Issue 241 – June 2019 ‘Ard ‘Ood & Faggots Celebrating 40 years of News & Views Photo – Sarah McConnell News & Views celebrates 40 years Surgery services upgraded! Scouts sleep rough for charity Silverstone News & Views | 3 News & Views celebrates 40 years! This month heralds the 40th included that on the cover of this anniversary of the first edition of the edition (which was a village slogan village newsletter, News & Views. known to older residents). From its humble beginnings in June So where were you in June 1979 when 1979, and produced and delivered J Plummer, D Harris, J Firth, L Gates, entirely by volunteers, the bi-monthly P Baker, J Turton, E Craven, K Kedros editions have been arriving on and Peter Byng first put pen to paper? doorsteps, shop counters and Here are some key memories from local government desks thanks to the that time: efforts of a group of villagers that felt and still feel, that a regular source of The average house in the UK cost news about village matters binds the £13,650, and inflation was 17%. Sony community together. Over the years, launched a portable cassette player social media has played a big part in called a Walkman, marketed in the US local communications and yet the at $200, and McDonalds introduced hardcopy News and Views is still read Happy Meals. Mother Theresa won by large swathes of the community the Nobel peace prize, China ordered it serves. Now funded by the Parish its citizens to have no more than one Council and advertising revenue, child, and smallpox was eliminated. News & Views is put onto the Parish Britain’s trade unions entered 1979 Council website each edition at in a state of deep discontent at Jim www.silverstonevillage.org/news Callaghan’s attempt to control so can also be read online. soaring inflation by limiting pay. But while graveyards were locked Sadly, the passing of our previous and civic squares piled high with Editor, Peter Byng, meant the library uncollected rubbish, popular of copies he kept, were lost. However, culture offered merciful release. I can tell you that there is one theme Britons watched home-grown that spans all four decades of editions, favourites Are You Being Served and that is……dog mess! and Last of the Summer Wine and indulged in the comparative News & Views was started in response glamour of American imports Dallas to many complaints about meetings and Charlie’s Angels. For most of 1979 clashing, people missing functions or they were unable to read the Times, hearing about them only after they which did not appear for almost a year happened, and names put forward owing to an industrial dispute. 2 | Silverstone News & Views The Clash released London Calling Official Ulster Unionist Party all and Pink Floyd released The Wall. gain an MEP each. The release of the Sugarhill Gang’s • 12 June – The new Conservative Rapper’s Delight in October 1979 was government’s first budget sees credited with heralding the birth of chancellor Geoffrey Howe cut the hip-hop. Sid Vicious died of a heroin standard tax rate by 3p and overdose while on bail for the slashing the top rate from 83% murder of his girlfriend Nancy to 60%. Spungen. Kramer vs Kramer was the • 18 June – Neil Kinnock, 37-year- year’s top-grossing movie in the US, old Labour MP for Islwyn in South and Alien and Apocalypse Now were Wales, becomes shadow also in the top 10, with The education spokesman. Muppet Movie. • 22 June – Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe is cleared in In politics court of the allegations of • 7 June – European Parliament attempted murder which ruined election, the first direct election his career. to the European Parliament; the • British General Election 1979 turnout in Britain is low at 32%. Margaret Thatcher (Conservative) The Conservatives have the most defeats James Callaghan (Labour) MEPs at 60, while Labour only and David Steel (Liberal) have 17. The Liberals gain a 12.6% share of the vote but not a The Economy single MEP, while the Scottish Yearly Inflation Rate UK 17.00% National Party, Democratic Unionist Party, Social Democratic Interest Rates Year End Bank of and Labour Party and England 12.50% East Midlands prices Average house price in Bread 1 loaf £0.31 the East Midlands was £14,448 Sugar 1kg £0.32 Average salary was £3,375 Milk 1pt £0.60 Average car £3,000 Butter 250g £0.37 Litre fuel £0.22 Cheese 400g £0.73 Grocery shop £4.12 Potatoes 2.5kg £0.38 Flour 1.5kg £0.36 Bacon 400g £1.05 Silverstone News & Views | 3 Popular Culture 1979 Marriage news June Number 1’s Blues musician, Muddy Waters Sunday Girl – Blondie (64) married Marva Jean Brooks Ring My Bell – Anita Ward (25) on June 5th in Chicago. Are ‘Friends’ Electric – Tubeway Army Popular TV Programmes • Old Grey Whistle Test Random facts • Are You Being Served? • YMCA sues the Village People • Emmerdale Farm for libel because of their song • M*A*S*H of the same name • The Price Is Right • The General Knowledge • The Waltons Quiz Game Trivial Pursuit is • Last of the Summer Wine Launched • Happy Days • The First modern Bungee • Little House on the Prairie Jumping performed by a • Charlie’s Angels group from the Oxford • Quincy M.E. University Dangerous • The Muppet Show Sports club jumped from • The Love Boat the Clifton Suspension Bridge • Dallas in Bristol. • Diff’rent Strokes • Mork and Mindy • Taxi Popular Films • Superman: The Movie • Every Which Way But Loose Technology • Rocky II • VisiCalc becomes the first • Alien spreadsheet program. • The Amityville Horror • Sony introduces the Sony • Star Trek: The Motion Picture Walkman costing $200.00 • Moonraker • Voyager I photo reveals • The Muppet Movie Jupiter’s rings • The Deer Hunter • The European Space Agency • Kramer vs. Kramer launches Ariane 1 4 | Silverstone News & Views Inventions (or attributed to First Use) Snowboard - First Commercial Cellular Network USA by Daniel E Chadwick NTT Minutes of the Parish Council meeting – June 1979 In 1979 the following items were the Gayton tip. It was agreed to included within the minutes: advise Geoff Blackwell and • Mr Whitlock replaced some David Hinton, who had missing tiles from the High offered to clear the site, in Street bus shelter roof. return for keeping any • Mrs Val Currie was nominated bottles they found, and they and appointed as the Infant would continue to do so until School Manager. the beginning of September, • Dr G Lidgard was nominated provided they kept the site tidy, and appointed as the Junior cleared up each time and School Manager. arranged their own rubbish • Efforts were afoot to impose a disposal. They were to advise speed limit on the “new” A43 the Council if they wished to through the village. do this. • The Chronicle & Echo has • Mr Smith of Graham Hill applied declined to pay for copies of the for planning for a balcony. minutes and so no copies were • Mr D Varney applied for being sent to them. Others were permission for a detached happy to pay their £1. building for a sawmill in • The Clerk agreed to attend a West End. meeting regarding the 3rd • Hinton Bros applied for planning London airport in Yardley Chase. for road and sewer layout for • It was agreed that it would be detached dwelling in Cattle End. unethical to dump the rubbish • Mr Jenkins applied for planning from the Pound on Mr Blundell’s for a dining room extension in land and the obvious choice was Hillside Avenue. Credits and source: The Guardian, Wikipedia, Parish Council Minutes archive, Silverstone – A historical Mosaic. Silverstone News & Views | 5 Silson Surgery Dr Supple and Partners are delighted to inform patients registered at The Brook Health Centre and Silson Surgery that we are extending the provision of services within the village; Please see changes below: SILSON SURGERY (Including Dispensary) Telephone 01327 857204 MONDAY 8AM – 1PM (Urgent Access 10.30-11.30) 2PM – 6PM TUESDAY 8AM – 1PM (Urgent Access 10.30-11.30) 2PM – 6PM WEDNESDAY *7.30AM – 1PM 2PM – 6PM THURSDAY *7.30AM – 1PM (Urgent Access 10.30-11.30) 2PM – 6PM FRIDAY *7.30AM – 1PM 2PM – 6PM (7.30 – 8am by appointment only and may be subject to change – please speak to Reception to pre book) In addition to our usual surgeries, from 7th May we now offer on the day urgent access appointment’s (bookable from 8am) with a GP and/or a Nurse. We also have a Phlebotomist (for bloods) who is available to pre book online beforehand or for on the day should the GP or Nurse request them. Please note that these new appointments and opening times are on a trial basis and continuing with them beyond the Autumn, will be based on patient demand. Appointments will be offered to Silverstone and surrounding village patients first, as any medications needed will then be dispensed while you wait. On the day urgent appointments will still be available at Brook Health Centre if the village surgery is fully booked. Should you wish to book appointments or order your medication online 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, please contact either surgery who can provide you with a personal secure User ID and password. We welcome feedback and we have a very active and supportive Patient Participation Group (PPG) that plays a key role in improving this community service, please do get in contact with our Practice Manager if you would like more information. Dr Supple and Partners (Use it or lose it. Please make use of this new service, including the existing pharmacy services so that the pilot can be adopted permanently! – Ed) Prescribing of medicines to treat minor illnesses is changing How is it changing? Medicines which are available to buy will no longer be routinely prescribed for the following conditions: Coughs, colds and Acute sore throat Conjunctivitis nasal congestion Mild irritant dermatitis Cradle cap Dandruff Diarrhoea (adults) Mouth ulcers Dry eyes/sore tired eyes Earwax Excessive sweating Oral thrush Haemorrhoids Head lice Indigestion & heartburn Sunburn Infrequent cold sores Infant colic of the lip Infrequent constipation Threadworms Infrequent migraine Insect bites and stings Mild acne Mild to moderate hay fever Minor burns and scalds Mild cystitis Mild dry skin Nappy rash Minor pain, discomfort Warts and verrucae Travel sickness Prevention of tooth decay and fever (e.g.