1803: Three short items in the Worcester Journal edition for this week 200 years ago indicated that a short-lived peace between Britain and France was coming to an end.

Accounts from Jersey state that French troops are daily arriving on the opposite coast and that flat-bottomed boats are collecting at La Hague, Cancele and St Malo.

Letters from Dublin mention that preparations in defence of Ireland are to be proportionate with those being made in this country.

In conformity with Boneparte's principle that Great Britain shall not interfere in the affairs of the Continent, he has communicated the Act of Mediation of the 19 Swiss cantons to every Power in Europe except Great Britain.

At the Assizes, Jesse Minett for horse stealing and Hugh Maguire and Henry Willis for forging seamen's orders for wages received Sentence of Death.

1903: White's is one of the oldest established Houses in the Midlands, and if you want a good product for your garden you cannot do better than send to him at 51 Broad Street, Worcester. The fact that most of the nobility and gentry of this and neighbouring counties are included among his patrons, and the chief show prize-winners for years have been supplied by him, is sufficient recommendation for his fruit trees, roses, shrubs, seeds etc.

For Deserving Spinsters of St Clement's - Miss Jane Williams of Henwick Road, Worcester, who died in March, has, under her will, directed that the sum of £100 be paid to the official trustees as a Church of England charity fund and that the interest from the same be handed over each Christmas to the Rector for the time being of St Clement's Church, Worcester, to be distributed by him amongst deserving widows and spinsters of the said parish at his discretion.

1953: Public Note: "Your new Ration Book is ready to be collected from Main Distribution Centres. If you have not yet fetched yours, you should do so at once. Notice issued by the Ministry of Food."

A Display by aircraft from the RAF Station at Defford will be one of the highlights of the military review and parade on Pitchcroft for Worcester's celebrations of the Queen's Coronation in June. It is expected that aircraft of the very latest types will give an aerial demonstration lasting three-quarters of an hour, and a running commentary is being arranged.

John Edwin Trigg (18) of Lifts Lane, Kempsey, currently serving in the RAF, has been presented with the Parchment of the Royal Humane Society for rescuing a boy, Edward James Martin, from the River Severn at Kempsey.

The great Irish tenor Josef Locke will be performing on stage at the Dudley Hippodrome all next week.