Archive

I WANT to thank our MP, Paul Keetch, for writing to local health trusts, asking them to review their Living Will policies. A Living Will is a legally binding document, which you can use to set out how you wish to be treated by medical staff, if you become

THE closing of the Unity Garden is a real tragedy: a shortsighted and mindless beaurocratic bungle, I feel! It is very rare to come across a public place where people of all ages are made to feel so welcome by the group of people who operated the enterprise

WE write following your kind comments in the Hereford Times Opinion of last week and your generous words for the work of Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust. What we are able to achieve, however, is only possible through the generosity of time and financial

HEREFORD County Hospital may link with Worcester's hospital to treat some ear, nose and throat patients. At Monday's meeting members agreed this was the best way to overcome difficulties in the small unit at the County Hospital and to comply with the

HEALTH workers, fire crew, and teachers will be first in the queue when the housing development on the former general hospital site was officially declared open last week. The 14-home site christened Victoria Bridge was launched by the Marches Housing

FILLING top jobs at Hereford County Hospital presents continuing difficulties. "It is rather a depressing scenario'' medical director Peter Harper told members at a board meeting of Hereford Hospitals Trust. He reported that a 'good candidate' had withdrawn

PRESSURE on beds at Hereford County Hospital is as bad as ever. The situation on delayed discharges, formerly described as blocked beds, is said to be the worst in the West Midlands NHS 'patch'. Medical director Peter Harper told hospital trust board

BUDDING photographers in Leominster are being urged to submit pictures of local scenes for publication in the Town Guide. Leominster Town Council is running a competition -- there are no prizes but the best pictures will be published in the glossy guide

THIS Easter, Hampton Court near Leominster is inviting visitors of all ages to spend a spring day outside and try their luck at a multitude of games and riddles around the magical castle gardens and grounds. Once on the extensive lawns children, and '

LEOMINSTER actor and playwright Ian Sorley decided the show must go on despite receiving devastating news about his health. The most ambitious theatrical production ever staged in Leominster, a lavish pageant called How We Built the Priory, went ahead

LEOMINSTER Scouts, who are looking forward to the construction of the town's new swimming pool, gave the project a handy cash boost last week. Scout leader Mark Tansley presented a cheque for £419 to Bill Healey of the 'We Want Our Pool' appeal. It followed

ONE group of would-be swimmers with learning difficulties and physical disabilities has found that putting a toe in the water at Hereford Leisure Pool is something of an obstacle race. They are holding an open meeting on Sunday from 11am to 1pm. The group

IT was a dramatic change of direction when Lionel Young from Redhill gave up shooting as a hobby and took up old-time dancing, but he's never regretted it. When Lionel's wife, Monica, was diagnosed with asthma after the birth of their third child in 1963

HEREFORDSHIRE author Phil Rickman will be signing copies of his sixth Merrily Watkins mystery in Waterstone's, Hereford, on Saturday at 1pm. Set in and around Kington, The Prayer of the Night Shepherd attempts to solve a great literary mystery - whether

HEREFORD rock band Frantik are preparing for a television audition by performing a charity gig for a young child with cerebral palsy. Saxty's nightclub will be the venue for the group, who promise to shake the rafters to raise money for five-year-old

THE art of live debating lives on through these two young men who took home the Taylor trophy in a West Midlands school GCSE debating competition. Hereford Cathedral School pupils Paddy Keating and Peter Deutsch took part in the finals staged at Bromsgrove

HEREFORD'S Unity Garden project has secured a new future. The Unity team, based at the former nursery site in Ledbury Road, will focus on the restoration of an historic garden on the Widemarsh Workshop site, Widemarsh Common. The announcement was made

A 'CALAMITY' cat has been nicknamed 'Hoops' by veterinary staff in Hereford after being brought to the surgery with a spaghetti tin around her head and neck. The eight-month-old tabby cat, whose real name is Willow, was taken to the Laurels Veterinary

ST MARY'S CHURCH - On Sunday at 10am, the Palm Sunday service will be held at Ivington. Maundy Thursday service will be held at Monkland on April 8 at 7.30pm. During the Mothering Sunday service last month, secretary of the parochial church council Peter

HEREFORD Computer club had a talk by Martin Halls on adapting the computer to the needs of its user. He works with a team of assistants at the Hereford College of Technology to provide access to computers for those with various special needs.He was thanked

AROUND 50 members attended the Bromsberrow Gardening Club meeting in Bromsberrow Village Hall. The Woodland Trust provided the main speakers who talked for an hour on woodland preservation and concerns over national heritage. A total of £50 was raised

THE Hereford Branch of RAFA held it annual meeting at the Railway Club, Hereford, on Wednesday, March 17. Branch president Sheelagh Smart thanked the membership for their support during the past year. After reports from the chairman, treasurer, Welfare

SHOBDON trainer Steve Flook has long had a reputation for transforming horses of moderate ability and he gave a further demonstration of his skills at the Ledbury Hunt at Maisemore Park when he saddled a double with wins for Beauchamp Oracle and Legend

REIGNING champion jockey Richard Burton had a point to point meeting of mixed fortunes at the Teme Valley Hunt fixture at Brampton Bryan on Saturday with two odds-on favourite winners in Coole Venture and Jackson and another odds-on favourite in Fane

HEREFORD Swimming Club's Otto Putland (10) led the way with a massive medal haul in the third block of the Gloucester County Championship. He showed himself to be a champion of the future by swimming to victory in age group best times in all five of his

THE Hereford County Netball Association will cater for their widest age range in this year's junior netball league which expands to accommodate players from year 6 through to year 11. Play days will be held at Hereford Sixth Form College on Sunday, May

HEREFORDSHIRE CBA completed an excellent winter programme in which they won seven from 11 matches with a resounding 169-75 victory over Shropshire. Herefordshire won five of the six rinks with Ron Perry romping home 40-8, closely followed by Ray Preece

MIDLANDS 1 Luctonians are still in negotiations with Midlands West 2 title challengers Bromsgrove in an attempt to find an acceptable date to play their North Midlands Cup semi-final after Brom-sgrove failed to raise a team to travel to Mortimer Park.

KINGTON has been shocked by the sudden death of a 24-year-old man. Darren Paul Bird was found dead at a house in Moor Farm, Hereford, on Sunday morning. Darren, who was also known as Darren Hayes, was well known on the county's club scene and 'lived for

TIME has not been particularly kind to the physiques of Cliff Bennett and Chris Farlowe - once slim stars of the sixties pop scene. Balding Bennett looks as though he has eaten his "Rebel Rousers" while Farlowe's hair is snowy white and he, too, boasts

FOR those who have had more Messiahs than proverbial hot dinners, a different oratorio by Handel makes a refreshing change, especially when it is done as well as Judas Maccabaeus was last Saturday. Even more interesting was the fact that Hereford Choral

TAKING inspiration from their woodland surroundings, Brockhampton Primary School has ambitious plans to take learning into the great outdoors. On the drawing board is an outdoor classroom and amphitheatre, shaded seating, willow structures, larger-than-life

RECENTLY retired Hereford-shire Golf Club professional David Hemming drove into office last Sunday, having been confirmed as the captain for 2004 at the mid-week annual meeting with a pledge to play more golf and enjoy the company of his members. Having

Hereford U-17 45 pts Walsall U-17 3 HEREFORD set up a crunch meeting with county rivals and North Midlands Under-17 League leaders Luctonians at Kingsland on Sunday with a comfortable win over Walsall. They were always in control and made an early breakthrough

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

HEREFORDSHIRE Cricket Coaches' Association are holding their second coaching conference at Bridge Street Sports Centre, Leominster, on Sunday, April 18, from 9.30pm to 4pm. The cost is £20 per person and interested parties should contact the cricket development

WITH the 2004 season just around the corner, Herefordshire County Cricket Club held their first net session of the new campaign at Bridge Street Sports Centre in Leominster on Saturday. With the exception of now-retired Kevin Cooper, all of last season's

SOME of the county's young sportsmen are off for the cricketing experience of their life this week. Herefordshire's under-15 cricket team set off to Barbados on Tuesday to test their mettle in five matches as well as to take in the West Indies v England

CRAMPED conditions at a Leominster school for children with special needs are limiting educational achievement and affecting the 'dignity' of some pupils, say inspectors. Westfield School educates girls and boys with severe, profound and multiple learning

WHIST DRIVE - The whist drive to be held this Friday will take place as normal at 7.30pm in Pateshall Hall, but the proceeds will go towards the Acorns Childrens Hospice.

COFFEE MORNING - Members of Aymestrey WI held a coffee morning in the village hall to raise funds for Meningitis Trust. Several members will attend an open meeting at Kimbolton today (Thursday) where a talk entitled Lost in Herefordshire will be given

VILLAGE LOTTERY - The winners of the £25 prize this week are Paul and Suzi Hodgson with their number 38. WACKY WALKERS - A total of 21 walkers gathered at the Bateman Arms, Shobdon, to start their walk through Shobdon Court Estate last Saturday. One highlight

PLAYERS - The Colwall Players held a very successful annual fun quiz last Friday evening at Colwall Village Hall when 16 teams took part. The quiz master was Steve Hockett who also set the questions. ST JAMES' CHURCH - Anyone who wishes to donate a lily

ST MARY'S CHURCH - On Sunday at 10am, the Palm Sunday service will be held at Ivington. Maundy Thursday service will be held at Monkland on April 8 at 7.30pm. During the Mothering Sunday service last month, secretary of the parochial church council Peter

HONOURS remained even when county rivals Leominster 3rd and Hereford 4th fought out a 1-1 draw in the Gerrard West of England and South Wales League North-East West District 4 on Saturday. Defences were on top for much of the first period but Leominster's

A HEREFORDSHIRE abattoir owner confronted animal rights campaigners who protested against his licence to slaughter horses for meat last Saturday. David Williams of R E Williams & Son challenged protesters who picketed his butcher's shop in Weobley

TACKLING anti-social behaviour and public disorder are high on the list of priorities for West Mercia Constabulary's new divisional commander. Chief Superintendent Kevin Bentley is taking over the division more than 25 years after he first pounded the

REGIONAL development agency Advantage West Midlands is on the hunt in Herefordshire for new board members to help drive the region's economic and social regeneration. Four vacancies on the 15-strong Board will become available later this year and AWM

IF all the birds of the air look the same to you, the Beginner's Bird ID Workshop being held at Madley Environmental Study Centre next week might fit the bill. The workshop, which takes place from 10am to 12 noon on Saturday, will include a slide presentation

TO her large family she was known as Elsie May. To a larger community in Herefordshire she was just Nurse Brockley. No-one quite knows what drew her to the county, but during her stay she became a much-loved district nurse and midwife. For the last four

GREASE was definitely the word at Kingstone High School this week as hundreds of parents enjoyed a torrid trip back to their teenage years. The show, which was sold out on all three nights, involved hundreds of students and told the tale of friendship

DOGS won't be the only ones to benefit if their owners respond to the fun-raising challenge thrown down by a pet food company. Herefordshire dog-owners are being urged to get fit with their dogs and raise money for Macmillan Cancer Relief as they walk

A 20-tonne traction engine crossed the newly-rebuilt bridge at Bridge Sollers at its official re-opening yesterday (Wednesday), demonstrating the awesome strength of the structure. The original bridge was built in 1896 to withstand a 20-tonne load and

Herefordshire FA 2 Huntingdonshire FA 3 HEREFORDSHIRE created a number of excellent goal-scoring chances in their Midland Counties under-16 Challenge Cup semi-final at Ledbury before bowing out to a golden goal winner. The home side were out of luck in

Lads Club Colts 3 Marriotts 1 A HAT-TRICK from Matt Howard led Lads Club Colts to victory over their Division 3 rivals Marriotts in the final of the Hereford Times Herefordshire League FW Peterson Cup at allpay.park. Howard's treble thwarted Marriotts

Didcot Town 7 Pegasus Juniors 0 PEGASUS have slipped back towards the bottom of the Cherry Red Records Hellenic League Premier Division after suffering two defeats in five days. On Saturday, third-placed Didcot registered only their third win in nine

PLACES are still available on courses arranged by the Herefordshire Football Association for those interested in gaining the FA Level 1 and 2 Certificates in Coaching Football. The next level 1 course will take place during April with further dates scheduled

Coseley 0 Wellington 2 WELLINGTON brought their run of four consecutive defeats in the West Midlands League Premier Division with a comfortable success at bottom-club Coseley. But the home side, who have failed to win a single league game this season,

Presteigne 5 Llanfyllin 2 PRESTEIGNE completed their third win over Llanfyllin in consecutive weeks as they moved through comfortably to the semi-finals of the Spar Mid Wales League Cup. A defensive mistake allowed the visitors to take the lead inside

THE HGTA Hereford-shire Junior League championships have now been decided in the Under-9, Under-12, Under-13 and Under-15 age groups. Under-9 Ross United Services finished their league programme without defeat and in consequence the gap between them and

TOUGH new measures are being introduced to stop 'rogue' motorists who are leaving their vehicles in the Ross Community Hospital car park. A clamping system is being introduced to free up the parking spaces for patients and visitors to the Ross Community

NATIONAL campaigners headed by a Herefordshire man are going to France next month to highlight their bid to save the historic battlefield of Agincourt. Longbowmen, archers and medievalists are gathering for a grand fete in Ruisseauville on April 10 and

TWO South Herefordshire dog lovers,touched by the plight of abandoned animals, have organised a dog show in aid of rescue charities in the region. Liz Howe from Linton and Serena Robinson of Ross teamed up to organise the companion dog show at Sunray

AGE had wearied the war memorial at Old Gore, near Ross-on-Wye, so much so that it could not weather the county's recent storms. But what was brought down by wild winds will be back. Ted Harrison, secretary to the Royal British Legion Herefordshire, said

HEREFORD United head for Halifax on Saturday knowing that a win would be enough to guarantee them a place in the end-of-season Nationwide Conference play-offs. Achieving that target would erase the unpleasant memory of last season's visit when a 1-0 defeat

BROMYARD rider Holly Bradshaw moved closer to selection for the Great Britain team in the European Championships in Poland later this summer after a top-10 finish in the Derby House British Pony Trials at Gatcombe. Fifteen-year-old Holly, riding Bohemian

DILWYN sculler Daniel Middleton produced his best performance of the early season when contesting Teddington Sculls at Hampton Court to earn selection for this month's National Inter-Regional Event at the National Water Sports Rowing Course in Nottingham

HEREFORD'S LuKRacing.net cycle team members recorded victories in two hilly time trials at the weekend. National champion Tim Wood marked his first solo event of the year in a 29-mile race near Bristol with victory by an impressive two-minute margin.

BROMYARD will see its history encapsulated in a 17-metre frieze unveiled during a pageant to mark the opening of the new library on April 10. The event will include a procession through the industrial estate at 3pm followed by a short service in St Peter's

Here we are, having received our council tax bill... another massive increase on last year (which was 14% above the previous year). In fact, for a two-bedroomed house, we now pay TWICE as much as we did in 1998 (with inflation running at less than 3%

I WAS quite amused to read the letter from your correspondent about the proposed opening of the already opened Bridge Sollars bridge which incidentally is common practice when opening many things. There is a story that before the earlier bridge was built

I was interested to read several letters in last week's edition of the Hereford Times, all on different subjects but all alluding to the same problem. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that I also would like to make some comments on the gradual

I VISITED Hereford Museum (above the library) today and was most disappointed. On entering the building I was greeted by an empty display case in the foyer with the sign 'objects from the museum collections'. I assumed the white stands inside the case

THE discovery of Romano-British pottery fragments has made curious archaeologists stay on to dig deeper at the site of the controversial fruit pickers' 'village' near Leominster. Experts from Leominster-based Border Archaeology were due to quit the site

HEATHER Phillips from Leominster is putting her replacement knees to good use for Acorns Children's Hospice. Already a veteran of two Acorns' trekking challenges, Heather has now begun fundraising for next year's expedition to China. Mrs Phillips, a former

LEOMINSTER Conservatives have high hopes that Bill Wiggin is a future Government minister in the making. Members unanimously re-selected the MP as their candidate for the next general election. Mr Wiggin told the selection meeting at a Leominster hotel

STAFF at Hereford County Hospital have slated their senior management as 'very poor'. The level of wellbeing and morale in the hospital is given the same description. The percentage of staff working extra time is very poor too while working extra hours

PEOPLE with a long term or chronic health condition are being offered help to deal with it. The help takes the form of a one day six week course starting in Ross-on-Wye in May. Organised by Herefordshire Primary Care Trust, it is free of charge. The trust

LEOMINSTER carpenter Jon Utley swore he would never run another marathon again when he finished the big London event in 1999 in just under four hours. He's an enthusiastic runner but found pounding city streets over such a lengthy course was just too

TOP glamour model Nell McAndrew is teaming up with a Leominster teacher to raise money for the 'Butterfly Children' in the London Marathon. Nell, left, is pictured with teacher Laverne Inns, in training at a Reading track. They are aiming to raise a bumper

A MOBILE phones company gained approval for a telecommunications mast on a site at Lyonshall after local planners refused permission for the development. The Government Planning Inspectorate gave the green light to T-Mobile (UK) Ltd for a 12 metre pole

Stafford Town 0 Westfields 3 PAUL Burton bagged a fine hat-trick as Westfields completed a Midland Alliance double over struggling bottom club Stafford. Having beaten their hosts 4-0 at their temporary Stourport headquarters earlier in the season, Westfields

THE writing's on the wall for troublemakers in South Hereford. A series of signs put up across the area this week warn that their 'trouble' will not be tolerated. The signs were designed by students of Haywood High School to promote the Community Watch

IT has taken 72,000 hours, but it will be at least three million more before the stonework in the Lady Chapel at Hereford Cathedral needs restoring again. Three thousand man-days of restoration work by local specialist builders Capps and Capps Ltd finally

THE parks and countryside service, which manages public open spaces, is fighting back against joyriders using the Castle Green by installing new barriers and bollards at entrances. Joyriding had become a nuisance to local residents and others wishing

A HEREFORD accountant will be pounding the streets in memory of his late uncle, Robert James Colby, Canon at Hereford Cathedral. Andrew Colby is gearing up for the London Marathon to raise money for the British Brain and Spine Foundation, and its research

HEREFORD Round Table has again helped a local charity, this time the Riding for the Disabled Centre in Holme Lacy. A specially-adapted Phoenix Carriage was donated to the centre for their use and to help the disabled riders to gain riding experience.

A WELL-ATTENDED meeting of the National Trust, Herefordshire and Marches Association, heard Duncan James' talk on the timber-framed houses of Herefordshire. Slides showed the incredible accuracy of the joiners over 500 years ago and the varying styles

HEREFORDSHIRE rider Jessica Lee enjoyed a successful weekend at the under-21 UK Winter Championships at Add-ington Manor in Bucking-hamshire where, with her 12.2hh roan pony Tea Leaf, she won the Restricted Novice Championship. Jessica, 12, who attends

HEREFORDSHIRE Motor Club were well represented in national events over the weekend and Theo Bengry and co-driver Les Foresbrook were eighth overall in the Humberside Rally - the third round of the BTRDA Champion-ships. Their Ford Focus WRC was also third

WOOLHOPE carried off the Herefordshire Short Mat Bowling Association's annual Bromyard Chall-enge Trophy with a victory in the final against The Lea. Sixteen teams took part in the tournament. Woolhope's team was Sandra, Phil and Anthony Rogers and Lea's

LUCTONIANS hope to have a major clubhouse extension and refurbishing scheme underway this summer to accommodate the ever-increasing numbers brought to their Mortimer Park headquarters for rugby and cricket. The Kingsland-based club plan to put a top on

Spider (15) Dir: David Cronenburg. Dark psychological drama talles of Dennis 'Spider' Clegg who is released, unprepared, into a frightening world after spending 20 years growing up in mental institutions. Showing: Presteigne Assembly Rooms Touching the

ACCLAIMED trumpet soloist Alison Balsom (pictured) and pianist Iain Farrington combined their superb talents in a recital at the Courtyard last Thursday, March 25. Most of the works were by 20th century French composers but it was the first movement of

KINGTON'S teen dream is set to become reality, as skater boys and girls eagerly await the official opening of the town's new skateboard park on Saturday. The park, which comes complete with mini-pipe, fun-box and rail-slide in the town's recreation ground

Coming next week. Free chocolate Easter novelty plus free film tickets!

A STUDENT on work experience at the Hereford Times for the last month turned the tables with a few lessons of her own for staff. Laura Scholes, who is studying for a Masters Programme in sustainable development advocacy at Holme Lacy College, hoped to

A FORMER Herefordian is appealing for a county graduate who would like a taste of eastern culture to help her and her husband teach Japanese people English. Fiona Watanabe (nee Joel) set up a language school in Iwasw-Machi, a town north of Tokyo to help

JAMIE Wilde showed excellent early season form at Ross-on-Wye when he fired a gross 74 to win the Lombard Trophy qualifier, the first men's medal of the season, by three clear shots. Results: 1 Jamie Wilde 74-11-63, 2 Mark Gould 81-15-66, 3 Gerald Turner

HEREFORDSHIRE residents face the biggest council tax increase in the country, according to figures released this week. But hitting the unenviable number one spot in a table published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has forced council

THE Rotherwas Access Road and Public Arts Project are the top items for discussion when the South Wye Business Forum meets next Tuesday at Faculty House, Holme Lacy Road, at 5.30pm. Allen Green of AKI will be chairing the meeting. Andrew Jancey has been

HEREFORDSHIRE'S skills gap was a problem for local employers, according to Alan Curless, Executive Director of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Learning and Skills Council. He was guest speaker at Hereford Conservative Business Forum's meeting at

THE old home of Torvale Buildings Products has been transformed into the head office of one the UK's fastest growing businesses, Kingspan Insulation. And Kingspan Insulation's new head office was opened by TV presenter Nick Knowles at Shobdon airfield

For the second year running, the city's Westaff team have returned victorious from the Westaff (UK) national award ceremony in Tewkesbury. Having been awarded branch of the year at last year's event, the Hereford team were keen to hold onto their title

THE Sun Valley workforce and their families will enjoy free tickets to the annual Grand National race day at Hereford Racecourse on Saturday as a 'thank you' for all their hard work and loyalty to the company throughout the year. To celebrate the approach

RETAILERS and licensees got a visit from Herefordshire Council's acting trading standards officer Mike Pigrem last week as the county's No ID, No Sale campaign was launched. The campaign, which celebrates the council's Proof of Age scheme being given

PC GRAHAM Richards made an arresting sight with police puppy Angie back in 1992. Both have new lives now. When pictured by the Hereford Times 12 years ago Angie, one of the seven pups produced as the first West Mercia police litter, was honing her skills

SUNDAY LUNCH - Organised by the village hall committee, a lunch will be held on Sunday at 1pm in the village hall. The cost will be £6 for adults with concessions for children. Bookings can be made with Mrs Bray at the Post Office or by telephoning 01544

FLICKS IN THE STICKS - Calendar Girls (Cert 12A) is the next film and will be shown on Thursday, April 8, in Bodenham Parish hall. Doors open at 7pm and the film starts at 7.30pm, entrance is £3.

SARAH Nightingale continued her rich vein of scoring form as Tenbury would up their season in the Worcester League Division 1 with a 9-1 win at Camphill. Nightingale scored four times to take her seasonal tally to 12 and follow up the two she bagged the

THE problems which have come to light at Telford during the past week have served to emphasise how difficult it is to run a football club. At our annual meeting, scheduled for last night, we were due to report a loss of around £15,000, which is negligible

THREE children's centres will be developed in Herefordshire in the next two years. One centre will be refurbished while the other two will be new builds and all will offer their communities a local one-stop shop with integrated early years services under

A WOMAN who was very well known and respected in local government and health circles in Herefordshire has died suddenly at the age of 67. Ann Carter, who lived at Breinton, was a former member and chairman of the old South Herefordshire District Council

PAULINE Clark, news editor of the Ludlow and Tenbury Wells Advertisers since 2001 and who also spent time on the Hereford Times newsdesk, has died. Her death at home last Thursday came as a great shock to her colleagues, and to the many people in the

HEREFORD and Worcester Fire Brigade will be shipping an appliance to the area of Russia devastated in the world's worst nuclear power accident. The £2,000 vehicle and £350 worth of equipment have been decommissioned after 20 years' service and will go

RESIDENTS of a Herefordshire community had the future of their parish at the tips of their fingers. People living in Weston-under-Penyard have taken part in a new approach towards improving their local services and environment. The scheme involves placing

Events/talks April 1-3 Arts and Crafts Fair, Mansion House Gallery, Widemarsh Street, Hereford, Details 01432 267776. 3 Hay Cat Rescue Spring Fayre, 2.30pm, Cusop Parish Room. 3 Family History Fair, learn how to research your family history, 10am-4pm,

HEREFORDSHIRE'S frontline fightback from terrorist attack has arrived on the back of a lorry. But no ordinary lorry. The Incident Response Unit (IRU) now on standby at Hereford Fire Station this week holds everything needed to co-ordinate what the firefighters

THE delicious flavours of Herefordshire can be tasted in a new and comprehensive booklet brimming with creative cooking and local food. The new Flavours of Herefordshire booklet is a 26-page recipe for getting the best out of a visit to Herefordshire.

HEREFORDIANS and county visitors will find it even easier to explore the furthest corners of the region- thanks to a brilliant new map from Ordnance Survey. The tour map which features Herefordshire and Worcestershire, shows colour coded primary routes

HEART of England Tourist Board members have voted overwhelmingly to change the structure of the company. The aim is to secure its future as a key partner in delivering sustained tourism growth in the West Midlands. The regional development agency, Advantage

GRAHAM Turner has been named Nationwide Conference manager of the month for March. The Hereford United boss guided his team to five victories including two away wins at Telford United and Margate. Victory at Halifax Town on Saturday will guarantee the

SAMARITAN'S Purse International Relief (SPIR) is launching an appeal in Herefordshire with the aim to address problems relating to drinking water supply in many developing countries around the world. SPIR aims to raise funds to provide safe drinking water

TEN county children with disabilities are off on an adventure of a lifetime with the help of two Hereford women and their friends. Susan Bucknell and Sue Brown, who both work at Herefordshire College of Technology, (HCT) will join 15 other volunteers

Bromyard Town 3 Kington Town 0 BROMYARD turned in their best performance of the season to complete a quick-fire West Midlands Football League Premier Division double over their county rivals. The home side never looked back after scoring twice in the

HEREFORD Schools under-14 team take on Cannock at St Mary's School, Lugwardine on Saturday in a West Midlands Schools League semi-final after finishing top of the South section. Cannock were runners-up in the north section and the winners face a final

Brierley & Hagley 1 Wellington 0 WELLINGTON gave a spirited performance but could not stop their recent poor run and crashed to a fourth consecutive West Midlands League Premier Division defeat at mid-table Brierley & Hagley. Undeterred by the

Kington Town 2 Heath Hayes 1 INJURY-hit Kington Town were worthy winners of this West Midlands League Premier Division top-five battle which produced a very physical but entertaining clash. Forced to reorganise, Kington welcomed Alex Hunt back after suspension

Bewdley Town 2 Hinton 0 HINTON paid the price for a lethargic first-half performance in which they conceded two goals as they crashed to defeat at Bewdley. It was only a sterling display by centre-backs Phil Glover and Matt Ferriday that kept the interval

Ewyas Harold 2 Woofferton 2 (Woofferton 8-7 on penalties) JUSTIN Wheatley's successful spot-kick allowed Woofferton to carry off the HFA Charity Bowl in last Thursday's final against Ewyas Harold at Wellington after a thrilling penalty shoot-out. Harold

Ross Town 0 Shrivenham 2 ROSS saw their championship hopes in the Cherry Red Records Hellenic League Division 1 West dealt a hefty setback by Shrivenham, who themselves now move in second place. Ross, in third, now trail leaders Purton by nine points

LEDBURY Town's scheduled West Midland League Premier Division match at Newport was cancelled at short notice when the Shropshire club folded after the chairman and caretaker-manager Paul Lloyd accused his players of not giving maximum effort. He made

Hereford Times Herefordshire League, FW Peterson Cup Final: Marriotts 1 Hereford Lads Club Colts 3. Premier Division: Fownhope 3 Weston 2, Wellington Rangers 0 Hinton 0. Division 1: Bromyard Tn 1 Tupsley 2, Pencombe 2 Shobdon 0, Weobley 1 Colwall Rangers

A HEREFORDSHIRE school has been described as 'good' with 'very good features' and 'hardworking staff' in a glowing report from Ofsted inspectors. John Kyrle High School in Ross-on-Wye has made substantial improvements since the last inspection in 1997

HARRY Bramer has made his money many times over in the corporate jungle: now he spends his time helping nature's meekest species survive the real thing. At least twice a year Harry swaps the sumptuous trappings of success at Rudhall Manor, near Ross-on-Wye

A JEWEL on the literary landscape, a magnet for tourists ... and one of 100 towns on the shortlist for inclusion in the second edition of Crap Towns, Hay-on-Wye has, ironically, been nominated for what makes it so popular. E-mails received by the book's

CAT lovers in Hay-on-Wye have found the 'purrfect' way to help their feline friends. Hay Cat Rescue has organised a Spring fair at Cusop Parish Room from 2.30pm on Saturday to help homeless cats such as Grumpy. She turned up in a garden with her kittens

HEREFORD United head for Halifax on Saturday knowing that a win would be enough to guarantee them a place in the end-of-season Nationwide Conference play-offs. Achieving that target would erase the unpleasant memory of last season's visit when a 1-0 defeat

HEREFORD United have been edged back to second place in the Nationwide Conference table after Chester City's 2-0 win at Telford United on Tuesday night. But troubled Telford set aside their off the field problems to take the new leaders all the way, resisting

TWENTY-TWO members of Hereford Fly Fishing Club took part in the first bank competition of the season at Witcombe Reservoir near Gloucester. Conditions were ideal with a fresh breeze, overcast sky and a good hatch of buzzers. Colin Poole won with a 17

A BROMYARD woman is treating herself to a well-earned break after she scooped the St Michael's Hospice lottery top prize - four years after her mother won it. Jane Dewhurst and husband David had already decided money was too tight to take their annual

A HEREFORDSHIRE animal centre is yelping with joy after landing a £1,500 cash boost. Hereford and Worcester Animal Rescue Centre has been awarded the money by the Dogs in Distress Agility Group. Founder of the animal centre Carol Smith says she was delighted

It has now been announced in the National Press that the council tax increase for Herefordshire for the coming year is the second highest in the country. All councillors must take collective responsibility for this shameful record. I suggest that in the

SO now we know, there is to be another large increase in council tax this year. What for? More dirty streets, more invisible policemen? If the council didn't get it, they would bang on about having to cut out services. What services? The only service

IT WAS good to read Matthew Hitchiner's recent letter in the Hereford Times speaking out for the sake of our trees. Sadly, however, nothing is likely to change since such lack of concern for the environment, but particularly trees and hedgerows is all