IN your edition of 27 December, 2013, Back Through The Pages reported that 125 years ago, on 28 December, 1888, “the vicar distributed tickets to certain families enabling them to obtain supplies of beef, without which there would have been small prospect of dinner on Christmas Day. The outdoor paupers were similarly relieved out of a fund collected by Mr Footner”.

On 29 December 2013, The Observer newspaper ran an item, part of which reported, “the numbers attending food banks have risen from 41,0000 in 2010 to more than 500,000 ... 1,000 distribution points serve WORKING FAMILIES (my capital) who have no money left for food once they have paid exorbitant rent and fuel bills”.

Plus ca change...

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