Tournament held in memory of Aoife

Elmdon Netball Club is hosting its annual tournament in memory of former teammate Aoife O’Connor, who died aged just 14 from a brain tumour. The Solihull schoolgirl was a big part of the club, both on and off the court, and even managed to fulfil her dream of becoming coach before her tragic death in…

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Reaching for the skies in memory of Michael

More than two years after her boyfriend died in a tragic car crash, Shana Nichols is set to take to the skies in a bid to raise funds for Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance Service – the charity that battled to save his life. Michael Dugmore, from Tanworth Lane, Shirley, aged just 21, was a…

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Apologetic thief jailed for Solihull crime spree

An apologetic thief jailed for a string of burglaries across Solihull told police he wanted to spend time behind bars so he could learn lessons from his crime spree. Alex Humphries admitted overnight break-ins at two Knowle addresses last July − bagging electrical items from one rural property as the homeowner slept upstairs − and…

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Party time as nurses’ hard work is recognised

A Solihull nurse of six years is one of many to have been recognised for their hard work and dedication to the profession. A celebratory tea party was held to mark International Nurses Day, which celebrates the contribution to so many people’s everyday lives. One of the nurses recognised for her outstanding contribution was Rachel…

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Health chief fears saving dementia ward ‘would do more harm than good’

A top health chief has fears a dementia ward at Solihull Hospital would do patients ‘more harm than good’ if it is kept running long term. Several petitions have been launched to save Ward 10 from closure after health bosses only provided enough funding for the next few months, insisting community care is more beneficial….

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Solihull man reveals how he gives Simon Cowell’s reality shows the X Factor

The Solihull reality TV editor who is Simon Cowell’s right-hand man has lifted the lid on what it is like to work with the multi-millionaire mogul. Paul Claydon, editor of a host of reality TV series, including Britain’s Got Talent, X Factor, Big Brother and America’s Got Talent reveals: • Simon Cowell has the attention…

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Knight riding into battle to save borough

Parliamentary candidate Julian Knight is launching a campaign against plans for a Greater Birmingham encompassing the borough. Mr Knight, Conservative candidate for Solihull, said he was “deeply disturbed” by the early proposals and pledged to fight ‘tooth and nail’ to stop the constituency being subsumed into a giant greater Birmingham authority, if elected in 2015….

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Father Ted Simpson denies indecently assaulting a child

A Catholic priest today denied indecently assaulting a child. Father Ted Simpson, a former school governor and priest at Olton Friary, Solihull, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court. The 84-year-old, pleaded not guilty to indecently assaulting a 14-year-old girl between 1st and 28th February 1984. He was allowed bail by Judge Murray Creed including a condition…

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Mother pleads guilty to abandoning new-born baby

Today (Wednesday 21st May) a mother has pleaded guilty to abandoning her new-born baby in undergrowth at a Birmingham park. The 26-year-old woman from the Kingshurst area, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court today and will be sentenced on 3rd July. The woman had given birth in secret…

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Hospital’s work inspired Solihull man to help others

Laughing and joking with patients on Ward 18 at Solihull Hospital, volunteer Stephen O’Brien looks like a different man. Just two years earlier, in March 2012, Stephen spent three-and-a-half weeks at the hospital after suffering three seizures caused by alcohol. The 42-year-old was taken to hospital within minutes of his father calling an ambulance, and…

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