100 years ago

A Salvation Army lass, who pleaded that she had been deceived by a man under the cloak of religion, was tried at Worcestershire Assizes in Monday on a charge of converting to her own use a bicycle of which she was bailee. The machine was the property of Mr F S Ranford of Barnard's Green. The girl said a man named Cecil had asked her to marry him, and suggested a cycle ride to Cheltenham. She answered "yes", but found that the ride ended in Birmingham, where she was completely under the influence of her companion, who was a Spiritualist. In the result, the Salvation Army lass was acquitted, the verdict being received with applause. Malvern News, February 17, 1906.

To celebrate the recent Liberal victory in South Herefordshire, an invitation concert was held at the Royal Hall, Ledbury, on Monday. The hall was crowded and the proceeding marked with much enthusiasm. An excellent programme of vocal and instrumental music had been arranged, and so thoroughly were the items appreciated, encores were demanded. Ledbury Free Press, February 20, 1906.

50 years ago

The lighting of Lower Howsell village was criticised at a meeting of the Malvern Link Electors' Association, when Mr B C Bayley claimed that the lighting was 50 per cent poorer than in pre-war years, resulting in patches of darkness and hazards for elderly walkers at night. Mr Bayley said he understood that council policy precluded any expenditure on obsolete gas fittings when electrification was coming. Even so, he argued, a few pounds could be spent on servicing a few lamp standards. Malvern Gazette, February 10, 1956.

The Floral Queen for 1956 will be chosen at the Ledbury Garden Produce Club Dance at the Royal Oak Hotel on Friday, March 2, at 10am. The Floral Queen will lead the Carnival Procession to the show on August Monday, and an adequate dress allowance is given to her. Ledbury Reporter, February 24, 1956.

25 years ago

For the second time in less than a year, plants have been ripped from the flower beds and strewn on the grass by late-night vandals in the grounds of Malvern Library. More that 170 wallflowers, which would have graced the library grounds when they bloomed in March, were torn from the ground some time between Thursday night and Friday morning. The wallflowers were killed by the hard frost during the night, so re-planting was impossible. Malvern Gazette, February 19, 1981.

The large decorated Valentine Cake on show last week in the window of the Snooty Fox Restaurant in Ledbury has been presented to patients at the Cottage Hospital. The owner of the restaurant, Chris Knight, presented the cake. Ledbury Reporter, February 19, 1981.