EACH week in the Free Press we look back at what made the news 150, 100, 50 and 25 years ago. Here is a sample of the items featuring in the This Was The News column this week.

150 years ago – September 4th 1869

Crowcombe celebrated harvest home and the village was gay with decorated arches. Four of the oldest labourers carried in procession a cereal and flower device showing a sickle, beer firkin, and loaf of bread. A thanksgiving service was followed by a great luncheon in Crowcombe Park by permission of Colonel Coventry Carew. Over 600 men, women and children were present.

100 years ago – September 6th 1919

Williton Women’s Institute organised a baby show. The winners were: under six months and champion of the show, William Chaplin, Doniford; six to 12 months, Mary Luxon, Williton; over 12 months, Roland Chorley, Sampford Brett.

50 years ago – September 6th 1969

Miss Gay Ash, 19, of Wheddon Cross, who had only recently left Minehead School, was caught up in riots in Czechoslovakia on the anniversary of the Russian invasion of the country. She and her friends were arrested by police in Brno and driven back to the Czech-Austrian border from where they had to hitchhike home. She said “the students had a lot of those Molotov cocktail things” and described seeing huge tanks, a lot of firing and tear gas.

25 years ago – September 9th 1994

Farmer’s son Neil McCallum was given planning approval to start a camel trekking business on the site of a former chicken farm near Over Stowey.