Tuesday, October 26, 2004

100 years ago: A correspondent called attention to "the excessive leniency" of the magistrates at York Police Court, in the case of a man charged with riotous conduct at St Dennis' School. The prisoner invaded the school playground and behaved abominably in the presence of the children; disgusting language was used, which the children could not fail to hear, and when the defendant left the yard "he used a very bad word in asking a little child to open the gate." The Headmaster stated that the accused was constantly behaving in this manner, yet on making a promise to give up this conduct the defendant was discharged without punishment. The correspondent added "there is not much encouragement for the police nor much protection for the public, and especially the children when offenders are allowed off in this fashion. The only persons for whom there is any consideration and encouragement are the delinquents."

50 years ago: The BBC Gardeners' Question Time panel made a recording in Thirsk, and when the panel asked "What is Thirsk's main industry?" a wit in the audience replied "Backing losers." That wit might be truer to life than he thought, according to columnist John Blunt, because it seemed to him that in efforts to provide the town with its first bus shelter, the Parish Council had certainly backed a loser. The "lofty" officials of the Post Office and Ministry of Works paid a "stylish" visit, and thanks to that the shelter would not be built. The Post Office originally said no to a shelter, as they thought it would cut out light to the ground floor windows and chattering queuers would "upset the snug officials within." The Ministry and the Post Office agreed to meet with the council at the bus stop, most of their party arriving in a chauffeur driven car, and none of them standing at the stop to experience what the public went through. John Blunt pointed out that this "over-large bureaucratic expedition" was at the tax-payers expense, and still the people of Thirsk and district had to queue in the elements.

25 years ago: Residents of Newbridge near Pickering expected to have what was thought to be the only privately funded telephone kiosk. When two petitions calling for a public telephone box were turned down by the Post Office, the hamlet turned to Pickering Town Council to help, but they expressed concerns at setting a precedent if they helped the villagers. Instead they were told "to help themselves," and so a Residents' Association was formed, to raise money for a brick-built telephone kiosk, which resident's would each have their own key to.

Updated: 11:11 Tuesday, October 26, 2004