A TRIVIAL but tantalising postscript to last week's story about the introduction of Apache attack helicopters at Dishforth airfield.

Further research suggests that the original American design 30 years ago was the work of people employed by a company founded back in the mists of time by one Howard Hughes.

Could this be the same famously reclusive, erratic entrepreneur who, as well as producing the film The Outlaw with Jane Russell as its star, almost managed to kill himself by test flying a plane of his own design when it crashed in 1946?

Or the man who built one of the greatest white elephants in aviation history, a gigantic flying boat generally known as the Spruce Goose, which flopped back into obscurity after making a short one-mile hop?

The Apache appears to have been one of the Hughes company's more successful enterprises. Yet the pace of corporate upheaval in the American aviation industry, involving mergers and takeovers, has been such that the Hughes name has gone forever and is no longer attached to this formidable helicopter.

Was it the best?

The excellent restoration of Richmond's Georgian Theatre Royal seemed to be a strange winner of the title "best market towns project" in an award scheme run by the small towns campaign group Action for Market Towns.

We are not saying the restoration was not a highly laudable project but it was not inspired, primarily, by a desire to improve the fortunes of the town.

Which is exactly what was behind the creation of Thirsk Festival three years ago. Still, the festival, organised by the town's Rotary club, did pick up a category award for best tourism and leisure project.

Not welcome?

Spectator was honoured to be a guest at the aforementioned Thirsk Rotary Club's Charter dinner last week - and a fine do it was too.

Strangely, it was held at the Romanby Golf Club. When Spectator asked why it was not held in Thirsk, he was informed that suitable establishments in Thirsk had not made the club particularly welcome. Perhaps some hoteliers and publicans in the town need to look to their laurels.