100 years ago

Mr F Carl, Fleet Street, London wrote: “For the past five years we have, through the medium of your widely circulated journal, succeeded in collecting a very large number of new-laid eggs for the hospitals during Hospital Egg Week.

Over 27,000 eggs were distributed last year amongst the various deserving Metropolitan hospitals, and this year we are anxious to considerably exceed that total, as it was not sufficient for the needs of the patients and hospitals concerned. The collecting will start on May 12th and we should be glad to receive on any day during that week as many new-laid eggs as poultry keepers can spare from their store.

If every reader of your journal who keeps a few fowls would undertake to send at least a dozen eggs we should be able to more than satisfy the hospitals’ requirements. Eggs should be sent to me at 154, Fleet Street, carefully packed and carriage paid. All boxes used will be returned on request.”

 

50 years ago

A Methodist Minister had referred to “Beatlemania” as a “perfectly harmless way of letting off high spirits,” and had pleaded with people to understand it.

He was the Rev Kenneth C Mitchell, of Sherburn Methodist Church, who stated: “The mania is an outlet for young people’s vitality and tension, and people should understand it instead of condemning or ignoring it.” In his monthly news letter, Mr Mitchell asked if society encouraged youth to use its physical and intellectual vitality creatively.

“The community deplores instances of youth’s anti-social conduct, yet makes it almost impossible for them to take any responsible part in organising community life.” He continued that young people could be charged as adults at the age of 16, but could not vote until 21. They were expected to act morally and responsibly in personal relation¬ships, yet they could not marry without parental consent until 21 without a court order. They paid taxes, yet had no voice in how they should be used.

 

25 years ago

More local authorities were being urged to join the campaign to save Linton Lock. Serious structural defects had been discovered in the Grade Two listed structure which could lead to its closure unless emergency repairs were carried out.

Closure could have devastating effects on the local economy and on farming, angling and wildlife, according to North Yorkshire County Planning Officer Mr John Rennilson. He was urging the county planning committee to seek cash help from North Yorkshire finance chiefs for repairs which were likely to cost at least £100,000. The Linton Lock Commissioners were about to launch an appeal to save the structure.