100 years ago

At the Police Court on Monday, before Col Twynam, a 20-year-old, domestic servant was charged with attempting to commit suicide by throwing herself into a pool at Little Malvern Court, on Sunday, the 10th inst.

John Whitcombe, cowman to Mr Gough, Little Malvern Court, stated that as he was going to work at 6.40am on Sunday he saw the defendant standing in the pond in about two or three feet of water.

In reply to his inquiry as to what she was doing, the defendant said: "I have run away from my place and as I am not allowed to go home I thought the best thing I could do was drown myself". Malvern News, May 16, 1903.

50 years ago

The necessity to clean out a 30ft-deep well, 3ft in diameter, before it was cemented, nearly cost two men their lives at Welland on Monday afternoon. After going down the well they were overcome by petrol fumes from an engine used to drain the well, and they had to be rescued. Malvern Gazette, May 15, 1953.

Catholics in Ledbury went out into the street on Sunday, in a picturesque procession in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary. May is the month set aside by the Catholic Church for special devotions to the Virgin. A custom is the crowning by children of a statue of Our Lady with a crown of flowers, as the Queen of Heaven. Ledbury Reporter, May 22, 1953.

25 years ago

Colonel Douglas Whatley will next year retire from his position as clerk to Malvern Hills Conservators - but not before he has completed 20 years' service. The colonel will be 65 in January and he feels a younger person should take over the position. Malvern Gazette, May 18, 1978.

The need for a new junior and infants school in Ledbury has now been accepted by the education authority, the town council heard at its annual meeting on Thursday. Three alternatives were being considered. They were either the use of Belle Orchard House or the use of the Grammar School, or the erection of a completely new building. Ledbury Reporter, May 18, 1978.