Our majestic Queen and carol Kings..

Reporter: Jim Williams
Date published: 02 January 2015


THE FRIDAY THING: THE highlights of the Christmas TV performances included a marvellous speech by the Queen.

And it got me thinking, what a pity it is that Elizabeth is not a politician and what an outstanding leader she would make, with her combination of common sense and compassion, and her genuine affection for the country and the Commonwealth.

If only some of our politicians possessed the same skills and ideals as the monarch.

There was another moment that threw a spotlight on actions and activities pursued by those who would undermine Great Britain and destabilise many parts of the world.

The carols from King’s College, Cambridge, including readings from the scriptures, were a magnificent answer to those who think or believe that breaking into a school and shooting dead more than 130 innocent schoolchildren is, in any way imaginable, something that is either acceptable or forgivable by anyone’s god.

It is clear that we already have terrorists and those who would undermine the qualities that define Great Britain in our country and their activities, including beheading, shooting and stabbing innocent and misguided folk who believe they are following a justifiable cause.

That these barbaric ideas and actions are carried out in the name of religion is nonsensical.


PARKING has once more become a major issue in Uppermill including, needless to say, the decision to park the issue of Uppermill’s new school. Should it be in Uppermill or should it be in Diggle?

Suffice to say some of our elected representatives decided not to say whether they supported the move to Diggle or not.

The other parking issue involves changes to the rules and regulations covering parking that seem destined to reignite the parking debate among local residents and those who work in the villages, rather than actually living there.

Not for the first time parish councillors have decided the needs and wishes of local residents who want to park their cars where they can be seen from their homes, should be ignored.

Nick Watts, who lives and works in Uppermill, raised a petition with 750 signatures against the parking restrictions when they were first altered in 2010. The parish council took no notice and he is rightly angered by the cavilier attitude to people who live in Uppermill.

Mr Watts says that the latest edict on parking goes against the petition and, rather shockingly, has been steamrollered through with little or no thought for those of us who actually live in Uppermill.

Indeed Mr Watts’ petition has been ignored since it was put to the parish council in 2010 — despite requests for residents’ parking permits and contact with elected parish and borough councillors who wanted to support Mr Watts but said they could not give that support because there was no opportunity to vote on it. So much for democracy.