Archive
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Magic time for kids at village nursery
A FORMER village school is catering for children once again after a new day nursery opened on the premises. Magic Moments, which opened last week in Kempsey Community Centre, represents a dream come true for owner Sharron Chapman. It's also an answer
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£20m cutbacks plan for hospitals
HOSPITAL staff in the county have been having their say on a money-saving review which could result in changes to areas including cancer services and accident and emergency. The Worcester News reported last month how obstetrics, medicine, and ear, nose
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Work begins on affordable city homes developments
A BRICK-laying ceremony has been held to mark the start of work on a £2.2m development of affordable homes to be marketed for young, single Worcester people. A total of 22 one and two-bedroom apartments, all for rent, are being built by Spa Housing Association
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Country music night fun
NORBURY Theatre is holding an evening of country music on Friday, October 7. Just Krazy will feature Wendy Windsor as Patsy Cline and double act the Dolloways at the Friar Street Venue. The musical evening starts at 7.30pm. Tickets for the show cost £6
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Sealed Knot take their places for annual battle
AN annual battle re-enactment is taking place at the weekend, to commemorate a local conflict during the English Civil War. The Battle of Ripple, on April 13, 1643, saw the Royalist troops of Prince Maurice drive back William Waller's Parliamentarian
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Appalled mayor hears of three-year yob mayhem
THE mayor of Worcester says he is 'appalled' to hear of a three-year-long battle to rid a peaceful street of yobbishness, vandalism and binge-drinking. Residents of Great Oaty Gardens in Warndon Villages, Worcester, have been plagued by louts who congregate
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Arson is slashed in two counties
ARSON has been slashed by more than 10 per cent across Worcestershire and Herefo-rdshire in the past year alone. Deliberately started fires in homes and businesses fell from 247 in 2003/04 to 219 last year, while the number of cars being torched in the
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Korean public school pupil died hanging by belt in room
A 16-year-old student found hanged at a county public school was seen asleep by his roommate just hours before his death, an inquest was told. Seok Yoon Park was in bed in his room at Bromsgrove School, at about 2am while his fellow student worked on
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OFF TO JOIN THE CIRCUS
CHILDREN in Worcester got a taste of the big top as circus skills came to Rainbow Hill. Pupils of St Barnabas CE Primary School in Green Lane, learnt the art of juggling, stilt walking and plate and feather balancing. An instructor in circus skills spent
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Fury as green grant is axed
AN angry town councillor has hit out at Stratford District Council for what he calls a "despicable" decision to axe Alcester's annual maintenance grant. Councillor Chris Gough has slammed the council for refusing to take another vote on the decision to
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Vandals hit play area
VANDALS have struck again in Alcester - causing £1,000 damage at Conway Fields play area. At a meeting of the town council on Monday, councillors heard how vandals had removed bolts and stanchions from a toddlers' swing, and had destroyed two concrete
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Visitors flock to Mop
RESIDENTS flocked from in and around Alcester to the town's annual Mop fair this week. The traditional event started with a proclamation from High Bailiff Keith Martin at 4pm yesterday, along with bread-weighing and ale-tasting. Court Leet officers also
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Library launch
A NEW, improved Alcester Library is set to re-open after months of waiting. The £196,000 refurbishment of the Priory Road library, originally intended to start in May, began in July after delays and it doors are now set to open on Monday. The scheme was
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Getting arty over coffee
AN Alcester coffee shop brought art to life with a visit from a local painter. Artist Bill Bayley (pictured left) set up his easel in Venue Xpresso on Friday, and produced an acrylic painting of Glastonbury Tor, all under the watchful eye of coffee drinkers
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Worth its weight in gold!
ALCESTER Day Hospital is celebrating the arrival of a new piece of equipment donated by the league of friends. The charity has given a new pair of scales, costing about £1,500, to the Kinwarton Road hospital. Day hospital co-ordinator Gaynor Edwards said
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Group's demise denied by chief
THE chairman of Alcester Visitor Association (AVA) has dismissed rumours the group is to close. Kevin Cook said the group had been due to have a meeting last week which had been postponed so they could wait for as full as turnout as possible but denied
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Double bill for Africa
AFRICA is coming to Alcester with two events to help raise money for a charity which helps people in Ghana. An exhibition and charity concert are being put on for the Johnnie Greenish Memorial Eye Unit Fund, set up to build an eye clinic in Ghana. The
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Banner treble leads Rovers to ninth in table
BROMSGROVE got their league campaign back on track by crushing Dunstable Town 4-0 at Creasey Park on Saturday. Making their first apperance at Dunstable since 1978, Rovers rounded off an emphatic win with a hat-trick from Kevin Banner and a late strike
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Spirits lifted
Stage review - The Mikado at the Festival Theatre, Malvern (until Saturday). LIVELY, lovely, lavish and literally stunning performances all round to provide a gloriously upbeat evening. One of Gilbert and Sullivan's best loved comic operas, it is now
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When the silence said a lot
Film review - The History of Violence, UGC Cinema, Great Park, Rubery. THERE'S one word to describe this film, 'dark'. The film starring Viggo Mortenson as local restaurant owner Tom Stall, tells the story of how a man's world is turned upside-down when
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Man accused of bank robberies
A MAN accused of carrying out a series of robberies at banks and building societies in south Warwickshire is even said to have robbed the same cashier twice in five weeks. Brian O'Dell, 41, who is from Stratford but has no fixed address, appeared at Warwick
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She's a Britt of all right
YOU can bet that quite a few dads and grandads will be keener than usual to accompany the youngsters to the pantomime at Worcester's Swan Theatre this year. No offence to former Carry On and TV actress Liz Frazer, who pulled out of the Chrismas run of
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25 years ago - October 3, 1980
MUMS appeared to have accepted a decision taken by education bosses in Hereford and Worcester to axe a scheme to provide full time nursery education in Wythall by 1981. County education chiefs have escaped any backlash, which might have been expected
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50 years ago - October 7, 1955
ALTHOUGH heavy rain robbed Alcester's 663rd annual mop and statute fair of some of its colour, it failed to spoil the modern setting which surrounds the exercising of a number of its ancient customs, including a few new ones. Because of the rain, Court
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Big win starts Boars' season
BROMSGROVE started their 2005 Coaching Solutions West Midlands Division One season in fine style on Saturday when they beat a strong West Brom side 4-1. In fact, skipper Julian Court described his team's performance as 'the best he could remember'. The
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O'Connor winning battle for fitness
MIDFIELD general Martin O'Connor is pushing for a return to help Kidderminster Harriers shake off their home hoodoo. The veteran player-coach has rested a knee injury over Harriers' last three Conference games as boss Stuart Wat-kiss did not want to rush
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We must be at our best to see off Angels bid
NOBODY should underestimate our FA Cup opponents on Saturday and that's why we must be at the top of our game. Tonbridge Angels are a good team, there's no doubt about that. They are top of Ryman League Division One for a reason. Some people think it's
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Homeless but playing at top
THE University of Worcester are preparing to take on the cream of British student rugby but are still without their own pitch. The first XV will face the likes of Loughborough, Northumbria and Birmingham in the British Universities Sports Association
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Awards bring season to close
OLD Elizabethans brought an exciting season to a close with the club's annual presentation night. In a tense finish, the First XI avoided the drop from Birmingham League Division Two, while the Seconds narrowly missed out on promotion from Division Three
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What's On Guide
Wednesday, October 5 Romeo and Juliet, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Broad Street, Birmingham. Until October 22. Tickets on 0121 236 4455 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry. Until October 15. Tickets on 024 7655 3055 Mercy Fine, The Door
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Groves century best in 10-year Fossils history
MARK Groves compiled the highest score in the Fossils' 10-year history. Groves made 145, his second century in as many innings, in the team's 106-run victory against Badsey. Liz Dean also recorded her best bowling figures for the Fossils of 5-14. Batting
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Worcester boys keep out rivals to take accolade
WORCESTER Rugby Club's talented under 11s scored 16 tries and did not concede a single one in winning the Rugby Lions tournament. The squad of 15 players started off against a powerful scrummaging Wolverhampton but soon established quick ball for the
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Actor Janine finds a pretty good reason to enjoy her new life
FROM the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg to the tranquility of Stow was a big step for actor Janine Hornsby but it was all part of a journey she hopes will lead to a career in theatre. Janine, aged 23, is about to make her acting debut in the Playhouse
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Hat-trick heroics
Midland Alliance STAR striker Keith Rostill bagged a hat-trick as Alvechurch romped to a 4-1 win at Kimberley Town in the second qualifying round of the FA Vase. And the Lye Meadow side have been rewarded with a trip to West Midlands League outfit Wellington
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Manager ready to act after poor show
Midland Comb FECKENHAM manager Lee Adams is set to ring the changes when the Millers take on table-topping Alveston at the Valley Stadium tonight (ko 7.45pm). Adams was so incensed by his team's display on their way to a 2-0 defeat against lowly Highgate
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Reds out of cup race
Birmingham Senior Cup - Second Round Halesowen Town 1-0 Redditch United Cup holders Redditch were knocked out of this year's competition by a battling Halesowen side. Home keeper Dean Coleman, who had a spell with Reds last season, was barely troubled
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Luton help themselves to easy win at Boars
BROMSGROVE slipped to their third successive defeat of the season and second at home when they were beaten heavily by newly promoted Luton on Saturday. While Bromsgrove opened the scoring with a penalty by fly half Matt Halstead, Luton responded swiftly
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Rampant Droitwich crush Coventry
DROITWICH bounced back from last week's disappointing defeat at the hands of Worcester Wanderers by producing their best performance of the season to date. Julian Bailey's men hosted basement side Coventry Marconi and racked up a convincing win. Droitwich
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'Grove worth their Salts
Bredon U15s 0 Droitwich U15s 42 For the second game running Droitwich turned on the style. Good all round team play saw them overcome their early nerves and record a win over a spirited Bredon side. Tom Fogerty opened the scoring after seizing on a chance
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Abhorrent
DO readers know that part of the tax that they pay is being used, each year, to subsidise the export of around 200,000 live cattle from the European Union to the Middle East? The animals suffer stressful sea journeys lasting ten days only to be slaughtered
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It's rubbish
IT amazes me how people get away with it. We have our green bin and our recycling boxes forced upon us, yet I am amazed at the amount of people who actually don't bother recycling their household waste. Time and time again I see the same families with
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Let's clean up the place
I WOULD be very pleased if you would publish this letter as I know - from talking to many friends and family members, that a lot of people feel the same way as I do about the following issues: Having lived in Droitwich for over 10 years, I find it a very
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Decline of democracy
THE disgraceful pictures of Walter Wolfgang being evicted from the Labour Party conference last week shocked us all, just because he dared to challenge Jack Straw on Iraq. It now shows us all what a once proud nation has become, if any dissent is met
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5/10/05 - O'Connor winning battle for fitness
MIDFIELD general Martin O'Connor is pushing for a return to help Kidderminster Harriers shake off their home hoodoo. The veteran player-coach has rested a knee injury over Harriers' last three Conference games as boss Stuart Wat-kiss did not want to rush
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Hit the high road
The Road to Muckle Flugga by Phil Llewellin (Haynes Publishing, £19.99). YOU don't have to be a car - or truck - enthusiast to appreciate these drives across five continents. You just relax in the comfy seat, let Llewellin take the controls and enjoy
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Historic suspense
The Gleemaiden by Sylvian Hamilton (Review, £12.99) HERE is an intriguing tale of dark suspense, comedy, historical adventure and mystery. I had not read any of Hamilton's tales of Sir Richard Straccan before, but soon warmed to her colourful and highly
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City author in store
THE first ever book event for Worcester-born author Charlie Williams, is to be held in the city, later this month. The 33-year-old will be reading from his just-published first novel Deadfolk (Serpent's Tail, £7.99) and talking about how he became a published
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How to win new friends
First Impressions by Ann Demarais and Valerie White, (Hodder Mobius, £10.99). IT takes less than a minute for people to make up their mind about you. In fact, in any new situation, you've only got seconds to make a good impression. Before you even open
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Keeping calm and carrying on
London 1945 - Life in the Debris of War by Maureen Waller, (John Murray, £20) London in 1945 is associated in most people's minds with joyous crowds celebrating the official end of the war in Europe on May 8. What are often forgotten are the first three
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Foreign policy of a great statesman
Palmerston - The People's Darling by James Chambers (John Murray, £25). THIS massive biography of one of Britain's greatest 19th Century statesmen brings home with a jolt how much our influence in Europe and the rest of the world has diminished. For most
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Brum, brum
The Rabbit Guide to Birmingham by Charles Smith and David Clarke (Polperro Heritage Press, £9.95) IF Brummies have a frustration, it's that too few people appreciate the city for what it is today. This new guide written by Birmingham businessmen Smith
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A sweet treat for friends
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik, (Bantam,£6.99). A good friend is hard to find. Or so at least the saying goes. Therefore the achievement of the lead characters in Landvik's latest novel is all the more remarkable. They each manage to
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Read me not into such temptation...
Into Temptation by Penny Vincenzi, (Orion, £6.99). THE problem with this book is that once picked up the temptation is not to put it down. This final - and the best - part of the trilogy The Spoils of Time is another compelling tale from Vincenzi. Although
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Director's cut has shades of genius
Shade by Neil Jordan, (John Murray, £16.99). BETTER known as a film director than as a writer. the director of hits like The Crying Game and Interview With The Vampire, Jordan should, in a fairer world, be just as renowned for his fiction. Shade is a
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Sadly adrift
Darien Dogs by Henry Shukman (Jonathan Cape, £12.99). THE dustjacket makes grand claims... the portrayal of washed-up Westerners adrift in the developing world has "echoes of Graham Greene - but Shukman's writing has an imaginative depth, an erotic, muscular
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Nag... hat's the way to do it!
Nag Club by Anne Fine (Walker Books, £7.99). BOGGLE hats are the latest thing. Everybody wants one - but only Lola, expert parent-nagger, actually has one. So, she decides to teach the other children how to beg, wheedle and tantrum their way into getting
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Miss is naughty but nice
Little Miss Naughty and the Good Fairy written and illustrated by Adam Hargreaves, original concept by Roger Hargreaves (Egmont, £2.50) MR Men and the Little Misses have been with us for more than 30 years. Their design is elegantly simple - bright shapes
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Handy hints for a greener future
Saving the Planet Without Costing the Earth - 500 Simple Steps to a Greener Lifestyle by Donnachadh McCarthy. (Vision Paperbacks, £11.99) ARE you concerned about the environment and long to do something to hold back the rapid demise of our natural resources
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Tale of a goose on the loose
The D-Day Experience by Richard Holmes. From best-selling author of Redcoat and War Walks this remarkable book includes first-hand accounts, photographs, maps and 30 facsimile items of rare memorabilia from the Imperial War Museum. Ottakar's price: £30
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Pyramid puzzle
Secrets Of The Desert by Christian Jacq (Simon & Schuster, £10.99). HAVING discovered a monstrous conspiracy to overthrow the pharaoh, Ramses II, Judge Pazair has been deported for a crime he did not commit and sentenced to die in a prison camp. But
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Bear necessity
Can't You Sleep Little Bear? (Walker Audio. WB 132) This delightful, heartwarming tale which is sure to bring a lump to every parents' heart has been expanded on to a CD, complete with music, for little ones to dance and sing along to. If you haven't
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Middle aged fun factories
n Mediaeval Mischief: Wit and Humour in the Art of the Middle Ages by Janetta Rebold Benton (Sutton, £20). WITTY, clever or humorous imagery has a long history in art - and the Middle Ages were no exception. In her new book, Rebold Benton demonstrates
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Taylor made
POPULAR fantasy writer GP Taylor pays a visit to the Artrix on October 13 as part of his mission to encourage children to get into reading. The writer, who sprang to fame with adventure stories Shadowmancer and Wormwood, is currently on a 50 date tour
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Artist gets a-head
VISITORS to Droitwich Library will be surprised to see a four-foot tall sculpture of a head adorning its gallery until October 29. Named 'Eve' the sculpture is the centrepiece of Malvern based artist Caro Sweet's Heads and Bodies exhibition at the library
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The highs and lows of nob culture
Annabel: An Unconventional Life. The memoirs of Lady Annabel Goldsmith (Widenfeld & Nicolson, £20) Annabel Goldsmith very quickly learned when she married her long time lover Sir James that in doing so, she created a vacancy... And it wasn't something
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Speakers will provide debates galore
THE list seems endless when it comes to the speakers who will be appearing at this month's The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival. Throughout the event's 10-day programme more than 400 speakers will provide a plethora of famous names and voices, ideas
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Patriotism
I DO not always agree with L Spiteri but have always admired his lucidity. Not so his letter of September 24 about accusations of being unpatriotic. H G Wells was a Fabian bewitched by socialists' impossible dream of global equality and unity. This has
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Wychbold Horticultural Society
THE society's autumn show, in the village hall, was a splendid display of flowers, fruit and vegetables. Entries in the flower classes were particularly spectacular. Cookery skills were also on show and there was a good display in the photographic section
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Hadzor and Oddingley WI
We were welcomed to our September meeting by Jenny Marsh, our president. Our secretary, Ann Ballard, read the minutes, dealt with the correspondence and various items from the County Newsletter. We heard about the possible move from WI House, the recruitment
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Labour will not tell us the truth
THE push goes inexorably on. We now read that the police service is to be modernised in the name of efficiency. The existing county forces will be merged and enlarged into nine super-forces. Yet again, our so-called government will not tell us the truth
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Bentley Pauncefoot WI
The members have been out and about all through the summer. In late July, 15 members and friends visited the gardens of Orleton House, Stanford Bridge - a 19th century, Grade II listed house and the home of Jenny and John Hughes. After the garden tour
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Catshill WI
THE president, Mary Davies, opened the September meeting, extending best wishes to the five birthday girls. Business began with a brief talk by Phil Haynes; he explained his idea to have a Bromsgrove 'Day of Kindness'. A day when he hoped everyone would
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Hearts are set afloat with 'Walk To School Week'
PUPILS at Holly Hill Church School got their hearts pumping to promote International Walk to School Week. The school, in New Street, Rubery, was joined by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Birmingham on Monday, after being chosen as the launch school
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World Cup for 'Rush
RUGBY fans flocked to Woodrush RFC last week to catch a glimpse of the Rugby World Cup. Children from a number of local schools were among those to have their pictures taken with the Webb Ellis Trophy which was part of the Sweet Chariot Exhibition Tour
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Unsolved murder is set to be televised
THE story of a brutal murder, which rocked Bromsgrove more than 60 years ago and remains unsolved to this day, is to be featured in a TV programme set to be screened next spring, writes Pete Lammas. A producer for the BBC's Inside Out programme was in
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Whitewash
Dunlop 50 Alcester 0 Warwickshire One ALCESTER sit rooted to the foot of the table after a comprehensive defeat in Coventry to an impressive looking Dunlop side who have found a back line full of youth, creativity and pace, to add to their always competitive
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A loner with murder on his mind
The Gravedigger's Story by Ged Simmons (I.M.P. Fiction, £7.99) MASON is nearing 40, a loner who lives in a bedsit. He likes drinking beer and whisky and most Sunday nights he bleaches his hair. Illegitimate, he walked out on his no-good mother when he
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Star-struck Kings
Kings Norton 33 Bredon Star 20 NORTH Mids (South) One chairman of rugby Ian Jackson had good cause to be satisfied with this important first home league victory against newcomers Bredon Star who have surprised everyone having won both of their opening
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Recognition for stalwarts
HARDWORKING staff and volunteers have clinched top service awards. The Redditch and Bromsgrove Primary Care Trust (PCT) held its annual meeting and five staff members were recognised for serving at least 25 years in the NHS. They all received a certificate
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Pole position
The Rough Guide to Formula 1 (Rough Guides, £6.99) FROM Melbourne to Monaco, McLaren to Minardi, this handy little guide has all the Formula 1 fan needs for the current season. With a comprehensive low-down on the teams, the drivers and the circuits,
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Slick chick-lit in the state of art
Some Kind of Wonderful by Sarah Webb, (Pan, £6.99) ROSIE'S life has become an exhausting string of stresses and strains... getting her four-year-old to school, getting to work on time, conjuring up "clever" ideas for marketing campaigns and she's only
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They're up for the challenge
TALENTED pupils from three schools won places at the grand final of a top outdoor challenge contest. The youngsters from Chadsgrove, North Bromsgrove High and Waseley Hills High schools all took part in the Kielder Challenge in Kielder Forest, Northumberland
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Generation game
Ancestral Trials by Mark Herber (Sutton Publishing, £30). TODAY, each person has four grandparents and eight great-grandparents, but go back seven generations and he or she will have 128 ancestors. Go back 10 generations, and this figure increases to
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Dark tale for some latte night reading
Coffee: A Dark History by Antony Wild (Fourth Estate, £18.99) IN an age when there's a Starbucks on every corner and most of us wouldn't even venture outside the front door in the morning without a caffeine pick-me-up, it's hard to imagine a time when
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Concerns over new homes plan
PLANS to build new housing in Wychbold have sparked a wave of protest. More than 70 people packed into Wychbold Village Hall to discuss Festival Housing Group's scheme to build seven houses and six flats on land off Chequers Lane. The site is currently
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Staged bogus pub robbery
AN assistant pub manager, who staged a bogus robbery to pocket more than £3,000, has been spared a jail sentence. Steven Gray was suffering from depression when he claimed raiders came into the New Rose and Crown in Rubery and attacked him. But manager
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The handbags and the gladrags
Maggie: The First Lady by Brenda Maddox (Coronet Books, £8.99). HERE is an attempt to paint an intimate portrait of the family background, the political life and, yes, the handbags behind a woman whose figure still looms large in British politics. Maddox
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Time to have your flu jab
PEOPLE in Bromsgrove who a vulnerable to the flu are being urged to get a free jab now. The annual Department of Health flu immunisation campaign was launched in Bromsgrove on Monday. It is aimed at people who could become very ill after a dose of the
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Flushing with pride
PUBLIC toilets in Droitwich and the district are better than other bog-standard facilities. They were named amongst the best in the country after cleaning up at the British Toilet Association's Loo of the Year Awards. Wychavon District Council couldn't
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They're busy brewing up
GENEROUS Spa residents enjoyed a cuppa or two when they helped raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Relief during the world's biggest coffee morning. Townsfolk joined thousands of others from across the country last Friday to support the annual fundraising
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Tidying up the life laundry
Clear The Clutter - Make Space For Your Life by Inge van der Ploeg (Floris Books, £6.99) DO you always have clean clothes exactly where you want them, when you want them? Can you always remember where you have put things? Do you feel as though you never
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Well-written history that spans last 90 years of flight
Night Fighters by Bill Gunston (Sutton £25) SUTTON has cornered the military history market in recent years and this latest offering maintains the standard that we have come to expect. Spanning the last 90 years of flight - basically the history of the
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Clampdown on under-age booze
TOWN police have launched a crackdown on stores and off-licenses which sell alcohol to underage drinkers. The move follows complaints about groups of youths gathering in the town causing anti-social behaviour. Police officers have been carrying out test
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Shake-up for fire station?
DROITWICH fire station could close with the service being relocated nearer to the motorway. Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service has unveiled the plans as part of a draft risk management plan. The news will concern some residents who would prefer
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Events coming to a village hall near you
A BUMPER programme of theatre, music and storytelling will be heading to venues throughout Wyre Forest and the surrounding area. It has been organised as part of the rural and community touring scheme, Shindig, which brings professional arts events to
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Fringe offers art dance and music
VISITORS to this year's Bewdley Fringe can expect a wide variety of music from blues and jazz to rock 'n' roll. Musicians Eddie Morton and The Bushburys will perform at The George Hotel tomorrow at 8pm and bluegrass act, Ridge Top Mountain Boys will play
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Ambitious series of youth concerts
YOUTH will be given its head when junior members of Kidderminster Choral Society perform an ambitious series of concerts during their new season. Wyre Forest Young Voices have just published their 2005-06 programme, which gets under way in October. The
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The Nelson touch!
A SCARECROW festival held in Feckenham at the weekend has been hailed a complete Victory!. Handmade scarecrows from the traditional to the surreal lined the streets of the picturesque village ready for scores of visitors. Maps were handed out to guests
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Chance to see acclaimed pianist
AN internationally acclaimed pianist will perform two of Beethoven's most popular sonatas at Bewdley Festival. Mark Bebbington, who has been described as one of the leading pianists of his generation, will be playing at the Ramada Hotel on October 9 at
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Judy makes history
A MAPPLEBOROUGH Green woman has made history in her small community. Judy Stote, who lives next to the village church, has become the first licensed Reader since it was founded in 1888. The 55-year-old grandmother was licensed in Coventry Cathedral by
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Rousing time for all at major fund-raiser
ONE of the most rousing events in Wyre Forest's social calendar returns next month when Music For You is staged for the 24th year running, at Kidderminster Town Hall. The eagerly anticipated two evenings of music and song - on October 7 and 8 - combine
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Groups join forces for garden revamp
A DISABLED Studley man is having his garden made over by big-hearted members of two town organisations. Redditch Lions and the town branch of the Prince's Trust have joined forces to turn the wheelchair-bound resident's garden into a horticultural haven
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First for free food
REDDITCH'S first ever free veggie food fair takes place at St Stephen's Church this Saturday. The event, which runs from 10.30am-3pm, is being organised by the recently formed Redditch Vegetarians & Vegans (RVV) group. There will be a huge range of
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CD - Catching Tales Jamie Cullum
SINCE taking the music world by storm two years ago, Jamie Cullum has managed to impress yet again with his second album. Catching Tales is not the let-down risked by a follow-up offering, but builds on the success of his debut Twentysomething. The opening
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CD - Piece By Piece Katie Melua
IT was with a heavy heart and a feeling of impending doom that I forced myself to sit down and listen to this album. Mainly because I have previously heard the first single from Piece By Piece, Nine Million Bicycles, on the radio, and it instantly made
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Friendly forum
COFFEE and conversation will be served up to elderly residents at a monthly meeting. Redditch Older People's Forum is launching a monthly coffee morning from Thursday, October 13, following the success of its first session in September. The coffee morning
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Expert advice
THE Redditch branch of the Arthritis Self Help Group will welcome a leading doctor in the field at their meeting next week. Dr R Jubb, a consultant in rheumatology from the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (Selly Oak Hospital) will
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Now on air
RADIO Redditch hit the airwaves on Monday. Residents can tune into the pilot scheme station, which broadcasts from the Kingfisher Shopping Cen- tre, on 87.9fm for 28 days. It will broadcast music, chat and interviews, as well as news courtesy of the Advertiser
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Ex-chief must repay charity
THE former chief executive of defunct Redditch charity Step Out Drop In (SODI) is being forced to pay back money owed following allegations of financial mismanagement. Trustees of SODI are in talks with David Cartwright to determine the sum he will have
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Bag snatch man sought
POLICE have issued a description of a man they would like to question in connection with a spate of bag snatches in Redditch. The man is thought to be about 18 years old, white and with a slim build. He wears a cap and dark jacket and trousers. Redditch
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Work starts on £1.5m mosque
CELEBRATIONS were in full swing for Redditch Muslims who gathered on Sunday to mark the start of construction work on a £1.5 million mosque. More than 400 people turned out to see building work finally start on the Jinnah Road project, two months after
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Looking into theatre's past
ADVERTISER readers are being invited to help create a unique piece of artwork which will become a focal point at the Palace Theatre when it re-opens after its refurbishment. Steven Cartwright, 30, from Alcester, has been commissioned to create a stained
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Nine months jail for unprovoked attack
A STUDENT launched a violent attack in the toilets of a Redditch bar after a drink was spilled on his trousers. Martin White broke Patrick McGeough's nose and cut an eyelid punching his head, Worcester Crown Court heard. White, who was studying maths
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Call for other options
SHARP criticism has met possible plans to merge the two Church Hill schools . Former Ravens Bank First School chairman of governors, Councillor Bill Hartnett, levelled fierce accusations at Worcestershire County Council's education chiefs for "dismissing
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Dispersal order granted
RESIDENTS' complaints of trouble from youths in Crabbs Cross has led to a dispersal order being granted. Redditch Council has approved the application for the Section 30 dispersal order, which started on Saturday and will run for six months. It covers
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Entice firms for better pay
BUSINESSES offering better-paid jobs must be attracted to Redditch to help residents cope with the rising cost of living, a town councillor claims. Conservative leader Carole Gandy says the ruling Labour group is failing to entice firms which pay higher
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50 years ago October 8, 1955
THERE had been a generous response from residents in the Rubery area to the appeal on behalf of the five local Territorial soldiers who had been killed when two tanks ran into their tents while they slept while in camp on Salisbury Plain. So far more
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Employers' lip service to equality
EMPLOYERS had a long way to go before turning the "lip service" of wanting equality in the workplace in to a reality, according to a new report . Managers recognised the value of having more women at all levels of an organisation, but more than half believed
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Rooftop housing beats decent homes deadline
A HOUSING association that manages just over 4,000 homes in Worcestershire is on course to meet the Government's Decent Homes standard two years early. The Decent Homes standard requires all councils and housing associations to bring their properties
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Banking on Jamie's mugs to stir sales
CELEBRITY chef and school dinners crusader Jamie Oliver has helped design a new crockery range for Royal Worcester Porcelain. The modern Vintage Chic kitchenware is being launched alongside a set of fine art collectibles to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar
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Bridal shop hit in smash and grab
THE owner of a Studley bridal shop ravaged in a "smash and grab" said she is more determined than ever to make the business a success. Annette Hogg told the Advertiser that last Wednesday's break-in at The Wedding Centre would not stop trade. "It was
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Second store targeted
THIEVES raided a second bridal shop in the early hours of Tuesday morning, stealing more than £10,000 worth of stock. Wedding dresses and veils were taken from Two's Company in Evesham Street, Smallwood, at about 3am, after offenders crowbarred the door
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BOND BEAUTY BRITT IN CITY PANTO
SWEDISH sex siren and ex- Bond girl Britt Ekland is to star in a Worcester panto. She has been signed up to play Fairy Kindheart, replacing veteran Carry On actress Liz Fraser, who pulled out of December's production of Jack And The Beanstalk at the Swan
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We'll build a bonfire - you supply the Guy
THE Worcester News is ensuring the 400th anniversary of Bonfire Night goes with a bang with a kids' competition to design a 'Guy'. This year will see the biggest-ever celebration of the failure of Guy Fawkes' attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament
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Singers to raise their voices
THE Artrix will be filled with music on Saturday, October 8 when the Naked Voices group performs. The 18 piece vocal group will perform original versions of classic pop songs. There will be unique versions of songs by Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Queen
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Country music night fun
NORBURY Theatre is holding an evening of country music on Friday, October 7. Just Krazy will feature Wendy Windsor as Patsy Cline and double act the Dolloways at the Friar Street Venue. The musical evening starts at 7.30pm. Tickets for the show cost £6
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Spirits lifted
Stage review - The Mikado at the Festival Theatre, Malvern (until Saturday). LIVELY, lovely, lavish and literally stunning performances all round to provide a gloriously upbeat evening. One of Gilbert and Sullivan's best loved comic operas, it is now
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Gunpowder, Treason and Plot
This Bonfire Night will mark 400 years since the most famous terrorist plot in history was foiled at the eleventh hour. The ultimate failure of the audacious plan may have occurred in London, but the subsequent drama was played out in stately homes across
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Sweet dreams
Do you often wake up tired in the morning or with aches or pains? If your bed is between eight and ten years old, it could need replacing. Read on to find out how to choose the right bed and get your best night's sleep in years. A good night's sleep can
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Burning desires
With summer well and truly behind us and a distinct autumnal feel in the air, it's a great time to think about making your home cosy in readiness for the winter. A fireplace provides both warmth and a focal point for the room, and all the better if the
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Warm wishes
The latest collection from Gelco provides warmth and style for both autumn and winter, with a wide range of unusual coats, jackets and fashionable wraps. Autumnal colours and cosy fabrics feature highly, and continued adherence to the vintage theme lends
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Be aware
According to Cancer Research UK, more than one in three people will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime. It's a shocking statistic and for women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form, with around 41,000 women diagnosed
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Malvern Girls' College - More Choice & Flexibility
Malvern Girls' College recognises that greater flexibility and choice is essential today to meet the differing needs of parents and girls. It is with this in mind that a number of new options for day girls are being offered. These include a shorter day
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In very good taste
The Epic' Bar Brasseries owned by Michelin-starred chef Patrick McDonald are perfect for relaxed dining, with great food and drink served in stylish surroundings. Sharing the Epic' concept of "luxurious settings without extortionate prices", the restaurants
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Where to go
Wednesday, October 5 MUSIC: London Sinfonietta, Artrix, School Drive, Bromsgrove (8pm). MEETING: LiveWyres Social Singles pub night at Mitre Oak, Crossway Green (8.45pm). Thursday, October 6 CINEMA: Motorcycle Diaries, Artrix, School Drive, Bromsgrove
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What's On Guide
Wednesday, October 5 Romeo and Juliet, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Broad Street, Birmingham. Until October 22. Tickets on 0121 236 4455 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry. Until October 15. Tickets on 024 7655 3055 Mercy Fine, The Door
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Drama, comedy and music at new season
A VARIED bill of drama, comedy, music and children's entertainment is lined up for the forthcoming season at The Rose in Kidderminster. The venue hosts a range of productions rounded off by the play, Billy Liar, in January and February. The perennially
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Passion and thrills
Port Mungo by Patrick McGrath (Bloomsbury, £16.99). Brimming with passion, death, ghoulish psychic energies, there is also incest and a steamy tropical setting. Like a ghost train ride at a funfair, the spooks and thrills whizz past on either side but
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Plot thickens along the Nile ty
Beneath The Pyramid by Christian Jacq (Simon & Schuster, £10.99) THIS is the first in a new trilogy of historical adventures by Jacq - and I'm now eagerly looking forward to reading the second. The author first visited Egypt when he was 17 and went
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Novel debut is a captivating read
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, (Fourth Estate, £12.99) Nigerian born Adichie has previously been short-listed for the 2002 Caine Prize for African writing and is currently short-listed for the 2004 Orange Prize. Her debut novel is an emotive
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Keeping calm and carrying on
London 1945 - Life in the Debris of War by Maureen Waller, (John Murray, £20) London in 1945 is associated in most people's minds with joyous crowds celebrating the official end of the war in Europe on May 8. What are often forgotten are the first three
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Foreign policy of a great statesman
Palmerston - The People's Darling by James Chambers (John Murray, £25). THIS massive biography of one of Britain's greatest 19th Century statesmen brings home with a jolt how much our influence in Europe and the rest of the world has diminished. For most
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Brum, brum
The Rabbit Guide to Birmingham by Charles Smith and David Clarke (Polperro Heritage Press, £9.95) IF Brummies have a frustration, it's that too few people appreciate the city for what it is today. This new guide written by Birmingham businessmen Smith
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A sweet treat for friends
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik, (Bantam,£6.99). A good friend is hard to find. Or so at least the saying goes. Therefore the achievement of the lead characters in Landvik's latest novel is all the more remarkable. They each manage to
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Drawing up victorious battle lines
Pillars of Fire: The Battle of Messines Ridge, June 1917 by Ian Passingham (Sutton £8.99) THE success of the British at Messines in the third year of the First World War greatly contributed to the ultimate defeat of the German Army. When news of the Allied
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Read me not into such temptation...
Into Temptation by Penny Vincenzi, (Orion, £6.99). THE problem with this book is that once picked up the temptation is not to put it down. This final - and the best - part of the trilogy The Spoils of Time is another compelling tale from Vincenzi. Although
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Katie's price of being 'freaky' Jordan
Being Jordan by Katie Price (John Blake Publishing, £16.99). Labelled a tart, a man-eater and even a freak by the very red-tops that made her name, the long-awaited autobiography from the UK's most infamous glamour model tells a very different story to
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Director's cut has shades of genius
Shade by Neil Jordan, (John Murray, £16.99). BETTER known as a film director than as a writer. the director of hits like The Crying Game and Interview With The Vampire, Jordan should, in a fairer world, be just as renowned for his fiction. Shade is a
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Tangled sex life of a stage knight
Secret Dreams: A Biography of Michael Redgrave by Alan Strachan (Weidenfeld& Nicolson, £25). THIS biography of British actor Sir Michael Redgrave, who died in 1985 aged 77, lifts the lid on a talented but ultimately tragic figure and focuses heavily
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Nag... hat's the way to do it!
Nag Club by Anne Fine (Walker Books, £7.99). BOGGLE hats are the latest thing. Everybody wants one - but only Lola, expert parent-nagger, actually has one. So, she decides to teach the other children how to beg, wheedle and tantrum their way into getting
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Handy hints for a greener future
Saving the Planet Without Costing the Earth - 500 Simple Steps to a Greener Lifestyle by Donnachadh McCarthy. (Vision Paperbacks, £11.99) ARE you concerned about the environment and long to do something to hold back the rapid demise of our natural resources
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An eye-catcher in primary colours
Duckie's Rainbow by Frances Barry (Walker Books, £5.99) THE array of books for toddlers and young children is quite bewildering, and it is often difficult to justify spending a fair amount of money on just one purchase, knowing that it will be looked
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Selling art to the rich Americans
Duveen The Story of the Most Spectacular Art Dealer of All Time by SN Behrman (The Little Bookroom, £8.99) THE story of Joseph Duveen gives a fascinating insight into how the modern day art and antiques dealer came into being, and how many of the world's
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Don't keep mum on this!
My Mum Is Fantastic by Nick Butterworth (Walker Books, £4.99) THIS is an all-time favourite with my family, now re-isssued by Walker in a smaller, padded cover format which is sure to delight little fingers. The illustrations will make any mum smile,
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Middle aged fun factories
n Mediaeval Mischief: Wit and Humour in the Art of the Middle Ages by Janetta Rebold Benton (Sutton, £20). WITTY, clever or humorous imagery has a long history in art - and the Middle Ages were no exception. In her new book, Rebold Benton demonstrates
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Taylor made
POPULAR fantasy writer GP Taylor pays a visit to the Artrix on October 13 as part of his mission to encourage children to get into reading. The writer, who sprang to fame with adventure stories Shadowmancer and Wormwood, is currently on a 50 date tour
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Local artists featured in art exhibition
ART lovers should look no further than Frankley's annual exhibition, which runs between October 6 and 11. The exhibition, held at St Leonard's Church in Church Hill, focuses on work by artists from the West Midlands. This is the seventh year that the
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The highs and lows of nob culture
Annabel: An Unconventional Life. The memoirs of Lady Annabel Goldsmith (Widenfeld & Nicolson, £20) Annabel Goldsmith very quickly learned when she married her long time lover Sir James that in doing so, she created a vacancy... And it wasn't something
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Dreamy
A SPECIAL 'Ladies Night Out' could well be in store in Worcester next Wednesday when the all-male dance team, the Dreamboys, appear there at the Huntingdon Hall.
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Suites full of emotion
J S Bach - Cello Suites. Soloist Alexander Kniasev. Warner Classics 25646 1294-2. Three-CD set. THE Bach Cello Suites have a special place in the repertoire of cellists who are masters of their instrument. A solo platform means that the player must be
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Pole position
The Rough Guide to Formula 1 (Rough Guides, £6.99) FROM Melbourne to Monaco, McLaren to Minardi, this handy little guide has all the Formula 1 fan needs for the current season. With a comprehensive low-down on the teams, the drivers and the circuits,
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The bitter art of the short story
The Lemon Table by Julian Barnes (Jonathan Cape, £16.99) THERE are times in this new collection of short stories when the bleakness of Barnes' main theme - old age and the approach of death - threatens to throw a pall of depression over the whole book
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On the road again with Black Sabbath
How Black Was Our Sabbath by David Tangye and Graham Wright (Sidgwick & Jackson, £16.99) BIRMINGHAM was the engine room of the Industrial Revolution in the 1770s and Black Sabbath its driving force during the rock 'n' roll era of the 1970s. But if
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Generation game
Ancestral Trials by Mark Herber (Sutton Publishing, £30). TODAY, each person has four grandparents and eight great-grandparents, but go back seven generations and he or she will have 128 ancestors. Go back 10 generations, and this figure increases to
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Confusion in a romantic English village
Affairs at Hampden Ferrers by Brian Aldiss (Little, Brown, £16.99). Subtitled An English Romance, the action takes place in "an absolutely average village". Aldiss remains most famous for such science fiction classics as Helliconia and Hothouse, and here
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Chapter and verse on communal reads
Essential Guide for Reading Groups by Susan Osborne (Bloomsbury, £6.99) I'VE never been one for keeping the name of a good read to myself. Five Fall Into Adventure... Down With Skool... Far Forest... The Catcher In The Rye... The Sword of Honour trilogy
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The handbags and the gladrags
Maggie: The First Lady by Brenda Maddox (Coronet Books, £8.99). HERE is an attempt to paint an intimate portrait of the family background, the political life and, yes, the handbags behind a woman whose figure still looms large in British politics. Maddox
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Echoes of the past in today's society
Civil War: The Wars of the Three Kingdoms 1638-1660 by Trevor Royle (Little, Brown £20). IT is easy to regard the great cataclysm of the mid-17th Century as being a purely English revolution, fought out on the rolling fields of the North and Midlands
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Wordy little tome
Collins Gem English Dictionary (Collins, £3.99). LET's hear it for uptitling, targetitis, deskfast and me-time. Words that sound so awful they must be made up or, even worse... American (a sure sign that the world as we know it is on the slippery slope
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Tidying up the life laundry
Clear The Clutter - Make Space For Your Life by Inge van der Ploeg (Floris Books, £6.99) DO you always have clean clothes exactly where you want them, when you want them? Can you always remember where you have put things? Do you feel as though you never
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Spooky... or what?
Beyond Coincidence by Martin Plimmer and Brian King (Icon Books, £12.99) WE'VE all experienced that cor-blimey moment, the stop-you-in-your tracks phenomenon so inadequately described as coincidence. In fact, only the other day, I was reading through
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How To Make A New Mother Happy by Dr Uzzi Reiss ( Hodder Mobius, £7.99)
OK, so you've just had a baby, or are just about to give birth. You have this dream that everything will be so natural, you'll know exactly what to do. It doesn't matter how many friends, relatives or well-meaning acquaintances try and prime you beforehand
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Chance to see acclaimed pianist
AN internationally acclaimed pianist will perform two of Beethoven's most popular sonatas at Bewdley Festival. Mark Bebbington, who has been described as one of the leading pianists of his generation, will be playing at the Ramada Hotel on Sunday, at
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Rousing time for all at major fund-raiser
ONE of the most rousing events in Wyre Forest's social calendar returns next month when Music For You is staged for the 24th year running, at Kidderminster Town Hall. The eagerly anticipated two evenings of music and song - on Friday and Saturday, combine
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Monday night jazz returns
ALL that jazz has returned to the Aggborough Suite in Kidderminster with the resumption of what is thought to be the longest running trad jazz club in the town. Monday sees the return of Barbara and All That Jazz, featuring Matt Palmer on reeds. Later
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Time to dress up for festival
ENTERTAINMENT for all the family has been organised as part of this year's Bewdley Festival. Children have been invited to dress up and join a costume parade with a black and white theme on Saturday. At last year's festival, more than 100 children took
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Chance to see acclaimed pianist
AN internationally acclaimed pianist will perform two of Beethoven's most popular sonatas at Bewdley Festival. Mark Bebbington, who has been described as one of the leading pianists of his generation, will be playing at the Ramada Hotel on October 9 at
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Blakfish swim to Redditch
BIRMINGHAM Band Blakfish are playing at Redditch's Golden Cross pub on October 8 (7.30pm start). The gig will also have bands Chaser and Watch That Horsefly, who are also on Blakfish's label Burnteye Record. For more information call the Golden Cross,
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Taking on Le Tour
When former footballer Geoff Thomas was diagnosed with leukaemia, he was determined to beat the disease and to raise as much money as possible for cancer research and treatment - so with the determination that had served him well in his sporting career
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Stourbridge - streets ahead
One of the noticeable features about Stourbridge is the wealth of historic buildings and businesses that give the town its unique character. The impressive town hall was built in celebration of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887, and in its later
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When the silence said a lot
Film review - The History of Violence, UGC Cinema, Great Park, Rubery. THERE'S one word to describe this film, 'dark'. The film starring Viggo Mortenson as local restaurant owner Tom Stall, tells the story of how a man's world is turned upside-down when
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A new image
A brand-new showroom showcasing the very latest developments in kitchen and bathroom design is just one of the impressive displays at Image Interiors in Bromsgrove. As well as the huge variety of contemporary and traditional kitchens to choose from, customers
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Skin deep
Those in search of the latest and most effective skin treatments need look no further than Bewdley, where a new clinic provides professional, personalised care in a relaxed and private environment. Springhill Clinic is run by Sally Durant, who has 25
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Fashion show
Guests at the Ladies' Lunches had the opportunity to view a wide range of beautiful lingerie, nightwear and swimwear from Noir, in the fashion show organised by Ann McDowell. Top brands like Lejaby, Rigby & Peller and Gottex featured garments in bright
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Ever popular vintage Pyrex
Many people collect various kinds of kitchenware and this week I thought we'd take a look at the ever-popular Pyrex - mainly because it celebrates its 90th birthday this year. There's a tremendous amount of Pyrex to choose from (Pyrex has been a household
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Shady lady
A work of art can encompass function as well as beauty - and this is the idea behind ArtShades, a range of stitched paper lamp screens designed and made by Malvern textile artist Sarah Walker. Jewel-like colours, unusual patterns and intricate stitching
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Italian gem - The Irresistible Neapolitan Riviera
From the great city of Naples, gateway to the sun-blessed Italian south, beneath the brooding triangle of Vesuvius, and past the remains of once-great Roman Pompeii, the road stretches round the blue Bay of Naples towards one of the Mediterranean's most
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Actor Janine finds a pretty good reason to enjoy her new life
FROM the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg to the tranquility of Stow was a big step for actor Janine Hornsby but it was all part of a journey she hopes will lead to a career in theatre. Janine, aged 23, is about to make her acting debut in the Playhouse
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Trio ready to rock
A REDDITCH rock band which had one of its songs used on the soundtrack of a Hollywood film will play in the town tomorrow night. The Ritz Bros will play for the first time in Redditch since forming last April at the White Hart in Evesham Road, Headless
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They've got it covered
PRINCE, the Spice Girls and Bruce Springsteen will be just some of the artists covered by a popular band performing in Tardebigge tomorrow. Dynamo's Rhythm Aces promise something to suit all musical tastes when they play at the Melody Lounge at Tyler's
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Dr Teeth will get the joint jiving
THE age of swing will be revisited at Stratford Civic Hall this Friday with a performance from The Dr Teeth Big Band. The eight-piece, who all hail from Stratford-upon-Avon, will take to the stage with their mix of jazz, ska, rhythm and blues and jive
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The foibles of an old age pensioner
Change of Heart by Barbara Anderson (Jonathan Cape, £16.99). IT takes an ambitious author to create a first-person narrator whose raison d'etre is to be trying. Readers demand rewards for spending time with someone like Olly Perkins, the anti-hero of
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TV star Ian will share anecdotes
DAD'S Army to EastEnders and everything in between during a packed acting career will be highlighted in An Audience with Ian Lavender at this year's Bewdley Festival. Likely to forever be remembered most as "stupid boy" Pike in the enduring television
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Hit the high road
The Road to Muckle Flugga by Phil Llewellin (Haynes Publishing, £19.99). YOU don't have to be a car - or truck - enthusiast to appreciate these drives across five continents. You just relax in the comfy seat, let Llewellin take the controls and enjoy
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Fragments of the unconventional
n Like A Fiery Elephant: The story of BS Johnson by Jonathan Coe, (Picador, £20). THIS biography of the little-known writer BS Johnson is both passionate and remarkable. Passionate because it is such a detailed and moving read, remarkable because its
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Historic suspense
The Gleemaiden by Sylvian Hamilton (Review, £12.99) HERE is an intriguing tale of dark suspense, comedy, historical adventure and mystery. I had not read any of Hamilton's tales of Sir Richard Straccan before, but soon warmed to her colourful and highly
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Princely route to natural methods
Radical Prince - the Practical Vision of the Prince of Wales, by David Lorimer (Floris Books, £20) LET'S face it, the planet is in a mess and large-scale farming is just not making any sense any more. Europe is producing far too much food, but rather
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City author in store
THE first ever book event for Worcester-born author Charlie Williams, is to be held in the city, later this month. The 33-year-old will be reading from his just-published first novel Deadfolk (Serpent's Tail, £7.99) and talking about how he became a published
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The birth of an exciting talent
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey (John Murray, £7.99). THIS autobiographical account of Frey's time in a Minnesota rehabilitation clinic marks the launch of a bold and talented literary voice. It is a compelling book that shows immense depth and
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How to win new friends
First Impressions by Ann Demarais and Valerie White, (Hodder Mobius, £10.99). IT takes less than a minute for people to make up their mind about you. In fact, in any new situation, you've only got seconds to make a good impression. Before you even open
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Sadly adrift
Darien Dogs by Henry Shukman (Jonathan Cape, £12.99). THE dustjacket makes grand claims... the portrayal of washed-up Westerners adrift in the developing world has "echoes of Graham Greene - but Shukman's writing has an imaginative depth, an erotic, muscular
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Miss is naughty but nice
Little Miss Naughty and the Good Fairy written and illustrated by Adam Hargreaves, original concept by Roger Hargreaves (Egmont, £2.50) MR Men and the Little Misses have been with us for more than 30 years. Their design is elegantly simple - bright shapes
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Funky, chunky Boo! will have your toddler laughing
Can you find Boo? At the Funfair, Can you find Boo? In the Cave and Boo! A mix-and-match book (Egmont, all £3.99) THESE are nice books. Bright colours, pleasant characters, lots of interaction - yup, you think, perfect for my toddler. These will encourage
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Very simple and very, very sweet
Miffy and the Caterpillar (Egmont, £3.99) MIFFY has been delighting parents and children throughout the world for more than 40 years. As well as the original Dick Bruna stories, there is now, of course, a TV show - and it is from this that Miffy and the
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Tale of a goose on the loose
The D-Day Experience by Richard Holmes. From best-selling author of Redcoat and War Walks this remarkable book includes first-hand accounts, photographs, maps and 30 facsimile items of rare memorabilia from the Imperial War Museum. Ottakar's price: £30
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Pyramid puzzle
Secrets Of The Desert by Christian Jacq (Simon & Schuster, £10.99). HAVING discovered a monstrous conspiracy to overthrow the pharaoh, Ramses II, Judge Pazair has been deported for a crime he did not commit and sentenced to die in a prison camp. But
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The theory of kite
Bolt of Fate by Tom Tucker (Sutton, £20) BENJAMIN Franklin is an undisputed hero of the United States, and indeed, of Western democracy. The son of a candle-maker, he used his talents and abilities to rise in colonial American society and became a politician
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Irish sacrifice
The Easter Rising by Michael Foy and Brian Barton (Sutton, £8.99). Illuminating every aspect of the fateful Easter Week, this book provides the first synthesis of this seminal event in 20th Century Irish history to appear in over a generation. More comprehensive
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Bear necessity
Can't You Sleep Little Bear? (Walker Audio. WB 132) This delightful, heartwarming tale which is sure to bring a lump to every parents' heart has been expanded on to a CD, complete with music, for little ones to dance and sing along to. If you haven't
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No short measure here, from Harris
Jigs & Reels: Short Stories by Joanne Harris (Doubleday, £15). THE widespread feeling that the short story is dead is obviously premature. Adding to a number of new collections being published this spring comes Harris' Jigs & Reels. For those
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Artist gets a-head
VISITORS to Droitwich Library will be surprised to see a four-foot tall sculpture of a head adorning its gallery until October 29. Named 'Eve' the sculpture is the centrepiece of Malvern based artist Caro Sweet's Heads and Bodies exhibition at the library
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Cold comfort from an historic journey
Ancient Mariner: The Englishman who Walked to the Arctic Ocean, by Ken McGoogan, (Bantam Press, £16.99) SAMUEL Hearne certainly wasn't someone who shirked a challenge. He could have had a comfortable life as a rural vicar in his West Country home town
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Speakers will provide debates galore
THE list seems endless when it comes to the speakers who will be appearing at this month's The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival. Throughout the event's 10-day programme more than 400 speakers will provide a plethora of famous names and voices, ideas
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The man who might have been king
Bastard Prince: Henry VIII's Lost Son by Beverley A Murphy (Sutton, £8.99). HENRY Fitzroy was born in 1519 after the King's affair with a Shropshire gentlewoman, Elizabeth Blount. The only illegitimate offspring ever acknowledged by Henry VIII, Fitzroy
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Heroes all, in the face of the enemy
VCs of the First World War: Cambrai 1917 by Gerald Gliddon (Sutton, £20) THE last volume of this series bridges the stories of 43 men who won Britain's highest award for gallantry. Gerald Gliddon covers the men who won the VC on the Western Front in 1916
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A loner with murder on his mind
The Gravedigger's Story by Ged Simmons (I.M.P. Fiction, £7.99) MASON is nearing 40, a loner who lives in a bedsit. He likes drinking beer and whisky and most Sunday nights he bleaches his hair. Illegitimate, he walked out on his no-good mother when he
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Help with England's mish-mash
The Rough Guide to England (Rough Guides, £15.99) "RIGHT at the geographical heart of the county, Worcester is something of an architectural hotch-potch, its half-timbered Tudor and stone Georgian buildings standing cheek by jowl with some fairly charmless
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Everyman's tale of the world at war
The Patriot's Progress by Henry Williamson (Sutton, £8.99). WILLIAMSON'S First World War classic still burns bright as an eternal flame, a masterpiece that will remain undimmed for as long as young men must die in battle and old men make money. It would
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Slick chick-lit in the state of art
Some Kind of Wonderful by Sarah Webb, (Pan, £6.99) ROSIE'S life has become an exhausting string of stresses and strains... getting her four-year-old to school, getting to work on time, conjuring up "clever" ideas for marketing campaigns and she's only
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The serial thriller
You & Your BMW 3-Series by Richard Dredge (Haynes Publishing, £17.99) WHEN BMW launched its 3-Series in 1975 it must have hoped that it had done all its homework correctly. In the 30 years since the end of the Second World War the company had dragged
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Dark tale for some latte night reading
Coffee: A Dark History by Antony Wild (Fourth Estate, £18.99) IN an age when there's a Starbucks on every corner and most of us wouldn't even venture outside the front door in the morning without a caffeine pick-me-up, it's hard to imagine a time when
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Well-written history that spans last 90 years of flight
Night Fighters by Bill Gunston (Sutton £25) SUTTON has cornered the military history market in recent years and this latest offering maintains the standard that we have come to expect. Spanning the last 90 years of flight - basically the history of the
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Events coming to a village hall near you
A BUMPER programme of theatre, music and storytelling will be heading to venues throughout Wyre Forest and the surrounding area. It has been organised as part of the rural and community touring scheme, Shindig, which brings professional arts events to
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Fringe offers art dance and music
VISITORS to this year's Bewdley Fringe can expect a wide variety of music from blues and jazz to rock 'n' roll. Musicians Eddie Morton and The Bushburys will perform at The George Hotel tomorrow at 8pm and bluegrass act, Ridge Top Mountain Boys will play
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Ambitious series of youth concerts
YOUTH will be given its head when junior members of Kidderminster Choral Society perform an ambitious series of concerts during their new season. Wyre Forest Young Voices have just published their 2005-06 programme, which gets under way in October. The
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Drama, comedy and music at new season
A VARIED bill of drama, comedy, music and children's entertainment is lined up for the forthcoming season at The Rose in Kidderminster. The venue hosts a range of productions rounded off by the play, Billy Liar, in January and February. The perennially
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Rousing time for all at major fund-raiser
ONE of the most rousing events in Wyre Forest's social calendar returns next month when Music For You is staged for the 24th year running, at Kidderminster Town Hall. The eagerly anticipated two evenings of music and song - on October 7 and 8 - combine
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Cinema - A History of Violence (18)
LORD of the Rings star Viggo Mortensen swaps Middle Earth for Midwest America in this David Cronenberg thriller. As Tom Stall he is living the American dream - a diner owner in his kitsch hometown, with a loving wife Edie (Maria Bello) and two children
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CD - Catching Tales Jamie Cullum
SINCE taking the music world by storm two years ago, Jamie Cullum has managed to impress yet again with his second album. Catching Tales is not the let-down risked by a follow-up offering, but builds on the success of his debut Twentysomething. The opening
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CD - Piece By Piece Katie Melua
IT was with a heavy heart and a feeling of impending doom that I forced myself to sit down and listen to this album. Mainly because I have previously heard the first single from Piece By Piece, Nine Million Bicycles, on the radio, and it instantly made
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Book - My Sister's Keeper Jodi Picoult
THIS highly acclaimed story is full of human interest. I do not believe that anyone who reads it can help but be involved in the story of a family where a girl, Kate, develops leukaemia, her brother, Jesse, goes off the rails and a younger daughter, Anna
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DVD - Sin City (18)
HAD I known this film was based around a freaky graphic novel series by Frank Miller, I probably would've given it a wide berth. However, this reviewer is glad to have given it a chance as it's actually a series of interesting, intertwined yarns with
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Feckenham Forest History Society
AT the first meeting of its new season, society members had a talk on the history of Malvern from Cora Weaver. She has lived in the area for 27 years and has written a book on the subject. The hills were formed more than 600 million years ago and their
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Alcester WI
THE September meeting held at the Malt Mill Lane centre opened with Peter Preece and his wife showing their wonderful photographs of some of the smaller wildlife creatures, warning that the first ones were of snakes. He also showed his gold winning entry
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Shirley Chrysanthemum Society
THE weather once again played its part and due to extreme humidity many of the growers' blooms "damped off", reducing the number of entries in the early show, but the following won the society's trophies. Derek Evans - Silver Challenge Bowl, Halifax Trophy
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BTCC glory for jubilant Neal
MATT Neal this week admitted that during the final few rounds of the 2005 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship he couldn't wait for it to finish. Most touring car fans would have thought the Hanbury-based driver would have wanted to drink in every
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Mullen: fans to play a big part
BROMSGROVE boss Jimmy Mullen has called upon up Rovers' travelling faithful to be in good voice on Saturday for the massive FA Cup clash with Halesowen Town. Mullen is expecting around 200 to 300 Rovers fans to make the short trip to The Grove and believes
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Ball planning to do some networking
DEAN Ball has been frantically thumbing the pages of his sizeable rugby contacts book in a bid to bring in several quality players to help turn around Bromsgrove's season. The Boars have made a poor start to the season, losing all of their three games
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Teenage ace may win City cup call
TEENAGE sensation Sam Wedgbury could be in line for a shock FA Cup start at St George's Lane this Saturday. The emerging 16-year-old midfielder has earned glowing praise following his two substitute appearances for Worcester City. Wedgbury, a first-year
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Singers to raise their voices
THE Artrix will be filled with music on Saturday, October 8 when the Naked Voices group performs. The 18 piece vocal group will perform original versions of classic pop songs. There will be unique versions of songs by Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Queen
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Blakfish swim to Redditch
BIRMINGHAM Band Blakfish are playing at Redditch's Golden Cross pub on October 8 (7.30pm start). The gig will also have bands Chaser and Watch That Horsefly, who are also on Blakfish's label Burnteye Record. For more information call the Golden Cross,
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Knifeman in street siege
A KNIFE-wielding man threatening to harm himself brought a quiet Malvern residential street to a standstill for hours yesterday. The man, named by local residents simply as Paul, shut himself in 8 Hampden Road from around 2.30pm. He was carrying a six-inch
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What a lovely autumn arch
AN arch of autumn foliage greeted visitors to St Stephen's Church, Worcester, during a weekend festival of flowers, art and music. Nine floral displays throughout the church represented the chief seasons and events in the church calendar and these were
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Hall takes a big step
THE Greig Memorial Hall is a step closer to having a new kitchen and toilets after a successful fundraiser. Greig Centre manager Stacy Robinson said a benefit night held last month had raised more than £1,000 and Advantage Alcester would be matching the
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Bank card scam pair jailed
TWO Romanians who were involved in a scam to clone bank cards by fitting a false front to a cash machine in Alcester have been jailed for three years. Dorel Oprisoni and Edward Dobos, both 25, of Kenwood Road, Bordesley Green, Birmingham, pleaded guilty
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Target team's success
A POLICE initiative launched a year ago to tackle repeat offenders has been hailed a success. North Worcestershire police set up the Prolific and Priority Offender (PPO) last October after a Home Office report revealed 10 per cent of offenders are responsible
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'Charity' caller sparks warning
RESIDENTS are being warned to be vigilant after a man called at a house in Church Hill claiming to be raising money for charity. He called at one woman's house twice on Monday and Tuesday, September 19 and 20, claiming he was hoping to raise £10,000 for
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Reds out of cup race
Birmingham Senior Cup - Second Round Halesowen Town 1-0 Redditch United Cup holders Redditch were knocked out of this year's competition by a battling Halesowen side. Home keeper Dean Coleman, who had a spell with Reds last season, was barely troubled
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Church miss out on Mitch
ALVECHURCH have been forced into a rethink after the man chosen to steer the club up the Midland Alliance table turned down the manager's job. Former Studley and Redditch United favourite Ian Mitchell was offered the position last week but has decided
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Brown looks at his strike force
A NEW striker is top of Rod Brown's shopping list and the Redditch manager knows who he wants at the club. "I have two players in mind who are both high quality finishers who are having indifferent times at the clubs they are with," he explained. "We
