Memory Lane

AT Bromsgrove Petty Sessions, William Tedstone of Broad Street, Sidemoor, appeared for driving a trap without a light in Alcester Road, Finstall.

PC Rollinson gave evidence saying he saw the defendant’s candle had burnt out – but he was surprised when he was told.

Tedstone was fined 5s.

IN the Worcestershire and the War section the Messenger reported Alfred Kimberley, a painter, had been charged with being a deserter from the Worcestershire Regiment.

PC Hodgkinson said when he arrested the defendant he had been away from the army for two or three months.

He added Kimberley was no good to the army, and they did not want him.

The Bench remanded the defendant to await an escort.

It was also reported Lieutenant Leslie Brookes of 4th West Yorks, the son of John Brooks and his wife of Finstall Park, had been killed in action.

He died “while gallantly leading his men in the charge in the great action in France" on September 25.

There were also stories on the deaths of Lieutenant Leslie Wingfield Sweet-Escott – a former Bromsgrove School pupil, and Lieutenant Clement Symons, the grandson of Edward Housman of Perry Hall.

October 15, 1965.

BROMSGROVE Urban District Council had refused to accept two suggestions from the Divisional Road Engineer of the Ministry of Transport, for the introduction of a 40mph speed limit.

Mr Trotter, chairman of the Highways Committee, said the Ministry of Transport had turned down the council’s request for the extension of the 30mph speed limit along Old Birmingham Road to protect the entrance of Lickey school.

Mr Trotter instead put forward a motion saying a traffic warden should be appointed to guide children across the road, which was passed.

SPARKS from a bonfire were believed to be the cause of a fire at Wundaround Stores, in New Road, Rubery.

The blaze had lasted an hour, and extensive damage had been caused by smoke, the heat and water used to extinguish the fire in the shop which sold household good, children’s toys and clothing.

THE Mayor of Worcester had officially opened Berrow’s new premises in Hylton Road in the city – the building where the Messenger was produced.

Sir William Carr, chairman of The News of the World organisation and The Berrow’s Organisation, said it was another milestone in the long history of the Berrow’s since its formation 250 years ago.

October 11, 1990.

A BROMSGROVE company director looked forced to demolish his three-storey dream home just weeks after building it.

Mick Parry, a director of M P Fabrications in Stoke Prior, had built the home in Belbroughton but district council officials had said it was twice the size it should be, and built on the wrong spot.

The officers were recommending members of the authority’s planning committee took enforcement action to demolish the building.

Mr Parry said he was surprised and shocked to hear what the council wanted to do.

ANGRY residents in Lydiate Ash had slammed a new road salt depot being built near the motorway island.

The residents had described it as an “eyesore”, claiming the large steel framed construction was damaging to the scenery and was distracting drivers.

County council spokesman Alec Mackie said the building had been built going through all the usual planning procedures.

WORK on a multi-million pound motor museum looked set to start in early 1991.

After a lengthy behind closed doors meeting, district councillors gave the go-ahead to the first phase of the scheme to bring the nation’s largest and most unique collection of British cars to part of the Barnsley Hall Hospital site.

Barnsley Hall hospital was gradually being closed down as part of a countrywide scheme to rehabilitate psychiatric patients.

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.