Vicar who hit out at paperback sex

Back in March 1963 the vicar of Holy Trinity in the town launched an attack on paperback books which had suggestive pictures on their covers.

The Courier reported his speech at a civic service under the headline ‘Evil on the bookstalls’.

The Rev E J C Haselden spoke about the problems of 1960s society. He said: “Taking people for granted breaks up marriages, produces delinquents and foments strikes.

“There is a special responsibility in this matter for all who are in public positions and who influence others.

“One of the most powerful influences today, despite TV, is still the printed word. The image on the TV screen is a momentary flash - books and pictures can be pored over.

The vicar went on: “On our bookstalls there are to be found paperbacks in scores with lurid and suggestive pictures on the cover and titles which even suggest sexual perversion.

“One fast selling paperback book advertised itself on the cover as containing realistic descriptions of scenes that were once considered indescribable- sexual episodes written with the competence of an expert. The confessions of the chief character made those of Rousseau sound as chaste as the diary jottings of a nun.

“It is almost impossible to exaggerate the damage done to the young whose passions are sometimes set alight by evil suggestions.

“Publishers and sellers of these books regard their public as merely to be exploited. No town would tolerate an open drain in its streets. These paperbacks are an equal source of pollution.”

As if to illustrate his point about young people, the Courier at the time also reported the case of a 13-year-old Warwick boy who went out at night grabbing girls and trying to kiss them. He was bound over for 12 months by magistrates to keep the peace.