100 years ago

100 years ago

July 7, 1900

A PECULIAR accident happened in Sidemoor, Bromsgrove. Mr Waldron, of Catshill, was driving in Broad Street when the seat of his cart tilted back and Mrs Giles and Mrs Horton, who were riding with him, were thrown to the ground. Dr Rowland was sent for and it was found both women had severe bruising.

JOHN Tubey appeared at Droitwich Petty Sessions charged with being drunk in Queen Street. It was the labourer's second offence in 12 months. PC Rivers proved the case. It was adjourned for three months to enable the defendant to sign a pledge, which he promised to do.

A SUDDEN death occurred when Edward Wallis, of Peter's Finger, off Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, went to bed. His wife heard a bump on the floor but thought nothing was wrong. She later became alarmed at his quietness, struck a light and found he was dead. She called her son and the police.

A GARDEN fete was held in the grounds of Bromsgrove's All Saints' Church vicarage to raise money for a piano for the Sunday School and pay the expenses of the Church Lads' Brigade which had recently been formed. Amusements varied from the usual bicycle gymkhana to general knowledge and washing competitions.

AT a meeting of North Bromsgrove Urban District Council, a report was received from the medical officer of health. There had been 13 births and seven deaths registered during June. The birth rate was the same as 1890. Among the deaths was a man who died from a strangulated hernia accelerated by alcohol abuse and one from rheumatic fever. There were none from any infectious diseases.

50 years ago

July 8, 1950

A SERIOUS fire broke out at Jefferies Farm, Lower Bentley, causing damage estimated at thousands of pounds. Two large barns alongside Coal Ash Lane and a range of brick piggeries adjoining them were destroyed as were farm implements and materials.

A sow and 40 store pigs and younger pigs either perished or were so badly burned they had to be destroyed. Arthur Fernihough occupied the farm.

The fire was seen by Bromsgrove man Clifford Hedges, of Worcester Road, who had been visiting friends at Whitford Bridge.

He motorcycled to Coal Ash Lane and saw fierce flames leaping from the barn so he alerted the owner. Firefighters arrived within 15 minutes of the call.

They first used water from a water tender brought from Bromsgrove and then pumped from a field pool about 100 yards away. It took four-and-a-half hours to put out the flames.

TWENTY-EIGHT employees with an aggregate service of more than 800 years at Stoke Salt Works were presented with long service awards in the canteen.

A SUCCESSFUL garden party took place in Hartle Lane in aid of Belbroughton Methodist Church. The object was to help raise money for the new church building. More than £22 was collected.

A PUBLIC meeting was held in Barnt Green at St Andrew's Hall to discuss plans for celebrating the Festival of Britain. After some discussion, it was agreed to hold a festival week. Suggestions for the programme included a united church service, flower show and fete, table tennis tournament and a cricket match.

25 years ago

July 5, 1975

FAIRFIELD School celebrated its centenary last week when children and parents dressed up and turned the clock back 100 years. The event raised £500.

THE axe was expected to fall on Shenstone New College as a teacher training establishment. By a three-vote margin, the county council's education committee decided that the Bromsgrove college would become a victim of the Government's sweeping cutbacks in teacher training. Shenstone's campaign committee publicity officer, Eric Jones, said if there wasn't a student intake in 1976 then the college would be faced with a death sentence.

A £4M forging plant in the Middle East was to be designed by an up and coming Bromsgrove engineering consultancy. The two-year-old firm, Forging Developments, in New Road, had just secured the contract to design, select equipment and supervise the installation from the Iran Tractor Manufacturing Company. The plant was designed to handle 12,000 tons of forgings a year.

A DECISION on the 19-mile Bromsgrove section of the M42 from Catshill and Lydiate Ash to Umberslade was not expected until some time the following year. Recommendations about the future of the controversial section had been sent to environment secretary Anthony Crossland.

A DEVELOPMENT plan for Clent Hills Country Park was being prepared by a county planner and county estates surveyor. It was set to include future land purchases, the provision of new car parks, toilet blocks, landscaping and the possible provision of an information centre.