BROMSGROVE Urban District Council called a public meeting of ratepayers at the Drill Hall to consider the authority's plan to buy Llewellin's site to base the New Market and to consider the alternatives. A good turnout was expected.

THE Local Government Board issued its annual report which saw a decrease of outdoor pauperism in Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa. The number of indoor poor remained the same.

FLORENCE Read, of Wildmoor, was bound over to keep the peace after being charged with using threats towards fellow villager Elizabeth Waldron. Bromsgrove magistrates' bench heard the defendant called to her neighbour and said if she didn't come outside she would 'burst her,' 'knock her eyes out' and 'jump on her.'

SOLOMON Kimberley, of Parkside, Bromsgrove, was charged with being drunk in High Street. Magistrates imposed a fine of 2/6 and 5/6 costs. PC Walters said Kimberley had fallen over several times.

THE Messenger said to avoid sore throats, colds and rheumatism, bathe the throat in cold water and rub vigorously with alcohol. A person with pulmonary trouble should take a cold sponge bath on rising.

STOKE Prior Cricket Club, which recently held its dinner in the clubroom at The Boat Inn, was indebted to Mr Harmsworth for his present of two bats and two balls. President Mr Young asked the secretary to thank him for his kindness.

THE annual meeting of Droitwich, Bromsgrove and District Farmers' Club was the most successful in the four-year history of the organisation. The club had received a large measure of support not only from agriculturalists but from gentlemen who were less concerned with farming generally.

November 4, 1950

A 15-YEAR-OLD Rubery lad, who had allegedly been making a nuisance of himself by shooting at lampposts, admitted causing bodily harm to a boy by discharging an air pistol at him. The defendant promised he would not buy another pistol. Conditional on his good behaviour for 12 months, he was dismissed and ordered to pay 16/3 costs.

A FIRE broke out in the wooden building in the grounds of Mount Pleasant used as sleeping quarters for a member of staff. A stove had been burning in the shelter. The fire brigade attended promptly but the hut, furniture and clothing were destroyed.

MIDLAND 'Red' Buses were being put on from the Fountain to Stoke Works to take guests to Harris Cricket Club's end of year dance. The Billy Webb Orchestra was set to play at the dance at The Harris Brush Works.

AN open meeting was held in the Parish Club to discuss the possibility of putting up a pavilion on Recreation Ground, in Hanbury. The rector -- the Rev L J Birch -- said another meeting should be held to discuss ways and means of raising money because Rural Community Council grants were no longer available for pavilions.

October 31, 1975

BROMSGROVE District Council's planning committee decided to set up a working party to deal with the problem of town centre traffic. Councillors claimed the situation had been seriously aggravated by the additional traffic coming off the M5 and going on to extensively use the new Bromsgrove/Redditch dual carriageway.

NEARLY £70,000 had been granted in rent rebate to householders in the Bromsgrove district. The bulk of allowances went to council house tenants whose rebates totalled £59,225 -- an average of £2. Tenants of private accommodation were awarded rebates of £10,639 -- also at an average of £2.

A 400-NAME petition was being sent to Hereford and Worcester County Council by residents concerned at the proposed development of a 20-acre site at Aston Fields which once housed the railway works. It was indicated the initial development would be for warehouses.

A MEETING of the North Bromsgrove branch of the National Housewives' Register discovered women were more class conscious than men. The topic for discussion was: social class -- where do you fit in? It prompted a heated discussion.