Birmingham Post

Tackling Uhuru, the largest of the three peaks, took him six days.
The tough terrain is characterised by harsh conditions of freezing cold nights and intense equatorial sun during the day when the oxygen level is half that of sea level.
Steve admitted: "I am an active guy and an enthusiastic walker but this was a seriously tough challenge.
"The group averaged 6-8 hours of tough hiking a day under the intense heat and at high altitude. I feel a huge sense of accomplishment in reaching the summit. It is something I have wanted to do for twenty years and to do it at this landmark age feels suitably fitting."
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A top wake for Horts wine bar.
The boozer, just off Five Ways in Birmingham, is now no more – the area is set to be redeveloped. And Friday of last week was the final farewell.
No surprise then that the venue, one of the first wine bars in the city, if not the first, attracted a bumper attendance.
Plenty of regulars, former regulars, and general voyeurs packed the place.
Naturally there was a strong team from Birmingham Chamber's media department in attendance.
Bell and Monkman were holding court, but no sign of Lamb – on some jaunt to Cork having just got back from Mauritius.
Trust the black stuff was worth it, John.
Joyce Coakley, managing director of the all-girl Mortgage Centre Edgbaston, and her gaggle of financial maidens – or should that be a giggle of maidens – were on hand.
And there was even a fair turnout from Moseley rugby club stalwarts including former owner Simon Cooper – for some reason the place has always attracted a band of rugga buffers.
Naturally, Bright's representative on earth, John Duckers, business editor of this organ, also required to be on hand to say his farewells.
For the Chamber contingent the closure is not only a tragedy, but a crisis.
No other affordable bar is in striking distance, but no doubt the ever resourceful media team will find some watering hole to give them sojourn.
Watch this space.

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It is also the end of the line in Birmingham for marketing babe Joy Stefanicki.
The gal has got a super new job in New York. She departs these shores in mid November.
And in true Stefanicki mode the farewell parties have already begun.
It was the turn of her media chums last week and true to form Stefanicki was late for her own bash.
A gentle little lunchtime session at Utopia. Society photographer Tony Flanagan generously supplied the Champagne and the flowers and Joy picked up the tab for the rest.
Always has been happy to stand her hand – I like birds like that.
Anyway, all is sorted for her to hit the Big Apple, and she is rapidly consolidating her debts as we speak.
All I can say is – does New York know what is about to hit? Has anyone been warned?
I mean they are pretty loud in New York, but not as loud as Stefanicki.
Move over Manhattan, beat it Brooklyn ... La Stefanicki is in town.

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Pertemps recruitment boss Tim Watts has been telling me how he has been having mixed fortunes with the two racy pursuits in his life – cars and horses.
He is still bemoaning the fate of a special Millennium edition Aston Martin.
Decked out in purple, the convertible was one of only 20 ever made. Sadly colleague and friend James Pritchard managed to write it off.
"I told him he could have it while I was on honeymoon three years ago," recalls Tim.
"He set off to see family in Wales, went round a bend and into a stone cottage. The car went from 18ft 3in to 11ft 2in."
Still, there's plenty of other motors in the garage – more than 20 at the last count.
But, coming back up to date, Tim has a special date with the horses this weekend.
It is all to do with a series of qualifiers which culminate in a Pertemps sponsored race at the Cheltenham festival.
Somehow the determined Mr Watts has persuaded the UK and French jockey clubs to allow one of the preliminaries in France.
It takes place at Auteuil and Tim is taking over a party of about 18 to watch the event.
Tim, who has enjoyed a few betting coups in the past, has a particularly actute strategy behind his love of horse racing.
"My heart is in jump racing but my wallet is in the flat," he declares.
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I find myself in the newly refurbished Birmingham Town Hall for the first time at an excellent bash put on by property agents GVA Grimley.
And I discover that Rob Blyth, of Hortons' Estate, knows a great deal more about the place than I do.
Indeed he has what is almost a memorabilia collection in its honour.
He is wearing a badge dating back to 1934 commemorating the 100th anniversary.
And he produces various similar medals of which he is greatly proud.
I hesitate to ask whether he was around in 1934, which seems unlikely, and had discovered the medal inside a cornflakes packet.
But there is a much duller explanation. He bought it on the internet.
Still, it sits very grandly on the lad's jacket and certainly far more distinguished than the ghastly 'b' for Birmingham badges.
Bravo.