STORM force winds caused power cuts across the region as engineers battled to cope with extreme weather. Across the West Midlands a total of 66,000 homes and businesses were without electricity during gales on Thursday January 18. The Stourbridge area
BAD weather caused a busy day for paramedics as ambulance staff were inundated with calls from storm victims. A man was treated in Brierley Hill after being struck by the branch of a tree outside social services offices in Cottage Street at 12.40pm.
BAD weather is causing chaos on the rails with trains cancelled due to danger from high wind. Central Trains have cancelled services on all but a handful of lines and passengers are advised to use alternative transport. Some of the services operating
If the mere thought of giving presentations makes you break into a cold sweat, you've come to the right place. Here's how to beat those butterflies and win over your audience: Practise and prepare. You need a clear idea of what you want to accomplish
We all negotiate all the time. Remember as a kid when you spent weeks pleading for that new toy and promising to tidy your room in return? In the workplace, you may be called upon to negotiate deals with people or you may wish to negotiate a better salary
Borough folk have been urged to spread a little love in aid of a charity to mark Valentine's Day. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) needs your help to raise more than £1m for its Valentine Appeal to help fund BHF Heart Nurses and the charity's Heart
So you want to take the plunge with a new career but how do you choose and what are the retraining options? I want out, but I don't know what I want to do! Think about: What you enjoy doing at work What transferable skills (like being able to use
There's heaps of training available outside of work, but what kind of training can I get at work? The training you can get at work will depend on your employer and the skills you already have The best training you can get will give you something on your
Halesowen-based Mayhem Theatre Company is inviting people to an evening of mystery and intrigue as it stages An Inspector Calls. The production will be on at Leasowes Community College theatre, Kent Road, Halesowen, from January 31 until February 3.
Kind-hearted Halesowen shoppers have been thanked for their generosity towards a charity street collection. More than £1,000 was given to the Salvation Army whilst they played carols in the town's Cornbow Shopping Mall on December 23.
Churchgoers in Quinton hope to help out a local charity with hot drinks and music. Quinton Methodist Church is holding a coffee and concert morning on Saturday February 3. Performances come from a male voice choir while there will also be stalls selling
A youth group will tread the boards this weekend in a performance of Cinderella to raise cash for Rowley Regis meningitis survivor Ellie Bishop. The show by the Young Ones will take place at Netherton Arts Centre from this Saturday (January 20) to Saturday
Young people could bolster their earning power by over £1,000 a year straight after college or school with the right work experience, employers claimed today. New research conducted among Britain's bosses for the Learning and Skills Council shows that
Health is currently a great concern in the media and children are the future so helping them to grow healthily is important. Childhood is attacked by society through the media, TV programmes and advertising, computer/video games, billboards and shopping
Returning to work after the Christmas break can be a real struggle. But for some, this seasonal annoyance has prompted them into making a truly life changing decision as the thought of returning to an unfulfilling job combined with the dream of 'becoming
STOURBRIDGE College has exclusively revealed a £52m redevelopment plan to take the college into the future - which includes knocking down its Hagley Road campus. College bosses have unveiled plans to flatten the main town campus and replace it with a
Howley Grange Aerobics Club meets at, Howley Grange School, Howley Grange Road, Halesowen, on Mondays and Thursdays from 7.45 pm until 8.45 pm. Call Julie on 0121 422 0492.
Churchgoers in Quinton hope to help out a local charity with hot drinks and music. Quinton Methodist Church is holding a coffee and concert morning on Saturday February 3. Performances come from a male voice choir while there will also be stalls selling
WOZNIAK LORRAINE 20.01.2006 You've been gone a year today, miss you every hour of everyday Love and miss you Slim, God Bless, Ann, Rob & family Published in paper 18/01/2007
2 YEARS BILL DUNN JOE ADLINGTON Time passes, memories stay, thinking of you everyday, From Mary Wife of Bill, Sister to Joe, also family and friends Published in paper 18/01/2007
NORRIS GEOFFREY 19.1.05 What would I give to see you smile, to sit and talk with you awhile. To be together in the same old way would be my dearest wish today. Loving wife Sheila and all his family Published in paper 18/01/2007
BRENDA LEWIS MOM You only have one Mom, and I'm proud that you were mine, for all the love you gave us will last till the end of time Miss you loads, Love Stephen and Hayley xxxx Published in paper 18/01/2007
NEIL ROPER 19th January Happy 21st birthday Love Mom, Dad and Jen Published in paper 18/01/2007
MEADEN MAURICE 65 on 20.1.2007 Your first birthday away from home I still miss you so much. Will never stop loving you. Love, wife Joan, daughters and sons Published in paper 18/01/2007
JOHN WHITFIELD 81 on, 22.1.2007 We all miss you so much, your first birthday without us. Love Rose and Family Published in paper 18/01/2007
GEORGE COOK The weeks go by George, the years do too, but I'll never stop loving and missing you Love Jan and all the family Published in paper 18/01/2007
BRACE HENRY The family of Henry wish to thank all relatives, friends and neighbours who attended the funeral service at the crematorium and Thanksgiving service at Hagley Free Church, and for the numerous cards and messages of sympathy. Thanks also for
HARPER BRENDA Husband Harry and family of the late Brenda wish to thank all relatives, friends and neighbours for their expressions of sympathy and kindness, floral tributes and donations to Cancer Research, also to everyone who attended the funeral Special
FENTON OLIVE The family of the late Olive Fenton would like to thank everyone who sent cards of sympathy Also for the donations which were for the Free Church, Wollaston Thanks go to the Carers who looked after Olive, also Holbeache Nursing Home Thank
SMITH HAROLD The family of the late Harold Smith would like to express their thanks to friends and neighbours for their messages of sympathy and generous donations to Beacon Centre for the Blind and Black Country Talking Newspaper. Special thanks
GREEN DORIS MAY of The Haven, Wordsley The family of Doris wish to express their sincere thanks to family, friends and neighbours for sympathy shown to them in their sad loss. Thanks for the generous donations given to Mary Stevens Hospice in memory of
BARTLE Ray Of Pedmore, Stourbridge passed away suddenly on 11th January 2007. Much loved husband of the late Audrey and a dear dad and grandad who will be sadly missed by all his family and friends. Funeral service will take place at Stourbridge Crematorium
HEWITT BETTY MAY Formerly of Wordsley, passed away peacefully on 11th January 2007. Beloved wife of Bryan, much loved mother to Alan, Graham, Linda and Lisa, mother in law and grandmother, and will be sadly missed by all her friends. Funeral service will
YARSLEY SYBIL Of Stourbridge passed peacefully away on 12th January 2007, aged 69 years Beloved Wife of Trevor, dearly loved Mom of Martyn and Yvonne and much loved Nan of Luke Funeral service will take place at Stourbridge Cemetery Chapel on Tuesday
MCHALE Marjorie Passed away peacefully on 11th January 2007 aged 95 years. Marjorie will be sadly missed by all her family and friends. Funeral Service will take place in Our Lady and All Saints RC Church on Monday 22nd January
COCHRAN KATHLEEN Mom passed away, aged 80, at home Christmas Day 2006. Much missed by sons Paul and Philip, daughter-in-law Linda and brother Harry. Sincere thanks to everyone for their sympathy and kindness. Funeral at South Road Crematorium
WALLIS RONALD EDWARD FRANCIS Passed away in Russells Hall Hospital on 8th January 2007 Beloved Husband of the late Doreen, much loved Father of Janica and Stephenie, Grandfather of Sara, Richard and Guy, Great Grandad to Dominic
DAVID SPRUCE 40 on 24.1.07 Happy birthday Love Mom, Dad, Andrew and Val Published in paper 18/01/2007
CALLUM GARDENER Happy 18th Birthday Pig ! Sorry had to be done ! Loadsa love, Mom and all your family and friends Published in paper 18/01/2007
BASTERFIELD nee Parry JULIE LORRAYNE To think we did not say goodbye will always bring regret. But hearts that always loved you are the hearts that won't forget. Love always Mom and Dad and all the family Published in paper
KRIS DAVID MOBBERLEY David, Jane, John and Catherine would like to thank everyone who has supported them following their recent tragic loss of their dear son and brother Kris. For the beautiful flowers, cards and messages
SAMUEL FOXALL Mrs Foxall and family would like to thank all for kind enquiries and telephone calls for Samuel, also cards, flowers and donations for Cancer and especially Reverend Tom Barlow for a lovely service Published in paper 18/01/2007
WHILEY Joan The family of Joan would like to thank everyone who attended the funeral service and for the many cards and floral tributes. Special thanks to Alison Coles and J Vernon Kendrick. Published in paper 18/01/2007
Acoustic rock five-piece The Balance will be performing at Benjamin's, Halesowen, on Friday January 26. The gig will start at 9pm. Entry to the Birmingham Street venue is free. For more information call the venue on 0121 602 0202.
Thursday January 18 Don O' Lee - Pie Factory, Tipton Open Mic Open Stage - The Garibaldi, Stourbridge Jam Night - The Moorings Tavern, Stourbridge Acoustic Open Night - Benjamin's, Halesowen RnB Night - The Kingfisher, Wall Heath Open Acoustic -
Stourbridge's away day blues continued after they slipped to their third consecutive defeat away from Stourton Park by the narrowest of margins. The game was in the balance right up until the final whistle with a last minute penalty by Halifax centre
A Halesowen man is celebrating after losing over five stone in five months with the help of a slimming group. Pete Wells, of Hillcrest Avenue, joined the Halesowen Conservative and Unionist club Slimming World group in April 2006. After reaching 18
ROCK and roller Bev Pegg is heading for Kinver for an evening of classic tunes and loads of laughs. Bev and his band have performed with a host of top artists including Robert Plant and Elton John. Tickets for the event, at Kinver Community Centre on
TRIBUTE band Permission To Rock are returning to Stourbridge with a bang to mark a hometown show. The gig at the Rock Cafe 2000, where they played their debut concert in 2005, will feature classic rock covers backed by an explosive pyrotechnic stage
AMBLECOTE'S Glasshouse Theatre is playing host to a darkly humourous piece of physical theatre about the foot and mouth outbreak this Friday (January 19). Set in the last days of the farming crisis, the show entitled Sheepskin by the Organic Theatre
STOURBRIDGE band Midas have been busy filming their first music video this week in preparation for an assault on the charts next month. The five-piece have been working with TV director Mark Anand at Shepperton Studios in Middlesex filming a video for
A DUDLEY venue is preparing to host a band who tick every box on the rock and roll checklist. LA Guns have done it all - seen former members create supergroups, fought drug demons, coped with the highs of platinum album sales and the lows of commercial
DK were back to their best in a nail biting win on their first ever visit to the South Leicester club. The visitors claimed the points in the gale force conditions but all could have been so different if the home side's fly half had converted a penalty
AN artist with an eye for African culture has been helping primary pupils in Kingswinford discover sketching skills. Youngsters at Blanford Mere School, Mimosa Walk, put pen to paper to draw masks and sculptures during a two-day visit by Peter Wengraf
COUNCILLORS have given Merry Hill bosses the go-ahead to introduce a new car park management system ahead of plans to bring in parking charges. The car park system proposed by Westfield includes entrance and exit barriers,improved road signs,external
BLACK Country boxing ace Frank O'Sullivan is throwing his weight behind a Clent special school's charity boxing gala next week. The event in aid of Sunfield School's £3.5m classrooms appeal is being supported by Frank, who has launched the careers of
KIND-HEARTED King-swinford retailers have been rallying up support for the Oscar Fradgley fund after reading about his story. Shop owner, David Vaughan from Amblecote Furnishers, Market Street, Kingswinford decided to help out to raise money for Oscar
A STOURBRIDGE school is achieving top results in its exams according to government performance league tables. Old Swinford Hospital School in Heath Lane has a high percentage of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs and equivalent and has been listed as
Health is currently a great concern in the media and children are the future so helping them to grow healthily is important. Childhood is attacked by society through the media, TV programmes and advertising, computer/video games, billboards and shopping
Returning to work after the Christmas break can be a real struggle. But for some, this seasonal annoyance has prompted them into making a truly life changing decision as the thought of returning to an unfulfilling job combined with the dream of 'becoming
Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers ladies led the way in the Worcester County Cross Country Championships to take three silver medals. Held on a very muddy and testing course at Malvern, Emily Whitehouse showed great determination to take second place
There was just no stopping the Pensnett Panthers U16's as they romped to an impressive 11- 1 win over K.T Rangers Man of the match Ryan Willetts, along with Ryan Noakes and Moize Aziza all scored hat-tricks, with Jason Round and Dean Robbins getting
A STOURBRIDGE man is climbing to the highest level by taking on Mount Kilimanjaro in a bid to raise cash for charity. Ashley Miller, aged 56 from Peartree Drive, Pedmore recently decided to do something different and climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania
A GROUP of Stourbridge golden oldies have been working off the festive pounds with a keep fit class at their retirement apartments. Aerobics and fitness instructor Mark Phillips puts the 75 to 80-year-olds at McCarthy & Stone's Webb Court in Drury Lane
Last year we closed our 2006 season on November 24 with our members' supper, the evening being greatly enjoyed by a record number of members and guests alike. Our thanks must go to all those involved with preparation of the meal, decorating the hall,
Following the Christmas break our first meeting of the New Year on Friday 26th January is our annual Members Evening. This will give the opportunity for members to give slide presentations of their own wildlife photographs and to take part in quizzes
The first meeting of the year on January 2 saw the welcome return of Eric Greenwood, this time to give a talk on Historic Houses around Hagley. The houses chosen by Eric for the talk were; Ludstone Hall and Davenport House in Shropshire; Enville Hall
The first team Hill/Walters/Linekers overpowered a strong Worcester team, whose ranks included several Grandmasters, to reach the third round of the National Club Knockout competition. Other results: Thursday 28th Alan Jenkins & Josie Bennett Friday
In December we had a very enjoyable Christmas meal and evening out at the Chateau Impney, Droitwich. Our 2007 programme started with our chairman welcoming members and three visitors and wishing everyone a happy New Year. A minute's silence was held
One of Birmingham's top amateur operatic companies is giving its services completely free of charge to enable the Rotary Club of Kinver to stage a musical evening in the village in aid of charity on Saturday February 3. More than 30 members of award-winning
The feathered visitors brought along to the December indoor meeting by their handler, Peter Collins of The West Midlands Birds of Prey Centre, provided an evening of fascination to those who attended the branch annual social evening. The questions and
2007 marks the 40th Anniversary of the founding of the Black Country Society by Dr John Fletcher and John Brimble. The Society's lecture programme at the Black Country Living Museum continues with Chris Dyche considering the history of Bonded Warehouse
The club is a new group which meets in the Community Centre, Enville Road, Wall Heath on Wednesday afternoons (fortnightly at 1.45pm). The group is open to both men and women.
The society's Christmas meeting was held at Wollescote Community Centre on December 21when festive entertainment was provided by Eve Evans who played a number of musical instruments and, together with husband John, performed a selection of humorous songs
At the Midlands County Congress our in-form quartet of Ian & Georgina Lineker, Nigel Walters and Gerald Hill beat a strong national field to win the Swiss Teams Event. Other results: Thursday 4th, Edna Baker & Richard Broome; Wendy Packwood & Claude
At the November meeting Mel Thomas gave an illustrated talk of his experiences when Cruising with Friends to the Northern Capitals of Europe'. The talk gave details of the venues visited, activities, and experiences, serious and humorous, during the
On Friday November 24 the society held its St. Andrew's Dance. The event was organised by May Brock and Andrew Paterson. Sylvia and John Dixon and Mary Taylor were hosts on December 30 when members and visitors enjoyed a special evening of dance followed
Chairman, Pat Purcell, opened the December meeting of the Wall Heath guild and the Secretary, Barbara Chinery, presented the minutes of the November meeting. When giving her financial report, Shirley Evans read letters from the recipients of our sponsored
Our first meeting in 2007 started sadly with a silent tribute to Molly Madden, who died on December 23, several members attended her funeral at St Peter's Church on January 3. After the business part of the meeting, our speaker Alan Thornton, regaled
Members were pleased to welcome Lorna Proud to their January meeting. The talk entitled Broderie de Marseille' covered 17th century quilting of Provence and other aspects of her work. Slides were shown and many samples were on display. The branch meets
The meeting took place at Kingswinford Community Centre at 7.30 pm on Monday th e8th of January. Mrs Sylvia Taylor in the chair. She greeted all members and wished everyone a happy new year. The minutes of the previous meeting were read by secretary
At the AGM at the Royal British Legion Kingswinford Women's Section, secretary Gwen Phillpot was presented with one of the highest awards from the Royal British Legion - life membership. It was a well deserved award for all her hard work for the women's
Report by Andy Thorley Dudley Sports boss Neil Perks is predicting an exciting new era for the club following the appointment of Shifnal Town first team coach Paul Blakeley as new joint manager. Blakeley has experience of coaching at Walsall and
