Archive

Date

ROUND-UP: male voices

tenors for a fiver The Worcester Male Voice Choir will be singing at Droitwich Spa High School on Friday, July 8, as part of the Droitwich Music Festival. For more information or tickets, which cost £5, log on to www.droitwichspa.com or call John Armstrong

Date

Joe's a panto pirate

COMEDIAN Joe Pasquale was such a hit in last year's pantomime at the Birmingham Hippodrome he's back this Christmas as well - this time starring in Peter Pan rather than Jack And The Beanstalk. The show will run from Wednesday, December 21, until Sunday

Date

Arcos will benefit from concert

CELEBRATED counter-tenor Nicholas Clapton will give a concert in Malvern on Saturday, July 9. Mr Clapton, who was brought up locally, is performing for Malvern-based charity ARCOS. ARCOS helps people who have communication or swallowing difficulties,

Date

Exhibitions in and around Worcester

July 1-3 Carol Sweet is exhibiting her work at the Beeches Barn Sculpture Studio Bransford. Admission is free. July 9-10 Worcester Society of Artists members exhibts Paintings at Skills on Show, County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester. July 30 Worcester

Date

Classy and easy listening

Today Worcestershire Jazz Orchestra Playing at the Briars Hotel, Habberley Road, Kidderminster. Tickets available on the door. Refreshments available. Tomorrow Summer Concert with Pig Roast Featuring Worcester Concert Brass at Whittington Village Hall

Date

Cinemas

Malvern Cinema: The War of the Worlds (PG) Daily 7.45pm, Sat, Sun & Thurs 4pm. Odeon Worcester: The War of the Worlds (12A) 1.40, 4.25, 7.00, 9.20; Batman Begins (12A) 2.50, 5.55, 8.45; A Lot Like Love (PG) 1.50, 4.05, 6.20, 8.55; Kung Fu Hustle (

Date

OPEN GARDEN

An open gardens event will take place on Saturday, July 2, Brinsop House Nr Credenhill from 2pm until 5pm, in aid of Brinsop Church. Further information call 01432 760464.

Date

Hardy's classic in ideal setting

THE rural surrounds of the Three Counties Showground provide the backdrop for an outdoor production of Far From the Madding Crowd. Thomas Hardy's classic novel has been adapted for the stage by Malvern writer Ali Gorton and will be performed by her company

Date

New season at Roses

A GOOD mix is promised in the new season at the Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury. Return to the 80s on Saturday, July 23, at 8pm, pays homage to the decade when power dressing and big hair were essential. Tickets are £13. The Panto Company presents the tale

Date

Box clever when it comes to picnics and barbecues

THERE are few things more stupid to take on a picnic than clanking bottles of wine. First, they are heavy things to cart around. Second, unless they are screw top, you'll find you've left your corkscrew at home, and finally you have to take the empties

Date

Royals of club scene stage their global acts

CLUBBING and dance music fans will be coming together this summer for a weekend of pure hedonism at this year's Global Gathering. The event has attracted record-breaking sell-out crowds for the past year and for the first time this year it will take place

Date

Wage advice is ignored at the Guildhall

INCREASES will be made to wages paid to two Worcester City Council committee chairmen - against the wishes of an independent body. A £1,870 additional allowance will be paid to Coun Mike Layland, head of the audit committee, and performance and development

Date

Back at school decades later

OVER 60 former pupils and teachers from a village school in Worcestershire have been reunited - some after several decades. Knightwick School shut its doors in 1959 but happy memories of it proved to be still fresh in the minds of those who were part

Date

I've snapped up prize for plant photos

PHOTOGRAPHER Andrew Gagg has been snapped up by the most prestigious international photographic society. Mr Gagg, of Henwick Road, St John's, Worcester, has been admitted to the Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society after submitting an award-winning

Date

Green light for Cathedral

AND God said, 'Let there be light' and there was light - and it was energy efficient. Environmentally friendly light bulbs have been installed to shine into parts of Worcester Cathedral that used to be in the dark. The low-cost, low-energy system now

Date

Next stop the big top for these pupils!

YOUNGSTERS put down the books and spent the day clowning around during a circus skills workshop. The Grimley and Holt Primary School pupils tried their hand at tightrope walking, riding a unicycle, and go-karting during Wednesday's event, designed to

Date

BIRTSMORTON Correspondent: Mrs R Bolton Tel: 01684 833287

DON'T forget the fun day at Pink Hall Cottage, Birtsmorton tomorrow (Saturday) at 10am for a country walk, otherwise 11am for games including duck racing, croquet and Scottish dancing. A fun-filled day. Bring your own chair. This will be well signposted

Date

BOSBURY Correspondent: Mrs R Krinks Tel: 01531 640076

THE school fete, blessed with glorious weather, raised over £2,000. The variety of stalls and refreshments drew a large crowd to the playing fields, where they were entertained by the choir, recorder groups, instrumentalists and the increasingly popular

Date

CALLOW END Correspondent: Mrs M Allsopp Tel: 01905 830746

DON'T forget the family barn dance tomorrow (Saturday) at Flaxhouse Barn, Beauchamp Lane from 7.30pm. Live music to dance to with a caller to help - for young and old. Entry is £15 per family or £5 adults, £2.50 children. A bar and refreshments to revive

Date

COLWALL Correspondent: Mrs P Hockett Tel: 01684 564872

CHRIS Cowder, whose subject will be Levens Hall, where he is head gardener, will be the speaker at the next meeting of the Wyche and Colwall Horticultural Society on Monday, July 4 at 7.30pm at Colwall Village Hall. Today (Friday), the next summer event

Date

Our protest will help make poverty history

Thousands of people are expected to hold a rally in Edinburgh tomorrow in a bid to Make Poverty History. It is timed to coincide with the G8 summit, the meeting of the world's richest nations. We asked four of the 65 campaigners making the trip from Worcester

Date

POWICK Correspondent: Mrs M Allsopp Tel: 01905 830746

DON'T forget Powick Primary School's family fun afternoon tomorrow (Saturday) from 2pm in the school grounds. Organised by the Friends of Powick School, there will be quad bikes, bouncy castle, games and stalls. There is a barbecue with a bar plus raffle

Date

Welland CORRESPONDENT: Stephen Try Tel: 01684 310068

TOMORROW (Saturday) is the annual Welland fete, all the usual fun, including tombola, jumble table, raffle, teas/coffees, cake stall, barbecue, coconut shy, pony rides, skittles, tug-o-war, beat-the-goalie and all sorts of other attractions. The Cordery

Date

West Malvern CORRESPONDENT: Colin Jackson Tel: 01684 577604

"West Malvern defeat Old England XI!" has to be our headline story this week, after our village cricket club's victory over a Worcester Royal Grammar School Staff XI, which included former England Test players Tim Curtis and Phil Newport. The visitors

Date

Delays likely but work on Sixways is needed

IMPROVEMENT work is set to begin at the busy Sixways roundabout in Worcester. New traffic lights are being installed and a new lane added at the Warndon junction from Monday. Motorists have been warned that the six-week £290,000 scheme will cause delays

Date

'Children at risk' as mast gets approval

ANGRY residents have raised fears for children's health after planning permission was given for a 33ft mobile phone mast close to a housing estate. Fifty letters and a petition signed by 84 people opposing the Warndon Villages plan could not prevent Worcester

Date

Steve off on trail of the Incas

An intrepid Upton man is seeking sponsorship for a ten-day fundraising trek in Peru. Steve Davies, an RSPCA worker, will embark on the adventure in September to raise funds for the charity. He will trek steep, remote mountain trails and see the legendary

Date

Aiming to keep title

UPTON Youth Band's A-Corps is preparing to defend its title in the City of Bath European Marching Bands competition on Sunday, July 10. The band was crowned champion in last year's competition. On Sunday, the A-corps took third place in Division Three

Date

Street star gives shirt

A SHIRT worn by Coronation Street's Richard Hillman, a flight in a DC3 Dakota and a trip in an amphicar will go under the hammer in Upton. The Friends of Upton Primary School is holding its annual summer fundraiser, which this year includes an auction

Date

Pair cropped for cash

A SPONSORED head shave raised more than £500 for Hanley Swan Pre-School Play-group. Adrian Bailey and Dave Churchill agreed to have their heads shaved by the children at the event on June 20. Playgroup leader Rachael Matthews said: "It's so nice for some

Date

Building work to start

WORK on Upton's new community medical centre is set to begin shortly. Negotiations are currently taking place with Malvern Hills Highways Partnership about traffic issues during construction. Once these have been dealt with, work is expected to start.

Date

Upton news in brief . . .

n AN evening with author Gervase Phinn takes place at Hanley Castle High School on Monday (July 4) at 7.30pm. Phinn has been described as the 'James Herriot of education' for his writing on his experiences as a North Yorkshire schools' inspector. His

Date

1/7/05 - Old Bush change to Callow End

OLD Bush FC have changed their name to Callow End FC and are looking to sign new players for the forthcoming season. The club will still play its home games at Callow End playing fields and has a number of pre-season friendlies. They have appointed player

Date

A first step on to homes ladder

THE developers of North Site in Malvern say they want to give first-time buyers a start on the property ladder. Persimmon Homes has put affordable housing at the heart of its strategy for developing the former Ministry of Defence base. Almost 170 of the

Date

Group helps change world

Sheila Burns (Your Letters, June 24) asks for favourite statistics in relation to tackling global warming. How about this? Each low energy lightbulb saves us £7 a year in fuel bills. Another that struck me was that it will take ten trees to absorb the

Date

Lightning strikes 70ft tree

LIGHTNING struck a tree in Priory Park on Tuesday evening, startling staff and gym users at Malvern Splash. Park keeper Tony Kiesslinger said the 70-year-old, 70ft tulip tree had been examined by an expert, who said it was safe and should survive. "I've

Date

Radio memories

I'M a vintage radio collector and restorer with a working 1925 radio set made by local firm Hadfield and Henton. I believe they had a radio, TV and electrical shop in Barnards Green up to the 1950's, run by George Henton. I wonder if any of your readers

Date

Soccer forum gets ball rolling

THE first meeting of Malvern's new football forum kicked off on Wednesday evening. The forum was set up to discuss provision of football pitches in the town, after the dispute over the Sling Lane field. A plan by Malvern Hills District Council to lease

Date

Town in top five for quality of life

MALVERN has made the top ten in a new 'quality of life' survey. The survey, by the social research institute MORI, ranks local authority areas according to appearance, based on factors such as litter, clean streets, graffiti and general appearance of

Date

Witness praises victim's family

A Malvern peace protester who saw her friend fatally wounded by an Israeli soldier said she was amazed that the man responsible has been convicted. Alice Coy watched as photography student Tom Hurndall was shot in the head during a protest in the Gaza

Date

Two killed in Corse crash

TWO people have died following a car crash at Corse Lawn. A silver Renault Clio Aura saloon and a red Ford Escort LX saloon collided on the B4211 at 8pm on Tuesday (June 28). The accident closed the road for five and a half hours and was attended by fire

Date

David Bellamy sees dream come true at marsh

CONSERVATIONIST David Bellamy said the restoration of wetland on a Longdon farm was a dream come true. Professor Bellamy visited the Andrew Fraser Reserve at Hill Court Farm, Longdon Marsh, near Upton-upon-Severn, on Wednesday for an inauguration ceremony

Date

Opinion

THE publication of Persimmon Homes' detailed plans for the mix of housing on North Site is a welcome insight into the developer's thoughts. As a document, it has much to recommend it, not least because it is a clear statement of intent, a rare quality

Date

High praise for Mitchell

DARYL Mitchell has been tipped to become Worcestershire's natural successor to veteran David Leatherdale. The glowing acclamation from head coach Steve Rhodes came as the County handed 21-year-old Mitchell a professional contract to reward him for an

Date

Reggae star adds voice to rally plea

MALVERN reggae star Ben Okafor will help highlight the plight of his fellow Africans with two concerts in Edinburgh. Thousands of people are expected to descend on the Scottish capital tomorrow (Saturday) to attend Christian Aid's Make Poverty History

Date

Mason aims to revive Twenty20 bid

SEAMER Matt Mason plays his first Twenty20 game at Warwickshire today after recovering from back trouble (5.30pm). Australian Mason steps in for overseas star Shoaib Akhtar --one of two changes made by Worcestershire Royals as they aim to resurrect their

Date

New brew makes debut

A NEW lager from Malvern Hills Brewery just missed out on the top prize at Herefordshire's first ever beer festival. Pressnitz Plzen, brewed using Slovenian and German hop varieties, came second in the Champion Beer competition at the Beer-on-the-Wye

Date

Failed transfer hits Preece signing plan

ANDY Preece admits the breakdown of Christian Moore's proposed move rules out the possibility of a third summer signing at Worcester City. Experienced striker Moore was expected to complete his switch to a rival Nationwide North club earlier this week

Date

Tragedy warning at quarry

SWIMMERS are risking their lives at a Malvern Hills quarry. The warning was issued by senior firefighter Paul Amos, who saw youngsters in the water at Gullet Quarry on Sunday. The flooded quarry has claimed the lives of three people in the last 10 years

Date

Cadets celebrate 25th anniversary

Despite swapping their rifles for laser guns, the values held by one Malvern group remain strong after 25 years. To mark their anniversary, Malvern Sea Cadets will show off their diverse talents at an open day on Sunday, July 10. Cookery demonstrations

Date

Shelsley motoring towards birthday

ANOTHER action-packed schedule is expected at this weekend's meeting of the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb. Historic racing cars will compete on the famous track tomorrow and Sunday as the event gears up towards its centenary. Tomorrow sees the Midland Speed

Date

1/7/05 - Team in challenge

AN intrepid Malvern team will scale peaks, swim lochs and take to the saddle for a gruelling five-day extreme sports challenge. The Malvern Springers, made up of Dave Fisher, Jonathan Starkey, Sue Howarth, Ruth Finney and Mike Gradwell will compete in

Date

1/7/05 - Top club trophy won by Ledbury

LEDBURY & District swimmers were celebrating yet again on Sunday following an intensive weekend of competition when they won of the Top Club Trophy at the Gloucester open meet. Accumulative points for the top eight in each event, in each age group

Date

1/7/05 - Big crowd at Eastnor

SAAB Salomon Mountain Mayhem, the biggest event in the mountain biking calendar, pushed competitors to the limit over a testing 24 hours in Eastnor Castle Deer Park. The internationally-renowned Le Mans style race attracts hundreds of champion mountain

Date

1/7/05 - Top spot again for Jon Dayus

ELITE category cyclist Jon Dayus confirmed his class and repeated his previous win with a clear first place in the Velo Club Sevale's 25-mile time trial held last week on the Kinnersley course. On a fast, warm evening, two riders managed to beat the '

Date

1/7/05 - Sailing day called off

ARDEN Sailing Club (Defford) had planned an inter-club event with Wyre Mill last Sunday. This unfortunately had to be cancelled at the last moment due to the high water levels in the River Avon. So the members of Arden returned to their Defford home where

Date

1/7/05 - Fixtures ...

SATURDAY CRICKET WEST OF ENGLAND PREMIER LEAGUE Glos/Wilts One: Colwall v Warminster; Devizes v Redmarley. Glos/Wilts One 2nd XI: Warminster II v Colwall II. Glos/Wilts Two 2nd XI: Redmarley II v Biddlestone II. CRUSADER WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE Division

Date

1/7/05 - Jackson's a thriller at Harriers

EXPERIENCED defender Mark Jackson has committed his future to Kidderminster Harriers as boss Stuart Watkiss swooped for his first summer signing. With many players' contracts ending yesterday, Watkiss has been given the green light for additions with

Date

1/7/05 - Mason aims to revive Twenty20 bid

SEAMER Matt Mason plays his first Twenty20 game at Warwickshire today after recovering from back trouble (5.30pm). Australian Mason steps in for overseas star Shoaib Akhtar --one of two changes made by Worcestershire Royals as they aim to resurrect their

Date

1/7/05 - High praise for Mitchell

DARYL Mitchell has been tipped to become Worcestershire's natural successor to veteran David Leatherdale. The glowing acclamation from head coach Steve Rhodes came as the County handed 21-year-old Mitchell a professional contract to reward him for an

Date

Watch this space

MORE competitions coming soon.

Date

1/7/05 - Graham set for PGA Seniors European tour

STORRIDGE golfer Graham Hawkings is preparing for his initial attempt at the PGA seniors European tour later this month in Scotland. Graham hit the qualifying age of 50 in April and after recently concentrating on getting his equestrian business at his

Date

Events taking place in and around Worcester

July 1-3 West Midlands Motorcycle Action Group Heart of England event at Stoke Prior Sports and Country Club, Weston Hall Road, Stoke Prior (signposted from M5, J5). Visit events@ westmidlandsmag.org.uk July 1 Ballroom and sequence dancing Brian and Philomena

Date

1/7/05 - Visitors' score is kept low

BARNARDS Green 1st XI welcomed Harborne to a damp-looking North End Lane on Saturday for a rain-reduced Crusader Worcestershire County League division two clash. BARNARDS GREEN v HARBORNE Thanks to sterling work from groundsman Roy Mayo, the game was

Date

Exhibitions in and around Worcester

July 1-3 Carol Sweet is exhibiting her work at the Beeches Barn Sculpture Studio Bransford. Admission is free. July 9-10 Worcester Society of Artists members exhibts Paintings at Skills on Show, County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester. July 30 Worcester

Date

Practising, preaching

IT is very noble and praiseworthy of Blair and Brown to try and alleviate poverty in the Third World but wouldn't it be better to practise what they preach in their own country first? A recent official report stated that there are one and quarter million

Date

Classy and easy listening

Today Worcestershire Jazz Orchestra Playing at the Briars Hotel, Habberley Road, Kidderminster. Tickets available on the door. Refreshments available. Tomorrow Summer Concert with Pig Roast Featuring Worcester Concert Brass at Whittington Village Hall

Date

Echoes from the Past

100 years ago The commencement exercises at Harvard on Wednesday were attended by President Roosevelt. Among the distinguished recipients of honours was Sir Edward Elgar, a guest of the University, who received the degree of Doctor of Music. In the course

Date

Hardy's classic in ideal setting

THE rural surrounds of the Three Counties Showground provide the backdrop for an outdoor production of Far From the Madding Crowd. Thomas Hardy's classic novel has been adapted for the stage by Malvern writer Ali Gorton and will be performed by her company

Date

New season at Roses

A GOOD mix is promised in the new season at the Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury. Return to the 80s on Saturday, July 23, at 8pm, pays homage to the decade when power dressing and big hair were essential. Tickets are £13. The Panto Company presents the tale

Date

Box clever when it comes to picnics and barbecues

THERE are few things more stupid to take on a picnic than clanking bottles of wine. First, they are heavy things to cart around. Second, unless they are screw top, you'll find you've left your corkscrew at home, and finally you have to take the empties

Date

What's on

Theatre July Every Sat-Quackery Codswallop III at the Theatre of Small Convenience, Edith Walk, Great Malvern. Noon-5pm. £1 on demand. Until 2-Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Jeffrey Archer at the Festival Theatre, Malvern Theatres. 2.30pm & 8pm. £14-£22

Date

Depeche Mode

FANS of rock giants Depeche Mode will have a chance to catch the band when they drop in on the region for a show. The hugely-influential band will be playing Birmingham's NEC Arena on Friday, March 31, 2006, and tickets have now gone on sale for the show

Date

1/7/05 - Hoopers shine for Green seconds

BARNARDS Green seconds travelled to Harbourne on Saturday but after two days of heavy rain and more looking imminent, prospects of play in this WCL game did not look very good. HARBOURNE II v BARNARDS GREEN II Thanks to the valiant work of the home groundsman

Date

1/7/05 - Doughty and Freeman hit fifties

THE long trip to Badsey saw a delayed start, the obligatory losing of the toss by Ratcliffe, and an enthralling game of cricket that saw Green Singles emerge with a winning draw. BADSEY v BARNARDS GREEN SINGLES The match was reduced to 40 overs per side

Date

1/7/05 - Adrian Berry sees off son

THE Colwall CC double wicket day was changed to single wicket by request from the players, due to the large number of entrants. Played in 70 degree heat, the day started at 11am and the final was not completed until 8.15pm. In the semi-finals, Tim Riley

Date

Agency celebrates twice over

STAFF at a business support agency are cracking open the champagne after receiving awards for their hard work. Business Link West Mercia - the new business support agency for Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire - saw two of its employees rewarded

Date

Customers lashing out

Assaults on front-line workers such as nurses, bus drivers and ticket inspectors have "rocketed" in the past two years, new research has pointed out. Angry Britons were "lashing out" at customer-facing staff to vent their anger and frustration, a survey

Date

Rachel's reward for happiness at work

A TEENAGER has been recognised for the enthusiasm and motivation she shows for her job in a work-experience placement. Rachel Morse, aged 19, from St John's Worcester, won the Ann Oliver-Callaghan Award for Commitment to Training for her work at the Security

Date

1/7/05 - Teams

MALVERN CC Saturday, July 2 1st XI v Hagley (Home). D Arnold (capt), M Baugh, R Francis, J Lee, M Storey, S Carter, A Dovey, L Halion, A Arnold, O Bendall, R Coughtrie. 2nd XI v Hagley (Away). R Cullen (capt), I Walwyn, I Dovey, A Cullen, D Besgrove,

Date

Gay spiders, hunchbacks and dumping the girlfriend

Hhunchbacks, gay spiders, Salvation Army camouflage, turkey camps, Rohypnol and dumping your girlfriend will be among the subjects when four of the UK's most up-and-coming comedians preview their forthcoming Edinburgh Festival shows in Worcester. Andrew

Date

Watch this space

MORE competitions coming soon.

Date

Events taking place in and around Worcester

July 1-3 West Midlands Motorcycle Action Group Heart of England event at Stoke Prior Sports and Country Club, Weston Hall Road, Stoke Prior (signposted from M5, J5). Visit events@ westmidlandsmag.org.uk July 1 Ballroom and sequence dancing Brian and Philomena

Date

All the gigs and where to find them

Friday Slowburner - Marr's Bar, Pierpoint Street, Worcester. Best of Blue - National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. Blues At Ten - Swan Theatre, Worcester. Shane MacGowan & The Popes - Carling Academy, Birmingham. Woody & The Stuntcocks - Drummond's

Date

What's on at a theatre near you

July 3 Sunday Night Platform The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster. July 4-9 Magic of the Dance Malvern Theatres. July 11-16 When Harry met Sally Starring Gaby Roslin and Johnny Wrather at Malvern Theatres. July 16 Being Victor Borge Starring highly acclaimed

Date

Conti heads star line-up at theatre

A FEAST of drama, music and comedy is in store for audiences in the autumn programme at Malvern Theatres. The season opens on September 5 with George Bernard Shaw's comedy You Never Can Tell. Directed by Peter Hall and starring Edward Fox and Diana Quick

Date

What's on

Theatre July Every Sat-Quackery Codswallop III at the Theatre of Small Convenience, Edith Walk, Great Malvern. Noon-5pm. £1 on demand. Until 2-Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Jeffrey Archer at the Festival Theatre, Malvern Theatres. 2.30pm & 8pm. £14-£22

Date

Depeche Mode

FANS of rock giants Depeche Mode will have a chance to catch the band when they drop in on the region for a show. The hugely-influential band will be playing Birmingham's NEC Arena on Friday, March 31, 2006, and tickets have now gone on sale for the show

Date

Pupils' top marks

YOUNGSTERS at Pershore High School have been rewarded for their outstanding achievements in education. Last night's event, attended by West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer, highlighted the pupils' excellence in a variety of subjects and skills. "

Date

Cash for cleaner canal - and cheap scooters

STOURPORT-on-Severn canals and streets are set for a facelift after half a million pounds was earmarked for the town - some of which will be used to provide cheap scooters to help people get to work. Regional development agency Advantage West Midlands

Date

Bands are battling for skate park

Musicians will be playing notes in a bid to amass notes of a different kind - cash for ambitious plans to build a skate park in Malvern. TG's Project is aiming to create the park in memory of Malvern skateboarder Tim Greenwood - who died of leukaemia

Date

Messing about on the river

FUN and games will bring people flocking to the riverside next weekend for this year's Evesham River Festival. Those afloat on Saturday can take part in raft races and boat handling competitions as well as 'best dressed' and illuminated boat parades,

Date

Kings' pupils prove a wiz at maths

MATHS wizards from a Worcester school pitted their wits against some of the finest young minds in the country during a national challenge. Four 12 to 14-year-olds from the King's School entered the Team Maths Challenge along with 1,800 other hopefuls

Date

1/7/05 - Failed transfer hits Preece signing plan

ANDY Preece admits the breakdown of Christian Moore's proposed move rules out the possibility of a third summer signing at Worcester City. Experienced striker Moore was expected to complete his switch to a rival Nationwide North club earlier this week

Date

PENDOCK Correspondent: Mrs R Bolton Tel: 01684 833287

WE urgently need new members for our benefice choir. Vacancies for base, altos and tenors. No audition needed. We also need an accompanist. We are a small group that enjoy what we do but would love to increase our repertoire of music. So go on gents,

Date

STAUNTON AND CORSE Correspondent: Mrs U Groves-Smith Tel: 01452 840273

AS preparations began for Staunton and Corse Churches village fete there was a cold wind blowing and thick drizzly rain. However, spirits were high and, later, a very successful programme of events was enjoyed by a good attendance. The pig roast and hot

Date

WELLINGTON HEATH Correspondent: Mrs P Jacobs Tel: 01531 634941

THE PCC would like to thank all the residents who have already returned their copy of the parish plan questionnaire and to all who are about to put theirs in one of the blue boxes at the Memorial Hall, the Farmers Arms and Christ Church. In order to help

Date

Don't stare at Kayleigh

REMEMBER when your mother used to tell you it was rude to stare at people who looked different? Well, someone else's mother is saying the same thing in today's paper. Amanda Jones' daughter Kayleigh is five stone over the normal weight for a four-year-old

Date

DON'T STARE Kayleigh's only four and weighs seven stone - but it's not her fault, says mum

A DESPERATE mother whose four-year-old daughter is nearly five stone overweight is urging people: "Please don't judge her on first appearances". Amanda Jones' daughter Kayleigh Lacroix suffers from a rare genetic disorder which causes her to binge eat

Date

Theft of names hit our bus lane petition

A THIEF stole hundreds of names from a petition opposing a bus lane on a main road. Campaigners lost their battle yesterday when the lane along Newtown Road, Worcester, was approved as part of plans for an office development on the old Ronkswood Hospital

Date

Hot food

A BARBECUE and coffee evening will be held by the Upton Friends of Guiding at Buryfield, School Lane, on Wednesday (July 6), from 6.30pm to 8pm. There will be stalls, games, a raffle and music from pupils at Upton CE Primary School.

Date

Festival raises £1,300

A FLOWER festival and sponsored songs of praise event has raised £1,300 towards the repair of the roof at St Gabriel's Church, Hanley Swan. The festival, which ran from Friday to Sunday, June 24-26, attracted hundreds of visitors. In the sponsored songs

Date

Marina to submit plan soon

A RUMOUR that Upton Marina was to begin work on an expansion without full planning permission has been quashed. Concern was raised at a meeting of Upton Town Council that the marina was planning to start the £3.5 million project imminently, despite only

Date

Cutting crew

Upton's viaduct will be officially opened later this month. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be performed by town and county councillors at 12.30pm on Monday, July 18. Last month, the £3.5 million project won the construction award and the overall prize

Date

1/7/05 - Record year for number of sides

ALL officers were returned un-opposed for next season at the annual general meeting of the Mercian Festival Junior Football League held at the Bell Inn, St Johns, Worcester. A record amount of teams are due to participate next season. However, there is

Date

1/7/05 - U13s player appeal

MALVERN United, an FA Charter Standard Club, are on the look out for players for their U13s team. United chairman Dave Harford said: "I thought that after a really good training session we had a full squad but that has unfortunately not turned out to

Date

1/7/05 - School holiday soccer course

THE Malvern Soccer School is holding a five-day soccer course at Malvern Town FC during the summer school holidays. The course will run from Monday, July 25 to Friday, July 29, inclusive from 9.30am to 3.30pm. The course, designed on FA guidelines and

Date

Crucial to the debate

MALVERN Town Council fully supports the building of a new flagship hospital for Malvern, designed to meet local needs in the 21st Century and built on the Seaford Court site, which has been owned by the Health Authorities since 1979 and earmarked for

Date

A flawed vision?

Persimmon Homes (South Midlands) Ltd have submitted their affordable housing proposals for their development of North Site. Their report states that the current housing stock in Malvern is not in line with the average in the West Midlands region. Apparently

Date

Visitor's view (1)

I RECENTLY visited the Malvern area and stayed for a week. I believe it was 15 years since I was here before - and was immediately struck by the fact that not a lot had changed. In times when change seems inevitable, it was a pleasant surprise. I rediscovered

Date

Sale of depot site dependant on timetable for hospital

PLANS for a new health centre for Malvern moved a step closer this week. Malvern Hills District Council agreed to sell part of the old council depot, in Pickersleigh Road, as a site for the centre. The council also agreed to maintain the pressure on South

Date

Visitor's view (2)

I HAVE read variously recently on subjects ranging from dog excrement in the town to what is one person's view of an unnecessary cacophony on Sunday morning. I was born in Malvern but have lived in Australia for many years and now reside in Yorkshire,

Date

Excellent effort

MAY I extend my congratulations to the pupils and staff of John Masefield High School drama department for their excellent production of Broadway v The West End. It would be impossible to single out any one pupil for praise as the standard of talent displayed

Date

Save our school, parents urge PM

PARENTS at Malvern Hills Primary have launched a campaign to save the school. They are planning a letter to the Prime Minister and a meeting with West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer. Concerned about low pupil numbers, poor performance in Government

Date

Six month wait then sent home

A MALVERN woman who waited six months for a routine procedure at Worcestershire Royal Hospital said her appointment was postponed due to a trolley shortage. Wendy White has written to West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer after she went to the hospital

Date

Riverside revels go with a swing

They're a hardy lot 'down by the riverside', but jazz fans have weathered more than a little rain over the years and come up smiling. So it was with Upton's 20th International Oliver Cromwell Jazz Festival, which got off to a soggy start on Friday and

Date

Attacked in alley

A MAN was brutally beaten and left in a pool of blood with a fractured jaw after being followed into a Ledbury alley. Robert Smith, 38, from Ledbury, says he has no idea why he was singled out by a group of men on Monday night. He was treated by an ambulance

Date

Jackson's a thriller at Harriers

EXPERIENCED defender Mark Jackson has committed his future to Kidderminster Harriers as boss Stuart Watkiss swooped for his first summer signing. With many players' contracts ending yesterday, Watkiss has been given the green light for additions with

Date

Khela returns from Asia to give Evesham boost

EVESHAM United are set to welcome back midfielder Inderpaul Khela when the squad returns to pre-season training. The 22-year-old missed the bulk of last season's Southern League Division One West campaign after enduring a shoulder problem that required

Date

Crying shame as festival is halted

AN event that has attracted the world's top town criers to Bromyard has been halted. Organisers of the Bromyard Spring Festival of Town Criers have decided to pull the plug after eight years. Spokesman Joan Dauncey said the decision was made at the last

Date

Wyfold crew out

A DISQUALIFICATION ended Worcester Rowing Club's Wyfold Challenge Cup dreams at Henley Royal Regatta. They lost to Star Club in the second round after defeating London Rowing Club 'C' in their first race at the prestigious event. But Worcester's Jeremey

Date

Change of venue for show

A change of venue is expected to attract scores of new competitors to the 53rd Mathon Horse and Dog Show. The show will be held on Sunday (July 3) on a site almost opposite The Welling-ton Pub, near Chance's Pitch. "The access will be better in this location

Date

Duo are off the pace

DROITWICH'S John Bickerton and Hereford's David Park were off the pace yesterday on the opening day of the Smurfit European Open at The K Club. Bickerton and Park struggled to make an impact in Ireland, both shooting a three-over-par 75. They finished

Date

1/7/05 - Raw Tennis is a revolution

MANOR Park Tennis Club is one of the venues chosen for Raw Tennis, a radical new way to play the game developed by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) specifically for 10-18 year olds. Based on activities both online and on-court, the programme is tennis

Date

1/7/05 - Chris and Duncan rescue MCS

MATHON, Cradley and Storridge (MCS) men's tennis team gained a hard-earned draw away against Ross (B) at their Walford Road courts. The MCS pair of Martin Coomer and Graham Jones were beaten in both their matches losing 1-6, 1-6 and 3-6, 1-6 respectively

Date

1/7/05 - Sapey medal

JASON Gale was the clear winner of the Sapey Golf Club's midweek medal on June 20. Gale won division one with a 72 (10) 62, well clear of second-placed Brian Kendall 80 (13) 67 and third-placed Ian Hunt 82 (13) 69. In division two, Richard Arrowsmith

Date

1/7/05 - Charity golf

THE annual friendly rivalry between the English and Scottish members of the Bransford Golf Club came to the fore as they played for the Bannockburn Cup. Singles matchplay were the order of the day and the English saw off the Scots in an unusually one-sided

Date

DAVE BRADLEY FRIDAY FEELING

BLIMEY, another week gone by, and the 1st of July today, where does the time go. It seems, as you get older the time goes so much quicker. Do you remember when you were a nipper, and the summer holidays from school seemed to go on forever. Were we off

Date

ROUND-UP: male voices

tenors for a fiver The Worcester Male Voice Choir will be singing at Droitwich Spa High School on Friday, July 8, as part of the Droitwich Music Festival. For more information or tickets, which cost £5, log on to www.droitwichspa.com or call John Armstrong

Date

Joe's a panto pirate

COMEDIAN Joe Pasquale was such a hit in last year's pantomime at the Birmingham Hippodrome he's back this Christmas as well - this time starring in Peter Pan rather than Jack And The Beanstalk. The show will run from Wednesday, December 21, until Sunday

Date

Gay spiders, hunchbacks and dumping the girlfriend

Hhunchbacks, gay spiders, Salvation Army camouflage, turkey camps, Rohypnol and dumping your girlfriend will be among the subjects when four of the UK's most up-and-coming comedians preview their forthcoming Edinburgh Festival shows in Worcester. Andrew

Date

Arcos will benefit from concert

CELEBRATED counter-tenor Nicholas Clapton will give a concert in Malvern on Saturday, July 9. Mr Clapton, who was brought up locally, is performing for Malvern-based charity ARCOS. ARCOS helps people who have communication or swallowing difficulties,

Date

1/7/05 - League award for Cross Keys

MALVERN Rangers are celebrating having gained promotion to division one of the West Midlands Football League. Their main sponsors, the Cross Keys, have also won the league's hospitality award. Rangers finished in third place in division two last season

Date

1/7/05 - Batting display is left wanting

MALVERN travelled to Kidderminster Victoria on Saturday and came away with a losing draw after another poor batting performance in this Worcestershire County League division two game. KIDDERMINSTER VICTORIA v MALVERN Malvern captain David Arnold won the

Date

1/7/05 - Killeen battles back for place

MALVERN'S Liam Killeen rode to his second ever World Cup Cross Country podium last weekend in the sweltering humidity of Mont-Sainte-Anne, the famous mountain bike destination on the outskirts of Quebec City, Canada. The 23-year-old Specialized Factory

Date

All the gigs and where to find them

Friday Slowburner - Marr's Bar, Pierpoint Street, Worcester. Best of Blue - National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. Blues At Ten - Swan Theatre, Worcester. Shane MacGowan & The Popes - Carling Academy, Birmingham. Woody & The Stuntcocks - Drummond's

Date

1/7/05 - Town fix warm-up matches

MALVERN Town have organised a pre-season programme of friendlies in preparation for their second term in the Travel Factory Midland Alliance. At present Malvern have two home fixtures, when they take on Stourport Swifts for their opening game on Saturday

Date

Worship of materialism

THERE are more important things in life than gross materialism. Another belief, which I hold, is that the undoubted changes taking place on the planet are cyclical. According to Tony's and Gordon's epistle, European market forces are all that matter.

Date

What's on at a theatre near you

July 3 Sunday Night Platform The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster. July 4-9 Magic of the Dance Malvern Theatres. July 11-16 When Harry met Sally Starring Gaby Roslin and Johnny Wrather at Malvern Theatres. July 16 Being Victor Borge Starring highly acclaimed

Date

Seatbelts and safety

I CANNOT understand people not wearing seatbelts. When I was an approved driving instructor in 1965, we were asked by the Ministry of Transport to teach all pupils from the start to wear seatbelts. Therefore, anyone who has learnt to drive in the last

Date

Rulers steal cash to give out welfare

D E MARGRETT quotes the Bible - 'Love thy neighbour (Tuesday, June 21). Absolutely, God has given us the responsibility to care for those in need. However, D E Margrett instead wants the Government to love our neighbours by proxy. The Bible teaches charity

Date

Responding to criticisms of campaign to save Lido

SOME of your readers may have seen or heard reports of remarks made by Councillor Martin Jennings, Leader of Wychavon District Council, about SALT (Save A Lido Today) at the Wychavon District Council Executive Board Meeting on Tuesday, June 14 and I would

Date

They do love to be beside the sea

A DAY'S outing to the seaside by the employees of Malvern Urban District Council was reported in the Gazette a century ago. Not only were the council staff allowed the day off work, but any who did not go on the outing would be docked a day's pay. "This

Date

We could have had chips with everything

AMERICAN electronic engineer Jack Kilby, who won the Nobel Prize for his work in developing the microchip, died last week, aged 81. But the idea was first raised by researchers in Malvern in 1957, seven years before Kilby patented the concept. Geoffrey

Date

Cinemas

Malvern Cinema: The War of the Worlds (PG) Daily 7.45pm, Sat, Sun & Thurs 4pm. Odeon Worcester: The War of the Worlds (12A) 1.40, 4.25, 7.00, 9.20; Batman Begins (12A) 2.50, 5.55, 8.45; A Lot Like Love (PG) 1.50, 4.05, 6.20, 8.55; Kung Fu Hustle (

Date

Conti heads star line-up at theatre

A FEAST of drama, music and comedy is in store for audiences in the autumn programme at Malvern Theatres. The season opens on September 5 with George Bernard Shaw's comedy You Never Can Tell. Directed by Peter Hall and starring Edward Fox and Diana Quick

Date

Royals of club scene stage their global acts

CLUBBING and dance music fans will be coming together this summer for a weekend of pure hedonism at this year's Global Gathering. The event has attracted record-breaking sell-out crowds for the past year and for the first time this year it will take place

Date

MUSIC

Aldwyn Voices: Artistic director, Mr P W Smith, 01684 569721. Bromyard Folk Festival: A Jones, 01885 490323. Bromyard Wind Band: Miss Sarah Howard, 01684 892081. Chandos Symphony Orchestra: Roger Clift, 01633 282268. Malvern Chase Brass Band: Len &

Date

Olivia to meet heroes

A six-year-old Blue fan has won the prize of a lifetime, to meet the boy band back stage after today's concert at the NEC, near Birmingham. Olivia Steele was delighted to hear that she'd won the prize after her dad, Peter, entered a competition in a national

Date

1/7/05 - Defeat was inevitable

BARNARDS Green seconds had no complaints after losing against a keen, young Evesham side in the Worcestershire Sunday League. EVESHAM II v BARNARDS GREEN SUNDAY II Skipper Wajzer did his best to rotate a blend of young and very young seamers, but on a

Date

Business Brief

Team Bosch A TEAM of 23 women employees at Worcester Bosch has raised over £2,000 for Cancer Research UK. Each of them laced up their running shoes and competed in the 5km Race for Life around Worcester. Every member of the team completed the course in

Date

- Don't stare... - Delays likely but work on Sixways is needed - 'Children at risk' as mast gets app

Date

1/7/05 - U12s match

BARNARDS Green U12s put in their best display of the season against their Hanley and Upton counterparts. Hanley batted first and, despite losing an early wicket, made steady progress with Matthews (29) and Lechmere (19) batting sensibly, aided by some

Date

'Beautiful' flats could replace garage in St John's

A GARAGE business that has been serving part of Worcester for 30 years could be closing. Howard Wilson, who runs Holywell Motors, in Comer Road, St John's, is considering selling to a property developer. A planning application has been lodged with Worcester

Date

Future is brighter at porcelain works

ROYAL Worcester Porc-elain says it is now in a much healthier position after 18 months of job losses, bad financial results and property sell-offs. The company, which employs almost 200 people at its Severn Street headquarters in Worcester, made a small