Counting the pennies

MY wife and I paid a visit to a well known shopping centre (near Sheffield) this week. While there, we availed ourselselves of the catering facilities on offer.

We each had a coffee and a small sandwich and the total cost was £9.60. While we consumed our purchases, I began to trawl my mind for something else to compare this cost with and after a while came up with the following.

On my first day at school in September 1951 aged just under five, I gave my teacher, Mrs Teale, 1/6d. This was equivalent to 7.5p today. Sixpence (2.5p) was for the school bank (Yorkshire Penny) and 1/- (5p) was for my school dinners for one week. At 1951 prices, £9.60 would have have paid for my school dinner, less holidays, every day for just over four years! Just an idle thought.

Greek engine

From: Patrick McEvoy, Austwick, near Lancaster.

WITH reference to the archive article on early engines (Yorkshire Post, May 5), I took a photograph in April 1939 with my “Box Brownie” of an engine and was able to read its brass plate – Hunslet-Leeds. I was on a study of Greece from school and the engine was at work on the hills above Mytilene on the island of Lesbos. The war soon engulfed us – I wonder if the “old lady” survived!

Banker backers

From: G Ellison, Hawthorn Avenue, Dronfield.

We all know that the banking industry caused the financial debt. It would be interesting to know how many in the banking and financial industry donate to the Tory Party. Cameron, Osborne and co are too afraid to admit it, as they may bite the hand that feeds them.