100 years ago

The managers of Cowleigh School are issuing an appeal for £400 to enable them to increase the accommodation for scholars at the school. The accommodation is inadequate for the growing needs of the district. At present there is room for 131 children, and the number on the books is 155, many applications thus having to be refused. The inspectors have urged the necessity of adding to the building, and the district education committee has intimated that an effort to carry out an extension must be begun without delay. Malvern Gazette, February 3, 1905.

A story of a bad boy's yearning for tobacco unfolded in Ledbury Police Court, when the defendant, aged 17, was charged with stealing workhouse clothing, valued in all at £1. The prisoner was dressed in identical clothing to that which he was accused of stealing. His mother said the boy was unmanageable and had threatened to burn her house down, if she did not provide him with tobacco. Ledbury Free Press, February 7, 1905.

50 years

Police constable Percy Bunn, of Malvern, retired yesterday, after 25 years' service with the Constabulary. PC Bunn is one of five sons of the late Mr Joseph Bunn of Hunter's Hall, Castlemorton, who have served with the Worcestershire Constabulary. During his service he has received 22 commendations. Malvern Gazette, February 4, 1955.

The important question of whether the Mabel's Furlong site is to be used for housing or a new school was discussed by Ledbury Urban Council on Monday. The clerk read a letter from Herefordshire Council stating that the whole of the land at Mabel's Furlong might be required for a school site. Ledbury Reporter, February 4, 1955.

25 years ago

Staff employed by Malvern Hills District Council will have to put up with ageing buildings, which the Malvern branch of Nalgo says are unsuitable for the purpose, if the council accepts a recommendation from its policy and resources committee. The committee endorsed a recommendation that £90,000 should be spent on patching up the two buildings already used by the council and building a single-storey extension on to the planning department. Malvern Gazette, February 7, 1980.

Another Ledbury Roman Catholic Church worker has been honoured with the most coveted award her church can give - the papal Bene Merenti medal. Miss Helen Hollings is the second Ledbury person to receive the medal within a period of six months. The first was presented posthumously to the late Mr John Heffernan who, with Miss Hollings, was one of the mainstays of the church for many years. Ledbury Reporter, February 7, 1980.