A sad sequel happened at the Railway Station as the bridal party started on their honeymoon. A collision betwixt two trains took place, by which numbers of passengers were severely shaken and bruised, and Mr. Thos. Fehr, Spirit Merchant, Market Place, was maimed for life.
May 28th, 29th, 30th, 1855. A series of fetes took place on the Castle grounds this Whitsuntide, under the management and for the benefit of Mr. Alfred Bunn, of the Opera House, London. Upwards of 20,000 people came to see the “sights,” and it was said that Mr. Bunn cleared £500 by this affair, but he forgot to leave any token of his liberality to our local charities.
Died, July 14th, 1855, Mr. Bagott, Tailor and Draper, High Street. Aged 70 years.
Died, July 27th, 1855, Mr. Joseph Haden, of Dixon’s Green. This gentleman had much to do with the building of St. Thomas’s New Church in 1816.
August 4th, 1855. Hanged at Worcester this morning John Meadows, for the brutal and unfeeling murder of his sweetheart, Ann Mason, at Kateshill, in May last.
September 9th, 1855. Great rejoicings all over the land at the news: “The Russians evacuated Sebastopol after two days’ desperate bombardment by both sea and land by the Allied Forces; they blew up their magazines, sunk their ships, and set fire to the town previous to leaving it, and then they retired to the North side of the Harbour.” Glorious news for Old England!
Died, November 2nd, 1855, Mr. Thos. Guest, junr., Grocer, Market Place. Aged 42 years.
Died, January 24th, 1856, Mr. Josiah C. Cook, Ironmonger, High Street. Mr. Cook was a prominent Freemason in his time, and was universally respected as a friend and neighbour. His remains were followed to the grave, as a mark of fraternity and respect, by many of the leading Freemasons of the district.
PEACE!
March 30th, 1856. A Treaty of Peace was signed at Paris this day, which put an end to the cruel and unsatisfactory Russian War.