A YOUNG pauper living at Bromsgrove Workhouse, said to be a bad boy and incorrigible, had been given nine strokes of the birch rod for breaking windows and stealing.

100 years ago

May 5, 1900

A YOUNG pauper living at Bromsgrove Workhouse, said to be a bad boy and incorrigible, had been given nine strokes of the birch rod for breaking windows and stealing. The master reported the fact to the monthly meeting of the guardians who were now trying to send him to a reformatory or an industrial school to help him mend his ways. The chairman said it was important such lads were directed down the paths of honesty and steadiness.

THE annual cattle fair was held in Alvechurch on Wednesday under the direction of Mr Neasom in grounds belonging to Mr Henderson. There was a good supply of beasts but there were fewer buyers than of late.

THE death of Robert Smallwood at his home, Rigby Hall, Bromsgrove, cast a shadow over the town. He had been involved with many organisations but would be chiefly remembered for the years he spent as a magistrate in the town's police courts. Mr Smallwood, who was 71, became a magistrate in 1864.

SEVERAL Stoke parishioners had spent Lent knitting comforts such as gloves and scarves for our troops fighting the Boers. In addition, every soldier from the parish now serving at the front in South Africa had been given gifts of socks and woollen helmets.

A PROGRAMME of entertainments to welcome in the merry month of May was held at the National Schools, in Crown Close, Bromsgrove. The rooms were prettily decorated with flowers and Chinese lanterns and there was music, songs and recitations from members of the Band of Hope. One of the highlights of the event was a gramophone which created much amusement.

BROMSGROVE Rovers played their 24th and final league game of the season. The win against Bournbrook meant they finished with 12 victories, eight draws and four defeats to finish fifth in the league of 13 teams, one having dropped out.

50 years ago

May 6, 1950

A CALL by Bromsgrove's Conservative-controlled council for all 28,000 residents to donate £1 toward the cost of building a town hall to commemorate the Festival of Britain next year was rejected by Labour councillors. Their leader, Cllr Henry Webley, said the time was not right because scarce materials would be better used to build houses.

CHARGING motorists to park their cars in Bromsgrove was driving shoppers away, the town's Chamber of Trade said. Officials, who were drawing up a petition to urge the council to scrap charges, said a shortage of parking spaces was also a major problem.

BILL "Nodder" Oldnall, Bromsgrove Rovers' prolific scorer, wrote a thank you letter to the club and fans who had contributed to the purchase of a watch. It had been presented to him after he had scored his 200th goal for the club in just four seasons.

MAY Day passed uneventfully in Bromsgrove. But 200 town children were eagerly looking forward to this weekend's annual Bromsgrove May walk to Bentley. It was organised, as it had been for the past 30 years, by Bromsgrove Rovers' sprightly pensioner mascot Ben Jones, from Bewell Head.

UNFOUNDED rumours surrounding happenings in villages around Bromsgrove were appearing frequently in the national Press. One, about a named bridge at Stoke, had even been reported in a Swiss paper. But a story regarding the degree of subsidence at Wychbold Church was dismissed by the Rev Gibbs who denied it was so bad that hymn books slid off the pews.

BROMSGROVE council was to ask the Post Office to put a phone box in the All Saints' area of the town. It was said one would be needed when the new general hospital was fully functioning.

25 years ago

May 2, 1975

ADULTS in Bromsgrove were having to suffer early night "curfews" because there was so little to do in the town. Labour's Cllr Trevor Porter said he had an idea for something akin to Redditch's Palace Theatre to be built in the town where films, stage shows and meetings could be held.

A CALL for an extra 2p on the rates to meet the cost of building a new village hall at Dodford was defeated when put to the vote at the parish meeting at which 110 residents were present. Work, funded by private subscription, had begun but another £5,000 was needed to finish the project.

"A PIONEER in nursing techniques and a man before his time," were two of the tributes to Sydney Cross on his retirement as senior nursing officer at Barnsley Hall Hospital, in Bromsgrove. During his 25 years of service, the Marlbrook man had introduced some innovative techniques. At one time he had been the youngest chief nursing officer in the country.

NIGEL Allcoat, assistant music director at Bromsgrove School, had been selected as one of only 20 in the world to compete in the International Organ Festival at St Albans. It was considered the top organ competition in the world.