100 years ago

November 25, 1911

THE match at Evesham on Saturday between old rivals Evesham United and Badsey Rangers proved, as was anticipated, a keenly fought struggle. On both sides the defence was stronger than the attack, though the Evesham forwards as a whole were superior to the Badsey front line. It was regrettable than an element of roughness entered into the game and it must be admitted that the visitors were chiefly responsible for this. The Badsey backs occasionally resorted to tactics which exhibited more violence than skill, and on several occasions used much unnecessary vigour. In the second half of the game the Rangers held the upper hand almost throughout, and were unfortunate not to at least equalise. The forward line was the weak spot in the Badsey team but the defence was sound, and the half-backs gave an excellent display, while the kicking of the two backs was prodigious. The Evesham forwards were only moderate, but the half-back and back play was excellent and Bell, as the ‘last line of defence’, brought off several very smart saves.

75 years ago

November 28, 1936

WOMEN competed side by side with men in the annual sprout picking championship of England, held at Charlton, near evesham, on Tuesday. The fact it was cold and foggy – it was a typical November day with a decided nip in the air – did not really handicap the contestants, but conditions were unpleasant for hundreds who had gathered from a wide area to witness the interesting struggle. Fortunately, however, the weather compared more favourably with that of the last competition. On that occasion it was the coldest January day for 10 years and only 16 competitiors braved the elements to compete under appalling conditions.

Competing for the title this year were 46 men and two women over one and a half hours. They were remunerated for their picking at the rate of 4d per net of 20lb, and the amount they earned averaged slightly more than 3s each per hour. The contest, the third of its kind, was held at White House Farm, Charlton, by kind permission of Mr J M Stokes, president of the competition. This year’s champion was G Hunting, of Ashton-under-Hill, who about five years ago claimed to have picked 40 pots of sprouts in about eight hours. His feat was recorded in The Journal at the time and the controversy which arose out of the claim largely influenced the promotion of a championship in the first place.

40 years ago

November 25, 1971

A MAN, aged 58, was treated at Evesham General Hospital on Monday morning after the car he was driving in left the Evesham to Broadway road at Childswickham bank, struck a telegraph pole, demolished a lamp standard and ended up bonnet first in a deep ditch. The driver was from Pensnett, Brierly Hill.