100 YEARS AGO:

A MOST enjoyable pre- Christmas concert was given at the Royal Albert Orphanage by the Worcester Instrumental Society under its conductor EN Deacon.

The orchestra played a series of overtures and concert pieces including the march from Carmen and Old King Cole and there were songs and instrumental solo items from Mrs E Barrow, Mr Tarrant, Miss Hicks, Miss Shell and Mr Godsall.

Every item on the programme was heartily applauded, being thoroughly enjoyed by the children. The orchestra reached a very high standard and reflected great credit on performers and conductor. At the close, Christopher Whitehead moved a hearty vote of thanks to the performers who had so willingly given up their time to enable them all to spend such a pleasant evening.

● The attention of the Worcester Watch Committee has been drawn to the nuisance caused by motor car engines running while the vehicles are standing. A ball was held at the Guildhall the other evening, and the motorcar engines, as they waited for guests at 3am, were going continuously for an hour and disturbed all the residents in the neighbourhood. The city council is being asked to see if there is any by-law forbidding the running of engines at night while cars are standing.

150 YEARS AGO:

THIS week our butchers exhibited, as usual, a bountiful supply of beautifully-fed meat for Christmas consumption.

There are, we are glad to notice, fewer of the extremely fat carcasses exhibited than was the fashion two or three years ago, the beasts appearing to have been for the most part well, but not over fed, and just fit for the table. The poultry market this week was well supplied too, but, as usual, prices were ruled very high.

200 YEARS AGO:

SUBSCRIBERS and the public are respectfully informed that the next Card and Dancing Assembly at the Unicorn Inn, Broad Street, Worcester, will be held on Wednesday, December 27. Subscribers and non-subscribers at 4s.6d each. Tea and coffee included.

● The debtors and other prisoners in our county gaol at Worcester return thanks to a lady for £3; to another lady for one guineal; to a gentlemen for one guinea and to another person, unknown, for 22 cwt of coals, all gifts aimed at providing some comfort and sustenance for them during this very inclement festive season.

The prisoners in our goal likewise return thanks to a gentleman for half-a-guinea, to a lady for one guinea, to a gentleman for seven shillings and to a person for half-a-ton of coals.

250 YEARS AGO:

ON Monday at Evesham market, five sharpers found means to inveigle a countryman into their company at an inn and tricked him out of three guineas at cards.

He making some disturbance in the house at losing his money, the sharpers thought proper to make off but were immediately pursued, though only one was taken just as he was going to mount his horse.

He was committed to prison.