JOHN Sankey, a saltmaker from Hill End, Droitwich, appeared before Spa magistrates charged with being drunk in Bromsgrove Road. He told the bench a policeman had just past him when another appeared and arrested him. He said the officer had been mistaken, he was not drunk simply ill from a kidney complaint which prevented him from drinking beer. All he had was two nips of gin. Magistrates gave him the benefit of the doubt and dismissed the case.

THE care provided by staff at Bromsgrove's isolation hospital at Hill Top was paying dividends in preventing human misery and needless deaths. Figures showed that in 1898, before the hospital was built, 54 people out of a population of 7,000 had died from scarlet fever. Last year there had been 114 cases with only four fatalities.

FARMER John Follows, from Farley Farm, Romsley, was let off lightly when he appeared at Bromsgrove Petty Sessions charged with breaking the law by riding his horse on the footpath at Spring Pools while following the Worcestershire Hunt. Mr Impney, the chairman of the bench, admitted he too had been there on the day and had committed the same offence but had not been summoned. Declining to fine him, he imposed costs of 5/6 (27.5p). The next case saw commercial traveller John Marchant fined 1/- (5p) plus 8/- (40p) costs for cycling on the path at Lickey End.

PARENTS in Bromsgrove who wanted their children to leave school in order to start work had to ensue they sat the Labour Certificate Exam first. The tests were to be held at the Board schools in Stourbridge Road and would be overseen by a government inspector.

A CONCERT to raise cash to keep the street lights burning in Stoke Works raised £5, enough to ensure two lamps could remain lit for a year. A voluntary collection from 96 houses in the village had amounted to £3/6/0 (£3.30p).