100 years ago July 13, 1901

100 years ago

July 13, 1901

A CHAPLAIN serving in the Boer War reported that one night in Orange River Colony, the password for their camp was "Bromsgrove". Rev J L Findlay, former curate of St John's Church, was chaplain to a Worcestershire regiment in South Africa. "Send me more Messengers," he wrote to friends back home.

SOLICITORS in London denied rumours about Droitwich Spa Salt King John Corbett's will. Lawyers from Crowders, Vizard and Oldham said the youngest daughter would receive the same as all the others, despite speculation that she had been given nothing. They confirmed the family was disputing the will, but since the matter was subjudice, they would not reveal any details.

A CORRESPONDENT urged Messenger readers to put sun hats on their horses to protect them during the heatwave. "The fear of ridicule need no longer deter us from spending the small sum necessary to provide our horses with straw hats which we ourselves are so grateful for," he wrote under the pseudonym "Experience". He said many horses had already succumbed in the heat.

A RUBERY man opted for four months hard labour rather than pay compensation to his parents after he smashed eight of the windows in their Eachway house. Joseph Ganderton arrived at the house late on Saturday, July 7, and broke in, smashing the windows. Bromsgrove magistrates fined him £1 and 4s (20p) costs, but he chose prison saying he had not been doing anything much lately.

50 years ago

July 14, 1951

OPENING the Belbroughton and Fairfield Carnival, Mr C F N Boulton praised the village as world-famous. He said some years ago he received a letter sent from Honolulu with an address which just said, "Belbroughton", not even saying which country. He had also heard that a man visiting the USA had told Americans he was from Redditch and they had replied: "Oh! That's near Belbroughton, isn't it?"

THE Catshill and Belbroughton Ladies' football teams had a comic rematch at the Belbroughton Carnival. In a game two months before, Catshill won 1-0, but here the home team had their revenge with a victory of "about" seven goals to one. The Messenger explained: "To keep an exact tally became difficult when one's sides were aching from laughter."

WORCESTERSHIRE County Council's education committee was invited to consider whether some school names were too long, such as Bromsgrove Rubery Waseley Hills County Primary School. Alderman Richard Adlington said they would consider any suggestions for shortening lengthy names. Deleting "Bromsgrove", "Rubery" and "County" were suggested.

LABOUR members accused Bromsgrove Urban District Council of restricting councillors' access to officers and acting like Nazi Germany. The council proposed members make appointments to speak to officers, as a matter of courtesy, but Labour councillors felt this was restrictive. The motion was passed by a majority. Cllr W J Kings said: "This happened in 1933 in another place."

25 years ago

July 9, 1976

THE Messenger marked its move to computerised printing with a souvenir edition that celebrated the paper's relationship with the town over 116 years. The words of the paper's first editor Frederick Marcus in 1860 were reprinted saying: "The Messenger will not give offence to its readers by publishing slander and abuse. But it will contain a faithful account of such occurrences as may deserve publicity or tend to stimulate its readers."

UNTRAINED nurses were left in charge of acute and medical wards in Bromsgrove General Hospital because of staff shortages. Twelve extra nurses at a cost of £40,000 a year were needed. Bromsgrove and Redditch CHC chairman Brian Thomas said: "To make matters worse in this heat, the hospital doesn't even have windows that open. They have to be physically taken out in the morning and night porters have to replace them."

DEEP bore hole wells were keeping Bromsgrove well-watered during the drought, so the town was unlikely to need a hose-pipe ban, according to the East Worcestershire Waterworks Company. It was good news for Bromsgrove District Council, as the paper had received several complaints about them wasting water on flowerbeds outside the Council House in St John's Street.