Miss Evelyn Steel was summoned to court in July 1924 for causing an obstruction by leaving her motor car unattended in the High Street, Bideford, Devon. Rather than face the music in person, reported the Exmouth and Plymouth Gazette, Miss Steel sent a letter providing an excuse, which was read out by the exasperated chairman: “The lady writes that she was busy eating ice creams at a café. I daresay they were extra cold and took a long time.” He fined her 10s, and she was free to eat ice creams another day.
Ice cream has become synonymous with summer in the UK; many of us relish tucking into an iconic 99 and eating
