11:52am Monday 11th May 2009
By Michael Grundy
THIS WEEK IN 1989:
KAYS, Worcester’s biggest employer, is under heavy flak for creating a catalogue of chaotic traffic conditions around its Westside depots.
City council leaders lashed out this week at the mail order empire for choking up residential areas by attracting hundreds of bargain-hungry shoppers to its sales, as well as encouraging giant juggernauts into Worcester without considering the misery that they cause local residents. Council leaders are proposing a top level meeting with Kays bosses to discuss the issues.
● Desperately needed improvements at the notorious dog-leg bend near Farrier House and Vine House in Farrier Street are being pressed for by Worcester City Council traffic chiefs. However, it is feared the county council, as highway authority, will give the realignment scheme only a lowly place in its list of priorities for road improvements over the next few years. This is despite the city council’s plea that the improvements are needed to reduce the worrying number of accidents in Farrier Street.
THIS WEEK IN 1979:
AT last Thursday’s general election, the results for the constituencies of Worcester, South Worcestershire and Kidderminster reflected the Conservatives’ national triumph. Peter Walker was returned at Worcester with the biggest Conservative majority in the history of the city constituency. His 18 years as MP for Worcester and Droitwich were marked by his winning more than half the votes cast. He ended with a 11,589 majority compared with 4,989 at the last general election in 1974.
Michael Spicer (South Worcestershire) and Esmond Bulmer (Kidderminster) also enjoyed hefty Tory majorities.
● One month’s reprieve has been granted to enthusiasts striving to save a historic Worcester barge. The Spry is a rare example of the once common Severn trow type but has long been under threat of being scrapped in view of its dilapidated state and to release its Diglis mooring. The enthusiasts are now hoping to have The Spry towed to Bristol where a berth has been guaranteed in order that essential work on it can be carried out. The Severn Trow Preservation Society is only £500 short of the £2,000 target for its Savethe- Barge appeal.
THIS WEEK IN 1969:
FOLLOWING extensive rebuilding operations, customers of the Broad Street branch of the Midland Bank at Worcester now have the advantage of transacting their business in modern surroundings. Three-and-ahalf years in construction, the new four-storey building is fronted with Portland stone to harmonise with the general surroundings. The large and airy new banking hall is subtly lit with the emphasis of the décor being placed on porcelain blue – chosen because of Worcester’s long and close association with porcelain.
The banking hall contains 14 cashier positions. The first Midland Bank was opened at Worcester in 1864 on the site of 6 Broad Street.
THIS WEEK IN 1959:
EVERY man and woman in this country who is 100 years-old or more is to receive a 10lb box of luscious grapes with the compliments of South African growers.
Among centenarians in this area to receive the grapes are Mrs MA Underwood of Rothwell Road, Malvern Wells; Mrs EJ King of Sebright Avenue, Worcester and Mr F Rea of Park Cottages, Kempsey.
● A Malvern resident and a keen amateur musician has been appointed headmistress of the Worcester Girls’ Grammar School. Miss Sheila Harvey MA of Wells Road was chosen from 40 applicants to succeed Miss MC Webster. She will take up the post in September.
Miss Harvey, is at present head of mathematics at Holly Lodge High School, Liverpool.
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