From Our Files: Hawk in a flap...gifts for soldiers...trouser steak...plans for park
50 YEARS AGO
“Britain must ban the Ben if our economy is to survive,” said Patrick McNair Wilson MP, one of the Tory Party Industrial Affairs spokesmen, said of Tony Benn.
“Benn and his policies are the biggest deterrent to enterprise and success that has confronted this nation since the war.”
“Benn wants to grab to grab the private shipbuilders who are now doing better than for many years.
“Has he forgotten that it is the State supported shipyards which have really soaked the taxpayer?”
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When Mrs Linda Bailey of Stanley Road, Highcliffe, was told by her daughter Heather that there was a “great big bird” in the greenhouse she did not expect to be confronted by a sparrow hawk.
Not being disposed to argue with the bird in the greenhouse which was about a foot long and has a wing span of over two feet, Mrs Bailey threw some bread down outside the open door to entice it.
But the bird of prey, described of “very destructive to young birds and animals” did not get tempted and it was about another half an hour before it finally decided to leave the greenhouse, much to Mrs Bailey’s relief.
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Two soldiers in Northern Ireland who come from Burley have not been forgotten by the villagers.
Burley parish council had decided to send them a regular supply of local newspapers and magazines. The two soldiers are John Sibley and Simon Barton.
25 years ago
It transported young children in a goat-cart this time hauling Philip, 7, and brother George, 4, Fordham who were holidaying with their parents from their home in Hertfordshire.
“We appear to have made a bit of history and the Royal Ocean Racing Club seem a bit pleased, I believe,“ was the modest response of Jo Birchall when contacted at Plymouth by the A&T soon after she and Lorna Graham had crossed the Fastnet race finish line.
The two 27-year-olds from Lymington were the first double-handed crew, male or female, to be granted permission by the RORC to take part in this grueling race of 605 miles.
Competing against crews of up to nine the two ladies finished exhausted but elated a highly commendable 13th out of 55 in their class and 48th out of 205 overall.
“I think we sailed very well, “said Jo, “especially considering other crews had mostly nine on board. We had to stay awake enough for manoeuvring and changing sails, but it was very hard. We kept awake drinking coffee and concentrating.”
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A Ringwood store where a man stole a £7.15 steak and stuffed it down his trousers asked for compensation when he appeared in court as they could not sell it because of where he had put it.
He was seen at Safeway store putting the steak in his clothes by a store detective.
He was fined the price of the steak and ordered to pay £25 in court costs.
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Plans to redevelop the closed Wick Ferry holiday park into a homes and hotel have been given the green light by borough councilors.
Local traders in Christchurch had feared the loss of the former Pontins complex which attracted thousands of visitors of year to the town could put many of them out of business.
Christchurch planners agreed and rejected a scheme by Berkley Homes for 87 homes, a restaurant and chandlery.
After months of negotiations the company finally came back with a plan for 69 dwellings with a 60-bed hotel on the river frontage which has now been approved.
