence panels to burn

Date

Fireball victim seeks payout

A REDDITCH man thought he was going to die following an horrific accident at work, which was caused by the company's negligence. Mick Alborghetti, 55, was turned into a human fireball after a gas explosion at the former Lakeland 2000 workshop in Broad

Date

Teen slapped with three-year ASBO

A WALKWOOD youth has had a three-year Antisocial Behaviour Order placed on him after harassing a married couple on at least four separate occasions. Christopher Anderson, 18, was also given a community punishment order involving 200 hours of community

Date

Order for string of motoring offences

AN 18 year old from Woodrow who has been convicted of a string of motoring offences has been issued with a two-year supervision order. Saul Francis Jones ppeared before Redditch Magistrates on Friday and was convicted of theft and motoring offences resulting

Date

Alcester U3A

AN eye-opening session was enjoyed by Alcester U3A at the April meeting with the Rev Philip Challis talking about genetic engineering. It was the first chance for many to hear the facts about GM other than from a commercial firm or the media. Mr Challis

Date

Matt a doubt

EXPERIENCED batsman Matt Dallaway could miss Barnt Green's difficult cup ties this weekend. Dallaway is nursing an ankle injury and could miss the season's opening weekend. His absence would be a blow as Barnt Green begin their defence of the Graham Williamson

Date

Derby win for Bromsgrove

BROMSGROVE CC prepared for the season with a confidence boosting friendly victory over derby rivals Redditch on Saturday. Two wickets in the final over by Richard Barnes saw the Boars take local pride. Captain Nick Davies lost the toss and Redditch put

Date

Regan ready to rumble in nationals

RUBERY heavyweight Mark Regan is aiming to build on an impressive record when he fights in National Novice Championships in Sheffield on Thursday. Regan, aged 21, takes an impressive record of nine wins out of ten bouts since he stepped up to the heavyweight

Date

Medal success

DROITWICH's Robert Alloway won gold at the AJA National finals to ensure his place in the British squad competing in Holland in May. The Droitwich Judo Club blackbelt, aged 26, won gold in the under-60 kilogram weight category in Castle Vale. Alloway's

Date

Hollywood WI

AT the April meeting, Mr Davis spoke about the Mary Rose, flag ship of Henry VIII. Built in 1511, it became the first warship of Henry's navy. She sank with 700 men on board and lay at the bottom of the sea until raised in 1982. Mr Davis showed wonderful

Date

Duo book place in next round

FATHER and son pairing Clive and Peter Nash eased into the second round of the Birmingham and District League Chairman's Trophy on Sunday. The duo, part of Bromsgrove Golf Club's 17 to 24 handicap team, defeated a pairing from Pype Hayes 3-1 in the fourball

Date

50 years ago

April 22, 1955 A DRAFT plan which is aimed at easing traffic problems, particularly for vehicles emerging out of Church Green West, known as The Parade, is to be placed before the Safety First Committee for consultation, it was agreed at Tuesday's meeting

Date

Parking fury for market

ANGRY residents in two Alcester streets are threatening to scupper the town's first farmer's market planned for Friday. People living in Butter Street and Henley Street object to the market being held around the historic town hall saying they should have

Date

Fishing fine

A REDDITCH man has been fined £300 for fishing without a rod licence. Samuel Ferris, 51, of Twinoaks, Curr Lane Farm, pleaded guilty by post to one charge of fishing without a rod licence and one charge of failing to state his correct name to a water

Date

Hospital plan a step closer

ALCESTER'S new community hospital should be up and running within 18 months. The consortium of three doctors behind the project have now bought the land, in Kinwarton Road, from South Warwickshire Primary Care Trust and are preparing to submit detailed

Date

Charities chosen

ENERGETIC residents are being invited to give Redditch charities a run for their money. Three of the causes set to benefit from the town's fun run on May 21 have been announced and include Redditch's Where Next Association, which prepares people with

Date

Chairman's appeal to council

THE chairman of trustees of the Greig Centre has pleaded with Alcester Town Council to reconsider a £150,000 grant to the venue. At a meeting of the council on Monday, Phil Talbot told councillors the centre's future lay in their hands - if the money

Date

Fresh fears for Greig scheme

THE Greig Centre is to get £50,000 from Alcester Town Council despite a public vote supporting three times that amount. Councillors voted last Tuesday to honour their pledge of £50,000, the original grant requested by Greig trustees, after being given

Date

Joy at Fair Trade status

A REDDITCH church is celebrating after achieving Fair Trade status. St Peter's Church in Ipsley has became a recognised supporter of the Fairtrade Foundation. The church, which has supported the cause for many years, has pledged to serve and promote Fairtrade

Date

Election

CANDIDATES in the county council elections are now half way through their campaign. Fighting for seats on Warwickshire County Council for the Alcester and Studley areas are: Alcester: Nina Knapman (Lib Dem); Paul Martin (Cons); John Ritchie (Lab). Aston

Date

We survived MG Rover collapse - so could you

A DROITWICH firm has been hailed for making a move in the right direction to dispel some of the gloom surrounding MG Rover. Chess Plastics, which employs more than 80 people at its base on the Berry Hill Industrial Estate, has been held up as an example

Date

Patience plea on hostel

VILLAGERS are being urged to be patient after raising concerns about a nearby hostel. Wythall residents claim Wythall Lodge Hostel, Alcester Road, is at the root of antisocial behaviour. At a meeting at Wythall Village Hall on Tuesday, April 12, residents

Date

Plotting at Court

TELEVISION historian David Starkey will be at Coughton Court tomorrow to take part in a series of events marking the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot. He will join Clare Throckmorton to open a new interactive exhibition before giving a talk to

Date

Match was a winner

A CHARITY football match has been hailed a success. More than 100 fans turned out to see players from Redditch Council's landscaping and countryside department beat a team of contractors 9-2. The match was held at the Abbey Stadium and all money raised

Date

Quiz bid

A TEAM of Cub Scouts from Welford were out to prove their road safety skills last night when they took part in an annual quiz. Organised by Warwickshire County Council's Road Safety Unit, the quiz attracted 200 entries from Cub and Brownie packs, with

Date

Warm response to blanket plea

GENEROUS Redditch residents have donated scores of old blankets for their four-legged friends. The town's dog warden, Julie Edmonds, wished to thank Advertiser readers who responded so generously to her recent appeal for old blankets and linen. The items

Date

Village roars into action

PATRIOTS are invited to Alvechurch for the annual St George's Day extravaganza on Saturday. Cream teas, Morris dancing, fish and chips and singing hymns will be just some of the traditionally English pastimes enjoyed by villagers and visitors. The fun

Date

Time to get on your bike

WORK has started on a new £150,000 cycle route from Redditch to Kings Norton. The route forms part of the National Cycle Network and will run from Church Hill and Arrow Valley Park along Icknield Street though Beoley and follow the old Roman road to Kings

Date

Market set for return

Alcester regains its ancient market town status this Friday with a new farmers' market situated around our old market hall, known as the Town Hall, in Henley Street. It is organised by Warwickshire Farmers Markets under strict rules so when you visit

Date

Sports hall questions

HAVING seen your item in this week's Alcester Chronicle regarding the new sports hall at Alcester Grammar School, may I ask the following questions? 1. How was the £200,000 grant given by the council raised? 2. Why do we need another sports centre in

Date

100 jobs go at Royal Worcester Porcelain

MORE than 100 people are to be made redundant from Royal Worcester Porcelain at the end of this week. The move follows an announcement made in January, which revealed that a lack of business at the troubled company meant that large-scale job losses "by

Date

Dumped by Rover, desperate for work

WORCESTERSHIRE people hit by the MG Rover crisis have been telling of their struggle to find work. One man has advertised himself available for work in the Worcester News in an attempt to find a job, while another faces being made homeless with his pregnant

Date

Japanese firm to back charity run

A CHARITY event held in Worcestershire has gained notice from very far afield. A Japanese company is sponsoring this year's Crowle Gunpowder Plot 10k road race and one-mile Fun Run after hearing that half of the proceeds will be donated to Acorns Children's

Date

Welcome to Malvern, your Royal Highness

PRINCESS Alexandra came to Malvern yesterday to help celebrate a century of caring for the elderly. She was greeted by staff and dignitaries at Davenham residential home and its sister home Perrins House, in Graham Road. She enjoyed a tour of the grounds

Date

Prizes plea

GOODIES galore are needed to boost a charity auction being held in aid of Webheath First School. Businesses and individuals are being asked to donate gifts to be auctioned off at a fund-raising ball next month. Organiser Tracey Drysdale said they already

Date

Champions promised tough game

MANAGER Jimmy Mullen has called for out-of-sorts Bromsgrove Rovers to stun champions Mangotsfield United on Saturday and keep alive their slim automatic promotion hopes. The Southern League Division One West champions come to the Victoria Ground in good

Date

Just Cliquot leads rivals a merry dance

THE Lady Dudley Cup provided the most thrilling finish of the day on a eight race card at the Worcestershire Hunt point-to-point meeting held at Chaddesley Corbett on Saturday. Gary Hanmer rode nine-year-old Just Cliquot, trained at Shifnal by Corinne

Date

Boars exit the cup

Whitchurch 15 Bromsgrove 12 North Midlands Cup semi-final COACH Dean Ball slammed his players as a chance to win some silverware went begging on Saturday. Ball felt a strong Bromsgrove side did not perform anywhere near their best. He said: "I was spitting

Date

Bailey calls for win

DROITWICH director of rugby Julian Bailey has urged his players to end their disastrous season on a high by beating OId Yardleians away from home on Saturday. The relegated side takes a nearly full strength team to Old Yardleians. Only hooker Dean Goddard

Date

Builder saves the Mayor's Banquet

THE big-hearted boss of a building firm has rescued this year's annual Mayor of Worcester's charity banquet on Friday. The continuing £600,000 works to bring the Grade II listed Guildhall in line with the Disability Discrimination Act had forced inspectors

Date

Older folk turn over a new leaf

ELDERLY people will be able to book-browse while also getting help and advice from advisers as a new drop-in session starts at Worcester Library. The first session was held at the Foregate Street venue yesterday and about half a dozen people attended.

Date

Ghostly goings-on give play that 'whooo' factor

THERE will be some ghostly goings-on in Worcester during the next few weeks when the Swan Theatre stages a spoof melodrama by Gilbert and Sullivan. The Swan will stage the operetta Ruddigore following the last of this season's Ghost Walks, which takes

Date

Children sleeping their way to record

A WORLD record could be broken when Worcestershire children join thousands of others for the biggest sleepover in history. The BT Giant Sleepover will take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 18 and 19, and the organisers are gearing up for 100,000 children

Date

Marathon joy

ALCESTER businessman David Harrison raised £2,000 for charity in little more than five hours - by running the London Marathon. With an official time of 5.06.01 David, aged 44, said he was pleased with his performance but the experience had proved harder

Date

Alert after purse theft

REDDITCH people are being warned by police to be vigilant after an elderly woman had her purse snatched in the town centre. The woman, in her 80s, was in Alcester Street at about 11am on Saturday, April 9, when she felt someone brush past her. She checked

Date

Comedy struggles to keep afloat

Review: Without A Paddle (12) THREE old friends get more than they bargained for when their last big adventure before they hit 30 spirals into disaster in this endearing but mirthless movie. Meek doctor Dan (Seth Green), man-child Jerry (Matthew Lillard

Date

20/4/05 - Heeley in race to make clash

CARL Heeley is itching to shake off an ankle injury and provide experience in defence for Saturday's mouth-watering clash against champions-elect Droylsden. Worcester City are without suspended Paul Carty for the St George's Lane fixture, leaving player-manager

Date

Time to face new horizons

AS the dust begins to settle on the Rover debacle, the human side of the tragedy is beginning to come out. When we read of 5,000 redundancies, it is all too easy to shake our heads, tut and turn the page. When it is your neighbour who is facing losing

Date

Silky skills shown

SPECIAL Olympics Redditch put on a five star show for the West Midlands five-a-side competition on Saturday. Nearly 20 teams from across the region including Dudley, Sutton Coldfield, Solihull, Leamington and Worcestershire descended on Trinity High School

Date

Rich ready to step up

REDDITCH jet-skier Andy Rich has sped off with the JSRA British Winter Championship after a dramatic end to the series. The 19-year-old racer from Greenlands was in fourth position after the first three rounds at Tyram Lake, near Doncaster, and Willen

Date

Where to go

Wednesday, April 20 Exhibition: Mehndhi Around the World, ancient art of mehndi, Droitwich Library, Victoria Square, Droitwich. Thursday, April 21 Event: Bromsgrove and District Flower Arrangement Society, All Saints' Church Hall, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove

Date

Point to safety?

Studley 2 Oadby 2 BEES boss Kevin Rowlands remains upbeat after scrambling to a point against Oadby at the Beehive. Rowlands believes one point from their remaining two games against Loughborough and Quorn could be enough to see them stay in the Alliance

Date

Reds on course for top 7 finish

Alfreton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Redditch United. . . . . . . . . . 2 ANOTHER game, another win for Redditch United. This time mid-table Alfreton Town were the victims as the North Street side ended up being the creators of their own downfall

Date

Neville's getting all washed up!

By Lynda Morrison MORE than 12 tons of water will be used to create a "splashing" set when popular entertainer Les Dennis stars in Neville's Island at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from Friday. The play centres on four middle-aged middle managers on a

Date

Fun for Cross

HEADLESS Cross Juniors are holding a club fundraiser on Saturday from 10am-4pm. The event opposite Seven Stars Pub on Birchfield Road where football based events, a barbecue and stalls will be on offer to raise funds for the club's 10 junior teams.

Date

Skies are blue for Athletic!

ALCESTER Athletic FC received their FA Charter Standard at a special ceremony at Coventry City's Highfield Road on Saturday. More than 80 players and coaches from the club were invited to the Sky Blues' Coca Cola Championship match against Wolves to receive

Date

No disguising a great tale

THE RSC's summer season continues with the dark comedy Twelfth Night, which previews at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from Tuesday. The story of twins Viola and Sebastian, shipwrecked with each believing the other to be drowned leading to a tale of disguise

Date

What's On Guide

Thursday, April 21 Wythall Theatre Company: Lost In Yonkers by Neil Simon, Kingsley Theatre. Until April 23. Tickets from 830728. Studley Operatic Society: 'Musicality,' Studley Village Hall. Until April 23. Tickets from 892594. Ray Gelato and his Giants

Date

Another parish councillor quits

ANOTHER Alvechurch parish councillor has resigned amid accusations of "bickering and antagonism". Birmingham University lecturer Rehan Ul-Haq's departure earlier this month sparked a heated debate among parish councillors, who met in Hopwood. Mr Ul-Haq

Date

Big survey on housing needs

MORE than 7,000 households in Redditch are to be surveyed this month as part of Redditch Council's consultation exercise on the needs of the borough. The 2005 Housing Needs Assessment will be asking owner occupiers, tenants of the council and housing

Date

Heeley in race to make clash

CARL Heeley is itching to shake off an ankle injury and provide experience in defence for Saturday's mouth-watering clash against champions-elect Droylsden. Worcester City are without suspended Paul Carty for the St George's Lane fixture, leaving player-manager

Date

Pitchcroft galloping ahead with evening opener

RACING fans are in for a treat when Worcester racecourse opens its gates for its first evening meeting of the season tonight. Tony McCoy, Richard Johnson and Robert Thornton are just some of the top jockeys making up the seven-race card at Pitchcroft.

Date

Bulls secure lottery ticket for play-offs

HEREFORD United are certain of a Nationwide Conference play-off place for the second season in a row after a battling draw at Kingfield. The Bulls looked assured of a fifth successive away win last night after Danny Carey-Bertram opened the scoring eight

Date

Pegasus looking to strike at Town

PEGASUS Juniors head to Fairford Town tonight in the GLS Hellenic League Premier Division, searching for better mid-week fortunes. The Hereford outfit were defeated 2-0 at home by Carterton last Wednesday but hit back to draw 2-2 with Henley Town at the

Date

Comeback secures final for cup holders

WORCESTER have moved a step closer to defending their RFU National Under 17s title. The reigning Midlands champions edged out Lymm 21-20 in the semi-final to reach the final at Sixways on Sunday, May 1. For once, the squad was virtually injury free to

Date

Parish clerk seeks new challenges

ALVECHURCH Parish Council's clerk will be tapping into a totally different career after leaving her post last week. Bobbie Osborne, who left last Tuesday, said she was ready to return to a full-time career in IT project management after serving on the

Date

Mast scheme

MOBILE phone transmission equipment could be installed on the roof of Redditch Town Hall if plans are given the green light. Phone giant T-Mobile submitted plans to add its equipment, including six antennas, three dishes and four cabins, to the Alcester

Date

Talks on flat plans

PLANS to build 19 flats and five houses on the site of the former Pioneer Co-op store in Studley could be back on track after a meeting with the parish council. The plans were rejected by Stratford Council in February because councillors said the apartment

Date

Palace leads way in quest for cash

AFTER the good news the Palace Theatre would receive almost £1 million of Heritage Lottery Fund cash for its restoration, Redditch Council is encouraging other organisations to apply. The only other heritage lottery money granted in Redditch went towards

Date

25 years ago April 18, 1980

BLACKWELL convalescent home was to close to save money to be invested in acute services. Health chiefs said there would be no redundancies as staff would be offered alternative jobs. THE mysterious balls of fire seen in the sky over Bromsgrove were officially

Date

50 years ago April 23, 1955

VISITORS from as far afield as Cannock and King's Heath made up a record 31 tables at a whist drive, held at Dodford Memorial Hall. The chief attraction was the first prize, a 14-week-old pig, which was won by the village postmistress Ada Baker. Dodford

Date

Our school is moving forward

AS a lower sixth pupil of North Bromsgrove High school I am writing because I wish to clear our reputation as a 'failing' school. North Bromsgrove High is a good school, and getting better every day. The latest inspection proved we are making, 'good progress

Date

Taxing time

THE latest Labour newsletter coming through our doors makes no apology for slamming students with top up fees, or the 66 tax rises or the £5 billion tax on our pension funds. We have endured eight years of bureaucracy, administration and red tape all

Date

Three to two

I WAS not impressed by Dr George Lord's letter concerning Lib-Dem leaflets. Here in Wyre Forest we used to have the three tier school system with first, middle and high schools, but the Tory-controlled county council (of which Cllr Lord is currently the

Date

Changing the system

UNLESS and until George Lord is re-elected and appointed to a position of power on Worcestershire County Council he is no position to give the assurance in his letter last week, that "there will continue to be middle schools in Bromsgrove" and, more to

Date

Far from satisfied

AM I satisfied with my council performance? No! Why you might ask? Listed below are some valid reasons - 1 Footpaths - very poor surfaces. In, and around the town, especially Kidderminster Road along the side of Sanders Park they are unfit to walk on

Date

Rovers crash and Burn-ham

BURNHAM (2) 3 ROVERS (0) 1 Division One West BROMSGROVE'S automatic promotion hopes were left in tatters after Burnham grabbed all three points with a workman like performance at The Gore. Rovers started brightly and put Burnham under considerable pressure

Date

Dogged Spa show true grit

Droitwich Spa Reserves 4 Studley Entaco 4 SPA produced a stirring comeback to take a share of the spoils in the Midland Combination Division Three on Saturday. Neil McCullogh was Droitwich's hero as his late brace earned a draw. Droitwich had been trailing

Date

Electric performances

DROITWICH Sparks under-9s have enjoyed a fruitful season in the Mercian Festival League. In its first season together the team has recovered from a slow start to cement a mid-table place. Manager Mark Williams said: "The lads have enjoyed their first

Date

Kingfishers in last eight

Woodrush 3 Redditch 10 REDDITCH travelled to neighbours Woodrush in a bid to be in the draw for the North Midlands Shield quarter-finals but the Kingfishers were once again without key players Andy Norrie, Reuben Albert and Edwin Grey. Neil Hodgkins passed

Date

Awards in Alcester

ALCESTEER RFC held their annual end of season awards evening at their Kings Coughton clubhouse on Saturday night. First team player of the season went to Steve Lunn, while the second teams' player of the season was awarded to Sam Vernon. Veterans team

Date

Counting the costs

THE events of the past week regarding the MG/Rover group have been disastrous. With 6,000 jobs hit at Longbridge and the possibility that many of those affected could be facing a long term period of unemployment, especially the older workers, who may

Date

Struggling with waste

I WAS sorry to read that O. M. Naish didn't get his garden waste collected two weeks before the date decided by Wychavon district council to end this collection. My thoughts, however, have now turned to people who are on benefits or struggling on low

Date

Make use of our salt

I AM writing to complain about Wychavon District Council's decision to destroy the Droitwich Lido pool, like the demolition of the Worcestershire. If you destroy the Lido pool you are destroying an important piece of history. I learnt at school that Droitwich

Date

It's a belly good show!

THE sensational Bellydance Superstars and The Desert Roses are set to hit Birmingham as part of a huge European tour which includes the Glastonbury Festival. The belly-dancing extravaganza has been a massive success for the troupe and Miles Copeland,

Date

Free dance class

BUDDING pop stars are being offered the chance to take up the offer of a free dance class. Feel the Rhythm is giving youngsters the chance to attend the Spadesbourne Suite, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove, from 6 to 7pm tomorrow. The class is called Pop Dance

Date

Celebrating celebration

A STORY celebrating celebration will take place at Droitwich Spa Methodist Church. The event will be held at the Worcester Road venue this Saturday at 7.30pm. It will feature funny tales about serious things and serious stories about funny things. Tickets

Date

Postal ballots reaction to fall in number of voters

IN finding six Birmingham Labour politicians guilty of "corrupt and illegal practices" a senior judge has referred to "evidence of electoral fraud that would disgrace a banana republic." When you consider that the police are apparently involved in electoral

Date

Royal pair squeezed into inset

AFTER watching the entire media reporting of the Charles/Camilla wedding, which by any standard had to be a success, it came as quite a shock to see your headlines on the front page of Worcester News on that day. Charles and his bride was squeezed into

Date

Lickey WI

TWO visitors were welcomed to the April meeting of Lickey WI held at the parish hall. Final arrangements were made for a coach outing to Chepstow and Slimbridge. Two further matches had been played in the county skittles tournament resulting in one win

Date

Workshop no longer

BRITAIN was once the "Workshop of the World". But carmakers Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation is the only hope which the Rover car company, based at Longbridge, has of survival in some form or other. Surely this is a portent for the future. In

Date

W&B Canal Society

THE April meeting of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal Society welcomed Derek Harrington, a member of the Bewdley Civic Society and the Bewdley Museum Society. Derek showed many excellent slides of the buildings of Bewdley and he outlined the history

Date

Trees lost

MANOR Oak Properties have got it all wrong in Battenhall Road and their proposals are entirely ill-suited for this neighbourhood. However, they are not the only ones, as recently, two healthy trees were cut down in Battenhall Road near the junction of

Date

B'grove Hospital Friends

THE meeting opened with a minute's silence for John Hood - a colleague who had recently passed away. John had joined the friends in 1998 shortly after his wife passed away and the following year became a valued committee member. The shop within the hospital

Date

Heartless conmen's cash haul

COLD-HEARTED conmen have tricked an elderly Aston Fields pensioner out of £500 for work on his driveway. The Finstall Road victim, who is in his 90s, was driven to a town centre bank to withdraw the cash but after he handed over the money the work was

Date

Now we have the ant-hills roadshow

A ROCK Hill ant enthusiast is hoping to set up the first visiting centre dedicated to the creatures. Mary Simones-Jones wants to build the facility for adults and children to learn about ants. Her interest was triggered when she was clearing the overgrown

Date

Could this Little Willy be yours?

A KINDHEARTED police officer is taking his work home with him - only this time it is of the furry variety. PC Simon Wills, of Bromsgrove police, saved the black, white and brown hamster, now called Little Willy, last week but the animal's owners still

Date

Kirsty enjoys her gripping day out

JUDO brown belt Kirsty Sanders picked up hundreds of pounds at a special event in Rubery. The 16-year-old Millennium Volunteer from Waseley Hills High School organised a series of events at Rubery Youth Centre on Sunday and raised nearly £400. Jennifer

Date

Row builds on jobs cash

SOME of the problems Bromsgrove District Council is now striving to tackle in a bid to get back on track can be traced to Labour's term in office in the mid to late 1990s - and the present leader of that group in particular. That's the opinion of the

Date

The Interpreter (12A)

HOLLYWOOD'S hottest acting talent Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn star in political thriller The Interpreter but unfortunately, the on-screen chemistry was lost in translation. Individually, they were both sensational - particularly Penn - but I couldn't

Date

Patient care may dwindle

PATIENTS and GPs are concerned that provision for treating chronic fatigue syndrome in Worcestershire, including Bromsgrove and Droitwich, will dwindle after it was announced the only specialist with an interest in the condition in the county is leaving

Date

Singer DIYs it his way

THE talented manager of a Bromsgrove DIY and garden store will be aiming for the stars today when he auditions to take part in a popular TV talent show. Rob Postans will hope to impress the judges with his version of the Beatles' Let it Be when he auditions

Date

Awards for brave police

A NUMBER of Bromsgrove police officers and staff have clinched commendations at a divisional awards ceremony. DI Paul Williamson was part of a group commended for demonstrating exceptional leadership, over a sustained period of time, across a range of

Date

Art on show at museum

TALENTED artists now have a chance to display their work at a new town gallery. Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings, in Stoke Heath, has opened a gallery which is incorporated into its visitor shop. For a small weekly charge artists will be able to

Date

SALT gives town lido plans the big freeze

A PROPOSAL to turn the Droitwich Lido site into a water feature has received a frosty reception from the Save A Lido Today (SALT) group. First draft plans to create a fish-shaped one-metre deep 'fun pool' where the lido is now were unveiled to district

Date

Centre is feeling the strain

ANIMAL-loving Spa folk are being called on to give a dog a home after a rescue centre has reached double the capacity of the 'man's best friends' it can take. The Danemere Animal Rescue Centre, in Tibberton, only has room for 20 dogs but at the moment

Date

Pool and beach plans unveiled for Lido site

A FUN pool and a beach area are the key elements to the proposals from Wychavon District Council to redevelop the Droitwich Lido site. The plans show a new changing area and a wet play zone as well. County and district councillor Pam Davey (Con-Droitwich

Date

Taxi (15)

YOU could probably count on one hand the amount of films that sees the car as the main star. Incredibly, this is one of them. But even the high-octane action movies like The Fast and The Furious and Gone in Sixty Seconds have made some kind of effort

Date

Enduring Love (18)

HAVING loved Rhys Ifans as Hugh Grant's adorable oddball flatmate Spike in Notting Hill, it was hard to imagine him in any other role. However, the charismatic Welshman throws his nice grey pants out of the window, turning out an electric performance

Date

HUMAN COST OF ROVER

THE dramatic collapse of MG Rover will see more than 300 workers from Redditch lose their jobs, it was revealed this week. More than 230 were among the 5,000 who were sent redundancy letters on Monday, while another 80 or so are being kept on to finish

Date

It's business as usual at castle

STUDLEY Castle will continue to trade despite rumours it is being sold-off as one of the assets of MG Rover's parent company. Alan Plummer, general manager at the castle, insisted the stately home and conference centre "will continue to provide customers

Date

Bypass funds get go-ahead

THE proposed Bordesley bypass scheme came a step nearer on Monday as Redditch Council confirmed it would contribute £4.6 million towards it and laid out a provisional three-year timetable for its completion. In its bid to get the project off the ground

Date

Inquest on hotel death

A WOMAN was found dead in a Redditch hotel after leaving a note for her boyfriend, an inquest heard. Karen Gloster, 43, died on April 6 in her room at the Quality Hotel. Worcestershire Coroner Victor Round said police found the body just after 11am after

Date

Getting creative with creepy crawlies

CREATIVE youngsters at Birchensale Middle School took a walk on the wild side to build giant creepy crawlies. A group of Year 5 pupils took part in a two-day workshop to create the enormous insects using fine wire, colourful tissue paper and willow canes

Date

Heroic effort to raise cash

THE 18th Astwood Bank Carnival is gearing up for another frenzy of fund-raising with some fantastic events, climaxing with carnival day itself on May 21. The carnival has raised more than £100,000 for charities with the support of businesses and through

Date

Karate class kicks off

A FIGHTING fit man is inviting residents to get in shape while learning to stay safe at a new martial arts class. Greg Bruner, 22, and his friend, Jason Hill, 25, are launching a karate-jujitsu class at Cookhill Village Hall every Wednesday night. The

Date

David discusses disorder issues

FORMER Home Secretary David Blunkett visited Redditch yesterday. He met Greenlands residents to discuss their concerns about crime and disorder and visited the Kingfisher Centre. Mr Blunkett said during his visit to Greenlands, residents were supportive

Date

Pupils set for move to town

A SPECIAL school in Bromsgrove looks set to be closed in December and its pupils transferred to a new community special school in Redditch. The decision, by Worcestershire Local Education Authority, to close Redgrove Special School, Stoke Prior, was made

Date

Bromsgrove & District Flower Arranging Society

AT the March 17 meeting, Beryl Griffiths gave an interesting demonstration entitled Down the High Street with six beautiful arrangements depicting the sort of shops found in a typical high street. The next meeting is at All Saints Church Hall, Burcot

Date

Kingfisher WI

THERE was a good turnout for the April meeting, including five new members and one visitor. Reports were given on several interesting meetings held recently - Crabbs Cross & Hunt End's 40th birthday party, the last meeting of the Redditch Group before

Date

Monarchs' winning run ends

LICKEY Monarchs' incredible seven year winning run was stopped in its tracked as they lost to title rivals Cofton Hackett B 7-3 in the Bromsgrove and Redditch League Division One. Lickey, who have won the last seven titles in a row, were put to the sword

Date

Redditch Art Circle

SPEAKER and demonstrator for the April meeting was Peter Woolley. He had prepared a sketch which he planned to work on in watercolour as he discussed his painting technique. Before starting to paint, he explained his approach to preparatory sketching.

Date

Worcester Birmingham Canal Society

AT the April meeting, the speaker was Derek Harrington, a member of the Bewdley Civic Society and the Bewdley Museum Society. He showed many excellent slides depicting the buildings of Bewdley and outlined the history of the riverside town. Members are

Date

Tenbury trounced

NEWLY crowned champions Bromsgrove Blaze signed off for the season by trouncing the Worcestershire League's bottom side Tenbury side 104-64. Andy Barker was in sparkling form as he drove Blaze forward, while Adam Beaumont and Callum Bolsher were on hand

Date

Wythall WI

THERE was a return visit by speaker Nicholas Clarke, who started the evening with a slide show of his trip to Thailand and Malaya. Although several ladies recognised the towns he mentioned, most had not travelled the country in the same way. He had started

Date

Bickerton's Spanish inqusition

JOHN Bickerton felt the pain in Spain as he finished 61st in the Open de Espana at the San Roque Club over the weekend. The Droitwich professional finished 61st, alongside Scotland's Andrew Coltart, after carding nine-over-par in Spain. Bickerton struggled

Date

Wythall Writers

THE group is holding an open evening on Thursday, April 28. Local author Joel Lane, who has had several books published, will be running a workshop covering aspects of writing short stories. The meeting takes place at Wythall Library at 7pm and new members

Date

Tennis duo set for record attempt

DETERMINED pair Allan Benbow and Steve Worrallo will attempt to smash the record for the longest rally at Droitwich Spa Tennis Club's funday on Saturday and put their names in the Guinness Book of Records. The duo, who have been preparing for the event

Date

100 years ago

April 22, 1904 A SERIOUS cycle accident occurred in Alvechurch on Saturday in a spot which has been the scene of many narrow escapes. A party of cyclists were wheeling from Redditch and when near the shop of Mrs Butcher, the accident occurred. At this

Date

The power of the pen

PEOPLE will be able to pull out their pens and get creative with new classes in Redditch. The creative writing classes, run by the Descendants of Windrush, are designed to increase confidence and self-esteem. They start on Monday, May 9, from 5-7pm and

Date

Fears raised over masts

AN Oakenshaw women is urging residents to demand more information about potential health risks generated by the increasing number of mobile phone masts in the town. Denette France is concerned about the abundance of phone masts springing up across Redditch

Date

Budding nature experts

STAFF at Arrow Valley Countryside Centre are to help Redditch people get back to nature. The centre is holding two wildflower planting days as part of a scheme by national charity Community Service Volunteers, sponsored by the Environment Agency's Action

Date

Bags of cash for hospice!

STAFF at Redditch's Tesco Extra Store have lent their support to the vital work the Primrose Hospice and Cancer Help Centre does by raising more than £10,000 for the charity Primrose Hospice was delighted to accept a cheque from the store for £10,270

Date

Brave officers honoured

REDDITCH police officers who dealt with a dangerous armed offender have received a prestigious award in recognition of their bravery. Pcs Steve Norris and Christian Wiggins were recently commended for defending the public from the individual, who was

Date

Robber remanded

A 28-YEAR-old Redditch man was remanded in custody at Worcester Crown Court after pleading guilty to robbery when a purse was stolen. Lee Powell, of Kineton Close, Matchborough West, also admitted assaulting a woman. The offences happened on January 21

Date

Dickens classic set for stage

TICKETS are now on sale for Alcester Amateur Operatic Society's next production, the popular musical Oliver! Based on the Charles Dickens classic, the show features unforgettable songs like Food Glorious Food and You've Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two. The

Date

* How I foiled cash cars scam * Dumped by Rover, desperate for work * City couple given chance to ha

Date

Meet an oracle on coracles

ARTISTIC residents are invited to push the boat out and sign up for a coracle building workshop with expert tuition. Arrow Valley Countryside Centre is launching a two-day course for anyone wanting to learn how to build a coracle - a traditional Welsh

Date

Bank's call prompts charity fear

A CHARITY gift nearly cost a former Alcester mayor £8,000 when the cheque was used by a fraudster to get her bank details. Wendy Weatherhead had a call from a member of staff at the HSBC bank in Studley asking her to confirm a letter requesting a transfer

Date

Help Nick to find his roots

A HISTORY enthusiast is hoping Redditch residents can help him fill in the gaps in his family tree. Nick Stubbs, who now lives in West Yorkshire, says he is a direct descendant of Roland Stubbs, who owned the former Unicorn Tap public house on Unicorn

Date

Gravel outrage

MORE than 300 people packed into a school hall in Bidford on Monday night to protest about a proposed gravel pit on the edge of the village. They won the unanimous support of the parish council who will be calling a parish poll within the next month to

Date

Finishing the marathon is massive 'feet' for runners

BUSINESSES across Worcestershire and Herefordshire showed their support for athletic employees who took part in the London Marathon at the weekend. Four colleagues at Worcester's npower headquarters were celebrating their success after raising thousands

Date

Campaigners fail to secure listing

A BID to make a Victorian school house in Bidford a listed building has failed. Developers want to demolish the building, in Victoria Road, and build four houses in its place but campaigners hoped their emergency application to the Secretary of State

Date

Another top travel award for city firm

A SUCCESSFUL Worcester company is flying high after picking up its second major award for its services to industry. Commercial travel and conference specialists Book-O-Tel has been voted among this year's best 100 travel management companies in the UK

Date

Road closed after crash at island

DRIVERS in the Headless Cross area were caught in traffic delays after a car became trapped underneath a lorry. The Slough was closed between Gill Lane and Station Road for about three hours after the collision between the two vehicles, near Crabbs Cross

Date

New faces for specials

TWO new recruits have been welcomed to Redditch's Special Police Force. Special Constables Nicola Grimsby and Russell Longhurst were sworn in at a ceremony at West Mercia Constabulary headquarters. Four further Special Constables, Raymond Callaghan, Ryan

Date

Alcester Letters

I HAVE just come from a town meeting which approved £50,000 to be given to the Greig sports hall development from the rates, with a desire to increase this to £150,000. While I agree with this, I was also aware that most speakers wanted money spent on

Date

How I foiled cash card scam

A HAVE-A-GO hero who foiled a cash card scam and helped catch the culprits has been praised for his public-spirited action. The day after being made redundant from MG Rover, Jason Foxall heard he had been given a £100 reward for his bravery by a Worcester

Date

Catholic leaders welcome Benedict

THE city's Catholic church leaders today gave a warm welcome to the news that Joseph Ratzinger has become the new Pope. The 78-year-old German has become the leader of 1.1 billion Catholics and taken the name of Benedict XVI. Father Tom Kelly, of the

Date

Travellers leave a big cleaning bill at estate

TRAVELLERS who camped illegally on a busy industrial estate have left landowners facing an expensive clean-up operation. During their 10-day stay, the visitors left a trail of human excrement and urine, tonnes of rubble, mounds of rubbish and a catalogue

Date

We want a warm place to skate during winter

YOUNG skateboarders in Malvern could have a roof over their heads this winter while they wait for a permament skate park to be found for them. A group formed in memory of tragic Malvern skateboarder Tim Greenwood is looking for a temporary building where

Date

Twickenham dreams dashed by error

RUGBY mad lads from Parkside Middle School have been left feeling glum after their hopes of playing at Twickenham were taken snatched away from them. The Year 7 team from Parkside had been looking forward to playing the Emerging Schools National Finals

Date

Musical mix at town museum

AVONCROFT Museum will be the setting for a concert to raise funds for a child protection charity. Gueston Hall, at the Stoke Heath tourist attraction, will be the venue for choir Viva Musica on June 18. The singers will perform a host of popular summer

Date

Reflections gig

BROMSGROVE band Reflections play another gig this Friday, at The Queens Head, in Stoke Pound. It starts at 9pm and entry is free. Money raised, including a percentage of the bar takings, will go to former MG Rover employees.

Date

Capturing special blooms on calendar

SNAP-happy photographers are being urged to explore their gardens and take part in a competition. Garden centre Webbs of Wychbold is planning to produce a calendar for 2006 depicting original photographs of Seasons in the Garden to sell in aid of St Richard's

Date

Forty cars revving up for Swiss Stag do

ENTHUSIASTS of a 1960s' sports car are to take a trip to Switzerland for an annual European meeting. Around 40 members of the Worcestershire Triumph Stag Club are expected to drive in convoy to the event next month. The Stag, which was built in the late

Date

Tory says children could be litterbusters

SCHOOL discipline could be the key to tackling the rubbish-strewn spots in Worcester, a senior Conservative has claimed. Christopher Chope, the shadow environment and transport Minister, said headteachers could stop young people being litterbugs. He spoke

Date

Appeal for shop staff

ACORNS Children's Hospice is making an appeal for volunteers to help run a new shop due to open in St Peter's, Worcester, this month. The charity's area retail manager, Lisa Hadley, said the shop at Unit 2, St Peter's Drive, would play a vital role in

Date

Clinic

A CLINIC for people who use the drug warfarin has been re-established in Bidford. The clinic closed last year due to staffing problems, leaving patients to travel to Stratford for blood tests. Dr Tim Coker, a Warwickshire doctor leading the project, said

Date

Drivers asked for help

MOTORISTS are being asked for their help to trace a man who snatched a woman's handbag. The theft happened at 8am on Thursday, when the woman was walking with her two young children through the Windmill Drive underpass linking Slimbridge Close to Evesham

Date

A dream of a play to see

A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, for a season. SHAKESPEAREAN slapstick is much to the fore in this adaptation of one of the Bard's most performed and popular comedies. There are many strands to how director

Date

HOME FROM HOME

TIME'S ticking away to Redditch United's only chance of some silverware this season. There's just six days to go to the Birmingham Senior Cup final at Valley Stadium between the Reds and what is reputed to a strong Birmingham City Reserves line-up. The

Date

Day will be ace!

BIG hitters are expected at Alcester Tennis Club for another play tennis day on Saturday. The Moorfield Road club will be running courses for youngsters from as young as four right up to adults. Children aged four to six should turn up at the club from

Date

Lining up for event

WOMEN'S Health Day was marked in Studley with a big event at the village hall involving health professionals, informal presentations and advice. Escape: Community Art in Action, Stratford Family Support Team and Studley Health Clinic joined for the fun

Date

'Trick is a treat

Ludlow 0 Alvechurch 4 LOWLY Ludlow were no match for a pumped Alvechurch side as hitman Keith Rostill helped himself to a hat-trick at the Coors Stadium. The Churchmen, who had beaten Oldbury 5-2 in midweek, were again on a goal-getting mission as Rostill

Date

Davis reunion

A JIMMY Davis and friends school reunion has been organised for Saturday, May 14 at Club Ventura in aid of the Jimmy Davis Memorial Fund. The memorial fund was set up after the Manchester United star died in a car crash in 2003 to boost junior football

Date

Mix-up is costly

HEADLESS Cross Ladies netted just one point from their last two games against Stratford Town Ladies and Walsall Women. On a murky Thursday night Cross were a goal down at the break before a revitalised side came flying out of the traps for the second

Date

Goal-den wonders!

Headless Cross Ladies Reserves returned to league action at the weekend and saw them dump Bredon at the bottom of the league with a 5-0 victory. Charlotte Richardson opened the scoring when she hammered home from 30 yards. Cross's second came when Mandy

Date

Going bonkers for Yonkers

THE United States during the Second World War is the setting for Wythall Theatre Company's latest production, Lost In Yonkers, at Kingsley College Theatre from today. Written by popular playwright Neil Simon and winner of the Pulitzer Drama Prize, the

Date

Safety move on danger junction

PEDESTRIANS may soon no longer have to negotiate a "wall of death" at a Redditch junction after agreement was reached over putting in a crossing. Councillors Greg Chance and Debbie Taylor last year asked people to sign a petition calling for something

Date

Candidates to be quizzed at forum

By Helen Clarke REDDITCH voters will be given the chance to quiz their Parliamentary candidates face to face in the run-up to the General Election. An election forum will be held on Saturday, April 30, at St John's, Greenlands, at 6.30pm. All the known

Date

We can't risk the big guns

WORCESTER'S fringe players look set for a European outing on Friday. The Warriors travel to Headingley for their Euro Shield semi-final second leg tie with a nine-point advantage following their 43-34 first leg victory. And players such as Duncan Roke

Date

Counties start off with win

RUGBY UNION: Worcestershire & Herefordshire launched their RLF North Midlands Championship campaign with a narrow 19-18 win over Greater Birmingham at Droitwich last night. The Two Counties appeared to be heading for a more comfortable victory until

Date

Dales are two points away from title

ARCHDALES '73 moved to within two points of the Midland Combination Division Two title with a 2-0 win over Feckenham Reserves. Dales will be crowned champions unless Handsworth win their last five games. Dales started well, creating numerous chances before

Date

20/4/05 - Comeback secures final for cup holders

WORCESTER have moved a step closer to defending their RFU National Under 17s title. The reigning Midlands champions edged out Lymm 21-20 in the semi-final to reach the final at Sixways on Sunday, May 1. For once, the squad was virtually injury free to

Date

HOME FROM HOME

TIME'S ticking away to Redditch United's only chance of some silverware this season. There's just six days to go to the Birmingham Senior Cup final at Valley Stadium between the Reds and what is reputed to a strong Birmingham City Reserves line-up. The

Date

Boars serve up treat in the Plate

Bromsgrove U15s 12 Old Silhilians U15s 10 North Midlands Plate Final BROMSGROVE won their first silverware by edging a hard working Silhillians side in a feisty contest at Droitwich. The Boars raced into a 12-0 lead thanks to tries by Hudson and Audley

Date

100 years ago April 22, 1905

THE weather of late was more akin to Christmas than the abnormally late Easter holiday, the Messenger observed. But, on the bright side, it said the snow and hail of late would stop the dust billowing off the roads caused by the hoards of motorists expected

Date

Observation

WHILST not an appointed spokesperson for Wythall Ratepayers and Residents Association I feel that I must respond to Malcolm Pugh's letter last week. I would first clarify that Cllr Geoff Denaro was democratically elected as leader of the WRRA group of

Date

In a word

ONE wonders whether the latest initiative being forced onto Bromsgrove's overworked police, whereby they have to complete a written report every time they stop and ask questions of a member of the public, will improve crime detection. A cynic may conclude

Date

Alternative use of site

NOW we have the devastating news that volume car production is to cease at Longbridge, has anyone considered what could be a very viable and profitable alternative ? Most of the 22 million or so UK households, and the many millions of businesses have

Date

Overcharged

SO, 'tax-payers overcharged' and 'it was a mistake', yet another one. I think Cllr R Hollingworth should reconsider his position. I think its up to the taxpayer on how our money is spent. We pay more than enough for poor, wasteful services. If we can't

Date

Counting the costs

THE events of the past week regarding the MG Rover group have been disastrous. With 6,000 jobs hit at Longbridge and the possibility that many of those affected could be facing a long term period of unemployment, especially the older workers who may remain

Date

Kings just miles better than Yard

Kings Norton 31 Yardley and District 5 KINGS Norton's speedy backs had another field day as they ran their opponents ragged and turned on the style in this friendly match against the Midlands Four West (North) basement boys. The game burst into life on

Date

Promotion hopes hit by defeat

Droitwich Spa 2 Earlswood Town 3 PROMOTION chances slipped further out of Droitwich's grasp as an error-strewn display saw them slump to defeat on Saturday. An error by goalkeeper Nick West in the second half handed Earlswood the winner. It was a bad

Date

Manager sees red as United call up defender to squad

Barnt Green Spartak 0 Brocton 1 MANAGER GJ Singh has criticised Redditch United for failing to inform him that they drafted teenage defender Neil Ward into their first team squad on Saturday. Ward, who signed Conference papers at Redditch earlier in 2005

Date

Fairfield keep on right track

Redditch and South Warwickshire Combination League FAIRFIELD Sunday edged towards safety in the Premier Division by defeating West Heath Snooker 2-1 on Sunday. Westbury Celtic went down to Black Horse 4-0. In Division Two Rednal Social got the better

Date

Leaders keep the pressure on

Bromsgrove Rovers Reserves 3 Hinckley United Reserves 2 THE reserves warmed up for their Worcestershire Senior Urn final with a resounding victory over Hinckley on Saturday. Striker Shaun Maynard made sure the leaders kept their title hopes in the Midland

Date

Go that extra mile and get in the swim with Frank's star team

I WOULD like to appeal to your readers to join me - yes, I'm swimming - and Mark Foster to be part of Swim for Life's 2005 Swim A Mile Challenge supporting thegreatest charity in the world, the Variety Club Children's Charity (Reg No 209259). "It's a

Date

Alternative use of site

NOW we have the devastating news that volume car production is to cease at Longbridge, has anyone considered what could be a very viable and profitable alternative? Most of the 22 million or so UK households, and the many millions of businesses, have

Date

Phone in for charity

ON behalf of Redeem, the mobile phone and printer cartridge recycling company, I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has given their support to our recent Tsunami Recycling Appeal. Your readers have helped us to raise over £5,000 for

Date

Don't be put off poll vote

NEW Lido publicity by Wychavon is a spoof to deter folk from voting in the Parish Poll. A press release is not a definite plan or pledge to do anything. When the Spa had a Parish Poll on Waitrose, Wychavon put out publicity about investing £20m in High

Date

Grants for renovation

I WOULD like to comment on the letter, published in the Advertiser on April 6 from Linda Barratt. The cost of the necessary renovation of the Lido (which may be considerable after many years of total neglect) should not have to be borne by Droitwich ratepayers

Date

It'll be a show to shout about

ONE cast member at the next All and Sundry musical performance is guaranteed to know his role. The Bromsgrove theatre group, which is set to perform The Pied Piper at the Artrix in June, has now enlisted the help of Bromsgrove's very own town crier to

Date

20/4/05 - Rookies ready for final-day encounter

IT was the right time to give several of our youn-ger players the opportunity to prove themselves for next season. We didn't want to change the team about too much while we had a small chance of making the Conference North play-offs and the younger lads

Date

Droitwich Spa Rotary

WE held our weekly meeting at St Andrew's House Hotel. President John Skilton was in the chair. The speaker was Louisa Trunks, the regional development officer of BIBIC - The British Institute for Brain Injured Children. A vote of thanks was proposed

Date

University of the Third Age

THE Bromsgrove branch of the U3A (University of the Third Age) this year celebrates its 21st birthday. To mark the event there will be a celebratory lunch on June 2 at Bromsgrove School. U3A is an international movement with retired people coming together

Date

Wychbold WI

DOT Waldron, president, was in the chair for the meeting. A letter was read out by the secretary from Penny Joyce, parish organiser for Christian Aid, asking for volunteers to deliver envelopes to houses in Stoke Prior and Wychbold during Christian Aid

Date

British folk

GIPSIES have been moved on again. These are British people who deserve to live how they have lived forever. Robert Kilroy Silk even has tried to help by going into their homes to see how they live. Where on earth do they want them to go? Some people would

Date

Safety measures will be to the fore in the town's new schools

SAFETY measures in future Bromsgrove schools are to be discussed this week as a decision is due on the builders to take on a £63m shake-up. Fire safety sprinklers could be included in the new schools being built to replace North and South Bromsgrove High

Date

More heartache for former workforce

FORMER MG Rover workers now face further problems on the back of redundancy announcements. Concerns are being raised about the car leasing service that much of the work-force uses. They face the problem of having to continue to pay off their leases without

Date

Top award for George

A TALENTED teenager proved he was top of the class when he scooped an award. George Evans, aged 14, from Catshill's Chadsgrove School in Meadow Road, clinched the riding for the disabled grade four award in horse care and riding. He is the first person

Date

Pat celebrates a colourful first year

STAINED glass artist, Pat Whelan, has celebrated her first year of trading at Tardebigge Court Glass Studio with the installation of a major piece of work. A local couple commissioned Pat to design and create a unique room divider measuring some 50 square

Date

Celebrating its first anniversary

A WELL used palliative care unit at a Bromsgrove hospital is celebrating its first birthday. Primrose at the Princess is based at the Princess of Wales Community Hospital, in Stourbridge Road. It cares for patients with chronic or life limiting conditions

Date

Twinners move into high gear

FRENCH visitors will be taking a closer look at Bromsgrove during a special visit. Bromsgrove and District Twinning Association has arranged the visit for friends from Saint Sauveur Lendelin at the beginning of May. During their four-day stay the visitors

Date

War's over at hall

A SPECIAL celebration is taking place at a top Hanbury attraction to mark the 60th anniversary of VE day. Hanbury Hall plus its gardens and grounds will be open free of charge this Saturday and Sunday (April 23 and 24) from 11am to 5pm. There will be

Date

Wall rescue saves driver

FIREFIGHTERS used air bags, wedges and ropes to stabilise a car while the driver remained at the wheel after she drove the vehicle on to the top of a wall. Members of Green watch were called to the premises of Worcestershire Central Training Services

Date

Church flies the flag for St George

ST JOHN'S church in Bromsgrove will proudly fly the flag for St George this Sunday thanks to a generous gesture by the town's ancient Court Leet. The court, which is already supporting the church restoration appeal as one of Bailiff Jeremy Sharp's chosen

Date

Sale was a sweet success

DELECTABLE delights such as clotted cream and blueberry gateau, pistachio and praline cake and coffee and walnut cake were on offer at a Spa hairdressing salon last week. Clients at The Hairstyle Company, on Primsland Retail Park, were invited to order

Date

Bag theft warning

SPA residents enjoying springtime walks are once again being warned to leave their valuables at home after a bag was taken from a car parked in Worcester Road, Hartlebury, for just 15 minutes. Police issued the warning after the two mobile phones, a handbag

Date

Malley set to prove she has flower power

BEAUTIFUL alpine plants, herbaceous borders and ferns are just some of the delights on offer at a Spa garden this Sunday. Malley Terry will be opening her garden at 24 Alexander Avenue, to the public from 2-6pm as part of the National Gardens Scheme.

Date

No confidence over lido issue

AN angry Spa resident is calling for two votes of no confidence over the Droitwich Lido issue at the annual town meeting this Monday. Mark Heel, of Burrish Street, has submitted two motions to the town council, which will be read out at the meeting. The

Date

The Machinist (15)

CHRISTIAN Bale joins the Renee Zellwegger school of dieting by shedding more than four stone for his role as an anorexic insomniac in The Machinist. Factory worker Trevor Reznik (Bale) has not slept for a year, which has led to the deterioration of his

Date

VE Day events timetable final

IT'S all systems go for for Droitwich Spa's 60th anniversary of VE Day next month. The weekend's events look like they will be the best celebrations in Worcestershire. The timetable has been finalised and the town will be buzzing on Saturday, May 7 and

Date

Garbage Bleed like Me

Unfortunately, Garbage's fourth album Bleed Like Me is exactly what it says on the tin. After the commercial disappointment of the musically adventurous Beautiful Garbage, the band is trying very hard to reassert itself with big rock guitars anchored

Date

Shakin' Stevens The Collection

IT is a truth universally acknowledged that any 80s singer who is trying to resurrect their career more than 20 years after their prime will end in abject failure. So it will be for Welsh "rocker" Michael Barratt, who is trying desperately to cling onto

Date

Horse centre under threat

A WEBHEATH woman fears horses in her care will suffer when her partner loses his job at the MG Rover plant. Liza Bryan, of Heathfield Road, has nursed and cared for unwanted and neglected horses at the Furlongs Horse Centre, near Church Hill, since she

Date

A flying visit to hospital

THE whirring of rotor blades announced the arrival of the Prime Minister by helicopter at the Alexandra Hospital on Monday. Tony Blair was accompanied by his wife, Cherie, as he toured the hospital's oncology department and new MRI suite. The Prime Minister

Date

Musical mix at town museum

AVONCROFT Museum will be the setting for a concert to raise funds for a child protection charity. Gueston Hall, at the Stoke Heath tourist attraction, will be the venue for choir Viva Musica on June 18. The singers will perform a host of popular summer

Date

Reflections gig

BROMSGROVE band Reflections play another gig this Friday, at The Queens Head, in Stoke Pound. It starts at 9pm and entry is free. Money raised, including a percentage of the bar takings, will go to former MG Rover employees.

Date

A dream of a play to see

A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, for a season. SHAKESPEAREAN slapstick is much to the fore in this adaptation of one of the Bard's most performed and popular comedies. There are many strands to how director

Date

Neville's getting all washed up!

By Lynda Morrison MORE than 12 tons of water will be used to create a "splashing" set when popular entertainer Les Dennis stars in Neville's Island at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from Friday. The play centres on four middle-aged middle managers on a

Date

It'll be a show to shout about

ONE cast member at the next All and Sundry musical performance is guaranteed to know his role. The Bromsgrove theatre group, which is set to perform The Pied Piper at the Artrix in June, has now enlisted the help of Bromsgrove's very own town crier to

Date

It's a belly good show!

THE sensational Bellydance Superstars and The Desert Roses are set to hit Birmingham as part of a huge European tour which includes the Glastonbury Festival. The belly-dancing extravaganza has been a massive success for the troupe and Miles Copeland,

Date

Free dance class

BUDDING pop stars are being offered the chance to take up the offer of a free dance class. Feel the Rhythm is giving youngsters the chance to attend the Spadesbourne Suite, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove, from 6 to 7pm tomorrow. The class is called Pop Dance

Date

Celebrating celebration

A STORY celebrating celebration will take place at Droitwich Spa Methodist Church. The event will be held at the Worcester Road venue this Saturday at 7.30pm. It will feature funny tales about serious things and serious stories about funny things. Tickets

Date

The Interpreter (12A)

HOLLYWOOD'S hottest acting talent Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn star in political thriller The Interpreter but unfortunately, the on-screen chemistry was lost in translation. Individually, they were both sensational - particularly Penn - but I couldn't

Date

The Machinist (15)

CHRISTIAN Bale joins the Renee Zellwegger school of dieting by shedding more than four stone for his role as an anorexic insomniac in The Machinist. Factory worker Trevor Reznik (Bale) has not slept for a year, which has led to the deterioration of his

Date

Garbage Bleed like Me

Unfortunately, Garbage's fourth album Bleed Like Me is exactly what it says on the tin. After the commercial disappointment of the musically adventurous Beautiful Garbage, the band is trying very hard to reassert itself with big rock guitars anchored

Date

Enduring Love (18)

HAVING loved Rhys Ifans as Hugh Grant's adorable oddball flatmate Spike in Notting Hill, it was hard to imagine him in any other role. However, the charismatic Welshman throws his nice grey pants out of the window, turning out an electric performance