THERE are alternatives to pantomime. Take your pick from carol concerts with seasonal readings, Christmas revues, Dickensian productions of A Christmas Carol and Victorian music hall. Or cherry-pick from all of them, in the case of Stagecoach Youth Theatre
Just A Quickie with... Sheilah Cuffy, whip-cracking star of Blues In The Night at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. You were born in London, and you moved to Madrid 11 years ago. How come you are swapping Spanish sun for the winter blues in Yorkshire? "I
NORTH Yorkshire under-16s footballers are awaiting a New Year resolution as to how they might advance in the national counties championship. The teenagers confirmed their place as the North-East runners-up after they prised a precious point from group
BROOKLYN had eight players on the scoresheet in a 17-0 York Mitchell Sports Football League Cup rout of Osbaldwick. Ryan Boyd led the way with five goals in the first round clash. Simon Reeves and Edward Marwood both hit hat-tricks and Andrew Phillips
PAUL D Robinson looks likely to lead York City's attack tomorrow after being put under the spotlight during Sunday's training ground post-mortem into last weekend's 3-0 defeat at Northwich. Caretaker boss Viv Busby believes the former Newcastle striker
The Red Planet has fascinated us for thousands of years. But do we really need to go there? Two Russian cosmonauts visited York this week to discuss the prospects for a manned Mars mission. STEPHEN LEWIS reports. THE view of our own planet from space
RECORD sales of £70 million have been achieved by Barratt York, which has also committed more than £170 million to future development projects in the region. New projects for 2005 include The Avenue, a flagship scheme of 24 luxury apartments off Bootham
Yule Riding is York's long-lost festival, and it sounds as if it may have been the most fun. Certainly it was one of the strangest. Now The York Waits are reviving the spirit of Yule Riding with a new album and a concert series, including tomorrow's performance
The Habit unveil their new look on Thursday (23rd), pepped up with some Worcester sauce. The York band has taken a year off from gigging, focusing on finding and breaking in a new singer, Dawn "Judith Priest" Worcester, and adding keyboard player Richie
WRITE in response to the letter from HO Griffiths and the picture of Cindy the cat shot by a cruel mindless misfit. As a cat lover and owner for more than 30 years, I would gladly taste prison food to give the person responsible for this outrage the same
I AM so pleased David L Fairey, who visited York recently, (December 13), enjoyed his trip to our beautiful city and enjoyed the "impressive" Christmas lights and decorations. On Saturday, December 11 I attended the Coppergate Centre while singing carols
HAVING lost York's major concert venue, the Barbican Centre, I was glad to see our Grand Opera House is playing host to Jane McDonald, above, on February 1 next year. It is nice to know that Jane (star of BBC's The Cruise) is just one in a long list of
I WRITE in response to the letter sent in last week complaining about the lack of choice on TV recently and about such programmes as The X Factor and the hugely successful I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here show deservedly won by Joe Pasquale, right
WE had to respond to your review slating Derek Acorah ('Star rude and arrogant', December 10). Having watched the show on the same night as Beth Dale, we feel her review was unfair and unjust. Late-arriving members of the audience were not only rude but
I thank the people of York and the surrounding communities on behalf of everyone who has benefited from St Leonard's Hospice and its services during the past year for the magnificent support they have once again given us. Special thanks to our dedicated
GREATER numbers of officers and increased determination. That's what has seen North Yorkshire Police record the country's largest increase in arrests, force chiefs said today. New Home Office statistics show North Yorkshire Police achieved a 17 per cent
WORK continues to fix defects at York's luxury Westgate flats development - more than two years after the building was opened. A Taylor Woodrow spokesman today confirmed that remedial work was still ongoing at the £20 million Leeman Road complex, and
A former college campus in York could be transformed into 133 new homes. An application by York St John College and Bellway Homes Ltd has won the support of council planning officers who are advising councillors to approve it at their meeting next Thursday
THIS was the shocking moment a shopkeeper suffered a vicious racial assault at his convenience store in York. The CCTV images show him desperately trying to defend himself as blows are rained down on his head by a man wielding a 4ft pickaxe handle. The
DRUNKEN Christmas and New Year revellers in York, North and East Yorkshire will face tough action from police under the second phase of a Government-led alcohol crackdown from today. York, Selby, Harrogate, Easingwold, Scarborough, and the East Riding
YORK council today stood accused of "ducking responsibility" over its city-wide budget poll. Labour leader Dave Merrett claimed Liberal Democrats were putting up a "smokescreen" before tricky council tax decisions. His comments come after the council
THE Gascoigne Gallery, in Harrogate, highlights one of Art Deco's most vivid legacies, the Pochoir printing technique, in its December exhibition. The Pochoir process involved the manual application of gouache or watercolour pigments through the medium
Alex Lloyd rounds up what's on offer in the nights before Christmas. WITH a week to Christmas Eve, there are more parties and events to go to than hours in the day. Or space in this newspaper for that matter, so I'll get straight to it. Those of you who
Friday, December 17, 2004 100 years ago: Now that Christmas was within hail, and preparations were well under way for the festive season, the "slaughter of the innocents," commenced. Fine healthy looking turkeys, fat geese, and sleek-looking ducks were
Jo-ann Hodgson joins in the end-of-term parties at the university. IT'S the last week of term and all through campus the students are stirring and causing much fuss. In the build up to the Christmas holidays many have work deadlines to adhere to but time
HAVING a drink is one of life's simple pleasures but, when taken to extremes, it can be fraught with dangers. Drinking just enough, or even a little too much, can be an enjoyable way to unwind and relax, especially if spent in friendly company. Unrestrained
THE Lord Mayor of York, Coun Janet Looker, is wielding her hammer. No, she has not been doing odd jobs round Mansion House but launching the Auction Of Promises. This splendid effort for charity sees any number of one-off gifts, from being the Lord Mayor's
PIPPA Moore is already flying high, and from December 18 she will be flying even higher in Northern Ballet Theatre's Christmas production of Peter Pan. The Liverpudlian dancer has been nominated for Outstanding Female Artist (Classical) in this year's
Chef turned actor Richard Cawley leads a busy and mixed life, as he tells Charles Hutchinson. RICHARD Cawley, fashion designer, celebrity chef, writer, caterer and flamboyant pantomime star, is one of life's good guys. So much so, he was initially reluctant
GOING Dutch is John Godber's 44th play, and the first new work of his 20th anniversary year at Hull Truck Theatre. It is also the third in his trilogy of Brits Abroad comedies, following on from the skiing escapade On The Piste and the French jaunt April
SOME people are just plain cruel - they cannot resist rubbing it in. Take Anne Walshe, whoever she may be. The dear lady has just posted Christmas greetings on the Evening Press Internet site, www.thisisyork.co.uk The message went like this: "Merry Christmas
PICKERING Town have launched a cheeky bid to sign Adam Wash from rivals Selby Town ahead of their top-of-the-table battle at Flaxley Road. The Pikes put in seven days' notice for their former striker, who is now with the Robins, signalling their intention
JOHN Smith's Bitter Cup holders Severus SC were given an almighty scare by second division Nestl Flag before progressing to the last eight of the competition. Flag took a first half lead but when McShane equalised on the hour Severus took control and
HOUNDS moved to the top of the York John Smith's Sunday Morning Football League first division after securing a 2-1 win over Pocklington. Goals by Jackson and Cygan earned Hounds the maximum haul, with O'Connor scoring for Pocklington. Thorpe's game at
Wigginton Grasshoppers moved up three places into second spot in Reserve 'B' of the Leeper Hare York and District Football League after beating Stamford Bridge 3-1. The visitors took an early lead through Garth Owen but two goals from John Beech, the
YORK skipper Andy Kay reckons his side are up to the challenge ahead of their top-of-the-table Northumberland One clash against Percy Park at Clifton Park. With three points separating the sides, York will be looking to avenge their narrow defeat to their
Selby will have a task to snap a five-game winless streak when they take on Yorkshire One unbeaten league leaders Beverley at Sandhill Lane. Selby's poor run has seen them drop into mid-table while their visitors tomorrow have soared into a six-point
Don't let the hi-tech crooks have a happy e-Christmas. With online buying becoming a well-established part of Christmas shopping - and the UK predicted to become Europe's biggest online spender during this festive season - KPMG is offering advice to help
A Selby businessman whose tanning equipment firm collapsed with an estimated £574,000 in debt, has promised to ban himself from holding directorships or company management for four years. The undertaking was given to the Insolvency Service by Raymond
The Japanese Shop, the York and Harrogate retailer which last month was declared the overall 2004 Evening Press Business of the Year, opens a new branch in Chester tomorrow. Jez Willard, the proprietor, instructed his lawyer to speed up purchase of the
COMMUNICATORS ten times over - that's how many awards Atlas Media Group gleaned at the Communicators In Business North Awards. Growing communications company Atlas Media Group (AMG) swept the board at a prestigious industry awards ceremony. AMG's creative
OPERA North's winter production of One Touch Of Venus will re-open at the Leeds Grand Theatre next February. It will be a welcome second chance for those who missed this month's brief run. Many opera houses turn up their noses at musicals. Fortunately
THE Black Swan Folk Club's Christmas Party in York on Thursday (23rd) is a Swarb Aid Special, raising funds for ailing Fairport Convention fiddler Dave Swarbrick. Although there will be no formal admission charge, donations are encouraged, and all prize
The Pickering Jazz Club newsletter arrived this week, with details of the 2005 monthly programme at the Beansheaf. All are on the second Wednesday of the month, which makes the first on January 12 - call 01723 859495 for more details. The music policy
THE Baudelaire children have just had their first fortunate experience. The first three bedtime stories of fictitious author Lemony Snicket have been transformed into a wickedly humorous, picaresque screen adventure for a dark winter's day. You may have
THE only thing that will stop drinking and driving is taking offenders' licences away and not returning them. Why should others suffer for the likes of them? Think before drinking and driving. Ronnie Topham, Dale Street, York. Updated: 09:45 Friday, December
YORK'S Christmas lights are much better this year, but I have recently returned with friends from a holiday in Funchal, Madeira, where we were so much more impressed with their wonderful displays. They were absolutely stunning. The main avenue that leads
IN response to your report 'Speeding fears top crime poll' (December 14), I am getting sick and tired of reading letters from people moaning about their streets being used as rat-runs. I must be getting a bit mixed up because I thought that roads were
THE launch of TransPennine Express's new, improved service and timetable on Monday could not fail to have reached the attention of its commuters, what with press coverage and distribution of timetables by jolly staff in Santa hats and bags of timetables
NORTH Yorkshire under-16s footballers are awaiting a New Year resolution as to how they might advance in the national counties championship. The teenagers confirmed their place as the North-East runners-up after they prised a precious point from group
The last Saturday of racing before Christmas and a horse as familiar, and as reliable, as Santa Claus makes his annual appearance in the Long Walk Hurdle. Winner of the race three times in the last four seasons, the remarkable Baracouda bids to extend
Christmas music ranges from the sublime to the stickiest schmaltz. Here our reviewers tentatively unwrap this season's offerings. Chris Isaak, Christmas (Wicked Game/Reprise) **** Wrapping: A smiling Mr Isaak at the wheel of his car, with a Christmas
That manual title, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, may suggest a return to U2 at their posturing, world-preaching worst but not so. The album, their 11th studio set since 1980's Boy, was recorded over two years in a Dublin dockside street and it is the
FESTIVE spirit was in desperately short supply when burglars raided a York law firm and made off with Christmas gifts. The break-in at a city solicitors left David Scott, a partner at Drummond Miller, Pavement, cursing his luck. Not only were presents
ARMY chiefs of two historic North Yorkshire brigades have spoken of their relief after emerging largely unscathed from a major military shake-up. But the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire and the Green Howards will lose their regimental status
WORLD number four and reigning Masters snooker champion Paul Hunter returns to York tomorrow night just three weeks after his Travis Perkins UK Championship exit at the Barbican. He is visiting Castle Snooker Club and will be hoping to erase the memory
SUN'S John O'Mara hit a 180 for 17 darts in York John Smith's Men's League division one. Chris Thompson added a 17-darter as Sun 'A' overcame Britannia 6-3, who had Rich Beddows-Daz Hoban out in 27. Owen Legg-Mick Willsden were the match-winners for Shepherd
A FOUR-CAR smash on one of York's busiest main roads caused "total mayhem" for rush-hour motorists yesterday. People travelling home after work faced extensive delays as emergency services blocked Wigginton Road for several hours to attend to the crash
THE penultimate round of the Yorkshire Winter Angling League moves to the Ouse below York on Sunday where leaders Anglers World Holidays will be hoping to press home their advantage on their home venue. The river has been in great roach form this winter
YORK City Knights have been forced to step up their search for a specialist centre following a potentially career-threatening injury to Chris Spurr. The 24-year-old, who only returned from a long lay-off towards the end of last season, broke an ankle
A YORK man calmly sold drugs from the door of his home as the bloody bodies of two men he had killed lay only metres away, a court heard. Unemployed John Paul Marshall, 43, sold cannabis worth £10 at the communal entrance to his Gillygate flat hours after
PAUL D Robinson looks likely to lead York City's attack tomorrow after being put under the spotlight during Sunday's training ground post-mortem into last weekend's 3-0 defeat at Northwich. Caretaker boss Viv Busby believes the former Newcastle striker
Yorkshire Lavender require from March 2005 the following part time seasonal staff: Horticultural Assistants, Groundsman, Cooks, Waiting Staff and Shop Assistants. Apply in writing to Yorkshire Lavender, Terrington, York YO60 6PP. Updated: 14:33 Thursday
SNB Electronic Services Ltd, Murton Lane, York. Family run engineering comapny requires an additional Service Engineer. Electrical/Electronic/Mechanical. A generous remuneration package will be offered depending on previous experience. All enquiries to
Required for small, young, friendly biotechnology business. The successful applicant will be responsible for the day-to-day company matters as well as overseeing the financial controls of the business. Must be competent with SAGE Line 50. Experience working
Reliable, experinced driver required. York based, immediate start. Variable hours to include occasional overnight stays. Must have clean driving licence. Please telephone 07813 137175. Updated: 14:28 Thursday, December 16, 2004
Glen Dimplex Cooking Limited is a major player in the UK cooker market, marketing three of the biggest cooking brands - Stoves, Belling and New world. The company is committed to being number one in the market and at the forefront of innovation and style
HARK! New For 2005 is the brazen title for the winter selling exhibition at Minster Fine Art Gallery, The Old Convent, in The Queen's Path, Minster Yard, York. Original art by British artists Chris Bruce, Georgie Welch, Carole McDowall and Henrietta Dubrey
THE new M-Class sports utility from Mercedes-Benz goes on sale here next autumn. It may be a long time coming, but all the signs are that it will be well worth the wait. Longer in the wheelbase and overall, wider in the body and with a roomier cabin,
ENGLISH novelist William Thackeray was no doubt in the throes of a great romance when he wrote: "It is best to love wisely, no doubt; but to love foolishly is better than not to be able to love at all." It is unclear whether David Blunkett, waking this
TWO powerful figures - Father Christmas and the Viking warrier Orm - joined forces in York to promote the launch of the 20th Jorvik Viking Festival programme. Standing in Coppergate, the pair exchanged Christmas gifts in order to start the countdown to
YORK City Knights have been forced to step up their search for a specialist centre following a potentially career-threatening injury to Chris Spurr. The 24-year-old, who only returned from a long lay-off towards the end of last season, broke an ankle
