Western Daily Press (Bristol UK) back issues from May 2009:
Sportsman who think of others
May 01, 2009 ... Bristol's woeful Guinness Premiership campaign ended with a 73-3defeat at Leicester last weekend - but there was little time for theplayers to dwell on their hammering. Eleven first-team regulars headed to Iceland on Sunday, wherethey are currently nearing the end of a 700km ...
Quiet satisfaction at a job well done
May 01, 2009 ... The Coca-Cola League season draws to a close this weekend - butthere will be no final-day drama for any of the West clubs. Some, like Bristol City and Cheltenham Town, will see that as amassive disappointment, albeit for very different reasons, whileSwindon Town and Yeovil Town ...
Inquest opens
May 01, 2009 ... An inquest has been opened into the death of a man found hangingfrom a tree in a field near South Petherton. The body of Robin ...
Merger plans for the min
May 01, 2009 ... A world-renowned Bath hospital could be put under a differentmanagement regime as it battles its way back from financialproblems. This week, an NHS watchdog body appointed a new temporary chiefexecutive and chair for the NHS trust which runs the 271-year-oldMineral Water Hospital ...
Brewery freezes beer prices
May 01, 2009 ... A Bath brewery is protecting drinkers from Chancellor AlistairDarling's latest Budget and freezing its beer prices until the endof August this year. The Government introduced a two per cent increase in alcohol taxin last week's Budget which resulted in the average price of a ...
Chemist loss sparks anger
May 01, 2009 ... A village chemist will be moved into a city centre location,sparking anger among campaigners. This week NHS Bath and North East Somerset decided to move theLloyds pharmacy in Paulton to a new site next to the Elm HayesSurgery in Bath, despite a campaign by villagers to keep it in ...
Sensor success
May 01, 2009 ... A sensory garden in Taunton is one of the community projects tobenefit from a special fund created by Taunton Deane BoroughCouncil. The Taunton Unparished Fund was set up to provide money forprojects in urban Taunton - the area that is not ...
Eco convention
May 01, 2009 ... A climate change strategy for West Somerset will be launchedduring a Carbon Reduction Fair at West Somerset Community Collegeat 2.30pm on May 6. The fair features stands from many ...
FM station to go on air
May 01, 2009 ... A Somerset radio station is set to hit the airwaves after getting a grant of nearly pounds10,000 from the Lottery's Awards forAll programme. Glastonbury FM, based in the town, got its five-year communityradio licence in March 2007. Steve Bilborough, from the ...
Surfing pair brave wave
May 01, 2009 ... Two friends have become the first surfers to conquer one ofBritain's most dangerous waves - a 20ft monster dubbed the 'BoneCruncher'. Daredevils Guy Armitt and Chris Schiel, both 35, risked theirlives to surf waves which were breaking on a reef half a mile offthe coast of ...
Man found guilty not in court
May 01, 2009 ... A Frome man accused of assaulting a public-spirited resident ofShepton Mallet and attempting to cover up his involvement failed toattend the second day of his trial, which went ahead in his absence. Carl Rowley, 22, of Portland Road, Frome was convicted ofattempting to pervert the ...
Hunt for stolen dog
May 01, 2009 ... A dog has been stolen from a rescue centre in Bath by two menclaiming to be its owners. The male dog, described as a Rottweiler cross, had been taken toBath Cats and Dogs Home as a stray on Friday. The three-year-old animal had gone missing from its own home butwas claimed on ...
Mum's tribute to hit-and-run victim
May 01, 2009 ... The mother of a teenager killed in a hit-and-run crash inBristol city centre has paid tribute to a loyal and caring son. Kim Atkinson said her 15-year-old son Troy, a talented rugbyplayer, was a popular and sociable boy. She said: "There was a lot more to Troy than met your ...
Boy hit with hairbrush by mum is still in care
May 01, 2009 ... By Aleisha Scott wdnews@bepp.co.uk A mother whose son was taken into care after she "saw red" andhit him with a hairbrush, said yesterday that she did not know whenhe would return to their Somerset home. The woman, 42, who suffers from cancer and cannot be named forlegal ...
Slammed for vote
May 01, 2009 ... The leader of Gloucestershire County Council has blasted two"disgraceful" MPs who voted against a motion supporting Gurkhas'rights to settle in the UK. Local Labour MPs Parmjit Dhanda and David Drew did not supportthe Liberal Democrat proposal to give all Gurkhas who served in ...
Planning permission granted for new skate ramps in Frome
May 01, 2009 ... Plans for a new skate park in Frome took a step closer tobecoming a reality this week after planning permission was grantedfor the new concrete ramps. The town council received the news that they can now beginconstruction on the ramps, in the Mary Baily Playing Fields, andwork is ...
Boat is fished out of the mud by charity tractor
May 01, 2009 ... A fishing boat was towed to safety after its owner got intodifficulty on the mudflats along the Somerset coast. Burnham-based charity Barb used its tractor to pull the strandedboat and trailer from the mud a quarter of a mile from the beach atBrean. Earlier, Brean's ...
Bath rugby reveals 'operation sardines'
May 01, 2009 ... Bath Rugby have unveiled the "desperate measures" they areprepared to take to ensure they are able to stay on the club'shistoric ground next season. The club has revealed plans to squeeze as many supporters on toThe Rec as possible for the 2009-10 campaign should its bid for ...
Darwin rarity
May 01, 2009 ... An early edition of one of the most famous scientific books inhistory fetched pounds35,000 at an auction yesterday. The first issue, first edition of Charles Darwin's 1859 work ...
It could be you
May 01, 2009 ... Someone in Britain stands a chance to win pounds89 milliontonight, a National Lottery spokesman said. If the EuroMillions jackpot is scooped by a UK ticket it will beBritain's biggest ...
Prince gets an eyeful
May 01, 2009 ... The Prince of Wales saw more than he bargained for during a visitto a museum in Germany yesterday. Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were greeted by two scantily-clad dancers as they toured the Neues Museum in east Berlin. The royal couple chuckled as the two young women - ...
Children write their own musical
May 01, 2009 ... It is usually only theatre greats such as Andrew Lloyd Webber whoget the chance to create their own musical. But now 300 youngsters at two Bath primary schools have written,composed and performed an oratorio. The pupils at Combe Down and Newbridge have spent the past ...
Plump for plum at lingfield
May 01, 2009 ... By Captain Wessex P lum Pudding kicked off his campaign in style at Warwick lastmonth and can keep the bandwagon rolling with victory in Lingfield'sPlaisance Du Touch Conditions Stakes. Richard Hannon's charge is riding high at present, having landeda similar event on his ...
Delegator out to win classic
May 01, 2009 ... By Ashley Iveson wdsport@bepp.co.uk B rian Meehan reports Delegator to have come through his finalworkout with flying colours ahead of his bid for Classic glory atNewmarket tomorrow. The Dansili colt shot straight to the head of the betting for thestanjames.com 2000 Guineas ...
Rock star's son cleared of intimidating witness
May 01, 2009 ... By James Woodward wdnews@bepp.co.uk O tis Ferry, the son of Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry, wasyesterday cleared of charges of "witness nobbling" which saw himlocked up on remand for four months. Ferry, 26, was found not guilty of two counts of perverting thecourse of justice ...
Gretel role for stage school star
May 01, 2009 ... A seven-year-old girl from a Bristol stage school has been castas Gretel, the youngest of the von Trapp children, in a new touringproduction of The Sound of Music. Lydia Baker is the sixth pupil from Bristol School of PerformingArts to audition successfully for a role as one of the ...
Raids net dealers, weapons and drugs
May 01, 2009 ... By Tina Rowe t.rowe@bepp.co.uk M ore than 300 police officers have snared nine Somerset drugdealers in a victory over the illegal industry in the county. The three-day operation in Taunton and Bridgwater, involving 330police officers and support staff has ended with 19 arrests ...
Budget cap ruffles feathers in F1
May 01, 2009 ... Formula One faces another political fight following theannouncement of a voluntary pounds40million budget cap for nextseason. Members of the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA), who meet onWednesday, are concerned that the World Motor Sport Council'sproposals could help to ...
Changed Allen back on track
May 01, 2009 ... By John Skilbeck wdsport@bepp.co.uk M ark Allen has called time on his trouble-making days afteradmitting he was in danger of falling into the same traps whichsnared Alex Higgins. The young Northern Irishman was once banned from his nationalteam, even though he did not go ...
Hatton in good shape
May 01, 2009 ... Ricky Hatton believes he is boxing better than he has ever donein his career heading into tomorrow's showdown with Manny Pacquiao. The Las Vegas oddsmakers think he is heading for the seconddefeat of his career when he goes in against Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36KOs), who is widely ...
Nurse to be jailed forkilling her own unborn children
May 02, 2009 ... By Aleisha Scott wdnews@bepp.co.uk A woman was sentenced to jail yesterday for killing her unborntwins by injecting herself with drugs to bring on their birth. Faiso Sahil's babies were to be taken into care and so she wantedher babies to arrive three weeks earlier than their ...
TV drug stash
May 02, 2009 ... A man who admitted possessing cannabis told Somerset magistratesthe drug helped him cope with his back pain. William Preece, 25, of Street, had been living at St Brides Closein Glastonbury ...
New training for red light jumpers
May 02, 2009 ... People who are caught jumping red lights will now have the optionof going on a course to teach them to drive more safely. Across Avon and Somerset, nearly 6,000 drivers a year are finedfor ignoring the lights at busy junctions - earning themselves apounds60 fine and three points on ...
Yob banned from hester's way
May 02, 2009 ... An anti-social teenager who terrorised residents and businessesin Hester's Way for years faces jail if he shows his face in thearea again. Sonny Cruse, of Terry Ruck Close, Cheltenham, was made thesubject of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (Asbo) for two years atGloucester Youth ...
Behind-the-scenes look at work to rebuild pier
May 02, 2009 ... By Vicki FitzGerald wdnews@bepp.co.uk A lmost 10 months ago it was merely a charred shell of twistedmetal, with little resembling its once proud structure. But now, as these exclusive pictures show, the Grand Pier isbeginning to get back on its feet, as Weston-super-Mare ...
Cheltenham man vows to fight parking ticket
May 02, 2009 ... By Aled Thomas wdnews@bepp.co.uk H e has happily parked in the same spot for the past 30 years -so when he was suddenly handed a parking fine, Vijay Dandiker was alittle taken aback. Mr Dandiker has parked in the same spot whenever he visits hisparents' home in ...
Bullying video sparks probe
May 02, 2009 ... An investigation is under way after a film of teenageschoolgirls fighting was posted on video-sharing website YouTube. The Avonbourne pupils were shown pulling each other's hair,throwing punches and pushing, with one girl ending up on the ground. The film then showed other ...
Still baffled by the baftas
May 02, 2009 ... Over in London's Royal Festival Hall, Dawn French turned up toreceive TV's highest honour dressed like someone at a Count Duckulaconvention, Michael McIntyre finally ran out of stand-up material,and ITV's bosses were left completely red-faced. It was a night of hits and misses at ...
Ben's a leader of men and eels
May 02, 2009 ... The Apprentice latest. Background camouflage Noorul finally gotthe boot, Debra the Cobra has turned into a psychotic version ofVicky "Yeah But No But" Pollard and got a reprimand from Alan Sugarfor her disgraceful treatment of his aide Nick Hewer. Philip has replaced spineless Ben, ...
Just a pretty face after all
May 02, 2009 ... And so to the long-awaited appearance of fleeting judge KellyBrook on Britain's Got Talent. The big question: was it worth the wait? Well, she achievedsomething unparalleled in TV history last Saturday, a feat thatdefies all known logic - she made Amanda Holden look ...
Out of the frying pan and into hell's kitchen
May 02, 2009 ... Television is a strange old world. In the late-Eighties, LindaEvans' Dynasty character Krystle was brainwashed by a mob to killhusband Blake, while Ade Edmondson was whacking his DangerousBrother Rik Mayall in the face with a frying pan. Yet onn ...
Serial fly-tipper caught by his own calling card
May 02, 2009 ... By Aleisha Scott wdnews@bepp.co.uk T he West's worst fly-tipper was behind bars yesterday after hewas caught by his own business card. Paul Bryant dumped rubbish that he collected from businesses andpeople renovating their homes for four years. Bryant, 54, was ...
150 travel to say farewell
May 02, 2009 ... Friends from the Continent and Canada were among the congregationof about 150 people that filled Kenn Road Methodist Church for aservice to celebrate the life of Mervyn Potter, who died at the ageof 88. The service in Clevedon was conducted by Methodist minister TheRev Dr Russell ...
Fancy a bottle of wine? We've got 57 million
May 02, 2009 ... By Marcus Denby wdnews@bepp.co.uk T his was the amazing scene as Europe's biggest booze warehouse,which holds a staggering 57 million bottles of wine, finally openedfor business yesterday . The massive complex in Avonmouth, Bristol, can store 9.5 milliongallons of the tipple ...
pounds100,000 payout for man scarred for life by botched nose job
May 02, 2009 ... By Eva Jones wdnews@bepp.co.uk A man has been awarded more than pounds100,000 in compensationafter a botched nose job left him scared for life, it emergedyesterday. Roger Matthews, 48, was left looking like "a car crash victim"after he went under the knife for a routine ...
Troops leaving
May 02, 2009 ... The main pull-out of British troops from Iraq was under way todayfollowing the end of UK combat operations in the country. An RAF ...
Cash boost for play area
May 02, 2009 ... Plans to improve play areas for youngsters in Radstock are to begiven an extra cash boost. Norton-Radstock Town Council has secured an extra pounds30,000from the Government's Play Pathfinder scheme to improve facilitiesfor young people aged 8-13 years old in the town. This ...
Hospital to recruit 150 people
May 02, 2009 ... A new private hospital has begun the search for 150 new staff. Everyone who works at the CircleBath Hospital at Peasedown StJohn will be a partner in the business in an arrangement similar tothe one which operates at the John Lewis chain, which owns Waitrose. The hospital, ...
Bulls eye a strong finish
May 02, 2009 ... Hereford United will be aiming to end their season with a winwhen they take on high-flying Milton Keynes Dons at Edgar Streettoday. The Bulls are already doomed to finish at the foot of League Oneand will be playing for pride against the Dons, who have secured aplay-off ...
Bouncer spared jail for hurling man onto floor
May 02, 2009 ... By Jeff Wells wdnews@bepp.co.uk A 17-stone bouncer who threw an unconscious reveller face-down ona pavement leaving him in a bloody heap walked free from courtyesterday. Burly Mark Thomas, 32, was found guilty of causing grievousbodily harm following the incident at a ...
School-run mum over drink limit
May 02, 2009 ... By Deborah Gingell wdnews@bepp.co.uk A mother who was arrested in a classroom after being more thanthree times the drink-drive limit when she went to collect herchildren on the school run has been banned from driving. Catherine Holt jackknifed her car across the road blocking ...
Fly-tipper's jail sentence will hopefully deter other dumpers
May 02, 2009 ... M any proud householders across the West will have jumped for joyat news the region's most prolific fly-tipper has been jailed. On the face of it, the crime is petty and low-level, worlds apartfrom knife attacks and shocking levels of violence on the streets,which leave some ...
Swine flu testing is worrying time
May 02, 2009 ... T he nation watched in horror this week as the first cases of swine flu swept the country. But for seven people in Wiltshire, the past few days must havebeen agonising in the extreme. Just at the time they needed answers fast, the system appears ...
No Robins future for fans' favourite
May 02, 2009 ... By Jon Palmer wdsport@bepp.co.uk J ohn Finnigan admits he is likely to have played his last gamefor Cheltenham Town after being made available on a free transfer. The long-serving club captain has another year to run on hiscurrent deal, but is not part of manager Martin Allen's ...
You'll never guess who used to own this classic...
May 02, 2009 ... The flamboyant coachwork it sports today provides no clue to thereal identity of a 1922 Silver Ghost Rolls Royce which will star atthis weekend's three-day Bristol Classic Car Show. But accounts of the time and photographs found in the archive ofthe Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club, ...
This year's show promises to be the best yet
May 02, 2009 ... Organisers of this year's North Somerset Show, now in its 150thyear, say this year's event will be the best ever. The annual show, organised by North Somerset AgriculturalSociety, is on May Day Bank Holiday, May 4, at the showground inWraxall. Society members have been ...
Burglar preyed on the elderly and vulnerable
May 02, 2009 ... A burglar who carried out 69 "despicable" distraction burglariesagainst elderly and vulnerable people across England and Wales hasbeen sentenced to eight years in jail after an operation involvingnine police forces. Dorset Police led the investigation which led to the arrest ...
Rare fossil is readied for display
May 02, 2009 ... A rare fossil reptile recovered from the Jurassic Coast couldbecome a top museum exhibit. A local fossil collector scouring Monmouth Beach at Lyme Regisrecently discovered a number of bones from a plesiosaur. Natural England, which manages the site, has worked closely withthe ...
She thinks she is going to die
May 02, 2009 ... By Tina Rowe wdnews@bepp.co.uk A hospital employee is facing possible disciplinary action afterfailing to sterilise equipment correctly, leading to some dentalpatients who had undergone treatment being recalled to have bloodchecks for hepatitis and Aids. A spokesman for ...
Apparent boost to pension schemes may be misleading
May 02, 2009 ... The funding position of the UK's biggest defined benefit pensionschemes improved significantly during March, figures showedyesterday. The shortfall faced by the 200 largest schemes eased frompounds36 billion at the end of March to pounds8bn now, according toAon ...
Rentokil initial plans a revival
May 02, 2009 ... Rentokil Initial yesterday set out plans to fix its UK pestcontrol business after the effects of "poor or highly ...
1,000th transplant!
May 02, 2009 ... A Bristol transplant surgeon is celebrating a career ...
Flu sparks exam fears
May 02, 2009 ... Hundreds of thousands of teenagers could be forced to sit theirGCSE exams in isolation from the rest of their school if a flupandemic is declared. Pupils who are sick with swine flu on the day of their examscould still be awarded a grade based on papers or coursework theyhave ...
Van's the man to beat in guineas - murtagh
May 02, 2009 ... Johnny Murtagh is confident Rip Van Winkle can prove he is up toGroup One level when he lines up in the stanjames.com 2000 Guineasat Newmarket today. The Galileo colt was a winner on the first two starts of hiscareer before finishing a close-up seventh when sent off favouritefor ...
Brothers cleared of raping the same woman
May 04, 2009 ... By John Hawkinscitizen.news@glosmedia.co.uk By Marcus Denby wdnews@bepp.co.uk T wo brothers, who have been cleared of raping the same woman,have hit out at the justice system which allowed them to beidentified. Joseph and Benjamin Billau were charged with rape two ...