A01 1 <#FLOB:A01\>Labour pledges reversal of NHS hospital A01 2 opt-outs

A01 3 By Stephen Castle

A01 4 Political Correspondent

A01 5 ROBIN COOK, Labour's health spokesman, yesterday repeated party A01 6 opposition to the internal market in the National Health Service A01 7 and said there had been "no secret pacts with health A01 8 service <}_><-|>manager<+|>managers<}/>" to maintain A01 9 hospital trusts.

A01 10 Speaking to prospective Labour parliamentary candidates in A01 11 London, Mr Cook said his party "will bring back into the A01 12 local NHS all those hospitals that have opted out". "If A01 13 there is an election in November and we win office we will stop any A01 14 hospital in the pipeline."

A01 15 He and his colleagues are concerned that managers have told A01 16 some NGS staff that a Labour government would accept trust status A01 17 as a fait accompli. However, Mr Cook said Tory A01 18 plans for an internal market demonstrated the division between the A01 19 values of the two parties.

A01 20 Using the United States as an example, he argued that markets A01 21 in health care are flawed because they stimulate demand and A01 22 encourage unnecessary treatment, and because they focus attention A01 23 on costs of episodes of health care. Resources are also being A01 24 concentrated on those with higher "purchasing A01 25 power".

A01 26 The briefing on health for parliamentary candidates underlines A01 27 Labour's determination to keep the issue high on the political A01 28 agenda.

A01 29 Mr Cook said Labour is committed to structural reforms of the A01 30 health authorities, including a deployment of some mangers to A01 31 long-term planning while others concentrate on everyday A01 32 administration.

A01 33 A01 34 Singapore's voters give regime a shock

A01 35 From Kevin Hamlin in Singapore

A01 36 SINGAPORE's ruling People's Action Party (PAP) suffered A01 37 stunning losses in Saturday's general election, opening a new A01 38 political chapter in the island republic and raising questions over A01 39 Goh Chok Tong's future as Prime Minister.

A01 40 Though by most yardsticks the PAP won a landslide victory, A01 41 having secured 77 seats in the 81-seat parliament, Mr Goh was A01 42 visibly shaken by the opposition's winning four seats. The PAP's A01 43 share of vote dipped to 61 per cent from 63.2 per cent in 1988. The A01 44 Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), which previously held the only A01 45 opposition seat, won three seats while the Workers Party took one. A01 46 The opposition had never previously held more than two seats.

A01 47 Mr Goh, who took over from the iron-fisted Lee Kuan Yew nine A01 48 months ago, had asked for a ringing endorsement of his more liberal A01 49 style of government. With the economy booming and Mr Goh riding a A01 50 wave of popular support, many expected him to romp home. But the A01 51 opposition surprised the PAP by contesting only 40 seats, believing A01 52 that more Singaporeans would vote for them if there was no A01 53 possibility of a freak upset for the PAP. Mr Goh yesterday conceded A01 54 that the strategy had hurt the PAP but scolded Singaporeans for A01 55 "wanting their cake and eating it".

A01 56 "I called this election to seek a solid endorsement for A01 57 my leadership," Mr Goh said. "That solid A01 58 endorsement did not come. The PAP's role will now be that of a A01 59 conventional governing party [in a] partisan situation. This is a A01 60 new situation. Politics in Singapore cannot go on as before. A01 61 Certain things have to change now." Mr Goh threatened to A01 62 withdraw basic services from constituencies where opposition A01 63 candidates had won. He said he could be "a little A01 64 deaf" to the needs of people in opposition seats. He also A01 65 accused opposition candidates in one constituency of using racial A01 66 politics to win votes from the minority Malays and said this caused A01 67 him to be "deeply concerned for the future shape of A01 68 politics in multi-racial Singapore". Malays account for A01 69 about 15 per cent of the population, Indians 6 per cent and Chinese A01 70 the remainder.

A01 71 Jubilant opposition parties, led by Chiam See Tong's SDP, A01 72 reacted angrily to Mr Goh's threat to withdraw constituency A01 73 services. "He is the Prime Minister of the whole nation and A01 74 not just of constituencies that are sympathetic to the A01 75 PAP," Mr Chiam said. "I hope he will look at things A01 76 from the national point of view and not just from his party A01 77 interests." "The first thing Goh should do is to A01 78 respect the choice of the people," said Low Thia Khiang, A01 79 who became the Workers Party's sole member of parliament.

A01 80 Some opposition politicians believe the outcome could signal A01 81 the beginning of the end for Mr Goh's brief reign. J B Jeyaretnam, A01 82 head of the Workers Party, said: "Goh is on his way A01 83 out," and suggested that Brigadier-General Lee Hsien Loong, A01 84 the Deputy Prime Minister and Lee Kuan Yew's son, may make a bid A01 85 for the leadership. The ambitious Lee junior is believed to favour A01 86 his father's tougher style of leadership, and many observers A01 87 believe Lee senior remains the ultimate puppet master.

A01 88 But Mr Goh said his position was secure. Though he occupied A01 89 centre stage, the election campaign was a team effort, not a A01 90 "solo show", he said, adding that Lee junior was in A01 91 charge of campaign strategy. Mr Goh acknowledged that the loss of A01 92 votes meant he had to ask himself some fundamental questions.

A01 93 However, Mr Chiam said the people were the victors and that A01 94 yesterday was a landmark in Singapore's political development. A01 95 "The PAP treat all Singaporeans like little A01 96 children," he said. "We, the opposition, have A01 97 changed that style to make them realise that the relationship A01 98 between government and the people is not a parent and child A01 99 relationship, but a relationship of equals."

A01 100 A01 101 Kinnock looks to autumn poll as TUC toes the line

A01 102 By Barrie Clement

A01 103 Labour Editor

A01 104 A <}_><-|>BOYANT<+|>BUOYANT<}/> Neil Kinnock yesterday put A01 105 Scottish MPs on general election alert for 7 November after the A01 106 Trades Union congress voted overwhelmingly to reject a potentially A01 107 damaging motion on employment law proposed by Arthur Scargill.

A01 108 Mr. Kinnock, who was attending a dinner with the TUC's ruling A01 109 General Council, said that date would allow John Major to use the A01 110 Conservative Party Conference as an election platform. The Labour A01 111 leader indicated that the party was ready for the Prime Minister to A01 112 go to the country on November 7, 14, 21 "or any day except A01 113 Christmas Day".

A01 114 Earlier, Congress had defeated a motion calling for the repeal A01 115 of "all anti-union legislation" - tabled by Mr A01 116 Scargill, president of the National Union of Mineworkers - by A01 117 5,809,000 votes to 2,270,000. A motion backing Labour's line was A01 118 passed by an even larger margin.

A01 119 Mr Kinnock said the votes had helped Labour. "The A01 120 decision signifies a constructive attitude towards industrial A01 121 relations in Britain which is reciprocated by many managers. Trade A01 122 Unions and the public recognise the need for a fair set of rules A01 123 and not a punitive excess of legislation."

A01 124 The decision to endorse Labour policy was backed by the A01 125 left-wing leadership of the Transport and General Workers' Union A01 126 and confirmed the increasing marginalisation of hardliners in the A01 127 labour movement.

A01 128 Tony Blair, Labour's employment spokesman, said the decision A01 129 left Michael Howard, the Secretary of State for Employment, A01 130 "looking foolish and out of date, scrabbling around to make A01 131 party political capital out of industrial relations rather than A01 132 working to improve them."

A01 133 However, Mr Howard hit back in a statement issued by A01 134 Conservative Central Office in which he declared that the debate A01 135 had been "a sham" and that there was no A01 136 "practical difference" between the two motions A01 137 under discussion.

A01 138 Proposing the resolution regarded as Labour loyalist, Ron Todd, A01 139 general secretary of the TGWU, said unions did not want to go back A01 140 to 1979, when Government embarked on five pieces of employment A01 141 legislation.

A01 142 Mr. Todd said the whole TUC debate on the issue would be A01 143 academic without the return of a Labour government. "I am A01 144 not interested in debates about the width of a butterfly's wings A01 145 when my members are being slaughtered from Land's End to John A01 146 O'Groats."

A01 147 He said the proposition backed by the NUM was A01 148 "ambiguous", indicating that it could mean a future Labour A01 149 government should repeal laws on strike ballots and leadership A01 150 elections.

A01 151 In reply, Mr Scargill said the motion simply called for Britain A01 152 to honour the conventions on labour law drawn up by the A01 153 International Labour Organisation and the United Nations. A01 154 "That was the best possible defence to put before the A01 155 British people," he said.

A01 156 Democratic procedures should be determined by union members A01 157 "free of state interference", he said. The A01 158 "ameliorist tendency" in the union movement had got A01 159 it wrong. The media would represent the decision as a ploy to get A01 160 the Labour Party elected. "Far better to be open and A01 161 honest," Mr Scargill said.

A01 162 Referring to Mr Scargill, Bill Jordan, right-wing leader of the A01 163 Amalgamated Engineering Union, said: "Look east Arthur. A01 164 Real people power is sweeping away yesterday's people and A01 165 yesterdays's ideas."

A01 166 A01 167 Peking Polishes its image as Major arrives

A01 168 From Andrew Higgins in Peking

A01 169 IN AN attempt to pre-empt criticism of its human rights record A01 170 by John Major, who arrives in Peking today, China yesterday issued A01 171 a detailed health report on two dissident intellectuals jailed as A01 172 "masterminds" of the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy A01 173 movement.

A01 174 The report confirmed for the first time that the two men, Wang A01 175 Juntao and Chen Ziming, had gone on hunger strike last month to A01 176 protest against prison conditions, but said they had ended their A01 177 fast and were now in "basically" good health. It admitted, A01 178 however, that Mr Wang had suffered a "relapse of A01 179 hepatitis" as claimed by his wife and previously denied by A01 180 authorities. The relapse was due, the report said, to his A01 181 "irregular eating in the recent time". A prison A01 182 doctor denied rumours of serious ill health and said both prisoners A01 183 were receiving full and effective medical care.

A01 184 Branded as the ringleaders of the 1989 democracy movement, Mr A01 185 Wang and Mr Chen were both jailed for 13 years and are being held, A01 186 their families say, in solitary confinement in Peking.

A01 187 China rarely makes an official comment on political detainees A01 188 and the timing of yesterday's unusually detailed account suggests a A01 189 clear attempt to avert possibly embarrassing human rights A01 190 complaints by Mr Major.

A01 191 Two of China's harshest critics in the US Congress are also in A01 192 Peking: Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat who led an unsuccessful A01 193 campaign to lift China's most favoured nation trading status and A01 194 Stephen Solarz, a New York Democrat. But it is John Major's visit A01 195 that really counts for China. It will not only seal an agreement on A01 196 the vexed issue of a new airport for Hong Kong but will also signal A01 197 the end of China's post-Tiananmen quarantine.

A01 198 Arriving from Moscow, where he placed a wreath to three victims A01 199 of the failed coup, Mr Major will be the first Western leader to A01 200 visit Peking since the Tiananmen massacre two years ago. China A01 201 seems eager to capitalise on the trip, with a Foreign Ministry A01 202 spokesman telling the BBC last week that it marked the A01 203 "full normalisation of relations" after the A01 204 "twists and turns" that followed the Tiananmen A01 205 killings.

A01 206 British Diplomats are more reluctant to concede such a A01 207 breakthrough. And Mr Major will have to tread carefully. In Peking A01 208 he will avoid the delicate question of wreaths, honouring neither A01 209 the Communist party's heroes nor its victims, when he visits A01 210 Tiananmen Square for a salute.

A01 211 Under fire from opposition leaders for agreeing to meet China's A01 212 hardline leaders while rejoicing at the demise of old-style A01 213 Communism in Moscow, Mr Major has come under strong pressure to A01 214 speak out firmly on Chinese human rights abuses when he meets A01 215 President Yang Shangkun and the Prime Minister, Li Peng, two of the A01 216 principal architects of the 4 June massacre. He will also meet the A01 217 Communist Party leader, Jiang Zemin, but is unlikely to meet the A01 218 one man who still matters most: the nominally retired 87-year-old A01 219 Deng Xiaoping.

A01 220 Douglas Hurd, the Foreign Secretary, yesterday defended Mr A01 221 Major's trip to Peking, insisting it "does not confer our A01 222 seal of approval" on the Peking regime or the bloodshed A01 223 around Tiananmen. "The events in the Soviet Union will have A01 224 shown the Chinese leadership that nothing stays the same," A01 225 he wrote in The Independent on Sunday. "It is not A01 226 for us to say how and when change will come. It is for us to speak A01 227 our minds and at the same time reason with those who govern A01 228 China."

A01 229 British officials refuse to say whether Mr Major will raise the A01 230 cases of specific political detainees, though Downing Street has A01 231 made much of a meeting to be held tomorrow between Mr Major and a A01 232 group of Chinese students. A01 233 A02 1 <#FLOB:A02\>Clarke: I'd have quit if Maggie stayed

A02 2 by Political Correspondent

A02 3 EDUCATION Secretary Kenneth Clarke confirmed yesterday that he A02 4 would have resigned from the Government if Mrs Thatcher had carried A02 5 on in power.

A02 6 "I did reach the conclusion that I probably was going A02 7 to resign; indeed I would have resigned had she gone on," A02 8 he said on the Channel 4 Pursuit of Power programme.

A02 9 During the Tory leadership crisis last autumn, Mr Clarke A02 10 advised Mrs Thatcher to stand down for the sake of the party.

A02 11 "I advised her that she should not go on and in my A02 12 opinion she ought to step down," he said yesterday.

A02 13 "I acted on the principle that if you are serving a A02 14 friend as your boss, what you owe that boss is your candid, A02 15 truthful, non self-interested advice."

A02 16 By hanging on, he said, Mrs Thatcher would have destroyed the A02 17 authority of both the Government and the party. Under the A02 18 leadership of someone else, both could recover.

A02 19 "I think we were in the position of generals persuading A02 20 Napoleon to leave the field of battle at Waterloo," said Mr A02 21 Clarke.

A02 22 "At the end of the first ballot, to go on and to win A02 23 this battle by a small majority - I did not even think she would win A02 24 it, I thought she would lose it - would have meant her authority was A02 25 broken."

A02 26 Disagreed A02 27 "But a proper contest, with a successor coming in, A02 28 restored the authority of the premiership, the leadership of the A02 29 party, and the Government."

A02 30 He did not tell Mrs Thatcher directly that he would quit if she A02 31 refused to go but he claimed she knew his intentions. "I am A02 32 sure she did;" he said.

A02 33 He had always enjoyed working alongside Mrs Thatcher on a A02 34 "very candid basis".

A02 35 "It was not uncomfortable in the Thatcher Government. A02 36 It was fun, she was a very dynamic leader, and it was extremely A02 37 entertaining to work alongside her if you did not mind having a A02 38 robust leader. She made us take very courageous A02 39 decisions."

A02 40 He disagreed, however, with her dicision, in the wake of Sir A02 41 Geoffrey Howe's resignation, to switch him from the Department of A02 42 Health and into Education. She believed that the battle over NHS A02 43 reforms had been won but he tried to persuade her against a A02 44 move.

A02 45 A02 46 Power to the people to win better service

A02 47 By JOHN DEANS

A02 48 JOHN MAJOR will launch a Tory offensive today by unveiling his A02 49 long-awaited Citizens' Charter.

A02 50 Its 50-plus proposals amount to a dynamic bid to strengthen A02 51 people-power in Britain.

A02 52 Local authorities and public service companies will be forced A02 53 to raise standards or risk paying compensation.

A02 54 For the first time, individuals or consumer groups facing the A02 55 shutdown of a vital council service, like refuse collection, will A02 56 be able to take civil court action over the threat.

A02 57 Contempt A02 58 Courts will have the twin powers of issuing an injuction to A02 59 stop an illegal dispute and ordering a council to maintain A02 60 essential services.

A02 61 It means that a Left-wing authority which refuses to crack down A02 62 on industrial action can be legally forced to do so or face stiff A02 63 fines for contempt.

A02 64 The Charter will also strengthen the powers of the watchdog A02 65 bodies overseeing privatised water, gas and electricity A02 66 companies.

A02 67 They will be able to consider financial compensation for A02 68 consumers hit by prolonged disruption of supplies or a severe fall A02 69 in standards. British Rail season ticket holders who suffer from A02 70 persistently poor services will qualify for free-travel A02 71 vouchers.

A02 72 Labour has accused ministers of trying to water down Mr Major's A02 73 original plans for the charter.

A02 74 But one senior minister said last night: "The launch A02 75 will show they have actually been beefed up. At the moment there is A02 76 virtually nothing the individual can do if public services break A02 77 down. Under the charter people will have more power in their A02 78 hands."

A02 79 The charter is the key weapon in a new Tory initiative designed A02 80 to build on the party's continuing popularity revival and Mr A02 81 Major's own strong voter support, particularly after his success at A02 82 the G7 summit.

A02 83 The plans outlined today will be amplified in mini-charters A02 84 from individual departments - plus a 'handy guide' which may be A02 85 distributed to households.

A02 86 The latest Harris poll, published by the Observer yesterday, A02 87 confirmed the recent trend in Mr Major's favour, slicing Labour's A02 88 lead to only 3 per cent, and showing the Tories picking up support A02 89 from both Neil Kinnock's party and Paddy Ashdown's Liberal A02 90 Democrats.

A02 91 The survey gives Labour 42 per cent and Tories 39, with the A02 92 Liberal Democrats struggling at 14 per cent.

A02 93 Despite such encouragement, the Premier gave a strong signal A02 94 yesterday that he is still planning for a 1992 election, rather A02 95 than one this autumn.

A02 96 In a newspaper interview, he emphasised the importance of A02 97 bringing negotiations on the future of the European Community to a A02 98 conclusion at the next EC summit, in December.

A02 99 He declared: "I don't intend to take any risks of A02 100 having any other party negotiate at those A02 101 inter-governmental conferences that will be so important to A02 102 Britain's future."

A02 103 With the Tory attack looming, Labour fired off a pre-emptive A02 104 broadside yesterday.

A02 105 Shadow chancellor John Smith said the claim that Britain will A02 106 be out of recession by Christmas was "bogus", and A02 107 environment spokesman Bryan Gould said the Government had run out A02 108 of ideas.

A02 109 Shadow transport secretary John Prescott will today unveil A02 110 Labour's plans to make BR run on time by threatening to sack A02 111 managers who fail to meet standards of quality and reliability.

A02 112 A02 113 The buck stops here, pledges water supremo

A02 114 by DOMINIC KENNEDY

A02 115 THE head of the water company at the centre of the A02 116 contamination scare spoke yesterday of his anguish over A02 117 "this rotten affair".

A02 118 And Sir John Page insisted: "The buck stops A02 119 here."

A02 120 The former Tory MP, who is chairman of Three Valleys Water A02 121 Services, said: "Ever since six this morning I have been A02 122 wandering about worrying like hell. This is a very serious affair. A02 123 It is the unthinkable, that untreated water should go out. Our team A02 124 is completely overwhelmed by this awful event."

A02 125 Sir John was out at a dinner party when the contamination was A02 126 confirmed. He could not be contacted and learned of the A02 127 developments only when he returned in the early hours of Sunday to A02 128 his home in Taplow, Buckinghamshire.

A02 129 He woke at 6am and listened to radio news bulletins about the A02 130 pollution, then visited the company HQ in Rickmansworth before A02 131 returning home.

A02 132 "I want to get the whole thing operationally A02 133 right," he said. "For the next 24 hours I'm going A02 134 to be at the end of the telephone and probably at very frequent A02 135 meetings."

A02 136 Inquiry A02 137 Sir John, former MP for Harrow West, retired at the last A02 138 General Election after 27 years. His successor Robert Hughes, whose A02 139 constituents have been affected by the scare, pulled no punches A02 140 yesterday. "While we all appreciate accidents can happen, A02 141 water is now an expensive commodity for all of my constituents and A02 142 such an accident is completely unacceptable," said Mr A02 143 Hughes.

A02 144 "I demand a full public inquiry into the activities of A02 145 the company and will be seeking a debate in Parliament."

A02 146 Reports that the company failed to warn consumers until several A02 147 hours after the fault was detected should be investigated urgently, A02 148 added Mr Hughes. Sir John said: "I think the concern of A02 149 Robert Hughes is appropriate and completely legitimate. I intend to A02 150 speak to him as soon as possible. We have nothing to A02 151 hide."

A02 152 Asked whether the company would compensate families who have A02 153 paid for bottled water he said: "We haven't thought about A02 154 that detail as yet."

A02 155 Sir John's involvement with the water industry began nine years A02 156 ago when he became a director of Colne Valley Water Company. He A02 157 became chairman three years before it merged with the neighbouring A02 158 suppliers, Lee Valley Water Company and Rickmansworth Water A02 159 Company, in 1990. The merger, creating the seventh-largest UK water A02 160 company, was approved by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. The A02 161 French giant Compagnie Generale des Eaux, which A02 162 already owned 28 per cent of Colne, 16 per cent of Rickmansworth A02 163 and the whole of Lee, bought the newly-merged company. CGE is the A02 164 largest water group in the world, and has interests in waste A02 165 disposal, funeral services, utilities and construction.

A02 166 The area covered by Three Valleys was unaffected by the A02 167 privatisation of the water industry. Its water has been A02 168 traditionally supplied by the private sector.

A02 169 The three smaller water companies still exist, and are known to A02 170 customers by their old names. Their boards of directors are A02 171 identical: Jim McGown is chairman, and Robert Simpson is deputy A02 172 chairman. They also have two non-executive directors, Peter Darby, A02 173 head of finance, and Richard Medhurst, head of water quality. They A02 174 are subsidiaries of Three Valleys, which is chaired by Sir John. A02 175 Its directors include Mr McGown and Mr Simpson, plus Jean-Claude A02 176 Banon from General Utilities, the London branch of A02 177 Compagnie Generale des Eaux. The other A02 178 directors all served with the three old companies. They are Jim A02 179 Bolton, former chairman of Lee Valley, John Hasledene, former A02 180 director of Colne Valley and Lee Valley, Michael Ross-Collins, A02 181 former director of Rickmansworth and Colne Valley, Jean-Pierre A02 182 Tardieu, former director of Lee Valley, and John Paterson, former A02 183 director of Lee Valley.

A02 184 Mr McGown, Mr Simpson, Mr Bolton and Mr Ross-Collins all live A02 185 in the area supplied by Three Valleys Water Services.

A02 186 CGE's British water companies also include North Surrey, A02 187 Folkestone and Tendring Hundred.

A02 188 A02 189 Major on top of the world

A02 190 By JOHN DEANS, Political Correspondent A02 191 JOHN MAJOR returned from triumph on the world stage last night A02 192 to deliver his most upbeat economic forecast yet.

A02 193 After winning hearts in Moscow and a grudging respect in A02 194 Peking, he turned his attention to domestic agenda which is looking A02 195 increasingly favourable.

A02 196 "We are beginning to see the economy turning A02 197 round," he said. "That has an effect on A02 198 expectations and behaviour.

A02 199 People begin to spend again, which means the economy begins to A02 200 grow and there is a general virtuous circle." A02 201 Although voicing regret about unemployment, he forecast that A02 202 inflation would be down to 4 per cent by the end of the year and A02 203 recession would soon be a thing of the past. But on the speculation A02 204 about a possible November election the Premier remained cool. A02 205 "I'm in no particular rush," he said.

A02 206 His confidence was echoed by Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd, A02 207 who flew home from Hongkong with him and declared later: "A A02 208 fourth term of government is firmly within our grasp. The most A02 209 striking indicator is the increased optimism among ordinary voters. A02 210 They are now more optimistic about the economy than at any time in A02 211 the past three years."

A02 212 While the history-making may be over for now, there will be no A02 213 let up in Mr Major's itinerary. He and his wife Norma spend the A02 214 weekend with the Queen at Balmoral, followed by a two-day tour of A02 215 Scotland where Tory constituencies remain vulnerable. On Wednesday, A02 216 the Premier flies to Paris for talks with President Mitterand and A02 217 meetings with leaders from Russia and the newly-emerging A02 218 democracies of Eastern Europe.

A02 219 After that, he embarks on a programme of visits to marginal A02 220 constituencies around Britain. While careful not to rule out the A02 221 autumn option completely, the Prime Minster has made it clear that A02 222 one high priority is to ensure that he represents Britain in the A02 223 next stage of negotiations on European union in December.

A02 224 The latest popularity research brought more bad news for the A02 225 Labour Party last night.

A02 226 The Newsnight poll of polls, analysing four of the main recent A02 227 surveys, put the Conservatives one point ahead and showed 60 per A02 228 cent of the electorate satisfied with John Major's performance.

A02 229 Dropped A02 230 The result did not take into account yesterday's Gallup poll, A02 231 which gave the Tories a 4.5 per cent lead, or the latest fall in A02 232 interest rates.

A02 233 Newsnight gave the Tories 41 per cent, three per cent up since A02 234 the last similar survey, while Labour dropped back three points.

A02 235 The Liberal Democrats gained one, to 15 per cent.

A02 236 Backing for Mr Major increased by six points while A02 237 dissatisfaction with Mr Kinnock rose two to 52 per cent.

A02 238 Labour's campaign coordinator Jack Cunningham insisted last A02 239 night that domestic affairs would rescue his party. "This A02 240 is what will determine the outcome of the election," he A02 241 said.

A02 242 A03 1 <#FLOB:A03\>How the Kurds were saved from Saddam

A03 2 The creation of a save haven for the Kurds inside Iraq was A03 3 achieved only after a fortnight of intense manoeuvring. The man who A03 4 displayed the greatest diplomacy on the world stage was the prime A03 5 minister. For, as Nicholas Wood in London and Martin A03 6 Fletcher in Washington report, it was his skills which turned A03 7 a scheme fraught with political difficulties into reality.

A03 8 THE lowest point in John Major's 15-day personal Odyssey to A03 9 bring succour to the legions of dispossessed Kurds dying in their A03 10 thousands of cold and hunger in the mountains of northern Iraq came A03 11 at Arsenal football club a fortnight ago yesterday.

A03 12 The prime minister, a keen Chelsea supporter, could not have A03 13 been comforted by the sight of their London rivals crushing Aston A03 14 Villa 5-0. But far more painful for him was the realisation that A03 15 Margaret Thatcher, his predecessor, had emerged from enforced A03 16 retirement to champion the cause of the refugees.

A03 17 That same afternoon, Mrs Thatcher had stepped onto her A03 18 Belgravia pavement to tell the world that "legal A03 19 niceties" could not be allowed to stand in the way of a A03 20 people's salvation. Mr Major, already under fire for his alleged A03 21 dallying over the poll tax, could have imagined the rest. The A03 22 Kurdish emigr<*_>e-acute<*/>s duly obliged, letting it be A03 23 known that they had appreciated the chance to talk to a A03 24 "doer not a ditherer".

A03 25 By the time he had reached Highbury stadium, Mr Major, from the A03 26 comfort of his bullet-proof Daimler, had acted to limit the damage. A03 27 After frantic discussions with his aides, including at least three A03 28 telephone calls during the match, he brought forward the A03 29 announcement of an outline plan to bring relief to the Kurds.

A03 30 Nevertheless, the morning headlines made grim reading. A03 31 "The voice of conscience ... It takes Maggie to speak out A03 32 for the Kurds" trumpeted the Daily Mail over a A03 33 story contrasting George Bush's enthusiasm for golf and Mr Major's A03 34 passion for football with Mrs Thatcher's sense of occasion. That A03 35 Thursday, April 4, Mr Major cut short his week's break in A03 36 Huntingdon to return to London to take charge of the biggest A03 37 political problem to hit his desk since arriving in the hot A03 38 seat.

A03 39 As ever in politics, the criticism was not totally fair. A03 40 According to one senior Foreign Office source yesterday, after A03 41 witnessing the harrowing scenes on television of the Kurds fleeing A03 42 from President Saddam Hussein's avenging army, the prime minister A03 43 had been driving forward an international relief operation on A03 44 behalf of the Kurds two days before Mrs Thatcher dramatically A03 45 raised the stakes.

A03 46 Tristan Garel-Jones, the Foreign Office duty minister during A03 47 the Easter recess, had been left in no doubt of the prime A03 48 minister's intentions by Stephen Wall, his private secretary A03 49 responsible for foreign affairs, on the Monday before. "The A03 50 message was simple: this thing is serious. We want action A03 51 now," the source said yesterday. But for the next two days A03 52 Whitehall's wheels ground slowly as the Overseas Development A03 53 Administration wavered over the pounds20 million costs of the Major A03 54 plan.

A03 55 By Wednesday, even before Mrs Thatcher's sensational A03 56 intervention, things were beginning to take shape. On Thursday, A03 57 April 4 Mr. Major gave details of the pounds20 million mountain A03 58 airlift, while still ruling out military intervention. But the real A03 59 work was going on behind the scenes on a plan that was to take the A03 60 European Community and the Americans unawares at special summit of A03 61 EC leaders in Luxembourg on the following Monday.

A03 62 With Douglas Hurd, the foreign secretary, on top of Taishan, A03 63 China's most sacred mountain, Mr Major took personal charge of what A03 64 was to be unveiled as the safe havens plan in Luxembourg. As one A03 65 delighted minister put it yesterday, "he saw the greasy A03 66 ball lying on the grass, scooped it up, rubbed it twice on his A03 67 shirt, put his head down, and ran for the line. It was A03 68 magic." The prime minister had 'bounced' both the Americans A03 69 and the Europeans into following Britain's lead.

A03 70 The details of the prime minister's "safe A03 71 haven" plan were not finalised until he reached Luxembourg A03 72 on the Monday of the EC summit. But before he announced them, he A03 73 secured another diplomatic deal with President Mitterrand of A03 74 France.

A03 75 In the shadow of the summit, the French chaired a meeting of A03 76 the Western European Union which pledged aid to southeast Turkey. A03 77 The French want the EC to absorb the union and play a military role A03 78 in Europe, something Britain and the US have resisted. By letting M A03 79 Mitterrand have his way, Mr Major won French backing for his plan. A03 80 On the flight to Luxembourg, Mr Major was warned about the risks of A03 81 pressing his scheme by close advisers. "He was warned that A03 82 the US was not on board and that the administration wanted to get A03 83 their troops back home," one insider said. "He was A03 84 told he would need troops to make the safe havens plan work. We all A03 85 said to him "we cannot guarantee success on this. You have to A03 86 realise there is a possibility of failure and that the Americans A03 87 and the Europeans might say no."

A03 88 Mr Major, perhaps determined to rid himself of the dithering A03 89 tag once and for all, was adamant that they should press on. Backed A03 90 by Douglas Hogg, junior minister at the Foreign Office, he told his A03 91 officials. "It's the right thing to do. Get on with A03 92 it." At the prime minister's behest, Mr O'Donnell performed A03 93 one vital service, translating the mandarin words of the Foreign A03 94 Office into a four-point plan that could be ready<&|>sic! A03 95 assimilated by the media.

A03 96 The Americans were told of the plan only after the prime A03 97 minister arrived in Luxembourg. Mr Wall briefed Brent Scowcroft, A03 98 the national security adviser, and Mr Major sent a message direct A03 99 to President Bush. Sir David Hannay, Britain's ambassador to the A03 100 UN, set about persuading the Russians and the Chinese that by A03 101 interfering in Iraq Britain was not seeking to set a precedent for A03 102 Georgia and Tibet.

A03 103 Mr Major's enclave proposal received the chilliest of A03 104 receptions in Washington. Unwilling publicly to snub an ally, A03 105 Marlin Fitzwater, the White House press secretary, instead damned A03 106 it with faint praise, saying it had "some merits" A03 107 and was "worthy of consideration." Privately senior A03 108 administration officials complained that the British had failed to A03 109 consult Washington before putting the idea to the EC and listed a A03 110 string of objections.

A03 111 The Americans had already been caught on the hop the day before A03 112 when Richard Cheney, the US defence secretary, had found himself in A03 113 the studios of ABC Television when the Turkish president, Turgut A03 114 Ozal, announced a "buffer state" proposal on A03 115 air.

A03 116 One senior American official told The Times that the A03 117 idea would never get through the UN Security Council because China A03 118 and the Soviet Union would argue that it violated the sovereignty A03 119 of a member state. It threatened the permanent fragmentation of A03 120 Iraq because the enclaves, once established, would be far harder to A03 121 dismantle. It would almost certainly mean US troops re-entering A03 122 Iraq because "we don't see anyone else A03 123 volunteering".

A03 124 In the face of British and European determination to forge A03 125 ahead, the Bush administration was obliged to devise its own A03 126 counterplan which was first disclosed by an official travelling A03 127 from Turkey to the Middle East with Mr Baker on Wednesday last A03 128 week.

A03 129 Mr Fitzwater announced that America had told the Iraqis to A03 130 cease all military activities in the air and on the ground north of A03 131 parallel 36 so that relief operations could proceed unhindered, A03 132 thus creating what White House officials privately admitted was a A03 133 de facto safe haven.

A03 134 That night Mr Bush telephoned Mr Major, and after a 20-minute A03 135 conversation Downing Street and the White House both issued A03 136 statements saying the two leaders had agreed on the need for a safe A03 137 haven.

A03 138 In a telephone conversation conducted on first name terms, Mr A03 139 Major told the US leader that aid would not be enough and it was A03 140 vital to get the Kurds off the mountains. Sir David Hannay tackled A03 141 the problem of convincing the UN to abandon the cherished principle A03 142 of non-intervention, and by Monday, after talks with A03 143 Se<*_>n-tilde<*/>or P<*_>e-acute<*/>rez de Cu<*_>e-acute<*/>llar, A03 144 the UN secretary general, he was making headway.

A03 145 Mr Major then spoke to President Bush and Se<*_>n-tilde<*/>or A03 146 P<*_>e-acute<*/>rez de Cu<*_>e-acute<*/>llar on Tuesday night, A03 147 firming up an agreement that insiders reckoned was 70 per cent in A03 148 the bag.

A03 149 By the time of the joint Washington and Downing Street A03 150 announcements about the use of force to secure the havens, the A03 151 prime minister's days as a ditherer - if not President Bush's A03 152 - appeared to be numbered.

A03 153 A03 154 Role of West poses dilemma for Rafsanjani

A03 155 From EDWARD GORMAN in TEHRAN

A03 156 THE decision to go ahead with plans for safe areas in northern A03 157 Iraq has left the Iranian government out in the cold. Tehran is A03 158 coping with the largest number of Kurdish refugees, and according A03 159 to Western diplomats, seems in a dilemma about how to respond.

A03 160 "They haven't made up their minds what they A03 161 want," commented one senior Western envoy, who said Tehran A03 162 has been wrongfooted since the concept of a safe haven or enclave A03 163 was first mooted. "They have a real dilemma, which they A03 164 haven't resolved, which has important political and humanitarian A03 165 dimensions," he added.

A03 166 Throughout the Gulf confrontation, President Rafsanjani's A03 167 approach has combined conflicting impulses. Like the United States, A03 168 Iran does not want to see Iraq break up, and like America, it wants A03 169 President Saddam Hussein pushed out of power.

A03 170 But despite denouncing the invasion and annexation of Kuwait, A03 171 it has also attacked American and allied military involvement in A03 172 the region and called for a withdrawal. Recently it has blamed A03 173 America for encouraging the Kurds in their uprising, and for A03 174 ignoring the plight of refugees on the Iran-Iraq border.

A03 175 Tehran has been shut out of the president's plan because it is A03 176 largely a response to Turkey's needs and because of the continuing A03 177 deep fracture in American-Iranian relations. It can be expected to A03 178 criticise the proposals because they involve further deployments of A03 179 allied troops and will fuel fears here that the Americans are not A03 180 sincere in their undertakings to withdraw from the region.

A03 181 The Iranian government is understandably nervous of any A03 182 solution to the Kurdish problem which helps to formalise Kurdish A03 183 aspirations to a separate or autonomous state, and the implications A03 184 that may have for millions of Kurds living on the Iranian side of A03 185 the border.

A03 186 However, President Rafsanjani has made it clear he wishes to A03 187 see the eventual repatriation of refugees from Iran. Some observers A03 188 believe he may choose publicly to distance himself from the A03 189 American plan, while allowing or encouraging as many refugees to A03 190 return home under its auspices as wish to do so. This will require A03 191 careful presentation by the president, who cannot afford to be seen A03 192 by his people to be participating in, or endorsing, an A03 193 American-brokered solution.

A03 194 A03 195 Insults pepper Bonn accord

A03 196 From IAN MURRAY IN BONN

A03 197 IT SEEMED a good idea when the German government and opposition A03 198 agreed last Friday to work together in two committees to rescue A03 199 eastern Germany from economic collapse. Before a single meeting can A03 200 be arranged, however, both sides are at each other's throat.

A03 201 Helmut Kohl, the chancellor, yesterday ruled out any idea that A03 202 the Social Democrats (SPD) would be allowed to discuss government A03 203 policy. Hans-Jochen Vogel, the opposition leader, implied this made A03 204 little difference since the government was now largely following A03 205 the interventionist policy of the SPD.

A03 206 The tone of the exchanges is growing more vitriolic. The A03 207 chancellor should whistle off the firebrands of his party, said A03 208 Frau Herta D<*_>a-umlaut<*/>ubler-Gmelin, the deputy SPD leader. A03 209 The SPD was falsely raising the expectations of poor people in A03 210 eastern Germany, countered Volker R<*_>u-umlaut<*/>he, general A03 211 secretary of the chancellor's Christian Democrats (CDU).

A03 212 Certainly electioneering is involved, since A03 213 Rhineland-Palatinate, Herr Kohl's home state, votes for a new A03 214 parliament on Sunday. Voters there have always picked a CDU A03 215 government, but opinion polls show the SPD in the lead, and Herr A03 216 Kohl's party risks a humiliating defeat.

A03 217 Despite the argument, the government has abandoned its reliance A03 218 on private investment to pull the east out of economic A03 219 difficulties. Treuhand, the agency set up to privatise A03 220 old communist combines, is now helping lame-duck industries A03 221 to survive rather than killing them off.

A03 222 A04 1 <#FLOB:A04\>Ceasefire boosts talks on Ulster

A04 2 By Our Belfast Correspondent and Ralph Atkins

A04 3 LOYALIST PARAMILITARIES in Northern Ireland last night said A04 4 they would enforce a qualified 'ceasefire' to coincide with the A04 5 start in less than two weeks of formal talks on the province's A04 6 political future.

A04 7 A statement issued in Belfast by the so-called A04 8 "Combined Loyalist Military Command" said the A04 9 suspension of operational hostilities was a genuine attempt to A04 10 assist the talks process initiated by Mr Peter Brooke, Northern A04 11 Ireland secretary.

A04 12 However, the statement said loyalist groups retained the right A04 13 to take what it called "defensive or retaliatory A04 14 action" - assumed to mean in response to action by the A04 15 Irish Republican Army.

A04 16 Although the gesture comes from organisations abhorred by the A04 17 government and the province's constitutional parties, it gives a A04 18 further fillip to Mr Brooke who defied the expectations of many in A04 19 winning agreement last month for round table talks.

A04 20 Loyalist murder gangs in Northern Ireland have been behind far A04 21 more killings in the province this year than the IRA.

A04 22 Mr Brian Mawhinney, minister of state at the Northern Ireland A04 23 Office, had earlier announced a starting date of April 30 for the A04 24 round table-talks which will cover alternatives to the 1985 A04 25 Anglo-Irish Agreement as well as devolution in the province.

A04 26 Details of the three or four man negotiating teams are expected A04 27 to be announced shortly by the four political parties involved.

A04 28 The ceasefire move follows a series of meetings recently A04 29 between leaders of the outlawed Ulster Volunteer Force and the A04 30 Ulster Defence Association, which is still legal in the A04 31 province.

A04 32 The UVF, sometimes using its flag of convenience, the A04 33 Protestant Action Force, has been behind 11 murders in recent A04 34 weeks. One outrage last month in which two teenaged girls and a A04 35 young man were shot dead at a mobile shop in County Armagh A04 36 horrified all sections of the community.

A04 37 Mr Peter Robinson, deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist A04 38 Party, welcomed the ceasefire saying it was indicative of the mood A04 39 of the vast majority of people who wished to see peaceful solutions A04 40 to <}_><-|>Norther<+|>Northern<}/> Ireland's problems.

A04 41 British and Irish ministers will meet a week tomorrow for a A04 42 conference under the 1985 agreement, which Unionist leaders are A04 43 anxious to see replaced. After then the workings of the agreement A04 44 will, in effect, be suspended for about 10 weeks while talks take A04 45 place. Round table talks will start with a brief series of A04 46 bilaterals with Mr Brooke to agree an agenda.

A04 47 The Garda, the Irish police, have launched a high level inquiry A04 48 into reports that a top secret Garda document was in possession of A04 49 the IRA and had led to the murder of a protestant man in Northern A04 50 Ireland.

A04 51 Mr Ian Sproule was shot dead by the IRA outside his parents A04 52 home in County Tyrone last Saturday morning. The Garda document A04 53 reportedly listed Mr Sproule as a member of the Ulster Volunteer A04 54 Force, an illegal loyalist paramilitary group.

A04 55 The documented allegedly says Mr Sproule had been responsible A04 56 for incendiary attacks on premises in the Irish Republic in A04 57 1987.

A04 58 The Northern Ireland Office said it had expressed concern about A04 59 the allegations to the Dublin government. It said: "The A04 60 greatest care must be taken with information of such sensitive A04 61 nature," and hoped the Garda investigation would be A04 62 "swift, full and comprehensive".

A04 63 A04 64 Excitement found in the middle lane

A04 65 Ivo Dawnay discovers the driving passion within the A04 66 Green Party

A04 67 FOR MORE than two-and-a-half-years, the political control of A04 68 Nottingham City Council, has depended on the antique mechanics of a A04 69 10-year-old, scarlet Ford Escort.

A04 70 In that time, its owner - 68-year-old Councillor John Peck, DFC A04 71 - has successfully negotiated both uncounted traffic hazards and A04 72 the potential pitfalls of holding the balance of power in the A04 73 central England authority between 27 Labour and 27 Tory A04 74 colleagues.

A04 75 A journey in this politically-crucial machine, nonetheless, A04 76 gives the lie to the claim that the homely world of local A04 77 government is unexciting.

A04 78 As Mr Peck - travelling at about 22mph on a busy commuter road A04 79 - explained his agonised decision to abandon communism for the A04 80 Green Party, there were several moments your petrified reporter was A04 81 convinced that his pivotal role was granted only by the grace of A04 82 God.

A04 83 If his driving skills might be questioned, Mr Peck is A04 84 undoubtedly a formidable argument in the case for devolved A04 85 power.

A04 86 By successfully campaigning on issues like grass-cutting and A04 87 street-lighting, he has kept Labour in power and in check. His most A04 88 prestigious victory was won by voting with the Tories to halt A04 89 industrial development on local allotments.

A04 90 Above all, he believes politics should be as close as is A04 91 feasibly possible to the people it affects. As an example, he cites A04 92 the case of a High Street amusement arcade opposed locally and at A04 93 council level but that eventually won approval on appeal.

A04 94 "If the dispute is between people on the ground and the A04 95 planning authority, then go to arbitration," he argues. A04 96 "But if there is not a dispute, then I don't see why some A04 97 bugger in bloody London should interfere."

A04 98 As must be the case in many of the local elections now under A04 99 way, "bloody London" - birthplace of the poll tax A04 100 and instigator of the squeeze on local spending - is probably more A04 101 crucial to Nottingham than who runs the council.

A04 102 With Nottingham Forest football team in the FA Cup Final, busy A04 103 shopping centres, a diversified business base and a prize-winning A04 104 polytechnic, the city appears to be weathering recession almost A04 105 cheerfully.

A04 106 Local development needs - a new Light Rapid Transport system A04 107 and electrification of the Midland railway - enjoy all-party A04 108 support. So, too, does the desire to win back the powers granted to A04 109 the county council in the 1974 re-organisation.

A04 110 Indeed, one understandably anonymous local businessman conceded A04 111 that many of his colleagues were as happy to see Labour in the A04 112 magnificent 1929 Council House as the Tories.

A04 113 "Both lots agree on the main issue of fighting to A04 114 develop Nottingham," he said. "The A04 115 headline-grabbing issues are always peripheral."

A04 116 That view is fiercely contested by the two main parties which A04 117 are aware that with the three marginal Westminster seats (one A04 118 Labour, two Tory) at stake, Nottingham is a weather-vane for the A04 119 imminent general election.

A04 120 To make it more central still, the city's battles are being A04 121 fought on propaganda and ideological territory strongly similar to A04 122 that mapped-out in national headquarters.

A04 123 In consequence, Mr Bill Bradbury, the no-nonsense Tory leader, A04 124 concedes that Labour has so far successfully sold its A04 125 "modern" image. But he goes on to warn of a hidden agenda A04 126 of irresponsible high-spending on "loony" leftism which A04 127 once included a "world first" of gay swimming A04 128 sessions at city pools.

A04 129 Mr John Taylor, Labour's bearded deputy leader, counters that A04 130 his party is now the champion of "enabling local A04 131 government" in partnership with the private sector, while A04 132 the Tories inhabit an out-dated Thatcherite past of ineffective A04 133 market forces.

A04 134 Pointing to a number of development schemes for vacant land, he A04 135 says constructive intervention in the local economy is the only A04 136 alternative to simply leaving Nottingham's future to the ebbs and A04 137 flows of the national economy.

A04 138 Bounce that claim back off Councillor Bradbury and he will A04 139 replies<&|>sic! that several of the projects were actually initiated A04 140 by the Tories.

A04 141 If the party political arguments soon sound sterile, however, A04 142 the Nottingham microcosm is an interesting reflection of the A04 143 national picture. Both parties are wrestling for the centre ground A04 144 on <}_><-|>plaforms<+|>platforms<}/> of sound management based on A04 145 private and public sector partnership.

A04 146 With the poll-tax fiasco and the Tories' high 1987 vote A04 147 achieved on a tide of national affluence, Labour must, and almost A04 148 certainly will, win outright control of the city this time. But A04 149 whether the margin will be adequate to augur a General Election A04 150 victory remains doubtful.

A04 151 As one neutral city leader put it: "If interest rates A04 152 drop to 10 per cent and inflation is down to five per cent, that is A04 153 also pretty persuasive."

A04 154 A04 155 Kurdish groups welcome protection for refugees but raise A04 156 further questions for allies

A04 157 Iraqi stability "may hinge on Kurd problem"

A04 158 By Victor Mallet, Middle East Correspondent, in A04 159 London

A04 160 THE DECISION to send US, British and French troops to establish A04 161 and defend Kurdish refugee camps in northern Iraq raises the A04 162 question of how long the Kurds will need protection from their own A04 163 government.

A04 164 The answer, according to Kurdish refugees and exiles, is that A04 165 the United Nations or the western powers will have to safeguard A04 166 Iraq's 4m Kurds at least until President Saddam Hussein is A04 167 overthrown, and possibly longer.

A04 168 Kurdish groups yesterday welcomed US President George Bush's A04 169 announcement on the deployment of troops to protect Kurdish zones A04 170 in northern Iraq, but they emphasised that the move responded to A04 171 urgent humanitarian needs without providing a political solution to A04 172 the Kurdish problem.

A04 173 Most Iraqi Kurds, including the main opposition groups fighting A04 174 the Iraqi government, have oficially rejected separatism and are A04 175 demanding autonomy within a united and democratic Iraq.

A04 176 Few of them, remembering the killings of recent days, the A04 177 gassing of Kurds at Halabja in 1988 and the destruction of 4,000 A04 178 Kurdish villages on Mr Saddam's orders, will ever be persuaded to A04 179 accept at face value Mr Saddam's periodic offers of amnesty to A04 180 Kurdish refugees.

A04 181 Kurds say that even if Mr Saddam is removed, Arab nationalist A04 182 and anti-Kurdish sentiments fostered by the Iraqi authorities may A04 183 cause further misery for the Kurdish people.

A04 184 "We don't want to be reduced to a refugee population in A04 185 a number of camps," said Dr Kamal Mirawdeli, director of A04 186 the Kurdish Information and Educational Project in London.

A04 187 "But even if the Shia come to A04 188 power, or another government - a pro-Saudi government - there is not A04 189 guarantee that they won't behave in the same way ... The only A04 190 guarantee is for there to be a federal state and for the UN to A04 191 recognise that."

A04 192 Kurds facing long stays in bleak refugee camps are acutely A04 193 aware of the mistakes made by their Palestinian fellow-refugees. A04 194 They fear they may live to regret leaving their homes in the face A04 195 of real or threatened persecution, and moderate Kurds are anxious A04 196 to restrain those who advocate terrorism.

A04 197 "If we're going to have a permanent refugee problem A04 198 then obviously it's going to be worse, a lot worse than A04 199 expected," said Mr Abbas Vali, senior politics lecturer at A04 200 the University of Wales at Swansea. "It's going to be a A04 201 breeding ground for all sorts of negative tendencies in the Kurdish A04 202 movement."

A04 203 The Kurds have few qualms about seeking military help from the A04 204 outside world. They argue that the world has obligations under the A04 205 Genocide Convention of 1948. They point out that foreign A04 206 intervention to help peoples subjected to tyranny is not A04 207 unprecedented and they cite the US invasion of Panama in 1989 and A04 208 the Tanzanian overthrow of Uganda's Idi Amin 10 years earlier.

A04 209 Kurdish guerrilla groups resent the suggestion that they A04 210 miscalculated by launching an ill-advised rebellion throughout A04 211 Iraqi Kurdistan after the allies defeated Mr Saddam's army and A04 212 drove it out of Kuwait.

A04 213 What in fact occured was a spontaneous popular uprising that A04 214 the guerrillas could not ignore. At first they had only 10,000 A04 215 fighters under arms but their ranks were swelled by mass defections A04 216 from the government's Kurdish militia.

A04 217 All were lightly armed and could not hope to hold the towns A04 218 when confronted with Iraqi tanks, artillery and helicopter A04 219 gunships.

A04 220 They were defeated in Kirkuk but elsewhere they simply melted A04 221 into the hills to continue the fight.

A04 222 Civilians in towns, meanwhile, took fright as the government A04 223 again seized control and took its revenge; in the old days they A04 224 would have taken refuge in their mountain villages, but Mr Saddam A04 225 had destroyed these. They fled to Iran and Turkey, leaving Iraqi A04 226 Kurdistan all but deserted and suffering the catastrophe which has A04 227 finally embarrassed the US and its allies into taking action.

A04 228 If the Iraqi Kurds are ever to leave the refugee camps, which A04 229 have yet to be built to receive them, and if the international A04 230 community is ever to be relieved of the responsibility of A04 231 protecting them, the Kurds will have to become part of Iraq's A04 232 political system.

A04 233 Kurds insist that the successful achievement of this aim, which A04 234 could be accompanied by a better deal for the Kurds in Turkey and A04 235 Iran as the Turks and the Iranians seek better relations with the A04 236 west, depends on the removal of Mr Saddam.

A04 237 A05 1 <#FLOB:A05\>THE SOVIET CRISIS

A05 2 How power trickle from the old guard became a torrent

A05 3 By John Kampfner in Moscow

A05 4 THE shake-up of political structures proposed yesterday by A05 5 President Gorbachev and republican leaders is much more radical A05 6 than the Kremlin chief had planned before the failed coup.

A05 7 In the old days, the Communist party reigned supreme. The A05 8 government and parliament were rubber-stamping bodies. The A05 9 leader of the country was the party General Secretary.

A05 10 He would meet the party Politburo, a group of 10 to A05 11 20, usually once a week. The Politburo would make all A05 12 major decisions on day-to-day government. It was answerable to the A05 13 party Central Committee, up to 400-strong, which oversaw policy.

A05 14 The committee had the power to remove the General Secretary, A05 15 which it did in the case of Nikita Khrushchev. It in turn was A05 16 elected by a party congress which was usually convened every five A05 17 years.

A05 18 The Supreme Soviet met twice a year to approve everything, A05 19 while the Council of Ministers, up to 60-strong, enacted A05 20 legislation.

A05 21 The 15 republics were completely subservient to the wishes of A05 22 the centre. The Russian Federation did not have its own parliament, A05 23 and basically existed only on paper.

A05 24 The first partly-free elections took place in 1989. These were A05 25 to the Congress of People's Deputies, a parliament of more than A05 26 2,000 deputies that was to meet twice a year to set the broad A05 27 agenda.

A05 28 The Congress elected the new-look Supreme Soviet, which would A05 29 sit permanently. Last year, as he became frustrated at the slow A05 30 pace of parliament, Mr Gorbachev sought and gained special powers, A05 31 to issue decrees and to make the Cabinet of Ministers (the new A05 32 trimmed-down government) directly answerable to him.

A05 33 He appointed two advisory bodies, the Presidential Council - a A05 34 kind of think-tank - and the Federation Council, comprising A05 35 the heads of the 15 republics. He later replaced the Presidential A05 36 Council with a Security Council to advise on national and A05 37 international security.

A05 38 Meanwhile, the party continued to function much as it had A05 39 always done.

A05 40 The republics were to form identical structures. It was Mr. A05 41 Gorbachev's hope that they would receive a modicum of autonomy.

A05 42 The grand plan fell apart when the Baltic and other republics A05 43 proclaimed their sovereignty, and when Mr Boris Yeltsin rose to A05 44 power in the Russian Federation.

A05 45 Mr Yeltsin and republican leaders sought jurisdiction over A05 46 their own affairs and natural resources. Mr Gorbachev finally A05 47 obtained the agreement of nine republics on a Union Treaty which A05 48 would devolve limited powers from the Kremlin.

A05 49 The failed coup, and Mr Yeltsin's leadership of the resistance, A05 50 put paid to that. Mr Yeltsin stepped into the power vacuum, A05 51 effectively taking over much of the running of the country's A05 52 political and economic system.

A05 53 Eleven of the 15 republics have now declared some sort of A05 54 independence.

A05 55 To prevent a complete break-up, Mr Gorbachev, Mr Yeltsin and A05 56 other republican leaders have agreed to work out a radically A05 57 different treaty, allowing the republics to determine their A05 58 relationship with the remaining federal structures.

A05 59 In the interim, an Inter-republican Economic Committee A05 60 will co-ordinate management of the economy. A State Council, A05 61 comprising Mr Gorbachev and republican leaders, will work out joint A05 62 approaches to security and foreign policy issues and run the armed A05 63 forces.

A05 64 A Council of Representatives, comprising 20 deputies from each A05 65 participating republic, will serve as an interim parliament. All A05 66 the other central institutions are likely to fall by the A05 67 wayside.

A05 68 Mr Gorbachev has, in effect, ceded joint control of the country A05 69 to republican leaders. The terms of a future constitution and other A05 70 longterm decisions will rest in collective hands for as long as the A05 71 republics continue to acknowledge any role for federal A05 72 authorities.

A05 73 <*_>black-circle<*/>Mr Douglas Hogg, Foreign Office Minister, A05 74 begins a three-day visit to the Baltic states today, the first by a A05 75 British minister or official for more than 50 years.

A05 76 A05 77 Peace hopes as Serbs agree to ceasefire

A05 78 EC mediators make breakthrough in Yugoslavian crisis

A05 79 By Michael Montgomery in Belgrade and Boris Johnson in A05 80 Brussels

A05 81 EUROPEAN COMMUNITY attempts at mediation in Yogoslavia appeared A05 82 finally to have paid off last night after Serbia unexpectedly A05 83 agreed to a ceasefire and an EC-sponsored peace conference.

A05 84 Jubilant officials in The Hague, which holds the presidency of A05 85 the Common Market, said the conference would be held in the Dutch A05 86 capital "in the short term", probably later this A05 87 month.

A05 88 The breakthrough came after Mr Vladimir Jovanovic, the Serbian A05 89 Foreign Minister, indicated Serbia's willingness to accept the EC A05 90 terms on Saturday night, just as the Community-imposed deadline for A05 91 agreement was to expire.

A05 92 Yugoslav leaders, including Mr Slobodan Milosevic, the Serbian A05 93 President, were last night expected to put their signature to the A05 94 EC plan.

A05 95 Mr Hans von den Broek, Dutch Foreign Minister, flew to Belgrade A05 96 to settle the detailed terms of the cease-fire with the Yugoslav A05 97 federal authorities and the leaders of individual republics, A05 98 including Mr Milosevic.

A05 99 The plan calls for EC observers to monitor a ceasefire in A05 100 Croatia, a peace conference of all parties to the conflict, and A05 101 Western arbitration.

A05 102 Mr Jovanovic said the memorandum agreed on by the 12-nation A05 103 Community last week "starts from good intentions, is A05 104 reasonable, well balanced and does not favour any side".

A05 105 But he rejected EC statements blaming Serbia and Serbian A05 106 guerrillas in Croatia for the fighting.

A05 107 The "memorandum of understanding" will be A05 108 similar to the Brioni accord, an EC spokesman said. That agreement, A05 109 signed on a Yugoslav Adriatic island in July, contributed to a A05 110 lasting ceasefire in Slovenia, which declared independence along A05 111 with Croatia on June 25.

A05 112 But as fighting between Serbs and Croats continued yesterday, A05 113 causing heavy damage in several Croatian towns, there was deep A05 114 concern that the new plan may face the same fate as earlier A05 115 attempts to bring peace to Yugoslavia, which quickly collapsed in A05 116 fresh violence.

A05 117 Belgrade television reported that the western Croatian town of A05 118 Gospic was engulfed in flames after heavy clashes erupted between A05 119 local Serbs and Croatian national guardsmen. It said the casualty A05 120 figures were uncertain but were expected to be high.

A05 121 There were also more rebel mortar attacks reported in eastern A05 122 Croatia, near the town of Vinkvoci.

A05 123 In a bizarre development, Zagreb and Ljubljana airports A05 124 remained closed after Yugoslav army and Croatian forces fought a A05 125 brief gun battle on Saturday over a plane carrying arms which were A05 126 allegedly destined for Croatia.

A05 127 The fighting erupted after air force jets forced down two A05 128 airliners heading for Slovenia under suspicion that they were A05 129 carrying weapons.

A05 130 Croatian leaders yesterday expressed hope that the EC plan A05 131 would eventually lead to recognition of their independence. In a A05 132 gesture to Community heads, Croatian leaders at the weekend A05 133 postponed plans for a full mobilisation of the population and other A05 134 emergency measures.

A05 135 "A declaration of war at this time would not have A05 136 positive international connotations," said President Franjo A05 137 Tudjman of Croatia.

A05 138 The Croatian government gave Mr Tudjman powers to declare A05 139 wartime conditions "in the case of the widening of the war A05 140 against Croatia".

A05 141 Mr Tudjman's arch-rival, Mr Milosevic, already enjoys sweeping A05 142 emergency powers in Serbia.

A05 143 Croatia has blamed Serbia and the Serb-dominated federal army A05 144 for supporting a rebellion among the 600,000-strong Serb minority A05 145 in the breakaway republic. More <}_><-|>that<+|>than<}/> 300 people A05 146 have been killed since June.

A05 147 EC officials last week appeared to back Croatia by producing A05 148 evidence of recent army bombardments of civilian targets in A05 149 Croatia.

A05 150 In London, the Foreign Office was cautiously optimistic that A05 151 the latest EC plan would work. Diplomats are too wary of Mr A05 152 Milosevic's intentions to be certain that this is not merely A05 153 another self-seeking manoeuvre.

A05 154 The most important Serbian concession is to allow EC observers A05 155 to be sent into Croatia as well as Slovenia.

A05 156 The Serbian decision to come to terms appears to follow the EC A05 157 ultimatum setting a deadline for agreement by yesterday.

A05 158 A05 159 Major goes fishing for airport agreement

A05 160 By Robert Hardman in Peking

A05 161 JOHN MAJOR must be growing tired of fishing. A few days ago, he A05 162 was trying to look happy as George Bush whisked him off on various A05 163 fruitless speedboat missions to snare Kennebunkport's finest.

A05 164 Last night, on the other side of the globe, he found himself A05 165 back on the water at Peking's special VIP residence, the Diaoyutai, A05 166 which means "Catching Fish Platform".

A05 167 Fortunately for Mr Major, no one was expecting a catch on this A05 168 occasion. In fact, as an embassy official explained: "The A05 169 Diaoyutai Lakes are full of rather special ornamental carp and A05 170 there would be a serious diplomatic incident if anybody caught A05 171 one." This trip, though, is one of Mr Major's trickiest yet A05 172 and the potential for diplomatic upset extends far beyond fishing A05 173 rights.

A05 174 Downing Street knows that Tiananmen Square is marked indelibly A05 175 on Western minds, but knows, equally, that Britain must secure the A05 176 Hong Kong airport agreement to ensure confidence in the colony A05 177 after 1997.

A05 178 Since Peking realises just how much Britain needs the deal, it A05 179 demanded that Mr Major - and his kudos as world leader - come in A05 180 person to sign it.

A05 181 The prime Minister did his best to look glum as he stepped on A05 182 to Peking's tarmac. But buoyed by his success in Moscow and with A05 183 his tendency to smile when smiled at, he could not stifle a happy A05 184 handshake with the welcoming party led by Mr Huang Yicheng, the A05 185 Energy Minister.

A05 186 By the time his convoy had reached the Great Hall of the People A05 187 in Tiananmen Square, via the same Avenue of Eternal Peace route A05 188 chosen by the tanks in 1989, he was managing a scowl. Here, he met A05 189 Mr Li Peng, the Chinese Prime Minister. He kept his salutations to A05 190 a "thank you" before an audience of three A05 191 goose-stepping platoons, bayonets fixed, a gun battery and the A05 192 Peking public behind barriers a quarter-of-a-mile away.

A05 193 A05 194 Owen's 2 MPs to stay on after he quits

A05 195 By Jonathan Petre, Political Staff

A05 196 THE TWO MPs who stayed loyal to Dr David Owen following the A05 197 merger of his Social Democrat party with the Liberals are expected A05 198 to fight the next election under the independent Social Democrat A05 199 banner, despite their former leader's decision to retire from the A05 200 Commons.

A05 201 Mr John Cartwright, MP for Woolwich and former chief whip in A05 202 the SDP, and Mrs Rosie Barnes, MP for Greenwich, have indicated to A05 203 Dr Owen they will continue as Social Democrats, Mr Harold Luscombe, A05 204 chairman of the Plymouth SDP, said yesterday.

A05 205 Dr Owen, one of the original "Gang of Four" who A05 206 left the Labour party to establish the Social Democrats with the A05 207 1981 Limehouse Declaration, is to stand down as an MP for Plymouth, A05 208 which he has represented for 25 years, at the next election.

A05 209 His announcement is certain to raise questions about the A05 210 political survival of his two colleagues, who will find it A05 211 increasingly difficult to hold on to their seats if they remain A05 212 unattached to one of the mainstream parties.

A05 213 The news of his decision was followed by a call from Mr Charles A05 214 Kennedy, president of the Liberal Democrats, for all Dr Owen's A05 215 supporters to join their "natural political home", A05 216 the Liberal Democrats.

A05 217 Meanwhile, Dr Owen, 53, said yesterday that he did not want to A05 218 hang on at Westminster "like a fading pop star".

A05 219 Mr Major expressed sorrow that Dr Owen, a former Labour Foreign A05 220 Secretary, was leaving politics, and said that talks had taken A05 221 place to see whether a deal could be struck under which Dr Owen A05 222 would endorse the Tory party at the next election in return for it A05 223 not running candidates against Mr Cartwright and Mrs Barnes.

A05 224 "Although David Owen is of a different party, I am A05 225 sorry he is leaving the Commons," Mr Major said. Dr Owen, A05 226 who has represented Plymouth Devonport and previously Plymouth A05 227 Sutton, has been dropping broad hints for some time that he might A05 228 retire from the Commons at the next election.

A05 229 With the effective demise of the Social Democrats last year, A05 230 his position appeared increasingly isolated, and he held talks with A05 231 both Labour and the Tories to try to find a political home.

A05 232 "It is nice of people to say that I should stay on in A05 233 politics," he said on TV-am yesterday. "But I watch A05 234 those politicians hanging around the corridors at Westminster like A05 235 fading pop stars. I do not want to be that.

A05 236 "There are other things to do."

A05 237 A06 1 <#FLOB:A06\>Union fury at 'aliens' Jap jibe

A06 2 Leftie rapped

A06 3 By Patrick Hennessy

A06 4 HARD-Left union leader Ken Gill was branded a racist in a row A06 5 over Japanese companies yesterday.

A06 6 Mr Gill of the MSF manufacturing union claimed they brought an A06 7 "alien approach" to a British business.

A06 8 He said Jap firms forced unions into undignified A06 9 "beauty contests" where they had to fight each A06 10 other for single-union deals to represent all workers in a A06 11 plant.

A06 12 Backing A06 13 But engineers' leader Gavin Laird told the TUC conference in A06 14 Glasgow that Mr Gill was guilty of "sheer hypocrisy" and racism.

A06 15 He said the MSF itself was involved in a "beauty A06 16 contest" to represent 1,700 workers at a new Toyota car A06 17 plant.

A06 18 And he said Mr Gill's attack on the Japanese was a A06 19 "racist and negative piece of contraband."

A06 20 But the conference backed Mr Gill and turned its back on A06 21 single-union deals.

A06 22 The row wrecked the carefully-staged show of unity which TUC A06 23 chief Norman Willis had worked for.

A06 24 A06 25 Gorby treaty to cut Soviet power

A06 26 PRESIDENT Mikhail Gorbachev and 10 Soviet republics yesterday A06 27 launched plans for a new-look USSR.

A06 28 Gorby and leaders of 10 of the 15 republics revealed the A06 29 shake-up of the country's constitution to the Congress of A06 30 Deputies.

A06 31 They called for a new treaty allowing each republic to decide A06 32 how closely it was linked to the Soviet government.

A06 33 Temporary committees would run the country until the new A06 34 constitution was ready.

A06 35 Decision A06 36 Meanwhile, President Bush yesterday said the U.S. was ready to A06 37 set up diplomatic relations with the Baltic states A06 38 "immediately".

A06 39 The U.S. had always backed their independence, and would do A06 40 "whatever it could to help," he said.

A06 41 Mr Bush said he would send a diplomat to the Baltics to help A06 42 carry out his decision.

A06 43 NEW liberal KGB chief Vadim Bakatin said yesterday he wants his A06 44 organisation to co-operate with British secret services.

A06 45 A06 46 5 things to remember before going in November

A06 47 By TREVOR KAVANAGH, Political Editor

A06 48 THERE are five good reasons why Prime Minister John Major will A06 49 think long and hard before firing the starting gun for a November A06 50 election.

A06 51 First, recent opinion polls are the only ones for many months A06 52 to show the Tories in the lead. Mr Major says he doesn't trust A06 53 individual "snapshots" of voting trends.

A06 54 But he has noted the sudden drop on Labour's support - well A06 55 below the crucial 40 per cent for the first time this year - and A06 56 the country's growing confidence over the state of the economy.

A06 57 Second, previous Tory governments have been wrong-footed by A06 58 opinion polls, especially in 1964 when Labour ended 13 years of A06 59 Tory rule.

A06 60 Power A06 61 But then Labour was led by Harold Wilson, regarded as the most A06 62 dynamic politician of the age.

A06 63 No one could say the same for Neil Kinnock, whose popularity A06 64 slumps further in every poll as John Major's grows.

A06 65 Third, the Tories risk the worst of all possible worlds with a A06 66 hung parliament and the tiny party of Liberal Democrats ruling the A06 67 roost by holding the balance of power.

A06 68 This is the real spectre that haunts Mr Major, who does not A06 69 believe Labour can win outright.

A06 70 It explains why he has been so nice to Liberal leader Paddy A06 71 Ashdown and to Dr David Owen, even though his SDP is virtually A06 72 extinct.

A06 73 Fourth, opinion poll leads can evaporate overnight.

A06 74 Much of Mr Major's growing popularity has emerged after his A06 75 headline-grabbing visits to American President George Bush, the A06 76 Soviet Union's Mikhail Gorbachev and Russia's Boris Yeltsin, and A06 77 the rulers of Red China.

A06 78 But globe-trotting statesmanship is quickly forgotten when A06 79 people come to put their cross on a ballot paper.

A06 80 Ballot A06 81 John Major knows this. He has told friends the election will be A06 82 decided by the state of the economy and how voters feel about their A06 83 own personal prospects.

A06 84 That's why he triggered this week's surprise cut in mortgages, A06 85 well before anyone predicted it.

A06 86 This dramatically alters Chancellor Norman Lamont's deliberate A06 87 policy of letting the City adjust to the idea of lower interest A06 88 rates before he cuts them.

A06 89 It also gives the Prime Minister time for another cut before A06 90 November. A06 91 In the meantime, he is delighted with statements from economists A06 92 and bankers that the recession is all but over.

A06 93 Fifth, and decisively, is the question mark over the real level A06 94 of support for the Government.

A06 95 Tory experts believe Mr Major needs eight weeks with a lead of A06 96 at least five per cent.

A06 97 Most governments lose support during election campaigns, A06 98 although Mrs Thatcher broke the pattern in 1987 by remaining steady A06 99 from beginning to end.

A06 100 Lead A06 101 So Mr Major needs a commanding eight to 10 per cent margin over A06 102 Labour as he crosses the starting line.

A06 103 If he has that sort of lead by the time he addresses the Tory A06 104 Party conference in October, forget about the four other reasons A06 105 for caution.

A06 106 He will be about to name the day.

A06 107 A06 108 BT STRIKE THREAT OVER PLANS TO CHOP 1,000

A06 109 More 192 staff hit

A06 110 By PATRICK HENNESSY and MARK SOLOMONS

A06 111 FURIOUS union leaders last night threatened an all-out strike A06 112 over plans by British Telecom to sack another 1,000 operators.

A06 113 Those threatened are directory inquiry staff following a A06 114 dramatic fall in 192 calls since the introduction of the 44.5p A06 115 charge.

A06 116 Communication workers boss Alan Tuffin stormed at the TUC A06 117 conference: "How can a company that is awash with money A06 118 treat people in this way?

A06 119 "BT used to be known as a caring company but they have now lost A06 120 that image." BT - which makes profits of pounds105 a second A06 121 - plan to axe 6,500 operator jobs by the end of 1992.

A06 122 The further 1,000 jobs will go as part of BT's proposals to A06 123 close 17 directory inquiry centres.

A06 124 The communications union claim 1,100 jobs will go in total.

A06 125 Mr Tuffin said the company's 20,000 operators would be balloted A06 126 on strike action.

A06 127 He also warned they could pull the plug on 999 calls for the A06 128 first time. A06 129 Union leaders say the workers - who have an average of between 10 A06 130 and 20 years service - deserve better redundancy packages.

A06 131 Most of those set to go are women earning around pounds168 a A06 132 week.

A06 133 Mr Tuffin told the Glasgow conference that he would appeal to A06 134 BT's pounds536,000-a-year chairman, Iain Vallance, to come up with A06 135 a better deal.

A06 136 He said: "We will recommend the 20,000 operators vote A06 137 to strike. A06 138 "Traditionally we arrange cover for emergency service calls. A06 139 But that is a matter for my national executive."

A06 140 BT claims 192 calls have fallen 25 per cent since the A06 141 introduction of the 44.5p charge.

A06 142 A06 143 GRIM TASK - Mr Major inspects troops next to Tiananmen A06 144 Square yesterday followed by "Butcher" Li Peng who ordered A06 145 the student massacre there in 1989

A06 146 SCREAMING MOB HOWL DOWN PM's SPEECH

A06 147 From TREVOR KAVANAGH in Peking

A06 148 PREMIER John Major was drowned out by a screaming mob last A06 149 night as he warned the Butcher of Tiananmen Square that China faced A06 150 the same fate as Communist Russia.

A06 151 His speech could not be heard as Chinese officials suddenly A06 152 bundled newsmen out of Peking's Great Hall of the People in an A06 153 astonishing display of diplomatic bad manners.

A06 154 The Chinese had hoped to turn the visit into a propaganda coup. A06 155 But they were clearly taken aback by the Premier's blunt opening A06 156 address.

A06 157 Shouts of "Out - now" started up as Mr Major A06 158 told Chinese Premier Li Peng: "The old order is A06 159 changing."

A06 160 His voice was drowned out by Chinese guards who pushed members A06 161 of the British party, including the press, out of the room.

A06 162 Norma Major looked on amazed but Mr Li watched without raising A06 163 a finger.

A06 164 Reporters and cameramen were kneed in the back and equipment A06 165 clattered to the floor making the translation of Mr Major's remarks A06 166 almost inaudible to his hardline host.

A06 167 Mr Li was responsible for the massacre of hundreds of students A06 168 when he ordered tanks to crush a pro-democracy rally in Tiananmen A06 169 Square in 1989. Shots rang out over the square - roped off to the A06 170 citizens of Peking - as Chinese troops fired a 19-gun salute in Mr A06 171 Major's honour.

A06 172 Changing A06 173 Premier Li, desperate to win a face-saving return to the world A06 174 community, welcomed Mr Major with hopes of a new understanding.

A06 175 But his smile faded as Mr Major, angered by claims he is giving A06 176 China a propaganda coup, warned him Communism was on the way out. A06 177 I have just come from Moscow," he said. "We A06 178 live in a changing world in which events move rapidly, sometimes in A06 179 an unexpected way."

A06 180 Chinese leaders traditionally ignore any reference to their A06 181 appalling human rights record by foreign visitors.

A06 182 But as he flew into Peking from Moscow, Mr Major said: A06 183 "An important part of the dialogue will be on human A06 184 rights.

A06 185 "China has been through a period of isolation. It needs A06 186 people going in and telling it what the world thinks."

A06 187 A06 188 KINNOCK LOW-PAY "U-TURN"

A06 189 By EBEN BLACK

A06 190 LABOUR leader Neil Kinnock was accused last night of doing a A06 191 U-turn over moves to boost wages for the low-paid if he comes to A06 192 power.

A06 193 His party has promised to give all workers a minimum pounds3.40 A06 194 an hour - but Mr Kinnock has now admitted that plans to further A06 195 boost the figure to pounds4.50 will be shelved for five years.

A06 196 Employment Secretary Michael Howard said: "Mr Kinnock's A06 197 latest U-turn on the minimum wage shows he has the consistency of a A06 198 weathercock. He can run but he cannot hide on this issue." A06 199 Mr Kinnock told the business magazine Director that Labour would A06 200 "promptly" introduce the pounds3.40 minimum - half the A06 201 national average.

A06 202 But he added: "Any advance on that is going to be A06 203 entirely dependent on the performance of the economy."

A06 204 The Tories claim Labour's plans will cost up to two million A06 205 jobs.

A06 206 A06 207 WE WILL CUT ARMS FOR AID PLEDGE GORBY MEN

A06 208 From TREVOR KAVANAGH in Moscow

A06 209 JOHN MAJOR last night won huge concessions from Soviet leaders A06 210 when they pledged to cut arms spending in return for Western A06 211 aid.

A06 212 They also promised to start scrapping state control and make A06 213 major strides towards a capitalist-style economy.

A06 214 Mr Major - whose statesmanship has hoisted the Tories into a A06 215 two-point poll lead over Labour - was the first Western leader to A06 216 visit the Kremlin since the failed Red coup.

A06 217 During nine hours of talks with Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris A06 218 Yeltsin and their aides, he told them there would A06 219 <}_><-|>no<+|>not<}/> be cash aid until military spending was A06 220 cut.

A06 221 Russian prime minister Ivan Silaev told Mr Major: "We A06 222 would expect defence spending in 1992 to be slashed and cut A06 223 considerably over the medium term."

A06 224 Mr Major was delighted when Mr Silaev admitted the West was A06 225 right to demand reforms.

A06 226 And he was taken aback when top economist Girgory Yavlinsky A06 227 said too much aid could be harmful unless the country transforms A06 228 its bankrupt system.

A06 229 Close A06 230 Mr Major is ready now to trigger food and technical aid from A06 231 the G7 group of richest nations, of which he is current A06 232 chairman.

A06 233 He will also offer to send in experts on food retailing from A06 234 giants like Tesco and corner shop co-ops like Spar.

A06 235 The West will also help the economies of Hungary, Poland and A06 236 Czechoslovakia by giving Soviet food credits to spend in their A06 237 former satellite neighbours.

A06 238 Mr Major later praised Gorbachev's courage during the failed A06 239 coup. But he stressed he believes Yeltsin is the man for the A06 240 future.

A06 241 He said: "His leadership will be essential

A06 242 A06 243 Unions to snub Tory jobs plan

A06 244 By PATRICK HENNESSY

A06 245 A PLAN to help 60,000 jobless youngsters find work each year A06 246 will be rejected by the TUC conference today.

A06 247 The Government's pounds180 million Employment Action scheme, A06 248 starting next month, enables young people to do community work if A06 249 they cannot get jobs.

A06 250 But NALGO local government workers, led by Alan Jinkinson, last A06 251 night claimed the plan was "disgraceful."

A06 252 Boycott A06 253 A spokesman said: "Under this, the unemployed would A06 254 work on community projects for a derisory pounds10 a week on top of A06 255 benefit."

A06 256 Ron Todd's giant TGWU also opposes the scheme - making a A06 257 boycott certain to be approved at by the TUC in Glasgow.

A06 258 MR TODD last night refused to back miners' boss Arthur A06 259 Scargill's strikers' charter, urging Labour to scrap anti-union A06 260 laws.

A06 261 He said: "I don't want a return to flying A06 262 pickets."

A06 263 A07 1 <#FLOB:A07\>Dexter's backing his England flops

A07 2 By Colin Bateman

A07 3 ENGLAND'S Test selectors performed a remarkable act of faith A07 4 when they named their first Sunday squad of the summer A07 5 yesterday.

A07 6 They have shown faith in the ability and fitness of the 11 who A07 7 lost the last Test, naming them all for the fourth Test against the A07 8 West Indies which starts in Birmingham on Thursday.

A07 9 They have shown faith in Chris Lewis, the talented but fragile A07 10 Leicestershire allrounder who is recalled despite leaving doctors A07 11 baffled over the dizzy spells which have forced him to pull out A07 12 minutes before his last two Tests at home.

A07 13 Experienced A07 14 Yesterday's announcement of the 12 for Edgbaston must have A07 15 caused disappointment for several player's-in-waiting but their A07 16 chances could yet come through injuries.

A07 17 Mike Atherton's durability for a five-day Test without a rest A07 18 day is still in doubt because of his stomach strain, while Robin A07 19 Smith's damaged finger makes it painful for him to bat against even A07 20 a county attack.

A07 21 Glamorgan's Hugh Morris, as he was at Trent Bridge, is on A07 22 stand-by.

A07 23 Despite the fitness doubts and the lack of runs this series A07 24 from Atherton, Graeme Hick and Allan Lamb - 158 runs from 15 A07 25 innings - the selectors decided on an unchanged top six for the A07 26 fourth consecutive Test, although they will consider the order.

A07 27 Chairman Ted Dexter said: "We felt these batsmen were A07 28 the best at the start of the summer and we still feel they are the A07 29 best.

A07 30 "Selection is dictated by having three experienced batsmen in A07 31 Gooch, Lamb and Smith and three at various stages on the learning A07 32 curve in Atherton, Hick and Ramprakash.

A07 33 "The three 'learners' are all talented players and we see no A07 34 point in stopping the learning process.

A07 35 "Of the experienced batsmen, Lamb is the only one struggling A07 36 and we are confident he is as likely to produce as anyone." A07 37 The challengers have clearly not made much of an impression. Apart A07 38 from Morris being in his permanent stand-by position, Devon Malcolm A07 39 and Dermot Reeve are dropped after being in the squad for the third A07 40 Test.

A07 41 Pilloried A07 42 There is no hint of a breakthrough either for David Gower, who A07 43 is beginning to find his touch again, or Ian Botham, who must A07 44 surely recognise that England will now never rate him again as a A07 45 Test class all-rounder.

A07 46 And Phil Tufnell must patiently keep taking wickets for A07 47 Middlesex until the selectors decide his face fits once more. The A07 48 conviction shown by Graham Gooch, Micky Stewart and Dexter in their A07 49 players has to be admired if not agreed with.

A07 50 The last time the West Indies were here in 1988 the selectors A07 51 were pilloried after using four captains and 23 players in a series A07 52 lost 4-0. This summer England have used 13 players and are an A07 53 honourable 1-1 with two to play.

A07 54 As opposed to the major overhaul performed before every Test in A07 55 1988, England this summer have refused even regular services with A07 56 Gooch clinging firmly to the wheel hoping the wheels don't come off A07 57 on the last lap.

A07 58 Lewis's recall is, without doubt, the most daring thing the A07 59 selectors have done throughout the series.

A07 60 Problems A07 61 England will want him to play at Edgbaston on what is expected A07 62 to be a slow wicket in place of spinner Richard Illingworth or A07 63 strike bowler David Lawrence.

A07 64 Lewis is understandably as conderned about his fitness as he is A07 65 upset about suggestions that some of his problems are figments of A07 66 his imagination, and that he spends more time on the physio's couch A07 67 than on the field.

A07 68 Encouragingly, since the Headingley Test, he has not missed a A07 69 Championship match with Leicester, scoring useful runs and bowling A07 70 182 overs taking 20 wickets.

A07 71 Edgbaston will be as vital a game for Lewis as it will be for A07 72 England.

A07 73 A07 74 Simply Finch perfect: Nice guy Ian holds his nerve this A07 75 time to clinch top prize

A07 76 IAN BAKER-WHO they called him before yesterday. Today he is the A07 77 Finch who flew away with the greatest prize in golf.

A07 78 One of the few known facts about the tall, handsome A07 79 avocado-farmer's son before he claimed the 120th Open Championship A07 80 was that he had been hyphenated at birth.

A07 81 Now with his two-stroke win at Royal Birkdale he has not only A07 82 claimed his first major and pounds90,000 but also buried the A07 83 memories of a fateful day at St Andrews seven years ago.

A07 84 Baker-Finch, who wears spectacles because of a punch landed by A07 85 a jealous drunk in a pub four years ago, led going into the last A07 86 round of The Open in 1984 but choked so spectacularly it looked A07 87 like the work of the Boston Strangler.

A07 88 Swoon A07 89 Yesterday he played so impeccably it was as if the golfing gods A07 90 had decided he was now good enough to have an identity in the A07 91 game.

A07 92 No longer just the golfer ladies swoon over and ask to A07 93 autograph parts of their bodies normally clothed. No more just the A07 94 Dark Shark, as he is known in Australia.

A07 95 Fellow countryman Mike Harwood, the former PGA champion, made A07 96 it an Aussie one-two to prove that if Europeans may collectively be A07 97 still the best in the world, Australians have claims to be no worse A07 98 than second best.

A07 99 Baker-Finch was typically gracious in victory, commiserating A07 100 with Harwood and going on to thank the British public for their A07 101 support not just throughout the week, but during his earlier years A07 102 on the European Tour.

A07 103 "I have always felt your support and I hope that now I A07 104 am no longer a loser you will still stay right behind me," A07 105 he said. "The pain of the other couple of times I had a A07 106 chance to do it really gave me the strength to go out and do it A07 107 today."

A07 108 Baker-Finch, who spent his childhood packing eggs, sent the A07 109 world's top golfers packing. And how.

A07 110 THE lad from a farm close to a one-horse stop called A07 111 Peachester, near Brisbane, became a world figure with some of the A07 112 best golf ever seen in the last round of a major championship.

A07 113 Baker-Finch soared to the turn in just 29 blows to make a A07 114 mockery of Seve Ballesteros's claims of the previous night that the A07 115 occasion could get to those ahead of him.

A07 116 It was Ballesteros who benefited most from Baker-Finch's demise A07 117 at St Andrews in '84. This time Seve collapsed, dropping a couple A07 118 of shots in the first three holes and never seen again.

A07 119 Ballesteros, two shots behind at the start and extremely A07 120 confident, never had the faintest whiff of a sixth major A07 121 championship.

A07 122 His words of the previous night were an inspiration for Harwood A07 123 but not Baker-Finch, who stayed low profile all week before making A07 124 his statement of intent on Saturday. Baker-Finch, among the nicest A07 125 men ever to lift the silver claret jug, stayed in a small house, A07 126 did not read a newspaper and filled his mind with nothing more A07 127 complicated than what he was going to fix for two-year-old daughter A07 128 Hayley.

A07 129 YESTERDAY he netted five birdies in the first seven holes, A07 130 silently announcing through his golf: This one's mine.

A07 131 He had been locked at four under par with American Mark A07 132 O'Meara, a Birkdale specialist, at the start. But in the most A07 133 devastating opening burst in living memory Baker-Finch, another A07 134 disciple of the David Leadbetter coaching methods, whacked his A07 135 opponents with every club in his bag.

A07 136 By the time his ball reached the bottom of the cup at the A07 137 seventh for his fifth birdie in six holes, the rest were so far A07 138 behind they needed radar to trace him.

A07 139 Baker-Finch never stopped concentrating. He realised that the A07 140 equally tall Harwood was a gutsy fighter. He was also aware that A07 141 American Fred Couples, shooting from the pack, was dangerous when A07 142 the putts were dropping for him ... and they did with mounting A07 143 regularity.

A07 144 It was not to be their turn. Harwood could not get close enough A07 145 while Couples, who went from level par to five under in six holes A07 146 around the turn, could not put on further pressure although there A07 147 were birdie opportunities still to come.

A07 148 It was not generally a good day for Britain or Europe. Top of A07 149 our heroes was Eamon Darcy, whose level-par round for a three-under A07 150 aggregate was good enough for joint fifth place and enough money to A07 151 ensure a Ryder Cup place at the start of the season.

A07 152 BALLESTEROS stayed on the outer edges of the leader board but A07 153 it was a bitterly disappointed Spaniard who left Southport on just A07 154 one under par, seven strokes back alongside German Bernhard Langer A07 155 in joint ninth place.

A07 156 US Masters champion Ian Woosnam threatened to provoke some A07 157 British interest with a couple of early birdies but the mighty A07 158 Welshman had not quite been in control of his game all week and the A07 159 challenge petered out.

A07 160 It was always going to be too much for defending champion Nick A07 161 Faldo to make up, starting the day seven shots behind and A07 162 desperately searching for a rythm on the greens.

A07 163 Faldo finished the day one over and now needs an invitation A07 164 from skipper Bernard Gallacher to make the Ryder Cup team.

A07 165 "Tee to green I played as well as the winner but I just A07 166 could not make putts," said Faldo, who will not compete in A07 167 any more Cup qualifying events and is already outside the top nine A07 168 automatic qualifiers.

A07 169 "It will be nice to get on to good greens because I A07 170 have struggled so badly on these. Selection for the Ryder Cup is A07 171 now in Mr Gallacher's hands."

A07 172 Unfortunately he cannot pick Ian Baker-Finch, one of the A07 173 best-known golfers in the world.

A07 174 <*_>black-circle<*/>BAKER-FINCH'S triumph left bookies more A07 175 than pounds1 million poorer.

A07 176 "William Hill alone will pay out a third of a million A07 177 to punters who took pretournament odds of 50-1," said a A07 178 spokesman.

A07 179 A07 180 French take sparkle out of Diamond day

A07 181 By The Scout (John Garnsey)

A07 182 FRENCH challenger Epervier Bleu, second favourite for A07 183 Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes will A07 184 not run.

A07 185 Owner Daniel Wildenstein has amazingly spurned Ascot's great A07 186 midsummer prize and decided instead that his four-year-old should A07 187 be kept for the Ciga Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October.

A07 188 In hastily revised betting after the shock decision, Corals A07 189 hardened the English and Irish Derby hero Generous to 4-6 A07 190 favourite.

A07 191 Next best at 13-2 is Generous's St Leger winning stable A07 192 companion Snurge - only certain to run if the ground does not turn A07 193 fast.

A07 194 Ladbrokes, having just issued their ante-post list for the A07 195 first time before the Epervier Bleu defection, have now suspended A07 196 all betting and are awaiting today's declarations.

A07 197 Trainer Elie Lellouche and Wildenstein consider the race too A07 198 exacting for Epervier Bleu and fear it would jeopardise his Arc A07 199 chance. They are also worried about the ground, currently forecast A07 200 as good to firm, becoming fast.

A07 201 Epervier Bleu was second in last year's Arc. He has raced just A07 202 twice this season and will now be rested until the Prix Foy at A07 203 Longchamps on September 15th before tackling his main target on A07 204 October 6th.

A07 205 His withdrawal from the King George bears all the hallmarks of A07 206 a cynical tactical decision. One has to question whether there was A07 207 ever any serious intention to run at Ascot unless something had A07 208 gone wrong with Generous.

A07 209 So far all is well with England's star and there is massive A07 210 optimism in the Paul Cole camp. The trainer predicts: "The A07 211 firmer the ground gets, the further he'll win."

A07 212 Generous may also have been dealt a favour by the presence of A07 213 Lester Piggott's mount Saddlers Hall. This improving King Edward A07 214 VII Stakes winner has to go a fast, even gallop which will spare A07 215 Generous the chore of doing his own dinkey work.

A07 216 Saddlers Hall, on whom Lester bids for an eighth King George A07 217 triumph, is quoted at 8-1 - four points shorter than his senior A07 218 stable companion Rock Hopper whom many now reckon the value of the A07 219 race.

A07 220 Said Ladbrokes' Mike Dillon: "If the going's fast, A07 221 Sanglamore won't run and Pat Eddery will be free for Rock Hopper A07 222 who could then start 5-1 second favourite!"

A07 223 The Rock Hopper form took a knock in France yesterday, however. A07 224 Topanoora, demoted in favour of the Michael Stoute horse after A07 225 being first past the post in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot, failed A07 226 to cope with a revitalized Toulon in the Prix Maurice de Nieuil at A07 227 Maisons-Lafitte.

A07 228 A08 1 <#FLOB:A08\>Brilliant Shadayid has pace to land Haydock A08 2 Sprint

A08 3 By HOTSPUR (J A McGrath)

A08 4 THE OMENS look good for Shadayid in today's Ladbroke Sprint Cup A08 5 at Haydock Park following the eye-catching victory of her A08 6 stable-companion and younger half-brother, Badie, at Kempton Park A08 7 yesterday.

A08 8 Shadayid, who shares favouritism with the sponsors at 2-1 with A08 9 Skeikh Albadou - the Nunthorpe Stakes winner - is a brilliant A08 10 filly, unquestionably too explosive and eager for middle distances, A08 11 but one with enough class to win the 1,000 Guineas and gain a place A08 12 in the Gold Seal Oaks.

A08 13 She faces a difficult task in coming back to a sprint trip, but A08 14 as John Dunlop, her trainer, points out: "She had enough A08 15 speed to be beating good fillies in the Fred Darling at Newbury, so A08 16 she should be able to cope with six furlongs."

A08 17 Shadayid gets my vote today to beat Mystiko, the 2,000 Guineas A08 18 winner.

A08 19 Badie, we are told, is a completely different type to his A08 20 half-sister, being described yesterday by Dunlop as something of a A08 21 playboy earlier on. "He's a very well balanced colt, but he A08 22 had done nothing and although I say he was a playboy, he was a A08 23 sweet character just the same."

A08 24 The significant feature of this exciting win was that Badie A08 25 only really started to make ground after being taken to the outside A08 26 and when fully balanced in the final furlong. He absolutely flew, A08 27 pegging back the leader Lucky Lindy to score by half a length, A08 28 going away.

A08 29 Bookmaker reaction was swift, with both Coral's and Landbrokes A08 30 now quoting the Blushing Groom colt at 25-1 for next year's 2,000 A08 31 guineas.

A08 32 But Willie Carson, the winning jockey, stressed that this colt A08 33 was "potentially" a very nice type of horse, before adding A08 34 that he thought Badie capable of winning a good race. "Two A08 35 and a half furlongs out, they quickened and they left me," A08 36 said Carson. "But in the last furlong, he gave me a thrill A08 37 with the speed he showed."

A08 38 Shadayid's task today was made slightly easier with the A08 39 announcement that Elbio would be a non-runner after puncturing the A08 40 sole of his off-fore after stepping on a flint.

A08 41 At Kempton Park, Quest For Fame should have little trouble in A08 42 landing the Bonus-Print September Stakes on his way to a run in the A08 43 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Oct A08 44 6. Quest For Fame will be an odds-on chance and those looking for A08 45 value may try an each-way bet on Pelorus in the Geoffrey Hamlyn A08 46 Handicap.

A08 47 Lester Piggot is selected to win today's National Stakes at The A08 48 Curragh on El Prado, but his mount in tomorrrow's Moyglare Stakes, A08 49 Fairy Fable, faces a tougher task, with Well Beyond, the mount of A08 50 Richard Quinn, preferred.

A08 51 In France tomorrow, Hector Protector is fancied to maintain his A08 52 outstanding record in the Prix du Moulin de A08 53 Longchamp, in which Bold Russian may prove best of the A08 54 three British raiders.

A08 55 Arazi is favoured in the Prix de la A08 56 Salamandre, while Further Flight can take the A08 57 Prix Gladiateur for Barry Hills and his son A08 58 Michael.

A08 59 Alan Munro missed riding at Kempton yesterday due to torn A08 60 ligaments in his right ankle, sustained in a fall at Salisbury on A08 61 Thursday. He will also be out of action today and commences his A08 62 10-day riding ban tomorrow.

A08 63 A08 64 Hampshire banking on Gower to plot Surrey downfall

A08 65 By Christopher Martin-Jenkins

A08 66 HAMPSHIRES'S decision to make David Gower captain for the A08 67 county's first ever NatWest Trophy final against Surrey at Lord's A08 68 today is a welcome return to the limelight for Gower himself after A08 69 a sad decline in personal fortune from the high point of his two A08 70 midwinter hundreds for England in Australia.

A08 71 But Gower would not have wished upon his friend, Mark Nicholas, A08 72 who persuaded him to go to Hampshire, the broken finger which has A08 73 forced him to hand over the reins a the 11th hour.

A08 74 The personal disaster which deprived Nicholas of the natural A08 75 climax, not just to his benefit season but to his seventh season as A08 76 captain of Hampshire, is only one of several reasons for Surrey's A08 77 clear favouritism.

A08 78 Not only are Hampshire without their desperately unlucky A08 79 captain, who loves this event enough to attend it every year as a A08 80 spectator, but also their most prolific batsman, Chris Smith.

A08 81 Most unfortunately, not least in view of his record benefit for A08 82 the county last season, he was unable to postpone his new job as A08 83 marketing manager for the West Australian Cricket Association.

A08 84 More significant, however, than these negative factors are the A08 85 positive ones in favour of Surrey. They have just beaten Hampshire A08 86 in the championship by 171 runs. Waqar Younis took 12 for 92 in the A08 87 match.

A08 88 He can only bowl 12 overs today but that was enough to make him A08 89 the difference between victory and defeat in the last two rounds. A08 90 He is, without doubt, the world's most incisive bowler.

A08 91 Waqar, profiled on this page by the man who plucked him from A08 92 middle-eastern obscurity, is a cricketer quite unspoilt by the A08 93 world-weary cynicism which sometimes afflicts players of renown A08 94 after a few years at the top.

A08 95 Nor has he spared himself in two extraordinary seasons for A08 96 Surrey so far: 58 first-class wickets at 28 last year at the age of A08 97 18; 104 this time at a cost of 15 each.

A08 98 More than 50 per cent of them have been bowled while 81 per A08 99 cent of his 141 wickets overall this season have either been bowled A08 100 or lbw. He bowls straight, pitches it up, swings it both ways and A08 101 is as quick as an assassin's knife.

A08 102 It would be no surprise if Imran Khan advises him to take A08 103 things a little more easily when he returns to the Oval after next A08 104 year's tour of England with Pakistan.

A08 105 But he will not be holding back today and if the pitch is dry A08 106 at the start as it should be, Gower, Terry and Hampshire's own A08 107 trump card, Robin Smith, may prefer to face Waqar before lunch than A08 108 after tea. Hampshire, however, won their semi-final batting second, A08 109 Surrey going in first.

A08 110 It is often in this third or fourth spell of a one-day match A08 111 that Waqar is at his most explosive. For this reason Ian Greig will A08 112 use him in short bursts, keeping him for the moments when wickets A08 113 are most needed.

A08 114 In both the quarter and semi-finals, against Essex and A08 115 Northamptonshire, Waqar produced wickets on demand and Greig's A08 116 hardest decision might come if he were to do in the first hour or A08 117 so today what Phil DeFreitas did for Lancashire in last year's A08 118 final: five for 19 to emphasise the value of fielding first in a A08 119 game starting at 10.30am.

A08 120 Alarming reports from Lord's this week indicated a pitch being A08 121 carefully protected from the sun by the ground-staff, so A08 122 much so that Hampshire were thinking of leaving out Shaun Udal, A08 123 whose off-spin has served them so well in limited-overs cricket all A08 124 season. Happily, however, I can report that the pitch is straw A08 125 coloured and that Udal will play in a nicely balanced team.

A08 126 Hampshire are here at last after seven previous losing A08 127 semi-finals. Their nine-wicket defeat of Warwickshire this time was A08 128 their sixth semi-final appearance in nine years. Their chairman, A08 129 Donald Rich, has been walking from Winchester to London, as he A08 130 promised he would if they finally made it.

A08 131 Surrey's fielding stood out almost as clearly as Waqar's A08 132 match-winning quality in the victories which followed their tense A08 133 and narrow "bowl-out" defeat of Oxfordshire in the Ken A08 134 Barrington Centre.

A08 135 They, too, have an important bowler in their young A08 136 off-spinner, James Boiling, and they have a more than A08 137 useful replacement in Mark Feltham in the unlikely event of Martin A08 138 Bicknell failing a test this morning on a groin strain. (It is A08 139 traditional for someone to have a test on a groin strain!)

A08 140 Gower may have the headlines this morning but it would be no A08 141 surprise if two up and coming left-handers, Darren Bicknell and A08 142 Graham Thorpe, claim them in his stead tomorrow - alongside Waqar, A08 143 of course.

A08 144 A08 145 British riders take the lead after dressage

A08 146 By Alan Smith

A08 147 MARY THOMSON on King William and Karen Straker with Get Smart A08 148 gave Britain an excellent start to the European Three-day Event A08 149 Championship at Punchestown, Ireland, yesterday.

A08 150 At the end of the first day of dressage, they are lying first A08 151 and second, with a mere 0.2 of a penalty point between them. The A08 152 British team are also in the lead, by only four points from A08 153 Germany.

A08 154 Miss Thomson could not have made a better championship debut, A08 155 although her eight-year-old, King William, on which she won last A08 156 month's British Open, was "stronger than usual, a little A08 157 more on edge."

A08 158 "He's still young and naive, so I let him look around A08 159 before the start, but what is good is how, although he is so keen, A08 160 he still controls himself. There is so much improvement in A08 161 him."

A08 162 Tomorrow's speed and endurance will be his big test, but, apart A08 163 from an unlucky slip-up on the flat, he went round Badminton well A08 164 in May.

A08 165 Miss Straker and the 11-year-old Get Smart, which she bought as A08 166 a four-year-old, set the early pace. Although he was in the Seoul A08 167 Olympic and the 1990 world championship silver-medal teams, A08 168 this was the best test he had ever done.

A08 169 Get Smart was given his worst marks for his walk, but A08 170 everything else made up for that.

A08 171 For much of the year he has been in pure dressage competitions, A08 172 under the tutelage of Jane Bartle-Wilson.

A08 173 But Miss Straker believes the cross-country course will suit A08 174 her horse. "It is a galloping course, with fences to kick A08 175 on at," she said.

A08 176 Germany's Seoul Olympic team gold-medallists, Claus Erhorn, on A08 177 his new ride, the 14-year-old Clanger, and Matthias Baumann on A08 178 Alabaster, ended the day third and fourth.

A08 179 British-born Mandy Stibbe, who was nearly killed in a riding A08 180 accident early in the year, is fifth for Holland on Autumn A08 181 Heyday.

A08 182 The British team, sponsored by the Horse Trials Support Group, A08 183 were drawn first of the 10 competing countries, which meant that A08 184 Richard Walker and Jacana were first into the dressage arena.

A08 185 After the traumas of the previous day's horse inspection, when A08 186 Jacana was held over for a second look before being passed, the A08 187 tension was that much greater. A08 188 The dressage judges, who comprise the ground jury, were also in A08 189 charge of the horse inspection.

A08 190 Jacana's short-striding action always counts against him in a A08 191 dressage test, but Walker's expertise showed him to good effect, A08 192 and they finished the day in 12th place.

A08 193 A08 194 Germany's surprise package exposed

A08 195 By Graham Turner

A08 196 IT HAS been a bad week for Hansa Rostock. Last Wednesday they A08 197 were leading Fortuna Cologne 3-1 after 88 minutes, but the Division A08 198 Two North tail-enders knocked them out of the German Cup by scoring A08 199 twice in the last two minutes and twice more in extra-time to run A08 200 up a 5-3 scoreline. Hansa's 2-0 defeat in Duisburg yesterday robbed A08 201 them of top spot in the Bundesliga.

A08 202 The Rostock bubble had been expected to burst. Their League and A08 203 Cup double had provided the colophon for East German soccer history A08 204 and secured, along with runners-up Dynamo Dresden access A08 205 to the unified first division. But standards on and off the pitch A08 206 were rated so inferior to Bundesliga parameters that DDR A08 207 could have signified Dynamo Dresden Relegated and the Dead Ducks of A08 208 Rostock.

A08 209 Eyebrows were raised when Hansa opened the league by beating A08 210 Nuremberg 4-0 to go top. A week later Rostock travelled to A08 211 Munich and beat Bayern 2-1 in the Olympic Stadium.

A08 212 Hansa then confounded all and sundry by consolidating a A08 213 position among the front-runners. Given the lack of big-name A08 214 players, credit must go to coach Uwe Reinders.

A08 215 Injury forced Reinders, now 36, to retire in 1988 after a A08 216 career which saw him play for Scwarz-Weiss<&|>sic! Essen, Werder A08 217 Bremen, Bordeaux and Eintracht Brunswick. The man who admits to A08 218 having owed casinos pounds300,000 at one stage decided on one more A08 219 gamble.

A08 220 Having turned down lucrative offers and healed a rift with club A08 221 president Gerd Kirsche, he has extended his contract until 1993.

A08 222 When top scorer Henri Fuchs left for Cologne this summer, A08 223 Hansa were ear-marked as cannon-fodder for the big guns.

A08 224 A09 1 <#FLOB:A09\>Hearts and power

A09 2 VICTORIA BURGOYNE was 18 when she married Christopher Dunhill, A09 3 the substance-snorting heir to a slice of the pounds1billion A09 4 Rothmans fortune jailed for cocaine dealing in 1988. She was 19 A09 5 when they divorced.

A09 6 Now, at 29, she has taken up her pen to write a novel about a A09 7 rich, glamorous but troubled family. She tells me: "I was A09 8 always being asked to write the story. Then I was approached by a A09 9 publishing house to write a book based around that kind of dynasty. A09 10 They thought I had a lot to call on. I am interested in writing A09 11 about families, broken hearts and intrigue, but it will be entirely A09 12 fictitious - whatever people want to read into it."

A09 13 When not hunched over a steaming page, Victoria - she already A09 14 has a thriller, Savaged, under her literary belt - has been A09 15 supervising her company Kyng Screen Productions' first situation A09 16 comedy for Channel 4, entitled When.

A09 17 And she is shortly to grace the screen herself, in ITV's The A09 18 Bill.

A09 19 Sweetheart A09 20 But the breathless pace of writing, acting and producing has A09 21 taken its toll on her relationship with Gallic songster Frederick A09 22 Bertelot, 29.

A09 23 She says: "I'm seeing other people, but there's nothing A09 24 serious. I'm very frightened of getting married again. When you get A09 25 married to a childhood sweetheart and it doesn't work, you question A09 26 your judgement in people."

A09 27 She is looking for "a creative, spiritually-orientated A09 28 millionaire"

. A09 29 In the meantime, she is contenting herself by drawing on her A09 30 nuptial experiences for commercial fiction.

A09 31 A09 32 Best caught short with an own goal

A09 33 GEORGE BEST, legendary footballer, notorious imbiber and A09 34 undischarged bankrupt, now finds himself in a "ludricrous" A09 35 Catch 22 situation.

A09 36 He is being pursued by the Inland Revenue for pounds60,000. He A09 37 has, in a trust fund in Belfast, pounds60,000 from the testimonial A09 38 match held in his honour three years ago.

A09 39 He is unable, however, to match the two together.

A09 40 "The trustees say they won't release the money to me A09 41 until I've discharged my bankruptcy," he tells me A09 42 plaintively.

A09 43 "They say I must use my own money to pay off my A09 44 bankruptcy before they'll give me my money. But I don't have any A09 45 money, except the money they're holding."

A09 46 It is a disturbing aftermath to that exultant night at A09 47 Belfast's international Windsor Park stadium, when 27,000 fans A09 48 turned out in pouring rain to pay their tribute to the player the A09 49 great Pele once described as the best in the world.

A09 50 HIS financial affairs then already in disarray with the Inland A09 51 Revenue demanding pounds16,000 - it has since spiralled to its A09 52 current level because of compound interest - George initially A09 53 requested that the gate money be set aside for the education of his A09 54 son Calum, now ten.

A09 55 Separate measures have since been taken to safeguard Calum's A09 56 education and George has appealed to his chief trustee, Belfast A09 57 soccer administrator Derek Wade, to release the money.

A09 58 In vain, I fear.

A09 59 Testimonial match treasurer and fellow trustee David Crawford A09 60 tells me: "The testimonial was for George, not for the A09 61 bankruptcy court. If the fans who attended knew the proceeds would A09 62 be going straight to the Inland Revenue, they wouldn't have gone A09 63 near the game."

A09 64 George does not agree. Nor does the Revenue. As I have A09 65 reported, it has appointed prominent Belfast solicitor Sir Oliver A09 66 Napier to recover the trust money from the bank account where it A09 67 has sat since 1988.

A09 68 To that end, Napier has summoned Wade to appear in court in A09 69 Belfast - and the hearing, adjourned earlier this summer, is A09 70 expected to take place before the end of the year.

A09 71 George, bewildered and angrily declaring that the whole thing A09 72 "stinks", is planning to take action of his own.

A09 73 As he complains: "Because I'm bankrupt, I cannot earn a A09 74 living. The trustees keep saying that what they are doing will be A09 75 to my benefit at the end of the day.

A09 76 "Well, it is the end of the day. I'm still legally bankrupt and A09 77 the debt is going up every day."

A09 78 IF THE matter is not resolved in his favour - and soon - he is A09 79 threatening to fly to Belfast where he will call a Press conference A09 80 to explain his sorry side of this financial mess.

A09 81 I can only add that when Paul Gascoigne says he will not be A09 82 happy until he stops playing football, he is talking rot.

A09 83 And if he doesn't believe me, he should ask George.

A09 84 A09 85 Bathtime has the Majors all in a whirl

A09 86 SAFELY home after his dash across the world, the Prime Minister A09 87 settled down yesterday to consider a new-found remedy to relax from A09 88 the rigours of life in the political fast lane.

A09 89 On his way through Kennebunkport, Moscow, Peking and Hong Kong, A09 90 John Major apparently discovered the delights afforded by a A09 91 whirlpool bath. And having come across one way to soak off the dust A09 92 of travel, Major and wife Norma duly headed straight for a A09 93 builders' merchant near his Cambridgeshire home at the weekend.

A09 94 There the PM studied an array of whirlpool baths while Norma A09 95 read through brochures in the quest for the one to grace their new A09 96 bathroom.

A09 97 With the true caution of one faced with the prospect of workmen A09 98 tramping through the house, Major says: "We're just A09 99 considering a few ideas."

A09 100 And before driving back to his home at nearby Great Stukely, he A09 101 helpfully emphasised the great deliberations going on: "We A09 102 are looking at new bathrooms for our home, but we haven't made a A09 103 final decision yet."

A09 104 Nor even on a date of the General Election?

A09 105 "No. I'd much rather talk about bathrooms."

A09 106 Staff at the store would too, but a spokesman reluctantly A09 107 hiding his excitement conceded: "We think his privacy A09 108 should be respected."

A09 109 However, I am delightfully told by one customer, rightly too A09 110 embarrassed to be named: "I went in to look at kitchen A09 111 units and saw Mrs Major in deep conversation with a man in a grey A09 112 suit whom I thought was a salesman. They were looking at whirlpool A09 113 baths.

A09 114 "I couldn't believe it when the 'salesman' turned round and it A09 115 was the Prime Minister."

A09 116 A09 117 Anne's visit puts Eire on royal map

A09 118 IN A significant breakthrough yesterday, Princess Anne became A09 119 the first member of the Royal Family to visit the Irish Republic A09 120 since Earl Mountbatten was blown up by the IRA 12 years ago.

A09 121 Officials, fearing demonstrations, kept the visit quiet. But A09 122 the Princess Royal, 41, with daughter Zara, 10, was warmly cheered A09 123 visiting the European Equestrian Championships at Punchestown, A09 124 County Kildare, and even lunched with Eire premier Charles A09 125 Haughey.

A09 126 Informal A09 127 Her role as president of the International Equestrian A09 128 Federation gave Anne the perfect opportunity for an informal visit, A09 129 even if surrounded by armed Special Branch detectives, as guest of A09 130 the Championships organising committee.

A09 131 Clad in business-like blue blazer and white skirt she toured A09 132 jumps by jeep before lunch with Haughey. It was an event few would A09 133 have thought possible after Mountbatten's slaughter.

A09 134 Explosion A09 135 Princess Margaret was the last royal visitor before that, way A09 136 back in the Sixties. She stayed at Birr Castle in County Offaly A09 137 with her then husband the Earl of Snowdon, but their trip was A09 138 marred by a small terrorist explosion near the estate walls.

A09 139 Only three months ago, however, Eire President Mary Robinson A09 140 made an historic official visit to Britain, leading to A09 141 Fine Gael spokesman Brendan McGahon calling for A09 142 a royal return match, saying: "There is a distinguished A09 143 Royal Family in Britain and we should receive them in the same A09 144 manner President Robinson was received."

A09 145 A09 146 High-flying Major's new status symbol

A09 147 PRIME Minister John Major is in need of an aeroplane befitting A09 148 his sudden status as a globe-trotting international statesman.

A09 149 That is why he flew first to Russia, then on to China, not in A09 150 the ageing VC 10 so favoured by his predecessor, but in a pounds35 A09 151 million TriStar.

A09 152 Speed, of course, is one factor. The VC10, all of 234 years A09 153 old, is slower and requires many more refuelling stops.

A09 154 Then, of course, there is the delicate and unspoken matter of A09 155 statesmanly status.

A09 156 France's President Mitterrand travels in a supersonic Concorde. A09 157 The President of the United States flies in one of two Boeing A09 158 747-200Bs which stand six-storey high, have been dubbed the Flying A09 159 Taj Mahals, and cost over pounds600 million.

A09 160 The VC-10-borne Prime Minister is belittled by such high-flying A09 161 comparison - a point given illustration when he flew into the A09 162 airforce base near Kennebunkport to consult with George Bush and A09 163 found himself dwarfed alongside one of the president's mighty A09 164 Boeings.

A09 165 The switch to the TriStar - this one is supplied by British A09 166 Airways - could signal the move towards the privatisation of VIP A09 167 travel which has traditionally been handled by the RAF.

A09 168 It has certainly brought the British Premier into the modern A09 169 age of government air travel - and represents yet another definite A09 170 break from the Thatcher era.

A09 171 The TriStar's configuration is comfortable - the seats are A09 172 first class and there are single beds for Major, his wife Norma, A09 173 Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd and Downing Street foreign affairs A09 174 specialist Sir Percy Craddock.

A09 175 Its communication equipment, provided by the electronic spies A09 176 at GCHG, is of the most sophisticated variety.

A09 177 It allows the Prime Minister to communicate instantly with A09 178 president Bush. Just as importantly, it has enabled him to keep up A09 179 with Chelsea's football scores.

A09 180 A09 181 And Another Thing...

A09 182 GOOD news for the Princess Royal from Scotland, where fears A09 183 that her friend, Old Etonian farmer John Corbett, 44, might follow A09 184 HRH into the divorce courts have proved premature.

A09 185 Lord Rowallan's son, who lost his family seat - Rowallan Castle A09 186 - after being hit by massive death duties, is now down to his last A09 187 1,000 acres after selling the castle plus 6,000 acres to a leisure A09 188 consortium.

A09 189 Corbett, who frequently entertained Anne and Mark Phillips at A09 190 Rowallan, has decided to take a tolerant attitude towards his wife A09 191 Sandie's fondness for a member of the Scottish horse show A09 192 fraternity, which has been the talk of equine Scotland.

A09 193 He married former groom, Sandie, 29, after divorcing his first A09 194 wife Jane, and assures me: "There was never a A09 195 split."

A09 196 A09 197 A fortune up in smoke for tobacco heir

A09 198 RECLUSIVE tobacco heiress Doris Duke, one of the richest women A09 199 in the world, has disinherited her adopted daughter, Chandi Hefner A09 200 - for daring to consort with a man Doris does not approve of.

A09 201 Chandi - no relation to Hugh - has been dating a big, A09 202 good-looking bodyguard who once worked for Doris in Hawaii.

A09 203 Doris - worth 874 million dollars at my last count and who A09 204 recently put up the 4.6 million dollar bail for the Philippines' A09 205 former first lady, Imelda Marcos when facing fraud charges in New A09 206 York - objected. And she is used to getting her own way.

A09 207 She wanted to see Chandi, who is in her 20s, married - but only A09 208 to someone who met her socially formidable criteria.

A09 209 When Chandi refused to break off her romance with the A09 210 bodyguard, Doris, 78 - her father founded the giant American A09 211 Tobacco Company - promptly ordered her out of her mansion. She also A09 212 got her lawyers to retrieve the trust fund she had set up for A09 213 "daughter".

A09 214 This strikes me as a charming example of pot calling kettle A09 215 black - for Doris's own romantic record is hardly one to set before A09 216 a daughter, even an adopted one.

A09 217 She divorced her first husband, American banker and former US A09 218 Minister to Canada, James R Cromwell, after eight years on the A09 219 grounds of "systematic mental and physical cruelty". She then A09 220 married Dominican "diplomat" and unconscienced playboy Porfirio A09 221 Rubirosa (a Parisian newspaper reporting the wedding mistakenly A09 222 called her Madame Doris Duck).

A09 223 Playboy A09 224 She paid him off with a million dollars - a lot of money in A09 225 1949 - after just 13 months (Rubirosa, who died the quintessential A09 226 playboy's death by driving his Ferrari into a tree, collected A09 227 another million dollar divorce settlement off Woolworth's heiress A09 228 Barbara Hutton).

A09 229 Her next marital excursion was with a bandleader called Joseph A09 230 Castro. That union also went the way of all flesh; they were A09 231 divorced eight years later.

A09 232 In between there were brief grapples with Errol Flynn, a Tory A09 233 MP and sundry others.

A09 234 Doris survived her flings with her finances intact. Chandi - La A09 235 Duke took her in after her own family threw her out for joining the A09 236 Hare Krishnas - has not.

A09 237 A10 1 <#FLOB:A10\>Hooky still plays a diplomatic service

A10 2 JUST over a year ago Our Man In Baghdad, Sir Harold Walker, was A10 3 one of the busiest and best known faces in Britain - scarcely a A10 4 news bulletin went by without word of his efforts to placate Saddam A10 5 Hussein on our behalf.

A10 6 But what has happened to Sir Harold's career since he returned A10 7 from Iraq earlier this year? With the prospect of official A10 8 retirement only 13 months away, Winchester-educated Walker appears A10 9 to be in limbo.

A10 10 In a typically cryptic reply to the question of what Sir Harold A10 11 is up to, the Foreign Office says: "We don't know what his A10 12 next job will be as he's still officially in his post. However, A10 13 there's no Ambassador in Baghdad."

A10 14 Walker is by no means wasting his time: he has swopped the A10 15 diplomatic champagne cocktail parties for the G&T stockbrocker belt A10 16 of Woking and its socially ambitious tennis circuit.

A10 17 Since he came back to Britain 'Hooky' - so called because of A10 18 the gold hook his father Admiral Sir Harold Walker wore after A10 19 losing a hand in the First World War - has been busily improving A10 20 his game and taking part in county matches and local A10 21 tournaments.

A10 22 A10 23 Melinda makes it to the West End...

A10 24 AUSTRALIAN singer and dancer Melinda O'Connor will be opening a A10 25 few tinnies to celebrate landing her first West End part - as the A10 26 butcher's wife in Mike Batt's adaptation of Lewis Carroll's The A10 27 Hunting of the Snark which opens at the Prince Edward Theatre next A10 28 month.

A10 29 After leaving her home in Melbourne last year to tour as a A10 30 backing singer for pop star Jason Donovan, 24-year-old Melinda A10 31 decided to stay on in England and try her luck on the stage. A10 32 "It's like a dream come true," she tells me. A10 33 "Most Australian performers want to come over and star in a A10 34 West End musical. There isn't the scope back home - there are far A10 35 too many people and far fewer shows."

A10 36 Aspiring Romeos will be glad to know that Melinda is still A10 37 unattached: "I'm looking for any nice eligible A10 38 Englishman," she says. "If love walks into my life A10 39 I'll be happy, but I've got a strong nucleus of A10 40 friends."

A10 41 But any boyfriends should be aware they might have to take a A10 42 back seat in Melinda's life. "My ultimate ambition is to be A10 43 a rock star - with all-male backing vocals!"

A10 44 A10 45 We're getting married all over again, says Travolta

A10 46 From DAVID CLARIDGE in Paris

A10 47 HOURS after his wedding ceremony to actress Kelly Preston, John A10 48 Travolta announced last night that they would be doing it all over A10 49 again.

A10 50 The couple, who exchanged vows in a midnight ceremony at a A10 51 Paris hotel on Thursday, will go through another ceremony in A10 52 America next week.

A10 53 "We have to get married again in the United States for A10 54 legal purposes," said the actor. "This was more of A10 55 a blessing."

A10 56 For a marriage to be valid under French law one of the partners A10 57 has to have lived for a month in the area where the ceremony takes A10 58 place.

A10 59 Asked whether the wedding was legal Travolta replied: A10 60 "Well, I don't know, we'll see, but we'll back it up with A10 61 the real one when we get back home."

A10 62 The couple spent much of yesterday locked in their hotel room A10 63 with a Do Not Disturb sign on the door, emerging late in the A10 64 afternoon for Travolta to take part in a French TV chat show.

A10 65 Before stepping into the lift he cupped Kelly's face in his A10 66 hands, stroked her cheeks and kissed her as he whispered: A10 67 "Bye, baby, see you later."

A10 68 Travolta, 37, said he had chosen Paris for the ceremony because A10 69 "It's the most romantic city in the world."

A10 70 And he revealed: "I planned it about five months ago. A10 71 It was my idea because Kelly had never seen Paris before.

A10 72 "Now we are looking forward to going home. I have just bought A10 73 her a lovely new home in Maine."

A10 74 Fantastic A10 75 Kelly, who is expecting a baby in April, showed off the A10 76 earrings and bracelet he had given her as a wedding present, and A10 77 said of the ceremony: "It was fantastic."

A10 78 There were four witnesses to the ceremony at the city's Hotel A10 79 Crillon. Staff there knew nothing of the couple's plans until A10 80 Kelly, 28, arrived in her bridal gown.

A10 81 The group celebrated with champagne before Travolta and Kelly, A10 82 who first met on the set of the film The Experts, returned to the A10 83 five-star Plaza Athenee.

A10 84 The couple will fly back to the U.S. tomorrow after a stay in A10 85 Deauville, Normandy, for a charity screening of Travolta's film The A10 86 Tender.

A10 87 A10 88 AND A CLOSE CALL FOR THE DUCHESS...

A10 89 Fergie dashes to the court of King Jimbo

A10 90 THE Duchess of York showed a turn of speed to watch an old A10 91 friend triumph at tennis yesterday.

A10 92 She dashed from her last official engagement in New York - at A10 93 the mayor's residence - back to her Manhattan hotel.

A10 94 After changing into informal clothes she virtually sprinted to A10 95 her car before taking the Van Wyck expressway to Flushing Meadow A10 96 stadium, where Jimmy Connors was on court.

A10 97 The Wimbledon favourite is attempting, at 39, to become the A10 98 oldest Grand Slam winner in modern times. The Duchess, aided by a A10 99 police escort, arrived for the last ten minutes of his A10 100 quarter-final victory in the U.S. Open.

A10 101 She was ushered to a courtside box reserved for Connors' A10 102 entourage. "She said she'd had a prior engagement and I A10 103 joked with her that she'd arrived at the right time," said A10 104 British tennis star John Lloyd. "She was obviously well A10 105 into it and kept turning round to her bodyguard and saying how A10 106 exciting it all was."

A10 107 The four-set victory over Dutch opponent Paul Haarhuis behind A10 108 him, Connors met the Duchess in a private room beneath the A10 109 grandstand. "Yes, we're friends," he said A10 110 afterwards. "We've known each other for a few years and A10 111 she's a very nice lady."

A10 112 Vitas Gerulaitis, a former tennis rival of Connors and his best A10 113 friend, said: "The Duchess is friends with Jimmy and Patti A10 114 (his wife) and she invites them for dinner when they are in London. A10 115 She got to know Patti first after they had met at A10 116 Wimbledon."

A10 117 Last night the Duchess, whom American TV commentators have been A10 118 comparing to a young Jackie Kennedy, was jetting to Los Angeles for A10 119 a glittering dinner party with a superstar cast.

A10 120 First stop was at the Beverly Hills home of Hollywood's richest A10 121 man, Marvin Davis, and his wife Barbara, the town's premier A10 122 party-giver. The guest-list of more than 60 is a closely guarded A10 123 secret but Sylvester Stallone, Liza Minnelli, Angela Lansbury and A10 124 Frank Sinatra are reported to be on it.

A10 125 Davis, a power-player in nearly every major showbusiness merger A10 126 in the past 20 years, is reported to be worth pounds1billion. A10 127 "His invitations are the ones people die for," said A10 128 one socialite.

A10 129 The Duchess has been accompanied on her American tour by A10 130 Princess Bea, an equerry, a royal detective and private A10 131 secretary.

A10 132 A Buckingham Palace spokesman said she had been invited to New A10 133 York by the British American Chamber of Commerce. "They A10 134 have paid the cost of the flights to New York," he said. A10 135 "The trip to Los Angeles is a private visit and under these A10 136 circumstances the Duchess would pay for the cost of A10 137 this."

A10 138 Last year the Duchess had to pay her own bill for a A10 139 pounds1,000-a-night suite at the Plaza Athene hotel in Manhattan A10 140 after organisers of a fund-raising dinner were understood to have A10 141 balked at picking up the cost.

A10 142 A10 143 Ol<*_>e-acute<*/>! They're on a Royal holiday

A10 144 FOLLOWING growing unrest among their concerned friends at the A10 145 amount of time they spend apart, the Prince and Princess of Wales A10 146 have suddenly changed their holiday plans: they will now be A10 147 spending a week together on Majorca in August. The couple have A10 148 spent four previous vacations on the Balearic island, but this year A10 149 their plans for a similar break were dropped. Now, at short notice, A10 150 their host King Juan Carlos has altered his schedule and will join A10 151 Charles and Diana midway through their stay at the Spanish A10 152 monarch's Marivent palace in Palma.

A10 153 Charles will fly to Majorca after joining the rest of the Royal A10 154 Family at Sandringham on August 4 to celebrate the Queen Mother's A10 155 91st birthday. He will be on his own for two days, sketching and A10 156 painting watercolours, before Diana arrives with William and A10 157 Harry.

A10 158 Last year's holiday on Majorca was not a particularly happy A10 159 one: Charles was unable to join in much of the fun - his arm was A10 160 still strapped up following his polo accident and he was in A10 161 agony.

A10 162 Then there was the unfortunate matter of The Sun publishing a A10 163 picture of the Prince embracing "old flame" Lady A10 164 Romsey - in fact he was comforting her after she had told him her A10 165 five-year-old daughter Leonora was suffering from cancer. The A10 166 Murdoch rag had to print a grovelling apology.

A10 167 A10 168 Amanda springs a surprise

A10 169 AFTER living blissfully together for three years, photographer A10 170 Willie Christie, 41, and Derek Nimmo's only daughter Amanda A10 171 revealed at their weekend wedding reception they had further good A10 172 news - she is expecting a baby.

A10 173 Willie, first cousin of Jockey Club stalwart and Yorkshire A10 174 landowner the Marquis of Zetland, was previously married to Grace A10 175 Coddington, fashion editor of American Vogue, and has a daughter A10 176 Scarlett, 13, by another liaison.

A10 177 Amanda, 32, was attended at the Chelsea register office A10 178 ceremony by her Guards-costumed five-year-old son George from her A10 179 first marriage to Nicholas Howard, whose family owns Castle Howard A10 180 and 10,000 Yorkshire acres.

A10 181 "I feel I am going to have another son - anyway that's A10 182 what Willie wants, and I'm thinking that way too," said A10 183 Amanda, whose former husband is also getting married - their 1983 A10 184 wedding was at the ultra-fashionable St Margaret's Westminster and A10 185 the union lasted four years.

A10 186 The couple spent their honeymoon night at The Dorchester, but A10 187 are delaying the honeymoon proper until next month - where they A10 188 will stay in The Hamptons, Long Island with Willie's sister A10 189 Carolyne and her husband Roger Waters, co-founder of Pink Floyd and A10 190 composer of most of the supergroup's hits.

A10 191 A10 192 Martha keeps her distance...

A10 193 IN the highly unlikely event of any romance between Prince A10 194 Edward and his fifth cousin, Princess Martha Louise of Norway, the A10 195 two did their best to distance themselves from each other when A10 196 Edward joined a gathering of the Norwegian Royal Family in Oslo at A10 197 the weekend.

A10 198 The petite princess, 19, pointedly invited both her past A10 199 boyfried Thomas Salvesen, and her current escort Navy cadet Per A10 200 Gunnar Haugen, to a banquet marking the 18th birthday of her A10 201 brother, Crown Prince Haakon Magnus. Edward spent much of the A10 202 evening talking to Martha-Louise's father, Oxford graduate King A10 203 Harald.

A10 204 "There is absolutely no question of anything going on A10 205 between the Prince and Martha Louise," says a British A10 206 courtier. "Edward was there representing the Queen at what A10 207 was a significant event in the Norwegian royal A10 208 calendar."

A10 209 A10 210 Proposal accepted: Andrew and Rachael

A10 211 HAVING reached 40 without succumbing to marriage, would-be Tory A10 212 MP Andrew Robathan - the man selected to take over Nigel Lawson's A10 213 safe seat of Blaby, Leicestershire - took just two months to A10 214 propose to girlfriend Rachael Maunder.

A10 215 "Would you call that a whirlwind? I don't think so. I A10 216 think by this age I know what I want!" says retired A10 217 Coldstream Guards officer Andrew who met his fiancee at a dinner A10 218 party a week after finishing service in the Gulf war.

A10 219 Devon farmer's daughter Rachael, 29, a City fund manager, will A10 220 make an ideal MP's wife - at Bath University she was chairman of A10 221 the Conservative Association.

A10 222 "I've always been interested in politics and thought A10 223 about it as a career myself," she tells me. "But I A10 224 love my job and intend to continue with it after A10 225 marriage."

A10 226 Planning a Christmas wedding, Andrew is also preparing for high A10 227 office by driving a bus - a job for which John Major was rejected - A10 228 as part of his special interest in the politics of Transport.

A10 229 "I don't think I'll be co-author of another economic A10 230 revolution," he says modestly, "but you've got to A10 231 start somewhere. Right now I just want to get elected."

A10 232 And the first step is to take a wife...

A10 233 A11 1 <#FLOB:A11\>City fights to keep open the doors

A11 2 BRISTOL has a wealth of museums. In its centre is the Bristol A11 3 City Museum and Art Gallery, almost 170 years old and occupying a A11 4 listed Edwardian building (Our Arts Correspondent writes).

A11 5 There are eight branches, ranging from the Industrial museum to A11 6 St Nicholas's, a former parish church whose collections trace the A11 7 medieval development of the city.

A11 8 Attendances have been steadily rising to a respectable 700,000 A11 9 last year when the city museum had two very successful exhibitions, A11 10 on Georges Braque and Great Sea Dragons, about locally discovered A11 11 fossils. Admission to all the branches is free but the main A11 12 museum's shop is a source of revenue, taking pounds156,000 last A11 13 year.

A11 14 All the museums are under some degree of threat with charge A11 15 capping leading to a jobs freeze. The council has to cut pounds5 A11 16 million from its budget and its museums are a discretionary area of A11 17 funding.

A11 18 Fred Pidgeon, vice-chairman of the leisure services committee, A11 19 said: "The freeze affects the security warders and without A11 20 them the museums can't open. St Nicholas's isn't open some days - A11 21 and sometimes for weeks - because we can't find the staff, and A11 22 there may have to be fulltime closure."

A11 23 Last year the city put pounds2.3 million into its museums, A11 24 compared with pounds2 million the year before. Then, when the A11 25 authority was charge-capped, pounds30,000 had to be lopped off and A11 26 this year no allocation has so far been made while an appeal A11 27 against a second year's capping is pending.

A11 28 Mr Pidgeon said that keeping open the main museum was the A11 29 priority "and we'll charge admission over my dead A11 30 body".

A11 31 A11 32 Judge acquits teacher of murdering his parents

A11 33 By Paul Wilkinson

A11 34 AN UNEMPLOYED teacher accused of murdering his parents for A11 35 their money was acquitted yesterday after a Home Office forensic A11 36 scientist said he could not have committed the crime.

A11 37 Jeffery Dunkley was accused of killing his mother Miriam, aged A11 38 59, and his father Fred, aged 63, by battering them with a hammer A11 39 and dumping their bodies in their garage before setting it ablaze. A11 40 But yesterday at the Central Criminal Court, Dr. Clive Candy, an A11 41 expert in fire investigation, said Mr. Dunkley would not have time A11 42 to carry out the acts at the house in Wembley, north London, before A11 43 he visited his mother-in-law 15 minutes drive away.

A11 44 She timed his arrival as 5.45pm, right in the middle of her A11 45 favourite soap, Neighbours, but the scientist, giving evidence A11 46 for the prosecution on the third day of the trial, said it was A11 47 impossible for the fire to have been started before 5.50pm. David A11 48 Paget, for the prosecution, then said that he would not offer A11 49 further evidence and the jury was directed by Mr Justice Blofeld to A11 50 return not-guilty verdicts.

A11 51 Outside court detectives said they had no plans to reopen the A11 52 case. The prosecution had contended that Mr Dunkley, aged 36, A11 53 carried out the killings in the 25 Minutes between his parents A11 54 coming home at 5.20 and his arrival at his in-laws. His alleged A11 55 motive was preventing them leaving their pounds250,000 estate to A11 56 his eight-year-old son instead of him.

A11 57 Initially detectives investigating the deaths on January 23, A11 58 1989 were baffled as to motive. Nothing was stolen from their home. A11 59 Police attention eventually focused on the son, who earlier had A11 60 told police he had called at his parents' home the evening they A11 61 died, but got no reply.

A11 62 In March last year he was charged with murder, but the A11 63 following month Brent magistrates dismissed the case. Three months A11 64 later the prosecuting authorities successfully sought a voluntary A11 65 bill from a High Court judge to send the case direct to jury A11 66 trial.

A11 67 Directing the jury to acquit Mr Dunkley, of Watford, A11 68 Hertfordshire, Mr Justice Blofeld said the only evidence was A11 69 circumstantial and the timing did not support the Crown's case.

A11 70 A11 71 Hail mars play at Lord's

A11 72 AN UMPIRE at the MCC vs Middlesex cricket match at Lord's A11 73 donned gloves and scarves yesterday to protect himself from biting A11 74 winds as the April weather turned again. Spectators accustomed to A11 75 the odd April shower had to suffer hail as the match started (Alice A11 76 Thomson writes).

A11 77 Winds reached 35 knots and the temperature in London dropped to A11 78 5deg F. The London Weather Centre forecast strong breezes and rain A11 79 today, freezing temperatures at night and ground frost over the A11 80 weekend. A spokesman said that by Friday it would be cold and windy A11 81 with wintry showers.

A11 82 A11 83 Marriage rate falls but number of divorces stabilises

A11 84 By Jill Sherman, social services correspondent

A11 85 FEWER single people are getting married and those who have A11 86 tried it once are increasingly reluctant to repeat the experience, A11 87 according to the latest official statistics. As four in ten A11 88 marriages, 37 per cent, now end in divorce, couples are instead A11 89 opting to live with each other without going through the marriage A11 90 ceremony.

A11 91 The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys reports that A11 92 marriage rates fell from 56 to 45 per thousand unmarried men and A11 93 from 45 to 38 per thousand unmarried women between 1981 and 1989. A11 94 Although the number of marriages has changed little since 1981 the A11 95 number of men and women eligible to marry has increased A11 96 considerably.

A11 97 The remarriage rate for divorced men and women has fallen even A11 98 more dramatically during the same period, from 130 to 77 per A11 99 thousand divorced men and from 91 to 60 per thousand divorced A11 100 women. In spite of that trend, one in six marriages is between A11 101 couples where one partner has been divorced and one in 12 is A11 102 between two divorcees. In 1989 there were 347,000 marriages in A11 103 England and Wales, 2000 fewer than the previous year. Divorce rates A11 104 have stayed fairly constant with 151,000 divorces in 1989, 1 per A11 105 cent fewer than in 1988, but up on 1987.

A11 106 The report also shows that couples are waiting until they are A11 107 older before committing themselves to marriage. The median age of A11 108 grooms is now at 27.7 years, while for brides it is 25.6 years. A11 109 Couples are most a risk of a marital break-up during their mid to A11 110 late 20s. Thirty-one in every thousand husbands in this age group A11 111 divorced, against 29 in every thousand wives.

A11 112 The report shows that three-quarters of couples who divorced in A11 113 1989 had married as a bachelor and spinster. In a further 16 per A11 114 cent, one partner was divorcing again and in 8 per cent both A11 115 partners were divorcing again.

A11 116 The report predicts that one in four children would experience A11 117 divorce in their family before reaching 16. However, the actual A11 118 numbers involved fell by 1 per cent between 1988 and 1989 to A11 119 148,000 children under 16.

A11 120 Fifty-four per cent of divorces granted to wives were awarded A11 121 on husbands' unreasonable behaviour and about one-quarter on A11 122 husbands' adultery. In one in six cases (17 per cent) the divorce A11 123 was awarded after two years' separation.

A11 124 table: marriages and divorces 1979-89 A11 125 A11 126 North Sea deal over dismissal of strikers

A11 127 By Kerry Gill

A11 128 NORTH Sea oil and gas companies are expecting a summer of A11 129 industrial peace after agreement was reached yesterday between A11 130 unions and the Offshore Contractors' Council over the dismissal A11 131 last year of workers who took part in unofficial strikes.

A11 132 A panel of council representatives and union officials is to A11 133 examine outstanding grievances of men dismissed and who want to A11 134 return to work offshore. Those who were dismissed will have 14 days A11 135 to lodge grievances after the first meeting of the panel.

A11 136 The agreement excludes workers who have cases outstanding at A11 137 industrial tribunals, have received redundancy payments or who have A11 138 been re-engaged on contracts.

A11 139 Last year's series of unofficial 24-hour strikes involved A11 140 thousands of men employed by contractors on offshore work. The A11 141 dispute was an attempt to improve working conditions and safety. A11 142 Many workers were dismissed after holding sit-ins on platforms but A11 143 a truce was called to let the official unions hold talks with the A11 144 employers.

A11 145 A11 146 Professors defend training of teachers

A11 147 By John O'Leary

A11 148 higher education correspondent

A11 149 THE heads of university teacher training departments yesterday A11 150 launched a counterattack on critics who accuse them of frustrating A11 151 the government's attempts to raise standards in schools.

A11 152 At a press conference in London to announce increased demand A11 153 for training places, the Universities Council for the Education of A11 154 Teachers issued a statement saying that many of critics were A11 155 ill-informed and politically motivated.

A11 156 The professors emphasised that the content of their courses, A11 157 including the balance between theory and practice, had to be A11 158 approved by the education secretary. "The criticisms that A11 159 too much time is spent on psychology and on sociology are patently A11 160 false."

A11 161 Professor Tony Becher, of Sussex university, said: "The A11 162 Tory party is dominated by raving right-wing think tanks." A11 163 Some publications that it had issued had contained falsehood A11 164 couched in terms calculated to attract publicity, he said.

A11 165 A11 166 Sharp increase in railway suicides

A11 167 By Michael Dynes, transport correspondent

A11 168 THE number of suicides on London Underground has increased by A11 169 40 per cent since the 1960s, similar to the rise on mainline A11 170 railways, an international conference on railway suicide was told A11 171 yesterday.

A11 172 Figures show that 3,240 people committed suicide on London A11 173 Underground between 1940 and 1990. There are now on average 100 A11 174 incidents on the network each year, about 60 of which end in death. A11 175 Most incidents involve young males, many of whom are receiving A11 176 psychiatric help and have no fixed home. The research shows that a A11 177 disproportionate number of suicide attempts are at stations near A11 178 psychiatric hospitals.

A11 179 The findings are the interim results of a three-year project A11 180 commissioned by London Underground to identify why people jump A11 181 under trains, the effects of such incidents on staff, the A11 182 disruption caused, and how suicide attempts can be discouraged. The A11 183 research is being conducted by Richard Farmer and a team from the A11 184 public health and epidemiology department of Charing Cross and A11 185 Westminster medical school.

A11 186 Train drivers have a one in 35 chance of being involved with a A11 187 suicide attempt every year. That increases to one in 20 on the A11 188 Northern Line because of the high number of psychiatric hospitals A11 189 on the route. Researchers found that a "one under" club had A11 190 developed among drivers who encountered suicide attempts.

A11 191 Those drivers often have post-traumatic stress disorders and A11 192 depression, including flashbacks, feelings of guilt, sleepless A11 193 nights and difficulty in driving trains. Stresses may lead to A11 194 alcoholism, marital problems, and phobias, highlighting a need for A11 195 better counselling.

A11 196 Henry Fitzhugh, marketing director of London Underground, said: A11 197 "When someone throws themselves under a train at Victoria A11 198 station in the middle of the rush hour, it locks up the system for A11 199 about an hour, and that has a time value of pounds50.000 to A11 200 pounds70.000."

A11 201 People attempting suicide tended to opt for something they A11 202 thought would work, Dr. Fitzhugh said. However, 46 per cent of A11 203 people who attempted suicide by throwing themselves under a train A11 204 survived, often severely maimed, he said.

A11 205 London Underground is hoping to reduce the number of suicide A11 206 attempts by examining station layouts, reducing the risk of death A11 207 with more pits under the tracks along platforms, and liaising with A11 208 psychiatric hospitals to identify vulnerable patients.

A11 209 A11 210 Court finds against social fund appeals

A11 211 By Jill Sherman

A11 212 social services correspondent

A11 213 THREE men who were refused payments from the government's A11 214 social fund failed in their challenge in the High Court A11 215 yesterday.

A11 216 Lord Justice Mann ruled that the government was entitled to A11 217 exclude some claims from the fund, which he described as A11 218 "the last public resort to which impoverished members of A11 219 society can turn".

A11 220 John Healey, aged 48, had appealed against a refusal to give A11 221 him pounds150 for clothing after being discharged from a A11 222 psychiatric home. Fund officers had denied the money because he was A11 223 in residential care, a category which can be excluded from A11 224 eligibility for social fund payments. The judge said that this A11 225 interpretation of the rules was correct.

A11 226 Harry Smith, who lives in a caravan in a layby at Dilwyn, A11 227 Hereford and Worcester, with his wife and daughter, wanted A11 228 pounds1,000 to replace his caravan which was small and damp. A11 229 However, the judge said the claim was to cover costs excluded from A11 230 the fund.

A11 231 The court also upheld directives which excluded Sam Stitt, of A11 232 Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, from receiving pounds85 to help to pay for A11 233 assistance in looking after his six children while he was on an A11 234 employment training scheme.

A11 235 A12 1 <#FLOB:A12\>Church Gays Row

A12 2 A TOP churchman who launched a pulpit blast against gay A12 3 marriages and women priests was confronted by a furious worshipper A12 4 yesterday.

A12 5 The Archdeacon of York, the Venerable George Austin, said the A12 6 Church of England was "suffering from a sickness from which A12 7 it might never recover." He called for the Church to be A12 8 split and told supporters of gay marriages and female priests: A12 9 "We cannot worship with you."

A12 10 As the 60-year-old Archdeacon left the nave of York's famous A12 11 Minster, one fuming worshipper accused him of "misusing the A12 12 pulpit." The man, who refused to be named, said later: A12 13 "I was very distressed and told him so."

A12 14 The Archdeacon also slammed people who questioned miracles and A12 15 the virgin birth.

A12 16 A12 17 Snoozing wife killed by wasp

A12 18 A WASP sting killed a pensioner in just ten minutes A12 19 yesterday.

A12 20 Hazel Smith, 71, was stung inside the mouth as she snoozed A12 21 under a plum tree in her garden.

A12 22 She staggered into the house but collapsed in front of her A12 23 horrified husband, Vernon, 68.

A12 24 He tried to revive his wife as her mouth swelled up, A12 25 restricting her breathing. But she died before an ambulance reached A12 26 the home in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset.

A12 27 Allergy expert Dr Alan Franklyn said "toxic A12 28 shock" from stings affected about one in a hundred A12 29 people.

A12 30 A12 31 IRA planted fire-bombs

A12 32 by MIRROR REPORTER

A12 33 THE IRA yesterday threatened a fire-bomb war as it claimed A12 34 responsibility for the deadly devices discovered in London in the A12 35 past week.

A12 36 Three were found under the seat of a Tube train at a depot in A12 37 Hammersmith, forcing a big search of the Underground.

A12 38 On Saturday, a device was uncovered at a bookshop in Charing A12 39 Cross Road in the West End.

A12 40 And last month, the nearby Cambridge pub was fire-bombed.

A12 41 Yesterday in Dublin, the IRA said all three incidents were its A12 42 work. They also admitted planting similar devices in April, at a A12 43 Manchester shopping precinct and Preston rail station.

A12 44 It is the first time the IRA has used fire-bombs in mainland A12 45 Britain.

A12 46 And they warned that attacks would continue.

A12 47 A12 48 Our war secrets are dumped on rubbish tip

A12 49 By Peter Kane

A12 50 SECRET papers about vital war weapons and anti-terrorist A12 51 systems have been found dumped near John Major's home.

A12 52 The bundle of 46 documents - some stamped 'Confidential' in red A12 53 letters - were uncovered on a rubbish tip.

A12 54 The tip is only a few miles from the Prime Minister's home at A12 55 Huntingdon, Cambs.

A12 56 The papers include details on how to operate weapons. One is A12 57 the remote-controlled Army robot - codenamed Wheelbarrow - used to A12 58 inspect suspect terrorist bombs on the streets of Northern A12 59 Ireland.

A12 60 The discovery is sure to embarrass Mr Major and Ministers A12 61 anxious to crack down on security blunders.

A12 62 In the hands of terrorists the papers would give an almost A12 63 complete, step-by-step guide to many strategic weapons.

A12 64 Rockets A12 65 A 27-page Defence Ministry book lists the ex-directory phone A12 66 numbers of defence staff and foreign attaches in London.

A12 67 The Wheelbarrow dossier's ten chapters reveal the secret A12 68 workings of the life-saving robot.

A12 69 A document meant only for Army commanders gives details about A12 70 flares, rockets and two anti-tank missiles - Hot and Hellfire - A12 71 fired from Lynx combat helicopters.

A12 72 A brochure on the Challenger tank - used impressively in the A12 73 Gulf War - reveals details about its computerised firing control A12 74 system.

A12 75 "The contents of this book may not be made available to A12 76 any third party," says a warning.

A12 77 A handbook and separate maintenance manual on the crowd-control A12 78 riot gun, Arwen Ace, says users can accurately hit ringleaders at A12 79 100 metres... "well beyond stone-throwing A12 80 range."

A12 81 The gun is made at the Government's former Royal Ordnance A12 82 factory in Nottingham.

A12 83 Another paper details security arrangements at one of the key A12 84 arms factories near London.

A12 85 It tells of plans for alarm systems linked with New A12 86 Scotland Yard and the Metropolitan Police.

A12 87 The Defence Ministry refused to comment on the dumped A12 88 secrets.

A12 89 The Daily Mirror will today hand all the documents to the A12 90 police for inspection.

A12 91 A12 92 Sainsbury joins food price war

A12 93 By JAN WALSH

A12 94 SAINSBURY opens fire in its food price war against Tesco today A12 95 with a salve of big savings.

A12 96 The heftiest cut is 37 per cent off fresh English leg of lamb - A12 97 down from pounds1.88 to pounds1.18 a pound.

A12 98 Brown bread, farmhouse cheddar, red dessert apples, tomatoes A12 99 and four-pack cans of bitter are also far cheaper.

A12 100 The savings are not as many or as huge as Tesco's most A12 101 sensational - but those ended at the weekend.

A12 102 And although Sainsbury offers only about 10 special reductions A12 103 a week, the promotion is set to go on until December 23.

A12 104 A12 105 Pilot gets jailed for heli-crash

A12 106 By WILLIAM DANIELS

A12 107 A VETERAN ex-Army helicopter pilot was jailed yesterday for A12 108 killing two passengers during a terrifying low-flying 'war games' A12 109 display.

A12 110 Businessmen Christopher Durrant and Richard Smith died when the A12 111 helicopter struck a power line 27ft above the ground.

A12 112 They were passengers when 41-year-old pilot John Wright A12 113 demonstrated a "Falklands run" along a narrow A12 114 wooded valley.

A12 115 He went into a severe dive and plummeted from 1,000ft to A12 116 30ft.

A12 117 Radar A12 118 Then, at speeds of almost 200mph, he hopped over hedges, jinked A12 119 past trees and banked steeply from side to side.

A12 120 It was the sort of flying Army pilots did in the Falklands to A12 121 avoid Argentine radar, he told them.

A12 122 A jury at Stafford Crown Court found Wright, of Carluke, A12 123 Lanarkshire, guilty of manslaughter. He was jailed for 18 A12 124 months.

A12 125 The court heard that for 10 years pilots employed by the JCB A12 126 digger firm had thrilled visitors being ferried to the firm's A12 127 headquarters in Rocester, Staffs, by low flying.

A12 128 A12 129 Flagship hospital boss out

A12 130 THE FINANCE chief of the Government's flagship opt-out hospital A12 131 quit yesterday after falling out with bosses.

A12 132 Peter Burroughs resigned as finance director of Guy's in London A12 133 less than 24 hours after an official visit by Prime Minister John A12 134 Major.

A12 135 Mr Burroughs, who led Guy's application to opt out of the NHS, A12 136 blamed "differences of opinion" with the trust A12 137 board of the hospital, which is heading for a pounds6.8 million A12 138 loss.

A12 139 Last night Labour health spokesman Robin Cook called for a halt A12 140 to the second wave of opt-outs "until we find out what has A12 141 gone wrong with the flagship."

A12 142 A12 143 Fury as fish ban gets axe

A12 144 By David Bradshaw

A12 145 FURIOUS MPs demanded action by Premier John Major last night A12 146 after the European Court overruled an Act of Parliament for the A12 147 first time.

A12 148 It ruled that Britain's ban on Spanish fishing boats within 200 A12 149 miles of its shores was unlawful. The decision could allow foreign A12 150 boats to plunder British fish stocks and bring claims for millions A12 151 of pounds in compensation from Spanish fishermen.

A12 152 The Government faced immediate demands from MPs to bring in a A12 153 new law to keep the fishing ban.

A12 154 Anti-European Tories used the ruling to step up their campaign A12 155 against Brussels.

A12 156 Tory Sir Teddy Taylor said: "This is bad news for the A12 157 fishing industry, but it demonstrates how much of Britain's A12 158 democratic power has been thrown away."

A12 159 Labour MP David Clark said it was a disaster for fishermen.

A12 160 A12 161 Big Mac gets gun guards on crazy island

A12 162 From GEOFF SUTTON in Playa de las Americas

A12 163 <}_><-|>GUN-TOTNG<+|>GUN-TOTING<}/> security men have been A12 164 hired to protect a burger bar from thugs on the booze-crazy holiday A12 165 isle of Tenerife.

A12 166 The two Spaniards were brought in by local McDonald's bosses A12 167 afraid their customers could be attacked by troublemakers who A12 168 terrorise tourists.

A12 169 With pistols slung from their belts, the henchmen also carry A12 170 truncheons and handcuffs as they stare at British youngsters A12 171 munching Big Macs and fries.

A12 172 Even in America's toughest areas - like New York's Bronx - A12 173 McDonald's does not bring in armed heavies.

A12 174 But the resort of Playa de las Americas has been dubbed The A12 175 Wild West, with holidaymakers falling prey to drunken gangs, drug A12 176 dealers and local thugs.

A12 177 Vigilante mobs patrol the streets, dishing out their own A12 178 punishment.

A12 179 One, Jose Garcia, has been accused of killing 19-year-old Mark A12 180 Staples, from Coventry, who was savagely headbutted.

A12 181 In another attack, Robert Whiting, 24, was beaten with a chair A12 182 by two English timeshare touts.

A12 183 Robert, from Broxbourne, Herts, suffered a fractured skull and A12 184 was yesterday drifting in and out of consciousness at the island's A12 185 main intensive care unit.

A12 186 Drunk A12 187 Marie Mar, manageress of the McDonald's branch said: A12 188 "Late at night it gets packed with kids who have gone A12 189 crazy.

A12 190 "They come in drunk, on drugs or whatever and our guards make A12 191 sure they don't misbehave."

A12 192 Thousands of young Britons flock to Tenerife for their A12 193 holidays.

A12 194 Many sleep rough and get cash by timeshare touting and A12 195 mugging.

A12 196 But Julie Grundy, 19, from Enfield, Middlesex, said: A12 197 "The authorities always seem to take the Spanish side.

A12 198 "It's over the top to have guards with guns in a A12 199 McDonald's."

A12 200 A12 201 MY CANAL 'KILLER' DAD

A12 202 By MARTIN PHILLIPS

A12 203 A MAN cleared of murder 13 years ago told a court yesterday how A12 204 his stepfather brutally killed 16-year-old schoolgirl Lynn A12 205 Siddons.

A12 206 Fitzroy Brookes, 27, claimed his father, Michael, grabbed Lynn A12 207 from behind by a canal.

A12 208 He said: "He told me to stab her and I stabbed her A12 209 about six times, but not hard.

A12 210 "Then my father was stabbing her. He put her head in the water A12 211 and put his foot on her head.

A12 212 "Then he dragged her away and stabbed her a few more A12 213 times."

A12 214 Fitzroy Brookes had been ordered to give evidence in a High A12 215 Court case brought by Lynn's mother, Gail Halford.

A12 216 Mrs Halford, 46, of Derby, is suing the two men for damages A12 217 although neither has been convicted of Lynn's death.

A12 218 Fitzroy Brookes, 15 at the time of the killing, was cleared of A12 219 her murder. Michael Brookes denies any involvement and has never A12 220 been charged.

A12 221 A12 222 WHO KILLED SEX-MAD SAHRAH'S HUSBAND?

A12 223 Riddle as lover is cleared

A12 224 By PETER KANE

A12 225 POLICE were last night deciding their next move in the hunt for A12 226 the killer of Andrew Pilch after his wife's lover was cleared of A12 227 murdering him.

A12 228 Handyman Kevin Hearle, 23, who fell for Andrew's randy wife A12 229 Sarah, broke down and sobbed in the dock as he was found not A12 230 guilty.

A12 231 The court had heard that Hearle - with the help of two A12 232 accomplices - strangled cerebral palsy victim Andrew, 34, in a A12 233 jealous rage.

A12 234 Sex-mad Sarah, 29, was the prosecution's star witness, claiming A12 235 she came home to discover the three fleeing the murder scene.

A12 236 But yesterday the man-eating nurse was branded a A12 237 "proven liar" by the judge, Mr Justice Ognall.

A12 238 He said the jury was free to decide she could not be trusted A12 239 because of her amazing sexual exploits with a string of lovers.

A12 240 The judge added: "She repeatedly betrayed her husband. A12 241 You can find that a witness is wholly feckless and utterly A12 242 immoral.

A12 243 "And you can find that a witness is a proven liar ...as Sarah A12 244 Pilch obviously is." The judge said she had claimed that A12 245 she and her computer expert husband were not sexually suited.

A12 246 He added: "Bearing in mind her sexual appetite and A12 247 liaisons it might be difficult to find anyone with whom she was A12 248 sexually compatible."

A12 249 Mum-of-two Sarah had told an earlier court that she had lost A12 250 count of the lovers she had taken during the year before.

A12 251 Kevin Hearle, her live-in handyman, was the third of those she A12 252 could remember - after a carpenter and a plumber.

A12 253 Suspect A12 254 Sarah had claimed she caught Kevin, his brother Nigel, 25, and A12 255 a friend, Andrew Watts, 21, red-handed at her cottage in Elsing, A12 256 Norfolk.

A12 257 But the court heard that she failed to tell police for four A12 258 days - until a series of post-mortems finally revealed Andrew had A12 259 been murdered.

A12 260 At the height of the murder hunt Sarah was arrested as suspect A12 261 but was freed without charge.

A12 262 The judge told the jury that Sarah stood to gain a A12 263 pounds100,000 insurance payout on her husband's death.

A12 264 He said she had been persistently dishonest when quizzed by A12 265 police.

A12 266 And he suggested the jury ask themselves "Did A12 267 Sarah Pilch lie to protect herself because she alone - or with A12 268 others - killed the husband she despised?"

A12 269 After the verdict clearing all three men, the police boss in A12 270 charge of the murder hunt said the case was not yet closed.

A12 271 Sarah was not in court to see the men she accused walk free. A12 272 She has gone into hiding after finding a new love.

A12 273 A13 1 <#FLOB:A13\>Leader of council quits after BCCI loss

A13 2 THE LEADER of Western Isles council, which lost pounds23m in A13 3 the collapse of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, said A13 4 yesterday he was resigning.

A13 5 The Rev Donald Macaulay, convener of the council, said his A13 6 resignation - which he described as a matter of principle - would A13 7 take effect next Tuesday. He said he would continue on the council A13 8 as a member for the Uig division.

A13 9 Mr Macaulay faced calls for his resignation at public meetings A13 10 immediately after the BCCI crisis broke in July.

A13 11 His leadership was also criticised at the council's last A13 12 meeting, two weeks ago.

A13 13 He says in a letter: "Although I had nothing whatsoever A13 14 to do with the investment of money with the bank, it is a matter of A13 15 honour that I show my sympathy for the people of the Western Isles A13 16 in the loss that we all have suffered."

A13 17 Mr Macaulay was elected convener in May last year. He had A13 18 previously served two four-year terms as convener when the council A13 19 was set up in 1975.

A13 20 Western Isles was one of more than 40 councils which had put A13 21 money into the bank. The funds were deposited at the discretion of A13 22 Donald Macleod, the finance director. An external inquiry by A13 23 Professor Alan Alexander into the affair is under way.

A13 24 A13 25 Rapist who broke into homes jailed for 20 years

A13 26 A RAPIST who preyed on women in two south-east London suburbs A13 27 was jailed for 20 years by a judge at the Old Bailey yesterday.

A13 28 Ian Smith, 32, broke into terraced houses in Woolwich and A13 29 Charlton at night and threatened his victims with knives from their A13 30 kitchens, or said he would harm their children, before raping A13 31 them.

A13 32 Det Sgt Bernhard Page, who was in charge of the case, told the A13 33 court that all the victims were rehoused because they could not A13 34 bear to remain in their homes. They still suffered psychological A13 35 problems and needed counselling. He said Smith previously had a A13 36 string of convictions for burglary.

A13 37 Smith, of Marion Road, Charlton, was originally charged with A13 38 sex attacks on eight women and robbing two more, from 1988 to 1990. A13 39 He was found guilty of three rapes and admitted one burglary and A13 40 one robbery, in separate trials.

A13 41 He dismissed his counsel and defended himself in two rape A13 42 trials. One victim collapsed in the witness box as he forced her to A13 43 recount her ordeal.

A13 44 After obtaining guilty verdicts in the three trials, the A13 45 prosecution did not proceed with the others, to spare the women the A13 46 ordeal of being cross-examined by Smith. Judge Bruce Laughland A13 47 ordered the charges to lie on the file.

A13 48 A13 49 Council accused over sex abuse in children's homes

A13 50 A REPORT into the biggest case of alleged sexual and physical A13 51 abuse in local authority children's homes is being examined by the A13 52 Department of Health, writes David Nicholson-Lord.

A13 53 The report accuses Leicestershire social services department of A13 54 inadequate supervision, poor discipline and political involvement A13 55 over 13 years from 1973.

A13 56 The department said yesterday that it took the allegations A13 57 "extremely seriously".

A13 58 During an 18-month police inquiry, many former residents of A13 59 homes alleged that they experienced abuse including buggery, actual A13 60 bodily harm and gross indecency. Some staff also claimed they had A13 61 been abused.

A13 62 The report cites claims that the alleged perpetrators were A13 63 protected by "friends in high places".

A13 64 Three men, former Leicestershire social workers, face court A13 65 proceedings this month over allegations of child abuse.

A13 66 A13 67 Man blames police for killing drunken cellmate, court A13 68 told

A13 69 By Heather Mills, Home Affairs Correspondent

A13 70 A RESTAURATEUR accused of kicking and stamping to death his A13 71 drunken cellmate in a London police station, claimed police carried A13 72 out the fatal attack, an Old Bailey jury was told yesterday.

A13 73 Malcolm Kennedy, 44, who denies murder, allegedly told another A13 74 officer that a sergeant had entered the cell and repeatedly kacked A13 75 his cellmate in the head.

A13 76 Patrick Quinn, 56, was found lying face down in a pool of blood A13 77 in a cell, known as 'the tank', at Hammersmith police station on A13 78 Christmas Eve last year. His face was bruised and torn and his ribs A13 79 fractured. The injuries to his chest were consistent with someone A13 80 jumping on him with both feet, crushing his heart and larynx, it A13 81 was alleged.

A13 82 Mr Quinn, of Hammersmith, west London, had been sharing the A13 83 cell with Mr Kennedy, who had also been arrested for drunkenness, A13 84 the court was told.

A13 85 Timothy Langdale, for the prosecution, said Mr Kennedy had A13 86 blood on his hands and trousers and on his shoes, which were on the A13 87 bench. "You may think there can be no other candidate when A13 88 you have two men locked in a cell together," he told the A13 89 jury.

A13 90 He said a feature of the case was that the prosecution could A13 91 not suggest a motive. The two men were unknown to each other until A13 92 placed in the cell. However, he said that Mr Kennedy, who had been A13 93 drinking heavily was "hardly in a normal state" and A13 94 that could have provoked an "uncontrolled and sudden A13 95 attack".

A13 96 The court would hear evidence that the blood stains on his A13 97 shoes and clothing were consistent with him having taken part in A13 98 the attack.

A13 99 But Mr Kennedy, of Stoke Newington, north London, allegedly A13 100 told officers that he had been splashed with blood when a sergeant A13 101 had attacked Mr Quinn. He said he had got blood on his clothes when A13 102 he had gone to Mr Quinn's aid and tried to revive him.

A13 103 Mr Langdale told the jury: "No doubt it will be A13 104 suggested it was someone else who carried out the attack for some A13 105 reason or another.

A13 106 "You will have to consider the evidence you hear about that and A13 107 decide is it something which casts doubt that Kennedy was A13 108 responsible, or is it a sign of a guilty man casting about rather A13 109 desperately for something to say to avoid the consequences of what A13 110 he did that evening?"

A13 111 The trial resumes today.

A13 112 A13 113 Ashworth patient "killed by drug"

A13 114 A PATIENT at a high security hospital probably died from an A13 115 unusually high dose of an anti-psychotic drug, an inquiry was told A13 116 yesterday.

A13 117 Sean Walton, 20, a sex offender, died on 1 March 1988 in a A13 118 locked seclusion room at Ashworth Hospital, Merseyside.

A13 119 A post-mortem examination failed to find the cause of death.

A13 120 Professor Malcolm Lader, of the Institute of Psychiatry at the A13 121 University of London, said the dosage of Pimozide given to Walton A13 122 had been doubled on 9 February 1988.

A13 123 "When one is using an already substantial dose of A13 124 anti-psychotic drugs it is cautious to give a slower A13 125 increase," he told the Liverpool inquiry investigating A13 126 complaints procedures at Ashworth.

A13 127 He said the dosage was "not usual but it may have been A13 128 justifiable in view of the rapid deterioration in his behaviour A13 129 that took place in that time."

A13 130 He said: "We now believe that Pimozide is particularly A13 131 related to cardiac abnormalities - but that is something that has A13 132 come up <}_><-|>on<+|>in<}/> the last two years or so."

A13 133 He put the chances of Pimozide causing Walton's death at 40 per A13 134 cent, adding: "I believe it is the most likely A13 135 cause."

A13 136 Walton was sent to Ashworth when he was 15 years old after A13 137 pleading guilty at Chester Crown Court to charges of indecent A13 138 assault and abduction.

A13 139 His sister Lynn, 30, earlier told the inquiry he lived in fear A13 140 of the nurses who looked after him and believed people were trying A13 141 to kill him.

A13 142 She said when the body reached the funeral directors they told A13 143 family members at first it was in too much of a mess for them to A13 144 see.

A13 145 But they were later allowed to see him in the chapel, where he A13 146 appeared "100 years old. He looked terrible. He looked A13 147 really bad."

A13 148 Miss Walton said: "I saw bruising around his head, A13 149 definitely."

A13 150 Mark Beck, 25, a patient, said he was on A13 151 <}_><-|>Firs<+|>First<}/> Ward with Walton on 29 February 1988, A13 152 when he saw a nurse tap him three times on the head with a billiard A13 153 cue. "It was like jabbing," he said.

A13 154 The hearing was adjourned until today.

A13 155 A13 156 Sculpture beyond the pail for suspicious US Customs

A13 157 By Steve Boggan

A13 158 THE CUSTOMS officers in Philadelphia could be forgiven for A13 159 being suspicious of the package presented to them: three buckets A13 160 welded together with a sealed metal lid. Was it a bomb? Was A13 161 contraband inside? There was only one way to find out - to drill A13 162 holes in the buckets and tear off the lids.

A13 163 They discovered the buckets held nothing more sinister than A13 164 sand. But there was nothing harmless about their tampering. They A13 165 had destroyed a pounds12,100 work of art. Third Hand by A13 166 Richard Wentworth had been bought by Gene Locks, a Philadelphia A13 167 lawyer and gallery owner who had entrusted its safe passage to A13 168 British Airways. When he arrived at the airport to pick up the A13 169 sculpture, he was less than pleased. "I don't know how they A13 170 could have failed to realise it was a work of art," he A13 171 said. "It was in a crate, there was a photograph inside and A13 172 a brochure about it. I was devastated."

A13 173 Mr Locks's and BA's versions of how the sculpture came to be A13 174 rearranged are quite different. In a subsequent case before a A13 175 federal court in Philadelphia, he said the airline had accepted his A13 176 crate as ordinary baggage and promised to load it on his flight A13 177 from Britain.

A13 178 When he arrived, however, there was no crate. "It came A13 179 the next day, but they didn't call me and they didn't see it safely A13 180 through Customs," he said. BA says Mr Locks checked in his A13 181 baggage before his flight and later tried to take the sculpture on A13 182 board as hand luggage, which was not allowed. BA and US Customs A13 183 successfully defended suits brought against them by Mr Locks. But A13 184 the legal judgment says that BA is liable to pay him the going rate A13 185 for goods damaged under the Warsaw Convention, which regulates A13 186 international air travel.

A13 187 That states that Mr Locks is entitled to $9.07 (pounds5.87) per A13 188 pound weight in compensation. The sculpture weighed 10lb. A13 189 "They say they'll send me $90.70," he said. A13 190 "I told them to keep it."

A13 191 A13 192 Baby poster 'banned' by advertising watchdog

A13 193 THE ADVERTISING Standards Authority yesterday asked Benetton, A13 194 the fashion retailer, to withdraw a poster which shows a new-born A13 195 baby smeared in blood.

A13 196 The authority also asked publishers and poster contractors to A13 197 back the move and said the advert was "effectively A13 198 banned". Its announcement was coupled with a sharply-worded A13 199 attack on the clothes company- rare for the authority which A13 200 operates a code of practice through widespread consent in the A13 201 industry. "Benetton has displayed a conspicuous disregard A13 202 for the sensitivities of the public," a statement said.

A13 203 The watchdog group said it was reacting to more than 800 A13 204 complaints about the posters, showing the baby with umbilical cord A13 205 still attached.

A13 206 A Benetton spokeswoman in London said the authority's A13 207 announcement had been faxed to the company's headquarters in Italy. A13 208 "All I can say is that this poster was part of our A13 209 advertising, which has long been concerned with human links and A13 210 human emotions. It is a strong, profound image of a fundamental A13 211 moment in all human life."

A13 212 Caroline Crawford, authority spokeswoman, said the strong A13 213 language used in its statement was a reaction to Benetton's A13 214 decision to ignore its advice not to use the poster. "In A13 215 practice what we have announced amounts to a ban on the A13 216 poster," she said. "We don't have legal powers to A13 217 prohibit it, but our aim is clearly to have the advertisement A13 218 withdrawn. It is unusual for any advertiser to warrant this level A13 219 of criticism. But normally advertisers who seek our advice don't A13 220 then ignore it." The authority had every confidence its A13 221 call for the poster to be withdrawn would be heeded.

A13 222 The baby poster - also being used in magazines in Italy and the A13 223 US - appeared on London hoardings last week, with plans for the A13 224 campaign to go nationwide this week.

A13 225 The authority statement said: "Benetton have been A13 226 severely criticised by the advertising authority for provoking A13 227 public distress and outrage in their current poster campaign, which A13 228 they are being asked to withdraw."

A13 229 The advertising agency responsible for buying poster space for A13 230 the clothes company had been told in July that the advertisement A13 231 was likely to cause considerable offence if it appeared.

A13 232 A14 1 <#FLOB:A14\>Peru's cholera epidemic spreads to its A14 2 neighbours

A14 3 Malcolm Coad reports from Santiago that the continent's river A14 4 systems may be infected

A14 5 AFTER decades free of cholera, a three-month epidemic centred A14 6 on Peru has established South America as a world focus of the A14 7 disease. Experts in the region talk of it becoming endemic for at A14 8 least 15 years and warn that it could soon advance towards the A14 9 borders of the United States.

A14 10 The death toll in Peru has reached nearly 1,000, with more than A14 11 140,000 infected, and the first cases were confirmed this week in A14 12 Chile and Brazil. In both countries the cases appeared to indicate A14 13 what is most feared: that the continent's river systems are now A14 14 infected, making the spread of the disease extremely difficult to A14 15 control.

A14 16 In Ecuador, the country's Medical Association said 100 people A14 17 had died of a total of 5,000 cases, and accused the government of A14 18 suppressing information about the epidemic in the interests of A14 19 tourism and the country's fishing industry. Officially, 59 people A14 20 have died and 682 more are sick.

A14 21 In Colombia, also a neighbour of Peru, one death and 81 cases A14 22 have been reported in border areas. But health ministry sources A14 23 estimated that if the outbreak takes serious hold it could lead to A14 24 more than 85,000 cases.

A14 25 Cholera thrives where sewage is pumped directly into seas and A14 26 rivers, vegetable crops are irrigated by untreated water and A14 27 sanitary systems are fragile. Spread by human faeces in water and A14 28 food, it is easily cured if caught early, but otherwise can kill A14 29 within hours.

A14 30 Latin America has suffered few cases since early this century, A14 31 and the last serious epidemics were in the 1880s. Peruvian experts A14 32 believe that this outbreak was brought by ship from Asia and spread A14 33 through miserable local sanitary conditions and fish caught along A14 34 the country's coastline.

A14 35 From fishing and industrial towns on Peru's northern coastline, A14 36 the disease spread inland to the the country's Amazon region and A14 37 across the Ecuadorean border, apparently carried by ocean currents A14 38 and fishermen who work on either side of the frontier.

A14 39 "Cholera will remain in Ecuador for about 15 years, and A14 40 will become endemic," said Francisco Plaza, the head of A14 41 Ecuador's Medical Association, echoing similar warnings by Peruvian A14 42 experts. Mr Plaza added that the country's main river, the Guayas, A14 43 was infected.

A14 44 The cases in Brazil, one confirmed and three likely, are in the A14 45 Amazon town of Tabatinga, where Brazil, Colombia and Peru meet. A14 46 Experts believe that the infection was brought from Peru by the A14 47 local river, the Solimoes, the main originating branch of the A14 48 Amazon.

A14 49 This, and the presence of hundreds of thousands of illegal gold A14 50 diggers moving between the Colombian Amazon region and Brazil's A14 51 main cities, has led the Brazilian authorities to expect a serious A14 52 outbreak, potentially affecting up to 3 million Brazilians.

A14 53 The case in Chile, confirmed in Santiago on Tuesday, also A14 54 appeared to be due to infection of vegetables by contaminated river A14 55 water - though the origin is a mystery, given the city's distance A14 56 from infected countries and lack of direct river connection with A14 57 them.

A14 58 Last weekend, Presidents Jorge Serrano of Guatemala, Rafael A14 59 Callejas of Honduras and Rafael Calder<*_>o-acute<*/>n of Costa A14 60 Rica met in Guatemala to discuss ways of preventing the spread of A14 61 the epidemic through Central America, where its arrival is expected A14 62 imminently.

A14 63 The three leaders called for urgent aid, especially from the US A14 64 and Mexico, for regional prevention programmes.

A14 65 "With this we will not only prevent disasters from the A14 66 illness in Central America, but help prevent cholera from spreading A14 67 to the United States and Mexico," said President A14 68 Calder<*_>o-acute<*/>n.

A14 69 Similar calls for help are likely from Saturday when regional A14 70 health ministers begin a three-day meeting in Sucre, Bolivia, to A14 71 discuss the crisis.

A14 72 A14 73 Care threat lifted on abuse case children

A14 74 Peter Hetherington

A14 75 THE nine children at the centre of the Orkney child abuse row A14 76 will not be taken into care again unless "miraculous new A14 77 evidence" is produced.

A14 78 Rowan MacCallum, the Orkney Islands council's director of A14 79 administration and legal services, said a court would almost A14 80 certainly rule further place of safety orders A14 81 "incompetent".

A14 82 Earlier, Paul Lee, the social work director, had declined to A14 83 give an assurance that the children, who were taken from their A14 84 homes six weeks ago then reunited with parents, would not be A14 85 returned to care.

A14 86 Mr MacCallum later clarified the position. He said that in A14 87 theory Mr Lee could begin the process again. But he added: A14 88 "For the nine children I do not think there is any danger A14 89 of them being taken in unless some miraculous new evidence was A14 90 forthcoming."

A14 91 At a special council meeting yesterday councillors called for a A14 92 full judicial inquiry into the controversy after categorical A14 93 denials from Mr Lee that more children had been placed on an A14 94 "at risk" register.

A14 95 Mr Lee, backed by his committee chairman, promised more A14 96 resources and new policy options to handle allegations of child A14 97 abuse.

A14 98 Councillors heard that the council, unlike other authorities, A14 99 had no guidelines or procedures for handling abuse cases when the A14 100 nine children, aged from eight to 15, were taken from their homes A14 101 in dawn raids on the island of South Ronaldsay.

A14 102 They were reunited with parents two weeks ago after a judge A14 103 described allegations of ritual abuse as fatally flawed. This week A14 104 the acting administrator of Orkney Children's Panel announced that A14 105 he would be appealing to Scotland's Court of Session.

A14 106 Members yesterday heard that their small social work A14 107 department, which had to enlist the help of other agencies and A14 108 mainland social workers to round up the nine children, had been A14 109 underfunded and under-staffed for a long time.

A14 110 The meeting only began after the convener, Jackie Tait, and Mr A14 111 MacCallum threatened to call police to eject several reporters A14 112 because the session had been billed as private.

A14 113 Eventually the press was admitted and councillors voted to hold A14 114 part of the meeting in public, against the advice of Mr Tait and Mr A14 115 MacCallum.

A14 116 With some South Ronaldsay parents and their supporters sitting A14 117 behind councillors, Mr Lee emphasised that there was no list of A14 118 "21 or 23 children" believed to be at risk.

A14 119 Earlier, one councillor, Spencer Rosie, who has strongly A14 120 criticised the social work department, said Orkney had been denied A14 121 proper local child abuse guidance and procedures involving other A14 122 agencies although he had raised the question of such an approach A14 123 two years ago.

A14 124 It had not been possible to proceed because the authority had A14 125 been in dispute with the children's panel administrator, who was A14 126 suspended last year. She is appealing against the decision.

A14 127 Mr Rosie wanted assurances that children would no longer be A14 128 taken from Orkney to foster homes on the mainland.

A14 129 Mairhi Trickett, the social work committee chairman, replied: A14 130 "I do not think we will ever be able to make a bland A14 131 statement that we will not send children outside A14 132 Orkney."

A14 133 She said that Mr Lee, who took over a year ago, had now got new A14 134 management and staff - but since November (when the allegations A14 135 apparently began) the department had been extremely stretched and A14 136 new procedures had to be put to one side "to get the work A14 137 done."

A14 138 Councillors decided to hold another meeting behind closed doors A14 139 when representatives from the Royal Scottish Society for the A14 140 Prevention of Cruelty to Children could give more details.

A14 141 A14 142 Fewer treated from NHS waiting lists

A14 143 David Brindle, Social Services Correspondent

A14 144 FEWER patients are being treated from hospital waiting lists, A14 145 official figures revealed yesterday as the Government congratulated A14 146 itself on treating more patients than ever before.

A14 147 The fall in the number of people receiving in-patient and A14 148 day-case care was disclosed in the delayed waiting list figures for A14 149 England for September 1990. Ministers published the statistics to A14 150 coincide with a Labour-inspired Commons debate on the National A14 151 Health Service.

A14 152 The figures show a fall in the number of patients waiting for A14 153 treatment, a total 906,400, and the number of those waiting longer A14 154 than a year, 202,700; a further 51,200 are not counted because they A14 155 had deferred their operations.

A14 156 However, the totals do not tally with those calculated last A14 157 December by the Guardian and last February by the Health Service A14 158 Journal, each of which separately obtained the figures which the 14 A14 159 health regions said they were submitting to the Department of A14 160 Health for the September count.

A14 161 Both these round-ups showed a rise in the number of people A14 162 waiting.

A14 163 On the same basis as the official figures, both the Guardian A14 164 and the journal produced totals of more than 940,000, rising from A14 165 an official total of 912,800 for March 1990.

A14 166 Comparison of yesterday's statistics with those given to the A14 167 Guardian shows that 13 of the 14 health regions have had their A14 168 figures reduced markedly. Only Mersey is given the same figures as A14 169 those it originally announced.

A14 170 The department said it was possible the figures had changed A14 171 during the detailed validation process, ensuring they were all A14 172 presented on precisely the same terms. "We are confident A14 173 that the statistics are correct."

A14 174 The figures reveal that 138,000 patients were taken off waiting A14 175 lists in the six months to last September 30 "for reasons A14 176 other than treatment", reflecting the drive to clear the A14 177 lists of 'phantom patients' no longer needing or considered to need A14 178 operations.

A14 179 William Waldegrave, Health Secretary, said the figures showed A14 180 good progress in cutting waiting times. There had been a fall of A14 181 2.5 per cent in numbers waiting longer than a year, and provisional A14 182 returns for the period from last September to February indicated a A14 183 further fall of 12 per cent.

A14 184 However, the statistics show that 12,300 fewer patients were A14 185 treated from waiting lists in the six months to last September.

A14 186 Robin Cook, the shadow health secretary, said the figures were A14 187 the worst September totals on record. "It is breathtaking A14 188 that ministers should be using today's debate in Parliament to A14 189 congratulate themselves on their stewardship of the A14 190 NHS."

A14 191 Dr Jeremy Lee-Potter, chairman of the British Medical A14 192 Association's ruling council, said: "The fact that patients A14 193 still have to wait 21 weeks to get into hospital for treatment and A14 194 12 weeks for day surgery demonstrates yet again that the health A14 195 service has not got enough money to treat patients in a reasonable A14 196 time."

A14 197 A14 198 Oil spill reaches Italian beaches

A14 199 Reuter in Genoa

A14 200 SOUTH-EASTERLY winds yesterday blew thick oil from a sunken A14 201 supertanker on to Italian Riviera beaches which had previously A14 202 escaped pollution.

A14 203 Hundreds of soldiers, volunteers, hoteliers and fishermen A14 204 worked frantically to scoop up oily slime from beaches after a A14 205 sudden weather change pushed floating crude landwards, blackening A14 206 pebbly shores.

A14 207 In Rome the environment minister, Giorgio Ruffolo, said that an A14 208 all-out effort was under way to contain the pollution caused after A14 209 the 109,000-ton Cypriot-registered tanker Haven blew up last A14 210 Thursday.

A14 211 "We have avoided a catastrophe. What we have is just a A14 212 grave accident," the minister told reporters.

A14 213 Mr Ruffollo said that anti-pollution vessels earlier this week A14 214 skimmed off just under a third of the 145,000 barrels of crude oil A14 215 estimated to have leaked into the sea. The tanker, carrying more A14 216 than one million barrels of crude, sank in the Bay of Genoa on A14 217 Sunday after a three-day blaze.

A14 218 "Until now we believed that most of the crude was still A14 219 inside the tanker. Thanks to underwater pictures, we now know that A14 220 what is left is less than we estimated," he said.

A14 221 Local authorities are promising that the Ligurian coast will be A14 222 clean in time for the tourist season. Liguria earns $2 billion A14 223 a year from northern European sun-bathers.

A14 224 "We are optimistic everything will be cleaned up. We won't A14 225 sleep until it is," said Giuseppe Monti, a Savona A14 226 hotel-owner. "It would be a terrible blow if it A14 227 wasn't." Hoteliers in Savona, one of the towns most A14 228 affected by the spill, say that 10 per cent of foreign tour groups A14 229 have yet to confirm their bookings.

A14 230 In Genoa, renowned for its fine fish dishes, people have shied A14 231 away from seafood since the Haven sank, apparently convinced that A14 232 local fish are polluted.

A14 233 A14 234 Infiltrator kills Israeli farmer

A14 235 An Israeli farmer was shot dead and three others injured in a A14 236 border settlement yesterday by an Arab infiltrator who crossed from A14 237 Jordan. It was the area's second clash in three days. The Arab was A14 238 also killed, writes Ian Black in Jerusalem.

A14 239 A15 1 <#FLOB:A15\>Jones & Shipman plans significant US A15 2 expansion

A15 3 By Andrew Baxter

A15 4 JONES & SHIPMAN, the Leicester-based machine tool manufacturer, A15 5 plans a significant expansion of its US activities through the A15 6 acquisition of Rhode Island-based Brown & Sharpe Grinding Machines A15 7 (BSGM), a joint venture between J&S and Brown & Sharpe of the A15 8 US.

A15 9 J&S has reached agreement in principle to acquire Brown & A15 10 Sharpe's share of BSGM, which was set up in 1989 to provide a A15 11 marketing and servicing facility for the two companies in North A15 12 America.

A15 13 No terms for the deal were disclosed, but the sum is unlikely A15 14 to be large. At the end of last month Brown & Sharpe, once the A15 15 largest US machine tool maker, announced it was pulling out of the A15 16 industry to concentrate on its metrology products.

A15 17 Mr John Wareing, J&S managing director, said the acquisition A15 18 would make the Leicester company solely responsible for sales and A15 19 service of its machines in North America. Additionally, J&S will A15 20 acquire the rights to Brown & Sharpe's Hi-Tech creep-feed grinders A15 21 and Techmaster surface grinders. Production will be moved from A15 22 Rhode Island to Leicester.

A15 23 Creep-feed machines grind the workpiece at a slow pace but with A15 24 deep cuts, and are ideal for composite materials and ceramics which A15 25 would crack under normal grinding. J&S will now be able to compete A15 26 with three European manufacturers of creep-feed grinders, which are A15 27 heavily used by the aerospace industry.

A15 28 Mr Wareing said the deal would add at least pounds3m-pounds4m A15 29 to annual sales. In the 15 months to end-March 1990, the company A15 30 made pre-tax profits of pounds2.1m on sales of pounds30.9m.

A15 31 A15 32 Chile changes the rules for conversion

A15 33 The central bank has responded to pressure from investors, A15 34 writes Leslie Crawford

A15 35 CHILE'S central bank, under pressure from foreign and Chilean A15 36 investors, has relaxed the rules of its debt-equity conversion A15 37 programme.

A15 38 Foreign companies who used debt swaps to invest in Chile can A15 39 now repatriate capital after three years, instead of the 10 years A15 40 stipulated in the original debt-conversion contracts.

A15 41 But those who wish to unlock their investments before 10 years A15 42 will have to pay a penalty. The central bank says it will charge an A15 43 exist fee based on the length of time the company has been in A15 44 Chile, and on the bonus the company gained through the purchase of A15 45 Chilean debt at a discount on the secondary markets.

A15 46 The central bank says the exit fee will put companies who A15 47 invested through debt swaps, otherwise known as Chapter XIX of the A15 48 Compendium of Foreign Exchange Regulations, on an equal footing A15 49 with foreign investors who brought their own capital into Chile.

A15 50 The central bank adopted these more flexible rules due to the A15 51 difficulties two large foreign investors are having in trying to A15 52 pull out of Chile. Carter Holt Harvey, the New Zealand forestry A15 53 group, is seeking a buyer for its $500m stake in Copec, Chile's A15 54 largest private industrial group, and Security Pacific, the US A15 55 bank, has been unable to sell 60 per cent of its Chilean bank.

A15 56 Both companies were among the first to take advantage of the A15 57 incentives offered by Chile's debt swap programme. Carter Holt A15 58 bought into Copec in 1987 with a $161m debt swap.

A15 59 It later expanded its Chilean holdings in forestry, cellulose A15 60 production and fishing with $135m of its own resources. It also A15 61 launched a $1.2bn investment programme with Chile's Angelini group, A15 62 the other main shareholder in Copec.

A15 63 Given that the bulk of these investments will begin to bear A15 64 fruit next year, when Copec's $600m Arauco II cellulose plant comes A15 65 on stream, Carter Holt's plans to sell its Chilean assets came as a A15 66 surprise, The New Zealand group said in February that the sale A15 67 would ease the company's debt burden following a series of A15 68 acquisitions in Australia and at home.

A15 69 But under the old Chapter XIX rules, Carter Holt's divestment A15 70 plans hit a snag: it had signed a pact with Mr Anacleto Angelini in A15 71 1987 giving his group the first option to purchase Carter Holt's A15 72 Copec shares if the New Zealanders ever decided to pull out of A15 73 Chile. And by selling to a Chilean group, the proceeds would remain A15 74 tied in Chile until 1997.

A15 75 So Copec joined the growing chorus of corporate critics against A15 76 the central bank. "It is grossly unfair to forbid Chileans A15 77 from taking over these investments," says Mr Jose Antonio A15 78 Guzman Dumas, Copec's vice-president.

A15 79 Security Pacific says it is in a different boat. It set up A15 80 operations in Santiago in 1987, converting $68m of Chilean debt A15 81 that it held in its own books. "The subsidy issue therefore A15 82 does not arise," argues Mr Rodrigo Mu<*_>n-tilde<*/>oz, the A15 83 general manager at Security Pacific Valores.

A15 84 The US bank, which has closed operations in several European A15 85 capitals in order to strengthen reserves at home, says it would not A15 86 be pulling out of Chile completely. It wants to sell 60 per cent of A15 87 its Chilean assets to the bank's local employees. This has already A15 88 been approved by Chile's banking regulators.

A15 89 With the new Chapter XIX rules, both Security Pacific and A15 90 Carter Holt will be able to unlock their investments in Chile, A15 91 subject to the central bank's exit fee.

A15 92 The new rules effectively spell the end of Chile's A15 93 debt-conversion programme, which has retired $3.6bn of debt over A15 94 the past six years. For the past year, critics have argued that the A15 95 usefulness of the scheme had run its course and that the central A15 96 bank was deliberately blocking Chileans from participating in the A15 97 country's investment bonanza.

A15 98 With Chilean debt now trading at close to 85 per cent of par A15 99 value in the secondary markets, there is very little to gain from A15 100 Chapter XIX swaps. They have all but ceased. Direct foreign A15 101 investment, however, totalled over $1.4bn last year.

A15 102 The critics argued that with so much money pouring into the A15 103 country, the central bank could afford to be more flexible in its A15 104 foreign investment rules. By easing restrictions now, at a time A15 105 when the country's net international reserves total a record A15 106 $5.73bn, the central bank will be averting a sudden swell of A15 107 capital repatriation in the second half of the decade.

A15 108 A15 109 A better tale for 1991

A15 110 After last year's investment setback, equity market buoyancy in A15 111 the first quarter of 1991 has dramatically changed the pension fund A15 112 picture, writes Barry Riley. But scheme surpluses are likely to A15 113 fall, partly because of the European Court judgment on sex A15 114 equality.

A15 115 IT WAS important to get 1990 out of the way. After a brilliant A15 116 decade for investment performance during the 1980s, UK pension fund A15 117 managers were overdue for a market setback. In fact, the minus 10.5 A15 118 per cent median rate of return was the first negative result in A15 119 nominal terms since 1974.

A15 120 But fund managers will now be hoping that the shake-out in the A15 121 markets has been left well behind. Certainly the first quarter of A15 122 1991 has presented a dramatically different picture, with equities A15 123 buoyant around the world: the FT-Actuaries World Index jumped 21 A15 124 per cent in sterling terms in the three months, a highly A15 125 encouraging statistic given that the average UK pension fund held A15 126 around three-quarters of its portfolio in equities at the end of A15 127 last year.

A15 128 This stock market strength has been of considerable commercial A15 129 importance. The fees of external fund managers are generally A15 130 calculated on the basis of the value of portfolios at the end of A15 131 each calendar quarter. When stock markets hit their low points at A15 132 the end of the third quarter of 1990, fund managers were squeezed A15 133 nastily, while their costs were rising quite fast. It was not much A15 134 better in December. But March will have brought a substantial A15 135 recovery in income.

A15 136 For UK pension schemes themselves, however, the arithmetic of A15 137 poverty or prosperity is done very differently. Surpluses and A15 138 deficiencies are calculated on the basis of actuarial rather than A15 139 market valuations. In general, these are income-based, certainly A15 140 for UK equities, which make up more than half of most A15 141 portfolios.

A15 142 Therefore, because dividends continued to be buoyant for much A15 143 of last year, with a rise of 11 per cent for the year as a whole, A15 144 many schemes stayed comfortably in surplus.

A15 145 In a curious way, this turned out badly for fund management A15 146 companies. The over-funded pension schemes very often A15 147 enjoyed contribution holidays, thus choking off much of the cash A15 148 flow into their funds.

A15 149 According to the WM Company's performance measurement service A15 150 the new money flowing into UK occupational pension schemes in 1980 A15 151 was equivalent to 19 per cent of their initial value, whereas 10 A15 152 years later it was less than 4 per cent, implying net shrinkage A15 153 after adjustment for investment income.

A15 154 The strange 1990 picture of bloated funds and squeezed fund A15 155 managers will now change quite quickly, however. Not only have A15 156 market values risen, thus increasing the investment managers' A15 157 revenues quite sharply, but the scene is set for a very rapid A15 158 rundown of pension scheme surpluses.

A15 159 This is firstly because dividend growth is bound to slow down A15 160 very sharply this year. After averaging an extraordinary 16 per A15 161 cent a year during the second half of the 1980s, the rate of A15 162 increase may well drop to under 5 per cent for 1991 because of the A15 163 economic squeeze on companies. This increase is likely to be less A15 164 than the underlying growth of average employee earnings (still A15 165 running at 9.5 per cent).

A15 166 Another important consideration is that large unfunded A15 167 liabilities are crystallising for many pension schemes. These A15 168 relate in part to the so-called Barber judgment in the European A15 169 Court on equal treatment for the sexes, which could impose equal A15 170 retirement ages and other expensive adjustments on schemes. At the A15 171 same time, the Social Security Act 1990 laid down that partial A15 172 inflation-proofing of benefits (limited price indexation, or LPI, A15 173 of up to a limit of 5 per cent a year) must be applied in future, A15 174 after a certain A-Day, the date of which has yet to be announced. A15 175 In addition, to the extend that there are surpluses in the scheme, A15 176 this LPI protection must be backdated to cover past service.

A15 177 What is bad news for schemes could nevertheless be good for A15 178 pension fund managers, as extra contributions and top-ups begin to A15 179 roll in; at least, this will be true unless the pressure on final A15 180 salary-linked schemes becomes so intense that companies decided to A15 181 wind them up in favour of cheaper arrangements.

A15 182 In these potentially troubled times, however, UK pension fund A15 183 managers can justifiably point to the very high returns that they A15 184 have succeeded in generating over many years. According to the A15 185 other main performance measurement service, Caps, the average rate A15 186 of return achieved by the median fund over the past 10 years has A15 187 been 15.4 per cent.

A15 188 This is a considerably high return than has been enjoyed by A15 189 typical funds in the US or on the Continent, even after adjustment A15 190 for currency changes. The uniquely aggressive strategy of UK funds, A15 191 relying heavily on equities, has paid off handsomely. The one bad A15 192 year, 1990, has only made a small dent in this record.

A15 193 In the latest edition of Phillips & Drew Fund Management's A15 194 Pension Fund Indicators, perhaps the best source-book on A15 195 UK pension fund investment, Mr Jim McCaughan, a PDFM director, A15 196 argues: "The long-term investor might justifiably regard A15 197 the unsettled market conditions of 1990 as a blessing since A15 198 opportunities were presented to acquire investments at favourable A15 199 prices."

A15 200 Yet the equity orientation of UK pension funds has relied A15 201 heavily on the willingness of British companies to adopt a high A15 202 pay-out strategy. That has led to criticism from the UK corporate A15 203 sector on the grounds that continental and Japanese companies do A15 204 not face the same pressures from their own institutional A15 205 shareholders.

A15 206 Moreover the entry of the UK to full membership of the European A15 207 Monetary System six months ago posed the possibility of fundamental A15 208 structural change. Has the focus of UK funds on equities been A15 209 merely the consequence of persistent UK inflation? Will bonds be A15 210 much more attractive if they offer a reliable real rate of return? A15 211 But Mr McCaughan does not see UK fund managers going back to A15 212 government bonds, in which they invested heavily during the 1970s. A15 213 "Pension funds no longer see themselves as natural buyers A15 214 of gilts," he says.

A15 215 A16 1 <#FLOB:A16\>Bad news all round in the year of the cash A16 2 call

A16 3 Gloom is the key word for the results season, as Heather Connon A16 4 reports

A16 5 COMPANIES representing 40 per cent of the value of the stock A16 6 market are due to publish results in the next six weeks. And the A16 7 picture they paint is likely to be one of almost unremitting A16 8 gloom.

A16 9 The results will cover the first six months of the year when A16 10 Britain was in the grip of one of the worst recessions since the A16 11 war. Companies as diverse as BAT Industries and BTR, George Wimpey A16 12 and T&N, all reporting this week, will demonstrate this as they A16 13 report plummeting profits, or even losses. Later in the month, RTZ, A16 14 Rolls Royce, Ratners, Dalgety and Prudential Corporation are likely A16 15 to add to the stream of bad news.

A16 16 But even the worst reporting season for a decade is unlikely to A16 17 halt the stately rise of the FT-SE 100, up more than a quarter A16 18 since the beginning of the year. The market already knows the news A16 19 will be bad - after all, its analysts have spent the best part of A16 20 the last year downgrading forecasts. But this is expected to be the A16 21 worst period and the market's eyes are firmly on the upside, which A16 22 means next year and 1993.

A16 23 It is, however, still possible that the reporting season will A16 24 cause the market to falter. The two key factors will be the level A16 25 of rights issues and what company chairmen say about current A16 26 trading.

A16 27 This has been the year of the rights issue. Already, companies A16 28 have raised more than pounds7bn to repair ravaged balance sheets A16 29 and to prepare them for the upturn. Most analysts expect at least a A16 30 further pounds3bn of cash calls by the year-end, which will put the A16 31 total at pounds10m compared with only pounds3.7bn last year and A16 32 pounds7bn in the peak year of 1987. There are many potential A16 33 candidates with large borrowings and low interest and dividend A16 34 cover. The market favourites, however, are Blue Circle - which A16 35 reports on Thursday - and Cadbury Schweppes, which produces A16 36 interims on 11 September.

A16 37 So far, most of the cash calls have been easily absorbed. But A16 38 the institutional cash mountain is fast being depleted. Analysts at A16 39 UBS Phillips&Drew estimate that institutions were holding A16 40 pounds25bn at the beginning of the year. Since then, they have not A16 41 only swallowed the rights issues, but also the pounds4.9bn water A16 42 privatisation and added significantly to their holdings of gilts - A16 43 perhaps by as much as pounds10bn by the end of the year. Paul A16 44 Walton, UK equity strategist at James Capel, thinks future rights A16 45 issues could start straining institutional tolerance, and companies A16 46 asking for more funds could see their shares suffer - particularly A16 47 if they have been forced to offer a large discount to get the issue A16 48 away. So far, the discount to the share price has averaged about 20 A16 49 per cent; as the year goes on, that could grow.

A16 50 For most companies reporting over the next few weeks, the A16 51 statement on current trading will be studied with much more A16 52 interest than the figures themselves. The hope is that chairmen A16 53 will now be saying the economy is bumping along the bottom and A16 54 there are glimmers of hope on the horizon.

A16 55 County NatWest believes unexpectedly bad news could mean a A16 56 period of consolidation. But, as Mr Walton says, that is likely to A16 57 be the lull before the surge as the recovery picks up next year.

A16 58 A16 59 Headlam acquisition near

A16 60 THE FOOTWEAR company Headlam Group, were Colin Wyman was ousted A16 61 as chairman in May, said yesterday that it was involved in talks to A16 62 make a "very substantial acquisition", writes A16 63 Robert Cole.

A16 64 The company said negotiations to buy a textiles distribution A16 65 concern with a turnover of pounds85m were near to completion.

A16 66 The news prompted a flurry of activity in the Northampton-based A16 67 company's shares. The stock closed up 4p at 62p.

A16 68 On figures for 1990 the acquisition will increase the size of A16 69 the company threefold. Headlam made pounds458,000 pre-tax profits A16 70 in 1990 on sales of pounds23.3m, down from pounds936,000 A16 71 previously.

A16 72 Releasing the annual results in April, Headlam said it was A16 73 persevering with its acquisitive policy despite having drawn a A16 74 blank on several occasions.

A16 75 A16 76 Why laggard GEC needs new boss

A16 77 Clare Dobie, City Editor, argues that finally Lord Weinstock's A16 78 day has come

A16 79 LORD Weinstock once said he would know when to leave GEC. A16 80 Nobody would have to tell him.

A16 81 But after 28 years as managing director of Britain's biggest A16 82 electronics company, that time has now come. Once regarded as the A16 83 country's most brilliant industrialist, his reputation has become A16 84 tarnished.

A16 85 'Arnie' has outstayed his welcome. The company he created A16 86 through an unusual combination of spark and attention to detail is A16 87 in decline, with falling profits and a lagging share price.

A16 88 Investors, who are seeing other shares race ahead, have a rare A16 89 chance to express their views on Friday at the company's annual A16 90 meeting. But experience suggests none will voice criticism.

A16 91 To be fair, they have little power. Though shareholders will be A16 92 asked to vote on the position of his 39-year-old son, Simon, they A16 93 will not have the chance to vote on Lord Weinstock's continued A16 94 presence on the board, despite his 67 years of age. Other directors A16 95 are subject to re-election every three years, but not Lord A16 96 Weinstock. Thanks to a provision in the company's articles, adopted A16 97 in 1900, the managing director is exempt from the requirement for A16 98 re-election.

A16 99 While many shareholders privately criticise the company's A16 100 recent performance, they are reluctant to say anything unfavourable A16 101 in public. He remains widely revered for the achievements of the A16 102 1960s.

A16 103 A statistics graduate and former civil servant, he joined what A16 104 was to become GEC at the invitation of his father-in-law. Michael A16 105 Sobell, in 1954. In 1967, it acquired Associated Electrical A16 106 Industries and a year later English Electric.

A16 107 Unlike the AEI bid, the deal with EE, then the largest merger A16 108 seen in the UK, was friendly. It had the backing not just of Lord A16 109 Nelson, who headed EE, but of the Labour government.

A16 110 GEC was seen as a standard-bearer for Britain in general and A16 111 the electronics industry in particular (something which would be A16 112 anathema to the present Government, with its opposition to picking A16 113 winners). Lord Weinstock became an industrial hero, credited with A16 114 single-handedly improving Britain's balance of payments. He was A16 115 widely feared and respected.

A16 116 Relations with government have remained an important feature of A16 117 the company's operations, in part reflecting its dependence on the A16 118 Ministry of Defence. The current chairman is Lord Prior, the former A16 119 secretary of state for employment. And his predecessors include A16 120 former Tory ministers Lords Carrington and Aldington.

A16 121 Several other characteristics visible in 1968, the A16 122 anno<&|>sic! mirabilis, remain traits of the company to A16 123 this day. They include meanness (the company is known ironically as A16 124 the Generous Electric Company), attention to detail - Lord A16 125 Weinstock reportedly once said, "Once you drop the detail A16 126 then I believe the justification for my activity comes to an A16 127 end" - and a determination to have cash in the bank.

A16 128 Over the years the style may have hardly changed but the A16 129 performance has - for the worse. In the past 10 years, pre-tax A16 130 profits, earnings per share and net assets have all fallen in real A16 131 terms (after adjusting for the effects of inflation).

A16 132 But GEC's stated pre-tax profits rose 40 per cent. In the same A16 133 period the profits of two other leading British companies, ICI and A16 134 Marks and Spencer, rose by 190 and 177 per cent respectively.

A16 135 Its performance also looks dull by the side of overseas A16 136 electronics companies such as Siemens of Germany, where after-tax A16 137 profits rose 228 per cent in the last decade.

A16 138 GEC's poor profits performance has been reflected on the stock A16 139 market. Anyone investing pounds100 in GEC's shares 10 years ago A16 140 would find they were worth almost the same today, though the A16 141 pounds100 buys substantially less.

A16 142 The same amount invested in either ICI or M&S would have been A16 143 worth more than pounds400 - although an investor in GEC would have A16 144 received some compensation in the form of dividends.

A16 145 There are other causes for concern about GEC's recent record. A16 146 The company is well known for having a huge cash pile, which peaked A16 147 at pounds1,7bn in 1987.

A16 148 While the cash has saved GEC from any financial embarrassment A16 149 during the recession, it also suggests the company has failed to A16 150 find industrial projects offering comparable returns.

A16 151 Research and development spending, though high by UK standards, A16 152 lags behind the company's international competitors. Assuming the A16 153 company's disclosed spending of pounds435m was by the A16 154 majority-owned companies, R&D accounted for 7.2 per cent of sales A16 155 last year, against 11 per cent at Siemens. Another worry is the A16 156 continuing dependence on the (declining) defence industry. Broker A16 157 BZW reckons it accounts for 23 per cent of attributable profits.

A16 158 Then there was the loss in 1986 of the Nimrod defence contract A16 159 after nine years and nearly pounds1bn. This was a major blow, A16 160 putting into doubt GEC's reputation as a reliable defence A16 161 supplier.

A16 162 Lord Weinstock responded with spirit, instructing managers to A16 163 double profits in the next three or four years. Collectively, they A16 164 failed to deliver.

A16 165 He then took a different approach, launching a second bid for A16 166 Plessey, long a thorn in GEC's side, in 1989 together with A16 167 Siemens.

A16 168 The bid was accompanied by a dramatic switch of strategy. A16 169 Having criticised Plessey for forming joint ventures, GEC went A16 170 about linking up with not just Siemens, but Alsthom of France and A16 171 General Electric of the US as well.

A16 172 For a short period Lord Weinstock appeared to be back to his A16 173 old form, taking the initiative. His sense of humour seemed to A16 174 improve as he announced each successive deal.

A16 175 But the promise of that period has not been fulfilled.

A16 176 GEC and Siemens have virtually gone their separate ways, and A16 177 their only remaining major joint venture is GPT, the A16 178 telecommunications company.

A16 179 The business owned by GE is small, focused on domestic A16 180 appliances. And the larger venture with Alsthom, which makes power A16 181 plants and fast trains, has so far proved financially A16 182 disappointing.

A16 183 Margins in the joint ventures were 4.4 per cent against 9.2 per A16 184 cent for the majority-owned businesses.

A16 185 As well as performance, there are worries that the joint A16 186 ventures may have made GEC less vulnerable to a bid.

A16 187 In other circumstances a takeover might be the market's A16 188 solution to the problem of underperformance.

A16 189 But any bidder, even assuming he could obtain approval from the A16 190 MoD for a change of control, would risk losing large chunks of A16 191 business to the joint venture partners.

A16 192 If market forces cannot change GEC, who or what can?

A16 193 Shareholders, including Prudential Corporation which owns 7 per A16 194 cent of the company, must be among the best placed to put pressure A16 195 on the board. (The Prudential's former head of investments is a A16 196 director of GEC).

A16 197 Though the larger institutions have proved ready to intervene A16 198 in the affairs of small companies such as Tace, with sales of A16 199 pounds36m, they are often reluctant to act in the case of larger A16 200 companies such as GEC, which has sales of pounds9,5bn and 119,000 A16 201 employees.

A16 202 The larger institutions nearly all profess to be interested in A16 203 what has become known as "corporate governance". If A16 204 it is to mean anything, they must act over GEC. Otherwise how can A16 205 their repeated call for companies to appoint non-executives to A16 206 boards, to split the roles of chairmen and chief executives and for A16 207 improved access be taken seriously?

A16 208 If shareholders have had a quiet word with Lord Weinstock or A16 209 his fellow directors, it has not had any noticeable effect. If they A16 210 have not, why not? Are they scared?

A16 211 Some suggest that in recognition of Lord Weinstock's earlier A16 212 achievements, they are prepared to wait for him to retire, A16 213 presumably within the next three years. They might, however, speak A16 214 out if there was any sign of his son succeeding him to the top A16 215 job.

A16 216 Other would rather the authorities - effectively the Bank of A16 217 England - acted, presumably remaining behind the scenes, to put A16 218 pressure on him to step down.

A16 219 But if neither the shareholders nor the bank does move, it A16 220 would be up to the directors. They could get rid of Lord Weinstock. A16 221 He should be quick to take the hint. Back in 1968 he said: A16 222 "If they [the directors] ceased to trust me I would have to A16 223 go."

A16 224 A17 1 <#FLOB:A17\>Villain with a voice of honey

A17 2 Alan Rickman is best known for a string of sinister roles - but A17 3 he hates being typecast, he tells James Delingpole

A17 4 AT ONE stage Alan Rickman threatened to smash my face in. At A17 5 least I thought he did. But I wasn't quite paying attention. His A17 6 voice has such as mesmeric quality that it is terribly easy to A17 7 drift off on the delicious musicality of his speech and forget what A17 8 it is he is actually saying.

A17 9 It came towards the end of our chat. Someone had mentioned A17 10 beforehand that Rickman was not an easy person to interview, so it A17 11 was some time before I plucked up the courage to ask him any really A17 12 difficult questions.

A17 13 But when at last I accused him of being cold, cynical and A17 14 reptilian, he struck. "I'm really interested in not having A17 15 brick walls put up in front of me," he said, referring to A17 16 those journalists who sought to reduce him to a few easy A17 17 adjectives. "And if it means the brick builder gets my fist A17 18 in their face, then so be it."

A17 19 So, as I discovered when I played back my tape of the A17 20 interview, his threat had not been as direct as I had imagined. But A17 21 he had made his point. Alan Rickman does not like being A17 22 typecast.

A17 23 The problem is that, for much of his career, he has been unable A17 24 to avoid it. He has played the demonic lead in Mephisto, the A17 25 camp but chilling baddies in Die Hard and Robin A17 26 Hood: Prince of the Thieves, the icy Valmont in Les A17 27 Liaisons Dangereuses... None of these people are exactly the A17 28 sort you'd trust to look after your cat while you are away on A17 29 holiday.

A17 30 What must make it even more frustrating for Rickman is that he A17 31 is so terribly good at playing these villains. When his Sheriff of A17 32 Nottingham snarls "No more merciful beheadings!" A17 33 you long to see his goodie-goodie rival, Kevin Costner's Robin A17 34 Hood, swinging from the nearest gibbet.

A17 35 This was the reason why Costner decided to re-shoot and re-edit A17 36 the film. Rickman denies that there was any friction on the set, A17 37 but it is an open secret that, when preview audiences saw the film A17 38 in its original form, they found the Sheriff much more sympathetic A17 39 than Robin.

A17 40 Robin Hood may well be the last time Rickman plays the second A17 41 string to anybody's bow. Hollywood loves him. So does the West End A17 42 and Broadway, where he distinguished himself in Les Liaisons A17 43 Dangereuses. And even the British film industry has reason to A17 44 be grateful for his performances in its latest offerings, A17 45 Close My Eyes and Truly, Madly, Deeply.

A17 46 Rickman may have reached an age at which, as he told one A17 47 interviewer, he is "too old to play Hamlet", but A17 48 virtually any other leading part he wants is there for the asking. A17 49 At last, he believes, he will be able to confound those casting A17 50 directors who simply want him to repeat his best-known roles.

A17 51 It is understandable that his hackles rise when he is accused A17 52 of specialising in cold, arid cynics. In his defence he cites A17 53 The Lucky Chance at the Royal Court. "I was A17 54 playing somebody completely open, energised, with a mission, not at A17 55 all cynical, not at all laid-back, not at all any of those words A17 56 and people said "Gosh, I didn't know you could do A17 57 that.'"

A17 58 Perhaps he just been<&|>sic! unlucky. It was not his A17 59 fault that, say, the television series The Barchester A17 60 Chronicles - in which he played the loathsome Obadiah Slope - A17 61 succeeded, while the film The January Man - in which he A17 62 played a nice guy - did not.

A17 63 And yet, he does have this peculiar ability to invest even his A17 64 most likeable characters with a vaguely chilling quality. In A17 65 Close My Eyes, for example, he plays a generous - and A17 66 totally harmless - rich cuckold. But Rickman endows his character A17 67 with such an intense inner life that you suspect that, at any A17 68 moment, he might be about to commit some monstrous act of A17 69 violence.

A17 70 When I put this to him, Rickman adopts a pained expression. A17 71 "There is a certain warmth, I would have thought," A17 72 he says, before suggesting that what I saw as coldness was in fact A17 73 "watchfulness". Seeing I am not convinced, he goes on: A17 74 "This is me. I have a certain pitch to my voice, a certain A17 75 way of framing my sentences."

A17 76 And there is some truth in that. He speaks slowly, deliberately A17 77 and almost dreamily, with each phrase fading languorously into a A17 78 honeyed, dying fall. He sounds intelligent, sometimes sibilantly A17 79 dangerous, but always ineffably seductive.

A17 80 This could well be Rickman's secret. It is why, for example, A17 81 his portrayal of the callous rou<*_>e-acute<*/> in Les A17 82 Liaisons Dangereuses was so painfully sympathetic. And why, A17 83 after an hour's exposure to his hypnotic charm, I felt a desperate A17 84 urge to write the most gushingly favourable interview sycophancy A17 85 could devise.

A17 86 He works this trick yet again in his latest West End play, A17 87 Tango at the End of Winter. Although he is playing a A17 88 madman, Rickman does it with such quiet reasonableness that his A17 89 character's weird vision of the world threatens to overwhelm the A17 90 supposedly sane view of those who surround him.

A17 91 It may sound reminiscent of King Lear or Henry A17 92 IV, but the difference is that Shakespeare and Pirandello give A17 93 their characters a head start by granting them the most compelling A17 94 speeches. The text of Tango does not have this A17 95 sophistication. The skill is all Rickman's.

A17 96 While there is now no shortage of directors willing to pay A17 97 tribute to his talents, it was not always so. Rickman entered RADA A17 98 late - having trained as a graphic designer at Chelsea and The A17 99 Royal College of Art - and it was some time before he found his A17 100 feet on the stage.

A17 101 "When Alan first came to Stratford," one RSC A17 102 director recalls, "it was terribly embarrassing. There was A17 103 one season when he was so awful that we had a directors' meeting A17 104 and we asked each other 'What are we going to do with A17 105 him?' But then he just grew up. And suddenly every one wanted this A17 106 wonderful new leading man."

A17 107 Rickman himself does not set too much store by his stint at A17 108 Stratford. "I was with the RSC for three years but I also A17 109 spent seven years doing plays at the Bush, at Hampstead, and the A17 110 Royal Court, which I regard just as much as my spiritual A17 111 home."

A17 112 He resents the way regional theatre has declined since A17 113 "Thatcher put the boot in". He explains: A17 114 "When I left drama school you could go to a repertory A17 115 theatre and be in a Shakespeare play or something large where you A17 116 could go and make ghastly mistakes. About the only places where you A17 117 can do that now are the RSC and the National. Everyone's making A17 118 their mistakes in great big places."

A17 119 When talking about the "state of the theatre", A17 120 Rickman sounds almost excited - which is to say that his voice A17 121 rises a few decibels higher than his customary half-whisper. The A17 122 only other time he appears to stir from his customary languor is A17 123 when I attempt to define him with a few glib adjectives.

A17 124 Just as he loathes typecasting, so he is unwilling to have his A17 125 personality summed up in a newspaper profile. Which may be why A17 126 Rickman has acquired his "difficult" reputation and why - albeit A17 127 with a sharky grin - he made his little remark about fists and A17 128 brick walls.

A17 129 A17 130 'Gaslight' amid the candyfloss

A17 131 Byron Rogers makes a pilgrimage to Sheringham, where England's A17 132 last seaside rep company is ending its summer season

A17 133 ENGLAND ends here, at the North Sea, and its traditions survive A17 134 in the way an empire survives in its extremities long after the A17 135 centre has crumbled. You get the growing sensation when you arrive A17 136 in Sheringham in Norfolk that you have stepped back 40 years. There A17 137 are no Chinese or Indian restaurants, few multiple stores, and A17 138 people live above their shops the way they did everywhere once. A17 139 Just down the coast at Cromer is the last end-of-pier variety show A17 140 and here the last English seaside rep is in summer season.

A17 141 "I came here on holidays when I was seven," A17 142 says John Laing, who finds himself back again after a long absence, A17 143 this time to act. "The town's not changed at all, perhaps A17 144 because it's so small, so inaccessible. People come here to die. If A17 145 we're lucky they'll come to watch weekly rep, and then A17 146 die."

A17 147 Whatever happens in his subsequent career the actor will never A17 148 forget Wednesdays: Wednesdays was when the weekly change round A17 149 occurred. In the morning he rehearsed and in the evenings appeared A17 150 in the last performance of the old week's play. When all that was A17 151 over he helped to pull down one set and build another.

A17 152 John Laing will remember panic too, an old friend by the end. A17 153 Three days before he was due to star in Gaslight earlier A17 154 this season, he prowled the rehearsal stage, colliding with A17 155 furniture and still reading his part aloud. In five weeks he was to A17 156 appear in five different productions. Nothing, not even the wistful A17 157 terror of old actors ("My dear boy, weekly rep ... A17 158 Omigod") had prepared him for this. "On stage it is A17 159 a matter of who stands where and who sits down where. There's no A17 160 time for anything else."

A17 161 But mostly he will remember the local woman in the ticket box. A17 162 The company had taken a risk staging Christopher Fry's A A17 163 Phoenix Too Frequent, a verse play, but as the curious A17 164 shuffled in from the beach she had her finest hour. "It's A17 165 set in a tomb," she explained to the customers. A17 166 "The husband's dead and his widow's going to sit there A17 167 until she dies too." And he heard her say without drawing A17 168 breath, "It's a comedy."

A17 169 The last year-round weekly rep closed in the 1970s in A17 170 Bexhill-on-Sea, and actress Gillian Kerrod, still in her thirties A17 171 and another of the Sheringham hoofers this summer, marvelled that A17 172 she should remember its Penguin Players, who now seem part of that A17 173 pre-history when actors were expected to provide their own A17 174 wardrobes and travelled with skips full of formal dress.

A17 175 The Little Theatre at Sheringham is a remarkable place, with A17 176 seating for only 200, but everything you would expect to find in a A17 177 commercial theatre is here in miniature: the bar, the A17 178 dressing-rooms (or room), the upper circle. And its survival is A17 179 even more remarkable. Once a factory for boiling whelks, it A17 180 subsequently became a department store, then a cinema, at which A17 181 point the local council bought it, and began the tradition of A17 182 summer rep in 1960. Thirteen years later, the council leased it to A17 183 the town's amateur dramatic society. Since then, Sheringham has A17 184 looked after its own, putting on plays, collecting funds, but the A17 185 summer professional rep persisted.

A17 186 To cut costs, you need a tiny company, and for the last five A17 187 years Stepen Warden ran a summer season here with just six actors, A17 188 chosen for their ability to age 10 years, or lose 15. Their small A17 189 number restricted the plays that they put on, and there was the A17 190 problem of audiences, cosseted by type-casting on television, who A17 191 stared in bewilderment at wigs and make-up. In the end Warden felt A17 192 he could not go on, and it seemed the last seaside rep would A17 193 close.

A17 194 But geography came to the rescue. Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire is A17 195 halfway between the studios in Manchester of Granada Television and A17 196 of Yorkshire TV in Leeds; many actors now live in Hebden Bridge, A17 197 waiting for their phones to ring.

A17 198 Four years ago they formed their own company, Bridge Players, A17 199 put on plays in the town's theatre and went on tours. On one of A17 200 these there was a blank Saturday night ("Dreadful thing for A17 201 a struggling company"), when Freda Kelsall, the artistic A17 202 director, remembered the strange little theatre she had seen when A17 203 looking for an East Coast location for a TV series. So the players A17 204 came to Sheringham.

A17 205 It occurred to her then that the problems of weekly summer rep A17 206 might be overcome simply by doubling up with Hebden Bridge. A17 207 A18 1 <#FLOB:A18\>From the Stage of the Globe

A18 2 I TAKE OUT my bankcard. In the bottom right-hand corner is a A18 3 picture of Shakespeare over-printed with the words "Cheque A18 4 guarantee". But hold the card up to the light and something A18 5 strange happens. The colour, form and angle of Shakespeare's face A18 6 alters: in profile he seems to be a beaming Bard, head-on he is a A18 7 sombre sage. The picture is a kitsch symbol of a basic truth.

A18 8 Shakespeare stands for order, security, reliability. At the A18 9 same time, he is shifting, elusive, infinitely variable. It is a A18 10 duality which lies at the heart of the modern Shakespeare A18 11 industry.

A18 12 Others have written eloquently about Shakespeare's double role A18 13 as a national icon and pluralistic dramatist. Terence Hawkes in A18 14 That Shakespeherian Rag shows how modern critics - Bradley, A18 15 Raleigh, Dover Wilson - all accommodated Shakespeare to their own A18 16 world view. For the aptly-named Walter Raleigh in 1907 Shakespeare A18 17 indeed became a symbol of maleness, Englishness and even linguistic A18 18 imperialism. As Hawkes remarks, "Shakespeare is always a A18 19 powerful ideological weapon available in times of crisis." A18 20 For politicians he is constantly a handy source of quotation: on A18 21 the day of the Gulf ceasefire, Sir Julian Amery remarked of Saddam A18 22 Hussein, "We have scotched the snake, not killed A18 23 it" (apparently forgetting these words are spoken by, and A18 24 not about, Macbeth). For business enterprises, Shakespeare is a A18 25 potent commercial weapon. In a recent Stratford programme, British A18 26 Telecom had an advert telling us that "Poor communication A18 27 was the death of those star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. While A18 28 the speed and clarity of today's communication might well have A18 29 saved them." Though, personally, I wouldn't bank on it.

A18 30 So, on the one hand, we have the Stratford lad as symbol of A18 31 national pride and quality goods; and, before we sneer at cultural A18 32 imperialism, I should add that there is something moving about A18 33 watching British companies, as I can testify, playing Shakespeare A18 34 to large, attentive, Bard-hungry throngs in places as diverse as A18 35 Athens and Tbilisi.

A18 36 But, on the other hand, there is the infinitely more mysterious A18 37 Shakespeare: the dramatist of no fixed abode whose work takes on A18 38 new resonances in different cultures. In Europe he seems European: A18 39 in Asia, Asian. And of his booming popularity, there is no doubt. A18 40 The sold-out productions in Paris this spring have been Peter A18 41 Zadek's Mesure pour Mesure and Peter Brook's La A18 42 Temp<*_>e-grave<*/>te. In Hamburg on a recent Sunday night, A18 43 I found there was a choice at the two major theatres between A18 44 J<*_>u-umlaut<*/>rgen Flimm's Was Ihr Wollt (Twelfth A18 45 Night) and Michael Bodganov's Romeo und Julia. No wonder A18 46 the Germans call him "unser Shakespeare".

A18 47 Sampling recent Euro-Shakespeare productions, I discovered A18 48 several facts. One is that the current Bard-boom is not just a A18 49 testament to his genius but a direct comment on the universal A18 50 dearth of new dramatists. Another is that he reverses the old adage A18 51 that poetry is what gets lost in translation: in fact, it is A18 52 Shakespeare's prose that is curiously untranslatable. And, most A18 53 crucially of all, that there is gain as well as loss in freeing A18 54 Shakespeare from the rigorous explicitness of the English tongue. A18 55 There is a mythical quality in his work which transcends language A18 56 and may even be liberated by a foreign perspective.

A18 57 As a classic example I would take J<*_>u-umlaut<*/>rgen Flimm's A18 58 stunning production of Was Ihr Wollt at Hamburg's Thalia A18 59 Theater which I saw three days after Peter Hall's fine version at the A18 60 Playhouse.

A18 61 LIKE HALL, Flimm recognises that this is a play dominated by A18 62 the sea: the Hamburg setting is a tilted circular greensward behind A18 63 which is a cut-out cave leading on to a shimmering marine A18 64 perspective. But Flimm enjoys certain practical advantages not A18 65 found in England: one is the luxury of 12 weeks' rehearsal (Hall A18 66 had six). Another is a continental philosophy of lighting which A18 67 creates mystery by casting the forestage in shadow. What is most A18 68 striking, however, is the way Teutonic intellectualism, which we A18 69 casually deride, turns Twelfth Night into an exploration of the A18 70 Platonic idea of love as a link between the sensible and the A18 71 eternal world.

A18 72 Eros is the guiding spirit of Flimm's production, which pushes A18 73 the play's sexual confusion further than any version I have seen: A18 74 Claudia Kaske's bosomy Olivia finds in Annette Paulmann's Cesario A18 75 an image of perfection which leads her to unbutton her bodice and A18 76 hitch up her skirts in a direct attempt at seduction. Jan Josef A18 77 Liefers' self-loving Orsino looks curiously like Cesario whom he A18 78 clasps to his bosom and cradles lovingly in his lap. And Sebastian A18 79 and Antonio embrace not only each other but the Platonic idea that A18 80 truth and beauty may be achieved by mutual affection between A18 81 persons of the same sex. Released from English inhibitions, the A18 82 play becomes a study in the varieties of Platonic love.

A18 83 What you lose in German, even in Reinhard Palm's good, A18 84 Schlegel-based translation, is the pun-filled richness of the A18 85 comedy. Feste, the emotional key to Hall's production, is here a A18 86 mere cipher: it is fascinating to note that a line like "I A18 87 live by the church" loses its double-meaning in German. If A18 88 the production is still very funny, it is because Flimm compensates A18 89 physically for what is lost verbally. His Sir Toby, for instance, A18 90 is a balletic, balloon-panted drunk who, at the prospect of A18 91 Malvolio's yellow stockings, hurls himself thrice to the ground A18 92 with a ferocity unseen since the heyday of Norman Wisdom. And the A18 93 Maria, at the same point, actually wets her knickers with A18 94 excitement. But, for all the comic excess, the mythical power of A18 95 the play still emerges and there are two moments of pure mastery: A18 96 Viola vehemently stripping off her tunic on "Disguise, I A18 97 see thou art wickedness" and the vengeful, anguished cries A18 98 of Malvolio reverberating offstage during Feste's plangent final A18 99 song.

A18 100 As Flimm's production shows, something strange happens when you A18 101 lose the English language and context: you release the play's A18 102 metaphorical power. It is an issue which directors Peter Brook and A18 103 Peter Stein recently debated at Braunschweig. Stein, who despatched A18 104 his Berlin actors to Warwickshire before even attempting As You A18 105 Like It, believes you can research your way into Shakespeare's A18 106 truth. Brook argued that you inevitably lose 70 per cent of A18 107 Shakespeare in translation but that some mysterious quiddity A18 108 remains. I would go even further and say that foreign Shakespeare, A18 109 because it is a kind of analogue to the original, sometimes A18 110 uncovers aspects of the work we have forgotten.

A18 111 The case of Peter Zadek is especially fascinating. He was born A18 112 in Berlin, came to England as a child in 1933 and returned to A18 113 Germany in 1958 to become one of the country's most controversial A18 114 directors. His two most recent Shakespeare productions - Der A18 115 Kaufmann von Venedig (The Merchant Of Venice) for the Vienna A18 116 Burgtheater and Mesure pour Mesure for the A18 117 Od<*_>e-acute<*/>on in Paris - are particularly fascinating: both A18 118 offer partial visions of the play concerned while, at the same A18 119 time, forcing you to rethink its meaning.

A18 120 Zadek's Merchant was certainly bold and radical in that it A18 121 subordinated questions of anti-Semitism to an examination of A18 122 capitalist morality. He set the action in contemporary Wall Street A18 123 and cast as Shylock a blond, indisputably Aryan actor, Gert Voss, A18 124 who could, as Zadek said, play Siegfried or an SS officer. This led A18 125 to a totally assimilated Shylock whose hatred of Antonio was A18 126 financial rather than racial. It also produced one richly comic A18 127 moment when Eva Mattes' Portia, arriving in court, turned to the A18 128 Homburg-hatted Antonio and asked "Ist Ihr Name A18 129 Shylock?" at which point Voss tetchily interposed, A18 130 "Shylock ist mein Name."

A18 131 By underplaying the racial aspect, Zadek reminded us that the A18 132 real protagonist of The Merchant is money: money lent, borrowed, A18 133 sought and invested. Solario and Solanio became a couple of A18 134 small-time brokers busily reading the financial papers. Bassanio A18 135 turned up in Belmont with his business cronies who offered shrewd A18 136 market advice about which casket to plump for. And Shylock in the A18 137 trial became less an heroic victim than a cool capitalist: advised A18 138 to have a surgeon standing by, he spent a good couple of minutes A18 139 scanning the contract and, at the end, far from being devastated by A18 140 his losses he wrote out promissory-notes and made a dignified exit A18 141 presumably to ring up his Swiss bank manager.

A18 142 In one sense, Zadek's reading works against the text. If you A18 143 deprive Shylock of any overt sense of alienation or persecution, A18 144 you simply make him a bloodthirsty version of Michael Douglas's A18 145 Gekko rather than an historically tormented figure seeking a A18 146 legitimate revenge. But you also highlight another aspect of the A18 147 play: the fact that Venice is, in Sigurd Burckhardt's words, A18 148 "a closed world, inherently conservative, because it knows A18 149 that it stands or falls with the sacredness of contracts." A18 150 Just, in fact, like Wall Street.

A18 151 I felt much the same ambivalence recently while watching A18 152 Zadek's French production of Mesure pour Mesure at the A18 153 Od<*_>e-acute<*/>on in Paris. What one gained, largely because of A18 154 an astounding performance by Isabelle Huppert, was fresh insight A18 155 into the character of Isabella as well as into the cynicism of a A18 156 Catholic culture about religious dissembling. What one lost was A18 157 that peculiarly Shakespearian juxtaposition of the earthy and the A18 158 sublime, the prosaic and the poetic. Shakespeare's comedy simply A18 159 doesn't travel well.

A18 160 Huppert, however, reminded us that great acting is something A18 161 that almost transcends language. In Britain the tencency is to play A18 162 Isabella ("More than our brother is our chastity") A18 163 as a figure of righteous moral fervour: Huppert made her a woman A18 164 constantly torn between the call of the cloister and the demands of A18 165 the flesh. Preparing to enter the order of St Clare, she was all A18 166 tremulous uncertainty as she gazed wistfully in a vanity-mirror A18 167 while wiping off her lipstick. In her great confrontations with A18 168 Angelo she was, to borrow a phrase of Arnold Bennett's, A18 169 "flushed and thrilling with virginity": she also A18 170 took seriously on board Angelo's arguments about female fragility, A18 171 readily admitting "nous sommes tendres comme l'est notre A18 172 complexion." But Huppert also made Isabella sufficiently A18 173 worldly to whip off her wimple and share a glass of bubbly with the A18 174 Duke, to win Mariana round to the bed-trick with insouciant gaiety A18 175 and, at the last, nervously to slip her hand into the Duke's.

A18 176 What you lose in French is the leprous comedy of the Viennese A18 177 gaol-scenes here translated by Mr Zadek into a crude A18 178 Galgenhumor. Pompey's great speech about the A18 179 prison-inmates ("wild Half-can that stabbed Pots") A18 180 here became the excuse for him to enter with a female corpse whose A18 181 leg he proceeded to saw off like a bungling conjurer. All this in A18 182 spite of a superb translation by Jean-Michel Deprats that made one A18 183 question Jean-Louis Barrault's assertion that Shakespeare's entry A18 184 on the French stage begins with a crime in that "in order A18 185 to cross the Channel he has to be shorn of his poetic A18 186 garb."

A18 187 Well does he? Deprats wrote a fascinating article in the Paris A18 188 programme describing how the simplest phrases are often the most A18 189 untranslatable. How, he asked, do you render Claudio's definition A18 190 of death: "This sensible warm motion to become a kneaded A18 191 clod." In fact, he does it very well: "... Ce corps A18 192 sensible, chaud, mobile devenir/ Un motte de terre A18 193 glaise."

A18 194 That at least has the right balance and sense of metamorphosing A18 195 decay.

A18 196 IT ALSO seems preferable to Jean-Claude A18 197 Carri<*_>e-grave<*/>re's prose paraphrase, for Peter Brook's 1978 A18 198 Paris production, which renders the same passage as: "... A18 199 cette chaleur sensible qui bouge devenir une p<*_>a-circ<*/>te A18 200 boueuse." Carri<*_>e-grave<*/>re gives you the sense while A18 201 Deprats gives you a hint of the Shakespearean rhythm.

A18 202 But, given that translation is always a bare approximate, the A18 203 fundamental truth is that foreign Shakespeare is both necessary and A18 204 instructive. Transpose the language and the plays take on new A18 205 colours and meanings: the further you get geographically from A18 206 England, the more chameleon-like they become. Hamlet in Romanian, A18 207 as we discovered from Alexandra Tocilescu's Bulandra Theatre A18 208 production at the National, actually seems to become an East A18 209 European play about a decaying tyranny.

A18 210 An even more extreme example was Yukio Ninagawa's unforgettable A18 211 Japanese Macbeth, seen in Edinburgh and London, which shifted the A18 212 action to a world of 16th century Samurai warriors, blood-red A18 213 sunsets and cascading cherry-blossom symbolising death and human A18 214 transience. Like Kurosawa's films, Throne Of Blood and Ran, A18 215 Ninagawa's production suggested that Shakespeare was, mysteriously, A18 216 a Japanese dramatist.

A18 217 A19 1 <#FLOB:A19\>Lenny of the Lamp A19 2 Henry goes through torture to conjure up some giggles

A19 3 By ALEC LOM

A19 4 MASTER of mimicry Lenny Henry loves to conjure up a little A19 5 magic in the make-up department.

A19 6 For his Hollywood movie True Identity, he pasted hot A19 7 rubber on his face for eight hours to transform himself into a A19 8 white man.

A19 9 Now Britain's top black showbiz star is up to his old tricks A19 10 once again. This time he's endured seven agonising hours in a A19 11 hairdresser's chair to create a crazy new role.

A19 12 In Bernard And The Genie, a 70-minute comic fantasy A19 13 film, Lenny plays a Rastafarian spirit named Josephus.

A19 14 He said: "I told the guy in the salon I wanted to look A19 15 really different this time. I didn't want to be Lenny. So they A19 16 waxed me on dreadlock hair extensions.

A19 17 "It took seven hours to staple on 80 shoulder-length A19 18 dreadlocks. It was agony."

A19 19 BUT Josephus is no ordinary genie. He's a cool cat who is into A19 20 junk food and Arnold Schwarzenegger videos.

A19 21 The story is set three days before Christmas when young art A19 22 dealer Bernard Bottle (comic actor Alan Cumming) is sacked by his A19 23 heartless boss, played by Rowan Atkinson. When his fiancee dumps A19 24 him for his best friend, she strips their luxury apartment of all A19 25 her belongings, forgetting only an antique lamp.

A19 26 "Bernard rubs it absent-mindedly and I leap out and A19 27 immediately try to kill him," raves Lenny, 33.

A19 28 "Like, for the last 2,000 years inside that lamp, I've A19 29 been thinking there's no way I'm going to obey anybody when I get A19 30 out. The ensuing fight is real Douglas Fairbanks Jnr stuff. But A19 31 they become friends eventually." There is a magic carpet A19 32 ride round London, people's pockets suddenly fill with gold and A19 33 Ninja Turtle is created out of thin air.

A19 34 Live Aid hero Bob Geldorf and arts presenter Melvyn A19 35 Bragg pop up in puffs of smoke to make cameo appearances.

A19 36 "It's really great to be back working in A19 37 Britain," says the Midland-born comic, who is spending A19 38 Christmas with his wife Dawn French at their lavish Georgian home A19 39 near Windsor. But it's not likely to be a quiet affair. "I A19 40 think this year I'm going to take charge of the turkey. But it A19 41 could be a disaster," he said.

A19 42 "When we had Christmas over in America last year, I A19 43 cooked the turkey ... and the oven caught fire."

A19 44 A19 45 We're no fools!

A19 46 "Hollywood is where the big careers are A19 47 made"

A19 48 By TONY PURNELL

A19 49 ONLY fools or wild horses would drag Del Boy Trotter away from A19 50 his latest venture - and if it goes to plan, life's going to be A19 51 "cushty" for actor David Jason.

A19 52 David, star of BBC's Only Fools and Horses, has taken A19 53 Del Boy to Miami for Christmas, and he's hoping the Yanks are going A19 54 to make him several offers he can't refuse.

A19 55 The 51-year-old has his fingers crossed that the two-part A19 56 transatlantic Only Fools special - called Miamy A19 57 Twice - will lead to international stardom.

A19 58 Because, although he is the most bankable star on the box in A19 59 Britain earning pounds300,000 a year, his name ain't worth a dime A19 60 in the States.

A19 61 David said: "Hollywood is where international careers A19 62 are made - look at a good old London boy like Michael A19 63 Caine."

A19 64 But he's got a long way to go.

A19 65 "David Who? Never heard of him," said A19 66 sun-bathing Sam Blumberg from Wisconsin on Miami Beach.

A19 67 THE Christmas special sees Del Boy and that plonker Rodney A19 68 mistaken for mobsters while on holiday in Florida.

A19 69 Familiar faces from the US cop series Miami Vice were A19 70 recruited as extras, and gave the comedy series, which has been top A19 71 of the ratings over here for 10 years, the thumbs up.

A19 72 During a break in filming, David said: "The show has A19 73 never been seen in the States, but when we showed a video of one to A19 74 the American cast and crew they fell about."

A19 75 "We always thought there would be a problem with some A19 76 of the slang, but language didn't prove a barrier."

A19 77 Nicholas Lyndhurst, who plays Rodders, chipped in: "We A19 78 spent a while explaining 'git', and expressions like Lovely Jubbly A19 79 puzzled them!"

A19 80 The pair hope that trotting across the Atlantic with Trotters A19 81 Independent Trading Company will lead to the Americans snapping up A19 82 all 53 programmes.

A19 83 Said David, who also stars in Yorkshire TV's The Darling A19 84 Buds of May and their new cop series Jack Frost: A19 85 "We hope they will take Del Boy and Rodney to their hearts, A19 86 as the British have done.

A19 87 "As a career move it would be marvellous for me. It would be A19 88 nice to move forwards and upwards - not backwards.

A19 89 "As it is, they don't know me from Adam in the States. I don't A19 90 want to go over there and sit for a year just waiting for the phone A19 91 to ring."

A19 92 He pointed out that TV stardom led to movie careers for the A19 93 Yanks.

A19 94 "Look at Bruce Willis from Moonlighting and Taxi's A19 95 Danny DeVito. If Only Fools was a success in the States it would A19 96 make all the difference for me."

A19 97 Wise words. Out on the streets the pair caused disappointment A19 98 everywhere.

A19 99 At Key Biscayne a buzz of excitement went around when locals A19 100 were told an English TV comedy was being filmed.

A19 101 "Gee. Great. Is it Benny Hill?" asked a guy at A19 102 the gas station.

A19 103 Despite the generation gap, the pair agree about a lot of A19 104 things - particularly the thrill of flying.

A19 105 David is a qualified glider pilot, and 30-year-old Nicholas has A19 106 a private pilot's licence - and a wicked sense of humour.

A19 107 WHEN he had an afternoon off filming, he buzzed the skyscraper A19 108 hotel where the rest of the Only Fools cast were A19 109 filming.

A19 110 Recalled David: "The plonker decided to come round and A19 111 waggle his wings, and forced us to interrupt filming.

A19 112 "When I heard the plane, I said: "If that's Nick, I'll break A19 113 his legs." Later I discovered to my horror that it was!"

A19 114 They also both admit they have no intention of quitting the A19 115 show.

A19 116 Producer Gareth Gwenlan added: "No one is going to say A19 117 there will never be another one."

A19 118 A19 119 Who dunnit?

A19 120 NOT ME SAYS MAJOR, I WAS IN BED WITH A JEFFREY ARCHER

A19 121 By HILARY KINGSLEY

A19 122 TOP Tories are busy doing the dirty on their leader Margaret A19 123 Thatcher.

A19 124 The Prime Minister is about to become Yesterday's Woman. A19 125 History is being written.

A19 126 And where's John Major while all this is happening? Gosh, there A19 127 he is in bed in his true-blue Marks and Sparks pyjamas, with a A19 128 specially-supplied early copy of the next Jeffrey Archer Thriller. A19 129 He has toothache. Ahh!

A19 130 Could anyone doubt his complete innocence in this political A19 131 plot?

A19 132 "Hmm," says diplomatic Keith Drinkel, the actor who A19 133 plays him with a special grey hairpiece and specs in Thatcher, A19 134 The Final Days on Wednesday.

A19 135 "John Major was away from the centre of the action - A19 136 having his wisdom teeth out. He waited for the right moment and you A19 137 have to ask yourself "Why?"."

A19 138 KEITH added: "He did not attend the resignation Cabinet A19 139 meeting. In fact Mr Major was conspicuous by his absence.

A19 140 "I don't think he was overwhelmed at the way things turned out. A19 141 But that's just my opinion."

A19 142 Granada TV's dramatised documentary carefully avoids opinions A19 143 and guesses.

A19 144 It's painstakingly based on research, every coming and going, A19 145 phonecall, nod and wink authenticated. Nothing has been included A19 146 that couldn't be checked.

A19 147 Details such as the bracelet Mrs T. wore in that fatal Cabinet A19 148 meeting, to the title of the book John Major read in bed - As A19 149 the Crow Flies - are accurate.

A19 150 "But we didn't, of course, know what he might have said A19 151 to his wife Norma, so we left it out," said Keith.

A19 152 "And we didn't know whether he had teeth out on both A19 153 sides of his mouth so we went for the most obvious side, the left, A19 154 and I had my mouth padded out."

A19 155 This makes the sudden downfall of the Iron Lady - Sylvia Syms A19 156 in a performance of Thatcherite force - all the more riveting.

A19 157 "We did joke that Sylvia was behaving like Mrs Thatcher A19 158 to the rest of us at some stages," said Keith.

A19 159 "But that's because she's such a brilliant actress and A19 160 she was determined to get it absolutely right."

A19 161 Sylvia, a Labour Party supporter, was particularly proud of A19 162 what she called "the cobra smile" that she A19 163 developed for the part.

A19 164 But her portrayal is far removed from an impersonation. So is A19 165 Keith's.

A19 166 "We weren't trying for Madam Tussaud A19 167 looka-likes, we went for interpretations," said A19 168 Yorkshire-born Keith, 46, best known for his long stint in A19 169 Family At War and his many successes on the stage.

A19 170 SOME actors were too worried to portray living politicians, and A19 171 refused.

A19 172 Bruce Alexander, who plays John Selwyn Gummer, got teased. But A19 173 Keith had no qualms.

A19 174 "I watched news <}_><-|>film<+|>films<}/> of Major and A19 175 listened to his voice for hours but I didn't try to copy his A19 176 strangulated speech. I think that happens only when he's tense.

A19 177 "What's interesting is that he has changed. I suppose all A19 178 politicians learn to play the media game. His voice has gone down A19 179 and his clothes have altered. I believe he now goes to A19 180 Acqua-scutum - as She does."

A19 181 Keith's background is in some ways similar to his character's. A19 182 The Majors were once circus folk, the Drinkels had an Armed Forces A19 183 entertainment show. Keith's dad was a stand-up comic, his mother A19 184 was a tap dancer.

A19 185 Keith said: "I'm going to ask to buy the hairpiece and A19 186 specs. Maybe I can open supermarkets as him and do John Major A19 187 strippograms!"

A19 188 A19 189 London's Burning - OR IS IT?

A19 190 EVEN THE PARROT'S STUFFED

A19 191 By TONY PURNELL

A19 192 THE flames lick the sky as the Blue Watch crew from Blackwall A19 193 Fire Station answer another 999 call.

A19 194 The 14 million viewers who follow London's Burning A19 195 become transfixed as their heroes brave the heat and smoke in A19 196 another dramatic scene. But they could be in for a rude A19 197 awakening.

A19 198 For when Britain's favourite firefighters go to blazes, the A19 199 flames are a sham ... London isn't Burning.

A19 200 The actors are under strict instructions to aim their water A19 201 hoses to miss. When the director shouts "Cut!" the flames A19 202 are turned off at a tap. Just like that.

A19 203 Secrets of the hugely successful show are revealed in a A19 204 behind-the-scenes documentary which pours cold water on the A19 205 daredevil exploits of the stars.

A19 206 It is the special effects team and the stuntmen who emerge as A19 207 the real heroes.

A19 208 Special effects co-ordinator Tom Harris says: "People A19 209 say our fires look more realistic than the real thing but nothing A19 210 burns.

A19 211 "All our fires come from gas jets with totally A19 212 controllable flames which can go up and down and on and off A19 213 whenever we want them too<&|>sic!. When the director calls A19 214 "Cut!" the flames go out.

A19 215 OUR aim is to make everything as safe as possible, then A19 216 make it look as dangerous as possible.

A19 217 "But we don't take any risks. It is real flame and it A19 218 is very hot. We make sure there are escape routes for the stuntmen A19 219 - and we always have extinguishers and wet towels standing by just A19 220 in case anything goes wrong."

A19 221 In the new series of London's Burning, Blue Watch A19 222 tackle their most spectacular blaze - at a timber yard. It was A19 223 filmed at a derelict factory in Cambridgeshire.

A19 224 The blaze, with big explosions controlled by a machine called a A19 225 Woofer, was created with the help of 2,500ft of gas pipes letting A19 226 out 10 tons of liquid petroleum gas.

A19 227 It was tackled with 11 appliances and 7,000ft of hose pumping A19 228 out water at a rate of 2,500 gallons a minute - taken from a nearby A19 229 lake because of a hosepipe ban!

A19 230 But the water has to miss the flames to keep the spectacular A19 231 special effects alive for the cameras.

A19 232 Other pumps belch out smoke to make sure there is smoke without A19 233 fire.

A19 234 The firefighters being blown sky high in our exclusive pictures A19 235 as a tanker explodes were acrobatic stuntmen - who did not even A19 236 singe their eyebrows.

A19 237 The emergency calls, or "shouts" as they are called in A19 238 the fire brigade, often put the stars in uncomfortable A19 239 situations.

A19 240 When Glen Murphy was seen carrying out a rescue in a dirty A19 241 sewer, clean water was pumped in for health reasons.

A19 242 A20 1 <#FLOB:A20\>Major takes tough line on charter

A20 2 by Julia Langdon and David Wastell

A20 3 MR MAJOR has rejected all proposals from his Cabinet colleagues A20 4 for inclusion in the planned Citizens' Charter.Their suggestions A20 5 have so far failed to match his radical ideas for improving public A20 6 services.

A20 7 All Whitehall departments were asked to submit their plans for A20 8 inclusion in a White Paper. But the draft ideas originally A20 9 submitted a fortnight ago have now been returned to the individual A20 10 ministries with orders attached for a more thorough examination of A20 11 the options.

A20 12 One source said the first drafts were "an instant A20 13 mandarin response", which did not meet Mr Major's A20 14 requirements for a completely new approach.

A20 15 Apparently, there are no culprits whose submissions were found A20 16 particularly wanting, but all departments failed to impress.

A20 17 The White Paper is still supposed to be published before the A20 18 end of July, and ministers and civil servants have been asked to A20 19 work flat out to produce alternative proposals.

A20 20 The problem with the original plans was that they did not A20 21 produce any new thinking along the lines suggested by Mr Major. A20 22 None of the material was "instantly usable" in the A20 23 form in which it was put forward.

A20 24 The Prime Minister wants government departments to develop A20 25 procedures which will give people more control over the public A20 26 services with which they come in contact. "He wants them to A20 27 be given some power, some control, some levers - so they are not A20 28 constantly faced with a huge bureaucracy," said one A20 29 government source who knows Mr Major's mind on the subject. A20 30 "He wants mechanisms which make a difference."

A20 31 The work is being co-ordinated by an official working group in A20 32 the Cabinet Office. But the Prime Minister has also asked Mr A20 33 Francis Maude, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, to deal with A20 34 ministers involved in the project. The Treasury is playing a key A20 35 role in the exercise, although it is not intended that there should A20 36 be "new money" assigned to it.

A20 37 This was part of the problem in the response from the A20 38 individual departments.

A20 39 A source said: "There was just a general tendency for A20 40 everyone to say: "Everything is all right and we're doing A20 41 jolly well and there's not much scope for improvement without A20 42 spending more money.""

A20 43 There were also hints that the ministerial reaction had been A20 44 inhibited by the innate distaste of the civil service for dramatic A20 45 changes in practice and procedure.

A20 46 Mr Major has now let ministers know that he wants the issue A20 47 considered more thoroughly, and that there should be "a bit A20 48 more lateral thinking" if the Citizens' Charter is not to A20 49 risk being a political flop.

A20 50 The kind of changes that are being considered are illustrated A20 51 by the nature of the requests that have now been made to the Home A20 52 Office and the Department of Education and Science.

A20 53 Mr Kenneth Baker, Home Secretary, has been asked to review A20 54 departmental thinking on the police inspectorate, which was not A20 55 included in the first submissions made by the Home Office.

A20 56 Whitehall sources said yesterday that Mr Major had intended the A20 57 White Paper to extend to monitoring the performance not just of A20 58 public services themselves, but of the quangos and other bodies set A20 59 up to scrutinise them.

A20 60 Although the police inspectorate is technically independent, it A20 61 is made up largely of senior policemen and other professionals. Mr A20 62 Major does not regard them as being sufficiently detached.

A20 63 A similar criticism was made of the Department of Education and A20 64 Science, which failed to include the schools inspectorate in its A20 65 submissions. Mr Kenneth Clarke, Education Secretary, who is already A20 66 drawing up plans for a review of the inspectorate, has been asked A20 67 to include these within his department's proposals for the A20 68 Citizens' Charter as well.

A20 69 Although there are plans to include any necessary legislation A20 70 in the next Queen's Speech, it is not envisaged that there will be A20 71 huge legislative changes. Most of what is planned could be achieved A20 72 within existing powers, through the application of general A20 73 principles across all Whitehall departments.

A20 74 A20 75 Wavering Bush wooed by Yeltsin

A20 76 by Xan Smiley in Washington

A20 77 PRESIDENT Bush is likely to hold an "unofficial A20 78 summit" with Mr Boris Yeltsin, the Russian Federation A20 79 leader, in Washington next month before seeing President Gorbachev A20 80 in London or Moscow according to sources close to the White A20 81 House.

A20 82 Mr Gorbachev, increasingly desperate for foreign aid and A20 83 approval, has been seeking observer status at the July meeting in A20 84 London of the seven leading industrialised countries, the G-7 A20 85 group, as well as a proper summit with Mr Bush in Moscow to sign a A20 86 long-range missile treaty, but neither meeting has been agreed by A20 87 the White House.

A20 88 Western doubts over the wisdom of signing "blank A20 89 cheques" for aid to the Soviet Union and anger about Soviet A20 90 cheating over last year's conventional arms accord continue to A20 91 stymie the super-power meetings, which Mr Gorbachev needs A20 92 more than Mr Bush.

A20 93 But a flurry of diplomatic and economic exchanges between A20 94 Soviet and American politicians, generals and academics over the A20 95 past week, together with signs that Mr Gorbachev has moved back A20 96 towards the reformist centre, are sharply re-focusing American A20 97 attention towards Moscow and provoking a heated debate over future A20 98 policy.

A20 99 The most important emerging feature of the American-Soviet A20 100 relationship is a tight conditionality - unthinkable a year ago - A20 101 that would accompany any aid package, with the supply of food, A20 102 money and technical help likely to be dependent on political A20 103 reforms, including fresh elections, that might well lead to the A20 104 final demise of the Soviet Communist party and of Mr Gorbachev A20 105 himself.

A20 106 Mr Bush instinctively still wants to "help A20 107 Gorby", while Mr James Baker, Secretary of State, and Mr A20 108 Brent Scowcroft, National Security Adviser, remain wary of Mr A20 109 Yeltsin.

A20 110 But Mr Dick Cheney, Defence Secretary, and Mr Robert Gates, the A20 111 incoming CIA director, bolstered by a lobby of academic advisers, A20 112 argue that economic reform is feasible only when the Communist A20 113 party establishment has been swept away.

A20 114 "The impulse to stick with Gorby is very A20 115 strong," said a senior State Department source recently.

A20 116 But a White House adviser told the The Sunday A20 117 Telegraph: "There's a different Yeltsin these days ... A20 118 He's been transformed by the chairmanship of the Russian Federation A20 119 ... and has turned out to be a very skilful politician." By A20 120 June, American analysts believe, he should be the first A20 121 freely-elected leader of Russia.

A20 122 A half-way view, which may carry the day, places greater faith A20 123 in the current fragile Gorbachev-Yeltsin alliance hanging together, A20 124 and argues for aid to be granted incrementally to the republics, A20 125 the non-Communist city councils and enterprises, and to some A20 126 departments still under Moscow's control, in agreement with Mr A20 127 Gorbachev and the nine Soviet Republican leaders, once they have A20 128 worked out a modus vivendi between themselves.

A20 129 Though the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and some A20 130 G-7 members are ready to step forward with loans for a A20 131 stabilisation plan, the money is likely to fall far short of the A20 132 $30 billion (pounds17 billion) spread over three years, A20 133 recently suggested by the influential Harvard professor, Dr Jeffrey A20 134 Sachs, let alone the $150 billion (pounds86 billion) over A20 135 five years some Russians are demanding.

A20 136 "The amounts are totally unrealistic," said a A20 137 State Department official, adding: "Mr Bush's inclination A20 138 is to be helpful, even if it means suspending his usual A20 139 prudence."

A20 140 But sources in Congress are more sceptical. The main problem A20 141 for policy-planners, said a House Foreign Affairs Committee expert, A20 142 is that "nobody has much of a clue what's really happening A20 143 in the Soviet Union right now". An academic said: A20 144 "The whole thing is in the melting pot again."

A20 145 Officially, Mr Yeltsin will probably be a guest of the Senate, A20 146 whose two party leaders have invited him to Washington.

A20 147 But whereas last year Mr Bush merely "dropped A20 148 in" on Mr Yeltsin during a short meeting with Mr Scowcroft A20 149 at the White House, this time, in his probably new position as A20 150 President of the Russian Federation, he is expected to have A20 151 full-blown meetings with the American President and Secretary of A20 152 State.

A20 153 A20 154 Ragamuffin rebels await their victory

A20 155 by Paul Vellely,

A20 156 on the Dekhamhare Front, in rebel-held Eritrea

A20 157 ALL month the tanks had been trundling audaciously along the A20 158 worn-out old road which winds its way north through the Ethiopian A20 159 highlands. There were three or four of them most days, it seemed, A20 160 chewing up the tarmac which was already soft from the midday A20 161 sun.

A20 162 They were battered Soviet T-54s and T-55s, relics of the A20 163 Brezhnev era when armies all over Africa were equipped with heavy A20 164 weaponry to fight out the Cold War by proxy. When the Americans A20 165 dropped their support for Ethiopia, the Russians stepped in and A20 166 armed what became the biggest army in black Africa.

A20 167 But the tanks were no longer driven by soldiers of the A20 168 Ethiopian army. They were part of a substantial arsenal captured by A20 169 the forces of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front which for the A20 170 past 30 years has been fighting for independence for the former A20 171 Italian colony forcibly annexed by Ethiopia in 1962.

A20 172 The ragamuffin appearance of the EPLF troops was deceptive. In A20 173 their teens and early twenties and dressed in a mixture of army A20 174 fatigues and civilian clothing, they looked, sprawled across the A20 175 exterior of the Soviet armour, like a bunch of joyriders. But in A20 176 recent years they have proved a formidable fighting force, driving A20 177 the Ethiopian Second Army before them.

A20 178 On Friday, after a long siege, the provincial capital, Asmara A20 179 fell to rebel troops. Even before the founder of Ethiopian A20 180 socialism, Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam, fled last week to a large A20 181 private ranch in Zimbabwe as his troops were pushed into defensive A20 182 positions around the capital, Addis Ababa, the young fighters of A20 183 the EPLF felt relaxed and confident. The tanks moved openly in A20 184 broad daylight where until a few months ago they would have A20 185 travelled only by night for fear of Ethiopian MiGs.

A20 186 They were open too about their preparations at the front line A20 187 around Dekhamhare, the last obstacle before Asmara and its airport A20 188 came within range of their artillery. New tank tracks were being A20 189 built up to the front line with its networks of trenches hundreds A20 190 of miles long.

A20 191 Under cover of darkness, a convoy of lorries carrying more than A20 192 3,000 fighters, men and women, moved laboriously up an improvised A20 193 road along a rocky gulley from Eritrea's second port, Massawa, A20 194 captured last year. A thousand more moved on foot.

A20 195 The assault came last Sunday. After two days of fierce fighting A20 196 six government divisions of around 50,000 troops were scattered. A20 197 The EPLF swept down on Dekhamhare and pushed forward to take the A20 198 ridge on the other side of the town. <}_><-|>The<+|>Then<}/> it was A20 199 all downhill to Asmara.

A20 200 For the Ethiopian regime in Addis, bringing in reinforcements A20 201 was out of the question. Its three other armies were all pinned A20 202 down elsewhere. The EPLF had moved to within 30 miles of Assab, A20 203 keeping the government troops there fully occupied.

A20 204 At the same time, rebels of the Ethiopian Peoples' A20 205 Revolutionary Democratic Front, made up of liberation movements A20 206 from the Tigray, Afar and Oromo ethnic groups, intensified their A20 207 push towards Addis Ababa. Progress was swift, chief of staff of the A20 208 Eritrean army, Sebhat Ephrem, said, because the government army was A20 209 made up of conscripts. "Their most professional troops are A20 210 pinned-down in Asmara. Addis Ababa is defended only by conscripts. A20 211 Those we have captured are just raw recruits with only one month's A20 212 training.

A20 213 To the south, the Third Army defending the capital on its A20 214 northern flank was encircled by troops of the Democratic Front at A20 215 the towns of Dese and Kombolcha, key distribution centres for the A20 216 international food aid operation to feed seven million Ethiopians A20 217 said to be at risk of starvation. By Wednesday the news from the A20 218 south was that the government's three divisions had been dispersed A20 219 and 5,000 men captured or killed.

A20 220 To the west, the rebels took the town of Ambo and then, in an A20 221 outflanking movement earlier this week, cut off the Ethiopians at A20 222 Addis Alem, 35 miles from the capital capturing a large amount of A20 223 heavy armour, killing 5,000 troops and taking 1,700 prisoners.

A20 224 By Friday, many Ethiopian units and hundreds of individual A20 225 soldiers had fallen back to Addis Ababa, where residents reported A20 226 an air of quiet apprehension with many troops milling around A20 227 without apparent purpose.

A20 228 A21 1 <#FLOB:A21\>Want your secret prison plans back, Ken?

A21 2 Escape route file dumped

A21 3 EXCLUSIVE by CHRIS BLYTHE

A21 4 TOP secret plans for Britain's most secure prison - built to A21 5 defy IRA escape bids - have been found in a pub garden.

A21 6 Now the News of the World has returned them to Home Secretary A21 7 Kenneth Baker.

A21 8 Colditz-style Belmarsh prison at Woolwich, South London, opened A21 9 ten days ago.

A21 10 It will house the country's most dangerous Category A prisoners A21 11 including IRA terrorists, sex offenders, murderers and armed A21 12 robbers.

A21 13 Worried Home Office chiefs vowed to move them there after the A21 14 escape of IRA terrorists Nessan Quinlivan and Pearse McAuley from A21 15 Brixton on July 7.

A21 16 TUNNEL A21 17 The dumped plans include details of a hush-hush underground A21 18 tunnel which is the key to security at the showpiece pounds109 A21 19 million jail.

A21 20 Brewery worker Fred Day found the documents on a bench in the A21 21 garden of the Cutty Sark pub overlooking the River Thames in A21 22 London's Greenwich.

A21 23 "These plans could provide the blueprint for an A21 24 escape for any terrorist or sex fiend who got their hands on A21 25 them," he declared.

A21 26 "If this is what the Home Office call top security then A21 27 Gold help us."

A21 28 The 45-year-old former publican said: "The papers were A21 29 just lying there in a blue folder - the sort of thing a schoolkid A21 30 might use.

A21 31 "I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened it up and saw top A21 32 secret plans for a so-called maximum security prison.

A21 33 "I'd heard all the fuss about how Belmarsh was impossible to A21 34 escape from and all the amazing security measures the Home Office A21 35 had taken.

A21 36 "This makes a mockery of the whole thing."

A21 37 He added: "I dread to think who left the papers on the A21 38 bench.

A21 39 "For all I know it could be someone planning an escape A21 40 already.

A21 41 "I immediately decided to hand them in to the News of the A21 42 World, as it's the paper that always gets action."

A21 43 Yesterday, a News of the World reporter arranged to deliver the A21 44 documents to Home Office HQ in Westminster.

A21 45 Two security officials took them away for examination. The A21 46 dumped folder contains a detailed map setting out the location of A21 47 security grilles and gates.

A21 48 It also shows the route of the underground tunnel through which A21 49 remand prisoners will be taken for appearances at a court within A21 50 the jail.

A21 51 Belmarsh is designed to house 841 inmates, of which 48 will be A21 52 high risk Category A prisoners.

A21 53 They will be locked in a special prison within a prison in the A21 54 middle of the complex.

A21 55 This is the second security scandal at the jail.

A21 56 Just two days after Belmarsh opened it was revealed there was A21 57 no X-ray screening equipment for visitors which could prevent A21 58 another IRA-style breakout.

A21 59 Home Office spokesman Mr Robert Thomas said: "I can't A21 60 say where these documents come from or who left them. We'll look A21 61 into it."

A21 62 In a prepared statement he said: "The security of a A21 63 prison is not dependent on its layout but on its physical A21 64 security.

A21 65 LAYOUT A21 66 "Prisoners and visitors soon become familiar with the A21 67 layout of a prison but they don't know what security systems A21 68 exist.

A21 69 "The Property Services Authority act as project manager for all A21 70 Home Office prison building projects until the building is A21 71 completed and formally handed over - in the case of Belmarsh at the A21 72 beginning of this year.

A21 73 "Prison plans are issued on a need to know basis. Each A21 74 contractor only receives plans that relate to his area of work.

A21 75 "As you would expect, plans relating to security aspects A21 76 of the designs are very strictly controlled."

A21 77 A21 78 Pounds18 - Labour's Tax Blow to Nurses

A21 79 exclusive by Norman Lamont

A21 80 Bigger Bills for all

A21 81 IT'S time Neil Kinnock came clean. He declares on TV that A21 82 "people pay enough in taxes" yet he is also A21 83 publicly committed to RAISING them!

A21 84 Every Labour government since Attlee has put up taxes. If Mr A21 85 Kinnock came to power he would have to do the same - and EVERYBODY A21 86 would have to pay, not just the better off.

A21 87 Labour has broken its promise to put a price tag on its A21 88 spending pledges.

A21 89 But I've done my homework and they add up to at least pounds35 A21 90 billion.

A21 91 To pay for all this Labour must, sooner or later, put up taxes A21 92 by pounds35 billion a year. They pretend this would only hurt the A21 93 well-off. But the sums don't add up.

A21 94 RELISH A21 95 To raise the money they need, Labour's John Smith will hit the A21 96 ordinary taxpayer - even a nurse will have to find an extra A21 97 pounds18 a week.

A21 98 The truth is, Labour like taxes. They put them up not with A21 99 regret but with relish. They want to use the tax system to penalise A21 100 the hard-working and successful.

A21 101 There are EIGHT proposals for tax increases spelled out in A21 102 their policy documents. These include taxes on savings, higher A21 103 National Insurance Contributions if you earn over pounds20,300, A21 104 increased capital gains and inheritance tax.

A21 105 And the top rate of income tax would go up from 40p to 50p.

A21 106 Yes, these would all hit the better-off. But savers, small A21 107 shareholders, and married couples with no children would also A21 108 suffer.

A21 109 LAWS A21 110 How much extra tax would this grim list produce? About pounds10 A21 111 billion a year. That's a lot of money - but from Labour's point of A21 112 view it's not enough.

A21 113 As I say, their spending plans will cost at least pounds35 A21 114 billion a year. So that leaves them with a pounds25 billion gap.

A21 115 And that gap reveals Labour's hidden tax plan - on top of the A21 116 increases they've already told us about they must raise those A21 117 missing billions to finance their extravagant programme.

A21 118 Where will this money come from? From the ordinary taxpayer, of A21 119 course. For, try as they might, Labour can't change the laws of A21 120 arithmetic.

A21 121 There simply aren't enough of the better-paid to provide for A21 122 their spending plans.

A21 123 So to raise that extra pounds25 billion, taxes on A21 124 everybody would have to rise - by the equivalent of 10p in the A21 125 basic rate.

A21 126 Ten pence sounds like a lot. It is a lot. It is more A21 127 than the tax cuts made by the Conservatives since 1979.

A21 128 I've worked out what it would cost ordinary workers - you can A21 129 see from my chart chart it means huge tax bills all A21 130 round.

A21 131 MASSIVE A21 132 Labour must either ACCEPT they will have to put up taxes or A21 133 TELL us which spending plans they will drop.

A21 134 Of course, they'll do no such thing. Labour would put up taxes A21 135 not just by a little; not just for the better off, and not just by A21 136 the eight measures they've admitted.

A21 137 Increases would be massive - and for everybody.

A21 138 If you´re on average earnings it would cost you pounds25 a A21 139 week.

A21 140 A21 141 MAJOR TELLS POLL SECRETS TO QUEEN

A21 142 By IAIN MACASKILL

A21 143 PREMIER John Major told the Queen his secret election plans A21 144 yesterday - and promised another interest rate cut within a A21 145 month.

A21 146 Mr Major, spending the weekend at Balmoral with his family, A21 147 discussed possible poll dates, including November 7.

A21 148 Election fever cooled slightly as a new opinion poll showed the A21 149 Tories just two points ahead of Labour. A survey earlier in the A21 150 week had given them a four-point lead. The new poll for the A21 151 Independent on Sunday gives the Tories 41 per cent and Labour A21 152 39.

A21 153 But that still represents a six-point swing to the Tories A21 154 inside a month. And Mr Major is under increasing pressure to call A21 155 an autumn election as the economy continues to pick up.

A21 156 Inflation is due to drop below 5% for the first time in three A21 157 years on Friday. Retail sales are still rising and prices of raw A21 158 materials dropping.

A21 159 However, neither Tory MPs nor the party's rank and file want a A21 160 November election, two new polls show today.

A21 161 A Sunday Telegraph/-Gallup survey of 101 MPs reveals just 17 in A21 162 favour. And a Sunday Times study of officials in the 72 key Tory A21 163 marginal seats shows only 24 per cent want November.

A21 164 Meanwhile, Labour are anxious for Mr Major to set an election A21 165 date at the Tory conference in Blackpool next month.

A21 166 The delay is putting a serve strain on their finances, a report A21 167 by the party's executive reveals.

A21 168 Extra staff hired when a June election was expected are being A21 169 kept on. Party bosses may have to increase membership from pounds10 A21 170 to pounds15.

A21 171 Deputy leader Roy Hattersley last night challenged ministers to A21 172 pre-election TV debates.

A21 173 He suggested John Major v Neil Kinnock, John Smith v Norman A21 174 Lamont, Gordon Brown v Peter Lilley and himself v Kenneth Baker.

A21 175 Mr Hattersley said: "I've been hanging around too long A21 176 wanting to be Home Secretary and I want it now."

A21 177 Bookies William Hill took pounds30,000-worth of bets last week A21 178 on a November poll and make it even-money favourite.

A21 179 Liberal Democrats met yesterday to plan election strategy at A21 180 their Bournemouth conference.

A21 181 A21 182 You'd rather have a pint with honest John

A21 183 By TIM SPANTON

A21 184 PREMIER John Major gets the nation's vote as Mr Nice Guy. An A21 185 opinion poll conducted specially for the News of the World rates A21 186 the Prime Minister as the most honest MP in Britain. He is also the A21 187 politician you'd most like to have a pint or a meal with.

A21 188 In contrast, Labour leader Neil Kinnock got the thumb down. He A21 189 is the leader you LEAST TRUST to become Premier and the most A21 190 obnoxious.

A21 191 Mr Major, apart from top scores for HONESTY (33 per cent) and A21 192 TRUST (38), also heads the women voters' list as the SEXIEST MP A21 193 (22).

A21 194 He comfortably beat more conventional heart-throbs like Paddy A21 195 Ashdown and David Owen (both 17).

A21 196 Performance A21 197 As a DINNER OR PUB COMPANION, he won a table-topping 20 per A21 198 cent vote, easily beating Mr Kinnock, Mr Ashdown and ex-PM Maggie A21 199 Thatcher.

A21 200 Perhaps you reckon his expense account would be A21 201 bigger!

A21 202 Only one statistic spoiled the Premier's all-round performance A21 203 - 18 per cent of you reckon he's a bit of a BORE.

A21 204 He even outscored Mrs Thatcher and Ted Heath combined. In the A21 205 SEXIEST WOMAN stakes, Tory Edwina Currie - who makes no secret of A21 206 her preference for wearing stockings - got the men's vote.

A21 207 She scored 29 per cent, with Labour's Harriet Harman second on A21 208 18 and the SDP's Rosie Barnes third on 14.

A21 209 We also asked who you would take with you to a DESERT A21 210 ISLAND.

A21 211 Mr Major (19 per cent) and Edwina (17) were tops with women and A21 212 men.

A21 213 The men's list has two surprises - Mr Ashdown (9) and Mr Major A21 214 (8).

A21 215 Leaving out the possibility of a big gay vote, it seems A21 216 some marooned men rate practical help higher than creature A21 217 comforts.

A21 218 Mr Kinnock's troubles go on and on. As well as top scores for A21 219 untrustworthiness (44 per cent) and being obnoxious (19), he is A21 220 also No.1 WAFFLER.

A21 221 But it isn't all bad news - Neil is also the WITTIEST MP. He A21 222 scored 19 per cent, beating Left-winger Dennis Skinner (12).

A21 223 Maggie Thatcher isn't far behind in unpopularity.

A21 224 She is the second-least trusted (15 per cent) and second most A21 225 obnoxious (17). Her 6 per cent honesty rating is behind Kinnock's 9 A21 226 per cent.

A21 227 The big consolation for Mr Kinnock is that 78 per cent of A21 228 people say they voted mainly for a party, not a leader.

A21 229 But if he went, deputy leader Roy Hattersley would not be a A21 230 popular choice to TAKE OVER.

A21 231 He polled only 14 per cent, against Shadow Chancellor John A21 232 Smith's 29 per cent.

A21 233 Michael 'Tarzan' Heseltine (29) is top choice to succeed Mr A21 234 Major, followed by Douglas Hurd (17). Favoured substitute for the A21 235 Libs' Paddy Ashdown is David Steel (27), followed by David Owen A21 236 (23), who isn't even in the party!

A21 237 A WHO´S WHO of the Cabinet and their Labour shadows shows A21 238 people's knowledge of politicians is shadowy indeed.

A21 239 Apart from party leaders, only Chancellor Norman Lamont A21 240 (53 per cent) was known to more than half those polled.

A21 241 Favourite A21 242 And 56 per cent want the VOTING SYSTEM changed to A21 243 proportional representation, favoured by the Liberals.

A21 244 Labour is rated best able to deal with the health service, A21 245 housing, public transport, unemployment and education.

A21 246 The Tories are rated best on foreign affairs, defence, A21 247 inflation, Europe and the economy.

A21 248 Last night, the Tories were 8-13 favourites with bookies A21 249 William Hill to win the next election. Labour were 6-5.

A21 250 A22 1 <#FLOB:A22\>KING ANDREW THE SAVIOUR

A22 2 From Steve Edwards in Suva, Fiji

A22 3 ROB ANDREW hauled England's Grand Slam heroes back from the A22 4 brink of a disastrous Test defeat against Fiji in Suva A22 5 yesterday.

A22 6 Man-of-the-match Andrew kicked two drop goals, scored his first A22 7 England try and made another for Rory Underwood.

A22 8 The result rescued a tour that was floundering after just one A22 9 win in four attempts.

A22 10 Now England have the confidence to face the daunting challenge A22 11 of Australia in Sydney next Saturday.

A22 12 Andrew's first touchdown, in his 34th game for England, was a A22 13 great moment for him.

A22 14 True, it was a 'dog's dinner' of a try with Andrew falling on A22 15 the ball after two players from each side had missed an A22 16 up-and-under on the Fiji line. But that didn't matter to Andrew.

A22 17 "Yes, it was special for me, although I haven't been A22 18 too worried about scoring as long as the team's been A22 19 winning," he said.

A22 20 "I think that was our best win because Fiji have A22 21 improved tremendously since we last faced them and they gave us all A22 22 kinds of problems."

A22 23 Fiji had England on the rack for the first 20 minutes of the A22 24 second half. The scores were tied 12-12 and Fiji fired four drop A22 25 goal attempts wide.

A22 26 It took a brilliant solo break by Andrew to create a try for A22 27 old schoolmate Underwood on the right wing to end the siege. A22 28 Underwood extended his try record to 28 on the day he became A22 29 England's most capped player of all time with 44 appearances.

A22 30 All the doubts raised by a poor run-up to the Test were erased A22 31 by a team that finished with just nine of the Grand Slam side.

A22 32 Injuries and loss of form forced the selectors to break up the A22 33 European champions, and their decisions were proved right.

A22 34 Full back Jon Webb kicked ten points in his first Test for two A22 35 years.

A22 36 Martin Bayfield made an outstanding debut at lock alongside A22 37 Nigel Redman, who only came into the game yesterday morning when A22 38 Paul Ackford pulled out with an ankle injury.

A22 39 Captain Will Carling had no doubts that the 20 minutes after A22 40 half-time was the toughest period of the tour so far.

A22 41 "If we had gone behind, it would have been the end of A22 42 the game," said Carling.

A22 43 England's other try scorer was prop Jeff Probyn, and that was A22 44 set up by new-boy Bayfield.

A22 45 <*_>black-circle<*/>Jon Hall, the Bath flanker, flies home to A22 46 England tomorrow for an exploratory operation on his right knee.

A22 47 A22 48 England's struggling star will know his fate at A22 49 lunchtime

A22 50 DON'T ROAST LAMB!

A22 51 That will only help Windies win the war

A22 52 Says Robin Smith

A22 53 By Steve Whiting

A22 54 ENGLAND batting star Robin Smith last night pleaded with Ted A22 55 Dexter and the Test selectors ... don't axe Allan Lamb.

A22 56 The nuggety little Northants captain is having one of his worst A22 57 patches in Test cricket with only 54 runs from five innings against A22 58 the West Indies.

A22 59 People are already forgetting the two fighting hundreds he made A22 60 in the Caribbean two winters ago and want him left out of next A22 61 Thursday's fourth Cornhill Test at Edgbaston.

A22 62 But not Smith, whose early batting exploits in South Africa A22 63 were often inspired by Lamb's example, and who still feels a buzz A22 64 when he is at the other end. A22 65 "Lambie was looking good when he made 29 in the second A22 66 dig at Trent Bridge," he says.

A22 67 "The West Indies would love to see us leave him A22 68 out. They admire him tremendously and I know he gets on A22 69 exceptionally well with all of them.

A22 70 "They respect him for what he has done against them. He has A22 71 played very well against them in difficult conditions and they know A22 72 that.

A22 73 He plays county cricket with Curtly Ambrose and that will A22 74 give him a bit of extra edge, even though Ambie has got him out a A22 75 couple of times in this series.

A22 76 "Ambie might run in to him in a Test match and bowl him A22 77 a brilliant ball that flies off the outside edge down to third A22 78 man.

A22 79 "Allan will run past Ambie and say 'Why can't you bowl like A22 80 that for Northants?'

A22 81 "There'll be a little bit of fun between them, but Ambie will A22 82 be charged up by Allan saying that, and Allan will be charged up by A22 83 not wanting to get out to him.

A22 84 "He knows that next year he'll be taking a lot of stick in A22 85 the Northants dressing room if Ambrose knocks him over too A22 86 often."

A22 87 This week it was Smith, averaging 93.66 from 281 runs in the A22 88 series so far, who gave England their biggest scare.

A22 89 He dropped out of Hampshire's game against Worcestershire at A22 90 Portsmouth with a pain in the finger struck by an Ambrose beamer at A22 91 Southampton three weeks ago.

A22 92 There was an even bigger scare when he went on to field on A22 93 Wednesday as sub for his brother Chris, whose wife Julie was in A22 94 hospital for the birth of their first child.

A22 95 But Robin knew all was well when he pulled down a scorching A22 96 catch at midwicket to remove Phil Newport.

A22 97 Straightaway he knew he was fit to play in the current game A22 98 against Warwickshire and the fourth Test.

A22 99 "There was no way I was going to miss the A22 100 Test," he said.

A22 101 "I did all the right things - I had my finger X-rayed A22 102 and I knew it wasn't broken, so I'm not taking a risk."

A22 103 England's other injury worry is opener Mike Atherton, who A22 104 proved his fitness in Lancashire's Championship clash against A22 105 Middlesex yesterday.

A22 106 That honour could be lined up for Glamorgan lefthander A22 107 Hugh Morris, but his pair against the West Indians at Swansea last A22 108 week could hardly have come at a worse time.

A22 109 A sparkling 84 at Cheltenham yesterday means he might still be A22 110 in when the team is announced at lunchtime today - if only on the A22 111 basis that lightning can't strike three times in the same place!

A22 112 If he isn't, watch out for Kent's Mark Benson or even, as an A22 113 outside gamble, Surrey's Darren Bicknell ... also lefthanders. A22 114 Graeme Hick must have made his place safe with a brilliant 141 A22 115 against Hampshire this week to follow his 88 in the Benson and A22 116 Hedges Cup Final.

A22 117 But thank goodness England aren't the only team with A22 118 problems.

A22 119 Clayton Lambert's 99 against Glamorgan at Swansea this week A22 120 might clinch him the opener's place held shakily until now by Phil A22 121 Simmons.

A22 122 And there is a strong rumour that the West Indies' 22-year-old A22 123 lefthander Brian Lara only needs runs against Kent this weekend to A22 124 clinch his first Test cap.

A22 125 And fast bowler Malcolm Marshall - who ended Lamb's innings at A22 126 Trent Bridge - is having to rest after falling down the steps at A22 127 the team's hotel.

A22 128 The doubts surrounding both Atherton and the weather might lead A22 129 England to announce 13 players. My squad:

A22 130 Gooch, Morris, Atherton, Hick, Ramprakash, Smith, Lamb, A22 131 Russell, Pringle, DeFreitas, Illingworth, Lawrence, A22 132 Malcolm.

A22 133 A22 134 GRAF UP FOR CUP

A22 135 By Hugh Jamieson

A22 136 WIMBLEDON champion Steffi Graf is back in the mood to spearhead A22 137 Germany's bid for Federation Cup glory in Nottingham this week.

A22 138 Graf, the girl who once ruled the world in awesome fashion, A22 139 signalled her comeback by regaining her Wimbledon crown with a A22 140 gutsy win over Argentinian star Gabriela Sabatini.

A22 141 While Yugoslavia's world number one, Monica Seles, delays a A22 142 decision on playing after controversially withdrawing from A22 143 Wimbledon at the last minute, 22-year-old Graf is radiating smiles A22 144 again.

A22 145 Her career was torn apart last year with her father, A22 146 Peter, involved in a sex scandal - but since he was cleared in a A22 147 paternity case, Steffi has started to move in for the kill.

A22 148 Dad Peter says: "She has now got over injuries A22 149 involving her wrist, arm and shoulder. But, more importantly, she A22 150 is happy again with her life - on and off the court. It's like she A22 151 has been born again and we are now seeing the real A22 152 Steffi."

A22 153 Seles has been playing in an exhibition in New Jersey but her A22 154 aim to play in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics could be threatened if A22 155 she doesn't appear at Nottingham.

A22 156 "Monica seems to be a little bit mixed up but we A22 157 still expect her to honour her commitments and play Federation A22 158 Cup," says International Tennis Federation spokesman Ian A22 159 Barnes.

A22 160 Britain, beaten by the holders USA in last year's A22 161 quarter-finals, take on New Zealand in the opening round with our A22 162 hopes resting on Jo Durie, Monique Javer, Clare Wood and Samantha A22 163 Smith.

A22 164 A record 56 teams are in the Cup and, after a qualifying round, A22 165 the main competition begins tomorrow with 32 teams.

A22 166 A22 167 Mike back on the Test trail

A22 168 MIKE ATHERTON yesterday scored the runs that should keep him in A22 169 the England team for the fourth Test at Edgbaston this week writes A22 170 STEVE WHITING.

A22 171 Middlesex spinners John Emburey and Phil Tufnell, on a slow A22 172 turner at Uxbridge, may not quite match up to the fury of the West A22 173 Indies' mean machine.

A22 174 But Atherton's 91 in almost five hours, coming after a run of A22 175 49 in five Test innings as England's opener, showed he is over the A22 176 stomach injury that kept him out against Notts earlier in the A22 177 week.

A22 178 It was also enough for England manager Micky Stewart to say: A22 179 "Now he is in the frame, like everyone else, including Ian A22 180 Botham."

A22 181 What Atherton didn't need was his sad end, controversially A22 182 given out leg before as he swept Tufnell. It was his highest first A22 183 class score since 62 against Derbyshire in May. Lancashire went on A22 184 to make 329 - a lead of 79.

A22 185 Victim A22 186 Botham did his hopes of an England recall little good, despite A22 187 Stewart's assurances.

A22 188 'Beefy' fell for only five to Derbyshire's Allan Warner as A22 189 WORCESTERSHIRE were dismissed for only 218 and, following on 154 A22 190 behind at Kidderminster, closed at 110-4.

A22 191 Graeme Hick, desperately looking for another big innings boost, A22 192 managed only 24 before falling victim to Derbyshire's teenage pace A22 193 sensation Dominic Cork. Worse was to come for Hick when he was run A22 194 out for three in the second innings.

A22 195 Botham's long-time England colleague David Gower will have to A22 196 wait for a chance to overhaul Geoff Boycott's England run aggregate A22 197 record.

A22 198 Gower didn't last long against WARWICKSHIRE tearaway Allan A22 199 Donald, making only 18 before becoming the South African's 51st A22 200 first class victim of the season. HAMPSHIRE lost Robin Smith for a A22 201 duck as they struggled to 176 all out - a lead of 250.

A22 202 Stuttered A22 203 Darren Bicknell, Surrey's opener who could come into the A22 204 England selector's reckoning, gave them a timely nudge with a fine A22 205 80 against YORKSHIRE at Guildford, passing 1,000 first class runs A22 206 for the season on his home ground. After Surrey declared at 250-2 - A22 207 39 behind - Yorkshire were in trouble at 42-3.

A22 208 WEST INDIES opener Phil Simmons guaranteed keeping his Test A22 209 place after hitting a patient 77 against KENT at Canterbury. His A22 210 place had been in danger following a total of only 86 runs in six A22 211 innings in the series.

A22 212 Brian Lara, who might have grabbed Simmons' Test spot, made A22 213 only 19. But Gus Logie warmed up for Edgbaston with a whirlwind 70 A22 214 off 76 balls as the tourists reached 310-7.

A22 215 A22 216 Platt's that - at pounds5.5m

A22 217 DAVID PLATT finally joined Bari last night in a record-busting A22 218 pounds5.5 million deal.

A22 219 Aston Villa's England star signed for the Italians after eight A22 220 hours of talks.

A22 221 The pounds5.5m deal shatters the British transfer record set A22 222 when England winger Chris Waddle went from Tottenham to Marseille A22 223 for pounds4.25m.

A22 224 Platt, once given a free transfer by Manchester United and A22 225 bought by Villa from Crewe for pounds200,000, has signed a A22 226 three-year contract worth about pounds4million.

A22 227 Move A22 228 Bari beat off a late move by Marseille and Platt said: A22 229 "I'm very excited about going to Italy.

A22 230 "It seems to have taken an age for the transfer to be A22 231 completed, but I'm 100 per cent certain it's the right A22 232 decision."

A22 233 Platt, with seven goals in his 21 England appearances, added: A22 234 "I've spoken to Graham Taylor and he assures me joining A22 235 Bari won't affect my England prospects." Villa chairman A22 236 Doug Ellis said: "Given the size of the transfer, it is A22 237 only right I spell out the size of the fee.

A22 238 "We have added one extra clause - Villa will receive 50 per A22 239 cent of the differential if David is sold on by Bari."

A22 240 A23 1 <#FLOB:A23\>All Amigo needs is right draw

A23 2 by Jonathan Powell

A23 3 LIMITLESS courage gives doughty sprinter Amigo Menor the chance A23 4 of completing a notable handicap double in the William Hill A23 5 Stewards Cup of Goodwood on Tuesday.

A23 6 Amigo Menor was lame before and after winning the Wokingham A23 7 Stakes at Ascot last month. Ice packs and a jacuzzi boot A23 8 helped numb the pain of a mysterious foot problem in the hours A23 9 before the race. Two days later an abscess burst in the foot.

A23 10 The infection lingered for a fortnight but since then his A23 11 recovery has been swift.

A23 12 Good Draw

A23 13 "It was touch and go whether he ran at Ascot until the A23 14 last moment. The horse's attitude was crucial. He is laid back and A23 15 very tough," reports David Murray-Smith, who took over A23 16 Amigo Menor from Kim Brassey last winter.

A23 17 "It was 17 days before he came right but he is best A23 18 when fresh and seems back to his old form again. Given a good draw A23 19 on Tuesday, I am hopeful."

A23 20 The trainer's faith in his new arrival was sorely tested after A23 21 two uncompromising runs early this season. The horse's work at home A23 22 was uninspiring.

A23 23 "I was so disappointed with Amigo Menor I tried A23 24 blinkers on him two day before Lingfield just to make sure and his A23 25 rider could not pull him up," he recalls.

A23 26 Knight of mercy achieved this elusive sprint double a year ago. A23 27 He made a promising comeback behind Amigo Menor at Ascot after a A23 28 knee operation and is much fancied to win the Stewards Cup A23 29 again.

A23 30 Punters have gone for an old fashioned coup on Desert Dirham in A23 31 the Schweppes Golden Mile on Thursday. Three weeks ago he was A23 32 available at 25-1. This weekend you are unlikely to beat 5-1. His A23 33 recent homework at Newmarket suggests he might be a Group horse but A23 34 as ever, with horses, there is a snag.

A23 35 Two facile successes in uncompetitive races leave Desert Dirham A23 36 ill-prepared for battle against seasoned handicappers. Yet ... he A23 37 might have a stone in hand.

A23 38 Even hardy professionals like Superoo can become hopeless A23 39 trapped in a race.

A23 40 It happened to him at Newmarket earlier this month where he was A23 41 one of the unluckiest losers of the season in the Bunbury Cup.

A23 42 Fastest A23 43 "He has to be held up and brought with a late run so A23 44 you need luck in running. We did not get it last time but I don't A23 45 blame his jockey Nicky Adams," reflects his trainer John A23 46 Sutcliffe.

A23 47 Dilum, more relaxed now, is a banker on Wednesday and the A23 48 admirable Jack Berry expects speedy Another Episode to win on A23 49 Friday.

A23 50 "Pat Eddery thought this fellow was the fastest A23 51 two-year-old he had ever sat on when he won at Windsor," A23 52 reveals Berry.

A23 53 A23 54 Pipe is staying one jump ahead

A23 55 by Richard Pitman

A23 56 CHAMPION trainer Martin Pipe has registered another first.

A23 57 He is going to advertise on HTV television and SIS.

A23 58 "There must be thousands of people in Britain who, A23 59 given some encouragement, would love to share in the fun of owning A23 60 winners," explained Pipe. "Other businesses build A23 61 in advertising budgets, why shouldn't racing benefit from it, A23 62 too?"

A23 63 This week Pipe sends a pre-season three-strong raiding party to A23 64 the renowned six-day Galway Festival in the West of Ireland after a A23 65 reconnaissance trip of 12 months ago.

A23 66 A warm-up for our jumping season which starts on Friday? A23 67 "No, mine don't need prep races," he said. A23 68 "I only run horses when they are fit. Racing them to bring A23 69 them on often puts them back instead.

A23 70 "Tri Folene has the best chance of victory on Tuesday. A23 71 Takemethere will run well on Wednesday while Sweet 'N' Twenty will A23 72 shake them all up in the Galway Plate on Thursday."

A23 73 Pipe's all-consuming immersion in his business means he has had A23 74 just three days holidaying in Jersey and a week in Brixham A23 75 interrupted by a bloodstock sale. He says: "Life's one long A23 76 holiday." Typical of the man!

A23 77 A23 78 Miracle Mal the most banned jock of them all

A23 79 EXCLUSIVE by Barry Newcombe

A23 80 THEY call him Miracle Mal. "He is flash," says A23 81 an observer. "Anyone who drives a Pontiac Trans-Am and A23 82 smokes cigars that are too big for him is flash. But he can ride a A23 83 horse as though he belongs."

A23 84 On this particular winter day in Sydney, with the sun masking A23 85 the cold wind coming from the heart of Australia, Miracle Mal is A23 86 off the pace at the Rosehill racecourse.

A23 87 But the curiosity interest remains. Malcolm Johnston is one of A23 88 the great jockeys in Australian racing with 1,800 winners in more A23 89 than 9,000 rides.

A23 90 He is also creeping with some certainty towards a statistic A23 91 that fills him with little pride. He has been suspended from racing A23 92 48 times. The half century looms and he knows there is little he A23 93 can do about it.

A23 94 "It is a record I am not proud of," he says. A23 95 "The suspensions have all been for careless riding and on A23 96 top of those I have had 100 or more reprimands.

A23 97 "The suspensions have been for different periods, usually two A23 98 weeks. I had six weeks once, three weeks recently. It has cost me A23 99 because I am professional rider. But they are minor incidents, a A23 100 miscalculation, an eagerness, every jockey has them.

A23 101 "I maintain I am a great winner. Winning is everything and I A23 102 love the achievement. But I tread a fine line."

A23 103 Incidents A23 104 Crossing that line is expensive. Johnston, 34, was suspended A23 105 for an incident on the Wyong course in 1976 and another jockey A23 106 involved, who fell and broke a thigh, sued for damages.

A23 107 Nearly 15 years on, Johnston was found guilty of negligence. A23 108 When all the legal avenues were exploited and closed off, Johnston A23 109 had to pay out pounds125,000.

A23 110 "I had to sell a house," he says. "That A23 111 amount of money is like five years down the track.

A23 112 "I kept saying it wasn't worrying me but it was eating a big A23 113 hole in my guts. When it was over I was totally relieved it was out A23 114 of my system. I had to start again. I'm a tough character and I A23 115 have shown in the past I can claw my way back."

A23 116 Johnston's experience had a ripple effect through Australian A23 117 professional sport and all jockeys instantly took out public A23 118 liability insurance at an annual premium of pounds2,600.

A23 119 Johnston's friends held money-raising schemes to help him. But A23 120 he knows he has to help himself, out on the track where he has been A23 121 riding since he was 15.

A23 122 Johnston, the eldest child in a family of seven, comes from a A23 123 township called Forbes, 300 miles west of Sydney. His father drove A23 124 22-wheel trucks and a young Malcolm would travel with him, dreaming A23 125 of becoming a Rugby league star. But Johnston's grandfather A23 126 persuaded him to join Theo Green's stable in Sydney when he was A23 127 15.

A23 128 The first time he rode a racehorse he fell off, as all the A23 129 stable lads said he would and broke his left ankle and cut his neck A23 130 which needed 14 stitches. he rode his first winner when he was 16 A23 131 1/2.

A23 132 "Everyone has a gift," he says, "mine A23 133 is to ride. Finding it in me was a fluke. I have been champion A23 134 jockey four times in 16 years, runner up five times. I can't A23 135 complain."

A23 136 The most common photograph in Johnston's trophy room is of a A23 137 horse called Kingston Town. Together they won six Derbies, three A23 138 Oaks, two St Legers, the Sydney Cup and the Adelaide Cup, and ran A23 139 second in the Melbourne Cup.

A23 140 Johnson says: "He was the greatest horse this country A23 141 has ever seen, a superstar who won 31 times, 28 of them with me up. A23 142 The other times he won I was suspended.

A23 143 "He was a good mate, a freak, a horse who knew what it was all A23 144 about. He was the first to win a million dollars and he still won A23 145 even when he broke down in his last race.

A23 146 Superstitions A23 147 "I used to ride him at tracks before race meetings. A23 148 People just wanted to see him. I last saw him two years ago and he A23 149 died a couple of months back."

A23 150 It is time for Johnston to ride on. He is riddled with A23 151 superstitions, from never wearing green to always wearing a A23 152 ten-year-old vest.

A23 153 He has coloured leather on the tops of his boots and carries a A23 154 white whip. The word Miracle is stitched into his riding pants. You A23 155 see it as he walks away from you.

A23 156 "I'm a survivor," he says. "Worse A23 157 things happen than have happened to me. When I was an apprentice A23 158 there was a young kid coming up behind me. I used to bunk with him. A23 159 He won a race on Time to Fly and next up had his first fall. He A23 160 never recovered from it. That makes you think."

A23 161 A23 162 England bushwhacked

A23 163 Lynagh and Campese fire out World Cup warning

A23 164 Barry Newcombe in Sydney

A23 165 Australia 40 England 15

A23 166 DAVID CAMPESE and Michael Lynagh shredded England's Grand slam A23 167 status at the Sydney Football Stadium and wiped out any prospect of A23 168 England winning a Test in Australia for the first time.

A23 169 Campese's two tries and Lynagh's 20 points were stunning A23 170 additions to the world record figures they already hold.

A23 171 The difference was in inspiration. The two master play-makers, A23 172 Campese with his unpredictable menace and astonishing finishing A23 173 power on the wing, and Lynagh at fly-half, lifted this young A23 174 Australian side to new heights.

A23 175 Will Carling and Jeremy Guscott were no less forceful in the A23 176 England midfield but too often operated in isolation and could A23 177 produce only one try.

A23 178 Long before the end, England were trying to play a wide and A23 179 expansive game, which was not how they won the Grand slam this A23 180 year.

A23 181 But it was a response to Australia's sharpness in all things A23 182 and England will have realised from this match that they stand no A23 183 chance in the World Cup unless they broaden their attack and find A23 184 more pace.

A23 185 It was always a risk to come to Australia in the middle of the A23 186 close season and the cost to England is their second heaviest A23 187 defeat - the worst being the 42-15 loss to New Zealand in the A23 188 bloodstained battle of Wellington six years ago.

A23 189 England did not collect any injuries that will affect A23 190 availability for the World Cup. What they did receive was another A23 191 clear show of power in the Southern hemisphere.

A23 192 Most of the 40,000 crowd would have been happy to see Australia A23 193 installed as Cup favorites after leading England from the sixth A23 194 minute and scoring five tries.

A23 195 Three of those tries come from close range scrums. England have A23 196 struggled through their tour of seven matches and four defeats to A23 197 impose themselves in similar situations.

A23 198 Australia showed them how, with fast hands and minds. On top of A23 199 that was the class work of Campese and Lynagh.

A23 200 One of Campese's tries came down the line from a scrum. The A23 201 other had him leaping to take the ball on the bounce after Nick A23 202 Farr-Jones had kicked to the corner with the England defence only a A23 203 fraction adrift. A fraction is all Campese needs.

A23 204 Almost the last move of the match was Lynagh's wicked kick to A23 205 the England posts. Tiring men could not deal with it und Australia A23 206 re-won the ball for their flanker Willie 'Tongan Torpedo' A23 207 Ofahengaue to score his second try.

A23 208 England threatened most in the first half. Carling and Guscott, A23 209 in contrasting ways, broke Australia's defence often enough and A23 210 Chris Oti was also difficult to halt.

A23 211 A big punch-through by Oti set up the opportunity for England's A23 212 lone try. When Oti was checked, England changed direction and A23 213 Carling beat two players in a narrow corridor on the wing before A23 214 putting Guscott through after 14 minutes.

A23 215 Australia were ahead 16-9 at half-time and were much more the A23 216 dominant force after that.

A23 217 Carling fashioned England's best attack of the second half but A23 218 all too often they were playing the game much too far from the A23 219 Australian line and for the first time this year did not protect A23 220 their possession well enough.

A23 221 In six days Australia have scored 103 points against Wales and A23 222 England. And a side with an average age of 24 against 28 by England A23 223 has to be considered World Cup Finalists at this point.

A23 224 A24 1 <#FLOB:A24\>90 INJURED IN TRAIN TUNNEL TERROR CRASH

A24 2 PEOPLE REPORTERS

A24 3 MORE than 90 passengers were injured yesterday in a horrifying A24 4 pile-up between two trains in the middle of the Severn Tunnel.

A24 5 Dazed and terrified travellers had to wait in the darkness for A24 6 two hours before rescuers reached them.

A24 7 Ten people were seriously hurt but no one died in the accident, A24 8 which happened when the 8.30am Paddington to Cardiff InterCity 125 A24 9 was rammed from behind by the 7am Portsmouth to Cardiff A24 10 Sprinter.

A24 11 Emergency crews on both sides of the tunnel put a pre-arranged A24 12 plan into operation and a resuce train with medics, police and A24 13 fire-fighters was sent inside.

A24 14 But it was nearly two hours before the first casualties were A24 15 brought out.

A24 16 Among them was the seriously injured driver of the Sprinter, A24 17 Steve Carpenter, 36, of Fratton, Portsmouth, who was trapped in the A24 18 wreckage of his cab.

A24 19 A young doctor who was a passenger on the Sprinter was hailed A24 20 as the hero of the crash.

A24 21 He gave the driver first aid and checked the condition of the A24 22 other casualties while waiting for rescuers to arrive.

A24 23 He was then able to give ambulancemen his expert A24 24 assessment of the cases needing the most urgent treatment.

A24 25 One rescuer said: "He was brilliant. He told us the A24 26 chap to worry about was the train driver and we spent about 90 A24 27 minutes cutting him free.

A24 28 "The doctor must have been shocked but he put that to one side A24 29 and did a professional job."

A24 30 Panic A24 31 Adam Stirling, 27, from Southville, Bristol, a passenger in the A24 32 Sprinter, said: "There was a sudden loud crash and all the A24 33 lights went out. There was panic for maybe 30 seconds but everyone A24 34 was quite calm after that." A24 35 The four-mile-long Severn Tunnel opened in 1886 and is one of A24 36 the longest operated by BR. High-speed lines were laid in 1970.

A24 37 <*_>bullet<*/>Last night BR revealed a major signal fault had A24 38 existed in the tunnel for several hours before the crash. One of A24 39 the drivers had been warned but it was uncertain whether the other A24 40 had been.

A24 41 A24 42 Britain alone in Europe

A24 43 By NIGEL NELSON

A24 44 BRITAIN will be isolated by 11 votes to 1 over the key issue of A24 45 a single currency at next week's EC summit in Maastricht.

A24 46 Every nation except Britain backs the change, says a briefing A24 47 for Government ministers obtained by The People.

A24 48 But despite this, Financial Secretary Francis Maude warned that A24 49 any agreement must be on our terms.

A24 50 "If we entered a single currency in the wrong A24 51 conditions it would be catastrophic," he said.

A24 52 Meanwhile Tory Chairman Chris Patten claimed Britain had won A24 53 the battle over a 48-hour week. The EC had wanted to restrict the A24 54 number of hours people work.

A24 55 A24 56 IRA MAN DROPS BAG OF GUNS IN THE STREET

A24 57 Christmas terror warning as cop seizes weapons

A24 58 By SHARON COLLINS

A24 59 FEARS of a Christmas terror blitz by the IRA grew last night A24 60 after a bag of guns was found in a London street.

A24 61 Anti-terrorist police launched a massive hunt following the A24 62 discovery of "weapons believed intended for acts of A24 63 terrorism."

A24 64 The find is a new setback for the IRA just two weeks after a A24 65 Provo bomb girl and a male accomplice blew themselves to bits at St A24 66 Albans, Herts.

A24 67 Their bomb went off as they tried to plant it during a concert A24 68 by the band of the Blues and Royals.

A24 69 An off-duty policeman foiled the latest planned attack A24 70 when he challenged a man acting suspiciously in Wanstead, East A24 71 London.

A24 72 Police are understood to be working on the theory that the man, A24 73 possibly a member of an IRA 'active service' unit, was about to act A24 74 as a bodyguard in a terrorist operation.

A24 75 Another possibility is that he was moving from one safe house A24 76 to another.

A24 77 A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Our officer displayed A24 78 extreme bravery and initiative.

A24 79 Dropped A24 80 "The man dropped the bag and ran off. Inside the bag, A24 81 the officer discovered a number of weapons.

A24 82 "Extensive inquiries are now being conducted throughout A24 83 London."

A24 84 One report said Semtex explosive and bomb-making gear was also A24 85 found nearby.

A24 86 The Wanstead drama and the St Albans 'own goal' follow a series A24 87 of recent setbacks suffered by terrorists on the British A24 88 mainland.

A24 89 In October, two IRA suspects, one apparently armed, fled after A24 90 being shot at by sentries at St Omer Barracks in Aldershot, A24 91 Hants.

A24 92 Last June, a bomb containing more than 20lbs of Semtex and A24 93 timed to go off while the Blues and Royals were playing, was A24 94 defused outside a theatre in Hayes, West London.

A24 95 Three incendiary devices, similar to those used by the IRA, A24 96 were found under the seat of a Tube train in August.

A24 97 And 20 firebombs were found smouldering in a hold-all at A24 98 Preston railway station, Lancs, in April.

A24 99 A24 100 Sacked Sir tied up girl

A24 101 By PAUL DAVIDSON

A24 102 A TEACHER was sacked this week after tying a teenage girl to a A24 103 rugby post for a photo session and showing 13-year-olds an X-rated A24 104 movie.

A24 105 David Mundy bound the girl on the school field, then let pupils A24 106 take pictures of her.

A24 107 Later he let them watch Aliens which features graphic violence A24 108 and foul language.

A24 109 Education chiefs gave Mr Mundy, 40, the boot at a disciplinary A24 110 hearing.

A24 111 But nearly 200 parents are backing popular Mr Mundy's appeal A24 112 and want him back.

A24 113 He taught English, geography and history at the 400-pupil A24 114 Cliffe Woods Middle School, Rochester, Kent, for 17 years and was A24 115 head of fourth year.

A24 116 He organised the photo session to provide a front cover for a A24 117 school magazine showing the pain education sometimes causes A24 118 children.

A24 119 Sue Prescott, one of the parents backing him, said: "He A24 120 is an unusual teacher, but he works kids hard. They also have lots A24 121 of fun with him. He is the most popular teacher in the A24 122 school."

A24 123 A24 124 BAKER'S BEDSIDE VISIT TO HERO COPS

A24 125 Hospital tribute to murdered sergeant and stab attack Pcs

A24 126 By LOUISA HATFIELD

A24 127 HOME SECRETARY Kenneth Baker paid tribute yesterday to the A24 128 courage of murdered police sergeant Alan King and two wounded A24 129 Pcs.

A24 130 After hospital bedside visits to stab victims John Jenkinson, A24 131 25, and Harold Castrey, 26, he said:

A24 132 "These men were very courageous - as was Sgt King, who A24 133 was stabbed and killed in the course of duty." He added: A24 134 "The police are the thin blue line in our country which A24 135 stands between order and chaos."

A24 136 Meanwhile, a junior doctor was praised for saving Pc A24 137 Jenkinson's life by keeping his finger in a three-inch deep neck A24 138 wound for three hours.

A24 139 His swift action also saved Pc Castrey, said consultant A24 140 surgeon Stephen Ebbs at Mayday Hospital, Croydon.

A24 141 The two officers, "serious but stable" after A24 142 having their wounds heavily stitched, were stabbed while tackling A24 143 car thieves at Thornton Heath, South London, on Friday.

A24 144 Sgt King, 41, died 14 hours earlier, after being stabbed twice A24 145 in Walthamstow, East London.

A24 146 His grief-stricken widow Monica, 45, whom he married just 19 A24 147 months ago described him as a "people's policeman." A24 148 Mother-of-four Mrs King added: "He was a good copper, a A24 149 professional in everything he did. He loved being on the streets A24 150 with the community and not stuck behind a desk.

A24 151 He died doing a job he loved. He had a passion for life A24 152 and once said: 'You just don't know what's round the A24 153 corner.'"

A24 154 Two men are being questioned about the killing.

A24 155 A24 156 Militant MP gets boot by Labour

A24 157 LEFT-WING MP Dave Nellist was last night kicked out of the A24 158 Labour Party for being a member of the outlawed Militant A24 159 Tendency.

A24 160 A party spokesman said Mr Nellist had broken Labour's rules and A24 161 was "therefore ineligible for membership of the party and A24 162 has been expelled."

A24 163 Banner-waving supporters had greeted the 39-year-old Coventry A24 164 South-East MP as he arrived for a disciplinary hearing at Labour's A24 165 West Midlands HQ in West Bromwich.

A24 166 He faced evidence from a <}_><-|>100-age<+|>100-page<}/> A24 167 dossier alleging he was a member of Militant, which he A24 168 denied.

A24 169 Liverpool Broadgreen MP Terry Fields has also been thrown out A24 170 by Labour for being a member of Militant, and is standing against A24 171 the official Labour candidate at the next election.

A24 172 Earlier Mr Nellist refused to say whether he will be following A24 173 Mr Field's example.

A24 174 "I'm not holding a gun to the head of the Labour A24 175 Party," he added. "I am not trying to blackmail A24 176 anybody."

A24 177 A24 178 BIG CHILL CAUSES MAYHEM IN BRR-ITAIN

A24 179 PEOPLE REPORTERS

A24 180 AS the Arctic weather tightened its grip on Britain last night, A24 181 a rash of accidents turned roads into death traps.

A24 182 The Midlands and the South were hit by black ice and freezing A24 183 fog. Police advised drivers to stay home. And huge delays built up A24 184 at airports.

A24 185 Near WINCHESTER, Hants, five people were seriously injured in A24 186 two crashes within minutes of each other on the A272 at Cheesefoot A24 187 Head. The victims included a three-year-old boy. Six people were A24 188 hurt in a ten vehicle pile-up in thick fog on the M1 near A24 189 HARPENDEN, Hertfordshire. The southbound carriageway was closed for A24 190 an hour.

A24 191 A spate of accidents closed the A42 in Leicestershire, the A12 A24 192 in Essex, the Dartford Bridge and the M4.

A24 193 A driver left a trail of 17 crashes when he drove the wrong way A24 194 down the A52 dual carriageway between NOTTINGHAM and DERBY.

A24 195 A police spokesman said: "It's madness out there and A24 196 people are still driving too fast."

A24 197 The chill was blamed for a dangerous rise in air pollution in A24 198 London.

A24 199 An elderly man was killed when he slipped on ice outside his A24 200 home at READING, Berks.

A24 201 An air-sea rescue helicopter was scouring a river at ROCHESTER, A24 202 Kent, last night, for a man reported missing in a small dinghy.

A24 203 In KING'S LYNN; Norfolk, two pensioners died of hypothermia.

A24 204 <*_>bullet<*/>THIRTEEN matches in the Football League, A24 205 including three from the First Division, were cancelled. Rugby A24 206 union and racing were also hit.

A24 207 A24 208 BOMB No 4 HITS CENTRE

A24 209 By LOUISA HATFIELD.

A24 210 LONDON'S Brent Cross Shopping Centre was evacuated last night A24 211 after yet another firebomb was found. No one was hurt after the A24 212 device - found in W.H. Smith's - was safely defused.

A24 213 Two bombs had gone off earlier at C&A and Fenwick's in the A24 214 North London precinct as suspected IRA terrorists stepped up a A24 215 Christmas terror blitz.

A24 216 A third was found at the centre's John Lewis store but just A24 217 'fizzled out.'

A24 218 Detectives believe the bombers sneaked the devices in during A24 219 late-night shopping on Friday. Again no one was injured.

A24 220 On one of the busiest days of the year, however, an estimated A24 221 pounds5 million was lost as shoppers were locked out.

A24 222 "Everyone has lost a fortune," said one A24 223 boss.

A24 224 The attacks bore IRA hallmarks - the bombs were similar to A24 225 those used in recent strikes in Blackpool, Manchester and A24 226 London.

A24 227 This time, water sprinklers caused more damage than the A24 228 bombs.

A24 229 The earlier incendiaries, disguised as a cigarette box, a cigar A24 230 box and a cassette case, were hidden in jumpers.

A24 231 Staff joined a search for other devices and the 82-shop centre A24 232 finally reopened at 1.30pm.

A24 233 The new bomb wasn't discovered until six hours later.

A24 234 Last night, Commander George Churchill-Coleman, head of A24 235 Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist squad, warned the public that they A24 236 should be on their guard against bombers at all times.

A24 237 A24 238 EURO DEAL - ON AIDS

A24 239 By NIGEL NELSON

A24 240 JOHN Major and other EC leaders will unite tomorrow in a bid to A24 241 find a cure for AIDS.

A24 242 They will pledge member nations to pooling information and A24 243 research on the killer disease.

A24 244 But it's one of the few things they WILL agree on at the A24 245 historic Maastricht summit.

A24 246 Mr Major will insist on Britain's right to opt out of a single A24 247 currency. France and Germany are determined to have Euro-money by A24 248 1999.

A24 249 Germany, Belgium, Holland and Italy want a federal Europe and A24 250 more powers for the European Parliament. Britain doesn't.

A24 251 Ireland and Denmark want referenda on the single currency. Mr A24 252 Major is resisting Mrs Thatcher's demands for a referendum here.

A24 253 Mr Major was far from confident an agreement would be struck. A24 254 "It's poised in the balance," he said last A24 255 night.

A24 256 But if he does come back with a deal that's good for Britain, A24 257 Labour leader Neil Kinnock and his troops will vote FOR the A24 258 Government in the Commons.

A24 259 Labour foreign spokesman George Robertson said: "We are A24 260 seen as good Europeans."

A24 261 A25 1 <#FLOB:A25\>AITC faces split threat

A25 2 by Jeff Prestridge

A25 3 THE Association of Investment Trust Companies, the trade body A25 4 representing the pounds20 billion investment trust industry, is A25 5 losing its battle to stop a number of top companies defecting.

A25 6 The walk-out, which was led by the pounds572 million British A25 7 Investment Trust and could extend to another 14 trusts, has been A25 8 inspired by AITC's decision to ask members for more fees to support A25 9 a marketing campaign.

A25 10 The seeds of the campaign were sown last year by AITC chairman A25 11 Philip Chappell when he called on the 200 members to cough up A25 12 pounds5 million to launch an assault on the private investor A25 13 market. The plan is to drive discounts down by doubling the number A25 14 of private investors.

A25 15 While Chappell's plans were watered down to pounds1.7 million, A25 16 the effect is members' fees, payable this month, have doubled. Five A25 17 companies, British Investment, RIT Capital Partners, Grahams A25 18 Rintoul, Glasgow Income and Yeoman, have said they will not pay so A25 19 they will have to resign. Other trusts yet to make up their minds A25 20 include Gartmore America and the pounds320 million Scottish A25 21 National trust.

A25 22 The reasons for the revolt are numerous. Some trusts feel the A25 23 campaign will not benefit them directly because they are already A25 24 standing at a premium to net asset value. others with wind-up dates A25 25 soon are miffed they are having to pay the same fees as other A25 26 trusts.

A25 27 Last week, AITC's executive committee discussed the crisis to A25 28 see if a compromise could be worked out. It is believed chairman A25 29 Michael Hart und Chappell agreed to visit the waverers.

A25 30 AITC's Lesley Renvoize said: "It is sad to lose any A25 31 member but hopefully they will be back. British Investment has left A25 32 before and we'd welcome it back."

A25 33 A25 34 Hellenic adds fizz to investment in Greece

A25 35 by Ray Mgadzah

A25 36 CAPITALISM with a Greek flavour is on the march and British A25 37 investors are being offered the chance to quench their thirst for A25 38 foreign shares by backing Greece's top soft drinks bottler Hellenic A25 39 Bottling Company.

A25 40 Hellenic, headed by Gerard Reidy, is expected shortly to become A25 41 the first Greek company to set aside a sizeable part of its equity A25 42 for foreigners in a pioneering offer expected to raise nearly A25 43 pounds70 million through a listing on the Athens stock market.

A25 44 That would put a value of pounds300 million on Hellenic, which A25 45 holds the Coca-Cola franchise for Greece, Ireland und Nigeria and A25 46 also supplies fruit juices. Hellenic has two- thirds of the Greek A25 47 soft drinks market and half of its fruit juice sales. Its offer A25 48 will mark the first move by Greece to entice foreign capital by A25 49 allowing investors to take part in new issues. Other companies, A25 50 including the soon-to-be privatised telephone service are also A25 51 expected to target foreigners. Thanks to legal changes, Hellenic is A25 52 setting aside 6.5 per cent of its equity for the overseas offer.

A25 53 The British are expected to pick up the lion's share of the A25 54 foreign tranche. Hellenic, which is owned by Leventis-Ioannou A25 55 Group, is offering 25 per cent of its shares in the float. It is A25 56 being advised by merchant bank Schroders with Hellenic Industrial A25 57 Development Bank as lead bank. City institutions tend to show a A25 58 greater thirst for foreign stock than Europeans but Greek shares A25 59 have usually been offered in numbers too small to attract A25 60 interest.

A25 61 Leventis-Ioannou's activities include Middle East construction. A25 62 It is controlled by two of Greece's leading families.

A25 63 A25 64 Lloyd's capacity hit as members quit

A25 65 by Robert Tyerman

A25 66 THE Lloyd's of London insurance market now admits its capacity A25 67 to write insurance is falling fast as syndicate losses and the A25 68 prospect of its first overall deficit since 1967 cause a rising A25 69 tide of members to quit.

A25 70 "Capacity is already well down from last year's A25 71 pounds11.25 billion," Lime Street spokesman Nick Doak told A25 72 the Sunday Telegraph. Some observers estimate it could A25 73 have fallen to under pounds8 billion by next year.

A25 74 Until recently, although membership had fallen from its 1980s A25 75 peak of 33,000 to 26,700, capacity was being maintained, as A25 76 individual members committed more of their wealth to the market. A25 77 With the pound strong against the dollar Lloyds's all-important A25 78 ability to take on American risks was also enhanced. This trend was A25 79 not unwelcome to Lloyd's chairman David Coleridge and the council, A25 80 which felt a return to fewer, more substantial und less panicky A25 81 members would be appropriate for today's tough conditions.

A25 82 But capacity is now falling while the dollar is rising again A25 83 und increasing concern is being expressed about the amounts owed by A25 84 insurance syndicates to the Lloyd's American Trust Fund, which A25 85 collects and distributes dollar-denominated premiums and claims.

A25 86 A leading underwriter is believed to have pulled out of the A25 87 hull market because he feels premiums are too low, while more bad A25 88 loss news is expected from the Gooder-Walker syndicates 290 and A25 89 298, which wrote excess-of-loss among other business, some brought A25 90 by broker Bill Brown's Walsham group.

A25 91 This comes on top of the pounds320 million losses faced by A25 92 members of the Feltrim syndicates and the hundreds of millions A25 93 potentially payable on pollution claims.

A25 94 It is thought the Lloyd's authorities would like to see the A25 95 number of syndicates and members' agencies reduced to produce a A25 96 more streamlined, better equipped market.

A25 97 Some sources have suggested a bottom limit of 300 members per A25 98 agent. Other market practitioners would like to see members A25 99 required to write a minimum cover of pounds500,000 and deposit A25 100 pounds10,000 cash apiece to create a substantial reserve.

A25 101 A25 102 Cray fishes with pounds111m for bait

A25 103 HOURS after he launched Cray Electronics' pounds111 million A25 104 hostile bid for software consultancy SD-Scicon on Friday, chairman A25 105 Sir Peter Michael was in confident mood.

A25 106 From a basement room in the old City morgue, home of an A25 107 adviser, Michael outlined the plan that he hoped would sound the A25 108 death knell for the independence of a 1980s glamour stock that has A25 109 turned into a 1990s fallen angel.

A25 110 He summed up his message with the words: "SD-Scicon is A25 111 a company that has no management, no strategy and no A25 112 profits." The share bid with a cash alternative was final A25 113 in the absence of a counter offer and shareholders would do best to A25 114 take it - or so he said.

A25 115 SD-Scicon chief executive Philip Swinstead, who has a stake in A25 116 the company worth pounds5.6 million, is expected to put up a fierce A25 117 defence. Analysts reckon the offer may flush out rival bids. In the A25 118 past bids from Sema, Cap Gemini Sogeti and Thorn EMI have been A25 119 mooted.

A25 120 Either way the scene is set for a bruising contest.

A25 121 In one corner stands Michael, former chairman of UEI, the A25 122 electronics and engineering group sold for pounds500 million to A25 123 Carlton Communications in 1989. He is advised by Morgan Grenfell. A25 124 Michael led a new team into Cray another fallen 1980s glamour A25 125 stock, 18 months ago. Now he has SD-Scicon's biggest shareholder, A25 126 British Aerospace, with 25 per cent, on his side.

A25 127 In the other corner stands Swinstead, SD-Scicon's founder. He A25 128 retook the helm a few months ago, revamping the board, appointing a A25 129 non-executive chairman. Samuel Montagu is advising.

A25 130 The prize is a company that has fallen on hard times. This year A25 131 analysts' forecasts range from pounds5 million to pounds11 million, A25 132 revealing the extent of uncertainty surrounding the group's future A25 133 after a run of poor results. Its woes are blamed on the pounds70 A25 134 million takeover by Systems Designers of Scicon in 1988, one of a A25 135 number of purchases made by Swinstead, and loss-making contracts, A25 136 some of which are subject to litigation.

A25 137 In 1984, two years after it made its stock market debut, A25 138 Systems Designers stood on a historic p/e of 78. The shares peaked A25 139 at 118p in 1986 but now Cray is offering just 42p.

A25 140 Swinstead has chosen to keep a low profile so the task of A25 141 fronting the defence has fallen on chairman John Jackson, who also A25 142 heads Cambridge Electronics Industries.

A25 143 Jackson explains the cornerstone of his defence. Cray wants A25 144 SD-Scicon on the cheap when it is coming through a difficult time, A25 145 he says. Shareholders are set to reap the reward if they remain A25 146 loyal.

A25 147 SD-Scicon supporters say recent software bidders have paid a A25 148 price above the sales of their target. Examples include the A25 149 takeover of Hoskyns by Cap Gemini Sogeti and the purchase of A25 150 Quotient by ACT.

A25 151 CGS paid pounds286 million for sales of pounds189 million while A25 152 ACT paid pounds27 million for about pounds22 million of sales. A25 153 SD-Scicon has sales of pounds256 million but Cray is offering less A25 154 than half of this.

A25 155 But Michael counters that SD-Scicon is overshadowed by A25 156 loss-making contracts, against which it wrote off pounds20 million A25 157 last year. They cast doubt on the quality of what remains.

A25 158 Some analysts share this view. "Scicon is a can of A25 159 worms. It is going to take the best management in the world to sort A25 160 it out," says Tressan MaCarthy of Panmure Gordon.

A25 161 SD-Scicon says hostile bids are anathema to people businesses. A25 162 But investors might have other ideas and may, like BAe, choose to A25 163 take what is left of their money and run.

A25 164 Ray Mgadzah

A25 165 A25 166 Grampian bids for pounds56m tonic

A25 167 "WHAT we are proposing is effectively a management A25 168 buy-in." Grampian Holdings chairman Bill Bughes wants to A25 169 persuade investors his pounds56.5 million hostile bid for A25 170 pharmaceutical group Macarthy, owner of Savory&Moore and John A25 171 Bell&Croydon, is more than an opportunistic calling of the low A25 172 point in Macarthy's fortunes.

A25 173 Macarthy, whose last dividend was paid out of reserves, sees it A25 174 differently. "My first reaction was one of amazement," says chief A25 175 executive Ian Parsons. Some investors were more prescient. The A25 176 Stock Exchange is investigating the spurt in Macarthy's share price A25 177 from 160p on Tuesday morning to 192p on Wednesday before the bid A25 178 announcement.

A25 179 Few believe Grampian's present mix of convertible and equity A25 180 worth 206.4p a share will be the last word - Macarthy now stands at A25 181 230p. But a return to near 1989's peak of 355p is not to be A25 182 expected, even if another bidder enters the fray.

A25 183 Parsons, in the driving seat since August 1989 after the A25 184 departure of Nicholas Ward, insists his team can make it grow A25 185 without help from Glasgow-based Grampian, whose operations range A25 186 from veterinary products to sports shoes.

A25 187 The Macarthy camp suggests Grampian is just a ragbag. Hughes A25 188 claims a strategy of going for market leadership in "niche A25 189 products". This makes a logical target of Macarthy, with A25 190 such gems as Farillon, distributor to hospitals and wholesalers of A25 191 insulin and rubella vaccine.

A25 192 Recent comparisons favour Grampian, whose profits rose 220 per A25 193 cent between 1986 and 1990 to pounds13.1 million. Macarthy's A25 194 increased by only 7 per cent to a depressed pounds4.6 million. Over A25 195 that time, it has underperformed the FT All-Share Index by nearly A25 196 50 per cent, while Grampian shares have outperformed Macarthy's by A25 197 almost 400 per cent. In 1986 institutions led by John Govett put in A25 198 Ward as chairman. An Ernest Saunders A25 199 prot<*_>e-acute<*/>g<*_>e-acute<*/> at Guinness, where he headed A25 200 retailing, Ward set about beefing up Macarthy.

A25 201 But he took it into pharmaceuticals wholesaling just when one A25 202 of the two market leaders, Unichem, was gobbling up market share by A25 203 offering stakes to retailers in return for exclusivity and making A25 204 life tough for competitors.

A25 205 Macarthy bought the Drummond pharmacists from Guinness for A25 206 pounds42.6 million in 1987, funded by a rights issue at pounds4. A25 207 Much earlier, Hughes had spent 10 years building up Drummond. In A25 208 1988 Macarthy bid pounds65 million for Unichem itself. It failed A25 209 and Macarthy's market share slumped from 11 per cent to 5 per cent A25 210 until the courts ruled Unichem's share stake distribution scheme A25 211 illegal in mid-1989 - it has since returned to more than 10 per A25 212 cent.

A25 213 Last August Macarthy sold its wholesale business to the Dutch A25 214 Medicopharma group for pounds15.75 million, at a pounds6 million A25 215 loss. Parsons points to recent turnrounds in veterinary products A25 216 and elsewhere. Analysts expect a modest profits upturn to between A25 217 pounds5 million and pounds5.5 million in the year to September A25 218 1991.

A25 219 Macarthy's five-year contract to source 90 per cent of certain A25 220 drugs from Medicopharma might make AAH and Unichem, with their own A25 221 franchises, think twice before bidding but Lloyds Chemists might be A25 222 interested.

A25 223 The Grampian package offers an historic p/e ratio of 17.8 and a A25 224 yield increase of 4 per cent. A25 225 A26 1 <#FLOB:A26\>"Hanging on by our fingernails without A26 2 a safety net"

A26 3 Nicholas Kenyon looks at the state of London's two opera houses A26 4 in the wake of five important resignations last week

A26 5 IN THE high-risk world of opera, to lose a star singer may be A26 6 regarded as a misfortune; to lose - as have the two London opera A26 7 houses in the course of a single week - a chairman, a principal A26 8 conductor, a music director and a director of productions, suggests A26 9 not so much carelessness as crisis. Is large-scale opera now as A26 10 financially implausible as London Zoo? Will the fat cats be sold A26 11 off to Europe, productions junked for firewood, and the opera A26 12 houses reduced to empty listed buildings?

A26 13 It all depends how you present your state of change. The A26 14 English National Opera, confirming Peter Jonas's daring leap into A26 15 the jaws of conservative Munich, and announcing that both music A26 16 director Mark Elder and productions director David Poutney would A26 17 follow him out of the Coliseum at the same time, did it positively, A26 18 and with a firm declaration that this was the strongest possible A26 19 artistic decision for the company to take.

A26 20 Their rosy picture can be disputed. Attendances in this largely A26 21 twentieth-century season are down to 72 per cent, creating an A26 22 pounds800.000 deficit which will have to be clawed back next A26 23 season: October at the Coliseum will be nothing but A26 24 Boh<*_>e-grave<*/>me and Mikado. Criticism of the A26 25 ingrained house style of some ENO productions is growing, and there A26 26 is an imminent danger of stagnation: was the team right to quit A26 27 while it was still ahead?

A26 28 Jonas said that was "a rather malignant way to look at A26 29 it. I'm happy here at the moment. I'm so happy I could weep. But A26 30 that means it's the time to think about moving on." Demob A26 31 happy, he admitted: "There have been many times when I've A26 32 just wanted to be totally sick and disappear in the stalls and just A26 33 thought 'Oh my God, how did we get entangled in this co-production A26 34 of a new work' and thought it was a dreadful mistake."

A26 35 ENO has walked the tight-rope of adventure, "hanging on A26 36 by our fingernails without any netting underneath", as A26 37 Jonas puts it; but by linking its wild imagination to a strong A26 38 decision-making structure, it has kept the public and the funders A26 39 on its side.

A26 40 Jonas says that mistakes have been coped with "by A26 41 skating over some of them with a bit of adept PR, or using our A26 42 marking and our image well, and relying on our good A26 43 reputation". He can admit all this cheerfully because his A26 44 tenure is perceived as an overwhelming success that has changed A26 45 opera in this country forever.

A26 46 If there is weeping for joy at the Coliseum, the gnashing of A26 47 teeth is more likely to be heard down the road at Covent Garden. A26 48 The House has still to announce its future plans later this month, A26 49 but the contrastingly random, uncoordinated resignations last week A26 50 of chairman Lord Sainsbury as well as Jeffrey Tate as principal A26 51 conductor have added fuel to the fire of those who claim that the A26 52 Royal Opera's artistic direction is unsure and its structure A26 53 diffuse. It faces continual criticism form the press, critics, and A26 54 - the latest indignity - the sponsors themselves, particularly A26 55 damaging at a time when shortfall of pounds2 million in budgeted A26 56 sponsorship is the root cause of its present deficit.

A26 57 Lord Sainsbury's departing whinges about the failure of the A26 58 Arts Council to ensure special treatment for the Royal Opera were A26 59 offensive to the underfunded arts community throughout the country, A26 60 particularly since he has greater ease of access than anyone to A26 61 argue his case at the highest levels of government. But they are A26 62 especially ironic at a time when the Arts Council has actually A26 63 produced some significant increases in subsidy in partnership with A26 64 other funders: a new pounds2.6m grant for the Royal Shakespeare A26 65 Company at the Barbican, and a virtual doubling of the London A26 66 Symphony Orchestra's grant to pounds2m, both thanks to matching A26 67 funds from the City Corporation.

A26 68 Both these modest windfalls have been contingent on highly A26 69 positive recent appraisals of the organisations' work by the Arts A26 70 Council. It is six years since Clive Priestley looked at Covent A26 71 Garden. Next week the council will announce its new appraisal team A26 72 to examine the workings of the Royal Opera over the next few A26 73 months: Hans Landesmann of the Salzburg Festival, Baroness Warnock, A26 74 the composer Nigel Osborne, and Brian Ivory, the deputy director of A26 75 the Scottish Arts Council, who is managing director of Highland A26 76 Distilleries.

A26 77 At least this last appointment may give some comfort to the A26 78 beleaguered Glaswegian general director at Covent Garden, Jeremy A26 79 Isaacs. With the urban and civilised Angus Stirling of the National A26 80 Trust as chairman in place of Sainsbury, Isaacs may find himself on A26 81 a longer leash to accomplish those changes he feels are A26 82 necessary.

A26 83 Last Tuesday afternoon he outlined to his Opera Board a new A26 84 plan for the future, including speculation on a post-Bernard A26 85 Haitink music directorship that included the names of Abbado and A26 86 Muti, as well as the possibility of younger names to cover the A26 87 long-delayed and still doubtful closure of the house, now put back A26 88 to at least 1996. But this formulation of policy comes against a A26 89 background of uncertainty and poor morale - fuelled by the A26 90 mishandling of recent redundancies - described by insiders last A26 91 week as "absolutely appalling".

A26 92 Isaacs argues the deficit will be cut by "hard A26 93 graft", reducing rehearsal time for this autumn's Ring A26 94 cycle while inserting 10 performances of Rigoletto ("I A26 95 confess to you that we probably overrehearse"), pushing A26 96 forward redundancies in chorus and orchestra with a plan to make 65 A26 97 house retirement age ("some of them are past their sell-by A26 98 date").

A26 99 More controversially, Isaacs is taking himself the formulation A26 100 of operatic policy. I asked him if he saw his role as that of A26 101 artistic director of the opera company: "Yes it is, of A26 102 course. I'll qualify that because I don't want to be in any way A26 103 offensive to Paul Findlay, the opera director, who does an infinity A26 104 of work I could never contemplate. But I am the ultimate arbiter of A26 105 a group of colleagues, some of whom meet regularly and some A26 106 irregularly." He believes in giving them freedom of action: A26 107 "Accountability is the enemy of responsibility. If you A26 108 really want people to be responsible, don't keep asking them to A26 109 account for themselves. I sometimes feel that about my own job in A26 110 relation to the board."

A26 111 At a press conference later this month, Isaacs will say that A26 112 alongside the use of the finest singers and conductors "we A26 113 are progressing rather more slowly than I would like towards the A26 114 adoption of less naturalistic, more imaginative production styles. A26 115 I saw Achim Freyer's Iphig<*_>e-acute<*/>nie in Amsterdam the A26 116 other day, and that had more good visual ideas in the first 10 A26 117 minutes than I've seen in this house for a year." This A26 118 approach may cause difficulties, both with conductors and with A26 119 director of production John Cox.

A26 120 One strongly expressed view from the outside is that the only A26 121 way forward is for Isaacs to leave opera to the experts and A26 122 retrench to the vital position of chief executive, bringing in a A26 123 new vigorous opera director to forge a detailed policy with a A26 124 committed new music director.

A26 125 A26 126 Rupert Christiansen went to Chicago to hear Luciano A26 127 Pavarotti tackle Otello and the mid-life crisis

A26 128 The bigger you are, the harder it is

A26 129 "HE'S VERY up at the moment", claimed Irene A26 130 Jones, president of the Luciano Pavarotti Appreciation Society. But A26 131 in Chicago last Monday nobody could be so sure: big Lucy, the great A26 132 Italian tenor of his generation, was meeting the biggest challenge A26 133 of his career, as he attempted for the first time the epic A26 134 title-role in Verdi's Otello. Disaster loomed.

A26 135 For days before the performance, Pavarotti had been winding A26 136 himself into a frenzy of nervous tension. "He's been in a A26 137 pretty vile mood," confided a Decca executive, anxiously A26 138 preparing for a 'live' recording, to be released in the autumn. A A26 139 few years ago he was cancelling performances on the grounds of an A26 140 allergy to stage dust; now he's gone weak at the knees - not with A26 141 rapture, but with a condition variously described as gout, A26 142 arthritis, and 'excess tonnage', which makes standing still A26 143 physical agony. Add to this a week in and out of bed with a A26 144 feverish cough, and you have one very volatile superstar.

A26 145 His panic was not irrational. For an Italian Tenor, Otello is A26 146 the big one, demanding a voice which can scale down for subtlety, A26 147 blast open with passion and cruise everywhere in between. A26 148 "You never know where the booby-traps lie," A26 149 Pavarotti says. "I will never be confident about this A26 150 part." In other words, it's a killer and the list of A26 151 Pavarotti's predecessors - Caruso, Gigli, Bjoerling, Bergonzi - who A26 152 never braved it is longer than the list of those who have.

A26 153 For the past 15 years, the role has been monopolised by Placido A26 154 Domingo, but invasion of his rival's territory was not the reason A26 155 Pavarotti risked his throat. He is a cautious man. He has only sung A26 156 the aria for which he is World-Cup famous, 'Nessun A26 157 dorma', once on stage in costume: the rest of A26 158 Turandot is too heavy for him. Nor does he enjoy the arduous A26 159 process of learning complex new works, since he relies more on his A26 160 instincts than his intellect. "You have to grab him by the A26 161 hand and sit him down," as one colleague put it. A26 162 "He's not a great reader of scores."

A26 163 But Pavarotti is 55, and deep into the mid-life crisis which so A26 164 many great singers are forced to confront. It is caused by the A26 165 knotting up of what people expect of you, what you want to give A26 166 them, and what your voice allows you to deliver. This year marks A26 167 Pavarotti's thirtieth year as a professional singer; he can't go on A26 168 trotting out 'Nessun dorma' for ever and to A26 169 keep up this status, he has to prove he has some extra mileage in A26 170 his vocal tank.

A26 171 Domingo has found conducting a useful second string, but this A26 172 option is not open to Pavarotti. Apart from the physical problems, A26 173 his technical knowledge of music is said to be embarrassingly A26 174 small. He tried producing in Venice in 1988, with Donizetti's A26 175 La favorita, but was discouraged by backstage sabotage on A26 176 the first night: the hero's defiantly flourished sword flopped like A26 177 old rhubarb, reducing the audience to hysterics.

A26 178 Why should Chicago be more generous? It is a city where his A26 179 image has been badly dented: in 1989, Ardis Krainik, director of A26 180 the Lyric Opera, publicly 'sacked' him in perpetuity for reneging A26 181 on 25 out of 41 scheduled performances. "She and I can live A26 182 with great pleasure without each other," Pavarotti says and A26 183 as if to prove the point, he returned to sing Otello down the road A26 184 in Orchestra Hall, home of the Chicago Symphonic Orchestra. Through A26 185 the agency of Ray Minshull, doyen of Decca's recording producers A26 186 and a man Pavarotti describes as "one of my two best A26 187 friends", a plush package was assembled.

A26 188 After 22 years as music director of the Chicago Symphony, Sir A26 189 Georg Solti was in search of a blockbuster on which to bow out; A26 190 Kiri Te Kanawa and Leo Nucci were free to sing Desdemona and Iago. A26 191 From Pavarotti's point of view, probably the most attractive A26 192 feature was the opportunity to sing such a demanding role in A26 193 concert, without the additional strain of blacking up and A26 194 struggling into costume. He also wanted to know whether the A26 195 critics, about whom he is surprisingly sensitive, would approve. A26 196 Telling the world that he would "never be confident about A26 197 this part" was a way of hedging his bets.

A26 198 Six months of preparation followed, during which he was drilled A26 199 by his repetiteur, Leone Magiera, and inspired by some long A26 200 telephone conversation with Solti. But as Monday's packed house A26 201 watched Pavarotti pull himself painfully on to the platform, the A26 202 odds on success looked long. Slumping down on to a padded throne, A26 203 raised several degrees above the level of the other soloists, he A26 204 looked like an oriental potentate with a headache.

A26 205 Beside him was a table crammed with refreshments and A26 206 medicaments. A26 207 A27 1 <#FLOB:A27\>PLAN REFUSED

A27 2 Club may appeal over big new sports complex

A27 3 ROLAND WATSON

A27 4 COVENTRY and North Warwickshire sports club may appeal against A27 5 the decision to refuse it planning permission for massive A27 6 development in the green belt. A27 7 The top city club wanted to build a major sporting complex on A27 8 farmland near Stoneleigh.

A27 9 It wants to leave its Binley Road HQ, where sport has been A27 10 played for 80 years, because upkeep costs are outstripping A27 11 income.

A27 12 The aim of the move would be to increase membership, improve A27 13 facilities and strengthen finances.

A27 14 But councillors in Warwick have dashed the club's hopes.

A27 15 They unanimously threw out the scheme saying it was far too A27 16 large for the proposed site.

A27 17 The huge complex would have covered 42 acres of land at New Era A27 18 Farm, Kings Hill Lane, Stoneleigh.

A27 19 The plans showed eight squash courts, snooker tables, bars and A27 20 restaurants and changing rooms.

A27 21 The outside facilities would have included two rugby pitches, A27 22 two hockey pitches, two cricket squares, 14 tennis courts and A27 23 parking space for 317 cars and seven coaches.

A27 24 But they were too large for Warwick District Council to agree A27 25 to.

A27 26 But club officials have expressed disappointment at the A27 27 dismissal.

A27 28 Chairman David Blundell said he was amazed at the council's A27 29 decision.

A27 30 He said: "It's disappointing. Some of the comments on A27 31 why the application has been turned down are laughable."

A27 32 And he added: "It amazes me that people could object to A27 33 such a worthwhile scheme. I don't think people have fully A27 34 investigated the application."

A27 35 Mr Blundell said:"It's certainly not the end of the A27 36 matter.

A27 37 "We have the option to appeal and we will have to consider our A27 38 position carefully."

A27 39 A27 40 Inspectors go private

A27 41 Schools given cash to buy in new teams

A27 42 JULIE CHAMBERLAIN

A27 43 STATE SCHOOLS are to be given pounds75 million a year from A27 44 local education authority budgets to 'buy in' teams of A27 45 inspectors.

A27 46 They will be eligible for cash grants of up to pounds2,500 A27 47 under the Citizen's Charter, education secretary Kenneth Clarke A27 48 announced.

A27 49 The radical shake-up will allow private firms to compete for A27 50 work to check school standards.

A27 51 Inspection teams must include non-educationalists - most local A27 52 authority and HMI inspectors are former teachers.

A27 53 Independent schools will be expected to pay for their own A27 54 inspection. A27 55 Incredible A27 56 The announcement was greeted with scepticism by teachers' union A27 57 leaders in Coventry and Warwickshire.

A27 58 Charles Holbrook, spokesman for Warwickshire National Union of A27 59 Teachers, said he found the suggestion that anyone could inspect A27 60 schools incredible and predicted the move would not inspire A27 61 confidence among parents.

A27 62 The inspectors will produce jargon-free reports for all parents A27 63 every three or four years, and they will also be sent league tables A27 64 of the performance of all schools in their area, which will be A27 65 published in local newspapers.

A27 66 They will include state, private and grant-maintained schools A27 67 and City Technology Colleges.

A27 68 Resources A27 69 Mr Holbrook said: "I find it quite extraordinary and I A27 70 think teachers will be completely dismayed by the A27 71 suggestion."

A27 72 Cllr Bob Holland, vice-chairman of Coventry's education A27 73 committee, said: "What parents would like, on the whole, is A27 74 better resources in their schools and local authorities left to A27 75 continue to help teachers to adapt to the national curriculum and A27 76 to continue to raise standards."

A27 77 Alan Oglesby, president of the Coventry branch of the Assistant A27 78 Masters and Mistresses Association, described the idea of A27 79 inspectorates where there would be no members of the teaching A27 80 profession as "absolutely ridiculous."

A27 81 A27 82 Secret chemical weapons found

A27 83 BAGHDAD - United Nations inspectors have discovered about A27 84 46,000 pieces of chemical munitions in Iraq, - about four times the A27 85 11,000 to 12,000 that Baghdad originally declared.

A27 86 Rolf Ekeus, head of a UN special arms commission, said the A27 87 weapons included bombs, rockets, grenades, artillery shells and A27 88 missile warheads.

A27 89 Iraq also had some 3,000 tonnes of 'precursors' - chemicals A27 90 used to manufacture chemical weapons - although it had declared A27 91 only about 650 tonnes.

A27 92 Ekeus and Hans Blix, the director general of the International A27 93 Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), held a news conference after briefing A27 94 Security Council members privately on progress made in identifying A27 95 and scrapping Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

A27 96 UN inspectors last month paid an exploratory visit to a A27 97 sprawling site near Samarra, north-west of Baghdad, where Iraqi A27 98 chemical weapons are stored, often under hazardous conditions.

A27 99 Ekeus said about 70 inspectors would be sent back in mid-August A27 100 and would spend about six weeks combing the area.

A27 101 Nerve gas

A27 102 He said a large number of the chemical weapons were filled with A27 103 comparatively harmless tear gas - but in such a way as to make them A27 104 usable for military rather than crowd-control purposes.

A27 105 A number of missile warheads were filled with sarin, a nerve A27 106 gas.

A27 107 The first UN mission searching for biological weapons is due to A27 108 enter Iraq later this week.

A27 109 Iraq has said it had no biological weapons programme but Ekeus A27 110 said: "We will now investigate if that statement is A27 111 true."

A27 112 <*_>square<*/>The Prime Minister is expected to reply strongly A27 113 today to Labour claims of a deepening scandal over alleged breaches A27 114 of the arms embargo on Iraq.

A27 115 Allan Rogers, Labour's defence procurement spokesman, claimed A27 116 in a letter to Mr Major that Parliament had been misled about the A27 117 alleged export of arms and military material to Iraq.

A27 118 A27 119 A27 120 FINANCIAL CRISIS

A27 121 Police may be called in to college probe

A27 122 ROLAND WATSON

A27 123 POLICE could be called in to help unravel the financial scandal A27 124 at Coventry Technical College, Labour councillors have been A27 125 told.

A27 126 City council leader Jim Cunningham has written to all members A27 127 of the Labour group on the city council warning them of the A27 128 possibility.

A27 129 Cllr Cunningham's letter also reveals that external auditors A27 130 have been called in.

A27 131 It says a number of college officials will not be allowed to A27 132 leave until investigations into the college's finances have A27 133 finished.

A27 134 It also raises the possibility that the council may be poll tax A27 135 capped as a result of the massive deficit.

A27 136 Four top officers have resigned from the tech, which took A27 137 control of its finances a year ago, since its pounds3.2 million A27 138 deficit became apparent in April.

A27 139 Earlier this month, the Evening Telegraph revealed a A27 140 confidential council report which highlighted high-spending on A27 141 hospitality, including alcohol and trips abroad.

A27 142 Cllr Cunningham, a governor at the tech, said in the letter A27 143 that regular meetings were being held to see that "matters A27 144 were proceeding properly."

A27 145 It says that apart from the four officers who have already quit A27 146 "several other persons have been identified and A27 147 investigations are still on-going and those people will not be A27 148 allowed severance terms before investigations are A27 149 complete."

A27 150 It says the review has already identified information to A27 151 justify calling in external auditors.

A27 152 It adds that his information "may result in action A27 153 against named individuals and may also result in the involvement of A27 154 the police."

A27 155 A27 156 Freed! John McCarthy released after 1,943 days in Beirut A27 157 hell

A27 158 FINLAY MARSHALL

A27 159 BRITISH hostage John McCarthy felt the sun on his face for the A27 160 first time in more than five years today.

A27 161 Islamic Jihad in Beirut released him from the A27 162 nightmare that had kept him in chains and blindfolds for nearly A27 163 2,000 days and nights.

A27 164 At noon, British ambassador Andrew Green was summoned to the A27 165 Syrian embassy to take delivery of the 34-year-old hostage.

A27 166 First reports said he looked thin and strained, with a heavy A27 167 growth of beard.

A27 168 Whitehall sources said no statement would be issued by the A27 169 Foreign Office until Mr McCarthy was in British hands.

A27 170 But church bells rang out in London within moments of news.

A27 171 In St Bride's, the journalists' church in Fleet Street, there A27 172 were tears of joy.

A27 173 Isabel Souder, the wife of one of the chaplains at the church, A27 174 wept as she placed a fresh arrangement of pink and white summer A27 175 flowers next to McCarthy's picture.

A27 176 "It's just great, I'm so happy."

A27 177 His girlfriend Jill Morrell, who for four years didn't know A27 178 whether he was alive or dead, said: "I think I screamed ... A27 179 just a little bit.

A27 180 "It's a mixture of emotions, I just feel ecstatic and it's A27 181 difficult to take in or think about the implication of it all.

A27 182 "There is no time, there's so many emotions coming out all at A27 183 once.

A27 184 "We are still waiting to see what he looks like, how he is, A27 185 what his mental health is.

A27 186 "We know nothing about him. Still ...what we know he has just A27 187 been set free.<&|>sic!"

A27 188 The news was sent around the world after Islamic A27 189 Jihad group issued a statement with a black-and-white A27 190 photograph to an international news agency.

A27 191 BBC reporter Michael MacMillan in Damascus said in a A27 192 mid-morning newscast: "All that we know is that John A27 193 McCarthy was released within the past 15 minutes. A27 194 "The handover took place in west Beirut - McCarthy was freed into A27 195 the hands of UN envoy Giandomenico Picco.

A27 196 McCarthy is expected to be flown directly to RAF Lyneham in A27 197 Wiltshire.

A27 198 A specialist aero-medical team may fly out to Damascus to A27 199 accompany him home aboard an RAF aircraft.

A27 200 A27 201 Light of Freedom ends five years of terror

A27 202 Hostage John McCarthy emerges from the horror of blindfolds and A27 203 chains in the dank basements of Beirut

A27 204 BEIRUT - Hostage John McCarthy's release marks the end of five A27 205 years of terror, chains and blindfolds in the basements of A27 206 Beirut.

A27 207 Since his kidnap in 1986, the TV reporter has spent most of his A27 208 life blindfolded and chained.

A27 209 He has had no contact with the outside world and would not have A27 210 even known he was being released until minutes before he was handed A27 211 over by his captors.

A27 212 But hostages who met John while he was held prisoner say he A27 213 coped with the experience well.

A27 214 Cellmate Brian Keenan, released in August last year, paid the A27 215 finest tribute to John.

A27 216 He said: "As a man, I have watched him grow and A27 217 deepen.

A27 218 "How can I forget him, his humour, his abundant love of life, A27 219 which at so many times seemed to diminish to almost extinction A27 220 those grinding moments of hopelessness?"

A27 221 McCarthy, at 34 the youngest of the Beirut hostages, had spent A27 222 only five weeks in Lebanon before his disappearance.

A27 223 Standing in for the bureau chief of Worldwide Television News A27 224 was his first foreign assignment.

A27 225 Security A27 226 When American F1-11s bombed Libya from bases in Britain, he was A27 227 ordered home for his safety.

A27 228 It was typical that he should have insisted on a warm farewell A27 229 to Lebanese friends, his drivers and staff at the Commodore Hotel, A27 230 but in doing so he broke one of the foremost security rules.

A27 231 His two-car convoy had been travelling only minutes on the way A27 232 to the airport when his car was intercepted.

A27 233 Someone who had witnessed McCarthy's preparations to leave had A27 234 tipped off the kidnappers.

A27 235 Girlfriend Jill Morrell had taken the day off from her job at A27 236 WTN offices in London and was planning to meet him at Heathrow A27 237 Airport. Her life since then has been dominated by the campaign for A27 238 McCarthy's release.

A27 239 The couple had been going out three years and were hoping to A27 240 buy a flat together.

A27 241 Miss Morrell took her campaign to Damascus to urge the Syrians A27 242 to use their influence in Lebanon; to Tunis to talk to Yasser A27 243 Arafat, the Palestinian leader; to Paris to meet freed French A27 244 hostages; and to Strasbourg to meet members of the European A27 245 Parliament.

A27 246 Her unstinting efforts kept McCarthy in the public eye, though A27 247 it was to be more than four years before the first news that he was A27 248 alive and well.

A27 249 That came from American Frank Reed, whose release in May 1990 A27 250 revealed the awful existence of the British hostages in tiny, A27 251 mosquito-infested cells, never allowed to see daylight and A27 252 unchained for only about an hour a day for exercise.

A27 253 Reed, McCarthy and Keenan developed a remarkable bond during A27 254 their months together. They kept each other's spirits up and their A27 255 humour intact.

A27 256 They played poker and dominoes for up to 17 hours and read A27 257 voraciously whatever the guards brought them, from pulp novels to A27 258 the K to Z sections of an American encyclopaedia.

A27 259 For a few months in 1988, they had a radio and followed the A27 260 news on the BBC World Service - the speculation of possible hostage A27 261 releases and the dashed hopes.

A27 262 One day, the radio was taken from them without explanation and A27 263 their last link with the outside world was severed.

A27 264 A28 1 <#FLOB:A28\>Beleaguered Ministers shocked by grassroots A28 2 reaction to a possible levy on property

A28 3 Cool views delay plans for new tax

A28 4 By PHIL MURPHY, Political Correspondent

A28 5 THE cool response by Tory activists to the Government's A28 6 proposed replacement for the poll tax has delayed even the A28 7 publishing of outline plans, it emerged yesterday.

A28 8 Sources close to the review said that Ministers were shocked at A28 9 the lack of enthusiasm and the occasional outright criticism of A28 10 their blueprint replacement at the Conservatives' Central Council A28 11 meeting in Southport last month.

A28 12 That meeting, the second largest gathering of Tory activists of A28 13 the year, heard some Conservatives warn against a property tax and A28 14 the Environment Secretary, Mr Michael Heseltine, was given a cool A28 15 reception.

A28 16 Ministers realised then that the presentation of the combined A28 17 property and head tax could be crucial to its success and even its A28 18 acceptance in the party.

A28 19 A decision to take the review steadily and resist strong A28 20 pressure for an announcement was made shortly after Southport.

A28 21 This means that a final decision on the proposed local tax will A28 22 not come until just before the summer recess, probably in the first A28 23 half of July.

A28 24 With all three main parties launching their local government A28 25 election campaigns today, this delay will provide ammunition A28 26 against the Tories for Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

A28 27 The prospects of Ministers flagging up one of a package of A28 28 options as their preferred solution when they publish a A28 29 consultative document within the next few weeks also appeared to be A28 30 receding yesterday.

A28 31 Although the Tory chairman, Mr Chris Patten, is believed to A28 32 favour highlighting one option, one source involved in the review A28 33 said that any indication of a preference by Ministers could ruin A28 34 the consultation process with party members, local government and A28 35 voters.

A28 36 After the Thatcher Government's misjudgement of the likely A28 37 response to the poll tax by failing to consult, the Prime Minister A28 38 and his colleagues are intent on avoiding a similar mistake this A28 39 time.

A28 40 Some say it will be preferable to risk losing some seats in the A28 41 May 2 round of local government elections and get the package right A28 42 rather than to allow themselves to be forced into a quick fix and A28 43 suffer later.

A28 44 Government sources were hinting yesterday that the consultative A28 45 document, containing a series of options, might not be ready even A28 46 after next week's Cabinet meeting.

A28 47 Downing Street is hoping that a meeting of the Cabinet A28 48 committee considering the replacement tax will take place tomorrow A28 49 but this is not certain. Earlier in the week a series of informal A28 50 meetings were all that were expected.

A28 51 One source said: "The earliest we think it (the A28 52 consultative document) will come will be next week or the week A28 53 after. It's got to go to Cabinet. It won't be able to go to this A28 54 week's Cabinet. It could even be the week after next."

A28 55 The continuing delays suggest at best an attempt to fine-tune A28 56 the package but, at worst, disarray over the way forward.

A28 57 Labour's local government spokesman, Mr David Blunkett, rounded A28 58 on the Government last night.

A28 59 He said: "It is sheer hypocrisy for the Conservatives A28 60 to delay their detailed alternative proposals to the poll tax and A28 61 existing local government structure and functions when they A28 62 themselves chided the Labour Party exactly 12 months ago for 'not A28 63 having a clear alternative'.

A28 64 "It is now time for the Government - with all the resources A28 65 that they possess through the Civil Service and computer facilities A28 66 - to spell out for the British electorate just what their policies A28 67 mean.

A28 68 "If they do not, then it is clear that the British electorate A28 69 will be unable to make a judgment on what exactly the Conservatives A28 70 have to offer in the local elections.

A28 71 "Their candidates across the country will be offering local A28 72 people nothing. Their own supporters will have no clear idea what A28 73 it is that they are expected to vote on and the conclusion will A28 74 have to be drawn that the confusion, dithering and incompetence A28 75 will continue."

A28 76 But there is a boost for the beleaguered Mr Major today: 15 A28 77 Parliamentary hopefuls and councillors backing him are publishing a A28 78 statement of support.

A28 79 A28 80 Kinnock to woo floating voters in crucial conference A28 81 speech

A28 82 By PHIL MURPHY, Political Correspondent at the Labour Party A28 83 conference in Brighton

A28 84 THE Labour leader, Mr Neil Kinnock, will today seek to woo the A28 85 floating voters with a vision of Labour Britain as a land of A28 86 opportunity for all.

A28 87 In a crucial speech, Mr Kinnock will use his annual keynote A28 88 address to the party conference to contrast his vision of a Labour A28 89 government offering opportunity for the many with what he claims is A28 90 a Tory administration offering opportunity only for the few.

A28 91 Mr Kinnock will also seek to bolster confidence in Labour's A28 92 ability to manage the economy. He will claim that a Labour A28 93 government will be committed to sustained growth, freed from the A28 94 boom and bust of the Tory years.

A28 95 His speech follows the outlining by the Shadow Chancellor, Mr A28 96 John Smith, and the Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary, Mr Gordon A28 97 Brown, of party economic policy at the conference yesterday.

A28 98 Mr Smith repeated his pledge to increase retirement pensions by A28 99 pounds5 for a single pensioner and pounds8 for a married couple, A28 100 and also his promise to increase child benefit to the level it A28 101 would have been had the Tories not restrained it - pounds9.55 per A28 102 week.

A28 103 Labour would end what Mr Smith called "The scandal of A28 104 poverty pay" with a minimum wage set first at pounds3.40 A28 105 per hour, and would restore the direct link between pensions and A28 106 earnings and prices - a link severed by the Tories.

A28 107 The Shadow Chancellor also repeated his plan to pay for A28 108 increased pensions and child benefit through an increase in A28 109 top-rate income tax from 40p to 50p.

A28 110 Mr Smith stressed again a constant theme of conference - A28 111 Labour's drive to use more of the talents of the British people.

A28 112 He said: "I want to see a nation energised by the A28 113 skills of its workforce and the technology of the workplace. I want A28 114 us to build a society where imaginative training programmes and A28 115 decent child care provision enable women who want to work and make A28 116 their vital contribution to our economy and to our A28 117 society."

A28 118 The Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary, Mr Brown, heralded A28 119 "a new investment decade" under Labour. Three new A28 120 investment initiatives in manufacturing, skills and technology A28 121 would, he claimed, make Britain the training and technology capital A28 122 of the world.

A28 123 He also announced an emergency jobs and training package, to be A28 124 implemented in the "first few days" of a Labour A28 125 government, investing in manufacturing, setting up industrial A28 126 development agencies in the regions, and a new defence A28 127 diversification agency.

A28 128 But he drew the most fervent applause for his attacks on the A28 129 Tories.

A28 130 Mr Brown accused the Prime Minister of presiding over A28 131 "one of the worst collapses in manufacturing investment A28 132 since the 1930s".

A28 133 Referring to secret donations to the Tory Party by a Greek A28 134 billionaire, he said: "Let us recall their theme in 1987 - A28 135 making Britain great again.

A28 136 "And this from a party that now disgracefully depends on A28 137 American-style election dirty tricks, on dubious Hong Kong A28 138 donations and, most shamefully of all, on a Greek billionaire A28 139 moving his money out of colonels and into Majors - an affront to A28 140 democracy and to Britain."

A28 141 He said the people who had done best under the Tories were the A28 142 5,000 millionaires, who had become multi-millionaires.

A28 143 "The 5,0000 who have had cumulative tax cuts of pounds5 A28 144 bn - money which should have gone to child benefit and A28 145 pensions."

A28 146 It was the "Tory version of the feeding of the A28 147 5,000", he said.

A28 148 Earlier, the Shadow Employment Secretary, Mr Tony Blair, A28 149 fiercely attacked the Government over the length of Britain's dole A28 150 queues, saying: "A Government that tolerates three million A28 151 unemployed and more is a Government prepared to shatter the A28 152 cohesion on which our society depends."

A28 153 He said Labour would legislate to require all employers to make A28 154 a minimum investment in training, or pay a contribution to a local A28 155 or national training effort.

A28 156 A28 157 Governor "reported IRA Plot"

A28 158 Brixton row fuels pressure on Baker

A28 159 By PHIL MURPHY, Political Correspondent

A28 160 DEMANDS for the Home Secretary, Mr Kenneth Baker, to resign A28 161 erupted again last night after the sacked governor of Brixton A28 162 Prison spoke out over the IRA jail-break affair.

A28 163 Mr Reg Withers claimed he had passed on to his superiors A28 164 reports that two suspected IRA terrorists were planning to break A28 165 out of Brixton, months before their successful escape in July.

A28 166 It emerged yesterday that the IRA tried to force a member of A28 167 staff at Brixton Prison to smuggle a gun to the two suspects, A28 168 Nessan Quinlivan and Pearse McAuley.

A28 169 The attempt backfired when Mr Withers was told of the plan in A28 170 February, and alerted the Home Office Prison Department.

A28 171 As part of the effort to thwart any breach of security the two A28 172 IRA suspects were moved from D-wing to A-wing at Brixton.

A28 173 But five months later, on July 7, Quinlivan and McAuley pulled A28 174 a loaded gun on officers escorting them from the prison chapel and A28 175 escaped over the prison wall.

A28 176 Mr Withers later yesterday retracted suggestions that he had A28 177 written directly to the Home Office calling for Quinlivan and A28 178 McAuley to be transferred from Brixton - but the Home Office A28 179 accepted that the former governor had issued a warning to the A28 180 Prison Department.

A28 181 A Home Office spokeswoman said that the disciplinary inquiry A28 182 now under way would consider whether anyone should face action as a A28 183 result of failure to pass that information on to senior Prison A28 184 Department and Home Office staff and Ministers.

A28 185 The same spokeswoman said that the Home Secretary would not be A28 186 resigning.

A28 187 However, serious questions are being asked about the Prison A28 188 Department's failure to act on the tip-off, which was also backed A28 189 up by police information.

A28 190 The police information, which also warned that the escape A28 191 attempt would take place after Mass in the prison chapel, was A28 192 apparently not passed to Mr Withers.

A28 193 Mr Withers, 59, has been told to take leave until his A28 194 retirement in October, following an inquiry into the incident by A28 195 the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Judge Stephen Tumim.

A28 196 Mr Baker, who is on holiday in France, rejected a call from the A28 197 Shadow Home Secretary, Mr Roy Hattersley, for a full public inquiry A28 198 into the circumstances of the Brixton escape.

A28 199 The Labour spokesman also called for publication of as much as A28 200 possible of the Tumim report into the break-out. Only sections of A28 201 the report were released earlier in the week.

A28 202 Mr Hattersley warned that, without such a public inquiry, Mr A28 203 Baker's position might become impossible. Earlier this week the A28 204 Shadow Home Secretary had stopped short of calling for Mr Baker's A28 205 resignation.

A28 206 Now he believes that, without further clarification of what A28 207 happened, Mr Baker might have to go.

A28 208 The Liberal Democrats last night repeated their view that the A28 209 Home Secretary should quit.

A28 210 A spokesman, Mr Mike Carr, said: "This whole business A28 211 is getting murkier and murkier. Earlier in the week we called for A28 212 the Home Secretary's resignation. In the light of Mr Withers's A28 213 comments we are now certain that that was the right thing to A28 214 do."

A28 215 The controversy stoked up by the decision to force Mr Withers A28 216 to take early retirement had taken a fresh turn when the former A28 217 governor broke his silence over the affair.

A28 218 In a report in the London Evening Standard, Mr Withers said: A28 219 "I'm being blamed for things which were absolutely outside A28 220 of my control. It is not in my power to move prisoners.

A28 221 "I made a report to my superiors indicating that these men A28 222 should not be in Brixton. I am very distressed that all this has A28 223 been laid at my door."

A28 224 Though he later spelled out in a statement that he was not A28 225 claiming to have written to the Home Office requesting the A28 226 transfer, the underlying allegation that he did contact the Prison A28 227 Department remained intact.

A28 228 However Mr Baker's deputy, the Home Office Minister, Mrs Angela A28 229 Rumbold insisted: "The governor had prior warning. The Home A28 230 Secretary and I did not. If we had been told we would have done A28 231 something."

A28 232 Responding to Mr Hattersley's calls for an inquiry and for A28 233 publication of more of the Tumin report, Mrs Rumbold said in a A28 234 letter to the Shadow Home Secretary last night: A28 235 A29 1 <#FLOB:A29\>Drink-drive row: Council chief resigns

A29 2 By Carl Slater

A29 3 A COUNCIL chief at the centre of a drink-drive storm has A29 4 resigned.

A29 5 Mr Michael Suter, chief executive of Shropshire County Council, A29 6 stepped down following talks with leaders of political groups on A29 7 the authority.

A29 8 Mr Suter, who lives near Market Drayton, was on paid leave A29 9 pending an inquiry into his disqualification from driving.

A29 10 Convicted A29 11 He was banned after being convicted of a drink-drive charge A29 12 earlier this year.

A29 13 Mr Suter, 47, was convicted of the offence in Nottinghamshire, A29 14 where he was the former county deputy clerk.

A29 15 No one from the county council would comment about Mr Suter's A29 16 resignation, but it is believed it follows talks between Mr Suter A29 17 and political group leaders about his driving ban.

A29 18 Paid leave

A29 19 Last week, a secret letter was circulated to all councillors A29 20 informing them that an investigation was to be conducted by a small A29 21 group of elected members into the conduct of Mr Suter in connection A29 22 with his disqualification.

A29 23 Mr Suter had agreed to take paid leave while the inquiry was A29 24 held but has now resigned.

A29 25 Mr Suter, who lives at Weston-under-Redcastle, near Market A29 26 Drayton, had been with the county council for five years. He was A29 27 unavailable for comment.

A29 28 A29 29 MP pledges all-out battle on merger

A29 30 A FINAL plea for a rethink on controversial Government plans to A29 31 merge the Staffordshire and Cheshire Regiments under a cut back of A29 32 the armed forces is to be made by Stafford MP Bill Cash.

A29 33 He pledged to fight an all-out battle to persuade Defence A29 34 Minister Tom King to change his mind and reprieve the two A29 35 battalions.

A29 36 Mr Cash said he would be seeking to meet Mr King right up to A29 37 the crucial armed forces debate on Monday when Parliament A29 38 reassembles after the summer recess.

A29 39 The Stafford MP, who is spear-heading the fight to halt the A29 40 amalgamations, said: "I hope the Government will listen. A29 41 These are important matters which go to the heart of this country A29 42 and the defence of the realm."

A29 43 The amalgamation has been put forward as part of a plan to A29 44 reduce the size of the Army from 55 battalions to 38.

A29 45 Earlier, Minister of State Mr King said claims that defence A29 46 cuts had not been thought through were unjust.

A29 47 Meanwhile, top-level talks will be held at the House of Commons A29 48 on Monday in a bid to stop the merger.

A29 49 The move will coincide with the presentation of a 100,000-name A29 50 anti-merger petition to the Ministry of Defence. Six coachloads of A29 51 Staffordshire Regiment supporters will travel to London from A29 52 Whittington Barracks in Lichfield to hand it over.

A29 53 A29 54 Miners will be balloted on pay claim action

A29 55 By Peter Holmes

A29 56 MINERS at North Staffordshire's closure-threatened pits are to A29 57 be balloted on industrial action over a pay claim.

A29 58 Leaders of the National Union of Mineworkers opted for the vote A29 59 at a special meeting at the union's Sheffield headquarters.

A29 60 The leaders are believed to want an end to inflation-linked pay A29 61 rises imposed on the 69,000-strong union by British Coal after the A29 62 miners' strike of 1984-5.

A29 63 Secret voting will take place among members at Trentham A29 64 Superpit and Silverdale Colliery within the next four weeks, with A29 65 the union recommending industrial action to press its A29 66 "substantial" pay claim.

A29 67 The NUM has not revealed details of the demand.

A29 68 Mr John Connon, president of the 3,000-strong Midlands Area, A29 69 said: "The decision of the special conference was to ask A29 70 the members to approve - on an individual basis - industrial A29 71 action.

A29 72 "Although we do not want to take industrial action, we A29 73 may be forced to press British Coal to discuss a substantial pay A29 74 rise.

A29 75 "It would be a start if they agreed to negotiate with A29 76 us at all."

A29 77 The union has refused to join pay talks with British Coal since A29 78 the end of the miners' strike because of the presence of A29 79 representatives from the rival Union of Democratic Mineworkers.

A29 80 Negotiated A29 81 In return, BC has negotiated rises with the UDM which have then A29 82 been imposed on the NUM members.

A29 83 Industrial action being considered would involve an overtime A29 84 ban with the miners refusing to carry out safety work outside A29 85 normal hours.

A29 86 This could lead to major disruption in the pits with A29 87 underground workers forced to wait for safety inspections - A29 88 normally done at weekends - to be completed before they start A29 89 work.

A29 90 It was revealed last week that all surface work at the A29 91 Florence, Longton, site of the Trentham mine would end next year A29 92 with operations transferred to the Hem Heath site.

A29 93 And a leaked report to the Government said that both the A29 94 remaining pits were ear-marked for closure with the loss of 3,000 A29 95 jobs under plans for privatisation.

A29 96 A29 97 Tories are urged to curb the 'feudalism' of big A29 98 breweries

A29 99 Landlords fear hundreds of pubs may close

A29 100 By Andrew Stanistreet

A29 101 PUBLICANS are to lobby the Tory Conference in Blackpool in a A29 102 bid to prevent hundreds of licensees losing their jobs.

A29 103 They claim brewers have taken advantage of new legislation to A29 104 introduce controversial leases which will drive tenant landlords A29 105 into bankruptcy.

A29 106 Agreements A29 107 Licensed victuallers' association officials say breweries have A29 108 used a Monopolies and Mergers Commission decision to cut the number A29 109 of pubs they run as an excuse to boost rents and scrap maintenance A29 110 agreements in their remaining premises.

A29 111 Jim Hayburn, spokesman for the Macclesfield and Congleton LVA, A29 112 said: "The new leases are a recipe for bankruptcy. Rents A29 113 are going up astronomically while the breweries at the same time A29 114 are divesting themselves of responsibility for care and A29 115 maintenance.

A29 116 "It will mean that prices will rise, hundreds of pubs will no A29 117 longer be viable and many landlords will be forced out of their A29 118 livelihoods.

A29 119 "What we want is for the Government to force the brewers to A29 120 either allow us to buy the pubs in a competitive market, or to rent A29 121 them at a commercial rent, not just to let us be dictated to A29 122 through a feudal system of ownership."

A29 123 And Mr Roy Peddie, a former chairman of the North Staffordshire A29 124 LVA and now the national organisation's president-elect, said: A29 125 "We will be lobbying the conference to drive home the fact A29 126 that the Government is not doing enough to protect A29 127 licensees.

A29 128 "In many cases the new brewery leases are little better than A29 129 notices to quit.

A29 130 Adopted A29 131 "We want an early review of how the new legislation has A29 132 been adopted by the breweries."

A29 133 Dozens of landlords will travel to Blackpool today from North A29 134 Staffordshire and South Cheshire to put their case at the A29 135 conference.

A29 136 A29 137 New services will cost Staffordshire pounds5.6m

A29 138 Child care revolution

A29 139 On Monday the Government's new Children Act 1989 becomes law. A29 140 It is the biggest upheaval in care services since the welfare state A29 141 was established more than 40 years ago. But the wide-ranging A29 142 reforms will cost millions to implement. For Staffordshire county A29 143 council, rocked by the Pin down scandal and strapped for cash, will A29 144 it mean just another funding headache? Reporter MARIANNE CURPHEY A29 145 investigates.

A29 146 STAFFORDSHIRE'S social services department says it needs 145 A29 147 extra staff and pounds5.6 million to put the Children Act 1989 into A29 148 force.

A29 149 But director Christine Walby knows the county council faces the A29 150 threat of charge-capping and having its budget cut by the A29 151 Government.

A29 152 "It is a concern," she says. "I am A29 153 worried that we will not be able to do what we want to do. We may A29 154 have to redefine our priorities, but that could mean closing down A29 155 other essential services.

A29 156 "Nothing we do in social services is a luxury - it is all vital A29 157 work."

A29 158 The new Act, presented in a White Paper even before the A29 159 Cleveland child abuse scandal of 1988, will mean the biggest A29 160 changes to welfare in Britain for 40 years.

A29 161 Ministers hope the legislation will create a revolution in A29 162 child care and a new emphasis on the responsibility of parents.

A29 163 Social workers

A29 164 But it will also mean more work for social workers, courts, and A29 165 child protection officers.

A29 166 More foster parents and social services staff will need to be A29 167 recruited and day care centres for families in difficulties will A29 168 have to be built.

A29 169 The new law aims to protect the child while ensuring that both A29 170 child and parents have a say in their future.

A29 171 From Monday:

A29 172 <*_>black-square<*/>Children will no longer be received into A29 173 voluntary care when parents have temporary difficulties in A29 174 coping.

A29 175 Instead the stigma of being 'in care' will be removed and A29 176 social workers will be responsible for setting up a support service A29 177 for families so children can be "given A29 178 accomodation" elsewhere.

A29 179 This could mean recruiting child-minders to take the pressure A29 180 off parents, and <}_><-|>couselling<+|>counselling<}/> the whole A29 181 family at one of the new day care centres.

A29 182 <*_>black-square<*/>Children are no longer seen as the property A29 183 of their parents - they are now regarded as individuals who can A29 184 have a say over their future.

A29 185 <*_>black-square<*/>Custody and access disappear and new orders A29 186 covering where a child lives and who has contact with him or her A29 187 come into force.

A29 188 <*_>black-square<*/>The old 'place of safety' order - under A29 189 which a child could be removed from the family home for 28 days - A29 190 ends. It is replaced by a new emergency protection order under A29 191 which a child can be removed for up to eight days for A29 192 protection.

A29 193 <*_>black-square<*/>Children in need of social services care A29 194 will for the first time include disabled children. Every local A29 195 authority will be required to keep a register of disabled children A29 196 in its area.

A29 197 <*_>black-square<*/>Special attention must be paid to the A29 198 racial group from which the child comes. Social workers must try to A29 199 recruit foster parents from the same group as that of the child.

A29 200 <*_>black-square<*/>Children's homes, now called community A29 201 homes, will have to issue special guidelines for staff on A29 202 admittance and reception of the child, methods of care and control, A29 203 log books and diary planning, confidentiality, and financial A29 204 administration.

A29 205 <*_>black-square<*/>Independent schools with less than 50 A29 206 boarders will be classed as children's homes and subject to the A29 207 same rules and inspections.

A29 208 <*_>black-square<*/>Alleged abusers, rather than the children A29 209 they abuse, will in some cases be persuaded to leave the family A29 210 home.

A29 211 Social services worker Maggie Holmes explained: "The A29 212 Act has huge implications for social services A29 213 departments.

A29 214 70 new staff

A29 215 "It is designed to bring in good working practices for A29 216 social workers.

A29 217 "The main shift is from parental 'rights' to their A29 218 responsibility. "Even when a child is in local authority care A29 219 parents keep their responsibilities to the child."

A29 220 Christine Walby added: "A major change is the A29 221 shortening of court deadlines when deciding the future of A29 222 children.

A29 223 "We are taking on around 70 new staff but we would have liked A29 224 to have recruited them 12 months ago.

A29 225 "Now our existing staff who are already stretched will face the A29 226 full brunt when the new legislation comes into force."

A29 227 Social services committee chairman Mike Poulter welcomed the A29 228 new Act as "a magnificent, major achievement."

A29 229 But he warned: "Unless the Government allows us to A29 230 raise more money we will not be able to deliver the services that A29 231 this Act requires.

A29 232 "There will be an enormous ammount of new services, new court A29 233 work, preventative measures to try to prevent families breaking A29 234 up.

A29 235 "But family counselling will require day care centres and at A29 236 least one new centre will have to be built in each A29 237 area."

A29 238 He wants the Government to allow the county council to raise A29 239 more cash for the changes, even though it could cost the poll tax A29 240 payer money.

A29 241 "At present we cannot raise more funds as we are within A29 242 pounds1,000 of our spending budget and face being capped if we A29 243 spend any more," he said.

A29 244 "But the public wants to see children properly cared A29 245 for and I believe they are prepared to pay for it.

A29 246 "The department has just advertised for almost 70 new staff and A29 247 received four times as many applications as there were A29 248 places."

A29 249 Around pounds2 million was made available to social services A29 250 after the Pin down report by Allan Levy QC and Barbara Kahan was A29 251 published in May this year.

A29 252 The pounds5,000 a day inquiry heard how children in homes were A29 253 kept in solitary confinement dressed only in their underwear.

A29 254 It blamed a lack of skilled residential staff, inadequate A29 255 staffing and staff under pressure.

A29 256 Special paid leave

A29 257 When Christine Walby, 51, moved into her pounds61,000-a-year A29 258 post as social services director, she knew she was walking into a A29 259 department in crisis.

A29 260 A30 1 <#FLOB:A30\>Tories taunted over jobs

A30 2 OPPOSITION leader Neil Kinnock taunted ministers over the A30 3 latest unemployment increase, saying: "The longer this A30 4 Cabinet hangs on to its jobs, the more other people are going to A30 5 lose theirs."

A30 6 But Commons Leader John MacGregor, deputising at question time A30 7 for Prime Minister John Major, said Labour would "lose more A30 8 jobs, more permanently".

A30 9 <*_>bullet<*/>The Government is to close its Jobshare scheme - A30 10 involving cash incentives for employers to provide additional A30 11 employment - at the end of the year, junior employment minister A30 12 Robert Jackson disclosed.

A30 13 <*_>bullet<*/>A National Health Service debate to "nail A30 14 Labour's smears and fears", was announced for Monday by Mr A30 15 MacGregor. Health Secretary William Waldegrave will open it on a A30 16 motion entitled "The Prime Minister's pledge to continue A30 17 free hospital treatment for everyone".

A30 18 <*_>bullet<*/>Labour's Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central) claimed A30 19 that a "luxury holiday fact-finding mission to a Paris A30 20 hotel" has been arranged for Barnsley District General A30 21 Hospital staff in preparation for NHS trust status. Mr MacGregor A30 22 said health reforms were making big savings, "all of which A30 23 are being directed at patient care".

A30 24 British plans to train African National Congress members would A30 25 discriminate against Zulus and prejudge the outcome of Pretoria's A30 26 reforms, Sir Ian Lloyd (Con Havant) protested. But Mr MacGregor A30 27 said the move would greatly help with "race relations and A30 28 the future in South Africa."

A30 29 <*_>bullet<*/>Increasing Government department errors pose the A30 30 risk of fraud and corruption, Public Accounts Committee chairman A30 31 Robert Sheldon warned. He paid tribute to "very high A30 32 standards" of vigilance on public spending, but warned: A30 33 "Once fraud and corruption gets a hold in any particular A30 34 area, that is when you are in trouble."

A30 35 <*_>bullet<*/>Shadow Commons leader Dr Jack Cunningham demanded A30 36 a statement by Home Secretary Kenneth Baker on franchises after it A30 37 emerged that ex-premier Margaret Thatcher told TV-am she was A30 38 "heartbroken" it lost its battle to broadcast. Mr A30 39 MacGregor said licence allocation was a matter for the Independent A30 40 Televison Commission, not the Government.

A30 41 <*_>bullet<*/>The introduction of tax on hospital volunteer A30 42 drivers' mileage claims will be phased in gradually over a number A30 43 of years, Treasury Financial Secretary Francis Maude announced. He A30 44 said he was aware of much concern about the issue.

A30 45 <*_>bullet<*/>Moves to outlaw the sale of tickets on the day of A30 46 a soccer match without the home club's authority, were pledged by A30 47 junior Home Office minister Peter Lloyd "when Parliamentary A30 48 time allows."

A30 49 <*_>bullet<*/>The phasing out of drift nets for salmon fishing A30 50 off England's north-east coast was backed by Agriculture Minister A30 51 John Gummer and Scottish fisheries minister Lord Strathclyde. They A30 52 said the change should be made "gradually, so as not to A30 53 cause unnecessary hardship."

A30 54 <*_>bullet<*/>Parliament is to be prorogued at the end of next A30 55 Tuesday's business until the Queen's Speech on October 31, which A30 56 opens the new session, Mr MacGregor announced.

A30 57 A30 58 King quashes army cut protests

A30 59 DEFENCE Secretary Tom King brushed aside widespread opposition A30 60 to Army cuts, dealing a blow to campaigners who marched on the A30 61 Commons with almost 1m signatures.

A30 62 He made clear there was no going back on plans to reduce A30 63 infantry battalions from 55 to 38 and Army size from 160,000 to A30 64 116,000.

A30 65 Mr King announced a big cut in Britain's nuclear free fall A30 66 bombs, as part of an overall Nato stockpile reduction to be A30 67 announced later this week.

A30 68 <*_>bullet<*/>Controversial low-flying training by fighter jets A30 69 is to be cut by almost a third over the next three years, junior A30 70 Defence Procurement minister Kenneth Carlisle announced. But there A30 71 will be an increase in other forms of low-flying, principally by A30 72 helicopters and the new propellor-driven Tucano trainer.

A30 73 Mr Carlisle also announced that the ice patrol ship HMS A30 74 Endurance, which played a key role in the Falklands conflict, is to A30 75 be decommissioned. It will be replaced by the MV Polar Circle, to A30 76 be leased from Norway from November.

A30 77 <*_>bullet<*/>The future of the Tower of London's Beefeaters A30 78 and the public duties of the Household Division - both world famous A30 79 tourist attractions - will be "kept under review" A30 80 during planning for Army restructuring, armed forces minister A30 81 Archie Hamilton said.

A30 82 But he insisted the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals would A30 83 continue to form a Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment for their A30 84 ceremonial role.

A30 85 Mr Hamilton said in a series of Commons written replies A30 86 yesterday that the three battalions of Foot Guards normally based A30 87 in the London area might be given increased manpower "to A30 88 facilitate the discharge of public duties".

A30 89 The Commandant of the Royal Military School of Music was also A30 90 reviewing the future structure and location of Army bands, he A30 91 said.

A30 92 <*_>bullet<*/>Transport Secretary Malcolm Rifkind hinted that A30 93 some Government money might after all be made available to finance A30 94 the Channel Tunnel rail link. Until now, ministers have firmly A30 95 ruled out any state funding of the multi-billion-pound project.

A30 96 Mr Rifkind said: "I have indicated very clearly that A30 97 what I would like to see is a private sector-funded project. That's A30 98 what we believe would be the most desirable." But he added: A30 99 "If proposals come forward which fall short of that, we A30 100 will consider that in the circumstances of the time."

A30 101 <*_>bullet<*/>Commons Leader John MacGregor claimed Labour was A30 102 "retreating" on its accusations that the Government wants A30 103 to privatise the health service.

A30 104 Replying to a demand by the Opposition's Dr. Jack Cunningham A30 105 for a statement from Health Secretary William Waldegrave about A30 106 "creeping privatisation of the NHS", Mr MacGregor A30 107 said: "There are simply no charges to respond A30 108 to."

A30 109 <*_>bullet<*/>The EC cannot use its forces to separate warring A30 110 sides in Yugoslavia, Foreign Office Minister Douglas Hogg said. He A30 111 insisted: "The solution can only be a political one, freely A30 112 reached among the Yugoslavs themselves."

A30 113 <*_>bullet<*/>Legislation paving the way for privatisation of A30 114 British Rail will not be presented to Parliament until after the A30 115 election, Transport Minister Roger Freeman said.

A30 116 <*_>bullet<*/>Prime Minister John Major set out in a written A30 117 reply those aspects of his Citizen's Charter which will need new A30 118 legislation. The first Bills to implement his pledges to increase A30 119 accountability by public services to their users are expected to be A30 120 included in the October 31 Queen's Speech.

A30 121 A30 122 MPs back cuts in forces

A30 123 MINISTERS fought off the threatened backbench rebellion over A30 124 their plans to slash the armed forces as seven Tories defied their A30 125 whips and voted against the Government.

A30 126 The defence estimates were approved by 324 votes to 66, the A30 127 Opposition abstaining, after a stormy two-day debate on the A30 128 changes. Labour's amendment recognising the scope for further A30 129 reductions in defence spending and urging more help for ex-service A30 130 personnel lost by 345 votes to 238.

A30 131 Conflict A30 132 Britain's ability to fight another Gulf-style conflict would A30 133 not be hindered, Defence Procurement Minister Alan Clark A30 134 insisted.

A30 135 Mr Clark announced the setting-up of a working group to examine A30 136 UK nuclear weapons safety, the outcome of investigations into the A30 137 loss of six Tornado aircraft in the Gulf War and a project A30 138 definition contract for two new amphibious assault ships.

A30 139 Defence Secretary Tom King said there will be a A30 140 "significant reduction" in civilians employed by A30 141 the forces.

A30 142 Mortgages at preferential rates will be available to full-time A30 143 members of the armed forces from next month, Armed Forces Minister A30 144 Archie Hamilton said. He also disclosed that servicemen made A30 145 redundant will receive special capital payments.

A30 146 <*_>bullet<*/>Plans to crack down on squatting in empty homes A30 147 and shops were announced by Home Secretary Kenneth Baker, who said: A30 148 "The law needs to be changed to safeguard the rights of A30 149 owners." A consultation paper includes the option of A30 150 extending the criminal law on squatting.

A30 151 Shadow home secretary Roy Hattersley backed the view that A30 152 action should be taken, but said: "If the Government is A30 153 serious about squatting, it needs to do something about A30 154 homelessness."

A30 155 <*_>bullet<*/>Labour leader Neil Kinnock renewed battle over A30 156 the health service. He asked Commons Leader John MacGregor, A30 157 standing in for Prime Minister MrJohn Major at question time: A30 158 "Can you tell us what the Government proposes to do to stop A30 159 the process of privatisation of the NHS?"

A30 160 Mr MacGregor replied: "The reforms we are pursuing are A30 161 not creeping privatisation. They are getting proper reform to A30 162 ensure the resources are better directed to patient A30 163 care."

A30 164 <*_>bullet<*/>The Government was defeated in the Lords over the A30 165 universities' role in its planned privatisation of the research A30 166 body, the British Technology Group. Voting was 111 to 102 for an A30 167 amendment to the British Technology Group Bill.

A30 168 A30 169 Major to take full PM's pay

A30 170 JOHN Major is likely to take his full pay rise as Prime A30 171 Minister, unlike his predecessor Margaret Thatcher.

A30 172 He is not expected to keep his salary pegged to that of fellow A30 173 Cabinet ministers when the rises are announced next month, A30 174 Government sources have indicated.

A30 175 Mrs Thatcher drew the same salary as her Cabinet colleagues and A30 176 did not take the extra available to her as PM.

A30 177 Mortgage A30 178 Downing Street sources said: "The Prime Minister does A30 179 draw his full salary, unlike Mrs Thatcher. He has a mortgage to pay A30 180 and a lot of other commitments."

A30 181 Ministers look set to be awarded a below-inflation pay rise - A30 182 but MPs will enjoy a 6.5% rise in January. With their pay now A30 183 linked to the civil service scale, MPs' salaries will rise from A30 184 pounds28,790 to pounds30,854.

A30 185 A30 186 Government accused of victimising poor people

A30 187 THE number of people on Income Support paying poll tax arrears A30 188 in Kirklees has more than doubled in three months.

A30 189 And figures released by the Labour Party show that nationally A30 190 the numbers have increased by 54%.

A30 191 Demanding Government intervention, Shadow Secretary of State A30 192 for Social Security Michael Meacher has called for 100% poll tax A30 193 rebates for pensioners, the unemployed and people on benefit.

A30 194 He accused the Government of victimising the poorest section of A30 195 the community by chasing them for punitive payments.

A30 196 The number of claimants in Kirklees paying community charge A30 197 arrears shot from 62 in May this year to 137 in August.

A30 198 The figures supplied by the Benefits Agency revealed that A30 199 throughout the UK numbers rose from nearly 58,000 to just over A30 200 89,000 in the same period.

A30 201 Mr Meacher said: "At the present rate of increase, by A30 202 next year there will be more than 250,000 people having poll tax A30 203 arrears deducted from Income Support.

A30 204 "These will be in addition to the 430,000 repaying loans to the A30 205 Social Fund, 250,000 repaying electricity and gas arrears, 80,000 A30 206 paying rent arrears and 45,000 paying water charge A30 207 arrears."

A30 208 Money was being taken from people who were existing on A30 209 appallingly low benefits, said Mr Meacher.

A30 210 Huge variations across the country in the number who were being A30 211 pursued for deductions from benefit showed how unfair the poll tax A30 212 was.

A30 213 "The local authorities have told Environment Secretary A30 214 Michael Heseltine that it is not effective to pursue benefit A30 215 claimants for non-payment of their 20% poll tax liability," A30 216 said Mr Meacher.

A30 217 "Some of these debts will never be collected. Mr A30 218 Heseltine himself has proposed that those on benefit will not have A30 219 to pay his council tax."

A30 220 He added: "But for a further year from April 1992, A30 221 councils will be obliged to impose this punitive poll tax on the A30 222 very poorest, and to fruitlessly pursue those who cannot pay. It is A30 223 victimisation of the poorest people."

A30 224 A30 225 "Disgraceful" response to pleas

A30 226 Forum criticises lack of support from Tory MP

A30 227 COLNE Valley MP Graham Riddick was criticised last night for A30 228 his "disgraceful" response to pleas to fight cutbacks in A30 229 police manpower.

A30 230 Holmfirth Police Community Forum is now writing to the Tory MP A30 231 to complain at his lack of support and request he attends the next A30 232 meeting of the forum - of which he is a member.

A30 233 They wrote to him in July asking for help in reducing budget A30 234 cutbacks forced on West Yorkshire Police Authority by Government A30 235 capping threats.

A30 236 But forum vice-chairman Kirklees Clr Bob Mortimer attacked the A30 237 response Mr Riddick made in a letter to the group as an A30 238 "absolute disgrace".

A30 239 From next April the authority faces slashing pounds4m from its A30 240 budget and losing 420 police officers and hundreds of civilian A30 241 staff, said Clr Mortimer.

A30 242 Home Secretary

A30 243 Mr Riddick wrote that he had informed West Yorkshire's Chief A30 244 Constable of his and the forum's concern over reduced manning A30 245 levels next year because of the cash crisis.

A30 246 He had also written to the Home Secretary who had gone A30 247 "as far as he was able to go in saying that the authority A30 248 would not be capped even if its budget did exceed the capping A30 249 limit".

A30 250 A31 1 <#FLOB:A31\>S Yorks women "suffer low A31 2 pay"

A31 3 By Helen Barnes

A31 4 WOMEN manual workers in South Yorkshire are the lowest paid in A31 5 the country.

A31 6 A new survey shows women´s pay lags far behind the rates for A31 7 men.

A31 8 A woman full-time manual worker in Yorkshire and Humberside A31 9 could, on average, hope to receive barely half the average gross A31 10 weekly wage for all workers.

A31 11 The report issued by Labour employment spokesman Tony Blair and A31 12 shadow minister for women Jo Richardson hit at the "poverty A31 13 and inequality" facing women.

A31 14 Sheffield Central MP Richard Caborn, Labour spokesman on trade A31 15 and industry, said Britain needed a minimum wage and continous A31 16 training to upgrade skills.

A31 17 "As long as there is this pool of workers on poverty A31 18 wages we will not be realising the potential of our A31 19 workforce," he said.

A31 20 Chairman of Sheffield council personnel committee Coun Mike A31 21 Bower, said many women earned less than pounds100 a week with some A31 22 women working for private cleaning firms earning as little as A31 23 pound1 an hour.

A31 24 A minimum wage would hold no worries for the council, which A31 25 already paid over that rate, he said.

A31 26 South Yorkshire was a low-pay area because unemployment left A31 27 workers little bargaining power.

A31 28 Figures from the Low Pay Unit said the average gross pay for A31 29 manual women workers in Yorkshire and Humberside was A31 30 pounds149.10.

A31 31 Women non-manual workers received just over three-quarters of A31 32 the regional average of all workers - the second lowest in A31 33 England.

A31 34 Female manual workers in Yorkshire and Humberside were paid A31 35 just under 61 per cent of the average for men, including overtime - A31 36 the third lowest out of the eight English regions.

A31 37 A31 38 Hospitals lining up for new Trust bid

A31 39 By Hugh Lawrence, Parliamentary Correspondent

A31 40 MORE hospital opt-outs in South Yorkshire could be on the way A31 41 in a new wave for 1993.

A31 42 A new list of possibles follows Health Secretary William A31 43 Waldegrave´s approval for more than 100 hospitals and health units A31 44 around the country to opt out of health authority control and A31 45 become self-governing from next April.

A31 46 Now he has given a green light for more to go ahead with A31 47 putting in formal opt-out applications after voicing initial A31 48 "expressions of interest".

A31 49 The list of units now being allowed to put in applications for A31 50 opting out from April 1993 includes: Barnsley District General A31 51 Hospital, Rotherham General Hospitals, Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, A31 52 Derbyshire Ambulance Service and Rotherham Priority Health A31 53 Services.

A31 54 These are among more than 150 hospitals and health units A31 55 nationwide being told by Mr Waldegrave they can make a bid for A31 56 approval for self-governing Trust status from 1993.

A31 57 And Sheffield MPs have accused the Government of ignoring the A31 58 wishes of people on hospital opt-outs.

A31 59 Labour MPs Bill Michie (Heeley), Richard Caborn (Sheffield A31 60 Central), David Blunkett (Brightside), Martin Flannery A31 61 (Hillsborough) and Sir Patrick Duffy (Attercliffe) protested the A31 62 latest batch of opt-out hospitals and services had been given a A31 63 go-ahead before the first wave had been properly assessed.

A31 64 In a Commons motion also backed by North-East Derbyshire MP A31 65 Harry Barnes, they say most Sheffield people, the City Council, A31 66 health workers, trade unions, GPs and the Community Health Council A31 67 were "totally opposed" to switches to A31 68 self-governing Trust status. The MPs say people´s views had been A31 69 "contemptuously ignored".

A31 70 A31 71 Protest as minister rejects final plea - strike call marks A31 72 closure of library

A31 73 By Jill Ward and Neil Fieldhouse

A31 74 LIBRARY Staff across Sheffield were threatening strike action A31 75 this afternoon. They were planning the protest at staff cuts and A31 76 the decision to close Ecclesall Library.

A31 77 But campaigners fighting to keep the branch open admit their A31 78 chances are now slim after being told the Government has refused to A31 79 intervene to save it.

A31 80 Conservative leader David Heslop said the community wouls A31 81 oppose any plans by the Labour-controlled city council to use the A31 82 site for housing or anything other than leisure.

A31 83 "Appalled" A31 84 He spoke out after returning from a trip to Westminster, where A31 85 he made a personal plea to ministers to block the shutdown. He A31 86 argued that the council was breaching its legal duty to provide A31 87 library services.

A31 88 Said Mr. Heslop: "The response was that the council was A31 89 a duty to provide a service across the city in general, not to an A31 90 area in particular and so was not in breach," he said.

A31 91 "But the minister was also appalled at the closedown, A31 92 which is clearly for political reasons and will leave a void in A31 93 library provision in the south west.

A31 94 Meanwhile library chiefs are advising the public to phone their A31 95 branch libraries to see if they will be open later today. Officials A31 96 from the national and Local Government Officers Association have A31 97 called on their members to strike this afternoon and attend a A31 98 protest rally at Ecclesall Library.

A31 99 A31 100 Secret bid for cash to boost run down areas

A31 101 By Neil Fieldhouse, Political Editor

A31 102 SHEFFIELD'S best kept secret - which could unlock doors to a A31 103 new future for the city - was being delivered to the Government A31 104 this afternoon.

A31 105 Two city council officials took details of Sheffield's bid for A31 106 a share in a pounds350m urban aid package announced by Environment A31 107 Secretary Michael Heseltine to tackle decay and decline.

A31 108 Wide area

A31 109 Fifteen areas have been invited to compete for City Challenge A31 110 funds - but only ten will win.

A31 111 Sheffield has kept its ideas strictly under wraps to prevent A31 112 rivals gaining inside information to steal an advantage.

A31 113 And officials this afternoon declined to give away any clues A31 114 before delivering the package to Mr Heseltine's office by today's A31 115 deadline for submissions.

A31 116 All that is known is that Sheffield proposes the funds should A31 117 be spent in a wide area across Attercliffe, the Manor, city centre, A31 118 Wybourn and Kelham.

A31 119 The project, put together by a partnership of the council, A31 120 development corporation, and the private sector, would improve the A31 121 fabric of Sheffield as well as create new training and employment A31 122 opportunities.

A31 123 "It would provide the resources to turn our vision of A31 124 the future Sheffield into a reality," said businessman A31 125 Norman Adsetts.

A31 126 A31 127 City closure schools in pledge to fight on

A31 128 By Neil Fieldhouse, Political Editor

A31 129 CITY schools are today drawing up battle plans after the A31 130 council voted through a package of closures and mergers amid angry A31 131 and stormy scenes in the Town Hall.

A31 132 Scores of parents, governors, teachers and children lobbied A31 133 councillors as they arrived for a special meeting, but failed to A31 134 win a single change.

A31 135 Labour used its overwhelming majority to throw out demands for A31 136 a re-think of the proposals, led by the Conservatives and Liberal A31 137 Democrats and backed by protesters who packed the public gallery. A31 138 The council agreed to axe Bolsterstone J and I, Clifford F, A31 139 Handsworth F, Roscoe Bank J and I, Stand House F, Warren J and I, A31 140 Norfolk Secondary and the sixth form at Abbeydale Grange.

A31 141 All have vowed to challenge the decision, including many of the A31 142 40 schools which will be merged.

A31 143 Threatened change

A31 144 They argue that the proposals are no longer "logical" A31 145 and schools which are smaller and less viable than their own have A31 146 been reprieved on political not educational grounds - a charge A31 147 hotly denied by Labour.

A31 148 Chapeltown's Warren School headteacher Andy Chambers today said A31 149 the doomed schools would continue to battle individually and A31 150 collectively for survival.

A31 151 He said: "We will put in our objections to the council A31 152 and in September we will be going to London to put our case to the A31 153 Secretary of State for Education. A31 154 "We could have accepted it if 20 schools were to close as there A31 155 would have been substantial savings. Surplus places would have been A31 156 lost and the council would get more Government money.

A31 157 "But closing seven excellent schools is not going to save A31 158 anything. We are all very upset about how the review has been A31 159 done."

A31 160 Education chairman Steve Jones told the meeting amid boos and A31 161 hisses from the gallery that it had been "an open and A31 162 honest" review and it was only natural that schools would A31 163 oppose threatened change.

A31 164 <*_>bullet<*/>A last-ditch plan to save Bolsterstone Infant and A31 165 Junior School from closure will be discussed tomorrow in a meeting A31 166 at the school hall at 7.30pm. The school is earmarked for closure A31 167 next September and parents and teachers are considering opting out A31 168 of city council control.

A31 169 A31 170 "Bully Boy" rap by Tory MP

A31 171 By Hugh Lawrence

A31 172 SHEFFIELD Tory MP Irvine Patnick has accused city councillors A31 173 of "bully boy" bias against areas which do not back A31 174 Labour.

A31 175 He hit out about school and library closures and claimed the A31 176 council was penalising the Tory-voting area of Hallam.

A31 177 Mr Patnick said: "They are like political bully boys A31 178 saying if you live in one area we will protect you, live in another A31 179 political area with a different MP and councillors and you are for A31 180 the chop."

A31 181 The onslaught came in a row about school closure decisions.

A31 182 Today Mr Patnick stepped up protests about closure plans for A31 183 Clifford CE School. Attempts by opposition councilors to have A31 184 Bolsterstone CE School and Warren Junior and Infant School removed A31 185 from the closure list have also been rejected.

A31 186 Mr Patnick blasted plans to close Ecclesall Library, which he A31 187 said was one of the most popular and best-used in the city.

A31 188 A31 189 Sheffield "will go the way of Liverpool"

A31 190 By Neil Fieldhouse, Political Editor

A31 191 SHEFFIELD is on course to become a second Liverpool with the A31 192 city facing a budget gap of between pounds30m and pounds40m next A31 193 year, union officials fear.

A31 194 Council workers predict widespread cuts to jobs and services A31 195 which could plunge the city into damaging strikes and conflict this A31 196 winter.

A31 197 The Council's controlling Labour group was fast to give A31 198 assurances that they will manage the situation better than their A31 199 strife-torn Liverpool colleagues - and appealed to workers to A31 200 help.

A31 201 They dismissed visions of rubbish piled high in the streets, A31 202 bodies unburied and a council with its leadership and city in A31 203 disarray and torn apart.

A31 204 Finance chairman Howard Knight said they have already managed A31 205 to avoid one winter of discontent - and would survive next year, A31 206 although he admitted great difficulties.

A31 207 He said Sheffield faced a deficit of pounds30m to pounds40m if A31 208 inflation and Government support remains the same.

A31 209 "It will not be possible to make those reductions A31 210 without devastating effects on services," he added.

A31 211 He made a public plea to unions and workers. "We either A31 212 work together or sink.

A31 213 He spoke out after local government workers union NALGO's A31 214 Sheffield branch said it was meeting tonight to vote on passing on A31 215 its support to colleagues in Liverpool.

A31 216 Spokesman David Granville said: "The position there A31 217 highlights the similarity between the two cities and how narrowly A31 218 we avoided the same thing here.

A31 219 "We in Sheffield are under no illusions.

A31 220 "We are very concerned that under the weight of the financial A31 221 costs of the World Student Games in particular we could be in for a A31 222 very difficult period.

A31 223 This year nearly 2,000 Sheffield council workers volunteered to A31 224 give up their jobs and Labour ordered spending cuts and freezes A31 225 across the board.

A31 226 A31 227 Drive to bring back life to the valley

A31 228 By Neil Fieldhouse, Political Editor

A31 229 MORE than 4,000 jobs and the complete reclamation of the UK's A31 230 worst area of dereliction would the prize if South Yorkshire wins A31 231 one of its two City Challenge bids.

A31 232 The package will be officially unwrapped on Monday when A31 233 Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham put their case to the Government A31 234 for being one of 15 areas chosen to share pounds350m of grant A31 235 aid.

A31 236 The three towns want pounds39.5m to help transform the Dearne A31 237 Valley area, reclaiming the vast Wath/Manvers pit site - which is A31 238 officially the biggest eyesore in the country - and pumping new A31 239 life into the decaying communities.

A31 240 Twenty other areas are also competing for a share including A31 241 neighboring Sheffield.

A31 242 Partnership A31 243 If the Dearne Valley succeeds, projects to get support would A31 244 include new bisness and industry developments, housing, a new A31 245 college, golf course and national centre for the environment.

A31 246 They would also include a hotel, large tracts of parkland and A31 247 an array of training and support scheme for residents aimed at A31 248 getting the region back to work.

A31 249 The five-year package will be put to Envinronment Minister A31 250 Robert Key on Monday morning although no decision on whether the A31 251 Dearne has succeeded is expected until the end of this month.

A31 252 A partnership of Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham councils and A31 253 private business will put <}_><-|>foward<+|>forward<}/> the A31 254 ideas.

A31 255 A32 1 <#FLOB:A32\>Strength in depth the key

A32 2 <*_>black-square<*/>ATHLETICS

A32 3 SPRINGHEAD HARRIERS strength in depth shone through as they A32 4 swept to a last-ditch win over Goole Youth AC.

A32 5 Honours were even with only the youths and senior men's relays A32 6 to come and Springhead won them both with some spectacular running A32 7 to clinch victory by just four points, 173-169.

A32 8 Many personal bests were set and there were new club records A32 9 from Adele Foster with 27 seconds in the under 15 girls 200m and A32 10 for close rivals Claire Dunn, 27.1 and Jacquie Burke 27.3.

A32 11 Richard Woodmansey - the new find of the season in the senior A32 12 men's group, set a new record in the long jump with a leap of 5.13m A32 13 and in the youths section Paul Cooper turned his back on the track A32 14 and leapt 6.31m in the long jump which was never bettered on the A32 15 day.

A32 16 Young Marc Webster shone in the under 11 minor boys' shot with A32 17 5.07m and there were two new records in the men's javelin from A32 18 junior Craig Napper with 40.46m and from Mark Hewson with 42.54m on A32 19 his senior debut.

A32 20 Finally, Allison English pulled out a tremendous leap of 4.31m, A32 21 in the under 13 minor girls' long jump to set a season's best and A32 22 then followed that up with a winning leg in the 4x100m relay which A32 23 Springhead won in 59.1.

A32 24 <*_>bullet<*/>East Hull Harriers' Peter Harrison made a winning A32 25 comeback at the weekend.

A32 26 On Sunday he came first in the 800m in the Humberside Masters A32 27 held at the Costello Stadium and he completed a hat-trick of wins A32 28 by romping home in the 1500 and 800m in the 50-54 age group.

A32 29 On Saturday he claimed second place<&|>sic! he'd had in the A32 30 East Hull Harriers Summer League.

A32 31 A32 32 Lambert makes a swift return

A32 33 By Malcolm Richardson

A32 34 SEAHAWKS REPORTER

A32 35 HUMBERSIDE Seahawks player-coach Dale Lambert today A32 36 praised the fracture clinic at Hull Royal Infirmary for 'altering' A32 37 his fiberglass cast which means he can now make his come-back in A32 38 tonight's Pennine Cup clash with Blackburn Blackhawks at the Ice A32 39 Arena (5.45).

A32 40 "They have been marvellous to make such adjustments to A32 41 the cast which means I can now get a glove on" enthused A32 42 Lambert, who has a broken thumb and is being forced to make his A32 43 return two weeks earlier than anticipated - and against doctor's A32 44 orders!

A32 45 "No-one wants me to play for another couple of weeks A32 46 but I don't see I have any alternative" says Lambert.

A32 47 "With our guest import Ransome Durcar having this week A32 48 signed for Durham we just haven't been able to find a replacement - A32 49 and in any case I need to get back into the thick of the A32 50 action."

A32 51 Disappointed with much of the Seahawks' recent performances he A32 52 has been issuing a battle-cry this week to shake them out of their A32 53 summertime blues.

A32 54 "The holiday is over, it's time we all got back to A32 55 work" he storms.

A32 56 Tonight the Seahawks hold an 11-4 lead from the first leg of A32 57 the Pennine Cup, a new challenge match between the two clubs, and A32 58 Lambert is using the chance to try out his fitness.

A32 59 "I've been out for a couple of weeks and I need to get A32 60 used to the pace of the game again," he says.

A32 61 "Sunday's match is much more important when we play A32 62 Billingham in the Autumn Cup (5.45 at the Ice Arena).

A32 63 "The British Ice Hockey Association have given us a A32 64 second chance in this competition and we have to grab A32 65 it."

A32 66 The Seahawks were beaten 9-6 at Telford on Tuesday but the BIHA A32 67 overturned the result and gave the Seahawks a 5-0 win after Telford A32 68 illegally iced import Dan Sweeney.

A32 69 It means the Seahawks now surprisingly top the table on goal A32 70 difference from Nottingham, who, however, have a match in hand.

A32 71 All the signs are that the group champions will be decided on A32 72 the final match - when Nottingham visit Hull on September 29.

A32 73 A32 74 Hull II hold on for Yorkshire League victory

A32 75 <*_>black-square<*/>TABLE TENNIS

A32 76 SEVEN of Hull's Yorkshire Table Tennis League sides went into A32 77 action last week, with five matches taking place on Humberside and A32 78 the Mens II and Ladies travelling to Scarborough and Leeds A32 79 respectively.

A32 80 Hull's Division 1 side got away to a winning start despite a A32 81 maximum for Ashley Hodgson for Scarborough. Dave Randerson, Ian A32 82 Parker and Mark Farnill each scored two victories for Hull II who A32 83 ran out 6-4 winners.

A32 84 Hull III 9, Keighley 1. Dave Burnham and Mark Williams (3 each) A32 85 and newcomer from York, Chris Haynes (2) scored well in Hull III's A32 86 runaway 9-1 win over Keighley.

A32 87 Leeds II 6. Hull Ladies 4. Hull Ladies, with Irene and Nicky A32 88 Thompson, the first mother and daughter combination to represent A32 89 the county both winning twice, went down 6-4 to Leeds II.

A32 90 Hull Vet 3, York 7. Mick Farnill (2), Dave Bartlett scored wins A32 91 as Hull Vets went down 7-3 to York. Terry Jarvis won twice as Hull A32 92 Vet II lost 8-2 to Bradford. Hull Vet III were 7-3 winners over A32 93 Halifax with seven games going the distance. Alan Hedley (3), Ron A32 94 Wicks and Mick North (2) were in good form for Hull IV as they A32 95 defeated Dewsbury III 8-2.

A32 96 There was considerable success for the city's young stars at A32 97 the Final Yorkshire Junior/Cadet Trials held at Leeds over the A32 98 weekend.

A32 99 Phil Neal, who attained a national No. 3 ranking with the A32 100 Cadets last season, and is now in his first year as a Junior, took A32 101 top place in the Junior Boys ahead of his closest rival Andrew A32 102 Nicholls (Selby) with Mark Smith (Bradford) and Richard Potter A32 103 (Leeds) taking the remaining places in the four strong squad A32 104 eligible to go through to the National trials at Lilleshall on A32 105 December 28.

A32 106 With the Cadets, Wayne Marsh took the last of the three A32 107 National places available, behind Tony Hudson (Leeds) and David A32 108 Smith (Huddersfield), thanks to a fine victory over Hudson which A32 109 clinched his place.

A32 110 Keeping the east of the county to the fore among the girls was A32 111 Zoe Fisher, who competed at both levels and claimed two second A32 112 places.

A32 113 Both Neal and Miss Fisher have been named in the Yorkshire A32 114 Junior Division 1 side to meet Clwyd at Bradford on December 1, A32 115 with Fisher making her County debut.

A32 116 Following the trials, Marsh travelled down to St. Ives A32 117 (Cambridgeshire) where he teamed up with Andrew Sugarman, excused A32 118 trials by virtue of his national ranking, and Peter Marshall to A32 119 compete in the St. Ives Invitation Team Tournament.

A32 120 Ninety Six players in 32 teams came out in the morning, and the A32 121 Hull boys came comfortably through their group of eight, taking top A32 122 place without the loss of a set.

A32 123 The semi-final brought yet another straight sets win over A32 124 Brentwood, who included Stephen Joslin, two wins over Marsh to his A32 125 credit this season, but there was to be no stopping the Hull boys A32 126 now, and they despatched Bedford, semi-final winners over A32 127 Stadt Tallendorf from Germany, again by the 3-0 A32 128 margin.

A32 129 With all three Hull boys returning a clean sheet, the award for A32 130 'Player of the Tournament' was not straightforward, the decision A32 131 finally going in favour of Sugarman following a points A32 132 countback.

A32 133 A32 134 Classy Cas again destroy the Rovers

A32 135 By John Fieldhouse

A32 136 HULL KR REPORTER

A32 137 HULL KR coach George Fairbairn reckons Leeds are his favourite A32 138 side.

A32 139 On the evidence of yesterday's clash at Craven Park, it's a A32 140 fair bet that Castleford must currently rank as his least favourite! A32 141 Two weeks ago, they dumped Fairbairn's local heroes out of the A32 142 Yorkshire Cup in emphatic style.

A32 143 And yesterday, the men from Wheldon road breezed into Craven A32 144 Park ... and proceeded to hand out a top flight lesson to Rovers A32 145 before steaming back along the M62 with two precious points tucked A32 146 safely in their bag.

A32 147 Rovers approached the match full of hope, especially after the A32 148 much-needed win at Swinton last Sunday.

A32 149 But 'classy Cas' were a much tougher proposition, hardly A32 150 surprising really as their line-up packed in seven full A32 151 internationals.

A32 152 They possessed the power and pace when it mattered most. Rovers A32 153 never stopped battling with rookie prop Chris Harrison setting a A32 154 tremendous lead but on the day they lacked the know-how when - and A32 155 where - it mattered most.

A32 156 Rovers couldn't have made a better start. Like the majority of A32 157 games this season, they attacked strongly from the kick-off and A32 158 this time they got vital points on the board.

A32 159 But Castleford clawed their way back into a 10-6 lead after 16 A32 160 minutes and then led 14-12 at the interval before effectively A32 161 settling the match with two touchdowns in the opening quarter of A32 162 the second half.

A32 163 First, power-packed loose forward Tawera A32 164 <}_><-|>Nickau<+|>Nikau<}/> pounded through some shoddy tackling to A32 165 set up a try for fellow Kiwi international Richard A32 166 <}_><-|>Blakburn<+|>Blackburn<}/>.

A32 167 Cas' then struck again with another long range effort, full A32 168 back Graham Steadman sidestepping his way through another poor bout A32 169 of tackling before sending Blackburn romping over from 25 yards A32 170 out.

A32 171 Rovers found themselves trailing 22-12 with just 20 minutes A32 172 remaining. They were in need of a miracle but those are in pretty A32 173 short supply at Craven Park these days.

A32 174 At least Rovers battled until the bitter end and Castleford did A32 175 their best to help, committing a series of handling errors while A32 176 watching prop Keith England sin-binned after he hit-out at home sub A32 177 Wayne Jackson at a play-the-ball.

A32 178 Rovers did have their chances but, unlike Castleford, they A32 179 lacked the players with the authority to turn possible half-gaps A32 180 into clear-cut openings.

A32 181 Those two second half tries may have eventually proved the A32 182 matchwinners but Castleford always had the edge in players like Lee A32 183 Crooks, Nikau, Steadman and Blackburn.

A32 184 Rovers, it must be said, hardly helped themselves with some A32 185 poor tactical work, particularly in the opening half.

A32 186 When they were pinned back in their own 25, they persisted in A32 187 trying to play their way out of trouble when what was called for A32 188 was the 'order of the boot' - as far down field as possible.

A32 189 Five times, Rovers lost the ball inside their own 25. On two A32 190 occasions Castleford cashed in with tries - the other three times A32 191 Rovers just managed to keep the visitors out.

A32 192 Rovers did produce a kicking game in the second half and A32 193 succeeded in driving Castleford back.

A32 194 For the first time in the match players like Crooks and A32 195 Steadman looked vulnerable as they were forced to A32 196 <}_><-|>beck-pedal<+|>back-pedal<}/>. By then, though, the damage A32 197 had already been done.

A32 198 Former Hull favourite Crooks was a mighty figure for Castleford A32 199 but his efforts were more than matched by Harrison, who produced a A32 200 thundering display.

A32 201 There were fine efforts by fellow packmen Paul Fletcher, Andy A32 202 Thompson and Paul Speckman while Richard Chamberlain again A32 203 impressed in his second senior outing.

A32 204 But that all-important spark was missing behind the scrum. Half A32 205 backs Gary Chatfield and debutante Troy McCarthy worked hard - but A32 206 that's not enough, though, to crack sides of Castleford's A32 207 calibre.

A32 208 The threequarters had a particularly torrid time and it was A32 209 left to full back Mike Fletcher to often make most progress against A32 210 a resolute defence.

A32 211 That electrifying start by the Robins was set up by a Chatfield A32 212 touchfinder. Chamberlain took the resulting scrum against the head A32 213 and Castleford hardly knew what hit them as they were slapped back A32 214 onto their own line.

A32 215 The try duly came - in bizzare style. Chatfield's up and under A32 216 sliced off his boot, and went backwards.

A32 217 McCarthy, though, gathered the ball and fed Paul Lyman who A32 218 powered over with three defenders hanging grimly on his back. A32 219 Fletcher goaled.

A32 220 The good start was soon just a memory as Castleford powered A32 221 back. Dominating possession, they pressed strongly and Steadman's A32 222 kick on the sixth tackle squirmed out of Chatfield's grasp and A32 223 Anderson took full advantage to score.

A32 224 Steadman the provider proved to be Steadman the scorer just a A32 225 few minutes later, crossing after yet another of his kicks caught A32 226 Rovers flat-footed and short-handed on their own line. Crooks A32 227 goaled.

A32 228 It says much for the spirit and character in Rovers camp that A32 229 they hit back in the 29th minute.

A32 230 Thompson almost made the line and when Castleford were A32 231 penalised at a scrum, a quick tap saw McCarthy send Mike Fletcher A32 232 over beneath the posts.

A32 233 A33 1 <#FLOB:A33\>Winning start for new pair

A33 2 by William Kings

A33 3 GILLIAN CLARK, the England badminton international who has won A33 4 the European women's doubles title with three different partners, A33 5 got her new pairing with Julie Bradbury off to a winning start by A33 6 taking the Puma Wimbledon Open title.

A33 7 "Not bad for an over 30," said the Surrey A33 8 player after she and national singles champion Bradbury beat A33 9 Gillian Gowers and Sara Sankey, two of her previous partners.

A33 10 Miss Clark is chasing her 100th major Badminton final at the A33 11 Canadian Open later this month. She has won 63 of them.

A33 12 The England squad leave for Canada tomorrow but England No.2 A33 13 Steve Butler stays behind for treatment on an ankle injury which A33 14 forced him to retire in the men's singles semi-finals.

A33 15 Meanwhile England had to settle for doubles success at A33 16 Wimbledon as Elena Rybkina won an all-Soviet women's final with A33 17 Irina Serova and Anders Nielsen proved no match for Denmark's A33 18 holder, Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen in the men's final.

A33 19 Dave Wright and Nick Ponting repeated their national win over A33 20 Andy Goode and Chris Hunt to retain their men's doubles title while A33 21 Goode and Gowers beat Soviet pairing Irina Serova and Andrei A33 22 Antropov to keep their mixed crown.

A33 23 A33 24 Young steps in for Joe

A33 25 STEVE YOUNG proved himself a capable replacement for injured A33 26 San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana when he threw three A33 27 touchdown passes, including a 70-yarder to Jerry Rice, in the 34-14 A33 28 win over the San Diego Chargers.

A33 29 Young threw for 348 yards and wide receiver Rice had nine A33 30 receptions for 150 yards including a pair of touchdowns. It will be A33 31 interesting to hear what the 49ers have to say at a press A33 32 conference scheduled for today concerning their star Montana, out A33 33 for at least four weeks with tendonitis in the right elbow.

A33 34 Kicker Tony Zendejas kicked field goals of 29, 50, 32 and 33 A33 35 yards as the Los Angeles Rams inflicted a 19-13 defeat on Super A33 36 Bowl winners New York Giants.

A33 37 Jim Kelly threw a career best six touchdown passes to guide A33 38 Super Bowl runners-up Buffalo Bills to a 52-34 victory over the A33 39 Pittsburgh Steelers. Four of Kelly's scoring passes went to wide A33 40 receiver Don Beebe, the longest a 34-yarder, as the Bills had their A33 41 second-highest scoring day ever.

A33 42 A33 43 A rugby challenge for Wales

A33 44 Collins takes a break from riots

A33 45 by Chris Jones

A33 46 CARDIFF flanker Richie Collins has warmed up for Wales's A33 47 crucial match with France tonight - by facing rioting mobs.

A33 48 Collins, a police officer, has been on duty in the Ely area of A33 49 Cardiff which has seen repeated outbreaks of violence. Collins made A33 50 it to the final training session yesterday after two nights on the A33 51 front line and said: "I am a policeman and I had to be on A33 52 duty.

A33 53 "But I am glad to have got away for this game. There is a great A33 54 spirit in the squad and I am pleased to be relieved of those police A33 55 duties to be part of what I believe will be a big night for Welsh A33 56 rugby."

A33 57 The Welsh team has been radically changed since the 60-point A33 58 hammering by Australia in Brisbane in July. There is a new manager, A33 59 coach and captain and - according to pre-match build up - a new A33 60 self belief.

A33 61 Captain Ieuan Evans, of Llanelli, said: "There is a A33 62 confidence in this team which may surprise a lot of people. That A33 63 doesn't mean we'll beat France but we may achieve a result that not A33 64 many are expecting.

A33 65 "Our coach Alan Davis has given us something which has been A33 66 lacking, self belief."

A33 67 All Welsh supporters want to see this team play with the pride A33 68 that was lacking in Brisbane. A solid performance, particularly up A33 69 front, will give Wales hope and open the way for a better World Cup A33 70 challenge next month.

A33 71 Alan Davies, the ex-England B coach, is masterminding the Welsh A33 72 recovery and he said: "When I first came to Wales I A33 73 expected to find good players - and they are here. I am more than A33 74 happy with the progress we have made although, realistically, A33 75 no-one should expect us to win against a well organised side like A33 76 France."

A33 77 This match has been arranged to mark the arrival of floodlights A33 78 at the National Stadium, needed for World Cup matches. They will A33 79 also be used for the Welsh soccer team's internationals.

A33 80 THE Combined London Old Boys went down 16-6 to the Soviet Union A33 81 at Croxley Green last night after taking a 6-0 lead through Carl A33 82 Pugh's boot.

A33 83 The Soviets, who face England on Saturday at Twickenham, A33 84 eventually subdued the lively CLOB side and ran in three tries. But A33 85 England still <|?>looks to have an easy ride on Saturday.

A33 86 LONDON WELSH, whose previous disciplinary problems have forced A33 87 a shut-down at the club, have banned themselves again for two weeks A33 88 after more trouble.

A33 89 Two players were sent off at a tournament in Newbury at the A33 90 weekend. Emyr Blease has been banned sine die A33 91 and Mark Davies for the rest of the season.

A33 92 The club has cancelled fixtures for two weeks and that includes A33 93 first team games with Bedford (14 Sept) and Penarth (21 Sept).

A33 94 Last season the club shut down for a week after a run of A33 95 dismissals.

A33 96 SCREENSPORT has paid an undisclosed fee to broadcast all but A33 97 one of the 32 World Cup <}_><-|>match<+|>matches<}/> live to 65 A33 98 countries in Europe. Andy Ripley and Clive Woodward, the ex-England A33 99 stars, will commentate for the service.

A33 100 A33 101 Lyle can see light at end of the tunnel

A33 102 RENTON LAIDLAW on good news for a nice guy

A33 103 THROUGHOUT the last three years of his golfing torment the fans A33 104 have never deserted Sandy Lyle and he has never given up hope that A33 105 he would return to his winning ways.

A33 106 As he stumbled from one golfing coach to another - he has used A33 107 seven - it looked as if his efforts would be in vain but he refused A33 108 to accept that he was a premature back number.

A33 109 Now, after finishing second in the European Open at Walton A33 110 Heath in which he finished with two rounds of 69 and 67, Lyle is A33 111 ready to talk again about winning.

A33 112 His last Volvo Tour event victory was on 5 June, 1988. That was A33 113 the Dunhill masters. He won the World Match-play title in October A33 114 of that year but that is not a Tour event.

A33 115 Although never a serious challenger on the final day of the A33 116 European Open to the impressive winner, Mike Harwood, Lyle can take A33 117 comfort from the fact that what he did last week is a clear sign A33 118 that he has emerged from the tunnel of despair that almost engulfed A33 119 him.

A33 120 Lyle may be the gentlest of sportsmen and is easily the most A33 121 approachable of all the stars but he is also a fighter.

A33 122 The gracious golfer who, in 1985, became the first British A33 123 winner of The Open since Tony Jacklin in 1969, and whose 1988 A33 124 success at the US Masters started the run of British triumphs at A33 125 Augusta, refused to accept the glory days were over.

A33 126 The last three years have been a nightmare. Just consider his A33 127 record in Europe in official events since 1988.

A33 128 That year he played 12 times, finished first once, second once, A33 129 had four third place finishes, a sixth and two sevenths.

A33 130 In 1989 he played 11 events and had a fourth, an eighth and a A33 131 10th. In 1990 he had a fourth and two eighths from 10 appearances A33 132 and this year he has played 12 tournaments and come second once, A33 133 eighth once and 10th once.

A33 134 Nothing to write home about but he never became bitter or A33 135 lashed out.

A33 136 Of course, in that time he has played in America and in 1989 A33 137 was second in the Los Angeles Open and this year had two 16th place A33 138 finishes in majors, two further reasons for him to think positively A33 139 about the future.

A33 140 "I'm not dead and buried yet," he said at A33 141 Walton Heath.

A33 142 "I've produced this form just too late to make the A33 143 Ryder Cup team this year but I'll be back in 1993."

A33 144 Typically he insists that European team captain Bernard A33 145 Gallacher was right to choose Mark James as his final 'pick' when A33 146 Jose Maria Olazabal and Nick Faldo also required invitations.

A33 147 Maybe had Faldo and Olazabal played more events in Europe and A33 148 made the side automatically, there might have been room for A33 149 Lyle.

A33 150 His second place finish at Walton Heath was due, he said, to A33 151 returning to his father, his original teacher, and putting into A33 152 practice his advice to slow down his swing.

A33 153 The result was that almost every shot was hit flush out of the A33 154 middle of the club.

A33 155 At Walton Heath he beat everyone except Harwood, second in The A33 156 Open this year and winner of the Volvo PGA and Volvo Masters titles A33 157 last year.

A33 158 Harwood, who had benefitted from a tuning up session with David A33 159 Leadbetter representative Denis Pugh, based at Quietwaters in A33 160 Essex, saw off the challenge of Seve Ballesteros over the closing A33 161 five holes, which he covered in three shots better than the A33 162 Spaniard.

A33 163 Yet at Walton Heath where the ambitious Birchgrey company and A33 164 new sponsor General Accident made such a fine start to what A33 165 promises to be a long and rewarding relationship with the European A33 166 Open, the talking point was the performance of Lyle.

A33 167 And, at last, it was all positive.

A33 168 A33 169 Pickard blast sparks Edberg

A33 170 Peter Blackman in New York

A33 171 STEFAN EDBERG produced his old Wimbledon form to earn an A33 172 immaculate 7-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over Michael Chang and A33 173 reach<&|>sic! the last eight at the US Open here.

A33 174 But to achieve this win Edberg had to endure a pre-match 'ear A33 175 bashing' session from his British coach Tony Pickard, who was A33 176 unhappy with the Swede's concentration in the big matches.

A33 177 "He kept falling asleep," said Pickard. A33 178 "I'd let things drag on too long, so during a practice A33 179 session I took him to one side and read the riot act to him. It A33 180 just had to be done.

A33 181 "Stefan obviously understood what I was telling him. The real A33 182 message was that against the top opponents in a cut throat business A33 183 he will lose unless he concentrates on every point, and I mean A33 184 every point, even if he is on court for five hours."

A33 185 Edberg hates playing under floodlights, particularly at A33 186 Flushing Meadow, but he was encouraged by holding a 7-3 career lead A33 187 over the in-form Chang.

A33 188 The first set took 71 minutes with Edberg winning the tie break A33 189 7-2. That performance seemed to weaken Chang's resolve while A33 190 Edberg's game soared to the exciting levels that has made him twice A33 191 the Wimbledon champion.

A33 192 "That's more like it," beamed Pickard, while A33 193 Edberg said: "I had to play my best tennis to beat him. A33 194 It's tough against him because he fights right to the end.

A33 195 "I was so pumped up for this one and I really wanted to win. I A33 196 reckon this is the best I have played all summer. And I have A33 197 conquered those night match blues."

A33 198 Chang was stunned by Edberg's determination and match tactics A33 199 of keeping the ball low.

A33 200 "Stefan pulled off the big shots on the big points and A33 201 that is what turned it his way."

A33 202 Fifth seed Ivan Lendl will meet Wimbledon champion Michael A33 203 Stich in the quarter-finals after stopping the towering A33 204 Croatian Goran Ivanisevic 7-5, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 in three hours 30 A33 205 minutes.

A33 206 Ivanisevic moaned about back trouble and said that Stich would A33 207 beat the Czech. Lendl countered with a few barbs of his own after A33 208 being told about Ivanisevic's after match views.

A33 209 "He has had a bad back, has he? Well, I'd like to have A33 210 back pain while serving at 125 miles an hour," said Lendl A33 211 as he bit deep into his bottom lip. "All his shots are wild A33 212 and he seems to self destruct mentally."

A33 213 What about the comment on a Stich win? Lendl's eyes clouded. A33 214 "That's what he said, did he? Well, let us just wait and A33 215 see. That's his opinion. But I can tell you this. The match against A33 216 Stich is a big match for me. The winner goes into the semi-finals A33 217 and when I meet him I will not be saying to myself that he is the A33 218 Wimbledon champion. A33 219 A34 1 <#FLOB:A34\>Fire destroys rare block of stables

A34 2 A rare Victorian stable block - believed to be one of only two A34 3 of its kind in Norfolk - was destroyed by fire yesterday.

A34 4 A pile of twisted, charred timbers was all that remained of the A34 5 elegant 19th century building after flames had torn through 300 A34 6 bales of straw.

A34 7 Firemen fought for an hour to bring the blaze at New Buckenham A34 8 under control.

A34 9 Owners Keith and Barbara Carr-Hodgson were heartbroken as they A34 10 stood in the doorway of their home and watched the prized building A34 11 being torn apart.

A34 12 "It can be rebuilt but it will never be the same again. A34 13 I was terrified it would spread to the house," said Mrs A34 14 Carr-Hodgson.

A34 15 They were thankful their prize stallion, normally housed in a A34 16 box at the back of the stables, was away at stud.

A34 17 "We would never have got him out," Mrs A34 18 Carr-Hodgson said.

A34 19 The fireman leading the operation, Station Officer Nigel A34 20 Monument, praised the crews of four engines - from Wymondham, A34 21 Attleborough and East Harling - for stemming the fire's spread.

A34 22 They managed to save the adjoining tack room, containing A34 23 several saddles and stopped its spread to adjacent buildings and A34 24 the house, The Grange.

A34 25 The couple's six horses were out at meadow when the fire A34 26 started.

A34 27 Its cause had not been established last night, but it is not A34 28 thought to be suspicious.

A34 29 A34 30 Destroy rabbits plea by farmers

A34 31 Farmers are demanding that rabbits at a wildlife haven should A34 32 be wiped out because they are damaging crops.

A34 33 Dorothy Pratt and her sons, whose farm borders 30 acres of A34 34 prime fen land, are threatening to present their parish council A34 35 with a bill for crop damage unless it arranges for the rabbits to A34 36 be shot or gassed.

A34 37 For years, they claim, the animals have scurried off Hinderclay A34 38 fen, which is also popular with birdwatchers and ramblers. Now they A34 39 are asking the parish to take responsibility.

A34 40 "They run the fen and should keep the rabbits down. A34 41 Farming is difficult enough now without rabbits eating the A34 42 crops," said Mrs Pratt, of Grove Farm.

A34 43 Other farmers protect the perimeter of their land with wire. A34 44 But the Pratts say they should not have to pay for defences.

A34 45 Hinderclay chairman Robin de Vere Green said a man awarded A34 46 shooting rights by the council was doing his best to control the A34 47 rabbits. "But there are so many, and they are burrowed in A34 48 everywhere."

A34 49 The Pratts could do their own shooting on the land, which is A34 50 crossed by the Knettishall Heath to Lowestoft footpath, he said. A34 51 "But it will be pointed out to them that it is used as a A34 52 place for people to walk, which makes it difficult to A34 53 shoot."

A34 54 The parish looks after the fen - an extension of the Redgrave A34 55 and Lopham fens, and part of the Waveney Valley Project - for its A34 56 charity owners.

A34 57 A34 58 Town theatre hit by fire - but shows will go on

A34 59 Fire destroyed Wisbech theatre's auditorium over the weekend, A34 60 forcing the summer prgramme of events to be re-housed.

A34 61 The blaze started in the stage area of Angles Theatre at about A34 62 4am on Saturday and spread to the basement.

A34 63 Chairman of the theatre, John Smith, said it was fortunate the A34 64 fire was detected otherwise the whole of the Georgian theatre, the A34 65 second oldest in the country still in use, would have been A34 66 wrecked.

A34 67 "We are thankful to a policeman who happened to be A34 68 passing over Wisbech bridge and smelled smoke. If he hadn't found A34 69 the fire the damage would have been much worse," he A34 70 said.

A34 71 Built in 1793, it was used as a theatre until 1846 when it was A34 72 taken over for other uses, including church services. It was A34 73 revived as a theatre 13 years ago.

A34 74 The present acting area, which was ruined by the blaze, used to A34 75 be the pit where poorer classes would sit.

A34 76 Firemen said the blaze started in a chaise longue, possibly by A34 77 a cigarette end. It was not being treated as suspicious.

A34 78 Two crews from Wisbech and one from West Walton fought the A34 79 blaze through the basement, and finally left the building at 11 A34 80 am.

A34 81 A spokesman said the old timber and structure of the theatre A34 82 made it a difficult task. The whole theatre area, including a new A34 83 lighting board, was damaged by smoke.

A34 84 Fortunately, most of the planned events at the theatre can be A34 85 held in the studio, Mr Smith said, although he added it was too A34 86 early to know when the stage area would re-open.

A34 87 "The autumn programme starts on September 14 and we are A34 88 going all out to be ready for then," Mr Smith said.

A34 89 The theatre usually closes during August, and this is the first A34 90 year events have been organised for the summer - Sunday lunch jazz A34 91 music, and children's workshops, will now have to be held in either A34 92 the studio or bar area.

A34 93 An appeal is being launched to get the theatre back into A34 94 action, which Mr Smith said would cost tens of thousands of A34 95 pounds.

A34 96 The theatre's emergency Phoenix Fund will help back the cost of A34 97 some repairs, but more money would be needed.

A34 98 "We would be grateful of any help to get the theatre A34 99 back into operation. There is a lot of work to be done."

A34 100 A34 101 How pub was saved from fire

A34 102 A fire-bombed Norwich pub was saved from inferno by reinforced A34 103 glass windows fitted a day before the attack.

A34 104 Fire-raisers threw two Molotov cocktails at the Four Leafed A34 105 Clover pub, Clover Hill, Bowthorpe, at about 1am on Saturday in the A34 106 latest in a series of vandal attacks.

A34 107 Temporary manager Dominic Cullen said he was thankful that a A34 108 reinforced glass window - fitted after a previous attack by vandals A34 109 on Thursday - stopped one bomb from landing inside and starting a A34 110 blaze.

A34 111 Nobody was in the pub when the two bombs were thrown - one A34 112 exploding near the entrance and the other crashing against the A34 113 window of the pub's off-sales shop.

A34 114 Mr Cullen, who has a flat at the back of the pub, reckoned he A34 115 had a lucky escape.

A34 116 "It makes me angry but I will not let them get on top A34 117 of me," he said.

A34 118 If fire had taken hold he would have had to clamber out of the A34 119 window of his flat and jump on to the roof at the side to A34 120 escape.

A34 121 Witness Roger Mitchell, who lives opposite the pub, told how A34 122 his bedroom was illuminated by the blaze which broke out near the A34 123 front door of the pub.

A34 124 "It looked like a Molotov cocktail had been thrown at A34 125 the front of the pub and there was also a flash round the other A34 126 side when another firebomb struck a window," he said.

A34 127 He said there had been previous vandal attacks but added: A34 128 "When it gets to petrol bombing I think you are talking A34 129 about a different category from breaking windows. Some sanity is A34 130 required here."

A34 131 Mr Cullen said it was up to the local community to get together A34 132 to sort out vandal problems in the area before someone got hurt.

A34 133 Chief Insp Bernie Kerrison, head of Norwich CID, appealed for A34 134 anyone who saw anything suspicious to contact the police.

A34 135 A34 136 Tragedy in rail tunnel

A34 137 A young Norfolk man died after being hit by a train in a tunnel A34 138 just outside King's Cross railway station in London.

A34 139 The man, whose name is not being released until formal A34 140 identification, suffered extensive head injuries when he was struck A34 141 by a King's Cross to Peterborough night train.

A34 142 The body of the man, who is aged around 25 and comes from A34 143 Fakenham, was found on the track after it was spotted by a train A34 144 driver.

A34 145 British Transport Police are treating the death as a possible A34 146 suicide and say there are no suspicious circumstances.

A34 147 Insp Allan Couper, of the British Transport Police, said the A34 148 exact circumstances surrounding the death were not known, but he A34 149 added: "He knew what he was doing."

A34 150 Insp Couper went on: "All we know is that the driver of A34 151 the 22.40 to Peterborough saw the body which he believed he had A34 152 struck. It was in the Copenhagen tunnel."

A34 153 It is thought that the man was not a passenger on the train, A34 154 which continued its journey afterwards. Relatives have been A34 155 informed by Fakenham police and an inquest will be held.

A34 156 A34 157 Bugs trigger alarms as county goes Continental

A34 158 Swarms of thunderbugs enjoying the heatwave set alarm bells A34 159 ringing all over Norfolk as they clogged fire sensors, triggering A34 160 false call-outs for emergency teams.

A34 161 County fire crews answered at least 18 false alarms within 48 A34 162 hours, as thousands of the tiny black flies blocked smoke-detector A34 163 systems.

A34 164 The bugs are hatching in their millions as Norfolk basks in hot A34 165 and humid weather, with temperatures matching European hotspots A34 166 like the Canary Islands, the Algarve and Corfu.

A34 167 The sun also brought thousands of holidaymakers flocking to A34 168 Norfolk's beaches yesterday as mid-afternoon temperatures reached A34 169 25C (77F) across most of the county - seven degrees above the July A34 170 average - making it one of the warmest places in Britain.

A34 171 Police said roads into resorts including Yarmouth, Lowestoft A34 172 and King's Lynn were "very busy," with some local A34 173 diversions for roadworks, but there were no major problems.

A34 174 Weathermen say the Mediterranean conditions are set to A34 175 continue, apart from a short mid-week break when there may be some A34 176 showers.

A34 177 Colin Corkerton of Norwich Weather Centre said today would stay A34 178 hot and dry. Tuesday and Wednesday will turn a little cooler and A34 179 fresher with showers.

A34 180 "But it will not be too bad, and by the end of the week A34 181 it should be very warm again, with a lot of dry weather still to A34 182 come," he said.

A34 183 There is still a long way to go, however, to reach the 1991 A34 184 high of 90F (32C) recorded in Cromer on July 11.

A34 185 The current hot spell, with south-south easterly winds and very A34 186 little cloud, is coming across from the Continent.

A34 187 AA Roadwatch said holiday weather had not been matched by A34 188 holiday traffic so far, despite a six-mile snarl up at the Dartford A34 189 Tunnel earlier as thousands of London motorists headed for Kent.

A34 190 A spokesman added: "There are obviously a lot of people A34 191 out so we expect there may be some problems later when people A34 192 decide to go home."

A34 193 But, while some drivers were stranded because of overheated A34 194 engines, skippers in the Channel were battling through thick A34 195 fog.

A34 196 A coastguard at Dover, Kent, said: "The rest of the A34 197 county may be sunning itself, but there is thick fog in the A34 198 Channel.

A34 199 "Vessels are reporting visibility down to just half a mile. A34 200 They can't see where they're going and are relying on us, and their A34 201 own radar."

A34 202 A34 203 Race to halt sewage plan

A34 204 A NORFOLK MP will this week make an 11th-hour bid to halt A34 205 controversial plans for a big new seaside sewage works.

A34 206 North Norfolk MP Ralph Howell will hold a top-level meeting A34 207 with Anglian Water chairman Bernard Henderson in a final attempt to A34 208 find another site for the project, which has sparked a storm of A34 209 protest in Cromer.

A34 210 But the meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday morning A34 211 - when councillors are holding a separate meeting which could give A34 212 the go-ahead for the project.

A34 213 So the campaign to stop Anglian Water building the sewage works A34 214 in the Cromer countryside has become a race against time, with Mr A34 215 Howell now hoping to hold his talks with Mr Henderson before A34 216 Thursday's crucial council meeting.

A34 217 The MP said at the weekend: "I shall certainly try to A34 218 see Mr Henderson earlier than planned. I am trying to get in touch A34 219 with him."

A34 220 Planners will urge North Norfolk District Council development A34 221 committee on Thursday to give their blessing to the proposed waste A34 222 water treatment centre at Sandy Lane, Cromer.

A34 223 Angry neighbours have formed a residents' association to fight A34 224 the project, but AW is now suggesting a new access to the site A34 225 which would stop sewage works traffic passing their homes.

A34 226 A report from North Norfolk chief planning officer David Evans A34 227 to Thursday's development committee meeting urges councillors to A34 228 give permission for the sewage works when technical problems have A34 229 been ironed out.

A34 230 But Mr Howell is denouncing Anglian Water's attitude to the A34 231 project as "heavy handed", insisting that a better A34 232 site must be found.

A34 233 A35 1 <#FLOB:A35\>Jail for 'sex orgy' blackmail woman

A35 2 A WOMAN who tried to blackmail the Halifax building society by A35 3 threatening to expose a sex scandal was yesterday jailed for a A35 4 year.

A35 5 Employee Paula Kimberley, 24, said her revelations of orgies A35 6 and blue movie sessions would rock the society to its foundations, A35 7 Leeds Crown Court heard.

A35 8 She warned that if the Halifax refused to pay her pounds10,000 A35 9 she would give the story to the newspapers.

A35 10 Kimberley, of Addiscombe, south London, who worked for the A35 11 Halifax's property services division in the City, admitted A35 12 blackmail.

A35 13 Judge Vivian Hurwitz said she had shown a strange mix of A35 14 <}_><-|>naivete<+|>naivet<*_>e-acute<}/><&_>or-naivety<&/> and A35 15 deviousness.

A35 16 The court was told Kimberley telephoned the society's A35 17 headquarters in Halifax, West Yorkshire, saying she had proof that A35 18 people in its property services arm had indulged in sex orgies.

A35 19 Roger Scott, prosecuting, said the allegations turned out to be A35 20 untrue.

A35 21 Kimberley contacted the head of group corporate affairs, James A35 22 Murgatroyd, in October 1990, calling herself Michelle - her middle A35 23 name.

A35 24 "She said she intended to go to the media with her A35 25 story. However, she said she would not do anything until she had A35 26 given the Halifax the opportunity to make her an offer not to A35 27 talk."

A35 28 The police were informed and, when she called again, Kimberley A35 29 was told to speak with Graham Pepper, head of internal audit, who, A35 30 several calls later, offered her pounds10,000 to keep quiet.

A35 31 Simon Gauge, for Kimberley, said she hatched the plan to get A35 32 back at her superiors.

A35 33 A35 34 Spurned boyfriend stabbed love rival

A35 35 A 20-YEAR-OLD man who stabbed his love rival six times was sent A35 36 to a young offenders' institution for six years yesterday.

A35 37 York Crown Court heard Lee Christian Wilstrop lured Paul A35 38 Hibbard from his ex-girlfriend's house and then attacked him.

A35 39 He stabbed him repeatedly in the back - causing the collapse of A35 40 both his lungs - and later told police "It was me or A35 41 him".

A35 42 Wilstrop, of Bishopthorpe Road, York, admitted wounding with A35 43 intent to do grievous bodily harm.

A35 44 It was the culmination of a vendetta between the two men over A35 45 their triangular relationship with Donna Dawson, 22, who had lived A35 46 with them both.

A35 47 She and Mr Hibbard had been going out for five years and had A35 48 two children, but it was a stormy relationship and they had split A35 49 up several times, said Andrew Kershaw, prosecuting.

A35 50 Ms Dawson had a relationship with Wilstrop two years ago but A35 51 returned to Mr Hibbard, while still occasionally seeing the other A35 52 man.

A35 53 This led to several incidents between the two men, with Mr A35 54 Hibbard alleging that Wilstrop tried to run him over and on another A35 55 occasion that he hit him with a claw hammer.

A35 56 Wilstrop told police his rival had made several threats and had A35 57 poured a tar-like substance over his car and slashed its tyres.

A35 58 Matters came to a head when a man called at Ms Dawson's home in A35 59 Balmoral Terrace, York, claiming he had some money for Mr A35 60 Hibbard.

A35 61 But when Mr Hibbard came to the door he was dragged outside to A35 62 where Wilstrop was waiting, and stabbed. He was rushed to hospital A35 63 with both lungs collapsing and a fractured rib.

A35 64 Judge John Cotton told him: "It was pure good chance A35 65 you did not kill him."

A35 66 Stephen Twist, mitigating, said Ms Dawson had played the two A35 67 men off each other.

A35 68 "Wilstrop was placed in a tormented situation. There A35 69 was huge passion flowing in a number of directions," he A35 70 said.

A35 71 A35 72 Prisoner flees from funeral

A35 73 A PRISONER was on the run last night after stabbing two guards A35 74 escorting him to his brother's funeral.

A35 75 Thomas Mullins, 37, had been allowed out of Albany Prison on A35 76 the Isle of Wight to attend the funeral in south London.

A35 77 He made his escape at the crematorium in Camberwell after A35 78 asking to go to the toilet. Two of the three escort guards went A35 79 with him, but Mullins drew a knife and attacked them.

A35 80 One guard was stabbed in the back and the other in the back and A35 81 stomach.

A35 82 A Home Office spokeswoman said: "The first officer is A35 83 believed not to be seriously injured. The one who was stabbed both A35 84 in the back and stomach is in a stable condition in hospital and A35 85 likely to be detained." The name of the hospital was not A35 86 revealed.

A35 87 It is thought that Mullins, who was sentenced at Inner London A35 88 Crown Court in November, 1989, to six years for possession of A35 89 drugs, was passed the knife at the crematorium, the spokeswoman A35 90 said.

A35 91 He was thoroughly searched before leaving Albany in a prison A35 92 van, she added. An investigation into the escape was A35 93 "already underway".

A35 94 Scotland Yard warned the public not to approach Mullins.

A35 95 It was believed the escape was pre-planned - at least one man A35 96 was waiting outside the crematorium to drive him away, a spokesman A35 97 said.

A35 98 Mullins is described as 5ft 8½ins tall and of medium to stocky A35 99 build. He has long, brown hair, tied in a pony-tail, a beard and a A35 100 moustache.

A35 101 Det Supt Bill Lavers denied the escape was another blow for A35 102 prison officers' credibility.

A35 103 "I don't think there is any reason for A35 104 embarrassment," he said.

A35 105 "These two blokes came out this morning to bring him to A35 106 a funeral and have very nearly been killed."

A35 107 A35 108 Careless farmer must pay

A35 109 A FARMER was fined pounds250 yesterday after he admitted A35 110 failing to comply with an isolation order for a cow.

A35 111 John Watson, of Brough, also admitted failing to have a tag on A35 112 the cow, and was fined a further pounds25. Total costs were A35 113 pounds67.

A35 114 Ed Chicken, prosecuting at Richmond for North Yorkshire trading A35 115 standards department, said the cow aborted, and was placed in A35 116 isolation on April 18 while tests were carried out to see if the A35 117 animal had brucellosis, a disease which can be transmitted to A35 118 humans.

A35 119 The cow should not have been moved until Watson was told by A35 120 letter, but when the vet telephoned him on May 2 to say she wanted A35 121 another blood sample, she was told the cow had been sold. Watson A35 122 sold the cow at Darlington Market on April 29.

A35 123 Michael Luxmoore, defending, said Watson had no experience of A35 124 brucellosis isolation, and did not read the isolation order given A35 125 to him by the vet. He assumed that because he had not heard A35 126 anything in eleven days, the cow was all right.

A35 127 Mr Luxmoore said the cow had an ear tag when it was bought, but A35 128 the tag must have fallen off. Another was placed on it before it A35 129 was sold.

A35 130 A35 131 Pig transport offences man fined pounds225

A35 132 FARMER Malcolm Metcalfe was fined pounds200 yesterday for A35 133 carrying pigs in a lorry without a protective partition.

A35 134 Metcalfe, of Gilling West, near Richmond, was also fined A35 135 pounds25 for moving unmarked pigs to a slaughterhouse and ordered A35 136 to pay pounds38 costs.

A35 137 His lorry, containing 20 live pigs, was stopped in a routine A35 138 check on its way to a bacon factory in Leeming, near Bedale, said A35 139 Ed Chicken, prosecuting.

A35 140 A trading standards officer found a partition was in the lorry A35 141 but was not being used. The pigs were not marked with a red cross A35 142 required by law.

A35 143 Metcalfe did not appear and sent no plea, but in a letter said A35 144 he had spent all morning digging out his farm lane after a heavy A35 145 snowstorm and had no time mark<&|>sic! the pigs.

A35 146 He also told the trading standards officer he did not use the A35 147 partition because the pigs were comfortably loaded.

A35 148 A35 149 Tough action against gipsies

A35 150 TOUGH action to clamp down on rogue gipsy encampments in County A35 151 Durham has been welcomed by local councillors.

A35 152 Officers at Sedgefield District Council say they will not A35 153 hesitate to act against travellers who set up home on local A35 154 authority land.

A35 155 The warning follows a flood of complaints over gipsies who A35 156 settled on the All Saints industrial estate, Shildon.

A35 157 Following the protests, solicitors acting on behalf of the A35 158 district council sought a court order to have the illegal A35 159 encampment moved on. That action prompted the gipsies to leave A35 160 yesterday.

A35 161 Shildon councillor Walter Nunn welcomed the "get A35 162 though" policy, adding: "This sort of thing has A35 163 been a problem for years. It's about time we put a stop to it once A35 164 and for all."

A35 165 Coun Nunn said he had received several complaints from A35 166 residents fed up with the noise and nuisance caused by A35 167 travellers.

A35 168 "The rubbish builds up because they don't have proper A35 169 toilets and some of them earn money on the side by buying and A35 170 selling scrap metal.

A35 171 "We have designated sites for gipsy families, with running A35 172 water supplies and toilet facilities. It seems like a waste of time A35 173 if they don't bother to use them."

A35 174 Council solicitor Peter Devlin said unauthorised travellers A35 175 would be given a 24 hour deadline to get out before the authority A35 176 began court action.

A35 177 He said: "If we receive a complaint then the council A35 178 will act upon that information. If these people settle on A35 179 unauthorised sites then they must accept the A35 180 consequences."

A35 181 The Sedgefield district already has an authorised gipsy site at A35 182 East Howle, near Ferry hill. Travellers can also use two sites in A35 183 neighbouring Wear Valley.

A35 184 A35 185 Camper dies in holiday cliff fall

A35 186 A TEENAGER died and another is gravely ill after falling 200ft A35 187 down cliffs on the Yorkshire Coast yesterday.

A35 188 Paul Drake and David Davis, both 19, were among a group of six A35 189 from Leeds camping at the Blue Dolphin holiday park between A35 190 Scarborough and Filey.

A35 191 Security staff at the centre raised the alarm after youths A35 192 raced for help when their friends plunged over the notorious A35 193 cliffs, which have claimed several lives over the years. They were A35 194 believed to be on their way back to their tents after a night A35 195 out.

A35 196 Filey Coastguards found Mr Drake at the foot of the cliffs A35 197 already dead, and Mr Davies close by with multiple head A35 198 injuries.

A35 199 A35 200 Fear for five in fishing tragedy

A35 201 FIVE people were feared drowned after a 43-tonne fishing boat A35 202 sank in dense fog yesterday 20 miles off the Kent coast in the A35 203 English Channel.

A35 204 The body of a crew member was recovered off Ramsgate and a A35 205 search was continuing for the four other missing crew.

A35 206 Dover coastguards said the cause of the tragedy was still A35 207 unknown. But station officer Eric Musson said the 21ft Ocean Hound A35 208 had been fishing in a busy shipping lane.

A35 209 "We are obviously investigating the possibility that a A35 210 ship may have hit the vessel."

A35 211 Fishermen in Brixham, Devon, were "devastated" by the A35 212 loss of the Ocean Hound, one of the port's largest boats.

A35 213 It was the third Devon-registered fishing boat to be lost since A35 214 Christmas.

A35 215 "The skipper's son was only aboard because it was a A35 216 summer trip. It was his summer holidays and he went to sea with his A35 217 dad," said Paul Jarrett, superintendent of the Royal A35 218 National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen.

A35 219 "The port is in a state of shock and filled with A35 220 horror," he said.

A35 221 "Yet another boat has been lost, yet more fishermen's A35 222 lives have been lost. It's sickening.

A35 223 "When fishermen get hurt, the fishing community here in Brixham A35 224 feels hurt.

A35 225 "It is the worst loss suffered here in Brixham for many A35 226 years.

A35 227 "The ship's owner, Philip Bowditch, is totally A35 228 devastated."

A35 229 The ship's skipper Alan Nicholson, 40, and son James, 17, lived A35 230 in Paignton, Devon.

A35 231 A35 232 Father saves teenager trapped in school fire

A35 233 A FATHER last night smashed a window in a desperate bid to A35 234 rescue a teenager trapped inside a blazing school.

A35 235 The man, who does not want to be named, used an onlooker's A35 236 jumper round his hand to break the glass at Darlington's Whinfield A35 237 Infant School.

A35 238 He sprang into action after a youngster who spotted flames and A35 239 smoke raised the alarm.

A35 240 The 22-year-old man, a machinist who lives in nearby Augusta A35 241 Close, discovered the teenager struggling to escape through a A35 242 classroom window.

A35 243 The boy then ran through smoke to the other end of the A35 244 building, where his rescuer had managed to break the window.

A35 245 The youth was taken to hospital for cuts and burns to his hands A35 246 and was later discharged.

A35 247 Six firemen wearing breathing apparatus were among the crew A35 248 which tackled the blaze, thought to have been underway for about A35 249 half an hour before their arrival.

A35 250 A36 1 <#FLOB:A36\>Woman was dragged from pub by boyfriend

A36 2 A TERRIFIED woman was dragged from a pub and struck by her A36 3 irate boyfriend, Durham magistrates heard.

A36 4 Police, alerted by May Todd's screams, found her with marks to A36 5 her face and pinned against a fence by David Newman.

A36 6 Fiona Lees, prosecuting, said Miss Todd ran away and Newman was A36 7 arrested after a sustained struggle.

A36 8 She told the court that the pair had rowed before Newman left A36 9 their house in Braunspeth Estate, New Brancepeth, one evening in A36 10 June.

A36 11 He went for a drink at a pub in nearby Brandon, but later came A36 12 across Miss Todd and became angry, wanting to know who was A36 13 babysitting.

A36 14 John McGlone, in mitigation, said Newman was unhappy when he A36 15 saw her out and told her to go home, but an argument developed when A36 16 she told him she was going nightclubbing.

A36 17 Miss Todd had explained her eldest son, aged 16, from a A36 18 previous relationship, was watching the other children.

A36 19 Mr McGlone said the couple were now reconciled and he had A36 20 resumed his duties as a father.

A36 21 Newman, 27, an unemployed landscape gardener, was fined pounds50, A36 22 and pounds30 costs, after admitting causing fear or A36 23 provocation of violence and resisting a police constable.

A36 24 Magistrates' chairman Allan Thompson told him the "sad A36 25 part" of the case was that he believed Newman did care for A36 26 the children.

A36 27 A36 28 Staff catch fuel thief

A36 29 STAFF at a North haulage firm turned detective to trap a diesel A36 30 thief.

A36 31 They hid overnight at their depot and spotted holidaymaker A36 32 Colin Dowson helping himself to fuel in a raid in the early A36 33 hours.

A36 34 They phoned the police but, when officers arrived, Dowson A36 35 jumped in his car and sped off.

A36 36 A high-speed chase down narrow country lanes ended when Dowson A36 37 skidded off the road and crashed, magistrates at Hexham heard.

A36 38 Accomplice A36 39 Dowson, 29, of Spencer Street, Heaton, Newcastle, and an A36 40 accomplice were seen with two five-gallon drums and a hosepipe A36 41 trying to syphon diesel from parked wagons.

A36 42 After the police chase, Dowson and his companion ran off, but A36 43 he gave himself up to police the next day as they had his car.

A36 44 The jobless father-of-three admitted attempted theft and going A36 45 equipped for theft and was fined pounds75.

A36 46 A36 47 Brother rescued as boat sinks

A36 48 PETER Schaap today told how he rescued his brother as a A36 49 stricken trawler sank off the Tyne.

A36 50 The 42-year-old fisherman went to help brother Franz when his A36 51 vessel Lagan Lomea started taking in water eight miles A36 52 out to sea.

A36 53 Franz, the only man on board, had to jump to the safety of A36 54 Peter's boat The Triumph.

A36 55 "I put a pump aboard his ship and water was going out A36 56 of her, but as soon as I started towing she started to turn on her A36 57 side," said Peter, of Kettlewell Terrace, North Shields.

A36 58 "Franz wanted to stay on board, but I talked him out of A36 59 it. He was shattered from bailing out by hand with a A36 60 bucket."

A36 61 Called A36 62 Franz was today seeing insurers in Fleetwood, near Blackpool, A36 63 about the loss. The sinking yesterday came as North Tyneside A36 64 Council waited for results of tests made on Lagan A36 65 Lomea.

A36 66 The public analyst was called in after winch and net wires were A36 67 found to be hot, even after being hosed down by firemen.

A36 68 The catch of fish is in cold storage and is undergoing a series A36 69 of tests.

A36 70 A36 71 Students dash to safety after blaze

A36 72 Firemen save pair from roof

A36 73 By LESLEY ALEXANDER

A36 74 FIREMEN used an extension ladder to rescue two terrified A36 75 students from the roof of their house after a suspected arson A36 76 attack today.

A36 77 Clare Packham, 21, and Darren Ridley, 20, of Heaton Road, A36 78 Heaton, Newcastle, reached the roof through a skylight window in A36 79 the attic after they battled their way through the smoke-filled A36 80 house.

A36 81 They were taken to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, A36 82 suffering the effects of smoke inhalation, but they were later A36 83 released.

A36 84 Fire broke out at the rear doors of the three-storey building A36 85 just after 4am today and smoke quickly swept through the house.

A36 86 Sixteen firefighters from Fossway and Pilgrim Street stations A36 87 took 20 minutes to control the blaze.

A36 88 The cause of the blaze is still being investigated, but firemen A36 89 believe furniture may have been set alight outside the back of the A36 90 house.

A36 91 Gutted A36 92 Neighbour Marion McClen, 49, of Guildford Place, said: A36 93 "I was woken by the sound of firemen shouting and I saw the A36 94 building completely gutted by smoke.

A36 95 "There are fires here all the time and the flats across the A36 96 road in Cheltenham Terrace have been set alight several times.

A36 97 "I don't know who is doing this, but there are a lot of glue A36 98 sniffers in the area."

A36 99 Meanwhile, a second fire caused smoke damage to the back of a A36 100 garage in Guildford Place early today.

A36 101 The cause of the blaze is being investigated.

A36 102 Det Insp Trevor Ord, of the East End CID, said: "We are A36 103 treating the fires as suspicious.

A36 104 "We would like to hear from anyone who may have seen any A36 105 activity at the rear of the flat or at the garage in the early A36 106 hours today."

A36 107 A36 108 Governor was ignored - claim

A36 109 THE Home Office ignored a request by Brixton prison governor A36 110 Reg Withers to transfer two IRA suspects who later escaped at A36 111 gunpoint, it was claimed today.

A36 112 The Prison Governors' Association said Mr Withers asked for IRA A36 113 suspects Nessan Quinlivan and Pearse McAuley to be transferred A36 114 after receiving information from a source within the jail that they A36 115 were planning a break-out.

A36 116 He took action which he believed thwarted any immediate escape A36 117 bid, but heard nothing further from the Home Office, Prison A36 118 Department, the PGA said.

A36 119 Mr Withers was also told nothing of the police tip-off and the A36 120 allegations added impetus to the political row surrounding the A36 121 escape.

A36 122 A36 123 Schoolgirl is hurt in window fall

A36 124 A NORTH-East teenager was today recovering in hospital after A36 125 she was seriously injured when she fell from a third-floor window A36 126 during a school holiday in France.

A36 127 Ruth Lawrie, 13, of Byron Avenue, Hebburn, fractured her hip A36 128 and suffered other injuries in the accident, which is being A36 129 investigated by education officials.

A36 130 Ruth was one of 38 pupils from Hebburn Comprehensive School on A36 131 the end-of-term holiday in Dinard, Brittany.

A36 132 After the accident on July 22, she spent nine days in a A36 133 hospital in Dinard and at the weekend, she was flown back to A36 134 England.

A36 135 She is now in a comfortable condition at South Tyneside A36 136 Hospital.

A36 137 South Tyneside's head of schools division, Jack Burn, said A36 138 there were five teachers and a trained nurse with the party of A36 139 children. He was happy with the pupil-teacher ratio during the A36 140 holiday.

A36 141 He said Ruth shared a room with three other girls, but none of A36 142 the others was there when the accident happened.

A36 143 Senior school staff involved in the holiday had been questioned A36 144 by education department officers, but Ruth had not yet been A36 145 interviewed because of her injuries.

A36 146 Mr Burn said: "We are satisfied all the guidelines on A36 147 foreign visits were adhered to and that supervision was more than A36 148 adequate."

A36 149 A36 150 Bus company raps closure plan

A36 151 BUS bosses have attacked plans to close one of Newcastle's A36 152 busiest bus stations, used by thousands of shoppers a day.

A36 153 City planners say the underground Eldon Square bus concourse is A36 154 squalid, noisy and fume-filled and buses using it cause congestion A36 155 in Percy Street.

A36 156 They want operators to use stops elsewhere - and are thinking A36 157 of building a new bus station at Gallowgate.

A36 158 But the idea, outlined in the city council's draft unitary A36 159 development plan, is strongly criticised by Busways. It rejects the A36 160 congestion claim and declares: "The proposal is to be A36 161 deplored."

A36 162 Improved A36 163 The company says Eldon Square should be improved, not closed: A36 164 "The concourse is the most conveniently located bus station A36 165 for shopping purposes in the entire central area."

A36 166 Busways welcomes the statement that buses should be given A36 167 priority, but adds: "We believe the policies need to go A36 168 further and actively promote the use of public transport to avoid A36 169 the excesses of congestion which will otherwise occur."

A36 170 The company points out that while more than half the population A36 171 use buses to get about they represent only three per cent of A36 172 vehicles on the roads.

A36 173 And it says the idea of extending the Metro into the West End A36 174 of Newcastle is likely to be too costly. Improved bus services were A36 175 a better alternative.

A36 176 The company is particularly critical of plans to pedestrianise A36 177 the Bigg Market and the area in front of the Theatre Royal.

A36 178 A36 179 New cash rules cause row

A36 180 THOUSANDS of council-house tenants in the North-East will be A36 181 affected if a housing cash shake-up goes ahead.

A36 182 Under Government proposals, more money for modernisation and A36 183 repairs will be given to authorities which meet new Whitehall A36 184 guidelines rather than the formula which measures an areas's social A36 185 needs.

A36 186 Need A36 187 Environment Secretary Michael Heseltine said the change would A36 188 benefit tenants.

A36 189 "We are no longer prepared to allocate hundreds of A36 190 millions of pounds each year to authorities who show scant regard A36 191 for the conditions in which their tenants live," he A36 192 said.

A36 193 But the move was criticised by Newcastle City Council leader A36 194 Coun Jeremy Beecham, who is also chairman of the Association of A36 195 Metropolitan Authorities.

A36 196 "Allocations for housing expenditure should be based on A36 197 housing need only," he said.

A36 198 "Tenants' chances of having their homes repaired will A36 199 now depend not on the state of their home but on whether the A36 200 council can dance to a Government tune."

A36 201 A36 202 Bidding to stop bail bandits

A36 203 BAIL bandits could face up to two years imprisonment under A36 204 legislation being drawn up in the wake of research conducted in the A36 205 North-East.

A36 206 The research, published in May, revealed up to a third of all A36 207 crime is committed by people already on bail for other offences.

A36 208 The new crime - committing an offence while on bail - is being A36 209 considered by Home Office Minister John Patten, who said: A36 210 "There is a hard--core element we are determined to A36 211 target. This measure would make further criminal activity while A36 212 awaiting trial simply not worth the risk."

A36 213 Those found guilty of the new offence would be liable for A36 214 sentence on the original charge as well as the subsequent crime.

A36 215 A spokesman for the Northumbria Force, which compiled the A36 216 research, welcomed the move. He said: "We are very pleased A36 217 the Home Office is considering what we have said all along - that A36 218 there should be a new offence. Our own research has already shown A36 219 that 30 per cent of people on bail re-offend."

A36 220 A36 221 Fewer crimes in town

A36 222 TOWN centre trouble in Blyth Valley is being slashed, making it A36 223 one of the safest places in the country, said police chief Ken A36 224 Latimer.

A36 225 Chief Insp Latimer said that new figures show that street A36 226 muggings in the Northumberland borough were tiny.

A36 227 In the five months leading up to May, there were just 123 A36 228 reported cases of assaults and woundings in the Blyth police A36 229 sub-division, he said.

A36 230 But "99.9 per cent" of these involved domestic A36 231 violence in the home or young lads picking on each other while A36 232 drunk, rather than people being mugged by strangers, he added.

A36 233 Addressing the Blyth Valley Crime Prevention Panel, Chief Insp A36 234 Latimer said: "People can walk the streets without fear of A36 235 attack."

A36 236 He went on to say that a total number of 3,821 crimes had been A36 237 reported in that period, a drop of nearly three per cent on the A36 238 same period last years.

A36 239 A36 240 Bends attack diver stable

A36 241 A DIVER is recovering in a police decompression chamber.

A36 242 Geoffrey Hardacre, of Windsor Terrace, Whitley Bay, was diving A36 243 off St Mary's Island when he suffered an attack of the bends.

A36 244 An RAF helicopter was diverted from a nearby exercise to rescue A36 245 Mr Hardacre, 47, after fellow divers on the boat, Scarthi, A36 246 raised the alarm.

A36 247 He was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, A36 248 then transferred to the Northumbria Police diving school's A36 249 decompression unit at Sunderland.

A36 250 A spokesman at the school said: "At the moment, he is A36 251 stable. he is showing some slight improvement but it is a slow A36 252 process.

A36 253 "He came in suffering from pins and needles, which is a symptom A36 254 of the bends, and I believe his case is quite severe.

A36 255 "Mr Hardacre has been in the decompression chamber since 5pm A36 256 yesterday and will stay there until Wednesday."

A36 257 A37 1 <#FLOB:A37\>Hi-tech phones

A37 2 CLAPHAM gets a hi-tech telephone exchange next week.

A37 3 Faster connection, better voice quality and the possibility of A37 4 threeway dialling, call diversion and short-code dialling are among A37 5 its facilities.

A37 6 The switch to the new pounds125,000 digital exchange takes A37 7 place at 8.30am next Tuesday and brings with it changes to A37 8 individual numbers, the area code, and some local codes.

A37 9 All Clapham three-figure numbers will be preceded by 51.

A37 10 The area code becomes 05242 (replacing 04685).

A37 11 Local code changes are listed in the current Cumbria and North A37 12 Lancashire phone book.

A37 13 From day one, free itemised accounts will be available to those A37 14 who choose to have them, as well as a free barring service to A37 15 prevent unauthorised calls to premium rate numbers.

A37 16 Exchange modernisation manager Ian Bell said: "BT's A37 17 annual pounds2.5 billion network modernisation programme continues A37 18 apace."

A37 19 The new exchange brings the very latest technology and A37 20 telephone services to the area.

A37 21 A37 22 Planning approval was not obtained

A37 23 CRAVEN district Council is to take action on two unauthorised A37 24 construction works in Settle and the use of a garage on Mewith A37 25 Bentham, for unauthorised purposes.

A37 26 The council's planning and development committee heard that all A37 27 Settle Conservative Club's first floor windows had been blocked up A37 28 without planning permission.

A37 29 A recommendation that retrospective planning permission be A37 30 refused was agreed with, and the use of remedial enforcement action A37 31 was approved.

A37 32 Councillors also agreed that broken glass set in cement should A37 33 be removed from the northern boundary wall of the Folly in Settle's A37 34 High Street. The folly is a Grade One listed building, and it was A37 35 considered that the broken glass was detrimental to its A37 36 character.

A37 37 Further enforcement action was agreed upon to stop a garage at A37 38 Old Pottery Barn, Lane Head, Mewith, Bentham, being put to use as A37 39 business premises. The garage is presumed to be used to store A37 40 building materials, the meeting heard.

A37 41 Councillors agreed this was inappropriate because of the A37 42 residential nature of the area and such activity should be A37 43 curtailed.

A37 44 A37 45 Homes appeal dismissed

A37 46 AN APPEAL against Lancaster City Council's refusal to grant A37 47 planning permission for two houses at Strands Farm, Hornby, has A37 48 been dismissed.

A37 49 Planning inspector Mrs Norah Ball said last week that the A37 50 proposed development would "lead to the erosion of the A37 51 rural attractiveness of the area, contrary to policies that seek to A37 52 protect the countryside."

A37 53 Mr Nick Gillibrand, representing the appellant, Mr Peter A37 54 Norris, of Strands Farm, contended at a hearing in Lancaster in A37 55 June that the two semi-detached houses his client wished to A37 56 have erected would not comprise desirable landscape, there being A37 57 gravel tips opposite.

A37 58 He said the site, in Station Road, followed the linear A37 59 development of Hornby. It was, he said, an infill development A37 60 between the village centre and Butt Yeats and was, as such, within A37 61 the village boundary.

A37 62 Mrs Ball, however, maintained that the village boundary was A37 63 marked by the former railway line. "Development on the A37 64 appeal site would consolidate an area of housing outside the A37 65 village and, in so doing, it would undesirably extend the village A37 66 limits," she said.

A37 67 Dismissing the appeal, she concluded: "This proposal A37 68 would cause unacceptable harm."

A37 69 A37 70 President opens bowls pavilion

A37 71 THE click of <}_><-|>camers<+|>cameras<}/> and the snip of A37 72 scissors replaced the scud of bowls at Ingleborough Bowling Club, A37 73 on Saturday, as the official opening of the new pavilion marked the A37 74 culmination of months of hard work.

A37 75 Chairman Mr Dennis Wilson extended a welcome to members and A37 76 other visitors to the opening and recalled the founding of the club A37 77 by five people in January 1975.

A37 78 One of the founders, Mrs Ruby Howarth, was at Saturdays's A37 79 ceremony.

A37 80 Also present was the architect of the banking and bowling A37 81 green, Coun Malcolm Riley, in his capacity as vice-chairman of A37 82 Craven District Council.

A37 83 Although the idea of a pavilion was mooted back in 1975, it was A37 84 not until last year that work actually started on the pounds4,500 A37 85 project.

A37 86 The club had pounds2,500 in hand and other finance was obtained A37 87 by grants.

A37 88 The Bull Land Charity gave pounds250 and were represented by A37 89 Miss Margaret Benson.

A37 90 Craven District Council donated pounds900, Ingleton Parish A37 91 Council pounds500 and Ingleton Community Council pounds500.

A37 92 Parish Council chairman Coun Mrs E. Wilkinson and Mr A. Brown A37 93 of the Community Council, were at the official opening. The club A37 94 also received anonymous donations and held their own fund-raising A37 95 efforts.

A37 96 Mrs Howarth, now president of the club, cut a gold ribbon to A37 97 officially open the new pavilion.

A37 98 She was presented with a bouquet of flowers by young Ben A37 99 Close.

A37 100 Honorary members present each received a special key to A37 101 commemorate the occasion.

A37 102 A37 103 A lift for disabled bathers

A37 104 ACCESS to local swimming facilities has been made easier for A37 105 disabled people thanks to a special pool hoist at Heysham Pool.

A37 106 The hoist which, together with other adaptations has cost A37 107 pounds12,000, can lower into the water anyone who uses a wheelchair A37 108 or who has problems climbing down steps.

A37 109 A similar system is soon to be installed at Lancaster Kingsway A37 110 Centre pool.

A37 111 Launching the hoist facility at Heysham, chairman of the A37 112 Heysham Pool Management Committee, Coun Mrs Joyce Taylor, thanked A37 113 Nuclear Electric, BBC Children in Need, North West Water and the A37 114 local Inner Wheel Club for their contributions towards the cost.

A37 115 The remainder has been met jointly by the city and county A37 116 councils.

A37 117 Coun Mrs Taylor added: "We have gone from having no A37 118 facilities for disabled people to having something quite splendid. A37 119 I hope now it will be well used by people, they have as much right A37 120 as anyone else to use our pools and access is very A37 121 important."

A37 122 She mentioned one elderly lady who had never used the pool A37 123 before but who had been in every day since the hoist was installed A37 124 last week and has now bought a season ticket.

A37 125 A37 126 Magistrate refuses club owner's licence

A37 127 A LANCASTER club owner - recently found guilty of illegally A37 128 selling alcohol - was deemed unfit to hold a liquor licence at his A37 129 newly developed premises by licensing magistrates last Thursday.

A37 130 After adjourning for almost two hours, the bench turned down an A37 131 application by Mr Trevor Morley to have his provisional licence for A37 132 Liberty's Video bar, Spring Garden Street, converted to a full A37 133 justices licence.

A37 134 Mr Morley (50) of Walnut Bank Lodge, Ashton-with-Stodday, was A37 135 recently fined a total of pounds6,428 for illegally selling alcohol A37 136 to the public at Liberty's Video Bar at the end of May.

A37 137 Voicing police objections to Mr Morley's application, A37 138 barrister, Miss Kim Foudy said that concerns about whether Mr A37 139 Morley was a fit and proper person to hold a liquor licence lie A37 140 squarely on the fact that he had been found guilty of trading A37 141 illegally.

A37 142 She described how, as a licensee in Lancaster for 10 years, Mr A37 143 Morley's decision to open without a full licence was not an error A37 144 due to inexperience and said: "It comes down to plain, A37 145 old-fashioned greed. He knew he had to get a final grant but A37 146 decided to ride roughshod over licensing laws."

A37 147 The success of Brooks nightclub in Dalton Square and Churchills A37 148 pub in Spring Garden Street meant that Mr Morley was not a man with A37 149 no other visible means of support, added Miss Foudy, and that, A37 150 although he was right to fully cooperate with the police when the A37 151 illegal trading had been discovered, he had no real alternative.

A37 152 "He couldn't wait to have the provisional grant made A37 153 final and decided to open to make a profit. He exhibited a blatant A37 154 disregard of the rules and made decisions for himself which were A37 155 over and above those rules.

A37 156 "By giving Mr Morley a second chance it would be a slap in the A37 157 face for licensees who habitually abide to the letter of the A37 158 law," she said.

A37 159 Bought and developed at a cost of more than pounds500,000, A37 160 Liberty's Video Bar opened to the public illegally for eight days A37 161 on May 24. Police were informed on June 6 when Mr Morley appeared A37 162 before the magistrates on a separate matter to oppose another A37 163 applicant and the bar immediately closed down.

A37 164 Asked why he had broken the licensing laws, Mr Morley said he A37 165 had had plenty of time to reflect and was unable to come up with an A37 166 adequate reason.

A37 167 "Any excuse would sound facetious. I can't give a A37 168 satisfactory explanation. It is something I did and I'm very sorry A37 169 for what has happened - the whole event has crushed us," he A37 170 said.

A37 171 Defending barrister, Mr Peter Openshaw said that the A37 172 proceedings which had been taken had humbled and publicly A37 173 humiliated Mr Morley.

A37 174 He added that financial pressure caused by borrowing from the A37 175 bank and the brewery had caused Mr Morley to "jump the A37 176 gun", and that previous to this "act of A37 177 folly" Mr Morley had been an exemplary licensee.

A37 178 "It is a serious error but it is an isolated A37 179 one," said Mr Openshaw.

A37 180 A37 181 Mystery of death

A37 182 STRENUOUS police inquiries have failed to throw light on how a A37 183 man came to be found with fatal injuries at the bottom of a flight A37 184 of stairs in Dirty Den's licenced premises, Morecambe, one Sunday A37 185 night.

A37 186 An open verdict was recorded by coroner, Mr George Howson, A37 187 after last Friday's inquest in Lancaster into the death of Mr John A37 188 Francis Bowe (also known as John Barry), aged 49, of Westminster A37 189 Road, Morecambe.

A37 190 Mr Bowe's body was identified by his sister who travelled from A37 191 southern Ireland.

A37 192 Ambulanceman Mr Gregory Delaney said he could get no sense out A37 193 of two people whom he found standing over Mr Bowe, shouting at him. A37 194 They were intoxicated. Mr Bowe died in hospital on May 19, some A37 195 three weeks after having been found unconscious at Dirty Den's.

A37 196 A consultant pathologist said that death resulted from a head A37 197 injury.

A37 198 Mr Howson said that the inquiry had of necessity to terminate A37 199 in an unsatisfactory state due to lack of evidence surrounding the A37 200 circumstances of Mr Bowe's apparent fall.

A37 201 Mr Bowe was born in southern Ireland and was believed to have A37 202 been divorced.

A37 203 A37 204 Driver fell asleep at the wheel

A37 205 A DRIVER who crashed into the back of a car on the M6 after A37 206 falling asleep at the wheel had been drinking, Lancaster A37 207 magistrates heard on Wednesday of last week.

A37 208 Gordon Henderson (48), of Westfield Grove, Morecambe, pleaded A37 209 guilty to driving without due care and attention, while over the A37 210 limit, and failing to stop after an accident on June 2.

A37 211 Prosecuting, Mr Eric Liddle told the court that at about 1.30am A37 212 on June 2, Henderson was driving his car on the M6 near Quernmore. A37 213 Mr Graham, who was driving in convoy with another motorist, was A37 214 travelling at about 60mph when he felt Anderson's car go into the A37 215 back of his. Henderson didn't stop and Mr Graham and the other A37 216 motorist pulled alongside him and told him to pull over.

A37 217 The police were called and Henderson was given a breath test A37 218 and found to have a reading of 58mg, the legal limit is 35mg.

A37 219 Henderson told the police that he thought the accident had A37 220 happened as a result of him dozing off at the wheel, but couldn't A37 221 give any explanation why he didn't stop.

A37 222 Defending, Mr Michael Willey told the court that Henderson, a A37 223 contracts manager in Morecambe, had a comparatively clean driving A37 224 licence considering the amount of travel his job involved.

A37 225 Henderson had been working in Yorkshire on the Saturday, and A37 226 decided to combine business and pleasure by calling in on his A37 227 wife's relatives who lived there.

A37 228 While he was there he drank four cans of beer and had two A37 229 glasses of whisky,. He waited until about 11.30pm before he left, A37 230 hoping that the effects of the alcohol would have worn off by A37 231 then.

A37 232 It was 1.30am when the accident happened, and Henderson had A37 233 fallen asleep at the wheel of his car. He felt the car hit A37 234 something, but thought it had been the central reservation. The A37 235 witness said they had seen Henderson earlier on the hard shoulder A37 236 with a headlight missing from his car.

A37 237 Mr Willey said Henderson was alarmed when the other people A37 238 tried to get him off the motorway and didn't realise why.

A37 239 Henderson was fined pounds400 and pounds20 costs, his licence A37 240 was endorsed and he was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

A37 241 A38 1 <#FLOB:A38\>Rover halts its exports to US of luxury A38 2 cars

A38 3 Rover is to halt exports of its luxury Sterling cars to America A38 4 because of drastically falling sales. The company said the A38 5 recession in the United States and rapidly-changing exchange rates A38 6 had badly affected trading.

A38 7 It intends to concentrate on Europe and the Far East A38 8 "where there are more positive business A38 9 opportunities."

A38 10 Chief executive George Simpson said: "Sales in the US A38 11 for European cars have declined significantly.

A38 12 "Additionally, exchange rate volatility continues to have an A38 13 adverse effect on trading conditions and profit A38 14 opportunities."

A38 15 Sterling is Rover's top-of-the range 2.7-litre car and has been A38 16 on sale in America since early 1987.

A38 17 Best A38 18 Sales then were just over 14,000 but the 1990 figure plummeted A38 19 to a mere 3,317.

A38 20 "It is particularly disappointing to have to make this A38 21 decision when our cars, our US organisation and our dealers have A38 22 made such progress in meeting the demands of the American A38 23 customer," Mr Simpson said.

A38 24 "However, a combination of the business and economic A38 25 conditions and the major future investment required to make A38 26 Sterling a truly successful brand in the US, indicate that it is A38 27 best for the Group as a whole to concentrate its future resources A38 28 on the development of other markets."

A38 29 He said the decision would mean some job losses in the States A38 30 but not in the UK.

A38 31 A38 32 Auctions underline market optimism

A38 33 By Eve Standing

A38 34 MANY people faced with the task of selling a difficult or A38 35 unusual property have a problem, and one of the best courses of A38 36 action is to go to auction.

A38 37 All the talk of recession has led many people to think that A38 38 little is being spent on properties, with everyone taking a A38 39 short-term view of property as an investment.

A38 40 But this year auction activity has demonstrated there is still A38 41 plenty of interest and shows an underlying confidence that the A38 42 market will recover.

A38 43 Estate agents reported that sales have often been well A38 44 attended. Earlier in the year it was obvious that the volatility of A38 45 the previous six months in the auctions sector was diminishing, A38 46 with buyers acknowledging that better times lay ahead and A38 47 anticipating a good fall in interest rates.

A38 48 Rewarded A38 49 Their optimism has been rewarded. They bought wisely in the A38 50 late winter and early spring and have since seen interest rates A38 51 fall quite rapidly, generating more growth and confidence.

A38 52 According to one estate agent, a recent auction saw five lots A38 53 presented for sale and of these four were sold - and all at a good A38 54 margin above the guide price.

A38 55 They represented a wide cross section of property types ranging A38 56 from a semi detached with structural problems to a nicely situated A38 57 three-bedroom detached on a corner plot.

A38 58 Often an auction can provide the benefits of getting several A38 59 potential buyers together in one place on the same day.

A38 60 The element of competition brings just regards for the vendor A38 61 and also brings benefits for owners of other, similar A38 62 properties.

A38 63 Every unsuccessful bidder at one auction is a potential buyer A38 64 at the next as his demand still needs to be satisfied. Good auction A38 65 sales also bring other potential vendors out of the woodwork, A38 66 ensuring a constant supply of properties with potential.

A38 67 The advantage to the vendor is that at the end of the auction A38 68 he can end up with a form contract for a sale - the deal is sealed A38 69 on the day and backed by the commitment of a non - returnable ten A38 70 per cent deposit.

A38 71 While it would be wrong to assume that an auction is the answer A38 72 to everyone with a home which is out of the ordinary, it offers a A38 73 great many people the chance to turn what they see as a problem A38 74 into ready cash.

A38 75 A38 76 Big sales drive from new base

A38 77 BLACK COUNTRY car sales group West Midland Motors is A38 78 forecasting a big surge in sales after moving into a prestigious A38 79 new head-quarters on a prime site at Horseley Heath, Great Bridge, A38 80 Tipton.

A38 81 Managing Director Steve Price said the company will be able to A38 82 offer the choice and service to achieve ambitious new targets.

A38 83 They also planning to exploit the big gap opening up in favour A38 84 of the nearly-new car market.

A38 85 "The price differential between low mileage A38 86 H-registration cars and the cost of a new model is giving us a big A38 87 sales advantage," said Mr Price.

A38 88 "Even companies, which in the past bought new, are A38 89 coming to us when replacing their fleets," he commented.

A38 90 The move to the new site with a showpiece frontage was from A38 91 former premises at Leabrook Road, Wednesbury.

A38 92 The operation was backed by the Black Country Development A38 93 Corporation which helped West Midlands Motors find the new site.

A38 94 The BCDC insisted on high specifications for the new Showrooms A38 95 and service centre.

A38 96 The showroom carries a stock of 35 cars with a total choice on A38 97 the site of 140 models.

A38 98 With new servicing and valeting facilities, Mr Price said their A38 99 main concern was to look after their customers.

A38 100 The range of top quality used cars takes in Ford, Austin Rover A38 101 and Vauxhall, as well as foreign cars.

A38 102 There is also a section of prestige cars including Rolls Royce, A38 103 Mercedes, Jaguar and Porsche.

A38 104 Giving examples of nearly-new bargains, Mr Price quotes a Rover A38 105 GSi 16 valve, costing around pounds14,000 on the road. West Midland A38 106 Motors can supply a mint <}_><-|>condtion<+|>condition<}/> A38 107 H-registration model for around pounds9,000.

A38 108 A Cavalier 1600 L 5-door, cost around pounds11,700 on the road A38 109 compared with an H-registration price of pounds7,500.

A38 110 A Ford Granada 2.9i Scorpio costs just under pounds28,000 new A38 111 on the road compared with an H-registration price of A38 112 pounds12,900.

A38 113 As part of the improved services on offer, former salesman Neil A38 114 Timms is heading a new financial department to deal with hire A38 115 purchase, leasing and extended warranties.

A38 116 On the sales side are the experienced team of Stephen A38 117 Arblaster, Roy Westbrook who have been with the company eight A38 118 years. Roger Norridge is the newest member of the team having A38 119 joined from a local Rover dealership.

A38 120 With the new facilities and service and sales back-up, Mr Price A38 121 is expecting <}_><-|>an<+|>a<}/> 50 per cent increase in turnover A38 122 this year on the previous total of pounds6 million.

A38 123 A38 124 Polly Peck salvage plan

A38 125 Creditors of Polly Peck International have agreed to a A38 126 restructuring plan in order to salvage what they could from the A38 127 wreckage of the collapsed fruit-to-electronics group.

A38 128 Administrators from Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte said yesterday A38 129 that the survival package offered their best chance of recovering A38 130 at least some of the pounds1.1 billion the company owed.

A38 131 The scheme was accepted at a meeting of creditors at Alexandra A38 132 Palace in north London after there were no votes against on a show A38 133 of hands.

A38 134 Before the meeting the administrators said they had received A38 135 proxy votes in favour of the plans from creditors owed more than A38 136 pounds33 million while proxies against represented less than A38 137 pounds2,000.

A38 138 Seating had been arranged for up to 2,500 creditors with a A38 139 closed circuit television available to transmit proceedings to any A38 140 overflow but in the event the hall was barely one-third full.

A38 141 The meeting was told by Michael Jordan of Coopers and Lybrand A38 142 that the alternative to restructuring - the immediate liquidation A38 143 of the group's assets - was likely to yield a return of just 20p in A38 144 the pound.

A38 145 A38 146 Speyhawk will clip its wings

A38 147 Property develop Speyhawk is scaling down operations after A38 148 reporting a first-half loss of more than pounds10 million.

A38 149 The company made a profit of pounds6 million in the previous A38 150 six months.

A38 151 Turnover was down by two-thirds from pounds130 million to A38 152 pounds42 million.

A38 153 And today the board announced that no interim dividend would be A38 154 paid and that there would be no payment on preference shares.

A38 155 "Conditions have dictated that operations be scaled A38 156 down enabling overheads to be reduced and the management to focus A38 157 on the group's immediate objectives," a company spokesman A38 158 said.

A38 159 "The board continues to guide the group through A38 160 difficult times which will only recover gradually.

A38 161 "The continuance of extremely difficult trading conditions is A38 162 such that no improvement in the prospects for the group can yet be A38 163 expected."

A38 164 He said work was continuing on developments at Wimblendon, A38 165 Harrogate, Croydon and Windsor.

A38 166 A38 167 A38 168 City's crowning jewel

A38 169 Asprey proved there's no such thing as a recession for the A38 170 really rich today, by showcasing a glittering display of A38 171 profits.

A38 172 Chairman John Rolls Asprey claimed that trading in all the A38 173 group's shops had been hit by the recession, but it certainly A38 174 didn't look that way from this side of the jewellery display. A38 175 Annual sales were up by a third to shade over pounds100 million, A38 176 which sent profits at the top peoples' shop up by pounds2.5 million A38 177 to more than pounds24 million. Mr Asprey said the company's success A38 178 in recent years had been founded on serving the "top end of A38 179 the luxury market for an international clientele."

A38 180 The City thought the profits were much what had been expected A38 181 and the excellent news left the shares unmoved.

A38 182 A38 183 Dan-Air still flying despite pounds38m losses

A38 184 Company doctor David James revealed today that his last patient A38 185 - the Davies&Newman group - had survived 1990 on two wings and a A38 186 prayer, despite losses of more than pounds38 million.

A38 187 He was called in last November, whilst helping rebuild Eagle A38 188 Trust, to see if the Dan-Air parent could be saved.

A38 189 Today Mr James said: "Despite appalling difficulties A38 190 during the last year the group has survived.

A38 191 "Provided it can now achieve the essential level of new capital A38 192 support to maintain and develop its market position, I believe it A38 193 will again become a valuable investment."

A38 194 Mr James said the year-end trading loss of pounds25 million had A38 195 been in line with forecasts. The loss on ordinary activities - A38 196 before taxation credit of pounds12.8 million - was pounds38.7 A38 197 million.

A38 198 The board has decided that no dividend can be declared for A38 199 1990.

A38 200 Today Mr James indicated that a rights' issue ear was likely A38 201 this autumn.

A38 202 A38 203 Index on the slide

A38 204 Prices tumbled today as the London markets followed the line A38 205 from Germany.

A38 206 A string of dismal company results left the FT-SE nursing a A38 207 24-point loss at one stage.

A38 208 Trafalgar House were one of the few bright spots, climbing 5p A38 209 after a report that P&O may buy its Cunard cargo interests.

A38 210 British Steel was again under pressure, down 5p ahead of A38 211 Monday's results.

A38 212 Anglia TV, down 8p, reflected its massive profits' slide.

A38 213 BTR dipped 8p after its Thomas Tilling subsidiary revealed a 13 A38 214 per cent fall in profits, while reaction to Burton's pounds161 A38 215 million cash call saw it lose 2p.

A38 216 By early afternoon, more than 40 million Burton shares had A38 217 changed hands.

A38 218 A38 219 Overseas aid to Syltone

A38 220 Truck and trailer parts supplier Syltone fought off the motor A38 221 industry slump by travelling overseas to grab new business.

A38 222 Bradford-based Syltone turned in profits up pounds320,000 to A38 223 pounds2.7 million.

A38 224 Chairman Tony Clegg said the 13.2 per cent rise was earned by A38 225 expanding overseas.

A38 226 Sales were up pounds1 million to more than pounds33 million.

A38 227 Mr Clegg said: "Our French, Dutch Italian and United A38 228 States subsidiaries have all returned excellent results.

A38 229 The foreign ventures had also helped keep the UK factories A38 230 busy.

A38 231 Syltone's overseas sales leapt nearly 3.5 million to pounds18 A38 232 million, while the home figure dropped pounds2.5 million to A38 233 pounds15.6 million.

A38 234 A final dividend of 6p, makes 9p total, up 1p.

A38 235 A38 236 Poor show by TV firm

A38 237 Video and TV equipment suppliers Avesco broadcast a sorry A38 238 message to shareholders today with profits down more than pounds4 A38 239 million over the year.

A38 240 But it said that longer term prospects were excellent.

A38 241 "The difficult trading conditions of the last year are A38 242 likely to continue for the immediate future," said chairman A38 243 Richard Murray.

A38 244 "But the awarding of the ITV franchises in October will A38 245 provide a stimulus to the UK television market."

A38 246 He believed the television industry worldwide would grow A38 247 strongly over the next decade.

A38 248 "The benefits of new broadcasting channels and A38 249 increased broadcasting hours are still to come," he A38 250 said.

A38 251 "They, plus the wish of the less advanced nations of A38 252 the world to catch up, can only lead to a resumption of strong A38 253 demand for the products and services which we offer."

A38 254 Final dividend is 1p, making 1.5p.

A38 255 A38 256 Cash fall

A38 257 Engineering to textiles group Thomas Tilling sewed up profits A38 258 of pounds152 million over the year.

A38 259 The figure was pounds23 million down on last time.

A38 260 A39 1 <#FLOB:A39\>It's official - Manchester has a black music A39 2 scene!

A39 3 Hot on the street

A39 4 OK - as from Saturday night, courtesy of Channel 4 TV's And It A39 5 Wasn't A Dream documentary, it's official - Manchester has a black A39 6 music scene. But don't make the mistake when you see Saturday's A39 7 short and by now outdated documentary, that they've covered it A39 8 all.

A39 9 As local black poet and writer Lemn Sissay once said. A39 10 "That square mile or so that makes up Moss Side and Hulme A39 11 is the most creative square mile in terms of talent in A39 12 Britain."

A39 13 Lemn Sissay does not come from the Hulme area, he is in fact A39 14 from Leigh, so it's at least a fairly unbiased opinion. But that A39 15 square mile is truly brimming with talent.

A39 16 On the rap music scene people are familiar with The Ruthless A39 17 Rap Assassins and MC Buzz B, but three young guys hot on the street A39 18 looking for a way through are Original Fourth Generation, until A39 19 recently going under the name Rebels In Effect.

A39 20 Stylistically they are different to both the Rap Assassins and A39 21 MC Buzz B, but they share a common bond in that lyrically they are A39 22 out to speak their minds and tell it like it is and maybe could and A39 23 should be better.

A39 24 Yes, one thing rappers from this area have is plenty to rap A39 25 about. Unemployment is high, prospects low, crime on the increase, A39 26 opportunities on the decrease. Drugs and violence are the symptoms A39 27 of the desease of neglect. It's anger at that neglect that is A39 28 peppered throughout the lyrics of Original 4th Generation, A39 29 Mancunians with an attitude and a half.

A39 30 When trying to find a reference point for this band's music A39 31 think Curtis Mayfield and the halycon days of seventies funk. The A39 32 best track I've heard from the Original 4th Generation is the A39 33 superb Find Ya Mind. It's education through rap, Gil Scott Heron's A39 34 The Revolution Will Not Be Televised for the nineties carried on a A39 35 wave of pure funk.

A39 36 On their track, The Search For Inner Peace Through Poetry, they A39 37 slam in with a sampled bass from the Temptation's Psychedelic Shack A39 38 and then ease into some mellowish vibes.

A39 39 The use of special textures in the music and the fact that it's A39 40 the rap's content rather than off-beat styles that carry the A39 41 message through nice and clear, is due partly to Original 4th A39 42 Generation's work with local production and song writing team A39 43 Chapter And The Verse, but there is more to come.

A39 44 People in the music industry in Britain are slow to wake up to A39 45 the fact that British black music is alive and kicking outside of A39 46 London.

A39 47 The latest tactic employed by Manchester's artists on the dance A39 48 scene is to sneak in the backdoor with white labels and create a A39 49 buzz in the capital through the radio stations like Kiss FM and A39 50 Jazz FM and the club scene, before anyone finds out they aren't A39 51 from London.

A39 52 But while everyone else in this city seems to be thinking that A39 53 until they've appeared on Top Of The Pops they haven't made it, A39 54 Original 4th Generation , The Rap Assassins, MC Buzz B and Chapter A39 55 And The Verse know it's the quality, originality and honesty of A39 56 your music that really counts.

A39 57 A39 58 The write way to commit murder

A39 59 "Advice and information are vital to anyone who wants A39 60 to get into print and that is what we try to supply"

A39 61 by BERNARD SILK

A39 62 YOU'RE writing a crime thriller and want to bump off a victim A39 63 with a spectacular poisoning.

A39 64 But what substance would your killer need and in what A39 65 quantity?

A39 66 Deadly Doses, the writers' handbook to poisons and antidotes A39 67 supplies the necessary information (and presumably for real A39 68 killers, too, but that's another story).

A39 69 Similarly, if your fictional murderer wishes to indulge in some A39 70 gunplay, instant expertise is at hand via Armed and Dangerous, the A39 71 crime writers' guide to weapons.

A39 72 They are just a couple of the 150 titles from the shelves of A39 73 Freelance Press Services, the Salford-based agency which helps A39 74 budding and established writers all over Britain - and indeed the A39 75 world.

A39 76 Arthur Waite, who's 81, founded the company more than 60 years A39 77 ago and reckons it's the country's longest-established agency of A39 78 its type after the London School of Journalism.

A39 79 For many years now, he's been helping writers to get their work A39 80 into print with the aid of his daughter Saundrea.

A39 81 But it all started for Arthur when he became a founder member A39 82 of the Manchester and District Table Tennis League in the 1920s.

A39 83 He proved such a whizz at the sport that he was soon playing A39 84 for the England team.

A39 85 That led to articles for national newspapers (no, he didn't use A39 86 ghostwriters) - and Arthur went on to pen two big-selling books A39 87 about table tennis.

A39 88 Eagle comic

A39 89 Soon he had extended his activities to writing children's A39 90 stories which were featured in many publications of the time, and A39 91 was publishing a popular children's magazine The Merry Go Round, A39 92 later to be incorporated into the legendary Eagle comic.

A39 93 These days, he still runs a correspondance course of writing A39 94 for children, as well as publishing the Freelance Market News.

A39 95 Arthur explains: "It's a monthly newsletter for A39 96 freelance writers and photographers, keeping them up to date with A39 97 what's going on in the world of newspapers and magazines.

A39 98 "It deals with both fiction and general interest articles. A39 99 Editors and publishers tell us when they are starting new A39 100 publications, and people in the business let us know the latest on A39 101 who's buying what.

A39 102 "We mention about 60 or 70 markets for writers each month, some A39 103 which they might never find out about in the ordinary run of A39 104 things.

A39 105 "And there's an overseas supplement every three months which A39 106 gives the same information about foreign markets - we get that A39 107 through contacts in many countries.

A39 108 "Our clients range from teenagers to pensioners, and from A39 109 complete beginners to established writers who use us to find work. A39 110 Some markets are constantly diminishing as others are growing so A39 111 it's vital to be in the know."

A39 112 Saundrea, who began as an advertising copywriter and later A39 113 joined her father in the business, reckons the service is unique. A39 114 She is editor of Freelance Market news.

A39 115 "I don't think that anyone else supplies this sort of A39 116 information on the scale that we do, and we also stock what is A39 117 probably the biggest library of writers' self-help books in A39 118 Britain.

A39 119 "They deal with every conceivable sort of writing - crime, A39 120 romance, horror, novel-writing, poetry, TV scriptwriting ... plus A39 121 specialist advice books like Deadly Doses."

A39 122 Freelance Market News has a circulation of around 2,000 across A39 123 Britain, Europe, America, Australia - there are even Japanese A39 124 subscribers - and there is constant feedback from the writers A39 125 themselves.

A39 126 "Some write to tell us of their successes. It's very A39 127 satisfying to get an excited letter from someone who has just sold A39 128 an article or even succeeded in getting a book accepted by a A39 129 publisher," says Arthur.

A39 130 "Many of our clients are published authors of A39 131 thrillers, romances or short stories and we have a file of A39 132 testimonials from people we have helped."

A39 133 Sometimes the agency has to stick up for its clients in more A39 134 practical fashion.

A39 135 "We mention magazines which are good payers - and bad A39 136 payers - in Freelance Market News," says Saundrea.

A39 137 "If we highlight a bad payer it sometimes seems to spur A39 138 them into bucking up the cash flow to the writers.

A39 139 "Now and again we will chivvy a slow-paying magazine with a A39 140 letter on behalf of a specific writer and it's surprising how often A39 141 it gets results."

A39 142 A39 143 Manchester is gearing up for the city's annual arts A39 144 jamboree and for the first time it's got the 'International' tag - A39 145 so will the world sit up and take notice?

A39 146 Festival fever

A39 147 by RACHEL PUGH

A39 148 IT'S starting with fireworks and, thanks to a new vital A39 149 ingredient, festival organisers expect it will more than explode A39 150 onto the European arts scene.

A39 151 For collaborators in Manchester's annual arts festival, which A39 152 starts on August 31 until September 30, have for the first time A39 153 taken the step of calling it 'International'.

A39 154 Television is the new addition to a formula which they believe A39 155 will make culture vultures the world over sit up and take notice. A39 156 They hope, with time, it will prove as big a draw as anything A39 157 offered at Edinburgh or Salzburg.

A39 158 Granada Television has invested pounds600,000 in the event and A39 159 is joining the two main sponsors Manchester City Council and A39 160 Central Manchester Development Corporation to transform it into the A39 161 country's only Festival of Arts and Television.

A39 162 A string of international stars of music, theatre and A39 163 literature and a rich hinterland of fringe events will attract A39 164 audiences from a wide area. But what makes this festival different A39 165 is the 15 hours of coverage - two of them nationally shown - which A39 166 Granada is planning for this year.

A39 167 Granada's head of art, William Burdett-Coutts, who started the A39 168 Edinburgh assembly rooms, believes the innovations are crucial in A39 169 Manchester festival's search for international status.

A39 170 He said: "Manchester has got to A39 171 <}_><-|>develope<+|>develop<}/> a particular character for its A39 172 festival and use it from its sales point. There is no point in A39 173 creating a festival just for the sake of getting a few people A39 174 together.

A39 175 Valuable A39 176 "A festival has to be more than quick entertainment. It A39 177 has to be part of the strategy for a city's long-term economic A39 178 development."

A39 179 In future years, as it establishes itself there are plans to A39 180 increase television coverage and involve the making of videos, to A39 181 provide a valuable new area of operation for the industry and to A39 182 attract more international names and money to the city.

A39 183 Festival director, Phil Jones, is convinced that the festival A39 184 has what it takes: "It's an internationally credible A39 185 festival, with internationally credible events. There's something A39 186 in it for everybody."

A39 187 There is no shortage of big names with artists like the A39 188 Lab<*_>e-grave<*/>que sisters (appearing with the A39 189 Hall<*_>e-acute<*/> on September 8 in a concert sponsored by the A39 190 Manchester Evening News) the Medici and the Brodsky A39 191 string quartets, the Fairer Sax, Miriam Stoppard and pianist Imogen A39 192 Cooper.

A39 193 They are also joined by a whole string of lesser known A39 194 performers from abroad like the anarchic, violent and raunchy A39 195 circus troupe Archaos, from France, Jamaican heavyweight singer A39 196 Shabba Ranks and Jaleo Flamenco from Spain, to give the festival a A39 197 truly international flavour.

A39 198 Events like the Festival of Manchester Writing, which coincides A39 199 with the main event, have been brought under its umbrella.

A39 200 A glance at the festival's history reveals that it has been A39 201 going in some form, developing from the organ festival for the past A39 202 17 years. Only in the last five years has it expanded to produce a A39 203 comprehensive programme across the spectrum of the arts.

A39 204 Local events involving artists from Manchester's rich and A39 205 diverse ethnic communities have always featured largely in the A39 206 programme. This year is no exception when punters can sample A39 207 anything from the Chinese evening catered for by the Yang Sing A39 208 restaurant or the rhythms of Manchester heavy reggae band Dread and A39 209 Dread at Band on the Wall, to the Green Room's review of A39 210 Manchester's African community.

A39 211 Phil Jones said: "It has always been an accessible, A39 212 populist festival with a big emphasis on the community."

A39 213 Reputations A39 214 Cheltenham, Glynderbourne, Aldeburgh - all big names. But they A39 215 depend little on local resources. They have won their reputations A39 216 by drawing people from outside in.

A39 217 But now Manchester is trying to gain a world reputation. There A39 218 was last year's unsuccessful bid to host the 1996 Olympics, for A39 219 which the Arts Festival became the Olympic Festival, complete with A39 220 stars of the calibre of opera soprano Kiri Te Kanawa. Undaunted it A39 221 is also trying for the 2000 games.

A39 222 The latest target for Manchester is to be accepted as City of A39 223 Culture 1994 - the year selected for a celebration of theatre and A39 224 drama. The city has put in a nomination which, if successful, would A39 225 win it pounds250,000 of Arts Council funding. Festival organisers A39 226 hope that its entry to international class will provide some A39 227 leverage, to add to the long-standing tradition of theatre.

A39 228 Phil Jones said: "It will not be the be-all and end-all A39 229 of our bid, but it will certainly make a difference."

A39 230 The day art-hungry Sheilas and Bruces are seen boarding jumbos A39 231 in Melbourne in droves bound for Manchester, the city's festival A39 232 organisers will truly be able to boast they have achieved their A39 233 aim.

A39 234 A40 1 <#FLOB:A40\>Praying for help

A40 2 AS houses get older, things start to go wrong. Most of us from A40 3 time to time find ourselves having to fork out for some new slates, A40 4 a length of replacement guttering or maybe a bit of repair work on A40 5 a cracked wall.

A40 6 With a bit of luck the bill will be counted in hundreds of A40 7 pounds. But when our magnificent churches start showing their age, A40 8 the bills can run into millions. And finding the money to pay is a A40 9 clergyman's nightmare. TOM MOORE reports.

A40 10 CHURCHES are a big problem in Brighton. They are cracking up, A40 11 crumbling and rapidly tumbling into a shocking state of leaky A40 12 disrepair.

A40 13 The town's eight Anglican churches face a pounds7 million bill, A40 14 just to restore them to safe and dry places in which to pray.

A40 15 And with starving millions worldwide taking first call on the A40 16 pockets of charity givers, churchmen concede that collecting this A40 17 sort of cash for bricks and mortar is going to be an uphill, if not A40 18 impossible struggle.

A40 19 "It's a real headache," says Canon Dominic A40 20 Walker, Vicar of Brighton. "The problem is that the A40 21 churches were mostly built at about the same time, between 1830 and A40 22 1890, so they are all growing old together.

A40 23 "The roofs have started to leak and the stone and brickwork has A40 24 started to crumble."

A40 25 St Bartholomew's in Ann Street needs about pounds1 million to A40 26 put it right. Brighton's showpiece parish church, St Peter's in A40 27 London Road, needs pounds500,000. Repair work on St Michael's in A40 28 Victoria Road will cost pounds400,000.

A40 29 AND the bank-busting pounds2 million to pounds3 million needed A40 30 by St Paul's in West Street means the church hall and vicarage will A40 31 have to be sold to developers in order to pay the bill.

A40 32 Canon Walker says: "The ravages of rain, wind and salt A40 33 air over the past 100 years or so have taken their toll.

A40 34 "We are not talking about raising money for 'luxuries'. We are A40 35 talking about basic things such as repointing crumbling brickwork, A40 36 mending roofs to keep out the rain and putting in new electric A40 37 wiring to make the churches safe.

A40 38 "It is work that must be done urgently or the churches will A40 39 become unusable."

A40 40 And here is a major dilemma. Even if, as a last resort, it was A40 41 decided to close down a church, money would not be saved. A40 42 "It would become the subject of a preservation order which A40 43 would mean it could not be knocked down and sold to A40 44 developers," Canon Walker explains.

A40 45 "By law, we would still be obliged to maintain the A40 46 building, even if there were no services there, and that would be a A40 47 very costly business."

A40 48 So how can the money be raised? The regular Sunday collection A40 49 doesn't really help. "This is used to help pay the clergy A40 50 and bills like heating and lighting. There are jumble sales of A40 51 course, but you cannot raise pounds1 million at a jumble A40 52 sale," says Cannon Walker.

A40 53 "There are various trusts which specialise in A40 54 preserving ancient buildings. The trouble is they tend to think the A40 55 South East is rich enough to pay for its own churches so they A40 56 concentrate their money on the North."

A40 57 One answer seems to be the employment of professional A40 58 fund-raisers.

A40 59 ST Michael's decided on this solution when they launched their A40 60 pounds400,000 appeal in September 1989. They employed the A40 61 London-based company Molineux Fund Raising and the decision seems A40 62 to have paid off.

A40 63 "Already we have raised more than half of what we A40 64 need," says Kit Sharp, parish clerk at St Michael's.

A40 65 The first step was to persuade a number of influential people A40 66 to become patrons of the appeal. These included chairman of the A40 67 Arts Council Lord Palumbo and Brighton Pavilion MP Julian Amery.

A40 68 "The firm also prepares hundreds of letters for us A40 69 asking for donations to the appeal," says Kit. "We A40 70 trawl through Who's Who before sending them out and also compile a A40 71 list of everyone in Sussex who may be interested.

A40 72 "The fund raisers help us with the publicity and have advised A40 73 us on the trusts most likely to support us. The whole appeal has A40 74 been run on a professional and businesslike basis. It wouldn't have A40 75 worked otherwise."

A40 76 Delighted as he is with the professional approach, Kit remains A40 77 full of praise for the amateur efforts that have helped boost the A40 78 appeal. But he adds: "Let's face it, it is much harder to A40 79 raise money for bricks and mortar than it is to for starving A40 80 children. But we have shown that it can be done."

A40 81 A40 82 No nerves for talented Katie

A40 83 FOR someone who has never acted in front of an audience before, A40 84 11-year-old KATIE DAVIES is showing bags of nerve.

A40 85 Every night until the end of September, the Tangmere youngster A40 86 is playing the part of Myrtle Panmure in Preserving Mr Panmure at A40 87 Chichester's 1,400-seater Festival Theatre.

A40 88 "I got nervous before the show for the first couple of A40 89 nights, but I'm fine now," says Katie.

A40 90 She was picked from more than 60 hopefuls for the part of A40 91 precocious Myrtle, Mr Panmure's daughter, in Pinero's Edwardian A40 92 comedy.

A40 93 Katie had a lot of lines to learn and some long words, such as A40 94 'rhapsodical', which she admits she still doesn't know the meaning A40 95 of.

A40 96 As for the character she plays, Katie thinks Myrtle is A40 97 "obnoxious" and not at all like her.

A40 98 Commitment to the play means that Katie will be missing the A40 99 first few weeks of term at her new school, St Margaret's, in A40 100 Midhurst.

A40 101 But since she intends to make the theatre her career, she A40 102 doesn't mind too much.

A40 103 She has had speech and drama lessons since she was four years A40 104 old. Her current tutor is HILDA JACKMAN.

A40 105 "I'd like to do serious drama more than A40 106 comedy," says Katie, even though she raises a good few A40 107 laughs as Myrtle.

A40 108 A40 109 Scofield backs society that packs a Punch

A40 110 ONE OF England's greatest actors has agreed to be patron of a A40 111 fledgling Sussex literary society.

A40 112 Classical actor Paul Scofield has given his support to the Mark A40 113 Lemon Society, named after the first editor of Punch.

A40 114 It was launched this summer to mark the 150th anniversary of A40 115 Punch and to revive interest in Lemon, who lived in Crawley and was A40 116 a close friend of Charles Dickens.

A40 117 Mr Scofield, who lives in Balcombe, said: "I agreed to A40 118 be patron simply because it seemed to me to be a very interesting A40 119 society.

A40 120 "I am a great fan of Dickens although I have gone off Punch a A40 121 bit. It seems to have lost some of its charm and old character A40 122 recently."

A40 123 Mr Scofield has just returned to Sussex after completing A40 124 filming of the late Bruce Chatwin's play Utz in Prague and A40 125 Hamburg.

A40 126 He is acclaimed by many as England's greatest classical actor A40 127 and is best known for his portrayal of King Lear with the Royal A40 128 Shakespeare Company, the West End play Amadeus and the film of Sir A40 129 Thomas More's life, A Man For All Seasons.

A40 130 He was asked to be patron by society founders the Rev Michael A40 131 Goode, rector of St John's, Crawley, and local historian Roger A40 132 Bastable, who both felt that Mark Lemon's time in Crawley between A40 133 1857 and 1870 was largely unknown by younger generations. They are A40 134 planning a number of literary events and outings and will hold the A40 135 society's first meeting on September 14 at St John's Church, when A40 136 extracts from the letters and diaries of Harold Nicolson and Vita A40 137 Sackville West will be read.

A40 138 A40 139 Unflappable Fred!

A40 140 (The face that's launched a thousand Coast to Coasts)

A40 141 FRED DINENAGE is the senior Coast to Coast presenter at the TVS A40 142 news programme's Southampton headquarters. It's a job he's been A40 143 doing for seven and a half years and the culmination of 27 years in A40 144 television, mostly in the South and South East.

A40 145 Argus TV Editor MIKE HOWARD and photographer TONY TREE met the A40 146 man dubbed the Grand Old Man of Television in the South.

A40 147 THERE are just fifteen minutes to go before the TVS regional A40 148 news programme Coast to Coast goes on air. In the mixing gallery A40 149 outside the studio all hell is breaking loose as tapes go missing, A40 150 stories fall out of the running order and the director begins to A40 151 pull out his hair.

A40 152 But in the studio itself all is calm. You can occasionally hear A40 153 the sound of a pen on paper - but that's just Fred Dinenage A40 154 completing a crossword in one of the many morning and evening A40 155 papers he reads every day.

A40 156 If you hear any slurping - and you won't, Fred is much too A40 157 polite for that - he might be sipping a last cup of coffee or A40 158 sucking a mint.

A40 159 The crossword, the coffee and the mint are a firmly established A40 160 part of Fred's ritual as he prepares for the main evening news A40 161 bulletin.

A40 162 As always he will read the news with aplomb and authority. He's A40 163 smartly, maybe fastidiously dressed, looks completely unflappable A40 164 and is always ready with an easy quip to his co-presenter Fern A40 165 Britton (seen with him in our main picture) and the technicians A40 166 surrounding him.

A40 167 But in the final few minutes before the red light shows he's A40 168 'on air', the jokes stop, he gets a final dab of powder from the A40 169 make-up girl, shuffles a few papers and he's ready.

A40 170 "Good evening. There are reports tonight ... " A40 171 So begins his umpteenth newscast.

A40 172 His manner will be smooth and unhurried and his voice carefully A40 173 modulated with no trace of his northern accent. It will remain that A40 174 way until the final credits roll twenty minutes later.

A40 175 Fred says: "It is vitally important to be calm and A40 176 appear unhurried and unflappable, even when the most diabolical A40 177 things go wrong.

A40 178 "A newscaster's job is to present the news, not sell him or A40 179 herself although we must let some personality get through because A40 180 some of our stories and links need that.

A40 181 "And we have to be authoritative without being pompous and be A40 182 aware that a light item shouldn't be taken at a rollicking pace A40 183 because it might be followed by a piece of bad news."

A40 184 Fred, 49, is a former Evening Argus journalist who was first A40 185 persuaded to try television by another ex-Evening Argus journalist A40 186 now BBC music presenter, Anne Nightingale.

A40 187 And he nearly lost his opportunity.

A40 188 He said: "Annie had told me how marvellous it was in A40 189 television. All I wanted was a job on a national newspaper but I A40 190 did arrange to go for a screen test and interview with the old A40 191 Southern Television people in Southampton for a job presenting A40 192 Three-Go-Round, a children's show which predated BBC's Blue A40 193 Peter.

A40 194 "But on the day I overslept and missed the train so I went back A40 195 to bed and forgot the whole thing.

A40 196 "The following Sunday morning the producer arrived and wanted A40 197 to talk to the 'rude chap' who didn't turn up. I finally went for a A40 198 test and was offered the job, initially for seven weeks but that A40 199 became 18 months.

A40 200 "At first television terrified me but it all worked well and I A40 201 came to love it.

A40 202 "After Three-Go-Round came a spell as a reporter on Southern A40 203 Television's Day by Day news show and I was doing that at the same A40 204 time as I began to do How, which became the ITV's longest running A40 205 children's programme.

A40 206 "I then got a spot doing sport for Yorkshire Television and A40 207 that led to full-time freelancing which I did for 18 A40 208 years."

A40 209 In that time Fred worked for virtually every ITV company. You A40 210 name the show and he's probably done it.

A40 211 He says: "Perhaps the greatest opportunity was covering A40 212 the Olympic Games in Moscow and Munich for the network and becoming A40 213 number two presenter on the ITV's flagship sports programme World A40 214 of Sport.

A40 215 "I also hosted the Miss Great Britain Contest for five years A40 216 which was a lot of fun.

A40 217 "But the problem with freelancing was that I was never at home. A40 218 I have a 19-year-old daughter Caroline who as a child almost never A40 219 saw me. When the twins came along I decided to pack in the A40 220 freelancing and settle for one company.

A40 221 "I joined the staff here on Coast to Coast in 1984. A40 222 A41 1 <#FLOB:A41\>Dons Hot and Cold

A41 2 By BILL MCFARLANE

A41 3 AFTER THE exotic climes of Bermuda, Aberdeen were brought back A41 4 to earth with a bang in unglamorous Kirkcaldy.

A41 5 In fairness, the Dons started well. But, long before the end, A41 6 the effects of their 22-hour return trip on Thursday were all too A41 7 obvious.

A41 8 Not that too much should be read into this game.

A41 9 Indeed, we even had the bizarre spectacle of four players all A41 10 wearing No.16 jerseys at the same time!

A41 11 One player certainly took proceedings far more seriously than A41 12 most - Theo Snelders.

A41 13 Just after half-time, he was penalised for over-carrying the A41 14 ball and voiced his disapproval so strongly that referee Taylor saw A41 15 fit to administer a lengthy lecture.

A41 16 From the resulting free-kick, Raith's new signing, Craig A41 17 Brewster, blasted the ball low past the Dutch keeper.

A41 18 Before the end, Snelders was also involved in a fiery exchange A41 19 with team-mate Steward McKimmie, with the pair almost coming to A41 20 blows.

A41 21 Aberdeen had gone ahead in the first half after Hans Gillhaus A41 22 played a snappy one-two with Grant before firing the ball home.

A41 23 Then, 13 minutes from the end, Gillhaus dispossesses Coyle and A41 24 young Scott Booth took full advantage to score the winner.

A41 25 Aberdeen played well within themselves.

A41 26 Raith, now full-time again, were well organised and Brewster A41 27 could prove to be an astute signing.

A41 28 A41 29 Captains' headache

A41 30 By DOUG PROCTOR

A41 31 DON CHERRY may not be one of golf's household names.

A41 32 But he was the man responsible for the R&A having to cough up A41 33 pounds98,400 for the additional players who made the halfway cut at A41 34 Royal Birkdale last weekend, courtesy of the ten-shot rule.

A41 35 Cherry was an American Walker Cup player, who made a long putt A41 36 on the 36th green at The Masters to eliminate Ben Hogan and Gary A41 37 Middlecoff at the halfway stage, even though they were less than A41 38 ten strokes back.

A41 39 Standard Practice

A41 40 Thereafter the ten-stroke rule was introduced and has now A41 41 become standard practice.

A41 42 Cherry was also a top night club singer whose solitary hit A41 43 single "Band of Gold", lies somewhere in my box of 78s!

A41 44 He helped provide a pot of gold for the lucky 40-odd players A41 45 who left Borkdale pounds2,400 richer.

A41 46 But Cherry's historical feat did little to help either of the A41 47 two Ryder Cup captains in their search for wildcard competitors for A41 48 the showdown at Kiawah Island in September.

A41 49 Among the Europeans, Sam Torrance made the biggest move over A41 50 the last 36 holes and he is virtually assured of a place in Bernard A41 51 Gallacher's side.

A41 52 Tom Kite's 68, 69 finish, meanwhile, was the most-prominent A41 53 American move from the rear of the field.

A41 54 He is now only one spot out of Dave Stockton's side and should A41 55 sneak in.

A41 56 Even so, the differing method of selection by each side is A41 57 causing headaches for both captains.

A41 58 They both feel strongly that the US PGA and its British A41 59 counterpart should use identical systems.

A41 60 The American method is based over players' performances in the A41 61 past two years while the Europeans only take into account the A41 62 current season.

A41 63 Americans earn points for finishing in the top ten in A41 64 tournaments but the European side is picked from the top A41 65 earners.

A41 66 Stockton will be allowed two of his own choices with Gallacher A41 67 having three.

A41 68 Anomalies occur in each system, with Wayne Levi the A41 69 most-glaring example.

A41 70 Last year, a career-best of over $1 million winnings put A41 71 him into contention.

A41 72 He's now number eight on the American list - despite not being A41 73 in the top 60 on the money list this year!

A41 74 Conversely, a win at Borkdale, worth pounds90,000, could have A41 75 catapulted a number of Europeans from nowhere into the Ryder Cup A41 76 team.

A41 77 Of course, no selection process is without controversy and A41 78 doubtless many will take the view that each camp is entitled to do A41 79 what they will.

A41 80 A41 81 Tony's Tokyo Target

A41 82 By BARRY DOUGLAS

A41 83 ONE OF Britain's best chances of a medal at the athletics World A41 84 Championships in Tokyo next month comes in the 110 metre hurdles, A41 85 where we've two truly world-class competitors.

A41 86 The event's been dominated in Britain by Colin Jackson over the A41 87 past couple of seasons, but his international team-mate Tony A41 88 Jarrett (left)photo has been making progress recently.

A41 89 Following his less than happy experience in the Stockholm Grand A41 90 Prix meeting, where he fell, Jarrett was up early in the morning A41 91 before the recent Parcelforce Games at Crystal Palace meeting to A41 92 improve his start.

A41 93 The work obviously paid off, with Tony claiming the scalp of A41 94 Jackson, as well as American Tony Deas, despite windy A41 95 conditions.

A41 96 "The funny thing is that I like running into a A41 97 headwind. I hate running with the wind behind me - it brings me on A41 98 to the hurdles too quickly."

A41 99 Despite that victory, Tony is reluctant to place himself among A41 100 the top half-dozen hurdlers in the world.

A41 101 "I've been taking a step up every year, but it's still A41 102 too early in the season. I'm just concentrating on getting ready A41 103 for the World Championships."

A41 104 Though he's not one to blow his own trumpet, Tony clearly A41 105 believes he can win a medal in Tokyo.

A41 106 "If I didn't I wouldn't be in the sport, but it's going A41 107 to be very hard.

A41 108 "Greg Foster is running reasonably fast, and I know Colin is A41 109 going to be ready."

A41 110 Although he's a top international, Tony still keeps in touch A41 111 with the grass roots of the sport through his club, Haringey.

A41 112 Much of that is due to the debt of thanks he owes the club A41 113 founder, the late Ron Pickering.

A41 114 "As far as running is concerned, he's the person who A41 115 brought me up. He also helped me out financially when there was no A41 116 money," recalls Tony.

A41 117 "Ron played a big part in my career. At the Olympics, a A41 118 lot of people didn't think I could get to the final but he A41 119 encouraged me and told me I could do it.

A41 120 "He was a great man and he'll be sadly missed."

A41 121 A41 122 HONDA'S THANK YOU TO THE FLYING SCOT

A41 123 Steve gets his reward

A41 124 By BARRY DOUGLAS

A41 125 STEVE HISLOP'S record-breaking performance in the Isle of Man A41 126 TT series has lined up a Grand Prix future with Honda.

A41 127 The Flying Scot, who finished third in last weekend's Suzuka A41 128 endurance race, looks set to be given a factory-prepared Honda A41 129 machine for a crack at the 250cc World title next season. To gain A41 130 experience for that challenge, Steve (above) will be on the grid A41 131 for this afternoon's 250cc event at the British Grand Prix at A41 132 Donington Park.

A41 133 Honda's decision is the fulfilment of a dream for the A41 134 29-year-old Hawick rider.

A41 135 "You always want to be competing against the best, and A41 136 to have a chance of getting a decent finish, you need the best A41 137 bike," says Steve.

A41 138 "I had my first ride on a factory-prepared bike in A41 139 Japan.

A41 140 "The difference between that bike, and the machine I usually A41 141 ride, was incredible."

A41 142 Steve, and partner Jason Fogarty, scorched round the Suzuka A41 143 track for 192 laps in the latest leg of the World endurance A41 144 Championship. Hislop finished third behind winners Wayne Gardner A41 145 and Michael Doohan.

A41 146 "I was told fairly late in the day that I'd be riding a A41 147 factory bike.

A41 148 "I think it was Honda's way of thanking me for winning three A41 149 races at the Isle of Man TT again, and giving them a good A41 150 show."

A41 151 Steve admits he was determined to repay Honda's faith with a A41 152 strong showing, despite the horrendous conditions.

A41 153 Heavy rain made the track so treacherous, fellow Scot Niall A41 154 Mackenzie suffered the indignity of two crashes, before struggling A41 155 home in 22nd place.

A41 156 "With the race being in Japan, all the top works bosses A41 157 were there watching, and I hope I did enough to impress them.

A41 158 "Honda have already indicated they will consider sending a A41 159 factory bike to the next major leg of the endurance Championship in A41 160 Australia.

A41 161 "It would be fantastic if they did."

A41 162 Steve has every reason to push Honda for another chance on a A41 163 factory bike.

A41 164 He currently leads the World Endurance Championship, and a good A41 165 finish in Australia could see him clinch the title.

A41 166 "There are a couple of races before then, but I'm A41 167 pretty confident I'll pick up enough points in those to keep me in A41 168 contention.

A41 169 "If Honda do provide me with a factory machine, I'll be A41 170 competing on a par with the top riders in the world.

A41 171 "As long as I'm given a winning chance, I think I can match the A41 172 best, and capture the world title."

A41 173 Mackenzie, too is being given an opportunity to shine this A41 174 afternoon.

A41 175 No Hesitation

A41 176 Yamaha offered Niall a one-off deal to return to 500cc action, A41 177 and the Dunblane-based star didn't have to think twice about A41 178 competing in his home Grand Prix.

A41 179 The 500cc title race has so far mirrored its Formula One A41 180 counterpart.

A41 181 The current leader and defending champion, Wayne Rainey also A41 182 has just a narrow eight point lead, despite four wins like Ayrton A41 183 Senna.

A41 184 His main rival is the Australian Honda rider Michael Doohan.

A41 185 However, Californian Rainey's Yamaha is expected to win this A41 186 afternoon, as Donington is a circuit which should favour his A41 187 bike.

A41 188 Without any long straights, the riders must either be braking A41 189 or accelerating all the time.

A41 190 It means steering skill, rather than all-out power, will be the A41 191 crucial factor.

A41 192 With Yamaha enjoying an advantage over Honda in that A41 193 department, Doohan will have his work cut out to narrow the gap.

A41 194 A41 195 63 sets up Woosnam

A41 196 IAN WOOSNAM, the 33-year-old Welshman, looks set to win the A41 197 first prize of pounds100,000 at the Scandinavian Masters in A41 198 Stockholm today.

A41 199 Woosnam blazed round the 6747-yard Drottningholm course in a A41 200 magnificent nine-under-par 63 in his third round yesterday to go to A41 201 17 under for a 199 aggregate and take a two-shot lead over David A41 202 James of Scotland.

A41 203 It was vintage Woosnam, with seven birdies and an eagle in a A41 204 bogey-free round putting him in good heart not only for the final A41 205 today, but also for the U.S. PGA championship at the Crooked Stick A41 206 Club, Indiana, next week.

A41 207 This week he has shot 67, 69, 63 on a par 72 course, and said A41 208 of his form, "I played well the first two days, but could A41 209 not make the putts.

A41 210 "But it was only a matter of time and being patient and the A41 211 putts were sure to come."

A41 212 Had he hit top form too early with a major championship coming A41 213 up?

A41 214 Woosnam scoffed at this idea, saying, "I don't mind A41 215 what week it is. I shall play well next week or I won't play well, A41 216 but I shall be very happy to win the Scandinavian A41 217 Masters."

A41 218 Yesterday he birdied the first two holes with putts of seven A41 219 and 15 feet, and then had another at the fifth, where he slotted a A41 220 12-foot putt. His only blemish came when he hit the long seventh in A41 221 two and three-putted, but he quickly made amends.

A41 222 At the 563-yard eighth he was almost on with a drive and a A41 223 three-iron, and then chipped in for an eagle three from 18 A41 224 yards.

A41 225 He went to the turn in 31 and birdied the eleventh, thirteenth A41 226 and fifteenth to go to 16 under par for the tournament.

A41 227 When he drove into a bunker at the last it looked as if he A41 228 would have to be content with a par five, but Woosnam splashed out A41 229 with a five-iron and then sent an eight-iron approach to 10 feet. A41 230 He holed the putt for yet another birdie.

A41 231 Modest Mames, who shot a 68, said, "I wasn't really A41 232 pleased with my round because I didn't swing the club too A41 233 well."

A41 234 Would he be nervous when he played with Woosnam in the final A41 235 round? "I'm bound to be a little nervous," said A41 236 James, "but not because of Ian. I don't care what he A41 237 does.

A41 238 "All I am interested in is playing well myself. I'm in a good A41 239 position, but I still do not think I have an outstanding chance of A41 240 winning."

A41 241 James had five birdies and a bogey in his round, but added, A41 242 "I did quite well to get my score, because I missed quite a A41 243 few putts."

A41 244 Another Scot, Colin Montgomerie, is lying third, two shots A41 245 behind James.

A41 246 A42 1 <#FLOB:A42\>Ex-chairman Roger bows out of political life

A42 2 By ANNE EDWARDS

A42 3 FORMER chairman of Buckinghamshire County Council, Roger A42 4 Parker-Jervis of Great Hampden, the member for Naphill, has A42 5 announced his retirement from county council at the next election A42 6 in 1993.

A42 7 Approaching 60, Roger has retired as land agent for the Hampden A42 8 Estate, a job which he and his father George held in succession for A42 9 more than 50 years. He intends to spend his retirement "doing all A42 10 the things I like doing - particularly painting." He and his wife A42 11 Diana returned in March from a trip to visit one of their two sons A42 12 in Australia, which explains much of his absence from County Hall A42 13 and the increasingly rare opportunities to hear the cogent speeches A42 14 for which he is well-known.

A42 15 The man who personally took on central Government Ministers A42 16 over the lack of support grant for Buckinghamshire when he was A42 17 chairman from '81 to '85, says he now has "a splendid A42 18 detachment from the rhetoric of politics."

A42 19 He told us: "I do understand how ex-Prime Ministers A42 20 feel, but it is much better to let those who are fully involved get A42 21 on whith the job. A lot of councillors put in an enormous amount of A42 22 work - I used to myself at one time, three or four full days a A42 23 week." He is, he adds: "A very great supporter of A42 24 chairman Mrs Miscampbell."

A42 25 His views are strong on local government review. Local A42 26 government has been so messed around that it really needs radical A42 27 reappraisals, he says. "It is a terrible, terrible mess. A42 28 This is not a criticism of those who serve on local government, but A42 29 I am highly critical of what the Conservative Government has done A42 30 to emasculate local freedom of choice and local A42 31 taxation."

A42 32 Roger feels that local government review will not succeed, A42 33 unless it is by partisan agreement as to how local government A42 34 should operate for the foreseeable future. He fears the politicians A42 35 may make matters no better, as with the council tax - merely moving A42 36 from one pretty disastrous area into another.

A42 37 "Now you have entered the realms of the paid councillor A42 38 where people are getting modest remuneration for a lot of work, do A42 39 we need so many members?" he says. "Should we not A42 40 have unitary authorities for Buckinghamshire that has, say, 20 A42 41 people on it, and pay them properly, with an elected chief A42 42 executive.

A42 43 "Messing around with the present systems is wrong. We must wipe A42 44 the board clean have a radical review."

A42 45 A42 46 Victoria cuts a dash

A42 47 THE robe worn by Victoria Dashwood at her christening was used A42 48 by her grandfather, Sir Francis, at his baptism.

A42 49 Victoria Lucinda Dashwood, first child of Lucinda and Edward A42 50 Dashwood, was christened on Saturday at the church of St Lawrence, A42 51 West Wycombe. The Rev Michael Staines, vicar of West Wycombe, A42 52 performed the service attended by immediate family and a small A42 53 number of friends.

A42 54 Flowers in the shape of a 'V' decorated the church and the A42 55 hymns All Things Bright and Beautiful and O Jesus I have Promised A42 56 were sung.

A42 57 Baby Victoria, Sir Francis' first grand-daughter, is named A42 58 after Edward's mother, Lady Victoria, who died in 1976. Victoria A42 59 behaved perfectly all afternoon, but did the expected thing at the A42 60 baptism - cried and splashed the vicar with water.

A42 61 Lucinda wore a navy dress with white polka dots white jacket A42 62 and white feathered hat for the occasion.

A42 63 The christening was followed by a tea at West Wycombe House.

A42 64 Godparents are Edward's sister Caroline, Mungo Tennant, who was A42 65 Edward's best man at his wedding, Geordie Kitston and Alexandra De A42 66 Ferranti.

A42 67 A42 68 First aider gets award

A42 69 NURSE Joan Dawson has been awarded one of the highest awards in A42 70 the Order of St John.

A42 71 Joan 55, of The Meadows, Flackwell Heath, was presented with A42 72 the award of officer sister by the Lord Prior, Lord Grey, at a A42 73 ceremony at Clerkenwell gate.

A42 74 She said: "It's for continuing work with the order of A42 75 St John. I have been doing it for 15 years now. It's quite A42 76 difficult to get - you have to be put forward by somebody and A42 77 accepted by the order."

A42 78 Many of the people who work in and around Heathrow airport have A42 79 been taught first aid techniques by Joan, who works in the Civil A42 80 Aviation Centre at Feltham in Middlesex.

A42 81 A42 82 Tragic Maxine's big night out

A42 83 By JULIAN BRYANT

A42 84 FRIENDS and well-wishers rallied round to give the wife of A42 85 comatose John Smith a memorable birthday treat.

A42 86 Maxine Smith, of Hillview Road, High Wycombe, will celebrate A42 87 her 35th birthday next Wednesday without her husband who is being A42 88 cared for at Wycombe General Hospital. John, 38, was in a road A42 89 accident on April 19 and has never regained consciousness.

A42 90 On Monday, Maxine was joined by her daughter Louise, ten, to A42 91 celebrate her birthday with a night out at the London Palladium.

A42 92 They went to see Jason Donovan in the musical Joseph and the A42 93 Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat after friends collected the money for A42 94 the tickets and other treats.

A42 95 Organiser Irene Clarke, of Old Forge Close, High Wycombe, had A42 96 the idea when she found out from Louise that the birthday was A42 97 coming up and that they both wanted to see the show.

A42 98 Harrison and Sons Ltd, Mr Smith's employer, made a large A42 99 contribution to the fund which was also added to by friends, A42 100 neighbours and also Irene's husband, Colin, who runs C. Clarke A42 101 Property Maintenance.

A42 102 A1 Taxis waived the profit when they provided a luxurious Volvo A42 103 to drive them in style to and from the theatre.

A42 104 Maxine and Louise were given a big send-off and were presented A42 105 with flowers and chocolates. They were also accompanied by Irene's A42 106 daughter Nichola, 16.

A42 107 Afterwards, Maxine said that although she was a David Essex A42 108 fan, she had been impressed by Jason.

A42 109 "I think he was brilliant. I screamed. Louise was A42 110 gobsmacked. When we were driving home on the Westway, the girls A42 111 were on cloud nine because Jason Donovan was singing on the A42 112 radio.

A42 113 "I was very touched when I was given the tickets," she A42 114 said.

A42 115 She added that her husband's condition had not changed A42 116 significantly.

A42 117 "I am just praying. It is a long ordeal," she A42 118 said.

A42 119 The couple's fifteenth wedding anniversary is on July 9.

A42 120 A42 121 Holly the owl wings her way home

A42 122 Owners reunited with pet

A42 123 By STAFF REPORTER

A42 124 A LOST barn owl has been reclaimed by its owners after they saw A42 125 a story about it in the Bucks Free Press.

A42 126 Teri Godfrey was devastated when her year-old owl Holly went A42 127 missing last Sunday - she had reared the bird by hand from when it A42 128 was two weeks old.

A42 129 Holly escaped while Teri was trying to teach her how to fly, A42 130 and turned up in Margaret Oliver's garage in Fernside, Hazlemere, A42 131 four days later.

A42 132 "We looked around for her and kept leaving food A42 133 out," said Teri, who lives in Hazlemere.

A42 134 "I was really in tears because we hand-reared her from A42 135 a chick."

A42 136 Teri added that for future flying lessons Holly would be on a A42 137 line.

A42 138 "Once you have had them and fed them yourself they A42 139 wouldn't be able to survive very long in the wild," she A42 140 said.

A42 141 A42 142 What a Carry On

A42 143 CARRY On star Barbara Windsor made a 500-mile round trip to A42 144 bowl the first ball in a charity cricket match - only for rain to A42 145 stop play.

A42 146 Winchmore Hill Cricket Club was hoping to raise money for the A42 147 Imperial Cancer Research Fund but incessant rain on Saturday caused A42 148 cancellation of the match.

A42 149 Barbara, who owns a pub and restaurant in Winchmore Hill, made A42 150 a dash from Bradford to get to the game on Sunday before returning A42 151 to Newcastle where she is appearing at the Theatre Royal in the A42 152 popular musical Guys and Dolls.

A42 153 Chairman of Winchmore Hill Cricket Pavilion Club, Derek Sears, A42 154 who organised the event, was not however deterred by the wash A42 155 out.

A42 156 "It was very big disappointment," he said, but A42 157 added: "We will do one next year. You cannot have two days A42 158 like that surely? It was the worst day they have had for three A42 159 years."

A42 160 But despite the weather, the fundraiser is still expected to A42 161 make some money from an evening Barn Dance and food sold in the A42 162 marquee put up at the pitch.

A42 163 Two hundred people crammed into the marquee and out of the rain A42 164 to watch a celebrity darts match.

A42 165 A42 166 John dons the robes of office

A42 167 FORMER coroner John Roberts stood before the Lord Chancellor A42 168 this week to be sworn in as a judge.

A42 169 He and wife Patricia went to the House of Lords on Tuesday A42 170 after Mr Roberts resigned as south Buckinghamshire Coroner the A42 171 previous day.

A42 172 Mr Roberts, 56, has had to resign from everything, including A42 173 being a managing partner at Winter-Taylors solicitors in High A42 174 Wycombe, to be completely impartial.

A42 175 He is already a recorder in crown and county courts but being a A42 176 judge on the Thames Valley circuit is a prestigious step up.

A42 177 His coroner's officer PC Dennis Cannon said it had been a A42 178 privilege to work for Mr Roberts and he would be missed.

A42 179 A42 180 Skies open for Astronomer Heather

A42 181 THE heavens opened when TV astronomer Heather Cooper visited A42 182 the Wycombe Astronomical Society last week.

A42 183 Heather was due to lay the foundation stone for the society's A42 184 new observatory but rain forced organisers to abandon the ceremony A42 185 last week.

A42 186 Undeterred by the weather conditions, Heather, who is the A42 187 group's president, still managed to help members celebrate their A42 188 tenth anniversary last week when she cut the birthday cake at A42 189 Woodrow High House, Woodrow, Amersham.

A42 190 Shaun Taylor, who started up the group, said despite not being A42 191 able to lay the stone Heather had promised to return to see how the A42 192 building work was progressing.

A42 193 He said: "Because of the rain it was not ideal and we A42 194 also had to cancel the concrete. We are hoping to finish the A42 195 observatory this year or early next year."

A42 196 A42 197 Duchess boosts Brenda's recovery

A42 198 THE Duchess of Kent brightened up 70-year-old Brenda Martin's A42 199 day when she stopped for a long chat during a day hospice visit on A42 200 Friday.

A42 201 Brenda received a much-needed boost to help her recover from A42 202 illness and went home on Tuesday to Dene Wood, Totteridge, with a A42 203 big smile on her face.

A42 204 "Brenda has been in the home on two occasions. She was A42 205 absolutely delighted to meet the Duchess," said matron A42 206 Marilyn Cottrell, from Conigre, Chinnor.

A42 207 "The Duchess took a real interest in how Brenda was A42 208 feeling and what treatment she had received here and how she had A42 209 benefited.

A42 210 "I saw her on Tuesday and she was still bright-eyed over the A42 211 visit. it was a real high spot of the day - it really gave her a A42 212 boost.

A42 213 Marilyn invited the Duchess to Sue Ryder Home at Nettlebed when A42 214 she heard she was coming to live in the village.

A42 215 A42 216 Prize pupils get profit

A42 217 By JUDY WARSCHAUER

A42 218 PLAYING for Profit 1991 ended in grand style on Tuesday with A42 219 the prize-giving at Equity&Law.

A42 220 High Wycombe Mayor Val Letheren and Bucks Free Press editor Tim A42 221 Blott presented the prizes to the winners of the schools' A42 222 competition, organised through the High Wycombe Education Commerce A42 223 and Industry Partnership.

A42 224 This year's theme was Caring through Profit with the 21 teams, A42 225 all in the fourth year, taking part being set the the task of A42 226 designing an aid for use by the disabled.

A42 227 Peter Moss, personnel general mangager at Equity&Law, welcoming A42 228 the guests, explained Playing for Profit was one of the links A42 229 existing between industrialists and schools to promote awareness in A42 230 this area.

A42 231 "The teams perform a real task with an end product, with a time A42 232 limit which produces a vivid experience and one they will A42 233 remember," said Mr Moss.

A42 234 For the first time the partnership introduced a cup for the A42 235 winning team to be kept for a year.

A42 236 Overall winner: John Hampden Grammar School which received A42 237 pounds500 for the school, and pounds25 and a certificate for each A42 238 team member; 2nd: Baconsfield High School which received pounds350 A42 239 for the school, and pounds20 and a certificate for each team A42 240 member; 3rd: Wycombe High School which received pounds200 for the A42 241 school, and pounds15 and a certificate for each team member; A42 242 winners runners-up competition: Wycombe Abbey which received A42 243 pounds100 for the school and pounds10 and a certificate for each A42 244 team member.

A42 245 A43 1 <#FLOB:A43\>School site sold to mystery buyer

A43 2 A WEST Cumbrian company has bought the former grammar school A43 3 buildings at Cockermouth which stand on five acres of land at the A43 4 junction of Lorton Road and Strawberry Howe Road.

A43 5 Cumbria County Council's corporate property department A43 6 confirmed the sale, subject to contracts and planning A43 7 permission.

A43 8 The name of the company and its plans for the building have not A43 9 yet been made public.

A43 10 The old grammar school buildings were closed in July this year A43 11 and were offered for sale by tender.

A43 12 The grammar school was merged with Derwent School in 1984 and A43 13 vacated following the move to a single site at Castlegate Drive, A43 14 which was redeveloped at a cost of pounds1.5 million.

A43 15 The remaining 25 acres of land have been earmarked as the A43 16 possible location for a new Cockermouth primary school and were not A43 17 offered for sale.

A43 18 Richard Moore, for the corporate property department, A43 19 confirmed: "The buildings and the five acres they occupy A43 20 have been sold to a local company, subject to contract and planning A43 21 permission.

A43 22 "A new school may be built on part of the remaining land, but A43 23 that is way off in the future. There are no plans to sell the land A43 24 although we may consider leasing it."

A43 25 Cockermouth rugby union club had been hoping to buy part of the A43 26 land to develop as a multi-sports complex in conjunction with other A43 27 sports clubs in the town.

A43 28 A43 29 Big black-out as storms blow

A43 30 THOUSANDS of homes in West Cumbria were without electricity A43 31 yesterday after high winds lashed coastal towns and some inland A43 32 villages.

A43 33 The power was cut around 2am after tree branches were blown A43 34 onto power lines.

A43 35 Norweb electricians worked throughout the morning to restore A43 36 supply to nearly 2,000 people in the west of the county and 900 in A43 37 the east who were affected by the cuts.

A43 38 But three schools remained closed after the power failures A43 39 affected overnight heating supplies giving pupils at Netherhall A43 40 Secondary School and primary schools in Dearham and Crosby an extra A43 41 day's holiday.

A43 42 Norweb spokesman Stan Harrison said he expected everybody to be A43 43 reconnected by yesterday tea-time.

A43 44 He said: "Most of the people in West Cumbria were back A43 45 on supply within a few hours.

A43 46 "The last people to be reconnected were in the Lorton Valley A43 47 and around Egremont but they should have been alright by the late A43 48 afternoon."

A43 49 <*_>dot<*/>Baker Michael Armstrong, of 3 Wood Street, Maryport A43 50 awoke to find a roof from a neighbouring house in his back A43 51 garden.

A43 52 An empty house on the cliffside below, badly damaged by fire A43 53 five weeks ago, is under renovation, and the whole of the A43 54 partially-completed roof had been lifted by the gusting 80 mph A43 55 winds, tossed high into the air, turned upside down, blocking their A43 56 back door.

A43 57 A43 58 Answering alarm call costs man his licence

A43 59 A MAN who went to help police after hearing a burglar alarm has A43 60 lost his driving licence for a year.

A43 61 Nigel Lymer, 27, of Richmond Close, Workington admitted drink A43 62 driving when he appeared before West Allerdale Magistrates.

A43 63 The court heard he was only six milligrams over the legal A43 64 limit.

A43 65 Mr Kevin Commons, defending, said Lymer had gone for a drink in A43 66 the Ship and had intended to leave his van in the Washington Street A43 67 car park overnight.

A43 68 But he leapt into action on hearing the St. John's precinct A43 69 alarm go off as he is a key holder for the Workington town centre A43 70 precinct and had often been called out after hours to open up.

A43 71 However after police checked premises and talked to Lymer they A43 72 smelt alcohol on his breath and he was breathalysed.

A43 73 A blood analysis taken at Workington Police Station showed A43 74 Lymer was just six milligrams over the legal limit.

A43 75 Mr Commons asked magistrates to be as lenient as possible under A43 76 the circumstances as Lymer had only been doing his public duty.

A43 77 Magistrates gave an absolute order of discharge for the offence A43 78 but had no choice but to bring in the ban which must be imposed by A43 79 law.

A43 80 A43 81 Police probe car offences

A43 82 POLICE are investigating a number of offences relating to cars A43 83 which occured over the week-end.

A43 84 A Ford Granada registered YRM 278T was taken from Salterbeck A43 85 and a Ford Cortina number JEF 209W was taken from Park Lane in A43 86 Workington.

A43 87 The locks of cars in Brayton Street, Workington and outside A43 88 Smiths factory, Workington were damaged, while at Maryport a Nissan A43 89 <}_><-|>Prarie<+|>Prairie<}/> was damaged to the tune of pounds110 A43 90 at Bounty Avenue and pounds100 worth of damage was caused to a A43 91 vehicle at Dobie's Garage.

A43 92 At High Brigham a windscreen was stolen from an unattended Ford A43 93 Escort and at Harrington pounds40 worth of damage was caused to the A43 94 windscreen of a Toyota.

A43 95 A43 96 Man dies in bus accident

A43 97 A PENSIONER died yesterday morning after a traffic accident A43 98 with a bus at Moorclose Road, Workington.

A43 99 Mr William Plaskett, who lived in Moorclose Road, close to the A43 100 scene was near to his own parked car when the accident happened at A43 101 7.20 am opposite the Ogden and Lawson copper foundry.

A43 102 Mr Plaskett, who was in his late 60's, leaves a wife, Karen, as A43 103 well as two young children. Martin and Stacey are both under A43 104 six.

A43 105 Cumberland Motor Services said the bus involved in the accident A43 106 was on a town service route and had left Brierydale at 7.15 am A43 107 travelling to the town centre. The driver was Mr Alan Lavery of A43 108 Workington who was said to be extremely shocked by the accident.

A43 109 The company's operations manager, Mr Paul Coupar, said: A43 110 "The accident happened on the 7.15 am Brierydale to A43 111 Workington journey. After the second stop at Moorclose Road the bus A43 112 was in collision with someone who was believed to have emerged from A43 113 a car. A statement has been provided to the police. It is a tragic A43 114 accident."

A43 115 A43 116 Sex attacker jailed after hostage ordeal

A43 117 SEX-ATTACKER Shaun Riley has been jailed for 18 months after A43 118 holding a couple hostage and twice seriously indecently assaulting A43 119 the woman.

A43 120 Just seven weeks before the incident he had been released from A43 121 a ten year sentence after the Appeal Court quashed a conviction for A43 122 rape and indecent assault.

A43 123 Carlisle Crown Court also heard that the Workington woman, a A43 124 34-year-old mother, alleged that Riley had raped her two years A43 125 earlier, on New Year's Eve 1988.

A43 126 No charges relating to that incident were ever brought to A43 127 court.

A43 128 A jury took less than an hour to convict Riley, 24, of Grasmere A43 129 Avenue, Workington, of the two indecent assaults.

A43 130 Imprisoned A43 131 Judge Charles Mahon sentenced him to 18 months jail in addition A43 132 to a five year term for robbery that Riley has just started.

A43 133 He told Riley: "You intimidated this couple and A43 134 imprisoned them in this woman's home for two or three hours.

A43 135 "The very nature of the second attack was much nastier than the A43 136 first one and left the woman cowering against a wall saying 'keep A43 137 him from me'."

A43 138 The court had earlier heard the woman and her elderly male A43 139 friend had been eating in a Workington Chinese restaurant, when she A43 140 spotted a man she later found to be Riley beckoning her over. She A43 141 ignored him.

A43 142 But, when the couple left, Riley followed and tried to A43 143 intimidate the grey-haired elderly man.

A43 144 The victim claimed Riley was talking constantly about the Gulf A43 145 War and how he was due to leave to command a platoon of men.

A43 146 He followed her back to the flat and forced his way into the A43 147 hallway where, she told the court, he lifted up her t-shirt and A43 148 tried to pull down her knickers.

A43 149 She screamed out for her friend before escaping and running out A43 150 into the street to look for a policeman.

A43 151 The friend followed and found her crying hysterically in the A43 152 street.

A43 153 He managed to calm her down and took her back to the flat, only A43 154 to find Riley hiding at the bottom of the stairs.

A43 155 Riley claimed "military training" had taught him how to enter A43 156 buildings undetected.

A43 157 He told the friend to lock himself in an upstairs toilet and A43 158 then attempted to have sex with the woman.

A43 159 A43 160 Driver in terror on dual road

A43 161 A KESWICK motorist claimed she was terrified when a car was A43 162 driven alongside her for almost the lenght of a dual carriageway in A43 163 Allerdale.

A43 164 Amanda Miller, of Windebrowe Avenue, told West Allerdale A43 165 magistrates: "He just decided he wanted to intimidate us. I A43 166 was terrified."

A43 167 But the other driver, Ian Tyson, 31, of The Hill, Brigham, said A43 168 he was simply trying to overtake and accused Mrs Miller of A43 169 accelerating to stop him.

A43 170 Tyson denied charges alleging he drove recklessly or, as an A43 171 alternative, without reasonable consideration for other road A43 172 users.

A43 173 He was found guilty of driving without reasonable consideration A43 174 on the A66 road near Bassenthwaite Lake and was fined pounds100.

A43 175 The court heard that the incident began near Embleton where, A43 176 each alleged, they were dazzled by the other.

A43 177 Mrs Miller said that while driving home at night she overtook A43 178 Tyson who then drove right up behind her with his headlights on A43 179 full.

A43 180 Once on the dual carriageway beside Bassenthwaite Lake, she A43 181 said, Tyson pulled along side her sounding his horn.

A43 182 Mrs Miller, who had three passengers in her car, said she tried A43 183 to accelerate away. She claimed he then pulled in front and began A43 184 braking and flashing his rear fog lights. She said she eventually A43 185 stopped at a lay-by.

A43 186 Tyson told the court that when Mrs Miller drove up behind him A43 187 she had her lights on full beam and that cars coming in the A43 188 opposite direction were flashing her.

A43 189 He said that once ahead Mrs Miller slowed down and that when he A43 190 started to over-take her on the dual carriageway she accelerated to A43 191 stop him.

A43 192 A43 193 Prisoner lashed out at officer

A43 194 PENT up frustration caused a prisoner to lash out with a plate, A43 195 hitting a police officer in the face, West Allerdale magistrates A43 196 heard.

A43 197 PC Ian Armstrong suffered swelling and bruising in the assault A43 198 at the police cells in Workington.

A43 199 Darren Clarke, 22, of Cusack Crescent, Workington, admitted A43 200 causing actual bodily harm to PC Armstrong and was ordered to do A43 201 200 hours of community service and to pay Mr Armstrong pounds75 A43 202 compensation.

A43 203 His solicitor, Kevin Commons, said Clarke's then girl-frind - A43 204 they are now married - had suffered a miscarriage.

A43 205 Mr Commons said that during a visit officers had had to drag A43 206 her from the cell and that during the incident Clarke hit out.

A43 207 He said: "It was frustration more than any wish to hurt A43 208 this police officer. He <}_><-|>apologies<+|>apologises<}/> for A43 209 that."

A43 210 Clarke also admitted two charges of handling stolen goods - A43 211 bedding and electrical goods found during a police search of his A43 212 home.

A43 213 Before the court with Clarke was Mark Moore, 19, of Cusack A43 214 Crescent, who also admitted two charges of handling stolen A43 215 goods.

A43 216 Mr Commons said Moore had paid Clarke "in kind" A43 217 with the goods for joinery jobs done by him.

A43 218 Clarke further admitted driving on the Pica-Frizington road A43 219 without an excise licence, a driving licence or insurance, and with A43 220 a defective tyre and brakes.

A43 221 Mr Commons said Clarke had already been punished for the A43 222 motoring offences having been inflicted with injuries requiring A43 223 surgery.

A43 224 He asked the court to give Clarke, who has numerous A43 225 convictions, a chance to build a new life with his new wife.

A43 226 For the handling Clarke was ordered to do 150 hours of A43 227 community service to run concurrently with the assault sentence.

A43 228 He was given conditional discharges for the motoring offences A43 229 and banned from driving for six months under the totting up A43 230 regulations.

A43 231 Mr Commons said Moore turned a "blind eye" to A43 232 the fact that the property was probably stolen.

A43 233 He said Moore "is a young man who hasn't much going for A43 234 him but who is looking forward to having a family and improving his A43 235 life."

A43 236 Moore was ordered to do 150 hours of community service.

A43 237 A43 238 Man in road was a hazard

A43 239 KESWICK magistrates fined a 31 year old man pounds50 after A43 240 hearing how he caused a "substantial hazard" by A43 241 wandering across the A66 road at Braithwaite.

A43 242 Michael Carr, Norfolk Arms, Penruddock, Penrith, pleaded guilty A43 243 to obstructing the highway.

A43 244 Prosecutor Charles Bland said police found Carr wandering on A43 245 the A66 and it appeared he was drunk. Cars were having to slow down A43 246 to drive around him.

A43 247 A44 1 <#FLOB:A44\>Prof's sentences pass judgement on judges

A44 2 By ANDREW CHATFIELD

A44 3 PROFESSOR John Griffith believes writing books is simply part A44 4 and parcel of being an academic. Writing a book that provoked A44 5 bitter controversy was a bonus, especially when The Politics Of The A44 6 Judiciary achieved the highest accolade the chattering classes can A44 7 bestow - extended correspondence in The Times.

A44 8 It is a book which asked for trouble by taking on the A44 9 establishment, and one that was written by a man who is a former A44 10 Labour councillor.

A44 11 Its central theme is that British judges cannot be neutral but A44 12 have to make political decisions all the time in the way they A44 13 interpret the public interest. "We had great A44 14 fun,"says Prof Griffith now, recalling the furore and A44 15 especially an angry article written by one London School of A44 16 Economics colleague. "He more or less accused me of being a A44 17 subversive."

A44 18 The professor was also delighted to read a comment by Lord A44 19 Denning himself that: "The youngsters believe that we come A44 20 from a narrow background. It is all nonsense. They get it from that A44 21 man Griffith."

A44 22 He admits the reaction was a bonus. "I was delighted. A44 23 After all, it is a polemical book, or rather an argumentative and A44 24 controversial book, and naturally one likes the A44 25 controversy."

A44 26 And, he adds: "The result of all that was that it sold A44 27 like mad."

A44 28 Since it first appeared in 1977, the book has been published in A44 29 three more editions. "I was lucky in a way because ever A44 30 since I wrote it the courts seem to have got themselves into more A44 31 and more trouble," he says.

A44 32 Professor Griffith, now 72 and living in Marlow, was brought up A44 33 in Cardiff, the son of a Baptist minister.

A44 34 He was educated at Taunton School and the LSE. He considered A44 35 the civil service as a career, but was then offered a place A44 36 teaching law at the University of Wales.

A44 37 Most of his teaching life was spent at the LSE, but in 1986 he A44 38 was approached to stand for election when the post of Chancellor at A44 39 Manchester University fell vacant. To his amazement he was elected, A44 40 and he still holds that post.

A44 41 Today, he lives in The Close, Marlow, with his wife Barbara, A44 42 and is mentioned in Who's Who.

A44 43 Despite his successes, he is modest about his literary A44 44 achievements because he is equally modest about his academic A44 45 status, saying he is not an outstanding scholar.

A44 46 "If I am any good at anything, I am good at teaching A44 47 and secondarily at research," he explains.

A44 48 His most recent original book was a text-book called Parliament A44 49 - Functions, Practice and Procedures.

A44 50 "I think I have consciously written two sorts of books. A44 51 Books for my teaching purposes and then the more political and A44 52 polemical type of writing," he says. "I am a fairly A44 53 political animal and I like writing polemical works. I suppose this A44 54 is simply because I am interested in politics.

A44 55 "I have been a Labour supporter all my life and I was A44 56 on Marlow Urban District Council and the county council as a Labour A44 57 member."

A44 58 HIS main battle as a councillor was over plans to replace A44 59 Marlow bridge with a much wider version, a move which he believes A44 60 would have been disastrous for the town.

A44 61 "Politically I just think that today all the major A44 62 questions cannot be solved by the market," he says.

A44 63 "The major questions are things like pollution, housing A44 64 and the health service, and these questions are not, by their very A44 65 nature, things for which the market can provide."

A44 66 A44 67 Music-mad tycoon banks on taking rock band to the top

A44 68 Millionaire takes Wrekless gamble

A44 69 Millionaire Graham Granaski has always had a passion for music, A44 70 so he leapt at the chance to promote local rock group Wrekless. A44 71 DAVID CLOUGH went to meet him at his home in Hazlemere

A44 72 GRAHAM Granaski is a self-made man. His luxury home, A44 73 Brackenwood House in Hazlemere, valued two years ago at two million A44 74 pounds, is a testament to his acquired status.

A44 75 A pair of old-fashioned red telephone boxes direct the visitor A44 76 to Graham's back garden, which is only part filled with around 40 A44 77 cars.

A44 78 "Oh yes, they're mine," he cheerfully confirms. A44 79 The question of when he finds time to drive them springs to mind A44 80 but not to the lips, as Graham leads the way inside.

A44 81 There, three roadie types sit having a drink and apparently A44 82 doing little else. It later transpires one of them is a guitarist A44 83 with Wrekless.

A44 84 Graham shows me into an adjoining room dominated by an indoor A44 85 swimming pool. More interestingly, though, around the room are a A44 86 number of framed gold discs.

A44 87 Graham says he managed to indulge his love of pop music after A44 88 joining the Variety Club two years ago and that he came by the A44 89 discs through contacts there.

A44 90 He has a similar story to tell about how he came to own the A44 91 original Beatles drumskin from 1961, which sits proudly at one end A44 92 of the pool.

A44 93 Memorabilia A44 94 On a nearby wall, hangs a framed affidavit from Ringo Starr, A44 95 made in an attempt to stop him buying the drumskin.

A44 96 Exact details about how Graham came by his impressive A44 97 collection of pop memorabilia are not easy to establish. A44 98 "It's through my contacts with the Variety Club," A44 99 is his stock reply.

A44 100 But he does mention a man called Noel Smith, the road manager A44 101 with Pink Floyd, who helped him get hold of The Beatles' drumskin A44 102 at <}_><-|>least<+|>last<}/>.

A44 103 "He recorded with Pink Floyd in the Abbey Road studios. A44 104 It was through him that I got some of the Dire Straits stuff, A44 105 too," Graham explains.

A44 106 Graham is clearly delighted with his collection. His pleasure A44 107 at owning such famous pop artefacts is born of a longstanding love A44 108 of the music scene.

A44 109 "I've always been into music, ever since I can remember, and A44 110 having things like this around is a real thrill," he says.

A44 111 On the subject of how he made the money to buy such things, A44 112 Graham is less forthcoming. It's not so much that he's understated A44 113 about his business life, as that he cannot prevent his enthusiasm A44 114 for his latest music project overshadowing everything else.

A44 115 But while he may be bubbling over with ideas for Wrekless, whom A44 116 he has been promoting for four months, Graham has no plans to slow A44 117 down on the business front.

A44 118 He volunteers a short personal history. After leaving A44 119 Beaconsfield Secondary Modern (now The Beaconsfield School), he A44 120 became an apprentice carpenter and joiner, before going into A44 121 landscape gardening. Neither career worked out.

A44 122 "I started out with nothing, really. But then I went A44 123 into car sales and after that property," he says.

A44 124 Graham now owns a garage in London called High Performance A44 125 Cars. His path from failed landscape gardener to property A44 126 millionaire is not an obvious one.

A44 127 But Graham elucidates the situation with one short and telling A44 128 statement: "I am good at one thing, and that's making A44 129 money."

A44 130 That undoubted gift has put Graham in the enviable position A44 131 today of being able to spend his time doing just what he wants.

A44 132 What he wants at the moment is to see Wrekless make it big and A44 133 he makes a good job of convincing people he really believes in the A44 134 band.

A44 135 Succeed A44 136 "I think they'll do it. I don't see why not," A44 137 he repeats several times.

A44 138 Of course, a man like Graham has not made his money by just A44 139 hoping for the best. He knows the importance of making people A44 140 believe he is going to succeed.

A44 141 But, for all his commercial know-how when it comes to promoting A44 142 Wrekless, Graham has taken on the project as an indulgence, not an A44 143 out and out money-making venture.

A44 144 "I am doing this because I would have loved to have A44 145 been in a band when I was their age," he says.

A44 146 At 40, Graham has finally got round to finding some time for A44 147 his pop music passion.

A44 148 He cannot contain his excitement as he shows me a video clip of A44 149 the band: "They are good, aren't they? I think they can do A44 150 it," he enthuses.

A44 151 "But we're just having fun, you know. I don't want to A44 152 make any money out of this," he adds, forgetting himself A44 153 for a second.

A44 154 "Well, I do really, but we want to enjoy this as well. A44 155 It's really great."

A44 156 A44 157 Mike's in the pinko with a socialist hit

A44 158 MUSIC NEWS

A44 159 By ANDREW CHATFIELD

A44 160 LIBERAL Democrat councillor Michael Brand has reached the final A44 161 stage of prestigious national musical-writing contest with a work A44 162 based on a great socialist novel.

A44 163 He believes Don't Come Monday, based on Robert Tressell's The A44 164 Ragged-Trousered Philanthropist, is the first brass band A44 165 musical.

A44 166 But he denies it betrays any secret yearnings to go Red. A44 167 "It was my grandfather's fault. He was a great trade A44 168 unionist," he explains. "He gave me the book when I A44 169 was about 18, just as I was going up to Oxford, and he said: 'Look A44 170 here, my boy, just in case you get the wrong idea, have a look at A44 171 this'."

A44 172 Years later, he conceived the idea of transferring that A44 173 Edwardian tale of industrial strife to the stage.

A44 174 "I was interested because socialists have more strong A44 175 feelings about things," he says. "But the next A44 176 musical might be about Hitler or something."

A44 177 It is the fourth musical written by this versatile music A44 178 publisher, who was elected to represent Amersham-on-the-Hill on A44 179 Chiltern District Council at the May elections.

A44 180 He lives in the town's Redding Drive with his wife and family. A44 181 The judging panel of the Quest For New Musicals competition, which A44 182 includes Richard Stilgoe, like the sample tape so much it was A44 183 chosen as one of 30 out of nearly 500 entries to go through to the A44 184 final stage.

A44 185 The best eight will be performed in a five-day festival in A44 186 September, but the others will all be contracted to Buxton Opera A44 187 House in Derbyshire.

A44 188 Michael is now completing the musical with the help of friend A44 189 and lyricist Ian Chippendale, financial director of the Theatre A44 190 Royal Windsor.

A44 191 HE began writing musicals while studying music at Oxford. His A44 192 first, based on Max Beerbohm's novel about Zuleika Dobson, was A44 193 staged at The Playhouse, Oxford.

A44 194 "It is a terrible ego trip top sit there in the theatre A44 195 and watch people enjoy what you have written," he says. A44 196 "After that, it is terribly difficult to stop."

A44 197 Michael then wrote a musical with TV comedian Mel Smith, whom A44 198 he met at university. But the piece, based on the Story of Cyrano A44 199 De Bergerac, did not quite work.

A44 200 His next musical was about a jazz band and grew out of a period A44 201 spent working as a producer on BBC Radio Two.

A44 202 Big-time success has still eluded him. But the advice of top A44 203 producer Patrick Garland, who directed the hit West End show Billy, A44 204 has kept him going.

A44 205 "He said there are no set routes for getting a musical A44 206 on," says Michael.

A44 207 "If you write a novel or a play, you send it to an A44 208 agent and, if he likes it, he sends it to a publisher and he takes A44 209 it or not. There are no easy routes for a musical. If what you A44 210 write is good, don't let anyone put you off."

A44 211 The brass band music gives Don't Come Monday a unique style, A44 212 something vital in any musical success.

A44 213 "I think the story has a unique aptness to the current A44 214 recession," explains Michael. "It is a time when A44 215 people are rethinking what they stand for, and why they are working A44 216 and what they are doing. it is not just a musical to entertain. It A44 217 has dramatic content."

A44 218 But he adds a comment he applies to all musicals. "It A44 219 is not really a work of art. it is a commercial thing."

A44 220 And it is expensive. To make a demo tape with any chance of A44 221 success costs about pounds5.000, he estimates.

A44 222 Although he currently runs the R Smith and Co music publishing A44 223 business in Wingrave, his creative work has a strong pull. A44 224 "If I am absolutely honest, I would love to do that all the A44 225 time, but the chances of earning a living at it are literally a A44 226 million to one."

A44 227