Think the Northern Rail delay is bad? Try 1825. George Stephenson has the Rocket ready, but he’s stuck in a high-speed farce against a committee convinced that 15mph will cause "spontaneous eyeball ejection."

From a clerk weaponising the wrong shade of ink and a few spelling erors to a Duke who refuses to innovate until the grouse season ends, this is Yes, Prime Minister meets Blackadder. Whether you love local history or just hate pointless meetings, come witness the story of how Britain invented the future—and then spent six months trying to find a reason to cancel it.