The Chairman Goes On Late Turn!
Page 26
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
MO doubt about it, the • chairman of Southend-on-Sea passenger transport committee is a live wire. Just before his election as mayor early last year he flew off for a week's export promotion tour of the U.S.A., having qualified as a pilot at Southend's own airport. Now, as retiring mayor, Ald. Norman Harris has announced that, subject to management and trade union approval, he is going to drive a corporation bus for a week.
Announcing his plan at a recent "meet the mayor" function, he told transport department members that when he'd done so, he was sure he'd have an even greater appreciation of what they do. But transport manager Mr. W. Baxendale had the last word. Thanking the mayor for his hospitality and his kind remarks about the department, he said " I think it will be wiser to put you on late turn, because of getting up in the morning."
History in Gravel
THERE may not be gold in them thar hills, but there's
I history in the gravel pits. Just how much, and how interesting, is told in a splendid little booklet "Gravel Pits and Archeology" just published by the Sand and Gravel Association of Great Britain, who co-operate with archeological interests to a very creditable degree. The ballast digging companies are apparently in the right spots to find fossils, skeletons and spearheads, as the director of London University's institute of B20 archeology points out that these gravelly deposits were important living places for our ancestors.
You never know what you may find in a tipper.
Sadness
UPON my desk the 'other day appeared an attractive blue glass ashtray bearing the picture of a London architectural gem, The Little Georgian House, in Euston Road. This masterpiece is to be demolished to make way for the roadbuilders.
With it came this verse, from the directors of Car Mart, Ltd. (who had sent the present to me):—
Frail phantom of that spacious age Of patch and powder, coach and chair And sauntering beaux so debonair.
ill-suited 1'6 this bustling stage Where traffic crawls and drivers rage, Bath House, farewell! The tide mast flow, And Marples says the house must go.
We bow to it, yet dare engage That driven from home by Mar pies' schemes The Georgian ghosts will vex his dreams.
1 do hope they sent one to the Minister. My guess is he would be Very appreciative.
Hard-worked
AWITNESS told Ronald Jackson, the South Wales Licensing Authority, that his main work was the delivery of hot dogs and hot cross buns to football matches. I'm not surprised he was seeking (successfully, I am glad to record) a B licence for his C-licensed van. The work sounds distinctly seasonal to me, unless the Welsh are particularly fond of hot cross buns!