100 years ago

A valuable piece of land, about two acres, on the western side of the hill, above Brand Lodge, has been purchased by Mr J W Wilson MP, and by him handed over to the Hills Conservators to be administered for the free use of the public for ever. The Board have thanked the donor for his public-spirited action, and it is probable that when next they meet, the Conser-vators will confer upon Mr Wilson the honour of a life membership of the Board.

Malvern News, November 14, 1903.

Due to the funds of Ledbury Cottage Hospital being at a very low ebb, allowing to the large number of cases being treated during this past year, a new minstrel troupe has been formed, who have adopted the title of the "Down South Minstrels". The residents of the town are asked to assist the troupe by purchasing tickets. Ledbury Free Press, November 17, 1903.

50 years ago

Lady Beauchamp is to be invited to switch on the illuminations of Malvern's Goodwill Christmas Tree on Belle Vue-terrace on the Monday evening of Christ-mas week. This was decided at a meeting of the committee at Malvern Council House on Tuesday when members agreed that an evening ceremony would be more effective than one in the daytime, which has hitherto been the case. Malvern Gazette, November 13, 1953.

There was a slight "breeze" at Tuesday's meeting of Ledbury Rural Council, when Mr Ewart Ballard demanded vigorously that the council should refuse to consider applications to rent council houses to people whose incomes exceeded £400 a year. Mr Ballard declared that members were afraid to say at the meeting what they would say on the pavement outside. Ledbury Reporter, November 20, 1953.

25 years ago

Smoking has been banned at future meetings of Malvern Hills District Council administration and finance committee. Mem-bers of the committeee voted 4-4 on a motion by Councillor Peter Marsh to ban smoking at meetings and it was left to acting-chairman Councillor Mrs Lynda Norfolk to use her casting vote to decide the issue. Malvern Gazette, November 16, 1978.

This year threatens to be the last of the Ledbury Chamber of Commerce Christmas lights scheme, if the town council does not agree to increase its contribution to costs. The town council contribution has increased to only £350, from an original half-share, in 1966, of £200. The cost of the lights this year is estimated at nearly £1,000. Ledbury Reporter, November 16, 1978.