Memory Lane

IN the Worcestershire and the War section it was reported that the funeral of Lance Corporal Frederick Banner, of the 1st Worcesters, of Sandridge Road, Bromsgrove had been held.

He had died from wounds in the head received at Neuve Chapelle.

The Bromsgrove Town Band attended and played the Dead March.

The coffin, on which was placed the Union Jack, was carried by members of St John’s Ambulance Corps, while the service held at St John’s Church, was attended by a large number of people.

AN unnamed correspondent’s emotional letter was published by the Messenger.

In it the letter writer said: “Do we in Bromsgrove really appreciate the fact that our gallant solders and sailors just across the Channel are taking part in the most terrible and most momentous war which has taken place in the history of the world?”

The letter writer ended with the line: “Wake up Bromsgrove, remember the Worcesters.”

AT Droitwich County Petty Sessions, James Benton, of Stock Green - a painter - was charged with permitting the carcases of a mare and foal to remain unburied.

PC Milner said he saw the mare and foal lying in the open, and they had been dead for several days.

The chairman of the sessions said there had been carelessness on the defendant’s part as he should have covered them.

The charge was dismissed on payment of costs of 5s 6d.

April 23, 1965.

MR Hugh Summer had financed the modernisation of a bathroom and dressing room at St Andrew’s Brine Baths in Droitwich, which were officially opened.

Mr Summer was chairman of the Typhoo tea company and was also a well know racehouse owner.

He had previously donated rooms to the Brine Baths.

A MAN had been arrested for a smash and grab raid on Spains radio shop in New Road.

The man was accused of stealing six transistor radios, worth £96 3s, and was in custody with a date for a court appearance being set.

THE Messenger wrote about four year old Timothy Hawkskood who, at his family’s farm in Clent, had his own pet lamb.

Larry the lamb was being brought up on the bottle, was at home in his surroundings, and had a friendship with the family’s pet collie Revel.

The lamb and collie slept in the same shed, and Revel was also following Larry around the farm.

April 26, 1990.

BROMSGROVE district councillors gave the go-ahead to controversial plans to increase car parking charges by 400 per cent.

Motorists faced increased charges of 20p up to £1 for parking on the main town centre car parks as the authority looked to solve the problems with a shortage of spaces.

Traders in the town had protested against the plan, while Labour councillors opposed it during the meeting where they were given the go-ahead.

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a Chinese takeaway in Golden Cross Lane, Catshill, were given the go-ahead by the Department of the Environment, overturning Bromsgrove council’s decision.

The take away proposal split the village, with petitions bearing hundreds of signatures presented to town planners – both supporting and opposing the plan.

Before making the decision an inspector visited the site and concluded various worries over issues including parking and smell, could be overcome by imposing conditions.

A RESIDENTS’ association in Droitwich was organising a public meeting where plans would be drawn up to oppose a scheme building homes on a Spa open space.

Wychavon District Council had unveiled plans to develop a four acre site off Westwood Road by the Westlands estate.

But many residents felt the land was the only piece of greenery left near Westlands, and should be put aside for recreational use.

THOUSANDS of television watchers were unhappy to miss their favourite programmes after an electricity fault at Fockbury relay station left their screens blank.

Both BBC and ITV channels were off air for nearly two hours at peak time on a Thursday evening.

An MEB spokesman said there had been a mystery fault.

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.