THIS WEEK IN 1960:

IF this winter is a severe one, there may be some empty grates and cold homes in Worcester, as in other parts of the country.

Coal merchants are concerned with the present short supplies of best household coals, and some are already having to draw on stocks they have laid up for the winter. Transport difficulties may also aggravate the problem. One Worcester coal merchant has said that the present situation could develop into a shortage as bad as that of the winter of 1947. He said: “We don’t want to alarm people, but it is as well that the public are aware of the problem.” Behind the shortage is the fact that the National Coal Board, in an effort to adjust its output to the level of demand in recent years, decided to cut production by closing a number of pits and open cast sites. The board has, in fact, budgeted to produce 196 million tons of coal this year – a reduction of 11 million tons compared with last year.

THIS WEEK IN 1970:

IN spite of numerous lectures given by police officers in Worcester to try and bring home “the message” that drug taking is dangerous, the number of prosecutions has trebled in the first nine months of this year as compared with the whole of 1969, warns Police Superintendent W Pugh.

Between January and September, 36 people in the 17-24 age group have been convicted of drug offences involving dangerous drugs.

Last year a dozen young people appeared before the city Justices, charged with similar offences. The first incident involving drugs in Worcester came to the notice of the police in August 1966.

Supt Pugh said: “Since that time, more young people have become involved in the habit and the position appears to be getting worse. It is a very serious situation. Young people should realise that drug taking and the use of hyperdermic needles and syringes is an evil menace and could and does endanger health.”

THIS WEEK IN 1980:

Down Your Way, the longrunning BBC Radio 4 series comes to Upton-upon-Severn tomorrow. Five local residents will be interviewed in the popular programme which has been highlighting a town a week for the last 34 years. Cricket commentator Brian Johnston has been presenting Down Your Way for the last eight years and will be talking in Upton to Tony Atkinson, proprietor of Britain’s second largest map shop; Eddie Webb, one of Upton’s most colourful older residents, Commander Roger Corbet-Milward of Upton Civic Society and Mrs Rita Tysoe, WI lecturer and craft and herb expert. The programme from Upton will be broadcast on December 7.

THIS WEEK IN 1990:

WORCESTERSHIRE’S 150 school crossing patrol personnel – “lollipop” men and women – are to undergo a major change in appearance by January next year. Out will go the long white plastic PVC coats which remain rigid even when met by snowballs in the winter. In will come “high visibility” yellow and white coats with reflective stripes. The county’s “lollipop” stalwarts are also to become the first in Britain to be sponsored by windscreen replacement firm Autoglass.