How we reported on the Easter weekend in Worcester 1955 …

The Worcester Evening News & Times ran front pages announcing the news on Maundy Thursday. Easter fell on April 10 1955 – the same weekend as this. Worcester was alive with tourists and holidaymakers hitting the shops and basking in the sun by the river.

“Travellers by road, rail and air…there were indications that day-trippers would reach new peak figures,” our article read. Actress Fenella Fielding was also pictured with her Easter bonnet that was “trimmed with toy chicks”. Judy Garland’s iconic bonnet in the film Easter Parade – released just a few years earlier – had seen women everywhere jump on the trend of bigger and better hats.

Seasonal adverts for Marstons, Ford Motor House and the Porcelain Works were featured offering “happy motoring” and the like for the Bank Holiday weekend. Easter was a time for praise at church and celebrating fresh starts. Revellers enjoying the sun by the river were pictured with the caption “This is the life!”

Our Easter Monday front page read: “It was the sort of bank holiday that winter-weary workers had dreamed about. “On Sunday afternoon the temperature rose to 60 degrees at Worcester for the first time this year. “There were no serious accidents…however, a large number of motorists holding quarterly licences had neglected to renew them.”

There were also stories about a plane that was forced to land in a field in London and how teachers needed a “substantial pay rise” (no change there then!) Pershore United were celebrating glory with their cup win beating Norton Rangers 4-0 at the Recreation Ground. Spring fashion was also key for housewives to read about in our column by Elsie M.

Smith. “Fashion cannot stand still it must either take a definite step forward, or borrow its ideas from the past. “If spring one year has been filled with many collections full of new, revolutionary trends, the following year they tend to take many backwards glances.”

Elsie was right.

And nearly 70 years later here we are, still ready to welcome spring with open arms, pull out the lighter colours from the back of the wardrobe and enjoy the Easter break.

Happy Easter!