Hard work deals with snowfall (From Malvern Gazette)

Hard work deals with snowfall

8:10am Friday 27th January 2012 in Malvern Memories

THEY still had proper winters in Malvern 100, years ago, if the reports in the Gazette are to be believed, although the local authority seemed to rise admirably to the occasion.

"Last week's snowfall equalled approximately a total weight of 41,500 tons on the highways of Malvern Urban District Council, probably the heaviest fall since 1881," reported the paper.

"The new snow plough was brought into requisition for the first time and was of inestimable use, as a clear track through the principal thoroughfares was cut very quickly in a manner which would not have been attempted by manual labour, and it cleared over 8,500 tons.

"Some 240 men were engaged in clearing the paths etc, and over 30 carts have removed nearly 3,000 tons of snow, so that the necessary inconvenience had been reduced to a minimum.

"The summer beat all records for drought and heat, and December and January are busting all records for rainfall, number of wet days and lack of sunshine," said the report.

"These two months have now a record of over 12 inches rainfall, which is almost the whole total rainfall of the first nine months of last year.

"Needless to say, the whole of the reservoirs are full and overflowing, and the pumping plant at Bromsberrow is enjoying a well-earned rest after raising 80 million gallons of water during the summer."