Media cuttings mentioning Brinds 2011

	Widow tells inquest doctors should have saved her husband's life	Colchester Gazette	10/March/2011
	Coroner rules Colchester doctors might have saved tragic back op man	Daily Gazette	11/March/2011
	Patient died after screws severed an artery in operation	http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/	14/March/2011,
	Relatives to sue NHS after routine op ends in agonising death	Braintree & Witham Times	16/March/2011
	We'll sue Colchester hospital over dad's death after op	Daily Gazette	16/March/2011
	WITHAM: Doctors told by family- 'You could have saved dad's life'	http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/	March/18/2011
	New David Walliams Musical MR STINK To Get London Premiere At Hackney Empire	http://westend.broadwayworld.com/	28/April/2011
	Rearing junior netballers	Roxby Downs Sun News	5/May/2011
	Glemsford and Cavendish triumph in Suffolk Junior Cup	The pink'un http://www.pinkun.com	5/May/2011
	Summit maximises skills for business	www.getbracknell.co.uk	May 18, 2011
	Special constables still play a vital role in the force	Southend Standard	16/June/2011
	Moppy cleans up	http://www.newsshopper.co.uk	11:31am Tuesday 12th July 2011
	Acomb topple leaders Ainsty in men's darts league	York Press	16/Sept/2011
	One shot by miscreants	Times of India	21/Oct/2011
	Gunner Bernard is also a senior Rook: Dripping Yarns with David Arnold	Sussex Express	2/Dec/2011
	School praised by head	Selby Times	10/Dec/2011
	Sleeping Beauty offers a modern twist to classic panto	Berwick Advertiser	26/Dec/2011
	100 screened for deadly Hepatitis C	thiisstaffordshire	16/Dec/2011
	After 49 years of trying golf club finally win title	Kent and Sussex Courier	16/Dec/2011
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Widow tells inquest doctors should have saved her husband's life By Lauren Oldershaw A WIDOW told an inquest doctors ought to have realised her husband was suffering internal bleeding after an operation. Simon Brind, 51, died less than 12 hours after routine surgery at Colchester General Hospital to ease back pain. Two tears were later found in Mr Brind's aorta. As a result, more than 2.5 litres of blood leaked into his stomach, the inquest heard. His wife for 27 years, Ann Brind, said: "We still feel the medical staff failed to make a diagnosis in time." SOURCE Colchester Gazette 9:35am Thursday 10th March 2011

Coroner rules Colchester doctors might have saved tragic back op man A MAN who died after a routine back operation might have survived if doctors had performed emergency surgery sooner, an inquest has ruled. After a four-day hearing, deputy coroner Eleanor McGann took the unusual step of recording a narrative verdict on the death of 51-year-old Simon Brind. She simply outlined for the record the facts of the case and what appeared to have gone wrong. Mr Brind, from Witham, died less than 12 hours after undergoing surgery at Colchester General Hospital on July 31, 2007. The coroner was told Mr Brind's aorta had been inadvertently pierced during a back operation, in which screws had been inserted in his spine. SOURCE Daily Gazette 9:20am Friday 11th March 2011

WITHAM: Patient died after screws severed an artery in operation By Matthew Ward Newsdesk@Essexchronicle.Co.Uk A PATIENT was killed when metal screws put into his spine during an operation to relieve back pain severed a major artery, an inquest heard. Simon Brind, 51, of Witham, underwent surgery in July 2007 to correct a problem in his spine that was causing him severe pain in his back and leg. Shortly afterwards he complained of feeling sick, and he died on July 31. A postmortem examination found that two screws inserted into vertebrae near the base of his spine had penetrated right through the bone and torn his aorta - the largest artery which carried blood from the heart. Mr Brind's family have waited almost four years for an explanation - delays which the coroner said were down to the complexity of investigating a highly technical medical procedure. Speaking at the inquest at County Hall, Chelmsford, this week, the surgeon who carried out the procedure at Colchester General Hospital, Mark Blackman, told how he had operated on over 1,000 spines during his career and had never had this happen before. He said: "I am aware that it has been documented but I have never seen an aortic rupture as a result of a screw." Representing the family, barrister Alexander Hutton asked him: "Would you accept, with the benefit of hindsight, that you put the screws in too far?" Dr Blackman answered: "Yes - I don't think I can say anything else." However, he denied suggestions that he had made errors in his measurements during the operation, and insisted that he had correctly carried out the necessary procedures. The surgeon described how the procedure involved putting four screws into the spine and inserting a cage to relieve nerve pressure that was causing the pain. The court also heard how, due to the delay, one of the nurses involved at the time could not be traced, and notes relating to Mr Brind's operation had gone missing. The pathologist who carried out the postmortem examination on August 2, 2007, had found the tears in the aorta and gave the cause of death as internal bleeding, at the back of the abdomen. He said Mr Brind's abdomen contained around 2.3 kg of clotted blood. Mr Brind, An IT worker in London, was married with two children. The inquest is due to end this week. SOURCE http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/ Monday, March 14, 2011, 08:00

We'll sue Colchester hospital over dad's death after op By Owen Bennett THE daughter of a man who died in agony after a routine operation says her family will be taking legal action against Colchester General Hospital. Simon Brind, 51, of Laburnum Way, Witham, died in hospital at about 11pm, on July 31, 2007. The inquest into his death was finally held last week and ended with the coroner ruling swifter action by doctors might have saved the father-of-two. The four-day hearing in Chelmsford heard potentially life-saving surgery to repair a torn aorta - the body's main artery - was started too late to save him. His daughter, Gemma, of East Hill, Colchester, was at the hearing every day and said her family has been "lost" since Mr Brind died. She added: "I can't praise the coroner highly enough for how thorough she was. We are 100 per cent taking legal action against the trust "We are pretty lost without him, the first part was dealing and coping with the fact he isn't here any more. "The second part was dealing with how he died. An aortic tear is the worst trauma a body can suffer, the fact is, he died in agony." On the morning of July 31, 2007, Mr Brind, who worked as a facilities manager in London, underwent a routine operation to treat sciatica, which he had suffered since his teenage years. Two screws were inserted into his spine, and these caused tears in his aorta, leaving his abdomen to fill up with blood. Problems were first noted at about 8pm, but by the time medical staff raised the alarm at 9.25pm and took Mr Brind in for emergency surgery, it was too late. Miss Brind said: "When he went in for the initial meeting to hear about the operation, he was quite impressed. He thought it would solve all his problems. He was told he would have a quick recovery, which was key, as he was the only driver in the family. "The night before he went in, he did say he was a little bit nervous. "I remember saying 'Do it, go for it, you'll be fine'." As well as planning legal action against the Colchester Hospital University Foundation Trust, which runs Colchester General Hospital, Miss Brind has also written to the coroner's office, asking why it took so long for the inquest to be held. Simon Brind, pictured in this family snapshot with his son, Adam, hoped the op would free him from the back pain SOURCE Daily Gazette 4:00pm Wednesday 16th March 2011

Relatives to sue NHS after routine op ends in agonising death Relatives of a man who died in agony after a routine operation plan to take legal action against a hospital trust. Simon Brind, from Laburnum Way, Witham, died at Colchester General Hospital on July 31, 2007 after going in for treatment for sciatica. Two screws were inserted into his spine, which caused two tears in his aorta, the largest artery in the body, causing about 2.5 litres of blood to leak into his abdomen. A four-day inquest into the 51-year-old's death last week heard how potentially life-saving surgery to repair the torn artery was started too late to save the father-of-two. His daughter Gemma said his family has been 'lost' since his death. See this week's Witham and Braintree Times for the full story. SOURCE Braintree & Witham Times 10:48am Wednesday 16th March 2011

WITHAM: Doctors told by family- 'You could have saved dad's life' By Matthew Ward Matthew.Ward@Essexchronicle.Co.Uk FASTER action by doctors could have saved the life of a man who died when screws punctured a major artery following a botched operation. Speaking after an inquest into the death of Simon Brind, 51, of Witham, his heartbroken family said they will now sue the hospital trust. Daughter Gemma Brind, 30, said: "He meant everything to us - he lived for his family and we are all devastated that he never got to meet his two grandsons." Mr Brind died in 2007 at Colchester General Hospital following a spinal operation which involved putting four screws into his vertebrae to relieve pressure on nerves that were causing him severe pain. He was operated on during the morning of July 31, 2007, and died that night, with a post-mortem examination establishing that two of the screws had penetrated right through his spine and torn his aorta - the largest artery in the body. The cause of death was given as internal bleeding. During the inquest it was found by Deputy Coroner Eleanor McGann that Mr Brind had been left unattended by doctors for around an hour after the operation, at a time when their intervention could have saved his life. The father of two's skin had turned yellow by around 8pm in the evening - a sign of life-threatening internal bleeding - the court heard. But by the time he was seen by a senior surgeon and returned to the operating theatre it was too late to repair the damage caused by the screws, inserted by surgeon Mark Blackman that morning. Mrs McGann said: "I accept that the correct procedures were followed throughout the operation, that the screws were of a standard length, and that he did not know they had penetrated the spine." However, she criticised a junior doctor, Dr Jane Stokoe, who had examined Mr Brind that evening. The coroner said: "Having made the decision that a more senior doctor was needed, she should have made sure that she got one. Dr Stokoe spoke to Dr Medhurst but did not wait for him to arrive." The court heard that by the time Dr Medhurst did arrive, Mr Brind's blood pressure had become "unreadable", and that the colouring of the patient's skin should have been a warning to any medical professionals that he was "bleeding out." Mrs McGann returned a narrative verdict at the end of the four-day hearing at County Hall, Chelmsford. Miss Brind said that the findings of the inquest had strengthened the family's resolve to seek justice through the courts. She added: "It was extremely distressing to hear the evidence, in particular to hear about how much pain my father was in before he died. "It feels like there are two parts to the grief - one is coming to terms with the fact that he has gone, which we have started to do. "The other is coming to terms with how much pain and suffering my father went through before he died, which could have been avoided - and how scared he was - and that's a lot harder to come to terms with." SOURCE totalessex.gif Friday, March 18, 2011, 09:30 Share

New David Walliams Musical MR STINK To Get London Premiere At Hackney Empire KW & NB Ltd and Curve, Leicester with Hackney Empire and Nottingham Playhouse present a musical adaptation of David Walliams' award-winning novel for children, Mr Stink. Opening at the Curve in Leicester with previews from 26th May, Press Performance Tues 31 May, Mr Stink will embark on a major national tour between May and December 2011 with stinky stops at the Hackney Empire for one week only from Wed 22 June to Sun 26 June and the Nottingham Playhouse for two weeks from 16 August. Hackney Empire Perfs Wed 22,Thurs 23 June 12.30pm+ 7.00pm, Fri 24 7.00pm, Sat 25 1.30pm + 6.00pm, Sun 26 June 5.00pm David Walliams, star of Little Britain and Come Fly with Me has written the smelliest book of all time, which now breaks new ground in the first ever interactive scratch 'n' sniff family show, bringing Mr Stink pongingly to life. Adapted and Directed by Matthew White (Director of the recent West End productions of Sweet Charity and Little Shop of Horrors and the forthcoming production of Top Hat) with music composed by Matt Brind (Musical Director for Legally Blonde and Conductor and Orchestrator for John Barrowman's latest album). It is designed by Charlie Cridlan with Puppets by Tobie Olie. In the cast are Peter Edbrook (Mr Stink), Lotte Gilmore (Chloe), Julia Nagle (Mrs Crumb) Mark Peachey (Mr Crumb), Irvine Iqbal (Raj). The puppets are The Duchess Mr Stink's faithful dog, Annabelle Chloe's perfect sister, Elizabeth the Crumb family cat. David Walliams, who's not in the show, really wants you to come and see it! Chloe doesn't like school very much. She isn't as cool as the other kids, no iPhone, no DS and no friends. Then she meets Mr Stink - the local tramp. Yes, he smells a bit but he's the only person who's ever been nice to her, including her mother who wants to be the local MP and is trying to rid the streets of its homeless. About to lose her only friend, Chloe finds Mr Stink a secret hiding place...but is there more to him than meets the nose? Hackney Empire 291 Mare Street London E 8 1 EJ Box Office 020 8985 2424 Perfs Wed 22,Thurs 23 June 12.30pm+ 7.00pm, Fri 24 7.00pm, Sat 25 1.30pm + 6.00pm, Sun 26 June 5.00pm Tickets £10.00 - £20.00. Suitable for 7+ Running time 2 hrs 10 mins Overground to Hackney Central, Buses 30, 38, 48, 55, 106, 236, 242, 253, 254, 276, 277 www.mrstinklive.com: wwww.hackneyempire.co.uk Read more: http://westend.broadwayworld.com/article/New-David-Walliams-Musical-MR-STINK-To-Get-London-Premiere-At-Hackney-Empire-20110428#ixzz1Kwwaqw2K SOURCE http://westend.broadwayworld.com/ Thursday, April 28, 2011; Posted: 06:04 PM

Rearing junior netballers They are young, fit and rearing to go. They are Roxby Downs' junior netballers and they are ready to play some serious netball with the 2011 season getting underway this weekend. The mini Lightning Carnival will be held this Saturday at the Roxby Leisure Centre's outdoor courts. Girls in the under 9, under 11 and under 13 teams will play in the carnival, which will be used as a grading day. Junior Netball chairperson Jodie Brind said it was something new the club was trialling to ensure the teams are even. "It should be a fun start to the season to get the girls ready for full games of netball starting next week." Ms Brind said strong numbers would guarantee a healthy competition. "We have 16 teams with 120 registrations all up and we have girls coming over from Maree to play also. "We have lots of new nine and under players and new to town girls have joined teams as well." "Late registrations are also welcome," Ms Brind said. She said the competition boasted some exciting young players. "We have five 13 & under netballers and one 15 and under who are part of the Spencer Academy who travel to Port Augusta for training. The talented players who made the elite squad are Maddie Young, Millie Clarke, Meg Prior, Renee Wurfel, Makaia Kalbfleisch and Erica Syvertsen. SOURCE Roxby Downs Sun News www.roxbydownssun.com.au 5 May, 2011 12:20 PM

Glemsford and Cavendish triumph in Suffolk Junior Cup ANDREW Gardiner inspired Glemsford and Cavendish United to their first Suffolk Junior Cup triumph with a fantastic 3-1 win over Leiston St Margarets. The match pitted together title contenders in Glemsford, who ply their trade in the Cambridgeshire BIS League 3A, and Leiston who won the SIL Division One title at the weekend. But it was Glemsford, led by their bustling centre forward Gardiner, who always had the upper hand at Portman Road. Gardiner scored a thunderbolt first before playing a crucial role in Danny Brind's decisive third. Speaking after the game, the man of the match said: "They gave us a good game but I thought we thoroughly deserved it. I haven't hit a goal sweeter than that for a long while." Leiston St Margarets striker James Blades had equalised from the penalty spot, but Glemsford restored their lead after the break through Gavin Brightwell - his strike, like Gardiner's, going in off the underside of the bar. It was no more than United deserved, refusing to feel sorry for themselves after losing skipper Scott Lawrence to a suspected knee injury minutes before half-time. Glemsford boss Rob Benson had ensured no stone was left unturned in his pre-match preparations and it showed with his side settling better into the surroundings. None more so than 29-year-old Gardiner whose muscular frame, aided by deceptive pace, was clearly unsettling the Leiston backline. It was no surprise when United's most dangerous attacking option opened the scoring on 18 minutes. Running at Leiston player-manager Chris Wright, Glemsford's number 10 was allowed to venture into the penalty area before unleashing a powerful drive which cannoned off the inside of the crossbar and in. Forget the 'junior' status of this competition, it was a goal worthy of any cup final. And it was almost two when Gardiner worked an opening down the right and Andrew Smith saw his close range shot well blocked by Leiston keeper Gary Lambert. Clearly rattled, Leiston struggled to string any dangerous possession together, despite the enthusiastic promptings of left winger Ben Keeble. They needed something and it came via a rather cumbersome tackle by Glemsford's Patrick Tatam who sent James Blades crashing to the ground just inside the area. Innocuous rather than malicious, Blades cared not as he picked himself up and calmly sent Thomas Lockwood the wrong way from 12 yards. As the game evened up either side of the interval, it was United who regained the lead 10 minutes after the interval with a goal out of nothing. Brightwell cut inside before hitting a curling left foot shot that also hit the crossbar and bounced down. But the winger wheeled away in delight after the assistant referee signalled that the ball had crossed the line. Leiston had possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances, Blades heading straight at Lockwood after fantastic wing play from substitute Tom Havers. And the final was won 16 minutes from time when A Gardiner did the hard work, outmuscling a posse of Leiston defenders before laying the ball off to Brightwell, who had the presence of mind to tee up Brind to drill the killer third home. Leiston's misery was complete in the final minute when Wright was sent off for a second yellow card. Glemsford and Cavendish United: Thomas Lockwood, David Dowding, Patrick Tatam, Dwain Reader, Richard Burnham, Scott Lawrence (Richard Fryer 45), Matthew Gardiner, Daniel Brind, Andrew Smith (William Chaplin 46), Andrew Gardiner (Michael Wilson 86), Gavin Brightwell. Subs not used: Craig Green, Christian Williamson. Leiston St Margarets: Gary Lambert, Daniel Keeble, Callum Godbold, Daniel Threadkell, Adam Herbert, Chris Wright, Ross Pemberton (Tom Havers 59), Rory Horner, James Blades, Darren Harper (Matthew Murphy 75), Ben Keeble. Subs not used: William Ridgard, Kyle Horner, Matthew Smith. Referee: Mick Franks. Attendance: 596 Suffolk Junior Cup football final at Portman Road in Ipswich between Glemsford in blue and leiston in red.; Glemsford celebrate their victory. SOURCE The pink'un http://www.pinkun.com Thursday, May 5, 2011 11:26 AM

Summit maximises skills for business Employers keen to learn more about training options in Reading have a last chance to book places on a skills summit next week. Reading UK CIC is running the event to help businesses understand the skills of workers, which has changed dramatically over the past 12 months. It will also give employers the opportunity to express how the training and education sector can best support local industry. The event was organised after two research programmes carried out for Reading UK CIC. A survey of 500 local businesses in 2009 revealed almost 20 per cent of employees lacked the skills necessary to do their jobs effectively and productively. Further research conducted by Reading University last year highlighted a lack of achievement in education and skills among the local population as a key concern. Helen Brind, skills for business co-ordinator for Reading UK CIC, was appointed to help employers bridge the skills gap. She said: "I'm here to help businesses make sure they only need to go to one person for skills and training options. "I then source the best available training options for them." Ms Brind said the Reading 100 in 100 campaign, in association with the National Apprenticeship Service to create 100 new apprenticeship places, had helped get the skills for business effort off to a good start. She added: "We've also lobbied providers to ensure they are teaching people the right skills for local employment. For example, we're seeking to get more local engineering provision to match a known skills shortage." The skills summit is being held at the pentahotel in Oxford Road between 8am and 10.30am on Thursday, May 26. To book places, go to www.livingreading.co.uk/skillssummit.html, email helen@livingreading.co.uk or call 07747 795 003. SOURCE www.getbracknell.co.uk May 18, 2011

Special constables still play a vital role in the force By Laura Smith BEING a police officer is a pretty tough job - so why would you want to do it for free...? I spent a busy Friday night with a team of special constables to find out. The evening kicked off with me clambering into a people carrier at about 7.30pm along with Rayleigh neighbourhood policing Sgt Steve Joynes and five of his team. We're off to Rochford to give protection to a victim of domestic violence who is heading to her former home to clear out her belongings. The partner doesn't show, but we carefully watch as she loads her possessions into a van. This is where specials play a unique community role as ordinary shift officers would struggle to find time in a Friday night shift to provide this sort of service. While we watch I take the opportunity to chat with special sergeant Mark Brind, 21, who has been volunteering for two-and-a-half years. By day he fits TV aerials and stairlifts, but he has ambitions to become a fully fledged police officer, preferably for the traffic division. He describes his motivation: "I want to make a difference in the community. This is a good way of seeing what it's all about. I like the variety. You never know what you're going to go to next." Mark Brind on patrol in Rayleigh town centre SOURCE Southend Standard 11:50am Thursday 16th June 2011

Moppy cleans up The first silverware of the South London & Kent Pool Alliance Summer 2011 season was awarded on 10 July when the Pairs and Lower Division Singles competitions were contested at Woolwich Riley's. With some good teams in the lower divisions this season competition proved to be quite strong in the Lower Division Singles this season and was reflected when top of the rankings James Sheed was drawn against Interleague squad member Tony Gear in the first round with Gear going through by 3 frames to 1. Other Interleague squad members Kevin Hewitt and Ian Cruwys faced each other with Hewitt squeezing through 3-2 in a hard fought match. For the first time we had entrants from the Reserve League and two of them faced opponents from Tier Two East leaders Erith Snooker Master 8'ers in the first round. John McGregor played well against Stephen Marsters but went down 3-2 and Richard Lenaghan lost to Ryan West 3-1 as both Master 8'ers went through. The other Master 8'er in the first round, Glen Bradstreet didn't fare as well going down to Interleague Captain Tony Frost by 3 frames to 1. The final two first round matches saw Matt Flockhart and Sean O'Connor of Rack Pack play Jason Brunton and Lewis Brind of Leather Bottle respectively with both Rack Pack players winning through to the second round. After both getting a bye in the first round, the match of the second round had to be Nick Gillet against Naf Ayieko with Gillet on fine form taking the match 3-1 to go through to the quarter final. Gillet's Rack Pack team mate and doubles partner Sean O'Connor went a frame down against Paul Thomas but overcame this to win 3-1 and set up a quarter final against his pal. London County player Paul 'Moppy' Williams lost the first two frames against Tony Frost but won the next three to book his place in the quarter final. He was guaranteed a team mate alongside him in the next round as Stephen Marsters played Kevin Hewitt, with Marsters edging it 3-2. John Ratcliff made it three Master 8'ers in the quarters as he overcame Amy Bailey from the Reserve League's Quid Pro Cue by 3 frames to 0. There was another whitewash as Tony Gear beat Shailash Vekaria, while Joe Kane beat Matt Flockhart 3-1 and previous finalist Jeff Kingman beat Ryan West by the same score. After playing together in the Pairs competition Nick Gillet and Sean O'Connor faced each other for a place in the semi final of the Lower Division Singles and Gillet narrowly took the spot with a 3-2 win. He will face Stephen Marsters after he beat Joe Kane, who had come straight from a gruelling Pairs match, by 3 frames to 1. Paul Williams made it two Master 8'ers in the semis as he overcame Jeff Kingman 3-1 but John Ratcliff couldn't make it a third as he went down by the same score to Tony Gear to meet Williams in the semi. The Gear v Williams semi was, as expected a hard fought close match with Moppy just taking it by the odd frame, 3-2 but Marsters couldn't make it a Master 8'ers final as Gillet breezed past with a 3-0 win. So Nick Gillet of Rack Pack faced Paul 'Moppy' Williams of Erith Snooker Master 8'ers in the final of the SLKPA Lower Division Singles and Williams got off to a great start winning the first two frames. Gillet pulled one back but Williams won the next to retain his two frame lead. Williams broke in the fifth frame but scratched the cue ball and Gillet cleared then left Williams with five balls on the table with a great clearance in the next to tie the match at three all. The deciding frame could have gone either way but it was Williams who 'mopped' up to walk away with the title and £50 prize money. For more information on the SLKPA including the full draw for both competitions visit our website at www.slkpa.com or contact our Secretary Paul Gafa on 07753 926291 with any queries. As the Summer Season draws to a close registration is open for next Winter Season, for more details visit the website or contact Paul Gafa. The league are looking at potential sponsors, any interested parties can also contact Paul Gafa. SOURCE http://www.newsshopper.co.uk 11:31am Tuesday 12th July 2011

Acomb topple leaders Ainsty in men's darts league DIVISION one in the York John Smith's Men's Darts League was shaken up when Acomb beat leaders Ainsty 7-3. Acomb's Keith Turner (180), Paul Dixon (18-dart leg, 19, 180) and Andy Rennie (21 and Bull co) starred, eclipsing the efforts of Ainsty's Dave Mason (20, 21), Adam Thompson (20), Chris Thompson (15, 16, 180) and Steve Evans (18). Shaun Day (180), Heath Scaife (16, 19) and John Mooring (19) gave Shepherds a 6-4 win against Mitre, whose top performers were John Quantock (2 x 17, 180), Rich Corner (21, 180), Dave Scaum (18) and Lutz Leutzsch (20). In the return fixture, Mitre's Rich Corner (20, 21), Chris Quantock (19) and John Quantock (17) secured a 7-3 win. The best for Shepherds were Heath Scaife (130 checkout, 14) and Tony Cooper (19, 20). Simon Brind (19), Mike Harrison (20) and Steve Snowden (20) gave Green Tree their first win of the season - a 7-3 result over Cueball, whose Craig Wedge (19) and Barry Noble (19) played well. Division two leaders Severus had Dean Cairns (24), Gary Kitson (24) and Steve Brookes (24) playing well, but Jack Norman (23), Chaz Ramsden (17, 20), Neil Fairclough (22) and Ken Smith (24) secured an 8-2 win and top spot for Crescent. Flag's Alan Littlewood (23) helped make sure they kept the pressure on with an 8-2 win at Turf, whose Dave Hannigan (23, 180) starred. Ainsty 'B' had Daz Meek (21) and Steve Spence (180, 20) on form in an 8-2 win over Keys. SOURCE York Press 10:13am Friday 16th September 2011

One shot by miscreants VARANASI: In a sensational incident, Rajnath Brind, a native of Kadipur area under Rohania police station, was shot near Manduadih police station on Thursday evening. Reports stated that he was going somewhere by his motorcycle when the miscreants opened fire at him. He died on the spot. However, nobody could hear the sound of firing. On noticing his body lying on the road, where his motorcycle also fell, locals reported the matter to police. The motive for the murder could not be ascertained. Tags: Rohania police station|Kadipur area SOURCE Times of India Oct 21, 2011, 11.24AM IST

Gunner Bernard is also a senior Rook: Dripping Yarns with David Arnold AT 93 years of age Bernard Brind must surely be the most senior fan of Lewes FC. My wife Barbara and I met him for the first time in 2008 when we discovered he was celebrating his 90th birthday at a football match at the Dripping Pan. We got chatting, initially about football but then about anything and everything - and very quickly it became clear that Bernard had led a very interesting life, not least when being evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940 before later serving with the famous Eighth Army in North Africa and Italy in World War II. At El Alamein he went into action with the 25-pounder guns of the Royal Artillery.His role was to recce new locations for the battery, a task that took him forward of the guns and sometimes found him in the uncomfortable position of having 'friendly' shells whizzing over his head en route to the enemy. Nevertheless Bernard is proud of the fact that his Eighth Army unit never once retreated but were always advancing right up until the end of the war in Italy in 1945. During this time he witnessed the German surrender in Tunis in May 1943 and the controversial bombing of the venerable abbey of Monte Cassino in February 1944. Bernard had several close shaves while in action, the closest coming when, in March 1945, an enemy shell hit the Italian farmhouse he was sheltering in. Three signalers in the room next to Bernard's were killed instantly and a fourth died on the way to hospital in Rimini. Bernard told me: "It was such tough luck on those men what with the war being nearly over. As for me, I got some shrapnel in my hand but I knew I had been incredibly lucky." Football loomed large in his life even in the war years, when he had the distinction of playing for the Army at his barracks in Yorkshire, on sun-baked grounds in Egypt and verdant fields in Italy. In fact Bernard's most serious 'war wound' was sustained in a football game organised by a Regimental Sports Officer. On leave in Cairo at the time, Bernard's right elbow was severely injured in a heavy fall. Though he was patched up and soon returned to active duties, the accident left him with a lifelong problem with the elbow, a problem that was only finally acknowledged by a medical tribunal some dozen years ago, meaning that Bernard now receives a war disability allowance. It was ironic that post-war this particular gunner should meet his wife-to-be while playing in a mixed gender cricket match on the Royal Arsenal sports field. Mollie and Bernard went on to have two sons. Today there are also four grandchildren plus four great grandchildren. Bernard's life in Civvy Street saw him join the building firm Longleys where he rose to become a director in 1968. For 10 years until his retirement in 1978 he managed the company's football team. Mollie sadly passed away in 2005. Bernard himself has not enjoyed the best of health over the past year but still likes to get to as many Lewes games as possible. He lives in Greyfriars Court near the Railwayland so it is not too far for him to walk to the ground, although he has to be wary of the weather conditions. He welcomed the return of Steve King as Lewes manager and though the team has taken time to settle in, Bernard believes they are play-off contenders at the very least. An Anzio coincidence Bernard's fascinating story is recounted at length in my book Seventy Years On, a collection of wartime tales featuring the memories of scores of former service personnel, civilians and people who grew up in those extraordinary times. The stories appear against the backdrop of a day-by-day diary of events between 1939 and 1945 and the book concludes with a timeline of Britain's smaller but often very deadly and dangerous conflicts since the post-war years of austerity right up until the present day in Afghanistan. My book was inspired by a visit Barbara and I made to Anzio in Italy back in 1988. We went to visit the grave of her Uncle, Geordie Kane, a Royal Scots Fusilier who was killed in the desperate fighting around the Allied beachhead there in April 1944. It was a poignant trip that enabled Barbara to bring home photographs for her mum that showed the headstone and cemetery. We know it gave her peace of mind to see how Geordie's memory was preserved in such a tranquil setting in that far-off corner of a foreign land. She died a few months later. I was quite taken aback when I learnt that Bernard also went ashore at Anzio. His wartime diary records: 'Very heavy fighting. Air activity terrific on both sides.' He told me that his unit (part of the 56th London 'Black Cats' Division) lost a lot of men and guns at Anzio. They re-embarked under shellfire on 16 March 1944 and went to Naples for rest and refitting. I never cease to be amazed by the power of coincidence. That's why my book has the sub-title A Tapestry in Time. SOURCE Sussex Express Friday 2 December 2011 09:23

Sleeping Beauty offers a modern twist to classic panto There are certain key ingredients we expect from the perfect panto and Sleeping Beauty certainly doesn't disappoint. We have the evil queen to boo at, silly songs, flashes and slapstick - and, of course, a cheeky dame with a series of increasingly ridiculous outfits. Yet the extravaganza at The Maltings this Christmas season does break from tradition and provides a modern twist to the classic fairytale. For a start, Beauty (Mairi-Clare Brogan) is a tad sassier than your average pantomime princess and her prince (Ben Kerr) is a proper man and not another girl thinly disguised in thigh high boots (although he does wear tights). Then there's the Glee style remixing of popular pop songs such as 'Just The Way You Are,' and 'My Life Would Suck Without You' the most spectacular of which is the act one finale 'Light Up.' My family went to see the show at the weekend and the children were in fits of giggles when Nurse Nancy (the hilarious Morgan Brind) and silly sidekick Mervin (Alan Bowles) attempted to decorate Princess Rose's nursery and were covered in wallpaper paste. They were mesmerised when Prince Vince battled his way in darkness through the 100-year-old weeds, fighting some not-so-scary- dancing fluorescent bugs. And I was extremely impressed by the cast's ability to keep up with the actions to the complicated song. There was plenty of opportunity for the customary audience participation too - and not all of it welcomed (look out for Nurse Nancy's water pistol) and lots of in-jokes to keep the mums and dads amused. Musical numbers were belted out by the performers and accompanied by some funky dance moves. Louise Grantham sparkled as the good fairy 'Fairy Lights' while Natalie Ball revelled in her role as the wicked sister Carabosse. Playing her faithful bulldog servant was Ross Graham, who doubled up as St John the Dragon, and King Terry (Peter Kenworthy) tried in vain to keep order but even he had to succumb to the silliness in the end. Joining them on stage were a talented bunch of youngsters who coped brilliantly with the routines but the biggest star of them all had to be Ned - the plastic horse. The Derbyshire-based company behind the production is Little Wolf Entertainment and its cast and crew decamped to Berwick for the first time last year with Aladdin. They choose to spend their Christmas and New Year in the town because they love it so much and, judging by the audience's reaction on Saturday, the feeling is mutual. The pantomime is written especially for the local audience by Morgan, who plays Nancy, and co-produced with the - not so stupid after all then - Alan (aka Mervin), also the choreographer. But it's no small town production with clever lighting, elaborate sets and magnificent costumes combining to make a truly flamboyant show. *Sleeping Beauty runs until December 29 at The Maltings. SOURCE Berwick Advertiser Monday 26 December 2011

100 screened for deadly Hepatitis C A CHARITY is celebrating treating more than 100 people with Hepatitis C. Festival Park-based CRI held a party yesterday to mark the milestone. ​ It has screened 624 Stoke-on-Trent men and women between the ages of 18 and 64 since July last year. Of those people, 100 have been treated for Hepatitis C and 43 have been completely cured and discharged. The project has been made possible through £600,000 of funding from the Safer City Partnership. Most of them contracted the disease through sharing drug equipment. The disease mostly affects the liver and can lead to cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Treatment can prove difficult for sufferers but CRI can offer support for side effects, which include becoming anaemic, nausea, skin rashes, loss of hair and depression. It involves daily tablets and injections once a week for either 24 or 48 weeks. About 180 million people are infected worldwide. For more information, call CRI on 01782 212800. Pictured, from left, are Vicki Yates, Dr Alison Brind, Rejoice Nguasena-Keambapani, Tarlie Davies and team leader Lisa Nagington. SOURCE thiisstaffordshire Friday, December 16, 2011

After 49 years of trying golf club finally win title GOLF: You could say it was about time that Tunbridge Wells Golf Club won the Jack Hicks Kent 9-hole trophy - they had been attempting to claim the title for the last 49 years. Finally, after being the bridesmaid so many times, at least six times they have made the final, the club tasted success by beating Sidcup Golf Club 7-5, at Eltham Warren Golf Club. Winners: Tunbridge Wells Golf Club with the Jack Hicks Kent 9-hole trophy The final consisted of four foursomes and eight singles played during one, intense day of golfing competition. Captain Mike Fishlock chose the pairings for the foursomes and his choices proved to be outstanding - Wells won all four matches to go four up, 5-3, 3-2, 5-3 and 3-2. Sidcup came out fighting in the afternoon singles, taking the first three matches to make the score 4-3. Fred Adcock, playing off five and giving his opponent four shots, stemmed the flow of Sidcup points by winning eight and seven to make the score 5-3. Richard Huges kept the ship steady, winning his game three-up to put Wells one point away from victory. Sidcup won the next two matches, so it was all down to the final game, which saw Andy Weatherly make a remarkable comeback from three down to win by one hole. The final score was 7-5 and after 49 years of trying, Wells had finally got their hands on the trophy. Tunbridge Wells captain Cliff Worchester toasted the whole team, saying he was so proud to have won this prestigious trophy in his year of captaincy. Team members who played in the competition: Mike Fishlock, Andy Dobson, Fred Adcock, Tony Mclaughlin, Andy Weatherly, Richard Huges, Dave Webzell, Dave Abrahams, Matt Kelly, Mark Fenner, Nick Hill and Chris Brind. SOURCE Kent and Sussex Courier Friday, December 16, 2011

School praised by head NEW headteacher at Holy Family Catholic High School in Carlton, Darren Beardsley, has been highly impressed with students, staff and teaching standards since he arrived in the area. He was previously teaching at a high school in North Manchester, but this is his first headship and he said his new school had impressed him from day one. On the day we arrived pupils were getting creative in the design and technology department making model aircraft, showing flair in art lessons and getting fit in PE lessons. Mr Beardsley said: "I have been thoroughly impressed since I arrived. "The atmosphere in school is great and the children are very productive and the pupils are wonderfully well behaved. "Some of the work the students do is outstanding including work in technology and art. At our recent open evening parents were very responsive and, as part of the development of pupils, there was a recent educational visit to London with the RE department. This school is a thriving place, busy environment and a very productive learning environment. "We have a number of strengths here and I aim to build on the good things we have and hopefully make improvements of my own." DESIGN: In the design technology department at Carlton Holy Family School is Oliver Brind (15). (L4288TS) Picture: Tony Saxton SOURCE Selby Times Saturday 10 December 2011 06:06