Q: I saw your recent response in the newspaper regarding a porcelain plate made in Germany. I have had a similar object stored in my closet for ages. I was told by my mother that my great-grandparents brought it from Germany prior to World War I. The only marking on the back is the number 6715. The castle was perhaps located near Heidelberg as someone has written that on the water coming from the bridge. I would love to learn more about this. Thank you for any information you might have. D.W., internet
A: Yes, your decorative wall plaque was likely made prior to World War I. There were numerous porcelain companies in Germany during the 19th and early 20th century producing wall plaques. The photographs you included are not very good, making it difficult to judge the quality. Take it outside in the daylight and take good clear photographs of the front and back and then I will finish the story.
Mayor’s Column: Councillor Billy Sheerin Date published: 06 March 2021
Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Billy Sheerin, had a tour of a new extension at Castleton Community Primary School on 18 February
Councillor Billy Sheerin was sworn in as the Mayor of Rochdale at the annual Mayor Making Ceremony on Wednesday 22 May 2019.
Usually, the mayoral year comes to an end the following May, but due to the coronavirus crisis which resulted in remaining engagements being cancelled and his mayoral year subsequently cut short, Councillor Sheerin was offered the chance to stay on as Mayor of Rochdale for another year (May 2020 – May 2021).
This column focuses on some of his highlights from the past month.
David Forbes has walked over 300 miles for charity in just two months Date published: 02 March 2021
Wing Commander David Forbes and Mayor Billy Sheerin
Wing Commander David Forbes has walked more than 300 miles since the start of the year to raise much-needed funds for the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity appeal.
The Rochdale veteran, 81, has been walking several miles each morning since March 2020, after battling a chest infection and cold around Christmas 2019, and has been using his early morning exercise as an opportunity to raise money for charities, which have missed out on so much during the year of the pandemic.
An apartheid notice on a beach near Capetown, denoting the area for whites only. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
There is a need for economic redress through the payment of reparations by whites to blacks to promote togetherness and economic well-being between the two racial groups, writes
Alexander Strachan.
Rapport, and published in
City Press on 21 December 2020, the author makes the following poignant statement:
“Apartheid was a crime perpetrated deliberately over generations and it caused irrevocable damage to millions of people alive today. I was a beneficiary of that crime and so are most of my friends and every single member of my family. For that we owe a debt.”
Ultra-wealthy set sights on private islands as they seek isolation to escape Covid-19 ravaging the world Cheryl Arcibalcheryl.arcibal@scmp.com Knight Frank is the agent for a 20-acre private island in the Exumas, Bahamas. The island, which has an asking price of US$35 million, comes with a 6,500 square feet residence. Photo: Handout
Global inquiries for private islands have doubled over the past year and the trend is likely to continue as the super-rich seek to isolate themselves from the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world, but preferences are changing.
While privacy and exclusivity remain the main criteria, the world s ultra-wealthy want to be close but not too close to a mainland for quick and reliable access to medical facilities in case of an emergency, according to property brokers dealing exclusively in the segment.