Thursday, March 2, 2006

100 years ago

The second reading of the Education (Provision of Meals) Bill was moved in the House of Commons. Mr W T Wilson stated that it enabled the local education authority to provide food for underfed school children and recover the cost from the parent or guardian, but such provision was not to be deemed parochial relief. It was the duty of the State to see that the children were well fed. It had been said that children were the best assets of a nation; that being so let them make those assets as valuable as possible. The money invested in this way would be returned with interest, and in the name of humanity and Christianity he appealed to the House to pass the Bill.

50 years ago

A suit was one of the most important and most hard worked of garments of a woman's wardrobe, being in constant demand from February to June. Therefore careful consideration ought to be given to the style and material most suited to an individual's needs before starting out on a shopping expedition for a new one. For 1956, the choice was large; jackets ranged from mere chest protectors just covering the bust, to the more bulky tapered knee length styles, or the near full length coat, with many styles in between. The majority of the skirts were slim, but there were pleated ones as well for those who preferred them. A Terylene classic with two skirts, one reed slim, the other gracefully pleated would prove a good friend to many women. With the permanent pleats, crease resistance and washable qualities these Terylene fabric suits were an investment.

25 years ago

A birthday party, tinged with sadness, was celebrated at York Station by rail enthusiasts. It was the 20th anniversary since British Rail's Deltic No 55 022 had come into service -- the oldest of its class still in operation. Its days were numbered because the powerful diesel was being phased out. Members of the Deltic Preservation Society spilt bubbly and passed round birthday cake in honour of the old workhorse. The diesel had a special headboard to mark the occasion and about 150 members travelled on the scheduled 12.20 from London. "Some of them travelled from as far away as Edinburgh to get on the train at King's Cross," said Mr Roger Newling-Goode, the society's national organiser. Earlier in the week it looked as though the engine, The Royal Scots Grey, would not be there for the celebration. "British Rail called us and said it had failed and wouldn't be available. But the maintenance staff got it into shape in time, and we would like to thank them."

Updated: 08:41 Thursday, March 02, 2006