BENEVOLENT members of Droitwich Board of Guardians decided to give an extra 1/- (5p) a week during the harsh winter months to paupers receiving relief but who still lived in their own homes. It had been proposed by the chairman, Sir Harry Vernon, from Hanbury. But board member the Rev Hammond claimed such a large increase would lead to much jealously and proposed halving it to 6d. A 1/- increase would mean the board having to find an additional £300 to £400 every three months.

THE recent outbreak of the deadly disease diphtheria, at Wychbold, appeared to be over at last. Now a scheme to improve sewage disposal would be examined. Presently, some 65 houses discharged all their waste into the mill pond or the brook at Walk Mills.

THE wages bill for staff employed by Bromsgrove Urban District Council, now £6/17/6 (£6.87) a week, was spiralling upwards. In October, the figure had been £83/16/8 (£83.83p) compared to just £64/0/7 (£64.3p) in October 1895. Since then, the authority had been forced to pay the wages of the town's four lamplighters, two additional roadmen, on wages of 11/- (55p) a week, and an extra carter on £1 a week. The scavengers' wages too had risen during that time, to 11/- a week.

EDGAR Roberts, the driver of Her Majesty's mail cart, which travelled from Alcester to Bromsgrove, found himself in front of town magistrates charged with having no lights. He was fined 1/- (5p) with 5/6 (27.5p) costs.

GEORGE Taylor, the entrepreneurial proprietor of New Town Stores, in Bromsgrove's Stourbridge Road, had hit on an idea to boost his Christmas profits. Customers could clip out a coupon in his advert in the Messenger and on presenting it would be given a free half-pint of Double Worcester Stout, provided they took along their own jug or bottle. No child under ten would be served and on no account would any sweets be given.

50 years ago

December 16, 1950

THE family of Royal Marine William Jauncey, from Minches Lane, Belbroughton, heard that he had been killed in the Korean war, the first casualty from this district. He had been flown out in September and was one of the first British servicemen to have joined the United Nations force.

TRAINS were diverted and buses and taxis laid on to enable passengers to complete their journeys when a brake van was derailed at Droitwich Spa station.

THE streets of Bromsgrove would soon be lit exclusively by electricity. The MEB was about to begin the task of converting all remaining gas lamps to electricity.

A BRIEF look at prices realised at Bromsgrove's Tuesday market showed bunches of holly made 4/6 (22.5p) each, mistletoe 6/- (30p) a small spray, wreaths 7/6 (37.5p) and potatoes 12/-(70p) a hundredweight.

DODFORD residents were told they would have to put up with boiling muddy water drawn from wells or the village brook for some time to come. The country's present dire economic situation meant the Government would not sanction spending large sums on installing piped supplies. Residents in Wildmoor and Woodgate, who also complained of not being on the mains, would also have to be patient.

25 years ago

December 12, 1975

CLOSE on 5,000 tenants living in council houses in Bromsgrove were given some bad news. Rents next year were set to rise by as much as 66p a week with an extra 5p being put on garages. The ruling Tory group's contention that £7 a week for a four bedroomed home was still good value was not shared by Labour which opposed the increases.

AN 11th-hour bid to find an alternative site for the new district hospital to serve Bromsgrove and Redditch was to be made by the district council. The proposed site, at Woodrow, in Redditch, was proving very unpopular with Bromsgrove residents.

BROMSGROVE was soon to have its very first nightclub. Eve's would open in premises formerly occupied by Baylis's furniture shop, in The Strand. Owner Brian Thompson, from Alvechurch, who already had nightspots in Birmingham, hoped to attract big names such as Tony Blackburn, Noel Edmunds, Kenny Ball and Rod Stewart.

THE recent opening of Bromsgrove's driving test centre had cut waiting times for learner drivers in the town to around four weeks.

FEARS that a lay-by on the new Bromsgrove to Redditch Road, which overlooked Finstall post office, was a security risk were voiced by postmistress Sally Parkes. She also claimed it was used as a public convenience by lorry drivers. But Worcestershire County Council was adamant it could not afford the £1,700 to remove it.