100 years ago.

MR F A Moerschell, proprietor of the Imperial Hotel, is about to retire from the active management of the hotel and take up his residence elsewhere, probably near London. It is not his intention to entirely sever his connection with the business or the local government of the town. The hotel will be conducted by a manager, and Mr Moerschell hopes to make periodical visits to Malvern and to retain his seat on the Urban Council, which he has occupied for the past 14 years. Mr Moerschell arrived in England over 40 years ago after having served through the Franco-German War, where he and his brother both obtained the coveted Iron Cross, corresponding to our VC.

Malvern Gazette, January 30, 1914.

50 years ago.

STEPS are being taken to stop poor quality apples getting on to the market, Mr C P Norbury of Leigh Sinton, chairman of the National Farmers' Union Fruit Committee, said at the union's meeting in London on Wednesday, Immature, outgraded, scabby and small apples sometimes found their way to both wholesale and retail. "Such fruit, although in the minority, clutters the market, depresses prices and is a disgrace to the horticultural industry," he said. THe NFU, in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, aimed to prevent such fruit getting to the market. This could be done by removing trees which bore poor-quality fruit, and by grading all produce.

Malvern Gazette, January 31, 1964.

25 years ago.

VILLAGERS in Hanley Swan are rallying around to save their village pond, which is drying up because of the lack of rainfall and lack of natural drainage into the pool, home of a number of new species. Last month, 2,000 gallons of water were poured into the pond at the Hanley Swan crossroads, and some of the fish have been rescued, to be cared for in a villager's garden ponds. Parish councillors met county engineer Don Pardoe last week to see what steps can be taken to get more water into the pond, and Mr Charles Finch said this week that a scheme was being put to the parish council. The plan is to pipe in water now draining into the nearby wood.

Malvern Gazette, February 3, 1989.