THIS WEEK IN 1992:

WORCESTER'S two swimming pools have got the thumbs-up from safety chiefs after a national report revealed that hundreds of swimming baths were breeding grounds for germs.

Managers at the Worcester Swimming Pool in Sansome Walk and the Citizens Swimming Pool at Lower Wick stress that people have nothing to fear when taking a dip or having a swim at local baths.

"We don't get any problems with water quality. We use chlorine which is well-known as the best way to treat water," explained city council recreation officer Howard Peters.

* Worcester-on-Sea - at least that's what it sounds like to office and shop workers in the centre of the city as hundreds of seagulls can be heard giving off their distinctive calls over the roar of traffic. The gulls descend on the city as they travel from their breeding grounds on their way to warmer climes for the winter. The noisy seabirds vie for space on Worcester's rooftops with the local pigeons.

THIS WEEK IN 1987:

THE first woman in Britain to become an honorary canon is to be installed this weekend in Worcester Cathedral. Making ecclesiastical history is the Rev Ruth Wintle who is also diocesan director of ordinands, the body responsible for training people entering the ministry. Miss Wintle, who works in the parish of St John in Bedwardine, says there are only 700 women ordained in the Church of England and only 16 in the diocese of Worcester.

* A fascinating piece of Worcester's history is being preserved in an area where the huge but graceful shire horses of Spreckley's Brewery were once a common sight. The brewery and stables in Barbourne have long gone but the Victorian malt-house has survived and is now being sensitively restored by Martin Wilesmith Ltd of Malvern to provide seven town houses and three apartments. The development will retain its historic name - the Old Malthouse.

THIS WEEK IN 1977:More than 46,000 vehicles pass over Worcester bridge every day and without the relief of a second river bridge it will have to cater for another 11,000 cars and lorries by 1986, transportation experts are warning the city council. They say that the bridge is nearly overloaded.

A £125,000 coronary care unit, a vital medical innovation for south Worcestershire people, is being officially opened today at Worcester's Ronkswood Hospital. It is of crucial importance at a time when heart disease has reached epidemic proportions, claiming more than 1,500 lives a year in Hereford and Worcester alone. Statistics show that one man in every eight in Britain will die of heart disease before retirement age.

The new unit at Ronkswood will offer a better chance of survival to heart attack victims if they last through the initial two-hour crisis period.

THIS WEEK IN 1967:Birmingham Regional Hospital Board has decided to end its contracts under which it sends NHS patients to Droitwich for treatment in the brine baths. For 135 years, Droitwich brine has been used for health-giving and remedial treatment and this shock decision by the hospital board, which is likely to mean the closure of St Andrew's Brine Baths, could well mark the beginning of the end for the town as a spa.

The number of NHS patients receiving spa treatment at Droitwich dropped from a peak of 42,000 in 1963 to 25,600 last year. However, the board's decision is somewhat tempered by the news that it is seeking to develop hospital facilities in Droitwich for certain treatments concentrated under one roof, probably by the extension and improvement of Highfield Hospital.

THIS WEEK IN 1957:Worcester District of the Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society, celebrating its centenary, went last week on an outing to south Devon. Road services brought in members and families from all over Worcestershire and the special train of 11 vestibule coaches and cafeteria car left Shrub Hill station in the early morning for Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot, Torquay, Paignton and Goodrington Sands.

Some 600 Foresters, families and friends were on board and decided during the journey at which seaside destination they wished to spend the day. A considerable portion of the fare was paid out of the centenary celebrations fund. The train arrived back at Worcester a little after midnight.

* Malvern scientists and technicians played a vital part in the development of the Bloodhound ground-to-air anti-aircraft supersonic guided missile now in full production for the RAF at the Bristol Aircraft Company's works at Filton and its other factories.