HomeAuthorsTony Collins

Tony Collins

Tony Collins

Andy Steer

Children set for a very important date

HUNDREDS of disadvantaged children enjoyed their very own Alice In Wonderland when they took part in a very special tea party. Read

Dorrington Primary School sign

Head quits as strikes loom at school

THE head of a Birmingham primary school where teach-ers have been threatening to strike has suddenly quit, it was revealed today. Read

New Street Station

Tories hit out at New Street delay

THE Government has been accused of "dragging its heels" over giving the green light to the long-awaited £550 million refurbishment of New Street Station. Read

Variety Club in appeal to entertainers

MAGICIANS and entertainers are urgently needed to help the biggest ever party for disadvantaged children in the Midlands go off with a bang. Read

Lights go out on prom pupils

PUPILS at a Birmingham school are hoping that they shall go to the ball after a late cancellation by a city hotel left them "devastated". Read

Midlanders in Queen's birthday honours

A LEADING Christian anti-gun campaigner, the chief constable of the West Midlands and a retired firefighter are amongst those honoured in the Queen's Birthday Honours. Read

Heroes welcome for the Staffords

SOLDIERS from The 1st Battalion Staffordshire Regiment made an emotional return home to take part in their last Freedom Parade in Lichfield before their famous name disappears. Read

Dame Kelly Holmes

Dame Kelly opens new sports centre

DOUBLE Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes will be spearheading the next step in sport research and science by officially opening a new £16.4 million centre. Read

Perry Beeches School sign

Governors quit over sex shame head

THE governing body of a Birmingham secondary school has been thrown into crisis after three members resigned in protest at their shamed headteacher being allowed to continue in charge. Read

Pupils take steps to cut road tragedies

HUNDREDS of West Midlands school children were today striding out in an effort to cut the number of deaths on the road. Read

Bethanie Humphreys

Girl heartbroken over school ruling

A BIRMINGHAM family whose children have attended the same cluster of schools for the last 11 years have suffered heartache after one of their daughters narrowly missed out on a place. Read

Youngsters take to the track

THEY may not be quite ready in time for the 2012 Olympics, but a group of sporting youngsters are still hoping to make their mark in the world of athletics. Read

Special schools fear for parents

CHILDREN with special educational needs are missing out on vital support and facilities if taught in a mainstream, rather than special needs school. Read

Schoolgirls suspended over theme park assault

THREE 12-year-old girls who launched a savage attack on a teenager at a popular Midland theme park have been suspended from their Birmingham school. Read

In a theatre not so very far away...

THE dreaded stormtroopers from the classic Star Wars films descended on Birmingham to bring back memories of the famous sci-fi trilogy. Read

Veteran folk-rocker celebrates in style

MOST people tend to slow down as they approach 60! Not so, veteran Birmingham folk-rock musician Dave Pegg. Read

City prof hopes for kidnap Brits

HOPE for the five kidnapped Britons in Iraq rests with whether his captors have achieved sufficient political gain, a Birmingham expert believes. Read

Calls for sex act head to resign

THE future career of a head teacher convicted of a sex act with a man in a public park has been called into question by parents of pupils at his school. Read

Charles Ross

In a galaxy far, far away...

THE force is clearly with mega Star Wars fan Charles Ross. Read

Getting 'kicked' along Route 66

THEY should have been getting their kicks on Route 66. But instead, four intrepid motorcyclists from Birmingham encountered driving snow, freezing temperatures and even hailstones during their mammoth charity ride across America. 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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