Bits and Pieces

Now that we no longer have Top of the Pops to look forward to on a Thursday I have had to choose an alternative form of recreation. Now the highlight of the day is reading my copy of the local weekly newspaper, The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, highlights from which can be found on-line here

http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/

and here

http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/

It’s always interesting to see the hatches, matches and despatches (births, marriages and deaths!). Sadly the older I get the more names I recognise amongst the despatches. This week’s edition reports the sad demise of Nicky James. Probably unknown to most but his claim to fame lies in the music business as having been one of those responsible for the forming of both The Moody Blues and The Move, both very successful bands from the 60s and 70s originating from Birmingham. Nicky lived in Wiltshire and died at the relatively young age of 64 after a six-month battle with cancer. I didn’t know you, but rest in peace mate.

Perhaps we should be grateful that the paper also includes news of a modern day music “star” who has moved into the area. Yes, apparently Pete Doherty has moved into Back Lane, Marlborough and has been seen out and about at various locations in and around the town. This grubby “rock star” has moved out of London to comply with his bail conditions. Perhaps if those responsible for sentencing at one of his numerous drug-related court appearances had had the bottle Doherty would have been locked up like he deserves to be.

Much of the news in the paper is not that interesting to most and consists of minor local issues. However from time to time the local hacks attempt to venture into the world of real journalism and write sensational stories that really aren’t, but us local yokels apparently like this sort of thing. Have a look here for an item placed on the BNP Regional Voices pages recently

http://regionalnews.bnp.org.uk/bnp-south-west-england-region/hate-saucers-seen-over-wiltshire-pubs-exclusive_1562.html

This week there is another scoop! A mother is refusing to send her 6 year-old daughter to school in the taxi provided under contract by Wiltshire County Council as the taxi firm 24/7 is owned by BNP councillor Mick Simpkins. A nicer bloke you couldn’t wish to meet but apparently the mother doesn’t want her daughter in a car with a man but also "Doesn't want her daughter exposed to that sort of thinking". (I might suggest to Mick that he refuses to transport telepathic passengers!). I know Mick can be quite persuasive but I am not quite sure his powers of persuasion would convince a 6 year-old that she should vote BNP when she grows up. I wonder how this woman would feel if she lived in Leeds, for example, where I seem to recall from when I lived there ten years ago, that the majority of the taxi drivers were Muslims?

Perhaps that would be ok……