AN attempt by the minority Labour group on Bromsgrove District Council to get their veteran leader Cllr Henry Webley installed as vice-chairman to mark the silver jubilee had failed. The holder of an MBE, he was the only member of the council to have been honoured by the Queen. Cllr Jim Bekenn from Hagley won the vote overwhelmingly.

THE vicar of Finstall, the Rev David Tongue, lead a 70-strong Rogation procession round the parish They halted at various locations for a hymn and a prayer before concluding the day with a picnic.

A RENEWED interest in canal boat travel was providing a welcome boost for the Tolladine Boat Company based at Stoke Prior. This week they launched a luxury 72-foot floating hotel which would operate between Hampton Court and Oxford. The vessel, had been fitted out with furniture bought from Harrods.

BARNT Green Cricket Club was on its way to Lords yet again. The team moved into the third round of the Haig National Knock Out - beating Wolverhampton. Last season they narrowly missed out when being beaten in the semi-final by Dulwich.