Memory Lane

AT Bromsgrove Petty Sessions, George Kendall, of Halesowen Road, Lydiate Ash, was charged with using a gun without a license.

PC Stafford said that while on duty in Lydiate Ash, he saw the defendant holding a double-barrelled gun in a field of wheat, which was being cut.

The defendant was seen firing three shots, which killed a rabbit.

PC Stafford spoke to the defendant, who said he had no license. He then shot another rabbit.

The chairman said it was the law guns could not be used without license – a law made for the safety of the public.

The defendant was fined 10s.

IN the Worcestershire and the War section it was reported Private Alfred Lammas, of the 1st North Staffords, had been killed in action.

Pte Lammas, of Hanover Street, had died near Ypres, and his wife had been notified.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Private Ernest Williams, of the 4th Worcesters, a resident of Alcester Road, had been taken prisoner.

Before the war he had been employed at the Midland Railway Company.

THE Court Pride of the Grove, the Ancient Order of the Foresters, held a meeting at Bromsgrove Town Hall, to unveil a roll of honour.

It featured the names and regiments of members of the court who had gone to serve their King and country.

September 17, 1965.

THE minister of housing and local government turned down a request by Bromsgrove Rural District Council to borrow £6,000 to be able to make advances to assist house-purchasers.

Announcing it at a meeting of the council, chairman Alderman Gittus said he was “rather disgusted” - having previously acted on the words of the minister to do all they could to help the public with housing loans.

ANITA Lonsbrough, the Olympic gold medallist and breast stroke champion, was to open Bromsgrove Swimming Baths, it had been announced.

The Urban District Council had made the decision, but officials were waiting for a firm date for when work would be completed and the official opening would be held.

RESIDENTS of The Shrubbery and Brook roads had signed a petition from people living near Bromsgrove Labour Club, complaining of the noise made during beat group sessions.

The petition said the sound of the guitars went “far beyond the bounds of reason”, and was causing problems with parents whose children could not get to sleep on beat nights.

September 20, 1990.

A BROMSGROVE woman whose son fled from abductors has warned parents to be extra vigilant.

“This time we were lucky”, the Stoke Prior woman who did not want to be named said.

She said a couple had tried to grab her seven-year-old son and his friend as they walked along Shaw Lane.

Bromsgrove police were investigating the incident.

BROMSGROVE councillors were calling for help from town businesses to clean up their town before a government act was introduced in 1991.

The councillors were aiming to persuade companies such as Bayer, Austin Rover, Harris and ASDA to become involved in a huge recycling project, that was being imposed on councils.

It was becoming law that all councils would be expected to recover 50 per cent of all recyclable materials.

A FORGOTTEN theatre in Stratford Road had given up its secrets to builders carrying out renovation work.

The Express Theatre was at one time the cultural centre of Bromsgrove, and was used for meetings by town nailmakers.

Contractors were turning the building, that had previously been used as a branch of the Co-Op bank, into a modern shopping arcade called The Strand.

During work, parts of the upper stage area and dressing rooms had emerged and been identified.

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.