Fish and Chip Supper

Yesterday I booked a last minute 4 day skiing break to France, leaving today.

I had haddock and chips on the ferry and was intrigued that it was served on a sheet of facsimile newspaper from the Times dated 19th September 1948 - my birthday, although I born several years later.

Is it really necessary to serve fish and chips on paper placed on a plate?

Why had this date been chosen with such a shocking news story from 62 years ago?

The news article relates to the assassination of the Swedish Count, Folke Bernadotte, who was appointed by the UN to bring peace to Palestine but was shot by Jewish extremists known as the Stern Gang on the 17th Sept 1948.

Incidentally the chips were good, but although the haddock looked good, it was not very tasty!