Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey, has got embroiled in a nasty little spat, the sort of thing that gives politics a bad name. It is also dispiriting to be reminded that there are still men like her critic in public life
The incident which sparked the spat involved a boiler, so to put myself back in a more sunny frame of mind I looked to see what is available on Google about one of my favourite Victorian self-help can-do organisations – The Association for the Prevention of Boiler Explosions. A ponderous name, but it did exactly what it said on the tin
Boiler explosions were distressingly common – hardly a week went by without at least one being reported in the press. These days we mostly assume that boilers are safe, as is a domestic gas supply, but are only too ready to distrust anything new & possibly dangerous
Victorian engineers decided to do something about it & founded their Association ”on the most philanthropic principles, and having in view the saving of property, but above all the saving of life”
Links
Manchester Association for the Prevention of Boiler Explosions and Economy in the Use of Steam
Boiler Explosions: The Later 19th Century
Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC
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