TWO Birmingham men appeared at Bromsgrove Police Court on a charge of illegal gambling. Thomas Marsden, of Bordsley Park Road, Birmingham, and James Bridgwater, of Green Lane, Black Heath, were charged with playing a game called 'backing the colours' at the Bromsgrove sports day. Superintendent Beal said he had seen the two defendants playing the game and trying to drum up trade. Police Constable Mead, dressed in plain clothes, observed the men for two hours and saw they had a shaker, a dice and a sheet with six colours on. The chairman of of the bench fined them 20s (£1) and 4s (20p) costs each and said: "You are not the kind of gentlemen we want in Bromsgrove."

LEISURE seekers enjoyed the eighth annual Bromsgrove sports day, which was a huge success. Held at the playing fields in New Road on the Bank Holiday Monday, residents could take part in all manner of sports at the event. The Messenger reported it had been many years since Bromsgrove was so full of visitors and the 7.22pm train to Birmingham, which left half an hour after the sports finished, was completely packed. It called for the introduction of a special excursion train to be laid on to the town from Birmingham on holidays.

The annual Sunday Schools' 'treat' took place at a meadow on the Barnsley Hall estate. Children marched through Catshill, up the Birmingham Road to the estate, during the afternoon, and then had a party during the evening. Many of the children's parents came to visit and enjoyed the festivities.

AN unprecedented crowd turned out for the annual Droitwich Flower Show held at the Brine Baths Park. President of the Droitwich Horticultural Society, Dr Corbett, kindly donated the use of the Chateau Impney for the show. Mr Young of Witley Court dished out prizes for flowers, fruit and vegetables. He said they were of a very high quality considering the recent spell of poor weather.