Echoes from the past

100 years ago.

ALL roads led to the Link yesterday afternoon, it having been announced that Mr Gustav Hamel, the well-known aviator, would fly over from Worcester and give a demonstration on Jamaica Meadow, near St Matthias’ Church. The real facts were that Mr Hamel did not appear, that no communication was received from him as to why he did not appear, and that all efforts to find him proved unavailing. The time picked for Mr Hamel’s exhibition was 3 o’clock, and long before that hour arrived, Church Road was black with people. The crowd could be put at a moderate estimate at quite 2.000. All waited anxiously for the first indication of the airman’s approach, but he came not.

Malvern Gazette, November 7, 1913.

50 years ago.

THE chairman of the Highways and Health committee was questioned by Councillor H W T Squibb at Tuesday’s meeting of Malvern Urban District Council about the dangerous condition of the footpath in Cowleigh Bank, between Cowleigh Road and St Peter’s Road. Mr Squibb said that because of the uneven surface, a pedestrian fell and was off work for three weeks. He asked how long the footpath would be allowed to remain in such a dangerous state. Mr J V H Thompson, the committee chairman, said that he was aware of the condition of the footpath, but did not accept the adjective ‘dangerous’ as one which properly described its condition generally.

Malvern Gazette, November 8, 1963.

25 years ago.

A MORTAR bomb and a crossbow have been surrendered to police during the recent firearms amnesty. In all, 109 various weapons and 3,168 rounds of ammunition were handed in by Malvern, Ledbury and Upton people. In common with the rest of the country, many weapons handed in were of military origin, dating from both World Wars. There was a high proportion of pistols, but a smaller number of shotguns. Smith and Wesson, Luger and Mauser handguns were handed in, along with a World War One pistol with a long barrel. Other weapons included one crossbow with bolts, one mortar bomb, nine air pistols, one railway warning flare, two starting pistols, one bayonet and six knives.

Malvern Gazette, November 11, 1988.