AN inquest into the death of Ernest Hobrough, son of William Hobrough, engineer to the canal company, Bridge House, Stoke Prior, returned a verdict of death by misadventure, after he was found dead at home in the bath.

100 years ago

May 17, 1899

AN inquest into the death of Ernest Hobrough, son of William Hobrough, engineer to the canal company, Bridge House, Stoke Prior, returned a verdict of death by misadventure, after he was found dead at home in the bath. William Hobrough told the jury at the Navigation Inn, Stoke Prior, that his 26-year-old son had been prone to fits all his life and averaged two or three a month.

RUBERY'S first race meeting for more than 20 years attracted thousands of people on the Whitsuntide. More than 2,000 visitors poured through the gates of two fields opposite the New Rose and Crown Hotel to enjoy a host of races.

THE Queen's 80th birthday was marked by the ringing of the bells of Bromsgrove Church. A red ensign was also hung from the tower.

BARNSLEY Hall Estate owners, Edwards, Son and Bigwood, arranged the sale of the site to the special lunatic asylums committee of Worcestershire County Council and, subject to the authority's approval, it was to be the proposed new site for the County Lunatic Asylum.

50 years ago

May 28, 1949

BIRDS sang their mattins together with the congregation at St Kenelm's Church. Romsley. Two swallows apparently took the opening words of the ''Venite'' (O Come Let Us Sing Unto The Lord) as an invitation to join in the service, and flew inside the old church, perching on the beam above the altar. They stayed for an entire service, joining heartily in the hymns and psalms.

THE Messenger reported the sudden death of a pensioner who collapsed in Lickey Rock. While walking in Staple Flat, 83-year-old Walter Loat, of Linehouse Lane, Lickey Rock, collapsed and was found dead by the roadside.

DESPITE the effort put in to prepare a programme of events, which it was hoped would appeal to young people in the district, the Big Empire Youth Week was deemed a failure after an extraordinary lack of interest in the first event. No-one turned up for the opening at Watt Close School, and a talk on apathy towards Commonwealth affairs appropriately entitled ''I Couldn't Care Less'' had to be abandoned.

BROMSGROVE'S new Civic Cafe -- a re-birth of the British Restaurant which was opened at the old Hundred House premises in June 1942 -- was officially opened in its new setting beside the Spadesbourne Suite and enjoyed a promising start with 130 meals served on the first day.

25 years ago

May 24, 1974

A LARGE number of Wychbold residents were up in arms over the continuation of the controversial markets being held in a field off the busy A38, it was claimed at Dodderhill Parish Council. Deplorable, shocking and dangerous were just some of the adjectives used by angry villagers.

BROMSGROVE school children had a chance to take part in the town's first holiday group scheme, which was held in the recreation room at Bromsgrove Baptist Church. The scheme, organised by Carole Corpe, of Harwood Park, was designed to give youngsters a chance to spend time in an enjoyable and stimulating manner.

A 75-year-old man was keeping the art of hedge laying alive. Pensioner William Lloyd George, of Windsor Street, Bromsgrove, was still going strong after transforming a 35ft hedge in Lickey End into a neat stock proof barrier.