BEFORE the City Magistrates Court in 1901 was William Hughes, a butcher of The Shambles, Worcester who, reported the Journal, had pleaded guilty to being asleep in charge of a horse and trap at Spetchley, and was fined 7/6d plus costs.

6 Half-a-century ago this week, the Journal highlighted the concerns of a leading local churchman over an apparent shortage of the Bible in Worcestershire schools.

"Canon E.F Braley of Worcester Cathedral told county education committee he had been shocked and staggered to find there were so few Bibles in the county's schools. 'There are books about the Bible but it is important that the children should read the Bible for themselves. I want to see plenty of Bibles put into schools,' said Canon Braley.

"However, Mr RY Logan, the County Director of Education, replied that, in his view, there was no shortage of Bibles in schools."