Birmingham Mail

Sights Locked On Charity Canal Run

A BUSINESSMAN struck by a degenerative eye disease is making the most of every day before the condition robs him of his sight. Ian Hogg does not know when he will go blind.

A New Caring Service Starts

Store to Back Local Charities

A NEWLY-opened food shop will donate pounds 500 each month to the local community during its first year in business. The convenience store, opened by supermarket giant Waitrose in Sutton Coldfield's Parade shopping centre, has pounds 6,000 to give away through the chain's Community Matters programme.

This Old Lion Is Unable to Roar ; Pubgrub

IF YOU had a friend visiting from another city, perhaps this famous Brum boozer would be a place you'd ideally want to impress them with. According to English Heritage's National Monuments Record, Ye Olde Red Lion is now 108 years old and Grade II listed.

Rooster Hut, 11 Islington Row Middleway, B15 1la ; Cheapaschips

THERE'S clearly a hint of the US in this red, white and blue halal shop. The remnants of the poorly-designed, nearderelict Five Ways Shopping Centre even make the local area feel more like a North American ghetto, not Brum.

Win Two Tickets to See New Win Film ... And Meet Its Director

SAW director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell will be at Cineworld Broad Street on Monday night for a Q&A about their new movie, Insidious (15, 102 mins). The event is a paid-for screening which anyone can buy tickets to attend but we are giving four readers the chance to each win a pair of tickets to see the film and attend the Q&A for free.

Win Lunch at Cte in the Mailbox

SPRING is getting off to a cracking, sunny start and there are plenty of places to go this April. The long Easter weekend starts with Good Friday on April 22 and continues to Easter Monday. That's four days to enjoy some good food in the best places in the city.

Make a Fuss Over Huss, for Cod Sake ; Food& Drink No Need to Fish for Compliments

IAM being served a delicious banquet of Mediterranean-style dab, roast coley with a shrimp butter and a fragrant curry made from whiting. You'd be mistaken for thinking I am dining at a flash seafood restaurant on the Cornish Riviera.

High Street Giants Head for Airport

THERE will be new arrivals of a different kind at Birmingham Airport this summer. As part of its pounds 13 million terminal redevelopment, four major high street fashion brands are opening stores catering for passengers flying off to sunnier climes.

Lucy Is Passengers' Virtual Helper

TECHNOLOGY inspired by science fiction has arrived at Birmingham Airport in the form of a hologram called Lucy. The 'virtual assistant' has been programmed to give passengers security information before they enter the search area.

Injured Man Cut From Car

A MAN was cut free from his car after he injured his head in an accident in a busy Birmingham road. Fire crews from Highgate were called out to Moseley Road shortly after 9am on Wednesday.

Table-Top Charity Sale

Ha Ha Show Elementary Dear Watson ; Review

THE Ha Ha Boys are back in town and just as funny as ever with their take on Sherlock Holmes. After Ha Ha Hamlet and Ha Ha Hitler it is the Beast of the Blistervilles that comes in for the treatment in what could be described as a loose, as in hardly connected, adaptation of Conan Doyle's Dartmoor drama. Ben Langley, a Covent Garden street performer for 17 years, is the writer, director and driving force of the Ha Ha Boys and apart from producing some witty scripts he also has that ability to...

The Minister ... And His Teacher

IT COULD be a typical reunion between a former school pupil and his teacher. But in this case the pupil went on to become a government minister and the other is a member of Birmingham City Council's cabinet.

Putting On Wedding Date

Town Tribute to Princess

THE 1,100th anniversary of a woman hailed as the country's "greatest women general" is to be marked by an exhibition at Stafford Cast le. Birmingham Mail FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2011 Aethelflaed, daughter of King Alfred the Great, ruled the kingdom of Mercia and was successful in driving back the marauding Vikings and establishing fortification.

Who Could Ask for Any More? ; Review

Oliver! LICHFIELD GARRICK HERE'S a cracking young company who have the audience - let alone Oliver Twist - pleading for more at the end of Lionel Bart's much-loved musical. Even adults would be satisfied with this Garrick Youth Theatre performance, jam-packed with quality acting and singing from an enthusiastic cast of 50.

Edl March: Man Jailed for Year

A MAN who launched a "flying kick" at a police officer during an English Defence League march in Dudley has been jailed for a year. Thomas Blackwell, of Bird Street, Lower Gornal, admitted affray and Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that DVD evidence showed he was at the "forefront" of the march on July 17 last year.

Remembering Lost Relatives

BEREAVED relatives of all faiths are invited to remember their loved ones at a special service at Sandwell Valley Crematorium in Forge Lane, off Newton Road, West Bromwich, on Palm Sunday, April 17, from 3pm. Hot cross buns and tea will be served after the service.

Awards Triple for City Teens

THREE Birmingham teens have taken the top spots in an NHS competition. Jacob Black, Atlanta Campbell and Bako Usu Faysal from Harborne Academy were named West Midlands region winners of the annual Step into the NHS schools competition.