January 10

The "Simplified Speling Sosieti" had forwarded proofs of "Nurseri Riems and Simpl Poems: A Furst Reeder in Simplified Speling," prepared by Mr Robert Jackson, Lecturer in Phonetics at the Training College, Dundee, for experimental purposes in certain schools in Scotland, and for private use by members of the society who desired to educate their children in the new spelling.

The children would doubtless appreciate the charm of old friends dressed anew as follows: "Gurlz and boiz cum out tu plai, The muun duz shien az briet az dai; Leev yur super and leev yur sleep, cum tu yur plai-feloez in the street."

50 years ago

Many mothers did not insist on non-inflammable clothing for children because the materials were not sufficiently attractive, said the latest issue of the Drapers Record, and the journal thought that the manufacturers could help.

Commenting on a suggestion that inflammable nightwear should be banned by legislation or by a heavy tax, the paper maintained that neither course would be practicable. It would be impossible to legislate for many thousands of garments made up at home, it said. "The facts, unfortunately, are that parents generally have not been sold on the safety elements.

Manufacturers make, and retailers are willing to sell, non-inflammable clothing, but many mothers will not buy it. We feel, however, that manufacturers could help in minimising the number of fire accidents by producing more attractive garments of non-inflammable material."

25 years ago

Petitions were being presented to 10 Downing Street and the Iranian Embassy in London in the campaign for the release of Mr John McCarthy, the British journalist kidnapped in Beirut nearly 3 years before.

Candlelit vigils were also being organised by the Friends of John McCarthy group to mark his 1000th day in captivity. Church envoy Mr Terry Waite, who had disappeared in Beirut on January 20, 1987 was also being remembered with a service at All Saints' Church, near his home in Blackheath, South-East London. Mr McCarthy had been abducted on his way to Beirut Airport on April 15, 1986, two days after American jets bombed Libya.

A two-hour vigil was planned at Downing Street, at the end of which Mr McCarthy's girlfriend, Miss Jill Morrell, was handing in a petition addressed to Mrs Thatcher. It urged more action to put pressure on Moslem extremists holding Western hostages in the Lebanon. Later a copy of the petition was being handed in at the Iranian Embassy in Princes Gate, after an eight-hour candlelit vigil outside. An opinion poll showed two-thirds of Britons did not think the Government was doing enough to help free the hostages.