Evening Mail back issues from Tuesday, January 30:
It's hard not to be touched by what you see Health Midlands
Jan 30, 2007; ... With doctors working such long hours and under pressure, theycould be forgiven for wanting to just put their feet up at the end ofthe day. But nearly 300 medical staff spend their free time byswapping their white coats for camouflages to form part of theTerritorial Army's 202 Field ...
First new car at Longbridge
Jan 30, 2007; ... THE first new MG car to be produced under Chinese ownership at are-born Longbridge was unveiled today. The exciting MG TF sports car is the first to roll off theproduction line - and comes with an urgent plea from the Nanjing Automotive Corporation. It called for backing ...
Hope springing from heartbreak REBIRTH OF LONGBRIDGE
Jan 30, 2007; ... THE rebirth of Longbridge with the first new MG for nearly twoyears marks yet another milestone in the 100-year-old plus journey ofBritain's most famous car factory. The resumption of production at the mothballed plant comes nearly22 months after the dream finally turned into a ...
From Austin's early days to fresh models REBIRTH OF LONGBRIDGE
Jan 30, 2007; ... SINCE Lord Herbert Austin first chose Longbridge as the site tomake his cars in 1905, the world-renowned Birmingham car plant hasendured a roller-coaster history. But it was the huge factory's most recent history that proved itsmost turbulent. The significant dates since then are: ...
I saw them get out of the car and run and I couldn't stop myself chasing the driver... I was that angry DRAMA: Hero dad springs into action after stolen vehicle crashes into his son
Jan 30, 2007; ... A SHOCKED dad gave chase to a driver and his two passengers aftera stolen car careered into his garden and hit his young son. Martin Proffitt rugby-tackled one of the passengers and was helpedby neighbours to detain him until police arrived. He sprang into action after his ...
Boy hurt in paint can blast
Jan 30, 2007 ... A YOUNGSTER suffered a bloodied nose and cuts when a paint canexploded in his face. The 10-year-old boy spotted smoke coming from a litter bin at apark in Percy Road, Sparkhill, but when he peered in, a spray canblew up, covering his face in paint. Paramedics were alerted ...
Man rescued in flat blaze
Jan 30, 2007 ... FIREFIGHTERS today urged people to get smoke alarms fitted, aftera pensioner was rescued from a flat fire. Fire crews broke into the flat in Bearwood Road, Smethwick, justbefore midnight to rescue the 67-year-old man, who had fallen asleepafter putting a pan on the stove. He was ...
Airport move to extend runway
Jan 30, 2007; ... BIRMINGHAM International Airport is to press ahead with a fullplanning application to extend the main runway which would allowjumbo jets to take off. The 400m extension could mean a big increasein long-haul flights and could be completed in time to benefit fromthe spin-off from the 2012 ...
The World: EU smoke-free push
Jan 30, 2007 ... THE European Commission was today stepping up the campaign againstsmoking - keeping up pressure to turn the entire EU into a smoke-free zone by ...
The World: 'Our Iraq errors'
Jan 30, 2007 ... ADMIRAL William Fallon, poised to become the top Americancommander in the Middle East, says the US miscalculated the abilityof Iraqi forces to take control and underestimated the ...
The World: Extras star marries
Jan 30, 2007 ... EXTRAS star Ashley Jensen has eloped with her boyfriend TerenceBeesley to get married in a Californian forest. The ...
The World: Microsoft launch
Jan 30, 2007 ... MICROSOFT boss Bill Gates was today unveiling the technologyfirm's latest operating system ....
The World: MPs facing icy test
Jan 30, 2007 ... AN intrepid team of MPs will brave extreme conditions in theArctic Circle next month to raise money for good causes. The cross-party group will face ...
The World: Oh baby, I'm fit
Jan 30, 2007 ... NEW mother Gwen Stefani has revealed the extraordinary lengths towhich she went in order to shed her baby weight. The singer kept up her gruelling ...
The World: House prices slow
Jan 30, 2007 ... THE average UK house price increased by 0.3 per cent in January -the lowest monthly rise for eight months, new figures today ...
Gay adoption row simmers BATTLE: Archbishop tight-lipped as damaged Blair licks wounds
Jan 30, 2007; ... THE Archbishop of Birmingham remained tight-lipped today as TonyBlair sought to draw a line under the damaging gay adoption row byfinally ruling out exemptions for Catholic agencies. Amid claims that weeks of bitter Cabinet infighting had furthereroded his authority, the Prime ...
Broadway hopeful is American beauty
Jan 30, 2007; ... ASPIRING Broadway star Lauren Nelson was crowned Miss America, thesecond year in a row that a Miss Oklahoma has won the crown. Nelson, 20, of Lawton, Oklahoma, is a student at the University ofCentral Oklahoma and is aiming to get her master's degree in musicaltheatre ....
Ex-Tory minister dies, 71
Jan 30, 2007 ... TRIBUTES were paid today to former Tory Cabinet minister LordKelvedon, previously known as Paul Channon, who has died aged 71. A party spokeswoman said the peer, who served as Trade Secretaryand Transport Secretary under Margaret Thatcher, passed away onSaturday. "He had ...
BA 'back to normal'
Jan 30, 2007 ... BRITISH Airways today expected to run a "full flying programme"from Heathrow and Gatwick after a dramatic last-gasp deal averted aplanned two-day strike by cabin crew. The airline was rushing to reinstate hundreds of flights cancelledbecause of the planned industrial action by ...
Sorry, madam, I've ruined your house RENOVATION: Hole opens up in BBC writer's home as builders next door dig too deep
Jan 30, 2007; ... IT'S the renovation that almost brought a house down - theneighbour's house. Builders renovating a property in a des-res Moseley streetseemingly dug too deep into the foundations and caused an adjacentproperty to collapse. Fire crews and engineers worked late into the night ...
Children put heat on minister
Jan 30, 2007 ... CHILDREN grilled a Government health minister about school dinnersand the Olympics during a brisk walk along one of Birmingham'scanals. Pupils from Billesley Primary School, in Billesley, and Bells FarmPrimary in Druids Heath, quizzed Minister of State for Public HealthCaroline ...
Barge in collision
Jan 30, 2007 ... A LANDING barge helping with the clean-up of containers from thestranded cargo ship Napoli was in collision with a fishing boat,Coastguards said today. Two crew members were slightly hurt in the crash, which happenedtwo miles off Lyme Regis, Dorset, at 6pm yesterday as both boats ...
Concern for missing man
Jan 30, 2007 ... CONCERN was today growing for a Birmingham man missing from homefor more than a month. Alan Bloor (above) vanished from his home in Cardington Avenue,Great Barr, last December. He was reported missing earlier ...
The tough talking Tory MAIL NEWS FOCUS Armed with buzz words and hard-hitting soundbites, Conservative leader David Cameron arrived in Birmingham to preach community cohesion - but not everyone listening was convinced by his arguments. POPPY BRADY reports.
Jan 30, 2007; ... Those who seek a separate law for British Muslims are ... a mirrorimage of the BNP - Conservative leader David Cameron PEOPLE who want a sharia state in Britain or a separate law forBritish Muslims are nothing better than a mirror image of the BritishNational Party, ...
Star birthdays
Jan 30, 2007 ... Gene Hackman, actor, 77' Christian Bale, actor, 33' VanessaRedgrave, actress, 70' Boris Spassky, chess ...
Quiz of the day
Jan 30, 2007 ... 1. Which comedy character has made it on to a list of Britain'smost powerful men? 2. What percentage of UK rail passengers think they get a goodservice? 3. Which film has been named Britain's favourite movie sequel? 4. What cosmetic procedure is "no solution" to ...
'We're yet to be convinced by cohesion'
Jan 30, 2007 ... SMOOTH talking words on community cohesion from David Cameron didnot convince everyone who listened to his keynote speech in Lozells. Plasterer Daniel Fleming took him to task and said: "What am Isupposed to do when an Asian man I did a job for told me that hisfriends won't employ ...
Why didn't you ask us, Mr Cameron?
Jan 30, 2007 ... DAVID Cameron has come under fire for failing to consult withBirmingham Muslims ahead of his visit. Members of Birmingham Central Mosque said they were not invited tomeet with the Conservative leader when he visited Lozells to discussthe need for greater community cohesion ....
Help with ID theft threat
Jan 30, 2007 ... MIDLANDERS are leaving themselves wide open to the threat ofidentity theft, according to the results of a new survey. Almost a third of people in the region admitted to throwing awaybank statements and receipts without shredding them and a fifth didnot check accounts for ...
Ban 'shock' dog collars - MP's plea
Jan 30, 2007; ... ELECTRIC dog collars which issue a shock when pets misbehave mustbe banned, according to a Midland MP. John Spellar (Lab Warley) said the public would be horrified tolearn the devices were freely available in Britain. The MP has tabled a House of Commons motion calling for ...
Quake hits Oz
Jan 30, 2007 ... A MAGNITUDE 6.7 earthquake rocked the coast of Australia's remoteMacquarie Island today, the US Geological Survey said. The quake struck west of ...
Villa accused of racial bias TRIBUNAL: Club fights race discrimination sacking claim
Jan 30, 2007; ... AN employment tribunal has been opened and adjourned into a claimthat the former commercial director of Aston Villa was sacked on thegrounds of racial discrimination. Abdul Rashid claims he was made redundant from the Premiershipclub in August 2005 after more than 30 years' loyal ...
REVIEWS: Cute are outshone CUTE IS WHAT WE AIM FOR Carling Academy 2
Jan 30, 2007; ... FANS of pop-punk newbies Cute Is What We Aim For were willing totrade body parts for a ticket, so everyone inside felt lucky to bethere. Dave Melillo introduced himself to an Academy bursting withanticipation. Sam's Song and Knights of the Island Counter were moving soft ...
REVIEWS: Pianist Ben is just grand BEN FOLDS Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
Jan 30, 2007; ... THE word 'crescendo' was made for the supremely talented BenFolds. For nearly two hours the singer/songwriter from North Carolinabashed, thumped and hammered a grand piano into submission. Almost every song ended in a huge wave of enthusiastic playing,with the bespectacled ...
Did you witness cash depot raid? CRIME: Fresh appeal over copycat burglary involving stolen skip lorry
Jan 30, 2007; ... POLICE have released new CCTV images of a man they believe couldhold vital information about a copycat ram-raid in the Midlands. Detectives investigating the raid at the Natwest cash processingcentre in Sandy Way, Amington, near Tamworth, want to speak to theman as a potential ...
pounds 300,000 road safety boost
Jan 30, 2007 ... SAFETY campaigners have been handed a boost with news that anextra pounds 300,000 will be spent on trying to cut road accidents inthe West Midlands. The region will get even more cash to spend on road safety afterits Local Transport Plan submission was judged "excellent" ....
Coffee and a chat
Jan 30, 2007 ... PENSIONERS are being invited to join a local social group. The group meets at Fox Hollies Forum in Greenwood Avenue, AcocksGreen, ...
Would God really mind if gay couple were best solution?
Jan 30, 2007; ... THE practical point partly lost in the dilemma over gay adoptionis that for some children those parents may be the best option. Now Idon't relate to homosexuality. People's behaviour is their ownbusiness so long as they are not hurting anyone or breaking the lawof the land. Logic must ...
City fire attacks menace is caged COURT: Indefinite jail sentence for hostel resident with mental problems
Jan 30, 2007; ... A MAN with a history of mental illness who acted in a"frighteningly dangerous way" when he started fires in a Birminghamhostel has been sentenced to an indefinite prison sentence. Judge Phillip Gregory told Luke Kyle the public needed protectionfrom him because there was a risk ...
Deductions court fight
Jan 30, 2007; ... IT was contrary to justice and common sense for the Home Office todeduct "living expenses" from compensation paid to men who spendyears in jail because of miscarriages of justice, the House of Lordswas told. Barrister Philip Engelman is representing two Midland men whospent 18 ...
The World: Parents' jobs move
Jan 30, 2007 ... SINGLE parents are to be encouraged to go back to work instead ofrelying on benefits. Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton wasannouncing ...
The World: Terror charges
Jan 30, 2007 ... TWO men were charged under the Terrorism Act following theirarrest in early morning raids in Halifax last week. Rizwan Ditta, ...
The World: Paris web action
Jan 30, 2007 ... HEIRESS Paris Hilton has launched legal action to try and shutdown a website that displays personal photos, videos, diaries, ...
The World: Parking increase
Jan 30, 2007 ... CONTROVERSIAL plans to increase annual parking permit costs forgas-guzzling vehicles have been approved by a local council. Thepolicy by ...
The World: Travel warning
Jan 30, 2007 ... THE Government has revised its travel advice to Pakistan,following recent explosions and the risk of further attacks duringthe Islamic ...
The World: J-Lo 'sex' battle
Jan 30, 2007 ... JENNIFER Lopez's first husband, Ojani Noa, was ordered to enterarbitration with the pop star over his plans for a tell-all bookabout their brief marriage. The ...
Police seize weapons
Jan 30, 2007; ... THESE were the frightening weapons seized from rail commutersduring passenger checks in Birmingham. British Transport Police used airport-style metal detectors toscan hundreds of travellers passing through Birmingham New Streetstation. A large lock knife and knuckleduster ...
Cash probe for charities PROJECTS: Council handouts stopped after investigation
Jan 30, 2007; ... TWO Winson Green community projects for jobless and the elderlyhave had their council grants stopped following allegations offinancial mismanagement. The Summerfield Foundation and Summerfield Care and Repair havebeen told they will not receive council grants following ...
Homework club a lesson in lowering stress
Jan 30, 2007 ... A NEW club is offering children a helping hand with theirhomework. Castle Bromwich library began running a new homework club todaywhich is aimed at taking the stress out of school work for pupils. The club, for children aged eight and over, will run during schoolterm time ...
pounds 2m flats for old land
Jan 30, 2007 ... LUXURY apartments are to be developed in a pounds 2 millioncomplex set to transform a derelict site in the Midlands. Developers George Wimpey West Midlands have been given planningpermission for the site on Bromford Road, Oldbury, which will bring24 "designer" properties to the ...
Our Say
Jan 30, 2007 ... THE resumption of car production at Longbridge after nearly twoyears of inactivity is a proud, symbolic moment for the famous oldfactory. Britain's best known car plant has been a shadow of its formerself since April 2005, when MG Rover ran out of time and cash. That July, ...
Letter: Your Say - Driver's defiant solution
Jan 30, 2007; ... I AM in my second year of sixth form and for convenience I catchthe No 35 through Kings Heath each morning and home again eachafternoon. Having read the articles about yobs on the No 8 ( Mail, January26), I fancied contributing a recent experience on the 35. It's well known ...
Letter: Your Say - LOOKING closely
Jan 30, 2007; ... LOOKING closely at the recent fare increase on TWM buses, I thinkthe reasoning behind it is to encourage the public to purchasetravelcards so the company already has your money. Also you are less likely to use one of the ...
Letter: Your Say - WITH all the criticism
Jan 30, 2007; ... WITH all the criticism about the buses, I would like to say a goodword for the No 50 from the Maypole to town. Since I retired over 15 years ago, my wife and I have used thisservice quite regularly from the Maypole to town and in all that timeI have always got on a clean bus and ...
Letter: Your Say - Disabled facilities
Jan 30, 2007; ... IN RESPONSE to the request from H King ( Mail, January 26). I canhighly recommend Oaklands guest house in ...
Letter: Your Say - Grammars best
Jan 30, 2007; ... BIRMINGHAM has the King Edward VI Foundation's five free grammarschools which have consistently delivered choice and quality insecondary state education and will continue to do so, despite thebest ...
Letter: Your Say - Feathered gems
Jan 30, 2007; ... I WAS pleased to see the piece in Friday's paper about the RSPBcentre in Sandwell Valley as I have always felt this was one of theundiscovered gems of Birmingham. I have been there many times at all different times of year andthink it is an excellent place. We have seen all ...
Letter: Your Say - Bad hair days
Jan 30, 2007; ... WHAT is the matter with the females today? They either have theirhair hanging like rats tails or over their eyes. Do they think they ...
Letter: Your Say - Waste bags ignored
Jan 30, 2007; ... COULD someone please explain what our council taxes are paid for? I disposed of my bags as usual the evening before the day the binmen came only to get up on the morning to find my bags had been leftexactly ...
Remember When? January 1972
Jan 30, 2007 ... FOURTEEN people were killed on this day in 1972 when Britishtroops opened fire on a crowd of demonstrators in the Bogsidedistrict of Londonderry. Seventeen more people, including one woman, were injured bygunfire. Another woman was knocked down by a speeding car. The army ...
Letter: Your Say - Smoke hazard
Jan 30, 2007; ... SURELY when the government is trying to impose safety at thewheel, they have to look at the risk of people smoking when driving. I understand that new legislation penalises using a mobile,eating, drinking or applying make-up while driving. This, I assume, is because it is ...
The Big Question
Jan 30, 2007 ... Yesterday we asked if NHS patients should have to pay for routinesurgery? 11% YES 89% NO Today: Should Catholic adoption agencies be forced to placechildren in the care of gay ...
Letter: Your Say - Moral tradition
Jan 30, 2007; ... ARCHBISHOP NICHOLS, in his refusal to authorise children fromCatholic adoption agencies being placed with single sex couples, wassimply announcing the supremacy of individual conscience. For 2,000 years the Christian Church has declared that marriage isa partnership contract ...
Letter: Your Say - Being parents is a huge, responsible job
Jan 30, 2007; ... I AGREE with Archbishop Vincent Nichols that same sex couplesshould not be allowed to adopt children. It is not natural for children growing up within this environmentwith two men or two women living together as husband and wife posingas mummy and daddy. A family unit ...
Cinema Choice
Jan 30, 2007 ... BLACK BOOK (15): Paul Verhoeven's suspense thriller based on atrue story about a Jewish woman taking on ...