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21 October 2020

This England: The cones hotline

This column – which, though named after a line in Shakespeare’s “Richard II”, refers to the whole of Britain – has run in the NS since 1934.

By New Statesman

Firefighters were called to the rescue of a young boy who got his head stuck in a metal traffic cone. A crew from Devizes was sent to The Leaze, Bromham after the boy decided to put the cone on his head and then could not get out.
Gazette and Herald  (John Boaler)

Ale-ing and abetting

A motorist accused of drink driving handed the judge a character reference from his local ale drinkers’ society.

Michael Vinton, 46, was arrested after arriving at work by car smelling of booze on the Isle of Man. When he appeared in court he handed in a reference from Castletown Ale Drinkers’ Society. The sitting magistrate said the letter, which was not read, did not help his cause.
Daily Star (Amanda Welles)

Playing gooseberry

A lonely bachelor bought two pet geese to keep him company over lockdown and now puts them in nappies and takes them to the pub.

Animal lover Sven Kirby, 34, has hand reared the birds from five days old after buying them for £40 each in June.

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Kirby is often seen  walking the streets, parks and canals of Leeds with Beep Beep and Norbert waddling along behind.
Westmorland Gazette (Terry Hanstock)

Fresh as a daisy

Fans of Scotland’s national drink can take a dip in Irn-Bru in their own bathtub – with bath salts which turn water orange and smell just like the ginger fizz.
Glasgow Times (Daragh Brady)

Each printed entry receives a £5 book token. Entries to comp@newstatesman.co.uk or on a postcard to This England.

 

Content from our partners
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This article appears in the 21 Oct 2020 issue of the New Statesman, Ten lessons of the pandemic

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
  • Administration / Office
  • Arts and Culture
  • Board Member
  • Business / Corporate Services
  • Client / Customer Services
  • Communications
  • Construction, Works, Engineering
  • Education, Curriculum and Teaching
  • Environment, Conservation and NRM
  • Facility / Grounds Management and Maintenance
  • Finance Management
  • Health - Medical and Nursing Management
  • HR, Training and Organisational Development
  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Information Services, Statistics, Records, Archives
  • Infrastructure Management - Transport, Utilities
  • Legal Officers and Practitioners
  • Librarians and Library Management
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • OH&S, Risk Management
  • Operations Management
  • Planning, Policy, Strategy
  • Printing, Design, Publishing, Web
  • Projects, Programs and Advisors
  • Property, Assets and Fleet Management
  • Public Relations and Media
  • Purchasing and Procurement
  • Quality Management
  • Science and Technical Research and Development
  • Security and Law Enforcement
  • Service Delivery
  • Sport and Recreation
  • Travel, Accommodation, Tourism
  • Wellbeing, Community / Social Services
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU