Bikes and Benefits

Saturday August 25th 1923

"LENIENCY FOR A SCORCHER!"

It would appear that a "scorcher" was slang of the age for someone who drove or rode their vehicle in excess speeds. William Holbrow, an RAF airman who was stationed at Spitalgate, Grantham, almost "flew" past my great grandfather, PC Bramhall, riding his motorcycle.

The court was told that at 7.45pm on the 7th of August, there was a great commotion on Watergate, Grantham. Mr. Holbrow's motorcycle came past PC Bramhall at such a speed that he was unable to stop him, despite him calling out for him to do so. He was said to have rode in a "swaying manner", and had to enter the wrong side of the carriageway to avoid colliding with three presumably startled cyclists. His calamity continued, as he narrowly avoided running into the Market Cross monument.

Holbrow went not guilty, yet an assembled throng of outraged Granthamian pedestrians gave their damning evidence. "At a very great pace", said Mr Tilley. "The defendant had to swerve to avoid hitting an old lady", gasped a shocked Thomas Cadwallander. The Chief Constable asked the defendant how fast he thought he was going.

"About fifteen miles an hour" he replied, having explained that his clutch had slipped, and he was struggling to control the bike. "Nearer thirty!", came the riposte from witness Mr Weekley, "A whole lot of cyclists were looking back at you!".

The magistrates fined him £1.

DOLE FRAUD

In the same Police column, there's a story that sheds some light on the benefits of the day. Freeman Whyley (68), was charged with Fraud, having claimed benefits under the Unemployed Dependants Temporary Provision Act 1921. A shilling a week was allowed, per child, for any unemployed father who had a child aged between 14 and 16 and who was in full time education. His son had left the Central School in 1922, but he had continued to claim for him. When challenged, he claimed that his son was a student in a technical school in Grimsby - but when contacted the headteacher had no record of him. He'd claimed two weeks worth of benefits, to the sum total of two shillings.

The court fined him £2.10s

IN OTHER NEWS: A reader writes in to recollect that some time ago, his cat caught a snake that was 30" long, and brought to him alive in Oakham. Why he felt compelled to write in with this, I am unsure!

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