Village history repeats itself

Published on 16th August 2007 in Letters

Sir - The story you covered last week regarding the thwarted desire of Mr Gary Brown to have his Rawcliffe Post Office sign posted on the village green reminded me of an incident that occurred in May, 1935.

The parish council of the day (let me hasten to add that I wasn't a member at the time) had granted permission to the LMS Railway to advertise their services by the erection of a notice on the self-same village green. Such was the furore that a public meeting was called to discuss this matter. At the end of a very heated debate, the motion was that 'This meeting of the ratepayers of Rawcliffe ask the parish council to reconsider the question of the notice board with a view to its removal.'

Forty-five were for the motion and sixty-one against. History does indeed repeat itself.

Perhaps a serious lesson emerges from this little episode. In those days, it appears that Rawcliffe folk cared greatly about their village and turned out in large numbers to demonstrate this fact. If only similar numbers from what is now a much larger village would show similar concern for our local amenities! The future of both Gary's business at Rawcliffe and John's at Rawcliffe Bridge would be far more secure.

I tend to believe that most local people, even without signposts, know where their facilities are. Sadly, they just can't be bothered to use them.

Harold Mason

Chapel Close,

Rawcliffe