American Icon To Hit British Roads

American Icon - The Greyhound Bus

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One of America's great icons, the 'Greyhound' bus is about to be seen in Britain. As from September a two-hour service will run from London to Portsmouth and Southampton.

In the 1930s Greyhound made it's first stop in Hollywood as the main setting for romance between Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in the film 'It Happened One Night'. Since then the bus has featured in more famous films including 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' in 1961, and 'Midnight Cowboy' in 1969. The bus has also been featured in several songs.

The company was founded in 1914 by two immigrant miners, to carry people to town, two miles away. The business began in Hibbing, Minesota. Those first few miles kept multiplying as Greyhound opened up travel to people from small towns. They'd even stop at the side of the road.

Today, Greyhound buses transport about 22 million passengers each year. Will the greyhound recreate the great American dream here in Britain? Maybe, however, London to Portsmouth is hardly Route 66.

Animal Crackers

Lady Golfers

Having finished their round, three lady golfers sat having a drink in the clubhouse. After a while the subject turned to sex. One of the ladies suggested it might be fun to use the golf handicap system to rate their husbands performances in bed.

First Lady Golfer: "I would have to put my husband on a handicap of 5. He is so considerate, and loving, and satisfies me in every possible way."

Second Lady Golfer: "I would have to give my husband a handicap of 18. He is not gentle with me, only considers himself and it's all over in under two minutes."

Third Lady Golfer: After a long pause. "I'm afraid I can't give my husband a handicap. He hasn't put a card in for two years.

Church Bulletins

Next Sunday a special collection will be taken to defray the cost of the new carpet. All those wishing to do something on the new carpet will come forward and do so.

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This afternoon there will be a meeting in the South and North ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends.

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The choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.

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Thursday night - Potluck supper. Prayer and medication to follow.

Looking Back - Marchioness River Crash Kills 51

On this day in 1989, a total of 51 people died when a pleasure cruiser, packed with young party-goers, and a barge collided on the Thames. The captain and second mate of the barge, the dredger Bowbelle, were arrested.Most of those on board the pleasure cruiser were young people in their 20s.
Both vessels were moving down river towards Southwark Bridge in the early hours of Sunday morning when they collided.
The Marchioness's owners said the 90-ton boat was struck a blow from the 2,000-ton dredger which forced it directly into the larger vessels path. They said the Bowbelle then ran right over the cruiser forcing it under water 'like a bicycle being run over by a lorry'. Police commandeered other boats to search for survivors who had been tipped into the river after the collision. Party-goers on other cruisers witnessed the events and some tried to help.
The Bowbelle's skipper, Douglas Henderson, was acquitted after atrial in 1991. In April 1995 a jury returned verdicts of unlawful killings in inquests held for those who drowned.
The families of the victims campaigned more than 10 years for a public inquiry which began in 2000. The report published in 2001 criticised Douglas Henderson for failing to set up a proper lookout.
Later that year the Maritime and Coastguard agency ruled Mr Henderson could keep his master's certificate.
In 2002 the first River Thames lifeboat rescue service was started in response to one of the report's recommendations.