WALTER Cotton, aged 24, a nailer, and Sam Pugh, 26, a labourer, appeared before the grand jury at the Epiphany Quarter Sessions, in Worcester, accused of stealing three tame fowl from Mr Lloyd, of Bromsgrove.

100 years ago

January 5, 1901

WALTER Cotton, aged 24, a nailer, and Sam Pugh, 26, a labourer, appeared before the grand jury at the Epiphany Quarter Sessions, in Worcester, accused of stealing three tame fowl from Mr Lloyd, of Bromsgrove. The court heard Cotton was a "lazy fellow" given to hanging around pubs while Pugh was better, but not much. Both were given six-months in jail.

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PRIVATE Harrison, from Sidemoor, Bromsgrove, serving in the Worcestershire Regiment in South Africa, died on Christmas Eve from enteric fever. He left a wife and two young children -- one born after he had been shipped out at Easter. It was the second death connected with the war to hit his family. His widow's brother, Pt A Lammas, of the 2nd Worcestershire Regiment, had already been killed in action against the Boers.

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THE annual Christmas treat for pauper inmates at Droitwich Spa workhouse was held on New Year's Day. All the wards and the dining hall had been gaily decorated and Sir Harry Vernon, from Hanbury Hall, had given a huge tree. From its branches hung gifts of mufflers, sweets, pipes, tobacco and mittens.

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THE New Year had brought extensive flooding to the Midlands, the like of which had never been seen before. In Bromsgrove, the town brook broke its banks in several places.

At lower High Street, at the junction with St John Street, water gushed through premises into the street. Town End Mill, in Birmingham Road, overflowed and flooded a nearby farm forcing stock to be moved to higher ground. At Dyers' Bridge, in Worcester Road, the boot factory was flooded as was Brazier's builders yard nearby. Watt Close too was under water.

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LITTLE Ada Kings, from Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, was fighting for her life in Bromsgrove's Cottage Hospital following a bizarre accident. She had mopped up some spilled paraffin thinking it was water before moving too near the fire which had ignited the cloth she was still holding. Her body was badly burned.

50 years ago

January 6, 1951

A ROW was brewing over Worcestershire County Council plans to move Bromsgrove's Free Library from its present premises, in the Technical School, in New Road, to a hut in Market Street, until recently the civic cafe. The Messenger commented that less suitable premises could scarcely be found.

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BROMSGROVE and district had had a green Christmas but the snow that fell over New Year had made up for it. The Messenger paid tribute to council staff for keeping the roads open and bus drivers for maintaining a regular service. On Tuesday, the worst day, when 200 buses departed and arrived in town only one bus, bound for Birmingham, was delayed.

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WHEN asked at a meeting if debates in the House of Commons should be broadcast, Bromsgrove's MP Michael Higgs said they should not. He said in countries where they were, politicians tended to hog the microphones at peak times.

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COUNCILLORS in Droitwich Spa were angry that the hard-up government had urged that they should cut back on the cost of building 12 old folks' bungalows. The tender was for £13,665 but the men from the ministry wanted it reduced to £12,285.

Councillors said it would be false economy as all the frills had already been trimmed and any further cuts would lead to "Jerry" building.

25 years ago

January 2, 1976

A HUGE Boxing Day crowd turned out to see a charity pram race at The Gate Hangs Well pub, at Woodgate, near Bromsgrove. Around 24 prams took part over a tough two-mile course. Around £100 for the Midland Society for the Blind was raised.

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THE Rev John Twigg, rector of Belbroughton for the past 25 years, died. He had wished for a quiet funeral but was held in such high regard that some 400 parishioners turned out to pay their last respects.

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BROMSGROVE'S Court Leet, which has been in existence since the reign of King John, was hoping to build a headquarters on land adjacent to Sanders Park. Court Steward Mr W A H Scott said it was early days, but Bromsgrove District Council wanted to see its proposals.

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AN unexpected visitor to the festivities at Bromsgrove General Hospital on Christmas Eve was "nurse" Erin Gergerahty star of the BBC series Angels. Erin was staying with relatives in the area.

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BROMSGROVE man G Bridgewater, from Braces Lane, Marlbrook, was competing against the UK's top dart players in the Watney Inter-city Championships, in London, for a first prize of £1,000.