Wednesday 30 January 2008

New Park Toilets??


A resident sent this in. I know this is how many voters feel about the politicians they elect. But not here in Empress.

Friday 25 January 2008

Four things you didn't know about your mobile phone.

FOUR THINGS YOU PROBABLY NEVER KNEW YOUR MOBILE PHONE COULD DO

There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do with it:
1. Emergency. The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile; network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out.
2. Have you locked your keys in the car? Does your car have remote keyless entry? This may come in handy some day. Good reason to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their mobile phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other "remote" for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk). Editor's Note: It works fine! We tried it out and it unlocked our car over a mobile phone!"
3. Hidden Battery Power. Imagine your mobile battery is very low. To activate, press the keys*3370# Your mobile will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your mobile next time.
4. How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone? To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: * # 0 6 # A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. When your phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code.They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.This is the kind of information people don't mind receiving, so pass it on to your family and friends

This is the place to have a baby

Maternity services at Frimley Park Hospital have been rated the best in the London and south east region by NHS watchdog the Healthcare Commission.

The trust was given the top “best performing” rating for its midwifery care in the Healthcare Commission review, which focused on whether trusts provided a high quality, value-for-money maternity service.

The review scored 25 key indicators covering care from when the mother first experiences maternity services to about 10 days after birth.

Frimley Park was one of only 38 trusts nationally that had an overall result of best performing. Its average score for the 25 indicators was the best in the London south east region which includes Surrey, Sussex and Kent.

Among the areas in which Frimley Park scored full marks was its antenatal screening programme. Women are offered a combined scan and a blood test which enables the risk of their baby having Downs syndrome to be calculated.

The review also incorporated the results of a survey of mothers who gave birth in the unit*, eight out of ten of whom rated their care as “good” or “excellent”.

Frimley’s head of midwifery Adrienne Price said: “We are delighted with the results and we realise it is the contribution of all women in our care who have given us our excellent mark.

“The report has been very helpful in highlighting those areas where we would wish to develop services. For example our patients told us the homeliness of our delivery rooms could be better [score 2 out of 5] and we are pleased to report that we are currently refurbishing and expanding our maternity facilities.

“People today want individual and quality care. Our board of directors have recognised our reputation and have invested in our future. For example we are currently recruited six more midwives.”

Chris Ball, general manager for women and children’s services, said: “Adrienne and her staff have worked very hard to provide the best possible service to women in our population.
“The secret of our success is leadership, motivation, supporting women, being flexible and listening to their views.

“Everyone works as a team. From the executive director to the housekeeper, we adopt a team approach to ensure that the women in our care receive a high quality service. We also look to constantly improve and this review will help us plan our future priorities.”

Cllr Clifford says: I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that the Royal Family are now starting to use Frimley Park? The Duchess of Wessex has had two children here now. The "powers that be" could not allow such noble offspring to just be born anywhere. Whatever the reason, it is good to know local people can expect a Royal delivery at Frimley

Friday 18 January 2008

Speeding? - mind the dog in the back

My thanks to a resident that sent this in to me today:

The other day I was pulled over for being slightly over the speed limit. After eating some humble pie I thought that the officer was about to let me off with a stiff caution....that was UNTIL HE SPOTTED MY DOG ON THE BACK SEAT

Note from Cllr Clifford: My solicitor advises me that I should state that by publishing this I in no way endorse speeding or cruelty to animals.

Tuesday 15 January 2008

First informal meeting of Farnborough Civic Society

On 15th January 2008 at 7pm a handful of residents who care about Farnborough met to discuss the formation of the Farnborough Civic Society. A constitution was discussed, and issues of concern were raised among which included:
1. The Town Centre.
2. The Airfield.
3. Farnborough's historical heritage.
4. Accessible & well maintained public footpaths & walkways. (Cove Brook / Blackwater Valley path)
5. Cove Brook.
6. Preservation of Cove Village.
7. Preservation of North Camp Village.
8. Victoria Road Cemetery.
9. Recreational Areas.
10. Traffic Management.
11. Preservation of important Street Scenes.
12. Public Art.
13. Protection of wild and natural habitat.
14. Review of Listed buildings and Hampshire Treasures
15. Ensure a local voice is heard and protected when considering development in our community.

The Civic Society will address these concerns via the following activities:
1. Reviewing all local planning applications for Farnborough, Cove and North Camp.
2. Campaigns to preserve, protect and improve local buildings of worth.
3. Awards and recognition for local examples of excellence or historic value
4. Articles in the local press and other publications
5. Working with like minded organisations and a network of other civic societies.
6. Hosting seminars and presentations to help inform and educate residents.
7. Local BlogSite

We will have another meeting on the19th February at 7pm till 9pm at Rushmoor Council Offices, and work towards an inaugural AGM held near to 23rd April 2008 (St Georges day).

Candidates are being invited to apply for the honorary posts of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer. Membership Secretary, Publicity Officer and Web Master.

We are also looking for a further 6 members to serve on the executive committee that will run the society.

Members are being sought to support this new local Society £2 for under 16 year olds, £7 adult, £10 joint, £100 Corporate. Membership fees will fund a regular newsletter, local campaigns, seminars, and local research.

Those interested should contact David Clifford, Wellington House, 40 Avenue, Farnborough, Hampshire. GU14 7BL . email: david@linkupltd.com (tel 01252 371111)

Team GB to be based in Aldershot for 2012 Olympics

The British Olympic Association (BOA) has chosen Aldershot to host Team GB’s London 2012, Pre-Olympic Games Preparation and Processing Camp. This decision was based on a proposal from a partnership comprising Aspire Defence, the Army and Rushmoor Borough Council.

All Team GB athletes are anticipated to attend the secure, residential camp for training at Aldershot’s Centre of Sporting Excellence, for acclimatisation in an environment that is similar to the Olympic Village, for focussing or for co-ordination, kitting-out and processing during early July and mid-August 2012 before being transported directly the short distance to the Olympic Village itself or direct to Olympic venues in the close vicinity.

The Army’s world class sporting facilities and accommodation at Aldershot are being managed and further developed by Carillion and KBR’s joint venture company, Aspire Defence, as part of an £12 billion MoD PFI contract to deliver and operate improved living, working and sporting facilities for 18,700 military personnel at Aldershot and across Salisbury Plain.

The facilities incorporate the Army Centre of Sporting Excellence as well as the Army School of Physical Training and have been used for training by more than twenty Olympians including ex-soldier and double Olympic Gold Medallist, Dame Kelly Holmes. The Olympic Swimming Pool complex is currently used as the permanent high performance training centre for Great Britain’s Olympic synchronised swimming squad.

Thursday 3 January 2008

Cllr Graham Tucker - best Mayor we never had.


It was not a surprise to hear today that my fellow councillor Graham Tucker who represented St John's Ward died last night, he was suffering from a serious terminal illness, but it was bitterly, bitterly sad.

Graham was elected in 1988 to Rushmoor, and represented St John's Ward in Farnborough, making him one of the longest serving councillors with 19 years service to his credit. Because of Graham's popularity amongst fellow councillors, I and other councillors took time out from our own campaigns last May to go and help in his successful and well deserved re-election campaign. This new 4 year term would have given Graham well over 20 outstanding years of public service.

I was really fond of Graham. He was very much "his own man" and a dedicated Rushmoor Councillor. He was personally supportive of me, despite it being unpopular at times and bringing him grief, which showed a real strength of character. He had a wonderful sense of humour, and duty which ideally suited him to public life. He was also very knowledgeable and understood local Government with all its complications and idiosyncrasies. It is no surprise he served in many senior positions, the latest being Cabinet member for safety and Regulation. He never got to serve as Mayor and I think he was the best mayor we never had

He will be greatly missed and is a great loss to Rushmoor which he loved. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Joan and his family of which he was immensly proud.

It was a pleasure to have rubbed shoulders all too briefly with such a nice man.
The funeral will be held at Aldershot Crematorium, Thursday January 10th at 12.30pm and afterwards at the Old Courthouse, Cove.

Eagle Radio seek feedback via survey

From: Paul Marcus[SMTP:PAUL.MARCUS@964EAGLE.CO.UK]
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 2:20:55 PM
To: David Clifford
Subject: DAB Digital Radio in Surrey and Sussex Auto forwarded by a Rule

Dear Cllr Clifford,
I thought I would write to update you on some new developments here at 96.4 Eagle Radio. Our company and MuxCo Ltd (a specialist digital radio company) are in the process of applying for a new radio licence that will bring local DAB Digital Radio to Surrey, North Sussex and West Hampshire.
This means that listeners will be able to hear local stations like our own 96.4 Eagle Radio and County Sound 1566 MW alongside stations from other operators like Mercury FM and BBC Southern Counties Radio all in digital radio quality, as well as being able to access a whole host of new radio stations.
As part of our application, we will be talking to hundreds of people from across the counties about what they would like to hear on DAB Digital Radio. We also think it is important to talk to elected representatives, like you, who come into contact with, and represent, a wide variety of different groups and individuals. We would therefore appreciate it if you could take part and complete the following short online questionnaire here:
http://muxco.surreysussex.sgizmo.com/
Your answers will help us develop our proposals and make them even more representative of the area we would like to broadcast to.
If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards
Paul Marcus
Managing Director,
96.4 Eagle Radio & County Sound 1566 MW

The Bulger Injustice

Do you remember February 1993 when a young boy of 3 was taken from a Liverpool shopping centre by two 10-year-old boys?
Jamie Bulger walked away from his mother for only a second. Jon Venables took his hand and led him out of the mall with his Friend Robert Thompson. They took Jamie on a walk for over 2 and a half miles, along the way stopping every now and again to torture the poor little boy who was crying constantly for his mummy. Finally they stopped at a railway track where they brutally kicked him, threw stones at him, rubbed paint in his eyes, pushed batteries up his anus and cut his fingers off with scissors. Other mutilations were inflicted but not reported in the press.
What these two boys did was so horrendous that Jamie's mother was forbidden to identify his body. They then left his beaten small body on railway tracks so a train could run him over to hide the mess they had created. These two boys, even being boys, understood what they did was wrong, hence trying to make it look like an accident.
This week Lady Justice Butler-Sloss has awarded the two boys anonymity for the rest of their lives when they leave custody with new identities. They will also leave custody early only serving just over half of their sentence. They are being relocated to Australia to live out the rest of their lives. They disgustingly and violently took Jamie's life away and in return they each get a new life! Please!! If you feel as strongly as we do, that this Is a grave miscarriage of justice .
repost this whole bulletin and add your name at the end.If you are the 1000th person to sign, please forward this e-mail to: cust.ser.cs@gtnet.gov.uk attention Lady Justice Butler-Sloss.

1. M & L. Grisold, Wantirna; Australia

.... lots more Australians

262. David A Robar Quebec, Canada

263. DanielaViolo-Robar Quebec , Canada

264. Daniel J Robar, NSW Australia

.. then more Australians!!

355. James Freeman, Cheltenham , England

356. Chris Bailey Salford, England

..some English

400. stuart padgett, sydney , australia

423. K Farrant, Christchurch , New Zealand

434. L. Smalley , Kent , United Kingdom

... some English

590 Ahmed D. Bayat, Karachi Pakistan>

591 Nadim H. Homsi, Jordan>

592 Hala N. Mukhar, Jordan>

593 L Jowell, South Africa>

594 R Walden, South Africa>

... more Australians!!

620 C. Montgomery, London , United Kingdom>

... more Australians

638 Jayne Fairbairn, Auckland, NZ>

.. more New Zealanders

643. Pam Rintoul, Grande Prairie, Canada>

.. lots of Canadians.

704 Georgia Quattrone, Edmond Oklahoma>

... lots of Americans

743. Mattyy - Australia>

... yet more Australians

820. Sheila Dunham , Brantford Ontario,

... more Canadians

866. Sue Stoneham, New Zealand

867. Sue Lind, New Zealand.

868 Maxine Wade, Australia

869. C.Goodger, Australia

870. Dee Carey, Hampshire, England

... a few more English

882 David Clifford, Farnborough, England


Farnborough Arson

Detectives are appealing for information and witnesses following an arson at an address in Farnborough during the early hours of New Year’s Day.
At 2.30am, the police and fire brigade were called to Caswell Close, Farnborough following reports of a fire in an upper room of a multi-occupancy property.
The 19-year-old occupant was away from the premises, but other residents were taken to Frimley Park Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire is being investigated but officers believe it was started deliberately. Extensive damage has been caused to the upper floor of the property.
An 18-year-old man from Farnborough and a 20-year-old man from Farnborough have been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
Detective Constable Jo Brocklehurst, from Aldershot CID, said: “Fortunately the occupant of the premises wasn’t at home, but extensive damage has been caused to the property.
“This was an isolated incident which could have been far more serious with potentially fatal consequences.
“We urgently need to hear from anyone with information about who was responsible, or anyone who may have seen people acting suspiciously in the area, to contact us.”
Anyone with any information should contact Det Con Brocklehurst at Aldershot CID on 0845 045 45 45 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
~Ends~

Tuesday 1 January 2008

An e-fit of Farnborough Attacker


Police in Farnborough are appealing for witnesses after an attempted assault took place in King George V Park during the early hours of Christmas day morning.
A 17-year-old girl was approached by a man in the park and pushed towards the pavilion at around 12.50am on Tuesday, December 25.
After being pushed the girl scratched the man on the face and ran off.
Officers have now released an e-fit of the man, who is described as:

White
30 to 40 years old
5ft 10ins tall
Average build
Bald head with slight stubble growth
Distinctive light blue eyes
Wearing a windproof light coloured jacket, zipped up to the chin
The man is believed to have let two Staffordshire bull terrier dogs off their leads, shortly before the incident.

PC Christopher Thoday, of Farnborough police station, said: “It is possible the motive behind this incident was sexual, although no actual sexual assault took place.
“The victim managed to scratch her attacker and he would have several cuts to his face. Did anybody you know come home during the early hours of Christmas Day with cuts to their face?
“Farnborough is a safe community and incidents of this nature are very rare. However we would remind people to be aware of their surroundings particularly when walking through the park alone at night.”
Anyone with information about the incident or who recognises the e-fit should contact PC Thoday at Farnborough police station on 0845 045 45 45 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
~Ends~

Happy New Year

My thanks to a resident that sent me the following e-card:

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=1398081266663&source=jl999