HOLY Well To Become A Show Place was the headline in the Gazette 50 years ago, telling how the firm that had recenttly aquired the landmark wanted to improve it.

The story said that J H Cuff and Co, which owned the well, thought to date back to Saxon or even Druidic times, had just been bought out, and Mr C Best, managing director of the new firm, said that "flower gardens would be laid out, the place painted, a small car park made, and visitors warmly welcomed".

"It was his firm's intention to make this the fountainhead of their business activities, and, at the same time, to make it a credit to the district which he personally had long known and admired.

"New plant costing £50,000 was now being installed and it was anticipated that by April, additional staff would be employed.

"Mr Best said before acquiring this historic spring he had carefully taken note of market research which has assured him of the unique quality of the Malvern water. It was his fellow directors' aim to publicise the name of Malvern, not only nationally but all over the world."

The same edition of the Gazette noted that West Malvern had acquired "an outstanding interesting example of modern architecture" in the shape of the new music school at St James's School.

"Designed by Mr N Seton Morris, the block is just above the old Westminster Arms Hotel, now also part of the school.

"It has pleasant, spacious hall for choral or orchestral work: above are ten sound-proof rooms in pleasant contemporary style, with wide windows opening put towards the Malverns or the Welsh hills, and with thermostatic heating."

The building was officially opened by an old girl of the school and noted musician, Miss Isobel Dunlop.