I was asked recently if I knew the meaning of the three stars that appear over a boar's head on the Swineshead Bowling Club badge. I did not know the answer and if anyone out there does so, please would they let me know.

However, I have discovered that the boar's head appears on a few houses locally in the form of a plaque, without the stars but with the Latin inscription 'per utilitas' underneath it. As they are on old buildings I wondered if maybe this plaque could be an old firemark for insurance purposes. These were common in the nineteenth century and proved to the fire fighters that you were a paid up member of their insurance company.

If anyone has any comments on this theory I would be pleased to receive them.