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 6th 1868

It was a bad week for the Watchet schooner ‘Friends’. In the harbour, it came into contact with another vessel, the Sisters, whose captain fell between the two and was crushed, breaking his thigh and arm. Then, on a voyage to Cardiff, the Friends mate was washed overboard from a small boat the schooner was towing. He was drowned.

100 years ago – March 8th 1919

Following the death of Mr Walter Darby, of Winsford – “Fiddler Walt” – a correspondent wrote a tribute to “this very loved and loving character”. Walt was also a cricketer for 45 years. On one famous occasion, he was late for a match and ran all the way from Winsford to Porlock, then he made 26 and bowled for two hours.

50 years ago – March 8th 1969

The Williton and Dunster Association, formed in 1838, held its annual supper and prize distribution. An increasing membership, and the fact that the “machine still needs the man”, gave cause for optimism.

25 years ago – March 11th 1994

The first PIP – Patient Information Point – computer database to be installed in the South West was set up in the waiting room at the Harley House GP surgery in Minehead. Patients could access it to check ailments, raising their health awareness.