50 YEARS AGO

No repeat of Belton Horse Fair brawl

WHEN the centuries-old Belton Horse Fair was due to take place the following Monday assurances were given that would be no danger of a repeat of the previous year’s brawl in which the village’s only public house was turned into a “madhouse” and a man lost an ear.

The hosts of the Queen’s Head had been given assurance by police that six officers would be on duty for the village affair.

Total of 386 years at Towles

THE Echo celebrated the loyal long service of workers from Towles limited.

They all worked in the Footwear Division and had totted up a total of 386 years of service.

They were: Noris Kirby, Florrie Peberdy, Hazel Bossomworth, Wilf Wallace, Albert Holmes, Mary Robson, Anne Dakin, Winnie Seaton and Eric Miller.

Rescued John, aged 3, from canal

THE gallant rescue of a three-year-old boy from the Grand Union Canal and subsequent reviving by artificial respiration led to two Loughborough men being presented with special awards.

Bruce Wilkinson, 25, of Pultney Avenue and Malcolm George Gee, 26, a scrap dealer of Bottleacre lane were presented with parchment certificates from the Royal Humane Society.

Those at the ceremony heard that two small boys, Douglas John Symonds, 3, and Andrew Pinnegar, 4, both of Swingbridge lane Caravan Site were playing by the canal near their homes.

Both Mrs Symonds and Mrs Pinnegar heard Andrew shouting and ran to the spot.

Mr Wilkinson and Mr Gee, who were working at the site, also heard the shouts and ran to the water side.

Mr Wilkinson saw Douglas floating on his back in the middle of the canal apparently unconscious and dived in to bring him to the side.

Mr Gee gave assistance and started artificial respiration.

Stephanie named Rose Queen

STEPHANIE Bissill, 11, a pupil at Rosebery Junior School, Loughborough, was crowned Rose Queen at the ninth annual carnival of All Saints’ Church, Thorpe Acre.