WOODMAN, DON'T SPARE THAT TREE

It's now some time since this large branch came down in the Spring's Parade car park, close to Lidl's Brigg store. Years ago - when most of our households still had coal fires - enterprising folk would have been round, at night, with saws and axes and chopped it up for free firewood. No risk assessments required!
Anyone remember the annual pre-Christmas delivery of firewood undertaken, in the 1960s, by Scouts from the troop allied to Brigg Grammar School? They used to tour Brigg on the back of a lorry, handing out bundles to the elderly, the wood having been sourced from Lt Col Roger Nelthorpe's Scawby Estate (he being chairman of the BGS governors). Chris Horan and myself selected a picture showing this task being carried out on, or near, Newlands for inclusion in one of the nostalgia books we wrote about a decade ago, while both still on the staff of the Scunthorpe Telegraph. Grammar School geography chief Jeff "Shoddy" Jarvis was featured, being the master in charge of the Scouts. I haven't seen the print for years but it will be in the Telegraph's digital archive. The boys shown, I think, included Steve Baggott, later to become a well-known solicitor, based in Bigby Street, and stalwart member of Brigg Hockey Club. Next time I'm at the Scun Tel I'll take another look at the image and confirm whether my memories are correct. Unless Steve's reading this and can save us a job.