PERHAPS it's not really the right time to be remembering the youngsters who gave their lives in the service of their country, but on second thoughts, perhaps it is.

I am writing of the ATC Cadets who we see marching at Armistice parades and other military events throughout the year, of whom no less than 59 lost their lives whilst serving, between 1942 and 1951. The Ryedale disaster occurred on July 26, 1946 when Cadets Arthur Hall, 16, (Archbishop Holgate's Grammar School) and Anthony Lain, 17, of No 110 (York) Sqn. Were passengers in a Wellington from Leconsfield which was being subjected to dummy attack by a Spitfire, when they collided head-on. Both the aircraft fell at Appleton-le-Moors, and all lost their lives. Others, making up the total, came from all over the country, and it is well that we "Remember the 59".

Eddie Doylerush, North Wales author, who has gathered together a roll of honour in the recent issue of Memorial Flight, offers to-day's cadets a challenge. He asked that somewhere, somehow, they get together to produce a permanent memorial, which sounds like an excellent idea.

I purchased a cookery book at St Mary's Bazaar in the Milton Rooms last week because it looked as though it had some simple recipes in it. First printed in 1920, and revised through the years, my edition was 1948, still pretty ancient when one reads: "Take half a calf's head ...", "With four sets of giblets, add ..." or "take an ox-tail and divide it into joints ...". That was enough for me, and I wondered what to expect when, thumbing through, I came across a recipe for 'Canary Pudding', which happily wasn't quite what it sounded like. Amongst the more horrendous meals there were the simple basic ones, useful for the amateur cook, but nevertheless, I shall pass it on.

Reading through the minutes of Ryedale Cameras in Action of September, 2001 there seems to be a continuing questioning of the usefulness of surveillance cameras, much to the concern of local councillors and members of the management committee, who as laymen feel that being able to view what's going on in the streets must be useful. Deputy Chief Constable commented that whilst cameras were good (in reply to Coun Margaret Taylor) but they didn't get in a car and drive round the district. I don't think that this is an awful lot of good in making a police 'presence', because there's no contact with the public, and what can one see from a moving car, not as much as could be observed had the PC been on a bike, or walking. From what I read, the Americans make more use of cycle police than we appear to do in the UK.

In the field of ambulance work the North and East Yorkshire Service comes out as one of the best performing in the land. (York Star, October 3, 2001). To achieve a Category 'A' Target, 75pc of life-threatening calls must be reached in eight minutes, and the service had been struck around 55pc, but now, following installation of satellite navigation equipment in vehicles, and no doubt other improvements they are now hitting 76pc. Interestingly though, York's pedalling paramedic, Mark Inman has contributed to this figure in no small way, by beating the ambulance to nearly every call, proving the point that in city streets a bike can get through quicker than a vehicle. Well done everyone - a combined operation!

I was looking at Malton's Christmas illuminations this week, and especially at those across the front of the Town Hall, placed there, let it not be forgotten, to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and the continuation of Christianity. So it is a slur on the Christian faith that overhead should fly Malton's adopted flag, that of the Emperor Vespasian who commenced the building of the Coliseum in home, to be concluded by his son Titus, wherein took place the martyrdom of so many Christians. In defence of both Malton and Norton Town Councils, who approved the use of this logo, I can only assume that no-one had heard of Titus Flavius Vespasianus, when they were asked to do so, and so blissfully agreed to its use, and the one or two of us who disagreed did so on the grounds that we'd have rather seen the flag bear some English emblem, rather than a Italian one. Such a shameful abomination could surely not have originated in the mind of a local person, though I know not whose ineptitude fousted this upon us. Time for it go to!

A letter from Maidstone, Kent tells me more! For it was Vespasian who gave his name to those men's urinals which are/were such a feature of Paris, the classic ones being in cast iron, and they are indeed called 'Vespasiennes'. The emperor introduced gents public toilets to Rome - so has a claim in the history of Convenience. Seems he didn't consider the ladies! My correspondent wondered if our local authorities were aware of his claim to fame and suggests an elegant urinal be erected to this great civiliser. Now there's an idea, and we were thinking of a bandstand! Have a happy Christmas all of you good folk, and I hope 2002 is kind to you.

Them's my sentiments! (Henry Esmond, 6) W M Thackeray (1811-1863)

Updated: 12:11 Thursday, December 20, 2001