Tuesday, November 15, 2005

100 years ago

The season, which contrary to the general opinion was good at Whitby, being over, attention was now being paid to local matters. The bridge was the burning question, and it was now known, despite an elaborate pretence of secrecy, that an agreement had been reached between the local and Northallerton Councils for the latter to pay the former a sum of £10,000. This sum was to absolve the Northallerton authority from all future liability as to providing and maintaining a bridge at Whitby. Much water had run through Whitby Bridge since its renewal on modern lines was first mooted, and many diverse opinions yet existed as to the wisdom or necessity of such renewal, also as to whether the £10,000 was sufficient compensation to the local authority for the assumption of the erstwhile county burden.

50 years ago

One of two men who appeared before Scarborough Magistrates, applying for bail, said that Leeds Prison did not scare him because it was like a "holiday camp," and he had better food there than his wife and five young children, aged between six and fifteen, had to eat. "I am living better in gaol than at home. We have two white sheets and three white blankets to sleep in." One of his reasons for applying for bail was that he wanted to go out and see his wife and children. He wanted to help them, he added. "When my wife came to see me she told me she had had a slice of fried bread for her dinner. We had soup, cottage pie, potatoes, cabbage, peas and steamed pudding. I had a better meal than my wife and family and I don't think it is fair."

25 years ago

Humberside Area Health Authority was to investigate the possibility of introducing fluoride into all water supplies in the county. The decision to put the matter on the agenda for its meeting the following February -- by which time relevant reports would have been prepared--was taken by the authority after hearing a report on the difference between the dental health of children in Scunthorpe and those in other parts of the county. The fluoridation of water on the Humber's south bank began in 1968 and a seven-year survey of children aged five, eight and twelve in Scunthorpe and at Corby--where water was fluoridated to a lesser extent--disclosed far less dental decay among children in the Scunthorpe area, the authority was told. After hearing reports from researchers it was decided to put the matter on a future agenda, despite strong opposition from Humberside County Councillor Mrs Betty Eaton.

Updated: 08:44 Tuesday, November 15, 2005