WHEN Malvern Urban District Council announced 50 years ago that it planned to spend £21,000 on a new council chamber, one Gazette reader had a better idea.

Noting that the well-known racehorse Darubini had just been sold for 21,000 guineas, Robert Bartleet said that the council would have better spent the money on buying the horse.

"If this animal runs fast enough, it will bring in a handsome return in stake money, after which it may earn huge sums yearly for its owners in stud fees.

"A new Council House, however well designed, can by its nature do neither of those things."