Anger over Holbeach parade and annoyance over Brexit in this week's letters
Tarred with the disease of complacency
The news has arrived here in Sydney (that Holbeach Parish Council is not holding a marching Remembrance parade) and I was not sure it was factual... until I saw the YouTube video of Harold Payne addressing the Holbeach Parish Council.
Let me state here that your words echoed around the world, finding ears of disbelief in several locations in Australia.
Already 19 members of our ex-service association have made contact with me to express their dismay, disappointment and even outrage.
Us veterans of the Australian Defence Forces regularly visit your location in Holbeach because of the excellent work you carry out in support of those surviving veterans of both World Wars (1914-1919 and 1939-1945).
When the call to arms sounded in every corner of the British Empire, along with the ‘Lest We Forget’ ethic you demonstrate each year since we first met in 2001, we applaud you.
Your council seems to be tarred with that terrible disease of complacency that comes from never having to been put in harm’s way. Perhaps you should have reminded them that the freedoms now enjoyed in UK have been hard won... at a terrible cost of past generations.
As many of our members have been in lockdown here in Australia for much of 2021 we have not been able to travel even to our close mates in New Zealand.
So I will again lead a group of our members to UK in June 2022 as we pay tribute to those who never returned home. The Normandy Beaches being just one of the locations we will visit.
Harold, take comfort that your work has been a great comfort to many from Australia and New Zealand who have family in graves that they will never visit, because you are their proxy.
God Bless you Harold, thank you for your commitment these many years. We will not forget you.
Allan Miles
OAM Chief Executive Officer Operation Pilgrimage Group
An open letter to Sir John Hayes MP
Sir John Hayes, what is happening in South Holland? We’re in a total mess – more than any other part of the UK, after a big vote to leave Europe, led by your good self.
We have a major shortage of land workers, land produce left unpicked, shortage of lorry drivers, food left to rot in the ground. Do I blame them for returning home, no, because they needed reassurance.
The government said , don’t panic, we have plenty of fuel (but no lorry drivers). What happens?
I don’t need to say. As soon as the words ‘don’t panic’ are used, chaos! Sheep come to mind! Don’t this government ever learn? At least things have settled down on fuel, all the old fuel stock has now been sold.
I think you said we had to leave The European Union, we then can make our own UK rules and laws, we will not look back.
Look back! Should you have not thought more about this before misleading the voters? How many regret taking your advice by voting Brexit?
Sit back and look at the rest of your area and voters!
What are you and the Government doing to address these ongoing problems?
David Barfoot
Shepeau Stow
