100 Years Ago September 16, 1905

The promoters of the Hampton Church Restoration Fete seem particularly unfortunate as regards the weather. It will be remembered that the fete was originally arranged to take place last Wednesday and that, although the preceding and subsequent days were fine, the fixture had practically to be postponed owing to rain; a portion of it took place but the fete proper was deferred till Wednesday of this week. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday were beautiful days but Wednesday was again wet and consequently the fete again suffered severely. About £150 is still required for church restoration and the takings last week amounted to £22 15s.

75 Years Ago

September 13, 1930

The Beckford Annual Ewe and Lamb Sale was held by George Hone on Tuesday, when a record entry of 3,085 fat sheep, stock ewes, store lambs and rams were penned. Additional iron pens have been erected in the market, but these were filled to capacity and temporary pens were used to accommodate the entries for this important annual sale. The cattle entries comprised 120 head of very fresh 21/2 and two-year-old oxen and heifers. The sale attracted a good company of buyers from the surrounding district and from Birmingham, Hereford, Worcester, Swindon, Oxford, Gloucester and Bromsgrove. Bidding was brisk and a clearance of practically all the stock was effected.

50 Years Ago

September 17, 1955

As a result of a successful fete organised by the Evesham branch of the Royal College of Nursing and held at Avonside Hospital on Thursday afternoon, more than £91 will be divided between the Tuberculosis After Care Fund and the local branch of the RCN. The fete was opened by Lady Tenant, president of the Evesham branch of the RCN, who said that both Avonside and Evesham General Hospital always seemed happy places. "I think because there are such happy, friendly people in them," she said. Appealing to everyone to give generously, she said that they all knew that the Evesham branch worked much harder for other people than they did for themselves and consequently their funds were very low.

25 Years Ago

September 18. 1980

Among the pick-your-own callers at a Harvington fruit farm last Wednesday was Bessie Jackson, of Porthcawl, who is 100-years-old. She gave the industry's flagging image a gentle boost by insisting that it is Evesham plums that make her feel so young. With her brother, Albert Power, who is 97, she stepped briskly off a coach at the fruit farm of S Coley and Son. They took baskets and both picked six pounds of choice Victorias. "It helps to keep me young," Mrs Jackson said. "I have been coming to Evesham every summer for the past six years to pick plums. They are absolutely marvellous, the best plums you can get, there's no doubt about that." She does her own cooking and said the plums would be used in her kitchen. I shall be able to make some lovely jam. And I always put in an extra ingredient. I put in a drop of brandy. It helps to keep out the cold in the winter."