AT this time half-a-century ago, Worcester was preparing itself for a huge influx of GIs, despite the fact the Second World War had been over for five years.

Berrow's Journal of December, 1950 highlighted an official announcement from the Ministry of Defence that American troops were about to be stationed at Norton Barracks.

The Group Headquarters and three battalions of the United States Army Anti-Aircraft Artillery are expected to arrive in the near future. The units have been drawn from Fort Bliss at El Paso in Texas, Fort Meade in Maryland and from Fort Winfred Scott in San Francisco.

Though I was very much around in those days, I can't remember the Americans being at Norton Barracks in the early 1950s. How long they stayed is also unknown to me.

Still on the military front 50 years ago, Malvern had its first ever visit from Monty.

The Journal reported that Field Marshall Lord Montgomery of Alamein had been the guest of Malvern College "though the visit was a purely private one". During his stay, the distinguished VIP planted a red oak tree in the College grounds, watched by a large number of pupils and staff.

In the run-up to Christmas 1950, the Worcester County Police Force was clearly busy with seasonal patrols in the countryside to combat poultry thieves.

At this time of year, fowl stealing is one of our biggest problems, Police Inspector H.S Mobbs told the Journal. We are trying to cope with it by special patrols both on foot and by car. We feel that with the co-operation of the public we shall make it an unprofitable Christmas for chicken thieves.

Global warming is being blamed for the freak weather the World is beginning to experience more frequently, but the year 2000 was far from unique in the severity of its storms and floods.

The archives of the World's oldest newspaper, Berrow's Worcester Journal constantly throw up reports of record floods and devastating hurricanes".

For instance, the Journal edition of exactly 200 years ago this month reported tremendous gales across the south of England and the northern areas of the continent.

At Le Havre, Dunkirk and Calais, almost every house was untiled or unroofed in the gales, and in Holland, many people lost their lives, being either blown into the water or crushed by the fall of chimneys or houses.

THE cricket season of 1900 was not particularly successful for Worcestershire CCC, both from a playing and financial viewpoint. The club incurred a big loss and was also heavily criticised over its New Road pitches.

Crowquill, in his Journal comment Column, had this to say: We lament the billiard-table wickets which have led to a deterioration in bowling. Narrower bats or enlarged wickets are not the answer.

It is vital to prepare wickets upon which the ball can bite. All that is necessary is the use of the scythe instead of the mowing machine, followed by heavy rolling. Bowlers will then be able to learn once more to make the ball break or curl and to deliver the occasional shooter.

Also 100 years ago this week, the Journal reported on the sale of a new Worcester public house.

George Yeates and Sons, the local auctioneers, offered for sale at auction the newly-erected Imperial Hotel in St Nicholas Street. There was a large attendance, and the auctioneer sought a bid of £3,000 to open the sale. However, the only bid was one of £2,000 from a brewery company, and the new building had to be sold at that sum.