Europe Intelligence Wire articles from December 2010, page 10

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from December 2010

Safety minister plans changes to bike test.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) PLANS to trial a new, single, on-road motorcycle test were published recently by Road Safety Minister Mike Penning. The report from the motorcycle test review is the result of work the Department of Transport has...

Institute offering advice on the use of winter tyres.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) WITH the cold weather continuing, a motoring charity has issued advice on the pros and cons of using winter tyres. The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) said there were two main differences between winter and...

Size matters, but not that much.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Despite all the accusations that the Mini was too big, it was still too small to appeal to many lifestyle customers. 1 with a bigger boot. A long time before the hefty Countryman was a twinkle in a product...

More people join donor list.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Almost 17,000 Leicestershire people have joined the national organ donor register in the past year. The figure of 16,847 is 2,000 - or 13.6 per cent - more than the number who signed up in 2009. The county...

Plan to transfer leisure centres to private companies is dropped.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) A COUNCIL has dropped plans to bring in private firms to manage its leisure centres. North West Leicestershire District Council launched a consultation in March to see if there was a more cost-effective way to run...

Get used to turbines, says expert.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) ONE OF Leicestershire's leading wind farm campaigners believes people will get used to living with the giant turbines. Grahame Jordan spoke out after permission was granted for a nine-turbine scheme near Old Dalby...

Deaths/Bereavements.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) ABBOTT Mary Gwendoline Passed away peacefully in Leicester Royal Infirmary on Tuesday 28th December 2010 aged 80 years. Beloved wife of John (Joe) and a loving mum to Darren and Lisa. Devoted grandma to Dale and...

Duo set hot pace in cold.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) JAKE HARRISON (Charnwood) and host-club runner Anna Seddon clocked the fastest times for men and women at Barrow Runners' increasingly-popular Boxing Day 6 handicap road race. Despite temperatures as low as minus...

Holloway nets winning catch.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) DAWSON HOLLOWAY won Wigston Angling Society's furand-feather match, fished in difficult conditions at King's Lock, Aylestone. Anglers had to break the ice to fish and the sub-zero temperatures meant that ice was...

Munroe worthy of second shot at world-crown glory.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: PAUL JONES It could be argued that, ultimately, 2010 was a year of failure for Leicester's Rendall Munroe. He did, after all, fail to wrench the WBC world super-bantamweight title from Toshiaki Nishioka...

I did consider move to France - Chuter.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: TIGERS NEWS by STEVE PUMFREY www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/tigers George Chuter has admitted he did consider a move to France before eventually signing a new deal at Leicester Tigers. It happened two...

Ponting aims to stay in charge.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) RICKY PONTING has no intention of relinquishing the Australia captaincy and has the backing of coach Tim Nielsen. Ponting will miss the final Ashes test in Sydney with a broken finger after England retained the urn...

England coach wants a flying finish.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) ENGLAND must cast aside any feelings of premature satisfaction at retaining the Ashes in Melbourne - because their urn will be empty if they do not clinch series victory in Sydney. Coach Andy Flower insists the job...

'Please bring in unwanted gifts'.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: FIONA DRYDEN A desperate plea for unwanted Christmas gifts has gone out from the city's charity shops. Freezing weather conditions before the big day meant many shops were already suffering, with...

Husband's fund-raising thank you to help Loros.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) A GREAT-GRANDFATHER is organising a fund-raising dinner as a thank you to the charity that supported his wife when she had breast cancer. Gulwant Bains is organising an Asian-themed dinner at Leicester's Marriott...

Turkey bones may be more than leftovers.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) A PHD student is researching the history of turkey domestication by examining old bones. The subject of Brooklynne Fothergill's studies at the University of Leicester is palaeopathology - the study of disease in...

School's tip-top design.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) My thanks to Dr Helen Boynton for sending me this fine picture of the old Wyggeston Girls' School (now Regent College) in Regent Road, Leicester. Dr Boynton tells me that the photograph was taken in 1927 just as...

50 YEARS AGO.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) MR BARNETT Janner, Labour MP for Leicester North West, who is President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, receives a knighthood in the New Year Honours. Mr Thomas Towers, founder of a Hinckley boys' club,...

ON THIS DAY 25 YEARS AGO.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) IF YOU want to look like Rambo, lay off the steroids and stick to weights. That's the message from Leicester bodybuilder Dennis "Sugar" Christopher, who won the Mr Britain title in 1981 without taking steroids or...

Family bakery.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) LESLIE Poyser's reminiscences of Leicester's Paradise Lane, which he described as his "halcyon days", caught the eye of Mrs Taberer, of Westcotes. She writes: "My grandfather had a bakery in Grafton Place at the...

First panto ended in stage fright.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) MY ITEM about pantos of seasons past has brought a response from Mrs Joy Jordan, of Birstall, who recalls her very first visit to a pantomime - Cinderella at the Palace Theatre, in Belgrave Gate. She writes: "I...

Pork Pie roundabout was a lot less busy in 1988.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) SOMETIMES you have to look closely before it dawns that the sight is a familiar one. It took me a while to spot that at the centre of this spectacular starfish style road layout is the "Pork Pie" roundabout with...

Website shut after protests.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) A REVISION website set up by a university has had the plug pulled on it after only one day. University of Leicester Students' Union created the website to encourage men, in particular, to revise in the run-up to...

Cost of agency redundancies could top GBP3m.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) REDUNDANCIES at East Midlands Development Agency have cost GBP200,000 so far. However, that figure could soar to more than GBP3 million by the time Emda finally closes its doors next year. Of the 221 people...

We've forgiven Simon and just love the fame.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: DAVID OWEN Double act Diva Fever are looking forward to a busy 2011 after hitting the big time on TV's X Factor. Joe Al-Smadi, 26, and Craig Saggers, 21, from Leicestershire, have continued to win fans...

Brilliant TV memoir is 'as finely crafted as a nest of spun sugar'.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) With an obsequious bow which bends so low they practically headbutt their own knees, the new Radio Times declares the looming royal wedding the TV event of the century. Yup, the century. Quite a prediction, given...

Toy Story 3 outshines rest to be named our film of the year.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) HERE'S the final part of our countdown of the year's best films. 5. A SINGLE MAN Colin Firth richly deserved the Academy Award for his stunning portrayal of a gay professor torn apart by grief in A Single Man. ...

PICK OF THE DAY.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) JOOLS' ANNUAL HOOTENANNY 11pm, BBC2 THERE'S only one place to be on New Year's Eve and that's in front of the box with a bottle of something bubbly while watching Jools and his various musical guests greet 2011 in...

Couple's anger over holiday.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: ADRIAN TROUGHTON A disabled couple have won a payout from a tour operator after complaining about the problems they faced on their sunshine holiday. Robin Essex said he and his wife Gwendoline arrived at...

Queen's ex-pastry cook tells of time at palace.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) QUORN: The hall was full almost to capacity to hear Colin Alderton speak to the WI about his experiences as head pastry cook in the Queen's household. Colin's first job was to boil the cabbage. This was then...

Rabbits hoping for new home.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) A PAIR of bunnies are looking for a caring new home. Revel and Minstrel the lop-eared rabbits have been residing at the RSPCA's Woodside Animal Centre, in Scudamore Road, Leicester, since September. They were...

Music club hopes for new members.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) MUSIC lovers are ready to recruit members to their club after releasing its programme for 2011. The new season of Hinckley Organ and Keyboard Club will open with a performance by Paul Carman on January 31. ...

Parents urged to apply now for school places.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: FIONA DRYDEN EDUCATION CORRESPONDENT Parents of children due to start school for the first time are being urged to apply for places before it is too late. Applications for infant or primary school places...

YOUR STARS.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: SHELLEY VON STRUNCKEL SHELLEY VON STRUNCKEL YOUR STARS LIVE ASTROLOGY Speak to one of our astrologers live call: 0906 5000 157 Calls cost GBP1.50 per minute IF IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY TODAY All too often you end...

RAMBLING.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) THE Ramblers' Association has organised the following walks for the next few days: COALVILLE: Saturday, 10am. District Offices Front Car Park, Newtown Linford. Five miles, 0116 2682415. Sunday, 9.30am. Same meeting...

This week in the New Year garden.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Check that fuchsias packed in compost for the winter do not become completely dry and protect the crowns of hardy fuchsias outdoors with garden compost. Open greenhouse ventilators on sunny days but close them...

Parsnips - the winter staple.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) WHETHER you like them dipped in maple syrup and then roasted, or coated in freshly grated Parmesan, or simply mashed with butter and pepper, parsnips are among the winter staples that you shouldn't be without and in...

Deaths/ Bereavements.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) PURSER Melvern Francis Peacefully passed away 26th December 2010, aged 65 years. Funeral service will be held at Loughborough Crematorium on Monday 10th January 2011 at 11.45am. Family flowers only, donations if...

In Memoriam.(Obituary)
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) CATLIN John Five years without you, my dearest husband, dearly loved and missed every day. Yours forever. - Joan and family xxx. DEACON William Treasured memories of a dear dad and grandpa, fell asleep 31st...

Superstore deal gets green light.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: IAN GRIFFIN BUSINESS EDITOR A company has developed an environmentally-friendly light for the entertainment and retail sectors. Abstract AVR, of Blaby, will supply the LED track light to a new Asda store...

Pay freezes at majority of companies.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) MORE than half of UK companies plan to freeze or cut their employees' pay in 2011, according to a survey by the British Chambers of Commerce. While 45 per cent of firms surveyed said they would give their staff a...

Spotlight on loans.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) STAFF at Jobcentre Plus are being trained to spot illegal money lending as part of a scheme to crack down on loan sharks. Christmas is a key period when people turn to loan sharks, with some unscrupulous lenders...

Donations planned.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) DESPITE looming Government cuts and economic uncertainty 56 per cent of people in the Midlands will donate the same amount or more cash to charities next year, according to new research. A report commissioned by...

Points win prizes at jewellery chain.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) A JEWELLERY chain held its biggest ever incentive scheme for staff in the run-up to Christmas. Aurum Holdings, of Braunstone Frith, which owns Goldsmiths, Mappin & Webb and Watches of Switzerland, had been...

C YC L I N G.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) THE Leicestershire and Rutland District Association of the Cyclists Touring Club was founded in 1897, and, this coming weekend, today's members pedal into the group's 114th year with a variety of rides planned. ...

A striking example of Victorian Gothic decoration.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) OUR seasonal snow scene shows Leicester's Clock Tower with its slender tower and four statues. The one representing Simon de Montfort, the father of our English parliament, is my favourite. The Clock Tower was...

Developer set to appeal on hotel.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) A DEVELOPER is to challenge a decision to refuse permission for a hotel. Tykes Developments wants to build a complex which includes a restaurant, shop and gym in St Mary's Road, Market Harborough. Harborough...

Plea goes out to save church hall.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) PARISHIONERS have launched a campaign to save their church hall. St Mary's Church Hall, in Humberstone, Leicester, is in need of repair. Churchgoers feared they might have to sell it. However, after a vote this...

Officers will teach rugby.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) POLICE are offering tag rugby coaching to schools. Six officers from Loughborough police station have become qualified tag rugby coaches as part of the Rugby Football Union's Tag to Twickenham project. Coach Pc...

University champion role backed.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) A STUDENT leader has welcomed the appointment of a Government university champion. But Aaron Porter, president of the National Union of Students and a former University of Leicester undergraduate, said cuts to...

Tips on standing for office.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) WOULD-BE politicians are being invited to learn more about becoming a councillor. Melton Borough Council is holding a Become a Councillor evening in advance of next year's local elections. Council leader Malise...

GBP1.5m cycling centre to help boost tourism.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: DAVID OWEN A GBP1.5 million cycle centre for visitors to the National Forest is set to open in the spring. The National Forest Cycling Centre, near Moira, will include a bike hire shop, visitor centre...

Owls are lining up move for Morrison.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: CITY NEWS by ROB TANNER www.thebluearmy.co.uk SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON has said that Sheffield Wednesday have expressed an interest in Michael Morrison. Owls manager Alan Irvine has revealed that new...

NEWBY SIGNS A NEW CONTRACT.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: TIGERS NEWS by MARTIN CROWSON www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/tigers Leicester Tigers have retained the services of back-row forward Craig Newby. The 31-year-old has put pen to paper on a new deal which...

We must put an end to these constant changes.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) I am not really one for New Year's Resolutions but I do have some hopes for the game of the rugby in 2011. My main wish is that we can maintain some sense of continuity with regards to the rules and interpretations...

Tigers apology over turnstiles.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) LEICESTER TIGERS have apologised to any fans who missed the first few minutes of Monday's game against Sale because of problems at the turnstiles. Managing director David Clayton said: "We experienced a combination...

Junior section is proving a big hit at Glen Gorse.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) GLEN GORSE is proving one of the most successful clubs in Leicestershire for juniors. A total of 65 are club members and half of them are playing regularly in competitions. Three of the girls - Harriet Hewitt,...

Unsung heroes join stars honoured by the Queen.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: ADRIAN TROUGHTON and LAURA ELVIN Unsung heroes today joined multi-millionaire businessmen and community leaders from across Leicestershire on the Queen's New Year's Honours List. They included driving...

World of pop, film and sports celebrated.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) POP star Annie Lennox receives an OBE in the New Year Honours List today for her work fighting Aids and poverty in Africa. The former Eurythmics singer heads a host of entertainment and sport stars awarded honours,...

GET READY TO PARTY!
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: FIONA DRYDEN With just hours to go, bars and clubs are preparing for revellers to bring in the new year with a cheer. Despite the recent cold snap, and continuing spending fears among the public, pub...

Fire crews pull horse from river.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) FIREFIGHTERS fought for three hours to free a horse trapped in a river. Despite their efforts, the animal eventually had to be put down by a vet. It is thought the horse broke through a fence in its field in...

Shepshed hope for a revival.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: STEVE PUMFREY ROCK-BOTTOM Shepshed Dynamo are determined to put aside a troubled 2010 and win a battle for survival in Division One South of the Evo-Stik League. The Dovecote club will hope to kick-start...

Title-chasers in Cup clash.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: PAUL JONES PLACES in the semi-finals of the Beacon Bitter League Cup are up for grabs on Monday. There is the promise of an outstanding game at Mountsorrel where Senior League Premier Division leaders...

Fingers crossed for Knitters' return to action.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: MARTIN CROWSON HINCKLEY UNITED are hoping the latest freeze to hit the country will delay its arrival so they can play only their second game in six long weeks on Monday. Corby Town are the visitors to...

Back injury brings an early end to Kirkland's loan spell.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: CITY NEWS by ROB TANNER www.thebluearmy.co.uk Chris Kirkland's loan spell at Leicester City has been cut short because of injury. City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has ruled out another move for the...

Happiest memories were of helping each other out. There's not enough of that today.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: WINNIE ALDWINCKLE I'm all alone in an allotment, crying. I'm about two or perhaps three. My dad had made us a wooden go-kart out of a little orange box, pram wheels and a bit of string. I was riding in it....

Phone mast protesters give up on-site caravan.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: ALAN THOMPSON A caravan which became the symbol of a two-year protest against a proposed phone mast on a housing estate has gone. Protesters had staged a live-in protest against a planned Vodafone 3G...

Victim kicked in the face.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) A MAN was punched and kicked in the face and back during an argument in the street. The 36-year-old victim was set upon by two men and two women in Coalville. Police said the attackers were known to the man and...

Five-a-side league to be set up.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) A FIVE-A-SIDE football league is to be launched at a leisure centre. The league will start at Hood Park Leisure Centre, Ashby, on February 3, with games from 6pm to 8pm. Organised by North West Leicestershire...

County house prices fall, while the city sees a rise.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: PETER SQUIRES House prices in Leicester rose by almost twice the national rate last month while county prices fell. Latest figures released by the Land Registry showed the value of homes in the city...

Staff go on the run to help appeal.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) LEICESTER Mercury staff have pledged to personally raise GBP4,500 for our Christmas Appeal by taking part in a charity run. Nine members of staff have pledged to take part in the British 10k London Run, in July, to...

Are big cats back on the prowl?
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) BIG cat spotters have been busy in Leicestershire and Rutland with three sightings in less than three months. In the most recent sighting, on the outskirts of Somerby, near Melton, a cat "the size of an Irish...

Country walking will help shift those festive pounds.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) PEOPLE who want to get fit are being encouraged to get out into the countryside. A list of winter walks has been put together by the county council for anyone who has made a New Year resolution to get out and...

Could it be curtains for one of city's best-known shops?
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: PETER WARZYNSKI One of the city's best-known furnishing stores could close after more than 20 years. Dunelm Mill, in East Street, was opened in 1988, one of the first branches opened by Bill and Jean...

Rail track trespasser up in court.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) A MAN who threatened to jump from a railway bridge after leaping over barriers at a station has been remanded in custody until January 20. Jonathon Carroll (24), of Park View, Leicester, pleaded guilty to...

Mum's payslip joy.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) A NEW member of staff at The Samworth Enterprise Academy has just had her first payslip in over 11 years. Mum Sally Freer, 33, has three children at the academy just off Saffron Lane, Leicester. Sally had been...

Plans to rescue historic Braunstone Hall take a step forward.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) PLANS to restore a historic hall are moving forward. The date has passed for hopeful developers to submit their potential development plans for Braunstone Hall to Leicester City Council. Two expressions of...

Stores delay VAT increase.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: PETER WARZYNSKI Traders are giving shoppers a chance to make last-minute savings by freezing VAT until the end of January. From Tuesday, VAT, will increase from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent. The...

Track medics pass on skills.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) DOCTORS who provide trackside medical cover at a motorracing circuit will be showing how they turn on the speed when it comes to emergencies. They will be passing on lifesaving skills in a course at Mallory Park,...

Fight leads to theft from shop.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) PROPERTY was stolen from a charity shop after its window was broken in a fight. Police said the Loros shop, in Market Street, Ashby, was targeted minutes after the window was broken in a brawl. Officers want to...

Woman is punched to ground.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) POLICE want to trace a man in connection with an assault. A 21-year-old woman was attacked in Newarke Street car park, in Leicester. Police said she was walking up the stairs when a man came through the door...

Tackle peaks for charity.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) PEOPLE with a passion for the great outdoors and looking for a challenge are being urged to pull on their hiking boots for charity. The Breast Cancer Campaign is looking for people to sign up for its Three Peaks...

New term may spark second wave of illness.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) Byline: CATHY BUSS HEALTH CORRESPONDENT Parents are being urged not to send their children back to school next week if they are poorly. Doctors are concerned the new term may spark a second wave of flu and...

Prince 'piloted aid mission'.
December 31, 2010... (From Leicester Mercury) PRINCE William is reported to have played a key role in a mission launched from a Leicestershire hospital. The Prince, a search and rescue pilot, is reported by the Sun newspaper to have taken a life support...