Neapolitan paintings, religious portraits and a Chinese bronze are among new items on display at Compton Verney country house.

The mansion, which was restored as an art gallery, will be showing its most recent acquisitions when it opens for the 2007 season on March 9.

The latest addition to its collection of Chinese bronzes is a statue of a stallion dating from the Han dynasty of 206BC to AD220. The bronze which would originally have been used on an aristocratic tombstone, symbo ... Read More

Byline: By Wales on Sunday

A STAND-off between management and crew on two Irish Ferries over job loss fears led to the continued cancellation of sailings last night.

Four officers remain barricaded in the control room of one vessel at Pembroke Dock and staff on another in Holyhead are refusing to crew the ship. They claim the firm is using the guards to ensure the start of overseas staff.

The Isle of Inishmore, which was due to run between Pembroke Dock and Rosslare, and ... Read More

AS A political journalist who spends his time in the murky world of Westminster, I like to think I know a fair bit about cut-throat characters.

But one freezing spring morning I headed a couple of miles up the road to meet some people who can claim to be the real thing.

I had an appointment for a full traditional open-razor barber's shave, but not in some stuffy oak-panelled establishment in Mayfair. No, it was off to the City of London, to the traditional-but-trendy Hoffi, whic ... Read More

THE Tolmen Centre, Constantine, presents The Sociable Plover in Cornwall for one night only on Sunday as part of its national tour. Last month, the writing/directing partnership of Guy Masterson and Tim Whitnall won the prestigious Olivier Award for their other collaboration, Morecambe, a oneman homage to Eric Morecambe, which has become a national hit. Their other joint project The Sociable Plover is another wonderful example of their work together, with Guy Masterson himself taking an ... Read More

     My husband and I have heard about Bartlesville’s OK Mozart Festival for several years, but haven’t ever taken the time to drive the 70 or so miles to find out what is available at this festival.  Unlike most festivals, where the streets are full of people going from booth to booth or stage to stage this festival is held at various areas around town.  For example, from 11:00 to noon today (Sunday) a pe ... Read More