December 14 to December 21 (From Worcester News)

December 14 to December 21

12:06pm Wednesday 16th December 2009 in

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THIS WEEK IN 1959:

A GROUP of prominent Worcester citizens are deeply concerned with what they describe as the completely inadequate facilities for swimming in the city and the teaching of school children to swim. In a strongly worded letter to the Mayor, Councillor Joe Williams, the group registers a protest and urge that something be done about the provision of a new swimming bath. The promoters of the letter are Mrs Joan Knowles and Mrs Joan Brierley, the wives of two Worcester doctors. They stress that the present open air pool in Sansome Walk can accommodate only 1,400 school children a week out of the 9,000 pupils in the city aged between seven and 15.

The letter states: “We call upon the city to provide an adequate swimming bath and so discharge not only its responsibility to the children of Worcester but also to offer recreational and competitive swimming facilities to all its citizens.”

THIS WEEK IN 1969:

CROWDS cheered, cameras clicked, old soldiers brushed away tears and children peered in wonderment and awe as the Worcestershire Regiment marched through Worcester for the last time on Saturday.

With the band blasting out the regimental march Royal Windsor, the men of the 1st Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment and B Company (Worcestershire) of the Mercian Volunteers marched through the main streets to a tremendous ovation from the thousands of people who had crammed themselves six-deep in places along the pavements.

The salute was taken outside the Guildhall by the Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Mrs Joyce Brown and Col TJ Bowen, the Colonel of the Regiment.

The Worcesters marched with colours flying and bayonets fixed for this historic event – the last parade of the regiment before its merger with the Sherwood Foresters. The Worcestershire Regiment traces its origins back to 1694. After the parade, a congregation of more than 1,300 filled Worcester Cathedral for a commemorative service.

THIS WEEK IN 1979:

THE Government has granted approval in principle to the location of a commercial radio station in Hereford-Worcester. The county is one of 14 locations in the country granted this approval in a statement to the Commons by Home Secretary William Whitelaw. His statement means that the creation of an independent local radio station for the area is just around the corner and could come by 1981. The franchise for Hereford-Worcester will now be put up for tender to interested companies. Bob Jenkins, chairman of Radio Wyvern – the group which has spearheaded the campaign to bring local radio to the county – says he is “absolutely delighted at the news. We have done a great deal of work and spent a huge amount of money in trying to state our case for local radio here.” Radio Wyvern will now work out its tender for the franchise.

THIS WEEK IN 1989:

THOUSANDS of pounds raised during this year’s Worcester Carnival week have been given away to local organisations at a special presentation in the Grandstand. The 1989 Carnival Queen, Tracey Handley, assisted by Carnival committee chairman Mike Layland, handed out more than £5,000 worth of cheques to 26 representatives of charities and organisations.