WHO says sport and politics don't mix? Steve Galloway could be the man to prove the statement wrong. After all, York's council leader is as staunch a supporter of Darlington Football Club as he is of night-time parking charges.

The Diary hears that Coun Galloway was one of the key speakers at the launch of the York City Foundation, an initiative designed to attract financial backing from the local business community.

He revealed how, during his term as Lord Mayor of York, he and wife Sue had moved out of their home and into the splendid surroundings of the Mansion House.

The Galloways decided to cash in by letting out their own property to a rent-paying tenant during Steve's year of office.

And that tenant? None other than Viv Busby, then a City goal-scoring hero and now, of course, the club's newly-appointed assistant coach.

All of this was 20 years ago. "We have," Coun Galloway declared, "just finished the repairs..."

NOW here's a shop which knows how to treat its customers: Timpson, "the quality service people". We have been sent a little book called How To Make Shopping Fun The Timpson Way. This is the customer care manual given out to all staff of Timpson, the engravers and shoe care specialists with a shop on Newgate Street, York.

It is a great little read and bigger shops could certainly learn some tips.

How about these:

"The Sting. If you see the chance of charging a premium price, resist it, today's customer sees overcharging as a deadly sin."

"Customers come first. No one is more important than a customer waiting to be served, drop what you are doing and serve them at once."

"It's not personal. Whenever a complaint is referred to an area manager or Timpson House, we usually give the benefit of the doubt to the customer. Some shop staff take this personally, please don't, we are aiming to maintain our reputation for good customer service."

Impressive stuff. But what really took our breath away was another item in the chapter on complaints.

"Up to you. You have up to £500 to settle a complaint. We really mean it, you can spend up to £500 to satisfy a complaint without reference to anyone else, and we will always stand behind your decision."

Five hundred smackers to settle a grievance? On the spot? That adds up to a lot of cut keys...

OUR man in the field, Dale Minks, read the piece written in Olde Englifh by John Robson last week.

He too has been on a tour of St Crux and spotted another memorial worth a wider audience inside. "Near this Place Lyeth interred the Body of Roger Belwood, Serjeant at Law. He was a Learned man; Much Experienced & judicious in Law and Equity efpecially: Diligent & Laborious in his Calling; Exactly juft, Honeft & Sincere; Compafsionate, Charitable & Liberal; Mercifull, meeke & Humble; A perfect hater of opprefsion & all injuftice..."

And he was a dab hand at table tennis too.

Updated: 10:45 Monday, October 04, 2004