25 Years Ago-February 23, 1979.

WHEN Kendal man Roger Millray volunteered for a year's stint for the British Army in Iran, he could not have guessed he would be fleeing the country only two months later.

He was posted at Ahwaz, 600 miles south of Tehran, near the Persian Gulf.

"I was a bit apprehensive because it was unsettled when I went out in December but we never saw anything of the trouble. But then on January 17, the day after the Shah left, it got dicey," he said.

"The army mutinied and went down town in a show of strength. They killed 20 people and injured 64. They went wild for three hours that morning.

"That was the last day we went to work because we had been working in their camp. We stayed home for four days, then drove to Tehran where we stayed for a week before flying back home."

The drive to Tehran took two days. "We were aware all the time we could have been attacked," said Roger.

The American head of an oil company at Ahwaz was shot dead while Roger and his team were still there, adding much to the general alarm.

50 Years Ago-February 20, 1954.

IN A message telephoned to The Westmorland Gazette, Dr S.B. Darbishire, Torver, reported that an object believed to be a "flying saucer" had been seen and photographed by his son Stephen Darbishire, aged 13 years, who was accompanied by his cousin, Adrian Myers, aged eight.

The boys had been out photographing birds on the fells below Coniston Old Man when a silver object "floated down from the sky and hovered in front of them."

The portholes, stated the boys, were clearly visible. "Stephen," says Dr Darbishire, "seized his camera and took two photographs of it, though I think in his excitement only partially clicked the shutter. His description is identical with that given by several observers in America and elsewhere."

The object is stated by the boys to have disappeared climbing sideways into the sky.

As the object, which the boys state was about 30ft across, disappeared into the clouds, the aluminium which had been shining in the sun, changed into a dull colour.

100 Years Ago-February 20, 1904.

A WRITER in a scientific journal has this week endeavoured to cheer us up by pointing out that to be put in a coffin and buried alive by mistake is not so horrible a fate as is supposed. He does not believe the stories of persons in that unfortunate situation coming to at interment and struggling to get out. "A person enclosed in a coffin would die almost as quickly and just as surely as one thrown, bound hand and foot, into the depths of the sea. Nor would the process of death be such as to produce struggles. Rather it would be one in which the opponent passed rapidly into the real sleep of death, much as the animal dies when placed in a lethal chamber."

This statement is not to be taken as an argument for burial alive. Singularly enough it is used as part of a plea for greater precautions to make sure that people are dead before being buried. But if you take away all terror from the possibility of being buried alive, you take away the most forcible part of the motive for making the conditions under which the death certificate is given more stringent.

150 Years Ago-February 25, 1854.

Sir, I should like to call public attention to the enormous overcharges of the Kendal and Windermere Rail Company. There need be no wonder if the trade of Kendal should fall off. I know commercial men who pass the town altogether on account of that delightful two miles from Oxenholme, upon a line of rail the equal to which is not to be found in the kingdom. I left there by the 7.10pm train on Sunday, and though they were running to meet a third class train, would not book third class passengers, but demanded 7s 9d for second class to Preston. On reaching Oxenholme, I found the fare from there only 5s 6d; it is therefore evident that they pocket 2s 3d up to the junction. Their general fare is 6d for that distance, and I really cannot see why 400 per cent more should be charged because few know that it makes any difference. Such overcharges as this ought to be brought to light and, by the assistance of the press, I hope we may soon again be able to pay Kendal a visit without the thought of having to pay so dearly for so short a distance.'