TWENTY YEARS AGO: Marking the Millennium in Boston

While it was frequently pointed out at the time that the new millennium would not begin until the end of the year 2000, worldwide people embraced midnight on December 31, 1999, as the moment when one group of 1,000 years gave way to the next.

‘Flash, bang ... what a night!’ read the Standard headline in its round-up of New Year’s Eve ‘99 in Boston.

The piece saw millennium revellers commended for their behaviour on the night.

Insp Alec Wood, town sector inspector, said: “There was a very nice family atmosphere throughout Boston and very little trouble. We only dealt with two or three domestic incidents, but that was it.

“It was in fact a lot less busy than a normal Saturday night and the atmosphere was better.”

Problems faced by police in past New Year’s celebrations were overcome by people being more intent on enjoying themselves, he explained.

“We have had trouble in the past with people trying to climb the lamp stand in the Market Place, but this year, the small crowd that was gathered around it went off to watch the impressive firework display.”

Police fears that mounds of debris would be left behind by revellers in the town centre were swept away by people ‘being very sensible’, he said: adding: “There was a little bit of broken glass left around the ‘five lamps’ at midnight, but a lot less than usual, which meant it could all be swept up in no time.

“It was clear that people who came into Boston did so with the sole intention of enjoying themselves.

“Everybody behaved impeccably and I can only thank them for that.”

“The landlords across the town were also very sensible and handled the opening hours situation extremely well. People seemed to respect the wishes of landlords all over town in terms of when they wanted to close.”