tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315886792024-03-12T23:00:20.784+00:00Three Score Years And Ten"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards" - Søren KierkegaardHarry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.comBlogger935125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-65659935950840450552023-04-27T11:21:00.001+01:002023-04-27T11:39:49.827+01:0019th October 1946 - my first visit to see Sunderland play.<p> The link below is to the programme of the first football league game I ever attended. It was held at Sunderland's ground which was then at Roker Park. My father took me as I was only aged ten. Normally I then went to watch him play in goal at home and away matches for a local team called Easington Village Rovers. So our visits to Roker Park were then limited depending on his team not having a game. About a couple of years later I started watching regular matches at Roker Park with my school mates. Sunderland then playing in the top division of the Football League.<br /></p><p>https://www.mullocksauctions.co.uk/lot-767237-194647_sunderland_v_grimsby_town_div_1_match.html<br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-84764356112379442392023-04-24T15:08:00.000+01:002023-04-24T15:08:49.833+01:00Diane Abbott's letter.<p> <img height="345" src="https://jamaica-gleaner.com/sites/default/files/styles/jg_article_image/public/media/article_images/2023/04/23/diane_abbott.jpg?itok=YpqOykuY" width="460" /></p><p>Although Diane Abbott has apologised for her letter to the Guardian which led to her loss of membership of the Parliamentary Labour Party, she remains suspended. This is the letter that she is suspended over. </p><p></p><p class="dcr-94xsh">"Tomiwa Owolade claims that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people all suffer from “racism” (“<a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/15/racism-in-britain-is-not-a-black-and-white-issue-it-is-far-more-complicated" title="">Racism in Britain is not a black and white issue. It’s far more complicated</a>”,
Comment). They undoubtedly experience prejudice. This is similar to
racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable.</p><p>It
is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such
as redheads, can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their
lives subject to racism. In pre-civil rights America, Irish people,
Jewish people and Travellers were not required to sit at the back of the
bus. In apartheid South Africa, these groups were allowed to vote. And
at the height of slavery, there were no white-seeming people manacled on
the slave ships.<br /><b>Diane Abbott</b><br />House of Commons, London SW1"</p><p>Her letter clearly ignores leading experiences of racism such as the Holocaust. Given a comment from her opposing all forms of racism, she should then quickly have her membership restored. This matter could also have been resolved without her explusion from the Parliamenary Labour Party.<br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-51866528854060343242023-02-28T21:27:00.000+00:002023-02-28T21:27:23.971+00:00Past Coal Mining in Dronfield<p> Dronfield is pock marked with former mining operations going back to the ancient operation of bell pits. These were dug out gradually in rows, each with a single overtop entrance. When one had coal removed from it a new bell pit was then dug next door to it when it was emptied. Thus eventually helping to empty a full coal seam. What we recognise as more modern forms of pits with coal seams were later put into operation. Numbers of old bell pits may still need to be discovered, as happened when the Dronfield By Pass was built.<br /></p><p> The Coal Authority keep on eye on the impact of past local mining operations. But there are few signs of serious dangers having arisen from past operations since Dronfield was expanded. But the type of caution we need to take is that fracking operations never now take part in the area.</p><p> For details of past mining operations see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coal-mining-subsidence-damage-notice-form/coal-mining-subsidence-damage-a-guide-to-your-rights?fbclid=IwAR3bUJxB3KlTvzP_Mjopi0OJyejU1td6kbw-YyBbakPsi9ksNrlvWi6lMfc<br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-51330747707781969772022-12-31T11:28:00.002+00:002022-12-31T11:28:51.940+00:00The sad loss of Alice Mahon<p><img alt="Alice Mahon" border="0" height="170" hspace="0" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45676000/jpg/_45676841_42510727.jpg" vspace="0" width="226" /> <br /></p><p>It is deeply sad for me to learn of the death of Alice Mahon. We were both Labour MPs for exactly the same period from 1987 to 2005 and shared in many similar political and social activities at Westminister. She died on Xmas Day.<br /></p><p>We were both members of the Socialist Campaign Group and often participated in identical Commons activities due to our shared political interests. We also met up in similar social circles, drawn together with others due to our common political concerns.</p><p>Prior to being MPs we had both obtained University Degrees as adults and went on to teach Trade Unionists. </p><p>Unlike myself, she resigned from the Labour Party in April 2009; although I shared many of her concerns about its problematic development. </p><p>Details of her telling life can be found here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Mahon<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-53252108297745376752022-11-02T13:43:00.128+00:002022-11-15T23:09:38.557+00:00Edith's Story<p> <img alt="" height="590" id="TB_Image" src="https://www.ypdbooks.com/img/p/2090-2540-thickbox.jpg" width="590" /></p><p>Edith Jacques lived from 1909 until 2012. Her twin sons Terrance and Ernie were born in 1938 and at their current age of 84 have written the above fine biography about their mother. The book is very impressive, even more so as it is the only book they have ever written.</p><p> "Edith's Story" is particulary telling and hopefully it will help to start a new trend in the writing of biographies. For the bulk of biographies we normally turn to are about people we have already heard about. From prominent heroes such as Nelson Mandela to villians such as Adolf Hitler. Few working class people get the biographical coverage which tells us about the social and personal problems they were obliged to tackle. Edith handled these in an impressive way. Being faced with especially harsh conditions from the time of her birth, until improvements which she made effective use of with the establishment of the Welfare State from 1945.</p><p> Edith came from a long line of families where the men were agricultural labourers, including her father who died when she was only 10. Then the following year her mother broke her back and was bed ridden for the rest of her life. Edith was obliged to pack in schooling to look after her invalid mother and her younger brother. For by then her four elder sisters had all left home to become domestic servants, the main form of employment that was then open to females. Her four older brothers being agricultural labourers.</p><p> Beyond nursing her mother and doing the housework, Edith grew vegitables for consumption and sale. Then even when she married an agricultural labourer at 18 she continued to help her mother and also her mother-in-law who soon became ill and was eventually taken into a workhouse at York in the area where Edith lived.</p><p> With the subsequent deaths of her mother and mother-in-law, Edith settled for a while into the more normal life of the wife of an agricultural labourer, starting her own family with a son. Then in 1938 she gave birth to the twins who wrote this biography. But disaster struck. As her husband cycled to record their births he was hit by a torrential rain storm. It led to his death only a fortnight later.</p><p> Pursuing her struggle to survive, Edith gained employment at RAF Clinton nearbye. She worked a nine hour shift and a six day week. Looking after her young twins became a massive problem. In 1941 she sort to square the circle by placing them locally at York in Dr. Barnardos home. She expected this would give her a regular opportunity to see them. But matters soon changed. For the twins (who wrote this biography) were quickly shunted distantly from place to place, almost ending up in Australia. They experienced 13 distant moves as far apart as Dumfries and Essex. She faced great difficulties in tracing them, sending letters and attempting to visit her sons. Only in 1943 did she finally managed to visit them in Scotland and then two years later in Sussex.</p><p> In 1947 Edith gained fresh employment in York at Rowntrees, eventually becoming a trade union representative and also took in a lodger. She had moved into a Council House and was finally in a position to reclaim her twins from Barnados. Edith's help and influence over them being shown by their moving on to qualify via the Open University and now producing this telling biography. </p><p> My great hope is that amongst those who decide to read this fine book, will be numbers who then decide to turn their own hands to writing about their own equivalent working class parents. Even if like me (being two years older than the Jacques twins) all they come up are blog items about their working class mother and/or father. Such works can tell us much that we need to know about the shaping of our society, even more than works about the high and mighty.</p><p>Although the book is some 400 pages long and is littered with many relevant photographs and key references, I found to be a compelling work explaining Edith's extremely tough but compelling life. It is a long time since I have been consumed a biography so quickly.<br /></p><p>(For my own modest blog efforts on my own parents see https://threescoreyearsandten.blogspot.com/2009/07/in-memory-of-my-father.html and https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/31588679/3219445783994039439 )<br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-45613344735374517832022-10-25T14:45:00.014+01:002022-10-29T16:31:19.967+01:00The Fracking Minister Resigns.<p> Great news - Jacob Rees Mogg the MP in charge of Fracking has resigned as Business Secretary. Hopefully this indicates that fracking will bite the dust.</p><p> 28 October sees the return of controls on fracking. See - https://drillordrop.com/2022/10/28/igas-hints-at-legal-action-as-government-issues-new-wms-on-fracking-moratorium/#respond</p><p>For more nonsense from Rees Mogg on facking see - https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/jacob-rees-mogg-fracking-claims-beis/?utm_source=SEGMENT%20-%20Newsletter%3A%20oD%20weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=%F0%9F%A4%94%20Will%20think%20tanks%20be%20kicked%20from%20No.%2010%3F&_kx=W0FgYrpjXyrL1naw815i39ZnoJfotAApv8V9USVwT1Q%3D.YjCYwm%3Futm_source%3Dfb&fbclid=IwAR0ftRNJKwFjnU1Mu2swzK7P_L5hDcW700F6j1g2JL44gXhgTnYP2YczzI8<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><img alt="3:4 portrait of Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg" class="width-100" src="https://members-api.parliament.uk/api/Members/4099/Portrait?cropType=ThreeFour" style="display: block;" /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-64521885779029549572022-10-10T15:46:00.000+01:002022-10-10T15:46:37.767+01:00Commons Library on Fracking Dangers<p> See this House of Commons Library Briefing Paper published on 31 March 2020. It reveals the serious dangers fracking can lead to especially in former built upon Coal Mining Areas such as the one in the item below this one. Link into https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06073/SN06073.pdf<br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-61399681115859073612022-10-02T16:46:00.034+01:002022-10-23T14:31:12.233+01:00Dronfield's Coal Mining Heritage and its Fracking Dangers<p>Dronfield Eye published the following article from me in March 2019, issue 161. You will need to click onto it to enlarge it, so that you can read it. Although it makes no mention of fracking dangers in the Dronfield area, the information it provides shows just how serious fracking operations would be in the territory it covers. For Dronfield and its surrounding area is pock-marked with several hundred former coal mining operations, many of which now have houses, gardens, roads, shops and public buildings built on top of them. As mining operations in the area took place between the 16th Century and the 20th Century, there will be additional areas where coal mining took place yet they have not yet been indentified. Fracking such territory would create major safety problems. There can hardly be an area where fracking operations would be more harmful.</p><p>The Coal Authority holds a similar map for the whole of North East Derbyshire showing an overall spread of past coal mining operations. I do not, however, hold their permission to publish it.<br /></p><p><br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgriQdHhKS6Uj_ToF7pL27FiDdtJxr7gkiBOiq952ywaLnhBhZPkPcTDnEa3rwLmuj4fOGBI-fmhPBWXvExpsaEw8YhrgBQRsFGDcL6HUrdCqrZfO8tzeknGsiNSP8ckA7u42gh6B2OSmxXkdurWncIuyCU_ClkpRQ78iitoBbAAcH1ssOxhQ/s3832/20221002_155838.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3832" data-original-width="2680" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgriQdHhKS6Uj_ToF7pL27FiDdtJxr7gkiBOiq952ywaLnhBhZPkPcTDnEa3rwLmuj4fOGBI-fmhPBWXvExpsaEw8YhrgBQRsFGDcL6HUrdCqrZfO8tzeknGsiNSP8ckA7u42gh6B2OSmxXkdurWncIuyCU_ClkpRQ78iitoBbAAcH1ssOxhQ/s320/20221002_155838.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4SY45HQrP6z-cZDqVAJJSdUlm3Zk27PlpVLJT4vLyTRfdSSuEq_5sJKyzuFA8Y2X27T9lKXQ3jaE_nxkG9xr_K8dKk5LJ7fgyhxmQclfUeI-cz6nGsv6fMja-hY0jQ_Sadv3nI_GAxC24DqAWyNLPd1FagxhPdWcFHcFgL_-AWMxysOfRQ/s3260/20221002_155859.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3260" data-original-width="1172" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4SY45HQrP6z-cZDqVAJJSdUlm3Zk27PlpVLJT4vLyTRfdSSuEq_5sJKyzuFA8Y2X27T9lKXQ3jaE_nxkG9xr_K8dKk5LJ7fgyhxmQclfUeI-cz6nGsv6fMja-hY0jQ_Sadv3nI_GAxC24DqAWyNLPd1FagxhPdWcFHcFgL_-AWMxysOfRQ/s320/20221002_155859.jpg" width="115" /></a></div><p></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-72497709483133332962022-09-07T11:05:00.004+01:002022-09-23T11:29:02.470+01:00The Minister for Fracking<p> The new and highly dangerious Minister with responsibilities for Fracking - </p><p><img alt="" content="https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article19387783.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/3_Screenshot-2019-09-03-at-213701.png" src="https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article19387783.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/3_Screenshot-2019-09-03-at-213701.png" /></p><p>Lee Rowley our local Tory MP supported the election of Liz Truss as Prime Minister. How does he now feel about her appointment of Jacob Rees-Mogg to the key fracking role of Business Secretary? We can only hope that Rees-Mogg falls asleep on his new job. </p><p>8th September. Watch out - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62820639</p><p>Added 23 September. See what we are now up against from Jacob Rees-Mogg and the Govenment on Fracking - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V-6z_uBDh0<br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-88575894785622948892022-09-05T15:19:00.015+01:002022-09-28T16:03:18.310+01:00Was Liz Truss elected as Prime Minister on a Minority Vote ?<p> It is claimed here that the Conservative Party had a total membership of between 180,000 and 200,000 on 1st July 2019 - https://metro.co.uk/2022/09/04/how-many-members-does-the-conservative-party-have-17295810/</p><p>If this estimate has held up since then, it means that Liz Truss has just been elected as leader of Conservative Party and thus Prime Minister on the votes of a minority of its party's membership. She obtained 81,326 votes to Sunacks 60,399, making it a total of 141,725 legitimate votes being cast. This is well below the membership estimate for 2019.</p><p>This time 624 members submitted invalid voting papers, but what number of others could not be bothered to vote given the nature of the choices ?</p><p><img alt="3:4 portrait of Elizabeth Truss" class="width-100" src="https://members-api.parliament.uk/api/Members/4097/Portrait?cropType=ThreeFour" style="display: block;" /></p><p><br /></p><p>P.S. This claims that Truss received only 47% of the eligable votes - https://drillordrop.com/2022/09/05/liz-truss-to-be-pm-reaction/#more-94984</p><p>Added 28 September - What vote would she have got now ?<br /></p><p> <br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-81501419661198467142022-09-03T09:54:00.028+01:002022-09-03T10:53:38.186+01:00The Day War Broke Out.<p>83 years ago today the then Prime Minister (Neville Chamberlain) announced that Britain was at war with Germany. I was three years old at the time. See -</p><p>https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/september/war-announced/</p><p>and <br /></p><p> https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=414459536773798</p><p>The photo is taken from his radio announcement. <br /></p><p> <img alt="Primary History KS2: WW2 Clips. The declaration of war - BBC ..." class="n3VNCb KAlRDb" data-noaft="1" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1280xn/p06t5kjr.jpg" style="height: 211.5px; margin: 25.5px 0px; width: 376px;" /></p><p> For the full 13 minute announcement with additions to Chamberlain's statement, see- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcSnKArKz8E<br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-32181978891596747182022-08-01T20:50:00.016+01:002022-08-08T09:56:06.445+01:00 This is whom I supported for the present leadership of the Labour Party<p>At our constituency meeting, this was whom I supported for nomination as leader of the Labour Party. Although the majority vote went for Starmer. </p><p><img alt="Lisa Nandy - latest news, breaking stories and comment - The Independent" class="n3VNCb KAlRDb" data-noaft="1" src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2022/08/01/13/985dce3f516f63a1bf749e3d44fc0218Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjU5NDQyOTUx-2.62714221.jpg?quality=50&width=640&auto=webp" style="height: 351.608px; margin: 0px; width: 527px;" /></p><p> See - <br /></p><p> https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62381848</p><p>And - https://labourlist.org/2022/08/labour-frontbencher-lisa-nandy-visits-striking-cwu-members-on-picket-line/</p><p>Also see - https://labourlist.org/2022/08/to-successfully-level-up-we-must-empower-our-local-communities/ 8 August <br /></p><p><br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-29574060171549093362022-07-26T11:50:00.230+01:002022-08-01T12:21:04.187+01:00Death of David Trimble<p><img alt="David Trimble – Facts - NobelPrize.org" class="n3VNCb KAlRDb" data-noaft="1" src="https://www.nobelprize.org/images/trimble-13512-portrait-medium.jpg" style="height: 721px; margin: 0px; width: 480.667px;" /> Over time when I was an MP from 1987 to 2005 I came to develope a key interest in moves towards peace and reconcilation in Northern Ireland. I became a regular participant in debates in the Commons on Northern Ireland matters. And became a member of the Northern Ireland Select Committee and the British Irish Parliamentary Body. I was also a regular visitor to the island of Ireland - the north and the republic. These activities mainly took place during the period when David Trimble played a key role in developments in the Province.<br /></p><p> David Trimple was leader of the Ulster Unionist Party from 1995 to 2005 and first Northern Ireland Minister from 1998 to 2002. During these times we occupied London flats which were opposite each other on dfferent sides of the road, a couple of miles south-west of the Commons. It meant that on occassions we bumped into each other when either waiting for a bus to the Commons or more likely walking the distance together. Such informalities can be very helpful.<br /></p><p>It is sad to hear of his death. For he made significant advances towards peace processes in the Province.<br /></p><p>1st August see - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-62371935<br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-36745960991100238312022-07-21T10:02:00.001+01:002022-07-21T10:25:17.051+01:00Tory Positive Abstentions<p> In the election for the leader of the Conservative Party, what happens if the voters send in more positive abstentions than votes for either of the two candidates ? Would we then hang on to Boris ?<br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-63663924878601170642022-07-07T14:38:00.003+01:002022-07-07T15:03:57.008+01:00Boris Johnson's Relationships - 7 children with three of his four wives and another woman.<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Relationships"> The following is an extract from his Wickipedia entry. Covering another side of Boris's character.<br /></span></h3><h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Relationships"> </span></h3><h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Relationships">Relationships</span></h3>
<table class="sidebar nomobile nowraplinks"><tbody><tr><th class="sidebar-title">Children of Boris Johnson</th></tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading">
by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marina_Wheeler" title="Marina Wheeler">Marina Wheeler</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lara_Johnson-Wheeler" title="Lara Johnson-Wheeler">Lara Lettice Johnson-Wheeler</a> (b. 1993)<br />Milo Arthur Johnson (b. 1995)<br />Cassia Peaches Johnson (b. 1997)<br />Theodore Apollo Johnson (b. 1999)</td>
</tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading">
by Helen Macintyre</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
Stephanie Macintyre (b. 2009)</td>
</tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading">
by <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_Symonds" title="Carrie Symonds">Carrie Symonds</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson (b. 2020)<br />Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson (b. 2021)</td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-below">
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-828"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-828">[823]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-829"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-829">[824]</a></sup></td></tr></tbody></table>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 202px;"><a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Boris_Johnson_and_Carrie_Symonds_on_2020_Commonwealth_Day.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" data-file-height="2902" data-file-width="4000" height="145" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Boris_Johnson_and_Carrie_Symonds_on_2020_Commonwealth_Day.jpg/200px-Boris_Johnson_and_Carrie_Symonds_on_2020_Commonwealth_Day.jpg" width="200" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"></div></div></div></div><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 202px;"><div class="thumbcaption">Johnson with his then-fiancée <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_Symonds" title="Carrie Symonds">Carrie Symonds</a> at the 2020 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Day" title="Commonwealth Day">Commonwealth Day</a> service</div></div></div>
<p>In 1987, Johnson married <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegra_Mostyn-Owen" title="Allegra Mostyn-Owen">Allegra Mostyn-Owen</a>, daughter of the art historian <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Mostyn-Owen" title="William Mostyn-Owen">William Mostyn-Owen</a> and Italian writer <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_Servadio" title="Gaia Servadio">Gaia Servadio</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-830"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-830">[825]</a></sup> The couple's marriage ended in divorce or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annulment" title="Annulment">annulment</a> in 1993<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-834"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-834">[f]</a></sup> and 12 days later Johnson married <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marina_Wheeler" title="Marina Wheeler">Marina Wheeler</a>, a barrister, daughter of journalist and broadcaster <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Wheeler_(journalist)" title="Charles Wheeler (journalist)">Charles Wheeler</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-835"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-835">[829]</a></sup> Five weeks later, Wheeler and Johnson's first child was born.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-marriagedateperIndy_836-0"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-marriagedateperIndy-836">[830]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-837"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-837">[831]</a></sup> The Wheeler and Johnson families have known each other for decades,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gimson_838-0"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-Gimson-838">[832]</a></sup> and Marina Wheeler was at the European School, Brussels, at the same time as her future husband. They have four children: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lara_Johnson-Wheeler" title="Lara Johnson-Wheeler">Lara Lettice</a>, Milo Arthur, Cassia Peaches, and Theodore Apollo.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-839"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-839">[833]</a></sup>
</p><p>Between 2000 and 2004, Johnson had an affair with <i>Spectator</i> columnist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petronella_Wyatt" title="Petronella Wyatt">Petronella Wyatt</a> when he was its editor, resulting in a terminated pregnancy and a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscarriage" title="Miscarriage">miscarriage</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEdwardsIsaby200847Purnell2011257–263Gimson2012162–173,_209–218_187-1"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-FOOTNOTEEdwardsIsaby200847Purnell2011257–263Gimson2012162–173,_209–218-187">[183]</a></sup> In April 2006, the <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_of_the_World" title="News of the World">News of the World</a></i> alleged that Johnson was having an affair with <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian" title="The Guardian">Guardian</a></i> journalist Anna Fazackerley. The pair did not comment and shortly afterwards Johnson employed Fazackerley.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPurnell2011296–300Gimson2012255–257_198-1"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-FOOTNOTEPurnell2011296–300Gimson2012255–257-198">[194]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-auto_199-1"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-auto-199">[195]</a></sup>
</p><p>In 2009, Johnson fathered a daughter with Helen Macintyre, an arts consultant. In 2013, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_Appeal_of_England_and_Wales" title="Court of Appeal of England and Wales">Court of Appeal</a>
discharged an injunction banning reporting of his daughter's existence.
The judge ruled the public had a right to know about Johnson's
"reckless" behaviour.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Telegraph210513_236-1"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-Telegraph210513-236">[232]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guardian130521_840-0"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-Guardian130521-840">[834]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-841"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-841">[835]</a></sup>
There had been speculation that he may have had another child from an
extramarital affair due to an appeal court judge stating in 2013, "the
father's infidelities resulted in the conception of children on two
occasions".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Independent210731_842-0"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-Independent210731-842">[836]</a></sup>
In September 2021, after years of obfuscation, Johnson stated that he
had six children, thereby denying the existence of any further
illegitimate children.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guardian210921_843-0"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-Guardian210921-843">[837]</a></sup>
</p><p>In September 2018, Johnson and Wheeler issued a statement
confirming that after 25 years of marriage they had separated "several
months ago", and had begun divorce proceedings.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bbc-7–september_844-0"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-bbc-7–september-844">[838]</a></sup> They reached a financial settlement in February 2020,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-845"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-845">[839]</a></sup> and the divorce was finalised by November 2020.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-846"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-846">[840]</a></sup>
</p><p>In October 2020, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Arcuri" title="Jennifer Arcuri">Jennifer Arcuri</a>,
asked whether her 'friendship' with Johnson was in fact an affair, said
"I think that goes without saying ... But I'm not going to talk about
it."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-847"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-847">[841]</a></sup> In March 2021, she went into more detail about the alleged affair in an interview with the <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_Mirror" title="Sunday Mirror">Sunday Mirror</a></i>, saying it lasted from 2012 to 2016.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-848"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-848">[842]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-849"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-849">[843]</a></sup>
</p><p>In 2019, Johnson was living with <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_Symonds" title="Carrie Symonds">Carrie Symonds</a>, the daughter of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Symonds" title="Matthew Symonds">Matthew Symonds</a>, co-founder of <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Independent" title="The Independent">The Independent</a></i>
newspaper. Symonds had worked for the Conservative party since 2009 and
worked on Johnson's 2012 campaign to be re-elected as mayor.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ITV_22_June_2019_850-0"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-ITV_22_June_2019-850">[844]</a></sup>
On 29 February 2020, Johnson and Symonds announced they had become
engaged in late 2019, and that Symonds was expecting a baby in early
summer.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BBC51691434_851-0"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-BBC51691434-851">[845]</a></sup> Their son, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-852"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-852">[846]</a></sup> was born on 29 April 2020 at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_College_Hospital" title="University College Hospital">University College Hospital</a> in London.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guardian200429_853-0"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-Guardian200429-853">[847]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-854"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-854">[848]</a></sup>
</p><p>On 29 May 2021, Johnson married Symonds in a secret ceremony at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_Cathedral" title="Westminster Cathedral">Westminster Cathedral</a> attended by 30 guests,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BBC20210530_820-1"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-BBC20210530-820">[815]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-855"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-855">[849]</a></sup> becoming the first prime minister to marry in office since <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Liverpool" title="Lord Liverpool">Lord Liverpool</a> married <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jenkinson,_Countess_of_Liverpool" title="Mary Jenkinson, Countess of Liverpool">Mary Chester</a> in 1822.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-856"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-856">[850]</a></sup>
On 31 July 2021, it was announced that they were expecting their second
child together after Carrie suffered a miscarriage earlier that year.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-857"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-857">[851]</a></sup> Their daughter, Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-858"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-858">[852]</a></sup> was born on 9 December 2021 at an NHS London hospital.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-859"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-859">[853]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Family_and_ancestors"><br /></span></h3><p> </p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-23322916418571796132022-06-29T11:46:00.020+01:002022-07-05T16:18:41.961+01:00Manny Shinwell, Ruskin College and Me<p> The current Summer 2022 edition of "Order! Order!" which is the official Journal of the Association of Former Members of Parliament carries on article from myself on pages 4 and 5 entitled "Manny Shinwell, Ruskin College and Me". Manny was the MP at Easington when I first joined the Labour Party in 1956, gave me a reference to attend Ruskin College and officially opened the Dronfield Contact Club when it moved to its current site and I first became a member. </p><p>See pages 4 and 5 here - https://www.politicshome.com/members/article/summer-2022-edition-of-order-order-magazine-published<br /></p><p> <br /></p><p><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: 16.6667px; left: 464.224px; top: 1210.34px; transform: scaleX(0.899524);"><br /></span></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-48520672381094107122022-06-08T17:49:00.003+01:002022-06-08T17:54:52.180+01:00Australian Parliament 8 March 2005 - covering my support for the Iraqi Trade Union Movement<p> Alexander Downer as Liberal Foreign Affairs Minister in Australia made the following reply to a parliamentry question on 8 March 2005. The UK parliament packed in a shortly afterwards for electoral ppurposes on 11 April 2005 and I then stood down as an MP. </p><p>
<br />
<span class="talkername"><b><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fallmps%2F84F%22;querytype=;rec=0">Dr WASHER</a></b></span>
(2:31 PM)
—My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Would the minister
inform the House of progress being made to establish a transitional
government in Iraq? Are there any alternative policies.
</p><p>
<span class="talkername"><b><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fallmps%2F4G4%22;querytype=;rec=0">Mr DOWNER</a></b></span>
(Minister for Foreign Affairs) <img alt="ALEXANDER DOWNER, Geo-Blogger at Global Brief Magazine" class="n3VNCb KAlRDb" data-noaft="1" src="https://globalbrief.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Alexander-Downer-1-220x275.jpg" style="height: 275px; margin: 0px; width: 220px;" /> Let me thank the honourable member for Moore for his question and his
interest. The process now is that the transitional assembly is to meet
and a transitional government is to be formed by that transitional
assembly. Interim Deputy Prime Minister Salih said the Transitional
National Assembly would meet on 16 March. The reason 16 March was chosen
is that it is the anniversary of the chemical weapons attack against
Halabja by Saddam Hussein. So it is a very symbolic day. It is a very
important day for the Iraqis and it is a symbol of reconciliation in
that country. A two-thirds majority will be required in the National
Assembly to elect a president and two vice presidents, who will in turn
appoint a prime minister. That process is, of course, under way already
and it is very encouraging to see this democracy at work.
</p>
<p>What is also encouraging is that there is now international
consensus. President Bush’s visit to Europe illustrated that point only
too clearly. The international community is getting right behind the
Iraqis in trying to ensure that the new democratic Iraq works. I was
quite interested to see that amongst those who were virulently opposed
to the original overthrow of Saddam Hussein was a British Labour MP
called Harry Barnes. Some members opposite may know Harry Barnes. Having
been a very passionate anti-war MP, he has now done the honourable
thing. He has set up a group called Labour Friends of Iraq. I would like
to feel that our own Labor Party could think about Labor friends of
Iraq as well, and take a leaf out of Harry Barnes’s book. Harry Barnes
said:</p>
<div class="quote">
<p class="parablock">I thought it was right to oppose the war. But
history moves on and the Iraqi people now have a golden opportunity to
take back their country and build a decent non-sectarian democracy ...</p>
</div>
<p class="parablock">Here you have the British Labour Party, even the
anti-war dissidents within the government majority there, getting behind
the people of Iraq. Just about the only people left who are continually
harping on in a negative way about Iraq are the Australian Labor Party
led by the current Leader of the Opposition. Yesterday the Leader of the
Opposition made an 18-minute speech. It was another simple illustration
of his capacity to walk both sides of the street. It was a speech where
he said nothing positive about the Iraqi election. I think the only
thing he said about the election was that he thought it was flawed.</p>
<p>The European Union, the NATO leaders and the international community
all know that the Sunnis were intimidated in order to keep the turnout
low, but we are being positive and constructive about the future of
democracy in Iraq. The Leader of the Opposition apparently thinks that
the real issue here is that the country is about to descend into a civil
war. So let’s talk up that issue. He walks both sides of the street. He
said, in terms of Australia’s contribution, that he thinks the
maintenance of a strong position in the Persian Gulf is not an
unreasonable thing on a more long-term basis. So we should have
people—the Navy, I suppose—in the Persian Gulf in the long term.</p>
<p>But the Leader of the Opposition also said in the same speech that we
should not commit ourselves permanently outside of the Asia-Pacific
region. We should have the Navy there but we should not have the Army
there! We should be there; we should not be there! He had a new
criticism which was that when the al-Sadr forces were in revolt there
was a need to increase our deployment in Iraq. But with Iraq so much
quieter now he thinks that we should have increased our troop numbers
earlier. And maybe having increased them earlier we should reduce them.
He makes the argument that we do not have enough troops there—450 is not
enough! We need more troops there but we should not have troops there
at all! I think the Labor Party in Australia should follow the lead of
Harry Barnes. They should get behind the Iraqi people, set up a new
group called ‘Labor friends for Iraq’—not ‘Gough Whitlam in Blues Point
Tower friends for Iraq’—and get behind the Iraqi people and support
democracy. On this side of the House that is what we do.</p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-32152913801444490632022-05-08T13:02:00.007+01:002022-05-14T11:53:06.974+01:00How well did Labour perform ?<p> Although one result in England is still awaited, the local election results are much more pro-labour than most commentators claim. When added together they show that Labour took easily more votes than most other political parties, groupings and independents. Easily outmatching many contestants.<br /></p><p>These are the total percentages -</p><p>Labour 44.9%</p><p>Conservatives 20.2%</p><p>Liberals 12.8%</p><p>Independents 9.4% The Labour percentage is equal to the total for all other </p><p>SNP 6.7% groups, excluding only those for the Independents and the <br /></p><p>Plaid Cymru 3.0% Residents Association,<br /></p><p>Greens 2.2%</p><p>Residents Ass. 0.8% </p><p>There are , however, some qualifications which need to be made to these results. </p><p>First of all, the seats contested were not even roughly of equal sizes. Those in rural areas tending to have more seats per head of their electorates. Whilst the areas which had no contests may have differing political commitments to those which were contested. But for Labour to equal the turnout of so many political groupings is surely a matter of some significance.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p> <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-68878849775872007542022-04-30T16:01:00.001+01:002022-04-30T16:01:22.306+01:00Ban Mobiles and the like for MPs when in the Commons.<p><img alt="" class="corgi__sc-9hrpek-0 fmbBZG" id="petition-photo" src="https://assets.change.org/photos/0/tx/pm/DftXPMUhkKFdJvQ-800x450-noPad.jpg?1530646957" /> </p><p>Neil Parish is resigning as an MP after being discovered to have viewed pornography on a mobile devise in the Commons Chamber. </p><p>Yet all uses of such technology needs to be banned in such circumstances. For MPs are supposed to be there to follow and potentially participate in debates and to pursue procedural avenues.<br /></p><p> If an MP on the floor of the Commons needs to be contacted urgently, then Commons Officials can always contact them in the Chamber and the MPs concerned can leave and then use a phone or a mobile. They are supposed to be present to listen to debates and follow procedural developments.</p><p>Mobiles and the like often kill off such possibiities, with MPs following non-relevant issues. <br /></p><p> <br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-4107525838414857032022-04-13T14:30:00.008+01:002022-04-22T12:03:25.076+01:00The Blunders of Boris<div class="nqmvxvec j83agx80 jnigpg78 cxgpxx05 dflh9lhu sj5x9vvc scb9dxdr odw8uiq3"><div></div></div><div><div dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc dati1w0a e5nlhep0" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_1t"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Boris Johnson appeared with medical experts time after time on television explaining what the rules for avoiding Covid were - at different times and replying in detail to questions. He must have said many things that were inconsistent with the matters he has now been found quilty over. I have searched for these interviews on the internet, but have so far been unsuccessful. But surely the Parliamentary Labour Party can come up with these. They need re-showing on TV and will further his departure as Prime Minister or lead to his massive unpopularity.</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><b>22 April - At last I have found this key source which spells out the failures of Boris. How and when he spelt out the rules to the pubic, then broke them on specific occasions in 10 Downing Street - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-61184076 . On top of which there is also this matter - http://threescoreyearsandten.blogspot.com/2021/12/when-will-boris-be-prosecuted.html</b><br /></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div><p> </p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-28584612262051554062022-03-25T10:13:00.062+00:002022-04-01T17:12:47.362+01:00Key Material on Easington Colliery by Mary N Bell<p>See - http://www.limestonelandscapes.info/media/12413/Easington-Atlas-05---From-Dog-Fight-over-Easington-to-Back-Cover/pdf/EasingtonAtlasPartFive.pdf</p><p>Also these 10 poems by Easington women concerning the local pit. Including four by Mary N Bell. http://www.rachelcochrane.com/portfolio-item/4540/</p><p>There is also her book of poems (including the above)"Where the Pits Were". See - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Where-Pits-Were-Mary-Nightingale/dp/1479308331</p><p>And there is her book "A Cronicle of Easington Colliery" which contains a Foreword from myself . See - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chronicle-Easington-Colliery-Mary-Bell/dp/1501025481</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-40168800428291857272022-02-13T12:32:00.071+00:002022-02-13T14:40:07.392+00:00333 Year's Ago Today<p>The Bill of Rights of 1689 (which significantly established the Rights of Parliament and placed limits on the Crown) became law exactly 333 years ago today. Some of it appears below.</p><p>This is how it is described on the Parliamentary web site -<i> "The Bill of Rights 1689 is an iron gall ink manuscript on parchment. It
is an original Act of the English Parliament and has been in the custody
of Parliament since its creation. The Bill firmly established the
principles of frequent parliaments, free elections and freedom of speech
within Parliament – known today as Parliamentary Privilege. It also
includes no right of taxation without Parliament's agreement, freedom
from government interference, the right of petition and just treatment
of people by courts. The main principles of the Bill of Rights are still
in force today - particularly being cited in legal cases – and was used
as a model for the US Bill of Rights 1789. Its influence can also be
seen in other documents establishing the rights of humans, such as the
United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention
on Human Rights." <b>FROM https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/parliamentaryauthority/revolution/collections1/collections-glorious-revolution/billofrights/</b></i></p><p><i><b>It is a pity that we have to celebrate this anniversary under Boris. <br /></b></i></p><p><i><b> </b></i><img alt="English Bill of Rights of 1689.jpg" class="mw-mmv-final-image jpg mw-mmv-dialog-is-open" crossorigin="anonymous" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/English_Bill_of_Rights_of_1689.jpg" /></p><p><i><b> <br /></b></i></p><p><i><b> <br /></b></i></p><p><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-74762549265998349952022-02-03T12:09:00.046+00:002022-02-06T15:06:23.249+00:00The Shadow Of Easington's Pit.<p><i><img alt="The Shadow of the Mine by Ray Hudson and Huw Beynon" class="cover img-responsive" id="coverFormat" src="https://images2.penguinrandomhouse.com/cover/9781839761553" /> <br /></i></p><p><i>The Shadow of the Mine</i> by Huw Beynon and Ray Hudson tells the
story of the British Coal Industry in its development and heyday, plus what then happened to
mining communities when the last pits were closed under the impact of
Thatcherism. Whilst the book covers the general pattern of major events
across the country, it pays particular attention to developments in the
key mining areas of South Wales and County Durham. Their coal in the
past having been especially important to the British Economy in powering
its factories and railways.</p><p> As I originate from Easington
Colliery which was the last pit to close in the Durham Coalfield, I
found this work to be of particular interest. Especially as Easington's
pit and community are refered to more than any others. It makes six of
the book's photos, maps and tables. Then its pit is also refered to more
than any others - according to the index 19 times. The neigbouring
Horden Colliery coming next, with references on 9 pages. Yet out of the
67 such mines referred to, 29 only reeeive a single mention. <br /></p><p>
When account is also taken of Easington as a community, it is mentioned
on no less than 30 pages. Then it is additionally covered via
references to Easington in its wider capacity as a District Council area
and eventually as a Parliamentary Constituency. Below I give what I see as the main
reasons why Easington itself was likely to be given so much attention by Beynon and Hudson.<br /></p><p> (1) Easington
Colliery's slow creation and eventual growth rested fully on coal
mining. For before coal mining back in the 1891 Census what is now its
current area was then populated by only 61 people. These included
farmers, a single agricultural labourer, brickyard workers, coast
guards, quarrymen, children and housewives. And even some of these then
travelled in to work from what became known as nearbye Easington
Village. It was to be the pit alone that created a full Easington Colliery
community; essentially for its workers, their families and those who
provided them with services. Only as time went on did limited numbers of
the miners children and wives find work nearbye in places such as
Sunderland, Hartlepool and finally the later establised Peterlee.<br /></p><p> (2) The
Easington Colliery Pit Disaster of 1951 (according to the official
report) "arose from an explosion in a specific seam when a coal cutting
machine operating on a retreating longwall face struck pyrites. The
explosion spread through 16,000 yards and caused the deaths of 81
persons. Two persons died in the ensuing rescue operations." My own
father was in the pit at the time, but was working in a different seam
from the explosion. He later helped with salvage work.<br /></p><p> (3)
During the miners strike of 1984-85 the depth of the struggle at
Easington Colliery gained a great deal of attention, including mass turn outs
against a single miner who sort to return to work. Local activists and
their supporters were also often highly articulate about what was takng
place.</p><p> (4) Easington was the final pit to be closed in County Durham, so it marked the end of a massively significant era.</p><p> (5) Easington later attracted attention when the popular fictional film "Billy Elliot" was made there in 2002, involving locals in the background.<br /></p><p> Readers of Benyon and Hudson's book who have Easington connections may be find it odd to have its authors calling it "Easington Colliery village." For Easington Village which is next to Easington Colliery has a much longer non-mining history than the Colliery. Although it eventually came to have a Council Housing Estate which accomodated numbers of local miners and their families, plus retirement homes for ex-miners. But the authors are merely following a pattern where communites dominated by coal mining are often termed by them as being "mining villages".</p><p> Many people with connections to Easington will also find this books wider coverage of "Coal And The End Of Industrial Britain" to be of interest. For it deals with many similar backgrounds and events which first developed and then uncoupled key aspects of a wide range of coal mining communities.<br /></p><p> <br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-40809842405855933702021-12-06T16:33:00.000+00:002021-12-06T16:33:24.955+00:00When will Boris be prosecuted ?<p> </p><p><img alt="Boris Johnson was seen 'playing dress up' as a police officer on Monday" src="https://www.thenational.scot/resources/images/13271009.png?display=1&htype=0&type=responsive-gallery" style="min-height: 420;" /> <br /></p><p>THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE POSITION FROM THE POLICE ACT 1996 IS THAT -<br /><br />(1)Any person who with intent to deceive impersonates a member of a police force or special constable, or makes any statement or does any act calculated falsely to suggest that he is such a member or constable, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both.<br /><br />(2)Any person who, not being a constable, wears any article of police uniform in circumstances where it gives him an appearance so nearly resembling that of a member of a police force as to be calculated to deceive shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.<br /><br />(3)Any person who, not being a member of a police force or special constable, has in his possession any article of police uniform shall, unless he proves that he obtained possession of that article lawfully and has possession of it for a lawful purpose, be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale.<br /><br />(4)In this section—<br /><br />(a)“article of police uniform” means any article of uniform or any distinctive badge or mark or document of identification usually issued to members of police forces or special constables, or anything having the appearance of such an article, badge, mark or document.</p><p>See - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/16/section/90<br /><br /><br /></p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-74530966517252633682021-12-01T10:03:00.002+00:002021-12-01T20:56:22.589+00:00SAVE OUR CARE HOMES<p><span class="markedContent" id="page3R_mcid0"><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 28.6519px; left: 37.7827px; top: 28.0775px; transform: scaleX(1.17712);">Save Our Care Homes!</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 28.6519px; left: 388.477px; top: 27.1224px;"> </span></span><span class="markedContent" id="page3R_mcid1"></span></p><p><span class="markedContent" id="page3R_mcid1"><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 69.7501px; transform: scaleX(0.99824);">Derbyshire County Council intends to close seven of its </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 86.781px; transform: scaleX(0.998455);">Care Homes. We fear this may be the beginning of more </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 103.955px; transform: scaleX(0.998626);">County Home closures. We need to stop the closures to </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 120.986px; transform: scaleX(0.997671);">protect our elderly, sick and frail residents. The jobs of </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 138.16px; transform: scaleX(0.998138);">skilled and dedicated staff are at risk, too.</span><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 344.684px; top: 138.16px;"> </span></span><span class="markedContent" id="page3R_mcid2"><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 162.346px; transform: scaleX(0.998088);">Residents may be offered places in privately</span><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 365.149px; top: 162.346px;">-</span><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 370.731px; top: 162.346px; transform: scaleX(0.996915);">owned </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7732px; left: 37.7827px; top: 179.356px; transform: scaleX(0.993236);">Homes up to ten miles away. As many Homes do not </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 196.444px; transform: scaleX(0.998462);">accept residents with dementia, it is hard to see how </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 213.618px; transform: scaleX(0.99813);">every resident will be able to find another place to live.</span><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 438.997px; top: 213.618px;"> </span></span><span class="markedContent" id="page3R_mcid3"><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 237.804px; transform: scaleX(0.99832);">The Council claims it will cost a vast sum of money to </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 254.978px; transform: scaleX(0.997673);">refurbish the seven Homes. Yet they have paid £6.63 </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 272.009px; transform: scaleX(0.998417);">million to private consultants to find out how to save </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 289.183px; transform: scaleX(0.999214);">money on services!</span><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 181.638px; top: 289.183px;"> </span></span><span class="markedContent" id="page3R_mcid4"><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 313.394px; transform: scaleX(0.99789);">DCC claims that demand for residential care places is </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 330.425px; transform: scaleX(0.997009);">falling. This is because since early 2020, DCC has been </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 347.455px; transform: scaleX(0.998188);">restricting access to assessments for these places. </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 364.629px; transform: scaleX(0.998528);">Across the whole County, only 70 long</span><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 320.64px; top: 364.629px;">-</span><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 326.222px; top: 364.629px; transform: scaleX(0.999062);">term placements </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 381.803px; transform: scaleX(0.998448);">were allowed between February and December 2020.</span><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 435.133px; top: 381.803px;"> </span></span><span class="markedContent" id="page3R_mcid5"><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 405.847px; transform: scaleX(0.99667);">Nationally, the Association of Directors of Social Services </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 423.021px; transform: scaleX(0.997734);">disagrees strongly with Derbyshire</span><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 292.983px; top: 423.021px;">’</span><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 296.704px; top: 423.021px; transform: scaleX(0.999901);">s claim that demand </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7732px; left: 37.7827px; top: 440.031px; transform: scaleX(0.992409);">for places in Care Homes is falling. The Association says </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 457.261px; transform: scaleX(0.998129);">that the worsening shortage of care home places is cause </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 474.292px; transform: scaleX(0.998378);">for deep concern. Why does Derbyshire County Council </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 491.323px; transform: scaleX(0.998629);">think it knows better than the national organisation of </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 508.497px; transform: scaleX(0.998574);">professionals? </span><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 150.153px; top: 508.497px;"> </span></span><span class="markedContent" id="page3R_mcid6"><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 21.4674px; left: 37.7827px; top: 533.8px; transform: scaleX(1.1992);">What can you do?</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 21.4674px; left: 245.325px; top: 533.084px;"> </span></span><span class="markedContent" id="page3R_mcid7"><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7732px; left: 37.7827px; top: 568.156px; transform: scaleX(0.995328);">Tell your County Councillor this plan must be scrapped</span><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7732px; left: 440.572px; top: 568.156px;"> </span></span><span class="markedContent" id="page3R_mcid8"><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 589.811px; transform: scaleX(0.998281);">Sign the petition online https://bit.lySaveOurCareHomes</span></span><span class="markedContent" id="page3R_mcid9"><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 450.876px; top: 589.811px;"> </span></span><span class="markedContent" id="page3R_mcid10"><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 611.422px; transform: scaleX(0.997492);">Tell friends and family </span><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 11.8787px; left: 202.963px; top: 614.99px; transform: scaleX(1.0031);"> </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 11.8787px; left: 37.7827px; top: 632.164px; transform: scaleX(1.00423);">p&p Chesterfield Save Our NHS 22 Boythorpe Avenue S40 2QE </span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 11.8787px; left: 37.7827px; top: 647.62px; transform: scaleX(1.00973);">hilary.cave@hotmail.com</span><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 171.191px; top: 644.052px;"> </span></span><span class="markedContent" id="page3R_mcid11"><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" face="sans-serif" role="presentation" style="font-size: 16.7446px; left: 37.7827px; top: 675.824px;"> </span></span></p><p> </p>Harry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.com0