Rare Honesty in a Rural Yorkshire Town

[Freomæg]

On Boxing Day the trusting trader set up an honesty box with a note asking shoppers to take what they wanted and to leave their payment behind.

When he returned at 4.15pm to close up his DIY store Practically Everything, in Settle Market Place in North Yorkshire, he discovered he had taken £187.66 – and nothing had been stolen.

A delighted Mr Algie, 47, said he knew that no one would take advantage of his absence.

He said: "I didn't think twice about leaving the shop open. Settle is a lovely quiet rural town and there's never any trouble here. I put my faith in my customers and I wasn't disappointed."

The most heartwarming gifts for the father-of-two were some touching notes of thanks.

One read: "Thanks Tom. This is why we moved to Settle. This shop would have been cleaned out in two-and-a-half minutes in Bolton."

Yorkshire Post
BBC

What's the bet Settle is... 'homogeneous', shall we say?

[Beorn]

It is amazing to think that there are areas where people can still entrust their livelihoods and stock to the decent passer-by without fear of crime.

It reminds me of my first few months in Guernsey. I was amazed to walk down streets with stock for sale but no person around to sell them!
All there would be was a bucket or a secure box with an opening to throw your money in.
I even used it once to buy some flowers for my partner on my way home from work one time. (Although, keep this under your hat, I did short change the bucket )

I would move back to Guernsey in a flash, I tell you. This sort of behaviour; this sort of approach to life, is sorely missed in today's world.

[Vulpix]

Settle must be an "hideously white™" town .

[Oresai]

It is amazing to think that there are areas where people can still entrust their livelihoods and stock to the decent passer-by without fear of crime.

It`s the same here. The only reason we don`t put out honesty boxes, even in summer, is because we`re prone to gales and if you don`t tie everything down it tends to end up on neighboring islands!
(thinks of the laundry from my outdoor washing line that I had to rescue from munching sheep once...)
Here, we go out and leave our doors unlocked and our homes remain safe. We don`t lock our car doors likewise. Often, I am absentminded and leave my purse behind in the local shop. When I remember it (if the shopkeeper hasn`t phoned to remind me first) I go back and it`s still there, untouched.
And yes, we`re a white island.
The trouble we get is rare and so remarkable as to be retained in local folk memory
and sadly, always comes with incomers and tourists.

[Vulpix]

I hope you don't try that in London ...

Often, I am absentminded and leave my purse behind in the local shop.

[Oresai]

It`s the bane of old age and multi tasking (whoever said women were good at that lied!), I get more absent minded as time goes on.
I have visited London three times, once while on the Miners Rally back in the early nineties, each time I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of people, the noise, the press and constant bustle of crowds..walked along Oxford street just before Christmas and could barely move, damn what a scary experience.
Am out of my depth in cities, have to admit, and have genuine admiration for folks who can live in them.

[Freomæg]

Am out of my depth in cities, have to admit, and have genuine admiration for folks who can live in them.

Me too! I live near to London and visit friends there quite often, but despite having a girlfriend who lived there for three years and many friends who moved there, I've been adamant that I'll never do it. Honestly, I can't. When I go there I'm struck with agoraphobia and extreme energy-exertion from being on edge.

Whilst "hideously white" towns are obviously safer, I'd like to make note of a time I used a cash machine in the multi-ethnic town of Reading and managed to leave my £10 note behind. As I walked away, a young black fella who'd been in the queue behind me chased me down to give me back my tenner. He could've easily pocketed it and I'd have never known. That moment still prevents me from adopting any kind of racist worldview. I don't see honesty in white towns as being due to an absence of non-whites, but rather due to the communal unity that arises from that. I'm sure all-Asian towns in Pakistan are equally as safe.

[stormlord]

It's nice that there are still places like that in England, people forget that until the 1950's we were the most law abiding people on Earth. I remember reading an old American comment from the 1950's expressing shock at the fact that there were less murders in England every year than in a small American city; now our violent crime is worse.

[Beorn]

The late 40s and 50s were busy and culture changing moments.

One, in particular, would have an impact still felt today. wolverhamptonarchives

[Allenson]

Nice story and one that reminds me a bit of the farmstands around here. Many times, the farmstand will be unamanned and they'll just leave a cash box on a table and trust that the folks buying a head of lettuce of a few tomatos will eave the proper amount in the box...