RUBERY Citizen's Association was celebrating its silver jubilee. It was founded in 1929 when there had been many grumbles regarding East Worcestershire Waterworks Company wanting to put up its prices. As a result the company backed down.

WELL-known Droitwich resident and former mayor, businessman Thomas Platts, died at the Raven Hotel, which on account of him being chairman of the company that owned it, he had made his home. Mr Platts had made it his ambition to put the Spa on the world tourist map.

NEW laws to protect British wild birds were welcomed by the Messenger's naturalist Fred Fincher, from Woodcote. In future, every species would be protected with the exception of a list of 20 birds. But, Mr Fincher was not happy that the eggs of the increasingly scarce lapwing could still be legally taken until April 1 each year.

'LADDY' Henry Harris, reckoned by many to be the best and most skilful player ever to pull on a Bromsgrove Rovers shirt, died aged 74. Laddy was a legend and his enthusiasm for the game had been highlighted when, on one occasion having missed the horse drawn brake taking the team to play away against Redditch, Laddy decided to run all the way there. He arrived soon after the kick off and after swiftly changing, played most of the match with his usual vigour.

HEADTEACHERS and careers masters at schools in the area were being urged to suggest the church as a likely career. The idea had been broached at the Worcester Diocesan Conference to combat the sharp decline in the number of new clergy coming forward.