April

FED-up residents in Poolbrook were struggling to discourage birds who took a liking to windscreen wipers on their cars. The birds were believed to be using the rubber from the wipers to line their nests, forcing residents to employ plastic bags and tubes as protection.

AMONG the people paying tribute to the late Queen Mother was Castlemorton resident David Spencer. The former Grenadier Guardsman performed sentry duty outside Buckingham Palace and recalled her "lovely smile" and cheery greeting.

THE decision to close Stanbrook Abbey, the Callow End home to an enclosed order of Benedictine nuns for 168 years, was announced. The news was greeted with sadness by villagers, who paid tribute to the abbey's place in Callow End life.

THE controversial decision to grant Malvern Town Council clerk Stuart McDonough early retirement will cost the authority at least £186,000, according to a report by the District Auditor. The report criticised the authority's decision process but said it did not breach the law in agreeing to early retirement.

Bromyard in Bloom campaigners were laying down plans for the town's first entry in the competition. Advice was being offered by judge Les Goodman following a visit.

THE Ledbury Design Award was won by Willow Works. The careful restoration of the Skipp Alley building, believed to have been built from timbers from the demolished Butcher's Row in the 1820s/30s, was done by Brian Handy, of Wells Joinery, Malvern Wells.

MORE than 200 residents in Dymock signed a petition protesting at the loss of an oak tree close to the Beauchamp Arms. The tree was taken down by Gloucestershire County Council on the grounds it was dying.

A BROMYARD tourist attraction closed its doors, the victim of the down turn in trade caused by foot and mouth. The Pig Pen at Whitbourne had been welcoming visitors for six years.

May

POSTMAN Chris Postans was credited with saving St James' Church, Welland, after finding the doors alight while on his round. Mr Postans said the church rarely got mail and it was lucky he was there to find the fire, believed to have been started deliberately.

NEWS emerged that Malvern Post Office could move, clearing the way for shops and an eating area on the prime site. Talks, at an early stage, had been held between the Post Office and Malvern Hills District Council.

FORMER Dyson Perrins pupil Geetie Singh was named Entrepreneur of the Year at the Asian Women of Achievement Awards in London. Ms Singh runs a string of pub restaurants in London, offering chemically free food, drink and even cigarettes.

POLICE mounted extra patrols to reassure residents in the run-up to the 10th anniversary of the Castlemorton rave party. There were fears of a repeat after rumours surfaced on the internet.

CONCERNED residents in the Southend, Ledbury, were backing an anti-speed campaign by the police amid concerns over safety.

CAMPAIGNERS opposing plans to turn the Horseshoe pub in Broom's Green into a B&B were celebrating after the Forest of Dean District Council refused permission.

PRODUCTION of Atora Suet at Robertson's Ledbury Preserves site got under way following a £2 million investment in the new production line.

The oldest member of Bromyard Wind Band finally got her certificate for an exam she passed in 1928. The oversight was rectified when Beryl Kenworthy joined the band for a concert at St Peter's Church.

June

THE Queen's Golden Jubilee was the event of the year with major community celebrations in towns and villages throughout the area. Major events were held in Malvern Wells, Ledbury, Stoke Lacy, Poolbrook, Cradley, Malvern, Castlemorton, Welland, Suckley, Bromyard, the Hanleys, Mathon, Bosbury and Colwall. A beacon was lit on the Malvern Hills and the Conservators officially named Jubilee Hill in honour of the occasion. The Brierley family of Malvern had the best seats in Britain for the celebrations at Buckingham Palace. Entering a national draw, promoted through the Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter, they were among just 50 winners given grandstand seats for the weekend.

TWO bids to takeover the operation of the Malvern Theatres were lodged with Malvern Hills District Council. One was an in-house bid led by the venue's chief executive Nic Lloyd. The other came from the Ambassador Theatre Group. The council said the future of the complex needed to be examined as it struggled with a £600,000 overspend from the refurbishment project.

Tim Culley, from Upton, a former Malvern College pupil, was thrust into the media spotlight as he entered the Big Brother house as a replacement for a contestant who walked out.

THE owner of Ledbury transport firm ABE praised firefighters for containing a blaze at his Bromyard Road depot. But Andy Boyle was still left with damage estimated at £10,000 following the fire.

MOTORISTS illegally parking in Ledbury's Homend were escaping £60 tickets because the paint showing official parking bays had worn away. Plans were being made to redraw the bays.

July

WEST Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer was calling for a referendum on plans to expand Upton Marina. The £3 million proposal had attracted objections from a number of people in the town and surrounding area.

Chase headteacher David Fawbert bowed out after 16 years in charge of the hugely successful school. On his retirement Mr Fawbert estimated he had taught around 33,440 lessons to 10,000 pupils and presided over 2,500 assemblies.

Malvern firefighters formed a guard of honour at the funerals of Kevin Taylor and Mark Hitchins, following the death of both men in a road accident in Hall Green. Mr Taylor was a retained firefighter at Malvern and Mr Hitchins was the son of a serving firefighter at the station.

Muriel Maby, 95, was about to take her first ever aeroplane flight after successfully bidding for a trip at a charity auction in aid of the County Air Ambulance at the Royal Oak, Leigh Sinton.

A National Blood Service minibus collecting supplies at Bromyard Leisure Centre was given a parking ticket by a warden employed by Herefordshire Council, which had just taken over responsibility for enforcing parking regulations.

Crowds turned out to see the Golden Jubilee baton carried through Ledbury en-route to the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Ledbury student Mark Szortowski, 18, was named Britain's outstanding student of the year for his community work and for overcoming ill-health and bereavement to pursue his chosen course.