25 years ago

STUDLEY Parish Council decided at its annual meeting last Thursday to consider schemes to relieve traffic congestion on the main street.

The decision followed the submission of a letter from the Divisional Surveyor setting out reasons for the impracticability of the plan to provide a bus lay-by in Studley together with the reasons why bus stop signs and a lay-by had been placed on the main road at Mappleborough Green - the scene of a recent fatal accident.

The letter was to the effect that the bus stops had been erected at the request of villagers while the lay-by had been constructed to allow the buses to wait off the main highway to facilitate the free flow of traffic.

With regard to the construction of a lay-by in Studley's principal street, it had to be pointed out that the existing highway did not lend itself to such a project.

May 26, 1978

ALVECHURCH Rector the Rev Leslie Aitkin is to be made a Freeman of the town of De Panne in Belgium in recognition of his work as international chaplain of the Dunkirk Veterans' Association.

Mr Aitkin leaves Alvechurch today (Friday) for the 25th anniversary of the annual pilgrimage to the fields of Dunkirk.

Joining him on the trip to Belgium will be a Mappleborough Green man, Mr R Mould, who is secretary of the Birmingham Branch of the Dunkirk Veterans' Association.

Mr Aitkin said: "I have been travelling to Dunkirk for the pilgrimage ever since the association was set up 25 years ago."