January 26, 1901

100 years ago

January 26, 1901

NEWS of Queen Victoria's death cast a deep gloom over Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa. The Messenger, which had kept townsfolk posted of her deteriorating condition through notices in its office windows, edged its news columns in black as a mark of respect. The town crier went about proclaiming the sad news and many people wore mourning apparel which several shops were swift to put in their windows. Both town councils called emergency meetings to send their condolences and all events were cancelled including, on John Corbett's instruction, the Spa's annual ball in Salters' Hall which he owned.

FEARS that Droitwich Spa labourer James Hunt, from the Vines, had died on Christmas Day as a result of drinking poisoned beer the night before at the White Hart pub proved unfounded. Police had taken samples of beer from the premises but no trace of arsenic could be found. The jury decided death was due to heart failure.

HERBERT Millington, the headmaster at Bromsgrove School for 28 years, announced he was to retire. Under his leadership it had become one of the great schools in England, the Messenger said. He had been responsible for, among other projects, the building of the gym, the fives courts and Lyttleton House.

COUNCILLORS representing the urban area of Bromsgrove asked their colleagues on the rural authority to join them in a venture to appoint a veterinary surgeon to act as a milk and meat inspector. Councils were becoming increasingly aware of the need to tighten up on food safety and hygiene. The urban council declined saying it had enough officers already and in any event did not have many butchers' shops in its district.

50 years ago

January 27, 1951

THERE was bad news for staff at the Austin works, at Longbridge, which employed many people from Bromsgrove and Rubery. One hundred jobs in the trim shop had been axed because of a model change and new techniques being introduced.

A COLLECTION of postage stamps amassed by the late Lord Doverdale of Droitwich, came under the hammer at a three-day auction in London. They had been sent from Nassau, in the Bahamas, by Lady Doverdale and realised the grand sum of £3,600.

THE Messenger, in its editorial, remarked on two new areas of desolation in Bromsgrove.

They were in the Strand, where 200 yards of Birmingham Road had been reconstructed, and in Crown Close, where the fine trees surrounding the green had been severely lopped.

RESIDENTS in Hanbury were upset that a new litter bin had been sited close to the war memorial. Hanbury Parish Council had written to Worcestershire County Council requesting it be moved across the road. Villagers said its present position was "not in good taste."

AN outbreak of foot and mouth disease at West Heath closed cattle markets in Bromsgrove and Hagley this week.

THE first internments in the extended Bromsgrove cemetery had taken place both in the Catholic and Church of England sections.

25 years ago

January 23, 1976

RIDGWARDINE Juno had been acclaimed the champion super stud of British bulls for 1975. Standing at the Avoncroft Cattle Breeders' Centre, in Bromsgrove,

earnings from his semen, which was exported all over the world, was set to top the £100,000 mark.

RUBERY antiques dealer Ellen Hubbard conceded defeat to the burglars who had raided her premises in New Road 11 times in recent months, and was to sell up.

MASTER plumber Walter Bird, who had run his business from his home, in Kidderminster Road, Bromsgrove, for 58 years, was to retire. A keen cyclist, he was a founder member of the Bromsgrove Olympique Cycling Club.

WELL-KNOWN broadcaster and journalist Alan Leighton, from Bromsgrove, had been chosen as the prospective Liberal candidate to fight the forthcoming Coventry North West by-election.