IN its review of the local property market in Bromsgrove in 1953 the Messenger quoted town estate agent A Victor Powell. He said the year had got off to a slow start with prospective purchasers believing prices would continue to fall. This had not happened and the market later recovered seeing some better houses selling for more than in the post war boom year of 1951. Demand for building land in Bromsgrove continued to rise some making as much as 30/- (£1.50) a square yard.

FOOTBALL fans were treated to a goal glut at the Victoria Ground, but it was long faces for Rovers followers when visiting Brierley Hill beat the Greens 9-4 in a league game. In their long history Rovers had never conceded ten goals at home, but had scored that number on five occasions.

THE New Year was heralded in at various functions in Bromsgrove, one of the grandest and most exclusive being in the ballroom at Barnsley Hall Hospital where 300 danced the night away. Around 200 revellers enjoyed the festivities at the Golden Cross Hotel in High Street where Bromsgrove Cricket Club partied the night away. However, it was noted more people were now preferring to see in the New Year in front of their TV sets.

MR St John Holt Elstub from the White House, Clent, was awarded the CBE in the New Year's honours list. The former wartime bomber pilot had played a major role examining data from captured German V2s before taking up a post at Summerfield Rocket Research Establishment in Kidderminster.