THE Sick and Dividend Club at the Ewe and Lamb pub at Stoke Health, Bromsgrove, held its annual sports day on Whit Monday, when around 1,200 turned up to watch. There was a variety of events including hammer throwing and races for all ages. One of the highlights was the womens' race for a first prize of a pig.

A CASE of the dreaded smallpox disease had broken out in Droitwich. It was an unvaccinated three-year-old child who had only been in the spa for three days after arriving there from London where her mother had recently died. The child and its grandmother had been admitted to the isolation hospital at Falsham Pits and a full-scale operation to disinfect the home and burn infected bedding had been carried out.

IF TRUE the old saying, "A cold May was healthy" would see few people in Bromsgrove calling on their doctor's services. There had been few days this month that had not been cold, windy, with the occasional hailstorm and sharp night frosts. It did not bode well for the strawberry crops.

CORNELIUS Skerrett, a hawker of no fixed abode, was hauled before Droitwich Petty Sessions charged with wilfully causing 6d (2.5p) worth of damage to turf on Dodderhill Common near Hanbury. He was fined 10/- (50p).

plus 7/6 (37.5p) costs.