The Birmingham Post (England) back issues from December 2007:
St Gregory.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Report, page 3 CAPTION(S): The coffin is carried into St Gregory's Church, Tredington for the funeral of John ...
3,500 council jobs to go but 'no-one will be axed'.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: By Paul Dale Public Affairs Editor Fewer than 3,500 jobs will be lost as a result of Birmingham City Council's cost cutting programme, the authority's chief executive insisted yesterday Stephen Hughes stressed the jobs, mainly in back-office administration, ...
MP delighted over news of no second runway at BIA.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: By Jonathan Walker Political Editor News there will be no second runway at Birmingham International Airport has been welcomed by the MP representing hundreds of families whose homes were blighted by the plans. Caroline Spelman (Con Meriden) said she welcomed ...
Why Santa's been told to belt up; SOCIAL.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Every Christmas Eve, Santa delivers presents to good children across the globe without fail. But his mythical safety record is not enough to satisfy modern day insurance companies while he makes his rounds in Midlands. The Halesowen and Rowley Regis Rotary Club has ...
Shop doorway woman burned; CRIME.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Police are investigating a fire in which a woman sleeping in a shop doorway sustained serious burns. The woman of 60, described as a "well known local figure" in Leamington Spa, was wrapped in a duvet which caught fire. She suffered extensive burns to her back and ...
STREETSMART.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... As the annual round of Christmas parties begins, Birmingham restaurants are asking you to spare a thought for the city's homeless. Almost 20 of Birmingham's favourite eating places are supporting the StreetSmart scheme, by asking their customers for a donation of pounds 1 on ...
How the small things will make a very big difference; New technology is modernising Birmingham City Council's arcane working methods. But there is a distinct unwillingness to talk about how many jobs will disappear, observes Public Affairs Editor Paul Dale.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: Paul Dale The man in charge of the biggest public authority in Europe insists it is the small things about Birmingham City Council's business transformation project that will make a real difference. A new computer system for Corporate Services will, for ...
At least 35 Bromsgrove District Council workers set to lose jobs.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... At least 35 Bromsgrove District Council workers are set to lose their jobs, it has been revealed. A budget shortfall of more than pounds 1.6 million has led to district bosses considering job cuts in a bid to save cash next year. A spokeswoman said that although job losses were ...
Tributes to fireman who died; Firefighter John Averis died in tragic circumstances a month ago while on duty serving the people of Warwickshire. Yesterday his family, friends and colleagues paid tribute to a "local hero".(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: Alex Young reports Emotional tributes were paid yesterday to an "enthusiastic and passionate" firefighter who died doing the job he loved. John Averis, 27, and three of his colleagues were killed while tackling a fierce blaze at a warehouse in Atherstone on ...
Residents to be asked views over building of two stores.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Campaigners will today be asking residents in Birmingham their views on plans to build two new ASDA supermarkets - one on land used as a pet cemetery. Members of the Birmingham branch of Friends of the Earth will carry out surveys at Selly Oak and Weoley Castle as part of their ...
Hourly watch as Spaghetti Junction just crumbles away.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Worried Highways engineers are mounting an hourly watch on part of Birmingham's iconic Spaghetti Junction which they admit is crumbling. The problem on the 'underbelly' is so serious that it is being constantly monitored by Highways Agency engineers on hydraulic platforms, it ...
Chaos after crash on Expressway.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... An accident on the Aston Expressway yesterday caused major delays and tailbacks as far as Broad Street in the city centre. Motorists spent almost two hours in traffic while the emergency services tried to free an injured man - trapped in his ...
Plans for young pointless if there are no jobs, says Simon.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Plans to keep young people in education or training until the age of 18 are pointless unless there are jobs for them afterwards, a Labour MP has warned. Sion Simon (Lab Erdington) urged Ministers to tackle the high level of unemployment among young adults in Birmingham. He ...
Labour MPs furious over 'disaster' of donations row.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: By Simon Wenlock The Electoral Commission yesterday afternoon formally handed over its report on Labour's disguised donations to the Metropolitan Police. The Commission said in a statement: "The Electoral Commission made the formal handover this afternoon ...
Terror threat grows, warns Smith.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Home Secretary Jacqui Smith yesterday warned that the threat of terror attacks in public places, including from radioactive dirty bombs, was "growing". She asked the public to remain vigilant over the Christmas period but urged people nevertheless to get on with their daily ...
Iranian group wants UK apology.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... The British Government should apologise to the Iranian people for labelling one of Iran's most powerful opposition groups a banned terrorist organisation, campaigners said yesterday. They should also immediately drop plans to appeal over a tribunal decision which ruled that the ...
'Doom and gloom' of rail privatisation wrong, Lord Snape admits.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... One of the strongest opponents of rail privatisation has admitted it was a good thing for passengers and the industry. Lord Snape of Wednesbury, the former MP for West Bromwich East, said the "doom and gloom" which he had predicted had not come about. He is a former ...
pounds 1bn cutbacks for cost overruns; DEFENCE.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is being forced to find savings of more than pounds 1 billion to cover cost overruns on major projects, the public spending watchdog revealed today. The National Audit Office (NAO) expressed "disappointment" that some of the Government's biggest ...
More criminals released early; PRISONS.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... The largest number of criminals so far were released from jail early under emergency measures last month, it was disclosed yesterday. Prisons in England and Wales freed 2,612 offenders before the end of their sentences, a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said. ...
Miliband approval; FOREIGN.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Foreign Secretary David Miliband has welcomed the announcement that the state of emergency in Pakistan is to be lifted next month. President Pervez Musharraf hoped to ease criticism of his regime by ending emergency rule, ...
Lib-Dem dancer; SHOWBIZ.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Acting Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable has revealed his secret ambition - to appear on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. In an interview to be shown on GMTV's Sunday programme, Mr Cable discloses he is a keen ballroom dancer, but dismissed the glitzy ...
Celebrities rough it to help homeless youngsters.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: By Rhona Ganguly With only scraps of cardboard for shelter, the Bishop of Birmingham yesterday braved the elements to raise much-needed funds for a city charity. The Rt Rev David Urquhart joined volunteers including Central Tonight presenter Llewella Bailey ...
Hunstman wins court appeal; COURT.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... The first huntsman to be convicted of breaching the Hunting Act won his appeal yesterday. Tony Wright, 53, huntsman with the Exmoor Foxhounds, appealed against his conviction at Barnstaple magistrates court last year of hunting a wild animal with dogs, a charge he denied. ...
Soldier's bag found after 65 years; RARE FIND.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... A bag belonging to a Second World War soldier which was missing for 65 years has been found in the Sahara desert. Alex Ross, from Burnley, Lancashire, lost the bag in Egypt in 1942 while serving as a despatch rider with the 8th Army. It has now been discovered under a ...
Race fix jury break; COURT.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... The prosecution yesterday closed its case against top jockey Kieren Fallon and five other men accused of a race-fixing scam. After two months of calling witnesses, prosecutor Jonathan Caplan QC said he had finished his case. ...
Damages won over 9/11 accusation.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... The brother of a pilot falsely accused of involvement in the September 11 terror attacks yesterday won a High Court damages action against the Metropolitan Police. But the wife of Algerian Lotfi Raissi - who was the first person accused of participating in the attacks on the ...
Details of bombing victims' injuries sent by post.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Graphic details of the fatal injuries suffered by the victims of the July 7 bombings have been sent to their relatives, it emerged yesterday. The post mortem reports, which give information on how their loved ones died, were sent out on behalf of coroner Dr Andrew Reid. They are ...
How a last mouthful of lager can ruin your life.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: By Emma Brady When Saneal Randeria left a Birmingham pub after a quick drink after work, he had no idea that last mouthful of lager would ruin his life. The 31-year-old was stopped by police after he ran an amber light on the Soho Road as he drove home in ...
Dental reforms fight goes to High Court.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... A Birmingham orthodontist is taking his fight over reforms of NHS dental services to the High Court. Dr Eddie Crouch has sought a judicial review against his local health care trust, arguing that South Birmingham Primary Care Trust did not consult the public adequately over ...
Many with HIV don't know.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... More than 6,000 people in the West Midlands are living with HIV, but one in three are unaware they have contracted the Aids virus, according to figures released yesterday. The West Midlands Regional HIV Surveillance project have know of 4,018 adults and children diagnosed HIV-positive, but ...
Outrage over doctor's return; MEDICAL.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... The father of a man who died when a doctor failed to diagnose a toxic infection yesterday spoke of his outrage that the doctor had been allowed to return to work. Dr Amit Misra, 37, was found guilty of gross negligence and given an 18-month suspended jail term in 2003 after the ...
Chlamydia test could cut spread; HEALTH.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... New "while you wait" tests for chlamydia could cut the rate of transmission to sexual partners, research has indicated. The Chlamydia Rapid Test delivers results in just 30 minutes, allowing those infected to be treated while still at the screening clinic. Medical ...
Hate campaign; RELIGION.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... A hate campaign against a female priest is being investigated by police. The Rev Yvonne Hobson made a complaint after she was sent threatening anonymous letters, and logs in a porch basket were set alight by a lit candle left there. ...
Charity ride death; INQUEST.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... A cyclist taking part in a charity bike ride on an "extremely hot" summer's day collapsed and died while it took an ambulance nearly an hour to arrive, an inquest heard yesterday. Patrick Royle, aged 31, was nearing the end of a ...
Sudan calls for execution of teacher in teddy case.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: By John Stacey Thousands of Sudanese protesters took to the streets of Khartoum yesterday to call for the execution of British school teacher Gillian Gibbons. Many were carrying knives and sticks as they joined the protest against the Briton, who was jailed ...
Arrest of cybercrime kingpin brings global computer warning.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... The arrest of the suspected teenage kingpin in an international cyber-crime network should put every UK computer user on their guard, one expert said yesterday. Officers in New Zealand have arrested an 18-year-old accused of infiltrating 1.3 million computers and skimming ...
Two suspects in Meredith case will remain in jail.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... An Italian court ruled yesterday that an American student and her Italian ex-boyfriend must remain in jail as suspects in the murder of a 21-year-old Briton. The decision by the three-judge panel was made shortly after Amanda Marie Knox, 20, appeared before the court to proclaim ...
Briton dies in earthquake; MARTINIQUE.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... A British citizen has died during an earthquake in the eastern Caribbean, the Foreign Office confirmed yesterday. The magnitude-7.4 earthquake was centred 14 miles north-west of Martinique's coastline and lasted longer than 20 seconds. The Foreign Office confirmed a ...
Hostage drama at Clinton's offices; USA.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... A deranged man wearing what appeared to be a bomb strapped to his chest walked into a Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign office last night, took several hostages and demanded to speak to the candidate during a nearly four-hour stand-off, authorities said. The man released the last ...
End of the road; USA.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Evel Knievel, the hard-living motorcycle daredevil whose exploits made him an international icon in the 1970s, died last night. He was 69. Knievel's death was confirmed by his granddaughter, Krysten Knievel. He had been ...
Bhutto 'protest' PAKISTAN.(News)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Pakistani opposition leaders were yesterday divided on whether to contest parliamentary elections under President Pervez Musharraf, a day after he bowed to international pressure by ...
AGENDA: Trappings of office, but without the power; IRON ANGLE.(Features)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: By Paul Dale It remains to be seen how much longer Liberal Democrat backbenchers are going to allow themselves to be humiliated by their own group leaders and Birmingham's Conservative councillors. The Lib Dem half of the city council's Progressive Partnership ...
AGENDA: Real difference specialist schools make for pupils; The Government has spent the last 10 years encouraging every secondary school in the country to adopt a specialism. But at a conference in Birmingham earlier this week the programme was called into question by Ofsted's chief inspector of schools Christine Gilbert.(Features)(Conference news)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: Christine Gilbert In all my dealings with the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, I see that we share the same ambition. Inevitably there is a good deal of debate about the impact of what you do, the difference your schools make. Indeed, there ...
AGENDA: REFLECTIONS.(Features)
Dec 01, 2007 ... My upbringing was among Christian Fundamentalists who thought that only those who believed exactly what appeared in their Statement of Faith deserved salvation. Being inquisitive, I visited all those churches that my instructors insisted were in error, puzzled by the fact that the more ...
Sleepout that awakens a sense of love.(Features)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: BISHOP DAVID URQUHART As you read this column this morning I will be recovering from a night sleeping outside in a car park, sheltering in a cardboard box. Like many hundreds of other people from this city, I am supporting - with 11 members of the Bishop's ...
Letter: Freedom of speech? It's alright for some.(Letters)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: MICK COLE Dear Editor, The British version of democracy was witnessed on Monday night, when bellowing demonstrators gathered outside the Oxford Union and tried to halt proceedings therein (BNP leader's debate sparks protest at Oxford Union, Post November 27). ...
Letter: For cod's sake, let's have some commonsense.(Letters)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: GRAHAM REA Dear Editor, Unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world, but one of the reasons that cod in particular are thrown back into the sea is because it is an effective method of controlling the stocks of all EU member nations, without there being constant ...
Letter: How convenient to be forgetful.(Letters)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: S T VAUGHAN Dear Editor, Isn't Peter Haine the minister who wants to attack single mums, the disabled and the sick? Isn't he the one who labels as scroungers everyone on benefit? So how come he 'forgot' to ...
Letter: Building on skills.(Letters)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: DAVID LAMMY Dear Editor, Your recent brain drain article raises some important points about the need for employers, and higher and further educational establishments, to work together both to train and retain skilled workers (Call to stop the Birmingham 'brain drain', ...
Letter: Hard work and dedication brings just reward for adult services.(Letters)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: PAUL BURKE Dear Editor, Opposition councillors and their supporters will no doubt find something within the pages of the Commission for Social Care Inspections report to criticise and complain about, instead of the congratulations which are due (Social care staff are ...
THE BIRMINGHAM POST: Council must give a simple answer to a simple question.(Leaders)
Dec 01, 2007 ... There is nothing very difficult to understand about Birmingham City Council's business transformation proposals, despite attempts by the local authority's leadership to present the project as a highly complex piece of work. The basic principles are quite simple. A long overdue ...
THE BIRMINGHAM POST: Temporary respite.(Leaders)
Dec 01, 2007 ... The final confirmation that Birmingham International Airport is not pressing ahead with a second runway will be very welcome to hundreds of families. There had been hints for some time that the airport was unlikely to need a new runway immediately, but the decision has at last been ...
THE BIRMINGHAM POST: Santa stress.(Leaders)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Anyone who thinks being Santa is a piece of (Christmas) cake can think again. For starters, there's the stress involved in visiting every child in the world in the space of a single night. There are elves to keep happy, with statutory rest and relaxation breaks, ...
Quiz of the Day.(Features)
Dec 01, 2007 ... 1. Which was the first British museum, opened to the public in 1683? 2. What type of music was published in the 19th century by the composers Sankey and Moody? 3. What word means the separation of the chaff from the grain before milling? 4. Which area of ...
Word Wizard.(Features)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Here is an unusual word with three definitions, only one of which is correct. Can you identify the right definition? NAGANA 1) The script in which Sanskrit, Hindi and other Indian ...
DID YOU KNOW?(Features)
Dec 01, 2007 ... To eruct means to burp loudly Shooting stars are not stars, they are meteors or meteorites A restaurant in New York has created the world's most expensive dessert. Serendipity 3 in Manhattan's Upper East Side has created Frozen ...
ON THIS DAY December 1.(Features)
Dec 01, 2007 ... 1866: British military engineer Sir George Everest, after whom the Himalayan mountain Peak XV was renamed Mount Everest, died on this day 1940: American actor and comedian Richard Pryor, whose films included Stir Crazy, was born on this day 1945: US diva and actress ...
WEB LIFE.(Features)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Whether you're writing a speech or just want to get a laugh at the Christmas party, www.workjoke.com is the website for you. It has hundreds of jokes about every career so no matter where you work, you're bound to find something that tickles your funny bone. ...
The 'deathometer' and your open market option; PERSONAL FINANCE.(Business)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: TREVOR LAW If you were a boy born on the day that England won the World Cup in 1966, your life expectancy at birth was 68 years and seven months. If you have made it this far, you can now expect to live to 86 years and eight months-more than 18 years longer. ...
Money will cheque out from this weekend; PERSONAL FINANCE.(Business)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Anyone accepting payment by cheque will have more certainty about when they can access the money from the end of this week. From yesterday any cheque paid into a major UK bank or building society will have cleared within six working days - meaning that account-holders will not ...
The latest way to lure borrowers; PERSONAL FINANCE.(Business)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Credit card providers are courting borrowers with outstanding balances in a bid to win new business, a financial website said this week. The number of credit cards offering zero per cent interest deals on balance transfers has risen by 13 per cent since the start of the year, ...
PERSONAL FINANCE: Insurance claims double as wedding cancellations soar.(Business)
Dec 01, 2007 ... The number of weddings that are cancelled has more than doubled during the past 12 months. Postponing or calling off the big day is now the most common reason people claim on wedding insurance, accounting for 47.5 per cent of all claims during the year to the end of September, ...
PERSONAL FINANCE: Housing market boom time for building societies.(Business)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Byline: By Jeremy Gates Special Correspondent As Northern Rock shrinks before our eyes, and money markets around the world are hit by grim warnings that the credit crunch could still be causing trouble at Christmas 2008, it is hardly surprising cash is gushing into the building ...
PERSONAL FINANCE: Equity release not only saving grace; HOMES.(Business)
Dec 01, 2007 ... The idea of equity release - taking money out of bricks and mortar and using it to enhance your lifestyle - is attracting many people still in their 50s, claims Norwich Union, which found that one in 10 "pre-retireds" would probably take out an equity release product, compared with one in ...
PERSONAL FINANCE: One-year fixed rate bond offer; OFFSHORE SAVINGS.(Business)
Dec 01, 2007 ... Savers with at least pounds 15,000 to lock away for a year might like the one year fixed rate bond from Alliance & Leicester ...