June 15 to June 22 (From Worcester News)

June 15 to June 22

9:47am Monday 15th June 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

THIS WEEK IN 1989:

TWO top West Mercia detectives flew out to the United States this week on a special fact-finding mission as part of the force’s all-out offensive to head off the threat of the drug crack before it hits the city and county.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Stanley, head of the West Mercia drug squad, and colleague Barrie Taylor of headquarters CID, will be visiting Washington, Boston and New York to check out measures being taken by the law enforcement agencies there to combat crack. It is derived from cocaine and is creating violence, crime and social problems in the US particularly among young people.

West Mercia chief constable Tony Mullett said “We believe we must act positively now to prevent the devastating effects of this drug from invading our own communities.”

A small ‘rock’ of crack costs about £25 and addicts are almost invariably driven to crime to finance their supplies.

THIS WEEK IN 1979:

THE £25,000 appeal to provide a statue to Worcester’s most famous son, Sir Edward Elgar, was launched this week. Prince Charles has agreed to become president of the appeal and says he would like to be involved, if possible, in decisions about the exact location of the statue in Worcester.

The appeal’s organising committee hopes ideally to have it sited at the head of High Street, close to the original site of the Elgar family’s music shop and looking towards the cathedral. The proposed 7ft tall bronze statue on a low plinth will be of Elgar at the age of 54 and in the academic robes he often wore at the Three Choirs.

Sculptor Kenneth Potts of the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company is to carry out the work.

THIS WEEK IN 1969:

SHEILA Scott, the distinguished Worcesterborn and educated aviator who won £1,000 in the Daily Mail Air Race from London to New York, is having her portrait in oils painted by Worcester artist E Waldron West. It has been commissioned by the city council for 175 guineas and will eventually go on permanent display in the City Art Gallery in Foregate Street. Miss Scott is the daughter of Alderman Harold Hopkins. Mr West is depicting her in her flying kit. There is cloud turbulence in the background and Miss Scott’s plane can be seen on the tarmac.

● Amid the traditional pomp and dignity, Dr Eric Kemp was installed as the new dean of Worcester at the cathedral. The colourful ceremony was attended by several hundred people from all walks of life. Dr Kemp, only the 42nd holder of the post since the Reformation in 1540, is 53 and married with five children. He moves to Worcester from Oxford where he has been Fellow and lecturer of Exeter College since 1946.

THIS WEEK IN 1959:

AS part of the plans of Eric Abbott, the chief constable of Worcester, to ease traffic congestion in the city, Midland Red buses travelling from the St John’s area to Angel Place are to be rerouted.

They will now travel from Worcester bridgeby North Parade, North Quay and the Butts. WH Cole, the bus company’s traffic superintendent at Worcester, told our reporter that it was hoped the move would considerably ease the traffic problem in Bridge Street and Broad Street – the route to Angel Place used until now by Midland Red. He said: “We have had 22 buses an hour travelling up Bridge Street and Broad Street and at peak times this number has stepped up to 30 an hour.”