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 – March 12th 1870

The pedestrian, Richards, walked from Wiveliscombe to Bishops Lydeard and back three times, a distance of 52 miles, in 11 hours 55 minutes. He walked ten miles backwards.

100 years ago – March 14th 1920

Mr W H Gardner, of Washford, who retired after 45 years’ service as postman, was awarded the British Empire Medal.

50 years ago – March 14th 1970

It was drier to stand outside in the rain than to use the bus shelter at the bottom of Withycombe Lane, it was said at the parish assembly. The glass in the shelter had been of the toughened sort but it was taken away: whole.25 years ago – March 17th 1995

The National Trust became embroiled in a new row when it came out in favour of hunting with hounds to control deer and foxes on part of Exmoor. It backed proposals to fence the League Against Cruel Sports sanctuary near Porlock so that hunting could be resumed around it.