THE mayor of Hedon and a long-standing town councillor have resigned after claiming to be the victims of a "nasty vendetta" by fellow councillors. Councillors Jim Lindop and Ann Suggitt, who has served the town for almost 35 years, made their dramatic exit following a six-month row which had been rumbling within the Town Hall since the mayor-making ceremony in May.

Community stalwart Mrs Suggitt, in support of the mayor, told shocked councillors she believed the calibre of members had "sadly deteriorated" and that the council had "lost all credibility" as a result.

Mr Lindop claims he and his wife Sue had been left intimidated after repeatedly being snubbed and ignored by five councillors.

He said: "We tried hard to ride it out but it got too difficult for us to continue. We loved being mayor and mayoress and we didn't want to do this, but it has been very hard to sit in meetings and work with people who are not telling the truth and who cannot be trusted."

Mrs Suggit said: "It is sad it has come to this but there is no pride anymore. It is disgusting."

The row started when four councillors refused to attend the mayor-making celebration because they were unhappy with who Mr and Mrs Lindop had invited. Instead, they went for a meal at Alison Hall – next door to where the party was taking place.

Mr Lindop claims at the Mayor's Civic Sunday a few months later, his wife said to Councillor Brenda Goldspink, 'So you're not snubbing us today then?' and that Cllr Goldspink then shouted at her.

He said Mrs Suggitt, who is recovering from bowel cancer, told Mrs Goldspink to be quiet.

Cllr Goldspink has denied shouting at the mayoress and letters backing her denial were sent by other councillors.

Mr Lindop said they were then ignored by some councillors during their civic duties.

Mrs Suggit, who has also withdrawn her support for the Hedon Museum and St Augustine's Church, said: "They have treated Jim shockingly. They have done everything to upset him."

Mr Lindop said: "I cannot work with councillors I do not trust."

Cllr Goldspink and the town clerk refused to comment and Cllr Storr was not available.

Deputy Mayor Councillor John Dennis will carry out mayoral duties until a replacement is elected on Thursday, November 28. The two vacancies will be filled by election or co-option in the new year.

JIM Lindop has lived in Hedon all his life. After leaving South Holderness School, he worked as a coppersmith at BP Chemicals until 1975, joining Humberside Fire and Rescue Service as a firefighter at east Hull.

He then moved on to fire safety training at Brigade Headquarters, before becoming station commander of Bridlington, Driffield and Sledmere. He retired in 2007 as a divisional officer group manager and was responsible for recruitment and discipline.

Mr Lindop joined Hedon Town Council in 2010.

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ADMISSION charges at council-run leisure centres in Hull could be increased sharply in the new year. The hike is being seen as one way of reducing current subsidy costs and keeping some venues open.

Subsidy costs have been a feature of the recent consultation over the future of swimming facilities at Ennerdale Leisure Centre and the Springhead Golf Course as part of a proposed £1m savings drive in the council's leisure section.

According to council figures, each individual round of golf at Springhead costs the taxpayer £3.64 in subsidy on top of the actual pay and play green fee charged per player.

The subsidy cost per visitor at Ennerdale is 77p.

The highest subsidy is at the Isaac Newton Sports Centre, in east Hull, where every visit in 2011-12 was subsidised to the tune of £49.18.

Councillor Terry Geraghty, portfolio holder for leisure, said: "Years ago we tried to minimise the charges because we had the money to do it, but those days are gone. Now, we are in a business situation and we have got to move forward on those lines.

"One way to do that is to increase the charges.

"We are looking at our charges because they have never really been looked at properly in the past.

"If it is agreed by the cabinet, there will be a new set of charges from January next year.

"Putting them up is one way of keeping these facilities open.

"Another way is to review the subsidy costs.

Green charges for adults and seniors at the council's two golf courses at Springhead and Sutton are the lowest compared with 15 privately-run neighbouring courses in East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

Cllr Geraghty said he believed the Springhead subsidy was "unacceptable", but defended the subsidy costs at Isaac Newton.

"You can't look at the sport hall at Isaac Newton in isolation because, as well as being a big indoor gym, there is also a library there, social services and an outdoor gym," he said.

"We are hoping to put more football pitches there, so it becomes one of the best leisure centres in the area.

"It's still in its infancy and the subsidy is now about £30 and it's still going down."

He also again questioned the council's subsidy funding for Kingston Swimming Club, which trains and hosts competition events at Ennerdale.

"Spending between £150,000 and £170,000 on just one club is a lot of money," he said.

Speaking at a council scrutiny meeting, Councillor Claire Thomas said: "I do not think the council should be subsidising rounds of golf.

"Ideally, we should be getting to a position where Springhead is run without any subsidy."

Environmental charity Groundworks has recently submitted a proposal to keep Springhead open in conjunction with golf club members.

However, an option remains to close the facility next April.

A £219,000 grant from the Hull NHS Clinical Commissioning Group has allowed the council to keep Ennerdale's two pools open until at least April 2015.

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A THUG who would get drunk with his mum and attack people has been jailed. Benjamin Norrie, 27, attacked two men who fell out with his mother, assaulted a third man outside a bar and burgled a house.

Norrie attacked one a man outside the Moderation Bar in Hull city centre. The victim had left the bar on June 16, last year to have a cigarette when Norrie, of Falkland Road, east Hull, came up behind him and struck him twice to the head.

He confronted Norrie and asked why he had hit him. Norrie punched the man again, causing him to lose consciousness. The victim had to be taken to hospital where he needed treatment to a wound on his ear.

Norrie has now pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court heard on July 3, last year he wounded a man in the Sandringham Pub in Hull. Norrie and his mother were drinking in the pub.

Prosecutor Sabrina Harts- horn said: "The mother was drunk but appeared in good spirits. The victim went to leave the pub and as he did he spoke to the defendant and voiced concerns about his mother's inebriated state and to take care of her. This annoyed the defendant."

Norrie chased the man and punched him twice in the face. When the victim fell to the floor, Norrie then kicked him. The man suffered a fractured eye socket and needed stitches to his face. Norrie pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm.

Two months after this attack, Norrie assaulted his mother's partner after a night at the Moderation Bar. He assaulted the man by kicking and punching him to the ground. The victim suffered lacerations to his eyes and nose. Norrie pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to the matter.

He also committed a burglary with David Hunt, 35, where the pair of removed a metal security door from a flat in Falkland Road, east Hull, and entered the property to steal a fridge and a freezer. Hunt, of Chelmer Road, east Hull, was sentenced to nine months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to burglary.

Norrie's barrister Paul Genney said of his client: "He was going out drinking with his mother. They got drunk together, the mother acts up and he steps in. At the moment they are estranged – which will be a comfort to society."

Recorder Anthony Hawks has jailed Norrie for four years.

He told him: "In June last year you got into a fight for reasons unknown. You obviously had far too much to drink. One of the things you must look to reflect upon is that when people engage in drunk and disorderly behaviour outside pubs it can cause death.

"You had hardly moved on from that offence when you inflicted grievous bodily harm outside another pub. You seem to have been with your mother who might well have got you into trouble. You ended up hitting a man who had caused no trouble to you."

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A MAN has appeared in court on crutches charged with a string of offences following a morning of bedlam in west Hull, which left a man dead and a community shocked. Neville Kitt, 29, was allowed to sit for his first court appearance yesterday.

Mr Kitt gave a Huddersfield address to the clerk at Hull Magistrates' Court when asked for his details. The offences he is charged with include causing death by dangerous driving after Matthew Hutchinson, 25, was catapulted off a motorbike in Calvert Lane, west Hull, on October 31. Mr Hutchinson later died in Hull Royal Infirmary, despite medics battling for more than an hour to save him.

Mr Kitt is also charged with the following offences, which are all alleged to have been committed on the same day:

• Two counts of section 18 assault.

A section 39 assault.

• Two counts of possession of a weapon.

• An aggravated burglary.

• A robbery.

• A theft from a shop.

Possession of a gas cannister.

In addition to these offences, Mr Kitt is also charged with a non-dwelling burglary, which the Crown Prosecution Service says was committed on August 10, and theft from a car, which is said to have happened on October 26.

District Judge Frederick Richardson ruled all 12 charges against Mr Kitt should be dealt with by Hull Crown Court.

He made an exception to the rule and allowed Mr Kitt to sit during the hearing, while four members of his family sobbed in the public gallery.

Mr Kitt was injured when the red Yamaha YBR 125 crashed into a Honda Jazz.

No pleas were taken in relation to any of the charges.

As reported in the Mail at the time, police were called to three crimes in the space of two-and-a-half hours on October 31.

The first was an attack on a 40-year-old man in the Hedon Road area of east Hull.

The second was an attack on a 26-year- old man in north Hull.

Later, officers were called to reports of a robbery at Enid's News in Anlaby Road, west Hull, where a 57-year-old woman was injured.

Humberside Police's helicopter was deployed in the search for the offenders. The motorbike was not being pursued at the time of the crash, say police.

Mr Kitt was refused bail and remanded in custody to appear before Hull Crown Court on November 27.

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POLICE have released CCTV images of a number of people they want to speak to about shop thefts across East Yorkshire. Over the recent months, shopkeepers across the region have reported a number of thefts from their premises.

Police want to speak to the people seen in the images, who may be able to help with the investigations.

Inspector Rob Cocker, of Beverley Neighbourhood Police Team, said: "We would welcome the public's assistance in the identification of these individuals, suspected of crimes committed across the East Riding."

The images released are in relation to thefts in Cottingham, Anlaby, Willerby, Hessle, Goole, Bridlington and Hornsea.

On Thursday, October 2, two men entered The Co-operative Store on Crescent Street, Cottingham, at 11.43am. The men are seen on CCTV separately going to the alcohol lane, where they are both alleged to have removed several bottles of spirits from the shelf and concealed the items within their clothing.

The men then left the store without paying for the items.

Staying in Cottingham, a man entered the Boots store in Hallgate at 2.39pm on September 19.

He was seen acting suspiciously by staff and then grabbed several high-valued razor blades worth more than £180 and ran out of the store.

The man got away on his pedal bike.

Meanwhile, a woman left her mobile phone on the checkout at Morrisons in Anlaby on September 7.

Realising she had left it, she returned straight away to the checkout, but the phone had been stolen.

Police want to speak to the man shown in the CCTV image to assist with their enquiries.

A total of 14 Karcher window vacuum cleaners, worth £900, were stolen from Homebase Ltd in Beverley Road, Willerby, on August 12.

Two men visited the store and together entered the warehouse of the shop, where it is alleged the items were stolen from.

Meanwhile, a man entered the Sainsbury's store at The Square in Hessle on August 13, and is alleged to have not paid for a number of items he placed in his basket.

A man took and hid several meat items in his coat when he visited The Co-operative in Hailgate, Howden, on September 12.

A man carrying a large black rucksack is alleged to have placed several Playstation games inside it from the Tesco store in Goole on July 10.

The man paid for a drink he had chosen and tried to leave the store without offering to pay for the items in his bag.

The security barrier alarms were activated by the man and the security staff gave chase. The man is thought to have left the area in a red Citroen.

Bacon and cheese were taken from the Costcutter shop in West Street, Bridlington, on August 5 by an unknown man.

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting the image reference.

CHAMPAGNE was a popular target for thieves in the Goole area.

Three bottles of champagne were stolen from The Co-operative store at the Old Goole Post Office on Swinefleet Road on August 8.

A man entered the store and selected the bottles worth £20 each from the fridge, which he then hid in jacket and trousers.

Two men entered The Co-operative in Market Place, Snaith, on August 27.

One man went to the alcohol aisle where he is alleged to have taken six bottles of champagne, valued at £18 each. The man is alleged to have concealed the items inside his jacket. The two then left the store without making payment for the items.

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HE SUFFERED only a few external injuries from the terrifying helicopter crash that left four oil workers dead. But for Paul Sharp and other survivors, the inward trauma is still haunting them to this day.

Mr Sharp has chosen to remain silent about his ordeal until now. He wanted to see those who died buried, as well as take part in a memorial service.

He believes talking about it will help him overcome some of the trauma he still feels following the crash into the North Sea in August.

"I'm still having nightmares," he said. "I've had them ever since.

"I can't remember them, but my wife tells me I'm red and sweating and shouting out and sitting up and lying back down. I can't remember, but a lot of the lads are the same."

He said although the nightmares are getting fewer and fewer, at first they would be almost every night.

"I've also been having counselling," he said. "I said to the young lads at the time, if you get offered counselling, take it straight away as it will help you."

There are certain aspects of the crash that have remained fresh in his mind.

"The impact on the water, and getting out are the main two," said Mr Sharp. "They are still fresh, they are the ones I think about.

"I think about everyone floating around in the helicopter, and getting out.

"I have flashbacks and it's unbelievable to think I was that guy in there."

None of the workers on the flight that day have returned to work on the rigs yet. Some have taken office jobs as an alternative.

But Mr Sharp, who has worked on the rigs for 23 years, says he is determined to get back on them.

"I miss my family," he said. "I have my family on shore but I have my family offshore too and I'm missing my offshore family.

"You can't say, 'I'm never getting on a helicopter again', even though I did shout that when I was in the sea."

Mr Sharp says his company, Cape Plc, has offered the chance for him to go on a test flight to see how he feels about getting on a helicopter.

"I'll do that, but I don't want to go back on the same platform," he said. "There's no other way to get out to the rigs and if it's a direct flight it's two-and-a-half hours out to it. There are nearer platforms."

Mr Sharp is hoping when he returns to work his flight out to the rig will be considerably shorter.

He also wants to see the Super Puma L1 and L2 helicopters grounded for good. He said: "They are deathtraps. I was asked a question, what are they like, and the way I describe them is it's like if you are getting married and order a top-of- the range Rolls Royce to pick you up, and the garage decides they are going to send a Lada.

"Five of these have ditched into the sea in four years. In one, all 16 died. They should be scrapped."

A LINE of smiling faces beams out to the people gathered inside St Mary's Church. Their expressions are of happiness and joy – the moment capturing their birthday or a happy family occasion.

But the smiles are forever fixed, frozen as they are in picture frames lined up at the front of the church.

Each one is someone's dad, auntie, best friend or colleague who died in a crash.

For the 12th year running, the Service of Remembrance was held at St Mary's Church in Lowgate, Hull – one of thousands of churches across the world that marked the World Day of Remembrance to road traffic victims yesterday.

Two of the pictures lined up at the front are of people who lived to serve others – nursing student Anna Cornick and Paul Foster, who was in the Royal Navy.

Their mothers, united in their insurmountable grief, met at the service and are now friends as a result of their loss.

"You don't feel bad for shedding a tear here. We're all going through the same emotions," said Paul's mum Anne Foster, who lives in Hessle.

"We've shed thousands over the years and we'll shed thousands more.

"It is nice we can all be together and know how everyone feels."

Paul was killed, aged 33, when he was riding his motorbike to work in Portsmouth in June 2003.

Relatives came to see Anne and husband Barry to break the news.

"I knew by their faces something was wrong," said Anne, 66.

"He'd been following in his father's footsteps by joining the Navy, but that was cut short so tragically."

For Angela Ferguson, the services are a chance to remember her 20-year-old daughter Anna, who was killed while crossing Ganstead Lane West in east Hull.

Anna died on November 21, just four days after Hull's first Service of Remembrance in 2002.

For both Angela and Anne, 2003 was their first service and they have been friends ever since that first meeting.

"For me, these services are about meeting other people who understand," said Angela, 53, who lives in Kingswood, Hull.

"I remember when it happened, I was looking at people walking down the street and thinking 'their lives are normal', but here everyone understands how you are feeling.

"Here, when someone says they know how you feel, they really do."

The service was conducted by Father Malcolm Crook, who invited people to light candles for those they wanted to remember.

One by one, the young and old slowly made their way up the aisle to light a candle, while others simply chose to remain seated and bow their heads in prayer.

"Those we have loved here and will be remembered here, because we have brought them with us, are those for whom their day began with a sense of certainty," he said.

"They were going to be going out that day and would be doing lots of things, and the following day and the following week.

"But instead things turned out very differently.

"For us, we can still probably remember the telephone call and the visitors who came completely unexpected.

"We can remember the shock we felt, and probably still feel, and conversations we both did and did not have.

"We may remain angry with God and may certainly be angry with other people – all these things we bring with us to this service here today."

The most poignant part of the service was when 90 names were read out – the long list of people who were being remembered.

Some came in pairs – two same surnames signifying a double loss for an unfortunate family.

A few moments of silence were also held, giving the congregation a moment to reflect, remember and mourn.

The day was a sombre occasion, with many tears shed and many hearts aching inside.

But Angela and Anne are pleased they have a specific day – the third Sunday in November – in which they can dedicate some time to remembering Anna and Paul.

"You think every year it is going to get easier, but it doesn't," said Anne.

"But I like that we had a moment's silence to remember.

"Knowing other people are in the same boat as you helps, because they know how you feel."

10

Hull City assistant boss Steve Agnew believes a proud unbeaten record at the KC Stadium can provide the inspiration for another priceless home win when lowly Crystal Palace visit this weekend.

The Tigers have won three and drawn two of their five home games in the Premier League, taking 11 of their 14 points in East Yorkshire, and in nine hours of league and cup action only Cardiff's Peter Whittingham has managed to score against the miserly hosts.

Not since 2003-04, when Peter Taylor's side went 11 Division Three games unbeaten to begin the first full season at the KC in style, have City made such an impressive start to a campaign on home soil.

The statistics will make the Tigers firm favourites when fellow new boys Crystal Palace arrive in East Yorkshire bidding to end a dismal run of five straight defeats on their travels, and Agnew says confidence can give City the edge.

"They're all big games in the Premier League but we realise that Crystal Palace haven't had a good start," he said, with City unbeaten at home since April 2.

"Is it an opportunity for us to go and win the game? Well yes, you'd have to say it is.

"But we'll not take anyone lightly in this league and it'll be important to stick to the hard work that has given us this unbeaten home record.

"We want that to go on for as long as possible through the season.

"We play with a lot of confidence at home.

"The supporters and atmosphere around the KC on a matchday is very positive and that's something we enjoy."

The significance of Palace's visit has been heightened by City's dip in fortunes of late.

Just four points have come from the last five league games and a 4-1 defeat at Southampton last time out represented their heaviest loss since February.

"There's been no disappointment following the Southampton game, none at all.

"The complete opposite, in fact, they've been terrific," Agnew countered.

"They're an excellent group of players to work with. They have a real inner-belief and determination to succeed this season. They fight for each other.

"They've dusted themselves down very quickly and although we've had a few away with the internationals, they're all looking forward to the Palace game."

City's full squad will not reassemble until Thursday and it is by then James Chester will hope to make his return to contact training. Chester has been absent since badly damaging his hamstring in the 3-2 win at Newcastle on September 21, missing his longest run of games since joining from Manchester United in January 2011.

A lack of match action will mean Steve Bruce is reluctant to throw the defender back in against Palace, however, with the home game against Liverpool on December 1 a more realistic target.

The availability of Curtis Davies, Paul McShane, Alex Bruce and Abdoulaye Faye also dilutes any sense of urgency in Chester's comeback.

• Maynor Figueroa's Honduras lost 5-0 to Brazil in a friendly played in Miami.

WEST Hull head coach Mark Hewitt paid tribute to his side, after they beat Wath Brow Hornets 16-12 to be crowned National Conference League Premier Division Champions at Widnes. A first-half performance inspired by Scott Spaven and Kurtis Jackson helped Wests to a 16-0 lead, and despite two late tries from Wath, they ran out deserved winners in an enthralling Grand Final.

Wests play-off campaign has been surrounded by controversy, following Siddal's decision to withdraw from the run-in three weeks ago, but Hewitt believes his side have proved their critics wrong.

"We've had to endure a lot of criticism over the past three weeks, but it just goes to show what a great club this is with great character," said Hewitt.

"We've been away to Lock Lane, Thatto Heath and now we've beaten Wath Brow and it goes to show we deserve to be champions.

"The first 40 minutes we were outstanding, we had a 100 per cent completion rate and went forward and kicked well. We hung in there in the second half and I think we were deserved winners."

Former Hull KR half-back Scott Spaven was instrumental in the win, and he labelled the game the biggest of his career.

"I'm really happy, not just for me but for the lads, they've been brilliant this year," said Spaven.

"I've been very fortunate to be part of this team. I came about five, six games into the season and it's been a privilege to play with the lads, they've been outstanding.

"I've played two Super League games, but this is probably the biggest game I've played in.

"Yes it's at amateur level, but not many people get to play in Grand Finals and we've managed to win it."

In an action-packed first half, it was West Hull who took the lead in the fifth minute.

Spaven knocked a testing kick into the right corner, where winger Ash Rout was on hand to collect.

He flicked out an offload to Tom Radley, who dived over in the corner to make it 4-0.

Wests were over again in the 24th minute, following a contentious decision from referee Ian Scott.

Ryan Morrow got a magnificent one-handed offload out to Danny Swales, who grubbered through to Wath Brow full-back Ryan Amor.

Amor then seemed to trap the ball with his legs and collect legally, but the referee adjudged him to have knocked on, and awarded Wests a scrum 10 metres out.

And they took full advantage in the next set, as Spaven and Ian Kerman linked up to send Morrow crashing over.

They kept the pressure on with another clever kick from Spaven forcing a knock-on from Luke Davison, gifting Wests another set of six 10 metres out.

Spaven went close himself, and from the resulting play-the-ball, Jackson sent Alex Benson over from close range to make it 16-0.

Wath Brow got themselves on the scoresheet in the 66th minute, when Dixon's cross-field kick was juggled by Peter Caddy before the centre regained control to touch down.

And they were over again in the 72nd minute, when another Dixon kick caused trouble in Wests' in-goal area, with Richard Huby on hand to score an easy try and set up a grandstand finish.

In the final minute, Dixon's boot again caused problems for Wests, as they spilled another bomb. But, having received possession just 15 metres out, Wath dropped the ball themselves on the second tackle.

Wests then wound down the clock, before the referee blew for time, sparking jubilant scenes from players, coaching staff and fans alike.

For those who witnessed the goings on at the ABC Cinema in Ferensway, it was a night that, 50 years later, still brings back happy memories for hundreds of local people.

From the all-night queue for tickets a few weeks before the big day, November 24, 1963, the 20th date of the group's autumn tour, excitement built.

Never had Hull seen anything like it. This and another visit the following year stand out as the unforgettable highlights of visits by some of the biggest stars of the pop world. Even the Rolling Stones failed to match the reception The Beatles received. In the following decade the Bay City Rollers came close. But the Beatles ruled, and pop fans of a certain age will never forget it.

The November visit was part of a nationwide tour and came after the group had topped the charts twice, From Me To You made it to number one and stayed there for seven weeks in April that year and in August, She Loves You, was in top spot for six weeks.

The group also reached number two in January 1963 with Please Please Me. By November what became known as Beatlemania was well and truly established. And didn't we know it.

The Beatles were not the only act on stage that night, but it is a fair bet that the vast majority of those who were there will not recall who else they saw – and actually heard. Peter Jay And The Jay Walkers who had a hit with the Joe Meek produced Can Can 62 were on the bill. So, too, were the Brook Brothers who had a couple of chart hits, Warpaint and Ain't Gonna Wash for a Week before sinking into obscurity, the Vernons Girls and the Kestrels.

The support acts were irrelevant, the crowds wanted only one, The Beatles. They never stopped demanding their appearance.

Reporters and photographers gathered in number for all this, being put in the orchestra pit, an ideal place for pictures of the group and the mayhem among the audience. Around the pit stood heavies with arms folded and carefully watching as chaos reigned. St John Ambulance staff were on hand to help those who were overcome by it all.

The noise was incredible, reaching a crescendo when The Beatles finally appeared. Even being within a few feet of them it was impossible to hear what they were singing but then, in the early 1960s, sound systems were hardly brilliant.

Time and again screaming girls tried to hurl themselves at the stage, only to be forced back by the bouncers. Many girls were in tears, completely overcome by it all, others held their heads in their hands, overwhelmed by the emotion of the moment.

Had they been able to hear what the group was performing, the audience would have heard a standard set of ten songs: I Saw Her Standing There, From Me To You, All My Loving, You Really Got A Hold On Me, Roll Over Beethoven, Boys, Till There Was You, She Loves You, Money (That's What I Want) and Twist And Shout.

And suddenly it was all over. The group stopped playing and ran off stage, the crowd whipped into a state of hysteria gradually subsided and left only to gather again at the stage door where police awaited them.

Inside the theatre newsmen gathered backstage for interviews. Among them was a national daily newspaper reporter whose sole job was to follow The Beatles from venue to venue. A sharp lad, this, he had arranged a piano to be conveniently left nearby, had a word with Paul McCartney and, lo and behold, the press had a brief but exclusive "concert".

Also backstage were fans who had been specially invited to meet The Beatles. Some were handicapped youngsters, others had won tickets in competitions. And that was it.

The Beatles were escorted secretly out of the building and into a car to hot-foot it out of Hull, the still screaming girls waited hopefully and hopelessly at the side of the cinema and the relative calm of a typical autumn Sunday night in Hull bus station gradually returned.

The Beatles' visit to the Majestic had an unfortunate ending for George Harrison.

The group were travelling back to Liverpool, where the following night they were booked to appear at the Locarno Ballroom, when the van they were in, which was being driven by George, left the road at Burton's Corner in Goole, taking with it a large section of the fence around the building.

The result, an appearance at Goole Magistrates' Court where the guitarist was fined for careless driving.

A COMMUNITY has spoken of its shock at revelations that a well-respected former minister was caught buying and using Class A drugs. The Reverend Paul Flowers, 63, who once served Bridlington Methodist Church, has apologised to "all I have hurt or failed by my actions" after a Sunday newspaper reported how he was filmed buying methamphetamine – or crystal meth – and crack cocaine.

The story has rocked the Methodist Church community in Bridlington and Driffield, with one reverend saying they are "saddened" by the shocking revelations.

Mr Flowers served Bridlington Methodist Church through- out the 1990s and was well- known and liked for his "charismatic" personality.

One 47-year-old Bridlington man, who was married by Mr Flowers at Sewerby Methodist Church in 1997, said: "I am totally shocked.

"I remember going through our wedding interview at the church where he talked to us about being a good person – now all that is turned on its head.

"He was a nice man, he was very personable, very charismatic and had a really dry sense of humour."

Mr Flowers was also the chairman of Co-operative Banking Group and the Co-operative Bank for three years from 2010 to May this year.

He was filmed in his car discussing buying cocaine and crystal meth from a Leeds- based dealer, before handing over £300 to his friend to make the deal.

Text messages also suggest he has been taking the Class C drug ketamine, which is a form of horse tranquiliser.

It happened just days after he was questioned by the Treasury Select Committee over the near- collapse of the Co-operative Bank after it lost £700m in the first six months of this year.

He also reportedly sent texts a day after his Treasury Select Committee appearance with one saying: "I was 'grilled' by the Treasury Select Committee yesterday and afterwards came to Manchester to get wasted with friends'.

The Bridlington man said: "You don't expect this from anyone, let alone a vicar.

"The church says sex, drugs and money are the root of all evil and yet he has done this.

"He was very well-known, so people won't be able to believe it. He wasn't a shrinking violet, but you would never expect this of him."

During his time in Bridlington, Mr Flowers was instrumental in community campaigns, including saving Applegarth Residential Home from closure.

He also led Sewerby's popular blessing of the animals service.

The Reverend Robert Amos, of Driffield Methodist Church, said: "It is sad for all who are involved.

"The Methodist Church expects high standards and I understand he has now been suspended."

In a statement, Mr Flowers, who formerly chaired drugs charity Lifeline, said: "This year has been incredibly difficult, with a death in the family and the pressures of my role with the Co-operative Bank.

"At the lowest point in this terrible period, I did things that were stupid and wrong.

"I am sorry for this and I am seeking professional help and apologise to all I have hurt or failed in my actions."

The Methodist Church said: "We expect high standards of our ministers. We have procedures for when ministers fail to meet those standards and we will now start those with a thorough investigation.

"We will also work with the police if they feel a crime has been committed."

MORE holidaymakers claim they fell victim to a travel agent who conned a grandmother out of her lifesavings.

Sandra Baindridge, 70, and her daughters, Hilda Cowie, 52, and Donna Welham, 49, say they were promised the holiday of a lifetime in Turkey by Anlaby travel agent Ellen Harrison.

But they, along with family friend Elaine Battams, say they ended up £2,000 out of pocket and stranded in Marmaris after booking through Harrison's company, Turkish Riviera Travel.

"We trusted her with our lives and classed her as a friend," said Sandra, who uses a wheelchair and has heart problems.

"We couldn't believe she would do something like this and we will never trust her again."

They came forward after Harrison, 49, of Taunton Road, west Hull, pleaded guilty to fraud at Hull Crown Court for swindling Maureen Kay, 67 and her family of ten out of £7,500 by supplying them with bogus tickets to Turkey.

Sandra's nightmare began when they realised Harrison had not supplied return tickets for their £1,760 break in the Sun Smiles resort.

Concerned, they told Harrison, who reassured them she would deliver them personally once they were in Turkey because she was going on holiday there at the same time.

Because they had used Harrison's business for years, they took her word.

But when Harrison met with the party in Turkey a few days after they arrived, she told them she had forgotten the tickets and that her son Darren had them at their hotel.

She then "disappeared" and failed to reply to their calls and texts asking where she and their tickets had gone.

As the end of their holiday approached, they became increasingly worried they would not be able to get home and enlisted the help of some locals to track Harrison down.

When they found her, she claimed the holiday had been overbooked by a national travel agent and their only option was to book another flight home from Rhodes in Greece – two days after they were supposed to fly back – and to get a refund from the travel agent.

Thankfully, they are well known by the hotel staff who let them stay for an extra two days free of charge.

Sandra said: "We were getting so desperate and worried. All we kept saying was 'how are we going to get home?'

"We had to get a ship to Rhodes Airport and pay for the flights again. That, plus taxis, came to about £500 each.

"It ruined the holiday and we still haven't got our money back today.

"We classed her as a friend, she had been so good to us in the past and went out of her way to find us cheap deals.

"We had used her lots of times before and she had never done anything like this before.

"We don't expect we will ever get our money back. We have rung her since then and she is still saying it is the travel agent's fault.

"Something must have gone very wrong for her to have done this because she was so good before."

Hull Crown Court heard how Harrison had got into financial difficulty and had decided to keep Mrs Kay's money to pay for other business expenses.

She has been given an eight- month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, ordered to pay £1,000 compensation and carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

Sandra said: "What she did was wrong but I had a lot of respect for her. We try to laugh about it now, if we didn't, we'd cry."

The Mail tried to contact Ellen Harrison several times but got no answer.

A PROLIFIC shoplifter who spat and shouted at people has been given an Asbo covering the whole Humberside Police force area. Neil Francis Palmer, 43, who repeatedly breached previous Asbos and is currently serving time in prison, has been given an order for the entire force area – a rare move for the courts and police to make.

The Asbo will come into effect when he leaves prison and will last until midnight on November 3, 2017. PC Andy White, of Kirk Ella police station, said the west Hull resident was a "nasty" character who threatened and intimidated people.

PC White said: "He spits at people and is a pretty nasty guy. We've had problems with him intimidating shop assistants and he is someone who has been a problem for quite a long time, especially when he has been drinking. When he has had a drink, he becomes aggressive and has verbally abused people."

Palmer appeared at Hull Crown Court earlier this month, where he was sentenced to a jail term. He was sent to prison for six months for stealing a pedal cycle, breaching an Asbo and theft from a shop. The original order was put on him for shop thefts, as he was a prolific offender and often became aggressive when confronted by shop assistants.

"The shop assistants he abused are hard workers, many of them women," said PC Ward. "They don't need to put up with abuse from the likes of people like Palmer – they don't deserve it. I'm really pleased he now has an Asbo until November 2017 and that it is for the whole of the force area."

Shops targeted by Palmer include Sainsbury's in Willerby, Anlaby Retail Park, stores in Hull and St Stephen's shopping centre, Willerby Shopping Park, Sainsbury's in Anlaby Common and the Asda Living store in Anlaby.

PC Ward said: "Sometimes Asbos will be for the city of Hull, or sometimes for Hull and the East Riding. But to have one for the whole Humberside Police force area is quite rare.

"The courts have taken a common sense approach so the original Asbo has been extended and will not start until he finishes in prison. If anyone sees him breaking any of the conditions of the Asbo, we urge them to contact the police.

"It is clear from the sentence and further order that the courts will not put up with this man's behaviour."

The Asbo has four parts to it. Palmer is prohibited from the following:

Acting or inciting a person to act in an antisocial manner which may cause harassment, alarm or distress.

• Acting or inciting a person to engage in behaviour that is threatening.

• Throwing or kicking any object, except when taking part in any ball game or sporting activity in a properly designated sports facility or public park, or spitting at any person, animal, vehicle or property in any public place.

• Being in possession of any unsealed container of alcohol in a public place, except at a premises licensed for the consumption of alcohol.

If Palmer breaches any of the conditions, he could face a fine of up to £5,000 or prison for up to five years.

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A MAN has told how he escaped death when a helicopter he was in plunged into the sea, killing four people. Paul Sharp, 48, of Holderness Road, east Hull, was one of the survivors when the Super Puma L2 hurtled uncontrollably into the North Sea.

Mr Sharp, an offshore worker, was one of 18 on the helicopter, which was returning to Aberdeen from the Borgsten Dolphin platform.

The aircraft was making a stop at Sumburgh Airport to refuel, which is at the tip of the Shetland Islands.

"As we approached Sumburgh the pilot said there was ten minutes to landing," said Mr Sharp.

"I tightened my lap strap and sat up. But that ten minutes became 15 and then 20 and we were all looking at each other asking, 'what's the craic?'

"All of a sudden we broke cloud level and there was a whooshing noise.

"Then there was a clicking, like a bone was breaking.

"The helicopter turned on its side and just fell out of the sky."

The helicopter plunged 600ft into the water, 2.4 nautical miles from the airport.

"It landed on its side and buckled and started to turn over," said Mr Sharp. "It instantly started to take on water.

"It all happened so quickly, there were about four seconds from the click to it hitting the sea. You didn't have time to think.

"There was a lot of panic. I knew the protocol and I knew to stay in my seat until it had fully inverted, but a lot of people had taken their belts off and they were floating around.

"The helicopter was full of water and I thought about dying. I felt calm. I can remember thinking, 'at least I have life insurance'."

With the helicopter full of water, and everyone trapped under it, Mr Sharp knew if he did not get out soon he would die.

His survival instincts kicked in.

He said: "I had hold of the tab on the window, I pulled but it came to bits. I was pushing the window out with my elbow but it wouldn't move.

"I punched it two or three times and it popped out. I undid my belt and was straight out."

Thanks to Mr Sharp's calm thinking, another four people were able to escape from that window.

"When I broke to the surface to take a breath, a massive swell hit and a load of aviation fluid went into my mouth," he said.

"I could see someone floating out and I grabbed them, but they were obviously dead. I pulled my life jacket, but it failed to inflate. I started to manually inflate it and it went up.

"There were four or five of us in the water at that time and we were drifting away from the helicopter.

"We tried to get together and buddy up, but one guy was seriously injured and the swell broke us up."

Mr Sharp said his immersion suit, which is supposed to keep him dry, warm and afloat, began to fill with water.

"It shouldn't have," he said. "But I must have ripped it on a rota blade when I came out of the helicopter."

Mr Sharp continued to put on his emergency equipment, including balaclava and gloves.

But the strobe light, torch and personal location beacon on his life jacket were not working.

He was alone and drifting further from the wreckage.

"I thought 'I'll turn round once more to see how far away I am'.

"I looked around and I was miles away."

Poor visibility from misty weather conditions, coupled with strong tides and the location of the helicopter near cliffs, made the rescue operation hazardous and Mr Sharp had already been in the water 40 minutes.

"As I turned round a swell came up and as it did I saw the rescue helicopter. It was winching someone up and I remember hoping they would see me next. Thankfully, they did, and came over to get me," he said.

The men winched from the sea were taken to a triage unit at Sumburgh airport and warmed up before being transferred to hospital.

Mr Sharp said: "I remember calling my wife and saying, 'I've been in a bit of an accident'. She said, 'what have you done to the car?'

"I told her the helicopter had crashed. She turned on Sky News and it was all over there. She was devastated."

Despite plunging 600ft from the sky, Mr Sharp's only external injuries from the accident, on August 23, were a hematoma stretching from his knee to his hip from the impact and scrapes and bruising on his knuckles, where he punched the window through.

He was back with wife Jean and daughter Amelia, ten, at their home two days after the crash.

"I came home and hugged them. There were tears," said Mr Sharp.

"I said, 'I'm OK, I'm alive'.

"Every day I think, 'I'm lucky to be alive', and that's why I don't take anything for granted now.

"Everything can be fixed. There's no rush.

"Trivial things that used to bother me don't anymore. I see life in a different way."

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