A Day for a Dustman

For 17 years Dustman Sidney Cooper collected the trash and garbage of Cheshire's bustling, dusty Borough of Bebington (pop. 47,000). Then Queen Elizabeth came to town.

That was a month ago. The Queen had come to christen the new aircraft carrier Ark Royal, and all Bebington was astir to greet her. Streets were hung with naval pennants, shopfronts blossomed in bunting. As bobbies took up stations along the main street to the shipyards, Bebingtonians by the thousands pressed close to cheer the royal Daimler as it sped past. Dustman Cooper was spending the day as usual, driving his garbage truck through the streets, and taking what satisfaction he could from the fact that his truck was a spanking brand-new one, red and shiny as a fire engine.

As Queen Elizabeth drove down the main street, waving graciously to her cheering subjects, Dustman Cooper became confused. He took a wrong turn, and a moment later found himself driving along the selfsame street as the Queen and not 30 yards behind. The jovial crowd spotted his new cart and, after the Queen had passed, broke into renewed cheers for the dustman. Bewildered Sidney waved his hand uncertainly and smiled a smile of dumb thanks. Behind him in the cart, three helpers smiled and waved like royalty. The crowd went home, and Sidney Cooper had a fine tale to tell the wife and eight kids at home.

Next morning, Sidney was summoned before the town Health Committee and summarily fired from his job for "mimicking the Queen" and bringing disgrace on Bebington. He apologized and tried to explain. It was useless.

Soon outraged citizens of Bebington began collecting signatures in Sidney's behalf, to petition the Queen herself. A Socialist alderman charged his colleagues on the town council with "gross injustice."

But the predominantly Tory council refused to listen.

Last week, a new Tory mayor took office in Bebington. As "an act of clemency" to mark the start of a new administration, and with no implication that the dustman's "offense was in any way condoned," he begged for Cooper's reinstatement. The council relented and put Dustman Cooper back to work.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.