This week in 1990:

THE vandal-wrecked lighting on Worcester Bridge is finally meeting with the satisfaction of city councillors after extensive repair work was completed this week. The balustrade lighting, installed more than a year ago, is shining brightly again after nearly 12 months in the dark. The original lighting of the bridge piers and arches was smashed by vandals to the extent of £16,000.

County weatherman Paul Damari will be taking to his heels and going round in circles next week - all in aid of the Children in Need appeal. Paul, of Northwick Walk, Worcester, is setting off on a 100-mile circular walk taking in Worcester, Malvern, Ledbury, Hereford, Ross-on-Wye, Upton-upon-Severn, and back to the city. Starting on Monday, he will average 20 miles a day and plans to be back in Worcester around tea-time on Friday with buckets full of cash. He plans to do a series of longer walks and cycle rides next year including a tandem trip to Paris and back!

This week in 1985:

THE father and step-mother of the Princess of Wales, the Earl and Countess Spencer, will be in Droitwich next week for a double celebration. The couple, who are patrons of the British Spas Federation, will be opening the newly restored 15th- Century timber framed Bullocks Tea Rooms and Restaurant and performing the official opening ceremony of the new Droitwich Spa Brine Bath. The complex is the first new spa facility to be built in Britain this century.

"Brewery Bows Out" - Auctioneer Julian Gallimore attracted media attention this week when he supervised the disposal of brewery and other equipment at Baileys Brewery in Leigh Sinton.

This week in 1975:

Worcestershire is about to face a Herefordshire rebellion. An all-party group of Herefordshire county councillors is calling for the Environment Secretary Anthony Crosland to hold a special inquiry into the Hereford-Worcester merger which is but 18 months old. Their action implies a bid to dismantle the new county and return it to its original units.

Some Worcestershire pubs are trying to find other sources of supply while the dispute-hit Ansells Brewery in Birmingham is pouring 400,000 pints of beer down the drain. Local Ansells pubs have found themselves without beer and with a fall off in trade.

A handful of National Front members marched through Worcester on Saturday to attract support for a new branch which has been formed in the city. Only 10 people joined what the organiser described as "a small local demonstration".

This week in 1965:

At the Guards Chapel, London, on November 9, 1915, Brigadier Charles Britten, now one of Worcestershire's most distinguished personalities, married Dorothy, only daughter of the Hon. Percy and Mrs Allsopp of Battenhall, Worcester. On Tuesday night - exactly 50 years later - the brigadier, back from a day's shooting, joined his wife to entertain to tea on their Golden Wedding anniversary the man who actually married them - Mrs Britten's 92 years-old uncle, the Rev Cecil Chesshire, who lives in retirement at Malvern. Brigadier and Mrs Britten live at Kenswick Manor near Worcester. He had a distinguished military career, serving in the Grenadier Guards during the First World War and being awarded the Military Cross in 1916 and commanding brigades in Britain during the Second World War.

He is an alderman on Worcestershire County Council.

This week in 1955:

Fragments of Roman pottery and glass together with mediaeval stoneware have been unearthed during excavations on the site of the recently demolished City Market Hall between High Street and The Shambles. An arcade of shops is to replace the market. So far between three and four cwt. of archaeological remains have been recovered - probably the biggest collection unearthed at any one time within the city boundary.

The finds include pieces of Samian ware known to have come from Gaul and imported to this country by the Romans. There are also pieces of Roman glass and various types of bronze dress brooches and pins plus coins and Roman roof tiles. Discovered too are traces of wooden drain pipes thought to relate to the historic King's Head Inn and theatre which once stood on part of the site.

250 Years Ago:

THE Inventor of Worcester Porcelain Stopped by Highwayman! As Dr John Wall, an eminent physician of Foregate Street in this city, was returning home from Evesham on Tuesday night last he was met by a single highwayman.

The Doctor was foremost and his servant about 20 yards behind him. The highwayman gave him the way and, just as he passed him, cry'd out Stop! Stop! The Doctor turned about to enquire the meaning of it, supposing that he might be a messenger sent to meet him on the road, when he saw the highwayman close to his servant and heard him bid the servant deliver his money. Upon this, the Doctor clapped spurs on his horse and rode for it and so escaped, but his servant was robbed of all the money he had which was ten shillings.

The rogue made him turn out his pockets and then wished him a Good Night and rode towards Pershore. He was a middle sized young man and had on a light coloured coat with white metal buttons.

His hat was placed on his head like a jockey would wear it and he rode a good sort of bay horse. The moon shone very bright at the same time.

Monday last, being his Majesty's Birthday, (who entered into the 73rd year of his age), the same was observed here in a very loyal and affectionate manner.

200 Years Ago:

ON Friday night last, an attempt was made to plunder the shop of Mr Scandrett, watchmaker of Broad Street, Worcester. The depredators took down the shop shutters and removed two panes of glass, by which means they opened every fastening. In this stage of the business, it is supposed, some person passing near the shop must have disturbed them.

On Sunday morning about 4 o'clock, a fire was discovered in an unfinished house in New Street, Worcester by some persons passing by at the time. Unless timely assistance had been given, the whole must have been consumed by the flames. It was found that some boys had made a fire in the building on the preceding evening for the purpose of roasting potatoes (something they did regularly), and their fire was not properly extinguished.

150 Years Ago:

The Fifth of November - This day, rendered notable by the occurrence thereon of so many great historic events (the Gunpowder Plot, the Landing of King William III and the Battle of Inkerman), was celebrated in this City of Worcester by bell-ringing, bonfires, the letting off of fireworks and other outward demonstrations of rejoicing.

A life-size effigy of the Russian Emperor, in regimental uniform, was paraded through the principal streets, accompanied by a band of music, and in the evening was subjected to a series of indignities at a large bonfire kindled on the bowling green of the Saracen's Head Inn, in the presence of a numerous assemblage. There was a brilliant display of fireworks on the occasion.

100 Years Ago:

"Madman at Impney Hall" - On Thursday evening, Edward Rogers (48), basket maker, knocked at the front door of Impney Hall, Droitwich, and rushed in. He got into a room and said he saw an elephant on the shelf and claimed there was a dead horse

in the park with a label which said "Dead."

He was locked in the room by a maid until the police and a doctor arrived. He made a terrible noise and said he had a wife and 10 children. He had been working at Mr Jones's New Inn at Alfrick and had been taken ill on the previous Saturday. He said his dreams were illuminated with green and blue lights round his bed, and he saw in his room all sorts of pigs, dogs and other animals dressed up as policemen. The poor fellow has been removed to the County Lunatic Asylum.