The Saturday briefing
Is there anything you’re yearning to know? Send your questions, on any subject, to the contacts given below, and we will do our best to answer them...
QWhy did trams die out in Britain in between the wars but continue to develop in most continental countries?
AIn their glory days, there were more than 100 tram systems in Britain.They were a cheap and popular form of transport among the working classes from the late-19th century.
The City of London refused to allow trams on its streets, believing they “catered for an undesirable class of person” and that widespread attitude meant they didn’t get the strongest foothold.
In the 1920s, there were 14,000 in use but that number halved by the 1930s and by 1950, there were fewer than 5,000. In 1962, 250,000 people gathered to wave off a parade of trams in Glasgow – the last major city to offer a public service. Blackpool clung on and its tramway is celebrating its 135th anniversary this year.
After the war, Britain’s focus was on cars and making life easier for motorists in cities damaged by war. Buses were also seen as a cheaper alternative, and one with less clattering and rattling.
Local authorities did not have the cash, clout or inclination to improve tram systems or keep them running. But in France, and other European countries, local authorities had more say and support from central government – and there was less snobbery.
They are still niche here. Leeds has been battling for a network since the
1990s but hopes to get
STILL ON TRACK: Blackpool’s world-famous tram network is celebrating its 135th anniversary this year
battery-powered trams with no overhead wires by 2033, if it can get financial and government backing.
QWhat was the origin of having colours as people’s surnames?
ASurnames came about after the Norman Conquest to distinguish locals who had the same first name. Looks, occupation and location played a part in how you acquired yours. So if you had a 5ft John who lived next to a John who made arrows, they could be John Little and John Fletcher. As far as colours go, hair and complexion are the obvious ties. Cilla Black, left, was born Priscilla White, so a distant ancestor could have had pale skin or white hair. That can apply to Brown and Grey too.
But Fairchild would cover the lighter tones, instead of Yellow.
Obviously there wasn’t much green hair back in the Middle Ages so that is down to where they lived, on the village green, or because they wore a lot of green. Orange also crops up, as with Take That’s Jason Orange, which originates from a feudal state in southern France called Orange, which is where the ruling powers in the Netherlands got their title.
Black could also be down to blacksmith – where we also get Smith, which is still the most common surname in the UK, the US and Australia.
At first these names were changed or dropped but they eventually stuck and were passed on. By the time of Richard II’s Poll Tax lists of 1381, most English families had adopted them.
QCan you tell me the origin of “ump” as in “umpteenth time” and the value that is normally attributed to it?
A“Umpty” has been around since the middle of the 19th century and it has come to mean an undefined number or a figure that is impossibly, or frustratingly, large. Umpty first appeared as nonsense syllables in poetry, as in “umpty-tumpty-tiddle-dee”. And there is Humpty Dumpty, which was sometimes written “Umpty Dumpty”, used to represent garbled speech or a lack of education, so it is thought there could be a connection there.
Umpty became umpteen and umpteenth in the early 1900s. It was used as a slang term for Morse code in the FirstWorldWar, with signallers calling the dash the umpty and the dot the iddy. “Umpteen” could be used to disguise the number of a brigade or division.
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Sabine Baring-Gould (1867)
Now the day is over, Night is drawing nigh, Shadows of the evening Steal across the sky.
Now the darkness gathers, Stars begin to peep, Birds, and beasts and flowers Soon will be asleep.
Jesus, give the weary Calm and sweet repose; With Thy tenderest blessing May mine eyelids close.
Grant to little children Visions bright of Thee; Guard the sailors tossing On the deep, blue sea.
Comfort those who suffer, Watching late in pain; Those who plan some evil From their sin restrain.
Through the long night watches May Thine angels spread Their white wings above me, Watching round my bed.
When the morning wakens, Then may I arise Pure, and fresh, and sinless In Thy holy eyes.
Glory to the Father, Glory to the Son, And to Thee, blest Spirit, While all ages run.
If you can’t remember the words to a favourite verse or song from yesteryear, send us a snippet and we’ll do our best to find all the words.