Just some of the stories that caught my eye this morning when reading The Times.
Tag Archives: England
Maundy money reporting goes awry at the Beeb.
Once again, the BBC has equated the UK with England….
To mark her Diamond Jubilee, the Queen handed out money to people from all of the UK’s 44 Christian dioceses. – BBC News
I think that this should read,
from all of the Church of England’s 44 dioceses.
There are many more dioceses in the whole of the UK, listing only the Anglican ones you get 19 more:
Church of Ireland (Dioceses with territory in N. Ireland)
Armagh
Clogher
Connor
Derry
Down & Dromore
Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh
Scottish Episcopal Church
Aberdeen & Orkney
Argyll & the Isles
Brechin
Edinburgh
Glasgow & Galloway
Moray, Ross & Caithness
St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane
The Church in Wales
Bangor
Llandaff
Monmouth
St Asaph
St Davids
Swansea & Brecon
So perhaps the article should read,
To mark her Diamond Jubilee, The Queen handed out money to people from all of the UK’s 63 Anglican dioceses.
And all of this is before we get on to the Dioceses of the Catholic Church: England & Wales (22); Scotland (8) and N. Ireland (6) making another 36… and this is before we start to examine the many differing parts of the Orthodox Churches in the UK.
It really is about time that the BBC learnt the difference between the various parts of the United Kingdom. It is also about time that the BBC took some care about how it reports matters of faith.
HIV Charity closure seems to be result of devolution
The Tyddyn Bach Trust respite centre in Penmaenmawr in Wales which has provided much-needed respite care for over 2,000 individuals and families affected by HIV since 1997 closed its doors.
As a former trustee of Northern Ireland’s leading HIV charity, The HIV Support Centre, I have some idea of how difficult it can be to get funding from health authorities and others to support your work.
The MP for Aberconwy, Guto Bebb, said that it was a tragedy the centre had to close. He suggested that the closure is an unintended result of devolution within the United Kingdom.
Clients coming from England means the centre doesn’t qualify for funding from Wales and they don’t get funding from England because they’re based in Wales. It’s bizarre.
Whilst I hope that the Trustees will be able to find more funding to enable them to reopen at some point in the future, it may be that they will have to take the Trust in a new direction. All Trustees of all organisations must look to ensure that they are functioning sustainably. It seems to me that there has been a major growth in the number of charitable organisations that seem to be chasing after the same pots of money from statutory bodies. Perhaps it really is time – even in this time of austerity – for everyone in the United Kingdom to think again about giving some of their income to charitable bodies. If we don’t, there will be more closures of charities in the days, weeks, and months to come.
Related articles
- Mr Gay UK pledges portion of winnings to HIV charity (pinkbananaworld.com)
Time for punting in Bedford? @davethemayor says yes
Punt. 1. A flat-bottomed shallow boat, square at both ends; (now chiefly)spec. a long narrow boat of this kind propelled by means of a long pole thrust against the bed of a waterway, and used on inland waters, esp. as a pleasure boat, as a ferry over short distances, or for fishing.1
The Mayor of Bedford, Dave Hodgson, has invited businesses to put forward plans to operate punts and canoes on the Great Ouse in Bedford. Apparently this is dangerous according to the rowing community.
Having lived in Oxford, I can vouch that I have seen punts and rowers operating on the Isis at the same time. All it seemed to take was a little caution on both sides. Of course those who are punting must also exercise care in how they punt. Will there be a difference in Bedford punts? After all, there is a right end and a wrong end from which to punt depending on whether you are in Oxford or ‘the other place’.2
At some point in every punter’s career, there comes a moment when a particularly enthusiastic thrust has sent the punt whizzing (well, gliding) off in one direction while the pole, due to mud, weeds or malicious scuba divers, remains behind. You must resign yourself to either leaving the pole, or leaving with it. Always choose the former! You’ve been provided with a paddle for a reason, and the pole will remain rooted in place until you can return. The alternative does not bear contemplating; you will stay hanging over the water while the punt floats off without you.3
No one wants to end up looking like the dragon from Daily Info.
A dragon punting, courtesy of Daily Info
Whilst it is rather pleasant to watch rowers in action on any river, they are not the only river users that should be allowed or indeed encouraged. Canoeing and punting can be enjoyed by many more than those who can row. So, by opening up the Great Ouse to these facilities, I can safely say that, for once, I approve of the Mayor of Bedford’s plans. Unlike when I disagreed with his closing of Bedford’s Civic Theatre.
1. “punt, n.1″. OED Online. December 2011. Oxford University Press. http://www.oed.com.libezproxy.open.ac.uk/view/Entry/154714?rskey=nd3wkW&result=1&isAdvanced=false (accessed February 13, 2012).
2. I’d better watch out when I get home or Andrew will have my guts for garters…
3. “A Guide to Punting in Oxford”. Daily Info, Oxford. Daily Information Ltd. http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/guide/punting.htm (accessed February 13, 2012).
Like this:
Bikeability – when will we get it in Northern Ireland?
It’s not a difficult thing to follow – the Highway Code – it is easily available from booksellers up and down the country, and even on the Internet nowadays. But it seems that many, many people are totally ignorant of its contents.
In the last number of weeks I have heard of, and not just heard, nay I have observed many breaches of its contents. I wish that it were not just the drivers of motor vehicles that were at fault, but it is those who curse our pavements with their presence: the cyclists.
I feel sure that there really is some need for a real test of proficiency before cyclists are allowed out on the public roads. In the past, many people took the Cycle Proficiency Test when at school. However, that test has been superseded by the new Bikeability awards run in England and Wales, and also in Scotland. However, as far as I am aware, there is no such test being run in Northern Ireland.
My personal main gripe is seeing cyclists cycling on a pavement. I understand that there are some pavements which are shared by pedestrians and cyclists: this is not the general rule. Cyclists should normally be on the roadway, sharing the space with other vehicles. All too often many cyclists are cycling on a pavement, neither with lights nor reflective gear. This is truly hazardous.
Cycling is helpful to all of us in our society, when due care and attention is taken. The health benefits are clear, it will help to reduce the number of motor vehicles on our roads, and this would help to ensure our city and town centres move more freely. But we desperately need investment from cycling organisations, as well as the Northern Ireland Executive in schemes that promote safe cycling. I therefore ask, what are we doing about introducing Bikeability to Northern Ireland? Will the Minister for Regional Development, Danny Kennedy MLA, please consult with his counterparts in Great Britain? Perhaps there could be partnership with the Department of Education as well?
Related articles
- New Bikeability support contract signifies Government commitment (nds.coi.gov.uk)
- Kirklees Council goes Bike to the Future to train young cyclists (examiner.co.uk)
Normative?
Cities fit for cycling
Campaign for Equal Marriage
Open University Study…
Awards
