100 Years Ago

March 11, 1905

On Tuesday, Mr. E. G. Righton's saleyard at Broadway was opened for business and the inauguration proved to be in every way a most successful one. The saleyard is most conveniently situated at the junction of the Evesham and Cheltenham and Winchcombe roads. Its arrangements elicited many expressions of approval from farmers and dealers and others on Tuesday, and when it is completed it will be one of the best appointed and most convenient in the district. Before business commenced, the auctioneer entertained a very large company, numbering between four and five hundred, to lunch at the Lygon Arms and Swan Hotels, at both of which places first class repasts were provided.

75 Years Ago

March 8, 1930

The Blue Bobs concert party are a band of performers whose talents are, perhaps, better known in the district around Evesham than in the town itself, for although they spend a large amount of time on the outskirts, they have not appeared on many occasions in the borough. Thus their concert in the Public Hall on Monday drew a very large audience, and from 8pm until after 11pm the company were kept thoroughly amused and entertained with an admirably presented programme. The party have been instrumental in raising very gratifying sums for the Evesham Police Poor Kiddies' Boot Fund, and this has not been the only good result of their kindly efforts, for the continual practice and co-operation has served to blend them into one of the smartest and cleverest of amateur troupes.

50 Years Ago

March 12, 1955

Avonbank Methodist Band did well to gain fifth place out of thirteen last Saturday when they entered for the first time at Leicester in the Brass Band Championship. Appearing first, they were directed by Michael Sharpe, of Deacle Place, Evesham, who, at 25, was the youngest conductor there. In the two classes for bandgirls they beat all the other 26 bands. These young Evesham enthusiasts are now entering perhaps their happiest and most successful season.

25 Years Ago

March 13, 1980

Picking of the costliest tomato crop produced in the Vale of Evesham began this week. Mr Alan Higginson, one of the country's earliest tomato growers, put out 6,000 plants in his fully automatic glasshouses at South Littleton in January and after growing for nearly two months in a carefully controlled temperature, the first fruit is now being picked. The plants will reach peak production in May when he expects to be getting four tons of tomatoes a week. But he estimates that the cost of growing the crop has shot up by 34 per cent over last year. "The increase in heating fuel has been staggering and we have had to pull out all the stops," he said. "This is the crunch year, make no mistake about it."