Latest news with #Droitwich
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Droitwich Olympian Matt Richards replays moment he missed gold
Team GB swimmer Matt Richards has admitted he replays the 200m freestyle final at the Paris Olympics in his head after missing out on a gold medal by a fraction of a 22-year-old, who is from Droitwich, won silver after finishing 0.02 seconds behind Romanian teenager David how often he had gone over the race in his mind, Richards said: "Many, many, many times, probably more times than I could count."It's one of those things where there's good parts and bad parts. One one hand, you've won an Olympic silver individually. On the other hand, you've missed out on gold by two hundredths of a second." He added: "At the end of the day, that's sport and I think there's lessons to be learned on both sides of that coin, and parts of that I'll try to take forward with me again into this summer and beyond."Richards will get another chance to race on the big stage at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore next week. 'A lot of potential' His appetite to win will be fuelled by his near miss last said: "I'm always going to go into races with the goal and, I suppose, the expected outcome of trying to win the race regardless of what's happened in the previous race or somebody else's previous race or what's expected on paper. "That's always going to be my goal."A race like that, it's always going to be one that sticks with you for good and bad reasons, but longer term, trying to put that right over the next few years and trying to turn that silver into gold is going to be the target."Richards will swim the 100m freestyle as well as the 200m in said: "I do think that the 100m, there's a lot of potential there for me."I've got a lot of speed, I'm a 21 second swimmer on the 50m but I've also got a real good engine on that 200m and I think, at some point, those two will come together really well and form a really strong 100m freestyle. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
20-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Droitwich Spa leisure centre revamp set to begin
A £15m project to extend and revamp Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre is set to start this week. Plans to rebuild the existing centre were scrapped by the local authority last year, after estimated costs rose to £ District Council's plans for the site include a new learner pool, car park, cafe and reception area. There will also be a full refurbishment of the swimming pool and gym changing rooms. Work is due to be completed by November 2026. Plans for a new £300,000 skatepark near the leisure centre were also being finalised, said the council, with work expected to start by May 2026. A pump track is also planned for the site, with work starting once the skate park is built. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Droitwich woman, 83, granted 'police officer for a day' wish
A woman who retired from West Mercia Police in the 1970s was granted her birthday wish when she got the chance to be a police officer for the Mulcaster, wrote her dream down and placed it on the "wish tree" at Droitwich Mews Care Home, where she Denise Bushell, who liaises with the home, was told about the wish and was more than happy to make it come true, the force her 83rd birthday on Monday, Ms Mulcaster went on what was described as "a magical trip down memory lane" to Droitwich Police Station. She met Sgt Cathy Atkinson, tried on modern-day kit, got her fingerprints taken and fired up the blue lights and siren on a patrol car, before the police station team sang Happy Birthday."We hope we gave Jean an experience she will remember forever," PCSO Bushell said, after the visit on Monday."It was lovely hearing all the stories from her days in policing and seeing her reaction to trying on the uniform and sitting in a police car."Ms Mulcaster started her career with Worcester Police in 1962, before it became part of West Mercia served for about 10 years before she retired in the 1970s to take care of her met her police officer husband Bob while serving and their son Alistair has followed in their footsteps, taking up the same career. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Inspector says school is 'so good they'd send their children there'
A PRIMARY school is celebrating after being judged "outstanding" by Ofsted, with inspectors saying they'd send their own children there. Suckley School said inspectors told them that they would have "loved" for their own children to attend the school during the inspection. The school has received a glowing report from inspectors, who said it was an "inspirational school where pupils flourish". It received the highest ranking of "outstanding" in quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management. READ MORE: Line-up of performers confirmed for Worcester Carnival READ MORE: Warning of risk to vulnerable as heat health alert raised to amber READ MORE: 450 home plan for Droitwich already 'suffering overdevelopment' They said pupils were achieving "exceptionally" and that classrooms were a "calm and purposeful" environment. The school's support for pupils' personal development also received high praise, with inspectors drawing attention to an initiative in which Year 6 pupils carry out work experience. Inspectors were impressed by other enrichment opportunities at the school, including visiting an inner-city school in Birmingham to experience a contrasting location. One pupil said "this helps bring learning to life". Staff are also said to be "very proud" to work at the school. A spokesperson for Suckley School said: "These observations are testament to the incredible dedication of all the staff and governors at Suckley School who have worked, and continue to work, tirelessly for all of the children. "Their skills and expertise have been rightly acknowledged by the inspectors, who praised staff for the curriculum being 'implemented exceptionally well' and recognising we go 'beyond the expected'. "Our favourite comments throughout the inspection were from the lead inspector who simply said 'I'd have loved my children to have come here' and 'what you have here is gold dust'. "Ofsted also left us with no 'areas for improvement'."
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'We do not want cars banned from our High Street'
DROITWICH people do not want to see a ban on cars in the High Street, claims a councillor after an important survey. Councillor Daniel Birch has called for notions of pedestrianising Droitwich's historic High Street to be put to bed after a recent traffic and speed survey. Some residents previously called for the narrow street to become pedestrianised after concerns were raised over the use of cars and speeding. A recent traffic and speed survey requested by Droitwich Small Business Association found vehicles travelled at safe speeds and a significant number of cars use the High Street regularly. RECOMMENDED READING: Garden centre scraps animal section to make way for 'exciting' development Plans to repair bridges which pose safety risk at National Trust site 'Hidden gem' cafe rated the best coffee house in Worcester (again) Cllr Birch said the findings show how important shoppers found the High Street. "Many customers value the ease and convenience of being able to drive and park close by," he said. "Taking that away would make access harder, particularly for those with mobility issues. "The High Street itself already poses challenges—it is steep and uneven due to the town's salt-based geology, giving us our unique and historic 'wonky' street. "While we're proud of this, it does mean accessibility is already a concern. "Running a business is hard enough. The last thing our independent traders need is another barrier that discourages footfall or deters loyal customers." He added that preventing cars from accessing the street would not serve the best interests of local businesses or residents. A graph showing the results from the survey. (Image: Dan Birch) The results of the survey found that 890 vehicles use Droitwich High Street daily and 100 per cent of these vehicles travelled at or below the 30mph speed limit. The majority were found to have travelled half the speed limit on the road. The survey was conducted between June 16 and June 24. It is feared that if the area is pedestrianised, High Streets could lose out on up to 890 potential customers. Cllr Birch added: "While local businesses support the idea of improving the street with additional planting and street furniture to enhance its look and feel, full pedestrianisation simply isn't right for Droitwich. "As your county councillor, and as long as vehicle speeds remain safe, I will continue to oppose any moves to pedestrianise our High Street. "Let's support our businesses, not make life harder for them."
