LICKEY Grange, well appointed and occupying a fine position on the slopes of the picturesque hills, came up for auction this week due to owner Joseph Rowland’s move to Malvern. The bidding opened at £5,000 and continued up to £8,250 after which there were no further bids and the property was withdrawn.

FULL Salvation Army funerals were rare in Bromsgrove resulting in large numbers of onlookers lining the streets to witness one for 22-year-old Minnie Giles. Her father, Angelo, was treasurer of the local corps. After a short service outside her home, the procession, comprising representatives from many nearby towns, and a band made its way down High Street to the cemetery where hundreds of people had gathered at the graveside. Later, an open air service was held beneath the Hallelujah lamp in front of the Town Hall followed by another in the army hall.

THE annual problem of absenteeism in Bromsgrove’s schools, caused by youngsters hop picking, was a cause of concern to members of the town’s education committee. However, the problem here was not as bad as in Dudley where schools had been forced to close. Some Bromsgrove families shut up their cottages for the duration of the Herefordshire ‘hopping’ season, while others often sent their eldest children in the care of a kindly neighbour. Some enlightened counties were starting to provide temporary classes for pickers.