Saturday 14 December 1963
A rush-hour train, packed with commuters, crashed yesterday. The train left Liverpool Street, London at 5.29 pm for Gidea Park, Essex, but as it pulled out of the station, the last coach ran off the rails. A woman was killed, thirty-four people were injured, and another girl was trapped in the coach. Police, firemen and medical teams worked for two hours to free the girl. Their efforts were successful and the girl was taken to the London Hospital on Whitechapel Road.
The Beatles are going to court. They are seeking damages for alleged libel and injurious falsehood from two Blackpool companies for misuse of their name.
The film studios at Shepperton, Middlesex will close down tonight for four months. There are no bookings until April. One hundred and eighty men have been made redundant.
Police in Birmingham are on the hunt for Joey the monkey. Joey escaped from his owner, Mr Basil Morgan. He leapt in and out of houses, startled women and evaded the men who chased him. He also leapt through a window and stole 70 year old Mrs Rosina Studley’s dinner. Escaping over the rooftops, Joey was still free last night.
“We girls started a ‘Sneeze Box’ in our work room at the beginning of the year. We put a penny into the box every time we sneezed and after 2,736 sneezes have collected £11 8s for your Christmas Appeal.” – Nine Sneezers, Richmond, Surrey.
The Football Association may close Goodison Park after continuous trouble at Everton’s home games. The latest incident involved stones being thrown at Chelsea manager Tommy Docherty. Meanwhile, Arsenal are to lay a £10,000 “electric blanket” beneath the turf at Highbury so that, should we get snow like last winter, the pitch will remain playable.
Snow fell in Sussex, Kent, Bedfordshire and Hampshire yesterday, the coldest day since February 25.
Television highlights: Dr Who – science fiction series – The Firemaker. The Avengers – Don’t Look Behind You. That Was The Week That Was.
Radio highlights: Record Roundabout. Memory and Imagination.
Weather: snow and sleet, cold. Outlook – sleet. 3c, 37f.
Sunday 15 December 1963
The Home Secretary has refused to reprieve Dennis John Whitty, 22, and Russell Pascoe, 23. The men murdered Cornish farmer William Rowe, 64. Whitty will hang at Winchester and Pascoe at Bristol.
It was Shiver Saturday throughout Britain yesterday with snow and ice reported over most of the country. In London the temperature fell to zero for the first time this winter. The heaviest snowfalls were in Kent and Sussex. Icy roads are making driving dangerous and motorists have been urged to take extra care.
Alfred Hitchcock’s favourite plot: you are in a vast, echoing assembly car plant, walking slowly beside a chassis as it takes shape. You follow it as it grows, piece by piece, towards completion. And then, as the finished car rolls off the line, a door swings open and a body falls out. “All I have to do is explain how it happened and I have a helluva story,” Mr Hitchcock said.
Kathy Kirby has been voted Britain’s number one girl singer in a pop magazine national poll, ahead of Cleo Laine, Shirley Bassey and Dusty Springfield.
“This year, some children are asking for colour television sets,” said Father Christmas at Selfridges.
“I wonder how many children had nightmares after watching Dr Who? If this tale of suspense and horror was shown in the cinema, I’m sure it would receive an “X” certificate.” – T Anderson, Exeter.
Football Results: First Division – Fulham 2 Everton 2, Liverpool 1 Blackburn 2, Manchester United 3 Sheffield Wednesday 1, Spurs 2 Stoke 1, West Ham 2 Chelsea 2, Wolves 2 Arsenal 2. Top three – Blackburn, Spurs, Arsenal.
Television highlights: Sunday Night from the Prince of Wales with Gerry and the Pacemakers. Play – A Local Boy with Jack Hedley. Play – The Swindler with Ronald Lewis.
Radio highlights: Join in and Swing. The Reith Lectures.
Weather: cold but mainly dry with sunny spells. Outlook – heavy snow showers.
Monday 16 December 1963
Women who live in Folkestone, Kent have been accused of being too snooty to work at a factory. The accusation comes from Mr J H Miller, the owner of a knitwear factory. He was offering jobs for 270 women, but only 130 applied. Mr Miller will now open a plant in Glenrothes, Scotland.
For twenty minutes last night planes could not land at Manchester Airport. Cows had wandered onto the runway, where they quietly munched away. Farm hands, police and airport officials chased the cows. Eventually, the cows were rounded up and the planes landed safely.
“Blaming women drivers for problems on the roads is wrong. The real trouble is caused by “weekend drivers” who keep their cars as status symbols.” – J G, Gainsborough, Lincs.
“Don’t keep your van doors unlocked in Clacton. I made this mistake and discovered that everything – Christmas presents, cakes, puddings and groceries had been stolen. It is not a friendly place.” – P Wilson, Newhaven, Sussex.
Personal Advertisements: “Ern, come home for Christmas,” – Love, Doris. “Yvonne, please come home for Christmas,” – Mum.
For three years Dave Clark, leader of the Dave Clark Five – London’s answer to the Mersey sound – resisted offers to turn professional. But now he’s accepted a £50,000 contract. The group will tour nationwide in March.
Football: Everton, who have been in trouble this season because of their fans’ misbehaviour, have accused Fulham’s fans of throwing objects at their players. Derek Temple, Everton’s left winger, claimed that a Fulham fan used a catapult to attack him during the 2 – 2 draw at Craven Cottage.
Television highlights: Come Dancing – Central London v East Midlands. Play of the Week – The Teachers starring Judi Dench and Peter Sallis. Discovering Japanese Art.
Radio highlights: Those Record Years – 1933. Requests.
Weather: rain or sleet showers. Outlook – mainly dry. 5c, 41f.
Tuesday 17 December 1963
By eight votes to six the council at Paignton, Devon voted to ban bikinis from bowling greens because the bikinis make it difficult for the serious player to keep his eye on the ball. Councillor George Cornelins said, “It’s distracting to bowlers when a stout female wears shorts or a bikini which amplifies outstanding features of the body.”
Every year in Britain, one-tenth of the population moves to a new address. To keep track of this trend a mini census, covering a tenth of the population, will be conducted in 1966. This census is required to help local authorities with their planning.
Britain’s car production this year is expected to reach a record total of 1,600,000 vehicles. This compares with the previous record of 1,400,000 set in 1960 and 1,249,000 last year. Home sales have rocketed to 1,000,000.
After thirteen stormy years, the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Board has been disbanded. Growers voted against it by 1,190 to 637. Critics claim the Board was ineffective because of too much bureaucracy.
Will we have a White Christmas? Experts at the Meteorological Office will not say yes with any certainty, but believe that it is reasonable to expect some falls of snow.
Only a Super League of sixteen teams can save soccer. Two-thirds of league clubs pay out more in wages than they take through the turnstiles. This is not sustainable. The idea of a Super League including Scottish clubs has been dismissed because the idea “has too many snags”.
Television highlights: Tonight in Person – Nina and Frederik. Fascinating Facts with Lance Percival. Watch With Mother – the Woodentops.
Radio highlights: Shakespeare’s Rhetoric. Have a Go!
Weather: cold with showers of sleet or rain. Outlook – showers. 6c, 43f.
Wednesday 18 December 1963
Questions will be asked in Parliament about why a £15,000 train robbery was kept secret. And why didn’t the Post Office ask the police to take any action? The theft occurred nine weeks ago from a train travelling from Haverfordwest to London. Labour MPs want to know why no public statement was made about the robbery.
Research has shown that the wearing of a seat belt in a car can reduce slight accidents by half and serious ones by four-fifths. However, a large proportion of drivers don’t use them. And, at the moment, there are no plans to make seat belts compulsory.
The Queen’s Christmas message will not be broadcast by Granada TV. Granada is the only ITV company that does not broadcast the National Anthem each evening. Instead of the Queen’s Christmas message, Granada will broadcast an old film, Storm Over the Nile. The Queen’s Christmas message was recorded in sound only this year because she is expecting her fourth child early next year.
This year, three people certified dead were found to be alive. The Earl of Arran will raise the matter of being buried alive in the House of Lords.
Britain is to have more new towns – but they should be smoke-free. Instead of coal fires, local councils should now give financial help to the development of homes with electric, gas and oil heating.
Auburn-haired actress Jane Asher is dating Beatle Paul McCartney. Jane’s mother said, “There is nothing unusual about them being together. They see quite a lot of each other. I wouldn’t say there was anything extraordinary-special about their friendship. Paul is one of Jane’s many friends.” Paul and Jane denied that they were planning to marry.
Television highlights: I Hear the Blues with Memphis Slim and guests. Here and Now – a coal-mining village. What Next in Lighting? – discussion.
Radio highlights: The Dispossessed. Population and Society.
Weather: sleet or snow showers. Outlook – snow at times. 3c, 37f.
Thursday 19 December 1963
Transport Minister Ernest Marples warned motorists not to drink and drive. He was hammering home the point that most Christmas accidents are caused by drink. Last year, 147 people were killed and 1,709 seriously injured during the six days of the holidays.
Scotland Yard issued a warning to bank managers, postmasters and others who carry the keys of business premises. The warning follows the kidnapping of sub-postmaster Eric Christopher in Willesden last night. Four men used his keys to grab £1,275 in cash and postal orders. They released Mr Christopher unhurt.
Agony Aunt: Judy writes, “My husband told me off because I served red wine with chicken instead of white when friends came to dinner. He said I showed him up. Did I?” Jane Adams’ reply, “Your husband is talking nonsense. Serve what pleases you or your guests.”
Jane Adams writes, “Recently, I implied that the perfect husband did not exist. I have received scores of letters from women claiming that they have the perfect husband. Let us raise our Christmas glasses to these happy wives – and their husbands!”
“When my three-year old cousin arrived in Southampton from South Africa last Friday, it started snowing. He had never seen snow before, so he said to his mother, ‘Look, mummy, it’s raining ice cream!’.” – Keith Goldane, Maidstone, Kent.
The Mersey Sound of the Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers drowned out all competition in the Top Ten of 1963. The final line up gives the Beatles three of first four places in the all-star Top Ten. Also in the Top Ten: Cliff Richard, the Shadows, Frank Ifield, and Jet Harris and Tony Mehan.
Television highlights: Buddy Greco Entertains. Sports Review of 1963 Featuring the Sportsview Personality of the Year. Gallery – political review of 1963.
Radio highlights: The Man Who Was Sherlock Holmes. Of Birds and Beasts – Madrigals.
Weather: snow showers, sunny intervals, cold. Outlook – similar. 2c, 35f.
Friday 20 December 1963
Your Christmas turkey has started a war in the High Street. Fine Fare, the supermarket chain, are now offering turkeys at 3s 9d a pound – with the firm’s pink trading stamps. Their announcement is a slap in the face for Sainsbury’s, the anti-stamp firm. Sainsbury’s are selling oven-ready birds for 3s 10d a pound, their lowest price since the end of the war.
Despite the cheaper turkeys, this looks like being the costliest Christmas of all time. That is the verdict of the Bank of England. Britons have a record £2,598,000,000 worth of banknotes in their pockets – £145,000,000 more than a year ago.
A gang of safe blowers raided Walton Jail in Liverpool, yesterday. They blew a safe thinking that there was £10,000 inside – double wages for the 300 prison officers. However, the wages were in a different safe.
Twenty-two SS men are due to stand trial in Frankfurt tomorrow accused of helping to murder millions of men, women and children. About 250 witnesses will testify. There is no death sentence in West Germany, so if the men are found guilty it will probably mean life imprisonment and death behind bars.
Mrs R L of Leeds writes, “Outside my front door, carol singers gave a lovely rendition of We Three Kings. I opened the door and found three lads with Beatles haircuts, drainpipe trousers and elastic-sided high-heeled boots!”
West Bromwich Albion players plunged their club into another sensation yesterday when nineteen players refused to train in shorts in the freezing cold. The players walked out of the training ground when told that they could not wear tracksuit trousers. Skipper Don Howe said, “No other club in the country forces its players to train in shorts in this cold.”
Paper sacks will replace dustbins in all of Bedford’s 20,000 homes the town council decided last night.
Television highlights: Ready, Steady, Go! with Dusty Springfield. Roving Report – winter in Norway. Hobbies Club.
Radio highlights: A Good Man Feelin’ Bad – blues records. Late Victorian Christmas.
Weather: cold with long sunny periods. Outlook – similar with severe frost at night. 2c, 36f.
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Hannah Howe 