TODAY Britain's railways are a step closer to being run by and for the nation. The announcement that Network Rail is taking all track maintenance in-house marks a subtle, long-term shift in control. This process has been dubbed by some in the industry
SHED Seven became York's most successful band. Now they are splitting. From their first hit Dolphin in 1994, Rick Witter and co provided a string of hits. And, when musical fashion ruled them out, they continued to play sell-out live concerts at which
IT starts with his teeth, his whole teeth, and nothing but his teeth. Close up, framed in blue light in a dental surgery, but still unmistakably George Clooney's whiter than white teeth. When gorgeous George was previously on the Coen Brothers' books,
DIANE Thornton's first solo exhibition in York, The Love Of Colour, will run until November 9 at the Blake Gallery, Blake Street. Her inspiration comes from the beauty of the North Yorkshire landscape. "I am so lucky to live in Skelton, with the Dales
EVER since she found fame aboard The Cruise documentary series, Jane McDonald had been on a crest of a wave. But then she hit the rocks, or at least her marriage did. The Wakefield singer was knocked out of her usually ebullient stride, so much so that
LEVEL 42 so enjoyed their comeback tour last autumn, they are taking to the road again. Next Wednesday, Mark King and his Brit-funk group from the Isle of Wight return to York Barbican Centre, where the played last November on their first concert itinerary
BUOYANT Chris Smith reckons York City are primed to end their travel sickness at Scunthorpe United on Saturday. The statistics may suggest otherwise with City having not won at Scunthorpe in more than a decade, their last victory at Glanford Park coming
FOR her first season, Harrogate Theatre artistic director Hannah Chissick wanted to balance three needs. The season's opener, Yasmina Reza's Art, has headed off on a tour with a star cast of Les Dennis, Christopher Cazenove and John Duttine that will
IT is a familiar scenario. To gain employment, the employer would prefer you to be experienced, but how do you acquire experience unless you are given the opportunity? Young theatre directors are no different in facing that dilemma, and Toby Frow is grateful
A VILLAGE could face gridlock under the massive University of York expansion plans, concerned residents have said. People living in Heslington have called for careful handling of traffic issues as the development brief for the university's campus three
VETERAN Royal Navy pilot Arthur Record will be taking to the skies tomorrow for the first time since a light aircraft in which he was travelling ditched in the Atlantic. Mr Record, 82, of Waterfront House, Clementhorpe, escaped the life-threatening incident
AS PASSENGERS flew on Concorde for the final time today, Yorkshire Air Museum bosses were still hopeful they might provide a home to one of the redundant planes. Tears and champagne were flowing as the supersonic jet set off from New York to Heathrow
ROB Kama will return to rugby union this weekend after his summer stint with York City Knights. The left winger is starting tomorrow's home match with North Two East's bottom side Sandal after the end of his rugby league campaign and his recovery from
ARMED officers swooped on a York car park to deal with a man apparently brandishing a pistol. Police today said the stupidity of the man, who sparked the operation when he was seen waving the gun at a CCTV camera, could have ended in disaster. It was
BUOYANT Chris Smith reckons York City are primed to end their travel sickness at Scunthorpe United on Saturday. The statistics may suggest otherwise with City having not won at Scunthorpe in more than a decade, their last victory at Glanford Park coming
Barlby moved back to the top of division four in unconvincing fashion with a 1-1 draw at bottom club Acomb Celtic. Walder gave Barlby the lead only for Mark Benton to give Acomb a share of the points. Flying winger Andrew Watkinson hit all four as Shoulder
JULIAN Cole's apologetic protest and tongue-in-cheek slap on the wrist for the rowdy students of York St John (October 16) is typical of the indulgent attitude which, over the years, has allowed the present level of anti-social behaviour to develop. Loutish
HOW I agree with all the grumbles in your article ("The grumps get grumpy", October 17), and I should like to add one of my own. It concerns the raucous racket which accompanies nearly every item on television. If it were melodious it may be acceptable
THE street collection held in York city centre and Acomb on October 11 raised £282.31 for ACTIONAID. I thank members and friends of the York group for their support. The money will go towards projects to help supply easily-accessible clean water to remote
A YORK coach driver told today how he has experienced numerous "near- misses" at North Yorkshire's worst accident blackspot, Bilbrough Top. Paul Stickney said the most recent happened in August, when he almost had to come to a complete stop on the A64
New Earswick hauled themselves off the foot of the John Smith's York Sunday League division one table with a 2-0 win at Derwent United. The hero was Stimpson, who scored both the goals. The game at York RI was a dull affair in the first half but came
SOMETHING and nothing is what Bob Lyon wants from his Selby Town side this weekend. The Robins manager naturally wants his top of the table outfit to find the net when they travel to fourth-placed Thackley in the Northern Counties East League premier
HARROGATE Town boss John Reed will ring the changes to his defence for Saturday's trip to fellow high-flyers Barrow after "schoolboy mistakes" in last weekend's 4-4 draw with Droylsden. Reed will definitely reinstall former Leeds United and Port Vale
CONCERN that the Anglican communion may be torn apart by the appointment of an openly homosexual bishop prompts me to ask at what price unity? In the 21st century the denial of the contribution gay clergy make, the lack of tolerance it signals to the
Hugh Bayley asks the Liberal Democrat council to support action to bring into use empty homes in York (Letters, October 1). We are happy to do so, and have announced plans to extend taxation on empty - and second - homes in the city. We look forward to
THE concerns raised by Coun Vassie about the recent planning application on Elvington Airfield are confusing and, I suspect, a smokescreen to deflect attention away from Liberal Democrat policy (October 11). Quite clearly when this matter came before
MAGRITTE bids to follow in the notable hoofprints of stablemates, High Chaparral and Brian Boru by winning tomorrow's Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster before being prepared for a Classic assault next year. The two-year-old is trained by Aidan O'Brien,
DIANE Thornton's first solo exhibition in York, The Love Of Colour, will run until November 9 at the Blake Gallery, Blake Street. Her inspiration comes from the beauty of the North Yorkshire landscape. "I am so lucky to live in Skelton, with the Dales
THE topless car was THE ultimate fashion accessory for this year's long, hot summer, and the very latest drop-tops are getting more sexy, and more stylish with each new arrival, and there have been more than just a couple this year. However, this week
THE highest profile gigs next week are both at the Leeds Wardrobe. Leeds Jazz kicks off at the Wardrobe on Monday (27th) with the Charlie Hunter Trio from the USA, which features the iconoclastic saxophonist Greg Osby and the equally exciting drummer
THE Coral are to play York Barbican Centre on December 18 in a new addition to the Liverpool chart toppers' sold-out tour. Tickets go on sale at £14 from October 25 at 10am and are available either from the Barbican box office or by ringing 01904 656688
THE York Festival of Remembrance will be held at York Barbican Centre on November 2 at 7.30pm. Taking part will be the Normandy Band, The Queen's Division; Backworth Male Voice Choir; York Festival Ladies Choir; soloists Janina Sweetenham and Eileen Lavender
DAVID Essex is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his first hit, Rock On, by still rocking on this autumn. On the road for a 54-date tour from September 26 to November 18, he plays York Barbican Centre on October 24. As well as performing such well-worn
On October 26, gizagig.com presents its October gig night at The Basement Bar, City Screen, York. On the Roadkill bill are acoustic York folk punk act Ryan Shirlow and The Bloody Marys, electroclash band Dust Bowl and indie/mod pop group Customer 1000
TO prove there is nothing as mad as a hatter, Jane Bom-Bane unveils her Greatest Hats at The Shed, Brawby Village Hall, near Malton, on October 25. Bom-Bane performs original songs and poems accompanied by funky harmoniums and mechanical hats. Shed promoter
YORK City player-boss Chris Brass is urging his players to be fearless at Scunthorpe United tomorrow. City have a miserable record at Glanford Park, having not tasted victory on Iron soil in more than a decade. To make matters worse, City have not won
THERE is always a sting in the tale with any new wonder invention. Texting, how useful, what fun it first seemed. Internet chat rooms, oh the teenage joy of communicating across the world. Yet stories are stacking up of the dangers lurking in hi-tech
PLAYWRIGHT Stewart Howson did not take up flotilla sailing holidays in pursuit of fresh writing material but one thing leads to another. Lo and behold, his latest play for NTC Touring Theatre Company is a comedy drama about... a flotilla sailing holiday
MULTI-MILLION pound plans to transform local government in York and North Yorkshire will cost jobs, a leading public service union has claimed. UNISON has urged nine councils in York and North Yorkshire to reconsider their proposed deal with York IT company
YORK may be famous for its cobbled streets, but now a street dating back nearly 2,000 years has been found beneath an old York pub. Regulars at the old Starting Gate pub in Tadcaster Road may be surprised to learn their local was sitting on a piece of
THE man whose body was found in a York car park died of natural causes, North Yorkshire police said today. A motorist found the body in the Nunnery Lane car park yesterday. A police spokesman said the man was a 50-year-old from York. Updated: 10:49 Friday
THE parents of a young North Yorkshire soldier killed in Iraq today called on people in York "for as much help as they can give" in support of this year's Poppy Appeal. Sandra and John Hyde, parents of Lance Corporal Ben Hyde killed earlier this year
The biggest barbel to be caught from the Ouse system in a number of years was banked recently from the Beningbrough Park section. The monster 'whisker' was not netted by a dedicated specimen hunter but by an angler competing in a local club match targeting
RAIL chiefs in York today welcomed Network Rail's decision to take back control of maintenance on the lines - the biggest shake-up of the industry since privatisation. Bosses at the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) and Transport Salaried Staffs
RAY McInally hit a 138 finish for 18 darts in Shepherd's York John Smith Men's League division one 6-3 win against Poacher. The match featured good Shepherd wins from Alan Yates (21), Heath Scaife (21) and Mick Willsden. Neil Caywood (19), Dave Mason
ROB Kama will return to rugby union this weekend after his summer stint with York City Knights. The left winger is starting tomorrow's home match with North Two East's bottom side Sandal after the end of his rugby league campaign and his recovery from
SHED SEVEN, York's most successful band, have announced they are to split. The band have said their imminent national tour will be their last. "The split does not come without a great deal of thought by the whole of the band. We have taken the decision
HARROGATE Town boss John Reed will ring the changes to his defence for Saturday's trip to fellow high-flyers Barrow after "schoolboy mistakes" in last weekend's 4-4 draw with Droylsden. Reed will definitely reinstall former Leeds United and Port Vale
THIS is what happened to a York man for asking teenagers to stop leaning on his hedge. Father-of-two Doug Unwin was scarred for life after being smashed in the head with a metal mini-scooter by a young thug and punched in the face by another. The attack
A MAJOR amateur sports ground has been lost to York after plans for a multi-million pound complex were thrown out by councillors. City of York Council's planning committee unanimously rejected the Civil Service Sports Council's (CSSC) proposed £7 million
The clocks go back at 2am on Sunday, but how precious is it to you? asks JO HAYWOOD. What are you going to do with your extra hour? Phone a friend perhaps, or bake a cake? Maybe you will take the opportunity to start that novel you always said you would
