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 – April 3rd 1869

John Bulpin, of Williton, a returned soldier, had part of his foot cut off in an accident with a threshing machine in Smallholt. He was taken to the Williton Union workhouse where the remainder of his foot was amputated by Drs Williams, Frost and Middleton. (John Bulpin subsequently became a local preacher.)

100 years ago – April 5th 1919

Most of the Somerset county cricketers of 1914 would be available for the coming season. Robson would be captain and Chidgey would keep wicket. In Williton, a meeting decided to revive the cricket club. A field would have to be obtained as the old one had been ploughed.

50 years ago – April 5th 1969

After rejection of its request for signs giving the name of the village to be erected on approach roads, Brompton Regis Parish Council was to go ahead and put up its own signs – at a cost of less than £10.

25 years ago – April 8th 1994

n Hundreds of West Somerset residents who had been hired to appear alongside Catherine Zeta Jones when filming on Exmoor felt “ripped off” when they were £30 a day instead of £42 as advertised. Drivers, who were paid £34, found they had to work up to 18 hours without a break.