Memory Lane

IN the Worcestershire and the War section it was reported the parents of Private George Harbridge, of the 2nd Coldstream Guards, had been killed in action.

The guardsman, the son of James Harbridge of New Buildings, was only 21 and had previously worked at the Bromsgrove Guild before joining the army.

IN the latest war telegrams it was reported that the British steamer Malachite was attacked by a German submarine and had sunk off Le Heve.

The whole crew had safely landed in Southampton. It was also reported that the Germans were claiming success in the war in Poland, although another version had emerged that was reporting the German army was in fact retiring completely from Poland.

AN appeal was made to people with motor cars to support Red Cross nurses who were doing vital work at Tardebigge hospital.

The women were having to walk and cycle in poor weather to the hospital, which had led to the appeal for help transporting them.

AT Bromsgrove Petty Sessions John Hurley, of Buck Lane, Bournheath, was charged with having failed to keep isolated a number of pigs that he had removed to his premises , following swine flu regulations.

PC Hayes told the court Hayes received a license for the removal of five pigs from Barnt Green Stock Sales, but on inspection of his premises he found the pigs had been placed in the same sty as four others.

The defendant pleaded he was ignorant of the law, saying he had not read the license. He was fined 2s 6d, and 7s 6d costs.

50 years ago. November 27, 1964.

IN an effort to restore Bromsgrove Festival of Music to financial health, organisers had decided that the following year’s festival would be cut back from three weeks to a fortnight in duration.

The May 1964 event had seen poor attendances and concert income failed to reach expenditure by £1,767, 19s and 11d - that had placed the survival of the event in doubt.

There had been good news though as Bromsgrove Urban District Council had provided £1,000, the rural district council £400, and an anonymous music lover had loaned £1,000.

IT had been decided that in future the Droitwich Estates Committee would consider the names of new roads and streets, making recommendations to the borough council for approval.

THE RSPCA Christmas market at the Baptist Church hall, in New Road, raised £124 - described as a "very satisfactory sum" by treasurer Mrs Tetley.

LEAD had been stripped from the roof of Wychbold Hall, a building that had stood empty for two years.

Superintendent Sedgewick appealed for the public to make prompt calls to the police of all suspicious activity, including possible lead thefts.

THAT week’s edition of the Bromsgrove Messenger of 22 pages was recorded as the biggest that ever had been produced.

25 years ago. November 30, 1989.

PRINCESS Anne received a special treat when she dropped into North East Worcestershire College.

Students had made and decorated a Christmas cake during cookery lessons, which was presented to her.

Her visit had been held to mark the official joining of the Bromsgrove and Redditch colleges, and she visited both the School Drive and Redditch campuses.

RESIDENTS in Barnt Green had started a petition against the Archbishop of Birmingham, Reverend Maurice Couve de Murville's applications for 17 luxury homes in Barnt Green.

The application, on behalf of the Roman Catholic church, was to build the homes in the wooded garden of his home in Mearse Lane.

The Archbishop made no comment on the petition, though his press officer said the matter was in the hands of Bromsgrove District Council.

SEVERAL members of the public helped arrest three youths in Rubery after a policeman was thrown to the floor when he attempted to stop a car.

PC Graham Powell suffered bruising and cuts when he tried to stop the car in New Road.

But the public came to his aid and assisted him and other officers in a number of arrests.

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.