A CALL heard in those far-off days of National Service from a regular to a new National Serviceman would be, “Get some in.” This denoted that the regular had many years of service, whereas the NS chap had none.

This would appear to be a good watchword to resurrect. The possibility of power cuts this winter prompts the “Get some in” credo. So what does that old phrase refer to? Candles, pure and simple.

Why should we get a stock of candles in? I read an article the other day in which the boss of the National Grid, Steven Holliday, said that old power stations could be “de-mothballed” and put online if power demand got too high.

Plus manufacturers might be asked to turn off machinery on peak afternoons.

So how can a supposedly world leader have got to the level of a Third World country with its shambolic energy supplies?

Unfortunately our Government follows every order from the EU and one of these orders was for shutting down coal-fired power stations.

Four of our nuclear plants are out of commission, although Mr Holliday says “two could be ready by the end of the year”.

So everything points to those 1970s-style blackouts.

Philip Roe, Roman Avenue South, Stamford Bridge, York.