In the Town Council’s report in the Summer 08 Beacon reference is made to the problem of pigeon droppings particularly in “Picture House Alley.” Has the Lane which has been referred to locally as Picture Hall Lane for the past 80 years, (Pickter orl looan in dialect) had a change of name. In the early 1930’s, the great slump, millions were genuinely unemployed, poverty meant what it said, no social security or benefit Giros then, no pigeons either! When a man became “out of work” he had to attend at the Dole Office three times a week and “sign on!”

          That meant shuffling in a queue past a clerk seated at a small desk to whom he was required to say loudly “no work” whereupon the clerk would stamp his card. Most of these proud men had endured the horror of the 1914/1918 war, but if any refused this humiliation, the clerk would not stamp their card, and that day’s dole was lost. On Friday the clerk would dole out a few shillings to each man. This dole ceased after 13 weeks and the unfortunate man had to apply for parish relief, this meant a means test, and should the applicant own any thing of value such as a watch, heirlooms, medals, even household effects, he had to sell them before he could have the weekly parish pittance. This interrogation took place in an office at the bottom of Picture Hall Lane, now Flintofts, The Central Cinema in the Lane gave two shows known as 1st and 2nd house, and people stood where the pigeon droppings are today, waiting for the doors to open. We would try to raise twopence to see the Saturday afternoon matinee especially if it was a “cowboy,” and on Boxing Day there was a free show for children who were each given an apple and orange! BUT there was never a pigeon or dropping to be seen, perhaps because pigeon pie and crow pie were a welcome addition to an often meagre diet. I found crow pie to be the tastiest, and I cannot recall any problems with pigeons anywhere in town, they must have known about the pie thing. The pigeons must be a by product of affluent society. I would suggest that the cleanup brigade begin by doing a “seek and destroy” on the pigeon nests and eggs, of which there must be many in the town’s buildings, where they also attract rats.

 M. Ransome.