Archive
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Easter play may be regular event
Ledbury could follow in the footsteps of Oberammagau thanks to the success of its own Passion Play, And Now the Good News. The tiny town on borders of Austria and Germany is famous for the staging a Passion Play every ten years and is firmly on the tourist
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Charity organiser condemns 'despicable' theft
The Poppy Appeal organiser for Ledbury, Lloyd Meredith, has condemned the theft of a charity box as "despicable". But he said it was nice to be able to praise the law following the successful prosecution of the thief, who has been ordered to pay £23 compensation
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Lights changed for safer cycling
CYCLISTS and slower moving vehicles have been given a longer clearance time at Top Cross traffic lights, after a cyclist narrowly avoided a collision there. Traffic lights on the Worcester Road have been "educated" to detect the movement of traffic at
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Villages show off IT skills
Herefordshire Villages are being encouraged to show off their information technology (IT) skills in the 2001 Village of the Year competition. Organised by the Herefordshire Federation of Women's Institutes, the annual competition was originally set up
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Firms struggle
A SURVEY of more than 200 West Midlands firms by the Country Land and Business Association has revealed that rural businesses need a lot more help. Of the 204 firms surveyed, 28 had suffered 100 per cent losses, 203 workers had been laid off and the average
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Rate relief available
Businesses suffering losses from the foot and mouth outbreak in Malvern will be able to claim up to 100 per cent rate relief. Malvern Hills District Council agreed this week to grant hardship relief to small firms with a rateable value of up to £12,000
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Sign up for jabs
A LONGDON woman is launching a petition calling for an end to the culling of healthy animals and the use of vaccination. Anne Mietke has taken her petition to West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer. Now she wants to hear from anybody in Malvern and
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Sales soaring
Ticket sales are picking up for the Spring Gardening Show in Malvern. The Three Counties Agricultural Society, which organises the event, says uncertainty about the impact of foot and mouth and the decision to replace the Three Counties Show in June had
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YHA's open paths plea
THE Youth Hostels Association is calling for a speedy opening of the countryside for public recreation. YHA chief executive Roger Clarke said: "Government should put into practice the Prime Minister's statement that the countryside is open. "The closure
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Cull hits farmers great and small
SEVERE precautionary steps to wipe out foot and mouth are hitting livestock owners in the area large and small, from one farm with 4,600 sheep to a home with just two goats. Sheep, cattle and goats have been slaughtered across the region at farms and
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Sunday buses are back
A SUMMER Sunday bus service, designed to take people through the Wye Valley, is to return for the 2001 season at Easter despite the foot and mouth epidemic. The Wye Valley Wanderer, which links Pershore, Worcester, Malvern and Hereford with the Wye Valley
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Challenge of the jungle
A LEARNING experience of a lifetime was promised to students who recently visited Borneo. But it was not only them that developed - their leader in the jungle also learned a lot. Mike King, grants administrator at the Leadership Trust in Ross-on-Wye,
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Top class acts for Leominster
THE Lion Ballroom in Leominster continues to attract top class artists for the coming season of The Leominster Concert Series. The first concert this spring, on April 18, sees the internationally acclaimed soprano Evelyn Tubb returning to Leominster to
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Star status for DJ Jon after win at Club Eros
LOCAL youngsters took the first step from bedroom DJ to superclub stardom on Monday April 9 at Club Eros in Hereford. They were all competing in the regional heats of the young UK DJ 2001 competition in front of a 'mad for it' crowd. There were some serious
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Museum is at a turning point
PROGRESSIVE plans have been unveiled for essential repairs and new building work at Hereford's historic Waterworks Museum. The move is seen as a turning point for the museum and, if successful, will ensure its future development for the next 25 years.
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Life-saving transplant depends on fundraising efforts
A HEREFORD father with just three years left to live has been offered a life saving heart transplant in America. But Peter Phillips, of Ambleside Drive, Westfields, who is in his late 40s, needs £100,000 before he can grab the chance of a new healthy
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Thieves wreck family's Easter holiday
A HEREFORD family was all-set for extra-special Easter break - until thieves struck. The Trinders, of Maidstone Close, Newton Farm, had packed a caravan full of everything from clothes to a TV only to have it stolen just before they were due to leave.
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Four escape with cash
A GANG of four escaped with bags of cash after a daylight raid on a building society. Staff at the Portman Building Society, in St Owen Street, were threatened by the robbers, who struck at about 4.25pm on Monday. The gang members, who are said to be
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Agonising wait after stepping on syringe
A HEREFORD woman is undergoing HIV and hepatitis B tests after stepping on a heroin user's needle. Sandra Harrison from Redhill is now facing an agonising wait to see if she has tested positive for either of the viruses. The incident happened as she walked
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Tesco expansion plan alarms its neighbours
A MAJOR expansion plan for Tesco's super store at Belmont has alarmed local residents. They are concerned that the multi-million pound proposals include moving the petrol filling station across the road from its present position and nearer their homes
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IT skills important in village awards
THE embracing of new technology by rural communities will be reflected in the 2001 Herefordshire Village of the Year competition. For the first time ever there will be an Information Technology Award for villages to show off their computer skills to the
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Ice rink a cool idea
WILL Hereford ever warm to a permanent ice rink? Pupils at the Aconbury Centre school, Ross Road, think it's a 'really cool' idea. Jodie Flowers, Donna Kelly, and Luke Harman wrote to The Hereford Times with their plea for planners to address a 'lack
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SAS hero snubbed by honours awards
AN SAS hero killed in a daring raid in Sierra Leone has been snubbed in the list of medals awarded for the operation. Bdr Brad Tinnion, who died in a fierce gun battle with rebels in the West African country last September, was mentioned in despatches
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Eveson Trust in new hospital gift
ANOTHER major 'housewarming' gift has been earmarked for Hereford's new hospital. The Eveson Charitable Trust is giving £200,000 to buy one of the most expensive pieces of equipment the hospital has put on its wanted list. The money will be used to purchase
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Chris can tell when figures don't add up
WITH a background in accountancy Chris Smith knows when numbers won't add up. Seven months into his term as Chair of Governors at Kington Primary School he's telling parents that there's no 'real money' to ensure essential improvements over 2001/2002.
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Childcare help coming
NEW childcare places in some of the county's most disadvantaged areas are set to boost work opportunities for single parents and people on low incomes. Government has earmarked funding for a Herefordshire Council scheme that could provide up to 160 childcare
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Police set up fraud probe into claims
A POLICE investigation has been launched into allegations of fraudulent claims for compensation in relation to the foot and mouth crisis. Enquiries are also continuing into the illegal movement of livestock within the West Mercia force area. Worcestershire
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Hereford's Jo relishes role as a 'right bastard'
IF YOU are setting out to be a right bastard, you probably wouldn't want your nearest and dearest around. But for Jo Stone-Fewings it only made the occasion the richer. For he made sure that all his family made the journey from Hereford to the Royal Shakespeare
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Man assaulted cashier at service station
A CASHIER at a service station was terrified when a customer grabbed her to get his credit card back. Louisa Woodhouse had been instructed in a telephone call to retain Herefordshire man Alex Warden's card because he owed £1,500. But he became aggressive
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Bags of brass will keep silver band playing the right notes
KNIGHTON Town Silver Band has been given a Lottery grant by the Arts Council of Wales to buy a new complete set of band instruments. The band's own contribution of 10 per cent was raised as a result of local generosity, successful concerts and an increase
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Melanie's Leominster poster win
A LEOMINSTER Junior School pupil is celebrating after her poster design was chosen to promote the reopening of the refurbished household waste site in the town. Melanie Tromans, aged nine, won first prize in the competition, which was organised by Herefordshire
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Twinners find special tree gift on own doorstep
LEOMINSTER twinners scoured the country looking for a special tree to present to their twin town in the Alsace region of France. But they contacted the biggest and the best among the UK's garden and plant centres without success in their search for a
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A six month, 21,000 mile dream trek
DILWYN'S Dave Potts and his wife Anne Hardy shared a dream- to travel across America 'easy rider' style - on a Harley-Davison motor cycle. After 30 years as a policeman, 52-year-old Dave and Anne, aged 45, decided to make their dream a reality so they
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Titley
BEAM PROJECT -- This is the final year of the BEAM project at Titley Court Farm, near Kington, "and the results show that the environmental aims have been achieved, and probably surpassed," says ornithologist Peter Eldridge. As the Herefordshire Ornithological
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Sellack
HALL -- Sellack parish hall remains closed for the foreseeable future as a precaution against the likelihood of spreading of foot and mouth. The annual meeting for Sellack Hall is scheduled for Wednesday, April 18, at 7.30pm and this year the user groups
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Presteigne
EASTER PROGRAMME -- The town's churches announced their full pro-grammes of Holy Week and Easter Services. The Council of Churches will hold the traditional Walk of Witness on Good Fri-day, when they meet outside the Baptist Church at 11.15am and the
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Pipe-cum-Lyde
ANNUAL MEETING -- At the annual parochial church meeting the following church officers were re-elected: Mrs A Pratt and Mr N F Bradley, churchwarden; Mr P Lloyd, treasurer; Mrs A Pratt, Deanery Synod representative; Mrs S Bradley, secretary. There will
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Lyonshall
LUNCHEON CLUB -- The April meeting of Lyonshall Ladies' Luncheon Club was held at The Kinnersley Arms. Guest speaker Tom Evans gave an insight into the life of George Bernard Shaw. This was followed by an enactment of a short sketch by Shaw, read by Mr
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Leysters
MORRIS DANCERS -- Leominster Morris Dancers made their annual visit to the Poetstone on Church Farm, Leysters, to commemorate the visit of William and Mary Wordsworth to the Poetstone on October 22, 1845. After this visit the initials and date were carved
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Knighton
WEDNESDAY CLUB -- Mrs M Cox, Mrs M Chapman and Mrs W Davies were helpers at a recent meeting of Knighton and District Wednesday Club in the Social Room of St Edward's Close. Raffle winners were: Mrs G Moss, Mrs M Payne, Mrs E Bostock, Mrs R Parry, Mr
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Kington
WINTER MEETINGS --At the last of the winter meetings of the Kington branch of the Herefordshire Nature Trust, a large audience enjoyed an excellent talk about the county's butterflies given by Andy Nicholls. He started with the earliest butterflies to
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Gorsley
SUNRISE SERVICE --The usual Sunrise Service held by Gorsley Baptist Chapel on Easter morning at May Hill has been cancelled. This is due to the closure of public footpaths and bridle ways because of foot and mouth precautions. BAPTISM -- Gorsley Baptist
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Eardisley
METHODIST CHURCH -- The service for the Women's World Day of Prayer, which this year was held at the Methodist Church in Eardisley, raised £60 in the collection. This money will be used for Christian Literature throughout the world. Services this month
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Eardisland
CRICKET CLUB -- The latest newsletter is now being distributed which gives details of the club's new home ground. For further information telephone Ian Watson on 01544 388693 NEW PROPRIETORS -- Congratulations to Darren and Gayna Jones, the new proprietors
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Colwall
CONCERT -- A performance of John Rutter's Requiem took place last Sunday evening at St James, Colwall. There was a retiring collection for the India Earthquake Appeal. COFFEE MORNING -- Darby and Joan Club held its annual coffee morning in aid of club
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Clifford's Mesne
EASTER DAY -- On Sunday there will be Family Communion at St Peter's Church at 10.45am and an Easter garden competition and egg rolling. Please come and help us celebrate this joyful day.
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Aston Ingham
EASTER SERVICES -- Due to some village churches being closed as a precaution against the spread of foot and mouth disease, services will now be as follows: Good Friday, April 13 -- joint service with The Lea from 2pm until 3pm; Easter Day, April 15 --
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Locals to fight for 'green lung'
New Mills residents say their estate could be ruined if developers get the go-ahead for a complex of shops, flats and houses on land they view as the "green lung" of the estate. Ledbury Town Council is recommending refusal of the proposal by developers
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Hop farmer takes orders for 'most expensive vegetable in world'
A rare delicacy from the salad days of ancient Egypt is being grown and marketed at Munsley Court Farm. Orders have come from as far away as Geneva, even at £150 a kilo - making it "the most expensive vegetable in the world". Hop asparagus may also be
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Mayor pulls plug on song
THE mayor and mayoress of Ledbury have cancelled a performance of Old MacDonald Had A Farm out of sympathy for the community hit by the foot and mouth crisis. The well-known song, which lists all the animals living on a farm and includes farmyard noises
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Owners back call to save rare breeds
ONE of the founder members of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust has applauded a call to preserve rare breeds from being wiped out by foot and mouth. The Country Land and Business Association wants a national strategy to preserve rare breeds of cattle, sheep
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'Cure' worse than disease
THE Malvern-based National Sheep Association says slaughter to control foot and mouth is creating more problems than the disease. Chief executive John Thorley said: "We are now losing so many of our important bloodlines that the cure is becoming more
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Castle lowers drawbridge
ONE of the district's top tourist attractions is preparing to show there is still life in the countryside when it opens on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from 11am to 5pm. Castle spokesman Francesca Chick said: "As there are no livestock in the grounds
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Taxman ready to help
THE taxman is to help businesses financially affected by foot and mouth. A national helpline has been set up by Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue to take questions and reassure callers. The help is directed mainly at businesses in rural areas
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Addict in building society hold-up jailed
A DRUG addict who held up a Hereford building society with a plastic coat hanger disguised as a gun has been jailed for six years. Sean Jennings terrified two counter staff and escaped with £2,410 but tripped over on the pavement outside, sending notes
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Residents' plea to John Prescott: End this rat-run
THE Minister for Transport, John Prescott is to be told about traffic problems in Westfaling Street, Hereford. Residents there claim that drivers are ignoring a weight limit on the street and that heavy lorries are still using it as a short-cut 'rat run
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Defence cut suggestion puts MP in firing line
AMAZEMENT has been expressed by a Conservative that the Lib-Dem defence spokesman told a county conference he would consider making cuts to the Army. But the MP under fire, Paul Keetch, has accused Virginia Taylor of 'playground politics' in misinterpreting
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Your opportunity to support rural communities
READERS of the Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter can now provide direct help for local farmers struggling to maintain their livelihoods in the face of foot and mouth. The Three Counties Agricultural Society, headed by president Sally Clive, this
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New village focal point
A SPECIAL window has become a focal point for a Herefordshire village. St David's Church in Little Dewchurch pulled out all the stops to celebrate the dedication of its stained glass millennium window on Sunday. Bishop of Ludlow the Rt Rev. John Saxbee
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Malvern Hills stay closed over Easter
HOPES that walkers could return to the Malvern Hills for Easter and provide a boost for the district's hard-hit tourist industry have been dashed. A 'risk assessment' commissioned from specialist consultants ADAS by the Malvern Hills Conservators has
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Police launch investigation
West Mercia Constabulary has launched an investigation following allegations of illegal movement of livestock and fraudulent claims for compensation in relation to the foot and mouth crisis. The allegations were reported to West Mercia by Worcestershire
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Fury at Easter Sunday law
GAMBLING, buying alcohol or visiting a massage parlour are legal on Easter Sunday so a local businessman wants to know why the law stops him selling plants. The Millbrook Garden Centre at Mitchel Troy, is allowed to open its tea-room this Sunday, but
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Rubble halts sale of public hall site
Plans to sell off Bromyard's old public hall site and clear a £20,000 debt have hit another snag, this time caused by the foot and mouth crisis. The snag is in the shape of 50 or 60 tonnes of rubble, which must be removed from the New Road site before
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Businessman jailed for attacks on young girls
A DISGRACED managing director from Hereford slashed his wrists and drove his car off a cliff after carrying out sex attacks on two young girls, Worcester Crown Court heard this week. The victims, aged seven and nine, then revealed that 55-year-old Eric
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Action plan aim in bloom bid
The Bromyard in Bloom committee has elected its first chairman and is drawing up an action plan to make the town a serious rival to Ledbury in next year's Britain in Bloom competition. Town clerk Mike Cresswell said that although Ledbury's successes might
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School finds safe pasture for its flock
A HEREFORDSHIRE school's sheep are headed for 'pastures new'. The 40-strong flock kept at Kingstone High is on the move to spare it from foot and mouth. Pupils care for 40 ewes and lambs pupils as part of the curriculum, and there were fears the animals
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Bid for Britain in Bloom glory begins in High Town
HEREFORD'S bid for Britain in Bloom glory was launched in a blaze of colour in High Town last week. It is hoped more people and businesses will get involved than ever before in this year's competition, which sees the city entered in the Large Town category
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Tale of Liza comes to Ledbury
THE tale of a cockney flower girl rising through the ranks to the upper classes of Edwardian society will be retold in Ledbury by youngsters who have already proved to be far from amateur. 'Liza', an adaptation of Bernard Shaw's 'Pygmalion', is being
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Speed gun challenge laid down
A SPEED gun challenge has been laid down to launch the Hereford Volunteer Centre, South Wye Community Development Team (SWCDT). The scheme will be officially launched on Thursday, April 19 at the McDonalds drive-through in Belmont Road where people can
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Trendy tipple is a Bulmers winner
A TRENDY new drink with a powerful 'Sidekick' is the latest Bulmers tipple to take the country by storm. The shots-style Schnapps drink has sky-rocketed to the top of the booze market, with five million sold just six weeks from launch. Big response "Consumer
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Bronco's taste for adventure
BRONCO Lane will satisfy his latest taste for adventure by going round in circles to raise funds for a local youth charity. The ex-SAS major and conqueror of Mount Everest saddles up along with a small team for a 24-hour cycle ride around Hereford's King
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Biking bishop revs up training scheme
HEREFORD'S biking bishop will be launching the county's advanced rider-training scheme (He.A.R.T.S.) on April 22. TT racer Kenny Howells will join the Rt Rev. John Oliver at the spring 2001 show, at the city's ambulance station, which aims to improve
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Ex-President heads the list
FORMER US president Bill Clinton is coming to Hay Festival to deliver a UN lecture on racism and conflict. It will be his first public engagement in the UK since he left presidential office in January and will be followed by questions. It will be a rare
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Lottery aid gives boost to theatre companies
TWO Herefordshire theatre companies have taken centre stage in the latest round of funding from the Regional Arts Lottery Programme. The spotlight has fallen on Ross Operatic & Dramatic Society (ROADS) and the About Face Theatre Company based in Leominster
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What's on at a cinema near you this week
HEREFORD'S ABC Cinema will showing the acclaimed 'Chocolat', with Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp and Judi Dench for seven days from Friday. 'Rugrats in Paris', which is being shown at matinee time is bound to delight younger cinema-goers. Hereford's Courtyard
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Glorious gardens to tempt visitors
WITH prices that have been pruned back to their roots, and a list of 23 separate gardens and nurseries to visit, tourism officers in the county are hoping that their latest Glorious Gardens leaflet will tempt visitors back into the gardens of Herefordshire
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Rubicon group show
THERE is a diverse selection of visual art currently on show at The Courtyard guaranteed to catch the eye and fuel the imagination. The exhibition, with pieces by Alison MacGregor-Grimley and the Rubicon Textile Group, features contemporary paintings
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Craftsfolk gathering in Ross
ON Sunday, April 15 the Chase Hotel, Ross-on-Wye is the venue for the annual Easter Craft Fair. Craftsmen and women from all over the region will be exhibiting their handcrafted goods. Alongside top quality local crafts, visitors to the fair will be able
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County is open for fun at Easter
HEREFORDSHIRE is ready to welcome you for a fun-filled Easter, writes CATHERINE SHOVLIN. Whether you are a resident or a visitor, the county has plenty in store to make this weekend an enjoyable break. The only uncertainty will be the weather! With what
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What's on in city and county over the Easter period
Theatre April 13 Good Friday Concert, Commercial Road Baptist Church, Hereford. 14 'The Oinkment de T'art Show', The Market Theatre, Ledbury. Details: 01531 633568. 16-21 'Amy's View', Malvern Theatres. Details: 01684 892277. 18-21 'The Snow Queen', The
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Parking in town is still headache
PARKING is still causing a headache in Leominster. Boulders placed by the Priory to stop cars causing an obstruction have been deemed too harsh. Leominster Town Council has the task of reducing the impact of the large stones by reducing numbers. But the
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Naomi finally takes her great leap
LEOMINSTER School nursery nurse, Naomi Harris has finally completed her sponsored parachute jump. She has had three failed attempts to take her leap of faith because of bad weather and the foot and mouth outbreak. Icarus parachute display team leader
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Looking back in Kington
PEOPLE of Kington are being asked to rummage through their attics and flick through their photo albums for old pictures and memorabilia. The Kington Connected Community (KC3) is organising a photographic exhibition to coincide with a day to celebrate
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Freight rail link for ex-army base
A NEW rail freight depot, the extraction of around one million tons of gravel and the development of a mixed business park are being planned for the former Army base at Moreton- on - Lugg. The new owners, who paid the Ministry of Defence more than £5
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Blaze shuts town centre
MORE than 13 people were left homeless in Kington on Tuesday when the biggest fire in living memory engulfed flats and spread to a nearby bank. Clouds of black smoke billowed across High Street and Cross Street as fire crews from as far as Droitwich and
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Upton Bishop
PARISH ASSEMBLY -- All parishioners will be warmly welcomed at the Parish Assembly meeting to be held in the Millennium Hall on Tuesday, April 17, at 8.30pm. This will follow the monthly parish council meeting and refreshments will be served.
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Linton
LINTON PLAYGROUP -- The children meet on Friday afternoons in the village hall from 2pm until 4pm. Some of the children have now started school so there are some vacancies. Those who would like to view the group's activities or see the excellent facilities
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Dinedor
NO ACCESS -- In the present circumstances, regarding the foot and mouth crisis, there will be no public access to St Andrew's Church, Dinedor, or the churchyard.This means that flowers cannot be placed on graves this Easter, or until restrictions are
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Clyro
SCHOOL -- Keeping quiet has never been as rewarding as it was on February 9 when the children of Clyro School took part in their third annual 'Hold Your Tongue' challenge. This year the sponsored 10-minute silence raised an amazing £414.71 in aid of Macmillan
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Almeley
VILLAGE HALL - Almeley Village Hall committee has, because of the seriousness of the foot and mouth epidemic, cancelled its fortnightly whist drives for the foreseeable future. Also, the senior citizens' luncheon, planned to take place on Saturday has
