From Our Files: ‘Gay sex lessons’...quiz maestro’s £250k win...Mini smash

50 YEARS AGO

A HIGHCLIFFE couple have had an enforcement notice served on them by Christchurch Council because the tread on the steps of a spiral staircase in their home are at 42 degrees instead of 45.

The council had said the stairs up to an attic at 22 Hurstbourne Avenue must be removed, branding them “dangerous.”

The couple had appealed against the decision and the council had later changed their decision. But the enforcement notice could not be withdrawn because the Secretary of State had backed the council saying the steps had to be removed.

Speaking at a planning committee meeting councillor E. S. Spreadbury said the staircase had been brought second-hand and at the time it was built, complied to building specifications. But these had since been changed.

He said that he had run up and down the stairs along with several other councillors and had “no difficulties whatsoever.”

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TELEVISION and national press coverage has been given to Miss Yvette Wyatt’s attempts to prevent the closure of Field Place Home for spastic children at New Milton.

A family concern for 35 years the home was run by Mrs Wyatt’s mother until her death last year but the Wessex Health Authority feel that buying the home is “not a good idea.”

Around 28 boys and girls face removal to mental health hospitals. Miss Wyatt’s case has been taken up by Robert Adley MP who says that “Failing the home being kept open, I hope to see the children properly housed.”

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A GAMEKEEPER who followed a car because he suspected poaching found himself on a driving summons at Ringwood magistrates court.

The head gamekeeper of the Avon Tyrrell Estate denied driving a Land Rover without due care and attention.

He was said to have tried to stop a Mini suspecting the occupants of being poachers. But while overtaking it there was a collision.

The driver of the Mini said the gamekeeper had flashed his lights and pulled in front of him saying: “I heard a thump.”

According to the gamekeeper the Mini had been “doing a poacher’s crawl” at between 12-15 mph. He was found guilty and fined £5.

25 YEARS AGO

LOCAL quiz show maestro Paddy Spooner is £250,000 richer after his appearance on the TV show ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”

The 33-year-old former Arnewood School brainbox is renowned locally for his being a general knowledge supremo who was at one time barred from playing quiz machines in pubs because he was taking too much money from them.

He decided to quit the £500,000 question “Which of these ships was not built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel? – Great Western, Great Eastern, or Great Republic?”

Paddy said: “I was not prepared to take a gamble on a quarter of a million pounds.”

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AN astonishing insight into developments which could arise in promoting homosexuality in school should the government abolish Section 28 of the Local Government Act was given by New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne.

Speaking at a meeting of the Lymington conservatives he referenced remarks by Tony Blair who had said: “I have seen posters in Scotland, I don’t think I have ever seen a more astonishing campaign in all my born days.

“People are being told their children will have to play homosexual roles in school. Its nonsense no child is going to be given gay sex lessons in school. Not ever.”

Mr Swayne said: “Certainly he is wrong because I have a copy of a guide produced for teachers titled “Challenging Homophobia in School.”

In it the MP said that children were going to be given roles by teachers including a Chinese bisexual 15 year old, a black disabled lesbian who uses a wheelchair and a male to female transgendered person.

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A RETIRED Brockenhurst postman had a lucky escape when a car smashed into his Sway home just feet away from him as he sat reading his Sunday newspaper.

“I was showered in glass, plaster and dust, “said Ray Crouch, adding “The whole front of the bungalow was gone.”

A 61 year old driver of a Vauxhall Omega which crashed into Mr Crouch’s home was taken to hospital suffering from shock.