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Milton Keynes
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  • And Water Eaton Was The Brightest Jewel In The Crown (2 March 1978)

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    And Water Eaton Was The Brightest Jewel In The Crown (2 March 1978)
    I feel very sorry for the people of the West Country and North Scotland who have been snowbound recently.  At this time of writing some of them still are.  I could not help noticing, however, how much better those who normally lived in the higher, more exposed places, seem to be coping than those who ...
  • Travelling Man With A Weather Eye Open (24 February 1978)

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    Travelling Man With A Weather Eye Open (24 February 1978)
    To my appeal of a fortnight ago for information about what the weather was like on St Paul’s Day, January 25, I received one convincing reply. As a result, I am happy to tell you it was a bright, sunny day and warm for the time of year.  Happy because, according to the old saying, fine ...
  • Over The Border For A Leg-Pull (17 February 1978)

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    Over The Border For A Leg-Pull (17 February 1978)
    I was much interested in the two photographs of pre-war Queensway, Bletchley, published in the Gazette a fortnight ago, for that was how the road looked when I first saw it in 1946.  With one exception.  The photographs show the street lighting to have been by gaslamps, whereas by 1946 Queensway was lit by what ...
  • Red Sky At Night - And All That (10 February 1978)

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    Red Sky At Night - And All That (10 February 1978)
    I am writing this piece on Wednesday, February 1.  Sleet is blowing in the wind at the moment, which should not be surprising, seeing that February is supposed to be the month that “fills the dykes with black and white,” and sleet is a mixture of both. What concerns me now, however, is not so much ...
  • Whittling Away History On Toilet Training (3 February 1978)

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    Whittling Away History On Toilet Training (3 February 1978)
    Our forefathers and foremothers (Oh, that Sex Discrimination Act!) led much more down-to-earth lives than we do, whatever their status.  Indeed, they had little option, for their housing and hygiene, though poor by modern standards, were the best that could be had for the money at the time. They could not be squeamish and consequently they ...
  • There's No Substitute For The Real Thing (27 January 1978)

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    There's No Substitute For The Real Thing (27 January 1978)
    When I was aged about 15 my former headmaster invited myself and a few other past and present pupils to go to the village school one evening and listen to the wireless set that by some magical means had recently been acquired.  The set had an ebonite front with two white-marked dials on it.  It ...
  • Before The National Health Service (20 January 1978)

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    Before The National Health Service (20 January 1978)
    Among voluntary organisations which contributed to the people’s health before the inception of the National Health Service in 1948 were local hospital associations and local nursing associations.  For a small annual subscription to these bodies your family could ensure themselves of a hospital bed or the services of a district nurse when needed. Some of the ...
  • A Line On Locos And Their Men (13 January 1978)

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    A Line On Locos And Their Men (13 January 1978)
    To those who might have noticed that my column has been missing from the last two issues of the Gazette, I must explain that I have been enjoying a holiday of practically 14 days among my favourite foreigners in Scotland.  They said they were glad to let me in and doubtless they were equally glad ...
  • Christmas Cake That Lasted Until Easter (22 December 1977)

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    Christmas Cake That Lasted Until Easter (22 December 1977)
    In Bletchley in the early post-war years the secular aspect of Christmas was heralded by the holding of special stock shows and poultry shows at the market.  It was those events which, each year, first brought a Christmassy look to the streets of the town. As far as the farmers and butchers were concerned, the big ...
  • 16-Hour Working Days Gave Way To Pleasure Trips (16 December 1977)

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    16-Hour Working Days Gave Way To Pleasure Trips (16 December 1977)
    When I lived at Water Eaton shortly after the war there was the sound of motor traffic on the roads and of rail traffic on the main line.  But behind all that, for all the day and a good part of the night there was the steady chug-chug of diesel engines driving boats on the ...
  • Persons The Borough Could Make Free (9 December 1977)

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    Persons The Borough Could Make Free (9 December 1977)
    A friend inspired this piece, when the other day, apropos of nothing, he said:  “You know, I think  it’s about time the Borough of Milton Keynes had some honorary freemen.” “Freemen, but not freewomen?” I asked. “All right.   Freepersons, if you like,” says he. Actually, I do not like.  Originally a person was a parson, like a clerk ...
  • Hall Fulfilling Its Aim (2 December 1977)

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    Hall Fulfilling Its Aim (2 December 1977)
    The acquisition and opening of the former Labour Hall in Buckingham Road, Bletchley, by the Salvation Army, will be regarded with satisfaction and approval by many people in the area who are not officially connected with that organisation.  For the hall was originally built specifically for a Christian purpose and now it is being used ...
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