Saturday, February 19, 2005

100 years ago: The ancient village of Barwick-in-Elmet has many claims to fame. One of these, according to a writer in Barkston Ash, was that Dr Timothy Bright, described as "the inventor of modern shorthand", lived and died there. For his service to literature Queen Elizabeth presented him with the livings of Barwick and Methley, valued at £1,500. An enthusiastic collector of shorthand works, who lived at Manston, stated that there was only one of Dr Bright's books in existence, and that was in the London University library.

50 years ago: After an increase in old age pensions, John Blunt asked if we were really any nearer solving "the human problems the old folk set us". The columnist asked if want was banished when the money bags were reluctantly opened. "Does Whitehall gold combat the dark loneliness of solitary lives with a warm and illuminating twinkle? With the shouts for financial help dying down, we may be able to hear the pitiful calls of the lonely, the unwanted, and the ailing." He repeated a plea made by the Archbishop of Westminster for everyone to take responsibility for those that live with the bleak and dispiriting loneliness that dwelt behind the faded curtains of so many once bustling homes up and down the country, added to this was the steady onslaught of feebleness, and "the knowledge that old folk have, in extreme cases, lain dead for days and no one the wiser". The Archbishop called for the setting up of Old Age Pensioner Committees, the columnist reminding readers that "we are today only rubbing our startled eyes at the prospect likely in a score or so years' time when our population will be top heavy with old people. Now is the time to lay foundations capable of bearing the top weight. We've got to meet the challenge of our ageing population and the Cardinal suggests one of the best ways of doing it I have heard to date. Whatever your faith, get behind him."

25 years ago: Selby District Council were considering giving Selby Town Council cash help for meeting costs of Christmas street decorations. Members of the district council's Amenities Committee agreed at a meeting that the town council's request for cash help should be further considered by the Amenities Grants Sub-committee. The previous Christmas the town council had been faced with unexpected expenditure with the Christmas lights, with almost £2,000 being paid out for new cable.

Updated: 11:37 Saturday, February 19, 2005