Of course being a Tuesday I was once again joined by Margaret Mills who took us on a return visit to Hawkspur Camp, close to Great Bardfield.

The camp was established in 1944 as a social experiment for young men who’d been evacuated from London during the war.

Unfortunately, as explained by Margaret, the camp was not an unqualified success but you can learn more here if you missed what Margaret told me today: –

We also reported on the unscheduled journeyings of a cat

When van driver Helen Stevens was flashed on the motorway, she thought there might be something wrong.

There was!

A wide-eyed black and white cat apparently named Kick, was clinging to her Ford Transit’s roof rack as she drove for about 22 miles down the M1 in Leicestershire.

‘The van was carrying stepladders and the cat was clinging on for dear life,’ said Ms Stevens. ‘No doubt he must have been terrified as I hurtled down the M1 at speeds of up to 70 MPH.”

He must have joined the ride at a petrol station I’d stopped at in Melton and I’d already gone all the way down the M69 and the M1.’

Ms Stevens, 30, of Wigston, near Leicester, took the feline hitcher to a veterinary clinic where he was found to be uninjured, although no doubt shaken by the experience.

The vets put out an appeal online that was spotted by Ellise Pepper, mother of Kick’s owner, 5-year old, Connor Russell.

Connor, from Melton Mowbray, who was later reunited with the stowaway, said: ‘He held on and he didn’t fall off, but I bet he was scared.’

Mrs Pepper later said: ‘He’s never done anything like this before, although he does hate to be on his own.’

He might now want to re-consider his preferences following this experience!

I very much hope to have the pleasure of your company once again next week,
Scott