THIS WEEK IN 1989:

HATLESS and sporting a new hairstyle, Princess Diana made a chilly Tuesday memorable for hundreds of loyal Worcestershire folk who waited for hours to catch a glimpse of one of Britain’s favourite Royals. The Princess was in Worcester to visit Relate, formerly the Marriage Guidance Council, at its new HQ in Castle Street; St Richard’s Hospice whose appeal to fund its new premises stands at £360,000; and County Hall, the base of the County Council.

● Post Office collections on Sundays will be re-launched in Worcestershire next year following successful talks with the postal workers’ union. The Sunday collection service was stopped in the mid-1970s because there was a decline in demand and Post Office finances were tight.

THIS WEEK IN 1979:

CITY planners at Worcester have unveiled their draft proposals for the transformation of St John’s.

The main proposals are: The construction of a St John’s relief road running from Bromwich Road through part of Swanpool and the county council depot in Malvern Road and then along Bransford Road and a widened Watery Lane to Bromyard Road.

Transformation of the St John’s shopping centre between the parish church and the Bransford Road junction into “a pedestrian priority area” with limited shoppers’ parking and access for essential vehicles only. The building of a St John’s sports and leisure centre on part of the Swanpool open area. The conversion of the St John’s Primary School buildings into community facilities and a much-needed replacement branch library.

The creation of a “village green” in Bransford Road, near the junction with Malvern Road. And the construction wherever possible of more housing in the central area of St John’s.

THIS WEEK IN 1969:

Kay & Co, the Worcester mail order firm, has just moved into its new headquarters in the recently completed seven-storey Elgar House office development in front of Shrub Hill station. Kay’s, pioneers of home shopping in this country, have a nationwide network of offices and warehouses employing 5,000 people, half of these in Worcester itself.

● The Lowesmoor Trading Estate, covering six acres and including the historic Vinegar Works, is coming into being as an important industrial and trading area in Worcester. When complete, the site will accommodate 17 factory or warehouse units, of which nine are already let or under offer. Trading will cover a wide range of activities from a cash-and-carry food warehouse to metal plating and steel stockholding.

Units will range in size from 3,000 to 20,000 sq. ft.

THIS WEEK IN 1959:

THE 1st Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment will be returning to Norton Barracks, near Worcester, from the West Indies in March 1960. The battalion will be stationed at Norton as part of the United Kingdom Garrison for an indefinite period. Under the command of Lt Col JWB Stuart MBE MC, the battalion has been stationed in the West Indies for three years.