Memory Lane

THE Worcestershire and the War section reported the death of Lieutenant Ralph Lessingham Spreckley of Worcester, who was educated at Bromsgrove School.

He had been killed in action.

He had only joined the army a year earlier, and was the youngest of four brothers all fighting.

There was also further reporting of the Worcestershire wounded and casualties, the first time the Messenger had carried a number of these reports.

AT Droitwich town council it was announced Mr Carlton would be going around the county to provide entertainment during the war, touring schoolrooms and halls.

All the proceeds raised were to be donated to the Prince of Wales’ war relief fund.

THE latest war telegrams from the Press Association reported that the British steamer the Indian Prince had been sunk by the German cruiser the Kronprins Wilhelm.

It was also reported that the town and harbour of Friedrich Wilhelm, a Germany colony, had been occupied by Australian forces without opposition.

The British flag had been hoisted at the colony, and a garrison established there.

50 years ago. September 25, 1964.

The General Election campaign was underway, will polling set to take place on October 15.

The Labour candidate, Peter Lister of Coventry, had been first to call a meeting, while sitting Conservative MP James Dance told the Messenger he would officially “get going” the following week.

Candidates were seeking votes from a record number of electors – with the total number on the list able to vote reaching 73,272, up by 6,348.

No big national names had yet been revealed to be visiting Bromsgrove during the contest, but stage and television actor Andrew Faulds was set to help Mr Lister on his campaign later that month.

THERE was to be a new sight in Bromsgrove High Street.

A showroom was being built for the MEB, and traffic had to been controlled as a giant lifted crane lifted steel girders into place for the new building.

THE Messenger reported there had been a disappointing attendance, both of representative bodies and the general public, to an annual service at Bromsgrove Parish Church commemorating the airmen who lost their lives in the Battle of Britain.

Those in attendance had included Court Leet representatives, and members of the local branches of the Royal Air Forces Association, Royal Naval Association, and the British Legion.

The service was conducted by the church vicar, the Reverend Northall, who said those men whose skill, devotion and courage helped to save Britain in the aerial conflict of 1940, should be remembered "with pride and thanksgiving".

25 years ago. September 28, 1989.

THE MEB had apologised to Bromsgrove customers after some were left without power for more than 11 hours.

More than 200 anxious householders living in Sidemoor jammed MEB’s switchboard when the power did not return after a scheduled maintenance check.

Maintenance engineer Brian Sweet explained 350 householders were notified in advance of the essential maintenance at sub-stations on Stourbridge Road and Wenlock Drive.

But he apologised for the power not returning when it should have.

AN animal rights campaigner spent 24 hours cooped up in a cage in Bromsgrove town centre to draw attention to the treatment of battery hens, Paul Holliday’s sit in under the Housman statue attracted more that 250 signatures to a protest petition.

Paul, a member of Bromsgrove Animal Aid, said there had been an excellent response to the petition, ahead of Common Market chiefs discussing the issue in 1993.

A BROMSGROVE couple had received an unexpected dream wedding present.

Tony Wright and Debra Clarke looked set for a stay at home honeymoon after investing in their first home at Granary Road, Stoke Heath – a two bed starter house costing £59,000.

But builders Westbury ran a scheme offering free holidays to anyone buying a new house from them and on hearing they needed a honeymoon, they offered them a £3,000 all expenses paid trip to visit the United States – a trip that was Tony’s lifetime ambition.

Memory Lane is compiled from the papers dating back to the Messenger's first edition in 1860. The papers are free to view at Bromsgrove Library, in Stratford Road.

For more information call the library on 01905 822722.