Thursday Flashback

The island in the newly opened Peasholm Park dominates this picture. Seen in the distance is a development of rows of town houses off Dean Road.

Ashville, Beechville, Elmville, Mayville, Oakville and Roseville became affectionately other two half full. Another glass of beer was placed on the floor near the fireplace. A large white jug - previously referred to - was standing in the centre of the table, and contained about half a pint of beer. The constable asked defendant who had brought the beer, and she replied: One of the soldiers (named) gave me 2s, and asked me if I would bring half a gallon of beer. I did so. I am very sorry, I know I have done wrong by doing so.

The three soldiers admitted that what defendant had done was correct. One of them said he had had about the same, and the other that he had only one glass. That was about three and a half pints in ten minutes. They must, said the chief, ironically, have been very thirsty. One man said he had known Mrs Malton about seven years, but her statement, which he asked the magistrates to believe was very different. She said she had known him about three weeks. This man (Bailey) was the leader of this expedition, and Mrs Malton said that he, accompanied by another soldier, went to her when she was standing on her doorstep known to locals as ‘The Avenues’.

Photo reproduced courtesy of the Max Payne collection. Reprints can be ordered with proceeds going to local charities. Telephone 0330 1230203 and quote reference number YRN170526-125547050. one afternoon three weeks ago, and asked her if she would get them a drink of beer. She did so (this was on a Tuesday). He gave her 2s. The soldier, accompanied by two more soldiers a fortnight ago, gave her 2s to bring half a gallon of beer (this was on a Thursday) and the same soldier that day (the 23rd) took the two others and giving her 2s asked her to fetch them some beer.

Those, said the chief, were the facts, and he submitted to the magistrates that it was a very serious thing to assist wounded soldiers to obtain drink. They were not allowed to be served at licensed houses, and the licensed victuallers had, he believed, been most careful. They had refused to serve them. He knew several cases where they had refused, and if private individuals assisted soldiers in that way it would defeat the aim of the regulations which was to prevent wounded soldiers obtaining drink except under doctor’s orders.

There had been trouble during the past month at Wykeham on account of wounded men going into Scarborough and returning the worse for drink.

Defendant said she did not say to the constable that she knew she was doing wrong. She had said she did not know or she would not have bought the beer. The door was not bolted but was just “shoved to.”

The constable, recalled, said he understood Mrs Malton to say that she knew she had done wrong, but she was sorry, she would not have done it had she known.

The constable said there was no handle to the door, which fastened with a bolt inside.

The chairman said it was not unusual for women to carry jugs under their aprons.

Defendant, it appeared, is the wife of a soldier, and she has four children.

The chairman said the magistrates thought it was a very serious offence, and one which might cause a great deal of trouble. It would have to be stopped.

Defendant: I shall never do it again.

The chairman said the magistrates did not think that defendant had known she was infringing the law, although she had evinced that she had been doing a thing she was ashamed of. She would have to pay a fine of £1. If there were any other offences of a similar kind in the town, the offenders would be much more severely dealt with. ‘After the sun, the rain, After the rain, the sun.’ Yes, this is the way of life since the world began, and thankfully no-one can change that! The countryside has resumed its freshness and multi-coloured shades of green. Wonderful!

Unfortunately I almost had to visit the A&E. Thankfully we had left Tigga, our Parson Russell Terrier at home when we took Martin to view woodland where the rare baneberry grew on limestone soil. We were just leaving the site, when a thick twig sprang up and deeply lacerated my ankle.

With blood gushing from the wound into my trainer, I hastily applied Michael’s tissue and sustained pressure to restrain the flow. Martin’s polythene bag served as a make-shift bandage to maintain pressure, as we returned to our car quite nearby. Keeping the ankle elevated worked wonders. Lesson number one - always carry a small first aid kit!

The baneberry site was encouraging, with a dozen or so plants just beginning to bud. It may be June before their cream-coloured flowers are carried in a loose, unbranched spike. The four to six petals are very short, and the longer white stamens, which are quite numerous, give the spike a feathery appearance. I remember discovering my first specimen over 50 years ago, on a stretch of limestone pavement near Ingleborough. In the deep cracks or grikes of limestone grew several plants among saplings of ash.

Beneath elms and ash, along woodland rides and clearings which remain very damp, you should find the blue bugle. Their blue turrets make a magnificent show from mid-May. Whorls of small blue flowers are produced in the axils of leaves.

Bugle (Ajuga reptans) may have the origin of its name from bugulus - a thin glass pipe which was used in embroidery. It was shaped rather like the bugle flower. Also known as Carpenter’s Herb, it reflects its original use in arresting bleeding from all kinds of wounds.

Now I’ve loved alpine gardening in several forms for over half a century. A change was needed. Having planted cuttings between patio pavers since moving here, the tapestry of colour was amazing from mid-May and through June. The last autumn we cleared the lot, swept the patio and admired the clean sweep.

This week, our friend Pat had a similar problem, with masses of cyclamen corms colonising her lovely gravel bed. Offering assistance, I enjoyed reducing the plants considerably, and hopefully she can walk un-hindered by huge clumps entangled in the ‘matting’ beneath the gravel. I hate to waste a single plant, but sometimes you just have to be ruthless, unless you manage to find someone wishing to adopt them.

My husband Michael has reluctantly decided to give up bee keeping after many rewarding years. Would anyone be interested in acquiring two working hives, to enjoy a most fascinating hobby?