Archive

  • Dairy farming under threat?

    Dairy farming under threat? IT SADDENS us deeply seeing the collapse for so many British industries and especially the dairy farming industry. Our government is responsible for not helping out and for the management of this vital industry. We now read

  • Fellow artist on a mission

    READING Jean O'Donnells letter regarding the Brian Hatton Gallery it was unclear what her main point was. The demise of the permanent gallery, the graffiti defacing it, the neglect of public buildings or the fact that an important artist had willingly

  • Safety still paramount at crossroads

    I'm not surprised that there are accidents at Newtown crossroads. Approaching at night from the Worcester direction when the garage is Closed, the junction seems to be totally unilluminated - except for a dazzling light within the garage which makes it

  • Victim of its own success

    A LEOMINSTER shop which sell crafts made by people with disabilities is proving to be so successful it could run out of goods to sell. The ECHO charity shop in School Lane, Leominster, was revamped and was then officially reopened by Leominster mayor

  • Distinguished guest speaker

    LEOMINSTER-BASED writer Jen Green became only the second woman in 300 years to address the annual dinner of Ancient Society of Middlesex and Surrey Magistrates in London. The first meeting and dinner took place at The Kings Arms, Palace Yard, Westminster

  • Gateway work 'well underway'

    HIGHWAYS chiefs have promised to try and keep winter traffic delays on the A49 at Leominster to a minimum as construction activity is stepped up on a £5 million new road scheme. The major project - to 'open up' the fledgling £20 million Leominster Enterprise

  • Jessica back from flu virus nightmare

    CHRISTMAS will be extra special for the parents of 18-month-old Jessica Rose Evans. Just as the festive season got underway, her life was almost snatched away when a mystery virus struck her down in her cot. A medical team at Hereford County Hospital

  • Failure in bid for league double

    Barwell 2 Westfields 1 IN SPITE of staging a late rally Westfields rarely looked capable of completing a Midland Alliance League double over their Leicestershire hosts. Westfields won the first encounter by the same score-line. Substitutes Derek Craddock

  • Tree of light vandalised

    FOR the second time in a week, lights symbolising 'absent friends' were vandalised on a Christmas tree in the shadow of Hereford Cathedral. After city fire fighters had painstakingly redressed the 30ft tree following the first attack, the yobs returned

  • Student robbed while she lay ill

    A CALLOUS thief took two mobile phones and a wallet from a Hereford student who lay unconscious on the ground after an epileptic fit. The woman was walking her dog along the Great Western Way when she passed out near Kilvert Road between 10.35pm and 10.55pm

  • Park and ride free to city centre

    TRADERS and shoppers in Hereford have something to cheer about with the announcement by Herefordshire Council that it will waive fees for park and ride and offer some free parking in the lead-up to Christmas. The 'present' from the council is to help

  • Civil Service

    A delightful talk about the origins of the Three Choirs Festival was much appreciated by members of the CSRF in November. Mrs Young had so many facts at her fingertips and illustrated with snatches of glorious music plus old posters it was altogether

  • WEA

    THE Leominster Branch of the WEA has an array of courses beginning in January. To choose from are: creative writing, tutor Sally Swingewood; exploring towns of the Marches, tutor Clive Prior; novels of the Fin de Siecle, tutor Joy Roderick; abstraction

  • RAFA

    NOVEMBER has been a busy month for the Hereford branch of RAFA. Members joined ranks with other ex-RAF organisations on the Remembrance Parade in Hereford, led by the Branch Standard carried by Tom Fitch. On November 12, the branch, was represented by

  • Rotary

    THREE months of hard fund-raising by City of Hereford Rotarians has totalled a massive £2,412 for good causes. Songs from the Shows with Hereford Amateur Operatic Society was not only a great evening of fun and entertainment with this talented group,

  • WI

    At the annual meeting of Almeley WI, members congratulated Mrs Jenny Hibbert on being elected president and huge thanks were given to the retiring president Mrs Liz Russell for her splendid, steadfast work over the past four years. The treasurer reported

  • Fuchsia Association

    Not only did Hereford and District Fuchsia Association take first place in the Inter-Society Fuchsia Display class at the Malvern Autumn Show. They were also awarded the British Fuchsia Society Blue Ribbon Award for the best exhibit in the fuchsia section

  • Save the Children

    Hereford Save the Children Group chairman and Dilwyn resident June Chase organised an intimate concert of carols and readings in the College Hall Cloisters of Hereford Cathedral. The Ven John Tiller welcomed the 75 guests in the newly refurbished hall

  • Davies takes senior title at Western meeting

    PHILIPPA Davies easily won the senior women's 800 metres freestyle title when Hereford Swimming Club competed in the Western Counties ASA Senior and Junior Championships at Millfield School. She produced a sound swim in her favoured event. Good distance

  • Nine awards to be won

    DOES one of your club members deserve to have his or her efforts recognised on a wider scale? If so Herefordshire Sports Council would like to hear more as they seek nominations for the annual sports personality awards to be presented in February next

  • Netball

    BOSS HEREFORD LEAGUE Aztec 56 Humfrys & Symonds 18: Aztec shooters proved too much for H & S who missed some crucial goals themselves. Jaffas 49 Panthers 10: Brilliant shooting from Jenny Kirby and Sheila Stephens rounded off a dominant performance

  • Toughest test ends in draw

    SIMON Small - fighter and coach for Hereford Contact Karate Club and the Combat Academy - faced the toughest test of his 17-year career when he competed in the mixed martial arts 'cage fight' at Kidderminster. Small faced Welshman Paul Matthews in an

  • Champion

    EMMA Baker, aged 14, lifted the Champion's Trophy after the third and final Hereford Contact Karate Club Grand Prix, pushing her father Patrick in the second place.

  • Fawcett and Goodwin in repeat wins

    MIKE Fawcett and Nicola Goodwin both registered their second successive victories in the third race of the Herefordshire Cross Country League in the grounds of Holme Lacy College last Sunday morning. In the men's race, Wye Valley Runner Fawcett was in

  • 6 Angling

    HEREFORD FLY FISHING CLUB ANNUAL AWARDS Club Champion Jim Fryer Cup: Eric Griffiths, runner-up Peter Betts. Rainbow Cup (Club Outing): Sam Blackwood 8lb 7oz Bushyleaze, runner up Ray Blake 4lb 13oz Bushyleaze. Brown Trout Cup: Eric Griffiths 1lb Cantreff

  • Middleton cleans up in record entry

    THE cancellation of the Tideway Scullers Head resulted in a record -breaking entry of over 600 for the Walton-on-Thames Small Boats Head last Saturday. Dilwyn's Daniel Middleton joined his London contingent from Tideway Scullers to contest the junior

  • Wyesiders gain vital win in status struggle

    Hereford 20 pts Stafford 15 HEREFORD achieved an important win, just their second of the season in Powergen Midlands 2 West, against fellow-strugglers Stafford. The young Wyesiders, who were forced into a couple of team changes through injury, started

  • We want to finish school!

    TWO students from overseas, are so delighted with a Herefordshire market town they are appealing for host families so they can complete their studies. Max Ernst and Somrat Khumpibal are studying for their AS Levels at Lady Hawkins' School in Kington.

  • Welcome read

    KINGTON Primary schoolchildren are guaranteed a good read after they received a set of brand new books from St Mary's Tiny Tots Group and St Mary's Church. The Rev Paul Tarling made the presentation and was pleased the youngsters would have access to

  • Top eight book their places in trophy final

    EIGHT out of a field of 102 booked a place in the RT Barnfield Trophy final when Ross-on-Wye staged the December round of their winter competition. The winner of division one (0-14) was Doug Watson whose excellent round of 79 gross gave him 38 stableford

  • Marches chairman set for 'momentous' year

    CHAIRMAN John Morris looked forward to a 'momentous year for the Marches League' when he greeted club delegates and guests to the league's annual meeting at the Imperial Hotel in Hereford on Monday. Morris explained that the league was now about to assimilate

  • Averages for 2003

    FLINT & COOK MARCHES LEAGUE BATTING Division 1 In No HS Rns Av I Herbert (Wormelow) 14 6 108* 545 68.13 A Brown (Goodrich) 11 1 134* 605 60.50 C Chandani (Burghill) 14 2 95 634 52.80 S Waldron (Wormelow) 12 1 97* 520 47.27 Division 2 D Smith (Bartestree

  • Nest-wrecker is fined £6,000

    A 'WHISTLEBLOWER' who reported the destruction of protected birds' nests at the Hereford quarry where he worked has been praised by a district court judge. Hereford Magistrates Court heard how about 30 sand martin nests were deliberately destroyed at

  • Presteigne

    RELIGIOUS SERVICES - St Andrew's, Presteigne: Holy Communion (CW) at 1 am with the Rev. Stephen Hollinghurst. St Michael and All Angels', Lingen: Holy Communion (CW) at 9.30 am, with the Rev. Stephen Hollinghurst. Baptist Church, Presteigne: Family Service

  • Pembridge

    PANTOMIME - Panto Organisers report that all tickets for the Pembridge performances have been sold. Tickets for the Weobley shows are now also available at Pembridge village shop, as well as Dixons Newsagents in Weobley. Book now to avoid disappointment

  • Peterchurch

    SCHOOL - Class 5 recently went orienteering at Michaelchurch. This activity was great fun whilst greatly improving their map-reading skills. A Tai-Chi taster session was held for KS2 pupils. This was an opportunity to be introduced to this ancient art

  • Leintwardine

    CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL - Bring and decorate a tree for exhibition in the Parish Church Leintwardine, on December 13, 14 and 15. Application forms available from the nine churches of Wigmore Abbey Parish or from Batt's Grocery Stores in Leintwardine,

  • Dilwyn

    St Mary's Church - Sunday at 10am Toy Service. If you are able to bring new toys suitable for ages 4-16 they will be donated to the Marches Family Network who work with and for children with disabilities/special needs and their families. This is an ideal

  • Bishopstone

    CAROL SINGING - It is hoped that a large number of people will support Bishopstone village and join in the singing. We will meet at the side of the Forge in the centre of the village at 7pm on Wednesday , December 17. All monies raised will go to support

  • Allensmore

    100 CLUB - The Allensmore Church 100 Club draw took place on November 23. Prize winners were as follows: 1 No 35 Miss D Pearce; 2 No 97 Pauline Lewis; 3 No 59 Linda Jones; 4 No 94 Gwynne Davies. The next draw takes place on December 28.

  • Hereford run ends with away draw

    HEREFORD lost a little ground at the top of the West Clubs' Women's League Severn Division 1 when home team Newent brought their run of four successive wins to an end with a goalless draw. In the last game before the Christmas break, both clubs made a

  • All change for the post office held in a village hall

    KILPECK Post Office has lost a first-class service of its own when sub postmistress, Pat Manning stepped down after 13 years in the post this week. The branch, run from Kilpeck village hall, closed on Tuesday and will re-open in January when Joanne Pewsey

  • Retail giant Waitrose heading for Hereford?

    RETAIL giant Waitrose could be headed for Hereford with the city's Edgar Street Grid one possible site for a superstore specialising in 'home-grown' produce. Nigel Burton, head of development at Waitrose, heavily hinted at such a project in an address

  • MP tackles regional funding

    PROJECTS to rejuvenate the county came under discussion during a meeting between MP, Paul Keetch and directors at Advantage West Midlands on Friday. Schemes such as the Edgar Street Grid and the Rotherwas access road were just some of the controversial

  • Ledbury festival versed in the art of success

    MONEY won't make a poet but it can afford poetry - putting pentameters beyond their parameters. So when Dr Charles Bennett speaks of poetry as a 'product' he hasn't sold out, he's bought in. After all, Charles writes poetry himself, when he is not doing

  • Sharing ideas for progress

    LEDBURY is the venue for the third meeting of West Midlands Market Towns, working within Advantage West Midlands' £12million regeneration programme. The Market Towns Forum is just one of the ways that the 34 towns are able to access specialist information

  • I don't blame family:Joanna

    THE Church of England curate who has successfully won the right to challenge the UK's abortion laws in the High Court has asked the Hereford Times to pass on a message of sympathy to the family at the centre of the case. The Rev Joanna Jepson last week

  • De luxe task and a capital hotel

    HEREFORDSHIRE-born Nick Davies was part of the opening team responsible for the overtly opulent hotel, The Bentley. This 64-luxurious rooms and suites hotel has just opened in South Kensington and boasts a strong Herefordshire influence. As executive

  • Oldest fossil is truly phallic

    THE world's oldest penis has been found in Herefordshire rock. The 425million-year-old male member was discovered attached to a five-millimetre-long fossil of a rare sea creature at a top secret county location. The cross between a shellfish and a prawn

  • Last call for Ledbury firefighter

    A LEDBURY fire fighter has hung up his helmet for the last time after more than 25 years of fire fighting. Sub-officer Terry Phillips celebrated a quarter of a century of service with a party at Ledbury's Royal British Legion Club. Fifty-six-year-old

  • Roses are the order of the day for policeman Bob's funeral

    FLORIST Carola Wilson has a very special arrangement to work on this week. 'Loads' of red roses for her husband Bob's funeral, writes BILL TANNER. Bob loved Carola and all she did, but he was never really one for flowers - even though their life together

  • Alert over 'shabby children's charity scams'

    IT was a tug to the heartstrings while pulling a fast one, but county businessman Andrew Garrett wasn't fooled. Andrew, who runs Chips Computer Solutions at Pontrilas, does, however, wonder how many others have been taken in by a shabby 'children's charity

  • Vandals target high school pupils' work

    PUPILS and staff at a Herefordshire secondary school are dismayed at the behaviour of vandals who caused £300 damage to wooden benches, plant pots and waste bins. Acting headteacher at John Masefield High School in Ledbury, Andy Evans, said pupils were

  • Tabb and Chandler strike to put villagers back on top

    EWYAS Harold regained their lead at the top of the Hereford Times Herefordshire League Premier Division when they maintained their unbeaten start with a 2-0 home win over Fownhope. Simon Macklin fired wide for Harold in the early stages while Ian Jordan

  • Newman's penalty save triggers shoot-out win

    Pegasus Juniors 2 Ross Town 2 (aet) (Ross win 5-3 on penalties) AFTER fighting back from a two-goal deficit in normal time, Ross showed deadly accuracy with their penalty shooting to book a place in the third round of the Hellenic League Challenge Cup

  • Foundation kit boost for school

    PENCOMBE CE Primary School will be proudly showing off their brand new kit in future games. The kit, valued at £300, has been provided by the Football Foundation as part of its Junior Kit Scheme. The school is one of more than 5,500 junior clubs and schools

  • Local rivals too strong for Town

    Ludlow Town Reserves 3 Leominster Town 0 AFTER competing well in the first half, Leominster found their local rivals too much of a handful after the break, as the Shropshire outfit ran out comfortable winners in this West Midlands League Division 1 South

  • Goalkeeper sent off in defeat

    Newport Town 3 Bromyard Town 1 BROMYARD, already missing a number of regular players, were further hampered just after the hour mark when goalkeeper Adie Hipkiss was dismissed for arguing with the officials. At the time they were level at 1-1, but Newport

  • Five for Marden

    Marden 5 Victory 0 HOLDERS Marden made it comfortably through to the fourth round of the HFA Sunday Cup with a 5-0 home win over Division 1 outfit Victory. The first half was evenly contested with the home team going in just one goal up at the break but

  • Football Results

    Hereford Times Herefordshire League, Premier Division: Pegasus 2 Lads Club 3, Woofferton 2 Sutton 1, Leominster 0 Westfields 3, Ross Utd Services 0 Wellington 4, Hinton 2 Weston 4, Ewyas Harold 2 Fownhope 0. Division 1: Weobley 3 Woofferton Res 0. Division

  • Smash and grab at cancer charity shop

    A HEREFORDSHIRE charity shop has been hit by heartless thieves who smashed a window to steal goods donated to fund research into cancer. Thieves snatched items including six perfume bottles, two silver-plated photo frames, two glass cube paperweights

  • Bass player's death in Spain

    GREG Ridley, the bass player with 1970s rock legends Humble Pie and former resident of Ross-on-Wye, has died in Spain aged 61. Mr Ridley, whose music career also took in spells with The VIPs and Spooky Tooth, died in Alicante Hospital after suffering

  • Police search for 'flasher'

    A MAN wearing sportsgear exposed himself to a woman in Brampton Road, Ross-on-Wye, on Monday, November 17 at 8.10am. The flasher is described as being about 30 years old, 5ft 8ins, medium build and with short dark hair. He wore black tracksuit bottoms

  • Licence decision may set precedent

    ONE of Ross-on-Wye's largest pubs has won its long-running fight with Herefordshire Council for a late night entertainment licence - and may have set a precedent in doing so. Hereford magistrates allowed an appeal against the council's decision not to

  • Best-ever performance

    FAIRFIELD High School students received their rewards for years of hard work and dedication that brought the Herefordshire school their best ever exam results. At speech night, Headmaster Chris Barker commented on the cohesion of the year group and the

  • United boss clinches loan signing

    HEREFORD United have moved to boost their squad ahead of Saturday's visit by Tamworth with director of football Graham Turner reaching agreement to take central defender Anwar Uddin on loan from Bristol Rovers for a month. The 22-year-old, 6ft 2in Uddin

  • Family celebration

    AGM report and averages: Cricket LIKE father, like son - there was plenty to celebrate for Glangrwyney duo Phil Bowker and his son Joseph at the Flint & Cook Marches Cricket League presentation evening at the Imperial Hotel in Hereford. Phil, the

  • Bromyard swimmers optimistic

    BROMYARD'S swimming pool campaigners remain defiant, despite something of a setback last month. It was thought their hopes suffered a blow when Herefordshire Council's cabinet said a swimming pool for Leominster was the only one planned in the county

  • Spike is British champion

    SPIKE Milton is a lumberjack and he's okay - at least he is now he has been awarded the title of British Lumberjack Champion. The standing block, underhand chop and 100 ft pole climbing proved to be no contest for Spike, who has also found time to take

  • United boss clinches loan signing

    HEREFORD United have moved to boost their squad ahead of Saturday's visit by Tamworth with director of football Graham Turner reaching agreement to take central defender Anwar Uddin on loan from Bristol Rovers for a month. The 22-year-old, 6ft 2in Uddin

  • Bottleneck to beat them all

    ALL APPROACHES to Hereford City are congested at peak times but there can be no equal to that created at most times of the day on the main Abergavenny and Ross roads. The proposal to establish a Waste Treatment and Recycling Plant at Madley is nothing

  • What should happen next over the Asda proposals?

    NOW that proposals for the Asda store and flood relief scheme south of the river have cleared the first hurdle at Herefordshire Council - although far from being cut and dried and with a possible inquiry looming down the line - Hereford Times readers

  • Poppy Appeal record raised

    ONCE MORE the people of Leominster and the surrounding area have responded generously in raising a record amount of over £8,800 for the annual Poppy Appeal. This represents a 10% increase over last year. My thanks to the collectors who spent their weekends

  • Husbandry of the countryside

    I am writing in response to the letter from Chris Martin in the Hereford Times on December 4. I would just like to point out to this correspondent that if it wasn't for the year round efforts of gamekeepers rearing pheasants for the seasonal shoot, they

  • Lords of the ring road rule okay?

    DRIVING round Leominster these days convinces me that Sauron, the Dark Lord of The Lord of the Rings lives in the planning offices of Hereford Council. What is going on? The town is getting uglier and uglier. First the huge new housing estates and then

  • Mobile phones ever a danger

    I WAS pleased to read the Hereford Times highlighting the new law concerning the ban on hand-held mobile phones while driving, and quoting the advice from West Mercia Police. However, some drivers still ignore this law, and, indeed, other sensible aspects

  • Elephant images means to an end

    I AM writing to thank you very much for including the article 'How 100 Elephants help one family' in the Hereford Times on November 20. I would also like to express my thanks to Anita Howells, who I now understand has left the paper, for taking such trouble

  • Caroline's bid as MP

    A HEREFORDSHIRE businesswoman hopes to spearhead a long sought after Liberal Democrat breakthrough in the Leominster constituency. Caroline Williams, the party's newly selected prospective parliamentary candidate, was born and brought up in the constituency

  • It's a bumper year says Ted

    A VETERAN Leominster bus driver who has helped raise thousands of pounds for local charities over "donkeys' years" is celebrating his best year yet. Ted Vaughan, 71, of Godiva Road, Leominster is made of sterling stuff. He is still driving his bus after

  • Victoriana Leominster

    BIG crowds are expected in Leominster on Saturday for the town's top festive season event, the popular Victorian Street Market. More than 40 stallholders dressed in Victorian costume will be selling seasonal fare in Broad Street. WWOP, the Leominster

  • Expanding to new site

    A LEOMINSTER auction house is facing a festive season upheaval. Brightwells is relocating its Fine Art Sale Room at Ryelands Road to the former cattle market site at the north end of the A49 Leominster Bypass. The firm said this week that sales were booming

  • Year of high achievers

    CLAIRE Davies, the 13-year-old Leominster schoolgirl who lost the sight in one eye after an airgun incident, was given a special award for bravery at the Minster College prize-giving. Claire, whose story featured on the front page of the Hereford Times

  • Police plea after youth fight

    POLICE are appealing for information about a confrontation between two youths in Whitecross Road, Hereford, on Tuesday between 8.45pm and 9.15pm. The confrontation between the two youths who are both white and aged about 19 years old, took place opposite

  • Celebrating the railway's arrival

    IT WAS full steam ahead at the weekend when a series of events took place to celebrate the coming of the railways to Hereford. Local railway historian and author Gordon Wood, who spent 18 months organising the weekend, was delighted at the response from

  • Skydiver's family speak of their loss

    THE parents of murdered skydiver Stephen Hilder have acknowledged the support given to them by the Herefordshire community. Paul and Mary Hilder also said the coverage of their son's tragic death in the local media had been 'very fair'. The parents of

  • Tanners chalks up 25 years in branch

    Tanners chalks up 25 years in branch THIS year Tanners Wines has been celebrating 25 years at its branch in St Owens Street, Hereford. Tanners came to Hereford in 1978 when it took over Pulling & Co., Hereford's old established wine merchants, which

  • Re-open after £3.5m spend

    FOLLOWING its £3.5 million facelift, the newly re-named Fred Bulmer Building at Hereford County Hospital was officially opened last Monday. Guest of honour at the opening was one of Fred Bulmer's relatives, the Rev Gillian Maude, a trustee of the charitable

  • Repair bill is £1000s

    A HEREFORD head teacher says skateboarding vandals are costing his school thousands of pounds in repair bills. Steve Pugh, head at Hampton Dene Primary School, says over the last two years more than £2,500 has been spent fixing and replacing equipment

  • Leap of faith in city future

    HEREFORDSHIRE'S well-known dignitaries banished any thoughts of vertigo to prove the city is safe to visit when they abseiled down Marks and Spencer in High Town. Among them were Herefordshire Council's chief executive, Neil Pringle, Mayor of Hereford

  • Paintball funday for attendance

    CONSCIENTIOUS students got the chance to splatter each other with paint as a reward for their excellent school attendance. Thirty Whitecross High School year 11 pupils, who have been at school for at least 95% of the school year, enjoyed the fun day out

  • Iwan's plea for cash

    A HEREFORD Sixth Form College student is looking for sponsors to complete his Duke of Edinburgh award. Iwan Pepperell, 16, already has the bronze and silver medals and now wants to take part on a high activity voyage with the Tall Ships Youth Trust to

  • New head not coming

    AYLESTONE High School is still without a head teacher after the proposed principal turned down the job at the last minute. Alan Klee, who held discussions to take up the post in the New Year, cited personal reasons behind his decision to reject the Hereford

  • Celebrating the very best

    BISHOP of Hereford's Bluecoat School students heard how schooldays are the foundation for the rest of their lives - some of which could last as long as a century. Head teacher Andrew Marson spoke of changing times during the school's speech day as he

  • They're back!

    PURSUING them like a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's film The Birds, thousands of starlings have returned to haunt a Hereford couple. Having moved from Perseverance Road two years ago, Dennis and Jenny Lewis thought the annual winter bombardments of bird

  • Capital prize for housing

    NEWLY-opened Cennick Court in Leominster, won the runners up award in a national awards scheme for new housing. The Marches Housing Association development in South Street, Leominster, came joint second in the National Home Improvement Council Awards

  • Tired council gets budget in a twist

    TIRED Leominster town councillors who got their budget in a twist were thanked by the deputy mayor for "not leaving blood on the floor" after they resolved differences in a spending row. Two councillors walked out, one went home in tears and it was feared

  • Jail for drug dealer

    A DRUG dealer caught when police raided his home confessed he had been supplying addicts with heroin worth £300 a day for six months, Worcester Crown Court heard. Tony James travelled from Hereford to Gloucester every other day to buy consignments of

  • Nursery school wins reprieve

    A CITY nursery school has been saved at the 'eleventh hour' after its leader was forced to step down due to ill-health. The Mr Men Nursery in Eign Street, Hereford will not be closing at the end of the term as first thought, when leader, Alison Chandler

  • Buttermarket Bill Benjamin dies, 82

    A FAMILIAR face in the Buttermarket for more than 40 years, Bill 'Fishy' Benjamin has died, aged 82, in the County Hospital, writes PHILIPPA MAY. Customers were as familiar with his voice as they were with his face. Bill was renowned for his yodelling

  • Cruel event for caring parents

    CRUEL events parted a Hereford mother from her nine-week-old baby girl who died of natural causes, an inquest heard. County coroner David Halpern said new parents, Catherine Fletcher and Steve Evans 'did everything right' and losing their baby 'was a

  • Lyonshall Ladies

    LYONSHALL Ladies Luncheon Club enjoyed lunch at The Hop Pole, Leominster, and afterwards held the annual meeting. Mrs Gwen Davies was appointed as chairman for the coming year. This was followed by Mr Alan Lloyd, of Kington, who took members through his

  • Foresters

    THE Leominster Queenswood Branch of The Foresters raised £75 for County Hospital equipment at a dinner in The Hickory Stick, Stoke Prior, attended by 40 members and guests. Chief Ranger David Hodges welcomed guests including past regional president Bill

  • Townswomen's Guild

    THE December meeting of the Whitecross Townswomen's Guild was party time. The chairman announced that as from January 2004, the monthly meeting would commence at 7pm instead of 7.15pm. Two members from Tupsley and two from the City Guilds were welcomed

  • Canal Trust

    SPEAKER for the November meeting of the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust was Orph Mable from the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust. This is another canal in the south of England in the throes of restoration. It will provide a link from the Thames

  • Leominster Lions

    Congratulations to Lion Eric Gregan and his wife Irene who celebrate (CELEBRATED depending on publication date) their Diamond Wedding Anniversary on December 4.. Last year Lion Eric received the highest award within Lions, the Melvyn Jones Fellowship,

  • Wye NAC

    CHRISTOPHER Bartlett will steer the Wye into a new era as the first chairman of the river's new Navigation Advisory Committee (NAC). Overseen by the Environment Agency, the NAC was set up to manage navigation on the Wye and Lugg after a long-running legal

  • National finalists

    ROSS and Lea combined mixed pairs team and Fownhope will compete in the English Short Mat Bowls national finals in March after success in the Herefordshire qualifier at Bishopswood. Ross' George Marhsall combined with Lea's Alf and Sheila Wye and Anne

  • 'Whizzo' races to 65 mark

    TOP racing driver Barrie 'Whizzo' Williams had a big surprise last Sunday when he found 120 guests waiting to celebrate his 65th birthday at the Falcon Hotel in Bromyard. Williams' career dates from 1957. Since then he has contested over 800 races and

  • Angling

    HEREFORD FLY FISHING CLUB ANNUAL AWARDS Club Champion Jim Fryer Cup: Eric Griffiths, runner-up Peter Betts. Rainbow Cup (Club Outing): Sam Blackwood 8lb 7oz Bushyleaze, runner up Ray Blake 4lb 13oz Bushyleaze. Brown Trout Cup: Eric Griffiths 1lb Cantreff

  • Records fall to Hereford

    Wycliffe Small Boats Head saw Hereford win nine events and break nine course records in the process. After winning the women's elite singles sculls, Serena Crump was joined by Sharon Colley to win the senior one doubles. Julie Gray took victory in the

  • County suffer two league defeats

    HEREFORDSHIRE suffered two defeats in their latest English CountiesLeague matches. Veteran Division 4D - Herefordshire 2nd 4 Berkshire 5th 6: Neville Meredith lost the first singles in the 4th set at deuce, followed by John Hunt to lose in the 5th in

  • Luctonians stopped by forward power

    Kettering 13 pts Luctonians 5 LUCTONIANS lost ground in the Powergen Midlands 1 title race when their third defeat of the season left them two points adrift of leaders Bedford Athletic and level on points with dangerous rivals Kettering who have two games

  • Cup progress

    South Bromsgrove 12 pts Hereford Cathedral 27 HEREFORD Cathedral produced a late surge of 15 points to clinch a place in the second round of the North Midlands Schools Under-16 Cup. Although the scoreline rightfully reflected Cathedral's spirited performance

  • Price on target

    Ledbury 20 pts Leamington 17 LEDBURY halted a six-match losing streak with a hard-earned but deserved victory over a strong Leamington side in Midlands 3 West (South). Ledbury scored all their points in the first half and Leamington added only three in

  • Bishop's back in form

    Bishop's School 31 Prince Henry's 0 Bishop's bounced back from the previous week's defeat with a convincing win. Bishop's forwards dominated the set-piece play and the backs had a wealth of possession. In the first half fly-half Sam Bendall scored two

  • Councillor fury at wasted cash

    A NORTH Herefordshire councillor has hit out after a funding bid to give a county market town a face-lift was refused. Councillor Terry James described the decision as 'the most appalling waste of taxpayers' money as well as abuse of community goodwill

  • Youngsters' chance to get into swing

    NORTH Herefordshire youngsters will get their first swing at golf in an initiative launched by a major bank and the Golf Foundation. Herefordshire Schools sports partnership has been given three bags of equipment by HSBC to be used initially by the Minster

  • Hereford United Conference Fixtures 2003-4

    Aug 9 3pm Tamworth (A) 3-1 (Smith 2, Guinan) Aug 12 7.45pm Forest Green H) 5-1 (Purdie 2, Guinan 2, Carey-Bertram) Aug 16 3pm Morecambe (H) 3-0 (Smith 2, Guinan) Aug 23 3pm Barnet (A) 1-1 (James pen) Aug 25 7.45pm Aldershot (H) 4-3 (Williams, Rose, James

  • Village club will tour South Africa

    LEINTWARDINE & Brampton Bryan CC members were looking forward as much as back when they held their annual presentation dinner at Brampton Bryan Village Hall. The club is keenly anticipating a tour to South Africa next year when 15 players, and a handful

  • Skenfrith

    LOCAL HISTORY - At the November meeting of the Bill MacAdam Local History Group, Chris Barber gave a most interesting talk on Kilvert country. Frances Kilvert was a clergyman and a diarist. When Chris Barber was researching Kilvert and his journeys through

  • Sellack

    BOWLS - Two excellent evenings just recently, did much to promote the game of short mat bowls in the county, and the social aspect, jovial atmosphere and humorous nature of the friendly game encounters was rounded off with super refreshments. The first

  • St Weonards

    BOWLS - A tremendous upsurge of interest for the short mat bowls game, at St Weonards, has prompted the setting up of a second club to accommodate those who have recently taken up the hobby/sport. The newest venture, St Weonards Short Mat Bowls Club,

  • Knucklas

    BAPTIST CHURCH - This Sunday at 6.30pm there will be a carol service at Knucklas Baptist Church led by James Bound. There will be no service on Sunday, December 21, as there will be Carols by Candlelight that evening in Knighton Baptist Church. COMMUNITY

  • Knighton

    COMMUNITY CENTRE - The next NRG Nite at Knighton Community Centre will be on Friday, December 19, from 9.30pm to 1 am. This event is for adults and anyone who appears to be under 18 and who has no proof of age will be refused admission. Doors will close

  • Edwyn Ralph

    Computer Courses - Holme Lacy College are running various computer courses at Edwyn Ralph village hall on Tuesdays commencing January 13, 2004. Depending on the demand, the courses offered comprise Information Technology (IT) for beginners, intermediate

  • Eardisley

    CHURCH - On Sunday there will be a joint Methodist/Anglican Service in the Eardisley Methodist church. The guest preacher will be Rev Christina Le Moignan, who was last year's president of the Methodist Conference. There will be no services at Eardisley

  • Aston Ingham

    CHURCH - The parish church of St. John the Baptist at Aston Ingham was comfortably full, last Saturday evening, for a performance of parts of Handel's Messiah. The Penyard Singers are well known for the quality of their work and the audience was not disappointed

  • Almeley

    CRICKET CLUB - Almeley Cricket club will be hosting a Christmas Prize Bingo in the village hall on Wednesday, December 17, eyes down at 8pm. This well established feature of the village calendar offers an opportunity to win lots of Christmas fare. Everyone

  • Abbeydore

    PARISH COUNCIL - Abbeydore and Bacton Group Parish Council held their meeting on Tuesday, December 2, in Bacton Parish Room when all councillors were present. The problem of funding for the Dore Community Transport Scheme and a letter with regard to the

  • Door closes on visitors' hopes with hat-trick

    HEREFORD still remain uncomfortably close to the foot of the Gerrard West of England and South Wales League North Division 1 table after being held to a 4-4 draw by visiting Bristol University 2nd. A well-taken goal put Bristol ahead and they retained

  • Student killed in car crash

    A 17-year-old student died when her blue Citroen Saxo was involved in a collision with a blue Renault Clio on the A417 at Parkway, near Ledbury, at about 5.40pm last Saturday. Emma Hole, a pupil at Sir Thomas Rich's School in Longlevens, was travelling

  • Project Carrot funds setback

    A KEY project in a multi-million pound scheme to link land, food, health and society has suffered a funding setback - but organisers are confident it will continue as planned. Project Carrot, the partnership between the Bulmer Foundation, Pershore Group

  • Appointed recorder

    A HEREFORD man has been sworn in as a recorder of the Wales and Chester Circuit. John Philpotts, aged 48, whose mother, Mrs Margaret Philpotts lives at Burghill, Hereford, was sworn in at a ceremony on Monday by Judge Elgan Edwards, Honorary Recorder

  • Thomas's quick response to crash

    A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Herefordshire boy is still dreaming of a career as an air-line pilot despite witnessing an horrific helicopter crash. Marden Primary School pupil Thomas Neal was playing in tennis courts with his cousin when he saw the chopper fall from

  • Ian's cooking up a winner

    IAN Doody loves his role as house manager at scenic Hampton Court where he wakes to see swans gliding on the lake before he walks 55 steps to his office. Now there are big ripples on the pond. The 36-year-old bachelor with "a passion for food" formerly

  • Goodbye after 48 years

    HEREFORD postman Vin Booth, having stamped his mark at the Royal Mail over 48 years of loyal service, is taking well-earned retirement at the age of 65. Vin will be leaving behind some valued colleagues at the Royal Mail - not least three members of his

  • PM 'not needed'

    THE Herefordshire coroner has taken the unusual step of opening an inquest into the death of suspected Legionnaires' disease victim Lynne Davies without a post mortem examination. David Halpern does not believe such an examination is necessary given the

  • Sound of the thud as trapdoor opened

    THE hanging of William Haywood on December 15, 1903 marked the end of two stories. One was the violent, alcohol-fuelled life of the quarry labourer - the other the history of the death penalty in Herefordshire THE thud of the trapdoor opening under the

  • Head on the spot

    THE first-hand experiences of a Herefordshire headteacher will prove valuable in a project based on the after-affects of the southern Californian wildfires. Ewyas Harold Primary School headteacher Mark Gunn was just five miles from the front of the fire

  • Live services axed by BBC

    BBC Hereford and Worcester has defended its religious broadcasting policy after complaints over its plans to shelve regular service broadcasts from county churches . Andy Pike, for the BBC, said their commitment 'has never been stronger'. But Hereford's

  • Parish rebellion 'ends in defeat'

    HEREFORDSHIRE'S parish council 'rebellion' is over, its last stand ending in defeat - but not indignity. Dr John Bishop went down fighting, describing the process that put him before an adjudication panel - the body that passes judgement on rogue town

  • Dog days

    EVERY dog can have his day out on Sunday December 21 when Herefordshire youth sport charity Ready Steady Win joins Queenswood Country Park to host a festive Winter Dog Walk. There will be a goodie bag from General Dogsbody for every dog registered. Registration

  • Complication was very rare

    A UNIQUE problem not recorded in any medical literature proved fatal for a Ledbury pensioner, an inquest heard last Thursday. Doctors who treated Lionel Bramley had never seen the type of peptic ulceration of the aorta that caused cardiac arrest two weeks

  • Morale down among staff

    MORALE at Herefordshire Council has taken a knock following this year's job evaluation exercise, according to a new survey. More than half the council staff who responded to the 2003 survey, now have a negative view of their employer. "I used to think

  • Trezins' treble as Town hit nine

    SECOND-PLACED Leo-minster Town proved far too strong for bottom club Hay in the HFA Under-18 youth league, coming away from the border club with a 9-0 success. Alex Trezins bagged a hat-trick for the town club who have scored now 43 goals in their 10

  • Late goal defeats Bromyard

    BROMYARD under-12 girls conceded a late goal against visiting Broadway United to go out of the Mercian League Cup at the quarter-final stage by 2-1. In the process they lost their unbeaten home record. Bromyard were the stronger side and deservedly led

  • Phoenix rising again

    FC PHOENIX Under-14 girls returned to winning ways in the Central Warwickshire under-14 league with 2-1 win against Solihull Borough Girls. Phoenix trailed at the interval but hit back to level through Chelsey Snead after fine work by Leya Lathem. Inspired

  • Wasted chances costly for Kington

    Wellington 1 Kington Town 0 WASTEFUL finishing cost Kington dearly in their local derby match at Wellington in the West Midlands League Premier Division. The home team competed well throughout the hard-fought match, and in spite of spending much of the

  • Smalley spurs Hinton to win

    Chaddesley Corbett 1 Hinton 2 HINTON netted a goal in each half to win an end-to-end encounter with fellow mid-table opponents in Division 1 South of the West Midlands League. Both sides started well in an open entertaining game. Hinton took the lead

  • Young Bulls exit from cup

    Sutton Coldfield Town 7 Hereford United 3 WEAKENED Hereford bowed out of the Midland Floodlit League Cup as Sutton Coldfield emerged with a convincing win from their third round tie. The young Bulls, however, got off to a flying start and Adam Kite put

  • Penalty success earns Harriers trip

    Wellington 1 Leamington 1 (Wellington win 5-4 on penalties) JAMIE Cuss was Wellington's hero as his penalty earned the club a quarter-final tie against Kidderminster Harriers at Aggborough in the Midland Floodlit Youth League. Cuss kept his nerve to score

  • Failure in bid for league double

    Barwell 2 Westfields 1 IN SPITE of staging a late rally Westfields rarely looked capable of completing a Midland Alliance League double over their Leicestershire hosts. Westfields won the first encounter by the same score-line. Substitutes Derek Craddock

  • Unable to raise a side

    LEDBURY Town's scheduled West Midlands League Premier Division fixture with Wolverhampton United at New Street was called off. The visitors notified their hosts on Friday evening that they were unable to raise a side.

  • Ross homes bid is put on hold

    A CONTROVERSIAL proposal to build more than 60 homes on the outskirts of Ross-on-Wye has been put on hold by Herefordshire Council planners. Cardiff-based developer Lovell Partnerships' proposal for 66 houses - of which 24 would be affordable - near to

  • Meg roars back

    AFTER more than 300 years, the famous 'Roaring Meg' cannon is returning to the scene of its greatest triumph - Goodrich Castle. The cannon played a decisive role in defeating the Royalists holding out at Goodrich Castle during the Civil War between Charles

  • Party-time

    ROSS Rotary Club's annual Christmas Party for older citizens takes place at the Larruperz Centre on Saturday. Entertainment will be provided by the choir of Ashfield School and the town band and topped off by the Rotary Choir, leading everybody in carols

  • McCready books final with knockout win

    ALEC McCready qualified for an ABA title shot later this month with a knockout win at the weekend. The Tudorville boxer stopped Lowestoft's Brian McComb with a well-timed right in the second round of their Class A under-75kg novice senior semi-final at

  • Chaz on shortlist for top award

    HEREFORDSHIRE-based motor-cycle racer Chaz Davies is on the shortlist for another top award. Sixteen-year-old Chaz, from Kinsham, is one of three candidates to succeed last year's winner, England striker Wayne Rooney, as the BBC Young Sports Personality

  • Thompson gains place in Midlands squad

    HEREFORDSHIRE rugby player Guy Thompson has been selected for the Midlands Schools' 18-Group squad after trials for the January 1 side. Thompson, a blindside flanker, will play against Midlands Clubs' 18-Group at Bromsgrove on January 25. Two other Herefordshire

  • Luctonians continue cup bid

    LUCTONIANS Rugby Club will be bidding for a place in the fifth round of the national Powergen Intermediate Cup when they meet Durham visitors Horden on Saturday, kick-off 1.30pm. Horden reached the sixth round last year.

  • A big thank you to helpers

    FOUR Bromyard Red Cross volunteers have enjoyed a celebration in Birmingham as a 'thank you' for their help at the town's blood donor sessions. Although Christine Smith, Pat Cave, Joan McCallum and Iris Webley do not give blood themselves, they have spent

  • Bowling down country road

    TWENTY-SIX pupils and three staff from Queen Elizabeth High School, Bromyard travelled to North Germany for a language exchange. Their partner school has visited Bromyard twice - once with a theatre group which performed at the Queen Elizabeth High School

  • Book highlights past 30 years

    HEREFORD United fans, young and old, will be able to savour some of United's greatest moments from the 1970s, 80s and 90s with a new book which is published on Saturday. Loyal Bulls supporters Denise Powell and David Edge have produced Hereford United

  • Striker targets school football

    HEREFORD United's leading goalscorer Steve Guinan was a welcome visitor at St Mary's High School, Lugwardine last week. The 18-goal striker called in to present officially the £1,000-worth of Umbro kit he was awarded after being voted the FA's player-of-the-round

  • Divide over who pays council tax

    IT WAS noticeable in the letters replying to your request for input on the extortionate level of Council Tax, that the majority concentrated on the division between workers and pensioners regarding subsidising the latter. Whoever first proposed this idea