Humanitarian Assistance
The Royal Marines (RM), In particular among the UK-Armed Forces, have demonstrated a high degree of
effectiveness when engaged in Humanitarian operations. In juxtaposition with the desire of politicians to
continue to commit 0.7% of the Nation’s income to Foreign Aid, the alleged proposal to cut the RM order of
battle seems illogical. It might also be remembered that the RM are more than capable of performing other
roles which perhaps represents a better use of Taxpayers’ money than subsidising Charities that too often
appear not to be fit for purpose.
Linguistic Correctness
Today a Radio 4 Woman’s Hour interviewee made reference to a female actor. The challenge of being
linguistically politically correct continues apace and, presumably, we must now adjust our language to embrace
such terms as female waiters and female barpersons, after all why use one word when two will do?
A BRIEFED PRESIDENT
President Trump is frequently criticised for shooting-from-the-hip but is now widely condemned for using
speaking notes at this week’s gun control meeting. Regardless of how seemingly inane or obvious the
questions were, it is encouraging to know that the President does prepare himself for such
events. Superimposed on such an encouraging sign are the further hopes that future notes are not only
constructed by his Staff, rather than a product of his own imagination, but also that he actually reads them!
Meddling in Democracy
How odd that while there are howls of protest at the alleged interference in Western Democracies by Russia,
billionaire George Soros, by virtue of his wealth, is able to exert significant influence over the democratic
process across international borders.
Missing Pip
Gordon Robertson wonders where the missing pip has gone, particularly during the Today programme. My
guess is that the loquacious Mr Humphrys has purloined it.
Social Mobility
As a long time student of your Obituaries’ page, I have concluded that the Post War liberators of social mobility
were service in the armed forces and/or a Grammar school education. Although a return to some form of
National Service is most unlikely, the creation of more Grammar Schools is not only achievable but desirable.
White House Rivals
In his analysis of US Presidential campaigns (ST 25 September), Matt Frei described Ronald Reagan as an “oily
ex-actor”. Whatever criticisms that might be made of Reagan, being oleaginous would not be top of my list;
indeed, he was a man of considerable charm. In discussing the Reagan versus Carter Presidential race Frei
overlooked two crucial factors that helped the former’s bid for office. First, Regan was prepared to debate with
the third challenger – Senator John B. Anderson – whereas Carter declined. Second, Carter’s image was one of
an exhausted micro manager with, in consequence, insufficient spare capacity to handle crises – successful
leaders should always be seen to have something in reserve.
Apostrophes
When the apostrophe debate has concluded, our attention might turn to the more basic issue of spelling. In
our local high street a huge and, no doubt, costly engraved glass shop window declares that a
“Proffessional” service is offered. The inability to spell professional correctly strikes me as rather poor
marketing! 6th April
Obituary Maj Gen Bryan Colley
Your Obituary of Bryan Colley was a fitting tribute to a ‘nice’ man. I had some dealings with him and found
him to be calm, friendly and polite – not always common attributes for senior officers. My only slight niggle is
that the photograph, I believe, shows him in RMAS Officer Cadet uniform (Number 1 Dress) and not as a Young
Officer.
Hitler
Leaving aside the rather unwise comments of US Press Secretary Sean Spicer, it is ironic that any mention of
Hitler’s name creates collective apoplexy. Yet any reference to Mao Tse Tung or Joseph Stalin, whose
murderous activities far exceeded those of Hitler, attracts little, if any, comment. I wonder why? 12th April
Good Friday Marches
On Good Friday some 5-6000 Ex Armed Forces personnel politely demonstrated and marched in London,
Belfast and Glasgow as a collective display of deep dissatisfaction with the victimisation of Servicemen through
prosecutions of cases that have already been dealt with by the legal system. How odd that such a measured
approach to a perceived injustice merited no mention by the BBC’s news services. 15th April
Social Mobility
As a long time student of your Obituaries’ page, I have concluded that the Post War liberators of social mobility
were service in the armed forces and/or a Grammar school education. Although a return to some form of
National Service is most unlikely, the creation of more Grammar Schools is not only achievable but desirable.
17th April
Despising Business
Shirley Page suggests that Jeremy Corbyn despises businesses (DT Letters 21 April); such a view needs to be
challenged. As a career politician who has been blessed with a comfortable upbringing and a Grammar School
education, Mr Corbyn has had no experience of, and little contact with, business. He does, however, possess
the innate socialist skill of giving away other people’s money while remaining ignorant of its source. 21st April
Free Masons in the Military
Somehow Free Masons serving in any hierarchical organisation such as the military or the police, seems
inappropriate. An underlying principle of such organisations is that there should be a single chain of command;
there are clearly dangers in having parallel chains of command which, arguably, is akin to trying to serve two
masters. There is also the conundrum of a Lodge Member outranking his military senior which, in the case of a
not dissimilar organisation – the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB), created a disciplinary difficulty
in our unit when the Regimental Police Junior NCO outranked his fellow Lodge Member – the RSM! While not in
any way gainsaying the bravery of the many VCs from the ranks of the Masons, the fact is that, from my
experience, there were a fair number of Senior Officers who were Freemasons and it might be observed that it
is they who write the award citations. In Joe Shute’s report the claim is made that the best elements of
masonry are “self–sacrifice and honour” which, in my mind, are the fundamental qualities of any Serviceman or
woman and, for that matter, the police. 23rd April
The One Way Street of La Rue de NATO (or should I have said OTAN?)
In detailing France’s cavalier disregard for the finances of Member States, Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael
Graydon’s (DT 12 May) comments brought to mind my visit to NATO Headquarters in the late 1980s, as part of
a small, and probably insignificant, UK delegation. A major component of the meeting proved to be a
presentation by a French Colonel for which teams of simultaneous translators were provided – with a planned
rotation at twenty minute intervals. The Colonel charmed us all by stating firmly that he would give his
presentation in English, which he spoke very well. His reputation was further enhanced when he apologised for
all the wording associated with the visual aids being in French. Although, the Colonel’s common-sense
approach did not offer any financial savings, since the interpreters remained in situ throughout the entire
presentation and subsequent Q&A session, his stance did much for Anglo French relations. 12th May
Judicial Sentencing
For people like me it would be an unfortunate precedent if clever people were given leaner sentences than the
rest of us. 17th May
MOD Losses – plus ça change
During my last MOD Whitehall tour in the 1980s a 65ft antique table was stolen from Historic Room
13. Anyone who can effect such a theft from within the heart of one of the most secure buildings in the land
deserves our grudging respect. 26th July
Underground Railway
The Post Office’s underground railway, that once carried mail to Mount Pleasant closed in 2003, is now, like so
many of the nation’s utilitarian assets, merely a museum piece. Is it the case that its cargo now travels by
road exacerbating London’s congestion? Juxtaposed with the Royal Mail’s recent purchase of 100 electric vans
and the Government’s initiative to move motorists away from the combustion engine, it seems odd that the
underground railway has been condemned to history. 28th July
Expensive Democracy
The eye-watering travel claims of EU Bureaucrats and politicians should not be viewed in isolation but in the
context of similar outgoings of the UK’s national and local government. It would seem that democracy is
becoming rather expensive although many will argue that the EU is not democratic – so that’s alright then.
10th August
Queen of The Sea
Within days of the revelation that the next generation of the Royal Navy’s surface vessels would be constructed
with Swedish steel, the irony of the First Sea Lord saying that HMS Queen Elizabeth “embodies British steel
and spirit” is inescapable. 17th August
Emergency Planning
Looking at the photographs of queues of vehicles evacuating Florida, I note that the exit carriageway is packed
while the contra carriageway is empty. Is it beyond the wit of the authorities to devote the latter to the
evacuation traffic thereby avoiding twelve hour delays to the luckless escapees? 9th September
Engineering Shortage
Mr Wedderburn-Ogilvy identified three main causes for the shortage of Engineers but he omitted a rather
important factor: Pay. In terms of their contribution to our society they are relatively grossly underpaid which
may be why so many Engineering Graduates, and former practising engineers, move into the banking and
management consultancy sectors. That said, in view of recent revelations many engineers might consider a
University Vice-Chancellorship. 19th September
Wasted Vicarages
It was pleasing to read Anthony Jennings making a spirited defence of the retention of old Vicarages. However
he omitted to offer one factor in favour of not selling off such treasured assets – visitors. A visit to the
Vicarage is, for many, a slightly special event and that being so, Parishioners are likely to be unimpressed by
being entertained in a modern little box. 8th October
Radio 4 Feedback
What is the point of feedback? Editors are apparently never wrong and the best one can ever hope for from
‘management’ is: “Interesting idea” or “I hear you”. Always offered with as patronising tone.
The plain fact is that Mair’s interview with the Home Secretary was not only sneering but patronising. Mr Mair
is not nearly as amusing that he thinks he is. 13th October
Education Sector
Richard Russell (DT 25 Oct) calls for State Funding to allow for able students to attend independent school
sixth forms. In 1980 the Conservatives introduced the Assisted Places Scheme which eased the path of able
students, from an even earlier age, into the independent sector. One of Tony Blair’s most malign deeds was to
abolish the Scheme the moment he came to power in 1997. “5th October
Cambridge University
If undergraduates do not like the syllabus of Cambridge University, it seems to me they have two options;
either they should attend another university that offers a curriculum that is more agreeable to their narrow
minded thinking or they should eschew a university education altogether. It really is time for the academic
staff at Cambridge to resist the temptation to bow to the wishes of students who seek to re-write history so
that it suits their own prejudices. 26th October
Spelling
Sorry to sound pompous but it really is dispiriting that a reputable newspaper still cannot spell ‘Marshal’ (VC
article). October
HMS Queen Elizabeth
In your piece on HMS Queen Elizabeth you state that she “can carry 40 aircraft”, whereas it is my
understanding that she can carry up to 72 aircraft at maximum capacity. Must we assume the Government is
not prepared to fund this important asset to her full potential? 31st October
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