Memory Lane

THE Worcester and the War section reported on the wounding of two Bromsgrove soldiers.

They were Private Ernest Wilkes, of the 2nd Worcestershire Regiment, who lived in Perryfields, and Private A J Sines, the 1st Seaforth Highlanders, who lived at Monsieurs Hall Road.

In the section the Messenger also reported that Mr and Mrs Joseph Nokes, of the New Buildings, Birmingham Road, had received a letter from their son Private Leonard Nokes of the 4th Dragoon Guards.

Private Nokes had been reported missing, but was now back with his regiment.

In the letter he wrote: “I am at present in the best of health.

“With good luck I shall be home for Christmas none the worse for my experiences.”

A MEETING of the subscribers to the Worcestershire Hunt discussed the question whether the hunt should go on that season.

The chairman said in the present state of affairs, with the war underway, it was absolutely necessary to consider what should be done.

It was decided that the hunts should go on as far as possible destroying foxes, so that other people should not destroy them.

AT Bromsgrove Petty Sessions, Frederick Leighton, of Tardebigge – who did not appear – was charged with riding a bicycle without a light in New Road.

PC Rolinson stated the case and said that when he spoke to the defendant he became insolent.

PC Rolinson commented it was a pity he had not something better to do than look after cycles without lights.

Defendant said he was riding for a doctor in an urgent case.

Leighton was fined 2s 6d and 7s 6d costs.

50 years ago. October 2, 1964.

THE Messenger reported the feature of that year’s Bewell Head Working Men’s Club annual flower show awards was Mr Ward of Sidemoor gaining an impressive 43 awards.

Among them was his winning of the points cup for fruit and vegetables.

There had been more than 400 entries for the third annual show and takings of £85 were set to improve on the effort in 1963 that provided a 35s Christmas box for every old age pensioner within the club.

TORIES in Bromsgrove were accused by Labour candidate Peter Lister of attempting to turn the forthcoming election battle into a “keep it quiet campaign”.

Mr Lister said at a press conference that the reason for this was that the Conservatives, who had had an MP in Parliament since 1950, weren’t “over-anxious for too much publicity to be given to the housing shortage and the hold up in school building”.

He also criticised opinion polls claiming a swing against Labour.

He said: “There certainly isn’t the slightest evidence of this in the Bromsgrove division.”

25 years ago. October 5. 1989.

BROMSGROVE commuters were facing months of traffic misery as M5 construction work was set to get underway.

Carriageway widening by Junction 4 at Lydiate Ash, combined with the construction of the new northern link between the M5 and M42, had lead to only one lane open to traffic heading south.

On the first day of the work those travelling on the M5 and those leaving it to head towards Bromsgrove faced tailbacks of over a mile as the A38 became clogged with rush-hour traffic.

A REQUEST for a pool hoist for disabled people at Bromsgrove’s Dolphin Centre had been opposed by town councillors.

The Wendron Day Centre had written to the authority asking if a hoist, costing between £2,500 and £3,000, could be installed.

But members of the recreation and amenities committee heard not enough disabled people were using the facility to justify the cost.

VANDALS had hit a Bromsgrove shop for the third time in 1989.

The vandals smashed a plate-glass window fronting Dixon's High Street store – the third time their £1,000 specially reinforced windows had been shattered.

The incident had happened just days after Bromsgrove council had voted to spend £1,200 on CCTV cameras for the street.

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.