100 years ago.

I learn that a bird, hopping about a field in Poolbrook, happened upon an old copy of the Gazette. Discovering possibilities of a nest in the paper, the feathered one hastened to develop them, and the other day, several eggs appeared in its literary dwelling. I hardly knew whether the Gazette may feel any compliment in the performance.

Malvern Gazette, May 7, 1909.

A REMARKABLY successful concert was given by the Colwall Choral Society on Friday afternoon last at the Workmen’s Hall, Colwall, in aid of the expenses of the society. The committee (Miss Ada Ballard, Miss Holland, Miss Lake and Miss Chorley) had been most fortunate in securing the kind help of the well-known singer Miss Pattie Hornsby. Miss Patti Hornsby, accompanying herself in a most artistic manner, charmed the audience with three sets of songs, and also gave a striking recitation with musical accompaniment of her own composition. >

Ledbury Free Press, April 24, 1909.

50 years ago.

A group of 30 students, with their tutors, from Stockholm and Uppsala universities, will be coming to Malvern from July 15 until August 11. Hospitality in local homes is still wanted for these paying guests whose ages range from 15 to 19 years. In the daytime they will be taking a course in the English way of life at the Piers Plowman Club and the Priory Lodge Hall.

Malvern Gazette, May 8, 1959.

TWENTY-one years of devoted service to fighting fires in Ledbury and district was officially recognised on Monday when Mr Ron Juckes, of 70 The Homend, was presented with the long service and good conduct medal awarded by Herefordshire Fire Brigade. Mr A R C Turner, chairman of Ledbury Urban Council, pinned on the medal on Mr Juckes’ uniform during a short ceremony, which preceded Ledbury Urban Council meeting on Monday. Before making the award Mr Turner, in referring to the recipients’ 21 years with the local brigade, said it was a record equalled by few and one of which he could be justly proud.

Ledbury Reporter, May 8, 1959.

25 years ago.

Nearly half the pupils in the Malvern area were told to stay at home yesterday as striking teachers turned out in their hundreds to support a county-wide mass NUT protest meeting in the Winter Gardens. Most local schools were affected to some extent by the one-day strike, but only one - Malvern Link Primary in Somers Park Avenue - where seven of the ten staff took action - was forced to close completely, keeping all its 260 children at home.

Malvern Gazette, May 10, 1984.

LEDBURY Playgroups are in desperate need of somewhere cheaper and more permanent to hold their sessions for the under fives and their mums, the recent annual town meeting was told by the chairman Mrs Sue Andrew. She suggested that part of the old primary school building would be ideal for the purpose. She said hiring the Community Centre and Methodist Halls cost them £1,332 a year - more than they paid to their supervisors who earned only £4 for a three-hour session. It meant that the playgroups, run for the most part by volunteers, had to charge 70p a session to parents of youngsters attending. This was expensive for anyone with children attending two or three times a week, or with more than one child.

April 26, 1984.