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Unexpected honour

On Friday 15th June 2018, a letter appeared in the Swindon Advertiser from Jeff Adams entitled ‘Not So Honourable.’ It concerned the awarding of medals in the Honours List.

Mr Adams does not have his facts correct.

I was privileged to be awarded a medal in the New Years’ Honours List in 2013 which DID most definitely come totally out of the blue.

Also, contrary to Mr Adams’ statement, I did NOT receive a telephone call several weeks before. The first I knew of the award was a letter the Cabinet Office and the information that it was for over 50 years voluntary service to the local community.

Furthermore, I did NOT attend Buckingham Palace to receive the medal or meet any member of the Royal family. My medal was presented to me by the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire in a simple but moving ceremony held in the private chapel of Bowood House.

It was a wonderful and unexpected honour to receive this award and I am deeply offended by the tone of Mr Adams’ letter.

Daphne Breakspear, BEM, Plummer Close, Wroughton

Not worth a visit

I visited Coate Water today and was wondering how the council can try and promote it as a tourist attraction.

A high percentage of the water is covered with algae, the toilets near the children’s play area was closed (if not verging on being derelict) and I would have thought that toilets near this facility should be available when the park is open.

Even the toilets near the cafe were a lot to be desired, with only two of the cubicles having doors that could be locked.

At least two of the pay and display machines in the car park were not in operation but there was no notice to say so, indicating that there was no charge.

If it was not for another driver saying that there was one machine working I could have easily ended up with a parking ticket.

And the council wonder why people do not use such attractions.

Derek Smith, The Brow, Swindon

Jumping the gun

Can anyone advise me what channel of TV the World Cup of Football is on?

I’ve found a diving channel, a wrestling channel, men displaying ‘A Look of Innocence’ and, to top it all, some coverage of men jumping all over each other in a pile.

Someone told me, ‘that’s a celebration of a goal, Chris’.

My reply was: “What, even though a pat on the back would suffice?”. After all, one may go on to lose the match, which makes the celebration a pointless exercise.

I left two World Cup tickets on my car dashboard and some individual smashed my windscreen and left two more!

Chris Gleed, Proud Close, Purton