Guest 937- Registered: 12 May 2013
- Posts: 145
Well said, Jan. Why election year should even enter the equation, I can't fathom out. Furthest thought from my mind and you can be sure from that of Augusta Pearson's!
Guest 1334- Registered: 7 Sep 2014
- Posts: 30
Strange how politically minded people always jump on the election soap box when they have been caught out not doing the job they were elected for! From day 1 I have stated to all who signed the petition, and the numbers are still rising, it is NOT POLITICAL or racist. Its about honouring those the memorial is for. Wearing a new hat , placing a wreath and standing there for a few minutes does NOT absolve anybody of their moral duty. There is more to it than a photo opportunity. They gave all they had to give, their life, and you argue about flying a flag to honour that sacrifice. Why? What gives you or anybody else the right to deny them that honour and recognition? Have you spoken to people in the real world lately? Have you thought about how petty, self absorbed, and belittling that sounds? Your role, code of conduct, duty and moral concience should tell you you are wrong to even argue it. Talk to those who served and lost limbs, relatives, their sight, or those still serving and then tell me you are not ashamed of your callous attitude. As regards a previous posting #12 I never insulted the mayor or the town clerk, unless being up front and telling the truth is now insulting. I said nothing at the meeting I had not told them previously to their face. That courtesy has not been afforded to me by either. I do not care about politics nor do I care for politicians but I do care about our veterans, our forces, our war memorial and the Dovorians. Can you say the same? Over 3400 signatures now. How does that compare with 52 for the wavy benches? Come and stand next to me and speak to those you allegedly represent. The invitation is there. I look forward to seeing you outside by the war memorial and to listen to your explanation as to why you would deny us a flag.
Honi soit qui mal y pense
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,658
I apologise I left out the word "permanent" in my last post, a service is hardly permanent.
I think I might retire from this thread as it seems we are going round in circles with 'I am right you are wrong' attitude which will get us nowhere.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 652- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 595
I to have lost family and friends in the wars and do respect what they gave us, and have been at the services held on such days, watched the raising and lowering of the flag honouring them, to have this flying perminately seems a bit mundane to me, and I am a TRUE Dovorian, born and bred here in Dover, was here all through the last war, was not evacuated, so do know what this corner was like, and very lucky to still be around, as many shells dropped where we lived. I also have great respect for the flag of our country.
I will not make apologies regarding the comment on up and coming elections, time will tell
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,983
Augusta,My uncle was a POW for four years walked across Poland ,and my late Father in law was in Burma.He returned home to find his wife very ill who died soon after .Leaving two small boys.Please don't preach re my hats etc.My husband died Thirty One years ago next week leaving me with three children the youngest was two.
Whether I agree with you or not is for me to know however you constantly criticise The Mayor and myself.
Those who have died before us are never forgotten.
Guest 1334- Registered: 7 Sep 2014
- Posts: 30
Sue I had not directed my comment of hats at you but now that you mention it, I can see why you would think so. Most families in UK were connected with WW1 and WW2 in some way or other as were many in other countries. So nothing new there. Suffice to say I will not give up on telling you what 3478 people who you allegedly represent want. It never did nor should it matter what you think personally Sue or Sheila and its time you realised that. Its people who want it councillors are only there to represent those who voted for them, and those who did not. Please don't make any apologies on my behalf Sheila, people can and no doubt will remember who listened to their voice. I have nothing to gain by or loose by mistakes of others and if you can't take the truth or start like you did but then can't explain why you are so against something, you realy should examine your motives. So lets hear it, not with your personal feelings, likes or dislikes, why can't we have a flag? I was stood in my usual place, missed you both...
Honi soit qui mal y pense
Guest 1334- Registered: 7 Sep 2014
- Posts: 30
By the way Sue, the mayor had her say in the Dover Express. The first comments out of her mouth caused outrage and the letter she wrote about meeting me was factually wrong or was it a lie? Not quite sure on that one. She knows all the councillors were there when I went in to speak with her and her trusted clerk and spoke for about 30 minutes with them. Did you too forget that Sheila? You watched me go in, remember. Yet she stated we only had a short telephone conversation. If you realy want to start picking, lets do it face to face. I have no problems putting my cards on the table and letting everybody know where I stand .or is that rude too?
Honi soit qui mal y pense
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,658
Seems that as per usual the council and it's reps are never wrong but the electorate are.
Maybe this is why so many councillors are viewed with contempt.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 1337- Registered: 9 Sep 2014
- Posts: 1
I don't always attend the Remembrance Day service because it is primarily a religious ceremony and I am not a believer, but I often stop in passing and pay my respects to the two (known) members of my family, including my grandfather, who are remembered on the memorial.
I would love to see the flag flying behind the statue as it does at war memorials in other countries. The flag-pole on the Maison Dieu is too high up to be associated with the memorial, even if the flag were to be flown there every day.
The town of Ypres has a "Last Post Ceremony" at dusk every day of the year at the Menin Gate Memorial to honour the fallen and we are being stalled over the request for a flag-pole!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
I've never thought of the Remembrance day service as religious even though it is presided over by a man of the cloth. I would think that most of the couples that marry in a church do so to get better wedding photos.
Digressed a bit there but i have never missed a Remembrance day service, usually well attended but marred by people wandering through during the service and even the silence.
Guest 1338- Registered: 9 Sep 2014
- Posts: 79
I was at the meeting on Sept 3rd & if anyone was treated unfairly it was Augusta, she was given 5mins to speak, two people before her spoke for much longer with it seemed no time limit. What the Mayor doesn't seem to understand or doesn't want to understand is that no one is asking to put a flagpole on the actual building & you do not need planning permission to put up a flag pole. No one doubts that the Mayor works hard, but well over 3000 people have signed Augusta,s petition surely that's a good enough reason to do it, Councillors are elected to speak & act for the people but I didn't see much of that going on. I also don't understand why you have to have a meeting to decide when you are going to have a meeting to discuss the matter, it smacks of delaying tactics. I also noticed that a lot of the Councillors supported the flag - well done them, so stand up & be counted. I would also like to ask - politely of course - why has the Town Clerk so much power she is unelected therefore shouldn't have any input in decision making ?
Guest 1334- Registered: 7 Sep 2014
- Posts: 30
True Howard. It is just so disrespectful not to be able to give them a minute. When there were just 5 or 6 of us stood by the memorial on D day and on Forces day it was terrible. Kids screaming and parents shouting. Admittedly they were not locals but it doesn't take that much brain power to work out something is going on when a veteran takes a salute. A few of us believe the veterans should stand right at the front at times like that and everybody else behind them, even the dignitaries. The only persons who should stand in front of the veterans should be HM The Queen or direct members of the royal family. We owe them so much.
Honi soit qui mal y pense
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
The town clerk gets a mention, best I don't add anything, suffice to say we could run a whole thread on the antics of Ms Burton.
It sometimes seems that she has the elected representatives in a hypnotic trance.
Guest 1338- Registered: 9 Sep 2014
- Posts: 79
I agree Howard, has she got some sort of hold over certain elected representatives ? It certainly seems so.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
The rumour going around is that she knows where the bodies are buried Lyn, not that i give credence to such things of course.
Guest 1334- Registered: 7 Sep 2014
- Posts: 30
Watch out for flying objects folks
Honi soit qui mal y pense
Guest 1338- Registered: 9 Sep 2014
- Posts: 79
Of course not Howard, but we,ll remember it for future reference lol :)
Guest 652- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 595
I understand that Augusta you had met with the Mayor prior to that meeting in which I attended, if I'm wrong I apologise, if I make mistakes I apologise, as you know I changed my mind regards the flag, which is my prerogative, as stated I respect the flag of my country, and love to see it flying in and around the town, but at the memorial I cannot agree on the matter, those men on that memorial deserve our respect for the giving of their lives, and when people can do that then consider the matter, it upsets me to see parents let the kids run around and climb all over it, with total disregard, if my children had done that, they would have had a slapped bottom, but not only the kids some of the adults aren't much better.
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,294
One of the rare occasions when the flag is flown from the town hall!
Incidentally, and I just throw this in, we may not have a "Union" flag as we know it for much longer!
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,983
Lovely picture of Chris..I think he helped out on Armed Forces Day .Another service we hold with little support.This is to remember all our serving personnel,and those who have died serving their country..
We do remember all those who have served in conflict since World War Two.
So this year we will see more than 100 on Remembrance Day.
I will be at Whitfield this year.