A CENTURY ago, the Gazette devoted a lot of space to the visit of Lieutenant General Sir John French, described as "the famous cavalry leader who so distinguished himself in the South African War".

The reason for the noble soldier's visit was to officially open the drill hall of the Artillery Battery, recently built in Clarence Road.

"The town gave him a very hearty reception," the Gazette was pleased to report.

"The route along which he passed was gaily decorated, the crowd was large and enthusiastic, and the whole of the proceedings were of a most auspicious character."

The general had been staying with the Earl of Coventry, at Croome Court, and made his way to Great Malvern via Upton and Malvern Wells.

Lunch at the Imperial Hotel, now the Malvern Girls' College, was followed by the opening ceremony at the hall itself.

"Sir John, who was enthusiastically cheered, said it had given him the greatest possible pleasure to come to Malvern for the purpose of opening that Drill Station. He thought the people of the town were to be very much congratulated upon the show of loyalty, patriotism and love of country which had made the volunteer movement not only in that town but throughout the country," the Gazette reported.

The newspaper's editorial was equally enthusiastic about the general, referring to his "signal capacities as a cavalry leader".

"Short and thick set with a grizzled moustache and grey blue eyes, he is the very incarnation of the cavalry spirit."

The drill hall is, of course, now gone, having been demolished a few years ago to make way for a housing development.

Nonetheless, a plaque remains, to show the site of the building opened by Sir John French on May 12, 1904.

French took command of the British Expeditionary Force sent to Europe in August 1914.