Memory Lane

IN the Worcestershire and the War section it was reported Mr Woodward, of Wellington Road, had received notice his son Rifleman AJ Woodward of the 1st King’s Royal Rifles had been killed in action.

The deceased soldier was only 19, and had spent only six days in the trenches in Flanders.

AT the annual meeting of the Bromsgrove District Nursing Association, held at Bromsgrove Town Hall, it was reported there had been 3,742 visits to 120 patients – a substantial increase.

It was reported the chairman said that at that moment, no one felt that any sacrifices were too great to make for those at the front, and those who returned sick and wounded should receive every possible attention and comfort in their distress.

LICKEY and District Horticultural Society held its annual meeting.

After much discussion it was decided that, owing to the war, it would not be possible to hold the show that year on a elaborate scale.

However it was the unanimous wish of members to continue with a show, but with a greatly reduced prize list.

ANN Humphreys, of New Road, appeared at Bromsgrove Petty Sessions for allowing her chimney to be on fire.

Police Sergeant Pheysey proved the case.

Humphreys was fined 5s including costs.

January 29, 1965.

DROITWICH Rural District Council was planning an extension to its chamber at a cost of £5,595.

The extension would provide cloakrooms, toilet facilities, a waiting room, and a chairman’s parlour that would be used as a committee room.

It was anticipated that the council would have no trouble in obtaining planning permission.

THE Messenger reported a “fair number of objections” had been received by the West Midland Area Transport Users’ Consultative Committee against the proposed withdrawal of passenger trains between Birmingham New Street, Redditch and Worcester Shrub Hill.

The proposals were to be considered at a public meeting, being held at the Grand Hotel in Birmingham.

THE Borough council was to investigate what further facilities for sport and recreation should be provided in the town.

The county council was making a review to see what further facilities were needed.

Mr Robinson, borough surveyor, said: “The council may wish to comment on whether the existing facilities are adequate.”

BROMSGROVE had been without buses on Saturdays because of a 24-hour unofficial strike by Midland Red conductors and drivers.

Apologising for the inconvenience, Mr J Steele, secretary of the Bromsgrove branch of the Transport and General Workers’ Union, said: “Saturday stoppages will continue until the company sees its way clear to improve on their most unacceptable wage offer.”

February 1, 1990.

SEVEN teachers were to lose their jobs after it announced part of the Lickey Grange School for the Blind was being forced to shut down.

The senior unit of the school was to close down that summer, and nine children were being transferred to other schools in the area.

Dr Colin Pugh, the school’s headteacher, explained the decision had been taken as the number of pupils had been dropping for several years.

A MARLBROOK man had a lucky escape when a 60 foot conifer tree crashed into his garden missing his kitchen by three feet during a storm.

A BROMSGROVE brook, described as "despicable and disgusting", was facing a major spring clean up.

Despite three council backed operations each year, rubbish kept returning to the Spadesbourne brook, running through the centre of Bromsgrove parallel to Market Street.

The authority and volunteers were now expected to join forces in one of the biggest offensives for more than two years to get rid of litter, shopping trolleys and general waste from the brook.

POLICE were set to clampdown on vandals who have been running amok at an old Droitwich school.

St Richard De Wych CE Middle School on the Westlands Estate, which closed under a storm of protest in 1989, was in a state of decay and residents were furious at the vandalism.

One resident said youths had been bashing away at the school all day long, but after being reported to the police nothing had happened.

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.