A COACHMAN died after being kicked by the horse he was clipping for his master, Dr Ambrose, of Barnt Green. An inquest jury sitting at the Victoria Hotel in the village, returned an accidental death verdict on 34-year-old Edward Jones, who died a day after the incident. A fund for the deceased's dependants had been launched to which Dr Ambrsose had contributed £5. The coroner and jurors had also made donations.

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A SCHEME to widen what was said to be the narrowest part of the main road from Birmingham to Bristol, a stretch of Worcester Street, near Bromsgrove's Town Hall, was announced. However, the scheme put forward by the town council had run into problems. Mr Whitfield, who owned the shops concerned, would not agree to the deal being suggested, which would mean his premises being moved six feet further back from the road.

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PUPILS at Lickey End School in Bromsgrove will be able to enjoy the comfort of a gas fire in their classrooms this winter. The authorities had signed a contract with the gas company to install mains supplies at a cost of £3.

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PREDICTABLY, at this time of year after the harvest when children had been boosting their family's income by helping in the fields, Bromsgrove magistrates this week dealt with a larger than average number of school absenteeism cases. Magistrates heard parents were not unduly bothered as the fines of around 5/- (25p) were often less than a child could earn in a day.

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THE scarlet fever epidemic in Bromsgrove looked to be ending, although Hill Top hospital was full. The town's medical officer criticised some parents' irresponsible behaviour. One Sidemoor mother, fed up with nursing her daughter who had the disease, had left her to go hop picking. The girl had returned to work while still infectious.