1968 and all that... (From Worcester News)

1968 and all that...

3:11pm Friday 19th December 2008

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FLASHBACK to December 1968...

It's almost 40 years to the day that Worcester City Councillor David Candler tied the knot with his wife Sarah - and as family and friends gather for a knees-up to celebrate their Ruby Anniversary, here's a snapshot taken from the wedding reception.

The happy couple can be seen on the left - but who's that they're sharing a drink with?

It's none other than the Prime Minister of the day, Harold Wilson, and his wife Mary, who both attended the Candlers' wedding.

My sources tell me Coun Candler actually worked inside Number 10 for Mr Wilson's Labour Government during the 1960s, a fact little known in Guildhall circles.

It must have been challenging work - the economy struggling, the pound devalued, public concern over rising immigration, and arguments over the future of the European Union... nothing like politics these days, eh?

STRANGE days indeed in Worcester, where there is a real danger of rival politicians actually - shock horror - working together to help the city.

First Tory city council leader Simon Geraghty and Labour MP Mike Foster enjoy a jolly day out in London together to lobby the Government for a fairer deal for Worcester.

And now Mr Foster is helping the city council out in its efforts to reduce its balance sheet.

Indeed, all the talk at the Guildhall is about cross-party working and reaching consensus on the city's financial crisis.

Shocking stuff, considering conversations between local Labour and Tory types usually amount to five-year-olds’ playground slanging matches.

Luckily, normal service was resumed when Tory Francis Lankester launched into one of his furious five-minute rants at cabinet this week, blaming the Labour Government for pretty much everything that is wrong with the world.

Labour councillor Geoff Williams responded icily that Coun Lankester’s tone "hardly bodes well" for cross-party agreements.

Phew – we almost had some Christmas spirit there for a moment...