AN inquest into the murder of Florrie Porter, a 33-year-old clerk at the Austin works, whose body was found at Lickey End School, returned a verdict of murder by "some person unknown." The victim, from nearby Little Heath Lane, had been stabbed seven times.

A FORMER popular vicar of Catshill, the Rev Hubert Hall, had died. During his time at Catshill he had done much good work, especially in the field of education. At the outbreak of war he had been appointed head of ARP (Air Raid Precaution).

A SPECIMEN of the very rare Alchymista (the Alchemist) moth was sold at auction in London for £12/10/0 (£12.50)The moth had be the prize specimen in the collection, belonging to the late Birmingham surgeon Sir Beckworh Whitehouse. He caught the moth while motoring on the Lickey Hills in 1937. He had hung a sheet against his car's headlights and the moth fluttered into the glare. The entire collection was sold for £677.

MR E TUSTIN, a blacksmith from Broad Green, Tardebigge, had completed 50 years unbroken service with Tutnall and Cobley Parsh Council. He had been a founder member when the council started in December 1894.