A MEMORIAL to the 12 Bromsgrove soldiers who died in the South Africa war from autumn 1899 to summer 1902 was unveiled in the parish church this week. A large number of onlookers lined the streets and took up positions in the cemetery to see the arrival of the Earl of Coventry, the Lord Lieutenant of the county, who performed the ceremony.

THE sudden death of Robert Housman in Bath as the result of a chill, shocked many people in his home town of Bromsgrove. He was the second son of the late Edward Housman of Perry Hall. As a scientist he had been heavily involved in electrical engineering and small weapon ammunition. Sadly, his funeral coincided with the unveiling of the South Africa memorial in Bromsgrove on which his brother's name appeared and which prevented his family from attending the unveiling.

ALFRED Phillips and his mother Prudence were hauled before Bromsgrove magistrates both charged with being drunk and disorderly and using bad language in the churchyard. Alfred was fined 5/- (25p) with 5/6 (27.5p) costs, while his mother had to pay a 2/6 (12.5p) fine and the same costs, or in default seven days' jail.

THE Bromsgrove branch of the Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals at its annual meeting reported incidents were becoming fewer. Last year only two cases had been heard by town magistrates. However, members were up against a major stumbling block in their fight against cruelty. The Bromsgrove bench was known to be lenient and it was said it often paid someone to buy a broken down horse and work it because any resulting fine would be so small.