THIS WEEK IN 1960:

A 1910 15 horse power Daimler car, owned and driven by WH Acock of Bowman and Acock, Malvern Link, with his wife as passenger-navigator, competed in the International Italian Veteran Car Rally last week and won the trophy for the best veteran car and performance in the rally to Milan and the demonstration and timed run to Bologna and Riccione on the Adriatic Coast.

The win was based on the longest distance covered from the country of origin of car and crew, quality of restoration and appearance at the finish, extent of acclamation by the Italian public and accuracy in timed run with six control points. The distance covered from England and back was 2,620 miles in 13 days, an average of 200 miles a day and 20 mph running time.

The route from Dover was through France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Italy.

THIS WEEK IN 1970:

FROM the Berrow’s Worcester Journal leader column: To regard the young people of today as unique in their supposedly anarchic, degenerate attitude to the world and society in general is wrong, as a study of the actions of people of a similar age group throughout the years will reveal. But they have created far more of a sensation than their predecessors, mainly because of the extensive publicity afforded them by the mass media. They are far too easily dismissed by prejudiced older folk as long-haired nits who should have a good hiding or a dose of Army life to lick them into conformity. The ever growing number of defiant boys and girls, often in weird and slovenly attire, abhor conformity yet still have aspirations to a career, not accepting that appearance still counts a lot in the minds of potential employers. The young say they are defying the conventions of this hopeless, bomb-threatened, strikehappy age. We often feel like joining them. But where would it get us and would our action in any way contribute towards building a better set-up?

THIS WEEK IN 1980:

From the Crowquill column of Berrow’s Worcester Journal: School uniform is becoming more of a headache to parents than ever before. The cost is prohibitive and the county council’s decision to cut out all grants for uniform as part of economy measures must be a disaster for poor families with a number of pupils to clothe. The initiative of certain parentteacher associations in providing a second-hand uniform service is therefore to be commended. I am one of the old school who approves of uniform. School children should be smart and uniform helps create the right picture, provided it is worn properly. In my day caps were compulsory and if we did not doff them to teachers it could mean the cane. Today, most schoolboys have no headgear to balance on their long hair. I like too, seeing schoolgirls wearing boaters.

I sigh when I pass pupils of my old school. They all seem distinctly shabby with only ill-fitting blazers to indicate that (hopefully) efforts are being made to squeeze some knowledge into their popcrammed skulls at that famous seat of learning.

THIS WEEK IN 1990:

WORCESTER city councillors have given the green light to the 10th year of free bus travel for elderly and disabled people at a cost of £640,000. Investigations are also to be made by the council’s controlling Labour group over the next year to see if the scheme can be extended to include the mentally ill. Bus drivers are also being urged by councillors to be “more flexible and inviting” to elderly residents using free passes which they buy at a set annual charge. The call for flexibility has been issued because the current annual passes have expired and it will taken between two and three weeks to issue new passes to all the city’s elderly.