CATSHILL lad Isaac Garfield appeared at the county quarter sessions in Worcester charged with stealing a cycle worth £7 from Henry Milman, of the Victoria Hotel in Barnt Green.

100 years ago

April 8, 1899

CATSHILL lad Isaac Garfield appeared at the county quarter sessions in Worcester charged with stealing a cycle worth £7 from Henry Milman, of the Victoria Hotel in Barnt Green. Because it was his first offence the judge was lenient and only sentenced him to two months' hard labour.

JOSEPH Cornes, aged 52, from Foundry Yard, Bromsgrove, died in the cottage hospital a few hours after a cart laden with bricks ran over him. He was working for Mr Lacey, building new houses at Churchfields, when the horse bolted. Mr Cornes grabbed the harness to stop the animal but failed to hang on. It was eventually stopped at full gallop by plucky PC Hemming who was on duty in High Street.

SUSANNAH, wife of Henry Nicklin a saltmaker from Friar Street, Droitwich, appeared at the Spa petty sessions charged with using obscene language at midnight in the street. It appeared her husband had locked her out and a large crowd gathered to watch. She was fined 2s 6d (12.5p) with 7s 6d (37.5p) cost or face seven days in jail.

STEPS were being taken to stamp out the killer disease consumption in the Bromsgrove district. Medical officer Dr Kidd had prepared a handbill giving advice to families which was to be distributed to all households. Fresh air, plenty of sunshine and refraining from spitting were some of the points covered.

50 years ago

April 9, 1949

BROMSGROVE Trades Council urged the Government to once again issue all ex-servicemen ''demob'' suits. Member Bill Kings said many men had outgrown their pre-service clothes and were so hard up they were being forced to wear their father's clothes. The Government said it would cost £3m to £4m per year to start the scheme again.

A COLOURFUL throng of more than 300 guests including members of the Folies Bergeres attended the re-opening of the Chateau Impney as a luxury hotel. Extensive alterations and improvements to the interior and grounds had cost £85,000.

THE first swallow of the summer had been spotted on April 4 by Janice Eades of Banks Green, Bentley.

THE Messenger commented on the remarkable life of William Gossage as told this week in a Sunday newspaper article. It was he who had founded the Stoke salt works and was responsible for building the 315-feet tall chimney that was a landmark for miles around. It took nine months to build and at the time was the third highest in England.

FOR the second time in a fortnight, Bromsgrove firemen answered a hoax call, this time from someone in a call box at Stoke Prior. The trickster claimed the new Hundred House pub in Stourbridge Road was on fire.

25 years ago

April 5, 1974

THE new unified Bromsgrove District Council met for the first time this week. Cllr Bob Harvey was its chairman. He said he hoped the time would come when Bromsgrove was not so dependent on British Leyland and Garringtons for jobs.

BROMSGROVE'S new MP, Hal Miller, said his General Election victory had not received the national recognition it deserved. His was the only seat in England wrested from Labour. His success, he said, was thanks mainly to the splendid efforts of local Tory women.

CHORISTER Amy Smart was among a large gathering of villagers who attended Dodford's annual church meeting. Miss Smart had been in the congregation when the church was dedicated in 1910.

ADVERTS detailing Easter coach trips were in great evidence in the Messenger. Harris of Catshill was off to see the new Severn bridge and Wye Valley for £1. Porthcawl was a destination for the Midland Red for £1.25 a seat.