SCENE OF ATTEMPTED ARMED ROBBERY ( in 1995 )

Popped down to the village this afternoon. I always walk down to the village on the path beside the main road and return a different way via these steps.

In 1995 these very steps were a " scene of crime ". My late husband Douglas and daughter Becky, who was aged 12 at the time, were walking up these steps one Saturday afternoon and when they got to the top were confronted by a young lad with a gun. He asked for money. Douglas had only been out to post a letter so he didn't have his wallet on him and no money in his pocket. He told the lad he had no money and of course the lad didn't believe him and got more threatening. Douglas told Becky to run off which she did. Worried about leaving her Dad of course. Douglas then tackled the lad - being an ex policeman I assume he was better placed to do this than others. Douglas obviously had no idea whether the gun was real or fake but he assumed it was fake. Apparently the lad was so surprised that an OAP was standing up to him that he took flight ( or fright! )

No mobile phone so Douglas and Becky came home to phone 999. A solitary policeman arrived some hours later and took down all the details. That's the last we heard of it.

For quite a few years afterwards Becky wouldn't go near these steps due to her frightening experience. To me it still seems an incredible thing to have happened in broad daylight in my village. The place is not known for trouble of any kind - drunken behaviour around the pubs on a Friday and Saturday night is usual but no real violence.

Anyway my trip to the village today was without incident. The weather was quite nice while I was out but later on we had a few hailstones.

Tomorrow I'm off to the football - last home game of the season for Newcastle United. Tough match against Manchester City. Should be a good game.