PRINCESS Alexandra was to open the £27 million Bromsgrove and Redditch district general hospital.

Delighted health chiefs were now working overtime in preparation for the visit, which was scheduled to take place that April.

à THERE was a new possibility for Bromsgrove’s troubled market hall site. Birminghambased In-Shops Group had said it was extremely interested in moving to Bromsgrove and building a covered shopping mall on the site. John Latham,chamberof trade chairman, welcomed the news saying that it was what they had been saying all along – that the town needed a good high standard shopping arcade.

à JUNIOR health minister Edwina Currie told a roomful ofhealthofficials and workers how pleased she was to be in Bromsgrove – whenshewasin fact standing in Redditch.

The MP was officially opening a new £207,000 child development centre next to the WoodrowHospital, which also took in many children from Bromsgrove, when she blundered. Mrs Currie promised to look closely at extra funding for Bromsgrove and Redditch.

Å 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, Stratford Road.

For more information call the library on 01905 822722.