THIS Whittlesey policeman had just one burning ambition - to be the best shot putter in the business. When this picture was taken in June 1970 he was one step nearer to achieving his aim after being selected to represent Gt Britain at the Commonwealth Gam

THIS Whittlesey policeman had just one burning ambition - to be the best shot putter in the business.

When this picture was taken in June 1970 he was one step nearer to achieving his aim after being selected to represent Gt Britain at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.

The policeman, of course, was Geoff Capes, and he booked himself a ticket to the Games by throwing the 16lb shot a total of 56ft 5ins to win the event at the selection trials at Leicester.

In this picture Geoff was training at the Sir Harry Smith School under the watchful eye of AAA coach Les Mitchell, using his massive frame to extend his throw to 60ft.

Mr Mitchell was an English teacher at the Sir Harry Smith School and he reckoned his pupil was a strong lad and could do well.

It was only in the previous year that Geoff had broken into senior international athletics when he represented Gt Britain in Czechoslovakia and at White City against France.

* THERE were lots of glum faces when would-be holiday markets had to endure a Whitsun weekend without trains in 1955.

Our picture shows a family which turned up at Wisbech East railway station only to find they would have to stay at home because of the rail strike.

However, this newspaper reported that some private motorists took pity on their neighbours and packed their cars to capacity.

The trek to the sea began on the Saturday morning when police at Wisbech started their traffic precautions early.

By 11.45am on Saturday there were 1,184 cars an hour passing through the town on the Lynn Road. On bank holiday Monday that figure had jumped to an amazing rate of 1,920 an hour - more than one car every two seconds.

Bus services were not increased to counteract the strike because no more buses were available.