October 25, 1976

A look back at this day in Peterborough’s history from the Telegraph archives

There was no Evening Telegraph on October 24, 1976 as it was a Sunday. Monday’s splash was a national story about the pound plunging to a record low against the dollar. Whitehall sources (yes, those faceless, nameless people existed back then) blamed an “untrue and grossly irresponsible’ report in the Sunday Times for the currency crisis.

There was a dramatic picture of a car which had been crushed in a collision with a lorry at Dry Arch Corner in Elton. The car driver suffered face and hand injuries.

Peterborough police revealed motorists turning right without taking proper care was the main cause of accidents in the city in the first six months of the year.

City councillor Mrs Jennifer Suri was threatening to hang Christmas decorations in the Cromwell Road “red light district” in a bid to beat a “darkness problem’’. The ET reported residents had said “innocent women were being pestered by men on the lookout for sex”.

Rescue talks were continuing 10 days after the David Charles construction group had called in the official receiver. The group’s problems had brought work on two major building projects – the Cresset at Bretton and the city centre magistrates’ court – to a standstill. Work was starting to install a new £13,000 lift at Peterborough Town Hall. On the telly Anglia had George and Mildred and The Sweeney while BBC1 was showing Angels and Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em.

■ The back page lead celebrated James Hunt after he won the world motor racing championship with third place in the Japanese Grand Prix beating rival Niki Lauda to the title.

There was also a preview of Dave ‘Boy’ Green’s next fight against Ramiro ‘Clay’ Bolanos.

Posh had won 2-0 at home to Oxford and manager Noel Cantwell was insistent that promotion from Division Three was still achievable. He said: “I sincerely trust that noone has counted us out of things yet as there is a long way to go.’’ Posh’s goals were an own goal (Posh celebrate it , right) and one from man of the match Bob Doyle. There was also high praise for 19-year-old keeper Keith Waugh, who was making his home debut. Cantwell said: “I was really pleased for the lad, he did everything asked of him and a bit besides.’’ Elsewhere Stamford crashed out of the FA Cup losing to Boston. In hockey Peterborough beat Norwich Exiles with Brian Bayston scoring the only goal. Pictured right are British Rail Reserves before a 3-1 win over Alco at Chestnut Avenue.

The Bull and Dolphin pub, which was in Bridge Street, has gone down in Peterborough folklore thanks to the dance that bears its name.

In 1976, the home of the ‘shuffle’ was advertising its entertainment offering with “Christine - curvaceous Go-Go dancer’’ taking centre stage on the Wednesday.

Butcher Mr George Scally, who had been butchery manager at Hillards supermarket in Bridge Street, was promoting his new shop at 50 High Street, Old Fletton.

...and some of the other stories featured in the ET that week

■ Alfie, a nine-week-old Giant Schnauzer puppy had become one of the first of his breed to begin training to be a police dog. The puppy was given to Cambridgeshire police by breeder Mrs Jenny Harrison-Smith (pictured with Alfie and his mother Greteal), from Ailsworth. She said the breed had “an excellend temperament and a natural guarding instinct.’’

■ Regulars at the Carpenters Arms in Stanground bid a fond farewell to landlord Fred Hall and his wife Ivy who were leaving after four years. The brewery wanted him to take on another pub and he said: “I don’t want to leave Stanground. I was born here. I shall be sorry to go – they are a great crowd of lads.’’

■ Gardener Mrs Freda Windows, pictured with her grand-daughter Christine (14), found something odd in her cabbage patch at her home in St Paul’s Road. The plant looked like a horse chestnut, had branches like rhubarb and the trunk was a type of bamboo, reported the ET on October 28. They’d nicknamed the mysterious plant Topsy.

■ This picture was on the front page on Friday, October 22. It shows four-year-old Peter Morton and his pal Maxine Dale (5) holding a claw hammer! The pair were playing a game of dentists when Maxine took the hammer to remove one of Peter’s front teeth. Her mum told the ET: “I was flabbergasted but when she showed me how she did it I just laughed.’’ Peter’s mum, from Wisbech, took him to the dentist who said Maxine had done a very good job. Fortunately, it was one of his milk teeth!

■ Molins, took an 8-page advertisement feature to celebrate its move into new premises in Sturrock Way in Bretton. The factory produced spare parts for cigarette machines and employed 350 people. Also advertising was the Harry Fenton fashion store in the Hereward Centre.Their full page ad featured Posh stars Ernie Moss, Eric Steele and Chris Turner modelling the shops latest men’s fashion.

■ Four supporters of St John’s playscheme in Peterborough – Pam Robinson, Jill Croxford, Maureen Clark and Julie Murdoch – walked from the Wirrina stadium in Bishop’s Road to the Dog-in-a-Doublet at Whittlesey to raise funds

■ Stamford’s Chris Carpenter was one of the contestants in the latest heat of the ET’s Star Seach competition. The previous year dancer Chris beat 20 women to the “Top Go-Go dancer for East Anglia’’ title.

■ The front page picture on Saturday, October 30, 1976 showed Yvonee Mahaffey (left) handing over a sash to Jo Ferrar, her successor as the new Miss Perkins. The contest was held at Perkins’ social club in Church Walk.