DOWAGER Lady Hindlip, aged 85, a member of one of the county's important and influential families, died at her home in Hadzor, near Droitwich. While residing at Hadzor Hall she had been greatly interested in breeding fancy poultry and had won many top prizes. It was said she was beloved by the local poor for her great benevolence to them.

A 20 TON hay rick, which spontaneously caught fire at Monsieurs Hall Farm, Park Gate, was put out by Bromsgrove firemen despite them having a delayed start in answering the call. No horses were available at the Roebuck Hotel stables in High Street to pull the engine, but Mr Leader, from the Golden Cross Hotel, came to the rescue by supplying two he happened to have there.

THE recent good weather had come at the right time for the grain harvest in Bromsgrove and Droitwich, but although apples were plentiful, stone fruit crops were scarce.The season was notable for the absence of blight on the trees which had forced the birds to turn to the fruit for sustenance. Many trees were left with just the stalks remaining on the branches, the rest having been eaten away.

BROMSGROVE endured its hottest day since 1893 when the mercury had then reached 85.6 degrees F. On Wednesday a temperature of 83F was recorded in the shade in a garden in Barnt Green.

THE Messenger had come across a snippet of news from August 21, 1806. A young woman, by the name of Perry, and two young boys were on the Race Ground in Droitwich enjoying a ride on what the paper called 'a most ridiculous and dangerous piece of machinery - a round a bout.' The three were flung off and suffered serious injuries from which the woman later died.