What Grandad got up to in France 1939

I have just found a picture taken of a Hienkel HE111 shot down by my grandfathers anti aircraft battery in St. Asaph, France 1939. He was later transfered to Hong Kong where he was captured by the Japanese, then torpedoed by an American submarine USS Grouper while aboard the prison ship Lisbon Maru in 1942 on its way to Japan. 1,816 prisoners were aboard, and as a direct result of this action 820 were lost. Grandad was a good swimmer and made it to land, but was recaptured and spent the rest of the war as a Japanese prisoner of war. He refused to take any medals - and never spoke of his ordeal. He was a very quiet man, and died suddenly on valentines day dancing with Grandma. A great way to go for Grandad - not so good for Grandma!

British Army strike back?

Wednesday night

at the

Aldershot Military Rugby Stadium

1915hrs

British Army v South African Defence Forces

It's not over 'til the Army say it's over!

Police investigating a burglary in Farnborough have released an e-fit of a man they would like to speak to.
At around 5pm on Tuesday, October 16, a man claiming to be from the water board gained entry to an address in Sand Hill after telling the elderly occupants he needed to check their supply.
While the man engaged the pensioners in conversation, it’s believed a second man entered the flat and stole £1,000.
Officers have now released an e-fit of the bogus caller.
He is described as:
Dark European
Average height
Slim
Short dark hair
Spoke in broken English
Wore a dark fleece
PC Christopher Thoday, of Farnborough police station, said: “I would ask anyone who recognises the person in the e-fit to contact us as soon as possible.
“I would also ask anyone with any information about this incident to contact police.”
Hampshire Constabulary offers the following Safer Homes advice to avoid becoming a victim of this sort of crime:
Burglars can fool you into thinking they are genuine callers. Don't be the one who invites them in. If in doubt, keep them out!

• Stop – are you expecting anyone to call on you? Do you know the person at the door? Don’t be misled by what appear to be genuine reasons for calling on you.
  


• Check – A genuine caller will carry identification and will be happy to wait outside while you check it. Remember to source your own number for the company they are claiming to be from, don’t accept a number from the caller.
  


• Chain – fit a door chain or spy hole so that you can speak to callers or check who they are without opening the door fully.

If you turn anyone away from your home because they could not provide you with a genuine reason for being there, or you are suspicious of callers in your area, contact the police.
Anyone with any information about this incident can contact PC Thoday at Farnborough police station on 0845 045 45 45 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Witch spotted in Farnborough

Hampshire Police Advert - shame about the exhaust !!

Rugby World Cup

Well done to South Africa - they were the best team this year.
Our alledged try was not, and correctly disallowed, and we gave away too many penalties.
That said - after an awful start to the tournament England really did well to get to the final.

And when all said and done - our rugby team has done better than our over paid spoilt, ignorant, bad mannered, foul mouthed, England football team ever will.

Definition of Globalisation - sent to me by a resident (thank you)

Question: What is a good example of Globalization?
Answer: Princess Diana's death.

Question: How come?

Answer:

An English princess with
an Egyptian boyfriend
crashes in a French tunnel,

driving a German car
with a Dutch engine,
driven by a Belgian
who was drunk on Scottish whisky,
followed closely by Italian Paparazzi,
on Japanese motorcycles;
treated by an American doctor,

using Brazilian medicines.
This is sent to you by a Canadian,
using American Bill Gates's technology,
and you're probably reading this on your computer, that uses Taiwanese chips,

and a Korean monitor,
assembled by Bangladeshi workers

in a Singapore plant,
transported by Indian lorry-drivers,
hijacked by Indonesians,
unloaded by Sicilian longshoremen,
and trucked to you by Mexican illegals.....

That, my friends, is Globalization!

Elderly couple victims of distraction burglars

Police are appealing to anyone who may have seen two men who stole £1,000 from an elderly Farnborough couple.
At about 5pm Tuesday, October 16, an 84-year-old man answered a knock on the door of his flat in Sand Hill, Farnborough. A man, claiming to be a water board employee, said he had been working in the flat above and need to check the water supply to prevent any leaks.
The resident admitted the caller and left the door ajar. In the kitchen, the bogus worker engaged the man and his 85-year-old wife in conversation. Police believe a second man entered the flat and took £1,000 from a wardrobe before leaving. The first caller then left.
The first visitor is described as dark European and of average height. He was slim with short dark hair and spoke broken English. He wore a dark fleece.
The couple, who were saving the cash to pay winter heating bills and to put towards funeral expenses, were left devastated by the theft.
Farnborough PC Christopher Thoday said: “I would appeal to anybody who saw anyone matching the description to contact police with details.
“This sort of crime does not happen very often in Farnborough, but, when it does, the impact on the victim is enormous.
“Anyone who gets a knock on the door from someone claiming to be from a local authority or utility company should always check identification. If they are in any doubt about the person, they should refuse entry and contact the police for advice by ringing 101.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Thoday at Farnborough on 0845 045 45 45 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.

Brown's Euro Myths exposed - Daniel Hannan MEP

Gordon Brown was every bit as wooden, perfunctory and unconvincing as expected. He trotted out all the standard claims about the Euro-constitution, but his heart wasn’t in it. He knows, and we know, and he knows that we know, that it’s piffle. Look closely and you’ll see the plumes of smoke rising from his pants.
I hate to say “I told you so” but I told you so. The EU has behaved as it always behaves. There is never a Plan B; Plan A is simply resubmitted over and over again.
Speaking after the text was initialled, Gordon Brown said it was time to lay to rest some of “the Euro-myths”. Yes, let’s, shall we?

Myth 1: We don’t hold referendums in Britain
It’s too late for this one, PM: you conceded the principle of a referendum in your last manifesto. Labour has held 25 referendums since taking office, on issues ranging from the Northen Ireland settlement to local mayors. In any case, it’s a bit rich to cite parliamentary democracy in support of a treaty that vitiates it.

Myth 2: Britain’s independent foreign policy is unaffected
Oh yeah? Then what is the EU’s common foreign policy for? Why do we need a foreign minister, a Euro-diplomatic corps, accredited European embassies? It’s odd, really, how Euro-philes say this and then, in the next breath, tell us that Europe needs a strong, united voice in the world. You can’t have it both ways, boys.

Myth 3: We will still have an independent legal system
Except for the European Public Prosecutor, the pan-European magistracy (“Eurojust”), the federal police force (“Europol”) and the EU criminal code (“corpus juris”).

Myth 4: “Our red lines are intact”
I almost didn’t put that one in, since repeating the charge, even in order to refute it, is playing Labour’s game. Still, since it is the main part of the Broon’s case, I suppose I have to address it. The truth is that all four of the “red lines” are bogus. One of them – over social security – refers to a policy that not even the maddest Euro-fanatics want to control. The other three are defined in such a way that it will always be possible to claim they have been secured. The easiest way to demonstrate this is to note that these are the same as the four “red lines” drawn when the constitution was first proposed. Oh no, hang on: there were five “red lines” in those days. The fifth had to do with preserving Britain’s budget rebate. Whoops.

Myth 5: The Reform Treaty is necessary for enlargement
Hmm. And there was me thinking that enlargement had happened in 2004.

Myth 6: The EU needs these changes in order to work
What do you mean “in order to work”, Gordon? Do you mean that, without this constitution, the crops will lie unharvested in our fields, the wheels in our factories will cease to turn? Of course not. What you mean is that it will be harder for the EU to generate more legislation. But would this be so terrible?

Myth 7: The proper place to scrutinise such legislation is in Parliament
This is one of the most annoying lies of all. Parliament cannot amend European treaties: it must accept or reject them. There is no opportunity for “scrutiny”

Myth 8: There is no alternative
Oh yes there is. The other European leaders keep threatening us with it, and no less an authority than Polly Toybnee now agrees. The alternative is some form of associate status, in between what we now have and the free-trade-only deal that Norway and Switzerland enjoy – albeit tilted more towards the latter than the former. Norway and Switzerland are the freest, most successful and most democratic countries in Europe. They export twice as much per head to the EU from outside as Britain does from inside. And you know what? Their peoples have the highest income in the world, more than twice that of EU citizens. It seems possible to survive out there somehow.

Read Daniel’s blog on
Labour’s cowardice
Europe’s energy crisis
The BBC strike
The best Republican candidate

English Rugby - how sweet

I did not want to talk about the rugby earlier, but now is definately the time to talk about it. What a contrast with our over paid, bad behaved and poorly performing England Soccer team. I knew I should have gone with my mate Bill this weekend.

Our English rugby team really have redeemed themselves after an abismal start. They have done a lot of soul searching I am sure and really dug deep and pulled back to where they should be through shere determination, dedication and hard graft.

And how sweet to beat the French in their premier statium on their home ground, the year they host the world cup. I could feel the French supporters screaming in frustration!!

I loved the match - Johnny Wilkinson delievered just when it was needed, and proved what a key player he really is and Jason Robinson has been constantly fantastic. What great roll models for our country they are, again in stark contrast to overpaid, badly behaved spoilt footballers.

Now we again find ourselves in the Rugby World Cup final, will we be playing South Africa or Argentina? I personally hope we get to play South Africa and bury them and the humiliating defeat we suffered against them at the beginning of this tornament.

Well done English Rugby

Best Paramotor Video ever

Tory Party Conference 2007

There has been much talk about the conference this year, with the impending election our unelected Prime Minister Brown will not call. Our leader David Cameron gave a speech from the heart which comes as a breath of fresh air in these days of carefully spun and read scripted speeches by the other political leaders.

However, for me the speech of the conference belongs to George Osborne - a pure stroke of genius and a speech that teaches us that keeping to some of the central core values of conservatism strikes a cord with the Britain. We must not stray from being the party that cuts and reduces taxation. The brilliance of the Inheritance tax adjustment to £1 million and abolishing stamp duty for most first time buyers - funded by charging non domiciles (foreigners working and benefiting from living here without contributing a penny) is beautiful in its financial simplicity and sense of justice. Red faced Labour ministers desperate to cast aspersions on the calculations by trying to suggest fewer non domiciles than the 150,000 applied by the conservatives has only made their faces more crimson, as it turns out George Osborne took a very cautious figure as the number suggested by some experts was about 200,000. He was also astute enough to suggest the figure charged would be "about" £25,000, which also gives him flexibility.

Somehow I just do not trust Labour Ministers when they try and give us accurate figures for foreign residents. Much like asking a dodgy second hand car salesman for an accurate mileage on one of his cars.

That brings me to other core values we need to remember. Protecting our borders, supporting business, encouraging self reliance, being hard on crime. I hope the shadow front bench will follow the lead of George Osborne and come up with fresh new ideas of modernising these too. I am sure David Davis our Shadow Home Secretary will rise to the challenge and with William Hague our Shadow Foreign Secretary, we are not short of intellect and imagination to come up with the killer punches that will ensure the party does not just benefit from Labours failures but becomes a party that reflects the heart and aspirations of Britain.

What our troops have to face - remember when you are out driving next. (I think his language can be excused)

Outrage over the Red Arrows

I recieved this from my fellow Tory Councillor Alan Ferrier and totally agree with him:

Dear All
Where is the Britishness Brown talked about are we not proud of our achievements anymore the finest display team in the world being told they cannot perform in this country because they may upset foreigners this really hacks me off....
The world-famous Red Arrows have been banned from appearing at the 2012 London Olympics because they are deemed "too British". Organisers of the event say that the Arrows military background might be "offensive" to other countries taking part in the Games. The display team have performed at more than 4000 events worldwide, but the Department of Culture, Media and Sport have deemed the display team "too militaristically British". Red Arrows pilots were said to be "outraged", as they had hoped to put on a truly world class display for the Games, something which had never been seen before. Being axed from a British-based event for being "too British" is an insult - the Arrows are a symbol of Britain. The Red Arrows have been excellent ambassadors for British overseas trade, as they display their British-built Hawk aircraft all over the world. The Arrows performed a short flypast in 2005 when the winning bid was announced, but their flypast at the Games was to have been truly spectacular. It is to be hoped that common sense prevails. If you disagree with this decision, sign the petition on the link below
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/RedArrows2012/?ref=redArrows2012

Cllr Clifford says: I have never heard of any complaints about the Red Arrow presence at the "International" Air Show held here in Farnborough every other year, which is not a military show, but a world stage for aviation business. Why are so many British people in authority so ashamed to "fly the flag". We are unique in the world, and one of the most un patriotic countries I know. I think we should all fly the Union Jack a lot more often, it is a beautiful flag and one that represents "union" and is a standard of the mother of many democracies throughout the world. So I hope we see the Red Arrows and lots of Union Jacks.

Empress Conservatives Meeting

3 October 2007

Last night Empress Conservatives had their regular (every 2 months or there abouts) meeting to discuss the ward and what the councillors are doing and need to do. We met for just an hour and a half 8pm to 9.30pm. Our next meeting is 27th November. The agenda was as follows:

1. Welcome (especially the new faces)

2. Update from last meeting.

3. Report of our successful Garden Party held last month.

4. Finance and membership update.

5. Key issues/events in Farnborough including a review of plans of developments taking place in the Town.

6. Feedback on how we are doing locally and nationally as a party.

7. Appointment of a sub group to select our Councillor candidate for 2008 (5 places)

8. Any other matter you want to raise.

Topics that came up included unhappiness with parking charges in a town centre that needed help not more charges. The good work and progress that has been made with the police - which is down to the good local beat officers we have (Lee and Bev). And a lively discussion on getting the balance right with green issues and other political priorities. The councillors reported on what they were doing, and were given some assignments by the committee to take up with the Council.

We had 7 residents in attendance plus councillors.

If you would like to join the party and join our committee please let me know.

Empress Community Safety Partnership

Tonight we had the first public meeting of the Empress Community Partnership. The two beat officers Lee Jefferes and Bev Woodhead did a presentation showing what had been achieved over the last year.

MINUTES OF THE EMPRESS WARD COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP (EWCP) OPEN PUBLIC FORUM

Held on Tuesday 2 October 2007 at 1900 hours at the offices of Rushmoor Borough Council, Farnborough, Hampshire

1. Welcome and Introduction by Cllr David CLIFFORD and PC Lee Jeffers (Beat Manager).

PC Lee Jeffers advised that he would be updating on issues raised at the first meeting of this Partnership Forum, held on 15 February 2007. He would also welcome notification of any new concerns.

PC Lee Jeffers gave an overview of role of the partnership and listed the current membership.


2. Community concerns raised at meeting on 15 February

These included:
Anti-social behaviour around Cove Green;
Anti-social behaviour around \Farnborough Town Centre;
Cycling offences around Empress Ward.

3. ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AROUND COVE GREEN:

AIM: To reduce anti-social behaviour and replace with acceptable youth activities

ACHIEVED:

Section 30 Dispersal Order
Since the Notices of this Order had been put up, in the early months between February and June no groups had needed to be dispersed. As the youths started their summer break from school towards the end of July and into August 2007, it was necessary to curb nuisance behaviour by enforcing a total of 28 dispersals in the whole of the dispersal area. As a result of the positive effect it had on the nuisance problem the current Order was renewed up to February 2008,

INTERVENTION

Increased: Police patrols, alcohol seizures, regular review of reported occurrences.
Repositioning of CCTV camera on Cove Green completed.
Youth activities: A suitable location had been identified on Cove Green for a mini hard standing football arena with youth seating area, as requested by the youth using the recreation ground. The local residents have been spoken too by Cllr Clifford and the response has been in favour of the proposal. The proposal is now back with Rushmoor Borough Council for advancing the planning stages.
Consultation was still required in relation to lighting and whether it was required or not.

Cllr Clifford shared the information that the area originally mooted was between the tennis courts and the allotments but local residents had vehemently opposed this, thus a more acceptable site was located.

Cllr Clifford noted that it was heartening that on at least one occasion, youngsters themselves had reported an incident of drug-taking by individuals in Cove Green area.


4. ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR FARNBOROUGH TOWN CENTRE

AIM: to reduce anti-social behaviour and replace with acceptable youth activities

ACHIEVED:

Section 30 Dispersal Order – similar comments as for Cove Green;
Towards Safer Car Parks – KPI installed “mosquito” sirens in car park staircases (pitch of these sirens means that only 13-18 year olds are likely to hear them), which appears to have reduced nuisance problems in the car park. Longer-term solution agreed to increase lighting, improve CCTV and use reflective paint to internal walls. RBC was engaging with supermarkets in relation to abandoned shopping trolleys and have agreed to take formal actions.
Police patrols had been out in the town during evenings, working towards non-confrontational dialogue
Subsidised activities that occurred over the last 6 months, ten-pin bowling and Wednesday party events had offered youths congregating around the Town Centre, alternative fun activities.
New social venue for local youths almost complete for opening. This was positioned in an area between the Police Station and the Community Centre.

Cllr Clifford noted that there had been a great improvement in the area; he felt that much of this was thanks to having 2 pro-active beat officers.

5. CYCLING OFFENCES IN EMPRESS WARD

AIM: To encourage safe cycling, implement education/training to young cyclists, increase safe cycle routes in Empress Ward and reduce cycle offences.

ACHIEVED:

Two Police Officers and four PCSOs had been trained to tutor cycling proficiency courses and partnership cycling proficiency courses had so far been agreed in principle to be run at 7 Junior Schools in Farnborough.

Information Notices (reminding cyclists as to the meanings of various cycling warning and information signs had been circulated within EWCP and handed out at relevant local venues (including higher education establishments).

Meetings were being held with RBC Highways, input taken from the Public, Police, Councillors, EWCP etc, and a Cycle Plan was currently in progress including ideas for cycle routes. In relation to the short term solution of enforcement, 74 £30 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) had been issued, mainly in Union Street and Prospect Road.
Cycle route along Union Street had been agreed by Hampshire County Council.

6. ANY OTHER MATTERS

(a) Cllr Brian PARKER - KFC extension of business hours / Nuisance / Cycling on pavements along Victoria Road.
Action: Rushmoor licensing officers compiling an objection to KFC extension in relation to complaints received from local residents. Awaiting an update from the application. Cycling on pavements in this area will be looked at by PC 1145 Jeffers and WPC 744 Woodhead under Operation Encouragement as with the current problem at Union Street.
(b) Cllr Mike SMITH - Concerns raised over Cove Green, ‘What if Youth activity creates a problem’?
Action: Cllr Clifford stated it would need to be reviewed if the youth area is not successful.
(c) Mrs HUNT - Rectory Road / Coleford Bridge Road – traffic complaint / Parking Rectory Road.
Action: Cllr Clifford to raise parking issues with Highways at RBC. Traffic matters to be raised by WPC 744 Woodhead with Roads Policing Unit for targeted patrols. (Area may be considered as next community concern?)
(d) Mrs PHELPS - Dukes Court nuisance problem still present / vehicle nuisance / Asda / security of premises issue with main door.
Action: Nuisance problem still under targeted patrols by PC 1145 Jeffers and WPC 744 Woodhead under Operation Jacobsen. Security of main door to be raised with KPI by PC 1145 Jeffers in support of residents. (Area around Dukes Court may be considered as next community issue?)
(e) Mr WICKENS – Debate whether meters are necessary on Prospect Road / Orchard Road and the knock on effect into surrounding roads.
Action: Cllr Clifford to raise this concern with RBC Highways in relation to the knock on effect, especially in Marrowbrook Lane.
(f) Mr WICKENS – Concerns of future potential flood threat.
Action: Mr WICKENS to raise this concern with the Environment Agency.
(g) Mrs JONES - Lighting on car park pay meters at Farnborough Leisure Centre.
Action: PC 1145 Jeffers to raise this concern with Mike Bamber at RBC car parks for immediate repairs
(h) Mrs JONES –Advice sought on the nuisance problems at the entrance to the leisure centre.
Advice: PC 1145 Jeffers stated that the first port of call should be by Town link radio to RBC CCTV so that any problems can be immediately recorded for evidence. If staff feel threatened then they should then call 999.


DATE OF NEXT BUSINESS MEETING
The date of the next meeting, planned for January 2008, would be notified.