BROMSGROVE'S Christmas Fatstock Sale and show attracted a good entry of 91 cattle, 100 sheep and 450 pigs. District council chairman, Councillor Henry Webley, presented the cup, given by the authority, to farmer Jack Gibbs of Little Intall Fields, Stoke Prior, for the best beast.

VISITORS to a Christmas fair to raise cash for the churches at Wychbold and Stoke Works were let into a well kept secret during the afternoon. Mr Moffatt, manager of the ICI plant at Stoke, announced that his firm proposed to chip in with magnificent sum of £100 to mark his company's close association with the area.

ROBERT Franklin, a correspondent from Canada, wrote to the Messenger to join in the heated debate about noisy bells at St John's Church. He pointed out that the church and bells had been there centuries before the homes occupied by complainants who knew full well what to expect.

THE Duke of Edinburgh paid a private visit to The Austin Works at Longbridge where he saw Nash Metropolitans being assembled. After chatting to staff, he was driven to Elmdon Airport where an aircraft was waiting to take him to London.