THE Bromsgrove Rousler, the popular history magazine published annually before Christmas, has been launched.

The publication, this year in its 27th year, always provides those fascinated by the town’s history a riveting read.

Published by the Bromsgrove Society, the latest edition features fascinating articles and is illustrated with pictures to bring them to life.

The issue includes articles from Will Lammas, Victor Crawford and Gwynneth Breillat, which focus on farming, banking, and how the treatment of children in hospital has changed over the years.

There is also an interesting article, written by Robin Shaw, on the Clock House that stood in Fockbury, near Bournheath, until it was demolished.

The house’s history is explored, including the period when Bromsgrove’s most famous son, AE Housman, lived there during his teenage years.

The Rousler is priced at £2.50, and is available from a variety of town outlets including WHSmiths, Oxfam Bookshop, Foto Factory and Worcester Road News.

It has also been made available at Catshill, Fairfield, and Stoke Prior post offices, Burcot and Willowbrook garden centres, and Kennedy’s Hardware in Rubery.

Bromsgrove Society president John Weston said books on Bromsgrove have become harder to purchase, following the closure of Waterstones, but on December 1 and 8, between 9am-4pm, Bromsgrove Library in Stratford Road will have a sale of new and nearly new local books, including the new edition of the Rousler.

The magazine’s editor, Jenny Townshend, thanked this year’s contributors for their interesting and varied articles.

She is already appealing for contributors to submit articles for the 2013 edition. Anyone interested needs to send in their work by next August, to 61 Old Station Road, Bromsgrove, B60 2AE.