Caterers note book

100 years ago

Posting is an important branch of many hotel businesses and proprietors do well to bring the fact that they have first-class carriages and horses prominently before their patrons. Nevertheless, it does seem rather incongruous to find on hotel paper and cards the words "Wedding and Funeral Carriages" bracketed together. No doubt, life is uncertain, death frequently stealing upon us in the midst of festivity, not to say revelry, but it is scarcely wise for kindly hosts to remind would-be Benedicts of this truth. Nor is the combination particularly enchanting to ordinary folks, who have no thoughts of matrimony or a quick exit to the undiscovered land.

50 years ago

Protests against teachers having to serve school meals, and "grave concern" at the conditions under which the meals are provided in many areas, were expressed by delegates attending the annual conference of the National Union of Teachers at Scarborough on Tuesday.

It was decided to call upon the Ministry of Education and local authorities to give high priority for the provision of new dining halls, equipment and staffing, in order to establish adequate standards and amenities in all schools.

10 years ago

A bill to allow all-day licensing in England and Wales has won a surprise boost in Parliament.

The Private Member's Bill, introduced by Scottish Tory MP Allan Stewart, was given a second reading last Friday when opponents failed to turn up to block its progress.

The reform, under which bars will be able to stay open up to 12 hours a day, between 10:30am and 11:30pm Mondays to Saturdays, now goes on to its detailed committee stage.

It can still be blocked and defeated, but Mr Colvin (Tory backbencher) said: "There is now an odds-on chance that we will get it through.