WILLIAM Newport, a pauper at Droitwich Workhouse, was given 21 days' jail and hard labour by Spa magistrates who found him guilty of punching Mr Loader, the master, in the face.

100 years ago

September 8, 1900

WILLIAM Newport, a pauper at Droitwich Workhouse, was given 21 days' jail and hard labour by Spa magistrates who found him guilty of punching Mr Loader, the master, in the face. Newport, a chronic epileptic, who was said to frighten everyone in the institution, flew into a rage and attacked Mr Loader when he refused to let him leave the house.

A 15-YEAR-OLD youth, George Cooper, from Yew Tree Farm Cottages, Frankley, died from shock and injuries when a locomotive struck him. Cooper, a 'points boy' was working on Birmingham city's new waterworks plant near his home at the time.

A PROPOSAL to install electric lights in homes in Barnt Green and Alvechurch had met with a snag. A company had been formed to do the work but North Bromsgrove District Council, over whose roads the cables would pass, wanted more information before giving the go ahead for the work to start.

SAM Pugh, from Church Street, Bromsgrove, could consider himself a trifle hard done by when he was fined 2s 6d (12.5p) with 5s 6d (27.5p) costs by town magistrates for being drunk. The court heard his mother was marching him home along Worcester Street when a constable spotted him bumping into fellow pedestrians as he staggered unsteadily on his way.

AN outbreak of scarlet fever was giving cause for alarm in Bromsgrove. It was claimed one of the reasons why the disease was spreading was the reluctance of parents to let their children be admitted in the Hill Top isolation hospital. A case against such a family was in progress.

SEPTEMBER 1 marked the start of the partridge-shooting season. Locally, many sportsmen were out with their guns and the bird were reported to be "plentiful but rather wild."

50 years ago

September 9, 1950

TWO poems by Fairfield poet Geoffrey Hill would feature in a BBC radio programme next week. And, the popular lunchtime programme Workers' Playtime would be broadcast live from the canteen at Harris Brushworks, in Stoke Prior, next month.

COVERCROFT in Droitwich Spa, the site of an old salt works was to be filled in, landscaped and part of the area made into a car park at a cost of some £500.

A CALL for all empty council houses to be routinely fumigated before new tenants were given the keys was made by Bromsgrove Trades Council. It followed the sad case of a family who had to fork out £20 to replace household items ruined by an infestation of insects.

A GROUP of 30 students from Bromsgrove Adult School enjoyed a trip to London. They were shown round the Houses of Parliament by Bromsgrove's MP Michael Higgs.

THE current shortage of bus drivers in Bromsgrove was worse than at any time during the war. Recently ten buses were left in the depot because there were no drivers available. Staff were working 70 hours a week but the lure of having Saturday mornings off in other jobs was appealing.

25 years ago

September 5, 1975

THE cost of a swim at Bromsgrove baths was to go up for adults from 15p to 18p and for children from 7p to 8p. In future an adult monthly ticket would cost £1.50 and 75p for youngsters.

BROMSGROVE Rovers crashed out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle when they lost 3-0 away to Sporting Coventry.

ROD Stewart was riding on the crest of a wave in the singles and albums charts in Bromsgrove, with his Sailing and Atlantic Crossing respectively. Coming in from nowhere to number five in the top ten was Jasper Carrott with his Funky Moped.

A ROW between Catshill district councillor Francis Franks and Methodist minister the rev Rumley had erupted over the siting of play equipment. Mr Rumley said it should be moved as youngsters' rowdy behaviour was upsetting residents who often could not hear their TVs for the noise they made. Cllr Franks said suggestions it should be moved were "outrageous."

VANDALS smashed 60 window panes and daubed paint on the floor at Lickey Parish Hall causing £100 worth of damage.