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 - November 13th 1869

Nether Stowey kept Bonfire Night. Fireworks were exploded in all directions and a burning tar barrel was rolled through to streets, being allowed to burn away at the cross. There was no damage to persons or property.

100 years ago - November 15th 1919

The first Two Minutes’ Silence was held, at the King’s suggestion, at 11am on November 11th. In Minehead, the moment was heralded by the sounding of the tan-yard hooter, and in Watchet by the firing of a rocket.

50 years ago - November 15th 1969

Off-duty police officers went to play one of the one-armed-bandits in a Minehead amusement arcade and found it was paying out too much in prizes. The American-made ‘Tic-tac-toe’ type machine paid 1s 6d and 2s 6d – more than the limit of one shilling prizes under a local authority permit.

25 years ago - November 18th 1994

The National Lottery was launched, but operators Camelot failed to get the six West Somerset ticket outlets up and running in time. Hundreds of customers, hyped by the build-up, went to Taunton instead.