Birmingham Mail (England) back issues from April 2009:
It was all thanks to Roger my eyes were opened to island gems; TheGreat Escape.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Frank Corless IT DIDN'T take long for a former Birmingham maths teacher to give me the right equation to help make a holiday spring to life. Roger Bradley, pictured, and his wife Eileen settled in Gran Canaria in 1995 but it was only five years ago that he ...
Glorious gardens at home.
Apr 01, 2009 ... FORGET Monet's gardens - cheaper and much closer to home, plant lovers can banish the winter blues by exploring the glorious gardens of scenic Sussex this spring. With unspoilt countryside, wild woodlands and an array of botanically rich landscaped gardens, East and West Sussex ...
Mortgage protection help.
Apr 01, 2009 ... BUYERS at several Barratt and David Wilson developments across the region will have their mortgage repayments protected for up to three years thanks to free insurance with a new home. The companies are paying the first year's premium to insure buyers against being unable to make ...
Scheme frees sellers from chains; Homeseeker.
Apr 01, 2009 ... A BIRMINGHAM estate agent has launched a scheme to help people looking for a quick sale on their property. Dixons' Chain Free initiative is exclusively for home owners who are keen to make the most of low property prices and interest rates, by showcasing properties which are ...
Family home's good links.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Maureen Messent THE district of Hollywood, an almost rural haven to the far side of Kings Heath, has the best of both worlds: first class public transport links to Birmingham city centre and Worcestershire countryside on the doorstep. Now a modern-style ...
Plans to close high school put on ice.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: KATIE GRANT A CONTROVERSIAL decision to close a top-performing school has been delayed. Parents, children and staff from Castle Hall school in Mirfield met at Dewsbury town hall to challenge the closure. The audience applauded as they heard that ...
Location is a big attraction.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Maureen Messent EDGBASTON'S special. All Brummies will admit that. Special like Moseley and Harborne. Having that indefinable cachet that means it has, at its best, unassailable class. A good illustration of this comes with 26 Selwyn Road, now on ...
Grout work needs effort; DIY.
Apr 01, 2009 ... DIY TOP TIPS ... For replacing grout Grout can become * discoloured over time with mould, cooking splashes, shower gel and shampoo residues taking their toll. Before you consider replacing the grout, try scrubbing it with sugar-soap or grout-cleaning spray and then, if necessary, ...
Helping save the tomato.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Hannah Stephenson IF YOU'RE growing tomatoes this year and you want to add some exoticsounding types to your menu - doing your bit for preservation at the same time - a host of endangered tomato varieties are being championed in a new campaign. S of diversity ...
Court GEM; ACE: Tournament serves up claim to sport's birthplace.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Alun Thorne A TENNIS tournament celebrating Birmingham's claim to have invented the game is to be staged by business professionals. The event, to take place on May 15 at Edgbaston Priory Club, is the brainchild of networking group Birmingham Business Focus. ...
Pink adds date.
Apr 01, 2009 ... POP star Pink today added a fourth date to her run of shows at Birmingham's NIA Arena. The singer, whose hits include Get The Party Started, will perform at ...
Volunteer to save wildlife.
Apr 01, 2009 ... CONSERVATION group Biosphere Expeditions is calling for volunteers from Birmingham to help protect wildlife. The non-profit organisation runs expeditions all over the world to protect endangered animals and their habitats. Biosphere Expeditions marks its ...
City venue's big boost for charity.
Apr 01, 2009 ... KIND-HEARTED visitors and businesses to Brindleyplace have dug deep despite the economic downturn and helped to raise nearly pounds 9,000 for charities during the past year. The attractive city centre venue, full of firms, upscale restaurants and cafes, organised a series of ...
Plea on sex education in schools.
Apr 01, 2009 ... A MAJOR shake-up of sex and relationships education is needed in Birmingham's schools if the city is to tackle the problem of its alarming teenage pregnancy rate. That is the finding of a review carried out in Birmingham by the city's own young people, which was presented during ...
Duo's fun lives on.
Apr 01, 2009 ... BIRMINGHAM'S Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society is moving to a new home after 15 years. Laughing Gravy will celebrate its 16th birthday tomorrow at the Forget-Me- Not Club, Tyburn Road, Erdington. There will be S and a grand raffle. Films to be screened on ...
Time to Score for children; DESIGN: Ex-England star backs campaign to help Ethiopia.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Tony Collins FORMER England football star John Barnes is urging young footie fanatics across Birmingham to help provide muchneeded sports facilities for children in Africa. The ex-Liverpool winger has linked up with Score Ethiopia to ask primary school ...
MP in Sikhs on TV appeal.
Apr 01, 2009 ... AN MP has called on the BBC to screen more programmes on Sikhism after accusing the corporation of imbalanced coverage. Rob Marris, MP for Wolverhampton South West, ...
Viking's six- figure for Catherine's books.
Apr 01, 2009 ... A BIRMINGHAM writer has signed a six-figure deal for her next two novels, one of which is set in the city. Catherine O'Flynn, (pictured), who shot to fame when she won the Costa First Novel Award for her first book What Was Lost, has been acquired by Viking in a hotly-contested ...
Charting the rise of rock's females.
Apr 01, 2009 ... THINK of British music and you are likely to picture the Beatles, Oasis or, if you are a young schoolgirl, McFly. These acts have all, in their way, changed the course of music for better or for worse over the years. Our charts have been teeming with influential acts ...
SoapWatch.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Emmerdale Daz reluctantly takes Victoria out for the day as part of her birthday celebrations, and the pair finally give in to their feelings (above), but passion quickly turns to anger when the mechanic insists it must not happen again. Home and Away Geoff and Nicole escape ...
Sky's the limit for pair.
Apr 01, 2009 ... IT seems that no matter how hard the credit crunch hits us, there's always someone who can afford to find themselves some stunning new properties. That's half the charm of this show really, looking at the places where we wish we could live. Here Kirstie Allsopp and ...
Pick of the day.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Queens of British Pop (10.45pm) Part one of two. Celebration of 12 female singers who have influenced British pop music over the past 50 years. The first programme looks at the 1960s and 1970s. Tom Jones, Burt Bacharach, Jarvis Cocker, John Lydon and Henry Winkler contribute.. ...
Reader Travel.
Apr 01, 2009 ... CRUISE THE RHINE TO SWITZERLAND TEN DAYS DEPARTING MAY 6, 2009 PRICE FROM pounds 549 WAS pounds 699 - SAVE pounds 150 PER PERSON Included in the price: Return coach travel from Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield; Return ferry crossings from Dover to Calais; Nine nights full board ...
Holiday Deals.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Stay at the 4-star President Hotel in Istanbul on a bed and breakfast basis for 7 nights for pounds 415 per person. The price includes return flights from Birmingham with Turkish Airlines and transfers. Departures available between May 1 - 20. To book call Anatolian Sky on 0121 ...
ENTERTAINMENT.
Apr 01, 2009 ... PICK OF THE DAY Live International Football (Sky Sports 1, 7.30pm) Wales v Germany (Kick-off 7.45pm). All the action from the World Cup Group Four qualifier at the Millennium Stadium. Germany won 1-0 when the sides met in October, with a spectacular second-half strike by Piotr ...
FILM OF THE DAY; MOVIES.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Wild Wild West (Sky Movies Action/Thriller, 7.05pm) A government agent and his eccentric new partner face a series of dangers while investigating an ...
Reduced-price sellers target 'revenge' items.
Apr 01, 2009 ... HOMEOWNERS who reduce their price to clinch a sale may be tempted to seek revenge - by taking items from the property to their next address. One buyer sliced up a lawn to sell as turf because he felt a buyer had paid too little. Susan Drakeford, a licensed ...
Keep track of your mortgage; Finance Doctor.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Tim Twiddy SO WILL the G20 summit in London make any difference to the global economic picture? Probably not. All the actions of governments and central banks have so far made no quick fix to the situation so if we accept that things aren't going to suddenly become rosy ...
An ideal option for first-time buyers; Homeseeker.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Kate Wolfe ONE of many dilemmas faced by first time buyers is that homes in their price bracket often need refurbishment work that's unaffordable on a novice buyers' budget or they are located in less popular areas. Neither problem applies to the attractive ...
What you ge a cool pounds 4 m et for m... Dream Home.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Maureen Messent ABEAUTIFUL home in elegant Farquhar Road, Edgbaston, has hit the market with a price-tag just shy of pounds 4 million - making it one of the country's most desirable properties. And although it's far beyond most of our means, what does pounds ...
ReaderTravels.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Catch U2 at ...
Quay to a brill break; Restaurant is champ of local food.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Emily Bridgewater MY HAPPIEST childhood memories were of camping holidays on the Welsh coastline. Long, sunny days on the beach, sheltered by a windbreak, trying to fish the sand out of soggy sarnies, followed by evenings wrapped-up warm, rock-pooling and ...
It's tempting for townies; Hot Property.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Kate Wolfe TWENTY miles from the city centre and around 30 minutes away by road or rail, it is no wonder that, over the years, Hagley's popularity has mushroomed among city types yearning to live out of town but fearing isolation in the inaccessible "sticks". ...
WEALTH WARNING - PERSONAL LOAN SCANDAL Payment Protection Insurance - is this the biggest "Bank Robbery" in history? ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE.
Apr 01, 2009 ... "Renaissance has already won pounds 7 million in payment protection insurance compensation, with an average win of over pounds 2,000. In fact, we won pounds 25,000 for one particular client. We pride ourselves on our results and, as importantly, on our customer service. Our aim is to take ...
Simon hits out at 'lie-in' jibe.
Apr 01, 2009 ... BIRMINGHAM MP Sion Simon has hit back after Tories accused him of having a lie-in instead of doing his job. Mr Simon (Lab Erdington), a Minister in the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, was blamed when the Government lost the vote on a new education bill. ...
The homes cash goes in two by two.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Jon Walker ATTENTION inevitably focused on Jacqui Smith, the home secretary, when details of MPs' expenses were published this week. She received pounds 22,948 to help pay for her "second home" in Redditch, it was revealed. But the real winners are ...
Must-have cheegy at Pet Show.
Apr 01, 2009 ... A BIRMINGHAM pet show is planning to unveil the latest must-have exotic breed ... the cheegy. The lightning-quick beast is a cross between a cheetah and a common cat, and originates from South Africa. Capable of reaching speeds of 60mph in two-and-a-half seconds, the super-moggy ...
Help for new buyers.
Apr 01, 2009 ... A GOVERNMENT scheme to help firsttime buyers get on the property ladder has been launched at Bryant Homes' Central Square development in West Bromwich, The HomeBuy Direct initiative lets househunters with a household income of less than pounds 60,000 take advantage of an interest-free ...
Home in sea of tranquillity; Hot Property.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Kate Wolfe KINGS Heath is almost a compacted city in its own right, with bustling Alcester Road shopping "centre", urban streets of Victorian and Edwardian terraces and quiet, tree-dotted suburban roads and avenues around its park. Colmore Colmore Road, off ...
Funding split three ways.
Apr 01, 2009 ... DISABLED athletes are on track to sporting success after being given a cash boost by staff at a generous Birmingham firm. Charity Mencap Sport was one of three good causes to receive a slice of pounds 1,200 and will use the cash to help people take part in sports events across ...
Bid to beat litter bugs.
Apr 01, 2009 ... LITTER bugs who have turned a footpath into a dumping ground will soon find an obstacle in their path. Colton Road, Colton, has become a hot-spot for rubbish, ...
Collect cash to help pets.
Apr 01, 2009 ... PEOPLE are needed to help collect cash for the RSPCA in Kings Heath this Saturday. Volunteers are needed to give two hours of their time to rattle tins in the High Street. Every single penny they ...
Fine serves as warning to fly tippers.
Apr 01, 2009 ... A COUNCIL has clocked up yet another successful prosecution against a litter bug. Ross Beaman, of Redwood Drive, Cannock, has paid a hefty price for fly tipping after he was caught red handed by Lichfield District Council. The council started proceedings against ...
Don't charge us for helping these kids! Group giving free lessons to deprived children now told it must pay to use centre.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Anuji Varma A GROUP of youth leaders have been told to cough up pounds 80 a month to use a Birmingham community centre to help deprived youngsters off the street. Zeal Contemporary has been assisting underprivileged youngsters, aged 16 to 25, for more than ...
Carter gets points for struggling Smiths; TABLE TENNIS.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Bob Brown TONY Carter produced a timely maximum for Premier Division strugglers Smiths Wood C in their bottom-of-the-table clash with Streetly A. Smiths enjoyed a 7-3 victory, which still gives them hope of avoiding the drop. Title contenders ...
Trio rewarded for years' service; FOOTBALL: Earlswood members are honoured by Birmingham County FA.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Andy Walker A COMMITTED trio have been recognised for more than 120 years of unbroken service to Earlswood Town FC. John Sharpe, Jill Bloxham and Jim Jones were proudly presented with awards from the Birmingham County FA to mark 40 years each with the ...
Shirley win first battle of Solihull.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Andy Walker SHIRLEY Athletic saw off local rivals Silhill to lift the BCFA Saturday Junior Cup - but not before a battle that went into extra-time. In the first all-Solihull final to grace the 121-year-old competition, both sides fought out a 1-1 draw over 90 ...
Caster attack helps Ian to Norbury best; LINE AND SINKER Hook.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: GARETH PURNELL THE chub on the Norbury stretch of the Shropshire Union have been harder to come by recently but Shakespeare rod Ian McCall located them on peg 129 in the last match there. McCall pole-fished caster tight to a far bank snag to bag 25 in five ...
Results are raising bar; BLACK COUNTRY: Pupils and teaching staff are all smiles over top set of classroom test figures.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Tony Collins SENIOR education offi- cials across the Black Country were all smiles today after thousands of 11-year-olds achieved another set of excellent classroom test results. Lengthy delays in publishing today's national Key Stage 2 results due to last ...
Education chiefs: Testing pupils remains essential.
Apr 01, 2009 ... THE Association of School and College Leaders today distanced itself from calls to scrap primary school tests. Two of the biggest education unions - the National Union of Teachers and the National Association of Head Teachers - are planning a joint boycott of Sats next year to ...
Perfection for trio at top of table; SOLIHULL: Three schools score 300 out of 300.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Tony Collins A TRIO of primary schools in Solihull are sitting pretty at the top of the national academic tree for their pupils' performances in today's Key Stage 2 tables. Oak Cottage Primary in Solihull, St Patrick's CE Primary in Earlswood, and Berkswell ...
Reasons to be cheerful; STAFFORDSHIRE: County is on the way up.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Tony Collins STAFFORDSHIRE primary school pupils have a good reason to celebrate success today, after once again achieving higher than average Key Stage 2 results. The county has continued to head in the right direction when compared with the other 149 local ...
Adding up to success; WORCESTERSHIRE: Maths result stands out.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Tony Collins PRIMARY schools in Worcestershire were enjoying a touch of restored pride today following publication of the national Key Stage 2 results. The annual performance tables, delayed from last year due to a fiasco over the marking of test papers, was ...
YourStars WITH CLAIRE PETULENGRO.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: CLAIRE PETULENGRO Learn to love yourself Aries. You have done a very good job of putting yourself down recently. You have more assets than you realise, and chances you take after 2pm can prove this fact to you. Call my starline now to right a wrong in the family. ...
KPMG staff opt for cuts to save jobs.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Tom Scotney MORE than 1,000 people at financial giant KPMG in the Midlands have opted to work four-day weeks or take reduced-pay sabbaticals after the firm launched a cost-cutting drive. KPMG said 80 per cent of its 1,500-strong Midlands workforce, based ...
Journey vital in face of Holocaust denial; InsideView.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Roger McKenzie AT the end of this week my 14-year-old daughter is going on a school journey to the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. It's the first time that my daughter has been abroad without me or her mother so it's a very big occasion. ...
Staff on move to avoid job losses; EMPLOYMENT: Redeployment of workers soars in Midlands.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Jon Griffin REDEPLOYMENT has trebled in the Midlands in just 12 months as employers seek all possible alternatives to redundancy, a new survey shows. Figures published today show that firms are also pushing through measures such as increases in holiday ...
Jewellery robber jailed for six years; COURT: Staff and customers dived for cover as gang grabbed pounds 118,000 haul.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Byline: Ross McCarthy A MEMBER of a gang of robbers who terrorised staff and customers at a Birmingham jewellers before stealing more than pounds 100,000 worth of gems has been jailed for six years. It took just 30 seconds for the gang to carry out the raid and get ...
Driver crashes into a ditch.
Apr 01, 2009 ... POLICE are appealing for witnesses following an early morning crash. A white Ford Transit crashed into a ditch in Sheepwash Row, Rugeley, close to the railway bridge shortly before 1am on Monday. The driver, a man ...
Dentists are on track.
Apr 01, 2009 ... A MIDLAND dental practice has been picked by the British Olympic association to ensure our Olympic athletes' smiles are gleaming. Dr Paul Carroll and Dr Andrew Nesbitt, of Shenstone Dental Centre, Shenstone, near Lichfield, ...
Zoo's stars get share of pounds 100,000.
Apr 01, 2009 ... A ZOO is investing pounds 100,000 on improving the welfare of its animals. Twycross Zoo, near Tamworth, is dividing the huge cash injection between keepers at the zoo for a range of initiatives to improve husbandry as well as animal welfare at the zoo. Completed ...
Group puts on a show.
Apr 01, 2009 ... FANS of the musicals are in for a treat next month when an amateur dramatic group performs some of their favourite numbers. The Arcadians will take a whistle-stop tour of the shows, singing more than 30 hits from popular musicals. A cast of 31 adults and seven ...
Our say.
Apr 01, 2009 ... CONGRATULATIONS to all those primary schools that are high in the latest league tables. The success represents the hard work put in by teachers, pupils and parents. But congratulations, too, to those primary schools that might not be riding high in the tables, but ...
Why was OAP let off? YourSay.
Apr 01, 2009 ... I COULD not believe what I read in the Mail on Saturday, March 21, about the OAP who vowed to go to jail rather that pay pounds 75 for breaking littering rules. How and why did she get let off? Could it be that she could not afford it as she needed to buy pigeon food instead? ...
Wrong to publish; YourSay.
Apr 01, 2009 ... AS a teacher who has spent the whole of his short career in inner-city Birmingham schools, I am shocked and appalled by the decision to publish the Street Influence report in the way that the Birmingham Mail did (March 24) - supposedly aiming to highlight the schools that could be at risk ...