(A look at some of the stories that made the news ‘back-in-the-day’ with CLIFFORD STANLEY)
In the King’s service
WRITING to his mother, Mrs J E Parkinson of Lot 80, Stanleytown, Strand, New Amsterdam, Private Donald Parkinson, 19, formerly attached to a drugstore in Wortmanville, Georgetown, and who is now serving “somewhere in England,” states, inter alia:

“It has been a treat to receive your letter . I am going fine and trying to take everything with a smile. During last week, I received a letter from Louisa Stewart (our cousin in Scotland), in which she informed me that both herself and her son are going fine. I think that I shall have to start making post-war plans. I am expecting to be confirmed soon. I am on another seven days leave, during which I am trying to get as much rest as possible. Remember me to daddy and Uncle Richard.

NOTE: Private Parkinson’s cousin, Robert Parkinson, was among those who retreated from Dunkirk. He also served in Burma, and is now retiring on medical grounds.

Meanwhile, it is understood on good authority that George Greenfield, who left Leonora in 1940 in order to join the RAF and was captured when he bailed out from his plane over Germany and was until recently a prisoner of the Nazis, will be returning to the Colony before the end of the year.

His many friends will be happy to have him amongst them once more.
(Guiana Graphic: July 29, 1945)

Astor Cinema: The Phantom
We’ll do the screening. Come and do the screaming. Such exciting and rip-roaring thrills have never been shown. The first installment of THE PHANTOM today at 1:30, 5:00 and 8:45pm: The favourite cartoon hero and his wonder dog come to life in vivid manner.

Tomorrow at 1:30, 5:00 and 8:45pm: The second installment of the stupendous serial, THE PHANTOM, along with Jinx Falkenberg & Leslie Brooks in LUCKY LEGS Dancing! Prancing! Romancing!

Friday at 1:30, 5:00 and 8:45pm: The final installment of THE PHANTOM, this most stupendous serial, plus The Ministry of Information film: KILLING RATS will be shown as an added attraction from Saturday.
(Guiana Graphic: July 5, 1945)

Anglo-American musical recital
Sixth anniversary presentation by the Dawson’s Music Lovers Club (BG No 1 Secular Choral Group) Monday July 18, 1945 at 8:45pm at Town Hall, Georgetown. The Honourable E F Mc David, CBE; Mr Justice D E Jackson, LLB; Miss E Lee, BA.

GUEST ARTISTES: Miss Lynette Koulen (Violinist); Mr Oscar Dummett (Pianist). ADMISSION: By programme (48 cents), obtainable from members.

Anniversary Dance with music by Lew Spencer Rhythm Stompers Ork on Friday, August 3, 1945.
(Guiana Graphic July 15, 1945)

Town Council prosecutes
AT THE City Magistrates Court yesterday, Mr K S Stoby, Magistrate, fined Dorothy Fernandes, Janet Thompson, Paul Allan Gordon, James Haydon and Lionel Surrey 50 cents each or three days hard labour for wheeling their bicycles on city pavements during the months of June and July.

In the case of A DeFreitas, the magistrate was informed that he had only recently arrived in BG from St Vincent, and that he was a stranger. The Court ordered a reprimand and discharged him.

On a charge of wasting the water from the Lamaha Canal, Louisa Sam and Catherine Wills were each fined 50 cents or three days hard labour.

Mr SD Morrison of the Municipal Health Department prosecuted Florence White, of 33 High Street, for keeping a dirty water-closet at a house on the same premises.

She pleaded guilty, and was fined 50 cents or three days hard labour.
(Guiana Graphic: July 19, 1945)

British Guiana now world’s largest producer of high-grade bauxite
-BG to the rescue
BAUXITE, the principal ore of aluminum, has been in exceptional demand during the war for the manufacture of aeroplanes and various equipment requiring the use of light alloys.

For scores of years, France had been the largest producer of bauxite.

The mineral indeed derived its name from the place named Les Baux, in southern France, where it was discovered in 1821.

By 1944, world production of metallic aluminum rose to more than 2,000,000 tons as against the pre-war peak of less than 600,000 tons, the United Kingdom output alone rising from less than 30,000 tons in 1889 to 60,000 tons.

The United States, in 1944, contributed nearly 1,000,000 tons, and Canada about 500,000 tons.

With the fall of France in 1940, the Allies were faced with the threat of a drastic shortage of bauxite.

Fortunately, the British Colonial Empire, and more particularly British Guiana, came to the rescue.

Today, British Guiana can claim to be the world’s largest and most important producer of high-grade bauxite, and her efforts in this respect have contributed in no small degree to the Allied triumph in Europe.
(Guiana Graphic: August 12, 1945)

VJ Day in BG
BRITISH Guiana joined with the rest of the Empire and the United Nations in joyously celebrating the return of peace to the world.

There were huge crowds through the streets and in the vicinity of Public Buildings.

Broadcasting from the Public Buildings on VJ Day, His Excellency the Governor urged the people to have hope and courage in the peace to come.

Immediately afterwards, the Legislative Council passed resolutions of loyalty and thanksgiving in the presence of Consular Representatives, Heads of the Churches, Representatives of the Armed Forces, Heads of Government Departments and members of the general public.
(Guiana Graphic: August 19, 1945)

Third term-ite
MR TT Thompson, Chairman of Hopetown Village, West Coast Berbice, is to serve a third term as President of the Village Chairmen’s Conference.

At the 44th Annual Assembly of the Conference, held at Mahaica on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, he was again re-elected.

The other members of the Executive Committee were also re-elected.

They are: Messrs C A Nestor, JP, ex-Chairman of Beterverwagting/Triumph, Vice President; H S Cameron (Craig, EBD), Hony. Secretary; SA Schultz, Hony. Assistant Secretary; and EA Borman, Hony. Treasurer; with Messrs P B Cholomondeley, H L Palmer, James Minoo, JR Straughn, J H Moore and the Rev. H Algernon as Committee Members.

They were returned, en bloc, by Mr Surujballi (No. 1 Canal Polder), and seconded by Mr SB Neblett (Mahaica/Helena/Supply).
(Guiana Graphic: August 24, 1945)

Nineteen Guianese soldiers return from Trinidad
NINETEEN Guianese, who are members of the South Caribbean Force, and who were stationed in Trinidad for the past two years, arrived in BG yesterday by the schooner, ‘Cyclorama’.

They were waiting for demobilization, and took nine days to reach the Colony.

They are: Gunners G Beaton, G Briggs, B Cato, H D’Andrade, J Jerrick, C Lord, A Parker, J Benjamin, D Bevins and C Brathwaite; Lance Bombardiers W Liverpool, C O’Brien and R Burgzorg; and Bombardiers H Bunyan, M Agard, B Lewis, H Hamilton Sgt F King and R Haynes.
(Guiana Graphic: August 30, 1945)

New Amsterdam
MR J O F Haynes, BA, LLB, Barrister-at-Law, will set up practice in New Amsterdam. His Chambers will be at Oban’s House, Strand.
(Guiana Graphic: August 30, 1945)

Twelve-year-old successes in Gregg shorthand and typewriting
TWELVE-YEAR-old Maggie Gordon was adjudged an Order of the Gregg Artist (OGA) at Junior and Senior Levels in excelling in shorthand and typewriting examinations.

The following is a list of recently successful students of Miss Ruby Holder of ‘Marycot’, Plaisance, teacher of Gregg Shorthand and Typewriting.

Order of Gregg Artists (OGAs), Junior OGA Membership Certificates (Shorthand): Enid Durant, Olinda De Santos, Leatha Willis, Thelma Durant, and Maggie Gordon.

Senior OGA Membership Certificate: Maggie Gordon, Leatha Willis, Thelma Durant; Enid Durant.

Order of Artistic Typists: Junior OAT Certificates (Typewriting): Thelma Durant, Olinda De Santos, Maggie Gordon, Enid Durant and Leatha Willis
(Guiana Graphic: September 7, 1945)
Clifford Stanley can be reached on any of the above at cswcb@yahoo.com or 592-657-2043.