THIS WEEK IN 1961:

PRESSURE for a public inquiry into the proposal to build a closed prison for 450 men at Blackmore Camp, Malvern, is increasing.

Malvern Urban District Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to call for an immediate inquiry into the plan put forward by the nation’s Prison Commissioners. There have been many expressions of concern voiced in the town and county – dangers from escapees and the detrimental effect such an institution would have upon Malvern’s cultural, scholastic and holiday amenities being cited.

The land, already owned by the Crown, was formerly Blackmore No. 2 Camp, occupied by American and British Army units. It is close to the site of the Three Counties Showground.

THIS WEEK IN 1971:

ST John-in-Bedwardine was dedicated as the parish church of St John’s, Worcester, in 1371, which means that this year it celebrates its 600th anniversary. The St John’s area was just fields in 680 and in supplying the needs of the Cathedral monastery across the river, it was named “Beowardine,”

meaning “bread ward.”

Selected fields and pastures were assigned to the prior of the monastery, and Swan Pool provided choice fish.

After the decline of the St John’s mother church, St Cuthbert’s (now in the grounds of Bennetts Dairies at Lower Wick), Bishop Giffard recommended the appointment of a resident chaplain at St John’s in 1265. After it had flourished thus for more than a century, Bishop Lynn finally asked that St John’s receive full parochial rites.

THIS WEEK IN 1981:

CHURCH-GOERS in Worcestershire may have to delve deeper into their pockets to keep their church alive. Worcester Diocesan Secretary, Colonel William Bell has warned that congregations should be prepared to contribute more each week to stave off the effects of inflation and to preserve clergy numbers. He said that, like everything else, the running costs of the Church of England were affected by inflation.

Soaring fuel costs to heat churches and repair bills for decaying buildings had been major items of expenditure.

It was inevitable that a young man with a family thinking of entering the church would consider the comparatively low salary offered to clergymen. A spokesman for the Church Commissioners for England said “a more realistic approach” was needed if the church was to offer its clergy a reasonable salary.

Despite recent pay rises, clergymen were paid “nowhere near enough.”

THIS WEEK IN 1991:

TROOPS engaged in the Gulf War will now be able to follow the tale of “Worcestershire” country folk as the BBC has finally bowed to pressure to broadcast The Archers to servicemen. The BBC was deluged with calls and letters protesting that the evergreen radio soap, based on rural life in Worcestershire, was not being broadcast by the World Service nor the Forces Service. Now the troops will be able to catch up with the latest Ambridge news through the British forces broadcasting service.