Just over 50 years ago, as Britain prepared to replace its 'old money' with a new fangled decimal currency, there was an urban legend abroad in many northern towns, cities and villages.

Countless people claimed to have heard, in shops, pubs, in the street, wherever, an exchange between people that went something like this:

"What do you think of this decimal money lark?"

"Not much. I don't think it'll catch on up here."

Whether or not this was a southern plot to make northerners seem dim is unknown, but what is certain is that half a century ago today, there was no getting away from decimal.

On February 15th 1971, half crowns, ten bob notes, two shilling pieces and the rest were all sent on their way into the history books.

Everyone struggled for a while: "What's that in old money?" was probably the most asked question in the land for many months.

Today, on the 50th anniversary of decimalisation, we can remind ourselves of its origins.

It was brought to Britain by Jim Callaghan, then the Chancellor of the Exchequer in Harold Wilson's first Labour government. On March 1st, 1966, during an otherwise tedious interim budget speech, Callaghan announced that a decimal currency was to be introduced almost five years later.

Some Britons talked about this for maybe a day or two, and many probably didn't concern themselves with it at all. The Dawn of Decimal was still some way off, so no point fretting about what it might be like to count money in tens and hundreds instead of twelves, twenties and two hundred and forties.

Nowadays, in a country more concerned with 'sovereignty' and whether or not it's a good thing to be like our European neighbours, I dare say the issue might have whipped up more controversy and conflict had it coincided with Brexit campaigns.

One can picture a bus with 'Three hundred and fifty million pounds, thirteen shillings and fourpence each week to the NHS' written on the side.

As the day of decimal destiny approached, the government - now under the stewardship of Conservative PM, Edward Heath - acted to persuade the public that it was a jolly good idea.

The Decimal Currency Board was created to inform, entertain and educate the public. This meant a public relations drive which included the unusual sound of popular crooner and comedian, Max Bygraves, singing a song with the hardly cryptic title, 'Decimalisation'.

On television, viewers were treated to 'Granny Gets the Point', in which the new money was explained to a confused pensioner by her smart arse grandson.

The boy who played this fictional lad will now be in his sixties and, given he had to learn scripts on the subject, we can be confident he was given a head start in the new age, and has now retired after a highly successful career in the City.

As for Grandma, she doubtless left instructions in her will that her funeral should be paid for in old money.

To mark the 50th anniversary of Decimalisation, Heswall Nub News has 50 - yes, 50! - pre-decimal lucky sixpences to give away! That's one each to 50 excited readers!

To claim your Heswall Nub News Lucky Sixpence, simply visit the Village Shop in Heswall Lower Village this week and say - in a socially distanced manner of course: "I am here to claim my Lucky Sixpence!"

See photo for Village Shop opening hours.