Tadcaster is in a permanent state of righteous indignation at the astonishing cancellation of the continental market by the actions of Humphrey Smith, owner of Sam Smith's Brewery.

A public meeting and also a protest march have been suggested at Tadcaster. No chance!

Mr Smith will be aware that his home town has never been a hotbed of revolutionaries. The 14th century Wat Tylers of this world would never have been able to recruit dedicated rabble-rousers from this peace-loving brewery town.

Nevertheless, there was a very serious demo at Tadcaster in 1865 when an effigy of the matron of the town's workhouse was burned.

Although Tadcaster had a population of only 2,500 souls, 1,500 Tadcastrians took to the streets and it was reported that the marchers congregated and protested outside Lord Londesborough's Town Hall. Ironically, a building which is now part of Sam Smith's brewery's office block.

Ida Mary Goodrick,

Woodlands Avenue, Tadcaster.

Updated: 09:37 Tuesday, May 31, 2005