SPEEDY Robert Helsall and Sam Wilkes appeared before magistrates at Kings Heath charged with "scorching," that is riding their cycles at excessive speeds. Superintendent Chare was on duty on horseback near Rubery when he saw the pair riding furiously at speeds of not less than 18 or 20mph. He gave chase but the cyclists outstripped him. Eventually he caught up with them at the New Rose and Crown. They were fined 5s (25p) plus costs.

CASH left over from the Coronation festivities in North Bromsgrove was to be spent on purchasing a drinking fountain. It would be situated on Old Birmingham Road opposite the National School. It would be a boon for the thousands of day-trippers from Birmingham who regularly visited the hills and help stop them being a nuisance to residents by their demands for drinks.

THE rapidly expanding village of Catshill had made a repeated plea for a telegraph office. Stoke Works, Wychbold and Finstall already had the facility. The Messenger said with market gardening one of the chief occupations, it was essential growers could readily keep in touch with markets and customers. It was hoped the fact that Bromsgrove's MP Austen Chamberlain was now Postmaster General might have some bearing on the application.

A BOY, Thomas Carter of the Strand in Bromsgrove, appeared before Bromsgrove Police Court charged with stealing a mole trap to the value of 4d (1.5p) - the property of Thomas Weaver from Townsend Farm. Magistrates heard how he had trespassed 75 yards off a field path to steal the trap. His father told the court his son would not attend school and pleaded with the bench to send him to an Industrial School in order that he may lead a useful life. The boy was remanded to the workhouse pending inquiries.

A SEVERE thunderstorm visited Bromsgrove on Wednesday afternoon. Lightning struck a cottage in Holly Road, the fluid hitting the chimney, travelling through the kitchen and leaving via the sitting room door. Falling debris from the stack narrowly missed the occupier, Mrs Haynes, who was outside. It just knocked her hat off.