NO MORE JARRING BEETROOT SPLASHES

Huddersfield company D and M Castings that used to make models of lifeboats in the 1970s. Tony Denton has been able to supply a Facebook link for Les that show the models are still highly collectible.

And local photographic historian Raphael Morris has supplied a picture of an RNLI fundraiser with a lifeboat being hauled by horses past the Hippodrome Music Hall in the 1800s. HE dreaded beetroot will never pose a threat again. After I confessed to problems opening jars of the purple peril, readers proffered advice on how to remove tops without spilling the juice down my front.

Janice Mahoney, of Skelmanthorpe, says: “Just put the jar, where the lid and jar meet, under hot running water and it will open very quickly.”

This is a technique also recommended by Pete Fawcett, of Huddersfield Irish Centre: “An Irish shop keeper from County Mayo told me, simply run hot water from the tap over the lid of the jar for a few seconds. Twist and hey presto it will open.”

Sam Hinchliffe advised a specialist tool called the Westmark SiegerTwist Opener and MS, of Outlane, suggests inserting the handle of a dessert spoon under the rum of the jar to relieve pressure.

Mike Elliott uses a pair of rubber discs: stands the jar on one and grips the lid with the other.

“Hopefully that works. If not then, as your wife says, you need to release the vacuum.” He uses a screwdriver rather than stabbing it like my wife does.

Dave Whitworth, of Mount, taps the edge with the handle of a knife and also uses the rubber disc system for a better grip.

Sheila Hyde says: “A piece of emery paper placed round the lid, a solid grip and twist and off it comes without getting a purple stripe down my top.”

For ring-pulls, she uses a spoon.

Hilda Sykes, of Almondbury, suggests I wear a marigold glove on my right hand for a non-slip grip. Another pet hate for Hilda are corned beef tins that come with a key: “Either the key or the strip of metal breaks.”

Jane Amphlett adds: “I have always used your wife Maria’s stabbing method with stubborn lids but my sister, Sally Eccles, told me of another apparently fool proof method.

“If you bang the metal lid (not the glass) against the edge of the table or work-top and turn the jar whilst continuing to bang until you have banged at intervals all the way round, it should then open easily without any further damage to your shirts.

“Give it a go. My husband says it never fails.”