WELCOME to the madhouse that is the build-up to the opening night of a pantomime. Jean Fergusson is applying silver dye and sparkling detail to her fairy shoes in a quiet moment in her Grand Opera House dressing room in York, only to be interrupted by
JUBILANT York air enthusiast Andy Jenkins was finally being released from prison this afternoon. After a wait in jail of more than a month, Andy and his 11 fellow British plane spotters were being ferried out of Nafplion prison, two by two. It is believed
SURVIVORS of the Selby rail disaster are set to launch a flood of compensation claims running into millions of pounds following the conviction of driver Gary Hart. The first civil action has already been launched at Leeds County Court by York survivor
SOCCER star Jonathan Woodgate has been given 100 hours of Community Service after being found guilty of affray - but cleared of causing GBH with intent - during a street attack on a Leeds University student. Leeds teammate Lee Bowyer was cleared of both
THE conviction yesterday of Gary Hart brings a sense of conclusion to the Great Heck railway disaster. The relatives of those who died will be able to begin the healing process in private, rather than having to re-live the tragedy again and again in the
IT'S that time of year again - oh yes it is! This year more than ever we need the pantomime season. A gloomier and more depressing year would be hard to imagine. So all praise to silliness, all glory to happy stupidity. And hello again Mr Kaler. Berwick
TODD Solondz is American cinema's harbinger of doom and gloom, part Cassandra, part Prospero, always tackling uncomfortable issues in an even more uncomfortable way in a world where everyone loses. Never was a film more diametrically opposed to its title
Sunday sees round four of the Yorkshire Winter League come to York waters on the Ouse below the city. With frosts every night this week, the river is likely to be running at normal level, clear and cold. Hardly ideal conditions. The bream and skimmers
ONE-TIME York City target Luke Beckett has joined ailing First Division club Stockport County. Cash-strapped Chesterfield have collected £100,000 from Stockport after transfer-listing the 25-year-old marksman, who turned down Bootham Crescent in favour
A ROW has broken out after City of York Council's opposition leader claimed that roads, bridges and buildings could be left unrepaired due to the "collapse" of planned asset sales. Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Steve Galloway said that the council's
YORK RI will be looking for more of the same when they travel to Skipton in the fourth round of the Junior Cup tomorrow. They edged out their Yorkshire Two rivals 15-10 in a league encounter at New Lane last Saturday. RI know that result will count for
SESSIONS 'A' continue to head division one of York and District Table Tennis Association from York RI 'B'. York RI 'B' beat Bootham CC 'A' 9-1 with John Hughes and Doug Bartle each winning three. York RI 'A' defeated Poppleton 'A' 6-4. Mark Smith won
THERE'S a Kaler on the loose for a 23rd year and this time dame Berwick, dressed in bird feathers, enters on Harry Potter's preferred mode of transport. Significantly, the broomstick snaps on landing: the message being that Berwick is not about to apply
AN AMBITIOUS York drama project has been awarded a £5,000 grant to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee next year. The York Shakespeare Project received the grant from the Yorkshire and Humber region of Awards For All, which deals with lottery cash for
TWO top-rank European players will be the stars of a special international exhibition night of table tennis in York on Monday. Former European champion John Hilton, from Manchester, and Italian international Fabio Mantagazza will be appearing at Canon
NORTH Yorkshire farmers were celebrating today after a French ban on British beef imports was ruled illegal by the European Court of Justice. Now the region's farmers are calling for ministers in France to be hauled over the coals for the economic damage
POOR performance has cost under-fire rail operator Arriva Trains Northern more than £13 million. New figures show the beleaguered company has paid £4.79 million in fines to the rail watchdog - the Strategic Rail Authority - in the last six months to October
SNOOKER commentators had a Dickens of a time when they descended on York's Castle Museum dressed as characters from A Christmas Carol. Legends of the sport, including Steve Davis, who donned a Scrooge outfit, Willie Thorne, Dennis Taylor and John Parrot
UPBEAT Scarborough boss Russell Slade has set his side a target of nine wins in the second half of the season to beat the drop from the Nationwide Conference. Slade has taken four points from his first two games in charge and is out to maintain that momentum
VISITORS to New Earswick Primary School's Christmas productions helped boost the Jamie Bucknell appeal. Two shows were laid on for parents this Christmas, by the infants and the juniors, and the show exit collections will be split between the appeal and
MARK Maley expressed his delight at committing himself to York City until the end of the season then immediately signalled his intent to avoid a relegation dogfight. As reported in the Evening Press, Maley will now be at Bootham Crescent for the rest
I write in response to Richard Aker's comments on Sir Bernard Ingham (Sir Bernard slams 'civic vandalism' of Coppergate II, December 12). Having spoken to several English Heritage employees, including the Inspector of Ancient Monuments for Yorkshire,
Consignia ought to consign their management to the shredding machine post haste, not 30,000 workers to the dole! David Quarrie, Lynden Way, York. Updated: 10:08 Friday, December 14, 2001
RICHARD Ashton has appeared in Jack And The Beanstalk already this year, but what a contrast to this winter's pantomime engagement at York Theatre Royal. "It was in the summer at this theatre in Burbank, Los Angeles, about a quarter of a mile from Warner
A BUS packed with York schoolchildren was today the target of "mindless vandalism". A heavy nut was thrown through the side window of the First bus, smashing it and showering glass into the vehicle as it pulled up outside Huntington School. Although no
THE campaign against the Son of Star Wars missile defence project was last night dealt a massive blow when the U.S. withdrew from the 1972 Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty. The announcement by President George W Bush will come into effect in six months time
Critics are already raving about it. "A landmark in cinema, an awesome feat of imagination and daring," gushed Christopher Tookey in the Daily Mail. "Here is landscape photography of a grandeur and emotional resonance that we haven't witnessed in the
RONNIE 'The Rocket' O'Sullivan launched a scathing verbal attack on his opponent after coming back from 6-1 down to score a sensational 9-8 victory over Peter Ebdon in their UK Snooker Championship quarter-final in front of a packed house in York last
AN extra 200 tickets for Sunday's final of the UK Championships in York went on sale today. Tickets costing £13 for the session starting at 2pm and £15 for the 8pm session or £25 for an all-day ticket, are available from the Barbican Centre box office
TOYOTA reckons that next year it will have a new car rolling off the production lines in England and mainland Europe every five-seconds. Not surprising when Toyota sales last year in the European car market topped 656,000 and there are even more new models
YORK City are sweating on the fitness of striker Lee Nogan ahead of tomorrow's clash. The former Darlington front-man has missed the last two outings with a calf strain, but trained yesterday and was due to train again today. That could put him in contention
MARK Maley expressed his delight at committing himself to York City until the end of the season then immediately signalled his intent to avoid a relegation dogfight. As reported in the Evening Press, Maley will now be at Bootham Crescent for the rest
The body of a man discovered at a disused quarry in Bridlington has been identified as Ian Barker, who went missing from the town's district hospital. Mr Barker, 58, of Wold Road, Pocklington, disappeared from the hospital, where he was a voluntary patient
CALLUM McKay was to the fore as Copmanthorpe thumped Wigginton Black Horse 5-0 in the fourth round of the York FA Saturday Reserve Cup. He hit the back of the net four times as the Leeper Hare Reserve 'C' high-fliers turned on the style. Only a superb
YORK City boss Terry Dolan today revealed utility player Marc Thompson is not part of his long-term plans. The City boss, who handed Thompson his Football League debut when he arrived at the club in February 1999, has confirmed the 19-year-old's contract
THE University of York has been named one of Britain's best institutions for academic research. Eighteen of its 23 departments, including Computer Science, English Literature and Psychology, were found to have research quality of international standing
WIGGINTON opened up the race for the John Smith's Sunday League division one title with a remarkable 4-3 victory at previously unbeaten Volunteers. Starting the game with only ten men they quickly took a two-goal lead through Adam Wash. Lee Bond pulled
HARROGATE Railway have been dealt a blow with the departure of star midfielder Ian McLean to Guiseley. The former Bradford City and Oldham Athletic player joined Railway a year ago from neighbours Harrogate Town, but has been tempted away by the UniBond
BOXES of Christmas cheer will be winging their way across Europe - thanks to the efforts of pupils at Joseph Rowntree School in York. Year Seven pupils at the school have been working to pack boxes with toys, games, school supplies, toiletries, clothing
NEIL Long was in excellent 16-dart form for Mitre in their York Atlas Auto Services League division one encounter with Bishopthorpe SC. He also combined with Brian Farrell to clinch the win while John Pickering notched a maximum. The best player for Bishopthorpe
STAFF, pupils teachers and parents at Easingwold Primary School have enjoyed the annual Nativity play. Reception class pupils Georgina Ellis and Thomas Taylor, pictured, played the lead roles of Mary and Joseph. They were supported by the other boys and
YORK-based children's health services have been boosted by £47,000-worth of highly-specialised equipment. The new technology includes special anaesthetic and monitoring equipment for children, and aims to significantly improve the service provided by
RONNIE 'The Rocket' O'Sullivan launched a scathing verbal attack on his opponent after coming back from 6-1 down to score a sensational 9-8 victory over Peter Ebdon in their UK Snooker Championship quarter-final in front of a packed house in York last
AN extra 200 tickets for Sunday's final of the UK Championships in York went on sale today. Tickets costing £13 for the session starting at 2pm and £15 for the 8pm session or £25 for an all-day ticket, are available from the Barbican Centre box office
FORMER York City and Rowntree Mackintosh striker Neil Grayson could be winging it when Cheltenham arrive at Bootham Crescent tomorrow. Grayson was the Robins top scorer again last season with 13 goals and has had a nasty habit of coming back to haunt
YORK City are sweating on the fitness of striker Lee Nogan ahead of tomorrow's clash. The former Darlington front-man has missed the last two outings with a calf strain, but trained yesterday and was due to train again today. That could put him in contention
Banker Count, rated by jockey Richard McGrath as the best horse he has ridden, can hit the jackpot for trainer Mick Easterby at Cheltenham tomorrow. The nine-year-old, a revelation already this season, lines-up for the £100,000 Tripleprint Gold Cup and
While I am respectful of the contribution of the National Railway Museum to the tourism industry of York and the preservation of railway heritage in general, I must make an observation in the light of the front page article 'Thomas steams in with museum
WHILE welcoming the police's intention to crackdown on cyclists who ride without lights in the dark ('No-lights cyclists face crackdown', December 12 ) will the police also clampdown on drivers who insist on illegally driving with fog lights in conditions
IT is cold and the nights are long, but spring is coming. Today I saw my first snowdrop in bloom in St Mary's churchyard, off Bishophill Senior in York. Could this be a sign of the changing times? N Field, Cherry Hill Lane, Bishop's Wharf, York. Updated
