100 years ago

July 14, 1900

EDWIN Docker, north Worcestershire coroner, held an inquest at the Turk's Head pub, in Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, into the death of Edward Wallis, of Peter's Finger. The nailer died the previous week in unusual circumstances. His wife, Ann, said the 48-year-old was in good health but addicted to drink. She found him lying dead on his bedroom floor. A doctor said there was no definite fracture to his skull, but a clot of blood was pressed on the brain. Both his liver and kidneys had stopped working from alcohol abuse. The jury returned a verdict of death from excessive indulgence in alcohol.

AN unknown man employed by Mr Westwood, a farmer, of Moorhill, Belbroughton, died suddenly at his work while unloading hay from a wagon onto a rick. The body was removed to the Hollybush Inn ready for the inquest.

CHARLES Haggat, a tramp, was charged with assaulting Thomas Griffin, Droitwich County Petty Sessions heard. The complainant said he was driving back from Bromsgrove fair when the prisoner jumped on the back of his float and struck him in the eye. The prisoner was committed to 21 days of hard labour.

WILLIAM W Hancock, a saltmaker, was charged with being drunk on the railway. George Barker, a stationmaster at Stoke, proved that the defendant was lying drunk within six feet of the rail. He was fined 5s (25p) and ordered to pay 5s6d (27.5p) costs.

50 years ago

July 15, 1950

AT a county education committee meeting, members agreed to release children to help in this year's harvest. The Teachers' Advisory Committee had drawn attention to the interference with school work, but it was decided that children aged over 13 could be released for 20 half days if no adult labour was available. Miss Talbot said nine farmers had taken children out from Watt Close School during the year. Since then there had been 40 applications for Watt Close children to be released for three or four days to pick peas.

ONE of the most widely respected residents in Bromsgrove died after a long illness. Francis Hugh Cornes, of Battlefield Farm, Parkgate, was aged 57. He had undergone two major operations and returned home in April but had gradually weakened. In 1923, he bought the land and had farmed it ever since. He was chairman of the local branch of the National Farmers' Union and was a member and past president of the Rotary Club. He was also a juror of Bromsgrove Court Leet. His funeral took place in Dodford.

AT a Bromsgrove Urban District Council meeting, Mr Gibbins spoke on behalf of the parks and cemeteries committee concerning a fence. He said the erection of a fence around Bromsgrove Recreation Ground would cost £834. It was decided the matter be deferred to next year's budget.

THE annual Catshill Music Festival was held at the County Modern Secondary School, in Meadow Road. Musician Leslie Woodgate was one of the adjudicators and added great interest to the occasion.

FOUR Droitwich people, including a two-year-old boy and three-week-old baby, were taken to Worcester Royal Infirmary following a collision between a vehicle they were travelling in and a lorry at the bottom of Rashwood Hill. The driver, Roy Turner, of Nunnery Avenue, suffered a cut nose and bruised legs. Regina Cecilia Bartlett, of Worcester Road, Droitwich, had scalp injuries, multiple cuts on both legs and a bruised back. Her children, Jeremy, aged two, had a cut and bruising, and baby Timothy suffered shock. They were taken to hospital by ambulance. The driver of the lorry, from Swansea, escaped unhurt.

25 years ago

July 11, 1975

A CALL for action to end senseless vandalism on many council and private housing estates in Bromsgrove was made. Cllr Roy Crane, deputy leader of the minority Labour group on Bromsgrove council, told members that trouble was being caused by a small minority of people. It included smashing streetlights and windows, using private property for ball games and sheer nuisance at all hours of the day. He said there were areas where there was a shortage of recreational facilities but a lack of parental control was also an issue.

TWO petitions, both bearing more than 250 signatures from Finstall residents worried about the state of their community, were handed to the chairman of Stoke Prior Parish Council. The first was to protest again at the increasing volume of traffic and the speeds at which drivers went through Finstall. The second was sent to both district and county surveyors to ask what steps could be taken to clean up the village.

ST Godwald's Church fete raised £200. A popular feature was pony rides provided by Marlbrook Riding Centre.

BROMSGROVE Rovers were away to Coventry Sporting in the preliminary round of the FA Cup on August 30. If they were successful they would play away from home again in the first qualifying round against Oldbury United on September 13.

CATSHILL children were now able to take full advantage of the summer outdoors. Using money from a sponsored walk with extra financial help from the trustees of Catshill Village Hall, based in Golden Cross Lane, the organisers had the surrounds of the hall surfaced to provide an outdoor play area. Before the surface was laid, the 65 children who attended the playgroup were not allowed to use certain pieces of equipment such as the slide.