DESPERATE to boost its maintenance fund, All Saints' Church in Bromsgrove held a Rose Fete in the grounds. Lady Vernon, from Hanbury Hall, crowned Rose Queen Christine Cox, aged 14, on a flower-decked platform in front of the west door. The event raised £100 for the repairs fund.

EVERY employee at the Austin works - more than 20,000 of them - received an extra £5 in their wage packets on Friday as a surprise golden jubilee gift. The company was also to hand out 2,000 gold watches to employees with 25 years' service, while the 120 with 40 years' under their belts would get a generous £25.

A SCHEME that would make Lickey Grange one of the best boarding schools for the blind in Europe was initiated when the foundation stone for a new home was laid. It would house 40 boys and two masters.

RESIDENTS in the vicinity of Finstall Park turned out in force to attend an inquiry in Bromsgrove against the district council's decision not to sanction a plan to build on the land. Ardenvale Schools wanted to build 200 houses aimed at the professional classes, which would sell at between £3,500 and £4,000 each. The council maintained such a plan encroached into the green belt.

WORCESTERSHIRE County Council had earmarked £12.5m in its budget for building new and improving existing schools. Of this £984,000 would be allocated to schools in the Bromsgrove area. Out of this, new schools at Well Lane, Charford, and a replacement for the Church of England would be built.

HANBURY Horse Show and Gymkhana took place at the Ox Pasture in chilly weather. Among many attractions was a dogs' derby and a pram and motorbike race, which was won by Mick Gibbs, (the 'baby') and Harry Green astride the bike.