Western Daily Press (Bristol UK) back issues from February 2008:
Euro treaties are killing UK firms
Feb 01, 2008 ... It is an unavoidable fact that our post offices are to close andwriting to MPs is a waste of time. When Tony Blair signed the Treatyof Amsterdam in 1997 he effectively signed the death warrant for2,500 of them at least. This treaty privatised mail deliveries throughout the EU, ...
Teenager sent to siberian tundra
Feb 01, 2008 ... It would appear that a town in Germany has recently dispatched apersistent binge-drinking teenage thug to Siberia for "intensivecorrectional training". What a brilliant idea! With that news, perhaps I might now resurrect a suggestion madein 2002 of establishing a penal colony for ...
Wonders of the genius children
Feb 01, 2008 ... One of the great world mysteries of recent decades has been theappearance of the "indigo children" who are said to represent ahigher state of human evolution. It is claimed they have psychic abilities, being able to readminds, are super-intelligent and have great spiritual ...
Ghostly goings-on down at the gatehouse
Feb 01, 2008 ... A Ghost hunt at the Victorian gatehouse of the old Bristol Gaolin Cumberland Road last weekend turned out to be a real hair-raising experience for members of the British ParanormalAssociation, so intense was the other-worldly activity, they tellme. The team experienced oppressive ...
Hardy inspires new West folklore book
Feb 01, 2008 ... Thomas Hardy wove West Country myth and legend seamlessly intohis novels and poems, having taken part himself in many old customsand heard a treasury of folk tales, many from his own familytraditions. He drew on local histories and antiquarian works, the writings ofWilliam ...
This week's podcast
Feb 01, 2008 ... Hear lots more from Hugh Newman about the indigo children on myMysterious West podcast - and from medium Garry Evans about theparanormal ...
I'll never forget the golden age of pop
Feb 01, 2008 ... I Read with interest Debbie Rundle's article in the Western DailyPress on Saturday, January 26. My daughter, for Christmas, gave mea CD called Dreamboats and Petticoats, and it has all the hits fromthe Fifties and Sixties. These years were my teenage years, and I grew up with ...
Greta expectations ; Natalie Hale talked to the internationally renowned actress and former Bristol Old Vic Theatre School student Greta Scacchi before her appearance in Terence Rattigan's powerful drama The Deep Blue Sea, which opens next week at the Theatre Royal Bath
Feb 01, 2008 ... Natalie Hale talked to the internationally renowned actress andformer Bristol Old Vic Theatre School student Greta Scacchi beforeher appearance in Terence Rattigan's powerful drama The Deep BlueSea, which opens next week at the Theatre Royal Bath She's been in Hollywood hits with ...
Entre to the world of ballet
Feb 01, 2008 ... Young ballet dancers with a burning ambition are being offeredthe chance to work and perform with some of the best professionalsin the business. The regional heat of the Fonteyn Nureyev Young DancersCompetition is coming to The Playhouse in Weston-super-Mare onSunday, February ...
Bad bad boys return
Feb 01, 2008 ... Nazareth, one of the UK's finest ever classic rock bands, havegot much to celebrate in 2008. They'll be marking their 40thanniversary, a new album is about to be released, and they're goingon a worldwide tour to mark the occasion. The band formed in Dunfermline in Scotland in 1968, ...
Bard at his best ; The Tobacco Factory in Bristol is having to put on more productions to cope with the demand, discovers Natalie Hale
Feb 01, 2008 ... The Tobacco Factory in Bristol is having to put on moreproductions to cope with the demand, discovers Natalie Hale As Bristol's theatres continue to face an uncertain future, onevenue, which has managed to keep the wolf from the door, for thetime being at least, is actually ...
Fran on a mission
Feb 01, 2008 ... The New Trinity Centre in Bristol is a pretty big venue as far asmany bands are concerned, but for multi-million-selling Scottishoutfit Travis this gig is a stop on a tour of "intimate" venues. The band formed in Glasgow in the early 1990s, going through afew different names and ...
Opera star shines in the West
Feb 01, 2008 ... Orchestrawest, Taunton's professional symphony orchestra, haspulled off a bit of a coup with the billing for their concert onSunday at King's College Chapel. Their special guest will be the international soprano ElizabethWatts, right, who is the winner of the Lieder Prize as well ...
Peasants' dreams are becoming reality
Feb 01, 2008 ... Los Campesinos - their name means "the peasants" in Spanish -became the success that they are today almost by accident. A bunch of students in Cardiff, they played their first chaoticstudent union show in May 2006 and made a four-song demo at a localyouth centre and posted it on ...
Online care for ponies
Feb 01, 2008 ... Dorset grandmother Tricia Day has created a pioneering websitewhich teaches children how to care for their ponies. Launched last April, fun4ponies.com is an interactive teachingresource which has attracted 1,300 subscribers from across thecountry and overseas. Tricia had ...
Survey searching
Feb 01, 2008 ... An online survey into equine dental technicians and barefoottrimmers has been launched. Lantra Sector Skills Council says little is known about theseareas of the equine industry and it wants to find out the numbersworking as paraprofessionals, their background ...
This physical therapy has added chuckle factor for all ; Mary Tapping visits a Riding for the Disabled Association centre to see what a difference it makes to members
Feb 01, 2008 ... Mary Tapping visits a Riding for the Disabled Association centreto see what a difference it makes to members If you thought that Riding for the Disabled means slow, ploddinghorses walking around and around in a circle, then think again.Disabled riders today can do almost anything ...
Prizes for best photographs of badminton
Feb 01, 2008 ... A New attraction at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trialslast year was the Spirit of Badminton Photo Wall. This 10-metre long display comprised images taken by members ofthe general public to sum up their perspective of this world famousevent since its inception in ...
In line for award
Feb 01, 2008 ... Horsing Around Equestrian Supplies, which opened in Frome only 13months ago, has reached the national finals of the 2008 BritishEquestrian Trade Association (BETA) business awards. Thanks to being nominated by its customers, the shop, inHandlemaker Road, has joined a short-list of ...
Charlotte lands pounds3,000 scholarship
Feb 01, 2008 ... Teenage event rider Charlotte Adderly, from Foxham in Wiltshire, has become one of a select band of equestrians who have securedgovernment funding. The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme is worth a total ofpounds3,000 to the 16-year-old Stonar School pupil, who is hopingfor a ...
Lofty donation
Feb 01, 2008 ... Mendip Farmers' Hunt has donated a cheque for pounds1,000 to theDorset & Somerset Air Ambulance. The money was raised by hunt follower Lucy Dixon, who organised ...
Cats need homes
Feb 01, 2008 ... More than 80 feral cats desperately need new outdoor homes onfarms, and at stables and smallholdings in the West after thesudden closure of a factory left them homeless. The feline ...
Events diary
Feb 01, 2008 ... Saturday, February 2 Unaff dressage, Poldens & Bridgwater RC, Bridgwater College EC,Cannington, Somerset. 07857 819525. Unaff SJ, Knapp Farm Livery, Leigh, near Cricklade, Wiltshire. 07881 817904. Sunday, February 3 Unaff dressage, Moreton EC, Dorchester. ...
New deal for Exeter horse sales
Feb 01, 2008 ... A 50-year assocation with Exeter horse sales has ended forauctioneers Husseys. Sawdye and Harris has taken over the sales andwill conduct its first auction on Tuesday, February 12. Tony Carden, auctioneer for Husseys for 40 years, from 1952 until1993, has seen the selling of horses ...
Pony club success celebrated
Feb 01, 2008 ... The Mendip Farmers Hunt Pony Club celebrated a tremendous year ofsuccess with a presentation evening recently. The club had entered dressage, show jumping and eventing teamsat the Pony Club area competitions and each had qualified for therespective national championships. In ...
Funds for heroes
Feb 01, 2008 ... The charity Help for Heroes is more than pounds1,000 better offalready since the Cotswold Hunt organised a collection at its meetlast weekend. The Beaufort Hunt also held a collection ...
Bond's sent on a mission for Beijing Olympic games
Feb 01, 2008 ... Amanda Bond, pictured, the deputy principal and equestrian eventdirector of Hartpury College near Gloucester, is heading off toAsia this month to prepare for the Beijing Olympics and ParalympicGames. Amanda has been appointed to the prestigious post of Chief ofParalympic ...
Girl, 12, in fatal fall
Feb 01, 2008 ... An inquest opened today into the death of a 12-year-old girl whodied during an indoor cross-country event on Sunday. Shannon Bloomfield, of Bletchley in Buckinghamshire, wascompeting at the Milton Keynes Eventing Centre. Fiona Gifkins, boss of the centre, said: "Her horse ...
Challenge for West Country Aussies
Feb 01, 2008 ... The past five months have been a nightmare for the EquestrianFederation of Australia as equine influenza has halted all movementof horses in the country and led to the cancellation of their entireseason so far. The repercussions are huge as Australia is the most successfulnation ...
Harry answers your questions
Feb 01, 2008 ... N Q. I once read that you went to Bristol University. What didyou study and, if you hadn't become a top event rider, what careerwould you have chosen? Jeremy Hawkins. Harry says: I studied history of art, which I very much enjoyed.At school I thought of becoming an architect, ...
On top of the world in us high country
Feb 01, 2008 ... Thoughts of Montana evoke images from the old Wild West. Justimagine rolling hills against the backdrop of high mountains andlarge forests, cowboys with Stetson hats, cattle herds and Mustanghorses, log cabins and camp fires. If you want to experience being a cowboy or cowgirl, ...
Romanian culture shock
Feb 01, 2008 ... It's on the drive from Bucharest up into the mountains that thefirst culture shock of the week hits me: the flow of trafficsuddenly slows and a horse and cart come into view ahead. As I peer out of the window I get a taste of things to come. Thisis no smart pony and trap, but a ...
Daniel pick's first success on 50-1 outsider ; Tiverton Foxhounds at Chipley Park, Devon, Sunday, January 27
Feb 01, 2008 ... Tiverton Foxhounds at Chipley Park, Devon, Sunday, January 27 The huge crowd found winners hard to pick on a ten-race card runon testing ground, which attracted a total of 115 runners. It was an afternoon to remember for two local jockeys, who eachrode their first winner ....
Young David's 33-1 first ever winner may head to Cheltenham ; The Royal Artillery at Larkhill, Saturday, January 26
Feb 01, 2008 ... The Royal Artillery at Larkhill, Saturday, January 26 Nineteen-year-old David Bass rode his first ever winner when 33-1 Man From Highworth bolted up in the men's open. "You'll never ride a better horse," beamed Highworth farmer JohnManners, owner-trainer of the aptly named ...
Flat out around a forest
Feb 01, 2008 ... There are only a couple of things that I initially look for in abike. The first is that I can put my feet flat on the floor on bothsides, and the second is that it's not too heavy that I can't liftit up again should I drop it (heaven forbid!). What I'm really trying to say is that ...
'Pay as you go' driving for City dwellers
Feb 01, 2008 ... If you're conscious of your carbon footprint, but don't want togive up the convenience and freedom that driving brings, thenjoining a car club could be the way to go. I became a member of City Car Club to try out this concept formyself. Members pay a pounds75 joining fee and ...
Stuck in a traffic jam? Join the club!
Feb 01, 2008 ... Workers are spending almost twice as much time commuting to theoffice than five years ago because of unreliable public transport ortraffic jams, according to a new report. Research by employment law firm Peninsula showed that employeeswere taking an average of one hour five minutes ...
Images of China
Feb 01, 2008 ... China is set to be a hot topic in 2008. With the Terracotta Armyin residence at the British Museum and athletes across the globelimbering up for September's Olympics in Beijing, we can expect toget more than just a taste of the Orient this year. To get us in the mood, the the ...
Circus spectacular
Feb 01, 2008 ... A Taste of Chinese culture will explode into the West thisweekend when the Chinese State Circus comes to Cheltenham. Another element in the China Now programme to herald theforthcoming Beijing Olympics, the nationwide tour started two weeksago in Glasgow and visits Swindon and ...
Spring is white here, white now
Feb 01, 2008 ... The recent mild and very wet weather has caused havoc across theWest. But as the floodwaters recede and river levels drop back tonormal, spare a thought for Mother Nature. Snow and frost are becoming a distant memory in the West Country.Spring is getting ever earlier and snowdrops, ...
Carr crash comedy tour ; Jimmy Carr is on the road again with his unique anarchic stand-up routine. Natalie Hale talks to the fearless funnyman
Feb 01, 2008 ... Jimmy Carr is on the road again with his unique anarchic stand-up routine. Natalie Hale talks to the fearless funnyman As the face of comedy on Channel 4, Jimmy Carr has become aregular fixture on our TV screens fronting shows such as 8 out of 10Cats and Distraction. But he ...
Evening set to go with a swing
Feb 01, 2008 ... It's swing-time in Swindon on Wednesday as Five Star Swing returnto the Wyvern Theatre. Former Ivy Benson musician Simone Smith and her husband Chris(from the Glenn Miller band) will be performing a host of classicsongs from the Swing era, including hits from Frank Sinatra, ...
Monster smash ; Cloverfield (15)
Feb 01, 2008 ... Cloverfield (15) With increasing numbers of films flooding our cinemas, openingweekend box office takings have become increasingly important indetermining the success of a feature. So it's no surprise that the film companies spend hundreds ofmillions of pounds every year ...
Film dies a death ; Over Her Dead Body (12A)
Feb 01, 2008 ... Over Her Dead Body (12A) I See dead people - and they're a bad-tempered, ungrateful bunchin Jeff Lowell's lifeless, other-worldly comedy. Ghosts torment the living, they chatter and snipe incessantly,and the celestial wardrobe is restricted to pristine designerwhites, which ...
Champions set to begin the defence
Feb 01, 2008 ... Motocrossby Mick Perry BRITISH sidecar trial champions Jon Tuck and Matt Sparks beginthe defence of their title on the Isle of Man tomorrow. The Bristol duo won the corresponding event last year, but thistime they will be out on a new Beta outfit, having won support ...
Kirby shines as Lions step up the pace
Feb 01, 2008 ... England Lions ensured they head into Sunday's Duleep Trophyopener on a positive note after defeating a Mumbai XI by 30 runs atthe Brabourne Stadium. Gloucestershire pace bowler Steve Kirby took 3-12 as the hostswere dismissed for 230 midway through the final afternoon. The ...
Trust to restore gems to original, quirky glory...
Feb 01, 2008; ... From a Hansel and Gretel-like cottage to a majestic, 1,000-year-old castle, some of the West's finest heritage attractions haveeither undergone major renovation or are to be further restored totheir original, sometimes quirky glory this year. The National Trust has also unveiled ...
Hit-run plea
Feb 01, 2008 ... A Boy of 14 was left with head injuries and a broken leg after asuspected hit and run accident. He was crossing Grosvenor Road, St Paul's, ...
Burglar reward
Feb 01, 2008 ... An 87-year-old woman was pushed to the ground in a burglary ather home in Hanham, Bristol. A reward of up to pounds1,000 is being offered ...
Coffee alarm
Feb 01, 2008 ... Coffee shop users in Bristol are being warned to watch theirhandbags and wallets after an increase in theft over the past ...
Hospice's pounds100,000 appeal to providecrucial home care
Feb 01, 2008; ... Ahospice that provides vital help to terminally ill people athome in the last days of their lives is launching an appeal toprovide more care for patients. Bristol's St Peter's Hospice needs pounds100,000 to expand itsHospice at Home Service, which provides 24- hour nursing support ...
Stab raider left boy, 12 near death
Feb 01, 2008 ... A Boy of 12 was left fighting for life after a drunken burglarslashed his jugular as he dozed on a settee, Bristol Crown Court heard. The boy, who has not been named, was left with an eight inch gash which needed 66 stitches and was stabbed with such ferocitythat the handle of ...
'Hostages' raise cash for Callum
Feb 01, 2008; ... Soccer star Lee Peacock was handcuffed, bundled into a van anddriven away by a group of burly men. But he was freed several hours later after raising a ransom ofpounds500 in aid of a charity which aims to save the life of acourageous little boy. The 31-year-old Swindon ...
Passions flare on sports club's pounds6m swoop for space
Feb 01, 2008; ... Moves to create a spectacular pounds6 million multi-use sportscomplex have sparked a row that has divided opinion and causedoutrage in a market town. The group behind the scheme at Wootton Bassett, near Swindon,says the proposed sports hub will revolutionise ...
It was like having five mums
Feb 01, 2008 ... Richard Merchant-Hanney described the help St Peter's Hospicegave him when his young wife was dying of skin cancer as like havingfive mums in the house with him. Helen Merchant-Hanney was just 24 when she died of an aggressiveform of the cancer. It turned Richard's life ...
Making your mind up to Buckle up in the car
Feb 01, 2008 ... The harrowing tale of a former a Bucks Fizz pop star was toldyesterday to help make minds up about wearing seatbelts in cars. Teaming up with Gloucestershire police, Mike Nolan, originalmember of the Eighties Eurovision song winners, helped launch thenew campaign, which marks 25 ...
Coda halfway to concluding takeover
Feb 01, 2008 ... West financial software specialists Coda has agreed to apounds158 million takeover by Dutch rivals Unit 4 Agresso. The 205 pence-a-share offer - termed "miserly" by one analystwhen first unveiled on January 15 - now has the support of theChippenham-based company's board and more ...
Plain's vital military role
Feb 01, 2008 ... American Elaine Catherine apparently drove across Salisbury Plainto approach Stonehenge. and encountered tanks all over the place,and the loud booming of artillery fire from nearby ranges ("Thehidden perils of a British holiday", Western Daily Press, January17). At first, I was ...
Hypocrisy of Lotto chance
Feb 01, 2008 ... Like so many people, I am outraged at the obscene wages paid tocertain footballers these days. Now I am gobsmacked at the prospect of winning the lotteryrollover ...
Suggestions for a safer life
Feb 01, 2008 ... I Have been concerned about mobile car phones being used bydrivers while in their cars for some years. All car phones should be modified so that a driver cannot answerthem while driving. With today's advances in technology, it ispossible that a modification on all car phones to ...
It is time for hunting to be stopped, once and for all
Feb 01, 2008 ... I Write with reference to an article I read in the Western DailyPress regarding fox hunting ("Fox killers will be caught", January18), apparently the VWAM research says "chasing a fox with hounds isnatural, similar to wolves chasing their prey". I beg to differ. Wolves do not have ...
Skipper will be put to test by Stevens
Feb 01, 2008; ... Matt Stevens understands his position in the England peckingorder. He is understudy to Phil Vickery - and it is never going to beeasy to oust the England captain. Bath's Stevens takes his usual place on the bench for tomorrow'sRBS Six Nations Championship opener against ...
Nice to meet teamswho saved my life
Feb 01, 2008; ... Aforklift driver who lost his leg following an industrialaccident has been reunited with the firefighters who helped save hislife. Clive Starr, from Bristol, had to have his leg amputated after hewas crushed by a forklift truck at a trading estate in St Anne'slast ...
Tindall is enjoying the England feeling
Feb 01, 2008; ... Mike Tindall, the form centre in the Guinness Premiershipaccording to head coach Brian Ashton, is delighted to be back in theEngland squad. A broken leg, suffered in April, kept the 29-year-old out of theWorld Cup, but he returns to the international stage tomorrow in theRBS Six ...
Mick drops in for knees-up
Feb 01, 2008 ... A Rural arts centre welcomed an unlikely VIP in the form of thefrontman of one of the world's most famous rock and roll bands. Music legend Mick Jagger swaggered into the Assembly Rooms inGlastonbury to join younger brother Chris at his 60th birthday bash. And the singer was ...