Memory Lane

IN the Worcestershire and the War section is was reported on how workers at the Austin Motor Works had been doing their bit for the war effort.

At its factory, naval and military services were being produced. To encourage the men to keep producing a war bonus of 2s 6d was being given, on top of the overtime rate being paid.

Operatives in the machine shop and the toolroom had refused to work Saturday afternoons and Sundays unless a further war bonus was given. There had been a dispute on this issue, but an Austin Motor Company spokesman said this had now been satisfactory settled.

A RECRUITING campaign was being undertaken by the company of the 8th Reserve Worcesters, under Major Garnett.

On Easter Monday they would be marching to Droitwich where they would be billeted, while the following day they would visit Bromsgrove where they were due to be stationed for three days.

IN a comment piece the Messenger wrote that the Easter Holidays that year would form “somewhat of a contrast to what we English people have become accustomed to for many seasons”.

The writer wrote: “War has changed the situation.

“In many industries the holidays will have to be curtailed to the strictest minimum owing to the heavy demands which necessarily have to be made by the nation for the production of arms, ammunition, and equipment for the prosecution of the war.”

April 2, 1965.

A £10,000 scheme had been agreed to provide a quarter of a mile athletic track at the old BYO stadium in New Road.

The Site and Buildings sub-committee of the County Education authority reported the track was to be carried out as part of the redevelopment of Bromsgrove Youth Centre.

THE Transport Users Committee - that held an inquiry into the closure of Bromsgrove and Barnt Green railways stations - were reported to have told the Ministry of Transport that “considerable hardship would ensue if it were implemented”.

Objectors were now hopeful for a ministerial announcement.

Mr Swift, leader of the action group, said: “We are very pleased but we shall remain vigilant.”

FAIRFIELD’s village hall – St Mark’s Church Hall - was out of debt for the first time in a number of years thanks to the popularity of the bingo club that held its sessions there.

The chairman Mr Barton thanked the bingo club leader and others in a financial statement.

BROMSGROVE Rural District Council’s Winston Churchill Memorial Fund targets had raised thousands.

The rural district was set a target of £2,500 and so officially £2,127 had been raised.

But this did not include the efforts of parish committees which were known to be hundreds that would easily beat the target.

April 5, 1990.

BROMSGROVE could have its own all-weather arena if an ambitious scheme got the go-ahead.

Bromsgrove’s Cricket, Hockey and Tennis Club was hoping to construct a flood lit, multi-purpose pitch at its home in St Godwald’s Park in Finstall.

At least £180,000 was needed to be raised to fund the project, that it was hoped could be completed by the early part of 1991.

Hockey would be the main sport to benefit but soccer, bowling and junior cricket were other options being considered.

BROMSGROVE traders sent a petition to the district council protesting at the big increase in parking charges that they claimed would leave them out of pocket.

The authority’s planning and highway’s committee had approved the scheme to increase long stay charges from 20p to £1 a day on central car parks.

The full council was expected to make a final decision later that month.

A DROITWICH trained horse, West Tip, was preparing for the Grand National that weekend.

The horse had won the prestigious race four years earlier, and bookies were quoting the horse at 16-1 to repeat the triumph.

The horse was trained by Michael Oliver at New House Farm in Elmley Lovett, and he said he expected the horse to finish at least in the top six.

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.