On the picket line

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

There was a tragic story on the front page of the ET on Monday, April 18, 1977. The body of a 15-year-old boy had been found in a ditch at Little Staughton on the Cambridgeshire/Bedfordshire border and a murder hunt had been launched.

Also on the front page was a story about an arson attack at an aircraft hangar in Westwood.

The building in Gresley Way had been granted planning permission for a huge leisure complex just two weeks

previously.It was to house an indoor ski slope, archery range and 5-a-side football pitches.

In national news, controversial MP Enoch Powell had survived a murder attempt in Northern Ireland. A caller claiming to represent a Loyalist para-military group said it had planted a bomb. When told of the incident Mr Powell replied: “Just fancy that.’’

Five Posh supporters were due in court charged with wounding a 16-year-old schoolboy after a match at Chesterfield.

There was a warning that

health services in the city were heading for a crisis in four years time unless 800 extra hospital beds were provided.

A study team said the problem was due to the growing population and the plans for more. At the time, Castor had been earmarked as the site for a new hospital.

In entertainment news there was a review of a concert at Peterborough’s ABC theatre by US star Billie Jo Spears.

The ET reviewer said: “Vocally she was excellent. Melodic country without the strong twanginess of Tammy Wynette.’’

■ There was an odd story about Thorney man John Maller (pictured) who was “finding England pretty dull after five years exciting life in the French Foreign Legion.’’

Mr Maller (31), a former pupil of Lincoln Road Boys’ School, was planning to move from his parents’ home in Church Street to Denmark to deal in antiques. Asked how he came to join the Legion, where he had been a radio operator, he told the ET: “It just happened.’’

Nineteen-year-old Posh winger Andy Rogers was facing a spell on the sidelines as manager Noel Cantwell reckoned the youngster needed a rest. He had played in Posh’s 0-0 draw away to Chesterfield which left Posh comfortably in mid-table after 39 games. Shrewsbury Town were Posh’s next opponents in Division 3. Posh youth team went down 2-1 at home to Chelsea. Pino Nardino scored Posh’s goal. Pictured having a strike on goal is midfielder Rodney Leadbeater.

In local football, Eye United (pictured) won the Advertiser Cup beating Stamford Tigers 2-1 at Chestnut Road. Defender Gary Williams scored both Eye goals. The ET Rugby Cup was played at Fengate between Stamford and

RAF Wittering. Stamford came out on top with a narrow 6-0 victory. Stamford kept the cup for keeps after winning the trophy for the third year running.

In athletics Nene Valley Harriers recorded their best ever result in the ‘Cambridge 10 mule (sic!) road race.’ Ray Church came fifth behind international marathon star Ian Thompson.

In the jobs section, travel giant Thomas Cook was looking for a personnel officer to work at their then Peterborough headquarters in Thorpe Wood.

The salary on offer was £3,500 per annum.

Another high profile city employer was on the look-out for an electrical engineer. Soda Stream in Woodston also wanted warehouse staff.

In the small ads someone from Turves was looking for “open air addicts’’.