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25 August 2021

This England: Milk snatcher

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

A milkman on his rounds at dawn is a scene of quiet continuity for many – except, it seems, the Durham constabulary, which has drawn ridicule for asking one what he was “doing this early in the morning”, and arresting him on suspicion of burgling a convenience store. The driver had been carrying out his duties when he noticed police cars following his milk float, which has a maximum speed of 16 miles per hour.
The Times (David Shamash)

Yum-what?

Jane Hudson sparked a row with Marks & Spencer after finding a Yumnuts treat was called “Plain Jane”. The mother of three bought a pack of the cakes and “thought they were very tasty”, until one of her children pointed out its name.

She went online to protest: “Are they implying Janes are plain? NOT HAPPY… In this day and age why does M&S feel they need to do it? It’s the 21st century and name calling isn’t OK.”
Metro (Daragh Brady)

Poster grads

Students whose graduation ceremonies were cancelled due to the pandemic can see their names on billboards, trams and buses as a university stages a “city takeover” to celebrate their success. Edinburgh Napier University came up with the idea to mark students’ achievements after ceremonies were cancelled for the second year in a row.

The names of nearly 4,000 students will appear around the city on 18 billboards, 100 bus stops, a classic Edinburgh taxi and a tram, accompanied by messages from the university.
Glasgow Herald
(Godfrey Holmes)

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

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This article appears in the 25 Aug 2021 issue of the New Statesman, The Retreat