Memory Lane

THE chairman opened Bromsgrove Petty Sessions with an announcement about the restriction on opening times of licensed houses and clubs.

It was announced that hours were to be restricted to between 9am and 9pm on weekdays, and between the hours of 12.30am and 2.30pm, then 6pm to 9pm, on Sundays.

The order was to apply to all licensed premises coming into force once the Home Secretary’s assent had been obtained.

The Messenger commented that for a large section of the public this announcement would come as a shock as they had become accustomed to regard closing time as a thing settled.

It was added that it was one of the changed conditions brought about by the war, and sailors and soldiers had to submit to much greater restrictions.

During the sessions, Stanley Redding, a staple maker of Butler Steet, Astwood Bank, was ordered to pay 6s for riding a bicycle without a light in the district.

IN the Worcestershire and the War section, the death of former Bromsgrove School pupil Captain Edward Powell Prince was reported.

Cpt Prince, who had gone to gain a degree at Cambridge, had been killed in action while serving with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.

August 27, 1965.

IT was reported a total of 146 pupils received the General Certificate of Education, (GCE) at the Ordinary level at the June examinations.

Among the subjects taken were Woodwork, Domestic Science, Scripture Knowledge, Greek, Craft Pottery, General Paper, Engineering Workshop Theory and Latin.

THE Messenger included an image of the construction of Bromsgrove’s new swimming baths.

The picture showed site foreman Mr Nokes checking the progress at the site in School Drive.

It was reported that the site was originally expected to be finished that September, but because of delays it would now not be ready before January 1966.

THERE were 230 entries in the annual flower and vegetable show staged by The Leys Allotments Association.

There had been a rise in the entry numbers, and the show also drew a larger crowd than previous years.

The James Deane cup for most points in the vegetable section went to Mr Ashton of Northfield.

IN the opening fixture of the new season Bromsgrove Rovers were beaten 3-1 when they travelled to newcomers to the West Midlands League Cinderford Town.

The Messengers was critical of Rovers performance saying compared to their enthusiastic hosts, Rovers had no defence and a blundering forward line.

August 30, 1990.

FAMILIES in Bromsgrove could be moving into town centre shops in a unique project aimed at cutting housing waiting lists.

The idea was to transform neglected rooms above high street shops into flats, providing a cash boost to independent traders.

Bromsgrove firm Tin C Gough was promoting the project Shoppaccom in the town, ahead of a nationwide launch.

Tony Turpin, of the town’s Chaamber of Trade and Commerce, said although the scheme could help regenerate the town centre, there would be a problem with car parking.

A LAST ditch plea was made to find a new leader of a Bromsgrove Guides group, which would be forced to close if no one was found.

The second Catshill Guide Company had previously had to finish but despite making a come back it faced the prospect of closing for a second time leaving the girls without a unit.

FOLLOWING a story about boffins being baffled by a cornfield crop circle in a field near Barnt Green, a letter had been written to the Advertiser commenting on the mystery.

Mr Withman, of Bittell Road, wrote: “There is no need to be baffled. It really has been caused by a UFO.

“News has reached Mars of the horrific planning application for a housing estate in the immediate area and the local population is pulling in resources from all over the Universe to defeat it.”

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.