All our Yesterdays, February 3 (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

All our Yesterdays, February 3

10:36am Tuesday 3rd February 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

20 YEARS AGO.

ANGRY Clacton residents have called for action in a fresh row over gipsy squatters.

Clacton county councillor Roy Smith this week described the state of their latest camp on the West Road car park as “disgusting.”

There were no proper facilities and gipsies had been seen urinating on the site “causing a health hazard and leaving a trail of litter,” said Mr Smith.

Mr Smith, who is a member of the county council’s gypsy working group, accused Tendring Council of “dragging its feet.”

He said the answer was to provide a proper authorised site in the district but, despite repeated calls “the only thing Tendring Council has done is talk.”

50 YEARS AGO.

THERE are signs that drinking by girls and boys under the age of 18 is increasing in North-East Essex, said Superintendent K. Alston in his report to the Clacton annual Licensing Sessions on Monday. Some of this drinking is taking place on licensed premises, he said.

“To determine the age of young persons, particularly in crowded bars, is not easy; in fact it is often difficult, but I would ask licensees to give this matter their close attention and for them and their staffs to exercise the utmost vigilance in preventing the purchase and consumption of young persons,” said the superintendent.

The superintendent commented on the fact that three youths under the age of 18 had been convicted of buying intoxicants for their own consumption on licensed premises and two of the youths had been convicted at the same time for buying drinks for two girls under the age of 18.

60 YEARS AGO.

CHILDREN in Africa, China and India are among thousands of youngsters who are playing to-day with toys made in a one-roomed Clacton “factory” on machinery salvaged from a scrap heap.

The toys, attractive metal constructional sets made of surplus war material, are the creation of a 33 year-old man whose ingenuity is helping to spread the slogan “Made in Clacton-on-Sea” throughout the world.

Name of this enterprising young man is Arthur Allwright and he lives at 349 Old-road. His “factory” is the garage of his home which he has converted into a workshop. The machines on which his toys take shape he built himself from odd pieces of “junk” long since abandoned and useless.

90 YEARS AGO.

HIS many Clacton friends will be pleased to hear that Sgt. Albert T Blair, of the Canadian Forces, has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. The announcement recently appeared in the “Times”.

The young soldier, who came over to the old country in the early days of the war, has seen a great deal of hard fighting, and has participated in the majority of the memorable battles and historic incidents of the war.

Sgt. Blair is the second son of Mr. R. T. Blair, at one time proprietor of the Warwick Castle Hotel. Sgt. Blair has a soft spot in his heart for “the old place” as he calls it, and in a letter to the writer says “that now the period of stress caused by the war has been removed Clacton will again enter into the sphere of prosperity and head the list as one of the most popular and entertaining seaside resorts on the East Coast”.

• Print
• Email
• Share