From the archives

There are few agricultural associations which have lived so long and have done such an amount of excellent work as that at Winchcombe. They do not confine their operations to the annual show and to the awarding of prizes for the best cattle or sheep. They encourage their members to grow the best roots by giving premiums for this department of a farmer's produce, and of recent years have revived the field trials, which cannot fail to be beneficial. Perhaps they have done no better work than introducing into the district a thoroughly sound Shire horse sire, and he has left some excellent stock behind him.

75 Years Ago

January 26 1929

The Blockley branch of the Women's Unionist Association held a social evening at the Northwick Institute on Thursday. Each member brought a friend and there was a large attendance. The distribution of paper hats soon gave the scene a festive appearance. The function commenced with a concert given by local artists. Old favourites were sung by young members of the association. Following the interval, during which refreshments were served, an amusing sketch entitled Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire was performed. The Blockley Orchestra provided music for dancing which was kept up until 2 a.m.

50 Years Ago

January 23 1954

At Tuesday night's meeting of Moreton-in-Marsh Parish Council Mr A. L. Horne (chairman) said that several times during his term of office he had been embarrassed by reports given to the council by members appointed to other bodies. Each agenda for council meetings included the items to consider reports of school managers and the representative of the hospital committee. He maintained this was completely out of order and it was quite wrong for the representative to be required to do so. The council decided to take the chairman's advice and no longer request the monthly reports.

25 Years Ago

January 25 1979

A planning application for the conversion of Northwick Park house and its outbuildings to 74 houses and flats has been approved in principle by Blockley parish council. The applicants, Cavendish Holdings Ltd, describing the proposed plan as a development of "a community in its own right," said that all members of the local community would benefit and not just the well off. It would provide, they said, housing for those working locally and would be a solution to housing needs in the area without creating more buildings. The house itself would be converted into 35 units of housing and the rest of the buildings another 49 units.