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Appalling manners

THANK goodness my parents, part of the wartime generation, are not here to witness the disgraceful behaviour of some members of the British public during this outbreak of the Covid-19 virus.

I am flabbergasted by scenes of empty shelves in supermarkets, peculiarly the lack of toilet rolls. The virus symptoms do not include acute diarrhoea so why the need for mass panic buying of toilet rolls?

It stems, I believe, from China where a toilet roll manufacturer was in difficulties.. This prompted the people of Hong Kong to panic buy. My son who lives in Hong Kong was witness to this.

Social media, that wonderful purveyor of all things ‘newsworthy’ picked up the story and in true sheep fashion we followed suit.

A few days ago my husband saw a woman purchase 80 toilet rolls from one supermarket!

How sad that, unlike our wartime predecessors we have become selfish and greedy. We need to stop panicking, act responsibly, listen to medical advice use our common sense and help each other.

I am reminded of the wonderful story of the village of Eyam in Derbyshire. When cases of the plague were diagnosed within their small population, they unanimously decided to isolate the entire village, thereby preventing the spread of the disease to neighbouring communities. That is selflessness.

Val Procter, Church Road, Hilmarton

A Good Samaritan

I WAS shopping in Tesco Calne on March 10. I left about 5pm. After arriving home I realised my handbag was missing. I searched the car and the house. Then I returned to the store and I had stupidly left it in my trolley. Some very kind shopper had handed it in and I would like to thank them.

Christine Hyde

And another pair

I WRITE to thank the two gentlemen who came to our aid when we suffered a breakdown in our car last Monday, March 9. We were on our way back home from Bath following an hospital appointment for my husband, when we were unfortunate enough to get a puncture on the outskirts of Corsham on the Bradford on Avon road.

The rain was lashing down and being late afternoon the light was fading, not a good place to be I can assure you. My husband contacted the AA , but was told it could be a long wait as they were busy.

We had a spare tyre but my husband was in no physical state to change it, so it looked like a long wait was inevitable.

Luckily for us there are still some gentlemen out there who are willing to stop and help people who are stranded.

The first person called Rob who stopped said if we could make it around to where he lived, we could wait in his house while he changed the wheel. We thanked him, but said we did not want to damage the wheel by driving on it so politely refused, but it wasn’t long before a second car pulled up behind us.

Garry was a true gentleman, he used his pick up truck to fend off our car, and proceeded to change the wheel, and in no time at all we were ready to continue on our journey home, he even followed us for a short way to make sure that all was well.

It’s still nice to know that there are knights of the road who come to the aid of people who are in need . All that is left to say thank goodness for people like you, and THANK YOU.

Joyce and Frank Johnson, Chippenham

Drivers play fair

ISN’T it time drivers were reminded that it is an offence to splash pedestrians with surface water? Walking along Potterne Road in Devizes is a game of Russian Roulette, both during - and for a significant time after - any rainfall, currently a several-times-daily occurrence.

Today I filmed a typical splash event which, had I been ten metres further on, would have drenched me from the waist down, particularly if I had had to allow for other pedestrians coming the other way and had kept to the correct position: on the side of the pavement facing oncoming traffic. Gesticulating to approaching vehicles to move out, and if there is insufficient space because of vehicles in the opposite direction, to stop, usually requires an accompanying epithet which is often similarly ignored.

Since we are now in an era of post-mobility, wherein road maintenance is at best rare and at worst pointlessly incompetent, we have a situation where potholes are “repaired” with an inadequately specified mix which rarely fills the hole properly and which within a few days becomes part of the problem by adding potential missiles to the subsequent resumption of splashes of passers-by and wheel/tyre damage to vehicles whose drivers are clearly and naively expecting there to be a road somewhere under the water. Either that, or, as my experience is rapidly leading me to conclude, those drivers regard pedestrians as fair game.

At this position in particular, not only is there a semi-permanent pothole, but the entire surface structure of the road within a metre or so of the kerb has broken down. The debris from multiple failed attempts to fill the pothole, and from the breakdown of the surface, remains either in the road, is splashed onto the payment, or, is washed into the nearby road gully, which is usually blocked as a consequence, exacerbating the reluctance of the road to drain properly with so many defects around.

Brian W Smith, Pedestrian, cyclist and driver, Devizes

Here’s a challenge

WHEN I thought we were safe and he had been washed away in the floods that have swamped Britain, Mr Pantling of Pewsey is back riding his climate deniers horse. Now he attacks a teacher and pupils at St John’s School, Marlborough.

He concludes his diatribe by stating “ it is an absolute scandal that children are being denied the truth and are being brainwashed”! Can I suggest the editor of your esteemed newspaper invite him to debate Climate Change with the staff and pupils at the school. I for one would happily pay for a ticket to what would be one of the Wiltshire events of the year.

Roger Day, Wedhampton

PS If he loses the argument will he agree to stop writing to your paper.

Sell us the tests

HAVING worked in a Government based department I very much doubt if any letters or posts either published or on the web will actually be seen or even read by a Cabinet Minister. Their PPSs will shield them from any adverse comment, even a reasonable question.

We are informed that individuals have been TESTED and found to be positive. Surely, if a test procedure is known we, those who might be infection affected, should know about this test procedure.

Is there a simple test kit that can be purchased? Do we already have facilities readily available in chemistry from our local pharmacy? Or, is this a medical secret only to be dispensed by a doctor so that they can receive associated financial reward?

If a test kit could be purchased then this would boost NHS funding by a vast amount in a very short period.

Terry Buchanan, Chippenham

Advice for parents

BECOMING a parent can be an incredibly exciting journey. Although rewarding, it can be tricky too. Preparing for changes ahead or facing challenges such as anxiety and depression can be daunting for many new mums and dads as they adjust to their new role.

Quality peer support, where experienced mums and dads help other new parents, offers a unique and invaluable contribution to healthier pregnancies, positive births and the best start for babies. Evidence shows it is particularly effective when it sits alongside clinical care, especially for reducing stress, coping with labour and birth and building confidence as a new parent.

That’s why we founded Parents1st UK (www.parents1st.org.uk), a charity which promotes quality parent-to-parent support during pregnancy, birth and beyond.

This month we’ve launched an online community hub with knowledge, free guidance and resources about designing and delivering a perinatal volunteer initiative for practitioners, volunteers and parents. Our mission is to make it as easy as possible for quality peer support to flourish during the life-changing transition of becoming a parent.

No-one should face the journey of parenting alone and connecting people can make a huge difference, giving babies the best start in life.

Celia Suppiah, Parents1st UK CEO, Hornsby Square, Southfields Business Park, Basildon

Why such a tax hike

OPENING my Council Tax bill for the coming year it was no surprise to read that, once again, the increase has more than wiped out the increase in my State Pension.

Whilst the 2% rise in social care is understandable, what I can’t get my head around is the massive rise in the Chippenham Town Council precept of 9.4%. Given last year’s increase of 37.5%, how can the council justify another large rise?

Is it due to taking over more duties from Wiltshire Council? If so, then can they confirm that WC has made a proportionate reduction in their Council Tax? No information was available on the annual statement and no details on the council’s website.

It is just not good enough that the Town Council can increase its precept by nearly 10% and give no explanation as to the reasons.

John Berry, Fallow Field Close, Chippenham

Help Fix Dementia

IN the Spring Budget Chancellor Rishi Sunak gave no mention of any spending increase for social care.

While the money outlined for NHS and local authorities to deal with Coronavirus is good news, it’s astonishing funding for social care appears to have been completely ignored. This is crushing for people with dementia – including more than 92,500 people across the South West.

Alzheimer’s Society’s Fix Dementia Care campaign hears of people with dementia trapped in unacceptable conditions every day, of families struggling to cover the astronomical cost of dementia care. Coronavirus risks making this crisis into a catastrophe.

There is no excuse. If we do not fix our broken social care system, the most vulnerable in our society will continue to bear the brunt. Cross-party talks must produce a long term, sustainable solution for social care that delivers quality care, and they absolutely have to be backed by investment now to keep the system afloat.

To show your support, join our Fix Dementia Campaign now at alzheimers.org.uk/fix

Marion Child, Head of Region – South West Local Services, Alzheimer’s Society, Verona House, Filwood Rd, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 3RY

Thank your rescuer

NATIONAL maritime charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, is calling on members of the maritime and rescue communities, especially those who use the sea for recreation and leisure, to nominate those who have demonstrated outstanding bravery and expertise in aiding those in peril at sea, for its 169th Skill and Gallantry Awards.

Since 1851, the Society has presented the awards to individuals and crews who have shown courage and expert skill in rescues at sea, with this year’s awards set to be presented at the charity’s AGM in October.

The Society is calling for nominations relating to rescues that took place between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020. The closing date for submissions is 12 noon, Friday 1 May 2020.

Among last year’s recipients was Jay Holden, the skipper of the Fishing Vessel Emilia Jayne, who was presented with the Society’s Lady Swaythling Trophy for facilitating the rescue of his crewmate who fell overboard in severe winds and high seas off the coast of Salcombe, Devon, in March 2019.

The Edward and Maisie Lewis Award, for an ‘outstanding rescue’, was presented to the crew of helicopter Rescue 01 based at Mount Pleasant Airfield in the Falkland Islands, who carried out two consecutive, complex and demanding rescues of critically ill patients in demanding and dangerous conditions that pushed their mental and physical endurance to the limit.

The Society’s Skill and Gallantry Awards provide us with the opportunity to recognise and celebrate true acts of heroism at sea each year, whether through expert teamwork or individual bravery.

“The awards are now in their 169th year and whilst many of our heroes are extremely humble and see their actions as simply part of their job, we want to encourage nominations from individuals or organisations so we can thank those who have gone to great lengths to protect others.”

Founded after the tragic loss of a fleet of fishing boats in 1839, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society provides financial support to individuals in need who have worked or are still working at sea in the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets, as well as their dependants.

Last year the Society distributed more than £1.4m in grants in over 2,000 cases of need and received more than 500 new applications for assistance.

To submit a nomination for this year’s Skill and Gallantry Awards, contact me.

Capt Justin Osmond RN, Chief Executive, Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, 1 North Pallant, Chichester, PO19 1TL