100 Years Ago

July 21, 1906

Visitors to Evesham often remark upon the untidy state of the streets, and it must be admitted that the "ancient borough" compares somewhat unfavourably with other towns in the district in this matter. Large quantities of pieces of paper seem to be constantly blowing about; perhaps this is hardly to be wondered at, considering the amount of packing that goes on in the streets and in the sheds immediately adjoining. But there other offenders beside the market gardeners. We should think there is hardly any town which is so overrun with small boys delivering hand-bills. Generally these lads do not take the trouble to place the bills in the letter boxes; they put them under the knocker, or throw them down in the front garden, and thus cause a great deal of untidiness that visitors remark upon. Something ought to be done to put a stop to the nuisance, which is becoming intolerable.

75 years Ago

July 18, 1931

After a period of 60 years immunity, Fladbury Parish Church has been the scene of sacrilege, the visitors' box having been ransacked some time during Sunday or Monday. When the Rector, the Rev. G. K. Sylvester, returned from holiday on Monday, he made a visit to the church and discovered that the almsbox which is fixed to the south door had been broken open and the contents taken. Ordinarily, the box is cleared every week by the Rector, but owing to his absence on holiday, it had not been emptied for a fortnight prior to the theft and it is thought that there was probably a good sum in it as members of the Archaeological Society visited the church on Saturday. The box was secured by a strong hasp and brass padlock, and the thief, or thieves, took away the latter in addition to the money. It is more than 60 years since a similar case was reported from Fladbury, and that was when thieves ransacked the vestry and, among other things, stole a surplice.

50 Years Ago

July 20, 1956

Farmers on the Ashton-under-Hill side of Bredon Hill have no water for their cattle and they blame Evesham Rural District Council for diverting water from the springs, Mr T. Whitaker (Ashton-under-Hill) told Monday's meeting of the council. He said that certain springs that had never been known to fail had run dry. "The position has got acute and there is a certain amount of rather bitter feeling," he declared. Mr Whitaker added that he understood that the N.F.U. had already taken the matter up. He proposed that the council's surveyor and water superintendent should meet representatives of the N.F.U and the aggrieved farmers on the site of the springs to explain the position. Cmdr. A. G. Woodward, chairman of the Public Health Committee, said he did not intend to discuss the matter at that stage, but he agreed that the meeting suggested by Mr Whitaker should be arranged as soon as possible. The council concurred.