This week in 1957:

A crowded congregation attended the Elgar Centenary Service in Worcester Cathedral on Sunday to pay tribute to Worcestershire's great composer. The service was broadcast, and commemorating Sir Edward's birth 100 years ago, it was a fitting prelude to a week of commemoration.

The music performed during the service included extracts from the Dream of Gerontius, the Enigma Variations, the Apostles and the Organ Sonata. On Monday, an Elgar centenary tea was held in the Guildhall at which the guest speaker was composer Sir Arthur Bliss, Master of the Queen's Music.

* We regret to announce the death in Worcester Royal Infirmary of Dr William Ernest Beck, who was 73 and had been the Dean of Worcester since 1949. Because of failing health he recently announced his intention to retire as Dean on June 30.

This week in 1967:

Worcester wine merchants Josiah Stallard and Sons Ltd., have completed the first phase of a redevelopment at their Copenhagen Street premises.

The offices in the High Street, which the company has occupied for many years, are now closed and the rear of these premises are being developed to complete the project which involves re-planning and modernising the extensive cellars and warehouse.

A new shop is being created, fronting on to Copenhagen Street where literally hundreds of bottles are on display in an attractive setting. The company's despatch and receiving yard in Fish Street has been extensively altered to cater for new methods of delivery in the wine trade.

* Broadheath residents are protesting at the decision of Martley Rural District Council to allow a 16ft wide road to be constructed across their common.

It is wanted to provide access to a proposed new housing development at one end of the common but protesters say it would result in a loss of 500 square yards of the common and damage its natural features.

The villagers want the council to reverse its decision but have been warned this would involve "very heavy financial penalties".

This week in 1977:

City councillors have been looking at a tentative £500,000 scheme for the conversion of the four-storey Worcester Hopmarket block to 26 shops, a basement pub and restaurant and 42 flats of various sizes.

But official estimates are that it will take at least £125,000 simply to put the building into proper repair after its eight years of standing mainly empty.

Controversy has raged locally for some years over the fate of the Hopmarket. A strong lobby of opinion feels that the building is ugly and ought to be demolished.

However, an equally influential conservationist lobby considers that the building should be preserved as a prime example in Worcester of Victorian architecture. Councillors have asked their top officers to investigate the financial implications of a total conversion scheme.

This week in 1987:

Teenagers in a Worcestershire village are trying to earn a better name for themselves. The youngsters at Kempsey are to undertake a variety of community tasks in order to "build bridges" with local residents.

They hope that through their support of Kempsey life, the villagers will, in return, support them in their aim to re-start the youth club. This closed down two years ago after its leader left the district and no replacement could be found.

The weekly meetings were held at the Village Centre but there were complaints about unruly behaviour and vandalism. The Village Centre is currently being refurbished and the County Youth Service is keen to see the re-start of the youth club.

This week in 1992:

USE of the drug ecstasy is on the increase in Worcester, warns a city drug counselling agency.

New figures released by Druglink reveal a sharp rise in counselling for people who are using the Class A controlled drug in Worcester.

It is particularly popular among young people and it is feared that up to 50 per cent of young people attending often illegal all-night discos are using "e."

* A Worcester brewery has clinched a contract which could mean one of its pubs opening in Barcelona in time for the beginning of the Olympics in July. Total Brewery Services, which owns the Jolly Roger chain of pubs based in Worcester, is to open what will, it is believed, be the first real ale pub in Spain. It will be Victorian in style but with a distinct Catalan flavour and will be located in the fashionable business district of Barcelona.