100 years ago January 4, 1902

100 years ago

January 4, 1902

SOME pub landlords in Bromsgrove had already found a loophole in the new act which came into force on January 1, banning children under 14 from buying intoxicating liquor - they fastened down the corks with gummed paper.

The proprietor of the Crown Inn, Catshill, held a "thank you" party for children who for years had visited his pub every night with jugs to buy their family's supper ale. He gave out 95 invites and 93 children attended.

THE new ping-pong craze was sweeping Bromsgrove after catching on in London. Many sets had been given as Christmas presents.

DROITWICH Workhouse was brightly decorated for the New Year festivities. A large Christmas tree had been donated by Sir Harry Vernon, from Hanbury Hall, and it was festooned with gifts for every inmate. The adults dined on sandwiches and beer and the children were given fruit. One feature of the evening that caused much interest and amusement was a gramophone lent by one of the visitors.

THE annual meeting of the Bromsgrove branch of the Society for the Prosecution of Felons and Trespassers was held at the Dog and Pheasant Inn, Worcester Street. Dinner was provided free for members. The group believed police courts were too lenient with many offenders.

50 years ago

January 5, 1952

FRANK Harvey, who had been editor of the Messenger for 54 years until 1940, died suddenly at his home, Wyncroft, in New Road, Bromsgrove. He was 84. During his editorship he had made a profound influence on Bromsgrove, the paper commented.

A ROW was brewing because a former Italian prisoner of war and his English wife had been given a council house at Hanbury while many British men who had fought in the war were homeless. An officer from Droitwich Rural District Council would visit him to find out if he planned to apply for naturalisation to defuse the situation.

FOLLOWING a relatively dry 1950, last year had been the wettest for 21 years. The station at Burcot had recorded 36.07ins. The record for the area was 44.4ins in 1912.

A NEW saw mill opened at the LG Harris Brush Works, in Stoke Prior. It was producing timber for the furniture trade and, among a range of other items, wooden washing tongs. Its first major order for 250,000 ice picks for the Coca Cola company, in America, was a much needed dollar earner for Britain.

25 years ago

December 31, 1976

ONE-HUNDRED former students of Waseley Hills High School paid tribute to teacher Reg Armitt who had taught at the school for 44 years and who had retired at the end of term. He was presented with a barometer, a carriage clock and a cut glass bowl.

TO handle the Christmas rush, the Post Office in Bromsgrove had taken on 47 temporary staff and three extra vehicles. It had also taken over the Drill Hall, in Recreation Road, as a makeshift delivery office.

DESPITE fierce protests from residents, Allied Breweries had not given up hope of building a pub on a play area at the corner of New Road and Fordhouse Road, in Bromsgrove. The district council had turned down the proposal and it now seemed likely to go to a public inquiry.