A BATTLE to be associated with any national memorial to the playwright George Bernard Shaw was launched 50 years ago this week by Malvern Council.

It was alarmed by news that Welwyn Garden City, close to Shaw's home at Ayot St Lawrence, was launching an early appeal.

The chairman of the council, James Watkins, responded with a letter to The Times saying if a Shaw Memorial Theatre were to be built then Malvern was the obvious place for it.

Not everyone supported Mr Watkins in his effort to stake Malvern's claim.

At a subsequent council meeting, Mr Clarke said no concrete suggestion had come from Malvern.

"Welwyn has got in first, and good luck to them," he said.

Mr Watkins said he was not surprised to hear Mr Clarke congratulating Welwyn as he had heard little in his speeches commending Malvern.

Mr Clarke asked for the remark to be withdrawn adding "you are undemocratic" but he was told to sit down.