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 – August 21st 1869

Exford parish church was reopened after restoration. The village choir, which had greatly improved under the direction of Miss F J Greenslade, assembled at the parsonage and sang in procession to the church, where Bishop Chapman preached. The bells rang as heartily as their dilapidated condition would permit.

100 years ago – August 23rd 1919

On the suggestion of Lord St Audries, Stogursey Parish Council decided to petition the Ministry of Transport to make a railway through the district.

50 years ago – August 23rd 1969

Exhibitors at Wiveliscombe Flower Show included Mr G H Jordan, 72, of Langley Cross. For the past 50 years, he had entered the show in his role as head gardener at Langley House and gained over 3000 trophies over the half-century.

25 years ago – August 26th 1994

A public appeal was launched to drive a growing number of ‘cowboy’ cabs out of business. The district council was concerned about an increasing number of reports of unlicensed drivers operating taxis and private hire vehicles illegally.