THIS WEEK IN 1990:

THE historic Worcester Hop and Cheese Fair, which has been in existence for more than 400 years, is now more well-known in the area as a sheep sale. The annual event has progressively become a sheep fair since the Second World War as a result of the gradual demise of the hop and farmhouse cheese industries in the county, but this year the cheese will be back, thanks to Malvern Cheesewrights.

Members of this small marketing organisation for local cheesemakers will be setting up a stand at the fair where visitors will be able to sample a number of varieties recently developed and produced in the Worcester area. One of the most appropriate cheeses will be that produced from ewes’ milk by Nicholas Hodgetts of Park Farm, Kempsey, whose family have been selling sheep at the fair every year since 1922. Other cheeses on sale will include Worcester Sauce, Bedwardine and Malvern Mild.

THIS WEEK IN 1980:

WORCESTER MP Peter Walker has won a top personality award from a Scotch whisky firm. The award is given periodically to whoever makes the most significant contribution to the grocery trade. Cutty Sark Whisky said that Mr Walker, as Minister of Agriculture, had given great encouragement to farmers and growers to increase efficiency, and his idea for British Weeks at top supermarket chains was a most important contribution.

Mr Walker said he was delighted to accept the award which would bring more publicity for his plans.

THIS WEEK IN 1970:

SYD Buller MBE of Worcester was a doyen of cricket and his spirit as a Test and county umpire will live for all time wherever cricket is played in this country, said the Rev Malcolm Richards at his funeral service in St John’s Church, Worcester. Present and former Worcestershire CCC players, club officials and representatives from other counties and various sporting organisations attended the funeral of Mr Buller who died in the pavilion at Edgbaston during a match. He was 60 and had lived for several years with his wife Lilian in Manor Road, Hanbury Park, Worcester. Mr Richards said that Syd Buller had been the world’s No.1 cricket umpire and was a familiar and well respected figure on every county cricket ground.

THIS WEEK IN 1960:

By 36 votes to eight, Worcester City Council agreed “in principle” on Tuesday to accept overspill population from Birmingham, together with appropriate industry, of up to a maximum of 40,000 people.

Alderman Harold Hopkins said: “I can give an assurance that the council is fully capable of controlling the influx and we will retain the character of the city as much as modern progress will allow.”

● Worcester bus services are suffering because many drivers and conductors are giving up their jobs. They prefer to work in local factories or to enjoy the high wages that can be earned from contractors building the new M5. The Midland Red’s divisional traffic superintendent WH Cole warns that the company is facing an acute shortage of staff in Worcester. It is now short of 33 drivers and 38 conductors, and services were suffering. The shortages are the worst the Midland Red has ever faced in Worcester.