Memory Lane

IN the Worcestershire and the War section Sergeant A Ince, of the 3rd Worcesters - a Worcester Street resident - had an extract from a letter he had written home published.

The sergeant said: “I don’t really think the war can last much longer.

“It is very rough out here – wet and mud.

“It is wonderful how well the troops keep; but I think it is thanks to the good food and nourishment which they get.

“We have had few casualties since I have been here.”

AT Bromsgrove Petty Session, Frederick Howard Curtis was charged with failing to deliver to the nearest police station a swine removal license for the removal of five pigs to Bromsgrove market.

The butcher of New Road, Rubery, told PC Sanders, when he visited the defendant’s premises, that he had sent it to the station with his boy who put it in his pocket, then forgot about it.

The chairman said the responsibility lay upon the defendant, who was fined 2s 6d and 7s 6d costs.

BROMSGROVE Rovers' poor form continued in the Birmingham Combination after suffering another heavy defeat.

Playing against Nuneaton Town, Rovers were 1-1 at half time.

But the Messenger reported there was no room for doubt as to which was the superior side during the second half as Nuneaton secured a 7-2 victory.

Rovers were bottom of the division having managed only five points from the first half of the season.

January 22, 1965.

CHAOTIC weather had hit the Bromsgrove area after a blizzard swept over the town lasting many hours.

Roads were converted into dangerous stretches of ice and snow, electricity supplies were down, and homes, schools and factories were badly hit.

THE campaign to save Bromsgrove Railway Station had continued with the Action Committee preparing the defence.

The committee had been tasked with amassing evidence against the plan, which was expected to be presented to the Transport Users’ Consultative Committee.

A PARTY for the children of the district was held at the Boat and Railway Inn, in Stoke Works.

Around 130 youngsters attended the event and enjoyed a three hour programme.

They enjoyed trifles, cakes and sandwiches, then party games.

THE Messenger reported on the speculation that a United Christian Council comprising of representatives of both ministers and laity of churches in the Bromsgrove district, could be formed.

The move was being discussed as part of the widespread movement to bring the various denominations of the church closer together.

January 25, 1990.

PLANS were revealed in the Advertiser for a new £1 million pound plan to extend South Bromsgrove High School – after the need to replace mobile classrooms increased.

It had been proposed the extension would cater for 200 pupils, and would include a debating and lecture theatre, a dance studio, and sporting facilities.

HANBURY residents were aiming to get their MP, Eric Forth, deselected after the Government paved the way for a satellite village development.

Residents were claiming Mr Forth had done nothing to further their campaign, which had suffered a blow after Secretary of State for the Environment, Chris Patten, gave the go-ahead for the development of up to 1,000 houses.

THE success of the Poll Tax Bill in the House of Commons was not deterring members of the Charford Anti Poll Tax Union.

Bromsgrove MP Hal Miller was one of those who had voted for an introduction of the tax, despite expressing concerns to the Advertiser before the vote.

Robert Kelsey, a spokesman for the campaign, said they would fight to the bitter end.

Union members were calling on all Charford resident to refuse to pay the tax, which they argued was unfairly biased towards the well off.

A NEWLY formed organisation, the Lickey Incline Society, said plans were underway to restore the tombstones of Thomas Scaife and Joseph Rutherford in St John’s Churchyard.

The stones were badly in need of repair.

The organisation was also planning to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Lickey Incline later in the year.

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.