The Tripe Marketing Board has moved swiftly to deny suggestions that the closure of its Barnsley office represents an insult to the people of Yorkshire.
Speaking earlier today, TMB chairman Sir Norman Wrassle said that the decision to close the office had been a “purely commercial” one and should in no way be taken to infer that the TMB was turning its back on the county.
“The office actually closed in March, but nobody noticed until a neighbouring business complained to environmental health,” Sir Norman said, adding “A member of staff who had been asked to work from home had inadvertently left a supply of tripe in a fridge, but had failed to make arrangements to pay the electricity bill in his absence.”
After a lengthy investigation, the TMB concluded that it would be cheaper to close the office than to arrange for a deep clean.
“We’re naturally sorry to be losing our Yorkshire base – particularly in the run up to Yorkshire Day on 1 August, but I am sure folk from that county will admire our approach to cost-cutting and will understand,” Sir Norman said.
In the meantime, Sir Norman advised Yorkshire tripe-lovers to dust off copies of TMB Books’ Forgotten Yorkshire and Parts of North Derbyshire and Humberside in readiness to celebrate the great day.