(A look at some of the stories that made the news ‘back-in-the-day’ with CLIFFORD STANLEY)
BG woman wins $168,000 pools
MRS. ELIZABETH Lowton, 30-year-old mother from Cotton Tree Village West Coast Berbice, has won $168,000 in a British National football pool at her first attempt, it was announced in London yesterday. Mrs. Lowton left her three young sons in B.G last September to join her husband, Emmanuel in a one-room flat in London, and did not expect to see them for five years.
“That’s how long it would take to save the money,” she said yesterday.
Her sons are Moses, seven, Denis, six, and James, five.
Last week, she staked $1.20 on a pool coupon.
A neighbour checked it and then “fell right off his chair” in excitement.
Mrs. Lowton asked him what it meant, and he replied: ”Your boys are just around the corner.”
She said yesterday: “There will be great rejoicing in Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice. The greatest thing of all is that I would be able to educate my children the way I want. Their education is the main reason why I came to England.”
(Guiana Graphic: October 3, 1962)
Boxer dies after fight
FOR 27-YEAR-OLD welterweight boxer Henry Brown, yesterday evening’s debut as a professional boxer was a successful one.
He won his six-round preliminary bout against 26-year-old Linton John, but died a few minutes later in the dressing room.
As the gong sounded, ending the fight, Brown fell to the canvas, sent there by three left hooks by John.
He never got up, and was carried out of the ring and into the dressing room by his handlers.
(Guiana Graphic: October 22, 1962)
Skull stolen from grave
RUIMVELDT Police yesterday started a hunt for ghouls who dug up a grave and carried away the skull of a woman buried eight years ago at Le Repentir Cemetery.
They are working on the theory that the woman’s skull was removed for the purpose of voodoo practices.
(Guiana Graphic: December 4, 1962)
Cheers for Mackenzie ‘Singers of the Year’
MR. DENNIS Barker and Miss Claudette Joseph were elected ‘Mackenzie Singers of the Year’ before a packed audience at the Mackenzie Recreation Hall on Wednesday at the Mackenzie Concert Lovers Group talent jamboree.
Solos, duets, quartets and group songs were heard, and the audience showed their appreciation with resounding applause.
Among the others who won prizes were: Mrs. R. Braithwaite; Mrs. C. Carew; Mr. Morris Grant; Mrs. Ivan Doris; and Mr. Nathan Hinds.
Mr. Barker thrilled the audience with his own composition: ‘I am telling you now’.
Alfred Marks (Gerry) and Nathan Gibbs (Tom), Mackenzie’s two comedians, added their contributions to the night’s entertainment.
The leader of the Mackenzie Concert Lovers Group, Mr. Mike Joseph, was presented with a surprise gift by Mrs. Braithwaite for his service as their trainer-leader and accompanist.
(Guiana Graphic: October 6, 1962)
Wild fetes bring new life to ‘Scheme’
THEY CALL Ruimveldt  Housing Scheme ‘Dodge City’ because the Housing Department complains that scores of residents vanish when the rent is due.
Now the ‘Scheme’ is earning a ‘Dodge City’ reputation for a different reason  — because of the gay weekend parties, some of which are as wild as those in the fabled ‘Wild-West’ town.
Just a mile away, south of the heart of Georgetown, this vast area with its low-cost houses looks like a town which sleeps after dark.
But on weekends, holidays and birth-nights, it springs alive with the intoxicating sound of music, hilarious laughter, and fun.
The entertainment ranges from the very sophisticated to the down-to-earth type.
You will hear classical music, calypsoes, American jazz and pop tunes, and even local folk songs.
At some houses, you will find old gramophones and radiograms.
Who cannot afford multi-coloured fairy lights use the old-time bottle lamps to give the effect of soft lights.
There are floor shows ranging from an imitation of the British concert hall type, to masquerades, barrel dancing, and even a Sam Chase show.
There are many residents who complain that these wild parties are giving ‘The Scheme’ a bad name, but most residents say that since it is a long way from the City lights, the parties go a long way to bring a little life to the area.
A resident said: “Our main aim is having fun. What is wrong with that, since we also make a little money on the side?”
(Guiana Graphic: October 7, 1962)
Delinquent youth  flogged
A 14-YEAR-OLD schoolboy was flogged in the presence of a magistrate and his parents at Providence Court yesterday.
Magistrate Horace Mitchell was told that the boy not only cursed his uncle, but smashed the window panes of his home because the uncle scolded him for not going to school.
“This boy deserves a spanking,” said Mr. Mitchell. “This may be the only thing to help correct his attitude towards the future.”
Mr. Mitchell said that he did not particularly like to order strokes for such boys, but felt that the problem of youthful delinquency in this community was becoming more acute.
On October 9, Inspector Gooding, prosecuting, said the boy was scolded by his uncle for being reluctant to attend school.
The boy became defiant and used filthy expressions.
After being flogged by his uncle, the boy stoned the West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme apartment, smashing the glass windows.
The boy again abused his uncle when a Policeman arrived on the scene.
After pleading guilty to charges of willfully damaging the panes and using indecent language, he was given six lashes by Constable Robertson, in the presence of his mother, grandmother and Probation Officer, Kenrick Williams.
His mother was ordered to pay $5.70 to the Central Housing and Planning Authority as compensation for the smashed window panes.
(Guiana Graphic: October 17, 1962)
BG Zoo asked to protect rare animals
THE B.G ZOO has been asked to help protect and safeguard rare African animals which are now threatened with extinction.
In an appeal received by Mr. Stanley Lee, the local zoo superintendent, the Animal Defence Society of Denmark said that these animals were threatened with extinction as a result of increasing demand on land for agricultural purposes.
The Society argues that while many animal defenders wanted to disassociate themselves from the zoos, because they felt that they were unnatural places for animals, these institutions appeared to be the “only saving places in our time” that can give suitable shelter to animals threatened with extinction.
In B.G, wildlife experts have also predicted that the country’s rare animals will be wiped out if they were not protected by law.
Two weeks ago, Government announced that Legislation would be made to have more protection for wildlife.
Several birds and animals, including the manatee, are today threatened in B.G.
(Guiana Graphic: October 22, 1962)
(Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or by telephone: 657-2043)