February 23, 1901

100 years ago

February 23, 1901

DESPITE the valiant efforts of her husband and Mr Dobbs -- a neighbour who fetched her brandy -- Jane, the 55-year-old wife of labourer George Brooks, of Alcester Road, Finstall, died in the middle of the night following a coughing fit. Mr Brooks gave her honey and water and swiftly applied a mustard plaster. She fell dead in his arms.

DROITWICH councillors opted not to use stone quarried on their doorsteps to repair footpaths in Witton despite it costing only 3/6 (17.5p) a ton at the pit in Worcester Road. They decided instead to use Malvern stone which cost 6/10 (34p) a ton delivered to the Spa's station.

BROMSGROVE Church Lads' Brigade held its first prize giving. The boys, who were led by a drum and fife band, marched from the National Schools, in Crown Close, to the Institute, in New Road, where Bromsgrove School headmaster Herbert Millington handed out the prizes. He told them they should be kind to their brothers and sisters, must not use bad language and not drink intoxicating liquor except with their midday meal.

A LARGE number of staff at the Aston Fields clothing factory said farewell to managing director Mr Pickering who was retiring. He said he knew some thought him a hard taskmaster, but he always had their best interests at heart.

FRANK Holyoake, the sitting member for Droitwich Spa on the county council, had decided not to stand in the forthcoming election. Lord Hampton, a member of the Spa's workhouse board, had been chosen to fight the seat.

50 years ago

February 24, 1951

FRANK Mitchell, a former top class racing cyclist who had left his home in Fairfield to seek his fortune in the Antipodes 38 years ago, was back home for a few months. On arriving in Australia, he got a job laying pipes but had the good fortune to meet a man he had played football with years before in England who helped him on his way to taking up a career as an engineer.

STANLEY Lewis, 23, from Meadvale Road, Rednal, only recently discharged from the Royal Navy, was fatally injured by a tram in Lickey Road.

FOR 26 years, Bromsgrove St John Ambulance Brigade had served the needs of folk in the town without having a permanent base. But that was to change. This week the brigade took possession of its new headquarters, a former surface air raid shelter in Recreation Road. The brigade's inaugural meeting had taken place in the kitchen at the Roebuck pub, in High Street, in November 1924.

A MESSENGER reader known only as JH wrote to the paper claiming the cure for the common cold lay in the proportion of food consumed in relation to exercise. At the onset of a chill, one should cut one's food intake by half, drink large quantities of tea and exercise. Putting this into practice, the writer had not had a cold or a bout of flu since 1930.

25 years ago

February 20, 1976

THE cost of almost every leisure activity provided by Bromsgrove District Council was to rise by ten per cent. An adult swim would cost 20p, a round on the putting course 15p and a game of tennis 15p per person.

BROMSGROVE'S Hill Top Hospital was set to undergo a change of use. For many years a top flight thoracic unit, it would gradually accept more orthopaedic cases. It would also serve the surgical needs of the Droitwich Rheumatology Centre.

ATTENDANCES at schools in Bromsgrove were being decimated by "Aussie" flu. At South Bromsgrove High School, 20 per cent of pupils were absent as were many teachers. But Garringtons, Bromsgrove's largest employer with 2,500 staff, reported no major problems.

THE minority Labour group on Bromsgrove District Council was celebrating having persuaded the Tories to think again about scrapping installing free cookers and fridges in council houses and flats. Councillors said great hardship could be caused to tenants if they had to buy their own appliances.