Memory Lane

IN the Worcestershire and the War section, there was a report on a special women’s sermon given by the vicar of Bromsgrove, Reverend Noel Paterson.

In it he said women had remarked that they felt bitterly about being helpless, and how it was hard to sit at home and wait.

Mr Paterson said the women were making a great sacrifice in letting their husbands, sons and brothers fight, potentially having to die for their country.

He said the discipline of the war would not be in vain, and they must pray for the lasting peace for the world.

FRITZ Eppine, a German who lived in Bromsgrove, had again been arrested.

The Messenger has previously reported that he appeared at Birmingham Police Court after being found without a permit and bound over in his own recognisances.

Mr Eppine, along with another German named Schefer, was arrested by Birmingham police and taken into custody in Bromsgrove.

They were both detained as prisoners of war, and were to be handed over to the military authorities.

Eight other Germans, found in impoverished conditions, were being sent away as prisoners of war.

MRS Goodman, of Alvechurch, has started a home for Belgium refugees.

She had launched the shelter and was appealing for beds, food, and other supplies.

In Droitwich, 15 Belgium refugees were already housed at the Royal Hotel.

THE war telegrams included the news that the allies had advanced into France, the Germans were in retreat, and the Russians were reported to be retreating.

September 11, 1964.

BROMSGROVE Rural District Council had agreed to tell the Home Office that there was strong objection to calling the new remand building in Hewell Park, the Broad Green Centre.

Residents of the area had written to the authority strongly protesting. Among their objections were that it was misleading, as the entrance was a mile away from Broad Green.

Mr Cash said he would hate to have the Brockhill Farm name associated with such a centre, suggesting Puddles Farm instead.

The authority was set to write to the Home Office suggesting the name be simply "Hewell" or "Tardebigge".

BROMSGROVE Urban District Council decided to add its voice to the growing chorus of protest against the proposal to close Bromsgrove and Barnt Green Railway Stations.

They followed a lead set by the Trades Council, calling on Bromsgrove MP James Dance to act.

THE Bromsgrove Messenger carried the first advertisements informing residents that a new television channel would be launching.

The advert said BBC 2 would feature entirely new programmes, and was set to be coming soon.

25 years ago. September 14, 1989.

ROGER Wase, of Beechcroft Drive, was shocked at what he unearthed during some Sunday afternoon gardening.

Roger was digging a patch of his back garden when he discovered a live First World War grenade.

He contacted Bromsgrove police, who alerted the bomb disposal squad from Hereford.

After identifying the lethal weapon the team removed it for safe disposal.

Mr Wase said he thought it was likely the grenade had been brought to the site, when the houses were being built.

A 25-YEAR-OLD obsession had paid off for Bromsgrove Museum owner Dennis Norton after his two Banshee motorbikes went on display to the public for the first time.

Mr Norton had first heard about the existence of the motorbike in Yorkshire in 1964, and had finally managed to purchase it along with a second Banshee.

The Banshee was to go on display with a side car in the shape of a boot.

The boot had been made by Alf Morris in 1919 and used by Bromsgrove firm, Brightons for Shoes, to collect and deliver shoes.

BROMSGROVE councillors were set to decide whether to spend £1,200 on video cameras in a bid to crack down on High Street vandals.

Bromsgrove police said they were unable to increase the numbers of officers on the town beat and, if the plan went through, could monitor the High Street throughout the night using the cameras.

It was proposed the cameras, fitted with infra-red lenses, be positioned near takeaways and foodshops where problems occurred.

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.