NEW Year's Eve in Worcester a century ago was described by Berrow's Journal as having been "quiet and orderly", partly due no doubt to the decision of the magistrates to refuse any extension of licensing hours for the city's pubs beyond 11 pm.

The only discordant note to New Year's Eve 1902 was what the Journal headlined at the subsequent magistrates court hearing as "The Siege of The Ketch."

William Hopkins and Henry Russell, labourers of Whittington, were charged at the Worcester County Petty Sessions with assaulting Clarence Frank Slann, landlord of the Ketch Inn, Bath Road.

"The prosecuting solicitor, Mr Beauchamp, explained that the two men went to the public house and meet a man named Wood, towards whom they appeared to bear a grudge. When closing time arrived, the landlord kept Wood on the premises for his protection, but the two labourers outside became angry that he did not appear. Slann eventually went outside and advised the two men to go home but, instead, they set on him with belts and struck him repeatedly. They also threw brick ends at him and, even after he managed to scramble back inside the public house, they continued to throw more at the outside of the building. They refused to get off the premises and used disgusting language.

"Herbert Miles, ostler at the Ketch, rode hurriedly on horseback to fetch the Kempsey policeman. Colour Sergeant Wood told the court he was the man the defendants wanted to fight because on a previous occasion he had come to the assistance of a former landlord at the Ketch.

"Hopkins and Russell were both sent to gaol for six weeks. As he left the dock, Hopkins declared: 'Thank you. A happy New Year to you!"

At the same court two Ombersley youths, Charles Wilesmith and Frederick Whitney, were fined 12 shillings for causing damage to a tree belonging to Mr Henry Brook. The court heard that the damage was done as the youths climbed the tree to try and reach some mistletoe for Christmas. The damage was estimated at 2s.6d.

The same Journal edition of 1902 also told of one disappointment for the large audience which filled Worcester Cathedral on the evening of Christmas Day for a performance of the Messiah.

"The tenor soloist was waiting for the introductory bars to the well-known air Comfort Ye, but to his astonishment the organist went straight on to the succeeding air Every Valley.

The tenor was, of course, neither absent nor asleep, and the audience waited in vain for the omission of his much-loved contribution to be corrected."

Moving ahead half-a-century to 1952, the Journal reported that "a huge crowd of spectators gathered at Droitwich for the Boxing Day meet of the Worcestershire Hunt.

"Delight was expressed at the number of young followers. The Pony Club was well represented by these children, competently handling their ponies in the crowd. From the very young, who were on leading reins beside proud fathers, to the senior Pony Club members with many cubbing meets to their credit, the coming generation of followers of hunts were a great pleasure to behold."

The Journal for this week 50 years ago was also able to record that "in contrast with the immediate post war years, this Christmas has seen a buying spree with plenty of goods in the shops for purchasers.

"The Christmas festival has been celebrated perhaps more wholeheartedly than for a long time."