STEVE Fletcher used to toil away 3,000 feet underground at the coalface - and now he enjoys the freedom of the air as a pilot. There can be few more inspirational examples of redundancy money well spent. Former miner Steve, also an ex-York Rugby League
For many years Acomb Village, in the bottom left-hand corner of York, has been a busy shopping centre. It is patronised by not only local residents, but also those from some of York's outermost suburbs; even Haxby folk have been seen among Acomb's bustling
Ryedale's CCTV system today came under fire from business leaders. Undetected crime in Pickering cost traders almost as much as was spent creating the town's eye-in-the-sky. Last year, Pickering Town Council made a £3,000 contribution to Ryedale Cameras
A former miner is preparing to fly jets around the globe after becoming an airline pilot. Steve Fletcher, 45, who used to work on a coalface 3,000ft below ground, has landed a job flying Boeing 727s at 30,000ft. The father-of-three, who is deputy chief
York City manager Terry Dolan expects to have four good reasons to cheer by the end of next week. As he prepares his squad for tonight's rearranged LDV Vans Trophy tie with Darlington at Bootham Crescent, the City chief has revealed long-term injury victims
FISHER Foods York is looking for a site for a brand new factory elsewhere in the city. The £20 million turnover operation has been making frozen and chilled foods, producing dressed salads, dips, snack salads and sandwich fillers for the retail and food
Christmas and New Year have gone by and at about this time of the New Year the vicious circle of spending is completed by the arrival in the post of the 'plastic card' statements. An eminent financier some years ago prophesied that by the year 2005 money
I totally disagree with J Gilpin's letter (January 5). I work in a superstore environment and I have first-hand experience of what it is like to work in the run-up to Christmas. Nobody (unless they are extremely greedy) wants to work on Christmas Day.
May I express my thanks to the Evening Press for printing my letter about a petition in Parliament Street last Saturday against the proposed Coppergate II development (January 4). We had produced forms for signatures to be sent to Deputy Prime Minister
A Selby singing duo's musical act has been put on hold after thieves stole £10,000 of sound and lighting gear from outside their house. Jonathan Jones and Julie Gabriels, who plan to marry next year, have performed together as Music Mix since May on the
Harrogate Rugby Union Club's Colts booked their place in the fifth round of the English National Colts Cup with a 22-3 victory at Preston Grasshoppers. The hosts drew first blood with a penalty after only three minutes, but 'Gate were able to use their
A petition objecting to York's proposed Coppergate Riverside scheme attracted more than 750 signatures. "Concerned citizen" Stuart Wilson organised the petition in York. "We had produced forms for signatures to be sent to Rt Hon John Prescott MP at the
Fearless York television presenter Carolyn Hodgson went straight into the deep end for her latest show - by going diving with sharks. Carolyn, who is a presenter on Yorkshire Television's Tonight programme, took centre stage alongside the world's most
New flood defences in North Yorkshire could be delayed because of a looming funding row between local councils and the Government, MP John Grogan was warning today. The Selby Labour MP has secured a Commons debate on flooding in Selby tonight. He will
City of York's top two teams began the new year with a bang thanks to big wins over first teams from Leeds and Stockton respectively. York's first XI were always favourites to beat Leeds - a division below in the Northern Counties League - and did so
Railtrack may demand cash from contractors for the foul-up at Leeds Station which has left York commuters without trains for almost a month. Although Railtrack has publicly apologised for the debacle, blamed on "technical and operational difficulties"
Rush hour traffic was plunged into chaos after yet another accident at a blackspot on the A64. The two-vehicle accident, on the Malton side of Golden Hill near the Huttons Ambo junction, involved a collision between a Volkswagen Polo and a Ford Transit
Former Wales rugby union and league international Gary Pearce has ended his eight-year spell as player-coach at Pocklington to become Hull RUFC's new director of rugby. Pearce played his last game for Pock on Saturday, and the prolific goal-kicker went
Under pressure Darlington boss Gary Bennett finds himself in a Catch-22 situation as he prepares for tonight's tie. The Quakers' chief suffered the wrath of the fans after Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Rochdale that leaves last season's play-off finalists
The York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce today called for a cut in interest rates. The regional chamber wants tomorrow's meeting of the independent Monetary Policy Committee to follow the example set by the US Central Bank last week when it cut
A York-based Cambridge graduate has denied stealing £1 million worth of antique books. William Jacques, 31, faces 23 charges of theft of the rare works, allegedly stolen from famous academic institutions including the British Library. The valuable antiquarian
Senior police officers involved in Sunday's siege in York today came under fire from a man who claims he - not they - brought the situation to a peaceful end. Lee Moran, who has known the man at the centre of the incident for ten years, criticised those
Stargazers are hoping for a spectacular view of a total eclipse of the moon tonight. The rare event will start to be visible from about 6.30pm, if the skies are clear, and should see the moon turn blood red. It is caused by the earth moving between the
York Wasps face a fight to hang on to some of their leading players after a new payment proposal was met with mixed reactions. New contracts relating to gate receipts were put to the players at a meeting last night. They have been given until 6.30pm tonight
Should a girl as young as 16 have cosmetic breast surgery to improve her appearance? Following the fuss surrounding Jenna Franklin, above, STEPHEN LEWIS seeks the views of two York models. SCHOOLGIRL Jenna Franklin shocked the nation when she said she
I could never write my autobiography. Mainly because no one, not even my mother, would read it, but partly because I would have to include snapshots of me with very bad hair. We all have bad hair days but up until I reached the big 3-0, every day of my
A ticking timebomb exploded at Headingley this week and the casualty was Martyn Moxon, one of the most majestic and well-liked batsmen in the club's history. An internal rift had seen Moxon become increasingly unhappy over the past year in his role of
Yorkshire's cricket committee are keen to have a new coach in place by the end of next week following the shock resignation of Martyn Moxon. But whoever gets the job is not likely to be involved in all the administrative work which was part of Moxon's
York Wasps face a fight to hang on to some of their leading players after a new payment proposal was met with mixed reactions. New contracts relating to gate receipts were put to the players at a meeting last night. They have been given until 6.30pm tonight
THE eye in the sky is a modern weapon in the fight against crime. Not everyone likes the idea of being observed by CCTV cameras, and those concerned about civil liberties have long complained about being spied on. Yet the watching eye has its supporters
ANDY Turnell can saddle his first winner since moving into Norton's historic Highfield yard last month at Catterick tomorrow. Turnell, formally based at Sandhutton, near Thirsk, has strong claims of landing the W.L.& Hector Christie Memorial Trophy
York's city centre trade could be severely hit by plans to shed 800 city centre car parking spaces, Liberal Democrats claimed today. Steve Galloway, leader of the party's City of York Council group, spoke out as plans were unveiled to close Skeldergate's
AS romantic as the FA Cup is, victory over Peter Taylor's Premiership high-fliers was always going to be an improbable occurrence for York City. And so as unromantic as it sounds, the main priorities for all but the most gloriously optimistic were always
TWO more US companies have set up European bases in York, bringing the tally of American companies in the city to 25. The latest arrivals see York as their launching pad into the UK and European markets - and as a possible location for future manufacture
BILL Roache, better known as Coronation Street's Ken Barlow, has signed up for life cover and financial planning advice with a top financial services practice in York. The longest-serving star on the ITV soap turned for help to the Ward Evans Group plc
HOW long can a public relations consultant survive without a mobile phone? Di Burton, managing partner of Cicada Public Relations in Harrogate, and her PA Vicky Raspin are about to find out by jetting off from Manchester Airport tomorrow for a mystery
HOUSE builder Barratt's York office has acquired more than 50 acres of land in the region, worth a total of £24 million - and it is looking for more. The announcement underlines that Barratts is unfazed by a Granada TV documentary in the Tonight programme
Hamilton Panthers are eight points clear at the top of York Leeper Hare League division three after a 2-1 win at home to Wheldrake with both their goals coming from Matthew Wright. Moor Lane are second after a 4-2 win at Rawcliffe Rangers. Andrew Kenyon
Pickering Town hotshot Stefan Zoll is set to make his debut for Harrogate Town tonight as part of a trial with the UniBond League division one club. The former Bradford City trainee, who joined the Pikes from Yorkshire Amateur six weeks ago, is likely
Fulfordgate finally put paid to Sun's undefeated run in York White Rose Ladies League division one. Fulfordgate forged ahead 4-0 but then Carol Raftree, Lisa Harrison and a sensational 135, 100 for 16 darts from skipper Sheelagh Lord brought the Acomb
Phil Marsdin, one of York's most enthusiastic sporting personalities, has died in York District Hospital after a short illness. He was 68. Mr Marsdin, whose cancer was diagnosed eight weeks ago, was a keen follower of football, rugby league and tennis
Acomb Ladies, playing for the first time in several weeks, looked rusty as they lost 4-1 to higher-ranked Wakefield in a friendly. Wakefield took the lead after ten minutes from a quick break with a well struck shot. Acomb responded with a bout of short
Newsquest, the UK's largest regional newspaper group and the owner of the Evening Press and thisisyork, is backing a consortium bid to launch a new radio station. The consortium, Yorkshire Radio Enterprises Ltd, promises to deliver a new broadcasting
Proposals to close two York schools and develop two others come before city councillors tonight. A full meeting of the City of York Council will hear proposals to close Oaken Grove Primary School in Haxby and Shipton Street Infant School, off Burton Stone
A York man who desperately needs a third kidney transplant is prepared to travel the world in his bid to lead a normal life. Michael Marshall has been waiting for a new organ since a second transplant in 1998 failed, and his condition has been deteriorating
York City manager Terry Dolan expects to have four good reasons to cheer by the end of next week. As he prepares his squad for tonight's rearranged LDV Vans Trophy tie with Darlington at Bootham Crescent, the City chief has revealed long-term injury victims
Fewer drivers than the national average were found to have been drink-driving when involved in accidents in North Yorkshire, new figures reveal. But the county's traffic police, while welcoming the success of its campaign, has pledged to continue to come
Why does the quality of your health care depend on where you live? STEPHEN LEWIS investigates. EVEN over the telephone, it's obvious how tired and weak Eileen Quigley is. Her voice is faint and thready, and it is easy to imagine her propped up against
MAXINE GORDON previews the latest health and fitness videos to help you shape up for a new year. WHEN it comes to beating the battle of the bulge, the message has to be anything the celebs can do, you can do just as well. Millennium year was the year
MARTYN Moxon has dropped a bombshell on Yorkshire by resigning as Director of Coaching to take over as first team coach with Durham. The former Yorkshire and England batsman, who became head of the county's coaching staff when he retired as a player three
