WOMEN in Bromsgrove were keeping up with the sudden return of the fashion of wearing earrings. However, the prejudices against having ears pierced was very strong. Jewellers were getting round this by making them with gold clamps to hide the holes in ear lobes.

MARTHA Williams, of Shepley, Lickey End, Bromsgrove, broke down in tears when Bromsgrove magistrates handed her a harsh sentence for stealing from widow Harriet Clewer's shop in Birmingham Road. Williams, it was said, was a "systematic shop plunderer" who stole six items including two pairs of boys' boots worth 6/1 (30.5p). Magistrates sentenced her to a month's hard labour for each charge.

ERNEST Cottrill, of Vines Lane, and Henry Bourne, of Hanbury Road, both labourers, were fined 2/6 (12.5p) each by Droitwich Spa magistrates for playing football in Heriott's Lane.

AN event said to be "unique" was to take place every night next week at the Drill Hall in Bromsgrove. It was a Phono-Blo Tableaux, a wonderful invention that showed moving pictures accompanied by sound. Among the many pictures the audience would see would be shots of workers leaving the boot and shoe factory in Worcester Road and the clothing factory at Aston Fields.

AN auction sale of building plots at Rubery held at the at the New Rose and Crown pub attracted a large number of bidders.

A plot of just over an acre at Each Way realised £189 while two of two acres each at Callowbrook was knocked down for £152.

THE recent census showed the population of the borough of Droitwich Spa had increased by 142 in the last decade when at least 100 new houses had been built. This was mainly due to the Spa's increasing popularity as a health resort.

50 years ago

April 21, 1951

FARMERS were working from dawn to dusk to catch up on their spring cultivation work following a month when it had rained on all but six days giving an average of more than five inches for the district.

DONALD Chesworth, Bromsgrove's Labour prospective parliamentary candidate, had arranged meetings to support the party in the forthcoming Bromsgrove District Council elections. He would be joined at the main one by Anthony Wedgwood Ben, the youngest MP in the Commons.

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A QUICK look at the advertisement columns in the Messenger revealed British Railways had jobs for engine cleaners at Bromsgrove at £1/2/6 (£1.12.5p) a week for 20 year olds and over.

C Cupitt in High Street had 21-piece tea sets on sale at 16/3 (81p) and Vernon Adcock was inviting the fleet footed to join him at dance at the Bilbery Hill Restaurant, in Rednal.

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CYNTHIA Harris, from Newton Road, Aston Fields, Bromsgrove, was credited with having heard the first cuckoo in the district. She had heard the summer visitor's call on Tuesday, near Bentley House Farm.

25 years ago

April 16, 1976

THE link between the Housman Society, based in Bromsgrove, and its Japanese counterpart was strengthened when representatives of the Far East group unveiled a plaque on a cherry tree in the garden at his former home, Perry Hall, in Kidderminster Road.

Housman, it is said got the inspiration for his famous poem from a cherry tree which grew there and only died about five year ago.

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MR JOHN Burman had been appointed as consultant surgeon for Bromsgrove and Redditch to succeed Mr Doran who retired recently.

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FORMER showjumping star Ann Moore was in Barnt Green to open a new riding equipment store. She had won a silver medal in the 1972 Olympics but had since retired to concentrate on a career in motor racing.