FREDERICK Hibbins, from Victoria Road, who had been headmaster at Bromsgrove High School from 1906 to 1940, left £2,466 in his will published this week.

THE funeral took place at Bromsgrove Baptist Church of Ewart Crane, aged 59, who died on his honeymoon in the West Country. The Rev Buckler, who had conducted the marriage service just eight days previously, took the service. Mr Crane, a master tailor from Broad Street, Sidemoor, had married Miss Irene Cartridge, from New Road.

BRAND name petrol was back on sale in Bromsgrove for the first time since the war. The Messenger also noted that garages were beginning to sell goods other than fuel such as razor blades and even a substance to stop ladders in ladies' stockings from running. And increasingly, free gifts were being given to encourage sales of petrol. The latest were suppressers, small devices, usually costing 1/6 (7.5p) fitted to stop the "snow" effect on people's TV sets.

MISS Margaret More, of Grey Cottage, Bittell Road, Barnt Green, had written a special Coronation song dedicated to the City of Birmingham. It would be performed by the Forward Opera Company with music by the City's Philharmonic Orchestra. Miss More was the wife of Raymond Bantock, whose father Sid was a famous composer.

A ROBIN had built a nest behind the till in Mr Davis' cycle shop in High Street, Belbroughton.