July 26 to August 2

11:11am Monday 28th July 2008

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100 Years Ago:

William Rea, aged 67, a nurseryman’s labourer, of 46 Pitmaston Terrace, St John’s, Worcester, died with painful suddenness on Saturday evening. He was having his supper, which consisted of bread and fried beefsteak, when his wife noticed he was choking.

She immediately fetched her nephew, James Rea, a milkman of 31 Pitmaston Terrace, and also ran for Dr Polson. However, death ensued before the doctor arrived, a piece of meat having lodged in Mr Rea’s windpipe. At the inquest a verdict of accidental death was returned.

• A young man named Harry Lampitt of Albany Road, Rainbow Hill, an employee of the GWR Works at Shrub Hill, met with a serious accident in the shunting yard on Monday evening.

He was in the act of getting on a moving engine, being driven by his brother, with who he wished to converse, when he tripped and his leg slipped under the wheels of the locomotive. The injured man was speedily removed by railway ambulance to the infirmary where it was later found necessary to amputate his leg. He is now progressing favourably.

150 Years Ago:

THE members and friends of the Temperance Society of Worcester assembled at the Music Hall (the former Public Hall) on Tuesday.

The hall was suitably decorated for the occasion and tea was served at 5.30pm. After some temperance melodies had been sung, the Rev HE Sturmer, who was loudly applauded, delivered a lengthy oration on Alcohol: A Thief and a Murderer, which was listened to with attention.

• As Mr Baker, hat manufacturer of High Street, Worcester, accompanied by Mr Hayes, assistant to Mr Smith, nurseryman of Wick, were returning from Malvern on Tuesday night, they were by some means or other, pitched violently out of their horse and trap near the asylum at Powick, where they lay in an insensible condition.

The horse proceeded with the trap as far as Powick where it was luckily spotted by Mr Bastin, hatter of St Swithin Street who, with some friends, arrived at the scene of the accident where they discovered the sufferers and kindly gave up their fly for the accommodation of the victims and their transportation to the Infirmary. Mr Baker is the more seriously injured of the two.

200 Years Ago:

THE heat has been intense for several days and the thermometer has stood at a height almost unprecedented.

A boy who was at work upon a rick in the neighbourhood of this city suddenly dropped down and soon after expired. Little doubt is entertained that his death was caused by the heat. Two women who were hay-making near Pershore likewise dropped down, overcome by heat, but soon after recovered.

We have heard of many more accidents of a like nature in various parts of the kingdom, and horses and cattle have been equally affected. It is said that upwards of 50 horses pulling waggons and carriages have died on the Great North Road alone.

• Signor Innetto of Bath begs leave to inform the nobility and gentry of the city and environs of Worcester that he intends exhibiting a grand display of fireworks, such as never was seen in this area before, at Diglis bowling green. A band of music will attend and there will be a ball for those ladies and gentlemen who wish to dance. The green will be lighted up with variegated lamps.

250 Years Ago:

IN joyous celebration of the completion of another year in the reign of our most gracious sovereign, the Town Hall (Guildhall) at Worcester was finely illuminated and before the door was a large bonfire with a variety of curious fireworks performed by Mr Martin of this city at the expense of the corporation.

Many persons dined at the inns and taverns of Worcester and the Hannibalian Society of Ringers performed at All Saints Church, a peal of grandfire triples, the whole being 1162. In the evening Mr Carey’s Great Lodging House at Malvern Wells was illuminated with 248 wax candles and a large bonfire before the door.