THE weather of late was more akin to Christmas than the abnormally late Easter holiday, the Messenger observed. But, on the bright side, it said the snow and hail of late would stop the dust billowing off the roads caused by the hoards of motorists expected to take to the roads over the holidays.

TWO swallows had been spotted in the vicinity of Woodcote at the weekend.

CONCERN over the high staff-patient ratio at Hill Top isolation hospital, in Bromsgrove, and subsequent costs had resulted in a reduction of nurses. At present there were 12 women, including the matron, plus a male porter and gardener, to look after eight patients. When the present diphtheria cases were discharged and providing no new scarlet fever patients were admitted, this would be reduced to the matron, two nurses and the gardener.

AN adult badger that had been trapped in Chaddesley Woods had gone on show at the Talbot pub, in Chaddesley, and was the cause of much interest. It had originally been kept in a barrel, but was now housed in a specially constructed pen on the bowling green.

SHOULD football be allowed to be played on Stoke recreation ground on a Good Friday? That was the thorny question Dodderhill Parish Council would have to decide. A team of railway workers had applied for permission to use the ground, claiming it was the only day when the whole team could get together for a match. The rules, supported by most churchmen, said no games of any kind could be played on the holy day.