THIS WEEK IN 1960:

SO great is the need for clergy that the Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Rev LM Charles-Edwards has issued a challenge to every one of his parishes across the county to produce a candidate for training in the ministry by this time next year. In his presidential address to the Worcester Diocesan Conference, he said: “I have priests working single-handed in parishes of 10,000 and more, and I have country priests trying to provide four or five places of worship with services and sacraments every Sunday. If it were not for the invaluable help of lay readers, I do not know how we could manage. In 1935 there were 182 incumbents and 59 curates in the Worcester Diocese. Today, with a greatly increased population, we have 159 incumbents and 35 curates.

Where can we get priests from? The answer is from the parishes. What are the Christian parents of the diocese doing to encourage their boys to take Holy orders?”

THIS WEEK IN 1970:

From Berrow’s Worcester Journal’s leader column: “The litter and pollution problem is just beginning to be recognised as one of the most serious this overpopulated country has to face. One has only to glimpse the monstrous pile of rotting cars in the breaker’s yard visible from the railway between the Shrub Hill and Foregate Street stations to realise how just one form of litter is approaching unmanageable proportions. There do not seem to be enough crushers to deal with such piles.

Rivers, canals, woods, quarries, ditches, commons, lay-bys etc., are being used for furtive dumping which, despite the penalties, is on the increase. That drastic action against litter is needed, no-one will deny.

The garbage rejected by the inhabitants of this globe could one day reach such proportions that the only answer would be to shoot it into space.

THIS WEEK IN 1980:

IN a feature article for Berrow’s Worcester Journal, historian Canon JS Leatherbarrow threw the spotlight on “one of Worcester’s most intriguing 18th century buildings” – 61 Broad Street. He wrote: “Unfortunately very little is known about this building which recently changed hands. However, I am more than ever convinced that one of the three figures portrayed in colourful sculptures decorating the façade represents the legendary Methodist John Wesley and another William Pitt, the building thus delineating the greatest religious and the greatest secular figures of their age. I am hoping that some day local architectural historians will come up with more precise information about this unique building.”

THIS WEEK IN 1990:

From Berrow’s Worcester Journal’s leader column: “Mindless vandals caused a trail of destruction in Worcester’s beautiful Cripplegate Park this week and we are left wondering what it is that these idiots find so fascinating about creating mayhem. The attack on the park’s bowling greens, benches, litter bins and notice boards, costing hundreds of pounds, was the second in less than a month.

Now the police are asking council officials to consider locking the gates at night to deter what are commonly known as yobbos and louts.

This would be such a shame, not least in depriving many people of the opportunity to use this park as a pleasant cut through from St John’s to the bridge. It is sad to think that a small minority of young vandals have effectively won in their bid to attract attention in the most cowardly way possible.”