A WORKING MEN'S social club opened in Catshill creating great excitement in the district. Some years ago a reading room had been created, but had closed though lack of interest.

100 years ago

December 14, 1901

A WORKING MEN'S social club opened in Catshill creating great excitement in the district. Some years ago a reading room had been created, but had closed though lack of interest. The new facility had been made from the upper floor of Eliza Tinsley's nail warehouse. It comprised a room for smoking and conversation, a reading room plus an area for consuming non-alcoholic drinks. Subscriptions were 4d (1.5p) per month.

A BRIEF look at the Christmas advertisements in the Messenger showed John B Wilson, in High Street, Bromsgrove, had Scotch whisky on sale at 3s (15p) a bottle, and the brewery in St John Street was selling Red Pig brand ale at 1/6 (7.5p) per dozen bottles. The Consumers Tea Company meanwhile, with branches in Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa was offering free toys with every pound of tea costing 2/2, 2/4 and 2/6 (11p, 11.5p 12.5p) a pound.

ALFRED Lammas and Frank Bourne, from Sidemoor, and Henry Hemming, from Worcester Street, found themselves in front of Bromsgrove magistrates charged with playing football near Hemming's home. The court, which fined each 2/6 (12.5p) in the hope of deterring others, heard the youths had broken several windows.

NEWS of the death of another Bromsgrove man fighting the Boers in South Africa had arrived in town. He was Pt J Edwards, whose family lived in St John Street. He had been fighting at the front for two years and had survived 56 engagements without suffering a scratch until being mortally wounded.

THE Worcestershire Hunt met at the Golden Cross Hotel, in Bromsgrove. The hounds headed off for Lickey and had a 45-minute chase during which Rubery and Fairfield were visited. The pack lost its quarry on Walton Hill when a severe snowstorm killed the scent.

50 years ago

December 15, 1951

THE debate over the fact that Bromsgrove, his home town, had no permanent reminder of poet A E Housman was widening. A sundial in Sanders Park or a memorial of some description on land owned by Bromsgrove District Council near his former home, Perry Hall, were two suggestions being considered. The cherry tree which is said to have inspired him to write one of his best loved poems was still growing near a wall in the hall's garden. The Californian branch of the Housman Society had a sprig of blossom from it preserved in a special container.

A CAPACITY audience turned up at the Drill Hall, in Bromsgrove, for the first boxing tournament of the winter season. Fans of heavyweight Bromsgrove policeman, PC Fred Benbow, who turned up in force, were not disappointed. His opponent retired after two rounds without hardly landing a blow.

THE Bromsgrove branch of the Royal British Legion, as elsewhere, was suffering from a fall in membership. Presently, there were 576 members on the books although last year only 257 had paid their subscriptions.

THE Messenger had been sent two worthless, but nevertheless interesting curios, two £5 Bank of Bromsgrove notes dating from the time a century ago when the bank traded from High Street. It failed in June 1851 causing widespread concern. Depositors were paid 9d (4p) in the pound.

25 years ago

December 10, 1976

THERE had been numerous complaints that foxes were roaming freely in Bromsgrove town centre. Several people who kept poultry in their back gardens had lost birds to the vermin.

BROMSGROVE'S proposed new police station would look like Dartmoor prison, the chairman of Bromsgrove District Council, Cllr John Austin, declared when shown the plan for the first time. The £281,00 project would see an extension to the present headquarters in The Crescent and the conversion of stables into a social club.

TORY councillor Margaret Taylor, from Linthurst Court, Barnt Green, was the first woman to be given the chairmanship of a major committee on Bromsgrove District Council. A councillor since 1973, she had succeeded the late Cllr Walter Raggatt as chairman of planning and highways.

WORK to install a new large culvert behind the Market Hall had begun in a bid to stop shops and businesses in Bromsgrove's lower High Street from continually being flooded.

Another idea being looked at was to close Ford Road and divert the course of the brook.