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Showing posts from February, 2025

Blandford's Last Races

What links Blandford Camp, motor racing and chocolate? The answer sadly is Joseph Gibson Fry who lost his life on the 29 th July 1950 in a crash in the British Army camp. ‘ Joe ’ Fry was a member of the Fry chocolate family. The company, J S Fry & Sons had merged with Cadburys in 1919. Joe lost his life after suffering injuries while practising for a hill climb event when he lost control and crashed at speed. A bystander said: ‘Fry’s car approached a bend known as Cuckoo Corner at about 90mph. He appeared to drift towards the outside of the course, hit the right hand grass bank and somersaulted.’ He was driving his Freikaiserwagen racing car at the time of the accident. This name had a distinctly German twist and was a tongue in cheek combination of the surnames of Fry and Caesar. Dick Caesar was one of its designers. The Freikaiserwagen was an extremely powerful little sprint and hill climbing machine but was difficult to drive. It is reckoned it set the standard for the ma...

Policeman’s Lot

  In September 1882, Richard Hann (P.C.1. Dorset Constabulary.) transferred from Winterborne Kingston to Child Okeford. On 21st December 1882, John Cowley, formerly of the Royal Navy was charged with assaulting PC Hann at Sturminster Newton. Not withstanding that the defendant had a wooden leg, he knocked the constable down. Defendant pleaded not guilty but was fined one pound with two shillings (10p) costs. On 23rd August 1883, George Meadon of Shillingstone was charged with allowing a cow to stray on the highway at Shillingstone. PC Hann proved the case. Fined one shilling (5p) with six shillings and six pence (32p) costs. On 24th April 1884, John Ricketts of Shillingstone was charged with being drunk at Shillingstone. PC Hann found the defendant very drunk and using bad language. Fined two shillings and sixpence (12p) with eight shillings (40p) costs. On 6th 0ctober 1884 at 4pm, PC Hann was reported for being under the influence of liquor while on duty at Child Okeford. He was r...