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Tony Collins

Tony Collins

Warning from Birmingham's child obesity 'Tsar'

THE dire state of childhood obesity in Birmingham was laid bare today as the city's new "fat tsar" warned of a legacy of deadly illnesses awaiting this generation of youngsters. Read

Steve Earle

I am really grateful to my fans for sticking by me

AMERICAN singer-songwriter Steve Earle is enjoying something of a golden time. Read

Seven jailed over drugs

SEVEN people were today starting jail sentences totalling 27 years for their part in a large scale drugs operation in the Midlands. Read

Heartache for mum over payout fight

A BIRMINGHAM mother has been left devastated after losing a nine-year fight to seek medical compensation for her son who was left paralysed following a hospital operation. Read

Brum family's anguish over gun tragedy in US

A MOTHER from Birmingham was shot dead by her estranged American husband in front of their two young children, it emerged today. Read

Sir struck off for test result fiddle

A TEACHER who "colluded" with his wife to alter classroom test results has been struck off for a year. Read

Frankie Boyle

Frankie takes to the streets

RISING comedy star Frankie Boyle is becoming increasingly recognisable as he adds to his growing number of television appearances. Read

The Crucible, Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome

THE mass hysteria at the heart of the Salem witch trials in puritan America in 1692 is superbly captured by the splendid Stage 2 youth theatre. Read

Poignant day for children

PUPILS at a Birmingham primary school have provided a moving boost to a local children's hospice in memory of a young girl who tragically died there. Read

Kids take it easy after Ofsted visit

STAFF at Solihull's largest infant school are going "above and beyond" in helping pupils to achieve. Read

Lesson in savings

PUPILS at a Birmingham primary school are hoping to make "big money" when they grow up. Read

'Misconduct' head resigns

THE head teacher of a Birmingham primary school suspended and then reinstated over gross professional misconduct allegations, has now resigned, it was revealed today. Read

Midlands is Lottery hotspot

FEELING lucky? You certainly should be if you live in the West Midlands and want to strike it big on the Lottery. Read

Comic Chris set to rock city

AMERICAN comedy star Chris Rock brings his much-awaited first UK tour to Birmingham tomorrow, promising to touch on a range of subjects from race and sex to the US presidential fight. Read

Solihull's flying high again

SECONDARY schools in Solihull today cemented their place at the top of the GCSE tree in the West Midlands following publication of the latest Key Stage 4 performance tables. Read

Brum gets a raw deal

SCHOOLS in Birmingham have again fallen foul of a new benchmark measure of pupils' GCSE prowess - despite a further improvement in their performance over the previous 12 months. Read

Results boost for boroughs

THERE was a clean sweep of success for secondary school pupils across Dudley, Walsall, Sandwell and Wolverhampton today - providing no-one takes a look at the national GCSE league tables! Read

Secondary delight as scores soar

SECONDARY schools across Worcestershire were today basking in the glow of producing the best GCSE performance of any local authority across the region. Read

Staffs sets a personal best

SUCCESS is becoming something of a habit for secondary school pupils across Staffordshire. Read

Brum kids logging on early

THOUSANDS of pupils in Birmingham are one step ahead in addressing the digital divide as the Government calls for universal home computer access. Read

Author Profile

Tony Collins joined the Birmingham Mail in 1980.After working in a couple of the Mail's district offices, he became Education Correspondent in 1994. Being regarded as something of a Groucho Marx lookalike, it is no surprise that he is also the Mail's 'Mr Comedy', responsible for interviews with many of our top comics.

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