THIS WEEK IN 1988:

ONLY a third river bridge and other drastic measures can now prevent traffic in Worcester from totally clogging up by the year 2000, warn city councillors. They are desperately concerned by official forecasts that local traffic will increase by half before the turn of the century. This will inevitably bring long queues of traffic to the city for at least two-thirds of each working day.

Councillors claim that only a St John’s by pass, park and rail services from Henwick Halt and a third river bridge will offset the looming traffic crisis for Worcester.

* Dramatic plans to enclose the base of St Andrew’s Spire with a new building are being explored by Worcester city councillors. Among the options under review are a heritage centre, a tourist information bureau, a business promotion bureau and a conference centre and shop, or a combination of all of them.

THIS WEEK IN 1978:

HOPES of a record attendance at this year’s Worcester City Show were dashed by the deluge on Sunday. The two-day attendance for the show totalled 6,973 and one city council official estimated that losses could reach £10,000.

Show chairman Councillor David Inight said: “We are naturally disappointed at the low attendance figures but, while making a loss, we provide entertainment for the city, and charities can raise £3,000 to £4,000 during the show, which is often overlooked.”

* Godfrey Brown is retiring after a long and distinguished period as headmaster of the Worcester Royal Grammar School. His memorable 28 years at the helm of WRGS is widely recognised but perhaps forgotten by many is that he was a world renowned athlete before the last war.

He won the silver medal in the 400-metre final and the gold in the relay at the famous 1936 Berlin Olympics attended by Hitler and captained the British Athletics Team in 1937, 38 and 39. He was European Champion in the 400 metres in 1938 and for a time held the British quarter mile and European 400-metre records.

THIS WEEK IN 1968:

WORCESTERSHIRE’S Health and Education departments see no justification in organising a countywide campaign to warn schoolchildren of the dangers of drug taking.

County Medical Officer of Health, Dr JW Pickup said: “It is felt that with medical officers readily available to help any head teacher who might have cause of concern, there is no justification for a campaign on the subject.”

* A glorious afternoon favoured the Leigh with Bransford Horticultural Show and Sports held on Saturday in the Memorial Hall and on the adjoining recreation ground.

The show lapsed several years ago and this was a “revival effort” by the committee and parishioners and it proved an outstanding success.

THIS WEEK IN 1958:

SPEAKING at the reunion dinner of the Queen’s Own Worcestershire Hussars (TA), Worcester’s Mayor, Councillor Reginald Glover suggested that the Teddy Boys of today could find “a niche” for themselves in the Territorial Army.

He said: “I am sure the much maligned Teddy Boy would be happily received by the TA and would have the opportunity to let off steam with hard work, bringing the satisfying reward of a job well done. Such work would be far better for the Teddy Boy than playing haywire on street corners.”

* Built at a cost of £120,000, the new bridge over the river Teme at Knightwick will open to main road traffic next week. Its construction eliminates two sharp bends on the main Worcester to Hereford Road and will enable traffic of all types and sizes to cross the river at this point.

The old bridge could take only vehicles up to seven tons and, as a result, freight traffic heading for South Wales had to be diverted via the Bransford Road at Worcester.

The old bridge is to be demolished and replaced by a footbridge.