£50 Christinas Stocking Stolen From Hall

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30287, 13 November 1963, Page 9

£50 Christinas Stocking Stolen From Hall

A Christmas stocking, containing goods worth £5O. which was being raffled to raise money for amenities at the New Brighton Convent School, was stolen during the week-end from the parish hall in Lonsdale street. About £8 was also stolen from mission and Red Cross boxes in a classroom which was broken into at the school, next door to the hall. "It is the lousiest theft I have ever heard of,” said the organiser of the raffle. Mr N. R. Lewis, of 69 Bower avenue. “We have sold hundreds of tickets in the raffle. Many of the goods in the stocking were given to us. and now we shall have to replace them. It certainly will take the cream from our effort. after weeks and weeks of work by volunteers." Mr Lewis said the stocking contained an electric shaver, a steam iron, garden tools, a travelling alarm clock, wrist watch, and many toys. It was a “real family Christmas stocking.” The draw would be made on December 18 “We will go ahead with selling the tickets, informing the public that the Christmas stocking, which wc have been showing when selling, has been stolen but another one will be obtained to replace it.’’ The polled ask that any-

one who noticed anything suspicious about the school or parish hall on Saturday night get in touch with them. The stocking was sft high and 3ft wide at the top, tapering to 12in at the foot, and weighed about 901 b. It was put in the women’s cloakroom at the hail, which was not locked by those leaving on Saturday about 7.30 p.m. as normally one of the parish priests locks it later in the evening. Father Daly discovered the theft at 6 30 p.m. on Sunday.