SUPPORT from many nations regarding Sunday's Liberty and Livelihood march obviously went to one national newspaper reporter's head.

Keen to interview anyone from abroad, the young chap, believed to be from the Independent, asked marchers from the Bishop Auckland constituency if they were from New Zealand.

When told it was, in fact, a couple of hundred miles north of Watford Gap, he was absolutely flabbergasted and immediately disappeared, without asking any of the party for their views.

Tempting offer

NORTH Yorkshire saw that morris dancing is more than just the sticks and hankies of the Cotswold tradition as about 300 dancers attending the Morris Federation's dance weekend travelled out from their Ripon base to give displays in towns and villages.

Teams who stayed in Ripon city centre were enjoying a sandwich lunch in a local hostelry when they noticed a blackboard offering a meal daunting even to veterans of morris ale feasts. Among items included were a couple of kinds of steak, chicken, Cumberland sausage and various vegetables - enough to feed a family of four all on one plate and with the promise that anyone who could demolish the lot in half an hour got £5 off the price and a free pint of beer.

So which of the city's pubs was this piggy's paradise? "I dunno," said our mole in the clogs, "but it sold Black Sheep beer." That's a morris man for you, getting his own priorities right.

Recommended

I HOPE you will forgive a slight glow of pride at the D&S Times' office this week at a press release from talented young flautist Philippa Legge, of Aske, Richmond.

With the Field Quartet, she is giving a concert at the Old Meeting House, Helmsley, tonight at 7.30 (ring 01439 771700), but the front page of her Press pack included three quotes extolling her talents - one from BBC Radio 4, another from Classic FM - and one from the D&S Times!