100 years ago

OUR correspondence columns today contain a letter from Rev D. Procter, Warden of St Edward's Orphanage, West Malvern, in which he bespeaks the claims of the Institution, which, it is to be feared, is locally not so fully appreciated as might be the case. As the Warden points out, the work of the Orphanage has been carried on for 25 years with such quiet modesty that many are quite unaware of its existence. Malvern Gazette, August 24, 1900.

ELIZABETH Williams, who has been in charge of a lodging house in Homend Street, Ledbury, was charged with being drunk and disorderly on August 7. Superintendent Phillips stated that between 10 and 11pm, a female went to him and said she had paid for her lodgings at defendant's house, but did not want to stay there, but she wanted her clothes. Witness went to the house and found several people drunk, including defendant. Defendant assaulted the woman. Ledbury Free Press, August 28, 1900.

50 years ago

MALVERN has always attracted visitors from America, especially in the past when the Shaw Festival was an occasion not to be missed. It seems that it is continuing to be popular.

For the last 18 months American students have been staying in the district in order to attend courses at the Malvern School of Art.

The first to come, Miss Alice Graham, from Mexico, spent two terms doing a course of silversmithing at the school under Miss Ballard. Mr Alex Blondoff, from California, is doing a full-time course in illustration. Both have come under the U.S.A. War Veterans' Scheme. Malvern Gazette, August 25, 1950.

IN the light of petrol de-rationing, and the consequent increase in road traffic, the probability of accidents is accordingly increased. It is all the more creditable, therefore, that six Ledbury postmen have gained awards in the 1949 Safe Driving Competition. Ledbury Reporter, August 25, 1950.

25 years ago

A REFERENDUM will be held in Herefordshire as part of a bid to break-up the newly-merged county of Hereford and Worcester.

Survival '75, the campaign to "save Herefordshire", may employ a prominent planner to work out a way of separating the counties which have been joined for only 16 months.

The move follows the decision to phase out Hereford College of Education in favour of the Worcestershire college at Shenstone.

The survival campaigners fear that within the next ten years Herefordshire will lose factories, jobs, schools, roads and rail links - in short become a "dormitory suburb" of Worcester. Malvern Gazette, August 28, 1975.

LEDBURY Town Council is to oppose plans to extend the local abattoir. People living near the premises in The Homend recently protested to the council about noise and smells from the slaughtering business. The local planning committee met last week to consider an application to extend the chill-room and enlarge the slaughter area and cooling hall. Ledbury Reporter, August 28, 1975.