YEARS of loyalty to the Madresfield estate were rewarded for Mr A D Melvin, reported the Malvern Gazette a century ago.

He was "entertained to dinner and made the recipient of a handsome presentation on the occasion of completing forty years' service".

"Entering the estate office as a boy, Mr Melvin won the esteem and confidence of every agent under whom he has served, while amongst the tenantry and others on the estate he is regarded with feelings of affection."

The Gazette's own writer said Mr Melvin was "a gentleman of sterling ability, courteous and obliging, and a warm and genial friend, always ready to do a good turn wherever he can".

During the dinner, at the swan at Newland, the Earl and Countess Beauchamp presented Mr Melvin with a silver rose bowl and his colleagues with a silver salvar.

Among Mr Melvin's other qualities was being for several years secretary of Malvern Cycling Club. He was also a keen rail traveller, having an encyclopaedic knowledge of Bradshaw (the national timetable book) and having travelled over most of Britain's lines.