A LETTER to Malvern Urban District Council from Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, was reported in the Gazette of 50 years ago.

The Emperor sent his "deep appreciation of kind good wishes" in reply to a message of goodwill from the council during a recent visit to Malvern.

Haile Selassie had stayed in the town for a short while when he was in exile from his country.

His children went to the Clarendon School and attended Holy Trinity Church.

Council chairman H G Reed said he remembered seeing the exiled emperor at a function in the Winter Gardens and being impressed with his quiet dignified bearing.