Archive
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Brown hints at more new players to join
BROMSGROVE Rovers' manager Rod Brown has praised his three new signings and admitted there could be more new additions arriving soon. New signings Neil Davis, Paul Moore and Gavin Hurren all played their part in Bromsgrove's 2-0 win over Paulton Rovers
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Jess impresses in Austrian adventure
JUNIOR rider Jessica Varnish got her first taste of international action over the weekend, when she was part of a Great Britain squad that returned with an impressive haul of medals from the Austrian International.Wheely good time: Jessica Varnish, aged
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Barbara returns
BARBARA Dickson is without a doubt one of the UK's most popular and versatile singer and actresses and she will be back in the county next month. She has become an institution in her own right and as part of her new 2006 UK tour, she makes a return visit
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Another blow for pre-school
A PLAN to put a pre-school building next to a primary school in a Worcestershire village have been turned down for the second time. The planning inspector has dismissed an appeal by Welland Pre-School because it would mean losing two mature horse chestnut
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Come and join us on the Chicken Run and raise cash for Acorns
THE strength and determination of an eight-year-old boy who died of a brain tumour has inspired his mother to organise a fun run where able and disabled children will run side by side. Jakob Hyde was diagnosed with a brain tumour when he was seven years
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Malvern Town FC - Fixtures/Results - 2005/6 Season
FIXTURES Harvey World Travel Midland Football Alliance Saturday, January 21, Oldbury United v Malvern Town (3.00). Tuesday, January 24, Coalville Town v Malvern Town (7.45). Saturday, January 28, Malvern Town v Racing Club Warwick (3.00). Tuesday, January
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Machine emptied
THIEVES broke into the Needlemakers Arms in Studley and emptied a gaming machine of its contents. According to Sector Insp Emma Walton, the thieves gained access to the Watt Road pub through a window in a toilet on January 9 between 3.40 and 4.30am. It
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17/01/06 - Brown hints at more new players to join
BROMSGROVE Rovers' manager Rod Brown has praised his three new signings and admitted there could be more new additions arriving soon. New signings Neil Davis, Paul Moore and Gavin Hurren all played their part in Bromsgrove's 2-0 win over Paulton Rovers
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11/01/06 - Society investigates plans to buy club
AN independent group of Bromsgrove Rovers supporters are preparing ambitious plans to become the club's saviours if it ever falls into crisis again. Bromsgrove Rovers Supporters' Society held a meeting on Wednesday, January 11, to discuss various ways
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Greased Lightnin'
FAST cars, hot girls and blistering rock and roll. No it's not the latest edition of Max Power magazine, it's the brilliant production of Grease which is currently packing them in at Birmigham's Alexandra Theatre. The show starts off in top gear and doesn't
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"Heroes" deserve Busst accolades
AN INCREDIBLE backs to the wall display earned Evesham a priceless point after they had been reduced to nine men with only half-an-hour on the watch. Steve Duncan and Lee Knight were the pair to see red cards but amazingly Tuesday's visitors had the audacity
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Rich stars on Valley return
REDDITCH United manager Gary Whild praised keeper Richard Anstiss after the Valley Stadium side kept their first clean sheet in nine months. Anstiss was also in goal on that occasion, helping the Reds hold Altrincham to a 0-0 at their Moss Lane ground
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Black belt joy for club's young trio
FOUR years of dedicated commitment and training has paid off for three young students of the Studley-based Samurai Jujitsu club. Connor Lawler (left), aged 13, Alastair Ayton, 15, and 11-year-old Jack Cranston (right) underwent a gruelling three-hour
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Stafford on target
HOCKEY: Redditch Ladies may have lost their friendly 4-1 at Stourport but they put in an impressive display against Midlands League opposition. Emma Preston went close to opening the scoring before Stourport struck the opening goal against the run of
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Coach hopes for win
WOODRUSH coach Matt Ellwell hopes his side can bounce back from their North Midlands Vase defeat at the weekend to claim a vital league win on Saturday. Ellwell's side lost 19-3 to neighbours Redditch in the cup but the coach says he is more concerned
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Glyn wins
ANGLING: Lodge Park AC held the first round of their float only league on Sunday on Lodge Pool. Glyn Blewett caught roach on the waggler and pole for a winning catch of 7lb 4oz. Next was Arnie Duggan (5lb 10oz) with Alan Dawson (4lb 5oz) third.
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Where to go
Wednesday, January 18 THEATRE: Grease, Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham. CINEMA: The Brothers Grimm, Artrix, School Drive, Bromsgrove (7.30pm). THEATRE: Aladdin, Norbury Theatre, Droitwich. MUSIC: Celebrating Mozart's 250th birthday, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
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Wilding brace lifts the gloom
Redditch United 3 Nuneaton Boro 0 GOALS have been something of a rarity for Craig Wilding this season. The Redditch striker has managed just four in 26 games and his penalty miss at Leigh last weekend made it 11 without scoring for the former Stafford
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50 years ago - January 20, 1956
A FARM worker, Mr RW Jones, of Southcrest Lodge, Headless Cross, was nearly at the end of his afternoon's job of hedging in a field at Woodrow Farm, Studley Road, Redditch, when his bill hook struck something hard and metallic. He cleared away the undergrowth
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Search is on...
A JUNIOR football side is on the lookout for a new keeper. Studley Juniors u8s, who play at Studley's Birmingham Road ground, need a shot stopper and anyone interested should call Vince on 07966 104273.
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Fixtures
July 2005 (friendlies) Tues 19 Alvechurch (a) 2-1 Martin 2 WEDS 20 TAMWORTH (H) 0-1 SAT 23 Leamington (a) 2-1 Ball, Pinkney TUES 26 MOOR GREEN (H) 2-1 Duncan, Ball SAT 30 WORCESTER CITY (H) 0-0 August TUES 2 REDDITCH UTD (H) 1-1 O'Toole THURS KIDDERMINSTER
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Bromsgrove RFC First XV fixtures 2005/2006
HOME, away (Midlands One fixtures unless stated) SEPTEMBER Sat 03 Whitchurch (Powergen National Trophy, Midlands round one) 3-51 Sat 10 BURTON 14-41 Sat 17 Luctonians (Powergen National Trophy, Midlands round two). Sat Dudley Kingswinford 48-12 OCTOBER
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Skiffle tribute
PAYING tribute to Lonnie Donegan is close friend Paul Leegan in a one-off show at Bromsgrove's Artrix on Saturday. Long before the popularity of tribute bands, Paul was performing a tribute to his hero. And over the years a mutual respect developed between
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Disco fever
PREPARE to be dragged back to the age of disco with tribute band Bee Gees Fever. The group will bring back the Saturday Night Fever in audiences at Worcester's Huntingdon Hall on Friday at 8pm. Wowing audiences across the UK and Europe since 1999, Bee
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ID plan is a way of controlling us
SIR - The Government announced over Christmas that they expect local councils to cross-check ID card details against electoral registers. People on the register - but with no or incorrect details - face the possibility of a fine of £2,500. This exposes
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District pursue quarter-finals
WORCESTER Schools host their Cambridge counterparts at Nunnery Wood tonight in the last 16 of the English Schools Football Association Under 15 Inter Trophy (7pm). In the previous rounds, Worcester have beaten Walsall (1-0), Halesowen & Stourbridge
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Nine-man Evesham are held
EVESHAM United grabbed a precious point at Grantham Town last night from a 1-1 draw, despite being reduced to nine men in the first-half. And Dave Busst's side, now 17th in the table, nearly earned a Southern League Premier win after Rob Taylor put them
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Town storm to home victory
MIDLAND Alliance leaders Malvern Town stormed to a 4-1 win over promotion hopefuls Leamington in front of more than 200 fans at the Langland Stadium last night. Town produced a clinical display, going three goals ahead inside the first 25 minutes. Marc
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Promotion beckoning for city athletics club
RUNNERS from Worcester Athletic Club took part in the third round of the Birmingham and District Cross Country competition. The club hosted this particular race at Malvern and a snow storm an hour before the start made for a very testing course. This,
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Mixed afternoon for two-goal top scorer Richard
Aylesbury Utd 2, Evesham Utd 2 RICHARD Ball was back to his brilliant best - and his worrying worst - last Saturday, writes Mervyn Collins. Evesham's chief goal getter banged in a couple of beauties, had another wiped out for offside, missed a penalty
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Alcester
Local History Society: On a Wing and a Prayer - the Cathedral Builders, was the title of a talk by Keith Cattell. The retired architect traced the techniques and skills used by cathedral builders from the fourth to the 20th centuries. The next talk, The
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14/01/06 - Spa bulldoze their way into next round
Aldridge 3 Droitwich 56 North Midland Shield DROITWICH maintained their blistering form by dishing out a heavy defeat to Aldridge to ensure the team's progression in the North Midlands Shield on Saturday. Leon Hopkins and Chris Hooper were Droitwich's
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Two out of three is not bad
BROMSGROVE under-7s made it two wins out of three on Sunday as they got the better of Stourbridge. The young Boars went down 25-15 in the first game to their Worcestershire rivals, despite three tries for Charlie Marshall. However, they bounced back with
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Rich stars on Valley return
REDDITCH United manager Gary Whild praised keeper Richard Anstiss after the Valley Stadium side kept their first clean sheet in nine months. Anstiss was also in goal on that occasion, helping the Reds hold Altrincham to a 0-0 at their Moss Lane ground
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Proving a taxing time
I NOTE, with interest, the report on Bromsgrove District Council's proposed alteration in the payment of the council tax. I usually pay this tax by cheque in three instalments. On October 13, 2005, I delivered my cheque to the Council House to complete
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Now lacking the lustre...
THOSE of us that have been around a long time will confirm that 'everything that glitters is not necessarily gold'. The very experienced Neil Holmes, for one example, gave the facts in these columns, when he detailed the effects on NHS revenue budgets
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Another bin
REFERENCE the letter from Cllr Stephen Peters (January 4) concerning Bromsgrove's refuse and recycling scheme. Despite the dismal and chaotic start, I fully support the principal and action taken so far. At considerable inconvienence I have been able
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Don't relax
I AM delighted to read that emergency services will be staying at the Alexandra Hospital in the local press but would urge everyone to carry on the fight. I sincerly hope this brings to an end any more attempts to close this wonderful hospital and ensures
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Redditch take cup honours
Woodrush 3 Redditch 19 IT was Redditch who came out on top in this keenly fought cup clash. But it needed the pin-point accuracy of Wil Wilson's kicking to book their place in the draw for the next round. Wilson, called into the side as a last minute
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17/01/06 - Brown hints at more new players to join
BROMSGROVE Rovers' manager Rod Brown has praised his three new signings and admitted there could be more new additions arriving soon. New signings Neil Davis, Paul Moore and Gavin Hurren all played their part in Bromsgrove's 2-0 win over Paulton Rovers
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14/01/06 - Cool Davis on target
Bromsgrove Rovers 2 Paulton Rovers 0 Southern League Division One West By Peter McKinney TWO new signings sealed a much-needed victory for Bromsgrove Rovers as they bounced back from a mid-week defeat by overcoming Paulton Rovers on Saturday. HARD WORKER
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Society investigates plans to buy club
AN independent group of Bromsgrove Rovers supporters are preparing ambitious plans to become the club's saviours if it ever falls into crisis again. Bromsgrove Rovers Supporters' Society held a meeting on Wednesday, January 11, to discuss various ways
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Barnt Green seal deal to play at Victoria Ground
BARNT Green Spartak have strengthened their links to the town after signing a three-year deal to play at Bromsgrove Rovers' Victoria Ground from next season. The club's ground rental agreement is set to start in August 2006. Currently Spartak play at
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14/01/06 - Flying Fairfield climb to top
Fairfield Villa 2 Stockingford AA 1 FAIRFIELD climbed to the top of the Midland Combination First Division with a hard fought victory over Stockingford on Saturday. Victory, sealed by goals for Dave Roussell and Joe Walsh, lifted Villa to the summit and
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14/01/06 - Spa shot down by Warwick
Droitwich Spa 2 Warwick Town 0 DROITWICH Spa's five game unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday, as they slumped to defeat to fellow relegation rivals Warwick. Spa, who had not lost since the start of November, was shot down by a goal in each half by
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15/01/06 - Star bag cup final slot
STAR and Garter FC booked their place in the Advertiser/Messenger Cup final by trouncing Cofton Falcons 5-0 on Sunday. Goals for Cartwright (2), Duggan, Worley and Williams ensured Star and Garter's place in the final. Rubery RBL edged Turks Head 3-2
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15/01/06 - Rubery suffer cup misery
RUBERY FC allowed a two-goal lead to slip as they lost 4-3 to Mayfly Old Boys in the BSA Cup quarterfinal on Sunday. Goals for Gary Davis, Aaron Goodwin and James Gasson should have put Rubery in control but three second half goals knocked them out of
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Bromsgrove Rovers Football Club - Match Stats - 2005/2006
GOALSCORERS 10 - Hadland, Banner. 6 - Barnes-Homer, Dyer 5 - Danks. 4 - Porter. 3 - Curtis, Szewczyk. 2 - Smith, Ramsay, Johnson, Maguire. 1 - Collins, Mitchell, Geohaghan, Willetts, Davis, Hurren. ADVERTISER/MESSENGER MAN OF THE MATCH 3 - Male 5 - Hadland
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Tree vandals
WITH reference to the recent cutting down of the healthy tree in Salters Shopping Centre in Droitwich. I was appalled by this act of 'vandalism'. This was a beautiful tree, and a feature which I personally admired when shopping. I cannot believe that
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Girls being so frank
SOME of the finest female performers in Britain are set to tickle the ribs at the Birmingham Hippodrome when the Vagina Monologues opens on January 31. Actress Michelle Collins, comedienne Nina Wadia and television favourite Anneka Rice all take part
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14/01/06 - No cup joy to soothe the Boars
Bromsgrove 18 Whitchurch 22 North Midlands Cup BELEAGUERED Bromsgrove could not turn to a cup run to ease their league woes as they lost a hard fought North Midlands Cup quarter final at Finstall Park on Saturday.UNSTOPPABLE FORCE: A Bromsgrove player
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18/1/06 - Away form needs to be addressed
NOW we are out of the cup competitions it is vital that we sort out our disappointing league form. It's down to the nitty-gritty of Nationwide North until the end of the season and we must crack on, get points on the board and make full use of our games
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Art show
WORCESTERSHIRE artists are getting back to nature with an exhibition inspired by the world around them at Droitwich Library until Saturday, January 28. The Brian Swingler Art Group is presenting a collection of paintings and drawings, created by mature
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Learn to stage fight
FILM enthusiasts who have dreamed of acting out their own fight scenes have the chance to learn the basics of a good cinematic punch-up at a one-off workshop at the Artrix on Saturday, January 21. The Bish-Bash class will instruct wannabe Arnold Schwarzenegers
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Bentley Pauncefoot WI
Following the successful December party, when members and their guests enjoyed a Christmas meal, games and carol singing, the president - Lynne Reading - welcomed a large number to the first meeting of the New Year. The speaker, Mr M Jones from Stourport
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Whitehall action tax blow to us all
SIR - The Government's decision to increase by two per cent its financial contribution towards the cost of running county services is a blow to all of us. Taxpayers and service users alike are entitled to a fair share of all the taxes collected by this
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Chaddesley Corbett WI
THE speaker at the January meeting was Sheila Spence. Her talk, entitled Mushroom Magic - The Toadstool Trail, was most informative with excellent slides to illustrate the many types of fungi. The myths and legends surrounding fungi identification were
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Goodies galore
JUST before Christmas we linked up with Bromsgrove Farmers' Market to offer one lucky reader the opportunity to win a super prize of a hamper full of farm produce. The competition proved as popular as the Saturday market is with a mass of entries - but
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Winning battle of the bulge
A RUBERY woman is celebrating her battle with the bulge after losing three and a half stone. Twelve months ago Vicki Ahmed was feeling down in the dumps after a Christmas of indulgence. Her weight had climbed to the highest it had ever been and she was
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Many thanks to the Red Watch crew
A GRATEFUL hound returned to the scene of her rescue to thank the firefighters who saved her life. Three-year-old boxer Jade dropped in with her owner Janice Putsman to thank members of Bromsgrove's Red Watch, who cut her free from a collar which nearly
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Diamond days
A CARING Rubery couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a meal with family and friends. Viv and Les Watkins, from Meadowfield Road, first met in 1944 during the war when they were both in the RAF in London. The pair married about 18 months
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Busy putting us on the map!
INFORMATION hungry youngsters at a town school invited residents to a coffee morning to share their knowledge. Year three children at Stoke Prior First School asked people to go to the school and share memories of the area as part of the Worcestershire
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Swimming bid
ALAN Turk is attempting to etch his name into swimming history while raising money for cancer sufferers. Alan, from Gilbert Road, Charford, will head to Scotland on August 12 in a bid to become the first man to swim a length of Loch Ness and Loch Lomond
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Concern over quarry plans
ANGRY residents fear that plans to extend a nearby quarry could make their lives a misery. Residents in the Belbroughton area are unhappy after Salop Sand and Gravel Limited applied to extend the existing Chadwich Lane Quarry and build a new access road
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MINTER
MINTER Vikki Betty, Roger and Family wish to thank the many Friends for their cards and condolences and for attending Vikki's funeral and for their generous donations. Special thanks to all the Staff on Avon 2 Ward at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Malcolm
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ANDREW NEE JAMES
ANDREW NEE JAMES Iris Four years today you slipped away, without a chance to say goodbye. Always on our minds. Love you mum. xx Your loving daughters Angie, Tina and Families. Published in paper 18/01/2006
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Kev's on the Hop!
BRITISH rock/reggae outfit Kev Rowdlands and the Random Band are performing at the Hop Pole Inn on Saturday, January 21. Lovers of the both genres are set for an entertaining evening by the local band (9pm start).
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Redgrave tells the story of Greek poet
RENOWNED actress Vanessa Redgrave brings some star quality to the world premier of composer Sir John Taverner's concert Tribute to Cavafy at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham on Friday, January 20. Mrs Redgrave, a member of one of the most famous acting
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Evesham
GARDENING CLUB: Evesham Gardening Club will be meeting on Tuesday, January 24 at 7.30pm in Wallace House, Oat Street. Adrian Jones is giving a talk entitled Down the Garden Path. The competition this month is for a vase of winter colour (not necessarily
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Greased Lightnin'
FAST cars, hot girls and blistering rock and roll. No it's not the latest edition of Max Power magazine, it's the brilliant production of Grease which is currently packing them in at Birmigham's Alexandra Theatre. The show starts off in top gear and doesn't
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Where to go
Wednesday, January 18 THEATRE: Grease, Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham. CINEMA: The Brothers Grimm, Artrix, School Drive, Bromsgrove (7.30pm). THEATRE: Aladdin, Norbury Theatre, Droitwich. MUSIC: Celebrating Mozart's 250th birthday, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
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Twist in the twins' tale
FOLLOWING a sell-out visit in September 2002, international smash hit Blood Brothers returns to Malvern Theatres this month. The classic Willy Russell musical has scooped four awards for best musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway
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Band get their groove on
FOR a night of smooth grooves and jazz, try the Kingsley Theatre this week. As part of Shindig, the Woodrow-based theatre presents the Daniel Smith Blues Band for an evening of entertainment on Sunday from 7.30pm. Recently nominated as British Blues Keyboard
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Disco fever
PREPARE to be dragged back to the age of disco with tribute band Bee Gees Fever. The group will bring back the Saturday Night Fever in audiences at Worcester's Huntingdon Hall on Friday at 8pm. Wowing audiences across the UK and Europe since 1999, Bee
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Audition chance
THE London Palladium production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang comes to Birmingham Hippodrome this summer and the producers are now looking for children - aged eight to 12 - to appear in this smash hit musical. Auditions will be on February 4 at The Custard
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Art show
WORCESTERSHIRE artists are getting back to nature with an exhibition inspired by the world around them at Droitwich Library until Saturday, January 28. The Brian Swingler Art Group is presenting a collection of paintings and drawings, created by mature
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Learn to stage fight
FILM enthusiasts who have dreamed of acting out their own fight scenes have the chance to learn the basics of a good cinematic punch-up at a one-off workshop at the Artrix on Saturday, January 21. The Bish-Bash class will instruct wannabe Arnold Schwarzenegers
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DVD - The Island (12)
DIRECTOR Michael Bay seems to have drawn from a whole host of sources to make this film. And with echoes of 1980s film Bladerunner and the more recent Matrix trilogy, The Island valiantly tries to draw on a philosophical debate of what it is that makes
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CD - Duets: The Final Chapter - The Notorious B.I.G.
EIGHT years after rapper Christopher Wallace was shot dead, Duets pays tribute to the big man of hip hop. Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Missy Elliott are some of the stars to perform alongside the Brooklyn drug dealer who turned to music when serving nine months
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Change of mind
A REPRIEVE could be in the offing to save some in-patient beds at a much-needed local mental health unit. Last week the Advertiser/Messenger exclusively revealed that Brook Haven - in the grounds of the Princess of Wales Community Hospital - could have
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End of the road for nightclub?
THE future of Bromsgrove's only nightclub looks uncertain after staff were given their marching orders. Employees from Euphoria, in Worcester Road, received a letter last week saying their employment had been terminated with immediate effect. The letter
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DVD - Wedding Crashers (15)
WHILE this film is certainly never going to win anything in the "tremendously deep and meaningful" category of the Oscars, it would surely win something in the "utterly stupid but a great laugh" section. Jeremy (Vince Vaughn) and John (Owen Wilson) are
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Looking for a challenge?
SCHOOLS and youth clubs in Bromsgrove are being invited to enter the 2006 Kielder Challenge, a unique outdoor adventure competition for youngsters with and without disabilities. The competition is open to teams of eight between the ages of 13 and 16,
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It's single file on by-pass
Major safety works are to be carried out on a stretch of the Droitwich by-pass after separate crashes at the same spot inside two hours which left one man dead and another injured. The A38 has been the focus of a major road safety investigation since
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Survey highlights speeding traffic
A ROADS and transport survey to highlight the problems in Stoke has been put together. The survey was sent to 2,000 households in the parish. It aimed to identify any problems which Stoke Parish Council's road and transport working group may have overlooked
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Feed the birds
WILD birds in the Bromsgrove area are in urgent need of help - according to wildlife experts. Most of last year's berries and seeds have disappeared from gardens and hedgerows and there are few insects around to provide them with food. The Worcestershire
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New leap in technology
AFTER years lagging behind in investing in new technology, Bromsgrove Council has agreed to install a pioneering ICT modernisation programme which will put the district at the cutting edge of e-government. Council chiefs claim the state-of-the-art project
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Tim toasts pub's award
TIM Radley, landlord of the Hop Pole in Friar Street, Droitwich, pulls a celebratory pint after real-ale campaign group CAMRA named the hostelry as its pub of the season. The popular venue will be presented with its certificate on Sunday, January 29.
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Last post puts paid to Peugeot
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a wrecked and blood-spattered blue Peugeot 106 was found abandoned along the A4133 Droitwich to Ombersley road on Friday night. The vehicle is thought to have collided with an overhead cable pole before coming
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Night buses plea for elderly
A GROUP that works to support elderly town residents believes there should be late night transport in Droitwich Spa. The town's Area Forum for Older People is calling for improved transport options for elderly residents so that more can go out later at
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Wilding brace lifts the gloom
Redditch United 3 Nuneaton Boro 0 GOALS have been something of a rarity for Craig Wilding this season. The Redditch striker has managed just four in 26 games and his penalty miss at Leigh last weekend made it 11 without scoring for the former Stafford
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The last remnant of Redditch's heritage
I AM appalled at Redditch Council's plans to close Forge Mill Needle Museum (Advertiser, January 11). It is the last remnant of the town's heritage. Contrary to popular belief, Redditch was not born as a New Town in the late 1960s. It was a vibrant, industrialised
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Flood of visitors for popular patient
WARD Five at the Alexandra Hospital has been inundated with visitors over the last two weeks - all to see one very popular patient. David Chart has received more than 120 bedside visits since he was admitted to the Alex following a fall at his home in
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A&E remains under threat
THE Accident and Emergency department at the Alexandra Hospital remains in jeopardy after a meeting held to discuss saving it was postponed. Members of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust board were set to make a formal recommendation to the Special
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Tragedy of overdose
A MUSLIM woman from Redditch died of an overdose of paracetamol, an inquest heard. Worcestershire Coroner Victor Round said Asya Bibi Qadeer may not have intended to kill herself so recorded an open verdict. "In some cases, an overdose is a cry for help
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Centre grant awarded despite closure threat
ARROW Valley Countryside Centre has been awarded a grant to continue its family learning programme - despite being earmarked for closure. The Battens Drive centre has been awarded a £1,200 grant from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to support a
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Arson attack on home
A TEAM of 22 firefighters tackled a suspected arson attack at a house in Woodrow on Sunday morning. Three crews from Redditch and one from Studley were called to reports of a terraced house "well alight" in Pedmore Close at 7.18am. Hereford and Worcester
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Woman fought off thief
A WOMAN who fought off a thief in Redditch was praised by a judge for her "considerable fortitude". Anita Bailey was walking to her Land Rover in the early hours when drunken Richard Kendall pounced. He tried to snatch her handbag but Miss Bailey, who
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Cuts could prove costly
WE appreciate Redditch Council has managed to create a financial burden for the town and is now seeking ways of saving money. It is quite apparent a measure of financial planning and control is missing and money has been spent unwisely but it appears
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Police car hit shop
A BATCHLEY launderette was seriously damaged after a police car ploughed into the front of it. The shop front of the Laundramat in Batchley Road was reduced to rubble after a police car collided with it at about 10.30pm on Thursday night. A police spokesman
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Sainsbury's gets the go-ahead to expand
PLANS to extend Sainsbury's supermarket by a fifth have been given the green light on condition Redditch Council is fully consulted on any changes to the nearby traffic island. The planning committee agreed the Abbey Retail Park store could be extended
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Droitwich Spa RFC First XV fixtures 2005/2006
HOME, away (Midlands Three West (South) fixtures unless stated) SEPTEMBER Sat 10 HARBURY 48-12 Sat 17 North Derbyshire (Powergen Vase) 15-18 Sat 24 Worcester Warriors 15-12 OCTOBER Sat 01 MARCONI COVENTRY 41-0 Sat 08 STOURBRIDGE LIONS 0-20 Sat 15 Worksop
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Mandy's appliance of science scoops award
A SCIENTIFICALLY-minded Redditch librarian jetted off the Geneva where she won an award. Mandy Curtis, librarian at Woodfield Middle School, joined 500 science teachers at the Science on Stage international conference. And while she was there she scooped
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£25,000 for project to restore ancient moat
ONE of Redditch's most significant archaeological sites is to be restored to its former glory after residents' hard work and commitment was rewarded with a grant of nearly £25,000. The Local Heritage Initiative cash has been given to Moons Moat Conservation
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Alcester U3A
THE new year was off to a flying start with a well attended meeting which heard the speaker, Howard Springthorpe, an Alcester U3A affiliate member, give an enthralling talk on amateur films. He started by showing a humorous film made by Evesham Movie
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Work to start on school site
A DATE has been set for the start of long-awaited work to revamp two Alvechurch schools. Work to rebuild Alvechurch Middle and Crown Meadow First Schools on a new site in the village will start in September. The revamp comes as part of a £60 million Private
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Seven fixed penalties for motorists
MOTORISTS using a bus lane or talking on their mobile phone while driving were issued with fixed penalty notices during a police crackdown on such offences. Officers from West Mercia's road policing unit handed out seven fixed penalty notices to motorists
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Walk this way to a healthier life
A SCHEME encouraging residents to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle has celebrated its first birthday. The Walking the Way to Health scheme at the Arrow Valley Countryside Centre has been increasing in popularity over the last year and now attracts
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Priorities outlined
TACKLING underage drinking and antisocial behaviour was top of the agenda at a meeting in Winyates. Residents raised their concerns about a range of issues at the neighbourhood's first Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting on Wednesday. The
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Arrow Valley Countryside Group
ARE you bored? Unfit? Lonely? Then make 2006 a healthy new year! Get back to health and fitness and make new friends by joining the Arrow Valley Countryside Walking Group. With an average of three walks a month and also a varied social programme including
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Beoley WI
MEMBERS greeted the new year by wearing a wonderful display of assorted tartans. Kilts, scarves, ties, sashes and even those hats (the ones with orange hair) were worn for the evening. There were rosettes (courtesy of Georgia, our president) for everyone
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Fairer funding talks
PARTY politics was cast aside when county councillors met a Government minister to argue the case for fairer funding for Worcestershire. A cross-party delegation including Conservative Council Leader George Lord and Labour group leader Councillor John
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Cookhill Keyboard Club
WHAT a great start for 2006 - the meeting on January 4 when Stuart Derry gave a demonstration of the marvellous new Yamaha Tyros 2. Nine new members and 12 guests contributed to a superb attendance to kick off the year in style. The next meeting will
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Feckenham Forest History Society
AT the December meeting members were treated to an evening of music from the local area. Member Richard Churchley performed songs from Worcestershire and Warwickshire, as well as one from the Black Country in appropriate dialect. As both a performer and
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Hollywood WI
PRESIDENT Margaret Aldridge wished everyone a happy new year and hoped all had a good Christmas. A few business matters were discussed and members were reminded that the new year dinner at Kings Norton Golf Club was on January 27. Margaret then introduced
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Town remain at the top of the league
BROMSGROVE Indoor Bowls Club kept their place at the top of their group in the National Top Ten League by defeating Solihull 87-72 on Sunday. The team had to overcome a side packed with England internationals to maintain their good form. Andy Walters,
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Call to cut back on waste
THIS month Redditch residents are being asked to make a resolution to cut back on the waste they throw away and recycle even more than they did in 2005. Getting into the recycling swing will also give residents the chance to win £100. Every month, Redditch
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White Hart Inn Gardening Society
THE society started off the new year with a visit to Hurrans Nursery in Burcot where radio BBC Hereford and Worcester's gardening guru Reg Moule gave an entertaining and informative talk on winter shrubs and new and unusual vegetables for the forthcoming
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Wythall Gardening Club
BOB Brown, a plantsman from Badsey near Evesham, came to talk to us about "so many plants so little space". He has been interested in gardening from the age of eight when he grew vegetables but since then has had a very varied career. He has been a teacher
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Planning views deadline nears
RESIDENTS have one week left to voice their views on a proposed residential development in Greenlands. Redditch Council is giving people until Wednesday, January 25, to have their say on plans for affordable housing on land at the back on 1-11 Auxerre
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Coffee and support
NEW visitors are welcomed to a coffee morning which offers support and friendship to anyone with children who have special needs or disabilities. The Family Support Group, run in conjunction with SureStart, meets fortnightly - now at two venues in the
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50 years ago January 21, 1956
DODFORD'S 112 pensioners each received a Christmas box courtesy of a village scheme set up to help its older residents. The cost amounted to £21/4/0 (£21.20) which left a balance of £7/8/6 (£7.42.5p) in the bank towards buying gifts and comforts next
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Church advises on getting wed
LOVEBIRDS from Headless Cross and Southcrest can look forward to an evening of advice on marriage and wedding ceremonies. The event, to be held at St Luke's Church in Headless Cross on Tuesday, February 21, is for couples who are planning to marry. The
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Win £3,000 in hospice draw
TO celebrate the 3,000th member joining its weekly lottery, the Primrose Hospice, which supports people throughout Redditch and Bromsgrove, is holding a bumper draw, with a whopping £3,000 up for grabs. The top prize is £2,000, second prize £500, third
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100 years ago January 20, 1906
THE down and outs and poor of the district of Bromsgrove enjoyed a very welcome bonus as a result of Lord Windsor's belated coming of age celebrations. An impressive 138 adults, who were in receipt of outdoor relief from the town's workhouse, were each
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Hotel prizes offer
GUESTS at a Redditch hotel will be in with the chance of winning a top prize. The Quality Hotel in Pool Bank, Southcrest, is giving every overnight guest in January and February a scratch card in their room and prizes include weekend breaks, meals and
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New era at Coughton
AFTER 15 years at the helm, the Throckmorton family have handed over the day-to-day running of their stately home to the National Trust. The family's decision concerning historic Coughton Court is due to ill health and commitments elsewhere. The Throckmortons
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Designs on a place in history
ARTISTIC residents have a unique chance to become part of Alcester's history by designing the entrances to the tueries. People of all ages can take part in a competition to design floor mosaics, which will be sited at the entrance of the three tueries
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Image takes flight
THE Greig this week unveiled its new name and logo as part of its £1.2 million facelift. Alcester's centre for sports, leisure, recreation and arts has dropped the word "centre" from its title and is using a bird as its symbol. "We changed the name to
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Chief calls for market truce
A PROMINENT Alcester figure has tried to calm the tense row over the future of the farmers market. To try to settle the "heated debate", Alcester Chamber of Trade and Commerce chairman Andy Mills has appealed to residents to "work together" to make the
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New man on beat in Bidford
BIDFORD residents can look forward to a helping hand in the battle against antisocial behaviour with the appointment of a new permanent police officer. Pc Doug Johnson will replace Pc Pete Gateley, who has retired. His work in the village will be supported
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Pride of the town to go on parade
A COLOURFUL day is planned with the street procession of Alcester Court Leet and Guard of Honour. Residents and visitors alike are welcome to watch the march on Sunday, January 22, from Bleachfield Street down High Street to St Nicholas Church, accompanied
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Silver surfing
OLDER residents of Bidford can get the chance to show age is no obstacle when it comes to surfing the net. Bidford Library will be welcoming people over the age of 50 to take part in a Silver Surfer morning to learn how to use the internet and how to
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I can't believe I'll be playing Utd at Old Trafford tonight
The chance to play at Old Trafford is a dream come true for Andy Corbett, who as a boy bought all the Manchester United strips and once watched his heroes from the stands. The part-time amateur footballer will tonight set foot on one of the most famous
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Months of roadworks will hit our trade hard, say angry shopkeepers
SHOPKEEPERS fear trade will be hit hard when a £1m roadworks scheme hits Worcester. The London Road area of the city looks set for months of traffic chaos as the junction with Wyld's Lane, near Tesco Express, shuts. It means traffic which would normally
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Kev's on the Hop!
BRITISH rock/reggae outfit Kev Rowdlands and the Random Band are performing at the Hop Pole Inn on Saturday, January 21. Lovers of the both genres are set for an entertaining evening by the local band (9pm start).
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Vow to stop paedophiles teaching in county
THE possibility of paedophile teachers working in Worcestershire's schools is to be investigated by the county council. Coun John Buckley, the chairman of the committee which scrutinises the council's work, wants to ensure that no sex offender has slipped
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Original British chart topper to be paid tribute
BRITAIN'S very own 'king of skiffle', Lonnie Donegan, will be paid tribute by artist Paul Leegan when he puts on a concert at the Artrix on Saturday, January 21. Leegan, who befriended Donegan before he passed away in 2002, received his blessing to accurately
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School's delight at its best possible ranking
A WORCESTERSHIRE school has come out with flying colours after the latest report by inspectors. Tenbury High School recorded the best possible score, being placed in the 'outstanding' cat-egory by the Office For Standards In Education (Ofsted). The report
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Redgrave tells the story of Greek poet
RENOWNED actress Vanessa Redgrave brings some star quality to the world premier of composer Sir John Taverner's concert Tribute to Cavafy at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham on Friday, January 20. Mrs Redgrave, a member of one of the most famous acting
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More people now opting for nip-tuck
MORE people than ever before went under the knife in Worcester last year in a search for the body beautiful. Nationally, the number of people opting for cosmetic surgery increased by more than a third to 22,041, according to the British Association of
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well, it's one way to find a parking space...
No, this isn't a case of a motorist finding a novel place to park in Kempsey, near Worcester. This Renault Megane became lodged in the hedge, off Main Road, after a collision with another car. A friend of the driver told the Worcester News she was shaken
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14/01/06 - Cool Davis on target
Bromsgrove Rovers 2 Paulton Rovers 0 Southern League Division One West By Peter McKinney TWO new signings sealed a much-needed victory for Bromsgrove Rovers as they bounced back from a mid-week defeat by overcoming Paulton Rovers on Saturday. HARD WORKER
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18/1/06 - Warriors pair earn England call-ups
NORTH Midlands pair George Crook and Matt Cox have been included in the England Under 18 training squad. Crook, a fly-half, and blindside flanker Cox both play for Worcester. They have been named in a 49-strong squad for training camps at RAF Cosford
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Evesham
GARDENING CLUB: Evesham Gardening Club will be meeting on Tuesday, January 24 at 7.30pm in Wallace House, Oat Street. Adrian Jones is giving a talk entitled Down the Garden Path. The competition this month is for a vase of winter colour (not necessarily
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Mickleton
VIP GROUP: The VIP Group is a small, friendly group for the visually impaired which meets each month for a variety of pleasant activities at the Joseph Webb Hall, Chapel Lane, Mickleton (almost opposite The Three Ways Hotel car park), on the second Tuesday
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Gang hit teen and took bike
A TEENAGE boy was hit over the head with a bat before having his mountain bike stolen. The 15-year-old was cycling along Shawhurst Lane in Wythall on Sunday at 5.25pm when he was stopped by a gang of three white youths aged 16 or 17. They threatened him
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Police link thefts
JEWELLERY valued at £4,000 was stolen from a house in Alcester Road, Studley. Thieves broke into the house through the rear patio door last Thursday between 5-11pm. On the same day, a blue Vauxhall Astra was taken with its keys from Foster Avenue at about
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Barnt Green seal deal to play at Victoria Ground
BARNT Green Spartak have strengthened their links to the town after signing a three-year deal to play at Bromsgrove Rovers' Victoria Ground from next season. The club's ground rental agreement is set to start in August 2006. Currently Spartak play at
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Club joy
DARTS: Leaders Queens A suffered their first defeat of the season in the Astwood Bank Winter League, going down 12-9 to rivals Batchley Club. A maximum from Kevin Bryan helped Batchley to victory while Kevin Beard notched a 177. Division Two leaders Seven
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Cross two
CYCLING: Two Redditch youngsters took part in the National Cyclo Cross Championships which were staged at Birmingham's Sutton Park. Joe Reeves finished 15th in the u12s race while Beth Crumpton was eighth girl home as she crossed the line 27th.
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What's On Guide
Wednesday, January 18 Peter Pan, Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street. Until January 29. Tickets on 0870 730 1234 or www.birminghamhippodrome.com Mother Goose, Swan Theatre, Worcester. Until January 21. Tickets on 01905 420083. Grease, Alexandra Theatre
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100 years ago - January 20, 1906
THE annual pig keepers' insurance society meeting was held at the White Hart Hotel on Friday night last week. There was a very high attendance of members, presided over by Mr A Townsend, who was supported by Mr J Johnson and Mr W Hobday. The secretary
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Manager stays but skipper may be off
FECKENHAM may be about to lose their star player but at least they have retained the services of manager Lee Adams. Adams, who has guided the side to a run of 12 wins in their last 14 matches, was short-listed for the manager's vacancy at Alliance side
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Assistant takes reins at Church
ALVECHURCH play host to high-flying Coalville Town on Saturday but manager Shaun Cunnington is likely to be putting his feet up! The Lye Meadow boss saw his side earn a 1-1 draw with visitors Stratford Town at the weekend but then checked in at hospital
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25 years ago - January 16, 1981
CHRISTMAS will be a month late for members of Redditch's Youth Theatre Group. For a booking mix-up meant performances of their musical The Night Before Christmas had to be delayed from last month. But the show must go on, and the group now hopes to stage
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Dan the man to lift Bees
MIDFIELDER Danny Styles struck a goal in each half to help Studley to a 3-1 victory over lowly league rivals Biddulph Victoria. And Bees manager Kevin Rowlands wants his players to build on the victory when they head to Racing Club Warwick on Saturday
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Dedicoat steers VC to shock win
Phoenix Hereford Ladies 0 Redditch VC Women 1 REDDITCH VC turned the formbook upside down with this thoroughly deserved victory against the league leaders. Phoenix went into the game with a 100 per cent league record but VC were always a threat going
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14/01/06 - Late goals shoot down Boars in flames
West Bromwich men's first XI 5 Bromsgrove men's 1st XI 2 BATTLING Bromsgrove were shot down by two late goals as they slumped to defeat against their promotion rivals in the Coaching Solutions West Midlands Division One on Saturday. Defeat ensured that
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14/01/06 - Droitwich get 2006 off to a strong start
Old Silhillians women's 1st XI 0 Droitwich women's 1st XI 4 DROITWICH started the second half of their Worcestershire League campaign in style by trouncing Old Sils on Saturday. Lucy Hine opened the scoring in the 20th minute when her powerful strike
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Fourths are gearing up for derby
BROMSGROVE men's fourth team goes into their derby clash with Kidderminster with a full strength team on Saturday, January 21. Captain Alan Morris returns to the side, while Nick Priddey also comes back into the team. Morris said: "Kidderminster are always
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Twist in the twins' tale
FOLLOWING a sell-out visit in September 2002, international smash hit Blood Brothers returns to Malvern Theatres this month. The classic Willy Russell musical has scooped four awards for best musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway
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Band get their groove on
FOR a night of smooth grooves and jazz, try the Kingsley Theatre this week. As part of Shindig, the Woodrow-based theatre presents the Daniel Smith Blues Band for an evening of entertainment on Sunday from 7.30pm. Recently nominated as British Blues Keyboard
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Skipper dismayed by absence
INJURY-stricken Graham Hyde has revealed his frustration at missing a sizeable chunk of Worcester City's season. Not since the December 10 Nationwide North draw against Worksop Town has skipper Hyde led City from the start of a game. A virus left the
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County pair earn England call-ups
NORTH Midlands pair George Crook and Matt Cox have been included in the England Under 18 training squad. Crook, a fly-half, and blindside flanker Cox both play for Worcester. They have been named in a 49-strong squad for training camps at RAF Cosford
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Top stars to tackle Evesham cricketers
A HOST of top cricketers are set to showcase their skills at Evesham Cricket Club's Albert Road ground this season when the Marylebone Cricket Club, better known as the MCC, comes to town. Evesham, promoted to Birmingham and District League Division Two
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Academy ladies impress
THREE black belts from a city academy have taken top honours in a national championships for the third time in a year. Master Clive Harrison's Black Belt Academy, based at Worcester's Nunnery Wood Sports Centre, impressed in the Global Tae Kwon-Do International's
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New nets give Barnt Green much needed boost
BARNT Green was one of the first clubs in the country to benefit from the Government's Club Development Programme. The Cherry Hill Road club was given a grant of £30,523 in 2005 to pay for two enclosed practice net areas. The work was completed near the
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Boars gunning for Kettering
BROMSGROVE RFC will be hoping for an upturn in fortunes in the league when they take on Kettering at home on Saturday, January 21 (2.15pm start). Director of coaching Iain Hall is confident as his side goes into a crucial Midlands Division One game in
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14/01/06 - No cup joy to soothe the Boars
Bromsgrove 18 Whitchurch 22 North Midlands Cup BELEAGUERED Bromsgrove could not turn to a cup run to ease their league woes as they lost a hard fought North Midlands Cup quarter final at Finstall Park on Saturday.UNSTOPPABLE FORCE: A Bromsgrove player
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17/01/06 - Boars gunning for Kettering
BROMSGROVE RFC will be hoping for an upturn in fortunes in the league when they take on Kettering at home on Saturday, January 21 (2.15pm start). Director of coaching Iain Hall is confident as his side goes into a crucial Midlands Division One game in
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Shoddy state
HAVING suffered the inconvenience of the refurbishment of Bromsgrove bus station, I would have expected the work to be now complete. However, the bridge over the stream is still closed and is an eyesore; the bus shelters have not been touched at all,
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Great Scott takes Alcester through
Alcester 5 Manor Park 0 ALCESTER recorded only their third win of the season to progress to the second round of the competition after a close and hard-fought contest against their Nuneaton visitors. The home side started brightly and after a missed penalty
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Medics clinch friendly thriller
Kings Norton 12 Birmingham Medics 24 NORTON'S fitness was sorely tested in this fast moving open game with the talented student side looking to run the ball in Barbarian style at every opportunity. The visitors to Ash Lane gave notice of their intentions
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14/01/06 - Delton returns to the action
Loughborough Dynamo 3 Bromsgrove Rovers' Reserves 1 DELTON Francis continued his way back from injury by starting for Rovers' second string in Saturday's Midland Combination Reserve Division defeat. Francis, who has missed almost the whole season with
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Junior
ALCESTER: A James Randall penalty was enough to hand the u16s a slender 3-0 victory over their Broadstreet visitors. Excellent defending and tackling ensured the Coventry side were kept at bay. The u14s were quickly under pressure against Broadstreet
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Conscription
TONY Blair's respect agenda launched last week is bound to be another pie in the sky project like numerous other ideas of his Government. Whilst many of us agree that the behaviour of some youths (not all ) leaves a lot to be desired, the answer to this
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Listen to the public
I AM not a member of any pressure group but I am appalled at the disregard being paid to the views of the people of Droitwich Spa. On January 9 the town council passed the new lido plan and put it forward to Wychavon District Council. The reason given
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Audition chance
THE London Palladium production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang comes to Birmingham Hippodrome this summer and the producers are now looking for children - aged eight to 12 - to appear in this smash hit musical. Auditions will be on February 4 at The Custard
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This will make mind search
THE DOOR stage at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre has a reputation for showing challenging new works and comedy Here's What I Did With My Body One Day falls in that category. The play follows genone scientist David Ree during a trip to Paris and the
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Views of all road users are relevant
SIR - Road transport is the lifeblood of this country, claims George Winter (Letters, Saturday, December 31). This has not always been the case. Many of us have been served very adequately by the railways and waterways with horse-drawn propulsion playing
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Show the red card to the PC brigade
SIR - Stourport and District Youth League has decided on censorship of football scores over 8-0. It's time we showed the red card to such political correctness. Apart from wondering what makes 8-0 the magic trigger for distress, I ask what next? Attempts
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Bromsgrove WI
BROMSGROVE WI and guests celebrated Christmas at our December meeting with the usual traditional tea provided by members. Roma Punt, our president, then introduced the Primrose Hospice Choir to entertain us. Sue Kirby thanked them for making the afternoon
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Bullheads were so easy to catch
SIR-regarding your article about bullheads (Worcester News, January 16) I remember many visits to relatives living at an old water mill in a village in Wales called Tregroyd. I spent many hours there in my youth - 25 years ago - playing in the water mill
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Lickey WI
The first meeting of Lickey WI in 2006 was held at the parish hall. The title of the evening's talk by Sonia Williams of Redditch, was Tin Roof Teaching. This was a fascinating account of Sonia's experiences of teaching in Zambia in the late 1960s when
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The hidden perils of identity fraud
SIR - With reference to your story of the woman who had her bank account emptied due to credit card detail theft typified how easy it is to get caught by identity thieves - and how even the most upstanding organisations will assist the thieves. A Worcester
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Blackwell & Burcot WI
our vice-president, Rae Fowler, who was sitting in for Pearl, wished the members a happy New Year. Then on a sad note, we were told that Wendy Robbins had died suddenly and that any donations should be made to the Primrose Hospice. After that, Rae announced
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Speeding cases are not isolated incidents
SIR - I am responding to Joby Mullens' recent article regarding speeding through Callow End and the Old Hills area. According to the highways partnership, the accident on December 23 was said to be an isolated incident. This is simply not the case; I
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Don't be sheepish when it comes to helping out
CARING residents are needed to donate their unwanted clothes to help feed and clothe a variety of creatures at a local animal sanctuary. The Farm Animal Sanctuary, in Stoney Lane, Broad Green, has hit on a novel fundraising idea to help feed their 120
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Meet a creature from the deep
LOCAL swimmers with an urge for adventure are being invited to dive into the deep - and swim with a shark. Roboshark is coming to Bromsgrove's Dolphin Leisure Centre later this month and is looking for cool pool partners to make waves. The creature was
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Birthday treat
CELEBRATIONS took place at a Sidemoor nursery to mark its 25th anniversary. Children at Perryfields Day Nursery, in Holly Road, tucked into a special birthday cake for the occasion. The nursery first opened in January 1981 as a small ten place facility
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Local pupils lead the way
PUPILS from schools in the Bromsgrove district are looking to the future as they embark on a unique hospitality programme, the first of its kind in Worcestershire and one of only four in the country. The programme, launched last September, is providing
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Cinema - Just Like Heaven (PG)
CHARMING performances from Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo save this film from being yet another dreamy rom-com. Instead audiences are treated to something as sweet and fluffy and delightful as a jumbo bucket of toffee popcorn. Ruffalo has a quirky
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House plan row goes on
A PARISH councillor has hit out at fellow colleagues for ditching a much needed affordable housing scheme in Stoke. Last month Stoke Parish Council agreed to take no further action on providing a small number of homes because 21 out of more than 3,600
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Hit over the head for bike
A 15-YEAR-OLD boy needed hospital treatment after he was hit over the head by youths who stole his bike. The incident happened in Shawhurst Lane, Wythall, at around 5.25pm last Sunday. The lad was cycling along Shawhurst Lane when three youths stopped
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DVD - The Island (12)
DIRECTOR Michael Bay seems to have drawn from a whole host of sources to make this film. And with echoes of 1980s film Bladerunner and the more recent Matrix trilogy, The Island valiantly tries to draw on a philosophical debate of what it is that makes
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CD - Duets: The Final Chapter - The Notorious B.I.G.
EIGHT years after rapper Christopher Wallace was shot dead, Duets pays tribute to the big man of hip hop. Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Missy Elliott are some of the stars to perform alongside the Brooklyn drug dealer who turned to music when serving nine months
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Fighting to save warden service
ELDERLY residents living in two very sheltered accommodation homes hope that 'pensioner power' will save their overnight warden service from the axe. Tenants at Shenstone Court, off Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove, and Crabtree Court in Sidemoor fear that
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CD - Veneer - Jose Gonzalez
A CHILLED out and relaxed album, perfect for taking a bit of time out from the world, Jose Gonzalez' Veneer is already gathering pace in the music charts. Anyone who likes Damien Rice will love this album although this has more of a classical feel, even
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Drink toll too high
ALMOST 300 drivers were arrested for drink driving over the Christmas and New Year holidays, West Mercia police figures show. Although the number of arrests, 276, is roughly the same as in 2004, police say this is still far too high. The figures relate
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Holocaust to be remembered
VICTIMS of the Holocaust and more recent horrors against humanity will be remembered in Bromsgrove later this month. Bromsgrove District Council is one of many local authorities throughout the country, together with numerous organisations and individuals
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Hitting back in bus station row
County highway chiefs have moved to clear up confusion over improvements to Bromsgrove bus station after criticism that the work does not represent value for money. The county council says that the aim of the £273,000 project, completed just before Christmas
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Joe looks to manage town's image
DROITWICH Spa's new partnership manager took up his role in the town this week. Joe Ling is now responsible for co-ordinating all the activities in and around the town, including supporting the Droitwich Spa Area Local Strategic Partnership (LSP). The
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Anger as fees rise
PATIENTS and visitors to Bromsgrove's Princess of Wales Community Hospital face a 100 per cent rise in car park fees. The increase has been described as a 'raw deal' and sparked an angry response from Bromsgrove's MP Redditch and Bromsgrove Primary Care
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Village buzzing as hall gets makeover
SALWARPE'S village hall is set to benefit from a top refurbishment after receiving major funding for the project. The popular hall off Copcut Lane will get a makeover thanks to nearly £150,000 worth of grants and investments from four separate sources
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Diggers in yobs despair
Vandals are making life a misery for gardeners at a town allotment. The owner of one of the plots situated off Westwood Road has been forced to sell his greenhouse after becoming fed up with having to fix the damage caused by repeated attacks. Trevor
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'Don't let the druggies win!'
ANGRY Spa residents are campaigning to save a town play area which has become an occasional haunt for vandals and drug users. Residents have been left saddened by the news that Spa Housing Association plans to demolish the rundown equipment in Vines Lane
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£1.5m price tag on Spa lido makeover
DROITWICH Spa's new lido development will cost over £1.5million if plans are approved at a special meeting of Wychavon District Council next week. Further details of the proposal were released before a meeting of the council's overview and scrutiny committee
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Police hunt house raid terror thugs
A MAN was robbed of his car keys by four 'hoodied' men who burst into his Droitwich Spa home and then drove off in his £22,000 Renault Megane. The incident occurred at around 5.15pm on Thursday after the victim answered the door at his Dugard Way home
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Cuts fury growing
UPROAR is mounting over Redditch Council's plans to axe services, jobs and facilities in a frantic bid to save £1.158 million. The Advertiser has been flooded with letters and phone calls from residents angry about the proposed cutbacks, which will be
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What's on the table
THE options are listed with the approximate figure they will save: Cutting Arts Development post - £40,000 Cutting Youth Strategy post - £33,000 Cutting Neighbourhood Development Service - £133,000 Closure of Winyates, Batchley and Woodrow One-Stop Shops
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Roadblock causes chaos
A REDDITCH road was blocked for more than four hours after a trailer loaded with a train carriage came adrift from the haulage vehicle towing it. Police were called to the obstruction on the A441 Redditch to Alvechurch road at 11.30am on Friday. The road
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Jacqui's top level talks on Alex's future
REDDITCH MP Jacqui Smith has taken her concerns about the future of the Alexandra Hospital to the very top. Ms Smith met Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt on Wednesday for one-to-one talks over proposals to transfer vital services at the hospital to Worcester
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Festival organisers too greedy
I WAS disappointed to read the AIR Festival is being scrapped (Advertiser, January 11). I regularly attend open-air classical concerts at stately piles such as Ragley Hall and Stoneleigh where I take my chair, food and a bottle of wine and enjoy the glorious
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It's cultural vandalism
I AM writing to highlight the devastating effect the proposed cuts by Redditch Council would have on the arts and culture in Redditch. These include the cutting of a crucial post - the Arts Development Officer. Unlike the proposal to close Forge Mill
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Unique asset
I DON'T believe it! What on earth are our councillors thinking of in proposing to close our museum at Forge Mill. Many people from all over Britain and indeed the world visit our unique needle museum, either in person or on the internet. If the Cistercian
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Another nail in the coffin
WITH reference to the possible closure of Forge Mill Needle Museum (Advertiser, January 11). This is another nail in the coffin of "Old Redditch" and an example of the council's apparent desire to bury forever the history of Redditch before the New Town
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Cheers to festival!
THE first ever Winter Ales Festival held in Redditch at the weekend has been hailed a huge success by its organisers. The Redditch and Bromsgrove branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) were delighted with the turn-out at the festival, which took
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Driver seriously injured in pile-up
A DRIVER suffered serious injuries following a three-car collision on the dual carriageway near Webheath. Motorists who witnessed the crash on the A448 Bromsgrove to Redditch highway on Thursday morning are being urged to get in touch with police. The
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Calming agreed
NEW traffic calming measures in Alvechurch to stop speeding have been given the go-ahead by the county council. Alvechurch Parish Council clerk Yvonne Goode said additional traffic calming had now been agreed and the parish council would put in half of
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Concerns over access
PLANS to build four new houses in Bromsgrove Road could go ahead despite Redditch Council officers recommending them for refusal. Members of the council's planning committee delayed making a decision on the residential development at a meeting last Tuesday
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Alvechurch WI
OUR Christmas party went brilliantly with plenty of food and drink and good company. The committee supplied the entertainment with very funny monologues, readings and Christmas carols sung by everyone. The members went to town with the Christmas hat competition
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Dad plays his cards right
A REDDITCH dad who set up a card club so his son could meet fellow enthusiasts has hailed the venture a success. Adrian Field claims his Yu-Gi-Oh card club has really taken off in the last few months, since its launch in the Advertiser. The club holds
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Area issues in spotlight
COMMUNITY-minded residents are being given the chance to have their say on issues in their area as Neighbourhood Group meetings restart next month. The Redditch Council-run scheme allows residents to meet and discuss matters of interest or concern with
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England talk
THE Redditch Society will be given a talk on England and St George this Friday. The talk, given by author Peter Worlsley, takes place at Trinity High School in Grove Street from 7.30pm. Annual subscription to the society is £14 and admittance is £3 per
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£3m for Palace project
A £3 MILLION contract has been awarded to refurbish Redditch's 92-year-old theatre. The restoration of the Palace Theatre, which was built in 1913, will include the removal of all the changes made when it was last restored in the 1970s, as well as the
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Getting ready for the start
EVERY owner and trainer eagerly anticipates the start of the new point-to-point season with high hopes.HORSE POWER:Charlotte Weston poses with Caught at Dawn at Offerton Farm in Hindlip. Some will see their plans and dreams fulfilled, while others will
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Lend a hand
VOLUNTEERS are needed to help out at a Redditch charity shop. The Cancer Research UK Shop in Market Place is looking for residents who can spare a few hours of their spare time to help out. Duties include operating the till, customer service and preparing
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Kingfisher WI
THE first meeting of the year brought news of the annual council meeting in March and the AGM in June. Our speaker was Neville Land, who gave a most interesting talk on Bromsgrove Workhouse, which was in use until 1946, after which it became All Saints
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Hawks' wings clipped
LEADERS Lickey Monarchs beat Droitwich Hawks 7-3 in the Bromsgrove and Redditch League Division One. Steve Horton won his three games for the Monarchs, with Eric Hardman (2) and Roy Norton victorious in the singles and doubles matches. West Midlands Phones
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Redditch Choral Society
THE Christmas concert at St Stephen's Church on December 10 was well received with splendid performances from the soloists and the orchestra. The first performance of Ruth Chan's Children's Christmas Carols sung by the children of St Mary's Catholic Junior
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Beauty boost
GLAMOUR pusses who have partied hard during the festive season are invited to join the road to rejuvenation at Redditch NEW College. The college's Fusion Salon is holding an open evening tonight where students will demonstrate a range of holistic therapies
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Wythall WI
PRESIDENT Jill Warner wished all members a happy new year before starting the business of the evening. The trip to Chester had been successful, and everyone had enjoyed the group carol service. The rambling group's walk around the Birmingham canals had
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From hell to glory
A FORMER Kung Fu world champion and author of best-selling book Taming The Tiger will visit Redditch for an action-packed weekend this month. Tony Anthony will be guest of honour at a host of events across Redditch and Alcester. Mr Anthony's story, which
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Wythall Writers
THE group is holding a series of writers' workshops in 2006. These will be run by people experienced in teaching creative writing. Meetings are held twice a month at Wythall Library and will be a good opportunity for potential new members to be involved
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New CAB
REDDITCH'S Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB) has moved into new offices. All the usual CAB services will now be available at St Stephen's House, Prospect Hill. The offices will be staffed Monday and Thursdays from 1.30-3.45pm and 9.30am-3.45pm Tuesday and
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Kath scoops care award
A REDDITCH woman has been named the first ever Helping Hands Home Carer of the Year. Kath Creed, of Church Hill, has worked for the Alcester-based care home provider for 18 months and emerged victorious because of her hard work and dedication, as recognised
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25 years ago January 16, 1981
THOUSANDS of local families faced holiday headaches caused by a clash of classroom and shop floor summer break dates. A big employer of local labour at Longbridge, British Leyland's summer holidays broke into the last two weeks of the schools' summer
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Back to nature
PEOPLE in Rowney Green were recently treated to an art exhibition of work created by members of the Brian Swingler Art Group reflecting the natural world. Stimuli included the Newbourne Wood at Rowney Green and other local areas of natural beauty. Mr
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Extra hall security
A FENCE will be erected around Studley Village Hall to offer extra security. Studley Parish Council has agreed to install the 6ft 6ins fence around the perimeter of the High Street hall following increasing vandalism. Studley Councillor Hazel Wright said
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18/1/06 - Skipper dismayed by absence
INJURY-stricken Graham Hyde has revealed his frustration at missing a sizeable chunk of Worcester City's season. Not since the December 10 Nationwide North draw against Worksop Town has skipper Hyde led City from the start of a game. A virus left the
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14/01/06 - Spa bulldoze their way into next round
Aldridge 3 Droitwich 56 North Midland Shield DROITWICH maintained their blistering form by dishing out a heavy defeat to Aldridge to ensure the team's progression in the North Midlands Shield on Saturday. Leon Hopkins and Chris Hooper were Droitwich's
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I'm a friendly face in the village if people need me
BIDFORD'S Village Liaison Officer has been crowned the best in the business for the work she has carried out in her community. Heather Gerrard, of Holland Close, scooped the title after having been involved in the Village Liaison Scheme since it started
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Morris on show
BUDDING Morris dancers will be given the chance to learn some fancy footwork this month. The White Hart Morris Men, based in Alcester, will host an open evening at the Holly Bush, Henley Street, to demonstrate and teach visitors some of their dances.
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Midwives on hand for mums
MUMS-to-be in the Alcester area can benefit from a new midwifery service. Qualified midwives Marie Ashford and Diane Menage have set themselves up to work independently of the NHS to care for new and expecting mums. The pair, who have been qualified for
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If we catch you on one of these, we'll destroy it
POLICE in Worcester are seizing mini-motorbikes and threatening to destroy them as they become an increasing scourge in the city. Officers have so far confiscated two 'mini-motos' and are threatening to take more after 91 complaints of misuse in Worcester
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Original British chart topper to be paid tribute
BRITAIN'S very own 'king of skiffle', Lonnie Donegan, will be paid tribute by artist Paul Leegan when he puts on a concert at the Artrix on Saturday, January 21. Leegan, who befriended Donegan before he passed away in 2002, received his blessing to accurately
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Barbara returns
BARBARA Dickson is without a doubt one of the UK's most popular and versatile singer and actresses and she will be back in the county next month. She has become an institution in her own right and as part of her new 2006 UK tour, she makes a return visit
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Mickleton
VIP GROUP: The VIP Group is a small, friendly group for the visually impaired which meets each month for a variety of pleasant activities at the Joseph Webb Hall, Chapel Lane, Mickleton (almost opposite The Three Ways Hotel car park), on the second Tuesday
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What's On Guide
Wednesday, January 18 Peter Pan, Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street. Until January 29. Tickets on 0870 730 1234 or www.birminghamhippodrome.com Mother Goose, Swan Theatre, Worcester. Until January 21. Tickets on 01905 420083. Grease, Alexandra Theatre
