100 years ago.

Frank Powell, Upper House Farm, Leigh Sinton, farm labourer, was charged with stealing 24 lbs of potatoes, value one shilling. He pleaded not guilty. PC Holloway said that acting on information received, he visited Upper House Farm. He concealed himself on the premises and saw defendant move a bag from a shed to a cottage. Witness afterwards went to the cottage and found the bag contained potatoes. He then saw defendant and asked how he accounted for moving the potatoes. He replied: “I shifted them; it’s only a few, the first I have had”. Permission has not been granted to take potatoes from the farm. Chairman said as this was a first offence, defendant would be dealt with leniently. He would be bound over in the sum of £5 for 12 months.

Malvern Gazette, December 5, 1913.

50 years ago.

AN elderly Malvern woman was rescued from the Severn at Worcester yesterday by police constable Ropy Hughes, who dived in and dragged her to the side just as she was being swept downstream. At 10am, a householder in Diglis Avenue spotted the woman in the river and immediately called the police. One of the first to arrive was PC Hughes, a strong swimmer, who promptly peeled off some of his clothes and dived into the chilly water. He managed to reach they woman and pulled her to the bank where Worcester firemen were standing by to administer artificial respiration. The woman was still conscious and was rushed to the Royal Infirmary where her condition was later described as “fairly satisfactory”.

Malvern Gazette, December 6, 1963.

25 years ago.

GOVERNORS at two Upton schools have taken tentative steps towards a merger. Governors of Hanley Castle High and The Hill Junior High met last Friday to discuss proposals currently before education secretary Kenneth Baker. Hereford and Worcester County Council has backed plans to merge the schools and create a new school for 11 to 18 year olds on the Hanley Castle site. Hill School staff and parents have been fighting moves to close the junior high, which takes pupils from 11 to 14 years, since the suggestion was first made more than a year ago. But this week, Hills School chairman Lady Jean Huntingdon-Whiteley confirmed her board will work closely with Hanley Castle with a view to a merger in 1991.

Malvern Gazette, December 9, 1988.