NOSTALGIA: Sweet delivery
This week’s photograph was taken in January 1988 at the Bury St Edmunds sweet manufacturer Van Melle.
The company, which produced the world famous Fruitella sweets, recognised the efforts of its staff by matching the £600 they had raised for West Suffolk Hospital’s Scanner Appeal.
Dr Roy Bannon, chairman of the appeal, is pictured left receiving the £1,200 grand total from Ian Hearsum, Van Melle factory manager, and Jeanette Truin, personnel manager’s assistant.
Jonathan Strathmore, spokesman for Van Melle, said: “The building has been buzzing with draws, raffles and numerous other ideas to collect money for this worthy cause.”
HEADLINES FROM THE PAST
10 YEARS AGO
St Edmundsbury Borough Council was criticised for using covert bugs to measure how much waste people recycled or sent to the tip.
The German-made microchips were hidden under the rims of people’s blue recycling bins and worked in tandem with weighing machines on dustbin lorries to record what each house was disposing of.
Chris Argent, who found a bug hidden in his bin in Oliver Road, Bury, said: “I think it is a bit underhanded and has a feel of Big Brother watching you. It is a bit of a cheek to put the bugs in the bins without telling us. It is just rubbish after all.”
St Edmundsbury bought the bins with the bugs already installed but had not fully activated the devices in Bury.
25 YEARS AGO
Bury St Edmunds was becoming an increasingly popular place to visit despite fears at the beginning of the summer that tourists would stay away because of the Gulf war and the recession.
Catherine Thornber, St Edmundsbury’s leisure services market manager, said: “It was quiet at the beginning of the season but the picture now is that things have picked up.
“The American visitors are still a long way down, but we have had a good number from Europe and the UK.”
Brian Wren, chairman of Bury Camber of Trade, said spending by the gradually rising number of visitors had helped offset the effects of the recession for many retailers.
100 YEARS AGO
It is with great regret we record the death in action of Private Sidney Rayson, son of Mr and Mrs J Rayson, of Risbygate Street, Bury.
Within a few months of the outbreak of war the deceased responded to the urgent call of duty, enlisting in the 17th Middlesex Regiment. After some months of training in England, the late soldier proceeded to France on active service where he spent 11 months. During the latter time, deceased was granted one leave in April last. Prior to taking up military duties he was engaged in domestic service in London, where he made many friends who will regret his loss. Deceased was well known in the town and many, we are sure, will be grieved to hear of his gallant death in the service of his country.
