Memory Lane

IN the Worcestershire and the War section, the Messenger published a section from a letter written by Captain Leadbetter, a member of Bromsgrove Fire Brigade before enlisting.

He wrote: “We have been in the trenches three times, once for 24 hours and then for four days.

“The weather is very nice and warm now, and we are all very well and happy, and looking forward to the time when the war will be over and we can return home.”

AT Bromsgrove Petty Sessions Charles Oliver, of Risingbridge Farm, Upton Warren, was charged with allowing a horse and trap to be in the highway on Kidderminster Road, without a light.

The defendant said he had only been to town for a bit. He was fined 5s.

A SPECIAL meeting of Bromsgrove Urban District Council was held to consider an application from the county council to divert the footpath from Church Fields to Stourbridge Road.

It was suggested a new footpath should be constructed at a point near Church Fields to a point in Stourbridge Road south of the schools.

Councillors debated the proposal, and there was a split for and against.

It was decided another inspection was needed, and a final decision would be made within weeks.

May 14, 1965.

THE results of the council elections showed gains for the Conservatives.

The Messenger reported even Rubery, which had seemed to have become a Labour stronghold, had retained a Tory candidate.

After gaining three seats, and with another held, the Conservatives claimed nine of the 21 seats on the Urban District Council, with Labour still in control as it held 11.

BROMSGROVE Festival was opening that weekend and although no event had been completely sold out, 5,000 seats had been sold.

The director Joseph Stones said if sales continued at the same rate there was every reason to hope for financial success, as well as artistic triumph.

The official opening was to be attended by distinguished guests including the Spanish Cultural Attache Senor La Orden from London, and the Spanish Consul from Birmingham.

THERE was shock as the first event tragedy had happened at Upper Bittell Reservoir, in Barnt Green.

Skilled helmsman and former commodore of the club, Clive Le Couteur was taking part in a race in a Fire fly dinghy when the craft capsized.

Mr Le Couteur, who had been educated at Bromsgrove School, had drowned and frogmen later recovered his body.

May 17, 1990.

BROMSGROVE District Council was taking urgent action to block unwanted housing development in the ever decreasing countryside.

Outside consultants were being drafted in to help with the drawing up of the district-wide local plan, which was set to include a revised Green Belt boundary policy.

BROMSGROVE planners had given the go-ahead for the Essoldo bingo hall to be demolished, being replaced with an office and covered car park area.

The £1 million scheme for the site on the corner of Market Street and Church Street, had been given the green light despite two petitions against it.

The petitions had attracted a total of 509 signatures, all objecting to the loss of the bingo facility.

BROMSGROVE Carnival organisers had slammed town businesses and organisations for snubbing the traditional parade.

With only six weeks to go only 12 groups were committed to the event, despite 200 entry forms being issued.

The event had normally attracted at least 40 floats, and organisers were warning it would be a flop unless interest was generated quickly.

AVONCROFT Museum had been recognised in the nationwide Gulbenkian Museum and Gallery Awards.

The museum was named as a joint winner in the category of Best Provision for Young People – recognising its work in town schools.

BROMSGROVE Rovers manager Bobby Hope had pledged to inject new blood into the club, following a disappointing season.

The club had managed to finish only 10th in the Beazer Homes League Premier Division, and the miserable year had finished with a 6-1 aggregate defeat by Kidderminster Harriers in the Worcestershire Senior Cup final.

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.