100 Years Ago December 17, 1910 To ensure due delivery of parcels and Christmas cards, Evesham Post Office say they should be posted early, and if possible not later than Friday morning, December 23. It should be specially noted that on December 23 and 24 the head office letter box will close for the general night mail at 7.30pm instead of 8pm “Extra stamps” will then be accepted until 8pm, if handed over the counter. On Christmas Day there will be a delivery of letters and parcels throughout the whole district. On bank holidays, December 26 and 27, there will be one delivery only. Day mail despatches will be suspended and the town letter boxes will be cleared once only at the same time as Sundays. No business will be transacted at the town sub-offices, and the head office will discontinue money order, etc., business at noon. It is earnestly requested that the public throughout the district refrain from offering intoxicants to postmen.

75 Years Ago December 14, 1935 A meeting of Fladbury Parish Council was held in the Schools on Monday evening when the clerk (Mr W Woodward) read a letter from the owners of the Chequers Paddock stating that the obstruction of the footpath had been removed. A letter was also read from Mr K Gill Smith, of Evesham, relative to the path at Craycombe, which stated that a proper style would be erected at the end of the path on the Evesham-road. A letter from the Commons, Open Spaces and Footpaths Preservation Society was read congratulating the council on their vigorous action in keeping open the public footpaths and rights of way in the parish, and it was decided to become a member of the society and pay the annual subscription of 10s. 6d. The clerk was authorised to procure the survey maps for the marking of all footpaths and rights of way in the parish.

50 Years Ago December 16, 1960 There will be no illuminated official illuminated Christmas tree in Evesham this year, it was decided by the town council (sitting as general purposes committee) on Wednesday. The borough surveyor (Mr J Hodson) reported that a tree 15 to 20 feet high would cost in the region of £40 to £50. This would include purchase, carting, erection, dismantling and insurance. Ald Mrs A Nightingale said she did not think they should spend public money on a Christmas tree because the children, for whom it was especially provided, already had them at school and at parties. “I thought the last time we had one it was quite wasted; very few people hardly looked at it,” she said. Coun R L Cox said he was in favour of a tree as it contributed to the festive season. Coun Mrs M G Pitcher said that if they had £50 to spend they could show the Christmas spirit in a better way, by providing a number of old people with Christmas fare.