A TIME capsule buried nearly 50 years ago has been dug up in Blockley.

The piece of history was found on the site of the new Community Hub, which will be built next to the current village shop, and will include a shop, post office, café and disabled toilet.

Builders found the capsule underneath the old 1960s public toilets, which have now been demolished, after just a few days of excavation.

Inside the Heinz 57 glass jar, was an old edition of the Evesham Journal from February 14, 1964, some pennies and a note from the builder and architect who constructed the loos.

The time capsule was buried by Major Herbert Hoskins, who moved to Blockley in 1950.

His grandson, John, aged 71, who also lives in the village, said despite knowing the time capsule has been buried there, it was nice to uncover a piece of history.

“The paper was quite interesting,” he said. “It’s a piece of history.”

The Journal of that week included a report of a visit by the world’s first spacewoman, Valentina Tereshkova, to Stratford.

The find coincides with a new book Thank You Mister Bosh That’s Close Enough, a collection of diary entries, photographs and letters written by Major Hoskins from the Somme during the First World War.

His grandson put together the book after finding the papers in his late aunt’s bureau, which she had kept since 1978 when his grandfather died.

The papers had been in Mr Hoskins’ possession for 10 years, since his aunt Joan died, but it was only a year ago when he started looking at them more closely.

There was a note on the file to hand the notes to the Museum of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

But on reading them, Mr Hoskins and his wife Frances found them so interesting they thought they would make an interesting book – especially as the centenary of the start of the First World War will be commemorated next year.

“We started looking at them and got rather excited,”

he said. “It was one man’s view of the day-to-day life in the trenches.

“It’s terribly sad in some ways because his brother was killed but it’s not all doom and gloom.

“When they were behind the lines they made their own fun.

“They had a football match and drank champagne.

While a lot of their life was dreadful – and you never knoew when your chum was going to be killed – there was some humour in it.

“Most books on the war are just all facts. This was one man’s view on things and it was interesting.

“We thought it would be of interest to the family and some friends, but we are now receiving interest and orders from all parts of the country and overseas. Both of us are delighted with the way it’s turned out.”

A copy of the book will be placed in a new time capsule, along with other items, and buried on the site of the new community hub.

“It’s virtually 50 years since he [Herbert] put the last one in,” added Mr Hoskins. “It’s continues the theme.”

Thank You Mister Bosh That’s Close Enough costs £9.99 and is available from the Blockley Shop, the Borzoi Bookshop, Stow, Waterstones, WH Smith and the Imperial War Museum.