A PLAGUE of flies was making life in Droitwich almost unbearable. Their numbers were such that brooms had to be used to sweep the dead insects off the floors of houses. Sticky fly papers were covered in minutes. It was said the insects were coming from the refuse tip, which was to be sprayed with chemicals weekly from now on. The hot weather over Whitsuntide had made the problem worse. The Spa was more prone to such infestations than Bromsgrove, the Messenger reasoned, because of its balmier climate and disused canal.

A MAN who was well-known to schoolboy apple scrumpers and more serious villains, policeman George Fereday was to be promoted to sergeant and transferred from his beat in Sidemoor, Bromsgrove to one in Stourbridge. Sgt Fereday, an ex-Royal Marine, who had been captured in Crete during the war, had also served in Hanbury and Droitwich and since 1950 in Sidemoor.

A LARGE consignment of paint brush making machinery left the Harris Brushworks plant at Stoke Prior destined for Bristol where it was to be shipped to Dublin to be used by a subsidiary of the firm. The machinery had largely been made at Stoke.

THE county's civil defence chiefs were wondering if it was worthwhile taking part in local carnivals in future. The organisation always obliged when asked to take part in processions but Captain Butcher the senior officer, complained they were always put at the rear, behind the shouting kids dressed as Chinamen, Red Indians or pirates. He added such events were also useless for recruitment.