1903: Today saw an extension to Peterborough's growing tram network when the service to Newark began, the trams travelling along the Eastfield Road. The driver - the motorman - had to stand in an open area to drive the tram and was exposed to all weathers. He worked a ten-hour shift, six days a week, at a rate of 5d an hour, which provided him with a weekly wage of 25s. (Peterborough Advertiser)
Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.
The world's oldest travel operator Thomas Cook, collapsed with the loss of more than 21,000 jobs worldwide including 1,000 in Peterborough. Thomas Cook had been trading for 178 years, but was put into compulsory liquidation on 23/09/19, after talks to save the company failed. Peter Fankhauser, Thomas Cook's chief executive, said the firm's collapse was a "matter of profound regret".
The company’s collapse and the subsequent cancellation of flights led to the Government and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) launching the biggest peacetime repatriation, code-named Operation Matterhorn, aimed at bringing more than 150,000 British holidaymakers home.
References:
The Peterborough Telegraph 23/09/19
BBC News 23/09/19