August 4, 1900

100 years ago

August 4, 1900

CHARLES Tandy was hauled before Bromsgrove Petty Sessions charged with being drunk in charge of a pony and trap in Stoke Heath. The Henbrook resident had been drinking at the Ewe and Lamb pub, in Hanbury Road, until the landlord refused to serve him. He was found by police driving home in an intoxicated state and fined 10s (50p) and 9s 6d costs (47.5p).

CYCLISTS gathered at Bromsgrove Cricket Ground, in New Road, to experience the town's annual athletic festival. Bromsgrove and District Cycling Club hosted the event. Prize money topped £75. Other activities included a donkey race and tug-of-war.

TWO young boys were brought before Droitwich Petty Sessions for unlawfully bathing. A policeman spotted William Wild and William Abbott splashing in Droitwich Canal. He said they "had no drawers on and were indecently exposed." They were let off with a warning.

LINTHURST Day School, in Blackwell, held its annual fun day in a field owned by a resident. More than 100 children took part accompanied by parents and friends. Events included games, races and dances. Bromsgrove Church Band provided music. During a short speech made by the village vicar, parents were thanked for sending pupils to classes regular and punctually.

A GREEN-FINGERED Lickey End man celebrated growing a new variety of potato. Henry Jones, of Rose Cottage, successfully grew the potato from a seed. He christened the new variety The Jubilee in commemoration of the Queen's diamond jubilee.

50 years ago

August 5, 1950

ing rooms at Bromsgrove Rovers' Victoria Ground were given the green light by Ministry of Health officials. Bromsgrove Urban District Council was paying for the brick building and the Greens agreed to pay the authority £130 annually for use of the dressing rooms over a 60-year period. The new site was set to boast dressing and ablution rooms for both teams and a separate quarter for match officials.

SPECULATION was rife that a new American air base would be built in Wythall. A two-hour visit by a senior US Air Force official to the former RAF station in the village fuelled rumours. The site covered several strips of flat land suitable for airstrips but the station was only ever used as an administration and control centre.

HORSEY folk enjoyed a show and gymkhana at Bromsgrove Cricket Club, in New Road. The ground was packed with hunters, ponies and show jumpers. Classes included a mounted obstacle course, musical chairs and a horse and trap derby. There were also horticultural stalls and a display by police dogs.

PARENTS and friends of Watt Close School turned out for its yearly open day. Pupils at the school, which was now known as St John's, displayed their work and performed a dramatic scene from The Merchant of Venice.

RESIDENTS were shocked by the death of a former Aston Fields resident and well-known figure in the hotel industry. Bert Edwards died, aged 51, after a short illness. For some time he had assisted his brother, Ralph, in running the Dragoon Hotel, in Finstall Road, Aston Fields.

25 years ago

August 1, 1975

BROMSGROVE District Council was forging ahead with its plan to cut the number of people on its housing waiting list. There were 1,614 people on the list for council housing compared with "upwards of 2,000" a year before. Council housing officer Alan Chapman said that more than 200 new council homes had been completed in the last 12 months.

CURIOUS Rubery youngster Justine Hastilow, aged five, of Fairway Drive, decided to go for a spin in her mother's washing machine and her legs became trapped. Bromsgrove firefighters were called and had to use cutting equipment to rescue the child. Justine was trapped for two hours and escaped with a few bruises.

IT was announced that Bromsgrove post offices would close on Saturday afternoons. The move fell in line with other post offices in the Midlands which were gradually moving to new Saturday opening hours.

A YOUNG town boy was taken to Bromsgrove Cottage Hospital after he was in collision with a car in Whitford Road. The 11-year-old suffered a broken tibia and fibula.