BRIAN Oldfield wants to recapture the freewheeling spirit of the 60s by getting all his old pals together for one last party.

The Coventry-born entrepreneur is desperate to get back in touch with anyone who attended Keresley Newland High School from 1958 to 1963 after discovering that 20 mates had all recently died of cancer.

The 62-year-old, who grew up in Nunts Park Avenue, also wants to hear from anyone who knocked about in the Rookery Lane, Nunts Lane, Meadow Road, and Gospel Oak Road areas of the city - including former pupils of Ash Green and Nicholas Chamberlain Schools.

Keen to attract about 200 people to the reunion, he's already signed up half that number after a frantic ring around.

To help him reach as many people as possible he enlisted the support of mates Billy Lamb, Jane Lloyd, and Viv Henderson - who tragically died at the start of last month.

The nostalgic shindig will take place at the Hare and Hounds, in Watery Lane, Keresley - a pub that's run by the son of Brian's former school mate, Stephen Huckvale.

The event, which will include a buffet and disco, will take place on Friday, September 4, from 7pm.

Brian, who is married with three children, moved to Nottingham 25 years ago but returns regularly to the city to see family.

As well as fond memories of school, he also wistfully recalls playing in a number of local bands in the 60s and 70s - supporting such stellar acts as the Rolling Stones, Tom Jones, Tony Christie, and Shirley Bassey.

He went on to run Coventry Reclamation Services that operated where the Ricoh Arena is now.

Brian said: "I'll never forget the buzz I had living in Coventry from the age of 14 to 27.

"When I first moved I saw my friends quite frequently, but as time passed I saw them less and less.

"I myself have recently undergone a life-saving operation and am more aware than ever of the need to stay in touch.

"Already we've called about 100 people, and everyone is keen to catch up.

"But there are still many more out there who we've not been able to find, and we'd love to hear from them."

Entry to the event costs £5, with proceeds going to the Macmillan Cancer Care Nurses.

For details, call Brian on 07973 555 777.

BRIAN Oldfield wants to recapture the freewheeling spirit of the 60s by getting all his old pals together for one last party.

The Coventry-born entrepreneur is desperate to get back in touch with anyone who attended Keresley Newland High School from 1958 to 1963 after discovering that 20 mates had all recently died of cancer.

The 62-year-old, who grew up in Nunts Park Avenue, also wants to hear from anyone who knocked about in the Rookery Lane, Nunts Lane, Meadow Road, and Gospel Oak Road areas of the city - including former pupils of Ash Green and Nicholas Chamberlain Schools.

Keen to attract about 200 people to the reunion, he's already signed up half that number after a frantic ring around.

To help him reach as many people as possible he enlisted the support of mates Billy Lamb, Jane Lloyd, and Viv Henderson - who tragically died at the start of last month.

The nostalgic shindig will take place at the Hare and Hounds, in Watery Lane, Keresley - a pub that's run by the son of Brian's former school mate, Stephen Huckvale.

The event, which will include a buffet and disco, will take place on Friday, September 4, from 7pm.

Brian, who is married with three children, moved to Nottingham 25 years ago but returns regularly to the city to see family.

As well as fond memories of school, he also wistfully recalls playing in a number of local bands in the 60s and 70s - supporting such stellar acts as the Rolling Stones, Tom Jones, Tony Christie, and Shirley Bassey.

He went on to run Coventry Reclamation Services that operated where the Ricoh Arena is now.

Brian said: "I'll never forget the buzz I had living in Coventry from the age of 14 to 27.

"When I first moved I saw my friends quite frequently, but as time passed I saw them less and less.

"I myself have recently undergone a life-saving operation and am more aware than ever of the need to stay in touch.

"Already we've called about 100 people, and everyone is keen to catch up.

"But there are still many more out there who we've not been able to find, and we'd love to hear from them."

Entry to the event costs £5, with proceeds going to the Macmillan Cancer Care Nurses.

For details, call Brian on 07973 555 777.

The Bishop of Warwick has also given his support to the appeal by Radford-based Global Care.

As reported previously in the Coventry Telegraph the charity is sending out much needed funds to provide temporary shelter and toilets for 296 orphaned children living behind barbed wire in a camp for displaced people. They also want to provide care packs, costing about £20 to put together and deliver, containing personal items including school equipment, basic clothing, a water bottle, towel, comb, soap, toothbrush and paste, a hat and a torch.

Former mayor Coun Ram Lakha, who was Lord Mayor in 2005-6, is encouraging as many people as possible to support the appeal.

A FIRE safety open day at a Coventry station attracted hundreds of people.

Firefighters at Radford Road fire station performed demonstrations, including staging a road traffic accident, along with a reconstruction of a burning house and a drill by members of Young Firefighters.

The aim of the event was to promote the importance of health and safety so young people and adults could be aware of dangers in the future.

A COVENTRY clan are celebrating the latest link in their all-girl line-up.

Isabelle Clare's recent arrival means the family now boasts FIVE generations of girls.

And the new baby carries on a family naming tradition that dates all the way back to 1750.

Isabelle is the daughter of Elizabeth Wightman, 19, of Radford.

She's the first grandchild of Joanne Wightman, 46, also of Radford.

She's also the first great-grandchild for Patricia Wightman, 66, originally of Coventry but now of Kenilworth.

And she was cradled by great-great grandmother Doris Manning, 89, of Coundon.

If you can to contribute in any way, we would be very grateful, but we particularly need fruit and veg, good quality bric-a-brac, tombola prizes, plants and gardening equipment, and cakes for our tea tent and cake stall.

Most important of all, turn up on the day to support us and enjoy a fabulous day out.

And don't forget it's our Coventry Sunflower Walk on Sunday. If you haven't registered, just turn up on the day.

Wanted - shop volunteers. We are currently recruiting for our Myton shops. For details, ask at one of our shops, call Pinky on 01926 838836 or e-mail pinky.sidhu@mytonhospice.org

AN hour-long Bollywood dance-a-thon session will amaze audiences in Coventry tonight.

The event, run by the city-based creative arts organisation Gener-8, will use a combination of Bollywood and bhangra music to promote community arts and healthy exercise in Coventry.

Dancers of all abilities are invited to show off their moves at St Paul's Church in Foleshill Road non-stop from 7pm to 8pm, although the pace will vary throughout the hour.

The session is perfect for beginners and anyone who has never attended a session like this before.

Ravi Sandhu, organiser, said: "We are holding a open dance-a-thon every three months and I hope this will encourage those who are otherwise shy to join to come and give it a go.

TICKETS are selling fast for a swanky charity ball to help raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The Great Daffodil Ball has been organised by Bloomin' Wonders, a local support group that raises cash on behalf of the charity. It is hoped the ball will rake in at least £5,000 on the night.

Gary Russell, owner of The Black Tie, in Whitaker Road, in Allesley Park, will be sponsoring the ball which is set to take place in the Panorama Suite of Warwick University on Saturday.

A PORTRAIT of a 90-year-old woman from Coventry painted by her great-grandson has been selected by the prestigious Royal Academy of Arts a month after she died.

Jake Bevan, aged 17, a Coundon Court School pupil, was one of 49 successful applicants chosen from more than 1,000 entries submitted to the Academy's student art competition.

The 90-year-old subject, Eunice Moore, had never seen the finished painting and died before news of her great-grandson's success was announced.

The second year A-level student's work is now available to view online.

Jake, who has enrolled on a foundation year to study fine art at Coventry University, said: "Art was always something I wanted to do but I wasn't really sure of my ability, so having my painting selected has given me more confidence.

"Hopefully it will open more doors when it comes to getting into the university.

By Kara Deakin
JJ's Memorial Fund (in honour of Pte Jeff 'JJ' Doherty)

Please can we send a huge thank you to Coventry resident Steve Gaut and his brother-in-law Dazz Duke who arranged the charity night for JJ's Memorial Fund.

We are so grateful to them for their support and we had a fabulous evening hosted by Steve. The kindness of the people of Coventry never ceases to amaze us.

A MOTHER'S love knows no bounds, as Debbie Barrett discovered when her mum risked her own life to give her the kidney she so desperately needed.

When the 37-year-old Coventry mum fell severely ill with renal failure her own mum Christine Harris leapt to her aid to give her back her life.

Debbie Barrett (above) and (below) her mum, Christine.

Surrounded by friends and fellow residents at Lammas House, in Coundon, she enjoyed a party complete with Champagne.

Seven years ago, Alan Wells tried climbing Mount Kilimanjaro but failed to make it to the top.

Now Alan, of Radford, Coventry, has decided to try again - and he's planning to cycle there.

The trip will take a year, cover 12,000 miles and wind through Europe, around the west African coast, across to Kilimanjaro and finish in South Africa, in time for next summer's football World Cup.

But now the 39-year-old has found a way of expressing himself - by writing poems and songs. Amarjit, of Gosport Road, Foleshill, has even had two of his poems published in anthologies.

"It's quite frustrating but the fact that I can't speak properly seems to inspire my writing," said the father of two. He has also written hundreds of songs - many of which are love songs inspired by favourite singer Cliff Richard.

Lewis Jenkins (left), of Radford, had a party attended by about 60 friends and relatives, some of whom travelled from as far as Kenya for the event, at a gathering at Jaguar Social Club in Radford.

Lewis is originally from the Rhonnda Valley, was a coal miner in his native Wales but moved to Coventry after he was seriously injured.

Doctors told him he might never walk again, but Lewis proved them wrong when he moved to the city, attracted by "big five pound notes".

He worked in production and inspection for the Jaguar plant in Brown's Lane until he retired at the age of 70.

Lewis travelled the world with his late wife Maggie to whom he was married for more than 70 happy years.