All our Yesterdays January 17 (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

All our Yesterdays January 17

11:07am Tuesday 17th February 2009

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20 YEARS AGO.

TENDRING residents could be in for a nasty shock when the Government’s new poll tax is introduced next year.

Demands of up to £300 per adult are now estimated when the community charge comes into operation in April 1990.

This compares with a current average rate brill per household of £519.

And it has attracted sharp criticism from local Labour councillors who have always maintained the tax was “unfair.”

It would mean that those living alone would gain when the revolutionary new way of collecting local taxes is brought in.

And a household with two adults and two children over 18 could face a bill of over £1,200.

50 YEARS AGO.

SHOCK news for Brightlingsea residents this week was Mr. Charles H. Sellen’s decision to close down this wek-end the town’s only cinema.

The staff, it is understood, are under notice and the last performance will be tomorrow evening. The closure will bring an end to nearly 50 years of continuous entertainment and leaves Brightlingsea without any form of permanent public entertainment.

Built in 1912 by a local syndicate formed by a well known seaside entertainer, Harry Carr, then performing i the town with his renowned “Merry Scamps,” the Regal proved a popular venue for entertainment from the early days of the silent film.

Many will recall the thrills provided as cowboys and Indians galloped into action to the piano accompaniments of the late Reggie Cooke.

80 YEARS AGO.

A FURTHER meeting of the Clacton unemployed was held at the Ocean Theatre on Tuesday when an organisation was formed, members being required to contribute two pence a week. It was urged that the only cure for unemployment in Clacton was the establishment of an industry, and it was suggested that several small industries such as tomato preserving and fruit bottling might be developed.

Owing to the inclement weather there were not many present and those that had ventured out were congratulated by Mr. F. Suter who presided, on their grit for the cause; “It is going to take them a long time to organise, but when they had organised they would do all that was possible to see that there was work for the unemployed”.

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