100 years ago

The quarryman has now invaded the crest of the hill above the Westminster Arms, and though Malvern people have so far taken the matter very quietly, Mr Ballard is doing his best to arouse the residents of this happy spot to a proper sense of the situation. He describes the quarrying on the top of the hill as spoilation of the most disastrous kind, and thinks it almost as bad as getting stone from the summit of the Worcestershire Beacon. Malvern News, March 17, 1906.

The election is not yet fought on political or party lines in Ledbury, and long may it remain so. The names of nominations and seconders of the various candidates tend to prove this statement. In the nomination of Mr Bray by two of the oldest councillors, it goes to show that the council as a body would gladly welcome the return of old companions, who lost their seat at the last election. Ledbury Free Press, March 20, 1906.

50 years ago

Residents of Malvern have noted recently (some of the older ones with some slight feelings of alarm) a balloon floating over RRE north site. I heard this morning, after making some enquiries, that this is being used in connection with some experiments designed to improve the testing of ground radar installations The high winds certainly tested the moorings, but these I am assured are quite safe in winds well in excess of those experienced in this county. Malvern Gazette, March 16, 1956.

Very soon now, the gathering of the golden harvest from the Dymock and Newent daffodil fields will be in full swing. There are good grounds, I understand, for the belief that many of the bulbs imported from Holland had their origins in the Newent district. More than 50 years ago, wild daffodils were removed and taken to Holland, where they were improved. Ledbury Reporter, March 23, 1956.

25 years ago

Public support will be vital in the battle to save the Sling Lane meadowland from development. Art teacher and conser-vationist Mr Guy Woodford told a public meeting at Malvern Hills College that the public must back up the Hills District Council's strategy at a local inquiry on April 1. The council decided in July to reject renewed proposals from Foley Developments, owner of the 5 acre field south of Sling Lane, to build houses there. Malvern Gazette, March 19, 1981.

Ledbury's MP, Mr Peter Temple Morris, was one of those to oppose the Government in Monday night's vote on the budget proposal, for a 20p increase in petrol and derv tax, which left the Government with a majority of only 14. "I don't see, in all conscience, how the MP for this rural area could do anything else," he said. Ledbury Reporter, March 19, 1981.