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Tony Collins

Tony Collins

Gay fury at 'killjoy' booze ban

THE organiser of Birmingham's Gay Pride festival has accused the city council of "ruining the spirit" of the event by bringing in tough new drinking restrictions. Read

Steeleye Span @ Alexandra Theatre

MORE than 30 years after first fronting Steeleye, Maddy Prior's vocal talents show no signs of waning. Read

Puccini for your pooch!

IF you ever imagined your dog winning Crufts, but it lacked the pedigree to pull it off, then canine stardom could still beckon. Read

Driver trapped under runaway mower

THE driver of a mobile grass cutter was trapped underneath his machine today after it rolled down a steep embankment while he was mowing the playing fields at a city school. Read

Cricket star's 'ghetto' slur is hit for six

A CITY MP has criticised a Midland publisher after Small Heath was likened to a ghetto on a book cover. Read

Elderly ward set to close at hospital

A WARD for elderly patients is closing at a city hospital because of the ongoing NHS budget crisis, it was claimed today. Read

Spring and Summer in the Countryside @ Symphony Hall

THIS was as gentle on the ears and soothing to the senses as the title suggests. Read

Probe over use of force during arrest

SIX West Midlands Police officers are to be investigated over internal claims that they used excessive force in arresting and detaining a man, it was revealed today. Read

Murder victim's mum urges Clarke to go

THE mother of a Birmingham man murdered by a released Jamaican drug dealer has called on Home Secretary Charles Clarke to quit. Read

Staff strike threatens university exams

CITY universities are having to bring in extra staff to ensure that students' exams are not disrupted because of industrial action. Read

Builder dies on top of scaffolding

A BUILDER collapsed and died on top of scaffolding as he worked on new houses in the city. Read

Car crush boy loses fight for life

A YOUNG boy has lost his brave fight for life two weeks after a car hit him as he walked along a city pavement with his dad and elder brother. Read

School loses closure fight

A UNIQUE city school is to close despite fierce opposition from more than 400 people. Read

University's probe over essay sales

UNIVERSITY bosses are investigating whether a Birmingham student is bringing the organisation into disrepute by offering tailor-made essays for sale on the internet. Read

Evicted pub landlord declared bankrupt

A FORMER licensee who was evicted from his city pub has now been declared bankrupt, it was revealed today. Read

School protesters vow to fight on

MORE than 400 people are fighting the planned closure of a unique city school that only takes troubled pupils. Read

Goldberg going off the air

RADIO presenter and Birmingham Mail columnist Adrian Goldberg is leaving BBC WM's Breakfast Show to expand his career in journalism. Read

School in special measures

A PRIMARY school in Tamworth has been dealt a severe blow after being placed in "special measures" for failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education. Read

£10million school plan to be approved

A £10 MILLION scheme to bring a special school and mainstream primary together on the same site is due to be approved by the city council next week. Read

Christy Moore @ Symphony Hall

HE remains Ireland's greatest singer songwriter. But with his Birmingham connections going back almost 40 years, Christy Moore is now almost an adopted son of the Second City. 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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