MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!

Saturday April 4th - 1937

"A POUND NOTE IN HIS SOCK! - MIRACLE IN GRANTHAM POLICE CELL"

The news reports in the Grantham Journal in the 1930's didn't credit the individual journalists for their stories, which is a great shame, as I have to tip my hat to the writer of this original tale for the brilliant opening paragraph of the story:

"Officer, a miracle has happened - I have found a pound note down my sock!". Those words were shouted by Frederick Boyle, 48, of 33 Great Peter Street, London, W1, who had been arrested late the previous night at Grantham L.N.E.R. station".

...but in what mysterious circumstances was Fred Boyle arrested? He'd turned up on the platform of the train station, having got on the train at Kings Cross earlier that evening. He hadn't bought a ticket, and was, by all accounts, drunk.

When challenged by Police on the platform, and asking where he wanted to go, he mumbled semi-coherently, "London...Glasgow". When asked for his ticket, the inebriated fellow produced a piece of writing paper from his pocket. Upon removing him to the local police station, he was found to have a mere sixpence in his possession.

Detective Bramhall set about unraveling the mystery of the gentleman, who told him that he had quite unexpectedly met up with a friend he hadn't seen for five years. He set about "having a few drinks" with him, and when his mate told him that he had to catch a train, he joined him in the station for a few more libations. His friend went and sat on the train to Newcastle, and while they waited the one and a half hours for the train to set off, they sat in the buffet car having more drink.

That is the last that Fred remembered.

Having found the pound note in his sock, (clearly, searches before going into a cell have got better since then!), Fred offered to pay for his ticket. Appearing before the court in the morning, the magistrate (the mayor again!), rejected his offer to pay for a ticket, and instead fined him £1 and gave him a fortnight to do so. "All the better," said the mayor, "and I hope the next time you meet an old friend, you will celebrate with lemonade and ginger beer".

IN OTHER NEWS: BARROWBY LOSES ITS OLDEST RESIDENT - Nonagenarian who remembered the days of the press gangs.

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