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Cameras for safety? Huh!

I READ with interest that the police are reviewing their policy on speed cameras. This brings back to mind a bugbear which I have had for a number of years now - namely the speed camera on Dunchurch Road.
The planners who decided its position would have us believe it was placed there in the interest of safety. Surely, if this was the case it should have been installed on the approach to the then Bishop Wulstan School.
But no, they placed it on the brow of a hill - their reasoning being quite obvious, to rake in as much cash as possible on that road.
'That's not the case' I hear them say, ' it will catch motorists speeding up the hill'.
Well, it was once claimed to me by a taxi driver, that these cameras only work in one direction- in this case downhill!
So speed cameras in the name of safety, or a money-making scam.
I rest my case.
K. Lyttle,
Park Road, Rugby.


My faith has been restored in human nature

AFTER reading your Viewpoint about the mindless vandals perhaps I can restore some faith in human nature.
Can I thank the kind gentleman who gave my 99-year-old great aunt £10 to get a taxi after her electric chair broke down in town. Luckily, she got it working again and has left the £10 in the shop for the man to collect.
A big thank you to the anonymous gentleman and all at the shop who helped.
Mike Cleaver,
Edyvean Close,
Rugby.


I can still sing along

RE: The Lawrence Sheriff Song, featured in the Advertiser, September 11.
I REMEMBER the song very well and can still sing it, together with the refrain which you have not published.
After verse one, the refrain is:
My wares are the best,
They stand every test
As sure as the Griffin has wings
As sure as the Griffin has wings.
The Griffin is a reference to the school badge. The words in verse three - 'To work and to pray' are a rough translation of the school motto - 'Orando Laborando'.
T.F. Rodgers (Froggy), who wrote the words, was the senior French master and Reginald Foort, who composed the music, was a former pupil of the school, who became an internationally famed organist.
Arthur W. Webster,
LSS 1940-45,
Former secretary of the Old Laurentian Society.


Happy Memories

AS A former pupil of the Lower School of Lawrence Sheriff, I was able to sing the song printed in last week's Advertiser. It brought back many happy memories.
As you say, it was written by T.F. (Froggy) Rodgers and Reginald Foort, who I believe had an organ shop in Rugby.
Froggy was senior French master and if my memory serves me right, was also Deputy Headmaster to 'Cordy' Wheeler, who was a strict disciplinarian. If you stepped out of line you got 'six of the best' (the cane).
They were happy days and it would be nice to have a reunion some time, so we could remember old times. We had one at Eastlands recently.
Thanks for the memory.
B.D. Vincent,
Beechwood Court,
Rugby.


A bit confused...

IN response to Mrs. Eileen Tempany's letter last week we would like to clarify a few points.
Stagecoach run route 10 to Southfields under contract to Warwickshire County Council. The changes that have come about over the past months have been made by the County Council; we as the contracted operator do what we are requested to do. Route 10 serves Southfields en route to Barby and Kilsby and in the other direction directly to Rugby town centre. A quick look at the destination blind will let Mrs. Tempany know which bus to catch. If she has gone to Kilsby en route to Rugby town centre she has caught the bus in the wrong direction. The route that the buses take to and from Southfields and the town centre is the same as it always has been - so we are confused by Mrs. Tempany's 'new mysterious route' comment. For the first time Southfields is now connected with Hillmorton, so if Mrs. Tempany has any friends there she will now be able to visit them.
Julie Gwynne,
Operations Manager,
Stagecoach in Warwickshire.


Not all my doing

I WOULD like to respond to the letter printed last week, which commended my actions and the campaign to persuade the planning committee to turn down the application for yet another hot food take-away on the Paddox parade.
Whilst I did deliver individual letters to inform the surrounding neighbours and retailers, I cannot take the credit for organising the petition, which was spontaneously produced and supported by local residents.
Unfortunately, despite our combined efforts (which gathered over 300 signatures on the petition and 35 letters of objection), the application was given the 'green light' on the casting vote of the chairman of the committee. He supported the officer's recommendation for approval, but totally ignored the wishes of the two local councillors, the Federation of Fast Food Take-Aways and the residents of Paddox Ward.
They are all concerned that another take-away on the Paddox parade will not only have a devastating effect on all the other hot food retailers in the Hillmorton area, but will also generate litter and late night disturbance in the locality.
I would like to thank the residents who organised and signed the petition, the councillors who objected to this application and everyone who supported the campaign by sending letters to the planning department.
Cllr Noreen New,
Paddox Ward.


Nothing new to us

THIS week the Government announced measures to provide loft and cavity wall insulation to those most in need. Whilst this is a laudable objective, such grants have been in place in Rugby for some years.
However, what the Government has failed to recognise is that houses built before 1926 (including Victorian terraced homes) do not have cavity walls, and therefore cannot benefit from these grants. This means that those living in areas with older housing, which is often those on the lowest incomes, are not helped in the least by either the RBC grants system or this "new" Government initiative.
There are essentially two ways to insulate these homes, either by internal dry lining, which is extremely disruptive, or by external insulation with a polymer render. Although this has a 30-year life there are issues around keeping this finish clean and so an ongoing maintenance need arises. To insulate a non-cavity walled house is extremely expensive - somewhere in the region of £4 - 8,000 per property, taking the cost beyond the Borough Council's budgetary restraints if applied to all of those homes in need of modernisation.
I would urge residents in Rugby who have cavity walls that have not been insulated to contact Housing Services to enquire about the grants system (which is available in the renewal areas), and I would urge the Government to wake up and to direct their funding to those homes that really need it, rather than adopting headline-grabbing policies that actually do little on the ground.
Cllr. Leigh Hunt,
Member for Avon and Swift Ward
Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Inclusive Communities.


Race for terriers

NOW that the Olympic euphoria has died down I would like to impart the news of another sporting event - The Frogham Village Summer Fair and Terrier Racing - held in the New Forest every August Bank Holiday.
It consists of a short dash for small terrier dogs only and there are four heats with the winner of each heat going into the final.
Rugby has had a representative for the last three years. His name is Sam, aka The Rocket, a very handsome Jack Russell.
His trainer Kai Patrick, aged six years, had hoped this would be Sam's years, especially as the 'favourite', Gilly, was deemed too fat to hit the starting box and had to be disqualified.
The race started controversially with a slight altercation between two competitors and a false start due to one of the entrants facing the wrong way in the starting box. Once it had been explained to him that you have to be facing the finish line in order to win the race - all was fine.
Eventually decorum ensured and the race began in earnest, but alas, dear readers, as yet the top prize bag of dog biscuits has eluded Sam for another year.
But we hope with the possible funding from our lottery grant application and a rigorous regime of squirrel chasing, to return to Rugby triumphant in 2009.
Lesley McGlinchey,
Pettiver Crescent,
Rugby.

Manners of a dog!

As a responsible dog owner I'm totally fed up with having to deal with dogs who are let off the lead and allowed to intimidate other dogs and their owners.
Yet again I've just come back from what should have been a pleasant walk around the fields, with my dog on its lead, and yet again I've had to deal with three dogs running over with a pack mentality, one of which became aggressive, forcing me to pick up my dog and stand helpless with the three dogs surrounding us.
The owner had absolutely no control over them and vaguely whimpered the name of the aggressive dog, which took no notice and continued to jump up at both me and my dog.
This person then walked straight past us in the hope that her dogs would follow and luckily they did, but no apology or even acknowledgement that her dogs had caused such an unpleasant experience.
She may think that her dogs are not aggressive but nobody can be certain that a situation like that won't turn into something more ugly and if these owners are going to let several of their dogs off the lead they at least ought to be able to call them back and have the confidence to know that their dogs will respond.
Even better if they know their dogs are likely to surround other dogs they should put them on their leads before it happens (but then that would mean that they have to think of others and it seems that this is beyond them).
Do they think that they own the fields and that everyone else should avoid walking their dog at certain times to avoid situations like this?
It's no different to a group of thugs surrounding an innocent bystander – how would they feel if that happened to them? I'm sure they would have something to say and it's a pity they don't have more than the manners of a dog when it comes to thinking of others!
Ms W. Clayton.
Address supplied.


Memories of Long Buckby

I WAS born in South Close, Long Buckby, in 1946 and lived in the village until I was 26 years old.
My mum lived in Long Buckby from 1946 until she died in 1996.
I had heard of Buckby Feast and remember it as the exciting time when the fair came to the Market Square in Long Buckby (we had little excitement in my youth!).
Until yesterday I had never heard of Long Buckby Village Pudding. I was listening to BBC Coventry & Warwickshire radio programme with Vic Minnett when she talked about making the village pudding.
Can anyone tell me what it is and how it's possible I have never heard of it? Incidentally, most of the older Long Buckby people would have known my family.
My mother's maiden name was May Groves and her married name was May Dick.
Sue Cooper (nee Dick),
44, Glenmore Drive,
Coventry. CV6 6LZ.


Collection success

Animal Aid would like to thank the people who donated at our street collection in Rugby on Saturday, August 30. We are pleased to announce that the collection raised a total of £145.99 which will help fund our peaceful campaigns and educational work on all aspects of animal cruelty.
For more information on how to prevent animal cruelty, please call Animal Aid on 01732 364546.
Peter Simpson,
Volunteer Co-ordinator.


Selective views

RE: Statement by 'Your Energy' - Advertiser, page 9, September 11 - Villagers back plans for wind farm at Yelvertoft.
'YOUR Energy' appear to have been very selective as to whom they offered the comment forms.
My wife and I visited the Lilbourne exhibition and asked pertinent questions regarding access and exit routes during construction and disposal of spoil from excavations for the turbine bases.
'Your Energy' could not answer these points. But as we had queried their proposal we were not asked to leave our comments!
Perhaps the sales personnel from 'Your Energy' only targeted people who seemed positive to their scheme.
They say 73 per cent of visitors asked, supported the idea (perhaps if you only ask ten people seven equals 73 per cent).
We wonder how many of those actually live in Crick, Yelvertoft and Lilbourne?
John Hall,
Station Road,
Lilbourne.