Jan 03 On this day in Cambridgeshire history – In Your Area

Each day, Mike Petty looks through the archives of the Cambridge News. Below are some of the stories that made the headlines on January 3.

1978

A tornado cut a two-mile swathe through Newmarket. Roofs were ripped off buildings, windows smashed and cars overturned. Every window in the railway station signal box was smashed.

Chief inspector Trevor Hewitt of Newmarket police said: Its a disaster area. It was just a freak storm and only lasted a couple of minutes.

"The damage is appalling. Roofs have caved in, windows have been smashed and cars overturned.

In Cambridge, the wind lifted the roof from a house in King Street.

1976

Almost all the stock of top class boats being built by St Neots Rowing Club were lost when the wall of the boathouse collapsed during the recent storm.

They included a brand new boat that was to have been used by the elite four who had been invited to take part in Olympic trials at Henley.

Also lost were some old clinker sculls and clinker fours, now virtually irreplaceable.

There was also widespread damage in the area. At Alconbury, the police office roof was damaged and council workmen were kept busy during the night clearing fallen trees on most major roads, including the dual carriageway A.1 north-bound road at Southoe.

1961

The farthing died its tiny death with scarcely a single serious mourner in Cambridge.

Thousands of pounds worth will never be cashed. Some people will keep them for their sentimental value, others as part of a coin collection while many will simply not know that they still have farthings in the bottom of an untidy drawer.

They will be used as tokens for playing cards, by children playing shop, or by handymen as washers.

The coin will, however, be missed by drapers who kept a stock for their eleven-three-farthings prices.

* Anyone with forgotten farthings in untidy drawers could still spend them in the Antarctic and other faraway places until October 31, 1971.

1953

Cambridge will be one of the first cities in England to be lit almost entirely by 'sodium' street lighting. And, said the mayor, it will be one of the best-lighted in the world.

A motorist can appreciate sodium lighting better than any pedestrian can. Black spots and fog are obliterated. Trunk roads will be lit, stopping at the inner ring-road, as this type of light is not thought suitable for the historic city centre.

A completely new type of lantern is being used which gives an exceptionally high light output in relation to the electrical energy consumed.

1939

Sir Teversham people cannot understand why we are not going to be allowed to have electric light brought into our houses. Two years ago, an inspector came and condemned our pumps and put up notices saying, not fit to drink. Still we are waiting for the piped water supply. It seems as though the chief objection to electric light is against poles being stuck up in the village. But what about the lovely looking building on the corner of Teversham Road a machine gun range. We are going to have all the noise from guns, aeroplanes, etc, but not a little comfort and cleaner water. Lightwater

1925

Schoolmasters complain that the wireless fascination is becoming a menace to education.

It is the exception for the schoolboy not to interest himself in wireless and it is he who, in a vast number of cases, has installed it in the home.

The youthful enthusiast usually makes his own set and prefers to occupy himself in this way to poring over home lessons. Sometimes, however, there is no convenient place in which to do his homework if the rest of the family want to listen to a loud speaker.

This should not be allowed by parents, and there is the alternative of the silent headphones.

1908

On Saturday morning, a badger was noticed sitting in a hole near a haystack at High Town Drove, Burwell.

The animal appeared to be very fierce and attacked a dog whose owner promptly killed it.

It was shown to the vicar who pronounced it a very fine specimen of the English badger.

The owner took it to Newmarket for sale, where he was offered five shillings for it. He refused and took it back to Burwell where he eventually accepted one-and-six.

It is many years since a badger has been seen here.

1904

The eastern vacuum cleaning company has cleaned two of the large rooms the coffee room and the commercial room of the Lion Hotel in Petty Cury, Cambridge, and the result is remarkable.

The carpets are rich, large carpets so large, in fact, as to be almost unwieldy under the old method of beating but under this system, they have been cleaned in the most perfect manner and not a particle of dust can be found.

Out of one carpet, 28 lbs of dust and dirt was extracted and now the whole of the hotel is to be dealt with in similar manner.

1899

A most extraordinary story has just come to light respecting the matrimonial affairs of a young woman residing in Cambridge.

It appears she has been keeping company with a young man who lived away from Cambridge and it was arranged that the wedding should take place on Christmas Day.

It transpired, however, that the laws with respect to residence in the district had not been complied with and the wedding was postponed until Sunday. The appointed hour drew near, but no bridegroom turned up, nor has he been seen since.

Upon being shown the grooms photograph, a police officer identified him as being wanted in connection with an assault which has since proved fatal.

It is hoped the efforts of the police to bring such a heartless fellow to justice will prove successful.

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Jan 03 On this day in Cambridgeshire history - In Your Area