MANY people will disagree with Derek North's modest assertion that he is not a hero. After all, the 78-year-old garage owner brought Britain's biggest manhunt to an end.

Even before Sunday, however, Derek was already a hero in the eyes of many motorists.

Rewind to September 2000 and the fuel protests which nearly brought the country to a standstill. Around York not a drop of petrol was to be had. Then a few well-connected souls heard that Derek still had a little left in his tank at his garage on the A19, north of Shipton-by-Beningbrough.

Those who made a discreet telephone inquiry were, the Diary learns, told to return the next morning at six, park nearby, and flash their lights.

So it was that a small queue of cars formed at dawn. As the vehicle at the front flashed its headlamps, Mr North returned the greeting with his torch, like something out of a spy thriller.

Then he quickly served the driver who sped on his way thanking his lucky stars - and heroic Derek North.

THE husband of a colleague was surprised to receive a letter from Hugh Bayley MP, congratulating him on reaching his 18th birthday. It was a little late - Lubos Rychlik having reached that milestone more years ago than he cares to count.

When he read further into Mr Bayley's paean on democracy and how he could benefit from it, the truth began to dawn.

The year anyone turns 18, their name appears in the electoral register with their birthday alongside - the date on which they can first vote. No doubt the MP has written to many of the new adults of 2004 in the hope of winning their votes.

Lubos did make his debut in the register this year, with the date May 1 alongside his name, which is when he became eligible to vote in this country. But that is not his birthday.

Lubos is Czech. And despite the clue of his distinctly un-English name, it doesn't seem to have occurred to our honourable friend the MP for York that his appearance on the electoral roll was due to the much trumpeted expansion of the European Union on May 1.

Nor does he seem to have realised that although Lubos, as a European Union citizen, can cast his ballot in European and local government elections, he is not allowed to take part in General Elections - and therefore cannot vote for Mr Bayley.

INCIDENTALLY, the Diary recently chanced on Hugh's maiden speech to the House of Commons back in May 1992.

"I hope to be involved in debate on the future of the confectionery industry and on the need for the current GATT talks to retain export restitutions so that food manufacturers in the United Kingdom can compete on equal terms with manufacturers from outside the European Community," he told MPs.

He went on to note that "There is a need for new trains and a need for them to be built by BREL in York."

With the carriageworks long gone and Terry's confectionery factory going the same way, this speech reveals how much we have lost in 12 short years. And how ineffectual governments of both persuasions have proved in doing much about it.

THE Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), advises courts on custody cases, and has previously been targeted by protest group Fathers 4 Justice. Now the sign outside its York office in Fishergate has been altered to read Cafca.

Is this a comment on our Kafka-esque laws on parents' rights?

AFTER Britain's Most Wanted Man, who is York's most unwanted man? Suggestions to the usual address...

Write to: The Diary, Chris Titley, The Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN

Email diary@ycp.co.uk

Telephone (01904) 653051 ext 337

Updated: 09:49 Tuesday, July 27, 2004