Birmingham Post

Hotelier Hits Out As Rbs Axes Party Plans

A top hotelier is set to lose thousands of pounds after under- fire bank managers bowed to pressure and cancelled their Christmas party. Up to 240 workers from the Royal Bank of Scotland's Brindley place office in Birmingham were due to attend a festive bash at Nailcote Hall in Berkswell, Warwickshire. But after comments by a Birmingham politician bosses have called off the event 12 days before it was due to take place on December 13.

Parents Were Ones Responsible for Baby P ; Birmingham Post Comment 24 Hours

The anger which followed the horrific death of Baby P is justified, but it should not lead to condemnation of social workers as a whole. Senior officials and councillors who have resigned or been sacked in Haringey had to go. There could be no confidence in the borough's child protection services while they remained in place. And there is a natural and justified public desire to see people take responsibility for the mistakes they have made.

Rbs Christmas Bash Might Have Helped the Economy!

In normal circumstances, one might have little sympathy for a bank which cancelled a Christmas party because an MP criticised them. MPs are supposed to be influential, but not to the extent they tell a major business when to put up the tinsel.

Israelis Halt Flow of Altar Wine for Birmingham

Altar wine on its way from the birthplace of Jesus to Birmingham has been stopped by border police because of claims it is a "security risk". The organic wine, made at the Cremisan winery in Beit Jala, a suburb of Bethlehem, by the Roman Catholic order the Salesians of Don Bosco, has been refused permission to pass the Hebron checkpoint into Israel.

Union Joins Fray Over Ambulance Allegations ; Undercover Probe Leads One Trust to Suspend Contract

The UK's largest public sector union, UNISON, has called for urgent action to regulate private patient transport services amid fears of a lack of staff checks and training. The calls come in the wake of a damning undercover investigation that showed shortcomings at a company employed by at least two Birmingham hospitals.

The Specials Will Play Two Dates in City

The Specials, legends of Midlandsmusic, will reform and tour the UK next year, with two dates in Birmingham. In an era of classic bands reforming to a lucrative nostalgia circuit, fans of the ska punk outfit who split in 1981 have long clamoured for a reunion. The band played a one-off performance at Bestival this year and announced in April they were looking to tour.

Acorns Children's Hospice

Famous Manuscript Stops Off at Institute ; It's 120ft Long and Very Rare so Handle with Care

A roll of fragile paper 120 feet long which forms one of the 20th Century's most iconic literary manuscripts was carefully unpacked yesterday at Birmingham's Barber Institute of Fine Arts. The original 1951 typescript of Jack Kerouac's classic "Beat" novel On the Road goes on show today for the first time in Northern Europe, half a century after it was first published in Britain.

Taxi Drivers Will Have Their Say, Pledges Councilor

Birmingham's licensing chief has vowed to consider the views of every minicab driver and every customer in drawing up new industry guidelines. Coun David Osborne, the chairman of the licensing committee, faced a barrage of questions from fellow councillors over the chaos which last week saw hundreds of private hire drivers locked out of a meeting at Villa Park.

Whitby Defends Icc 'Junket' Paid for by Taxpayers

City council leader Mike Whitby has defended a council manager's pounds 7,000 festive bash at taxpayers' expense. The Tory chief claimed the meeting, a black-tie event at the ICC hosted by city chief executive Stephen Hughes, is a routine quarterly morale boosting get together for senior managers which happened to coincide with Christmas.

Former Pe Teacher Says He Had No 'Desires' Towards Pupils

A former PE teacher at a Birmingham primary school accused of slapping a girl on the bottom, making another do push-ups in front of the class, and writing personal letters to girls at his former school, has told a professional conduct hearing he had no "desires" towards children. Timothy McMahon, who resigned from Audley Primary in Stechford after being suspended in March 2006, faces charges of inappropriate behaviour towards female pupils at Audley and former school, Bromford Junior.

Villa and Albion Ripping Off Fans with Lager Price ; Premiership Check Finds 19 Out of 20 Clubs Inflate Prices

'Premier league clubs in Birmingham have been accused of ripping off fans by charging premium prices for beer. Aston Villaand West Bromwich Albion are charging more than 40p a pint over the average price for a pint, a survey has found.

Your Chance to Bid for a Part of the Corkscrew Online

The front carriage from the UK's most iconic rollercoaster is being sold on eBay for charity. It was Europe's first double-helix coaster and wowed more than 43million thrill seekers in 28-years but Alton Towers closed the curtain on the Corkscrew last month.

In Search of a Straight Answer

Last week I was rebuked by Mr Speaker for shouting at the Prime Minister in the House of Commons (as were a number of others). "One doesn't normally shout at someone answering a question across a room in one's home" someone in Lichfield pointed out to me. Well, that's true. But you don't normally have the sort of conversation at home that goes: "Darling, did you remember to buy the Cumberland sausages we were going to have for lunch?" Answer: "The state of British farming has continued to imp...

Healthy Food Campaign Signs Up Its 400th School ; Education Matters

A campaign for healthy school meals has passed a key milestone in the West Midlands. Pendock Primary in Worcester has become the 400th school in the region to sign up to the 'Million Meals' campaign, which focuses on healthy school meals, local food sourcing and promoting a healthy attitude to food.

School Is Forced to Close Due to Rat Infestation in Roof ; Education Matters

A primary school has been closed after rats were found to have damaged electrical cabling in the building's roof space. Governors at St Andrew's Benn Church of England School in Rugby, Warwickshire, have agreed to relocate pupils to a nearby infant school site for the remainder of the current term.

Teachers Seeking Halt to Academies Programme ; Probe Into Alleged Money Mysteries of Private Trust Edutrust Education Matters

Teachers' representatives in Birmingham want a suspension of the city's Academies programme over a Government investigation into alleged financial irregularities by a private trust looking to sponsor three schools in the city. A national report claims the Department for Children, Schools and Families is investigating concerns raised by Ian Comfort, former chief executive of Edutrust Academies Charitable Trust, on allegations of governance and financing irregularities at the organisation.

Royal Seal of Approval for Healthier Meals Dished Up for Pupils ; Education Matters

The Prince of Wales has helped reward the efforts of two West Midlands schools in serving up better and healthier meals for its pupils. Shropshire schools St Peter's CE Primary, in Wem, and St Andrew's Primary, in Shifnal, were presented with Food for Life Partnership Silver Awards during the first ever Food for Life Partnership Awards ceremony, held in London.

Worcester Paratrooper Stands to Get War Medal

A 25-year-old paratrooper from Worcester who lost both legs and an arm fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan has achieved an ambition by standing to receive a medal from the Prince of Wales. Lance Corporal Tom Neath way climbed from his wheelchair to meet Prince Charles in a ceremony at The Parachute Regiment's base in Colchester, Essex.

Cameron Leads Call for Haringey Dismissal

Angry MPs have demanded to know why Haringey Council's former children's services director remains on full pay despite being ousted over the Baby P tragedy. Sharon Shoesmith was removed from her post by the government after a damning report into her department's shortcomings.