Memory Lane

THE Salt Trade strike calling for an advance in wages, being held in Stoke Works and Droitwich, had continued into a third week.

The Messenger reported there had been no change in the situation.

There was some commotion when a plasterer was sent to do some work on a cottage in Friar Street belonging to the Droitwich Salt Company, with the strikers persuading him to leave the work.

Some strikers had also approached the man in charge of the brine pump at Covercroft, Droitwich, to leave his employment. He declined and the pumping of the brime, usually supplied to the brine baths, continued as usual.

AT Bromsgrove Petty Sessions Samuel Ford, of no fixed abode, appeared charged with stealing various items from a stable.

The defendant was homeless and had taken shelter from the rain in the stable at Rock Hill.

It was commented that the prisoners hands showed he had not done any work for a long time, and despite chances of employment, he had not found a job.

He had also passed under various names including Jackson and Levy.

After pleading guilty, Ford was sentenced to a month’s hard labour.

50 years ago. July 17, 1964.

IT had emerged all local railway stations, including Bromsgrove, Barnt Green and Blackwell, were being threatened with closure.

The Birmingham Division of British Railways had recommended to the British Railways Board that the passenger service between New Street and Worcester Shrub Hill should be withdrawn.

A Railway Board spokesman in London said no decision had yet been reached, but the feeling in local rail circles was the days of the local station were almost over.

Barnt Green’s stationmaster Mr Limb told the Messenger the closure of the station was “more or less a certainty”.

Protests had already begun, and a public meeting was to be held if a great volume of objection became apparent.

THE official opening of Bromsgrove Tennis Club’s clubhouse had been held. At the opening, visitors also saw the completed third hard court.

Charles Weston, club president, had opened the new clubhouse, praising the voluntary effort and what it had achieved.

BIRMINGHAM Parks Committee had ruled that the Lickey Hills beauty spot was unsuitable for an all-year round ski run.

Mr Harris, managing director of a Birmingham travel agency had put forward the proposal saying he was looking for a site where plastic matting enables learners to ski as if on snow.

25 years ago. July 20, 1989.

A SCHEME that would radically alter the face of Bromsgrove High Street had been rejected by councillors on the planning committee.

The plan, by Morfield Properties, was to develop the site of a block of seven shops fronting High Street, extending back into Chapel Street, creating three retail units and office space.

An opposition petition had attracted nearly 2,000 signatures, while there had been a strong protest from the Bromsgrove Society.

Acting chairman of Bromsgrove Chamber of Trade, Tony Turpin, said the planners turning it down meant independent shops had a chance to carry on being of benefit to the town.

JOHN Butterworth had been announced as the new editor of the Advertiser/Messenger.

The 36-year-old had experience from working on national evening and weekly papers, and having edited papers across the Midlands.

The previous editor, Miles Barter, was leaving to go freelance.

A BRAND new £1 million first school for Finstall was being planned.

The new Finstall First School would replace the existing Victorian institution.

The scheme was on a list of projects after a wide-ranging education review proposed to spend £4.4million in Bromsgrove and Redditch.

Other Bromsgrove schools on the list for major improvements included Sidemoor First, Millfields First, Parkside Middle, North Bromsgrove High and South Bromsgrove High schools.

HOPES of another carnival being staged in Droitwich had been voiced.

The comment had been made at an “inquest” meeting into why takings and attendances were down at that year’s event.

Carnival secretary Alan Taylor said he was optimistic, as the enthusiasm was still there.

Memory Lane is compiled from the papers dating back to the Messenger's first edition in 1860. The papers are free to view at Bromsgrove Library, in Stratford Road.

For more information call the library on 01905 822722.