Worcestershire | Archive | 2005 | March
VALE music lovers should prime their eardrums for a treat as the latest local supergroup showcase their talents. more...
THE "overwhelming" flood of visitors to an open day at Wilden Church has inspired communities in Wyre Forest to set up a new tourist trail that is being launched on Easter Monday. more...
AN up-and-coming Kidderminster band are a step closer to achieving their aim of "getting noticed" after winning a Battle of the Bands contest judged by a panel including the sound engineer of rock mega band Metallica. more...
RARE vintage clothes and accessories - including pieces by Zandra Rhodes and Jean Muir - will be on display at Harvington Hall this month in a unique fashion event. more...
TALENTED young adults with a taste for the limelight will entertain theatregoers in Wyre Forest tonight when they perform the Midlands' first amateur production of Summer Holiday. more...
Malvern Cinema: Racing Stripes (PG) 3pm, Sat only 4.30pm. A Very Long Engagement (Un long dimanche de fiancailles) (15) 7.30pm. Weds, April 6 - Forum Film Special - The Story of the Weeping Camel (PG) 8.15pm. £4.50, concs £3.50. more...
A GUITARIST who hails from Kidderminster is enjoying musical success after his band made a deal with the biggest Christian record distributor in the country. more...
AN aspiring actor from Kidderminster is to fulfil his dream of performing on a West End stage after wowing chief directors at the National Youth Theatre. more...
puppet show Quing returns to Malvern's Theatre of Small Convenience, Edith Walk, tomorrow (Saturday). more...
Classic children's story Alice in Wonderland comes to the Courtyard in Hereford from April 6 to 9. more...
FOIBLES, secrets and painful deaths of England's former monarchs are laid bare in the latest production at Bromyard's Conquest Theatre. more...
A new initiative will be launched at Malvern Theatres to attract young people. more...
DIVERSITY is at the heart of the new season at Malvern Theatres, according to the complex's manager Nic Lloyd. more...
CERAMIC artist Neil Ions, based at Chastleton, near Moreton, is returning to The Theatre Gallery in Chipping Norton with a new exhibition of his recent work. more...
EVEN more Easter treats are being planned for youngsters kicking their heels over the holidays. more...
A COTSWOLD teacher and artist is staging an exhibition of his work, inspired by local countryside and trips abroad. more...
THE Rose Theatre's resident group, The Nonentities, will have a spring in their step over the Easter period as they prepare to present John Godber's and his wife, Jane Thornton's lively show, Shakers. more...
THE classic Charlotte Bronte novel Jane Eyre caused a sensation when it was first published. more...
Spring on the Malvern Hills is the inspiration behind the latest CD from a composer and musician from Hollybush. more...
A choir from east York-shire performs in Malvern for the first time Saturday, April 2. more...
Jimmy Carl Black and The Muffin Men perform at Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, on Wednes-day, March 30. more...
tenor Ian Storey will be singing for Acorns Children's Hospice at a charity concert at Hereford Cathedral on Wednesday, April 6, at 7.30pm. more...
AS the first year of large-scale tree felling works begins, it's a busy time for conservation workers down in Habberley Valley. more...
ONE of the biggest names in jazz - Ornette Coleman - is coming to Cheltenham for an extra special anniversary. more...
THE Poet Laureate is coming to Tewkesbury Abbey in April for a special concert evening marking the 60th anniversary of VE Day. more...
WITH its first successful season under its belt, Pershore's new Number 8 community arts centre has released its second brochure packed with events to appeal to a wide range of audiences. more...
IT might be just early spring but it's never too early for A Midsummer Night's Dream. more...
ONE of the most popular books for girls is being brought to life on stage at The Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham. more...
TV favourite Russ Abbot is heading an all-star cast for the Oscar Wilde comedy Lord Arthur Savile's Crime, coming to Malvern next week. more...
TONIGHT: Birmingham: Marriott more...
Swan, Worcester - West Midlands more...
Ikon, Birmingham - Where the stars are more...
THE heat stages of the Miss Worcestershire competition, arranged for this Saturday, have been cancelled. more...
EXPERTS are predicting heavy traffic as holidaymakers make their traditional getaway this Easter weekend. more...
THE coroner involved in the death of Rachel Whitear is still deciding whether to reopen the inquest into the drug death of the 21-year-old. more...
MOBILE phones used to make hoax calls to the fire brigade will be disabled, said a brigade spokesman. more...
A 12-TONNE fire engine was taken from a fire station in the early hours of this morning and ended up in a field. more...
FIREFIGHTERS in Herefordshire and Worcestershire have urged residents to check their smoke alarms at the same time as changing their clocks this weekend. more...
THE sky was the limit for youngsters at a Malvern school this week as they made model rockets as part of a day learning about space. more...
A BUS route around the Malvern Hills taking in sites of local interest is set to return this weekend - in time for Easter - following its success in previous years. more...
FOR the first time in her life, Louie Goddard has been able to go to a restaurant with her family. more...
MID-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff has angrily denied claims that the re-opening of the Droitwich canals is under threat by Conservative plans to sell off British Waterways assets. more...
A GRANDMOTHER is hoping to cash in on the forthcoming royal wedding - because she looks exactly like Camilla Parker Bowles. more...
THE death of Herefordshire skydiver Stephen Hilder remains a mystery as an open verdict was recorded at his inquest. more...
POLICE have launched an Easter crackdown on alcohol-related crime in Worcester. more...
LEADERS from Worcester City Council will freeze a grant paid to the Worcestershire Racial Equality Council until they are reassured about how the charity is being run. more...
THE first Fresh Start school in Worcestershire is celebrating after being given a clean bill of health by school inspectors - just nine months after it was closed down as a failing school. more...
FIFTY-NINE years of history has officially come to an end with the controversial closure of the Army Medal Office in Droitwich. more...
MEMBERS of Stratford Studio Art Club will be displaying and selling their works of art, including paintings, creative embroidery and original handmade cards at King Edward VI School, Stratford, from tomorrow, Good Friday, until Sunday, April 3. more...
A SECOND supermarket is pulling out of Kidderminster, leaving dozens more jobs on the line. more...
PIE lovers are being urged to take a butchers at the products of an Ombersley man whose firm scooped the board at a special ceremony. more...
TELEVISION scientist and comedian Johnny Ball will be the star at this year's annual Celebration of Learning Achievement Awards. more...
THE man who raised the profile of fish and chips through the Harry Ramsden's chain of restaurants is to speak at the Business Festival in Malvern in May. more...
A KIDDERMINSTER motor dealer is to give away a new MG ZR 105 worth £11,000 to help raise money for Acorns Children's Hospice Trust. more...
ONE of Kidderminster's most historic buildings will be opening its doors to the public during the Easter weekend. more...
IT was crystal clear that blood donors from across Wyre Forest and South Shropshire had reached notable milestones. more...
UNSUNG heroes in Wyre Forest could have their efforts recognised in a national awards scheme. more...
FORMER Kidderminster Harriers' footballer, Brian Danby, will relive his best match when he celebrates his golden wedding with wife, Doreen. more...
MOBILE phone owners have been warned to be on their guard following a spate of thefts. more...
A WOLVERLEY-born barrister has been appointed to a prestigious legal role to decide on crunch cases where the Government wants to deport asylum seekers. more...
HIGH schools in Wolverley and Bewdley have massively improved English test scores for 13 and 14-year-olds but Kiddermin-ster pupils' achievements are down on last year. more...
JACQUELINE Wilson was the most borrowed author from Worcestershire's libraries for the second successive year. more...
COMPLAINTS about the selling tactics of an alarm company have prompted police to urge householders to get written quotes before authorising work on their homes. more...
WISHES came true for neighbours in Salford Priors thanks to a new ITV programme due to go out in May. more...
LOOKING for a fight? Choose your weapon - swords, knives, daggers, bombs, quarterstaffs - and Simon Aldis is the man to help you bring it to life. more...
A FORMER dairy worker launched a tirade of racial abuse against a shopkeeper after he refused to hand over cans of lager. more...
A VICAR has turned author with a book on theology which draws on his parish experiences in Rushock. more...
TRAINING providers from across Worcestershire and Herefordshire converged on Stourport in an initiative designed to help stamp out disability discrimination. more...
KIDDERMINSTER Library is the venue for two fun events for children during the Easter holiday break. more...
HISTORY will repeat itself at Harvington Hall this Easter weekend when an "expert" tour guide celebrates 50 years of showing visitors around the moated manor house. more...
WATERWHEELS will be in action when Churchill Forge opens up in the afternoon on Easter Monday. more...
DOGS had their day as two Kidderminster women and their faithful companions enjoyed success at Crufts. more...
AN IKEA nightmare has been turned into a 40-minute BBC documentary by a Kidderminster single mum. more...
CONSERVATIONISTS are hoping a newly-protected hidden treasure from Kidderminster's industrial past can be given a use for the future. more...
A THREATENED strike that was due to hit delivery of Wyre Forest District Council services yesterday was called off by union chiefs. more...
100 years ago more...
THE Gazette 50 years ago was looking forward to the official opening of the Chase Secondary School, as it was then called. more...
SHOULD women have the Parliamentary franchise? That was the question under debate at the Holly Mount Social and Literary Society a century ago. more...
VALE MP Peter Luff has warned residents to be on their guard during the Easter weekend over more unauthorised traveller sites being established. more...
BROADWAY'S one stop shop service has been scrapped by Wychavon District Council because of lack of interest. more...
WITH spring approaching, Vale residents and visitors are being urged to take in the beauty of the Blossom Trail. more...
YOUNG Broadway bookworms had plenty of reason to celebrate when they marked the first anniversary of no library fines. more...
ELDERLY people in the Vale are increasingly becoming the target of conmen and rogue traders. more...
RESIDENTS in the Vale and Broadway are to lose their door-step green waste collection from April 18. more...
COUNCILLORS have backed down from giving permanent permission for extended working hours at the recycling centre at the Hill and Moor landfill site. more...
LONGEST serving fire officer in the country, Chris Parsons, of Pershore, is standing down after 43 years. more...
LIKE many other people, I welcome the changes to stamp duty - but they are much long overdue and simply not enough. more...
WYCHAVON district councillors are making a last ditch attempt to amicably remove gipsies from an unauthorised site. more...
YOUR story concerning the Worcestershire Racial Equality Council last Thursday headlined "Now it's getting personal" quoted Dr Mohammed Aslam. more...
PERSHORE pensioners are being offered free advice about Pension Credit and other benefits. more...
SO Margaret Rowley, Prospective MP for the Liberal Democrats, believes that Labour is a tired old party? more...
AN HGV driver is urgently needed to volunteer for a mercy mission from the Vale to Belarus next month. more...
FOR one who at the last Wychavon elections came within a mere 19 votes of losing her own district council seat, Margaret Rowley (Worcester News, Wednesday, March 16) takes a surprisingly optimistic view of current support for her Liberal Democrat Party. more...
VALE motorists are being urged to keep car keys safe and secure when their vehicles are not in use. more...
TWO teenage boys received hospital treatment following an attack by a fellow passenger travelling on a bus towards Pershore. more...
AN 80-year-old Pershore grandmother has broken her wrist after tripping on the very pavement she has campaigned to be repaired. more...
ANYONE who has ever packed away their worldly possessions to redecorate a room will know what a time-consuming and stressful experience it can be. more...
SARAH Jeynes is so fearful of revealing her pins that she has worn a skirt just once in the last 14 years. more...
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: The society welcomed Peter Sheasby of Bloxham to talk on European mountain flowers. Margaret Haines proposed the vote of thanks. The monthly competition was a photograph of my pet, won by Audrey Barham. more...
THE Bewdley family of one of the youngest victims of the Asian earthquake has ensured her memory will live on and help other children after raising more than £10,000 with the help of Wyre Forest residents. more...
A RE-enactment of a traditional mayor-making ceremony brought history alive to celebrate the reopening of the ancient Royal Forester pub at Callow Hill. more...
BEWDLEY will be the starting point for a dawn till dusk 31-mile sponsored walk for a charity helping people with life-limiting illnesses. more...
DETAILS of pub nights for forthcoming weeks are as follows. more...
DUE to forecasts for wintry weather, February's indoor meeting and field trip were cancelled. more...
THE group held their annual meeting on March 10. Joint chairman Chris Smith said the group had had a successful year, especially the Audio-Visual Day last November at Stourport. Margaret Smith, secretary, reported on the years' meetings. Treasury and publicity officer, Dorothy Every, said the year had been successful. more...
AT the most recent weekly meeting, chairman Bill Every welcomed Trevor Mall from Sutton Coldfield Video Movie Makers and Keith Bennett, one of the group's members, to provide the evening's entertainment. more...
THERE was an Irish theme to the spring group meeting held on March 17 at Clows Top Village Hall, with green table decorations and the competition being "Something Irish." more...
WITH the closure of Hidden Diving, the group would like to assure people that SCUBA diving courses (12 to adult) are still available on Sunday afternoons at the Stourport Leisure Centre with all new members receiving free training and free loan of equipment during their basic training. One hour Try-A-Dives and gift vouchers are also still available. more...
THE March meeting of the club was also the annual meeting. This was followed by a talk from Sheila Hodges on the history and work of the Rose Theatre, named after the founder, Kenneth Rose. There was audience participation when Sheila directed an impromptu enactment, complete with sound effects, of the witches' scene from Macbeth. more...
MEMBERS are asked to note that the outing to Birmingham University Lapworth Museum and the Winterbourne Garden, will now take place on Saturday, April 16 and not April 23 as previously advertised. more...
AT the meeting on March 16, Ronald Moss, Chairman of Cradley Heath Archaeology Group talked to members about chain making in the Black Country. more...
AT the March meeting, the speaker was Mervyn Silcox on Kidderminster market. more...
THIS Sunday there will be one informal ride. The ride will leave from The Green, Blakebrook, at 9am. Riders should bring a packed lunch. more...
THE February meeting at St Ambrose Church Hall saw members given a talk given by the secretary Dorothy White and Zilpha Strupinski on "Old Kidderminster." more...
BROADWAY traders and businesses are due to be visited by the chairman of Worcestershire County Council today. more...
THE monthly walk for March started from Callow Hill Chapel on March 7 at 10am. So far this year members have completed about 11 miles towards the 90 mile target. The next walk is at Hawkbatch at 10 am on April 4. more...
THERE were two new members at the March meeting, Rosa Carcaterra and Margaret Clegg. The skittles team won their game against Habberley and a friendly was planned for April 26. more...
THE club met at the Lion Inn on Tuesday March 8, when a Mitchell movement was played. more...
THERE was a talk with a difference at the March meeting when Colin Tolley spoke about the Red Marley Hill Climb at Great Witley. more...
PAT Jones, president, read out a letter from David Priestnall giving a progress report on the improving waiting time for using the M.R.I. scanner at local hospitals. This was in reply to letters sent complaining of the lack of this facility at Kidderminster and the long waiting time. more...
DURING the months before the March meeting, members had taken part in several events. more...
Money from the sale of Malvern's first hospital will be spent on health services in the Malvern area, says the chief executive of South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust. more...
Work has begun on a £100,000 project to re- juvenate Welland. more...
Neighbours are raising a petition against the development of a sports field off Sling Lane in Malvern. more...
Plans for 12 affordable homes for local families will be showcased at a public exhibition in Hanley Swan. more...
A FAMILY are appealing for help in finding a cat believed to have escaped when their house burned to the ground. more...
HUNDREDS of people will mark one of the most significant dates on the Christian calendar as Good Friday processions take place across the district. more...
FIFTEEN houses could be built on the site of the former primary school in Cradley. more...
WARNING signs or other safety measures will not be put up at an accident blackspot on the Worcester to Hereford road, unless official requests are made. more...
GATES designed by a local craftsman will be installed at St Peter's churchyard, Bromyard. more...
Staff and pupils at Eastnor Parochial Primary School are celebrating their latest Ofsted report. more...
A royal visit will be the climax of celebrations at a Malvern residential home next month. more...
West Malvern residents crowded into Priory Lodge Hall on Wednesday evening to hear district councillors decide the fate of the Runnings Park plan. more...
FRESH jobs will be created when two new stores open on the Roman Way retail park in Malvern. more...
Persimmon Homes is to invest more than £50 million in redeveloping North Site, Malvern. more...
PEOPLE living near the Poolbrook entrance to QinetiQ in Malvern are opposing a housing development at the site's other entrance on St Andrew's Road. more...
I have every sympathy with Robbie Phillips (Your Letters, March 18), I too parked at Somerfield while I went into Waitrose and was away about 15 minutes. more...
DRINKING plenty of water can improve pupils' attainment, according to a Malvern primary school. more...
I WAS dismayed to read the article on Sarah Jane's Interiors and the problems she is having with her display boards and the Highways Agency (Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter, March 18). more...
PROVIDING pupils with nutritious, fresh food has paid off for Great Malvern Primary School, which believes its pupils are happier and healthier as a result. more...
IT is now just over a year since the council launched its pilot scheme of purple and clear sacks for kerbside collection of recyclables. Much has changed as a result. more...
HEALTHY school meals may be high on the Government's agenda but for most high schools in the Malvern Hills, pizza, burgers and chips are a staple part of the menu. more...
FURTHER to last week's article in the Ledbury Reporter about land earmarked for a village car park, certain Dymock residents expressed their disappointment at not being allowed to acquire the land. more...
TICKET machines at nine of Malvern Hills District Council's 15 car parks are out of action. more...
HOW grateful I am that I live in a town where so many talented people are capable of writing, composing, directing, conducting, singing and acting in such a professional manner as seen by so many in the world premiere of It's a Mystery. All concerned are to be thanked and praised. more...
I KNEW it was only a matter of time before one of the beautiful ducks that are inhabiting Hastings Pool would be run over and it happened last week. It wasn't even moved to the side of the road, just left. more...
UP to 500 staff posts are to go at QinetiQ in a nationwide restructuring. more...
Malvern Town Council blew its own trumpet in last week's Your Letters, where Coun Paul Tuthill asks the larger councils to follow MTAG's lead and reduce their precept by 10 per cent. more...
MEMBERS of the Vale of Evesham Civic Society believe replacement trees in Evesham High Street are `absolutely crucial' to the town's character. more...
Before Malvern Hills District Council gives planning permission for North Site, there are a few things that need to be thought about very carefully. more...
FIREFIGHTERS will be among the first people to be trained to use new life-saving equipment in a partnership between the county fire and ambulance services. more...
ANYONE who lives in the area surrounding the Sling Lane playing field should be alarmed by Malvern Hills District Council's decision to dispose of the fields, which belong to the council but which have been enjoyed by residents for many years. more...
PLANS to extend a Vale riverside hotel have been approved by Wychavon district councillors despite neighbours concerns about increased traffic levels. more...
EVESHAM'S Ambassador Snooker Club has been given another reprieve from developers thanks to Wychavon district councillors. more...
SEATING and shade is being provided for youngsters at breaks and mealtimes in a special garden at Bredon Hill Middle School. more...
ELDERLY people in the Vale are increasingly becoming the target of conmen and rogue traders. more...
EVESHAM High School is celebrating its Golden Jubilee with a very special year. more...
WYCHAVON district councillors are making a last ditch attempt to amicably remove gipsies from an unauthorised site. more...
LONGEST serving fire officer in the country, Chris Parsons, of Pershore, is standing down after 43 years. more...
I WISH to reply to the letter from `Forest Folk,' regarding the vehicles parked in the corner of Coventry Street, Kidderminster. more...
AN HGV driver is urgently needed to volunteer for a mercy mission from the Vale to Belarus next month. more...
n UPTON'S David Yates has been appointed director of business networking group Three Counties BNI. The organisation, which has members across Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, meets weekly to exchange business referrals. Mr Yates, managing director of design company Creative Thing Ltd, will help the organisation to increase its membership and build on the success of the past five years. more...
EVESHAM'S third Race for Life event on June 19 is set to be the town's biggest and most successful to date. more...
I AM glad that `Forest Folk' has brought up the parking of a van on the pavement by the Seven Stars pub in Kidderminster. (News Forum, March 17) more...
A BINGO evening takes place at Upton's Beechwood care home on Tuesday, April 5, at 7pm. It will raise funds for the home. more...
TWO teenage boys received hospital treatment following an attack by a fellow passenger travelling on a bus towards Pershore. more...
UPTON Heritage Centre opens to the public tomorrow (Saturday), Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday. The centre will be open from 10.30am to 4.30pm each day. It will re-open full-time at the beginning of May. more...
AN 80-year-old Pershore grandmother has broken her wrist after tripping on the very pavement she has campaigned to be repaired. more...
THE council tax bills will soon be dropping on our doorsteps, with a rise included. more...
THE dream to swim with dolphins has moved a step nearer for leukaemia sufferer Karys Bolland. more...
TWO houses can be built on a disused builders' yard in Prices Lane, Upton. Malvern Hills District Council's southern area development control committee has approved a plan submitted by G W Price. more...
THERE is always scepticism amongst the public concerning the honesty of politicians, although much of this is unjustified. more...
WORK is set to begin on installing disabled toilets at Upton Baptist Church. The church has received various grants to carry out the project and work will start on Tuesday. more...
Pupils at Upton CE Primary School have helped design and create a new play structure on the school field. more...
A TOTAL of 400 pupils from Hanley Castle High School pupils took part in the annual Hanley Run on Wednesday. more...
WHEN I got married in 1959, my boss was very concerned when I told him where we were going to live in Kidderminster. more...
DAVE Walker, station commander at Upton SARA, has temporarily stood down from the post after more than four years. more...
100 Years Ago more...
I HAVE just read with interest, the report in the Shuttle/Times & News about a mobile scanner being brought into Kidderminster Hospital to cut the waiting list for MRI scans. more...
I AM very concerned about the recent reports that swans are being shot with pellets from air rifles. more...
I WAS very sad to read the article concerning Councillor Louise Edginton. more...
AN elderly woman was the victim of a conman claiming to be a builder carrying out work on an adjoining property. more...
RECENTLY I had the unfortunate experience of going to Kidderminster magistrates court to hear the sentence of a 37-year-old male, for making an unprovoked assault on my teenage son (under 16). more...
BOGUS workmen conned their way into the home of an elderly Kidderminster couple. more...
THE news that the kerbside recycling box scheme is to be scrapped will come as no surprise to the people of Wyre Forest even though it has been declared a major success with recycled waste targets being achieved well above government requirements. more...
A MOTORIST who gave his brother's details when stopped in Worcester by police is at risk of a jail sentence. more...
THE district council must think we are all stupid (again). The current recycling box scheme is the most progressive policy I can ever remember in this district and everyone is now "trained up". (Kerbside recycling scheme to be axed, Shuttle/Times & News, March 17) more...
LOOKING back over my surgeries during the last four years there have been several recurring themes. more...
A HI-tech Stourport firm has changed hands in a £500,000 business deal. more...
A GROUP hoping to achieve Fairtrade town status for Stourport has been gathering support. more...
BISHOPS Wood Centre, near Stourport, is bracing itself for an invasion by Vikings next month. more...
OLDER people can find out all about the help available to them at a special event in Stourport Health Centre. more...
A CHARITY based near Stourport that cares for injured, sick and wild animals is seeking a cash boost to enable it to buy its premises. more...
NINE months ago, it was no longer a case of "must try harder" for Worcester's Elbury Mount. more...
A GO-GETTING grandad's high-flying antics are on course to raise more than £4,000 for Acorns Children's Hospice. more...
PROBUS CLUB: The speaker at the March meeting was Elaine Wheeler, who lives and works in Luxembourg. She is the daughter-in-law of a member and is a researcher and archivist at the European Parliament. more...
Gardening Society: The society met on March 17 at the Crawford Hall. The speaker, Len Salt, had been head gardener at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens for 30 years in spite of his headmaster telling him on leaving school that he was too intelligent to be a gardener. He spoke with enthusiasm and humour on his subject, A Closer Look at Trees. more...
INTEREST AND LEISURE CLUB: For the outing to Ross-on-Wye, the weather turned out to be wet, unusually for a club outing. more...
PLAYGROUP: A well attended jumble sale with cake, toys, white elephant and book stalls was held in King George's Hall with £326 being raised for funds. more...
COFFEE MORNING: Willersey Footlights will be holding a coffee morning on Saturday, April 23 from 10.30am to 12.30pm at the village hall. Any offers of help on the day, contributions for the stalls and raffle, are invited. Inquiries to Mal Jelfs on 01386 858351. Proceeds from the morning are needed to cover some of the expense of presenting the `best ever' show to be staged at the hall on May 20 and 21. more...
National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens: At the meeting on March 8 members were given a unique insight into the running of the nation's favourite garden at Hidcote Manor in Gloucestershire. Employed five years ago by the National Trust, head gardener Glyn Jones gave a most interesting account, illustrated by slides, of his ambitious plans for the reconstruction and improvements that are now well under way. At the next monthly meeting on April 12 there will be a talk on Campanulas by Peter Lewis, a former national collection holder. Monthly meetings are held in the Frank Parkinson Centre at 7pm for coffee and plant sales, lecture at 7.30pm. more...
PARISH COUNCIL: Fish and Anchor Bank: Work has now commenced on repairing this stretch of road. more...
PARISH COUNCIL: The parish council meeting last Wednesday was preceded by a specially-convened meeting at which councillors discussed in depth the resubmission of the planning application by EPHA for affordable housing in Leys Road. A report summarising the views of the councillors compiled by chairman Clive Allen was read, together with a letter from Wychavon which stated that, of 454 possible applicants for housing in Harvington, 27 had connections to the village but only three actually live here. The council had already resolved to object strongly to EPHA's application. more...
WORKING horses were brought in this week to save the snakes at a Wyre Forest nature reserve. more...
KIDDERMINSTER judo star, Kate Walker, has been named as Worcestershire's junior sports personality of the year. more...
JOBS at a Kidderminster warehousing and distribution operation are under a cloud after its parent company went into administration this week. more...
An era will end at the Brewers' Arms next week, when George and Vanessa give up their tenancy after more than five years. more...
THE service on Easter Sunday will be at the normal time of 9.30am and will be family communion taken by Reverend Howard Mayell. more...
FANS of West Bromwich Albion are starting to believe the Great Escape is on - and a Kidderminster firm is showing them the way. more...
BENNY the donkey led the procession of witness from Staunton Cross along the A417 to the parish church of St James', Staunton on Palm Sunday, as he has done for the past few years with the Reverend Penny Hamer, who later conducted the service. more...
POWICK Parochial Church Council heard last week that the parish is to lose the vicar, Reverend David Nichol, and his family as they move onwards (and upwards) to take over the parish of Holy Trinity, Link Top with St James, West Malvern. more...
HOSPITAL bosses have made "significant progress" in implementing changes demanded by an inquiry into baby deaths at Kidderminster Hospital. more...
This week's Good Friday service at St James the Great, Cradley, will be at 7pm, with Cradley and Colwall church choirs performing Faure's Requiem along with Cradley Singers. The soprano will be sung by Connie Holden and the baritone by Tim Cranmore, with Mary Baron as organist. Direction is by Stefan Scot. Everyone is very welcome to come along. more...
CHRISTIANS Together in Colwall will be gathering on Colwall Green today (Good Friday) at 2pm to begin the walk of witness through the village. The finish will be at Colwall Free Church at about 3pm. All are welcome to join for all or part of the walk. more...
WYRE Forest Birth Centre should not be used a "political football", a furious health chief has said in response to the comments of a Tory MP. more...
A DETERMINED mother's campaign to see post-natal services return to Wyre Forest Birth Centre has won the support of a leading MP who paid his first visit to Kidderminster to discuss her actions. more...
THE vicar brought in to turn around a scandal-hit Kidderminster parish is leaving to take on a fresh challenge. more...
A PRIZED £60,000 racing car was gutted by a fire which then spread and damaged the vehicle enthusiast's Chaddesley Corbett home. more...
EGG-citement is in store on Severn Valley Railway as the company celebrates Easter with an event for passengers this weekend. more...
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers have poured scorn on stories that a move to a new 10,000-seater stadium on the former British Sugar site is in the pipeline. more...
ANOTHER supermarket is to leave Kidderminster - just weeks after an estimated £100,000 refurbishment. more...
SHOPPERS in Kidderminster's Swan Centre were treated to Irish dancing and music to celebrate St Patrick's Day. more...
By Jean Kingdon more...
A BUNGLED attempt to steal horses from a Hartlebury livery yard ended in the death of a valuable gelding when the traumatised animal ran into the path of a lorry on the A449. more...
VALE MP Peter Luff has warned residents to be on their guard during the Easter weekend over more unauthorised traveller sites being established. more...
SPRING flowers, nests and chicks adorned the heads of youngsters at Ombers-ley pre-school yesterday when they proudly paraded their hand-made Easter bonnets. more...
OLD curtains, tights and a baked bean tin were among the materials used by entrants in a recycling competition. more...
OFFICE worker turned TA soldier Nick Balsdon is returning home to Warndon after life in war-torn Iraq. Here, in his last Iraq diary, he talks of getting ready to come home to the Faithful City. more...
PEOPLE are needed to help monitor police performance in Worcestershire. more...
POLICE are appealing for an assault victim to come forward after four men threw a bike at him. more...
POLICE have issued CCTV pictures of a man who forced a motorist to remove £100 from a cash machine at Barclays Bank in Droitwich High Street. more...
POLICE have announced a crackdown on vehicle crime in north Worcestershire. more...
TRADITIONAL identity par- ades in which witnesses were asked to recognise the criminal in a line-up have been scrapped - and replaced with a computer parade system. more...
NORTHERN Spain will be brought to Worcester Woods Country Park tomorrow. more...
THE sweet smell of success covered the city yesterday after Worcester News vendors handed out hundreds of free bottles of perfume. more...
TOMORROW - Good Friday - and all weekend more...
A WORCESTER man swap-ped the keys to his forklift truck and a shift in a warehouse for a sporty Alfa Romeo car and a luxury stay at one of the Midlands' leading hotels. more...
A TEN-year strategy to make Worcester a top tourist destination has been approved by the city council. more...
A MAN was asleep in his mobile home when he was woken up by a 4x4 shunting his vehicle, which he had parked in a lay-by. more...
FIFTEEN boats out on the water at Evesham Sailing Club provided enough entertainment for the large number of visitors who had come along to enjoy the sunshine on the second Sunday of the season. more...
AN ASSORTED Dinghy fleet at Arden SC were treated to a fine sunny day with wind strength of two to three - conditions that prompted a good turnout at Defford. more...
AMY Chambers from Pershore, wife of experienced racing driver and team boss Peter, is to make her ELF Renault Clio Cup debut this season in a deal with front-running outfit Mardi Gras Motorsport. more...
Badsey League more...
Evesham and District League more...
Evesham & District League more...
Evesham and District Airgun League more...
MICHELLE Goulding, a member of the Evesham School of Tae Kwon Do based at the High School, finished runner-up in the English Championships. more...
Evesham and District League more...
POINT-to-Point enthusiasts will converge on Upton-on-Severn on Tuesday when the Croome and West Warwick-shire stage their meeting at this popular venue on the banks of the River Severn. more...
THE top four mens seeds came through to their allotted semi-final places in the Bryant School of Motoring Singles event at Evesham's annual Closed Championships. more...
DUE to a clash of commitments for several members, it was only a small team from Fladbury Paddle Club that travelled to Gailey near Cannock for the first mara-thon canoe race of the season. more...
PAXFORD is becoming one of the most popular courses in the area, a fact emphasised by Robert Symonds, the North Cotswold Point-to-Point secretary who has received a record entry of 202 for Monday's fixture. more...
AN ASSORTED Dinghy fleet at Arden SC were treated to a fine sunny day with wind strength of two to three - conditions that prompted a good turnout at Defford. more...
AMY Chambers from Pershore, wife of experienced racing driver and team boss Peter, is to make her ELF Renault Clio Cup debut this season in a deal with front-running outfit Mardi Gras Motorsport. more...
Evesham & District League more...
Brockworth 0, more...
DATES have been set aside for the Birdseye Sports Evesham and District Sunday Football League's three end of season cup finals. more...
Berkswell & Balsall 4, Pershore 5 more...
POINT-to-Point enthusiasts will converge on Upton-on-Severn on Tuesday when the Croome and West Warwick-shire stage their meeting at this popular venue on the banks of the River Severn. more...
DUE to a clash of commitments for several members, it was only a small team from Fladbury Paddle Club that travelled to Gailey near Cannock for the first mara-thon canoe race of the season. more...
DEFFORD and Besford United secured their second division status with a convincing home win over Oddfellows Arms. more...
THE Malvern U16s Pirates travelled to Surrey last weekend at the invitation of Dorking RFC, who are currently celebrating 25 years of youth rugby. more...
GLOUCESTER OLD BOYS II 10pts, more...
EVESHAM Rugby Club's youth section enjoyed a great Sunday morning with the arrival of their newest member - "Basher" the Rhino Scrum Sled. more...
LEGENDARY saloon car racer Dave Loudoun has announced his surprise participation in the 2005 ELF Renault Clio Cup. more...
THE Gloucestershire County Champion-ships staged in Cheltenham saw Linda Haines take the ladies title with a fantastic score of 580 out of 600. more...
Evesham and District Disabled AC and Partnership's more...
MATHON, Cradley and Storridge Tennis Club are looking for past members, who have made the club the success it is today, to join in the 25th anniversary celebrations on Sunday, April 10. more...
MALVERN rower Colin Scott will be racing for Cambridge University in the traditional Goldie-Isis race half an hour before the University Boat Race on Sunday (March 27). more...
MANOR Park Squash Club's first team have gained promotion to division one of the Worcestershire League after becoming division two champions. more...
TOWN Reserves' match against unbeaten leaders Great Wyrley ended in acrimony on Saturday when the visitors were sent on their way without the usual clubhouse hospitality. more...
MALVERN Town suffered a 4-0 defeat at Ludlow Town last Saturday and manager Neil Hunt admitted his team was second best virtually all over the pitch. more...
Evesham U-13 22pts, Shipston 15 more...
Brockworth 0, more...
SAM McDonald played a prominent role in England Under-18's 21-3 win over Romania in their opening match of the AER Champ-ionships in St Quentin, France last Sunday. more...
HARVINGTON Society members kicked off the new season with a visit to the Herefordshire Golf Club at Wormsley where they competed for the Norman Wha-tmore Stableford Trophy. more...
BROADWAY Golf Club's ladies needed a play-off to make progress in this year's Mail on Sunday competition. more...
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers have been fined £6,000 for fielding an unregistered player in two games. more...
OVERBURY CC start their defence of the Cotswold Hills League crown in May when they will also have a team in Division Three. more...
EVESHAM Casuals pulled off a crucial victory in their quest to win the Worcester CB Indoor League last week. more...
A GRANT awarded to Bidford CC has allowed the Cotswold Hills League club to purchase a bowling machine, practice pitches, carry cradle and a portable net. more...
FINE food, interesting chat and a galaxy of well-known cricketing faces is n the menu at Stratford's Moat House Hotel in May. more...
CHRIS Horsman is out of Saturday's Sixways Saracens showdown. more...
SATURDAY more...
MARK Williams was the Lombard qualifier of the Sapey Golf Club March Stableford, played on March 14, with 40 points. more...
MALVERN Men's Darts League are holding their annual general meeting on Thursday (March 31) at the New Inn, Malvern, starting at 8.30pm. more...
THIS final game of the season saw Malvern requiring a point to move off the bottom of the league. more...
THE Ledbury & District ASC team have gone to the top of the Wyvern League table after a convincing win in the fourth round at Monmouth. more...
IN division one of the Malvern Table Tennis League, Manor Park Cavaliers are once again the champions following their 8-2 win over Ledbury Merlins. more...
BROADHEATH Belters may be languishing near the bottom of the Malvern Table Tennis League's division two but proved more than capable of beating YMCA Vulcans in the quarter- final of the handicap competition. more...
OLYMPIC champion Leslie Law made a fine start to the 2005 season by being among the winners at the Lincoln one-day event. more...
MORE than 60 competitors took part in the inaugural Worcester Duathlon in Peopleton. more...
WORCESTERSHIRE competed in the annual West Midlands Netball Association regional tournament in Hereford and came away with their first win for a number of years. more...
HEREFORD United manager Graham Turner has drafted in two new loan signings ahead of tomorrow's Conference clash at Farnborough Town. more...
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers have been fined £6,000 for fielding an unregistered player in two games. more...
PROLIFIC striker Shaun Goater is among Coventry City's first team stars set to feature in Carl Heeley's testimonial match at St George's Lane tonight (7.45). more...
CHRIS Horsman is out of Saturday's Sixways Saracens showdown. more...
STOURPORT'S players are away on their annual tour, so there are no fixtures for the club until Saturday April 2. That day will see the firsts host Clee Hill, with the seconds away to Clee seconds and the thirds entertaining Camp Hill fourths. more...
CHADDESLEY Corbett suffered a 45-25 defeat to Dudley Kingswinford in a friendly with the quality of kicking proving the difference between the teams. more...
KIDDERMINSTER Carolians scraped a 12-10 victory over Evesham in a practice match they would have lost but for the wastefulness of their rivals. more...
CLEOBURY Mortimer have put the champagne on ice after clinching promotion from North Midlands South One because they still stand a chance of taking the title. more...
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers Ladies came from two goals down to grab a 2-2 draw at home to Rea Valley. more...
Results more...
POWICK have lost out on one of their season's two cup finals without a ball being kicked. more...
KIDDERMINSTER Cubs under-8s won 2-1 at home to second placed Warndon Sharks with Keiran Hall and Ben Rossiter scoring for the cubs and Jack Parton scoring the solitary Sharks goal. Burlish Harriers had a fine 4-0 home win against Kinver Colts thanks to goals from Callum Lowe, Dominic Cook, Dan Baldwin and Jaijai Smith. more...
CHADDESLEY Corbett gave their West Midlands League division two survival hopes a boost with a welcome 3-2 win over Bustleholme. more...
MALVERN Town Wanderers visited Diglis on Sunday for this Mercian League match against Westbury Boys. more...
Haye Farm, Curtis Pool: 1 Steve O'Donnell 21-2-0; 2 Dave Fearnall 17-0-0; 3 Pete Harper 14-3-0. more...
FOLLOWING three successive wins, Radar visited Droitwich for the third week running to take on top-of-the-table Droitwich Spa Reserves. more...
WEST Malvern entertained Inkberrow on Saturday for the fourth time this season and the game finished 4-4 which now means that honours are even with one win each and two draws. more...
BEWDLEY Town cranked up the pressure on West Midlands League division one leaders Great Wyrley with a 3-1 win at Blackheath Town. more...
Wednesday Open (14 fished) Bank Peg: 1 Simon Mottram (Phoenix Shrewsbury) 52-6-0-11; 2 Mick Keene (Phoenix Shrewsbury) 36-11-0-5; 3 Dave Highfield (Moorlands) 33-15-0-18. more...
POWICK clinched the Worcester League division one title on Saturday with a fine display of passing football. more...
Results of contest on Worcestershire Staffordshire Canal, Sunday March 20: 1 P Garrington 15oz, 2 M Addison 7oz, 3 S Garrington 6½oz. more...
PERFORMANCE of the day last Sunday was by The Soccer Site division one side Cross Keys, who for the second week in succession faced higher-graded opponents. more...
UNDEFEATED league leaders Parkfield Leisure were the visitors to Victoria Park on Saturday and they remained undefeated after a narrow 2-1 victory which was the same score-line as six weeks ago at Parkfield. more...
DATES have been set aside for the Birdseye Sports Evesham and District Sunday Football League's three end of season cup finals. more...
There is a club contest on Sunday on Stackpool. Draw 7am. Names on list please. more...
A COUPLE of matches in Herald Division Two of the Stratford Alliance produced 24 goals but the most exciting fayre on offer was at Cynder Meadow. more...
Clevedon Tn 0, Evesham Utd 2 more...
Thimblemill Rec 0, Littleton 0 more...
DEFFORD and Besford United secured their second division status with a convincing home win over Oddfellows Arms. more...
Evesham Utd A U-11 8, more...
Result of contest fished Sunday March 20 at Willow Marsh (Dragonfly): 1 G Mansell 23lb 5oz; 2 K Green 17lb 4oz; 3 T Cooke 13lb ½oz; 4 S Campbell 8lb 6oz; 5 N Hill 4lb 2½oz. more...
FORMER Birmingham City and Wimbledon front man John Gayle will make his debut for Evesham United on Saturday, writes Mervyn Collins. more...
A TRIO of Vale based sides will contest end of season Worcestershire FA County Cup finals. more...
ONE of the most lucrative angling competitions in the West Midlands has drawn to a close in Wyre Forest with the winners landing a whopping £2,000 prize. more...
Clevedon Tn 0, Evesham Utd 2 more...
KIDDERMINSTER eased their relegation worries in division one of the Wolverhampton and District Chess League with a 4.5-1.5 home victory over Shifnal and Telford B. more...
UPPER Arley have gained the early upper hand in the Wyre Forest Parish Games title race after triumphing in the dominoes competition. more...
EAGLES Nest and Old Rose and Crown B clinched the Bewdley and Stourport trivia league titles respectively, but there was no change at the top of the Wyre Forest section with all the contenders winning. more...
CLEOBURY Cobras retained their Cleobury Mortimer Junior School Uni-Hoc Tournament title for the third successive year after defeating Clee Hill Crusiers 2-0 in the final. more...
WYRE Forest darts pro Chris Hook is continuing to make his mark in the game after achieving PDC ranking points in three of his first four contests. more...
KIDDERMINSTER kickboxer Drew Neal has enhanced his glowing reputation with a further three titles as he closes in on a clean sweep of the sport's top prizes. more...
KIDDERMINSTER and Stourport Athletics Club secured their place in the Birmingham League Cross Country Division One by finishing the season in ninth place overall with 1,495 points. more...
WYRE Forest swimming sensation Claire Cashmore added another accolade to her growing collection with a prize at the Midlands Disability Sports Awards. more...
CHRIS Woodhouse is third in the Monopasto 1200 championship after giving a good account of himself in the latest round at Brands Hatch. more...
KIDDERMINSTER Umpire's Association hosts its second forum on the rules of cricket at Chester Road from 7.30pm tonight. more...
LOOKING to use their judo skills in a different sport, four junior competitors from Kidderminster's Samurai Judo Club took part in the British Open Kurash (Russian wrestling) Championships and came home with four international medals. more...
WYRE Forest Cycle Racing Club's Paul Prince sowed some good early form when he raced to a superb fourth place in his first road race of the new season at Darley Moor. more...
KIDDERMINSTER Cobras continue to experience topsy turvy form in the West Midlands Premier League with two defeats and a victory. more...
SCORES of motorbikers will scramble to Red Marley Hill in Great Witley on Bank Holiday Monday for an annual event in memory of Len Vale-Onslow. more...
FORMER Birmingham City and Wimbledon front man John Gayle will make his debut for Evesham United on Saturday, writes Mervyn Collins. more...
Chaddesley Corbett signed off with a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Standard to end their West Midlands Division Two season in 10th spot. more...
Kidderminster firsts rounded off their West Midlands Division One season with a workmanlike 4-2 victory over Evesham. more...
STOURPORT Ladies firsts finished their sensational season in the only way they know how - with another victory. more...
STOURPORT fell to a 3-1 defeat away at Southgate that saw them finish the weekend in the bottom four of the league and stumble back into the automatic relegation zone. more...
KIDDERMINSTER Carolians - U13s: v South Woodham Ferrers. Lost 7-12. Try: Tom Eades, conversion: Will Short; v Dudley Kingswinford. Won 46-0. Tries: Charlie Evans (2), Will Short, Alex Hopkirk, Scott Mundie, Ewan MacDonald, Billy Mullins, Artiom Enkov. Conversions: Short (3). more...
PROLIFIC striker Shaun Goater is among Coventry City's first team stars set to feature in Carl Heeley's testimonial match at St George's Lane tonight (7.45). more...
THE players certainly have something to prove on Saturday -- not to the coaches or the supporters but to themselves. more...
HARRIERS 0 RUSHDEN 0 more...
IYSEDEN Christie insists he has "nothing to prove" to Kidderminster Harriers or Mansfield Town when his current and former clubs clash on Monday. more...
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers boss Stuart Watkiss admits his feelings about meeting Mansfield for the first time since he left them will be overshadowed by the magnitude of Monday's game. more...
IYSEDEN Christie is on standby for his first Kidderminster Harriers start during their Bank Holiday double header after revealing that his injury hell almost forced him to quit the game. more...
HANLEY Castle HS year eight rugby team won the North Midlands Emerging Schools regional tournament after extra-time to qualify for the national finals. more...
THE South Worcestershire Primary Schools Association held their annual tag rugby festivals at Malvern Rugby Club last week. more...
UPTON travelled into Shropshire for their final league match of the season against North Midlands One (South) leaders Cleobury Mortimer. more...
Berkswell & Balsall 4, Pershore 5 more...
Evesham Ladies 1, Worcester Norton III 0 more...
Dursley 1, Bretforton II 3 more...
Old Halesonians 2, Evesham 2 more...
AFTER two games and two wins, Andy Wells was becoming something of a talisman for Stourport Swifts. more...
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