David Nefs

newspaper

Saturday 16 September 2023

On This Day The Way We Were

tinyurl.com/mpd5mzyu
bit.ly/1EhEQAX

New first-class stamp, 1968 Mugs or cups

On 16th September 1968, a When I was a child, I can’t
new two-tier postal system remember ever having tea
came into force in the UK. A in a mug. It was always cups
new ‘first-class’ stamp went and saucers. We had green
on sale, costing 5d. (Five ‘Beryl Ware’ for everyday. If
pence in pre-decimal money.) we had visitors for tea, the
The post office promised best china, with roses and
next-day delivery on letters gold edges, would appear.
posted ‘first class’. Letters Mugs were solely for picnics,
with a cheaper second-class and we called them beakers.
stamp could take several It all changed in the 1960s,
days to arrive. when chunky pottery designs
There was a mixed reaction became fashionable. I think
from the public. It made a it was also to do with more
big difference to businesses people drinking coffee. Tea
because their postal costs tasted better in a delicate
increased. The post office china cup, but milky coffee
hoped to raise an extra 12 was fine in a mug. What do
million pounds this way. you prefer – a mug or a cup?
1
© 2023 Everyday Miracles Ltd T/A The Daily Sparkle ® Remember to visit our ACTIVITY BANK
 Now And Then That’s Entertainment

bitly.ws/Eg3Q
bit.ly/1KM9nK5
Crocodile shoes Beetle drive

I remember when Uncle When I was young, we lived

Bill turned up at our house in a village, and it wasn’t
in these shoes. “Whatever always easy to get into town
have you got on your feet, to see a film or go to the
Bill?” declared Ma. “They’re theatre. On the other hand,
crocodile shoes,” said Uncle there was always something
Bill, “and they cost me a happening at the village hall.
pretty penny, I can tell you.” A lot of things were fund-
Ma just frowned. “Well, I raising events for local
think I would have saved organisations. I liked it when
your pennies, if I were you,” they held beetle drives. The
she said. “And, anyway, what whole family went, and we
about the poor crocodile?” all got quite competitive.
Uncle Bill laughed. “They The village hall was set out
farm crocodiles just for their with card tables for four
skins,” said Uncle Bill. people. Each team had to
Crocodile skin was all the draw a beetle, by rolling the
rage at the time. You could dice and adding a leg or an
get accessories like bags and eye, according to the number
purses, and even clothes, rolled. There was usually a
made out of it, as well as blackboard with a big beetle
shoes and boots. drawn on, to remind us.

2
© 2023 Everyday Miracles Ltd T/A The Daily Sparkle ® Find these columns and much more in our APP
 Over To You Word Quiz

bit.ly/2lHhS6l
© Pixabay
Bike rides Challenge level

Dear Daily Sparkle, All these words begin with

Can...
It was difficult to get into
town when our little local 1. Can _ _ y
train station closed down Bright yellow bird
in the 1960s. But the old 2. Can _ _
railway was great for bikes. Small boat
There was a whole network 3. Can _ _ e
of cycle paths that were Old-fashioned light source
great for taking the children 4. Can _ _ b _ _
out on their bikes. Mind you don’t get eaten!
They learnt to ride at an 5. Can _ _ d
early age. It felt safer to Truthful
be away from the traffic, 6. Can _ _
although it wasn’t as busy Waterway with locks
on the roads back then as it
7. Can _ _ r
is now. It was lovely to go Slower than a gallop
out on our bikes at the end
8. Can _ _ t _ _ t
of the school holidays. The
Flower
hedges were full of cow
parsley and wild roses. And 9. Can _ _ n
it was all on the flat. Big gun
10. Can _ _ y
Best wishes, from Isobel
A type of awning
3
© 2023 Everyday Miracles Ltd T/A The Daily Sparkle ® Remember to visit our ACTIVITY BANK
 Notes Saturday 16 September 2023
Background Information plus Reminiscence and Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Questions

PAGE 1 ~ ON THIS DAY ~ 16 September 1968 ~ First-class postage introduced in the UK

Background: In the past, almost all letters arrived at their destination the following day. Second-class
post costing 4d was made slower in order to prioritise the new first-class service. First-class post was
expensive, and even when paying more for a stamp, 5–8% of the mail still didn’t get there the next day.
Questions: Do you remember how much it cost to buy a stamp when you were a child? How long did it
take a letter to reach its destination? What did you think about the new first-class postage scheme when it
was introduced? Where did you buy stamps from? Did you or any of your family collect stamps? Did you
ever collect foreign stamps? What is the name for someone who collects stamps? [philatelist]
Are there any stamp collectors in your community? If so, invite them in to show off their
collection. Challenge residents to guess the cost of a first-class stamp today. [£1.10!]

PAGE 1 ~ THE WAY WE WERE ~ Drinking tea and coffee out of a mug or a cup
Background: Thick, chunky, artsy pottery came into fashion in the 1960s, when many households
had tableware in modern designs made by companies like Denby or Hornsea Pottery. Shapes became
more angular, and patterns were often abstract – a change from traditional floral designs. Students and
youngsters liked mugs as they were informal, modern and made less washing-up than a cup and saucer.
Questions: Which would you rather drink tea from – a mug or a cup? Why is that? What about coffee?
What sort of pottery or china did you have when you had your first home? Where did you get it from? What
was the design? Would you rather have crockery in traditional designs, or something bright and modern?

PAGE 2 ~ NOW AND THEN ~ Crocodile shoes and other items made from crocodile skin
Background: Crocodile skin (crocodile leather) has been used to make shoes, gloves, purses, wallets and
handbags for many years. These sorts of items were particularly popular in the late 1950s and early 60s.
They are still sold today and are now top-end fashion items. Other, rather cheaper, shoes and handbags
that look like crocodile/alligator skin are actually made of stamped or imprinted cattle leather.
Questions: Have you or anyone in your family ever owned a pair of crocodile shoes? What about other
things made from crocodile skin, eg gloves, wallets, purses, handbags? Do you like the look and feel of
crocodile skin (crocodile leather)? What was the most comfortable pair of shoes you have ever owned?

PAGE 2 ~ THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT ~ Beetle drive – entertainment at the village hall

Background: Beetle drives were good fun, easy for all ages and very cheap to run. Tickets could be sold
for individuals, or per team, and usually refreshments and small prizes were provided. Villages and rural
communities often had to provide local entertainment and activities because local transport wasn’t very
good. Before most people had cars, getting back from town on public transport of an evening was difficult.
Questions: Have you ever played beetle? Have you ever been to a beetle drive? Who ran it? Where was it
held? Who did you go with? What did you like or dislike about that kind of local entertainment? What are
the best kinds of entertainment for raising money for local organisations, church groups, etc?

PAGE 3 ~ OVER TO YOU ~ Bike rides on disused railway tracks

Background: There were so many redundant railway routes used as cycle tracks once the trains had
stopped. Sometimes, local councils took them over and concreted them, but even in their unconverted
state, they made good cycle routes away from the traffic. Cyclists didn’t wear safety helmets in those days.
Questions: Did you have a bike when you were young? What was it like? How old were you when you
first learnt to ride a bike? Where did you ride it? Did your children, or nieces and nephews, have bikes?
Were there any cycle-only routes near where you lived? Did you ever cycle on any disused railway tracks?
What is the longest bike ride you have ever been on? Where was it? Who did you go with?

PAGE 3 ~ QUIZ : Word Quiz

Answers: 1. Canary 2. Canoe 3. Candle 4. Cannibal
5. Candid 6. Canal 7. Canter 8. Candytuft
9. Cannon 10. Canopy

© 2023 Everyday Miracles Ltd T/A The Daily Sparkle ® Find these columns and much more in our APP 4
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)