Tag: Politics

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1963

Social History 1963 #60

Saturday 7 December 1963

Christine Keeler was taken last night to Holloway Prison to serve a nine-month jail sentence. She was found guilty of perjury and of conspiring to obstruct the course of justice. Defence counsel, Mr Jeremy Hutchinson QC, said that Christine Keeler had been led astray by unscrupulous men. He added, “With everybody who has met her, it is perfectly clear that her straightforward and curiously naive outlook contrasts very, very strongly with the public image she seems to have created. In the words of Lord Denning, ‘let no one judge her too harshly’.” If Miss Keeler behaves well, she will serve six months of her nine-month sentence.

Police have been protecting Labour Party leader Harold Wilson for the past two days because of a letter threatening to kill him. The letter was sent, anonymously, from Lancashire. Special Branch are taking the letter seriously because of the assassination of President Kennedy.

A mass march is being planned in protest against the forthcoming hangings of Russell Pascoe and Dennis Whitty, two young men who murdered farmer William Rowe in Cornwall. A spokesman for Bristol’s Abolition of Capital Punishment said, “Christmas – what a time of the year for a twin hanging! We are against hanging at any time of the year, but this is just making things brutal.” 

Sharp-shooter Terry English spends his time in Epping cemetery blasting rabbits with his twelve-bore shotgun. So far, he has shot thirty-seven rabbits. “I have to do this,” Terry said, “because the rabbits keep eating the flowers.”

Three masked men in a Jaguar rammed a car carrying wages, and used another car to get away with their £2,000 haul. 

Police warned last night that forged tickets are circulating for the Beatles’ show at the Wimbledon Palais. 

Britain’s biggest chocolate firm, Cadbury’s, has banned its chocolate from the giant Tesco chain of supermarkets. The ban is over Green Shield stamps. Tesco wants to give stamps with the chocolate, but Cadbury’s have objected to this plan.

Television highlights: Dr Who – The Forest of Fear. Juke Box Jury with the Beatles. It’s the Beatles! from the Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Radio highlights: Play – The Woman in the Woods. Variety Playhouse.

Weather: mainly cloudy, some sunny spells. Rather cold. Outlook – brighter. 4c, 39f.

Sunday 8 December 1963

A special squad of detectives is trying to track down who sent a threatening letter to Labour Party leader Harold Wilson. The letter writer stated that he would kill Mr Wilson. The letter was posted in Bolton. Threats have also been made to blow up cinemas, schools and the town hall.

Political viewpoint: rather than address the various crises, Prime Minister Alec Douglas-Home is prepared to leave Office and leave it to Harold Wilson to clear up the mess.

A van loaded with £1,800 worth of radiograms was stolen in Marylebone, London, yesterday.

Thought: the hand that gives, gathers – John Ray 1628 – 1705.

There is something rather nasty in the national woodshed – a colour bar affecting the brightest West Indian children leaving school. Many of these children are denied a career simply because of the colour of their skin. Immigrants are frowned upon. But the fact remains that our hospitals and transport systems could not run without immigrant labour.

Experts have psychoanalysed dolls. According to the experts, if you choose the wrong sort of doll for your child it might ruin his or her life. Golliwogs, they say, are for three year olds. Eight year olds need dolls that walk, talk and sleep. Boys need dolls too. They should resemble heroic characters, and will make the boys grow into brave gentlemen.

Football Results: First Division – Arsenal 1 Liverpool 1, Bolton 1 Spurs 3, Fulham 4 Wolves 1, Ipswich 0 Blackburn 0, Manchester United 5 Stoke 2. Top three – Liverpool, Blackburn, Spurs.

Television highlights: Auto-Mechanics – the hydraulic system and drum brakes. Home Dressmaking. Tempo – more jazz unlimited.

Radio highlights: Fifteen 45s in Thirty. Family Favourites.

Weather: mainly dry, rather cold.

Monday 9 December 1963

Colonel Henry Smith shot a pheasant and placed it over his shoulder. The feet of the pheasant triggered the shotgun and shot the colonel’s wife, Mrs Helen Smith, in the back and arm. Mrs Smith is in hospital and is “as well as can be expected“.

Recently, Dr Robert Mortimer, the Bishop of Exeter, conducted an exorcism service to remove a ghost from a flat. However, now the ghost, Albert, has appeared in a flat next door. Dr Mortimer said he would not try to remove Albert again. Instead, he will ask the Metaphysical Society to send someone else.

Rev Vernon Mitchell of St Philip’s Church, Norbury, Surrey has created “Project X”, a battle for men’s minds. His sermon last night dealt with “girlie” advertising and Communist brainwashing methods. He was assisted by shapely Mrs Claire Shewring, 27, who wore a black leotard and black tights. Rev Mitchell insisted that “Project X” was not a gimmick, and pointed out that the Lord Himself illustrated the parables in many ways.

Raiders stole £6,000 worth of cosmetics from a depot in Cable Street, Stepney, London.

“How dare a Swansea reader suggest that Harry Secombe is no more than a music hall turn. Harry’s singing never fails to bring tears of pleasure to my eyes and I am sure there are plenty of “serious” music lovers who feel the same.” (Miss) S Cheal, Bromley, Kent.

Dick James is the name. He is the uncredited singer of the Robin Hood theme song. He is also the publisher of all the songs written by the two Beatles, Paul McCartney and John Lennon. His songs have been in the top ten since January, and Tin Pan Alley says he’s coining at least £1,000 a week.

Television highlights: Thinking Relativity Through. Whose Neighbour? – the story of a tramp. Discs a GoGo.

Radio highlights: Desert Island Discs – Millicent Martin. Melody Mixture.

Weather: fog early and late, dry, cold. Outlook – rain, milder. 3c, 37f.

Tuesday 10 December 1963

Six hundred and seventeen people were killed on Britain’s roads during September. This is an increase of three percent on the figure last year. If current trends continue, 1963 will be the worst year for accidents in recent memory.

Last year, about thirty people in Britain were killed by dirty saucepans. One place where germs are likely to multiply is in the milk film of a badly cleaned saucepan. Wooden utensils are difficult to keep germ free. Stainless steel, glass and vitreous enamel are healthier options. Dishes should be washed in water as hot as hands can stand then be left to drain dry.

“Most women drivers crawl along as if they are still on their test, slowly, all tensed up. They make male drivers impatient. I would suggest that, whenever possible, women drivers should be allowed to use the roadside cycle track.” – Beastly Male Driver, Coventry.

More than 1,000 people in the British film industry will be redundant by the end of the year, and that figure could rise to 2,000. The unions want a third cinema circuit set up to compete with Rank and ABC. They also want the quota of British films shown in cinemas to increase from thirty percent to fifty percent.

Britain’s miners have set up new records for coal digging. Stocks of household coal and boiler fuel now total well over 2,750,000 tons. This is 350,000 tons more than at this time last year.

“Tory MP Mr Henry Price insists that the Beatles must be beaten. Rubbish. The Beatles are the best thing to happen to the British pop scene in many years. Mr Price should spend his time on more serious things – like solving the unemployment problem in Liverpool.” – Two Girl Fans, London, EC2.

Television highlights: Rugby Union – Oxford v Cambridge, in full from Twickenham. Gala Performance with Geraint Evans. Miss TV Times, London regional final, judges include Roger Moore.

Radio highlights: Pop Inn. Piano Records.

Weather: fog and frost. Outlook – similar. 3c, 37f.

FA Cup Draw

Wednesday 11 December 1963

Drama of train raid swoop. CID grab “The Weasel” in rooftop chase. Racing driver Roy “The Weasel” James, wanted for questioning in connection with the Great Train Robbery, was caught in St John’s Wood after a tip-off. “The Weasel” climbed through a skylight and the chase began. He leapt fifteen feet into a garden – and into a trap, because the garden was ringed with Flying Squad officers. 

In a special effort to reduce Christmas accidents, there will be a 50 mph speed limit on Britain’s roads. The speed limit will be in place from 23 December until 27 December, but it will not apply to motorways.

America is to build a manned space warship that will orbit the Earth by 1967. The project is codenamed MOL – Manned Orbiting Laboratory. The MOL space warship will be attached to a two-man Gemini space capsule. 

Every housewife in Britain is being asked to entertain an “invisible” Christmas guest by sending the cost of an extra dinner to the Freedom From Hunger campaign. Supporters of the campaign include Millicent Martin, Jessie Matthews and Mrs Harry Secombe.

In Broadmoor Prison, three hacksaw blades were discovered in the back of a book of Shakespeare’s works.

Football Results: European Cup Winners’ Cup, Second Round Second Leg – Manchester United 4 Spurs 1 (aggregate 4 – 3). First Division – Arsenal 6 Everton 0.

A marathon discussion programme called Open End – linking-up speakers in London, Paris, Bonn and New York – will begin on the BBC’s Third Programme at 10.15 pm on Sunday. The programme will run until either the topic or the speakers are exhausted.

Television highlights: What’s Next in Toys? – discussion programme. Coronation Street – excitement for Florrie and Miss Nugent. The Face of Fraud – infamous confidence tricksters.

Radio highlights: Mrs Mills. Unread Classics.

Weather: occasional rain, rather cold. Outlook – similar, but with frost in places. 5c, 41f.

Thursday 12 December 1963

Labour leader Harold Wilson has received another death threat. This threat arrived by telephone and the caller said he intended to shoot Mr Wilson. Scotland Yard traced the call to Great George Street, Westminster. Later, police detained a man from that area.

Britain’s steel output was up last month for the fourth month in succession, 20,000 tons above the October figure.

Impresario Harold Fielding claims that he started the “Beatle Scream”. He said, “This type of ‘pop’ concert really started with Tommy Steele in 1956. I was responsible for the staging of his concerts. It seems to be that screaming is a great part of the enjoyment for the youngsters. It’s a psychological problem. To a great extent they are willing to pay their money to be allowed to scream. The biggest screams occur when the performers whirl their bodies around in a peculiar manner. Pop concerts have no lasting merit as music. Do I regret my involvement? Very much, yes.”

Views on marriage: Lord Boothby – “I wouldn’t marry anyone. They are all as bad as each other. I am not married and never will be.” Alan Whicker – “Some American women are as feminine as a boxing glove. They are loud, brash and strident, and not excited by the fact that they are women.” The Marquess of Hertford – “I’d turn down any woman like Elizabeth Taylor. Too bosomy. Having breakfast with her would be unbearable.”

More on marriage. Men reject the following because…

Athletes – too muscular 

Models – too boney

Actresses – too vain

Doctors – too clinical

Clippies – too tired

Waitresses – ditto

Pop singers – too noisy

Lawyers – too argumentative 

Accountants – too clever

Traffic in Trafalgar Square came to a standstill last night as thousands of people gathered to watch the first lighting of London’s Christmas tree. As the Mayor of Oslo switched on the 500 lights, Norwegian carols echoed around the square, sung by Norwegian girls in national dress.

Television highlights: Amateur Boxing – Scotland v Ireland from Glasgow. This Week – Britain’s rising population. Gallery – council housing.

Radio highlights: Music for Dancing. In Search of a Mutiny.

Weather: dull and cold with sleet and drizzle. Outlook – dry and cold. 3c, 37f.

Friday 13 December 1963

The gay but elusive little berry only appears on female holly. And it is necessary to plant one male tree for every three females. The leaf on the male holly is prickly, but the female is smooth. Meteorologists dismiss the folk custom that says plentiful berries mean that the winter will be harsh.

Vicars in Kent have been warned that a dark-haired housewife is going around the county telling hard luck stories so convincingly that vicars are giving her money. So far, it is believed that she has collected £800 from clergymen.

“I wish something could be done to stop half-crazed girls from shrieking when they go to see pop singers. I am in my sixties and think that the Beatles are a nice bunch of lads, but I worry that all this hysteria will destroy their act. Please don’t print my name because a mad mob of girls might go for me.” E.H., Southend, Essex.

The BBC claimed that two shows by the Beatles last weekend set a record for a Saturday night viewing audience. Mr Tom Sloan, Head of BBC TV Light Entertainment, said, “22,000,000 viewers watched Juke Box Jury, on which the Beatles formed the panel, and 21,500,000 watched the Beatles’ own show, It’s the Beatles.”

Figs are good value at the moment, but strikes on the Continent have pushed up the price of dates. Mixed nuts are a good buy, but expect to pay more for walnuts, almonds, chestnuts and Brazils. The cost of kissing is cheap – 6d for mistletoe, but holly is expensive at 7s 6d for one good spray.

“I posted a local letter at 6pm the other night and received a reply – by post – at 11am the following morning.” – R. Ayres, Beavers Lane, Hounslow. 

Snow fell for about ten minutes in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, last night.

Television highlights: Ready, Steady, Go! with the Dave Clark Five. Look – a forest diary. The Sky at Night.

Radio highlights: What’s the Idea? Victorian Album.

Weather: cold, mainly dry. Outlook – no change. 5c, 41f.

Available for order and pre-order, my Swinging Sixties Mystery Series

https://books2read.com/u/bMqNPG

Categories
1963

Social History 1963 #58

Saturday 23 November 1963

The world was horror-struck last night by the news that America’s president John F Kennedy was dead – shot in the head by a hidden assassin. Mr Kennedy was riding in an open-top car in Dallas, Texas. Mr Kennedy lived only 25 minutes after he was hit. He died at about 1pm local time, 7pm British time. 

Last night, police were questioning a Texan who had once defected to Russia. They had found his rifle with a telescopic sight. And they said that the assassin had been eating fried chicken at a sixth-floor window while waiting for the president.

In the building where the shots came from police entered a sixth-storey room and found a rifle with a bullet in the breech along with three spent cartridges lying beside it.

In a Dallas cinema, police closed in on 24 year old Lee Oswald. An officer was killed in the struggle to arrest him. And later Oswald was charged with the policeman’s murder. Police said it had not been established that Oswald was Mr Kennedy’s killer.

Oswald has denied any connection with either of the killings. He defected to Russia in 1959 but returned to America last year with his Russian wife and their two babies. Dallas is the centre of right-wing politics. Right-wingers were opposed to the president’s civil rights policy to give equality to coloured people.

Many viewers complained to the BBC last night because the Harry Worth comedy show was broadcast after the announcement of President Kennedy’s assassination. Independent Television broke into the middle of the Take Your Pick quiz show with news of the shooting. At 7.30pm there was a newsflash then two minutes silence. Then Emergency Ward 10 began, but it was faded after five minutes. Bach and Chopin piano music was substituted.

Television Highlights: Dr Who (science fiction series) – An Unearthly Child starring William Hartnell. Juke Box Jury with Sid James and Cilla Black. The Avengers – The Medicine Men with Honor Blackman.

Radio highlights: Hot Twenty. New Juke Box Show.

Weather: rain or drizzle. Rather mild. Outlook – sunny spells. 12c, 54f.

Sunday 24 November 1963

Dallas District Attorney Henry Wade is confident that he can send Lee Harvey Oswald to the electric chair for the murder of President Kennedy. Oswald has been formally charged with the murder. However, he insists that he did not shoot the president. 

Storm over £500 “snob fence” plan. A council in Orpington, Kent has been asked to build a a six-foot high wooden fence between private houses and newly constructed council houses. The request comes from the owners of the private houses who, council tenants claim, want to segregate the children. Mrs Doris Measures, a private house resident said, “We had no idea that council houses would be built. We think the council owes us this fence.”

A massive plan to keep Britain on the move until AD2000 and beyond will be unveiled this week. The plan will include restricting private cars in city centres, an urgent improvement on bus services, and the separation of traffic from pedestrians.

Experts have developed an instrument that takes a body temperature reading in three seconds instead of the usual two minutes. And it can be used in tropical and arctic conditions without being affected by prevailing temperatures.

The French have invented a spade that will take the back-ache out of gardening. It is a semi-mechanical spade that digs out the earth and throws it about three feet – simply by pressing your foot on an attached stirrup.

Football Results: First Division – Arsenal 5 Blackpool 3, Birmingham 3 Nottingham Forest 3, Ipswich 2 Spurs 3, Leicester 2 Chelsea 4, Manchester United 0 Liverpool 1, Sheffield Wednesday 5 Wolves 0, WBA 0 Blackburn 3. Top three: Liverpool, Blackburn, Spurs.

Television highlights: Sunday Night at the London Palladium with Morecambe and Wise. Play – The Way With Reggie starring Michael Caine. Kidnapped – episode seven.

Radio highlights: The Countryside in November. Your Hundred Best Tunes.

Weather: stormy with rain.

Monday 25 November 1963

Lee Oswald, the man accused of assassinating President Kennedy, was himself shot dead today. He was shot down while being transferred from one jail to another. And tonight Jack Ruby, a Dallas striptease club owner, was charged with killing Oswald.

Ruby told police that he shot Oswald because of “a deep sense of sympathy” for Mrs Jacqueline Kennedy, and to save her from the ordeal of Oswald’s trial. Captain Will Fritz, Head of Dallas Homicide, said, “The case of President Kennedy’s assassination is now closed.”

Council house tenants have complained that a six-foot high “snob wall”, which has been insisted upon by private house owners, would cut them off from the community. Private owner Mrs Doris Measures said, “We are not snobs, but we don’t want people from council houses peering into our bedrooms.” This evening, a council meeting in Orpington, Kent will decide if the wall should be erected.

In twenty years time there be a third tap at the sink, for boiling water; a recorder for “storing” tv programmes to view later; garage doors that open at a code signal from a car; beds with a stream of warm air instead of blankets. Kitchens will dwindle to cupboard-size and microwave ovens will replace cookers. People will eat frozen dinners stored in deep freezers. Plastic plates will replace china plates. Dustmen will no longer call to collect our rubbish – instead they will empty our sludge pits. Washing machines will disappear, replaced by sound waves, which will remove dirt from clothes. Fabrics will be creaseless, so no more ironing. 

Five thousand frantic teenagers were turned away from a box office in Liverpool yesterday. Hundreds of girls sobbed when 5,100 tickets for two Beatles concerts were sold out in 4 hours 15 minutes. At one time 13,000 teenagers joined the over-night queue. Many of the youngsters were treated for exposure, exhaustion and a lack of food.

Television highlights: President Kennedy’s Funeral Service – via satellite. Panorama – President Kennedy’s death. Whose Neighbour? – alcoholics.

Radio highlights: Thought to be Writ by Shakespeare. Letter From America.

Weather: sunny spells and showers. Outlook – similar. 11c, 52f.

Tuesday 26 November 1963

The Salvation Army is to use guitars as well as tambourines and brass instruments. In their new “get with it” campaign, they will also visit coffee bars, dance halls and bingo palaces.

Two gangs of teenage girls, the Aristocrats and the Thunderbirds, stopped the traffic in a village street in Sunderland, Co. Durham. Using chains and knuckledusters, the teenagers – fifteen brunettes, two platinum blondes and two red-heads – fought and screamed. A woman armed herself with a hammer and tried to stop the fight. At court, the girls were bound over to keep the peace for twelve months.

With the engine on his truck smoking, driver Roy Frederickson abandoned his vehicle and ran to the police station in Essington, Staffs. He informed the police that his burning truck was loaded with gelignite and detonators. Firemen arrived and put out the fire, which had started because of an electrical fault. Later, the gelignite was transferred to another lorry.

The Housing Committee at Orpington, Kent has rejected a demand from private house-owners to build a six-foot high “snob wall” between the private houses and council tenants.

Bread prices will increase from 30 December. Ice cream and lolly prices will also increase, from 9 December. Bread prices will rise because Spillers Ltd are raising the prices on their sacks of flour.

Mrs Mole of Hammersmith was given a conditional discharge after being found guilty of placing “Ajax” in her husband’s coffee. The deputy chairman of the London Sessions said, “It was a very naughty thing to do. I’m going to look on this case as a sudden temptation to annoy your husband. It is a complaint from which quite a lot of married women suffer.”

Television highlights: University Challenge – finals, Leicester University v Balliol College, Oxford. The Plane Makers – factory series. Compact – magazine series – the taxman cometh.

Radio highlights: Our Changing Language. 208 Platter Party.

Weather: showers and sunny intervals. Outlook – showery. 9c, 48f.

Wednesday 27 November 1963

All-time production records are being set by Britain’s car makers. And export sales are rocketing. During October cars were being made at a rate of 32,500 a week – the greatest ever output. The Buchanan Report is due out soon, which aims to resolve how all these new cars can travel on Britain’s roads without causing traffic jams.

The village of Burley in the New Forest is fighting to keep its traffic jams. The locals believe that the cars parked in the streets slow down traffic and make the village safer. A spokesman said, “We haven’t had any accidents here for years.” Hampshire police want to build a car park to get the cars off the roads.

Christine Keeler has been committed to the Old Bailey on a charge of conspiring to obstruct the course of justice.

Bandits in Cambridge stole £20,000 from Barclays Bank – and two bottles of sherry. 

The visit of the Beatles to Wolverhampton cost the town £320 in police wages and overtime, and £5 for the ambulance service.

“The question of turnstiles at ladies lavatories is usually treated as a joke. But it is no laughing matter. I got trapped in one recently and had to feed it four pennies before it would release me.” – Mrs M.D.H., Purfleet, Essex.

Agony Aunt: “Robin” writes, “I’m madly in love with the girl next door, but she’s mad about Cliff Richard. Should I join a beat group to attract her?” Jane Adams’ advice, “Just stick around. Every year 10,000 girls fall in love with Cliff, and every year 10,000 girls fall out of love with Cliff.”

Television highlights: Our Strangled Cities – discussion about the Buchanan Report on road traffic. The Loved Ones – a look at the British love for animals. Our Man at St Marks – comedy series.

Radio highlights: Mrs Mills. Politics of Violence.

Weather: Light rain, drizzle, mild. Outlook – brighter and colder. 13c, 55f.

Thursday 28 November 1963

A vast new plan to resolve Britain’s traffic tangles was unveiled yesterday. Central to the plan is knocking down and reshaping whole shopping areas in London and other cities. Shops will be lifted above street level and pedestrians will use first floor pavements while traffic flows along new roads underneath. Private cars will also be controlled or limited in city centres.

President Lyndon B Johnson has pledged to proceed with John Kennedy’s Civil Rights Bill and end racial hatred in America.

Two men who murdered farmer William Rowe will be hanged on 17 December, the Home Office said. The appeals of Dennis Whitty and Russell Pascoe were dismissed by the Court of Criminal Appeal. Whitty will be executed at Winchester Prison, Pascoe at Bristol. 

Curate, Rev John Marshall, received two black eyes at a church rock and roll dance when a fight broke out. After receiving three stitches, he carried on his church work as usual.

A nurse has been put on special duty to care for three year old Yvonne Nolan. Yvonne swallowed a small, gold ladies watch, and it is ticking inside her. The nurse has been told to listen for the ticks as the watch travels and leaves Yvonne’s body the normal way.

“Amorous wives” row latest: Councillor Terry Lyons of Camberley is taking legal action against former councillor Mrs Margaret Clark because of “defamatory” statements made in her resignation letter.

European Cup Winners Cup: Second Round, First Leg – Tottenham v Manchester United. Postponed because of fog. Inter-Cities’ Fairs Cup – Sheffield Wednesday 1 Cologne 2 (aggregate 3 – 5).

Television highlights: Criss Cross Quiz. Space Patrol – Time Stands Still. Double Your Money – all-Scottish edition.

Radio highlights: Does The Team Think? Who Knows?

Weather: fog then bright spells. Rather cold. Outlook – rather cold. 7c, 45f.

Friday 29 November 1963

Accidents are the plague of the modern era. To reduce them, experts recommend that people should wear crash helmets on motor cycles and scooters, protective clothing in industry, and lifejackets on boats, canoes and yachts. Accidents cost £500,000,000 a year and result in 20,000 deaths and over 6,000,000 injuries.

About £7,761,000 damage was done by fires in October. This means that fire damage to date this year amounts to £56,454,000, more than the total for 1962.

Christmas poultry will be plentiful this year, and cheaper too. A spokesman for the National Federation of Poultry Merchants said that there should be sufficient quantities of turkeys, oven-ready and fresh, to meet all requirements.

In her extra spending, the housewife bought more frozen foods, milk, butter, cheese, eggs and potatoes this year. However, she bought less bread, rice and flour. Overall, there was a greater prosperity in the South than in the North. But families in the lower income groups are now spending nearly as much on food as well-to-do families.

Sheffield United will stage boxing contests half an hour before the start of their home games.

The Beatles’ drummer, Ringo Starr, was rushed to hospital last night. He was suffering from earache. However, he returned to the ABC cinema in Lincoln where the group were performing and sang a solo number – which received the biggest scream from the fans.

Television highlights: Journal – European magazine programme. Ready, Steady, Go! with Manfred Mann and the Hollies. Background to Ballet.

Radio highlights: A Cornishman in Bath. The Countryside in November.

Weather: dry and sunny. Outlook – showery and colder. 8c, 46f.

Available for order and pre-order, my Swinging Sixties Mystery Series

https://books2read.com/u/bMqNPG

Categories
1963

Social History 1963 #47

Saturday 7 September 1963

Christine Keeler has been accused of perjury and conspiracy. Providing she surrenders her passport, she will be allowed £3,000 bail. Her arrest concerns the “Lucky” Gordon assault case. Two male journalists provided sureties of £1,000 each for Miss Keeler.

The West Indies cricket team proved so popular this summer that they have been invited to tour Britain again in 1967 instead of having to wait until 1971. However, due to the South African government’s racial segregation policies, there is some consternation that they are due to tour in 1966.

More British drivers have been stranded on the Continent. Around 300 cars were denied access to ferries in Boulogne and Calais. The problem is centred on British holidaymakers who failed to make return bookings.

Greengrocer Peter Elcombe found two piglets apparently dead amongst a litter of fifteen on his farm in Kent. He saved them with the kiss of life. “I thought that if it worked with humans it should work with animals,” he said.

The Mayor of Blackpool, Alderman John Symthe, has been called to a crisis meeting to resolve a dispute over the result of the Miss United Kingdom beauty contest. The organiser of the contest, Eric Morley, gave the first prize to model Diane Westbury, even though the judges didn’t vote for her. Mr Morley said, “I see no reason for the decision to be changed.”

It’s going to be all cleavage at parties this winter – Dior says so. He’s plunging the neckline to waist level. However, acres of cleavage can become wearisome. The party girl who cottons on to that fact and goes for the cover-up look could well end up smiling at the end of the evening.

Television highlights. Cricket – Worcestershire v Sussex, knockout cup final. Juke Box Jury with Shirley Anne Field and Jane Asher. Wish You Were Here! – Eric Sykes in Stockholm. 

Radio highlights: British Open Brass Band Championship. Remembrance of Things Past. 

Weather: sunny spells then rain. Outlook – showery. 18c, 64f.

Sunday 8 September 1963

James Hussey, 30, a painter, was charged in Aylesbury yesterday with taking part in the Great Mail Train Robbery. He is the tenth person to be arrested in connection with the raid.

Forget about the seven-year itch, it’s the twelve-year mark in a marriage that’s important. Three doctors, who have researched the subject, also found that differences between husbands and wives in religion, social class, nationality and education were unimportant, but an age gap of more than five years could lead to difficulties.

An appeal is being made by the RAF Benevolent Fund during Battle of Britain Week. Cash is needed for future welfare work.

Prediction Spot. Two for the top – Searchin’ by the Hollies and Then He Kissed Me by the Crystals. This week’s number one – She Loves You by the Beatles.

The latest dance craze is The Machine. It’s all the rage in the Hertfordshire jazz clubs, and it will hit London soon. The idea is to imitate a robot with mechanical movements of your arms, head and legs.

Cricket Knock-Out Cup Final: Sussex 168 all out. Worcestershire 154 – 7, innings closed. Sussex won by 14 runs. Jim Parks top scored for Sussex with 57.

Football Results: First Division – Arsenal 4 Bolton 3, Blackburn 7 Spurs 2, Chelsea 1 Liverpool 3, Everton 3 Burnley 4, Stoke 3 Leicester 3, West Ham 2 Sheffield United 3. Current league leaders – Manchester United.

Television highlights: Service for the hard of hearing from St Katherine’s Cree, London. Double Playbill – See the Pretty Lights and Wedding Bells with Julia Foster and Wanda Ventham. Robin Hood – A Bushel of Apples.

Radio highlights: British Folk Songs. Join in and Swing.

Weather: dull and cloudy with rain and drizzle.

Cricket table

Monday 9 September 1963

The Great Beauty Queen Rumpus concerning Diane Westbury and Maureen Gay – the judges voted for Maureen, but contest organiser Eric Morley gave the prize to Diane – is to be put to a national vote. Hughie Green is arranging for both girls to appear on his Double Your Money programme. Diane won £1,500 in the original contest, Maureen £150.

A “University of the Air” is being planned by the Labour Party. People would study at home via radio and television. Educationalists would set the courses and mark the papers.

Since the new year, 14,500 people have left Britain to settle in Australia. Australia wants as many migrants as it can get, but an official said, “There’s a limit to the number of sea berths and plane tickets we can book.” A million Britons have left for Australia since 1947. 

Fans wreck soccer train. Railway chiefs and police are investigating the destruction of a weekend football special. Nine times the train screeched to a halt as the emergency cord was pulled on the 100 mile journey from Birmingham to Manchester. Girls and women were involved in the ruckus, forming a screaming and shouting mob on the ten-coach special. Four-letter words were scrawled on windows and mirrors in lipstick. Tables were ripped loose and windows smashed. Light fittings and lamps were torn out. In the match, Birmingham and Manchester United drew 1 – 1.

The Big Beat. Music that throbs and pulsates. Music that has taken the disc fans of Britain by the ear. Music made by young British groups with voices as well as instrumentals. From tomorrow, an in-depth look into this phenomenon, starting with the Beatles.

Television highlights: Outlook Europe – France. Hockey – Unicorns v SD Dickens XI. Survival SOS – Rhino.

Radio highlights: In a Sentimental Mood. Historic Performances on Record.

Weather: sunny periods, showers. Outlook – rain at first, brighter later. 18c, 64f.

Tuesday 10 September 1963

The villagers who live near “Banknote Farm” in Oakley were furious last night with their MP, Mr Roger Gresham Cooke. The MP said that the villagers should have caught the Great Train Robbers. He told the Young Conservatives, “Too often, people are content to phone the police. Instead, they should revive the ‘hue and cry’. I very much blame the people of Oakley for their negligence.” 

Village publican, Wilf Welford replied, “If the MP would like to come down to the village hall we would welcome a debate on this. He’d be lucky to get out without being lynched. This is a very public-spirited village.”

Two men wearing nylon masks escaped with jewellery worth £4,000 after coshing a jeweller in Golden Square, London, yesterday.

Mr Royston Attwood pleaded guilty at Bristol to stealing 3,500 gallons of top quality petrol from the Esso depot at Avonmouth. Mr Attwood was a fuel tanker driver. He was sacked and fined £100.

It’s been called the Liverpool Sound, the Mersey Sound, Rhythm and Blues, Beat with a Drive and Pop with a Beat. In Liverpool alone 250 groups are producing this music. The leaders of this movement are the Beatles. They are pleasing to look at, friendly and well-mannered. 

What about fame? Paul McCartney said, “My auntie went to a holiday camp this summer and they asked her to judge a beauty competition.” Ringo said, “My dad’s gone right off his nut with excitement over it.” George Harrison said, “We’re quite a normal bunch really.” John Lennon said, “You know the way people begin to look exactly like their dogs. Well, we’re beginning to look like each other.”

Football results: West Ham 0 Nottingham Forest 2. Wolves 1 Liverpool 3. Manchester United still lead the First Division.

Television highlights: The Sky at Night – moon base. Play of the Week – A Question of Morals. Animal Magic with Tony Soper.

Radio highlights: Boxing from the Empire Pool, Wembley. A Scrapbook for 1953.

Weather: early sunshine then rain. Outlook – changeable. 16c, 61f.

Wednesday 11 September 1963

Detectives believe that two of the Great Train Robbers – Bruce Reynolds and Thomas Daly – may try to get new faces from plastic surgeons. Interpol have been asked to look out for them, especially in Austria, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. Another theory is that Reynolds and Daly have already had their face-lift operations and are in hiding while their scars heal. A third man the police want to interview – Roy “the Weasel” James – is believed to be in South America.

Tory MP Ian Gilmour said that Lord Denning’s report on the Profumo Scandal should not be published. “It’s a boring business,” he added. “What has the interviewing of prostitutes got to do with national security? What has the Argyll case got to do with security? This is more akin to compiling a sort of Kinsey Report than looking into matters of national security.”

Twenty-two top fashion models were involved in high drama over the English Channel when their plane developed a technical fault and had to return to London. The models had been on their way to Zurich to show off British autumn fashions. Blonde Veronica Carter said, “It was frightening.”

Melody Maker Readers’ Poll. Top singer – Cliff Richard. Top vocal group – The Beatles. Top vocal disc – From Me To You. Top instrumentalist – Jet Harris. Top comedian – Norman Vaughan. Top disc jockey – David Jacobs.

No one can predict how long the Group craze will last. Billy J Kramer, like many others, recognises that the Beat Bubble could burst overnight. For now, Billy is content. He said, “I’ve been all over the place touring, I’ve got some smashing suits and everything is swinging.” Billy J Kramer – he can now join kippers, bloaters and multi-coloured rock as the pride and joy of Great Yarmouth.

Football Results: Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 0 (Baker hat-trick), Burnley 4 Fulham 1.

Television highlights: Citizen 63 – a rebellious teenager. Is Wresting Phoney – interview with Mick McManus. Glamour 63 – the final.

Radio highlights: The Navy Lark. Writers on Themselves.

Weather: rain or drizzle. Outlook – changeable. 17c, 63f.

Thursday 12 September 1963

George Harrison has lost his job as a beetle trapper. He’s been using a traditional method of trapping beetles, up to seventy daily, for eight years. The beetles are trapped because they can destroy new trees. However, George will now be replaced by DDT.

The eleventh arrest has been made by detectives investigating the Great Train Robbery. Bookmaker Thomas Wiseby was charged with taking part in last month’s robbery at Sears Crossing.

Another 2,000 people in Britain slipped into the caviar and yacht set last year. A Government report shows that 16,000 people now earn more than £6,000 a year – £115 a week. The number of people taking home less than £10 a week stands at 10,940,000. Landlords, in particular, saw their income rise. Britons spend £92,000,000 a year on drinking and smoking.

“I can’t understand all the recent fuss about choosing beauty queens. I think there are far too many of these silly contests anyway.” – (Mrs) Clark, Hitchen, Herts.

Jessica Mitford’s The American Way of Death will be published on 30 September, price 25s.

Gardener Leslie Leadbetter has grown a cabbage, 5 foot 2 inches across. He explained, “I give it a regular bottle of beer.”

Agony Aunt: “My boyfriend’s trousers are so tight, he can hardly sit down. What should I do?” Jane Adams’ advice, “Why don’t you make a standing joke of it?”

Football Results: Birmingham 0 WBA 1, Everton 2 Bolton 0, Leicester 2 Sheffield Wednesday 0, Manchester United 3 Blackpool 0, Sheffield United 4 Stoke 1.

Television highlights: The Good Old Days. Double Your Money. Prayers, weather, road works, closedown.

Radio highlights: Masters of the Keyboard. A Slight Case of Obscenity.

Weather: sunny periods. Outlook – rain, showers, brighter. 18c, 64f.

Friday 13 September 1963

Stolen loot from the Great Train Robbery may be concealed in an isolated farm property 150 miles from London. An informant has told police about the location. Meanwhile, police are looking for a former London club owner and ex-boxer, Christopher Edwards, known as Buster. Police believe that Buster Edwards can help them with their inquiries.

A Government report reveals that 5,000 people in Britain now earn at least £20,000 a year before tax. In 1954 only 2,000 earned that amount. Hundreds soar well above the £20,000 mark – some are earning £30,600 apiece. 

In Britain, a disaster is countered with a “nice cup of tea”. But now something very un-British is going on – we are becoming a nation of coffee drinkers. We are drinking twice as much coffee as we did five years ago. The reasons for the British coffee habit? Expresso bars and holidays abroad.

Jimmy Gault, Britain’s all-time biggest pools winner with £300,684 has died aged 53 at home near Belfast.

BBC bosses have ordered “no more smut”, especially on the That Was The Week That Was show. The BBC are also hoping to screen programmes of major appeal at about 6.35pm because most of the country is back home by then. They also plan to screen two or three major programmes after the 9pm news.

Television highlights: Adventure – the riddle of Easter Island with Thor Heyerdahl. International Film Season from Sweden – A Doll’s House. Ready, Steady, Go! with Roy Orbison and Freddie and the Dreamers.

Radio highlights: Chamber Music. Speedy Disc Show.

Weather: sunny periods, mainly dry. Outlook – dry with sunny periods. 18c, 64f.

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Dear Reader

Dear Reader #112

Dear Reader,

My latest translations, both in Portuguese. A very busy time with the translations and soon all my books will be available in Portuguese.

In the Victorian era ships’ manifests had a section ‘Died on the Voyage’, which doesn’t inspire much confidence 😱

A part-time, flexible hours job offer from Publishing Wales.

“Good news! We’ve extended the deadline to apply for our brand new administrative role. Help shape Publishing Wales / Cyhoeddi Cymru, as we start this exciting journey.

Job description and further details below. Apply by 9th August.”

https://www.cyhoeddi.cymru/jobs

My 6 x great grandfather John Cottrell was a cordwainer and shoe shop owner in Leather Lane, London. On 2 December 1830 at 12.30 pm a ten year old boy, John Hagan, walked into his shop and stole a pair of shoes, value 5s. Twelve days later John Hagan appeared at the Old Bailey accused of theft. The verdict: guilty.

However, John pleaded that he had no father and that his mother was in great distress. The judge, Mr Sergeant Arabin, took pity on John and respited the judgement, a rare case of leniency in an age when ‘justice’ was often cruel.

I am related to Geoffrey Howe, Baron Howe of Aberavon, CH, PC, QC, the deputy prime minister in Margaret Thatcher’s government, 1989 to 1990. Our mutual ancestor is John Howe of St Hilary, Glamorgan (1786 – 1856) ironically, a thatcher.

By 1799, the Napoleonic wars had taken their toll on Britain. The British royal treasury was running out of money to maintain the army and navy. Soldiers were starving and His Majesty’s navy had already mutinied. For Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger, the solution was simple: impose an income tax. Under the Act of 1799, all citizens who earned above £60 were to pay a graduated tax of at least one percent. Those with an income of over £200 were taxed ten percent. Some people regarded the tax as a patriotic duty while others complained. I don’t know what my 5 x great grandfather John Howe thought of the taxes, but their imposition forced him off the land into employment as a thatcher.

In 1799, not everyone was thrilled to pay their taxes.

John’s son, Edward, was also a thatcher. However, with his wife Rachel and their five children, Edward moved twenty-two miles west to Aberavon to ply his trade.

The fact that Edward employed a domestic servant suggests that he was successful in his business. However, this success did not influence his son, also Edward, who became a washman in the local tinplate and silver works. This begs the question: how did the grandson of a tinplate worker become a Conservative MP and deputy prime minister? The answer lies in understanding the Howe family and its traits.

In the 1600s and 1700s our ancestors Joseph, John and John Howe were landowners, churchwardens, Petty Constables and Overseers of the Poor, pillars of St Hilary society. In 1797, John the latter paid 2s 6d to ‘ten men in distress coming from the sea’ while in 1753 John the former made a payment of £1 17s 6d for the making and binding of Bibles, 1s for attending a coroner’s inquest and 7d for a pair of male stockings. He also awarded payments of a few pence to ‘the little boy of whom nothing else is known’.

John Howe’s account of 1753, written in his own hand.

In the 1800s my 2 x great grandfather William Howe was a deacon of the local Methodist chapel and Headman of the village, in effect chairman of the village council, assisting the villagers with community problems and organising local events. Important to note that all these relatives were bilingual and immersed in Welsh culture with its distinctive, community-based, way of life.

Elders of Capel-y-Pil, c1930. William is seated, third from left.

For the Howes, a desire to serve the community as public servants ran deep. Geoffrey Howe inherited this trait. But how did he make the leap from the tinplate works to Downing Street? The words of a Labour prime minister, Tony Blair, come to mind, “Education! Education! Education!” Through education, Benjamin Edward Howe, Geoffrey’s father, transformed the family’s fortunes.

The son of Edward Howe and Hannah Evans, Benjamin Edward Howe was born on 3 December 1888 in Margam, Glamorgan, ‘a dirty little town’ according to contemporary chroniclers. That dirt was generated by the heavy industry and blast furnaces that dominated the area during the Victorian era.

In 1901, Benjamin was a scholar living with his parents and older sister Elizabeth. Many industrialists were far-sighted and opened schools in association with their factories. For example, Margam Tinplate Infants School opened in 1850. Benjamin attended the school and excelled in his studies.

Ten years later, aged twenty-two, Benjamin was a law student soon to qualify as a solicitor. From this point, his life moved on apace. On 1 May 1913 he became a member of the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons. In 1923 he married Eliza Florence Thompson and three years later the couple produced a son, Geoffrey. By 1939 Benjamin had established himself as a solicitor and the Coroner for West Glamorgan. His sister, Elizabeth, had also done well for herself; she was a headmistress.

Benjamin, a Freemason at Afan Lodge.

During the Second World War, Eliza upheld the family’s sense of civic duty by performing the role of Central Leader for Women Services for Civil Defence. Meanwhile, Geoffrey attended Abberley Hall School in Worcestershire, a co-educational preparatory day and boarding school teaching 150 pupils. The actor Sir Anthony Quayle and the author Antony Beevor also attended this school.

Benjamin died on 27 July 1958. In his will he left the equivalent of £252,000 in today’s money. By this time Geoffrey had married Elspeth Shand and established himself as a barrister-at-law.

As a child in the late 1970s I met Geoffrey Howe at a family gathering, a christening. In all truth, I have no memory of that event. I do recall that later, in the 1980s, whenever Geoffrey Howe appeared on television a member of the family, usually my father, would remind us that he was a relative, a ‘cousin’, the catch-all description for any relative who lived outside our immediate household. 

In the Victorian era and early twentieth century the Howes were Liberals, supporting the local candidates. That support drifted further left as the Labour Party and its ideas took a firm grip on the South Wales Valleys. Therefore, in family terms, Geoffrey was an outsider.

Many members of my family hated Margaret Thatcher because of the destruction she wrought on the Valleys, particularly the mining communities. However, they always maintained their respect for Geoffrey believing him to be a man of honour and principle. As events transpired with Geoffrey’s resignation on 1 November 1990 triggering Margaret Thatcher’s resignation three weeks later that family loyalty and belief were not misplaced.

I wonder what Geoffrey would make of Boris Johnson and his government. I sense that he would detest the man and all he stands for. Furthermore, he would not recognise the Johnson government as a Conservative administration.

Geoffrey Howe

Geoffrey Howe was Margaret Thatcher’s longest-serving cabinet minister, holding the posts of Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary, Leader of the House of Commons, Deputy Prime Minister and Lord President of the Council. In many ways, he embodied 400 years of Howe history. 

Obituarists stated that Geoffrey Howe was ‘warm and well liked by colleagues’ and was ‘one of the kindest and nicest men in politics’. While Andrew Rawnsley of The Observer noted that fellow politicians regarded Geoffrey Howe as ‘one of the most honest and decent practitioners of their profession.’

I have never voted Tory and cannot envisage a situation where I would vote Tory. Nevertheless, I am proud to regard Geoffrey Howe as an ancestor.

As ever, thank you for your interest and support.

Hannah xxx

Bestselling psychological and historical mysteries from £0.99. Paperbacks, brand new in mint condition 🙂
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Dear Reader

Dear Reader #22

Delighted to announce my publishing schedule for 2020. It’s an ambitious one with the following books in the pipeline.

Snow in August: Sam Smith Mystery Series Book 16

The Olive Tree: Roots: A Spanish Civil War Saga Book 1

Looking for Rosanna Mee: Sam Smith Mystery Series Book 17

The Olive Tree: Branches: A Spanish Civil War Saga Book 2

Another beautiful translation from Cristina. Available soon 🙂

ANN'S WAR ESCAPE MASTER ITALIAN

Recently, I visited a series of caves in west Wales where I learned about the Red Lady of Paviland. The Red Lady of Paviland, pictured, is an Upper Paleolithic partial skeleton dyed in red ochre and buried in the Goat’s Hole Cave 33,000 years ago. William Buckland discovered the skeleton in 1823.

The Red Lady obtained her name because of the red ochre dye and jewellery found at the site. However, later analysis proved that ‘she’ was a man.

This incident will feature in Snow in August, out soon.

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The joy of research is it will often lead you to items you were not originally looking for.

While looking for books to place on the Europe by Book website https://europebybook.com I discovered the story of Nancy Wake, a remarkable woman.

“Nancy Wake (30 August 1912 – 7 August 2011) worked for the Pat O’Leary escape line and the Special Operations Executive in France during World War II.

After the fall of France to Nazi Germany in 1940, Wake became a courier for the Pat O’Leary escape network. As a member of the escape network, she helped Allied airmen evade capture by the Germans and escape to neutral Spain.

In 1943, when the Germans became aware of her, she escaped to Spain and codenamed “Helene,” joined the Special Operations Executive.”

I intend to learn more about Nancy Wake and use elements of her story in a novel I’m currently researching.

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Struggling to find the right presents for your children this year? Here’s fun for all the family! The aim is to become a tax-dodging millionaire. If you fail, you lose!

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In a recent study, Buckets, Trapnell and Paulhus sought to examine the dark personality traits of Internet trolls. The researchers explored trolling in 1,215 participants and compared this to the dark personality triad, which is the dark triad – narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy – plus sadism. They discovered that all forms of dark personality were significantly higher in individuals who troll with sadism the strongest factor.

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So many good people do so many wonderful things. Our political leaders pale into insignificance in comparison.

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As ever, thank you for your interest and support.

Hannah xxx