What kind of unusual taxi service started in 1930?

Do you know what a jitty is? And what about a codder? If you do, then you might like to try our seventh history quiz about the town and borough. The questions are taken from stories that have appeared in The Hinckley Times over the years. They are quite tough

1) in October of 1920, Father Degan called upon the youth of Hinckley to take note. He said one of the chief sources of vice in the district was the practice of impressionable young men, still in their teens, going somewhere for the purpose of ‘seeing life.’

”They flocked to public houses where they developed a craving for alcoholic drink, and are pounced upon by perfumed, powdered and bejewelled harpies with artificial complexions, that are literally liable to drop off or melt away.” But what town, village or city were the youth going to?

2) Out-of-town supermarket shopping arrived in Hinckley on 25 January 1972. But what was the town’s first store to open on that date? The store then covered 22,000 square ft and also had floodlit parking for 240 cars.

3) A new important town building opened on July 4 1977 for the public to view. The borough council was anxious that as many members of the public should see this great new Hinckley amenity without having to pay the 15p entrance charge.

What was the building?

4) In 1993, the town centre shop owners were complained about there being too many what in town?

5) In February 1930, a new kind of taxi service was introduced. It cost six pence per mile. It was based in Desford. Unfortunately, it never caught on. Can you guess what kind of taxi service it was? It was very unusual.

6) The first stage of the new theatre, the Concordia Theatre, was complete on February 14 1972. It was the restaurant which was in the cellars of the old factory. But what was it called?

7) Many years ago, the Hollywood film star Tyrone Power made a visit to the area. He was shooting scenes for a film at Warwick Castle and stopped for a meal at the Cosy Café in Sharnford. But what happened to him while he was there - something which took 30 minutes to sort out?

8) On February 28 1930, the Palladium Cinema closed with the pending arrival of talking cinema in the town. What did it re-open as? There was another one in Mill Hill Road.

9) Which famous chain opened a branch in the Britannia Centre in November 1993. They still have a presence in the town today.

10) On October 10 1924, Councillor Davenport announced that the council was to take over what part of the town on an initial 50-year lease at a nominal rent. The deal was struck with the owner Miss Payne.

11) In September 1993, 500 parishioners bade goodbye to their old church with a single hymn, they then moved by candlelit procession into their new church next door. The new church had cost £800,000 to build. Serious structural problems were found in the old church which was only built in 1957.

But what was the church in Hinckley?

12) In January 1900, three colliers were fined 10 shillings while in Hinckley. What was there crime?

13) In 1972, Tesco on Castle Street started giving away what? They were linked with the store for many years.

14) In 1993, over 400 residents were very unhappy about a new ultra modern what which had been built in Wood Street in Earl Shilton?

15) On 5th April Hinckley’s new Kinema Theatre opened. It was said to be a “magnificent, luxurious, furnished house of amusement, and the last word in Kinematography, and would seat 600”.

There would be an entrance to the tea room from The Borough. The building would also include the latest heating and ventilation. On the first Monday to Wednesday the film was “Betrayed To The Turks”.

Thursday to Saturday it would be “Tigris”. The admission prices were three pence, six pence and one shilling; children under 12, two pence, three pence and six pence.

The previous February Liggins had opened their sweet and chocolate shop next door, as the new Kinema Theatre was being built.

Today, many people still remember Liggins with great affection.

What was the year the Kinema opened? Give yourself five years either way.