Memory Lane

IN the Worcestershire and the War section it was reported that Lickey Hills school boy George Haines Faulkner had been promoted to Sub-Lieutanant.

He had received the promotion in recognition of his services in the naval flight off Heligoland, when he was wounded.

The 21-year-old had continued to fire his gun, after being wounded.

AN appeal for information had been made by Mrs A Goode, the husband of Private William Goode of the 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

The Wildmoor Lane resident had been told her husband had been wounded at Ligny on August 26.

She had made further inquiries but had so far received no further information.

Through the Messenger she asked any member of the regiment who had returned and who knew anything about the missing private, to contact her.

ALBERT Hampden of Handsworth was charged with driving a motor car in High Street and The Strand, at a speed that was dangerous to the public.

Superintendant Chare saw his car travelling at a speed “not less than 25 miles per hour”.

There were many people around who had to get out of the defendant’s way very quickly.

Police Sergeant Pheysey corroborated while PC Taylor gave similar evidence, except that he put the speed at 30 miles per hour.

Defendant said he did not consider many to be around, and estimated his speed to have been 16 to 18 miles per hour.

Hampden was fined 20s and 13s costs.

50 years ago. October 30, 1964.

DROITWICH Rural Council was fighting the county council over proposals to close down the 38-pupil Priest Bridge Primary School at Bradley Green.

Members of the rural council had received notice of the proposal at their last meeting from the County Education Officer.

Councillor Cooper of Bradley Green appealed to members for their support, who unanimously voted to object to the proposals.

THERE had been considerable opposition to a building firm’s plan to quarry gravel and sand on the lower slopes of the Lickey Hills.

A local planning inquiry had begun, where the opposition was apparent.

Bromsgrove Urban Council had previously refused permission for the scheme on land near the Lickey Grange School for the Blind, mainly because the land was in the green belt.

IN an attempt to rid the countryside of the litter menace, the Worcestershire branch of the Council of the Preservation of Rural England asked Worcestershire County Council to consider appointing litter inspectors.

The council’s General Purposes Committee studied the request and agreed to recommend to the full council that two inspectors were appointed.

Inspectors would go to beauty spots throughout the county and would look for and try to discourage litter dropping, passing information to the police that could lead to the prosecution of offenders.

25 years ago. November 2, 1989.

BROMSGROVE residents had been denied a written vote on whether the Alexandra Hospital should become self-governing.

This was despite residents in Redditch already having their say.

Members of Bromsgrove District Council had turned down the proposal that a refendum be held to find the general consensus of opinion before a decision was taken.

Labour councillor Trevor Porter had called for the refendum saying the hospital belonged to the people of Bromsgrove and Redditch.

OPPOSITION to the Poll Tax was gathering pace in Charford after Government ministers announced changes in its operation, and only temporary relief for those who were worse off.

The Charford Anti-Poll Tax Union claimed the Government was helping the right at the expense of the poor.

The union’s vice chairman Robert Kelsey said they would not be satisfied until the Poll Tax was repealed and replaced with a system based on the taxpayers' ability to pay.

BROMSGROVE Rovers fans joy at reaching the FA Cup first round had been clouded after a disappointing draw.

Captain Maurice O’Connell scored the only goal as Rovers beat VS Rugby 1-0 in the fourth qualifying round.

But whereas Kidderminster Harriers and Telford United were looking forward to money spinning ties against Swansea and Walsall, Rovers had to travel to unglamorous Basingstoke.

Memory Lane is compiled from the papers dating back to the Messenger's first edition in 1860. The papers are free to view at Bromsgrove Library, in Stratford Road.

For more information call the library on 01905 822722.