Back in August, Mr Cass of East Heslerton gave me a call. What it basically was about I can't remember, but during the course of our chat we covered many subjects, and from the notes I made at the time we discussed the subject of the Hurricane versus the Spitfire. This is especially interesting, as the Battle of Britain took place in the same month, in 1940, and winning it meant our very survival. At the start of the battle, there were some 32 Hurricane squadrons, which were shooting down more enemy aircraft than all other air and ground defences combined, and the average daily strength of the two aircraft were 1,326 Hurricanes and 957 Spitfires. Thus the 'Hurri' showed its worth, despite being slower and older than the 'Spit', and with 19 squadrons of Spits, as well as the 32 Hurricane squadrons, the combination saved the day. It was, however, the newer Spitfire which became the symbol of victory to the British people at this dark hour which made it a legend of all time.

- We spoke of the Royal Observer Corps, of which the many units in this part of North Yorkshire played an important part in the defence of this island. Many were local folk who after their day job, became ROC men and women when they weren't working otherwise. The same applied of course to so many other voluntary jobs, too numerous to mention, but it was the location of the ROC posts which we talked of, and I've no doubt many of you will have your own memories of where your local ones was.

- Birdsall Post Office arose in our conversation and I remember it, like Mr Cass, because the Scotts lived there and Jim, the son, went to school with me. He played the organ in Birdsall church and sometimes, on a Saturday when I'd had a ride over there on my bike, we would go into the church, and I would pump the bellows whilst Jim would play me a few voluntaries, or a hymn tune or two. We both joined the local TA unit, the 5th Bn Green Howards, going to summer camp near Morecambe in that last summer before the war, and then it was goodbye to the 'day job' and on with the uniform permanently. Jim and his father both played the harmonica, and did a lot of entertaining for charity and such like. Sadly he was killed.

- We discussed the King's Cup Air Races which took place each year. Mr Cass remembered the Percival Mew Gull, which was a 'pretty' aeroplane, low wing cabin type, which took part in the races on more than one occasion. I recalled the Comper Swift, with its Pobjoy radial engine, a small, fat, little aircraft, another new one just pre-war, and which whizzed its way over Scarborough Castle which was a turning point when the race came this way. Sadly, on one occasion aircraft flew into the side of the cliff over the Marine Drive. Probably about 1936.

- From this subject we turned to the war-time ammunition shelters which were just about everywhere around here. Lining almost every country roadside, full of every conceivable type of ammo, and detonator. Unguarded, and just with a tarpaulin sheet hanging over the end of each little 'Nissen' shelter. Hovingham Woods had scores of them along the roadsides, and Nunnington Avenue was the same. England was just one huge aerodrome and ammunition dump in those days. It couldn't happen to-day could it! Someone would 'nick' the ammo, or blow something up with the explosives. We're a different world altogether now.

- We did discuss twin-tub washing machines, and the reluctance of their owners to part with them. Like me. I'm glad I did, but it took some doing! I believe we talked of bread, as well, and of the shop at the bottom of Pickering Market, where yesterday's bread was always half-price. No worst for being a day old, in fact I'm not too keen on new bread, so it suited me, as well as the financial saving. Then, suddenly, there was no 'yesterday's bread'!! I often wondered just where it went.

- So amongst all the subjects we nattered about, I hope there might be one which revives a memory for you too. I think we could have gone on for more, but time and telephone bills put a dampener on things.

- Recently, driving on various local roads, I've found myself at the end of a long queue of vehicles - usually behind a slow moving-tractor. An inability, for whatever reason, of the vehicle immediately behind the slow one, to overtake, creates the problem of no one overtaking. Pulling off the road by the tractor and letting the mile-long string of vehicles past it is what should happen, and last week it did, on the way to Kirkbymoorside! Drivers gave a toot on their horns to say 'Thank-you' to this gentleman of the road as they passed him. He'll know who he is should he read this.

- Quote: "Whoever is right, the persecutor must be wrong" (William Penn, 1644-1718).

Updated: 09:57 Thursday, September 20, 2001