100 years ago

October 18 1902

ALFRED Plant, a sweep, pleaded guilty to stealing two bottles of champagne with a total value of 7s, from Geo Quiney at Evesham. He had been twice convicted and had been in prison since July 24 awaiting trial, so was let off with two months' hard labour.

75 years ago

October 15 1927

THE new organ at St Peter's Church, Bengeworth, for which the church officials and worshippers have worked so long and well, was opened and dedicated at a special service on Wednesday evening. There was a good congregation present and at the end of the service a recital on the new instrument was given by Dr L H B Reed, of St John's College in Leatherhead.

50 years ago

October 18 1952

FOR over 12 hours on Tuesday a large part of Bengeworth was without electricity and many families spent the evening in semi-darkness. The supply failed at about 9.30am and was not fully restored until just before 10pm, by which time many of the people affected by the blackout had blown out their candles or oil lamps and gone to bed. The cause of the breakdown was later found to be a defect in the switch gear at the Midlands Electricity Board's sub station in Bengeworth.

25 years ago

October 20 1977

HUNDREDS of fish in the Battleton Brook at Evesham have died from anti-freeze poisoning. The anti-freeze mixture is thought to have run into the brook through drains from about 30 to 40 lock-up garages on the Fairfield estate. A Severn Trent Water official said: "We suspect that car maintenance enthusiasts might have been changing their anti-freeze in their radiators ready for the winter and threw the old anti-freeze down the drains."