Birth of Frank Perkins

26/02/1889

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This day saw the birth of Francis (Frank) Arthur Perkins at Clifton Villa, Park Road, Peterborough. His name resonates still throughout twenty-first-century Peterborough - remembered and recognised as the founder and driving force of the company known throughout the world today as Perkins Engines. His father and grandfather were engineers manufacturing a wide range of agricultural machinery. In 1932 the business collapsed. The rest of the story begins on 7 June 1932, you'll have to wait until then to find out more. (Warman, E., People of Peterborough, Peterborough Museum Publications, 2009)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.

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Lack of (National) Compassion

26/01/1861

Information

During a recent spell of very bad weather, the Guardians of the Peterborough Poor Law Union had granted temporary outdoor relief to some able-bodied agricultural labourers who had been unable to work through no fault of their own. as a result, the National Board had requested that they be furnished with a statement showing the number of persons relieved that were at variance to the General Prohibitory Order. They also requested particulars of the number of persons in each family and the amount of relief that had been afforded. At this Saturday's meeting of the Board of Governors of the Peterborough Poor Law Union, the clerk read a letter that had come from the National Poor Law Board. It stated that 'having regard to the accommodation afforded by the workhouse, and to the number of inmates therein, the Board thought it desirable that the Guardians should, in future, should offer to relieve the necessities of this class of person in the workhouse. They should apply that test of destitution so long as circumstances permitted with regards to each application.' In other words, 'rules is rules', and using common sense and compassion are not allowed. (Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.